Classic Eventing Nation

Catch Up with This Winter’s Achieve Equine #Supergroom Award Winner Danielle Platt

By on Apr 9, 2024 12:30 pm -

We can never pass up an opportunity to highlight a #Supergroom, especially this one! Congratulations to Danielle Platt, head groom for New Zealand Olympian Joe Meyer, for winning our Achieve Equine #Supergroom award for the winter season! Stay tuned for the opening of our nomination form for our next winner. Catch up on the other interviews from this series here and nominate a #Supergroom of your own by emailing [email protected]! Now, let’s hear from the #Supergroom herself:

Danielle and Joe at Blenheim. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

What’s involved in being a #Supergroom of the winter season?

It feels really awesome to be acknowledged for the hard work that we put in. I really love that there’s an award for it, actually. It’s great and it probably brings a lot of highlights to the grooms that are out there and also something to work for!

What led you to work with Joe and Ruthie Meyer?

When I was 17, I started as a working student for different people and I actually got really burnt out. Three years ago, I was coming to the Meyer’s farm to sell a horse that I had; I wanted to quit riding completely.

I started boarding the horse with him and I would work for them a couple days a week to help pay the board. The horse eventually sold six months later and I had really formed a good bond with the girls in the barn and with Joe and Ruthie and I felt like I could trust them.

I had entered the horse that sold in a competition that weekend, so they offered me to ride a horse that was for sale in the barn. I took it to the show and we did really well. They offered me the position of general barn manager– with that comes grooming and I ride all the sales horses as well.

What advice do you have for other grooms facing burnout?

There’s a lot of places that you can go to that you might not fit in 100% or feel like you’re appreciated at all. In this industry, it is six days a week and some days can be 14 hours long. To go from somewhere that doesn’t make you feel appreciated for those days to somewhere that does make you feel appreciated for even being there for a regular easy work day is something that really stands out.

It was the environment that made it something that I wanted to continue doing. I had lost faith in working for people and not getting back what I was giving. Honestly, to keep looking for something that does give back is what I would suggest to other people in the same situation.

I don’t think the first situation that someone goes to is going to be something that works for them for the rest of their career. You have to find the place that makes you feel welcome and makes you want to get up every day and go work for 14 hours if you have to.

Danielle and Joe at TerraNova. Photo courtesy of Danielle Platt.

What has it been like working with the Meyers?

Ruthie is included in a lot of it too; she does a lot of the planning and behind-the-scenes with sales horses. Even though it might look like it’s just Joe and I on social media, it’s not, she’s so much a part of it. She’s always at the big shows too, supporting and she’s really been an amazing mentor.

Working for Joe, everyday is like a comedy show. He’s hilarious and we both get along really well. That’s important too, for people looking to find a place that they want to stay longer term is getting along and feeling welcome– like you want to go out to the barn every day and enjoy it; you don’t want to feel like you’re going to do something wrong and the whole world is going to end.

We’ve got a good group of girls and we’re always looking for more working students. I spend a lot of time teaching them attention to detail. It’s really important to teach the younger riders coming up the importance of grooming and that it’s not just the job at the bottom before you start being a professional rider. It’s all really important and it’s things that you need to know just for dealing with horses in general.

Danielle and Harbin before the flight to the UK. Photo courtesy of Danielle Platt.

What has been your favorite experience so far?

Last August, we went overseas to Blenheim to do the 4*-L, so I was over there with Harbin for six weeks. It was a really fun experience– I grew up in England, so all of my family is there and so I got to be with them and I got to see a different level of the international eventing than what we do in America. It was very cool to see the environment and see how different it is being in America versus competing in England.

I learned so much on that trip and I made a ton of friends in the barn. The grooms over there were so nice and I still talk to some of them. In grooming, I felt so welcome and it was probably one of the best experiences I could have gotten.

Ballygriffin Chacoa Power and Danielle. Photo courtesy of Alex Scribner of MIPSY Media.

What are your plans going into the future?

I am currently in the process of syndicating my first upper level horse, Ballygriffin Chacoa Power, aka Squishy; Joe and Ruthie are helping me. We’ve had one come into the barn recently that went 3* in France at the Young Event Horse Championships. She came to us to sell and she’s a little bit spicy and a little bit opinionated– and I just fell in love with her.

Feeling like the luckiest person in the world to be given an opportunity to start my own syndicate for this amazing mare.
Ballygriffin Chacoa Power came to us last month to find her new home, but I believe everything happens for a reason and I’m so excited for the future. I have big goals and they’re already too easy for this mare.
Full syndicate video will be on facebook 💞

I owe so much to @mipsymedia Mipsy Media LLC for making my vision come to life with this video. There’s truly no one I would trust more and I’m beyond grateful to know someone so talented and creative.

Please reach out for more information and opportunities within this syndicate!
Dplatteventing@gmail.com or danielleplatt4@gmail.com
–
@vrequestrianathletics
@arrohelmets
@bifidsupplements

Posted by Danielle Platt on Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Joe and Ruthie are showing me the ropes of the whole syndication process and everything that you have to do in order to be a rider who’s supported by owners. That’s another thing about them that’s just so amazing and humble of them because they don’t have to do that at all and they’re trying their hardest to help me.

Grooming for Joe at Kentucky will be my first time grooming at the 5* level. Depending on what horses sell, the goal is for me to ride in the young horse classes at Maryland, so I will be there grooming for the 5* but also hoping to ride in the young event horse classes as well.

