Classic Eventing Nation

The Debrief: Taylor McFall Recaps Her 2023 Season

By on Jan 4, 2024 9:30 am -

Welcome to The Debrief, where we’ll recap the experience of a rider following a big result or otherwise memorable competition/season. Click here to read more editions of The Debrief. This week, we catch up with young rider Taylor McFall, who hails from northern California out of her family’s Dragonfire Farm. This edition of The Debrief is brought to you in collaboration with Athletux’s Young Professionals program.

Photo by Sherry Stewart.

What was your number one goal for this event/season?

My main goal in 2023 was to make the Area VI eventing team.

What did you practice the most in the weeks leading up to the event/season?

I worked most on my dressage and show jumping, with a big focus on my posture. I’ve had to work specifically on how I carry my shoulders as I had an old habit of rounding my back and being too giving in my reins.

I was lucky to have the chance to compete on my mother’s horse, Hallelujah DF, who taught me alot about riding on the flat since she has a beautiful range of movement. She gave a different feel that really allowed me to push for better movements, where the other Thoroughbreds I ride would become more tense. Being more bold in my flat at home really helped me work up to more confident dressage performances at the shows.

Photo by Richard Bogach.

Describe your feelings after finishing cross country in three words:

Out of breath.

What do you do after a big event? Do you spend a lot of time rewatching your rides? Do you go back and watch any of the live stream?

My favorite thing to do after a particularly difficult show is to reset the courses or parts of the courses to practice at home. After most shows last season my parents and I would re-set the show jump courses jump for jump or recreate a difficult cross country line in our cross country field. It helps me process my ride to feel how I could have ridden things better or differently.

While I do like looking back at my footage from every event, I personally don’t like to re-watch old rides too much since I like to look ahead and focus on what I’m doing next.

What is the number one thing you learned about yourself this season? What about what you learned about your horse?

I learned that I’m too passive of a rider, leaving things up to the horse when I should (and do) know better. I’ve learned that all my horses at the moment are really quite tough and brave — so one of us needs to be the brains of the operation and reel things in a bit…

What would you say has been the biggest thing you’ve overcome en route to having the season you did?

I’d say the biggest thing I’ve overcome was learning to ride a new mount after the injury of my main horse Stoneman. My original plan was to ride him on the Area VI CCI3* team at Galway in November, but after a trailering injury midway through the year I was left without a horse. I could still then have a shot at the CCI2* team if I could learn to ride Hallelujah DF who is nearly a polar opposite of Stoney. She required a lot stronger, more confident ride, being both a warmblood and a young horse.

I’d say this has been one of the biggest learning curves in my riding career. In the end, I went from being so outside my comfort zone to having a partner I knew I could perform well with at NAYC.

Taylor McFall and Stoneman. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

What is a piece of advice you would give to yourself, 5 years ago, now?

5 years ago was when I started my career as an FEI rider and my advice to that Taylor would just be to stay brave and stay hungry. Keep having big goals and keep fighting to reach them. Just because you don’t win a show doesn’t diminish any personal victory you may have achieved, and just because you win a show doesn’t mean you’re perfect and have nothing left to learn.

How do you plan to spend your off season? What do you like to do when you’re not riding and competing all the time?

When I’m not riding or showing I’m often catching up on my college school work or creating art. I like to draw and paint both traditionally and digitally. Throughout the year I work on painting requests for personal portraits I receive and make cartoons or animate on my ipad to help me fall asleep. Since it’s the off season I should be able to get a lot more personal stuff done and hope to keep improving my art.

Describe your history with your horse:

I started riding my horse Stoneman in 2021 just before the West Coast NAYC and was lucky to have such an awesome partnership with this horse. We were super confident together 2* and then continued to have great rides at Intermediate and 3*. He was an off the track Thoroughbred my mom bought at 4 years old from a friend and then re-trained for eventing.

My 2* horse, Hallelujah DF, is a 8-year-old homebred mare that I’ve known since birth. Produced out of my family farm at Dragonfire, we are all so proud of her and what she’s done so far. While I only started riding her half way through the 2023 season, she has taught me so much and I feel lucky to have both my amazing mounts.

