Classic Eventing Nation

Star Studded Line-up Promised at Luhmühlen CCI4*

By on May 22, 2015 1:00 pm -
Tim Price and Wesko. Photo by Jenni Autry. Tim Price and Wesko. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The spring season’s next CCI4* is quickly approaching as entries closed this week for Luhmühlen in Germany. We’ll have two American riders representing this year: Libby Head with Sir Rockstar and Clark Montgomery with Loughan Glen, plus Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master making their triumphant return to the four-star level for Team Canada.

A glance at the list of entries is enough to make us impatient to see the action get underway, and an updated cross country course from designer Capt. Mark Phillips will give riders a new feel from years past.

While entries will certainly withdraw before the ride times go up, there is plenty of star power on display at the moment. Newly crowned Rolex Kentucky champion Michael Jung is, naturally, entered, this time with Halunke FBW. An 11-year-old Württemberg gelding, Halunke FBW began his career with Michael in 2011. This will be his first CCI4* start, but he’s coming off a win in the CIC3* at Marbach in May. Plus, he’s got Michael Jung in the irons — enough said.

Michael’s Rolex entries, La Biosthetique Sam and fischerRocana FST are also on the list, however we can safely presume that this entry was a back-up in case he needed to re-route from Kentucky. Don’t tell Sam and Rocana that, though, I’m sure they could easily go around again.

With this being Germany’s home CCI4*, there are plenty of entries on the list from the host country. Ingrid Klimke has two entries: Zilia D and FRH Escada JS, and other German heavy hitters such as Andreas Dibowski, Andreas Ostholt and Dirk Schrade will also be riding.

In another highlight of the weekend, Andreas Dibowski’s veteran partner, FRH Butts Leon, will be retired in a special ceremony during this year’s event.

Photo courtesy of Thomas Ix.

Photo courtesy of Thomas Ix.

As for the American contingent, Libby Head will be contesting her second CCI4* with her OTTB gelding, Sir Rockstar. Libby won the Essex Grant at the 2014 USEA Annual Meeting, the funds for which she will be using to offset some of the cost of competing overseas. Libby had attempted to travel abroad last year, but she was unable to meet her fundraising goal to make the trip possible. This year, however, she’s flying high and hopes to have a competitive weekend in Germany.

Clark Montgomery received a USEF Land Rover Competition Grant to compete with Loughan Glen this year. This will be Glen’s first CCI4* since he won the dressage at Badminton in 2014 and subsequently retired on the no-mercy cross country course. Look for this pair to be at or very near the top of the pack after the first phase of competition.

Along with the rest of the star-studded lineup, 2014 winner Tim Price is also entered for New Zealand, fresh off of a second place finish at his first Rolex with Wesko and a 15th place finish at Badminton with Ringwood Sky Boy. He’ll be riding the 9-year-old Bango in his CCI4* debut after most recently completing the CIC3* at Belton in April.

Capt. Mark Phillips recently spoke in a press release about his vision for this year’s course. “It is a completely new approach,” he said. “The DHL Water Complex doesn’t come up so early in the course, giving the horses and riders a better chance to warm up and get into the rhythm. Furthermore, we have increased the use of frangible devices approved by the FEI and are going to use the English Frangible Pin and the Swedish MIM systems. If a system triggers, it will be fined with eleven penalty points.

“Essentially, I think the penalizing makes sense – for the most important safety aspect is the riders’ respect for the jumps. Therefore we are always trying to find the balance between forgiving fences and tasks that are taken seriously by the riders.”

We’re excited to see how this year’s Luhmühlen shakes out, and we’ll have Wylie on the ground for EN to bring us all of the up to date action. Stay tuned for much more from Germany, as the action kicks off on June 18.

Luhmühlen: [Website] [Entry List]

Jessica Phoenix Released from Hospital

By on May 22, 2015 10:25 am -
Jessica Phoenix and A Little Romance. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Jessica Phoenix and A Little Romance. Photo by Jenni Autry.

We’ve had some great news from the Phoenix camp this week, as Jessica Phoenix has been released from the hospital and is now recovering at home. She was transported from the hospital where she initially received treatment in New Jersey to one closer to home in Canada last week, and now she is one step closer to making her return to the saddle.

Jessica broke three ribs and her sacrum, the triangular bone at the base of the spine, in a fall on cross country at Jersey Fresh. She also sustained damage to her liver, which was repaired Saturday afternoon in surgery. She was wearing an air vest during the fall.

