Kylie Lyman and Lillian Heard were the big winners of the Advanced divisions at Pine Top, bravely tackling Derek di Grazia’s big course (did you see those hammocks??) to really kick their seasons into high gear.
Thanks to the Horse Pesterer, we can take a look at some cross country from some of the top finishers of the Advanced divisions. You can check out EN’s full report on the Advanced here.
Photo by Sally Spickard.
As the eventing season gets into full swing, there are plenty of opportunities to help out at your local events. Volunteers are the backbone of the sport, as most events are virtually entirely reliant on the work of volunteers to keep things running smoothly.
In this new series, we’ll be providing some tips on what to expect for various volunteers roles. There are many shoes to fill as a volunteer, and the great thing is that each position allows you to gain insight and learn more about how the sport of eventing works.
If you have never volunteered before, I strongly encourage you to. Many times, volunteers get perks such as cross country schooling credit (I definitely used mine!), but most importantly there is always something to learn. Even if you have never volunteered in a specific position, someone is always willing to teach you.
I recently had the opportunity to volunteer at the Florida Horse Park as a ring steward. I worked under the watchful eyes of Beth Davidson and Kari Rankin, who are seasoned volunteers who know their jobs well.
This was my first time ring stewarding, so I am sure I am missing many aspects of the job. For that reason, please fill in my blanks in the comments with your tips and advice when it comes to ring stewarding.
1. Be prepared for a long day.
This can be said for any volunteer position! The hours are long and often in the hot sun or other uncomfortable elements. Check the weather forecast and be sure to dress appropriately. Most events provide drinks and sometimes lunches for volunteers, but it’s wise to pack your own snacks and drinks as well. Hydration is key!
2. Put a smile on your face.
At the in gate, riders are often nervous about their tests or dealing with fractious horses. The volunteers checking the riders in are a symbol of organization, not stress. No matter how many warm-ups you’re running or how many rings are going at once, it is your job to communicate calmness and politeness to all riders.
3. Get your loud voice ready.
Ring stewards are often tasked with the job of keeping riders informed of where they stand in the order of go. While it is also the rider’s responsibility to check in and know when their time is, they also need to focus on warming their horse up. This may mean that you have to chase down a rider who is on deck who is warming up far away, but that rider will thank you for not missing their time!
4. Brush up on the rule book.
Typically there will be a veteran assisting with bit checks and stewarding. However, a working knowledge of the rule book is necessary for this position as you need to know what bits are illegal and how long a rider’s spurs and whip can be. Having to constantly ask for verification can take more time than necessary when checking a rider in. That being said, of course, it is always appropriate to err on the side of caution and ask someone if you are not sure of the legality of a piece of equipment.
5. Keep an eye out.
At the event at which I volunteered, a rider was let into the ring with her boots still on her horse. Sadly, this resulted in elimination. Again, while it is the rider’s responsibility to ensure their horses are dressed to standard, the volunteers serve as another pair of eyes who can be on the lookout for something amiss. When you’re watching a horse head into the ring, make sure you do a cursory check of the legs to make sure the rider didn’t forget to take off their boots!
6. Always be courteous.
There will be instances where a rider or coach (or parent) is insistent and hovering around your station. This can be overwhelming, but remember you are dealing with a lot of nerves and, many times, riders who are on very tight schedules. While you cannot necessarily change a schedule to accommodate someone, always be polite and courteous when it comes to concerns. You want to leave a good impression while also maintaining order in the warm-ups.
Stay tuned for more tips on other volunteer positions, and feel free to send us your advice by commenting or emailing [email protected]. Go Eventing!
Ardall's first time jumping. I thinks he needs to keep his hands down !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Ronan Rothwell on Friday, February 26, 2016
Well, this is certainly one way to get your horse used to a rider while jumping. This video is making its rounds on social media at the moment, and it features a dummy riding a very game horse while going through some simple jumping exercises.
