Classic Eventing Nation

16 Adorable Eventing Foals Guaranteed to Make You Grin

By on May 31, 2015 3:00 pm -

It’s foaling season, and for the last couple of months we’ve been cooing at the computer screen as social media fills up with adorable images and videos of newborn foals. So we scooped a bunch of them up and gently dropped them into one post for an overload of adorable. Many of these little fillies and colts were purpose bred to event, and we can’t wait to see this next generation of superstars leave the startbox in a few years!

Lainey Ashker gets to meet this bundle of joy this week. #kissesonfleek

Screen Shot 2015-05-31 at 5.06.18 PM

Courtney Cooper has another shining star in her life!

Mary King welcomed a colt by Future Gravitas out of Rolex CCI4* winner King’s Temptress.

EVERYBAAADY MEET BABY CYRUS – he’s a touch wobbly at the mo!

Posted by Emily King on Monday, May 11, 2015

Long awaited first baby for Talbot. Colt born at 6:40 this a.m. up and nursing under 20 minutes.

Posted by Talbot SwB on Monday, May 4, 2015

One of two Irish foals this month at Richlands Sport Horses.

Posted by Richlands Sport Horses on Saturday, May 23, 2015

Tatendrang has had his first foal in Germany!

So stoked to share these photos! Tate’s first daughter in Germany – Laudatia out of the TB mare, Lara Bell. :).

Posted by Tatendrang on Saturday, May 16, 2015

Born May 30th @ 1 amWe are so thrilled with this amazing filly. She is everything we wanted and is a keeper for sure!

Posted by Fox Haven Farm, Inc. on Saturday, May 30, 2015

#cantstopwontstop

Cady O’Daly Aidan having a little fun.

Posted by Cady O’Daly Farm Connemaras on Monday, May 18, 2015

Filly by Riverman and out of Melissa Stubenberg’s Kourages Kelly xx. Video shows Rivendell at one week old!

Photographer extraordinaire Allie Conrad had a filly named Millie! And she loves the camera!

Soooooooo……I had a baby yesterday. She might be my new favorite thing in the whole wide world. Prepare for WAY too many pictures! Meet Millie! And her momma Slinky Mink!

Posted by Allie Conrad Photography on Friday, April 10, 2015

Have you heard of a sweeter name than Marigold?

Posted by Ketchen Place Farm, LLC on Saturday, May 30, 2015

Roulette’s full brother foaled last night.

Posted by Colleen Rutledge Eventing on Friday, May 8, 2015

Look who joined our herd last night! She is looking forward to her future as an eventer and has already conquered her…

Posted by Andrew Palmer on Wednesday, May 20, 2015

So cute!! What a character!

Posted by Lesley Stevenson on Thursday, May 28, 2015

Nic-filly first time outside! We gave her an extra week to finish “cooking” with her baby bones before being turned out…

Posted by Andrea StHilaire on Sunday, May 24, 2015

New babies out of Jam and Rolex, by Keltic Lion!http://brucedavidsoneventing.blogspot.com/2015/05/jam-rolex-foals-by-keltic-lion-arrive.html

Posted by Bruce Davidson Eventing on Monday, May 25, 2015

Treble Time!! She’s officially one month old and loves her head scratches!!

Posted by Jessica Bortner-Harris on Sunday, May 31, 2015

Congratulations to all the new moms and dads!

Germany Makes the FEI Nations Cup Leaderboard with a Win in Great Britain

By on May 31, 2015 1:30 pm -
Germany wins leg three of FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing 2015 (center), with Great Britain (left) placing second and France third at the beautiful and historic Houghton Hall (GBR). Photo by Trevor Holt/FEI Germany wins leg three of FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing 2015 (center), with Great Britain (left) placing second and France third at the beautiful and historic Houghton Hall (GBR). Photo by Trevor Holt/FEI

Germany made its first appearance in this year’s FEI Nations Cup™ count with a win at historic Houghton Hall in Great Britain this weekend, which is the third of eight competitions on the Nations Cup calendar. With 11 points now on the leaderboard, Germany is fifth in the series behind Australia and the Netherlands who are tied for third with 14 points.

