Classic Eventing Nation

Buy the Horse You Need, Not the Horse You Want

By on Oct 1, 2023 12:03 pm -

In this excerpt from his book Know Better to Do Better, horseman Denny Emerson gets frank about horse shopping with your head on straight.

Photo courtesy of Denny Emerson.

There are thousands of horses and ponies out there, all over the world, and many of them are for sale. There are thousands of potential buyers. There are numerous methods of putting these horse buyers in contact with the horse sellers, the internet being the big game in town. There’s also word of mouth, and there’s print advertising, but whatever the method, at some point, some of the shoppers actually find themselves in the physical presence of some of the animals that are for sale.

There are two very broad, often overlapping methods of thinking that describe the horse-shopping experience, which I will call “Rational Thinking” and “Fairy Tale Thinking”: RT and FTT. Most of us use both. Even the most hard-bitten, cynical, “been there, done that,” curmudgeonly old pessimist will find something to hope for in the occasional horse. Even the most Black Beauty-ized, dream-struck, “I love his cute little ears” fantasizer doesn’t fall in immediate love with every horse. But if you use a 1–to–10 scale on people, with 1 being the straight realist and the 10 the total dreamer, it might be a useful exercise to try to figure out where you might fit on this hypothetical scale.

Why? Because buying the right horse brings great satisfaction and joy, and buying the wrong one brings just as much dissatisfaction and distress, and even though choosing wisely can still lead to mistakes, choosing foolishly is more likely to turn out badly. If you know, deep in your heart, that you are an 8, 9, or 10, prone to gasp in delight at a glorious forelock, hiding two bright brown eyes, and overlooking the crooked left pastern, you might want to get a “3” friend to go with you. Even more important, sit down with that “3” friend, someone who knows you pretty well, and do the single best thing you can: write a list. That list can contain “wishful” items and practical ones.

One of the most important questions to struggle with before you get started on your list will also be the hardest question to face honestly: “How competent a rider and trainer am I?”

Another hard question to answer honestly is: “What are my goals with this horse?”

If you fake the answers to these two questions, God help you, because nobody else can.

Example: You are at this point in your riding (which you refuse to face) an inexperienced rider who lacks stability, hasn’t done much jumping, hasn’t spent long hours hanging around barns and warm-up rings, so doesn’t know much about horsemanship, and isn’t very physically fit. Every one of these facts about you can be remedied, but they have not been addressed yet.

But you fantasize that you want a horse that can jump 3 feet 8 inches, and allow you to compete at the Preliminary Level of eventing. He must be a splendid mover, have a great gallop, and be beautiful and “electric” in dressage. Your goals are not in sync with your riding capabilities. Not yet. And if you buy a horse that’s too far above your capabilities who won’t let you fumble around and make all kinds of mistakes while you gradually become a better rider, you may get scared or discouraged or injured, or all of the above, so that you may never become the rider that the right horse for you, at this time, might have allowed.

So make a list of the things in this new horse that you actually need, instead of the things that you want. Obviously, if you are multiple gold-medalist Michael Jung making the list, or some other great rider, the qualities you want are also those that you need, but that’s not the case for most horse shoppers. So try to list those things that you need—in reality, for this particular stage of your riding—knowing that in a few years, or less, you may need something very different.

Or not.

This excerpt from Know Better to Do Better by Denny Emerson is printed with permission from Trafalgar Square Books (www.HorseandRiderBooks.com).

Sunday Links from Etalon Equine Genetics

By on Oct 1, 2023 12:01 am -

If you’re both a podcast girlie and an Android girlie like myself, please join me in mourning the loss of the Google Podcast app this week (RIP, you were a real one). If you haven’t already, you also need to check out the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast, a twice-weekly gem that covers all the big events, riders, and happenings in our world. They just released the first episode of their Maryland 5 Star behind-the-scenes preview, and it’s getting me even more excited for this year’s event, if that’s even possible — and it’s only three short weeks away! Listen in and get hyped with me, and stay locked in to EN for all our updates as we approach Maryland week!

U.S. Weekend Action

Course Brook Farm Fall H.T. (Sherborn, MA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

ESDCTA New Jersey H.T. (Allentown, NJ) [Website] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Fleur de Leap H.T. (Folsom, LA) [Website] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Jump Start H.T. (Lexington, KY) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Ocala Fall Horse Trials (Ocala, FL) [Website] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Old Tavern Horse Trials (The Plains, VA) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Spokane Sport Horse 9th Annual Fall H.T. (Spokane, WA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times][Volunteer] [Scoring]

Stable View Oktoberfest 2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Sundance Farm H.T. (Plymouth, WI) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]

Tomora Horse Trials (Greeley, CO) [Website] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Major International Events

2023 Asian Games (Hangzhou, China) [Equestrian Schedule and Info]

Links to Start Your Sunday:

