Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class. Photo by Libby Law.
For the third time, World Number One Oliver Townend has made it to the final hurdle of the coveted Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, which has only ever been won by two riders, and for the third time, his quest has ended in disappointment. Just a week and a half after taking the Kentucky title with nine-year-old Cooley Rosalent, and following on from a decisive victory in last year’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials with the seasoned warhorse Ballaghmor Class, Oliver has announced this afternoon that he will not contest this week’s MARS Badminton Horse Trials, at which he was one of the hot favourites to take the win with his Burghley winner, who has finished in the top five multiple times at the Gloucestershire fixture. Oliver had already withdrawn his other two entrants, Cooley Rosalent – who instead went to Kentucky – and Tregilder.
The decision comes after a notable withdrawal before the dressage for the 17-year-old gelding from the CCI4*-S at Burnham Market, where Oliver historically runs his horses to time after withdrawing them before cross-country at their first four-star outing at Thoresby (or Belton, as it was previously). This, it appears, came as the result of a poorly-timed abscess that has derailed the three-time five-star winner’s preparation.
“Absolutely gutted to withdraw Ballaghmor Class from this week’s Badminton Horse Trials,” writes Oliver in a statement on his social media. “He had [an] abscess earlier in the season and consequently missed a couple of runs and gallops. This morning he went for his final gallop and with the 11&1/2 [minute] cross country course combined with the possible soft ground we don’t feel he’s at his normal 5* fitness right now. This is the first time in his career he’s missed a 5* and with the Rolex Grand Slam being at stake (for the 3rd time for me!) and Thomas’s record with 10 top-5 placings at 5*, 4 of which from Badminton including twice 2nd place, and his 3 wins at Burghley and Kentucky, we really hoped he would finally get the Badminton trophy he so badly deserves.”
To ‘Thomas’s’ legion of fans, Oliver offers some reassurance: “He’s fit and well, and knowing his huge heart he’d give us his all, but it’s simply not in his best interest to run this week and his welfare is our top priority,” he continues. “Thomas will be rerouted to plan B but for now we’d like to give a huge thanks to his owners, our sponsors and our team who are all equally gutted but support us to make this call to look after our superstar.”
This week’s MARS Badminton Horse Trials will see 71 combinations battle for the crown, following today’s last-minute withdrawal of Laura Collett’s Bling, too.
EN’s coverage of MARS Badminton Horse Trials is brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products, your go-to source for science-backed nutritional support across all types of horses, disciplines, and needs. Click here to learn more about what KPP can do for your horse — thank you for supporting our wonderful sponsors!
Nadia Vogt and Castle Larchfield Purdy. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.
After the first competition at Modified was held at The Horse Park at Woodside in California in 2023, the level will be under an even bigger spotlight with the Modified Match that will be offered at the 2024 Woodside Spring Horse Trials that will take place from May 24-26.
The Modified Match will bring additional prestige, as well as prize money, to the level that is making a positive difference on the development of event horses and riders.
“The Modified is a really important level because it allows horse-and-rider combinations to make a more gradual transition from the lower to the upper levels of the sport in a much more predictable and safer way,” said Steve Roon, Executive Director of The Horse Park at Woodside.
The Modified Match will offer Horse and Rider divisions. Dressage will take place on Friday, May 24, in a large dressage ring with two judges—something that would typically be seen at championships or FEI levels. Cross-country will be on Saturday morning, May 25, and then show jumping will conclude the level later that night in conjunction with the Modified Match Dinner next to the Laughing Monk Arena. In addition to FEI-style ribbons and prizes, there will be prize money that starts at $1,000 per division with an additional $100 per rider added to make up the total amount. (There will also be “regular” Modified competition offered at the Woodside Spring Horse Trials.)
“For The Horse Park, we feel that the level is important enough that it should be highlighted in a special way during our May horse trials and doing it late in the afternoon as our signature show jumping class as we’re also having an arena-side reception to really enhance the spectator experience for both spectators and riders as well,” Roon said.
After approval of what would become eventing’s seventh recognized level by the USEA Board of Governors in 2016, the first Modified competitions with jumps at the height of 3 feet 5 inches were held in 2017, attracting a total of 28 starters. The number of Modified starters increased tenfold to 321 in 2018 and was 1,555 in 2022 when the level celebrated its five-year anniversary.
“Historically, the gap between Training (3 feet 3 inches) and Prelim (3 feet 7 inches) was significant and caused issues for horse-and-rider combinations as they tried to leap that gap,” Roon said. “The other great thing about Modified is that it’s a level that’s approachable for a lot more members of the sport.”
Four eventing venues in California now offer Modified, with The Horse Park at Woodside introducing the level at the 2023 Woodside Summer Horse Trials. Nadia Vogt and Castle Larchfield Purdy (Karistos x Hallo Purdy) won, a stepping stone for a new partnership at the time made up of a 17-year-old rider that had previously competed up to Training and a 21-year-old horse that had represented Puerto Rico at two Olympics with Lauren Billys Shady.
“The cross-country was great,” Vogt said after the victory on her dressage score of 29.5. “I’ve never done Prelim, but I thought it was a very good step-up for Prelim. I like that it followed the Preliminary track, and the course rode really nicely. There were a lot of open spots to gallop. The jumps were really nice, big, and bold.”
Vogt’s observations were what the team at The Horse Park at Woodside had in mind when tasking Bert Wood to design and build a Modified cross-country course.
“It rode beautifully; people said it looked ominous, but then afterward they came off satisfied and had a great sense of accomplishment because it rode well and was so aligned with the Preliminary course that it was a good test to get them ready for that,” said Victoria Klein, who serves on the Board of Governors of The Horse Park at Woodside.