“We are very happy to win here in England,” team manager Hans Melzer said in a statement. “The three boys were all clear inside the time, which meant that Sandra [Auffarth, the team anchor], on a younger horse, could afford not to rush and let the horse find a rhythm.”

Germany has twice won the Nations Cup series, but they have some ground to make up having missed the first competitions. However, this is the first time they have won at the British event.

“The facilities here are super and the cross country was really fun and encouraged forward riding,” Hanz said. “The ground was perfect after the rain.”

Andreas Ostholt (GER) and So Is Et at Houghton Hall. Photo courtesy FEI

Andreas Ostholt (GER) and So Is Et at Houghton Hall. Photo courtesy of the FEI

The host country finished second out of the six teams. Great Britain now leads the Nations Cup leaderboard by one point over France, who finished third at Houghton Hall. France was second after dressage in the team competition, but Alex Gomez, who was fifth individually after the first phase, had an unfortunate run-out on cross country with Rien Qu’un Crack. Both Great Britain and France have competed in all legs of the Nations Cup so far this season.

Individually, German team member Andreas Ostholt finished second on So Is Et behind Frenchman Lu Chateau and Propriano de l’Ebat, who led throughout the competition in the huge CICO3* division with 67 starters. Third place went to European champion Pippa Funnel for Great Britain riding Billy the Biz.

Germany filled out the top five individual placings with Britain based Niklas Bischorer and Tom Tom Go 3 in fourth and the very experienced Dirk Schrade and Hop and Skip in fifth.

The three-man Australian team was unfortunately eliminated from the team competition when Andrew Hoy and The Blue Frontier failed to finish cross country.

Pippa Funnell (GBR) and Billy The Biz at Houghton Hall. Photo courtesy of the FEI

Pippa Funnell (GBR) and Billy The Biz at Houghton Hall. Photo courtesy of the FEI

The Nations Cup will now move to Strzegom in Poland, the location of the 2017 FEI European Championships. While the United States is not yet on the Nations Cup leaderboard, the USEF is accepting bids to host an FEI Nations Cup in the U.S. next year, which will drastically improve our chance of impacting the series.

Find full results for Houghton Hall here and the complete Nations Cup leaderboard here.

Dates for the 2015 FEI Nations Cup series are as follows: Fontainebleau (FRA), March 19-22; Ballindenisk (IRL) April 23-26; Houghton Hall (GBR), May 28-31; Strzegom (POL), June 25-28; Aachen (GER), August 11-14; Montelibretti (ITA), Sept. 17-20; Waregem (BEL); Sept. 24-27; and Boekelo (NED); Oct. 8-11.

Screen Shot 2015-05-31 at 2.01.56 PMScreen Shot 2015-05-31 at 2.08.03 PM

Dear Mz. Manners: Horse Edition

By on May 31, 2015 11:00 am -
Photo by Jessica Spengler via Flickr/Creative Commons

Photo by Jessica Spengler via Flickr/Creative Commons

As part of the Thoroughbred Aftercare movement, CANTER has watched the transformation of endless horses as they leave the racetrack to embark on new adventures. Some horses make the transition seamlessly, others find the sport horse world foreign and ridiculous. For those horses, Mz. Manners is primed to address their questions and concerns.

 Dear Mz. Manners,

I recently shipped to a new track and have found myself in a delicate situation. The people are nice and all, but the riders are colossal in size. There’s no way these jocks are making weight. I swear to you, these riders are so large, no one will offer them a leg up; instead they bribe me to stand beside this huge wood block just to get their Amazon feet in the stirrups. It’s like carrying two riders on my back; is this what handicappers mean by a “daily double”?