In the initial view of the video, it’s easy to think that the “person” is, in fact, real — until you see the bouncing hands and unsteady torso and wonder if this rider is feeling alright.
As the caption states — and we agree — the rider definitely needs to lower his hands!
Posted by Lainey Ashker on Friday, February 26, 2016
If you’re looking for some more gymnastic work to up your training ante this winter (which is almost over!), Laine Ashker has been a good resource for ideas. She’s posted a couple more simple exercises that you can set up at home.
These exercises are good at any height — even with just poles on the ground — and can be low impact enough to do often without worrying about wear and tear on your horse.
For more #GOTD exercise ideas, check out this post and this one as well.
Andrew Nicholson and Avebury. Photo by Adam Dale.
Great news, EN! In a new interview with the New Zealand Herald, Andrew Nicholson has confirmed that he has his sights set on competing at Badminton this year. After a fall at Gatcombe last year, Andrew underwent surgery and ongoing rehab for a neck injury. In the words of his surgeon, Dr. Jeremy Reynolds, his chances of this good of a recovery were less than “winning the lottery with a single ticket.”
Andrew is now back in the saddle, and if all goes well at his next check in with the doctor, he will begin training in earnest for a return to Badminton.
“I’m seeing my surgeon at the start of March for an X-ray,” Andrew told the New Zealand Herald. “If he’s happy, I’ll start competing next month or April. However, riding is easy. Hitting the ground is the tricky bit. I don’t ride as many horses and have offloaded about 15 out of 30. I still ride about eight a day in dressage or jumping.”
Andrew has three horses on the radar for Badminton: Nereo, Avebury and a newer ride, Jet Set. As a part of his rehab, Andrew has been working with physiotherapist Don Gatherer in order to continue building strength in the area of injury.
“He’s been doing full-on work with my neck and shoulders,” Andrew said. “I’ve had a harness put on my head, which is pulled tight with elastic bungy ropes. The idea is to do it using the more delicate muscles as part of the strengthening process. Don’s contraption is also used to test neck strength for rugby front-rowers.”
You can read the full interview with Andrew over on the New Zealand Herald here. We continue to wish Andrew the best in his continued recovery and look forward to seeing him back out competing soon.
100% Truth
Sometimes all you need is a weekend at the barn to recharge. Even when it’s a horse-show weekend, there is still a regenerative quality that I can only find out at the barn. Maybe it’s the company of my friends, both two and four legged, who always “get me” that make the barn such a restorative place. Maybe it’s the fresh air and adventures that make it a place I need to be. Regardless of what it is, I appreciate it. The barn makes Mondays bearable. Thankfully, today is only Sunday. Better go charge my batteries so I can do battle with the week ahead.
Pine Top CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Three Lakes at Caudle Ranch H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times][Live Scores]
Kylie Lyman and Da Vinci Code. Photo by ED/HoofClix.com.
Kylie Lyman put her big girl britches on today to tackle Derek di Grazia’s beefy Pine Top Advanced cross country course aboard Da Vinci Code, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Joan Nichols. And tackle she did, picking up just 5.2 time penalties on the horse’s first Advanced course to finish first in the Advanced Test B division.
While being the first at the level for Da Vinci Code, this is also Kylie’s first run at Advanced in four years. “On cross country he answered all of the questions easily and I couldn’t have asked for a better ride. He was absolutely perfect,” Kylie said.
Kylie and her daughter, Emily, share a moment at Pine Top. Photo via Kylie Lyman.
It was a move up weekend for this pair, who finished the dressage phase in eighth place with a score of 31.5. A double clear show jumping effort moved them into fifth and their quick and clear cross country run sealed the deal on the win.
“Overall I was pleased with his dressage test, but there’s definitely a lot I’m looking forward to improving on as we both get more comfortable at this next level,” Kylie said. “In the show jumping he put in a solid effort for me and is naturally very careful, so although I had moments where I could have been more patient, he was amazing.”
