Classic Eventing Nation

Horse Farms Forever: Equestrians Unite to Save Ocala Horse Farms

By on Dec 8, 2023 5:00 pm -

Photo by Matt Varney, courtesy of Horse Farms Forever.

In 2018, word of a frightening new proposal slid across the proverbial desk at the Ocala Horse Properties office: the Coastal Connector toll road. The proposed plan meant that two interstates would cut through the heart of Ocala horse country, not only dividing precious farmland, but also damaging Marion County’s Farmland Preservation Area. Invigorated by the thought of the “Horse Capital of the World” suddenly becoming a lot less horse-friendly, the Marion County community, led by Ocala Horse Properties and Horse Farms Forever, united against the government and fought for their homes, horses, and farms.

In an effort to create new growth in rural Marion County, the Coastal Connector would extend the Suncoast Parkway and connect it to Interstate 75 with a goal to bring new jobs into the area. Unfortunately, this also meant that the parkway would cut through the county’s designated Farmland Preservation Area, damaging hundreds of horse farms in the process.

As local realtors, few were more in tune as to how these roads would impact the equestrian community than the Ocala Horse Properties team, made up of Matt Varney and Chris and Rob Desino.

“We got wind of the Coastal Connector very early on. And Rob, myself, and Chris pride ourselves on looking pretty far in the future and understanding what could happen. If you don’t protect what you have now, you’ll lose it. We looked at this and looked at the potential route and thought, ‘Now, this will decimate some of the nicest horse farms in the country’,” said Matt.

The Ocala Horse Properties team and several other individuals, including the future president of Horse Farms Forever, Bernie Little, saw an opportunity arise from the chaos to create a long-lasting organization that stood for no single discipline, breed, or creed. This resulted in Horse Farms Forever, a watchdog group with an honorable mission: to protect the horses we all love and save the land they need in order to thrive. All three members of the Ocala Horse Properties Team, Rob, Chris, and Matt, are founding members.

For someone who is part of a watchdog group protecting an area from development, ironically, Matt actually comes from a family of developers. But, as he explains, he’s not against responsible development — but he is against development that would damage the very essence of Ocala.

“Ocala is what it is because of horses. We were all for reasonable and responsible growth, but this was basically plowing through a billion dollar industry. And we felt there was no way there was a developed understanding as to the impact these roads would have on our coveted soils and floodplains.”

“If you’re going to build a road, you look for high, dry open green pastures. And when they looked at Marion County on a Google Earth map, all they saw were big, open green pastures in the Northwest, and they thought it’d be the perfect place to put a Turnpike,” said Bernie Little, president of Horse Farms Forever. “Nobody really got on the ground and looked to see that they were going through the heart of some of the most precious horse farms in the United States.”

The Farmland Preservation Area that the Coastal Connector would cut through isn’t just protecting the open, undeveloped land that is so crucial to horse owners. The area was also designated as protected in 2005 “to manage growth and protect the area’s valuable soils, water and spring sheds.”

A large portion of Marion County’s 1200 horse farms are located within the Farmland Preservation Area. Why? It all comes down to the soil. Marion County is one of only five places in the world that has soil with a thick layer of limestone near the surface. Besides Ocala, Lexington, Kentucky; Newmarket, England; and Chantilly, France all have the same soil structure and are similarly renowned for producing high-quality horses. The grass that grows from this limestone-rich soil is filled with all the minerals and nutrients horses need to develop strong hooves and bones. Per the Horse Farms Forever website, “If those areas are developed, the horse industry cannot just ‘move’ to another area. Horses cannot graze with the same intensity on sandy soils.”

“At Horse Farms Forever, we seek to shine a spotlight on why it’s important to protect the Farmland Preservation Area. And we do that through education,” said Bernie Little. “We talk about why the soil is unique and important, why the area was established. It’s really the lungs for two of the most precious primary springs in the United States: Rainbow Springs and Silver Springs State Park.”

Sadly, Marion County has a history of losing horse farms to projects like the Coastal Connector. Marion County’s first Thoroughbred Farm was established in 1936 by Carl Rose. Due to the limestone-rich structure of the soil, he believed the area was particularly excellent for raising horses and cattle and encouraged other breeders to move to the Ocala area. He is responsible for the establishment of 30 Thoroughbred horse farms in Marion County. After raising horses for nearly 30 years, Rose succumbed to pressure and sold the farm to developers at a nearly 15000% percent increase in price per acre. Where once stood Rosemere Farm, now stands a Walmart.

Horse Farms Forever strives not to let that happen again.


The equestrian community has a bit of an unsavory reputation for being exclusive, even within its own sport. Whether Western vs English, eventers vs hunter jumpers, dressage riders vs show jumpers, there are many different “cliques” within the community that rarely come together. However, the Coastal Connector was one of those rare catalysts that saw the entire equestrian community come together to fight for a shared goal: to save their horses and their farms. After all, whether it was a 5-acre farmette or a 100-acre professional facility, everyone was going to be similarly impacted by the proposal.

Rob Desino, now the vice president of Horse Farms Forever, was shocked at the initial routes as well.

“There was probably not one farm in Ocala that would not have been affected negatively by some of these routes, either seeing it or hearing it being developed, or having it go through their property. We were able to fund support very quickly and we created a voice that was heard immediately,” he said.

Everyone was joining the fight to save Ocala’s Farmland Preservation Area.

“At the county commissioners meetings, it was literally standing room only, people showed up with their horse trailers. We’re talking, you know, somebody who just moved to Florida and bought a three acre farm using all their life savings, and they have their kid’s horse at home. They were out there at the meetings, too,” Rob said. “We had such a strong presence that it caused a huge commotion.”

Upon first hearing about the Coastal Connector, Matt delivered a powerful speech in front of a packed house at the County Commission Chambers. After the speech, which aired the grievances of the entire community, the commissioners began drafting a resolution against the Coastal Connector. But the Ocala Horse Properties team knew this was just the first step in a long fight.

Backed by the Ocala horse community, Horse Farms Forever took a stand against the Coastal Connector project. The organization approached their Herculean task from several different angles. Not only did they attend meetings and submit counter proposals, but Rob actually traveled to Tallahassee and met with the governor himself.

