There are so many reasons to love SmartPak. In addition to always running great sales on their awesome products — today is the last day to save 15% with promo code SPRING2014! — they also have a fantastic sense of humor. Case in point, you have to watch their new video series “If Horses Were People,” which Horse Nation featured in today’s Morning Feed post. Episode 1 is above, and Episode 2 is below. Be sure to watch both, and don’t forget to shop the spring sale!
Gina Miles is on a mission to educate riders about bits. Photo courtesy Professional's Choice.
I recently had the opportunity to chat with Gina Miles, 2008 individual Olympic silver medalist, about her philosophy on bitting. As you’d imagine, Gina has become very knowledgeable about the function and proper usage of bits during her career, particularly through riding with legendary horsemen George Morris and Jimmy Wofford. And now she has assembled her very own collection of bits, which are available through EN’s sponsor Professional’s Choice, as part of their new English line of products.
Chatting with Gina was not only very interesting but also quite educational for a bit novice such as myself. She said that while teaching clinics she will stop a rider to ask them why they are using a particular bit and what function that bit accomplishes. Oftentimes, the rider does not know the actual function of their bit — other than it is “stronger” or “more gentle” on their horse’s mouth. “I don’t just want to sell bits; I want to help to educate,” Gina said.
With that mind, here are Gina’s top 10 guidelines for bitting:
1. Use the mildest bit that you can for the job. When she is starting to work with a new horse, Gina begins by riding the horse in a loose ring double break snaffle bit. She said that this allows her to “see where you are (with the horse), to be able to plan from there.”
2. Go back to the basics. Part of Gina’s bitting philosophy was developed while riding with Jimmy Wofford. After the competition season ended and winter set in, Jimmy’s horses were ridden with the most basic bits. Winter is a chance to step back from intense training; by using a mild bit, a rider has the chance to see how obedient their horse can be.
3. Use enough noseband. A bit will not be as effective if the noseband that it is used with is not strong enough. A strong bit can’t help a rider control their horse if the horse is able to get its mouth open. On the flip side, sometimes a stronger noseband needs to be used to make a mild bit effective without overusing it. Gina told me that she has seen horses that have been “made dull in the mouth from the overuse of a plain snaffle bit.”
4. School in a more mild bit than you show in. While training, you are teaching your horse to be responsive to aids and obedient. Schooling in a milder bit will help you practice getting more control while using less bit. This should result in a more responsive and better trained horse.
5. Compete in a bit that is strong enough. When you arrive at a show and unload your horse, they are usually excited; and when they are excited, horses sometimes tend to throw their muscle around. “Sometimes you have to bit up to get the job done,” Gina said. Instead of fighting for control of an excited horse, switching up to a stronger bit at a competition can help immensely.
6. Safety is the number one priority. “During a cross-country course when you are galloping across fields and jumping your horse over solid obstacles, it is really important to be able to stop when you get to the end,” Gina said. Another part of Gina’s philosophy she developed from George Morris is that you must “use enough bit that you have control.” When working with young or inexperienced riders, Gina would rather use a stronger bit for the sake of safety, especially when they are jumping or riding cross country.
7. Switch up your bits. After finding several bits that work for your horse, switch them up from time to time. Doing so will help keep things fresh and interesting for your horse.
8. Make sure to fit your bit to your horse’s mouth. Don’t just assume that the average horse goes in a 5-inch bit. You should measure your horse’s mouth to make sure that your bits fit properly. There are commercially available bit sizers that are basically a piece of plastic with labeled measurements and a bumper at the end. You can also just use a piece of string with a knot at one end. Slip the string through the horse’s mouth where the bit would sit and keep the knot at one end. Mark off where your horse’s mouth ends on the other side and measure the string. Keep in mind that for bits with a loose ring cheekpiece, you might need to add a quarter- to half-inch to prevent pinching.
9. Properly fit your bit to your bridle. When you attach a new bit to your bridle and are fitting it on your horse, you will need to check to ensure that it fits properly. As a general guideline, you should be able to see one large and one small “wrinkle” at the corner of your horse’s mouth. Adjust the cheekpieces on your bridle to achieve this effect.
10. Regularly schedule your equine dentist. Sometimes dental problems can be a cause of bitting discomfort for your horse. An important part of maintaining your horse’s health and being successful with their training is to schedule regular dental exams.
