Classic Eventing Nation

Best Idea Ever: Presenting Remote Control Jump Cups

By on Sep 29, 2013 9:00 am -

 

Jump alone? Lack working students, a boy/girlfriend eager to build biceps while eating dust, or simply lack the oomph to haul yourself on and off your horse? Then this just might be the high-tech advancement of the century. Or at least the week.

Callum Hunter, a 17-year-old British student, designed a prototype of a motorized jump cup you can adjust with a remote control, reports Horse & Hound. “I spent last summer working for event rider Tom Rowland, and I realized how much time is wasted getting on and off changing jumps, if you don’t have help on the ground,” Callum told H&H.

Officials just announced recipients of the MacArthur “Genius” Grant. How’d they miss this kid? Is it high tech rocket science? Nope. Chains and sprockets, people. Just like the ones I’ve always envisioned automatically raising and lowering standards from the ceiling of the indoor.

Callum’s still working out the bugs, mainly the fact that the motorized contraptions don’t fare so well if your horse repeatedly knocks the pole out of the cup. Surely he’ll have that one solved in time for next year’s grants.

Rain Delayed Sunday Links from ERS-Eventing.com

By on Sep 29, 2013 12:01 am -

Rain at the AEC's. Photo from Liz Hall

The American Eventing Championships got hit with a bit of rain yesterday before Preliminary.  It cleared up for a while, but returned with a vengeance before the 5:15 start for the Advanced division’s Stadium, causing AEC organizers to push Stadium to a 7:45am start today.  Lainey Ashker currently leads the division.  In addition to Stadium for the Advanced division, the AEC’s wrap up today with the Novice and Beginner Novice divisions also tackling Stadium.  Expect these divisions to be particularly competitive with many riders heading in to Stadium with scores in the 20’s.  Speaking as someone who regularly comes away with 40’s in Dressage, color me impressed!  Best wishes for great rides to all of the remaining competitors, I look forward to seeing how it all turns out.  For now though, I’m going to get off the internet so that I can avoid any Breaking Bad series-finale spoilers!

AEC Links:

[AEC Homepage] [Schedule] [Live Scores]

Events This Weekend:

Jump Start H.T. [Website] [Ride Times/Live Scores]

University of New Hampshire [Website] [Ride Times/Live Scores]

The Middleburg H.T. [Website] [Ride Times]

Flora Lea Fall H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]

Sunday Links

COTH Article on AEC Competitor Holly Breaux and her Appy Flecken Awesome

Colorado Rockies give Todd Helton a horse as a retirement gift

Member of TWHBEA’s Executive Committee sparks uproar with poll of membership

WNV Confirmed in Washington State

San Diego County Animal Services Investigating Trainer After Horse Dies

Horse shared trailer with ton of marijuana

ERS-Eventing.com provides riders with an interactive online portal that showcases product information, demonstrations, tutorials and reviews from fellow competitors and top international riders.

Bonner Carpenter Talks About Her Winning AEC Weekend

By on Sep 28, 2013 11:17 pm -

We were able to catch Bonner Carpenter in the barn as her team was packing up to head home on Saturday evening. Bonner had a wonderful weekend, winning the Intermediate division on her horse Basco, who she has only had for about a year. Bonner is a genuinely wonderful person and it was a pleasure to interview her. Not to mention, her horse Basco is a total sweetheart! Thank you Bonner for letting us chat!

Saturday AEC Recap

By on Sep 28, 2013 10:28 pm -

All dressed up with nowhere to go - Anthony Patch waits until tomorrow for show jumping

One thing I definitely did not expect coming down here was this much rain! It’s been raining nonstop since about 4:30 today, so the Advanced show jumping will begin at 7:45 am tomorrow. I will be staying down here until the conclusion of the Advanced division. The rain certainly put a damper on everyone’s plans, but Michael Pollard said it well when he said that we have to think of our horses first and foremost. I know that several Advanced riders were planning on heading home early tomorrow morning. I sent Hawley Bennett a text asking if she was able to change her flight and she said that she was having difficulty but as of right now the entry list is still complete.

I have a lot of interviews and photos to bring you from other divisions, but alas the WiFi at my hotel seems to be failing me as the videos are being extremely finicky with uploading. I will bring those to you as soon as I can.

