Classic Eventing Nation

Thursday Reader from Devoucoux

By on Oct 24, 2013 12:01 am -

Grumpy Cat would like to say Happy Birthday! He really does, I promise!

I must start today’s reader with a big Eventing Nation Happy Birthday wish for Joanie Morris. One of the USEF’s fearless eventing leaders, Joanie has been unspeakably instrumental in assisting our riders as they work to improve the US’ viability on the international scale. After being named USEF Managing Director of Eventing in 2012, Joanie has become (even more) popular among the eventing community and has shown a great flair for her role. Today is her birthday, if you have not already figured out that, so Joanie I hope you are feeling the EN birthday love all the way in France! I will tell Jenni and Kate to come up with some sort of outlandish birthday song for you if they run into you.

In other news, Pau officially kicks off today with dressage. Two full days of dressage means that a fully stacked field will be squeezing every possible point out of the judges in order to get into a good position going into cross country on Saturday. Jenni and Kate will be bringing you up to date action as it unfolds, so stay tuned for much more.

Pau Links: [Website] [Dressage Times] [Live Scores] [Course Preview]

Events This Weekend:

Waredaca H.T. and Classic Training 3 Day Event [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Holly Hill Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Heritage Park H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

MCTA Jenny Camp [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

News:

Do you have broodmares in your barn? TheHorse.com has published some helpful hints for caring for your broadmares as the weather starts to take a turn for winter. Nutrition is always of essence when it comes to any horse, and ensuring that your mare has the correct diet to stay healthy when the weather gets rough is imperative. [Broodmare Nutrition]

Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe have been awarded the H.E. “Tex” Sutton Forwarding Company Travel Grant to travel to Galway. This grant is in its first year, and the shipping company is participating in the eventing community by offering this generous award. The next award will be given to a rider to compete at either Bromont or Jersey Fresh next spring. [The Chronicle Details Tex Sutton Grant]

Andrew Nicholson has three horses competing at Pau this weekend. Andrew and Nereo won Pau last year and will be out to repeat this weekend. Mr. Cruise Control, Quimbo, and Viscount George will all be sent out with Nicholson in the irons this weekend. Can you believe that he has four, count ’em-FOUR, 4* winners in his string currently? You’d think he would want to share the wealth a little. I would gladly take Avebury off of his hands to lighten the load a bit. [Nicholson Goes for Gold]

Would you buy an inmate-trained horse? An auction style adoption event was held in Nevada this week to help some mustangs find new homes. All thirteen horses that were up for adoption were rehomed successfully. The horses were brought in from the wild and trained by inmate trainers that had participated in the correctional center’s training program. Given the success of this round of adoptions, another is scheduled for February. [Inmate Trained Horses Adopted]

Self-professed nerd Doug Payne added to his helmet cam at Fair Hill this past weekend. He wanted to gather some data on heart rate while competing on cross country, so he had a GPS watch added to his uniform for the day that kept track of his heart rate. Doug plans to use this research in his fitness regimen, as we all know that fitness and strength is of the utmost importance in order to be competitive. [Doug Learns at Fair Hill]

Blanket season is coming fast, if it hasn’t already arrived in your area. When I was blanket shopping last, I found myself more than a little overwhelmed at the number of choices. I wanted to keep it simple and budget friendly while simultaneously making sure my horse was fashion conscious and warm. Lo and behold, I finally stumbled upon the SmartPark Classic Turnout Blanket. I got it just in time for Christmas and immediately took it to the barn to try it on my handsome boy. I can’t tell you how well the blanket fit and how nicely it held up under all of the stress he put it through. I am pretty sure that he took it upon himself to come up with new ways to attempt blanket ruin every day – I can imagine how frustrated he was when it didn’t work! [SmartPak Classic Turnout Blanket]

Best of the Blogs:

Blenheim, Gatcombe, and Beer! 

Because none of us can get enough of Jan Bynny, here is some footage from her rocking weekend at Fair Hill. Enjoy!

Pau Social Media Roundup – Jog Day

By on Oct 23, 2013 8:12 pm -

Mensa plans his Pau domination. Photo from Alison Willaby's Facebook.

