Classic Eventing Nation

Fashion Police at Fair Hill’s First Jog

By on Oct 17, 2013 9:15 am -

Libby Head and Sir Rockstar rock the jog lane at their first CCI3*. Photo courtesy of Libby.

The first jog up at Fair Hill began at 1pm Wednesday with the 2* horses and riders presenting first. It was unusually warm and sunny for Fair Hill which may have caught a few people off guard when choosing outfits, but I let it slide. Although a simple glance at the calendar would indicate that it is in fact October and not April, it seems that some people were not only gauging their horse’s readiness for Rolex, but also giving their spring attire a practice run. As usual, there were some dangerously short skirts paired with super pale bare legs, and some very questionable cankle-causing bootie choices, but overall, I didn’t feel the need to forcibly remove anyone from the warm-up area to go and change. Well, maybe one person. Sadly, my photographs from today died with an old memory card and I have NOTHING to offer you. The fashion police is saddened and embarrassed by losing the evidence, but promises to carefully document the Sunday jog fashions.

On a positive note, my personal favorite of the day was a simple, flattering and seasonally appropriate outfit worn by Libby Head while presenting Sir Rockstar in her first CCI3*. She wore a black blazer fitted blazer open in the front, with a lovely teal scarf that was tied in a cute knot where the fringed ends fell just below her waist line. Under the scarf and blazer was a barely off-white lace top that skimmed her hips and peeked from under the hem of the blazer. One of my favorite details was the bright orange zipper on the back of the blouse that made it contemporary and fun, where it could have looked too formal. Her bottom half was monochromatic and flattering. Black leggings and beautiful equestrian inspired black leather Burberry dress boots, fitted through the ankle but wider at the top than we would wear when riding. I definitely did a double take, wondering if they were vintage. Her lovely dark bay horse was shiny and and well presented, and her outfit complemented them both. I asked her later about her ensemble and she told me that she got inspired by searching Pinterest when she should have been paying attention in class and shopped for pieces as well as borrowing from friends. Really, choosing a jog outfit is equally as important as higher education, so we at the fashion police give her an A+.

Like I said, my photos were lost and I had to beg Libby for a snapshot. Although you can’t see any of the details from the outfit, you get the overall idea of their cute and Fair Hill appropriate attire.

Thursday Reader from Devoucoux

By on Oct 17, 2013 12:33 am -

Jan Byyny & team get prepped for jogs at Fair Hill (photo by Holly Covey)

Ah, Fair Hill week. The leaves are changing, the ground is soft, the horses are freshly clipped and feeling fit. This year is starting out on a surprisingly warm note, and no deluges of rain (yet)! There is no such thing as a “dry Fair Hill” though, so don’t hold your breath. Rain is forecasted for Friday….perfect for making the classic mud run on Saturday for cross country! 114 horse and rider pairs proceed to dressage today, starting with the CCI2* today and tomorrow, and the CCI3* beginning tomorrow.

Fair Hill Links:

[Website] [Dressage Times] [Live Scores]

Events This Weekend:

Hagyard Midsouth Three-day Event & Team Challenge H.T. [Website] [Ride Times]

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

Paradise Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

“The Event” at Kelly’s Ford [Website] [Entry Status]

News From Around The Globe:

95 combinations are vying for USEF National Championships this weekend at Fair Hill, in two divisions of international competition. Not only is one of the most coveted 3-day event prizes at stake here this weekend, but there are loads of other categories which competitors can win titles. Riders who have never completed a CCI4* are eligible for the USEF National Developing Rider Championships, and riders under 21 will be able to win the USEF National Young Riders Championship title. In addition, there are several riders competing this weekend on Land Rover Competition Grants. [USEF Championships]

Thinking about attending the Washington International Horse Show?? Drop by the Cavalor tent and hang out with Will Coleman, who will be attending on Thursday night to present an award and of course to watch the Shetland Pony Races! Barn Night is a classic event that includes several competitions, a costume contest, and special prizes for young riders. The winner of the “Most Spirited” award for Barn Night is the proud recipient of a clinic with Will, which is a very cool prize indeed. Get your tickets now! [WIHS Barn Night]

If you’re like the rest of us, you’ve been following the drama with Jock Paget’s FEI drug accusation. It’s also possible that you’ve considered foul play. If so, you’re on the same page as Jock himself. While he doesn’t think it’s the strongest possibility, he doesn’t want to rule it out because they are investigating every single lead. Good news is that he has a great team of lawyers and scientists on the job to clear this up. [Video Interview with Jock Paget]

Speaking of doping, FEI committee members are warning that more scandals within the Endurance world could lead to the elimination of the sport. Pierre Arnould, Belgian national coach and a member of the FEI endurance committee, believes the FEI is not coping with the doping scandal afflicting the second horse sport in which Sheikh Mohammed is the major global player. Aside from doping, stress fractures in the high speed form of endurance racing favored in the Middle East are an escalating concern. Arnould says dozens of horses died in or after competitions during the 2011-2012 Middle East season. [Endurance In Trouble]

The fashion police might have a field day with the crowd this year at Fair Hill. Check out this parade of fancy horse riders wearing their best impressions of “normal people” outfits! Some looked awesome….and some looked inconvenient to run in. Don’t get me wrong, I like to wear clothes that look cool, but at the end of the day, I’m a realist and I worry about my skirt flying up or breaking my ankle in those heels. [A Parade of Shoes]

A slight glove fetish: don’t even try to deny it. If you’re like me, you always wander over to the racks of gloves when you visit the tack store, and try to come up with reasons that you need THAT pair right there. Well, it’s coming up on winter, which means you’ll obviously need several new pairs of gloves to keep your fingers in full working order. My favorites? The Heritage Tackified Pro Air Gloves. Oh my gee give me ten pairs please and thank you! [SmartPak Gloves]

 

Best of Blogs: Backseat Driving with a Hall Of Famer

For those of you wondering how Boyd looked in the jogs yesterday, The Horse Pesterer was on site to help you out.

