Classic Eventing Nation

Tuesday News and Notes from Cavalor

By on Dec 1, 2015 12:03 am -
Sparky is all ready for the holidays. Photo from Kate Chadderton. Sparky is all ready for the holidays. Photo from Kate Chadderton.

There is one thing I’ve learned from being part of this farm. Our in-house Aussie loves everything Christmas. We’ve had to hide all radios on the farm until after Thanksgiving to avoid the pre-season holiday music that is played well into the New Year. Today I arrived at the farm to a sight that I’ve come to welcome every year.

There is a life-sized horse statue that sits at the entrance of Sunset Hill at McCuan Farms that we affectionately refer to as Sparky. It seems that sometime over this past weekend Ms. Chadderton took the time to adorn him with his proper festive wear. Thank you, Kate, for bringing joy to everyone that drives by.

Events Opening Today:  Three Lakes January Horse Trials at Caudle Ranch (FL, A-3)

Events Closing This Week: None

Tuesday News and Notes: 

USEA Convention is upon us: The USEA Convention starts tomorrow in Washington, D.C., and things really kick into high gear until Thursday. Check out seminars, meetings, open forums, discussions and even a trade fair all at the Omni Shoreham Hotel and Resort in Washington, D.C. [USEA Convention Schedule]

Bid on a Champion’s Shoe: Are you at a loss for that perfect gift for the horse person in you life? Then we’ve found a very unique gift that will be a conversation starter for years. Up for auction is a shoe from Valegro’s championship ride in Las Vegas from this past year. To warm your heart, all proceeds benefit The Dressage Foundation, and you get a nicely framed shoe from Valegro himself, a Certificate of Authenticity from Carl Hester, and a photo of Valegro autographed by Charlotte Dujardin. Bidding starts today and ends Dec. 11. [Valegro Shoe Auction]

HRN Holiday Radiothon Mission Complete: Did you miss out on the 12 hours of fun had by the crew at Horse Radio Network for their Holiday Radiothon? Did you not hang on for the shenanigans had by Jenni, Leslie, Dom, Jimmie, Boyd and Lainey at the end of the day? Well you’re in luck, HRN is posting the recorded version of all 12 hours to Horse Radio Network site in hopes they’ll break the internet again. [HRN Holiday Radiothon]

Winter Camp with Sinead Halpin and Tik Maynard: Looking for something to do between Christmas and the New Year? Why not head to The Fork and hone your eventing skillz for the upcoming season. The camp is three days long and includes three horsemanship sessions, six riding sessions, three demos, and three guest speakers, including Will Faudree and Bobby Costello. Head over to Event Clinics to register. [2015 Winter Camp]

Tuesday Video:

Monday Video from Tredstep Ireland: This New Amazon Commerical Features a Lonely Little Mini

By on Nov 30, 2015 5:00 pm -

What happens when an adorable little pony has trouble making friends in his new home? In this new commercial for Amazon Prime, we see this scenario play out with an idea that saves the day.

Watch the commercial and tell us you don’t agree with the solution! ‘Tis the season for adorable commercials featuring lots of ponies — if you see one you think we’d like, share it with us at [email protected]!

On Being Better Trainers

By on Nov 30, 2015 2:15 pm -
The Pro Performance Cross Country Boots are very lightweight and don't hold water at all with their durable but water resistant material. Photo by Erica Stevens.

Photo by Erica Stevens.

In my mind, there is no separation between riders and trainers. There is no such thing as just a rider. Every one of us is a trainer, to some extent, and in some way. It was the great George Morris who said, “Each time you ride your horse, you are either training him or un-training him. There is no in between.” And when it comes to George Morris quotes, you can hardly argue.

Somebody who is considered a horse trainer is generally somebody who is known to be more effective at producing positive results in their students and has a good idea of how to repeatedly achieve that. This is somebody who has honed their craft and spent years understanding the physiology, psyche and learning process of the horse, mostly through trial and error.

As we know, experience counts for a lot in the equestrian business, and that’s because the more horses you encounter, the more you know about their world and how to influence it in a good way. Overall, a “trainer” is somebody who is better than the Average Joe at teaching horses to do things well for their humans.

