Susie Berry and Clever Trick. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
And so it begins! Before we even get to the excitement of the first horse inspection at the FEI European Eventing Championships (and look, no matter what you say, it is exciting to see what sort of mad kit each nation rocks up in – here’s looking at you, Austria, you stylish Alpine daredevils), we get our first bit of crucial intel: that is, the draw of the nations, which has just concluded in the central hub of Haras du Pin’s beautiful venue.
This time, it’ll be Ireland who take pathfinder duties, followed by Belgium, who are battling for an Olympic qualification this week and will be a real squad to watch. Then, in third position, it’s Germany — one of the great threats for gold, coming, as they do, off a team victory at last year’s World Championships — and in fourth, the Netherlands, also on the hunt for a Paris ticket. In fifth, it’ll be Italy, the third of our four teams who are looking to qualify, and in sixth, it’s Switzerland, who secured that ticket at Pratoni. Sweden will come forward in seventh, followed by Poland — another team who’ve already punched their ticket to Paris in a group qualifier — in eighth. Our Danish individual, Hanne Wind Ramsgaard, comes forward in ninth; home nation France are tenth, and Great Britain, the dominant force looking to defend their title, are in eleventh. Finally, it’ll be Austria, our last team seeking one of those two Olympic berths, but with just three riders this week they’ll be grateful for the late draw to gain valuable intel from other competitors on Saturday.
Drawn Order by Nation:
1. Ireland
2. Belgium
3. Germany
4. Netherlands
5. Italy
6. Switzerland
7. Sweden
8. Poland
9. Denmark
10. France
11. Great Britain
12. Austria
We’re due to head into the first horse inspection momentarily, so keep it locked onto EN for all the updates, news and views from the day’s happenings. Until then: Go Eventing!
This little lady is bang on trend with her Barbie boots and Team GB shirt. Photo by Cheg Darlington.
It’s National Women’s Day today and this little lady (now not so little) is a young woman who inspires me every day.
I was sorting through my s**t show of a spare room when I came across this throwback photo, which dates back twenty years but is totally relevant today – with the European Eventing Championships trotting off this afternoon (I’ll be rooting for all the teams, but especially Team GB), and Barbie taking the world by storm, becoming the only movie solely directed by a woman to hit $1billion in the box office (notice the pink Barbie riding boots – this lil’ lass is clearly a girl ahead of her time).
EN will be bringing you ALL of the Euros action, so stay tuned as we saddle up for a team battle that sure looks set to be AWESOME!
Check out Tilly’s Ultimate Guide for everything you need to know and read up on the form in the Team Guide . Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for our team picks to see what the EN camp makes of the competition – coming soon!
Meanwhile…
The Mongol Derby rages on and I’m loving riding along with this awesome adventure. From the cowboy who keeps losing his horses, the leaderboard climb of ‘Team Pak’, and the tumbles and kicks, to the Mongolian culture and hospitality, it’s well worth a follow. Being partial to a pony (having stayed the size of a teenager), I’m so impressed by the little horses – they’re gutsy and tough and look like SUCH FUN!
The end of August sees the eventing calendar getting very exciting – and you can be part of the action by volunteering at the American Eventing Championships. As well as getting up close and personal with all of the excitement of the event, you’ll also get a swag bag of goodies (including cookies for your equine friends), the chance to feature on the USEA website and have your hours count towards the Volunteer Incentive Program. [Mini Break in Lexington, Anyone?]