After winning Woodside’s inaugural Modified in what was their second event together, Vogt and “Purdy” did their first FEI competitions at the one-star level that complements Modified to conclude their first season together. They have moved up to Preliminary in 2024, a testament to the role the Modified level plays in the progression through eventing’s levels. With the eventing community’s support, the Modified and one-star levels have become a significant part of the vision for the sport at The Horse Park at Woodside.
“Building the Modified course was only possible through the donations of many of our riders,” Klein said. “I enjoy seeing the many jump plaques that acknowledge their commitment to our sport.”
Entries for the Woodside Spring Horse Trials close TODAY, May 7. In addition, The Horse Park will also host the Woodside Summer Horse Trials from August 9-11 and the Woodside Fall International with FEI levels offered from October 4-6. For more information, visit the Woodside website here.
It’s here! It’s Badminton week! I am still so jetlagged from Kentucky but I could do a little wee with the excitement of it all! Today, the historic stone stables at the world’s first five-star officially open for their equine residents to move in and I, too, am heading over to sunny Gloucestershire to set my boots on that hallowed turf, ready for a busy week reporting for EN. We’ve got so much content coming your way: before any of the reporting gets started, we’ve got a packed form guide, At-A-Glance visual round-ups of the field, an Ultimate Guide packed with all the information you need, an embarrassingly enormous course preview, and peeks back into the annals of history, too. I can’t wait to tell you all the stories that unfold this week – and if you see me out and about at the event, be sure to say hi! I might make you pose with Chinch for a photo, so prepare yourself.
Meghan O’Donoghue is one of the US representatives lining up at Badminton this week, and her debut at this special event has been a long time coming and seriously well-earned. COTH caught up with her to find out more about her journey to the top, and her partnership with ex-racehorse Palm Crescent, ahead of their week of a lifetime in sunny (? maybe?) England. Read the full story here.
We might be heading into one of the best weeks of the year, but we’re still not over the one we just wrapped. If you’re also missing Kentucky, you definitely don’t want to miss the latest episode of the US Eventing Podcast, which sees interim host Rosie Russell sit down for a DMC (that’s a deep, meaningful chat, natch) with newly-minted National Champ Lauren Nicholson. Give it a listen here. Bug 4 Prez.
On the hunt for a fun, horsey job? Ecogold is looking for an Equestrian Sales and Marketing Assistant – and they want someone who’s really passionate about equestrian sport. This sounds like a great entry-level role, and while they’re based in Montreal, they’ll consider remote work for the right person. I’d be willing to be that there’s probably some travel to shows involved with this, and I think you’ll get to meet and work alongside some really cool people, so definitely chuck your hat in the ring if you’re looking for a role!
Hey, breeders and bloodline aficionados, listen up, because this is important: the Marbach DSP Eventers Auction, which will take place on Saturday, has just added a really, really cool lot – the very last frozen straw from the legendary Heraldik. The late Thoroughbred stallion is, arguably, the most influential sire in top-level eventing, and over the last number of years, we’ve seen huge demand for his lines, with several sons fighting for the title of heir apparent. But there’s nothing quite like the real deal, and I’d love to see an EN reader with an eye for matchmaking get their hands on this – I’m already imagining following the story from sperm to superstar, which is the kind of sentence I really can’t say in polite, non-horsey company, but it does thrill me nonetheless. Here’s a little glimpse at how cool Heraldik is, from Marbach:
“The thoroughbred sire of the century from the Birkhof Stud has influenced German and world horse breeding with his offspring like no other. Heraldik, by Caramel xx, born in Slovakia in 1982, was successful in show jumping up to 1.50m level after a short stint on the racetrack. He started his breeding career with the Casper family at the Birkhof stud. Due to his extraordinary charisma, he had many fans right from the beginning and was also widely used beyond the borders of Baden-Württemberg. He has more than rewarded the breeders trust in his hereditary power. While the foals and youngsters were stunning types and great movers, the first “Heraldiks” under saddle were really impressive.
Among his many successful offspring, the Olympic champions Butts Abraxxas (Ingrid Klimke) and Butts Leon (Andreas Dibowski) as well as the individual European champion FBW Halunke (Michael Jung) stand out in eventing. Other 4* and 5* horses by Heraldik xx include Butts Avedon (Andreas Dibowski), TSF Karascada (Kai Steffen Maier), Happy Times (Shane Rose/AUS), Tabasco (Marylin Little/USA), Hamilton (Josefa Sommer/GER), Harry Belfonte (Thierry van Reine/NED), Hilton (Patrizia Attinger/AUT) and Henri Z (Ralf Kooremans/BEL). A total of six of his offspring jumped at 1.60m level, including the licensed Herald (Markus Beerbaum/GER, Eric Lamaze/CAN) and Hoyo de Monterey (Stein Endresen). In the dressage arena there were four Heraldik’s xx at Grand Prix level, the most successful being H-Ekwador, which took part in the Olympic and World Equestrian Games several times under Katarzyna Milczarek. Last but not least, Stan the Man xx’s son LaBiostetique Sam FBW must be mentioned. Michael Jung’s double Olympic champion was bred from a dam by Heraldik xx! No other thoroughbred sire in recent breeding history has produced so many championship horses. Heraldik xx was ranked in the top ten of the WBFSH world rankings for more than ten years, including top spot five times!”
Phew. What a boy. If you’re interested in registering for the auction, and want to see what else is up for grabs, head over to my wishlist.
