Classic Eventing Nation

Sunday Links from SmartPak

By on Mar 5, 2023 12:01 am -

Yesterday’s cross country for Grand Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field ended in a nail-biting finish, with Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C clinching the win with one of only two double-clear rounds of the day (and yes, the other double-clear was also Liz). This unique event was thrilling to watch, with some stunning dressage and exciting showjumping on Friday. Congrats to all the riders and the many great charities involved!

U.S. Weekend Action:

$50,000 Grand-Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Entries] [Tickets] [Live Stream] [Scores] [Volunteer] [EN’s Coverage]

Full Gallop Farm March Wednesday H.T. (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Rocking Horse Winter III H.T (Altoona, FL): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Sporting Days Farm March H.T. II (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Twin Rivers Winter H.T. (Paso Robles, CA): [Website] [Volunteer] [Entries / Ride Times / Scoring]

Links to Start Your Sunday:

Just a Boy Sitting on a Crescent Moon

Course Designer Eric Winter shares news from Badminton’s 2023 course

Horses Changed My Relationship With Money… For the Better

How a woman turned being a ‘horse girl’ into a career with $3,600 private coaching sessions

Weekly Pick from SmartPak: A new season means new looks from SmartPak! Our favorite new product is the SmartPak Deluxe XC Schooling Pad. Designed to fit most close contact and monoflap jump saddles, it helps keep horses cooler while schooling XC, thanks to its mesh spine and sweat-wicking COOLMAX® lining. Check out new products from all their brands here!

Morning Viewing: Take a spin around Bruce’s Field with Boyd and Federman B at yesterday’s Grand Prix Eventing in Aiken!

Saturday Video: Check Out the $50,000 Grand-Prix Eventing Cross-Country

By on Mar 4, 2023 6:28 pm -

It’s been a wildly exciting couple of days at the $50,000 Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field, where we watched Doug Payne deliver a stonking sub-20 start with Starr Witness, hold his lead through showjumping — and then, ultimately, slip just one spot down to second with a classy cross-country round. You can head on over to the full competition report to find out who took the win, but in the meantime, enjoy reliving his ride and check out this tough, exciting course!

Liz Halliday-Sharp Beats the Clock in 2023 $50,000 Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field

By on Mar 4, 2023 5:54 pm -

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Truth be told, Liz Halliday-Sharp was a little frustrated with her show jumping performance yesterday. Two seconds cost her a $15,000 lead. But, Liz isn’t one to wallow, she woke up today with a steely expression and one goal in mind: go fast and clear.

This afternoon she was the only rider to finish inside the time not once, but twice. Debbie Palmer and Ocala Horse Properties’ Miks Master C was her winning ride, coming in a smashing six seconds under the optimum time to make her the first rider to ever win this event three times.

“I have to say I wasn’t totally sure what horse I would have, I haven’t been with Mickey even a year yet, and he was very, very strong at Boekelo,” Liz said. “I had a new bit that I’ve never competed in him that I rode him in today, and I sort of already decided if he felt like he was getting a bit rogue on me, I was not going to go fast at all costs, because I wanted to think about the big picture for him. But actually, he was brilliant and really with me, and I had a super, super round.”

Liz Halliday-Sharp celebrates the taste of sweet, sweet victory. Photo by Shelby Allen.

“I thought the time was the tightest it’s ever been, and that was actually really great,” she continued. “I think we had a really great weekend of sport, and that’s what I think they need in these sort of things — it shouldn’t be a dressage competition, it should be a fight all the way to the end.”

For Liz, the showcase is like a pressure cooker for reproducing the kind of atmosphere that riders face at some of the biggest events in the world, and that’s why she chooses to bring her horses here year after year.

“I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to manage [winning a third time], but that’s what I came here hoping to do. I just think this is such a great event, and — a little bit reflecting what Boyd and Doug said — it kind of puts you under pressure early. It’s not always the right track for certain horses, but for myself, I think it really gets your eye in early in the year, under pressure and trying to see a stride and you’re going fast. It’s the first run of the year for all my horses, I’ve done that quite a few times. I actually think too, for those big, bold, galloping horses, it’s good to have them have to dip around here and start to look for what’s next, instead of just racing around. This is one of my favorite competitions, I’m sad I missed it last year but I’m glad to be back.”

Doug Payne and Starr Witness. Photo by Shelby Allen.

“Could have used that rail yesterday,” Doug Payne lamented after his two cross country time penalties cost him victory with Starr Witness. The 12-year-old KWPN (Chello III VDL – Carmen, by Veneur) started the weekend on an earth-shaking dressage score of 19.9, but knowing the mare as well as he does, Doug understood that beating the clock would be a big ask around Mark Phillips’ track.

“Time for her is a little bit harder, so I knew it was gonna be a challenge, but she gave everything she could have,” he said. The petite liver chestnut was clever and quick enough for second place on a score of 25.9, a finish that should fill Doug with confidence as his ultimate goal is the Pan American Games in October of this year.