“In the beginning, Bernie Little, myself and some founders made a trip up to Tallahassee and met with the Florida Secretary of Transportation. And they completely agreed with all of the issues of the project. They promised a letter within 30 days, basically, to cancel the project. And 30 days became 40 days, which became 50 days, and we finally got a letter which did not abandon the project, but postponed the project.”

A postponement wasn’t good enough for either the Horse Farms Forever team or the farm owners of Marion County.

“Can you imagine being an elderly couple and they have to sell, or somebody has cancer and they have to sell, or an estate trying to sell property? But now you have a property you can’t sell because there’s five routes still slapped up on a map,” Rob said. “That was affecting thousands of people and hundreds of farms. There was a dark cloud hanging over all of them.

“After a few weeks I knew we had to do more. I met with the governor’s office again and they finally agreed that postponement would not be good enough,” said Rob.

After months of hard work, their efforts paid off. In April of 2020, the governor’s office completely abandoned the project.

“The governor’s office said to me, ‘Rob, we understand the issue with postponement and are preparing a response. What we ask of you is to help with the language that would serve your area best.’ Matt and myself sat down and drafted language and the Governor’s office later created a letter addressed to Kathy Bryant, who was fantastic during this process, and the head county commission. We were proud because the state literally took our paragraph word for word about abandoning all routes.”


The legacy of the Coastal Connector project is still present today, just not in the way its creators thought it would be. Knowing that there would be other development projects that would try to encroach upon the Farmland Preservation Area, Horse Farms Forever now works to actively dissuade future proposals that would impact Ocala horse farms.

“Prior to our creation, no one was really monitoring closely what the government and developers were doing. We attend any and every meeting related to growth, growth services, planning, and zoning. We read every application that is put forth to our Planning and Zoning Commission, we attend the meetings when it’s something that affects the Farmland Preservation Area, we speak at the meetings,” said Bernie. “Over the six years we’ve been in existence, we’ve created a very strong and loyal following. And not only is our opinion important to the professional staff that run Marion County, but also to the elected commissioners that govern the county, and, of course, farm owners of every shape and size.”

More than a watchdog organization, Horse Farms Forever is also a resource for farm owners. Whether you have five acres or 100 acres, you can benefit from Horse Farms Forever’s help when it comes to putting your land under a conservation easement. If you’re interested in conserving your land, check out their website here.

Horse Farms Forever is an organization for the entire Ocala horse community, not just the rich and the famous. Individuals can make monthly or one-time tax deductible donations to the project, starting at just 25 dollars. To stay up-to-date on what threats could impact your Ocala home, keep an eye on their website or sign up for their email newsletter.

“I’m unbelievably proud of what Horse Farms Forever and their staff have been able to accomplish in the last six years — it is an incredible organization,” said Rob.

The Pathway To Paris: Who’s Qualified, What’s Next, And Can Anyone Sneak a Team in Now?

By on Dec 8, 2023 2:30 pm -

Photo courtesy of the FEI/Christophe Taniére

With the international season behind us, we now know the full roster of teams qualified for the eventing at next year’s Paris Olympic Games. But until the close of the year, this isn’t actually set in stone – and although the chance for change at this late stage is slim, there’s still some opportunity for wiggle room in the final line-up that’ll come forward at Versailles.

The sixteen qualified teams, as they stand at the moment, are as follows:

  • FRANCE – automatically qualified as host nation
  • GERMANY – qualified at the 2022 World Championships, where they won gold (Championship level – CCI4*L cross-country with CCI5* dressage and showjumping)
  • USA – qualified at the 2022 World Championships, where they won silver (Championship level – CCI4*L cross-country with CCI5* dressage and showjumping)
  • NEW ZEALAND – qualified at the 2022 World Championships, where they won bronze (Championship level – CCI4*L cross-country with CCI5* dressage and showjumping)
  • GREAT BRITAIN – qualified at the 2022 World Championships, where they finished fourth (Championship level – CCI4*L cross-country with CCI5* dressage and showjumping)
  • IRELAND – qualified at the 2022 World Championships, where they finished fifth (Championship level – CCI4*L cross-country with CCI5* dressage and showjumping)
  • SWEDEN – qualified at the 2022 World Championships, where they finished sixth (Championship level – CCI4*L cross-country with CCI5* dressage and showjumping)
  • SWITZERLAND – qualified at the 2022 World Championships, where they finished seventh (Championship level – CCI4*L cross-country with CCI5* dressage and showjumping)
  • POLAND – qualified in a Group C qualifier at Baborowko in May (CCI4*-L)
  • AUSTRALIA – qualified in a Groups F & G qualifier at Millstreet in June (CCI3*-L)
  • JAPAN – qualified in a Groups F & G qualifier at Millstreet in June, though only claimed their ticket last month after the disqualification of China, who originally earned the spot (CCI3*-L)
  • BELGIUM – qualified at the 2023 FEI European Eventing Championships in Haras du Pin (CCI4*-L)
  • THE NETHERLANDS – qualified at the 2023 FEI European Eventing Championships in Haras du Pin (CCI4*-L)
  • ITALY – qualified at the FEI Nations Cup finale at Boekelo for being the highest-placed unqualified team on the series standing (CCI4*-S/CCI4*-L)
  • CANADA – qualified at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago (CCI3*-L)
  • BRAZIL – qualified at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago (CCI3*-L)

Notable in the above list is the late substitution of Japan for China – a case in point that nothing is set in stone until the final paperwork is stamped. That eleventh hour celebration for Japan, who were our last Olympic hosts, came after the elimination of leading Chinese rider Alex Hua Tian, whose mount, Chicko, was retroactively eliminated from the competition after testing positive for trace amounts of altrenogest, thus pushing China, who fielded their first-ever eventing team at the Tokyo Olympics, to fourth place at Millstreet and out of contention for the Olympics.