The goal with Squishy would be to start doing some preliminary/ 2* events by the end of this year, and then move up to 3* and finish next year with the Maryland 3*-L.

I would love to groom for Harbin until he’s done and he is 14 now, so he’s still got a lot of time left to go. I love that horse so much, so I would love to be there to support him wherever he goes.

Go Eventing, Go #Supergrooms, and Go Danielle!

USET Foundation Launches New Day of Giving Initiative To Generate Support Ahead of Olympic and Paralympic Games

By on Apr 9, 2024 9:30 am -

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation has announced a new initiative to rally support for U.S. equestrian athletes. Giving Day, set for April 17, 2024, is a call to action strategically timed 100 days out from the start of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, France, to boost support for U.S. equestrian athletes and programs. This day serves as a milestone on the pathway to Paris, symbolizing the journey toward excellence in equestrian sports.

The USET Foundation’s Giving Day provides the opportunity for fans, athletes, and supporters alike to be part of the legacy of and make a real difference for U.S. equestrian athletes. Individuals and organizations passionate about equestrianism can contribute to the success of U.S. equestrian athletes competing at the highest levels.

Giving Day is designed to bring the equestrian community together on this special day, April 17, to directly impact U.S. athletes’ training, development, and competition efforts in the lead-up to Paris. Thanks to the generosity of the USET Foundation’s Trustees and National Advisory Committee members, there is a $30,000 pledge challenge, so all donations up to that mark will be matched, doubling the impact your donation will make.

Every contribution to Giving Day counts, no matter the size, so everyone can play a part in helping the USET Foundation ensure that athletes have the resources they need to succeed, either through a financial donation or spreading the word. Equestrian sports do not benefit from government funding in the U.S., so the athletes rely on these donations to carry the flag. You do not need to wait until Giving Day to donate, and whatever fits into your budget will make a tangible difference.

Whether through financial contributions, spreading awareness, or engaging in fundraising activities, everyone has a role to play in championing the aspirations of the U.S.’s equestrian athletes. To make a contribution to the USET Foundation on Giving Day and make a real difference to U.S. athletes’ pathway to Paris 2024, donate here: uset.org/givingday.

There are many easy ways to participate:

1. Post on social media – Use hashtags #PathwayToParis and #USETFoundationGivingDay to spread the word. Share why supporting U.S. equestrian athletes is important to you and encourage others to join in.

2. Email or text friends and family – Personal messages can be incredibly effective in inspiring others to get involved. Share information about Giving Day and explain how their support can make a meaningful impact on our U.S. athletes’ journey to Paris 2024.

3. Donate – Consider donating to the USET Foundation via uset.org/givingday on Giving Day. Every contribution, no matter the size, directly supports the training, development, and competition efforts of U.S. equestrian athletes.

4. Spread awareness – Sharing information about Giving Day with your community by forwarding emails, distributing flyers, or talking to friends and colleagues about the importance of supporting the U.S. in equestrian sports.

By taking these simple steps, everyone can play a vital role in supporting U.S. equestrian athletes and programs. Together, we can pave the Pathway to Paris and help U.S. equestrian athletes on their journey to excellence.

Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products

By on Apr 9, 2024 8:42 am -

Posted by Shane Rose Eventing on Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Some nice news this morning – Australia’s Shane Rose has been able to get back onto the yard following a horrific accident last month that resulted in a broken femur and ribs, fractured pelvis, and concussion. Indefatigable Shane is still putting all his focus into getting to Paris this summer with the warhorse Virgil, and frankly, if anyone can do it, it’s Shane – but we do also hope he’s taking it easy for now in the aftermath of that laundry list of injuries. We have no doubt that his team and horses were delighted to see him back at the stables, and we’re looking forward to seeing him back on the leaderboard before too long.

Events Opening Today: USEA MDHT YEH/NEH Qualifier, Flora Lea Spring H.T., Willow Draw Charity Show, Woodside Spring H.T., Spring Coconino Horse Trials, Virginia Horse Center Eventing

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

Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:

Competition management teams are true unsung heroes. From making sure multi-horse riders don’t have timetable clashes to chasing a million late payments and missing Coggins tests, they do some seriously heavy lifting with the admin stuff to ensure we all get to experience the thrill of being counted down in the startbox. So how can you make their jobs a bit easier? By ensuring your own admin is in decent shape. Here are some sage tips – which are so easy to implement! – from STRIDER and USEA.

We’ve seen a spate of withdrawals from Badminton and Kentucky in the last 24 hours or so. Chief among them? Ros Canter’s Izilot DHI, who won Pau last year and now looks to be heading to Badminton, rather than to Kentucky; Gemma Stevens’ Jalapeno, who finished sixth at Badminton last year but will not compete this year, and Tamie Smith, who has withdrawn her five-star mount, Elliot V, from Kentucky and will not defend her crown. Catch up on all the latest withdrawal news here.

An oldie, but a goodie from The Plaid Horse on managing stressors on competition day. Did you know that stressors are more than just internal worries about things like remembering your test or managing your time? There’s actually six major types of stress: social, emotional, physical, spiritual, mental, and environmental, and all of those can sneak into your show day and derail your performance. The solution? Learn to identify them as they pop up and manage them accordingly. This piece is a great starting point.

We tend to be so focused on truly egregious welfare issues in our sport, like abusive training techniques and devices. But USEF’s new rule sheds light on those welfare concerns that might take a back seat – such as the quality of a horse’s sleep, and how his environment affects that. Find out more about the rule, what it hopes to change, and how your horse can have his best night’s sleep here.