“But she was exceptional, really. Couldn’t have given more and couldn’t have tried harder,” he said.

Boyd Martin and Fedarman B. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Defending champions Boyd Martin and the Annie Goodwin Syndicate’s Fedarman B conceded a back-to-back win, but for Boyd this event is still just as sweet as Annie’s family and friends line the fences to watch their boy “Bruno” in his hometown. The 13-year-old KWPN gelding (Eurocommerce Washington – Paulien B, by Fedor) was just two seconds slow on an otherwise picture perfect performance.

“It’s bittersweet obviously. Annie’s parents and the friends and family of Annie Goodwin are in this area, and a lot of connections to Bruno, people that used to work for Annie, there’s a lady here that helped start him off as a three-year-old, and all these people that were connected to this horse and to Annie. I think they love to come to this event and cheer Bruno on, and it’s just, for me, an honor and privilege to ride Bruno. I really feel like we’re starting to gel, I’m very, very proud to ride him and continue all of Annie’s work. In years to come, he has the opportunity to be a championship horse, and what a fantastic honor it would be to just keep going the way we are now, sort of like a living memento for all of Annie’s work. It’s a real privilege,” Boyd reflected.

Phillip Dutton and Z. Photo by Shelby Allen.

The veteran partnership of Phillip Dutton and Z held on to their fourth-place position. The 15-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Asca Z – Bellabouche, by Babouche VH Gehucht Z) saw only three added seconds across Saturday’s boiled-down cross country challenge.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver. Photo by Shelby Allen.

In addition to winning, Liz also took home a slightly smaller check for fifth place aboard Cooley Quicksilver. The Monster Partnership’s 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Womanizer – Kylemore Crystal, by Creggan Diamond) joined his stablemate “Mickey” as only the second horse to manage the time allowed, finishing on his dressage score of 27.9.

Will Faudree and Pfun. Photo by Shelby Allen.

The 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tadmus – Celerina, by Cento) Pfun was just a second too slow, but his placing was unaffected as he and Will Faudree stayed sixth. Will also earned the Annie Goodman Sportsmanship Award this weekend, as voted on by his fellow competitors.

Phillip Dutton and Azure. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Seventh place went to the exciting new partnership of Phillip Dutton and Azure. The 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (Omar – Cavalier Roselier, by Cavalier Royal), owned by Anne Moran, Caroline Moran and Michael Moran, rose to the atmosphere and occasion, considering this is her first outing of the year, and we can guess that there will be more where that came from.

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Boyd was again in the top ten with Tsetserleg finishing eighth on a score of 32.6. Despite this type of tight, twisting track not suiting “Thomas,” the 16-year-old Trakehner gelding (Windfall II – Thabana, by Buddenbrock) owned by Christine, Thomas and Tommie Turner, was just four seconds down according to the official watch.

Sara Kozumplik and Rubens D’ysieux. Photo by Shelby Allen.

The crowd’s hearts were in their throats for a brief moment as Rubens D’ysieux’s fancy footwork got him and Sara Kozumpik out of a bind at the bounce, and for that the pair earned ninth place (32.8).

Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Sydney Elliott had a smile plastered on her face after a clear round with QC Diamantaire. Carol Stephen’s 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Diarado – Lantana, by Sandro Hit) rounded out the top ten on a result of 35.9.

William Fox-Pitt and Vincent Chase. Photo by Shelby Allen.

This year’s competition mostly determined by the clock, with very few jump penalties seen across the 22 cross country starters. One victim to a refusal was William Fox-Pitt with Heather Gillette’s Vincent Chase. The 11-year-old ex-racehorse seemed to misunderstand when William asked for the direct approach at the angled brushes. But, William tactfully represented for the long route and Vinny looked all the better for it by the course’s end.

Shannon Lilley and Ideal HX. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Other special awards went to Shannon Lilley as the top rookie with Ideal HX, Amanda Beale Clement as the Top Young Rider with Carlson 119, and Campground as the High Point Thoroughbred with Erin Kanara.

Thanks for following along with us, EN! We can’t wait to see you at the next one.

GPE at Bruce’s Field: GPE Website, EN’s Form Guide, Live Scores, Team Scores, Facility Map, H&C+ Livestream, Ride for Charity Public Vote, EN’s Coverage

Fast & Furious Live Updates from #GPE2023

By on Mar 4, 2023 12:20 pm -

Fences 21 and 22, the Banksia Bank and the Battle of Aiken Cannon. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Welcome one and all to our first live updates of the 2023 season! EN is delighted to be bringing you all the action from the $50,000 Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services, and it looks like we’re in for a very exciting finish today.

29 pairs will leave the start box this afternoon and for maximum excitement, they’ll be running in reverse order of standing. The top 5 are separated by 10 seconds of time penalties, so it’s likely the winner will be determined by who can ride the swiftest and the smoothest over this twisty-turny 4 minute, 16 second track. Our leaders, Doug Payne and Starr Witness, have only one second in hand over Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C, currently sitting in second place. Hot on their heels and are last year’s champions Boyd Martin and Federman B sitting pretty in third.

