Classic Eventing Nation

Eventing Emerging and Development Program Training Sessions Kick Off 2024 Season

By on Feb 24, 2024 3:00 pm -

Eventing Emerging athlete Maddie Hale schooling a show jumping course in Ocala. Photo by Devyn Trethewey/US Equestrian.

The Eventing Emerging and Development Program participants began 2024 with training sessions to hone their skills with Emerging and Development Coach Leslie Law. In addition, they heard from several industry experts to help further their knowledge of the high-performance aspects of equestrian sport.

The athletes rode in dressage and show jumping lessons with Law, setting their show jumping courses alongside Law or course designer Chris Barnard. Participants worked on their cross-country riding in lessons with Ian Stark, Eventing Team European High Performance and Cross-Country Advisor.

“The January training sessions are a good time to take a look at the basics. When you are in the middle of the season, you are more focused on the competitions along with the show jumping rounds and the test themselves,” said Law. “Overall, I thought the combinations looked good. Everyone had their horses in good shape. We had some good cross-country schooling sessions with Ian Stark. Most of the athletes have had a run now, and they all came out and had good results.”

An esteemed group of experts gave lectures to the participants on a variety of topics. Longtime groom Max Corcoran spoke about horse management, and Joanna Frantz reviewed human physiology basics and exercises for the athletes. Veterinarians Dr. Lisa Cassinella, Dr. Jonathan McLellan, and Dr. Paul McClellan shared how to keep equine athletes in top shape, and farriers Rebecca Ratte and Kenny Bark discussed hoof care with the participants. Sam Watson of EquiRatings provided an overview of data collected and key performance indicators for their high-performance analysis.

“We do a lot of lectures on top of the training itself,” said Law. “We try to cover the whole aspect of the business. The athletes have their own bases and their own programs, but we really try and help them maximize their potential in all areas.”

Along with the educational component, Law and Christina Vaughn, Director of Eventing Development & Emerging Programs, review athletes’ plans for the year ahead and possible target events for the various combinations in the spring and summer.

“We are looking to take up to six riders over to Europe to do the Nations Cups at Chatsworth in the UK and Millstreet in Ireland with the possibility of some of them doing the three-day at Bramham as well,” said Law. “That’s a big discussion with who is interested in doing that and what we need to do prior to it.”

The educational series began with the Eventing Emerging Program Training Session at the Florida Horse Park in Ocala, Fla., from Jan. 8-11. Along with the lessons and lectures, participants heard from a USOPC nutritionist, Rikki Keen, on having well-rounded meals.

Eventing Emerging athlete Julia Beauchamp Crandon schooling cross-country with Ian Stark in Temecula, California.
Photo by Myah Vasquez Photography.

The West Coast-based Eventing Emerging Program participants trained alongside their counterparts in the USEF/USDF Emerging Athlete Programfrom Jan. 15-18 at the Galway Downs Equestrian Center in Temecula, Calif. Both groups had their respective training sessions, often auditing each other’s lessons, and joined together for lectures from the industry experts. In addition to the main lectures, participants received media training as well as insights from a coaches’ roundtable panel consisting of Law and U.S. dressage athlete Steffen Peters.

The Eventing Development Program participants gathered at the Florida Horse Park in Ocala, Fla., from Jan. 29 – Feb. 1. Along with the lessons and lectures, the Eventing Development Program participants received media training and spoke on a panel about their educational influences for the USEA Eventing Coaches Program Symposium being held at the same facility.

Looking beyond 2024, Law aimed to get athletes thinking long-term about the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

“There are discussions happening on L.A. in four years’ time, trying to get the riders to think bigger picture. It might seem a long way away, but it’s not,” said Law. “They are certainly capable, but now it is putting it all together for the future.”

An Eventer’s Guide to Replacing Your Safety Equipment

By on Feb 24, 2024 10:30 am -

Eventers have a reputation for being tough as nails, handy, and finding ingenious applications for duct tape. That last bit should not apply to your safety equipment — so we’re here to share some helpful information about when your safety gear should be replaced.

Helmets

Photo courtesy of Ride EquiSafe

Dents and divots are not a badge of honor — on your helmet or your head. If you’ve had a fall where your head has impacted the ground, your helmet needs to be replaced. Most helmet manufacturers offer an accident replacement program where you can buy a new helmet at a discounted rate depending on the age of your helmet.

If your helmet hasn’t had an impact with the ground, it generally needs to be replaced every 3-5 years. Whether it’s three, four, or five years depends on multiple factors, including: how often and long you ride, if your head is particularly sweaty, climate (heat and humidity grows icky stuff, which can degrade its important inner workings and also put you in contact with bacteria), and storage conditions.

Key things to check the condition of your helmet:

  • Obvious scratches and dents in the shell.
  • If your helmet has a brim, it shouldn’t be misshapen.
  • Indents or cracks in the polystyrene (the inner shell).
  • A crushed liner that no longer has padding.

