Classic Eventing Nation

The Trip of a Lifetime: Help Team Canada En Route to the Pan Ams (and On to Paris!)

By on Sep 28, 2023 10:28 am -

Mike Winter and El Mundo represent Team Canada in Pratoni. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

As we creep towards the end of the season, all eyes are on the Pan American Games, which will take place at the tail end of October in Santiago, Chile — and will, most crucially, provide the final two qualification routes for next year’s Paris Olympics.

Team Canada’s certainly got their end goal in site: one of those tickets to France, and a return to Olympic contention as a team. With that in mind, they’re coming in hot with fundraising for the Canadian High Performance Programme’s trip to Chile and all the requisite training, with a seriously cool auction, full of some brilliant lots that we’d quite like to get our grubby little mitts on.

Lots are currently being added, and the auction will begin on Friday, September 29 (that’s tomorrow!) and will close next Friday, October 6. Check them out as they come in here, get registered to bid, and if you want to donate directly to Canada’s eventing team, contact Emily Gilbert.

 

Thursday News & Notes Presented by Morven Park

By on Sep 28, 2023 12:03 am -

Introducing Koa Martin! Photo courtesy of Boyd.

Introducing the newest member of the feral herd Martin family: Koa Brooks Martin! The warrior princess that is Silva delivered a healthy little lad this week, adding to her collection of boys. I can only imagine what kind of hairy little pony awaits him in the near future. Tiny hairy ponies sent straight from the devil himself are a rite of passage for children born into horsey families, and with his adrenaline junkie bloodlines, I think he will be up for the challenge.

U.S. Weekend Preview

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Major International Events

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

News From Around the Globe:

A new Fear Free veterinary curriculum shows promise for the safety and happiness of all participants in veterinary appointments. The Fear Free online curriculum aims to educate veterinary and pet professionals, animal welfare communities, and pet owners about how to correctly interact with animals to cause them the least amount of stress, anxiety and potential trauma. A Fear Free-specific appointment enables a horse owner and certified veterinarian to work together to help animals become familiar with a veterinarian and how they handle them, thereby helping increase the animal’s comfort levels and reduce their anxiety when interacting with vets. The appointments are also a time in which owners and veterinarians collaborate on ways the owner can work with their animals at home to further reduce their stress during future, hopefully safer, veterinary appointments. [Fear Free Training is Creating Happier Horses]

Sponsor Corner

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.

Hot on Horse Nation: Hands & Dumb Metaphors

Do you ever have a full ride just focused on the walk? Think back on your daily rides. When was the last time you spent time really working at the walk? Feeling your horse’s body, asking them to carry themselves at the walk for an extended period of time rather than just a loose rein, 5-10 minute warm up? Truth be told, depending on a horse’s schedule for the week, my schooling rides are sometimes a solid 30 minutes of walking. While that might sound boring, there’s a whole array of things you can do at the walk to really evaluate where your horse is at in their fitness. [In Defense of the Working Walk Ride]

Best of Blogs: The Joy of the ‘Happiest Show on Earth’

Plenty of eventers will be gracing the Dixon Oval with their presence this weekend, but only for fancy prancing. Dressage at Devon is a long standing tradition that we’ve only recently started to invade, so make sure you know everything about how to keep your finger on the pulse. [What You Need to Know: Dressage at Devon]

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Designing for the Stars

By on Sep 27, 2023 5:00 pm -

No matter where in the world you’re from, if you’re a certified Horse Girl™ (a term I think of as being resolutely gender non-specific, actually), you’ve got the same weird and wonderful blood in your veins that unites you with our global herd. For 13-year-old Juna, home is Slovenia — but her love for horses and equestrian sport has already taken her far. She won the FEI’s My Dream Jump art challenge when her design was chosen for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final in Omaha, setting into motion a seriously cool adventure that threw her into the heart of the action and the orbit of her idols. Follow along with her journey, and find out how she came up with her winning idea, in this short feature. Keep on doing great things, Juna – we’d love to see you design a cross-country fence next!

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.

How Eventing Breaks is Making Bucket Lists More Possible

By on Sep 27, 2023 2:30 pm -

One perk of attending a major event with Eventing Breaks? Exclusive private course walks! Photo courtesy of Eventing Breaks.

I have it in the back of my mind that I’ll one day make it to every single CCI5* event there is. I’ve got quite a lot of work to do, as to date I’ve only managed to make it to the two North American events (Kentucky and Maryland).

Most recently, I had hoped to make my first trip to Burghley this year. In anticipation of this – and because I’m like any millennial girl and I like to plan trips I may or may not take and can probably not afford as a steady hobby – I started to pull up the logistical details about what a trip to England might look like.