Take a peek at the course right here and get some insight on the track from EN’s boots on the ground. The first horse leaves the start box at 12:30 p.m. EST. You can find all the info you need to follow along below in our collective of links and you can also watch along yourself via the live stream on H&C+ — you can subscribe or purchase a one-time pass to watch this event here. Otherwise, keep refreshing this page for down-to-the-minute updates and as many GIFs as I can muster.

GPE at Bruce’s Field: GPE Website, Entry List, Ride Times, Live Scores, Team Scores, XC Map, XC Order of Go, Facility Map, H&C+ Livestream, Ride for Charity Public Vote, EN’s Coverage

3:00 PM: What a day at the office for Liz Halliday-Sharp. She was the only rider today to make the time and she did it on not one, but two horses. She takes top honors aboard Miks Master C, who she’s only had the ride on for less than a year still, and also finishes fifth with Cooley Quicksilver. Here’s a look at your top 10. Thanks so much for following along with our live updates today. Stay tuned for a full report and photos coming along soon!

2:55 PM: It’s going to be Liz for the win! Doug didn’t leave anything to chance today, but Liz was simply too fast to catch. Doug stops the clock at 4 minutes, 21 seconds. That’s 5 seconds over the optimum time. It won’t give him the win, but he’ll hang on to second place.

2:53 PM: Whooooaaaa Doug has work for it through the angled one-stride!

2:52 PM: Doug gives Starr Witness a forward ride to fence 8.

2:51 PM: Alright, here we go. Doug and the Ginja Ninja are now on course. Can they do it?

2:50 PM: And she has! Liz and Miks Master C put the pressure on Doug Payne and Starr Witness. Doug will have to come home no more than a second over time to clinch the win.

2:50 PM: Well, the clock on the live stream hasn’t been working for the last few rounds, but judging by Liz’s reaction looking at her watch it looks like she’s done it!

2:48 PM: Just look at Miks Master C skip through the bank:

2:46 PM: Here’s Liz and the always fun to watch Miks Master C. Right from the get-go they have the crowd gasping at their gusto. This pair is going for the win!

2:44 PM: Ack! Two seconds over for Boyd and Bruno! What a ride, it’s hard to believe that round wasn’t quite fast enough. They’ll still keep their slot ahead of Phil and Z though, so they’ll finish the competition no worse than third.

2:41 PM: So far so good for Boyd and Bruno. Bruno has a huge stride, but what clever feet to be so nimble through the bounce:

2:39 PM: And now onto our top 3! Reining champs Boyd Martin and Federman B have left the start box.

2:39 PM: No, they’re over time! It was a fast-looking round, but Phil and Z collect 1.2 time faults. That still slots them into the clubhouse lead, however, over Liz and Cooley Quicksilver.

2:38 PM: This is looking good for Phil and Z, a very smooth ride so far. I’d expect nothing less from this seasoned pair, of course.

2:36 PM: Phillip Dutton and Z are now out on course and once again, Phil is wasting absolutely no time.

2:33 PM: Goldie really gives it his all through the keyhole and good thing Collen ducked! Also a good thing Colleen’s other mount, the over 17-hand Vermont didn’t jump it like that.

2:31 PM: Nooo! Goldie get’s a funny distance and pops over the Palmetto Golf Course, which doesn’t set them up well for the bounce. He doesn’t get his eye on it and puts on the breaks. Colleen brings the gelding around again for another try instead of taking the long route, and they make it through the bounce easily on the next try. Ah well, you win some and learn some!

2:28 PM: Ah, just one second over! That’ll put Will and Pfun in provisional second now. And Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye are next out on course.

2:26 PM: WFP is so complementary of Will and Pfun’s ride, which is so forward and light in the bridle: “He looks as if he could run about in a head collar,” says WFP.

2:23 PM: Just look at the expression on this horse’s face. He’s a total pro.

2:22 PM: Woods and Contendro come home safely and Will Faudree and Pfun head out on course next, riding a little out of order.

2:19 PM: Whoops, more problems for poor Woods. Contendro comes to a stop at the Battle of Aiken cannon, so they have to do a little improvising to continue the course.

2:18 PM: Uh oh, it looks like Woods dropped a rein in the first water and loses straightness to the next question, so he opts for the long route.

2:17 PM: Long spot alert! Contendro is looking eager as ever and leaves one out.

2:16 PM: Our next on course, Woods Baughman and C’est La Vie 135!

2:15 PM: So close! They cross the finish 2 second over. Sara will be so pleased with that ride though, as will William apparently! Don’t forget to hug your ponies, everybody:

2:13 PM: William says that he’s given Sara strict instructions not to pull on the reins and she’s doing a bang up job. She’s got a chance to catch the time!

