Classic Eventing Nation

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Take a Spin ‘Round Two Tryon Tracks

By on Sep 20, 2023 6:08 pm -

The Fork at Tryon is one of those courses I’d love to ride, almost entirely because I remember so well the thrill of sitting in the Blenheim press office during the 2018 WEG, attempting to keep my mind on something like sensible reporting but actually just staring, beady-eyed, at the TV we had the live-stream on the whole time. Apologies to everyone if I didn’t write anything worth reading that week. Championships are very exciting, okay?

I might never get the chance to actually ride around Tryon (unless someone wants to offer me a catch ride, hi, yes please, thank you), but thanks to two intrepid riders, I’m at least able to live vicariously. These great, slightly soggy, hatcam videos give you, too, the chance to cruise ’round the CCI2*-L on Jennarose Ortmeyer’s delightful Primrose, with her sweet purple ears, and around the Beginner Novice course with Melissa Coates and the very sweet First Drink, who strikes me as the sort of kind angel that everyone deserves to have at some point in their career.

Okay, no, even despite the vicarious riding, I still want to tackle the unique terrain of this almost golf course-esque track. Please. A catch ride. I beg.

ProbioticWise® — Supports a return to normal gut function

Free fecal water syndrome (FFWS) is easily recognizable by the watery fecal matter that runs out of the horse when they poop. The majority of the manure in the bowel movement is normally formed, and the watery portion runs out either before, during, or after the movement. In the most of cases of FFWS the horse is otherwise normal, and the cause is hard to pinpoint. FFWS is different than diarrhea. When a horse has diarrhea the entire bowel movement is watery, and diarrhea is often accompanied by other symptoms of illness.

As anyone who has dealt with this syndrome knows, the watery substance makes a mess all over the horse’s hindquarters and can even cause skin irritation in severe cases. FFWS has many causes but regardless of the cause ProbioticWise can help restore normal gut function and reduce dirty butts and skin irritation. Ask your Vet if ProbioticWise is right for your horse.

The horse that matters to you matters to us®. Visit KPPVet.com to learn more.

NEW EVENTING STICKER AVAILABLE! Visit https://kppusa.com/summer23/ to grab one for your barn.

Who Jumped it Best? Showjumping with the Eight- and Nine-Year-Olds at Blenheim Edition

By on Sep 20, 2023 3:54 pm -

I love the eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S at Blenheim quite unabashedly. I love the chance that we’re seeing the fledgling start of top-level careers for horses that could well go on to be absolute legends of the sport — after all, the class has an insane track record of producing five-star winners. I love the wide-eyed, starstruck horses who gradually grow into themselves through the week. I love the figuring-out process of a first-timer and the big sophomore-in-high-school vibes of the horses who are coming back for their second year. I love the developmental process. I love it all so much that I even rolled out of bed at 6.00 a.m. on Saturday to be there in time for just under 100 horses to begin showjumping at 8.00 a.m., before a full day of cross-country. Commitment? Insanity? Who knows.

Our WJIB today takes us back to that cold, dewy, early morning start. It might be quite mean to use an upright for this game — after all, they don’t exactly tend to pull beautiful bascules out of horses, especially eventers. But I’ve chosen it for two reasons: one, because it was one of the fences I could easily photograph without sacrificing proximity to a coffee machine, and two, because it was part of an interesting line on the course. It came just over halfway through, and after landing from this upright, riders had to execute a pretty sharp right-handed turn to an oxer, which they could get to on either an outside line around another fence, or a nifty inside one. Time was pretty easy to rack up out there; for some riders, the morning dew on the grass added a slip factor, and the whole arena’s pretty undulating, too, which meant that showjumping became influential — so influential, in fact, that first-phase leaders Tom McEwen and MHS Brown Jack were eliminated for having too many rails down. Sometimes, it’s too early for a plot twist, y’know?

So, with all this in mind, cast your eye over our selection of horses and riders to decide which you think made the best effort over the fence in order to, hopefully, negotiate the next question — and then scroll down to plug in your vote.

Emily King and Jackpot. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

James Avery and Dallas 13. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Katie Malensek and Landjaeger. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Saffron Cresswell and Vivendi Hero. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Selina Milnes and Cooley Snapchat. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Stephen Heal and Quidam de Lux. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Tiana Coudray and D’Artagnan. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Now, it’s over to you, folks — cast your vote for the best of the bunch below:

EN’s coverage of Blenheim is presented by Kentucky Performance Products. Click here to learn all about their full line of science-backed nutritional support products, including Neigh-Lox Advanced for digestive support.

