Classic Eventing Nation

EN TRENDS:

Thursday News & Notes from SmartPak

By Kate Samuels on Nov 3, 2016 12:03 am -

The right way to clip. Photo by Rachel McDonough.

The right way to clip. Photo via Rachel McDonough.

Clipping season is upon us, and I’m all about it. I clip like a machine, and I’ve got 8 horses to clip this week alone alongside my regular work! Some people really can’t stand clipping, and others, like me, just plug in an audiobook and go at it. I actually enjoy the process, because it’s like an adult coloring book. You make the lines and then color inside and don’t miss any spots, easy! And then you go home and aggressively shower because every orifice is filled with hair of all colors. But otherwise its’ great! Different strokes for different folks, they say.

In other news, the final CCI4* of the year is this weekend in Australia! Dressage will steam live tonight on FEI TV at 11 p.m. EST.

Adelaide Links: Website, Entries, FEI TV

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Rocking Horse Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Full Gallop Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Willow Draw Charity H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Galway Downs CCI & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

News From Around the Globe:

The 2016 USEA Annual Meeting and Convention is right around the corner! This year’s Convention will be held in Fort Lauderdale, Fl. December 7-11 at the Diplomat Resort and Spa. Convention is a celebration of the sport, where eventing enthusiasts from across the country gather to discuss, learn and have a great time with other eventers. This year boasts countless educational seminars and forums such as a discussion of the 2017 4* test with Marilyn Payne, discussions on increasing helmet safety internationally, a seminar on managing equine degenerative joint disease and more. You can see the full schedule HERE.

What becomes of horse girl when she is horseless? COTH staff writer Molly Sorge is exploring this new territory, as she unexpectedly finds herself without a horse after crafting a life around them. When marriage, work, motherhood and horses combine, and a few unfortunate incidences with a hot OTTB with a bone chip, sometimes the horse side of life loses out temporarily. [Amateurs Like Us]

Read it Again: 5 Ways to Participate in No Stirrup November Without Creating Sore Back December

How do humans know if they are creating happiness for their horses? Kirrilly Thompson, a cultural anthropologist with the Appleton Institute for Behavioural Science at Central Queensland University, discussed equine welfare with delegates at the First International Conference on Human Behaviour Change for Animal Welfare held recently in England. She raised the issue of people assigning human-like characteristics to animals, known as anthropomorphism, and how this could affect horse welfare in both positive and negative ways. What sorts of things do we do with our horses to make them happy, and how do we know that it is working? [Being Cruel or Being Kind?]

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Save of the Week

By Jenni Autry on Nov 2, 2016 4:20 pm -

Here’s your Save of the Week, EN! Tom Kimmel and his Thoroughbred Vital Eight were having a cracking go around the Training Three-Day course at Hagyard Midsouth until they stumbled up a bank and nearly parted ways over the jump that followed.

But Tom pulled a Karen O’Connor and crawled back into the saddle on sheer will. What a good horse! Three cheers for Tom and Vital Eight for going on to finish the course clear and inside the time! Go Eventing.

The horse that matters to you matters to us®.

You can count on Kentucky Performance Products to provide affordable, high-quality, research-proven products that carry a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Not sure which horse supplement best meets your horse’s needs? We are here to help. Contact us at 859-873-2974 or visit our website at KPPusa.com.

Interested in e-facts about equine nutrition and horse health information? Click here to sign up for KPP’s nutritional minute: http://eepurl.com/cMPw.

5 Ways to Participate In No-Stirrup November Without Creating Sore-Back December

By Kristen Kovatch on Nov 2, 2016 2:00 pm -

Photo by Kristen Kovatch

No-Stirrup November is upon us! This month is an opportunity to strengthen yourself in the saddle, deepen your connection with your horse and achieve what you might have thought impossible. But that doesn’t mean that you need to go totally cold turkey, yank the stirrups off your saddle and attempt to continue on like nothing has changed — that can be a recipe for disaster both for yourself and your horse.

This year, we’ve put together a guide to help you conquer No-Stirrup November in a way that’s safe for both horse and rider.

1. Start small — yes, it still counts!

“No-Stirrup November” doesn’t have to be taken literally. Especially if you don’t often do a lot of no-stirrup work in your regular program, suddenly removing the stirrups from your saddle and locking them away for a month has the potential to lead to some scary situations for you and a lot of bouncing on your horse’s back.

Instead, take a look at your current riding program and decide where you can start working in some no-stirrup work. Once you and your horse are warmed up, perhaps you can drop your stirrups and work on your sitting trot for a few minutes, gradually building up each day to bigger goals.