You only have one head, so follow these guidelines to keep it looking and thinking like normal.

Body Protectors

Body protectors follow similar guidelines to helmets. We love the stalwart Tipperaries, except for when we see the 30-year-old ones that are hanging on by a thread and a rider proudly announcing that they’ve had it since they were 12 (they’re 56 now) or that they found it in a Middleburg second hand shop for five dollars.

So, replace your body protectors every 3-5 years depending on usage. Heat and moisture have a significant impact on foam, so if you’ve been unlucky enough to go swimming cross-country on too many occasions, you’re a prolific sweater, or enjoy riding in the rain, this will shorten the life of your body protector.

Things to check on your body protector for condition :

  • Foam: Foam should be an even thickness without obvious dents or divots. It should still have a thick, dense feel to it. If your fingers can squeeze into the foam, it’s degraded. When you squeeze the foam, the little bit of give should bounce back quickly.
  • It stinks: If it’s stinky, it’s a sign of bacteria which can degrade the foam.
  • Condition of the laces or Velcro: The laces or Velcro should have as much grip as day one. If there is no elasticity left in your laces, the grommets are missing or the Velcro doesn’t stick any more, the equipment is unlikely to stay in place the way that it needs to fully protect you.

Air Vests

Photo courtesy of Ride EquiSafe

You’re going to sense a theme here – air vests should be replaced every 3-5 years. Notwithstanding the fact that we’re starting to see more rapid innovation, but because air vests are mechanical and it’s imperative that all components are regularly checked to be in good working order. All air vests offer a warranty and also have servicing guidelines. Like the Tipperaries, we often see Point Two and Hit Air vests that look like they have been through battle (isn’t that what a cross country course is anyways?) and when we ask when they were last serviced, we get a blank stare.

There are six main components to an air vest that need to be regularly self inspected or checked by the manufacturer:

  • Textile: This is the outer shell that houses the air bladders. Inspect these to make sure that there are no rips or snags. You can also do the stink test.
  • Air chambers: The majority of air vest manufacturers don’t want you touching the air bladders themselves at risk of changing how they lie within the vest. But you can still test the condition by intentionally deploying the vest to make sure that the vest fully inflates and stores air for the appropriate amount of time. Yes, we know people loathe blowing a perfectly good canister, but it’s not without good reason .
  • Trigger: Your trigger is mechanical and is responsible for setting in motion the inflation of your vest. You want to make sure that none of the parts are rusted or corroded. Your trigger should be kept clean and dry. If you take a dunk in the water or get caught in a monsoon, make sure to dry off the trigger afterwards. As with the air chambers, the best way to check the trigger is functional is by doing a test inflation.
  • Lanyard and Key Ball: Your lanyard is a bungee. If it no longer has stretch left or is stretched out, it needs to be replaced. If your key ball is misshapen or gunky, it should be replaced. The way that the key ball sits in the trigger directly impacts if the trigger will fire correctly. You want it to fire when it should and you don’t want it to when you don’t (seems obvious, right?).
  • Saddle Strap: For the love of Pete, DO NOT hook your lanyard to a D-ring. The worst thing in the world is to be flying through the air, waiting for your vest to deploy and out snaps your D-ring. Always use a saddle strap installed on your stirrup bars and make sure that the loop that you are clipping onto is centered. Ensure that the nylon isn’t torn or frayed. ZIP TIES ARE NOT AN ACCEPTABLE REPLACEMENT FOR YOUR SADDLE STRAP. (Sorry, didn’t mean to yell there.)
  • Gas Canister: Your gas canisters should be stored in ambient temperatures. This means they shouldn’t be kept in your car or horse trailer (yes, I’m talking to you). If they are stored in extreme temps for a prolonged period of time, you risk the gas losing mass. Most gas canisters have a weight printed on them, so at a minimum it’s recommended to check the weight on a kitchen scale at least annually.

If you’ve been lucky enough to avoid falling all year, I recommend deploying your vest just to ensure it’s still functioning properly.

Stirrups

I’d love to think that everyone is using safety stirrups, but I know that’s not the case. Gone are the days of rubber banded peacock stirrups being your only option. Have you seen videos of riders getting dragged? It’s terrifying and would send anyone running to the tack store to buy stirrups with a release mechanism.

Regardless of what kind of stirrups you have, here are a couple of things to check:

  • Footbed: The footbed is what gives you grip. Whether it’s metal, rubber or polymer, make sure that there is still sufficient tread left.
  • Material: If your stirrups are metal, just make sure there’s no rust or corrosion. If it’s composite or non-metal, check for cracks. If you have composite stirrups, I actually recommend replacing every 3-5 years, just like your helmet and body protector. Look for any changes in shape, as this can mean that the material is compromised. If you have a safety mechanism, make sure that the components such as joints or flexible branches are in good working order.