The idea of being “just a rider” is ridiculous to me, though, and I want to explain it. Even if you aren’t aware of it, every single interaction you have with your horse trains them to do something.

It might not be a good thing, and it might not be a bad thing, but if you behave in a patterned way (as most of us do) around your horse, they will learn from it, and they will change their behavior to reflect it. This is the magic of horses; they are unbelievably plastic in their ability to change and grow and adapt depending upon their human interactions.

The biggest difference between a “trainer” and a “rider” is mindset, but that doesn’t have to remain true. If a horse exhibits a behavior that is undesirable, a trainer thinks, “Hmm. Why is this happening? What am I doing to cause this? How is the horse feeling? Are their any outside forces at work here? Is this a manifestation of a complex inner psychological issue? Is this caused by a physical problem? Is this because I haven’t explained what I want properly?”

And, finally, after all of these things run through our head, we think, “How can I step back and achieve a positive behavior now? How can I reframe the question to the horse in order to accomplish better communication? How can I do this in a way that the horse will want to repeat the good behavior and continue to work with me?”

A rider thinks, “My horse won’t do what I want!” Or, alternatively, “My horse is being a _____” (insert name calling here).

Too often we are inclined to simplify why horses behave in certain ways, and especially when they are being “bad.” I use quotations around that, because I’m not sure that I’ve ever encountered a horse that intentionally and without just cause was genuinely “bad” or wanted to cause me harm. Every horse I’ve met that had behavioral issues either under saddle or on the ground had reasons; he just didn’t have humans smart enough to figure them out, and that’s not his fault.

From constantly nervous and unreasonable to ride to calm, happy, and cooperative, Polly proved to me that positive impact is always possible, even in the worst case.

From constantly nervous and unreasonable to ride to calm, happy and cooperative, Polly proved to me that positive impact is always possible, even in the worst cases.

But horses aren’t simple. That’s why the great trainers are in fact great thinkers, ingenious problem solvers and don’t stop learning until the day they die. They don’t resort to quick fixes, force or gimmicks that mask an issue without addressing the underlying issue. They don’t say, “My horse is being such a ____” because they’ve thought beyond that into the why and the how of each situation.

One of the best things a coach ever said to me was this: “There is nothing magical about me that makes me inherently better than you. There is nothing I know that you can’t learn. You just need more horses, more rides and more education.” This is true of all riders, because with enough exposure to different horses, good education and experience in all disciplines, you can also be as good as your coach.

So here is the point. Don’t settle for just being a rider. Acknowledge that you are also a trainer, and strive daily to be a better one. You can have positive influence over your horse, and you can consciously work towards that. When you don’t know the answer, seek it out, and don’t settle for the easy answer.

Just like we train our horses to know that when we ask for something, an answer is on the horizon, train yourself to think deeper about the why and the how and become an intellectually inspired trainer yourself, even if it’s on a small scale.

Ronald Zabala Goetschel Retires Longtime Partner Mr. Wiseguy

By on Nov 30, 2015 11:45 am -
Ronald Zabala Goetschel and Mr. Wiseguy at Galway Downs. Photo by Sally Spickard. Ronald Zabala Goetschel and Mr. Wiseguy at Galway Downs. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Ronald Zabala Goetschel announced this morning that he is retiring his longtime upper-level partner Mr. Wiseguy after the 16-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding sustained a tendon injury on cross country at the Galway Downs CCI3* last month.

It’s the end of an era for “Wiseguy,” who took Ronald to the first four-star event of his career. Ronald said in an emotional tribute post on his Facebook page that he had hoped to retire Wiseguy following the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next year, but the damage to the tendon meant that decision had to come much sooner.

Wiseguy competed at 11 events at the three-star level or higher during his career. He won the Campo de Mayo CIC3* in Argentina this past May and also finished sixth in the Poplar Place CIC3* in September.

