Classic Eventing Nation

Breaking Down the 2014 USEF Winter/Spring Training Lists

By on Nov 14, 2013 10:30 am -

Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott are the sole pair on the Global Talent list thanks to a top-five finish at Pau. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Considering the USEF released last year’s winter/spring training list just four days before Christmas, we’re all getting a bit spoiled this year with the 2014 list coming out in mid-November. We saw 30 pairs on the 2013 winter/spring list and 20 on the summer/fall list; the 2014 winter/spring list contains 23 pairs, plus an additional six pairs that were not named to an actual list but will be invited to participate in training sessions with Coach David O’Connor this winter. I’ll be offering a variety of analysis on the lists over the next couple of days, but first let’s take a look at what each of these pairs accomplished in 2013 — particularly in the latter half of the season — to make it this far.

Global Talent

Combinations that currently possess the ability to win anywhere in the world.

Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott — Just like last year’s winter/spring training list, just one pair made the Global Talent list this year. Last year, Sinead Halpin and Manoir De Carneville took that honor thanks to winning almost winning Burghley. This year, the honors go to Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott, who also came incredibly close to winning a four-star at the end of this season. While two rails ultimately saw them finish in fourth place at Pau, there’s no denying that Phillip and Cave are poised for a fantastic 2014.

World Class

Combinations that currently possess the ability to be competitive anywhere in the world. The combinations listed on the World Class List will receive Land Rover Training Grants.

Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister — Tiana and Fin have nothing left to prove after a stellar 2013, in which they finished 17th at Badminton and 10th at Aachen. While it would have been fun to watch Fin romp around a fall four-star, there was really no need to add that additional wear and tear to his year after what he’d already accomplished. Thanks to Tiana’s hard work and faith in this horse, they’re well on their way to consideration for next year’s WEG team.

Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle RM — Reggie might be one of the most loved eventing horses currently competing in the U.S., and Buck’s partnership with this horse is truly inspirational. After finishing in fourth place at Rolex to become the 2013 U.S. National Champion, Reggie sustained a bone bruise on his right stifle, which kept him from competing on the Nations Cup team at Aachen. Thankfully, the injury was minor, and Reggie will be back into full work in time to participate in the winter training sessions.

Buck Davidson and Park Trader — Buck has had a wild fall with this horse, as they shipped to Burghley only to crash after the mid-way point on cross country in a freak accident when Kobe hung a leg after jumping beautifully the whole way around. In typical Buck form, he brushed it off and re-routed to Fair Hill, where he and Kobe finished in second place in the Fair Hill CCI3* in an emotional finale that served as one of the highlights on the fall season. It’s been incredibly challenging to get this horse to this point in his career, and now Buck’s enjoying the fruits of his labor.

Will Faudree and Andromaque — I love mares because they give so much of themselves once you truly cultivate a partnership, and Will has done just that with Missie. She finished fifth in the Saumur CCI3* in France in May and was poised to tackle Pau until she sustained a minor injury just weeks before the event. So it goes with horses. The good news is Missie will be ready for the winter training sessions and remains a major threat to make the WEG team this year. Girl power all the way!

Sinead Halpin and Manoir De Carneville — It’s been one hell of a 2013 season for Sinead Halpin. After skipping Rolex to save Tate’s legs for a fall campaign in Europe, Sinead fell at Chatt Hills in July, suffering a variety of injuries that ultimately kept her home in the States. This pair won the Plantation Field CIC3* in dominant fashion only to part ways in a bummer of a fall at Fair Hill, an event everyone expected them to win. While mistakes like that have kept another notable names off the list, Sinead and Tate have simply accomplished too much to be overlooked in a WEG year.

Marilyn Little and RF Demeter — Demi is the other powerhouse mare on the world class list, and she truly has all the pieces to be successful on the world stage. She finished seventh at Luhmuhlen earlier this year and also jumped around clear on cross country with just a handful of time penalties. If Marilyn can polish their performance across all three phases — and I know she’ll be totally determined to do so — this pair is going to be very tough to beat.

Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen — This horse is another perennial favorite with eventing fans, and it’s been thrilling to watch him compete this year in England. After recovering from tie-forward surgery earlier in the year, Glen came back in dominant form to place third out of 84 starters in the Blenheim CCI3*. While he didn’t run a four-star this year, Glen has proven that he can be competitive amongst the best in Europe, and a good spring season will go a long way in showing what he could contribute to next year’s WEG team.

