Classic Eventing Nation

Training Tip of the Week with Kate Chadderton: Perfecting Your Transitions

By on Dec 16, 2015 12:00 pm -
Kate Chadderton and VS McCuan Civil Liberty at Blenheim. Photo by Samantha Clark. Kate Chadderton and VS McCuan Civil Liberty at Blenheim. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Normally at this time of the year I’d be in Australia enjoying time with my family and friends, eating pies and sausage rolls, checking out our young horses, and flipping burgers in my mum’s fish and chip shop. However, this year I’ve stayed in the U.S., primarily to save some money, and have been treated with some very agreeable winter weather.

Instead of the average below-freezing temperatures, it has been T-shirt and vests every day! On a side note, I’m available for hire as the good luck weather charm next December …

Whether you’re lucky enough to travel south for the winter or December begins the looong abyss that stretches from now until the first spring event, this time of the year is a great time to fine-tune some of the smaller details of your riding. My horses are legged back up and are starting to resemble event horses rather than wild yaks, so I’m working on transitions. Transitions can be useful for so many reasons: control, balance and preparation for other movements.

For the hotter horses, I find it useful to do less stimulating transitions. For example, I’ll spend a fair bit of time going from extended walk to collected walk to extended walk to collected walk. Then I’ll do a lot of trot to halt, or canter to halt. These get the horses thinking to wait and want to slow down.

For the more laid-back horses, I do a lot more transitions involving forward energy. For example, I’ll move up to trot or canter quite early in my training session, then make transitions from working canter to medium canter, or working trot to medium trot. This gets the horses more interested and excited about their work and quicker to move forward from the leg.

Then come the first event of the year, hopefully they’ll remember all this pre-Christmas work, and I’ll be rewarded generously by the dressage judges!

What do you want to hear as next week’s tip? Please let me know; I’m all ears!

As a bonus, here’s a video from Kate showing ideas for indoor training exercises this winter:

Bored this winter? Here are some ideas to play around with.

Posted by Kate Chadderton on Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Terrifying Cavalry Training Tips Part 2: Gridwork

By on Dec 16, 2015 9:30 am -
Don't try this at home, ya'll! Source: Flickr/Nicki/Creative Commons Don't try this at home, ya'll! Source: Flickr/Nicki/Creative Commons

Even back in the black-and-white cavalry days, everyone understood how essential gridwork is to the training of horses and riders. I mean, you never know when you’re going to run into a triple combination of barbed wire fences out on the battlefield, right?

As such, the cavalry took its gymnastic training very, very seriously. For the second in our series of cavalry inspired training articles (check out part 1 featuring drop jumps here), we’ll take a look at some inspiring grid ideas that you should absolutely NOT try at home. Kind of like Jimmy Wofford’s gymnastic training manual, but for people who are completely insane.

Here we go!

EXERCISE #1: Jump multiple horses through a grid at once.

#ProTip: This is a great one for busy professionals looking to squeeze the most out of their day.

Royal Army Service Corps, Britain, 1950. Source: British Pathe

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B

EXERCISE #2: Enlist a pyromaniac trainer to set one of the fences on fire.

Pro tip: While any old straw-swaddled jump will do, keyholes are ideal. Nothing keeps a horse straight like an open flame! Plus, the next time your horse encounters this type of jump on course, he’ll be thinking, “Well, at least it’s not on fire.” Just watch your head!

Royal Army Service Corps, Britain, 1950. Source: British Pathe

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D

EXERCISE #3: Same thing but while threading the needle with other riders.

#ProTip: Just try not to run into one another, m’kay?

Metropolitan Police, Britain, 2007. Source: FEI World Para Dressage Championships

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grid3

EXERCISE #4: Vault off and back on in between jumps.

#ProTip: Land in the saddle, not behind it, to avoid being bucked off and/or your horse hating you forever.

16th Light Cavalry, India, 1935. Source: National Army Museum UK.

F

grid1

EXERCISE #5: Jump a moving gridline.

#ProTip: Survive this and you’ll never bat an eyelash over a false groundline ever again.

Life Guards, Britain, 1932. Source: British Pathe

grid5

Well, that’s all the time we have for ill-advised training exercises today. Stay tuned for part 3!

Go Eventing.

