Classic Eventing Nation

Dutton Top U.S. Rider in FEI Rankings for Third Consecutive Year

By on Jan 4, 2018 1:00 pm -

Phillip Dutton and Z at the 2017 Ocala Jockey Club CIC3*. Photo by Jenni Autry.

With results for all FEI eventing competitions in 2017 now accounted for, Michael Jung has officially ended his third consecutive season as the FEI World #1. Michael took the top spot in the FEI World Eventing Athlete Rankings starting in 2015 and never looked back, setting a record high of 711 points in September 2016.

This year Michael ended the season with 463 points, with Tim Price and Gemma Tattersall in equal second place on 450 points each.

Despite breaking his collarbone in September and missing out on all major CCI competitions in the autumn, Phillip Dutton is the highest ranked U.S. rider for the third consecutive year. Phillip concluded the 2017 season in the fourth slot with 435 points.

Four U.S. riders ended the year in the top 25. In addition to Phillip in fourth, we also have Boyd Martin in 17th with 334 points, Hannah Sue Burnett in 19th with 323 points, and Buck Davidson in 25th with 291 points.

An additional five U.S. riders cracked the top 50: Will Coleman in 31st with 283 points, Jennie Brannigan in 33rd with 269 points, Lauren Kieffer in 41st with 251 points, Erin Sylvester in 45th with 243 points, and Kylie Lyman in 50th with 237 points.

Selena O’Hanlon is the only Canadian rider inside the top 100, concluding the season in equal 59th place on 211 points. Jessica Phoenix and Waylon Roberts are both ranked inside the top 200, in 115th and 155th places, respectively.

Click here to view the final FEI rankings for the 2017 season.

Love Nation: Congrats to Newly Engaged EN Publisher John & Fiancé Jess!

By on Jan 4, 2018 10:30 am -

J+J Romance Factory! Photo used without permission from John’s FB page.

Join us in issuing a great big unauthorized congrats to Eventing Nation founder and publisher John on his engagement to Jessica Fink! John got down on one knee just before the holidays and Jessica, a very sweet and pretty girl who seems OK with John’s myriad neuroticisms, took the bait. Changed light bulbs for life, Jess! No step-stools needed on that wedding gift registry!

At risk of getting all of us fired for revealing any details about John’s shadowy existence, I can confirm that John is doing A-OK in the game of life. In addition to running like seven successful businesses, he is currently on scholarship at an unnamed university working on his MBA, crunching numbers and learning corporate jargon like “action plan” and “leadership deliverables” that he uses to torment and bewilder his employees here at Nation Media. Get that paper, John! In his leisure time he enjoys being in love, traversing vast distances between business meetings in his car, participating in grueling physical activities and hanging out with his lovely mom. Hi, John’s mom!

The EN staff hasn’t met Jess in person, yet, but we have interrogated John at length about her and in our professional opinion they are a totally perfect match. Sounds like they’re aiming for a summer wedding, and don’t worry, I already put in a request that it be scheduled around all major three-day events.

All ribbing aside, on behalf of the entire Eventing Nation we couldn’t be happier for you two! Congrats and here’s wishing John and Jess a happily ever after!

Go Love. Go Eventing.

Awwwww, you two!

Eventing 25 Emerging Athlete Amanda Beale Clement is a Student of the Sport

By on Jan 4, 2018 9:00 am -

Amanda Beale Clement and Get Ready at Fair Hill International 2017. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

Amanda Beale Clement officially became a three-star rider at the Ocala Jockey Club International in November, where she was the youngest competitor in the division. That wasn’t the only big thing to happen to her last fall — she also became a freshman at West Chester University in Pennsylvania.

Eventing is all in the family for Amanda. Her mother, Susie Beale, is an accomplished four-star rider who owns and operates the bustling Cairn O’Mount Stables in Malvern, Pennsylvania. In addition to Susie’s long list of competitive accomplishments, her student’s many achievements speak to her passion for training and teaching which her daughter shares. The 18-year-old piloted her mother’s 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding Get Ready to a 17th place finish in the star-studded CIC3* at Ocala, adding only time to their dressage score.

