Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett, winners of last year’s Eventing Prix Invitiational. Photo by Sofie Van Olmen.
Hot off the presses, here’s your first look at the entry list of riders for the $15,000 Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational, which will be held next Tuesday, March 7, at Southern Cross Equestrian in Reddick, Florida.
Zach Brandt
Jennie Brannigan
Shelby Brost
Hannah Sue Burnett
Kyle Carter
Will Coleman
Hallie Coon
Buck Davidson
Justine Dutton
Lisa Marie Ferguson
Savannah “Woodge” Fulton
Liz Halliday-Sharp
Sinead Halpin
Holly Jacks
Lauren Kieffer
Leslie Law
Kylie Lyman
Caroline Martin
Kurt Martin
Tik Maynard
Joe Meyer
Bobby Meyerhoff
Clark Montgomery
Sara Kozumplik Murphy
Meghan O’Donoghue
Selena O’Hanlon
Alex O’Neal
Ellie O’Neal
Jessica Phoenix
Kelly Prather
Karl Slezak
Elizabeth Stewart
Lynn Symansky
Daisy Trayford
Elisa Wallace
Sharon White
(The list is subject to change, so keep checking back to EN for the final list.)
The action begins on Monday, March 6 at noon with a $1,000 Warm-Up Class sponsored by Doug Hannum Equine Therapy. All riders entered in the Eventing Prix Invitational can bring up to three horses to compete in this 1.15-meter speed class for $1,000 in prize money.
The Eventing Prix Invitational will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 7. The team order of go will be drawn the night before the competition, with team captains deciding the order of go within their team. The first round determines the team winners, and the top 10 individuals from the first round will return for a jump-off to decide the overall winner.
The event is free and open to the public, and spectators are encouraged to bring a chair and a picnic. Food and drink will also be available for purchase on the grounds from Humble Pie Pizza and other area vendors.
VIP tables are also available and include an open bar and food provided by Celebrations Catering. To reserve a VIP table, please contact Max Corcoran at [email protected].
The event is generously sponsored by Ocala Horse Properties, Peak Performance, Woodmen Life, Stella’s Electric, Doug Hannum Equine Therapy and Wordley Martin Equestrian. (Sponsorship opportunities are still available.)
If you can’t be in Ocala to watch the Eventing Prix Invitational live, Joel Wiessner of EQTV Network once again will be live streaming the competition, and you can watch right here on EN. We hope to see you there! Southern Cross is located at 13440 NW Highway 225, Reddick, FL 32686.
We’re back with another edition of Who Jumped It Best from the recent Pine Top Horse Trials in Thomson, Georgia. Check out these Junior Training and Senior Training Riders over the imposing Hammock. Put on your George Morris hat and decide which horse and rider combination you think presents the best overall picture and then cast your vote in the poll below!
Thank you to official photographer Hoofclix for providing photos for all of our Pine Top coverage.
Chris Burton and Nobilis 18, winners of the 2016 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. Photo by Nico Morgan.
We all know Chris Burton as an all-around ninja who rides cross country faster than The Flash and wins four-stars in his sleep on catch rides. He’s been dubbed The Speed King by EquiRatings, and the numbers speak for themselves.
Thanks to friend of EN Danielle Surrett, who participated in a clinic this past weekend with Chris, we got to know the speedster a bit more as he took a few moments to answer our burning questions. Many thanks to Danielle for reporting and to Chris for taking the time to speak with us.
EN: What inspired you to become an event rider?
Chris: “Australia had some success in the ’90s, and we won the gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and again in 2002 at Barcelona. And of course it was very exciting for me as a child to see that people were winning gold medals riding horses, which I already loved doing. That’s what got me into it.”
EN: Do you have any superstitions or rituals for competition?
Chris: “I can’t say I’m superstitious, but more when I’m nervous I madly polish my boots. I like to polish my boots as the last thing I do, and then I get my whites on and hop on. When I’m really nervous you’ll catch me sort of frantically polishing boots.”
Chris: “That was an amazing story. It was incredible. I had a phone call from Wilhelm Enzinger, who had broken his leg falling off a horse. He asked, given that I was an A category rider, would I be interested in riding the horse? And I said sure. My wife and I looked the horse up and saw that he was a very good jumper and said why not? So I booked a ticket, flew down to Adelaide and jumped on him and just unbelievably we connected really quickly and won the four-star. That was really fun.”
EN: What event horse, past or present, would you like to take a spin on?
Chris: “The thing about Michael Jung’s horses and his horse La Biosthetique Sam FBW is that he’s just incredibly well ridden and trained. He’s very sound, and they tell me that he was a difficult youngster but many people have difficult youngsters. I think that is really one of the most amazing horses of all time.
“I’ve had some superstars as well, and I wish I could have them again. I had a black Thoroughbred called Newsprint that was just incredible in every phase, and I’d give my left arm to have him again. There are many, many good horses.”
