Classic Eventing Nation

Zut Alors! Serious Home-Side Team Announced for European Eventing Championships + Nominated Entries Revealed in Full

By on Jul 12, 2023 11:46 am -

Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza at Haras du Pin in 2022. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

What a week for Europeans team-spotters! Not only do we have the full list of nominated entries for each country, but another nation – and this time, the home one – has revealed its final squad of six for next month’s FEI European Championships, which will be held at Haras du Pin in Normandy from August 9–13.

The Championships will be used as “a full-scale rehearsal” for the French for next year’s Olympic Games, which are also set to be held in France and will also feature a cross-country course designed by next month’s designer, Pierre le Goupil.

The six selected horses and riders, in alphabetical order by surname, are as follows:

  • Karim Laghouag and Triton Fontaine, owned by Philippe Lemoine, Guy Bessat, S.A.R.L. Ecurie Karim Laghouag and Camille Laffite
  • Stéphane Landois and Chaman Dumontceau* Ride for Thaïs, owned by S.C.E.A. Ecurie du Cerisier Bleu
  • Gireg Le Coz and Aisprit de la Loge, owned by Frédérique Grand and Augustin Grand
  • Héloïse Le Guern and Canakine du Sudre Z, owned by Bénédicte Le Guern and Philippe Le Guern
  • Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza, owned by Jane Young and Martin Thurlow
  • Nicolas Touzaint and Absolut Gold*HDC, owned by Haras des Coudrettes
    OR
    Diabolo Menthe, owned by Mézard Sports and Françoise Niclaus

Chatsworth winners Stephane Landois and Chaman Dumontceau. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The French Equestrian Federation (FFE) sat down for a chat with team chef d’equipe Thierry Touzaint upon the reveal of his squad, which features seasoned Olympians such as Nicolas Touzaint and Karim Florent Laghouag, as well as exciting up-and-comers, such as 2022 Bramham Under-25s CCI4*-L victors Héloïse Le Guern and Canakine du Sudre, World Champs top-ten finishers Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza, and Chatsworth CCI4*-S winners Stéphane Landois and Chaman Dumontceau* Ride for Thaïs, who has been poignantly renamed to honour the young rider by whom he was produced and loved before her tragic death at Haras du Pin.

“My choice was, above all, focused on couples who have been successful for two years,” he explains. “If we take them one by one, they all shone at a very high level. This selection is therefore quite logical when you look at what they have shown. These are couples who present well on dressage and who are reliable on cross country.”

That, he hopes, will help them to clinch a podium finish and put valuable mileage on the clock ahead of next year.

“The objective is to bring back a medal above all, and why not to win? For that, you will have to be good from training. We will have nations like Germany and England to watch closely. We have a very good team, I am quite optimistic, I hope we will do something good,” he says, explaining that he will make his decision on which four will ride on the team itself, and which will compete as individuals, after the first horse inspection on the Wednesday of the event. “I like to see the terrain first, walk the cross country, see the quality of the ground… it can influence my choices. The team line-up and running order will be announced as usual after the first horse inspection on Wednesday August 9th.”

All the horses and riders named are, crucially, part of the ‘A’ list development squad for next year’s Olympics, and it’s telling that Thierry is choosing to put them forth for this challenge – but with a year yet to go before the Olympics, their names are not set in stone for that selection process, nor should riders who are conspicuous only by their absence here, such as Astier Nicolas, currently sidelined due to horse injury, or Tom Carlile, be considered out of the hunt for Paris.

“It is obviously an important step before Paris. Now we know that the Olympic format is very different, with only three pairs and a profile of the cross course that is generally not very difficult. Dressage will be really decisive next year. There are still couples who can join the group for selection. There will be 4 and 5 star international events at the end of the season which will give me a lot of information.”

European Championships team announcements:

 

The 9 Principles of the “Dialogue of Motion”

By on Jul 12, 2023 10:01 am -

In this excerpt from Ridden: Dressage from the Horse’s Point of View, dressage judge and classical trainer Ulrike Thiel gives us nine principles we must understand to communicate efficiently, fluidly, and understandably with our horses.

Image by Horst Streitferdt.

The fundamental mind-body principles of the dialogue of motion between horse and rider are implicitly incorporated in the classical dressage teachings, though not with any such terminology or labels attached. Therefore, I have given these principles names that have helped my students understand them.

1: The Arch Principle
As horizontally oriented beings, horses lift their backs when ridden correctly, and it is the curve of the arched back that lets us sit comfortably. As vertically moving beings, we humans must arch forward our chest-stomach-hip regions. The arch in horse and rider allows more to be accomplished with less (unnecessary and perhaps disruptive) movement. When horse and rider succeed in “tuning” their respective arch to the other’s, little movements can have a large effect.

2: The Independence Principle
The rider must be able to move all her body parts and muscles independently from one another, without losing balance, blocking the dialogue of motion, or disturbing the horse’s movement. Many body movements are naturally connected in our coordination system. We have to learn to first separate them in order to be able to intentionally employ them as individual elements. In addition, we must be able to tighten and relax specific areas of the body, either simultaneously or sequentially.

Appropriate exercises on the longe line can help riders learn how to do this, but there are also some that can be practiced in everyday life. The development of the rider’s independent coordination is comparable to the regular daily exercises required of a ballet dancer.

3: The Scales Principle
This principle is seen most clearly in the “relative elevation” that is characteristic of collection—the horse is beyond his natural horizontal balance and in an uphill balance, with his hindquarters a little lower and deeper (further beneath the horse’s torso) than the forehand, as seen when one side of a pair of scales is weighted.