Wednesday News and Notes from SmartPak

By on Dec 16, 2015 12:01 am -
The Elf on the Shelf jump judged at Loch Moy. Photo via Natalie Hollis' FB page. The Elf on the Shelf jump judged at Loch Moy. Photo via Natalie Hollis' FB page.

Despite no actual children being involved, the Destination Eventing crew has acquired an Elf on the Shelf toy and are dutifully posing him every day. So far he has gone cross country schooling, where he face planted in a ditch, participated in a Mara DePuy lesson, guarded the barn Keurig, and gone on a bareback trail ride. On Saturday, he made it out to Loch Moy farm to jump judge their schooling horse trials, and managed to get some show jumping practice in while he was there.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Eventually there will be a show on the weekend. It will not be this weekend.

Congratulations to Alana Robilliard, the winner of yesterday’s 12 Days of Christmas giveaway from World Equestrian Brands! Her horse will be super stylish (and well protected!) in the great cross country pack that’s headed her way. [12 Days of Christmas: World Equestrian Brands]

Sinead Halpin reflects on her year, and provides some insights as to how her mindset is changing. As a bit of an in-between professional, no longer an up-and-comer, but not yet been-there-done-that, Sinead has some advice for those following in her footsteps. A trip to St. Croix for a fellow teammate’s wedding and a Hall of Fame speech helps her find her balance. [Reflecting on Life, Horses, and the Future]

Need some help interpreting the comments on your latest dressage test? British dressage judge Peter Dove has your back. In his recently published book ‘Master Dressage’, Peter reveals what judges are really trying to tell you after you decipher the scribbles in the comment section.  [Dressage Judges’ Comments]

This week on Eventing Radio: In case you missed it, EN’s own Jenni Autry was on hand to review the USEA convention in Washington D.C. with Liz Halliday-Sharp and Paul Tapner. Kim Severson pops in to talk about Winsome Adante’s induction into the Hall of Fame and Helen West comments on what it’s like to be a show organizer. [Eventing Radio Show]

Keep an eye out for a pink horse on Great Britain’s team in Italy come February. Emma Hyslop is attempting to raise awareness for breast cancer by offering to dye her gray Waldo III a bright pink if she achieves 30,000 likes on her social media page by December 20. While she plans to do this dye job in the off-season, Emma admits that there is a possibility that the ink will not have completely washed out by the time they are set to be part of the British team in early February. [British Event Rider to Dye Top Horse Pink]

SmartPak Product of the Day: If you’re the type to have really cold hands while riding, you may want to consider this glove liner from Mountain Horse. Worn under your jacket and gloves, the liner provides an extra layer to keep your hands toasty. Or at least less cold. [SmartPak]

This mini has it going on in an Amazon Prime commercial.

Tuesday Video from SpectraVET: This Former Advanced Horse is 26 Years Young

By on Dec 15, 2015 5:30 pm -

My first advanced horse, Rusheen Warrior, still kicking up his heels at 35 yrs old!! Thank you Shelli Cantine for taking such good care of him and for sending this video!

Posted by Kristin Schmolze on Monday, December 14, 2015

We love this heartwarming video from Kristin Schmolze, whose former Advanced partner, Rusheen Warrior, is very much still kicking up his heels at 26 years old.

Kristin and Rusheen Warrior successfully competed through the CCI3* level together, also taking a trip to NAJYRC at Bromont in 2003, where they finished second individually in the two-star championship.

Now Rusheen Warrior is happily living out his retirement with Shelli Cantine. Many thanks to Shelli and Kristin for sharing this video!

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Terrifying Cavalry Training Tips Part 1: Down Banks

By on Dec 15, 2015 3:30 pm -
From “Riding Forward: Modern Horsemanship for Beginners” written in 1934 by Vladimir Littauer, Captain, 1st Hussars, Russian Imperial Cavalry. Photo from imh.org. From “Riding Forward: Modern Horsemanship for Beginners” written in 1934 by Vladimir Littauer, Captain, 1st Hussars, Russian Imperial Cavalry. Photo from imh.org.

“Red on right” and “white on left” are relatively new developments in the history of cross country riding. “Insanity in the middle,” on the other hand, is a centuries old tradition. And nobody did insane better than old-school cavalry riders.

I’ve made a case for this before on multiple occasions. If you’re into vicarious thrills, check out my roundup of terrifying cavalry jumps as well as this account of the military only 1936 Berlin Olympics eventing competition, a true survival-of-the-fittest affair.

