Classic Eventing Nation

One-Eyed Horse Wins Area IV Training Championships + More from Roebke’s Run

By on Jul 13, 2016 1:00 pm -
Hannah Gurske and Buenos Dias. Photo by Pat Schmidt. Hannah Gurske and Buenos Dias. Photo by Pat Schmidt.

Don’t tell Hannah Gurske of Louisberg, Kansas that eventing with a one-eyed horse is a handicap. She outscored a large field of competitors in the Area IV Training Championships at Roebke’s Run with Buenos Dias to win on their dressage score of 28.4.

The 13-year-old Percheron/Thoroughbred mare affectionately known as “Dia” lost an eye to an infection about two and a half years ago, but it hasn’t stopped her from pursuing a career in eventing.

“I very much enjoy this event, so I like coming back here; I like bigger events. I’ve been competing for four years and only two years with Dia. I don’t necessarily look at my placement every time; I mostly look at my score,” Hannah said.

“I did western before this, and I wanted a little bit of a faster pace, so I took a break from that. I found Julie Wolfert’s barn and I started riding with her mom and then I transferred over to her.”

Julie has brought as many as 10 of her 30-plus students to Roebke’s Run and has regularly competed at the venue since 2013. She said she like Roebke’s Run because everything is done very professionally; she loves the stalls and that the event runs on time.

Hannah’s introduction to Roebke’s Run began in 2014, when as a Beginner Novice and student of Wolfert, she and Dia took home a blue ribbon.

“I definitely look forward to cross country, which is my best phase. Stadium is my weakest, but I enjoy dressage,” Hannah said. “I normally try to compete in seven horse trials per year, hopefully eight this year. It depends on where my trainer goes. I’m shooting to move up to Preliminary soon. My longterm goal is to move up to Young Riders.”

Leah Lang-Gluscic and Fernhill Lux Cool. Photo by Pat Schmidt.

Leah Lang-Gluscic and Fernhill Lux Cool. Photo by Pat Schmidt.

AP Prime Competes in First Event Since Rolex

Leah Lang-Gluscic of Freeport, Illinois came to Roebke’s Run Horse Trials a few years ago and has returned for every one since.

“It’s one of the best horse trials in the area, if not the country; they go above and beyond and continue to do so every show. As long as they keep doing that, I’ll keep coming back,” Leah said.

She brought two horses to Roebke’s Run for the July horse trials: AP Prime, her a 11-year-old Thoroughbred that completed Rolex in April, and Fernhill Lux Cool, an 8-year-old Hanoverian owned by her client Lucy Griffiths.

Leah won the Open Preliminary division with AP Prime on 50.8 in his first competition back since Rolex. Roebke’s Run is a stepping stone along the way to their major goal of competing at Burghley in the fall.

“I had not ridden the Prelim (at Roebke’s Run) until this weekend. I walked it with students before. There were a few questions that I was curious how they would actually feel.  Everything just rode great from AP who has done everything; he had a great time out there. I thought for the level it was very appropriate,” she said.

“This event is the Schweiss’ home. The way that they opened it up to all of us — to go from June to July with back-to-back horse trials — is so much work and so much goes into it. They just keep giving back to the sport. An event of this caliber is such a gift to this area. We are just very, very fortunate. It can’t be said enough times.”

Madigan Murphy

Madigan Murphy and Willdebrandt. Photo by Pat Schmidt.

Madigan Murphy Balances Chemistry & Competing

Madigan Murphy and her horse Willdebrandt finished the first day of Roebke’s Run Horse Trials in first place in the Area IV Preliminary Championships and held onto that lead with two clear jumping rounds to win on 28.7.

Willdebrandt, a 12-year-old bay Trakehner gelding, will move up to Intermediate in the fall if all goes according to plan. Madigan, who lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, follows a rigorous fitness program six days a week to keep herself and “Willard” at the top of their game. It’s a schedule that leaves her little time for leisure.

“I have a full time job as a chemist at Valspar, so it’s tough to do both. I noticed they actually use Valspar paint to coat the jumps here,” added Madigan.

“Something that really started me taking off in eventing was the Area IV JDRP (Junior Development Rider Program), a program that is still running. I did it the first year they had it,” said Murphy.

She, like many other riders, prefers competing in cross country, which she says she is best at. But looking at her finishing score in dressage, which was 10 points below the next competitor, it would be safe to say she excels in that as well.

