Classic Eventing Nation

Saturday Links from Tipperary

By on Nov 29, 2014 12:01 am -
I had to work yesterday, so shots like these were the only way I got to experience Black Friday Madness! Nice Boots Nikki! Photo from Nikki Ayers' Facebook Page I had to work yesterday, so shots like these were the only way I got to experience Black Friday Madness! Nice Boots Nikki! Photo from Nikki Ayers' Facebook Page

This weekend will certainly be a weekend for riding-tights rather than breeches. If I even make it out to the barn, that is. We’re supposed to get a massive amount of rain which may well cause some flooded road ways and downed trees in my neck of the woods. Fortunately, should that be the case I have an amazing mountain of leftovers that must be tended to and a bunch of online wish-list making to take care of. Do you think my husband would prefer a printed list or an email?

North American Weekend Action:

Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Scores]

Saturday Links:

Build a turkey, win a Tipperary T2 Helmet! In the latest of our wacky contests, we’re asking you to build a turkey from random stuff (wheelbarrows, jumps, hay, grooming tools, saddle pads) found around the barn, and send us a picture to win a Tipperary T2 Helmet. If your creation wins, so do you!! You have a week. GO! [Build A Turkey, Win a Helmet]

Family of slain horse in Virginia demands answers

A win at Hollywood Derby can make California Chrome horse of the year

Horse therapy helps wounded vets in Texas

New Jersey woman under investigation for horse abuse

Alcohol, not protest, led to horse-related crime in Oregon

Dream of indoor arena within reach for Chicago agriculture school teacher

Saturday Video: Now that Thanksgiving is over it’s time to wait impatiently for more videos like this one!

Friday Video from World Equestrian Brands: Simulated Cross Country

By on Nov 28, 2014 4:30 pm -

As we all begin to migrate indoors for our training through the winter, here’s a great video from British Eventing with tips on recreating cross country questions using poles at home.

Many of these exercises can be made using ground poles or actual jumps, making it easier to practice indoors and spice up your winter training routine. Keeping the questions to poles or smaller jumps also reduces the amount of wear and tear on your horse, which is always a big benefit.

What are some of your favorite exercises to use indoors? Collaborate in the comments to get some fresh new ideas!

 

Queen Elizabeth II Wins FEI Lifetime Achievement Award

By on Nov 28, 2014 3:00 pm -
Queen Elizabeth II receives her award from Princess Haya. Photo courtesy of Anthony Devlin/PA Wire. Queen Elizabeth II receives her award from Princess Haya. Photo courtesy of Anthony Devlin/PA Wire.

As a longtime supporter of equestrian sport, it comes as no surprise that Queen Elizabeth II has received the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award from the FEI. Princess Haya presented the award at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, and the story has since picked up quite a bit of mainstream attention.

The Queen has been involved in many equine industries, from racing to the mounted police. She’s heavily involved in the Thoroughbred industry as a breeder and has enjoyed great success with the horses she has bred.

And, of course, horses run in the family as well, with Her Majesty’s granddaughter, Zara Phillips, rising to eventing stardom, representing Great Britain on the international and Olympic stage. The Queen’s daughter Princess Anne also achieved international success in eventing as the first member of the British Royal Family to compete at the Olympic level.

“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth is a lifelong lover of horses who has inspired millions around the world, and I am honored to be able to present the first-ever FEI Lifetime Achievement award to Her Majesty on behalf of the FEI today,” Princess Haya said after the presentation.

“She is a true horsewoman, who still rides whenever State business allows, and her knowledge of breeding and bloodlines is incredible. The bond between The Queen and horses is truly extraordinary, and I can’t think of anyone more fitting to receive this very special FEI award in the Year of the Horse. I am very proud to be giving this award on behalf of the FEI family.”

Last year, BBC’s Margaret Rhoades interviewed The Queen for the documentary The Queen: A Passion for Horses, saying, “when she became Queen, she had to sacrifice an awful lot of emotions and thoughts of the future, but with horses it’s another world in that it reduces you to just the person in relation to the animal, and you’re not a Queen, you’re just a human being.”

Check out the gallery below of photos that tell the story of the Queen’s relationship with horses.

[HM Queen Elizabeth II Receives Inaugural FEI Lifetime Achievement Award]

 

Weekly OTTB Wishlist Presented by Cosequin

By on Nov 28, 2014 1:30 pm -

OTTBs are among the most prominently represented breed in the eventing world. Each day, hundreds of ex-racehorses find themselves at the end of their racing career and in need of a new home. Luckily, organizations such as CANTER, New Vocations, Recycled Racehorses, and many more are always on alert for new horses that are ready for second careers. Each week, we'll be bringing you a few OTTB ads that caught our eye. Keep an eye out here for your next eventing superstar!

