Classic Eventing Nation

Between the Ears: Laine Ashker

By on Mar 26, 2024 10:00 am -

These days, we often view each other’s lives through the lens of a highlight reel, glimpsing the incredible trips, impressive jumps, and moments we’re proud enough to share on social media. What we don’t often discuss is the immense pressure this places on athletes on both ends of the news feed. Riders, whether professional or not, feel compelled to post content that portrays them as cool and successful. As consumers of this content, we are left with a distorted perception that the sport is easy and that failure might suggest one isn’t cut out for it. These interviews are part of my mission to shed light on the reality of the challenges faced by everyone, regardless of their level, at some point in their journey.

On this edition of “Between the Ears,” I caught up with Lainey Ashker, who holds the esteemed status of being an Advanced level eventer and a Grand Prix dressage rider. Lainey continues to pursue excellence in both sports and has ambitious goals for the future. Her journey has seen its share of ups and downs, but one thing became clear during our conversation: she’s never giving up. So, armed with that grit and determination, let’s delve into her story…

[Catch up on more editions of this column here]

Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Can you tell me a little bit about how you got started with horses?

My mom has always been into horses, so naturally, she got me into them too. I participated in my first Prelim Championship while still in my mom’s belly when she was 7 months pregnant with me. I was practically destined to be an eventer, and I caught the horse bug easily. My mom supported my dreams by finding off-the-track Thoroughbreds for me to ride and train. We even relocated from California to Virginia to further my eventing career. Of the four horses I’ve taken to the 5* level, three have been OTTBs.

How did you end up branching off into pure dressage?

I always enjoyed the dressage phase of eventing, but it wasn’t my main focus initially- how I got into pure dressage is a funny story. I had posted an ad on Craigslist offering to teach lessons, and only one person responded to that ad—Ann Wilson, who now owns horses for me. She had a passion for dressage and wanted someone to train her Andalusian she had purchased at a dude ranch through the levels. I had a great time working with him, and Ann and I’s relationship naturally evolved from there. Ann has been one of my most supportive owners, and I’m incredibly grateful for her support—and to Craigslist! Getting into dressage has also helped me expand my point of view and see different ways of doing things, which has been great for my career.

Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Can you recall a time when you lost confidence in riding and how you regained it?

Confidence has never come naturally to me, unlike some people who seem to rebound effortlessly. Throughout my career, even before my accident, I struggled with confidence. In 2007, when I was on the training squad, I was the only one who expressed interest in meeting with a sports psychologist. At the time, it made me feel somewhat isolated, but I’ve always been open to anything that could give me a competitive edge, and I am glad that I sought out the support.

Naturally, my biggest blow to confidence came in 2008 with my serious accident. My mom had always taught me that when you fall or make a mistake, you get back on and fix it. However, in this instance, I couldn’t get back on for many months due to being hospitalized. Beyond the obvious physical and emotional repercussions, I also grappled with confidence issues regarding how people perceived me. I faced a lot of negative backlash and encountered many who wanted to interview me for the wrong reasons. The internet played a significant role in affecting how I felt about myself.

Regaining my confidence wasn’t an overnight process, but a good friend, Kristen Bond, gave me a book called “Mind Gym” by Gary Mack, which proved immensely helpful in developing problem-solving skills. I still draw on mantras from that book to this day. Speaking with Daniel Stewart was also pivotal in giving me the confidence to be myself and approach things differently.

When you’re young, there’s a tendency to want to get back into the saddle immediately to prove everything’s fine. Looking back, I realize I did myself a disservice by not acknowledging the emotions I experienced. It’s clear to me now that the worst thing you can do when you lose your confidence is to rush yourself. Riding at a level below your competency allows you the bandwidth to work through the challenges you’re facing.

I continue to prioritize my mental health both as an athlete and as a person. I’ve learned that certain activities, like working out, getting a massage, or going to cryotherapy, contribute to my self-care because they affect how I feel and perform in the saddle. Ultimately, confidence isn’t something you either have or don’t have—it’s complex and individualized. It requires self-awareness and constant effort. Despite the work I’ve put in, my natural reaction to making a mistake is still self-criticism, so I surround myself with people and resources that help me reframe my perspective.

Big hugs for Anthony Patch. Photo by Sally Spickard.

How do you manage burnout?