Badminton Grassroots competitors Evie and Donut have made their final preparations and headed to Gloucestershire – here’s how they got those last boxes ticked:
I’m not sure about the rest of you, but I’m certainly not ready to jump into another work week. Super grateful for this edition of Weekend Winners to help me enjoy the weekend recap, social highlights, and horse-show hangover. This weekend was filled with activity – a multitude of events running, the USEA Interscholastic/Intercollegiate Eventing Championships (catch up on the USEA’s coverage here!), and even some cute puppy rescue (as shared by photographer JJ Sillman).
Congrats to all on a successful weekend! Shout out to all of these winners, with a special shout out to the winner of our Unofficial Low Score Award, Brittney Caflisch and Benmore Westonhouse Boy, who scored a 19.2 in the Open Novice at Texas Rose.
Advanced Dressage: Emily Hamel and Corvett (32.6)
Advanced/Intermediate: Maddie Hale and Cinzano 87 (36.0)
Open Intermediate: Hayden Wathen and Contestor (31.6)
Open Preliminary: Madison Temkin and Fernhill Bertus (29.2)
Preliminary Rider: Ashley Dodds and Lowland (31.4)
Modified Rider: Jillian Newman and Curraghgraigue freeman (25.5)
Open Modified: Cole Horn and The Wellerman (29.3)
Open Training: Natasha Quirk and First Class (26.4)
Training Rider A: Sally Davis and MFF Manhattan Affair (39.8)
Training Rider B: Rose Schild and Acording to Morgan (33.3)
Training Rider C: Callie Snow and Botshabelo MVH Z (29.3)
Novice Rider A: Abby Buenting and Calvin (29.4)
Novice Rider B: Suzanne Hillhouse and Severance Pay (31.4)
Novice Rider C: Emma Suess and On Point (32.2)
Novice Rider D: Alyson Roy and Fire for Effect (29.4)
Novice Rider E: Olivia Martinez and Super Cooper (31.9)
Open Novice A: Lara Roberts and Fernhill Show Biz (21.1)
Open Novice B: Kimmy Cecere and Brooklyn (26.9)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Katie Mendes and McCreary (24.1)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Jack Brennan and Paladin (32.8)
Beginner Novice Rider C: Isabella Henry and Fangio (31.9)
Open Beginner Novice A: Sophie Miller and Bon Fleur (27.8)
Open Beginner Novice B: Jillian Newman and Sunhill Rover (24.4)
Starter A: Kimmy Cecere and Seal The Deal (32.8)
Starter B: Georgia Ranson and Brambleridge Capability Brown (28.3)
Starter C: Sophia Brady-Owen and Overlay (37.7)
Starter D: Madeline Brechtel and Fernhill Sinatra (23.0)
Intermediate/Preliminary: Eva Hemb and Lexington Hall’s Bentley (57.0)
Open Preliminary: Kate Bell and FE Velvet Black (30.7)
Modified Rider: Casey Locklear and FLS Major Bounce (37.5)
Open Modified: Lauren Lambert and FE Alfonso Z (31.0)
Junior Training Rider: Ava Staton and Lamondale Graciana (33.8)
Open Training: Anna Pierce and Dreamweaver (33.5)
Senior Training Rider: Elle Snyder and Oakland Quality (33.6)
Junior Novice Rider A: Sophia Street and Classic’s Mojah (30.9)
Junior Novice Rider B: Hanna Enderlin and SF Sassafras (32.3)
Novice Horse: Alexis Lind and Elles Bay (29.5)
Open Novice: Brittney Caflisch and Benmore Westonhouse Boy (19.2)
Senior Novice Rider: Mary Hon and Deanfield Disney (35.1)
Junior Beginner Novice Rider A: Willow Lane and Bonne Fete (27.2)
Junior Beginner Novice Rider B: Stella Youngbauer and Wingman (35.3)
Open Beginner Novice A: Jackie Ericksen and Devon Ridge Indira (26.9)
Open Beginner Novice B: Sophia Peters and The Mystery Machine (30.9)
Senior Beginner Novice Rider: Brenda Sheets and Inigo ENF (30.5)
Starter A: Tianna Kelley and Rubin’s St Sofia (31.3)
Starter B: Taylor Geaney and High Jinx Shinx (28.3)
Tadpole: Grace Fahrenbruch and Dream (35.7)
Open Preliminary: Travis Atkinson and Calzini (26.6)
Open Training: Kirsten Freed and Jasper (25.6)
Open Novice: Lindsay Wagner and GCS Ardeo Jupiter (24.7)
Open Beginner Novice A: Vicki Baker and Professor Loki (23.5)
Open Beginner Novice B: Allison Merritt and Rumors (29.1)
Open Starter: Michelle Cameron Donaldson and Danny Boy (21.7)
Open Preliminary: Kaitlin Clasing and Butts Arthur (41.6)
Modified A: Bailey Hennings and HSH Redfield Red Sox (42.5)
Modified B: Carlin Keefe and Maybe Someday (37.8)
Open Training: Daniel Clasing and Beryl (28.6)
Training Rider: Kara Googins and Silver Bop (31.1)
Novice Horse: Kerri Long and Blue Suede Shoes (Memphis) (30.0)
Novice Rider A: Brynn Miller and Clever Deception (39.3)
Novice Rider B: Haley Miller and He’s True Brew (33.1)
Open Novice A: Kaitlin Clasing and TGS Lions Sunshine (26.1)
Open Novice B: Katelyn Duda and Big Easy Empire (29.2)
Beginner Novice Horse: Gillian Clissold and Thurman Discovery (32.7)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Elliot Bizjack and N’Pressive (28.8)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Emily Hummel and What’s His Face SSH3 (28.5)
Open Beginner Novice: Alissa Genovese and Island Fever (30.5)
Starter A: Ella Norman and Indiana Jones (36.8)
Starter B: Gina Franz and FMF Sullivan (32.7)
Intermediate/Preliminary: Jasmine Hobart and Dresden Green (54.4)
Preliminary: Dana Cooke and FE Damascus (34.4)
Preliminary/Training: Lisa Borgia and Silmarillion (27.5)
Training: Tarra Gakstatter and How You Doin’ (27.8)
Novice A: Alison Smith and Ruarigh (33.4)
Novice B: Louise Gillam and Wicked Worry (39.9)
Novice C: Logan Harris and Ton Of Gold (26.4)
Beginner Novice JR: Stevens Mosley and SLE Ocean Ablaze (25.9)
Beginner Novice SR1: Roisin O’Rahilly and Happy Times (25.8)
Beginner Novice SR2: Jane Demeulemester and CurraBawn Gatsby (30.0)
Grasshopper: Jasmine Hobart and Brynhild (19.3)
Introductory: Audrey Delap and San Francisco (32.3)
Intro CT: Megan Lapkoff and No Big Deal (32.5)
Starter A: Allison Thompson and Leo the Lion (35.0)
Starter B: Meredith Kapler and Le Magnifique (35.1)
Dani Sussman and Jos Bravio. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Dani Sussman left the Kentucky Horse Park on a high.