Cavalry riders underwent intense training, and by “intense” I mean “deathwish-esque.” I thought all you modern-day crazies out there might enjoy a highlight reel of some of the zanier exercises. Maybe you can incorporate them into your own winter training program! (Just kidding: Do NOT try this at home.)

Let’s kick the series off with some down banks.

Every officer of the Italian Cavalry School in Pinerolo was required to go down “the descent of Mombrone” before they left the school. The 20-foot drop from the window of a ruined castle about three miles from Pinerolo was considered a test of nerve. Source: lrgaf.org

Every officer of the Italian Cavalry School in Pinerolo was required to go down “the descent of Mombrone” before they left the school. The 20-foot drop from the window of a ruined castle about three miles from Pinerolo was considered a test of nerve. Source: lrgaf.org

How do you train a horse to agreeably slide off the edge of the earth? I suppose, like anything else, you start small. A nice civilized staircase, perhaps, as demonstrated in this 1920s video from the Prelinger Archives. Thank goodness we have since invented brushing boots.

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Next, move on to a steeper, more rustic grade, as seen in this excerpt from a 1914 video of U.S. Army Cavalry training exercises at Fort Crook, Nebraska, courtesy of Critical Past.

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Once they’ve mastered the bum-scoot technique down, you can start adding speed. Going downhill fast! (Har-har.) From the Prelinger Archives:

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Eyes up! Lean back! Or don’t. U.S. Cavalry circa 1931 via British Pathe:

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Whoops!

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And, this 25-foot plunge via the US Cavalry:

drop1

.Next, incorporate a water element. From the Prelinger Archives:

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Soon, with proper training, your horse will be fully trained to leap enthusiastically into any treacherous abyss. From the Prelinger Archives:

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Stay tuned for more inadvisable training tips courtesy of the godfathers of our sport. Go Eventing!

Another Big Year in Store for Caroline Martin

By on Dec 15, 2015 2:30 pm -

With the recent naming of the 2016 Eventing 25/18 Training Lists, there are a lot of talented young riders who are ready to take the eventing world by storm. This winter, we’ll be spotlighting the E25 and E18 riders as they prepare for their training sessions with Leslie Law.

Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace at Tattersalls. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace at Tattersalls. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

It’s been a big year for Caroline Martin. Between spending a month overseas to compete with Quantum Solace and adding yet another CCI3* completion to her resume with Center Stage, it’s hard to believe 2016 could be any busier for this up-and-coming 21-year-old. But things are heating up quickly with Caroline’s sights set on tackling her first CCI4* at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in the spring, plus a return trip to England to once again compete in the Under 25 CCI3* at the Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials. Competing overseas for the first time this season prepared her for the challenges ahead in many ways, Caroline said. “Going overseas was a huge eye-opener because I’ve competed pretty much everywhere in the States, but competing in a place where I don’t know the people or the venue — it’s culture shock. It gave me the opportunity to learn to compete outside my comfort zone.” And that’s exactly what she did, finishing in 26th place in the Tattersalls CIC3* aboard Quantum Solace, and then going on to garner a 10th-place finish in a very talented field of young riders in the Under 25 CCI3* at Bramham. (Winners Holly Woodhead and DHI Lupison went on to represent Great Britain at the 2015 FEI European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle.)

Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace. Photo by Samantha Clark

Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace at Bramham. Photo by Samantha Clark

“I learned so many different things overseas. A major takeaway was focusing on one horse and getting ready for a three-day; you don’t want to over-stress or overwork the horse. You have to stay focused and treat it like any other show and not let the pressure get to you,” Caroline said. “Competing at Tattersalls first was a good way to get my feet wet before going to Bramham. I came back to the States a different rider. I came back with more confidence.” Now Caroline will channel that confidence into the 2016 season. While she qualified for Rolex last year with Quantum Solace, a 10-year-old Argentinian Thoroughbred gelding she owns with Sherrie Martin, Caroline and her longtime coach and mentor Buck Davidson agreed that another season spent gaining three-star experience would only benefit her going forward. After campaigning Quantum Solace, Pebbly Maximus, Spring Easy and Center Stage at the three-star level this season, Caroline is looking ahead to her four-star debut with Quantum Solace, her seasoned, trusted partner better known as “Nacho” around the barn. As Caroline puts it: “He’s my Lebron James of the team.”