“I compete in eight to 10 horse trials a year, most of them out-of-state. I go as far as Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan and Iowa. There aren’t a lot of horse trials around here, just Roebke’s Run. Since they started this course, they have continued to make it a lot better. It’s a safer, more straightforward, fun course.”

As for future plans, she said she’d like to get a younger horse and work him up the levels after Willard retires.

Camie Stockhausen. Photo by Pat Schmidt.

Camie Stockhausen and Best Etiquette. Photo by Pat Schmidt.

Camie Stockhausen Sticks to OTTBs

Camie Stockhausen of Cambridge, Iowa, has spent more than 30 years perfecting her eventing skills. She and her 17-year-old off-track Thoroughbred gelding Best Etiquette competed in the Open Training division at Roebke’s Run, winning on 33.8.

She and her horses stay in excellent condition year round by competing in horse trials in the summer and foxhunting in the winter. She has other young horses she is bringing up the levels that she will also soon compete in recognized and unrecognized events.

“These are off-track horses. I like to bring along horses that have retired at the track and give them a new job,” Camie said. “Getting horses ready for a show is a day-in, day-out process to always have them ready. It’s a real test of your training program if you can pull a horse out and have him go and perform well.”

Currently she has three competition horses and three other young horses, all off the track.

“I like bringing up the young horses, getting them up to Novice or so and then giving them new life with the next rider,” Camie said. “I like riding at the Preliminary level; I probably won’t go up to Intermediate. I just like training the horses and giving them a good life.”

Camie said she was introduced to the sport years ago while boarding at an eventing barn. She grew up at open shows, rode western and did competitive trail riding, just about every sport other than eventing.

“When I started eventing, it was kind of easy because all of those other skills translated to this,” Camie said. “You need to have them all to compete in three different phases.

Camie and her horses compete in about eight horse trials a year, mostly in the region. She’ll also go to the American Eventing Championships at Tryon, North Carolina, where she has competed five times.

Stockhausen has nothing but praise for Roebke’s Run, its owners and what it offers riders of all ages and levels.

“I loved the cross country course; the flow of it is real nice. That there were options at Training was really fun; I thought there were some good challenges. I thought the trakehner was a pretty good question for Training level. The coffin rode pretty well, but it was hard, she said.”

“I just want to say we love coming up to Roebke’s because the whole Schweiss family is great and involved: Mike, Julie, Brook, Autumn and Lark. I’m even getting to know the volunteers; they treat them so well here. And the competitor’s dinner is not to be missed. Thanks to the Schweisses; it’s amazing what they do!”

Phillip Dutton: ‘Never Try to Put Yourself on a Pedestal’

By on Jul 13, 2016 11:00 am -

In Horseware‘s latest installment of “Making A Champion,” the camera crew goes behind the scenes with U.S. Eventing Olympic Team rider Phillip Dutton at his True Prospect Farm in Pennsylvania.

In this video, Phillip shares insight on the importance of surrounding yourself with a good team, taking your time with horses and always being willing to keep learning.

“Never try to put yourself on a pedestal or think you’re better than you really are, because there’s so much to learn,” he says.

Phillip also tells us what qualities he looks for in an event horse and reveals the one that changed his life.

Go Eventing.

Weird But True Olympic History: Insanity in the Middle at the 1936 Berlin Games

By on Jul 13, 2016 9:00 am -

Olympic eventing has shape-shifted quite dramatically over the years, with early editions being nearly unrecognizable side-by-side with the modern sport. As we approach the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, and with so much discussion taking place about where to take the sport in the future, we’re taking a look back at its evolution over the past century. Click here to read previous editions.

1936 Olympic three-day team and individual gold medalist Captain Stubbendorf (GER) clears the difficult fascine ditch on Nurmi. Photo: IOC

Between scary viruses, contaminated water, corrupt cops, shady politics, unfinished construction and various assorted logistical nightmares, there’s plenty of trepidation surrounding the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

As a journalist who was literally evacuated from the equestrian venue during the test event last year — because a major drug lord had been killed and there was concern about retaliatory gang violence in the streets, no big deal — and then was kept up all night by the sound of gunfire and mysterious explosions in the distance, I GET IT.

But believe me when I tell you that when it comes to eventing, whatever happens in Rio will have nothing on what went down at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. Here’s a synopsis of the competition, as gathered from the official IOC report.

Things started off innocently enough. After dressage had a stint as the sport’s final phase in 1912, then was scrapped altogether in 1920, by 1936 dressage was back and occupying its modern position as the first phase of the eventing competition. Beginning with the first movement, “Enter at the gallop,” and featuring 13 minutes worth of various paces and figures such as the “zigzag,” the dressage at this Olympic Games went off without a hitch.