It’s an indescribable feeling to complete any event, let alone one of the caliber that is the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Mix in the hours spent in the truck, shuttling back and forth from Dani’s home base in Colorado to the East coast, the time spent away from understanding and supportive clients (and husbands) and well, it’s safe to say Dani would likely have been thrilled to finish solidly on a number for her efforts.
She did one better, completing the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S, which is run alongside the traditional Kentucky CCI5*, in 10th place overall with her own and Carol Mavrakis’ Jos Bravio, just behind U.S. high performance squad riders like Boyd Martin, Liz Halliday, Will Coleman, Sydney Elliott, and Carolina Pamukcu.
For Dani, the result is validating: she’s been chipping away with the 13-year-old “Bravi” since acquiring him from Argentina in 2020, believing in her willingness to understand her horse and adjust her riding accordingly to bring out his potential.
Dani Sussman and Jos Bravio. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
“He’s honestly just a professional through and through,” Dani described. “He comes out every day ready to work and do the job. He gives everything his all, so he’s been a really great partner in that way. The big things I’ve been working through, training-wise, are to do with the fact that he’s kind of short-coupled and short-necked. It’s a lot of working to get him soft through his neck and over his back and allowing him to open his step.”
Dani’s trusted Buck Davidson with much of her coaching (along with her dressage coach, Sue Martin, and her show jumping coach, Mariano Bedoya, who also assists her in sourcing hoses from Argentina), and she credits his philosophy of forward riding with her recent breakthroughs.
Dani Sussman and Jos Bravio. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Looking at Jos Bravio’s record leading up to Kentucky, Dani admits one might raise an eyebrow as to her level of preparation with Jos Bravio, but here she makes an interesting observation: “It’s kind of ironic. The mistakes that happened before Kentucky actually set me up perfectly for Kentucky.”
How so? I wanted to know more.
Dani went on to explain that she began the season in earnest with the Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field, where she turned in an impressive and quick-footed cross country round ahead of her other Kentucky preps. However at both attempts at Bouckaert Equestrian’s two prep events, she encountered some trouble on cross country. This prompted her to zoom out and analyze what was causing the issue. She’d to that point been riding Bravi in a nathe gag bit with a running martingale, and she decided to test the theory that lightening her equipment setup might give her horse the opportunity to move more openly and freely. This would, she hoped, translate into making the big distances on cross country come up more naturally. She opted for a loose ring snaffle, sans martingale.
She practiced with this setting at home, immediately feeling a breakthrough in her subsequent schooling rides. At Kentucky, her intuition rang true, and the new setup worked like a charm.
“He does have a big step, and I’ve kind of gotten in the way of that,” Dani said. “Each year it’s gotten a little better and a little better. Now he runs cross country basically in his dressage tack. Buck also encouraged me to feel comfortable on that more open step, allowing things to happen and trusting that when I jump into a combination the strides will be there without me having to make a huge adjustment. It was about trusting myself and trusting my horse, which is a hard thing but it’s so hugely influential.”
Indeed, Dani got the validation she’d been seeking that her theories were correct, and that the trouble she’d encountered en route to Kentucky were actually opportunities to make a positive change.
Dani Sussman and Jos Bravio. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Of course, this isn’t a story intended to persuade a reader to take a look at an imperfect record and decide they’ll fix the problems later. For Dani, the lessons learned and the intuition that follows come from a body of work, multiple years spent producing the horse to this level and with the guidance of coaches she trusts.
“It was a really great feeling to know that I’d fixed the issue and could come into Kentucky feeling rock solid,” she continued. “I needed to trust that the fix was there and that I knew it was there. So I felt actually – definitely nervous, properly nervous as you would be for an event like that, not nervous in the way I doubted whether I was ready.”
Dani and Bravi proved their mettle. Despite a couple of bobbles on the flat that prevented a stronger starting position, they clawed their way up the board, delivering a clear cross country with just a handful of time and a rare double clear show jumping on Sunday to move to 10th after starting in equal 20th.
“It was honestly pretty incredible,” Dani reflected. “I wanted to do right by him and keep his confidence up [on cross country], to go out there and do what we had practiced. That was my goal, and I think we delivered that. The double clear show jumping definitely kind of blew me away. I couldn’t be more proud of that.”