The Scales Principle begins with engaged, forward-downward riding while stretching, and it ends with the levade. The scales are weighted by little more than a half-halt. The rider “holds” the horse with her seat and under her weight, the “rear scale” (hindquarters) automatically stays down while the “front scale” (forehand) lifts a little without the horse having to push harder off the ground with his front legs.

4: The Balance Principle
The horse can only balance the rider while staying true to his path of travel when the rider sits vertically in the saddle. If the rider cocks one hip or pulls one leg up, then the horse must step under the displaced weight. On a circle the horse will drift in, while on a straight line, he will have to change direction.

The horse doesn’t naturally turn while making good use of his hind end as we want him to in a change of direction. His weight tends to fall on the forehand. This causes many riders to ride turns using undesirable “secondary aids,” sometimes without even knowing it. Here again, lessons on the longe line can be of benefit as the horse teaches us to feel his movement on the turn, and the rider learns to correct herself in response to the horse.

5: The Anticipation Principle
The rider must look forward, think in advance, and give the horse enough time to incorporate her signals into his own movement plan. She must allow time for her movement impulses to be expressed through the horse’s.

When the rider just “goes along” with the movement of the horse, we miss a certain dynamic. It isn’t clear to the horse what should actually be happening and consequently he can’t prepare himself properly. When the rider thinks far enough ahead, her anticipation is translated through her body, and there is the feeling that she gives the horse a subtle suggestion, and then rider and horse complete the movement together.

6: The “Plug” Principle
Our two seat bones are the two prongs of the “plug” of communication. Only when they are in direct contact with the horse can the most important connection occur. The seat bones can only stay in contact with the horse when the rider sits straight with her vertebral column in a natural, neutral, S-shape. A helpful image is to imagine the rider as Donald Duck, with his tail stuck out behind him. (This position should not be confused with riding with a hollow back.)

The lower back musculature must be well trained to be able to sit the canter (for example) while keeping the “plug” plugged in.

7: The Dialogue Principle
Horse and rider both have their part to play in their dialogue of motion. Both are involved in the decision regarding what will be done next. Horse and rider listen to each other and adjust to each other. Every new individual movement is the result of a conversation.

8: The Concentration Principle
Only when the rider fully concentrates on her horse and her task can she expect the same focus on her from her horse.

On the one hand, this principle is simply a matter of courtesy. On the other, the complex mind-body activity of riding can only be mastered when energy is not lost or wasted on other, unrelated tasks. This goes for both the rider and the horse. When one of the two is distracted, the dialogue of motion suffers considerably. For example, shying horses are frequently the result of riders who aren’t concentrating.

9: The “Here-and-Now” Principle
When riding, the only thing that matters is the moment of moving together and what we want to achieve in that motion. Stresses, worries, and problems disturb this process and have no place in the saddle. Negative feelings and experiences should not be taken with us to the barn; they cause us to react unfairly to the horse, our partner.

Even when something goes wrong while riding, the rider shouldn’t brood over it while in the saddle. That goes for during competition as well as in daily practice. You can think about what went awry later. The next movement, and your horse, deserve your full concentration.

Image courtesy of Horse & Rider Books.

This excerpt from Ridden: Dressage from the Horse’s Point of View by Ulrike Thiel is reprinted with permission from Trafalgar Square Books (www.horseandriderbooks.com).

Wednesday News & Notes from Ocala Horse Properties

By on Jul 12, 2023 12:01 am -

The final leg of the Baton of Hope tour took place in London last weekend and event riders were in the saddle showing their support.

Olympic gold medalist Oliver Townend, 5* rider and mental health advocate Mollie Summerland and Eventing Performance Manager Richard Waygood rode from Wellington Arch to Horse Guards Parade with The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment as they carried the baton towards its final destination of the Houses of Parliament.

Baton of Hope is intended to “encourage necessary, open conversations” about suicide awareness and prevention. Riders Minds, an online resource dedicated to supporting the mental health and well-being of equestrians, is a partner to the Baton of Hope, and played a major part in the ridden leg of the London route.

Mollie Summerland has shared her own stories of mental health via her social media channels; she told British Equestrian: “It’s really important that we’re here today, and to be able to talk about a topic that needs to be raised, have more awareness of and be spoken about more. To be able to ride through the streets of London and play a small part in helping suicide prevention – I hope it shows that even in the darkest times, there is hope and they are not alone.”

Find out more about Baton of Hope and Riders Minds, and read the full story here.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Champagne Run at the Park H.T. (Lexington, KY) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Larkin Hill H.T. (North Chatham, NY) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm (Adamstown, MD) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Major International Events

Haras de Jardy (FEI Nations Cup) (France): [Website] [Timing & Scoring] [Schedule]

Wednesday News and Reading

For the first time in ten years (!!), Horses Inside Out is coming to the US. Using painted horses, the lecture-demo will teach you all about musculoskeletal anatomy, posture, and the effects of saddlery and riders on our horses. It’s perfect for equine pros and amateurs alike, and it starts today at Morven Park. [Don’t Miss Out]

Aiming for the 2023 USEA American Eventing Championships? Then US Eventing wants your story! Between August 29th and September 3rd, Kentucky Horse Park will host divisions from Beginner Novice right through to Advanced, and US Eventing will be warming us up with stories of some of the competitors. Fancy being part of the action? Send your 800-1200 word stories to [email protected] before Friday July 21st. [In Your Own Words]