Olympic Gold Medalist Laura Collett is confirmed for a two-day clinic in California this January

USEA’s Eventing Coaches Program focuses on Area and Regional needs

Don’t miss out on Goresbridge’s 3-Year-Old Showjumpers & Eventers live online auction tomorrow

An Adult Amateur’s Honest ISO

Registration opens today! Sign up to attend the 2023 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention on Dec. 7-10 in St. Louis, MO

Bring your equestrian vacation dreams to life with Eventing Breaks

Sponsor Corner: Calling all Arabian eventers! Etalon Equine Genetics recently launched a brand new panel just for Arabian horses and Arabian horse crosses! This panel includes testing on some of the most common genetic conditions that commonly impact Arabian horses, including Lavender Foal Syndrome and Severe Combined Immunodeficiency. Learn more about these conditions here.

Morning Viewing: I know you’ve all probably seen the sport of Hobby Horsing on socials (which is especially prevalent in Scandinavian countries for an unknown reason), but you’ve never seen it like this. The burly stars behind the band Green Sky Bluegrass took to the ring at Tryon International to show off some frankly impressive extended trots and stylized stadium jumps. (Content warning: the video contains a rather graphic rotational fall after one rider failed to clear a vertical. RIP.)

Michael Jung Takes Control of CCI 4*-L at Lignières (FRA); Cosby Green, Katie Malensek in Top 3

By on Sep 30, 2023 7:32 pm -

This week, the ACEVA Association hosts its annual CCI4*-L and CCI4*-S at Lignières-en-Berry racecourse. Cross country yielded some exciting results for our North American readers in particular, while Germany’s Michael Jung stands firmly in lead with Kentucky winner fischerChipmunk FRH. Michael’s aim this weekend is to obtain the MER needed for Paris, having campaigned “Chip” lightly this season to save the 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding’s legs for the Olympics in 2024.

“He was very good! I had a very good feeling and we really adopted a good gallop,” Michael said (translated from French). “Of course, I didn’t try to [ride] it too fast because it wasn’t the goal, so we took a little time, but it really did everything I asked for. It’s a fantastic cross to ride and I had a huge pleasure in it. However, it was not necessarily an easy path, but ideal for work. It was well built and the land is good, well maintained.”

The American and Canadian representatives stepped up in a big way to secure early spots on the podium ahead of tomorrow’s conclusion. Cosby Green, who’s basing with Tim and Jonelle Price in the UK this year, delivered a clear round inside the optimum with Highly Suspicious to sit second on a score of 32.4.

Canadian rider Katie Malensek and Landjaeger also laid down a fault-free clear to head into show jumping in third position on a score of 34.5. While Michael would need to lower multiple rails to give up the victory, these two ladies have certainly given us much to be thrilled for with their strong performances Saturday. Katie’s been blogging about her time overseas here and she’s gotten me hooked on her recent updates — click here to read more.

Fellow Canadian Hanna Bundy also enjoyed a clear cross country, collecting just some time faults with Lovely Assistant, losing just a bit of ground in the standings but still sitting inside the top 12 and capable of moving up on Sunday.

Full scores from Lignières

Primed for Pau: Phillip Dutton and Z Take Top Prize in Stable View Oktoberfest CCI4*-S

By on Sep 30, 2023 6:30 pm -

Veronica Green-Gott contributed to this report.

We knew Phillip Dutton and Z had been plenty competitive at Stable View in the past. We also knew Z (Asca Z – Bella Bouche B by Babouche vh Gehucht Z), who is 15 this year, has continued to mature and display the fiercely competitive spark that’s become synonymous with a Dutton ride during the eight years (so far) of partnership they now share. So it came as little shock to see the pair skip to the eventual victory on Saturday across Capt. Mark Phillips’ 10-year anniversary CCI4*-S cross country track, ending their Oktoberfest weekend on a score of 35.3.

Phillip’s on a mission to tick off as many CCI5* events with Z — he’s gotten Kentucky, Maryland, and Badminton done to this point — with the next stop being Pau, the final 5* of this season in southern France (October 26-29). Stable View, then, would be his final prep run before packing away for the trek to France.

“Z had an excellent round,” Phillip said. “I didn’t try to break any speed records, but wanted to give him a really good last prep for Pau.”

Lucienne Bellissimo and Dyri (Diarado – La Calera, by King Milford) added yet another clear cross country run to their record at the 4* level, going quick enough today to move up from third to finish second on a score of 40.3. This was also their quickest turn of foot at the level, setting them up nicely to go on and build on this performance at the Morven Park 4*-L in just over a week’s time.

