Classic Eventing Nation

Tuesday News & Notes from Cavalor

By on Dec 20, 2016 12:01 am -
Sinead Halpin knows how to party! Photo via Sinead on Instagram. Sinead Halpin knows how to party! Photo via Sinead on Instagram.

Can you believe it’s the week of Christmas? I sure as heck can’t. It seems like Thanksgiving was barely a few days ago, and now I’m looking ahead to 2017 with saucer sized eyes. It’s insane how quickly a year can pass; it’s time to start dusting off those New Year’s resolutions! I’m not a particularly good resolution keeper, but maybe I should resolve to keep resolutions this time around. What about you, EN? What are your horse related New Year’s resolutions?

Events Opening This Week:

Stable View Winter Horse Trials (SC, A-3), Poplar Place Farm February H.T. (GA, A-3),  Sporting Days Farm Horse Trials I (SC, A-3), Galway Downs Winter H.T. (CA, A-6)

Events Closing Today:

Ocala Winter I Presented by Brian Cox Farm Team (FL, A-3)

News & Notes:

It’s time to vote for EquiRatings Horse of the Year, and the U.S. has one horse in the running in Rio individual bronze medalist Mighty Nice! He’s currently in a hotly contested race and needs your votes to get through to the next round. Vote for him in the Twitter poll at bit.ly/Vote4Happy [#ERHOTY Voting]

Chris Burton, Leslie Law and Chris Ryan have been named as the featured clinicians for the 2017 ICP and Young Horse Symposium. This highly anticipated event will be held in Ocala February 20-22. The ICP Symposium will be held at Longwood Farm South, while the Young Horse Symposium will take place at the Ocala Jockey Club. If you’re in the area, these are definitely two events worth attending. [USEA ICP and Young Horse Symposium]

Looking to the first events of the new season, this is a good time to be looking at your horse’s fitness routine. This helpful article from Horse & Hound gives some insight on keeping a lower level event horse correctly fit. [Fitness Plan for Event Horses]

Are you a past or present barn kid? Then this great blog from The Chronicle of the Horse is for you. Take a read as Meghan Holland gives advice to the past, present and future “barn rats” that we all know and love. [Advice for Past, Present and Future Barn Kids]

Tuesday Video:

In the holiday spirit, let’s revisit one of the best horse-y commercials there ever was:

Monday Video from Tredstep Ireland: Elisa Wallace + Simply Priceless 4* Year in Review

By on Dec 19, 2016 4:30 pm -

“This has been an amazing year to say the least with this amazing horse,” wrote Team Tredstep eventer Elisa Wallace on her Wallace Eventing vlog. “Finishing 8th at Rolex Kentucky CCI4*, becoming an alternate for the 2016 Rio Olympics, and placing 14th and top American at our very first Burghley CCI4*.”

To celebrate, Wallace Eventing has released this mashup video of Elisa’s Rolex and Burghley performances. Her partner, of course, is Simply Priceless — known as “Johnny” around the farm — who has proven himself an elite equine athlete and fan favorite. Hot tip: there are two remaining shares available in the Simply Priceless syndicate, come and get them! Click here for more details or email [email protected].

“I can not really put into words how much Johnny means to me, he truly is SIMPLY PRICELESS,” Elisa says. “And in making this video I was inspired by the passion of the sport of eventing, the love of an incredible horse, and the amazing community that supports me! Johnny and I have attained some of my biggest dreams this year and with many more to come, I’m really excited for 2017!”

We’re excited, too, Elisa. Go Eventing!

#Dogs(AndCats!)OfEN: Because We’re Equal Opportunity Like That

By on Dec 19, 2016 1:00 pm -

Since we began the #DogsOfEN series, there’s been a slow but steady uprising of barn cats who want a piece of that sweet, sweet spotlight pie. Who are we to deny them? Hell hath no fury like a kitten scorned.

The adventures of ranger and Elmo on crappy barn days #barncat #dogsofinstagram #eventerproblems #ineedanewcouch #dogsofEN

A photo posted by Renee Sternhagen (@renee.a.sternhagen) on

Is this what dreaming of warmer weather looks like? #dogsofEN #dogsofinstgram #eventerproblems

A photo posted by Renee Sternhagen (@renee.a.sternhagen) on

Walking the mutts on a snowy day #thankyouforthis #dogsofinstgram #dogsofEN #barndogs #love

A photo posted by Renee Sternhagen (@renee.a.sternhagen) on

Go EVenting.