Clark Montgomery and Universe — Clark has had an up-and-down year with this horse, and he and Jess have shown true horsemanship in sticking by him and believing in him. Universe completed his first four-star in May at Badminton with a clear cross-country trip and no rails in show jumping. But a rocky go at Aachen raised questions as to whether he could be consistent at this level. The horse answered those questions at Pau, where he delivered a double clear cross-country trip to finish 10th. There’s still a lot to work on — namely his tension in the dressage — but there’s no question he’s a seriously talented horse.

Meghan O’Donoghue and Pirate — Meghan is the youngest rider to make a training list in this cycle, and she absolutely deserves it after having a fairytale season with her off-track Thoroughbred gelding. After jumping clear around their first four-star to ultimately finish 12th at Rolex, Meghan crossed the pond to tackle her first European event at Blenheim. They finished 11th in the CCI3* in a very big field, and they deserve a huge pat on the back for such a stellar year.

Lynn Symansky and Donner — The Flying Deer has amassed a huge fan base this year — and for good reason. He finished on his dressage score at Rolex in his first-ever four-star to finish fifth, and then jumped double clear again on cross country in his next four-star last month at Pau — with the fastest time of the day, no less. While he’s not a stellar mover in the dressage, he can hold his own against the best cross-country horses in the world. That quality makes him extremely valuable to Team USA.

National List

Combinations that are currently competitive in domestic international-level competition, and who the USEF Selection Committee feel have the future potential to be competitive anywhere in the world.

Jan Byyny and Inmidair — This is Jan’s first time being on a list in a very long time, and this achievement says so much about what she’s overcome to get back to this place in her career. There’s no doubt this pair deserves to be here after besting a very talented field to win the Fair Hill CCI3* last month. Thanks to that win, they received a free flight to the overseas competition of their choice courtesy of title sponsor Dutta Corp, and it will be exciting to follow their 2014 season.

Will Coleman and Conair — This horse is a very new ride for Will but no stranger to the highest levels of the sport. He previously competed in Europe with Rodney Powell in the irons, most notably finishing in second place in the Blenheim CCI3* last year. Since coming into Will’s program in the summer, they’ve slowly been creating a partnership, highlighted by a third-place finish in the Fair Hill CCI3* last month. Conair is going to be a very exciting horse for Will.

Will Coleman and OBOS O’Reilly — This horse hasn’t competed since Richland — where he only ran Intermediate and placed 13th — but it’s clear that the High Performance team really believes he and Will have the potential to go far. He won his first-ever three-star in June at the Bromont CCI3* and did so in very good form despite being super green at the level. While it would have been beneficial to see him at Plantation Field or Fair Hill, it’s clear the horse has a lot to bring to the table.

Buck Davidson and Petite Flower — The more I see of this mare, the more I love her. She’s scrappy and a real trier, and that’s exactly the type of horse that suits Buck. Flower is very new to the Advanced level, as Buck took over the rider from Caroline Martin to move her up this summer, but she’s showed a lot of promise so far. While they ran into trouble and retired on course at Fair Hill, Buck re-routed to Galway Downs, where they won the CCI3*. I’m sure we’ll be seeing her at Rolex in 2014.

Ellen Doughty and Sir Oberon — Ellen has enjoyed a Cinderella story of a season with Sir Oberon, a horse she’s campaigned all the way up from Training level. They just moved up to Advanced this spring, enjoying top placings across the country before finishing in sixth place in the Fair Hill CCI3*, they’re first attempt at the level. Ellen’s already announced she’ll be taking Obie to Rolex next spring — and getting married there to boot! Her story is a beautiful example of hard work paying off.

Will Faudree and Pawlow — Ernie started out his season super strong with a sixth-place finish at Rolex, but fell upon landing from the final jump on the cross-country course at Aachen. That was a truly terrifying moment to witness, and, mercifully, the horse walked away from it. He’s been out of commission since then, so it makes sense that we’re seeing him bumped down from the world class list. The horse is incredibly talented, and we can expect to see a number of strong performances from this pair in 2014.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night — I am over-the-moon excited for Liz, who has quietly campaigned in England since she left California in the late 90s to train with the best in the world. After stints with William Fox-Pitt and Joe Meyer, she went out on her own — all while splitting her time with being a professional racecar driver. She’s decided to devote herself to horses full-time now, and she and Blackie competed on the U.S. Nations Cup team at Boekelo last month. While they had a bummer of a runout on cross country, this horse has all the pieces.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and HHS Cooley — Liz brought this horse over from England to contest the Galway Downs CCI3* in front of her hometown crowd, and they absolutely rose to the occasion, ultimately finishing in third place. Cooley is super new to this level, but he has the talent to excel across all three phases, and he should flourish under the extra coaching and attention now that Liz has firmly cemented herself in the spotlight as a potential threat for future U.S. teams.

