Classic Eventing Nation

US Equestrian Names Nations Cup Team for Boekelo CCIO3*

By on Sep 28, 2017 4:56 pm -

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z. Photo by Libby Law.

US Equestrian announced this afternoon that the three American riders entered to compete at Military Boekelo CCIO3* next week, Oct. 4-8, in Enschede, Netherlands, will comprise Team USA in the FEI Nations Cup Final. Leslie Law will serve as Chef d’Equipe for the team.

We’ll be cheering loudly for:

  • Katherine Coleman and Back to Business, Kalai LLC’s 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare
  • Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z, the Deniro Z Syndicate’s 9-year-old KWPN gelding
  • Caroline Martin and Pebbly Maximus, her own and Sherrie Martin’s 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding.

Katherine and Liz are making the trip to the Netherlands from their bases in England, while Caroline is traveling from the USA thanks in part to funding from the USET Foundation’s Jacqueline B. Mars Developing Rider Grant.

You can read more about the American entries at Boekelo and check out the full list of horses and riders competing in EN’s entry list preview.

[U.S. Equestrian Announces Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for FEI Nations Cup Military Boekelo-Enschede CCIO3*]

10 Questions with Ian Stark: Cross Country Designer & Adviser Extraordinaire

By on Sep 28, 2017 4:36 pm -

Ian Stark at Carolina International, one of many courses he designs at around the world. Photo by Allie Conrad Photography.

Ian Stark has a lengthy riding resume, including multiple medals at Olympic and World Equestrian Games. Following his success in the saddle, he began designing cross country courses, leaving his mark on some of the most impressive three-star venues in the world.

Ian has now stepped up this fall into a temporary advising role for the United States at international competitions. He began at Burghley Horse Trials, where two Americans finished in the top 10, and continued at Blenheim, where our own Kim Severson took the prestigious win. We took a few moments to chat with Ian about the position.

EN: Can you tell us about your new role with U.S. riders overseas this fall?

Ian Stark: “There’s three of us. There’s Derek di Grazia on the West Coast of America, Phillip Dutton on the East Coast and me in Europe. We’re working as a team with the riders. We’re cross country advisors or coaches. We’re mentoring the elite riders for the rest of the year. For the moment it’s only short term until the end of the season.

EN: How has the season been going so far?

Ian: “Burghley was my first one. I’ve known the riders for quite a number of years, but I’ve never really worked with them. We were straight into the heat of it all at a big four-star, and it was great. As far as I know the riders were positive. They’re a great bunch of people with some lovely horses.”

EN: What have your responsibilities in this position included?

Ian: “My job at the moment is to walk the courses and give them some ideas about lines and get to know them. As a course designer and as an ex-rider, I hope that I know what the designer is looking for, so I can discuss with each rider individually what’s going to work best for them and their horses.”

EN: How have you managed advising riders without knowing them very well?

Ian: “I’m just getting to know the riders and their horses. We’ve done a lots of chatting and walking courses. I’ve looked at lots of videos, but I haven’t been helping them on a one-to-one basis jumping cross country fences, so I don’t want to weigh in straight away. They’re all very top riders, they’ve got their own ideas, so if I can say, ‘I would think about this line,’ and explain it and discuss it.”

EN: Has this strategy seemed successful to you? 

Ian: “I feel the riders are very switched onto it. They’re very open to ideas and suggestions, and then they’re all good enough that they can work it out for themselves what they think will suit themselves and their horses best.”

EN: You sounded a bit relieved when you spoke on the live stream at Burghley and told listeners that Boyd Martin followed your advice and ended up with a top finish. What did that feel like?

Ian: [Laughter] “He was incredibly receptive because we walked the course and he kept telling me his lines and I’m going, ‘Why? Why are you doing that?’ And we discussed it.

“I felt a lot of pressure, but Boyd rode every line as I suggested. He rode quite brilliantly and took all the ideas on board.”

EN: Have you enjoyed the position?

Ian: “I have to say I’m loving it. There’s a lot of talent in America, and if I can do a little bit to help then I’m delighted. America has been incredibly good to me with teaching clinics and with course designing, so it’s great for me to feel as though I’m giving something back in return. I’d love it to continue, but obviously the role might be filled with a more permanent person.”

EN: And what if it did continue?

Ian: “If this continues, then I hope to be doing more cross country clinics with the American riders both in Europe and America, as when you get to know the combinations then you can have more influence.”

EN: How would you describe the U.S. performances you’ve seen so far?

Ian: “At Burghley we had two in the top 10, and at Blenheim we had the win and there was another three within the top 12, which was fantastic really. For so few competitors to have that many in the top brackets was excellent. I just hope they continue to build in confidence.

“They certainly have the ability. I’ve said all along, the talent of horses and riders in America is not in doubt, it’s just a question of self belief as much as anything. I think for me over the last couple of events just getting to know them, I feel as though they’re all very punch and positive and heading in the right direction and that’s a great sign.

EN: You had pelvic surgery recently. How has your recovery gone? 

Ian: “It’s been seven weeks since the operation. I’m still on crutches for another five weeks, but I’m getting around. I’m doing everything. I’m now allowed to drive again, so I’m not too restricted. They just don’t want me doing long haul flights until January to lessen the risk of blood clots and thrombosis because it was a pretty major operation to my pelvis. I’m in great form now and no pain, which is the big plus.”

