Classic Eventing Nation

Blair Castle to Sign off as Host of International Horse Trials After 35 years

By on Mar 20, 2024 9:15 am -

Photo courtesy of Blair Castle International Horse Trials.

The Blair Castle International Horse Trials will take place at Blair Castle for the last time in 2024.

The event has been hosted at Blair for 35 years and will go ahead this year as planned in a farewell celebration. Alec Lochore, Event Director, Blair International Horse Trials, said: “This event became a phenomenal international success and has had unstinting support from the Blair Castle team.

“Of course, it is the end of an era for everyone involved – sponsors, competitors, volunteers, spectators and many more – and we are determined to sign off with a tremendous celebration at this year’s event in August.

“At this stage it is too early to say what the future holds. There are a significant number of equestrian bodies involved and discussions to explore options will have to take place. The equestrian community is extremely grateful to the Blair Castle team for its outstanding commitment over so many years.”

Chuffy Clarke and Second Supreme in Event Rider Masters competition at Blair Castle (2018). Photo by Ben Clark.

The farmland on which the trials are held is increasing its involvement in regenerative agriculture and in future the land will require to be managed all year round in a way that is in accordance with its environmental aims.

Bertie Troughton, Resident Trustee of Blair Castle, said: “It has been a great pleasure and privilege being at the centre of Scottish equestrianism for so many years. We are bowing out after this year with huge gratitude to everyone who made the event so special. We are looking forward to hosting a fantastic event later this year which will be a fitting tribute to hosting the event for 35 years.”

All arrangements for entries and competitors for the Defender Blair Castle International Horse Trials 2024 between August 22 and 25 are unchanged. Full details are available on the horse trials website: www.blairhorsetrials.co.uk

Wednesday News & Notes from Ocala Horse Properties

By on Mar 20, 2024 8:00 am -

In just five weeks time, eventing eyes will be firmly locked onto Lexington as the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event kicks off. Before that though, Kentucky Horse Park will host an altogether different kind of competition – Road to the Horse – which begins tomorrow (Thursday). This elite colt starting contest champions unity and trust between horse and handler, and competitors are judged on the effectiveness of their horsemanship methodology. First up on the agenda is the Wild Card Challenge, the winner of which will join the World Championship Competition, which starts on Friday.

What’s most exciting is that one of our very own will be cowboying up with the best in the world. A man of very many talents – including having been a full-time Modern Pentathlon athlete, two-time winner and judge at the Thoroughbred Makeover, and currently an instructor, author, horse trainer and three-day eventer – Tik Maynard will represent Canada in this year’s RTTH. He’s so good that’s he’s already won the first challenge: hauling two kiddos more than 11 hours by car, and was named winner of the best RTTH road trip video for his efforts – click here to watch. Those colts will be no trouble after that.

EN’s Veronica Green-Gott caught up with Tik as he prepared for his foray into the Western world – here’s what he had to say.

You can cheer Tik on – and watch all the action from Road to the Horse – for free via Pluto TV in the US; international viewers can watch on Western Horseman. For more info on the live streams, click here.

Make sure you’re following @roadtothehorse, @copperline_equestrian and @tikmaynardcompany as we get ready to witness horsemanship on another level.

Chaps on and go eventing!

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

International Holiday: Today is International Day of Happiness which I’m pretty sure means it’s totally legal to take the day off work and spend it in your happy place with your horse.

U.S. Weekend Preview

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

Wednesday News and Reading

You may not be be on the entry list for Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, but you can still be in it to win it with this awesome VIP Insiders Package Sweepstake. Here’s how to make your trip to the Best Weekend All Year a VIP one. Simply fill out this form to be in with a shot at winning four VIP Hospitality Passes, a VIP course walk, a tailgate space plus six general admission tickets for cross country day, and a whole bunch of cool swag from Defender and USEF. Good luck!

Have an up-and-coming equestrian brand and looking for a step up? The Plaid Horse have put a call-out for submissions from businesses, disciplines and horse people from the US and Canada for their 2024 Brand Competition. With a grand prize worth over $50,000 in advertising – plus ten Champion prizes and ten Reserve Champion prizes – this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss.

The results are in from the 2023 National Equine Economic Impact Study – and it’s good news. Described by the president of the American Horse Council as “the most effective tool in our advocacy quiver”, the results of the survey confirm the significant impact the horse industry has on the economy, both through the diversity of sectors positively impacted and the substantial employment areas created by the industry. The numbers prove that the equine industry is an important contributor on a number of levels.

Britain’s Gemma Stevens is not only a top eventer, but she’s pretty handy in the show jumping ring too. Lucky for us, then, that she’s shared these three training exercises which focus on your riding in order to help your horse develop a good rhythm whilst jumping.

Some salient thoughts from a hunter, jumper and equitation coach and judge about the move away from thoroughbreds to warmbloods. Dana Hart Callanan considers whether the change in type has been good or bad for the sport from her three wheelhouses: as trainer, judge and mom. She discusses talent and brain over breeding, how you really learn to ride when you’re sitting on a thoroughbred, caring about the whole picture – and not caring if it’s a zebra if it jumps great and is soft and relaxed – and picking the best option for her kids to learn on.