Lillian Heard and Share Option — Lillian and Whitey have had a very solid season overall, especially when considering the horse hadn’t run Advanced in three years due to a tendon injury. While they struggled a bit in the fall — most notably parting ways in dramatic fashion at the infamous water complex at Plantation Field — they came back with a vengeance at Fair Hill to finish in 10th place in the CCI3*. Lillian is an extremely fierce competitor, and she’s been through so much to get back to this place with Whitey.

Doug Payne and Crown Talisman — Tali is such a cool horse, and he has this presence about him that screams quality. Doug deserves major kudos for working through this horse’s tension in the dressage, and he was a completely different horse in this phase at Fair Hill from what we saw earlier in the season. They were fourth at both the Plantation Field CIC3* and Fair Hill CCI3*, and I imagine Doug is already scheming about his strategy for Rolex.

Kim Severson and Fernhill Fearless — It’s so exciting to see Kim back on a list after she’s made a wonderful comeback to the upper levels this year with Sparky. They most recently finished in fifth place in the Fair Hill CCI3* after a myriad of other solid finishes throughout the season, and I don’t see a reason why they won’t be tackling Rolex next year. It will have been three years since Kim competed at Rolex, and I’m thrilled for her to be back at this level.

Sharon White and Wundermaske — Sharon deserves a major pat on the back for believing in this horse this season. After a scary fall at Millbrook severely damaged the horse’s confidence on cross country, Sharon worked tirelessly to help him regain his mojo. That ultimately meant making the tough decision to cancel their trip to Blenheim and stay home in the States instead. But that strategy paid off, as Patch jumped beautifully around the Fair Hill CCI3* to finish in seventh place.

In addition, the following riders will be invited to participate in Training Sessions with O’Connor this winter/spring:

Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair — I got to hear all about Cody when I featured him on EN’s Got Talent this fall, and this quirky little gelding is a pretty cool horse. As a team, they haven’t placed lower than fifth in a single one of their 25 starts together since the horse started his career at Beginner Novice back in 2011. He moved up to Intermediate this year, and he and Maya contested their first CCI2* together at Galway Downs earlier this month, where they finished second. The Pacific Northwest eventing crowd has to be bursting with pride for this pair.

Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF — Matt imported this horse from Ireland earlier this year and has since enjoyed a lot of success with him, placing fifth in the Intermediate at Rebecca Farm, eighth in the CIC2* at Woodside last month and third in the CCI2* at Galway Downs. This is another strong West Coast pair deserving of extra training time with Coach David O’Connor, and considering we don’t have a single West Coast pair on any of the main lists, it’s great to see them included here.

Matt Brown and BCF Belicoso — Matt has to be thrilled to have two horses invited to participate in the winter training sessions, and this horse is another one that’s very deserving of extra face time with David. Also imported from Ireland this spring, this horse has won four of its five events since Matt took over the ride, most notably finishing first in both the Woodside CIC2* last month and the Galway Downs CCI2* earlier this month. At just 7 years old, this horse is definitely one to watch for the future.

Sydney Conley Elliot and Cisko A — Sydney has most notably been in the news this year for sourcing Boyd Martin’s latest upper-level mount Pancho Villa, and now she’s making headlines with Cisko A. They finished in ninth place in the CCI2* at Galway Downs earlier this month and also had a solid second-place finish in the Poplar Place CIC2* in September.

Kurt Martin and Anna Bella — This is another horse I featured on EN’s Got Talent earlier this year, and she really came into her own this fall. She finished second in the Virginia CIC2* and  Plantation Field CIC2*, and she also delivered an impressive sixth-place finish in the Fair Hill CCI2*, her first attempt at that level. She’s a to-die-for mover and super careful jumper, and it’s going to be very exciting following her career going forward.

Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights — Can I hear an “IT’S ABOUT TIME!” While Colleen and CR didn’t make it onto an actual list, her inclusion here in the group that will receive extra training time with David is certainly a step in the right direction. Colleen fans have long bemoaned her exclusion from the lists, and it’s now become impossible to ignore Covert Rights, her super talented homebred gelding who moved up to Advanced this summer. After winning his first start at the level, he then contested his first CIC3* at Richland Park, where he finished fourth.

He then competed against some of the best upper-level horses in the country at Plantation Field, where he held his own for a ninth-place finish in the CIC3*. In a huge bummer of a way to end his season, Colleen had to withdraw from the Fair Hill CCI3* after breaking her hip at Morven Park last month. Had Colleen and CR contested Fair Hill — and I have total faith they would have done so in good form — we’d likely be seeing them on the national list. You can bet Colleen will come out swinging once her hip has mended, and we’re going to see a very exciting season from this pair in 2014.

