Classic Eventing Nation

Tuesday News & Notes from Cavalor

By on Jul 5, 2016 12:01 am -
This piece of Photoshop magic brought to you by Katie Weigel. This piece of Photoshop magic brought to you by Katie Weigel.

EN reader Brianna Alphers sent us this awesome photo of her horse, River, superimposed on the Free Willy movie poster, thanks to the Photoshop chops of Katie Weigel. “My 14.3 hand paint mare loves to jump and can sometimes be a little overly enthusiastic. This training log stack was no exception,” Brianne wrote. Thanks for the laugh, ladies! (Original photo by Matt Brunner)

Events Opening This Week:

Waredaca Farm H.T. (MD, A-2) Genesee Valley Riding & Driving Club H.T. (NY, A-1) Full Gallop Farm August HT (SC, A-3)

Events Closing Today:

Event at Rebecca Farm (MT, A-7) Silverwood Farm Summer H.T. (WI, A-4) Full Moon Farms H.T. (MD, A-2) Fitch’s Corner H.T. (NY, A-1)

News & Notes:

Herd dynamics are an intricate part of horse management. Changing turnout schedules and groups can greatly affect your horse’s behavior, so it’s good to read up on the details of herd dynamics. Check out this great article on The Horse to educate yourself! [Herd Dynamics]

What is it like taking on a former ride of Andrew Nicholson’s? Thomas Hawke is now piloting Mr Cruise Control, one of Andrew’s former prolific campaigners. Now, Thomas is a long-listed junior rider who is enjoying the ride on the experience Irish Sport Horse gelding by Cruising. [Taking On Nicholson’s Former Ride]

Maya Black, who has been listed as the traveling reserve for the U.S. team heading to Rio, has updated her blog as she looks ahead to an big summer. This young rider and her “pocket rocket”, Doesn’t Play Fair, have achieved great things in their short career together, and we feel the best is yet to come! [Getting Ready for an Exciting Summer]

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?]

Weekly Business Tip from Mythic Landing Enterprises:

When you’re placing an ad on a website or in a magazine, be sure to talk to their ad manager about your ad’s placement. If at all possible, you want to stay as close to the top of the website as possible. For print ads, the upper right-hand corner is ideal, but anything along the outer edges is great.

Tuesday Video:

Monday Video from Tredstep Ireland: FEI Team USA Profiles of Phillip and Boyd

By on Jul 4, 2016 3:30 pm -

Sports are always more interesting if you know the narratives behind the players. In advance of the 2016 Olympic Games, the FEI has been working with IMG Media to create a digital media package that helps share these stories in an engaging way to laypeople and educated viewers alike.

Their objective: “to gain greater audience exposure to the equestrian sport and encourage greater viewership during the Olympic Games.” We’re all on board with that!

Among their first releases were these athlete profiles of Team USA eventers Phillip Dutton and Boyd Martin.

Go Team USA. Go Eventing!

Stock Up on Your USA-Spirited Gear with SmartPak’s JULY16 Sale

By on Jul 4, 2016 11:00 am -

The Olympics are coming up fast, and SmartPak is having a 15% off Fourth of July sale. My fellow Americans, you know what to do.

Clearly, it is prime time to stock up on your Team USA gear. Be honest with yourself: do you have enough red, white and blue clothes in your closet and gear in your tack room to get through this the 2016 Olympic Games? The answer, probably, is no.

Unless, of course, you are Jenni or I.

Leslie and Jenni at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy.

Leslie and Jenni at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy.

The 99.9% of the rest of the horse world, however, needs to stock up. Here are a few red, white and blue items you might consider checking off your SmartPak wishlist:

Ariat Team Sunstopper Longsleeve 1/4 Zip. Photo via SmartPak.

Ariat Team Sunstopper Longsleeve 1/4 Zip. Photo via SmartPak.

