Classic Eventing Nation

Hot Favourite Withdraws from Burghley Contention

By on Aug 25, 2023 9:30 am -

Brookfield Inocent takes the Grantham Cup with Piggy March in 2022, giving his connections plenty to celebrate ahead of his Badminton debut. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Reigning Defender Burghley Horse Trials champion Piggy March, who won the event’s 2022 renewal on Vanir Kamira, has announced she will not return to fight for her crown next week as intended with her Hartpury winner Brookfield Inocent, after the 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Inocent 3 x Shalies Pet, by Kings Servant) picked up a ‘minor bone injury’ in his preparation.

“Very sadly we have had to withdraw Brookfield Inocent from Burghley this year,” she writes in a statement on her social media channels. “He has come back to top level competition in flying form but has sadly incurred a minor bone injury which requires a short period of rest. Thankfully it isn’t serious and our dream of him getting to the big B’s can still live on! Gutting for all concerned especially his owners John & Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn as we all long for him to have his chance at this amazing venue but it’s just not meant to be this year. Best of luck to everyone going there — it’s such a great event and looking forward to an exciting week’s sport.”
Brookfield Inocent won his final prep run, the tough CCI4*-S at Hartpury earlier this month, and was second in his comeback international, a CCI3*-S at Aston-le-Walls in July, which followed over a year out of action. He’d been one of British eventing’s ‘ones to watch’ prior to ‘a very small injury’ that saw him withdrawn from Badminton contention last spring, after having won the CCI4*-S season opener at Thoresby. The previous year, he was individual silver medalist and team gold medalist at the European Championships at Avenches, and in 2020, he finished second in his five-star debut at Pau. In his 19 FEI runs with Piggy aboard, he’s finished on the podium 13 times.
Brookfield Inocent was statistically the favourite to win this year’s competition; according to data company EquiRatings’s Prediction Centre computer model, he led the field on a win chance of 19% and a top ten chance of 62%. The withdrawal moves Oliver Townend up to the top spot in their predictions with Swallow Springs, followed by Ballaghmor Class, another of his four entered ride options.
Burghley begins on Wednesday, August 30, and will conclude on Sunday, September 3. Keep it locked on EN for all the news and updates in the lead-up, and during the week of, the event.

Friday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

By on Aug 25, 2023 12:03 am -

Kim Walnes with Skyeler Icke Voss and the beautiful Argyle. Photo by Shanyn Fiske.

I’m so so excited about the making of the documentary The Grey, all about Kim Walnes and her incredible partnership with a beautiful grey horse, not only because my bestie Skyeler (!!!) has been chosen with her horse Argyle to be the main rider, but because we FINALLY will be getting a horse movie made by knowledgeable horse people! No more whinnying every time the camera pans to a horse, no more fantasy anthropomorphic moments, and accurately fitted tack with a more than competent rider. You and I know how long we have waited for such a movie, and tolerated all the others. Keep it tuned to their Facebook page to see all the updates!

Burghley starts NEXT WEEK! Keep it locked onto EN – we have some awesome content headed your way.

Defender Burghley: [Website] [Entries] [Program] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Eventing is dishing up an equally exciting week in the US, with the American Eventing Championships happening in Lexington, Kentucky. EN is beavering away on both sides of the Pond to bring you all you need to know from the AEC too – so go nowhere, and go eventing!

#AEC2023 (Lexington, KY): [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Schedule] [Volunteer] [EN’s Coverage]

U.S. Weekend Preview

MARS Great Meadow International (The Plains, VA): [Website] [Entries] [Tickets] [Schedule/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Live Stream] [Volunteer] [EN’s Coverage]

Shepherd Ranch Pony Club H.T. II (Santa Ynez, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Town Hill Farm H.T. (Lakeville, CT) [Website] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

News From Around the Globe:

Which equestrian inspired you the most this year? Horse & Hound’s 2023 Awards return for the eighth year and they need your vote to pick nominate and pick the most worthy winner. They seek to recognize both the big names who have made 2023 special and the unsung heroes who make it possible for all of us to enjoy equestrian sport and our horses, at whatever level. Last year’s winner was Nicola Wilson, who suffered life-changing injuries in a fall at Badminton Horse Trials in May 2022. Nicola spent more than four months in hospital undergoing intensive rehab and physio work as she relearnt basic life skills, before returning home where she has since been offering mentorship and coaching to other talented riders. [Inspirational Equestrians of 2023]

Shane Rose…what can’t he do? His gelding Virgil already has an impressive resume, including an Olympic Silver Medal, two world championship appearances, Event Rider Masters and CCI5 star winner. Now, he can add World Cup Showjumper to his list of achievements. Virgil and Shane took part in the Waratah Showjumping World Cup class last weekend. A tough ask to tackle their first World Cup indoors, it was a tough track that only produced three clear rounds. While Shane and Virgil did not jump clear they produced a solid round with Virgil not looking out of place amongst some of the country’s best showjumpers. Shane loved the challenge and said he learnt a great deal and is looking forward to tackling another World Cup class in the near future. [Shane Rose World Cup Showjumper]

Correct contact with your horse is a goal we almost never stop chasing. As riders and trainers, we are always striving for a more true connection, and an elastic contact is an excellent guide for that. As USEF judge Gail Hoff-Carmona describes it, “Correct contact is difficult to define because it is an ever-changing feeling. When a horse is well balanced and in self-carriage, contact with the mouth is so light it is nearly nothing. It is almost like having just a thread connecting your hand to the horse’s mouth. On the other hand, if a horse loses balance and falls on the forehand, the contact may become quite heavy until the horse is rebalanced and once again in self-carriage.”. [How To Develop Correct Contact]

Planning on running a classic format competition this fall? Success at a Classic Three-Day Event requires attention to detail and careful management of many things. Everyone knows how much attention they need to put into conditioning, but often everyday tasks get lost in the excitement of going to a Classic Three-Day Event. A horse’s shoeing should be part of the competitor’s regular schedule, but will it coincide with their Classic Three-Day Event plans? It can be easy to forget and suddenly a competitor is right on top of what might be the most demanding competition them and their horse have attempted. [Shoeing Tips for Classic Three-Day Events]

 

Thursday Video: Blazing a Trail for Female Equestrians in Saudi Arabia

By on Aug 24, 2023 6:54 pm -

It might not be riding quite as we know it, but there’s no denying that Noura Al-Jabr, a mounted archer and trainer, has an extraordinary set of skills — and one of the most independent and capable seats I’ve seen in a long time. But beyond her ability to ride, and ride seriously well, is the cultural significance of what she’s doing. She’s from Saudi Arabia, a country in which being a woman isn’t quite the experience it is in the Western world, and being a woman in a position of some authority, as she is in her capacity as a trainer and sportswoman, is nearly unheard of. She’s not letting that stop her, though – and through her example, young woman across the country will, she hopes, be inspired to take up the male-dominated sport, too. Go get ’em, Noura.

£700 Horse Races Ahead at Blair Castle

By on Aug 24, 2023 3:52 pm -

Overnight CCI4*S leaders Ros Canter with Rehy Royal Diamond. Photo by Iain Campbell.

With the first day of dressage complete at Defender Blair Castle International Horse Trials, Italy’s Roberto Scalisi sits at the top of the CCI4*L leaderboard with Alamein. Half a penalty behind is Max Warburton with Monbeg Exclusive while Japan’s Ryuzo Kitajima and Feroza Niewmoed complete the top three.

A delighted Roberto said: “I can’t believe it. He did a 29 in our first four-star and you go off and have dressage lessons to try to improve that but I’ve been stuck in the low 30s ever since – which is fab, but I’ve not been able to break the 30s barrier again.

“He felt really good in there and deserved his score. This is his sixth year eventing – he’s an ex-racehorse who raced 25 times. I bought him for £700 to produce and sell over the winter – five years later he’s still here. The more I trained him, the better he got and he’s taken me round several four-stars, giving me experience at this level.”

It’s a first visit to Blair for Roberto, who is very excited to be here. “I can’t wait to get out on those hills. It can rain more as far as I’m concerned, I’m on a thoroughbred!”

