Classic Eventing Nation

We’ve all seen the various touching essays by parents of little equestrians on the benefits of horses for young girls and boys, but what about the perspective of the adult girls and boys? I found the perfect example of this in Jorna Taylor. I happened upon her blog the other day and was so taken with her essay that I couldn’t help but share it with the rest of you. Compassion, empathy and patience are things we all learn from horses, but Jorna tells us a little more about the small details. Thanks to Jorna for writing, and thanks for reading!

Jorna today (photo by Jeri Taylor)

From Jorna’s blog: “Born In A Barn”:

I had horses starting at an early age which means I’m not afraid of dirt. And not just dirt found in your front yard, dirt that is in fact comprised primarily of horse excrement. Dirt that will stay under your fingernails no matter how many times you wash your hands.

I’m a fashion maven in my own mind. I’ll wear sweaty breeches and rain boots to the grocery store for a full shopping trip. The line on my forehead left by my hairnet under my helmet is perpetually visible. I’m actually not trying to be stylish when I wear my tall boots in public, and get annoyed when people compliment me on my cutting edge attire.

Since I grew up riding I’m not afraid to sweat like a man. As it drips down my back or I wring my hair out after a ride, I know that we worked hard and accomplished something that day. It feels good. It does not smell good. That is what the barn hose is for.

I had horses so I spent my childhood and teenage years at the barn and at shows, not in the back of some boy’s Honda Civic. This means there was little chance for me to become a teenage mom, and I saw the “miracle of how life begins” at the breeding farm and it most certainly was not a pretty sight!

Since I came up in a barn I learned to entertain myself at my ponies’ expense. During the summer I got dropped off at the barn around 8 am and picked up when it was dark. My babysitter was my pony and the other barn ruffians in the same boat as me. We rode our ponies multiple times, played horse and put on shows, and pretended to do helpful things like committing a half-assed job sweeping the barn aisle.

Jorna as a child riding "Astro" (photo by Rick Bates)

I show horses and have spent (still spend???) more time worrying about having the right amount of hair covering my ears under my helmet than I would ever take to prepare a coif for work/an interview/a social function.

I eat and drink at the barn with horses and I have a great immune system! I’ll drink out of a hose and not worry that I’m going to die of lead poisoning – if it is good enough for Jorge, it is good enough for me. I’ve tried horse treats. I’ve kissed dirty horse noses and inhaled more than a ton of dust and dirt. A trainer once gave me bute – I didn’t die.

Since I started riding when I was 3 it doesn’t bother me that I look like a freak with richly tanned arms and snowy white legs when I put on a bikini to go to the beach. Who am I trying to kid, a day at the beach is just a wasted day that I could be at the barn.

I own an amazing horse, so my idea of a great conversation starter at a cocktail party is to tell you about my last hack in the field, whether or not you ride. I think my horse is fascinating and cannot understand why you aren’t in awe of his glory. I’ll just go find someone else to talk to or call one of my horse friends instead.

On that note, I also possess the ability to discuss hay, hay prices, different types of feed and supplements ‘til everyone is blue in the face. And then do it again. And again. I’m a party hit!

I own a horse. This means I have clothes that I wear to the barn. And clothes I haven’t worn to the barn – yet. All of my winter dress coats are covered in hair, my heels are full of arena sand and my favorite cashmere sweaters have slime stains. This in no way concerns me.

I am not grossed out by barn dogs when they eat poop and then lick someone. There’s nothing better than taking Bones and Jorge for a ride around the field together, or watching Bones’ excitement when I say, “ready to go the barn?”

Little Jorna showing off her ribbon (photo by Jeff Taylor)

I have trained horses and riders which means I have an honorary therapy degree. I have counseled and cajoled and berated women twice my age. I’ve dealt with bratty teens, in whom I see remnants of my old self and shudder to think what my trainers put up with some times. I’ve had the joy of convincing young girls to “just sit” on a horse only to watch the smile spread upon their face as they ask if we can walk a little.

I show horses. As such I relish the chance to get up at 3 am to haul to a show. Or to braid all night just to pay for 3 classes the next morning. However try to get me out of the house on a Saturday for a work event? Good luck.

I’m horse obsessed and will put my car into 4-wheel drive and spend 2 hours getting to the barn in a Wisconsin snowstorm but am too lazy to bring the coffee mug in from the car after that drive for weeks. That means I’ll have to wash it and then put it away… ugh.