Ariat Team Sunstopper Longsleeve 1/4 Zip: I own this myself, obviously, and it’s an MVP of my equestrian wardrobe. Don’t let the long sleeves fool you: It’s made of a lightweight, moisture-wicking pique knit with breathable mesh underarm paneling and a sun protective finish. The color blocking is super-flattering and the mock collar makes it perfect for clinics and schooling shows in addition to everyday wear.

It also pairs really well with red patent leather stilettos, patriotic socks, a light-up tutu and tinsel boa for a night on the town.

These colors don't run.

These colors don’t run, y’all.

Sadly, the Ariat Sunstopper Longsleeve is already offered at the lowest price allowed by the manufacturer, which means the 15% off JULY16 promo discount doesn’t apply. However, there are plenty of other Uncle Sam approved purchases that are! Including but not limited to….

Piper Full Seat Breeches by SmartPak in Navy/Dove

Photo via SmartPak.

Photo via SmartPak.

SmartPak Medium Diamond Deluxe AP Saddle Pad in Navy

Photo courtesy of SmartPak.

Photo courtesy of SmartPak.

SSG All Weather Gloves in Red

Photo via SmartPak.

Photo via SmartPak.

SmartPak Classic Fly Sheet in Silver/Red

Photo via SmartPak.

Photo via SmartPak.

SmartPak Soft Leather Halter in Havana/Blue

Photo via SmartPak

Photo via SmartPak

Colorful Cotton Lead with Snap End in Red/Navy

18156_RedNavy

Photo via SmartPak.

Plastic Grooming Tote in Blue

Photo via SmartPak.

Photo via SmartPak.

Use promo code JULY16 at checkout, and don’t forget that SmartPak offers free shipping on orders over $75 every day!

Go SmartPak. Go Shopping!

July16_Landing_960x270_Tom

Event Horse Names, Part 8: Fourth of July Edition

By on Jul 4, 2016 9:00 am -
These USEA-registered event horses have American spirit! Graphic by Leslie Wylie. These USEA-registered event horses have American spirit! Graphic by Leslie Wylie.

Stalking creative names on the USEA horse database is one of our favorite leisure pastimes here at Eventing Nation. In case you missed them, check out these previous editions of Event Horse Names: Authors, Books & Characters, Battle of the Booze, The Empire Business, Monster Trucks, Celebrities, Snow and St. Paddy’s Day.

Today, seeing as it is the fourth day of July and all, we thought we’d get the story behind a few USEA registered event horses with particularly patriotic names!

Danielle Steinman, who works as assistant trainer alongside her fiance Joe McKinley at Vangard Eventing in La Honda, California, shares the story of her 10-year-old OTTB Captain America (“Neville”).

“When he came into our program he had been passed around by a couple of people unable to manage his ‘frisky’ personality. Let’s just say there were lots of Ninja moves in Neville’s younger years. When I bought him and started really jumping him he felt like a super hero! I felt as though he deserved a cape to jump, so I settled on Captain America!”

Danielle and Neville have many miles on the tires of their relationship. Danielle took Neville with her when she went to college at the University of Kentucky, and three years later made the trip back to California again.

“He quickly climbed up the levels and was very successful at Preliminary in Kentucky, also schooling 3rd level dressage movements,” Danielle says. “Although we will still see his ninja moves he is truly a fantastic and special horse deserving of the name Captain America! He is currently semi-retired and will come back in about a year to see if he is ready to be a kids’ horse!”

Danielle Steinman and Captain America. Photos courtesy of Danielle Steinman.

Danielle Steinman and Captain America. Photos courtesy of Danielle Steinman.

Area IV eventer Colin Palmer explains the story behind the name of his horse, American War Hero, with whom he competes at Training level.

“Hero, as he’s known around the barn, is an American Thoroughbred named after my grandfather, who was brave and served in the Vietnam War and the Bay of Pigs Invasion, in which he lost his life. To me he was a war hero,” he explains. “I also wanted to get back to the traditional roots of eventing, when horse trials were for the horses and riders who were proving their training to serve in the Calvary.”

