Classic Eventing Nation

And Yet We Ride On

By on Mar 13, 2016 12:00 pm -
Jessica Bortner-Harris and Win the War. Photo courtesy of Jordan Armstrong. Jessica Bortner-Harris and Win the War. Photo courtesy of Jordan Armstrong.

It was a beautiful January day, even for Aiken. Full Gallop was sunny and warm, and the parking lot was packed with competitors there to get 2016 off to a great start. I had competed Win the War, aka Bug, in the Intermediate earlier in the day to a third place and top OTTB, and I had just completed my young horse’s second Training, ending on his dressage score. I was beaming from ear to ear and feeling pretty great about how the year was starting.

My young horse, Bishop de Selah, is a phenomenal athlete and a quirky guy. He is not malicious in any way, but we call him the “grey squirrel” for a reason. He seemed pretty chill and was standing quietly tied to the trailer after his cross country run. He was untacked, and I was hot. I decided to take my helmet and vest off before taking him for a shower.

That is the last thing I remember before waking up on the ground surrounded by a lot of faces.

From what I can gather, I must have bent down to take off his hind boot about the same time that he spooked or I touched a sore spot. I can sit and ruminate on it for hours, but my brain won’t divulge the answer, so I will probably never know. What I do know is he kicked the side of my left arm where the humerus head goes into the shoulder.

The force of it broke my collarbone, most likely popped my shoulder in and out of socket, and then bounced off the top of my head. I am not sure how long I was knocked out, though I am sure it was a decent amount of time. I had blood coming out of my head, and a lot of pain in my left shoulder/collarbone when I awoke.

As soon as I woke up, I was completely lucid besides not knowing what the heck was going on. I knew where I was, why I was there, and I could rattle off my husband’s brand new phone number with ease. The two things that popped into my head as I was lying there were:

1. How the heck am I going to get Bug to Wellington for the Showcase?
2. My collarbone is broken and there is no way I will be able to go to Rolex!

I was more upset about those two things than much else. Once the EMT assured me that I wasn’t dying, that’s all I could really think about.

Fast forward to a few days later. My truck is a manual transmission, so I was stranded in Aiken with no way to go anywhere without help. I was beyond heartbroken about my accident and thus, my plans for Rolex being shattered.

All I wanted to do was figure out a way to get Bug to Wellington for the Showcase. If I couldn’t ride him, I wanted to be able to watch someone else do it. My very good friends, John and Kim Sigmon, came to my rescue. John brought Kim down to Aiken, and she and I set off on a great adventure.

After watching Dan Jocelyn with Bug those few days and being hopped up on a lot of pain drugs, I began the difficult mental journey of deciding just how I wanted to approach the rest of the year. Dan was very kind and did an excellent job with my boy.

Many think Bug is quite easy when they watch him go, but in reality, he is extremely intelligent and loves his job almost to the point of being unrideable at times. He will be quiet and almost hunter­like in the warm up and will go into the arena and be a completely different horse. It was educational and fun to watch Dan deal with Bug, and it was definitely a bit of a confidence boost to see that Dan dealt the same issues that I do.

While watching, I kept coming back to the same question. Do I skip Rolex completely this year and shoot to take him myself next year, or do I find a category A rider willing to compete him this spring and take him?

I have had Bug since he was a 4-year-old off the track, so we have been working together for coming up on 11 years. He and I know each other inside and out, and he is a ridiculous mama’s boy. He constantly kept an eye and ear on me while Dan was riding, just to be sure I was paying attention and approved. He is my heart horse and the horse of a lifetime.

My heart wants so badly to be the one to take him around Rolex for the first time. I want to feel that amazing boy run and jump over the biggest track in the U.S.

However, my mind kept poking my heart. I am not oblivious to the naysayers. There are many out there who think that Bug does all of the work, and I just sit up there for the ride. I am also quite aware that Bug will be 15 this year, and with horses, everything is a ticking time bomb. What if something happens to him in the next year? I KNOW that he is a four star horse with all of my heart and soul.

Do I risk him missing what I truly believe he is ready and made to I talked with a few people outside of my inner circle about my emotional hemming and hawing and even went so far as to talk with Dan about possibly riding Bug at Rolex. I wanted to get the opinion of some people that were not really emotionally involved with Bug and I.

Dan said that it was obvious Bug had what it takes to do it, but he had some concerns about who was going to keep him going and competing while he was in England. Obviously, his concerns were legitimate. Did I really want to pass Bug from rider to rider just to get him to Rolex?

Knowing Bug as I do, I just didn’t think that would be something he would like. However, my mind wasn’t quite ready to let go of having someone else ride him. I made the decision to call Clayton Fredericks. I have ridden with him enough times that he understands Bug and I, and he happens to be a Category A rider.

Obviously, he is coaching Canada, so I wasn’t really optimistic that he would be able to take him on himself, but I wanted to run my dilemma by him. I needed someone who knows us, but who is outside of my normal circle enough to give me an opinion.