Ronald Zabala Goetschel and Mr. Wiseguy at Galway Downs. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Ronald Zabala Goetschel and Mr. Wiseguy at Galway Downs. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Other career highlights include finishing 30th at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2009. Wiseguy also represented Ecuador at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara and won team gold and individual silver at the 2013 Bolivarian Games in Peru.

Ronald also owns three clones of Wiseguy, with two of them, Wiseguy Too and Wiseguy Too Two, being named the top two 3-year-old colts at the 2014 USEA Future Event Horse East Coast Championships. Click here to read more about Wiseguy’s clones.

Ronald Zabala Goetschel and Che Mr. Wiseguy at Richland Park HT. Photo by Bailey Moran.

Ronald Zabala Goetschel and Mr. Wiseguy at Richland Park. Photo by Bailey Moran.

“Thank you, Wiseguy, for being the best and bravest horse I ever had, for being my best friend, for always being there for me, for never letting me down and for being the best best best thing that ever happened to me,” Ronald wrote.

“Always very thankful to God and life for putting Wiseguy and I together and for letting me be part of his successful story. He is the  best gift of life I could have ever gotten. Wiseguy, you changed my life! Thank you … a million times. I love you!”

We wish Wiseguy all the best in retirement!

Don’t Forget These Great Deals on Cyber Monday!

By on Nov 30, 2015 11:00 am -

Our awesome sponsors here on EN offered some really fantastic deals for Black Friday, and these special offers are still going through Cyber Monday today, Nov. 30, which gives you good motivation to get your shopping started off right. Don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone if you’re shopping for yourself!

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Bring any turnout in usable condition to a Horseware retailer. The turnout goes to charity, and you get $100 off a new Rambo. This offer goes through today, Nov. 30!

Point Two BF

It’s a great time to be a Point Two customer, as they’re continuing their streak of steep discounts and promotions with a Black Friday deal good for 40% off all vests and accessories while supplies last. This is a big promotion and you can get a new vest at a big discount. The only thing not covered in this deal are the five-year service plans, which are also a great idea to add on to any vest.

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If you’re a SmartPak fan (and who isn’t?), now is a great time to stock up on the essentials and get some holiday shopping knocked off with a 15% sitewide sale as well as free shipping on orders over $75. We know you’ve got a SmartPak wish list already built, so why not get a chunk of that taken care of with this sale?

My MOJO is now a daily part of my wardrobe.

My MOJO is now a daily part of my wardrobe.

Our friends at MOJO are also offering a great deal this holiday season. Simply enter the code ENblkfriDEALS to receive 20% off any purchase through December 3. It’s a great time to check out MOJO wristbands and halter/collar patches at a big discount.

Be sure to stay tuned for our upcoming 12 Days of Christmas giveaways right here on EN! Happy Holidays!

Listen Live to HRN Holiday Radiothon (Especially When We Take Over!)

By on Nov 30, 2015 10:00 am -

Horse Radio Network’s Holiday Radiothon is underway. Brace yourself for 12 straight hours of horsey holiday tidings, emceed by a revolving door of 20 hosts and 30 celebrity guests with listener call-ins and prize giveaways throughout the day!

The show kicked off at 9 a.m. and will continue through 9 p.m. EST, with EN’s own Jenni Autry and Leslie Wylie playing host from 8 to 9 p.m. EST. We’ll be joined by fellow eventing party people Laine Ashker, Boyd Martin and Dom and Jimmie Schramm throughout the hour (Other eventers including Doug Payne and Rick Wallace will be making appearances earlier in the day — see the schedule below for details).

Don’t forget to call in (435-272-1997) and say hi for a chance to win a grand prize package worth over $1,000 we’ll be giving away at the end of the night! You can also leave a voicemail during the day and request that we play it live during the EN hour for a chance to win prizes.

Ready to tune in?

Here’s the full schedule. For more information, visit the website here.