Dani Sussman and Jos Bravio. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Dani and Bravi now move ahead to their final destination of the spring before heading back to Colorado, competing in the CCI4*-L at The Fork at Tryon International this weekend (May 9-12). There, she hopes to build on what she delivered at Kentucky, knowing there are plenty of opportunities to finish even stronger in this important Long format.
“I’m definitely feeling good ahead of next week, but I also don’t want to go in taking anything for granted,” she said when we talked on the phone. “I want to put as much into next weekend as I did Kentucky – if not more – and see if I can clean up the bobbles here and there.”
Dani’s tentatively got plans for Jos Bravio to test his mettle at the CCI5* level or perhaps in overseas competition, but first things first: ensure he’s confident and competitive at the 4* level, and spend some well-earned time back at home.
Dani Sussman and Jos Bravio. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
“I’ve been gone since February,” she described. “I’ve flown back and forth a few times to do as much as I can, and I have a wonderful assistant and staff who fill in and keep the wheels on the bus while I’m gone. Our clients are incredibly supportive and excited for us.”
It’s been a grind in more ways than one to this point, but Dani seems to take everything in stride. She tells me about her husband, Jeff, who flew out to drive to Kentucky from Ocala, where Dani spent the winter, and who is “over the top supportive”, as she puts it.
Determination and grit must be balanced with empathy and patience on this journey with horses, and Dani’s result at Kentucky is demonstrative of this. Mostly, she’s enjoying the ride with a special horse she feels lucky to have formed such a strong partnership with. “He definitely has the ability and the heart. Anything we do from here will be incredible and a dream come true.”
EN’s coverage of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is presented by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional support for all types of horses. Click here to learn more about Kentucky Performance Products. You can catch up on all of our stories from Kentucky here.
Bromont Rising coat Bettina Hoy pins the second place ribbon on Emeline Gilbert and EWSZ Mozart. Photo by Abby Powell.
The MARS Bromont Rising U25 scholarship program, administered by the USEA Foundation, will distribute 10 grants of up to $2,500 each to talented young riders aged 25 and under aiming to compete in the MARS Bromont (Quebec, Canada) U25 CCI’s in June, 2024. Highlighting this year’s program is the return of three-time German Olympic team member Bettina Hoy, as a guest coach for 2024.
A complete training program was devised to help the riders prepare themselves and their horses for competition. The grants assist with travel and entry expenses, but the program also includes classroom sessions with course designers, high performance riders and a dressage test analysis by an 5* FEI judge. Coaching and course walks during the events are also available, in conjunction with riders own coaches.
Three-time German Olympian and former international coach for Holland, Bettina Hoy, speaks extremely highly of the program.
“Programs like Bromont Rising, the USEF and USEA’s Developing Rider Programs, Australia’s Next GEN squads, and in Germany the Stiftung Deutscher Spitzensport-supported mentorship program are very valuable, particularly if students are willing to take them on in an immersive way,” Hoy remarked. “Education goes way beyond riding instruction. In future workshops, I would like to add seminars on horse management – how to plan your season, how to structure your fitness program, and proper aftercare to really complete the cycle of looking at the big picture. And of course we need to discuss social license and the use of social media today.”
You won’t want to miss out on this awesome opportunity for some helpful funding as well as invaluable coaching insights all week at Bromont, so visit the Bromont website to apply TODAY (May 6)!
Generally speaking, when we’re about a month into the off-season and the weather is truly grim, life’s excitement levels are at an all-time low, and I’ve rewatched the entirety of both Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s magnum opus Fleabagand Natasha Lyonne’s seminal Russian Doll in their entirety for about the eighth time, you can usually find me feeding my hunger for thrills and eventing in one way: sitting in my jim-jams on my sofa, drinking cheap Sauvignon Blanc and window-shopping for the young horses I’d most like to get a sugar daddy to buy for me from any of the major sport horse auctions about to unfurl in Ireland.
And so what a special treat it is to find myself spending the weekend between Kentucky and Badminton, at the cusp of the first fever-pitch of excitement of the season, also sitting in my jim-jams on my sofa, quaffing the savvy b and casting my beady little eyes over some of the stars of tomorrow, who would look really, really, really good on my yard if anyone fancied chucking some loose change my way to make that happen.
This time, though, they’re not sequestered on the Emerald Isle, waiting for me to strike gold and come get them – they’re in Germany, that epicentre of equine excellence, and being sold through Marbach’s DSP (that’s Deutsche Sport Pferd, or German Sporthorse, for us uncultured swine) auction.
You know who’s a very good example of a DSP? Tamie Smith’s 2023 Kentucky CCI5* winner Mai Baum, that’s who, and the folks at Marbach knew exactly how to convince me to open their catalogue up by putting him right there in pride of place on the cover. Yes, I harbour delusions of grandeur! Yes, I do believe that if I were in a position to buy one of these horses, I, too, could maybe win Kentucky! No, I don’t spend much time thinking about the fact that my greatest eventing moment thus far is that I once led the dressage at a Novice (US version, too, not even the UK variety) and then got eliminated at the first fence in showjumping because I could not get my horse near it! That, I think, could be cured by shopping. Everything can be cured by shopping. I love the post-capitalist hellscape my brain has become; it’s a happy, hopeful place to be.
Anyway! Perhaps you, too, can see yourself producing the next Mai Baum, or the next La Biosthetique Sam FBW, or the next Billy the Red, or FE Lifestyle – I can go on listing high-flying DSP representatives for hours, you know – and perhaps you actually do have a budget and a more robustly backed-up faith in your own ability to do so. In which case, let me insert myself into your main character moment by helping you to pick out the horse that’ll change your life, and find yourself safe in the knowledge that when you do buy the horse, and when you do win that five-star in a few years, I will be here, writing smug articles that make it all about me and how I knew the horse was a world-beater from the first moment I saw its photo. It’s a win for everyone, right?
