Classic Eventing Nation

Monday Video: Take a Drive Around Sweden

By on Dec 4, 2023 4:30 pm -

I thought the Agria Indoor Eventing course at the Sweden International Horse Show looked insane this year (especially from the perspective of Boyd Martin’s helmet cam), but there’s another three-phase sport taking a spin Stockholm that I think looks just as insane — if not more insane.

More insane than eventing? Think about it. Four horses tethered to each other pulling an inanimate object piled with three humans around TIGHT corners is pretty nuts and whenever I watch a combined driving event inside a tight indoor arena I clutch my pearls a little extra hard.

The fourth leg of the FEI Driving World Cup landed at the Sweden International Horse Show this week, and it was this round — which was a whole 10 seconds faster than his qualifying round– that gave the win to the Netherlands’ Bram Chardon. Need more insanity? Watch the whole division here:

Weekend Winners: Rocking Horse

By on Dec 4, 2023 1:30 pm -

As a rider based (year round) in Pennsylvania, I can hardly imagine getting out to event in December. This past week, I wore so many layers it was hard enough just to get on to go for a hack. That said, we see our Florida eventers enjoying their winter weather with a competition running at Rocking Horse this past weekend. I’m certainly living vicariously through them!

Congrats to all on successful weekends, with a special shout out to the winner of our Unofficial Low Score Award, Robin Walker and Rock Island, who scored a 25.0 in the Open Novice at Rocking Horse!

Rocking Horse December H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website] [Scoring]

Open Intermediate: Elisa Wallace and Renkum Corsair (34.4)
Open Preliminary: Katie Malensek and MRF Qwlkstep (26.6)
Modified Rider: Kasidy McMartin and Newtown’s Llewellyn (33.5)
Open Modified: Cemone Rovira and Monbeg Trademark (29.8)
Open Training A: Michael Nolan and Fulio (25.4)
Open Training B: Juliana Cassar and Farwest De Barbereau (30.8)
Training Rider: Lauren DeNeve and Ace In The Field (32.6)
Novice Rider: Riley Carter and FR’s Trust Fund (28.3)
Open Novice: Robin Walker and Rock Island (25.0)
Junior Beginner Novice Rider: Gillian Kennedy and Cassis 56 (30.0)
Open Beginner Novice: Margaret Stocker and Smilla’s Sense of Snow (25.6)
Senior Beginner Novice Rider: Samantha Lovell and Bila-Shak (30.9)
Starter: Ashley Greene and Galway Lad (52.7)

Back to Back Victories for Maxime Livio in the Agria Top 10 Indoor Eventing

By on Dec 4, 2023 11:00 am -

Agria Top 10 Indoor Eventing brings together some of the world’s very best eventing riders. In the Sunday final, France’s Maxime Livio was best of them all. He secured the victory with Boleybawn Prince and the duo thereby repeated their 2022 win.

Maxime Livio and Boleybawn Prince won the very first Agria Top 10 Indoor Eventing final in 2022 and when this hugely popular event was back in Friends Arena this year, the pair showed masterclass and copied the victory. Last year the duo won the warm-up class as well, where this year they were third. For 19-year-old Boleybawn Prince this was the last time at Friends Arena as he is set to retire after his next competition.

Maxime Livio-Boleybawn Prince. Credit to Roland Thunholm/SIHS.

“It’s always a big pleasure when you are thinking of a plan, because you have a nice horse, and you manage to follow this plan”, Maxime Livio summarizes his ride.

“And for sure with this horse I have quite a lot of pressure. Because if I do my job well, I’m 100% sure he will do his job well. So if he misses something it’s because I miss something. So it’s quite a lot of pressure, not regarding the competition but more regarding our relationship, because since he’s so generous I really would like to ride my very best. When I manage to do that, most of the time he is really successful. I’m very happy to have such a horse.”

Cyril Gavrilovic from Belgium guided his good jumper Gatine de l’Aubree sensibly around the challenging course for a clear round, which was enough for second place as the Christmas-inspired jumps caused trouble for some of the other riders. Sweden’s Frida AndersĂŠn and Box Compris saw a quick ride, but collected some expensive penalties. They ended up third in what was the mare’s last competition as Box Compris is now set to go into breeding.