Weighed Down in Wilmington

Dear Weighed Down in Wilmington,

On behalf of those riders who have not weighed 116 pounds in a very long time, I apologize. However, I think you will find numerous benefits that go along with your “gigantic” lifestyle. Have you noticed nearly everything in your world is bigger – stalls, paddocks, treats? I am certain within a few months you, too, will be letting your girth out a few holes and join the category of “colossal.” Enjoy it!

Mz. Manners,

I have this sweet new owner who purchased me off the track; she found a huge green paddock for me to live in and life is good, mostly. However, she has a dark side. Every day she pulls me out and tortures me with what she calls “grooming.” She has these special made brushes that are made out of nails; I’m telling you if she pushes any harder my skin is going to rip off. I wanna kick her in the gut. Please explain this barbaric practice?

Bald in Buffalo

Dear Baldy,

Transitioning a human to OTTB etiquette takes patience; you may wish to study up on different types of negative reinforcement to address unwanted behavior. I would start with some fair, but firm nipping. Aim for any loose or flabby skin; you’ll get double impact of causing physical pain, as well as mental anguish in the realization that she’s been consuming far too many Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappachinos. If her uncalled-for conduct persists, you may progress to the next step, an old-fashioned foot stomp. By swishing your tail prior to aiming, she will assume there is a fly and will immediately forgive you. If all else fails, kick her in the gut – people need rules and boundaries.

 Mz. Manners,

Since leaving the racetrack, my owner rides me ad nauseam. Six days a week, round and round we go. I try to coach her on aerobic fitness, randomly scooting forward and sideways, but she always goes back to that incessant jog, circling until I’m too dizzy to object. Didn’t anyone tell her that at the track we only have to make two laps and we’re done for the day? To rub salt in the wound, she tells all her little friends I’m a RETIRED racehorse. I don’t think that word means what she thinks it means. Help!

Overworked in Orlando

Dear Overworked in Orlando,

People talk about racing being strenuous, but many after-track careers are no joke. While the day in day out training may be more monotonous than you are accustomed, with consistency comes results. For instance, have you taken a glimpse of yourself in the dressage mirrors lately? SCRUMPTIOUS BOOTY, don’t you think? You will need a strong caboose to fight off all those advances in the pasture. So rest up, my friend, you have several decades before you can cash in on that pension!

To all the ex-racehorses who have bravely made the career change from runner to sport horse, we applaud you. If you or your human have any questions to be addressed by Mz. Manners, please feel free to e-mail her at [email protected].

You’re Invited: The Equestrian Trailblazers Summit

By on May 31, 2015 9:00 am -

Love horses? Want to build a career in the horse industry? Equestrian Trailblazers might be just the motivation you need. This post originally appeared on Horse Nation.

Featured Trailblazer Monty Roberts: natural horsemanship practitioner and builder of a brand

Featured Trailblazer Monty Roberts: natural horsemanship practitioner and builder of a brand

“Want to make a small fortune in the horse industry? Start with a large one.”

“There are no jobs in horses.”

“The only jobs with horses are for professional trainers.”

How many times have we all heard these statements? Horses, it would appear, are best left to be just a hobby. But scratch the surface of the horse industry and you’ll realize that there are so many more ways to build a career in this world than by sitting on the back of a horse itself. And that’s exactly the message that June Burgess is seeking to spread through the Equestrian Trailblazers Summit, a 12-day virtual event that will be accessible to registrants all over the world.

From June 1st through the 12th, the Equestrian Trailblazers Summit will be publishing two 20- to 30-minute video interviews daily, available for registrants to view. In Burgess’ words, the videos are the “perfect length to enjoy with a coffee between mucking out.” Burgess reached out to 24 individuals all around the world in various aspects of the horse industry, ranging from equipment and tack innovators to natural horsemanship practitioners to equestrian lifestyle experts — the specific career paths are unique and varied but all hold the common feature of blending each individual’s passions and talents with the equine industry.

