Classic Eventing Nation

Watch the 2017 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention Live Stream

By on Dec 7, 2017 2:28 pm -

Exciting news, EN! If you can’t make the trip to Long Beach, California to attend the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention this weekend, you can still watch many of the meetings, forums and special events thanks to a wall-to-wall live stream from Ride On Video.

The USEA is offering three separate live feeds to cover as many of the sessions as possible. The open feed is totally free to watch and does not require a login. The other two streams are available only to USEA members who have renewed their membership for the 2018 season.

If you haven’t renewed your USEA membership yet, now is the time to do so! You will gain access to all three feeds with both the $85 full competing membership and $40 supporting membership. Click here to view the full list of sessions that will be streamed across the open and members only feeds.

If you are not a USEA member, don’t despair! A slew of sessions will be streamed Friday, Saturday and Sunday for free on the open stream, including the USEA Year End Awards Ceremony on Saturday night. Here’s a look at the full open stream broadcast schedule:

USEA Convention Open Stream – Friday, December 8

8:30-9:30 a.m. PST – Horse Ownership (Dr. Mark Hart, Kevin Baumgardner & Eric Markell)

10-11 a.m. PST – Nutrition For Our Equine Athletes (Russell K. Mueller M.S. PAS from Nutrena)

11 a.m.- 12 p.m. PST – USEA Funded Equine Health Research (Katherine Cooper & Dr. Mike Van Noy)

12-1 p.m. PST – Taking Eventing to the Next Level (Mary Coldren & Jonathan Elliott)

1-2 p.m. p.m. PST – Plans for the Fair Hill CCI4* (Ann Haller)

2-3 p.m. PST – ABCs of Entering a Horse Trial and Your First FEI (Mary Coldren & Christina Gray)

3-4 p.m. PST – Gastrointestinal Health and Management (Dr. Carey Williams)

4-5 p.m. PST – Rehabilitating Your Sport Horse (Dr. Korin Potenza, DVM, CVA & Dr. Nick Huggons)

USEA Convention Open Stream – Saturday, December 9

8-8:30 a.m. PST – Confidence, Camaraderie & Coffee (Daniel Stewart)

9-10 a.m. PST – How Rider Injuries Differ by Gender (Roy Burek from Charles Owen)

10-11 a.m. PST – Constructing a Wellness Program for the Aging Horse (Allyn Mann from Adequan)

4-5 p.m. PST – Organizers & Secretaries: Best Practices (Dawn Benson)

6:30-9:30 a.m. PST – USEA Year End Awards

USEA Convention Open Stream – Sunday, December 10

9-10 a.m. PST – Martial Arts Training to Improve Your Riding (Matt Brown)

Many thanks to the USEA and Ride On Video for providing this live streaming service. Click here to access all three live streaming feeds and the full broadcast schedule. Stay tuned for all of EN’s coverage from the 2017 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention. Go Eventing.

#USEAConvention: Website, Open Meeting Schedule, Committee Meeting Schedule, Live Stream, Convention Program, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

Bromont Adding New FEI Event in August 2018

By on Dec 7, 2017 12:17 pm -

The beautiful Bromont sign. Photo via EN Archives.

Bromont has announced the addition of a new FEI event at the venue for 2018, offering a CIC3*, CIC2* and CIC1* on August 17-19 in Quebec, Canada. Derek di Grazia, who designs the courses at Bromont for the June CCI, will also design the courses for the new CIC.

Sue Ockendon, Bromont’s longtime organizer, said she is offering the new CIC in 2018 to fill in the gap on the calendar created by the the cancellation of Richland Park Horse Trials.

“There weren’t any FEI events running between Millbrook and Plantation Field, so it’s an event that is needed next year. If it were successful I would continue running it,” Sue said.

“The whole team will be there, including Jay Hambly, who does a wonderful job as Derek’s assistant course designer. I wouldn’t do the event without them.”

The August CIC at Bromont is the third FEI competition scheduled to run in Canada in 2018. Bromont will host the MARS Incorporated Bromont CCI Three Day Event on June 7-10, 2018, followed by the CIC on August 17-19.

