Classic Eventing Nation

Wednesday News and Notes from MDBarnmaster

By on Oct 8, 2013 11:59 pm -

 

Team America found some promising Dutch prospects at Boekelo. Check out the USEF High Performance Facebook for more photos.

Good morning EN! Jenni has arrived in The Netherlands to cover the CCI3* at Boekelo this weekend, where Boyd Martin, Lauren Kieffer, and Elizabeth Halliday-Sharp will be representing the US in the FEI Nations Cup competition. Today competition kicks off with the first jog, and tomorrow dressage will begin. Make sure to checking back for more updates from Jenni, and check out the USEF Eventing High Performance Facebook for more photos and coverage. [Military Boekelo Website]

Weekend Preview:

Greenwood Farm Inc. Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Colorado Horse Park Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Grass Ridge H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Radnor Hunt H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

The Maryland H.T. at Loch Moy Farm [Website] [Entry Status]

Middle Tennessee Pony Club H.T. [Website]

Course Brook Farm Fall H.T. [Website]

Fall Horse Trials at the Ark [Website]

Pine Top October HT [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

William Fox-Pitt dominated Dauntsey Park Horse Trials last weekend. He won the Open Intermediate, BE 100, and regular Intermediate divisions. The Open Intermediate win, aboard Cool Mountain, came after besting a star-studded field that included World No.1 Andrew Nicholson, Sir Mark Todd, Laura Collett and Lucy Wiegersma. Over 800 combinations competed at the event over the weekend, which has run since 1972.  [Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard]

This week on SmartPak’s “Ask the Vet:” All about wheat middlings. Say what? According to Dr. Lydia Gray, wheat middlings are a by-product of grain that “consist of fine particles of wheat bran, wheat shorts, wheat germ, wheat flour, and some of the offal from the ‘tail of the mill.’” She goes on to spell out what this means for your horse’s diet. [Ask the Vet]

The Malone Family Foundation has made a generous gift of $6million to Colorado State University’s equine Orthopaedic Research Center.According to Horsetalk, “the gift will be used to establish the Leslie A. Malone Presidential Chair in Equine Sports Medicine and will expand the Orthopaedic Research Center’s pioneering Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Program by supporting an additional faculty member and resident. ” The center is known for is pioneering research into equine sports medicine, and in 2010 it established the first and so far only residency program in Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in the United States. [Horsetalk]

Think you can pull off light pink tall boots? Check out “We don’t have the tack for that” on Horse Nation. This week is the “not-your-momma’s-tall-boots” edition, and you won’t believe your eyes when you see what they are selling these days. Silver, gold, red patent leather…you get the idea. Click to see photos. [Horse Nation]

This week on the Eventing Radio Show: Laine Ashker, Alison Stackpole, and Jock Paget. Jess and Samantha catch up with Laine and Alison about their OTTBs, and congratulate Jock on his stellar year. They also discuss the upcoming CCI4* at Pau. [Eventing Radio Show]

Today’s video comes to us from DPEquestrian, featuring Doug and Crown Talisman at the Richland CIC3*

Tuesday Video from SpectraVet: Treve Wins the 2013 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

By on Oct 8, 2013 4:45 pm -

The Prix de l”Arc de Triomphe is Europe’s premiere horse race of the year– think Kentucky Derby plus Breeders’ Cup rolled into one.  Throughout the world, owners dream of winning the Arc; Japanese followers flocked to Longchamp (Paris, France) to watch their hopeful horse, Orfevre, make another attempt– he finished second last year to Solemia, and his connections were determined to beat the odds this year.

Alas, it was not to be for the Japanese fans. Three-year-old filly Treve took command in the stretch after racing wide and dominated her rivals, finishing five lengths ahead of Orfevre.  Treve is the third consecutive filly to win the mile-and-a-half, $5.4-million race.  [Read more from the Bloodhorse.com]

——–

 

Why SpectraVET?

Reliable. Effective. Affordable.

SpectraVET is committed to providing only the highest-quality products and services to our customers, and to educating the world in the science and art of laser therapy.

We design and manufacture the broadest range of clinically-proven veterinary therapeutic laser products, which are represented and supported worldwide by our network of specialist distributors and authorized service centers.

