EN reader Lisa Bauman of Austin Eventing sent us this video that exemplifies the many ways a GoPro, or other small camera, can be used. I am a huge fan of GoPro as they are lightweight, compact and, with the right case, virtually indestructible. Check out how many different angles are featured in this video. Thanks Lisa for sending this in!
EN TRENDS:
Classic Eventing Nation
Allison Springer and Katy Groesbeck on the Importance of Education
Allison Springer and Arthur. Photo by Kate Samuels.
Chris Stafford of the USEA Podcast Channel has brought us another round of interviews this week. This week’s subject revolves around college education and balancing it with an eventing career. Allison Springer and Katy Groesbeck joined Chris to offer their input on how their college experience has evolved into a career as an eventing professional.
Both Allison and Katy earned four-year degrees from liberal arts colleges before beginning their respective eventing careers in earnest. Allison, though a successful Young Rider, went to college with a dream of competing at the Olympics but no plans to become a horse professional. After graduating, though, Allison did some soul-searching and found that she did not want to look back and say that she did not give her dreams her best shot.
So, as we all know, Allison ventured into the eventing scene full time and hasn’t looked back since. Allison does attribute much of her success to her education, though. “My education is the best thing sitting in my back pocket right now,” Allison told Chris. “It helps with talking to sponsors or syndicate members. It’s important to have intelligent conversations and engage people on a different level other than just the horses.”
Allison also gave some sound advice to other eventers who may be struggling with the decision to go to college or become a horse professional. “It’s important to try to also see the big picture in life,” Allison told Chris. “Make sure all the bases are covered. All of the time and thought and care that we put into our horses we don’t necessarily put into our personal lives. There is something to be said about stability. We are best at achieving our goals when our lives are as stress-free as possible.”
Katy Groesbeck and Oz the Tin Man. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Katy always knew she would attend college and even contemplated joining the Navy to be able to pay for her education. Both of her parents were horse professionals, and they were supportive of Katy’s endeavors at the University of California Los Angeles. Katy did not see herself becoming involved professionally with horses.
“I did not want to be a pro; I didn’t want to make my living because I’d seen how hard it was,” Katy said on the podcast. Katy did take her horse to school with her and worked both on campus and as a working student to make ends meet. Like Allison, after graduating, she realized that her dreams were worth following, and she decided to venture into the horse world as a professional. Katy echoed Allison’s sentiments that having a college education is still beneficial now.
If nothing else, both Allison and Katy feel that it’s important to have a backup plan in the event that riding becomes limited. As we know far too well, anything can happen, and virtually nothing goes according to plan when you deal with horses. My parents have always stressed the importance of a good education, and I tend to agree with them. As Allison stated, it’s a nice card to have in your pocket should your career plans change.
For much more from Allison and Katy, check out the full USEA Podcast with Chris Stafford here.
A Horse of a Different Color: Little Big Man
We are excited to announce a new series here on EN called "A Horse of a Different Color." We will be featuring horses and ponies that have been successful in the sport of eventing while representing a unique breed. Do you have a horse that you think would be a great feature subject? If so, email [email protected].
MMC Little Big Man, or Mopar. Photo by Dee McMaster.
Eventing ponies stole our hearts a long time ago, with Theodore O’Connor heading the superpony movement. Fortunately for us, another pony is making his way up the ranks and shows all of the makings to be a future superstar. Little Big Man is a tiny pony with a humongous heart who has been campaigned by Melissa McMaster. Melissa was kind enough to tell me more about this pocket rocket that everyone in the barn calls Mopar.
While Mopar’s USEF card lists him with a Quarter Horse sire and a Paint dam, Melissa questions his breeding. “He just screams Arab cross to me,” she said. Standing at just 14.2 hands, he exhibits much personality and movement similar to that of an Arab. Melissa’s mother, Dee, was actually the one who first laid eyes on Mopar. At the time, Mopar was more or less a backyard pony who competed in a few schooling jumper shows, and Dee was judging at a show where Mopar was competing.
Once she took in his huge jump and smart attitude, Dee knew she was looking at something special. After talking with Mopar’s owner at the time, the decision was made to take him cross-country schooling for the first time. “Within 10 minutes, he was jumping everything; it was all play to him,” Melissa recalled. “He would just look for the next big thing to jump.” Once Melissa realized that this pony’s calling might be eventing, a sale was drawn up and finalized.
