Classic Eventing Nation

Amelia Newcomb’s Top 3 Canter Exercises for Eventers

By on Nov 10, 2023 4:00 pm -

EN is pleased to partner with Amelia Newcomb Dressage for an exclusive training series, just in time for the off-season! Over the next few months, we’ll bring you regular training content from Amelia, whose “dressage for all” through online education makes learning accessible for more riders.

Amelia Newcomb is a USDF Gold medalist, a member of the prestigious USEF Dressage Development Program, and recipient of the Carol Lavell Prize from the Dressage Foundation. Based in Somis, CA, she incorporates complete dressage training from starting the young horse through the FEI levels.

Amelia works to develop a trusting and confident relationship between horse and rider. Her approach incorporates all aspects of horsemanship from basic groundwork to advanced dressage movements. The emphasis is always on the foundation with the basic trust, understanding, and relaxation for both horse and rider to create a harmonious partnership.

Amelia’s mantra has always been “Dressage for All,” which is evident in both her in person and online coaching. With a successful YouTube video library of hundreds of free educational videos, over 135,000 subscribers (and counting!), and thousands of students enrolled in her online USDF accredited courses, it is clear that Amelia has a passion for teaching and dressage. “I have been blessed with many great teachers in my career and I hope to help each and every one of my students develop a connection and solid relationship with their horses,” she says.

Learn more about Amelia on her website (www.amelianewcombdressage.com) or discover her free educational videos on her YouTube channel, Amelia Newcomb Dressage. And now, we’ll hand it over to the woman herself:

Pippa Funnell and Billy Walk On. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Love to jump? If you are an eventer, then the answer is most likely: yes! If you love jumping then you know how important it is to work on the quality of the canter so that you can make your distance to each fence and get a nice, clean jump over the fence. And in this video, I will be going over three flatwork exercises to help you with just that!

Before we get into the video, I just wanted to give a big thank you to Eventing Nation for helping to make this video possible. Though I am mainly a Dressage rider, my mantra is Dressage for All, and I believe that Dressage can help riders and horses across all disciplines.

Flatwork is a great way to improve your canter quality so that you can get a better distance, and jump higher and cleaner. Riding on the flat may not be as fun as jumping, but it is worth it to spend time doing some flatwork each week. Here are three flatwork exercises to help you improve your canter quality. First, a video I produced exclusively for Eventing Nation to visualize what I’ll explain below:

The Snowman

This is a great exercise to get your horse supple and easier to turn, bend, and maneuver around the course. It also will help to get your horse rounder and using their hind end.

To ride the Snowman, start riding a 20-meter circle in one direction, then change direction at the centerline and ride a 10-meter circle. As soon as you get back to the centerline, change direction and bend and ask for canter, going back onto your 20-meter circle.

Repeat the pattern by changing direction and trotting on your 10-meter circle, then cantering on your 20-meter circle.

If you haven’t done the Snowman exercise before, check out this video where I go into more detail:

The 5 x 5 Exercise

This exercise helps you work on the adjustability of the canter stride so it is easier to make the distance to your fences.

First, pick up the canter and begin counting your strides. Start the exercise by closing your calf and riding forward for five strides, then, shorten your horse’s stride for five strides using half-halts. Repeat this pattern of riding forward for five strides, and then bringing your horse back for five strides.

When you ride forward, remember to follow your horse’s motion with your seat after you close your leg.

As you bring your horse back in the canter with your half-halts, remember to first sit up and back, tighten your abdominals, and then give a little squeeze, release, squeeze, release with your wrist.

Walk-Canter Transitions

Once you feel like your trot-canter transitions are fairly solid, you can start introducing walk-canter transitions. As a Dressage rider, I work on lots of walk-canter to help develop collection in my horses. Walk-canter transitions are a great exercise to engage your horse’s hind end and get them rounder so that you can get a clean jump over your fences.

When you are working on these transitions, really focus on getting a nice active, collected walk, then ask for canter. Your goal is to have your horse canter right out of the walk without any trot steps!

As you are working on these exercises, keep in mind that it is important to ride each of the exercises in both directions. I like to ride each pattern about three times before switching directions. This will help your horse become straighter and to correctly develop their body so that they can stay sound, healthy, and have long, successful careers.

Watch the video at the top of this article and give these three exercises a try, and I know that you will see a difference in your jumping! Even if you aren’t an eventer, these exercises are great for improving the canter and getting your horse more supple and round. Again, thank you to Eventing Nation for collaborating with me and making this video possible!

Happy Riding!
Amelia

P.S. Want more help with your canter? Check out my FREE Canter PDF mini-course to help! Download the course here.

MARS Equestrian To Take on Badminton Title Sponsorship

By on Nov 10, 2023 1:46 pm -

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo: your 2023 Badminton champions. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.

MARS Equestrian™, who have a long relationship with the Equestrian Community, are to step up to be the title sponsor of Badminton Horse Trials in 2024 having been the presenting sponsor of the event since 2020.