2:12 PM: Whoa! Look at how catty Rubens is after getting a close distance to the bounce:

2:10 PM: It’s unicorn time! Sara Kozumplik and Rubens D’ysieux are sailing around and wasting no time. They get a nice forward ride through the first question on course.

2:07 PM: Boyd and Thomas don’t quite catch the time, unfortunately. They’re four seconds over so they collect 1.6 faults and they’ll slot into provisional third place behind Phillip and Azure. Of course, we’ll see Boyd on course again as well with Federman B.

2:04 PM: Boyd and Tsetserleg are now storming around the course, garnering huge cheers from the crowd at every turn.

2:02 PM: They’ve done it! Liz and Cooley Quicksilver come in three seconds inside the time! They’ll finish no worse that 5th place today and no Liz knows exactly what she needs to do aboard her next ride.

2:02 PM: Oop, Cooley Quicksilver slips a little in between the two arenas on their way to the last two fences. It doesn’t seem to have bothered him, but that’s something to watch as the riders later try to go faster.

1:59 PM: William Fox-Pitt joins Holly Hudspeth in the commentary box for this session. He said he likes the course, thought it was fair, and thinks the time should be gettable. Liz and Cooley Quicksilver are looking speedy!

1:57 PM: And we’re back! Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver kick off our final session. This pair actually sits in 5th place so they’re riding out of order since we’ll see Liz again as the second to last ride.

1:40 PM: Alright, we have a short break ahead of the top 10. Get yourself a little snack, pour yourself an afternoon cup of tea, and meet me right back here at 1:55 PM. Here are our clubhouse leaders after our first session:

1:39 PM: Ooh, so close! Phil and Azure nearly caught the time — they stop the clock just one second over, but they’re our fastest of the day so far.

1:37 PM: A funky distance for Azure at the Palmetto Golf Club, but no matter. They make that bounce look easy.

1:34 PM: That was a nice ride from Shannon! Ideal HX is another horse now on my watch list — he looked super. They collect 4.8 time penalties. Phillip Dutton and Azure are now out on course and it looks like Phil is flooring it.

1:301 PM: Something interesting: riders can choose to pick off fence 6, the only one on turf, off the left or the right lead. As we get further down in the order and the riders are trying to go faster, it might get interesting to see how tight this turn gets.

1:29 PM: We have two more horses to head out on course before we take a 20 minute break ahead of the top ten. Next out are Shannon Lilley and Ideal HX. Colleen and Vermont finish with 7.2 to add to their score.

1:26 PM: Our next pair on course are Colleen Loach and Vermont and they get an absolutely beautiful shot over the table to skinny, fences 7 and 8:

1:24 PM: Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire have turned in the second fasted round so far, collecting 2 time penalties. No one has caught the time yet.

1:22 PM: Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire, our next starters, look like they’ve been flying! I’ll be interested to their finishing time — Sydney looks like she’s going for it.

1:19 PM: Through the keyhole at the last fence for Doug and Camarillo, who pick up 14 time faults. We’ve also just gotten word that Doug has withdrawn Quantum Leap, so next time we’ll see him will be at the end of the day trying to clinch the title aboard Starr Witness.

1:17 PM: Doug Payne and his first and greenest ride of the day, Camarillo, join us next and are about halfway around the course. Doug gives this young horse a great ride through the bounce:

1:14 PM: Sarah and Mr. Cash finish about a minute over time, but Mr. Cash looks VERY pleased with himself. I’m sure Sarah will be very pleased as well to have had a nice spin around this course and give her horse a great experience.

1:12 PM: Here’s Sarah and Mr. Cash over the up-bank and the cannon, fences 21 and 22:

1:10 PM: Now on course: Sarah Kuhn and Mr. Cash van de Start. I’m not super familiar with this pair, but Mr. Cash looks like such a game guy. They seem to be making easy work fo the course so far and Mr. Cash’s ears are delightfully pricked.

1:07 PM: What a lovely ride William put on this horse — he’ll have gained a boatload of experience today and I bet Heather can’t wait to get back on him.

1:05 PM: Oh no! Vincent Chase just shies at the first element of the angled one-stride and runs out. There’s a lot to look at on the other side of that question. William picks him back up and they easily take the long route out.

1:04 PM: William takes the option at the Palmetto Golf Tees. Smart riding on a horse he’s only just gotten acquainted with!

1:02 PM: Amanda and Carson 119 complete their ride with 6.4 time faults and now William Fox-Pitt on his catch ride, Heather Gillette’s Vincent Chase, join us on course.

12:58 PM: And we’re back! Amanda Beale Clement and Carlson 119 are on course now. The H&C stream is giving such a great look at this massive John Deere Table, which is both fences 5 and 7:

12:53 PM: Erin and Campground have completed their ride with 10.0 time penalties and we’ll now have a 5 minute break in the action due to the withdrawal of Mary Bess Davis and Imperio Magic.

12:50 PM: There’s something so funny about seeing a horse jumping a tennis net. Erin is giving Campground a nice ride around and giving him plenty of opportunity to read the fences. Liz and Deniro’s score is in and they’ve picked up 4.4 time penalties.