And finally, a horse sculpture has won out and will be displayed atop the fourth plinth of London Trafalgar Square. The home of a rolling program of temporary artworks, the fourth plinth was originally intended to have an equestrian theme, however the planned statue was never installed due to lack of funds. The winning sculpture, a green resin horse and rider – titled ‘Untitled’ – will go on show in 2028 and is said to “hover at the edge of visibility … Is it yet to be uncovered? Or is it an already canceled public monument – a ghost of history, a parody of itself?”. That’s some deep horsing around, that’s for sure.

Sponsor Corner

He’s done it again! Owned by Ocala Horse Properties and Deborah Palmer, Miks Master C has pulled off his fourth lifetime CCI4* win at the Carolina International 4*-S. Read all about it here.

Video Break

If you just can’t wait to see what Road to the Horse is all about, get your fix now with the final of last year’s event.

Amelia Newcomb’s 5 Tips for Nailing Your Dressage Test

By on Mar 19, 2024 2:30 pm -

Getting ready to head to a show soon? In this video, I have five tips to help you get a new personal best dressage score at your next event! I know, I know, jumping is way more fun…but the dressage portion of the event is just as important as your show jumping and cross-country phases. Oftentimes, the judges will determine the winner of the whole event by the rider’s dressage score. Plus, practicing your flatwork and dressage principles will help you do better in your other jumping events as well.

Though I am mainly a dressage rider, I do have students who are eventers, and so I have compiled these top five tips specifically based on the common themes that I observe. Here are my top five tips to help you improve your eventing dressage scores:

Steady Tempo

One common thing that I see eventers doing is rushing through their tests and riding over tempo or with an inconsistent tempo. However, rushing your horse can cause them to be tense, inconsistent in the contact, and run on the forehand. In your test, remember that you can relax and take your time. Practice counting your horse’s stride. Breathe, relax, and go for a steady and consistent tempo as you ride through your test.

Ride Accurately

Riding letter to letter is super important. Judges like to see that you have correct geometry and are riding accurately throughout your test, as this indicates that your horse is on your aids. Remember to use your corners, and ride each figure letter to letter.

Practice Your Walk

Most of the time, the walk is a coefficient in your dressage test, which means that your score in the walk will count for double points. Practicing your walk and getting a nice, relaxed, and active walk can really help improve your test scores. Plus, practicing your walk is a great way to give your horse a break, and help them relax. Focus on getting a consistent rhythm, with your horse over-striding and stretching down into the contact.

Centerlines and Halts

Your centerline and halt in your test is your first and last impression to the judge. Therefore, it is a great thing to practice! It is super common for horses to get tense and nervous during this movement because they feel restrained, so I recommend first getting your trot-walk transitions down, and then practicing a few walk-halt transitions. Try practicing your walk-halt transitions along the rail first, and really focus on getting your horse to halt through your seat; this will help them halt square and round.

Breathe, Smile, and Have Fun!

Something that I think we all can forget when we are at a show is to just breathe, smile, and have fun with our horses. At the end of the day, we love our horses and we went to the show to have fun and enjoy them! Don’t forget to pet them, reward them, and say “Good job!”!

I hope that these five tips help you at your next show. You can also use the video above, where I go into more detail and demonstrate each tip. Let me know in the comments below what your favorite tip was! A big thank you to Eventing Nation for collaborating with me to help make this video possible.

Happy Riding!
Amelia

P.S. Want more help with your canter? Check out my FREE Canter PDF mini-course to help! Download the course here.

Amelia Newcomb is a USDF Gold medalist, a member of the prestigious USEF Dressage Development Program, and recipient of the Carol Lavell Prize from the Dressage Foundation. Based in Somis, California, she incorporates complete dressage training from starting the young horse through the FEI levels.

Amelia works to develop a trusting and confident relationship between horse and rider. Her approach incorporates all aspects of horsemanship from basic groundwork to advanced dressage movements. The emphasis is always on the foundation with the basic trust, understanding, and relaxation for both horse and rider to create a harmonious partnership.

Amelia’s mantra has always been “Dressage for All,” which is evident in both her in person and online coaching. With a successful YouTube video library of hundreds of free educational videos, over 135,000 subscribers (and counting!), and thousands of students enrolled in her online USDF accredited courses, it is clear that Amelia has a passion for teaching and dressage! “I have been blessed with many great teachers in my career and I hope to help each and every one of my students develop a connection and solid relationship with their horses.”

Learn more about Amelia on her website or discover her free educational videos on her YouTube channel “Amelia Newcomb Dressage.”

Read more tips from Amelia on EN here.