Blenheim Palace International: [Website] [Entries] [Live Stream]

Safety is the Ultimate Style: Save 20% During SmartPak’s Safety Week Sale

By on Sep 20, 2023 12:40 pm -

Here’s a few facts for you: did you know, for example, that wearing a properly-fitted and certified helmet can reduce your risk of a fatal injury from a fall by up to 80%? Did you also know that even without having taken a hit — because I hope, by now, that we all know we need to replace our helmets after a fall or even just a drop on the floor! — your helmet has an ‘expiry date’, and after 3–5 years, you should be replacing it as a matter of routine?

Riding horses certainly isn’t without its risks. Statistically, it’s more dangerous than downhill ski racing, motorcycle racing, hang-gliding, and American football, and a study carried out in US hospitals proved that in terms of injuries for children, only being actually hit by a car has a higher severity. But there are so many sensible ways to mitigate that risk; don’t, for example, go against your gut instinct when it comes to throwing a leg over a particularly naughty young horse, even if you think you need to ‘prove yourself’ in order to advance as a rider (ask me how I found that one out the hard way…); don’t move up a level until you’re really, truly, utterly bored with the one you’re already at; and, of course, make sure you invest your funds wisely into protecting yourself as best you can. That means shelling out for a really good helmet and, whenever possible, donning a comfortable, flexible, and truly well-made body protector, too. (Yes, they do exist; no, you don’t have to pay for a breast reduction to find one. Your local retailer will be able to help you find the best one for you and when you do, I promise you, it’ll be life-changing.)

This week is Safety Awareness Week, and as good a time as any to dig out your helmets and really consider whether it’s time for them to go to the great tack room in the sky. As an enticing incentive, our friends at SmartPak are offering up to 20% off a number of their most popular — and safest — helmets and vests all week, including Charles Owen, Tipperary, One K, and more, with great options at every price point and plenty of useful info on each listing about how the hats are tested and the rigorous safety standards they need to meet. There’s even plenty with MIPS technology, which is a pioneering bit of design that got its start in the motorcycle racing world. You can check out everything they’ve got up for grabs here. I’m particularly keen on this Charles Owen MIPS helmet, which is a seriously budget-friendly $136.

Charles Owen, incidentally, is the helmet brand of choice for dressage supremo Silva Martin, who credits her helmet with saving her life during a 2014 schooling accident. She shared the story with SmartPak, and you can read it in full here, but here’s a helpful debrief:

It was in 2014, just two weeks after Silva’s gold medal win with Rose Cha W as a part of the U.S. Team at the Wellington Nation’s Cup, that Silva had an accident of her own.

“If I didn’t have the helmet on that day, I would for sure not have made it.”

The ride was routine, schooling a mare on the piaffe. There was no big spook, or flapping tarp, not even a loose dog. The mare simply got a leg stuck in the fencing of the arena by accident. In her surprise and effort to keep her balance, the horse flung her head back, making direct contact with Silva’s face. Stunned, Silva fell from the saddle and was hit by the mare’s back leg as she got untangled from the arena fencing. Says Silva, “It was definitely not the horse’s fault, she did nothing wrong. She just tripped over; it was the most boring accident.”

From that fall, Silva suffered a seizure, a mid-brain bleed, and was lifted by helicopter to nearby Delray Hospital. She remembers none of it, not the falling, nor the helicopter. She does know, however, that at the hospital she was told surgery was not an option and if the bleeding did not stop, she would die.

Eventually, Silva made it home to their farm in Pennsylvania where she was treated at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital. Her continued recovery for a year consisted of outpatient therapy for six days a week as well as continued daily support from friends and family. It wasn’t easy, as Silva recalls, “I had to learn how to walk and how to talk for over a year. I was 100% dependent on other people.”

After a long, hard-fought rehabilitation and being cleared by her doctors, Silva made her return to the show ring. Her first competition back required a new routine including naps between each ride, as she wasn’t able to stay awake for long. Even “getting back on the horse” so to speak was no longer the same. Silva’s team was there to support her—both emotionally and physically as she was nearly lifted onto her horse—but Silva remembers how good it felt to get back in the ring and do it again.

Since then, Silva continues to recover both in and out of the saddle. As a result of the accident, she only has vision in one eye and a skewed sense of depth perception. Riding down centerline is still the same high, but is more challenging.

Now at Windurra USA, the main training facility owned by Silva and her husband Boyd Martin, they stress the importance and necessity of helmets for every ride. According to Silva, “Nobody at our place gets on without a helmet ever.” This includes the Martin’s two small boys, Nox and Leo. Silva says her children don’t know life without a helmet. They don’t question if you should or should not put a helmet on before getting on a horse—it’s just what you do.

“Even now, if the doctor’s look at my injury they say they cannot believe I’m walking and talking and that if I hadn’t had that helmet on, there’s no question that I would have died.”

Want more info on helmet safety, and how the technology is progressing? Check out this insightful episode of the US Eventing Podcast, in which Dr. Barry Miller of Virginia Tech’s Helmet Lab and Catherine Winter of Ride EquiSafe discuss the data on biomechanics, injury risks, and how hats are levelling up to keep you as safe as possible.