Anything else you’d like to share with us?

I’m looking forward to 2024 with Halle, Stoney, and several more exciting young prospects. I hope to apply what I’ve learned this season and help my horses be the best they can be.

Thursday News & Notes from Achieve Equine

By on Jan 4, 2024 12:01 am -

Photo courtesy of Phyllis Dawson.

Well, it’s that time of year again: the annual Windchase Eventing Polar Dive is in the books, and while I personally won’t be joining in on these festivities, I’ll happily receive and circulate the resulting photos! I guess they do say a good cold plunge is good for mental health, but so is an iced coffee so I think I’ll stick with that for now. More power to those brave working students, though!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Sporting Days Farm January Horse Trials I (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Thursday News & Reading

Need some help setting some quality goals for 2024? You and me both. Luckily there are plenty of resources out there to help us reach our goals, and Coach Daniel Stewart sits down with USEA Podcast host Nicole Brown to discuss how to make the most of your strategy skills. [Goal Setting for 2024]

Today I learned that Boston University has a burgeoning equestrian teamed, helmed by coach Phyllis Cervelli. With a lifetime of horses on her card, Phyllis has brought her knowledge and her desire to enable young equestrians to become the best versions of themselves to the team environment — and it’s paying off. [Phyllis Cervelli Develops Thinking Riders]

You can never have enough tips on running a barn smoothly and safely. Here are 13 more to add to your toolbox this winter.

Working with a young horse this winter, or a horse who tends to hollow in the back? Try these exercises to encourage a lengthening and stretching of the neck.

Sponsor Corner:

Are you stocked up on FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips for this season? Click here to snag your favorite color!

Video Break:

While we’re all here slogging away through winter, EN’s Gillian Warner is off on another adventure, this time to the Southern Hemisphere. Check out her latest post:

FEI Publishes Olympic and Paralympic Rankings for Paris 2024

By on Jan 3, 2024 9:30 am -

The equestrian sports at Paris 2024 will take place at the Palace of Versailles.

Following the end of the qualification period at December 31, 2023, the FEI has published the Olympic and Paralympic Rankings which are used as the basis for the individual qualification slots for Paris 2024, and where relevant for reallocation and composite team purposes as per the qualification systems inherent to each discipline. Below is the update as it pertains to the sport of eventing. All other information from the FEI regarding Paris can be found here.

Eventing Update

Overall quota: 65 Athlete/Horse Combinations – 16 Teams (48 Athlete/Horse Combinations) & 17 Individual Athlete/Horse Combinations)

16 NOCs that have obtained a Team quota place (subject to meeting relevant requirements – NOC Certificate of Capability to be confirmed by January 8, 2024): France (as host nation), Germany, United States of America, New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Japan, Italy.

The above NOCs have until February 5, 2024 to confirm their Team quota place with the exception of France (as host country) who is required to confirm by January 8, 2024.

Once the Teams have been confirmed (including any required reallocation process February/March 2024), only NOCs that have not accepted a Team quota place will be eligible to obtain Individual quota places, based on the FEI Olympic Ranking for Eventing published today (note: this ranking list does not include individuals from team qualified federations). Important to note an NOC can qualify for a maximum of two individual places in Eventing (only one per NOC in Jumping and Dressage), either through their FEI Olympic Group or through the overall FEI Olympic Ranking, or both.

The FEI Olympic Ranking – Eventing is limited to the best four results per Athlete/Horse combination in the qualifying events, within the period from January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023.

An NOC can therefore earn up to two individual quota places via the FEI Olympic Group Rankings with 14 Individual Quota places allocated via the FEI Olympic Group Rankings and three Individual Quota places allocated via the overall FEI Olympic Ranking. See links and current nations eligible for Individual quota places below, however, depending on the reallocation of unused Team quota places and/or should any nations decline their Team slot (deadline 5 February 2024), or not meet the requirements, the reallocation process for unused Team quota places would have an impact on the nations listed below.

The following nations have qualified one or two individual slots for Paris. This list is, however, subject to change should any of the nations listed in the team list above decline their spot or not meet relevant requirements.

