Classic Eventing Nation

US Equestrian Names Nations Cup Team for Great Meadow CICO3*

By on Jun 30, 2017 4:58 pm -

Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda on their way to winning Great Meadow in 2015. Photo courtesy of Valerie Durbon.

It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for! US Equestrian just named the team that will represent the U.S. in the FEI Nations Cup CICO3* at the Great Meadow International presented by Adequan next week, July 7-9 in The Plains, Virginia.

Congratulations to:

Jennie Brannigan (Reddick, Fla.) with Tim and Nina Gardner’s Cambalda, a 2002 Irish Sport Horse gelding

Buck Davidson (Unionville, Pa.) with Sherrie Martin and Carl Segal’s Copper Beach, a 2006 Irish Sport Horse gelding

Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) with Kristine and John Norton’s I’m Sew Ready, a 2004 Dutch Warmblood gelding

Doug Payne (Aiken, S.C.) with Debi Crowley and Doug and Jessica Payne’s Vandiver, a 2004 Trakehner gelding

Today is Jennie Brannigan’s 30th birthday, so please join us in sending her happy birthday wishes! Being named to a Nations Cup team on your birthday is definitely not a bad way to celebrate. Remember that Jennie and Cambalda are already winners at Great Meadow. They took the inaugural CIC3* victory in 2015. 

US Equestrian also named two alternates for the Nations Cup team:

Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) with Gretchen and George Wintersteen, Pierre Colin, and Denise Lahey’s Steady Eddie, a 2003 Australian Thoroughbred gelding

Lynn Symansky (Middleburg, Va.) with The Donner Syndicate, LLC’s Donner, a 2003 Thoroughbred gelding

You can watch Great Meadow live on USEF Network, and I will be your boots on the ground to bring you wall-to-wall coverage of the competition. Stay tuned for much more from Great Meadow! Go Eventing.

[US Equestrian Names Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for Great Meadow International presented by Adequan® CICO3*]

USEA Foundation Announces Rebecca Farm Travel Grant Recipients

By on Jun 30, 2017 4:44 pm -

Alyssa Phillips and Bliss III. Photo by JJ Sillman Photography.

The USEA Foundation has just announced the 16 riders who will receive travel grants to offset the cost of making the journey to compete in the three-star divisions at The Event at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana on July 19-23, 2017.

Congratulations to:

 

 

Madeline Backus, Colorado

Andrea Baxter, California

Kirsten Buffamoyer, South Carolina

Anna Collier, Washington

Hallie Coon, Massachusetts

Ashlynn Dorsey, California

Ellen Doughty-Hume, Texas

Molly Kinnamon, Pennsylvania

Emilee Libby, California

Jennifer McFall, California

Hillary Moses, Pennsylvania

Emily Pestl-Dimmett, Washington

Alyssa Phillips, Texas

Bunnie Sexton, California

Maya Simmons, North Carolina

Erin Sylvester, Pennsylvania

The USEA Foundation’s Rebecca Broussard International Developing Rider’s Committee will interview the grant recipients prior to the start of the event. A decision will be made in November as to which riders will receive the $30,000 International Developing Rider Grant and the $10,000 National Developing Rider Grant, which will be presented at the 2017 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in Long Beach, California in December.

All FEI competitors at The Event at Rebecca Farm are invited to take part in the interview process for the grants at the event. Please speak to the Rebecca Farm secretary at the venue to be placed on the schedule.

These generous grants are made possible by Jerome Broussard and his family in memory of the indomitable Rebecca Broussard, whose greatest wish was to help riders attain their dream of representing the U.S. at the Olympics, World and Pan American Games.

[USEA Foundation Proudly Announces the Recipients of the 2017 Rebecca Broussard Travel Grants]

Best of HN: If Horse Shopping Were Like ‘The Bachelorette’

By on Jun 30, 2017 3:00 pm -

In the world of game shows, you can’t go a day without hearing about the latest drama on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. Seriously, most of my friends are borderline addicted to this show and its many, many twists and turns. While I don’t personally think it’s practical to meet, fall in love, and get engaged to a random person in six weeks, who am I to judge?

The more I thought about the concept of the show and how it just doesn’t apply to the ever-practical equestrian community, I couldn’t help but wonder what the show would be like if done in a different theme… you know, one with horses instead of guys or gals.

Imagine a world where you can “speed date” a plethora of horses and make your pick of the crop… let’s call it The Equestrian.

Toss me in a room of 25 eligible event horses of all breeds — Thoroughbred, KWPN, Selle Francais — suddenly I understand how those girls are so happy all the time.

But now there is work to be done. I have to weed through all of these potential partners and find the good…

…the bad…

…and the most likely sedated….

On The Bachelorette they go on all these dates and do all these group activities so that the eligible lady can sort through all the candidates and find her one true match. I imagine on The Equestrian that a true test of character would be to require all of the horses to stand tied for great lengths of time and unleash a herd of small pony children running down the barn aisle … the least likely matches would weed themselves out, but the strong will remain.

In every group you have your stereotypes: I see the typical jock as the OTTB who has transitioned into his new career and is always a liiiiiittle bit too eager to go on course looking something like this guy:

Then you have your hunk who knows he is a hunk but you can’t help but like him anyway. It’s like my old trainer always says, though, pretty is as pretty does.