 

Book Club: ‘How Good Riders Get Good’

By on Oct 16, 2013 6:00 pm -

Several weeks back, I set out to better myself as a rider and horsewoman by sitting down with some reading material. At present, I’ve got a long list that seems daunting, but once winter comes, I will undoubtedly mow through it like an escaped pony in the grain room.

Work has been an absolute mad house, but I finally found time to finish Denny Emerson’s “How Good Riders Get Good” a few days ago. I was especially interested in this book, as in addition to Denny’s eventing expertise, he also is quite knowledgeable about Morgans, another area that I’ve been known to dabble in every once in a while. The writing is straightforward and no-nonsense, which makes for a breezy and enjoyable read.

Denny does a great job of telling honest truths about the kinds of questions that a person needs to ask if he or she well and truly wants to make it to the top of the sport. I’ll be honest, though, I felt like I was well acquainted with a lot of these concepts already. I do catch Denny’s posts on Facebook from time to time, and many of the concepts from the book are echoed in Denny’s posts.

I also suspect that at least part of my “already acquainted with this” feeling stems from the distinct possibility that I’m not really the target audience at this point in my life, as I have no aspirations to make it to the big leagues or to be a professional. Even so, it did give me enough of a push to get back on track towars goals that I’ve set for myself.  Who can’t use that every once in a while?

This is a book that I will absolutely be handing to any of the starry eyed kids I know when they begin to approach the point where they need to start having answers to the questions and life choices Denny discusses. I’m also contemplating if it would be a tactful thing to hand the book to a friend who has the utterly wrong horse for her goals, as Denny addresses the importance of having the right horse to meet your goals in as tactful of a manner as anyone ever could.

I was also pleasantly surprised that “How Good Riders Get Good” included a suggested reading list, which has helped me narrow down the options for the next book on my quest. Onward to the next book, assuming I can make a decision. As always, please leave the titles of your favorite horse books in the comments below.

Collegiate Eventing Spotlight: University of Georgia

By on Oct 16, 2013 4:30 pm -

Collegiate eventing is a growing sport among college athletes, offering an alternative to the traditional hunter/jumper, saddleseat and western options typically seen in athletic programs. We begin our new series on collegiate eventing with the University of Georgia. Do you have a tip about a college team? Email [email protected].

UGA Eventing members show their team spirit. Photo from Jorja Miller.

The University of Georgia has laid claim to many an NCCA equestrian title, so these students are no strangers to equine sport. As a former member of the UGA Intercollegiate Horse Show Association hunter/jumper team, I can attest to the potential for an involved equine community on campus. UGA is currently home to both an NCAA-level team and an IHSA team, both of which compete in their respective circuits representing the school. Until recently, the school had no eventing presence. This is where team president Jorja Miller stepped in after seeing a need for an eventing team.

Jorja hatched the idea for an eventing team after meeting other eventers who wanted to keep competing in college, and she worked closely with NCAA team members from other equestrian sports to formulate a plan to get the eventing team off the ground. Together, Jorja and her newfound advisors were able to come up with a Collegiate Challenge, in which schools bring a team of up to four members competing at any level. In order to keep all levels equal for scoring, each level receives its own coefficient to determine the team’s score. This keeps the challenge open to more schools that might not have four riders competing at the same level.

Jorja Miller competing for UGA Eventing. Photo courtesy of Hoofclix.

Once the eventing team at UGA launched, the popularity increased. The team currently boasts 27 members at both the undergraduate and graduate level, as well as alumni members. The team welcomes members of all levels and currently has riders actively competing from Beginner Novice all the way up to Advanced. If a member does not have his or her own horse, the team is able to assist the member in finding a suitable lease for competition. Non-riders are also welcome to be a part of the team, helping out and cheering their teammates on at competitions.

Currently, the UGA team is gearing up for the College Team Challenge at Chattahoochee Hills on Oct. 26 and 27. Riders from schools around the area, such as Clemson University and the University of Kentucky, will be proudly representing their universities. Jorja and the rest of her team members hope the team’s success at competitions will help them attract more attention and, ideally, support from the school. Jorja said that the ultimate goal is to be able to join the ranks of the NCAA, and although this is a long and tedious process, it appears UGA is well on its way. For more information on the UGA Eventing Team, visit the website or Facebook page. Go Eventing, and Go Dawgs!

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Showering Canada Style

By on Oct 16, 2013 3:00 pm -

What happens at the water truck stays at the water truck — or at least that’s what Canadians Callie Evans and Holly Jacks were hoping when Jon Holling caught them washing their hair yesterday at Fair Hill. My favorite quote from the video has to be when Jon wisely observes: “The Americans all hate each other and you guys help each other shower. It’s impressive.” Impressive indeed. Go Canada.