I will be forever grateful to Clayton for his words of wisdom that night. In a nutshell, he said that he was sure lots of people would jump at the chance to take Bug around Rolex. “He’s an amazing horse. However, what makes Bug special is his bond with you. Why would you let someone else take this horse around his first four star? You have been working with him for 11 years, and you have made him. You are more than good enough to take him. Bug wants to go to Rolex with you.” Of course, I got all teary and thanked him for his words and time.

Even after making the decision that I would wait and take Bug myself, I still found it very difficult to actually type out the announcement for all of the people on FB that kept asking, “Will you still be able to go to Rolex?” Bug has a very big fan club all his own, and many people were excited to watch us go. However, actually typing out the words was difficult. It felt like my dream was hanging in limbo once more, as so many things can happen from here to there.

Those of us whose hearts beat in time with our horse’s hooves understand the passion and drive that fuels us forward in this inherently risky sport. We knowingly take the risk that our dreams could be shattered, our bodies injured, or our lives lost at any second, and yet, we ride on.

Cheering on Team Brazil at Red Hills

By on Mar 13, 2016 9:00 am -
Marcelo Tosi, Henrique Pinheiro and Marcio Calvalho Jorge: Brazil in Florida. Photo by Samantha Clark. Marcelo Tosi, Henrique Pinheiro and Marcio Calvalho Jorge: Brazil in Florida. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Don’t be alarmed if you’re at Red Hills Horse Trials this weekend, or in the general Ocala area during these next few weeks and see three rather handsome men in breeches wandering around together, but do be prepared to fall a tiny bit in love. Chances are you’ve bumped into Marcelo Tosi, Marcio Calvalho Jorge and Henrique Pinheiro, who are spending a month here in the USA while their horses complete quarantine requirements before heading to England to train with Mark Todd in preparation for the Olympics later this summer.

After spending seven days in Miami, Marcio’s three horses and one each for Marcelo and Enrique are now spending a month based at Liz Halliday-Sharp’s Horsepower Equestrian in Ocala. They each have a horse in the CIC2* here at Red Hills. After dressage under they occupied 5th (Marcelo Toss and Briefing DB Z) , 9th (Marcio Calvalho Jorge and Lissy Mac Wayer) and 24th (Henrique Pinheiro and Land Quenotte do Feroleto) places in a large division. In the cross country phase Marcio and Marcelo jumped clear with time, but Henrique was not so lucky and suffered a dunking when Land Quenotte do Feroleto crumpled on landing into the first water at Fence 8.

All three riders have previously spent considerable amounts of time in the UK training and competing before, anything from two to 10 years, but it’s the first competition in the USA for all of them, and they all have high praise for Ocala in general and Red Hills in particular. “It’s amazing. There are so many horses, a lot of horse farms, it’s an amazing place,” Marcio said. “The ground is very good for horses. It’s naturally sandy; the oaks are very beautiful.”

Henrique Piniero and Land Quenotte do Feroleto Photo By Samantha Clark

Henrique Piniero and Land Quenotte do Feroleto. Photo By Samantha Clark.

Marcio is riding his Pan American Games mare here, Lissy Mac Wayer, who he competed at three-star level in England at Chatsworth and Bramham, and at two or three three-stars in Brazil. “She can be a little bit difficult because she’s hot, she wants to go in the cross country, but I think this is good. For dressage she is a little bit hot but if you work well she can relax; she doesn’t like noise. In the dressage here she was relaxed.” Indeed, they turned in a lovely test, but for one rider error at the end when Marcio momentarily forgot the medium canter at the end of the test.

Marico shared that Mark Todd had advised him to not work Lissy on the flat the morning of his test as is his habit, but instead to take her for a hack and a quiet gallop in the cross country warm-up area, and this statregy seemed to work well.

The Brazilians are in almost constant contact with Mark while they’re here, and even when they were back at home last year in Brazil, Mark made the trip five times to train them there. To Henrique, that’s the real advantage to being in England as opposed to staying at home — having daily access to their coach, as well as the competition and the footing.

Marcelo Tosi and Briefing DB Z Photo By Samantha Clark

Marcelo Tosi and Briefing DB Z. Photo By Samantha Clark.

Leaving horses behind to concentrate on just one, both Marcelo and Henrique acknowledge it’s tough to stay sharp. “I think it’s quite hard for us to have just one horse to compete for five, six months. I think we lose a bit of condition. You go for something better and you lose something, but we’ll try to ride some horses in England, or do some fitness work, and we’ll have to try and compensate,” and they’re all making other sacrifices to try and make the team too.

