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EN TRENDS:

Kristi Nunnink and R-Star Lead Wire to Wire to Win Galway Downs CIC3*

By Sally Spickard on Mar 29, 2014 6:51 pm -

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.

[Website] [Times] [Scores]

: Barb Crabo and Over Easy. Photo by Liz Hall.

: Jen McFall and High Times. Photo by Liz Hall.

: Helen Bouscaren and Ben. Photo by Liz Hall.

: Debbie Rosen and The Alchemyst.

: David Acord and Reigns for Justice. Photo courtesy of Liz Hall.

: John Michael Durr and Esprit De La Danse. Photo courtesy of Sherry Stewart.

: Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice. Photo courtesy of Sherry Stewart.

: Kristi and R-Star. Photo courtesy of Sherry Stewart.

Matthew Brown and Happenstance Win Galway Downs CIC2*

By Sally Spickard on Mar 29, 2014 6:17 pm -

Matt Brown and Happenstance. Photo by Liz Hall.

The leaderboard shuffled in the CIC2* at Galway Downs today after cross country. A few issues popped up on a course that looked to ride well throughout the day, according to the leaderboard. Fence 17 caused the most problems, with four riders picking up stops. Overnight leaders James Atkinson and Man on a Mission II picked up 60 penalties at fence 17 and dropped down to 13th.

Aside from that, the course looked to ride fairly well, and about a third of the riders went double clear, while the rest picked up a few time penalties. Matthew Brown and Happenstance stayed within striking distance all weekend, scoring a 51.5 in the dressage and adding two rails in show jumping to lie in third overnight. A double clear cross country round secured the win in the Holsteiner gelding’s first CIC2* appearance, which I’m sure Matt is positively thrilled with. “Just in the last three shows, he’s stepped up in a way that made me say, ‘This is a serious horse,’” Matt said in a press release from Galway. “(Owner) Mary (McKee) has ultimate faith in him that he could go all the way, and after these last few shows, I’m on board with that.”

Leah Breakey and Master Plan. Photo by Liz Hall.

Leah Breakey and Master Plan jumped up the board from 13th after dressage to second overall, finishing on their dressage score of 60.5. It is also worth mentioning that Leah was one of just two double clear rounds in a tough show jumping yesterday.

Martha McDowell and Nabouco De Lessay. Photo by Liz Hall.

Coming in third are Martha McDowell and Nabouco De Lessay, who formerly competed at the three-star level with Jennifer Wooten. Martha took over the ride in 2012, and this weekend’s finish is the horse’s third top-3 finish in as many starts. This pair came home with just 2.4 time penalties today to move up from fifth overnight to third overall.

Jordan Linstedt, who jumped clear with 2 time penalties to move up from eighth to sixth on RevitaVet Capato, was thrilled with how the course rode, and felt it was a great start for Capato. “The course was fantastic! It flowed extremely well with very open gallops, but had plenty of questions to test the horses’ rideability and adjustability. It was one of my better runs and a great first two star for the year,” Jordan said.

In the CIC*, Alexandra Ahearn and Mia Baum led from start to finish (although they did tie with Tamie Smith and Sunsprite Syrius after dressage) to win after going double clear on cross country. The CIC* course looked like it rode extremely well for the competitors today, and about half of the riders finished double clear. A few riders picked up 20 penalties on course, but it appears that the course rode smoothly overall. Alexandra, 18, will be thrilled to pick up her first one-star win with Mia Baum, a 7-year-old German Sport Horse. Lauren Billys and Jitterbug also went double clear today to pick up third place, adding just a rail to their dressage score to finish on a 49.3.

Many, many thanks are in order to Liz Hall and Mallory Thompson, who have graciously sent me some the photos and videos in this post. As always, if you have any photos, videos, or general updates you’d like to share, you can send them to us at [email protected], share them on our Facebook wall or tweet them to @eventingnation. The chinchillas thank you in advance!

[Website] [Times] [Scores]

Jordan Linstedt and RevitaVet Capato. Video courtesy of Mallory Thompson.

