Classic Eventing Nation

From H&H: Opposition to FEI President Princess Haya’s Attempt at 3rd Term

By on Sep 19, 2013 1:30 pm -

Photo by Eric Swinebroad

 

The Horse & Hound is reporting that there is growing opposition to Princess Haya seeking a third term as president of the FEI.  As the most prominent wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, certain countries sense a conflict of interest regarding the Sheikh’s history of drug violations in the sport of Endurance [including unauthorized drugs seized last week].  Charles Trolliet, head of the Swiss Equestrian Federation spoke with H&H about the situation.

From H&H:

Mr Trolliet told H&H that the Swiss and Dutch federations will now oppose changes to the FEI Statutes that would allow Princess Haya to stand for another four-years when her second term ends in 2014.

Mr Trolliet’s announcement follows the growing disquiet and controversy over the FEI’s endurance strategic planning group, which was established to tackle high incidences of doping and injuries in Middle Eastern endurance.

He is upset that, at some point, the “clean-up” operation appears to have morphed into something else. “The purpose seems to be more of a strategy to develop the sport, rather than solve the problems we described,” he told H&H.

 

Mr. Trolliet has a point: with over 20 positive doping tests since 2005 involving horses from the Maktoum family, having Princess Haya in charge of the FEI is a bit like the fox guarding the hen house.  In the last eight years, we’ve seen dramatic changes in the sport of eventing as well– namely, the complete loss of the long format.  Perhaps it is time for someone else to take charge of the FEI…though I doubt the overall senselessness of the organization will ever improve dramatically.

Thoroughbred Legends Presented by Cosequin: Scotia Gold Rush

By on Sep 19, 2013 12:00 pm -

Thoroughbred racehorses that go on to second careers are unique in that they have two retirements in their lifetimes: the first from the track and the second from the show ring. Thoroughbred Legends, a new EN series presented by Cosequin, seeks to honor off-track Thoroughbreds that went on to accomplish great things as upper-level eventers and now enjoy a second retirement in their golden years. If you know of a great Thoroughbred for this series, email [email protected].

Caroline & Mitch at the Burgie CCI2* in Scotland (photo by Nick Morris Photography UK)

In 1989, a striking chestnut colt with a blaze and two back socks was born, and he was registered with the Jockey Club as “Highway 9 Express”, after a prominent trucking company in Alberta, Canada. The colt’s destiny was to be a racehorse, but after spending a few years at the racetrack in Calgary, and subsequently moving to Edmonton, he didn’t seem to really have much talent there.

However, this was all very good news for Caroline Petty, who had been keeping her eye on him while on a regular snooping trip to the racetrack. After convincing the trainer to give up on him, Caroline brought the bright chestnut home as a three year old in 1992. She approached the trucking company to see if she could get some sponsorship for keeping his strange name, and they declined. Thus, she changed his name to Scotia Gold Rush, and was able to garner some sponsorship from the Scotia Bank, where she worked.

“Mitch,” as he was known around the barn, eagerly took to his second job as an Event horse. “He had the most incredible trot, and even as a youngster when he wasn’t particularly trained at all, he would just float around the field in this wonderful extended trot,” said owner Caroline. Mitch also easily took to the jumping, although he always remained a little loose in front.

“There were a lot of people who questioned whether his loose front end was really all that safe on cross country, but I believed in him one hundred percent, and he was more than scopey enough for any jump.” Caroline worked on Mitch’s dangly front end, but it never got in the way of his performances in the jumping phases.

Caroline originated from England, and in 1998, she decided that she wanted to travel back there with her horse in tow and experience British Eventing. Little did she know that she was way ahead of the curve in that notion! She and Mitch spent all of that year campaigning at the Intermediate level, ending finally with a successful move up to Advanced at Bishop Burton Horse Trials.

Caroline & Mitch on XC (photo by Nick Morris Photography UK)

However, at the end of 1998, Caroline had to return home to western Canada, and the thought of bringing her beautiful horse home to the freezing cold landscape without any competitions seemed like a waste of talent to her. So, she called up Gary Carter, father of Kyle Carter. “I told Gary that if Kyle could get an owner, he should really buy this horse from me because he was something special.”

Kyle met Mitch as the horse was traveling back through Canada from England in December. “His eyes just about popped out of his head, and he had an owner, Elaine Davies, who bought the horse for him right there and then,” reported Caroline. “I was devastated to see him go, I loved him very much but I knew that this was better for him.”