And on the other side of the Pond, Burghley has announced the official charity for this year’s event. Horatio’s Garden works with spinal injury centers to provide accessible gardens for patients and their families, making a huge impact on wellbeing and rehabilitation. Burghley Director, Martyn Johnson, acknowledges the importance of charities such as Horatio’s Garden in the riding community: “Rehabilitation after spinal injury is something all riders support, and Horatio’s Garden provides wonderful sanctuaries for patients to escape from the intensity of hospital life”. Follow @horatiosgarden to find out more about their work. [Supporting Spinal Injury]
Continuing our travels, how about a little je ne sais quoi à Paris? We know all eyes will be on the equestrian splendor on offer if you’re lucky enough to be traveling to France for next year’s Olympics, but when the horses aren’t on show, how about a little sightseeing in the City of Love? From the best places to stay, to the tastiest things to eat, FEI has pulled together the ultimate Paris travel guide especially for equestrians. [A Ride ‘Round Paris]
I’m a big fan of the smile (I once moved house because no one in my street ever smiled) – so I’m delighted to discover that horses appreciate this most friendly of facial expressions too. The bond between horse and rider is all important, we know that – particularly in eventing, it’s something we talk about all the time. But do you know how to reinforce that bond? As well as looking at training methods, this article considers a study which found that horses respond better to humans who smile more than they scowl. Horses were shown photos of humans and, upon meeting said humans a few hours later, clearly remembered which were smiling in the photo and which looked more menacing. So, turn those corners up and keep on smilin’. [Turn That Frown Upside Down]
AI meets equines in this playful and creative collection of colorful images. Photographer Rachel Hulin explains how she uses today’s technology to capture her love for horses in unusual ways – sometimes more unusual than she had in mind: “There are glitches that I edit out; a horse will have five legs, for example!”. A fifth leg would come in handy when you’re squirreling through a cross country combination, so perhaps the tech is onto something with that one. [Thoroughly Modern Horses]
From the ultra-modern to the prehistoric – the iconic Uffington chalk horse is shrinking and needs a little fattening up. The famous white horse has been a feature of the Oxfordshire countryside since at least 1380, but it’s been slowly shrinking since the 1980s. A team of archaeologists will be working on restoring this iconic equine to its former fatness in order to preserve it for many more centuries to come. Find out about all of Britain’s chalk horses in this archive article from Horse and Hound. [All The White Horses]
A gorgeous custom home located on 12 acres, complete with a barn, just 20 minutes from WEC. What else could you need? This setup would be perfect for an equestrian who wants to combine luxurious living, while keeping their horses in their backyard.
Here’s a throwback to the European Championships in Avenches, 2021, when Great Britain’s women riders took the podium with a 1-2-3 for Nicola Wilson, Piggy March and Sarah Bullimore.
Nicola Wilson punches the air after a fault-free showjumping round secures her the title of European Champion in 2021. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
It’s time to kick things off at the 2023 FEI European Eventing Championships, happening this cycle in France at the famous Haras du Pin. It’s an important year for all present, and a significant one for home team France, who will also host next year’s Olympic Games.
The competition kicks off in earnest tomorrow, but today we’ll see the first appearance by the competitors in the First Horse Inspection. The President of the Ground Jury – and thus, the dressage judge at C – will be Great Britain’s Judy Hancock, assisted by Austria’s Katrin Eichinger-Kniely and Finland’s Seppo Laine.
ClipMyHorse.TV will carry the live stream this weekend in partnership with FEI TV. You must obtain a ClipMyHorse.TV membership in order to view the events live and on demand — you can view options for memberships, including free trial options you may be eligible for, here.
Thursday, August 10 – Dressage
9 a.m. local time / 8 a.m. BST / 3 a.m. EST / 12:50 a.m. PST
Friday, August 11 – Dressage
9 a.m. local time / 8 a.m. BST / 3 a.m. EST / 12:50 a.m. PST
Saturday, August 12 – Cross Country
11:50 a.m. local time / 10:50 a.m. BST / 5:50 a.m. EST / 2:50 a.m. PST
Sunday, August 13 – Show Jumping
11:20 a.m. local time / 10:20 a.m. BST / 5:20 a.m. EST / 2:20 a.m. PST
You can follow the event on Facebook, Instagram, and FEI on YouTube for other highlights throughout the week. Also, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram at @goeventing for more from on the ground.
FEI dressage rider and judge Ally O’Neill teamed up with the FEI recently to provide her top five tips for all of us hoping to squeeze just a few more points of favor when we tackle the first phase of competition. Vlogger Han from Han Equestrian takes us along for the learning experience, and it’s worth saving this one for your next ride to practice.