Tamie Smith and Twizted Sister. Video courtesy of Mallory Thompson.

Joa Sigsbee: My Working Student Diary

By Sally Spickard on Mar 29, 2014 5:00 pm -

Life as a working student is anything but glamorous, but there are still countless hard-working individuals knocking at the door for the opportunity to work for one of their idols. We've often wondered what it's like to work for riders such as Phillip Dutton and Hawley Bennett, so we are introducing a new series called "Working Student Diaries." Do you or someone you know work for an upper-level rider? If so, tip me at [email protected]. Thank you to Joa Sigsbee for submitting her Working Student Diary, and thank you for reading.

Joa and her horse, Kestral, always take a bow after their dressage tests. Photo by Chris Chakas.

From Joa:

My decision on becoming a working student was not an easy one. I had gone to college for a year, and was planning on going back as a sophomore when, halfway through the summer break, the school lost its accreditation. I was scrambling, trying to figure out what to do. I am originally from upstate New York, and I knew I did not want to stay there and go to community college. It was too late to reapply to other colleges, so I decided to take some time off and focus on applying for working student positions. I talked to many different people, but I knew exactly what type of situation I wanted. I had been a working student throughout middle and high school, and knew what it would entail. I mostly wanted the chance to get to ride and show horses other than my own. I understood it was going to take time to find the right situation and the right one finally came along!

I have been a working student for Colleen Rutledge for almost seven months now and my life is nowhere near where I thought it would be. After doing a trial run for her at the Millbrook Horse Trials I knew she was the one I wanted to work for. She was open and upfront, and I enjoyed her riding and teaching style. Working for her that weekend gave me a good idea of what I’d be getting into and it allowed me to get a good feel of how she runs her operation.

Joa schooling at home for Colleen. Photo by Tajana Pellet.

I was originally a hunter/equitation rider with a cute little devil of a pony that was sadly sold so my family could afford a horse for me. We were planning on buying a horse for me to continue showing in the hunter/equitation ring but those plans quickly changed. Kestrel was the first horse we looked at, and we knew instantly he was the perfect horse for me. He was a nine year old Arabian-Trakehner that had no eventing experience at all but had a personality like no other. We moved up the levels slowly with several bumps and hiccups along the way. When we started running Preliminary in the fall of 2011, he had already surpassed our expectations; we never would have thought (even after being told by some) that he would ever be able to do any solid Prelims. We continued running Prelim successfully, but I wasn’t planning to push for a CCI* or an Intermediate.

I moved out to Colleen’s farm in Maryland in September of last year with Kestrel and was thrown right into working and riding. Kestrel went into boot camp to prepare for the Virginia CCI* that fall, and I went into boot camp to fix my overall position. The difference in Kestrel is amazing! His entire body profile had changed within four months. He was stronger and really starting to push from behind. He always has had a nice trot, but getting him to really sit down was a challenge. Colleen gave me new tools and exercises to do with him and every day I can feel the power more and more. Colleen had me really drop my leg down and had me work on wrapping my leg around the horse. I have to retrain myself every day to open my knee and thigh and allow the horses back to come up under me. I have not had a set trainer or consistent lessons for about three years, so the consistent training went a long way with Kestrel and I. Kestrel flew through the CCI* with ease and all mistakes were my own. After that I had no doubt in my mind that Kestrel would be able to run an Intermediate.

Joa jumping Shiraz in front of Jimmy Wofford. Photo by Colleen Rutledge.

I am lucky enough that Colleen allows me to ride and take lessons on many of her horses, even letting me show two of them when we were in Aiken. Riding so many horses has allowed me to really work and focus on my position, on top of giving me the tools and knowledge to one day have my own successful business. I am also quite fortunate that her mother is a veterinarian and chiropractor and that I am able to work closely with her. I am not only learning how to better my riding and training, but my overall horse care. I frequently learn new stretches I can do for all the horses and I can feel the difference it makes.