When I experience burnout, it’s usually due to either the time of the season or feeling stuck because I don’t have many horses and worry about being surpassed by other riders. Our world feels small, with everyone seemingly chasing the same goals, so the fear of being left behind looms large. For me, having a dual focus on two sports has been incredibly helpful. Last year, when I encountered problems with my eventing horse, it coincided with breakthroughs in my dressage horse’s training, making the lows of eventing easier to handle.

Do you have any performance routines for when you feel nervous?

When I’m preparing for a show and feeling nervous, I pick out a few horses or rounds to watch, then give myself some quiet time to divert my mind from obsessing over my performance. I usually play Candy Crush because I know I need to quiet my mind. While some people prefer getting hyped up before cross-country, that doesn’t work best for me. Once I have a plan, I don’t want to overthink it, so I do something completely mindless.

Laine Ashker and Lovedance. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.

What advice would you offer to someone in the sport facing adversity?

There have been many times in my career when I’ve felt like I didn’t have enough owners, enough horses, or even enough mental strength to continue. In those moments, I picture myself at 80, watching the Olympics and explaining eventing or dressage to my friends, and I wonder, ‘What if I never tried to get there?’ I’m not sure I could live with myself if I gave up on a goal I’ve dedicated my whole life to. It’s easy to stick with what’s safe, and sometimes that’s okay, but when facing adversity, I ask myself if I’ve truly tried everything. This sport is tough, expensive, and physically demanding, but it’s also my dream, and that dream drives me through the struggles because giving up would cost me more. If someone is facing adversity, I urge them to consider that scenario and ask themselves if they’ve left no stone unturned, because, in my experience, there’s always another stone.

Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products

By on Mar 26, 2024 7:31 am -

Gemma Stevens and Jalapeno at Badminton in 2023. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.

Just in case you’ve been living under a rock since yesterday afternoon, the entry list for the MARS Badminton Horse Trials has officially gone live, and boy oh boy, is it stacked. This year, we’re seeing the introduction of three-horse riders for the first time, which is an exciting — though admittedly probably unenviable — change, and a week between Kentucky and Badminton, which might just allow a few more riders to make the trip to both. Oh, and speaking of Kentucky – entries for that close today, so we’ll be taking a look at that list very soon, too. Can you even handle the excitement?! I certainly cannot.

Events Opening Today: Winona Horse Trials, River Glen Spring H.T., Queeny Park H.T., Majestic Oaks Ocala H.T., Unionville May H.T., Tryon International Three Day Event

Events Closing Today: Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, Spring Bay H.T., Unionville Horse Trials, Longleaf Pine H.T., F.E.N.C.E. H.T., Twin Rivers Spring International

Tuesday News & Notes From Around the World:

If you’re based in the UK and considering importing supplements, wormers, or medication from abroad, maybe don’t. While prices might be cheaper elsewhere, and you may be able to find higher doses of active ingredients, it’s also definitely not legal to import unauthorised veterinary products. Plus, say experts, it could actually put your horse at serious risk because those imports might not be what they say they are.

Speaking of things that seem too good to be true — it’s probably not actually that useful to send your horse’s hair samples in to a company that’ll then tell you what illnesses he might be prone to and what you should be feeding him. Here’s why.

Does your horse hollow in transitions? This is something that’s plagued me — I can ride a really lovely, uphill, soft upward transition, but I find downward ones much harder to get right, especially transitions down to walk. I’ll be trying these exercises from British dressage legend Emile Faurie, and I reckon you should too.

You know frangible devices are important — but are you fuzzy on the details? This handy refresher from US Eventing is a great read, whether you’re likely to jump some MIM-clipped fences yourself, you’re an avid viewer of upper-level sport, or you’re an event organiser or course builder. Click through for interesting stats, a rundown of the tech, and information about the Frangible Fund.

Sponsor Corner: Kentucky Performance Products’ Sponsored Rider, CCI5* eventer Lisa Barry, has had an exciting month with her current 4* horse, Possum. Despite a rider error in the show jumping, Possum jumped one of the best show jumping rounds she’s ever had at Chatt Hills in early March. Check it out.

Watch This: 

Head out of the CCI3*-S startbox at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International with Elisa Wallace and Tullymurry Fifi:

 

MARS Badminton Entries Revealed: 87 Pairs Accepted for 2024 Event

By on Mar 25, 2024 1:50 pm -

Meghan O’Donognue and Palm Crescent. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Spring is well and truly in the air as we eagerly await the big CCI5* entry lists, and we’ve got our first fish this afternoon as MARS Badminton has released an 87-combination roster for the 2024 running. We also anticipate getting a first glance at Kentucky entries later this week, so keep an eye out for those.