Kyle and Mitch got along great, and just a few months after their partnership began, they tackled the Rolex CCI3* in 1999. The pair won the dressage phase, and jumped clean on cross country only to lose the lead by a rail, finishing in second place. On that performance, Kyle and Mitch went to the Pan American Games that fall, and placed second after dressage. Unfortunately, Mitch sustained a serious and rare injury on cross country, and Kyle realized that the horse had really only finished the course because of the size of his heart.

Mitch had the same injury that Kyle’s current horse, Parker, got in 2011 at Blenheim. They both slipped a tendon off a hock, which is the same injury that ended Biko’s career at Burghley and Lucinda Green’s horse Be Fair at the Olympics. Everybody thought that it was simply a career ending injury, and that the horse was as good as retired.

Kyle diligently began creating a new rehabilitation program with the help of his father for Mitch. They spent over a year teaching his hind leg to move on the correct path again, and their efforts were rewarded when Mitch made a full recovery, although the tendon never completely went back to it’s original location.

Amy, Mitch & Caroline, happy in retirement

Mitch returned to upper level competition with Kyle, but soon after sustained another minor injury on course, and Elaine Davies decided that he was not cut out to be a top level horse anymore. So, Kyle made sure that Mitch was returned to his first love, Caroline, who was absolutely elated to have him back.

“I gave Mitch to my daughter, Amy, who was 14 at the time and just about finished riding ponies. She had been riding all these terrible little ponies through Training level, and she was quite a good rider, but it was amazing for her to make the step up to Preliminary on Mitch,” said Caroline.

Mitch and Amy campaigned at Preliminary successfully for two years, and then Amy made the decision to retire him sound and happy at the age of 18. Mitch now lives happily in Alberta, Canada with a gang of his old friends in a big field, visited regularly by both Amy and Caroline, who dote on him to this day.

 

EN’s Got Talent: Accepting Cody’s Quirks

By on Sep 19, 2013 10:30 am -

We hear all the time about horses at the top of the sport, but what about the next generation of equine talent? EN’s Got Talent introduces the future superstars of the sport, interviewing riders about how they’re tackling training with these youngsters. Have you spotted a spectacular young horse at an event you think should be highlighted in this column? Tip me at [email protected].

Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair at Whidbey Island. Photo by Tim O’Neal.

Last week we met Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair, a quirky 8-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Jon and Dawn Dofelmier, who have shod Maya’s horses for the better part of a decade in the Whidbey Island area of Washington state. While the Dofelmiers originally purchased “Cody” to be Dawn’s novice horse, they quickly realized he had the talent to pursue the upper levels, and Maya has been seeing just how far Cody can go ever since.

They’ve had a fantastic 2013 season, placing fourth or higher in all of their starts this year, including winning their last two Intermediate outings at Whidbey Island and Aspen Farms on scores of 31.2 and 25.2, respectively.

“I take it one event at a time with him,” Maya said. “My hope is to keep moving on and up. He hasn’t ever given me a reason to doubt him, so the goal is to move up to Advanced and keep going. I’ve had a lot of success in the past just listening to the horse and letting them tell me when they’re ready.”

While Maya has never competed Advanced, she’s brought two horses through the two-star level; unfortunately, injuries kept those horses from going Advanced. “Because of that, I’m definitely paranoid about being sure he’s ready,” Maya said. “I’m definitely conservative of how much I run him and how quickly I run him. He could go out and make time if I wanted to, but I’m trying to save him for the longterm.”

Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair. Photo by Tim O’Neal.

Because Maya knows she’s in this for the long haul with Cody, she’s ultimately embraced many of the spooky quirks she initially hoped to help him conquer in the beginning of their partnership. “He’s never been a horse that is super safe to be around,” Maya said.

“He doesn’t like anything next to him or above his head. He can’t live in a stall because he’ll kick the wall down, so he lives alone outside.” Cody earned his show name because he looks sweet and innocent but “doesn’t play fair” when it comes to how we generally expect horses to behave — like tolerating other horses and living peacefully in a stall.

“With all horses, it’s a little bit of a compromise,” Maya said. “I’ve made a compromise that he has been really good when I take him to shows, and whenever I’ve asked him, he’s always been there for me and put his best effort in. So I can forgive the little quirks. It’s not necessarily worth dwelling on. You have to see the big picture.”

