Classic Eventing Nation

Tuesday News and Notes from Cavalor

By on Oct 7, 2014 12:01 am -
Photo by Lindsey Kahn Photo by Lindsey Kahn

Someone isn’t happy about the cooler weather! My barn hosted a schooling show for our students over the weekend, and I found myself bundled up in a parka with a winter hat and gloves while binge-drinking hot cocoa as I cheered my students on. Nothing like a little Egg & Spoon on a brisk fall morning to wake you up!

Events Opening Today: Full Moon Farms H.T. (MD, A-2)

Events Closing Today: Waredaca H.T. (MD, A-2), Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (GA, A-3), Heritage Park H.T. and Area IV Adult Team Challenge (KS, A-4), Holly Hill Fall H.T. (LA, A-5), MeadowCreek Park H.T – The Fall Social Event (TX, A-5)

News and Notes:

Ride with Bill Levett: Fresh from the WEG and Burghley,  Bill Levett is returning to Virginia for a clinic October 25th and 26th. The clinic will offer small group lessons for Beginner Novice through Advanced. Stadium jumping will be held at a private facility in Upperville, and cross-country will be held at Surefire. For more information, contact Bill at [email protected].

Earn Boyd Bucks at Windurra: For those who plan to attend Windurra Farm’s Stadium Schooling Show on Thursday the 9th, remember that you have the opportunity to earn “Boyd Bucks,” or Purina coupons that can be used for prizes at Oxford Feed & Lumber. [Boyd and Silva Martin]

Want to work for SmartPak? Of course you do! Our favorite equine supplement and tack experts will be at Equine Affaire in Massachusetts on November 14th to interview prospective customer care, fulfillment, and production superstars. Submit your resume, and SmartPak might contact you for an interview! [SmartPak]

Coat of a different color: In case you missed it, the one and only Leslie Wylie has compiled a list of stunning and tradition-shattering colorful riding jackets, from the affordable to the exorbitant (but oh-so fashion forward). What color would you rock in your next stadium round? [Horse Nation]

Video of the Day: We all love silly horse tricks, whether it’s a horse dancing to “All About That Bass“ or making fart noises with its mouth. My new favorite? A horse that sticks its tongue out for carrots.

Watch Jessica Phoenix and A Little Romance Rock This Jumper Calcutta

By on Oct 6, 2014 6:00 pm -

EN reader Ashley Giles posted this fun video of Jessica Phoenix and A Little Romance in the Jumper Calcutta at the American Trakehner Association’s annual convention this past weekend in Ohio.

“The idea is to get as many points as you can within one minute,” Ashley said. “Certain jumps are worth more points because they are higher, which is why she figure 8s over the two jumps and nearly falls off.”

But us you’ll see in the video, Jessica hangs on with a great save to ultimately tie for the lead and send her to a jump off, which she posted a video of on the Phoenix Equestrian Team Facebook page. Watch Jessica and “Blue” win the jump off here:

Blue, a 9-year-old Thoroughbred/Trakehner mare by A Fine Romance, was originally meant to be Jessica’s mount for the World Equestrian Games in Normandy but had to be withdrawn at the last minute due to an abscess. In addition to rocking the Jumper Calcutta, Blue also had the highest score in the ATA mare approval.

It’s great to see the little mare back in action and looking so light on her toes here. Great riding, Jessie!

Monday Videos from Tredstep Ireland: Andrew Nicholson’s Cool Palomino

By on Oct 6, 2014 4:30 pm -

Yes, Andrew Nicholson does in fact ride at other levels other than ass-kicking three and four-star! We found some footage of Andrew competing his striking palomino gelding Moonshine Beach Boy in the Novice (British Eventing’s equivalent of our Preliminary) section at Dauntsey Park this weekend. Andrew piloted the horse to a sixth-place finish.

Moonshine Beach Boy is by Grafham Stud’s cremello part-bred Arabian stallion Moonshine Pharo and out of Golden Legend, a daughter of the Trakehner stallion Novelice. At 5 years old, he just started his eventing career this year and should be a fun, colorful horse to watch in the future.