My horse is a prima donna prince and I always prioritize his new shoes over mine. Target flip flops are okay year-round, right?! And he has a diet that I regulate closely with appropriate supplements (maybe excessive, stop judging me) while I’m fine with chowing down on Chipotle and slurping the better part of a bottle of cheap red for the 3rd night in a row.

But… that all said…  I am a better person for owning horses. I know that another living being is counting on me to take care of it. I’ve never been to rehab, although maybe my tack shop addiction should be considered. I feel great comfort at the barn so I always know where to go when times are rough. My best friend Jorge has four legs and is my shoulder to cry on, my friend to confide in and the greatest partner in crime.

I was given the opportunity to share with horses. I know I am blessed and loved.

SO PROUD… RT“@LissaGreen88: DEAR GOD – on route to @BlenheimHorse & have forgotten my riding boots……ARGH – Can Anyone help?? Size 7?”

— Lucinda Green (@LucindaGreenMBE) September 12, 2013

Apparently Lissa Green forgot her tall bo0ts on her way to Blenheim.  Could anyone help her out?  Mom is amused!

I can’t say I’ve forgotten my boots before– they live in my trailer– but I do know what it feels like to arrive at an event and have that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach when you realize your girth (and spare) are at home! Thankfully eventers are always the nicest people and a complete stranger will often lend your her equipment with a laugh and knowing smile.  Raised in Pony Club ways, my horse trailer is stocked with extras of many items and I’m always happy to help out a distressed neighbor…we’ve all been there!

What have you had to borrow at events, EN?

Farrier Steve Arnold, event horse Let's Dance, rider Jeanette Brakewell, and owner Ruth Williams.. Steve holds the rosette and plaque for Let's Dance's selection as the Best Shod Horse at Burghley.(Photo via The Hoof Blog, provided by Steve Arnold.)

Fran Jurga of The Hoof Blog has written a fantastic article about the Best Shod Horse at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials this year.  While most CCIs have special awards for Best Dressed (rider) and Best Turned Out (horse), some events like Burghley traditionally have an extra prize for the farrier of the Best Shod horse.  This year, the award was not listed in the program, nor was it announced, and there was some confusion as to whether it was actually judged and presented.  Thanks to Fran’s research, it was indeed.  Fran caught up with Andrew Casserly who served as the hoof judge at Burghley, and tracked down the ultimate winner to talk about it.

This year’s recipient of the Best Shod award was Let’s Dance, ridden by Jeanette Brakewell and shod by Steve Arnold.  The mare’s shoes were handmade by Steve, perfectly fitted with special attention placed to the nail holes and stud holes.

Wouldn’t it be neat if we had some recognition for our best farriers at three-days in the USA?  There are definitely some hoof care professionals who deserve to have their work rewarded…and perhaps some others who could be encouraged to step up their game a little bit.

Read more at The Hoof Blog and check out the full article, with quotes from the judge’s perspective and how Steve crafted the winning shoes.  Consider showing it to your farrier, as well!

Four-star eventer Hilda Donahue, who’s originally from Ireland but now bases her business in Orlando, Fla., has graciously volunteered to write about her experience preparing to ride in the Virginia City 100 endurance ride in Nevada later this month. Thanks for writing, Hilda. Go endurance!

Hilda and Patrick

From Hilda:

Most of us event riders tend to be ambitious, courageous and attracted to extreme sports. When my sister-in-law asked me to ride her horse in my inaugural endurance ride, of course, I agreed! Usually, the novice endurance rider chooses a 25-mile ride to start, but my first ride will be nothing less than the Virginia City 100 race in Nevada, which spans 100 miles in 24 hours on Sept. 21.

Initially, I was introduced to endurance riding by John and Sue Greenall while working for a family in Montana. When Sue mentioned the Tevis Cup, I recalled hearing that Denny Emerson has completed the Tevis, so I researched it and was impressed at the level of horsemanship necessary to endure such a ride. As I believe in trying to emulate successful professionals like Denny, I thought that if Denny chose to do some serious endurance riding, there must be some benefit to it. The Tevis is the four-star ride of endurance riding, where, like the Virginia City 100, you cover 100 miles in 24 hours with multiple vet checks, but you’re also climbing 19,000 feet and descending 21,000 feet.

Lucky, lucky Me ( I am Irish, after all!), my mount for the Virginia City ride finished the Tevis this year. Patrick is an 8-year-old, 16-hand Arabian-cross gelding. He’s was an orphaned, bottle-fed foal, so is a personable fellow with a sweet disposition, although at times he can be skittish and spooky. I have ridden him twice; this past weekend we enjoyed a 15-mile ride at Point Reyes in San Francisco. Yes, I flew 2,900 miles to ride 15 miles! Once again, I am fortunate that my awesome sister-in-law Sharon Finston and her husband, Bob, are conditioning Patrick while I keep things going at my farm in Orlando and continue to teach clinics.

