Classic Eventing Nation

Friday Video from World Equestrian Brands: Captain Mark Phillips on Luhmühlen

By on Jun 17, 2016 5:30 pm -

Captain Mark Phillips has been Luhmühlen’s course designer since 2005, its first year as a CCI4* event. In 2013 his contract was extended by three year’s and will end after this year’s event, whereupon Mike Etherington-Smith will step into his shoes. 

The outgoing designer took a moment at this year’s event to reflect on his relationship with the German four-star and its team, and express the principles underlying his cross country design philosophy.

We’re all looking forward to seeing how tomorrow’s course rides — you can click here for a preview.

It’s garnered positive first impressions from the riders, including CCI4* dressage leader Julia Krajewski, who remarked, “The course is definitely at four-star-level. Technically, every question is asked of horse and rider. However, all fences are fair and inviting. Riding clear lines and getting into a good rhythm will be important. The ground is perfect and I am hoping for a strong round tomorrow.”

This animated course preview gives a good feel of the winding track, which will have riders paying extra close attention to their watches. Commented Great Britain’s Oliver Townend, who sits 11th on Black Tie: “There are many positive challenges on this course. Due to the course looping a few times, I think the round will feel rather lengthy. Staying within the optimum time might be difficult but should be achievable.”

By all accounts the footing looks superb, as was pointed out by Australia’s William Levett: “I am so happy the ground is looking so good. There are many corners and skinnies on the way, so concentration will be important tomorrow. I think staying within the optimum time will be a challenge due to the many turns along the way. The water complex is definitely four-star and requires precision and positive riding.”

Germany’s own Andreas Dibowski, currently in fourth with It’s Me xx, said, “The course has been designed to give even horses with little experience a positive round, which is what Luhmühlen stands for. All questions are clearly defined and the combinations have been set out to be variable, giving each rider plenty of options.”

Stay tuned for much more from Luhmühlen. The FEI TV broadcast of CCI4* cross country starts tomorrow at 8 a.m. EST. You can watch live at this link. 

Luhmühlen: Website, Orders of Go, CCI4* Live Scores, CIC3* Live Scores, Course Preview, FEI TV, Facebook, Twitter

Go Eventing.

Luhmühlen Day Two: Julia Krajewski Is New CCI4* Dressage Leader, Boyd Martin Sits 20th

By on Jun 17, 2016 3:00 pm -
Boyd Martin and Crackerjack at Luhmühlen in 2016. Photo by Libby Law Photography. Boyd Martin and Crackerjack at Luhmühlen in 2016. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Yesterday’s Luhmühlen CCI4* leader Julien Despontin was nudged off his perch today by Germany’s Julia Krajewski and Samourai du Thot, who scored a 39.0 to become our leaders heading into cross country.

It was a dismal, soggy afternoon but Julia says the weather may have in fact given her “Sam,” a 10-year-old Selle Français, an unexpected boost

“I had planned to ride my test in lovely sunshine; instead we got rained on,” she said. “Sam was brilliant, though. In fact, I think the rain worked to our advantage, as he lifted his feet that little bit higher, making his trot work very strong. He was totally at ease with the atmosphere in front of the grandstand, which is why we were able to produce the test we did.”

Luhmühlen is both Julia and her mount’s first four-star attempt and they couldn’t have had a better lead-up to it this spring, most recently winning the Coral Estate H.T. Renswoude CIC3* at the beginning of the month.

Her plan for tomorrow: “I am hoping to give Sam a good and safe round, as he is a very careful jumper, and I want him to feel confident. He is fit and we should be able to produce a solid round.”

Julia Krajewski and Samourai du Thot. Photo by Thomas Ix.

Julia Krajewski and Samourai du Thot. Photo by Thomas Ix.

Belgium’s Julien Despontin and Waldano moved into second place, with Australia’s Emma Dougall and Belcam Bear on their heels in third. Fourth-positioned German Andreas Dibowski and It’s Me xx likewise may have benefitted from a little rain on their parade.

“Itsy was in top form today!” Andreas said. “The rain came just at the right time. It didn’t have to be quite as much, but it kept the horrid horseflies away! Earlier in the day Itsy was so annoyed with the horseflies, that I was really concerned how this would affect his performance in the dressage arena. With the rain the gelding was calm and focused, producing the test of his life!”

