Classic Eventing Nation

Quick Guide to Ice Therapy: An Excerpt from ‘Physical Therapy for Horses’

By on Aug 20, 2023 1:17 pm -

In this excerpt from her book Physical Therapy for Horses, equine physical therapist Helle Katrine Kleven explains how the application of ice done early and correctly can minimize the extent of an acute injury.

Photo by Maximilian Schreiner.

Ice therapy is applied for all acute injuries—for example, bone, tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries (bruising, sprains, strains, fractures). In addition, in the case of an acute injury, ice is the most helpful and least expensive application there is.

Effects

The result of an injury is destruction of tissue and blood vessels. With an open wound, blood exits the wound. With an internal injury, blood enters surrounding tissue. Internal injuries result in swelling and hemorrhaging, leading to pain and a slowing of the healing process. This type of injury can be treated with ice effectively.

How Ice Affects Injured Tissue

The immediate application of ice to an acute injury triggers a response in the blood vessels surrounding the wound. The vessels contract, which leads to less bleeding in the area. And, in order to keep bruising (hemorrhaging) at a minimum, your goal is to stop additional bleeding into the injured tissue.

A few days after an injury, you enter the subacute phase of healing. During this phase, you need to increase circulation again. Ice can be useful here, too, but it needs to be applied with great caution.

Application

Important: Don’t use ice directly on the skin. Always position a damp, thin cloth between the ice and the body part to avoid injury to the tissue. (Note: This rule does not apply when using the “ice lollipop,” since it is in constant motion, as I describe in the tips below.)

Acute Injury

In the case of an acute injury, it is your goal to stop the bleeding into the injured tissue. This means that the quicker you start treating an injury with ice, the better.

First, use a bandage or your hands to apply light pressure to the “internal wound” from the outside. Immediately afterward, apply the ice. In this way, you can compress the blood vessels, which suppresses swelling and bleeding. A superficial injury to muscle, tendon, or ligaments requires an application of ice for about 10 minutes, followed by a 20-minute break. Apply light pressure during the break. Repeat the application until bleeding in the tissue has stopped (two to four times).

Important: It is important to adhere to the times during the application. If ice is applied to the acute injury for too long, the body will register the cooling and will reopen the blood vessels in order to help the cold tissue. The result is that even more blood reaches the injured tissue and even more hemorrhaging occurs.

Subacute Phase

After a few days, should swelling and inflammation occur, you can continue treating with ice, but with different treatment times. Otherwise, you should stop treating with ice. During the subacute phase, you should use a “short ice” application, meaning, ice is now applied for short intervals only, since your objective is now to increase blood flow. The ice is applied for 1 to 3 minutes, followed by a 5-minute break. This pattern is repeated four to six times. The short cooling of the tissue increases cell activity and blood flow, but it also decreases the production of substances responsible for inflammation.

Again, it’s important to adhere to the times described here because applying ice for too long can actually injure the tissue: nerves can be irreparably damaged, lymphatic vessels can be destroyed, and cell activity can be decreased.

Ice Timing:

  • Acute muscle injury: 10-minute icing, 20-minute break.
  • Acute tendon and ligament injury: 10-minute icing, 20-minute break, as often as possible during the 48 hours directly following the injury.
  • Subacute injury: 1- to 3-minute icing, 5-minute break, four to six repetitions.

Photo by Maximilian Schreiner.

A Few Tips

Pure ice cubes made of water are well-suited for injuries. I always use the disposable ice cube bags. These can be directly applied by wrapping them around the leg and holding them in place with polo wraps. But remember: please use a damp towel/cloth between ice and leg.

Be careful with gel ice packs. They quickly lose their cooling ability and then actually start accumulating heat from the body. Heat is the last thing you want on an acute injury since it increases circulation!

You can also put wet towels or bandage liners in the freezer and then wrap them directly around the injury. They don’t hold cold very long and start storing heat after a while.

To create an “ice lollipop,” fill a paper cup with water and put it in the freezer. When the water is frozen, cut away half of the paper cup. Now you can massage the affected area of your horse for some time, without your fingers getting too cold. When you move the ice lollipop in small circles, you massage and cool the affected area at the same time. This is a great alternative to other ice applications. As mentioned, since the ice is in constant movement, you can apply it directly to the skin.

