Welcome to Throwback Thursday! Each Thursday, we will be bringing you some vintage eventing photos and posts. Do you want to show us your first horse or a photo of your early riding days? Email [email protected].
We’re back with another edition of Guess the Rider this week. We are loving this week’s submission, and we are anxious to see what guesses you come up with. Can you guess the upper level rider pictured here? Post in the comments below and check back later for the reveal. Happy guessing!
Longtime EN reader Katharine Knauz rode her 15.3-hand Connemara/Trakehner gelding Poppyfields Tristan in a clinic with Boyd Martin last weekend at Eric Dierks’ Renovatio Farm in Tryon, N.C. She was kind enough to send in an excellent clinic report, as well as full video of her group’s lesson courtesy of Erik Olsen. In addition to the photos below taken by Katharine’s boyfriend Nathan Stancliff, photographer Linda Valerio also has a full gallery of photos on her website.
Boyd Martin teaches at Eric Dierks’ Renovatio Farm in Tryon, N.C. Photo by Nathan.
From Katharine:
After being born and raised in the chilly suburbs of Chicago, I was excited to move to Greenville, S.C., and put Tristan and myself smack dab in the center of all the equestrian events and training in the southeast! It also helps to befriend local trainers, and I have made (hopefully!) lifelong friends out of my trainer, Eric Dierks, and his equally talented wife, Trayce. In addition to having access to their beautiful farm in Tryon, N.C., Renovatio Farm, they’re also the type of horse people that know everybody. I mean everybody!
Last week, I got wind on Facebook that Trayce was putting together an impromptu clinic with the one and only Boyd Martin! I think I texted her hoping for a riding spot within about 10 seconds of hearing about it. Never, ever pass up an opportunity to ride with a well-respected trainer, especially if he/she is an Olympian!
I know lots of eventers go gaga over Mr. Martin, due to his dashing good looks, Australian accent, and sincere love of his horses, but I’m selfish. No matter how many accolades a rider has, they’re of little use to me if they can’t teach me and my horse a way to become better, safer competitors. I am happy to report that Boyd is probably an even better clinician than pretty face for magazine covers!
We started out by discussing stirrup length. Boyd said there should be three distinct lengths: one for dressage, one for jumping, and one for riding (flatwork in a jump saddle). The flatwork length is going to be somewhere in between your dressage length and jump length, and should fall just above your ankle bone. After our stirrups were up to snuff, we did a light walk/trot/canter to warm up, with the focus being on the horse responding to the leg.
While working at the trot, we sectioned the arena into three areas with square turns in each corner, allowing the horse to focus on straightness and impulsion instead of putting a huge effort into creating a bend. At the canter, we put all the horses into a light hand gallop before attempting to try any collection, thus allowing them to stretch out their backs before compression. This started all our mounts out with a great, forward-thinking mindsets before we started jumping.
Then back to the stirrups. We took a moment to adjust to our jumping lengths, and Boyd introduced a new concept regarding stirrup position. While the traditional position of the stirrup bar is across the ball of the foot, Boyd had us scoot our feet out a bit further so just our tip-toes were on the pads. He said this was easiest to do with wide-tread, plastic stirrups that have cheese grater pads. The goal of this positioning was to create a deeper heel angle and fuller contact between the rider’s lower leg and the horse. This tactic was especially useful on jumps requiring extra support to the base of the fence, like banks on cross country or spooky stadium jumps.
Then to warm up for jumping, we set up two raised cavaletti in a figure-eight pattern. We started with a large, looping figure eight for the first four to five jumps, then cut the turns in half to a tight, turning figure. This got the horses to start thinking on their feet before we started over larger jumps. From the figure-eight cavaletti, we turned down a long gymnastic line of a bounce two-stride bounce two-stride bounce, which was progressively raised from small cross rails to larger Xs.