Andreas Dibowski and It’s Me xx. Photo by Thomas Ix.

Andreas Dibowski and It’s Me xx. Photo by Thomas Ix.

Boyd Martin and Lucy Boyton Lie’s Crackerjack lie in 20th heading into cross country on a score of 52.1. This pair is thirsty for redemption after their Badminton run ended early at the Vicarage Vee, as it did for many, in May, and we can’t wait to see them eat up tomorrow’s track. The ground looks perfect and riders are raving about the fair and inviting yet plenty-stiff track — best of luck to all!

Boyd Martin and Crackerjack. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Boyd Martin and Crackerjack. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

CIC3*

Here again fortunes shifted overnight, with Germany’s Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo taking the lead of the German Championship on a dressage score of 32.7.

“He was exceptional today,” Sandra said. “He was concentrating throughout the test, working with me all the way. I think he feels at ease here in Luhmühlen and he enjoyed the test as much as I did.” The pair has taken part in many Championships before, but never had the opportunity to compete in the nationals together.”

Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo. Photo by Thomas Ix.

Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo. Photo by Thomas Ix.

Thursday leader Andrew Hoy of Australia and Cheeky Calimbo were relegated to second, and the top three was rounded out Ingrid Klimke, riding Horseware Hale Bob OLD. Said last year’s Luhmühlen CCI4* winner: “He was unbelievable today! Especially his trot work was fantastic. He was very expressive and I was able to really go for it — he gave me all I asked of him. The whole test was so enjoyable.”

Two Canadians are competing in the CIC3* division: Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee completed their test today and will head to cross country in ninth position (45.0)…

Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

… and Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master, whose Thursday dressage test landed in 21st (51.1.).

Like the CCI4* cross country track, positive remarks abound about the CIC3* course. From dressage leader Sandra Auffarth: “The course is beautifully built. All fences are inviting, asking all the questions a challenging cross-country course at this level needs. At the same time, there is plenty galloping in between.”

Click here for a preview of the course, and stay tuned for much more from Luhmühlen. The FEI TV broadcast of CCI4* cross country starts tomorrow at 8 a.m. EST. You can watch live at this link. Go Eventing.

Luhmühlen: Website, Orders of Go, CCI4* Live Scores, CIC3* Live Scores, Course Preview, FEI TV, Facebook, Twitter

CCI4* Top 10 after dressage

Screen Shot 2016-06-17 at 1.47.16 PM

CIC3* Top 10 after dressage

Screen Shot 2016-06-17 at 1.43.24 PM

An Eventer Goes to the Laundromat

By on Jun 17, 2016 1:00 pm -

I’ve successfully avoided having to address my tack hoarding issues for years but earlier this week things finally came to a head. I agreed to haul a barnmate to a dressage clinic this weekend and didn’t want to get sued when she opened my trailer tack room and literally got buried alive in “stuff.”

“But it’s IMPORTANT stuff, your honor!” would be my argument to the judge. You never know when you’re going to run across a horse that would benefit from that shadow roll cover I bought for $10 (a bargain!) at a consignment tack shop in Aiken. Likewise, that left glove I’ve been missing since 1997 could turn up any day now. USCTA memorabilia? Who knows how much that’s going for on eBay. And if you’re hating on my massive bit collection, let’s be honest: you’re just jealous.

Anyway, I knew that if I could just get the bulky stuff out of there — blankets, extra saddle pads and the like — and store them in my basement, it would free up a lot of room. I pulled it all out into the light of day to get a better feel for just how much like sweaty armpit mold everything actually smelled.

FullSizeRender (13)

Yep. These bad boys weren’t going anywhere until they passed through a laundromat. I piled it all up in the back of my truck and set off in the direction of the sketchiest one-county-over laundromat I hadn’t yet been banned from.

FullSizeRender (5)

#ProTips: Attributes of an ideal laundromat for horse laundry…

FullSizeRender (6)

Visit during off-hours if you can — 2 a.m. is ideal. But still wear a ball cap and sunglasses just in case.