The Hardest Season of My Life Turned out to Be the Best

By on Sep 28, 2017 1:10 pm -

Kelly Bailey is an adult amateur based in northern New Jersey who has trained with Meg Kepferle for the last seven years. She works full-time as a home health aide in an assisted living facility. She writes, "This year I saw a change in my riding and all my hard work come out, but this year was different because I lost my loving mother in January to cancer. On her final days she told me this was going be my year. My story honors her and proves that a mother is always right, and most of all for us to never give up!"

Kelly Bailey, left, with her mom, Melanie, and dad, Pat.

Imagine you are a 26-year-old amateur event rider. You ride with the one and only Meg Kepferle. It’s the fall of 2016 and your trusty mount is spending a few weeks with her for a tune-up. Cross country has always been a bit of a struggle throughout your eventing career. For some odd reason you keep pushing through.

It was the end of September last year when Meg said, “Kelly, I’m sorry, but right now it’s not safe for you to event.” Your heart shatters because your life outside of horses includes a mom who’s fighting pancreatic cancer. You have the whole fall season entered and planned. You scratch from every event.

One thing my mom made me promise during her two-year journey of fighting cancer was that I would still ride. When she told me about her diagnosis in January 2015, one of the first things she said was, “Kelly, you will continue to ride and event.” This cancer was not going to stop our normal family life, which greatly involved my eventer Poe and our two senior citizen horses.

She made sure she was at the first combined test of the year that April. I can still hear her on the bench telling my dad to look at Poe. “He’s being a handful!” which wasn’t like him. My dad laughed and said, “Melanie, it’s the first show of the year after a long and cold winter.” She was my number one fan and always a phone call away when not at shows.

Now you’re probably wondering why I had to miss out on the fall season in 2016. It was due to the fact that Poe had developed a bit of anxiety on cross country. A combination of horse and rider both having anxiety out there was not safe. So Meg and my mom made a plan that in the long run would benefit me and Poe in so many ways.

Kelly, left, with Meg after a successful show day with friends.

Meg recommended that I call Charity Paashaus, who is an amazing natural horsemanship trainer in Area II. I also started working with a sports psychologist to help me walk through some of the mental blocks I face. My mom agreed it was a good idea. She knew I had developed some fear issues over the years with jumping.

So Poe and I began to work with Charity. We first started with a session at my family’s farm, which was a huge success. We then spent the rest of the fall season working out on the cross country field. Charity was great for videoing and capturing pictures of my sessions with her, which helped me to see our progress.

I remember one of the sessions was on a cold, windy day in October. Dad and I drove down to meet with Charity. Mom was in the hospital at the time. I remember sending her a video clip of me riding out there on cross country and going clear over a very large ditch. I knew it would bring the biggest smile to her face.

Fast forward to New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2016. I went to work for a few hours. Everyone was asking, “How’s mom doing?” My response: “She’s hanging on and fighting.” On the way to the hospital to visit her that night, I received the news: My mother was officially terminal ill with less than three weeks to live.

I can still remember texting my dad that it wasn’t true. His response: “I’m sorry, kiddo, but it is. Know that I have comfort that Meg and Katie, your two longtime trainers who lost a parent, are going to help you through this.” He told me later in the waiting room that mom had made him promise to make sure I stayed riding and competing.

Then there was the day we were all at the hospital to bring mom home to our farm. My mom took my hand and told me it was going to be my year. I said, “Mom, I hope it is, but you know I have the worst luck.” My last four years with Poe had been a battle of Lyme disease, EPM and an old injury reappearing that ended our season early in 2015. My mom replied, “You keep kicking on until you make it to Rolex.”

My mom told me 2017 was going be the year I achieved my long-term goal of qualifying for the American Eventing Championships. And she was right. I did it. I would be lying if I said I didn’t doubt that at times.

I think back to my first event at Plantation Field in April, where I attempted to ride with a case of bronchitis. Let’s say the nerves and not being 100% ended in retirement after fence six on cross country. I remember there being a woman that looked identical to my grandmother, who passed away six years ago. She was a complete stranger, but she watched me warm up for stadium and cross country. She was also the first person to approach me when I jumped off of Poe and said I couldn’t breathe.

I remember standing at the trailer looking at Meg, saying, “How am I going to do this season? I miss mom way too much.” Meg said, “I know you do, Kel. I miss her too. We have got to keep on kicking. That’s what mom would want you to do.”

Kelly and Poe. Photo by Philip Cummings.

Two weeks later I headed up to Grindstone Mountain with my dad. He looked at me in the hotel room and said it was going to be hard not having mom there. Poe and I finished the day in third place. Dad turned to me with tears in his eyes and said, “Mom was just with us.”

I remember being at Essex Horse Trials and telling dad, “I know she’s here today.” My mom was ecstatic that there was going be an event in New Jersey. She had high hopes of attending it. I remember galloping through the finish and my dad being the first one I saw. He high-fived me and said, “Way to ride in the big leagues!”

The second person I saw was Meg, who I stopped to hug. She turned to my dad and said, “She finally galloped, Pat!” I can still hear them both laughing about how I finally went fast. I remember being out there on cross country feeling like I was in the galloping lanes of Kentucky. Most of all I know my mom and grandmother were with me on either side, running with me along that course.

A tear came to my eye when I remembered going through the water complex and hearing a spectator say, “She rode that beautifully.” It made me think of my mom, as I know if she had been there in person she would have told everyone, “That’s my kiddo!”

