What things scare you only if you are with your horse? What horsey nightmares have you had?
Our friends at SmartPak asked riders those two questions and got TONS of responses, 21 of which they brought to life in this video — just in time for Halloween! Can you spot them all?
Be sure to subscribe to SmartPak’s YouTube channel for all their latest fun, hilarious, educational and/or spooky videos. Happy Halloween!
When I went to pull on the Sit Tight N Warm Pocket Fullseats for the first time, I simply did not want to take them off. The combination of the stretchy Polartec Windpro fabric and the brushed fleece interior made me feel like I was wrapped in coziness. Photo by Lorraine Peachey
It’s (finally) time to give up those flip flops and tee shirts already! Cold weather is officially on it’s way … and although there is no snow on the ground yet, it’s only a matter of time. The shorter days and cooler temperatures means that it is officially time to break out my fall and winter riding wardrobe.
Fall is a fantastic time of the year for riding. There’s not much more that I enjoy then taking long hacks out. Especially when all of the leaves are bright and brilliant hues of red, orange and yellow. They only last for a short time, so I’ll take all of hacking out that I can get, cold and windy weather and all!
This week, one lucky reader will be prepared to outfit themselves for cold weather riding when they take home a pair of Sit Tight N Warm Pocket Fullseat tights from Kerrits. We recently put the updated style of the Sit Tight N Warms to the test, and you can read all about the experience here.
The Sit Tight N Warm Pocket tights feature a durable Polartec Windpro fabric, which is both wind and water resistant. It helps block out less than ideal weather so that you can concentrate more on enjoying your time in the saddle. While the fabric is durable on the outer side, the inner side is lined with a cozy brushed fleece, even the fullseat panels!
And about those fullseat panels — they are made out of Gripstretch Suede, which is low profile and conforms to the body shape in order to provide a custom like fit. The Gripstretch provides a mid level grip by utilizing stretch under tension. Which is a fancy way of saying that it helps to give the rider a secure grip in the saddle, without restriction.
And one of my personal favorite features of the updated Sit Tight N Warm Pocket tights are … the pockets! The updated styling includes two generously sized side pockets. Which are large enough to fit my smartphone in its Otterbox case. Another noteworthy feature includes the stretch ankle panels which help provide extra stretch without bulk.
A special thanks goes out to Kerrits for providing this week’s prize! You know the drill. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter, and then check back on Friday when we announce our lucky winner. Good luck!
Disclaimer: Information given in the Rafflecopter widget, including email addresses, may be shared with the corresponding sponsor at their request. You will also be signed up for our weekly EN eNews email newsletter, if you aren’t already. Don’t worry — you’ll just wonder what you’ve been missing out on — and you can unsubscribe if you don’t want it.
Photo by superde1uxe via flickr/cc.
Happy Halloween, EN! Looking like a crazy person for a day and shoving sweets in your face as fast as humanly possible with little to no regard to your health and well being? This is definitely an eventer’s holiday. Have fun, drink responsibly on a Monday night with children in the streets and a full day of work tomorrow, and try not to give yourself founder and/or cushings.
U.S. Weekend Results
Viriginia CCI/CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]
Chattahoochee Hills H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Holly Hill Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]
News and Notes:
It’s Adelaide Week! The final four-star of the year is upon us, a bittersweet reminder that winter is also upon us. Unless you actually live in Australia or New Zealand or South America, in which case we’re all quite jealous at the moment. Olympic team bronze medalists Stuart Tinney and Shane Rose will both be in attendance in the four-star division, and ERM winner Oliver Townend is headed down under to compete in the three-star division on a borrowed horse. [Adelaide Rider List Goes Live]
This Young Feller Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity. Eight-year-old CJ Hackett considered himself extremely lucky to be the beneficiary of equine therapy in his (even) younger years, and in gratitude for their service and impact on his life, he donated all of his birthday money to the Bethlehem Pennsylvania mounted horse patrol. [Eight Year Old Donates Birthday Money to Mounted Patrol]
Congratulations to Lauren Turner and Fairway King, America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred! Lauren recently penned a beautiful goodbye note to her retiring partner Galivantor, and this past weekend started her next journey off with a bang, winning the dressage division AND the top title at the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover! The prize money will allow Lauren to keep both Galivantor and Fairway King indefinitely. Congratulations, Lauren! Cathy Wieschhoff was the winner of the eventing division aboard Speed Rail. [Thoroughbred Makeover Report]
Check out this awesome throwback picture from the USEA archives. The United States Eventing Association has been working on their photo archives, and thanks to the help of eventing man and myth Jimmy Wofford, they were able to parse out who each individual was in the photo. Can you tell before looking at the comments who each person is? [Throwback Photo from 1981, via USEA Facebook]
Monday Video:
Two thumbs up for Jenni Autry, finishing on her dressage score with OTTB Miss She Gone for 4th place in the OBN. Photo by Kate Samuels.