All dressed up and ready to jump. Photo by Dee McMaster.
The primary challenge in training Mopar was the dressage work. “He really was very very reluctant to have any contact when we got him. If you touched his mouth, he would put his head into a very tight ball of energy frame,” Melissa said. “So we did a lot of walking. Lots of serpentines and trail riding and just throwing the reins away. That slowly progressed in the trot after about 60 days of just walking.”
After taking some lessons with Pierre St. Jacques, Melissa discovered that Mopar’s favorite movement to do was extend. “I have pictures of him doing an extended trot, and he looked like a well-trained, upper level dressage horse,” she said. “Pierre said that he had the power and balance to be a straight dressage horse if we wanted.”
Progressing Mopar’s eventing career was still the goal, so Melissa began competing but ran into some challenges due to her 5-foot-11 frame. “I usually ride horses that are 17 hands, so it was a big adjustment,” she said. Show jumping has proven to be a challenge for the pair, but Melissa takes the responsibility for this, as she realizes that the size difference plays a big role. Once she realized that Mopar would benefit from a rider of smaller stature, she began to look for possibilities.
Photo courtesy of Palmer Photo.
Christan Trainor is a U.S. rider based in Sydney, Australia, who produced legendary pony Theodore O’Connor before Karen O’Connor took over the reins. Initially, Melissa’s mother made contact with Christan to get some casual advice from someone experienced in training upper level ponies. Eventually, the decision was made to sell Mopar to Christan, who put together a syndicate for the purchase.
Mopar will be making his way to Australia later this spring. While Melissa is disappointed that she will not be the one to take Mopar to the top, she knows that he will be in the best possible hands with Christan. “To watch him is just awe inspiring,” Melissa said. “He truly does have a horse stride and can make the big distances. I really wanted to bring him up, but I know [Christan] will do a great job.”
Photo by Dee McMaster.
Mopar has already earned quite a reputation on the eventing scene. “He really is the horse that you stop to watch jump. He jumps so big and so high, he’s just incredible. He’s the horse that jumps the 6’ standard. At Ocala, everyone would stop to watch him go and ask questions about him,” Melissa said.
While I’m sure everyone will be sad to see Mopar go to Australia, we can rest assured that we haven’t heard the last from what looks to be an eventing superstar. Best of luck to Christan and Mopar as they begin their partnership this spring, and many thanks to Melissa for sharing her story with us.
To keep up with Little Big Man (Mopar)’s adventures, check out his Facebook page.
Go eventing.
Zara Phillips Gives Birth to a Baby Girl
Zara Phillips and High Kingdom. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Congratulations are in order for Zara Phillips and her husband Mike Tindall as they welcomed a brand new baby girl into the world earlier this morning, and Buckingham Palace released an official statement shortly thereafter:
“Mrs Michael Tindall today safely delivered a baby girl at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. Mr Tindall was present at the birth. The weight of the baby was 7lbs 12oz.
The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal, Captain Mark Phillips and Mike’s parents, Mr Phillip and Mrs Linda Tindall, have been informed and are delighted with the news. The baby’s name will be confirmed in due course.
This baby is the first child for Zara and Mike, the third grandchild for The Princess Royal and the fourth great-grandchild for The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, and is 16th line to the Throne.”
Zara competed and rode through her pregnancy, causing lots of controversy about her safety decisions. She announced her pregnancy last year in July, shortly after competing at Barbury Castle International Horse Trials. Her new baby, yet to be named, is the third grandchild for HRH The Princess Roya, and 16th in line to the throne.
Friday News & Notes from FLAIR Nasal Strips
Jon Holling, Buck Davidson, and Jennie Brannigan checking out some new elements at Red Hills.
Happy Friday! As we gear up for the upcoming season, several eventers have gone to check out the brand new cross country course at Red Hills. Designed by Hugh Lochore and built by Tyson Rementer and Levi Rykewaert, the courses promise to be challenging and state of the art. I asked Jennie for her thoughts on the new course, and she said that “the new layout of the track is going to make for an even better atmosphere for an already action packed Red Hills HT.” We are excited to see how this year’s event goes off, and we don’t have too much longer to wait. Red Hills will take place March 6-9 in Tallahassee, Fl. To check out more of the new cross country course, click here.