Olympic Ranking – Group A: Denmark (1) and Finland (1)
Olympic Ranking – Group B: Spain (1) and Austria (1)
Olympic Ranking – Group C: Lithuania (1) and Hungary (1)
Olympic Ranking – Groups D & E*: Chile (1), Argentina (1), Ecuador (2)
Olympic Ranking – Group F: South Africa (1) and Morocco (1)
Olympic Ranking – Group G: China (2)
Three highest Ranked: Spain (+1), Finland (+1), Denmark (+1)
TOTAL: 17

A nominated long list is required from each nation by March 28, with final entries due to Paris organizers by July 8. Competitors have until June 24 to obtain any needed final MERs.

[Read more analysis on Olympic qualification from Tilly Berendt here]

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.

Wednesday News & Notes from Ocala Horse Properties

By on Jan 3, 2024 12:01 am -

Since Benedictus WS – AKA ‘the checkered horse’ – took to the center line at the U.S. Dressage Finals in Kentucky a couple of months ago, I’ve been ‘checking’ out the plethora of creative clip jobs popping up on social media. As well as the drip effect more commonly seen on cakes, above, I’ve spotted giraffes and zebras, cappuccinos and superheroes, and perhaps appropriately for the beginning of a new year, a whole horse dedicated to the signs of the zodiac:

Whatever your chosen style, go eventing.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Sporting Days Farm January Horse Trials I (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Wednesday News and Reading

New year, new job? 5* eventer Kirsty Chabert is looking for a Head Girl/Lad. Find out how to apply.

It’s always a good time to learn from the experts of our sport, which is why it’s worth (re)sharing this throwback article from a clinic with Andreas Dibowski. He talks about the rider’s role in giving their horse the responsibility to get the stride right, developing trust between horse and rider, and how to remain balanced in order to support our horses to be their best – some things to work on as we wait for eventing to kick off in the spring.

I have to admit, my dream of owning a horse doesn’t quite match the reality. Call me naive, but for me, the biggest draw of having my own horse was riding. Don’t get me wrong, I love taking care of him – yep, I even relish my daily fight persuading the ancient wheelbarrow up the impossibly tall muck heap, and poop picking in the dark. What I didn’t realize was that, on top of my responsibilities to my family and other animals, not to mention work, and now my daily horse chores, finding time to ride is like, really hard. Turns out, I’m not alone.

In this interesting insight into the world of cloning, The Washington Post speaks to renowned polo player Adolfo Cambiaso, whose late champion mare was represented on both teams at the Argentine Polo Championship last year in the form of her clones. There’s also an in-depth look inside a horse cloning lab and a visit to the farms where surrogate mares give birth to the next big thing in Argentinian polo breeding. There are obviously ethical questions raised, considerations over the use of clones in competition, and concerns about the long-term risks, not to mention the fact that there are plans for the world’s first genetically modified horse to be born next year.

California State University has teamed up with Wild Horse Fire Brigade to create a five-year fellowship studying wild horses. The aim is to provide education about wild herds in an effort to improve the management of them, and, as well as busting some popular myths and misconceptions, this article provides some interesting links to research demonstrating the benefits America’s wild horses have on the environment, disease control and fighting wildfires. You can find out more about the Wild Horse Fire Brigade here.

If you’re resolved to be more sustainable this year, check out these 50 ways to upcycle your old feed sacks. Number 50 sure came in handy for my New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Sponsor Corner

Let’s talk goals- specifically, goal setting. If you’re not SMART about what your goals are, you’re not setting yourself up for success. Take a look at how to set some SMART goals, equestrian style.

Video Break

The more I do yoga and the more I ride, the more I realize how the two are mutually beneficial, not just in bodily terms, but in the way I connect with my horse, the accuracy of my aids, the power of intention when working with horses… I could go on and on. I do fitness and strength work too, because they’re good for me and help me to improve my yoga and riding, but it’s the yoga and riding that do the most good for all of me. (Please do notice the not so subtle link between yoga and riding I’m unashamedly making here.)

As it’s International Mind-Body Wellness Day today, I’m taking the opportunity to share a yoga for equestrians video created by 5* eventer Emily Hamel. Along with Dr. Tyler Held – writer of EN’s Between the Ears series, Emily hosts The Whole Equestrian podcast – “bridging the gap between riding and wellness”.