Captain Lippert (Germany) on Fasan. Photo: IOC

The real trouble began during the cross country competition, a five-phase test that spanned 36 kilometers (22 miles) with a time limit of just over two hours.

The course, which took two years to construct, contained many “new and unusual kinds of jumps,” including steep ravines, massive barriers, vast ditches and … fence #4, the WORLD’S FIRST OFFICIAL WATER JUMP.

Nobody saw this thing coming.

Many riders, not knowing how to approach such a jump, ran at it full-tilt, clearing the hurdle only to succumb to the drag of 3-foot deep water and treacherously boggy footing on the other side. According to the event report, of 46 horses who jumped into the pond, there were 18 horse falls and 10 rider falls.

Here’s a video of competitors negotiating the pond with varying degrees of success:

I can’t decide whose save is more amazing: the Italian’s …

water6

… or the Norwegian’s.

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But for sure my favorite moment is when the soggy rider marches off in disgust when his horse decides, post-fall, to seize the moment for a water break.

water5

Later the fairness of the obstacle was called into question. Some claimed the competition was rigged, that the Germans had known such a jump would be on the course and thus claimed an advantage.

Home-team advantage speculation wasn’t limited to three-day eventing, as the Germans claimed all individual and team medals in straight show jumping and dressage as well.

The officials rebutted, “In Olympic tests, above all, horses and riders should prove that they can overcome any difficulty.” They pointed out that “several other obstacles had much more influence in determining the final results or causing the elimination of horses,” citing the obstacle immediately after the pond, a ditch where 10 horses were eliminated, as an example.

(Later that year, however, the FEI ruled “to bar jumps over hurdles into ponds in international three-day-events because these obstacles might cause too many accidents” — a decision that, of course, has since been reversed.)

At the end of the day, 27 out of 50 entries completed the course.

Out of all this chaos, a few narratives of glory emerged. One of them was the story of Jenny Camp, the great American event mare ridden by Col. Earl F. “Tommy” Thomson, who posted relatively few jumping faults (40 on cross country and 10 in show jumping) to bring home the individual silver medal.

The event report spared few words for non-German competitors but had this to say of Jenny Camp: “It was a delight to watch this eager yet careful horse work. Her rider, the American, Captain Thomson, is the prototype of a splendid military rider, with a brave heart and clear judgment.”

Captain Thomson (USA) and Jenny Camp take the 35th obstacle of the cross-country competition. Photo: IOC

But my personal favorite story of the Berlin Olympics is that of Kurfürst, ridden by Lt. Freiherr von Wangenheim of Germany.

After sitting 46th following dressage (the IOC report reads, “For reasons which could not be exactly determined, Kurfürst became somewhat confused during the dressage test with the result that some of his figures were failures”), horse and rider set off for cross country.

Like so many before, Kurfürst fell at the pond. Although the horse waded into the middle and for several moments refused to be caught, Wangenheim eventually remounted and, despite a broken collarbone, finished the course without interruption.

Lt. Freiherr von Wangenheim of Germany broke his collarbone at the pond, then fell again in show jumping, but completed the event to help Germany win team gold. Photo: IOC

Unfazed by the previous day’s disaster, and with Wangenheim’s arm immobilized in a sling, the pair prepared to tackle the final jumping test. The goal: to finish the course so that the German group would remain complete and eligible for a medal.

Things were going well … until the in-and-out. Kurfürst, who was said to be “fresher and more enterprising than ever,” made a rush for the second fence. His rider hauled back on the reins, causing Kurfürst to rear and fall over backwards against the jump, momentarily pinning Wangenheim beneath him.

No one recounts the drama of what happened next better that the IOC report itself:

“The rider quickly crawled out from under the horse. Kurfürst, however, lay as if he were dead. There was breathless silence in the stadium. Then Kurfürst leapt to his feet as if he had awakened. His rider mounted him without help. From this point to the end he made no further faults. Despite Kurfürst’s 310 penalty points on the cross country stretch, the German riders had also won the team competition. No pen can describe the impression made when over one hundred thousand enthusiastic human beings give vent to their delight.”

All of which is to say, even before there was red on right and white on left, there was always insanity in the middle.

Stay tuned for our next edition of Weird But True Olympic Eventing History. Go Eventing.

