Classic Eventing Nation

Who Jumped It Best? Twin Rivers Intermediate

By on Mar 12, 2024 10:00 am -

We’ve got a West Coast edition of Who Jumped It Best for you this week, shot at Twin Rivers (Paso Robles, CA) spring kick-off event earlier this month. You can read the full recap of the weekend here.

Today’s selection of moments in time comes from the Open Intermediate division, and was shot by Sherry Stewart. Take a look at the candidates, then cast your vote in the poll at the bottom of this article.

Happy voting, and Go Eventing!

Taren Hoffos and Regalla. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Tamie Smith and Crafty Don. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Erin Grandia and Hyacinth. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Marc Grandia and Campari FFF. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Sophie Click and Tarantino 54. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Josie Thompson and Pistol Annie. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Tommy Greengard and That’s Me Z. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Jolie Wentworth and Kismet Klosterbrau. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Julia Beauchamp Crandon and MGH Capa Vilou. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products

By on Mar 12, 2024 9:36 am -

 

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There are two things I really enjoy about this reel from British-based Jamaican eventer Lydia Heywood. First of all, it’s an exciting reminder that winter is (kind of) over, the season has begun, and I’m just a couple of weeks away from heading to the first international of the British season. Second, though — and this is a point that you might miss unless you’re a dedicated caption reader — it serves to point out the importance of great safety equipment, and the barriers some riders may face in finding kit that fits them properly. Lydia’s natural hair fits neatly and, more importantly, safely into her Charles Owen JS1 Pro, but as she points out, it might not work for all Afro styles. It sounds like she’s got something in the pipeline for riders natural hair and protective styles, though — and she’s not alone in those movers and shakers working to make safe participation in equestrian sport more accessible. Here’s a great archive piece from The New York Times to read if you’d like more information on the subject, and another from Noelle Floyd. And, make sure to give Chanel Robbins of The Helmet Queen a follow to keep up with her work in this department.

Events Opening Today: The Event at Archer Spring Fling YEH and NEH, University of New Hampshire Spring H.T., Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Spring H.T., Horse Park of New Jersey Spring H.T.

Events Closing Today: Galway Downs International H.T., The Event at TerraNova, Bouckaert Equestrian H.T., Jumping Branch Farm Spring H.T., Morven Park Spring H.T.

Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:

Spring officially kicks off in about a week, and in the meantime, eventing seasons around the world have pretty much all gotten started. If your own first outing of the year is coming up fast, you no doubt feel a bit rusty, despite a winter of training and goal-setting and planning. Never fear, though — USEA and STRIDER have teamed up to bring you a handy-dandy guide to making your first trip a great one, whether you’re heading out to a cross-country course or booking in a schooling show. Check out their tips here.

I read this think-piece from a therapist with interest this morning. Dr Megan Pinfield has plenty of experience working with clients on either side of the coach-student divide, and she’s been particularly put off by an increasingly divisive social media climate that she sees as pitting one against the other. Her insights into how fear responses can affect a student’s ability to retain information are particularly insightful, and well worth the read for anyone who’s ever been either the teacher or the learner. Here’s what she has to say.

When it comes to upper-level courses, we’re facing a bit of a shortage of qualified designers. The announcement of Ian Stark’s impending retirement and Captain Mark Phillips’s ramping down of involvement has only served to highlight that issue – but this interesting piece from Horse&Hound takes the investigation a little further to find out what’s being done to encourage new designers, the major challenges facing aspiring designers, and more besides. Dive on in to the details.

And finally, if you haven’t stopped thinking about that proposed LA Olympics eventing format, this one’s the read for you. COTH sat down with David O’Connor to find out more about the proposal, what it could mean for our sport, why the Olympics is so important to eventing, and what’s next on the timeline as we head towards the close of one Olympic cycle and the opening of another.

Photo via Château de Versailles on Facebook.

Sponsor Corner: Construction is well underway to erect the massive infrastructure required to host the equestrian disciplines at Château de Versailles for the upcoming Paris Olympics (July 26 through August 11), and we’ve got a peek at the progress. From bleachers to the Olympic Village, the 2024 Olympics are starting to take shape. Check it out!

Watch This:

Elisa Wallace has got a new mustang in her ranks! Join in with Zephyr’s early training:

Riding for Annie: Catching Up with Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant Recipient Isabelle Bosley

By on Mar 12, 2024 9:00 am -

Isabelle Bosely and Night Quality. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Annie Goodwin continues to live on through the dedication of friends, family, and supporters who have paid tribute to the Aiken, SC local since her sudden passing in 2021. The creation of the Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant as well as the annual awarding of the Annie Goodwin Sportsmanship Award at Grand-Prix Eventing (won in 2024 by Austin O’Connor) each spring are two ongoing reminders of Annie’s generosity of spirit and genuine love for the horses and people surrounding her.

Last year, it was announced that the Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant would be awarded to an Aiken-area budding professional. The grant “provides financial support for young professional equestrians establishing the early years of their business and wishing to continue their equestrian education and competition,” according to the web page created for the program. The intent of this grant is to “foster, support and develop Aiken’s young equestrians who embody Annie’s character and dedication in their respective sports.”