9 a.m.:  Horses in the Morning

Hosts:  Glenn the Geek, Dr. Wendy Ying and Jamie Jennings

Special Guests: Charlie Daniels, Jared Rogerson

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10 a.m.: Horses in the Morning

Hosts:  Glenn the Geek, Dr. Wendy Ying and Jamie Jennings

Special Guests:  Robin Walker from Disney World, Smokie Branneman

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11 a.m.:  Certified  Horsemanship Association

Hosts:  Glenn the Geek, Dr. Wendy Ying and Christy Landwehr

Special Guests:  Julie Goodnight, Carla Wennberg

Julie-Goodnight   carla

12 p.m.:  Stable Scoop Radio Show

Hosts:  Glenn the Geek, Dr. Wendy Ying and Helena Bee

Special Guests:  Templeton Thompson and Lynn Palm

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1 p.m.:  Horsemanship Radio Show

Hosts:  Glenn the Geek, Dr. Wendy Ying, Debbie Loucks and Pat Roberts

Special Guests:  Monty Roberts, Charlotte Bredahl and Bob Baffert

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2 p.m.:  Road to the Horse

Hosts:  Glenn the Geek, Dr. Wendy Ying, Tammy Sronce and Tootie Bland

Special Guests:  Randy Bernard, Craig Cameron, Richard Winters and Nick Dowers

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3 p.m.:  Endurance with Karen Chaton

Hosts:  Glenn the Geek, Dr. Wendy Ying and Karen Chaton

Special Guests:  Jeremy Reynolds, Callie Thornburgh-Brown and Iowa Equine Rescue & Awareness League

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4 p.m.:  Mary Kitzmiller Training Show

Hosts:  Glenn the Geek, Dr. Wendy Ying and Mary Kitzmiller

Special Guests:  James Cooler and Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue

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5 p.m.:  Driving Radio Show

Hosts:  Glenn the Geek, Dr. Wendy Ying and David Saunders

Special Guests:  David Saunders, Gloria Austin, Chester Weber, Ice Road Trucker Lisa Kelly

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6 p.m.:  Author Hour

Hosts:  Glenn the Geek, Dr. Wendy Ying and Lisa Wysocky

Special Guests:  Jean Abernathy, Fergus and Doug Payne

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7 p.m.:  Horse Husbands

Hosts:  Glenn the Geek, Dr. Wendy Ying and Timothy Harfield

Special Guests: Rick Wallace and Chris Davis

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8 p.m.:  Eventing Nation/Horse Nation Hour

Hosts:  Glenn the Geek, Dr. Wendy Ying, Leslie Wylie and Jenni Autry from Eventing Nation

Special Guests:  Laine Ashker, Boyd Martin, Dom and Jimmie Schramm

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Go Eventing.

Fab Freebie: Outfit Your Horse with a Flexible Fit Equestrian Bridle

By on Nov 30, 2015 9:00 am -
Photo by Sally Spickard. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Just in time for the holidays, this week’s Fab Freebie is a great idea for a gift for yourself and your horse! We reviewed the Mix and Match Bridle from Flexible Fit Equestrian, and you definitely need to check out this awesome company from Down Under.

Hailing from Australia (but working on U.S. operations!), Flexible Fit Equestrian offers a truly custom fit bridle without the hefty price tag. The products are made from amazing, supple leather and are designed with the ultimate comfort of the horse in mind.

Check out our review here, and if you’re dying to get your hands on some new leather swag, then enter this week’s giveaway and check out News & Notes on Friday to see if you are the winner! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.

Monday News and Notes from Event Clinics

By on Nov 30, 2015 12:17 am -

Charlotte Wilson is celebrating the end of the horse show! That’s all folks! See you next year!

Posted by Pine Top Eventing on Sunday, November 29, 2015

That’s a wrap! The much-loved Pine Top Thanksgiving horse trials closed out the eventing season this weekend. And what a weekend it was: 150 horses and their people enjoyed sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s. It was not lost on any of us that we lucked out for weather like this in November, but we also lamented we would probably pay for it come February. Nevertheless, it was a great way to wrap up the year.