Derek di Grazia at his ‘other’ five-star home at Burghley. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Sponsor Corner: Resident course designer Derek di Grazia is busy getting ready for the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event! Kentucky holds a special place for Derek, who won the event itself in 1985 aboard Thoroughbred/Appaloosa cross Sasquatch. Get a teaser of what the track could look like and hear what Derek has to say in this article sponsored by Kentucky Performance Products.

Watch This:

It’s time for another helmet cam to give you a much-needed adrenaline boost as you head into your day!

Monday Video: Take a Peek at the Paris Equestrian Venue Progress

By on Apr 8, 2024 1:00 pm -

It seems like the venue for this summer’s Olympics and Paralympics in Paris, France is one of the most hotly anticipated given its location at the iconic Palace of Versailles. Everyone is waiting with bated breath to see how the facilities, which will host all Equestrian disciplines and the Modern Pentathlon, will intertwine with the iconic grounds.

About that construction — it’s well and truly underway! This video from the Associated Press gives us a peek at the current progress of the main arena and grandstands, which will ultimately be able to seat 16,000 spectators, and offers a few soundbites from the Versailles Venue Director for the Paris 2024 organizing committee, Anne Murac, along with Christophe Leribault, the President of the Palace of Versailles Estate.

The top equine athletes around the world aren’t the only horses getting ready for the Olympics. Did you notice in the video above how shiny horses and humans of the Fountain of Apollo are now? They were looking a little brown before, but ahead of the Olympics have undergone a two-year restoration process to polish up the gilded lead statues as well as shore up the plumbing underneath. You can check out a video of the restoration process and a few additional glimpses here.

Can you imagine cross country day when there will be horses galloping across the canal in the background? Quel rêve!

Weekend Winners: Stable View, CDCTA, Pine Hill, & Rocking Horse

By on Apr 8, 2024 11:35 am -

We all certainly kept our eye on the action at Stable View’s 4* this past weekend, but what else did we see Eventers up to? From Stable View to CDCTA to Pine Hill to Rocking Horse, there was plenty of action – catch up with it all here!

Congrats to all of our Weekend Winners! We’re giving them all a well-earned shout out, with a special shout out to the winner of our Unofficial Low Score Award, Jackie Ericksen and Devon Ridge Indira, who scored a 20.7 in the Starter Open A at Pine Hill!

Stable View Spring 2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website][Scoring]

CCI 4*S: Boyd Martin and Commando 3 (32.5)
CCI 3*S: Alexandra Baugh and Hubert Des 3 Arbres (29.3)
CCI 2*S: Boyd Martin and Fetiche Des Rouges (26.0)
Advanced: Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge (34.8)
Open Intermediate: Ariel Grald and Adagios Nobility (23.7)
Open Preliminary: Ariel Grald and Obalix (32.4)
Preliminary Rider: Summer Covar and Mona Lisa (37.1)
Modified Rider: Jacqueline Cameron and Penny Lane (31.6)
Open Modified: Mandolin Whitten and Bossanova (26.5)
Open Training A: Jennie Brannigan and Revolt (27.8)
Open Training B: Sydney Shinn and Sunshine and Whiskey (27.1)
Training Rider A: Lisa Edinger and Quinto Quest (25.2)
Training Rider B: Abigail Bennett and SM Ravin’s Treasure (35.3)

CDCTA Spring H.T. (Ruckersville, VA) [Website][Scoring]

Open Modified: Stephanie Sills and Mille Neuf Cent (31.5)
Open Training 1: Jessica Nelson and Betterthanexpected (37.4)
Open Training 2: Abigail McGowan and Mystic Serenade (42.1)
Open Novice 1: Christine Ehlers and Cloudy Times (34.2)
Open Novice 2: James Meister and Going Tribal (33.3)
Open Beginner Novice 1: Martin Douzant and Delta Dawn PVF (30.9)
Open Beginner Novice 2: Martin Douzant and Galactic Frame Z (34.7)
Introductory 1: Addy Sheplee and Kinsale (32.0)
Introductory 2: Sara Moezie and Chastain’s Morning Mocha (30.3)

Pine Hill Spring H.T. (Bellville, TX) [Website][Scoring]

Preliminary-Open: Sierra Fishell and Galiamo (39.0)
Training-Open: Lida McAllister and Tullibards Chance Taken (30.8)
Novice-Open A: Kyli Sadler and Phantom Trip (32.2)
Novice-Open B: Kaetlyn Perkins and Urneypark Shutterfly (31.8)
Novice-Open C: Megan Correia-Bittner and Quadrillo (26.9)
Beginner Novice-Open A: Amanda Rhodes and Flagmounts Zelda (29.1)
Beginner Novice-Open B: Shelby Owen and GTB Felix Felicis (32.7)
Starter-Open A: Jackie Ericksen and Devon Ridge Indira (20.7)
Starter-Open B: Emarie Graham and Chorizo (33.0)

Rocking Horse Spring H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website][Scoring]