There are 18 horses in this year’s Marbach auction, which will take place on Saturday, May 11 (that’s Badminton cross-country day, which is a very good omen that will definitely push you over the edge and make you buy the horse you’re eyeing). Here are the five I’d most like to put my hand up for.
Lot 1 – Champ
Three-year-old stallion (Canoso x Sue, by Stan the Man). 61.62% blood.
Straight off the bat, they’re getting me where it hurts. A Stan the Man maternal grandson! Oh, lordy, I do like a Stan the Man. You know who else is a Stan the Man? La Biosthetique Sam FBW, that’s who, and he’s been quite good at this eventing malarkey. Champ is the only unridden lot in this auction, but he looks very promising loose-jumping. He’s by Canoso, a very capable jumper, whose sire, Catoki, jumped at the top level and in World Cup classes before stepping down to help educate a young rider. That’s something I like to see: it says there’s a good brain, and a willingness to take a joke, and I’d love to imagine that perhaps that’s one of those winning qualities that’s been passed down to this guy.
Lot 11 – Amadea
Five-year-old mare (Amadei-Geli x Diana, by Diamond Hit). 69.97% blood.
Straight away, I’m charmed by this plain brown wrapper who’s obviously got a tonne of talent tucked away in an unassuming exterior. She’s a tidy, careful jumper, with an expression that looks workmanlike and considered, not like a young horse who jumps high and tight because they’re worried and overcompensating. I get the impression that she’d have a great brain and would be seriously good fun to produce.
I’m also very interested in her breeding: her dam, Diana, who’s already had offspring out eventing successfully, is by dressage stallion Diamond Hit, whose own pedigree is flashy toes on top (he’s a son of Donnerhall) and jumpers on the bottom (he’s a great-grandson of Ramiro Z via Ramino, who jumped at 1.50m). Dressage breeding creeping into eventing isn’t a wholly new concept, and it’s not always something that works out, but when it does, it’s special – look, for example, to Mollie Summerland’s Luhmühlen CCI5* winner Charly van ter Heiden, who’s a son of Contendros Bube. That actually makes him sort of, kind of related to this mare, who’s got Pik Bube I, Charly’s grandsire, through her own sire’s granddam. That might be too tenuous a link to base a horse purchase off of, which is fine, but consider this, too: that example of a top-level dressage-bred eventer made the time twice at five-star, despite boasting only about 23%, while this mare is nearly 70% blood, thanks to – wait for it – her Akhal-Teke sire, Amadei-Geli. Yes, really, the golden horses from the horse breeds encyclopaedias your aunts and uncles bought you every Christmas and birthday. Can I name a single Akhal-Teke in any Olympic discipline? No, I absolutely cannot. Do I think it would be a really cool story, and one that our breeding expert here at EN, Amanda Chance, would jump on like a fly on the proverbial, if you were to take a half-bred Akhal-Teke to the top of the sport? Totally. Akhal-Tekes are a desert breed, well used for endurance, and as someone who’s obsessed with the toughness, talent, brains, and stamina of Anglo-Arabs, I think this combination could be a real sleeper hit. Be the one to set the trend.
Also, for what it’s worth, Amadei-Geli is owned and produced by Germany’s Julia Schmid, and if you don’t know that name, remember it: a lot of the very best riders in the world give her a call when they’re looking for a seriously special young horse. She knows her stuff, and if she rates this stallion, then I rate it too, by default. She only found and produced a young fischerRocana, after all.
Lot 12 – Conde
Five-year-old gelding (Casino Berlin x Stalypso’s Lady, by Stalypso). 37.45% blood.
Look, if you’re going to shell out on a horse from Germany, you want it to look German, right? And let’s be real, this boy looks so German that I heard a faint ‘genau’ as I turned the page onto him. He’s practically shoving a schnitzel and a bucket of mustard at me through the screen. I’ve been told not to mention the war around him. (I kid, I kid, I’m sorry – I have a German passport, please don’t cancel me for my crap jokes.) Anyway, he’s very much of a type, and that type is full-bodied (like a nice glass of Bordeaux?) yet somehow still elegantly proportioned, with a continental, compact head and a set of knees that love to visit the sky. He’s a fine-looking stamp of a thing, and looks to have no shortage of scope to play with. I like his breeding, too: his sire is by Eurocommerce Berlin, also known as Caspar, who has sired excellent eventers including Clarke Johnstone’s Menlo Park, and Berlin is himself a son of the excellent Cassini I, whose knees seem to be stamped through generations. The bottom half of his sire line is no less interesting; he’s got a great-grandsire in Landor S, who has contributed, either as a parent or grandparent, to a number of serious eventers, including DSP Quintana, who competed at Badminton last year. I used to ride a Landor S who was a bit of a teenage dirtbag, actually, but he could really jump, and I did quite enjoy his antics, because he was smart and surefooted and never, ever boring.
I think, probably, you’ll need to buy a cob- or pony-sized bridle for this cute little head, but frankly, if you’re buying a smart young horse from Germany, you can cough up for a trip to the tack shop – and it’ll be worth it, anyway, because whether you keep him for the long haul or produce him as a serious young riders’ prospect, there’ll be plenty of reason to pat yourself on the back for taking this one home.
Lot 14 – Gladdys
Five-year-old mare (Icare d’Olympe AA x Gräfin Guayana, by Donauzauber). 50% blood.