Gina Miles Loose Ring Waterford bit from Professional’s Choice
Gina also talked about her own collection of bits with Professional’s Choice. With so many combinations of mouthpiece and cheekpieces available, choosing the right bit for your horse can be a daunting task. In speaking with Gina, she told me that she specifically selected the bits that are part of her own collection so that “there is a bit for everyone” — from basic bits to stronger bits, for horses that tend to carry their head too high, ones that carry their head too low and even ones that tend to lock in the jaw. You can check out Gina’s bit collection by visiting the Professional’s Choice website.
Go Bitting Education. Go Gina Miles. Go Eventing.
Grounds crew members keeping a show jump course safe. Photo by Samantha Clark.
It is easy to become wrapped up in competition. Whether you are a spectator, a parent, a friend, a hapless significant other, or a rider, the charged atmosphere at an event is unmatched. The hustle and bustle of the stabling area, the warm-ups that require precise steering and a lack of claustrophobia, and the adrenaline rush as you come out of the start box are all contributing factors that make eventing one of the best sports around. Let’s take a few moments, though, and raise a toast to all of those working tirelessly to make that atmosphere happen. I’m looking at you: the organizers, officials, judges, volunteers, sponsors, and everyone else who makes this sport so amazing.
I know I have a biased opinion, but I am constantly amazed at the amount of times I hear “thank you” or see a smile on the face of a jump judge who has been manning the Beginner Novice coop all day. In my travel to cover multiple events, I have yet to meet an organizer or staff member who was not welcoming and accommodating. So this is my way of saying thank you to each and every one of you who dedicate hours of your life for weekend after weekend of competition.
Can you imagine the amount of time it takes to schedule hundreds of ride times over the course of a weekend? Or how sharp the person who coordinates the jump judges must be; that is a lot of people to manage in multiple places at once! How about the foresight it takes to order enough refreshments to stock the concession stand, or the power of persuasion required to bring sponsors on board?
It is a job that this sport truly relies upon. Without these tireless individuals, our sport would not have a foundation on which to stand. So, next time you are at an event, make sure to give a big EN thank you (and maybe a high five – chinchillas love high fives) to the people who literally give us something to ride for.
Bogey, my second most famous mount right now.
Here’s something that I said yesterday, that really only could have come out of a horse girl’s mouth: “I’m so impressed with her, she only nervous-pooped once in the wash stall instead of six times like yesterday!”. That, my friends, is truly looking for the joy in small things. If you can consider one enormous poop explosion an improvement, you’re on the right track towards finding your happiness in the horse world.
I’m a huge fan of working with young or inexperienced horses, and it’s probably due to my ability to find success in the smallest degrees and the weirdest of places. I recently started working at the Equine Welfare Society, a non-profit rescue operation that is not only giving unwanted horses a second chance, but training them in a high class way so that they can make their way into the world with more advantages than they are usually afforded. We’ve only just begun, and we have four horses, each at a completely different point in their training. I’m personally super psyched about this opportunity, because not only do I get to train these horses from the ground up, but I also get to have an incredible positive influence on their lives.
We’ve got Isabelle, a coming four year old who hasn’t been started yet and is quite unflappable. Bogey came with her from the Central Virginia Horse Rescue, who got him from Camelot auctions (look at his sad face!) a few years back and worked with him to overcome his abject (and righteous) terror of human beings. Val is an eight year old OTTB who failed at everything regarding racing, and hasn’t been sat on since her last attempt at running a few years ago. Val came with a colt who is not related to her, named Nate, and he’s just a yearling.
Val during her first ride since the track!
In terms of finding positive change, there’s nothing like a neglected or abused horse to really bring things into perspective for you. Every single little move these horses make towards trusting me more, or volunteering cooperation is a huge victory. I spend my time with them seeking to teach them civilized behavior, but also to slowly teach them that human beings can actually be great companions. Some of them have fear issues, like Bogey, who was ear twitched so badly before CVHR found him that his ears were sprained and paralyzed. Some of them have more generic anxiety, like Val, who believes that every time you go near her, there’s the chance that she’ll be forced to run a race in terror again. Either way, for horses like that, a little bit goes a long way.