The inaugural recipient of this financial award is Isabelle Bosley, who’s spent the better part of a decade working alongside 5* rider Lillian Heard as she works her way up through the levels with her personal horse, Night Quality, and explores the realm of branching off on her own.

It can certainly be daunting, the thought of hanging one’s own shingle out after years of mentorship. Isabelle considers herself fortunate to have worked with Lillian as her program grew, providing a chance for Isabelle to witness firsthand how a successful business is built. “I feel really lucky with my timing,” she explained. “When I first started, we had I think 10 horses in the barn total, so over time as our barn has grown and I’ve gotten more independent, it’s all grown at the same time. Lillian’s gotten more horses, more clients and working students, but it’s kind of worked that it’s all grown together, which has been really cool.”

Isabelle Bosley and Night Quality. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Over time, Isabelle has taken on more riding responsibilities that will eventually feed her business as she launches it. She’s picked up a supportive owner, for whom she now campaigns young horses, and also plays an important role campaigning sales horses for Lillian, which is always a strong move for making connections. She learns this side of the business while also learning the ins and outs of producing an upper level horse; the now-13-year-old Irish gelding Night Quality has been her partner for this particular venture.

“He’s been my first horse that I’ve taken past Training, so not only my first Advanced horse, I hadn’t even gone past Prelim before I had him,” Isabelle said of “Millbrook”, who came to the U.S. first as a sale horse. Isabelle had to that point been primarily riding free Thoroughbreds she’d bartered for rides on, and had sold enough project horses that she now had enough to purchase a young horse to produce. “I was riding him as a sale horse every day. He’s definitely a little quirky and funny, but I really got to liking him and he was in my budget. I thought I could re-sell him as a Prelim horse down the road.”

Famous last words, as Isabelle soon found she had a horse she felt she could move up with, giving her a world of experience and competitive mileage. In 2021, the pair stepped out at the Advanced level, collecting enough competitive results to put herself on the radar of the US Eventing Pathway Program and stamping a ticket to the UK as part of the Nations Cup team competing at Bramham in 2022.

Looking back on the experience she’s had at the Advanced and 4* level, Isabelle applies the term “learning curve”, as many riders do when first stepping up to this top level of the sport. A mixed bag of results and a heartbreaking elimination at their final UK event (Houghton Hall) sent Isabelle back to the States feeling low. Here is where her Aiken connections picked her up once more, though.

“I definitely felt pretty rock bottom when I came home from England,” she said. “I just wanted to come home and curl up in a hole and die. I kept thinking, ‘I don’t want to have to go to Boyd’s tomorrow and look everyone in the face.’ But I think Boyd was one of the first ones who came up to me when I went to the barn; they all just told me about their first international experience and how they totally bombed. ‘It’s ok, no one will remember that!’ they all said. And that made me feel really good about it. Like, ‘it’s ok, it’s not the end of your career.’

Isabelle talked more about her experiences with Dr. Tyler Held in an interview for our “Between the Ears” series. Read it here.

Isabelle Bosley and Night Quality. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

After returning home and after comparing notes — she’d felt Millbrook just wasn’t quite right during his trip overseas — it was found that the horse had come down with EPM. “I wasn’t sure, though, because they always say the horses are a little tired after a big travel, and I knew the competition over there was that much tougher — was it that, or was it something else?” she questioned.

Isabelle says it took nearly a year for her horse to begin to feel better in his body after the EPM diagnosis and treatment. She’s taken a patience-first approach with her upper-level riding, opting to scale back to a lower level and build the confidence, fine-tune the details, before asking for another go at Advanced.

“To be quite honest, it took him awhile to feel really ok in his body again. I think being under that pressure while struggling with that [EPM], it definitely knocked him out, he was totally healthy but just didn’t feel right for awhile,” Isabelle elaborated. “And it was also a mental thing; it took a lot of confidence away from him not having his body feel right and he’s so careful, I think it really scared him. I’ve had to take awhile to build him back up, just going out and jumping Novice fences again and again. All around, it’s been a pretty big learning lesson, but in hindsight we’ve both really grown from it.”

Isabelle hopes she’ll eventually be able to move back up to the Advanced and 4* level, but in the meantime she’s removed the competitive pressure from her goal-setting, aiming only to ensure she and Millbrook are safe and confident when they do choose to move up. It’s a simultaneously difficult and easy decision: it’s hard to feel like you aren’t “making it” as an Advanced or 4*/5* rider (especially when you’ve only got one horse to take you there right now), but it’s also the easiest decision in the world (or, it should be) to do what’s right for your horse.

As she prepares for the season ahead, Isabelle is eager to use the benefits of the Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant to increase her lesson load. “I’ve already had so many lessons this winter, more than I think I ever have, and from each one you can take something new back to your program at home,” she said. “Lillian remains my main mentor, and having a great community here in Aiken to learn from is a great addition.”

Annie Goodwin and Fedarman B. Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.