Double the Fun for the Spirit Award Contests at the 2024 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships

By on Mar 19, 2024 12:30 pm -

The 2023 Spirit Award Champions at the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship: University of Kentucky. USEA/Shelby Allen photo

The coveted Spirit Award, which originated from the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship and quickly became as important as the competition itself, will be returning this year with double the excitement at the 2024 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships! With the two program championships merging for the first time, the organizing team at Stable View is committed to making the weekend an unforgettable experience for these middle school, high school, and undergraduate students.

Separate Spirit Contests will be offered for each program, and Stable View has generously donated perpetual trophies for the two contest champions. The 2024 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Championships will be held at the Stable View Local Charities H.T. on May 4-5, 2024 in Aiken, South Carolina. Click here to learn more and prepare to enter on opening day tomorrow, Tuesday, March 19!

As per tradition, the Spirit Award contests will be assessed by Affiliate, meaning each college or university in the Intercollegiate Eventing Program, or each club in the IEL program, will be competing as one, rather than each Championship team of 3-4 riders being assessed alone. For example, all of the members of the University of Kentucky team won the Spirit Award at the 2023 Championship.

For each program, Stable View will determine 1st through 3rd place winners based on the cumulative results of the following spirit activities and attributes: Barn Decorations, Hobby Horse Contest, Mechanical Bull Riding Contest, Pavilion Window Decorations, and Overall Spirit, Sportsmanship, and Camaraderie.

Photo by Shelby Allen.

Barn Decorating Contest

The barn decorating contest has traditionally been a staple of the Intercollegiate Eventing Championships, and it gives the teams a chance to flex their creativity while promoting their group to the rest of the competitors.

Whether it be life-size cutouts of each horse’s head gracing the outside of their stalls, fast facts on each horse and rider combo scattered through the barn, streamers and balloons in the team’s signature colors, or more, the barn decorating contest is an opportunity to scream “team pride” to everyone on-site. Competitors have until Saturday, May 4 at 2:00 p.m. ET to perfect their decorations before the judges take their walk-through. The winners will be announced at Saturday evening’s Graze and Gaze party.

Hobby Horse Contest

A fun twist on last year’s Bouncy Horse Championship, Stable View will be hosting a Hobby Horse jumping contest on Saturday evening during the Graze and Gaze party. Each school or club will elect one member to represent them in the official competition, and scores will be determined by time and their ability to complete the correct course while keeping the poles up. Once each group’s representative has laid down their round, anyone else interested in participating can take their turn around their course.

Mechanical Bull Riding Contest

In addition to the Hobby Horse Contest, there will also be a Mechanical Bull Riding competition. Again, each school or club will elect one member to represent them in the official contest. Do you have someone on your team who is known for being notoriously “sticky” in the tack? Elect them to represent your group! The results will be determined in order of longest ride times. Once the team representatives have competed, anyone will be welcome to try their hand at the bull!

Pavilion Window Decorating Contest

Finally, in addition to the barn decorating, each affiliate will get a section of the window upstairs in Stable View’s Pavilion, which overlooks the main arena, to decorate with their colors and mascots. All window decorating must be completed by Sunday, May 5 at 10:00 a.m. EST for the judges to make their assessments by midday. The winners of this competition will be announced just before the final Spirit Award Champions are crowned at the Awards Ceremony at the end of the competition.

Auburn University. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Overall Spirit, Sportsmanship, and Camaraderie

How does your team interact with fellow competitors from different schools or clubs? How do you treat the volunteers on-site helping with the Championships? How would you react if an opposing competitor asked for help? All of these concepts come into play in the assessment of groups’ overall spirit, sportsmanship, and camaraderie at the event. The way competitors act towards each other and their opponents, as well as to the organizers, officials, volunteers, and staff, will be heavily considered in the final placings, as kindness and good-hearted competition are at the heart of the true spirit of the Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Eventing Championships!

In the end, the scores from all four activities and the assessment of each group’s overall spirit, sportsmanship, and camaraderie will be tallied up to determine the Spirit Award Champions for each program. Each Spirit Champion will be the first recipient of the new perpetual trophies and will receive Stable View saddle pads for every member of their team during the Awards Ceremony at the end of the competition.

For the Intercollegiate Spirit Award, past winners from 2016 to present will already be recognized on the cup, while this year’s champion in the IEL Spirit Contest will be the first to add their names to said trophy. Reserve champions of the contest will receive stable view hats, and third-place winners will receive Stable View mugs.

University of Kentucky. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Entries for the Championships open Tuesday, March 19, and will close on Tuesday, April 16. The USEA anticipates significant interest in participating in the Championships and entries are limited to a maximum of 400 competitors, so early entry is highly recommended to ensure your spot. All Collegiate Teams and IEL Affiliates are welcome and encouraged to enter to compete at the 2024 Championships.

There are no qualifications necessary to enter, but teams represented must be registered Affiliates of the USEA. Don’t forget to submit your Collegiate Team Applications or IEL Application Form, along with your official rosters, to Jennifer Hardwick, USEA Senior Director of Membership Services, at [email protected] as soon as possible to ensure your members are eligible to compete.