For a lot of eventers on the East Coast, the Virginia Horse Trials marks the end of the calendar year of competing, and the beginning of “vacation” for a lot of horses. With the Area II Championships running in addition to regular horse trials and several FEI divisions, it was the culmination of a year’s hard work for many pairs. There was lovely warm weather all weekend, beautiful views of the blue ridge mountains in the background, and action in every corner. Let’s see what happened on social media today …
Virginia Horse Trials Final Results
Kim Severson didn’t give anybody else a fighting chance, leading the CCI* on Ringfort Fighting Chance from start to finish on a 40.6 for this young horse’s first attempt at the level.
Conquer looking beautiful after dressage. Photo by Andi Lawrence.
The best thing about adult team championships?? Neck ribbons!!!
Photo courtesy of Hillary Irwin.
Buck and Andrea weren’t at VAHT but I can’t NOT include this photo of them dressing up for halloween with their adorable daughter. Buck is a lion tamer!
Photo courtesy of Andrea Leatherman Davidson.
Jennie Brannigan knows how to take a selfie with a winning student! Sydney Raabe led the Preliminary Rider division from dressage straight through on Filou.
Photo courtesy of Jennie Brannigan.
Official save of the day goes to Amy Gaynor who saved this one and made it through the finish flags with a double clear in the Novice Championship division on Studly Dudley.
Photo courtesy of Amy Gaynor.
Schramm Eventing super groom Stephanie Simpson finished 7th in her Preliminary division but got a pretty swanky neck ribbon for finishing 2nd with her adult team challenge.
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Simpson.
Doug Payne also gets an honorable mention for his halloween costume while riding in the jumpers at Tryon this weekend, he dressed up as Bill Belicheck and his horse as Tom Brady.
Photo courtesy of Jessica Payne
Local vet extraordinaire Tiffany Snell finished 8th in the Novice Championship with her own Firebee as well as 4th in the Beginner Novice with her young horse Thunder In Saratoga.
Photo courtesy of Tiffany Snell.
We’re thrilled that we’re getting our first peek of the beautiful day of cross country being enjoyed this weekend at the Virginia Horse Trials in Lexington, courtesy of Tayler Stewart and her team.
If you’ve never been to the Virginia Horse Center, this footage will make you appreciate what a singular cross country experience it is, with undulating hills and massive forest lines all throughout the course. Exactly what you’d expect of a sprawling venue nestled in the Allegheny Mountains of Virginia.
Tayler and Ideal Contini went fast and clear in their CIC2* cross country round yesterday to land themselves a spot in the top ten. Tayler and the gray Westphalian gelding have been paired up for the last two seasons with great success, including wins last year at the Ocala Horse Properties Winter II HT and the Maryland HT, both in the Preliminary division. Ideal Contini was previously the ride of Sally Cousins.
Congratulations on a great weekend Tayler, and thanks for sharing your talents with the YouTube universe!
Go Eventing.
Virginia CCI/CIC & H.T. Links: Website, Entry Status, Live Scores
Current site of Windy Wyoming HT. Photo courtesy of event organizers.
Area IX has been steadily building a portfolio of events that can rival any event in the country, and the most recent attempt to do so is The 3 Day Event at Archer. Rather than develop an entirely new event, The organizers of the Event at Archer are planning to move the current recognized event, Windy Wyoming, to a better site and build upon an existing course and reputation to make something even better.