But even with a four-star rider as a mother, Amanda wasn’t interested in eventing from the get-go. Up until the age of 11, she wanted to try all kinds of other activities and sports instead. “My mom was completely supportive and I think kept secretly hoping I wouldn’t want to ride,” said Amanda. “All the other sports were much cheaper!” 

“I know how proud she is of me though; we have both worked hard to get me to this level. She is my biggest supporter, but I also have some amazing owners and sponsors who have come on board this year.”

2017 would be a big year for Amanda and it was kickstarted by being named to the USEF Emerging Athlete Eventing 18 list participating in the winter training session last January, which she says was a turning point in her riding thanks to the newfound confidence it gave her. At that time, she had only recently begun her partnership with Get Ready, known as “Brooklyn” around the barn, and rode her previous mount, Peter Pan, whom she piloted to team gold for Area II in the CH-J1* at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships in 2015 and later competed through the CCI2* level.

“Peter Pan taught me so much and I left the January E18 session ready to take on the new partnership with Brooklyn,” Amanda reflected. She sings the praises of the lectures and demonstrations from top equine industry professionals, the group of other riders with whom she made strong friendships during the camp, and last but certainly not least, the “phenomenal teaching styles and techniques” of Emerging Athlete Coach Leslie Law.

“Leslie’s way of teaching immediately made sense to me and I felt completely at ease with him and his style. He is a superb instructor with an innate ability to help the rider understand the concepts that he is teaching. He is an excellent coach — he focuses on the training scale which is the basis of good riding. His dressage lessons and jump lessons are extremely helpful and positive.”

Amanda Beale Clement and Peter Pan, March 2016. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

The boost of confidence that the E18 training camp provided helped Amanda to make her (and Brooklyn’s) debut at the Advanced level at Fair Hill in April, which would set them up for a very successful rest of the 2017 season. Before turning their attention to qualifying for a CCI2*, they ran Advanced again at the Horse Park of New Jersey in June and managed to knock four marks of their dressage score and 20 seconds off their cross country time from their debut at the level.

Amanda was also able to train with Leslie on a few other occasions throughout the competition season. First, at a two-day E18 training session at Phillip Dutton’s True Prospect Farm before they contested the CCI2* at Fair Hill International, and then again during a four-day intensive training session in Florida prior to the Ocala Jockey Club International. The extra preparation with Leslie was instrumental in helping her and Brooklyn jump clean around both events, says Amanda.

Having had such success due in part to the opportunities provided through the E18 program, it was a no-brainer for Amanda to apply to Eventing 25.

“With all this under my belt I knew that I had to apply for E25. I thought it was a bit of a long shot as I am only 18 and there are so many great riders already named to the E25,” she said, “but I am so excited to be given this opportunity by the USEF.”  

As a first-year college student, Amanda also had to learn how to balance school with riding once the school year started. She admits it has been a challenge, but the feat has thankfully been made a little easier by the help and support of the people around her.

“There were days when I would be asking myself, ‘How is this going to work?’ I would have four horses to ride, a paper to write, a test and quiz due. I crammed all my classes into Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday which made those days long, but having Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday to ride and compete was amazing.”

“There was some resistance to that schedule from the school and my advisor; they kept insisting that a freshman couldn’t do that schedule and classes had to be over all five days. I could not have done it without the help of the staff at the stable and my mom, but the schedule that I picked did work. Without that schedule and some really nice Wednesday professors the fall FEI events would have been out of the question.”

Amanda plans to ride and teach professionally after college and she hopes her major in psychology will help her along her path. Throughout the rest of her education, she’ll continue to work alongside her mom at Cairn O’Mount Stables by teaching, going to shows and coaching, and training the young horses.