If you were jumping 3-foot grids with stirrups, perhaps you might scale back to cavaletti until you’re strong and comfortable without your stirrups. If you ride a young or green horse, you might pick your battles on when it’s a good time to go stirrup-free (if at all!)

You won’t be “cheating” — just setting yourself up for success to improve over the course of the month. Even cooling down after your ride without stirrups can be a stepping-stone to bigger things.

2. Set realistic goals.

Building off the first theme of starting small, assess your current level of riding and set a realistic goal for the end of November. If you’ve never ridden without stirrups before, your goal might be to sit the trot for a full lap of the arena. If you already train without stirrups frequently, your goal might be to jump an entire course or practice a dressage test without your stirrups.

Having a workable goal to attain by the end of the month will help you develop a plan for November: If you want to be able to canter a course without your stirrups, you can outline steps that will help you get there. Without a specific end destination in mind, you might otherwise spend a lot of November aimlessly wandering around the ring without your stirrups wondering if you’re getting any stronger.

3. Work with a trainer or instructor.

If you’re not sure if you’re ready to drop those stirrups, seek the advice of a trusted trainer or riding instructor, especially if you typically ride on your own. He or she can help you with no-stirrups exercises and drills to help you get stronger so you’re not just bouncing along on your own.

If you ride a green horse or a horse otherwise unsuitable for extensive no-stirrup work, you may also benefit from taking a no-stirrups lesson on an instructor’s horse better suited to the task.

4. Take care of yourself between rides.

Most equestrians know that simply riding isn’t typically enough to build the optimum level of fitness to become a competitive athlete; the best riders also train in the gym as well as in the arena. That said, if you’re already cross-training, you may need to scale back your activities in the gym to counter soreness from riding without stirrups if you’re not accustomed to the activity. Make sure you are supporting yourself with good nutrition this month, as well as stretching before and after your rides.

If you had a particularly intense ride or lesson the day before, it’s definitely OK to scale back a bit the next day until you’ve recovered. There’s nothing worse than trying to hold on to the horse with exhausted legs when you feel yourself losing your balance.

If you come into each no-stirrup ride stronger, stretched and balanced, your horse will also have an easier time performing with you.

5. Listen to your horse.

If you notice that your horse is getting grumpy to saddle, reactive while grooming or otherwise shows signs of discomfort or pain, stop and listen to what he’s trying to tell you. Perhaps going without stirrups for a whole month is not in his best interests for the sake of his back or his soundness. There’s no need to sacrifice the health of your horse to join in No-Stirrup November, but if you pay attention to his feedback and plan your program accordingly, there’s no telling how this month might take you.

No-Stirrup November can be one of the best months of the year to improve your riding. Use the guidelines above to customize a program that works best for you and your horse and you’ll be amazed at how much you’ve improved.

Be sure to tag your #NoStirrupNovember posts on social media. We’ll be sharing a social media roundup each week during the month. Go Eventing!

This Unicorn’s Sales Ad Is Currently Winning the Internet

By Jenni Autry on Nov 2, 2016 12:00 pm -

Newsflash: This sales ad for Sparkles the Unicorn is the best thing on the internet right now.

It all started when Charlie Campbell posted this sales ad on Facebook:

Eventers are generally proficient in de-coding sales ads, but of course we had a few questions.

Does he clip, load and tie?

Full set of X-rays?

What about a trade?

Is he eligible for a name change?

What about video?

Clearly eventers have the best sense of humor and Charlie can write one hell of a sales ad, though he arguably left Sparkles’ biggest selling point out of the original ad:

Go Sparkles. Go Eventing.

William Fox-Pitt Leaves Lasting Impression on West Coast Eventers

By Sally Spickard on Nov 2, 2016 9:30 am -

William Fox-Pitt chats up one of his clinic groups at Dragonfire Farm. Photo via Dragonfire Farm.

William Fox-Pitt brought the heat to the West Coast this weekend in a two-part clinic presented by Scott Hayes Productions, in partnership with Dragonfire Farm and Copper Meadows Eventing. Beginning up north at Earl and Jennifer McFall’s Dragonfire Farm in Wilton, California, and ending down south at the Hoffos family’s Copper Meadows in Ramona, William imparted his wealth of knowledge to eager eventers ranging from rising amateurs and young riders to seasoned professionals.