Now, I’m a pretty seasoned traveler, but not internationally. Despite the security blanket that is EN’s UK and European editor, Tilly Berendt, I felt myself getting a bit overwhelmed at the idea of trekking to Burghley on my own.

Here’s where an idea like Eventing Breaks really fits the bill.

Let me back up just a bit. Building on the success of UK-based Racing Breaks, which has offered up all-inclusive travel packages to premier races such as Royal Ascot, The Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup to around 20,000 people each year, a subsidiary was born.

Eventing Breaks aims to offer the same type of hassle-free travel experience to eventing enthusiasts but with some unique add ons. Yes, they’ll organize all the basics like flights, airport transport, where to stay, or how to get tickets to a major event like Badminton, Burghley, or even the Olympics but they also provide some pretty cool add-ons. Like drinks with William Fox-Pitt at Badminton in his lakeside pavilion before a course-walk. At Burghley, the group enjoyed a post-xc drinks party at The English Pink Rose Co. Eventing Breaks wants to make the sport of eventing easier than ever to experience.

Back to my travel anxiety. To compare my stress levels planning a trip solo versus with the help of an Eventing Breaks experience, I did some digging into the details.

Cocktails for all at Badminton! Photo courtesy of Eventing Breaks.

While each travel package offers slightly different experiences, here’s a look at what trips Eventing Breaks is offering in 2024 (can I sign up for all of them please?):

Kentucky CCI5*
You can experience Kentucky like never before with an Eventing Breaks experience. Included in your package are everything from lodging, admission and reserved seating, a private course walk, daily transfers to and from the event, and much more. Your literal only job would be to shop as much as possible and take in the competition – sounds pretty ideal!

Badminton CCI5*
Same deal, different continent. You’ll get the high treatment as an Eventing Breaks guest at Badminton, and this is ideal for those who’ve not experienced this event before and/or who stress at the thought of international travel. They are also including a breakfast preview on Cross Country day so you can beat the traffic and get into the event early. Flights can be included so you don’t have to think about your travel plans from the moment you depart to the moment you arrive home.

Paris Olympic Games
Yes, that’s right – I said the Olympics! The hottest ticket is available through Eventing Breaks. You can secure guaranteed tickets and prime hotel lodging with the Paris 2024 package and with those in the bag you can Emily in Paris your way all the way from the Eiffel Tower to the Palace of Versailles.

Just one of the hotels on the roster for Eventing Breaks’ trips, the Francis Hotel at Badminton. Photo courtesy of Eventing Breaks.

You can also reserve spots in the trips heading to France for the WBFSH FEI World Young Horse Breeding Championships and to England for Burghley later in the year.

Eventing Breaks is always working on adding new experiences for their travelers. The idea of getting a better price than I can find myself one cost, logistics handled, and an insider’s view of a global event is appealing and makes the thought of making it to these special events feel that much more realistic.

But don’t take my word for it! Here are a few quotes from travelers who took part in the Eventing Breaks trip to Burghley at the end of August:

“Everything was great for our trip to Burghley. Our group got on really well and the dinner together on Saturday night was really fun. The grandstand tickets were very good. My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip and will book other excursions in the future.”

”Walking the course with Willian Fox-Pitt was amazing. Thanks for organizing everything, it was very helpful for a first time Badminton experience coming from abroad.”

“Well done team, it was a very challenging Badminton with the rain and mud and all aspects were dealt with very professionally, will definitely book again!”

Riders such as William Fox-Pitt, who led the Eventing Breaks course walk at Badminton Burghley, agree. “Eventing has been crying out for a more immersive experience for fans,” he said. “And Eventing Breaks are providing just that through their exciting packages. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know some of Eventing Breaks’ guests at Badminton when hosting a course walk and hospitality at the Fox-Pitt Lakeside Pavilion. More opportunities for fans to meet the stars of the sport and to make events more accessible by providing the best value travel and accommodation options all in one place.”

Spots for 2024 experiences are booking now, so don’t wait! You can learn more about Eventing Breaks and start planning your next getaway here. Maybe I’ll see you there!

Photo courtesy of Eventing Breaks.

Level Up As a Groom with the BGA’s Pro Groom School

By on Sep 27, 2023 11:30 am -

Lucy Katan and BGA ambassador and pro groom Jackie Potts.

We’re huge fans of the British Grooms Association, which fights for representation and workers’ rights for grooms, but also provides educational opportunities to help both aspiring and career grooms gain new knowledge and sharpen their skills.

Now, with that goal in mind, they’re introducing the Pro Groom School, an exciting one-day seminar featuring some of the best in the biz and, undoubtedly, no shortage of seriously useful tips, tricks, and life advice along the way. It’s set to take place on October 23 at Stallion AI Services in Whitchurch, with programmes running from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m., inclusive of lunch and refreshments.