Mars, Incorporated, who have led the field with their iconic brands, products and services for both humans and animals for generations, is a global business with a clear purpose that is striving towards improved sustainability and a healthy planet, on which people and pets can thrive.

“We are honoured to become one of only three title sponsors in the history of the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials,” said William Clements, President of Mars Equestrian. “Through this enhanced partnership, we strive to share Mars iconic brands and services as we work to achieve our vision of a better world for horses, pets, and people.”

“The eventing world is lucky to have the support of such a knowledgeable and generous company as Mars, and we have already enjoyed a happy two years of their support as presenting sponsor,” said Badminton Director Jane Tuckwell. “The fact that Mars wish to enhance their involvement with the Badminton is an honour in what will be our 75th-anniversary year and we are looking forward to developing their veterinary and welfare interest in the event.”

Badminton Horse Trials was started in 1949 by the 10th Duke of Beaufort on his estate in Gloucestershire to prepare riders for the Olympic Games. Great Britain are the current Olympic and European champions; this year’s Badminton winners, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, hold the individual European title.

The Mars Badminton Horse Trials takes place on May 8-12, 2024, and the Box Office opens on January 3rd.

Go For Gold: How to Set Yourself Up for Success at Goresbridge’s Event Horse Sale

By on Nov 10, 2023 12:00 pm -

Lot 5 in this year’s Goresbridge Go For Gold sale.

We’re just a couple of days away from the commencement of the 2023 Goresbridge Go For Gold Sale, which has a stocked line-up of three-to-five-year-old event prospects on its roster and plenty among those that we’ve already fallen in love with. But if this is your first-ever experience of a horse auction, you might well be wondering what on earth is going to happen over the next few days — and how you can be best-prepared to make the most of it. As seasoned Goresbridge attendees, we’ve pulled together some of our top tips for making sure you have a great week and end up with your dream horse.

Loop your trainer in 

Love is blind, but good trainers certainly aren’t — and just because you’ve gone doe-eyed over a slow-mo video of a scopey three-year-old clearing the wings, it doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the perfect horse. If you’re looking to buy a youngster, and particularly, if this is your first time doing so via a sale, send your shortlist over to your trainer and any other very knowledgeable folks you’ve got in your corner for their assessment. They may even have found another lot in the catalogue that’s well-suited to your needs that you’d missed in your own perusal. In any case, there are few things more valuable for any of us than people who can talk us down from the clouds and make us see sense before we hand over our bank details.

Get veterinary guidance

One of the great things about Goresbridge is the availability of X-rays for each lot – and there’s plenty of them, too. Most of us laypeople aren’t really going to be able to read an X-ray unless there’s something truly glaringly obvious, so once you’ve narrowed down your picks to the horses you’re keen to see in the flesh or bid on from afar, it’s time to rope your own trusted vet in on the process. Paying for them to review the plethora of X-rays available for each of the horses on your shortlist is an expense that could save you a massive headache down the line, because they’ll be able to spot chips, changes, and any red flags before you raise your hand to bid. From November 12th, each horse will also have a veterinary certificate and conformation videos uploaded to its listing, and will have undergone a full five-stage vetting by Goresbridge’s two veterinarians, giving you all you need to ensure peace of mind as you head into auction day. You’ll also be able to speak to Goresbridge vet Hugh Suffern MVB MRCVS, long-time vet for the Irish team, at the sale, and he can help you review radiographs, and if you’d like to bring your vet along, you can arrange for them to conduct their own examination of your horse(s) by contacting the Goresbridge office to set up appointment times.

Visiting your picks of the catalogue is made easy at Barnadown – and, if we’re honest, far too fun.

Give yourself plenty of time

Planning to head to Ireland to tackle the sales in person? Great! Goresbridge is a tonne of fun — but if you’re not prepared, you might find it overwhelming. The best way to maximise your time? Make a plan, and a robust short-list of horses you’d really like to see. Monday, November 13, is the big day for the ridden horses in this year’s catalogue, who will be showcased on the flat and over show jumps and cross-country fences through the day. From 10.30 a.m., all 23 ridden lots will be shown on the flat and over fences in numerical order; from 1.00 p.m., they’ll be shown over cross-country jumps, once again in numerical order. You can make arrangements directly with the sellers at the sale, or via the sales office, to trial them yourself, too, throughout the week, with the extensive facilities of Barnadown at your disposal.

Looking, instead, at unbacked three-year-old horses? Tuesday, November 14 will see them all loose-jumped and exhibited at Barnadown in the arena in front of the clubhouse, where you’ll be able to get hot food and drinks all day, too – it’s all, frankly, very sociable and good fun, even if the Irish weather doesn’t play ball. The action will begin at 9.00 a.m., with lots 24-99 loose-jumped in numerical order.

On Wednesday, November 15, the sale will begin promptly at 1.00 p.m. at the Amber Springs Hotel in the ballroom, and you’ll want to make sure you’re there in time to get yourself a good seat and a restorative pint of the dark stuff — but you’ve got the whole morning available to you if you’d like to see or try any of the lots. That might involve riding them, if you’re bidding on ridden horses; it may involve interacting with them in the stable and checking their legs out; it might simply be that you’d like the seller to trot the horse up for you and have a chinwag about their horse. It’s incredibly easy, in any case, to find the horse you’re looking for and the person associated with it: the stables each have the horse’s lot number and information on a card outside. You can call the Goresbridge office at +353 87 2569496 to arrange for specific appointment times, which is recommended if you’d like to ride.