When You Shouldn’t Use Ice

The following injuries and changes in tissue are a contraindication to any treatment with ice:

  • Open wounds
  • Chronic damage to blood vessels and lymph vessels
  • Injury to nerves

This excerpt from Physical Therapy for Horses by Helle Katrine Kleven is reprinted with permission from Trafalgar Square Books (www.horseandriderbooks.com).

Sunday Links from SmartPak

By on Aug 20, 2023 12:01 am -

I’m currently in the beginning of a month-long endeavor where my horse is going to be getting a lot of one-on-one “quality time” with my trainer, so coming across this deal with RideIQ got me pretty excited. We here in the mountain West get few opportunities for clinics, but we try our best and do manage to get some bigger names out here a few times a year. A lot of the people I ride with have really taken to RideIQ for all that in-between time, especially while our trainers may be busy living the back-and-forth life to events out of state. I’ve been wanting to start a membership for the last year, but this deal has come at a perfect time — I think I will finally take the plunge and start my own month of “quality time” with some of the top riders featured on this awesome app.

Major International Events:

FEI Eventing Nations Cup, Arville: Website | Live Scores | Live Stream

U.S. Weekend Action:

Caber Farm H.T.: Website | Entry Status | Ride Times | Live Scores | Volunteer

The Event at Archer: Website | Entry Status | Ride Times | Live Scores | Volunteer

Waredaca Farm H.T.: Website | Entry Status | Ride Times | Live Scores | Volunteer

Genesee Valley Riding & Driving Club H.T: Website | Entry Status |Live Scores | Volunteer

Ocala Summer H.T. II: Website | Entry Status | Ride Times | Live Scores | Volunteer

Full Gallop Farm: Website | Volunteer

Links to Start Your Sunday:

Standing Ovation: The Foundation for the Horse dedicates $10,000 to support feed and hay relief for equines impacted by Maui, Hawaii, wildfires

The Future Champions Competition: Young Riders, but FEI

Climate Change and Sport Horse Management

Should You Put Your Horse In Your Online Dating Profile?

Regrouping Between Horse Shows

Weekly Pick from SmartPak: Need a new pair of Piper Breeches? Save up to 75% on breeches (and so much more) with SmartPak’s big summer clearance event.

Morning Viewing: Speaking of clinic season, here’s a clip from the queen of dressage herself, Charlotte Dujardin, on how to ride the perfect corner in dressage.

Dispatches from the Thoroughbred Makeover: 404 Entered; Digital Catalogue Now Live

By on Aug 19, 2023 2:13 pm -

Allison Thompson and Cactus Willie, 2017 Thoroughbred Makeover eventing champions. Photo courtesy of Retired Racehorse Project.

The 2023 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium at the Kentucky Horse Park is still a couple of months away, but now, we can tell you with some certainty that a whopping 404 horses will be aiming to take part in this year’s competition, a figure that’s been confirmed with this week’s close of entries. You can take a look at the entries, which include a huge number of eventing prospects, here.

With the release of the entries has come the reveal of this year’s ASPCA Makeover Marketplace catalogue, with over 100 Makeover graduates available and looking for a new home. You’ll be able to see them in action, take a ride, and potentially find your heart horse, all in one place. Take a browse through what’s on the market here.

Volunteers are still gratefully welcomed for this year’s Makeover, which will take place from October 11–14. Can you donate your time at the Makeover? There’s a variety of jobs and shifts available whether you have horse show experience or not!

There are two great opportunities to donate money or goods to this year’s Makeover and help Thoroughbreds blossom: you can donate to the Fund-a-Need program, currently sitting just shy of $7500, or donate an item or experience — or buy one! — for this year’s silent auction.

Or perhaps your style of participation is cheering on OTTBs and their people — and that’s great, too! Admission is free every day of the competition, and we’ll be bringing you news and updates, too.

Go eventing — and Go Thoroughbreds!

 

 

Diego Farje and EQ Scorpio: How to Build Trust with Reactive Horses

By on Aug 19, 2023 9:14 am -
Diego Farje & EQ Scorpio working on building trust. Diego Farje & EQ Scorpio working on building trust.