Let’s Discuss: What Complementary Healing Modalities Do You Use?

By on Dec 19, 2016 11:00 am -
Photo by Leslie Wylie. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Eventers will move heaven and earth to keep our horses happy and performing at their best. And many of us have discovered that incorporating complementary/alternative healing modalities into our horse’s regimens goes a long way toward that end.

Acupuncture, massage, chiropractic … my pony Princess, who is basically a princess, gets them all on an as-often-as-my-bank-account allows basis. It’s hard not to be a little envious, as my own soundness regimen is based on an economy-size bottle of ibuprofen and box wine. “You ought to set a table up in here for owners, like they do for couple’s massage,” I told the acupuncturist during our last visit.

This week’s question: What complementary/alternative healing modalities have you found to be most useful for YOUR horses? Discuss amongst yourselves in the comments!

Princess receiving an acupuncture treatment at the University of Tennessee. not pictured: cabana boy standing off to the side fanning her with palm fronds and feeding her grapes. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Princess receiving an acupuncture treatment at the University of Tennessee. Not pictured: cabana boy standing off to the side fanning her with palm fronds and feeding her grapes. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

12 Days of Christmas: KER ClockIt Heart Rate Monitor Starter Pack

By on Dec 19, 2016 9:00 am -
Enter to win a KER ClockIt Starter Pack! Enter to win a KER ClockIt Starter Pack!

A KER ClockIt Starter Pack is everything you need to get started tracking your conditioning program with the mobile app, and today we’re giving one away for EN’s 12 Days of Christmas!

The starter pack includes a Bluetooth-enabled Polar equine heart rate monitor with thin sensors to place under the saddle and girth while riding, as well as contact gel to ensure the signal is picked up clearly (a must on hairy winter horses!).

The nodes easily fit under your saddle pad.

The thin sensors easily fit under the saddle pad and girth to track your horse’s heart rate. Photo via Kentucky Equine Research.

Using a heart-rate monitor with KER ClockIt Sport gives you an easy visual read-out of how your horse’s fitness improves over time. See examples of real sessions using a monitor and a video demo of placing the electrodes before riding — it’s quick and easy!

Use the heart mate monitor with the KER ClockIt app to track your horse's fitness.

Using the heart rate monitor with the KER ClockIt app will give you read-outs to track your horse’s fitness. Photo via Kentucky Equine Research.

EN’s own Kate Samuels relies on KER ClockIt to tell her when her warmblood Leo is really working and when he’s just being lazy. See her write-up on the app here.

The starter pack retails at $157.99 and is also available for purchase on KER’s online store. Enter to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Entries close at midnight EST. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday News and Notes from Fleeceworks

By on Dec 19, 2016 12:53 am -
Holly Payne Caravella and her husband Eric Caravella winning the ugly sweater contest. Photo via Facebook. Holly Payne Caravella and her husband Eric Caravella winning the ugly sweater contest. Photo via Facebook.

I love today’s lead photo, but this morning’s story is a sad one. The Pelis family of Northern Creek Farm in Hadley, MA lost their home to a fire last weekend. The family has been at the property for over 20 years, and while the barns, fields and 19 horses on the property were spared, they lost all their possessions and a beloved cat.

Family friend Caroline Daly told EN that the Pelis Family has been involved with the Area I horse and eventing communities for nearly 30 years. Their Northern Creek Farm is a boarding and lesson facility and was the longtime home of the Swift River Pony Club of Central New England Region. “Northern Creek Farm, as well as Elizabeth, Judy, and the entire Pelis family, has welcomed everyone who has come their way with open arms for years,” Caroline said. “This is an absolutely tragic event to endure, and this is one of the most difficult times of the year for such a thing to happen.”

The local horse community has offered aid for barn chores, winter gear for the family, and even some work to ensure the barns have electricity and water. A friend of the family and former boarder, Gwen, has set up a fund to help the family get on their feet again as it will be some time before they are able to re-build. If you can help the Pelis family in their time of need, please click here.