Taren Atkinson: Amy Barrington Fundraiser a Success

By on Oct 16, 2013 1:30 pm -

Taren Atkinson sent in a great report about the clinic held last week at Galway Downs to raise support for Amy Barrington. Robert Kellerhouse allowed the clinic to be held on the grounds totally free of charge, and 92 participants rode in the clinic, which ultimately raised more than $15,000 for Amy and her family. Visit Amy’s Facebook page to learn more about how you can help with her recovery.

Rebecca Braitling sports the Amy Barrington colors of teal and purple. Photo courtesy of Taren Atkinson.

From Taren:

Amy Barrington’s West Coast tribe banded together last weekend for a very special fundraising clinic hosted at Galway Downs in Temecula, Calif. Amy has touched so many West Coast eventers from her time living, training and riding in Phoenix, so when word spread of her accident, there was a huge interest in organizing a benefit for her and her family. Niki Clarke, an old friend and student of Amy’s, contacted my mother, Carolyn Hoffos, another old friend and student of Amy’s, and they began to think about setting up a fundraiser.

The two friends worked with Robert Kellerhouse and Galway Downs to schedule a weekend of dressage lessons with Niki, cross-country schooling with Area VI trainers and show jumping rounds on the brand new grass field at Galway. Carolyn and Niki began spreading the word through phone calls, emails and Facebook, ending up with 12 Area VI trainers donating their time to teach and 92 riders participating.

The clinic raised $15,890 in three days. What is even more impressive than the actual amount raised is that all of it is going to the Barrington/Schlappi home. When the clinic was originally planned, organizers Carolyn and Niki worked together with Robert and agreed to a $235 entry fee per rider, with $200 going to Amy’s family and $35 going to Galway Downs to cover grounds fees, preparation for the clinic and clean up from the clinic. As Carolyn and I sat in her living room Sunday evening totaling up the proceeds, Robert sent a text saying, “Send all the money to Amy and Greg. Thank you for organizing this event.” Galway’s donation totaled $2,095.

There have been so many stories related to Amy about how eventers band together in times of need to support their own; this is another one of those stories. Reading the many articles on Eventing Nation and Amy’s Facebook page about eventers fundraising and helping Amy makes me proud. I am proud to know Amy and proud that she was once my trainer; I think that anyone can see how loved, respected and admired she is by reading about the great lengths her friends — and even those who don’t know her — are going to in order to support her.

This clinic has made me extremely proud: I’m proud of my mom and Niki for having this great idea and putting it into action — that took time, patience and good humor dealing with multiple schedules over multiple days. I’m proud of the trainers who donated their time to teach over the weekend — that took time away from home, lessons missed, gas money spent getting to Temecula and overall compassion. I’m proud of the riders who donated their money to the clinic for a person that many do not know.

One of my students gave up her entry fee to a fall event in order to participate in this clinic because she felt that supporting a fellow eventer was a priority for her. I’m proud of Galway Downs and Robert Kellerhouse, who chose to donate the facility for the clinic; as someone who runs an eventing facility, I can tell you that it isn’t free to host clinics like this. The donation of Galway is a huge sacrifice. I’m proud of the parents and families who came to support their kids, friends, spouses and family during the clinic; we know that eventers can’t do this sport alone, and a support system is crucial. Go Amy.

Jog Tips from the Fair Hill Fashion Police

By on Oct 16, 2013 12:00 pm -

Stilettos — appropriate footwear for a jog or a good way to break an ankle? Photo by Julia Rau.

We’ve arrived at Fair Hill, and all five ponies are settled in and cozy in their stalls.  I, for one, am looking forward to the best part of any CCI event — the jogs! The first jog is this afternoon, and I’ll be bringing you updates after each jog, but first I need to let you in on a little secret (unless we are Facebook friends; then it’s no secret). Although I may be inconspicuously dressed as just a groom in jeans stained with horse saliva; a free sponsor shirt with holes in it; a makeup-free face; and a pony tail that looks like it had an epic battle with a hay bale, bran mash and a herd of rats, don’t be fooled, my friends. Underneath all that is my clean, shiny, sparkly badge — the badge of the Jog Fashion Police.

What? How do you get to be a member of the Jog Fashion Police, you ask? It’s easy! You just need naturally impeccable taste attend a ton of horse shows, watch people make the same fashion mistakes over and over again, grow tired of seeing beautiful horses overshadowed by bad outfits and unanimously vote yourself in as a member. Then your “tastefully” sparkly badge arrives — because you had it custom made on Etsy — and your mission begins. The mission is simple: rid the world of bad jog outfits and help horse girls everywhere look like real girls, even if it’s just down a jog strip for 30 seconds.

Eventers are athletes, with kickin’ bods and an unmatched work ethic. The jog is your chance to not only show off your lovely, fit partner and probable best friend, but also to represent your sport and show respect to the tradition of presenting in hand by complementing the animal. Eventing needs good press, and I have nightmares about jog pics showing up in mainstream media. So use that work ethic that we all have by taking the time to find an appropriate, flattering and seasonal jog outfit. We all make mistakes with fashion once in a while (see my perm in sixth grade for a fabulous example), but for those of you that are repeat offenders, here are the top five questions to ask yourself before you head down that jog strip:

1. Does this outfit fit me and cover all of the body parts that I wouldn’t show to the general public? This one is easy, folks. Look in the mirror. Is it too tight? Too loose? Does it cover the three B’s? Those would be boobs, belly and butt. Would you wear it in front of your grandmother’s bridge club? If the answer to that last one is no, then start over. We want you to be stylish, yet tasteful. The jog is NOT your personal runway, so let’s stick to the more ready-to-wear styles.