Safety equipment is there to do just that – keep you safe, and the only way it can effectively do that is to make sure it’s stored properly, used properly, inspected properly and maintained properly. Duct tape and zip ties are not substitutes for good, working equipment, so put your old stuff in a shadowbox and invest the appropriate time and money into your safety.

Remember – functioning safety equipment is cheaper than an ambulance ride!

 

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This article was sponsored by Ride EquiSafe — your source for all things related to equestrian safety. Ride EquiSafe provides expert demos, fittings, and guidance for the most important part of the ride: your safety. To shop air vests, body protectors, safety stirrups, and more, head to their website. 

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Feb 24, 2024 12:01 am -

Photo via Alison Eastman-Lawler on Facebook.

Alison Eastman-Lawler added a little twist to her most recent schooling show at Apple Tree Farm South in Windsor, South Carolina by hosting a ‘Bald is Beautiful Beauty Pageant’ to raise support for Locks of Love, a nationwide non-profit that provides real hair wigs to children suffering hair loss as a result of a medical condition.

The Bald is Beautiful Beauty Pageant saw three brave men — Ronan Maloney, Mike Pendleton, and Shawn Lawler — come forward as contestants to shave their head. A $10 donation to Locks of Love bought one vote to cast for the winner of the pageant, which ultimately raised an impressive $3,000!

And the winner was … the man who got his head WAXED: Ronan Moloney! If you fancy watching the painful chaos, you can do so right here. And it’s not too late to donate to the cause either!

U.S. Weekend Action

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

Pine Top Advanced (Thomson, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Three Lakes Winter II H.T. at Caudle Ranch (Groveland, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Reviving the Spirit: Jamaican Eventing Soars with the FEI Solidarity’s FEI Eventing World Challenge Series

Laughter and Learning at the 2024 Ocala Horse Properties USEA YEH Symposium

Am I Crazy? I Bought An Unbroke Small For My Kids

A Quick Look at the Amazing Equine Heart

The Big Picture Presented By Excel Equine: Are Influencers The Answer?

Sponsor Corner: Check out Woodge Fulton and Cash Point strutting their stuff 👑

Woodge chooses Amerigo Saddles for her horses. “We love everything about our @amerigo_saddles_official saddles, from the way they fit the horses to how customizable they are. From piping colors to stitching colors, you can match your saddle to your personality.”

World Equestrian Brands is your source for saddles trusted by 5* riders.

Morning Viewing: Are you a chronic looker downer when you ride? Here’s a quick top from Amelia Newcomb on how to fix your it!

Tommy Greengard Receives the USET Foundation’s 2024 Amanda Pirie Warrington Grant

By on Feb 23, 2024 12:00 pm -

Tommy Greengard and Joshuay MBF. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Up-and-coming eventing athlete Tommy Greengard of Malibu, California, was named the recipient of the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation’s Amanda Pirie Warrington Grant for 2024. A current competitor on the US Equestrian (USEF) Eventing Emerging Program List, Greengard has aspirations of representing the United States internationally.

The Amanda Pirie Warrington Grant is awarded annually through the USET Foundation’s Amanda Pirie Warrington Fund. Pirie’s family established the fund in her memory to provide financial assistance to an eventing athlete identified as having the talent and ability to represent the United States in the future. It is intended for a recipient that will benefit most from the opportunity to continue their training with top coaches and to compete against the world’s best in eventing, one of three Olympic equestrian disciplines. As the recipient of the grant, Greengard will receive up to $5,000 to help offset expenses associated with his training throughout 2024.

“I’m so appreciative to the USET Foundation and USEF for all of the opportunities that have been offered to me including this grant,” stated Greengard. “Earning this grant took me by surprise; I wasn’t expecting it all. It’s a wonderful way to start the year, and I’m very grateful.”

Greengard began riding when he was six years old and trained with Robyn Fisher in Malibu, California, for nearly nine years. When he moved to northern California to attend college at the University of California, Berkeley, he began training with Andrea Pfeiffer. After graduating in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental science, Greengard decided to make horses a career and began to work as a full-time trainer at Pfeiffer’s Chocolate Horse Farm in Petaluma, California.

While Greengard has had success at the four-star level with his own Joshuay MBF 2, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, including winning the CCI4*-S at Woodside Fall International in October 2023 and placing third in the CCI4*-L at the Eventing Championships at Galway Downs in November 2023, he hopes to leverage the Amanda Pirie Warrington Grant to make his international debut.

Working closely with Pfeiffer, Greengard has been focused on building a string of promising young eventing horses and plans to leverage the grant to support the development of one particular horse, That’s Me Z, Greengard and Pfeiffer’s seven-year-old Zangersheide gelding.

“I have some exciting up-and-coming horses, and I’m hoping that I can take That’s Me Z to the 2024 FEI World Championship for Young Horses in Le Lion d’Angers, France,” Greengard explained. “I’d like to use this grant to gain additional training and competition opportunities that I might not have access to otherwise for That’s Me Z. He’s a pretty brave horse, but I think new experiences and introducing him to different atmospheres will be important before competing on the world stage.”