Intermediate Rider: Jesse Reagin and RCA Society Law (38.6)
Open Intermediate: Jennie Jarnstrom-Dennis and Flower Girl (28.2)
Intermediate/Preliminary: Arielle Aharoni and Cooley Baltic Sea (33.6)
Open Preliminary: William Ward and Phantom of theOpera (32.9)
Preliminary Horse: Lexi Scovil and Undertaker 7 (25.3)
Preliminary Rider: Nicolette Adams and Total Access (33.5)
Modified Rider: Casey Locklear and FLS Major Bounce (35.4)
Open Modified A: Sherry Pound and Dassett Choice (33.0)
Open Modified B: Sylvia Byars and CSF Dassett Decoy (27.8)
Open Training A: Audrey Ogan and Cooley Classified (25.3)
Open Training B: Lauren Nicholson and Sir Prize (27.7)
Training Horse: Lynn Symansky and Caramba (26.4)
Training Rider: Valli Corbin and Napoleon Z (29.4)
Novice Horse: Jonathan Holling and Capstone (27.5)
Novice Rider A: Darci Burton and VS Correlli Surprise (28.1)
Novice Rider B: Gina Teresi and Match Right (30.8)
Open Novice A: Liz Lund and Hillside Diamond Lad CF (26.9)
Open Novice B: Robin Walker and DHI Milan (25.6)
Beginner Novice Rider: Jack Brennan and Paladin (23.2)
Open Beginner Novice A: Kelsey Seidel and Water Mill Smooth (26.5)
Open Beginner Novice B: Paige Montague and Doograne Master (25.3)
Starter: Sarah Finkel and Pink Gin (30.1)

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Apr 8, 2024 5:42 am -

Strzegom in Poland was the weekend’s major European eventing fixture, and what a competition it was: twisty, technical courses from 1* to CCI4*-S put horses and riders to the test, and that four-star was, as is always the case at Strzegom, packed with names you need to know. The eventual winner was Belgium’s Tine Magnus and Dia Van Het Lichterveld Z, a horse I’ve been obsessed with since her young horse class years, and who climbed from first-phase eleventh place with a super-speedy 2.4 time penalties across the country. Belgium’s exceptional 2023 season looks set to be continuing in much the same way in 2024.

Second in this class was a pair who US audiences, particularly, will want to take note of – Germany’s Christoph Wahler and D’Accord 70, who’ll be heading stateside in a couple of weeks to tackle their first Kentucky. Prepare to fall in love with the incredibly leggy tall glass of water that is D’Accord. Also, let’s be real, you’re going to fancy Christoph. In ninth place, too, we saw another high-flying German duo who are aiming for Kentucky – that was Calvin Böckmann, once dubbed ‘the young Jung’ by EquiRatings, and The Phantom of the Opera, who’ll be making their 5* debut this month. And, finally, in fifteenth place after a great run, we see Nicolai Aldinger and Timmo, who’ll be rounding out that trio of German-lads-we’ll-all-be-talking-about in Lexington soon.

And, of course, we actually saw the Stars and Stripes represented in Strzegom, thanks to Alexa Gartenberg and Cooley Kildare! They finished 36th after an educational early-season run, and we can’t wait to see how they develop as 2024 unfolds.

National Holiday: It’s National Empanada Day. I still dream daily of the surprisingly excellent Mexican food that can be picked up at dodgy-looking gas stations in Ocala, so if you’re on that side of the pond, have one for me today.

US Weekend Action: 

Stable View Spring 2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Results]

CDCTA Spring H.T. (Ruckersville, VA) [Website] [Results]

Pine Hill Spring H.T. (Bellville, TX) [Website] [Results]

Rocking Horse Spring H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website] [Results]

UK Weekend Results:

Larkill (Larkhill, Wilts.): [Results]

Norton Disney (1) (Norton Disney, Lincs.): [Results]

Major International Events:

Strzegom Spring Open 1 (Poland): [Website] [Results]

Your Monday Reading List:

There are few things that strike fear into the hearts of horse owners quite like the idea of soft-tissue injuries. That’s because these tricky, nuanced lamenesses can be a real bugger to get right – each has a very specific rehabilitation plan and timeline associated with it, and setbacks aren’t particularly uncommon on the road to recovery. But while that might sound pretty doom and gloom (can you tell I’ve had to deal with an ongoing and particularly tricky one?!), there is light at the end of the tunnel, and with careful management, lots of horses who’ve ‘done a leg’ can return to their peak performance. This article offers an interesting insight and overview into each part of the process.

It turns out I really needed an essay on half-halts as a metaphor for life this morning. After a long, achingly tough weekend, I can relate all too well to Camilla Mortensen’s beautifully penned blog about finding a way to momentarily regroup before powering forward into the unknown with a clearer head, better balance, and a touch more confidence. Read her words, which are much better than my summary of them, here, and I hope, if you’re in need of galvanising this morning, that they do that for you, too.

Another thing I needed this morning? This very good advice on when and why to clip. My mare didn’t get a clip this winter, and now she’s in peak shedding season, and believe you me, I am desperate to take the blades to her and skip the next few weeks of accidentally flossing my teeth with grimy belly hair. But Cat Hill of World Class Grooming is here to put a stop to my crazy, once and for all. Maybe.

Struggling with muddy pastures and bottomless gateways? I feel you. Here in England, all we have is mud, mud, mud, and some more mud, and very occasionally, an event that manages to run despite the mud which kind of, somehow, distracts us from the mud. It’s not fun, and it’s not ideal for our horses’ legs, either. But what can you do about it at home? A few things, actually – and this short piece from Equus has tips for things you can try right now, like laying material in gateways, and plans you can put in place ahead of next mud-season.