 

British Riders Revealed for Boekelo Nations Cup Showdown

By on Sep 20, 2023 10:15 am -

Laura Collett and Dacapo take the day one lead at Boekelo in 2022, and set a tough standard to beat. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

There’s just one FEI Nations Cup leg left on the 2023 calendar, and boy, is it a big one: the Military Boekelo CCIO4*-L in the Netherlands, which will take place from October 4–8, is undoubtedly most riders’ favourite outing of the year. That’s not just because of the pomp and circumstance of a series finale, nor because of the pivotal chance to claim a berth at the Olympics for unqualified teams — it’s also because it’s the biggest party of the year. Priorities, people. It’s all about the brewskies in the final throes of the season.

The Brits are one of those teams who don’t have to think at all about the fight for an Olympic place, since they qualified in the first possible instance at Pratoni last year, but they absolutely will be hoping to nab gold in this battle of nations. While we don’t yet have confirmation of which combinations will be on the team and which will ride as individuals, we do now have a first look at who’ll be making the trip over to fly the Union Jack (and a chance to rank them, in a confidential and unpublished Google doc, based on how likely each of them is to bring the noise at the Tuesday night riders’ party. Laura Collett, we’re just saying — we expect big things from you.)

The riders and horses named are as follows:

  1. MHS Seventeen Ros Canter – Owned by Lady Milnes Coates and Deirdre Johnston
  2. Dassett Cooley Dun Ros Canter – Owned by Kate Willis and Mel Pritchard
  3. Dacapo Laura Collett – Owned by Mr and Mrs M. Smedley, Carolyn Taylor, Gillian Morris-Adams and Diana Chappell
  4. SBH Big Wall Izzy Taylor – Owned by Jane Timmis
  5. Rehy DJ Yasmin Ingham – Owned by The Sue Davies Fund and Janette Chinn
  6. Class Vista Flora Harris – Owned by Rider
  7. Cooley Snapchat Selina Milnes – Owned by Mr and Mrs William Rucker
  8. D.Day Caroline Harris – Owned by Fiona Olivier, Lucy Matthews, Marie Anne Richardson and Heather Royle
  9. Ellfield Voyager Alex Whewall – Owned by Sheila Rowe
  10. Hi Tech Xanthe Goldsack – Owned by Rider
  11. Global Quest Georgie Campbell – Owned by Diana and Lance Morrish
  12. Ngong Valley Harriet Wright – Owned by Rider
  13. Igor B Kristina Hall-Jackson – Owned by KHJ Eventing and Rider
  14. Deerpairc Revelry Max Warburton – Owned by The Paske Syndicate
  15. Fever Pitch Storm Straker – Owned by Victoria Straker
  16. Just Have Faith TN Alfie Marshall – Owned by Rider
  17. Bob Cotton Bandit Laura Birley – Owned by Rider
  18. EG Michealangelo Rose Nesbitt – Owned by Rider and John and Francesca Nesbitt
  19. Templar Juno Katie Preston – Owned by Juniper Syndicate and Rider
  20. Solsboro Sweetpea Alicia Wilkinson – Owned by Henrietta Wilkinson

British Eventing has also released a short waitlist of horses and riders, who will be called in, in order of the list below, should any of the original twenty not be able to take up their place for any reason. These are:

  • MC Parco Pete Tyler Cassells – Owned by Amanda Hemming
  • PSH Gazelle Aimee Penny – Owned by Gary Power
  • Opposition Aphrodite Kirsty Chabert – Owned by Carole Somers
  • Sportsfield Freelance – Laura Collett

As always, EN will have boots on the ground for this incredibly exciting, oftentimes truly weird event, with its bar-for-every-fence and its mid-morning nightclubs out on course. Buckle up, prepare your electrolytes, and let’s get silly.

Wednesday News & Notes from Ocala Horse Properties

By on Sep 20, 2023 12:15 am -

We are delighted to welcome to Twemlows, Cavalier Crystal to take up the Land Rover Burghley Twemlows Embryo Transfer…

Posted by Twemlows Hall Stud Farm AI & ET Centre on Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Not only did Harry Meade’s Cavalier Crystal smash her first CCI5* with a third place at Defender Burghley, but she was also the highest placed mare, and – as she’s permanently based in Britain – won the Twemlows Scholarship for two embryo transfers. This week, the mare’s owner, Charlotte Opperman, took Twemlows up on the opportunity to have a baby Cavalier Crystal, and potentially a future 5* winner.