“I liked the last half of the track a lot,” Lucienne, who said she was really looking forward to getting a second trip around on Dyri after first tackling it aboard her other ride, Tremanton. “It just rewarded forward riding, and for Dyri that’s what he needs to just learn to keep moving to the open spot a little more and believe in himself. I did my best to have a quick round but I think Phillip Dutton and I had identical time faults so as anticipated he maintained the lead.”

Sarah Kuhn and Mr. Cash van de Start. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Also making some moves up the board are Aiken local Sarah Kuhn and her own Mr. Cash van de Start (Deauville van T L – Ishtar van de Start, by Toulon), aiming for their 5* debut at Maryland later in October and setting up well with a clear run today. ““I had a fantastic ride,” Sarah said. “Everything rode to plan. My horse was fantastic. He was looking for everything, jumping really well,” said Kuhn. “He actually lost his front shoes somewhere, I don’t know where because he was galloping and jumping amazingly the whole time.”

Melanie Smith and her OTTB Shakedown Street (Survivalist – My Dear Rose, by Wolf Power) also delivered an impressive result this weekend, stalking the leaders steadily after starting the competition in 13th standing. This pair has about a year of experience at the Advanced and 4* level, and a look at their FEI record tells a cool story of selecting variety in venue to gain the mileage that’s invaluable to keep moving up. This is the fourth unique venue they’ve competing in 4* competition at, and will likely be prepping for a first 4*-L to cap off their season.

Emily Hamel and Corvett. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Emily Hamel and Corvett (Corrido – Tina XII, by Clearway) round out the 4*-S top five here at Stable View, also moving up all the way from 18th after dressage. Emily, also one who could probably tick off every 5* in the world if she had enough funding, is aiming for the Maryland 5 Star with “Barry” next, and will be pleased with two clear jumping rounds and a quick cross country today. That quick cross country is something she’s been honing with her enthusiastic horse, who’s certainly shown he can be increasingly efficient despite the extra space he gives each jump.

Oktoberfest marks 10 years of four star competitions at Stable View — and we also had one other 10-year anniversary in our ranks today as it’s Sarah Kuhn’s 10th 4* four star completion with Mr. Cash van de Start. At 11 years old, “Mr. Cash” is an experienced upper level eventer. Similar to Phillip with 9th-placed Azure, Sarah was using Oktoberfest as one last event prior to the pair’s move-up to the 5* level at the Maryland 5* at Fair Hill.

“(Corrido – Tina XII, by Clearway)I thought the course was great and he handled it really well,” Kuhn said.

The 4* leader had a lot to say both about the course design and the ground itself. “Aiken in the summertime can go a bit hard, but Barry’s done a good job getting good grass cover so it doesn’t cut up like it can do without that grass there,” Phillip commented. “They went to the trouble of putting a bit more brush in it now, so that prepares you a bit more for the bigger events in the long format, which usually have more brush than the Horse Trials do. So that was a good addition as well.”

Oktoberfest in 2023 concludes a decade of course designer Captain Mark Phillips’ work with the venue. For his last course, he designed the CCI4* track to help riders prepare for the next level. “It’s three weeks before Maryland. I think that anyone that’s had a good ride down here will go to Maryland with a lot of confidence,” said Captain Phillips.

While owners Barry and Cyndy Olliff are always working hard to improve the footing at the venue, Captain Phillips has already seen the venue change over the years. “From where we started ten years ago, when it had been used for quail, and it hadn’t been used to hunt quail in a long time. A lot of it was overgrown. So, over ten years, we’ve seen a dramatic transformation, which doesn’t have to do with me, obviously. But I guess I helped a little bit.”

Allison Springer and No May Moon. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Young Horses Shine on Championship Weekend

Out of the large CCI3* division, one horse and rider pair rose to top the leaderboard: Allison Springer and Nancy Winter’s No May Moon (Catherstown Dazzler – Ebony Moon, Mystic Replica). The pair finished strong, adding no faults to their dressage score, for a final score of 29.8.

In the CCI2*, Elisa Wallace and Donna Biggs and Rosemarie Spillane’s Lissavorra Quality (O.B.O.S. Quality – Soolmoy Lucy, Lux Z) led all three phases to wind up in first place with a score of 33.2. The rider also took fourth place in the CCI2* with her own Tullymurry Fifi (Lougherne Cappucino – Kearneystown Lass, Convinced).

This weekend also plays host to the USEF/USEA Eventing Developing Horse National Championships for 6- and 7-year-olds, which are run as 2*-S and 3*-S competitions, respectively.

Allie Knowles and P.S. I Love You. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Winning the highly competitive CCI3*-S Young Horse Championships were Allie Knowles and Katherine O’Brien’s P.S. I Love You (FSS Correlli Bravo – Woodmount Queen, Crannagh Hero). Allie and “Jerry” ended up with just 0.8 time faults on cross country, leaving them with a score of 33.4, nearly finishing on their dressage score. “I just had so much faith in Jerry. He’s a machine, like he just went out of the box and had his ears pricked the whole time and acted like he’s done this level for years,” she said. “It was incredible. Like, I could not believe how well he went around that track. He definitely exceeded my expectations.”