Tentative team rosters for the Championships are due no later than the closing date on April 16, and definite team rosters must be provided by 12:00 p.m. EST on Monday, April 29. For the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship, please submit your team rosters to Leslie Threlkeld, Chair of the Intercollegiate Eventing Committee, at [email protected]. For the USEA Interscholastic Eventing League Championship, please submit your team rosters to Chris Donovan, IEL Task Force member, at [email protected]. Alumni Cup rosters are due to Emma Young, Stable View Team Member, at [email protected], by April 16.

Please be sure to include your stabling requests with your entry. Separate stabling blocks will be allotted for each program, and each affiliate will receive one complimentary tack stall upon entry. Alumni can request to be stabled with fellow Alumni Cup participants in close proximity to the College Town stabling, but they will not be able to be included in stabling with the Intercollegiate Eventing Championship participants.

If you plan to compete in the 2024 Intercollegiate and IEL Championships, don’t forget to sign up to join the Stable View WhatsApp group for the Championships. Click here or scan the QR code to the right to join the group. The team at Stable View will post regular updates and share news related to the championships in this group chat, so members will be first to know about all the exciting updates as the event takes shape.

Any questions regarding the Intercollegiate Eventing Program or Interscholastic Eventing League and the upcoming 2024 Championships can be directed to USEA Staff Liaison, Kaleigh Collett, at [email protected].

About the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Program

The USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Program was established in 2014 to provide a framework within which eventing teams and individual competitors could flourish at universities and colleges across the country. The USEA offers a discount of $25 on annual USEA memberships for current students at universities and colleges registered as Affiliates with the USEA. Many events across the country offer Intercollegiate Team Challenges where collegiate eventers can compete individually or on teams with their fellow students. In Intercollegiate Team Challenges, each rider’s score is multiplied by a coefficient appropriate for their level to account for differences in level difficulty, and then the individual scores are added together to determine the team score. The USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship is a capstone event for the program, which is held annually in the spring. The 2024 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship will be held at Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina, on May 4-5. Click here to learn more about the Intercollegiate Eventing Program.

The USEA would like to thank Bates Saddles, Horse & Country, Kerrits, U.S. Equestrian, WeRideTogether, and World Equestrian Brands for sponsoring the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Program.

About the USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL)

In August 2020, the USEA Board of Governors approved the creation of the USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) as an official program of the USEA. The mission of IEL is to unite junior riders who are in the 5th—12th grades and provide a supportive community through which students can continue to pursue their riding interests. A group of junior members in the 5th—12th grade who share a common bond, such as the same barn, school, Pony Club, or other connection, can register with the USEA as an IEL Affiliate. The USEA Board of Governors recently approved an inaugural IEL Championship to kick off in 2024 at Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina, which will be held in conjunction with the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championships on May 4-5, 2024. Click here to learn more about the Interscholastic Eventing League.

The USEA would like to thank Kerrits and Horse & Country for sponsoring the USEA Interscholastic Eventing League.

Happening Today: Conversations with Team Canada – How I Got Here

By on Mar 19, 2024 9:30 am -

EC’s Eventing High Performance Advisory Group is thrilled to extend the invitation for the fourth ‘Conversations with Team Canada’ webinar. Join us for a unique inside perspective as four of our Canadian eventing athletes share their personal athlete journey to high performance. This promises to be an inspiring and insightful session for all enthusiasts of our sport!

Conversations with Team Canada – How I Got Here
Date: March 19, 2024 (Tuesday)
Time: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM EST

Highlights:
• Personal narrative from High Performance athletes.
• Insights into their training and preparation.
• Q&A session for you to engage directly with the athletes.

This webinar series is in support of the team’s “Pathway to Paris” campaign, where we delve into the world of Canadian Eventing High Performance. Be part of this exciting journey and witness the dedication, skill, and camaraderie that define Team Canada. Guests include Dana Cooke, Jamie Kellock, Selena O’Hanlon, and Waylon Roberts.

We look forward to having you join us for what promises to be an empowering evening of passion, dedication, and inspiration.

Save your spot now by registering and secure your exclusive access to this incredible conversation with our high performance athletes.

Registration is available here.

Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products

By on Mar 19, 2024 9:09 am -

It’s always fun to see a new horsey podcast hit the airwaves, and even better when we get the chance to hear one made by a professional rider — because those fly-on-the-wall chats are so interesting to sit in on. British-based Italian eventer Dan Bizzarro is the latest name to hit podcastland, and I enjoyed tuning in for his chat with the incredible Ros Canter. Check out all the episodes of Our Equestrian Life here.

Events Opening Today: Waredaca H.T., Texas Rose Horse Park H.T., Stable View Local Charities H.T.

Events Closing Today: CDCTA Spring H.T., Pine Hill Spring H.T., Rocking Horse Spring H.T., Stable View Spring 2/3/4* and H.T.

Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:

The best part of the Interscholastic and Intercollegiate Championships is back: the Spirit Awards! Entries for the 2024 championships, which will be held May 4-5 in Aiken, open today — and USEA has shared all the details about the brilliant and bonkers Spirit competitions here. Sign me up for that mechanical bull competition.

Today in personal essays: the invaluable importance of a good boarding barn. Writer Jamie Sindell has a barn at home, but even despite the financial challenges it presents, she opts to board her teenage daughter’s horse at a busy hunter-jumper facility. Why? Well, the all-in environment is a great way for her kiddo to learn social skills and teamwork, as she explains in this piece for COTH.

Over on our sister site, Horse Nation, they’re mad keen on a good myth busting session. And you know what? Good for them! There’s an awful lot of misinformation out there that somehow gets cemented into ‘fact’ through repetition. Anyway, this week, they’re looking into EHV and whether you can actually vaccinate against the rare neurological form. Here’s what they uncovered.

Sponsor Corner: To maintain his horses’ digestive tracts, International Grand Prix Rider Jaime Irwin feeds Neigh-Lox® Advanced. This blend of ingredients, including probiotics, prebiotics, and yeast, works to maintain long-term gut health for the horses we love.

Watch This:

We’re all systems go for the 2024 Paris Olympics — but before the countdown really gets underway, take a look back at the sport 40 years ago at the 1984 Games in this, the first part of an eight-part series.

French Forge Ahead at FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Season Opener

By on Mar 18, 2024 12:00 pm -

Team Podium, la France, Maxime LIVIO, Mathieu CHOMBART, Luc CHATEAU, Benjamin MASSIE (FRA), FEI Nations CUP™ Montelibretti Italy 2024

Slick, quick cross-country performances gave France the winning edge in the opening leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™, which took place in the beautiful Italian setting of Montelibretti this week. Five nations came forward but it was France who took a decisive victory over Italy, Switzerland, Spain and Australia. They finished on an overall team score of 122.70 ahead of home nation Italy on 144.50 whilst Team Switzerland wound up in close third on a score of 145.30.

Benjamin Massie led his team to victory with the impressive French-bred gelding, Figaro Fonroy. He finished in first place overall in this CCIO4*-S competition on a score of 39.40 but only narrowly beat his teammate Maxime Livio into second who had a score of 39.60. Livio was riding his seasoned campaigner Vegas des Boursons, another French-bred gelding who was the fastest horse around the cross-country course and the only one to finish without time penalties in this phase.

Benjamin Massie (FRA) and Figaro Fonroy, FEI Nations Cup™ Montelibretti Italy 2024. Copyright ©FEI/Massimo Argenziano

This is no doubt testament to a strong and long-standing partnership with his talented rider who is ranked 8th in the FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings and also trains the Thailand Eventing team. Livio and Massie were ably assisted by Luc Chateau who was the only French athlete to jump a double clear with horse Ego Des Cabanes and Mathieu Chombert with Big Boss Melo.

Massie was delighted with his young horse and summed up the cross-country phase “I think we all agree that the course was tough enough for the beginning of the season. It was not so twisty and quite fast. The ground was really nice but technically speaking it was tough for the first of the season.”

Chateau was in agreement that the team behind Montelibretti had struck the perfect balance. “I think Montelibretti is a good place for competition. We have a good cross-country on beautiful grass and the weather was very good all week- it was perfect.”

Maxime Livio (FRA) Vegas des Boursons, FEI Nations Cup™ Montelibretti Italy 2024. Copyright ©FEI/Massimo Argenziano

36 year-old Livio has this year’s Paris Olympics firmly in his plan this season and was full of praise for the Nations Cup Series both for the teams and as an individual.

The rookie of the team was Chombert who picked an unlucky 20 penalties on the early part of the course but then set the record straight with one of the few clear in the final Jumping phase. “For me and my horse, it was the first Nations Cup. I was the novice of the team but my horse had a good weekend. Normally, I can be better on the cross-country, but today he was really fresh and confident in the Jumping. I am really happy. Normally I can do better but the other guys on the team were really strong and it was a great result.”

Emiliano Portale (ITA) and Scuderia 1918 Future, FEI Nations Cup™ Montelibretti Italy 2024. Copyright ©FEI/Massimo Argenziano

The Italian quartet delighted their home crowd and received the biggest cheer of the day with their overall runner-up spot. With all four athletes jumping clear cross-country rounds, the nation is showing depth and strength at this level. Italy received the very last Olympic team qualification from their consistency in the FEI Eventing Nations CupTM Series last year and they will have a number of combinations to choose from.

The second leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ moves to Chatsworth (GBR) , which runs from 17 to 19 May 2024.

Full results can be found here. You can also view the live stream replays on the FEI’s YouTube channel here or in the videos embedded below.

Dressage Day 1:

Dressage Day 2:

Cross Country:

Show Jumping:

Weekend Winners: Ram Tap, Ocala, Pine Top, & Carolina

By on Mar 18, 2024 9:45 am -

We had some of Team EN enjoying the action in person at Carolina, and it certainly was an exciting weekend, with plenty of horse and rider duos coming out strong – especially the ladies this weekend! If you’d like to catch up on all of the action from Carolina this past weekend, take a peek at EN’s coverage here.