If William was jet-lagged from his whirlwind trip from the UK, he didn’t show it, bringing the same energy and enthusiasm to each day of the clinic. Teaching groups ranging from Training up through Advanced, William placed an emphasis on the importance of mastering the fundamentals of horsemanship and how to cultivate a relationship with your horse.

My favorite quote from the clinic: “It’s not about being good; it’s about being nice to your horse.” William echoed this philosophy throughout each lesson. He wanted riders to work on establishing and maintaining “confident contact” from the beginning, encouraging the horse to accept the bit and reach for the contact.

Cara Julian and Wunder Schon. Photo by Danielle Emerick.

Each day, riders were instructed to go through a normal warm-up while being careful not to ask for too much. Treating each lesson as if it were a warm-up for a competition, William advised riders to do their homework at home.

“You shouldn’t have to work on complicated things in the warm-up,” William explained. “Some people will set up angles and bounces, but if you’re working on those things in warm-up, it’s too late. The purpose of the warm-up is for the horse to be forward and into the contact and to know what’s coming next.”

William added that his horses usually jumped just a handful of fences in each warm-up phase, and only the type of fence they were about to tackle, i.e. only cross country fences for cross country warm-up, rather than show jump fences in addition. The reason for this, he explained, was because he wanted his horses to know the routine and to clearly see what was expected of them. Setting clear expectations and boundaries is helpful when you need your horse to step up to the plate and perform to the best of his ability.

William did an excellent job working through some difficulties with fresh or green horses, always quietly encouraging the riders to exercise patience. He was never impatient when a rider had an issue, rather he simply asked them to take their time and wait for their horse to settle before continuing on. The idea of encouraging horses to enjoy their jobs was prevalent throughout everything William had to say; simply put, the sport is just not as enjoyable with a horse who is sour or hates the job.

Maralee Paul and Shock Top. Photo by Danielle Emerick.

On the flip side, however, William said that it is the rider’s responsibility to ensure you hold up your end of the bargain. He used an example of Chilli Morning when he brought the stallion to compete at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event a few years ago. He reminisced that the horse felt exceptionally quiet and willing on cross country that year.

“He was jumping bigger and bolder than ever, and I’m sitting up there thinking, ‘I’m about to win a nice three-day this weekend,’ and then it was over,” he recalled. “If I had woken up and paid attention, I would have noticed that he wasn’t into my rein and there wasn’t that connection that I needed.” He uses this example to remind riders that constant vigilance is necessary on even the best of days, lest you make a costly error.

At the end of the clinic, riders were left with an important reminder to always be mindful of what your horse needs in order to be successful. Establishing a good rhythm early on, maintaining straightness, and focusing on accuracy are all fundamentals of the sport, and William has built a very successful career by honing in on these basics.

There were many improvements to be seen on the second day of the clinic, and each rider left with a smile and perhaps a selfie or two!) and a few more tools to use in the future.

Hawley Bennett-Awad and High Duty. Photo by Danielle Emerick.

We’d like to thank Scott Hayes Productions, Hawley Bennett-Awad, the Hoffos family, the McFall family and the countless others who made this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity possible. A lot of preparation and planning went into an event of this magnitude, and it truly went off without a hitch. I think we’re all feeling just a little bit closer to those big goals after such an educational weekend.

And, it wouldn’t be a complete trip without trying something new!

Wednesday News & Notes from Attwood Equestrian Surfaces

By Maggie Deatrick on Nov 2, 2016 12:01 am -

Ashley Emersen Stanka embraces the Halloween spirit at Holly Hill. Photo by Ann McKnight Switalski.

The above costume is particularly timely as we finally reach the last week of the 2016 presidential election. No matter what candidate you choose to vote for, it’s our civic duty as Americans to partake in the election process, so make sure that if you are registered, you vote! I always say, if you don’t vote, you can’t complain about the result, so vote if only to be able to voice your opinions for the next four years! And the biggest plus of ending the election? No more political ads in the mail, on the television, plastered on social media. Instead we’ll be inundated with Christmas season.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Rocking Horse Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Full Gallop Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Willow Draw Charity H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Galway Downs CCI & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Your Wednesday News & Notes:

If you haven’t been able to catch Valegro in person, Olympia is your last chance. Horse and Hound is sponsoring a contest to give away two tickets to Olympia on December 13th and 14th to see Valegro’s retirement, along with various other perks. There is no cost to enter, but you must do so by November 6th. Travel costs are not included, but if you’re based in Britain or perhaps willing to cross the pond, this contest is for you. [Win Tickets to Valegro’s Retirement]