Amanda Beale Clement and Get Ready at Fair Hill International 2017. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

Moving forward into 2018 with a semester of college under her belt, Amanda has plans to continue her eventing education as well, starting with participating in next week’s the Emerging Athlete winter training session.

“I know it will be another great experience and I am really looking forward to it,” she said. “I am really hoping to polish up on my flying changes! Now that I am going Advanced and three-star they are rather important — that’s where Leslie comes in!”

Amanda will then start the 2018 competition season by bringing four young horses to the new Grand Oaks Horse Trials in Florida to run in Novice through Preliminary levels. She and her mom have recently started a new venture bringing horses over from Ireland.

“I am really excited to get the new horses out competing,” she said. “This spring I will help my mom ride and compete at most of the events while also coaching our students. We have a great partnership, I am very lucky that I have an opportunity to work under her as I get my name out in the eventing world.”

Brooklyn will make his season debut the following month and will warm up with a run at Prelim before gearing up and aiming for Jersey Fresh later in the spring. Overall, Amanda wants to focus on technique and improving her skills at the upper-levels throughout the spring.

Long-term, Amanda has three concrete goals: Graduate from college, ride at the Kentucky CCI4*, and one day, represent the United States on a team.

“I love to compete, the nerves and the adrenaline of the sport is something that keeps one coming back for more. I love the challenges and the knowledge that I will always be learning something new from every horse I ride.”

Go Amanda. Go Eventing.

Thursday News & Notes from Nupafeed

By on Jan 4, 2018 12:03 am -

Real photo from South Carolina. Photo by Megan Stauch.

You know, when I wake up and it’s 1* outside in Virginia, the only thing that comforts me (aside from my Carhartt overalls and eight layers of clothes) is the knowledge that it’s also freezing in South Carolina and Florida. Sorry, snowbirds, but it’s somehow deeply hilarious to me that it’s snowing in Florida and everyone is losing their damn minds. I’m sure I’ll regret this in two weeks when it’s 75 and sunny down there but snowing up here….

National Holiday: National Spaghetti Day

News From Around the Globe:

Changes are abounding for the 2018 Eventing calendar, starting with some of our first events of the season. The Pine Top CIC3* has been removed, with them concentrating on their popular Advanced division, but Bromont has added a CIC3*, CIC2* and CIC* to their dates, eyed as a possible last outing for horses heading to the WEG. Five Points HT, which was off the calendar due to the AEC in 2017, is back for this year, and later in the year we have a CIC3*, CIC2* and CIC* added to the roster at Stable View. [Changes to 2018 Calendar]

Argentinian photographer Ramon Casares has created an amazing exhibition showcasing the beauty of the polo pony.  With his distinctive use of light, shadow, and an intuitive feel for his animal subjects developed from his time as a zookeeper, Casares’s images of polo ponies illuminate the equine athletes of the sport of kings in a spectacular and emotive fashion. [Fine Art of Polo Ponies]

Current popular question: when exactly is it too cold to ride? While we each have our personal cutoffs (mine is 10 degrees), there is a combination of science and common sense that should guide you during the winter weather. There are lots of factors to consider, such as the footing, your horse’s fitness, and respiratory concerns to think about before proceeding. Are you prepared? [Too Cold to Ride? Using Common Sense & Science]

When it comes to winter, a lot of us struggle to keep weight on our hard keepers. In a sport that has so many Thoroughbreds, this is a common struggle amongst eventers. Many horses do really well with the grass during the summer months, but as soon as that disappears, their ribs become more apparent. Feeding for weight gain is something like an art, but you can follow some simple rules to help you stay on track. [Feeding for Weight Gain in the Winter]

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: 10 Useful Items You Need in the Barn

By on Jan 3, 2018 4:30 pm -

We all know that when it comes to balancing a riding, work, family and social life, efficiency is paramount. Sometimes making small investments in products and tools to help you work smarter and not harder makes a big difference. Elisa Wallace compiled her 10 favorite handy-dandy items to have in the barn that help make her days run smoother whether she’s doing chores, riding or competing. She’s got some great ideas so snag your shopping list and listen up!