Quantum Solace: The Lebron James of Caroline's team, plus the comedian. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Quantum Solace: The Lebron James of Caroline’s team, plus the comedian. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

(Nacho had us all cracking up after he was crowned the Reserve Champion in this year’s Adequan USEA Gold Cup at the American Eventing Championships. If you missed the hilarious play-by-play of his antics during the prize giving, you have to click here to see it.) Caroline is also eagerly anticipating taking another crack at the Under 25 CCI3* at Bramham, this time with Center Stage, a 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding she owns with Sherrie Martin. “Conner” finished 24th in his first CCI3* at the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International with relatively little Advanced experience under his belt. Caroline said his jump is one of the best she’s ever had: “He takes off like a rocket ship.” The USEF Eventing 25 and 18 programs will send a group of U.S. riders to Bramham this year to simulate a team experience as part of the Karen Stives European Developing Tour, which is funded through the late Karen Stives’ generous $1 million donation to the USET Foundation to create an endowment fund. Even if she isn’t chosen for the tour, Caroline is still planning to go on her own dime to compete. “It will be a great learning experience having teammates,” Caroline said. “Having us all together in an unknown environment and dealing with the stress of wanting to do well for your country will be a very important opportunity.” Next season will be Caroline’s first year training with USEF Developing Coach Leslie Law, as she was named to the USEF High Performance Training Lists for the 2015 season and rode with U.S. Coach David O’Connor in those training sessions instead.

Caroline Martin and Center Stage at Fair Hill. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Caroline Martin and Center Stage at Fair Hill. Photo by Jenni Autry.

“I’m looking forward to training with the Eventing 25 riders because it’s my own age group,” Caroline said. “We’re all at the same level, and we’re all going to be progressing up the levels together. It will give us a great opportunity to establish good team bonding now, and then we can build on that as we get older.” Caroline sits on the newly established USEA Youth Council with fellow Eventing 25 riders Jacob Fletcher, Jenny Caras and Lizzie Snow, and she said she’s also looking forward to working with them as they develop strategies to engage young riders in the sport. That’s similar to her work with the PRO Young Riders Advisory Board, which specifically works with young riders who want to become professional eventers. While Rolex and Bramham will undoubtedly be highlights of her 2016 season, Caroline said she’s also really excited about some of her younger horses that are just coming through the levels, like Danger Mouse, a 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding that just competed his first CCI* at Hagyard MidSouth. Petite Flower’s foal from an embryo transfer will also be old enough for her to start riding next summer. “You want to make a detailed plan for the next year now, but so many things can change. I plan on being in the sport for a long time, and I really enjoy producing the horses,” Caroline said. “I know how it goes, and things can change at any second. I want to focus on the whole season, not just one highlight of it. I want to enjoy the process.”

Watch Every Round from the Wild Indoor Derby at Geneva

By on Dec 15, 2015 11:30 am -
Click to open the videos page in a new window

Click to open the videos page in a new window

You know it was a wild indoor derby when Michael Jung finishes far down the leaderboard! The massive indoor cross country course used this past weekend at CHI Geneva still has social media buzzing a few days later. Lucky for us, every round is available for playback on the CHI Geneva website.

Click above (or here) to watch the cracking winning round from Sidney Dufresne and Looping de Buissy, plus the rides from Michael Jung, Mark Todd, Dirk Schrade, Ruy Fonseca, Merel Blom, Tim Lips and more. (To play, just click the arrows next to each name once you open the videos page.)

What do you think, EN? Would you want to take a spin around an indoor cross country course like this one?

[Final Results & Videos from Genève]

EN’s 12 Days of Christmas: Win Cross Country Boots from World Equestrian Brands

By on Dec 15, 2015 9:00 am -

It’s always better to be safe than sorry on cross country — there are a lot of variables at play, from terrain to slick ground to bad weather conditions and beyond. Luckily, there are plenty of products on the market these day to suit every rider and horse.

World Equestrian Brands is proud to offer some great choices when it comes to outfitting your horse for cross country. In today’s 12 Days of Christmas giveaway, we’re teaming up with World Equestrian Brands to give away a set of Equilibrium Tri-Zone Impact Cross Country Boots as well as the corresponding overreach boots.

We recently reviewed these cross country boots and were thoroughly impressed with the design and functionality of them.