For any horse, but especially one that has had bad experiences, small movements to put their hearts and bodies on the line are in fact big risks. To see those moments from them, and to recognize them, that is where the joy in horse training comes for me. In fact, if I can count only one anxiety induced wash stall poop as a success, I consider myself an extremely lucky person. After all, surviving in the horse world is nothing if not appreciating the small things, and figuring out how to keep the smile on your face.
The CIC3* division at Galway Downs wrapped up yesterday with a thrilling win by Kristi Nunnink and R-Star, who are headed to Rolex next. Be sure to catch up on the action with the recap video, brought to you by the USEA.
The national divisions will run cross country today, and it looks like Galway has, as always, put on a spectacular event on the West Coast. Many thanks to Frankie Thieriot, the USEA, and the many organizers, volunteers, and officials who put together a great event and some great coverage to go with it.
[Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Chatsworth Stud stallion Rusticus (Favoritas-Rispe IV, Bartholdy). Photo courtesy of Tammo Ernst.
In 2012, Michael Pollard took to his keyboard to voice his opinions on the state of the eventing in the United States. While there is much good to say about the sport, it remains an evolving entity, which opens the door for ideas and opinions on what could be improved upon to keep the sport growing at a healthy and productive rate. Michael wrote a column for The Chronicle of the Horse to put forth his ideas on changing the eventing scene for the better, which included improvements to breeding programs. He firmly believed that if the U.S. riders were able to access quality horses without having to import from Europe, that would be an essential first step in improving the overall performance of the High Performance squad, as well as those who strive to succeed at other levels of the sport.
Chatsworth Beginnings
Formula One (Beau Royale-Crokoon Lady, Tresco). Photo courtesy of Chatsworth Stud.
Enter Chatsworth Stud, which has joined the movement to breed quality sporthorses on U.S. soil. “I was just like everyone else. I went horse shopping in Europe for my next top horse,” Michael said. “I felt like I wanted to buy younger horses, as I noticed that the older horses either had some sort of problem or that the good ones were so picked over it was hard to find what you wanted. When you import, the cost of importing is a much larger percentage of the horse’s overall value, especially for the younger, unproven ones. With the young ones, you almost have to buy two or three to potentially get one superstar. It becomes expensive rapidly, and it is really an unnecessary, expensive tax that we put on ourselves.”
Together with his wife, Nathalie, Michael worked with longtime mentor Denny Emerson when the time came to get more heavily involved in the breeding industry. “This was eight or nine years ago, and Denny was looking to move some of his breeding stock. We took over handling the books for Formula One, and it just went from there. The Chatsworth brand has been in operation for about six years now, and it’s really grown from having quality stallions and doing more advertising.”
Michael and Nathalie made a strategic decision to buy stallions and mares with breeding potential on any trips to Europe so that they could build their stock at home. “The idea is to have enough Thoroughbred blood to inject a little warmblood in order to create more movement. Eventually you’ll end up with a hybrid somewhere down the line that meets all criteria for event horses,” Michael said. “In the end, the four-star horses will need to be good enough where they could succeed in the higher levels of strictly dressage and show jumping. That’s where it gets into a numbers game to be able to produce those types of horses. What I’ve been happy with so far is that the horses who have come through our program and have gone through the Young Event Horse program have done quite well. We haven’t had any that I didn’t think had a shot of making it to the top.”
Business Strategy and Future Plans
Halimey Go (Askar-Hamamelis Go, Pardon Go). Photo courtesy of Dr. Timothy Holekamp.
As the Chatsworth brand continues to grow, the goal is to have eight to ten foals produced each year. “It will be easier to show what our breeding program is doing as the numbers get bigger. So far we’ve gotten great feedback on what we have bred, and everything we have had come through our program is something I would be proud to show somebody. What we have stacks up with everything you could see in Europe,” Michael said.
As far as plans for the future are concerned, Michael still has his eyes fixed upon improving the availability of elite sporthorses to alleviate the added cost and inconvenience of traveling to Europe. “I would like to get together with other breeders and perhaps do a sales week or a winter auction. Long term, I think that’s what we need: an outlet where people can come and see nine or ten horses and feel like they have options. That is one advantage that going to Europe offers; you can see numerous horses in one day, whereas here you would have to travel long distances to see an equal number of horses. Offering something similar is something I would like to see here.”