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University of Georgia Eventing Team Celebrates Another Successful Show Season

By on Jan 3, 2018 1:30 pm -

Senior Whitney Rowell gives Kings Flashy Lassy a hug before cross country at the Tryon Riding & Hunt Club H.T. Photo courtesy of the UGA Eventing Team.

As eventers look forward to the 2018 show season, the University of Georgia Eventing team reflected on its accomplishments from this year. Since its inception in 2012, UGA Eventing has been a force of nature on the USEA Collegiate Team Challenge circuit, but the recent 2017 fall eventing season has proven to be an exceptional one. The team kept their riders busy with a Ride-a-Test, three clinics with top rated riders, and five optional team challenges.

With the help of team advisor and international 4* eventer Kristin Schmolze, the team organized a Ride-a-Test on Sept. 9 to kick off the semester. Team members completed a dressage test and stadium round, judged by Schmolze, at various levels from Beginner Novice to Preliminary. With feedback from a well-seasoned eventer, riders felt ready to attack the 2017 fall competition season.

Sandy Osborn helps Jasmine Hawkins and Divine Intervention with their dressage. Photo courtesy of UGA Eventing.

USDF gold and silver medalist Sandy Osborn helped team members master their dressage skills on Sept. 30-Oct. 1. Over the course of a two-day clinic hosted by Knotty Branch Farm in Hull, GA, Osborn spent an hour with each rider, critiquing their technique and adjusting her teaching style to match each horse and rider pair.

Freshman Sophie Tallman says, “I loved riding with Sandy because she started out the lesson with the basics of just getting your horse responsive and off your leg. If you didn’t understand something, she would try explaining it another way until everything clicked. She had me work up to more technical movements and had so many different exercises for each rider … I would not hesitate to ride with her again!” With background as a competitive rider, trainer and dressage judge, Osborn brought a unique perspective to UGA Eventers.

Annabelle Kremer and Delgado in the Preliminary division at the Kurt Martin clinic. Photo courtesy of UGA Eventing.

The team’s second clinic was hosted at Silverthorn Farm in Athens, Ga with 4* eventer Kurt Martin. Riders responded well to Martin’s patience and experience as he guided members through challenging show jumping questions. Several riders also participated in a third, optional clinic with UGA alumni Libby Head, another successful 4* rider. Through her continued support of the team, Head has served as an incredible mentor and friend to several UGA Eventers.

“I love being able to stay involved with the team even after graduation, whether it’s teaching clinics or just cheering everyone on at events,” she says. “It truly takes a village and having a close group of girls that are willing to help each other, both in horses and in academics, is something I wish I had in college sooner!”

UGA Eventers put their skills to the test at the USEA Collegiate Team Challenges that were hosted throughout the year. This semester, Georgia sent riders to all five challenges and sent teams to three of these events. Georgia placed competitively at each show, winning the Windridge Farm Event and Tryon Riding & Hunt Club H.T. Karolina Sabonaityte, who competed at several team challenges, noted that competing in a collegiate environment greatly enhanced her involvement in the sport of eventing. According to Sabonaityte, collegiate eventing is rooted in great support and comradery, an irreplaceable experience.

The team has been known to attract members from across the country, and this year proved no different. UGA Eventing boasts a roster with student from as far west as Colorado and as far north as Massachusetts. Seven new freshman joined the team this fall, four of whom were out of state students. Jessica Simons traveled all the way from Colorado to enroll in the University of Georgia and compete on the eventing team.

Simons said that traveling across the country for college was daunting, but the friendships she has built through the team made the transition considerably easier. “The team became a second family to me,” she says. “I cannot picture going to any other school after all the incredible memories I formed with this team.”

