Classic Eventing Nation

Tryon WEG Day and Weekend Passes on Sale Wednesday

By on Dec 19, 2017 1:30 pm -

Photo by Leslie Wylie.

All Session Weekend Passes and a limited supply of re-released All Session Day Passes for the 2018 World Equestrian Games go on sale tomorrow! Come and get ’em starting at 8 a.m. EST on Wednesday, Dec. 20.

All Session Weekend Passes allow the ticket holder access to all WEG competitions during the selected weekend. They are available for September 15-16 ($430) and September 22-23 ($305).

All Session Day Passes, which grant access to all WEG competitions on a single weekday, went on sale in October 2017 and sold out after one day. Now, by popular demand, they’re back — in limited supply. Organizers are releasing an additional 500 passes per event day on a first come, first served basis for the dates of September 12 ($175), 19 ($100), 20 ($105) and 21 ($180). All Session Day Passes for September 13 and 14 are sold out due to meeting capacity for Eventing Dressage on both days.

The only eventing-specific ticket option currently available is the All Session Eventing Pass ($225), which grants access to all sessions of WEG eventing competition. These are still available, but if you want to be sure you have a ticket on lock we’d advise ordering soon.

“The 2018 WEG is expected to be the largest sporting event in the United States and fourth largest in the world in 2018 and should be on everyone’s to-do list for next year. We are anticipating a sold-out event,” says Mark Bellissimo, Founder and CEO of Tryon International Equestrian Center.

Other options: If you have interest in watching other disciplines in addition to eventing, you could spring for an All Sessions Full Games Pass ($1,380), which gets you into all disciplines throughout the duration of WEG, or an All Games Pass – Week 1 ($750), which is good for the first week of competition from Tuesday, Sept. 11 through Sunday, Sept. 16. Eventing runs Thursday, Sept. 13 through Sunday, Sept. 16; reining and dressage also take place during week 1.

Note that an 8.5% processing fee will be added to all ticket prices upon checkout.

Here’s the eventing schedule:

Thursday, September 13: Eventing Dressage Day 1 – Team & Individual Competition
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday, September 14: Eventing Dressage Day 2 – Team & Individual Competition
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 15: Eventing Cross-Country – Team & Individual Competition
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 16: Eventing Show Jumping – Team & Individual Medals
2:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.

The 2018 World Equestrian Games will be held Sept. 11 through Sept. 23 at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, N.C. For full ticketing information, visit the website here. Check out WEG Ticketing FAQ here.

[Day and Weekend Passes for FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 on Sale December 20]

Weekly OTTB Wishlist From Cosequin: The Perfect Last-Minute Gift

By on Dec 19, 2017 11:00 am -

Looking for a last minute gift for the thoroughbred lover in your life? It would be a little logistically challenging to wrap up an actual OTTB (not that it can’t be done), but we’ve found the perfect solution with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s horse sponsorship program!

The sponsorship program helps retired racehorses who are unsuitable for adoption to live out their lives in with lifelong care at a TRF farm. Sponsorships are easy to gift and the recipient will get a personalized packet with information on the chosen horse. They’ll additionally receive updates and photos throughout the year plus the chance to meet the horse in person.

If you happen to be shopping for yourself, or maybe you are particularly good at horse-wrapping, here are three OTTBs looking for a new home for the holidays:

Photo via Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds.

Fidelius (Pure Prize – Second Marriage, by Not For Love): 2011 16.0-hand New York bred gelding

Here’s a nice flashy prospect for the chestnut-with-chrome lovers out there! Fidelius was a fairly competitive racehorse for a while, earning over $74,000 in 28 starts, but his connections can tell he’s been losing interest in it and is ready to find a new sport. His exercise rider can attest that he’s a smart guy who really bonds to his person and he’s a favorite of hers so a good home is a must! Fidelius is sound with no vices, but could benefit from some turnout time to help him adjust to life off the track.

View Fidelius on Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds.

Photo via New Vocations Racehorse Adoption.

Light Reign (Monarchos – Luminate, by A.P. Indy): 2013 16.2-hand New York bred mare

This pretty filly retired soundly from the track in October after not showing much promise as a racehorse. She’s since been living large out in full turnout with a group of other mares. She seems to be a sweet young mare who gets along with anyone in the herd. Though she’s been off the track for a bit, she’s had no further retraining yet and remains RRP eligible!

View Light Reign on New Vocations Racehorse Adoption

Photo via CANTER Colorado.