After winning the warm-up class earlier in the week, American Boyd Martin finished 4th on the Swedish horse Caruccio Paradise, a catch ride we saw him finish 5th on at the event last year. Caruccio Paradise has been campaigned through the 3* level with Johan Lundin and the 2* level with Klara Liden Kiraly.


<a href="https://online.equipe.com/startlists/899072"

Click here for full results from the competition.

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Dec 4, 2023 8:35 am -

 

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A post shared by Liz Halliday (@lizhallidaysharp)


Nothing warms the cockles of my heart quite like seeing a former top-level horse enjoying a well-earned, fat and fluffy retirement being treated like a king or queen. We’ve been treated to glimpses of two such retirements this week, thanks to Liz Halliday-Sharp, whose Fernhill By Night has mastered the art of the mud spa, and Michael Jung, whose La Biosthetique Sam FBW is king of the castle out with his equally fluffy buddies. Talk about living their best lives!

National Holiday: It’s World Wildlife Conservation Day. Find out more about this important day here and help do your bit for endangered species.

US Weekend Results:

Rocking Horse December H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website] [Results]


Your Morning Reading List:

Rehab rides are basically my whole life right now. They’re…not exactly interesting, are they? Unless, of course, your horse hasn’t been ridden for a really long time and decides to throw in some extra dance moves. But for the most part, they’re just a long ebb of necessary drudgery, and keeping yourself on track to do all the right things in the right ways can be pretty tough. That’s why I’m going to be making best use of RideiQ’s Post Injury Rehab playlist, which is jam-packed with useful information, ‘hack chats’, and in-ear ride-along lessons that’ll give me plenty to do with my thus far rather bored mare. Want more information for your own rehabbing process? Check out Heels Down’s review here.

Grief is something that – horrendous as it is – is an unavoidable component of the human experience. I lost my grandfather just this morning, and found this, from COTH, a particularly comforting read as I sat down at my laptop to cobble my working day together. It’s all about gratitude, and embracing the good that a person – or a horse – brought to your life while they were in it. Because ultimately, aren’t we all so lucky to have people around that are bright enough lights that we grieve them when they’re gone?

Sometimes those bright lights can give us headaches, too, says the mare owner… But if a moody, tricky mare is one of your primary conundrums, you’ll be particularly interested in a prospective new solution, in the form of Pearl Pods, which aim to better the not-wholly-successful glass marble concept. Find out more here.

And finally, it transpires that infrared thermometers might not be the best solution to replace the old thermometer up the bum trick. Apparently, they’re not giving you totally accurate readouts, because they’re much more likely to get a read on surface, rather than internal, temperature. Sorry for the indignity, horses, but the old method looks like it’s here to stay.

Morning Viewing: 

Fancy an educational start to your day? This documentary feature on the first horsemen is a great way to get the brain juices flowing (ew):

It’s Time to Vote for the EquiRatings 2023 Horse of the Year

By on Dec 3, 2023 11:30 am -

Each year, our pals at EquiRatings gather up their massive stores of data to pull out a handful of contenders for their fan-voted Horse of the Year award. This year, we’ve got a strong roster of horses to choose from, including several from this side of the pond. Here’s the skinny:

Eight horses will start us off, bracket style, with three rounds of voting determining the eventual champion. Click here to view the full ERHOTY page and to cast your vote.

Here are your first Quarter Final contenders — cast your votes for this round at this link by December 6.

Quarter Final 1: Ballaghmor Class v. Mai Baum

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

BALLAGHMOR CLASS:
Ballaghmor Class tallied his third five-star win this year at Burghley, making him one of only 12 horses in the history of the sport to win three or more. The win came six years after Ballaghmor Class’s first five-star victory. That is one of the longest five-star-winning careers in eventing history (second only to La Biosthetique Sam’s seven-year span between first and last five-star title).