EN: What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Chris: “One of the most fond memories I have is winning Aachen on Holstein Park Leilani. It was really magical because it was to be her last event. I’d convinced the owners and I said, ‘Look, she didn’t go very well at Badminton. I think she can go better. Can we keep her another few months and do Aachen?’
“It rained and she did the best test of her life. She was never naturally talented on the flat and she did an amazing test. She was always a little bit of work in the show jumping; her heart was in the right place but it was easy to have one or two down, and again she jumped an amazing round. Everything went to perfection.
“And on the cross country, it rained. It was wet and they were all struggling to make the time. She was unbelievable. That will, no question, be the most fond memory for the rest of my career.”
EN: What advice would you give to an aspiring eventer?
Chris: “I believe in tenacity. Don’t give up. Stick with it. If you are tenacious, you will have success come your way. Continue to believe in yourself and continue to work hard. Any top rider in the sport of eventing will have a lot of knocks along the way. It’s those who just keep with it that end up having success.”
Virginia sunsets are tough to beat. Photo courtesy of Ellyn McMahon.
The sunsets this year have been incredible, and thanks to the unseasonably warm weather, EN readers up in the Northeast have been able to get out and enjoy said sunsets from horseback. With opening dates for April events around the corner, the quiet drag of winter is coming to an end!
The never ending quest to find the perfect XC shirt may finally be at an end. World Equestrian Brands has debuted their Equetech Custom Cross Country shirts that are totally customizable, and you can win one! Simply write a story in 100 words or less why you chose your particular cross country colors and email it to us along with a photo of your colors by March 3! [Show Us Your Cross Country Colors Contest]
Charlotte Dujardin got more than she bargained for at a clinic in California last fall. After sitting on the diminutive Gio for a demonstration, Charlotte knew she had to have him. At a smidge under 16 hands, he’s not her usual ride, but pack a power punch, taking the Elementary world of dressage by storm in his first show. True to Carl Hester’s habit of naming horses after fruits and vegetables, Gio has picked up the barn name ‘Pumpkin’. [Charlotte Dujardin Debuts Her New Horse]
If you’ve been waffling on whether to go to Rolex or not, now’s your last chance to buy tickets before prices go up. Advance ticket sales ends tomorrow, March 2, and starting March 3, prices will start going up. Make sure to take advantage of the early bird discount! With Michael Jung bringing back reigning two time winner fischerRocana, there’s a chance history will be made! [Rolex Ticket Sales]
SmartPak Product of the Day: With spring in the air, I’ve started digging out my 1/4 zips, which I left abandoned in my drawers in favor of warmer jackets as it got colder. These 1/4 zips are a staple for me in the fall and spring, as they keep me warm enough when I’m not moving much but breathe and wick when I start working up a sweat. [SmartPak]
Some days I have a lot of words. Some days I have less. And every now and again, I have no words at all.
This is one of those days. I have zero words for you with regard to this video of Meg Kep’s show jumping round over the weekend at Three Lakes February H.T. with Fernhill Cork Blues.
Fortunately, The Horse Pesterer had many words and used every last one of them while filming. Here is a transcript:
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have a special treat for you today. In the Open Novice division we have a horse and rider — I should just say the rider, because on any horse this is a special moment that revolutionizes American eventing.
“There are people in American eventing who only need one name: Bruce, Phillip, Buck, Boyd and … Meg. That’s right. This. Is. Meg Kep.
“You might have even heard of Sinead Halpin, and if you did, it’s all because of Meg Kep. In fact watching this round I’m wondering if perhaps, Meg used to put on a blonde wig and ride Tate in place of Sinead. Because we wouldn’t even know the difference.
“I was going to stay and watch cross country but it would just be a blur. I’m not sure my camcorder would pick it up. Let’s see what the announcer has to say.”
“Zero-zero. That’s a little slice of heaven right there.”
Go Meg. Go Horse Pesterer. Go Eventing.
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What’s in Your Ring? is an EN series sponsored by Attwood Equestrian Surfaces in which riders share their favorite jumping exercises. It’s easy to get stuck in a training rut, and we hope this will inspire you with fresh ideas that you can take home and incorporate into your own programs.
This week’s edition comes from Huxley Greer, an event and dressage rider based out of Cnoc Na Aisling in Wirtz, VA. Currently, she is bringing her two OTTBs up the levels in dressage and eventing.
In the last year, Vesuvian helped Huxley earn her USDF Bronze Medal and competed through Fourth Level. “Ian” should be making his Prix St George Debut this summer. Marked Ruler competed at Training level last year, finishing the season at the Waredaca Training 3-day. In 2017 “Marcus” will be moving up to preliminary and is aiming for a CCI* in the summer. Cnoc Na Aisling is a full service boarding and training facility. To learn more, visit huxleygreer.com.