At the end of the day, Isabelle says, it’s simply an honor to be chosen to represent Annie Goodwin’s spirit, expressing her gratitude to the Goodwin family, whom she was able to meet and get to know at Grand-Prix Eventing, and the supporters of the program.

“I think the whole grant is a really incredible idea and a really nice way to honor her memory, and I feel really grateful that I was the first person to get it,” she said. “At the end of the day, the grant could have been $10 and it would’ve been special to me. The money is really just the icing on the cake. Annie was the kind of the rider — the type of person — I want to grow into. I always really respected her, and was so happy she was in our community. She always made the day a bit better whenever you saw her.”

If you’d like to make a donation or otherwise support the Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant, you can click here to obtain more information.

Weekend Winners: Bouckaert, Full Gallop, SAzEA, & Southern Pines

By on Mar 11, 2024 12:00 pm -

We’ve been following along with Bouckaert Equestrian as they’ve been running through the 4* this past weekend, but we saw plenty of other events running with Full Gallop, SAzEA, and Southern Pines bringing Eventers out this weekend as well.

Congrats to all of our Weekend Winners across all events this weekend, with a special shout out to the winner of our Unofficial Low Score Award, Amanda Vines and Redfield Lotte, who won the Open Beginner Novice at SAzEA with a 14.4!

Bouckaert Equestrian H.T. International (Fairburn, GA) [Website][Scoring]

CCI 4*S: Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol HIM (43.3)
CCI 3*S: Waylon Roberts and Fernhill Salt Lake (32.2)
CCI 2*S: Sherry Pound and Carnaby (29.0)
CCI 1*S: Caroline Pamukcu and Billy Be Jolly (24.1)
Advanced: Tik Maynard and SKM Lux Sonata (55.0)
Open Intermediate: Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus (57.4)
Open Preliminary A: Jonathan Holling and Fernhill Esmerelda (40.3)
Open Preliminary B: Lisa Marie Fergusson and Trinity ThankQ (38.8)
Preliminary Rider: Eileen Galoostian and Ardeo Lord Lancelot (56.5)
Modified Rider: Kasidy McMartin and Newtown’s Llewellyn (35.1)
Open Modified A: Claire Strehlow and Seabanks Theygo (29.3)
Open Modified B: Valerie Pride and Kiss My Jambo M (31.3)
Open Training: Melanie Smith and Ballynoecastle TD (26.1)
Training Rider: Greg Ragusa and Lone Star WS (28.6)
Novice Rider: Celia White and To Infinity and Beyond DASH (24.4)
Open Novice: Valerie Pride and Excel Star Je T’Aime (26.7)

Full Gallop Farm March I H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website][Scoring]

Starter: Stella McGuire and Lucky Clover / Clover (28.0)
Beginner Novice A: Lizzie Chamberlin and KC’s Caitriona (33.2)
Beginner Novice B: Pace Deppa and Galivantor (33.2)
Novice A: Carol Kozlowski and Elodon Zodiac (29.4)
Novice B: Emma Hartzler and Southern Charm (35.0)
Training/Novice: Molly Casey and MoonLight Crush (37.2)
Training: Paula Dupuy and Madhatter (31.1)
Preliminary: Kelly Ransom and Heart of Hollywood (35.4)
Preliminary/Training: Sierra Thomas and Chambery (41.6)

SAzEA Spring H.T. (Tucson, AZ) [Website][Scoring]

Open Preliminary: Paige Dinnie and Crown Royal (27.4)
Training Rider: Chelsea Luedke and Larimar (45.3)
Open Training: Paige Dinnie and Fine Dutch Chocolate (28.1)
Novice Rider: Heather Bogdan and Just Boo (24.7)
Open Novice: Michael Elmore and Delta Court (31.9)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Kyla Roberts and Wildflower (26.1)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Ande Bergmann and Kingdom Springs Rayne (32.1)
Open Beginner Novice: Amanda Vines and Redfield Lotte (14.4)
Open Starter A: Taylor Jensen and Sonrisa Bella (41.0)
Open Starter B: Barb Gasper and Carrick Diamond Legacy (34.7)
Pre-Competition: Jessicca Butorac and Te Amo Tiama (22.2)

Southern Pines H.T. I (Raeford, NC) [Website][Scoring]