Despite it all, Jessica is still in good spirits and plans to return to the saddle at the beginning of next month. We don’t call her #Superwoman for nothing, folks.

“It’s so good to be home!” Jessie said today. “Thank you to everyone for their support throughout these last couple of weeks. It truly does take an incredible team of people including our family, barn staff, owners, sponsors and supporters. It truly is overwhelming to have this much support and I can’t thank everyone enough for their help and support. I’m very much looking forward to getting back in the saddle!”

We wish Jessie all the best as she continues to recover, and we know she’ll be in the saddle as soon as (super)humanly possible. In the meantime, please continue to keep her in your thoughts, and we will provide more updates as they become available.

#teamjessica

[Jessica Phoenix Transported Back to Canada]

[Jessica Phoenix Moved Out of ICU]

[Jessica Phoenix Injury Update After Fall at Jersey Fresh]

Sound Horse, Happy Owner: Husband and Wife Farriers Work Together for a Common Goal

By on May 22, 2015 9:00 am -
Dwayne and Jennifer Holder. Photo courtesy of Jennifer. Dwayne and Jennifer Holder. Photo courtesy of Jennifer.

Dwayne and Jennifer Holder are a husband and wife farrier duo making their living shoeing horses near their home in Midland, North Carolina. With every trim and every shoeing, their goal is always the same: a sound horse and a happy owner.

Dwayne nailed on his first shoe in 1982 when he was a senior in high school. He met Jennifer when he was shoeing her horse, and later an untimely kick to Dwayne’s ribs forced Jennifer to get under the horse herself.

With their different riding backgrounds, Dwayne and Jennifer each bring their own skills to the table. Dwayne learned the trade out of necessity.

“I got a horse, a registered [Quarter Horse] buckskin, and they told me it would cost too much to fix the horse’s feet, they were that bad,” Dwayne said. “Me and that horse went to shoeing school together. I went to shoeing school and fixed him.”

Dwayne took the state exam at the end of the course and then traveled the Quarter Horse circuit with a master farrier named RC Clark. Now Dwayne himself is a master through the BWFA (Brotherhood of Working Farriers Association) as well as a tester.

Jennifer’s contribution, having been a competitive event rider long before she became a farrier, is her well-rounded knowledge of sport horses.

“I’ve had horses all my life. I’ve always paid a lot of attention to the vet, farrier and trainer. I absorbed all of that,” Jennifer said. “It really does help a lot with the shoeing – understanding what the owner wants out of the horse in terms of movement and performance.”

“I always told [other farriers] that if Jennifer learned to shoe it would hurt them [business-wise],” Dwayne said. “She can already talk to the vets, the vets like her and she understands lameness and blemishes and problems with conformation better than three of the best farriers I know put together.”

Guided by Dwayne, Jennifer learned to shoe and has passed the BWFA journeyman II test, which is one step below master. She started shoeing full time in 2008 when the recession hit. “You can skip riding lessons, but you can’t skip having a horse shod or trimmed.”

Continuing Education

Although Dwayne has been in the business for 30 years and Jennifer has learned from his years of experience, they continue to attend seminars and classes to stay abreast of new science and technology.

“We go to seminars so right or wrong, good or bad, we can answer [clients’] questions,” Dwayne said.

For instance, when the Strasser trim was a controversial topic in the news, Dwayne attended a class on it not because he wanted to learn how to do it, but because he was being asked a lot of questions and felt he needed to have the answers.

Additionally, the Holders find that spending time with product representatives helps them to better understand farrier products like plastic shoes or glue ons and how to apply them for the best results.

“You’d be surprised, eight hours of school from the guys who invented them, they show the little things that work… made the difference of them staying on,” Dwayne said.

They learn from other farriers, too, whether they like the work or not. “It’s like going to audit a trainer,” Jennifer said. “Even if you don’t agree, you’ll pick something up.”

Dwayne’s first mentor RC told him from the beginning to always watch and learn. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a backyard guy shoeing that’s not educated or the best farrier there is. Every time I’ve taken an hour to watch someone do a horse, I’ve seen something that worked or got to ask them a question.”

The Holders especially like talking to a horse’s previous farrier if the animal has moved to a new state or region. It’s like reviewing medical records and helps the new farrier get to know the new horse faster, which leads to the ideal result – a sound horse and happy owner.