Ballaghmor Class is arguably the most consistent five-star horse of all time, having produced ten top-five placings at the five-star level, including a second-place finish at Badminton this year. His true-to-form consistency this season has given Ballaghmor Class the highest Elo of his career as he climbed with every single 2023 result. After his Burghley win, the 16-YO passed fischerChipmunk to top the Elo table for a while. Ballaghmor Class is, simply put, a five-star warrior and absolute workman.

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

MAI BAUM:
Mai Baum ended the USA’s wait for a Kentucky win. Before this year, the US had waited 15 years to win their own home major.

At 17 years old, Mai Baum delivered one of the most-special victories of the year at Land Rover Kentucky, topping the field by 3.6 points and beating the likes of JL Dublin, Banzai du Loir, Z, Viamant du Matz, and Miks Master C.

The winning performance registered a 106-point High Performance Rating (HPR) which was four marks ahead of this year’s Pau-winning HPR and six marks ahead of the 2023 Burghley-winning HPR. In fact, Mai Baum’s win was one of the top three 5* HPRs this season (Badminton 111, LuhmĂźhlen 108, Kentucky 106) and one of the highest-rated Kentucky performances we’ve seen.

A 2023 season made of: Galway Downs CCI4*-S. Won it. Land Rover Kentucky. Won it. CHIO Aachen. Podiumed it. That is one great season.

Quarter Final 2: Diabolo Menthe v. Vendredi Biats

Boekelo winners Nicolas Touzaint and Diabolo Menthe. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

DIABOLO MENTHE:
This year’s Boekelo was the strongest non-championship 4*-L field of the past nine seasons (based on Elo Field Strength ratings) and Diabolo Menthe is the one who came out on top, beating 111 opponents to earn the title.

The win was achieved with a finish-on-dressage score of 25.4 and that result alone boosted Diabolo Menthe’s Elo rating by a major 28 points. He is now the highest-rated 10-year-old in the world based on Elo ratings, ahead of the likes of Izilot DHI, Greenacres Special Cavalier and last year’s ERHOTY winner, Zaragoza.

The Boekelo win followed a second place finish at Chatsworth 4*-S earlier this season where Diabolo Menthe was one of just nine horses to show jump clear (jump + time) of the 112 who tried. The Boekelo victory also registered a High Performance Rating (HPR) of 102, the same rating Amande de B’Neville earned for winning Saumur 4*-L just three months before she became Olympic champion…Paris here we come.

Kitty King and Vendredi Biats (GBR). Photo by Tilly Berendt.

VENDREDI BIATS:
At the Europeans this year, in the face of tough cross country conditions and after disappointment in similar conditions just three months before (Badminton), Vendredi Biats dug in and rose to the occasion to lay down a cross country performance that was key to earning the European individual silver medal. His XC run as the team pathfinder, over tough ground, on a tough day was also critical to Team GB’s gold. A selection to any British team is hard-won but Vendredi Biats proved his mettle and punctuated his place on the team.

The Euros performance boosted Vendredi Biats’ Elo by an impressive 25 points in one fell swoop, such was the quality of the competition he bested. That makes him one of only seven horses in the world right now to have an 800+ Elo rating (802). The silver-medal performance also registered a High Performance Rating (HPR) of 106, making it one of best 4*-L/5* performances of the year.

It was Vendredi Biats’ second major podium of the year, after placing second at Luhmühlen in June. Two major placings and delivering for Team GB make it a standout year for Vendredi Biats.

Quarter Final 3: Lordships Graffalo v. HSH Blake

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

LORDSHIPS GRAFFALO:
Lordships Graffalo won Badminton by 15.0 points, the largest 5* winning margin in the modern era of the sport. He then went on to win the European individual gold by 6.7 points and that was against international competition with renowned low-scoring ability and, indeed, against one of the strongest fields on record according to the Elo Field Strength rating (second only to Pratoni 2022).

Registering a High Performance Rating (HPR) of 113, Lordships Graffalo’s European gold set the new standard for 4*/5* performances, the best HPR ever (rating starts in 2008).