Both the Amber Springs and Barnadown are really easy to get to: it’s just over an hour to drive there from Dublin Airport, where you can rent a car for very little for the few days you’ll be over, and it’s a quick commute from the hotel to the stables each day. If you’re planning to stay at Amber Springs, make sure you let them know when booking that you’re there for the Go For Gold sale, so you can benefit from a preferential rate — or, check out the other options available nearby. We rate the Ashdown Park Hotel if you want to make use of a really nice spa during your stay, too (and you will absolutely want to after a long day of viewing horses!).

Take notes

Those viewing days can be long, and while you might think you remember everything you’ve seen and liked or disliked, your brain will inevitably turn to liquid the second you get back to the hotel and pack yourself off to dinner. The easiest, most reliable way to ensure you’ve left no stone unturned? Grab yourself a hard copy of the catalogue — they can be found in the clubhouse at Barnadown or at the Amber Springs — and a pen, and jot down every fleeting thought you have about your shortlist horses. That’ll also help you if you spot something you hadn’t even considered — rather than simply being wowed on the day and forgetting which horse it was, or throwing all your other strict standards out the window, you can take notes and consider all the finer details later on in the day, or head over to the stables for a closer look. Likewise, if you’re following remotely and watching all the trials and loose-jumping via the livestream, you should also jot down your thoughts so you can ruminate on each horse after the action has wrapped each day. Sometimes, you’ll fall in love with something you didn’t like at all in its photos; other times, you’ll find yourself unmoved by a horse you thought you’d adore in the flesh. It’s all part and parcel of the process, and it’s all important.

Make sure you’re bidding-savvy

This is particularly important if you’re bidding remotely, because you’ll need to make sure you’re au fait with using the system properly. Regardless of whether you’re on site or remote, you’ll need to register as a bidder and confirm your card within seven days of the auction starting — and if you’ve pre-registered and added your card before that seven days, your card will need to be reconfirmed, otherwise your bids could be deleted, which would be a serious bummer once that fast-paced auction process gets underway. You’ll see a temporary charge of €500, which is held and then released back to you if you don’t ultimately buy a horse, and which is used to ensure your card is, in fact, working properly. (All this is, in effect, a formality: when you have placed the winning bid on a horse, you can pay with a different card, or via cheque or bank transfer: Goresbridge accepts Mastercard, Visa, Maestro, and Laser cards, and if you’d like to pay by cheque, you’ll need to get your bank to forward a reference for the maximum amount you’ll require to Goresbridge’s bank at Bank Of Ireland, Borris, Co. Carlow, Ireland, or by fax at +353 59 9771990. You can also pay by cash in Euros or Sterling if you really fancy making it rain.)

Once you’ve done that, we highly recommend moseying over to the Test Lot (Lot 00 or Lot 1000), which is in place purely to give you a no-risk chance to go through the process of placing a bid, so you’re familiar and comfortable with the confirmation messages you get and can be confident, when you do place a real bid on an actual lot, that you’ve done it properly.

Also – perhaps it goes without saying – if you’re bidding remotely, make sure you have a reliable internet connection, and be aware that even with high-speed internet, most livestreams lag slightly behind real time, so get your bids in early, watching the number on your horse’s lot, rather than waiting for the auctioneer on the feed to call out the most recent bid. Do, though, tune into the livestream regardless: any additional information, changes to the catalogue listing, stable vices, and the like will be read out by the auctioneer before he commences bidding on each lot.

Network like the wind, Bullseye

If there’s one thing horse people love, it’s chatting to other horse people — and you’ll bump into some great ones at Goresbridge. Of course, anyone who’s there to place a bid might keep their cards rather close to their chests, but don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with the pros — a casual chat about horse quality can turn into an interesting educational opportunity, if nothing else. It’s also well worth keeping an eye out for some of Goresbridge’s selection team, such as five-star rider Nicky Roncoroni, who can give you some great insights into the selection and sales process, and maybe even an inside scoop on that horse you’ve fallen in love with.

Know your limits

Auctions are exciting, intoxicating things, and it’s really easy to get caught up in the thrill of a bidding war — but if you set yourself hard limits ahead of time, you can ensure you’re really happy with your choices after that adrenaline rush wears off. Don’t want to spend more than $15,000? Great – now go and run that through an up-to-date currency converter and make sure you know what percentage your bank will charge you for a wire transfer, if that’s the way you’re going to pay, so you can adjust your maximum bidding price accordingly.

There’s an admin fee of 2% on card payments, which you’ll need to keep in mind if you’re sticking to a hard budget, and depending on where you’re buying from, you may be charged VAT – so if you’re unsure, contact Goresbridge to confirm and factor this into your calculations.