Two weeks later I competed at Riga Meadow — another double clear. (We did give my father a major scare of “is my daughter’s horse going to stop?” as Poe came across the finish ready to go run again.) We earned our first purple ribbon of the year. That ribbon meant everything to me, as purple represents pancreatic cancer awareness.

Although we qualified, we unfortunately had to miss the American Eventing Championships due to Poe being kicked in his right hind leg. (Also due to the fact that this young amateur is on her way to the altar next May. Any true horse lover gets married on Kentucky Derby day!)

We opted to run at the Area I Championships at Town Hill Farm instead. Unfortunately, it wasn’t my weekend and ended in elimination. To say I was crushed would be an understatement. I was devastated.

My sports psychologist helped me get my head back in the game. She has reminded me all season that no matter what happens, no one can take away the successes I’ve had. I’ve constantly reminded myself that I’m not the rider I was two years ago.

During my dressage lesson the other day it dawned on me: I was having the most fun this season. Yes, I was finally having fun! My USEA record may show four retires, one elimination and four double clears, but I can tell you one thing: No matter how hard it gets, don’t ever give up. Most of all, just have fun and enjoy it!

When my mom passed away exactly three weeks from the time the doctor gave her, I didn’t think I would be able to do it. Once again, those horses saved me. I know my mom may not be here in person, but I know for sure she would be ecstatic at all the triumphs I have had this year.

So my words of advice to all of us young amateurs out there who are working hard: Keep on kicking. A huge thank you to my village that has stood behind me. It took the loss of a parent for me to finally put it all together. I call it the year I got my head out of the clouds and rode.

Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation Hay Drive to Aid Puerto Rican Horses

By on Sep 28, 2017 10:20 am -

Immortal Wink, who was running in Puerto Rico last year, enjoys retirement in his home state of Florida.

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is using its annual Hay Drive to assist efforts to feed nearly 900 horses at Camarero racetrack in Canovanas, Puerto Rico. The track, which is located about 15 miles southeast of San Juan, was devastated by Hurricane Maria, leaving the horses stranded in barns where the roofs had been ripped off, without access to sufficient food and fresh water.

“In the spirit of horse organizations helping each other,” TRF will give 50 percent of Hay Drive donations received between now and Sunday, Oct. 1, to Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare Inc.

Diana Pikulski, TRF’s national director of major giving, said the group decided to work with the CTA because the two organizations have partnered before. In June 2016, TRF and CTA joined forces to bring home Immortal Wink, a 10-year-old Florida-bred gelding running in Puerto Rico, and retire him to a TRF facility in the United States.

“We worked with them before and we know how hard they work and we know what they’re up against on a good day in the Caribbean, with the number of horses that are down there and the circumstances for keeping horses there,” Diana explained. “We know how hard it is and how incredibly expensive it is and how little land there is to keep horses. It’s amazing the job they do.”

Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico on Sept. 20, causing catastrophic destruction and leaving the entire island without power and communications.

Shelley Blodgett, CTA co-founder, told Thoroughbred Daily News, “There are 864 U.S. Thoroughbreds (all Jockey Club registered) stabled at Hipodromo Camarero Racetrack. … The racetrack, including the barns, was heavily damaged during Hurricane Maria. Further, the horses cannot leave their stalls due to debris, downed fencing and flooding.”

Having worked with CTA before, Pikulski and the TRF knew that the best and fastest way to get help to the horses in Puerto Rico would be to utilize the fundraising mechanism of its own annual hay drive, which was already underway, and to reach out to those who were already well acquainted with the problems of horse care in the Caribbean.

“We thought having somebody who was there, knowing exactly what the logistics are — horse people on the ground — seemed like the best option for us,” she said. “And that was also why we felt lucky that we had a partnership there already, because from our end we wouldn’t know what to do.”

This is the ninth year of the TRF’s Hay Drive, which began on Sept. 11. Donations for horses in Puerto Rico will be accepted through Oct. 1, but overall fundraising efforts will continue until the organization’s original goal of $300,000 to provide wintertime forage for its own herd of nearly 800 horses, at 24 retirement facilities spread across nine states, is met.

This year’s drive kicked off with an announcement that every donation up to a total of $50,000 would be matched by the Geoffrey Hughes Foundation, a charitable organization based in New York City.

Besides the TRF, other horse welfare organizations and industry groups are working tirelessly to help the horses in Puerto Rico and other parts of the Caribbean that also suffered the disastrous impact of this month’s series of hurricanes.

Keith Klein, the director of industry relations for the American Association of Equine Practitioners, told Daily Racing Form that the AAEP was coordinating with the United States Department of Agriculture to provide supplies to horses in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, where three other racetracks suffered heavy damage. However, efforts have been hampered by the widespread power outages and communications problems that have complicated general relief efforts for residents.

Other organizations providing funds and assistance include The Jockey Club and the United States Equestrian Federation. Daily Racing Form reported that The Jockey Club will be making its own donation to the AAEP. Meanwhile, the USEF announced that it is extending the appeals for contributions to its Equine Disaster Relief Fund, which recently received more than $400,000 for victims of Hurricane Harvey.

Pikulski said that Immortal Wink, a war horse who ran 142 times and earned just over $110,000, is now at Lowell Correctional Institution, the TRF’s facility in Ocala, and is “one of our all-time favorites.”