You can also check out footage from Dauntsey Park’s cross-country course in the video below. Many thanks to harveywetdog for providing such great videos from across the pond.

Matt Brown Awarded USET Jacqueline B. Mars Grant for Fair Hill

By on Oct 6, 2014 3:00 pm -
Matt Brown and Happenstance. Photo by Sally Spickard. Matt Brown and Happenstance. Photo by Sally Spickard.

We’re excited to announce that the USET Foundation has given Matt Brown this year’s Jacqueline B. Mars National Competition and Training Grant to help offset the costs of his trip east to compete at the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International with Super Socks BCF and Happenstance.

Matt launched an ambitious fundraising plan earlier this summer to help reach their goal of getting the horses to the American Eventing Championships and ultimately Fair Hill. With friends and family rallying around them, Matt and Cecily were able to raise enough money to make the trip from their base in Petaluma, Calif., and this grant will go a long way to offset the total cost of traveling across the country to compete, Matt said.

“Experience competing outside of the West Coast is something I lack, and in order to truly begin working toward becoming the competitor and horseman that I long to be, I must begin to travel outside my comfort zone,” Matt said in a press release.

“It’s a huge honor to receive the grant,” he said. “This is our first trip back east. We made the decision to come back and do Fair Hill after the Rebecca Farms event. Having the grant means we can relax and focus on the competition and not worry about how we are going to pay for this.”

On how Super Socks BCF feels leading up to Fair Hill: “He has been feeling really confident at the last couple shows, and we are just hoping to continue that confidence going into Fair Hill. Derek di Grazia made the comment after Rebecca Farms that Super Socks was ready to come back and go for it here at Fair Hill. If Derek tells you that you are ready, you better go and do it.”

We’ll be cheering Matt and his horses on at Fair Hill next week. Go West Coast Eventing!

[USET Foundation Awards Jacqueline B. Mars Training Grant to Matthew Brown]

Eventing Safety Facts & Figures: Horse Falls

By on Oct 6, 2014 1:30 pm -

Welcome to EN’s Eventing Safety Facts & Figures series. In light of our recent discussion on asking the tough questions about the sport, we’re delving into the FEI’s safety data from the past decade to track trends and look for answers. If you’d like us to address a certain topic in this series, please email [email protected].

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The FEI began tracking detailed statistics on falls, injuries and fatalities in eventing in 2002, with an Eventing Risk Management Policy and Action Plan officially adopted in 2004. Reports tracking data on FEI competitions have been published every year since.

It’s worth reading the full action plan, but here’s an excerpt from the introduction to give you an idea of its objectives:

Risk criteria can only be developed taking into account the context, values, objectives and resources of the organization.

Eventing is a complete all-round test of horse and rider and a tremendous test of horsemanship, but it is also, and will remain, a risk sport.

The final decision and the ultimate responsibility for participation must continue to remain with the rider. The rider and no-one else has to decide upon the level of training, ability and limits in performance of his/her horse.

With a decade of data now available through the FEI, we have the most accurate picture in recent history of how safety continues to evolve in eventing. First up, we’re taking a look at horse falls in the past 10 years.

Screen Shot 2014-10-03 at 6.55.20 PM

This chart from the FEI’s 2013 statistics report gives us quite a bit of data to chew on. The first yellow column shows a definite drop in the number of horse falls in FEI competitions in the past decade, but keep in mind that’s largely because of the decrease in rotational falls.

Non-rotational falls have continued to fluctuate and show no real improvement, with the percentage of falls in 2012 matching the same level in 2005. The bar graph below illustrates the fluctuation, with the two low points in non-rotational horse falls coming in 2007 and 2011, when the numbers dipped to 1.26 and 1.25 percent of total starters.

horse falls

The real improvement in horse falls comes in the rotational category. Since 2004, rotational falls have decreased 57 percent, definitely an encouraging number. While frangible pins remain an imperfect technology, they have undoubtedly played a roll in lowering the number of rotational falls since their introduction to FEI cross-country courses in 2003.