And of course you can’t forget the quiet, sweet guy in the corner… who will most likely be afraid of everything and all sudden movements but darnit he is just so cute…

It all boils down to you picking the one you feel you mesh the best with, though, so you start eliminating them one by one…

Ummm, probably because you tried to kick me… like seven times… and you tore off your very expensive blanket like the first day that we were there and I have NO time for that nonsense…

…Only to find yourself later blindsided by a lameness issue from the horse you thought you had the best connection with.

The Bachelorette GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

In the end, you toss the golden carrot to the horse of your dreams and ride off into the sunset.

‘Cause girl, you got some ribbons to win and you ain’t playing no games.

Go Riding.

Craniology, Part II: Ventilation, Helmet Replacement and Future Technology

By on Jun 30, 2017 1:00 pm -

Lynne Kaye is an adult amateur eventer and groom for her husband at horse trials. Being a glutton for punishment, she is getting a Master’s degree at night and on weekends from Harvard. She researched helmets as part of a class assignment and is kindly sharing the information with EN.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot at Luhmühlen 2017. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Part 1 of Craniology covered the basics of what wearing an ASTM-certified helmet will and will not do to protect you. In a nutshell, your helmet will:

  • Help protect your head from being cut by something sharp or jagged such as your horse’s hoof or a jump cup.
  • Slide to give you more stopping distance
  • Reduce the force on your skull on impact, reducing the risk of a skull fracture.

Your helmet will not:

  • Protect you against more than one fall.
  • Protect you against concussions or other traumatic brain injuries.

Part 2 discusses ventilation, helmet replacement, and what to expect in helmet technology in the future.

Vent-i-lation

One of the major differences from one helmet to another is the amount of ventilation the helmet provides. How much ventilation you want in your helmet is a personal decision, and there are plusses and minuses to both unventilated and heavily ventilated helmets. Since helmets influence how warm or cold you feel, they influence whether you feel comfortable enough to deliver your optimal performance.

One of the positives for ventilated helmets is that the vents allow airflow through the helmet which helps cool your head, particularly when you and your horse are in motion. Air moves from high pressure areas which are in the front of the helmet to low pressure areas which are in the back of the helmet.

Anything that reduces the amount of air that can flow in and out through the vents in the helmet impacts how well the vents cool your head. For example, if your hair blocks the rear vents, cooling capacity falls by 8-30%. If your hair blocks the front vents (and not the rear vents), cooling capacity is reduced by even more. If you ride in hot weather, a very lightweight, breathable helmet cover or none at all will allow the best air movement through the vents.

One of the negatives for ventilation holes is that they can impact how well your helmet shields your head from sharp objects. Very large, numerous vents leave room for sharp objects to penetrate your scalp. Ironically, they also reduce your helmet’s ability to shield your head from the sun’s radiant heat. Your head is the body part closest to the sun, so it absorbs the most heat from the sun on a sunny day. A standard baseball cap has tiny vent holes and shields 80% of radiant heat. Bicycle helmets have larger vent holes, so they shield 50-70% of the radiant heat. By extension, riding helmets probably shield somewhere between 50% and 80% of radiant heat, depending on the helmet style.

Researchers have found that humans make measurably better decisions and are more productive when they feel thermally comfortable – in other words, when they are the “right” temperature. For most people, the “right” temperature is somewhere between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. In a business setting, researchers found that when they made office workers in a Florida insurance company a more comfortable temperature typing errors went down by 40% and the volume of typing went up by 150%. And, these workers were in the safety of their own desks. When you are on a 1,000-plus pound animal with a mind of its own, you clearly want to be as close to the right temperature as you can be.

One of the key determinants in whether you feel the “right” temperature is whether your head is comfortable. Consequently, you want your helmet to have the “right” amount of ventilation – whatever that is based on the range of temperatures you find most comfortable, the weather conditions you ride in and how long and hard you ride.

What to Do With an Old Helmet

As Part 1 of Craniology illustrated, equestrian helmets need to be replaced after an impact even if the helmet shell looks good as new. Consequently, if you fall and your helmet just might, maybe, could have hit the ground, a jump, the wall of the indoor, your horse or anything else, it needs to be replaced.

If you purchased your helmet within the past four years, check to see whether the helmet brand offers an “accident replacement” program for used helmets. If so, the brand may offer a reduced price on a new helmet, and may use the helmet you fell in to study how well their helmets perform in real life falls and how to make future helmets better.

Some brands rely on retailers to facilitate helmet returns while other brands want you to work directly with them on the replacement. Note that in many instances, helmet brands either want you to have registered the helmet with them or the helmet needs to be accompanied by a sales receipt. (I don’t know about you, but I don’t have any sales receipts that are three months old, much less three years old. If you are like me, be sure to register your helmet when you buy it.)

If you are not returning your helmet under an accident replacement program, you need to dispose of the old helmet. The outer shell is probably made of plastic which may be mixed with other materials. The inner foam liner is probably made of expanded polystyrene (EPS), another type of plastic related to Styrofoam. The padding, harness and fastening clip may all be other types of plastic, or they may include leather or other materials. In some helmets, the cushioned liner that is closest to your head comes out for washing, and that is the only part of the helmet that is likely to be easy to disassemble.