July 4 also happens to be Colin’s birthday as well. Happy birthday AND happy Fourth of July to you, Colin!

Colin Palmer and American War Hero. Photo courtesy of Colin Palmer.

Colin Palmer and American War Hero. Photos courtesy of Colin Palmer.

Kim Eichorn, who runs Kim Eichorn Equestrian in Gold Hill, North Carolina, is the owner of a 7-year-old OTTB mare named Lady Liberty. Kim got her off the track as a 4 year old.

“When she was born, and her breeders were looking for a name, I’m told that the Miss Universe pageant was going on. So her registered name is ‘Go Miss USA.’ Well, I hated the name but am a firm believer in keeping at least some part of the original name of any horse I rename.”

A friend suggested that she name her “Lady Liberty,” with “Libby” as her barn name, and it stuck. The pair has since competed successfully at Training level together — Kim describes her as a “wonderful, athletic mare.”

“She is a fantastic jumper but due to an injury last year where she fractured a vertebrae in her neck, we haven’t progressed as quickly as she probably could have,” she says. “She is fully healed though, back in full work, and really going wonderfully these days.”

Fourth of July fun fact: “Every time I’ve shown her on an ‘American pride’ type holiday, she always seems to try harder. We used to joke in the barn that she ‘does it for America.'”

Kim Eichorn and Lady Liberty. Photos courtesy of Kim Eichorn.

Kim Eichorn and Lady Liberty. Photos courtesy of Kim Eichorn.

Area II eventer Stephanie Kleinbauer competes her American Warmblood Society registered mare American Beauty at Novice.

“I’ve owned her since she was born but her breeder has a very patriotic facility,” Stephanie says. “Her sire is a big, handsome Thoroughbred/draft cross named Independence and her dam was a Thoroughbred mare we nicknamed Miss America.”

Stephanie Kleinbauer and American Beauty. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Kleinbauer

Stephanie Kleinbauer and American Beauty. Photos courtesy of Stephanie Kleinbauer

Are you the owner of a horse with an American-spirited name? Share his or her story in the comments below.

Happy Fourth of July. Go Eventing!

Monday News and Notes from Smartpak

By on Jul 4, 2016 12:37 am -
Photo by Mitch Loeber via Flickr/Creative Commons.

Photo by Mitch Loeber via Flickr/Creative Commons.

Happy Independence Day, EN! Enjoy all the Fourth of July festivities (after you ride and finish barn chores, of course). Get dressed up, eat yummy grilled meets and unhealthy snacks, toast to the Founding Fathers and set off fireworks to your heart’s content. But don’t be dumb. Be safe and considerate of others and remember your horses and other pets won’t love fireworks just because you do.

U.S. Weekend Action

Horse Park of New Jersey I H.T. [Website] [Results]

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. [Website] [Results]

South Farm H.T. [Website] [Results]

Skyline Mini Event [Website] [Results]

Topline Show Park Back to Back Horse Trials II [Website] [Results]

Pine Hill Schooling H.T. [Website] [Results]

GMHA Starter Trials 2016 [Website] [Results]

Wits End Horse Trials [Website] [Results]

Monday News and Notes:

Stuart Black has been found not guilty of charges of domestic assault and charges have been withdrawn. The Canadian eventer, who represented his country at the 1996 Olympic Games and the 1998 WEG in Rome, withdrew from the Canadian Pan Americans Games team in advance of the Toronto-hosted Games last summer. [EN Stuart Black Update]

The Fourth of July is the most nerve wracking day of the year for Horse Nation write Amanda Uechi Ronan. Here is how she deals. [Holiday Horse Safety]

Enter to Win an Ecogold Saddle Pad! Kentucky Equine Research (KER) is offering one lucky winner their choice of an ECOGOLD saddle pad. Whether you’re in the market for a Flip™ half pad, a CoolFit™ hunter pad, a Frictionless™ dressage saddle pad, or a Secure™XC pad, the winner will get to choose any model, color, and size of ECOGOLD pad, up to a value of $250! To enter in the drawing, subscribe to KER’s award-winning newsletter The Weekly Feed. The winner will be contacted via the e-mail provided and announced on KER’s Facebook page on August 31, 2016. For more information and terms and conditions, please visit the website.