With his sights set on international competition, Greengard credits his partnership with Pfeiffer and support from USEF’s Eventing Emerging Program List for bolstering his career path.

“First and foremost, I have to acknowledge Andrea Pfeiffer. She has been behind me and the horses one thousand percent day in and day out,” said Greengard. “I’ve also been fortunate to have help from USEF’s Development and Emerging Coach Leslie Law through the Emerging Program List. Finally, Lilo Fore has helped me on the flat and, of course, my parents have been hugely influential in making everything happen.”

Thanks to the Amanda Pirie Warrington Grant, Greengard can continue to focus on his training to help reach his goal of representing the United States around the world.

Regain Your Training Focus with This Simple Exercise

By on Feb 23, 2024 9:30 am -

Sharon White and Claus 63. Photo by Shelby Allen.

I don’t know what time warp January was in, but for me, it seemed like the longest month in current memory. I have a degree in exercise science, I’ve been a personal trainer for almost a decade, and I am a two-hundred-hour yoga teacher. I cannot stand the gym in January. I will almost avoid it like the plague. I think I went to the gym once in January and that was to catch up with my husband, who’s an avid four-day gym-goer, come hell or high water.

In Virginia, where I’m based, temperatures were miserable. I’m usually very active, and though I worked my barn job throughout January (which included trying to ride in these frigid temperatures!), I did not spend any more time outside than absolutely necessary. All this goes to say, somehow I survived January — but I lost some fitness in the process. But as the temperatures in February have been hovering around 50 and we’re asking our horses to do more, it’s important to bring some of the stillness we found earlier in the year. I do this through yin yoga.

What is Yin Yoga?

Yin Yoga isn’t new. Paul Grilley, the modern father of yin, explains it as such: “Yin Yoga is a natural healing practice that talented yoga teachers have always been rediscovering and integrating into their practice.”

Yin Yoga is categorized by long, static holds in which we use gravity to do the work of tractioning the fascia and connective tissue of the body. While this is a more subtle form of exercise, you are still working the body in a very specific and targeted way. This form of yoga is different from restorative yoga, where your goal is simply to relax. The two are commonly confused as the same thing, when in fact they are not.

Yin poses are held anywhere from three to twelve minutes. During a yin hold, you will typically feel a light sensation. Over time, that sensation will become more subtle and then will come back to you in waves. The goal is to remain centered during this rollercoaster ride of sensations.

Yin holds are a great way to cultivate a mindfulness practice in which you focus on your breath — and everything else that comes up, you try to let go of and regain your focus on your breath. The benefits a consistent practice like this can have on our riding or training are numerous; staying present in the saddle is not always easy, and this practice can help.

Start on you back with your knees bent and your feet on the floor. Keep your feet together and your knees out wide.

Set a timer and hold this position for 3-5 minutes.

Here’s a simple Yin Yoga hold to incorporate into your routine:

Reclined Butterfly

The Reclined Butterfly is a very good exercise for the inner thigh. This is a more passive exercise, so you might not feel too much sensation, but don’t worry if this is the case. This hold targets the inner thigh and groin, and you are also in a subtle back bend, making this useful for the lower back as well.

1. Start on your back with your knees bent and your feet on the floor.
2. Keep your feet together and bring your knees out wide.
3. Set a timer and hold this position for 3-5 minutes.

I recommend doing this hold at the end of the day, instead of at the beginning of the day. This is a great way to start a wind-down ritual in the evening.

Try this and feel the mental and physical benefits!

Want to get in even better saddle shape? Contact Laura Crump Anderson and Hidden Heights Fitness to get started on a customized program today! 

Click here to read more from Laura on EN.

Friday News & Notes from Stable View

By on Feb 23, 2024 3:41 am -

 

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As the weekend rolls around once more, I hope you all have wonderful things planned; some of you may even be taking a little time to recharge your batteries ahead of another hectic week. I know that I did just that last weekend, taking myself off on a little ‘staycation,’ and reconnecting with my non-equine interests. As Andrew Hoy points out, it’s not always easy to find the much talked about ‘balance’ in life, especially where horses are concerned. But just like our beloved equine counterparts, ‘Recovery and Rest’ days play their part in the path to achieving our goals, too. I doubt many of us are as lucky as Mr Hoy, and get to enjoy said rest days sunning ourselves in Dubai – I know I certainly didn’t need my passport last weekend! – but even just a day out of your normal routine can work wonders, both mentally and physically. So why not take some time for you this weekend, and head into Monday refreshed and raring to go. And if you get the chance to do that in Dubai, even better!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Full Gallop Farm Mid February H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Pine Top Advanced (Thomson, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Three Lakes Winter II H.T. at Caudle Ranch (Groveland, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Friday News and Reading

We eventing fans sure do love a live stream and EN’s one-stop hub is where they’re all at. We’ve compiled this list and its accompanying global map to assist you and cut down on confusion and frustration when it comes to eventing live streams. We’ll be updating this as new live streams are added and you can request the addition of a live stream by emailing [email protected]. Eyes on, and go eventing!

