Classic Eventing Nation

Irish Olympian & 5* Winner, Austin O’Connor Scheduled to Compete at #GPE2024

By on Feb 18, 2024 10:00 am -

Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue: Your 2023 MARS Maryland 5 Star winners! Photo by Sally Spickard.

The 2024 $100,000 Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field, presented by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services (GPE) Organizing Committee and the Aiken Horse Park Foundation are thrilled to announce 2023 Maryland CCI 5* winner, Austin O’Connor (IRL), is scheduled to compete at the March 1 & 2 event, in Aiken, SC.

O’Conner bases his program at Alderbrook Stud in England, and will be making the trip across the pond to catch ride at #AnEventLikeNoOther.

US Eventing fans will likely recognize world #22, Austin O’Connor, as they witnessed him win the 2023 Maryland CCI5* this past October, becoming the first Irishman to win a 5* in 58 years! 2023 was a big year for O’Connor, as he also took 3rd at the Badminton CCI5* back in the spring, also aboard Maryland winner Colorado Blue. O’Connor has represented Ireland at 7 championships and 13 CCI5* competitions thus far in his career (fei.org).

Carlson 119 & Amanda Beale Clement at the 2023 Showcase
Photo by Christine Quinn Photography

O’Connor will be teaming up with showcase veteran, Carlson 119. The 14 yo German Sport Horse gelding, owned by Micheal Dell’Angelo, Reese Dell’Angelo, & Elizabeth Bales, was the long time partner of Amanda Beale Clement until just this past year when Amanda handed the reins over to student Reese Dell’Angelo, who is now learning from the experienced schoolmaster.

“Carl” and Amanda have had some very impressive results throughout their career together, including several top 5 finishes at the CCI3* and CCI4* level. The pair competed at both the 2022 & 2023 Showcase. Amanda and Carl were the top placed Young Rider pair in 2023, scoring a 27.7 in the first phase. If O’Connor and Carlson 119 can repeat that success in 2024, they’ll be well placed heading into the jumping phases with a good shot at the top of the leaderboard.

Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue at the Tokyo Olympics (2021). Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

On attracting such an impressive, international rider to the GPE, event director Joanie Morris commented:

“We love that there is this kind of buzz about this event. It is the only eventing showcase of its kind and that lends itself to great interest from overseas riders. It is a huge testament to our sponsors who stepped up and allowed us to increase our prize money to $100k, and to the team at the Aiken Horse Park Foundation that continues to raise the bar across the board. We look forward to welcoming Austin to Aiken, in addition to the best riders in North America.”

VIP & General Admission tickets available online

There are several General Admission ticket options available. Exclusive online purchase options include:

  • One Full Event Pass which grants access to Friday, March 1st Dressage & Show Jumping AND Saturday, March 2nd Cross-Country
  • Full Event Pass $30.00 (Friday, March 1st & Saturday, March 2nd)
  • Two Single Day Pass options, which grant access to one day’s activities respectively

Friday, March 1st Only Pass $20.00 (Dressage & Show Jumping)

Saturday, March 2nd Only Pass $20.00 (Cross-Country)

These General Admission ticket options are only available online. General Admission tickets will be available at the gate for $25.oo per day,

VIP tickets include:

  • Invitation to the Thursday evening, February 29th, Welcome Party
  • Ring side for the Friday evening, March 1st, Show Jumping
  • Prime viewing locations for the Saturday, March 2nd, Cross-Country
  • Access to all VIP areas (VIP tent & Chalets) for the entire event
  • Food & Beverage served
  • VIP Parking

VIP tickets start at $1,000.00. For more information on Reserved Tables, Chalets, or Tailgate Parking Spots, please contact [email protected].

Sunday Links from SRF Carolina International

By on Feb 18, 2024 12:01 am -

Carolina International’s new ribbons are looking good, and they’ll look even better on your horse’s bridle šŸ˜‰

In preparation for the first CCI4*-S of the 2024 season, join the effort tomorrow, February 19th, to clean up the grounds and beautify the Carolina Horse Park! Some Park Clean Up Day jobs include painting fences, cleaning signs and branch removal, and volunteers of all ages are welcome. Many hands make light work! Lunch and refreshments are provided, so sign up here to join together in brightening up the Park and its community.

U.S. Weekend Action

Jumping Branch Farm H.T. (Aiken, SC)[Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Ocala Winter I (Ocala, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Ram Tap H.T. (Fresno, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Links to Start Your Sunday:

Take a dive into Lara de Liedekerke-Meier’s excellent competitive stats

Honorary Event Chair Mark Wahlberg to host benefit event ā€œEquestrians in Parisā€ for the US Olympic and Paralympic teams

Are Exosomes the Future of Suspensory Injury Healing?

West Tennessee Pony Clubbers Launch Business to Help Thoroughbred Rescues and Horses in Need

California breeders jump on the Jaguar foal train

Sponsor Corner: Competitors will get to take a crack at some new cross country fences at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International! Take a look behind the scenes as these beautiful new fences are installed on course.