Finding a Good Farrier

Finding a good farrier is a stressful process for a horse owner who has either moved to a new area or has decided to move on from their current farrier due to budget restraints or other reasons. The Holders have a few tips to help you find a farrier that will make both you and your horse happy.

“Find a farrier in your area that’s been shoeing more than 10 years, one that you don’t see his business card plastered everywhere… I would also tell you the same for a mechanic in your neighborhood,” suggests Dwayne, who has never paid to run an ad in his entire career.

“When we were in school they said the average farrier had between a 30 and 33% turnover rate per year. That sounds very high. We average less than 3%. Two percent of that is because I’ve been doing them so long the horses have died.”

Word of mouth, however, is still the best promotion. So look for a farrier that is known for sound horses and – you guessed it – happy owners.

You can find Jennifer on Facebook here, but you’ll have to ask around for Dwayne!

Friday News & Notes from FLAIR Nasal Strips

By on May 22, 2015 12:03 am -
Twizzle just officially passed the jog yesterday for his 41st FEI competition. He and Morgan Booth are contesting the VA CCI* this weekend....more on that later. Photo courtesy of WCE FB.

Twizzle just officially passed the jog yesterday for his 41st FEI competition. He and Morgan Booth are contesting the VA CCI* this weekend….more on that later. Photo courtesy of WCE FB.

With the Virginia Horse Trials well underway, I’m getting antsy to arrive and compete and hang out with everyone this weekend. For me, growing up an hour away from the Virginia Horse Center was always a gimme, but as I’ve gotten older I realized exactly how awesome it is to have such an incredible facility just down the road. I’m spoiled anyway living in Eventing Mecca Virginia, but there’s something always very special and nostalgic about a trip to the VHC. I did my first schooling horse trials there as a wee one on ponies, and won my first FEI event there with Nyls, also as somewhat of a wee one. Super psyched to get there tomorrow!

FEI Weekend Events:

Saumur CCI3*/CIC3* [Website] [Entry List] [Live Scores] [Live Stream]

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Mystic Valley Hunt Club H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Virginia CIC, CCI & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Flora Lea Spring H.T  [Website] [Entry Status]

Paradise Farm H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status]

Feather Creek Farm H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

The Spring Event at Woodside H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

May-Daze at the Park H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Coconino Spring H.T.  [Website] [Ride Times]

 News From Around the Globe:

We are very sad to report the death of four-star and WEG competitor Orient Express after an injury incurred at New Zealand’s CCI3* at Taupo. “Blue” competed for ten years by Clarke Johnstone, including a bronze medal team performance at the 2010 WEG and a win in the 2011 FEI World Cup Eventing Series. Blue was retired in 2013 but made a comeback after two years out of competition. Our thoughts are with Clarke and his family at this time. [Four Star Horse Dies at Taupo]

Unfortunately, Jon Holling has had to withdraw his position as coach to the Area IV Young Riders this year. Jon posted an update to his Facebook page indicating that his ill-timed broken leg from early this spring has left him with a predicament for getting his horses back into work and competing for the summer and fall. Jon has been a great mentor and coach to Area IV for many years now, and a great source of amusement each summer at the horse park for NAJYRC, and will be sorely missed in 2015! [Holling Eventing Update]

Ever wanted to go behind the scenes with World and Olympic Champion Blyth Tait? Now you can! Blyth has a rather modest yard with all the basic necessities, but none of the frills. While he doesn’t have an indoor or a horse walker, he does have an “American style” barn which he likes very much, and only six horses in training at the moment, which means lots of one-on-one attention for each animal. [Behind Stable Doors with Blyth Tait]

Let’s talk fly sheets, because unless you’re living in the arctic, you have flies already. I like to keep my horses out at night, but we have other horses that have to go out during the day, and others that are total bugaboos about flies at any time of the day. We bought two of these Amigo Bug Buster fly sheets for the day turnout horses this year, and I’ve been super pleased with how lightweight they are, easy to clean, and best of all, durable. We even use one on Viola, who is the ultimate blanket shredder of the farm! [Amigo Bug Buster from SmartPak]

Jo-Anne Gelarden and Shackleton show us how it’s done at VAHT in the Long Format Preliminary CCI* in 2011. 

