Classic Eventing Nation

5* First-Timers of LRK3DE: Sydney Solomon’s Secret Weapon

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! As the spring CCI5* season kicks into high gear, we’re pleased to bring back our much-loved 5* Rookie profiles. Get to know some of the first-timers tackling the CCI5* level for the first time at both Kentucky and Badminton in the coming weeks. Want more coverage from EN? Be sure to sign up for the free #ICYMI and Daily Digest emails! #ICYMI is sent each Monday morning, and Daily Digests are sent for each major 5* and Championship. Sign up here.

Click here to read all of EN’s LRK3DE coverage.

Sydney Solomon and Early Review CBF. Photo by Shelby Allen.

As we gear up for the #BestWeekendAllYear, we’re continuing our tradition of highlighting some of our CCI5* rookies. First up, Sydney Solomon!

Sydney will be tackling Derek di Grazia’s formidable course onboard the 14-year-old Hanoverian mare, Early Review CBF, bred in the U.S. and owned by Laurie Cameron. Sydney has had the ride on Early Review, or “Coco”, for nearly a decade now. That close connection and familiarity will be a great weapon in their arsenal as they make the move up to the top level of the sport.

Sydney is understandably a bit nervous to move up, but raring to go. “I’m feeling pretty ready,” she said. “You know, it’s always nerve-wracking moving up a level, but I’ve ridden Coco for eight years now, so we know each other pretty well, which can only help. I’m really excited, but definitely nervous.”

The pair has had a strong start to the 2023 season. So far, they’ve tackled Chattahoochee Hills, Three Lakes, and last weekend’s CCI4* at Stable View. “We actually had our personal best score at the Advanced level in dressage at Chatt,” Sydney shared. “I was really happy with her there. She stayed pretty relaxed in the arena, and then she felt great around cross country. It was definitely a good fitness run, and I did increase my fitness a bit after that. She felt decent but we’re going to need more ‘engine’ for a five star.” The pair wrapped up their prep with a top-15 finish on a soggy Capt. Mark Phillips track at Stable View.

Sydney Solomon and Early Review CBF. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Dressage has always been a bit of a tricky phase for Coco. “Sometimes, actually, more often than not, she likes to throw in a buck or two in the flying changes. So that’s always exciting,” Sydney laughed.

If Chattahoochee is anything to go by, as long as Coco can keep her heels down, this pair can offer some stiff competition in the dressage phase.

Sydney and Coco have also been working on their fitness in the lead up to the big weekend. Thanks to some insider knowledge from friend and Canadian Olympic veteran Colleen Loach, Sydney and Coco have even found a good hill to train on in notoriously flat Ocala. “She’s actually galloping every five days now. And Colleen Loach showed me a really nice hill here, so I’ve been going out with her every five days. Before February I was doing slow canters every few days, and a lot of jogging, and just a lot of hacking and making sure that she just is moving enough every day.”

One of the biggest obstacles for Coco, in terms of fitness, is her history of tying up. “She didn’t start tying up until she was 12 years old, and that’s happened only a couple of times since then. But now that’s sort of at the back of my mind, so we’ve done a lot to manage her feed and we make sure that she’s not getting too much sugar in the grass. We just try to keep her moving as much as possible.”

Sydney’s goals for her first 5* event are to go clear and not be too far off the time. “Coco does tend to go better if I run her faster, which is something I’ve learned over the years, but I also have to be strategic about it. I can’t just run flat out at the jumps. I’m gonna go out guns blazing because, from what I’ve seen, it seems like you can’t go out casually — so I’m definitely going to have my foot on the gas pedal, but I’m not going to take any crazy risks.”

Sydney Solomon and Early Review CBF. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

The events leading up to Kentucky will be extra important for Coco’s confidence. “I definitely have to be careful in not running her too fast in the events leading up because I just don’t want her to lose confidence. She tends to be best if I can have a couple of steady runs and then really go for it at the big one.”

There will also be a sentimental aspect to Sydney’s time at the Land Rover Kentucky Three Day Event. This will be her first time back at the Kentucky Horse Park since she was there for the North American Junior Young Rider Championships with her horse, Lillian Pink. Sadly, that was Sydney’s last FEI event with ‘Lily’, as the mare tragically passed away after a horrific accident in her stall. Lily, Sydney tells us, was the horse that really inspired her to pursue eventing as a full-time career.