The Badminton roster can always be counted on as a who’s who of top sport, and this year’s list certainly doesn’t disappoint. A total of 87 pairs have been accepted, with an additional three so far on the Wait List. This list includes representatives from 11 countries, and we’ll see a handful of North American-based pairs heading across the pond as well.

Cosby Green and Copper Beach. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The North American entries include:

  • Jessica Phoenix and Wabbit
  • Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl
  • Cosby Green and Copper Beach
  • Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF
  • Boyd Martin and On Cue
  • Meghan O’Donognue and Palm Crescent
  • Grace Taylor and Game Changer

Tim Price and Vitali. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

As is typical, we’ll also welcome back a handful of past Badminton winners, though at this time 2023 winning horse Lordships Graffalo is not on the entry list with Ros Canter. She’s instead got Izilot DHI entered, though word is that she’s also entered the 2023 Pau winner at Kentucky. 2022 winner Laura Collett has two first-time 5* horses entered: the 13-year-old Hanoverian mare Hester as well as the 11-year-old British Sport Horse mare Bling. 2021 winner Piggy March will bring forward the 15-year-old Brookfield Inocent, who was second at Pau in 2020 as well as at European Championships in 2021. Another former Pau winner (2022) and Badminton winner (2018), Jonelle Price, has entered 5* winner (Pau) Grappa Nera, while husband Tim has entered the stalwart Vitali, with whom he partnered at the Tokyo Olympics and has collected a slew of top-five finishes at the 5* level.

Sam Watson and SAP Talisman at Aachen. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

You can view the full entry list, which is of course subject to changes ahead of the first horse inspection, here. 

This year, we have a “bye week” in between Kentucky and Badminton, where typically they are held on consecutive weekends. The extra time in between will benefit the riders, grooms, media, and officials who are working both events. This means Badminton will kick off with the First Horse Inspection on Wednesday, May 8 and conclude with show jumping on Sunday, May 12. Stay tuned for much more from spring 5* season, coming your way from the EN team! Go Eventing.

EN’s coverage of MARS Badminton Horse Trials is presented by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional support for all types of horses. Click here to learn more about Kentucky Performance Products.

MARS Badminton Horse Trials: [Website] [Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries] [Live Stream]

Welcome to Eventing: Get Ready for Your First Event

By on Mar 25, 2024 12:30 pm -

Is this it? Is this THE season where you finally compete in your first event? If it is, get excited and stop biting your fingernails!

There’s a right way and a wrong way to compete in your first event. The “right way” is to make it a no-pressure, fun-filled occasion. If you approach your first horse trial by putting pressure on yourself to get a blue ribbon while also quaking in your boots that you may fall off, you’re doing it wrong. Relax. Have fun! That’s what eventing is all about.

First, let’s talk about what your first event could look like. Let’s use the term “event” loosely. You don’t have to dive right into the world of eventing with a recognized horse trial at a busy venue. Ease your way into eventing and dip your toe in the water before you take the plunge. There’s a huge variety of schooling events out there that follow different formats so you can choose what’s right for you and your horse.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by kaylee vongnaraj (@equi._.kaylee)


Derby crosses are becoming extremely popular. These events are essentially a mix of show jumping and cross country fences that either take place in a field, arena, or some combination of the two. There is no dressage test involved with these events, so they’re perfect for the horse and rider that would rather be out jumping than in the dressage ring.

A combined schooling show is similar to a derby cross, but typically you get to choose some combination of the three phases to compete in. For example, you could choose to just do the show jumping and dressage portions of the test, and skip cross country, or vice versa.

On the other hand, you can do an Eventing Academy-style horse trial. This involves a full three-phase horse trial preceded by two days of schooling at the venue and on the courses you’ll be competing in. It’s a great way to familiarize horse and rider with a potentially intimidating course and get them used to the environment.

Whatever format you decide to choose for your first event, pick a venue you’ve been to before. If you’ve never been to any venue, school your horse at the venue a few times before the competition. There’s no need to add any confusion or nerves to the competition because you don’t know where the show office is, where the cross country course starts, or because your horse is afraid of the flowers in the dressage ring. Since it’s your first event, do everything in your power to make it a success.