Weekend Action:

Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T. [Results]

Monday News and Notes:

The Horse Radio Network Holiday Radiothon is happening TODAY! Featuring 20 hosts, celebrity guests and over $2,500 in prizes, you don’t want to miss this epic 12-hour long party. EN’s own Jenni Autry and Leslie Wylie are hosting the final hour, and we need YOU to call in so we can show the world eventers are awesome. [HRN Holiday Radiothon]

Just in case you’re not familiar with how fabulous the Pine Top Thanksgiving Horse Trials actually is, Area III’s own Shelby Allen explains how special this particular event is to locals and points out that this show also marks 25 years of recognized horse trials hosted by the lovely Glenn and Janet Wilson. [25 Years of Eventing]

The USEA Annual Meeting and Convention begins on Wednesday this week, but things really kick off on Thursday and continue through the weekend. In addition to committee meetings and open forums to discuss programs, rules and more, the schedule is jam packed with educational sessions from sports psychology to turf management to art lessons. [Convention Schedule]

A fellow Thoroughbred enthusiast put the new Retired Racehorse Project’s inaugural issue of the Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine – published by The Horse Media Group – in my hands this past week. I was impressed not only by the thoughtful content and eye catching photography, but the quality of paper and page design, too. Clearly a lot of thought went into this publication; the first issue featured interviews with legends George Morris, James Wofford, Rodney Jenkins and Bruce Davidson, among others. [Subscribe to the RRP’s Quarterly Mag]

Eventer Michelle Warro competing in the dressage section of the Retired Racehorse Project Finale on Best Things In Life, ultimately finishing third. This pair has been competing in horse trials this year, too.

This Week in Horse Health News Presented by Absorbine

By on Nov 29, 2015 5:00 pm -
Photo via Shutter Fotos/Creative Commons Photo via Shutter Fotos/Creative Commons

Whenever I’m driving past pastures of horses, it’s always pretty peaceful to see them all standing around together, or running around and playing together, or napping together. But the majority of the time, they tend to be spending their time together because horses are herd animals through and through.

My own herd consists of three geldings, who are often seen hanging out with each other. When I turn them out in the morning, all three of often stand and eat from a single flake of hay. It’s one of those particularly adorable moments when they all can stand together and share nicely.

But when they are moody and my dominant horse with chase “the kids” away from a particular flake of hay, which is why I’m pretty careful in planning out feedings during turnout. While I give my guys a full bale of hay for the day, I make sure to spread out the flakes so that everyone has a chance to eat.

Feeding horses in a group can be a tricky endeavor, considering the combination of dominant and passive equine personalities. Not to mention that different horses in a group can be at different life stages, with varying workloads, requiring different nutrition. Check out this commentary article over at The Horse to pick up some tips on feeding in a group.

And then check out the other headlines from This Week in Horse Health News, Presented by Absorbine.

Holiday Decor Hazards: Decorating for the holiday season can be fun, and it can be even more so when the barn is included in the holiday spirit. While decorating is fun, it also is important to be mindful of your horse’s safety when you are decorating around their living quarters. [Equus Magazine]

Tack Choices can Affect a Horse’s Attitude and Performance: There are many, many varieties of tack available on the market today. It’s a good thing to have choices, because according to Jim Wofford, there is no “one size fits all” concept to apply to tack. Every horse is different, so their reactions to pieces of tack will likely vary. [Practical Horseman]

Selecting Safe Horse Fencing: There are a number of choices for fencing for your horse, but which is the right one for your farm? Check out this video, that features Alayne Blickle of Horses for Clean Water, as she discusses fencing and offers tips on how to select safe fencing for your horse. [The Horse]

20 Hidden Hazards of Horse Keeping: Maintaining a safe environment around horses is paramount. Check out this list of some inconspicuous dangers that may be lurking around the barnyard, and what you can do to address them. [Equus Magazine]

Sunday Video: Ride Around Luhmühlen with Michael Jung and Sam

By on Nov 29, 2015 3:00 pm -

In searching for epic helmet cams to share with you on this cold (at least in the Midwest!) Sunday, we stumbled on this great find thanks to helmet cam company Cambox ISIS. Michael Jung donned one of these cameras while out on course at Luhmühlen earlier this year, where he and La Biosthetique Sam finished in third place overall.

I don’t know about you, but the ride looks just as smooth from this perspective as it does from other angles — just another Ze Terminator trademark!