Among Aly’s tips:
Know your arena – know how big your circles should be, and practice in an exact-measured space so that you know your working space
Know your test – pretty self-explanatory!
Prepare in advance – know when to apply your aids to execute at the right time during your test
Be sure to watch the video to see more of Aly’s tips and an explanation for each one. It’s a great video full of visual explainers and tips to take home — enjoy!
Kim Meier and Test Run at Rolex. Photo courtesy of Kim Meier.
The USEA Foundation and the USEA have announced a newly-formed “Kick On” Memorial Grant in honor of the late Kim Meier. Well-known and widely respected within the sport for many accolades, Kim found much reward in the production of her own homebred horses, six of whom would go on to become Advanced horses and one of whom, Test Run, would eventually become her Kentucky partner.
After a freak riding accident paralyzed Kim from the C5 vertebrae down in 2007, her love of horse and sport never wavered. “Needless to say we weren’t at Rolex, but a year later I did ride him again, with someone behind me holding my limp body up,” Kim wrote in 2016. “He didn’t care if we were galloping down to the Head of the Lake or if we just walked around the indoor for 15 minutes. He was always there for me, and this time he came back to help me feel alive again.”
Kim Meier and Test Run at Rolex in 2004. Photo used with permission from Dean Graham.
Now, the Kick On Memorial Grant will assist riders who are struggling financially to compete their own horses at the upper levels. These riders will have passed beyond the cutoff point for most funding currently available, and the grant is only open to those who own their horses in full, without partnerships or syndicates. The fund was established and is funded through the kindness and generosity of those who knew and loved Kim.
Here’s some more information on how to apply — applications will close on October 15.
The USEA Foundation is now accepting applications for the Kim Meier “Kick On” Memorial Grant through October 15th. This grant, established in honor of Meier who made it to the highest level of the sport through her own grit and determination, is intended to assist those riders who are struggling to financially compete their own horses at the upper levels and who have passed beyond the funding available for juniors and young adults. This fund was established and funded through the generosity of Kim’s friends.
Grant applicants must meet the following criteria:
Be 26 years of age or older
Be current members of the USEA
Wholly own their own horse(s) without partnerships or syndicates
Be currently at the Preliminary level, FEI equivalent level, or above (preference given to Intermediate or Advanced level riders)
Submit their application by or before the due date of October 15th
One applicant who meets the above criteria will be selected to receive a $5,000 grant to help support their competitive or training goals
In the wee hours of the mornings this weekend, the great migration of European’s most elite event horse and rider combinations began. For some, the travel to French venue Haras du Pin is longer than others, necessitating a weekend departure. We’ll see more movement and arrivals on site today as a 57-strong roster eagerly anticipating this week’s FEI Eventing European Championships for Seniors. The competition will feature riders representing 13 countries in team or individual form. There’s much on the line this week, as Tilly has covered in her preview material, and we’ll be keen to follow along and see what Olympic and Championship dominoes fall in the days to come.
For now, let’s catch up with the travels of some of the France-bound horses and riders. Follow along with us all week for the latest and greatest from a toasty Haras du Pin!
I’m a real sucker for social media posts from event stables – give me reels of horses rolling in their horse hotels any day of the week, and I’ll be happy. It’s even better, of course, when it’s a championship week, and those stables are decorated to the hilt with flags and banners – and even better than that is when the horse in question is as adorable as Kitty King’s Vendredi Biats, all tucked up in his bed at the European Championships, which are set to start tomorrow with the first horse inspection. I can’t wait to bring you all the news from the ground — and in the meantime, I’m going to go see how some of these sweet horses are settling in, in person!
Grant deadline alert! The Kim Meier ‘Kick On’ Memorial Grant is open until October 15, and is designed to give US riders who are struggling to fund their upper-level goals a boost. It’s for riders 26 and over, competing at Prelim and above, who own their own horse – and is worth a cool $5,000. Get more info, and start work on your application, here.