Science and stats meet eventing as proposals are put forward to increase safety in our high-risk sport. Research into cross country falls, fence and course design and overall risk factors has concluded in four evidence-based recommendations for how eventing can be made safer for both horses and riders. Covering qualification criteria, risk-profiling of horses and courses, and a disqualification limit on dressage scores, the proposals are said to be “actionable and achievable interventions” that will “improve welfare, whilst also helping to protect the social license to operate for the sport”. [Safety In Numbers]

They say ‘a change is as good as a rest’ (or ‘a spell’ if you’re Aussie, apparently) and it turns out this is true for horses too. We’ve all hit a plateau in our gym work (or perhaps have heard that that’s a thing if you’re not of the gym-going variety). Progress seems to stall, which is frustrating, and boredom lurks just around the corner. But did you know that a repetitive routine for horses can also lead to tiny injuries accumulating? Yes, repetition is important when we’re training horses, but too much of something – no matter how good it may be – is generally a bad thing (for sure this is true for tequila and chocolate cake). So, is the answer a rest day? Not necessarily. Here are some useful ideas for how to engage your horse in ‘active rest’ (think body builder taking a day off the weights to enjoy a little yoga, for example). [Changing Things Up]

Ah, Pony Club Camp – do I have some tales to tell..! My camp experiences happened in Kenya as part of the Nairobi Pony Club. They involve horses being spooked by waterbuck, galloping alongside zebra, and long-drop toilets you should definitely never look down. Horse and Hound have gathered together some of their best memories and want you to share yours too. [What Happens at Pony Camp…]

And finally, a farewell to the planet’s biggest rocking horse. The 5,500 pound giant has been tethered in Innisfil, Ontario since 2008, but the land it stands on is being used for road development and the enormous cost of moving the wooden equine means that its destined to be demolished. [Rock-a-Bye]

Sponsor Corner

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C, owned by Ocala Horse Properties and Debby Palmer, had a fantastic run at CHIO Aachen that helped Team USA secure a silver medal in the SAP Cup. Relive the moment with this video from Liz’s Instagram.

Video Break

Inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2022, Lipizzaner horses date all the way back to 1580.

Lipica, in Slovenia, is the largest Lipizzaner stud in the world, and is home to more than 300 of these gorgeous white horses.

Fun fact: Lipizzaners are born dark and lose their color as they mature.

Learn more about these awesome horses, the people who care for them, and the riders who work with them on their impressive repertoire of skills in today’s video break, and read all about this historical stud here.

Q&A with Gillian Higgins: Understanding Anatomy to Improve Equine Welfare & Performance

By on Jul 11, 2023 1:00 pm -

If you’ve ever seen the incredibly interesting photos of horses with the musculoskeletal system intricately painted onto their coat, then you’re familiar with Gillian Higgins’ work.

For the first time since 2013, Gillian is coming to the United States to teach a clinic at Morven Park Equestrian Center in Leesburg, VA, made possible by the North American Saddlery School and HCS, USA Saddlery. I caught up with her to find out who she is, why she’s passionate about equine anatomy and biomechanics, and what riders can expect to learn from her. If you’re local to Leesburg, be sure to sign up for the Horses Inside Out clinic happening tomorrow (July 12) to learn from the expert herself!  

Photo courtesy of Gillian Higgins

Prior to founding Horses Inside Out, Gillian had a varied career. She’s worked in all sorts of bodywork, for humans and horses alike, including working as a human sports and remedial therapist, equine sports massage therapist, equine chiropractic manipulator, and BHS Senior coach/trainer. She trained to be a human sports and remedial therapist at the Nottingham School of Massage and Manipulation, before learning equine sports massage with Mary Bromiley. Since then, she’s written 11 books on the subject of equine anatomy and biomechanics with topics ranging from pilates for horses to massage for horses. 

After realizing how many of her clients and students could benefit from learning more about equine anatomy, Gillian started hosting small little clinics just for her contacts and it grew from there. Since founding Horses Inside Out in 2006, Gillian has taught at veterinary universities, to professional saddlers and saddle fitters, and to other therapists and equine bodyworkers. “Whatever we do with horses, the more we can learn about anatomy, the better we can ride, train, and look after our horses. For me, that’s what it’s all about. It’s making sure that we’re doing the best we possibly can to help these gorgeous, gorgeous horses,” Gillian said. 

Gillian Higgins and Freddie Fox, photo courtesy of Gillian Higgins.

Q: You have a great quote on your website, “Study the bones of a horse well and they will tell you a story because anatomy reflects function.” Can you explain what you mean by that?

The more you study anatomy, the more you realize just how much of a story it can tell. For example, the shape of the bones, how they change, how they adjust. So if you take the natural shape first, that can give you information about what it’s designed to do. Why are muscles shaped the way they are? That can help us to understand how horses move, why they move that way, and perhaps why they don’t move in other ways. And I think that can help us to understand how and why we should be training our horses.

In the early days of Horses Inside Out, I had this fabulous horse named Freddie Fox. I had him from when he was five to when he was 25. And very sadly, in 2021 we had to have him put to sleep. I made the very difficult decision to build his skeleton and unveil it at our annual conference earlier this year. When I did my talk about it at the conference, I saw how many lives Freddie touched, through demonstrations, through my books, through our online academy. He has helped so many people to learn about anatomy and biomechanics. 

After knowing him his whole life and then being able to see his skeleton really epitomized exactly what I mean when I say that bones tell a story. I could see everything about Freddie’s life through his skeleton, from his medical history to how he rode under saddle. On top of informing us about arthritic changes and other health issues, bones can tell us about muscular asymmetry through attachment points. If a horse is moving asymmetrically, you can actually see a slight change in the shape of the bone.