12:47 PM: Liz and Deniro Z are home and we’re waiting on their score, while Erin Kanara and Campground, one of only two full Thoroughbreds in the field are out of the start box now.

12:43 PM: Kendall and Audacious are home with 11.6 time penalties, and now we have a very fast and experienced pair on course next: Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z who are sitting in 15th and riding out of order due to Liz’s standings.

12:40 PM: Kendall takes the long route at the angles brushes, making a circle and picking off the last element.

12:38 PM: Next out of the box are Kendal Lehari and Audacious. This is a bit of a luxury for live updates, as there’s only one horse on course at a time!

12:37 PM: Our pathfinders are home and 2 sends over time. That was a really first round of the dayQ

12:35 PM: Boing! Through the angled fences for Emily and the high-jumping Barry!

12:32 PM: And we’re off! Emily Hamel and Corvett are out on course!

12:30 PM: We’re nearly ready to start, but we do have a last minute withdrawal to report: Mary Bess Davis and Imperio Magic will not run XC.

12:20 PM: We’re 10 minutes away from the start! Our pathfinders today will be Emily Hamel and Corvett.

GPE at Bruce’s Field: GPE Website, Entry List, Ride Times, Live Scores, Team Scores, XC Map, XC Order of Go, Facility Map, H&C+ Livestream, Ride for Charity Public Vote, EN’s Coverage

Preview the $50,000 Grand-Prix Eventing Festival Cross Country Course

By on Mar 4, 2023 9:00 am -

The final fence, the Aiken Horse Park keyhole. Photo by Shelby Allen.

The 2023 $50,000 Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services is very much: same jumps, new vibe. With an entirely brand new area to run through, the Capt. Mark Phillips-designed track takes a new shape this year, while still utilizing the gorgeous Eric Bull-built cross country fences, each of which give a nod to the local area.

Take a peek at the CrossCountryApp fence-by-fence preview below (or click here to view in your browser).

The optimum time for the course is 4 minutes, 16 seconds. Historically, time isn’t easy to grab here — not surprising considering the go-kart track nature here. Riders will double back on several jumps, jumping in and out of five different arenas. The addition of a new arena to use this year reduces the amount of galloping on turf, which means the turns also come up that much quicker. Riders will need to be thinking on their feet if they want to have a shot at the time, saving time where they can but also making sure to give their horses enough time to reach each question.

Photo by Shelby Allen.

Photo by Shelby Allen.

Several related distance questions are placed around the course, including an exciting-looking bounce at 11 and 12 (there is an option, and the elements are numbered separately), as well as a severe angle and one stride between the two Bruce’s Field brushes. Riders also have the option to jump fence 6, the only fence located out on the turf, in either direction as they turn around and head back toward the arenas.

Fence 6, the Savannah River Site, can be jumped in either direction as it’s used as a change of direction point. Photo by Shelby Allen.

A total of 23 combinations will move forward to tomorrow’s cross country following Friday’s show jumping that saw seven pairs opted to withdraw and three pairs given Compulsory Retirements for having five or more rails down.

This fence will have tennis balls filling the base! Eyes up, everyone! Photo by Shelby Allen.

Cross country begins at 12:30 p.m. EST, and will be run in reverse order of standing to lead to an exciting event finish. You can view the order of go here. As always, H&C+ will carry the live stream — you can subscribe or purchase a one-time pass to watch this event here. Abby Powell will also be running live updates during cross country right here on EN.

GPE at Bruce’s Field: GPE Website, Entry List, Ride Times, Live Scores, Team Scores, XC Map, XC Order of Go, Facility Map, H&C+ Livestream, Ride for Charity Public Vote, EN’s Coverage

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Mar 4, 2023 12:01 am -

Here at Eventing Nation we always have (and always will) preach the importance of minding your melon and wearing a helmet while riding. But until I heard Brianna Noble share her experience of being turned away from sitting on her horse for her lack of helmet, I admit I was shamefully ignorant of the issue that Black equestrians face when trying to reconcile a desire to wear their hair naturally with the right to wear properly fitted safety gear. It’s another obstacle that Black riders face in participating in equestrian sport and a privilege to have never experienced an issue in finding a well-fitted helmet.

Along with recent advances in increasing transparency around helmet safety and price (I see you Virginia Tech Helmet Lab), let’s also hope — and work towards making it a reality — that the industry will also take a look at the problem of inclusivity and figure out a way to ensure that riders with all hair types can find a brain bucket that will suit their safety needs and style.

If you read one thing today make it this New York Times article, which interviews numerous riders as well as helmet manufacturers. It’s heartening to see a large mainstream media outlet drawing attention to the issue. Some of the companies’ replies to the reporter’s inquries are alright (Charles Owen is reportedly working on “several solutions”) while others are actually appalling. Safety should be inclusive. Period.