2. Are people looking at me or my horse? The answer here should be both. Your horse is of course clean, shiny, braided and exuding athleticism, hopefully in an obedient manner. You should complement your horse. Don’t overpower the look of your horse with anything super “loud.” Leave the chevron-patterned maxi skirt at home, no matter how many times Pinterest tells you it’s OK to wear it. By all means, throw a little pop of color in here or there to show off the coat color of your horse, but, if your horse is chestnut, don’t wear red — ever. See? Easy!

3. If I were to hand someone a bag of peanuts and a tiny soda right now, would they accept it? Listen, I’m all for tailored and conservative, and I am fully aware that a monochromatic color palette is slimming, but if you look like you could be dragging a suitcase down the aisle 0f a plane, just say no. Also, just say no to hats and 99 percent of feathered hair pieces. The 2012 Olympic jog outfits are a shining example of what to say no to.

4. Should I wear this super cute flowing, short, springy, awesome little sundress? NO. Here’s why. First of all, your legs are too pale; they are at least three shades lighter than your arms — admit it. If it looks like your legs could belong to another human other than you, that means no dresses. “But I’ll wear hose!” No. No one wears hose. This isn’t 1998 — throw them away. “But I’ll wear tights!” Maybe. Are they the right color? Dark-colored tights don’t look cute under springy, flowing sundresses, and pink tights don’t belong on a jog strip.

“What about the super cool patterned tights that are everywhere?” Probably not. From you to your full-length mirror, those cute Ikat patterned tights look presh, but from you to the far away cameraman on the jog strip, it looks like you have a skin disease. You have to look OK from far away too. As for flowing and short dresses, this is the worst possible combination. Have you ever seen that iconic photo of Marilyn Monroe in the white dress? Please don’t subject us to that on the jog strip. Running creates wind, which is not a match for flowing, and short makes it even worse. The ground jury doesn’t want to inspect your private parts, and neither do we.

5. Can I run in this? Please, for the sake of puppies and kitties and tiny children everywhere, practice this. I know you can jog your horse up for the vet at home just fine while wearing tennis shoes and breeches, but can you do it in your jog outfit and the shoes your are planning on wearing? Consider the footwear. When you put your outfit together, run a few steps. Yes? Then add the shoes? Yes? I cannot even tell you how many upper-level riders look absolutely uncoordinated while flopping down a jog strip with inappropriate footwear. If you can pick a bit that will stop a horse from pulling you around cross country, then you can pick footwear. Trust me.

Please do not choose shoes that are heavy and/or make sounds like you were perhaps wearing scuba flippers while running. Please do not wear stilettos — ever. In fact, the footing almost never permits wearing tiny, pointy heels of any type, and unless you can run in them as well as a “woman of the night” can run from the police, then don’t try it. Flats are super cute, but make sure they stay on; it’s never fun to have to go back and dig your Tory’s out of the mud.

And now for a quick note on makeup, hair and accessories:

Makeup: Wear some. We know that you are naturally pretty, but please put on some eyeliner and mascara for the jog. Do it for the photos! If you need help with this and eyeliner scares you, just walk around the barn yelling my name. I always have time for eyeliner.

Hair: Tame it. It should not be flowing across your face as you jog or look unbrushed, unkempt, recently helmeted or Rastafarian (unless you actually are). Putting your hair up — or at least half up — is best.

Accessories: We all know scarves are all the rage, but pin them down. You need not look like a masked robber as you jog or spook your horse as said scarf flies off your neck.

When you’ve asked yourself these questions, practiced running, and received approval from your BFF and your grandmother’s bridge club, then by all means, jog away. Just remember, I may look super busy tending to the horses I care for, but my badge is in my bag next to the brushes, towels and hoof polish. Don’t make me use it.

Frances Stead Speaks Out in Radio Interview

By on Oct 16, 2013 10:30 am -

Jock Paget and Clifton Promise at Badminton. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The eventing community continues to reel after yesterday’s news that this year’s Badminton and Burghley winner Clifton Promise tested positive for Reserpine, a heavy tranquilizer on the FEI Prohibited Substance List. Jock Paget now faces a two-month suspension from all national and international competitions while we await the results of the B sample. All reports coming from Jock’s team indicate they’re absolutely shocked by the news, and Frances Stead, who owns Clifton Promise, took to the air waves today to reiterate her total support for Jock in a radio interview:

“To be honest, if you think about the scenario, you have a horse that went around probably the toughest cross-country course in the world and went around very fast. The last thing you would do to try to enhance its performance is give it a sedative before it came out tired the next day to try to clear all the show jumps. The scenario just doesn’t make sense. I don’t understand it. Jock doesn’t understand it. We’re all shocked by it.

 “With Jock, I don’t think you could find a more ethical or honest person who always operates with absolute integrity. There is absolutely no way Jock did anything knowingly in this process.”