For Maya, the big picture means tackling Cody’s first two-star at Galway Downs in November. If he performs well there, she’ll tentatively consider a move up to Advanced next year, but it’s really up to Cody. “Every time I’ve asked him to do the next level he’s answered every question,” Maya said. “I just take it one day and one level at a time.”

Next Week on EN’s Got Talent: We’ll meet Dom and Jimmie Schramm’s Mellow Johnny, a flashy 7-year-old dun Paint/Thoroughbred gelding I had the pleasure of seeing at the George Morris clinic at Boyd Martin’s Windurra Farm last month.

George liked “Tex” so much that he hopped on the horse during the clinic, and he just happens to be the horse featured in this Beast Mode meme I made of George. Tex is currently competing at Training level and consistently scores in the low 20s for dressage. He’s only competed in eight events in his career and won half of them; as Jimmie said, he’s a pretty special horse.

Laine Ashker: Tally Ho! We’re Off to the AECs!

By on Sep 19, 2013 9:00 am -

Fresh off a fantastic second-place finish in the Advanced at Richland, EN guest blogger Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch are putting on their cowboy hats and heading to Texas to compete for Gold Cup honors at the American Eventing Championships. Many thanks to Laine for giving us an inside look at her preparation for the big event, and best of luck at the AECs! Go Al!

Laine and Al at Richland. Photo by Samantha Clark.

From Laine:

As this week winds down, my check list seems to grow exponentially in anticipation of the upcoming AECs. Horse sound and ready to rock and roll? Check! Tack cleaned and trunks organized? Check! Maps, driving directions and accommodations for horse, rider and groom to Texas Rose compiled? Check! Cowboy hat and rowelled spurs packed and shined? Double check!

Along with my increasing check lists comes an even more abundant feeling of excitement to compete amongst our country’s best at the annual championships in none other than the Lone Star State, home to cowboys and THE cowboys. Yeah ladies, I’m DEFINITELY packing that cowboy hat! Although Al’s season has been a short one this year, it’s been quite successful, therefore reaffirming my mantra of quality and not quantity in prepping my horse for this upcoming weekend in addition to future events.

Rewinding back a few weeks to Richland Park, I couldn’t have been happier with Al’s performance in all three phases that weekend. I always feel that I am a few steps behind my competitors and am continually knocking off rust that seems to reappear due to the infrequency of our Advanced runs since Al is my only upper-level mount (and being that it was only our second Advanced run of the year).

However, I think that Millbrook really put some wind in our sails as I felt Al beam with confidence as we navigated through each phase at Richland. I was also really able to work through some “Rolex nerves” as Buck schooled us in for the nearly impossible show jumping course at Richland. Being that Sinead and Tate were seven points in the lead, my goal was to ride the course in anticipation for what I hope to be placed next year at Rolex.

In other words, I placed all the pressure on myself to ride a clear round so that I could overcome my nerves, simultaneously closing the gap between myself and that world class partnership. After finishing the round fault free, I couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief as I was finally able to live up (even if just for a short moment) to the heightened expectations I place on no one else but myself.

The two weeks leading up to the AECs have been spent either trotting around the beautifully groomed track at Hillbrook Farm or half passing across the diagonal in the 20-by-60 sandbox. I find it almost harder to maintain a horse’s mental and physical fitness rather than create it, as there is a very fine line between “just enough” and “too much!” However, I have been honing on movements where Al and I need the most work, such as shoulder-ins and flying changes, under the watchful eye of the great Kim Severson who undoubtedly has helped to shape my career in the dressage ring and continues to improve my scores.

It goes without saying that both Al and I are headed into the American Eventing Championships with a lot of confidence laced with a healthy amount of respect and caution. Two of my dearest friends and California sisters, Hawley Bennett and Kristi Nunnik, along with Jon Holling, Kyle Carter and other top notch pairs ,will keep Al and I constantly on our (very well polished) toes! Stay tuned for more updates from yours truly as Lauren and I navigate our way to the promised land with a little bay horse in tow! Until then folks, chin up, shoulders back, and may the best (North) American win! Go red, white and blue!

Thursday Reader from Devoucoux

By on Sep 19, 2013 12:33 am -

"The calm before the storm" (photo by The Horse Pesterer, who is on site at Plantation already!)