Advanced CT A: Kimmy Cecere and Landmark’s Monaco (31.6)
Intermediate CT: Emily Beshear and Rio De Janeiro (25.5)
Open Preliminary A: Emily Beshear and Bad Moon Rising (30.8)
Open Preliminary B: Ellie van Gemeren and Excel Star Lewiston (28.0)
Preliminary CT: Dan Kreitl and Odyssey (28.9)
Modified Rider: Susanne McDaniel and Corelli WWW (26.2)
Open Modified: Mandolin Whitten and Bossanova (24.5)
Open Training A: Rick Caldwell and Izzy Leo (24.0)
Open Training B: Caitlin Silliman and NK Mirabeau (33.3)
Training CT: Cassie Sanger and Never Enough (35.9)
Training Rider A: Samantha Reinbold and Donald Drake (29.1)
Training Rider B: Ann Bower and San Rubin (23.1)
Training Rider Junior: Darcy Dean and Oy to the World (35.5)
Novice Rider A: Ariana Schimt-Chow and Little Lauries (30.0)
Novice Rider B: Siri Carr and Foxtrot Treacle (33.5)
Novice Rider Junior: Claire Nestor and A French Connexion (32.3)
Open Novice A: Emily Beshear and Ser Dantae (26.1)
Open Novice B: Martin Douzant and Johnny Walker (27.5)
Open Novice C: Susan Beebee and Bugsy Malone (19.4)
Beginner Novice CT: Madeline Moton and The Family Feud (30.9)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Amy Howes Warren and Ballymores Charisma (27.5)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Renee Wheeler and Joe Frank (30.3)
Beginner Novice Rider C: Scout Spencer and Sterling’s Bailesa (29.7)
Open Beginner Novice A: Rebecca Lee and DGE Swipe Right (26.9)
Open Beginner Novice B: Jillian Newman and Sunhill Rover (24.7)
Starter A: Elena Sparacio and Sunnyside Up (30.0)
Starter B: Alannah Mabus and Silvanus (26.0)
Starter CT: Sloane Nelson and Chillie (27.5)

Jumping into 4* Season at Bouckaert Equestrian

By on Mar 11, 2024 10:30 am -

Moving our way steadily through March, the spring season is in full swing as we jump into our big 4* season. It’s an exciting time of the year, as we see numerous horse and rider partnerships out and about, gearing up for the spring 4*-L or 5*-L events coming up, and the fast approaching Paris Olympics.

We saw some of these duos out and competing this past weekend in the 4*-S at Bouckaert Equestrian H.T. & International. The 4*-S division was packed with some impressive names, such as seven-time Olympian Phillip Dutton, individual gold medalist and USEF Emerging Athlete Coach Leslie Law, top five 5* finisher Mia Farley, and first time 4* competitor Olivia Dutton.

The crew at Bouckaert Equestrian worked tirelessly to ensure good footing and a successful weekend, despite rainy weather. “I could not be happier with the way the crew at Bouckaert Equestrian dealt with what were tricky weather conditions. They deserve a lot of credit for the work they did,” Leslie Law commented. “[It is] also worth noting how improved their two rings were that dealt incredibly well with all the water they had.”

“Hugh [Lochore] and the crew at Bouckaert really did an exceptional job considering the weather and conditions they were faced with. They redesigned the course to the highest parts of the property and rescheduled the cross country before the next bit of rain came through,” Joe Meyer reflected.

Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol HIM. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.

Although these wet conditions inevitably created sticky and deep points on the course, and resulted in no 4* rider finishing within the time, some riders appreciated the opportunity to test their horses in the mud. “Hugh and all the guys there do a wonderful job making the footing great, but the rain did leave a few decently muddy spots,” Hannah Sue Hollberg, who won the 4* this weekend with Christa B. Schmidt’s Capitol HIM (Con Air – O-Heraldika, by Heraldik xx), commented. “It can actually be nice to run in the mud, as we don’t get much of a chance to run in it over here, which makes it hard to adjust to conditions overseas. They did have to modify the course, so it was a bit twisty in comparison to the original plan.”

The change in course as a result of the weather asked questions that tested the horses’ and riders’ training. “[Capitol HIM] kept answering the questions, as he always does. I put myself under pressure this weekend, and held myself accountable. I try to whenever there’s the opportunity and it’s safe for the horses,” Hannah stated. “Even though “Chito” has a huge stride, he’s easy to bring back – he’s just so responsive! There was an angled question that rode a bit harder than expected – I rode off the line, and he was just so honest and added an extra stride.”

After coming off of such an exciting fall, where Hannah and Capitol HIM were the top US pair at the Maryland 5*, this is yet another top finish that shows the consistency that the two are developing together. “I knew Maryland wasn’t a fluke,” Hannah laughed. “He had placed in the top 5 at every event he entered in 2023. But it’s nice to have a result like this that shows that.”

When asked what was next, Hannah mentioned aiming her sights towards Kentucky 5*. “I’m excited, because the show jumping has become as reliable as cross country. We’re buckling down in the dressage, and it is getting better. I’m looking forward to showing everyone what he’s made of in Kentucky.”

Even in the midst of a high point with horses, we’re reminded how challenging this lifestyle can be. The night before show jumping, Hannah received word that Harbor Pilot, her 5* partner, colicked. The 21-year-old is recovering from colic surgery, and Hannah was heading right to visit him as we spoke. Please join us in sending well wishes for a speedy recovery to “William”!

Phillip Dutton and Jewelent. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.

Phillip Dutton also had an exciting weekend, finishing second in the 4* with his new ride, the Jewelent Group’s Jewelent (Valent – Bellaney Jewel, by Roselier). Phillip also finished 5th with Ann Lapides, Caroline Moran, Annie Jones and Neill Sites’ Denim (Dinken – Celia II, by Ibisco XX), and 7th with Caroline Moran and Anne & Michael Moran’s Azure (Omar – Cavalier Roselier, by Cavalier Royal).