 

FlairBuck-Horizontal

 

 

 

This Week in Horse Health News Presented by Absorbine

By on May 21, 2015 6:00 pm -
Photo by Artur Baboev via Wikimedia Commons Photo by Artur Baboev via Wikimedia Commons

And suddenly, it feels like summer – okay, not everywhere it seems – but in much of the country the days are getting awfully hot and humid. Riders, farm employees and horses may start to slow down a little, but the work still has to get done, so particular care must be taken in summer to bar against dehydration and heat exhaustion.

For the sake of ourselves and our horses, our schedules and habits must change: for instance, ride earlier in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the heat of the day; take shorter rides and allow for lots of walk breaks; remove your helmet between rides if you ride multiple horses and try to remember to drink more water than you think you need – if you’re feeling thirsty, you’re already behind on H2O intake.

Keeping the horses hydrated can be a bit trickier, however, because as the old saying goes, “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.” There are plenty of tricks to try and get horses to drink, like flavoring water, soaking hay and feeding sloppy, watery mashes.

Water is inarguably the most important nutrient, but do you know how dehydration actually affects your horse’s health and wellbeing? The Horse published an article this week outlining what happens when horses receive insufficient amounts of water.  Click here to read the article, and remember to always make sure your horse has access to clean, fresh water, regardless of the weather!

Insulin Resistance: Insulin resistance in horses is the decreased ability for cells to transport glucose (sugar) into muscles and other tissues. It is often associated with metabolic disease, laminitis and Cushings. Diet, age, breed and many other factors are at play, but grazing on lush grass and becoming overweight is considered a common culprit. A recent study tested the effects of heavy grazing on glucose tolerance, and the results may come as a surprise.  [Horsetalk]

Equine Herspesvirus: With so many horses in the United States on the move for shows, lessons and even vet visits, there is a lot to consider as they may come in contact with unfamiliar horses. EHV-1 is a contagious viral disease that affects the respiratory tract and may cause abortion in pregnant mares, and some agriculture department websites maintain updates on the presence of the Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) in their state. Fran Jurga has rounded up important notifications regarding the disease from around the country. [The Jurga Report]

Laser Therapy: Laser therapy is an increasingly popular form of treatment for a variety in ailments in horses. However, according to this article, the “scientific jury” is still out because there are no “peer reviewed controlled clinical trials” analyzing the affects of laser therapy in horses, even though it has proven to be an effective treatment in humans. How does laser therapy work? How is it used? Here is what you need to know. [Horse Canada]

Nutrient Deficiency: Most commercially prepared horse feeds provide your horse with a balanced diet to meet his energy, protein, and vitamin and mineral needs. However, some horses are at risk for developing a nutrient deficiency or imbalance. But like most aspects of horse ownership, you shouldn’t change a diet or add supplements willy-nilly. Learn about the common nutrient deficiencies and how to find out if your horse has one. [The Horse]

Remarkable Reading: You may not want to read this first thing in the morning (like I did!) or if you have a weak stomach, but this is an incredible story about a veterinarian determined to help a horse who was going to be put down if the foreign object in his body was not recovered. The story has a happy ending, but it took quite a lot of persistence took get there. [Horse and Hound]

USEF Announces Spring/Summer Land Rover Competition Grants

By on May 21, 2015 5:13 pm -
Lauren Kieffer and Veronica. Photo by Jenni Autry. Lauren Kieffer and Veronica. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Hot on the heels of last night’s announcement of the Pan American Games team and alternates, the USEF has also released the recipients of Land Rover Competition Grants for this spring and summer. Two grants have been given out for the upcoming Bramham CCI3* and Luhmühlen CCI4*:

Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials – June 11-14

Lauren Kieffer and Team Rebbeca, LLC’s Veronica
Veronica is a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare

Luhmühlen CCI4* Presented by DHL – June 18-21

Clark Montgomery and Jessica Montgomery, Kathryn Kraft, and Holly and William Becker’s Loughan Glen
Loughan Glen is a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding

Kurt Martin and Anna Bella originally received a grant to compete at Bramham, but have since withdrawn from the competition. Libby Head will also be competing at Luhmühlen thanks to her receipt of the Essex Award at the USEA Annual Meeting and Convention last year.

Congratulations to this round of grant recipients as they prepare to pack their bags to hit the European circuit. We’ll bring you more updates from the traveling pairs as their journeys begin, so stay tuned for much more.