It’s also worth noting that this decrease in rotational falls occurred during the transition away from the long format at the FEI levels. CCI4* events like Badminton, Burghley and Rolex Kentucky last used the long format in 2005.

In other words, rotational falls have decreased from 1 rotational horse fall for every 197 starters in 2004 to 1 rotational horse fall for every 445 starters in 2013. Better? Yes. Still room for improvement? Absolutely yes, especially when rotational falls continue to claim the lives of horses and riders alike.

Both Ben Winter and Jordan McDonald died on June 14 this year as a result of rotational falls. And while the FEI Veterinary Department is “currently working on horse injuries and fatalities statistics,” that data is not yet available to the public, we’ve been told by the FEI.

Points to consider:

  • While rotational horse falls have dropped by 57 percent in the past decade, non-rotational horse falls continue to fluctuate and essentially hold steady at the same rate.
  • Advancements in safety technology like frangible pins have almost certainly contributed to a decrease in rotational falls, with just 40 rotational falls occurring in FEI competitions in 2013.
  • Is it possible to prevent rotational falls altogether? What type of changes can be made as the sport looks to decrease the number of total horse falls?

Resources:

[FEI Eventing Final Statistics Report 2013]

[Eventing Risk Management Policy and Action Plan]

[FEI Eventing Risk Management]

EN’s Got Talent: Jollybo Takes Aim at Fair Hill

By on Oct 6, 2014 12:00 pm -

We hear all the time about horses at the top of the sport, but what about the next generation of equine talent? EN’s Got Talent introduces the future superstars of the sport, interviewing riders about how they’re tackling training with these youngsters. Have you spotted a spectacular young horse at an event you think should be highlighted in this column? Tip me at [email protected].

Justine Dutton and Jollybo. Photo by Andy Partridge. Justine Dutton and Jollybo. Photo by Andy Partridge.

In the last edition of EN’s Got Talent, we chatted with Justine Dutton about Jollybo, her up and coming British Sport Horse mare. Preparing to contest the CIC2* at Plantation Field then, Justine said the weekend ultimately ended on an educational note for both of them.

“The dressage was good, but we really got nailed on some things that were completely my fault,” Justine said. “She’s getting really strong in the show jumping, and it just keeps getting better. On cross country, she had a bit of a rub so I changed her bit, which didn’t work out all too well because she can be so strong.

“I went out wanting to open her up a bit, but it ended up that I really couldn’t get her back. We had a drive by at the ruins because we just came in with way too much and missed our line to the next fence,” Justin said.

Unfortunately, their 20 on cross country at Plantation Field means they did not achieve their qualifier for the CCI2* at Fair Hill. “I looked ahead to Morven Park, where I had originally entered the Intermediate, but I changed it to the CIC2* to keep working on some things that needed improvement and get qualified for Fair Hill,” Justin said.

Jollybo came out swinging at Morven Park and really showed improvement across the board. “There was a lot of added pressure because of not being able to get a 20 to qualify for Fair Hill,” Justine said. “Dressage really improved, and the show jumping was pretty tough, and we had a silly rail that I’m still kicking myself over.

“I went out on cross country wanting to be conservative. The course had caused its share of issues, and I wanted to get around without any jump penalties and really get our confidence up going into Fair Hill. We achieved what we set out to do, and while we were a minute over time, we still got around clear, and that event really wasn’t the time to test everything we’d been putting together.”

Back at home, Justine plans to continue her preparations for Fair Hill under the watchful eye of coach Buck Davidson. “I’ll go up to Buck’s at least once before Fair Hill,” Justine said. “It’s funny because he’s never steered me wrong with this mare, and so I tend to defer to his advice on where to go next.”

As far as the struggles Justine has experienced in establishing a good rhythm with Jollybo, especially on cross country, she knows that it will take time. “Buck had me galloping downhill with no reins last week, and so that was … fun. And, of course, when he got on her and did it, she loped down the hill like she was half asleep. So I know it’s in there.”

Justine knows that her mare is talented, but she wants to ensure that they continue to become more competitive at the level before moving up. “I know she has the scope for Advanced, but there are plenty of things for us to work on, like control and speed, before I think we’ll be ready to move up,” she said.