My favourite horse from the 2022 Go For Gold Sale – unfortunately not ultimately purchased by me, but by Andrew Hoy.

So you’ve bought a horse! Now what?

Congratulations! Your young diamond-in-the-rough could now follow in the footsteps of famous Goresbridge graduates such as Copper Beach, who went to five-star with Buck Davidson and, more recently, Cosby Green; Liz Halliday’s Cooley Nutcracker, the newly-minted USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Champion; Sarah Ennis’s Grantstown Jackson, who was the second-fastest of the day across the country at this year’s European Championships… the list, truly, goes on and on. But first, you’ve got to get your new purchase home so you can start that wonderful journey.

Fortunately for you, this is something that’s always been easy to handle at Goresbridge, who ensure that plenty of transporters are available on site to give you quotes and timeframes straight away, whether you’re adding your youngster to a lorryload heading back to the UK, or whether you need to arrange a much longer trip across the pond. It’s always worth contacting any other purchasers who you know are in the same neck of the woods as you, but even if you’re not familiar with the other bidders, you can speak to a Goresbridge representative either at the sale or by email to be put through to the folks who can organise all these logistics for you, leaving you free to pop open a bottle of champagne and celebrate the start of something new. You’ll likely get your horse quickly, too — those veterinary certificates, done in the 48 hours before the sale, mean your horse is ready to hit the road and start his new, grown-up life.

Ready to seize the day — and the sale? Head over to the Goresbridge catalogue to start narrowing down your shortlist. Happy shopping!

Friday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

By on Nov 10, 2023 12:03 am -

My first customer of the day asking for breakfast as soon as possible please? Photo by Kate Samuels.

I have almost exclusively weirdos with big personalities, but I have a new horse in the barn, and I have a feeling he will bloom into a big annoying personality just like the others, but for now, he is a simple delight. He whickers at me every time he sees me, he stands quietly for all grooming and massage. He leads like a gentleman. He doesn’t shove you into a corner when you clean his stall because he HAS to have a butt scratch. He does lick a lot, but he doesn’t try to disrobe me. It’s so relaxing having a regular horse sometimes!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Full Moon Farm’s Fall HT (Finksburg, MD) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (Reddick, FL) [Website] [Entries][Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

River Glen Fall H.T. (New Market, TN) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

News From Around the Globe:

Nobody loves a good NZ TB more than Muzi Pottinger, and we’ve all benefitted from it. With her five-star partners Just Kidding and Good Timing, she speeds across the courses with style. Muzi prefers the thoroughbred breed specifically for their trainability, which she says gets a bad reputation because the process of retraining is an intellectual exercise and different for each horse. [Muzi’s Magnificent Thoroughbreds]

Jonelle Price has a penchant for small feisty mares that cannot be denied. In fact, I’m more surprised when she isn’t riding a small mare with many opinions and lots of energy. Her new five-star partner Hiarado is no different, and Jonelle thinks she might just be her ticket to Paris next year, so that’s not a bad recommendation. [Meet Hiarado]

If you’re having a hard time getting insurance coverage for your event horse, you’re not alone. More and more eventers are finding it increasingly challenging to find insurance of any kind for no other reason than their discipline. Major insurance companies are dropping long-time clients in eventing, and refusing to insure any new horses, regardless of level of competition. Why is eventing being targeted? [Eventers Encounter Shrinking Insurance Market]

The hardest I’ve laughed all week:

 

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Book Season: Vanir Kamira’s Incredible Journey

By on Nov 9, 2023 5:24 pm -

Some horses stand out as potential superstars from the start.

This is the story of one that didn’t: Vanir Kamira (“Tilly”), an “ordinary” little mare who, through sheer determination and the building of an exceptional partnership with her rider Piggy March, won the two most important CCI5* horse trials in the world — Badminton and Burghley.

Bought from Ireland as a three-year-old by Trevor Dickens, who still owns her, Tilly started her eventing career in 2012 with Piggy, who is one of the world’s most celebrated event riders.

Piggy and Vanira Kamira. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

But the mare showed little to persuade Piggy that she had a bright future in the sport, and Piggy gave up the ride after one season. Circumstances brought the pair back together in the winter of 2016, and at Piggy’s Northamptonshire yard they started to form a bond.

Written with great honesty, Vanir Kamira: An incredible journey details the long and often-frustrating and difficult path Piggy and Tilly took to mutual trust, respect — and love. It is one that brought both to the absolute heights of their sport.

This book will fascinate anyone with an interest in horses, and especially anyone who likes to discover what makes these bewitching animals tick and how to help them feel and perform as well as they possibly can.

Vanir Kamira: An Incredible Journey is on sale at Your Horse Live (Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, 10-12 November), and during Piggy’s masterclass tour, Piggy TV on Tour, in November and December 2023 at the following locations:

November 17: Hartpury College, Glos

November 12: Arena UK, Notts

November 25: Bishop Burton, Yorks

November 29: Scottish National Equestrian Centre, West Lothian

December 2: Wellington Riding, Hants

Beginning December 1, the book will be available from Piggy’s website, www.piggymarch.com.