But swapping teams doesn’t always come at such a high cost – and, realistically, doesn’t often happen at all. Now, each qualified nation has until the 8th of January, 2024, to confirm an NOC Certificate of Capability with the FEI, which effectively serves as proof that, when the Games roll around next year, the nation will have enough depth and breadth to be able to field three qualified combinations. For now, they just have to submit a list of at least three horse-and-rider combinations who are already sufficiently qualified — and these combinations don’t have to be the ones that end up going to the Games, they can just be any three combinations, as long as they’re qualified by December 31st of this year. Qualifications can be gained at either a CCI5*, or a CCI4*-S and a CCI4*-L, and require:

  • a dressage score of no higher than 45 penalties
  • a clear round or a maximum of 11 jumping penalties across the country, plus not more than 75 seconds on the clock at four-star or 100 seconds at five-star (that’s 30 time penalties and 40 time penalties, respectively)
  • no more than 16 jumping penalties in showjumping

For the majority of nations, this is a mere formality; a deadline that won’t cause any stress beyond ensuring that the list has actually made it to the FEI. Hosts France, for example, have a huge swathe of sufficiently qualified four-star combinations to pull from; likewise Germany, the USA, the Brits, and many more of the qualified nations have a large pool of contenders to pull from.

But for smaller, developing eventing nations, this can be a slightly more Herculean task – though one that, generally speaking, tends to be pulled off by hook or by crook. Ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, China and Thailand both needed to make good on a mid-November trip to Pratoni in Italy to secure some much-needed CCI4*-L results, and both, with the pressure ramped to 100, managed it, earning themselves that coveted trio of qualified combinations apiece and booking their ticket to the Olympics.

And if they don’t? It goes down to a system called composite teams. If a nation hasn’t, or cannot, submit their Certificate of Capability by January 8, or declines their team place by February 5, they’ll be granted an individual place instead and their team spot will go to the unqualified nation that has the best aggregate score on the Olympic rankings. That’s an individual ranking board, so the aggregate score is taken by adding together the ranking of the three best-placed riders for each unqualified nation. The lowest number gets the spot – and if that were to happen in this cycle, we’d see Spain be granted a team spot. They sit on an aggregate score of 643, miles ahead of any of their nearest competition – but they, too, would need to prove that they had three qualified combinations by December 31st of this year. If they couldn’t do that (they can, for what it’s worth), the composite team would be offered to the next highest-placed team on the composite rankings – in this case, China.

There are three countries on this cycle’s list of qualified teams that look, at first glance, as though the Certificate of Capability might be tricky for them. That’s Poland, who fielded a team at Tokyo but have just 104 riders globally registered to compete in eventing with the FEI — a significant number of which are riding at 3* and below — and Brazil, who, likewise, came forward at Tokyo but have just 26 FEI-registered event riders across the levels, and finally, Japan, who are extraordinarily high flyers in the world of upper-level eventing despite having just 20 FEI-registered event riders worldwide.

Poland’s Malgorzata Korycka and Canvalencia. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The State of the Nation: Poland

Poland, notably, has ‘lost’ a couple of its prominent riders since the last Olympic cycle: Pawel Spisak, best known for his partnership with the excellent Banderas, hasn’t been seen at the top level since Tokyo, where the pair were eliminated at the first horse inspection, and since then, Banderas has been competed twice by Pawel’s longtime mentor Michael Jung. University student Malgorzata Cybulska, who was part of the nation’s Tokyo team, hasn’t competed internationally since that Olympic debut.

But — perhaps against the odds — the Polish team is safe, though just. They have four combinations who picked up qualifying results between January 1 of this year and now: Julia Gillmaier and Red Dream Princes, who finished ninth in both the CCI4*-S and CCI4*-L at Strzegom in September and October, respectively; 24-year-old former Polish Junior team member Wiktoria Knap and Quintus 134, who were seventh in Sopot’s CCI4*-S in April and fifth in the CCI4*-L Olympic qualifier at Baborowko in May; Malgorzata Korycka and Canvalencia, who rode as individuals at last year’s World Championships and picked up qualifying results in the CCI4*-S at Strzegom in March and the Olympic qualifier CCI4*-L at Baborowko in May; and former Young Rider and Senior Europeans competitor Pawel Warszawski, who qualified Lucinda Ex Ani with a number of eligible CCI4*-S results this year and the CCI4*-L clincher at Baborowko in May.

Marcio Carvalho Jorge and Castle Howard Casanova. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

The State of the Nation: Brazil

Brazil’s footing here is on slightly shakier ground, not least because we’ve not seen the excellent Goliath since he competed at the World Championships with Carlos Parro, which means that the British-based rider hasn’t been able to get out at the required levels this season. But they do still have three riders qualified, and one with multiple horses. That’s Marcio Carvalho Jorge, who ticked the boxes with eight-year-old Royal Encounter at Sopot’s CCI4*-S and Boekelo’s CCIO4*-L, with World Championships ride Kilcoltrim Kit Kat at Sopot CCI4*-L in May and Lisgarvan CCI4*-S in August, and with Pan Ams individual silver and team bronze medallist Castle Howard Casanova at the same events as Kilcoltrim Kit Kat.

He’s backed up by British-based Ruy Fonseca, who’s been exclusively competing at FEI events with Ballypatrick SRS over the last couple of seasons, and who earned his qualifying results at Mallow CCI4*-L in July and Strzegom CCI4*-S in September, and 26-year-old Rafael Mamprin Losano, who qualified his Tokyo mount, Fuiloda G, at Strzegom’s September and October CCI4*-S and CCI4*-L, respectively, after bringing the horse back in August from a period of time out that began after Tokyo in 2021.

Kazuma Tomoto and Vinci de la Vigne. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

The State of the Nation: Japan

For many, if not most, nations, funding for athletes — whether that’s used to buy competitive horses, travel to competitions, or train intensively — is based on Olympic participation, and though we can only really speculate on how Japan’s funding situation changed after they initially failed to qualify for Tokyo at the F&G qualifier at Millstreet, we can be reasonably confident in suggesting that many of the opportunities that had been presented to these riders ahead of Tokyo, where they hoped to win a home medal and spent voraciously on horses in pursuit of this goal, where thin on the ground throughout much of this season. Because Japan hadn’t really put their hat in the ring for the Nations Cup series, their chances to qualify as a team were nonexistent after Millstreet in June; after all, no one can predict a situation like the one they found themselves in, nor would anyone wish that on their competitors.