Just a gentle reminder that it’s World Gratitude Day tomorrow, so be grateful, and go eventing.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Heritage Park H.T. (Olathe, KS) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Meadowcreek Park H.T – Fall Social Event (Kosse, TX) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Unionville H.T. (Unionville, PA) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Twin Rivers Fall International (Paso Robles, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

University of New Hampshire H.T. (Durham, NH) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Wednesday News and Reading

TRHC/USEA cross country schooling is happening this weekend. Running from 9am-3pm, with last registration at 2pm, there will be the chance to school the water complex as well as other jumps, up through Training Level. [Find Out More]

British-based Italian eventer Giovanni Ugolotti is looking for a groom / working pupil. Based at Cranford Stud in Gloucestershire, UK, there’s the chance to take your own horse with you too. Find out more, and how to apply. [Eventing Opportunity]

As China’s Alex Hua Tian prepares for an Asian Games on home soil, he looks back at his decade with his horse of a lifetime, Don Geniro. ‘The Don’ retired from eventing earlier this year and is now enjoying life as a Junior dressage schoolmaster, but Alex will never forget all that this special horse did for his career, and for the sport of eventing in China. After finishing 8th at the Rio Olympics competing as individuals, Alex and Don Geniro took on Tokyo as as part of the first Chinese eventing team in Olympic history. In 2016, The Don was voted EquiRatings Horse of the Year, thanks to a massive amount of votes hailing from China, with Alex crediting his special horse with inspiring a new, Chinese audience for eventing. The equestrian events at the Asian games kick off on September 26th and run through October 6th. [The Don Done Good]

Area VI Adult Rider camp gets down to the serious business of eventing with a healthy dose of fun and camaraderie. Hosted at Twin Rivers with training by Andrea Baxter and Kaylawna Smith-Cook (daughter of World No. 5 Tamie Smith), the camp brings together amateur eventers in a supportive space for a shared experience that has lasting impact. Mom and daughter duo Erna P. Adelson and Erna L. Adelson decided to hitch up and head to camp this year, and came away having learned some lessons about their riding and their horses, and much more. [Happy Campers]

I read an article the other day which questioned the ethics of pet ownership. It suggests that – however unintentionally – we almost always place limitations on the animals we keep. As a multi-cat household, with a small flock of rescue hens and ducks in my backyard and dreams of horses out there too someday, it made me consider how well I meet the needs of my animal family, and whether I benefit more from our relationship than the animals I care for. I can’t agree that humans shouldn’t share their lives with animals, but whilst I’m a yes to some kinds of pets, I am a hard no to others. There’s no denying that I’m guilty of anthropomorphizing my feline family – they’re my best friends – but I’d say our relationship is pretty codependent – it’s definitely their choice to cry if I shut them out of the bathroom and to spend their nights sleeping right on top of me (all five of them). It has got me thinking though, and when the time comes, I shall make sure I see myself as a horse keeper, rather than a horse owner. I’ll still be Mommy to my cats though. [Pets and People]

Sponsor Corner

Looking for a destination for your next horse-y vacation? Put Ocala on your bucket list. The Ocala Insiders on Team EN gave us their top ten must-do activities when in Ocala for this article: 10 Reasons to Put Ocala on Your Bucket List.

Video Break

The fall edition of Strzegom Horse Trials in Poland happened last week, with Germany taking the podium. Felix Etzel found himself in pole position and Anna Siemer claimed both silver and bronze. Australian eventer extraordinaire Andrew Hoy made the trip to Europe with Cadet De Beliard for the gelding’s first 4*, finishing in 7th place . Ride with Andrew ‘round the cross country with this helmet cam from sunny Strzegom.

Training Tip Tuesday Video Break: Improving Jump Shape through Quality of Canter

By on Sep 19, 2023 5:00 pm -

We’ve all learned throughout our riding journeys that the quality of a horse’s canter directly affects the quality of a horse’s jump. But it can be more complicated to put this theory into practice.

I found a great short video from Amelia Newcomb Dressage full of advice on improving your horse’s canter. This is something that can always use some attention, and I typically find Amelia’s style to work really well in terms of understanding the concepts she’s demonstrating.

“In this week’s video we are talking about the shape of your canter stride,” Amelia writes in the video description. “As the well known hunter jumper rider and coach Archie Cox says, ‘the shape of your canter determines the shape of your jump. If you have a long, strung out canter, you will have a long strung out jump. If you have a nice round canter, you will have a nice round jump and it will be easier to achieve your distance.’ The same is true if you ride dressage! If you don’t have a quality canter, you won’t be able to achieve a quality movement.”

“We want our horses to have a nice uphill, jumping canter. This is achieved by adding more energy without allowing the horse to cover more ground in the canter. Whether you’re jumping or riding dressage and teaching the flying changes, the basic quality of the canter is of utmost importance.”

You can learn more from Amelia here — and stay tuned for a collaboration between EN and Amelia coming your way this offseason!