Click below to listen to the full interview, which begins with Andrew Nicholson weighing in on the controversy.

Click to listen to the interview

Fair Hill CCI3* Preview

By on Oct 16, 2013 9:00 am -

It’s the last day of my preview mania, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it. Part III today is the CCI3* division, which is not quite as massive as the CCI2* division, but the numbers are still impressive. With 49 pairs entered, the competition will be fierce. As usual with Fair Hill, a lot of the combinations are using this weekend as a measure of their possible ability to tackle Rolex in the spring. Those who conquer the massive cross-country course and recover the next day are usually well placed, and those who don’t have the whole winter to stew over it. It’s not known as a three-and-a-half-star for nothing.

The horses are already on the grounds, and jogs are held later this afternoon. I now officially know more than I probably ever should about all of the 128 competitors and their horses, and I’m passing the reins to Jenni, who will be your reporter on the ground this weekend.

All Things Fair Hill: [Fair Hill Website] [Entries by Division] [Fair Hill CCI2* Preview: Part I] [Fair Hill CCI2* Preview: Part II]

Nora Battig & Steppin’ Out: I’ve been quite impressed with Nora and her mare every time I’ve seen them out this year. They are new to the Advanced level, but they are lovely on the flat and good through the jumping phases. Fair Hill will be a great challenge for them, and they’re likely missing some experience in order to be really competitive, but they should have a good round nonetheless.

Susan BeeBee & Wolf: Wolf is one of those horses that walks by and you wonder if you can steal his mane late at night and clone him. Susan rides this incredible athlete this weekend in their second CCI3* this year, as they completed the Bromont CCI3* in 14th place. They were also 10th last year at this CCI2*, so they know the lay of the land. Wolf has all the talent in the world and the potential to be a real world beater; it’s just a matter of getting him to quietly put all the pieces together in one weekend.

Emily Beshear & River King: Emily got this horse last fall as a second string backup to her four-star horse Here’s To You, and she has improved his dressage quite a bit, and they are a great cross country pair. Unfortunately, this horse does well until the last day, and then he has a very hard time keeping the rails up. Emily is a total perfectionist, and I’m sure she will figure out a way to change their communication in show jumping, but I’m not sure it will be in time for Fair Hill.

Jessica Bortner-Harris & Win The War: If you could describe Bug in two words, it would be “all heart.” In this way, he represents the OTTB breed perfectly, and Jessica knows it. The relationship between this horse and rider is what pulls them through the weekend. While the flatwork doesn’t always pan out the way Jessica would like, Bug will happily lope through the jumping phases. As long as Jess can hang on when he launches into the air — and (ahem, Jess) aim for the skinny side of the corners this time — she’ll finish well.

Tim Bourke & Luckaun Quality: Tim’s had a great move up to the Advanced level with this horse, and the pair seems more than ready for this next challenge. Their dressage is certainly not something that Tim enjoys, but this big Irish bay gelding jumps around huge courses like it’s nothing. They will enjoy a nice move up the leaderboard after the jumping phases.

Jennie Brannigan & Cambalda: I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: If she’s not first, she’s second. Jennie and Ping have had a helluva year, with one thing after another coming to bite them in the butt. They bounced back with a brilliant finish in the competitive CIC3* at Plantation, and I expect to see a similar performance from them here. I think a win for these two would be well deserved!

Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Jan Byyny & Inmidair: Jan and JR have all the qualities to make it into the top five at the end of the weekend. They have the most experience together of almost any other combination, and they have all the ability in the world. JR is a freak of nature jumper, and — God willing, he doesn’t act silly on the first day — he can lay down a brilliant dressage test. This is my personal favorite pair to root for this weekend.

Kate Chadderton & Collection Pass: Cole is an incredibly careful, scopey jumper, and Kate clearly has an eye for the small bay Thoroughbred type. This pair began their Advanced career in earnest this year and have had several top placings at horse trials; they finished 11th at Cole’s first CCI3* at Bromont. While he is sometimes a little naughty in the dressage, he can make up for it by cruising around the jumping phases like he has springs attached to his legs.

Will Coleman & Conair: This stunning chestnut is a new ride for Will, as he just got him this summer from Rodney Powell in the UK. Joey is a beautiful mover and has quite enough scope for the level, and Will seems to think a lot of him. They’ve only had three competitions to get to know one another, but they seem to get along well. We will see if this weekend is when they put the pedal to the metal or if Will uses it as an educational run for bigger things in the future.

Courtney Cooper & Who’s A Star: After moving up to Advanced early this spring, Courtney and Tag had a great finish at Jersey Fresh CCI3*, finishing in third place with clean jumping efforts. Courtney is super proud of this homebred, but unfortunately since coming back from Bromont they have lost their mojo on cross country. They’ve had multiple problems and then were unfortunately amongst those who took a swim at Plantation in the CIC3*, so when Courtney competes this weekend, she’ll be looking to get her old confident horse back on the cross-country course.

Sally Cousins & Ideal Contini: Taz is Sally’s big-time horse, and he’s got all the athleticism to prove her right. They have the capability to score well on the flat, and Sally could jump a mule through a CCI3* double clean if she had to, so she’ll be doing that easily with Taz. I think she’s really hoping for a top-three finish this weekend, and if she can pull out the stops on the first day, we know she can turn and burn on the second and move up a few spots.