Learn more about the UGA Eventing Team by visiting their website and following their adventures on Facebook and Instagram. Also be sure to check out our Collegiate Eventing Spotlight on them here, as well as “The UGA Eventing Team IS Insanity in the Middle.”

 

#EventerProblems Vol. 132: Arctic Eventing

By on Jan 3, 2018 11:00 am -

After looking at the frozen forecast a couple days ago, I tried to sell a couple eventing buddies on an impromptu trip south for the week. “Let’s just throw our horses on the trailer and go!” I pitched, hoping they would mistake the desperation in my voice for enthusiasm. “Let’s blow this popsicle stand!”

Lisa rolled her eyes at me as usual, but I could tell Katherine was taking the bait. Time to hash out details: Aiken or Ocala? We checked the forecasts for both, and that’s when our half-baked but promising plan came to a screeching halt:

New plan: Mexico? I hear Cancun is nice this time of year, and beach gallops are great conditioning.

Baby, it’s cold outside, even way down south. Here’s to all of you out there in the Eventing Nation who are bundling up and braving the chill!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BddiyDSA5gs/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcnXJ-vgISI/

Hoping for warmer days ☀️ #eventerproblems @dappirridgeeventing

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Feeding the horses when it's zero degrees like… #eskimo #eventerproblems

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Go Eventing.

Sport Horse Nation Spotlight: Personality to Boot

By on Jan 3, 2018 9:30 am -

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.

Everyone looks for something different in their next event horse: a competitive powerhouse, a teachable youngster, a forgiving schoolmaster. But for some riders, their horse’s personality is just as important as their talent and potential. Here are four horses for sale with a particularly fun personality, great brain or sweet demeanor.

JC Doctor Action. Photo via Sport Horse Nation.

2011 16.3hh TB Gelding **Fancy, Talented, Sane**

JC Doctor Action, 6 year old 16.3hh OTTB Gelding, Located in Trumansburg, NY. This stunning guy just came home from the 2017 Thoroughbred Makeover were he placed 5th in Dressage out of nearly 80 horses! He also put in an impressive Show Jumping round and earned a great placing!

“Wilson” is a tall, handsome gelding that just oozes quality and has a great brain. This guy has serious potential as an upper level event horse or Show Jumper. He has the scope and bravery to get you through XC and stadium and the lovely movement and finesse to earn the best dressage scores. With 3 stunning, powerful gaits, that are just being developed, he will be a knockout in the Dressage arena. He has been successful shown in 2’6 Jumpers and has schooled XC and competed in a Cross Derby without batting an eye at anything.

Wilson would be perfect mount for an ambitious rider looking for a horse to bring up the levels. He hacks out like a gentleman on trails, alone or with a group, and loves to play in and walk through puddles, ponds, and creeks. Wilson is a solid citizen; he has wonderful ground manners both on and off the farm, stands for vet and farrier, loads and rides well. Located in New York.

Doc Daneka. Photo via Sport Horse Nation.

Doc Daneka; Flashy 6 yr old OTTB. Fancy with a lovely jump

Doc daneka; aka Dan is a 16.2H Gelding with lots of flash and chrome and a personality to match.
Started in a professional training program last year in Aiken SC, Dan has spent the year getting many schooling miles. Dan is schooling well and has taught some lessons in our schooling program.

He has been very brave schooling and jumping but also enjoys the flat and could be a competitive flat horse. Priced to sell before we travel back south. Ready to start competing 2018 with the right new owner. Located in Tennessee.

FR’s Check It Out Now. Photo via Sport Horse Nation.

Solid Training Horse w Prelim Experience

FR’s Check It Out Now “Billy” is a 2009 15.3h mostly TB gelding (some KWPN) with a desire to please and a puppy dog personality. He has a solid record at training and some prelim experience. He’s been ridden by an amateur since he was 5. He could pack around the lower levels with a kid or adult amateur or be taken back up the levels by a more experienced rider. Consistently scores in the mid/low 30s. Placed in the Top 20 at AEC’s in 2016. Jumped clear around his first prelim in 2016. If I were able to keep him I’d plan on moving him back up to prelim very soon.