This season, we’re following along with Peru’s Diego Farje and his new ride, EQ Scorpio, a part of the newly-formed Equestly Horses program. This series is brought to you in partnership with Equestly, purveyors of the best riding apparel and outerwear out there — trust us, we’ve tested it! To catch up on more Equestly Stories, click here.

When three-year-old EQ Scorpio, owned by Equestly Horses and Diego Farje, walked off the trailer after two days of travel from Argentina to Windurra USA where Diego works as head rider for Boyd Martin, the Argentinian Sport Horse was a little traumatized from the trip. His extremely sensitive and reactive personality meant that the days of travel had been hard on him, causing him to lose weight. When Carlos Hernandez and Sam Potter of Equestly purchased Scorpio, alongside Diego, they were warned that the horse was tough to handle. All of his beautiful jumping talent and gorgeous movement was wrapped up in an outer shell of anxiety that made him reactive and hard to catch, to say the least. Working with him required tenacity that most riders don’t have time for.

In love with the gorgeous 16.2 hand bright bay gelding from the moment he’d seen his auction video, Diego made the time.

He applied several simple techniques and worked hard on his own mindset to build a level of trust and partnership with Scorpio that, while still a work in progress, is impressive for only two months of hard work. Many of us can relate to what it’s like to have a horse that’s anxious and reactive. These horses seem designed to push our buttons, test the limits of our patience, and emotionally exhaust us. Diego’s method of gaining Scorpio’s trust and ensuring that the horse enjoys spending time with him could help so many of us stuck in similar situations.

Diego says that the key to his success is working on his own mindset before handling Scorpio. “It’s not like working with a robot. It’s an entity that feels energy,” Diego said. “I need to be positive even when if I’m exhausted because he feels that, you know? If you have the wrong energy when you work with a sensitive horse, they will feel something weird about you and they won’t want to be close to you.”

No matter what the day has brought him, Diego leaves his stress and emotions at the door and focuses on being positive and calm every time he works with Scorpio, whether he’s just grooming him or putting in a training session. “I’m pretty chill in general. Because of that, he gets calmer and calmer the more I spend time with him. He feels good with me.”

Diego Farje and EQ Scorpio at their first competition at Unionville. Photo by Carlos Hernandéz, COO of Equestly.

This approach doesn’t mean that Diego never sets boundaries with Scorpio. But it does mean that the way he sets those boundaries or corrects the horse is very thoughtful. “If he does something I don’t like, I just make him move with my hand or bump him with the lead rope. Then I tell him that it’s okay and we move on,” Diego said.

Have you ever seen someone reprimand their horse by getting that growly voice and making a really aggressive face that looks like a snarl? Yeah, that doesn’t fly with Diego and Scorpio. “A correction is just a correction,” Diego said. “I’ll just apply pressure and when he gives me something positive I reward him and then we move on. We don’t get feelings involved. We don’t get angry and we don’t make that face that looks like, ‘I’m gonna kill you.’”

With that being said, it’s human nature to get emotional when working with these big animals. Particularly when your horse spooks and you feel like you’re about to get crushed, it’s easy to react with anger out of fear. I know that I’ve been there and done that, even though it’s something I strive to avoid. Diego’s way of handling a spooky, sensitive horse takes fear out of the equation. “I try not to make a big deal out of the little things that he spooks at. If I try to correct him at that moment, he freaks out and makes the situation worse. If I don’t react, he realizes that there’s nothing to worry about,” Diego said. “So the next time he goes through it, he doesn’t even care. If he spooks, I show him, ‘Hey, nothing happened, you’re safe. Just chill out.’ I try to keep my energy pretty neutral.”

Perhaps the key to Diego’s success with using his own emotions (or lack thereof) to calm Scorpio down is the amount of quality time he’s spent with the young horse. When Scorpio first arrived, he was completely shut down. He wouldn’t let anyone approach him and wouldn’t even poke his head out of the stall to look around. Now, Diego can walk into the pasture and Scorpio will come running. How did he get to this point? A lot of patience and horse treats.