I suppose another example would be how anatomy reflects function in terms of posture. When we talk about improving a horse’s way of going, we’re talking about improving posture. So if you walk up to a yard and look at a horse and how he chooses to stand in that moment, you’ll have people say, “oh, that’s just because he’s slouching in that moment.” But, how you are in that relaxed moment is a reflection of how you are most of the time. So a horse standing in the yard with his hind leg out behind him, with his back down and the base of his neck forward– that is a reflection of how he’s going to be when ridden. 

The more you study anatomy, the more it becomes more useful and allows you to better assess horses and improve the way you train.

Photo courtesy of Gillian Higgins

Q: How can Horses Inside Out benefit the average horse owner?

I think it’s up to us as horse owners, riders, and professionals to take responsibility for our horse’s posture and way of going. We have to think of ourselves as personal trainers to our horses and good personal trainers really know and understand the body and that’s basically what we’re talking about here. If we really understand the anatomy of the horse, the biomechanics, then we’re going to be able to better assess your horse, to better know what your horse needs, and to understand what you’re asking of the horse.

So yes, Horses Inside Out is about understanding anatomy. But actually it’s really about, what can we do about it? Learning what training is appropriate and what is the right sort of cardiovascular fitness, and understanding why we’re doing that cardiovascular fitness -– because we want our horses to be healthy. 

Three things horse owners will learn through Horses Inside Out are:

 1. Understanding how the weight of the rider comprises the horse’s posture, their ability to move, and their ability to balance. By ensuring your horse moves correctly, you’re making the horse’s job easier and more enjoyable. 

Some of the muscles that support the rib cage effectively were designed to support the horse’s breathing. Yet, we have the weight of the rider on top of them, and those breathing muscles suddenly become load bearing. So, the question becomes how can we strengthen those muscles? Cardiovascular fitness, or getting your horse breathing hard, will strengthen those muscles and make your horse’s job easier.

2. Horses Inside Out encourages horse owners to think differently about fitness. For example, the question, “How fit does my horse need to be?” Let’s say I only hang out at the barn on the weekend and we just go for a walk down the road. Does that horse need to be cardiovascularly fit to just walk on a flat surface? Well, no he doesn’t. He’s not gonna get out of breath walking down the road. 

Fit horses will have better posture, will have stronger backs, and will be better able to support their ribcage, which is what we’re sitting on. So yeah, the horse doesn’t need to be cardiovascularly fit to walk down the road. But if they are, they’re going to be so much better at carrying the weight of the rider. 

3. Understanding equine anatomy puts more pieces of the puzzle in place and ultimately means we can better look after our horses. Horses Inside Out is about anatomy and biomechanics, but it’s also about understanding assessment exercises for improving posture, movement, and training performance. 

We all love our horses and we want the best for our horses and I think this is particularly important in today’s world. We need to do everything that we possibly can to make sure that they are conditioned, including both musculoskeletal conditioning and cardiovascular conditioning. We have to ensure their bodies are strong and capable for the job that we’re asking them to do and so that they’re strong enough to enjoy the work we’re asking them to do.

Q: What is one thing you wish every rider knew about equine anatomy?

I wish every rider understood that the most common cause of riding-related injury in horses is repetitive strain. Very often people will say repetitive strain injury is caused by a rider doing too much canter work on hard ground, or drilling too much left shoulder-in, or practicing a specific dressage move over and over again. And all of those things are true, to a certain extent. Repetitive strain injury can be caused by all of these factors. 

But repetitive strain injury is often caused by asymmetrical biomechanics in the horse’s body– or, putting it simply, bad posture. 

When a body, horse or human, is in perfect posture it is also in perfect symmetry. And when it moves, the forces within the body will be evenly distributed. So for example, if you run and you have poor posture, let’s say you have a tendency to slump your shoulders and your head goes forward, you’re going to put more strain at the back of your neck. 

If a horse has a tendency to go a little bit extended in the back and carry the base of the neck forward and down, which is the same sort of scenario as to the human running with slumped shoulders, you’re going to have more strain in certain areas. If you’ve got asymmetry within the body and poor posture, you’re going to have asymmetrical forces through the body. So if some areas get more force and others less force because your horse is working in a poor posture, it doesn’t matter how much you vary your training. Your horse could still develop a repetitive strain injury. 

–

The Live Painted Demonstration will be taught by Gillian on July 12th at the Morven Park Equestrian Center in Virginia. Hosted by the North American Saddlery School and HCS, USA Saddlery, you can expect a mix of educational demonstrations, applicable exercises, and some vendor shopping. In true British fashion, there will be a tea break halfway through the clinic. 

“We’re so thrilled to be bringing Gillian over to the United States,” said Amber Markley, co-owner of both the North American Saddlery School and HCS, USA Saddlery. “As a saddlery and saddlery school, we’re passionate about helping horse owners better understand how equine biomechanics impact performance and horse welfare, particularly when it comes to saddle fit. Bringing Gillian here to provide quality education and knowledge was a mission close to our hearts.” 

Gillian brings her love and passion for horses to everything involved in Horses Inside Out. She says it’s not about memorizing the names of the bones, muscles, etc. “It’s about how we as riders, trainers, and owners, use that information to help our horses because at the end of the day, we all love our horses.”
If reading this article brought out your inner horse nerd, like me, click here to sign up for the clinic.

This article is brought to you thanks to support from Horses Inside Out, Gillian Higgins, North American Saddlery School, and HSC, USA. We’ll have a full recap of the clinic coming soon on EN!