Morning Viewing:

Join British eventer Ashley Harrison and her 4* horse, Zebedee, as they head to Munstead for a combined training outing in something that actually appears to resemble sunshine, unusually.

Straight from the Vet’s Mouth: Reducing Risk with Better Farm Management

By on Apr 7, 2024 9:30 am -

I’ve always said that you could put a horse in a sterile padded room and they’d still come out half-blind with three broken legs and some sort of skin fungus. Meanwhile, the horse that lives in that junkyard you pass every day on your way to work will live happily to the ripe old age of 44 years old and look great doing it. I don’t sound bitter, do I?

Determined to discover whether we should all invest in a junkyard for our horses, I turned to Grand Prix Dressage rider, veterinarian, and FEI delegate Dr. Courtney Varney . She has been a veterinarian for 14 years, and has served as veterinary delegate for international dressage and jumping shows for nine years.

Alongside her husband and Ocala Horse Properties co-owner Matt Varney, Courtney has lived on her 22-acre Ocala farm for about ten years now. As a sports medicine vet and partner of her practice, Ocala Equine Hospital, she says, “I love coming to a barn and getting to know the horses not just for their medical problems, but how they perform, and what their strengths and weaknesses are in the arena. When they win, it almost feels like you won. You’re just so excited knowing what the rider and horse have both been through and that you’ve been there to help them get back in the ring.”

An unfortunate side-effect of being a veterinarian is dealing with our favorite fragile animals in the worst situations. Courtney has seen her fair share of injuries that could have been prevented with better farm management. Still, Courtney says you can’t prevent every single cut and scrape. “Horses will be horses and they’ll get themselves into trouble now matter what you do to prevent it.”

But, if you’re looking to make your farm safer, Courtney has a few pieces of advice.

Photo by Matt Varney

#1: Choose Concrete Over Wood
Courtney has a total of seven stalls on the property, five of which are in a concrete shed row barn, and two in a small wooden shedrow barn. She was very specific on her choice of concrete over wood.

“I think you could build a very high quality, sturdy, safe wood barn and I’ve been in plenty at my job every day. As long as you have a good contractor and build it up to code and have the electricity put in the right way, you can actually have a fantastic wooden barn. I just personally prefer a concrete barn. I think they’re a little easier to clean,” Courtney said. “Every month, we’ll take some cleaning solution and power wash the inside of the stalls. I can get the concrete really clean and you can disinfect a little easier.”

#2: Stalls Should Be Level and Ditch-Free
The majority of the residents at her farm are show horses who spend some portion of the day inside, so one of her biggest priorities was to create a comfortable barn. That includes big comfortable stalls with appropriate mats and good drainage. Courtney prefers to use crushed concrete under her stalls, as it doesn’t deform over time and still drains well. Lumpy stalls can cause a horse to misstep and injure themselves, while poor drainage contributes to bad air quality.

Photo by Matt Varney

#3: When it Comes to Turnout, Quantity & Quality Matter
Courtney and Matt have a total of nine acres of turnout on their farm. “We’ve got it laid out well to keep the horses having plenty of time outside,” Courtney said.

But size and access to pasture isn’t all that matters, drainage, fencing, and maintenance matter nearly as much. Dry pastures with good drainage prevent thrush, abscesses and other hoof conditions. “They will get thrush and this is a fairly simple thing to treat, but it can become chronic and cause lameness. They can get abscesses, which can lead to other problems,” Courtney said. “We can’t do anything about nature, but if you happen to have paddocks where there’s a lot of standing water, it’s a good idea for them to come in for a portion of the day or night just so they can have the chance to dry out their feet.”

Courtney sees a fair amount of horses with skin disease from being out in tall wet grass. “Keep up on your mowing. Especially in the summertime, if you have tall grass and it’s dewey every morning or it’s raining, the horses will get recurrent skin disease. They can get cellulitis and become extremely lame and painful. And then they have to go through various treatments including antibiotic therapy and NSAIDs and possibly steroids.”

Be prepared to spend good money on your fencing and check it often. Even though Courtney checks her pastures once a week, she’s still occasionally surprised by what she finds.

“If there are sharp edges or old nails sticking out or broken boards, the horses will hurt themselves,” Courtney said. “I’ve been surprised. I think my fencing looks good and then I’ll drive around the perimeter and realize this board’s been down for a while, or I didn’t realize that there’s a bunch of nails sticking out or there’s holes from little gophers or other critters that can get into the paddock. Those holes could be deadly should the horse step into it the wrong way.”

#4: Design Your Barn to Cool Your Horse Off Efficiently
In an effort to beat the Florida heat, Courtney has an efficient cooling system for her horses. Her wash rack includes shade and fans. “In the summertime here it gets so hot. It’s important when I’m done riding that I get a fan on them right away because sometimes it is really hard to get them cooled off,” Courtney said. “You need to be able to untack, hose them off, and get them nice and cool in a timely manner.”

Courtney Varney riding in her arena. Photo by Matt Varney

#5: Poor Footing is an Injury Waiting to Happen
Courtney designed her outdoor dressage arena with safety and convenience in mind. ”I decided I wanted all weather footing so I had Joe Watkins from Longwood farm come out. The footing is fantastic. It’s impossible for a puddle to form in that ring. That’s really nice for me because there are times when I don’t get to ride because I’m busy with work. And then if I get time to ride and my arena’s flooded, that’s no good. It is super important to me, not only for my horse’s safety to have good footing, but for my own lifestyle as well.”