Artistic Venture (In Excess (IRE) – Waycross, by Conquistador Cielo): 2009 17-hand Arizona bred gelding

Artistic Venture is a very large, very athletic horse with 68 starts in his racing career. At over 17 hands high he is understandably a lot of horse to handle, despite being well-mannered both in-hand and under saddle. Artistic Venture has been lightly started under saddle off the track and though he’s a more mature OTTB, he’s still very green to life as a riding horses and will need someone experienced to bring him along.

View Artistic Venture on CANTER Colorado.

EN’s 12 Days of Christmas: Horseware Outfits for Human, Horse and Dog

By on Dec 19, 2017 9:30 am -

Ladies and gents, Christmas is closing in, and with our proximity to the arrival of Old St. Nick, EN’s 12 Days of Christmas is going to get increasingly more jolly. Wait until you see what’s coming for you today!

We can always count on Horseware to get us into the holiday spirit. This is the company whose signature weatherproof, rip-proof, downright dark magic-infused blanket is green and red, after all! Did you catch their new Christmas commercial? Featuring top riders, ponies with impressive tree decorating skills, one very adorable little kid, and some magical snowglobe action, it’s a holiday must-watch.

In addition to the fabulous advent calendar giveaway they’re running on their own Facebook Page, they’re spreading the love to Eventing Nation, too. Today — and today only — you can enter to win a seriously amazing prize: A deluxe outerwear set for human, horse, and hound!

This prize pack will include a select Horseware winter jacket, turnout blanket, and dog blanket to keep everyone you love warm and toasty through the rest of this winter and many winters to come (except for your cat, who will just have to stay curled up in your duvet for 21 hours a day like always).

Enter below for your chance to win a genuinely epic trio of Horseware Goodies! The contest closes at midnight tonight:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday News & Notes from Cavalor

By on Dec 19, 2017 12:01 am -

Photo by Shelby Allen.

Happy Christmas from Frankie! This is always such a fun time of year. Anticipating the holidays, horses are working, but there isn’t a huge pressure. Lot’s of hacking trotting and accomplishing off season homework. It won’t be too long before it’s all heating back up again, especially for those of us in Area III!

National Holiday: National Hard Candy Day

Events Opening This Week: Three Lakes February I H.T. at Caudle Ranch (FL, A-3) Stable View Winter Horse Trials (SC, A-3) Poplar Place Farm February H.T. (GA, A-3) Sporting Day Farm H.T. I (SC, A-3) Galway Downs Winter H.T.(CA, A-6)

Tuesday News: 

“Out we hack through ice and peril, Fa la la la la la la la! Your horse fake-spooks at a rubbage barrel, Fa la la la la la la la! See the frozen ground before us, Fa la la la la la la la! Strike the earth and be lost in the forest, Fa la la la la la la la!” You’ll want to finish this carol… [A Horse Girl Christmas Carol]

The new electronic logging device mandate on agricultural transportation recently rocked the horse transportation industry. Designed to keep drivers safe and alert, this meant to measures to be in place for hauling horses. To accommodate this, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Department of Transportation has given a 90 day grace period for agricultural transportation to comply. [FMCSA Grants 90-Day Waiver For Electronic Logging Devices In Agricultural Transportation]

The heartbreaking wildfires in California have brought the dangers of smoke inhalation into a big focus. Particulates in the respiratory system, burning eyes and induced heart and lung diseases are the most well known. To help owners be prepared, UC Davis compiled this reference for owners to determine the impact of smoke inhalation. [Smoke Inhalation and Horses – Top Tips to Keep Them Safe]

Avid Horse & Hound reader? Honestly, same. But if you aren’t, then you’ll want to catch up on the top stories you may have missed this year. [Bolting Tack Check Horses, Overweight Riders – And More of 2017’s Most Read News Stories]

Congrats to Samantha P., our day eight winner of EN’s 12 Days of Christmas giveaways! Samantha will receive a Harwich Flash Bridle from SmartPak. Tune in to EN today for your next chance to win a prize from one of EN’s awesome sponsors.

Tuesday Video: Charlotte Dujardin helping the mounted police warm up at Olympia last weekend. Some kind of coaching!