Catching Up with Diego Farje and EQ Scorpio: Slow and Steady Makes a Future Top Horse

By on Jul 11, 2023 12:00 pm -

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.

Diego Farje and EQ Scorpio. Photo by Carlos Hernandéz, COO of Equestly.

We’re back with another update on Head Rider for Boyd Martin, Diego Farje, and his new horse, EQ Scorpio, a 3-year-old Argentinian Sporthorse owned by Carlos Hernandéz and Sam Potter of Equestly. When we caught up with Carlos, Sam, and Diego last month, Scorpio had just arrived from Argentina and was starting to settle into life at Windurra USA. Since then, Diego has been working hard to gain Scorpio’s trust and build a relationship with this outwardly fiery, but inwardly sweet, powerhouse of a horse. 

What’s it like to take a baby horse with 5* potential to his first-ever horse show? Well, Carlos, Sam, and Diego found out recently when Diego and Scorpio tackled their first Beginner Novice event. Sometimes, horses that show the most promise for the top levels are also horses that aren’t exactly as easy-going as your average amateur horse, both mentally and physically. This doesn’t always play to your favor when you’re taking said smart, sensitive horse to his first horse show. Overall, Scorpio and Diego had a wonderful first outing that accomplished their goals: to give this baby horse confidence and to keep all four feet in the dressage ring. 

The last time Scorpio was on a trailer, he traveled for two days straight to get to Pennsylvania from Argentina. It’s understandable that our intrepid baby horse would be a little hesitant to get back in the ominous metal box. “I don’t think he has ever been in a trailer where he walks on straight and then has to back down the ramp, so I thought it was going to be harder than it was. I mean, the last time he traveled he was on a trailer for two days. He was snorting and still a bit afraid. Like, ‘I don’t want to do that again,’” Diego said. “I just stayed patient and waited for him to trust me that everything was going to be okay. It only took like five minutes; it was way easier than I thought. But then I got to the show and was like, ‘Uhhh, I don’t think he knows how to back down the ramp…’”

Diego Farje on board EQ Scorpio with Equestly CEO Sam Potter at their first competition, Plantation Field Horse Trials. Photo by Carlos Hernandéz, COO of Equestly.

With a little bit of extra patience and loving encouragement, Scorpio slowly backed his way off the trailer and they were in business. Carlos, Sam, and Diego really wanted to give Scorpio the full horse show experience without the pressure of pushing for results. So, naturally, Scorpio joined them for a tour of the show grounds and even grabbed lunch with the Equestly crew. “We brought Scorpio with us to see the food truck and everything and all the horses around it. He wasn’t overwhelmed. He was really, really calm,” Diego recounts. 

Despite his initial cool demeanor while taking in the show grounds, Diego was still expecting Scorpio to show his true fiery colors under saddle. “I got into the dressage warm-up one hour before it was my time because I thought I would need to really calm him down before we got into the dressage ring, but he was fine. He was just like any other horse.”

Their only goal for dressage was to keep all four feet inside the ring. Not only did the pair achieve that, but they also nailed their Beginner Novice test to earn a score in the low 30s. Not bad for Scorpio’s first time treading the boards! 

The real excitement started when Diego took Scorpio into the show jumping warm-up. “We almost ended up in the bushes,” Diego said, laughing. “He just spooked and bolted and there were bushes in front of us and I thought we were going to end up in them, but he just stopped right in front of them, like nothing happened, and just did a perfect halt. It was so funny, everyone around us was laughing.”

Once in the show jumping arena, Scorpio made it all the way around the course with just a few rails down and some awkward baby moments. The pair withdrew before cross country as they’d planned. Since Scorpio is only three with less than a month of training under his belt, Diego is taking things slow and steady. “Performance is gonna come with time and patience, but it’s good for him to get this kind of experience in a big environment so he feels more comfortable,” said Diego. “Getting his confidence up is our only goal at horse shows for right now.”

 Diego’s philosophy of taking things slow, putting as little pressure on Scorpio as possible, and building his confidence is paying off. When Scorpio first came to Windurra USA he was essentially unhandleable. As an uber-sensitive baby horse, he had been completely overwhelmed by the stress of travel and the new environment. “When he first arrived, he was really scared because of the long trip to the United States and he is just so sensitive,” Diego said. “For some horses, the travel would have been fine, but for a horse like him, he got scared of dealing with people and became really reactive.”

Diego Farje and EQ Scorpio at their first competition, Plantation Field Horse Trials. Photo by Carlos Hernandéz, COO of Equestly.

The big bay gelding became completely withdrawn. He wouldn’t put his head out of the stall, wouldn’t let anyone catch him in the field, and trusted no one. “He didn’t even want treats. Believe me, I bought carrots. I bought different expensive treats. And nothing,” Diego said. “One day I tried to give him a treat and he actually took it from me. So the first thing I did was go to the store and buy a huge bag of the same treat that he liked and started working with that.” 

Diego took an almost meditative approach to winning Scorpio’s trust. In an effort to get the horse to trust him, he would spend all of his spare time sitting in Scorpio’s stall next to his hay. He patiently waited for Scorpio to come to him on his own terms. “At first he was like, ‘What are you doing?’ Then he started approaching me and getting confident that I wasn’t going to do anything bad. When he did approach me I started cuddling him and he slowly became more relaxed.”

The hours spent patiently sitting in Scorpio’s stall, on top of an already busy schedule working Boyd’s horses and client horses, were well worth the time spent. Diego credits that slow, no-pressure approach to why Scorpio did so well at his first show. “I tried to develop a system where Scorpio could feel comfortable doing what we want him to do,” Diego said. 