Lessons Learned at the Concession Stand

By on Oct 8, 2013 2:43 pm -

This happens like clockwork at every show.

I made an impulsive choice at Woodside.  It was a risky decision made at the last minute that could have been a true triumph but ultimately ended in confusion and a lesson learned.

Whether you’re a competitor or simply at an event to support your barn mates, there’s so much going on that sometimes you just forget to eat.  Sure you brought a bagel, fruit and some string cheese but you knew when you packed them that they’d just end up sitting in the cooler uneaten.

Just after 10AM, the wind shifts and the unmistakeable smell of greasy horse-show cheeseburger wafts through the air.  It beckons like a siren who will not be denied.  Before you even realize what’s happening, you find yourself floating in the direction of the food stand, ready to shell out $5, $8, $12, your first born child – whatever they want – for that piece of familiar comfort.

Seriously horse show cheeseburgers are such a thing that my husband appears to have some mathematical formula based on distance and cheeseburger availability that he uses to determine whether or not to come be bored at the horse show. He refers to one facility as “that place where I got that burger at like 8 in the morning!”

Anyway, on Saturday, I once again found myself floating in a most peculiar way through vendor alley towards the concession booth.  The line was a few people deep – likely all lured by the same forces that drew me in.  The idle time in the line did me in.  I made the foolish mistake of looking over the menu even though I knew what I wanted. I could see people walking away cheeseburgers in hand, with more cooking on the grill.

Two lines caught my eye: “Burrito.  Chicken or Beef with Lettuce, Sour Cream, Cheese and Salsa.”  Without any understanding of the terrible decision I was about to make, I abandoned the original plan of sticking to the old standby, the timeless, classic horse show cheeseburger and went with a chicken burrito because, hey, why not, right?  I remember turning to Stephanie and saying, “Hey, I think I’m going to get a burrito,” which was met with an ambivalent shrug.  I ordered my burrito when my turn came, sans lettuce and sour cream.

As we waited our discussion turned to whether or not Stephanie needed the coat she’d tried on in the tack-truck moments before.  My order came up quickly and we began wandering back to my Durango to grab some water.  While we continued debating the merits of the coat, I discovered that my chicken burrito was actually more of an onion burrito.  I mean technically, all of the components of the burrito I’d ordered were there -chopped onion and tomato probably count as a salsa – but it was in such a confusing ratio that I just kept eating it because it was so weird and I half expected it to change.

I think I ended up eating about a third of it before I gave up hope and pitched it.  Stephanie and I stayed very busy through the rest of the day, but any time we hit a lull in the action my mind would wander back to the onion burrito. I babbled about the onion burrito so much that Stephanie and I ended up hitting Chipotle for dinner in order to get a “burrito-redo”.

In hindsight, I realized that I did the same thing with that burrito that I do in my riding on occasion.  I did the food equivalent of going in to the ring with a plan, but abandoning it at the last second for no obvious reason.  I basically drifted around the corner in to the line, jumped in horribly, then just let the rest of it happen and found myself dissatisfied with how it worked out. Maybe some day when I find myself tempted to stray from the plan I came up with on my course walk the memory of the onion burrito will help me stick to the plan.

Go Team DF. Go Horse Show Food. Go Eventing.

Being More Present…

By on Oct 8, 2013 1:30 pm -

Skybreaker in the zone!

A couple nights ago I was curled up with my two favorite mini dachshunds next to a blazing fire place. One of those freezing cold rainy fall evenings where you want nothing more than to be inside, dry and warm. I sat there watching the second half of the Denver/Dallas game and I was actually glued to the television. What an incredible game, with one amazing play after another, after another. At one point, Peyton Manning basically launched the football ridiculously far (my official football terminology) and extremely accurately into the hands of some receiver I couldn’t tell you the name of. As I watched Peyton throw one amazing throw after another I thought to myself this guy has to be in the zone. He’s 100% focused and neither the annoying crowd, nor the weather, nor anything could break his concentration.