“We just thought, ‘Wow, the horses that are still down there really, really need some help and we have a great story, we have a great following, we have a connection with this organization that does incredible work in the Caribbean, so here’s an opportunity for us to help.’”

Click here to buy a bale of hay (or two! or more!) to aid Puerto Rican horses impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Maria.

Find Your Next Eventer at Presque Isle Downs CANTER Showcase

By on Sep 28, 2017 8:56 am -

Are you searching for your next eventing prospect? You’re in luck! CANTER PA is hosting the Presque Isle Downs End of Meet Showcase this Saturday, Sept. 30, at Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Retiring racehorses in need of good homes will be available for purchase during the showcase, which will be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m. EST. Thanks to CANTER, we have an exclusive preview to bring you of the Thoroughbreds right here on EN.

Scroll down to view photos, stats, race records, descriptions and prices. All horses will be presented in hand at the showcase and available for purchase the day of the event. All are priced at $3,500 or less and will be sold with a no-slaughter contract. A vet will be on the grounds if you are interested in a pre-purchase exam.

You’ll notice that names for the horses are not listed. CANTER explains: “This year we are not posting Jockey Club names or videos. To be fair to those attending the event, we are doing our best to be sure that they get first shot at these horses. With racing, there is no guarantee that all horses will be available Saturday, but we also expect new ones to be added the day of the event, so come on out to see these horses for yourself.”

After the showcase, all the additional information will be posted on horses that do not sell the day of the showcase and will be sold as standard CANTER listings. For more information, please feel free to e-mail [email protected] or ask a question on the showcase Facebook event.

PRESQUE ISLE DOWNS SHOWCASE HORSES

All photos © CANTER PA

2009 bay 15.3 gelding by El Corredor

Race record: 50-8-8-3 $124,006

Athletic and cat-like, this guy could be a fun jumper or eventer type. He has minor ankle rounding on his left front ankle and a small amount of filling in the right front ankle. Best suited to an experienced rider.

Price: $2,000

2007 chestnut gelding by Kingmambo 

Race record: 76-3-12-9 $152,395

No known issues or vices, this wonderful campaigner is ready for a new career. Fancy!

Price: $2,500

2014 chestnut 15.1 gelding owned by Even the Score

Race record: 6-0-1-1 $5,955

No known issues or vices. Retired from racing last year, has been ridden off the track and was intended to be used as a pony horse. W/T/C, schooled over fences, through water and has been trail ridden. Very sensible and willing learner, this guy looks .great in the tack

 Price: $3,000

2012 chestnut 16.3 gelding by Benny the Bull

Race record: 21-3-6-0 $47,586

Powerhouse with size. This guy has old, superficial pin-fire marks and he does make a breathing
sound when he gallops. He scopes clean, we’re told he isn’t affected by the sound but it is audible.

Price: $2,000

2014 chestnut 16.1 mare by Kitten’s Joy

Race record: 18-0-1-2 $8,500

No known physical issues. Second dam is a multiple graded stakes producer, including multiple G1 winner. Please note, we’re told that she has slight weaving tendencies on race days.

Price: $2,500

2014 chestnut 15.1 1/2 gelding by Proud Citizen

Race record: 9-1-2-2 $25,075

This guy is being retired from racing with an old knee chip, diagnostics are available. Super cute and friendly!

Price: $1,000

2005 grey 16.1 gelding

Needs experienced rider, not suitable for kids or beginner riders. A pony horse on the track, this guy is spooky and somewhat unpredictable but sweet on the ground. He has scarring, splints and swelling on his front legs and roars when ridden.

Price: $500

2014 grey 16.1 mare by Zensational

Race record: 6-0-0-0 $3,040

No known issues or vices. Leggy, quiet and easy to handle. Nice eventer type, this girl is elegant!

Price: $3,000

2010 bay 16.0 gelding by Freefourinternet

Race record: 34-2-3-5 $36,075

No known issues or vices, this sweet guy should be an ideal amateur choice.

Price: $2,000

2013 chestnut 15.3 gelding by Five Star Day

Race record: 22-2-2-4 $48,340

No known issues or vices. Very charismatic, quiet to ride and handle.

Price: $3,500

2012 bay gelding by Christine’s Outlaw

Race record: 24-4-3-3 $39,363

No known issues or vices. We’re told he is an absolute sweetheart and could be a good kid’s horse or stash him away for yourself. (No photo available)

 Price: $2,500

2014 bay 16.2 gelding by J P’s Gusto

Race record: 6-0-0-0 $1,300

No known issues or vices. Super athletic eventer type with natural suspension, this one could go far.

 Price: $2,500

2012 bay 15.3 hand mare by Full Mandate

Race record: 15-1-1-4 $15,125

No known issues or vices, this girl is a beautiful hunter type. Very quiet and kind, she’s sure to turn heads.

Price: $2,500

2011 bay 15.1 mare by Singing Saint

Race record: 29-2-3-2 $29,109

No known issues or vices, this girl is sweet and athletic. Her trainer is fond of her and describes her as being very well broke.

Price: $1,000

2013 bay 15.2 gelding by Catienus

Race record: 12-0-0-0 $2,420

EASY ride! Sweet and pleasant to be around, this guy has already been ridden on the trails and would be a fun amateur choice. No known issues or vices other than a tiny popped splint inside his right front leg.