However, Carolina wasn’t the only event running this weekend, and we definitely saw some strong performances and large divisions at Ram Tap, Ocala, and Pine Top as well.

We’re taking a minute to congratulate all of our Weekend Winners, and giving an extra special shout out to the winner of our Unofficial Low Score Award: Penny Goddard and Fernhill On The Rocks who dipped into the teens to finish on their dressage score of 18.6 to win the Open Novice at Carolina.

Ram Tap National H.T. (Fresno, CA) [Website][Scoring]

We’ve seen James Alliston and Alliston Equestrian’s Karma’s (Escudo II – Travita, by Lavita) names at the top of the leaderboard plenty over the last season, with a win at the Twin Rivers Fall International CCI4-S in September, and a win at The Event at Rebecca Farm’s CCI4-L in July. James and Karma have maintained their position at the top going into this season: we saw them win the Advanced at Ram Tap this weekend, their second win this year already.

“It was a fantastic event here at Ram Tap, with wonderful courses and footing,” James reflected. “Many thanks to Terry Hilst and the team at Ram Tap!”

Having opportunities to run at events that offer such great courses and footing is critical in leading up to the 5* season. James is aiming for Kentucky as Karma’s first 5* event this spring, and is excited about how she’s feeling leading into the last few weeks prior to the event.

“I’m hoping to do Kentucky with Karma,” James stated. “She’s feeling really good! In the next weeks, I’ll be working on [a bit of] everything! Hopefully the weather is dry for a few weeks here in Northern California so I can work on the fitness too.”

We’ll see James and Karma at Twin Rivers in a few weeks prior to their planned trip to Kentucky.

Advanced: James Alliston and Karma (36.8)
Open Intermediate: Leah Forquer and Oakley’s Hunt SE (40.6)
Open Preliminary: James Alliston and Renaissance Man (28.2)
Preliminary Rider: Gabriella Ringer and Get Wild (24.5)
Open Modified: Suzanne Miller and Kryptonite Z (22.8)
Open Training: Lauren Billys Shady and Clearsky (28.7)
Training Rider: Leah Yacoub Halperin and Rodrigue Du Granit (27.8)
Novice Rider: Daniela Zarate and Lexington DF (24.4)
Open Novice: Nicholas Cwick and O’Malley (21.1)
Beginner Novice Rider: Stephanie Engle and Swagger (27.7)
Open Beginner Novice: Lindsay Connors and Never Alone (26.5)
Open Introductory: Sophia Kuzma and Valentine (25.7)
Grasshopper: Savannah Clayton and Devon Ridge Artemas (29.4)

Ocala Winter II (Ocala, FL) [Website][Scoring]

Advanced/Intermediate: Morgan Houberg and Made To Order (42.7)
Intermediate Rider: Sherry Pound and Carnaby (37.0)
Open Intermediate: Jessica Phoenix and Alekhine (34.2)
Open Intermediate – One Day: Ali Kuhn and Little Hail (33.6)
Open Preliminary: Lynn Symansky and Idefix Van De Creumelhaeve (27.7)
Open Preliminary – One Day A: Holly Jacks-Smither and Candy King (27.1)
Open Preliminary – One Day B: Emily Bradford and LJS Lana Traveler (25.5)
Open Preliminary – Seven Year Old: Kelly Prather and Ballyneety Soldier (28.2)
Preliminary Horse: Ashley Kehoe and Daktaris (35.6)
Preliminary Rider A: Harper Padgett and Captivate (27.2)
Preliminary Rider B: Harper Padgett and Cooley Copresenter (30.2)
Modified – Open: Sylvia Byars and CSF Dassett Decoy (28.7)
Modified – Rider A: Jacquie Kelton and Miss Something Special (27.9)
Modified – Rider B: Jerry Barnette and Fernhill Thirty (27.9)
Open Modified – One Day: Hannah Hawkins and DHI Kickodieza (28.8)
Junior Training Rider: Abigail Bennett and SM Ravin’s Treasure (33.1)
Open Training: Liz Lund and Franklin Delano CF (24.5)
Open Training – One Day A: Mia Farley and Nikita (21.7)
Open Training – One Day B: Lynne Partridge and Milatour Parisol (29.1)
Open Training – Six Year Old: Elizabeth Swire and Jag’Fly JS (29.5)
Senior Training Rider A: Christina Frost and Grammi Dance (35.0)
Senior Training Rider B: Kathleen Fitzgerald and Global Pixie (30.7)
Training Horse: Karl Slezak and Ardeo On Point (24.3)
Junior Novice Rider: Caden Carter and My Mexico (27.2)
Novice Horse: Colleen Loach and Canada Post (23.9)
Open Novice – One Day A: Darci Burton and Global Bravado (24.7)
Open Novice – One Day B: Dani Sussman and Benevolence SV (24.7)
Open Novice – One Day C: Afton Markoski and Paper Maker (21.9)
Open Novice A: Liz Lund and Hillside Diamond Lad CF (30.3)
Open Novice B: Robin Walker and DHI Milan (24.4)
Senior Novice Rider A: Barbara Brogan and Red Dirt Racer (31.7)
Senior Novice Rider B: Ashley Allison and Sophie’s Story (26.9)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Destiny Pastermack and Liviusz (31.3)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Maggie Walston and Bila-Shak (25.9)
Beginner Novice Rider C: Sarah Alexander and Lambrusco W (22.2)
Open Beginner Novice A: Gabby Dickerson and Top Love (30.0)
Open Beginner Novice B: Abbey Heriazon and Thru The Impossible (24.1)