Mike Etherington-Smith Named New CIC3* Course Designer for Red Hills

By on May 21, 2015 3:00 pm -
Lauren Kieffer and Czechmate. Photo by Jenni Autry. Lauren Kieffer and Czechmate. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Red Hills International, a popular destination for eventers prepping for Rolex or stepping up a level, announced today that a new cross country course design team has been put in place in preparation for 2016 and beyond.

“Etherington-Smith’s international experience at the highest levels of the sport, combined with O’Connor’s 17 years of experience competing and coaching at Red Hills creates a true dream team,” Marvin Mayer, co-organizer of Red Hills, said in a press release. “Needless to say, Red Hills is extremely proud to have two of the sport’s premier professionals as part of our family.”

Mike Etherington-Smith will take the reins of the CIC3* course design from Hugh Lochore, and David O’Connor will be collaborating for the CIC2* and CIC* courses. Mike has stepped up his involvement in course design this year and is renowned for his design of the courses at both the 2000 and 2008 Olympics as well as the World Equestrian Games in 2010.

A big priority for the new design team is to expand the galloping lanes in an effort to give the competitors more time out in the open while on course.

Another priority will be to improve the footing at the venue, and the team has already been hard at work preparing the footing for next spring. The footing has had lime added and has been added and had top dressing and seed drilling, all of which have already begun to yield positive changes.

Additionally, fiber will be added to the crushed stone base in the arenas with the intent being to give the horses more cushion while competed on the surface.

We’re excited to see these new improvements, as well as the new vision in the cross country courses brought about by Mike Etherington-Smith and David O’Connor. We’ll see you in Tallahassee next spring!

For more information, visit the Red Hills website or Facebook page.

57 Pairs Set to Contest Popular Woodside Preliminary Challenge

By on May 21, 2015 1:00 pm -
Frankie Thieriot and Chatwin. Photo courtesy of Sherry Stewart. Frankie Thieriot and Chatwin. Photo courtesy of Sherry Stewart.

The ever-popular Preliminary Challenge at Woodside is set to commence this weekend, and 57 pairs across two divisions (Rider and Horse) will compete for $15,000 in prize money and an additional $15,000 in prizes. This is the seventh running of this event, which has attracted professionals and amateurs alike since its inception.

The Preliminary Challenge will run dressage on Friday, cross country Saturday morning, and will conclude with show jumping in the atmospheric Grand Prix Arena on Saturday evening. A heated ringside tent will offer a Gala Dinner for fans, friends, and family, and tickets to the tent — which have sold out each year — are available here. Reserved seating and dinner is $60 per person or $550 for a table of 10. Proceeds from the Gala Dinner will benefit construction of the cross-country course at the Horse Park at Woodside.

“I think the format we’ve created for the Woodside Preliminary Challenge – the evening show jumping competition with the awards right afterward and the catered dinner – has become something truly special over the last six years, ” said event organizer Robert Kellerhouse in a recent press release. “The Preliminary Challenge has become a competition that the riders aim for every year, and it’s become an event that people in the Woodside area and people riding in the other divisions at Woodside look forward to watching every year.”

Riders will have a chance to take a crack at new course designer Ian Stark’s creation on Saturday, which is an exciting development for this event. The course promises to be challenging yet fair, and we are looking forward to seeing how it rides over the weekend.

As far as qualifications are concerned, competing horses in the Horse division may not have competed above Intermediate from 2008-2015, while the riders may be of any experience level. For the Rider division, the riders may not have competed above Intermediate between 2008 and 2015. In other to achieve qualification for the Preliminary Challenge, horses and riders must have also earned two qualifying scores as a pair at Prelim.

CWD, Devoucoux, Equine Insurance of California and Professional’s Choice are the Presenting Sponsors of the 2015 Event At Woodside. Sunsprite Warmbloods is the Gold Medal Sponsor.

The Silver Medal Sponsors are: JRD Saddles, SmartPak and Voltaire Design.

The Bronze Medal Sponsors are: Auburn Laboratories Inc., Elk Grove Milling, Finish Line Horse Products, Geranium Street Floral, Ice Horse, the Professional Riders Organization, Ride On Video, and Shires Equestrian Products.

Friend Sponsors are: American Medical Response, California Retirement Management Account – funding aftercare for OTTBs, Eventing Training Online, Revitavet Therapeutic Systems, Steinbeck Country Equine Clinic and Triple Crown Nutrition.