The inaugural running of Foshay International is slated to offer a CCI1* and the FEI’s new 1.05-meter Introductory level over Labor Day weekend, August 30-Sept. 2, 2018, in Lower Jemseg, New Brunswick.

The omnibus pages for all of Bromont’s 2018 competitions, including Little Bromont on June 16-17, will be available on their website.

[Bromont 2018 Dates Announced]

Kentucky Horse Park to Host 2019 & 2020 American Eventing Championships

By on Dec 7, 2017 9:28 am -

The Kentucky Horse Park will host AEC in 2019 and 2020! Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

The USEA has named the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky as the host site for the 2019 and 2020 American Eventing Championships.

“It will be an honor to have the AEC hosted by one of the crown jewel facilities in our sport,” USEA President Carol Kozlowski said. “I can attest to the thrill of galloping and jumping over some of the best ground and well-designed courses in the country, and I’m eager for our members to have the fantastic experience of competing at the Kentucky Horse Park.

“Everything that makes a championship really special will be found there, and I’ll do everything I can to be competing there myself!”

Equestrian Events Inc., organizer of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, and Mary Fike, organizer of the Park Equine Kentucky Classique Horse Trials, will share management responsibilities for the 2019 and 2020 AEC.

“It’s exciting to welcome the AEC to Kentucky,” EEI Board President Stewart Perry said. “Through our partnership with Mary Fike, we are looking forward to having a direct avenue to support all levels of our sport.”

Mary added: “We think it’s about time the AEC comes to the Horse Capital of the World! We are confident that the competitors who come to Kentucky will have an experience to remember at the Kentucky Horse Park.”

The AEC most recently completed a two-year run at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina, host site of the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games. In 2018 the AEC will move to the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, Colorado for one year before moving to Kentucky.

The Kentucky Horse Park will serve as the seventh venue to host the AEC. The championships were first held in 2004 at the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, North Carolina. In 2007 the AEC moved to Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois, then Chattahoochee Hills in Fairburn, Georgia in 2010.

The Texas Rose Horse Park in Tyler, Texas hosted the AEC from 2013 to 2015 before Tryon took over as host in 2016. Area VIII will host the AEC for the first time in the history of the championships when the Kentucky Horse Park takes over hosting duties in 2019.

“I am incredibly thankful to the Tryon Equestrian Partners for their amazing efforts as the hosts of the AEC in 2016 and 2017,” USEA CEO Rob Burk said. “We are also excited to work with the same organizing team at the 2018 AEC at the Colorado Horse Park. I know the TIEC ownership, managers and staff will continue to make it a hub of equestrian sports in America.

“I am also excited to go to bluegrass country for 2019 and beyond,” Rob added. “I can’t wait to see the looks on the faces of the AEC competitors as they complete the competition in the same stadium ridden in by the greatest riders in the world!”

The USEA is also “making plans to reduce the costs to (AEC) competitors starting in 2019” and said the move to the Kentucky Horse Park will not increase the cost of competing at AEC.

What do you think about the new host site for AEC in 2019 and 2020, EN? Are you excited for AEC to be hosted at the Kentucky Horse Park? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

[USEA Selects Kentucky for the 2019 and 2020 American Eventing Championships]

Thursday News & Notes from Nupafeed

By on Dec 7, 2017 12:03 am -

For real though. Photo courtesy of The Horseaholic FB.

Alright well December is already traveling at an alarming speed, and the holidays are right around the corner! I thought I was on top of my game, and did some Christmas shopping for friends in October, and then failed to do any since then. Face palm. Now I’m in a slight panic, seeing as I haven’t actually done much of anything, and I need to get my rear in gear!

In other news, the USEA Convention starts today in Long Beach, California! The convention will be live streamed for the first time thanks to Ride On Video, with the first meeting kicking off at noon PST. Click here to access the live stream.