Photo by Jennifer Schaller.
The Art of Jumping in a Dressage (or Very Small) Arena
If you’ve ever had to jump in a dressage, or just very small arena, you know the challenges it can bring. I’ve only had a dressage arena to jump in for the past 10 years or so, and I can tell you it has its advantages and disadvantages. Recently I also got the ride on a very big striding horse, which makes jumping in the dressage arena just a tad bit more complicated. All of this being said, setting up courses and exercises in a small arena is one hundred percent doable.
Fortunately, regardless of the ring size, you can still get a lot done in a small space. Below are a couple of my favorite courses and gymnastic exercises to use in a small arena.
COURSE #1
This course is fantastic for working on related distances and straightness. Also, this course can work well for both green and experienced horses. Last, but not least, nearly all of the lines can be done off of both leads, something not always possible in a smaller arena.
The important part throughout this course is to keep your impulsion in the canter through the — fairly short — corners to arrive at the first fence of the lines comfortably. The skinny in this course is completely optional, but for more experienced horses and riders can offer an additional challenge. For me on my current horse, I had to work hard to ensure I kept an active canter while making any adjustments I needed in the lines.
While the oxer to vertical line is set up for five strides, you can experiment with either holding for a six, or pushing for a three to improve rideability. The turn from the vertical to oxer to vertical in and out is also great for working on both rideability and straightness. Speaking of straightness, the skinny to vertical on the diagonal is an element of this course where you can work on straightness. To make the line either harder or easier, you have a little bit of wiggle room — even in a tiny arena — to move the skinny closer or further away from the vertical.
This course also has plenty to offer for green horses and riders. With my greener students, I find it helps them to stay in a steady rhythm (even if it’s just trotting) while focusing on keeping their horse straight, but also planning for their next line as soon as they land over the last jump of the line they just rode. The diagonal fence in this course can be set up with three or four strides between, but can be challenging for green riders as they have to find their line to the second fence at the first fence.
While I try to mix up what I have set up, I find that this course offers to most variety and options while being a fairly good representation of what you might find in a show jumping course at an event — related distances before or after combinations, roll back turns, and a couple of longer lines and turning/straightness questions.
EXERCISE #2
This next exercise is one I picked up from my trainer Mark Combs. It’s another one where you can work several things at once and can also make it as friendly or as difficult as needed for different horses. Fortunately, this exercise fits well in a small arena.
Mark set this up for my horse because he needs to stay straighter and rock back more on his hind end. I have to admit that the exercise can look a little daunting, so for greener horses or riders it might be a good idea to add the V and placement poles gradually. The V poles on each side of the verticals force the horse to stay straight, also encouraging them to rock back on their hind end. It’s imperative to come into this exercise in the best, most balanced canter possible.
Ideally, you’ll alternate having a lower and then higher fence in this exercise. You can start with giving your horse more “wiggle” room, but can gradually make the space in between the V poles smaller making the exercise more difficult. A placement pole in between each fence (so set at about 11’ away) can also increase the difficulty of the exercise.
Jumping into the exercise, some horses may back off slightly, so it’s important that the rider supports with the leg to keep the horse’s feet moving. I found that this exercise had fantastic results for my horse and is wonderful for building strength and encouraging straightness.
Many thanks to Huxley for sharing! Do you have an exercise to share or is there an eventer you would like to nominate for the “What’s in Your Ring?” series? Email [email protected].
Michael Jung and fischerRocana FST. Photo by Jenni Autry.
It’s that time of year again: Rolex Kentucky entries officially open today! We can’t wait to get this year’s edition of the Best Weekend All Year going, and we’ll be bringing you entry list updates, Rolex Rookies profiles, and much, much more.
We’ve already reported that Michael Jung will be returning to Kentucky this year with fischerRocana FST as well as fischerTakinou — will there be a Michael Jung three-peat or will he be dethroned by an American?
We have also dug through the numbers to find out exactly who is qualified for North America’s only CCI4*, and you can catch up on those qualifications here.
As always, we’re proud to bring you the latest and greatest in all things Rolex related, so keep it locked right here on EN as we bring you the best from Lexington. If you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, you can find them here. See you in April!
Ellen Doughty-Hume’s four-star mount Sir Oberon has jumped plenty of blue numbered cross country jumps in his life. But white numbered jumps? Never.
Ellen started the now 15-year-old Holsteiner/Thoroughbred gelding at Training level and they’ve never looked back — until this weekend at Three Lakes February H.T. Ellen gave the ride on “Obie” to her good friend Katherine Zapala.
The two went to highschool together in Michigan, and they remained close even after Ellen relocated to Rockwall, Texas. Katherine, who still lives in Michigan, has groomed for Ellen at Rolex and came down to Ocala last week to visit. Ellen surprised her by offering her the Novice ride of a lifetime.