Justine typically travels to Florida to train in the winter months and plans to work more on getting Jollybo more consistent and competitive at the Intermediate and two-star level, but she’s still aiming higher. “I imagine she could potentially move up next summer, but I want us to be competitive. I know we’ve got all the pieces; it’s just about putting them together, which is what we’re aiming for with Fair Hill.”

Phillip Dutton Pulls Out All the Stops at Thoroughbred Makeover

By on Oct 6, 2014 10:30 am -
Phillip Dutton and Icabad Crane. Photo by Julia Chain/CANTER PA. Phillip Dutton and Icabad Crane. Photo by Julia Chain/CANTER PA.

With Icabad Crane slated to go as the last horse in yesterday’s America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred Contest at Pimlico Race Course, Phillip Dutton knew he had to pull out all the stops to take the win.

“The whole afternoon was pretty incredible and inspiring watching these off-track Thoroughbreds — where their lives have gone and what the other trainers have been able to achieve with them in all these other disciplines,” Phillip said.

“But we were getting a bit desperate because I’d watched the others go, and they were all really impressive. We had to pull out all the stops and show off everything he has learned — his alertness and rideability but also how sensible and quiet he is.”

Phillip hadn’t decided exactly how he was going to show all that during his demonstration until he arrived at the track that morning, where the Retired Racehorse Project team had set up a variety of jumps in front of the famed Pimlico grandstands.

After spotting a combination of verticals, Phillip decided he would show off Icabad’s adjustability, putting four, five, six, seven and eight strides between the jumps before coming around one more time to get four again.

“He is very adjustable and such a sensible horse,” Phillip said. “The last time he was at Pimlico was when he ran in the Preakness Stakes in 2008, so to give it a go in front of the grandstands says a hell of a lot about the horse.”

Olivia Dutton and Icabad Crane. Photo by Maggie Kimmitt.

Olivia Dutton and Icabad Crane. Photo by Maggie Kimmitt.

But the highlight of the demonstration proved to be when Phillip’s 13-year-old daughter Olivia took the reins, hacking a very quiet Icabad around the track and stealing the show.

“Olivia loves him and his ridden him quite a bit at home,” Phillip said. “We hadn’t planned to have her get on him, but we knew we needed to pull out the cute card.”

And the strategy worked, with Icabad Crane just edging Pookie’s Princess in the online voting to win the $10,000 America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred Contest.

Everyone wants to know what’s next for Icabad, and Phillip said the horse’s owners, Graham and Anita Motion, and sponsors Cosequin and Brook Ledge Horse Transportation have agreed to support his training through the rest of his season, which will end at Virginia Horse Trials later this month.

“He’s gone way beyond all our expectations in such a short time. His last race was just August 30 last year,” Phillip said. “After Virginia Horse Trials, he’ll go a for a little break, and then I’ll be begging and pleading to keep him going next year.”

Phillip Dutton and Icabad Crane. Photo by Maggie Kimmitt.

Phillip Dutton and Icabad Crane. Photo by Maggie Kimmitt.

Having never participated in the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover before, Phillip said he didn’t know quite what to expect going into it and was ultimately very impressed by the program.

“All the credit goes to Steuart Pittman and his crew for having the vision to support such a great cause,” Phillip said. “It’s a good education for all of us to see what these horses can do with the right patience and training.

“So many horses that are purpose bred or sport bred are being imported nowadays, and a lot of people don’t go through the process of re-training. Instead, it’s the process of bringing on a green horse,” Phillip continued.

“Thoroughbreds have a totally different experience from the show world, so it’s a lot of re-training. But they are such intelligent animals. Once they’re given a program and shown what to do, they can start up a new career and really excel at it.”

Icabad Crane has shown that firsthand this year, starting his eventing career in March at Beginner Novice and ultimately moving up to Training level by the end of the season. “Hopefully Icabad’s success can bring Thoroughbreds to everyone’s attention,” Phillip said.

Phillip wanted to thank all the EN readers who voted for Icabad Crane to win. You can follow along with the horse’s progress on his Facebook fan page by clicking here. Go OTTBs!