Monday News and Notes:

The USEA ICP, YEH and FEH programs have teamed up for the ultimate educational opportunity in sunny Florida this February. With Chris Burton, Chris Ryan and Leslie Law as featured clinicians, you definitely want to head South for this clinic. The USEA has released a basic schedule and bios of all six instructors. [Learn more]

Much of the country has suffered from drought this year which has left many horse owners staring at dirt lots instead of lush pastures while also facing the stresses of a hay shortage. Luckily there are fiber alternatives to help stretch or replace hay or pasture access. [The Horse]

The Horse Nation crew is at it again with their holiday horse carols. Don’t miss the delightful reminisces of the “12 Daze of Christmas” or the rider relateable laments from “O Come All Ye Horse Poor.” [Join HN for a week of caroling]

It’s hunting season (horse people will know I’m talking about field hunting). I’ve a got a youngster I’m hoping to event and hunt next year so I’m doing all I can to brush up on hunting etiquette. Here’s a great list of tips to help you win friends in the hunt field. [9 ways to impress in the hunting field]

Monday Video:

Calling All Organizers: Submit Your Winter Riding Opportunities!

By on Dec 18, 2016 5:00 pm -
Happy participants and auditors after a successful William Fox-Pitt clinic. Photo courtesy of Scott Hayes. Happy participants and auditors after a successful William Fox-Pitt clinic. Photo courtesy of Scott Hayes.

Just because the competition season has ended and we’ve hauled out the heavy blankets and winter breeches doesn’t mean we aren’t looking for some horsey activities to tide us over until the spring events begin.

So we’ve got good news! For the winter we’re reviving What’s Happening, EN’s guide to lessons, clinics, schooling shows, indoor schooling rounds, tack swaps, you name it.

We’re looking for organizers to send us the details of their riding and educational opportunities occurring in December, January or February to include in our weekly posting of What’s Happening.

It’s free to post a listing. Just email the date, location, contact information and any other details to [email protected]. (Note: This is a list generated solely from submissions. If no one sends us the details of your event, it won’t be included.)

Here’s a (real!) example:

Jan. 4: Dressage Clinic in Brookeville, MD: Susan Graham White will be back at A Bit Better Farm (Brookeville, MD) on Wednesday, January 4th. Lessons are 45-minute private lessons and will be $130 per lesson. We typically ride from about 12:15pm until 7:30pm (so plenty of time for the after school/work folks). When you sign up, please be sure to let me know if you have any time constraints. Remember that Susan is a licensed judge, so if you want, you can bring your dressage tests and have a fix-a-test type lesson. If you want to learn more about Susan, click here. I am encouraging, but not requiring, everyone to sign up via EventClinics this year, and you can find all of the details here. As always, auditing is encouraged and always FREE!

We’ll publish the first roundup of listings later this week so get those emails in!

 

 

Best of JN: A Lesson with Grandad Nick Skelton

By on Dec 18, 2016 3:00 pm -
Screenshot via Facebook

Screenshot via Facebook

“Whoa, we’re going over the jump! Blimey, that was good!”

Olympic Show Jumping Gold Medalist Nick Skelton (GBR) is a busy fellow — nominated for Sports Personality of the Year by BBC Sports, being the man of honor at the Olympia Horse Show in London this week, and of course keeping up the marvelous string of his at the home yard.

But he is NEVER too busy for his adorable granddaughter, Flo. The darling little lady was granted a riding lesson from the man of the hour this week, and we get in on the fun. Certainly she’s destined for greatness when she has a world champion in her corner from the get-go, right? (You can really tell it’s in her veins by her completely half-hearted “whoa” before the poles. She didn’t want that pony to stop for all the rice in China.)

If Carlsberg did riding lessons. Flo gets a lesson from Grandad before he heads to Olympia. Lucky girl x

Posted by Grace Skelton on Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Go Skelton crew, and Go Jumping!

See more from the H/J Universe at our sister site www.JumperNation.com & follow them on Facebook.

 

Equestrian Canada to Enforce Athlete Concussion Protocols

By on Dec 18, 2016 1:00 pm -
Photo by Leslie Threlkeld Photo by Leslie Threlkeld

Equestrian Canada has developed official, sport-specific guidelines on equestrian athlete concussion protocols. The “Accidents and Return-to-Play” rule will enable EC to track concussion incidents, reduce the risk of Second Impact Syndrome and assist affected athletes in safely returning to the sport. The rule will go into effect January 1, 2017 and will apply to all EC sanctioned competition in Canada.

“When concussion occurs, it is of the utmost importance that they be recognized and that we limit athletes’ exposure to another potential concussion soon after the first,” said Dr. Rob Stevenson, the FEI National Safety Officer for Canada. “Though we acknowledge that equestrian sports have an inherent risk in participation, we recognize that there is no need to increase risk unnecessarily.