What’s next? Now that we’ve examined each pair on the 2014 winter/spring training lists, it’s time to look at the notable names left off the lists. Stay tuned for that post coming up shortly. In the meantime, let us know your thoughts on the lists in the comments below.

Buyer’s Remorse? What’s That?

By on Nov 14, 2013 9:00 am -

[Horsebook]

“So, I bought a dressage saddle,” I texted Boyfriend. I had just loaded my precious cargo into the backseat, and figured I owed it to him to let him know why we might not be able to afford next month’s rent.

“OK,” he responded.

I breathed a sigh of relief. Good — he wasn’t going to ask me how much it cost. I was in the clear!

A dressage saddle had been at the top of my shopping list for a long time. I’d done plenty of research and comparison between brands and models and spent countless hours drooling in the saddle section of my local tack shop. The price tag was always a deterrent, but I was determined to save enough money to buy a saddle that fit my horse’s back and my rear end like a glove.

As fate would have it, there was a local tack swap that weekend. I had no intention of buying anything (yeah, right), but I somehow found myself drawn to the saddle section, squeezing through the jostling crowd in a trancelike state.

Illustration by Lindsey Kahn

I found it. It was a used saddle, yes, but in terrific shape. It included stirrup leathers, a cover and adjustable gullets so I could find the right fit for my rotund pony. Also, when I sat in it, my butt was so happy that I felt like breaking out into song and dance. It was meant to be.

Despite my starry eyed moment of shopping kismet, I wanted to be absolutely sure that dropping nearly a paycheck’s worth of money was worth it. I hemmed and hawed, walked away from the saddle and came shooting back like a rubber band. Yep, that thing was mine.

As I carried it lovingly through the checkout line, the conscience that’d been beaten down by years of tack and horse shopping chirped its tiresome warning in the back of my mind. “What were you thinking?!” it demanded. “You don’t need this! Just wait. You’ll regret it.”

“Nope,” I thought, prodding my conscience back with the bedazzled riding crop I’d also purchased. “I’ve been looking at this saddle brand for months. It’s in like-new condition, and it cost half of what it would’ve cost new. Plus, it’s shiny! I like shiny things. And think of how cute Onyx will look all spiffed up in his new saddle!”

“Well, when you put it that way …” my conscience grumbled, defeated once more.

Illustration by Lindsey Kahn

It’s true; my horse did look mighty snappy in his new saddle. I half expected the buyer’s remorse to kick in with a vengeance as I wiped the saddle down and put it in the tack room; thankfully, all I could think about was what saddle pad colors and patterns I could find online that night. My only fear was that poor Boyfriend would go into cardiac arrest if he found out how much I’d spent on my fancy new toy.

“No, not a toy. A tool,” I corrected myself. “A practical, necessary tool for training and competition. There’s nothing frivolous about it.” With that, I drove home, still basking in a satisfied glow.

But later that evening, Boyfriend asked me the question I had been dreading since that morning.

“So … how much did that saddle cost?”

Illustration by Lindsey Kahn

I was a deer caught in the headlights of truth and fiscal responsibility. Thinking I was being crafty, I first told him the saddle’s retail price, followed by how much I paid for it used. “It cost half of what it would’ve cost new!” I proudly proclaimed.

Boyfriend isn’t stupid. “You just told me the retail price first so I wouldn’t be shocked by what you actually paid for it, didn’t you?”

Checkmate.

But before I could say anything, he continued, “I get it. We both have expensive hobbies. My computer’s graphics card cost a lot, even though I nabbed it on sale. If it’s something that you’ve wanted for a long time and you can afford it, go for it. Horses make you happy, and nothing would make me happier than seeing you sit comfortably in a gleaming saddle as you and your horse half-pass your way to glory.” ***

Illustration by Lindsey Kahn

While not a horsey person at all, Boyfriend has always been supportive of my expensive hobby. He has put up with countless hours of verbal analysis of jumping courses, training methods and cross-country helmet cam videos, not to mention my childlike squealing over cute ponies and tack catalogs. And now, when faced with a price tag that would make any sensible person’s blood freeze, he proved that he is quite insane (in the best possible way).  In short, I’m a lucky lady. I think I’ll keep him around a while.

Go Tack Shopping. Go Eventing.

*** Okay, so the last sentence may be slightly exaggerated. But I’m sure that deep down, he was thinking it.

Thursday Reader from Devoucoux

By on Nov 14, 2013 12:03 am -

Not horse related -- totally awesome anyway

Good morning Eventing Nation! Yesterday was the start of the Australian International Three Day Event, kicking off with the first horse inspection. Today the CCI2* does dressage, while the CCI4* division begins on Friday. While there are only 26 entrants in the 4* division, it still promises to be an exciting competition, and we’ll be here to keep you updated on the progress.