Price: $2,500

2010 bay 16.2 gelding by Teofilo (IRE)

Race record: 38-3-9-7 $48,314

No known issues or vices. Former steeplechaser, Mizyen was imported from Ireland and has foxhunted in the off season. Very appealing type for eventers and fox hunters, trainer states that he is powerful to gallop but well-behaved.

Price: $2,000

2012 bay 15.1 1/2 mare by Henrythenavigator

Race record: 39-2-11-7 $58,195

No known issues or vices. Polo size, we’re told she’s the “soundest horse in the barn” and good for everything but doesn’t volunteer for the vet. Loves to train and is strong under tack.

Price: $2,000

2010 bay 16.0 mare by High Fly

Race record: 33-4-5-5 $47,214

No known issues or vices, this girl would be suitable for any discipline. She has been trail ridden in large open fields and may enjoy loving a kid of her own.

Price: $2,000

2009 bay 15.1 gelding by Wilko

Race record: 69-5-12-8 $86,539

Saintly! A super sweet, sensible fellow who seems like a solid citizen. He has an osselet on his left front ankle and seemed to have a hair of puffiness on the right front ankle. Seems like a great all-arounder or family horse.

 Price: $1,500

2010 bay 15.3 mare by Suave

Race record: 32-2-2-1 $27,844

Big, curvy girl who has a warmblood look about her, this one could be nice for sport or breeding. Has been trail ridden. She does have an old ankle that is larger than the other, but hasn’t been an issue. Very pretty!

Price: $2,000

2008 chestnut 15.3 gelding by Distorted Humor

Race record: 60-7-7-10 $152,213

No known issues or vices. Cool campaigner, barn mascot and most recently a pony horse. Good for everything but sometimes grumpy in front of his stall.

Price: $500

2011 bay 16.2 mare by Louis Quatorze

Race record: 24-0-3-3 $17,602

No known issues or vices, this girl is a knockout! Athletic for any endeavor, nice to be around, ready to take on the world.

Price: $3,500

2009 bay 16.0 mare by Sharp Humor

Race record: 52-3-3-5 $46,146

No known issues or vices other than old small ankle rounding, which doesn’t affect her. She has been hacked out cross country and her trainer states that she has a very well rounded education.

Price: $2,000

2012 grey 15.3 mare by Marino Marini

Race record: 23-2-5-3 $50,501

Has a right knee issue, possibly a knee chip. Jogged evenly but we’re told the knee is slightly reactive for a few days after racing. No stable vices.

Price: $2,500

2013 bay 15.2 1/2 gelding by Kiss the Kid

Race record: 7-0-0-0 $1,400

No known issues, leggy, fun and forward moving. Superficial scar on left front leg.

Price: $1,000

2009 chestnut 15.2 mare by Sharp Humor

Race record: 44-4-4-9 $106,655

No known issues or vices. Lovely mare, pleasant to be around with trail miles we enjoyed meeting this girl. Currently on the farm and can be turned out with others.

Price: $2,000

2014 bay 16.0 gelding by Hacker

Race record: 7-0-0-0 $1,760

No known issues or vices, this guy has a small bump on his right hind leg which is old. Lightly raced, he has been ridden on the farm, trail ridden and even started jumping.

Price: $3,500

2013 bay 15.2 mare by Silver Mountain

Race record: 6-0-1-1 $5,955

No known issues or vices. Solid ride, this girl has been trail ridden and is not spooky. Trains off the farm and is regularly turned out.

Price: $2,500

2012 bay 15.2 mare by Arch

Race record: 31-0-2-5 $25,899

No known issues or vices, this girl is a stunning hunter mover. We’re told she is very good to handle and ride with just enough sass to be fun. Word to the wise, this princess prefers a soft grooming.

Price: $1,000

Thursday News & Notes from Nupafeed

By on Sep 28, 2017 12:03 am -

WHY CAN’T I WEAR SWEATERS YET. It’s supposed to be sweater weather right now, and yet here I am. Wearing tank tops. Sweating. I know talking about the weather is boring, but guys, the time of year when I can wear jeans out in public and it’s totally normal is the best time of the year. I can finally hide my ghostly pale legs, and pretend to be normal again for several months. Get it together Indian Summer, I’m over you!

National Holiday: Drink Beer Day (I can get behind this)

U.S. Weekend Preview:

University of New Hampshire H.T.  [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Larkin Hill H.T. [Website]

Morven Park CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

ESDCTA H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Stable View Advanced Oktoberfest H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Woodland Stallion Station H.T. [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Spokane Sport Horse Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Jump Start H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Over the past five years, Rebecca Farm’s effort help fight breast cancer has contributed more than $400,000 to national breast cancer research and to help local people fighting their own battles against the disease. Applications for this year’s round of local grants are due Monday, Oct. 2. [Halt Canter at X]

Susan Coert and Eneya Jenkins were awarded the Charles Owen Technical Merit Adult Amateur and Junior awards for their display of safe and appropriate riding across the country. The Shepherd Ranch SYVPC Horse Trials, held at Shepherd Ranch in Santa Ynez, Calif. on August 25-27, 2017, hosted the Area VI leg of the Charles Owen Technical Merit Award. Coert piloted Lauren Smith and Penny Russell-Smith’s 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding to a second-place finish in the Senior Training Rider division on a score of 34.8, adding just 3.6 cross-country time penalties to their dressage score. Jenkins and her own Americana, a 9-year-old Holsteiner mare, picked up 6.8 time penalties on cross-country to finish in fourth place on a score of 47.5. [Charles Owen Technical Merit Award Winners]