U.S. Weekend Action

$50,000 Grand-Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Entries] [Tickets] [Live Stream] [Scores] [Volunteer] [EN’s Coverage]

Full Gallop Farm March Wednesday H.T. (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Rocking Horse Winter III H.T (Altoona, FL): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Sporting Days Farm March H.T. II (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Twin Rivers Winter H.T. (Paso Robles, CA): [Website] [Volunteer] [Entries / Ride Times / Scoring]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Temple Grandin teams with Australian expert on landmark equine study

Bullet Journaling for Equestrians

Sally Cousins: Work Has Never Been More Fun For This Horsewoman

Polyester halters require special attention when disinfecting after strangles

The A-Team of 2022 Bates USEA Mare of the Year Lady Chatterley and Leslie Law

Sponsor Corner: We are drooling over these Sergio Grasso boots from World Equestrian Brands. The bling! The elegance! The style! *swoon*

Morning Viewing: Just some quick highlights from yesterday’s Grand Prix Eventing show jumping We can’t wait for cross country today!

Doug Payne Stays Atop $50,000 Grand-Prix Eventing Festival After Influential Show Jumping

By on Mar 3, 2023 7:31 pm -

One comes down, but a first place position stands for Doug Payne and Starr Witness. Photo by Shelby Allen.

For those of us in the crowd who cannot do math in our heads (ahem, me) the last few show jumping rounds of the $50,000 Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services, made the leaderboard a little murky. The magic figure eight ball of eventing could’ve read “reply hazy, try again.” For all the mathematicians in the room, it was a quick reshuffling of the final order.

Riding earlier in the second group, fifth-placed Liz Halliday-Sharp already had two down with former winner Deniro Z. Phillip Dutton, who went fifth from the end, bettered his odds aboard Z with a double clear round which pushed him to the top five. Fourth-placed Buck Davidson saw four come down for Carlevo, dropping him from the hunt. All looked well for Miks Master C, a newer ride for Liz Halliday-Sharp, but Liz tactfully rode to control the horse’s massive stride and ended up two seconds over the time.

Boyd Martin then only had to beat himself, as he already delivered a faultless round with Fedarman B, but Tsetserleg saw two rails drop.

Starr Witness shows off her careful scope across Michel Vaillancourt’s show jumping track. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Then finally, the crowd let out a collective groan when the pole above the water tray toppled for dressage winners Doug Payne and Starr Witness. Fortunately, Doug has an engineering degree, so once he finished within the time he knew he had kept himself in the leading position.

“She’s just getting a lot more comfortable at the level, and clearly stronger every day through what would have been more difficult aspects of the course in the past. She was very, very good through the whole triple bar to the triple line. Got a little unlucky, I think, with my rail, but it’s all good,” he said.

Doug is primarily an event rider, but has spent increasing amounts of time in the pure show jumping world. “The level of carefulness and scope is certainly different, but the margin for error at the FEI levels jumping is very, very small. Honestly, it’d be the same on a horse after a long cross country, the margin is quite small. Getting practice and being more comfortable, both in a charged environment with a lot on the line, and certainly the consequences of mistakes when they’re bigger is a little bit greater, so there’s just pressure to make yourself get better, and you can’t help but get better if you’re in the ring a bunch. We’re lucky enough that, over the winter, I was showing probably nine horses at jumper shows.”

The 12-year-old KWPN mare (Chello III VDL – Carmen, by Veneur), who is owned by Laurie McRee, Catherine Winter and Doug Payne, now sits on 23.9 points ahead of the final phase.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Two-time GPE winner Liz Halliday-Sharp will be our penultimate rider tomorrow, sitting in second place with Debbie Palmer and Ocala Horse Properties’ 11-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Mighty Magic – Qui Luma CBF, by Flyinge Quite Easy 958).

“He’s just got this giant stride, and actually I a little bit rode the horse that I used to have, and he’s so much more trained and polite now. He used to be, if I’d let him loose early on, he would just bucked off with me. Actually, I added too much into fence 2, when I could have just gone 1 to 2, and that would have taken care of my time, but I was thinking, ‘I don’t want to let him loose here because then I’ll be screwed.’ But actually, I should just ride the horse I have now because he’s actually wonderfully polite, much more adjustable and just a very different horse,” Liz said.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver were the first pair of the afternoon to achieve a double clear round. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Her two-phase score of 24.6 give Doug just one second of breathing room on tomorrow’s cross country, and there’s no way she’ll let him have the win easily.

Liz has got not one, but two in the top five. The Monster Partnership’s Cooley Quicksilver laid down a classy clear to keep the 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Womanizer – Kylemore Crystal, by Creggan Diamond) on 27.9

Defending champions Boyd Martin and Fedarman B make a podium bid. Photo by Shelby Allen.

They are joined in the top three by the event’s most recent winners, Boyd Martin and Fedarman B, a 13-year-old KWPN gelding (Eurocommerce Washington – Paulien B, by Fedor) owned by the Annie Goodwin Syndicate. This pair remain on their dressage score of 25.6.