Sally Cousins & Tsunami III: Sally’s second ride, Sue, is distinctly less fond of the dressage but perfectly capable of jumping double clean from there on out. She usually benefits from the bigger events, as she can move up the leader board with ease after the first day. Sue is wonderfully experienced, as is Sally, and these two will be a good round to watch on cross-country day.

Sally Cousins & Ideal Contini. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Buck Davidson & Park Trader: Kobe is one of Buck’s top horses, and although the pair had an unfortunate tumble at Burghley, Buck obviously feels confident enough in the horse’s abilities to take him directly to Fair Hill this weekend. Kobe is a brilliant jumper and can score well on the flat, but I think that he’ll stay just outside the top 10.

Buck Davidson & Petite Flower: Buck took this ride over from his student Caroline Martin earlier this year, and the mare has had the bare bones education at the Advanced level, with only one horse trials and one CIC3* on her record. She’s a wonderful mover capable of stunning the crowd on the flat, and she might be tiny but she can seriously jump. Unfortunately, she has a bit of an unpredictable naughty streak on cross country and is known for the occasional run out at big competitions.

Buck Davidson & The Apprentice: Dirk went with Buck to the Saumur CCI3* earlier this spring but was unfortunately eliminated due to an issue with jumping the wrong side of a flag. He’s come back from that just fine and run a few horse trials since then, placing well. They were fifth last year at Galway CCI3*, and seventh at the 2012 Bromont CCI3*. They have plenty of experience together at this level, and I expect a good performance from them.

Ellen Doughty & Sir Oberon: Ellen and Obie have had a spectacular season. Obie is an amazing jumper, and Ellen hopes to cruise around this course and qualify for a spring CCI4*. They are coming off a third-place finish at the Advanced AECs, and she will be thrilled with a solid performance in all three phases and a qualifying score. My money is on this pair to be well placed at the end of the weekend.

Phillip Dutton & William Penn: This horse is huge, and as I watched it at Plantation I was amazed that it’s canter fit in the dressage arena. I don’t think that he has the dressage scores to quite get in the top placings, but he’s perfectly capable of finishing the weekend in the top 20.

Phillip Dutton & Fernhill Fugitive: Yet another Fernhill horse to compete this weekend, this gelding is coming fresh off his win at Morven Park in the Advanced. This pair was also seventh at Bromont CC3* this spring and are poised to do well here this weekend.

Ellen Doughty & Sir Oberon. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Eliza Farren & Bantry Bays Dublin: This little Connemara cross does not relish his time in the dressage arena, but he was one of the few successful horses through the Plantation CIC3* water combination, so we know he can run cross country. This will be their first effort at this level, and Eliza will be happy with a nice clear round.

Werner Geven & Vandiver: Vandiver falls into the same category of horses that dislike the dressage phase, and he has a habit of finishing the cross country with a jumping penalty, so I’m sure Werner will be happy to get this horse across the finish line with a clean round on Saturday.

Werner Geven & Vilas County: Werner’s other mount for the weekend also has a hard time on the first day, but had a good round at Poplar CIC3* just recently and should be set up well for this weekend. This pair won’t be competitive, but they have the capabilities to get around just fine.

Katy Groesbeck & Oz The Tin Man: Katy and Oz were leading after the Advanced dressage at the AECs only to have an uncharacteristic blip on cross country. They were leading after cross country at Rebecca Farm CIC3* only to have more rails than usual on the third day and drop down a few notches. This pair is amazing, and they’ll be going to for the gold this weekend, ready to put all three phases together and kick some butt. I’d watch out for these two on the top of the leader board.

Sinead Halpin & Manoir De Carneville: Sinead and Tate really have nothing left to prove, and I bet they’ll be the pair to beat this weekend. They always score incredibly well in the dressage, and Tate barely puts in any effort to get around a CCI3*. Their weakest phase is show jumping, but Sinead has been working really hard all summer at jumper shows, and they have been jumping really clear lately. Unless somebody knocks them off their perch early in the game, you better watch out.

Helen Hayn & Aqua Tom: Helen and Tom are relatively new to the Advanced level and have only completed two this year, including a 28th place at the Plantation CIC3*. I’ve seen them briefly in warm ups this fall, and they have the rights stuff to get around, but their inexperience might show a little over this huge track on Saturday.

Katy Groesbeck & Oz the Tin Man. Photo by Nancy Dein.

Libby Head & Sir Rockstar: Libby and Rocky are amazing over the jumps, and Rocky truly believes that he is a rockstar. However, he is also known for his antics in the dressage ring, so cross your fingers he doesn’t pull out his Lipizzaner moves and that he allows Libby to get through her first CCI3* as she deserves to do.

Lillian Heard & Share Option: Lillian and Whitey are great, and I consider them one of the most stylish pairs out there. They had a bit of an uncharacteristic bobble on cross country at Plantation, and Lillian just popped off after the water. They were fourth at Jersey Fresh CCI3* earlier this spring and can easily put together three good phases to be competitive this weekend.

Jon Holling & Zatopek B: This horse is really lovely, and Jon seems to really believe in him. I think he’s got all the makings of a top level horse, he just hasn’t been able to put them all together yet. He’s coming off a fourth-place finish at the AECs Advanced and has good results at the CIC3* and Advanced level all year, but now is his time to prove himself at the CCI3* level.