Why the Morven Park International & Fall H.T. Needs to Be On Your Fall Calendar

By on Sep 19, 2023 2:30 pm -

Will Coleman will return to Morven Park aboard last year’s CCI4*-S winner, Chin Tonic HS. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Galloping through Autumn leaves, touring a luxurious mansion, watching Olympic-level competition from a VIP tent…the Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials has a lot to offer. We get it, the Fall season is a busy time of year. But when we say you need to make space on your calendar for Morven Park, we mean it.
 
Here’s why the Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials needs to be on your eventing bucket list: 
 
Autumn Leaves… Need We Say More? 

Fall colors peak in the Leesburg area between October 15th and 25th. The Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials fall just before the peak of leaf peeping season, on October 12th through 15th. If you’ve ever wanted to enjoy the thrill of eventing against a background of russet hues, this competition is for you.  

Caitlin Silliman and Ally KGO. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.


 
Competition for Everyone 

The Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials offer National levels, Novice through Preliminary, as well as CCI2* through CCI4*-S and CCI4*-L. Thanks to the wide range of divisions offered, this event attracts local competitors at the lower levels, as well as top riders from across the country.

EN’s upper-level rider-in-residence Ema Klugman describes the cross country here as, “nice and open, like cross-country should be,” up to standard for each level but not overwhelmingly technical. It’s a great event to aim for as a Fall season highlight! 
 
Intense Sport, Welcoming Atmosphere 

Morven Park is one of only six venues across the United States hosting a CCI4*-L. While you may think a venue hosting Olympic-level competition would feel exclusive, Morven Park really feels welcoming to everyone.
 
Test Yourself Against the Best 

The Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials always draws in some of the best riders from across the nation. The 2022 field included number six and number eight on the world ranking’s list, Tamie Smith and Will Coleman, as well as Ema Klugman, Buck Davidson, Mia Farley, Allie Knowles, Doug Payne, and more. So far the 2023 field is shaping up to be similarly star-studded across the divisions, with World Championship Team member Ariel Grald, and Olympians Stephen Bradley and Lauren Nicholson, entered so far.  

Ema Klugman and Bronte Beach Z. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.


 
Defeat the Iconic Leaf Pit 

The Leaf Pit is perhaps the most well-known question on the Morven Park cross-country course.  Regarded as one of the most difficult fences on course, the Leaf Pit is an homage to late course designer Tremaine Cooper who originally designed the combination. This formidable four-fence combination involves a steep drop. Fence A is a large brush fence that offers horses a few strides afterwards to prepare for the drop. In 2022, Sharon White called it an “icon of Morven Park.” 
 
Tackle Challenging Terrain 

Home to eight mountain ranges, Virginia as a whole is a mountainous state and Morven Park is no exception. The terrain at the park presents the biggest challenge to riders who choose to tackle the course. The course was designed by Derek di Grazia, who also designed the cross-country course at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.  
 
When EN asked Derek what he wanted riders to learn after riding last year’s course in Morven Park, he responded, “To be better prepared for championships and Olympic Games. And also to keep competing, whether it’s to go abroad and do a four-star or five-star, but you always want to have these events, be able to give them the experience that they need to be able to compete in those different situations.” 
 
Free Spectator Admission
 
The International & Fall Horse Trials at Morven Park aren’t just about the competitors. It’s also an extremely spectator-friendly event, thanks to free admission and free parking. Spectators can expect to enjoy watching Olympic-level eventing, as well as a small vendor village and a variety of food trucks. There is no better way to enjoy a beautiful Fall weekend in Loudoun County’s 1,000-acre playground. 
 
Tailgating & VIP Tent 

Last year Morven Park introduced tailgating, which will be coming back this year. Tailgate spaces are in the center of the cross-country course, awarding spectators prime viewing of main combinations on course against the backdrop of the Davis Mansion. Each pass includes parking for one vehicle on the course and up to 12 people. You may bring your own food and beverage, have a picnic catered, or visit the fantastic food vendors on site.
 
New this year, Morven Park will have a VIP tent. The VIP Hospitality Tent will allow for prime viewing of the 4*-S and 4*-L dressage and show jumping, and will be stocked with refreshments in a lovely, comfortable setting. One ticket allows access to the tent for all three days of the competition.  

[See all Spectator offerings here]

Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.


 
More Than Just a Horse Park
 
Home to the Davis Mansion, Morven Park is more than just another equestrian center. Over the last 240 years, the Davis Mansion has transformed from a modest fieldstone house into the impressive Greek Revival building it is today. Once the home of former Virginia Governor Westmoreland Davis and his wife, Marguerite, the couple filled the mansion with eclectic antiques from around the world, many of which are still in the mansion today.