Katherine recalls, “Ellen was competing at Three Lakes and said, ‘Why don’t you just ride Obie in the show? I was like, ‘OK, I’m not going to say no to that!'”
Photo by Connie Doughty.
Katherine is an accomplished eventer in her own right, having logged plenty of Prelim miles on her horse The Contender. She had only ridden Obie once, about eight years ago, but got into Ocala on Friday with just enough daylight left to pop him over a few jumps.
“I knew he could do it — my main goal was just to not embarrass Obie!,” Katherine laughs.
The pair scored an admirable 27.8 in the dressage: “I just felt pretty and effortless and like I could just sit up there and smile.”
Katherine says she was the most nervous about show jumping: “I knew if we had a rail, it would be my fault!”
Photo by Connie Doughty.
Photo by Connie Doughty.
But cross country was smooth sailing and they finished fourth in their Open Novice division.
“It was one of the most fun rounds I’ve ever had,” she says. “I was kind of giggling the whole way around the course. Our joke all weekend long was that this was Obie’s Novice debut. I could tell he was enjoying himself, and it was like he really just took care of me.”
Photo by Connie Doughty.
Photo by Connie Doughty.
All giggles aside, Katherine explains that it was an honor and an incredibly meaningful gesture. 2016 was a rough year for her: She lost her father and her coach, Phillipa Humphreys.
“So this was really special,” Katherine says. “Not too many people just let you hop on their four-star horse and have a go at it. It was a gift.”
We continue to get rain soaked here in Southern California. I think we’re all hoping the end is in sight for one of the highest amounts of rainfall the area has seen in a long time. I will say, though, that I have never heard of California being this green before! So there is at least some beauty among all of the mud. At least that’s what I’m telling myself!
Horse Sport Ireland, the Governing Body for Equestrian Sport in Ireland, has announced that Sally Corscadden has been appointed Senior High Performance Director (incorporating the role of Chef d’Equipe) of the Irish Eventing team. Sally has more than 25 years experience as a medal-winning Eventing rider and coach. She was a member of Ireland’s Bronze medal winning team at the 1993 European Championships and has served as High Performance Manager of the Irish Young Rider teams which have won a Gold, two Silver and two Bronze medals at European Championship level from 2011 to 2015. [Sally Corscadden Appointed Senior HP Director for Ireland]
Tracie Robinson, dressage coach to Team Great Britain, will be teaching a clinic at Stable View in Aiken on March 7 and 8. For more information on riding or auditing, please visit Stable View Farm.
If you’re in Ocala on Monday or Tuesday, auditors are welcome at the Canadian High Performance clinic with jumping genius George Morris and dressage master Christilot Boylen at Wentworth Farm. Top names like Jessica Phoenix, Selena O’Hanlon, Kyle Carter, Colleen Loach, Lesley Grant-Law, Lisa Marie Fergusson, Diana Burnett, Jessica Payne and Tik Maynard will be riding. The clinic runs 8:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m. both days at 10690 NW 125th S., Reddick, FL 32686.
Tuesday Video:
Check out the West Coast’s first Advanced winners of 2017, Robyn Fisher and Betawave at Fresno County Horse Park last weekend:
Elite: Intended for rider and horse combinations with proven form at the CCI/CIC 3* and CCI 4* levels who are capable of being competitive at the Olympic level.
National: Created for athlete and horse combinations with proven form at the CCI 2*, CCI/CIC 3* and/or CCI 4* level who are capable of being competitive at the major games level, including the FEI World Equestrian Games.
The 2017 Elite Squad is as follows:
Hawley Bennett-Awad / Aldergrove, BC (currently residing in Temecula, CA)
Rebecca Howard / Salmon Arm, BC (currently residing in Wiltshire, GBR)
Colleen Loach / Sherbrooke, QC (currently residing in Anthony, FL)
Selena O’Hanlon / Kingston, ON
Jessica Phoenix / Cannington, ON
The 2017 National Squad is as follows:
Peter Barry / Dunham, QC
Kyle Carter / Calgary, AB (currently residing in Sparr, FL)
Rachel McDonough / Etobicoke, ON
Kathryn Robinson / Kettering, GBR
Karl Slezak / Tottenham, ON
Waylon Roberts / Port Perry, ON (currently residing in West Grove, PA)
Michael Winter / Cirencester, GB
“The 2017 Eventing High Performance Squad includes strong representation of experienced and developing athletes and horses,” said Dr. Rob Stevenson, Chair of the EC Eventing High Performance Advisory Group in a press release.
“Though many are focused upon the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, some athletes and horses will be looking a bit further to Tokyo 2020. Congratulations to these athletes. We aspire towards a program that others will want to join, from the grassroots to the highest level. We plan to have a program that will support their ambitions. As well, we appreciate the horse owners for their continued commitment to these athletes.”