Going into this season, Kestrel and I have already completed our first Intermediate, and are aiming for the CIC2* at Fair Hill and Jersey Fresh to qualify us for NAJYRC CCI2*. I never would have thought that Kestrel would be the horse that would take me this far. Being a working student has opened so many doors and given me the confidence and knowledge I need to take the next step in my career. Working with Colleen has opened my eyes and has shown me that as long as you work hard enough, anything is possible!

To keep up with Joa’s riding and working student adventures, visit her blog.

Total Saddle Fit: How a Girth Can Make a Difference

By AJ Dyer on Mar 29, 2014 3:30 pm -

Shoulder Relief Girth photo via TotalSaddleFit.com

Several weeks ago, a Promoted tweet popped up on my Twitter feed. It was an informative article on saddle fitting, and I found it helpful enough to pass along here on EN. Total Saddle Fit sells an anatomical shoulder-relief girth, but there was no mention of the product in the article; it was commercial-free advice on saddle tree sizing.

The post received over two thousand views on EN, so apparently many readers found it interesting as well. The next day, I received a surprising email from Justin of Total Saddle Fit LLC. He thanked me for linking to his site, and offered to let me try his saddle fit-enhancing Shoulder Relief girths. I was impressed with the company’s reputation and customer service, so I was excited to try the product and see how it measured up.

The girths were on back order, so it took a few weeks for them to arrive: a short black dressage girth, and a long brown jumping girth. My first impression was WOW, nice leather! The underside padding is incredibly soft, smooth, and flexible calfskin. The outer side is sturdy full grain bridle leather. The roller buckles feature strong doubled elastic on both sides. And true to form, the girths did have an anatomical squiggle shape to contour forward and around the horse’s elbows, while allowing the billets to sit farther back.

The company claims that the Shoulder Relief Girth’s contoured shape allows riders to properly position the saddle well behind the horse’s shoulder blades. On some horses with large shoulders, a normal straight girth will tend to pull the saddle forward, as the girth wants to lie in a sweet spot directly below the horse’s withers. A saddle that sits too far forward can dig the tree points into the horse’s shoulders, making him sore.

I tried the girths on three different horses, all Thoroughbreds. I was most interested to try it on my four-year-old gray filly who has an enormously long shoulder. Her shoulder sits very far back, and it can be a struggle to put the saddle in the proper position without a normal girth fitting around her middle like a western rear flank cinch. Total Saddle Fit’s girth performed as claimed: the buckle ends matched up where the saddle billets wanted to be, while the center of the girth curved forward to lie in her girth groove. Success!

Trying the girth on horse number two, Aero, was also productive. Aero can be a bit sensitive with his tack, and he definitely seemed more relaxed and happier wearing the Shoulder Relief Girth. I can’t say with 100% certainty that it’s due to the girth…but when I switched back to a regular straight Professional’s Choice neoprene girth the other day, he was unhappy and tense at the mounting block. I swapped that girth for the contoured one, and he seemed more comfortable. Coincidence? Maybe. But I’ll take all the help I can get. The short girth also has nice large billet keepers, making it easy to tighten the girth while mounted and tuck the straps in neatly (if you’ve ever tried to tighten your short girth on a squirmy youngster, you’ll appreciate this!).

My training level horse is not the best individual to test this product. He is naturally short-backed and no matter where you put the saddle, any girth will always be in its proper “zone.” There’s simply not enough room on his anatomy to slide things back too far, it all ends up in the right spot. Still, I tried both the short and the long girths on him. I honestly could not notice a significant difference in his performance, but the girths seemed to fit well and did not rub him in any way. Both the short and long girth ran true to size (24″ and 48″ in my case) and are made to last a long time.

Overall, I am very impressed with the Total Saddle Fit anatomical girth. I would definitely recommend it for any horse with a big, long shoulder– and nearly any horse could benefit from a saddle sitting properly behind the shoulders. At about $125 for the short dressage version and $150 for the long girth, they aren’t cheap. However, the superior quality and workmanship is well worth the price, and easily comparable (or better!) than the $300+ girths sold by French saddle makers. Plus, the company provides excellent customer service, and offers a 110% money-back satisfaction guarantee if you return the girth within 30 days. I’ve never paid more than $70 for a girth before…but after trying these, I am sold– it’s well worth the investment.