By success, I don’t mean coming home with a blue ribbon. We’re eventers. A successful event is one where nobody falls off, you get around the course with minimal issues, and you and your horse have a great time.

You can also cut down on the stress of your first event by understanding the rules of what to wear and having an outfit in mind well ahead of time. Don’t wait until the night before the event to stare at your closet and wonder what you’re supposed to wear. Most schooling shows are relatively relaxed, but be sure to read the rules for your specific competition ahead of time. Different venues and levels of competition will have different requirements.

That being said, we’re eventers. We don’t care if your brown reins don’t match your black bridle. Are you being safe and having fun? Great! At my first event, I actually did compete with brown reins and a black bridle. My little hunter heart was very worried I would get a lot of weird looks. But in truth, I don’t think anyone even looked twice.

Cassidy Brooke Photography. Images courtesy of JPC Equestrian

Most schooling events won’t have a strict dress code. Typically, you should wear white or tan breeches, and a professional looking athletic shirt. For example, a great schooling competition outfit could be a pair of Equine Couture Nicole Breeches combined with the Lettia Equifine Sun Shirt. However, if the event you’re competing in includes a dressage phase, you may need to dress up a bit more, including a show jacket, show shirt, and tall boots.

While eventers don’t particularly care what colors you wear (the more colorful the better!), we do care about safety. If you’re going cross country, you need to wear a safety vest and medical armband. As always, you must wear an appropriately certified helmet for all three phases.

Before the event, take some time to mentally prepare. For my first event, I rode in a team at a derby cross at Waredaca. I was lucky enough to have a very experienced friend, shoutout to Ashley Gross at A&A Stables, who rode in my team and guided me through the whole process. Having a friend who will laugh with you at your mistakes and help you get out of your head and not take the whole thing too seriously will make your first event infinitely more fun.

Ashley Ann Gross and Veronica Green-Gott at the Waredaca Derby Cross.

If you can, I’d recommend riding a “steady Eddy” type of horse who knows the ropes. While I’d recommend this, it’s not really required. I did my first event with my 7-year-old OTTB. It was both of our first events; she’d gone cross country schooling only twice before. We lived and had a great time!

Just remember, when it comes to your mindset at your first event, you’re only there to have fun. Don’t put pressure on yourself to perform well and don’t think twice about embarrassing yourself or looking like you don’t know what you’re doing. All of us have been there at some point and, if you ask me, I’m right there with you!

Go eventing!

This blog contains sponsored links, courtesy of our supporter JPC Equestrian, founder of your online tack store, Breeches.com. If you’re looking for quality tack at amazing prices, check out their website.

Weekend Winners: Full Gallop, Majestic Oaks, & Texas Rose

By on Mar 25, 2024 10:00 am -

We’ve got another busy weekend of eventing competition to wrap up, so let’s dive right in!

Our first shout this week goes to our Unofficial Low Score Award winners, Joanna Casson and Sweet Chile Pepper, who won their Starter division at Full Gallop Farm (Aiken, SC) on a score of 19.0. Way to go!

Full Gallop Farm March II H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website][Scoring]

Preliminary: Nilson Moreira Da Silva and FGF Dollarsforpennies (32.5)
Preliminary/Training: Darci Phelps and Sandro Street (25.8)
Training A: Ashley Dodds and Lowland (27.2)
Training B: Cole William Horn and WillOMoor Pathfinder (33.0)
Novice A: Suzanne Hillhouse and Severance Pay (21.9)
Novice B: Brian Kilgo-Kelly and HSF Milchem MBF (32.5)
Beginner Novice A: Lindsay Elwell and Dev Diego (29.7)
Beginner Novice B: Gina Keller and Snack Attach (30.1)
Starter A: Michele McCarty Woods and Old Number 7 (27.3)
Starter B: Joanna Casson and Sweet Chile Pepper (19.0)
Pre-Starter: Bridget O’Neill and FGF Sunset Provision (62.3)

March Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (Reddick, FL) [Website][Scoring]