Hello! Only me again, here to tell you about how much I like Anglo-Arabs for eventing! I mean, seriously though, can you blame me? Some of the sport’s coolest, most versatile, toughest horses with the most memorable characters have made use of this savvy mix of Thoroughbred and Arabian lines, and when that recipe is folded in with a sprinkling of continental quality, it yields a delicious result. Vassily de Lassos! Tamarillo! Opgun Louvo! fischerTakinou! These are just a tiny smattering of the top-level event horses who are either themselves registered as Anglo-Arabs, or who have significant Anglo-Arab breeding. The French, who I think are the world’s leaders at finding the balance between blood and quality (sorry, Germany, you are also very, very good) are very much on the AA hype train already, and young horse master Tom Carlile loves an Anglo-Arab dam line. You don’t have to listen to me, but definitely listen to that lot, because they are well good.
Gladdys here (what a name, by the way) is by the Anglo-Arab sire Icare d’Olympe, a French Anglo-Arab who competed to Advanced himself. On the bottom, she’s Trakehner – another breed I love for similar reasons – and goes back to the great Gribaldi, so there’s some dressage influence coming through there, too. On video, she’s an interesting prospect: her trot isn’t anything to write home about at this early stage, but if you buy for a trot, you’re a silly sausage anyway. Her canter is active and balanced, her footwork to a fence is catty and clever, and, if I’m perfectly honest, every bit of her says “I’m Anglo-Arab up top and Trak down below which means you’d better sit tight and listen to a few options, buddy, before I start winning things for you.” More power to her, frankly.
Lot 9 – Vino
Four-year-old gelding (Vingino x Nastasia II, by HPH Candillo). 47.27% blood.
Forgive me for skipping around a bit, here – I’m like a child in a sweet shop with auction catalogues, and I follow no man’s rules but my own. And one of those rules? Only ever fall in love with a grey if you’re sending it in someone else’s direction and thus won’t ever have to wash poo stains off it at four in the morning before a dressage test. And so, I present to you: Vino. What a charmingly-named chap, and what a sweet, game soul he appears to be. He’s got a lovely, active hindleg, a sunny countenance, an appealing buoyancy and balance to his paces, and a cute-as-a-button pop over a fence, and I think he’s going to make somebody very, very happy. (That somebody will not be the person holding the stain-removing spray in a few years when he really starts to fade, mind you.)
Vino’s sire line is a who’s-who of jumping tours de force, with Voltaire and Cassini I contributing to all those qualities I like in him, and on the bottom, he’s… also got Cassini I, which is quite Sweet Home Alabama of him. No Hapsburg chin to be found here, though, so we’ll consider this example of kissing cousins an acceptable one.
Plus, if you’re into damlines, Michael Jung, and great names, don’t miss…
Lot 2, Arocan, who’s out of a full sister to fischerRocana and by the same Akhal-Teke stallion as lot 11, mentioned above
Lot 18, Senorita, who’s out of a full sister to Nereo and Armada and by Ramiro B, which might make her Oliver Townend’s new favourite young horse
Lots 16, 17, and 18 again, who were bred by Michael Jung
Lot 15, who’s called… Kumquat
You can check out the Marbach DSP Eventing Auction catalogue in full here, and find videos of each lot in this playlist. The 2024 auction will take place on Saturday, May 11, and will be run in a hybrid format, so you can either bid and follow along from afar, or head to Marbach to get involved and try your dream young horse before you buy. Horses will be available to view and try from tomorrow, May 6, through Friday, May 10, and during the day on Saturday, they can be viewed on the cross-country course before the auction begins at 7.00pm local time/6.00pm GMT/1.00 pm EST. For more information, or to register as a bidder, head to the website here – and happy bidding!
Gorgeous foal alert – and what better way to start a drizzly Badminton week, frankly? Hot Bobo, the 2023 Kentucky CCI4*-S-winning partner of Canada’s Karl Slezak, has now got a redheaded baby on the ground, and while the filly was born a month prematurely, her bloodwork’s looking promising and, as Karl’s partner Katlyn reports, she’s a little fighter like her mother. No names have been decided upon yet, but they’re thinking of ‘Hot Tamale’ for this star of the future, who was born on Cinco de Mayo. There’ll be a long journey ahead for the little one, and her devoted team of people, but we reckon we could see this one lighting up the prize giving at Kentucky 2034!
U.S. Weekend Action
Riga Meadow at Coole Park Combined Test (Millbrook, NY): [Website][Results]
In the world of horses in sport, often the story of those who don’t finish atop the podium is even more fascinating than that of those who do. At this year’s Kentucky Derby, the story that most piqued my interest – and I’m far from alone in that – is the tale of West Saratoga and trainer Larry Demeritte, who is just the second Black trainer to have a horse in the Derby since the ’50s. The 74-year-old is also fighting a battle with cancer and a rare heart disease, but isn’t letting anything slow his roll as he chases his dreams. Dive into the pair’s remarkable story in this piece from The Atlantic.
There are so many ways to get yourself into legal trouble in the horse world. Could a red ribbon in your horse’s tail be one of them? Tying one in has, for as long as anyone can remember, been an easy and visible way to let other riders know that their horse may kick – in effect, it’s a little sign saying ‘give me a bit of space, please’. But could acknowledging your horse’s tendency to reactiveness be the same as admitting guilt if something were to happen to another horse or rider? Horse & Hound caught up with legal experts to find out.
High-flying multi-hyphenate Valerie Pride is Sideline’s newest eventing columnist, and we can’t wait to follow along with her season, her thoughts, and her stories as she continues to navigate balancing judging, coaching, and top-level competition. Here’s her debut column.