In the meantime, here is a quick recap of the current standings and results:

[Full AEC Scores]

Intermediate: Bonner Carpenter and Basco take home the win. I posted some photos earlier, and I was able to speak with Bonner after her ride so stay tuned for that video. Here’s a fun tidbit: She has only had Basco, who is very large by the way, for about a year, so their win today speaks volumes about the chemistry between these two.

Preliminary Jr/YR: Elizabeth New and Uppercrust D led wire to wire and took home the blue on their dressage score of 25.7.

Preliminary Sr. Amateur: Kim Keeton and her beautiful stallion, Accolade, also finished on their dressage score. I spoke with Kim about her win, stay tuned for that video as well.

Preliminary Horse: Leslie Law and Tout de Suite won this division handily on a 23.7.

Training Junior: Madeline Backus maintained her lead with PS King of Hearts to win her division. Madeline is a very sweet girl who I had the pleasure of speaking with yesterday, and her win is a well deserved one this weekend. Her second horse, PS Arianna, wound up 7th after a double clear show jumping round to move up from 12th.

Senior Training Amateur: Beth Weisberger and R. Hocus Pocus held on to their overnight lead to clinch the win.

Training Horse: Tamra Smith and Sunsprite Syrius led their division from start to finish, adding only 1 rail to their score to win.

Junior Novice: Olivia Brashear and her own Apple Jack are still sitting on their dressage score going into tomorrow’s show jumping.

Novice Horse: Elliott Blackmon and WH Topgun maintain their lead after cross country on a 25.0.

Senior Novice Amateur: Sher Schwartz and Jamocean, from Georgia, lead this divison on their dressage score of 22.5.

Beginner Novice Horse: Beth Stelzleni and Giselle sit atop this divison after cross country on a 26.7.

Junior Beginner Novice: Anna Konley and Reba’s song moved up from 3rd to 1st after a double clear cross country round on a course that claimed many victims.

Junior Beginner Novice 14 & Under: Emilie Mudd and Le Cheval Royale maintained their lead after cross country today.

Senior Beginning Novice Amateur: Andrea Mitchell and Divine lead this division on a 21.0.

 

Advanced AEC Show Jumping Delayed Until Sunday Morning

By on Sep 28, 2013 7:07 pm -

Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch will have to wait until 7:45 am tomorrow morning to defend their lead in the Advanced AEC. A strong storm system has delayed the show jumping until tomorrow morning.

Many of the riders have early flights out in the morning so the entry list may dwindle.

We will have more updates as they come in.

Bonner Carpenter and Basco Win the Intermediate AEC

By on Sep 28, 2013 6:14 pm -

Bonner Carpenter and Basco

Bonner Carpenter and Basco held their overnight lead to clinch the win in the Intermediate division here at the AECs. The course was a tough one, with plenty of rails scattered about and fence 2 appearing to the bogey fence. Bonner held it together and jumped a beautiful double clear round to seal the deal.

Michael Pollard and Schoensgreen Hanni

Michael and Hanni positively floated around course for another double clear round to remain in 2nd place. Hanni’s first season back after her injury last May has been quite a successful one, and we look forward to seeing her get back to the Advanced level.

Frankie Theriot and Uphoria

Frankie Theriot had a lovely round on the exuberant Uphoria, moving up to take 3rd place after going clear with just 1 time fault. Frankie may have had the largest cheering section thus far today!

Julie Wolfert and Buenos Aires

Julie had a heartbreaking rail down at the last after an otherwise beautiful round on Buenos Aires. She takes 4th place on the weekend.

Sydney Elliot and Saffario

Sydney Elliot and her gorgeous Dutch Warmblood gelding only had a single rail down to round out the top 5.

We are currently on a rail delay before Advanced show jumping gets underway. It appears that Stormaggedon is approaching so they have delayed the start until the weather clears up a bit.

 

Leslie Law and Tout de Suite Win the AEC Preliminary Horse

By on Sep 28, 2013 3:18 pm -

Leslie Law and Tout de Suite

It just opened up and started pouring down here at Texas Rose Horse Park, so I thought I would bring you a quick Prelim update from AECs. The course rode fairly tough all day, with a lot of turns and technical questions that caused a lot of rails to come down. Leslie Law was able to hold onto his overnight lead and take home the blue.