George Bartlett and Conpierre lead the CCI3*L with a comparatively comfortable four point lead over Ireland’s Amelia Leeming on Overis Cavalier. Fellow Irish rider Susie Berry lies in third place on Irene Leva. Conpierre was produced to four-star by Sarah Bullimore before being bought by John Peace for George to ride.

“I knew he had a performance like that in him,” said George, who did the CCI2*L with him last year. “He’s a little dude; a dobbin to lead around but he can be spooky and sharp to ride. He doesn’t try to drop you, but he likes to have a good time. Having got him super-fit I was a bit worried about the dressage but we managed to just about hold it together.”

It’s a case of girl-power in the CCI2*L, the top three all posting sub-30 scores. Emma Carmichael and the aptly named Faerlie Flighty have the advantage, over Selina Milnes on Calling Cooley and German’s Josephine Schnaufer-Volkel with Cinnamon Red.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” Emma confessed. “He’s just six and very low mileage. He’s always struggled with the dressage – he’s still a bit weak and has a lot of building up to do. He also lives up to his name and is a bit flighty – he’s been quite excited to be here. I just wanted to keep a lid on him in the arena and I was so chuffed with him. That was the best he could have done at this stage, a personal best – Fiona Bell, his owner, was in tears!”

The two CCI1*L sections are currently led by Sarah Clark on Secret Affaer VII and Anna Gilchrist riding Kilimazing Topaz. Scores are tight at the top, and this isn’t going to be a dressage competition.

Three-, two-, and one-star dressage continues tomorrow, at 9am.

Ten of the CCI4*S combinations have performed their tests, with Ros Canter and Rehy Royal Diamond well out in front. The remaining competitors take to the arena from 12.30pm tomorrow.

“I’m Feeling Unbelievably Lucky:” British Rising Star Bubby Upton Withdraws from Burghley After Major Injury

By on Aug 24, 2023 11:30 am -

Bubby Upton and Magic Roundabout IV. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

While most of the eyes that have been fixed on Burghley over the last few days will have found plenty to occupy them, with the reveal of the 2023 course and the release of the drawn order of go both popping up in that span of time, those with an eagle eye on the entry list will have spotted something else of significance. That was the withdrawal of 24-year-old Bubby Upton, who had two entries in Cola, with whom she finished fourteenth at the event last year, and Magic Roundabout IV, her Bramham under-25s CCI4*-L winner of this year.
“Five days ago I sadly had an accident riding on the flat leading to a complete burst fracture of L3 and a horizontal fracture of L2, which required [six hours of] surgery to stabilise the spine, decompress the vertebrae and fuse L3,” writes Bubby in a statement on her social media profiles. I simply cannot thank my surgeon and the whole NHS team enough for working absolute wonders.”
“I think it goes without saying that I am totally distraught for my team, owners, horses and sponsors about missing Burghley 5* when both Cola and Magic were on such flying form. But to be quite honest, considering the severity of the break I am just feeling unbelievably lucky that someone above was looking out for me, as the outcome could have been very different. There is now a very long road to recovery ahead of me, but I will give it my all to get fighting fit again.”
Bubby, who has previously held the British under-18, under-21, and under-25 national titles, is no stranger to sensible rehabilitation: two years ago, she had a fall while cross-country schooling with a young horse, which ultimately resulted in eight fractured vertebrae and a broken collarbone. She teamed up with the Injured Jockeys Fund therapy centre in Newmarket, close to her home base in Suffolk, to undertake an extensive rehab plan that involved hydrotherapy.
A burst fracture, which Bubby sustained on her L3 vertebrae, is a complete and complex break: it’s a full crushing of the vertebrae from all directions, and as a result, is a high-risk break if not immediately stabilised because of the probability of bone interference with the spinal cord. When such a break occurs in the lumbar spine — the lower half of the back — as Bubby’s did, it can have major ramifications on lower-limb mobility.
Bubby, it would appear, is a very lucky lady indeed – and we already knew she was a particularly determined one, balancing, as she did, her university studies with professional eventing over the last number of years. We have no doubt she’ll take her rehabilitation to come every bit as seriously, and we look forward to seeing her return to the saddle (and, hopefully, she’ll get a dryer and rather more fun season when she does return!). From EN to you, Bubby – we wish you a speedy, straightforward recovery.

