Ride On Video put together a great video highlighting the award winners from the Area VI award winners. Area VI gives out awards for categories such as Rider of the Year, Horse of the Year and divisional awards. There are even breed awards for the highest scoring Irish horse, Thoroughbred, pony and many more. You can check out a list of all awards given out on the Area VI website here, and keep checking back for an updated list of 2014 winners.
Congratulations to all Area VI award winners. We can’t wait to see more in 2015!
Buck Davidson and Petite Flower at Rocking Horse last year. Photo by Ivegotyourpicture.com.
The Intermediate divisions at Rocking Horse Winter I Horse Trials wrapped up earlier this afternoon, with Marilyn Little and RF Quarterman and Buck Davidson and Petite Flower winning the Open Intermediate divisions.
In Open Intermediate A, RF Quarterman, a 7-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Raylyn Farms, sat in second place after both dressage and show jumping and moved up to take the win on 25.6 after jumping double clear on cross country. “Fitty” placed third in the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International CCI2* to end his season last fall.
Ballynoe Castle RM finished in second on 30.8, picking up just 3.2 time penalties on cross country to add to his dressage score. The Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Carl and Cassie Segal, is 15 this year, and Buck said in December that he and the Segals have no expectations for “Reggie” at this point in his career. They’re letting him call the shots.
Buck Davidson and Petite Flower won the Open Intermediate-B division, adding just .8 cross country time penalties to their dressage score to finish on 22.3. “Flower,” a 12-year-old Thoroughbred mare owned by Sherrie Martin, is gearing up to compete in the Wellington Eventing Showcase at the end of the month, along with her barnmate Reggie.
Leslie Law took a top finish in this division too with Tout de Suite, an 8-year-old British Sport Horse gelding owned by Beatrice Rey-Herme, picking up 2.8 time penalties on cross country to finish second on 23.5. “Colby,” who we profiled last year on EN’s Got Talent, is another horse Leslie has said he’s very excited about.
Joe Meyer and Sanskrit, a 16-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, round out the top three on 31.6, adding six cross country time penalties. Joe told us earlier this month that he’s aiming for Rolex with Sanskrit.
Jessica Schultz finished on her dressage score of 28.9 with Lock N’ Load, a 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding she owns, to win the Intermediate Rider division.
Eventing 25 rider Bailey Moran and Loughnatousa Caislean, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Small Fortune Farms, finished in second place on 36.9 in their final preparation event before their planned move up to Advanced at Rocking Horse Winter II Horse Trials on Valentine’s Day weekend.
Nicole Doolittle and Tops, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding she owns, round out the top three in the Intermediate rider division, adding 5.2 time penalties on cross to finish on a final score of 38.5.
The other divisions are still rolling along at Rocking Horse, so be sure to click here to follow along with the live scores. I think I speak for all of us when I say it’s so nice to have the season underway. Go Eventing!
The Retired Racehorse Project just announced that entries are open for the 2015 Thoroughbred Makeover competition, so what better time to find yourself a new project to prepare? There is a total of $100,000 up for grabs! The competition will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park from Oct. 23-25, and any Thoroughbred with a Jockey Club tattoo that raced or was trained to race in the last two years and has not yet begun second career training can be entered. Here’s a few options for your Makeover horse. Happy shopping!
Photo via PTHA.
If face markings are a selling point, then this girl has a great one! Yacantmakethisup (Gold Fever – Difficult Times, by Honour and Glory) is a 16.2 hand, 2009 mare who last raced on Dec. 29. She raced a total of 12 times, earning just over $3,500. She’s available for sale through the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association.
Our second selection this week is Dance World, a real war horse available for adoption through New Vocations. This guy raced 86 times from 2006 until September of 2014 and was even ranked #53 by wins in 2013 and 77th in 2009. He brought home earnings totaling about $120,000, so he’s earned himself a good new home. Dance World (Atticus – La Musette, by Bounding Basque) is a 2004 model standing 15.2 hands and enjoys having a job rather than just hanging out in a pasture. He’s said to have a real workmanlike attitude, which should translate well into his retraining.
Click here to see Dance World’s ad on New Vocations.
Photo via the Retired Racehorse Project.
Last up this week is Secret Bobbie, who is listed with the Retired Racehorse Project via Racehorse2Sporthorse LLC. Secret Bobbie (Sea of Secrets – H.E.’s Girl, by Turkoman) is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and only raced four times without showing any promise. She last raced on Jan. 17 and is said to be suitable for any discipline. She’s a 2010 model standing 16 hands.