And it’s not just drainage Courtney worried about, she was very specific about the concussion of the footing as well. “Harder footing is harder on joints, even though it might be better for soft tissues. But over time, those horses may need more maintenance or are more prone to having arthritis develop at a faster rate because of the harder footing,” Courtney said. “But honestly, I prefer hard footing to soft footing. Footing that’s too deep and too soft makes you much more prone to a soft tissue injury, which from a treatment standpoint, can be heartbreaking.”

“I think it’s good to vary your footing. I always tell people, ‘go outside the ring, go train on the grass, go have a gallop. Go ride on uneven footing.’ That’s good for them,” Courtney said. “It increases their proprioception and it gives them a little more strength in their distal limbs.”

#6: If There’s a Chance Your Horse Can Get a Leg Stuck, They Will
Look at your stalls from the perspective of a curious toddler. Is there anything your horse can get stuck in? Some of Courtney’s emergency calls with the least optimistic outcomes are those where a horse is hanging by a limb.

“I’m really picky about what kind of separation you have between stalls. If you have boards with more than five or six inches between them, sometimes horses will get upset and try to kick and will get their legs stuck. That’s a potentially fatal mistake. I’ll have people change the slots between the boards so the gaps are much smaller, maybe even only an inch or two. That still gives you good air circulation, but prevents horses from getting their legs stuck.”

The same cautionary tale also applies to slow feeders and hay nets. “Some people really like the slow feed hay bags or buckets, but you have to be very careful about the type you get, as some are safer than others. Sometimes you get babies that are curious and investigate them and get their legs stuck in them,” Courtney said. “It’s the same thing with hay nets. I try to put them up high enough, as I’ve had horses paw and catch the edge of their shoe on the net. They can get upset and fall down only to be hung up by the edge of their shoe.”

Photo by Matt Varney

#7: Gates Are Your Best Friend
Accidents involving a loose horse and a car are quite possibly Courtney’s most dreaded emergency call. She suggests, “Make sure that your gate is always closed or that you have an automatic gate. Sometimes you’re handling a horse and they spook and get away from you. If your farm is completely enclosed, a loose horse getting out onto the road is one less worry. Horses getting out into the road is an absolute disaster and a nightmare in every way that it could be. It’s obviously deadly to them and deadly to drivers.”

At the end of the day, all we can do as barn owners and horse owners is try our best. “I have clients that go above and beyond and put their heart and soul into trying to keep their horses safe, and they still have things go wrong,” Courtney said. “We can only do the best we can.”

This article was sponsored by Ocala Horse Properties. Courtney says Ocala has become her home. “I chose Ocala because I love the space. It’s such a diverse area where you can go out and be away from it all and really feel like you’ve got that isolated farm feeling or you could be close to the show grounds and feel like you can pop out to the restaurants and get to the grocery store fast. I just think Ocala offers equestrians anything they want. You can have a busy show barn or you can have complete peace and quiet.”

If you fell in love with Ocala like Courtney did, check out their website to find your dream farm & home.

Sunday Links from EcoVet

By on Apr 7, 2024 12:01 am -

We’re just a couple of weeks away from the #BestWeekendAllYear: the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Ahead of this year’s event, there’s plenty of preview content hitting the airwaves. In particular, we’re excited to see what Athletux has been working on with this year’s Behind the Barn video series. Check out the preview:

You can watch previous episodes of Behind the Barn here.

U.S. Weekend Action

Stable View Spring 2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

CDCTA Spring H.T. (Ruckersville, VA) [Website] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Pine Hill Spring H.T. (Bellville, TX) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Rocking Horse Spring H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Links to Start Your Sunday:

Badminton waitlist all accepted – and Harry Meade set to make history

New USEF rule: ‘Night Should Be Dark’

Chronicle of the Horse’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Survey

Athletux is hiring for intern positions

Please take a moment to complete this Sport Horse Nation survey!

Sponsor Corner: Today is the last day to take advantage of EcoVet’s Spring sale! 🐇🌷 Get 25% off your purchase with code ECO2024. Start fly season off right– with the industry’s only fatty-acid fly repellent that also improves insect-related skin sensitivity. [Shop now.]

Morning Viewing: Look at what else has been going on around Stable View this week!

Boyd Martin and Commando 3 Take the Title in Stable View CCI4*-S

By on Apr 6, 2024 5:38 pm -

Boyd Martin and Commando 3. Photo by Cora Williamson for Liz Crawley Photography.

Boyd Martin and Yankee Creek Ranch LLC’s Commando 3 (Connor 48 x R-Adelgunde, Amigo XX) claimed their third FEI win together today, leading the CCI4*-S at Stable View (Aiken, SC) from start to finish and ending on a score of 32.5.

It was a refreshed course awaiting the headlining division today, put together by Great Britain’s Helen West, who tested out some different tracks and worked with some newly-added questions. The result was a track that exerted a fair bit of influence; while time is always a factor in these short format events for multiple reasons, we also saw several questions elicit runouts or refusals throughout the field.

The most influential issue came for Liz Halliday and Cooley Quicksilver (owned by The Monster Partnership/Ocala Horse Properties), who were third following two phases and unfortunately parted ways at the severely-angled Stable View brushes at fence 10. Both she and “Monster” were unhurt; Liz later returned to pilot Shanroe Cooley to a clear round.

