This latest episode of PRO’s Faces of Eventing series features Brian Rutledge, husband to four-star event rider Colleen Rutledge, proud father of two up-and-coming eventer daughters, and social media wizard behind the popular Colleen Rutledge Eventing Facebook page. Click to get to know Brian. Go Eventing!
Maybe it’s emotional residue from one too many The Black Stallion viewings as a kid, but there’s just something about seeing an event horse the color of polished onyx that makes my heart skip a beat. And when their performance matches their tall, dark and handsome good looks … swoon.
There were three black horses this year, in particular, that had me crushing hard. Since it’s Black Friday, I thought I’d share!
FRH BUTTS AVEDON
This 12-year-old Hannoverian gelding, campaigned at the four-star level by Germany’s Andreas Dibowski, first caught my eye at Luhmühlen in June, where he finished 11th. He gets his midnight-hued coat from his daddy, Heraldik xx, who has sired a number of top event horses.
Dreamy, right?
FRH Butts Avedon at Luhmuhlen. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
I got to see him again at the Pau CCI4* in October, where he finished 12th.
Andreas Dibowski and RFH Butts Avedon at Pau. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
HALUNKE FBW
Another horse by Heraldik xx, Halunke FBW made his CCI4* debut at Pau this year. He was in the lead after cross country but was unfortunately withdrawn before the Sunday horse inspection; however, with Michael Jung in the irons we can’t wait to see what’s in store for this horse’s future.
Michael Jung’s Halunke FBW at Pau. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Halunke is registered with the FEI as “other brown bay,” whatever that means, but let’s get real — the horse is black.
Michael Jung and Halunke FBW at Pau. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Michael Jung and Halunke FBW at Pau. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
DOWNTOWN HARRISON
One more for you to feast your eyes upon: Downtown Harrison. This 11-year-old Trakehner/Thoroughbred gelding has been piloted by Jon Holling to top finishes, including a CCI3* win at Bromont in 2012. I had the pleasure of watching him compete at Boekelo this year, where he finished 23rd.
Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison at Boekelo. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
He’s also registered with the FEI as bay, and yeah, maybe he has a smudge of brown on his oh-so-kissable muzzle, but for all practical purposes …
Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison at Boekelo. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Yum.
Of course, a number of other black event horses could have made my dream horse list. Which is your favorite?
Clemson's Intercollegiate Eventing Team recently had a team clinic with Buck Davidson at Full Gallop Farm in Aiken, South Carolina. Team member Anna Blake Keeley kinda wrote a recap of the clinic experience. Many thanks to Anna for writing. Go Collegiate Eventing!
The Clemson Intercollegiate Eventing Team with Buck Davidson. Photo by Olga Mohr Photography.
When you have the opportunity to clinic with the fifth-ranked rider in the world, you take it. Even if you haven’t shown in over a year. Even if you’ve jumped all of two times in the past month. Even if your horse seems more like a cow these days, and your fitness isn’t much better. But Buck Davidson is worth pulling on your uncomfortable show boots and doing some last minute trot sets.
Two weekends ago, the Clemson Eventing Team hosted a clinic with THE Buck Davidson (insert squeals of glee here) at Full Gallop Farm in Aiken, South Caroline. The mixture of nerves and excitement when learning from an idol is hard to explain to the non-horsey friend; needless to say, every girl on the team, whether going Beginner Novice or Prelim, was beyond thrilled to ride with Buck.
The weekend began with show jumping on Saturday, followed by cross country on Sunday. Despite recent, non-stop monsooning in South Carolina, the footing was fair and the weather beautiful and sunny. Even Mother Nature was rooting for the weekend to be a success.
Buck, in the artful way of truly great teachers, altered his advice for each group’s abilities while still maintaining the basics. Because my group was last to ride, I was able to watch him teach throughout the day. In one particularly helpful exercise, riders asked their mounts to stop mid-combination before a second fence, using their seat and leg (rather than the not so effective, yet so tempting yank on the face) to halt.