Therefore, unless you live in a “zero-waste” city like Boulder, CO that offers special recycling options, it is hard to find a better place to put an old helmet than your trash can. Plastic does not decompose, so the problem with putting an old helmet in the trash is that it will end up sitting in a landfill for at least decades, and probably for centuries.

Hopefully, helmet brands will start offering helmets that have a second life or an entrepreneur will come up a wonderful, new use for old helmets. Giro currently offers the first bike helmet that is made of plant-based foam called expanded polylactic acid or E-PLA and a (at least theoretically) recyclable plastic outer shell. The market for bio-plastics is growing at 20% per year; so hopefully, the Giro bike helmet represents the very beginning of what will become a trend toward “circular economy” helmets that can be disassembled and composted, repaired or serve as sources of material for other products.

Helmet Trends for the Future

While the helmet you are wearing today does not safeguard against concussions or other traumatic brain injuries, it is likely that a future generation of helmets will offer that protection. A significant amount of investment is being made in R&D for traumatic brain injury prevention, and new, improved helmet technology is likely to follow.

A helmet that contains the Multi-directional Impact Protection System (MIPS) is likely to be the first equestrian helmet that claims to reduce the risk of TBI. The theory behind the system is that angled impacts cause the brain to rotate and the rotation causes concussions and other traumatic brain injuries. The technology aims to redirect and spread out brain rotation by inserting a very thin layer of low friction material between the outer shell and the inner lining of the helmet. This thin, low friction layer provides a small amount of additional movement when the helmet experiences an angled impact. MIPS AB, an affiliate of Bell Helmets, owns the technology and licenses it to helmet brands in the same way Intel provides its technologies to PC makers as “Intel Inside.”

MIPS is the hot, new technology in U.S. snow sports and bicycle helmets, and it must be stimulating sales because the number of snow sports and bicycle helmets containing MIPS is mushrooming rapidly. In Europe, the Back on Track EQ3 equestrian helmet contains MIPS. (The Back on Track EQ3 is not ASTM certified and does not appear to be available in the U.S.) Consequently, MIPS equestrian helmets will probably be on the market in the U.S. within the next few years.

Although, MIPS is the hot, new thing in helmet technology, not everyone is buying its benefits. In particular, the non-profit, consumer-funded Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute is not a big fan of the MIPS helmets it has seen. When MIPS equestrian helmets become available in the U.S., if you are considering one, you may want to read the most recent Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute review of MIPS bike helmets and examine how the MIPS layer is added to the riding helmet you are considering. (A number of helmet brands such as GPA, KASK and Uvex make bicycle and snow sports helmets as well as riding helmets, and the materials and manufacturing processes for bike, snow sports and riding helmets are relatively similar.)

The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute reviews all the new bike helmets that come out each year, so it should have up-to-date information on the state of the technology when equestrian MIPS helmets arrive in the U.S. Today, the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute’s issues with MIPS helmets are that the effectiveness of the technology has not been proven, the MIPS layer in many helmets only covers a small area and may not actually slide as it is supposed to, and the back of some helmets have a large area without a foam liner, leaving part of the bicyclist’s head less well protected than by non-MIPS helmets.

Other technologies that help prevent TBI are likely to be available in equestrian helmets in the future. At least some of these helmets may use R&D created as part of the Head Health Challenge. The Head Health Challenge is the National Football League’s competition aimed at developing new materials and techniques for preventing concussions and other head injuries. Charles Owen (a leading British equestrian helmet brand) is participating in one of the partnerships funded through the Head Health Challenge.

The Bottom Line

Helmets are a very important piece of equestrian safety equipment. Since helmets influence how warm or cold your head feels, they influence whether you are feel comfortable enough to deliver your optimal performance.

The benefit of vents is that they increase air flow which can help keep your head comfortable on a hot day. The negative aspects of vents are that they reduce your protection from sharp objects and they may reduce the amount of radiant heat the helmet shields. Helmets come with a variety of ventilation designs. The best ventilation design is one that fits your personal thermal comfort zone and riding situation. If you have a vented helmet and want it to work effectively, keep the vents unobstructed by hair or a heavy helmet cover.

If you fall in your helmet, it needs to be replaced. Some of the helmet brands offer accident replacement programs, so if you purchased your helmet within the past four years, it is worthwhile to check. Only registered helmets or those accompanied by a sales receipt are eligible for some accident replacement programs. Be sure to register your helmet when you buy it.

Wearing a helmet can protect your head against sharp objects and skull fractures, but as of today, it will not protect you against a concussion or other traumatic brain injury. New helmet designs that can provide protection against concussions and other TBIs are likely to be coming. The first design that is likely to be marketed to provide protection against TBIs is a MIPS helmet.

A growing number of MIPS helmets are available for snow sports and skiing, and the first riding helmet with MIPS is available in Europe. Not everyone is a fan of MIPS, so if you are interested in a MIPS helmet once they are available, do some research to ensure a MIPS helmet will provide better protection than the one you are wearing. Other technologies to protect against TBIs are likely to be developed. Some of them may come out of the Head Health Challenge.

Helmets do not protect your head against the full range of head injuries, so even when wearing a helmet, it is important to ride following the same practices you learned in drivers’ education class (adapted for horses, of course):

  • Plan ahead for the unexpected
  • Ride a horse whose speed and direction you can control (OK, at least most of the time)
  • Be prepared to respond to other riders, horses and other animals you may encounter
  • Do not expect other horses and riders to do what you think they should do
  • Respect other horses and riders that are sharing your space
  • Be aware of footing and weather conditions, especially when they are changing, and respond accordingly
  • Be alert and avoid distractions such as texting, eating, and watching videos while mounted.