Diego has spent hours sitting in Scorpio’s stall waiting for him to approach him. “I used to go into the stall and he was like ‘What are you doing? Like, give me my space.’ But then I just waited for him to approach me. And he was curious, like ‘What’s that? What are you doing?’ Every time he came over I would give him a treat, just to help him feel comfortable,” Diego said. “I think it just takes patience and giving him space and showing him confidence around other people and horses.”

While Scorpio now trusts Diego, it’s still a work in progress with the other barn staff. Despite the setbacks, Diego hasn’t given up and uses everyday activities like grooming and bathing to continue building Scorpio’s trust in him. “I hate when people spray horses in the face with a lot of water pressure. Imagine if you had someone spraying you in the face with a lot of water pressure. You wouldn’t be comfortable,” Diego said. “So, when I first started bathing Scorpio I started working with him to show him that I wasn’t going to spray his eyes or his face. I use less water pressure and put the hose on the back of the crown and just let it run down his head really gently. I want him to think, ‘Oh, actually that feels really good.’ Once he gives me that relaxation with the water running down his face, I stop.”

The spa day and relaxation techniques continue even after bathtime. “In the beginning, he didn’t want me to approach him with a towel. It was terrifying to him,” Diego said. “Now, he rubs his face on it and enjoys when I go over his body with it. He starts chewing and gets really relaxed.”

“After training and bathing, I just put him in a stall and I can feel his energy really low and relaxed,” Diego added. “I really want everything I do with him to create more good experiences with me, you know?”

Diego really prioritizes working with even the smallest of Scorpio’s quirks, instead of trying to force the horse through every single challenge he faces. For example, Scorpio decided he hated having a fan blowing over his head and down at his face. “He just doesn’t like it, and I won’t force it,” Diego said. “Now the fan is in a corner and blows at a diagonal, instead of down on him, so he’s fine with that.”

Diego Farje & EQ Scorpio working on their partnership on the cross country field.

“He’s just hyperaware and really, really sensitive. There’s not another word to describe it. He’s always focused on everything that’s happening around him,” Diego said.

While many riders would take Scorpio’s reactiveness as a negative trait, Diego believes that sensitivity will add to his athletic abilities in the long run. “When he starts really working in his eventing career, he’ll be really focused, right? He’ll have a really fast reaction to a jump and be really sensitive to where his legs are and how to pick them up. I just need to channel that energy and sensitivity in my favor.”

As the owner of a sensitive young Thoroughbred myself, there’s a lot I’ve taken away from Diego’s trust-building process with Scorpio. Not only am I going to be more mindful of my own energy and mindset, but I’m going to put more emphasis on ensuring my horse is taking some enjoyment away from every step of my process. As Diego has proven, sensitive horses require thoughtful and compassionate handling.

Have you checked out the all-new Equestly.Ride app yet? You can download it for free in the Apple App Store (sadly, it’s not currently available on Android – but we’ll keep you posted!). Inside, you can track your rides, make a training schedule, manage your horse’s appointments, and catch up on news from EN — all in one place. Plus, the more you use Equestly.Ride, the more points you’ll earn toward awesome Equestly merchandise and more. Learn more here.

 

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Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Aug 19, 2023 12:01 am -

Absolutely majestic. Photo by Abby Powell.

This past work week was an arduous one for me, but as I drove to the barn yesterday evening to slog away at my horse’s rehab I was greeted with an incredible rainbow after a rather stormy day. Sometimes you just need a little extra pang of beauty of beauty to serve as a reminder how lucky we actually are to get to spend time out and about with our equine partners.

Major International Events:

FEI Eventing Nations Cup, Arville: Website | Live Scores | Live Stream

U.S. Weekend Action:

Caber Farm H.T.: Website | Entry Status | Ride Times | Live Scores | Volunteer

The Event at Archer: Website | Entry Status | Ride Times | Live Scores | Volunteer

Waredaca Farm H.T.: Website | Entry Status | Ride Times | Live Scores | Volunteer

Genesee Valley Riding & Driving Club H.T: Website | Entry Status |Live Scores | Volunteer

Ocala Summer H.T. II: Website | Entry Status | Ride Times | Live Scores | Volunteer

Full Gallop Farm: Website | Volunteer

Links to Start Your Weekend:

USEA Foundation Encourages Riders to Submit Applications for the Richard Picken Memorial Grants

Lara’s Whirlwind Week

Boyd Martin: Build Your Own Bravery

USEF and EC Work Together to Extend Date for Canadian Participation Eligibility Requirements

Hot on Horse Nation: Barn Aisle Chats: Physio With Dr. Aaron

Sponsor Corner: “Good riding is good riding. We can learn something from everyone, especially if they are at the top of their game. Sharon and Bettina most certainly are. I have a lot of respect for what they do, and I’m so grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to be able to work with them,” said Rachel Ory, a reiner turned silver medal dressage rider. Read more about Rachel’s journey from Western dressage to pure dressage, and find out how lessons with Bettina Hoy and Sharon White guided her along the way, with the latest article sponsored by World Equestrian Brands.

Training horses is a universal language. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Morning Viewing: Just a little hype for this weekend’s leg of the FEI Nations Cup in Arville, Belgium.

Friday Video: Sunday Stylings with the Women of the British Team

By on Aug 18, 2023 6:20 pm -

Okay, okay, I promise this is the last time I share something from the European Championships (this might be a lie) — but I couldn’t resist this roundup from the final day of competition, wherein the four women of the British team secured themselves another gold medal and Ros Canter, with her two-and-a-bit fence margin, nabbed herself the title of European Champion with Lordships Graffalo. Sometimes, in the fast-paced, manic working environment of an event, it’s hard to take everything in as it happens, on an emotional level, anyway, and so watching back from the comfort of my sofa brings all those big feels right back to the surface. What a day.

Britain’s Osberton International Introduces New Classes for 2023

By on Aug 18, 2023 2:54 pm -

Caroline Powell competing at Osberton International. Photo by Tim Wilkinson/Eventing Images.

Osberton International has been the end of season destination event for many riders over the past decades, but 2023 welcomes a new range of classes giving increased opportunity to riders. These are as follows:

A National 3DE

A new National level long format class running at Novice and Intermediate, giving competitors the opportunity to compete over a long format without the added requirements, and costs, of competing in an FEI class.

On the schedule as Restricted Intermediate and Restricted Novice, the tracks will have subtle differences from their CCI2*L and CCI3*L counter parts, with a less intense track and changes at some of the more challenging combinations.  To minimise the time required on-site, and spent away from home and work, the requirement for a first trot up has been removed.  A final horse inspection, ahead of show jumping, will be held in the interest of horse welfare.

Entry Requirement – Novice competitors are not to have started any FEI classes in the 2023 season, with MERs taken over the 2022 and 2023 seasons.  Intermediate competitors are not to have started a CCI3* or above in the 2023 season, with MERs taken over the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Minimum Entry Requirements – Novice requires 2x Novice MERs, with Intermediate requiring 2x Intermediate MERs.

Onsite stabling is recommended, but not required, however you can enjoy all the fun in the evenings if you stay on site.

Project Pony CCIP2*-S

A new CCI2*-S restricted to Pony riders, giving our young riders a new end of season aim and allowing them to experience the atmosphere of a destination international fixture, with the winner receiving the hire of an Eco Voltz bike, PLUS an enhanced training packed with an elite level rider.

Osberton also welcomes the Project Pony All Stars competition, an exciting concept first seen at Belsay earlier this year, that encourages interaction and collaboration between the youth riders and senior riders.

Minimum Entry Requirements – 3x BE100/BE100 Plus/BE105 plus 1x Novice

Agria Lifetime Equine CCI1*-Intro

For the first time ever, BEDE Events welcomes CCI1* competitors to Osberton, offering entry level competitors of international sport the opportunity to experience the atmosphere and excitement of a destination FEI event.

Unlike other CCI1* classes being run this season, the Osberton CCI1* will run in a three-day format with Wednesday/Thursday Dressage, Friday cross-country, and culminating in show jumping in the main arena on Saturday.

A final horse inspection, ahead of show jumping, will be held in the interest of horse welfare.

The CCI1* also acts as the grand finale for the Agra Lifetime Equine BE100 League.