As someone whose horse has issues with stopping, I was wary of asking for the halt, but as Buck pointed out, the act allowed for the rider to have complete control over the jump. The stop became the rider’s idea rather than the horse’s, forcing the horses to listen in front of the fence. Asking your horse new questions can sometimes lead to flops and messes, but Buck assured us that this is a sport not of trying but doing. He patiently worked through individual problems, astutely giving advice catered to each person’s riding.
On Sunday, Buck pushed us to do things outside of our comfort zone, while making sure we never lost our confidence or were scared. We focused less on finding that perfect stride and more on maintaining balance and control in our approach, so that no matter the striding, our horses were able to jump well.
For me — a less confident rider on a less confident horse — Buck was the perfect clinician. He was patient and calm and positive, but also assertive and insistent on getting the best ride possible. He took his time with each rider, and posed with the team afterwards in a good-natured fashion.
Weekends like this remind me why I ride. Yes, it may be an “individual” sport, but so much teamwork and support goes into getting that great ride. Whether you’re plip-plopping in your backyard or galloping around a course, we all have something to learn. Overall, it was an amazing weekend with a talented and fun group of girls who all share the joy of riding. The Clemson Eventing Team hopes to host another clinic like this in the near future!
Inspired by the formation of an Area I Schooling Horse Trials Championship earlier this year, we wanted to feature more awesome local eventing organizations that are recognizing and celebrating local low-level eventers by featuring them in our new series, “Schooling Horse Trials Spotlight.”
SWDEA member, Courtney Master on Roulette. Photo courtesy of Sarah MacKusick.
In the panhandle region of Florida, the next generation of eventers are learning the ropes and honing their skills with the help of the South Wind Dressage & Eventing Association (SWDEA) of Tallahassee, Florida. SWDEA unites local riders by working with local barns, instructors and trainers to promote and provide them with clinics, other educational opportunities, year-end awards and schooling shows — including a championship.
SWDEA originated as a child organization of Deep South Dressage & Combined Training Association (DSDCTA), a USDF Group Member Organization (GMO) serving all of north Florida and extending down to Ocala. SWDEA, also a USDF GMO, originally only offered awards for dressage, but has since expanded to include eventing, combined training, jumpers and, most recently, western dressage.
Maddie Smyly on Joey. Photo courtesy of Sarah MacKusick.
Sarah MacKusick, the organization’s current vice president and scorekeeper, became involved with SWDEA in 2009. With a hunter background, Sarah had originally joined SWDEA in order to get involved in their jumper shows. However, when Sarah began teaching, her students at Iron Star Equestrian were actually interested in eventing.
Sarah immersed herself in the rules of eventing, also taking clinics and encouraging her students to do the same. “I love the relationship that is built between horse and rider,” Sarah said of her new sport. “There has to be a large amount of trust between them in order for cross country to happen. I also like how well rounded eventers have to be; they have to be disciplined, calculating and accurate.”
Sarah MacKusick on Luna Bella. Photo courtesy of Sarah Mackusick.
With the prestigious Red Hills International Horse Trials taking place within the city limits every March, Tallahassee is no stranger to the eventing scene. However, Red Hills only offers Preliminary level and higher. For a USEA recognized event with Beginner Novice through Training levels, riders near Tallahassee must travel about three and a half hours away to Poplar Place Farm in Hamilton, Georgia. Schooling shows hosted and sanctioned by SWDEA fill a local void for low-level eventers; their events offer Starter through Novice, and combined tests go up to Training.
SWDEA hosts four shows per year and also recognizes local shows in the area, including events at some local eventing barns like Gray Lily Farm, Mahan Farm and Little’s Crossing. Only points accumulated at these SWDEA and SWDEA-sanctioned shows count towards qualifiers for the championship show, which takes place every November.
“We decided to do this in order to promote more local showing and to give riders who may not have the experience and/or finances to compete in larger championships (like the American Eventing Championships) a chance to compete in a local championship against their peers,” Josey Lillibridge, the organization’s current president, said.
Josey Lillibridge on Bonfire. Photo courtesy of Josey Lillibridge.
“The grassroots level is where everything starts and many of our riders will never show at recognized shows. We try to make our Championship show a really big deal for them,” added Sarah. Special awards are offered as prizes for the championship classes and all the championship competitors get special recognition at the year-end awards banquet.