Sydney anticipates there will be some reminiscing going on at LRK3DE. “That was just a really amazing experience for me. Lily just had so much heart. She was really awesome. So yeah, I think being at the Kentucky Horse Park will bring back some memories.”

Coco and Sydney will have a secret weapon in their back pocket to guide them through the weekend: experienced 5* groom, Emma Ford. “She is amazing. She was Phillip Dutton’s head groom for probably fifteen years, and I worked for Phillip for a while and she always said she would groom for me at my first five-star event. I’m so, so lucky to have her, because she knows that event like the back of her hand — so that’ll be a huge advantage.”

Keep an eye out for this trio at the Land Rover Kentucky Three Day Event. Give an extra cheer for this five-star rookie when they gallop by on cross country and be sure to congratulate Coco for giving Sydney clean, buck-free flying changes in their dressage test. A little bit of manifestation never hurt anyone, right?

Wednesday News & Notes

Zoe Crawford and K.E.C. Zara. Photo by Sally Spickard.

The Land Rover Kentucky CCI5* field thinned by one this week after news that Zoe Crawford will be retiring K.E.C. Zara from the sport. This year would have been the pair’s fifth CCI5* start.

K.E.C. Zara was actually Zoe’s very first event horse, and together they’ve come all the way from Beginner Novice to the top end of the sport. Originally sourced via U.S.-based Irish horseman Cormac Kennedy, “Zara” was purchased on a wing and a prayer, and some good faith put into Cormac’s eye for a good fit. Joining together in Zara’s six-year-old year, the pair went on to compete at Young Riders and were later named to the Emerging Athlete Eventing 25 squad. They also received the USEA Foundation’s Essex Horse Trials Grant to support a stint working for and learning from Phillip Dutton, and Zoe would eventually launch her own training business from the back of her super-mare.

Zoe reports an injury that will require enough time off that she feels it best to make the decision to gracefully retire the mare at the age of 17. “At 17, I feel that it is only fair to retire and not push her to get back to 5*,” Zoe wrote. “She owes me nothing. She has done more for me and taken me further than I could have ever dreamed!”

“Zara was never the easiest horse and was never going to win the dressage but she tried her absolute heart out on cross country and taught me so much,” Zoe continued. “She jumped around all the biggest tracks on the east coast, made quite a few scenes in warm ups (I apologize to everyone who had to be in there with us), and stole quite a few hearts along the way. Thank you to everyone who has ever helped us along the way!

Zara, you will forever be my Queen. Enjoy your retirement and never having to do dressage again!”

Happy retirement, Zara.

Read more about Zoe and K.E.C. Zara in our 2021 Land Rover Rookies profile.

U.S. Weekend Preview

FENCE H.T. (Tryon, NC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]

Longleaf Pine H.T. (Raeford, NC) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Plantation Field Horse Trials (Coatesville, PA) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Poplar Place April H.T. (Hamilton, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Spring Bay H.T. (Lexington, KY) [Website] [Entries / Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Twin Rivers Spring International (Paso Robles, CA) [Website] [Entries / Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Wednesday News and Reading

There’s mares and then there’s boss mares! We all know the saying ‘Tell a gelding, ask a mare…’ But is your mare more mareish than most? Cowgirl Magazine spots the signs of a boss mare. [Matriarchal Mareitude]

Learn how to manage your horse’s behavior through feed management and ingredients. From what you feed to how you feed it, there’s a whole host of research to suggest that certain behaviors can be managed with more mindful feeding routines. Here’s some expert advice on making feed time work for your horse. [Grub’s Up]

Perhaps wait ‘til after you’ve finished your breakfast to check this one out. I’m literally obsessed with my animals’ poop – only just short of emulating The Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon and keeping a spreadsheet. My Google search history is full of gross descriptions and I happily scour through images of all sorts of crap. As a sure-fire indicator of health, and because of the potential dangers of diarrhea, it’s important we know what to look out for and when to call the vet. [The Scoop on Poop]

A risk-assessment quiz for colic. This handy quiz helps you calculate your horse’s colic risk through simple questions backed up with research and facts. Once you’ve tallied up your totals, there’s advice on what you can do to decrease the risk of your horse colicking. [Calculating Colic Risk]