IMG_7592

Steer clear of laundromats that offer amenities like free wifi, drop-off service and kid play areas — you and your filthy disgusting poop-perfumed horse laundry will NOT be welcome.

1980s arcade games are a bonus.

1980s arcade games are a bonus.

Step #1: Stake out the largest industrial-size washer(s) in the joint. Stuff in the goods as fast as you can, then dump in two to three times the amount of detergent that the sign tells you to use.

FullSizeRender (10)

Step #2: Act casual as you lean up against the machine, blocking the view of sloshing brown water as best you can from security cameras.

That's not chocolate milk.

That ain’t no chocolate milk.

Step #3: Suddenly remember that you are still wearing your breeches, which is the laundromat equivalent of a bank robber wearing pantyhose on their head. Good job, Captain Obvious.

FullSizeRender (7)

Step #4: As soon as your laundry is finished (and you’ve cleaned out the washers/driers if you trashed them) make like Sea Biscuit and get out of there AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. As you leave, wave goodbye because you can never show your face here again.

Don't forget to grab your souvenir hairballs! Can't wait to show these babies to my husband.

Don’t forget to grab your souvenir hairballs! Can’t wait to show these babies to my husband.

Have any eventer-goes-to-the-laundromat tips and/or horror stories? Share them in the comments!

Go Eventing.

Meet Mary Davis: Winner of the Great KER ClockIt Fitness Challenge

By on Jun 17, 2016 11:00 am -
Photo courtesy of Mary Davis Photo courtesy of Mary Davis

This spring we partnered with Kentucky Equine Research (KER) to bring you the Great KER Clockit Fitness Challenge. Readers dutifully submitted their sessions using the KER Clockit Sport app for a chance to win some amazing prizes and we have a winner!

Huge congratulations to Mary Davis and her horse, Hogan!

Originally from Columbia, Maryland, Mary has been riding since the age of 8 and has owned Hogan since she was 16. Hogan is an OTTB who had raced 11 times before being being restarted under saddle. When Mary purchased him, the then 6-year-old Hogan was jumping 2’6” courses, but she knew he had the potential to go higher considering he had jumped out of a his field over a five-foot fence a few times.

Mary and Hogan’s journey in eventing hasn’t been completely smooth-sailing — the pair didn’t complete the cross-country phase of their event together — but they have steadily improved and progressed. Mary brought Hogan to school with her at Virginia Tech where she was a member of the Eventing Club and after graduating early last summer with her bachelor’s degree, they completed their first Novice USEA recognized event at Waredaca, their home base during winter and summer breaks from school.

Mary Davis and Hogan - your KER Clockit Fitness Challenge winners! Photo courtesy of Mary Davis.

Mary Davis and Hogan: Your Great KER ClockIt Fitness Challenge winners! Photo courtesy of Mary Davis.

Now 22 years old, Mary is a second year veterinary student at the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts and Hogan has again accompanied her to school, boarding just a mile away at Emerald Isles Eventing Center.

“I’m working hard to find enough time to ride him between classes,” said Mary. “Our goal this year is to qualify for the Classic 3-day at Waredaca.”

Mary is specifically looking to pursue equine medicine and she is especially interested in focusing on nutrition and sports medicine. As a scientifically-minded veterinary student, the KER Clockit app particularly piqued Mary’s interest.

The free app helps take the guesswork out of equine fitness by monitoring heart rate, speed, distance and altitude during rides. EN’s guide to the app explains all the details: 7 Reasons to Download KER ClockIt Sport.

“KER Clockit has been great in helping me keep him fit during our conditioning days because it lets me know when a set is done and to move on to the next one,” she said. “I like being able to look back at all the graphs and see how hard Hogan was working or if he wasn’t quite working hard enough.”

Mary’s winning session took place during March in Westborough, Massachusetts. It was Hogan’s first conditioning set day of the season: “The session started when we were walking over to the field. The field has some rolling hill and flat sections on it,” she reported. “Our first canter set was faster than normal because Hogan decided even after our first winter in Massachusetts he felt fit and raring to go!”

KER Clockit

Mary’s winning KER Clockit Session.