Wouldn’t you agree that this kind of determination and this kind of mind set is what separates the big guys from the small guys in the world of riding? The “big guys” I am referring to are a range of riders. You can be in the zone and be determined going grasshopper. I am not just talking about the upper level event riders….I am talking about anyone who makes things happen while on their horse. I can’t tell you how many times Denny has yelled at students, or anyone taking a lesson to BE MORE PRESENT! What does he mean when he says, be more present?

When Denny tells people to be more present he wants riders to really ride and manipulate their horse. He wants riders to be in the moment and execute. He does not want people to just sit on their horse like a sack of potatoes…he wants you to make something happen, which can be daunting to many.

concentration

Arbitrary example: Suzie comes over for a lesson. She just drove 45 minutes to get to Tamarack. She pulls her novice level TB/Percheron off the trailer. She gets on and starts warming up. Her horse is barely loping in the canter. Her horse looks as if he needs to lose 200 lbs and both Suzie and her horse are quite content in this mediocre lope she considers a canter. After she has, in her opinion, successfully warmed up her horse, Denny asks her to trot the small red and white cross rail, and then canter the green vertical. Suzie’s horse crawls over the cross rail and then chips into the vertical and pulls the rail. Denny stops Suzie and tells her you need to make this horse have a better canter. You need to make this horse have a canter that is adjustable and that gives you options. After 40 minutes of struggling and sweating both Suzie and her horse are finally making things happen.

Riding horses requires focus, determination and the will to learn. Riding requires us to be in the moment and present. When we are riding our horse on a Thursday at 2:12 pm, we should not be thinking about our homework, or a deadline, or a meeting, or what we need to eat for dinner tomorrow night. We need to be thinking about riding our horse at that very moment on that very day. It’s very easy to half ride our horses and half push ourselves to become better riders. We all fall victim to partial riding. We need to get in the zone, whether or not we are going to be an upper level rider, or a beginner novice champion, we all need to focus and be present.

 

Colleen Rutledge Update: Surgery Is Successful

By on Oct 8, 2013 12:00 pm -

Colleen and Shiraz. Photo by Samantha Clark.

On Saturday, we found out that Colleen Rutledge fell at Morven Park and fractured her hip. She was scheduled for surgery yesterday but apparently there were a lot of trauma cases that took priority, so she got bumped to first thing this morning. Her Facebook was just updated to say that she is now out of surgery.

From Colleen Rutledge Eventing’s Facebook page:

Colleen is out of surgery and in recovery. Surgeon says everything went great no problems she will not need anymore surgeries. She will be able to go home in the next day or two.

Great news for all of Colleen’s supporters as our biggest wish in these kinds of situations is that the recovery process is as smooth as possible.

Colleen also provided an update on what happened to cause her fall this past weekend:

It was a simple, slightly downhill table. [Her horse] had been slightly overly aggressive at the previous fences and was no different to this one. She objected to me asking her to slow down as we were approaching, and as we reached the fence, rather than balancing and jumping up and around with both front legs, she braced and twisted catching her front right. I’m not sure what side hit first, but we definitely both hit the ground, where my air vest deployed and regular vest prevented any major internal injuries. Somehow she rolled over my head, because there is a dent in the visor of my helmet. She sustained minor scrapes and some bruising and stiffness from her ordeal, but is otherwise fine. The force of the fall dislocated my left hip, causing an acetabular fracture. Other than that, I’ve just got some bumps and bruises and I’m a bit stiff today. I’m so thankful for the safety equipment that I have, truly believing that it prevented me from having greater injuries. Thank you to all of the people who helped me and got me taken care of in a timely manner.

If you would like to send a get well card to Colleen, her address is 6953A Linganore Road, Frederick, MD 21701.

The EN family sends their best wishes for Colleen’s recovery!

 

Meet the Newest Members of EN’s Writing Team!