It was Ian Stark’s birthday yesterday. You know the one: all round eventing legend, and designer of some of the world’s best – and toughest – cross country courses, including Maryland. Take a trip down memory lane courtesy of Horse & Hound, who have managed to condense his remarkable life and career in an easily digestible article. Happy (belated) Birthday Ian!

In the build-up to competition, so much of our time is spent focussing on the physical side of training, and mindset is often neglected as a result. However, as Nicky Pennie points out on the latest edition of the Grassroots Show from the Eventing Podcast, it is just as important to have a strong mental attitude as well. In learning how to harness your nerves in the correct way, you will not only improve your results, but inevitably add to the overall enjoyment of the experience. A really great listen for anyone that has ever suffered from nerves or self doubt (I will put my hand up on that one), full of useful tips and tricks for turning the negative thoughts around – and there’s even a discount code for Nicky’s ‘Supercharge Your Riding Masterclass, if you want to delve even deeper into your mental approach.

5* season is almost upon us, and no doubt selectors will have their attention firmly fixed on the entries list, ahead of the Paris Olympics. Riders lucky enough to have more than one potential Olympic star in their stable have an added opportunity to showcase them at Badminton this year, as the entries system has been altered slightly, to allow riders the chance to ride three horses, rather than two, as in previous years. Burghley Horse Trials allows riders to enter three horses, but Badminton has previously been so oversubscribed, it was only fair to limit riders to two horses. But last year, there was no waiting list – a first time for the event – hence the new entry system. How wonderful it must be to have three 5* runners in your stable – I’m sure most of us would be happy with just one!

On a more sombre note, the Kiwi Eventing Community suffered a big loss this week. Helen Thomson, an integral part of the Eventing Taranki committee, and a great contributor to our sport over the years, died in hospital on February 2nd. Contributing to many events as a judge, she was a much relied on volunteer, and one that New Zealand Eventing were more than aware they were lucky to have. Indeed, volunteers like Helen are few and far between, both overseas and closer to home, and selfless characters like Helen are a gift to our sport. Without them, it would be hard to run any events at all. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her, and the Kiwi Eventing community as a whole. Rest in Peace, Helen – our thoughts are with your family and loved ones.

Just when we thought it was all over… As most of you will be aware, Shane Rose caused a little bit of a furore last weekend when he chose to showjumping in a mankini. Cue eventing making national news, albeit for all of the wrong reasons, and Shane having to ‘step down’ from competition while he was investigated (for what, exactly, I am still not sure). Anyway, after an overwhelming rally of support for Shane from fans all over the world, the ‘case(?!)’ against him was inevitably dropped, and normality resumed. But for Tim Palmer, the whole situation should never have come to pass and he has decided to resign from his position as chairman of Equestrian Australia’s integrity committee as a result. Who knew that such a scrappy piece of material could cause such upheaval?!

In this ever changing world we live in, climate change is an increasingly hot topic (no pun intended, honest). So if you are concerned about the impact that you – or your horse – are having on the environment, why not work out their carbon footprint?! The brains behind Agria Equine Insurance have developed a handy little tool to allow you to do just that – and if you want a point of comparison, then their brand ambassador, current European and former World Champion, Ros Canter, has shared her own results. Every little helps!

Sponsor Corner

 

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We don’t usually highlight winners of dressage competitions on Eventing Nation… but how can we not congratulate the winner of the highest Dressage Score for Thoroughbreds during the USEF/USDF “I LOVE Dressage” Show at Stable View when he has a show name like Why is the Rum Gone? Congratulations to Bridgette Miller and her wonderfully named horse on their win at Stable View.

Weekend Watching

It’s not eventing, but it is still one hell of a story, and one hell of a winning round, and it never fails to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and bring a tear to my eye. A fantastic display of horsemanship, the culmination of a long career characterised by grit and determination, and proof that dreams really can come true, no matter how may setbacks you encounter along the way. A fairytale ending for Nick and Big Star, I for one can’t wait to see how many more of these we will encounter in Paris, but for now, I hope you enjoy this throwback to Rio 2016. Keep dreaming, keep fighting, and as ever, Go Eventing!

 

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Ingrid Klimke on FEI World Championships at Aachen: ‘Nothing Better Could Happen!’

By on Feb 22, 2024 3:00 pm -

This story has been shared with permission from Aachen 2026, the site of the next FEI World Championships for eventing, show jumping, dressage, para dressage, vaulting and driving. Subscribe to the Aachen 2026 newsletter to keep up with the latest updates from this exciting event here. [EN’s Coverage of #Aachen2026]

Ingrid Klimke and Equistro’s Siena Just Do It. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

She is one of the most successful riders in the world and has won countless medals at Olympic Games, World and European Championships so far in her career. And yet one championship event particularly springs to mind for riding master, Ingrid Klimke: The FEI World Equestrian Games 2006 in Aachen.