And if you’re on board with the whole yoga and riding thing, Adriene Mishler’s annual (totally free) 30 days of yoga is happening on her Yoga with Adriene YouTube channel.

Don’t Miss Michael Pollard on the Equestrian Voices Podcast

By on Jan 2, 2024 2:00 pm -

Here at EN, we’re big fans of one Michael Pollard, who quietly took leave from the sport for almost a decade before recently deciding to get back into horses, in some capacity at least. Michael took some time to sit down with Equestrian Voices podcast host Caroline Culbertson, diving into everything that happened in the most recent years of his eventing career, what matters the most to him, and how horses have saved him time and time again.

It’s a truly vulnerable interview you definitely won’t want to miss. If you prefer to listen in traditional podcast form, you can find the episode online here.

Two Riders Awarded C Square Farm – Excel Star Sporthorses Amateur Scholarships

By on Jan 2, 2024 12:00 pm -

5* rider Courtney Cooper, of C Square Farm and Excel Star Sporthorses, announced late last year an excellent opportunity for amateur riders to come and train with her throughout this year. After receiving dozes of applications, Micki McDaniel and Jen Clapp have been selected as the inaugural winners for this scholarship.

Both winners will receive board for themselves and one horse for a total of 7 days in 2024, including daily lessons on their horses, and the possibility to ride other horses and coaching at an event if they choose to compete while working with Courtney.

Here’s a bit about each winner:

Micki McDaniel and Magic Artist. Photo courtesy of Micki McDaniel.

Micki McDaniel owns Magic Artist, an Irish Sport Horse mare.

Magic and Micki have been partners for 7 years and have competed successfully at T and M/T levels. They live outside of Lexington, KY, and Micki grew up in pony club and has been eventing for many years. Micki adds, “We are looking forward to working with Courtney on our goals of making a comeback after a rough year for them in 2023, and moving up to M in the near future.”

Jen Clapp and Sidamo de Brio. Photo by Joan Davis / Flatlandsfoto.

Jen Clapp owns Sidamo de Brio, aka Muggsy, a Connemara/Oldenburg cross gelding

Jen teaches high school English at an urban school just outside Boston, where she has worked for over 25 years. She has ridden all her life, but discovered Eventing while working at the Stoneleigh-Burnham School; her first event was at Kent School in 1992 and she has been a dedicated eventer ever since. She lives on a small farm with her husband, three cats, and a couple of horses. She has owned Muggsy for three years. Jen notes “He has the best brain of any horse I’ve ever had!”

“We look forward to hosting both Micki and Jen and hope everyone will follow along on their adventures,” Courtney wrote in the winner announcement. We’ll be catching up with both scholarship recipients throughout their time with Courtney, so stay tuned for more here on EN!

On Mentors and the Horses Who Do It For Us

By on Jan 2, 2024 9:30 am -

Beez and her kid, Jemma. Photo by Christine Quine Photography.

I can remember exactly the moment I realized I was asking a lot of my horse.

We were at Bruce’s Field on a Tuesday in February for jumper rounds. In the winter, in Aiken, this is the place to be. I was getting ready to make my third start at Prelim at Jumping Branch Farm, following a successful run at Pine Top Modified. I was there for a week of training with my best friends, and the inimitable Courtney Cooper held my Adult Amateur hand. Kim Severson, heroine and Olympian, was on the rail watching (I’m sure she has no memory of this—sorry for using names, Kim). Beezie, my mare of a lifetime, was clocking around the schooling jumper course, and we came around a corner to fence 7, and there was NOTHING there.

I saw nothing. I saw China, and I saw underneath the jump, and I did exactly zero things to fix it. And so Beezie slid very safely to a stop, taking the whole 1.10m oxer down. Ms Severson, from the rail, opined “That’s my fault, I had just said it was going so well.” I replied, laughing, “It happens to everyone,” and thought, “oh my goddess, that’s big.”