Wednesday News and Notes from Laser Sheen

By on Jul 13, 2016 12:01 am -
Kurt Martin and DeLux Z in full stride. Photo courtesy of Ellyn Willis. Kurt Martin and DeLux Z in full stride. Photo courtesy of Ellyn Willis.

With half the event world out spectating (or competing) at Great Meadow last weekend, my feed is full of absolutely stunning amateur photography. One of my favorites was taken by my lovely former roommate, with whom I shared a flat right in the town of Middleburg. It was basically like living in Disney World guys, but for eventers. In any case, Great Meadow is only a fifteen minute jaunt from ‘the Burg’, so the venue was teeming with familiar faces come Sunday. I’d have trekked down but I’m allergic to heat so I opted for my air-conditioned couch!

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Genesee Valley Hunt H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Live Scores]

Riga Meadow H.T. [Website]

The Maryland at Loch Moy H.T. & CIC [Website] [Entry Status]

Champagne Run H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Aspen Ridge H.T. [Website]

Coconino Summer II H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Let’s get to know team horse Loughan Glen. The winner of the Great Meadow CIC3* and team member for the Rio Olympics, Loughan Glen knows he is the king in his stables. Between demands to be fed first and expectations of being turned out right away, Glen is nevertheless fairly easy going. At least until a loud noise comes along. Then hold on tight, or you might end up trying to hold a half-ton kite. [Behind the Stall Door]

The mainstream press is beginning to get in on the action. Now that Lauren has spent more than a decade pursuing her Olympic dream and is on the cusp of finally realizing it, the press suddenly can’t stop talking about her. Lauren gets a profile from her local news station, complete with video. [Equestrian Rider Has Her Sights Set on Olympic Gold]

Canada isn’t the only country facing an appeals process. Australia apparently delayed their team announcement due to an appeal. While the details of the appeal will not be made public, it did delay the team announcement longer than expected. [Australian Eventing Team Named]

Weekly Business Tip from Mythic Landing Enterprises: While it may seem overly simple, flyers can be a great tool for horse people to utilize. Flyers are typically inexpensive to design and print, and most every horse show and tack store has a place to hang them. If you do decide to create a flyer, make sure it is in color and attractive so that it stands apart from others. And always be sure to include tear off tabs so that people can easily take your contact information with them.

SmartPak Product of the Day: One of my horses has a deceptively difficult tail to brush. It looks full, beautiful, and straight, but stick a brush in that thing and immediately you have a snarl. Detangler is therefore a must before I stick any brush near his hind end, and Laser Sheen has me covered. [SmartPak]

It’s getting a little lost in the rising cacophany of Olympic coverage, but please remember that the stunning Rebecca Farm is coming up in two weeks!

Tuesday Video from SpectraVET: Breyer Olympic Course Walk

By on Jul 12, 2016 5:00 pm -

In the process of excavating YouTube gems for Horse Nation’s annual Breyer Horse Film Festival, a tie-in to the Kentucky Horse Park’s Breyerfest, HN editor Kristen Kovatch unearthed a video she thought might resonate with the eventing crowd.

She explains, “Not even sure what to say about it, except this kid (YouTube alias “Breyerlov”) was SUPER SERIOUS about creating a Breyer cross country course, including the jumping lanes, a Head of the Lake, options, jump judges, etc….”

Let’s take a tour of the course:

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Creative jump construction, good use of terrain, challenging for the level, a good mix of technical and galloping questions … Pierre Michelet has the 2016 Rio Olympic course on lock, and Derek di Grazia has been named cross country course designer for the 2020 Olympics, but 2024 could be yours for the taking, Breyerlov!

Check out more of her videos on her the Breyerlov YouTube channel here.

Why SpectraVET?

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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.

#EventerProblems, Vol 80: Horses Behaving Badly

By on Jul 12, 2016 3:00 pm -

From leaving “some room for improvement” under saddle …

jumps warm-up fence bigger than anything he will see on course…refuses to go near the third fence #logic #eventerproblems A photo posted by katie lavallee (@katie_lavallee) on

…to random acts of self-harm…

back on that cold hose grind #theswampmonsterisdead #eventerproblems A video posted by Kate Drake (@katedrakevt) on

… to taking off and/or destroying their clothing at every opportunity …

This means war. #eventerproblems #highmaintenance #wedontlikesunburns #atleastidont A photo posted by Celsie Rae Abelt (@westwindstudio) on

… and putting EVERYTHING in their mouths …

Dragon says “these Smartpaks are MINE!!!” Silly baby #melissamillereventing #smartpak #eventerproblems A photo posted by arminda99 (@arminda99) on

… horses truly have a gift for driving their people completely crazy. Although I suppose the argument could be made that we already are a bit mad?