Kylie has collected quite the impressive string of talent, having brought home three horses in the top 20 of the CCI2* at Fair Hill last fall. From here, she’ll move forward to Carolina International and The Fork as she looks to continue building confidence in all of her horses.
Allison Springer and Cascani. Photo by ED/HoofClix.com.
Allison Springer and Cascani, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Mary Ann Ghadban, finished their Pine Top weekend in second in the Advanced B division. This was also a step up for Cascani, making his debut at the Advanced level. This pair finished on a final score of 43.7 with just time on cross country added to their dressage score.
“I was really pleased with his first Advanced test,” Allison said. “I went out on cross country with the intention of being forward thinking, and I was happy with both of my horses.”
Allison also had Mr Sydney Rocks out this weekend, who made quick work of the cross country today to finish in 10th overall. Both horses will head to Carolina International for the CIC3* next, where they’ll meet up with Allison’s veteran partner, Arthur. Allison is excited to see where the season will take Cascani, who she believes has much talent to spare.
“He’s aiming for the CCI3* at Jersey Fresh,” Allison said. “I think this is a horse that can be very competitive. He’s a snaffle ride in all three phases. His trot has changed a ton since last year but he has a heck of a trot in there. It’s just going to be about keeping him confident, and I think he’ll be a winning horse.”
Emily Beshear and Shame On the Moon. Photo by HoofClix.com.
Completing the top three in the Advanced B are Emily Beshear and Shame On the Moon, a 10-year-old Trakehner/Thoroughbred mare owned by Deep Purple Eventing. “Delta” is aimed at her first CCI4* in Kentucky this year, and will also head to Carolina and The Fork as the remaining stops on her prep tour.
“I was thrilled with how she ran cross country,” Emily commented. “I need to do a little fine tuning in the show jumping as she has gotten so much better over the winter and I need to challenge her a little more in the ring.”
Lillian Heard and Share Option. Photo by SH/HoofClix.com.
There is one Mandatory Retirement on the board for this division: Ryan Wood and Woodstock Bennett. Thankfully, Ryan has confirmed to EN that both he and “Bennett” are fine after their tumble.
In the Advanced Test A division, it was Lillian Heard and Share Option who took home the top honors, leading from start to finish with just time on cross country to add. Holly Payne-Caravella and Santino finished in second place on a score of 54.4, followed by Holly’s second ride, Never OutFoxed on a 58.6.
Pine Top CIC & H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]
The CIC3* at Pine Top may have run in just a single day, but we’ve got plenty of videos to look back on to keep us entertained for quite awhile thanks to The Horse Pesterer!
You can catch up with our full coverage on the CIC3* here, and here are some videos of the action. Be sure to visit The Horse Pesterer on YouTube for much more.
From pewter-dappled to snowy white, OTTBs come in 50 shades of grey and every last one can be a knock-out in the show ring. Sure, they may take a little extra scrubbing, but it’ll be well worth the effort when you trot up the centerline on a horse that stands out from the crowd.
While window-shopping the latest OTTB listings here are three greys (coincidentally all 7 years old, 16.1-hands and listed on CANTER) that jumped off the page:
Photo via CANTER PA.
Jargon (Henny Hughes – Christmas Affair, by Black Tie Affair) is a 2008 16.1-hand gelding who is dressed to impress with an all-over wash of silver dapples. He’s a grandson of the Irish stallion Black Tie Affair, which is some great OTTB DNA to have. Fun fact: The very first winner of the Retired Racehorse Trainer Challenge in 2012, Eric Dierks’ Brazilian Wedding, was a Black Tie Affair granddaughter — and also grey!
Retiring from racing with no known injuries or issues, Jargon has already had some re-schooling since leaving the track which will give him a head start on his next career. We hear he loves hacking around the farm and jumping — check out a video of his first school over crossrails here.
Located in Pennsylvania.
Click here to see Jargon on CANTER PA.
Photo via CANTER Mid Atlantic.
