Classic Eventing Nation

EN’s 12 Days of Christmas: Pro II Plus Helmet from Charles Owen

By on Dec 21, 2017 9:00 am -

Welcome to the penultimate giveaway of EN’s 12 Days of Christmas! Up for grabs today: a Pro II Plus helmet from our fantastic sponsor Charles Owen.

The groundbreaking Pro II Plus is the only triple-standard, precision-fitting cross country skull cap with a removable liner. Featuring a sized liner that allows for the closest, most customized fit yet, the Pro II Plus includes front and rear ventilation slots for superior cooling and a GRpx® technology harness for unsurpassed stability. With a liner that can be replaced when it has been broken down by wear cross country, riders can easily refresh the life of their helmet. It is available in black and silver and is kitemarked to PAS015:2011, kitemarked and CE marked to VG1 01.040 2014-12, and certified by SEI to ASTM F1163.

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

Thursday News & Notes from Nupafeed

By on Dec 21, 2017 12:03 am -

Photo by Kim Nordstrom Perry.

The Horse Park of New Jersey recently held a photo contest and received nearly 400 entries, including this gem above.  The grand prize winner, Kathleen Ryan, received a free membership to the Park for 2018. Kim Nordstrm Perry was the winner of the horse division, and with such a completely ridiculous little adorable gremlin like that smiling with such nice teeth, how could she not win??

National Holiday: National French Fried Shrimp Day

Day 21:  “I’m sorry I ruined your lives, and crammed eleven cookies into the VCR.”

News From Around the Globe:

In February of 2018 the USEA will once again combine three of its educational programs – the Instructors’ Certification Program (ICP), the Young Event Horse (YEH) Program, and the Future Event Horse (FEH) Program, for a full week of fun and education. The multiplicity of these USEA offerings creates an opportunity for riders, instructors, judges, horse owners, horse breeders, and friends of the sport to witness, discuss, ask questions, and receive feedback related to informed breeding, high-quality handling, and ridden training of young horses. [Sign Up!]

Zenyatta’s son Cozmic One is slated to compete at the 2018 Retired Racehorse Project. His best result as a racehorse was a fourth place at Del Mar in July of this year, but the son of Zenyatta and Bernardini is ready for his second career under the guidance of none other than three-time winner of the RRP Isabela de Sousa and her team. [Zenyatta’s Son Ready for RRP 2018]

Best of Blogs: Changing the World: Thunder’s Story (see video below too!)

Five-year-old Tylon Pittman made a very important 911 call this week, as he was extremely concerned that the Grinch was planning to steal Christmas. Once he learned on the internet that the Grinch was legitimately going to ruin everyone’s holiday, he dialed up 911 and let the operator know about the threat. [Grinch Thwarted Again]

Congrats to Paige B., our day 10 winner of EN’s 12 Days of Christmas giveaways! Paige will receive an AirMesh Body Protector by Airowear. Tune in to EN today for your next chance to win a prize from one of EN’s awesome sponsors.

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: How Michael Jung Spends the Eventing Off-Season

By on Dec 20, 2017 4:30 pm -

 

FischerSolution erreicht den 11. Platz im Rolex Grand Prix über 1,60m💪🏼✨🎉
Es war ein wahnsinns Gefühl diesen Parcours mit ihr zu reiten 🚀
fischer group

Posted by Michael Jung on Sunday, December 10, 2017

One might be fooled into thinking Michael Jung would take time off from being completely amazing and enjoy a quiet winter break, but you don’t become World Number 1 by laying on the couch and drinking hot chocolate until spring.

While the eventing season is on a short holiday, Jung has been honing his skills in the jumper ring. It’s no secret he competes regularly in pure show jumping, but lately he’s appearing on some of the sport’s biggest stages.

At the 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva in Switzerland earlier this month, where Kent Farrington won the star-studded division aboard Gazelle, Jung and the 8-year-old Westphalian mare fischerSolution finished 11th after a gorgeous round with just one rail down at the second to last fence. Watch their round above and click here to watch the entire class.

What could be next for Jung? Do you think he might tackle an Olympic path in show jumping?

Feeding IR or Cushing’s Horses?

Ask your vet about NutrientWise™.

NutrientWise:

  • Adds essential vitamins and minerals that counter the effects of oxidative stress caused by normal metabolism and exercise. The harder a horse works, the more nutritional support it needs.
  • Contributes essential vitamins and minerals to a diet containing mostly hay, hay cubes or fiber pellets. This is especially important in diets where grass and grain is limited due to metabolic disease or weight control.
  • Delivers vitamins and minerals that support a robust immune system in horses of all ages.
  • Fills in dietary gaps for horses that are not eating recommended levels of fortified concentrates (pellets or sweet feeds).
  • Maintains adequate nutrient levels to support the healing of tissue and bones in horses that are recovering from illness or injury and are on restricted diets.
  • Provides the supplementation necessary to protect the nutritional status of both the mare and her foal during the last trimester of pregnancy and lactation.
  • Supplies additional vitamins and minerals to support the rapid bone and muscular growth in young horses

For more information, visit KPPvet.com.

 

2017 EquiRatings Horse of the Year: Donner & Foxwood High Need Your Votes!

By on Dec 20, 2017 11:00 am -
Voting is underway for 2017 EquiRatings Horse of the Year! Voting is underway for 2017 EquiRatings Horse of the Year!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It’s nearly Christmas, plus Horse of the Year festivities are well underway. EN will be posting our nominees for the coveted Golden Chinchilla at the beginning of January as we always do, but you can also get your Horse of the Year fix now thanks to EquiRatings.