Bramham isa new targeted competition for U.S. eventing, held the week after Bromont on June 11-14. David O’Connor explained in his sessions with the High Performance riders at last month’s USEA Convention that he wants riders to get used to jumping in muddy conditions in front of large crowds, and Bramham’s atmosphere provides that.
The big, bold Ian Stark track combined with the high caliber field of horses and riders Bramham regularly attracts attracts makes it an ideal event for “getting off the island,” David said. “It’s not to make you feel uncomfortable just for the sake of making you uncomfortable. It’s doing it to build confidence and knowing you can beat it.”
Since 2004, which is as far back as BDWP tracks full Bramham results, only three Americans have competed in the CCI3*, with just one finishing it. Cindy Rawson accomplished that in 2004 aboard The Gatecrasher, finishing 13th. Americans have fared much better in the Under 25 CCI3*, with Will Coleman and Fox-In-Flight winning it in 2003, the year after Zara Phillips won with Toytown.
Jennie Brannigan and Cooper placed 14th in the Under 25 CCI3* in 2009, and Jules Stiller finished 18th with Mr Ramsay in 2007. Bramham also runs a CIC3* at this event, though the USEF grant can only be used for the CCI3*.
William Fox-Pitt has won the Bramham CCI3* an incredible eight times, including twice in 2012 and 2013 with his 2014 World Equestrian Games individual bronze medal partner Chilli Morning. It’s also notable that our new USEF Developing Rider Coach Leslie Law won it in 1999 aboard Shear H20, his team silver medallist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
While David said in the High Performance sessions at the USEA Convention that he wanted to avoid Saumur and Pau this year — in part due to the variation in footing at these tracks and in part because our riders have now seen a number of Pierre Michelet courses — Saumur is once again on the 2015 spring grants list.
All spring grant applications are due March 15 and can be access on the USEF website by clicking here.
Marc Rigouts is the new coach of the Belgian eventing team after the Belgian Equestrian Federation (FRBSE) decided not to renew Capt. Mark Phillips’ contract at the end of 2014, the federation announced in a press release.
FRBSE completed a “detailed analysis” of its High Performance eventing program following the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, as Belgium did not complete a team and is not qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
“After assessing the actions taken for WEG and after consultation with the riders of high performance sport in this Olympic discipline, the steering committee of the FRBSE decided to stop working with the current coach, Mark Phillips,” FRBSE said.
Belgium must now qualify for the 2016 Olympics at this year’s European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle in September, and FRBSE has made it clear that this is Marc’s top priority in his new role as team coach.
Marc has a wealth of experience both in and out of the saddle, having competed for Belgium most recently at the 2012 London Olympic Games, as well as coached the team at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. He also coached the Dutch eventing team in 1993 and 1994.
“His many skills such as experience, technical knowledge, accessibility, availability, communication skills, sense of the horse and his affinity with the world of eventing in Belgium made him the ideal candidate,” FRBSE said.
There have been no official announcements as to what’s next for Capt. Phillips after his parting of ways with the Belgian team. He will be in Wellington this coming week as the course designer for the new $50,000 Wellington Eventing Showcase.
This time last year, Charlottesville was covered in snow for weeks already. Mercifully, this winter seems to be going much better, with reasonable temperatures and mostly unfrozen ground! I remember last year when I returned to Virginia to prepare for the Carolina International CIC3* (at the end of March) and it snowed so much in the week leading up to it that I was relegated to trotting Nyls on a section of dirt road about 50 feet long that didn’t have ice. Up, down, up, down, up, down. Yesterday, Leo was napping in the sun without a blanket! He was asleep when I went to take his blanket off, and when I attempted to pull it out from under him, he groaned, refused to move, and decided to make funny faces at me. I mean, really. What is his life?!