So what can you expect from your day with the BGA? First of all, access to some of the world’s best grooms. You’ll be learning from Alan Davies, best known for his partnership with dressage superstars Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin; FEI award winner Jackie Potts, who’s been the lynchpin of William Fox-Pitt’s career, as well as grooming for Japan’s Kazuma Tomoto; and Jenny Ellis, who’s worked for a number of top showjumpers and dressage riders in her tenure as a British team stalwart.

They’ll be leading a number of talks and Q&A sessions covering a huge swathe of topics, from what to expect from life on the road as a competition groom, how to stay abreast of FEI rules, tips for top turnout, how to manage travelling horses, anti-doping best practice, and much, much more, with break-out sessions allowing you to focus on your areas of particular interest. These include, but aren’t limited to, equine massage, spotting health issues early, and more. Expect plenty of useful knowledge, but also some hilarious insights into some of the (truly mad) experiences these three powerhouses have had in their storied careers.

Here’s the timeline for the day:

9.30 Welcome to Pro Groom School
10.00 Practical demos with Alan, Jackie and Jenny
12.00 Anti-doping with FEI Vet Paul Thomason
12.30 Lunch Break
13.15 Travelling Horses Internationally
13.45 More practical demos with Alan, Jackie and Jenny
15.15 A focus on you — life as a top groom
15.45 The real truth with Jackie, Alan and Jenny

Tickets are available — though a limited number remain, so move fast! — for £70 and can be purchased here. You don’t have to be a BGA member to take part, though we do absolutely recommend joining if you’re working as a groom, and particularly as a freelancer. Their tailored insurance policies will protect you from loss of income if you’re rendered unable to work, and will provide you with coverage in case of injury. Speaking as a former freelancer myself, my BGA policy made me feel much more secure in my work — particularly with badly-behaved dressage stallions. Knowing I was protected in case one of them decided to use me as a human punching bag was a huge relief. You can find out more about the different membership options the BGA offers here — they begin at just £5 per month, so it’s a no-brainer, really.

Want to extend your Pro Grooms School experience? The BGA team is taking up residence at the Premier Inn, Shrewsbury North (Harmer Hill) Hotel on October 22, and is extending an invitation for any attendee of the PGS to join them for dinner at the hotel. It’s a great chance to pick their brains and network with fellow grooms in a friendly, low-key environment — and we reckon it’ll be a great laugh, too.

The Race to Le Lion: Gina Set to Receive 2023 Holekamp/Turner Grant

By on Sep 27, 2023 9:30 am -

Chris Talley and Gina. Photo courtesy of USEA/Meagan DeLisle.

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is pleased to announce that Gina, owned by Corwin Sport Horses, LLC, is the likely recipient of the 2023 Holekamp/Turner Grant and The Dutta Corp. prize. Gina (Gentleman x Ballerina) is a 7-year-old Hanoverian mare ridden by Chris Talley and was bred by Hartwig Von Holten in Germany. The pair aims to represent the U.S. at the 2023 FEI Eventing World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in the 7-year-old CCIYH3*-L Championship. The Championship will take place at La Mondial du Lion in Le Lion d’Angers, France, from Oct. 19-22, 2023.

The intention of the Holekamp/Turner Grant is to further develop an upward pathway for U.S. team horses in the sport of eventing. The grant recipients who are North American-bred are awarded the full cash grant of $17,500. If the winner is an imported horse, he/she will be awarded $8,000. Since Gina was imported, her team will be awarded $8,000USD. The team will also receive The Dutta Corp. prize which is one round-trip flight to Europe. The grant will be officially awarded after Gina passes the first horse inspection at the Championship in France.

Chris Talley runs his business in partnership with Hannah Salazar, owner of Zarazoga Acres. He describes the partnership as having a great team synergy who balance each other’s strengths and weaknesses. “It takes a village,” Talley said of the operation, and noted that Talley found Gina in partnership with Salazar, and one of Salazar’s loyal supporters and owners, Joan Allen.

“I have an unhealthy obsession of searching for horses online,” Talley admitted. “I go through sales ads night and day, and I stumbled upon Gina. She was at a barn in Germany, and we all [Salazar, Allen and Talley] watched her video of her at the walk, trot and canter, and then as soon as we saw her free jump down one line, it was enough to make us call and setup a vetting. This was during COVID at the end of 2020, so getting to Europe was hard to go try her in person, so we actually purchased her off the video.”

Allen owns Corwin Sport Horses, LLC, and Talley said the team feels like a family. “Joan Allen is incredible, and the most supportive owner that you could have. I absolutely adore her. We make all decisions with the best interest of the horse in mind, and she is always supportive of Hannah and I trying new things with the horses, whether it be shipping off to a dressage show, or trying something different. It can be long days, but it’s incredibly rewarding.”