Where Are They Now? The Monart Grads Hitting the Big-Time

By on Nov 9, 2023 1:11 pm -

Karl Slezak and Hot Bobo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The 2023 Monart Sale will see a record number of 170+ 3-year-olds enter the sales ring, and as day two of bidding begins, the action’s really hitting up — but what are these young horses’ predecessors up to now?

Hot Bobo – one of three purchases for Karl and Katlyn Slezak in the 2017 Monart Sale has proved to be a wise investment, producing multiple international victories for the US-based Canadian rider. Taking the CCI3*L win at Tryon International in 2022, followed by the CCI4*-S at this year’s big Kentucky fixture, earned the duo their spot at the Pan American Games. The highly-rated mare jumped an elusive double clear to secure Team Canada the Gold and cement their Paris 2024 qualification.

Kilcandra Capitol – the 10-year-old was successfully piloted by Ireland’s Susie Berry to a top five finish at Blair Castle CCI4*L in 2022.  The Orestus gelding has proved to be a consistent performer for one of Ireland’s rising stars and made his team debut at CHIO Aachen in 2023.

Shannondale Archie – graduated from the 2018 sale and has since represented Australia at the Le Lion D’Anger World Young Horse Championships, as both a six and seven-year-old for Monart selector Bill Levett.  The Shannondale Sarco sired gelding finished fourth in his Advanced debut this season, going on to jump clear at Lignières CCI4*S most recently.

CBI Aldo – the 2018 sales topper went on to finish 8th at the six-year-old World Championships in 2021, and finished 4th at Blair Castle CCI3*L in 2022 with Kiwi Olympian Caroline Powell. He stepping up successfully to the CCI4* level this year, jumping double clear at Blenheim Palace CCI4*L.

With bidding for the 2023 sale now underway, Ireland’s leading elite horse auction is already attracting significant global interest. One of the many big names making the journey to the sale in person was Karen O’Connor, who said: “It’s unbelievable.  173 horses and the quality is off the charts! The beauty is, you can watch it online and bid from the States, and there’s literally thousands of people watching.  The thing is there’s so much transparency throughout the sale – you can talk to the owners, the breeders and get the back story on every horse.”

Bidding has closed for the first half of the lots in this year’s sale, and lots 87-173 will go under the hammer from 5PM GMT tonight, November 9th, via www.monartsale.auction

 

 

Who Jumped It Best? Young Rider Championship CCI1* from Galway Downs

By on Nov 9, 2023 10:25 am -

Who Jumped It Best?
We’ve got a brand new edition of Who Jumped It Best? coming your way from the Young Rider Championships, presented by USEA, held at Galway Downs at the start of November. This series of photos was shot by Sherry Stewart on the CCI1*-L track.

Cast your vote in the poll at the bottom of this article for the pair you feel presents the best overall picture. Good luck to all and happy voting!

Avery Tallman and Rehy Investor. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Olivia Keye and Chromatic Flyer. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Jillian Mader and Coolrock Wacko Jacko. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Caterina Ritson and This Lad is Gold. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Harper Padgett and Cooley Starship. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Scarlett Peinado and Shadow Inspector. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Luciana Hackett and Good As Cash. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Kylie Scott and LC O’Shawnisee. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Abigail Popa and Lutina. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Avery Tallman and BDE Olympic Royale. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Meet the Area VI Champions Crowned at Galway Downs

By on Nov 9, 2023 9:30 am -

Junior Novice: Isabella Rega and Blurred Lines. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Regional stars took center stage Sunday, Nov. 5, with all the razzle dazzle afforded to Saturday night’s contenders in the 2023 USEF CCI4*-L and CCI2*-L Eventing Championships, the Adequan CCI3*-L and the USEF Eventing Young Riders Championships presented by USEA.

Organizer Robert Kellerhouse remained on Cloud 9 seeing seniors, juniors and professionals at all levels showcased on the glitzy stage built for the Eventing Championships’ star-studded international roster.

The jumbotron displayed real time scoring for the final phases of 14 USEA Area VI Championship divisions, and contenders navigated the showcase stadium filled with colorful, creative fences in the jazzed atmosphere of the Grand Prix Arena.

“I think for our first attempt we knocked it out of the park,” said Andrea Pfeiffer, Area VI Chairman and Area VI Council member.

Along with added atmosphere, there was much more at stake in this year’s Area VI Championships because riders from all USEA regions were invited to take their shot at the titles. This unprecedented opportunity arose from the Area VI Council’s desire to plant the seeds for a true regional championship in the West. It’s also about promoting the idea that competing in different regions, environments and against different competitors is important to building winning horsemanship skills – a point emphasized by leaders at every level of the sport.

In addition to having contenders in all the divisions, those contenders and their crews helped pack the stands for the FEI competition, revving the amperage meter for everyone involved. “That really made me smile!” Pfeiffer said. “It was a national championship and it really felt like it.”