Sam Watson and Horseware Bushman won the Haygain CIC3* at the Fernhill Sport Horses Kilguilkey International 2016 this weekend. Leading from the start, Sam and his home-bred added a handful of time penalties on cross country. [The Irish Field]

Tickets are on sale now for the 2016 $100,000 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium. The event features 500 ex-racehorses less than a year into their new career performing in ten different disciplines by professional and amateur trainers from around the world. Tickets are $10 per day or $25 for the event, and include access to seminars, competition, demonstrations, and the finale. [Retired Racehorse Project]

Weekly Business Tip from Mythic Landing Enterprises: When trying to decide where to advertise your business, first think of the magazines and websites that you like the most and go from there. National companies should be looking for large multi-purpose websites and magazines. More local companies should be looking for smaller, more defined websites and magazines, particularly local-specific outlets.

We aren’t the only ones with problems.

How to protect horses during the 4th of July celebrations.We love our pets and we wanted to share these tips with you to help protect our horses during the 4th of July celebrations.

Posted by PBSO – Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office on Friday, July 1, 2016

BadEventer’s Argento Completes 72nd Clear Cross Country Round + Other Weekend Results

By on Jul 3, 2016 6:00 pm -

This weekend was the first of Chattahoochee Hills’ annual summer series events in Fairburn, Ga. Jonathan Holling picked up two upper level wins. Laura K. Szeremi’s Direct Puissance finished on a 43.9 to win Open Intermediate and Avoca Druid, owned by  Team Rebecca, LLC, added a handful of time on cross country to win Open Preliminary-A.

Also, we extend huge congratulations to Direct Puissance’s owner Laura, also known as BadEventer, and her wonder horse Argento. Competing in Open Preliminary-A, they sealed the deal on Argento’s staggering 72nd career horse trials and upholding his perfect cross country record. That’s amazing!

TheWonderPony & BadEventer just completed his 72nd recognized event with his STILL perfect XC record! 72 shows & never a…

Posted by BadEventer on Sunday, July 3, 2016

Mike Huber and Tiffany Cooke’s Patent Pending finished second on 44.9 in Open Intermediate, having relinquished first place with 12.8 time penalties on cross country. M. Paige Pence and Class Action were third on a 51.8

Leslie Law kept the pressure on Jonathan in Open Preliminary-A, with Greyside LLC’s Fernhill Whatever and Gliding Class sitting second and third respectively throughout the competition.

Julie Richards also earned multiple wins. She and Fuerst Independance, owned by Margaret Creech, won Open Preliminary-B with one second of cross country time separating them and Leslie Law and Voltaire de Tre. Julie and Mary Bess Davis’s Firestone finished on their dressage score of 31.1. for a win in Open Training-A.

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. [Website] [Results]

Screen Shot 2016-07-03 at 6.09.26 PM

The Horse Park at New Jersey hosted more than 270 horses from Beginner Novice through Advanced this weekend in Allentown, N.J. The divisions were packed with especially healthy entries at the lower levels.

Lauren Kieffer and Jacqueline B. Mars’ DA Duras led the Advanced division from start to finish. A 28.4 in dressage gave them an early lead with enough breathing room that a single rail didn’t affect their placing. A clear round and 2.8 time penalties on cross country secured their win by ten points over second place Erin Sylvester and Frank Macentee’s Paddy the Caddy, who added a rail and time penalties to finish on 45.2.

Madeline Backus and P.S. Arianna, who completed their first CCI3* at Jersey Fresh in May, were the only finishers who show jumped cleanly, which moved them up in the standings from eighth to eventual third place.

Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville held tightly to the lead in Open Intermediate-A, coming first in dressage on a 28.8 and adding only one second of time on cross country to finish ahead of Boyd Martin and Santos, owned by Ron and Densey Juvonen and Jill Jaeger who held fast to second place throughout. Caroline Martin and Sherrie Martin’s Spring Easy were the only pair to finish on their dressage score to finish third on 36.0.

Lauren picked up another win in Open Intermediate-B with Jacqueline B. Mars’ Landmark’s Ginger Rogers. They produced a rare clear show jumping round in the division to move up from fourth to second, and two time penalties on cross country was enough to claim victory. Ellie Luther and Fair Fiona, owned by  Windurra USA, LLC, were second on 39.6 having moved all the way up from tenth with two clear rounds, and Jordan Thompson and Femme Fatale finished third.

We hope you got to spend some quality time with your horses this holiday weekend!

Horse Park of New Jersey I H.T. [Website] [Results]

Screen Shot 2016-07-03 at 5.53.50 PM

4 Ways to Keep Cool This Summer

By on Jul 3, 2016 3:15 pm -

No doubt about it. It’s hot outside. And since horse people aren’t accustomed to just sitting around in front of a fan, we have to find creative ways to stay active and cool. Here are four ways to beat the heat.

Why lay out on the beach when you can gallop on it instead?

So amazing! #ameliaisland #beachriding #horsesonthebeach #horsesofinstagram

A video posted by Sally (@sallyrsen) on

Make popsicles for the ponies.

Build this DIY sprinkler system. It’ll be the best $8 you’ll ever spend on a horse.

The best 8$ I could have spent on these horses !

Posted by Faith Jenkins on Friday, May 29, 2015

This. All day this.

When The Beatles and Synchonized Horse Dancing Combine

By on Jul 3, 2016 1:15 pm -

This might the grooviest pas de deux we’ve ever seen! This talented duo and their matching chestnuts perform synchronized canter pirouettes, tempi changes, lateral movements, extensions and more to the tune of some of The Beatles’ greatest hits.

The Dancing Duo✎ The Dancing Duo – Superbe démonstration !
[Posted by Patrice LEGAY – Original page of #HORSESVIDEOS]
╰▶ ORIGINAL VIDEO PAGE ® Copyright Rob Gunnemann
☛ Website: http://www.delmarnational.com/

Posted by Horses-Videos on Wednesday, May 4, 2016

The pas de deux is a difficult and precise competition and they make it look easy!

We love the music, too. All you need is love, you guys.

And horses. Lots of horses.

Saturday Night Lights in Tryon Sets the Expectations for AEC

By on Jul 3, 2016 11:15 am -
The George Morris Arena at the start of Saturday Night Lights at Tryon International Equestrian Center. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld. The George Morris Arena at the start of Saturday Night Lights at Tryon International Equestrian Center. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

The Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Tryon, N.C. kicked off its summer Saturday Night Lights jumper series last night. A record 12,000+ spectators piled into the Blue Ridge Mountains resort to watch the $130,000 Adequan® Grand Prix CSI 3*, and the electrifying atmosphere and overall sparkling production of the evening gave us a glimpse into the possibilities of what we may expect at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships at TIEC next month.

The Tryon area is a marked equestrian community with primarily English disciplines defining the culture of the region. And yet, on Saturday night at TIEC, we may have been the minority in the spectator stands. While we were easily identifiable (a smartly dressed young woman picked us directly out of the crowd watching warm-up and handed us orders of go–we figured it was the tan arms/white legs and sports bra lines that gave us away) the number of obviously non-horsey spectators in attendance was truly staggering.

But the community had turned out for good reason. Admission and parking were FREE, and the entire evening was fun, interesting and entertaining for the whole family. There was face painting, pony rides, a carousel and tons of different types of food, snacks and beverages. During drag breaks there were t-shirt tosses, kids dancing to familiar modern tunes and an announcer who did a remarkable job engaging both the show jumping savvy audience as well as those just learning about the sport. The entire crowd cheered for clear rounds, bemoaned a falling rail and waited with baited breath to learn of any time penalties.