“After the disappointment of Z getting hurt, I was in need of an experienced horse, and was fortunate enough to put a group together to purchase Jewelent,” Phillip commented. “Julian is a very kind, honest, and genuine horse… He’s very light mouthed and east to adjust. He went very well [this weekend] with still a lot of areas that we can improve on as we get to know each other better.”

“Denim and Azure (Sky) both had good runs,” Phillip reflected. Although Phillip had quite a busy and successful weekend himself, he was quite excited about the success of his daughter, Olivia Dutton, finishing her first 4*. “Olivia and Socs did their first 4* together, which I was really proud of.” Olivia and Sea of Clouds finished in 18th place after adding some cross country and show jumping time and three rails to their dressage score.

Joe Meyer and Harbin. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.

Joe Meyer and the Meyer family and Theresa Foote’s Harbin (Verglas – Rainbow City, by Rainbow Quest) rode to a third place finish in the 4*, and was the culmination of efforts made over the past three years of their partnership to get to this point. “Harbin is a little superstar,” Joe stated. “Although we have only been together for a little less than three years now I feel like our partnership has really come together in the past year.” Despite a shorter partnership, Harbin is a horse Joe has known for a while as he was originally produced by his trainer in Ireland (Terry White). The Meyer’s team sourced him for their good friend Rebecca Brown, who bought him sight unseen off a video. “Rebecca had always said this was my horse and I will forever be grateful that she bent over backwards to make sure we could acquire him.”

“Harbin reminds me of Snip, my partner for the Olympics and the Worlds. He’s a small 15.3 hands, grey, feisty Thoroughbred with the heart of a lion that runs around cross country in a snaffle. In the jumping, Harbin finds the flags and does his thing,” Joe commented. “Harbin had a great finish at Tryon 4* last year, and at Blenheim. I was still struggling from broken ribs from a fall before we left for overseas and could not sit the trot at Blenheim. After Blenheim he had a very very long vacation – 3 1/2 months in the field where he turned into a feral Brumby,” Joe laughed. “I felt like he had quite the year with two long formats and overseas travel and he really needed it. He has come out this year feeling better and stronger in all three phases than ever.”

“All things going well, Harbin is headed to the 5 star at Kentucky. He will do one more 4*S at TerraNova in three weeks as his last run. It’s still early in the season and horses always throw you a curve ball when you least expect it, but right now everything is going to plan in the lead up to Kentucky.”

We also saw the return of Lesley Grant-Law and Stephen and Jackie Brown’s Lady Chatterley (Connor 48 – Jucy, by Mytens XX), who had a quiet 2023 after winning USEA Mare of the Year in 2022. She returned to the level this past weekend with Olympic gold medalist Leslie Law.

Leslie Law and Lady Chatterley. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.

“I’m thrilled with Fleur,” Leslie commented. “We had a few bobbles, just silly little mistakes in the dressage which were disappointing. However, I was thrilled with her attitude and way of going. Cross country she was amazing really! She lost both front shoes early on and had to dig very deep to get things done, and I was amazed by how hard she tried and thought she did a very good job considering.”

“She enjoyed a nice day of suntanning back in her field, and we will look forward I hope to TerraNova next.”

Outside of the 4*, Waylon Roberts and Fernhill Salt Lake won the 3*, and Australian Sherry Pound won the 2* with Carnaby. Caroline Pamukcu saw a 1st and 2nd place finish in the 1* with Billy Be Jolly in first, and HSH Talbots Hill in second. Tik Maynard won the Advanced division with SKM Lux Sonata, heading into the final few weeks leading to the Road to the Horse Competition in Lexington, Kentucky at the end of this month.

Final results from Bouckaert Equestrian can be found here.

This report has been brought to you with support from Ocala Horse Properties.

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Mar 11, 2024 8:23 am -

The Windurra Riding Academy for tiny feral children and tiny not-at-all-feral ponies is back in action, and today, it’s cross-country day! This one goes out to everyone who has ever been personally victimised by their horse stopping to graze midway through a schooling session. I know there’s more of us out there than any of us would like to admit to. It’s okay, it’s fine – just let the splishsplishsplish of tiny hooves in a water jump soothe what ails you.

National Holiday: It’s National Napping Day. The most sacred of days, I think.

U.S. Weekend Action:

Bouckaert Equestrian H.T. International (Fairburn, GA) [Website] [Results]

Full Gallop Farm March I H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Results]

SAzEA Spring H.T. (Tucson, AZ) [Website] [Results]

Southern Pines H.T. I (Raeford, NC)[Website] [Results]

UK Weekend Results:

Tweseldown (1) (Church Crookham, Hants.): [Results]

Oasby (1) (Grantham, Lincs.): [Results]

Your Monday Reading List:

What does your post-ride care routine look like? Maybe you give your horse a hose-off to get rid of sweat and sand; maybe it’s a full groom to check for any lumps and bumps. But how hands-on are you with his legs after a ride? Checking and caring for them properly can help you to spot any issues well before they blossom into big problems — so it’s definitely worth giving this guide a read to find out how how much icing, hosing, wrapping, and treating you should really be doing.