Now on to the bigger stuff. To go back to practicing the deep heel and secure lower leg, we worked over a vertical fence with a turn back to an oxer with a V-chute. I liked the feeling of the deep heel coming into the base of the fence. I have a tendency to take my leg off entirely a couple strides before the jump, but having my heels pushed down helped make me more conscious of my leg contact into the base.
We then put some small courses together, and Boyd focused on everyone’s individual issues. My biggest problem is something I’ve been working on for almost a year. Sometimes, when I start encountering problems on a course (missing distances, lacking power, too much power, etc.) instead of reacting and adapting to the situation, I will instead sit there and go, “Oh dear God, I hope this works out! Tristan take the wheel!” Well … not quite that bad, but my body goes into a neutral state instead of fixing the situation.
We were working on a one-stride to a five-stride bending line to a Swedish oxer. I came through the line three times, and each time, ended up with six strides. Boyd stopped me and said simply, “You’re doing it wrong. You need to take the inside turn and make it five strides.” So we came around again, I gritted my teeth and put my strong lower leg in effect.
Tristan powered through the one-stride, we landed, I set the inside turn, and we made the distance in not five, but four strides! The “Little Horse” stepped up his game! This was, of course, not the ideal reaction, but Boyd was happy that we had made the change to a more powerful, direct route, rather than losing energy while adding strides.
When you ride with different trainers, you always gain a little more perspective. Sometimes you find out that they have very similar ideas to what you’ve already had yelled at you for hours on end; other times you pick up entirely new concepts. From this clinic, I know I need to refocus on “riding the horse underneath you,” as Boyd put it. He told me it’s very important to react to what the horse is telling you, since issues early on in a course could spell refusals later on, or worse.
Also, I’m going to practice scooting my feet further out of the stirrups and allowing my heel to sink further down and create a fuller connection with my lower leg. This show season, I don’t want to continue making the same mistakes, but let every past failure breed future success.
Katharine and Tristan. Photo by Nathan Stancliff.
Boyd Martin teaches at Eric Dierks’ Renovatio Farm. Photo by Photo by Nathan Stancliff.
Renovatio Farm is nothing if not incredibly picturesque, and that’s just the house!
Katharine and Tristan. Photo by Nathan Stancliff.
Eric Dierks and Puff. Photo by Nathan Stancliff.
Making that inside turn happen! Photo by Nathan Stancliff.
Andrew Nicholson and Avebury. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Horse & Hound reported this morning that Andrew Nicholson and Wiggy Channer tied the knot last weekend. Together for more than a decade — since Wiggy left former husband William Fox-Pitt, which sparked eventing’s fiercest rivalry — they have two children together, Lily and Zach, who also ride. Congrats to Andrew and Wiggy!
Andrew Nicholson and his long-term partner Wiggy Channer got married in the UK last weekend.
The couple live together near Marlborough in Wiltshire and have two young children, Lily and Zach, who both enjoy riding.
Andrew, 52, enjoyed a phenomenal 18 months of competition from September 2012 until the end of last season, winning four CCI4*s on four different horses (Burghley 2012 on Avebury, Pau 2012 on Nereo, Kentucky 2013 on Quimbo, Luhmühlen 2013 on Mr Cruise Control).
If Jock Paget is stripped of his Burghley title after the upcoming FEI tribunal into a failed dope test, Andrew is also in line to collect this first prize. Should this happen, the Barlows’ Avebury would become the first horse to win the autumn 4-star twice in a row.
Yesterday Nyls enjoyed the rarity of snow accumulation in central Virginia, and as I watched him gallop around bucking and farting like a four year old hooligan, I thought to myself, “Man, wouldn’t it be nice to be this excited just about a little snow?” Sometimes, horses remind you of your inner child, and they keep you silly, which is a good thing. Even as serious competitors, it’s nice to know that pure joy and happiness can be found in the smallest of things, and not every day has to be a work day. Never fear though, I’m headed to Aiken and there will be no more snow play days for the ponies!!
You’ve heard all the fuss about the new Carolina International CIC3*, but what’s really important is that they are dedicating a jump complex to Zoe DiGiovanni, who passed away late last year in a tragic riding accident. After talking with Zoe’s mom, Maria, Jane Murray, and the course designer for the Carolina Horse Park’s current jump removations, it has been decided which jump to develop in Zoe’s honor. Zoe’s jump will be the bank/mound complex, which is to be redesigned and completed in time for the CIC***. It was chosen because it is a permanent jump right in the middle of a lot of the action and there will be options for every level. Now is the part where all of us come in. We need to fund raise to allow this jump complex to be created and for a plaque to be placed to commemorate Zoe’s life. There will be a dedication time during the CIC***. Donations are appreciated in any amount and please send them to me, Amy Bresky at 3403 Youngs Rd., Southern Pines, NC 28387 or drop them off at the farm. Please make checks out to the Carolina Horse Park, mark on the check Zoe’s Jump, and the funds will be used specifically for this purpose. Please feel free to send this post far and wide, so we can make Zoe’s jump extra special, like she was. Thanks in advance to all!
The Blood Horse picked up on the interest surrounding none other than Phillip Dutton and Icabad Crane, a story we previously reported earlier this week. Racing fans will be excited to know that the famed racehorse is transitioning well into his new sport, and even more important, Eventing is officially a fun and entertaining sport to follow. At least Icabad isn’t doing something boring with his second career! [No Headless Horsemen Here!]
How important is conformation when choosing a horse? Just as top human athletes possess certain body types that grant them athletic prowess, a well-balanced horse has smoother gaits and is better able to perform athletic maneuvers. Being structurally correct also greatly increases the horse’s likelihood of staying sound when his body is subjected to repeated concussive forces. The Horse has the answers to all your questions. [Evaluating Conformation]
This is the ultimate feat of what a friend of mine likes to call man-genuity. I just call it good ol’ fashioned dumb. Have you spotted something awesome on your local Craigslist? Let us know about it at [email protected].
Heavy duty plastic horse hay feeder. The wife was going to buy one of those $600 plastic hay feeders when I came up with this idea. I bought the house, modified it to make the windows bigger & custom built a pallet base to keep the hay off the ground. Up to five or six horses can eat at the same time & they don’t scatter the hay as bad as with hay rings. I had the metal rings before and know how much hay you loose due to weather & due to the horses scattering. Since it has a roof it also keeps the hay dry. One adult can move this. I put it out every winter for the horses, then put it back in the barn come Spring. (hay feeder sits on pallet base but is not fastened to it. Custom Pallet base has some raised braces that keep the feeder on the pallet through wind or the horses bumping / pushing it) Includes the pallet base $250 931-xxx-xxxx
During the EN redesign, one of the first decisions made was to once again incorporate the famous Rolex crowd shot into the header on the site. The photo captures EN’s nation spirit, and the team agreed it needed to be prominently displayed, just like it always has. Have you ever wondered where the photo came from? Holly Covey, who snapped the photo at Rolex in 2009, tells the tale.
The original EN picture. Photo by Holly Covey.
From Holly:
While I was living in Southern California in the early 1980s, we who were under the wing of eventing evangelist Brian Sabo were busy helping with the Olympic Games run-up. This included a lot of pre-event things, from helping Neil Ayer at the cross-country course/golf course site down in Rancho Sante Fe, to writing pre-Olympic event coverage for Horse & Hound and even Bilt, a German magazine. I described, based on interviews with Mr. Ayer, all of the cross-country obstacles, wrote it up, and it was used by the official Olympic program printers.
Finally, the Games began in the summer of 1984, a hot Los Angeles summer, and I volunteered for 10 days of the entire equestrian competition at Santa Anita. I saw the famous Dr. Klimke victory pass from the back gate. I met His Royal Highness Prince Phillip, who at the time was head of the FEI and responsible for the final scoring, and as I was tasked as a gofer for the publicity department, had to climb the stands to his box above the competition arena to obtain official score sheets. I was down in the warmup finding riders for interviews and brought medalists up to the PR offices for media conferences. (The British eventing team ladies used my makeup to try and get sweat off their faces for photographers.) I was in the stable area. I was next to famous coaches, riders and trainers. I met horsemen from all over the world.
After the Games, we were all very excited to continue these great friendships, and one of these was with Mrs. Diane Marra, a strong USET eventing squad supporter who owned the great Better & Better, ridden by Mike Plumb, as well as Southern Comfort, ridden by Torrance Watkins. She invited me to visit her on the East Coast the following year, and I was lucky enough to be her guest for Radnor Three-Day Event. While there, I ended up writing reports for a couple of equestrian magazines, one of which asked me to cover the Kentucky Three-Day Event the following spring.
By this time, 1986, I had returned to my parent’s home in the Pacific Northwest to train my own event horses and finish another college degree, but found the money to make the trip to Lexington in April. It was a delightful trip. This was when the stabling was portables on the blacktop, the stadium was on grass, and I don’t remember the cross-country very much. I do recall the Sunday jog had the exact same focus and intense feel that today’s jog does, though! I took a lot of photos, wrote several articles, had a great time and met even more eventing friends. But as life often does, I never got back to Rolex.
Fast forward 23 years. For some reason, I decided I’d go back in 2009, this time just as a spectator and not working press, but take photos and enjoy the competition. I’d been a member of the Chronicle of the Horse forums for a while and had picked up new eventing friends, and it sounded like a great adventure. And it truly was for me; nearly every footstep I took on the grounds brought back old memories. Many things had completely changed; I couldn’t tell you where the old stadium field was; Mrs. Marra had passed away; the riders I knew back then were also retired or out of the upper levels. But I found new friends.
The most astonishing change for me was the absolutely HUGE amount of people out on the cross-country course. It was crammed with people from every stringed-off lane to stringed-off lane. Let me tell you, 23 years ago, you did not have to hurry to see anything, and there wasn’t more than two or three people deep at any viewing spot! Wow, things had changed. For one, I learned to wear comfortable shoes on cross-country day, because if you want to see a lot of jumps negotiated, you have to hike a bit.
I tried to have a plan, but the crowds being so large, much of my planned photo route had to be changed. I found myself still in the front half of the course about halfway through the day, so started to hike back through the middle of the course to jumps I had missed. I stopped, though, stood back behind the Hollow, looking south, and could barely fit the long string of spectators in the frame of the camera — it was simply amazing to me that so many people could love my sport of eventing.
I took the famous picture just as one of the German riders that year successfully negotiated the coffin, and the light seemed just right at about that time of day to get really good photos of the beautiful rolling hills of central Kentucky. I saved that photo on the memory card because it just seemed so perfect — people, a great jump, an international competitor, beautiful obstacles, great course and competition, famous hills; it had it all. It promised the sport of eventing to me. I like to take pictures that tell stories. This one did that, I think.
When John asked some friends who were enthusiastic about the early online production of Eventing Nation for a photo to help with graphics of the site, I sent him the magic photo and was both pleased and a bit proud to see it in the header a few weeks later. It has stayed there ever since, a perfect symbol of my sport to the world. I enjoy looking at it because it helps me to keep my confidence up. I’ve been through a lot personally since that moment on course in 2009, but that photo stays with me to remind me eventing is still my sport, and it’s still waiting for me to return to it; and I’m coming — I’ll be back soon, eventing. I promise.
The original EN picture. Photo by Holly Covey.
Bruce Davidson and Cruise Lion in the vet box. Photo by Holly Covey.
The crowd for Jimmy Wofford’s course walk at Rolex 2009. Photo by Holly Covey.
Bruce Davidson and Cruise Lion at Rolex in 2009. Photo by Holly Covey.
Rolex 2009. Photo by Holly Covey.
Jan Byyny and Inmidair at the Wednesday jog at Fair Hill 2013. “It is a picture that ‘tells a story,’ I think, and I love how they seem to glow — sort of a prophetic picture, as they ended up winning!”
Holly also sent in more photos from Rolex in 2009 and one photo from Fair Hill last year.
Peter Atkins and Henry Jota Hampton at Rolex 2013. Photo by Jenni Autry.
It’s been awhile since we last caught up with fan favorite Peter Atkins. After taking home 10th-place honors at Rolex last year, Henry Jota Hampton enjoyed a quiet fall, spending most of his time finessing his dressage with James Koford. With the World Equestrian Games rapidly approaching, Peter’s attention has now turned to working on the selection process for the Australian team.
“The Australians are not considering Rolex a selection event (for WEG),” Peter said. “They want the Australians to compete head to head, so they have recommended either Badminton or Luhmuhlen for 2014.” In 2012, Peter suffered a broken leg before flying over to the UK to contest Badminton, and Peter hopes that such bad luck will not befall him with this impending trip overseas. “Hopefully a horse won’t fall over and break my leg this time,” he joked.
Peter alluded to the fact that during his time competing in Australia, he found that there were no Open divisions to compete in. This meant that if a rider acquired an Advanced horse or had a horse coming out of the off-season, there were no other options other than to run Advanced the first time out. He remarked that he prefers the structure of the divisions in the U.S., which allow him to choose a level based on the horse’s fitness and current ability rather than having to come out guns blazing at the top level immediately. Peter plans to run Henny at Rocking Horse at Intermediate and Advanced before tackling Red Hills.
What about Henny’s opinions on coming off of a break? “He does really well with breaks. His dressage is really coming along, and he is jumping great. At the moment, I’m really happy with where he’s at,” Peter said. “He’s pretty consistent. I did run him Advanced first last year at Rocking Horse, and he was a little wild on cross country because he was excited to be back. So this year I decided to run an Intermediate beforehand.” As the new season progresses, Peter’s plan is to prepare to head overseas to have another crack at Badminton per the Australian selectors’ advice.
While based in Florida for the winter, Peter has a couple of young horses that he is working with, as well as a new Advanced horse. Lambrusco is an Oldenburg gelding that is coming off of a three-year break from competing. Peter ran him in the Preliminary division at the Ocala Horse Properties Horse Trials earlier this month, where he finished second in a strong field of 18. Lambrusco earned an impressive 27.4 to win the dressage that weekend, and Peter has high hopes for him going into 2014. “I still have to teach him my way of going, but I have pretty high hopes for him,” Peter said. “So far coming back from his break he is going very well.”
Peter also has undertaken the training on a promising new stallion, Clair de Lune. Owned by Rose Sullivan, the Holsteiner stallion was the West Coast Young Event Horse Champion in 2009 and most recently campaigned with Marilyn Little in 2012. Clair de Lune has produced many successful offspring, with many scoring between 85% and 89.98% in Future Event Horse competitions in 2013. Clair de Lune is preparing for a busy competition and breeding season in 2014. For the first time, both fresh/cooled semen and frozen semen will be available for interested parties. For more information on this exciting stallion, contact Peter.
While I’m sure that Peter and Henny’s U.S. fan base will be sorely disappointed that they will not be hearing that boisterous “Good boy Henny!” from Peter as the pair storms around Rolex, take solace in the fact that Peter plans to arm himself with his trusty helmet cam for his runs leading up to Badminton this year.
Always willing to expand his horizons, Peter has also had a bit of fun while spending some time in Florida. Check out this video that shows just one more use for event horses: mounted shooting! This is a horse in training with Peter, Tom Boy, who decided to take a crack at perhaps the loudest equine sport.
The off-track Thoroughbreds from last year’s Retired Racehorse Training Project Thoroughbred Makeover showed off their new skills at the Maryland Horse World Expo last weekend. Sara Sopher rode her horse Thane, with trainer Nuno Santos assisting; Alissa Ogburn rode her horse Governor Jack; and Amber Longreen rode her horse Same As Always. Jimmy Wofford judged the group on the training progress they have made since the Makeover concluded last fall.
Having attended the RRTP sessions at the Maryland Horse World Expo before, I can vouch for the fact that the arena they hold these sessions in is really cramped and spooky, with a low ceiling and hundreds of people piled around the outside. It says a lot that these horses always handle the atmosphere so well. Go OTTBs!
Michael Matz at the 1986 Show Jumping World Championships. Screenshot via YouTube.
Michael Matz has enjoyed a long and illustrious career that has spanned two equestrian disciplines. A Hall of Fame show jumper, Michael represented the U.S. on several occasions, including the silver medal winning Olympic team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. After retiring from his show jumping career, Michael ventured into the Thoroughbred racing world, where he has become one of the most sought after trainers on the scene.
After adding so many accolades to his career as a top level show jump rider, it’s difficult for Michael to pick his favorite moment.
Representing your country is always a big honor, and that is something that I always felt proud about. It’s always nice winning, but mostly when I was riding internationally and I felt that I was riding against not only good horses here in the U.S. but other people in Europe (and other countries), that was probably the most gratifying for me.
Michael certainly spent plenty of time traveling around the world for competitions. He represented the U.S. in the Pan American Games, three Olympics, and numerous World Championships and other top tier events worldwide. A particular standout event for Michael was the 1986 Show Jumping World Championships at Aachen. The team that year consisted of Michael Matz and Chef, Conrad Homfield and Abdullah, Katie Monahan (now Prudent) and Amadia, and Katherine Burdsall and The Natural.
“I think it worked out well that everyone got along and helped each other that year. I’ve been on teams where everyone mainly looks out for themselves, but this was a tour that I really looked forward to,” Michael said. “Katherine had perhaps the best horse of the group but was the greenest rider, so we worked together to ensure that our order of go worked for everyone so that (Katherine) could go in a spot where she felt a bit less pressure.”
Michael retired from show jumping and decided to venture into the racing world in 1998. “I’ve always enjoyed racehorses, and I had to find a way to make a living. I figured I could either teach people and give clinics or buy and sell horses, and I really wasn’t a very good seller, so that didn’t look like a very profitable option,” Michael said of his decision to start training racehorses. “I didn’t mind teaching, but just didn’t see myself teaching all the time.” Once Michael began training racehorses in earnest, he discovered that the worlds of show jumping and horse racing really weren’t too far apart.
Racehorses are the same as show horses in the fact that good horses make good riders and good trainers. I had a friend arrange to get better horses because in this world you just have to find a way to get better horses. It’s an ongoing situation where you keep looking for the best to improve your string and get good quality horses.
In 2005 and 2006, Michael trained the late Barbaro to an undefeated, albeit tragically short lived, career. Michael still speaks fondly of the bay colt who stole the public’s heart. “The biggest thing is that it was so sad to see what happened and we’ll never get to know what his true ability was,” Michael said. “When he won the Kentucky Derby so convincingly, that was a great feeling of accomplishment. You had so much confidence in this horse because he never lost; you just expected him to win.” After losing Barbaro, Michael went on to train Union Rags to a victory in the 2012 Belmont Stakes, notching two Classic wins under his training belt.
I’ve often wondered how Michael’s previous experience with a different equine sport has carried over into his race training. Michael remarked that his horses were well mannered after going through his program, and he hopes that the foundation that he puts on his horses helps them stay sound for longer careers. In talking with one of Michael’s part-time exercise riders, eventer Jennie Brannigan, I also found that Michael ensures his horses enjoy turnout, something that many racehorses do not see during their careers.
What if a horse is not showing the makings of a successful racehorse? Michael is a big advocate of helping find horses second careers if their racing career is cut short.
We’ve given quite a few horses to people to continue with either show jumping, fox hunting, pleasure (or other careers). We obviously try to find them nice homes if a horse gets hurt and needs six or eight months off if the owner says they aren’t interested in putting time into the horse. We try to find a good home for them to make another career.
One example of a horse who found a successful career after racing and even breeding is Kicken Kris, who won the 2004 Arlington National before being sold to Japan to stand at stud. Once his breeding career was over, he was brought back to the U.S. and is now retraining for a new career under the tutelage of eventer Jane Sleeper. A race trainer who is such a big advocate of ensuring his horses’ safety and well-being is a vital part to the racing industry, and Michael continues to support endeavors to find horses new homes if the horses are not successful on the track.
Michael returns to his show jumping roots every now and then. His three children are now competing in the show jumping ring, so he enjoys watching them when he can and will help out with coaching if they ask. “I’ve been more involved helping them this year because they asked me to, but I let them do their own thing as much as I can,” Michael said. “It’s been fun working with them and watching them ride.”
Michael has been a force to be reckoned with in both the show jumping and the racing world, and it’s enjoyable to follow his career knowing his horses are under the best possible care and are learning from one of the best. Many thanks to Michael for graciously spending some time letting EN get to know him better.
And as a bonus, here is footage of Michael and Chef competing at the 1986 Show Jumping World Championships at Aachen:
Marc Donovan and Hugh Lochore hard at work improving the cross country course. Photo via the Carolina International Facebook page.
In an effort to continue the improvement of the American eventing scene, the masterminds behind the Carolina International CIC3* are leaving nothing off the table when it comes to planning. Bringing in names such as Bobby Costello, Marc Donovan and Hugh Lochore, the panel in charge of the new premier CIC3* event on the spring calendar has done an excellent job of ensuring the Carolina Horse Park becomes a spring destination.
This year, the Carolina International will run CIC*-3* divisions, along with the horse trials divisions up to Advanced. Marc Donovan, who sits on the Organizing Committee for the event, did a lot of the legwork getting approval from the USEA and USEF to run the international divisions this year. This year’s dates of March 20-23 fall in between other premier events such as Red Hills and The Fork on the path to Rolex, giving competitors the chance to choose the event based on their spring schedule. “It’s an ideal time slot. So, with the prize money and quality of competition, we are hoping to have more entries than ever,” Marc said.
Riders have long expressed concern about the low amount of prize money given at many events. The Carolina International Organizing Committee has worked hard to ensure that the available prize money for this event is attractive to entrants. “We will have prize money to award for the Preliminary through Advanced divisions,” Jane Murray, who also sits on the Organizing Committee, said. “For the CIC divisions, there will be $25,000 in prize money for the CIC3* alone, as well as $10,000 for the CIC2* and $5,000 for the CIC*. There needs to be more prize money in the sport. We’re out there putting our stake in the ground.”
Hugh Lochore articulates his vision. Photo by Allie Conrad.
As far as improvements to the facility and courses are concerned, much progress has already been made to ensure the quality of the Carolina International is top tier. Hugh Lochore is the course designer for both the national and CIC divisions. “Improvements to footing, the galloping lanes and building new complexes are all things that are being addressed,” Marc said. “Eighteen to 20 new portable jumps are in the works, which we have people building as we speak. We’ve been doing everything we possibly can to up the level of quality.”
Another feature of the event this year will be a tribute to the members of the 1984 gold medal Olympic team called “Bring Back the Gold.” More information on this event can be found here as it becomes available. The level of commitment to this event on the part of the Organizing Committee is palpable, and it is with their hard work that U.S. eventing will soon have yet another top quality event to add to the spring season. Putting on an event of this size is a difficult task, one that requires plenty of land and a huge financial commitment.
“This has been a really big team effort,” Jane said. “A very strong, deeply experienced committee of people has been hard at work on this, which has taken the burden off of any one individual. We’ve got Bobby Costello (Chair), Marc Donovan, Nanki Doubleday, Will Faudree, Jane Murray, Doug Payne, Lizzie Snow and Lefredra Williams — a lot of depth, so that’s been a hallmark.”
The Carolina International will run from March 20-23 at the Carolina Horse Park. Registration for competitors opens on Feb. 4. For more information on the Carolina International, please visit the website or Facebook page.