Monday Video from Tredstep Ireland: Retraining Racehorses in Japan

By on Dec 18, 2017 5:30 pm -

With the 2017 USEA Annual Convention being held in California, it’s probably safe to assume that the vast majority of attendees flew in from the east across the continental United States. That was not the case for Boyd Martin, though, for whom off-season downtime does not exist. Boyd jetted across the Pacific Ocean straight to the convention after teaching a three day clinic on retraining racehorses at the Miki Horseland Park in Japan.

The clinic was hosted by the Japan Racing Association, the National Riding Club Association of Japan and Godolphin, who put together the video below in which Boyd reflects on how the riders and horses progressed over the course of the clinic.

Bonus! Ride along with one of the clinic participants:

Weekend Instagram Roundup: Snow Daze

By on Dec 18, 2017 2:30 pm -

Not everybody is into winter wonderlands. Exhibit A: Dom Schramm …

 

Posted by Dominic Schramm on Friday, December 15, 2017

That guy is NOT a happy camper. Exhibit B: Alexandra Brackin …

“It’s beginning to look a lot like I need to be in Aiken” = photo caption of the week. But like it or loathe it, you’ve got to admit that snowfall makes for some magical Instagram photos. Like these!

Squidventures in snow, captured by @anna_honeycutt1999. #squidstyle

A post shared by Maggie Deatrick (@comediceventing) on

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcyCrGmlcww

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc2ZBBVgHfr

Go Eventing!

20 Dollar Store Steals for Around the Barn

By on Dec 18, 2017 1:00 pm -

Photo by Mike Mozart/Flickr/CC.

Why spend more than you need to? Here are 20 dollar store finds for around the barn:

  1. Shallow tubs: Use these shallow tubs to soak their feet. Fewer spills and easier to maneuver than a large bucket.
  2. Diapers: These things are expensive! And if you’re like me and have your horse on pasture board, they don’t last very long. You can buy a variety of sizes and amounts at the dollar store to keep your foot wrapping costs down.
  3. Duct Tape: To fix, wrap, rig, and use on just about anything you can imagine. You can never have too much duct tape!
  4. Scissors: useful for cutting the duct tape and bandages, but also great for other barn chores.
  5. Petroleum Jelly: For those of us that have horses with bell boots. Every once in awhile, my horse gets rubs from his, so I apply this generously to his ankles and it soothes the irritation.
  6. Thermometer: A must-have for a horse person. Know your horse’s normal temperature so that when he is sick you’ll know for sure if there is a difference or not.
  7. Mouth Wash: Do you have a horse that rubs his tail constantly? Try applying a bit of antibacterial mouth wash! It can fight that pesky itch your horse is experiencing.
  8. Baby oil: This is a two in one, because it can help with dandruff as well as sheath cleaning. For horses with dandruff, mix mouth wash and baby oil in a spray bottle (50/50) and apply in the problem areas. As for sheath cleaning … well I won’t go into detail on how to do it, but baby oil can be used as your cleaner!
  9. Washcloths: A great item for bath time, clean ups, and many other barn happenings.
  10. Moisture Eliminating Box: Put this in your tack trunks, tack lockers, tack rooms, etc. This will help minimize mold on your expensive gear!
  11. Lint Roller: You can use this on your own clothes as well as your saddle pads (specifically show pads). It’s a good way to stay on top of clean show gear.
  12. Laundry Detergent/PreWash: I have a lot of white saddle pads (apparently I enjoy laundry?) so using the prewash helps a lot, and buying detergent and spray for just a dollar keeps my costs down from the million horse loads I have to wash!
  13. Multi Tool: A great and handy item to have on you, specifically for hay string cutting!
  14. Socks: Long socks and especially zocks made for riding are expensive and wear quickly. Buy some long socks here for everyday riding and maybe treat yourself to a nicer pair for shows. (Extra sock tip: every year I got to black Friday and buy long Christmas socks. They usually only run me about 25 cents apiece and I get to have Christmas cheer all year long!)
  15. Shallow Baskets: Use this for your polo wraps, jump boots, bell boots, etc. I use one of these baskets because it fits perfectly in my tack trunk!
  16. Fake Flowers: What a great and cheap way to decorate your jumps! These would normally cost you much more than a dollar anywhere else.
  17. Mini Tupperware: Perfect for your supplement organization. These colorful ones are four to a pack but you can also get 10 white top ones in a pack. Up to you if you’d like to go crazy and spend more than just a dollar!
  18. Mints: We know what these are for. And our horses do, too!
  19. Spray Bottles: Useful for fly spray, show sheen, water, the aforementioned dandruff killer, etc.
  20. Measuring tape: You’ll think you don’t need one, and then soon you’ll kick yourself in the butt for not having it!