“It began as a dream to move the Windy Wyoming cross country course from Laramie to Cheyenne where the weather is better and the season a bit longer,” Says lead organizer Allison Murphy. But the goal has since shifted and grown into developing a more mature and ambitious course for Area IX which is increasingly building in entries, events, and talent. “The Event at Archer will be a very high class, forward thinking cross country course for our area.”
While Laramie and Cheyenne are only 50 miles apart, the topography is different and there is more than a 1,000 foot elevation change between the two sites, making Cheyenne a more hospitable site for events in the future. Moreover, the proposed site is part of the larger Archer Complex, the new fairgrounds for Laramie County. This will allow the event to benefit from county funds, shared use of 100+ stalls of covered and uncovered stabling, RV hookups, and two large outdoor arenas with pristine footing, among other benefits.
The proposed site of the 3 Day Event at Archer. Photo courtesy of the organizers.
The event at Archer has recruited the services of certified course designer James Atkinson of Revisionist Equestrian to bring the event up to date and add new challenges for the riders in Area IX. Atkinson has made a splash in the western United States, designing courses for Spokane Horse Trials, Skyline Eventing, the Colorado Horse Park, and more.
While some of the fences from Windy Wyoming will be making the trek to the new site, many more will be sold to raise money for all-new obstacles. “The jumps are still in decent, usable condition, but do not quite fit with our new cross country tracks,” according to Windy Wyoming’s website. An online auction will be held in the coming weeks to those interested in purchasing a jump.
The intention is to host Intro through Training levels in 2017 and add a preliminary course in 2018. Also of great benefit to Area IX, because the course is part of a public complex, it will be much easier for barns and trainers to access the course for schooling purposes than the previous venue.
The organizers of the 3 Day Event at Archer are seeking funds to the tune of $50,000 to make their dream a reality, with the intention of hosting their first recognized event on August 26-27th, 2017.
If you’d like to donate to the cause, you can check out their GoFundMe Site. For more information, visit the Windy Wyoming website and like their brand new 3 Day Event at Archer Facebook Page.
Go Area IX, and Go Eventing!
Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Revelation. Photo by Brant Gamma.
It was pristine conditions for a day in the cross country field at the Virginia Horse Trials, and the first winners of the weekend have been named. Show Jumping continues today for the CCI2* combinations.
CIC2* Division
The Rio Olympics bronze medalist once again demonstrated his skill with horses at all levels and skill sets as Phillip Dutton produced two out of only nine double clear cross country rounds Saturday, moving his mounts up the rankings to first and second in the Virginia Horse Trials CIC2*. The Revelation Group’s Fernhill Revelation won the division after sitting in second overnight, and David Garrett’s Corazon jumped from fifth after dressage to third after show jumping and finally landing in second for the weekend.
“This is Fernhill Revelation’s first FEI competition in the U.S. since importing him from Ireland, so we are thrilled for his owners to take home the win this weekend,” Phillip said. “He already has a lot of experience at the three-star level with his previous rider Fraser Duffy, and we’re looking forward to bringing him out at that level in the spring. He has an incredible amount of talent and is definitely a horse for the future.”
Hannah Sue Burnett and Cooley Dream had been sitting in second after show jumping, adding four time penalties on cross country to an otherwise cracking round and finishing the weekend strong in third place. Boyd Martin and Kyra rode a dressage score finish all the way up the board from 11th place to fourth overall. Dressage leader Mara DePuy and Congo Brazzaville added a rail and four cross country time faults to her starting score to ultimately finish fifth.
CCI2* Division
In the two-star debut for VHT, Lindsay Kelley and Cooley Cruise Control produced a double clear cross country run to take over the lead in the division. Lindsay and the 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by the Cooley Cruise Control Syndicate were second after dressage on 51.8 but capitalized on a good day in the field to move up.
Lindsay Kelley and Cooley Cruise Control. Photo by Brant Gamma.