Rochelle Costanza and Lionhart moved up to 2nd.

Hailing from Colorado, Rochelle Costanza, cheered on by her “Ride to be Fearless” team, moved up from 3rd to take 2nd place with a double clear stadium round. I also had to snap this photo of Rochelle to show off the flashy purple extension she had put into Lionhart’s tail!

Rochelle and Lionhart rocking the purple.

Clayton Fredericks and his lovely ride Sorrento had a rail down to take 3rd place. This horse was a treat to watch and has a very elegant way of going.

Clayton Fredericks and Sorrento, 3rd place.

Much more to come from my last day here in Texas, including an interview with Elisa Wallace and her mustang Rune and photos and video from the Intermediate and Advanced show jumping.

AEC Photo Gallery: Advanced & Prelim XC

By on Sep 28, 2013 1:45 pm -

Jonathan Holling and Proper Timing made the massive Advanced drop look easy.

Horse Nation contributor Amanda Ronan was on the scene at Texas Rose Horse Park on Friday and generously shared some of her fantastic photos with EN. Thanks Amanda! Stay tuned for much more AEC coverage throughout the weekend. [AEC Homepage] [Schedule] [Live Scores]

ADVANCED XC

Kristi Nunnink on R-Star off the Advanced drop.

Laine Ashker riding Anthony Patch is the overnight leader with a score of 37.1.

Laine Ashker riding Anthony Patch is the overnight leader with a score of 37.1.

Michael Pollard sat steady on mount Mensa G.

(more…)

Saturday Video: Behind the Scenes of XC with Zara Phillips

By on Sep 28, 2013 1:00 pm -

Yet another fabulous video from our friends at Land Rover UK, following in the lines of their “Pursuit of Excellence” series. This collection of videos follows Olympic riders Ben Maher (Show Jumping), Laura Tomlinson (Dressage) and Zara Phillips (Eventing) in their daily lives and preparation for competition at the highest levels. In this video, Zara explains the importance for Eventing horses and riders to have the ability to react in an instant to a situation on cross country and complete the question ahead with aplomb. Enjoy!

 

 

Connecticut Supreme Court Deciding if Horses are Innately Vicious

By on Sep 28, 2013 11:00 am -

A vicious species? I think not. (photo by Kate Samuels)

In Connecticut right now, the State Supreme Court is debating what I honestly feel is one of the most absurd equine accusations ever. The hearings on September 24th laid out an argument that horses are an innately vicious species, and thus must be regulated in a different manner than they are now. The implications of such a decision could impact not only equestrians in Connecticut, but from the whole United States. While we as equestrians understand this to be positively absurd, it is a real concern for the future legal status of equine related businesses, as it would make owning horses uninsurable.

In 2006, a boy of about one and a half was buying plants with his father at Glendale Farms in Milford, Connecticut. During this time, according to court papers, a horse known as “Scuppy” put his head through the fence nearby and bit the boy’s cheek, “removing a large chunk of it”. The boy’s family has now been pursuing legal action against horses as a species since that time.

Timothy Astriab, the owner of Scuppy’s farm, testified that there were in fact signs posted visibly warning visitors not to pet or feed the horses in the paddocks. In addition, he says that neither he nor anyone else has ever seen Scuppy or any of the other farm horses bite another person in the previous 28 years.

An initial 2010 court ruling favored Astriab in the proceedings, ruling that the boy’s father, Anthony Vendrella Sr., failed to prove that Astriab had any previous knowledge of aggressive behavior from Scuppy. However, the Vendrella family appealed the case in 2012 and has since that time taken it to the State Supreme Court.

Should Connecticut rule that horses are a naturally vicious species, they will become the first state to deem equines as a hazard. Not only is this the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard, but this also has ramifications for businesses that pair children with horses, a large part of the equine industry. Horses are absolutely not naturally inclined to be aggressive, but due to the overwhelming ignorance of certain humans they have had these absurd aspersions cast upon their entire species. Frankly, Anthony Vendrella, you should watch out for horse people coming after you with pitchforks.