Wear your helmet, replace it if you fall, practice safe riding, and Go Eventing!

#EventerFailFriday: No You Go First, I Insist!

By on Jun 30, 2017 10:30 am -

Welcome to #EventerFailFriday, a support group for sharing your most struggle-bus moments. From slightly sticky moments to full-on bombs, join us in celebrating the fact that every road to success is paved with a few potholes.

This week’s theme is the good old fashioned “thanks but no thanks” brake slam. Thanks to all for sharing. Enjoy!

#EventerFailFriday

A post shared by Laurie (@highwoodmts) on

#EventerFailFriday @goeventing

A post shared by JayCee and Toby (@jv.eventing) on

#eventerfailfriday

A post shared by Sonja Hanlon-Barker (@painthorze) on

When your fails gets professionally captured #EventerFailFriday

A post shared by K O (@pandoramiak) on

Over pls #EventerFailFriday

A post shared by K O (@pandoramiak) on

#failfriday baby horse says no. 🚫🙄

A post shared by jmk (@ottbs_n_pitties) on

Go Eventing.

Road to NAJYRC: Catching Up With Cornelia Dorr

By on Jun 30, 2017 8:00 am -

Cornelia Dorr and Louis M. Photo by Shelby Allen.

When we last caught up with 19-year-old Cornelia Dorr in January, she had just shipped down to Ocala to to take part in the USEF Eventing 25 Developing Rider training camp. Cornelia was talent-spotted into the program, having not yet met the requirement of completing a two-star event.

Since then, Cornelia has had a busy and fruitful spring and much has changed. She has now completed several two-stars, including winning the Jersey Fresh International CCI2* on her 12-year-old Rheinlander Louis M and most recently taking fifth in the Bromont CCI2* with her 11-year-old Zweibrucker Sir Patico MH (“Hugo”).

She competed this past weekend at Groton House Farm in Hamilton, Mass., which could be considered Cornelia’s backyard event, having grown up in nearby Manchester-by-the-Sea and boarding Hugo just around the corner at Gathering Farm during her grade school years. Having spent the last yearat Sharon White’s Last Frontier Farm in West Virginia, Cornelia made her homecoming by bringing Louis to Groton House compete in the Intermediate/Preliminary division.

After clinching the win in the division, Cornelia was kind enough to catch up with EN to share how things have changed in the past few months and what it was like bringing the fabled Louis M to Massachusetts.

EN: What was your decision making process in making the trip back to Groton House Farm this year?

Cornelia: “I was originally planning to bring both my horses to Groton House to do the Intermediate/Preliminary after completing Jersey Fresh, but I didn’t actually end up completing it on Hugo. He was spun at the second horse inspection because of a very small heel grab. Once we brought him back home and started trotting him again, he just seemed really hungry and wanted to do something else. We decided to try running Hugo at Bromont instead of bringing him to Groton House with Louis.”

EN: Your coach, Sharon White, was overseas at Luhmühlen while you were at Bromont. How was it traveling and competing without her?

Cornelia: “Rachel Wilks, Woods Baughman and I planned the whole trip out and went up together. Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Brian Murphy took us under their wings while we were there, and it was really great to have their support and mentorship.”

Cornelia and Louis turn for the final fence at Groton House. Photo by Abby Powell.

EN: What was it like bringing Louis M back home to your old stomping grounds?

Cornelia: “It’s like bringing a boyfriend home for the first time! Hugo and I were born and raised together in the area. Bringing Louis here was like bringing someone home and and showing him where I grew up. We did a lot of hacking before Groton House and went places that Hugo and I used to ride all the time, and I’d say, ‘Look, Louis — this is where I used to do trot sets!’ or ‘This is where we did all our hill work!’

“Louis stayed with Katie and Maddie Lichten (fellow Area 1 Young Riders), who I’m really good friends with, for the week but I did walk him over to Gathering Farm at one point to get a shoe reset. All the ladies and the kids there saw me walk him into the barn and were like, ‘Ooh, is this Louis?’ and wanted to meet him. He loves all the attention — he thinks it’s the greatest thing.”

EN: Since you’ve had Louis for a year now, was it difficult at first to get used to balancing the workloads of two horses?

Cornelia: “It’s interesting to have two horses. I did worry about how I was going to make it work at first, but I figured it out as we went along and learned how to fold everything into a schedule that works.

“I love having two horses going the same level because whatever horse I go out on first in competition, I’m then curious to see how I ride it on the second horse and I want to see if I can improve on it.”

EN: Which phase is your biggest challenge?

Cornelia: “The hardest thing continues to be show jumping. I’m working to really try and improve that and also fine-tuning everything between the two horses.”

Cornelia and Louis M at Groton House. Photo by Abby Powell.

EN: What has been the most beneficial thing about having two horses?

Cornelia: “I’ve noticed an immense difference in my dressage since getting Louis. He’s really helped me improve; everything makes more sense and I’m able to translate it to Hugo better, so he’s been able to improve as well. Hugo got a 48 in dressage at Bromont, which I was so pleased with.”

EN: What are your upcoming competition plans?