Minimum Entry Requirements – 3x BE100/BE100 Plus/BE105

Investec CCI3*L & Arena Saddles CCI2*L

A firm fixture on the Osberton schedule and an end of season aim for many. This year’s event will see a new loop added to the cross-country course, giving more galloping sections.  The new route through the woods also features a cracking new bank complex for riders to tackle.

Both the CCI3*L and CCI2*L act as finales for their respective Investec Intermediate and Arena Saddles Novice Leagues, that have been running across all BEDE Events in 2023.

Entries are now OPEN for all classes with late entry surcharges applied from 30th August, and final date for entries of 1stSeptember.  All entries will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis.  Enter early to guarantee your space.

Full schedule and entry details via British Eventing.

Two Decades of Learning: 10 Valuable Lessons Learned from Riding in Clinics

By on Aug 18, 2023 12:17 pm -

Riding with British Olympian William Fox-Pitt. Photo by Jennifer McFall.

I was lucky enough to be born into an equestrian family, climbing onto saddles as soon as I could walk. My parents, Earl and Jen McFall, are both three-day eventers and trainers. They run Dragonfire Farm, which is a horse breeding and training facility founded by my grandmother Cheron. She originally started off breeding pure Morgan horses, which my mom and dad trained for competition. Eventually the entire farm changed over to the discipline of eventing, and I learned a lot from being able to experience both of these different worlds.

I’ve been eventing for the past 12 years now, and my parents have been helping me develop my skills when it comes to training horses and becoming a top level rider. While they’re both capable teachers with plenty of experience, they know the value of taking lessons from a variety of instructors, so they’ve done their best to bring top riders out to Dragonfire Farm for clinics.

We’ve hosted some of the finest riders in the world at Dragonfire, including Philip Dutton, Lucinda Green, Boyd Martin, Susie Hutchinson, Tamie Smith, Buck Davidson, Hawley Bennett-Awad and William Fox-Pitt. Each clinic has been an opportunity to learn and understand horse riding from different perspectives.

There are so many different types of instructors out there and each has their own way of explaining things. Gaining outlooks from so many different minds has given me a big pool of lessons to pull from. Having taken advantage of these opportunities to ride with some of the best riders in the world, here are the 10 most valuable lessons that will help you get the most out of the clinics you attend.

Riding with Boyd Martin at Dragonfire. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

1. Watch and Learn From the Other Riders

Clinics provide an opportunity to observe multiple lessons in one day. Attend some of the other groups and you’ll get to learn from watching other riders. Their successes and failures can help you identify ways to improve your own riding.

2. Come with an Open Mind

Embrace the opportunity to try new techniques, even if they challenge your current approach. Be adaptable and open to change, as it might lead to a breakthrough in your riding.

3. Know Your Group Size Preferences

Consider whether you thrive in a larger group setting where you can watch and learn from fellow riders or if you prefer a more one-on-one lesson. Personally, I learn best from watching how other riders approach the same task. Choose a clinic that aligns with your learning style.

4. Know Your Horse and Your Limits

Over-facing your horse and challenging him with something he isn’t ready for won’t help your growth — speak up when you’re in over your head! No matter how experienced or how accomplished your instructor is, they don’t know your horse as well as you do.

Riding with Olympic show jumper Susie Hutchinson. Photo by Jennifer McFall.

5. Widen Your Horizons

To evolve as a rider, I’ve sought lessons from a diverse range of instructors. Each clinician brings a fresh perspective and innovative techniques to the table. Riding with different trainers can provide you with the new techniques or ideas you need to continue improving. The teacher who gives you that “break through” moment might not be who you expect.

6. Take Videos for Self-Reflection

Recording your lessons can be a valuable tool for self-improvement. Reviewing the footage allows you to absorb the instructor’s guidance and assess your riding performance objectively. It always feels different than it looks, looking back at your ride and listening to the instructor’s words can help you better understand the lesson.

7. Don’t Fear “Bad Rides”

Clinics often are challenging and this might cause new or old issues between you and your horse to come to the surface. Not having a perfect ride shouldn’t be embarrassing; clinics are a great place to solve problems since you could get a fresh new solution for a problem you’ve been struggling with. Failure is a chance to learn.

8. Find the Best Teachers

When looking for a new instructor to learn from, make sure you look beyond someone’s achievement in competition. While there are many great riders who are also great teachers, being good at something doesn’t always mean you’re effective at teaching. Look for the best teachers out there — someone who can connect with you and has the right outlook for learning goals.

How it started: an early clinic with Hawley Bennett-Awad. Photo by Jennifer McFall.

9. Be Appreciative

Show gratitude to the clinician for their time and expertise. Fully engage in the lesson, avoid distractions, and make the most out of the opportunity to learn.

10. Find One Key Take Away

When going to clinics and learning from different instructors you’re going to get a lot of different advice, and you won’t be able to apply all of it. Take one bit of advice from each lesson or each clinic you take and really implement it into your riding. It’s up to you to decide which advice is the most effective for you and your horse.

Clinics are a great opportunity to challenge yourself and learn so much in a short amount of time. I find opportunities to apply what I’ve learned from clinics in competition and in my lesson program.

As I continue to work alongside my parents in our family business, Dragonfire Farm, I remain committed to evolving as both a horse trainer and an instructor. I am immensely proud to be the third generation involved in this equestrian venture, and I owe my growth and success to the dedication of my parents and grandparents. Their support has allowed me to explore the broader equestrian world and I’m thankful for the investment they’ve put into my learning.

This column is brought to you in collaboration with Athletux, one of the longest running equestrian marketing agencies in the business working exclusively with equestrian brands, athletes like Taylor, and events. Click here to learn more about how Athletux can help you!

Friday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

By on Aug 18, 2023 10:06 am -

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Welcome to the world, sweet Mara Jung, and congratulations to mum Faye, dad Michael, and big brother Leo — now, with a new addition to the global roster of eventing babies, I can’t wait to see what the Olympic roster looks like in 24 years or so. Someone save one of those Rocana babies for this sweet girl!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Caber Farm H.T.: Website | Entry Status | Ride Times | Live Scores | Volunteer

The Event at Archer: Website | Entry Status | Ride Times | Live Scores | Volunteer

Waredaca Farm H.T.: Website | Entry Status | Ride Times | Live Scores | Volunteer

Genesee Valley Riding & Driving Club H.T:
Website | Entry Status |Live Scores | Volunteer

Ocala Summer H.T. II: Website | Entry Status | Ride Times | Live Scores | Volunteer

Full Gallop Farm: Website | Volunteer

News & Notes from Around the World

I have so many thoughts percolating in my brain box after last week’s European Championships. Some of them are good — we know now that course designer Pierre le Goupil is very good at championship tracks, for instance — and some are… more reflective. I’ll be bringing some of these to you soon, but in the meantime, it’s always worth reading Andrew Nicholson’s opinions, which are always smart and salient.

Lauren Sprieser’s blogs are reliably excellent. This throwback from 2018, about how Young Riders success doesn’t really have a jot of bearing on whether you’ll be successful as an adult rider, is a particularly good one. I used to really beat myself up for having no Young Rider results to speak of, and I wish this piece had been around then. Check it out.

Five of the FEI Eventing World Top Ten riders are women right now. And not a single person will be taken aback by that fact. That’s worth reflecting on: not only are we in a gender-equal sport, it’s proven to be a totally balanced system of success, too. Read more reflections on this, the thing that arguably makes equestrian sport so special, here.

Can’t stop thinking about Walter; won’t stop thinking about Walter. Let’s throw it back to that Badminton round, shall we?

Sturdy Riders Unite: Trying to Find Breeches That Fit

By on Aug 18, 2023 9:41 am -

Veronica Green-Gott and her horse, GFF Monarch. Photo by Melissa Wise Photography.

In many equestrian cliques, there is one acceptable body type: tall and skinny. For someone whose husband fondly calls her a “sturdy lass,” it’s frustrating to find that most tack stores and equestrian clothing brands cater to this one type of person. In many tack stores, a 32 is the biggest size available, which no longer fits me or many other equestrians. When I was fresh out of college, I worked as a retail associate at a local tack store. I can’t count the number of times I had to turn away riders because we didn’t have show jackets, breeches, or tall boots that fit a larger frame or more muscular calves.