What’s it like trying to get horses to model for a photo shoot? In my experience, it involves a lot of waving your hands and throwing grass in the air to get their ears up, but these photographers had a bit more going on. Top British riders Laura Wenwick and Spencer Wilton used some of their top horses to shoot photos and video for an Olympia 2017 promotion, and the behind the scenes video is fascinating. [Top British Riders Photoshoot]

Jumper Nation Jamz: Who Jumped it Best: Creepy Roman Artifact

Hot on Horse Nation: Just 6 Cows Jumping Like Horses

*Hearts In Eyes*

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: South Peace Helmet Cam

By on Sep 27, 2017 5:40 pm -

Take a spin around the Preliminary course with Jessica Kerschbaumer and her Thoroughbred mare Like A Girl at a very muddy South Peace Horse Trials earlier this month in Grand Prairie, Alberta. “Twig,” an 8-year-old Canadian Thoroughbred mare (Desktop X Toppers Happy), added 4 cross country time penalties to finish sixth in her division.

We are longtime fans of Jessica’s helmet cams, both because she is a fantastic horsewoman and also because she is always analyzing her rides looking for ways to improve. “We all have those runs we wish we could do over,” she says, “and no one is perfect all the time, especially not me, so hopefully instead of being critical we can all sympathize with those moments and learn from them and move forward.”

Well said, Jessica! Shout out to the organizers at South Peace for enduring heavy rains at their event. (I’d love to have some of that rain in the Pennsylvania area and surrounding states right now. With not a drop of rain in the forecast and unseasonably warm temperatures, we are set to have a very dry Morven Park this weekend!)

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Thoroughbred Makeover Preview Gives Sneak Peek at Next Week’s Action

By on Sep 27, 2017 4:23 pm -

Nucifera watching the action. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Fifteen of the over 400 entries for next weekend’s Thoroughbred Makeover at the Kentucky Horse Park came to a preview Tuesday afternoon at the Masterson Equestrian Complex here in Lexington. We saw barrel racers, field hunters, eventers, jumpers and dressage horses, and of course they all have one thing in common — they’re all former racehorses with less than a year’s training off the track under their belts.

Next Thursday and Friday 5th and 6th October will be the discipline specific competitions, taking place at the Kentucky Horse Park — some in the old indoor arena, the jumpers in the Walnut Ring, the eventing and field hunters out on the cross country — and the top three will be selected in each division. That is free and open to the public once you’ve paid your horse park entry fee.

On Saturday 7th October the top three in every discipline return to the indoor arena to try and win the coveted title of ‘America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred’ awarded to the supreme champion of them all. Tickets to attend this are $25, but $15 for RRP members and children, and there will also be a live streamed in case you can’t make it in person.

And that’s not all … if you’re in the market and one of these catches your eye, almost half of them will be available for sale on Sunday 8th October. You can find all the details on the RRP website.

With $100,000 of cash and prizes to give away, the Thoroughbred Makeover is the richest racehorse retraining competition in the world, and the competitors are coming from all over the USA and Canada.

But let’s get to know a few of the Kentucky entries better..

Bobbie Jones and Proud Royal. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Bobbie Jones got Proud Royal from Winchester Place Farm last November thanks to a friend’s recommendation. Bobbie events and is a pupil of Cathy Weischoff’s (last year’s eventing winner) but she’ll be contesting the Field Hunter division next weekend. “I wanted to try something a little different and he’s game for anything!”

This is Bobbie’s first time doing the Makeover, and she reports that training so far has been fairly straight-forward. “He’s been really good, he’ll jump anything, he’s super-brave.” Proud Royal’s former owners at Winchester Place Farm gave Bobbie a set of silks in the colours that he used to race in, and they’ll be attending the Makeover to watch him go.

Carol Deeble and West of Denali. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Carol Deeble is riding West of Denali in the hunter/jumper division. She only got him in March after he retired last year with two wins from 22 starts and about $47,000 of earnings. Carol is an event rider, but with the time crunch and her horse’s laid back personality, she decided to switch to hunter/jumpers for the Makeover.

“He’s got a really good tempo at the canter, that’s his strong point, he stays really consistent, really quiet. Being around horses and stuff does not phase him one bit. The biggest issue I have with him is just getting enough energy out of him to keep him going!”

Photo by Samantha Clark

Carol saw West of Denali on a Facebook ad, and travelled up to Michigan to meet him, and she jokes, “The rest is History!” It will be her first attempt at the Makeover, but she works in the USEF office at the Horse Park so she’s seen it before. “I’ve gotten to see it a couple of times and thought what a great thing it is. I love Thoroughbreds, I’ve always had thoroughbreds and it’s something I really wanted to try.”

Jenn O Neill of Lucky Dog Eventing with Nucifera. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Jenn O’Neill runs Lucky Dog Eventing out of Haylands Farm here in Lexington; she is renowned for consistently picking and producing some exceptionally nice OTTBs, and her entry in the Makeover, Nucifera, is no exception.

Nucifera has been snapped up already by her client Tess Utterback. Tess is retiring her older 15-hand Paint gelding this year, and their plan was to go to Ireland this October and buy her a proper event horse, but as fate would have it, she rode Nucifera once and declared, “I have to have him!”