Tickets for cross country day ($10/person) as well as Saturday evening’s Gala Dinner can be found here. We’ll be bringing you recaps from the Preliminary Challenge all weekend, so stay tuned for much more from Woodside.

Go Eventing!

The Spring Event at Woodside: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

4 Things You Might Not Know About fischerRocana FST

By on May 21, 2015 11:00 am -
You just won the lion's share of $300K + some sweet wrist-candy for your dad... thoughts? fischerRocana: "My head itches." Photo by Leslie Wylie.

You just won the lion’s share of $300K + some sweet wrist-candy for your dad… thoughts? fischerRocana: “My head itches.” Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Michael Jung’s little-bay-mare-that-could, fischerRocana FST, has seemed hell-bent on stealing her big brother’s thunder throughout the past year.

Rocana’s world domination tour started last summer, when she took second at her very first 4* at Luhmühlen. Then, in the fall, she secured Team Gold and Individual Silver at World Equestrian Games in Normandy — as Michael’s “reserve horse.” Most recently, of course, she shut-out La Biostheque Sam FBW at Rolex 2015, making it clear that she was no second fiddle but a force to be reckoned with on her own terms.

So, we know she can win. But having only recently emerged from Sam’s shadow, this supermare is still a fresh face on the world stage. Who is she? Where did she come from? Where did she get her freak-of-nature talent?

Here are four things about Rocana you might not know:

She’s never had a cross-country jumping penalty at an FEI event.

Michael Jung and Fischerrocana FST. Photo by Rare Air Photography.

Michael Jung and Fischerrocana FST. Photo by Rare Air Photography.

From her first 1* at Fontainebleau in 2011 through Rolex last month, fischerRocana has maintained a pristine cross-country record throughout the 26 FEI competitions she has completed.

She went double-clear at 16 of them, with the most time penalties accrued (11.4) at the 2014 WEG in Normandy. The treacherous going on that course kept everyone else’s pace in check as well, and Rocana still finished with a Team Gold and Individual Silver.

Additional fun fact: She placed in the top two at 13, or 50%, of those 26 events. You can check out her FEI Performance Record here.

What’s it like to pilot the Rocana cross-country machine? Take a vicarious spin via this helmet cam from the 2* course at Radolfzell in Germany last spring.

Her momma gave her hops; her daddy gave her speed.

Speaking of all those double-clear rounds, Rocana may be genetically predisposed for them. While registered as a German Sport Horse (SATHU), her breeding is a mix of jumping and racing lines — she’s 63.87% blood — that clearly added up to produce an incredible and well-rounded athlete.

Her sire is Ituango xx, a thoroughbred who stands at the Marbach Stud and has produced a number of successful racers as well as sport horses. Ituango raced for two years before an injury ended his career, and his parents — sire Acatenago, three-time German racehorse of the year with earnings of nearly $4.5 million, and dam Lagunas, a Derby winner — were both racing powerhouses.

On the other side of Rocana’s pedigree is her dam, Rose, an Oldenburg who brings to the table a legacy of dressage and jumping talent from the likes of influential stallions like Calypso II and Cor de la Bryere.

Screen-Shot-2014-09-02-at-11.36.44-AM

Source: Horsetelex.com

 

She has a little sister, who is also killing it.

Her name is — wait for it — fischerRicona, and not only are they full sisters, they also look alike and have a gift for leaderboard domination.

At eight years old, Ricona is two years younger than her big sis but already boasts an impressive competition record with Michael Jung in the irons. Last year she won her first CIC3* at Wiesbaden, the latest in a string of wins and top finishes at the 1*/2* levels. Of the 11 FEI events she’s completed, she has placed in the top two in seven. That’s 64%, besting even her world-beater big sister’s 50%. Better step up your game, Rocana — Ricona is coming for you!

View Ricona’s FEI Performance Record here.

Here she is coming through the CIC2* water at Kreuth, which she won on her dressage score of 34.7, last year:

Despite her accolades, she’s still not Michael Jung’s favorite horse in the barn.

The best stall is still reserved for Rocana’s star stablemate, La Biostheque Sam FBW.  After winning Rolex on his mare, Michael confessed during the press conference that Sam is still his “favorite.” It’s the horse that first established his stature as a world champion, but his affection for the horse extends well beyond their accomplishments on the international stage.