However, SWDEA still offers a way for riders who show in USEA recognized events to get involved. USEA scores can be submitted in addition to scores from schooling events to count towards the year-end awards program — a separate entity from the championship.
Having a mix of rider experience levels expands the breadth of the organization. “Some of our riders have never shown before and others have shown nationally,” Josey said. “Some of our riders never intend to show out of town and others use our local shows in order to better prepare them for bigger, out of town shows.”
Lindsay Barrack on There’s an App for That. Photo Courtesy of Sarah MacKusick.
Josey was born into a family of eventers: Her parents, Debbie and Glenn, ran a successful dressage and eventing barn (which is now run by her brother, Casey) for more than 30 years. Debbie showed through the FEI levels of dressage and attained her “R” judge’s license, judging both dressage competitions and USEA events. Glenn was a full-time farrier and also a rider himself, starting all of the farm’s young horses. Josey has been involved with SWDEA since its inception.
“I really love eventing for many reasons: The three phases challenge horses and riders and produce very well-rounded equestrians,” Josey said. “Also, eventing really is anyone’s game; while it is expensive to compete in USEA events, you don’t have to have a $100,000 horse in order to compete and be very successful. I really like that aspect.”
Josey Lillibridge, at age 10, on Tic Tac Toe. Photo courtesy of Josey Lillibridge.
As a local organization, SWDEA has much to offer a variety of eventers. “From up-and-coming young riders, to trainers bringing along young horses, to those wanting to switch from another discipline to eventing, SWDEA provides a safe, local, affordable environment in which everyone can enjoy eventing in their own way,” Josey said. “We prepare our horses and riders for bigger events by showing them the ropes, teaching them the rules and exposing them to the show environment on a smaller scale.”
Sarah and Josey both recount immense growth in SWDEA’s membership and participation within the past five years. The increase in number of active members has allowed them to allocate more of their finances towards shows, year-end awards and a scholarship program. As their membership has increased, they have had to increase the number of board members and positions within the club. A new way of delegating duties and a new volunteer system has helped the organization to run smoothly as they have grown.
Thanks to the help of their webmaster, Rich Cefola, the club also been excited to roll out a brand new website that hosts online scoring, show entries and membership registration. SWDEA has become a family affair for Rich’s family; his wife, Buffy, holds the position of secretary, and their two daughters, Carlee and Rylee, frequently compete.
Carlee Cefola on Momentum. Photo courtesy of Sarah Mackusick.
SWDEA’s membership is made up of a diverse profile with ages ranging from around 6 to 60 years old; including junior and young riders, adult amateurs, a few professionals and a number of supporting members who do not ride but are active in volunteering with the organization. With such diversity in the number of ways to get involved, SWDEA surely has something every equestrian in the region, and it’s good for the community, too.
“I think these organizations give kids and teens the opportunity to do something really useful with their time. It helps teach them to set goals and achieve them, teaches sportsmanship and responsibility,” Sarah said. “It’s also wonderful to have a record of their achievements through the year and to earn an award at the end of the year that represents their hard work and dedication.”
Go SWDEA. Go Eventing.
Is there a great local eventing organization near you? Let us know by emailing [email protected] and we’ll highlight it in a future edition of “Schooling Horse Trials Spotlight.”
With the holidays now officially upon us…
…it’s a time to reflect on how much we love our horses, despite the havoc they wreak on our lives on a regular basis. Because no matter how much destruction, how much heartache, how much complete and total financial devastation they bring to our existence, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
If it’s any comfort, when it comes to #EventerProblems, remember that you’re never alone. Here’s yet another batch of reader-submitted struggles.
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.
This is what happens when you trot hills while wearing your fitbit. #eventerproblems #getfit A photo posted by Megan Douglass (@msheadouglass) on
When xc is at 830am ❄️ #eventerproblems A photo posted by Magdalena (@meventing) on
#eventerproblems #novascotia A photo posted by Horse Trials Nova Scotia (@horsetrialsns) on
Remember kids, when your coach makes you jump 4’3″ lines without stirrups, it’s because you sometimes don’t get to have them on course (and also maybe because you jump ahead a little…and maybe because he just hates you too). #eventing #najyrc #xc #equestrian #eventerproblems A photo posted by Diane Portwood (@diane.portwood) on
Rehab’e boring. But it means more bonding time #pony #eventinglife #eventerproblems #eventersofinstagram #ponyrehab #offseason A video posted by Savanna&&KC (@savvy_eventer) on
All hail the abscess queen #eventerproblems #winteriscoming #masterofductapediapers #atleastshesgoodaboutit #itcouldbeworse A photo posted by Nicole Fuentes (@nicolefuentes) on
When your eventing horse is all like, “This is not happening to me right now.” #eventerproblems #eventing #horsesofinstagram #bareback #ridingdouble #theyseemerolling #babysitter A photo posted by Abbie Traxler (@traxlera) on
29 degrees + knit gloves + double-lock brushing boots = a facepalm moment in the barn at 5:30 a.m. #eventerproblems #didntthinkthisthrough — Erica Spradling (@Erica_Larson) November 20, 2015
That moment when you have a lesson that was so good…it hurts to walk down stairs the next day. #eventerproblems
— Ronnie Hodgkinson (@ronnieeeh) November 23, 2015
Just bought $400 boots for my horse but my boots get duct tape cus Im broke & the show is tomorrow #eventerproblems pic.twitter.com/iOKr845qpx — Lauren Rosendahl (@BabyEventer) November 22, 2015
There’s a boot in there somewhere… #eventerproblems pic.twitter.com/EK9AUm3vVb
— Allison Henson (@AliHenson802) November 26, 2015
A photo posted by Lisa Colburn (@xkyaliix) on
Longtime judge and announcer Jay Arend recently attended Stanton Farms Horse Trials in Deary, Idaho, and Spokane Sport Horse Farm Horse Trials in Spokane, Washington, for the first time. After seeing these two events firsthand, he's recommending that all northwest eventers add them to their bucket list. Many thanks to Jay for writing, and thanks for reading!
One of the many beautiful fences on Steve Buckman's cross country course at Stanton Farm Horse Trials. Photo courtesy of Heartsandhorseshoes.
Back in August I received a phone call from Sarah Stanton of the Stanton Farms Horse Trials in Deary, Idaho, about my availability to announce her event in September. My good friend and fabulous announcer Boyd Levet informed her that he would be unable to fulfill his duties for this year due to surgery that he had scheduled. We all hope that went well and Boyd is on his way to a full recovery.
Once I heard the situation direct from Boyd, I accepted the assignment, informing him that I would keep the microphone on and warm for him until he could get back. Over the years I have judged and or announced many of the horse trials in the Pacific Northwest, but this is one I was always curious about.
Where in the heck is Deary, Idaho? Believe it or not, it isn’t far from Pullman, Washington, which is where Washington State University is located. I traveled over from my home outside of Seattle the day before their two-day horse trials started. Once there, I could not believe the absolute beauty of this piece of property. If this isn’t eventer’s heaven, then I don’t know where it is.
The “dump truck jump” on the Stanton Farms cross country course. Photo courtesy of Heartsandhorseshoes.
My good friend of 45 years Tom Ordway, a longtime and well respected USEF/USEA technical delegate, met me out on the cross country course. Tom said he wanted to show me the course, so we hopped into his Subaru Outback and headed to the start line. Things start out rather normal in an open valley, and then off we headed into the woods.
After some fences we headed up this grade for maybe an eighth of a mile that had a somewhat severe slope to it. You will definitely find out how fit you and your horse are galloping up it. That leads you to the upper section of the course, which contains all sorts of great bowls of meadows with ups and downs and jumps intermingled throughout.
Eventually it was time to come down to earth with a tricky drop jump as we headed back into the woods and downhill searching for the finish line. When we finally made it back to where we started, I looked at Tom and said that in my 62 years of life I have never seen anything as special as this piece of property for a cross country course. He nodded to me and said, “Right?”
At the finish line was another colleague, Steve Buckman from British Columbia, who is the course designer and main builder of this gem. When I was done explaining to him how fabulous this place was, he said that the current course is just the tip of the iceberg, as the Stantons have much more property to expand on to and develop the cross country course as well as the rest of the event. I know one thing, if I was an eventer this place has to be on your bucket list so at least you can say, “I made it around this cross country course.”
Murray Stanton leads a Blessing of the Horses before the horse trials. Photo courtesy of Heartsandhorseshoes.
The Stantons are gracious hard working hosts. Murray wears many hats, one of which is the pastor of a local church. He leads a Blessing of the Horses before the start of the festivities and held a Sunday morning service before the show jumping phase. I am not a religious person, but I can say he is one cool cat. Sarah is everywhere making sure that everything is in top shelf order for both the horses and exhibitors.
The dressage rings and show jumping arena are scheduled for a resurfacing of the same new footing that they installed in what may be the largest schooling area I have ever seen. The best news is that a date opened in mid-August, so plans are to move to a three-day schedule, which should allow for them to accept more entries. I cannot say enough good things about this place. It is truly magical!
Also added to the fall list for northwest eventers was the new kid on the block, the Spokane Sport Horse Farm Horse Trials in early October. I was invited by host Christel Carlson to announce their fall two-day day event. Christel is a respected local doctor, well known decorated dressage rider and judge who owns the farm, which is managed by the more than capable Gail Mackie.
The Spokane Sport Horse Farm Horse Trials are held on another beautiful piece of land in the northwest. Photo courtesy of Full Stride Photography.
Here is another pristine equine facility. A monster sized indoor arena as well as two outdoor arenas anchor the farm, acting as dressage arenas for day one. Don’t forget about their beautiful cross country course, as it is another fine one as well. Nice elevation changes and long gallops between obstacles make it a very fun run. Top quality show jumping equipment added to the quality of the weekend for the exhibitors.
It is so nice to have eventing back in the Spokane area after a long hiatus due to the untimely passing of Spokane eventing staple Cindy Burge. Cindy ran her superb event, the Deep Creek Horse Trials, for years in the Spokane West Highlands. I think we are back in good hands with Christel at the helm. Plans are for two events a year starting in 2016 at this lovely place, one in May and the other in early October. More permanent stabling for exhibitors is also scheduled for the future.
I was very happy for Christel and her team in that her inaugural event was so well attended. No doubt that it will get bigger and better as she produces more and more of these. I am confident that Cindy is watching from above nodding with approval.
For those of you that already attend the many great events that we have in the Pacific Northwest, you need to add these two to your must-compete list. Even if you are new to the sport and live either east or west of the Cascade Mountains, these two are no-brainers. I promise you will not be disappointed.
Sometimes all you need is a little mid-morning snuggle with your mini donk on Thanksgiving.
Well, now that we’ve all gained at least ten pounds yesterday stuffing our faces full of mashed potatoes and turkey and gravy and stuffing and pie and all the ridiculously delicious things that are served on Thanksgiving, it’s a good day to drink lots of water and maybe go for a run. I’m spending it the best way I know how, by riding my horses in the frosty morning, riding more horses in the middle of the day, and teaching lessons in the afternoon! And then, of course, thanksgiving leftovers, because that’s almost the best part.
U.S. Weekend Preview:
Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]
News From Around the Globe:
World number five Sir Mark Todd had a special ask-me-anything night at the Cornwall Farmer’s Store this week. While promoting his own line of nutrition, Keyflow Feeds, Sir Mark entertained the crowd with decades worth of stories in the equestrian world. He spoke about his hopes for a record seventh Olympic trip to Rio next year, as well as his role with coaching the Brazilian team. He also talked about the “golden bubble” that Michael Jung lives inside, and how he’s been trying unsuccessfully to steal his magic. [Cornish Equestrians Enjoy Sir Mark Todd]
Meanwhile, in Canada, four horses were saved from a frozen pond using chainsaws. Unfortunately, six horses in total fell into the pond, and only four were alive upon rescue. Lesson learned? Don’t have a frozen pond in your horse’s paddock!! [Chainsaws Rescue Frozen Horses]
The Horse Radio Network Holiday Radiothon is coming up on Cyber Monday, Nov. 30! 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]
If you’ve got a nervous horse, is petting them a soothing action, or a reward for nervous behavior? In my experience, the idea isn’t to reinforce the nervousness, but to change the experience from a stressor to a positive and happy memory in any way I can. Science agrees with me, and physical touch has been shown to be able to reduce psychological arousal. However, it’s important to identify the causes of the nervous behavior, and continue to assess the body language of the horse as you proceed. [Will Coaxing A Nervous Horse Reinforce the Behavior?]
Holiday discounts on SmartPak already?! Sign me up! SmartPak is offering 15% off tons of apparel, tack, supplements, and basically everything you ever wanted (aka, the whole store), so get on over there now! [SmartPak Holiday Sale]
Congratulations to Maddie Lichten, the winner of this week’s Fab Freebie giveaway for a pair of GoSocks from GiddyUp Gear! Click here to buy your own pair of GoSocks featuring Boyd Martin, Buck Davidson, Gina Miles and Denny Emerson. Be sure to check back Monday for our next Fab Freebie!
Flashback to the 2004 Athens Olympic Eventing!
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Here’s a video to get you in the holiday spirit! Thanks to GoPro, we can take a wintery sleigh ride with Dampen, a 17-year-old warmblood gelding. We hope you’re having a wonderful Thanksgiving Day, and thanks to our sister site Horse Nation for finding this great video.
Happy Thanksgiving, EN! As is tradition on Turkey Day, we’re taking a look back on our posts from years past. It’s hard to believe this is our seventh year! From John’s very first Thanksgiving post in 2009 to the hilarious roundups of Thanksgiving memories and traditions, looking back on how far we’ve come makes us very thankful for you.
2009: EN’s First Thanksgiving Post
“With respect to Eventing Nation, thank you to the thousands of you who have welcomed us into your eventing lives. It may seem like a small thing for you to log onto Eventing Nation, but we put a great deal of time into developing the best eventing content to serve our readers, and every single visitor means a great deal to us. Thank you all so very much and go eventing.”
2010: Much to Be Thankful For
“I challenge everyone to remember and appreciate all the many things we have to be thankful for this season. Thanks to our riders for taking the time to send us their responses, and as always thank you for reading.”
2011: Beware of Attacking Turkeys
“The turkeys in question might claim self defense, but I think not. You be the judge.”
2012: EN Asks: What is Your Favorite Thing About Thanksgiving?
“From the EN family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving! We hope you enjoy this very special day to spend inside/warm and with food, as Sinead Halpin would say.”
2013: EN Asks: What’s Your Favorite Thanksgiving Tradition?
“The red wine has been known to flow like the salmon of the Capistrano. This occasionally leads to some notable athletic contests, such as brother-on-brother form tackling and Greco-Roman wrestling. Injuries are common, though a dislocated shoulder and bite marks have thankfully been the worst of them to date.”
2014: John Shakes His Tail Feather for Thanksgiving
“Why are you watching John dancing in a turkey costume on Thanksgiving? WHY NOT. Spoiler alert: This gets funnier each time you hit that box of wine for a ‘top off.’ From the EN family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving! And may your day be filled with a little insanity in the middle.”
Happy Thanksgiving! Illustration by Lindsey Kahn.
Happy Thanksgiving, EN! The EN team has a lot to be thankful for this year, in particular that we have more than 1 million readers who trust this wacky website as their leading source for eventing news and commentary. THANK YOU for reading, and here’s a look at what we’re all thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day.
Photo by Josh Autry
Jenni Autry: I’m the proud owner of a talented off-track Thoroughbred that seems to spend more time rehabbing from injuries than actually competing. But somehow all the time off and tack walking seem more than worth it when we do get to go gallop and jump. I’m thankful Mia and I were able to compete this year between injuries.
I’m lucky to have have an incredibly supportive (and hilarious) husband in Josh, who somehow doesn’t think I’m completely insane for loving this sport (or, if he does, at least he doesn’t tell me). I’m also grateful to work with an unbelievably talented staff of people who push me to be better and stand by me when I get it wrong; that’s really all you can ask for in a team.
And let’s not forget John. Without him, this crazy thing called EN wouldn’t exist.
Behold, the mighty Fritz.