#canadianclub & #eventing #Camden #xc #cantjump #needsmoreschooling #eventerproblems @kgoat94

A video posted by Maddiee Gray (@93mads) on

Normal day at work #eventerproblems #bits #workinghorsegirl A photo posted by megan (@kieshorse) on

My horse gets more massages than I do. #equestrianproblems #eventerproblems #thoroughbred #17hh

A photo posted by MaeMae (@prettygrittytb) on

I want to take this footing home #eventerproblems A photo posted by Allisen (@dasheventing) on

Bought a paddling pool today and am eliminating the #equestriantanlines #eventerproblems

A photo posted by Helen Brew (@helen_brew) on

When your purse absolutely must match your tack #eventerproblems #eventersofinstagram #matchymatchy #brownsandblacks

A photo posted by Stefanie Bates (@stefbates) on

"When you are out doing fitness work with your fancy Training going into Prelim Thoroughbred, and your kid decides to tag along. Then does everything you do... on his pony... bareback... with no reins... laughing the whole time... (sigh... feeling inadequate)" Daphne Soares

“When you are out doing fitness work with your fancy Training going into Prelim Thoroughbred, and your kid decides to tag along. Then does everything you do… on his pony… bareback… with no reins… laughing the whole time… (sigh… feeling inadequate)” Daphne Soares

Keep it crazy, EN. Go Eventing.

USEF Substitutes Lynn Symansky and Donner as Olympic Traveling Reserve

By on Jul 12, 2016 1:15 pm -
Lynn Symansky and Donner. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld. Lynn Symansky and Donner. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Maya Black has withdrawn Dawn and Jon Dofelmier’s Doesn’t Play Fair as the traveling reserve for the U.S. Olympic team due to an injury. She posted the following announcement on her Facebook page:

“It is with a heavy heart that I am withdrawing Cody from his position as traveling reserve for the U.S. Olympic team. Unfortunately, he has sustained an acute minor injury. Being named as the traveling reserve has been the greatest achievement and honor of my career to date, and I couldn’t have asked for a more special partner then Cody to share this journey with for the past five years.

“I hope to one day be back in a position for team consideration again, and in the meantime he will get some much deserved rest after a stellar spring season.

“I want to thank so many people and horses for getting me to this place. To even be considered for the Olympics is a dream come true. I’m so incredibly grateful. Thank you to the Dofelmier’s for bringing him into my life, to all our family, friends, coaches, sponsors, supporters, and many fans for helping us to make it this far. And last but definitely not least, thanks to Caitlin for putting up with Cody and I over the last few years through the thick and thin.

“I love Cody so much — this amazingly talented munchkin horse will be back to fight again another day.”

The USEF has named Lynn Symansky and The Donner Syndicate’s Donner, a 2003 Thoroughbred gelding, as the new traveling reserve for the team.

The EN team is so sorry to hear about Cody’s injury but relieved it is not more serious. We can’t wait to cheer them on again in 2017!

[USEF Substitutes Traveling Reserve for U.S. Olympic Eventing Team for Rio 2016 Olympic Games]

SmartPak ‘Ask a Non-Rider’: Leg Wrap Edition

By on Jul 12, 2016 11:00 am -

Our new favorite series from SmartPak continues, with the non-horsey SmartPakers taking on a very confusing pair of leg wraps. Watch the video!

“Table linens!”

“It’s a really big wipe.”

“This is an adjustable saddle pad.”

Who knew that a pair of standing leg wraps could be such a challenge? (Well, all of us, at one point in our horse lives.) The non-equestrian crew at SmartPak faces another mystery horse object in the “Ask a Non-Rider” series: watch and laugh! And maybe commiserate with these folks, because let’s be honest — we’ve all been there.

Want to catch more “Ask a Non-Rider” videos? Click here to open the full playlist!

Go SmartPak, and go riding!