In an interview the 55-year-old not only looked back on this emotional major event, but also looked ahead to the FEI World Championships Aachen 2026.

The World Championships are returning to Aachen in 2026. How was your reaction to this decision?

I was initially absolutely delighted, of course. But, at the same time, all of those wonderful memories of the best World Equestrian Games I had ever experienced immediately came to mind again. All of the disciplines being staged jointly, cheering on all the other participants together and the truly first-class conditions that turned the championships into a real world festival. That all of this is going to be repeated now 20 years later: Nothing better could happen for the equestrian sport! I am sure this event is going to be a fantastic experience for everyone involved.

What significance does the fact that all six disciplines are being staged in Aachen have?

For me the fact that all disciplines take place in one location is what distinguishes the horse family. And if I could wish for something it would be that this is always the case. Each discipline quite often has its own championships. Everyone knows each other in our sport, we are all one big community. But for me personally it is always especially nice to have a look at what goes on in the other disciplines and engage in an exchange with the other competitors. One celebrates together, one suffers with each other, when anything goes wrong. And apart from that one can learn a lot watching the other riders and broaden one’s horizon. So, it is a wonderful enrichment when all of the disciplines are united at one location.

Ingrid Klimke and SAP Hale Bob OLD. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

You were on board in 2006 and experienced the World Championships in Aachen as an active competitor. What are your memories of the event?

Oh, there were so many unforgettable and really exceptional moments: From the Opening Ceremony in the sold-out Main Stadium, through to the Reception in front of the Town Hall of the City of Aachen. I also recall the many wonderful evenings spent together with the athletes of all the disciplines, but also with friends, acquaintances and my family. Experiencing such an event in one’s own country simply allows many people to be there, who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend.

How would you describe the atmosphere back then?

Happy, exuberant, simply fantastic. There were so many moments of joy that were celebrated with an incredible air of lightness, but also moments of consolation, when disappointed athletes received solace from the crowds. Throughout the entire duration, the mood in 2006 in Aachen was better than at any other championships I have ever experienced.

What would it mean to you to be able to take part as a competitor again in 2026?

Simply everything. And that is exactly what I am going to work towards over the next two years. I have great horses in my yard, which I will bring on systematically and hopefully I will be selected to compete in Aachen in 2026. That is my next major goal now.

Scholarship Alert: Maryland International Equestrian Foundation

By on Feb 22, 2024 9:30 am -

Eventers can use all the help they can find to make ends meet in this sport, and so we’re eager to share opportunities for scholarships or grants that someone who reads EN might benefit from. If you have a verified opportunity we can spread the word about, please tip us by emailing [email protected]. 

Valerie Pride, a 2022 MIEF FEI Scholarship recipient, and Favian at the 2022 Maryland 5 Star. Photo by Abby Powell.

The latest open opportunity comes to us from the Maryland International Equestrian Foundation (MIEF), which sponsors a variety of scholarships throughout each year. You can view current opportunities on their website here.

Two scholarships are currently open for applications:

MIEF FEI Scholarship

The Maryland International Equestrian Foundation (MIEF) will award four $1,000 scholarships to riders wanting to compete at the 1*, 2*, 3* or 4* levels at the July Maryland International Horse Trials. The scholarship funds will used entry fees, stabling, travel costs, and other associated competition expenses up to $1,000.

Applications are open from January 15, 2024 to May 1, 2024. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Recipients will be announced May 15, 2024.

Applicant Criteria:

  • Open to riders who are USEF and USEA members in good standing.

  • Horses and riders must be capable of competing at the level of scholarship they are applying for.

  • Riders may apply for more than one scholarship level as long as it is a different horse/rider combination.

  • Riders and horses who have competed in a 5* competition and/or outside of North America are not eligible.

  • Horse and rider combination may not have competed above the level for which they are applying.

  • Previous applicants are encouraged to re-apply

  • Members of the MIEF Board of Directors and members of their families are not eligible. Family members or current clients of the Scholarship Award Committee are not eligible.

  • Incomplete applications without a video submission and letter of recommendation will not be considered.

Merrylegs Junior Rider Scholarship

The Merrylegs Junior Rider scholarships are geared towards diverse, young equestrians who are competing at a grassroots level. Scholarship recipients will receive a credit of $500 towards Highland Series Horse Trials, Twilight Events, Pick Your Time/Test Dressage & Blue Ribbon Jump Round show entries and any schooling opportunities at Loch Moy Farm over the next year. The scholarship period is one year after the date the recipient enters their first event. After this period, unused scholarship funds will expire. Loch Moy Farm offers a variety of fun and accessible opportunities throughout the year for grassroots riders to learn and compete.

Applications for this initial round are due May 1, 2024. TWO scholarships will be awarded during this round.