We’ve seen this horse coming (it’s not even his first ERHOTY rodeo): Lordships Graffalo was the highest Elo-rated horse for his age as both a 9-YO and 10-YO and is now the highest-rated 11-YO ever (rating starts in 2008). It’s a table-topping Elo trend that mimics La Biosthetique Sam-FBW’s record. Plus, Lordships Graffalo was only the third combination since 2008 to win Badminton from the front as did a certain La Biosthetique Sam in 2016.

Lordships Graffalo is, on many metrics, one of the best we’ve ever seen. For this point in his career, he is going toe-for-toe with La Biosthetique Sam who is arguably the greatest horse of all time…for now…

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

HSH BLAKE:
HSH Blake is the newly-minted Pan Ams individual gold medallist…and he’s only 8 years old. In fact, HSH Blake is one of the top ten 8-YOs of all time based on the Elo rating (which goes back to 2008), he is the best ever 8-YO for the USA, and he is the number one 8-YO in the world this season.

Having just stepped up to the four-star level this year, HSH Blake finished top three in both of his four-star appearances, including a second-place finish at the Strzegom Nations Cup where he led dressage and added just XC time to his score. Of all HSH Blake’s six international runs this year, he was never out of the top five, including two wins.

HSH Blake boosted his Elo rating with each successive international appearance this year. Continually upward. Consistent. While not quite having the top-level experience yet, a good showing at the CCI4*-L U.S. selection trial might put this horse in the Paris conversation. And as far as Los Angeles 2028 goes…watch out.

Quarter Final 4: Virgil v. Colorado Blue

Shane Rose and Virgil lead the way going into the final phase at Adelaide. Photo by Michelle Terlato Photography.

VIRGIL:
Eight years after his five-star debut, 18-year-old Virgil won Adelaide 2023 by 9.5 points and became the oldest five-star winner of the last 16 seasons. It was Virgil’s first five-star win and he delivered it on a 28.5, adding just one second on the XC to his dressage score.

Adelaide was Virgil’s second international run of the year, having won a CCI4*-S before the five-star victory, giving Virgil a two for two record this season.

Virgil is particularly appreciated in context. He’s been to Tokyo: top 10. Pratoni: top 15. Burghley: asked and answered, top 20. Luhmühlen: top 10. And here he was in Adelaide, still competing at the very top level 8 years after his five-star debut…and he wins it. Seven times, Virgil has produced a 95-or-higher High Performance Rating (HPR). A 95+ is an elite achievement and top do it over and over is a testament to a top-level stalwart.

Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue. Photo by Sally Spickard.

COLORADO BLUE:
This year at Badminton, we saw Colorado Blue go head-to-head with Lordships Graffalo in the cross country phase. It was Colorado Blue who was the fastest on the day in those notoriously testing conditions; 10.8 time penalties for him, 11.6 for Lordships Graffalo, and everyone else?: Twenty-one-plus time penalties. The result was a deserved climb up the leaderboard and the first Badminton podium from an Irish combination in 40 years.

Colorado Blue is in fact one of the top-rated cross country horses in the sport. His five-star XC jumping reliability puts him in the top 0.1% of horses worldwide and his five-star speed is among the top 0.05%.

Five months after Badminton, Colorado Blue went on and did it. At Maryland, he jumped double clear (XC and SJ) to produce the first five-star win for Ireland in 58 years. He had added just 1.2 XC time penalties on a day when only one horse was under the time and he was the only double-clear SJ round on the final day.

A classic sporting story – highs (Badminton and Maryland) and lows (Burghley) and when it ended with that big win, we could practically hear the whole eventing world cheer.

Click here to view the full voting on EquiRatings, and to cast your votes by December 6!

Sunday Links from Etalon Equine Genetics

By on Dec 3, 2023 12:01 am -

West Coast eventers brought the representation at Ingrid Klimke’s “Masterclass in Wine Country” at Galway Downs this weekend. After an inspirational discussion at the preceding rider dinner, the participants followed the legendary German Olympian’s direction over some rather intriguing cavaletti exercises. Stay tuned with Galway Downs to see how their second day turns out today!