Events This Weekend:
Poplar Place January HT: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times][Live Scores]
Friday News:
Ready for Super Bowl Sunday? Budweiser has let loose a few details about their highly anticipated commercial for this year. Budweiser will be airing five spots this year. Expect a puppy and a follow up on the “Brotherhood” commercial from last year to make an appearance. [Budweiser Super Bowl Ad]
Are you planning to go to WEG this year? A new round of hospitality packages is now available for purchase. Expect more tickets to be released in March and April. [WEG Ticket Information]
John Nicholson, the executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park, has announced his retirement. Nicholson has served his position since 1997, the longest tenured executive director in the Park’s history. A replacement has yet to be named. [KHP Executive Director Retires]
Irish eventing has undergone some changes for the upcoming year. After listening to recent survey results, Eventing Ireland Classes are to be renamed. The new class names appear to be similar to those of British Eventing classes, perhaps to establish some similarities between the two to reduce confusion. Other changes and clarifications have also been listed. [Changes to Eventing Ireland]
In another development in the slaughter saga, another ban has passed in the House of Representatives. The bill would end funding to inspect slaughterhouse plans, which essentially bans horse slaughter in the US. The bill is expected to pass in the Senate next and would prevent inspection funding through September. [Ban on Horse Slaughter]
Top racehorse St. Nicholas Abbey lost his battle to colic earlier this week. The legendary horse notably won the Coronation Cup at Epsom for three consecutive years from 2011-13. After battling injuries and, most recently, colic, the decision was made to euthanize him. [St. Nicholas Abbey Euthanized]
Best of the Blogs:
The adventures of a True Prospect Farm working student.
Friday Video Break:
The Icelandic pony who terrifies other horses. I’m not sure what exactly about this pony is so scary to other passing horses!
Angled Fences Abound on Day 2 of Hawley-Bennett Awad Clinic
Jennifer McFall's young horse Classic Twain DF in the Hawley Bennett-Awad clinic at Dragonfire. Photo courtesy of Dragonfire Farm
The second day of the Hawley Bennett-Awad clinic at Dragonfire Farm in Wilton, Calif., was just as challenging as the first. Perhaps even more so as we all partied a bit hard at the McFall’s house on Saturday night. Red wine, food and Team DF always results in very good times.
The morning started out with fog and cold, sending most of the spectators seeking additional jackets. By afternoon, it was gorgeous. Building off the previous day’s themes of accuracy and adjustability, Hawley had riders work through a series of four fences set at right angles to one another about four strides apart. This exercise was excellent to ensure that the horses were on our aids and challenged our accuracy.
Certainly you could have ridden straight through and angled all of the fences, but Hawley was after accuracy, having us ride to the center of each fence. I particularly enjoyed this exercise, as I’ve been lazy about looking to my next fence lately, and it served as a good reminder to actively use my outside aids when turning. It also reminded me to not snap down and duck with my upper body at the waist when I jabbed myself in the throat with the handle of my crop.
From there, Hawley had riders come across the diagonal again through a triple (four strides to four strides). The final jump in the triple was actually part of the broken-line exercise and made for a nice pseudo-figure eight, as it was easy to go boldly across the diagonal but in order to come back through the broken line again, you really had to use your corner well to rebalance and collect.
Once it was established that the horses were responsive and riders were handling the turns well, additional challenges were added, including one where we landed off of a single and made a lefthand turn in six to a one stride, followed immediately by a right hand turn to a single in five. On the far side of the ring there was a very looky oxer-to-bounce combination that was very intimidating when it was first set up; but after seeing it tackled with virtually no problems all day long, it was very straightforward.
Everyone showed significant improvement from day one to day two. More fantastic pictures are on the Dragonfire Farm Facebook page. Hawley is back at Dragonfire in a few short weeks, and I know everyone that attended is looking forward to having her back and curious as to what challenges she’ll bring next time.