Jon Holling & Proper Timing: Jon’s second horse is newer for him, as this partnership just started last year. He’s a lovely horse and fully capable of putting in a nice dressage test that could very well be competitive here. He’s good on the cross country, but as this will be his first CCI3*, Jon might choose to not put the pedal to the metal. I think this will be a great educational experience for a nice horse for future.

Lauren Kieffer & Cosima: While Lauren had a rough go at Boekelo just a few days ago, she’s back in action this weekend with this beautiful mare. She’s had great results all year, placing fifth at Jersey Fresh CIC3*, third at Bromont CIC3* and winning the CIC2* at Richland. Last year, this pair was ninth in the CCI2*, so we know she can run in the mud. I have an inkling that Lauren will be ready to come back to the States and kick some butt this weekend, and Cosi might be her ticket to the front lines.

Caroline Martin & Titanium: Caroline has been enjoying the extra mileage at Advanced on Ty since she took the ride from her coach Buck last fall. Both of these athletes are well equipped to meet the challenge this weekend. They were fourth at the Bromont CIC3*, and this will be their first effort at the CCI3* level. Ty already knows his job, and it will be a great educational weekend for Caroline.

Lauren Kieffer & Cosima. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Rachel McDonough & Irish Rhythm: Rachel is fresh out of the Young Rider leagues and made a successful move up to Advanced this spring with this good jumping OTTB she brought up the levels. Riding for Canada, Rachel has some big dreams, and she wants this qualifying result badly. She won’t be competitive in the dressage phase, but this pair is known for their fast cross-country trips, and I don’t doubt they’ll make it through the weekend.

Robert Meyerhoff & Dunlavin’s Token: Bobby and Token completed this CCI3* last year in 18th place and certainly have enough experience at the level to get the job done. Token hasn’t been out since The Fork this April, so I’m afraid he’s bound to be a little rusty at the level.

Julie Norman & Consensus: This pair has not had a lot of experience at the level, but all three of their efforts at Advanced have been successful. With a second place and a win in their first two Advanced HTs, they seem to have a good partnership. This is their first effort at the CCI3* level, and Julie will be happy with a nice clear round to end the weekend.

Selena O’Hanlon & A First Romance: Selena seems to be suffering from some unlucky blips on cross country with this horse recently, and I hope that she’s got that all figured out for this weekend. I think that she won’t be quite competitive enough in the dressage, but if they get their ducks in a row, they will smoke the jumping phases together.

Selena O’Hanlon & Bellaney Rock: Selena and this big chestnut were fourth earlier this spring at the Bromont CCI3* and subsequently 12th at the competitive Richland CIC3*. They’ve been consistently tackling big courses all year and finishing in the upper echelons, and I don’t doubt that they can repeat that kind of performance here this weekend. This horse is a lovely type and lopes around the cross country like it’s nothing.

 Doug Payne & Crown Talisman: Doug is really excited about this horse and rightly so. He’s a beautiful mover and a superb jumper, and Doug has taken his time getting everything just right. He just moved up to the Advanced level this summer, but he’s been getting better and better, finishing with a fourth at Plantation in the CIC3* and a second at the Morven Advanced Championships. I think this weekend just might be Tali’s time to shine, despite the fact that it will be his first effort at the CCI3* level.

Doug Payne & Crown Talisman. Photo by Abbie Golden.

Holly Payne & Madeline: Holly and Baby know each other inside out and, despite their small stature, can play with the big boys over these huge jumps, probably with their eyes closed. They won’t be able to catch those bigger moving horses on the first day, but if they smoke the cross country like I know they can, they should be able to move up quite a bit.

Beth Perkins & Sal Dali: This pair has been around Fair Hill a few times and even Rolex a few times, so they have enough experience to be able to finish the weekend in style. Beth has been in the saddle for longer than some of us have been alive and even competed at the 1974 World Games at the age of 18, where she finished sixth individually. While I don’t expect that these two will win the dressage, I think their combined experience should make this weekend go quite smoothly.

Katie Ruppel & Houdini: Katie’s had a wonderful season with this chestnut OTTB, placing fifth at Jersey Fresh CCI3*, second at Rebecca Farms CIC3* and fifth at the recent Richland Farms CIC3*. They’ve got the moves on the flat, the speed and honesty on cross country, and they have the ability to deliver a good show jumping round too. I expect them to be gunning for a competitive top 10 performance this weekend, and I think that’s not out of sight for these two.

Jimmie Schramm & Bellamy: One of my favorite pairs, Jimmie and Bells will be tackling their first CCI3* together this weekend, and as the pathfinders for the tough Plantation CIC3* a few weeks ago, they smoked the field, and I expect them to repeat that performance. Their dressage will put them in the mid range, but I expect their jump phases to propel them up a bit for a good finish on this incredible jumping horse.

Kim Severson & Fernhill Fearless: The combined talents of Kim on the flat and Sparky over jumps is enough to make anybody quake in their boots. I’ve never known any horse to have such an apt name as this one. Sparky eats cross country like cereal for breakfast and then prances home ready for more. I expect a top 10 finish from these two, but, you know, no pressure, Kim.

 Caitlin Silliman & Remington XXV: Caitlin and Remi have really formed a bond recently, and after their wire-to-wire win of Jersey Fresh CCI2*, they’ve made the move up to Advanced in good form. While both of them separately have experience at the four-star level, this will be their first CCI3* together as a team. Caitlin is incredibly nice and a classy rider, and Remi can totally put together three nice phases to finish well.