U.S. Weekend Action

Rocking Horse December H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Links to Start Your Sunday:

Vote now for the EquiRatings Horse of the Year

The Pearl Pod: A new intrauterine device for mares displaying extreme behaviour during estrus is showing promising results

The Mia Farley And Phelps Story

All Julien Anquetin & *Name Redacted* Do Is Win in 2023, But Actually..

Andreas Helgstrand to miss Paris 2024 – as three Helgstrand Dressage instructors reprimanded

Sponsor Corner: How much Thoroughbred blood is in your Warmblood? Is your horse inbred? To what degree? Find out with Etalon Equine Genetics! Their Ancestry Testing will help you make informed decisions about your horse’s future.

Morning Viewing: Learn all about saddle fit with part one of Master Saddler Jan Jacobsen’s series:

Wesko Equestrian Foundation Young Eventers Pathway Applications Open

By on Dec 2, 2023 4:35 pm -

Photo courtesy of the Wesko Equestrian Foundation.

The Wesko Equestrian Foundation launched its first project in 2018, the Young Eventers Programme, where the Foundation aimed to support the transition from Young Rider to Senior and amateur to professional. Moving into 2023, the Foundation expanded its support of young event riders via the new Young Eventers Pathway. Our aim is to support young eventers from every background to become better and more viable athletes. The Foundation’s vision is to create an eventing community and peer learning environment that surrounds the riders who are participating in the programme.

Moving into 2024, Wesko has combined the three separate pathways from 2023 (Grassroots, 2/3* and 4/5* level), into one new Young Eventers Pathway. The new Pathway will accommodate up to 16 riders, between the ages of 21 and 28-years-old, and will not only offer three separate training events with our coaching team of European Champion Nicola Wilson, 5* dressage judge Nikki Herbert, and British Equestrian Assistant Performance Manager Philip Surl, but will also have access to a 12-month education programme, that will offer riders support in a variety of areas, from business to media training, fitness and nutrition, and to equine welfare.

The education programme will be free for all Pathway members, while ridden coaching sessions are £160 for two days and cross-country training will be £60 per rider. These fees are inclusivee of training (with one or two horses per session), venue hire, stabling, meals, refreshments, and unmounted activities.

The total value of training days is between £300-350 per rider, per day, but the Foundation is pleased to be able to subsidise access to this training and education programme, thanks to the generosity of our donors and sponsors, including Pathway partner Agria Equine Lifetime. All ridden training taking place at Solihull Riding Club.

Riders can apply from 1st December to the 15th December here. Applicants must be based in the United Kingdom and able to commit to all of the relevant Pathway dates. These dates are as follows:

JANUARY – 11th

  • Induction day to outline the programme
  • Social Media & Sponsorship support from Sarah Skillin
  • Introduction to insurance from Agria Equine Lifetime
  • Kitting out session with team kit, supported by Toggi and Agria
  • Discussion around aims and goals for the 2024 season
  • Discussion of individual support plans

FEBRUARY  – 3rd – 4th 

  • Dressage training with Nikki Herbert (1 lesson per rider)
  • Showjumping training on day 1 (2 sessions per rider)
  • Area Cross-country training on day 2 (2 sessions per rider)
  • Jumping coach – Philip Surl
  • Dismounted activities and education sessions TBC
  • All to stable on-site, unless local to commute for evening meal and education session

APRIL – 25th – 26th

  • Dressage training with Nikki Herbert (1 lesson per rider)
  • Showjumping training on day 1 (2 sessions per rider)
  • Cross-country training on day 2 (2 sessions per rider)
  • Jumping coach – Nicola Wilson
  • Dismounted activities and education sessions TBC
  • All to stable on-site, unless local to commute for evening meal and education session

JUNE/JULY – TBC

  • Cross-country training day to focus on Novice – Advanced level riding
  • Coach – TBC

BADMINTON & BURGHLEY

  • Course walking support and advice will be available for riders competing in the 5* and Grassroots events
  • Media support for those competing at 5* level

BRAMHAM

  • Course walks and support for riders competing in the 4*

 

On Sale Now: Get Your Tickets for the 2024 $100,000 Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field

By on Dec 2, 2023 1:00 pm -

Holly Jacks-Smither and More Inspiration, winners of the Retired Racehorse Project Highpoint Thoroughbred Award at LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing, Bruce’s Field, Aiken, SC in 2021. Photo by Chris Quinn.