AI3DE Links: [Website] [Schedule] [CCI4* Entry List] [CCI2* Entry List]

Events This Weekend:

Fresno County Horse Park H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Times]

Full Moon Farm HT [Website] [Ride Times]

Las Cruces H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

River Glen Fall H.T. [Website] [Ride Times]

The Fork H.T.  [Website]

Ocala Horse Properties Fall Event [Website] [Entry Status]

News from Around the Globe:

Our friends at Horse & Hound always know what’s up, and thus I give you: 8 Reasons Why Horses Are Better Than Men (And Dogs Are Better Than Women). Some samples? Horses are better than men because you can look up their performance records before you purchase them. Dogs are better than women because they agree that salad and vegetables are overrated. [8 Reasons Why]

After a stellar year, Nicola Wilson confirmed that the coming 17 year old Opposition Buzz will continue competing in 2014. The pair put down one of their best ever dressage tests this year at Burghley to score a 43.3 and proceeded to jump clean to finish 11th. Opposition Buzz has been a pathfinder for the British Team for the past four years, including two European Championships, WEG at Kentucky in 2010 and the London Olympics in 2012. He is well known for his exuberant and unique style of clearing everything by 2-3 feet. [Buzz To Keep Competing]

Draw reins have their fair share of drama following them around, and there are definitely folks who are a resounding NO when it comes to using them. However, in this interesting and informative article, Jimmy Wofford outlines the ways in which draw reins were designed to be used for good, and not abused. Even if you’re categorically against the use of draw reins, hear me out and read this article, and then get back to me. I think that, like anything powerful, draw reins can obviously do great harm in the wrong hands, but they also have their place in certain training situations. [A Good Teaching Tool Only If…]

Well, its officially winter because I’ve heard tell of winter jackets and scarfs as far down at Georgia. Speaking of winter jackets, I have a problem with them, and it’s a collecting problem. I’m addicted to jackets! I justify it by saying that I need multiple different ones for different occasions, and in order to keep them all clean I have to rotate…but it’s just pure addiction. One that I’ve put on my wish list for the holidays is the Dubarry Shaw Quilt Jacket, because not only is it stylish enough to wear as a “normal person” but it also is super warm and makes me look professional while riding in the bitter cold. SmartPak’s got your back. [Dubarry Shaw Quilt Jacket]

 

A bit of action from last year’s Adelaide CCI4*

 

 

 

USEF Releases 2014 Winter/Spring Training Lists

By on Nov 13, 2013 9:13 pm -

Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Hot off the presses! Here’s a look at the pairs that have been named to the 2014 Eventing High Performance Training Lists. In addition to the Global, World Class and National lists, there’s also a section of horses and riders that have been invited to participate in training sessions with Coach David O’Connor this winter and spring. We’ll be back in the morning with a full analysis on each pair named to the lists. Congrats to all the horses and riders!

From the USEF:

The USEF Eventing High Performance Committee has approved the following High Performance Winter/Spring Training Lists for the 2014 season. The following riders will participate in Training Sessions with U.S. Eventing Team Coach David O’Connor. Training Session dates and locations will be announced at a later date.

Global Talent
Combinations that currently possess the ability to win anywhere in the world.

Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) and the Mr. Medicott Syndicate’s Mr. Medicott
Mr. Medicott is a 1999 Irish Sport Horse

World Class
Combinations that currently possess the ability to be competitive anywhere in the world. 

Tiana Coudray (Ojai, CA) and Jatial Inc.’s Ringwood Magister
Ringwood Magister is a 2001 Irish Sport Horse gelding

Buck Davidson (Unionville, PA) on Cassandra Segal’s Ballynoe Castle RM
Ballynoe Castle RM is a 2000 Irish Thoroughbred gelding

Buck Davidson (Ocala, FL) and Carl and Cassandra Segal’s Park Trader
Park Trader is a 2002 Irish Thoroughbred gelding

Will Faudree (Hoffman, NC) and Jennifer Mosing’s Andromaque
Andromaque is a 2001 Irish Thoroughbred mare

Sinead Halpin (Oldwick, NJ) and Manoir De Carneville Syndicate’s  Manoir de Carneville
Manoir de Carneville is a 2000 Selle Francais gelding

Marilyn Little (Frederick, MD) and Raylyn Farms and Team Demeter’s RF Demeter
RF Demeter is a 2002 Oldenburg mare