In addition to $100 gift card to shop.kerx.com and an EcoGold Secure XC Saddle Pad, Mary also won a lesson of her choice from either Buck Davidson, Liz Halliday-Sharp, or Dom or Jimmie Schramm. Mary chose to have her lesson with Buck, whom she hopes can help her improve Hogan’s rideability and adjustability over fences, as well as his confidence.

“Hogan tends to be timid when it comes to cross country and I would love for some help working on making him braver,” she said.

Congratulations again to Mary, and thank you to everyone who participated in the Challenge!

Go Eventing.

Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen Are Coming Stateside for Great Meadow

By on Jun 17, 2016 9:30 am -
Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen at Bramham. Photo by Libby Law Photography. Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen at Bramham. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

We are excited to see this name added to the Land Rover Geat Meadow International entry list: Clark Montgomery, who is fresh off a sensational second place finish in the Event Rider Masters CIC3* class at Bramham last weekend. 

Clark and Loughan Glen are in top form and, with their string of accolades ever-growing they were a no-brainer to make our Who’s Going to Rio? EN’s Picks for the U.S. Olympic Team list earlier this week.  Great Meadow, held July 8-10, serves as the mandatory team outing, so assuming the selection committee agrees that they’re serious contenders for Rio (a total of 12 combinations, four team members and up to eight reserves, will be named on Monday, June 20) it makes sense to see this pair on the roster.

Other U.S. combinations added since we first previewed the list here:

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive

Lynn Symansky and Cascani

Savannah Fulton and Captain Jack 

Justine Dutton and Huck Finn

Justine Dutton and Jak My Style

Kurt Martin and Delux Z

Elisa Wallace and Simply Priceless

Joe Meyer and Clip Clop 

Hallie Coon and Celien

Kate Chadderton and Collection Pass

Kate Chadderton and McCuan Civil Liberty

In addition to serving as the team outing, Great Meadow will be the first FEI Nations Cup leg ever held in North America. 

Because entries are limited to 40 combinations, there will be a draw to determine the final entry list. While you see multiple horses entered for some riders, no rider will compete more than two horses. The entry and draw process is explained at this link. (The current FEI World Eventing Athlete Rankings (WRL) are at this link.) Click here for the omnibus listing and here for the official FEI schedule.

The closing date is June 21 and we’ll be keeping a close eye on it between now and then.

The competition will begin with the first horse inspection on Friday afternoon, July 8. Dressage will start Saturday morning on July 9 and continue through the afternoon, followed by show jumping under the lights that night. Cross country will be held Sunday morning, July 10. Click here for ticket information.

Keep it locked on EN for everything you need to know about #GMI2016. You can also follow the event on Facebook here, Twitter here, Instagram here and check out the website here for more details.

[Land Rover Great Meadow International presented by Adequan]

 

 

Friday News & Notes from FLAIR Nasal Strips

By on Jun 17, 2016 1:00 am -
Crackers enjoying some German sunshine! Photo by Avery Klunick.

Crackerjack (AKA “Crackers”) enjoying some German sunshine! Keep it locked on EN for all the latest news from Luhmuhlen. Photo by Avery Klunick.

Nyls gets a little mini summer vacation every year after the spring season quits, and then in June he starts coming back. By that I mean he spends about three weeks ballooning up like somebody put an air pump into his mouth, and then by June I just can’t take it anymore and I have to start doing trot sets on him.

When I begin trot setting and hacking, I tend to be lazy and use the hackamore, since I won’t be going any speeds where I can’t stop (theoretically), so he takes full advantage of the eating opportunities presented by this bridle. He recently decided that he would like to master the art of trotting AND grazing, only to find out that’s not conducive to looking where you’re going, and ran head first into a bunch of daisies and scared the crap out of himself. Big bad event horse.