Marcelo returned home to Brazil after 10 years abroad in Europe and England, only to now be returning to train with Mark in the hopes of a spot on the team for Rio. Henrique is leaving horses behind in Brazil to make the journey back to England with his one mare, Land Quenotte Do Feroleto, and if he doesn’t make it he says he’ll consider staying in England for Burghley or some other competitions, but otherwise he’ll be heading back home again. The horses have to complete the seven days strict quarantine (in Miami) and then 25 days in the U.S., “so we’re using the nice weather here, the nice competitions to improve the horses and train as well.”

Marcio Calvalho Jorge and Lissy Mac Wayer. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Marcio Calvalho Jorge and Lissy Mac Wayer. Photo by Jenni Autry.

They’ve got to be feeling pretty clever as competitions in England are currently being abandoned due to severe rainfall, and it’s cold and gloomy at this time of year. Not much incentive to get family to visit, which is hardly lost on Marcio who’s left a wife and two children behind in Brazil. “My two girls and my wife, maybe they can come, it’s very hard, I miss them.”

What’s obvious though, when you see them, is their team rapport and camaraderie, and hopefully this will see them through the rest of the infamously wet spring season in England, and fingers crossed all the way to Rio. “We have known each other and been friends for a long time, we’ve ridden together since we were kids. We are close, and it’s good because we can be there for one another and know when to tease each other if the pressure is on, or know when to back away if one is grumpy, it’s good we are here for each other.”

As much as they say they appreciate the friendliness and welcome they’ve been given in the USA and love eventing here, we’re just as happy to have them and would love to see them return. Many thanks to Marcelo, Marcio and Henrique for stopping to chat, and wishing them the very best of luck for the rest of the year! Go Brazilian Eventing!

#RHHT: Website, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Daylight Saving Time Sunday Links from One K Helmets

By on Mar 13, 2016 12:01 am -
Little wet at Woodside Horse Park. Photo from Tayside Sporthorses on Facebook Little wet at Woodside Horse Park. Photo from Tayside Sporthorses on Facebook

Rain. Lots and lots of rain. I’m sure you guys on the East Coast are like “Erin, this is no big deal. Water falls from the sky sometimes”, but I can’t begin to stress how apocalyptic this rain has been over the past four days. Yes, we’ve had a few breaks here and there. In fact, yesterday, there was a long enough storm break go for a quick hack before the deluge returned. My windshield wipers finally gave up and started peeling due to how hard they’ve been used recently. On top of that we lost an hour last night. Did you remember to change your clocks? Ugh. Worst. Day. Ever. Fortunately there’s only two more days of the wet stuff and then we’re back to mid-70s. But there’s no getting that hour back until Fall.

U.S. Weekend Action:

Southern Pines H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Schedule] [Live Scores]

Red Hills International CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Full Gallop Farm March II H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

Sunday Links:

Kentucky Equine Research and EN are teaming up to host the Great KER Fitness Challenge this spring! Download the free KER ClockIt Sport app for your phone and record your rides for a chance to win a $100 gift card to shop.kerx.com, an EcoGold Secure XC Saddle Pad, a lesson with your choice of Bruce Davidson, Liz Halliday-Sharp, or Dom or Jimmie Schramm; and feature story about you and your horse on EN. [Contest Details]

Does your horse have an inspiring story about coming back from a serious injury or illness? OCD Pellets wants to hear all about it! Send in your rehab to [email protected] for a chance to win an OCD prize pack (2-month supply of OCD Pellets, 1-month supply of COS Canine, and an OCD Pellets hat and T-shirt). Entries close Monday, May 2, 2016, and the story that receives the most views on EN will win. [Contest Details]

Activist chronicles wild horse roundups to guard against mistreatment

Man hospitalized after horse kick

The weird world of Cheltenham festival

‘War Horse’ closes in Britain but it’s influence gallops on

Horse Girl Georgina Bloomberg tries to make it all about her

Sunday Video:

11 Must-Read Quotes From Cross Country Day at Red Hills

By on Mar 12, 2016 7:00 pm -

Between every division running cross country at Red Hills International Horse Trials and the star-studded CIC3* division holding both show jumping and cross country, it’s an understatement to say it’s been a very busy day here in Tallahassee. We heard a smorgasbord of fantastic quotes in today’s press conferences, and we’re listing our favorites in this roundup. Enjoy!

#RHHT: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Phillip Dutton on CIC3* winner Fernhill Fugitive: “He’s not brilliant in any phase but he’s good in all phases, and that’s what you have to be to be an event horse.” (After clinching the three-star win today, “Jack” will likely forego his next Rolex prep run at Carolina International and aim for The Fork instead.)

Phillip Dutton on being one of the only riders in past years to ever make the optimum time in the CIC3*: “I slowed up a bit today.” (He has previously made the optimum time on The Foreman and Nova Top and came home 2 seconds over the optimum time today.)

On why Phillip Dutton likes the CIC format of show jumping before cross country: “I like them to be able to go into the show jumping feeling fresh and being able to improve them rather than riding them when they’re tired and sore.” (When asked how “Jack” felt in this morning’s show jumping, Phillip noted that “he never tries to chuck me out of the saddle.”)