June Burgess is a businesswoman based in Ireland who has worked for a variety of ventures in her career; she is also an avid amateur event rider. Her first epiphany that there was so much more to the horse world than training and coaching was when she discovered the Equus Film Festival, created by Lisa Diersen — an event that had somehow flown under her radar for years. Burgess watched each trailer represented at the Festival: “each one opened my eyes to the positive and enriching influence of horses to all manner of people in every corner of the world […] once I found that website, I was past the point of no return.”

Featured Trailblazer Linda Kohanov: author and practitioner of equine-assisted psychotherapy

Featured Trailblazer Linda Kohanov: author and practitioner of equine-assisted psychotherapy

The more Burgess dug into the horse world, especially internationally, the more she learned about the career paths that make up an industry: not just riding and training the horse itself, but the entire culture and lifestyle of being an equestrian. Finding your own place in that industry can be a daunting task, and it can be hard to find a way to marry your individual skills with your love for horses.

So Burgess picked the brains of 24 individuals from facets of the industry that we may not have ever considered: on the roster for the Equestrian Trailblazers Summit are Monty Roberts, horsemanship practitioner and founder of a brand (USA); Lisa Diersen, founder of the Equus Film Festival (USA); Vanessa Somers, the CEO of Horse Lifestyle (a new online equestrian streaming service based in the Netherlands); Dianne Jenkins of Jent Bodyworks (Australia); William Micklem, author, speaker and inventor of the Micklem Bridle (Ireland); and Gérard Thevenot, the inventor of the original air vests (France) — among others.

Registration for the summit is free, and always will be. As this is the first such summit of its kind, and hopefully the first in a series, Burgess is hoping for feedback from registrants to help shape future interviews. To view a short video by Burgess and register, visit the Equestrian Trailblazers Summit website. The summit begins June 1 so registration is only open for a few more days.

In Burgess’ own words: “I am particularly inspired by individuals who ‘create and maintain momentum.’ All of these Trailblazers do that. I want to get that across to viewers and generate ideas for new directions they could take in their careers and give them an insight into the mindset for success. You are never more successful than you are living your passion!”

Equestrian Trailblazers founder June Burgess

Equestrian Trailblazers founder June Burgess

Learn more by visiting the website and “liking” Equestrian Trailblazers Summit on Facebook.

Go riding!

Sunday Links from One K Helmets

By on May 31, 2015 12:01 am -
BEE DO BEE DO BEE DO! Photo via Mikki Kuchta BEE DO BEE DO BEE DO! Photo via Mikki Kuchta

One of my favorite things in the world is seeing the way people express themselves when painting jumps. There’s something special about the creative spark that comes forth when you hand an eventer a few cans of paint, a brush, some freshly primed jumps and say “have fun”. Whether it’s barn logos, an array of stripes or something more exotic, it gives you an insight to the people who painted them. One of the most satisfying things in the world is getting a great photo of your horse in spectacular form over something you spent hours getting just right. Mikki Kuchta of Aiken Bach Farm in Patterson, NY shared with us a photo of her intern Adeline Fleitz’s latest masterpiece. Not only is the Minion super cute, it’s great for riders who struggle with maintaining a good rhythm. Just chant “Bee Do Bee Do Bee Do” down to the chevron!

U.S. Weekend Action:

Waredaca H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

Poplar Place Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

IEA H.T, T3D & N3D  [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

Colorado Horse Park H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

Tattersalls is streaming live world-wide all weekend. Tattersalls is holding a CCI3* and CIC3* this weekend, and the entire thing is being streamed live from start to finish. Buck Davidson will be contesting the CCI3* while Caroline Martin, Katherine Coleman and Rebecca Howard are all entered in the CIC3*. Brianne Stanley is also in the CIC1* YH. The streaming does require a one time log-in process. [CCI3* Leaderboard] [CIC3* Leaderboard] [Live Streaming Schedule]

Sunday Links:

Top 10 excuses for losing an event

Horse racing’s Triple Crown winners as American Pharaoh attempts to win it at Belmont Stakes next weekend

2015 Belmont Stakes: Spoiler Alert

Horse owners weigh in on Equine Herpes concerns

Charges files against man beaten by deputies in horse pursuit

Coral Keen’s eventing blog: Scary Portaloos

Sunday Video: Ring crew hijinx.