Boyd and Commando 3 (“Connor”) have been together for just on a year now, and he’s said all along that he knows the best is still yet to come with the 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding. The horse had competed through this level with his previous rider, Swedish Olympian Louise Romeike, and it can take time to form a partnership with a horse at this stage of education. The two gelled together quite quickly, amassing multiple competitive results in their first few events together, and to know that Boyd is confident he’s yet to hit the top of the horse’s potential is an exciting prospect — especially just a few months before the Olympics.

“Commando’s feeling in fantastic condition as we do our final prep toward Kentucky and gave me a great performance,” Boyd said. “Full credit to Helen [West], I feel like she’s really done her homework on the type of fences we’re going to be faced with at Kentucky and she had all the questions there. I feel like it was a great prep event. I think she put a lot of thought into it; there was plenty of galloping, it nice flow to it and there were also some pretty tough combinations and accuracy fences and all the looks we’re going to see coming into Kentucky.”

Boyd is well-poised for a selection to the Olympic squad — though he’s got a couple competitions still to tick off on his prep tour — with not just Commando, but also stablemate Fedarman B (owned by the Annie Goodwin Syndicate), who also delivered a clear round today to finish in fifth.

“Bruno, he’s turning into one of the best cross country horses I’ve ever sat on,” he said. “He’s ultra fast, huge stride, and really could’ve jumped around with his eyes shut. I feel like with both Bruno and [Commando 3], we’ve still got plenty of work to get the dressage a bit better, but they’re jumping great and safe and reliable and have such immense quality. It’s crazy to think of how good they could be once I really have them trained.”

He’s also got his veteran campaigner, Tsetserleg, and Maryland 5 Star winner On Cue, as two additional prospects for the team. Commando 3 and Fedarman B will next compete in the Lexington CCI4*-S, while Tsetserleg and On Cue will aim at either the Kentucky 5* or Badminton (they’re each entered in both for now and could even potentially re-route if they start Kentucky and happen to have an early issue, with an extra week on the books this year between Kentucky and Badminton).

“I feel like I’m a bit of a veteran now; I’ve been through this every two years for the last couple of decades, even before I left Australia,” Boyd said on the topic of the impending team selection. “I think the biggest thing is timing, that you’ve got your horses peaking well. It is a first time for me ever that I’m not doing them all in a spring five-star, so that’s a bit unusual and that’s sort of why I wanted to give Bruno and Connor a strong run at the four-star level to prove that they’re on their A game. I feel like I’m blessed with the strongest group of horses that I’ve ever had, a wonderful team and fantastic owners. I feel like I’m seasoned now and all we can do is try to come into the big events not feeling like you have to do something extra and keep trying to improve by that one percent every time.”

Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. Photo by Amy Griffith for Liz Crawley Photography.

Also retaining his position after two phases is Will Coleman, who piloted Hyperion Stud’s Chin Tonic HS (Chin Champ x Wildera, Quinar Z) to a clear round with some time added to end the weekend on a score of 34.1. Will had been candidly accepting of the mistakes and bobbles that led to his assessment of yesterday being sub-par, but he was pleased with how the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding performed on cross country.

“He was good,” Will said. “You know, it’s a very different course here this year, quite twisty. I actually thought Mark had really a beautiful track set out last year. This was very different in some ways, some good new wrinkles and it’s always good to have new stuff but it was a bit on the jerky side for me. It was also good for Chin, wouldn’t necessarily be his type of course but he answered the questions well well. He handled all the questions really well. Ground was sub par, so I think I just responsible and tried to set him up for Kentucky.

Will also rode the Off the Record Syndicate’s Off the Record (Arkansas VDL – Drumagoland Bay by Ard Ohio) to a clear round, finishing in fourth overall on a score of 35.6. “Timmy” joins Chin Tonic as Will’s top prospects for team selections; both horses are entered in the Lexington CCI4*-S at Kentucky, which should be their last run before team announcements are made. Will withdrew The Diabolo Group’s Diabolo after show jumping yesterday, which was his plan for the weekend as the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding preps for his 5* debut at Luhmühlen (Germany) in June.

I asked Will how he was managing his own expectations with something like a championship team announcement. A spot on the Olympic squad would be his second such selection (London 2012 was his first), and his third championship team selection. The experience would be enough to leave one craving another, and surely at least some part of him is but at the same time, he says he’s faring well.

“Honestly I’m really trying not to put much thought into it,” he elaborated. “Really I’m looking at Kentucky as an event I’d like to go do well at, just like any year. I think you do what you do and how it all shakes out is sort of beyond your control; I can only control my preparation and what I do on the day. I was young then and you’re so hungry just to make a team, and now I’m in a much different place. I’ve got an amazing family and we have a great life, and maybe in a weird way there’s less pressure on yourself because you are in that different place. When you’re young and hungry it might matter to you too much; I’m guilty of being a bit of a perfectionist and sometimes trying too hard to ride just for an outcome and I just think I’ve tried to get better at that.”

Doug Payne and Quantum Leap. Photo by Austin Ross for Liz Crawley Photography.

Rocketing up from 20th after dressage are Doug Payne and Quantum Leap (Quite Capitol – Report to Sloopy xx, by Corporate Report xx), also making a strong case for the team with two impeccable jumping phases that brought Doug up to the podium, finishing third on a 35.1. Doug describes “Quantum” as one of the most genuine horses he’s ever had — “Vandiver 2.0” — and he’s also been one of the most consistent jumpers in the field.