They all really want a t-shirt. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

They all really want a TIEC t-shirt. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

But I want this t-shirt..."Whip & Neigh Neigh..."

But I want this t-shirt…”Whip & Neigh Neigh…”

“I have to say, it completely increases the level of any sporting event when you have a crowd like what we had tonight,” said U.S. Olympic team gold medalist Peter Wylde, who finished the night in third with Aram Ampagoumian, LLC’s Dutch Warmblood mare Aimee. “To have a public that is so enthusiastic and to think about how quickly it’s picked up in this area is inspiring. This is a venue working the way it intended to and provides access to our sport in a fun and entertaining way.”

Every time you turn around you can spot another all weather arena with nearby picnic tables and gazebos, and there are a number of locations where you can watch multiple competition rings at once or follow your favorites seamlessly from warm-up to show ring. The George Morris Grand Prix Arena itself is more like a large stadium, which Peter said makes it feel like the crowd is really “with you” the whole way around the course.

After a four rider jump-off in which New Zealand’s Sharn Wordley and the Sky Group’s 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding Caspar came away with a win, the whole evening wrapped up with a laser light show celebrating the Fourth of July.

Sharn Wordley and Caspar. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.

Sharn Wordley and Caspar. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.

“They’re making a big effort to create a vibe here that is unlike any other venue in the world,” Sharn said. “I think that was really just a fantastic turnout. That atmosphere is what is going to make people come back and continue to enjoy the sport. I was so impressed, yet again.”

All of this is to say, if the atmosphere and extravagance during the AEC in September is even a third of what we experienced last night, eventers from around the country will be in for a real treat. Clearly, the marketing team at TIEC is doing something right to get the community so involved, and the little extras will make for even more of a championship feel.

The USEA has made some changes to the schedule in anticipation of entries, so be sure to adjust your calendars. The competition begins on Wednesday, August 31.

My hope, which is a reflection of my only complaint, is by then an additional ingress and egress will have been constructed. We made it inside and parked quickly enough but getting out was a different story.

Our view for an hour, before making our great escape down a, erm, "side road."

Our view for an hour, before making our great escape down a, erm, “side road.”

[Wordley Dominates Aboard Caspar in Front of Record Crowd]

[AEC Competition Kicks Off On Wednesday, August 31 – Please Note Schedule Changes]

Event Rider Masters Series to Make Television Debut at Barbury Castle

By on Jul 3, 2016 9:15 am -
Andrew Nicholson and Avebury at Barbury. Photo by Adam Dale. Andrew Nicholson and Avebury at Barbury. Photo by Adam Dale.

The Event Rider Masters Series will be featured on television for the first time next weekend at Barbury Castle, the third leg of the 2016 series and Great Britain’s final selection trial for the Rio Olympic Games.

Live streaming of the competition was available on eventridersmasters.tv for the first two legs of the series at Chatsworth and Bramham Park and enabled series officials to fine-tune the production before the official on screen debut. Barbury will be shown in a highlights package on Sky Sports and Horse and County TV.

The premise of the Event Rider Masters Series is to showcase the sport to new audiences as well as entertain those already engaged with it, and the two-day structure of the competition was designed specifically for television through a quality production featuring professional commentary and statistical analysis.

The new Series’ television debut is an exciting milestone and could be a strong predictor of the success of the series, which aims to expand to additional venues and countries in future years.

“Nigel Bunter (Barbury estate owner) has been so easy to work with that it has been a natural place to go because he has been so helpful in giving us all the access and support we need to make it happen,” Barbury’s Chief Executive Chris Stone told This is Wiltshire.

“The riders have been really supportive. They are giving us lots of time to be supportive with our commercial sponsors and partners and they are willing to try the different things we are doing.”

The riders and production staff have been hard at work getting ready for the event. We’re looking forward to tuning in!

Click here to view the Barbury Event Rider Masters division entries and here to view the Barbury event page on the series website.

[Barbury Horse Trials: Masters screen test upcoming at trials]