#USEAConvention: Website, Open Meeting Schedule, Committee Meeting Schedule, Convention Program, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

National Holiday: National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

News From Around the Globe:

Planning on going to the 2018 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event in the spring. Get your tickets today as prices go up at midnight EST! [Buy Tickets]

We’re sad to report the passing of legend Bill Steinkraus, who died on November 29th at the age of 92. Bill was undoubtedly one of the greatest riders of all time, winning individual gold on Snowbound at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, team silver in the 1982 Munich Olympics on Main Spring as well as team silver in 1960 in Rome on Riviera Wonder, and team bronze in 1952 in Helsinki on Hollandia. He competed on five Olympic teams for the United States, and will be sorely missed. [William C. “Bill” Steinkraus]

Eventing might be over for the year in the US, but it’s still poppin’ down in New Zealand this weekend with Puhinui International CCI3*. Ten combinations are set to start today, including Olympian and Badminton winner Jock Paget, who will be riding Heelan Tompkin’s Snow Leopard in the horse’s first CCI3*. I wouldn’t bet on Jock though, as he might be leaving mid-competition seeing as his wife is overdue to give birth! [All Roads Lead to Puhinui]

Just to put you in the Christmas spirit….did you see these photos from the Christmas parade in Middleburg? If you’re not already familiar, let me tell  you, it is a sight for horse lovers’ eyes. [Christmas in Horse Country]

Sorry, fans of homeopathy, but Britain’s Royal College of Veterinary Surgeon’s says it’s all hokey. Saying that homeopathy is not “based on sound scientific principles”, they stated, “We would like to highlight our commitment to promoting the advancement of veterinary medicine on sound scientific principles and to reiterate the fundamental obligation on our members as practitioners within a science-based profession, which is to make animal welfare their first consideration. In fulfilling this obligation, we expect treatments offered by veterinary surgeons are underpinned by a recognised evidence base or sound scientific principles. Veterinary surgeons should not make unproven claims about any treatments, including prophylactic treatments. [Homeopathy Not Scientifically Sound]

Remember Consensus? He completed Rolex with Julie Norman Shamburger in 2015 and now he is rocking around Prelim with a young rider!

 

 

 

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Bridleless Cross Country Helmet Cam

By on Dec 6, 2017 4:00 pm -

Bridleless Eventing – Cross en Cordelette (Août 2017)

/!\ NOUVELLE VIDÉO – METTRE EN HD /!\

L’autre jour, nous sommes retournées sur un cross différent de celui que je vous ai montré l’autre fois.
Il s’agit du cross de Les écuries de Maret, un parcours flambant neuf, avec des obstacles allant des catégories 60 à 90, et un terrain vraiment top!. 🙂
Après un petit échauffement en sidepull, nous nous lançons directement en cordelette <3. En effet, Unseelie était légère, super à l’écoute, et super motivée, ça promettait d’être EXTRA !
Et… ça l’a été, et bien au delà de mes espérances :D! On ne s’est pas trop attardée sur les obstacles de 60, car ils deviennent vraiment trop faciles pour la belle ! ^^’ Du coup on a visé plus haut, et, comment dire: tout est passé comme une lettre à la poste ! 😀 <3 C’est qu’elle tournerait sur du 90cm les doigts dans le nez la petite ! 😛
A la fin, on a même fait un plus gros enchaînement, sur lequel on s’est vraiment fait plaisir ! 🙂
Je quitte cet endroit des étoiles plein les yeux, et je ne me lasse pas de revivre ces moments au travers des vidéos en caméra embarquée… Quelle jument extraordinaire, quelle chance, quel PUR BONHEUR !
Merci la vie de m’avoir fait croiser son chemin <3 <3.

Posted by Unseelie de Jacen & Julie on Monday, September 4, 2017

One look at the Unseelie de Jacen & Julie Facebook page and it is clear this pair’s relationship is founded on mutual trust and respect, working at liberty and with either a bitless bridle or no bridle at all. Julie carefully chronicles her journey with her mare, Unseelie de Jacen, for her online audience (primarily in French, hooray for translation technology!) and shares tons of photos and videos of their progress.

Recently, Julie and Unseelie went to Les écuries de Maret in Belgium to school the new cross country course there. After a short warm-up with a bitless bridle, they dropped the head gear entirely and tackled the course with nought but a saddle and a string around the mare’s neck.

Julie had this to say (translated) after their grand adventure, which she recorded on a helmet cam: “I’m leaving this place with my eyes full of stars, and I don’t get tired of reliving these moments through video camera footage… what an extraordinary mare, how lucky, what pure happiness!”