“It’s always been my challenge on the flat, but he put in the best test he’s ever put in before,” Lindsay said. “He was a machine. He’s figured out what cross country is and was fresh going into it and he got on course and just grew up. He was a baby for a long time and now he’s looking for the flags. It’s his first CCI2*. Early on we were always thinking about the time, but (yesterday) he ate it up. He really grew up.”
“We had to teach him to gallop,” Lindsay continued. “He’s finally learned to gallop and that has made it all the better. We’ve been competing since February and every event is a little better. This one he came ready to show what he’s got.”
Overnight leader Jessica Phoenix had a stop on cross country aboard Humble GS to fall out of the top mix. Kelly Beaver and Sempre Fino added just .4 time faults on their day to move into second place in the division. Boyd Martin and his homebred Ray Price are sitting in third.
Intermediate Championship
In the Intermediate Championship division, Sydney Solomon and Laurie Cameron’s Early Review C captured the tri-colored ribbon by leading the event start to finish, adding just 9.6 time faults to their dressage score to win the day on a 50.9. The 19-year-old is one of Phillip Dutton’s working students and has been moved along well by the apprenticeship.
“[Early Review C] is a fiery little thing. She can definitely get hot and excited easily but she really wants to do it. She’s willing and honest,” Solomon said. “Show jumping was amazing; she did not touch a rail. Sometimes we have trouble making the stride when she gets spooky [on cross country] but today she was forward and good the whole time.”
Open Intermediate
Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg claimed the Open Intermediate win by being one of only three double-clear rounds in the division, moving up from second after show jumping. Boyd also nabbed the yellow ribbon aboard Santos. Jennie Brannigan split the Martin mounts by taking second aboard Cool As Ice, adding just 3.2 time faults on cross country to their dressage score.
Keep it locked on EN for our final wrap-up from Virginia and much more! Go Eventing.
Virginia CCI/CIC & H.T. Links: Website, Entry Status, Live Scores
Cathy Wieschhoff and Speed Rail. Photo courtesy of Cathy’s Facebook Page.
Cathy Wieschhoff and Speed Rail took top honors in the eventing division of the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover Saturday, besting a huge field of 75 starters and putting on a strong finale performance in the covered arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. Elisa Wallace took reserve honors aboard Heron’s Waltz, and Cathy also claimed third aboard her second mount, Title Contender.
The move indoors with a more powerful PA system, music, banners, lights, and a big supportive crowd proved to be a whole new challenge for competitors in many of the disciplines Saturday morning, and it soon became a battle of which proven and elegant mount could handle the atmosphere and still demonstrate their qualities.
Speed Rail was the final of the three horses to compete in the eventing portion, and the six-year-old gelding stayed composed and businesslike throughout the final test. ‘Speedy’ handled the flatwork, stadium jumps and a handful of cross country fences like a veteran, and for his quality and steadiness was awarded top prize and a $5,000 check.
Bred in Indiana (Purge x Five O’Clock by Saratoga Six), Speedy was last raced a little more than a year ago and was a stakes-placed contender in his region. He had 17 starts and three wins in his previous career, and can now add a W in a new sport to his list of accomplishments. According to Cathy, Speed Rail will be competing in the novice division at River Glen Horse Trials in two weeks and then be headed to his new owner, Jessica Bollinger.
Cathy also claimed the third place title on her mount Title Contender. ‘Sheldon’ is a Pulpit baby (out of Winter Garden by Roy) who once sold at the Keeneland auction for $310,000 and made back that money and more in his racing career, offically raking in $343,153. He had 27 starts, 7 wins, and multiple Graded Stakes race wins. Sheldon is also for sale!
Elisa and ‘Henri’ put in a strong final performance to cap off a great weekend for the pair, and Elisa seemed pleased that he mostly kept it together in the big environment.
“He was a little amped up for the show jumping,” Elisa said on her Facebook page. “But he did everything I asked, well, except for the halting!” But she clearly couldn’t have been prouder. Henri is a 2010 gelding who had 32 starts on the track, earning just shy of $60,000 in his career.
All three horses in the eventing final were also cross-entered in the Freestyle class, showing off their superior manners and sensitivity, as none of the three wore bridles in their performances.