 

Equestrian Australia Announces 2016 Rio Olympic Squad

By on Jul 12, 2016 7:21 am -
Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh at Badminton. Photo by Jenni Autry. Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh at Badminton. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Equestrian Australia has announced that the following four riders will comprise its team for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro:

Chris Burton and Santano II, a 9-year-old Hannoverian gelding owned by Black Run Syndicate

Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh, a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare owned by Mr. and Mrs. S. Posford, Mrs. J. Carter and Sam Griffiths

Shane Rose and CP Qualified, a 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Shane Rose and Elizabeth Wischer

Stuart Tinney and Pluto Mio, an 18-year-old Hannoverian/Thoroughbred gelding owned by Elizabeth and John Pittard

The following combinations, listed in alphabetical order, will attend the pre-Games staging camp in the UK beginning July 24. On or before July 25 the Eventing Selection Panel will identify one of the pairs, possibly but not necessarily a team member’s second nominated horse, as the travelling reserve.

Samantha Birch and Hunter Valley II

Chris Burton and Nobilis 18

Sonja Johnson and Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison

William Levett and Alexander NJ

William Levett and Improvise

Shane Rose and Virgil

Paul Tapner and Prince Mayo

Stuart Tinney and Carlchen

Equestrian Australia has adopted a High Performance Squad system of categorizing riders and/or combinations identified as having the potential to represent the country at major championships like WEG and the Olympics. All four selected riders, plus Paul Tapner, were listed on Australia’s 2016 “gold” level squad and were expected to be frontrunners come time for team selection.

We are sorry to see U.S.-based Australian Ryan Wood, who appeared on the FEI Olympic Nominated Entry List with Powell, off the team as he’s been on absolute fire this year. Powell won the Jersey Fresh CCI3* in May and placed second in the CIC3* at Fair Hill the month before that, and his other two top horses — Woodstock Bennett, who is fresh off a Bromont CCI3* win, and Frankie, who swept the CIC3* division — would have been at home on the long list as well.

Ryan has been working diligently for years to produce the exciting upper-level string he going, and while the timing may not have been quite right this time around, he is certainly knocking at the door. Equestrian Australia would be remiss not to keep Ryan on their radar for future team championships.

[Eventing Team looking to get Australia back on the podium]

 

 

Tuesday News & Notes from Cavalor

By on Jul 12, 2016 12:01 am -
Winner winner! Leah Lang-Gluscic shows off her wares from taking first and second in the Prelim at Roebke's Run this weekend. Photo via Leah on Facebook. Winner winner! Leah Lang-Gluscic shows off her wares from taking first and second in the Prelim at Roebke's Run this weekend. Photo via Leah on Facebook.

Area IV riders converged on Roebke’s Run in Hector, MN this past weekend for Area Championships, and there were plenty of prizes to hand out. We’re also starting to see this year’s Rolex horses back out competing, and Leah Lang-Gluscic romped around the Open Prelim with AP Prime to take home the blue ribbon.

Leah is eyeing Burghley this fall as her next challenge with her big OTTB, and she needs your help to get there. Click here to find out how you can be a part of the journey!

Events Opening This Week:

Huntington Farm H.T. (VT, A-1), Caber Farm Horse Trial (WA, A-7), Richland Park H.T. (MI, A-8), Windy Wyoming H.T. (WY, A-9), Town Hill Farm Horse Trials (CT, A-1), Feather Creek H.T. (OK, A-5), Shepherd Ranch SYVPC H.T. II (CA, A-6), Richland Park H.T. (MI, A-8), Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Fall H.T. (VA, A-2), Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (GA, A-3)

Events Closing Today:

Hunt Club Farms H.T. (VA, A-2)  Horse Park of New Jersey Horse Trials II (NJ, A-2)  USPC National Championship (NC, A-11)  Stoneleigh-Burnham Summer H.T (MA, A-1)  Applewood Farm YEH/FEH & Mini Event (NJ, A-2)

News & Notes:

With summer finally here and temperatures rising, it is the perfect time to stress the importance of electrolytes. Some eventers feed electrolytes to their horses daily, while others only feed them in extreme heat or during a strenuous competition. But when do horses need those extra electrolytes, and why? Don’t miss this education article from Cavalor. [Are electrolytes a hype or a must?]

What are some things to keep in mind when you bring home a new OTTB? In a new series from the USEA, Natalie Hollis provides tips and tricks for the first week at home with your new ex-racehorse. [First Week at Home with a New OTTB]

Did you miss any action from the latest leg of the Event Riders Masters? Thanks to our friends at Horse & Hound, you can replay the cross country portion of competition in its entirety! Enjoy! [ERM Barbury Cross Country Replay]

Weekly Business Tip from Mythic Landing Enterprises:

If you’re trying to keep your advertising spending to a minimum, be sure to spend some time placing classified ads online. There are a ton of places that you can post classifieds for free—including social media—so find the site that make the most sense for your business and post often!

Tuesday Video: