Classic Eventing Nation

Weekend Winners: Pine Top Thanksgiving HT

By on Nov 27, 2023 11:30 am -

Thanksgiving weekend was a bit quieter for the eventing scene, with one event running at Pine Top Thanksgiving HT. We saw plenty of eventers celebrating the holiday weekend with their equine partners, and we’re loving all of the smiles and gratitude we see coming from the event across social media platforms! We do all of this for the love of the horse, and the eventing community around us!

Congrats to all riders on successful weekends, with a special shout out to the winner of our Unofficial Low Score Award, Mariah Johnson and Pablo Picasso! Mariah and Pablo Picasso scored a great 24.7 in the Beginner Novice Rider A division.

Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T. (Thompson, GA): [Website] [Scoring]

Open Preliminary: Emily Beshear and Bad Moon Rising (27.4)
Modified: Kate Brown and Kokoleka (29.3)
Open Training: Brian Kilgo-Kelly and Caspian (26.1)
Preliminary/Training: Darcy Drury and Fernhill Count On Me (80.1)
Training/Novice: Lauren Alexander and Excel Star Over The Moon (31.1)
Training Rider: Kyla Perkins and DSD Dream Big (32.8)
Novice Rider: Alexis Shrum and Anchorman (28.9)
Open Novice: Emily Hamel and N Angel of Poppes (25.8)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Mariah Johnson and Pablo Picasso (24.7)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Kalli Holderfield and Winston (35.6)
Open Beginner Novice: Darci Phelps and FGF Tiebreak (32.1)
Starter: Brittany Kuntz and Holy Redeemer (27.7)

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Nov 27, 2023 9:00 am -

 

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Last chance alert: today’s the final day you can secure 20% off your annual Horse&Country TV membership, which will give you access not only to a huge list of international competitions, but also a back catalogue of documentaries, training series, and reality-style TV programmes, making sure you’ve always got something great to watch as the cold nights draw in. Nab your membership here – and let me know what you’re watching!

National Holiday: It’s Cyber Monday, the online equivalent of Black Friday. If you’re in need to a comprehensive list of US-based horsey discounts – with plenty of brilliant small businesses in the mix – check out Amanda Chance’s huge list here.

US Weekend Results:

Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T. (Thompson, GA): [Website] [Results]

Your Monday Reading List:

Lauren Sprieser’s concept of ‘deferred maintenance’ — or, The Lotto List — probably sounds pretty familiar to you. You know the one: your phone starts acting real weird, or your car’s check engine light resolutely stays on, or your fridge door suddenly, for some reason, needs to be propped shut to stay shut, but these things require cash outlay to fix, and so it’s those quids-in moments, like the day you sell a horse or a saddle or a car with a better-behaved check engine light, that you tackle all those bits and bobs. So no, maybe there’s no island holiday or very expensive imported youngster that comes after a big-ish sale – but Lauren feels your pain.

Amanda brought you that incredible US-based discount list (scroll up if you missed it!) – but what about the Brits among us? Horse&Hound is on hand to share the best bargains they’ve found. I’m eyeing up all the waterproof coats and boots as I write this while steadily being deafened by the continued barrage of rain. When. Will. It. Stop.

The latest edition of Practical Horseman Extra takes you behind the scenes at a place we think is pretty special. That’s TerraNova Equestrian in Florida, home of sparkling sunshine on eventing days and some seriously incredible facilities. Go take a snoop around the place here.

At just 38 years old, Alexa Pessoa – wife of Brazilian showjumping legend Rodrigo, and a Grand Prix jumper in her own right – was diagnosed with breast cancer. What followed was a saga of strength, community, and flow-state focus as she faced a mastectomy and the Wellington season all at once. Her story is well worth a read today – and is a sage reminder to check your girls for any changes, too.

Need to save some money on your horsey expenses? Think communally. That’s what this group of New Englanders — a notoriously savvy part of the country when it comes to pinching pennies — cites as their biggest life hack, but there’s plenty of great tips above and beyond that shared in this article. Something I’d add to this list? Create a chore barter system. Maybe you’ve been paying for body clipping, but one of your barn mates is excellent at it – and they’re in need of some help fixing their truck, which is something you’re pretty damn good at. Swapping skills in this way can save you both money while getting everything you need done.

Morning Viewing:

I’m avoiding all that rain by going back down my favourite rabbit hole: luxury barn tours. Eat the rich, and let me have their stables, thanks.

What Goes into Planning a Competition? Behind the Scenes with Stable View Organizer Molly Bull

By on Nov 26, 2023 10:30 am -

Photo by Shelby Allen.

For us as riders, we prepare for events ahead of time: making sure our horse is fit, sending in our entry, and fine-tuning our dressage test. For all the people who make our competitions go ’round, it’s no different! There is a lot of preparation and moving parts to an event — more than most people realize. I caught up with event organizer Molly Bull to learn about what goes on behind the scenes of an event.

Molly organizes various events on the east coast, Stable View’s full roster of National and FEI Horse Trials being one of them. She lives outside of Charlottesville, VA and makes the seven-hour commute to Stable View for all of their recognized events and some of their unrecognized events.

Molly rode at the Advanced level for many years but took a break when she had her son. “I knew I didn’t want to ride at the upper levels anymore, but I still wanted to be involved in eventing. So, when he was little, that’s when I started doing a bit of secretary work,” she explained.

Eventually, she switched to being an organizer and now Molly makes sure all the moving parts are moving where they need to be. In order to do that, planning is a multi-step (more like a million-step) operation.

The process of planning and executing an event starts just as soon as the event ends. “When an event ends, I usually write up a debriefing email with notes, that for Stable View, it would go to Barry and Cindy [Oliff], the owners and then anybody else who might be affected by whatever is in the notes.”

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Molly ensures that people like the show jump designer, Technical Delegate, president of the Ground Jury, dressage and show jump judges, and cross country designers and builders are able to work the event the next year. “I allow my thoughts to settle after the event ends and then start thinking about who I want to hire for the next year,” she said.

Some event officials stay consistent throughout the season, so at the end of the year Molly will send them the event dates to make sure they can work all of them. For the officials that rotate between events, Molly assembles a team in her head and contacts them to see who can commit.

Next step: getting the event on all the calendars. “You have to renew the competition through your USEF dashboard and pay the fees for that. Closer to the event, you have to register it with US Eventing and pay a fee for that. Then, as you get closer still, you have to do your omnibus page and submit that, plus a bunch of prize list materials to the USEF and then that has to get approved.”

Since Stable View hosts so many events throughout the year, they own things like golf carts, radios, manure dumpsters, and Porta Johns. “They’re a little bit of a unique venue because they own so much that you don’t need to order; at some events that I organize, I have to order radios, order Porta Johns, order ribbons.”

Depending on the size of the event and how many levels are competing, Molly will make the drive to Stable View a few days before the course opens. For smaller events, this means driving down on Wednesday or Thursday of that week, but for larger events, she arrives on Monday or Tuesday.

“When I get on site, usually there’s no competitors there yet, so I like that process of getting everything ready for them and putting up tents and getting everything set out — posting maps on the start box once they’ve been approved.”

Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.

Molly enjoys her job and once everything comes together on the day of the event, she finds it thrilling. “It’s always exciting when dressage starts. But for me, the most exciting is when the first horse leaves the box for cross country. That’s the moment that I’m like ‘Ok, I’ve put all this work into it and now it’s really happening.’”

Inevitably, some things are bound to go wrong, but that’s no worry for Molly. “My job isn’t to make sure nothing ever goes wrong but to react and handle it when things do go wrong– make good decisions, be calm, just come up with a way to solve the problem.”

So, what can we as competitors do to help people like Molly and the rest of the crew? “I think speaking for the secretary, they can get their paperwork in and have complete entries.”

Another thing we can do to help is not waiting until the closing date — or after — to enter an event. “It makes it really hard to plan the schedule, as an organizer, that’s hard because if you think you only have 100 entries, but then between closing and the event, you get 100 additional entries, it completely changes the makeup of the day and how many officials you need.”

Molly, along with all the other show organizers, officials, and volunteers work insanely hard to make it all happen. We are so lucky to enjoy so many beautiful venues and well-run events that keep our sport running.

Next time you’re at an event, be sure to thank all those wonderful people who make it all happen!

Go Eventing.

Sunday Links from Etalon Equine Genetics

By on Nov 26, 2023 12:01 am -

I hope everyone successfully survived this weekend with both their stomachs and their wallets intact, because it is FINALLY my favorite time of year — socially-acceptable CHRISTMAS! While I myself may have been secretly Spotifying my holiday playlist since Halloween, Cooley Farms has come into the holiday season in full swing, complete with bells, lights, Santa, and sleigh. Clearly the Irish know how to do Christmas right!

U.S. Weekend Action

Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T. (Thompson, GA): [Website] [Live Scoring]

Links to Start Your Sunday:

Caroline Pamukcu’s champion U25 mount Quantum Solace has passed away

To no one’s surprise, Woods Baughman is named 2023’s Hot Horseman

Updated: convicted trainer Michael Barisone is released from custody

New Knowledge on Diagnosing Equine Endocrine Disease

Don’t Miss: Eventing Nation’s Black Friday Round-Up & Horse Nation’s Holiday Gift Guide!

Sponsor Corner: Something new is coming this way… Etalon Equine Genetics has discovered something big and will be announcing more information soon! Not Dominant White or Splashed White, this little guy pictured is a great example of their new discovery.

Morning Viewing: By now, you’ve likely seen the humorous and viral short video recently released by the FEI on why we should stop conducting “shavings inspections” in our horses’ stalls. This was a lead into FEI presenting their newest video campaign on YouTube: Think Outside The Box. This series is aimed at raising awareness and educating people about the risk of contamination in and around the stables, and hopes to highlight the biosecurity risks involved in our sport. There are already 4 videos released in this campaign, and you can watch the first here!

From the Ground Up: Keeping Instinct and Intention Central

By on Nov 25, 2023 11:44 am -

In the summer of 2022, I found myself on the back of a semi-feral Mongolian horse in the middle of a forest with a massive storm rolling in. As I noticed the darkening clouds catching up to our group, I felt my hands beginning to sweat, my heartbeat quickening, and a knot in my stomach clenching in anticipation. As my nerves grew, my horse began jigging underneath me, seeming to sense the energy shift in myself and the atmosphere.

Photo by Dulguunsuren Sergelen.

As the storm closed in, it quickly and completely wrapped around us. I heard the thunder right as I saw the flash of lightning and the rain quickly rushing over the deteriorating muddy path beneath. However, as temperatures were quickly dropping below freezing, we had to push on to find a safe place to camp for the evening. My efforts to hand walk my horse through the roots, boulders, and mud proved to be too slow as I stumbled along, keeping my fingers crossed that I didn’t break an ankle. The herder guiding me begged me to hop on, told me to trust my horse — he was made for this; he knew the terrain. I turned to my horse, forced to hand over control to him as I hopped on. Very quickly, he cut our time in half, effortlessly navigating the terrain based on instinct and experience, so long as I stayed out of his way.

That experience is just one of the countless memories I have from that two-week horse trek through northern Mongolia. I had gone on the trip as a fun, adventurous, and unique experience to push myself out of my comfort zone, and had no idea how life-changing it would become. As I reflected on the trip, and navigating those storms and terrain with gratitude for the horse that got me out safely, I realized how drastically it changed my approach to my professional life with horses too. Feeling how much my feelings and thoughts impacted my horse, AND how capable and knowledgeable he was, I was forced to consider and examine the relationships I had with instinct and intention in working with horses.

Photo by Erik Cooper.

As I considered the role that my intention had on my horses and my session with them, I began to consider: when does a session with a horse begin? Is it when I swing my leg over my horse? When I halter them in the field? The more I thought about it, the more I realized that it starts before you even get to the barn – the mindset, emotions, and experiences that you have shape what comes next.

Many horse people have acknowledged experiential evidence of horses responding to the state of another being — we often say that a horse can tell when a rider is anxious, or fearful. Research has supported this evidence, suggesting that horses respond to a person’s state of being, and cues, from our heart beat, to our expressions, and our vocal cues.

Let’s try this: close your eyes, picture a day at the beach. You’re with friends and family, enjoying the gentle sounds of waves as you build a sandcastle and read a book in the shade of your umbrella. What does your heart rate feel like? Your breathing? Now picture something else: you wake up, only to realize your alarm didn’t go off. You’re late for a meeting with your new boss, and hurry to get ready only to get stuck in traffic on the way to your office. How does your body change?

Our experiences have an impact on us. But they also have an impact on the horses around us. In the study “Investigating horse-human interactions: the effect of a nervous human” by Linda J Keeling, Liv Jonare, and Lovisa Lanneborn, the heart rate of horses and handlers were observed as horses and handlers were asked to walk from Point A to Point B four times. The researchers told participants an umbrella would open as they made the fourth pass. The umbrella never opened, but heart rates in both horses and humans increased during the fourth trip between the points, when the human expected the umbrella to open. This suggests that the change in the humans’ heart rate has an impact on the horses’, and therefore the state of the horse in work.

Photo by Julia Dillavou.

Furthermore, Ayaka Takimoto, Kosuke Nakamura, and Toshikazu Hasegawa collaborated in a study that explored whether or not horses integrated facial cues with expected tone of voice. The study suggested that they do, showing that horses cross-modally recognized the emotional states of their caretakers and strangers.

Creating a space with a lower stress, comfortable environment in the training process is important, as there is evidence to show that experiencing stress can impair memory and learning in horses, as seen in Henshall, Randle, and Francis’ “The effect of stress and exercise on the learning performance of horses”.

These studies support what many horse people have already experienced: how we show up does affect how our horses feel. By recognizing the power and ability we have in setting and maintaining our feelings, thoughts, and emotions, we can set intentions going into a training session or time with our horse that will promote learning in a comfortable environment.

While we can only have control over ourselves and our intentions in the partnership, it is important to recognize the strengths, emotions, wants, and needs of the horse in effort to make it a collaborative, mutually beneficial relationship. During my experience in Mongolia, turning to, and trusting the strengths of my equine partner allowed me to pass through terrain I was ill-equipped to handle on my own.

Photo by Cody Cole.

Horses are built to travel distances, forage for sustenance, and live in a herd setting. Giving space for our partners to meet these needs of their species, around and within the work with which they do, will not only lower stress, and therefore improve learning ability, but will allow them to show up with their own strength and ability in the training process.

Based on experience and science, how we approach horses, and how we feel while we’re around horses does have an impact on what they feel, and therefore what they retain in the learning process. If we can focus on regulating our emotions and mindset as we go into our work with our horses, we can set a tone that’s confident, open, and receptive to experiencing new ideas in a way which promotes individuality and learning calmly and appropriately.

Being aware of the intention, or the mental state in which we commit to a course of action, we bring to our training sessions and our days can change the physical response a horse has, such as their heart rate, their emotional state, their general demeanor, and their learning retention. Creating such a mindset can then allow us to listen to, empathize with, and trust the instincts that the horse experiences. Encouraging these instincts to remain intact through the training process not only has helped in situations where I’ve needed a horse with the clarity and self-confidence to navigate a challenging question, but also has created space for the formation of a true partnership between horse and rider to form, allowing for and celebrating the strengths that each partner can bring to the equation.

It can be challenging to set aside time to set intentions, or encourage your horse’s instincts when days can be so full and busy. A few weeks ago, HorseClass hosted a demo day, and I was invited to discuss the importance of instinct and intention in training. I so appreciated the opportunity to discuss these ideas and provide some examples and exercises to practice looping both intention and instinct in your daily work.

For more insight and guidance on how mindfulness practices, longeing exercises, groundwork routines, and management practices can help in this process, send an email to [email protected]. This speaker series through HorseClass, which includes topics such as riding transitions, the Masterson Method, Reiki with Horses, and more, was made in effort to fundraise for Healing with Horses. Any donation towards the effort and for the recording of these demos are appreciated!

Photo by Julia Dillavou.

 

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Working with horses provides us with the opportunity to connect two individuals, with their own strengths and weaknesses, together. This affords us the chance to accomplish tasks we couldn’t otherwise do alone, cross new terrain, finish difficult tests, and gain more of an insight into who we are and what we experience.

Through science and experience, emphasizing and focusing on clarifying our intentions and encouraging instinct within the training process can help us to achieve a deeper and more collaborative relationship with our equine partners. By recognizing the power of our energy, and holding space to utilize our intentions, we can create space for our horses to explore their instincts and learn in an environment that promotes their needs and strengths.

Saturday Links from Word Equestrian Brands

By on Nov 25, 2023 12:01 am -

US Dressage riders Laura Graves, Ashley Holzer, Kasey Perry-Glass, Katherine Bateson-Chandler, Anna Buffini, and Susie Dutta recently made their primetime TV debut alongside Megan Thee Stallion in a new commercial promoting NBC’s coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Watch above! Hopefully this heralds more widespread coverage of the equestrian events!?

US Weekend Action:

Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T. (Thompson, GA): [Website] [Live Scoring]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Meet Dr Koffi, Ivory Coast’s First-Ever Specialist Equine Vet

The Perfect Way to Conclude a Childhood Dream: Joan Harper is the Newest USEA Century Ride Award Recipient

Conference explores environmental sustainability in the horse world

Pathway laid out for future-proofing horse sports

Best of Blogs: Get ready to light your wallet on fire with the annual Black Friday deals list you’ve come to know and love courtesy of Breed. Ride. Event.

Sponsor Corner: “There’s no great rider that hasn’t broken some bones and wondered, ‘What on Earth are we doing here? Why am I trying so hard?’ and ‘What are we doing this for? How am I ever gonna be good enough to get there?’’

World Equestrian Brands‘ rider Allie Knowles talks to us about seeking balance and striving for perfection.

Allie Knowles and Morswood. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Morning Viewing: That moment you sport yourself on TV!

Event Riders Win Big At Horse & Hound Awards

By on Nov 24, 2023 2:42 pm -

Eventer Alice Casburn takes the Tommy Hilfiger Young Equestrian of the Year award. Photo by Peter Nixon.

Terry Pendry, stud groom to The late Queen, received the Lifetime Achievement award at last night’s Horse & Hound Awards, in partnership with NAF.
Terry worked for Her Majesty from 1994 until her death in 2022, springing to public prominence when he accompanied Fell pony Carltonlima Emma at The Queen’s funeral. He retired earlier this year.

“Thank you Horse & Hound, I am deeply humbled and honoured. You were Her Majesty’s favourite magazine – along with the Racing Post,” said Terry as he accepted the award. “I had many magical moments riding with Her Majesty. She was the most amazing lady, she served with such grace and dignity. We miss her so very much. But we have to turn the pages of history. Her Majesty and the late Duke of Edinburgh had long and fulfilled lives. They are at rest now in St George’s Chapel. I am there regularly and I let her know every week how Emma [The late Queen’s last favourite hack] is getting on and how the old racehorses are doing.”

Some 300 people enjoyed the glitz and glamour of the awards ceremony and dancing afterwards at Dallas Burston Polo Club, Warwickshire.

Event riders were the big winners of the night, with Badminton victor and European champion Ros Canter named HorseDialog Professional Rider of the Year, Amy Dixon landing the Spillers Horse Feeds Amateur Rider of the Year title and Alice Casburn the Tommy Hilfiger Young Rider of the Year award.

Dressage was well represented when double European medallist and world champion Glamourdale, ridden by Lottie Fry, scooped the Stretch & Flex by Equilibrium Dressage Horse of the Year prize. National circuit hero Flying Tinker II, a home-bred for rider Mark Edwards, was named Whickr Showjumping Horse of the Year, while in showing Horse of the Year Show supreme champion Forgeland Hyde Park picked up the EQUO-sponsored title.

In addition, unsung heroes from the worlds of farriery, veterinary practice and volunteering were among the winners, while eight-year-old Dylan Ward, who continues to pursue his riding dreams during treatment for a rare form of bone cancer, took home The Horse & Hound Podcast Inspiration of the Year award.

The Horse & Hound Awards 2023 winners are:
● Stretch & Flex by Equilibrium Dressage Horse of the Year: Glamourdale
● Black Nova Designs Event Horse of the Year: Lordships Graffalo
● Whickr Showjumping Horse of the Year: Flying Tinker II
● EQUO Show Horse of the Year: Forgeland Hyde Park
● HorseDialog Professional Rider of the Year: Ros Canter
● Spillers Horse Feeds Amateur Rider of the Year: Amy Dixon
● Tommy Hilfiger Young Rider of the Year: Alice Casburn
● NAF Five Star PROFEET Farrier of the Year: Matt Strawson
● Absorbine Groom of the Year: Lucy Scudamore
● NAF Natural VetCare Unsung Hero of the Year: Sarah Hills
● Baileys Horse Feeds Vet of the Year: Sophie Fulton
● Agria Horse of a Lifetime: Cashel Bay JJ
● The Horse & Hound Podcast Inspiration of the Year: Dylan Ward
● The Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement award: Terry Pendry

The Debrief: Cosby Green on France, Team Price, and What’s Next

By on Nov 24, 2023 9:30 am -

Welcome to The Debrief, where we’ll recap the experience of a rider following a big result or otherwise memorable competition.

Cosby Green has had quite the year. She made the move to the UK back in March, basing with Tim and Jonelle Price at Chedington Equestrian Centre for the season. That in itself was a dream come true, and the season ended in similar fashion, with a top 20 finish in her first 5* at Pau, with Copper Beach, aka “Sean”. We caught up with her to hear everything about that fairy tale weekend in France, as well as her plans for the off season – and what the future may hold, too.

Cosby Green and Copper Beach. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

What was your number one goal for the weekend at your first five-star?
So, I would say my number one goal — though I certainly wouldn’t quite say the expectation, but thankfully I was sat on an experienced horse — was to do my best in all three phases and have a really good cross-country round.

I wanted to get round, because it was absolutely possible, and I knew we could do it, and then besides from that, I was really hoping for a top 25% finish. I was just short of that, which is a shame, but I would say results-wise, I was hoping for that. I kind of came in knowing that we could do it, and wanting to prove to the rest of the world that we could do it, too.

What was it like to go to your first 5* with ‘Team Price?’
Oh my gosh, at every event they’re like my home away from home, and they take care of me! Just that support system is so influential, and having that at every show is amazing — and especially at a 5*. That comfort and support is amazing, and it gives me so much confidence, learning from people who are so cool, calm, and collected. It was really influential to be surrounded by that at my first 5*. As I approached it, I just tried to be the way they are in everything they do; they’re such good role models and a great team to be around.

Cosby Green and Copper Beach. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

What did you practice the most in the weeks leading up to the event?
I think the whole picture, really. From when I first got here [in the UK] Jonelle had been talking about Pau, and that being our end goal, so everything we did was with that in mind. That was a little different for me; they definitely see the one-day events as good practice runs, so that was a shift in mindset for me, and they did the same for the short-format events too.

Every single competition I did, it was like, how is this going to better my performance at Pau? How is this going to affect his fitness? Everything was just planned so far out, so everything was set up to peak at Pau, ever since I arrived in March. That process was really, really cool to see and experience, and that’s always been it since I got here, so I wasn’t too overwhelmed because it’s something we have been preparing for the whole year.

Describe your feelings after finishing cross country in three words.
Relief. Emotional. Proud.

 

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What did you do afterwards, did you have time to relax and take it all in?
I was actually super excited – my boyfriend who I’ve been apart from this whole year, he pulled off a surprise and showed up for two days. He showed up cross country morning, two hours before and I was so excited to see him, but at the same time, I knew I had to stay focused on the task at hand. But then I crossed the finish line, and it really resonated with me that he actually flew across the world to come see me. After that, I was an emotional wreck!

My whole family was there too, so we got a nice dinner, and we went out for a drink and  Allie Knowles – who was my coach back in the US — was there competing, too, so we all had a nice drink and a nice evening and tried to celebrate. We knew that it was a case of ‘who knows what tomorrow [show jumping day] holds.’ But we tried to do a nice little celebration, and it was just really special to be in France with the people that I care about. 

Cosby Green and Copper Beach. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

What about after the event as a whole – did you spend any time rewatching your ride? Did you have a debrief with Tim and Jonelle?
Yeah, so I talked to Jonelle a little afterwards, about how we’re going to plan better for the next 5*. She was like, “You’ve got it under your belt, you did what you needed to do.” I know my horse is never going to be first after dressage, and show jumping is always a little bit difficult. But she was still like, “well done,” and then right on to the next time – “ride him in the morning of show jumping and cross country; make sure you half-halt a little more.”

That is very much my mentality as well – let’s learn to see what we can do better next time and make the improvement and make the change happen. Enjoy the holidays is how we left it though!

But I love watching the round back, and how much my horse tried for me. I was just so happy, more than anything, at just how amazing my horse came through it; he just loves it. I think to me, more than anything, that meant the world to me, and maybe the happiest and the most proud. Yes, the riding was great, but the fact that my horse is just an absolute legend, and the fact that he came through and is just ready for more, that meant the most to me.

What is the number one thing you learned about yourself that weekend? What did you learn about your horse?
Yes…that I want to do it again! It’s so special. This is what I want to do, and I want to plan my life to be as successful as I can in this sport and be with people that make it special and enjoy the special horses and the moments and to remember that that’s kind of what we chase after and are hoping for — that feeling of the 5* and accomplishing something that when you walk it for the first time, you don’t even understand how the horses can do it! Then you go and do it and it’s just such an amazing feeling. And I learned that, you know, maybe I’m not too bad at this horse thing! It’s nice to be able to put 5* next to my name and it makes me feel proud, and that I’m good enough.

As for my horse…. I learned that he knows when to turn it on! And that he is a little bit fresher – because he’s generally the most quiet horse – but then he just gets a little fresh at these big shows. I think I just learned that he loves it and continues to do so: he truly made it feel like a walk in the park. He’s just a really cool guy!

Cosby Green and Copper Beach. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

What would you say has been the biggest thing you’ve overcome en route to having the result you did this weekend?
We had a pretty sweet build up to the event. We really worked hard at the show jumping, so it’s a shame that I couldn’t have ridden that better for a clear round. That would be the biggest struggle. The dressage has gotten better though; we’re chipping away at those points!

 

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If you could talk to your younger self, what advice would you give her?
I think I would tell myself to never stop loving it and never stop loving the horses.

I’ve been such a horse nerd my whole life and when in doubt, just to lean in on that — the love of the horse. Sometimes you come across people that maybe aren’t meant for you, and may [stray from the path] to the top, but just have faith in the reason why you got into this in the first place. That has always held my faith together.

Cosby Green and Copper Beach. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

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?
Since my return to the US, I’m really trying to start to launch my brand and my business and kind of prepare for things when I come back home. I guess I’m kind of focussing more on the ‘admin’ side of being an athlete. I’ve learned so much from them [Tim and Jonelle], and I have a couple of ideas, so I’ve really started to think about structuring that.

Then, while I’m here in America, I’m trying to meet with as many people as I can, ride as many different horses and just catch up and maintain relationships with people, as well as to think about what’s coming next after the season — how can I best prepare for that?

Other than that, my old trainer Allie Knowles is also back in Lexington, and we’ve been talking about doing a party or a celebration. It’s not happened yet — it was going to happen right when we got back, but we were both tired from the time change. But hopefully we can do something with our friends — do a celebration here in a couple of weeks, a kind of ‘We did it!’ So that’s coming — it’s just not happened yet!