Andrew Nicholson Moves into First, Buck Davidson Jumps Clear at Tattersalls

By on May 30, 2015 6:00 pm -
Buck Davidson and Copper Beach. Photo by Libby Law Photography Buck Davidson and Copper Beach. Photo by Libby Law Photography

There was quite the shake up on the leaderboard in the Irish Field CCI3* at the Tattersalls International Horse Trials in Ireland today as the rider’s took to the cross country course designed by Ian Stark. Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and Deborah Sellar’s 8-year-old Spanish stallion Jet Set moved into the lead with one of the few double-clear rounds, and America’s own Buck Davidson and Carl and Cassie Segal and Sherrie Martin’s Copper Beach jumped clear with time.

Based on five years of averages, EquiRatings predicted 20.8% of the three-star competitors at Tattersalls would make the time. They were awfully close, with 23% of horses (nine out of the 39 horses that left the startbox) finishing without time penalties.

Quite a few came very close to the 10:06 optimum time, and three were right on it – Austin O’Connor (IRL)/Kilpatrick Knight, Andrew Nicholson (NZL)/Ulises and Tim Price (NZL)/Xavier Faer. William Oakden (GBR) and David Kenwright’s 12-year-old mare Greystone Midnight Melody were the fastest, stopping the clock at 9:47. Their quick trip was rewarded with a big move up the leaderboard, going from 14th to fourth and within a rail of the win.

Katherine Coleman and Longwood. Photo by Libby Law Photography

Katherine Coleman and Longwood. Photo by Libby Law Photography

Andrew and Jet Set were the last on course, and they cruised around in fine form, finishing the course in ten minutes and moving the pair up from ninth to first. Kitty King (GBR) and Ceylor L A N moved from fourth to second with 3.6 time penalties. William Fox-Pitt and the 9-year-old Luxury F H moved from 11th to third having finished just two seconds over the time in the gelding’s first CCI3*.

Buck and Copper Beach, an experienced 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse, added 7.2 time penalties to their score, moving the pair down one place to 22nd. “Sean” is fittingly making his first overseas appearance this week in his native country, to which he has not returned since his purchase from the Goresbridge Go for Gold horse sale in 2011.

Thirty-three horses move on to tomorrow’s final horse inspection out of 40 original starters. The scores are close at the top so the show jumping will be an exciting finale.

Following the conclusion of competition today, we received the sad news that Favorit Z, a 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding ridden by Sam Griffiths and owned by Sue Brendish and Sam, was euthanized after breaking his leg on course. “Frodo” and Sam were leading the CCI3* after dressage on a personal best score of 36.1.

According to a statement released by the event, the horse “stumbled and fell after jumping a Triple Brush at Fence 12B resulting in a broken leg.”

Spectators were out in droves on Tattersalls cross country day. Photo by Libby Law Photography

Spectators were out in droves on Tattersalls cross country day. Photo by Libby Law Photography

Eventing Ireland CCI2*

British-based American Katherine Coleman went double-clear in the Eventing Ireland CCI2* with her own Longwood, a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding. They moved up to 24th from 31st place. Harry Meade and Anne Chapman’s Vrolijk had some trouble on course, which dropped them out of the lead, moving Oliver Townend and Angela Hislop’s Cooley SRS into first with show jumping still to come.

Cooley Farm CCIYH*

Irish-based American Brianne Stanley and Eleanor Hadden’s Bit of Business dropped two rails during the final phase of the Cooley Farm CCIYH* for 6 and 7 year olds. They still moved up two places to finish 53rd in the horse’s first one-star in a huge division. William Fox-Pitt and Catherine Witt’s The Soapdodger held onto their overnight lead with a double-clear trip to finish on their dressage score of 37.6.