Pau is officially underway, and the North American contingent all jogged sharply today and look primed for action this weekend. The ladies for the US wore navy blue dresses with brown belts, and the gentlemen wore navy blazers. Stylin’! I like the classy combination of navy and brown. Also, a big shout out must be given to the grooms and everyone who helped prep the horses for the jog today as they all looked magnificent. Check out Jenni and Kate’s full jog report here.

Spurs, spurs, and more spurs! Photo from Lynn Symansky's Facebook.

Over in camp Symansky, you can clearly see that spurs are most definitely not on short supply! Lynn, I apologize in advance if you get a flock of people whose spurs went missing lurking around your stall!

Jenni's view from the top flying into Pau. From Jenni's Facebook page.

Kate and Jenni must surely be feeling the jet lag, but hopefully they are sleeping peacefully as I write this and not partying it up with the French!

Michael and Nathalie Pollard walk the cross country at Pau. Photo via the Pollard Eventing Facebook.

That wraps up the social media roundup from today. Dressage kicks off tomorow, so get ready for a busy weekend! Go Pau!

RIP ArdCeltic Art

By on Oct 23, 2013 5:04 pm -

Art and Donna at Full Gallop Farm H.T. in August 2010 - 1st place open prelim. Photo by Mark Lehner (Hoofclix).

It is with a heavy heart that we report Donna Miller’s ArdCeltic Art has passed away. The 10-year-old Connemara stallion competed successfully through the CCI two-star level, most recently finishing 3rd at the Poplar Place CIC** in September and winning the open intermediate division at Kentucky Classique in August. Art impressed all who watched him compete with his eager gallop, springboard jump and eternally pricked pony ears. In addition to his many successes in the sport of eventing, he possessed a larger-than-life presence on the flat and competed through 4th level dressage with scores near 70%. Art stood at stud at Hidden Creek Horses in Alpharetta, Ga., and has produced several promising offspring, the oldest of which will be turning 5 in 2014.

Devon Brown has been one of Art’s biggest supporters throughout his eventing career, from riding him at his first beginner novice competition to taking him for a spin at the intermediate level years later. She posted on her Facebook page,

I’ll never forget the first ride I had on the little furry pony. The way he would run up to you from the very back of the pasture screaming for you the whole way. Or how he would take off in a gallop around the ring just for the fun of it while you rode him laughing uncontrollably. These memories I will cherish forever. He touched every person’s heart who met him and instantly became part of his fan club. I am grateful I got to ride him and experience his talent and love for the sport, he was one of a kind.

Art and Donna competing at Kentucky Classique in August:

EN extends our deepest condolences to all of Donna, Devon and Art’s many friends and fans. Readers are invited to leave their sympathies on Art’s Facebook page here. Go ArdCeltic Art.

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Doug Payne and Crown Talisman Fair Hill Helmet Cam

By on Oct 23, 2013 3:00 pm -

Doug Payne takes us around last weekend’s Fair Hill 3* cross-country course aboard Crown Talisman, with whom he finished 4th. In addition to running commentary, the video features an overlayed GPS and heart monitor data. Very cool, Doug!

Speeds for Reference
KMH, Meters/Min, MPH
20 333 12.5
25 416 15.6
30 500 18.6
35 583 21.7
40 666 25
45 750 27.9

kentucky-performance-products-endurextra-600x100

 

 

Bienvenue a Pau!

By on Oct 23, 2013 2:00 pm -

A view of the Pyranees mountains from the cross country course

We have arrived in France, settled in at the Domaine de Sers in Pau and already begun our blitz of the grounds. The weather here is positively tropical (I walked the course barefoot earlier today), the setting is beautiful and the horses are fit. Not only is this weekend exciting for the 11 North Americans competing, but it is also a really great insight into the French horse industry for those of us hoping to return to Normandy next year.

The vendor village is already completely set up and highly impressive. It features several saddle makers, various clothing boutiques, the infamous Dubarry tent, many food options — including the most extensive candy selection I have ever laid my eyes upon — and other ways to shop your heart out.

The set up for the competitors is very horse-friendly, featuring an enormous warm-up arena with excellent footing and two full-sized dressage rings. I particularly like this because it is on the backside of the vendor village, and the horses get the chance to be exposed to the hustle and bustle before entering the competition ring. The barns are quaintly adorable and very much nearby to everything.