Following a spate of welfare abuses in dressage, a forum has been proposed for after Paris to tackle the root of the issue. But, it’s been pointed out, it would be a grave error to assume that the issues that we’ve seen in dressage are exclusive to that discipline – and any abuse of horses in any part of the industry should certainly be an issue of great importance to the industry at large. Find out more about it here.

Alexa Thompson is steadily ticking off big goals on her bucket list – and she’s doing it with two homebred. The Lexington-based rider’s foray into breeding happened almost by chance, but now, her two nine-year-olds are delivering big-time, with form at three-star and a half-season in Europe under their belts. Dive deeper into the story in this profile.

And finally, if you’ve not given this one a read yet, you’re missing out. Dr Anastasia Curwood’s thoroughly researched overview of the history of all-Black horse shows in the US during World War II is a fascinating insight into the social magnetism of showing and how an enterprising group of people carved out their own space in an often hugely exclusive world. Dive on in.

Morning Viewing:

Think you need a certain type of sport horse to enjoy success out eventing? Think again – because cobs are having their moment! Check out episode seven of Horse&Country TV’s new series, Cobs Can Go Eventing, and get the low down on how to get the most out of these cool characters with advice from 5* eventer Simon Grieve.

 

Shane Rose Takes 4*-S Title, Kiwi Young Riders Triumph at NZL Land Rover Horse of the Year Show

By on Mar 10, 2024 12:30 pm -

Shane Rose rides Virgil in the CCI4* Show Jumping. Sunday March 10, 2024. Credit: KAMPIC / Sarah Lord

Australia ruled in the Land Rover CCI4*-S this weekend at New Zealand’s Land Rover Horse of the Year show, with the visitors claiming a hattrick in the Oceania Eventing Challenge and Olympian Shane Rose riding off with the individual title.

Finishing behind Shane and Virgil’s 30.8 penalty score, was Oliva Barton (AUS) in second on 33.9, with Andrew Cooper (AUS) and Sharvalley Thunder in third on 38.2. Diane Gilder was the best of the Kiwis in fifth on 47.4.

Australian chef d’equipe Stuart Tinney said there was plenty to love about their Land Rover Horse of the Year Show. “It is a wonderful show,” he said. “The cross country was a great track and it is just what we need to get into this sort of environment. It is so valuable.”

He was excited for the future of their riding coming through. “They all did a great job out there.”

The challenge of the cross country course not being able to be walked in full until just before the class added another layer of learning for all.

“It is a great learning curve and something you only see at big events and all good experience.”

He was confident there was plenty to take away for all from the event, including experiencing travelling with horses and being part of the whole team environment. Having Shane Rose there too was also a real bonus especially as all of those who had made the trip have a desire to represent Australia at World Champs or Olympic Games in the future. “It is a fantastic effort for Shane to win for his journey in preparation for the Olympic Games. I am very proud of our training programme and coaches moving for the future.”

New Zealand chef Jock Paget reiterated his words, saying it has also been a great opportunity for the senior riders to experience the pressure of a team environment at LRHOY which had a real international feeling.

“This is part of the bigger picture for our programme and it is at these types of events that you get the hardest lessons. Now it is up to us as a programme and the riders to look at what we do, find the gaps and close them.”

In the end, Australia finished on 161.3 penalty points for their best three combinations, with New Zealand on 203.

Shane Rose and Virgil en route to a clear cross country. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Just two combinations – Shane Rose and Olivia Barton (AUS) aboard Hollyander HG – finished on their dressage scores, with five combinations coming home clear in the showjumping including New Zealand’s Madison Seivwright aboard Waitangi Pinterest and individual Donna Edwards-Smith with DSE Mendoza.

On hand to see Shane Rose win was Virgil’s owner and breeder Michelle Hasibar. It was his first-ever win at LRHOY. “This was a massive part of my Paris programme and it was key to get my qualification here.”

He figured LRHOY would be perfect for the 18-year-old horse to get it ticked off and allow them to continue with their programme. “If he goes well, he is normally pretty competitive,” said Shane, who loved that the cross country was so late in coming together due to it sweeping through the whole showgrounds.

He was chuffed to receive the Sir Mark Todd Trophy. “It’s pretty special that Mark has so generously given his 1994 Badminton trophy for this.”

Shane would love to see more competition between Australia and New Zealand including a Trans-Tasman series that could run over a season.

It was New Zealand for the double in the Fiber Fresh CCI3* eventing with the young rider team winning the Oceania Challenge and Kiwi Abbey Thompson aboard Cadbury KSNZ winning the individual.

Riders came back in reverse order with barely a change in the top seven combinations, albeit a shuffle of placings.

Australian Molly Lines and Tadpole posted the first clear of the class for her final tally of 38.2 penalty points, which was quickly bettered by Abbey added nothing to her 36.9 score. Last to go was overnight leader and New Zealand Oceania team member Bridie Quigley aboard Oranoa Greyson who were dreadfully unlucky to take the last and finish on a score of 37.4 for second placed behind Abbey with Molly in third.

