Classic Eventing Nation

EN TRENDS:

Ryan Wood: Thoughts on Plantation Field

By Jenni Autry on Sep 24, 2013 4:00 pm -

Ryan Wood was kind enough to send in a blog about his weekend at Plantation Field, where he rode three horses in the CIC2* and two of his youngsters in the CIC*. He also shares his thoughts on the controversial CIC3* water complex at the bottom of the post. Many thanks to Ryan for writing, and Go Woodstock Eventing!

Woodstock Bennett. Photo by Lisa Thomas.

From Ryan:

Once again Plantation Field International put on a spectacular show this past weekend, being graciously hosted by our friends Katie and Cuyler Walker, who continue to set the bar with attracting fabulous sponsors, prizes and a record number of entrants. Woodstock had five horses competing this weekend, with three in the CIC2*, Frankie, Dday and Classic, and two in the CIC*, Wallaby and Bennett. All the horses rose to the occasion this weekend, scoring in the 40s in dressage and jumping like stars.

The CIC2* was a hotly contested division with a record number of 70 entries. Fernhill Classic, owned by the Fernhill Classic Syndicate, had his best dressage to date scoring a 44, and ultimately finishing in 15th, proving his competitiveness at the international level. Dday, owned by Curran and Margy Simpson, stepped back up to the CIC2* level, laying down a nice dressage test and cruising around the stadium and cross country very consistently to finish just in front of Classic in 14th place.

Frankie, owned by Steve and Karri Guy, continues to prove his reliability at the two-star level, jumping like a cat around cross country, where I allowed him to pick his pace and run without pressure, saving the accelerator for our next challenge at Fair Hill International. He finished 11th, wrapping up a very successful weekend in the CIC2*.

Our younger horses stepped up to their first run at the CIC* level and did not disappoint. Woodstock Wallaby, a 6-year-old Irish Sport Horse owned by Mark and Linda Ledray, scored an impressive 42 in dressage at his first one-star. He jumped around a very technical show jumping track designed by Marc Donovan before adding just a few time penalties to his cross country to finish 12th out of 56 competitors.

Woodstock Bennett, owned by Curran and Margy Simpson, stepped up to his first CIC* like a seasoned campaigner, finishing second on his dressage score of a 40.10, proving that at the age of 6, he has a real upper level future. The record number of entrants and increasing sponsor and spectator presence at Plantation is a reflection of the efforts of everyone involved. I want to thank again all of my owners, sponsors and team members who rallied to make this another great event for Team Woodstock.

I feel it’s necessary that I comment on the problems the CIC3* division experienced at the water complex, which eventually resulted in the removal of that question from the course. Twelve horses and/or riders fell in the CIC3*, which was over 25 percent of the starters on cross country. Something should have been done after the second fall; the hesitation to react was a failure on behalf of the ground jury and the technical delegate. The horses that fell at the water were punished for doing their job. The FEI Code of Conduct — “the welfare of the horse is paramount” — failed both the horses and riders in the 3* division.

: Frankie

: Woodstock Bennett

: Ryan and Sally Glassman

: Woodstock Wallaby

: Dday

: Fernhill Classic

PRO Bareback Puissance Delights Spectators

By Jenni Autry on Sep 24, 2013 2:30 pm -

Willie McCarthy and Ibella clear 6'1" to win the PRO Bareback Puissance. All photos by Jenni Autry.

The PRO Bareback Puissance has become a spectator favorite at Plantation Field, and you wouldn’t believe the number of people who crowded around the main arena to watch Tik Maynard, Willie McCarthy and Elizabeth Stewart take on the high-jump wall. While Tik and Elizabeth’s horses jumped well, it became clear that no one was going to catch Willie and Ibella, a stunning mare owned by Tim and Nina Gardner. The mare was absolutely jumping out of her skin, and she and Willie ultimately cleared 6’1″ to win the Puissance and take home $2,000 in prize money.

That sets a new height record in the PRO Bareback Puissance, as Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace cleared 5’10” last year to win. Willie also competed on the winning steeplechase jockey team in the Mechanical Bull Challenge on Friday night, and he took home a chunk of the $1,000 in prize money. I’d say Willie had quite a successful weekend! Many thanks to Samantha Lendl and PRO for putting on the Puissance and submitting this video. Go Plantation Field!