“Yeah he’s a legend, mate. I want to touch some wood, but he’s never had a pole down in a show yet, he’s a phenomenal jumper. Thrilled to be back here in Aiken in front of all of Annie’s family and friends and the syndicate,” Boyd said.

Phillip Dutton and Z move into fourth. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Phillip Dutton, who was awarded the key to the city of Aiken in 2020, holds fourth place with his Tokyo and World Equestrian Games partner Z. The 15-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Asca Z – Bellabouche, by Babouche VH Gehucht Z), owned by Evie Dutton, Ann Jones, Suzanne Lacy, Caroline Moran, Tom Tierney, Patricia Vos and David Vos, are on 26.3 — just six seconds away from our leader.

Will Faudree and Pfun. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Riding for Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables, Will Faudree jumped from 12th to 6th with a clear round after this influential phase aboard Pfun, a 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tadmus – Celerina, by Cento).

Colleen Loach was awarded the Richard Picken Style Award. She and FE Golden Eye delivered a classy clear round. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Colleen Loach has leaned into pure show jumping in the last year, and her Grand Prix practice paid off today after FE Golden Eye breezed around Michel Vaillancourt’s track. For her efforts, she was awarded the Richard Picken Style Award. The 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Goldfever 3 – Cascade, by Contendro I), who is owned by Peter Barry, Amanda Bernhard and Colleen, sits seventh on 28.6.

“Last summer when I ended up not going to the WEG, there were a bunch of show jumping shows around in Ontario and I didn’t really want to event him, so I started doing some smaller Grand Prix, and he actually won a few of them. It’s great practice, great education as an event rider,” she said. “[The atmosphere] is pretty similar — maybe even a bit more nerve wracking. We did our first 1.50m a few weeks ago, and it looked quite large walking the course I must admit.”

Of course, jumping an Advanced show jumping track must feel smaller in comparison, but as Colleen says, “you still have to ride well.”

Woods Baughman and C’est La Vie 135. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Woods Baughman leapt ten spots up the leaderboard with his and his parent’s C’est La Vie 135, a 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Contendro I – Anette, by Aarking xx). Their score of 30 in the dressage will carry forward to the final phase.
Of the 30 starters, 13 jumped clear today (39.4%). Seven pairs have already elected to withdraw and not run cross country: Lillian Heard Wood with both LCC Barnaby & Dassett Olympus, Boyd Martin & Luke 140, Ryan Wood & Cooley Flight, Buck Davidson & Carlevo, Will Faudree & Mama’s Magic Way, and Doug Payne & Quantum Leap.

Running under USEF rules meant that any competitors who had five or more rails faced compulsory retirement and will not be permitted to continue. Three pairs saw their weekend end under the rule: Colleen Rutledge & Covert Rights, Dan Kreitl & Carmango, and Buck Davidson & Erroll Gobey.

The 29 remaining entries face Sir Mark Phillip’s cross country test tomorrow. Keep your eyes peeled for a guided tour with EN tomorrow. The first horse leaves the start box at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, and you can watch it all on Horse & Country.

GPE at Bruce’s Field: GPE Website, EN’s Form Guide, Entry List, Ride Times, Live Scores, Team Scores, Facility Map, H&C+ Livestream, Ride for Charity Public Vote, EN’s Coverage

Starr Witness Dazzles 2023 Grand-Prix Eventing Dressage at Bruce’s Field

By on Mar 3, 2023 1:25 pm -

How’s a sub-20 sound for superstar Starr Witness? Something tells me she’s probably pretty pleased with herself. Photo by Shelby Allen.

The old adage, “saved the best for last,” was certainly true in the dressage session at the 2023 $50,000 Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services. The final combination, Doug Payne and Starr Witness, laid down a 19.9 for the first-phase lead.

The Ground Jury of Bea di Grazia and Andrew Bennie rewarded the 12-year-old KWPN mare (Chello III VDL – Carmen, by Veneur) for her flashy, correct movements with the pair securing a perfect 10 (!) for the first flying change. Though not an FEI sanctioned competition, this is the mare’s best ever score across her International career.

“She’s a horse that, the more you throw at her, the better she is, so if you kind of just dance around kind of placated, if that’s the right word, she just starts looking, her attention is drawn everywhere else and she’s gonna find something to be engaged with. So what we’ve found is actually the more we ask of her, the better she is,” Doug said. “Actually, our goal this year is to do our first Grand Prix dressage with her. She’s got pretty much everything, she’s got the ones, twos, got the piaffe and passage pretty good. The pirouettes are coming, that’s probably the hardest thing, but that’s been a huge, huge help because we keep throwing stuff at her and she just sort of raises to the expectations.”