Total Saddle Fit Girth, Product Rating:

Quality & Workmanship: Four Stars * * * *
Performance: Four Stars * * * *
Sizing: Four Stars * * * *
Price: Three Stars * * *
Overall Value: Four Stars * * * *
Buy It? YES

Wellington Withdraws Bid to Host 2018 World Equestrian Games

By Sally Spickard on Mar 29, 2014 2:40 pm -

Photo by Sally Spickard.

Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP), the company heading up the host bid for Wellington, Fl. has withdrawn its bid to host the 2018 World Equestrian Games. This leaves just two cities in the running to host the games: Bromont, Quebec and Lexington, Ky. Some may feel that Lexington has the draw in its favor considering the city hosted the 2010 World Equestrian Games, but Bromont plays host to an annual international three-day as well so the race will definitely be a close one.

For more information, including comments from ESP on the decision to withdraw, check out the full article over on The Chronicle of the Horse.

Saturday Video: Galway Downs CIC3* Day One Wrap-Up

By Sally Spickard on Mar 29, 2014 1:30 pm -

Frankie Theriot and the USEA caught up with several riders contesting the CIC3* at Galway Downs this weekend. A few of the riders are Rolex bound, including veterans Debbie Rosen and The Alchemyst and first-timers Jenn McFall and High Times. The FEI divisions will run cross country this afternoon, so stay tuned for much more from the West Coast.

For more on Day One from the USEA, click here.

Best of Craigslist: Super Talented Hunter/Jumper Prospect!

By Kate Samuels on Mar 29, 2014 12:00 pm -

I have to tip my hat to Lisa Burnett for finding this gem on the Phoenix, Ariz., Craigslist ads and sharing it. Horse Nation also picked this up, and we couldn’t resist sharing it as well! While I think it’s a little bit tongue in cheek, it’s still pretty amazing, and we got a good giggle out of it. Find a ridiculous Craigslist ad while browsing the interwebz? Send it to [email protected].

Super Talented Hunter/Jumper Prospect! — $4,000 (Lalaland)

Shotgun is a two year old registered half TB-half mustang-half appy. He’s only 7 hands but he’s big boned and has TONS of aura. His conformation is absolutely PERFECT and his attitude is AWESOME. He is the best horse on the PLANET.

He is ambidextrous, speaks 5 languages and is an EXCELLENT beekeeper. He is TOTALLY UPHILL. His movement is like a PRIMA BALLERINA’s. I bought him for a hunter/jumper prospect, but he would be GREAT at endurance. Or reining. Or engineering.

I have been mainly doing dressage with him for the last 5 minutes and he can now perform a piaffe with his legs tied together. With 4 people on his back. What did I tell you, AMAZING, right??

He spent 4 years at my trainers, learning how to tie his shoes, do his hair and ‘collect’ properly (he still has a little bit of a problem with the ‘collecting’ part, but I’m pretty sure it’s because the sun was in his eyes).

He has been to 50 shows so far this year and totally won every class he was in at the Timbuktu Regional Bi-Decade Horse Show! He walks, trots, canters, gallops, stops, sneezes, hiccups, ties, loads, picks his own nose, chews, poops, shoes, and absolutely ANYTHING you ask him to do.

Although he is the best horse ever, he should not be ridden by anyone under six feet tall, who is not a weight lifter, who isn’t armed with a 9mm, and who doesn’t wrestle alligators for a living. Experienced riders only!

LOVES LOVES LOVES to jump. We have jumped 4 foot oxers. And 8 foot oxers. Once, I had him ALMOST jump over the moon, but I didn’t get any pictures.

I have not had time to spend with him lately and plus I can’t afford his board due to finances and plus I want to buy a new ipad.

Looking for the PERFECT HOME for him. Preferably one who emails me every day before they do anything with him, just to make sure it’s exactly the way I would do it and that I approve.