By on Oct 8, 2013 10:30 am -

It’s a neat time here at Eventing Nation. We’ve got some super-exciting changes on their way, and upping the quality of our writing is at the top of our priority list. In our quest to recruit the best, brightest writers around, we opened the search process up to EN readers and had over 50 top-notch applicants. In fact, we had so much trouble narrowing the field down that we had to have a Riverdance-style jig-off to determine who we’d hire. Nah, I’m kidding, we would never subject anyone to watching John dance. Anyway, it was a difficult decision but we’re really happy with the crew we came up with, as they represent a diverse range of eventing experiences and writing styles. Allow us to introduce you:

Lindsey Kahn, a resident of St. Paul, Minnesota, grew up riding horses and was introduced to eventing in college; instead of partying hard with her classmates, she decided that learning how to get hurled headfirst over solid obstacles was a much more rewarding way to spend her weekends. She is currently testing the waters in the lower levels and is eager to experience as much as she can with her 6-year-old gelding, Onyx.

Jenny Jelen is a horse addict with a writing habit. Originally from Northern Ontario, she is currently living in the heart of Canada’s equestrian scene where she is pursuing her eventing education as a working student. As a testament to her love of words, her horses are named in alphabetical order.

Ellie Thompson lives on Plain Dealing Farm in Scottsville, Virginia. Her love for horses started as early as she can remember and though she grew up riding in the hunters, she was introduced to foxhunting and eventing at age 11 and was immediately hooked. She now works as head groom for the Plain Dealing Farm Eventing team and has recently gotten back into competing herself, aboard Kiltartan, Molly Bull’s former 4* mount. When she’s not brushing ponies and fawning over Tartan, she likes to hang out with her dogs, make jewelry, paint, and try out recipes she found on Pinterest.

Shara Rutberg tries very, very hard not to disqualify herself and her zaftig draft-cross Puppy during events near Boulder, Colorado, where she is constantly and shamelessly looking for rides to school and compete (Going somewhere? Reach her at [email protected]). Though Puppy may lack the comformation of a sprightly OTTB, she’s quite pleased his butt makes hers look smaller.

Go Team, and Go Eventing!

Matt Ryan Retires from Eventing

By on Oct 8, 2013 9:00 am -

Matt Ryan at Gatcombe 2013 (photo by Samantha Clark)

Internationally respected Australian Eventer Matt Ryan announced his official retirement from competition via Twitter yesterday. Matt boasts an impressive and long list of accolades at the very top levels of our sport. In the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Matt and Kibah Tic Toc won both the individual and team gold medals, and in 2000 he returned to the Olympics with Kibah Sandstone to take another team gold medal home. In addition to that, he has many top placings at all of the best European events, including Badminton & Burghley places inside the top 10 multiple times.

He went on to say that he will be focusing on “training, teaching and media work” for the days to come. Matt will remain based in England for his retirement.  We wish all the best to Matt in his new pursuits!

[Bonza Eventing]

 

Tuesday News & Notes from Cavalor

By on Oct 8, 2013 12:03 am -

Everybody falls

Ralph Lauren ads a touch of truth to a campaign for his Big Pony fragrance collection with a model sporting a (pristine white!) cast. The plaster “accessory” brings the shot only a tiny closer to horse sport reality – alas,  the volunteers who will chase me down for my pinney this weekend at the Colorado Horse Park will probably not look like these guys.

Over the weekend, Colleen Rutledge fractured her hip during a fall at Morven Park, just as she was poised to ride Covert Rights in his first CCI3* at Fair Hill in two weeks. Instead, she’ll will be recovering from surgery. EN wishes Colleen, and everyone else healing from a (real) horse-related mishap, a speedy recovery.

Events Opening Today:

MeadowCreek Park H.T. – The Fall Social Event (Texas, A-5)

Events Closing Today:

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Georgia, A-3), Heritage Park H.T. (Kansas, A-IV),  Holly Hill Fall H.T. (Louisiana, A-5), Waredaca H.T. and Classic Training 3 Day Event (Maryland, A-2),

News

Shutdown on Chincoteague. An annual roundup of wild ponies on the Eastern shore of Virginia has been cancelled due to the government shutdown. Every fall, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company rounds up the Assateague Island herd for a vet check before winter.  Oddly, moronic government shutdowns were not mentioned in Marguerite Henry’s tale of the ponies’ trials and tribulation in her iconic 1947 book “Misty of Chincoteague.” [NBC12]