He was also quick on the clock, the fastest of the day, accumulating just two seconds of time over the optimum of 6:23. Doug credits this to the 13-year-old gelding’s rideability: “you waste no time setting him up because he sets himself up, and he’s very maneuverable so you can be quite tight on the approach and quite tight on the back side.”

Of all phases this weekend, though, Doug was most pleased with the improvement he felt on the flat. It’s a confirmed fact that Quantum is likely to finish on whatever score he earns on the first day, so chipping away at his mid-30s average to give himself a better starting point has been a key focus. Doug says he’s been testing out new strategies on flat, recently focusing on achieving a greater amount of forward flow throughout the test.

“I want it to be a more actively forward ride, and that’s definitely been the right answer as he’s gone a couple points better every time out,” Doug explained. “The moment he’s started to get a bit apprehensive or tense, I’ve been trying to let him flow forward as much as possible where before I would worry more about getting him more supple, which would sometimes cause him to get tense and anxious.” Additionally, in working with Aiken-based show jumper Andrea King recently, Doug noted that she’d pointed out a tendency of his to “ride like I’m on a motorcycle”. This led him to concentrate on achieving a better balance in his turns in the dressage ring, too, which has paid off as well. “The horses would fall in and get a bit quick when I’d do that, and with this they are able to stay in better balance.”

Quantum Leap will do the CCI5* at Kentucky at the end of the month, which will be his seventh 5* start.

Other notables from today’s cross country include a clear and quick round from Julie Wolfert and Team Pivot’s SSH Playboy, who moved up to sixth after starting the weekend in 28th. Jenny Caras and Jerry Hollis’ Sommersby also moved well up the board, finishing in seventh after starting in 26th. Phillip Dutton completes the top 10 with three rides: Denim (owned by Ann Lapides, Ann Jones, Caroline Moran, and Neill Sites) in eighth on a 42.7, Possante (owned by The Possante Group) in ninth on a 42.9, and Jewelent (owned by The Jewelent Group) in 10th on a 44.9.

A couple of questions caused the most difficulty today: the newly-added Defender Columbia Coffin at 14 caused issues for four pairs, including a dropped frangible pin at the A for Liz Halliday and Cooley Nutcracker, and the new water complex at 9 also caught out eight pairs. You can view photos of the fences in our preview here.

Riders certainly noticed the difference in tracks between this year and previous years; Will Coleman noted that the beginning felt a bit more open, but that it was somewhat difficult to establish a good rhythm thereafter. Helen also focused on technicality, inviting open doors with skinny questions and angles, and also found ways to use the rolling terrain to further test the pairs. “She’s not afraid to land the horses on an awkward camber and make you take a lot of responsibility for their balance,” Will observed.

You can view the full scores from Stable View here.

Stable View Spring 2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Welcoming Helen West: Preview the Stable View CCI4*-S Cross Country Track

By on Apr 6, 2024 9:30 am -

The new Defender Columbia Coffin Complex at Stable View. Photo courtesy of CrossCountryApp.

We’re pleased to welcome Great Britain’s Helen West as the new course designer at Stable View, taking over for Capt. Mark Phillips as his retirement nears. While Capt. Mark consulted and advised on the design of the track he’s handled since the venue’s opening, the bulk of the design strategy and execution fell to Helen, who has also designed at events such as Bicton and has also served as the CEO of British Eventing.

The result is a CCI4*-S course that looks quite different from its most recent counterparts, running in the opposite direction as the last few years and incorporating some previously unused areas of Stable View’s acreage. There are also new or relocated complexes scattered about, giving the track a fresh feel that also should serve as a proper set-up for the upcoming CCI5* and CCI4*-L events most of the pairs competing this weekend are preparing for.

“Helen West built a real course similar to what we’re going to experience at Kentucky with lots of coffins and a big brush and big jumps into the water and she’s done a top job,” Boyd Martin, current leader of the 4*-S with Yankee Creek Ranch LLC’s Commando 3, said. “But she’s made a pretty good test. So my goal [today] would be to give the horses a good run. Make sure they jump all the fences well, and they’re nice and confident coming into Kentucky.”

Click the image to view the interactive map on CrossCountryApp.

You can see on the map above that the course takes a new direction, going away from the start box toward the main part of the property early on and finishing on the same end of the property as the start. Riders will have a handful of single fences and some related combinations to contend with before they hit the meaty portion of the course, which comes after a steep climb up the back hill of the property.

Cheeky little bugger. Photo courtesy of CrossCountryApp.

Here, we find a handful of reimagined questions, including a cheeky Brush Surprise at fence 10 that, at least in photos, looks like it could sneak in a 20 or two, which follows the new CVETS Water Complex at 9ABC.

Fence 9ABC also features the iconic Stable View angled hedges, relocated to the upper back corner of the property for 2024, as seen below.

After navigating those challenges, riders will tackle the newly-constructed Defender Columbia Coffin Complex as they head back toward the starting end of the course. This coffin promises to test horses prepping for 5* and every horse’s ability to hold a line:

The work won’t stop there; riders will still need to navigate a final water complex before a final uphill pull to the final few fences. The course carries an optimum time of 6 minutes, 23 seconds with a total of 22 numbered questions and 35 jumping efforts.

There is no live stream this weekend, but you can follow along with live scores here. Cross country begins for the 4*-S division at 1:15 p.m. EST. You can view the rest of the schedule for Stable View here. I’ll be along later with a final recap from the day, so stay tuned and Go Eventing!

Stable View Spring 2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]