The cross-country course, while flat as a pancake, expands all over the grounds, looping around the inside of the impressive multi-track training facility at the center. Hopefully we will be getting a little rain over the next few days, because I think that parts of the course would really benefit from some moisture.

Tomorrow brings the first day of dressage competition for the CCI4*, beginning with William Fox-Pitt and Neuf de Coeur at 9:30 a.m. local time (3:30 a.m. EST). The first Canadian will be Peter Barry with Kilrodan Abbott at 11:22 a.m. (5:22 am EST) and the first American will be Clark Montgomery and Universe at 1:20 p.m. (7:20 am EST).

Pau Links: [Website] [Dressage Ride Times]

All Horses Pass First Inspection at Pau CCI4*

By on Oct 23, 2013 12:50 pm -

Lynn Symansky and Donner. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Seventy-five horses presented to the ground jury this afternoon in the first horse inspection at the Pau CCI4*. Two were sent to the holding box — Emily Llewellyn’s mount Junior and Merel Blom’s mount Rumour Has It; both horses passed upon reinspection. All seven horses for Team USA and four horses for Team Canada looked fantastic. The U.S. ladies wore navy dresses with brown belts, while the guys sported navy blazers. The Canadians all rocked a more eclectic look, and I especially liked Hawley Bennett-Awad’s flowy blouse and electric blue jeans. Kate and I are heading back to the hotel now to pass out, but we promise to be on our toes tomorrow to bring you all the action from the first day of dressage.

Pau Links: [Website] [Dressage Times] [Course Preview]

Clipping Creations: October Edition

By on Oct 23, 2013 12:00 pm -

There’s nothing that says “horse person” quite as much as the sensation of a buzzing clipper in your hand for two hours straight, wearing a rain coat and rain pants inside the barn, and sneezing horse hair out of your nose for days.Yep, it must be clipping season.I want to see your amazing, entertaining, beautiful and clever clipping creations. Send me a picture that shows off your artistry, and a little blurb explaining what its all about. Include the name of your horse, your name, and where you are from. Email them to me at [email protected]!

Hayley Sullivan, Temecula CA:   “This is a picture of a horse that I ride named Richochet. The clip job on her is the Deathly Hallows sign, from Harry Potter!”

–

Lisa Landis: “This is of my 19 year old TB, aptly named Don’t Give Up the Ship (AKA “Sailor”).  His name pretty much says it all as to why he’s got an anchor, but after owning him for 10 years, I finally got my act together and clipped it in for the first time.”
–
Shai Steiner: “My horse Tank — aka Flamin Hot Cheeto — has successfully competed at recognized Novice and Training combined tests. My future eventing student rides him 2 times a week and yesterday it was “learn how to clip” day. We decided that although Tank is an Appaloosa cross, you can’t tell because he has no spots. So we gave him some while maintaining his “trace clip”. We used a big bucket for the spot on his belly, and a mayo lid for the small positive spots, and a bowl to help make the curves all over!!”

Pau CCI4* Cross Country Preview

By on Oct 23, 2013 10:25 am -

Fence 16AB. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Hello from warm and sunny Pau! Kate and I arrived on the grounds at around 2:30 p.m., eager to checking out Pierre Michelet’s CCI4* course. This is a big weekend for Team USA, in part because we have seven American horses competing here — by far the most we’ve had at a major European competition in recent memory.

In addition, Pierre is also the course designer for the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, so it’s important for our American riders to get as much exposure to his courses as they can in the next year so we can be prepared to tackle the questions there.

After walking the course this afternoon, some of the jumps are smaller than what you’d expect to see at a CCI4*, but don’t think that will make it any less difficult. The course is is long — with 33 jumping efforts in all — but the terrain here is almost entirely flat. The course relies heavily on big galloping fences, and there are definitely some interesting questions.

Coach David O’Connor noted in the rider’s meeting at Plantation Field that Pierre is well-known for his use of three-stride combinations and angled brushes, so I expected to see a lot of those on the course. And, sure enough, we did see a three-stride combination with two big tables very early in the course at fence 4ab.

There are also plenty of angled brushes and skinnies, although they’re not always set in ways that require riders to ride a direct line through the combination. Think bending — or even sweeping lines — like at fence 20ab.