Clark Montgomery (Wiltshire, UK) and Jessica Montgomery, Kathryn Kraft, and Holly and William Becker’s Loughan Glen
Loughan Glen is a 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding

Clark Montgomery (Wiltshire, UK) and Jessica Montgomery, Carole Montgomery, Janet Higgins, and Elizabeth Smith’s Universe
Universe is a 2001 Dutch Warmblood gelding

Meghan O’Donoghue (Carbondale, IL) and her own Pirate
Pirate is a 2002 Thoroughbred gelding

Lynn Symansky (Middleburg, VA) and her own Donner
Donner is a 2003 Thoroughbred gelding

National List
Combinations that are currently competitive in domestic international-level competition, and who the USEF Selection Committee feel have the future potential to be competitive anywhere in the world.

Jan Byyny (Purcellville, VA) and her own and Dick and Jo Bynny’s Inmidair
Inmidair is a 1999 New Zealand Thoroughbred gelding

Will Coleman (Charlottesville, VA) and The Conair Syndicate’s Conair
Conair is a 2003 Anglo-European gelding

Will Coleman (Charlottesville, VA) and Four Star Eventing Group’s OBOS O’Reilly
OBOS O’Reilly is a 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding

Buck Davidson (Ocala, Florida) and Sergio Rios and Caroline Martin’s Petite Flower
Petite Flower is a 2002 Thoroughbred mare

Ellen Doughty (Heartland, Texas) and her own Sir Oberon
Sir Oberon is a 2002 Holsteiner/Thoroughbred gelding

Will Faudree (Hoffman, NC) and Jennifer Mosing’s Pawlow
Pawlow is a 1999 Irish Thoroughbred gelding

Elizabeth Halliday-Sharp (East Sussex, United Kingdom) and her own Fernhill By Night
Fernhill By Night is a 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding

Elizabeth Halliday-Sharp (East Sussex, United Kingdom) and her own HHS Cooley
HHS Cooley is a 2004 Irish Sport Horse gelding

Lillian Heard (Hamilton, VA) and her own Share Option
Share Option is a 2002 Thoroughbred Cross gelding

Doug Payne (Pottersville, NJ) and Larry and Amelia Ross’ and his own Crown Talisman
Crown Talisman is a 2003 Holsteiner/Thoroughbred gelding

Kim Severson (Charlottesville, VA) and her own Fernhill Fearless
Fernhill Fearless is a 2000 Irish Sport Horse gelding

Sharon White (Summit Point, WV) and her own and Sheri Weber’s  Wundermaske
Wundermaske is a 2003 Hanoverian/Thoroughbred gelding

In addition, the following riders will be invited to participate in Training Sessions with O’Connor this winter/spring:

Maya Black (Clinton, WA) and Dawn Dofelmier’s Doesn’t Play Fair
Doesn’t Play Fair is a 2005 Holsteiner gelding

Mathew Brown (Sebastopol, CA) and Blossm Creek Foundation’s Super Socks BCF
Super Socks BCF is a 2006 Irish Sport Horse gelding

Mathew Brown (Sebastopol, CA) and Blossm Creek Foundation’s BCF Belicoso
BCF Belicoso is a 2006 Irish Sport Horse gelding

Sydney Conley Elliot (Bossier City, LA) and Carol Stephens’ Cisko A
Cisko A is a 2006 Westphalian gelding

Kurt Martin (Middleburg, VA) and his own Anna Bella
Anna Bella is a 2006 Holsteiner mare

Colleen Rutledge (Frederick, MD) and her own Covert Rights
Covert Rights is a 2006 Thoroughbred Cross gelding

Follow the 2013 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.

It’s Clinic Season!

By on Nov 13, 2013 4:30 pm -

Tamie Smith teaches at a clinic to benefit Amy Barrington. Photo courtesy of Hillary Whitt.

My least favorite day of the year — the day where we adjust the clocks back — has come and gone. Everyone else sang out in joyous triumph about the extra hour of sleep while I wept quietly about my lost daylight. The small bit of good that comes from this stupid clock-changing tradition is that shortly afterward the whispers about who’s coming to town start popping up. Clinic season can be just as jam-packed as show season. As an adult, I can no longer run off to multi-week summer camps; it’s hard enough to get the time off work for horse shows. But clinic season lets me enjoy that hyper-focused learning environment without losing my job.

Clinicians have a limited window in which to assess horses and riders and to fine tune the exercises so that they benefit from them. It can be quite magical to watch. Some of the most educational moments I’ve had have been at clinics where I’ve served as ring crew and watched the upper-level riders work an exercise in the morning, with the exercise scaled down for the lower-level riders in the sessions that followed. It can also be quite nice to spend some time with the friends that you only run in to at shows when they stop in for a clinic!