Applicant Criteria:

  • Junior riders* age 13 – 17 riding at a grassroots level who would like to compete or are competing at the elementary, beginner novice, or novice levels. *{as defined by USEF and USEA Rulebook)

  • Local to Loch Moy Farm and able to arrange a suitable horse and travel to the venue. Scholarship funds can also be applied towards stabling. Recipients do not need to own their own horse, or use the same horse throughout the year. Participants in riding school lesson programs are encouraged to apply!

  • Ready to tell us how this scholarship would help them advance their riding goals.

  • Enthusiastic about increasing access to equestrian sports for underrepresented groups.

  • Willing to share their experience on Maryland Horse Trials and MIEF social & print media.

  • Able to further their equestrian education by volunteering 8 hours at any Maryland Horse Trials event. The volunteer hours may be split up.

Scholarship recipients will be subject to the rules and requirements of the events they enter.

To submit your application or share the form with a friend, click here. 

Thursday News & Notes

By on Feb 22, 2024 12:49 am -

 

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A post shared by Phillip Dutton (@duttoneventing)

We’re obviously all locked onto the road to Paris as we gear up for an Olympic year, but the eventing world has one eye on the future, namely 2028 and the LA Games, when Olympic eventing as we currently know it will likely not feature. The deadline for National Federations to submit their comments on the proposed format changes passed on Tuesday and so our attention turns to the FEI, with feedback due to be presented to the IOC by March 1st.

Seven-time Olympian and three-time medalist Phillip Dutton has shared his thoughts on the future of eventing and what changes at Olympic level may mean for the sport as a whole:

“I do think there is a general consensus worldwide in the eventing community that it is important to modify the format if the International Olympic Committee recommends changes so that our sport can stay a part of the Olympics. Even though it will most likely be a watered-down event, it will still keep the sport part of the general sports viewers’ eyes and will help attract sponsorship and excitement and therefore create a more sustainable sport. Like in other sports, such as tennis, the gold medal winner at the Olympics is probably not remembered as well as the Wimbledon champion.⁣

For eventing, the five-star three-day events are the ultimate test of training, endurance, talent and horsemanship. It is imperative that the FEI recognizes this and puts out a statement committing to support the five-star events and that changing the Olympic format does NOT mean that the sport will go the way of the Olympic format.⁣”

We await the final decision with baited breath, but in the meantime, go eventing.

U.S. Weekend Preview

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

Pine Top Advanced (Thomson, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Three Lakes Winter II H.T. at Caudle Ranch (Groveland, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Thursday News and Reading

We eventing fans sure do love a live stream and EN’s one-stop hub is where they’re all at. We’ve compiled this list and its accompanying global map to assist you and cut down on confusion and frustration when it comes to eventing live streams. We’ll be updating this as new streams are added, and you can request the addition of a live stream by emailing [email protected]. Eyes on, and go eventing!

5* eventer and mustang trainer Elisa Wallace joins the Genetics Unbridled Podcast and makes a cool discovery about two horses in her herd. Elisa gives her insights into working with the wild guys, how she bonds with them and the connection she builds through her training. We’ve loved following along with her vlogs as she navigated the Mustang Magic this year and now we get to listen in as she sheds light on some of the stuff that didn’t make it to YouTube. All this plus, we find out about Etalon’s innovative new project, Map-My-Mustang, how Elisa’s used genetic testing in her own program, and how she discovered that there are actually full siblings in her barn. Earbuds in and listen up.

Help your horse become a better athlete by adding calisthenics into your training routine. This conditioning work is not a new fad – I remember it from workout video tapes in the 80s, but it’s far older and wiser than that – it actually dates back to Ancient Greece and means ‘beauty’ and ‘strength’. And it’s not just a human thing – horses can do calisthenics too. Here are some simple exercises to help your horses find those muscles they probably don’t use in their day-to-day training to become more balanced, mobile, strong and beautifully conditioned.

Am I boring you, buddy? If you’ve got a yawner, you may be inclined to think that your horse is finding things a bit dull. But that may not actually be the case. Research has found that yawning can be a sign of frustration, and if you’ve got a horse who yawns frequently, it could be a red flag regarding their welfare.

I used to dream of having a real pony’s tail to brush as I dragged a tiny plastic comb through the candy-colored nylon glued to the rear of my My Little Pony. But man, does the real thing take some care and attention! It of course doesn’t help that I bought an almost pure white pony, who is right now mostly brown and sporting some pretty impressive skid marks the full length of his tail. (Sorry for that tasteful image if you’re eating breakfast right now.) With this in mind, I’m always on the look-out for tail care tips, like these four ways to keep your horse’s tail looking fabulously full.