Is your horse a bit of a hot-head? British-based Kiwi Hollie Swain feels your pain. She’s learned how to get the best out of her fiery chestnut Solo, who’s now stormed ’round several five-stars, but working with horses like this isn’t always easy — so she’s shared some of her best tips for making it happen when your horse has too many opinions.
Sorry, not sorry, but you’re about to have that guitar riff stuck in your head. Jessica Phoenix’s Fluorescent Adolescent doesn’t just have one of the best names in eventing, the coloured mare is also one of the most vibrant characters on the scene. Get to know here here.
And finally, fancy supporting gorgeous equine photography? There’s a farriery photo up for Photo of the Year, and it needs your vote. Click here to show your support.
Sponsor Corner: The FEI European Championships at Haras du Pin are right around the corner! Who are you rooting for? Get the lowdown on all 58 combinations and 14 nations that will be competing for the gold (and for Paris qualifications) with our Team Form Guide. EN’s coverage of the FEI European Championships for Eventing is brought to you with support from Kentucky Performance Products.
Watch This:
Struggling with inside leg to outside rein? Don’t fret – let Bernie Traurig help.
The competition season in Area 1 is short but sweet and right now it’s in full swing! Today we’ve got two helmet cams for you from different Area 1 events, both from the backs of some very excited and happy off-the-track Thoroughbreds.
Above, go for a gallop with Emily Scott as she pilots Ali Fischer’s Z Camelot (Smart Strike – Madame Thor, by Deputy Minister) around the Novice track at Millbrook Horse Trials, which took place the last weekend of July in Amenia, New York.
Below, check out the scenery at Huntington Farm in South Strafford Vermont as Jane Kreppein and Sport (Not For Love – Complete Spring, by Spring Double), owned by Heather DiGregorio, as they rock around the Training Level course this past weekend.
There are constant updates flooding in from what seems to be an absolutely epic Derby this year. Action packed, with some impressive spills, but also some incredible navigation and horsemanship, I can’t seem to take my eye off of the Mongol Derby socials. As riders are reaching the half-way point in the race, let’s take a peek at what they’ve been up to.
Matthew Perella had lost his horse and gear, riding off of borrowed equipment, before being reunited with his belongings. Big storms have hit hard and made navigation increasingly challenging. Elizabeth Bailey had a close encounter of the horse-hoof, and Hilaire Blythe had a “human lawn dart” moment the other day, resulting in a fractured finger. Both Elizabeth and Hilaire have been cleared to continue in the adventure category.
I’m watching this all unfold from the comfort of my own home, as riders cope with intense storms, swarms of bugs, lost horses, missing gear, and a few kicks and tumbles along the way.
While that might be enough to deter many “normal” people from diving into an adventure such as this, it seems to fuel the excitement of horse people as we cheer on the participants facing these hurdles. Uniting under a shared enthusiasm, love of the horse, and sense of adventure, riders face a network and community of support, despite them racing individually.
Team work has seemed to serve the riders well in the first half of the race, and we saw “the fantastic four”, consisting of Linda Herman, Xavier Ferrer, Trinity Nelzen, and Judith Jaeckle riding out front. As the race continues, Linda Herman has pulled out front to be leading the race going into the second half of the Derby.
Hear from the race crew and riders in the Derby’s video updates to hear about conditions firsthand, and continue to track the race live here as you never know what’s coming up next. Ride on, adventure equestrians! We’re all rooting for you!
A busy weekend for Eventers, with nine recognized events running from Vermont to Iowa to Tennessee to Washington.
We saw many successful rides this weekend, and would like to extend a big congratulations to all of our Weekend Winners, with a special shout out to the winner of our Unofficial Low Score Award: Erin Kellerhouse and FE Cupcake, who scored an impressive 17.5 in the Open Novice at the Early Bird Summer Event at Galway Downs.