Thanks for looking at my add!

Lisa Borgia: Roebke’s Run Is the New King of the North

By Sally Spickard on Mar 29, 2014 10:30 am -

We thoroughly enjoy posting reader submissions, and Lisa Borgia's is no different. Roebke's Run has become a landmark Area IV event, and more improvements and additions are forthcoming in the near future. Lisa was kind enough to write in to give us the full scoop. Thanks to Lisa for writing, and thank you for reading. Do you have a story you'd like to share with us? If so, send it to [email protected].

Dressage rings at Schweiss Stables, home of Roebke's Run. Photo courtesy of Roebke's Run.

From Lisa:

Perched on the edge of the prairie, Roebke’s Run Horse Trials is set to become a new King in the North for eventers. This big dream has become reality at Mike, Julie, and Brook Schweiss’ Magister Equitum Stables, which boasts two hundred permanent stalls, competition for CIC* and Intermediate through Starter divisions, and a tough cross country course complete with three water complexes with pirate ships and sea serpents. Amenities include RV hook ups, two sets of permanent wash stalls, a permanent kitchen, and viewing patio. Oh, and one great competitor party with home-cooked food. All of these features have been developed in the last three years.

Lisa Borgia competing at Roebke’s Run. Photo by Derith Vogt.

What could possibly be next? Well for the Schweiss family, much more. They have a vision that includes the Adequan Gold Cup and a destination venue. To get there, Roebke’s Run now has a new course designer, Captain Mark Phillips, who starts work in April. Roebke’s Run will host add a CIC2* to their existing competition, to be held July 12 and 13, 2014. This is only the start of things to come. “We are looking to add the CIC3* and Advanced in the near future, possibly the Advanced coming as soon as 2015,” Julie Schweiss said.

One of the water complexes at Roebke’s Run. Photo courtesy of Roebke’s Run.

This is a real boon to Midwest eventers, both the young riders with big goals and the adults who have been waiting for this level of competition to return after the discontinuation of Maui Jim five years ago. If that isn’t enough incentive, Julie told me “we are not in this to make any money-it’s to support the riders. To promote interest in the FEI levels, we are keeping the entry fee the same as what the Intermediate and Preliminary fees are.”

Roebke’s Run has also changed the date of their other horse trials, to be held in September instead of October this year, which is a mixed blessing. The weather in a typical Minnesota October can be beautiful, or it can be 40 degrees and raining, so the move up date is good; however, the Halloween costume contest and hysterical decorations will be sorely missed.

For more information on Roebke’s Run, please visit their website.

Rock on Roebke’s Run, and Go Eventing!

Rolex Rookies: Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against

By Sally Spickard on Mar 29, 2014 9:00 am -

It's that time of year again: spring flowers, warm weather and, most importantly, Rolex Kentucky. This year, we will be highlighting riders who are making their first appearance in North America's only CCI4* event. Here is a profile on Bunnie Sexton, who at the age of 52 will be making her Rolex debut with Rise Against, a 15-year-old OTTB. Thanks to Bunnie for her time, and thank you for reading!

Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against at Bromont 2013. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Bunnie Sexton, of Santa Ynez, Ca., didn’t expect to sit on a potential Rolex horse the first time she met Rise Against (“Ecko”). She had recently had her string of Preliminary and Intermediate horses sidelined, and in the meantime she was searching for horses who needed training or owners who needed riders.

Ecko was for sale by Ruben and Sonne Arse, not having shown talent or desire for the Grand Prix jumping career that lay ahead of him. Bunnie went to try the OTTB, who she knew to be a hot jumper and a more complicated ride overall. “I tend to like horses that are a little bit complicated,” Bunnie said. She said that she enjoys finding out what seems to bother the horses who are deemed “difficult”, as she studied sociology in college and thought that her analytical personality made her more interested in this type of horse.