Christmas is edging closer and closer — do you have an OTTB on your wishlist yet? If you don’t, then this week’s selections are sure to change that quickly! Check out our favorite OTTBs currently available for adoption below.

Photo courtesy of MMSC.

Photo courtesy of MMSC.

Our first featured OTTB this week is available for adoption through the Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center in Lexington. This is a great program that does a thorough job of getting to know each horse before putting them up for adoption. These horses are also put into training, ensuring that new horse has some training after coming off the track.

Jazz Fest (Smart Strike – Miss Shop, by Deputy Minister) is a 16-hand, 2010 model who raced just once in 2013. He’s described as level headed and bold all at once, definitely a great start to be an eventer!

Visit the Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center here to visit Jazz Fest’s listing.

Photo courtesy of New Vocations.

Photo courtesy of New Vocations.

Alright, this photo did us in. You have to admit, seeing a horse standing wrapped in Christmas decorations without a care in the world is a pretty good sales pitch. Meet Parkinson Field (Strategic Mission – Edey’s Village, by Silver Deputy), a 7-year-old gelding who is available in Hummelstown, Pa. He’s already been started in his re-training and is considered suitable for any discipline.

Don’t forget that New Vocations offers 50% off adoption fees during the month of December, so keep your eye out for your next horse here!

Photo via Recycled Racehorses.

Photo via Recycled Racehorses.

Any chestnut fans out there? Here’s one for you! Grand Prelude (Grand Slam – Tiny Decision, by Ogygian) raced 26 times between 2010 and 2014, with his last race in May of this year. Since retiring, “Gram” has been working with the Recycled Racehorse program in Sewell, N.J., and has proven to be quite the level headed guy in his second career.

Described as suitable and sound, this guy is ready to start his next career. Click here to check out Gram and the other horses available from Recycled Racehorses.

Niklas Lindbäck Wins Sweden’s Indoor Derby for the Home Team

By on Nov 28, 2014 12:00 pm -
Niklas Lindbäck celebrates the win. Photo via the Sweden International Horse Show Facebook page. Niklas Lindbäck celebrates the win. Photo via the Sweden International Horse Show Facebook page.

Sixteen pairs contested the indoor derby at the Sweden International Horse Show yesterday, where Niklas Lindbäck and Mister Pooh came home with a time of 68.6 seconds across Gerd Heiber’s course to win individually for the home team over Tim Price and Xavier Taer.

New Zealand was not to be outdone, though, as the Kiwis clinched the team victory with Jesse Campbell, Jonelle Price, Tim Price and Mark Todd. Germany and Great Britain followed suit in third and fourth place in the team standings.

Helping Germany’s cause was Peter Thomsen and Clifford M, who stopped the clock on a 69.9 seconds for third place individually. Mark Todd and NZB Land Vision and Jonelle Price aboard Classic Moet round out the individual top five.

Post by Sweden International Horse Show.

Three pairs were eliminated on course: Jesse Campbell and Apart VD Hoefslag 2, Ludwig Svennerstal and Franzipan, and Gemma Tattersall with Dinky Inky. You can check out a video of the end of Niklas’ winning round above.

The action continues at the Sweden International Horse Show through the weekend, and it looks like there is plenty of action to keep the spectators entertained. If you want to watch some dressage over the holiday weekend, the Reem Acra FEI World Cup streams live on FEI TV on Sunday.

Sweden International Horse Show: [Website] [Schedule] [Individual Results] [Team Results]

Top Kiwi Eventers Auction Horse Doodles to Aid Disabled Riders

By on Nov 28, 2014 10:30 am -
Andrew Nicholson with his doodle. Photo courtesy of NZRDA. Andrew Nicholson with his doodle. Photo courtesy of NZRDA.

Andrew Nicholson, Mark Todd, Jock Paget, and Tim and Jonelle Price are auctioning off their art work to support NZ Riding for the Disabled, a New Zealand charity that gives disabled children and adults the opportunity to ride horses. The eventers joined 25 other famous New Zealanders in drawing a horse doodle to support the cause, and some of the drawings are pretty impressive. You can check them out here.

The idea behind the Great RDA Horse Doodle Campaign was to “inject their personality into the doodle as much as possible … it’s not about their level of drawing ability or art skills, but about creating something fun and quirky.” Each canvas is being auctioned off through TradeMe, with the first group of doodles going up this morning.

JOPA_POL

Jock Paget and his doodle. Photo courtesy of NZRDA.

Andrew’s doodle is titled “Quimbo,” immortalizing the iconic Chronicle of the Horse photo of his jump into the Head of the Lake on his way to winning Rolex Kentucky last year.

Tim and Jonelle drew a horse standing on top of a podium, with the quote: “The worst of them sense our fears and take advantage of us. The best of them sense our dreams and take us there.” Their painting is up for auction in the first round, currently going for $50 New Zealand dollars, or about $39 US. You can view it here.

Tim and Jonelle Price and their doodle. Photo courtesy of NZRDA.

Tim and Jonelle Price and their doodle. Photo courtesy of NZRDA.

Mark and Jock both drew jumping horses on their canvases. Mark’s doodle is also up in the first round of auctions and is currently going for $200 New Zealand dollars, or about $156 US. Click here to check out the auction.

Andrew and Jock’s doodles will go up in the next round of auctions on Monday, Dec. 1. Click here to follow NZRDA on Facebook to receive a notification when the next auctions go live.

Mark Todd and his doodle. Photo courtesy of NZRDA.

Mark Todd and his doodle. Photo courtesy of NZRDA.

Kudos to Andrew, Mark, Jock, Tim and Jonelle for contributing to this cause. All proceeds from the auction will go directly to NZRDA. Click here to learn more about NZRDA, which helps about 3,000 disabled children and adults ride each year, helping them develop increased ability, independence and self-esteem along the way.

Go Good Causes.

The Great RDA Horse Doodle: [Website] [Doodles] [NZRDA Facebook Page]

Let’s Go Shopping: Black Friday Deals and Steals

By on Nov 28, 2014 9:00 am -

Ready or not, the biggest shopping day of the year is almost upon us. We’ve teamed up with our amazing sponsors to gather some of the best shopping deals around. We’ll add more as they become available, and we’ll also have a final list of all of the Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals later in the week.

Check your bank accounts (or maybe don’t), stretch those legs, and get ready for some serious shopping! Buying horse stuff is always more fun anyway, right?

We’re really excited about this deal from Total Saddle Fit, who is offering a FREE pair of Calf Stirrup Leathers with every purchase of $150 of more. These leathers retail for $90 and are made of nylon wrapped with soft calf skin to prevent stretching. They’re available in black or brown, and Total Saddle Fit also provides a 110% money back guarantee with all purchases.

Click the banner below to shop for Total Saddle Fit products.

Professional’s Choice is having a site wide sale in preparation for the holidays. Everything from saddle pads to wraps and blankets will be discounted, so you’ll want to check out these great savings opportunities on Friday.

Visit Professional’s Choice by clicking on the banner to find out more about their Black Friday sale.

You may recall the review we did on Success Equestrian’s monoflap cross country pad. If you do, you’ll remember how much we love this pad, and now is your chance to get one for yourself. Success Equestrian is offering free shipping on all orders placed through Sunday, November 30. Just use the code BLK2014 in the cart to redeem this offer.

You can select from dressage, jumper or monoflap styles, and there are also other items that are definitely worth checking out from this line.

Be sure to visit Success Equestrian this week and stock up on all of the essentials!

 

Hamilton BioVet is also running a site wide sale for the holidays to the tune of 15% all products. From the versatile StayOns to the ever useful UltrOZ therapeutic laser system you’re sure to find products that find your horse care and rehab needs.

Click the banner below and check out the great products that Hamilton BioVet carries.

Our friends over at Point Two have marked down their demo stock for Black Friday, and there are some great savings to be had. If you’re in the market for a new vest, look no further for a top of the line option. Now is the time to spring for a Point Two, with up to $300 in savings offered this week!

Visit Point Two by clicking the banner below to check out all of their holiday offerings.

Last, but most certainly not least, SmartPak has launched a 15% site wide sale for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The 15% applies to clearance items at well, so this is your chance to stock up for the upcoming season. Don’t forget, SmartPak also offers FREE shipping on orders over $75. Click the ad below to start shopping!

Black Friday News & Notes from FLAIR Nasal Strips

By on Nov 28, 2014 12:03 am -
Catchin' some rays on the road with Leo.

Catchin’ some rays on the road with Leo.

Holy Turkey Hangover!! I’m surely not the only one who is feeling a little sluggish today after an exciting and exhausting day of family, friends, wine, and lots of stuffing with gravy. Those of you brave enough to go outside today and tackle the Black Friday shops in person, I say God Bless, because I am staying away from town today! Good thing we have the internet for shopping while avoiding the crowds! Be sure to check out our post on Black Friday deals from our favorite sponsors, because now is the time to grab the awesome goods that you’ve been eyeballing all year!! [Black Friday Deals Galore!]

North American Weekend Preview:

Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

News From Around The Globe:

In the weirdest way to spend your Friday, you can now vote to name the mascots of the Olympic Games in Rio 2016. Rio has released a funny little video of the two mascots (see below) and are now asking for your input on what to call them! If you can’t recognize them, don’t worry because the Olympic mascot is a mixture of “all the Brazilian animals” and is blessed with their many qualities: the agility of the cats, the sway of the monkeys, the grace of the birds. The Paralympic mascot is a magical creature, a “fusion of all the plants in the Brazilian forests”. The names available are: Oba and Eba, Tiba Tuque and Esquindim, and Vinicius and Tom. Go figure. [Vote Here]

British riders wonder, what exactly IS hunter/jumpers? Horse & Hound went on a mission to figure out what this North American riding sport is, and they got the low down from American college student Yukiko McQueeney. Don’t worry Brits, sometimes I wonder what that’s all about too…[Hunter Jumpers Explained]

A new scientific study shows that while soaking hay reduces dust and carbohydrate content, it also significantly increases the bacteria levels. Soaking or steaming-plus-soaking lowers water-soluble carbohydrates, but significantly reduced the hygienic quality of the hay which can potentially compromise the health of the horse. [Soaking Hay Causes Bacteria]

Build a turkey, win a Tipperary T2 Helmet! In the latest of our wacky contests, we’re asking you to build a turkey from random stuff (wheelbarrows, jumps, hay, grooming tools, saddle pads) found around the barn, and send us a picture to win a Tipperary T2 Helmet. If your creation wins, so do you!! You have a week. GO! [Build A Turkey, Win a Helmet]

SmartPak Product of the Day: EVERYTHING!! SmartPak is having a site-wide 15% off sale today and for Cyber Monday, and it applies to everything including stuff that’s already on sale! And don’t forget, SmartPak orders over $75 are automatically free shipping! [Shop SmartPak Black Friday]

Congrats to Becky Staden, the winner of this week’s Fab Freebie for a GoVelope Phone Carrier, in the style & color of her choice. Be sure to check back Monday for next week’s Fab Freebie. [GoVelope Fab Freebie]

Super weird Rio 2016 mascot naming video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmGuf-qWmoA#t=44

FlairBuck-Horizontal

Contest Alert! Build Your Own Turkey, Win a Tipperary T2 Helmet

By on Nov 27, 2014 2:00 pm -
You could win a Tipperary T2 helmet!

You could win a Tipperary T2 helmet!

It’s Thanksgiving Week, EN! And to celebrate we’ve giving away a beautiful Tipperary T2 helmet to the reader who builds the best Thanksgiving turkey out of items found around the barn.

We’re talking wheelbarrows, buckets, jumps, hay, straw, grooming tools, wraps, boots, saddle pads — literally anything you can find. Then fashion it together however you can; old standbys like duct tape and baling twine should prove useful.

Here's your inspiration! Your turkey can be modeled after either one.

Here’s your inspiration! Your turkey can be modeled after either one.

You can choose to model your turkey after one that’s still gobbling or one that’s on its way to the table for Thanksgiving dinner. As long as it looks like a turkey, the choice is yours. As always, we will look for creativity, resourcefulness and straight up insanity when choosing the finalists.

Snap a photo of your creation after you’re done raiding the barn and send it to [email protected] by midnight EST Tuesday, Dec. 2. We’ll post the entries for voting next week.

The winner of the poll will receive a T2 helmet from our awesome sponsor Tipperary. We’ve big fans of the T2 — not to mention the #mindyourmelon movement! — and you can learn more about this helmet in our product review here. Also, Peter Atkins wears this helmet, and we know you want to be cool like Peter and Henny.

Henny! Photo by Jenni Autry.

Henny! Photo by Jenni Autry.

The T2 features a super cool matte paint finish, an ergonomic design and a unique drop back shell that cradles the skull. The rear padding system ensures a personalized fit, and 10 large aluminum vents maximize air flow. The winner gets to choose the color: black, slate or chocolate.

Click here to learn more about the T2 or to order one for yourself. Chinch already put one on his Christmas list.

Go Tipperary. Go Eventing.

John Shakes His Tail Feather for Thanksgiving

By on Nov 27, 2014 12:00 pm -

Why are you watching John dancing in a turkey costume on Thanksgiving? WHY NOT. Spoiler alert: This gets funnier each time you hit that box of wine for a “top off.” From the EN family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving! And may your day be filled with a little insanity in the middle.