Volunteer extraordinaire Donald Trotter goes big with everything he does. After working for United Nations, Donald got into breeding after his wife introduced him to performance horses, breeding the Sunsprite horses often found competing on the West Coast. In 2009, he took his first stint volunteering as Ring Steward and now can be found traveling up and down the West Coast managing warm-up rings. [US EA Volunteer of the Month]

SmartPak Product of the Day: This Rambo quarter sheet is hands down one of my favorites to use in the fall and winter after the horses have a clip. Stretchy, sturdy, an cozy, this sheet moved with the horse without sliding around. Traditionally offered in a striking striped pattern, it now comes in a solid navy color if stripes aren’t your bag. [SmartPak]

Wednesday Video: Why do top professionals choose footing from Attwood Equestrian Surfaces? David O’Connor explains:

Tuesday Video from SpectraVET: Cathy Wieschhoff & Thoroughbred Makeover Eventing Winner Speed Rail

By Leslie Wylie on Nov 1, 2016 4:30 pm -

Red on right, white on left, champion OTTBs in the middle! Screenshot via RNS Video Media.

Cathy Wieschhoff and Speed Rail (Purge x Five O’Clock by Saratoga Six) topped the 75-horse eventing division at the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover on Saturday. We read all about their win in Lorraine’s recap here; now let’s see this pair in action!

Here they are competing just a couple weeks before at the Hagyard Midsouth Three-Day Event & Team Challenge H.T., also held at the Kentucky Horse Park. They placed third in the Beginner Novice A division, finishing on their dressage score of 34.0.

Look for Cathy and Speed Rail at River Glen H.T. in a couple weeks, where they will be competing in the Novice division before “Speedy” embarks upon his next journey with new owner Jessica Bollinger.

Go OTTBs. Go Eventing!

Why SpectraVET?

Reliable. Effective. Affordable.

SpectraVET is committed to providing only the highest-quality products and services to our customers, and to educating the world in the science and art of laser therapy.

We design and manufacture the broadest range of clinically-proven veterinary therapeutic laser products, which are represented and supported worldwide by our network of specialist distributors and authorized service centers.

An Open Letter From a Young Rider to Adult Amateurs

By Emma Knight on Nov 1, 2016 1:30 pm -

Emma's father, Mark Knight, teaching her and their shared horse Beau. Photo courtesy of Emma Knight.

To the adult amateur riders in our equestrian community:

I think as a young rider (I’m 18), I often forget to thank the older, wiser riders in my life. So many people have inspired me and given me the confidence to get to where I am now. Of course, there are trainers and coaches and barn moms and friends (maybe they’ll get their own articles someday!). They all play a part. Yet I think the most underrated influences are the adult riders who inspire me on a daily basis.

As someone who has just started college, I’m thinking more and more about the role horses will have in my life. I love riding, caring for, and just being around my equine counterparts. But the logical and reasoning part of my brain has a different opinion.

There’s a reason the saying goes, “To earn a million dollars in the equestrian world, you have to start with two!” As a (shockingly) non-millionaire, this is something that is important to think about. I have to find a career that I love that can allow me to at least hope for the continuation of my love of the equine community.

My barn at home is full of adult amateur riders, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! The friends my age that I have made are awesome for being silly and having fun, but the adults who are always there add that extra spark to the barn that makes it such a great place.

Not only do we have the best manager and coaches, the adults, both boarders and lesson riders, are always willing to give some advice or help out when needed. I know I’ve had my fair share of problems and rough days, and there are some people that are always there for me. And when was the last time I thanked them? I mean, really thanked them.

The people that continually inspire me, time after time, are the people that make it work. These are the people who don’t ride professionally, who don’t have two million bucks to spend; these are the extra shift takers, who deal with that extra stress to afford the lessons they need or that piece of tack that just make all the difference; these are the people who get up on Saturday morning to muck stalls to help with board; these are the people who would rather pay for the vet bill than fix their cars; these are the people work every bit as hard as the professional rider with half the recognition; these are the people that will take in that rescue horse because they can’t bear to let it suffer anymore, even when it means funds might be stretched tight for a while; these are the people that volunteer for early show mornings to help out with anything they can, as much as they can.

These are the people that take chances. These are the people who will risk it all for love of their sport.

So, to you, these people, the adult amateur riders of the equestrian world, I thank you. Thank you for working hard. Thank you for making it work. Thank you for giving me the hope I need to continue reaching for my goals. Without you, our community would miss out on a whole lot of great people, fine horses, and a ridiculous amount of hope. I think I can speak for the whole community when I say that we are so blessed and grateful to have you.