Area VII Young Rider Benefit H.T. at Caber Farm (Onalaska, WA) [Website] [Results]
Open Modified: Patience O’Neal and Zena (26.2)
Open Training: Lizzie Hoff and Redfield Mettaphor (35.9)
Jr. Novice: Alexis Johnson and Encore (27.5)
Novice Amateur: Tracey Trewin and Coby R (22.5)
Open Novice: Michelle Grimmer and In Private (26.4)
Beginner Novice Amateur A: Renee Lukins and Merlin (30.3)
Beginner Novice Amateur B: Lisa Metcalf and Gilead’s Scout (40.2)
Jr. Beginner Novice: Kylie Hoxeng and D’Eva’s Fleurie (27.5)
Open Beginner Novice: Todd Trewin and Finnegans Silver Diamond (23.8)
Starter A: Tegan Barte and Freya (31.7)
Starter B: Linda Lamprecht and IC Full Monty (29.7)
Open Preliminary: Camryn Holcomb and Quite Breit (43.4)
Junior Training: Kaylianna McMorris and Fernhill Future Star (30.5)
Senior Training A: Cigi Sutrick and Charming Day (35.7)
Senior Training B: Allison Icenogle and Fernhill Revelation (27.4)
Junior Novice: Riley York and Soulshine (44.0)
Senior Novice A: Erin Icenogle and Boss of the House (47.8)
Senior Novice B: Laura Holen and Bravissimo Brego (26.1)
Junior Beginner Novice A: Jane Gallagher and Scarragh Silver (41.0)
Junior Beginner Novice B: Ava Kaiser and Slim (35.3)
Senior Beginner Novice A: Tessa Bethea and Irish Pub (26.3)
Senior Beginner Novice B: Anna Payne and Erowynne (37.9)
Junior Starter: Sophia Petrin and Notorious Biggie (64.0)
Senior Starter: Rachel Marsh and Haynesville (39.9)
Preliminary Open: Kathleen Bertuna and Excel Star Harry (29.6)
Modified Open: Irene Lampton and Rock on Cooley (29.3)
Training Open: Holly Russell and Cooley Black Hawk (31.9)
Training Rider: Catelyn Harms and LCC King Julian (27.4)
Novice Open: Lily Syah and Top Secret (23.9)
Novice Rider 1: Mary Clare Owdziej and City of Ember (28.4)
Novice Rider 2: Emerson Padgett and MSH Giant Jac’ka (21.9)
Novice Rider 3: Erica Mitchell and Shaniko Star (34.0)
Beginner Novice Open: Alyssa Cairo and EWSZ Jalando (22.8)
Beginner Novice Rider 1: Louise Gillam and Wicked Worry (29.7)
Beginner Novice Rider 2: Madison Wehrman and EPA Mo Chuisle (25.3)
Beginner Novice Rider 3: Ellie Johnson and Melody of Excellence HOF (30.9)
Starter Open: Chelsea Garrison and Freddie Mercury (25.3)
Starter Rider 1: Elliot Bizjak and N’Pressive (25.7)
Starter Rider 2: Olivia Palmer and Sweet Serenity (27.7)
Open Intermediate: Chloe Smyth and NC Sky High (38.9)
Open Preliminary: Auburn Excell Brady and Galliard’s Lancer (25.2)
Open Modified: Kelsey Holmes and Karel H (27.4)
Open Training: Auburn Excell Brady and Jackpot VG (27.0)
Training Rider: Jessica Jones and Jameson (27.1)
Novice Rider: Shawn Ortiz and Patriot’s Justice (27.1)
Open Novice: Erin Kellerhouse and FE Cupcake (17.5)
Beginner Novice Rider: Krishna Van Buren and Lunar Glow (28.8)
Open Beginner Novice: Bari Boersma and Chattachoochoo (27.2)
Starter: Tiffany Jorgensen and Mr. Blue Sky (29.4)
Open Preliminary: Tate Northrop and Harrison (30.1)
Open Modified: Amanda Richard and Count Julian (33.6)
Open Training: Rachel Miles and Cooley Keystone (26.2)