Famous racing silks meet high fashion. It’s the UK’s Randox Grand National this weekend and race-goers will be dressed in their best as they cheer their favorites home. The race has some super famous winners and fashion designer Richard Quinn has celebrated three of them with some stunning gowns paying homage to the silk colors made famous by three-time winner Red Rum, comeback king Aldaniti and champion for women in sport Minella Times. [Winning Style]

#ravehorse gets the crowd going in Omaha. At a football game? Sure. At a music festival? Definitely. But one place you don’t expect a wild crowd is a dressage competition. Unless Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper are raving round the ring, that is. [Get Your Glow Sticks Out] And on the subject of committed spectators, show jumpers are getting in on the act too. [Go Ahead and Jump (Jump!)]

Video Break

Enjoy a video from Zoe Crawford and K.E.C. Zara’s weekend at the Ocala Jockey Club International CCI4*-L in 2019:

#TrainingTipTuesday: Improve Your Simple Changes and Canter-Trot Transitions

A simple change of lead through the trot will appear on your dressage tests as you move into the Preliminary and above level of eventing, so it’s a good thing to practice these transitions at home. Not only are simple changes tested, they’re also a key ingredient to eventually moving on to flying changes. At the least, the canter-trot-canter transition is highly useful for achieving balance, impulsion, and straightness.

But this is often a task easier said than done — as are most things with riding, let’s be honest — so Amelia Newcomb has broken this concept down in one of her latest instructional videos. I’ll borrow some notes from this video’s description:

Your goal for your trot-canter-trot transitions across the diagonal is to turn up the diagonal at canter, transition to trot just before X, use 5-6 trot steps to change bend, and transition back to canter. This is your end goal, but when we are beginning to teach the transition, we’ll use much more trot to prepare.

To start teaching the change of lead through trot:
1) Pick up the canter, and turn onto a diagonal line
2) At X, or slightly after, transition to trot
3) Change bend, and pick up the canter again at C

As your horse gets better and better at this exercise, you can decrease the amount of trot in between the canter until you reach your goal of just 5-6 trot steps on the diagonal! When you are riding this exercise, make sure to ride good corners and get your horse bending. Even ride a little shoulder fore as you are working on these transitions.

If your horse is running through your aids, or has trouble bending during your transition down to trot, try riding some 10m circles at X. You can do a figure eight pattern with these circles or just ride one 10m circle. To ride the figure eight:
1) At X, start circling the direction you were originally tracking (if you were going left, then circle left first, and vice versa)
2) Coming out of your first circle, change bend, and ride a circle the other direction
3) Then, as you are finishing your second circle, continue on the diagonal

You can learn much more from Amelia on her full YouTube page here — plenty of great info here to take back to your own rides! Save this one and try it on your own.

Maryland International Offering $1000 Scholarships for July FEI Event

Photo courtesy of Erin Gilmore Photography.

One of the biggest barriers to access in eventing is the sheer cost of competing a horse. Even at the national levels, the costs associated with boarding, training, shoeing, and competing a horse are high. The FEI levels are even more expensive because of the costs that competitions accrue from hiring FEI stewards and judges. FEI events are almost always held across multiple days, so riders have to pay for stabling their horses as well.

Increasing access to our sport is something Eventing Nation is passionate about. We were excited to see that the Maryland International Equestrian Foundation (MIEF) is awarding four scholarships that are equivalent to $1,000 to riders competing at the 1*, 2*, 3* and 4* levels at the July Maryland International in Adamstown, MD. The scholarships will assist by covering entry fees, stabling, as well as rider and groom/grounds person accommodations.

The applicant criteria is as follows:

• Applicant must be a current member in good standing with USEF and USEA

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

• Open to riders and horses who have never competed at 5* competition

• Rider must never have competed outside of North America.

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

• Funds are to be used for the 2023 Maryland International.

• 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.

• The Board and Selection Committee reserve the right to award scholarship to an alternate rider in the event of injury or illness to horse and/or rider.

Applications are due by May 1, with decisions made by June 1. There is a preference given to U.S.-bred horses, which is part of MIEF’s mission statement.

To find out more about the applicant criteria and apply for a scholarship, click here. To learn more about what the goal of MIEF is, click here. View the omnibus listing for the Maryland International H.T. here.