Follow Unseelie and Julie on Facebook. Seriously, they’re amazing.

The feeling you get when it’s just you and your horse

It’s why we do what we do.

Fight back against an energy crisis that can impact condition and performance

Equi-Jewel® is a high-fat, low-starch and -sugar formula that was developed to safely meet the energy needs of your horse. Whether you have a hard keeper that needs extra calories to maintain his weight, or a top performance horse that needs cool energy to perform at her peak, Equi-Jewel can meet your horse’s needs. Equi-Jewel reduces the risk of digestive upset, supports optimal muscle function, maintains stamina, and helps horses recover faster after hard work, all while providing the calories your horse needs to thrive.

The fat found in rice bran is an extraordinary source of dietary energy. In fact, fat contains more than two times the energy that carbohydrates and proteins do, thereby fueling horses more efficiently. Fat is considered a “cool” feedstuff because it does not cause the hormone spikes that lead to excitability. Adding stabilized rice bran to your horse’s diet allows you to decrease the amount of starchy concentrates (grains) you feed, reducing the risk of colic and laminitis resulting from grain overload. Equi-Jewel is an excellent source of calories for horses on low sugar and starch diets.

It is why the horse that matters to you matters to us. Not sure which horse supplement best meets your horse’s needs? We are here to help. Contact Kentucky Performance Products, LLC at 859-873-2974 or visit our website at KPPusa.com.

MSE&DA Educational Forum with David O’Connor: Day 1 Highlights

By on Dec 6, 2017 1:00 pm -

Photo by Chelsea Smith.

Last weekend, Dec. 2-3, Mid-South Eventing & Dressage Association welcomed David O’Connor to the bluegrass for two-day educational forum. Day one consisted of in-seat education, with the morning session, “Eventing: The Big Picture Now & The Future,” followed by “Systematic Training of Event Horse & Rider” in the afternoon.

A few notes from day one of the forum:

Coaches and Trainers Determine the Future

In the Saturday morning session, O’Connor discussed risk management and the future of the sport. He stated that he believes the answer is in coaching, particularly for amateurs and enthusiasts who compete at the lower levels.

When it comes to learning, O’Connor explained that most riders are visual learners. Throughout the weekend he encouraged everyone in the room to pick a rider to imitate — one that shares their same body type.

“If you don’t have long legs, don’t imitate William Fox-Pitt,” he said. “Find someone your body type to imitate. Most riders are visual learners and learn from watching. Study your favorite rider (with your body type) to improve your riding.”

Looking to the future, O’Connor spoke to the addition of the Modified Level, stating that it is a great example of the improvement of communication between the riders and the governing bodies. He added that the voices of coaches and trainers need to be stronger to continue improvement of the sport.

Eventing in the Olympics

“Do YOU think Eventing needs to remain in the Olympics?”

To help the crowd make an educated decision, O’Connor noted that if the sport were to drop out of the Olympics, it would lose one million dollars of funding overnight.

O’Connor believes that the Olympics do not have to be our “norm”; instead, he views it as a showcase. He also argued that changing the name of the level from a four star to a five star makes the levels easier to for the public and the media to understand because it is already used in dressage and show jumping. All equestrian Olympic sports will now use the five star to recognize their highest level.

Photo by Chelsea Smith.

From the Horse’s Perspective

To prepare the attendees for the riding portion of the educational forum on Sunday, O’Connor reviewed the basics of the sport, starting with the Training Scale. The theme of the weekend was that all training should be done with the horse’s perspective in mind: “It is NOT the horse’s job to speak our language, it is our job to speak theirs.”

O’Connor stressed that learning equestrian sports should be treated no differently than if you were to learn a high school sport such as basketball, golf or baseball. The techniques and theories should be learned in the same way, but many times aren’t.

“How do you hold a golf club? How do you swing a golf club? It’s the same in riding. Practice until it becomes instinct. If you have time to think about it, you’re too late.”

As O’Connor continued to review fundamentals and theory, he was quick to remind everyone that to improve, you must understand the Training Scale and the mechanics of the horse’s movement. “Do you know why you need to know the Training Scale as a coach and as a rider? It’s what you’re getting judged on!”