Five Venues Confirmed as Bidders for 2026 FEI World Championships

By on Aug 24, 2023 9:30 am -

Germany’s Aachen has placed the only bid to run a full World Equestrian Games-style World Championship in 2026, as they did in 2006. Photo courtesy of CHIO Aachen/Andreas Steindl.

The FEI has today confirmed the shortlisted bidders for the FEI World Championships 2026. The shortlist comprises five Organising Committees who have applied to host events in various disciplines, as follows:

  • Aachen (GER) – Jumping, Dressage, Para Dressage, Eventing, Driving Four-in-Hand, Vaulting;
  • Boekelo (NED) – Eventing;
  • Burghley (GBR) – Eventing;
  • Al Ula (KSA) – Endurance;
  • Samorin (SVK) – Endurance;

The FEI Board will allocate the FEI World Championships 2026 at its in-person Board Meeting on 18 November 2023 in Mexico City (MEX), following a thorough review by the FEI Evaluation Commission and taking into account recommendations by the Technical Committees.

Following three decades of a unique host formula for senior World Championships under the FEI World Equestrian Games™ format, in 2022 the FEI returned to a more flexible approach accepting single and multiple World Championship bids with a focus on catering to the needs and specificities of each discipline. Herning (DEN) hosted hugely successful events in Jumping, Dressage, Para Dressage, and Vaulting whereas Eventing and Driving Four-in-Hand competitions took place at Pratoni Del Vivaro (ITA), venue of the 1960 Olympic equestrian events. The FEI Endurance World Championships 2022 were held at Butheeb (UAE) last February.

“We are very pleased with the variety of bids we have received,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said. “Following the outstanding FEI World Championships 2022 organised in Denmark, Italy and the UAE, we are confident this flexible approach with single and multiple bids serves not only the sport, but also the fans and the development of equestrian around the world, allowing different nations and venues to bid to host a major FEI event.”

The FEI World Championships 2026 in Jumping, Dressage, Para Dressage, and Eventing will be the first qualifying events for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The FEI World Championships have a long history. Dressage is the FEI discipline with the longest tradition of Championships. A Grand Prix de Dressage, organised in Lucerne (SUI) as early as 1927, had hosted 12 riders representing five nations. Official FEI Dressage Championships were organised on all non-Olympic years between 1930 and 1939 in Switzerland, France, Austria, Hungary, Germany, and Great Britain. The last such event took place in August 1939, only days before the outbreak of World War II.

The FEI tried to revive the event after the war with limited success. Participation gradually improved and European Championships were organised in 1963, which led to the first FEI Dressage World Championship held in Bern (SUI) three years later.

The first Para Dressage Championship, which took place under the leadership of the FEI, was held in July 2007 only a year after Para Equestrian came under the FEI umbrella. The event enjoyed a truly international representation gathering 133 athletes from 35 nations. Since 2010, FEI Dressage and Para Dressage Championships are being held concurrently.

The first FEI Jumping World Championship was organised in June 1953 at the Parc des Princes stadium in the south west of Paris (FRA). The event was drastically different from its modern equivalent as only 19 athletes from 11 countries, including Yugoslavia, Cambodia and the USA, competed. No women took part since female riders would not be able to enter Jumping competitions until 1956.

The first FEI Eventing World Championship was organised in 1966, the same year as the first FEI Dressage World Championship, at the beautiful estate of Lord Burghley in Lincolnshire, Great Britain. The Championship gathered 39 athletes representing five nations: Argentina, Great Britain, Ireland, USA, and USSR.

The previous year the FEI had established the configuration according to which World Championships in the Olympic discipline of Jumping were held every four years in the non-Olympic even years and continental championships were organised in the odd years. This pattern is still in use today for all the FEI Olympic and Paralympic disciplines.

 

The first edition of the FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand was held in 1972 in Münster (GER) two years after Driving had become an FEI discipline. Since then, the event continues to be organised every two years.