But it’s been pretty normal, just a lot of family time.  I’m so excited for my parents — they’ve been so supportive, and they were there to watch, and I’ve just been able to rehash the weekend with them and live it over and they had just as much fun as I did. They’re just as involved and into it and so I’d say it’s been a lot of celebrating with my parents more than anything!

Cosby Green and Copper Beach. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Looking forward to the future, what are your plans? Are you going back to Europe for another season…or longer?!
So, I’m coming back to the UK in December, to get the horses back in work again, then home for Christmas, then back to the UK in January for next season.

I can only stay there for about two years. My visa is only good for two years, so I don’t foresee myself trying to stay longer than that. This year went better than expected, and the horses are ready to take on a full other season. So, it’s hard to leave just yet, I’m not quite ready!

But the plan is definitely to start up my own program and barn in the US, and I’m starting to think about that because I was supposed to be home by now with all the horses and it was only supposed to be a nine-month stint. But here I am!

 

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Friday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

By on Nov 24, 2023 9:18 am -

How are we all doing today, campers? Feeling full to the point of swearing off food forever? Ready to change your phone number and not tell anyone in your family? It’s fine. This is a safe space. Let’s just do some therapeutic horsing today.

 

US Weekend Preview:

Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T. (Thompson, GA): [Website] [Live Scoring]

News From Around the Globe:

‘Controlled chaos’ is a concept I can absolutely identify with, and it’s how OBGYN Dr Kathleen Bertuna describes balancing her job, her family, and her FEI ambitions. Find out how she gets it done here.

Didn’t manage to get your paws on Paris tickets? Great news: 400,000 more will be released for sale soon. Here’s the scoop on how to get them.

Move aside, Eric Lamaze: Andreas Helgstrand is equestrian sport’s new boss-level bad guy. An undercover journalist posing as a groom filmed huge amounts of footage showing human and equine welfare abuses, and now, the subsequent documentary, which has aired in Denmark, is sending shockwaves across the industry — and beyond.

The change in temperatures can increase the risk of laminitis. That’s because when frosty weather hits, plants begin to store more sugars — and so whether your horse is lami-prone or not, it’s well worth keeping an eye on his nutritional intake.

Thursday News & Notes

By on Nov 23, 2023 7:03 am -

 

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Happy Thanksgiving to our friends on the US side of the pond! I’m wishing you all a day full of good food, happiness, people you love, and a sudden bout of gastrointestinal distress for any racist uncles, forcing them to sit out the family festivities. If you’re not so lucky, here’s some very valuable reading for you to start your day and bolster your savage takedowns over dinner. It’s also, frankly, just very important to educate ourselves on the origins of Thanksgiving as it concerns indigenous folks, and how we can honour them while celebrating. Eat well, love well, and have a great day.

US Weekend Preview:

Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T. (Thompson, GA): [Website] [Live Scoring]

News & Notes from Around the Globe:

Michael Jung is shelving his plain bays in favor of a splash of color. Okay, okay, so no one’s actually getting shelved — but his new ride, who he’s taken on from Aussie eventing legend Andrew Hoy, is seriously flashy and can really, really jump. Meet the chromey new addition to his string here.

We talk a lot about how cross-discipline training can make us more well-rounded riders. That same philosophy holds true, too, for picking up different roles in the horse world — and that’s exactly what Helen Alliston discovered when she began judging. Find out more about her eureka moment here, and then, take a moment to think about how you can pick up another role in the horse world to broaden your horizons. (Volunteering at events is a great way to do this!)

Speaking of people who fill different roles and benefit from it, John Michael Durr is a bit of an eventing multi-hyphenate, balancing competing and teaching with course designing. Meet this busy, fascinating competitor here.

Hot on Horse Nation: When is a photo just a snapshot of a split second in a ride, and when does it begin to become indicative of a horse and rider’s overall training? Gwyneth McPherson explains all.