If it takes a village, then Team Catalina has a pretty good one! #RHHT2016

A photo posted by Eventing Nation (@goeventing) on

Jennie Brannigan on having Catalina excel so early in her three-star career: “I knew there was a point at which she would be competitive amongst this quality and caliber of horses, but I didn’t necessarily think that was going to be this weekend We’re green at 13! I’m just over the moon — elated.” (This is technically the 13-year-old mare’s third Advanced horse trials; she has competed at Plantation Field, Fair Hill and now Red Hills.)

Jennie Brannigan on aiming Catalina at her first CCI4* next month: “I know I’ve thrown her in the deep end, but she has pretty much stepped up to the plate. I would never do anything that I felt wasn’t right for my horse.” (Fun fact: Catalina is also an American-bred horse. Click here to read more about her.) 

Hannah Sue Burnett on riding green horses across country: “A lot of thought goes into how they’re going to react and how your instinct has to take over constantly. They’re green and then by the end of the course maybe they’re not, and then they’re eating up the distances. It’s fun but it is hard work.” (In contrast, her experienced partner Harbour Pilot was on auto pilot today in the CIC3*, jumping clear to finish third despite pulling both front shoes on course.)

 

@freddoclayton and @carolinegmartin are topping the CIC2* leaderboard at Red Hills #rhht

 

A photo posted by Eventing Nation (@goeventing) on

Clayton Fredericks on keeping his edge as a coach and competitor: “I think it’s important even from the coaching perspective to stay current and realize actually how much pressure is on the riders when they go out cross country. You always walk the courses a little bit when you’re not riding, but there’s a lot to focus on. When you’re riding you really have to listen to your horse so much and let it all happen.” (Clayton is currently sitting in first and third with FE Bowman and FE Money Made, respectively.)

Caroline Martin on how she knows Effervescent is ready to move up to Advanced: “This is his second year at the Intermediate level so he’s pretty seasoned now at the two-star level, and I’m looking to move him up hopefully at The Fork, so I was hoping to make the time easily.” (They were one of three pairs to make the time and are currently sitting in second in the CIC2*.)

Hannah Sue Burnett and Mary Ann Ghadban's Alonzo III. Photo by Rare Air Eventing Photography.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Mary Ann Ghadban’s Alonzo III. Photo by Rare Air Eventing Photography.

Hannah Sue Burnett on CIC* leader Alonzo III: “To ride he’s a little firecracker. He really understands the phases. For cross country he’s all excited and really wound up and wants to be out there, but for dressage he’s really quite easy to ride.” (Hannah won the CIC* at Red Hills last year with Jitter Bug and is aiming for a repeat victory this year.)

Lauren Kieffer on her longtime partner Veronica leading the Advanced: “She was kind of mad that everyone went (cross country) before her in the barn! I try not to get too comfortable with her. We just kind of cruised around and let her go at her own pace, and it turned out well.” (Red Hills is Veronica’s first Advanced level competition since Blenheim last year.)

Ryan Wood on Woodstock Bennett sitting in third in Advanced: “It was a weekend of redemption after we fell at Pine Top last week. We cross country schooled a couple times, and he was great, so I was happy to get him home clear. … Mike (Etherington-Smith) is a master, and the horses are going to come out confident and ready for the next one.” (Ryan and “Bennett” fell at the massive hammock combination at Pine Top, which is now famous for more reasons than one.)

Clayton Fredericks and FE Bowman Hold Red Hills CIC2* Lead

By on Mar 12, 2016 6:00 pm -
Clayton Fredericks and FE Bowman. Photo by Rare Air Eventing Photography. Clayton Fredericks and FE Bowman. Photo by Rare Air Eventing Photography.

Clayton Fredericks held onto his Red Hills CIC2* overnight lead with FE Bowman thanks to a speedy cross country trip, but Caroline Martin and Effervescent broke up his party at the top of the leaderboard when they snuck in as one of only three pairs in the division to make the optimum time.

FE Bowman, an 8-year-old Wurttemberger gelding known as “Bowie” that Clayton owns with Amanda Bernhard and Diana Crawford, jumped clear with 1.2 time penalties to lead on 42.6, and he stablemate FE Money Made sits in third place on 48.8 after a clear round and 4.4 time penalties. “Connor,” a 7-year-old Westphalian gelding, shares the same group of owners and celebrated his birthday yesterday, making it a memorable weekend so far for Fredericks Equestrian.

“FE Bowman was great. He really locked on and galloped and jumped super. He is strong and very forward, so you have to be quite careful to press the go button with him because once you’ve pressed it, it’s pretty hard to do something else,” Clayton said.

“I started off and thought, ‘I’m going to let them tell me how they’re feeling.’ FE Money Made is pretty green and young, and he jumped super. Coming into the fences he was a little bit looking everywhere but at the jumps, although he jumped super when he finally sort of worked out how to get into it.”