Congratulations to Cayleigh Winkelhake, the winner of this week’s Fab Freebie from Bette & Court! Cayleigh will receive a Bette & Court Devona jacket, which we know she is going to love. Congratulations, Cayleigh! [Fab Freebie: Bette & Court]
U.S. dressage rider Adrienne Lyle has announced the retirement of her longtime partner, Wizard. As well as being the 2008 Brentina Cup champions, the pair represented the U.S. at the 2012 London Olympic Games and the 2014 Normandy World Equestrian Games. Wizard is 16, and unfortunately he recently came in from turnout with a suspensory strain, and rather than push him for rehab, his owners and Adrienne made the decision to retire him happily after a successful career. [Wizard Retires]
The USEA’s “Evaluation of the Young Event Horse Prospect” Symposium is FREE for USEA members. Taking place in Ocala, Florida February 16-18, this educational event is ideal for anyone interested in breeding, handling, buying, riding and evaluating young event horses. A full schedule will be available the week before the seminar to those who pre-register. [Schedule of Topics] [Panelists] [Sign Up]
In quite possibly the most hilarious clinic report I’ve ever read, Wendy Angel reports from a recent Doug Payne clinic. She introduces her “12-year-old Percheron/TB cross with the TB hiding, he’s always on the forehand, I’m a weenie, we need more from behind, OH AND SOMETIMES HE DOESN’T TURN.” Ollie, as he is fondly known, has some naughty habits that Doug helped her with, and Wendy has the best sense of humor about it all. [In Which Doug Payne Kicks Ollie’s Ass]
I’m not sure I’m brave enough to go hunting in Ireland, but I’d love to go hunting in England. One day! Recently, Pytchley Hunt did something awesome: they had a “grey horses only” day! 72 horses were in attendance, all different shades of grey, and all immaculately turned out! I would have loved to see that. I also wonder if the town ran out of purple shampoo that week….Horse & Hound was there to take pictures. [Greys Only Hunt]
Custom leather bracelets have got to be the most classic horse girl accessory. What I didn’t realize is that you can now get them padded with different colors underneath, to match your cross country colors! I remember being super jealous of the girls that had them when I was younger, and it’s no different now. They are classy, awesome, and you can wear them everywhere. [SmartPak Padded Leather Bracelets]
Do you know what is in your horse's bedding? Creative Commons Photo
There is just something about a freshly bedded stall that makes you feel a sense of accomplishment. After carefully and meticulously mucking, adding some nice new bedding just adds a finishing touch. I personally use pine pelleted bedding, and I just love the “pine fresh” aroma that the stalls get once I toss a fresh bag into each of them.
Interestingly enough, I tend to notice that the stalls are just a little more tidy on days right after I add fresh bedding into them. I don’t know if the horses are a little more settled because they can tell that their stalls are extra clean, or maybe they just like the “pine fresh” aroma like I do — I call it stall-a-therapy.
Have you ever stopped to consider what is in your horse’s bedding? How can you be sure that it is safe for your horse? Head over to Equus to check out some advice from Dr. Jim Latham, DVM on what types of bedding materials should be avoided, as well as tips on how to make sure to pick out suitable stall bedding for your horse. Check out what he has to say here.
And then read up on some of the other headlines from this week in horse health news, presented by Absorbine:
Are you Crash Ready? While no one wants to plan for something bad to happen, it can be helpful to plan ahead in case the unexpected strikes. Have you ever thought about what you would do if you were involved in an accident while trailering your horses? Consider having a plan in place in case a collision does happen, and you can also take steps to try to avoid one in the first place. [The Horse]
Keep Ammonia Away: Increased stall time during the winter months means that you are inevitably spending more time keeping your horse’s stall clean. While keeping manure piles picked is the most obvious order of business, it is also important to tidy up wet spots. Urine spots produce ammonia, which must be addressed to keep your horse’s environment healthy. Check out some tips for keeping ammonia under control. [Horse Channel]
Why is Hydration for Horses Important During Winter? Does your horse drink less when the weather turns cold? Check out this podcast by Dr. Nancy Loving in which she discusses the risks that horses face when they do not say hydrated during cold weather. [The Horse]
New Bone Repair Technique: A new technology for bone repair called HydroxyColl has recently been used in the jaw reconstruction surgery of a 2-year-old racehorse. The techonology is actually a combination of collagen and hydroxyapatite, which functions by acting as a bone graft substitute, allowing tissue to regenerate in an area. [Horsetalk]
Rutgers Horse Management Seminar: A seminar has been scheduled on the topic of “Grazing Rewards and Concerns: How and Why to Manage Your Pastures” on Feb. 8 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Rutgers Cook Campus Center. To obtain additional information, contact Carey Williams at [email protected]. [The Horse]
Doug Payne and Crown Talisman at Carolina International. Photo by Jenni Autry.
The Carolina International CIC Organizing Committee has scheduled two clinics this winter offering riders at all levels the unique opportunity to formally prepare for their upcoming competition season. These clinics materialized from the committee’s vision of offering riders in the region the opportunity to train and learn from Officials, Riders, Coaches and Course Designers with deep experience in the High Performance ranks of eventing.
Doug Payne, Will Faudree, Robert Costello, Robert Stevenson, Lizzie Snow and Marc Donovan are focusing not only on another year of outstanding competition at the 2015 Cloud Eleven Carolina International but also on leveraging their expertise with riders and local coaches on improving their overall competitive experience.
Specifically, this committee is seeking another way to give back to the eventing community in a cost effective, highly impactful format. From that vision, the idea of the Unlock Your Performance Clinics came to life.
These clinics represents a tremendous educational opportunity for all participants, their coaches and instructors as well as auditors to gain exposure from some of the best High Performance Eventing experts our country has to offer. Seldom do competitors have the chance to speak face to face with trainers, officials and competitors at this level and to receive a detailed explanation of both dressage judging and show jumping course design from the decision makers themselves.
Moreover, riders will also then be able to create a detailed plan for their horse on how to make the most of their competitive experience from some of the nations top riders and coaches. Nothing like this formally exists outside of the USEF High Performance Program, and it presents a tremendous opportunity for all who want to improve on their competition scores and outcomes.
This Carolina International Program offers the riders the chance to develop specific strategies to make the most of their weekends of competing. The focus will be on developing those strategies rather than basic riding techniques. “Through this program riders will gain knowledge of how the dressage and jumping tests appear from the judges perspective thereby supplementing how the performance seem to feel to the rider,” Will Faudree stated.
The Carolina International Organizing Committee hopes to grow these clinics in 2016 and ensure that, as professionals in the sport of eventing, we continue to give back to those that sustain and enjoy the sport.
The Unlock Your Performance clinics will be held at the Carolina Horse Park on January 27 and February 11. For more information on participating and auditing, please visit the clinic website here.
Tamie Smith and Matt Brown rode with Coach David O'Connor in the first USEF Eventing High Performance training sessions of the year last week at Tucalota Creek Ranch in Temecula, California. Read on as Tamie gives us a behind the scenes look at the training sessions.
Tamie Smith and Twizted Syster. Photo by Mackenna Shea.
It was an excellent week riding with U.S. Team Coach David O’Connor in the first High Performance training sessions of the year on the West Coast. I was nervous coming into these sessions, as this is my first time I’ve been put on an official “list.”
I have been listed on the Developing Rider program with Capt. Mark Phillips and ridden with David before; however to be one of those “listed” riders — this is the scary reality of being careful what you wish for. Are my horses going well enough? Are they going to be sound for the vet evaluations? What are my plans for 2015? Needless to say, I was a bit wound up preparing and wondering how it would be different this time I was a “listed rider.”
The vet evaluations — although I experienced them for the 2011 Pan American Game selection trials — there was a different feel, a different meaning behind them this time. Luckily, they went well, and they are behind us. Dr. Susan Johns was amazing and so open, and Dr. Emily Sandler, my veterinarian, was there to hold my hand. You just never know what you’re going to see when the ultrasound probe gets whipped out.
Now for the fun stuff: The lessons with David were incredible! He has a very good technique in explaining what he wants and putting the exact amount of pressure on the horses, who progress and improve by leaps and bounds daily. It is not every day that I just throw out compliments to trainers that I take a lesson from. There have been a handful that I can really say do their “magic”; David definitely did some magic this week, which is good, since he is “The Boss” for our eventing team.
Matt Brown and Happenstance. Photo by Cecily Brown.
The first day, I rode three horses with him. We worked on getting the horses moving with all of their parts — shoulders and hind legs, mostly on a circle. The lessons were very simple and back to basics.
David got on Twizted Syster, “Chloe,” and spent about 15 minutes figuring her out and what she needed. He was happy to feel what she felt like, as I think it was different from what he saw on the ground. I love that about David. He isn’t afraid to get on the horses and feel what is going on underneath you.
We worked mostly on stretching down and out to the contact in all three gaits. When I got back on her, she felt like a different horse. I could see subtle things he did to make her change, but they were very calculated and clear. His lessons were just the same — calculated, clear and fair. That is how horses learn.
Each day we had more progression, and by the end of the training sessions, we schooled cross country in a snaffle. If you saw what I ride her in cross country or if you have ever seen Twizted Syster run out over those solid jumps, you will understand what a huge accomplishment it was to be able to have the rideability in a snaffle.
The best part of training this past week was to be able to ride with David with multiple horses, as well as watch Matt Brown ride his horses. It makes you stop and focus on yourself and learn. I have found myself teaching his lessons, and when I rode with German eventing team coach Christopher Bartle this past weekend for the USEA ICP West Coast Symposium, it was an extension of all of David’s lessons.
The biggest thing I learned from David was that my aids needed to be very clear. He said this with his angry face. Oops! I quickly applied his tactic, and life became very easy.
Watching the Eventing 18 and Eventing 25 riders was also great and fun to see how new Developing Rider Coach Leslie Law will put his stamp on the up-and-comers. We had very talented riders in that session, and it was impressive to watch how disciplined they all were. (Click here to read Helen Bouscaren’s E25 recap and here to read Madison Temkin’s E18 recap.)
I have my homework to do and am working hard to be way beyond where I was when “The Boss” comes back next month.
Thank you to Joanie Morris and USEF High Performance for creating an amazing opportunity, and thank you to Alan and Kay Needle, the owners of Tucalota Creek Ranch and home of Next Level Eventing for providing a first class facility. Hosting the training sessions is an event in itself, and it makes me always appreciate our organizers that much more.
As the new semester kicks into full gear at universities around the country, Sue King has big goals for her young eventers at the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio. Brought in two years ago to oversee the formation of an eventing team in an already bustling equine program, Sue has enjoyed her time building a successful program with the unwavering support of the university.
“There was some interest in an eventing club before I got here,” Sue said. “So when I came in we just picked it right up and started holding practices once a week. It was a bit less structured because I just wanted to get it rolling.”
Findlay is home to the state of the art James L. Childs Junior Equestrian Complex, which houses approximately 300 horses and accommodates students who are riding as a part of the program or who are taking courses in Equestrian Studies. With the addition of the eventing program, the equine focus at Findlay now covers hunter/jumper, dressage, eventing, and Western disciplines.
Sue has worked hard to build a proper eventing program, and with the support of the university behind her she’s been able to make plans for a practice cross country course and help her students compete on Varsity and Junior Varsity teams. “There’s 14 on the team now, and we have three on the Varsity team who compete regularly,” she said. “The rest ride on the JV team, and are able to compete if they prove they are ready.”
What about horses? Many schools have donated horses to use in their hunter/jumper programs, but finding a horse suitable for eventing presents a larger challenge. “Many people who donate horses don’t want their horses ‘broken,’ so they take them to a school where the horse won’t event,” Sue said. “Although I think eventers are more conscious of soundness than others, we’ve been lucky to have several horses in the program that are schoolmasters.”
Photo courtesy of Sue King.
Findlay students are welcome to bring their own horse to school with them or ride one of the horses in the program. “Eventers want to give back,” Sue explained. “Generally speaking, they are more about the whole sport rather than individual gain, so if they can place a horse that is gifted but maybe not working, they’ll send it here. A lot of these horses are natural teachers, and we have a vet right here on campus for any needs they might have. They’re treated with a lot of respect by our students.”
Now that the eventing program has grown legs, Sue holds tryouts each year for new members. Her goal is to keep the costs as low as possible, understanding that many students cannot afford to compete and ride without some help while they’re in school. “They pay dues, usually around $50,” Sue said. “And we do shows for fundraising. We’ll do more fundraising this year, but their dues include their lessons and training. I volunteer my time teaching because I want to give back, and someone has to give back in order to make a program like this work. I’m fortunate to have such an amazing job and the support of the school, and I don’t mind volunteering my time to help these students. I believe in paying it forward.”
As a competitive eventer herself, Sue is able to make time to compete her own horse at the Preliminary level while still coaching her students up through the levels. “I can really focus on developing the program here and still have time for my own horse and family,” she said. “I can focus on teaching and organizing, and there is a great structure in place here.”
Photo courtesy of Keren Rottschafer.
Findlay also hosts a summer clinic, which has attracted participants from as far as California in the past. Clinicians are brought in regularly as well, so the learning opportunities at the school are without end. Looking forward, Sue’s goal is to have more riders move up to join the Varsity team. Overall, she wants to see her students succeed and meet their goals during their time at Findlay.
“My ultimate goal is to be able to provide the opportunity for the students to go as high as they want to go,” Sue said. “If they are interested in moving up, I want to be able to get them there. I’d like to have more Prelim horses and have a good program for getting a student up to that level by the time they’re ready to graduate.
“A lot of what we’re seeing now is that we’re losing event riders at that college age because they have more limited options for riding in college. But the collegiate program is growing; I went to the USEA Convention two years ago and there were maybe 15 people in the collegiate meeting. This year, the room was filled.”
Indeed, more colleges are beginning to introduce eventing programs, and the USEA has also jumped aboard by offering a discounted membership to college students. With the support of the University of Findlay, Sue intends to continue building the eventing program, which will only help bolster the sport at the collegiate level in the future.
For more information on the University of Findlay’s program, you can visit their website or contact Sue King via email. Be sure to check out the video tour of Findlay’s English facility below while you’re at it! Go Collegiate Eventing!