About Emma: I’ve been riding for six years, plan to start my college’s first equestrian club, and share a lovable but fiery OTTB named Beau with my dad, Mark. We plan to take Beau to his first eventing competitions next summer!

Weekly OTTB Wishlist from Cosequin

By Leslie Wylie on Nov 1, 2016 11:00 am -

Massive congrats to not only the winners but all the participants in the 2016 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover, which just wrapped up at the Kentucky Horse Park. And many thanks to the organizers and sponsors who make this wonderful program possible.

Check out full results from the Makeover here.

Congratulations to all of the RRP Thoroughbred Makeover divisional winners:

Barrel Racing: Deborah Keiser with …

Posted by Retired Racehorse Project on Sunday, October 30, 2016

The real winners, of course, are the horses, who are officially well on their way to happy, healthy and product post-racing careers. And there are many more waiting in the wings where they came from, ripe for the picking. Here are three available OTTBs we would love to see in an eventing startbox someday!

Photo via Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center.

Some horses, like Bow Tie Boss, a 2012 16.1-hand gelding, don’t need chrome to turn heads! “Bowie” (Candy Ride (ARG) – Sweet Thoughts, by A.P. Indy) in his sleek monochrome coat, has it all and then some.

He’s athletic (having placed in 10 out of 14 starts and garnered $100,330), moves with loft and grace, is studious, willing, kind and competitive, and it all shows when he goes to work. He is pleasing to look at, pleasing to ride, pleasing to be around. He is capable of doing many things, and will try in such a way that he will not only turn heads, he will blow minds with his work ethic and magnanimity.

This kind of horse is a dream to own, but hard to find in reality. You will see, if you are the lucky one to adopt him!

View Bow Tie Boss on Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center.

Photo via New Vocations.

There is just something about Hidden Warrior‘s eyes that draws you in and makes it seem like he can look right through you. As this 2009 16.1-hand gelding (A.P. Warrior – Road to Mandalay, by Sea of Secrets) stares at you, you realize he is a quick study of people. He also misses a thing, always watching out over his stall gate and often giving his opinion about the activity in the barn.

He is very intelligent, so he is happiest if you can keep him busy and his mind occupied. Part of that includes turnout time to play with his buddy which he looks forward to every day. When working under saddle he likes working outside and he does best when told what you want him to do and then leave him alone to do his job. He is a very proud horse and should be suitable for any discipline.

He is a pleasure to ride with easy gaits and a class horse with a sharp personality. He is also very motivated by treats as evident in his second video! Warrior has no vices, but he will not handle being tied or crosstied. He will panic and pull back until he is free, so his trainers just tack him up loose in his stall and he is perfectly fine with that method.

View Hidden Warrior on New Vocations.

A denizen of 29 starts, his last race on April 20, 2016, Grand Coolee (Souvenir Copy – Accounts Squared, by Storm Bird) is ready for a new start in life.

With his acute mind and inherent athleticism, this 16-hand 2009 gelding might take well to the sport of eventing. But he moves with the grace of a dancer, so dressage could be in his future too.

He is both analytical and economical, in that he can size up people and questions they ask of him thoroughly yet quickly, and if he decides it is worth his while to respond he will put out just enough effort and no more to get the job done. These can traits can be very useful: a smart horse that conserves energy can go a long way. If you can earn this horse’s respect, he will be a formidable competition horse. And his interesting horsenality will keep you thinking and laughing all the way!

View Grand Coolee on Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center.

2017 Rolex Tickets Go on Sale Today!

By Leslie Wylie on Nov 1, 2016 9:00 am -

Michael Jung and fischerRocana FST. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Sure, we still have a few months of pesky winter to suffer through, but in our hearts it’s already springtime in Kentucky and the birds are singing and the four-star horses are galloping past.

Tickets for the 2017 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event officially go on sale today, Nov. 1, 2016, at 9 a.m. EST. For eventers who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, nine out of 10 doctors surveyed recommend purchasing Rolex tickets in advance to hang on your fridge or display in another prominent place in your home to keep the cold-weather blahs away.

Order online at www.RK3DE.org/tickets or call (859) 254-8123. Event dates are April 27-30, 2017, at the Kentucky Horse Park. Be sure also to reserve a tailgating spot for cross country and show jumping — last year, they went fast!

Ticket packages are available for both individuals and groups as well as single and multi-day options. Children 12 years and under get in free with adult ticket purchase. Hospitality packages are also available. Early bird pricing will be available from today through Dec. 8, so get them now before the prices go up!