[Icabad Crane Wins $10,000 America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred Contest]

Fair Hill International Entries Go Live: 58 Entered in CCI3*, 122 in CCI2*

By on Oct 6, 2014 9:00 am -
Maya Black and Doesn't Play Fair at Plantation Field. Photo by Jenni Autry. Maya Black and Doesn't Play Fair at Plantation Field. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Entries for the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International Horse Trials went live over the weekend, with 58 horses entered in the CCI3* and a record-breaking 122 horses entered in the CCI2*. Click here to view the full list of entries. Forty-five combinations started in the three-star last year, with 69 in the two-star, so this is an exciting upswing in entries.

While Buck Davidson has nine horses appearing on the entry list, he confirmed last night that Ballynoe Castle RM is enjoying his vacation as planned, and Copper Beech will go to California for the Galway Downs CCI3* instead. His three rides in the CCI3* will be USEA Adequan Advanced Gold Cup Final champion Petite Flower, The Apprentice and Wiley Post.

Boyd Martin confirmed that Trading Aces will go to California for the Galway Downs CCI3*, giving him four rides in the three-star at Fair Hill between Crackerjack, Pancho Villa, Steady Eddie and Master Frisky. Those four horses give him the most rides in the division.

A strong West Coast contingent including Tamie Smith, Matt Brown, Avery Klunick and Mackenna Shea have come east to compete at Fair Hill, with Tamie most recently bringing home the USEA American Eventing Championships Merial Intermediate win with Twizted Syster and Matt placing third in the Adequan USEA Advanced Gold Cup Final with Super Socks BCF.

Last year’s CCI2* champion Allie Sacksen and Sparrow’s Nio return in the CCI3* this year, and Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair, coming off a big win in the Plantation Field International Horse Trials CIC3*, will also compete in the three-star. Fans of super pony Forrest Nymph will be excited to see the little mare entered in the two-star with Sinead Halpin as planned.

Ellen Doughty-Hume and Sir Oberon, who finished sixth in the CCI3* last year, are coming from Texas once again to contest the three-star, which will be their first FEI event back since a nasty heel grab at Red Hills in March kept them from competing in their first Rolex in April.

Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda, Katy Groesbeck and Oz the Tin Man, Jimmie Schramm and Bellamy, and Amanda Wilson and Cool Decision all return looking for redemption in the CCI3* this year, as does Buck with Petite Flower after cross-country day didn’t go their way last year.

The USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships will also take place during Fair Hill, with 24 5-year-olds and 12 4-year-olds slated to compete. Those numbers are down slightly from the 30 5-year-olds and 18 4-year-olds that competed in 2013. The USEA Future Event Horse Championships will take place at Loch Moy Farm in November this year instead of at Fair Hill.

EN’s fortune teller Maggie Deatrick, who is competing in the CCI2* with her own Divine Comedy, will be checking in next week with her predictions for the top 10, sleeper and dark horse in the CCI3*, and Chinch will be leading the coverage team as we bring you all the action from the USEF Eventing National Championships starting next week.

Go Eventing.

Dutta Corp Fair Hill International: [Website] [Entries] [Schedule]

Monday News and Notes from Success Equestrian

By on Oct 6, 2014 12:01 am -
I love Halloween! I love Halloween!

Who’s got two thumbs and has already started obsessively planning multiple-Halloween costumes for her pony? This girl right here! There’s something about the season that brings out the kid in me. If I’m honest it is probably all of the fun-sized candies. Now I just have to find multiple Halloween related activities to take my pony to.