Open Novice A: Dan Kreitl and My Kindness T (29.7)
Open Novice B: Mia Volpentesta and Flipside (28.9)
Open Novice C: Madeline Bletzacker and Drummer Boy (20.3)
Open Beginner Novice A: Jessica Boesch and Top Secret (22.5)
Open Beginner Novice B: Lauren Reynolds and Casino (28.4)
Open Beginner Novice C: Lyndsey Humpal and Standupandfight (25.6)
Open Starter A: Julia Harris and Macho Pronto (33.7)
Open Starter B: Holly McPherson and Normandy B (31.3)
Open Starter C: Katie Clouse and Daxterity (28.7)
Open Tadpole: Shannon Risner and Kunik (28.0)
Huntington Farm H.T. (South Strafford, VT) [Website] [Results]
Open Preliminary: Stephanie Jackson and Fernhill Quality Vision (36.1)
Junior Training: Max van der Schoot and Playing With Quarters (Andy) (36.8)
Open Training: kristina Branco and Versailles (31.9)
Junior Novice: Adeline Tullar and Ruffian Du Balfour (28.9)
Open Novice A: Katie Murphy and Alaric (35.1)
Open Novice B: Donna Hecht and Cocobolo (35.6)
Junior Beginner Novice: Sydney Gallien and Don’t stop believin’ (30.6)
Open Beginner Novice A: Alexander Conrad and King Kong Vanoveris (31.8)
Open Beginner Novice B: Alexander Conrad and Queens Dude (34.3)
Open Modified: Mason Reidy and LIFE STORY (30.5)
Open Training: Jaclyn Burke and Adara (22.8)
Open Novice 1: Tyler Burke and Carmella (29.2)
Open Novice 2: Joe Bowersox and Jayda (18.3)
Amateur BNovice: Carissa Gavin and The Flying Fox (29.5)
Open BN: Laura Wilson and Joseph (27.5)
Open Intro 1: Karen Rubin and Pax (28.2)
Open Intro 2: Lillian Harrod and Aces Zoomin’ Dude (33.8)
River Glen Summer H.T. (New Market, TN) [Website] [Results]
Open Intermediate: Joe Meyer and Harbin (50.6)
Intermediate/Preliminary: Donna Miller and Coud’Poker (38.3)
Open Preliminary: Chris Newton and Shannondale Magnum (28.9)
Open Modified: Joe Meyer and El Platanito (27.9)
Open Training: Diane Hanrahan and Lakota VI (36.6)
Training Rider: Kate Bell and FE Velvet Black (32.6)
Training/Novice: Maxine Preston and Fernhill Fortune (34.8)
Novice Jr Rider: Madison Zgutowicz and My Valentine (26.9)
Novice Sr Rider: Shannon Jenkins and The Diesel Boy (27.5)
Open Novice: Lauren Lambert and HSH Red Hot (30.6)
BNovice Jr Rider: Millie Bronstad-Hay and Makuba’s Mouse (28.1)
BNovice Sr Rider: Anna Wallace and Kalaska (31.5)
Open BNovice: Diane Hanrahan and Frosty Dancer (33.2)
Starter Test Section A: Clare Pinney and Daddy Says No (34.0)
Starter Test Section B: Alysha Hendren and Noneofyourbuzzness (32.3)
Open Preliminary: Dani Sussman and RR Simple (28.1)
Preliminary/Training: Victoria Poulton and Starlingh (38.6)
Open Training: Chris Kawcak and Amelie (26.0)
Novice Rider: Lara Hunter and Penance (30.6)
Open Novice: Melinda Hofmeister and My Brigadier (30.3)
Beginner Novice Rider: Lacy Cotton and Clintos (30.5)
Open Beginner Novice A: Maegen Bingham and Djamilia (22.2)
Open Beginner Novice B: Vicki Baker and Vasilii (31.6)
Introductory A: Michelle Carver and New Songs Raining Miracle (25.0)
Introductory B: Tiare Santistevan and Chrissy PCH (27.0)