Cornelia: “Right now we’re back in West Virginia at Sharon’s. We left Massachusetts two days after Groton House, and we’ll be leaving again for NAJYRC in Montana in a week and a half. I’ll be riding both horses in the CICO2* there. One will be on a team and the other will be as an individual, but I don’t know which will be which yet.

“We have no short-term plans for after Montana, but then my goal is to do the CCI2* at Fair Hill with both horses in October.”

We’re wishing the best of luck to Cornelia in the rest of her season and beyond!

Friday News & Notes from SmartPak

By on Jun 30, 2017 12:03 am -

Holly Jacks-Smither pulling her best Kyle Carter impression. Photo by Ian Woodley.

Yesterday I was talking to a friend of mine, and she mentioned her “four-day weekend” — something I’ve never heard of before. What’s this four days in a row off work that you speak of? What would you do with FOUR whole days off? She said nothing. You do nothing. Imagine that! You do nothing for four days! This is the kind of luxury I can’t even comprehend. Anyway, seems like there’s a big national holiday coming up, apparently people get time off work for that kind of thing.

National Holiday: National Social Media Day (C’mon Lainey, where you at?!)

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Horse Park of New Jersey I H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

South Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

The USEA has announced the riders and horses that will represent their areas at the FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana on July 20-23, 2017. Fifteen combinations will compete in the CICO2*, with 33 combinations in the CH-J*. [CICO2* Riders & Horses] [CH-J* Riders & Horses]

Blenheim course designer David Evans has been chosen to build the Tokyo 2020 cross country course. David, who lives in Oxfordshire locally to Blenheim, has long been one of Britain’s best and most popular course builders, working at venues such as Chatsworth, Bramham, Gatcombe and Burgham, as well as events in Europe such as Luhmühlen CCI4*. He’s already visited the site and is excited to get to work with designer Derek di Grazia. [Blenheim Builder Ready for Tokyo 2020]

Get ready to JUMP on July 4th with Last Frontier Farm! Sharon White is hosting her annual derby cross style fun show with levels elementary through Prelim. There will also be a silent auction, raffles, food, and announcing from Brian O’Connor. Don’t miss out, enter today! [JUMP 2017]

On July 11, the community will be gathering to celebrate the life of Jon Sonkin. Our beloved “belt guy” will be missed dearly, and so his friends and family are holding a celebration of life in Purcellville, Virginia, on Tuesday, July 11 featuring songs, speakers and videos that highlight Jon’s life. Please join if you can. [Celebration of Jon Sonkin]

I’ll admit it: My dog has her own SmartPak too.  She’s only 7, but I was watching her the other day looking a little stiff after a long hack, and I felt bad. After all, my horse has joint supplements, so why shouldn’t my dog? Through SmartPak, you can get any kind of dog supplement that your little spoiled canine deserves, and at a great price. Go ahead, you know you want to. [SmartPak Dog Supplements]

#TBT Video from Standlee Hay: Rick Wallace at ’91 Essex Horse Trials

By on Jun 29, 2017 4:34 pm -

Last weekend saw the successful reboot of Mars Essex Horse Trials after a nearly two-decade hiatus. Held at historic Moorland Farm in Far Hills, New Jersey, the iconic event’s return was much anticipated and well celebrated, as it was once a highlight of the American eventing calendar.

Conceived in 1968, it grew throughout the ’70s and the ’80s, eventually expanding to a three-day event and moving to the USET headquarters at Hamilton Farm in Gladstone. The event’s final running came in 1998, on its 30th anniversary, on account of land development.

Check out this vintage video of then 20-something Rick Wallace and Ultimate Trial, Rick’s first Advanced horse. The story of their partnership is a great one — EN featured it in our One That Started It All series here. The video features commentary from Brian O’Connor and Ralph Hill and, spoiler alert, it doesn’t go to plan for Rick. At 1:18 they dramatically fall prey to the big ditch and rails.

The commentators catch up with Rick afterward to ask what happened. “Uh, he went right into the ditch,” Rick says, reenacting the moment with sound effects. Glad everyone was OK!

[Essex H.T. Final Scores]

Wylie vs. the Mongol Derby, Powered by SmartPak: Don’t Mess With Texas, Part I

By on Jun 29, 2017 3:45 pm -

In August 2017 writer/rider Leslie Wylie will be attempting her most fearsome feat of #YOLO yet: a 620-mile race across Mongolia. Riding 25 semi-wild native horses. Carrying only 11 pounds of gear. Relying on nomads for food, water and shelter. On a mission to help stop deforestation.

The Mongol Derby is widely regarded as the toughest horse race in the world. Inspired by the Genghis Khan’s original “pony express,” there’s no trail or set route, just 25 GPS checkpoints/horse exchange stations to hit over the course of 7-10 days. Keep it here for weekly updates from Leslie as she prepares to embark upon the ride of a lifetime! Click here to read previous stories in the series.

“Twelve saddles standing ready. Twelve horses resting up. Tomorrow, we will host a miniature Mongol Derby for two hopeful 2017 riders, Liv Wood of Canada and Leslie Wylie Bateman of USA. We will cover 100 miles, switching horses every 35 miles, in 100 degrees, with 100% humidity. If they can hack it out here, they can hack it anywhere!” — Devan Horn

Part I: Sink or Swim

Here in the South we have a bad habit of inviting people we’ve just met to do things — “Let’s have lunch sometime!” — as a matter of politeness, with no real obligation or even intention of following through. But if we learned anything from last year’s Lady Martha Sitwell series, it’s that you should never invite Leslie Wylie into your life if you don’t mean it. Because she WILL show up on your doorstep.