The horse that has the highest score from the 2021 USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) 5-year-old Championships that is also qualified to compete in the 7-year-old Championship receives the Holekamp/Turner Grant. This is the first year in the history of the grant that the overall Champion from the YEH Championships will be the recipient of the grant. Gina won the Dutta Corp. USEA YEH East Coast Championships on an impressive 95.2, topping all scores from both the East and West Coast Championships.

If the highest-scoring YEH horse from the 2021 YEH Championships does not qualify or is unable to attend, the grant is then awarded to the next highest scorer who is qualified and able to go. For Talley, he has three fully qualified horses for La Mondial du Lion, and plans to bring two of them. Gina will compete under the Holekamp/Turner Grant after acceptance at the first horse inspection, and Talley also plans to compete his own Loughtown Cici ZA (CC Captain Clover x Castlelawn Diamond Clover), who placed in the top 20 nationwide at the 2021 USEA YEH Championships. As a backup, Talley has Lynn Berry’s Rappahannock (Rosenthal x Sunny Dey) prepared, who placed in the top 15 nationwide in 2021 and is also fully qualified for the 7-year-old Championship in France.

“I’ve heard [La Mondial du Lion] has a big atmosphere, but I think for these two horses I’m bringing, especially Gina, they like the atmosphere,” explained Talley. “[Gina] went with Hannah to Dressage at Devon [Devon, Pennsylvania], and rose to the occasion, and then won the 5-year-old YEH Championship at the Maryland 5 Star. I put a lot of pressure behind it, and with the addition of the atmosphere at Maryland, she shined under that pressure. I just need to keep my own nerves under wrap in France.

“We’ve been working all three of these horses since they were 4 years old with the goal of getting to this point,” he added. “You set out on these journeys to achieve something, and sometimes it doesn’t happen, but to have three in the grass ready to go, it’s just surreal,” stated Talley.

Wednesday News & Notes from Ocala Horse Properties

By on Sep 27, 2023 12:01 am -

Tilly’s been sharing Elisa Wallace’s vlogs from her Mustang Magic Makeover series with you, and I’m with her in loving following along with the journey of Dior, the mustang mare who’s the star of this year’s program. Although I’m not immune to drooling over the awesomeness of 5* event horses, I’m actually a total sucker for the gutsy little guys. It’s the best thing about having stayed the size of a small teenager – getting to ride feisty ponies who have no qualms in doing whatever the hell they want, when they want, eliciting curse words and giggles in equal measure as they’re just too damn cute to be cross with.

Whatever your choice of equine pal, go eventing!

U.S. Weekend Preview

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Major International Events

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

Wednesday News and Reading

It’s all going on this Friday at Osberton Horse Trials in the UK. In support of Riders Minds , the bespoke online mental health and wellbeing resource for equestrians, there will be a quiz, cocktails and a Robbie Williams tribute act, so if you’re headed that way, make sure you dress the part in something purple and help raise awareness and funds for this important initiative. [A Good Cause to Party]

Social license is on the agenda at the International Conference of Horseracing Authorities next week. As well as discussing racing in an evolving society and strategies for a proactive response to public expectation, there will be an update on the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority in the US, including anti-doping and medication control measures and current affairs in racing in America. Equine welfare will obviously be a hot topic, and The Jockey Club UK will share insights into effective resolution and communication. The conference takes place on October 2nd and there will be a live stream and replay available on the IFHA (International Federation of Horseracing Authorities) website. [Racing’s Agenda]

And now a happy tale of a little OTTB who’s switched out the track for the trail, with some buffalo thrown in for good measure. “Hot tamale” ‘Shorty’ struggled to find a new purpose after an injury put paid to her racing career, but then Bridget Hollern came along looking for a prospect for the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover Western disciplines and Shorty’s new life on the ranch began. [From Track to Trail]

It’s retirement for the big red wall at Washington D.C. International. The Puissance wall may have evolved in terms of safety, with clear ground lines and ultra-lightweight blocks replacing the, frankly terrifying behemoth from yesteryear, but increasingly it’s becoming redundant in the modern sport of show jumping, with few entries due to the specialist nature of the class. Although its draw as a spectator sport can’t be denied, top show jumpers like McLain Ward acknowledge that “it was a great class” but “it’s not what the challenge of the sport is today”. [It’s Farewell to a Show Jumping Spectacle]

Camels, cats, horses, donkeys, dogs, monkeys, and even a turtle or two. The Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust are on call 24/7, facing unique challenges and a mountain of day-to-day responsibilities as they take care of Gambia’s equines (and other animals). [Every life matters at the Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust]