“My vision for the Area VI Championships is to make it special. If a show wants to host them, we need to ask how they are going to do that?” She acknowledges that filling the Championships divisions has been a challenge in the past, and that combining it this year with the multi-faceted Eventing Championships helped tremendously with that. So did special prizes, swag and being spotlit in the Grand Prix Arena.

Speaking of the spotlight, here are the 2023 AREA VI Champions.

Preliminary: Mickayla Howard and HH Ontario. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Preliminary Championships – Mikayla Howard and HH Ontario

Having won the Modified Training Challenge at Galway Downs last year, Mikayla Howard set her mind on prepping HH Ontario for a successful move up this year. She was surprised to be able to win the competitive division with two show jumping rails, but it was one of those days. HH Ontario’s characteristic nice dressage netted a 27.6, while cross-country required an extra push throughout to stay relatively close to the optimal time. That may have tired Ontario out a bit for show jumping, and Howard felt a few pilot errors may have played their part.

Nonetheless, it was a great way to finish a competition that Howard and her Avon Eventing crew look forward to and gear their goals toward all year. The Northern California professional had three Area VI Young Riders contending the USEF Championship and several horses and riders who took advantage of the Galway Downs’ popular Challenge divisions.

“We really appreciate all these different types of classes and we always have such a good time.”

Busy Tommy Greengard and Quick Quinn were reserve champions, and McKenzie Rollins and O Gigi SE were third.

Modified: Stephanie Goodman and Global Monmore. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Modified Championships – Stephanie Goodman & Global Monmore

Competing in the Area VI Championships was icing on the cake for Eagle, ID-based professional Stephanie Goodman. Her crew makes the 15-hour annual trek to Galway Downs every fall, this year with seven horses. She was thrilled to give Global Monmore, a young client’s horse, a terrific experience in what she described as a well-calibrated Modified event. These are few and far between, period, she noted, and finding one that hits that balance between “smaller than Prelim and a step above Training” is tough.

With just a few time faults on cross-country, Global Monmore rose easily to carry the division on a 36.4 and end his season on “super high point,” Goodman said. “Being able to ride in the Grand Prix ring for all these horses is great. There’s a lot of atmosphere and all our horses are actually jumping really well. Plus, it was really fun!”

Emily Schmitz and Fernhill Blueprint were second, and Audrey Fisher and GoldRiverDancer were third.

Modified/Training: Tommy Greengard and Cooley Sligo. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Modified/Training Championships – Tommy Greengard and Cooley Sligo

Still aglow from finishing as reserve champ in the USEF CCI4*-L Championships Saturday night, Tommy Greengard piloted Cooley Sligo to the top, adding nothing to their 22.7 dressage score. One of 5 horses Greengard rode in his post with Chocolate Horse Farm, Cooley Sligo is owned by client Megan Beachler, who finished an impressive 2nd in the American Eventing Championships Novice division earlier this year.

“He’s one of those unique horses who is very good in all three phases. He’s a terrific jumping horse, quite relaxed and a good mover, which helps with dressage.” Greengard loved having all the previous night’s atmospheric effects in place. “It’s great that they have the jumbotron and everything else going for the horses in the lower levels who haven’t seen that before.”

Taren Hoffos and Gusto were second on a 29.8 and Andrea Baxter and Camelot PJ followed on a 31.6.

Training/Novice: Seika Streets and Counterpoint. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Training Novice Championships – Seika Streets and Counterpoint

“This was a high point!” said Seika Streets, who leases the veteran upper-level campaigner, “Count” from Arnell Sporthorses. “We had a win at Novice at Woodside, and my trainers said, ‘Why don’t you keep this going and give this a shot!”

“It is a total privilege to ride him. He knows when the show is happening and gets super pumped up, he kicks into gear on cross-country, you know he’s going to make it home safe and he’ll jump everything more than it needs in stadium.”

“I was pretty confident in our abilities, and I knew we were going to give it our best out there.”

Alice Chan and Merriewold Quintessa were reserve champions.

Senior Training: Teresa Harcourt and Csongor. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Senior Training Rider Championships – Teresa Harcourt & Csongor

“It’s great to put a bow on the end of the year,” said Teresa Harcourt of her win with her own Csongor, aka “Blue.” She purchased him in August of 2022 after a seven-year hiatus from competing herself, during which she groomed for Bec Braitling and Arnell Sporthorses. “I’ve been able to build up a strong partnership with him, and it was great to have this week’s big environment of a national championship and to be around so many upper-level riders.”

The pair finished on their 28.6 dressage, amid a hectic, happy week. Teresa is USEA Area VI’s Young Rider Coordinator and was heavily involved in the preparations for the team’s CCI2*-L gold and CCI1*-L silver efforts. “It was a lot of work, but we cleaned up and it was a great weekend!” As a member of the Arnell Sporthorses posse, Teresa also had Bec Braitling’s reserve finish in the CCI4*-L National Championships to celebrate.

Shelby Murray and Mannoury vd Watermolen were second on a 30, and Eri Takada and Toronto Z were third on a 35.6.