Caroline Martin and Effervescent. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Caroline Martin and Effervescent. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Clayton competes on a lighter schedule because of his commitments as head coach of the Canadian Eventing Team, and he said it’s been valuable for him to be back competing at this level under the pressure of defending the lead after dressage in a competitive division.

“I think it’s important even from the coaching perspective to stay current and realize actually how much pressure is on the riders when they go out cross country,” Clayton said. “You always walk the courses a little bit when you’re not riding, but there’s a lot to focus on. When you’re riding you really have to listen to your horse so much and let it all happen.”

Caroline Martin and Effervescent, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Sherrie Martin, were one of only three combinations to make the optimum time on David O’Connor’s CIC2* course. “Landon,” who was produced through the Training level by JP Sheffield in England before coming to the States, is looking more than ready to tackle his next big goal of moving up to Advanced.

“He’s a really big horse and he has a really big stride, so it doesn’t feel like you’re going that fast and it doesn’t take that much to set him up anymore,” Caroline said. “This is his second year at the Intermediate level so he’s pretty seasoned now at the two-star level, and I’m looking to move him up hopefully at The Fork, so I was hoping to make the time easily.”

Clayton Fredericks and FE Money Made. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Clayton Fredericks and FE Money Made. Photo by Samantha Clark.

The cross country course ran in reverse direction this year, which Caroline said she thought greatly benefitted the first part of the track in particular: “I thought it definitely flowed the first two minutes a bit better. It just put you in a very forward thought process.”

Jessica Schultz and Lock N’Load and Katlyn Hewson and Fernhill Cascum Marco were the other two combinations to make the optimum time of 5 minutes, 37 seconds. There were three falls in the division, with all horses and riders walking away safely. Brazilian team rider Henrique Pinheiro and Land Quenotte do Feroleto jumped beautifully over the log in the Wildlife Pond before the mare lost her landing gear on the backside of the fence, sending them both for a swim.

There were three horse falls in all today, and everyone involved is uninjured sans bumps and bruises. Daisy Trayford and Normandy Soldier went down after the horse got tangled up in the angled brush at fence 4b on the CIC3* course. Ellie MacPhail and RF Panamera are uninjured after the mare misjudged a corner on the Intermediate course and fell.

If you’re just tuning in to EN, Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive won the CIC3* earlier in the afternoon on a final score of 43.2. Click here to read the full report. All other divisions will conclude with show jumping tomorrow. Lauren Kieffer and Veronica lead the Advanced division after cross country, with Hannah Sue Burnett and Alonzo III holding the top spot in the CIC.

We still have much more to bring you from Red Hills, including quotes from the CIC3* top three finishers and other division leaders, so stay tuned! We’re also playing a Caption That contest over on Instagram, so go check that out if you haven’t already. Go Eventing.

#RHHT: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, Twitter, EN’s Instagram

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Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive Fly to Red Hills CIC3* Win

By on Mar 12, 2016 3:00 pm -
#35. Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive. Photo by Jenni Autry. #35. Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The optimum time is notoriously hard to make in the CIC3* at Red Hills International Horse Trials, and Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive added just 0.8 cross country time penalties to his dressage score after jumping one of the nine double clear show jumping rounds this morning to bring home the win on 43.2.

Ferrnhill Fugitive an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Tom Tierney and Annie Jones, has now won his last two FEI starts, having also clinched first place at the Galway Downs CCI3* in California last fall. This latest victory establishes “Jack” as yet another weapon in Phillip Dutton’s arsenal as we look ahead to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Jennie Brannigan and Catalina, a 13-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Candace Kircher and Tim and Nina Gardner, tasted redemption when they also delivered a double clear show jumping round this morning to move up to second place. After their rocky performance in the $15,000 Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational on Tuesday, Jennie and Catalina looked very much back on their A-game today.

Jennie Brannigan and Catalina. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Jennie Brannigan and Catalina. Photo by Jenni Autry.

A clear cross country round with 5.6 time penalties saw Jennie and Catalina finish in second place on a final score of 50.0 in the mare’s third FEI competition at this level. After such a good showing in Tallahassee, Team Catalina has to be feeling pretty darn good about aiming for the mare’s first CCI4* at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event next month.

Dressage leaders Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot left the door open for Phillip and Jack to take the win this morning when they brought down the first rail of the triple combination and picked up 1 time penalty over Fuzzy Mayo’s show jumping course. Though that dropped them to third place, she can’t be too disappointed considering her longtime partner is finally back in business.

“William,” a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Jacqueline Mars, looks to be in beautiful form following his lengthy recovery from a tendon injury sustained at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in 2014, and he jumped clear with 6 time penalties on cross country to finish in third place on 51.4.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High, a 13-year-old Canadian Sport Horse gelding owned by John and Judy Rumble, had one rail down this morning and then jumped clear on cross country with 4.8 time penalties to finish in fourth place on 53.5. “Woody” hasn’t finished lower than 11th in any three-star competition in the last year.