This year, the clinic lineup for the West Coast is looking absolutely stunning. I am going to be logging some serious road miles. In January alone, Buck Davidson will be in Southern California and Lucinda Green will be at Fresno County Horse Park. On Facebook, there’s talk of trying to set something up with Andrew Nicholson at Twin Rivers. Traditionally, Hawley Bennett comes up to Dragonfire a couple of times in the winter as well. As if all of that wasn’t exciting enough, there’s also a whole gaggle of dressage clinicians and hunter/jumper clinicians on a West Coast tour.

I must confess that one clinician causes my palms to sweat and my heart to pound more than others. Despite leaving the hunter/jumper scene behind, George Morris is still the clinician in my book. He drops in every year at a few barns up and down the West Coast, one of which isn’t too terribly far from me. Earlier this year, I wrote GM a letter, but I’m not sure he ever received it. This leaves me with only one option. Go see the man in person and ask him face to face. This winter will be very educational indeed.

Go Team DF. Go Learnin’.  Go Eventing.

Being Pinpointed

By on Nov 13, 2013 3:00 pm -

Learning to let go with the beast!

This picture was taken last summer and represents more than what meets the eye. I remember that day down to the last detail. Boy was it humid. I remember there were two other people in the lesson. I wore my cross-country vest thinking we were going to start in the ring and then head out to cross country. I never went out to cross country, but I did learn a lot.

I recall May, Denny and a couple other people yelling at me that afternoon. “LET GO OF HER MOUTH. LIGHT AIDS. FLOAT THE REINS. I SAID FLOAT THE REINS. This mare needs freedom over the fence, or she will invert and not jump up, over and around the jumps. JUST LET GO, Lila!”

The lesson started with me micromanaging Valonia’s every move. I tried to control the speed and her frame. The more I tried to control, the worse everything got. When they all screamed at me to literally loop the reins, I finally got it. I looped the reins at the end of the lesson and the picture above was the result. Valonia said “thank you” for letting go, and she jumped the best I had ever felt her jump.

Truth be told, I am a bit of a control freak. I am borderline type-A personality and cannot stand when things are out of my control. I like routine, punctuality and consistency. So, when I showed up at Tamarack roughly seven years ago, I was in for rude awakening. How could I be told that I didn’t know how to do A, B and C. How dare he pinpoint me during a lesson. How dare he compare me to Suzy, Allie and Cathy.

Of course, I’d had lessons before in my life, but never had I been told the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Some people can handle the truth and others cannot. Hi, my name is Lila, and I could NOT handle the truth, nor did I appreciate ever being told I was wrong. Boy did I have a lot to learn!

And again — me learning to chill out on Sybreaker this summer.

Eventing may be incredibly exhilarating, but it’s not one of the easiest sports out there — am I right? In order to become “good” riders, we have to check our egos at the door. We have to come to a lesson with an open mind and be ready and willing to learn from those who have achieved greater things than we have. Why else would we take lessons? Denny has accomplished more than I could ever imagine achieving. How inspiring it is to have him around pushing us to the nth degree day in and day out.

For me, one of the hardest parts about riding and taking lessons is being pinpointed. Maybe students that come to the farm don’t think Daryl Kinney and I have been pinpointed. Newsflash — we have been pinpointed, probably more than most! But we are still around. So that must count for something, right? Being pinpointed is difficult. It’s not the easiest thing to sit on your horse and be told that those other riders are doing X, Y and Z correctly and that you are not. It is not easy to bite your tongue and listen to criticism. Of course, the criticism is usually constructive, but in the moment, you feel as though the criticism has only one connotation.

Learning to cope with being pinpointed will only make you a stronger rider. Like I mentioned, you need to check your ego at the door when taking a lesson and learning from others who have wisdom and talent well beyond your years. We are all going to be pinpointed at some point. Not one single rider out there is perfect. We all need to be corrected from time to time, and we all need to learn how to handle these corrections.

It has taken YEARS, but I have finally learned and come to accept the fact that I am most definitely not going to be right all the time. Not even close. I am going to make mistakes and I am going to have to learn new things. New ways of riding. New lessons. New concepts. We need to remain as open books. The second we try to close our books, we are closing our ability to become better riders and trainers.

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Feeding Horses with GoPro

By on Nov 13, 2013 1:30 pm -

We’ve seen a lot of different uses of GoPro here in the horse world, and especially in eventing they’ve become super popular for documenting cross-country rides. However, a question I’ve never really wondered before is what does the world look like from the apple’s point of view? AvgJoeGoesPro answers that question for us today in this fun little video featuring a lot of cute fuzzy noses and one chestnut Paint that doesn’t understand biting an apple.