The relevance of this becomes clear when you peruse the results of the very talented Japanese contingent, the foremost of which have all been based in Europe over the last couple of Olympic cycles. Yoshiaki Oiwa, who led the dressage at the London Olympics and has been a huge presence on the European scene, has had a tricky season and appears to be struggling with horsepower; as such, he can’t be counted for Japan’s Certificate of Capability.

Fortunately, there are three men who’ve managed it for their nation, despite all finishing their seasons in September. Chief among them is  Toshiyuki Tanaka, who’s based with trainer and FEI ground jury member Angela Tucker in Gloucestershire, and who clinched qualifying results at Blair Castle CCI4*-L and Hartpury and Mallow’s CCI4*-S classes with former Chris Burton and Bubby Upton ride Jefferson JRA, purchased at the start of the year for the rider, and Tokyo mount Talma d’Allou. Then there’s William Fox-Pitt’s protégé Kazuma Tomoto, who finished fourth individually at Tokyo and qualified the same horse, the former Astier Nicolas ride Vinci de la Vigne JRA, at the Group Qualifier CCI4*-L at Millstreet and picked up qualifying CCI4*-S results at Lisgarvan and Little Downham, where he finished second and first, respectively. Finally, Ryuzo Kitajima got it done with his sole remaining FEI horse — World Champs mount Cekatinka JRA hasn’t been out since withdrawing after cross-country at Pratoni — pulling out qualifying results in the CCI4*-S classes at Chatsworth, Mallow, and Little Downham, and in the CCI4*-L at Blair.

It would certainly have been a whirlwind of consecutive plot twists had China taken their team spot back from Japan on the composite system – but for now, unless something truly bonkers happens in the next few weeks, it looks enormously unlikely. This is the Olympics, though, and all sorts of unforeseen things can happen, so keep it locked on EN for updates as each milestone deadline is hit – and tune back in soon for a look at how individual places are likely to be allocated, and for a full refresher on the three-to-a-team-with-substitutes format we’ll be diving back into in Paris. À tout à l’heure, horse nerds.

Follow along with all of EN’s coverage of the Olympics here.

EN’s pre-coverage of the Paris Olympics in 2024 is brought to you with support from Zoetis — Long Live the Horse.

Make Your Nominations: The One #Supergroom to Rule Them All

By on Dec 8, 2023 12:00 pm -

Let’s face facts: this sport wouldn’t exist in the same format it does today without grooms. Can you imagine riders managing multiple horses in different divisions over a competition weekend without help? Grooms may be tucked away behind-the-scenes, but their work is no less crucial.

From cleaning tack to organizing the trailer to endless hours of hand walking horses before competition, these #Supergrooms make sure horses and riders have everything they need to cross the finish line safely.

All season long we’ve worked together with Achieve Equine to highlight these hard-working grooms both at events and at home. Now, as we wrap up the year, we’re looking for one more nomination for The One #Supergroom to Rule Them All.

This is the groom who has gone above and beyond all season long, always staying late at the barn, and going the extra mile to make sure the horses are safe and happy. We’re looking for the groom your barn couldn’t function without!

[Click here to read more #Supergroom content on EN]

The winner of this contest will receive a Visa gift card (because everyone loves some cold hard cash), Achieve Equine swag, and, of course, bragging rights. Nominating a groom is easy. Simply fill out the form below before December 27th. The winner will be announced on December 29th! You can also click here to fill out the form in your browser.

Friday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

By on Dec 8, 2023 12:03 am -

The Scottish highlands look a bit chilly! Photo by Skye Ross.

At this stage in my life, I’m fairly convinced that December factually passes in a time warp, because not only am I always unprepared for December 1st, but before I can hardly blink, January 1st has arrived. I think I’m caught up on my last minute gifts, minus a few that I’m praying to the USPS gods arrive before the 25th. Make sure you check out all of the wonderful sponsors for Eventing Nation when you’re finding holiday gifts for your equestrian friends!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Full Gallop Farm Jingle Bells H.T (Aiken, SC)[Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

USEA Annual Meeting and Convention (St. Louis, MO): [Information Hub] [Schedule] [Fast Facts]

News From Around the Globe:

Bubby Upton is back in the saddle after several long months rehabbing from spinal surgery. Bubby was injured in an accident riding on the flat on August 18th of this year. She sustained multiple vertebral fractures, including a complete burst fracture of the L3 and a horizontal fracture to the L2, resulting in six hours of emergency surgery to stabilize the spine, decompress the vertebrae and fuse L3. She coordinated her horses coming back into work as she eases herself into riding again, and has just begun cantering for a few minutes. [Bubby Upton’s Update After Surgery]

Nothing gives me joy like stories from ages past when Thoroughbreds ruled the ring in hunters and jumpers. Today Diann Langer is a decade into her tenure as the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s youth jumping chef d’equipe, but back in the 1960s she was fresh out of the junior ranks and looking to move up in the world when she first met Fleet Apple. The Thoroughbred (Smart Apple—Fleetlee, Weston), owned by Kay Love, got his start in Utah, first on the track, then over fences, then made his way to California. He had scope to spare but loved a woman’s touch. In Langer he found a perfect partner for a few years before competing in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games with Kathy Kusner. [Fleet Apple Was the Right Horse]

With all the holiday festivities, it may be difficult to stay focused on a riding plan and to set meaningful goals. In this issue, riders, trainers and veterinarians share simple conditioning exercises to help get you and your horse through the winter season so you can more easily step into spring. As an additional bonus, Emma Ford, professional groom and co-author of my personal favorite book, World-Class Grooming, shares 10 blanketing tips to keep your horse warm and safe in winter. [Strategies to Maintain Fitness & Top Blanketing Tips]

Tendon and ligament injuries, and their subsequent repair and rehabilitation, have been prime concerns of equine veterinarians since forever. The more recent addition of regenerative medicine products such as stem cells, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), Interlukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP) and others have provided the clinician with a means of improving and accelerating the repair process. However, the challenge has been to find accurate ways to initially diagnose the scope and extent of tendon and ligament damage, to stage the timing of reparative injections and treatment, and to be able to quantify and monitor repair and healing. [New Discoveries for Tendon Diagnosis & Recovery]

 

The Debrief with: 3* Eventer and Pan Ams Groom Lea Adams-Blackmore

By on Dec 7, 2023 2:30 pm -

Lea Adams-Blackmore and Sharon White at the Pan American Games. Photo courtesy of Sharon White / US Equestrian.