Good morning Eventing Nation! As I’m sure you’ve figured out already, today marks the official start of the Plantation Field Horse Trials 2013. It is being hailed as the “Best. Event. Ever” and while the weekend will tell the truth, it certainly seems to be shaping up to be phenomenal. If you missed my Plantation Preview, including an in depth look at all the horses and riders in the CIC3*, be sure to have a read through before Friday. Today, the CIC2* and the Advanced begin their dressage tests at 2:00 pm and all the other divisions are held on Friday. Jenni will be there stalking keeping track of everybody, and I’ll be competing while also planning my outfit for the Downton Abbey themed competitor’s party (hint: I’ll be wearing lots of tweed).

Plantation Links:

[Website] [Entry Status] [2013 Schedule]

[Ride Times] [Live Scores] [CIC3* Preview]

Events This Weekend:

Twin Rivers Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Times]

Northwest Equestrian Fall Gala H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Times]

Otter Creek Fall H.T. [Website] [Ride Times]

Marlborough H.T [Website] [Entry Status]

Stone Gate Farm H.T. [Website]

Stoneleigh-Burnham School Fall H.T. [Website]

Tryon Riding & Hunt Club H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Coconino H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Times]

News from Around the Globe:

Rio 2016 is already taking shape, especially for the equestrian sports. Thanks to the 2007 Pan American Games, much of the facilities used for the equestrian portion of the Olympics has already been built and tested. Brazil’s National Equestrian Center will be refurbished and expanded for the Games, but it already seats 20,000 people in the main arena. Possible cross country course designers are being debated, but the short list is: Derek Di Grazia, Mark Phillips, Pierre Michelet and Rűdiger Schwartz. [Rio 2016 Underway]

Are you going to Morven Park HT this fall? Get your tickets for the Thoroughbred Makeover Party on the EN PARTY BUS!! I’ll be there handing out swag with cool EN designs, and not only that but you’ll get to go to a dinner party with music, food, booze, and stories on fabulous thoroughbreds in sport. Thoroughbred lovers from across America will gather at Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Maryland on Oct. 5 and 6 for two full days of educational seminars, meetings, demonstrations and the culmination of the Thoroughbred Makeover. Twenty-six trainers from 15 states in 10 equestrian disciplines will demonstrate what their off-track Thoroughbreds have learned in just three months of second career training. [How To Get Your Tickets]

The next time you lament about the rising prices of good event horses, keep this story in mind.  Hansueli Sprunger just sold his chestnut Show Jumper, Palloubet d’Halong, to Jan Tops for a record 11,000,000 euros ($15,000,000). With his daughter Janika Sprunger, the gelding was the best horse in the Furusiyya Nations Cups this year. He always jumped double clear. In Aachen he was second in the Grand Prix and at the European Championships in Herning the pair was seventh. [Did I Mention It’s A Gelding??]

Not only is Kaitlin Spurlock a groom extraodinaire (as demonstrated at Blenheim recently) but she is literally one of the nicest girls around and she can darn well ride. Her story with her chestnut Thoroughbred mare Expedience, or “Spedy”, is one of the most heart warming you could possibly read. Check out her blog about Spedy bringing back her joy for the sport and tell me that it doesn’t make you feel like a warm hug and hot chocolate combined. [Expedience is Spurlock’s Saving Grace]

The International Equestrian Federation’s World Cup Finals in show jumping and dressage will return to Las Vegas in 2015.  The city hosted the jumping finals of the FEI World Cup in 2000 and 2003 and jumping and dressage in 2005, 2007 and 2009. The event will be sponsored by Longines and Reem Acra, which guarantees worldwide exposure. [Horses in Vegas?]

An Eagle Helmet Cam, you say???

 

 

The Call Of The Open Road

By on Sep 18, 2013 6:00 pm -

On the road again!

This past weekend Team DF loaded up for a cross-country schooling trip.  We stopped in at Fresno County Horse Park and found that they were in the middle of some construction.  By all accounts it should be well finished by the time their mid-October event arrives, but it left us in need of a different plan.

We ended up re-routing to Connie Arthur’s Lone Tree Farm.  This added a few extra hours of road time to an already very long day.  Fortunately Lone Tree was kind-of-sort-of on the way home and welcoming enough to take us on two hour’s notice.  We drove thru miles of rolling yellow hills and past lakes and reservoirs.  It was warm out, but the air-conditioner kept things pleasant while I jabbed around blindly on the radio looking for something to listen to.

Truthfully, the extra road-time wasn’t bad at all. Road-tripping with horses-in-tow, whether it’s for an event or just a day-trip is one of my favorite things in the world.  There are special sorts conversations that one can only have with your barn-besties in the cab of a truck.  Whether it’s putting together a game plan for the rest of the show-season, debating which clinic to attend or verbally crafting the perfect pair of custom tall-boots odds are good that you’ll find plenty of smile-worthy conversation.

Those moments are the memories that come first when I think of showing – all the inside jokes, the shared dreams, the boundless hope and all of the hypothetical and would-you-rather type questions that come on the road.  We laugh and joke about what our horses would do if they were people – write Mad Men Fan-Fiction, have a Twitter account more incomprehensible than Courtney Love’s or be a hopelessly-coffee-addicted hipster.  We insist that we remembered to pack everything and then relentlessly tease the friend who meekly suggests a 1am stop at the local 24 hour super-store for some forgotten essentials like oh, say… something other than show-clothes? (We should have made you sleep in your hunt-coat.)

And then at times there is an odd sanctity to those conversations, an unspoken agreement that the things said in that private space are never to be repeated.  The truck-cab serves as a confessional booth, letting us share things that we might not necessarily share otherwise.  I suspect that has something to do with the fact that at least one party to the conversation must keep their eyes on the road and that redirection of focus grants the freedom to a bit more open and a bit more vulnerable.  These moments in the crew-cab confessional are often the ties that bind barn-besties and the barn-family.  As the wheels turn and the road hours go by, those bonds are cemented and sealed by the shared experience.

Go Team DF. Go Road Tripping. Go Eventing.

Start-Box Jams of the Day: Reader Submissions

By on Sep 18, 2013 5:00 pm -

Just as everyone has diverse taste in music, riders have different taste in pump-up music. Start-Box Jams plays homage to the songs that give us the courage to tackle cross country. Do you have some favorite start-box jams you’d like to share with EN? Email me at [email protected]

I have been absolutely amazed by the overwhelming response.  EN-readers not only love their Start-Box Jams, but have some pretty fine taste in music.  Here’s the first round of our reader-submitted Start-Box Jams.  Maybe you’ll find something to add to your playlist!

Seema Sonnad sent in a great list of suggestions that included C+C Music Factory’s – Things That Make You Go Hmm.  I can’t deny it, this song is a secret pleasure of mine.  It’s on my gym-jams playlist and it may just have to migrate over to my pre-Event playlist as well.  After all, my Dressage tests are a thing that make my trainers go “hmmm…”

Veronica Low and her Canadian Sport Horse gelding ‘Eddy’s Martini’ prep with one of the quintessential jams of the 80’s –  Falco’s Rock Me Amadeus.  Infectious and catchy, you’ll be singing this one all day long.

Drew Kemerling suggested a most excellent cover-song you may have heard recently on your local rock-station Five Finger Death Punch’s Bad Company. There’s something about driving guitar and growly low voices that brings on the war-face and feeling of bad-assery.

Laura Baxter keeps it classic and simple with Battle Hymn of the Republic.  She says it helps her keep the rhythm and that it also motivates her horse if she sings it while she’s out on course!

So, what’s your start-box jam? Be sure to send it in.  We’d love to share it!

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Plantation Bareback Jumping Challenge

By on Sep 18, 2013 3:30 pm -

Oh man, other than running my own cross country round this weekend, I’m looking forward to the Bareback Puissance at Plantation Fields. I don’t know if these people have extra grippy pants, or sticky spray that’s actually Gorilla Glue, or just horses with really flat backs, but I am pretty sure if I attempted it on my horse I would be launched into space. Last year was especially exciting as Caroline Martin won at 5’11 with her own Nacho, while others valiantly tried and came just short of the mark. I’ve included several riders in the 5’8 round, and then Caroline’s winning jump just to get your blood pumping for this Sunday’s challenge. Go Bareback Puissance!!

5’8 Round

 

Caroline’s winning jump at 5’11

 

Swedes Prepare for Plantation Field

By on Sep 18, 2013 2:00 pm -

Sara Algottson-Ostholt will ride Ballyneety and Niklas Lindbäck will ride Brewster in the CIC* at Plantation Field. Photo courtesy of Boyd Martin.

Swedish Olympians Sara Algottson-Ostholt and Niklas Lindbäck met their mounts for the Plantation Field CIC* this morning at Boyd Martin’s Windurra Farm. The two riders are catch-riding two of Boyd’s regular mounts at Plantation this weekend to bring a little international flair to the event. Nine countries in total will be represented at Plantation, which organizers are hailing as the “Best. Event. Ever.”

Sara is riding Ballyneety, a 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by George and Gretchen Wintersteen, while Niklas is riding Brewster, a 7-year-old Thoroughbred/Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Katie and Cuyler Walker. Sara and Niklas rode the horses for the first time this morning, and Boyd said the first rides went extremely well.

“They both clicked with the horses straight away, which was quite impressive to watch,” Boyd said. “They’ll have a jump school tomorrow morning at my place.” In the meantime, Sara and Niklas are exploring the gargantuan King of Prussia Mall this afternoon, getting a taste of American shopping. Having braved that mall several times, they might be wise to wear their air vests.

If you’re headed to Plantation this weekend, be sure to catch Sara and Niklas riding; I included their ride times below. Many thanks to Plantation organizers Denis Glaccum and Katie Walker for working to bring such talented riders to Plantation Field and to Boyd for providing them with horses to ride. Go Plantation!

Niklas Lindbäck ride times: Dressage: 2:52 p.m. Friday, Show Jumping: 9:38 a.m. Sunday, Cross country: 02:52 p.m. Sunday

Sara Algottson-Ostholt ride times: Dressage: 3:48 p.m. Friday, Show jumping: 9:54 a.m. Sunday, Cross country 1:12 p.m. Sunday

[Plantation Field Horse Trials]

You’ve Got This, Amy

By on Sep 18, 2013 11:54 am -

From the Amy Barrington Recovery Page on Facebook

Every day for the past two weeks, I’ve sat down and stared at a blank white screen, trying to to think of something to write about my coach Amy Barrington. And every day I’ve felt like all the words have been sucked out of my body. As a writer, you’re always searching out the narrative in things. You piece together bits of information until they start resembling something meaningful–everything happens for a reason. But in the wake of Amy’s accident, I’ve not been able to find that thread. I just don’t understand. How could such a terrible thing happen to such an undeserving person?

Amy is one of the most careful eventers I know. She always wears a helmet. She takes her time developing both horses and riders. She would never give you the green light to move up a level a day before you were ready. In the five years I have ridden with her, never once has she pointed me toward a question she wasn’t 100% confident my horse and I could answer. I talked to Amy on the phone a couple days before her accident and the last thing I said to her was “Good luck,” with regard to Southern Pines H.T., which she was heading to over the weekend. But Amy doesn’t rely on luck–she relies on being prepared.

Photo by KC Betzel

Unfortunately, there are things in life we can’t prepare for. Sometimes we get blindsided. Everything we know can change, faster than the blink of an eye. Accidents happen, and we may never get an explanation of why or what it’s all supposed to mean. The best any of us can do is throw ourselves wholeheartedly into making the best of whatever hand we’ve been dealt.

These are the facts: Amy is tough. Both physically and mentally, she’s strong. She’s got the biggest course of her life in front of her, but Amy WILL get the job done, because that is what Amy does. After a week of touch-and-go progress, Amy took a huge step forward on Tuesday, opening her eyes for the first time since the accident. Her husband Greg, who has been so wonderful about keeping everyone informed, reported in his daily update, “She saw me, Ben and many of her best friends. She expressed emotion. It is evident that all the prayers, energy, karma and whatever it is that the animals send out, is bringing her back to us.”

One of Amy's students, Jill Decker, brought a pair of rubber reins to the hospital, hoping their familiarity would elicit a response: "The left hand purposefully latched onto them and you could certainly see the fingers grappling to find the correct hold. As I positioned the rein under her thumb and between her pinkie and ring finger, she held it!"

The groundswell of support that has lifted Amy up these past two weeks is nothing short of incredible. From keeping the barn up and running to raising over $30,000 toward Amy’s medical expenses (you can make a tax-deductible donation here), it is clear that the eventing community takes care of its own. For updates on the latest fundraising efforts and ways you can contribute, “like” the Amy Barrington Recovery Page on Facebook here. The page itself is a phenomenon, a sprawling get-well card full of positive energy and prayers and personal accounts of how Amy has touched so many lives. Truly, it is a reflection of Amy’s own generous spirit.

Michele Mallonee shared this photo of "Ride for Amy" bracelets on Facebook with the note, "Ponies and Friends...ALL IN! GO AMY!!!!"

Yesterday, Amy was transported to the Sheperd Center in Atlanta, where she’ll receive the best care possible from brain injury specialists. She’s got a long, hard journey ahead of her, but we’ll be with her every step of the way.

We need you back, coach. I need you back. Grab mane and kick. We’re all waiting for you on the other side.

Go Amy.