It’s a unique feeling of shame and melancholy when you find out that the tack store that all your friends shop at doesn’t carry your size. It’s a feeling that I didn’t know then, but am familiar with now. No one should ever be made to feel less than just because we’re not built like your standard Barbie doll.

And let’s be honest, equestrians are more likely to be built like weight-lifters than marathon runners. (And I want to be clear here, there is no such thing as a bad body type, whether you’re skinny or sturdy.) Really, having a thicker, more muscular build makes sense in this sport. It comes from throwing hay bales, mucking stalls, hanging onto runaway horses, and using all the muscle you have to control a large animal. So, why don’t brands embrace the bodies that make up the majority of the sport?

I made it my personal mission to find brands that are more body inclusive. While the pickings were still on the slim side (no pun intended), I expected it to be more difficult. Luckily, things have changed a bit since my time working retail nearly eight years ago.

The SmartPak Piper Collection
When I opened up my SmartPak catalog to the breeches section a while back, I remember exclaiming to my husband and waving my magazine around. I’m sure he was thinking, “Once again, my wife has gone insane.” Why all the excitement? SmartPak’s Piper Breeches are now available far beyond the typical largest size of 32/34. Instead, they’re available in sizes from 22 all the way up to 46. There’s a huge variety of styles in the collection, and my little hunter heart is thrilled with all the knee patch options.

 

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TuffRider Breeches & Boots
TuffRider breeches and tights are not only body inclusive, they’re also budget friendly. I own a few pairs of TuffRider breeches, and especially love these wide waistband knee patch breeches. However, if you’re looking for the pair with the widest range of sizes, you’ll want the Cotton Pull-On Plus Breeches, which are available up to a size 42.

Perhaps even rarer than body inclusive breeches are tall boots that come in a variety of sizes. The TuffRider Ladies Plus Rider Boots come in extra-wide, both short and standard heights, and go up to a size eleven in the footbed. I wish I had access to these when I was working retail!

Buckwild Breeches
Fashion isn’t limited to just one body size. Buckwild Breeches makes super cute riding breeches and tights that are for every body. They have a great Curvy Mare collection that isn’t just larger sizes– these breeches offer more room for your hips, thighs, and butt, so you’ll have a better chance of finding the ever elusive perfect fit.

I have a pair of these and they’re my favorite set of breeches in terms of fashion. My only wish is that they came in knee patch. I find the silicone full seat just a little too sticky for my tastes.

Kerrits
I am 100 percent convinced that there is not a single pair of breeches more comfortable than Kerrits winter tights. I had my original pair of fleece-lined riding tights from Kerrits for nearly a decade. Sometimes I would just wear them around the house, like loungewear– that’s how comfortable they were.

Kerrits doesn’t just make heavenly winter tights, they make most of their breeches and tights in inclusive sizes. Yup, you heard that right. Their riding pants are available in sizes extra-small to 2X.

Honorable Mention: Canter Culture
Full transparency here: I don’t own a pair of these breeches (yet). Everytime they pop up on my social media I spend some time drooling at the screen. I mean, how can you say no to houndstooth breeches?

 

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The reason Canter Culture gets an honorable mention is that they have pretty standard sizes, extra small through extra large. However, their extra large is equivalent to a size US 16 to 18, and rumor has it they’ll stretch to fit a size 20. But because this isn’t confirmed on their website, I can’t guarantee that’s the case. Still, as a mid-size rider, these breeches are definitely on my wish list.

Veronica Green-Gott and the ever-grumpy GFF Monarch. Photo by Melissa Wise Photography

While I still get frustrated shopping in stores, I’m really excited that more and more online brands are taking on the responsibility of creating apparel for all equestrians. It’s a big step forward when large brands pave the way for body inclusive sizing. Not only is it important to ensure current equestrians have access to the apparel they need, but it’s also a step towards making our sport feel more welcoming and less exclusive to new riders, young and old.

Note: Eventing Nation is proud to have a paid partnership with both SmartPak and JPC Equestrian (owners of TuffRider). However, we hope this won’t sway your opinion of their inclusion in this article. This list was created based on the writer’s personal experiences and opinions and we were not compensated for the publication of this article by any of the brands mentioned.