Whether it’s a fox-chasing party princess in Great Britain or an action hero endurance star in Texas, I never turn down an invitation to take notes from ladies of the bada$$ variety. So when, three minutes into our first phone conversation, 2013 Mongol Derby runner-up Devan Horn invited me to come spend a day training with her in Humble, Texas, I hung up and bought a plane ticket.

Devan is a special human being, or perhaps “superhuman” is more like it. At the tender age of 24, Devan has thrice completed the Tevis Cup, the most prestigious endurance riding event in North America, and in her spare time runs ultramarathons and participates in roller derby, a sport wherein tatted-up girls with nicknames like Nasty Pelosi, Susan B. Agony and Nancy Raygun don roller skates and try to break your knees whilst racing you around a track.

Just another day in the life of Devan. Photo courtesy of Devan Horn.

Of particular interest to me, of course, is the fact that she’s a two-time Mongol Derby veteran, nearly winning it in 2013 and nearly killing herself during a 2015 rematch. In the former, chronicled on this ABC Nightline special, she crossed the finish line first but was issued a time penalty when her horse’s heart rate didn’t come down fast enough, leaving the window open for a rival to win. The second time around, she was urinating blood before the race even began but it wasn’t until day six, when her kidneys were literally shutting down, that she allowed the medics to pull her off course. Third time’s a charm, though, and in 2018 she has her sights set on finally getting the win she came for.

The night before our ride I met my new Derby sensei and her boyfriend Scott at a local Tex-Mex restaurant for dinner. She was everything and nothing I imagined: hair dyed an icy blue with eyes to match, a glacier-sized presence belying her petite 5’2″ stature, and a laugh so warm it could melt Antarctica. (Which is one of few continents she hasn’t attempted to ride across, yet.)

There was no smalltalk, only strategy. Even our chips and salsa became visual aids for Devan’s coaching.

Navigation training: “OK, the chips are your waypoints, and the salsa is the mountain …” Photo by Leslie Wylie.

#DevanDerbyProTips:

  • When your horse spooks at something in the brush, DON’T look back; it’s a wolf.
  • When you’re being hunted by a pack of wild dogs, DON’T fall off, because you WILL get ripped to shreds.
  • Run TOWARD attackers instead of away from them, screaming obscenities, so they’ll deem you too psycho to mess with.
  • Understand that the fastest horses are also going to be the wildest, so if you want to win you better be good at sitting a buck.
  • Know the difference between family gers, which are safe, and bachelor gers, which you want to avoid at all costs.
  • Hobbles will NOT prevent your horse from ditching you overnight.
  • Accept that no matter how repulsive you imagine steppe cuisine will be, it’s going to be even worse in reality.
  • And, most importantly, try to get prescription-grade antispasmodics for your kit. Because when you get giardia, and it feels like you’re being stabbed in the gut each time your horse takes a step, you’re going to want them.

Miles <40

We made plans to ride out at 6 a.m. the next day, along with Liv Wood, a 2017 Derby competitor from Canada who has been training in Texas for the past month. Like Devan, Liv is a honeybadger of the first degree: 25-years-old, bulletproof and fiercely independent, with a velcro seat from galloping racehorses at the track in New York.

Liv’in her best life. Photo courtesy of Liv Wood.

We tore out of Cypress Trails Ranch at two minutes past the hour, just as the sun was rising. Chasing Devan and Liv through the labyrinth woods, I felt like a little kid playing “Chutes and Ladders,” never sure what lay around the next bend.

Dieseletta, the first of my mounts for the day, was a dark bay Egyptian Arabian-cross. Arabians are funny creatures, bred for centuries to go and go and go, yet always reserving the right to spook sideways at lightning speed on account of threats both real and imagined, or slam on the breaks from a full gallop to stop and stare at a puddle.

Dieseletta’s antics made me giggle, but she was brave when it counted. Our route was threaded with creeks and Dieseletta, being the bravest horse of the three, was always appointed first to cross. I felt proud at the first canal we encountered: While the other horses balked, Dieseletta leapt willingly off the bank into the water, trotted across, pinged up the bank out, then turned right to pop across a runoff ditch. Eventer skillz on point!

Mile after mile we pushed further from home, undeterred and perhaps even heartened by a thunderstorm we rode straight into. The downpour was a welcome relief from the scorching Texas summer temps, and I relished the wetness on my bare arms and flushed face.

Riders of the storm. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

The first leg of our ride was only supposed to be around 25 or 30 miles. But at some point, horses on autopilot and conversation in high gear, we got sidetracked, adding another dozen or so miles to our planned route. Once back on course and just about three miles from home, we found ourselves at an impasse. The trail crossed a creek, normally about knee deep, but now looking a bit swollen and rushed due to the storm. Flash floods are common in the area, and the rain had been coming down steadily for a good long while now.

Should we turn back, which would mean a miles-long backtrack on already spent horses? (We’d been trotting or cantering most of the way.) Or forge ahead through the creek, which Devan and Liv had crossed so many times? The barn was so close!