Junior Training: Maddie Kelly and Favoloso. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Junior Training Rider Championships – Maddie Kelly and Favoloso

18-year-old Maddie Kelly had a happy trip back to Idaho, reflecting on how “all the stars aligned this weekend.” A student of Stephanie Goodman, Kelly began leasing Favoloso early this year and initially struggled to “feel on the same page” – especially in dressage. Finally, dressage felt “easy,” resulting in a 30.6 score. A few time faults impacted a cross-country track that “was good for him – it kept him engaged, but was not too challenging. That’s one of his hardest phases and he was a very good boy.” They sailed double-clear in show jumping, to retake the top spot.

Sophie Celeste and Max Attraction finished second on a 33.1, and Raney Wolfers and Kingston V.E. were third on a 33.4.

Senior Novice: Keelari Mauzy and West Coast Cooley. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Senior Novice Rider Championship – Keelari Mauzy and West Coast Cooley

It was love at first sight when Keelari Mauzy set eyes on her dream horse on a dream horse shopping trip to Ireland two years ago. Since then, random realities made consistent progress difficult but it’s all come together this year, and especially in their fault-free 29.4 finish in this division. The San Diego-based amateur produced West Coast Cooley on her own and was thrilled to qualify for the Area VI Championships and to have it be close to home.

“With the really great success we had this weekend, I’m thinking of setting a new goal for next year,” reports the owner of a PEMF business for horses, people and small animals. She’s qualified already for the American Eventing Championships and looks forward to returning to Galway Downs.

Johana Ligtenberg and Hunters Bolero finished second on their 30 dressage, and Maxine Beck and Laguna Seca followed on their 30.6 effort for third.

Junior Novice: Isabella Rega and Blurred Lines. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Junior Novice Rider Championship – Isabella Rega and Blurred Lines

A 4th place finish in the huge field at the American Eventing Championships in August, in Kentucky, inspired Isabella Rega to see if she could keep her roll going here at the Area VI Championships. “We’ve done so many Novice divisions it feels pretty easy,” she said of a 26.9 dressage score and flawless cross-country and show jumping. “It was all pretty straight forward.”

A student of Sabrina Miller’s Riding Academy, Rega said a move up next year is on the agenda.

Lauren Hsieh and Happy Prospect were tied with Rega throughout the run, taking second on a hair’s breadth time difference in cross-country. Kennedy Wiklund and Atta Boy Atticus were third.

Junior Beginner Novice: Charlotte Boleda and Bellechase. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Junior Beginner Novice Rider Championship — Charlotte Boleda & Bellechase

Great advice from a great rider helped Charlotte Boleda and Bellechase get where they are today. “Tamie Smith told me easy horses don’t make great riders,” Boleda said. Through the tough times of their first year together, “I said, ‘This guy has too much potential to let it go to waste,” explained Boleda, who trains regularly with Olivia Putrino.

The 6-year-old Irish Sporthorse came through for Charlotte today, finishing fault free on their 30 dressage score. “He’s super brave and I like horses that are spicy! They’re more fun.”

Katherine Jackman and Prada were reserve champions on a 34.1 effort.

Novice/Beginner Novice: Chloe Smyth and Topper. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Novice/Beginner Novice Championship – Chloe Smyth and Topper

Marian Cerrilly’s “Topper” is a really great young horse,” said the professional, who won on a 27.7. “He has been a pleasure to bring along.

“We love coming to Galway and always enjoying seeing the improvements. I want to give a huge thank you to my team at White Horse Eventing for keeping everything running smoothly.”

Dawn Scott and Cappa Aoife finished second on a 32.

Senior Beginner Novice: Justin Flach and Aracelli. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Senior Beginner Novice Rider Championship – Justin Flach & Aracelli

The Area VI Championships “became a goal as we’ve had sort of a rough year,” explained Justin Flach. “We had to re-set and learn a few hard lessons.” Warm-up ring anxiety was the main issue for the 2012 Oldenburg mare and the former county-level show jumping rider. “We focused on re-introducing her to ideas and concepts that would get her comfortable in the warm-up arena and this week is the culmination of those efforts and of working through some tough times.”

Flach is also grateful to his fellow competitors for their welcoming attitude and approach to the competition, and to his wife for encouraging him to try eventing. These last two years, he’s “put a lot of miles” into dressage and cross-country, including work with trainers Robin Garrett and Darci Bayney, for dressage and show jumping respectively.

“And, it looks like I’ll be getting an eventing trainer soon,” he said. “Because, I’m not going to stop now!” Afterall, they already have a basic principle mastered – try to finish on your dressage score, in their case, a 32.1, to which they added nothing.

Annie Desmond and Little Elf were close behind on a 32.4 for second, and Mia Roeser and Miss Magnolia were third on a 36.7.

Senior Starter: Britt Sabbah and Delilah 111. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Senior Starter Championship – Britt Sabbah and Delilah 111

It’s not a typo. Britt Sabbah’s 5-year-old German Riding Pony, Delilah 111, in her second-ever away from home show, logged a 16.7 dressage score. Britt bought her to be a “dressage pony” and the mare is delivering the goods. “She really likes to jump so we do eventing to give her more life experiences.” Along with the lowest score of the show, Delilah got a “bright future” note on her score sheet from judge Axel Steiner. “He can be a tough one to impress, so that was very nice.”