A believer in “work smarter, not harder,” Michael and Nathalie are focused on their ultimate goal of producing the best possible horses. “Ultimately, it’s a labor of love. We love eventing and we want to create top event horses. We have to keep things moving and make sure we don’t end up with a herd of 40 horses,” Michael said. “Our goal is to be a viable option for people who want top quality young horses. One day we will hopefully start using the Chatsworth prefix in competition. I would love to have bred enough horses someday to supply everyone in need with an elite string of horses.”
A Special Opportunity
Songline II (Summertime-Schwalbenspiel, Exclusiv). Photo courtesy of Beate Langels.
Among many other fantastic breeding opportunities that are available through Chatsworth is the stunning Trakehner stallion, Songline II. You may remember this stallion from his stunning dressage test at Ocala Winter II earlier this year, where he scored a 21.7 on his way to winning the Open Intermediate division. The 10-year-old dark bay son of Summertime out of Schwalbenspiel came to Chatsworth Stud in 2013 from owner Gustav Schickedanz, and his lessee, Tim Holekamp. Songline II competed in Germany, winning the Six Year Old Champion Event Horse in 2010.
It has been decided that 2014 will be Songline II’s final breeding season, as his owner has plans to geld and re-train the stallion for driving. “He is a seriously special horse,” Michael said. “He needs to be with mares with a bit more Thoroughbred blood. If there are people who have that kind of horse, definitely don’t miss the opportunity to breed to him. We are very fortunate to have had him in our barn this year.”
For more information on Songline II and the other top quality stallions Chatsworth Stud has to offer, please visit their website.
Julie Norman and Consensus at Texas Rose Horse Park. Photo by Ashley Hays.
Several events are running around the country this weekend. We’ve been keeping you updated on Galway Downs, but here is a quick roundup of scores from the other events as well. As stated earlier, the weather seems to be affecting many of these events, but we know how tough eventers are when it comes down to it! Good luck to all competing this weekend.
Advanced:
1. Bonner Carpenter – Basco – 37.8
2. Tiffany Cooke – Patent Pending – 43.1
3. Julie Norman – Consensus – 47.4
Intermediate:
1. Danny Warrington – Will Smith – 31.9
2. Heather Morris – Europop – 36.7
3. Katherine Rivera – Royal Lufttanzer – 41.9
Open Preliminary:
1. Heather Morris – Charlie Tango – 32.7
2. Stuart Black – Balmoral Archibold – 31.7
3. Kadi Eykamp – Tridium – 35.9
Preliminary Rider:
1. Laura McEvoy – VIP – 30.9
1. Elizabeth Bohling – First Mark – 30.9
2. Elizabeth New – Uppercrust D – 34.0
Open Intermediate:
1. Philippa Humphreys – Rich N Famous – 54.6
2. Amanda Wilson – Cool Decision – 61.6
3. Colleen McKitrick – Rocmaster – 74.5
Laine Ashker and Calling All Comets at Rocking Horse.
Open Intermediate A:
1. Buck Davidson – Wiley Post – 29.4
2. Jennie Jarnstrom – Penelope – 30.8
3. Lisa Marie Fergusson – Honor Me – 32.1
Open Intermediate B:
1. Emily Macauley – Canadian Exchange – 29.6
2. Lesley Grant-Law – What Law – 32.1
3. Jonathan Holling – Proper Timing – 32.5
Open Preliminary
1. Susan Moessner – Satin Art – 24.4
2. Michael Pollard – Tsetserleg – 26.5
3. Allison Thompson – Merlot 325 – 28.3
White-out snow conditions at Virginia Horse Trials this morning. Photo via Emily Daily.
Can winter give it up already, please? I’m getting quite fed up with holding my breath each time I check the weather forecast just in case there is some impending doom headed my way involving cold temperatures and freezing precipitation. Fortunately, the Midwest appears to be holding steady, but the East Coast is a different story. A freak storm is currently pelting Lexington, Va., with snow, forcing the Virginia Horse Trials to just hold a combined test today due to the white-out snow conditions. They’ll be offering cross-country schooling on Wednesday now instead.
A sad eventer selfie at Virginia Horse Trials. Photo via Emily Daily.