Welcome to The Debrief, where we’ll recap the experience of a rider following a big result or otherwise memorable competition.

Lea Adams-Blackmore has had a busy season. In the last year, Lea conquered her first Advanced with her trusty steed Frostbite, competed in the MARS Bromont CCI Horse Trial as part of the Bromont Rising Program, and capped off her personal competition season by adding zero faults to her dressage score in the CCI3*-L at the Maryland Five Star.

While Lea works full-time as Sharon White’s assistant trainer, she traveled with Sharon and Claus 63 to the Pan-American Games under a different title: groom. Today, we’re getting her take on the Games from this unique perspective.

What is your history with Sharon White? What’s she like to work with?

I’ve been with Sharon for about four years now, which has been great. I started working for her as a working student right after high school. Everyone pretty much starts out doing everything — you’re not really limited to one job. Whenever she’d be competing, I’d go to the shows with her and help out the grooms. So that’s been really fun, because you learn every aspect of the upper level eventing life. You don’t just learn about riding; you learn about horse management, horse care, and all the things that you need to know to make a program run successfully.

Sharon is great because she leaves no stone unturned in her teaching. She is so adamant that you have to know how to do all the things and do them really well, which is great because I feel like a lot of people just know one thing and that’s kind of it. So even though I’m not necessarily a professional groom by any means, I could go to this show and groom for her without a problem.

And she puts so much effort into her students. She is out there with us. If we’re out there working till 7pm, she’s out there teaching until 7pm. She doesn’t take advantage of how hard we work. She works just as hard as we do.

What’s Claus’s personality like, and what’s your favorite thing about working with him?

He is such a dork. We call him Claus-Mouse, because he’s just so in your pocket and personable. You just see him in the barn and he wants to touch you and play with you. And, if you have a treat, he’s all about it. He’s just a goofy guy. He’s a little opinionated about things in the best way.

He’s just so sweet when you’re taking care of him, if you’re icing him, or lasering him, or putting the Bemer on him, he just loves it. He loves all the attention.

I think that’s why he was so happy at the Pan Ams because he had me and Sharon there to just do things for him all day. He was like, ‘I have my own personal butler that’s gonna make sure all my needs are met all the time.’ I’m pretty sure it was his idea of heaven.

 

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A post shared by Sharon White (@lastfrontierfarm)

As Sharon’s Assistant Trainer, what’s your training philosophy?

I would say my teaching/training style has been heavily influenced by Sharon, and I really believe in her ideology around training horses and coaching people. I think that being patient is really important. I definitely focus on balance – riding horses in a good balance makes all the difference, especially in eventing. I think that whether you’re riding a horse around its first Beginner Novice, or tackling your first Advanced, you should always be thinking about the four things that a rider is responsible for: your own position, your steering, your rhythm, and your intention. Sharon has a phrase: ‘Horses go the way they are ridden.’ And I think that is such an accurate statement. Horses can tell a coach or trainer a lot about what their rider is doing, so it’s my job to look at where the communication could be improved and how we can get both the horse and rider to be on the same page, so they can be successful at whatever it is they are trying to accomplish.

What do you prefer more: grooming or competing?

Definitely competing. It’s funny – I thought going to the Pan Ams and not competing there was going to be so much less pressure on myself. But I was just as nervous and invested in Sharon’s performances the entire week. I was right there with her every step of the way. I like competing because I feel like I have so much influence on how things go — but when I’m grooming, all I can do is my part, but I wanted to do more. I love all the aspects of being at a show, but definitely competing is a little bit more my speed.

Describe the atmosphere at the Pan American Games in 3 words.

Intense, different, and precise.

Everything has to be so precise for every single rider that was there. They’re such high performance athletes that have the exact way that they do everything down to a science. I mean, it was precision to the point that the hole you put your nose band on was influential.

I think that’s why it’s so important to have people there that the riders are really close to and that they can trust. You have to do things a certain way to get the best results and I think that, while it’s so true for anything, it’s especially true for this sport because the smallest thing can completely put you off your performance.

 

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A post shared by Sharon White (@lastfrontierfarm)

How did you prepare for your trip to Chile?

It was a team effort for sure. We had three back-to-back weekends leading up to it and we were all hands on deck – Morven and then Fair Hill, and then obviously the Pan Ams. Like boom, boom, boom: that was that whole three week stretch. I think probably everyone at the farm had a collective six hours of sleep!

We had to make sure everything was where it needed to be for the various shows, because you can’t put aside the stuff you need to show early because we needed it for Morven and then for Fair Hill. I couldn’t have done it without Sharon’s groom, Kate Servais. She was on top of it. If there was anything I was forgetting, she was on it.

We had to prepare for any scenario. You had to be willing to stay at the barn until 9:30 at night and repack things over and over. They needed access to different things along the journey as well, so it was a long process.

What was it like to watch riders from all over the world?

I hadn’t really appreciated how big riding is in South America. Obviously, the last Pan American Games had a huge turnout. But I was still shocked at how many countries had full teams of riders that had results at FEI competitions that had gotten them qualified. There was some really good riding and everyone and their horses tried really hard.

There were so many riders that the last morning before show jumping, they had an open schooling ring where you could do a little jump school if you wanted. And it was the first day that the show jumpers could ride their horses. I think there were probably about 30 horses in a small ring – I mean, it could fit no more than two standard size dressage rings in there.

The problem was, there were so many bay horses in that ring that I was having trouble finding Sharon! Everyone was dressed in their formal schooling attire and she was also on a bay horse, and I was like, ‘where did she go?!’

What is one thing you learned about yourself that weekend?

I learned that I’ve gotten a lot better at projecting one thing externally when I’m feeling completely different internally. Every single warm up I had to be cool as a cucumber, because Claus can easily get very emotional. It was so important that I was being completely calm externally, even while on the inside I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is so exciting. This is so crazy!’ Externally, you have to be professional and serious and completely unfazed by all of the action going on around you because both Sharon and Claus need that right now.

What did you learn about being a groom at a big event?

I’ve learned that it’s not actually as daunting as I thought it was gonna be. And it was fun because a lot of the people that were grooming there also, were not really professional grooms, at least for the eventers. It was so much fun being surrounded by all these like-minded people.