What fascinates me about this discipline is the terrain the horses have to negotiate. As a child foxhunting in my homeland in Ireland, we would encounter a variety of challenging footing. That was easy going compared to what I have witnessed so far on endurance “training rides,” as they are referred to.  To effectively protect Patrick’s feet, he was just shod (12 days out) with “sneakers,” which absorb concussion, protect the sole and assist with traction. Riders carry an easy boot in case a shoe gets cast on the ride.

Patrick's sneakers

Appropriate and comfortably fitting tack is essential. I will be riding in the extremely comfortable, lightweight and performance-enhancing Voltaire Palm Beach saddle. My pad of choice is, of course, a ThinLine pad. ThinLine has generously provided me with their lightweight and shock-absorbing pads over the years for many CCI3* and CCI4* events. Regarding bridles, Patrick will wear a simple bridle with a mild curb bit — we ride totally on the buckle — and a breastplate.

Interestingly, my other sister-in-law, Karon Dutcher, also an accomplished rider, has designed a hollow bit with holes that attaches to a tube and water bottle. This allows the rider to squirt water into the horse’s mouth while riding. Riders also carry a sponge attached by a cord to the saddle to facilitate soaking the sponge in water troughs and rivers along the way without dismounting.

Rider comfort matters too. Again, I am grateful to another sponsor, Tredstep Ireland, for outfitting me with their quality, comfortable, and high-performance  stylish riding attire. My choice is to wear items from their Symphony line. Those of you who know me know I will, of course, be riding in pearls!

Rather like our sport, a supportive team, or “crew” as endurance riders call it, is essential. After the initial pre-ride vet inspection — similar to the first horse inspection in event, although less formal — there are several mandatory vet checks along the ride. Should a horse be deemed unsound, not meet the respiration and pulse rates — determined based primarily on weather — he or she will be “pulled,” or eliminated. Just like in eventing, all decisions are made in the best interest of the horse.

Another view of Patrick's sneaker

At the vet checks, a crew is waiting ready to cool the horse, hydrate, feed, and check legs and shoes. Unlike eventing, some of these vet checks are in the middle of the night, so a dedicated, committed crew is essential. My crew will be led by my husband, Ken. He won the most the coveted Best Conditioned Award at a former Virginia City ride. Ken also is a Tevis Cup finisher, so I am extremely relieved that Patrick will have a top notch crew to help him.

Like eventing, a multitude of things can occur in training and on the day. Certainly, it’s a sport with many ups and downs, so it’s important to enjoy the journey and listen to your horse. The winning horse is the first one to cross the finish line while stopping periodically to pass vet checks that ensure the horse is sound and ” fit to continue.” However, the motto of the American Endurance Riders Conference is “to finish is to win.”

I am just looking forward to the ride and consider it a privilege to get to participate. I know I will be challenged from a dressage standpoint, as I will need to be supple, balanced, and clear and light with my aids. From a cross-country perspective, I will need to be brave — while riding in the dark on unfamiliar and grueling terrain and climbing and descending 7,800 feet! — and make sensible decisions regarding pace and speed. From a show-jumping standpoint, I will need to re-mount after short rests and be effective in getting my friend Patrick mentally and physically back in the game.

Although I have ridden around Rolex, Burghley, Pau and Adelaide, I do believe that this ride will be a challenge for me. I am looking forward to sharing with you the details about the ride later this month. As my mentor and friend William Micklem says, “Onwards!”

Bug and I before our first Advanced cross country at Southern Pines last year. Photo by Jordan Armstrong.

Recently, I lost one of my aunts to cancer.  She had been battling it valiantly for quite awhile, but cancer is mean, and it doesn’t give up easily. It seems that when life takes a dive, I sit back and reflect. There have been so many strong women in my life. Nothing against the men in my life, but I have found that the majority of the people who have helped to mold and shape my life have been women.

My mom is a truly amazing woman. She worked incredibly hard at her job for 35 years or so, and she never complained about it. She tried very hard to keep me on the straight and narrow, and she was not afraid to set me straight if I needed it. She pushed me to follow my dreams and do what would make me happy. (Dad definitely had a lot to do with it, too!)