USEF: New Developing Riders/Eventing 25 Program Shines

By on Nov 13, 2013 12:00 pm -

Meghan O'Donoghue and Pirate at Blenheim. Photo by Samantha Clark.

The USEF published a fantastic recap yesterday of how the 17 riders in the new Developing Riders/Eventing 25 program fared at major competitions this year. From Lauren Kieffer and Veronica’s winning streak at major CIC and CCI events this spring to Meghan O’Donoghue and Pirate delivering top-15 finishes at both their first four-star and European events, it’s been a hugely successful year, and it’s great to look back and congratulate the riders in the program for a job well done. Be sure to read the full story from the USEF for highlights from the 2013 Developing Riders/Eventing 25 program.

Notable quotes from the USEF press release:

Zach Brandt: “I think first off what David has done in general whether it had been sending horses and riders to Europe or developing younger generation is really going to turn things around and it already has. He has helped me an unbelievable amount with my flat work, as well as my jumping, but my dressage has improved immensely. I don’t think I would have been able to move up as well as I did this year without his help. I did my first Advanced in March and my first CCI3* in May. He’s really laid the foundation down for all the Developing Riders on how to make it to the upper levels, how to conduct yourself at the upper levels, and what it takes to represent the U.S. in a team competition.”

Meghan O’Donoghue: “The opportunities that this program provided me this year have been amazing. The camp David put on for us this winter was focused on producing young horsemen in this country. The inspiration the camp produced certainly contributed to me success throughout the year. The Under 25 program is part of a pipeline for the future of U.S. eventing. There have been numerous opportunities that I have taken advantage of because of this program. It was an honor to be selected as part of the program’s first year!”

David O’Connor: “For a new program for the under 25 riders, it was brand new this year and nobody really knew what to expect and I think it exceeded all of our expectations. The weeks that we did training sessions and the clinics that we did afterwards that followed up all went really well. All of those riders really went on to compete in a better way than I think they had before. Two riders going to Europe, other ones winning two-stars, and others doing well in three-stars. To me it was a very successful program for this year.”

Click here to read the full story.

Top Ten Things Your Horse Would Say If He Could

By on Nov 13, 2013 10:33 am -

“This lady …” Photo by Samantha Brooke Photography

Being that it’s now officially winter — I’ve broken out my poofy coat with fur-lined hood and started shopping for hand warmers — we here at EN finally have time to relax from the hectic show schedule and think about some of the smaller, more personal aspects of spending your life with horses. While not every horse can be a Winsome Andante or a La Biosthetique Sam FBW, they all share a lot of things in common. After one more year of having the chinchillas acquire detailed information on event horses, we’ve compiled a list of things we’re pretty sure your horse would say, if he had the chance.

Top Ten Things Your Horse Would Say If He Could

1. “Yeah, of course I’m acting like a pufferfish. How about we crank your belt in three holes at a time and then ask you to gallop over jumps?!”

2. “Wow, this new blanket is just great. There’s just one thing it needs to break it in and make me feel at home: MUD! Come back tomorrow to admire my work.”

3. “Sometimes I swear you’re really thick. When you whistle for me in the field and I stare at you blankly and turn around, it’s my not-so-subtle way of requesting a day off. I’m not deaf, you know.”

4. “I’ve been bathed twice, you’ve been bustling about the barn since 3 a.m., and these horrible, tight braids are making my neck feel weird. Of course I’m not getting on the trailer today.”

5. “I don’t know where you learned that plastic bags are harmless, but you’ve got some pretty poor survival skills. Did it just move?! ARGH RUN!”

6. “You want me to go out in this green field with a muzzle on?!?! Let’s take you to Chipotle and only let you eat through a straw.”

7. “I really honestly don’t understand what you’re doing right now combining your legs and your hands in that weird positioning. NO, doing it harder doesn’t help! That’s about as effective as screaming English louder at a foreigner who only speaks Mandarin Chinese.”

8. “Where is my breakfast? Where is my breakfast?! OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD HERE IT COMES OMNOMNOMNOMNOM!”

9. “Thank you so much for all that hard work you just did grooming me! It totally reminded me that I could use a little extra scratching in my life, and I’m headed out to the field right now to do some more in the dirt and grass!”

10. “Ugh … it’s that day of the week when the lady stands in the middle of the arena and yells at you. You get all tense and start trying to make me do things that we don’t ever do any other day. Can we seriously just go on a hack?”