It made me realize that all you’re doing is the same thing that you would do at any show. You’re making sure that the horses look immaculate every time they leave the barn. And when there’s only one horse to show, you have so much time to redo braids and stuff like that. So that was really nice.

 

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A post shared by Sharon White (@lastfrontierfarm)

What do you wish riders knew about grooms and grooming?

I wish the average rider knew that so much of the stuff you do when you’re grooming at the show, you should be doing all the time. If your horse is always well groomed and you groom your horses every day really well then you don’t have to change all that much at the show. Maybe you scrub a little more in the bath, but you won’t have to do anything extra at the show because you should always take really good care of your horse and always keep their body free of fungus and stuff like that.

How do you plan to spend your off season?

We’re doing all the things we didn’t really have time to do during the season. So, bringing the babies into work again and working on all the things that got pushed onto the backburner a bit. Like making the farm look great, doing arena care, stuff like that. Sharon is also hosting a couple of schooling shows this fall, so we’ll be making the arenas ready for that and focusing on some sales horses and getting things ready for us to go to Florida.

Frosty has his shoes pulled, so he’s living his best life out in the pasture and will be ready to return to work in a couple of months. He’s very much like, ‘Give me some carrots and treats and I’ll see you in a couple of months.’

What do you like to do when you’re not riding, competing, or grooming?

Whenever I can, I go home to see my family in Vermont. They’re really amazing people, so that’s always fun. And I’m big on being outside, so I like to exercise outside. I also find a lot of satisfaction in cleaning stuff. I’ve actually spent a lot of time cleaning, which is probably not healthy but I really enjoy it. It’s super satisfying for me.

If you could give one piece of advice to yourself five years ago, what would you say?

Be patient with yourself. Be patient with your riding and your goals. Things will happen when they’re meant to happen at the pace they’re meant to happen at. Don’t freak out when you have setbacks because all that does is make it worse. If things start going wrong, don’t give up. Just be patient and give yourself a break. Take a moment to be upset about whatever’s gone wrong or isn’t working out the way you thought and then give yourself a little bit of time to work through it. Things work themselves out in mysterious ways. Don’t look at other people’s progress and be distracted by that, because everyone is on their own path and headed in their own direction. All you can do is keep your head down and keep working hard.

As a rider for World Equestrian Brands, Lea Adams-Blackmore is very familiar with their products. Her favorite one? The iconic Mattes pad. According to Lea, “They always look amazing and are just an all-around quality product.”

Click here to explore the selection of Mattes pads on the World Equestrian Brands’ website.

Building a Base of Support at the Annual Galway Downs Fundraiser Clinic

By on Dec 7, 2023 11:30 am -

Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

The annual Galway Downs fundraising clinic is set for its 26th year – Jan. 19-26, 2024 and sign-ups are open now!

Olympic eventers Ian Stark and Jock Paget are the featured clinicians. Land Rover Kentucky 5* winner Tamie Smith headlines a roster of 24 “local” eventing professionals ready to share their expertise. Friday, January 19 features private dressage lesson opportunities with Donna Weinberg or Jo Moran.

The clinic began as and continues to be a way to help fund first-class eventing competition and it’s become a fixture on the West Coast calendar.

Deb Rosen asserts that it’s much more than a money-maker. “It’s my favorite weekend of the year,” says the Wild Ride Eventers proprietor who has participated from the get-go.

A Base Builder

Funds raised from the clinic go to ongoing venue improvements and maintenance. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

“It started as a grassroots event,” she recalls. “Getting everybody together at a time when Galway Downs was new and we wanted to help promote all the efforts being made on behalf of eventers in our area.”

Since then, the clinic has become key to building the base for the sport. Deb is based at the El Sueno Equestrian Center north of Los Angeles. She sees a thriving community of professionals helping riders at the entry and lower levels of eventing.

At the Galway fundraiser, these pros can ride themselves and bring students. Deb estimates that many of those kids and adults will be riding off property for the first time.

One of the most in-demand professionals on the roster, Deb is happy to work with all levels, perhaps especially those relative newbies who want an adventure and education without being overwhelmed. “It’s fine with me if you just want to walk over logs on the ground,” she says. “All of these riders contribute to building up the base of the sport.”

Deb sees the ripple effect of participating in the clinic. Initially, riders stick with her year after year, then gradually branch out. “They’ll ask me, ‘Do you think it’s OK if I ride with someone else?’ That gives me chills when they want to ride with another educator.”

The clinic is part and parcel of Galway Downs’ support of the region’s horses and riders, Deb adds. “I can’t thank Robert Kellerhouse enough for what he has done for our sport and for me personally. There are so many things I would not have been able to experience if it wasn’t for Robert. He and Katy Robinson are just delightful.”

Katy Robinson is coaching herself and suggests another benefit of the clinic – “It’s a great way to check out a trainer you might be considering working with. It’s a super opportunity to see them work.”

The clinic welcomes spectators, although care must be taken while walking on cross-country as there are often a few groups working in different parts of the course. It’s a great way to learn more about cross-country in general and to see how a range of professionals approach various questions on course. In past years, a few brave hunter/jumper riders have entered at the lower levels to test the eventing waters.

A social gathering on Saturday evening adds to the weekend fun.

How It Works

Photo by Sally Spickard.

The Standard Clinic program includes Saturday and Sunday group cross-country lessons, with stabling included. Group or private lessons with Jock and private lessons with Ian Stark are separate options that do not include stabling in the entry fee. Ian and Jock offer dressage, show jumping and cross-country.

At press time, the professionals donating “Standard” cross-country clinic experiences are Allyson Hartenburg, Auburn Excell Brady, Barb Crabo, Chloe Smyth, Deb Rosen, Emilee Libby, Erin Kellerhouse, Frederic Bouland, Gina Economou, Hawley Bennett Awad, Jennifer Johnson, Katie Willis, Katy Robinson, Kaylawna Smith Cook, Kim Goto Miner, Lisa Sabo, Mickayla Howard, Megan McIver, Olivia Putrino, Stacia Arnold, Susan Friend, Tamie Smith, Taren Hoffos and McKenzie Rollins.