Best seats in the house! Photo by Libby Law Photography

Best seats in the house! Photo by Libby Law Photography

Watch the Finales Live

Sam Watson and Ciaran Glynn, with help from @EventingConsult Diarm Byrne kept us entertained with their witty banter and interesting nuggets of eventing data this morning on Tattersalls’ fantastic free live stream, which will continue all day Sunday. Here is the live stream schedule for tomorrow, which as been brilliantly organized so that viewers at home don’t miss a second of the action:

CIC3* show jumping – 4:00 a.m. EST
CCI2* show jumping – 5:15 a.m. EST
CIC3* cross country – 8:45 a.m. EST
CCI3* show jumping – 10:30 EST

We are excited to be partnering with Libby Law Photography at Tattersalls, and we’ve been loving her gorgeous photos of the competition and behind the scenes candids. If you’re not already following @EventingConsult and @EquiRatings on Twitter, be sure to do so to access excellent commentary from Tatts. Go Eventing.

Tattersalls Links: Website, Entries, Ride Times, Live Scores, Schedule, Live Stream, @Tatts2015

Favorit Z Euthanized After Breaking Leg on Cross Country at Tattersalls

By on May 30, 2015 4:13 pm -
Tattersalls CCI3* leaders Sam Griffiths and Favorit Z. Photo by Libby Law Photography. Tattersalls CCI3* leaders Sam Griffiths and Favorit Z. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

We are extremely saddened to report that Favorit Z, a 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding owned by Sue Brendish and Sam Griffiths, was euthanized after breaking his leg on cross country while competing in the CCI3* at Tattersalls International Horse Trials today.

“Today was a very sad day for us all, our beautiful Frodo (Favorit Z) broke his leg on the cross country at Tattersalls and had to be put to sleep,” the Griffith Eventing Team announced on Facebook. “We are all devastated. He was the most exceptional horse – incredibly talented, stunningly beautiful and above all the nicest person, so gentle and kind. Today we lost a dear friend and we are left with a huge hole in our hearts. RIP darling Frodo.”

According to a statement released by the event, the horse “stumbled and fell after jumping a Triple Brush at Fence 12B resulting in a broken leg.” Prior to the fall, the horse had a refusal at 9b, a brush corner in the water.

Sam Griffiths and Frodo were leading the CCI3* after dressage on a score of 36.1, a personal best.

Frodo began his FEI career at the CIC1* level with Belgium rider Constantin Van Rijckevorsel in 2011. Sam partnered with Frodo the following year and produced him through the two- and three-star levels with multiple top ten completions. Last year, Frodo was fifth at Blenheim CIC3* for 8- and 9-year-old horses and most recently finished 26th at the CCI3* at Boekelo in October. The horse has never before had a cross country penalty in an FEI competition.

We extend our sincerest condolences to Sam, Sue and the Griffiths Eventing Team for their loss.

Tattersalls Links: Website, Entries, Ride Times, Live Scores, Schedule, Live Stream, @Tatts2015

#EventerProblems, Part IV

By on May 30, 2015 3:00 pm -

#EventerProblems… we all have them — but at least we’re not alone. Here are 10 MORE EN readers who took to social media to air their eventing grievances (if you missed parts I, II and III, check them out here, here and here):

 

So true… #horseworldproblems #speakthetruth #eventerproblems #unplanneddismounts A photo posted by Kathy (@kmh_eventer) on

#HorsePeople will get this! #Horses #Horseshow #Jumpers #Eventing @goeventing #eventerproblems

A photo posted by Melissa Arredondo (@khataan_imagery) on

 

The hardest thing I’ve done today is decide on what color skivvies to wear under my white breeches tomorrow.. #eventerproblems #whitevsnude

Posted by Emily Francis on Saturday, May 23, 2015

My legs are sore, and bruised now… #trotsets #eventerproblems

Posted by Kate Holte on Sunday, May 10, 2015

What’s YOUR problem? Tweet it, Instagram it or share it on Facebook with the hashtag #EventerProblems for inclusion in the next edition of this series.