Five Shadwell (Freud – Knockout Lilly, by Two Punch) is a 2008 model 16.1-hand gelding who has platinum good looks and a personality to match. He’s been with the same owner since he was a yearling but after earning over $85,000 he is now he’s looking for a new job off the track. He’s described as sound with no vices, and according to his trainer: “This horse is smart, a joy to ride, and would be suitable for any discipline.”
Located in Delaware
Click here to see Five Shadwell on CANTER Mid Atlantic.
Photo via CANTER IL.
Our final OTTB pick of the week is Greyhawk (Giacomo – Navajo Princess, by Alphabet Soup), also 16.1 hands and foaled in 2008. The son of Kentucky winner Giacomo, Greyhawk is ready to try his hand (hoof?) at a new career. He’s described as having “a cute personality, good looks and an athletic build” as well as being a “GREAT mover.”
Located in Illinois.
This week’s edition: thrown shoes, broken fences, ear cobwebs, cats on leashes, bloody breeches, awkward bank teller exchanges, the shedding begins, selfie fails, dreams of Daylight Savings, husbands who’ve had enough, the coining of the phrase “Netflix and chill clean tack” and much, much more in the latest edition of #EventerProblems.
Here we go!
Humpday struggles #allaboardthestrugglebus #sonnyisjudgingyou #happyhumpday #youcandoit #ibelieveinyou #eventerproblems A video posted by Isabella Osekavage (@izzyo11) on
Making the most of my day off- who has time to change out of dirty britches before a pedicure? They probably let my feet soak for extra time before the endeavor… #eventerproblems A photo posted by Victoria Law (@dvmeventer) on
This made me giggle way too hard. #eventerproblems #horsesareexpensive #expensivetaste #blackcountrysaddles #onlythebest #mysaddleswaiting A photo posted by Morgan Kroeger (@mkroeger55) on
#eventerproblems too cold to jump without BUCKING Mom! A photo posted by Re Holly (@reholly) on
Saturday I was wearing six layers. Thursday a tank top, so of course, the horse had a vaccine reaction and instead of getting to ride, I had to get creative! #eventerproblems A photo posted by Fresh Perspective Farm (@freshperspectivefarm) on
Oh, only 8 miles yesterday? #eventerproblems A photo posted by Kate Drake (@katedrakevt) on
We are not good at selfies. Do better Charles. #sixyearstotheday #eventerproblems A photo posted by @the.brittnie on
Something you don’t see everyday… #horseshowcat #paradisefarm #horsetrials #eventerproblems A video posted by Isabella Osekavage (@izzyo11) on
21 days and counting folks! #daylightsaving #eventerproblems #lifebetweentheears A photo posted by corrinevt (@corrinevt) on
How I hang blankets versus how my (wonderfully helpful) husband hangs blankets. #eventerproblems #goodenough #betterthanonthefloor #dryponies A photo posted by Ami O’dMoors (@amiodmoors) on
Looks like a #bobcat follows the same route I #ride! Nope, those are not dog #tracks!! We like to get out of the arena and explore. What do you do outside of the arena? #getdynamic #roadride #gravelroad #dirtroad #conditioning #eventerproblems #eventingpony #arabianeventing A photo posted by JacQ (@dynamicwithjacq) on
Such a beautiful morning… and i have to work. Wold rater be jumping a couple of #eventingnation #eventerproblems A photo posted by Lea Ditte Marsk Lauridsen (@lea_lauridsen) on
That moment when your footwear choices are paddocks with spurs or tall boots with alfalfa drool to go somewhere that isn’t the barn. #truehorsewomanstatus #eventerproblems #barnlife A photo posted by The Horse Mutterer (@thehorsemutterer) on
When you want to take your smoothie on a hack but you don’t have any hands… #eventerproblems #nocupholdernoproblem A photo posted by Full Gallop Eventing (@fullgallopeventing) on
If you missed them: Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56.
Got #EventerProblems? Tag them on social for inclusion in a future edition!
Go Eventing.