: Willie McCarthy clinched the PRO Bareback Puissance last year with Ibella. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Tuesday Video from SpectraVet: Ingrid Klimke at Schenefeld CIC3*

By Kate Samuels on Sep 24, 2013 1:15 pm -

We’ve been lucky enough to enjoy some coverage of this past weekend’s event at Schenefeld due to the diligence of some Marilyn Little fans, and now thanks to the wonders and pure speed of media around the world, we get a closer look at some of the other competitors. Ingrid Klimke is unarguably one of the classiest riders in the world, and certainly one of my favorites. As a rider, she competes at Grand Prix Dressage, Grand Prix Show Jumping AND 4* Eventing, which is not something a lot of equestrians can say. Today we bring you not only her personal helmet cam (which is narrated by Ingrid and I can’t tell what she is saying but it’s good nonetheless!) but also a video with clips of her performances with Hale Bob in all three phases. Ingrid and Hale Bob finished in 3rd place!

Ingrid & Bob in all 3 phases:

Cross Country Helmet Cam:

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Top 10 Reasons To Get Pumped for AECs

By Sally Spickard on Sep 24, 2013 11:44 am -

It’s ~~Super Bowl~~ AEC week! I hope you all have your tack trunks packed and your game face on, because it’s going to be a great week of eventing down in the great state of Texas. I will be on site bringing you all of the latest news this weekend, and I wish everyone the best of luck in their divisions. Here are just a few reasons why you should be (even more) pumped up for AECs.

1. Prizes, prizes and more prizes.

The USEA never fails to put on a great event, and the prize list this year is second to none. There is $90,000 in prize money up for grabs this weekend — definitely not a small chunk of change! Aside from that, there are some great prizes, such as custom portraits from Julie Lawther and gift certificates galore.

2. Plenty of big names will be on hand strutting their stuff.

The divisions are positively stacked with riders who I for one will have a hard time not stalking all weekend for autographs and photo ops with their various horses. Check out the entry list here for the latest entries.

3. Texas Rose Horse Park is a gorgeous facility that promises to host a great event this year.

I’ve been chowing down on as much information as I can get about the facilities, and it seems like the perfect place to hold a large scale event such as the AECs. The space is huge, there is plenty of stabling and the weather looks like it will be perfect.

4. EN will be running a Twitter contest for all of you who are in attendance this weekend.

More details are coming, but for those of you who have joined the ~~dark side~~ Twitterverse, this contest should be right up your alley. Get ready to practice those Instagram skills and look for more information coming soon.

5. The USEA is also running a great photo contest right now.

Send in a photo of the state signs that you pass as you make your trek to Texas and you will be entered to win some fantastic prizes plus get your photo on the USEA website.

6. Competitor party, anyone?

I for one will never pass up an opportunity for a good party, and the competitor party at the AECs is no exception. The party will take place immediately following the Advanced awards ceremony on Saturday. One ticket is included with each entry, and additional tickets are available on site.

7. Are you competing your OTTB this weekend?

The Thoroughbred Incentive Program is supporting the AECs with more prizes for all Jockey Club-registered Thoroughbreds competing. Make sure that your horse has his or her TIP number and then go for the gold.

8. One of our much loved sponsors, FLAIR Nasal Strips, is also a sponsor of the AECs.

You know what that means? Yep, you guessed it — a free FLAIR strip in your competitor welcome bag. Don’t mind me if you see me sporting one this weekend; I feel the need the fit in, so since I will be horseless I can at least represent FLAIR in my own way.

9. What else is there to do in Tyler, Texas anyway?

Well, good thing you checked EN first. Not that you will want to tear yourself away from the eventing action, but in case you do, here is a handy list of some area attractions that Tyler has to offer.

10. Last but certainly not least — have FUN!

This may be one of the biggest events in the country, but let’s face it, at the end of the day the AECs are a chance for everyone to show what they’ve worked so hard for this year. For all of you competing, be very proud of yourselves. And for those of you who will be following along with the action at home, help us cheer on our eventing family as they show off their best moves all weekend.

Go eventing, and Go AECs.

Make Your Voice Heard When Problems Arise

By Kate Samuels on Sep 24, 2013 10:00 am -

Naughty pony at Plantation (photo by Jenni Autry)

Much has been said over the last couple days about the now infamous water complex at Plantation Field. To me, a well run competition is built with the welfare of the horse and the general well-being of the competitor in mind. I like the stabling to be organized nicely, with water and trailers convenient to the location. I want the warm up to be good footing, but more importantly I likethe warm up to be on the same footing as the competition ring. And we all have our favorite cross country course designers, and each of those individuals have their own style, but I do enjoy when an event listens and responds to rider concerns about questions on course.

After competing for several years at various different levels, I consider myself quite well versed in the ways of the official USEA competition. I’m also lucky enough to compete on the East Coast, which has some of the most prestigious and well heeled events in North America, and I’ve been to almost all of them as a competitor, and the rest as a groom or spectator in the very least. Each location has its own benefits and drawbacks, and there is no perfect competition that pleases every last rider with all of the factors.