“He is a special personality and a very good friend of me,” he said. “I think no horse is better than him.”

Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. That’s OK, Rocana — just keep stealing those ribbons out from under that hotshot brother of yours. You’re a fan favorite, for sure!

Michael Jung accepts his ribbon from Gillian Rolton. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Michael Jung accepts his ribbon from Gillian Rolton. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Go fischerRocana. Go Eventing!

Making the Tough Decision

By on May 21, 2015 9:00 am -
Leah Lang-Gluscic and AP Prime. Photo by Kasey Mueller. Leah Lang-Gluscic and AP Prime. Photo by Kasey Mueller.

Every fiber of my being wants to be a four-star rider. Let’s start with that.

While I consider the entire four years with AP to be my prep to Rolex, I could never have imagined how intense the three months before that huge weekend in April would be. The amount of focus, attention to detail, and commitment to your program necessary during that time starts to look a lot like a pretty severe personality disorder.

Your day to day activities start to carry so much weight, and you lose sight of any reasonable perspective in this world. With this comes very intense reactions, good and bad, to anything and everyone around you, a very intense emotional rollercoaster. Combine all of this with the fact that a very large part of my identity is wrapped up in my being an eventer, and you can get a sense of the intensity involved in prepping for Rolex.

I love this silly face!

I love this silly face!

My prep became all the more stressful when AP took a tumble, unrelated to a fence, in the show jumping at the Fork. It then became a waiting game to see if he would be 100% for the biggest test of our careers. As my vet began checking him over at the Fork, I promised myself that if there was any increased chance of injury, I would make the decision in the best interest of my horse.

Fortunately, AP looked great in the weeks following the Fork, and I got the 100% sign off to go ahead as planned, always intending to do one last check before cross country at Rolex.  As I stood in the treating stall with AP and my vet, I felt confident and hopeful. I felt like my horse and I were exactly where we should be, ready to tackle the task ahead.

As my vet read the ultrasound, I knew she was about to tell me something I did not want to hear. AP’s leg look slightly more inflamed than it had the week prior, and she could no longer tell me he was at status quo. I was facing the first really tough decision of my eventing career.

My vet began telling me the pros and cons of running the next day, but it was completely unnecessary. In that moment, I learned something about myself: I would never sacrifice the wellbeing of my horse for my own personal goals, validation, or livelihood.

While the decision was devastating, I can take away this little piece of information about myself. Completing Rolex would have changed my life in more ways that I can list, all for the better. If I can make the tough call in that moment, I know I can make it anytime.

It has taken weeks to have a full appreciation of this silver lining. At Rolex, I held myself together in the barns, not until I got back to my hotel and knocked on my parents’ door did I fall apart. The weight and significance of my decision came down on me at once.

Photo courtesy of Tom Neuman.

AP tolerating his fancy circles. He was very upset not to run cross country! Photo courtesy of Tom Neuman.

While I knew I was doing the right thing, it was not an easy pill to swallow. Throughout the rest of the weekend, there were certain people that triggered tears, and I was so worried about the disappointment that my sponsors and AP’s fans would feel. Much to my delight and surprise, I received nothing short of an outpouring of support for my horsemanship, something that speaks to the amazing people that are the sport of eventing!

Saturday night, my mom asked me, “What would you have done if AP had an owner and they wanted you to run regardless of the ultrasound?” I told her I would under no circumstance run a horse that wasn’t 100%. As hard as it is to get owners and as much as I wouldn’t want to lose one, I knew in that moment, I would still make that call.

First of all, no one puts more pressure and expectations on me than me — to a fault — so no one could have made me want my first four-star more in that moment. It’s just not possible. I also know that if I continue to make these decisions that show the utmost respect and love for my horse, I will attract owners that will back me up in these tough moments.

Hopefully I can build a program where everyone involved with LLG Eventing can not only enjoy the immense highs of coming through the finish flags at a world class event, but also sleep at night when the tough decisions need to be made and enjoy the long, successful careers of their horses.

Weeks later, it’s still tough. I really thought that, at this point in time, I would be a four-star rider. Dealing with that unfulfilled piece of me just plain sucks, there’s no getting around it. However, having a happy horse that will be on track to run Fair Hill this fall certainly helps, and I have that much more fuel to the fire to get us to Rolex next year hungrier than ever!