Groups are organized by skill and experience level, from. The closing date for entries is January 12. Slots fill up fast and additional clinicians are often added to the roster.

Sign up here.

UPDATED: More Show Jumping, CSI4* Status for 2024 Kentucky Invitational during LRK3DE

By on Dec 7, 2023 9:30 am -

2023 Kentucky Invitational champions Daniel Bluman (ISR) and Gemma W © Red Bay Group

Since 2018, show jumpers have joined the roster of sport during the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event for the Kentucky Invitational Grand Prix. It’s an opportunity for these riders to jump in major atmosphere, which is harder to find outside of the Wellington, Ocala, and Tryon, while also providing additional entertainment to the throngs of spectators in attendance.

Previously held as a CSI3*, the Kentucky Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute will now upgrade to CSI4* status for 2024. In addition, there will be a new $35,000 1.45m Two-Phase held during the lunch hour on cross country day (Saturday, April 27). There will also be a 1.45m Welcome Speee Cup Ranking Class on Friday after the completion of dressage for LRK3DE.

“With many of the world’s elite horses and riders gearing up for the 2024 Paris Olympics, next year’s event promises to be one of the most exciting ever,” said Erin Woodall, recently-appointed Executive Director of EEI in the announcement. “We are thrilled to offer a new CSI4* Grand Prix and 1.45m Two-Phase alongside all our usual activities, and we greatly appreciate Split Rock Jumping Tour for serving as our show jumping manager while we take this event to the next level. We look forward to welcoming another spectacular line-up of horses and riders in April!”

“We are excited to continue as presenting sponsor for such an incredible event as the Kentucky CSI4* Invitational Grand Prix,” said Luke Fallon, DVM and Medical Director of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. “As presenting sponsor since its inception, we believe the increase from a Three Star to a Four Star is an exciting step for both competitors and spectators. We look forward to next year’s event and are excited to be involved in events of this caliber with the quality of veterinarians encompassing our performance horse team.”

Even more excitingly, in 2025, the Hagyard Invitational will upgrade to a CSI5* — the top level in the sport of showjumping and a fitting partner to the CCI5* event.

Equestrian Events, Inc. is now accepting management proposals for 2025-2027 for the show jumping competition held each April in conjunction with the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™. The deadline for management proposals is January 15, 2024.

“We are excited to elevate our show jumping Grand Prix with a move to the Five Star level,” said Erin Woodall, Executive Director of EEI. “We will move to Four Star this coming spring, and we look forward to celebrating our first CSI5* Grand Prix in 2025. We are now seeking proposals for show management to help us establish the Kentucky Invitational as one of the nation’s premier show jumping competitions.”

Management of the new CSI5* will include working with EEI on promotions, sponsorships and other competition details. Proposals must be submitted by January 15, 2024; the successful candidate will be notified by May 30, 2024.

More information on the Kentucky CSI4* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute can be found here. Grab your tickets to the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event here.

Thursday News & Notes from Achieve Equine

By on Dec 7, 2023 12:01 am -

Joan Addison, Jimmy Elder, Ann Heukendorff, and John and Judy Rumble at the 2023 MARS Bromont CCI4*. (Michelle Dunn photo)

We’re starting off today with some sad news: Olympic rider and longtime supporter of the sport John Rumble has passed away at the age of 90. Casual eventing fans may recognize John’s name as an owner of Selena O’Hanlon’s WEG and Pan Ams partner Foxwood High. For his part, John was a Pony Clubber-turned-engineer who won a team bronze medal in the 1956 Olympic Games (Stockholm), finishing 16th inidivudually.

Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

[Read much more about John in this obituary on Horse Sport]

U.S. Weekend Preview

Full Gallop Farm Jingle Bells H.T (Aiken, SC)[Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

USEA Annual Meeting and Convention (St. Louis, MO): [Information Hub] [Schedule] [Fast Facts]

News & Reading

During the FEI General Assembly in November, David O’Connor encouraged other equestrian disciplines to begin tracking horse and rider fall data. This came from the observation that a good percentage of falls reported at events do not happen on cross country. [A Call to Track Fall Data Across Disciplines]

Know your proposed rule changes! USEA members can comment on all proposed changes to the rules for eventing, which is valuable feedback as the initiatives go forward. The commenting period ends on December 11. Learn more about the changes on the table here.

Young event horses are so exciting. Whatever their future may hold, it’s fulfilling to produce them and watch them take to their jobs naturally. That’s the case for Arden Augustus, who recently won his division in the Event Horse Futurity for owner and breeder Anita Antenucci (“Gus” is piloted by Sharon White). Personally, I love Anita’s breeding philosophy: “I never set out to become the breeder who breeds the next Olympic team. That is a numbers game—you have to breed a lot of horses to find that raw talent. I like to breed something with good bloodlines and some blood because I like the Thoroughbreds, and think we should be showing the American Thoroughbred and their usefulness in our sport. I am really, really happy if what I breed are horses that I, as an adult amateur who used to be competitive, wanted to ride.” [Arden Augustus Exceeds All Expectations for Antenucci and White]

#GoEventing in: Jamaica

The FEI Eventing World Challenge was established to encourage development of the sport in smaller countries. It’s a pretty cool format, done so to take into account the fact that riders in these smaller countries may not be riding regularly or have access to training opportunities. Therefore, the events are run in a one-day format in three categories of varying technicality:

Category A : 1x Dressage Test + 1x Jumping Course (1m maximum height) followed by a Cross Country Course (95cm-1m maximum height)
Category B : 1x Dressage Test + 1x Jumping Course (90cm maximum height) followed by a Cross Country Course (90cm maximum height)
Category C: 1x Dressage Test + 1x “Derby” course with Jumping & Cross Country Fences (80cm maximum height)

You can check out more about the Eventing World Challenge here, and some scenes from the first Challenge held in Kingston, Jamaica below:

Welcome the Revival Of Eventing 🇯🇲

Jamaica competes in the first FEI Eventing World Challenge on November 12th at The…

Posted by Equestrian Federation Jamaica on Friday, December 1, 2023

Sponsor Corner

Saddle pad hoarders, this one’s for you! Achieve Equine’s BOGO sale on the Iconic 2-in-1 saddle pads is still going! With every purchase of an Iconic 2-in-1 pad (read our review of it here), you’ll receive a FREE white Iconic pad! Get yours now before supplies run out.