Kim Severson and Fernhill Fearless. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Lizzie Snow & Coal Creek: In 2008, Devon won the Fair Hill CCI3* with the late Amy Tryon in the irons. This year he returns with Lizzie, who is one of the most stylish riders out there. While they did attempt this competition last year and retired on cross country, they have since done well at Bromont CCI3* in the spring. This pair can put in three nice phases and will be looking for their first clean CCI3* cross-country trip.

 Kaitlin Spurlock & Expedience: Another young, up-and-coming rider, Kaitlin has really stepped up her game as of late. This little chestnut Thoroughbred mare is a real firecracker and lives for the cross country. They were 11th at Jersey Fresh CCI3* earlier this spring and will be looking to clock around with two clean jumping efforts, which is well within their reach.

Erin Sylvester & No Boundaries: Erin and Bucky are a pair you can count on to have an easy clear round in both jumping phases. They have in the past been plagued by Bucky’s attitude in the dressage, but recently have been able to put together some really nice tests, which resulted in their recent third-place finish at the Plantation CIC3*. A top-10 finish would not be out of the question for these two.

Sharon White & Wundermaske: Patch was all ready to go to Blenheim earlier this season before he had a fall at Millbrook that seems to have shaken his confidence. Sharon is a wonderful rider and a conscientious horsewoman, so I trust that she has him back in the good form that earned him a seventh-place finish at Jersey Fresh CCI3* this spring. This pair is capable of putting together three good phases for a nice top-20 result.

Dana Widstrand & Relentless Pursuit: Dana campaigned this horse at Advanced twice last year and finished the Advanced this year at Poplar in good standing, but she has spent the majority of 2013 at the lower levels. She is also coming off a tumble at Morven Park a few weekends ago, so as one of the less experienced pairs here this weekend, I’m sure she will be happy to get around the course.

Katie Willis & Polar Storm: Katie and Polar know how this whole game works, having been competing at the Advanced and three-star level for more than five years now. They’ve finished a fair amount of three-stars, but Fair Hill seems to hold some sort of grudge against them. Polar won’t be able to stay competitive in the dressage arena, but he can put on his big boy pants and jump around for Katie just fine, and I expect them to get the job done this weekend.

Amanda Wilson & Cool Decision: Amanda and this horse completed the CCI2* here last year and have since then moved up to Advanced level. They’ve had moderate success at the CIC3* level and will be hoping to stay calm, cool and collected this weekend for a qualifying score to finish.

Wednesday News and Notes from MDBarnmaster

By on Oct 15, 2013 11:59 pm -

Rick walking Elisa down the aisle.

Today we are sending a huge congratulations to everyone’s favorite eventer-turned-mustang-wrangler Elisa Wallace, who married Timothy Harfield last weekend. Yesterday Rick Wallace sent us an update on his broken wrist (which is healing, slowly) and included the above photo of himself and Elisa at the ceremony in Jasper, GA. According to Rick, Timothy is finishing his PhD at Emory and has had a significant hand Team Wallace’s very successful social media strategy. Congrats to Elisa and Timothy, and well-wishes to Rick as he continues to heal!

Weekend Preview:

Fair Hill International Three-day Event [Website] [Entry Status]

Hagyard Midsouth Three-day Event & Team Challenge H.T. [Website] [Ride Times]

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

Paradise Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

“The Event” at Kelly’s Ford [Website] [Entry Status]

The 25th anniversary Fair Hill International Three-Day Event kicks off today in Elkton, MD. There is quite a cast of competitors attending this weekend (check out Kate’s preview of the CCI2* field here and here) and the first horse inspection is this afternoon. Jenni will be on hand to cover the competition and will be bringing you reports all weekend so make sure to keep checking back. In addition, you can check out the FHI Blog, which is updated regularly throughout the competition. [Fair Hill Schedule] [FHI Blog]

Want to see what you missed at Boekelo? Check out this video put together by Uptown Eventing featuring lots of cross country shots and everyone’s favorite end-of-summer song by Avicii. [Uptown Eventing]

Horsetalk blogger Neil Clarkson weighed in on the revelation that Jock Paget’s Burghley mount tested positive for the sedative Reserpine. His conclusion: it doesn’t make sense. Clarkson contends that it would be very odd for an event horse to be drugged purposely with a long acting sedative like Reserpine, which is long-acting and has a somewhat unpredictable withdrawal period. Like others, he hopes answers are coming. [Horsetalk]

This week on the Eventing Radio Show: Boekelo winner Lizzie Brown and UK-based US rider Liz Halliday. Samantha and Jess chat with the two competitors about their weekends at Boekelo. [Eventing Radio Show]

SmartPak’s resident vet Dr. Lydia Grey tackles a question about mysterious weight loss on “Ask the Vet” this week. She points out that environmental factors (location, workload, recent moves, etc) all can play into weight loss, and feeding the proper amount of grain is key. Ulcers and teeth that need to be floated can also be culprits. Click to check out her full explanation. [Ask the Vet]

It’s time for HN’s annual horse Halloween costume contest! Got a great costume for your pony?  Send your best photos to [email protected]. Click to check out last year’s winners. [Horse Nation]