I kept my mouth shut as Liv and Devan debated pros and cons. In the end the decision was made to cross. Dieselette and I headed in first, aiming for patches of grass that indicated shallowness. Then — splash! — we suddenly stepped off some sort of underwater ledge and found ourselves swimming. The breathtakingly strong current sent us swiftly downstream. I grabbed mane, kicked my feet free of my stirrups and let my legs float behind me, just like my sisters and I used to when swimming ponies across the farm pond as kids.

But this time, something was wrong. Dieselette kept going underwater, sinking until her feet touched the bottom then rearing up, thrashing for air, only to sink again. Liv later said it looked like I was riding the Loch Ness Monster.

Devan immediately recognized what was happening: I hadn’t unsnapped Dieselette’s running martingale, and every time she raised her head she was hitting the top of it and panicking. Devan, who insists she would sink like a stone if dropped into an Olympic swimming pool, dove off her own horse and swam toward us in the hope of getting Dieselette free.

Waterlogged photo of the crossing. Photo by Devan Horn.

I let go of the mare, figuring she’d have a better chance of righting herself without a human on her back. For a few terrifying seconds that seemed like hours, Dieselette and I were both floating downstream, me just ahead of her, unable to fight the aggressive current. I tried to swim against it, even cut sideways across it, but couldn’t. A premonition of Dieselette pummeling into me, and all the worst case scenarios that might follow, flashed through my mind. Just in time her hooves found solid ground, and my fists latched onto a clump of brush attached to the shore.

Meanwhile Devan’s horse was gone, well on its way back to the stable, with Liv tailing behind. Devan, Dieselette and I started our slow march home along the waterlogged trail, dripping wet and silent.

I spent a very short moment shrugging off guilt. Devan had tacked Dieselette up that morning for me while I fiddled with a leaky camelback, so how was I supposed to know she was even wearing a martingale? And it wasn’t my decision to cross the creek, so that should absolve me of some responsibility, right?

Wrong. I’m an adult. I’m responsible for myself, and the moment I swing my leg over the back of a horse I assume responsibility for that animal as well. Tack included. If someone else saddles up my horse for me during the Derby, I’m still responsible for checking it. Decisions, and their consequences, included. When it comes to safety, groupthink has no redemptive value after the fact. No excuses, not here in Texas and for damn sure not in Mongolia.

When the trail intersected a road Devan caught a ride with someone from the barn who’d come to fetch her, leaving Dieselette and I to our own devices. “But I don’t know how to get back to the barn!” I shouted after her, remembering the maze of forest paths we’d taken to get here.

“Just give Dieselette her head,” Devan said. “She knows her way home.”

I reluctantly chucked her the reins. The mare picked up an easy canter and set off into the dark woods, veering left or right at each split in trail without hesitation. My own self-confidence, on the other hand, was in tatters and we weren’t even halfway through the ride. Was I in over my head?

To be continued …

Keep up with my adventures in the lead-up to the 2017 Mongol Derby each week on Horse Nation, Eventing Nation and Jumper Nation, and tune into Horses in the Morning each Monday at 10 a.m. EST as I interview Derby crew and previous competitors. 

Each Derby competitor’s $12,995 entry helps benefit the Mongolian families whose generosity with their horses and their homes makes the race possible, as well as Cool Earth, a charity that works alongside indigenous villages to halt rainforest destruction.

Can you help? Please visit the Wylie vs. Mongol Derby GoFundMe page — all donations are deeply and eternally appreciated! Corporate sponsorships are also available and include ad space on EN, HN and JN, product reviews and usage during the Derby and much more. Email [email protected] for details.

Join me in welcoming the newest sponsors in my Mongol Derby adventure! 

SmartPak Equine is already my go-to supplier for gear, supplements and all things equine, so there’s no way I’d head off to Mongolia without them! And you know they’re always up for an adventure. Their apparel line ticks all the boxes for me, from fit to fashion to function. I can’t wait to wear SmartPak on the steppe!

Not only does Fleeceworks make a fantastic product — my own pony goes in a Perfect Balance half pad every day — it’s a company with a conscience. Its “Pads with Purpose” program donates 10-15% of the purchase price of your item to your choice of Fleeceworks-supported charities, from food banks to cancer research to animal rescue. And Fleeceworks’ Easy Care Bamboo line goes hand-in-hand with the Derby’s official charity, Cool Earth.

Just gonna go ahead and venture a prediction that I’m going to need a grab strap out there — my pony can be “semi feral” every now and again, but it sounds like the horses I’m going to be riding are a whole new level of wild. And here’s hoping I never have to repurpose my belt as a tourniquet. Thanks in advance, C4, for the lifeline!

And a big thank you to all my sponsors:

A Bustling Spring for Jan Byyny: USEF’s Newest Eventing Selector

By on Jun 29, 2017 2:50 pm -

Jan Byyny and Urrem at Bromont in 2016. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Between being named the newest USEF Eventing Selector and bringing her top mount Inmidair back to the Advanced level following a three-year hiatus, Jan Byyny has had a bustling spring season.

She’s already attended Carolina International, Kentucky and Luhmühlen as a selector, and now that Jan has a better feel for her new role, she kindly took time out of her busy schedule to take us behind the scenes.