Endurance became an FEI discipline in 1982, one year before Vaulting. The championship histories of these two non-Olympic disciplines have run in parallel from the start with World Championships organised every other year on even years.

FEI Endurance European Championships had been held in 1984 and 1985 until the first FEI Endurance World Championship was organised in September 1986 at Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA).

In 1983, one year after Driving, Vaulting also joined the FEI. In 1984 the first FEI Vaulting European Championship was organised and was followed by another European edition in 1985. This second European edition was open to the rest of the world. A strong showing from the USA convinced the FEI the time had come for a World Championship. The first FEI Vaulting World Championship took place in in the small Swiss town of Bulle from 18 to 20 July 1986.

The inaugural FEI World Equestrian Games™ were held in the Swedish capital Stockholm with the 1912 Olympic stadium as the main venue. On the initiative of the then-FEI President HRH Prince Philip, the World Championships in all the FEI discipline were held in the same city from 14 July to 5 August 1990. Given the smooth organisation and success of these Games, what should have been a one-off event, was extended and seven more editions took place in The Hague (NED) in 1994, Rome (ITA) in 1998, Jerez de la Frontera (ESP) in 2002, Aachen (GER) in 2006, Lexington, KY (USA) in 2010, Normandy (FRA) in 2014, and Tryon, NC (USA) in 2018.

Thursday News & Notes

By on Aug 24, 2023 12:03 am -

Pony peach picking! Photo by Erin Brooke Harrington

Y’all better take this weekend to rest and relax, reinvigorate your brain cells, and get your stats in order, because next week is pure insanity, even by our standards. Burghley? American Eventing Championships? Yeah, why not have them on the same week. Sure thing! The entries are stacked on both sides of the Atlantic, and it will be hard for any of us to focus on anything silly like jobs or cooking dinner or paying attention to kids. How could you when SO. MUCH. EVENTING!! Jk, please don’t forget to feed your children next week, but also it’s totally possible to monitor pasta while running a live stream, just sayin’.

Burghley starts NEXT WEEK! Keep it locked onto EN – we have some awesome content headed your way.

Defender Burghley: [Website] [Entries] [Program] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Eventing is dishing up an equally exciting week in the US, with the American Eventing Championships happening in Lexington, Kentucky. EN is beavering away on both sides of the Pond to bring you all you need to know from the AEC too – so go nowhere, and go eventing!

#AEC2023 (Lexington, KY): [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Schedule] [Volunteer] [EN’s Coverage]

U.S. Weekend Preview

MARS Great Meadow International (The Plains, VA): [Website] [Entries] [Tickets] [Schedule/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Live Stream] [Volunteer] [EN’s Coverage]

Shepherd Ranch Pony Club H.T. II (Santa Ynez, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Town Hill Farm H.T. (Lakeville, CT) [Website] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

News From Around the Globe:

While Tamie Smith rides and competes in eventing on many types of horses, Thoroughbreds are still one of her favorite breeds. While she hasn’t had a full thoroughbred at the 5* level yet, Tamie always considers the amount of TB blood her horses have in their breeding, and has recently selected several horses with more Thoroughbred in their lineage. Her experience has taught her that a higher percentage of Thoroughbred blood makes the higher levels a bit easier, but they’re equally suitable for lower aspirations. “I think each horse is individual. I’ve had full Thoroughbreds be very appropriate for amateurs and even beginning riders. So it really depends on the personality of the horse.” [Tamie Smith on Thoroughbreds in Eventing]

Training young horses is tricky business, no matter which way you cut it. One of the biggest questions is how to balance doing juuuuust enough work with each horse at each period of mental and physical growth. While there is no one right answer, blogger Lauren Sprieser has managed to find a system that works best for her over the years. As the current owner of an 18 hand four-year-old of above average talent, she shares some of her training in this article. [The Fine Line Between Too Much & Not Enough]