Delilah handled the Championships amped up atmosphere just fine, but being separated from her “brother,” Sabbah’s other horse, was hard to handle. “I think everybody on the show grounds probably heard her calling to him during her cross-country warm-up. She’s extremely vocal. But once she was out on course, she was fine!”

Amber Ryan and Finding Nemo finished second with a 31, and Lisa Prior and May As Well were third.

Junior Starter: Bo Moore and Zodiac Kowboy. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Junior Starter Championship – Bo Moore and Zodiac Kowboy

“It was really fun,” said 15-year-old Bo Moore of her experience en route to winning this division. Initially locked in a tie after her 33.7 dressage ride with Zodiac Kowboy, this student of Sigourney Jellins set out determined to be close as possible to cross-country’s optimal time. She and the 10-year-old Thoroughbred were a little too fast, in fact, but they wound up edging into the top spot after only 1.6 time faults in stadium. It was a high point in their one-year partnership for this Northern California-based duo.

The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs (Temecula, CA) [Website] [Results] [More Coverage]

Thursday News & Notes

By on Nov 9, 2023 12:01 am -

Got enough room in there, buddy? Sammy clearly wasn’t sure if he was going to quite squeeze through the keyhole with Mia Farley at the Maryland Five-Star last month. Click ahead to the next photo to see him come to a quick realization that he did — in fact — have plenty of space. That said, not all keyholes are as open or friendly, and whether or not keyholes are appropriate cross country questions has been debated since what feels like their entire existence. What do you think, EN?

U.S. Weekend Preview

Full Moon Farm’s Fall HT (Finksburg, MD) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (Reddick, FL) [Website] [Entries][Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

River Glen Fall H.T. (New Market, TN) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

News From Around the Globe:

It came down to the wire for the prolific U.S. Show Jumping Team to clinch a team spot at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. They finally sealed the deal at the 2023 Pan American Games — which was the last chance for qualification. Though they were fifth provisionally after the first day of competition, they cemented their team gold spot on the final day and confirmed a spot in Paris. Joining them are the Canadians who qualified dressage, show jumping and eventing teams at the Pan Ams. [Paris 2024 places go to the wire in final race for Olympic team tickets]

Bubby Upton is officially back in the saddle following a spine surgery. The 24-year-old suffered a riding accident on the flat in August which lead to a lumbar spine surgery. After 11 weeks of rehabilitation, Bubby made her way home to horseback on November 7, and says, “This is my comeback and I’m going to continue giving it my absolute all.” [‘The day I’ve been dreaming about’: five-star rider shares major milestone following spinal surgery]

We’ve got good news from the Aharoni crew: Dutch Times is on the mend. Arielle Aharoni’s Dutch Times suffered an injury at the Maryland Five-Star last month, where the rider says he ruptured the superficial digital flexor tendon and will require at least nine months of rehab. He’s been doted on by Arielle while he’s on stall rest with hand grazing privileges. Though his future isn’t clear, Arielle doesn’t think he’ll be ready to retire anytime soon. [Dutch Times is on the mend]

 

Course Walks ‘Round the World: Eventing at China’s Student (Youth) Games

By on Nov 8, 2023 2:30 pm -

A beautifully decorated cross country awaits! Photo via Hong Kong Equestrian Federation.

Eventing in every region of the world has its own flavor. We’re fairly accustomed to the styles and look/feel of the cross country tracks in the U.S., UK, and Europe — but what about the tracks that have been meticulously built and decorated in other parts of the world?

I thought it might be a fun venture to highlight some of these courses here on EN. Most of what we source will come from CrossCountryApp — which, if you’re looking for a great rabbit hole to dive down, has a wide variety of international course maps — but let’s kick things off with the course at China’s Student (Youth) Games, which are underway in Nanning, China. Nanning is located in southern China, near the Vietnam border.

According to a news release, the Student (Youth) Games are “born out of the fusion of the National Youth Games and the National Student Games. This strategic move seeks to dismantle the barriers that separate the sports and education sectors, streamlining and refining the system of youth sporting events. In previous years, China used to organize campus and professional youth sports competitions separately, creating a dilemma for many students who had to choose between their studies and pursuing a career in sports.”

You can take a look at the cross country course designed by Sun Zhijian below or in the Facebook post from Hong Kong Equestrian Federation here.

Prepare for an exciting adventure on the Eventing Cross Country Course at The National 1st Student (Youth) Games of…

Posted by hong kong equestrian federation – official on Wednesday, November 8, 2023

The course, as you can see in the map below, twists and turns on itself to take advantage of a smaller space. It’s also been beautifully decorated with inviting fences and questions.

Coming up next: The highly anticipated Eventing Competition on 8-10 Nov! 🏇🌟

Enjoy these beautiful photos of our…

Posted by hong kong equestrian federation – official on Monday, November 6, 2023

Best of luck to all riders competing, and Go Eventing!