Cornelia Fletcher and her own DHI Qyaracolle Z (Quinar Z – Celiacolle Z, Chellano) came in second place in the division, a win that Fletcher sees many more of in the mare’s future. “She’s a bit aggressive but in a nice way, you know? She’s very serious about her job. And that’s just how she’s always been. And she’s kind of a character,” Cornelia said. “But she does love it. And she loves us. And she’s always been really, really thoughtful and smart about the jumps. And I mean, she probably has the best jumping brain I’ve ever sat on. Like she just reads the fences so quickly and so well and is so brave.”

Jenny Caras and Beaulius Cecelia. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Wrapping up the top three were Sarah Kuhn and Hashtag Trending, barn name “Trendy.” “Trendy really stepped up. He’s only done two Intermediates and obviously he’s only a seven-year-old, so this was really a big ask. And honestly, he did it easily. He was very rideable and he jumped really immaculately. I was honestly shocked,” said Sarah. “I thought I was gonna have to work a bit harder because he was green, but he really found it quite easy. So that was amazing for the future.”

In the CCI2*-S Young Horse Championships, Allison Springer came in as the leader of the group with The Zebedee Group’s Monbeg Zebedee (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet – Bolacreane Dolly, Cult Hero). “He was super. He got a little stronger on me. I haven’t started out so fast before him. That’s the first time I’ve actually kind of kicked on. I mean, he is only six, but he’s ready for it,” she said. “But I really had a strong first bit of the course and he got a little excited. He got a little bit strong in areas but he’s such a good jumper and he has a really nice rhythm. So you know, he’s really a good young horse. It’s very exciting.”

Second place Gabby Dickerson was just 0.2 points behind Allison Springer. Riding her own Top Carrera (Carridam – Cecil, Contendro I), the pair put in a strong performance to finish on their dressage score. “Then this season, he’s had quite a few wins. A Training level win, a modified win. He’s done very well and stepped up to the Preliminary level really well. And then this is his first CCI2*, and I couldn’t be happier with him,” Gabby explained. “He’s really just getting better and better. So I’m super excited about him. And I definitely want to try and stay on this path to maybe go to Lion next year.”

The Advanced division wrapped up today, with Arden Wildasin and her own Sunday Times (Cult Hero – Lackaghbeg Crest, Sea Crest) winning the division on a score of 55.5. Arden and Sunday Times shot to the top of the roster on day two of competition, after a fast cross country round with no jumping faults.

Open Intermediate wrapped up competition as well, with Andrew McConnon and his own Wakita 54 (Plot Blue – Werusa, Padinus) stepping into first place after a lot of movement in the ranks. With a score of 37.6, Andrew and Wakita 54 finish nearly three points ahead of the competition.

Tomorrow spectators can enjoy stadium and cross country rounds for the remaining National levels, including Beginner Novice, Novice, and Preliminary.

Stable View Oktoberfest 2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Irish Contenders Revealed for Young Horse World Championships at Le Lion d’Angers

By on Sep 30, 2023 9:33 am -

Steven Smith with Strangford at Clonmahon Horse Trials. Photo by Irish Eventing Times.

We’re less than a month away now from the FEI WBSFH World Breeding Eventing Championships for Young Horses at Le Lion d’Angers, France, where the world’s best six- and seven-year-old event horses will do battle for their respective titles — and so will the world’s leading studbooks.

Ireland has today released its roster of competitors, all of which, bar one, will represent the Irish Sport Horse studbook. These are as follows:

Six-Year-Olds:

Diamond Mistress (ISH) – 2017 mare by Diarado (HOLST) out of Shes My Master (ISH) by Master Imp (TB). Breeder and owner: Kate Jarvey. Rider: Sian Coleman (IRL)

Greenogue Gigi (ISH) – 2017 mare by Je T’aime Flamenco (BWP) out of Quita (ISH) by Dow Jones Courcel (SF). Breeder: Con McCarthy. Owner: Lucy McCarthy. Rider: Ian Cassells (IRL).

Strangford (ISH) – 2017 gelding by Luidam (KWPN) out of Templepatrick Dara Bay (ISH)(TIH) by Cruisings Micky Finn (ISH)(TIH). Breeder: Dorothea Wilson. Owner: Terry Johnston. Rider: Stephen Smith (IRL).

Seven-Year-Olds:

Danos Lola (ISH) – 2016 mare by Carrera Vdl (KWPN) out of Abigail Cruise (ISH)(TIH) by Cruising (ISH)(TIH). Breeder: Julie Dennehy. Owner and rider: Alyssa O’Neill (IRL).