Also avid equestrians, their love of equestrian sports inspired the creation of the renowned Morven Park International Equestrian Institute. One of the world’s most prestigious riding academies from 1963 until 1991, it was built around training equestrians to become top riding instructors. The academy later became the Morven Park International Equestrian Center.

This year, Morven Park is celebrating 50 years of eventing at the historic venue. Eventing competitions were first held at the 1,000-acre park in 1973 under the direction of cavalry Major John Lynch. When you compete at Morven Park, you’re retracing the hoofprints of all the equestrian legends who came before you.
 
Where will you be October 12th through the 15th? Whether you’re spectating or competing, learn more about the Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials here. Sign up to compete on evententries.com before the closing date of September 26.  

 

Between the Ears with Endurance Rider Dr. Pamela Reband

By on Sep 19, 2023 12:00 pm -

It seems like these days we look at each other’s lives through the lens of a highlight reel. We get to see the incredible trips, the best jumps, and the moments that we’re proud enough of to put on social media. What we don’t talk about is how much pressure this adds to athletes on both ends of the news feed.

Riders, whether professional or not, are made to feel like they ‘have to’ post something that makes them look cool and successful. Then, as we consume this content, we are stuck with the disillusioned perception that the sport is easy and that if you’re not succeeding, then maybe you aren’t cut out for it. I would like to take this opportunity to go ‘between the ears’ of some of the riders that make up our Eventing Nation and work to understand some of the real challenges this industry presents.

To read more from the Between the Ears series, click here.

Pam on Skeeter, the mare she had her accident on. Photo by Susan Kordish.

If you’ve stumbled upon this article, there is a pretty good chance that you love horses, which also means that there’s a pretty good chance that through your love of horses, you have also confronted injury, fear, and anxiety. The reality of a life with horses is that there are inherent risks — whether you plan to go Advanced or are simply interested in trail riding with your friends.

If you’ve been following along with my Between the Ears series, you’ve heard stories from upper level eventers, and many of those stories included setbacks related to physical injury and how these riders were able to sort through related fears and get back to Eventing.

On this edition of Between the Ears, I got to talk to Dr. Pamela Reband, who many of you eventers reading this have probably have never heard of! Pam is a retired anesthesiologist who has been riding since the 1960s. She is an endurance rider who embraces the AERC (American Endurance Ride Conference) motto “To finish is to win.”

So why am I interviewing an adult amateur endurance rider for this blog? Well, after 60 years in the saddle, Pam suffered from some pretty significant fears that might have kept her out of the saddle for good and instead of giving into the fear, Pam is gearing up to take on one of the most challenging endurance rides in the country, The Tevis Cup, next year.

Working in the industry as a Mental Performance Consultant, I have found that fear in horses transcends performance in a traditional concept. For many people, fear is getting in the way of simply having fun and enjoying horses in any capacity. So I wanted to bring you Pam’s story, as hers is the story of an everyday equestrian- which let’s face it- most of us are! Pam also tells her story in her self-published book Three Steps Up to Mediocrity.

Can you tell me a little bit about your background in horses?

I’ve done just about everything you can do with a horse; breeding, showing, driving, training, jumping, and managing a farm, but it was never my full-time job. I had a career as a doctor, and I have a husband and two daughters. I didn’t discover Endurance riding until I was in my 50s, but it has been a passion for me ever since.

You didn’t start experiencing fear in the saddle until later in life, can you talk to me about the circumstances that led to that fear?

My story started with a two-year hiatus from riding when my husband was sick. Those two years really took a toll on me physically and mentally. When I was finally able to find time to get back in the saddle, I had pains and aches that I had never had before and just didn’t feel as comfortable or balanced in the saddle as I once was. I started to avoid some of the harder training trails that I had once been comfortable on but got to a point where even the easier trails made me feel uneasy.

Eventually, I was just riding in my front lawn, and on one of these rides, my mare Skeeter tripped. Because I was so off-balanced and not riding well, I tipped forward onto her neck and because I was afraid, I grabbed onto her neck, causing me to fall on the concrete-like Arizona dirt and pulling poor Skeeter down right on top of me.

That was my “straw that broke the camel’s back” moment. I sustained a rotator cuff injury, bruised the bones down my side, and had a lot of soft tissue damage, but nothing that required hospitalization or casting. Following the fall, I realized that the most significant injury I sustained was to my mind.

Two weeks following the fall, I decided to get on my grandkids’ horse, Charlie. During the ride, Charlie tripped, very small and very slightly — I started shaking and sobbing and immediately got off. For a while after that, I would pull Charlie out of the barn with every intention of riding, but when I thought about pulling myself into the saddle, I was so afraid I actually started to vomit.

Without ever really confronting the fear or the situation, I decided that Skeeter was not a good fit for my new instability and so I sold her and set out to buy a new endurance horse. Meanwhile, my husband and I also went through the process of selling our ranch in Arizona to move closer to our children. While I was still too afraid to get on Charlie, and while my life was in complete flux, I found a 14.3-hand, 6-year-old, 900 lb ‘ball of energy’, Shiloh, who also would become a very large part of my story.