And you thought the trakhener was your biggest worry on course.  Horse&Hound offers a roundup of near misses between horses and cars on cross country courses a month after Tom Rowland and his horse were hit by a car during cross country at the Hartpury Horse Trials.  Apparently, Americans are better drivers (or our volunteers directing traffic are fiercer) as a quick search revealed no similar trend of incidents on this side of the pond. [H&H]

Nation’s unemployed masses flock to farrier school? The Minneapolis Star Tribune features the story of Matthew Pederson, who, following advice and testing from his local government WorkForce Center for unemployed residents, went to farrier school and is now transitioning to the industry full time.  “It’s shocking how physical the work is,” he told the paper. [Star Tribune]

Learn stuff (for free!). The USEA’s announced two Future Event Horse Educational Seminars scheduled for High Point Hanoverians in Chestertown, Marlyand on November 16-17 and at DGBar Ranch in Hanford, California on December 14-15. Both will feature presentation by breeders, judges and a biometrics specialists. Open to the public and free to members, the seminars are aimed toward anyone with a passion for young event prospects. [USEA]

Horses have no respect for history, ice makers. Horses  have been running amuck throughout Mesa Verde National Park in southwest Colorado, stomping the park’s famed archeological sites, vandalizing ice making machines in search of water and tearing up the wiring on a weather station. Officials are backing off a plan to manage the 150 wild horses, but not as a result of the urging of horse-advocacy groups who want to see the horses remain as a viable part of the park. They simply lack the staff and funds to manage them. [Denver Post]

SmartPak Product of the Day:

Avoid deciding whether its cold enough for a jacket and make it simple for yourself, go for the vest.  The ELT Scarlett Vest has a snuggly lining, water resistant outer fabric, high collar to hide the dripping snot on those brisk mornings, and two zippered pockets so your phone/sugars/ibuprofen don’t bounce out. Granted, a Hit Air or Point Two vest would better prevent you from needing this feature, but if you do happen to be sporting a sling like the unfortunate Polo model, the Scarlett Vest is a convenient option for layering up.

“In my drunken state of mind the other day, a pony disappeared,” – The Pony Thief.

” That’s life,” – The Pony Owner.

For today’s video, in the spirit of Boekelo, in the Netherlands which is near Denmark, we present one man’s quest to find his stolen, 12-foot tall pink pony.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQLZwvnU55I

 

 

Boyd Martin Settles In at Boekelo

By on Oct 7, 2013 4:45 pm -

Did we catch you mid snack, Boyd? Photo from the USEF Eventing High Performance Facebook page.

The USEF posted this photo on their Facebook page this afternoon, proving that Boyd himself has materialized on the Boekelo grounds. The American horses and riders are settling in for an action packed weekend at the Military Boekelo CCIO3*.

Jenni will be on site this weekend bringing you up to date action and updates from The Netherlands, so stay tuned for plenty more!

Rest in Peace Zoe Di Giovanni [Updated]

By on Oct 7, 2013 2:47 pm -

Zoe (second from right) and friends Elizabeth Hart, Lizzie Snow, and Alex Martone

 

It is with a heavy heart that I write this post to inform you all of the tragic death of 23-year-old Zoe Di Giovanni, a young eventer based in Southern Pines. Last night Zoe was riding her mother’s horse, River Breeze, when the pair fell while attempting a jump at Hobby Field. Zoe suffered extensive head and neck trauma and was killed by the fall. She was wearing a helmet at the time.

According to a family friend, Zoe’s memorial service will be on Thursday at 1pm at the Moore County Hunter Trial Fields.  Those who can attend on horseback are encouraged to do so, but all are welcome regardless. The friend described Zoe as fearless and as one of those who enjoyed life to the fullest. She also mentioned that Zoe has a Facebook and encourages those who wish to send messages to leave remembrances and condolences on Zoe’s profile.

This is obviously a terrible and sudden loss for Zoe’s loved ones and for the greater eventing community, and all of us at EN send our deepest condolences and prayers to everyone involved. We will update this post with any further information we receive.

Update: In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to “Zoe DiGiovanni Memorial Fund” c/o Vantage South Bank, 185 W. Morganton Road, Southern Pines, NC 28387.