Welcome Shadow continues to show she is a serious horse for the future for Boyd Martin. The 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare owned by Craig and Gloria Callen bested her previous best three-star dressage score by 8 points to sit in eighth place on 47.6 after the first phase. She only added 9.2. cross country time penalties to that score across the two jumping phases today to finish in fifth place on 56.8.

Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Fly Me Courageous, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Debbie Foote, win the Biggest Mover Award for the CIC3*. After putting in the best test of his career to score 56.5 to sit in 25th place after dressage, “Ziglet” jumped a beautiful clear show jumping round and then delivered the second fastest cross country trip of the day to come home with 2.8 time penalties and move all the way up to finish sixth on 59.3.

Selena O'Hanlon and Foxwood High. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Ellie MacPhail and RF Eloquence finished the weekend in seventh on a personal best CIC3* score of 62.6. “Ricky Bobby,” a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Sally Crane, danced his way to fifth place on 46.2 in dressage yesterday with a lovely test. One rail down in show jumping this morning dropped them to seventh, and the picked up 12.4 time penalties on cross country to stay in that position.

Maya and Doesn’t Play Fair had two rails down this morning but then just 3.6 time penalties on cross country to finish eighth on 62.7. Lauren Kieffer and Landmark’s Monte Carlo also had two rails down this morning and 8.4 time penalties on cross country to finish ninth on 62.7. Phillip Dutton and Mr. Candyman round out the top 10 on 64.3, pulling one rail this morning and finishing the day with 12.4 cross country time penalties.

In addition to the pairs already named, the following combinations jumped clear and inside the time in show jumping: Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett (11th), Lisa Marie Fergusson and Honor Me (12th), Jessica Phoenix and A Little Romance (14th), Lisa Barry and F.I.S. Prince Charming (17th), Courtney Cooper and Who’s A Star (26th), and Madeline Backus and P.S. Arianna (30th).

Boyd Martin and Welcome Shadow. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Boyd Martin and Welcome Shadow. Photo by Jenni Autry.

There weren’t any refusals in show jumping, but there was one fall when D.A. Duras plowed through the middle element of the triple combination and unseated Lauren Kieffer over his shoulder, which unfortunately eliminated them. Lauren was quickly back up on her feet and went on to compete all her remaining horses today.

Looking to cross country, there were only four refusals on course. Madeline Backus and P.S. Arianna glanced off to the left of the second angled brush in the combination at fence 4. Both Shawn Ferguson and Cruising Guy and Emily Hamel and Ramsey had runouts at the arrowhead brush coming out of the water complex at fence 15c. Courtney Cooper and Who’s A Star picked up 20 penalties at fence 12a, the first corner in that combination.

Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Fly Me Courageous. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Fly Me Courageous. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Daisy Trayford parted ways with Normandy Soldier at the angled brush at fence 4b when he got tangled up in the fence and stumbled on the landing side, pitching her off to the right. She confirmed to EN that they are totally fine after the fall, and the off-track Thoroughbred gelding enjoyed a brief tour of the grounds before being caught near stabling.

CIC3* course designer Mike Etherington-Smith made a huge effort to give this notoriously twisty track a more open, galloping feel, and it rode very well across the board with few problems, making for a safe day of cross country. We still have much more to bring you from Red Hills. After cross country in the other divisions, Clayton Fredericks and FE Money Made lead the CIC2*, Lauren Kieffer and Veronica lead the Advanced, and the CIC* is still underway. Stay tuned!

#RHHT: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, Twitter, EN’s Instagram

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Red Hills CIC3* Live Cross Country Updates

By on Mar 12, 2016 11:00 am -
Photo by Shems Hamilton Photo by Shems Hamilton

There is no live streaming or radio broadcast for cross country day at Red Hills International Horse Trials, but we’ve been tweeting results all morning @eventingnation and also will be posting live updates in this thread during CIC3* cross country, which starts at about 11:20 p.m. EST. Keep refreshing this page!

Click here for the full fence-by-fence preview of Mike Etherington-Smith’s CIC3* cross country course, as well as his exclusive analysis. Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive lead the CIC3* after this morning’s show jumping, with Jennie Brannigan and Catalina in second and Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot in third.

Clayton Fredericks held the lead in the CIC2* with FE Bowman after jumping clear with 1.2 time penalties on cross country this morning, and Caroline Martin and Effervescent moved up to second place after delivering one of the three clear rounds inside the time over David O’Connor’s course. Clayton and FE Money Made are in third.

With CIC2* cross country running during CIC3* show jumping and then CIC3* cross country starting almost immediately after, we won’t be able to bring you reports on this morning’s action until later this afternoon. In the meantime you can check out the live scores here. Keep it locked on EN for all your #RHHT news.