Santa’s Keeper Euthanized [Update: Postmortem Exam Reveals Muscle Ruptures]
Buck Davidson and Santa’s Keeper at Bromont. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Buck Davidson just informed us that Santa’s Keeper has been euthanized following heroic efforts to save him after he sustained a leg injury at the Ocala Horse Properties January Horse Trials Saturday. Dr. Nathan Mitts, who has been treating Simon, issued the following statement: “We regret to inform that Santa’s Keeper was euthanized today as his condition deteriorated. An exam is ongoing, and we hope that the findings will advance our early recognition and care in the future. Simon was brave and stoic to the end, and he will be missed.”
As we reported yesterday, Simon show jumped well Saturday in the Open Intermediate division at Ocala, but looked stiff in his right hind back at the trailer. The leg then swelled badly, so much so that Buck had to postpone teaching lessons at his farm in order to keep the barn as quiet as possible to encourage Simon to lay down and rest the leg. Buck and his veterinary team did everything they could to save the horse.
All horses are special, but Simon was particularly special to Buck. A Thoroughbred gelding purchased off the Keeneland racetrack as a 3-year-old, Buck brought Simon all the way through the levels, with a second-place finish in the Bromont CCI2* last year standing out as a bright spot in their partnership together. Buck owned Simon with his longtime supporters Carl and Cassie Segal; he gave them a partnership in the horse as a Christmas present three years ago. Simon was a favorite in the barn, “a horse we all loved,” Buck told me today. “He was the kindest horse in the world.”
Rest in peace, Simon.
Update 6:30 p.m. EST: Dr. Nathan Mitts has released the following statement on his findings during the postmortem exam:
“Santa’s Keeper sustained a rupture of his right quadriceps muscle and right transverse abdominal muscle, presumably during his round of show jumping on Saturday, January 11. The severity of these muscle injuries, the corresponding internal hemorrhage, and the onset of support limb laminitis proved too much for us to overcome.”
Thursday Video: Boyd Martin and Trading Aces Kick Off 2014
Trading Aces is just one of the talented horses in Boyd Martin’s current string. This past weekend, Boyd took Trading Aces out to stretch his legs in the sandbox, performing CCI4* Test B at Full Gallop Farm’s dressage schooling show.
From Boyd:
“I took Oscar on his first outing for the year on Sunday at the Full Gallop dressage schooling show. He did the 4-star test B, which is this year’s 4-star test. It was great to run him through this test off the farm. I was pretty happy with how he went; obviously we are a bit rusty at this point in the year but his changes are getting more and more confirmed. I believe he will be at a stage this year where he can put in some great scores on the flat.”
Thoroughbred Legends Presented by Cosequin: Blue Cliff
Thoroughbred racehorses that go on to second careers are unique in that they have two retirements in their lifetimes: the first from the track and the second from the show ring. Thoroughbred Legends, a new EN series presented by Cosequin, seeks to honor off-track Thoroughbreds that went on to accomplish great things as upper-level eventers and now enjoy a second retirement in their golden years. If you know of a great Thoroughbred for this series, email [email protected].
Zane as he was coming off the racetrack. Photo by Pam Sills.
Blue Cliff was foaled on March 27, 1998 as a grey or roan colt by the successful stallion Great Gladiator. The gelding raced for three years, running 39 races, winning five, and garnering $89,000. He raced exclusively in Canada, campaigning at Woodbine and Fort Erie Racetracks. He retired sound and ready for a new career at the age of five, and was lucky to be pulled off the track by Eventer Mark Nelson.
Mark did a few events with the grey gelding and sold him along to an amateur. It was quickly apparent that Zane was too much horse for his new owner, and he was sent to Pennsylvania to be sold again. Fifteen-year-old Stephanie Sills was searching for a new horse online when she came upon the striking dark dappled grey, and was informed by Zane’s current trainer that she would be well advised to not waste her time on the gelding. He had developed a reputation of being a righteous pain in the ass, and was difficult to get along with. Undeterred, Stephanie went to try him and they immediately clicked. She bought him and shipped him home to Vermont, and their journey began.