The New Zealand Junior Team takes the Oceania Championship for the Fiber Fresh CCI3*-S. 2024 NZL-Land Rover Horse of the Year. Tomoana Showgrounds, Hawkes Bay. Sunday 10 March. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography

Bridie’s calm riding saw the New Zealanders hold on to the Oceania 124.7 penalty points to the Australian’s 130.2.

New Zealand chef d’equipe Lizzie Green was very proud of her crew. “They are such a great bunch and a very tight knit group,” she said. “It is very important to have that unity in a team. They are all very good riders and exciting for the future.”

She again underlined the importance of team competitions for the future of both New Zealand and Australia.

Individual winner Abbey, who heads to the UK after competing at the Adelaide next month, was rapt. “He tried his heart out,” she said. “He was a bit tired after yesterday as I don’t usually go that fast on the cross country but I decided I needed to get into that rhythm.”

It’s eight-year-old Cadbury’s first LRHOY and Abbey says he coped well with the atmosphere and pressure. “He is so sweet and easy to have around and is a very genuine horse.”

She was doubly happy for the win, given she’s been second more times than she cares to count at New Zealand’s bigger competitions.

“I certainly didn’t think I would be winning at the beginning of the week.”

She and Cadbury head to the UK on a one-way ticket and will base with Harry Mead in Wiltshire.

For full results, head to www.evoevents.co.nz.

Sunday Links from SRF Carolina International

By on Mar 10, 2024 12:01 am -

The first CCI4*-S of the Olympic season is officially under our belts, and we can already feel the heat as our riders came out swinging. Despite near-flood conditions at the start requiring some phase rearrangements, the awesome folks behind the Bouckaert Equestrian H.T. International (aka The Event Formerly Known as Chatt Hills) really pulled out all the stops and managed to put on yet another fantastic opening show, complete with what seems to be a unanimously infamous new resident arachnid on course.

After what was likely rather soggy runs around the cross country course on Friday, and as the field’s fastest rider still coming in 11.6 seconds over time, Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol HIM held on to their lead with a beautifully double-clear show jump round to take the win on a 43.3. Despite a dropped rail, Phillip Dutton maintained his second-place position on new partner Jewelent (previously campaigned by Ireland’s Clare Abbott) to end the day on a 47.6. Repping for New Zealand, Joe Meyer climbed up the leaderboard from 14th to finish in third aboard Harbin, ending on 50.6 with huge smiles all around.

While our upper-level riders have already concluded their weekend for the weekend, there are still Novice through Preliminary levels to go as we finish out today. Check out EN’s show preview for more info on this event, and stay tuned for Gillian’s full report coming soon. This coming weekend will mark 2024’s first 4*-L with a favorite — our Sunday Links sponsor Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International CCI and Horse Trials — so watch this space as EN gets back into show season mode with event reports coming at ya on the regular! Go Eventing!

U.S. Weekend Action

Bouckaert Equestrian H.T. International (Fairburn, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]

Full Gallop Farm March I H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

SAzEA Spring H.T. (Tucson, AZ) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Southern Pines H.T. I (Raeford, NC)[Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

International Events

Land Rover Horse of the Year (Hastings, New Zealand) [Website] [Program] [Equestrian Schedule] [Eventing Schedule] [Eventing Live Scores] [Live Stream]

Links to Start Your Sunday:

Participate in Noelle Floyd’s Market Research Study for a chance to win!

West Coast, Best Coast: Intercollegiate Eventing Heats Up at Galway Downs & Twin Rivers Ranch

At the end of the day, do stunts like “Mankini-Gate” generate interest in horse sports?

And speaking of minimalistic attire, what’s the point of riding bridleless? A Q&A with Brendan Wise

USEA Events A-Z: Jumping Branch Farm in Aiken

Sponsor Corner: Only three days left until the Yanmar America CCI4*-S cross country course walk! If you’re attending the SRF Carolina International 4*, you can’t miss walking the course with International 5* Eventer Ariel Grald. The course walk starts at 1pm, so [RSVP here!]

Morning Viewing: I’m always here for a side-by-side, so here are two runs by Will Coleman at the Grand-Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field — one winning round aboard Chin Tonic HS last weekend, and one aboard 8th place finisher Obos O’Reilly in the inaugural 2019 event. What a difference five years can make!

Saturday Video: Ride Along at #GPE2024 with Boyd and Bruno

By on Mar 9, 2024 12:00 pm -

What you see vs. what I see 👀

What you see vs. what I see 👀

Get a first hand look at the Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce's Field course aboard Fedarman B thanks to JockeyCam!

Posted by Boyd Martin on Wednesday, March 6, 2024

The Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field is always full of excitement, and now you can get a riders-eye view of what it’s like to twist and turn around this motocross-style track, courtesy of Boyd Martin and JockeyCam! Would you ride this course?

Catch up on our coverage of #GPE2024 here.

Liz Halliday: Planning for the Olympics

By on Mar 9, 2024 9:30 am -

Liz Halliday and Miks Master C. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

After a 2023 season filled with highs and lows, Liz Halliday has been keeping busy in the off season. I caught up with her in a rare quiet moment between traveling to the West Coast to teach a clinic and competing at HITS and WEC in Ocala to keep her horses strong. As exciting as 2023 was, she has big goals for 2024.