Many ask me how I got started with horses, as neither of my parents are particularly “horsey” people. That role fell to my twin aunts, Brenda and Glenda. They’re my father’s sisters, and they are the ones that started it all. They both have had horses all of their lives, and they had me on a horse at six months of age. I fell in love and never looked back. I have been horse crazy for as long as I can remember, and I couldn’t wait to go to their houses in the hopes that I might get to ride.

The next big chapter in my life came with the addition of Jacki Rutledge of Rutledge Horse and Cattle Company in Spring Grove, Pa. I started taking riding lessons with Jacki when I was 8 years old. I wanted so badly to ride western like my aunts, but Jacki told me that if I couldn’t ride in an English saddle first, I had no business being on a horse. She is a great horsewoman that loves each and every one of the many horses at her farm.

I rode with Jacki until I went off to college at 18. My first horse, Colby, the cutest black Quarter Horse-Morgan cross, came from her.  Colby and I did everything together: western pleasure, English pleasure, halter classes and even pleasure driving. I worked for Jacki every summer and every Saturday during the my entire time riding with her. She taught me so much about horse care. I wasn’t one of those kids that boarded my horse somewhere and knew nothing about his care. I worked hard, and I learned a ton.

Unfortunately, my first stint at college didn’t go well, due to a lot of unforeseen blips in my life. I took some time off from college and lost my way a bit. I still had a driving passion to ride horses, but there were so many other things going on around me. When I was 21, I was working at the local hospital in the radiology department. My job was to sort the x-rays and hang them in the reading room for the radiologists.

It’s funny how life can lead you to the people you need to meet. One of the doctors there was a small woman with a ton of personality. Dr. Desiree Lerro is also another strong horsewoman. She had been a jockey from 1972 to 1982, and then went on to become a doctor. She also runs her own sporthorse breeding facility, Echo Knoll Farm. She quickly learned of my passion for horses and my dreams.

She helped me out a lot with the OTTB I had at the time, Mr. Lincoln.I had decided that I wanted to delve into the world of dressage and eventing, but I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. Desi helped me a lot in getting Abe to understand dressage and how to use himself. She was also instrumental in convincing me to go back to college to get my equestrian degree.

Enter Wilson College. Wilson was an all women’s liberal arts college at the time that I attended, and it was full of strong women. During my time there, Annette Gavin of Hastilow Competition Saddles, was one of the main riding instructors and classroom professors in the equestrian department. She played a huge role in teaching me about eventing.

I had never jumped before I went to college, and Annette is the one that got me started. She guided me in my pursuits and really helped me to learn to train a horse. She was instrumental in taking me from a greenie over jumps to jumping 4-foot courses by the time I graduated three-and-a-half years later. I still had a ton to learn, but she definitely laid the groundwork for my future.

After college, I ended up finding my way to the next influential woman in my life, Kim Severson. The first time I rode with her in a clinic, I gained so much knowledge. I knew then that this was someone I needed to ride with as much as I could. Her farm is more than four hours from me, but I did my best to get to her as much as I could. She was instrumental in starting me down the road from a training-level rider (and not a great one, at that!) to my first CCI2*.

Kim saw that I had a horse full of potential, but that I needed a lot of guidance to take him where he needed to go. Unfortunately, due to the distance between us, it became difficult to get as much help as I needed at the upper levels. However, she still plays a large role in my competition coaching, and she always has insightful things to say about my riding that keep me thinking and moving forward.

Realizing that I needed more help closer to home, I started the search for my next coach. Enter Bonnie Mosser. Bonnie has been an amazing help to me. Not only has she helped me to bring Bug up through the three-star level, but she has taught me so much about bringing along my young horses and running my business. Her insight into the eventing world and riding has been paramount to my success.

When things don’t go as planned, Bonnie is always there to help me make a new plan and to think things through. Her outlook on life has definitely helped to mold and shape how I am approaching my riding and business. Her influence has also helped me to remember that there is more to life than just riding. We have to have a bit of fun too!

Finally, I can’t forget to add the person who first got behind me with sponsorship. Susan Snider, owner of Snider’s Elevator, a feed mill/store extraordinaire, in Lemasters, Pa., has worked very hard to turn a small, family-owned feed mill into the bustling business that it is today. She knows firsthand just how hard you have to work to make things happen, and she has taught me a lot about running a business.

In my short 32 years, there have already been eight amazing, strong women in my equine career. This doesn’t begin to count the many others that have affected my life in some way, shape or form. Though all of these women taught me about horses and riding, I believe that they also taught me about life. I believe it is my job to pay it forward and be a strong woman and good influence to other young women. I wish that every young woman could have as many great influences in their life as I have had.