While Zane was a complete sweetheart on the ground, it was a different story once he was under tack. “He spooks at everything. His spooking was so bad that we had an eye specialist come out and look at him because we feared he actually had impaired vision,” remembers Stephanie. “His eyes are completely fine. He’s just ridiculously spooky!” The gelding also had a habit of rearing, bolting and exploding whenever another horse got within fifty feet of him in an arena, a trick that left Stephanie on the ground more than once.
Zane in Aiken. Photo by Jean Louis Martin.
In May of 2006, the pair attacked their first event together. By her own admission, Dressage was a disaster, as Zane has a deep fear of dressage booths, dressage letters, sand hitting the sideboards and other moving horses. He had a stop in show jumping over a roll top, and trotted the cross country course, gathering twenty-two time penalties at Novice. Zane proved to be much more brave over jumps than he was in the dressage arena, and Stephanie was a determined rider who helped him with his confidence until he became a cross country machine.
While the spooking was always good for keeping Stephanie busy as a rider, Zane also struggled with his show jumping. “He’s not a scopey horse, he is athletic and he tries very hard, which is why he got so far,” says Stephanie. “We used to go bowling for rails. Three or four was normal when we moved up to Preliminary, and I think we even had eight at one competition”. Zane was capable of winning on the flat, and he was always fast and clean on cross country, but his show jumping record caused more than a few disappointments.
In 2009 the pair moved up to the Intermediate level. “At Richland Park, our third Intermediate, I had just turned 19 and probably had no business being at that level, but I had young fearless bravery on my side,” says Stephanie. “And then I walked the cross country course! It was almost the same as the CIC2* course, and I rode at the end of the day. I don’t think I said more than five words all day and I surely didn’t eat”. Despite her worries, Zane left the box and gave her a perfect round, finishing with a clear round and the second fastest time of the division.
Zane running the Intermediate at Maryland HT. Photo by Jean Louis Martin.
In 2010, Stephanie deployed with the military, and decided to lease Zane to a young rider, who did her first Preliminary on him. They rejoined in 2011, competing at the Preliminary level again. “I decided that as amazing as he was on cross country, he was best as a Prelim horse rather than Intermediate,” says Stephanie. Zane was leased out again for 2012, and reunited with Stephanie in 2013, when she realized that she wanted to do a full format event before they disappeared forever. They completed the Preliminary 3-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park last year with a perfect and clean cross country round. Stephanie and Zane had now completed everything there was to offer at that level, including over 35 preliminary horse trials, a CIC* and a full format CCI*.
Zane is now leased to a junior rider on Stephanie’s farm, who gets the joy of dealing with his quirks and spooks daily. “I think he still has many years left in him. Even after 39 races and over 40 events at the upper levels he still has completely clean legs and has never yet had an injury that kept him out of work. I think his legs match his brain — they never really changed from his first season as a two year old on the track!”
Throwback Thursday: Reader Submissions
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].
Bobby Meyerhoff on his first POA. Photo submitted by Danica Meyerhoff.
We are loving the Throwback Thursday photos that you have been sending us, so we decided to post some reader submitted photos for this week’s post. Please keep the submissions coming, we love seeing everyone’s way back when photos!
Photo submitted by Kim Keppick.
Kim Keppick submitted her Throwback Thursday photo with this cool story: Eventing in Ireland in 1983. Came to USA in 1984 at age 19 to work for Karen Lende (now O’Connor) who was at Jimmy Wofford’s barn at the time.”
Photo submitted by Susan Gawley.
Susan Gawley sent in our next photo. “My first horse Tonto and I doing our dressage test at Aquilina Farms in Royalton, N.Y., circa 1983. He was a 15.2-hand Quarter Horse gelding I bought while working as a camp counselor at Forestel Farm during college. He was an off-the-track QH that had a background in barrel racing. Turned out to be an amazing little dressage horse who was 1987 AHSA Champion at First Level for my zone. Best first horse a girl could ever ask for. Had him 10 wonderful years. I groomed him so much that his coat gleamed like a wet seal!”
Photo submitted by Lori Stammer.
Finally, Lori Stammer sent in this dose of adorable. “This picture is of Nancy Grout (Fritz, back then). She is a USPC National Examiner now. In the picture, she is putting on shipping bandages after a Pony Club rally held at UNH. The pony is Cinnamon Sizzle. She was a member of Squamscott Pony Club.”