Festive season present idea alert! Tickets are now on sale for the 2024 $100,000 Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field, presented by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services. VIP and General Admission tickets are both available for purchase online for this fast, furious, and incredibly fun showcase of upper-level eventing action, set to take place March 1 and 2 at Bruce’s Field in Aiken, South Carolina.

There are several General Admission ticket options available. Exclusive online purchase options include:

One Full Event Pass which grants access to Friday, March 1st Dressage & Show Jumping a Saturday, March 2nd Cross-Country:

  • Full Event Pass $30.00 (Friday, March 1st & Saturday, March 2nd)

Two Single Day Pass options, which grant access to one day’s activities respectively:

  • Friday, March 1st Only Pass $20.00 (Dressage & Show Jumping)
  • Saturday, March 2nd Only Pass $20.00 (Cross-Country)

These General Admission ticket options are only available online. General Admission tickets will be available at the gate for $25.oo per day, cash or check only.

VIP tickets include:

  • Invitation to the Thursday evening, February 29th, Welcome Party
  • Ring side for the Friday evening, March 1st, Show Jumping
  • Prime viewing locations for the Saturday, March 2nd, Cross-Country
  • Access to all VIP areas (VIP tent & Chalets) for the entire event
  • Food & Beverage served
  • VIP Parking

VIP tickets start at $1,000.00. For more information on Reserved Tables, Chalets, or Tailgate Parking Spots, please contact [email protected]. In need of somewhere to stay in Aiken for the weekend? Check out this handy list of recommended hotels and B&Bs in the area. Happy spectating!

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Dec 2, 2023 12:01 am -

Are you looking for the 2023 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Champions? Take a left! The members of the University of South Carolina Aiken eventing team — Alexa Duncan, Heidi Gyselinck, Carson Langenberg, and Sydney Shinn — have been honored with a token that I would presume not many eventers can say they have: a road sign! When you head down to Aiken this winter, keep your eyes peeled for this unique trophy of sorts.

U.S. Weekend Action

Rocking Horse December H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

The Mia Farley And Phelps Story

‘Breaking down barriers’ as dark breeches to be allowed in British Dressage competition

2024 ECP Symposium to Be Held at the Florida Horse Park on Jan. 30-Feb. 1

You Are Going To Die; What Happens To Your Horse When You Do?

Horses for All: Diversity, inclusion key to equestrian world’s future

Sponsor Corner: Cosby Green can check her first 5* off her to-do list. The World Equestrian Brands‘ rider finished in the top 20 at Pau with her talented chestnut, Copper Beach. Hear about her experience at Pau and what’s it like to work with Team Price.

Cosby Green and Copper Beach. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Morning Viewing: Buckle up and join Boyd Martin for a winning ride at Sweden International Agria Indoor Eventing!

Friday Video: Putting Piggy’s Jumping Exercises to the Test

By on Dec 1, 2023 7:18 pm -

Here at EN, we’re big fans of Piggy TV, the educational and entertaining video channel of the eponymous eventer, which is chock full of inspiration and ideas for ringwork, jumping exercises, fitness, and much, much more – but we also appreciate that not everyone has the extra income to tack another subscription cost onto their monthly outgoings. And so we were thrilled to stumble upon this video from British vlogger Emily Dobson, who, like us, is a huge fan of the Badminton and Burghley winner and decided to put one of her tried-and-tested jumping exercises to the test with her own horse, six-year-old Addie. Watch to see how they got on, the original inspiration for the session, and, most importantly, how to put it all together in your own arena. Happy jumping!