Open Preliminary A: Joe Meyer and Gold de Riverland (29.9)
Open Preliminary B: Melissa Boutin and Obeah Dancer GS (26.9)
Preliminary Rider: Abigail Fulmer and State of Reverence (30.0)
Open Modified A: Vanessa Stevenson and FE Black Ice (23.6)
Open Modified B: Sylvia Byars and CSF Dassett Decoy (26.2)
Open Modified C: Jordan Duffett and Charlie il Postino (26.2)
Open Training A: Jennie Brannigan and Revolt (26.4)
Open Training B: Meghan O’Donoghue and Uvera Z (22.6)
Training Rider A: Hannah Boyd and Special K (35.4)
Training Rider B: Tyler Leary and Most Wanted (25.0)
Novice Rider A: Madeline Riley and Bobbie Burns (21.7)
Novice Rider B: Caraline Cathcart and Relentless (35.0)
Novice Rider C: Ashley Allison and Sophie’s Story (28.9)
Open Novice A: Alexandra du Celliee Muller and RH Sophia Lore (26.4)
Open Novice B: Audrey Ogan and Cooley Classified (23.3)
Open Novice C: Lauren Nicholson and Sir Prize (23.9)
Open Novice D: Lea Adams-Blackmore and Nike (27.2)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Nicky Tucker and Pandora (26.2)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Destiny Pastermack and Liviusz (31.9)
Open Beginner Novice A: Colleen Loach and Mazikeen (24.1)
Open Beginner Novice B: Michael Nolan and Carrick Drumkerril Pride (32.2)
Starter – Intro A: Serafina Deldon and Prince Renan (25.3)
Starter – Intro B: Terri Miller and Royal Lufttanzer (30.0)

Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (Tyler, TX) [Website][Scoring]

Open Intermediate: Davina Warrener and Your Next Big Win (61.4)
Intermediate/Preliminary: Lauren Lambert and Night Watch (45.2)
Open Preliminary: Kate Bell and FE Velvet Black (38.9)
Open Modified: Taylor Higgs and Tuck N Roll (40.5)
Open Training: Sarah Dawson and FE Zardet (31.4)
Training Rider: Elle Snyder and Oakland Quality (33.6)
Jr. Novice Rider A: Abby Adams and Fernhill Doctor Watson (29.6)
Jr. Novice Rider B: Ayden Brandon and Deacon HGF (35.0)
Novice Horse: Ellen Doughty and Orion RSF (29.7)
Open Novice: Chloe McCombs and King Robert (22.8)
Senior Novice Rider: Kristina Brown and Marvel (29.2)
Jr. Beginner Novice: Olivia Miller and 50 Shades of Envy (30.2)
Open Beginner Novice: Megan Correia-Bittner and Millionn (30.3)
Sr. Beginner Novice: Jennifer Enderlin and Young American (26.8)
Starter A: Jackie Ericksen and Devon Ridge Indira (23.3)
Starter B: Laiken Lindsey and Darcy LB (29.0)
Tadpole: Nancy Jaehne (37.7)

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Mar 25, 2024 8:24 am -

One of the most exciting things about any Olympic year is the surprises it throws up. It’s easy enough to spend the long off-season speculating about which horses and riders are most likely to make the team based on their form over the season that came before, but every single time, there’s always an endless stream of wildcards once the new one starts. Great horses are sold on; top contenders are sidelined; and, much more positively, unexpected comebacks change the whole landscape of the selection process. And at Kronenberg’s CCI4*-L over the weekend, that’s exactly what we saw, with a win for France from Astier Nicolas and the exceptional Babylon de Gamma, who we’ve seen just once in an FEI event since he ran at the Maryland Five Star in 2022. Now he’s back and better than ever – and Astier knows exactly what he wants from the 2024 season, and that’s glory in Paris.

National Holiday: It’s National Waffle Day. Some of the greatest days of my working student career at Phyllis Dawson’s Windchase Farm came on snowy winter mornings, when we’d get the horses sorted and then decamp to the nearby IHOP for a big breakfast because it was too blisteringly cold to try to ride. May you all have an IHOP morning today, just without the snow and cold.

US Weekend Action: 

Full Gallop Farm March II H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Results]

March Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (Reddick, FL) [Website] [Results]

Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (Tyler, TX): [Website] [Results]

UK Weekend Results:

Munstead (1) (Godalming, Surrey): [Results]

Tweseldown (X) (Church Crookham, Hants.): [Results]

Major International Events:

Outdoor Horst (Kronenberg, Netherlands) [Website][Results]

Your Monday Reading List:

Two horse-mad kids get their kicks in Pony Club, grow up, find one another, and fall in love. Oh, but plot twist: they both grew up thousands of miles apart and came together through a series of moves in pursuit of chased dreams. That’s the genesis of the love story of James and Helen Alliston, who run a busy and successful coaching and competition program out of the West Coast and live a pretty charmed life doing what they love by one another’s side. Dive into their story here.