#RHHT: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, Twitter, EN’s Instagram

11:15: And we’re off! Phillip Dutton and Mr Candyman are first on course.

11:24: The speakers stopped working for several minutes but we have sound now, though it’s very hard to hear! Kate Chadderton and Collection Pass are our first pair home with 26 time penalties.

11:27: No jumping penalties and 16.4 time for Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett. Only a handful of horses have ever made the time in the 3* at Red Hills.

11:28: Joe Meyer and Clip Clop home clear with 8.4 time penalties.

11:29: Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High home clear with 4.8 time penalties. That’s the fastest round so far.

11:32: Clear for Waylon Roberts and Bill Owen with what sounded like 15.6 time penalties but it is extremely difficult to hear.

11:34: Oh no! Daisy Trayford and Normandy Soldier get in too close to the angled brush at 4b and she can’t quite save it. She is up and OK after falling.

11:35: Holy moly! Justine Dutton and Jollybo get one stride in the two-stride brush combination at fence 5ab. Tally ho!

11:36: No jumping and 26 time penalties for William Hoos and Celtic Rhythm.

11:42: Diana Burnett and Bonner’s Chief also home clear though impossible to hear their time penalties over the boisterous crowd. Lots of people enjoying the beautiful day here!

11:44: Home clear with 22.8 time penalties for Justine Dutton and Jollybo.

11:45: Madeline Backus and P.S. Ariana come in too hot to the angled brush at 5a and glance off to the left at the b element.

11:46: No jumping and 12.4 time penalties for Ellie MacPhail and RF Eloquence.

11:48: Clear with 14.8 time penalties for Sportsfield Candy and Phillip Dutton.

11:51: Just 6.4 time penalties for Madeline and P.S. Ariana despite that glance off at 4b!

11:54: Elisa Wallace and Simply Priceless home clear with 3.2 penalties. Keep checking the live scores link above for confirmed time penalties as I’m wildly guessing on these due to muffled speakers.

11:58: Shawn Ferguson and Cruising Guy drive by the arrowhead brush coming out of the water at 15c.

12:01: Just 5.8 time penalties for Jennie Brannigan and Catalina to put the pressure on leaders Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive.

12:02: Home with 20 jumping and 21 time penalties for Shawn Ferguson and Cruising Guy.

12:06: Clear with what sounded like 19 time penalties.

12:08: Clear with 7.2 time penalties for Lisa Marie Fergusson and Honor Me.

12:10: A bummer of a runout for Courtney Cooper and Who’s A Star at 12a, the first fence of the corner combination.

12:11: Daniela Moguel and Cecelia home clear with 22.8 time penalties.

12:13: Emily Hamel and Ramsey have a bummer of a runout at 15c, the arrowhead brush at the water complex. They took the option and are on their way.

12:15: Live scores are now starting to pop up and we will adjust any scores from the earlier rides. It’s very windy and the spectators are making it tough to hear the speakers, though we’re very happy to have a good crowd here at Red Hills!

12:19: Just as a heads up to everyone, the optimum time is 5 minutes and 58 seconds.

12:21: April Simmonds and Quebec are home clear with 28.4 time penalties.

12:23: Just two seconds over the time for Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive to win the Red Hills CIC3*!

12:26: No jumping and 8.8 time penalties for Leah Lang-Gluscic and AP Prime.

12:31: No jumping and 24.4 time for Kirsten Buffamoyer and Jim.

12:32: Just 3.6 time penalties for Katherine Coleman and Longwood. A super round for them!

12:33: Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot are also home clear with 5.4 time penalties. Justine Dutton and Huck Finn are the last pair home.

12:35: That’s a wrap! Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive win on 43.2, Jennie Brannigan and Catalina finish second on 50.0, and Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot finish third on 51.4. Stay tuned for the full report, and keep checking this link for final scores.

Countdown to Rolex: Eventers Say ‘Let’s Get Crazy!’

By on Mar 12, 2016 11:00 am -
Michael Jung on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW. Photo by Cindy Lawler. Michael Jung on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

Rolex weekend is called “The Best Weekend All Year.” For equestrians, it may just be true. Lexington is a horse lovers dream, no matter what your discipline.

Rolex also features incredible shopping, opportunities to walk the cross country course with your idols and, of course, world class riding.

This year the #RK3DE team has included some amazing entertainment for Saturday night: a Hunter Hayes concert, presented by Land Rover.

It’s not just those of us at EN excited for this development — Tim Price, Sinead Halpin, Lynn Symansky, Buck Davidson, Jennie Brannigan, Boyd Martin, and Hannah Sue Burnett can’t wait either!

Check out this music video they made to show exactly how excited they are!