Go Eventing!

This Week in Horse Health News Presented by Absorbine

By on May 30, 2015 11:00 am -
Photo by Shutter Fotos via Flickr

Photo by Shutter Fotos/Flickr/Creative Commons

The group dynamics of a herd of horses are interesting to observe. Personalities emerge and a hierarchy inevitably becomes apparent over time. As owners, however, we hope that our horses don’t get into too much trouble trying to climb the social ladder…and keep the bite marks to a minimum.

I’ve moved multiple times with Willow, an Appaloosa pony mare, and she’s integrated really well into new herds, with both mares and geldings. This is mainly because she doesn’t care where she’s placed in the pecking order. You can see it on her face when she’s turned out with new horses and they think about sizing her up: “Don’t bother.”

Fey, however, a 5-year-old chestnut mare, is an absolute sweetheart in the barn – eager for attention and constant snuggles. In the pasture, however, she’s a total bossy pants. She insists the younger horses eat their hay on the opposite side of the feeder, where she doesn’t have to look at them. Of course she’s tried to push Willow around, but the pony just moves away, unimpressed.

We associate stallions and dominate mares as being the leaders in herds of wild horses, and we see some semblance of that dynamic in domesticated equines. However, when it comes to decision-making, the responsibility is apparently shared among multiple members of the herd, according to a recent study.

Examining two groups of horses that lived without supplemental feeding or human intervention, French researchers studied the groups’ movements in an attempt to identify leaders. You can read about their findings summarized by Horsetalk at this link.

Feed Healthy Treats: Who doesn’t love giving their precious ponies a goody now and then? If your horse doesn’t get mouthy about it, treats are positive reinforcement for a job well done, and a nice occasional gesture from “mom” or “dad.” But are treats healthy for your horse? We know we shouldn’t eat a pint of ice cream every day, no matter how our day went at work, but how much is too much for your horses? Choosing the right treats and feeding them in moderation is the key. [Horse Canada]

Dams Shape Foals Relationship with Humans: Some breeders say that a foal is influenced 60% by its dam and 40% by its sire. Regardless of the physical qualities they receive from their parents, however, the nurturing mare will greatly influence the foal’s habits and social relationships. A recent study shows that when it comes to human interaction in particular, the dam’s attitude is especially important. [The Horse]

Why Horses Spook: All you want to do is have a nice quiet ride to relieve the stress of the day, but your horse can’t seem to keep his brain between his ears, as he jumps and jerks at pony-eating bushes, buckets and bugs. Lauren Bond, an equine behaviorist, did the math over on our sister site, Horse Nation, and explained that often a spooky horse is reacting to multiple stimulus instead one scary monster after another. [Horse Nation]

Adding Oil to Feed: Need to pack pounds on a hard keeper or a horse whose work load has recently increased? One cheap and easy way to add calories without adding sugar or starch to the diet is splashing a bit of oil in their feed. Depending on the type of oil you choose, your horse may also receive nutrient benefits that will improve their immune and inflammatory status. [Horse Canada]

Why Does a Horse Bite? There are many reasons why a horse may resort to biting – fear, pain and protection are just a few. Biting can become a very dangerous habit in the barn and is one of the hardest things to train out of a horse. Understanding why horses bite may help you stop the behavior. [The Horse]

A Horse of a Different Color: Spartagon

By on May 30, 2015 9:00 am -

"A Horse of a Different Color" features horses and ponies that have been successful in the sport of eventing while representing a unique breed. Do you have a horse that you think would be a great feature subject? If so, email [email protected].

Dan Kreitl and Spartagon. Photo by Lee Ann Zobbe.