Scorpio’s sensitive and reactive nature means that slight pressure from Diego is more than enough. But it also means that setting boundaries and clear communication both on the ground and under saddle are more important than ever. “He’s like a baby. Just like a kid, he needs to learn what’s good and what’s not good, so I have to be very clear,” Diego said. “Scorpio is really sensitive. When I do have to correct him, I need to be really smart and accurate in the timing.”

If Scorpio shows that he’s becoming overwhelmed or uncomfortable, Diego instantly pumps the brakes. “For example, if he is afraid of one spot in the ring, I immediately walk. Stop everything,” Diego said. “I go to the same spot again, just walking and letting him look at it. I tell him, ‘Okay, it’s fine.’ And when he gets it, I walk it a couple more times. I could pressure him through it, but instead, when he gives me a good feeling, I listen to him. Then I just go back to doing whatever we were doing when we stopped, like nothing happened.”

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

Taking breaks to give Scorpio the time he needs to process what he’s learning is a big part of Diego’s program. “Sometimes if you drill something 100 times to force them to understand it, that just makes the situation worse,” Diego said. “If you’re working on something new, work on it a little bit and then move on to something easier. Then, at the end of the ride, do it one more time, very gently, just to double check that he learned it, and then be done.”

“As a trainer, you always have a plan and you kind of want to stick with that plan. But sometimes things happen during the working session and you probably won’t reach your goal but you might get really close,” Diego explained. “Sometimes it’s better to stop one step before your goal then drill the exercise trying to reach a goal when it is not going to happen in that session.”

Like a little kid learning a new sport, Diego just wants Scorpio to learn to love the work he does, which means making it feel more like play, than hard work. “I think the most important thing for a horse training-wise is to enjoy the job. They need to feel like they’re playing, like everything is enjoyable, that it’s a good experience, that they can have fun.”

Diego believes that the most successful horses are those who love working with their rider and who truly enjoy their job. He hopes to cultivate both that feeling of partnership and that attitude in Scorpio. For now, it’s clear that the bromance is blossoming for this pair. In Diego’s own words, “I’m just obsessed with him.” While Scorpio is slowly coming to trust Diego, he hasn’t told Diego he loves him– yet. 

All kidding aside, it’s clear that there is so much love between this horse and his rider and I can’t wait to see what they’re up to next month.

How You Can Help Jane Sleeper after Serious Riding Accident

By on Jul 11, 2023 10:00 am -

Jane Sleeper and UN. Photo by Heather McGeer.

Olympian and 5* rider Jane Sleeper, one of the eventing community’s beloved own, needs some assistance, and we’ve pulled together some resources on how to do so.

Jane needs little introduction to the EN community: she’s perhaps best recently known for her beaming smile as she pinged around Kentucky after Kentucky with her self-produced and scrappy mare, UN. She was also a part of the squad sent to the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 1991 Pan American Games. She’s also a well-respected coach and has produced several horses she bred herself, including a few from UN.

Near the end of May, Jane was involved in a riding accident that has left her with numerous medical costs and an inability to work, according to a GoFundMe published by Elisabeth Harpham and Kathy Dress. The fundraising page has set a target of $25,000, with just under $8,000 raised ahead of this article’s publication. Click here to view the GoFundMe.

There is also an online auction that has been organized and is now accepting bids through July 24. A wide variety of items are available, including lessons with 5* riders, entries, bodywork certificates, and tailgating passes at the Maryland 5 Star. New items are still being added, and if you’d like to donate something to the auction you may do so by contacting Niamh O’Connell. Click here to view the auction.

Additionally, Kennett Brewing Company will host an event on July 23 from 4-7 pm, and you may see some celebrity guests bartending for the cause.

We’ll do our best to keep you updated on Jane’s recovery and are pulling hard for positive news.

Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products

By on Jul 11, 2023 7:43 am -

 

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I love seeing long-standing, hardworking venues get their chance at upper-level fixtures, and the weekend was such a showcase of that: in the UK, we saw Aston-le-Walls — a venue that feels like it puts something on for us all practically every week — get its own 4*, and in the US, we saw the same for Loch Moy in Maryland. I’m particularly fond of Loch Moy, as it was the venue at which I did my first event while working for Phyllis Dawson about fifteen years ago — and it’s great to know it’s every bit as friendly and well-run as it ever was. (Even better, of course, is seeing one of our EN team do so well there — well done, Ema!)

Events Opening Today: Great Meadow International, Shepherd Ranch Pony Club H.T. II

Events Closing Today: Millbrook H.T., Hunt Club Farms H.T., Town Hill Farm H.T.

News & Notes from Around the World:

It’s never too late to pick up an eventing habit. That’s what Jeanette Lussi discovered when, in her fifties, she decided to add eventing to an athletic roster that already included Ironmans and marathons. Now, she’s found her “heart horse” — a plucky pony of indeterminate breeding — and is having arguably the MOST fun. Read her story here.

Every couple of months, I like to brush up on emergency protocol, so it’s fresh in my mind if my horse decides to have a little whoopsie. This piece from veterinarian Jeff Hall, DVM is a really handy way to do just that, with an outline of four of the most common ‘little whoopsies’ and how to deal with them. Dive in and get prepared.

If you’ve been following British Eventing over the last few years, you may have noticed one very lanky chestnut working his way up to 5*. That’s Solo, the Badminton, Burghley, and Luhmühlen mount of British-based Kiwi Hollie Swain, and you can get to know him — and his intrepid rider — in this profile from the FEI.