The equestrian data company has been running their Horse of the Year contest since 2015 with a focus on which horses had the most impressive statistical performances around the world throughout the year. The USA rallied to vote Loughan Glen as EquiRatings Horse of the Year in 2015, and China supported Don Geniro for a landslide victory in 2016.

This year EquiRatings has nominated 12 horses, and we have an American horse represented in Donner and a Canadian horse represented in Foxwood High. North America — assemble! The first round of voting went live this morning. Each horse that wins their head-to-head poll will advance to the next round. All you have to do to vote is click on the horse’s photo in the polls below.

Scroll down and vote for Donner and Foxwood High! Then click over to the EquiRatings blog to read all about Donner and Foxwood High in the 2017 season, plus all of the other nominees: Nereo, Horseware Hale Bob, fischerRocana FST, Arctic Soul, Ballaghmor Class, Bulana, Cekatinka, Calle 44, Ivar Gooden and Hunter Valley II.

EN’s 12 Days of Christmas: AirMesh Body Protector by Airowear

By on Dec 20, 2017 9:00 am -

EN’s “12 Days of Christmas” series been wildly popular this year, and if you haven’t won yet you’ve still got three more chances!

Today’s giveaway: an AirMesh Body Protector by Airowear. 

The AirMesh is the most highly ventilated BETA 2009 Level 3 body protector in Airowear’s high performance line, featuring a sporty mesh covering that allows for enhanced airflow across the rider’s torso. With lightweight foam that molds closer to the body than ever before, the AirMesh is designed to provide the ultimate in comfort and safety.

The AirMesh is available in black or grey. Gender-specific sizing in slim and regular allows for the best and most truly customized fit.

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

Wednesday News & Notes from SmartPak

By on Dec 20, 2017 12:01 am -

Elf on the Shelf has got a (much larger) clone! Photo via Destination Farm FB page.

Fun holiday shows, endless candy and cookies, and caroling 24/7. What’s not to love about the holidays? Usually I’m stuck inside working so much I can’t take a second to enjoy but for the first time in my working life, I’m taking a break between Christmas and New Year to enjoy my horse before he heads south for the winter. Fingers crossed for good weather!

National Holiday: Go Caroling Day

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Still patiently waiting for 2018…

Your Wednesday News & Notes:

If you’re keeping up with the EquiRatings Horse of the Year, they’re up to contender #9, Ballaghmor Class. You can get the rundown on all the contenders directly from the horse’s mouth, as it were, by listening into the Horseware Eventing Podcast. [ER HOTY – Making the List]

DeLux Z has been quietly sneaking up the four-star ranks with Kurt Martin. DeLux Z and Kurt have flown under the radar since their win at Lux’s first CCI3* in 2015, but have steadily been improving as the horse gains fitness. With a desire for escaping and a not-so-secret love for his stablemate Anna Bella, Lux has proven quite the character at home. [Behind the Stall Door]

The Wilberry Wonder Pony Hannah Francis Award has been given to a friend of the late Hannah Francis. Emily Mustow has channeled the determination of Hannah this year, struggling back from a concussion only to suffer from acute appendicitis the day she was cleared. After her layoff she completed her first one-star before long-term effects from the concussion took hold. [Young Rider Wins Hannah Francis Award]

SmartPak Product of the Day: If you’ve left your gift shopping until the last minute and are worried about receiving gift shipments on time, worry no more! SmartPak Gift Certificates are instantly delivered to their recipients. [SmartPak]

Congrats to Shannon L., our day nine winner of EN’s 12 Days of Christmas giveaways! Shannon will receive a prize pack from Horseware including a winter jacket, turnout blanket and dog blanket. Tune in to EN today for your next chance to win a prize from one of EN’s awesome sponsors.

Tuesday Video from SpectraVet: Charlotte Dujardin’s Newest Star Dubbed ‘Mrs. Valegro’

By on Dec 19, 2017 4:00 pm -

Say hello to Mount St. John Freestyle, Charlotte Dujardin’s newest promising ride who has been dubbed “Mrs. Valegro” by adoring fans. Emma Blundell’s striking 9-year-old Hannoverian (Fidermark x Donnerhall) grabbed headlines last week as Charlottee did a masterclass demonstration at Olympia.

“Mount St. John Freestyle, she’s a horse I’ve been riding for four years now.  I had her when she was 5-years-old, she’s now eight. She’s just come on beyond belief,” Charlotte said. “She’s got a heart of gold. I have to say, she gives me glimpses of Valegro in the arena.”

“She’s incredibly brave when she goes in. I have never put her in an atmosphere or an environment like that before, so I wasn’t really sure how she was going to be, but I have to say she felt absolutely incredible. There were moments of riding where you feel emotional because she has the talent that she just gives and gives and gives.”

Watch out world — there’s another dressage superstar in the making.

Why SpectraVET?

Reliable. Effective. Affordable.

SpectraVET is committed to providing only the highest-quality products and services to our customers, and to educating the world in the science and art of laser therapy.

We design and manufacture the broadest range of clinically-proven veterinary therapeutic laser products, which are represented and supported worldwide by our network of specialist distributors and authorized service centers.

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