Luhmühlen Links: Website, Orders of Go, CCI4* Live Scores, CIC3* Live Scores, Course Preview, Facebook, Twitter

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Great Vista H.T. [Website]

Seneca Valley H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

Bucks County Horse Park H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

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

Silverwood Farm Spring H.T. [Website]

Golden Spike H.T. [Entry Status/Ride Times]

News From Around the Globe:

Andrew Nicholson is contesting his first four-star competition since his fall at Gatcombe last August. He is competing this weekend at Luhmuhlen on Perfect Stranger, making his four-star debut, and Qwanza. After a win last weekend at Bramham International Horse Trials, Andrew his hoping to get a good result in Germany. [Nicholson Goes to Luhmühlen]

Speaking of Luhmühlen … did you miss the course preview? [Luhmühlen Video Course Preview]

We’re giving you a chance to win a brand new Tipperary Sportage 8500 helmet! All you have to do is share your summer selfies with us to be entered. Put on a Tipperary vest and/or helmet and snap a selfie with your horse. Post it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with with the hashtag #ENsummerselfie, or email your photo to [email protected]. You’ll receive one entry for wearing a Tipperary helmet or vest and double entries if you wear both. [Tipperary Sportage 8500 Contest]

If you haven’t ridden in a Tush Cush, you haven’t lived. Even with a butter soft saddle, hours of riding in the summer can make your bottom feel a bit dead to the world. Going on a very long hack? Heading out on a 45 minute trot set from hell in the 90 degree weather? A Tush Cush can change your life, and make your bottom very happy. [SmartPak Product of the Day]

Ingrid Klimke and her mare FRH Escada JS with helmet cam @ the CIC3 Luhmühlen 2013.

 

Thursday Video from Nupafeed: Fair Hill from a Different Perspective

By on Jun 16, 2016 5:00 pm -

Combined driving is the eventing of the carriage world: competitors perform in three phases, including driven dressage, marathon and cones. The marathon portion is usually viewed as one of the most exciting phases, as drivers and horses with their navigators plot a course through obstacles and cover miles of terrain.

Want to see for yourself? Ride along on the marathon course with driver Cindy Vollers and her matching 10-year-old Arab/Friesians Dark Timke and Dark Upke from the point of view of navigator Steve Vollers. The event is the Elk Creek Combined Driving Event, held June 4-5 and hosted by a stomping grounds many eventers will find familiar, Fair Hill International.

Bonus points if you watch all the way through to 13:00 where the course takes competitors through a giant, terrifying culvert (which the Vollers and horses handle like champions!)

This video is long, but trust us: it’s worth it to ride along with the navigator for the marathon portion of combined driving behind a pair of unstoppable AraboFriesians while rocking out to Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Go Eventing.

Product Review: Cavalor Electrolyte Balance

By on Jun 16, 2016 3:00 pm -
Cavalor Electrolyte Balance in my feed tub at home. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Cavalor Electrolyte Balance in my feed tub at home. Photo by Kate Samuels.

With the summer heat and stress of competition and training under duress, it’s important for us to consider how we help our equine athletes replenish their electrolytes so that they can perform at the top of their capabilities. Researching the different available electrolytes, understanding the ingredients that set them apart, and knowing how to help your horse properly absorb the nutrients are all parts of making the decision about which electrolyte supplement to use.

First off, why are electrolytes important, and why can’t we just provide a salt lick like the old days? Cavalor recently wrote a wonderful educational article discussing the significance of electrolyte mixtures in your horse’s diet.

“Electrolytes are minerals that pass electrical impulses through the body. They have the ability to bind with other ions to form salt crystals. Electrolytes are especially important for fluid regulation, maintaining the pH balance in the body, and can be regarded as the driving force behind water transportation through the entire body. In addition, they have a big influence on muscle and nerve functions. The most important electrolytes are sodium, potassium and chloride.”

I’ve always fed electrolytes to my horses year-round, even in the winter when I know a lot of people taper off. I’ve had good drinkers, bad drinkers, sweat monsters and horses that wouldn’t break a sweat in the 90-degree heat on cross country. I want my horses to always stay as hydrated as possible, as I know how important hydration is to the function of the body and the organs from personal experience of dehydration.

My first concern when choosing an electrolyte is the ingredients, and I usually compare products as I go. Quite a few electrolytes only contain salt (sodium chloride), but lack potassium. Without potassium, the salt will not be absorbed as well. Cavalor Electrolyte Balance (and its liquid counterpart, Electroliq Balance) are fully balanced electrolyte mixtures containing all of the ingredients that a horse loses while sweating. This supplement also uses a form of fructose as a nutrient carrier that is proven to support the intake of electrolytes.