North American Weekend Results:

Kent School Fall H.T.[Scores]

Morven Park Fall CIC & H.T. [Scores]

WindRidge Farm Fall H.T. [Scores]

ESDCTA New Jersey at the Horsepark H.T. [Website]

Woodside International CIC & H.T.  [Scores]

Events Opening This Week:
MeadowCreek Park H.T – The Fall Social Event (TX, A-5)  Full Moon Farms H.T. (MD, A-2)

Monday News and Notes:

While bowling isn’t as extreme of a sport as eventing, it’s still serious business. Area IV members have the chance to bowl with a pro! Will Coleman, Jennifer Rousseau, Cathy Jones-Forsberg, Katlyn McMorris and Leah Lang-Gluscic will each have a team. You can bid on your chance to join in on one of the teams! There will also be auction items at the event. [More information from useaiv.org]

The upcoming UC Davis 3-Day Event Team Semi-Annual Fundraising Fall Derby! It will be held at the UCD Equestrian Center on Sunday, October 26th. They are looking forward to a fun-filled day of dressage and jumping! We are hoping the dry weather holds out in order to host jumping on the beautiful field, but in case of rain, competition will move to a sand arena. This is a great opportunity to get out and try something new, move up a level, build your or your horse’s confidence, or just have some casual fun! Email Chardae at [email protected] or Emaily at [email protected] [UCD 3-Day Event Team on Facebook]

I love hearing stories of horses who come back from injury and prove that they’ve still got it. Treve, who was unbeaten last season, suffered an injury earlier this year. She finished fourth in her come-back race last month and went on to win the Arc de Triomphe this past weekend. The Arc de Triomphe is the richest turf race in the world. Better yet, this is Treve’s second time winning the race. [More from eurosport.yahoo.com]

West Nile Virus is one of the diseases I worry most about. I’m probably a little hysterical about it. (Seriously, when I come across a dead bird I’m on my phone submitting the ‘I Found A Dead Bird’ form to the state in under a minute.) A horse in Nevada is the state’s first case in two years. Authorities say that the horses vaccinations had lapsed. [More details from miamiherald.com]

Equine therapy is growing in popularity. Not only are horses used to assist autistic and emotionally troubled children, but horses are being used to help inmates. A herd of about 20 wild mustangs and burros are being taken care of by incarcerated caretakers at the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center. [More from wtoc.com]

A riding school in Norway was the victim of a burglary recently. In addition to approximately $15,000 of riding equipment being stolen, five horses had their tails cut off. [More from nydailynews.com]

Monday Video: Thinking about having a skeleton horse for Halloween? Check out the work that Horses Inside Out does for some inspiration!

 

Icabad Crane Wins $10,000 America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred Contest

By on Oct 5, 2014 5:25 pm -
Phillip Dutton and Icabad Crane. Photo via the Retired Racehorse Project. Phillip Dutton and Icabad Crane. Photo via the Retired Racehorse Project.

The Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover has just concluded, and the final votes were tallied to officially declare Herringswell Stable’s Icabad Crane the 2014 winner.

Piloted by Phillip Dutton, Icabad Crane’s story has been a fun one to follow. “This is a cool horse,” Phillip Dutton said upon accepting the first place awards, which include a $6,000 check and a RevitaVet therapy system. We couldn’t agree more, Phillip!

Since beginning his eventing career, Icabad Crane has made eight starts and is now competing at Training level. Most recently, under the tutelage of Waylon Roberts, Icabad finished 13th at Seneca Valley. The former Preakness Stakes runner gained massive popularity with the eventing crowd for his easy demeanor and affinity for eventing that seemed to come naturally to him.

The Retired Racehorse Project put up a poll for the public to vote for their favorite Most Wanted Thoroughbred, which Icabad Crane handily won with 24.2% of the final poll vote. Phillip and Icabad also impressed during their demo when they showed off their adjustability, riding a line in 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 strides before coming back down in 4 again. How’s that for retraining?

After Phillip’s demo ride, his 13-year-old daughter, Olivia, got on and hacked the gelding around, once again showing off his mild manner and rideability. Phillip has done a great job with Icabad Crane, and the top prize comes as a well-deserved nod to his skills in the saddle.

We’d like to thank each and every EN reader who voted in the poll for America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred. All of the candidates are uniquely deserving of recognition, but we’d be lying if we said we weren’t rooting for the eventer who stole all of our hearts. We’d also like to extend our thanks to the Retired Racehorse Project for all of their hard work in promoting the OTTB, which is truly one of the most valuable (and most wanted!) horses out there today.

Go Icabad Crane!