Pam on Shiloh. Photo by Maria Phillips

How did you work through your fears?

By the time I was settling into my new farm in Tennessee, it had been almost three years since I had ridden with any kind of consistency. I was working towards getting back on Charlie but would find myself making excuses not to ride the second I got to the top of the mounting block. I got VERY lucky as it turned out a friend of a friend of mine connected in the horse world lived right in my neighborhood. She started to come out and ‘help me’ ride Charlie, offering moral support and a safety blanket — and at the same time suggested that I reach out to a local trainer, Scot MacGregor to help me train Shiloh.

To say that Scot changed my life is an understatement. He began training Shiloh into the horse I needed him to be and, after I gathered the courage to explain that my fear was actually the biggest problem, he started to train me as well. Scot worked at my pace to give me the confidence and courage to get back to fully riding.

At first, when Scot was riding Shiloh, I enjoyed watching and was fascinated both by the horse and Scot’s training methods, but eventually, I began evading the sessions for fear that Scot would want me to get on. In true Scot fashion, there was no pressure or timeline attached, after about a month of training, he simply told me “Shiloh is ready when you are.”

I had been slowly gaining my confidence back on Charlie during this time as well. I would even ride Charlie while Scot rode Shiloh, watching how genuinely good my little horse was becoming. Scot kept pulling me in the direction of feeling safe and confident until one day, I decided I was ready to get on Shiloh. I needed help, instruction, and support, I even needed to be reminded to breathe, but Scot was there every step of the way and despite my uncertainty, the ride was a success.

So I guess that’s how I worked through my fears, slowly, not all at once. After that initial ride on Shiloh, there were still many “firsts” to conquer: the first ride outside of the arena, the first ride alone, the first ride on trails we had to travel to, and even the first official endurance ride. I was able to accomplish all these firsts, but I never approached the next step until I felt entirely comfortable and safe and I always had Scot leading me in the right direction.

Pam and Scot ride together. Photo by Becky Pearman

Why did you decide to write your book?

What happened to me happens to an amazing number of people. It has shocked me since the book has come out how many people have reached out and shared similar experiences. I like to think that my voice is battling the “perfect” vision of what people think it looks like to come back from a fall or a setback. My journey was imperfect, but here I am today getting to enjoy my love of horses. I had been journaling and blogging about my experiences anyway, so I figured I would compile them into a book to help others along the path.

What advice would you give to someone currently battling fears in the saddle?

If you’ve got a fear or PTSD from an incident in the saddle, decide if it’s worth the work to get over it. It isn’t always worth the pain, trouble, and angst to get back to riding.

Once you’ve made up your mind that it is, know that it’s a long journey but it’s worth it. You’ve already decided it’s worth it and once you make that decision, you’ve decided the outcome. The only question is “How long will it take?” and it will take what it takes. For me, and I had a lot of help, it has taken about four years and I still have flashbacks and frightened moments. I’ve had a lot of messages from people who have read the book, some of whom are discouraged by how long it is taking and some of whom are jumping to the big steps instead of the small ones. Even babies crawl before they walk, you have to be patient in taking small steps.

In the words of Ted Lasso, “Taking on a challenge is a lot like riding a horse, isn’t it? If you’re comfortable while you’re doing it, you’re probably doing it wrong.” Now I’m not saying that the goal isn’t to be comfortable in the saddle, but I think people have a really warped view of what it takes to overcome fears in riding.

The old-school advice we get is to simply ‘get over it’ or ‘fake it until you make it’ and when you have a fear response, especially after a fall or accident, that advice just simply isn’t going to cut it. You have to take the small steps and surround yourself with the people who will help encourage you on that path, regardless of how long it takes.

Notes from the Judge’s Box with Robyn Fisher

By on Sep 19, 2023 10:00 am -

Welcome to a new column brought to you by the team at Galway Downs in Temecula, CA! As we gear up for a full slate of fun at the Galway Eventing Championships (November 1-5), which will host the 2023 USEF CCI2*-L and USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Championships, 2023 USEF Eventing Young Rider National Championships, presented by USEA and Area VI Championships among many other competition offerings, we’ll be bringing you more content from Galway Downs. Learn more about Galway Downs here.

Robyn Fisher and Betawave. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Dressage is sometimes dissed as the dull phase of eventing. FEI Level 2 and “S” National Eventing judge Robyn Fisher disagrees.

And not because she’s the proverbial “DQ – dressage queen” who hasn’t experienced the thrill of galloping cross country or flying to a fault-free show jumping finalé — she has!