Total spent: $20!

For more barn bargaining tips as well as an online horse show for only $19, head to BetterDressageScores.com!

EN’s 12 Days of Christmas: Harwich Flash Bridle by SmartPak

By on Dec 18, 2017 8:30 am -

Photo courtesy of SmartPak.

Welcome to day eight of EN’s 12 Days of Christmas! Today we’re giving away a Harwich Flash Bridle from our awesome sponsor SmartPak.

Your horse’s good-looking face deserves the best! The Harwich Bridle offers outstanding quality and features a traditional design with sophisticated, subtle treatments. Crafted from durable vegetable-tanned leather, your horse will appreciate the comfort of its padded noseband, browband and monocrown. We love the rich walnut brown color, set off by white stitching and stainless steel hardware. It comes with 54″ rubber reins.

Ready to win? Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Entries will close at midnight EST tonight, with the winner to be announced in News & Notes tomorrow morning. Good luck! Go Eventing.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday News & Notes from Fleeceworks

By on Dec 18, 2017 12:01 am -

Boyfriend takes on his first hack. Photo by Jaime Giunta.

After years of complete disorganization on my part, I finally took my non-horsey boyfriend out for his first ride this weekend. He’s very comfortable around horses on the ground – in fact he’s Chief Horse Holder at competitions, but he hasn’t had much time ever in the saddle. Once he learned how to steer, he did excellent. He even learned how to post the trot! His biggest takeaway is more a wonder and amazement at professional male riders.

National Holiday: National Answer The Telephone Like Buddy the Elf Day

Monday News & Notes: 

Are you an eventing know-it-all? Are you constantly refreshing EventingNation.com to get the latest news on the sport? Could you dominate an eventing trivia game? Test your knowledge with this quiz. [Ready for A Challenge? Take the Ultimate 2017 Eventing Quiz]

Want to strengthen your mental game while also upping your own fitness? Coach Daniel Stewart’s Fit & Focused in 52 is your next read.  This book will structure each week of the next year with unique cross training ideas to give your New Year’s Resolution some direction. Check out this excerpt from USEA. [Get Fit & Focused in 52 Weeks with Coach Daniel Stewart]

The carriage industry in New York City may face big changes next year. An animal rights group expects a carriage-horse bill by early 2018, which would keep the number of carriage horses steady at 196 and force increases in stall size. It would also limit horse’s work weeks to five days, down from seven, and horses would be saved from slaughter after a mandatory age-based retirement. [Animal Rights Group Seeks Horse Carriage Bill Early Next Year]

Congrats to Kerry F., our day seven winner of EN’s 12 Days of Christmas giveaways! Kerry will receive a prize pack including two blends from Dalahäst Coffee Roasters, locally roasted in Jamestown, NY. Tune in to EN today for your next chance to win a prize from one of EN’s awesome sponsors.

Monday Video:

Sport Horse Nation Spotlight: Five Holiday Horses

By on Dec 17, 2017 3:00 pm -
Victoria. Photo via Sport Horse Nation. Victoria. Photo via Sport Horse Nation.

In the market for a new four-legged partner? You may find your unicorn on our sister site, Sport Horse Nation. To help with the search, we’re going to feature a selection of current listings here on EN each week. We include the ad copy provided; click the links for videos, pricing and contact information.

Just because you’ve been doing a little extra holiday spending doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself! If you’ve been looking for a new partner and you’re on a budget, here are five horses for sale for under $10,000.

Victoria. Photo via Sport Horse Nation.

Victoria Alexes ’08 TB Mare – Smart, Willing, Talented Partner!

Victoria is a lovely 2008 OTTB mare looking for a partner. She has been restarted on the flat and over small courses, up to 2’6?. She is 100% a KICK ride!! She has 3 wonderful gaits with a particularly easy, rolling canter. Victoria has been in professional training since August and is making steady progress.

She is schooling Training/1st level with correct leg yields and shoulder in. She has been for her first XC schooling outing and was very brave to the water and ditch on her first try! This girl is going to make an excellent partner for someone. Once she understands her job, she puts her whole heart into it.

Victoria is an excellent jumper. Steer her to the line and she’s virtually point-and-shoot which is a lot to say for a horse that’s only been jumping for a few short weeks! Easy flying changes and a steady rhythm around a course make her a great candidate for a hunter program.