And finally, some horsing around with your feet on the ground. You may have heard that hobby horsing is, no joke, a serious sport with its own Championships, well, it’s catching on in student circles too – California Polytechnic State University is hosting its first-ever hobby horsing competition, with the winners getting the chance to perform at the Cal Poly Rodeo student night. Here’s a taster (you know you want to). There are obvious benefits to this approach to equestrian sports in comparison to the living, breathing, **** producing, I’ll-buck-you-off-if-I-feel-like-it money pit reality of the four-legged variety.

Video Break

From wild horse to this in 100 days – check out the top ten freestyle performances at the Mustang Magic competition last month.

Remembering More Inspiration

By on Feb 21, 2024 10:36 am -

Holly Jacks-Smither and More Inspiration. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Holly Jacks-Smither’s longtime 5* partner, More Inspiration, this week at the age of 19. More Inspiration, or “Morris” as many knew him, was the horse of a lifetime for Holly, who began her FEI career with the Thoroughbred gelding and would eventually reach the top of the mountain with a 5* debut in 2017.

“My $2000 sales investment who I couldn’t sell, stuck around to change my life. If it wasn’t for you, Morris, I would have been on a totally different career path,” Holly wrote in tribute to More Inspiration on social media. “You taught me that hard work truly pays off; that thinking outside the box is a must to be successful with the tricky ones; that a big heart matters more than confirmation; and that hard work and perseverance get results.

Holly Jacks and More Inspiration. Photo by Kingfisher Media Services.

“From a gallop girl at Woodbine Race track where we met, to my first Nations Cup in Aachen, Germany, my first 5 star [sic] at Kentucky, and my first European 5 star in Pau, France… we did it all together. I’ll never have another horse like you. Thank you for challenging me, teaching me and giving me so much joy. But most importantly, thank you for being my soul mate and making me believe that life can be changed because of one special Ottb and a dream. I hope that you are playing bite-the-hand with all the people we have lost the last few years. Thank you just doesn’t seem like enough . Make sure you have a good buck and squeal as you gallop through heaven’s doors. I’ll meet you on the other side.”

More Inspiration
(April 3 2005- February 19 2024 )

My $2000 sales investment who I couldn’t sell, stuck around to…

Posted by Holly Jacks-Smither on Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Holly first became acquainted with More Inspiration when he was a two-year-old still on the racetrack in Canada. When his racing career ended at the age of four, his trainer contacted Holly for help restarting and selling him. In the end, Holly’s grandfather helped her purchase the gelding for $2,000 (out of her college fund, no less!) when a buyer didn’t materialize (and she’d begun to take a liking to him, at any rate).

Holly Jacks-Smither and More Inspiration. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

As his training progressed, Morris revealed himself to be careful and (as most top athletes are) quirky, to the point where many close to Holly advised her to sell him and move on. He would be too careful for the sport of eventing, they said. Cross country penalties dotted their record as they moved to the Advanced and then-3* level.

Morris was also swaybacked, making him unique and also challenging when it came to fitting tack. “He has to work a lot harder than the average horse because of the way he’s built,” Holly said in an interview with Heels Down Magazine.

But then, things began to click.

Holly Jacks-Smither and More Inspiration at Aachen. Photo by Jenni Autry.

It was a trip to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and its famous indoor eventing class that would be a catalyst for a strengthened partnership between the two.

“[Coach Jon Holling] was hard on me,” Holly told The Chronicle of the Horse back then. “It was, ‘You’re either going to make it work, which I don’t think your horse is brave enough, or you’re going to sell him,’” she said. “I brought him out at Pine Top and jumped him around Advanced, and he was just a different horse after being at The Royal. He’s the bravest he’s ever been.”

The rest was yet to be written. Holly was invited to compete at CHIO Aachen (Germany) by the Canadian team, where she finished 30th individually in what would have been the toughest and most technical test of their skills to date. They’d have their growing pains, but all came to fruition a few years later when Holly achieved a lifelong goal of cantering down centerline in Rolex Stadium.

“You kick yourself now for taking the option because you want to be competitive, but it’s our first four-star and he’s amazing and I didn’t want to make him do something he couldn’t do,” Holly said of her first 5* cross country round. “He came home sound and happy and this horse owes me nothing. He carried me around — I didn’t help him.”

Holly Jacks and More Inspiration. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The pair’s most competitive result at the 5* level came at Pau in 2019, where she and Morris finished 12th. “I’m thrilled with my horse and thrilled with my weekend in general,” she told Tilly Berendt that year. “I’m so glad I made it here – not just to be at the show, but because of the people I’ve met along the way, these amazing connections that will stay with me forever.”

In 2021, Holly announced she was retiring Morris from competition after a heart condition was discovered by a vet ahead of the Kentucky Three-Day Event. He continued to be a large part of her life for the rest of his life, remaining an eternal source of inspiration and gratitude for the thousands of miles traveled and lessons learned.

“You have been with me through thick and thin,” Holly wrote when Morris was retired. “You took me from a gallop girl to a 5-star event rider. You taught me that 5-star horses don’t need to be fancy and well bred. They can have crooked legs, sway backs and huge hearts.”