DSC_5026

Cavalor Electrolyte Balance passed the taste test. Photo by Kate Samuels.

I have one horse who is quite a picky eater, and is, of course, the heaviest sweating horse in the barn, which can make things troublesome. He loves his salt block, but ironically does not like it when his feed tastes salty. Cavalor Electrolyte Balance actually tastes different than any other electrolyte that I’ve tasted (and yes, I taste them) in that it’s smells sweet and has a pleasant flavor that does not offend even the pickiest eater. This is the first time that I can add the appropriate three scoops of electrolyte to his feed and he doesn’t protest.

While I was doing my research for this product review, I learned that a lot of us (myself included) have been feeding electrolytes incorrectly for maximum efficacy. I put the electrolytes in my horse’s morning feed along with all his other supplements, but Cavalor specifically recommends using electrolytes no more than two hours before exercise, because horses are unable to store electrolytes in their body, and the morning dose will be excreted through urine before an afternoon ride.

While giving a snack with powdered electrolyte isn’t always convenient, Cavalor Electroliq Balance offers a liquid version of the same product that can be tubed into the mouth at any time. This is also a handy solution for the horses that magically leave the powdered supplements at the bottom of their bucket at the end of feeding time.

Last but not least, Cavalor Electrolyte Balance is legal for FEI competitions, just like all other Cavalor products and supplements, which takes the worry out of feeding an upper-level horse during the competition season.

This summer, Cavalor is launching a promotion for all three of its supplement products containing electrolytes: Electrolyte Balance, Electroliq Balance and Energy Booster. They will be placing a big yellow peel-off sticker coupon on bags of Cavalor feed for $5 off any of the three products listed above.

The Electrolyte Balance powder comes in an 800g container (approximately an 18-day supply) and a 5kg container (approximately 111-day supply). The 800g container has a suggested retail price of $28.99 while the 5kg container has a suggested retail price of $106.99. Cavalor has a customized store locator map on their website for you to find your nearest retailer.

Luhmühlen Day One: Julien Despontin Holds CCI4* Lead, Rebecca Howard 7th in CIC3*

By on Jun 16, 2016 12:39 pm -
Julien Despontin and Waldano 36. Photo by Thomas Ix.

Julien Despontin and Waldano 36. Photo by Thomas Ix.

History is repeating itself so far at Luhmühlen, where 26-year-old Julien Despontin and Waldano 36 hold the lead in the CCI4* after the first day of dressage, just as the Belgian combination did last year. Their score of 40.2 has them narrowly sitting in first place over Emma Dougall and Belcam Bear.

“He was a little tense at first, which is why I rode the canter section of the test a little more carefully than I would have liked,” Julien said. “However, the trot and walk was much improved compared to last year’s test, and the extended trot was very strong. Waldano is a great horse with a big personality.”

A former mount for Andreas Ostholt, Waldano 36 and Julien started their international career together, which he said makes sitting in first place all the more meaningful. “We have come a long way. When I first had Waldano, we were both still a little green and we have grown in this sport as a team.”

Julien recaps Waldano’s test: 

Australia’s Emma Dougall and Belcam Bear sit second in the CCI4* on 40.6. “There were a few minor insecurities in our test today. But he is a real sweetheart and a saint. Even though the rein back and a couple of the flying changes weren’t perfect, he was focused on his job throughout. Now I am looking forward to Saturday, as he is a brilliant, straight and bold cross country horse.”

Bill Levett and Improvise are also contributing to a strong Aussie performance at Luhmühlen thus far, sitting third on 45.5. Andrew Nicholson also had a strong test today in his first CCI4* back since his accident at Gatcombe last year, scoring 46.3 to sit in fifth place with Qwanza.

The first half of the 30-horse CCI4* field went today, and North America’s sole representatives Boyd Martin and Crackerjack will do their test tomorrow at 2:20 p.m. local time/8:20 a.m. EST. You can watch their test live on FEI TV.

Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

We have two Canadians in the larger CIC3* division, where combinations representing 12 different nations are making their final bid for Olympic selection. We are just 50 days away from the start of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and the pressure is on to produce one last strong performance before teams are named.

Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master are currently sitting seventh on 50.1 for Canada after the first day of dressage. The 15-year-old Canadian Sport Horse gelding owned by Blithe Hill Farm is coming off a strong sixth place finish in the CIC3* at Chatsworth last month. Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee will do their test tomorrow at 11:57 a.m. local time, 5:57 a.m. EST.

Kathryn Robinson walking the cross country course. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Kathryn Robinson walking the cross country course. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Australia also had a good day in the CIC3*, as Andrew Hoy and Cheeky Calimbo scored 35.3 to take an impressive lead as the only pair to crack the 30s so far.  “He did a wonderful job today. We have a very special bond which allows me to bring out the best in him. His canter work is exceptional, and his presence makes him truly unique. He is just a fabulous ride and I am very happy with today’s performance.”

Andrew Hoy all smiles after his leading CIC3* test with Cheeky Calimbo. Photo by Thomas Ix.

Andrew Hoy all smiles after his leading CIC3* test with Cheeky Calimbo. Photo by Thomas Ix.

Germany’s Stephanie Böhe sits in second in the CIC3* on 41.7 with Haytom, a 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Heraldik xx. “Haytom behaved impeccably and didn’t put a foot wrong, I am super proud. It’s our first time here in Luhmühlen — the arena and the atmosphere are amazing,” she said.

“Haytom was bred here by Tine Dietrich and he clearly wanted to present his owner Insa Horstmann a special birthday treat with such a brilliant performance. I have only been riding him since 2014, which was originally supposed to cover for maternity leave. Then things were going really well with us, and I was allowed to keep his ride until he eventually retires from eventing.”

Stephanie Böhe and Haytom. Photo by Thomas Ix.

Stephanie Böhe and Haytom. Photo by Thomas Ix.

The riders’ first impressions of Capt. Mark Phillips’ cross country indicate this won’t be a dressage show. Tim Price commented on the CCI4* track: “It’s a good course but stronger and more demanding than last year. It puts pressure on the rider — you really need to know your lines and speed in the combinations. The time seems a little tight.”

Ingrid Klimke also weighed in on the CIC3*: “The three-star course is brilliant. It’s certainly difficult enough, however fair and beautifully built; especially the water jumps are inviting and encouraging even for less experienced horses. The corners and skinny jumps need accuracy and concentration from both riders and horses.”

Click here for a preview of the course, and stay tuned for much more from Luhmühlen. The FEI TV broadcast of CCI4* dressage starts tomorrow at 8 a.m. EST. You can watch live at this link. Go Eventing.

Luhmühlen: Website, Orders of Go, CCI4* Live Scores, CIC3* Live Scores, Course Preview, FEI TV, Facebook, Twitter

">Screen Shot 2016-06-16 at 12.32.32 PM Screen Shot 2016-06-16 at 12.32.45 PM

#EventerSolutions: Barn as a Gym

By on Jun 16, 2016 11:00 am -

Where there are #EventerProblems there are #EventerSolutions, as we horsefolks tend to be a pretty crafty, resourceful and frugal (read: broke) bunch. In this spinoff series we spotlight some of your most inventive problem-solving masterpieces. Be sure to tag your photos with the hashtag #EventerSolutions on social for inclusion in future editions!

If you really want to be the weirdo at the gym who’s practicing canter transitions on a balance ball, by all means go ahead and knock yourself out. We’re not going to judge you!

Fly that freak flag as high as it will go. You do you.

Alternately, you could save face money on a gym membership by working out in the comfort of your own barn gym. Here are a few creative #EventerSolutions exercises you guys came up with:

#pullups day 2. Got to build core to ride better! Thisbe says she can’t even watch. #eventerproblems

A photo posted by Helen Brew (@helen_brew) on

Working out at #brouhahafarm @shaken__not__stirred #fearless #eventerproblems #monkeystrength

A video posted by Helen Brew (@helen_brew) on

There is always a way to get #plank work in #farmyoga #yogawithdan #shannonmayyoga

A video posted by Shannon May Menestrina (@sm_may_yoga) on

Not being fit enough #eventerproblems

A photo posted by kaytlin (@little._.warning) on

Who needs #crossfit when you have #barnfit ??? #eventerproblems

A photo posted by leah allen (@ewsequestrian) on

Go Eventing.