During his discussion, O’Connor reviewed the importance of rider position, the horse’s frame, the purpose of the half halt and how to incorporate lateral work. Using the passage as an example, O’Connor taught a basic lesson on position.

“If you think about passage, it’s an extended cadence, but the horses are still traveling forward. If you were going to go rising trot, doing passage, what would you have to change? Airtime. You need to go higher and slower. This is how I teach people half-halts. Your seat dictates the tempo. Your seat dictates the length of stride. Your leg is the energy into that. This is my first lesson for almost everybody. This is the ‘Oh my God’ lesson.”

Stay tuned for Part 2, covering the riding portion of the forum: “All the Levels – Demonstration & Discussion of Required Skill Sets.” 

Ashley Johnson: Polishing Your Pearl

By on Dec 6, 2017 10:30 am -

Ashley Johnson and Tactical Maneuver, clear around their first four-star at Rolex 2016. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Sometimes in life, all of the puzzle pieces seem to magically fall together in one wonderful moment or sequence of moments and amazing results occur. More often, however, we must polish our pearls. Pearls are created when a grain of rough sand becomes embedded in the interior mantle of an oyster, causing the oyster irritation. The oyster then deposits calcium carbonate in iridescent, concentric layers to smooth the rough edges of the grain of sand. Over time the pearl grows, with each layer creating more depth and luster, and making the end product more beautiful.

Developing a skill, such as becoming a better rider or training a better horse, requires the same type of perseverance, grit, and long-term outlook as forming a pearl. Often times I see students not understanding or becoming frustrated by this process. Take cross country schooling, for example. In the Ocala area we are extremely lucky. We have at least half a dozen excellent places to go school cross country. Because of this, students often overlook that the real education is developed not by how many different venues we can visit, but in the baby phases of skill work.

Ashley Johnson and Tactical Maneuver. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

I call it learning the alphabet. What is most important is to take a horse or a rider and teach them the basic principles of different types of jumps, i.e. what is water, what is a bank, what is a ditch, how do you jump a narrow face, how do you ride up and down hills, what types of jumps might surprise a horse, when will a rider need a slipped rein, what is the correct pace, balance and line for different types of jumps, how does a rider maintain a balanced position and then stay out of the horse’s way in the air over a jump, the timing of how to apply leg pressure for support in the correct moment, and of course being able to assess if your horse is looking at and seeing what you are asking it to jump.

All of these skills are far more important to become comfortable with than merely going and blindly jumping different jumps at different venues, but they take more time, thought, and accountability as well. At the end of the day, the challenge of the sport is to replicate correct performance in any venue, on any course, including courses we have never jumped before. In order to do this, the foundation of the types of questions and the types of rides that a rider needs to produce must be the most solid element.

Ashley Johnson and Tactical Maneuver. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

All of this education takes time. Sometimes it takes more time, sometimes it takes less time, sometimes there are setbacks. In 2011 I formed a partnership with a 6-year-old off-track Thoroughbred and took him to his first horse trials. Today, after six years of partnership with my now 4* partner Tactical Maneuver, a.k.a. Gucci, I can still say we have not reached the best performance that I believe we both could produce. In 2016 we jumped clean around the 4* in Kentucky. Last spring we had a fall jumping into water which derailed our spring season. This fall we jumped confidently around the 3* at Fair Hill. Each season brings new education. On the days we have to walk away, I still gain new insight and skills, and each time we complete a major event, I am incredibly grateful for the combined foundation and trust we share, and of course our mutual love of the game.

In a larger sense, both the horse world and life in general requires us to polish our pearls. One proverb states, “In every life some rain must fall.” No matter how lucky we are, there will be moments of hardship and growth in life. Any true horseman understands that mastering our own skills will always be our hardest challenge. In these moments, remember that sometimes it is that tiny grain of sand that gets under our skin and irritates us that will in the end produce our most beautiful product.

Ashley Johnson and Tactical Maneuver. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Lauren Billys Anou to Southern California Equestrian Sports 2017 Award & Grant Winners!

By on Dec 6, 2017 8:00 am -

Allison Springer and Fairvoya S. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Hardworking eventers deserve all the support they can get. We’re glad to see Southern California Equestrian Sports stepping up to financially assist some of our sport’s most deserving athletes, awarding three riders a total of $5,000 in grants.