Cheryl White changed the landscape for equestrians in 1971 by becoming the first licensed black female jockey in the US. She raced on Thoroughbreds, Arabians, Quarter Horses, Paints, and even Appaloosa Horses, racking up about 750 wins in her career. She was also the first woman to serve as a California racing steward in 1991. You can learn more about this admirable woman by (virtually) attending a town hall discussion on September 1st, with Sarah Maslin Nir, co-author of The Jockey and Her Horse, and Abriana Johnson, founder of Black in the Saddle and the authenticity reader on the book. [The Jockey & Her Horse]

The mere mention of the word “equitation” in eventing circles is often met with rolled eyes and raised hackles. No doubt for many eventers the word conjures up images of expensively clothed stick-people with overly arched backs posing as riders on their overly prepped mounts. Those images do not represent what the word describes, nor do those images represent how the discipline of correct and effective equitation has served the great icons of equestrian sports in all three disciplines, such as William Steinkraus, Reiner Klimke, and our own Jim Wofford. [The Importance of Equitation]

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Bit Fitting – Demystified

By on Aug 23, 2023 6:23 pm -

You probably spent plenty of time — and money — ensuring your horse’s saddle fits perfectly; likewise, you’d never get your farrier to put the wrong size shoes on his hooves. But have you put the same thought and attention into how his bit fits, or have you eyeballed it, checked the level in his mouth by counting the wrinkles in the corners of his lips, and called it good? There’s actually loads more to bit-fitting, including a deeper understanding of oral anatomy (like, yes, low palates and chubby tongues absolutely do affect the kind of mouthpiece you can comfortably use!), and this video from the FEI is aiming to make the whole thing a little bit more clear. And if all else fails? There’s a growing industry of bitting experts who’ll just bring a load to your barn for you to try, which is quite cool, all things considered!

Support Normal Insulin Regulation

InsulinWise®

Metabolic dysregulation is characterized by weight gain and unhealthy insulin levels that can lead to unsoundness. Maintaining normal metabolic function and sustaining healthy weight through dietary supplementation will support normal insulin levels and healthy laminae structure in the foot.

InsulinWise:
Maintains healthy insulin regulation and normal body weight.
Supports a decreased risk of laminitis.
Formulated with a research-proven blend of polyphenols and amino acids.*

* Manfredi JM, Stapley ED, Nash D. Effects of a dietary supplement on insulin and adipokine concentrations in equine metabolic syndrome/insulin dysregulation. In J Equine Vet Sci 2020:88:102930.

The horse that matters to you matters to us®. KPPVet.com

NEW EVENTING STICKER AVAILABLE! Visit https://kppusa.com/summer23/ to grab one for your barn.

US Equestrian Names Eventing Team for 2023 Pan American Games

By on Aug 23, 2023 5:30 pm -

Graphic via US Equestrian.

Let’s go, girls!

US Equestrian has just announced the eventing squad that will travel to Santiago, Chile this fall for the 2023 Pan American Games. Please join us in congratulating the following combinations for their selection:

  • Sydney Elliott (Benton, La.) and QC Diamantaire, a 2010 Oldenburg gelding owned by Carol Stephens
  • Liz Halliday (Ocala, Fla.) and Miks Master C, a 2012 Swedish Warmblood gelding owned by Debby Palmer and the Ocala Horse Properties, LLC
    • Direct Reserve: Cooley Nutcracker, a 2014 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by The Nutcracker Syndicate
  • Caroline Pamukcu (Miami Beach, Fla.) and HSH Blake, a 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Mollie Hoff, Sherrie Martin and Caroline Pamukcu
  • Sharon White (Summit Point, W.V.) and Claus 63, her own 2012 Holsteiner gelding
  • Traveling Reserve: Tamie Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) and Kynan, a 2015 KWPN gelding owned by Kynan Syndicate LLC

A full list of alternates was also selected:

  • Jacob Fletcher (North Little Rock, Ark.) and Fabian, a 2010 KWPN gelding owned by Fletcher Farms
  • Hannah Sue Hollberg (Kennett Square, Penn.) and Capitol H I M, a 2007 Holsteiner gelding owned by Christa B. Schmidt
  • Dan Kreitl (Muncie, Ind.) and Carmango, a 2013 Westphalian gelding owned by Kay Dixon
  • Alyssa Phillips (Fort Worth, Texas) and Oskar, a 2009 Holsteiner gelding owned by Julie Phillips
  • Tamie Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) and Elliot V, a 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Elliot V Partnership

The Pan American Games this year serve as an opportunity to develop pipeline talent, both horse and rider, with the pressure of Olympic qualification off the U.S.’ shoulders following their silver medal finish at World Championships in 2022.

The competition will be run as a hybrid 3*-L/4*-L: athletes will have a 4*-L level test (CCI4* Test B for the dressage) in the dressage and show jumping (1.25m max height), and a 3*-L level test on cross country (8-10 minute optimum time, 550 meters/minute).

The eventing portion of competition in Chile will commence on October 26 with the first horse inspection. Athletes will then compete over October 27-29, with medals awarded following show jumping on the 29th.

You can follow more from #Santiago2023 on the official website here. More information on the equestrian competition, including full nominated entries when available, can be found here. 

3 Ways to Squeeze Fitness into Your Busy Routine

By on Aug 23, 2023 3:00 pm -

With summer coming to a close and school going back into session, a lot of people’s schedules are getting ready to get a lot more fixed and less flexible. Though I don’t have kids and I’m not currently working on a degree, I feel the shift of school starting with clients beginning to pick more fixed times, vacation season coming to a close, and Stanley (my four-year-old event horse) starting a more consistent program to prepare the fall season. During the summertime my schedule is more a “habit tracker” approach, where I check off the things I need to get done in the day.

There are three things you can do to implement a new routine that focuses on rider fitness, even as things ramp up for the fall.

1. Have a schedule that you review every morning

My schedule gets a lot more rigid in the fall with set wake-up times, set client times, set ride times, set working times. I know what a typical day will look like and in the morning I will sit down with my electronic calendar and put pen to paper as part of my wake up process. This way, I have a clear map of where I need to be and when I need to be there. It helps me keep my day organized when I have a lot of moving parts. Every day may look very different from the previous day for me, so I take a picture on my schedule when I am done and use it as a reference throughout the day to make sure I am staying on track.

Practice this: Write down the time you plan to exercise and stick to it. No excuses or wavering here! If you intended to work out that day when you woke up, it is important to stick to it, and not let the business of the exertions of the day outweigh your morning intentions.

Photo courtesy of Hidden Heights Fitness.

2. Use a buddy system or Accountability Partner

This is something I really miss about working in a gym: I had someone that would notice if I had gone a week without exercising and they would call me out on it! I have recently started working out with a colleague again and it has made a huge difference in my consistency. I know that I’ll get a workout in. However, I also will book a yoga class if I’ve noticed it’s been more than five days since I’ve worked out. This way, someone is counting on me to show up and if I don’t, I’ll be out some money — which also helps me stick to a time.

Practice this: Meet up with a friend and go to your local community center to exercise. Have a friend that you text every time you work out and have them text you every time they work out. Try pairing up with your spouse to do workouts together (this does not work for everyone!). It can be worthwhile to have an accountability partner as studies have shown this increase your chances of sticking with a program. Consistency is the key to making any exercise program work.

Photo courtesy of Laura Crump Anderson.

3. Write down your routine or workout plan before you start

If you’re exercising with a personal trainer or taking a class, this is already done for you. However, there’s nothing more likely to make you quit exercising then not having a plan for your work out before you start. Walking into a gym can be intimidating, and working out at your house means you can easily become distracted if you don’t know what you’ll be doing next.

Practice this: Think of this similarly to how you would plan out your ride for the day. Do you have goals or certain things you want to practice? Apply this logic to your own workout plan.

You’ll want know what part of the body you are going to be working. Is this a full body workout or are you targeting the hips? Write down the program you’ll be doing before you start, so know what you’ll be doing before you start. Read through your routine first so you have a rough idea what movements you’ll be doing before you start exercising. Make it as straight forward as possible. You can even take the extra step of choosing your Spotify playlist or podcast ahead of time, so when the time comes to begin you’ll be ready to hit the ground running (literally, in some cases!) with no distractions.