When I asked Liz what would make her season a success, she had one simple response, “Winning a medal at the Olympics.”

Sure, anyone can say they want to go to the Olympics; few actually make it happen. Liz isn’t just a dreamer though, she’s a doer. So, how do you plan out a competition season with goals of going to the Olympics? First, start the season off with Grand Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field.

Liz rarely misses an opportunity to compete in the Aiken eventing showcase. “I think it’s a phenomenal competition. We get to practice the five star test in front of very good judges, which is excellent,” said Liz. “There’s a lot of atmosphere and you’re up there with a lot of top riders, so you really feel the pressure. It’s a great way to chuck yourself into that competitive mindset early on in the year.”


While Liz points out that the good prize money doesn’t hurt, she also thinks the cross country track is a great test for the horses early on in the season. “I love that it’s an intense track. It’s up to height, but it’s short, usually around three and a half minutes to four minutes. You’re not overstretching the horse’s fitness early in the year but at the same time it still forces both horse and rider to make quick decisions and stay focused and sharp.”

Next on Liz’s list is the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International CCI4* followed by the 4* at Stable View in April. “I tend to target the big bulky tracks at Carolina and Stable View because I think the courses prepare them well for the course at Kentucky.”

On to the main event of the spring season, the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event. Liz hopes that just nine weeks out from the Olympics, we’ll see Cooley Nutcracker, owned by the Nutcracker Syndicate (Liz Halliday, Ocala Horse Properties, Renee Lane and Deborah Halliday), complete his first CCI5* in the Kentucky bluegrass, while Cooley Quicksilver and possibly Shanroe Cooley or Cooley Moonshine, owned by Ocala Horse Properties, will tackle the 4*. As for Miks Master C, Liz says, “In my mind, I don’t believe that Miks Master C needs to prove himself at a 5* again in an Olympic year. Honestly, going quickly around a few 4*s would be just as beneficial for him. My hope would be I can just really show how good he is in the 4*’s this year and that all the pieces are in place after a productive winter of training – It would be great to keep him in the running for the team by doing the 4* in Kentucky rather than adding unnecessary wear and tear.”

The 2023 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, now called the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, was really special for Liz and “Mikki,” who is owned by Ocala Horse Properties and Debby Palmer. Reflecting back on their third-place podium finish, Liz said, “Miks Master C was just phenomenal the entire weekend. He loves his job and he fought for me to the end. He is such a kind, generous horse who always tries his best and truly loves eventing – I couldn’t have asked for more. I think we have a great partnership now– we still haven’t been together that long, not even two years yet, and I’m very excited for the years to come.”

Liz and Miks Master C, owned by Ocala Horse Properties and Debbie Palmer, contest the Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase in Aiken. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Liz is also competing multiple horses in the 4*L in Tryon just two weeks after the Defender Kentucky Three-Day event, but is keeping the second half of her 2024 competition season flexible. While she has her sights set on events like Aachen, Burghley, Maryland, and Boekelo, she says, “The horses will tell me what they’re ready for.”

“I’m focusing on the first half of the season right now and then I’ll reevaluate what I’m doing with the rest of the year after that. This is an important spring and I will keep my mind on that for now and wait to make plans for the rest of the year after those competitions are done.”

As we looked at all these events Liz has planned, I couldn’t help but gawk at the amount of pressure she handles on a daily basis. With four horses at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, aka THE event of the spring season, Liz will have to live up to the expectations of her owners and supporters, as well as her own high standards.

“I’m always under pressure. That’s just what we do, right? I try to stay focused on the process and take things one step at a time and try not to overthink it all,” Liz said. “Half the battle is arriving at these events feeling like you’ve done all your homework and you’ve ticked all the boxes. Then you can leave the start box and perform your best without questioning the training or the fitness. It’s important to keep your head down and focus on one phase at a time.”

Having a well-planned competition calendar can only help. Liz calls in the cavalry, namely her trainers, to help her build each horses’ competition schedule. “I always sit down with Erik Duvander to go through the whole calendar as I plan it out. I try to make sure the horses are going in the right places and that it’s the right step for each one.”

Liz believes that when it comes to her horses, less is more. “I don’t believe any of them need huge amounts of runs at this level. That’s why Cooley Quicksilver will do the Carolina 4* and then he won’t run again until the Kentucky 4*. He just doesn’t need all the runs, as he’s a very experienced horse. You have to think through what each individual needs and be mindful to not overload their calendar unnecessarily.”

If you’re planning your competition season, Liz has some advice for you: listen to your horse.

“I always try to set a realistic goal for each of my horses, but I think the most important thing is that you have to remain flexible. I’ve always said, ‘the horses will tell you what they’re ready for.’ I really believe it’s important to live your life by that motto,” Liz said. “If that means your plan changes, then that’s fine, but you have to be willing to listen to them.”

Best of luck, Liz! We hope to cheer you on in Paris come the end of July, and we’ll absolutely be cheering for you on your path to get there.

#goeventing

This has been brought to you with support from Ocala Horse Properties.