Pine Top Spring H.T. (Thomson, GA) [Website][Scoring]

Open Preliminary 2 Day: Meaghan Marinovich-Burdick and HSH Bitcoin (21.8)
Preliminary Rider: Sydney Shinn and HSH Crypto (29.6)
Modified – Open: Susan Thomas and Excel Star Chimichanga (26.3)
Modified – Rider: Megan Lichty and TBS Declan Pondi (32.5)
Junior Training Rider: Maya Davis and SE Neverland (40.7)
Open Training A: Gillian Beale King and Accordingly (32.5)
Open Training B: Gillian Beale King and Drumnaconnell Kobie (22.2)
Senior Training Rider: Lisa Edinger and Quinto Quest (28.3)
Junior Novice Rider: Alexandra Multz and Ardeo Illusion (33.6)
Open Novice A: Erin Thiel and Garrybritt Archie Fernhill (25.3)
Open Novice B: Erika Adams and Townsend (26.1)
Senior Novice Rider: Abby Buenting and Calvin (25.2)
Training / Novice: Anna Cummings and Fernhill Primrose (35.6)
Beginner Novice Rider: Kelly O’Brien and B.E. Never Say Never (20.9)
Open Beginner Novice: Jennifer Treacy and In a Nutshell (29.0)
Starter: Danielle Northup and Wild Mission (23.3)

Carolina International CCI & H.T. (Raeford, NC) [Website][Scoring][EN’s Coverage]

CCI 4*S: Elisabeth Halliday and Miks Master C (22.5)
CCI 3*S: Sharon White and Jaguar Duende (28.7)
CCI 2*S: Ariel Grald and Adagio’s Nobility (25.9)
CCI 1*S: Boyd Martin and Flinterro Z (29.6)
Advanced: Dana Cooke and FE Quattro (30.9)
Open Intermediate: Booli Selmayr and Urania (30.1)
Open Preliminary: Dan Kreitl and Odyssey (28.4)
Preliminary Rider: Alayna Newsome and Quality Dynamite (29.6)
Modified A: Sharon White and Arden Augustus (27.9)
Modified B: Meghan O’Donoghue and Kevin G (25.6)
Open Training A: Becky Holder and Falkor (25.5)
Open Training B: Martin Douzant and Johnny Walker (26.9)
Training Rider: Devon Champlain and Champagne Event (31.2)
Novice Rider: Meghan Fillius and Dress Blues (30.8)
Open Novice: Penny Goddard and Fernhill On The Rocks (18.6)

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Mar 18, 2024 9:03 am -

Ahh, and so it begins again. After a seriously, record-breakingly, trench-foot-inducingly wet 2023 season, I think all of us in the UK were hoping for some respite this year (and maybe the prospect of a slightly drier Badminton). Alas, it would appear, we’re having no such luck. We’re two weeks into the eventing season and we’ve already seen several outright cancellations and mid-event abandonments. Will we ever get going properly? Or will next week’s Kronenberg International, where British-based riders are heading en masse, be the first real chance we’ll get to see some eventing over here?

National Holiday: It’s National Awkward Moments Day. I don’t know who’s doing the copywriting over at National Today, but I suspect much of their output falls under the remit of today’s celebrations.

U.S. Weekend Action:

Carolina International CCI & H.T. (Raeford, NC): [Website] [Results] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Ocala Winter II (Ocala, FL): [Website] [Results]

Pine Top Spring H.T. (Thomson, GA): [Website] [Results]

Ram Tap National H.T. (Fresno, CA): [Website] [Results]

UK Weekend Results:

Lincolnshire (Grange de Lings, Lincs.): [Results]

International Events:

FEI Eventing Nations Cup Leg 1 (Montelibretti, Italy): [Website] [Results]

Your Monday Reading List from FutureTrack:

The 2024 FEI Nations Cup series officially kicked off over the weekend at Montelibretti. There, we saw the French team take a decisive victory in this early outing, with France’s Benjamin Massie also taking the individual win with Figaro Fonroy. This’ll certainly be a case of starting as they mean to go on – and while we won’t have another Nations Cup leg to judge each country’s standard by until mid-May, we’re now officially into the form-stalking part of the season. Find out more about the Olympic host nation’s victory in this round-up from the FEI.