We also noticed that the course doesn’t use a single frangible pin, although there are really only two spots on course that could use pins: fence 19, an upright gate placed on top of a hill,  and fence 30, another upright gate placed toward the very end of the course.

What do you think about the course, EN? The trot up starts in just a few minutes, so we’ll be back with photos and a full report on our American and Canadian pairs. Go Pau!

Pau Links: [Website] [Jog Order]

 

From Horse Collaborative: The Amazing Michael Pollard

By on Oct 23, 2013 9:00 am -

Michael and Mensa G. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Linda Waller from the Horse Collaborative recently sat down with Superman Michael Pollard for a candid interview. Eventing Nation is one of Michael’s biggest fans, and it’s always great to have the opportunity to get to know him more. In this interview, Linda touches base with Michael on everything from his work with Cavalor to his competition plans for the rest of the year, and even touches on his history with the sport. It is a great interview and gives us a glimpse into exactly how busy this man is! I’m starting to suspect he has also invested in a cloning business and is currently using at least one of himself.

For the full interview transcript, click here and enjoy!

Wednesday News and Notes from MDBarnmaster

By on Oct 22, 2013 11:59 pm -

Jump 6 on the Pau cross country course comes with impressive decorations. Photo via the Pau Facebook page.

Good morning EN! The competition at Pau officially kicks off today with CIC2* dressage and the first CCI4* horse inspection. Kate and Jenni are currently en route to France to bring you coverage from on the ground as 11 North American pairs compete in the four star. Their dressage begins tomorrow and will run through Friday. Keep checking back for coverage and photos all weekend, and good luck to all of the competitors this weekend!

Pau Links: [Website] [Ride Times] [CCI4* Entry List] [Scores] [Official Facebook]

Weekend Preview:

Waredaca H.T. and Classic Training 3 Day Event [Website] [Entry Status]

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Holly Hill Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Heritage Park H.T. [Website]

Before continuing with the rest of the news and notes, on behalf of everyone at EN I would like to express our condolences to Sharon White, who lost her mother yesterday. Our hearts go out to Sharon and her family and we are all sending our thoughts and prayers to them during this sad time.

Sinead has written a new blog for The Chronicle about her disappointing weekend at Fair Hill. Sinead had a fluke fall from Tate late in the course, and currently she is resting up on crutches with a fractured ankle. Luckily it is only a minor fracture and she should be back in the game after only a few weeks. Best wishes for a speedy and uncomplicated recovery to Sinead!  [The Chronicle]

Meet Ellen Doughty, the Texas eventer who made the trek to Fair Hill and put down one of the few double clear cross country rounds in the three star. Ellen brought her mount, Sir Oberon, up the levels herself after purchasing him as a five-year-old. She had only gone training level before she began working him, and is largely self-taught. Talk about an impressive accomplishment- click to read more about their partnership. [The Chronicle]

This week on the Eventing Radio Show: A Fair Hill recap. Sinead, Lauren Kieffer, and three star winner Jan join Samantha, Jess and guest co-host Kyle Carter to talk about their weekends at the event. Sinead also talks with Kyle about coaching at Fair Hill and the ups and downs of the breeding business. [Eventing Radio Show]

Haven’t gotten your fill of Fair Hill yet? Check out TheHorsePesterer’s YouTube channel- so far he has uploaded 132 videos from last weekend covering all three phases of the competition, both two star and three star. [TheHorsePesterer]

Reminder: The online auction benefiting Amy Barrington’s Recovery Fund ends Friday. Shannon Lilley has put together a list of great products to bid on, including SmartPak breeches, Nunn Finer bridles, a Hit-Air vest, Professional’s Choice boots, and two new entries donated by Ariat. 100% of the proceeds will go towards Amy’s Recovery Fund, which is helping to pay for her rehabilitation at the Shepard Center in Georgia. [Amy’s Auction]

Fall is here, which means one thing: Blanket season. SmartPak staff have created a helpful guide to the winter blankets they sell, breaking down which model and brand are the staff picks for a things like  durability, most coverage, waterproofing, and value. Click to check it out and outfit your horse for the cold. [SmartPak Blog]

Best of Blogs: Erin Sylvester recaps her Fair Hill weekend.