According to Jenn, “Tess is a self-proclaimed nervous amateur, but that horse gives her so much confidence, he gives her wings! She NEVER EVER wanted a Thoroughbred. Funny how one horse can change your entire stereotype,” and she added, “This horse is such a class act; I’m so fortunate to still be riding him.”

Nick Larkin and Love’s Not Fair. Photo by Samantha Clark.

New Zealand event rider, Nick Larkin, who won the inaugural CCI4* at Rolex in 1998 on Red, is back! He’s moved to a new farm here in Lexington, and after a break from eventing he’s excited to plunge back in and start competing seriously again. His Makeover entry belongs to Megan Sanders and is seriously fancy.

Lebron’s Jockey Club name is Love’s Not Fair and he’s by Fairbanks; he last raced in July of 2016 and won five races out of 36 starts, earning just over $123,000. His owner Megan Sanders knew she wanted him as soon as she saw him.

Kelly Murphy-Alley will be competing Storm Prospector in the barrel racing division, and he will be for sale on Sunday.

Kelly Murphy-Alley and Storm Prospector. Photo by Samantha Clark

I watched Kelly ride him in the arena, tie him up to the trailer while she hauled her own barrels or sat and played with her baby, and I couldn’t have been more impressed by either of them; they’re a class couple. And those boots…!

It was such a pleasure to talk to all these riders and listen to them wax lyrical about their lovely Thoroughbreds. Each one mentioned their horse’s brain and temperament, and the whole afternoon was a testament to the versatility of the OTTB.

The RRP Makeover website is chock-full of information about each horse, and some fascinating statistics on the competition — you can easily lose an hour or two browsing it, and I highly encourage you to do so!

If you do make it here to the Horse Park next weekend, try to catch Rosie Napravnik talking at 10 a.m. on Thursday in the Club Lounge, or Dan James and Tik Maynard at 1 p.m. Tik will also be presenting Freestyle 101 on Sunday, and Nick Larkin will be doing cross country schooling that day too.

If this was just the preview, I can’t imagine how much fun next weekend will be and wish all the competitors the very best of luck. With thanks to Thoroughbred Charities of America for their sponsorship of the event, and to all the various retraining and rehoming programmes and individuals who work so tirelessly to promote the ex-racehorse.

Start Box, Starting Gate, School: Lauren Snider’s Life Is a Full Plate

By on Sep 27, 2017 1:53 pm -

Lauren’s beloved Soldyouadream, AKA “Junie,” whom she lost last fall. Photo by Jacky Bolam.

Lauren Snider of Starfire Eventing and Racing in northern Kentucky is a lifelong Area 8 eventer, having competed through the CCI2* level. She galloped racehorses for 18 years and trained her own stable for five. In addition to eventing her own horse, training another two, teaching a handful of students, and attending Northern Kentucky University, she just got a new yearling to break and get back into racing. “I was coerced,” she says, “since full-time school and showing horses isn’t enough apparently.”

Lauren admits that it is a full plate, but that it works for her. “The more I have to do, the better I perform it seems,” she says. “I thrive on it. My typical day is non-stop riding, teaching, homework and horse care, not necessarily in that order! I sometimes forget to eat and often fall asleep with a pen in my hand or the laptop in my lap with my hand on the mouse pad. My husband is a long-haul truck driver, so I also have to manage things around the house most of time, as he is away from home more often than not.”

Lauren and Pedro. Photo by Katie Wegman.

Start Box

Eventing has always been Lauren’s passion. She enjoyed success as a young rider, training with Phillip Dutton in high school after winning a Bit of Britain scholarship. She went on to earn a team bronze medal for Area 8 in the NAJYRC CCI2* in 1999.

Having worked in the racing industry for many years, Lauren is a big fan of the Thoroughbred breed and an advocate for OTTBs. She got her current horse Pedro, a 2009 Kentucky-bred gelding who raced under the name Mrthreeofive (Tenpins – Crowning Mood, by Chief’s Crown ), off the track in May for free, sight unseen.

“I’m madly in love with him,” she says. “I found him through a connection at the track and took him on a hunch. He’s a dreamboat, but he’s tough too. I was horseless and in a very dark place since I had to euthanize my 5-year-old last fall. He really helped me get my mind back in the right place.”

Pedro won his very first mini trial at Leg Up in August and was fifth at the Spring Run mini trial a few weeks ago as well. Jump Start Horse Trials, taking place this weekend at the Kentucky Horse Park, will be his first recognized event.

“I think he has all the makings of an upper-level horse, fingers crossed! He has serious ADD, which is one of his biggest obstacles,” Lauren says.

Photos by Coady Photography.

Starting Gate

Lauren’s relationship with the racing industry is bittersweet.

She left the sport in March 2016 after plenty of internal debate. The timing seemed right: Her old reliable mare My Cherry Pie was retiring sound and happy, her best horse was hurt, and the others weren’t running well.

“I was working so hard and had nothing to show for it anymore.” Her own body had taken quite a beating after 18 years of galloping racehorses and eventing, and she felt like it was time to take a step back. But moreover, she was having a hard time reconciling her own ethics with those predominant in the sport.

“I left frankly because I had become disgusted with all the cheating and general ways of the racetrack,” she says. “I love Thoroughbred horses, and being on the back of a racehorse is one the greatest feelings in the whole world, but I have trouble reconciling my horse care beliefs and the way I believe horses should be trained with how things are done in the racing industry, especially regarding medication use and misuse.”