SCES congratulates the following grant recipient winners, as chosen by its Board of Directors: Allison Springer ($2,750), Lauren Billys ($1,500) and Gina Miles ($750).

SCES President David Kuhlman says, “As an organization we are dedicated to assisting riders and events for the betterment of Equestrian Sports across the United States and Globe. Each of our 2017 award winners are very deserving and we are proud to support them.”

Learn more about Southern California Equestrian Sports, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping equestrians and organizers raise tax deductible funds to help offset competition expenses, by visiting its website here.

[Southern California Equestrian Sports Announces 2017 Awards and Grants]

Wednesday News & Notes from SmartPak

By on Dec 6, 2017 12:01 am -

Stephanie Cordell and Codename Toby tackle new heights. Photo by Dillon Cordell.

This is both the quietest time of year (no USEA events) and busiest time of year (schooling shows, clinics, derbies, and lessons). Loch Moy Farm has a long standing tradition of running year-round schooling shows on their all-weather arenas, letting everyone dip their toes into a higher level at the end of the season in a bit of a tamer setting like a derby. Oh, and bonus points for festive decor!

National Holiday: Put On Your Own Shoes Day #adulting

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Not one single event! 2017 is in the books!

Your Wednesday News & Notes:

The Southern California Equestrian Sports Foundation has announced their grant recipients. Grant recipients were  chosen based on their dedication for the betterment of equestrian sports. This year, Allison Springer, Lauren Billys, and Gina Miles were all chosen to receive the award. [SCES Announces Grant Recipients]

Galway Downs is always making efforts to upgrade their facilities. Numerous trainers, primarily West Coast based but also including riders like Boyd Martin, have offered their services to the 20th Annual Galway Downs Eventing Fundraiser Clinic. Proceeds will go to help upgrade the cross-country course. [20th Annual Galway Downs Fundraiser]

EquiRatings reminds us that a year can make a big difference. A year ago, names like Bulana and Ballaghmore Class weren’t household names. Horses like these two, along with Hunter Valley II and Vanir Kamira leapt forward from their performances of 2016. Who will step up to the plate and give us some unexpected brilliance in 2018? [Top Level Improvers of 2017]

SmartPak Product of the Day: If you haven’t been paying attention, SmartPak is still running their 25 Days of Christmas! Yesterday was Back on Track products being sweetened with an extra gift, what is today’s sale offering? [SmartPak]

Eric Dierks Recovering from Severe Injuries After Being Kicked in the Face

By on Dec 5, 2017 4:31 pm -

Eric and Trayce. Photo courtesy of Renovatio Farm.

Eric Dierks is recovering from severe facial and ocular injuries sustained from being kicked in the face on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 3, while doing groundwork with a young mare at his Renovatio Farm in Tryon, North Carolina.

He was immediately transported to Spartanburg Regional Hospital in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he underwent surgery yesterday to repair numerous broken bones in his face.

“Surgery went mostly as expected, and he is following the pain and swelling factor the doctors predicted,” Trayce Doubek-Dierks, Eric’s wife, said.

Eric was wearing a helmet during the groundwork session with the mare, who was not wearing hind shoes.

“This legitimately was a freak accident,” Trayce said. “The mare had a blink-of-an-eye exuberant moment. We’ve all had thousands of those in our professional careers. I truly hope our calling is to just be a living example of safety first, everywhere, at all times.”

Eric will remain at Spartanburg Regional for several more days as he starts the recovery process following surgery. Trayce said they do not yet have an exact timeline for how long the laundry list of injuries will take to heal.

He is once again facing a long recovery period from another severe injury this calendar year. The eventing family rallied around Eric in February after he sustained second- and third-degree burns to his face and right hand when a water heater he was repairing exploded at the farm.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help offset the cost of Eric’s medical expenses. Click here to donate.

“Obviously the only way to get through this is by the fortress of love and prayer that has been blanketed over us,” Trayce said. “Thank God he was wearing his helmet and that the mare didn’t have hind shoes.”

Please join the EN team in sending well wishes for a speedy healing process. If you are able, please consider donating to help Eric and Trayce during this difficult time.