Morning Viewing: If this wasn’t your dream job as a horse-crazy child… you’re lying.

US Equestrian Announces Dates and Location for 2024 and 2025 USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships

By on Feb 17, 2024 9:30 am -

Loch Moy Farm shows off its photogenic nature. Photo by Alison Green for Erin Gilmore Photography.

US Equestrian is pleased to announce the host location and dates for the 2024 and 2025 USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships (CCI1*, CCI2*-S, CCI3*-S). The Maryland International and Horse Trials will host the Championships in Adamstown, Md., on July 5-7, 2024, and July 6-8, 2025.

ā€œWe are thrilled to host the USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships over three days at the Maryland International and Horse Trials,ā€ said competition organizer Carolyn Mackintosh. ā€œOur team is ready to make it a great experience for them.ā€

ā€œDesigning for the USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships is hugely exciting for me,ā€ added cross-country course designer Ian Stark. ā€œThey are the future of our sport, and the quality of horses and riders in this competition shows incredible talent and potentially future Olympic team combinations. Itā€™s particularly thrilling that the competition is at Loch Moy, where we have a great variety of jumps with challenging terrain and great footing. All the ingredients for a true championship.ā€

Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Learn more at themarylandhorsetrials.com.

The Championships shifted from a fall long-format event to a summer short-format event to encourage more participation. Athletes interested in participating in the Championships must complete a USEF Area Declaration by May 1, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. ET.

The qualifying period is January 1, 2023, through May 26, 2024. In addition to the USEF and FEI requirements to participate at each level, for the CCI3*, athletes will have to have an MER at a prior CCI3*-S within the qualifying period. For the CCI2*, athletes will have to have an MER at a prior CCI2*-S within the qualifying period.

Find out more about the USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships.

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Feb 17, 2024 12:01 am -

We’re three whole days post-Valentine’s Day but there are still so many cute lovey Valentine’s horsey posts popping up on my feed. And you know what? I’m not mad about it! Keep ’em coming people!

U.S. Weekend Action

Jumping Branch Farm H.T. (Aiken, SC)[Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Ocala Winter I (Ocala, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Ram Tap H.T. (Fresno, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

International Events

Portuguese Spring Tour (Mata do Duque) (Feb 17 – 20 and Feb 28 – Mar 3) [Timetable] [Entries] [Scoring] [Portuguese Eventing Association Facebook Page] [More Info]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Statement from USEF re: Horse Abuse Rule Changes

Channeling the Fire of the 2023 Bates USEA Mare of the Year Karma

Is Simple Still Interesting Enough for Equestrians?

FEI Solidarity Grant helps fuel equine careers for women in Cambodia

Researchers find a reason why some horses have a higher risk of fractures

Sponsor Corner: What’s inside your saddle? Take a look inside the Amerigo dressage saddle thanks to this semi-transparent view.

Morning Viewing: The eventer invasion at WEC continues! Here’s Boyd Martin and Federman having a pop around a 1.25m class.

396 Trainers Accepted to 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover

By on Feb 16, 2024 9:30 am -

Photo via Retired Racehorse Project.

The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) announced this week that 396 trainers have been accepted to the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. The worldā€™s largest and most lucrative retraining competition for recently-retired racehorses and broodmares takes place on October 9-12, 2024 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, awarding over $100,000 in prize money.

The flagship event of the RRP, the Thoroughbred Makeover not only provides a showcase competition for the horses participating, but serves as an inspiration point to encourage more equestrians to get involved with the breed. The competition is open to professionals, amateurs, juniors and teams, all competing on an equal footing with racehorses that raced or trained to race within the past two years with no more than 15 retraining rides prior to December 1, 2023. The Former Broodmare division offers competition alongside the Retiring Racehorse division for mares exiting the breeding industry; Former Broodmares compete for a separate pot of prize money.

ā€œCongratulations to all of the trainers accepted into the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover,ā€ said Erin Halliwell, executive director of TCA. ā€œWe sincerely appreciate the time and dedication it takes to transition Thoroughbreds into their next careers. Weā€™re looking forward to October where weā€™ll see hundreds of Thoroughbreds demonstrating their new skills in many different disciplines.ā€

Competition at the Thoroughbred Makeover is available in ten disciplines, and trainers can choose to compete in up to two per horse: barrel racing, competitive trail, dressage, eventing, field hunter, polo, ranch work, show hunter, show jumper, and freestyle (a free-form discipline to showcase skills of the trainerā€™s choice).

While trainers did not need to declare their entry intentions for their individual horses on their applications, they did need to provide a horsemanā€™s resume that detailed their training and competition experience, including riding video in their disciplines of declared expertise. Applicants also furnished letters from their veterinarians stating that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to appropriately care for a horse transitioning from the track. An independent application committee considered each applicantā€™s ability as described in their application to bring along a recently-retired Thoroughbred and compete at a national venue in a big environment.

Accepted trainers are encouraged to register their horses with the RRP as soon as they acquire them; horse registration closes on July 31, 2024. As horses are registered and approved, they will appear on the entry list at TheRRP.org/entries. Trainers have signed up to bring a total of 416 horses. (Late applications will also be considered through June 28, 2024.)

ā€œEfficient and effective aftercare in North America is dependent on demand for horses from sport and pleasure riders who want to support the transition from racing,ā€ said Kirsten Green, executive director of the RRP. ā€œWeā€™re proud to welcome the Thoroughbred Makeover class of 2024 to the vital community of individuals and organizations who have transitioned more than 4,700 horses since the inception of the event.ā€

The 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium is a gathering for North Americaā€™s aftercare industry with networking opportunities for both non-profit and for-profit entities. The event includes the ASPCA Makeover Marketplace and ASPCA Right Horse Adoption Barn, offering horse shoppers and adopters the unique opportunity to watch horses compete, trial ride, and complete a pre-purchase exam all in one location. A hands-on seminar series and vendor fair round out the Makeover experience for attendees.

The Thoroughbred Makeover is the flagship event of the RRP, a 501(c)3 non-profit committed to increasing the demand for and value of Thoroughbreds in careers beyond racing.

Friday News & Notes from Stable View

By on Feb 16, 2024 12:01 am -

I never really understood the meaning of that much quoted proverb, All Roads Lead to Rome. No matter, because this year, all roads actually lead to Paris, and one horse starting out on that road is Pippa Funnell’s 2019 Burghley winner, MGH Grafton Street, who was recently sold to Japanese rider Yoshiaki Oiwa . Yoshi and his family are moving close to Pippa’s yard, so that ‘Squirrel,’ as he is known to his pals, can stay in the same routine – a deal breaker for Pippa and his connections, who were keen to do what was best for the 16 year old 5* winner. Certainly one to watch in the build up to Paris, and an amazing opportunity for Yoshi to benefit from Pippa’s tutelage, too. Smart move!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Jumping Branch Farm H.T. (Aiken, SC)[Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Ocala Winter I (Ocala, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Ram Tap H.T. (Fresno, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

International Events

Portuguese Spring Tour (Mata do Duque) (Feb 17 – 20 and Feb 28 – Mar 3) [Timetable] [Entries] [Scoring] [Portuguese Eventing Association Facebook Page] [More Info]


Friday News and Reading

Sticking with the Paris theme, the brains behind EquiRatings and The Eventing Podcast have taken a deep dive into who we should be keeping an eye on in 2024. Their ‘Riders to Watch’ podcast starts out with a really interesting discussion as to who the predicted front runners are for Paris, and provides a nice insight into who they think might shine this season – including some up and coming names that you may not heard of….yet. Will they get it right? Who knows, but it’s all starting to getting very exciting.

Speaking of rising stars, Cosby Green is certainly one of the brightest out there. Currently enjoying her second season based with Tim and Jonelle Price in the UK, Cosby is making the most of the opportunities available over the pond, not least of all a jaunt across to Spain for the Spanish Sunshine Tour. Not only has she been able to develop her own and her horses’ training while she has been with the Prices, but she has also benefited from a mindset shift, too. Set to return to the US at the end of this year, this young lady has her eyes on big things, and I defy anyone to stand in her way.

Well this is a wonderful initiative. In what seems to be an increasingly scary and difficult world, the good guys over at World Horse Welfare have launched a Help for Horse Owners support service. Lord knows we need all the help we can get, but this is aimed specifically at those struggling with the rising costs of keeping and caring for horses, and the mental health implications that may follow. A shining light in what seems to be a constant barrage of doom and gloom.

Want to support a good cause, while having fun with other horsey folks? Well, look no further. The British Eventing Support Trust have organised a virtual online quiz, aimed at raising funds that will allow them to continue to provide mental and physical health support to their members. There are prizes on offer too, so why not get a team together and settle down for an hour or two of fun and frolics, all in the name of charity. Who knows, you might even learn something new.

Last one from me before I sign off for the weekend, and I will leave you with another much quoted saying, though this one is a lot easier to understand than the first. Ever heard the old chestnut ‘No foot no horse?’ Well even if you haven’t, it’s certainly one worth remembering. Luckily, February is International Hoof Care Month, and for that very reason, farrier Chris Martelli has provided some advice as to how to keep your horses hooves as healthy as possible. Farrier to the stars, including none other than Lauren Nicholson, Chris certainly knows his stuff, and the tips he offers here are easily digestible, and serve as a good reminder as to the little things that we can do to help our horses stay in as good a condition as possible, from head to toe.

Sponsor Corner


What is the Stable View staff up to now? Go behind the scenes with the staff to see what it’s like to handle the day-to-day organization of the iconic venue.

Weekend Watching

Just in case you had forgotten this absolute show of horsemanship from Harriet Biddick, here you go. It would be remiss of me not to give Eventing Nation’s very own Tilly Berendt a shout out for capturing this iconic moment on her own camera too. That particular photograph earned her the Kit Houghton Photo of the Year Award at the 2023 BEMA Awards – and rightly so I am sure you will agree. All that remains for me to do now is to wish you a very happy weekend. Go Eventing – though please do check your tack first…!