“When I first saw Ecko, he was depressed and dejected,” Bunnie recalled. “It’s not that he wasn’t taken care of, you could just tell he wasn’t happy doing what he was doing.” Bunnie felt an immediate kinship with the horse and brought him home with her, but their partnership didn’t get off to the smoothest of starts. “When I got him home, at first I thought ‘Oh no, what have I done?'” Bunnie said. “I would go to jump and he was just all over the place. He wasn’t trying to get me off, it was just like he had ADD or something and couldn’t focus.”

Bunnie decided to slow things down, taking Ecko on long walks, riding him in ponds, and generally giving him exposure to the world without him feeling any pressure to perform. “I just let him be a horse,” she explained. “I didn’t want him to think that there was pressure associated with everything.”

Bunnie and Echo at Woodside International. Photo by Liz Hall.

Bunnie and Ecko at Woodside International. Photo by Liz Hall.

Gradually, the pair began making strides. Later on, Bunnie began training with Bea DiGrazia, who was complimentary of Ecko’s talent. “Bea just changed my world by letting me know what opportunities were out there,” Bunnie said. She had concluded that her time to compete at the upper levels had passed. “As soon as we did our first three-star, I realized that (Rolex) might actually be a possibility. I thought it would be ridiculously out of my league, but for him, moving up was just a natural stepping stone.”

Bunnie and Ecko finished their CCI3* debut at Bromont in 2013 with a sixth place ribbon. “After we did Bromont, I thought ‘Well, there’s no way I can’t do Rolex now’,” Bunnie said. Preparations for the pair’s CCI4* debut began, and Bunnie hasn’t looked back since. “It just amazes me that after all these years, I thought Rolex was this whole mystical thing, when in reality if you just do your homework it becomes an actual reality.”

Bunnie plans to continue working on Ecko’s fitness in the weeks leading up to Rolex. “The last month (before an event), I take everything down to basics. He tends to think the sky is falling most days, so I try to keep everything calm and methodical,” Bunnie said of her strategy. “The goal is to keep him focused and stable, and for me to continue not taking myself too seriously!”

At the end of the day, Bunnie is thankful that she found her OTTB who has helped her realize her dreams. “Rolex just feels like a natural next step. I feel like we are proof that you don’t need a million dollar horse to reach your goals. I consider it an honor to have a horse who really wants it the way (Ecko) does.”

Saturday Links from Tipperary

By Sally Spickard on Mar 29, 2014 12:01 am -

The final fence on the CIC3* cross country course at Galway this weekend.

Good morning! I hope everyone’s weekend is off to a great start. I will be sitting here obsessively refreshing the live scores from Galway Downs this weekend to bring you the latest updates. Kristi Nunnink and the stunning R-Star are your overnight leaders in the CIC3* after making quick work of a tough show jumping course yesterday. Kristi is riding with an injured hand this weekend, and we give major props to her as we know riding with any sort of injury is tough. Best of luck to everyone competing around the country this weekend. Remember, we are looking for photos or videos from Galway (and any other event as well!), so if you have something you’d like to share, send it to [email protected], tweet us at @eventingnation, or post it to our Facebook page. Thanks in advance!

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]

Saturday 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]

Tipperary Equestrian has announced the “Dash for Cash” for riders competing at Rolex this year! This exciting contest gives riders who wear Tipperary gear at Rolex a chance to win an additional $5,000 in prize money. All three phases have a $5,000 which riders can qualify for. The winning rider must be wearing a new Tipperary 3015 Eventer Pro vest in the cross country phase of competition. In the dressage and show jumping phase, the winning rider must be wearing a Tipperary T-Series helmet to qualify for the bonus money. Be sure to read up on the full guidelines and rules here. Good luck to all Rolex riders who plan to participate!

Check out this heartwarming story of the horse who is blind in one eye and cleaning up at HITS Ocala.

Are horses “naturally vicious”?

Show jumping is returning to New York City in grand fashion.

Nine cases of EHV-1 have been confirmed in MN, WI, and IA.

Best of the Blogs:

Confessions from a Post Partum Horseback Rider

Saturday Video:

Here is some footage from last year’s CIC3* cross country at Galway Downs.