And finally, dressage makes it into the mainstream. I was perusing the lifestyle pages the other morning when I spotted this list of perks of getting on a bit based on things you become better at as the years go by. And yes, randomly, mixed in with activities such as ultramarathons, chess and bedroom shenanigans, dressage has made the cut. Apparently, dressage excellence is most likely to be reached in your 50s, so if you’re still struggling with circles, and are sub-50 (in age, not dressage score), you now have a very good excuse. [Aging to (Dressage) Perfection]

Sponsor Corner

This property is all about the numbers…

🌳 27.5 acres
🚶‍♀️ 10 miles from WEC
🐴 24 stalls
🌾 6 paddocks
🏠 2 bedroom guest home
🚗 2 RV hookups

Explore 8801 NW 137th Ave, Morriston in this reel from Ocala Horse Properties!

Video Break

As we eagerly anticipate next year’s Olympics, let’s take a look at the history of horses at the venue for the equestrian events, the Château de Versailles.

Tuesday Video: Michael Jung’s Dad Olympics

By on Sep 26, 2023 2:30 pm -

Somehow, today’s video seems to need very little in terms of introduction. We all know Michael Jung as a German Olympic and World Champion — but did he just win the Eventing Dad Olympics, too?

We think Boyd may have something to say about this, but hey, what else are hot-walkers for?

Click here if the embedded Instagram post below does not display in your browser.

Coming This Week: Your Guide to Stable View Oktoberfest

By on Sep 26, 2023 12:00 pm -

Doug Payne and Camarillo. Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.

We’re fully into the fall season now as we look ahead to the remaining major FEI events on the calendar for 2023. A few big events are yet to come, not the least including Morven Park’s CCI4*-L, the MARS Maryland 5 Star, Boekelo’s Nations Cup, the Pan American Games, and Pau’s CCI5* all in October. To that end, we’ll see a strong contingent of competitors at this weekend’s Stable View Oktoberfest, always a key highlight on an eventer’s fall schedule.

Of course, Oktoberfest does not solely fun a 4*-S. In fact this year, Stable View has partnered with the USEA to offer an all-new USEF/USEA Eventing Developing Horse National Championships for 6- and 7-year-olds. This program is intended to bolster the development pipeline and provide a pathway step for horses graduating from Young Event Horse (4- and 5-year-olds) competition, or who may have missed out on those competitions for one reason or another.

“The 6-year-old and 7-year-old Championships are new for 2023 and are the first step in the creation of a USEF Developing Horse Program, which has the ultimate goal of talent identification, cultivation, and guidance for potential team horses, serving as a pipeline for the USEA Young Event Horse Program and Championships,” a press release from the USEA states.

Stable View will also host riders at National levels, with divisions ranging from Beginner Novice through Advanced also running this weekend. That means we’ll see over 400 entries all said and done, and we can’t wait to get this party started! EN’s team of Shelby Allen and Veronica Green-Gott will be your eyes on the ground, also representing Stable View by running press operations.

Here’s a look at what to expect this weekend, whether you’re competing or spectating or following from afar:

Tailgaiting and a car show? A real neighborhood event at Stable View! Photo by Christine Quinn.

THE SCHEDULE

Competition begins first thing on Friday with the 4* dressage. For those who will be on site on Thursday, be sure to stop in for a free Yoga and Sound Bath session led by Mark and Rohena Armstrong. Stop by the Stable View Pavilion on the top floor Thursday at 3 p.m. to get all limbered and centered for the weekend ahead.

Intermediate, 3*, and 4* pairs will also show jump on Friday. Also happening Friday at 7 p.m. will be a celebration for course designer Capt. Mark Phillips, who has designed at Stable View since its inception.

Saturday will feature a Classic Car Show by Aiken Horsepower as well as cross country for the top levels, while the other do their dressage and show jumping. There will also be a special edition of Stable View’s famous Graze & Gaze at the Pavilion featuring a mechanical bull from 5-7 p.m.

On Sunday, the National lower levels will finish up their competition, with the upper level and FEI winners crowned on Saturday. To stay up to date with any and all schedule changes and on-site alerts, please subscribe to the event WhatsApp chat here.

Karl Slezak and Hot Bobo. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

THE ENTRIES

26 horses and riders are currently entered in the headlining CCI4*-S division at Stable View Oktoberfest. It’s a varied roster, with several pairs putting the final touches on for the upcoming Pan American Games or their respective 4*-L and 5* destinations this fall. We’ll also see a handful of horses making their early starts at this level to gain experience and mileage alongside Olympic and 5* veterans.

Lucienne Bellissimo will bring forward her two top rides, each aiming for the 4*-L at Morven Park (October 12-15). Both 11, Dyri and Tremanton have each collected a few competitive placings at this level, and while Lucienne’s focus will be on the larger goal of Morven Park, this track will be useful as a set-up and a fine-tune of the gears ahead of the final major stop on her calendar.