For the first time in ten years (!!), Horses Inside Out is coming to the US. Using painted horses, the lecture-demo will teach you all about musculoskeletal anatomy, posture, and the effects of saddlery and riders on our horses. It’s perfect for equine pros and amateurs alike, and it starts tomorrow at Morven Park. Don’t miss out.

Sponsor Corner: Summer is in full swing and for many in the US, that means hot days are becoming the norm. Is your horse at risk for dehydration this summer? Find out with this infographic from Kentucky Performance Products.

Watch This:

Take a podium placing in the OI at Ocala with Elisa Wallace and Lissavorra Quality:

Monday Video from Horses Inside Out: XC Action from the Maryland International 4*

By on Jul 10, 2023 3:30 pm -

What fun it’s been to see the success of the new CCI4*-S division at the Maryland International & Horse Trials this weekend, and what a treat for us that official videographers RNS Videomedia have posted a compilation of every pair’s ride through the 4*/Advanced water complex. Rider consensus was that course designer Ian Stark built a track true to the level and judging solely by this complex and not being a rider myself, I’d certainly be inclined to agree. Special shoutout to the spectators that cheered loudly and proudly for every single pair as they navigated this question — you’re one of the reasons eventers are the best!

Additionally, thanks to local Maryland eventer Emma Hinke, we can also enjoy glimpses around the rest of the course in the video below. For more inside looks from Maryland, make sure you also catch up with Veronica Green-Gott’s reporter’s notebooks from day one and day two at the event.

The Maryland International + Horse Trials (Adamstown, MD) [Website] [Results] [EN’s Coverage]

T-2 days until the Horses Inside Out Clinic hosted by the North American Saddlery School and HCS, USA Saddlery! Gillian Higgins is bringing equine anatomy to life at Morven Park on July 12th. By painting the muscles, skeleton and other anatomical systems onto live horses Gillian delivers truly inspiring practical lecture demonstrations and courses. Sign up now!

Weekend Winners: Maryland, Arrowhead, Chattahooche, Huntington, Genesee Valley, Masterson Equestrian Trust, & Coconino

By on Jul 10, 2023 12:30 pm -

It was another busy summer weekend for eventers, from Vermont to Georgia, Maryland to Montana. We also saw a newly-christened 4* track at Maryland International + Horse Trials.

Congrats to all on a successful weekend, with a special shout out to the winner of our Unofficial Low Score Award winner, Kate Lucas and Kestrel, who scored an impressive 18.6 together in the Open Novice at Arrowhead HT.

The Maryland International + Horse Trials (Adamstown, MD) [Website][Scoring]

CCI 4*-S: Jennie Saville and FE Connery (47.9)
CCI 3*-S: Jennie Saville and Pascal (35.8)
CCI 2*-S: Will Faudree and Reloaded (35.4)
CCI 1*-S: Paige Ramsey and MTF Cooley Classic (32.0)
Advanced: Leslie Lamb and Banjo (64.8)
Open Intermediate: Nilson Moreira Da Silva and Elmo (33.4)
Open Preliminary: Caroline Pamukcu and Billy Be Jolly (31.4)
Modified Rider: Paige Ramsey and Fashionable Man (34.2)
Open Modified: Tim Bourke and Electric Quality (32.0)
Junior Open Training: James Power and Brambleridge Ponder the Truth (Patrick) (31.8)
Open Training: Lillian Heard Wood and Cooley Maestro (28.6)
Training Rider: Madison Cowen and Clip Clop (30.3)

Arrowhead H.T. (Billings, MT) [Website][Scoring]

Open Preliminary: Sabrina Manning and The River (28.8)
Open Training: Bailie Corless and Casualleigh (23.8)
Open Novice: Kate Lucas and Kestrel (18.6)
Open Beginner Novice: C’Dale Jore and A Romeo (23.4)
Pre-Comp: Phil Jore and A Aslan (22.8)
Starter: Alison Osborne and Stjarni (19.0)

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Fairburn, GA) [Website][Scoring]

Open Intermediate: Lucienne Bellissimo and Dyri (34.6)
Open Preliminary: Lauren Lambert and Biscotti (27.4)
Preliminary Rider: Breeana Robinette and Cape Kimberly (33.8)
Modified Rider: Darlene Walters and Concord Dawn (28.5)
Open Modified: Sara Beth Anton and Robin Stage (27.8)
Junior Training Rider: Elle Snyder and Oakland Quality (29.4)
Open Training A: Alexandra Du Celliee Muller and HH Zephyr (26.9)
Open Training B: Katie Malensek and Valeska (34.8)
Senior Training Rider: Heidi Jones and You’re Electric (34.8)
Junior Novice Rider A: Sterling Pollard and Ultra T (31.9)
Junior Novice Rider B: Madison Zgutowicz and My Valentine (26.9)
Open Novice A: Hannah Corlett and Ernest Fuerst Dance (33.6)
Open Novice B: Natalia Neneman and Lagans Ricardo Boy (26.1)
Senior Novice Rider: Marisa Shulman and Samurai Sam (29.7)
Junior Beginner Novice Rider A: Jaxin Credeur and HSH Rocketman (27.7)
Junior Beginner Novice Rider B: Abigail Zimmer and Regal Regon (26.2)
Open Beginner Novice A: Lydia Shook and Fernhill Class Appeal (27.7)
Open Beginner Novice B: Miriam Offermanns and BELLEUR (30.6)
Senior Beginner Novice Rider: Sophia Hand and Fernhill THE WILD CARD (35.9)
Young Event Horse – 4 Year Old: Ellen Doughty-Hume and Orion RSF (81.150)
Young Event Horse – 5 Year Old: Lauren Lambert and FE Alfonso Z (82.000)