Video Break

I’m a BIG Connemara fan, personally, and given the breed’s popularity in eventing I think you’ll find this USEF Learning Center video as great as I did!

The Holiday Shopping Inspiration You Didn’t Know You Needed from Breeches.com

By on Dec 6, 2023 3:30 pm -

I hate to jolt you out of your post-Thanksgiving haze, but there’s only 21 days until Christmas. Have you done your holiday shopping yet? (I haven’t started yet either). But that’s okay! I’ve come up with a few ideas for every equestrian on your list, from your horse-crazy pony clubber to your matchy-matchy obsessed spouse.

I read nonstop. To me, reading is better than TV or watching a movie. If you were holiday shopping for me, you’d never have to leave this site. You’ll find an impressive horse-related book collection, from the Thelwell Ponies for young kids to The Girl on the Dancing Horse by Charlotte Dujardin. And, my favorite of all, they have a wide variety of practical books for equestrians. From Where Does My Horse Hurt? to Kinesiology Taping for Horses, there are plenty of horse care and equine fitness books to choose from. If you’re shopping for a dedicated rider who is always seeking to further their education, look no farther than the books available on Breeches.com.

Not only am I a voracious reader, but I’m also a practical person. Throughout my life, my favorite gifts have been functional, and occasionally fashionable. So, when I saw this Helly Hansen Moss Rain Jacket, I knew I had to include it in my list. These long raincoats are extremely underrated. I think every equestrian needs to have one in their closet. My calf-length rain coat has kept me dry while mucking out the barn, turning horses in and out, and slogging through the mud on rainy days. If you’re shopping for someone who gets more rain than snow, you won’t regret putting this Moss Rain Jacket under the tree this year.

In that same vein, take a look at the 5/A Baker Ladies Select Vest. My hunter/jumper upbringing always shows itself whenever it comes to anything Baker. I remember when one girl at the barn had Baker turnout blankets… we were all so jealous. This vest is not only a Baker vest, but it’s also a useful present. Vests are perfect mid-layers for those frigid days when it’s forty degrees outside.

Every equestrian knows that dismounting with frozen toes is the worst. Okay, there are worse things– but it does hurt. Save your equestrian some pain this winter with a great pair of winter tall boots. These boots will keep their legs and feet warm and look good doing it. Whether you choose the TuffRider Arctic Fleece-Lined Winter Riding Boots or the Horze Aspen Winter Tall Boots, you can’t go wrong with a present that’s sure to get a lot of use.

Unlike me, young riders aren’t known for their practicality when it comes to presents. But as the parent of a young rider, you’d probably rather gift your kid something useful versus yet another Breyer. It’s a big moment when a young rider gets their first ever grooming kit. Why not put the Equestria Sport Grooming Kit on your shopping list this year? Complete with a hoof pick, sweat scraper, and more in this eight-piece kit, your pony clubber will be able to groom their lesson pony to their heart’s content.


No matter how many saddle pads are clogging your closet, there’s no such thing as too many saddle pads– especially when there’s a good deal on LeMieux. These distinctive pads are currently all the rage, thanks to their unique colors, elegant design, and durable construction. The LeMieux Suede Dressage Pad is available in 13 unique colors, including the very popular shades of peacock and sage.

If you’re not certain if the equestrian you’re shopping for needs a dressage or jump pad, cut the difference in half and choose an all purpose pad, like the Equine Couture Wellington Saddle Pad. All purpose pads have a better shot at fitting both a jump and dressage saddle. The Wellington Saddle Pad is that rare bird that’s both fashionable and functional, with a rope trim that adds a little extra flair to any look.

Equestrians are known to be a bit, well… opinionated. But if there’s one thing I think most equestrians would agree on, it’s that brunch is the best meal of the day. And it’s even better if you can go to the barn right after without stopping to change. This holiday season, make your friend’s dreams come true with a few pieces that can transition seamlessly from bar to barn.

Equine Couture Spicy Girl Thyme Shirt. Photo courtesy of JPC Equestrian

The Spicy Girl Thyme Shirt by Equine Couture fits the bill. Its design is surprisingly simple in white with long sleeves and a mock neck. The keyhole cutout across the chest is what really steals the star of the show and makes this barn shirt brunch worthy. Also, whoever can eat brunch in this without getting anything on it gets double brownie points from me.

Next for our brunch to barn fit, we have the Baker Country Jacket. This super cute jacket features a Peter Pan collar in the iconic Baker plaid against a navy blue quilted fabric. To round it all out, the pockets and edge are trimmed in more Baker plaid.

So far on your holiday shopping list, we’ve covered something for the kids, the competitive rider, the rider that always wants to learn, and the fashionable rider. There’s one more on the list that many non-equestrians forget– the horse. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but Breeches.com has a great selection of horse treats and toys that any horse is sure to love. From Likits to German Horse Muffins to Carrot Balls, you’re guaranteed to earn some extra brownie points when your equestrian bestie unwraps this gift.

This article was sponsored by Breeches.com, manufacturer of high-quality and affordable brands like Equine Couture, TuffRider, Henri de Rivel, and Lettia. Looking to get all of your holiday shopping done without ever leaving the house? Head to the Breeches.com Online Tack Store.

Meet Boyd Martin’s New OTTB

By on Dec 6, 2023 12:00 pm -

There’s a new OTTB in Boyd’s barn! While it’s far from uncommon for riders to pick up a new horse or three this time of year (listen, we’ve added at least 3 new horses to team EN in the last month, so it’s definitely a trend), we always love to see an ex-racehorse begin its new career with a top rider. Lucky for us, Boyd’s media team is helping us follow the journey through some video updates as Boyd restarts Gold Czar for eventing.

“Remi” is a 2017 model by the prolific racer Medaglia D’Oro and out of Pleasant Review. His racing career wasn’t entirely unsuccessful — he hit the board once to win big, but otherwise would eventually leave the racing world and originally went first to another rider before Boyd laid eyes on him at a clinic with the Cheshire Hunt.

Now, the rangy 6-year-old is beginning to learn the ropes of his second career, and we can’t wait to follow along!

Click here to watch the embedded video above directly on Instagram.