Don’t waste any time and get your entry in before midnight tonight to win this very generous prize from World Equestrian Brands! We’ll announce the winner in tomorrow’s News & Notes post. Good luck!

Disclaimer: Information given in the Rafflecopter widget, including email addresses, may be shared with the corresponding sponsor at their request. You will also be signed up for our weekly EN eNews email newsletter, if you aren’t already. Don’t worry — you’ll just wonder what you’ve been missing out on — and you can unsubscribe if you don’t want it.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday News and Notes from Cavalor

By on Dec 15, 2015 12:00 am -
Tis the season for awesome horsey holiday decorations. Photo via Dale Clabaugh. Tis the season for awesome horsey holiday decorations. Photo via Dale Clabaugh.

Horse wreaths seems to be all the rage this year when it comes to holiday decorations. Many local pony clubs and games teams are using this simple yet stunning decoration to raise funds for rallies and competitions. I myself have purchased four of these wreaths for my house, the barn and any other random door I can find that may need some extra holiday cheer.

When I saw this wreath, made by the lovely volunteer extraordinaire Dale Clabaugh, it made me smile. It is one of the more unique ones I’ve seen this year that shows off a great amount of creativity that I just don’t possess. What makes this particular wreath even more special is that it was inspired by Dale’s new Fjord pony. A Christmas wreath has never brought horse people so much cheer. Happy Holidays.

Events Opening Today:  Rocking Horse Winter I H.T. (FL, A-3),  Full Gallop Farm January H.T (SC, A-3),  Fresno County Horse Park Combined Test (CA, A-6)

Events Closing This Week: None

Tuesday News and Notes:

Congratulations to EN reader Malcolm Dilley on winning yesterday’s 12 Days of Christmas giveaway! Malcolm will receive a beautiful, limited edition Rambo Duo Turnout Rug — we know Malcolm’s horse will be very appreciative! [12 Days of Christmas: Horseware Ireland]

AP Snubbed for Sports Illustrated Top Honor: Despite running away with the online vote, American Pharoah will not be Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year. Instead SI has chosen Serena Williams to hold the title. It seems the voting public is outraged and making their voice heard loud and clear on social media. [American Pharoah Fans Irate]

Fair Hill Offers a Great Christmas Gift: Are you lost on what to get that horse person in your life? If you’re shopping for eventers in Area II, we’re sure they would love a schooling pass to Fair Hill. For a limited time, Fair Hill is offering schooling passes for 2016 at a special reduced rate of only $35. [FHI 2016 Schooling Pass]

Prelim Coffin with Laine: Ever wonder how a four-star event rider would approach a coffin combination like the one from the 2015 American Eventing Championships? Laine explains how she would approach, ride and conquer this sometimes sticky complex. [Ride Between the Flags]

The Equiery Celebrates 25 Years: Twenty-five years ago, a little local Maryland marketing publication known as the Equiery made its debut. Now this not so little anymore publication is distributed in hundreds of locations in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Washington D.C., Kentucky and even California. The Equiery is still a free publication that reports on all things equine and is a corner stone of the horse community in Maryland. [The Equiery Turns 25]

Cavalor Giveaway: Cavalor is giving away one month of Cavalor feed to two lucky winners to help start the New Year right. Just tell them how Cavalor has changed your horse’s life for the better, or share with them why you want to make the switch to Cavalor for your chance to win. The contest ends at midnight on Jan. 1, 2016. [Cavalor Contest]

Tuesday Video:

Monday Video from Tredstep Ireland: Catching Up with the Qatari Eventing Team

By on Dec 14, 2015 5:00 pm -

The Qatar Eventing Team in action.The Qatar Eventing Team in action. All competition and training filmed at Aston Le Walls in 2015.#TeamQatar #QEF #Eventing #Equestrian #Horses #Qatar #Doha #WGOQ #WGOQatar #AstonLeWalls #UKFollow us on Instagram:https://instagram.com/qatar_equestrain_federation/

Posted by Qatar Equestrian Federation on Saturday, December 12, 2015

Last year, we picked up on a profile story on the Qatar Eventing Team and their quest to qualify for Rio in 2016. Based in England at Joss Gray’s yard, the team first eyed the Asian Games as their first step in qualification.

This video catches up with the team at Aston Le Walls earlier this year, where they completed much of their training for all three phases. We continue to wish the Qatari team the best of luck in their quest for Rio.

You can follow along with more updates from the team on their Facebook page here.