Mary Bess Davis has made a remarkable comeback after suffering a neck injury in a fall at Carolina International this spring. After spending just five months out of competition, Mary Bess returned in August and now brings forward her Advanced partner, Imperio Magic, for their first run at the level since finishing 10th at Carolina. No word yet on where Mary Bess is aiming this fall, but she’s coming off a strong Advanced run at The Fork at Tryon and should be coming into this weekend looking to pick up where she left off this spring.

Phillip Dutton and Azure. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Phillip Dutton is aiming for as many unique 5* runs as possible with the very experienced Z, using Oktoberfest as a prep ahead of Pau at the end of October. Meanwhile, stablemate Azure is aiming for her 5* debut at MARS Maryland 5 Star just before he hops over to France next month. Z has had much success at this venue in the past, winning Oktoberfest’s 4* in 2019 and finishing second in the spring edition in 2021. Azure has some competitive results to her name this year, too, including a win in the 4*-L at Bromont this spring.

Chile-bound Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire are putting the final touches on their training ahead of their championship team debut at the end of October. The U.S. team’s final outing will be at Loch Moy (MD) at the start of October. Sydney and “Q” certainly know each other like the back of hand and hoof at this point in their partnership and should be looking for a strong run that will inject loads of confidence ahead of their Pan Ams trip.

Savannah “Woodge” Fulton’s Cash Point is in the earlier stages of his Advanced career and is showing much promise as he gains more experience. This will be Cash Point’s fourth start at the Advanced/4* level, most recently finishing sixth in his first 4* at Great Meadow last month. This is a horse Woodge has been excited about and producing since the outset of his career, and this pair is among at the 3*-L Championship at Maryland 5 Star in October to cap off their 2023 season.

Emily Hamel and Corvett. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Looking for the highest jumping powerhouse in the field? Look no further than Corvett, the fan-favorite partner of Emily Hamel, who this season has moved her base to Aiken, SC. Emily spent time abroad last year, competing at both Badminton and Burghley with her horse of a lifetime. She’s back in the States full-time now and aiming for an incredible sixth CCI5* start with “Barry” at Maryland next month.

Christina Henriksen and JTH Zest are looking to get their mojo flowing this weekend after a somewhat rocky beginning to their season. This is a pair who’s been partnered together for many years, collecting multiple competitive placings in FEI competition but then experiencing some growing pains as they moved into the Advanced rankings. It’s no task for the faint of heart and certainly one for the determined, and Christina will be tackling this weekend seeking a strong finish that gives both her and her British mare a boost for their fall goals.

Another relative newcomer to the Advanced/4* level is Calcourt Valley, partnered with Michelle Koppin. Calcourt Valley has been Michelle’s top horse, becoming her first 4* horse this year with a top-15 finish in their debut at The Fork earlier this month. This second run at the level will be all about experience for this pair.

Also based in Aiken full-time is the always stylish Sarah Kuhn, who brings forward Mr. Cash van de Start for one of his final preps ahead of an exciting 5* debut at MARS Maryland 5 Star. To be honest, my biggest question for Sarah is whether or not she’s begun planning her Maryland jog outfit and what the over-under is that it will include animal print. But also, this is a partnership that’s spent much time preparing for this next step, and while Mr. Cash van de Start can display some exuberance in the first phase, he’s become a consummate competitor for Sarah and should put in a reliable performance this weekend.

Leah Lang-Gluscic and AP Prime. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Who can relate to the story of the humble off-track Thoroughbred sold for under $1000? Most of us, am I right? That’s the gist of how Leah Lang-Gluscic came to know one AP Prime, who at 18 years young this season seems to be in the, well, prime of life tackling Advanced and Short-format competition as if it were tadpole level. AP was one of the only horses to make the tough optimum time at AEC in Kentucky last month and stands to repeat the feat this weekend. Leah will be looking to be competitive here with her old friend, relishing every moment on cross country in this “enjoy it” era with a once-in-a-lifetime horse.

After trekking overseas to compete at the Nations Cup leg at Strzegom earlier this year, Andrew McConnon now brings the 11-year-old Ferrie’s Cello back out for his fall campaign. This pair was in the top 15 at the USEA Advanced Final at AEC last month and now eyes a long-awaited 5* debut at Maryland. They were initially entered for the Kentucky 5* this spring but a minor setback forced their withdrawal and re-route.