The loss of Blair Castle International, which will run for the last time this year, was a major blow to the eventing world. Since the announcement last week,  emotions have been high and there’s been a whirlwind of response, and much of this was discussed at the British Eventing Scotland AGM. Horse & Hound reports on the discussion, which includes underrepresentation of Scottish riders, lack of upper-level fixtures, and the difficulties in finding a replacement venue for Blair.

Fascinating, if slightly damning, research from a number of different studies suggests that riding a horse behind the vertical in a dressage test is actually more likely to lead to better marks. Riding behind the vertical, of course, has been proven to dramatically hinder a horse’s airflow and comfort, but analysis of a plethora of tests across the last few decades shows that the trend is on the rise – and the marks being given are helping, not hindering, this. Read more about what the studies found here.

Morning Viewing:

Jump back in with Donut’s progress en route to tackling the Badminton Grassroots Championship:

 

 

Sunday Video Break: Journey to the Top with Yasmin Ingham

By on Mar 24, 2024 5:00 pm -

And so we come to the close of another week, the advent of another, and, to our minds at least, the perfect moment for a pause, a breather, and a little bit of inspiration to set the tone for all the things you’ll accomplish in the days to come. Today, that inspiration comes from World Champion Yasmin Ingham, who’s the subject of the first episode of LeMieux’s new Journey to the Top series. Find out how this young talent made her stratospheric climb and the incredible community around her, and get ready to cheer her on at a certain big event soon!

“I Was Amazing”: Goodbye to British Eventer Caroline March

By on Mar 24, 2024 4:06 pm -


TW: this story contains references to assisted suicide.

It’s with heavy hearts that we share the news of Caroline March’s passing yesterday, March 23rd, just over a month after her 31st birthday.

Caroline was well-known and loved throughout the British eventing community for her big personality and fiery streak, and a zest for the things that she loved that saw her accomplish much in her three decades. She was a professional event rider, competing through four-star, and after a career-ending injury at Burnham Market in 2022, she fought to find new ways to chase joy and purpose. Caroline oversaw the production of young horses from her yard when she could no longer produce them herself and, in the typical spirit of someone who throws themselves into anything they pick up, she began photographing eventers, too, swiftly developing her skills to a professional level.

But no matter how many talents a person has, they are  much more than what they do, and Caroline’s passing — a dignified end to her life that she was able to choose for herself — will be mourned by a wide array people who were fortunate to count themselves among her friends and family.

Caroline penned a farewell letter, which has been embedded below and which tells her story far better than any news piece could. Fair warning that there are — obviously — some tough topics touched upon, and some colourful language. We mean that descriptor in the best possible way. Here’s to you, Caroline — you stayed wholly true to yourself until the end. We’ll always raise a glass to that.

All of us at Team EN send our most heartfelt condolences to Caroline’s family and friends.

While Caroline’s decision represents a freedom of choice that we believe all people should have, we do understand and appreciate that this story may be triggering for some readers in vulnerable positions. If you’re in need of help and support, please reach out to Samaritans or Riders Minds for round-the-clock care and a listening ear.

Sunday Links from SRF Carolina International

By on Mar 24, 2024 12:01 am -

When you’re just a horse-crazy kid, who happens to be the trainers daughter, and your birthday happens to coincide with the first schooling event of the season, obviously you have to make a big deal of it all. Shout out to Kacie Preysz who made a viral-worthy eventing-themed cake for my barn group in honor of young Brooklynn’s birthday, which was almost too cool to eat. It’s even a West coast track-based course, appropriate for our Utah venue, complete with flagged water complex, coop, rock wall, and brush box. Setting the standard here everyone — if you can’t eat the course, is it even worth it?

Happy birthday to my favorite Pony Squad member Brooklyn Taylor — unfortunately, the little horse and rider aren’t edible.

U.S. Weekend Action

Full Gallop Farm March II H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

March Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (Reddick, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (Tyler, TX)[Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

European Events

Outdoor Horst (Kronenberg, Netherlands) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Schedule] [Scoring] [Live Stream]

Other Events

Road to the Horse (Lexington, Kentucky) March 21-24 [Website] [Schedule] [Competition Format] [Live Stream]

Links to Start Your Sunday:

Studies reveal dressage judges have been rewarding behind-the-vertical head carriage

A Young Professional’s Perspective on Equestrian Canada’s Coach Status Program

Booli Selmayr And Urania Are Back On Track With Carolina International Win

A New Chapter: Equine Network Launches Foundation

Time for a Re-read: The USEA Eventing Handbook by the Levels, Your Ultimate Resource

Sponsor Corner: Couldn’t get to Carolina International this year? Relive the action with this wrap-up article… and mark your calendar for next year!