Mary Buffum kindly sent us some thoughts from Mikki Kuchta and her working student Janelle Phaneuf from King Oak Horse Trials. [Results]  Many thanks to Mary, Mikki, and Janelle for writing!  Joan Davis of FlatlandsFoto.com was the event photographer and generously sent us a few win shots.  Thanks to Joan as always for the lovely photos, please visit her site www.flatlandsfoto.com.  If you have an event report to share, send it to [email protected].

Mikki Kuchta and Vertical Limit were winners of the Open Training A division. Copyright Flatlandsfoto.com.

From Mary:

Great courses, great footing and a well organized event, paired with beautiful early autumn weather made for a picture perfect weekend of competition at King Oak Farm’s Fall Horse Trials, September 7-8, 2013. Three hundred horse riders competed from beginner novice through preliminary. Below are two accounts of the event from Mikki Kuchta, owner and trainer at Aiken Bach Farm in Patterson, New York and her working student Janelle Phaneuf.  King Oak Farm thanks them very much for sharing their thoughts.

“It was very exciting to come home with three wins from King Oak Farm Fall Horse Trials this weekend,” Mikki Kuchta said.  Mikki won Open Training A on Renee Fancher’s horse Vertical Limit, Open Novice E on her own ABF Special Agent and her working student Janelle Phaneuf won Open Preliminary C on her own Irish Ike. “On Saturday, I was fairly pleased with Vertical Limit’s (Bing) Dressage test, although he was a bit tense in parts, he scored well enough to lead the division [35.00].  He did a flawless job show jumping and then continued on to perform a beautiful cross country course clear, only adding 0.8 time penalties,” said Mikki.

Sunday was another gorgeous clear day and Janelle Phaneuf, Mikki’s working student, also took the lead right from the start scoring a 31.30 in Dressage at the Preliminary level. Mikki commented that the show jump course was well-designed requiring a forward ride through turns and short approaches. Janelle and Irish Ike had a lovely clear round.  Mikki went on to say that “this year King Oak enlarged the show jump warm up area.  It was an excellent improvement allowing for more warm up fences and more space to keep a good canter.

“Tremaine Cooper’s Preliminary cross country course had some challenging combinations, especially the big stone table at fence 6 with a bending line to offset houses 2 strides apart (fences 7 and 8). If you went the direct route, you had to ride very accurately to get the line just right. There was an option to jump one house and then circle without penalty and jump the second house, as they were numbered separately. Janelle planned to take the direct route and rode it well.  The water and coffin combinations also required accurate turning to be rewarded with a smooth clear go. Everything rode very well for the winning pair,” Mikki said.

“King Oak holds many memories for me,” Janelle said, “as I’m sure it does for so many eventers in Area 1. It was my first USEA horse trial on my first pony, as well as, my first event on my horse Irish Ike. Back then he was a bit of an underdog competing at Beginner Novice, but this weekend he proved that he’s quite the force to be reckoned with as he won Open Preliminary C from start to finish. Adding to that excitement, my trainer, Mikki Kuchta, also lead both of her divisions from start to finish. It was a spectacular weekend for the Aiken Bach Farm Event Team! Thank you to the organizers, farm owners and volunteers who make all of this possible!”

Also on Sunday, Mikki rode ABF Special Agent in Open Novice E. ABF Special Agent, a four-year-old OTTB, is half-owned by Robert Scheuer.  Known around the barn as “Salsa”,  he has performed very well at two young event horse competitions and Mikki has plans to go to the YEH Championships in October. Salsa has also been the best placed TIP (Thoroughbred Incentive Program) horse twice this summer.

“His Dressage test was very light and consistent and scored a 28.0,” Mikki said. “Show jumping has been his weak area, but with grids it has improved and he jumped a lovely clear round. The Novice cross country caused some problems for riders; especially at fence 5, a significant ditch followed 3 strides later by a raised rail jump. It was early on the course and the track ran through the woods over a hill.  I think it was difficult to get a good rhythm by then, so the combination proved to be problematic for some.  However, this was the best cross country round Salsa has ever had.  He really made it feel easy.  He is a four year old and very green so we have brought him along slowly, as he was still growing until recently. He really seems to enjoy eventing and we look forward to watching him develop.”

“King Oak is a great event that I have been competing at for 20 years and  I bring students here to both of their annual events. The facility is beautiful; Fran And Tom Cross do a great job every year to provide Area 1 with this quality horse trial.  The organization at King Oak is exemplary with all phases running on time all weekend with fabulous, friendly and funny volunteers throughout.”