Shared by Sinead Halpin … So cute! Eventers Tim Price, Jennie Brannigan, Buck Davidson, Boyd Martin, Hannah Sue…

Posted by Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event on Friday, March 11, 2016

Red Hills’ Beasts of the Southern Wild

By on Mar 12, 2016 9:00 am -
The endangered Gopher Tortoise is one of Red Hills' most popular inhabitants. Photo: Creative Commons License. The endangered Gopher Tortoise is one of Red Hills' most popular inhabitants. Photo: Creative Commons License.

For one week each year horses are the main attraction at Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park, a 670-acre state-owned tract of land on Lake Jackson that plays host to Red Hills Horse Trials. The rest of the year, however, it is dominated by a different corner of the animal kingdom.

The Park resides within Red Hills, a roughly triangular region featuring a unique ecosystem that draws visitors year-round.

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Red indicates the boundaries of Red Hills. Image: Creative Commons

The event has a feel to it that’s unlike anywhere else. I haven’t been down since the cross-country course moved from Colin Phipp’s private property to the Park in 2014, and it has since been opened up a bit. But at the time running around it felt like some choose-your-own swamp forest adventure, a twisty, turn-y, olive green gauntlet. The woods are carpeted in trillium and thick with magnolia, live oaks and sweet gum trees, and it’s not uncommon for see riders galloping along with a veil of Spanish moss streaming from their helmets.

The Hammock (fence 17 on the 2015 course). Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

The Hammock (fence 17 on the 2015 course). Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

And then there’s the wildlife.

“It’s a destination for birdwatchers, particularly in the spring and fall when migratory birds stop to rest there on their way to or from the Gulf of Mexico,” says Julie Wraithmell, Director of Wildlife Conservation for Audubon Florida. “There’s a tremendous waterbird significance.”

I’m no birder but the extensive list of feathered creatures she prattles off, from Bluebirds to Bald Eagles, sounds like it could keep its visitors’ binoculars quite busy. If you’re at the event this weekend and have some spare time to wander off into nature, this BLM Red Hills Bird Checklist could make for a fun scavenger hunt.

Little Screech Owl. Photo: Creative Commons

Screech Owl. Photo: Creative Commons

Big Screech Owl (fence 5 on the 2015 course). Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

Fence 5 on the 2015 course. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

There’s also a healthy population of one particular type of butterfly, the Golden Banded-Skipper, that is hard to find elsewhere.

The elusive golden banded-skipper. Photo: Creative Commons

Golden Banded-Skipper. Photo: Creative Commons

Fence 24b on the 2015 course. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

Fence 24b on the 2015 course. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

Red Hills is also home to several animals listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, including the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake and Eastern Tiger Salamander.

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Little Tiger Salamander. Photo: Creative Commons.

Fence 34 on the 2015 CIC3* course. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

Fence 34 on the 2015 CIC3* course. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

On cuter endangered species fronts, I definitely jumped a Manatee in the water complex one year, and of course there is Red Hills’ signature Gopher Tortoise, which is native to the southeastern U.S. and threatened by predation and habitat destruction.

If you’ve watched a reasonable amount of Animal Planet in your life you know that momma tortoises have it rough. Everybody wants to eat their babies; less than 6% of Gopher Tortoise eggs are expected to live one year or more after hatching.

What sort of monster would eat this little guy? Photo: Wikimedia Commons

What sort of monster would eat this little guy? Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Once mature, Gopher Tortoises can live to be over 40 years old but even then nothing is certain. Development of their habitat has led to massive losses in their population over the years, although the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has recently implemented new permitting rules requiring developers to relocate tortoises.

And, guys, you know how people in Florida are. (I’m teasing, mostly.) While it’s illegal to hunt Gopher Tortoises or possess their meat or shells, some redneck idiots out there are still doing it — in 2006 police uncovered several pounds of tortoise meat in a Florida man’s refrigerator after they spotted empty shells along the highway.

But to Florida’s credit, at least it’s doing better than its upstairs neighbor Alabama, which still has tortoise listed as a “game species” in 19 counties.

What makes the Gopher Tortoise even more important is that it’s known as a keystone species, meaning other animals are dependent on it. Gopher Tortoise burrows, which can be up to up to 48 feet in length and nine feet deep, provide shelter for at least 360 other known species.

“What a fun, cool critter,” Julie says, but notes that, of course, if a horse stumbled into one of their burrows it wouldn’t be a good deal for either party. “The event has definitely roped off Gopher Tortoise habitats in the past.”

Here’s another fun video by course builder/chainsaw wielding Michelangelo, Tyson Rementer, unveiling a beautifully Gopher Tortoise jump that will show up in the new water jump this week.

This weekend’s event is a win-win for Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park and Red Hills Horse Trials alike. The organizers take care to leave as small a footprint as possible, and it allows competitors and spectators alike to experience an a vibrant part of Florida’s natural environment that we might not otherwise ever see.

“I hope a segment of the folks who come for the horses decide to come back come back again later,” Julie says. “It’s such a gem the rest of the year as well.”

Here’s a Park hiking map — have fun!