I came around to it again, and finished the course. Afterward, Courtney said to me, “You have to make a decision because these jumps are big for her!” I did the course a second time, made a choice, and it was perfect. ut at that moment, I realized, these jumps are big —- FOR HER. Not necessarily that they’re that big objectively -— I was a high jumper in college, and jumped two feet higher than that on my own two feet; the Advanced horses jump a foot higher; the grand prix jumpers jump 50cm higher! — but 1.10m is at the top of her ability.

Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.

She was doing this FOR ME — not because it was something she wanted to do, or something she could do easily, but because our relationship is so strong, that she did it because I asked.

We went around Jumping Branch that weekend clean and finished 4th, winning the TIP award. It was truly one of my best days in the sport. I made a couple of other attempts at the level, and realized I was asking too much.

I had a conversation with Ema Klugman, a good friend and someone I really admire, around the time I was debating my next move. She said to me, “You have produced a really wonderful horse. She’s better than I ever thought she’d be, AT TRAINING LEVEL. What’s wrong with that? What’s wrong with a Training horse? You should be proud of that. Go win all the Trainings!”

Ema told me to think of this mare as “practice for the next horse.” Beezie taught me to be better for my next horse. She taught me that moving up the levels isn’t all there is to horsemanship. She taught me what I love about horses is the relationship. And she also reminded me I have goals for myself as a rider that she may not be able to meet.

Ema pointed out it’s ok to use different horses to meet your goals — that Bendigo got her to the 5* level, but that her current batch of stellar horses are probably better suited to winning there. And not that Bendigo was “less-than” in some way, but that he had prepared her for her horses now, and is preparing other riders for their careers as eventers.

The Greatest Side Eye that Ever Side Eyed.

I thought a lot. I cried some. did some dressage (and cried more). I made some Training level plans for the year. Although I was somewhat rudderless, I freaking loved my horse. And she still gives me the best side-eye, and lets my son climb on her and go Beginner Novice, and will jump 1.10 when I get a wild hair, and do walk pirouettes and flying changes if I insist.

And somewhere along the line, she acquired a little girl. Every horse deserves a little girl.

This horse, who had taken me Preliminary only because of her trust in our relationship, is so happy to have a girl who also loves her. Beezie is teaching her girl to be light getting into the tack (her back is cold at the mounting block). And that cows are OF THE DEVIL, no matter if they are in the pasture next door every day of her life or not. She has taught her girl that she will always jump, as long as she is sure, but if the girl is not sure, then “That’s a No.” And she teaches what cross country is supposed to be—fast, clean, and fun.

Beezie is the perfect horse, even with the cow spooks, side-eye, and clearly expressed opinions about use of the inside rein. She will teach a kid to sit in the middle, and keep riding leg to hand. She will do lovely flat work, jump anything, go fast, and win—at the appropriate level.

So here’s to Beezie, who is now leased by her little girl and also loved by me, rocking it at the lower levels. To Bendigo, who has taught riders to ride from Beginner Novice to Five Star. To Ema (and all the human mentors out there) who can have gentle conversations with us about what is and what should be. And here’s to my new horse, who will hopefully help me along my road to being a better horsewoman. Here’s to all the horses who do it for us.

Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products

By on Jan 2, 2024 8:04 am -


I don’t know about you guys, but for me, the 2nd of January feels much more like the first day of a new year than the 1st, which is traditionally spent sleeping, eating, recovering, and dissociating (look, I used to work with horses full-time, and now I lean hard into lazy girl life when I can). Today, though, I feel like I need to actually get up and do something useful, even if that something is just planning and getting excited about the year to come. And what a year it’ll be, for us here at Team EN and for you, our expansive family who come with us on all our adventures. It might be a bit of a cliche to say it, but I really do reckon this year’s going to be our biggest and best yet. Buckle up and let’s get this rollercoaster ride going!

Events Opening Today: Jumping Branch Farm H.T., Ram Tap H.T. – Pending USEF Approval, Ocala Winter I

Events Closing Today: Ram Tap Combined Test, Stable View Aiken Opener H.T.

Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:

The King’s New Year Honour List has been released, and it’s got a horsey heroine of sorts on it. Jilly Cooper — bestselling author of showjumping bonkbuster Riders and saucy polo epic Polo, among her many brick-sized books — has been made a dame, proving that sticky bushes and horses who eat the fruit from the Pimms jar are the UK’s true national treasures. That’s what I call jolly super.

The term ‘long and low’ gives me the fear. That’s probably unfair of me; after all, my trepidation comes from spending my early teens riding at an Appaloosa show barn in rural Maine, where long and low meant catatonic, nose-dragging, four-beat jogging two-year-olds and certainly not anything that would be productive or good for the horses. But despite its dodgy associations — and yes, it remains debatable in the dressage world, too — a good, balanced, back-lifting stretch that lengthens the neck can be a really good thing to utilise in your rides. Here’s how to do it properly, avoiding a wrestling match and, well, rollkur.

It’s resolution time, and if yours is to tackle a traditional three-day event this year, you’re in luck. US Eventing has just released its 2024 Classic Three-Day calendar, plus info on ensuring you’re qualified and ready to take on this incredibly fun challenge, which is such a super goal for riders across the lower levels. Check it out and get those dates in your diary.

British 5* rider Izzy Taylor’s year began… well, a touch more dramatically than most. This morning, she received sentencing for a case that’s been ongoing for what feels like forever, following a breach of fire safety regulations at her Oxfordshire yard. The good news? She won’t be going to jail — but she will be downsizing to a smaller property going forward. Find out more about it here.

Sponsor Corner: The best source of vitamin E is fresh green grass. In the winter time, it’s easy for our horses’ Vitamin E levels to drop low. Signs of low vitamin E include neurological problems, a damaged coat, and eye & muscle issues. Learn more in this graphic from Kentucky Performance Products.

Watch This: 

I’m always keen to try new disciplines, and side saddle has been on my list for a long time — so I’m living vicariously through grassroots eventer Lucy Robinson as she gives it a go:

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Jan 1, 2024 10:53 am -

 

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Happy New Year, EN fam — and good riddance to the last one, frankly. This year, I’m all about setting goals and aims — but I’m also learning that setting intentions and making space to give myself the grace I’d afford other people is even more important than trying to tick boxes. My best friend has been a great resource in teaching me how to prioritise slower, gentler joy — and make the most of my time with my horse — and I’m excited to follow her lead throughout 2024 as she launches her equine-assisted therapy centre, which focuses on improving mental health, aiding adults with ADHD, and much more. Give her account a follow, and join me in committing to being a more positive force in your own, and other people’s, lives in 2024.

National Holiday: It’s New Year’s Day, in case you missed that. And that means… we’re officially in an Olympic year! My stress levels are rising already.

Your Monday Reading List:

Further research is being undertaken into the murky subject of judging bias. Can it be overcome or balanced out, or is AI the future of dressage judging? Read some salient thoughts on the matter here.

Puissance — that much-loved novelty high-jump class — is disappearing. But why? And is it something we should be fighting to save? Aaron Vale has thoughts — and memories — to share on the topic.

One of the most useful things you’ll ever learn is how to wrap a hoof. But depending on the nature of the injury and the use of the bandage or poultice, you might need to adjust how you do the job — so if you want to ensure you have at least five functionally educational minutes today, give this handy primer a skim, because you KNOW your horse will give you a reason to need it soon.

On the first day of the year, most people are dwelling on their resolutions for 2024. Looking beyond that, though, what should the horse world at large be aiming for over the next 365 days? From increased diversity efforts to improved horse welfare, here are some resolutions we’d love to see us all collectively stick to.

Morning Viewing: 

It’s always useful, as an amateur rider, to see a professional on your horse occasionally — and it’s also, oddly, quite educational to see it when it’s not even your horse:

Sunday Funday: Mic’d Up with Leo Martin

By on Dec 31, 2023 9:30 am -

It’s safe to assume that at least one of the Martin boys will follow in mom or dad’s footsteps/hoofprints, and it’s a common sight to see the boys astride their respective ponies at Windurra. In this instance, Leo is choosing to follow Boyd’s example with his own mic’d up video. You won’t want to miss this special episode of “eventers’ kids say the darndest things!”.

Click here to watch on Instagram if the video above does not display in your browser.