“When I was asked to be a selector, my first thought was, ‘I want to be selected for teams. I don’t want to be the one selecting. I’m not done competing yet.’ But since I won’t have a horse that could be considered for the next year or so, I changed my thought process,” Jan said. “I decided if I want to be selected for future teams, then I want to know how it all works.”

Jan is no stranger to representing Team USA, having won winning individual bronze and team gold with Shared Dreams at the 2003 Pan American Games at Fair Hill. She was selected as an alternate for the 2004 Athens Olympics and also represented the U.S. with Task Force at both the 2005 World Cup Finals in Malmö and the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen.

She was also selected to ride at Luhmühlen in 2005 with Waterfront when the U.S. sent a group of riders to compete in the new CCI4* at the venue. Returning to the venue 12 years later as a selector brought an entirely new experience.

Jan enjoying a rare quiet moment at Luhmühlen with her mom Jo, who made the trip to Germany with her.

“We had such a great group of American riders, and everyone really worked together. I was so proud of them,” Jan said. “Even though it was called a ‘soft’ four-star, is there such a thing? Maybe it wasn’t Badminton, but Luhmühlen is never Badminton. It’s Luhmühlen. And the show jumping was tough.”

With her first overseas trip as a selector complete, Jan has been working with the other four selectors — Bobby Costello, Phyllis Dawson, Debbie Furnas and Derek di Grazia — to select the team that will compete next week in the Nations Cup CICO3* at Great Meadow in The Plains, Virginia.

“It is a great group of people. Everyone has a little bit of a different way of looking at things, and I think that’s a healthy thing. We may not always agree, but at the end of the day we all want the same thing — for the U.S. to be the best,” Jan said.

“As a selector, you have to be able to say what you think and not be afraid to be wrong. You listen to the other four people and hear their opinions and then have to be able to say, ‘That’s a great point. I hadn’t thought about it that way.’”

Having been in a position as a rider when she wasn’t named to a team or placed on a training list, Jan said it’s eye-opening to see the “nuts and bolts” of how selection works. “If you’re ready, you’re going to be selected. If you’re not, you’re not. It’s really that simple.”

Jan Byyny and Inmidair at Kentucky in 2014. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Inmidair’s Comeback

While Jan is fully immersed in being a selector, she is also actively seeking her own competition goals. Next week will mark a major milestone as Inmidair, an 18-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred gelding Jan owns with her parents Dick and Jo, returns to FEI competition for the first time since finishing seventh at the Kentucky CCI4* in 2014.

A soft tissue injury in his foot forced Inmidair’s withdrawal as an alternate from the 2014 World Equestrian Games, and since then Jan has slowly and carefully rehabilitated him. He returned to competing at Pine Top in February and ran the Advanced at Fair Hill’s April Horse Trials. A sixth-place finish in the Virginia CIC2* last month officially signaled that “JR” is back.

“I want to enjoy my time I have with him because he is an awesome horse. He thinks he’s better and badder than ever! He has been so happy to be back out. I learned a valuable lesson at Virginia because I’ve been trying not to jump him too much, but he was wild. I had to gallop him before going cross country just so he would be rideable,” Jan said.

“It was great information to take away. I said to myself, ‘Jan if you’re going to keep going with him, you have to train him!’ I want to be a horseman and competitive. If I’m going to do this, I want to win, but I want to do it the right way.”

Jan said having three years away from competing at the Advanced level proved to be a valuable time, both to produce her younger horses coming up the levels and also to focus on furthering her own education.

“I realized things I needed to improve on. We had success before because JR is really talented and we’re both gutsy, but now we have to be better than that because the sport has moved on,” Jan said.

“When you haven’t run Advanced for awhile and you want to make time and be competitive, you have to make sure you have prepared yourself to do that. That’s not always an easy task, but it’s a fun task. I’m thoroughly enjoying it.”

Jan Byyny and Urrem at Carolina International 2016. Photo by Jenni Autry.

As for the horses in her string she hopes will be in contention for teams in the coming years, Urrem, a 9-year-old Selle Francais mare Jan owns with her parents, continues to be a standout. The mare sustained a tendon injury in the Plantation Field CIC2* last year but is back to competing now; Jan plans to aim her for the Fair Hill CCI2* this fall.

“She’s probably one of the nicest horses I’ve ever had. The way she went around Plantation last year made me think she was ready for the next level, but I think it’s good to make sure you have your i’s dotted and t’s crossed before stepping up to Advanced. She’s super brave, fun and careful — completely an alpha mare but probably the sweetest thing I’ve ever had.”

Jan also has Volcan de Caverie, an 8-year-old Selle Francais gelding, who hasn’t finished outside the top 10 since stepping up to the Preliminary level at Sporting Days in March.

Jan on the mower preparing for Surefire.

In the midst of all this, Jan continues to run a thriving training and boarding facility alongside her boyfriend Tom Finnen at Surefire Farm, which once again hosted one of Area II’s most popular summer horse trials last week in Purcellville, Virginia.

“Going to Luhmühlen as a selector wasn’t ideal timing since we were getting ready for Surefire the following weekend — thank you to Tom for staying home to keep getting everything ready! — but I am so grateful that I had the opportunity,” Jan said.

“Even though I wasn’t competing, I felt proud to be an American. Everything about it was inspiring — even watching the CIC3* with all the Germans preparing for the European Championships and seeing the quality of the dressage. Being a selector is a fascinating role, and I feel honored that I was asked.”