Victoria would be best suited for a confident rider, but does not require a large skill set. She is uncomplicated both on the flat and to jump. She is easy to load, groom, and stands well for the farrier and the vet. Easy keeper. Sound. Great feet! Located in Georgia.

Winnie. Photo via Sport Horse Nation.

Foxhunter/Jumper/Eventer Type- 2009 Dark Bay TB

Winnie is a 2009 TB Mare standing at 16 hh. Dark bay, almost black, with beautiful dapples, two white socks and a large star. She is built more like a warmblood with a muscular neck and haunches & she holds her weight easily.

Winnie is an excellent & brave jumper, also very brave on xc. She loves the excitement of it & has the endurance & willingness to perform & do well in many arenas. Winnie has been schooling & competing locally at the 3 ft level jumpers, has been competing in beginner novice/novice events, schooling some training level xc & is ready to move up with the right rider.

Absolutely has upper level potential. Has automatic lead changes, very naturally balanced, slow canter, not your typical short strided TB, extremely showy and expressive trot. She has free jumped up to 4’9″.

She is very personable & in your pocket, calm on the ground, she loads & trailers well, stands for vet/farrier, clips well, she does well in new environments, great out in the pasture, doesn’t tear up blankets or get very dirty, stays sound, etc.

Under saddle she tries very hard to please her rider. She has never offered to rear or buck, ever. She is very willing to decorative jumps & has never stopped at a spooky jump, would make an EXCELLENT fox hunter. Ditches, brush, trakehners, banks down into water, banks up, you name it…no stop at anything even her first tries.

She is just looking for her competitive rider to put in the time to take her up the levels. Would be fine for an intermediate/amateur rider who has a trainer. Had a clean vet check when I bought her and no problems since, clean tight legs. I am confident she is very sound for many years of jumping as she has been brought up very slowly.

Selling at no fault of her own, no time due to work. Price negotiable as I have NO time. I am more concerned with her getting the PERFECT long term home that will adore her. The type of mare that will die for her rider once the connection is there. Located in Kansas.

Vino. Photo via Sport Horse Nation.

Looking for a horse of a lifetime?

Vino is WOW, he is the total package. With his striking good looks he oozes class, and is as sweet and gentle as they come. THIS IS SOMEONE’S HORSE OF A LIFETIME. This horse has never done anything wrong, he is incredibly balanced, has nearly an auto lead change.

Vino could go any direction, just looking at him and watching him stay in rhythm to any fence, you see a hunter; take him xc schooling and watch him strut around the dressage ring you see a top class event horse. He is brave, he is SUPER safe, and he is the sweetest horse in the barn.

Excellent ground manners, very sound, with good feet. He requires NO PREP to ride or take off the property. He can have several days off and he is still the same sweet calm horse. He has been extensively trail ridden, and been to two small schooling shows, and also several other off the farm trips.

He is currently schooling 2’3″-2’6″ courses, he is ready to take out for the 2018 season. He does not require a professional or a super strong rider, AA or YR friendly! Located in Kentucky.

Sheldon. Photo via Sport Horse Nation.

Upper Level Potential

Straight Sugar “Sheldon” is a 11 year old Thoroughbred gelding. He has evented through Novice and will be ready for Training in spring 2018. Sheldon would also make a lovely jumper. He has a very bold and enthusiastic jump. He is consistent and easy on the flat but does need a rider with experience.

Sheldon hacks alone or in company and stands well for vets and farriers. Self loads/unloads from trailers! Excellent ground manners! Available to be seen at Antebellum Farm in Lexington, KY.

Valdero. Photo via Sport Horse Nation.

Valdero 2014 TB

Valdero is a 16.1hh 2014 TB by the same sire as American Pharoah. Valdero was started in August and is loving his new job. Valdero is ready to go beginner novice, training level dressage or do small hunter courses. Valdero has good jumping form with a great hind end and takes you to the jumps. He is very brave and hacks out alone or in a group on a loose rein.

Valdero loves to go on adventures off property. He has enjoyed going to the CKRH charity trail ride, a hunter pace and an eventing derby. Valdero has been ridden bareback and rides exactly the same as he does while under saddle. Valdero is oozing with talent, has an amazing personality and can’t wait to find his long term home. Located in Kentucky.

Listings included in this article are randomly selected and confirmed to be current and active before inclusion. Sport Horse Nation features user-generated content and therefore cannot verify or make any warranty as to the validity or reliability of information.