The controversial CIC3* jump at Plantation

The controversy surrounding the CIC3* water jump made me realize there’s a need to shuttle concerns and questions into a positive place of influence. Obviously, we all have our unique needs and desires when attending a competition. Inevitably, there are grumblings about this or that after an event has concluded, but what of it? Amongst the riders, there might be a general consensus that the food was terrible, the barn aisles were 3 feet wide, and the course design made absolutely no sense at all, but the organizers may not hear these voices.

Enter the Event Evaluation Form from the USEA. This is literally a five-minute process that can greatly enhance both your experience at a competition and the potential for positive change in your greater area. If you have experienced either negative or positive aspects of an event, fill one out! No, this is not a tool to bring all your gripes and pains about how your horse didn’t do well in the dressage because the judge has a personal issue with you, but it is a place to list constructive criticism and thoughtful praise. The form asks about each of the phases, including the course design. You can say it all. [USEA Event Evaluation Form]

Not only is this extraordinarily easy, but you don’t even have to be a rider to send a form in to the USEA. There is a need for perspectives of grooms, spectators, horse owners and even volunteers. So next time you have a concern, dissatisfaction or especially an admiration for a job well done, take a moment to fill out an Event Evaluation Form and spur some positive change for the future.

Riding Waves

By Lila Gendal on Sep 24, 2013 9:00 am -

Skybreaker last week

I thought I was in a perfect position to be accepted. I basically had straight A’s. I always participated in sports. Even though people harassed me for being mute and anti-social, I actually had a great circle of friends. My teachers and faculty members seemed to support and encourage me in every aspect. I was dedicated and I knew what I needed to do in order to get my credentials down on paper. I thought I had the perfect essay. I worked on that essay for months until I thought it was flawless. My SAT’s and ACT’s scores were where they needed to be. I mailed in my application to the University of Richmond and thought I was golden. I visited the school and fell in love. Horses nearby and a beautiful campus…what more could I want? Truth be told, I was not accepted and I was devastated. I thought my life was over and I had to choose from schools that were merely back up schools. Schools that I was not overly enthusiastic about attending. It’s truly amazing how you think you are prepared, and you think you understand a situation through and through, but there are times when we are thrown for a loop.

Doesn’t this happen with riding and horses all the time? How often have you thought to yourself, ah ha! Eureka! I have found the magical potion! Okay, maybe you don’t use those exact phrases, but you probably have stumbled across similar thoughts. You think you know exactly how you need to ride your horse. You think you have finally figured out why your horse runs out at corners, or skinnies. You think you know why your horse is twisting her neck in dressage, or sticking his tongue out when you are asking for half-pass. You really think you have nailed the problems, and identified the solutions. You know this because you had to change or tweak something in your riding or training and you got the results you wanted. Well, what happens when those miraculous answers and solutions are no longer valid? What if underlying issues exist that have been mounting for years and years that you never really addressed? Then what?

I know it takes years to gain confidence as a rider and it takes years to make a horse really confident as well. Some horses are obviously more confident than others and don’t take as long. It’s sort of amazing how one minute you are on top of the world. You are on outstanding horses who you have unwavering relationships with. You THINK you know your horse inside and out and then BAM. You hit a rough patch. Or, you are eliminated on xc, or you fall, or you retire at the third to last fence on xc. These things happen all the time. So, what exactly do we do about it? Do we give up right then and there? Do we go out and buy the best horse we can gets our hands on? Or, do we go back to the drawing board and find alternative solutions?

Arguably, so much of this depends on YOU and YOUR horse. Each situation is unique, making the answer here quite difficult to pin-point. However, IF you are confident in you and your horse’s relationship, and IF you are confident in what you and your horse can accomplish together, then perhaps, you suck it up and deal when you hit a rough patch. So you have to go back to the drawing board and figure out why manure hit the fan….that’s life. Either you and your horse will figure out your issues together, or you won’t. It seems crucial to keep in mind that riding and training horses goes up and down like a wave. Sometimes you are at the top of the wave, where you can see everything clearly and you are having the time of your life, and the next minute you are crashing down where your view becomes murky and you lose your bearings. It’s up to us as the riders and trainers to not only recognize these waves, but at times, ride them out.

Tuesday News & Notes from Cavalor

By Shara Rutberg on Sep 24, 2013 12:01 am -

Symphony in B Major

This masterpiece of a new jump at the Alcoa Fairbridge CNC in Perth, Western Australia, leaves us wondering about the A element. World’s largest clarinet? This piano looks like way more fun than the giant F.A.O. Schwartz piano Tom Hanks danced on in “Big.” Thanks to reader Glenys Davies for sending in the photo. Have a photo to share? Send it to [email protected].