Lindsey Kahn: I’m thankful for insulated boots; sturdy hoof picks; low-profile riding helmets; farm dogs and cats; house dogs and cats; fall trail rides; good food and better company; horse hugs; my warm bed; my favorite students who text me at ungodly hours with questions about their horses; my not-so-favorite students who don’t text me at all; the camaraderie of the Area IV riders (all 20 of us); my spunky mare and my dopey gelding; ibuprofen; my awesome EN coworkers; and my tiny, awkward doglike creature, who has an entire Facebook album devoted to photos of him looking uncomfortable.
You never know where EN’s West Coast team will be hanging out with their horses … leave no taco stand unturned! So many things to be grateful for — friends older than dirt, adventures, real Mexican food, a high-fiving pony and a hobo horse, demo rides and clinics, and never knowing what comes next! Photo by Charlie Critz.
Stephanie Nicora: I am thankful for many things this year, especially the opportunity to venture deeper into West Coast eventing and expand EN’s West Coast staff by 50 percent! Also:
Me and my “baby pony,” Rufus. Photo by Lorraine Peachey.
Colleen Peachey: In a way, this year that been everything that I hoped it would be … even though nothing happened quite in the way that I thought it would. This was to be “the year” that my baby pony Rufus got started under saddle.
Even though we had a discouraging start at this endeavor in early spring, that unfolding of events ended up helping me onto a different path for Roo’s training. I reconnected with someone from my past, and also spent an amazing summer and fall of first seeing Roo train … and riding him myself!
It’s such a terrific feeling to have seen my baby pony grow up and then come so far this year. And I look forward to another year of furthering Roo’s and my own learning in 2016. I’m definitely thankful for super supportive family and friends … and a special someone who spent so much of his time helping me with Roo this year.
Of course, I feel blessed to live in this country and enjoy the freedoms that we do. Thanks to the men, women and canines that protect us. And finally, a shout out to the awesomely incredible and talented EN team … thanks for another year, y’all!
Photo by Jaime Meinert.
Sally Spickard: It’s been year full of ups and downs and big changes for me. But I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the meaning of being thankful, and I am grateful to have a large list of things to count as blessings. I am thankful for an amazing career that has opened so many doors, introduced me to new friends and mentors and made my professional dreams come true.
I am thankful to be a part of the West End Farm barn family and to have such a supportive and caring group behind me. I am thankful for my young horse, Jesse, who may be ending his career far too soon but who will always be the horse that got me started again. To him I am forever indebted, and he will forever have a home with me, no matter what his job is.
I am thankful for the opportunities that have come across my path this year — sometimes it’s easy to forget and become jaded with everyday life. I just watched the last movie of The Hunger Games franchise, so I’ll end with this quote:
“I’ll tell them that on bad mornings, it feels impossible to take pleasure in things because I’m afraid it could be taken away. That’s when I make a list in my head of every act of goodness I’ve seen someone do. It’s like a game. Repetitive. Even a little tedious after more than twenty years. But there are much worse games to play.”
I’m thankful for these to special girls. Photo by Dave Taylor
Dave Taylor: I am thankful for the following:
My girls, Willow and Fey. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Leslie Threlkeld: In the last year or so, I have taken many chances, both professionally and personally, and when I said to a friend how nervewracking it all is, she said, “good things usually are.” I feel fortunate that good things have come my way and helped me to develop and, I hope, become stronger and better, as an individual, a writer, a photographer and a horsewoman. I love my jobs, the work I do every day and the people and animals who surround me.
I am not only thankful but exceedingly grateful to have an abundance of friends, a loving family, the best boyfriend and a barn full of special horses. I also work with an incredibly talented, supportive and inspiring team of people at EN and beyond in the small but mighty community of equine media.
This is a world where many people don’t have the basic necessities of life, and we are all aware of the tragedies reported on the news every day. I am blessed to have no complaints. I am thankful, and I am humbled.
Leslie Wylie: I’m thankful for unconditional equine love. When Mishka whinnies at me from across the field or Esprit comes galloping up to the gate with hearts in his eyes (and burrs in his forelock because I’ve been busy with work and haven’t made it to the barn in a few days), it melts my heart completely. What did I do to deserve such a gift? I don’t know but I’ll take it, and I’ll do my best to recycle it back out into the world.