Based at Stable View in the winter months, Brazil’s Nilson Moreira da Silva will bring forward the 8-year-old Irish gelding Elmo for a debut at the 4* level this weekend. Also prepping for the Pan American Games, Nilson’s had a bit of a gap between Advanced horses, having moved on from Rock Phantom (now piloted by Sara Kozumplik) and former rides Magnum’s Martini and Muggle. Elmo now stands to be his next top partner, and though they had a frustrating Technical Elimination in their first Advanced together at Chatt Hills, they’ll be heading into this weekend with a clean slate looking to put some valuable mileage under this young horse’s girth.

Another 8-year-old features next on our roster — it’s a true weekend for the pipeline, eh? — in Alex O’Neal‘s Redtail Penumbra. This will be this pair’s second Advanced competition together, having finished second in the Advanced at Chatt Hills earlier this month most recently. They also debuted at the 4* level earlier this summer at Ocala, finishing 13th with some green moments in the jumping phases. A fun fact: Redtail Penumbra is a product of Alex and Ellie O’Neal’s breeding program — a true reward to produce a homebred to this level (and hopefully beyond!).

Doug Payne and Quantum Leap. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Doug Payne is next up, bringing forward three strong options in seasoned campaigner Quantum Leap, the gutsy stallion Quiberon, and the not-so-feral-anymore Camarillo. This is a very different set of horses with three unique styles of going, but I’m sure Doug wouldn’t have it any other way as he seems to like keeping things exciting (I’m not sure why else anyone would choose to fly teeny tiny airplanes for fun). I know Quantum Leap is aiming for the Maryland 5 Star — no word yet on the fall plans for Quiberon and Camarillo, but Doug can typically be counted on to be competitive at these Short formats and will be looking to test the gears on all of his horses ahead of their fall destination events.

This weekend marks the third Advanced/4* start for Canada’s Waylon Roberts and OKE Ruby R, who is 10 this year. While they would sadly incur a Compulsory Retirement in their first 4* at The Fork earlier this month, they’ve otherwise had a pretty steady climb to this level, finishing in the top 10 at Bromont’s CCI3*-L this spring. Show jumping would be the phase Waylon would, on paper at least, want to tighten up — but in this early stage when a horse is still getting her bearings at this more technical level, experience and positive outings are what matters the most.

Pour me a Hot Bobo, the #supermare is back and feeling spicy! Canada’s Karl Slezak has been tapped for the Pan American Games squad next month — ever important as Canada still seeks Olympic qualification for 2024 — with Lexington 4*-S winner Hot Bobo. This event will then serve as a prep to ensure everything is in working order ahead of their big trip to the Southern Hemisphere. Should they decide to go fast(ish) on cross country Saturday, this pair could be a big threat to take the prize here at Oktoberfest.

Melanie Smith and Shakedown Street. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Melanie Smith and Shakedown Street have several competitions at this level under their belts now, most recently completing the Lexington 4*-S this spring. This pair has won at this venue in the past, taking the Advanced win at Stable View’s Summer H.T. last June. This will be this pair’s toughest competition since Kentucky, but that 4* is notoriously tricky and has hence been nicknamed a “5*-Short” in jest, making it an excellent preparation for those hoping to continue on or eventually step up to the 5* level.

Allison Springer & Business Ben. Photo by Abby Powell.

Allison Springer has spent some time building up a strong string of top horses in the wake of the retirement of the beloved Arthur, and this year she’s got Business Ben back in action as well as the cheeky Vandyke stepping up to Advanced and 4* competition. This first 4* back for Business Ben will likely be more of a feel it out run as the 13-year-old gelding gears back up at the top levels after sitting out the 2022 season. Allison’s brought him sensibly back, most recently running the 3*-S at Great Meadow in August. Vandyke is enjoying his first full season at this level, collecting multiple top-15 placings as he aims for his first 4*-L at Morven Park next month.

Briggs Surratt begins to round out the 4*-S roster with the tiny-but-mighty Corture (who, fun fact, was actually bred by Elisa Wallace). This weekend marks the third 4*-S start for Couture; most recently, she was 15th at The Fork at Tryon. As with many of their counterparts this week, Briggs and Corture will likely be prioritizing experience gained over competitiveness as they look to confirm themselves at this top level of sport.

Elisa Wallace and Renkum Corsair. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Elisa Wallace is our final competitor this weekend, bringing forward Renkum Corsair, who won the 3*-L National Championship at Maryland 5 Star in 2022. The pair got their fall preps underway at The Fork last weekend, finishing ninth in the 4*-S. Renkum Corsair is still relatively new to this level, but he stands to be competitive if that’s Elisa’s goal for the weekend. We don’t yet see him on any 4*-L entries for this fall, so Elisa will either be aiming the gelding for the final 4*-L at TerraNova in November or will use this week to make her final decision on a fall designation.

There is no live stream of competition this weekend, so you’ll want to keep an eye right here on EN for all the latest starting Friday. Stay tuned for much, much more coming your way from Aiken. Go Eventing!