Events Opening Today: MeadowCreek Park Horse Trial (Texas, A-5)

Events Closing Today: Colorado Horse Park Fall Horse Trial (CO, A-9), Greenwood Farm Inc. Fall Horse Trial (TX, A-5), Radnor Hunt Horse Trial (PA, A-2 ), Pine Top October Horse Trial (GA, A-3), The Maryland Horse Trial at Loch Moy Farm (MD, A-2), Middle Tennessee Pony Club Horse Trials (TN A-3)

Your Tuesday News:

New national team competition for grown ups. For those old enough to drink/senior riders, a new national team championship will debut next year along the AECs in Tyler, Texas. The Chronicle of the Horse/U.S. Eventing Association Adult Team Challenge is adding a national party/final to the Challenge, which has been around for longer than many of the junior competitors (20 years). Each area can qualify as many as eight teams to send. [COTH]

Help overcome water obstacle. The USEF is asking fellow horse lovers to help those members of Colorado’s horse community devastated by the recent flooding by contributing to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund. The fund was set up after Hurricanes Rita and Katrina to “help ensure the safety and well being of horses in trying times.” Donations may be made online here, or by mailing a check to to: The United States Equestrian Federation, 4047 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511.

Waking up naked. Though he may no longer rip the crossties from the walls and head for the hills, your horse may still find body clipping every bit as stressful as those who do act like you’re trying to remove their skin with the Wahls, according to a new study from the U.K. “Quiet acceptance (in well-trained horses) has been rewarded in the past and will tend to override their desire to escape and avoid whatever we are doing to them,” Carol Hall, PhD, researcher and principal lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, told thehorse.com. If “quiet acceptance” is not your steed’s modus operandi, a little cocktail from the vet is a safe way to ease them into a nap, from which they can wake up naked. Or at least trace clipped. [The Horse]

My little (vicious) pony. The Connecticut state supreme court is set to hear a case that could result in horses being classified as a “vicious” species. A few years back, a horse named Scuppy repeatedly bit a kid on the cheek. His father sued the farm’s owners, but lost in a New Haven court. An appellate court overturned the verdict, finding that Scuppy belonged to “a species naturally inclined to do mischief and be vicious.” If upheld by the state’s supreme court, the verdict would be the first in the country to classify horses as a vicious species and could deal a blow to the insurance industry. [BBC]

Sending our Get Well Soon! wishes to Bea diGrazia. Bea suffered a fall this weekend, but it sounds like she’s on the mend. From her husband, Derek: “Bea was released from the hospital this evening after having a much better day today. While she has broken her clavicle and a few ribs she remains in good spirits and I know that once some of the pain subsides she will be hard to keep off of her horses.”

SmartPak Product of the Day: Your riding gloves are for riding. Moving jumps or unloading bales (and bales and bales …) of hay? You want a pair of Heritage Ranch Work Gloves. Made from tough cow leather, these gloves are sewn together with thread made of Kevlar, the key component in U.S. military helmets and vests. The rough suede palms are extra grippy so you can hold your horses – and everything else. [SmartPak]

Arial Grald and Fernhill Cove at Plantation Field from The Horse Pesterer

An Update on Clark Montgomery from the UK

By AJ Dyer on Sep 23, 2013 5:08 pm -

Clark and Jess Montgomery moved to England last winter with top horses Loughan Glen and Universe. Jess was kind enough to send us a little update on how they’re doing in preparation for Pau CCI4*.

Clark Montgomery and Universe at Badminton. Photo by Jenni Autry.

From Jess:

Hi to everyone back home! Clark and I are both having a blast living over here and we’ve really enjoyed the events. The horses are loving it too thankfully! Buzz (Universe) did his final prep run for Pau at Allerton Park which went well; he won his Advanced division. It was a typical Ian Stark track (big and galloping) on a beautiful estate with amazing old English established grass. I don’t have any pics yet from the competition but the following is the link to the results page http://www.bdwp.co.uk/all/. Looking forward to Pau!

Results and Photos from the Advanced at Twin Rivers

By AJ Dyer on Sep 23, 2013 3:30 pm -

Emily Libby and Nonsensical, winners of the Advanced at Twin Rivers

Emily Libby and Nonsensical won the Advanced division at Twin Rivers Fall HT this past weekend. John Michael Durr finished second with Espirit de la Danse, with Helen Bouscaren and Ben in third. **Special Happy Birthday shout-out to Emily, it’s her birthday today!**

[Results]

Thanks to our frequent West Coast correspondent Bill Olson for the photos!