Yesterday, my social media was full of stories of rain delays and lower than average temperatures at various events. I must give a big shout out to the organizers at Rocking Horse, who have been dealing with absolutely torrential downpours this weekend. They have had to change the competition schedule as they go, so if you are competing please keep a watchful eye on their Facebook page and website for more updates. Fortunately, it looks like the sun came out to play today, so hopefully competition can go off without a hitch. [Website] [Facebook]
I also must give some mad EN props to Katy Groesbeck and her crew for pulling off what appears to be an epic ensemble of borrowed items so that Katy could still compete yesterday at Rocking Horse. And the crazy rain affected events further up the East Coast too, as Morven Park had standing water across much of the grounds yesterday, leading many riders to ultimately scratch. Eventers just can’t a break!
Best of luck to all who are still braving icy temperatures and uncomfortably cold precipitation this weekend — not to mention freak spring snow storms — to compete this weekend. I feel like this just can’t continue, but I’ve been quite wrong about weather before so I’ve decided to just not hold my breath anymore. When will it end? Send in your own #sadeventerselfie photos to [email protected], our Facebook wall and Twitter @eventingnation as you battle the elements this weekend.
Go (winter) Eventing.
Super Q BBQ at Galway Downs. Someone bring me some of those sweet potato fries stat! Photo courtesy of Galway Downs Eventing.
Good Morning, EN! Today’s shaping up to be another exciting day at Galway Downs. I’m a bit of a fanatic when it comes to food trucks and horse show food, and the above reminder of the lovely food trucks at Galway has me daydreaming about a trip south with Team DF in May. The FEI divisions have concluded with Kristi Nunnink proving uncatchable in the CIC3*, Matt Brown taking the win in the CIC2* and Alexandra Ahearn with the win in the CIC1*. The Advanced division has also wrapped up, with James Alliston taking home the blue aboard Parker. James added two to his score in Stadium, and went clear within the time over the demanding cross country track. The remaining divisions wrap up today, starting with the Junior Training crowd starting off cross country at 8am. Stadium Jumping gets underway for the Preliminary divisions at 9am.
Events This Weekend:
Galway Downs International H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]
Full Gallop Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]
Morven Park Spring H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Rocking Horse Spring H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Sunday Links:
Attention all Rocking Horse competitors! If you are competing this weekend, please keep an eye on the Rocking Horse website and Facebook page for any schedule changes that may be made due to weather. [Website] [Facebook]
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Sunday Video:
Ever want to ride in The Maryland Hunt Cup? Now you can!
Kristi Nunnink and R-Star. Photo by Liz Hall.
Broken thumb be damned, Kristi Nunnink and R-Star romped on cross country today at Galway Downs to win the CIC3*. Kristi and Rosie never let go of the lead from start to finish, and added 5.6 time penalties to their overall score to finish on a 57.5. “Usually I kind of start off a bit slow, but today I went fast enough early that I could take time to set her up for the last two combinations,” Kristi said, according to a press release from the Galway press office. “I think that was the best round I’ve ever had on her. I was very happy with her ability to go forward and come back to me today.” Kristi had a rough start to 2014, losing her promising horse Astro and breaking her thumb in a mishap with a tractor, so I couldn’t be more sincerely pleased for Kristi and Rosie, who have firmly stamped their ticket to Kentucky in a few weeks time. Well deserved, Kristi.
Emilee Libby and Nonsensical. Photo by Liz Hall.
The course claimed a few victims, but the majority of the riders came home clean with time. Two riders turned in double clear rides: Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice and Emilee Libby and Nonsensical. Hawley moved up from fifth overnight to take third place, and Emilee moved up a couple spots to finish fifth.
John Michael Durr and Esprit De La Danse. Photo by Liz Hall.
Debbie Rosen and The Alchemyst sadly picked up a Mandatory Retirement on course, and Lauren Billys and Ballingowan Ginger picked up 20 a fence 4 before retiring. Avery Klunick fell from In It to Win It at fence 9, and we are sending all of the chinchilla jingles her way and hoping both she and In It to Win It are ok. Sitting in second overnight, Jolie Wentworth withdrew Goodknight and did not run cross country.
Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice. Photo by Liz Hall.
John Michael Durr and Espirit de la Danse picked up .8 time penalties to finish second for the weekend. This appears to be this horse’s three-star debut, so the performance this weekend should make John quite pleased.
As noted earlier, Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice moved up to third after posting a double clear round today. Hawley said that Ginny was full of run yesterday, so it comes as no surprise that the little pocket rocket made the time look easy today. This pair will head to Rolex next, and I’m sure Hawley is pleased with this final prep for the mare.