Drumnaconnell Kobie (ISH) – 2016 gelding by Road To Happiness (TB) out of Kings Jewel (ISH) by Kings Master (ISH). Breeder and owner: Lawrence Patterson. Rider: Clare Abbott (IRL).

Granny Jeans Unicorn (ISH) – 2016 mare by Jack Of Diamonds (SWB) out of Killossery Ringwood (ISH) by Touchdown (ISH). Breeder: Sara Glynn. Owner: Laura and Sara Glynn. Rider: Sara Glynn (IRL).

Kilroe Frolic (ISH) – 2016 gelding by Cavalier Land (ISH) out of Malibiues Dancer (ISH) by O.B.O.S. Quality 004 (OLD). Breeder: Sean Barron. Owner: Maurice Coleman. Rider: Sian Coleman (IRL).

Loughview Commander (ISH) – 2016 gelding by Cobra (HOLST) out of Loughview La La (ISH) by Limmerick (HOLST). Breeder: Judith Sossick. Owner and rider: Suzanne Hagan (IRL).

MGH Zabaione (ISH) – 2016 gelding by Zavall Vdl (KWPN) out of Viancara VDL (KWPN) by Acobat II (HOLST). Breeder: Padraig McCarthy. Owner: Lucy and Padraig McCarthy. Rider: Padraig McCarthy (IRL).

Milchem Miami (ISH) – 2016 mare by Glasgow Vant Merelsnest (BWP) out of Mullentine White Diesel (ISH) by Corland (HOLST). Breeder: R C Equine Ltd. Owner: Marie Dunne. Rider: Godfrey Gibbons (IRL)

Millridge Athos (ISH) – 2016 gelding by Grand Gayle (TB) out of Out Of Touch Blue Moon (ISH) by Out Of Touch (ISH). Breeder: Kieran Savage. Owner: Gerry Leahy. Rider: Ian Cassels (IRL).

Sligo Just Touch (ISH) – 2016 gelding by Sligo Candy Boy (ISH) out of Sligo Landgraf Touch (ISH) by Touchdown (ISH). Breeder: Padraig Howley. Owner: Molly Fisher and Lucy Flemming. Rider: Georgie Goss (IRL).

The Sequel (DSP) – 2016 gelding by Conthargos (OS) out of Juanita (LVBAY) by Asih (BAVAR). Breeder: U Hans von Scheni. Owner and rider: Heidi Hamilton (IRL).

Le Lion d’Angers will take place from October 19–22. To save money on your entry ticket, use the code FRENCHDAYS by tomorrow evening to save €3 on Saturday entry and €2 on Sunday.

Stable View Celebrates 10 Years of Eventing With Oktoberfest Cross Country

By on Sep 30, 2023 8:59 am -

Fence 19, just one of the twenty-five questions facing the 4* riders this morning at Stable View Photo by Shelby Allen.

The entire team at Stable View has spent the last decade pouring their hearts and souls into the always adapting and improving facility here in Aiken, South Carolina, and this weekend is a celebration of all that they have accomplished at the Oktoberfest 2/3/4* and USEF/USEA Horse Trials. Of course one of the biggest components of an event venue is the cross country course, and Captain Mark Phillips has been an integral part of the vision and follow through of that effort for Stable View, and he once again comes forward as the course designer for the feature four-star class.

Competitors will be challenged with 37 jumping efforts that curl them around the sandy Aiken landscape, which the crew at Stable View has been tirelessly watering, and Mark will expect them back through the finish flags in an optimum time of 6 minutes 35 seconds. Easier said than done!

Overnight leader Phillip Dutton says this course, “is the best I’ve seen Mark do here,” and it’s certainly the creation of a man who knows this terrain and venue like the back of his hand. With that much familiarity, who better to take us around the Oktoberfest cross country course? Read on from Captain Mark Phillips himself:

“As riders set off from outside the Hunt Boxes, the Log Box (1) and the Hammock (2) have a familiar look to them. But turning down the hill towards the Meadow, the Diamond Brush, (3) with its new cedar top, starts to put the size of this year’s Oktoberfest into perspective.

“The Chevron Table and Corner in the Meadow (4) is a kind first combination before the climb up the hill to Boyd’s Table (5) and the Boyd’s Water Combination (6). While the Table is kind enough, riders will need to be brave at the Cabin and careful at the MIM Rail on the Mound. All will be thankful when the Open Corner after is behind them.

“The Log Pile (7) on the down slope to the Academy Alp looks massive. Riders have an interesting choice of the ends of the Alp (8) where the quicker right hand side down to a Stable View Shoulder looks a little scary while the left side will take longer.

Fence 12abc Stable View’s Sunken Road. Photo by Shelby Allen.

“The Hayrack (10) in the Cut Through and the Gate (11) after won’t hold too many fears but while the four efforts at the Sunk Road (12) is not new, it still needs a lot of respect.

15 a and bc over there in the far left of the photo, The Land Rover Question. Photo Courtesy of CrossCountryApp.

“Riders will enjoy Barry’s Desk (13) and the Memorial Garden Table (14) before coming to the daunting Derby Field Alp (15). Here the Triple Brushes and Brush Corner are definitely impressive.

Fence 17ab, the Beehive Oxers. Photo Courtesy of CrossCountryApp.

“The Cross Question (16) is unchanged but the Metal Oxer Combination (17) on the downslope cannot be taken for granted.

Fence 20a is followed by a corner at 20b. Photo Courtesy of CrossCountryApp.

“The Tiger Trap (18) is a welcome breather before the Derby Field. The Triple Bar (19) in the water followed by the Blanchard Table and Corner (20) will all come up quickly one after the other.

Fence 23a, followed by 23b in the second water, the GL Williams Water Complex. Photo by Shelby Allen.

“The Double Brush (21) with its new cedar top looks bigger than ever while the two Boats give the GL Williams Water (22) a completely new look. It’s then the run home over the Step Table (23) before the Stable View Village (24) and the Finish.

“A good round here will give horses and riders a massive confidence boost before heading for the Maryland 5* designed by Ian Stark later in the month.”

Need a TLDR? Check our EN’s quick ‘n dirty instagram reel:

First horse leaves the startbox for this division at 12:06 p.m. this afternoon. Check back with us to see how it all shakes out.

Stable View Oktoberfest 2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Live Scores] [Ride Times/Orders of Go]

 

 

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Sep 30, 2023 12:01 am -

Photo via Dressage at Devon on Facebook.

Spot the eventer amongst the dressage divas! While Silva Martin was originally slated to ride in the Dressage at Devon 2023 Master Class with Dutch Olympian Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour, she wound up being a little busy this week giving birth to her and Boyd’s third child. Boyd ended up getting the best seat (saddle) in the house and taking Silva’s place as a demo rider, gracing the Dixon Oval aboard one of his eventing mounts, Commando 3, on Thursday night. We’re still waiting on word of how many changes Cathrine made them do!

U.S. Weekend Action

Course Brook Farm Fall H.T. (Sherborn, MA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

ESDCTA New Jersey H.T. (Allentown, NJ) [Website] [Volunteer]

Fleur de Leap H.T. (Folsom, LA) [Website] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Jump Start H.T. (Lexington, KY) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Ocala Fall Horse Trials (Ocala, FL) [Website] [Volunteer]

Old Tavern Horse Trials (The Plains, VA) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer]

Spokane Sport Horse 9th Annual Fall H.T. (Spokane, WA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times][Volunteer] [Scoring]

Stable View Oktoberfest 2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer]

Sundance Farm H.T. (Plymouth, WI) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]

Tomora Horse Trials (Greeley, CO) [Website] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Major International Events

2023 Asian Games (Hangzhou, China) [Equestrian Schedule and Info]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Shoto Targets Double Gold for Japan

Nominations for 2023 USEA Appreciation Awards Now Open through October 29

Behind The Photo: Bridle Mishap Tests Decade-Long Partnership

George Morris Said…

Bit chewing aids gut motion in horses, study findings suggest

Sponsor Corner: I recently saw a video on social media of someone taking a hose to a gorgeous leather saddle… Please don’t do this, you’ll make team EN cry! Instead, take the advice of World Equestrian Brands. Use a high-quality tack cleaner/conditioner like Amerigo Leather Care. And please. Put the hose down.

Morning Viewing: Bently or Shetland?

Dutton is Dominant On Day One of Stable View Oktoberfest CCI4*-S

By on Sep 29, 2023 6:44 pm -

Phillip Dutton and Z. Photo by Shelby Allen.

US Eventing team stalwart Phillip Dutton leads the Stable View CCI4*-S in both experience and placings as he and his World Equestrian and Olympic Games partner Z landed themselves in the overnight lead position after the first two phases.

On their morning dressage efforts, both judges — Vanda Stewart and Amanda Miller — shared similar opinions, both giving Phillip and Z the identical score of 71.88% for a penalty score of 28.1. Phillip gives thanks to dressage coach Tuny Page on that front, who he says has had him laser focused on maintaining a correct and effective position throughout the test.

“[Z is] getting so mature and professional about it all now and early in his career as dealing lot more with his tension and nervousness, whereas now he sort of understands a lot more the dressage. He kept his calm and kept thinking with me all the way through the test,” he said.

Phillip Dutton and Z. Photo by Shelby Allen.

The 15-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Asca Z — Bellabouche, by Babouche VH Gehucht Z) will stay on his sub-30 score (the only one in remaining in the division) after a show jumping showdown of sorts that saw only four of the twenty-two competitors emerge double clear.

“He’s just a beautiful jumper and he’s pretty rideable now as well, and I’ve gotten to know what works best in the warm up for him,” he said. “I just try to keep the warm up as quiet and as easy and as relaxed as possible with lots of walking in between jumping and just lets him take a deep breath and doesn’t build up and build up and get more and more tense.”

Phillip admits he had the advantage of being sat on an excellent show jumper, but he still had plenty of work to do across Michel Villancourt’s show jumping track. “I thought it walked strong actually when I walked it. It’s quite square and it wasn’t very forgiving in the lines — you kind of had to stick to the numbers or else you paid a price. I think the Liverpool probably came down the most, and that required you to get really straight and square to it and again I think you’ve paid the price if you didn’t you didn’t do that,” he said.

Lucienne Belissimo and Dyri. Phoot by Shelby Allen.

Phillip’s closest rival tomorrow is second-placed Lucienne Belissimo who saw one rail go early in the course with the Horse Scout Eventing’s Dyri.

“I was pleased with Dyri in the dressage this morning. He is an insecure gelding and can curl up on me a little — today he actually felt confident and maintained a good frame & brain throughout,” she said of the 11-year-old Holsteiner (Diario — La Calera, by by King Milford xx). “The one rail he had was a shame early on because the show jumping suited him as he likes to run a little deep, and there were a few clever combinations that were followed with a short distance.”

Lucienne and Dyri carry forward a score of 33.1 to the final phase.

Mary Bess Davis and Imperio Magic. Photo by Shelby Allen.

It’s a pleasure to see Mary Bess Davis and Imperio Magic in the top three of this feature class, but no one was beaming more Mary Bess herself. After being sidelined from a neck injury this spring, she’s picked up exactly where she left off with “McColl.”

“I knew it would be tough, and if you’re going to ride a course like that you want to be on a horse like him. It gives you a lot of confidence being on him, so I was really kind of excited about how hard it was because I thought we could jump clean and do well because it just suits him,” she said.

She was exactly right on that front, leaving all the rails in place with her 9-year-old Anglo European gelding (Cassander C — Khadija des Hayettes, by Banboula du Thot) to remain on their dressage score of 34.0 going into the final phase.

Sarah Kuhn and Mr Cash van de Start. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Sarah Kuhn is fourth with Mr. Cash van de Start after having one rail down for a two-phase score of 34.9, and Lucienne nabbed another top five position with her second ride, Tremanton coming in fifth on 36.4 points.

Allie Knowles and P.S. I Love You. Photo by Shelby Allen.

In addition to International divisions, Stable View is also playing host to the USEF/USEA Developing Horse Eventing National Championships for 6- and 7-year-olds.

Katherine O’Brien’s P.S. I Love You tops the 7-year-old Championship, which is held at the CCI3*-S level. Ridden by Allie Knowles, the Irish Sport Horse (FSS Correlli Bravo — Woodmount Queen, by Crannagh Hero) put forward a double clear show jumping effort to remain on their dressage score of 32.6.

The 6-year-old class currently belongs to Monbeg Zebedee, who is ridden by Allison Springer. The Zebedee Group’s Irish Sport Horse (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet —  Bolacreane Dolly, by Cult Hero) earned a 28.6 on the flat and will continue forward with both jumping phases tomorrow.

Competition continues tomorrow with cross country for all International divisions beginning at 8:30 a.m. Stay tuned for much more from Stable View.

Stable View Oktoberfest 2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Live Scores] [Ride Times/Orders of Go]

 

A Continental Showdown: Check Out the Asian Games Cross-Country Course

By on Sep 29, 2023 3:19 pm -

A beautiful day to be in China. Photo courtesy of the CrossCountry App.

The Asian Games is one of the biggest continental sporting events in the world, and like the Olympics, the format of which it largely mirrors, it comes around just once every four years. Equestrians are well-represented, with dressage, jumping, and eventing on the roster – and with several Asian countries on the up and up over the last few years in our sport, it’s going to be a fascinating competition to watch unfold. We’re doing our best to track down some livestreaming information for you, but in the meantime, we’re delighted to be able to share a first look at the CCI2*-L cross-country course that Germany’s Christian Zehe has designed at the Tonglu Equestrian Centre outside Hangzhou, China.

Talk about a work of art! Photo courtesy of CrossCountry App.

 

Our first impressions? First of all, that it’s just a beautiful looking course, particularly with the attention paid to detail: those carved wooden dragons in the arena, for example, are such a lovely nod to the area’s culture while also making for brilliant, readable fences. There’s also plenty of technicality around the breadth of the course, particularly for the level, and we can certainly expect it to exert plenty of influence.

Beyond that, though, it’s great to see how a Championship of this magnitude pulls people from all around the world into important roles and broaden’s eventings field of experts. Though the course designer is German, he’s assisted by China’s Li Wei and Wang Kai, which will bring further valuable experience and knowledge into East Asian competitions, and British Technical Delegate Andrew Griffiths is ably assisted by India’s Prabal Pratap Singh, similarly adding depth to the field of knowledge across the continent. This is also the first time a course in China has ever been on the CrossCountry App, further adding to the globalisation of the sport.

There are seven nations contesting the eventing, which began today with the first horse inspection. Five of those — China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, and Thailand — are fielding teams, while a further two — Uzbekistan and South Korea — have sent individuals. There are plenty of familiar faces on the roster; Olympians Alex Hua Tian, Bao Yingfeng, and Huadong Sun all appear in the Chinese team, and similarly, Thailand brings forward Olympians in Weerapat Pitakanonda and Korntawat Samran. Friend of EN Yu Xuan Su will ride for Hong Kong, as will 2008 Olympian Patrick Lam, and British-based rider Annie Ho, who’s already had a busy week at the Games: she also rode on the Hong Kong dressage team, helping them to a bronze medal.

You can keep an eye on the live scoring for the Asian Games here, and check out the dressage times here:

Dressage will begin at 8.00 a.m. CST tomorrow, September 30; Hanghzou is seven hours ahead of Great Britain and twelve hours ahead of East Coast US, so dressage will, as such, begin at 3.00 a.m. British time and 8.00 p.m. this evening East Coast time. Cross-country will take place on Sunday, October 1, again from 8.00 a.m. CST, and Monday, October 2, will be showjumping day, though a start time hasn’t yet been released.

For now, though, while we wait for the action to begin, let’s walk this course, thanks to the fine folks at CrossCountry App!

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Little Downham CCI4*-S Springboards Tom Jackson and Kazuma Tomoto to Autumn Long-Format Aims

By on Sep 29, 2023 9:30 am -

Tom Jackson and Farndon. Photo by Tim Wilkinson.

Tom Jackson and Kazuma Tomoto reigned victorious at the Childeric Saddles Little Downham International CCI4*-S, claiming a section apiece after an action-packed day in England’s Fens.

 Japanese Olympian Kazuma made it back-to-back Little Downham 4* wins, having taken the title in 2022 with Brookpark Vikenti, riding Vinci De La Vigne to victory in Section F. The pair moved up from sixth after the dressage following a double clear, and one of the faster cross-country rounds of the day, adding just 3.2 time faults to their 31 dressage. They were followed in second place by Pippa Funnell and Billy Walk On, who clinched a confidence-affirming clear after rerouting from Blenheim, while Boekelo-bound Yasmin Ingham and Rehy DJ secured third in this section.

It was all about the Toms in CCI4*-S Section E – Tom Jackson and Tom McEwen, that is. Tied after the dressage on 25.4, Tom McEwen and Kentucky CCI5* runner-up JL Dublin edged ahead after the showjumping with a faultless round in their preparation for Pau CCI5*.  Tom Jackson’s Farndon had delivered a new personal best in the dressage but the pair were one second over the time allowed in the showjumping, picking up 0.4 of a time fault.

Jonathan Clissold’s track – which saw a 77% clear rate across the sections – is notorious for the time being influential, with only a handful of riders having achieved the optimum time at the CCI4* and Advanced level in the event’s history. Jackson and Farndon delivered the fastest round of the day, adding just 1.6 time faults to take the win ahead of McEwen and JL Dublin in second, also securing them a personal best finish at the 4* level. Piggy March and the former Nicola Wilson ride Coolparks Sarco secured third place with 7.2 time penalties en route to an end-of-season long-format run for the pair, while fourth place went the way of Bramham CCI4*-L winners Pippa Funnell and MCS Maverick. The win marked the culmination of a particularly successful couple of weeks for Jackson, who came to Little Downham after taking the CCI3*-S at South of England with Ask For Manchier, where he finished in the top seven with  all six of his mounts across the classes.

The single Advanced section went to Gaspard Maksud and his World Championship partner Zaragoza II.

“I thought it was good cross-country course,” says Gaspard. “They’ve made a bit of change compared to the last few years and it was more technical than usual I thought.  A good prep run for a person heading to Boekelo or Pau. My horse knows her job at that level now, and she’s just unbelievable cross-country.”

Little Downham’s autumn CCI4*-S plays a crucial role in the Autumn international schedule providing a pivotal run for those heading abroad for the CCI5* events in Maryland and Pau, plus the Nations Cup Final at Boekelo. The event once again attracted a world class field with six of the world’s top ten riders in attendance, including the reigning World and European Champion, plus all members of Team GBR’s Olympic Gold medal winning team.

You can find the results in full here.