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Thrills Await as 17 Nations Gallop into 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou

By on Sep 26, 2023 9:30 am -

Anush Agarwalla of India riding Etro practices ahead of the equestrian competition during the 19th Asian Games on September 24, 2023, in Hangzhou, China.
Copyright ©FEI/Yong Teck Lim

The countdown has begun for the much-anticipated 19th Asian Games, set to start this week, promising a spectacular showcase of equestrian excellence.

17 National Federations – China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan are sending over 100 skilled athletes and horses to compete in a prestigious event that holds immense significance for equestrian sports across the Asian continent.

Returning Champions and New Hopefuls

Equestrian sports made their grand debut at the Asian Games in 1982, during the New Delhi Games where the team and individual Eventing and individual Jumping categories were introduced, with team Jumping and team and individual Dressage being added to the lineup at the succeeding 1986 Asian Games held in Seoul, South Korea.

The last edition of the Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang in 2018 saw Hong Kong’s Jacqueline Siu clinching the gold in the individual Dressage competition with her gelding, Jockey Club Fuerst on Tour. She’s gearing up for another stellar performance, this time with her trusty partner, Jockey Club Huittharien, an 11-year-old mare currently ranked 76th in the FEI Dressage World Rankings. Siu, based in Oxfordshire, UK, hones her skills under the tutelage of Dressage legend Carl Hester from Great Britain.

Japan emerged victorious in the team Dressage category during the previous Asian Games, but this year, an entirely new Japanese team is heading to Hangzhou. The individual Eventing title was claimed by Japan’s Yoshiaki Oiwa on Bart L JRA, with the Japanese team also securing team gold. A key member of the winning squad in 2018, Kenta Hiranaga, is back again in Hangzhou on his gelding, Duke of Sussex.

In individual Jumping, Kuwait’s Ali Al Khorafi clinched the gold in 2018 and is back looking for more glory, this time riding the 10-year-old gelding, I, by Dantos. Saudi Arabia secured the gold in the team Jumping category at the same Games, and now has two riders from the previous winning team – Abdullah Sharbatly and Ramzy Al Duhami – returning to compete on different horses.

Four Nations, Three Disciplines

China, Hong Kong, India, and Japan are poised to bring the heat, each fielding teams in all three equestrian disciplines – Dressage, Eventing, and Jumping. The Eventing competition, in particular, boasts five teams battling it out across the three phases, while the Jumping competition sees a robust lineup of 12 teams, with 10 teams vying for victory in Dressage.

The Unpredictable Quest for Gold

With such a wealth of top Asian equestrian talent at this year’s Games, the medallists could be anyone’s guess. In the individual Dressage category, Korea has traditionally dominated, with riders like Suh Jung-Kyun, Choi Jun-Sang, and Hwang Young Shik securing two gold medals each since the discipline’s inception at the Games. Korea has also displayed stellar teamwork, clinching multiple gold medals in team Dressage over the years.

In the Eventing category, individual gold medalists have hailed from various countries, with Japan boasting four gold medals in the last eight Games, including a double win by Yoshiaki Oiwa. Japan also achieved the same feat in team Eventing.

When it comes to Jumping, again, Japan has shone the brightest in the individual events since the Games’ inception. However, the Saudi Arabian team has exhibited remarkable consistency over the past four years, capturing gold in 2006 (Doha), 2010 (Guangzhou), and 2018 (Jakarta-Palembang), plus silver in 2014 (Incheon).

Action-Packed Schedule

The equestrian action kicks off with Dressage at 15:00 local time on September 25, featuring the first horse inspection. The Prix St Georges test for both team and individual competitions will take place the following day at the Tonglu Equestrian Centre, with team medals being awarded.

September 27 sees the Individual Intermediate I competition followed by the second horse inspection and the Intermediate I Freestyle the next day to determine individual medallists.

The Eventing unfolds with the first horse inspection on 29 September at 08:00 local time, followed by the Dressage events for team and individual competitors the following day. Sunday 1, October sees the cross country phase kicking off at 08:00, with the second horse inspection, Jumping phase and medal ceremony for both teams and individuals on Monday 2, October.

Jumping enthusiasts can mark their calendars for October 3 when the first horse inspection launches the competition. The real showdown begins on October 4, with individuals facing two intense qualifier rounds and the teams battling it out in their first and final jumping rounds, culminating in a riveting team final.

The equestrian festivities conclude on Friday October 6 following the second horse inspection the day prior, with the individual competitions and medals at stake.

One thing is certain – the 19th Asian Games will deliver an incredible spectacle, featuring fierce competition, fresh faces, and seasoned contenders partnered with some of the finest equine athletes from across Asia.