Go Eventing.

Check Out the Full Slate of Action on the LRK3DE Schedule

A feeling like no other: the Rolex Stadium, full of people united by the love of horses once again. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

We’ll all be meeting in Kentucky before we know it, and a full slate of action awaits as the #BestWeekendAllYear gets underway beginning Wednesday, April 26. The full confirmed schedule of events and demonstrations has been published, so let’s dive in and find out what we have to look forward to at LRK3DE this year!

Coming soon, EN will also be publishing a guide to autograph signings, course walks, sponsor promotions, and other happenings as we become aware of them. Want more info each day? Sign up for the free LRK3DE Daily Digest email, which will be sent each day beginning Tuesday, April 25 through Monday, May 1. Find all of EN’s latest coverage, sponsor promotions and discounts, chances to win daily giveaways, and much more! Click here to sign up.

View the full schedule here

View the CCI5* Entries

View the CCI4*-S Entries

Still need tickets or tailgating? You can snag some here

Wednesday, April 26

  • 1 p.m. Cross-Country Course Open to Public
  • 2 p.m. First Horse Inspection; CCI5*-L only, sponsored by Hagyard Pharmacy — High Hope Inspection Lane
  • 2:30–5 p.m. Competitor Arena Familiarization – Thursday Competitors only, sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim — Rolex Stadium

Thursday, April 27

  • 7 a.m. Gates Open
  • 7:15 a.m. –6 p.m. Hospitality Tents Open (Hospitality Ticket Required)
  • 7:45 a.m. CCI4*-S Dressage Test Ride — Rolex Stadium
  • 8 – 11:30 a.m. CCI4*-S Dressage Tests Begin — Rolex Stadium
  • 8:00 a.m.–6 p.m. Sponsor Village & Courtyard, The Hill, and Trade Fair Open
  • 12:15 p.m. CCI5*-L Dressage Test Ride — Rolex Stadium
  • 12:45 –4:30 p.m. CCI5*-L Dressage Tests Begin— Rolex Stadium
  • 4:45–7:15 p.m. Arena Familiarization – Friday Competitors only, sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim — Rolex Stadium

Friday, April 28

  • 7 a.m. Gates Open
  • 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Hospitality Tents Open (Hospitality Ticket Required)
  • 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sponsor Village & Courtyard, The Hill, and Trade Fair Open
  • 8–11:30 a.m. CCI4*-S Dressage Tests Resume — Rolex Stadium
  • 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Champions Live! — Walnut Arena
  • 11 a.m. Kentucky Invitational CSI3* Jog, sponsored by Hagyard Pharmacy-Claiborne Ring
  • 12:30–3:30 p.m. Demonstrations and Exhibitions — Walnut Ring
  • – 12:30–1:30 p.m.: Retired Racehorse Project
  • – 1:30–3:30 p.m.: EEI Mounted Games Invitational Round 1
  • 12:30 – 4:10 p.m. CCI5*-L Dressage Tests Resume — Rolex Stadium
  • 6 p.m. Grand Prix Hospitality Tents Open (Grand Prix Hospitality Ticket Required)
  • 7 p.m. Kentucky Invitational CSI3* $38,700 Welcome Speed Cup 1.45m, presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute — Rolex Stadium – Hospitality tent for Grand Prix to be open from 6-9 p.m. Other tents to remain open until 9 p.m.

**Also happening Friday will be the annual EN x Ride iQ Course Walk, and we’ve got an exciting special guest leading the way this year! Stay tuned for advance sign-ups and more information coming soon.**

Saturday, April 29

  • 7 a.m. Gates Open (including Land Rover Tailgating)
  • 7:30 a.m.– 4:45 p.m. Hospitality Tents Open (Hospitality Ticket Required)
  • 7:30 a.m. –6 p.m. Sponsor Village & Courtyard, The Hill, and Trade Fair Open
  • 8:30 a.m. Deadline for Tailgating Vehicles to be Parked
  • 8:30 – 11 a.m. Demonstrations and Exhibitions — Walnut Ring
  • – 8:30 a.m. EEI Mounted Games Invitational Round 2
  • – 10 a.m.: Retired Racehorse Project
  • 9 – 11:45 a.m CCI4*-S Cross-Country Test
  • Noon Kentucky Invitational CSI3* Course Walk — Rolex Stadium
  • 12:30 p.m. CSI3* Rider Autograph Session – Hagyard Tent (#312/313, The Hill)
  • 1–4:15 p.m. CCI5*-L Cross-Country Test
  • 5 p.m. Grand Prix Hospitality Tents Open (Grand Prix Hospitality Ticket Required)
  • 6 p.m. $226,000 Kentucky Invitational CSI3* 1.60m — Rolex Stadium – Hospitality tent for Grand Prix to be open from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Other tents to remain open until 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 30

  • 7 a.m. Gates Open
  • 7:15 a.m. Non-Denominational Worship Service — Zoetis Schooling Complex, Pavilion between Stonelea/Claiborne Rings
  • 7:30 a.m. CCI4*-S and CCI5*-L Horse Inspection, sponsored by Hagyard Pharmacy — High Hope Inspection Lane
  • 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Hospitality Tents Open (Hospitality Ticket Required)
  • 8 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Sponsor Village & Courtyard, The Hill, and Trade Fair Open
  • 10:15 a.m. Opening Ceremony, WEG Team Recognition and Presentation of Officials and Flags — Rolex Stadium
  • 10:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CCI4*-S Jumping Test; reverse order of placing — Rolex Stadium
  • 12:30 – 12:45 p.m. Presentation of the Awards — Rolex Stadium
  • 1:15 p.m. CCI5*-L Jumping Course Open for Competitor Inspection — Rolex Stadium
  • 1:45 p.m. Drag – Rolex Stadium
  • 2 p.m. CCI5*-L Jumping Test first group; reverse order of placing — Rolex Stadium
  • 3 p.m. CCI5*-L Jumping Test second group; reverse order of placing; awards immediately after — Rolex Stadium
  • 4 p.m. Presentation of the Awards — Rolex Stadium

Cheers to an Impending Return to 5* for Stella Artois

Jennie Saville and Stella Artois finish up their final Kentucky prep at Stable View. Photo by Shelby Allen.

After a top placing at the inaugural Maryland Five Star in 2021, the absence of Stella Artois during the following competition season was keenly felt. The striking dark bay mare owned by the Stella Artois Syndicate is one of Jennie Saville (neé Brannigan)’s top horses, one she’s produced since the Novice level, and together they had achieved Jennie’s highest five-star placing so far in her career, finishing fourth overall and the second highest placed American combination.

Even after a triumphant clear showing, Jennie felt a tug of concern for “Toddie’s” right front tendons after the competition, but scans of both front legs immediately following Maryland – a routine practice for Jennie’s horses after any big event – appeared fine and Jennie sent the mare off on her normal postseason vacation.

It was the following spring during Toddie’s first jump school in preparation for the final running of Red Hills when Jennie felt something was not quite right. She and her team had already begun bringing the mare back from her vacation and she looked good as they brought her back into work. Toddie had spent the early part of 2022 in training with Silva Martin and at a planned dressage-only outing at the Ocala Winter I Horse Trials she and Jennie scored a stellar 23.2 in a Preliminary test.

“She’s a pretty stoic horse,” Jennie says. “I have to really pay attention to how she feels, because she won’t show anything and then something like [Boekelo] will happen.”

Jennie Brannigan and Stella Artois. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

When we talk about tough event mares, we can count Stella Artois, a 15-year-old Hannoverian mare (Satisfaction FRH – Comtessa, by Contender), amongst the toughest. Jennie cites the Boekelo Nations Cup in 2019, as an example. The mare jumped a beautiful clear show jumping round to finish out the competition, despite elimination on the cross country the day before (this event was used as a test event for the new Olympic format, thus Jennie and Toddie were able to jog and jump the following day). After the competition it was discovered she had jumped that round with a ruptured muscle.

This time, just ahead of her 2022 season debut, Toddie actually showed just enough of that ‘not-quite-rightness’ for Jennie to feel that something was up. Scans revealed a tendon injury in the left front leg and her 2022 season ended before it began.

“I’m a big believer in horses getting breaks,” says Jennie. For her that always includes a generous postseason vacation period as well as an ample amount of time off for injury.

“I think a lot of people do a lot of therapies thinking they’ll get they’re horse back fast,” Jennie says. While Toddie did respond well to the Artemis Class 4 Cold Equine Therapy Laser, a therapy that Jennie says she’s seen great results with, she always considers time to be the greatest healer of all.

“Once they get hurt I’m like, ‘OK, I’m not gonna see them for a year,’” says Jennie.

Many of Jennie’s competition horses enjoy their vacations and time off at long-time supporters Nina and Tim Gardner’s farm in Pennsylvania, where they are tended to by Karen Hokanson, who treats them like her children. Jennie says she and Karen share the same philosophy when it comes to allowing horses to heal: slow and steady wins the race.

You could argue that ‘slow and steady wins the race’ applies to Jennie’s perspective on competing as well.

Jennie’s aim is to set her horses up for success at the big goal events, not to win as many horse trials as possible – a mistake she says she sees some of today’s young riders making which results in over-running their horses, but Jennie is quick to admit that she made similar mistakes at that age as well.

Jennie Brannigan and Stella Artois. Photo by Abby Powell.

Even when she first sat on Stella Artois as a 5-year-old at Philipp Kolossa’s in Germany, Jennie knew she’d be a bit of a tricky horse for her, but she fell in love regardless.

“The second I saw her I thought, ‘Oh wow, she’s amazing. This is the nicest horse I’ve ever found,’” Jennie recalls. “I knew this horse is too big for me and she’s going to be strong, but I love her. Her gallop is amazing and it’s very easy on itself. I wanted a horse that could gallop and could gallop easily.”

Though Toddie is a great galloper – even at 40% blood – her long back puts some extra stress on her body when she lands from a fence. Because of those hard landings and also because of how strong she is across the country, Jennie is careful to pick and choose the events that she lets the mare go all out for.

“I never take Stella to any horse trials trying to be competitive,” Jennie says. “I like to event my horses less frequently and I choose to go slower at [national] events.”

Last month, Stella Artois made her return to competition after the careful rest and rehab for that tendon injury over a year ago. Jennie first took her for an easy spin around the Open Preliminary at Rocking Horse Winter III Horse Trials followed by a showing at Carolina International in the CCI3*-S, adding only those planned cross country time penalties at both events. They then contested the CCI4*-S at Stable View last weekend, again solely adding cross country time penalties to their score, as their final preparatory event before heading to the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, where we look forward to cheering them on in Toddie’s return to the five-star level.

Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products

 

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In just about a week or so, our British contingent for Kentucky will be hopping on a plane across the pond — and with them, they bring some seriously high hopes for a big win. It’s pretty hard to bet against the likes of last year’s runners-up, Yas Ingham and Banzai du Loir, but Tom McEwen’s chances look pretty swish on Nicola Wilson’s reigning European Champ JL Dublin, too, in his five-star debut. Frankly, though, I’m quietly convinced that Liz or Will might be waiting in the wings to snatch the crown back for the US. I’m getting butterflies just thinking about it! My first Kentucky! What a thrill! If you see me wandering around in a happy daze, clutching a massive camera and a chinchilla, do say hi – I want to know who you think is going to scoop the title!

Events Opening Today: Tryon International Spring H.T.- Pending USEF ApprovalVirginia Horse Center EventingUSEA MDHT YEH QualifierWoodside Spring H.T.Mill Creek Pony Club Horse TrialWillow Draw Charity ShowMay-Daze at the Park H.T.Equestrians’ Institute H.T.Spring Coconino H.T.

Events Closing Today: University of New Hampshire Spring H.T.Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Spring H.T.Horse Park of New Jersey Spring H.T.

Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:

Southern belles have plenty to look forward to this year. Check out what US Eventing has in store for Area V — which comprises Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma — in 2023, and get your diary out, because there’s plenty to be jotting down as far as season goals go! [Head down to Area V]

When it comes to gym bros, protein is king. But is this essential macronutrient the most important part of your horse’s diet, too, or should it take a back seat to more critical conduits of nutrition? Equine nutritionist Madeline Boast is setting the record straight, so you can put that boiled, unseasoned chicken away for a moment. [Getting your horse’s protein right]

Who among us hasn’t wept bitterly over the death of Ginger? A whole new generation is about to be traumatised by Black Beauty, which is getting a brand new edition  in partnership with longstanding British equine charity Redwings. The book will help raise vital funds for the horses, ponies, and donkeys in Redwings’s care, which means that it’s a must-have on every pony-mad kid’s birthday and Christmas lists this year… just be prepared to gift them a bit of therapy a few years down the line, too. [Bookworms unite]

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m a bit of a control freak. I like to know I have every duck in a row in every situation — but in eventing, those ducks are usually punch-drunk squirrels having a bar fight, and I haven’t got a hope in hell. That’s why I was so keen to dive into blogger Justine Griffin’s recap of a two-day eventing clinic in Ocala, where she learned that you can only control certain parts of your ride — but you can maximise the positive influence you’re exerting over them to yield a better, more fun outcome. [Things I need to learn, volume 4584830]

Sponsor Corner: Did you know that Omega-3 fatty acids…

💪 help support healthy levels of inflammation in the joints

🤧 mitigate the severity of allergic reactions

💘 support normal fertility rates

🦠 sustain healthy immune function

Check out Contribute from Kentucky Performance Products if you think your horse could use any of these benefits!

Watch This:

I’m gearing up for my first ever trip to Kentucky, and I’m so excited that I cannot stop watching old YouTube videos of previous years’ cross-country rounds. Join me:

Monday Video: The Jackie Chan Horse Movie You Didn’t Know You Needed

We’ve got something a little different for you this week to end your Monday. It may not be eventing-related, but I think we can totally get away with filing it under ‘insanity in the middle’.

Whether you’re a Jackie Chan fan or a light-hearted horse movie fan (or both — then you’ll really enjoy this), you’re in for a treat thanks to the latest Chan flick, Ride On, which hit theaters this past weekend. Full disclosure, I haven’t yet seen the film myself but the trailer did certainly make me chuckle!

Ride On is a family-friendly film that follows an aging stunt man looking to make a comeback and save his beloved horse, Red Hare, from repossession by training him to do stunts as well. Described as “gently meta” by Variety, the film repurposes footage of big-ticket stunts from prior Chan films as flashbacks to the character’s glory days. It’s as much of an homage to the stunt industry (and the dangerous career path of stunt men and women) as it is to the legendary career of Chan.

Who Jumped It Best? Stable View Preliminary

Who Jumped It Best?

Our latest edition of Who Jumped It Best takes us between the pines of Aiken, S.C. to Stable View’s Spring International Event & H.T. In stark contrast to Saturday’s gloomy, soggy conditions, Sunday’s competitors had nearly perfect going. The previous day’s rainfall produced springy, pristine footing for the remaining combinations on cross country.

Preliminary competitors kicked off the morning, and we caught them very early in the track, at fence 2. Mogie Bearden-Mullen’s course opened up with good, open galloping from the jump before turning up the heat with challenging combinations in the latter half. Though straightforward, a course’s beginning fences are crucial to set the tone and the step of a course.

Take a look at these seven Preliminary horse and rider combinations and cast your vote in the poll at the bottom of this post.

Stable View Spring 2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Scoring] [EN’s Coverage]

Charlotte Collis and Call The Law. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Molly Koch Toome and Diamond Lad. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Mikki Kuchta and Semore Smoke. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Susan Gornall and Gray Area. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Hugh Wrigley and FE Santos. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Emily Ballard and Sexy Swingin Walk. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Callia Englund and Boss Indy. Photo by Shelby Allen.

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

Plenty going on this weekend in the Eventing World, as we saw multiple Kentucky-bound pairs competing for $30,000 in prize money in the 4*S at Stable View. If you missed the action, check out EN’s coverage of Stable View, as well as enjoy the weekend recap in our Weekend Winner series, where we’re celebrating successful outings at Stable View, but also at CDCTA, Pine Hill, and Rocking Horse.

Let’s also take a moment for a special shout out to the winner of our Unofficial Low Score Award, Janine Malseed and Cooley Jet Set, who earned a 21.4 in the Open Novice B at Pine Hill this weekend. Great work!

Stable View Spring 2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website][Scoring][EN’s Coverage]

CCI4*-S: Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver (25.5)
CCI3*-S: William Coleman and Larcot Z (38.5)
CCI2*-S: Ariel Grald and In Vogue (24.8)
Advanced: Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan (37.5)
Open Intermediate: Lucia Strini and DHI Kevin G (37.7)
Open Preliminary: Lauren Lambert and Biscotti (28.8)
Preliminary Rider: Mikki Kuchta and Special Reserve (39.7)
Modified Rider: Lainey Phillips and Global Exellencia Z (27.6)
Open Modified: Jane Jennings and Clarkes Sweet Music (24.3)
Open Training: Ashley Adams and Global Halcyon (26.0)
Training Rider: Devon Champlain and Champagne Event (25.0)

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

Open Preliminary: Jessica Chappell and Bryn Taran Laurel (33.2)
Open Training 1: Kendyl Tracy and Avalon Realta (33.1)
Open Training 2: Cecelia Meza and LL Silver (38.3)
Open Novice 1: Kaitlin Clasing and Maberlinus M (25.2)
Open Novice 2: Kaitlin Clasing and Whiskey Chaser (32.2)
Novice Rider: Julie Augustine and Texas Riddle (30.3)
Open Beginner Novice: Daniel Clasing and TGS Lions Sunshine (30.9)
Beginner Novice Rider: N. Lynn Sadler and What’s Happening (33.8)
Intro: Inna Dzekunova and Beorn (38.9)
TIP Preliminary: Wendy Masemer and Fibber and Molly (50.5)
TIP Training: Cecelia Meza and LL Silver (38.3)
TIP Novice: Julie Augustine and Texas Riddle (30.3)
TIP Beginner Novice: Jessica Sappenfield and Island Dancer (31.2)
TIP Intro: Inna Dzekunova and Beorn (38.9)

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

Open Preliminary: Sierra Fishell and Galiamo (34.0)
Open Training: Kelley Kays and Falconwood’s Good Karma (35.1)
Open Novice A: Emily Mosher and Out on Bail (27.8)
Open Novice B: Janine Malseed and Cooley Jet Set (21.4)
Open Beginner Novice A: Megan Correia-Bittner and Millionn (23.8)
Open Beginner Novice B: Marcella Pinell and Dark Shadows d’Avalon (21.8)
Open Beginner Novice C: Marissa Corcoran and Just Eddie (24.7)
Open Beginner Novice C: Savannah Ware and Worth The Wait (24.7)
Open Starter A: Christine Wheelwright and Lady Marmalade (29.0)
Open Starter B: Emarie Graham and Grandisimo (35.7)
Open Starter B: Abigail Zimmer and Regal Regon (35.7)
TIP Preliminary: Sierra Fishell and Galiamo (34.0)
TIP Novice: Taylor Tiberg and Text Me (32.2)
TIP Beginner Novice: Laura Mann and Problem Solved (25.3)

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

Intermediate/Preliminary: Kimberley Bégin and Ballinagore rock quality 43.2)
Intermediate Rider: Ali Kuhn and Little Hail (37.6)
Open Intermediate: Conor Rollins and Prime Target (32.8)
Open Preliminary: Lisa Barry and Rosie’s Aventadora (24.7)
Preliminary Horse: Colleen Loach and Canada Day (25.0)
Preliminary Rider: Sarah Newman and Hang Time (30.8)
Modified Rider: Skyler Norris and Fu Pegchu (29.8)
Open Modified A: Lynn Symansky and DHI Kickodieza (27.0)
Open Modified B: Madeleine Richards and Global Turning Point (25.0)
Open Training: Anna Loschiavo and Fernhill Maverick (25.3)
Training Horse: Sharon White and Arden Casino (24.4)
Training Rider: Nancy Lee and PHF Wine Me Up (26.4)
Novice Horse A: Jordan Duffett and Charlie il Postino (28.5)
Novice Horse B: Madeleine Scott and Oaks (23.3)
Senior Novice Rider A: April Hays and Anteros HSH (29.4)
Senior Novice Rider B: Valli Corbin and Napoleon Z (29.3)
Open Novice A: Lea-Claude Pelletier and Cherry Lane (24.7)
Open Novice B: Anna Loschiavo and Bruno (27.2)
Beginner Novice Rider: Raegan Samson and McLaren (25.0)
Open Beginner Novice: Brooke Bayley and Bonheur (27.4)
Starter: Janet Gordon and Lucky Gamble (33.0)