Boyd Martin is looking for a third win here this weekend Aiken, this time aboard Tsetserleg. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Though they have a healthy leg up on the competition, Doug doesn’t have a rail in hand, and defending champion Boyd Martin is sure to keep the pressure on with his Tokyo and FEI World Championships partner Tsetserleg TSF. The 16-year-old Trakehner gelding (Windfall II – Thabana, by Buddenbrock), owned by Christine, Thomas and Tommie Turner, is second on a 23. Boyd credits his wife, Silva, and Bettina Hoy, for the inspiration on the flat.

“I was thrilled with him, he’s a champion horse. I’m very grateful to the German Federation, to send over Bettina Hoy to join Silva to warm us up, and yeah he felt like a dream, and fired up for this afternoon and tomorrow,” he said.

Liz Halliday-Sharp’s newest partner, Miks Master C gave a stunning effort in the first phase at Bruce’s Field. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Liz Halliday-Sharp moved into third place with her final ride of the day, Miks Master C. Owned in partnership between Debbie Palmer and Ocala Horse Properties, the 11-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Mighty Magic – Qui Luma CBF, by Flyinge Quite Easy 958) earned a score of 23.8.

This is not just an individual competition, though, as riders have been split into six teams, each representing a charitable organization. After dressage, Team Purple is at the top of the pile. Boyd Martin, with Tsetserleg and Fedarman B, Sarah Khun and Ryan Wood are riding for the Tri-Development Center of Aiken County.

Much more to come from Bruce’s Field today, folks. The show jumping kicks off at 3 p.m. and competitors will come in reverse order of standing. You can watch it all live with our friends at Horse & Country at this link. Until we get started, enjoy a gallery from all the top competitors here in Aiken.

GPE at Bruce’s Field: GPE Website, Entry List, Show Jumping Order of Go, Ride Times, Live Scores, Team Scores, Facility Map, H&C+ Livestream, Ride for Charity Public Vote

 

Friday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

By on Mar 3, 2023 12:03 am -

More derp from horses! Photo by Jim Fiorini.

I don’t want to jinx it, but I think we escaped the winter without too much pain and suffering caused by ice and snow? My attitude towards winter is always supreme skepticism, and I assume that good weather in December will result in my punishment in February, and I never trust it. However, this year in Virginia was extremely mild, and the grass is already happily blooming. I’m now convinced that karma will catch up to me in June with the worst bug season thus far.

U.S. Weekend Preview

$50,000 Grand-Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Entries] [Tickets] [Live Stream] [Scores] [Volunteer] [EN’s Coverage]

Full Gallop Farm March Wednesday H.T. (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Rocking Horse Winter III H.T (Altoona, FL): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Sporting Days Farm March H.T. II (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Twin Rivers Winter H.T. (Paso Robles, CA): [Website] [Volunteer] [Entries / Ride Times / Scoring]

News From Around the Globe:

British Equestrian has released a unified concussion guideline for use within the equestrian industry. The six-page guidance document aims to help participants to recognise concussion and know what actions to take, both in the immediate aftermath and during recovery. The guidelines have been produced in response to the action plan published by the UK Government in December 2021 to address concussion in sport to help reduce risks and potential long-term effects associated with head injuries, which Eventing is certainly familiar with. [View Concussion Guidelines Here]

As One Racing Stables has launched the first diverse and inclusive racing partnership! The group will race under the As One Racing banner and has acquired its first equine athlete to promote the group’s mission and vision. As One Racing was formed by a group of six like-minded individuals with a desire to grow the sport by broadening its base and bringing new faces to the industry. Turning to history, the group recognized the need for the African American community that had once been a vital part of the industry to be welcomed back. The group’s founders and management committee reflect its vision– a diverse group of individuals working together to compete at the highest level while carrying out a vision and mission of promoting diversity and inclusion. [Diversity Efforts in Thoroughbred Racing]

Best of Blogs: Top Five Things That Improved My Plus-Sized Riding Life

If you want to look towards classical training, Klaus Balkenhol is a good place to start. It was back in 2005 and the Rolkur debate was in full swing with heated accusations flowing. Klaus Balkenhol is a man of few words, but then again, they say that actions speak louder than words and this writer was lucky to witness one of the most telling contributions to the debate about the right – and wrong – way to work a horse when Klaus Balkenhol gave a training demonstration for a group of Italian Hanoverian breeders. He brought out the exciting young stallion, His Highness, with his stable rider, Stefan Wolff, in the saddle, and proceeded to give a demonstration of just how beautiful the correct way of working can be. [Correct Way to Train]

My dream….

Thursday Video: Gridwork for the Green Horse

By on Mar 2, 2023 7:02 pm -

I’ve gotten a big rush of the pre-season thirst for education this week, and so you’ve probably noticed a theme to my video picks: most of them are training tips that’ll help you get your horse into the swing of things to come as we tackle March. More specifically, I’ve been watching a lot of videos tailored to the inexperienced horse, many of whom will find their workload starting to step up a notch in intensity and technicality this month. Today’s video comes from Heidi Woodhead of DHI Sport Horses, who has some great gridwork tips to help you set yourself up for success this weekend. Happy riding!