Dan Kreitl and Spartagon. Photo by Lee Ann Zobbe.

While Dan Kreitl’s gray stallion isn’t necessarily a horse of a different color, he definitely has something you don’t see in many event horses: a thick, curly coat of hair. The 11-year-old horse known as Spartagon is a Curly Sport Horse, registered with the International Curly Horse Organization (ICHO).

Descended from curly-haired mustangs discovered in the western United States at the turn of the 20th century, Curly Horses are known for their hypoallergenic hair that can be wavy or tightly curled. These horses tend to be hardy with reliable, quiet temperaments.

Dan worked for Sandy Hendrickson of Greycoat Farm, an Indianapolis breeding farm specializing in Curlies, when he was in middle school and high school. He learned to ride dressage on Sandy’s Curly Horses and fell in love with them. At 6’4″, Dan knew that he would need a taller horse, so he and Sandy crossed her Curly stallion Spartacus with a Holsteiner mare, and the result was a tall, sporty, curly-haired colt they named Spartagon, or “Sparty” for short.

“Sparty’s kind of a fluke at 17 hands,” Dan said. “Most Curlies are under 16 hands.”

Dan and Sparty learned to jump and event together, and they moved up the levels from their first Beginner Novice event in 2009 to completing their first Intermediate at River Glen in November 2014.

“It was a goal I’ve been working toward for a while, and I was thrilled how Sparty ate-up the cross country course,” Dan said. “I am really starting to see how much heart Sparty has as we progress up the levels. It was also special because no Curly Horse has ever competed at that level of eventing before.”

Dan and Spartagon fly high with room to spare. Photo by Lee Ann Zobbe.

Dan and Spartagon fly high with room to spare. Photo by Lee Ann Zobbe.

Dan said that the stallion’s mind, intelligence, and willingness to please are just some of the reasons why he has made such a great eventer. “For a stallion, he is very well-behaved,” Dan said. “95% of the time you can’t tell he’s a stallion.”

When the two of them attend shows together, Dan says that Sparty’s curly coat as well as his “unique, arrogant presence” make him stand out in the crowd.

“There aren’t many Curly Horses, and very few who event,” Dan explained. “Most people can’t figure out what kind of horse he is, as many haven’t ever heard of a Curly Horse.”

Along with their coats and temperaments, Curly Horses are also known for their athleticism and ground-covering stride. Some of Sparty’s siblings are USDF champions, and Sparty’s respectable dressage and cross-country scores reflect the big, sweeping movements of his sport horse heritage.

Dan notes that managing Sparty’s speed around jumping courses is crucial, and show jumping has been their most challenging phase since day one because Sparty doesn’t mind rubbing rails. Despite this, Dan and Sparty have never had a cross-country jumping fault in their career together; Dan credits his horse’s “energetic and ambitious” personality to his success across the country.

“Another benefit to riding a Curly horse is that I don’t braid him for dressage,” Dan added. “The registry prefers the horses be competed unbraided so everyone can tell they are a Curly Horse. I like this simply because I hate to braid, so it is my excuse not to!”

Dan and Spartagon compete at the Sporting Days Farm Horse Trials in 2013. Photo courtesy of Dan Kreitl.

Dan and Spartagon compete at the Sporting Days Farm Horse Trials in 2013. Photo by Lee Ann Zobbe.

As for their future goals, Dan plans to continue Sparty’s eventing career at the Intermediate level in 2015 and hopes to move up to Advanced down the line. Considering the huge strides (literally) the pair have taken over the years, it seems there is no limit to what this team can do together!

“One thing I  love about training Sparty is the partnership and bond we’ve formed over the years,” said Dan.  “We have a lot of mutual trust.”

Check out this interview with Dan at the 2011 Hagyard Midsouth Classic Three-Day Event, where viewers can meet Sparty up close! Best of luck to Dan and his stunning stallion in 2015 and beyond!