Robyn has done all that and more in her career as a professional rider, trainer and coach. Her R Farms in Moorpark, CA is a hub for young horse development – dressage and eventing horses — and she coaches amateur and seasoned professional equestrians.

Since starting the rigorous educational journey of earning the USEF’s eventing judge certification in 2011, Robyn has delved deeply into the art of dressage — its execution from the saddle and its evaluation from the judge’s box. She’s a regular on the West Coast eventing circuit and will be part of the Ground Jury at the West Coast eventing season finalé, the Galway Downs Fall International Nov. 1-5.

Thanks to Robyn for taking the time to share a few horsemanship tips from her judge’s perspective.

Galway Gazette: How did your deep dive into dressage come about?

Robyn: I chose to explore the judging program in 2011. Amy Tryon was a very close, dear friend to me and she encouraged me the most to move forward with getting my license. Once I did the first seminar, I was hooked.

The first seminar made it clear that there was/is so much more to learn about a sport I had been living for over 30 years. I tell people who are starting out passionately that you can end up going down a rabbit hole because there are so many fascinating facets to the sport of dressage.

GG: What is your goal for your judging career?

Robyn: My goal is to judge championships and the Olympics one day. Because of that, I have not fast-tracked getting my FEI licenses because I think it’s really important to do right by the riders.

At that level, officials have a duty to get it right for the competitors. It’s important that judges, like riders, continue to learn and have mentors to inspire and educate. I am testing for my Level 3 FEI license this fall and will then be able to officiate as president of the ground jury, at the 4* level.

GG: What are some relatively easy ways to maximize points in a test?

Robyn: It’s so important that the riders read the directives of the test. The directives are the criteria of what judges are looking for in each movement.

GG: What are some common weak points for eventers in dressage?

Robyn: I think the majority of eventers see the dressage phase as a means to an end– meaning they have to do it in order to do the cross-country. I think riders should shift that thinking into understanding that proper dressage schooling will maximize your horse’s competition longevity and soundness, as well as the rideability in the jumping phases.

GG: Can you share any unofficial tips and tricks?

Robyn: Know your test so well that you can focus on good riding rather than on remembering where you need to go. So often nerves influence, positively or negatively, a performance. If you can focus on the performance rather than remembering the pattern, you will tend to have a smoother test.

GG: What things most positively influence a judge?

Robyn: A happy horse. If I see a horse that is doing its test so willing and supple and looks like it’s smiling, usually that will leave an impression.

Also, the judges first look for rhythm and relaxation at every level. Riders need to know and fundamentally understand what rhythm and relaxation mean and how to build upon them.

Dressage is not about making a horse put its head down in a frame. Rather, it’s about getting the horse in a balance that allows for ease of movement, self-carriage, and harmony. That means a horse working with biomechanical correctness from the hind legs, pushing through the body, in an uphill balance. A rider can pull a horse’s head In and do the movements, but that won’t win.

Riders need to understand the correct biomechanics in their horse’s movements. Once they can execute the fundamentals, the points will come.

Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products

By on Sep 19, 2023 8:07 am -

One of my great regrets at every event is that there are only so many hours in a day to cover the stories that unfold there — particularly somewhere like Blenheim, with nearly 200 competitors! For every winner, there’s also always a bunch of hardworking, incredible riders who are making their dream come true in their own ways — like Sophie Callard, who has been dreaming of riding at Blenheim since attending on foot at the age of 12. You go, Sophie — keep making those lifelong goals happen!


Events Opening Today: Texas Rose Horse Park H.T.-Modified Pending USEF Approval, Rocking Horse Fall H.T., The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs,

Events Closing Today: Woodside Fall International, MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, Apple Knoll Farm H.T., Middle Tennessee Pony Club H.T., WindRidge Farm Fall H.T., Ocala Fall Horse Trials, The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm

Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:

A small stud in the UK had a double dose of sadness — and miracles — recently. After all four of their broodmares delivered healthy foals, tragedy struck when two of the mares died shortly thereafter. But the stud’s owners didn’t have to pull in external foster mares — because their other two mares adopted the orphaned foals, alongside their own babies. Read the full story here.

Time for the latest chapter in the ongoing Eric Lamaze sh!tsh*w. Now, he’s facing legal proceedings from the FEI for shirking a mandatory drug test a couple of seasons ago. We all remember Lamaze’s ropy history of drug test violations, right?

Leaving a barn can be a really tricky, turbulent time. Not just because you need to do all the practical logistical elements of moving your horse, but because, for some reason, it always feels like you’re burning serious bridges in doing so. This personal essay comes from someone who experienced just that.

Over on our sister site Horse Nation, they love a bit of myth-busting. Today, they’re tackling your horse’s cool-down — and diving into whether you REALLY need to walk your horse out after a ride. Click here to see the answer.

Watch This: 

Relive the winning Burghley round: