Classic Eventing Nation

Quiz: Which Olympic Gold Medal U.S. Eventing Team Should You Have Been On?

By on Oct 8, 2014 11:45 am -
Bruce Davidson Sr. (USA) aboard JJ Babu. Photo: Virginia Hill/Flickr/Creative Commons License. Bruce Davidson Sr. (USA) aboard JJ Babu. Photo: Virginia Hill/Flickr/Creative Commons License.

Take our quiz to find out! Keep track of your answers. You’ll need to tally them up at the end.

 

1. What kind of weather do you prefer?

A) Sunny and warm.

B) Chilly enough for an overcoat.

C) Sunscreen, umbrella, T-shirt, sweater — I’m prepared for anything.

 

2. What’s your favorite kind of cross-country terrain?

A) I’ve always wanted to gallop across a country club golf course.

B) Hilly and challenging.

C) Some meadow, some woods, some perfectly manicured turf … variety is the spice of life.

 

3) What is your preferred footing?

A) Dry, loamy soil topped with scrubby, greenish-brown grass.

B) Hard-as-a-brick army exercising ground compared to “concrete.”

C) Plush and green, ranging from perfect to a little bit muddy in spots.

 

4. How do you like your course?

A) Tough enough that 500 combined jumping and time penalties still lands you in the top 10.

B) “Fixed and quite formidable.” But so long as I can fall off, get back on and keep going, it’s cool.

C) Designed by a woman for the first time in history.

D) Modern course design is best but I sure do miss the long format.

 

5. Are you male or female?

A/B) I prefer the salutation “Lieutenant,” “Colonel” or “Captain.”

C/D) Why does it matter? Eventing is a gender-neutral sport.

 

6. What’s the best song?

A) “Night & Day” by Fred Astaire & Leo Reisman

B) “Twelfth Street Rag” by Pee Wee Hunt

C) “Dancing Queen” by ABBA

D) “Careless Whisper” by George Michael

 

67. What is your stance on protective headgear?

A) What’s that?

B) Nah.

C) I guess.

D) Sure, as long as I don’t have to wear a safety vest, too.

 

8. Which event would you most enjoy competing at?

A) Galway Downs

B) Badminton

C) Bromont

 

9. Which nation would you get the most satisfaction out of beating out of Olympic Gold?

A) The Netherlands — their stupid orange coats annoy me.

B) Sweden — they’re all so blonde and pretty, gah!

C) West Germany — you know that’s not even a thing anymore, right?

D) Great Britain — they invented the term “three-day event,” gotta take ’em out.

 

10. Which international hardship would you be the most OK with enduring?

A) The Great Depression

B) Fallout from World War II

C) Apartheid

D) Really bad ’80s hair The Cold War

 

Which team did you make? Scroll down to find out …

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you chose mostly As, you should have competed at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Your USA teammates:
Earl Foster Thomson & Jenny Camp
Harry Chamberlin & Pleasant Smiles
Edwin Argo & Honolulu Tomboy

Read the IOC Report.

Untitled

Image: IOC Official Report.

Untitled

Image: IOC Official Report.

If you chose mostly Bs, you should have ridden at … the 1948 Olympics in London.

Your teammates:

Frank Henry & Swing Low
Charles Anderson & Reno Palisade
Earl Foster Thomson & Reno Rhythm

Read the IOC report.

Untitled

Image: IOC Official Report.

If you chose mostly Cs, you should have competed at … the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal.

Your teammates:

Edmund Coffin & Bally-Cor
Michael Plumb & Better & Better
Bruce Davidson & Irish-Cap
Mary Anne Tauskey & Marcus Aurelius

Read the IOC Report.

Untitled

Image: IOC Official Report.

If you chose mostly Ds with a few As mixed in, you should have competed at … the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Your teammates:

Michael Plumb & Blue Stone
Karen Stives & Ben Arthur
Torrance Fleischmann & Finvarra
Bruce Davidson & JJ Babu

Read the IOC Report.

#361 J. Michael Plumb from the United States aboard Bluestone. Photo by Virginia Hill/Flickr/Creative Commons License.

J. Michael Plumb (USA) aboard Bluestone. Photo: Virginia Hill/Flickr/Creative Commons License.

Torrance Fleischmann from the United States aboard Finvarra. Photo by Virginia Hill/Flickr/Creative Commons License.

Torrance Fleischmann (USA) aboard Finvarra. Photo: Virginia Hill/Flickr/Creative Commons License.

Go Eventing!

You Ain’t Never Gonna Keep Me Down (at Fair Hill)

By on Oct 8, 2014 10:30 am -

Maggie and her Thoroughbred Divine Comedy are headed to the Fair Hill CCI2* on Oct. 15-19 for their fifth attempt at a CCI2*. This is their second year at Fair Hill, and they are looking for redemption after a temper tantrum in dressage last year left them just barely over the qualifying score of 75. Follow along as Maggie brings you a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most prestigious events in North America.

Photo by Maggie Deatrick. Photo by Maggie Deatrick.

I’m not entirely sure what it feels like to literally bang your head against a wall, but metaphorically I’ve been doing just that for the past three years.

Most riders seem to have a bug-a-boo level where they just can’t seem to get it done … but once over the hump, never have another issue. I’ve seen riders have trouble making the transition from Novice to Training, figure it out, and run all the way up to Advanced. I’ve seen other pairs who had issues with the jump to Training to Prelim or Prelim to Intermediate.

It’s not always related to cross country or even performance at all; sometimes it’s a horse that keeps turning up with cellulitis two days before a show or a tack malfunction in stadium.

For me, this level is the CCI2*.

I have run at the Intermediate level fairly successfully since 2010. Other than a blip in our very first attempt at the level and a blip recently at the Plantation CIC2*, we have no jump penalties on our record for Intermediate or two-star and quite a few double clears. Dressage has always been a get-through-it sort of thing and stadium is occasionally a bowling game, but for the most part, we haven’t had any real issues. We’ve even successfully run a few times at Advanced.

Cue the CCI2*.

I’ve twice been thwarted by sore feet, which cropped up after the two clear cross country phases and prevented us from completing at Jersey Fresh 2011 and Colorado 2012. In November of 2011, we drove out to Galway from Dallas, where we completed the dressage phase and were looking forward to a great run on the soft California footing.

Then Dante promptly caught a lung infection overnight, forcing us to withdraw and spend the next four days in the vet clinic, only recovering in time to get back on the trailer to come home.

And at Fair Hill last year, I was so worried about the dressage phase after scoring an epic 91 in our CIC3* debut four weeks prior at Plantation that I drilled him on the flat too much. By the third day straight of dressage, he had had enough and threw a quiet but persistent tantrum throughout the test, resulting in a score that was literally one point on any movement away from qualifying.

Each time, I’ve taken steps to fix the problem. After the sore feet persisted, I pulled Dante’s shoes and let his feet grow out for six months. He came back sound as a dollar and, knocking on wood, hasn’t taken a lame step since. After last year’s dressage debacle, we spent all late winter and spring practicing at dressage schooling shows, tweaking our warm-up and sharpening our mental game.

Dante then spent three months in professional dressage training, including going to a couple of rated shows where he figured it out, culminating in a win at his first attempt at Fourth Level. Now we board with a trainer known for her flat skills, and we get better every day. I no longer worry about tantrums on the flat.

So we’re back this year and feeling better about getting our QR this time than we ever have. Well, I’m not sure how Dante feels about it, but I’m certainly feeling good. In a field of 122, I don’t really have high expectations as to where we will place, but I think we’ll still be smiling at the end of the weekend.

All Horses Pass Soggy First Inspection at Boekelo

By on Oct 8, 2014 9:00 am -
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night at Boekelo 2013. Photo by Jenni Autry. Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night at Boekelo 2013. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The first horse inspection at Boekelo CCIO3* just wrapped up over in the Netherlands, with a downpour predictably falling during the festivities, making for a very soggy occasion. All horses and riders passed, sending a total of 93 competitors forward to dressage.

Post by USEF Eventing High Performance.

Ten teams will battle it out for the win in the final leg of the FEI Nations Cup. Germany, Great Britain and France are so far out in front of the rest of the countries on the leaderboard that it’s impossible for anyone else to catch them at this point, but there’s still the question of the order in which they’ll finish.

The U.S. participated in two Nations Cup competitions last year at Aachen and Boekelo, failing to finish a team at both. The team now looks to their first and only Nations Cup event of the year at Boekelo, with Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen, Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night, Tiana Coudray and Kinnordy Rivaldo, and Sharon White and Under Suspection looking to finish on a competitive team score.

We previewed all of the Team USA riders and horses last week in this post, so click over to get to know the team. We’re also shouting out our #camericanpride for Team Canada, who has one horse and rider competing in Lindsay Traisnell and Candar van het Neerveld.

While Boekelo is always a highlight of the fall international season, it’s also notoriously cold and rainy — must be why the parties are so popular there! One must imbibe to forget she no longer can feel various lower extremities. Doesn’t this video from friend of EN Elvis really set the scene?

Post by Elvis Loves Eventing.

So we’ll be camped out in front of the live stream cheering on our North Americans from home instead, and you can follow along, too. The live stream link is available here, and ride times are now posted here. The action kicks off tomorrow, with Tiana and Liz first out for Team USA, so stay tuned.

Boekelo CCIO3* Links: [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Live Stream]

Wednesday News and Notes from MDBarnmaster

By on Oct 8, 2014 12:01 am -
Lainey Ashker and her iron horse Anthony Patch just hanging out together in front of the Pimlico grandstand. No biggie. Photo via Lainey Ashker FB Page. Lainey Ashker and her iron horse Anthony Patch just hanging out together in front of the Pimlico grandstand. No biggie. Photo via Lainey Ashker FB Page.

Right now, all is quiet on the western front. And the eastern front. It’s the calm before the storm, and everyone is holding their breath this weekend. Meanwhile, we have a decent contingent at Boekelo over in Europe, so if you just can’t get your eventing fix in the US from the shows going on this weekend, be sure to stalk the Boekelo scores.

North American Weekend Preview:

Course Brook Farm Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Radnor Hunt H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Maryland at Loch Moy H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Middle Tennessee Pony Club H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Greenwood Farm Fall H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status]

FEI Global Weekend Preview:

Weston Park (GBR) CCI1/2* [Website]

Boekelo (NED) CCI3*

Taupo (NZL) CIC1/2/3*

Ströhen (GER) CIC1*

One really good ride at just the right time can help a rider gain a new emotional perspective on life. In Kristin Carpenter’s latest blog for the Chronicle, she eloquently discusses her lack of enthusiasm for riding or writing over the summer. Then, her young mare rose to the occasion at a muddy Morven Park, which rejuvenated Kristin’s love of the sport and rekindled her optimism. [When In Doubt, Kick On]

If re-flocking or tree adjustment doesn’t help your saddle fit, check out the billets. This article from Total Saddle Fit discusses the finer points of billet fit, which are a lot more complicated than I always thought. Between point billets, straight billets, and V billets, there’s a lot of variety in the way billets affect the fit of the saddle. [The “B” Word]

Ashley Donaldson recently made the jump from boarder to farm owner. In this week’s SmartPak blog, she discusses the various issues she comes across in her new venture, from sourcing wood planks for fencing to determining the best vendors for hay and shavings. [From Boarder to Owner]

This week on the Eventing Radio Show: Laine Ashker and Andrea Leatherman. Laine Ashker talks about her recent experiences at the AECs and the RRTP event at Pimlico. Andrea Leatherman joins Dr. Stuart Brown to talk about the touching story behind Mr. Poppers. Alison Stackpole joins the show to give an update on her OTTB Maggie. [Eventing Radio Show]

Just like many mothers, Zara Phillips struggled to regain fitness after giving birth. Zara has ridden all her life, so didn’t quite realize what a struggle it would be to get back into the saddle after a hiatus. She’s obviously doing fine now, with a medal at WEG with High Kingdom. [Zara’s Fitness Struggle]

SmartPak Product of the Day: As we head into the fall CCIs, many horses used to being turned out for the night will have to be confined to a stall for the duration of the show. To help keep my horse and his tight back happy, I bought a Back on Track Mesh Sheet to help keep his muscles loose and warm. I can use it by itself on slightly cool nights or under another sheet if it’s chillier. [SmartPak]

My next twelve days practically revolve around Fair Hill International, and with the entry list looking like a Who’s Who of US Eventing (with a few Canadians thrown in), yours should too. Here’s a preview to whet your appetite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77OoVlczPNE

 

Tuesday Video from SpectraVET: Adorbs AEC Helmet Cam

By on Oct 7, 2014 4:30 pm -

We stumbled upon this gem of a helmet cam and couldn’t resist sharing. Bobbie Jones competed Rebel’s Heartbreaker, an eight-year-old American Paint, in the Junior Novice division at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships.

The pair scored a 28.5 in the dressage and went on to complete two double clear jumping rounds to move up to fourth place overall in a large division of 27 finishers.

We are loving the encouragement Bobbie give’s Rebel around the course, and we were riding along with this adorable pair the whole way home.

Go Bobbie and Rebel, and Go Eventing!

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Sally Cousins’ Weekly Training Tip: Jump Schools

By on Oct 7, 2014 2:53 pm -

We are delighted to host Sally Cousins as a guest blogger, as she shares her wealth of knowledge with us in the form of weekly training tips. We hope these nuggets of information can be integrated directly into your program at home and can influence the way you ride and train your horses. Be sure to check out both the Sally Cousins Eventing website and keep up with her on Facebook.

Photo by Kasey Mueller

Photo by Kasey Mueller

From Sally:

It is important to have a plan for a jump school before you get on to ride. This may involve moving jumps before you start or arranging to have someone there to set jumps while you ride. Except for cross country schooling, I have two different types of schools that I do: one focuses on the horse’s technique, and the other focuses on exercises designed to help with the horses education.

Most of my horses jump at least once a week. It keeps them from being silly when I do jump them; it also helps them crack their backs. I also try to keep the number of jumps per school to a minimum.

In some schools, I work on angled jumps, bending lines or related distances. The last school before an event should always be about technique. If the last phase your horse did at his last event was cross country, chances are you will need to have a quieter school to get the horse round and settled again.

Sometimes if I have had a problem at an event, the following school will work on fixing whatever went wrong. If the horse had stopped on cross country or struggled through the triple in show jumping, I would school that specifically, hopefully within the week following the event. That gives me an idea of how big a problem I have and an idea of how long it will take to fix it.

Unless you get to jump a lot or compete regularly, most schools will be a combination of both of these types. If I have introduced something new, I will try to finish the school on something the horse finds relatively easy so he goes back to the barn in a good frame of mind.

The younger horses will need more educational type work, and the experienced upper-level horses may just need light schools to keep them sharp. Each horse is different, and our jobs as riders and trainers is to find what works best for our horse.

14 Faces Eventers Make When We Think No One is Watching

By on Oct 7, 2014 1:22 pm -

This post originally appeared on Horse Nation.

When your trainer tells you to drop your stirrups and you think no one’s watching …

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When your horse does this thing he does that’s soooooo cute and you think no one’s watching …

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When you start daydreaming about your horse during a meeting and you think no one’s watching …

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When you got a little bit of sawdust up your nose and you think no one’s watching …

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When something comes up that prevents you from going to the barn and you think no one’s watching …

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When the competitor in front of you goes off course and you think no one’s watching …

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When you realize the vet forgot to include a farm call surcharge and you think no one’s watching …

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When you totally nailed that jump and you think no one’s watching …

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When you’re trying to read a note that somebody scrawled on the feed chart and you think no one’s watching …

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When you read this totally heartwarming story about a rescue horse who found a forever home and you think no one’s watching …

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When you submit your entry to the area championships and you think no one’s watching …

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When the barn manager calls to say your horse has come in with a gash on its leg and you think no one’s watching …

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When your SmartPak box gets delivered and you think no one’s watching …

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When it’s down to the final three competitors on show jumping day at Rolex and you think no one’s watching …

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Go Eventing!

San Calido Euthanized at Osberton Horse Trials

By on Oct 7, 2014 11:42 am -
San Calido and Moira Walsh at Tattersalls in 2013. Photo courtesy of Moira Walsh. San Calido and Moira Walsh at Tattersalls in 2013. Photo courtesy of Moira Walsh.

The eventing community mourns the loss of San Calido, who was euthanized Saturday after breaking his leg on the CCI* cross-country course at Osberton International Horse Trials in Nottinghamshire, England.

His rider and owner, amateur eventer Moira Walsh, said his leg shattered before or after take off at a fence early on course, and “Curly” still tried to jump, showing just how much heart he had. He was later euthanized due to the severity of the injury.

“He was the kindest, most talented and most beautiful horse that I can ever imagine has existed,” Moira said. “He made good all my mistakes. I loved him deeply for this. He was my soulmate in any time of sadness. Our relationship was unique. He is irreplaceable. I am devastated.”

Curly took Moira from her first BE90 to the one-star level during their partnership together. Formerly campaigned by Piggy French at the two-star level, Curly won the CCI2* at Weston Park International in 2005. He stepped down to the lower levels to be a teacher for Moira, who purchased him in 2010.

A beloved schoolmaster until his last day and 17 at the time of his death, the big dark bay gelding will be remembered for being exceptionally kind and caring toward his riders. Our hearts are with Moira as she mourns the loss of Curly.

Update: Bede Events released the following statement on Wednesday, Oct. 8:

“It is with great sadness that we announce that number 40 San Calido owned and ridden by Moira Walsh was put down as a result of an accident at fence number 9 The Oakham Vets Farm Yard whilst competing at Osberton International Horse Trials in Nottinghamshire at 09.36 am on 04/10/14.

San Calido a 17 year old gelding hit the first part of the combination and then landed awkwardly. Moira Walsh was un hurt in the fall. San Calido was examined on site and found to have broken its near foreleg and was humanely put down by the vet.”

[Osberton International Horse Trials]

Date Set for Great Meadow’s Inaugural CIC3* Next Year

By on Oct 7, 2014 10:30 am -
Marilyn Little and RF Demeter at the WEG Prep Trials at Great Meadow. Photo by Jenni Autry. Marilyn Little and RF Demeter at the WEG Prep Trials at Great Meadow. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Great Meadow announced this morning that the U.S. Eventing Technical Committee has approved June 19-21, 2015, as the date for its inaugural CIC3* next year in The Plains, Va., with Mike Etherington-Smith on board as the new course designer.

The site of the World Equestrian Games prep trials for the U.S. and Canadian teams, the venue will now host Great Meadow International on the same weekend as Surefire Horse Trials in nearby Purcellville, setting the scene for a great weekend of eventing in Northern Virginia.

“It is a fantastic opportunity for Northern Virginia to have an international level event of this stature,” David O’Connor said in a statement. “Great Meadow is by far one of the most spectator friendly sites in the country; everyone can see so much from any vantage point feeling like they are a part of the action. The sport of eventing is thrilled to have such a wonderful site to prepare our best athletes to represent the U.S. in international championships.”

With the WEG prep trials largely hailed a success — attracting 900 dressage spectators, 5,000 show jumping spectators and 3,000 cross-country spectators — Great Meadow International will follow the same format, with show jumping held under the lights in conjunction with a bareback puissance. No word yet on whether clothing will be optional at next year’s puissance.

In addition to the new cross-country course designed by Mike Etherington-Smith, a new all-weather stadium style arena is also under construction. An expanded vendor village will be set up on Festival Hill, with a cocktail reception on Friday and a dinner on Saturday. Tailgating spots will be available for cross-country day on Sunday.

Who’s excited about a new CIC3* in Virginia? Check out Great Meadows’ website for more information.

[Great Meadow Gears Up to Host CIC3* Next Year]

Ticket Prices Released for 2016 Olympic Games in Rio

By on Oct 7, 2014 9:00 am -

Ticket prices have been released for all the sports at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with the costs to watch all three phases of eventing fluctuating between $25 for cross country to $173 for a primo seat for show jumping.

Here’s a look at the ticket breakdown for eventing, with prices converted to U.S. dollars from the Brazilian real:

Dressage
Category A: $41
Category B: $29

Cross Country: $25

Show Jumping:
Category A: $173
Category B: $86

There’s no information yet on the difference between category A and B seats, but it’s certainly a hefty price difference for show jumping.

That said, eventers definitely have the lowest ticket prices of the other equestrian disciplines by far, and fans of pure show jumping and dressage will have to dig deep if they want to watch the preliminary and final rounds of those events.

A category A ticket for the pure show jumping final will cost $222. Ouch.

Ticket sales are set to open to the public in November — just in time for your Christmas wish list.

[Rio Ticket Prices]