Morning Viewing: Learn some cool tips to practice your flying changes with Yasmin Ingham! Apparently, I don’t actually have to look where I’m going after all.

Bayou Gulch Horse Trials Brings Eventing Back to the Colorado Horse Park

By on Mar 23, 2024 4:14 pm -

Five years ago, Area IX rallied  together to fill their Eventing calendar when the Colorado Horse Park cancelled their horse trials. However, after years without one of the area’s significant facilities, the horse trials at the Colorado Horse Park are back up and running with the new Bayou Gulch Horse Trials, thanks to the new ownership of Singletree Equestrian LLC.

After a few years after the last event at the Colorado Horse Park, Bayou Gulch Horse Trials is bringing eventing back! Photo from the Bayou Gulch Horse Trials Facebook page.

The Area IX community has rallied once again in making massive efforts to reorganize and prepare for their first horse trial back this season, during an original date on the Colorado Horse Park schedule of August 3 and 4th, 2024, which Spring Gulch had filled in the Horse Park’s absence.

Heather McWilliams, registered organizer of the Bayou Gulch Horse Trials, has spearheaded a team of dedicated committee members (including Organizing Committee members Kristi Radosevich, Kristin Hardy, and Autumn Sorensen and Fundraising Committee members Britany Chism, Kayce Douglass, Carleigh Fedorka, Kristin Hardy, Heather McWilliams, and Autumn Sorensen), as well as volunteers, and community members to ensure a successful return that benefits the community as a whole. “We couldn’t do this without the support of our amazing volunteers and supporters,” Heather says. “So many people – nationwide – have memories of being at the Horse Park… so many people have given back to show their appreciation of those memories. From volunteering to revamp the cross country jumps to engaging on our Facebook page while sharing memories, the community has come together and united under having [the horse trials at the Park] back.”

Volunteers help to restore the cross country course prior to the first event back in August. Photo from the Bayou Gulch Horse Trials website.

“Footing can be a challenge out in Colorado, as it tends to be quite hard. However, the Horse Park can handle through Intermediate, which we don’t have many facilities nearby that can,” Heather says. “We plan to continue adding levels every year as we build back. We have plenty of fun terrain, interesting features, and older jumps to play with that can make these courses so exciting.”

Although Heather has only been eventing since 2011, she was addicted from the first go. “I am drawn to the partnership with the horse and the horsemanship that it takes, the perseverance to keep getting better at all of the small and large details, the tenacity it takes to keep showing up in spite of the challenges, and of course the people that Event that all encourage each other whether you know them or not, because we each know how hard it is!” Heather says. “The giving of time, treasure, and talents is an important value to my family, so being a part of this venture is just being a part of supporting the Eventing community as a whole.”

The eventing community has come together to make this a successful project, and are continuing to work to develop the vision further. Photo from the Bayou Gulch Horse Trials website.

“The plan for this season is to see these Starter – Modified courses sprinkled throughout Bayou Gulch. And I hope to see so many people thrilled to be there, making a thing of it to be there, and just enjoying and celebrating being back this year,” Heather says.

Moving forward, the Bayou Gulch Committee plans to see a new course, and a new division added each year. In spirit to what drew her to Eventing in the first place, the hope is to nurture an event space that is community oriented — “These spaces can bring in people not directly involved in equestrian sports to see a piece of our industry. By creating a community oriented event, with jumping castles, food festivals, an opportunity to pet a horse that just came through the finish flags, and more, we can bring people in to promote this sport and our horses in a location that is booming with the development of Parker and Denver.”

While the Bayou Gulch Horse Trials committees, volunteers, and community as a whole have worked hard to create a successful event, support from the larger Eventing community will help them continue to prepare for this year, and years moving forward. The Bucks for Bayou Benefit is coming up on April 13th, and will include an online auction. Donations are being accepted for these efforts, and are tax deductible. Additionally, there are sponsorship slots still available, as presenting and title sponsors – contact the Bayou Gulch Horse Trials for more information.