Have you got a few dollars or pounds to spare? Here’s a seriously worthy cause for you to consider sharing it with. Stepney Bank Stables, in the northern English enclave of Newcastle, has existed as a pillar of the community for many years, working as a charity to provide support and access to ponies and riding for kids from all sorts of backgrounds. It’s been a lifeline for kids from low-income households, kids struggling with school, neurodivergent kids, and anyone who has a passion and needs a bit of help to see it through. In fact, it was the starting point into horses for Adam Short, best known for being Tom McEwen’s loveable, bloody hilarious, and incredibly talented travelling groom – but now, it’s facing potential closure due to finances. Check out their story, and help them reach their fundraising goal and keep kids in the saddle, here.
We all know why the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event is really the best weekend all year… It’s not the top-notch riding or the amazing cross country action. It’s definitely because of the Achieve Equine #Supergroom Superlatives!
While the best riders in the country are competing for a blue ribbon, the best grooms in the country are dueling it out to see who gets nominated for which superlative. This year, we had over 100 nominations from all of you lovely eventing fans, making it a tough choice to pick the best #supergrooms for these nominations.
The superlatives in question were:
The Social Media Influencer (the groom that chronicles their riding journey on social media and shares all those good #groomingtipsandtricks)
The Hacker (The groom that’s tried all those grooming hacks you find on social media, i.e. ketchup on a white horse, etc)
Most Red Bull Consumed
Gen Z Groom (The groom anyone over 30 needs a translator to understand what they’re saying. Rider: dressed for dressage Groom: Okay, I see that drip! *After the test* On god, that test was bussin.’)
Shiniest Horse
And your winners are….
The Social Media Influencer: Alison Bell, groom for Yasmin Ingham
The Hacker: Ashley Dodds, groom for Waylon Roberts
Most Red Bull Consumed: Mia Braundel, groom for Liz Halliday
Gen Z Groom: Myles McLaughlin, groom for Ariel Grald
Shiniest Horse: Christina Curiale, groom for Will Faudree
Mia Braundel, groom for Liz Halliday (and 4* rider herself!).
According to the people nominating her, Mia Braundel absolutely needed that Red Bull this past weekend. “Mia Braundel is riding on a horse she has produced up the levels on her own. She is grooming 4 horses for Liz Halliday and her own horse Cashmere.”
Or, as another person said, “Mia Braundel for grooming the most horses annnnd competing herself! She’s AWESOME.”
Mia produced her 17 year old KWPN gelding all the way up through the FEI levels. While they did sadly retire on the cross country course, they put in a solid dressage test with a score that had them sitting in the middle of the pack prior to the jumping phases.
“Whether grooming or riding, just being a part of the event at Kentucky is amazing. It’s one of my favorite events to go to,” Mia said.”
On top of competing her own horse, Mia was also grooming for Liz Halliday and taking care of all four of Liz’s horses for the weekend. “I started working for Liz a little over a year ago, actually right before Kentucky 2023. My favorite part of grooming is definitely taking care of the horses and all of the places you get to go! I’ve gotten to travel all over to so many cool events.”
As a long-time groom for World Champion Yasmin Ingham, Alison is no stranger to coming to Kentucky. “This was my third trip to the states with Banzai and Yaz. I love coming to Kentucky for the 5* because the horses and grooms get treated fantastically and the organisers put a lot of effort into making it a great experience.”
Alison Bell, groom for Yasmin Ingham.
Sticking to the saying, ‘blonds have more fun,’ Alison has traveled all over the world with Yasmin and Banzai du Loir, from Aachen to Pratoni and, of course, to Kentucky. “Grooming for Yaz is great, she’s so easy to work with as she only wants what’s best for the horse.”
Winner of The Hacker #Supergroom Superlative, Ashley Dodds not only grooms for Waylon Roberts, but also runs her own business, Stone Creek Sporthorses. She’s also a USDF Bronze Medalist and events her own horses, WHF Lumiere and Lowland.
“Grooming at Kentucky was very inspirational, to be surrounded by the top riders, horses, and grooms of our sport. Waylon and Ruby have a pretty special partnership, so I loved getting to be a part of their journey and success at Kentucky,” Ashley said. “I enjoy working for Waylon because I am always learning and am very grateful to him for investing in educating me on the care of the horses and what it takes to be at the top of the sport.”
Myles McLaughlin appears to be our youngest groom on the list, rightfully earning the Gen Z Groom Superlative. Grooming for Ariel Grald, Myles rides his Thoroughbred, Felix, in his spare time.
“Grooming at Kentucky was an amazing experience! I grew up watching all these riders on their beautifully turned out horses and now to be behind the scenes is something really special,” Myles said. “I am very honored and appreciative to be given the opportunity to groom for Ariel! She is very understanding and so generous. Her main priority is that her horses are properly taken care of and the rest is secondary. She is someone I have learned a lot from and someone who continues to inspire me.”
Hanna Hartman from Achieve Equine with Ashley Dodds, groom for Waylon Roberts, and Myles McLaughlin, groom for Ariel Grald.
Awarded the #Supergroom Superlative for the Shiniest Horse, Christina Curiale had her work cut out for her this weekend grooming for Will Faudree’s 5* ride, Mama’s Magic Way. We’re not sure if he was inspired by Will’s hot pink suit at the jog, but Mama’s Magic Way did his best impression of a bay-version of the Barbie Dream Horse this weekend, with picture-perfect braids to boot.
A full day of cross country action awaits at Stable View, where alongside a full horse trial are the USEA Interscholastic and Intercollegiate Championships. The USEA is on the ground covering this competition, which makes me sorely miss being in college well before collegiate eventing existed! You can follow along with the latest in the links below. You can also view portions of the competition via Horse & Country here.