Plenty of scope and floaty movement makes him stand out to the judges. He has a sensitive mouth and does not get strong on cross country, easily adjustable to the fences. He’s very forgiving and won’t hold a grudge when his rider makes mistakes. Knows his job and takes you to the fences. Could be a great horse for a kid coming off a pony and looking for their first horse. Billy is an absolute sweetheart in the barn and wants to be your best friend. He loads, clips, ties, and stands for the farrier.

I would keep this horse forever if I were able to, but new job forces sale. Motivated seller but good home an absolute must. Located in Birmingham, AL.

PS Billy Allegro. Photo via Sport Horse Nation.

* Flashy & SWEET 5 Yr Imported Gelding By Billy Congo / Billy Stud!

PS Billy Allegro “Leggo” is as sweet as they come! He was imported in August of 2017 & enjoys his work and all the attention! Super easy to do in all ways. Schooling courses now and will start showing soon.

(2012) 16.2 Bright Bay AES with stripe & 4 socks by Billy Congo. Superior breeding, this fella is a love bug & super FANCY! Sweet, easy & super future ahead of him. Amazing jumper, easy to do in all ways. Snaffle mouth and loves his job! Should easily go on to 2*/3* level. Price to increase with show miles. Located in Florida.

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.

Wednesday News & Notes from SmartPak

By on Jan 3, 2018 12:01 am -

Working students in the wild have been known to search out sources of warmth in the winter months. Photo via Destination Farm FB page.

For the first time in my eventing career, I will be competing at the very first horse trials of the year, which happens to be held at Stable View this year. Originally my plan was to ride through New Year’s but the arctic temps and frozen ground thwarted that. Now I’m headed down to Aiken this weekend to take a spin on my squid so we can try not to embarrass ourselves running Novice. Turning is hard when you’re 17.1 hands worth of legs.

National Holiday: Fruitcake Toss Day

U.S. Weekend Preview:

One more week…

Your Wednesday News & Notes:

Margaret Hough made history when she became the first woman to win Badminton. At a time when men still looked down on women for not just competing but daring to be competitive, Margaret Hough and Bambi V dared to take the title in 1954. Margaret passed away peacefully at the age of 86. [First Female Badminton Winner Dies]

We’ve heard from some of the American riders but the Brits have big goals too. Oliver Townend, Laura Collett, and Izzy Taylor all have promising young horses and all have a similar goal: Badminton then WEG. [New Years Resolutions]

Judges wanted! If you’ve ever thought about becoming a dressage judge (or more importantly, need to escape the cold), you can still sign up for the Dressage Session I Training Program in Ocala from January 29 to February 1. The deadline has been extended to January 10. [Deadline Extended]

SmartPak Product of the Day: I ventured out from my normal boot brand this fall after wearing out too many pairs too quickly and was extremely pleased when these Mountain Horse field boots arrived. I’ve gotten quite a few compliments on their looks so far and they had almost no break in time! [SmartPak]

Tuesday Video from SpectraVet: Skijoring at Rebecca Farm

By on Jan 2, 2018 6:00 pm -

Skijoring is the newest winter craze for adrenaline junkies. It’s the exciting combination of skiing and horseback riding. Here’s a little intro for the skijoring ignorant…

Rebecca Farm announced earlier this year that they would throw their hat in the game to host their first skijoring competition. Basically, a skier is pulled behind a hell-bend horse with the goal of navigating an obstacle course in the quickest time possible. Their competition was a huge success, and here are some exciting clips:

Next year we’re going to have our work cut out for us @randallkaarre

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Aside from the traditional open divisions, there was also a costume class and this adorable demonstration that seems a little more up my alley:

Have any of our northern EN readers tried skijoring? Would you give it a go? Let us know in the comments. I’m picturing a Chinch-sized pair of skis in the near future…

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