Huntington Farm H.T. (South Strafford, VT) [Website][Scoring]

Junior/Young Open Preliminary: Sarah Newman and Hang Time (48.1)
Open Preliminary A: Kylie Lyman and Classicals Smartie Pants (37.4)
Open Preliminary B: Stephanie Jackson and Fernhill Quality Vision (44.6)
Junior Training: Eleanor Winter and Figlio (38.3)
Open Training A: Jackson Dillard and Layla Q (25.8)
Open Training B: Devon Champlain and Champagne Event (37.0)
Open Training C: Alexander Conrad and Lexington II (26.7)
Junior Novice A: Jenna Bunce and Remember When DDD (34.0)
Junior Novice B: Sarah Lovallo and Watson’s Delightful (33.6)
Open Novice A: Alexander Conrad and Speisialta Edition (30.6)
Open Novice B: Taryn Pearce and Mr. Ninja (32.8)
Open Novice C: Jennifer Fitch and Henry (30.1)
Junior Beginner Novice A: Quinn Ellis and Gold Street (32.1)
Junior Beginner Novice B: Adeline Tullar and Ruffian De Balfour (29.1)
Open Beginner Novice A: Alexander Conrad and King Kong Vanoveris (24.4)
Open Beginner Novice B: Adrienne Iorio and Klondike (26.2)

Genesee Valley Hunt H.T. (Geneseo, NY) [Website][Scoring]

HT-Modified-Open: Hannah Willford and Kontiki (30.3)
HT-Training-Open: Grace Ransom and Bright Prince (24.4)
Open Novice A: Erica Hutten and Felony (28.5)
Open Novice B: Carol Kozlowski and Kieran (23.1)
Open BNovice A: Elena Carmichael and Take Flight (24.1)
Open BNovice B: Kimberly Crane and Princess Buttercup (30.6)
Open BNovice C: Ryan Lefkowitz and Mastermind ES (27.9)
Open BNovice D: Clara Bond and Beaverwoods Dandelion (29.4)
Foxhunters: Julianne Pangal and Daisy (32.7)
Starter A: Karen Kelley and Full Gallop’s King Red (24.0)
Starter B: Noelle Woodruff and Mattie (30.0)

Summer Coconino HT and Western Underground, Inc. TR,N,BN 3 Day Event (Flagstaff, AZ) [Website][Scoring]

Intermediate Open: Maegen Bingham and Not So Normal (77.4)
Preliminary Open: Madeline Backus and Baratheon (31.8)
Training Open: Manuela Propfe and Master Swatch (26.0)
Training Rider: Autum Chavez and Euphoric Avenue (34.7)
Novice Open: Tatiana Larson and Lothario II (20.0)
Novice Junior: Noah Edgin and Indiana’s Express (34.0)
Novice Rider: Mimi Nuelle and Business or Pleasure (30.3)
Beginner Novice Open CT: Kathleen Zins and Irish Tom (25.9)
Beginner Novice Open: Anastasia Keyser and Heros Quest (29.0)
Beginner Novice Rider: Leah Cairns and Trip to Cairo (33.8)
Beginner Novice Junior: Annie Johnson and Barak Drago (31.9)
Intro A: Carrie Matteson and Maestro De La Nuit (34.7)
Intro B: Michelle Bresnahan and Fisher Price (32.4)

Lauren Billys Shady Takes Special Gold for Puerto Rico in San Salvador

By on Jul 10, 2023 10:00 am -

Puerto Rico took their first-ever international gold medal in thrilling style at the Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador.

Two-time Olympian Lauren Shady stormed to eventing gold with Can Be Sweet, finishing ahead of Mexico’s Luis Ariel Santiago Franco and Fernando Parroquin Delfin.

Mexico took Team Gold ahead of Colombia and the Centro Caribe Sports representative team at the multi-sport event in El Salvador, which comes just weeks before the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.Lauren is originally from California but has represented Puerto Rico for more than a decade. The 35-year-old qualified to represent the tiny Caribbean island via her grandmother, who she thanks for encouraging her to take up the opportunity.

Lauren took to Instagram to mark the occasion: “I want to freeze this moment in time. It’s a place that I could live in forever. The joy of competition despite all the challenges. The moment when my horse and I want it equally as bad.

“This is my first win at a championship. I have so many to thank: my federation, the Olympic committee, my owners, my teammates who helped me warm up and stood by me, Amy Spink groom extraordinaire, Emily Sandler, Tamie Smith for her inspiration and coaching via WhatsApp, my husband, my family, my barn family at home, sweet Charlie for stepping into the role of champion effortlessly and confidently, and my grandma for encouraging me to do this 13 years ago.”

FEI.org photo.

There was home joy for El Salvador as Juan Manuel Bolaños Barrios & Zilouet Mystic Rose took Jumping gold. They finished just ahead of Mexico’s Alberto Sanchez-Cozar and Venezuela’s Luis Fernando Larrazabal. There was also success in the Team event for Sanchez-Cozar, however, as Mexico took the top spot ahead of Colombia and Venezuela.

Yvonne Losos De Muñiz rolled back the years to take Dressage gold some 21 years after achieving the same feat in the same city. The Dominican Republic athlete took Individual gold for a third time at the Central American and Caribbean Games, this time with Idwinaretto.Colombia’s Juliana Gutierrez Aguilera took silver and helped her country to Team gold ahead of México and Costa Rica. Carlos Maldonado Lara of Mexico took individual bronze.