She thought she had left that world behind for good until one of her old owners, Tommy Horan, called her out of the blue two weeks ago. He was considering purchasing a yearling filly by English-bred Grade 1 winner of $2.2 million dollars Noble Mission — a classy prospect for sure, as most of Noble Mission’s babies went for between $100,000 and $350,000 at a recent sale. But he would buy the filly under one condition: if Lauren would break her and train her.

“I wanted to say no right away, but he has always been so good to me as an owner and his other horses are with a much bigger trainer, so I was honored that he wanted to trust me with a horse of this caliber,” Lauren says. “We both pretty much feel like we won the lottery! She is royally bred for the turf on both sides of her pedigree. I’m just going to roll with it and see what happens. She’s beautiful and her stride is amazing.”

Lauren feels like having just one racehorse in training will be much more manageable than the multi-sport, multi-horse operation she was running before.

“Having a racing stable and trying to event is very tough because I do everything myself and have no grooms,” she says. “So every time I would go out of town for a show, I’d have to find reliable people to care for four to five racehorses for two to three days. The whole time I was competing I would be stressing about the racehorses. I did at times think I needed to choose between racing and eventing. I think with just one horse it will be a lot easier.”

The new race filly in for training. Photo courtesy of Lauren Snider.

School

Lauren is juggling four classes this fall at Northern Kentucky University, where she is pursuing a Bachelor’s in Social Work, and is on track to graduate in May 2019.

Her long-term goal: “I plan to get my Master’s in social work and work in the field of substance abuse counseling. I would eventually like to open my own inpatient substance abuse treatment facility, and incorporate equine therapy into a program of other traditional therapies.”

Lauren wears her heart on her sleeve, mindful of the people around her and especially those who are suffering or in need.

“I decided to go back to school because I want to help people with substance abuse problems get better,” she says. “I want to save lives. The final push for me to re-enroll was this winter when I found out that someone I was close to in rehab had died as the result of her addiction.”

This weekend at Jump Start H.T., her myriad endeavors — eventing, school and social work — are coming together. For her Ethics and Advocacy class at the university, she is conducting a personal hygiene item drive to benefit The Henry Hosea House of Newport, Kentucky.

“As eventers we are privileged to be able to work with our beautiful horses every day and attend competitions on the weekends,” she says. “Some of us have even been able to make horses our livelihood. For each one of us, there are many more who aren’t so fortunate. While we wince at the cost of that glue-on shoe or hay price increase, people in my community and yours are worried about where their next hot meal or tube of toothpaste is going to come from.”

The Hosea House is a charitable organization that provides a hot meal every evening to an average of 150 people, along with offering a foot clinic, personal care items, Thanksgiving baskets, and referral services to a network of other agencies within the community for any other service a guest may need.

“I chose the Hosea House because I think they do great work and don’t get the publicity or support that some of our other local organizations get,” Lauren says.

Her request to fellow eventers competing at Jump Start this weekend: “While you’re at the story this week picking up your bottled water, snacks and zip-lock bags, grab one of the personal care items listed below and drop it by our stalls.”

Suggested donations:

  • shampoo
  • razors
  • soap
  • toothpaste
  • toothbrushes
  • lip balm
  • deodorant
  • feminine products
  • diapers
  • etc.

“When you drop by our stalls, you can grab some free treats for your horse and feel good that you helped someone less fortunate than yourself,” she says. 

Lauren is in stall #2005 at Jump Start H.T. Let’s all give her a hand!

Go Eventing.

2018 Kentucky Three-Day Event Tickets Go on Sale Today!

By on Sep 27, 2017 8:48 am -

Michael Jung and fischerRocana FST. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Christmas seems to come a little bit earlier every year, amiright? I am talking, of course, about tickets to the 2018 Kentucky Three-Day Event (April 26-29), which officially go on sale today at 9 a.m. EST.

Usually tickets don’t go on sale until the beginning of November, but they’re being offered up early this year to unveil a new ticket-ordering system.

“We have been building a new ticket system. It’s ready, and we are eager to unveil it,” says Stewart Perry, President of Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), organizer of the Kentucky Three-Day Event, of the earlier date.

“Our new system has really simplified the process of buying tickets to our event,” said Lee Carter, EEI Executive Director. “Even those purchases that traditionally folks called in, like group tickets, can easily be done online now.”

Ticket options include single-day, three-day (Fri-Sat-Sun) and four-day general admissions, as well as group sales and reserved grandstand seating. Reserved grandstand seating and tailgating spots go fast once sales open, so fans will get the best tickets at the best prices if they order early.

New this year is Saturday’s CSI3* $225,000 Invitational Show Jumping Grand Prix, to be held after cross country country, and Friday’s $35,000 1.45m FEI ranking class, held after Friday’s dressage. There is no charge for the Grand Prix or ranking class tickets, but seats must be reserved through the ticketing system ahead of time.

Sure, we still have a few months of pesky winter to suffer through, but in our hearts it’s already springtime in Kentucky and the birds are singing and the four-star horses are galloping past. For eventers who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, nine out of 10 doctors surveyed recommend purchasing Rolex tickets in advance to hang on your fridge or display in another prominent place in your home to keep the cold-weather blahs away.

Order your tickets today at www.KentuckyThreeDayEvent.com/tickets!