Goodbye and goodnight to Seacookie TSF, the exceptional Trakehner with whom William Fox-Pitt recorded one of his Pau victories. Together, the pair also won Blenheim and finished second at Kentucky and Burghley before the gelding’s retirement in 2014. Since then, he’s enjoyed a happy retirement with owner Catherine Witt, and was put down, aged 25, after years spent living his best life turned out with his fellow five-star winning best buddies. Look back on his career here.

If you buy, sell, or source horses, you’ll need to understand how the law pertains to your position. Lucky for you, equine law specialist — and international eventer — Jodie Seddon is here to help. She and solicitor Hannah Bradley are putting on a comprehensive webinar on the 8th of April that’ll take you through all the nitty-gritty of what you need to know. Reserve your place here.

Sometimes, I just sit in my horse’s stable and think about how lucky I am to have her in my life. Owning horses is hard – it can be brutal on your emotions, your body, your bank account, your schedule — but there’s so much good that comes out of having these odd, opinionated, beautiful animals in our lives. USEA caught up with a cross-section of its membership to find out why they feel so lucky to have their horses, and it makes for some nice, heartwarming content to start your day.

And finally, based in or near London and looking for an entertaining, educational day out for a kiddo in your life? I love the look of this picture book reading and illustration session at the Southbank Centre on the 4th of April, featuring writer Raymond Antrobus and illustrator Ken Wilson-Max’s new book, Terrible Horses. It’s all about learning to understand the perspective and emotions of the people around you, told via the story of a bickering brother and sister and a notebook full of horse drawings. Find out more and get your tickets here.

Morning Viewing:

Catch up on all that juicy Nations Cup cross-country action from Montelibretti with the entire live-stream on replay:

 

Team Leslie Wins the 2024 USEF Futures Team Challenge at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International CCI Horse Trials

By on Mar 17, 2024 9:30 am -

Jenny Caras and Sommersby had the best finish in the 2024 USEF Futures Team Challenge. ©Allie Contrad Photography

After three days of exciting eventing competition at the 2024 USEF Futures Team Challenge, Team Leslie emerged victorious in the head-to-head competition with Team Bobby, finishing on a team total of 116.6 penalties to Team Bobby’s 132.2. The team competition was held within the CCI3*-S and CCI4*-S divisions at the Carolina International CCI at Setters’ Run Farm.

Team Bobby, led by Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor Bobby Costello, produced solid performances by Christina Henriksen and Cisco’s Calor Z, Andrew McConnon and FVF Top Gun, Caroline Pamukcu and She’s the One, and Sharon White and Claus 63.

Team Leslie took an early lead after Thursday’s dressage competition with all team members posting scores in the low 30s. The Futures Team Challenge format factors in one drop score from the dressage phase, and the first day ended with 7.9 penalties separating the teams. Both teams produced solid results across the two jumping phases, but Team Leslie ultimately came out as the wire-to-wire winners.

Caras (Buckhead, Ga.) and Sommersby, the 2012 Holsteiner gelding she co-owns with Jerry Hollis, had the standout performance of the week, earning the best dressage score across both teams and adding zero penalties in cross-country and jumping to finish on a 30.8. Henriksen (Keswick, Va.) and her own 2015 Zangersheide gelding Cisco’s Calor Z had Team Bobby’s top score and the second-best finishing score in the competition with a 37.3.

The Futures Team Challenge was created to replicate the format of international team competition to provide up-and-coming athletes the opportunity to experience that environment to prepare for potential senior teams in the future. Law says this event was a success by that measure.

“We started on Tuesday and Wednesday doing some team trainings,” said Law. “I think it’s good for them to experience that. We talked to the athletes about what they feel their preparation should be going into competition and what is the best setup to get their horses ready for a competition that involved a team. We do trot-ups those first two days in the morning. It gives the athletes that whole experience of what it is to be on a team. I think that’s the highlight—getting as many people into that space as possible.”

The team members have the opportunity to get to know each other through training and competing as well as socializing at team dinners. Law says these experiences helped the team come together successfully.

“I think [Futures Team Challenge] has good value for these younger athletes,” said Law. “I think it can evolve and we can generate ideas and do more to make it even more team-orientated. I truly believe in Europe they have so much more access to getting that experience with teams, whether it’s the European Championships or the FEI Nations Cups, that allows them to get really comfortable. We don’t have that [in North America], so anything we can do to get our athletes better prepared for when they are on an Olympic team or a World Championship team can only be for the good.”

Law had high praise for the host competition, Carolina International CCI and Horse Trials.

“They put on a great competition in all aspects,” said Law. “It’s very well done, very professionally done. The cross-country courses were superb this year, absolutely perfect going, which was so good for the horses. I think they had great courses for the horses coming on this year, so riders and horses learned a lot and hopefully this will set them up to go on and be successful in whatever three-day they’re heading towards.”

Find out more information on the USEF Futures Team Challenge here.