Cathy and Speedy were also invited back as winners of their discipline to take a shot at title of America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred, where they made a strong showing against extremely tough competition.
The Most Wanted title was awarded to Fairway King, trained and ridden by Lauren Turner. The pair made it to the finals by way of winning the dressage division, but coincidentally, Lauren is also an eventer. She recently retired her longtime mount after completing their first one-star together, and Fairway King was meant to be a short-term project, Lauren told Thoroughbred Daily News. “The money we just won means that I get to keep him,” she said, her eyes brimming over with tears.
According to spectators, Lauren won them over with his massive, relaxed free walk and his audacious, no-holds-barred finishing gallops.
Congratulations to all the competitors, and keep it locked in EN for more stories from the Thoroughbred Makeover!
2016 Thoroughbred Makeover Results/Scores – All Discplines, Schedule, EN Coverage
Correction: A previous version of this article described Speed Rail as a mare. We have corrected the language to reflect that Speedy is in fact a gelding.
Erin Kurdelmeyer: “Little Miss Muffet and her spider.” Via Horse Nation
Whether you’re showing, thoroughbreding, or utterly neglecting your barn time to attend a highly questionable Halloween party this weekend, we hope you’re having a darn good time. The EN Chinchillas are on remote assignment helping the team at our sister site Horse Nation choose the finalists for the fifth annual HN Costume Contest, and word on the street is that competition is stiff. Y’all are willing to do some pretty bizarre things to your horses in the name of Halloween glory, and I’m completely okay with that.
U.S. Weekend Action:
Viriginia CCI/CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]
Chattahoochee Hills H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Holly Hill Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]
Sunday Spook Links:
Send in the Clowns: Laura Kraut Wins WIHS Costume Class, Andy Kocher Wins Role in Your Nightmares
An Olympic look to newly refurbished course for New Zealand National Championships
Just in time for Halloween: Horse Hoof Shoes Send Internet Into Frenzy
Utah Woman’s Halloween Horse Lights Up Facebook
Londoners Can Catch ‘Unicab’ To Work Through Friday
Sunday Video:
That time the EN team took a group photo in real life and DIDN’T INVITE ME. Photo courtesy of Leslie Threlkeld.
The Virgina Horse Trials is well underway, having started earlier this week and continuing through the weekend. It’s a huge event, with everything from Beginner Novice all the way through CCI2*, as well as hosting the Area II Championships alongside the regular horse trials. Eventing Nation crew is in full effect, with Leslie T working for the organizing committee, and Jenni and Wylie competing. I’m there in a coaching/photo stalking capacity, and word on the street is that an elusive “John” type person can be spotted lurking around in unlikely areas. Ten points for Gryffindor if you can get a selfie with him before the weekend is over!
Virginia CCI/CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]
Marilyn Payne was a dressage judge at the Olympics but this weekend she’s just another competitor in the Beginner Novice…and also volunteered as a dressage steward at VAHT. Very cool, Marilyn!
Photo by Jennie Brannigan.
Nobody recognized Jenni this weekend because she was dressed as a competitor for Halloween weekend. A great double clear in show jumping moved them up to fourth place in the OBN.
Photo by Kate Samuels.
Halloween weekend with a competition is always entertaining, and I’m desperately hoping that they’ll be some festive costumes to be found tomorrow (even though it’s a day early). Hannah Sue’s dog Jackson has his costume all worked out.
Photo by Hannah Sue.
Speaking of costumes…even some of the vendors have gotten into the spirit…
Photo by Kate Samuels.
Boyd Martin named his horse after Kate Chadderton’s. They’re both riding mares named Contessa in the CCI*. Do you think they could do a pairs class in the event?
Photo courtesy of Kate Chadderton.
Arianna Freeman is riding In A Trance in the CCI* B Division, which makes this his 13th FEI start at the ripe young age of 18. They’re in 5th place after cross country!
Photo courtesy of Skyeler Icke Voss.
Anybody who has ever grazed a horse at the Virginia Horse Center knows this struggle…
Photo by Kelsey Briggs.