“Wearing an approved helmet reduces the risk of serious head injuries, but does not reduce the risk of concussion. Through these concussion protocols, Equestrian Canada has established a thorough framework for the education, recognition and management of concussions.”

The major components of the Accidents and Return-to-Play rule are as follows:

  • In the event of a fall/accident where a concussion can be reasonably suspected, the competitors must receive medical clearance by qualified medical personnel onsite before continuing to compete.
  • The competitor is solely responsible for ensuring the onsite medical assessment takes place. Should a competitor refuse to be evaluated, they will be disqualified from the competition.
  • If onsite qualified medical personnel suspect a concussion or believe the competitor may be at risk of concussion due to the nature of the fall or impact, the competitor will be suspended from competition and placed on a Medical Suspension List until medically released.
  • Competitors will remain on the EC Medical Suspension List until they submit an EC Return to Play Form, signed by a licensed physician, to EC.
  • No competitor shall compete at EC sanctioned competitions while on the EC Medical Suspension List and competition organizers may refuse entry to anyone currently on the list.

The new rule will be included in the 2017 Rules of Equestrian Canada, Section A, General Regulations, Article 101, to be published in January.

If you’re interested in reading the USEF’s similar return to competition guidelines, you can find them in the USEF Rulebook under GR1316, Accidents Involving Competitors.

[Heads Up! Equestrian Canada to Implement Ground-Breaking Athlete Concussion Protocols]

Weekly OTTB Wishlist from Cosequin

By on Dec 18, 2016 11:00 am -

Know what looks great under a Christmas tree? A shiny new OTTB. But don’t wait around for a delivery from Santa, as we hear he’s more of a reindeer connoisseur than a horseman.

Take a tip from Tennessee eventer Shannon O’Hatnick, who snagged this handsome guy just in time for the holidays. Black Market (After Market – Keep the Feeling, by Kris S.) is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred OTTB who was retired from the track after seven starts.

Welcome to the fam Black Market!!

Posted by Shannon O’Hatnick on Friday, December 9, 2016

Oh my god he’s the cutest and I actually still can equitate after over a month not jumping. Allie Knowles you’re the best

Posted by Shannon O’Hatnick on Friday, December 9, 2016

So fancy — can’t wait to see him in a startbox. Congrats, Shannon! Here are three more OTTBs who are ready for a new career.

Photo via Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds.

Photo via Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds.

King Gettigan (Read the Footnotes – Red Hot Peppers, by Jelly Roll Blues): 2011 16-hh bay gelding

Gettigan’s owner is sending him off from racing with gratitude for his accomplishments on the track. This young gelding has had a respectable racing career with $100,000 in earnings and three wins in 39 starts. He last raced on Nov. 11, 2016 and finished second.

He is reported to be nice to work with, sound and without vices. FLF admired his athletic build and nice, fluid movement at the jog. Here’s your chance to take a cute gelding to next year’s RRP at a bargain price.

View King Gettigan on Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds.

Photo via Maker's Mark Secretariat Center.

Photo via Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center.

True Simon (Harlan’s Holiday – True Addiction, by Yes It’s True): 2012 16-hh bay gelding

True Simon is so truly alluring that he’s worth taking home just to look at! His soon-to-be manly physique and his impossibly cute expression that is sparkly yet vulnerable will melt your heart.

But it gets better! Simon is athletic, and when he grows into his adult self, he will be jaw-dropping. He’s studious but playful, curious but analytical, and he’s fascinated by new challenges and unknown things. This is a horse with silver screen quality and we can’t wait to see who he will become.

View True Simon on Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center.

Photo via CANTER.

Photo via CANTER.

Rictor Nine Dot O (The Deputy (IRE) – Denium Cowgirl, by Sasha’s Prospect) – 2011 15.2-hh bay gelding.

Out of Denium Cowgirl by multiple graded stakes winner The Deputy (IRE), who earned $817,270 in his racing career. His bloodline also includes Mr. Prospector and Northern Dancer. “Ricky” had 32 starts, with three firsts, three seconds, and two third place finishes, earning $44,874 in his racing career. Last raced Sept. 24, at Hazel Park. Ricky likes to jump and is very natural and willing. He settles into his work after a few minutes. Cribs.

View Rictor Nine Dot O on CANTER Michigan.