Classic Eventing Nation

Winning for Thaïs: Gutsy French Front Takes Chatsworth Win in Tough Conditions

By on May 13, 2023 3:20 pm -

The sun shone on Chatsworth today – just, perhaps, a bit too late. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Though the sun is shining here at Chatsworth International, tucked away in some of Britain’s most beautiful countryside in the Peak District, it’s an area that has suffered much the same weather as the rest of the country over the last number of weeks: it’s been wet, wet, wet, and although the estate benefits from some serious hills, which should, in theory, help drain the place out a bit, we’ve been met with ground that feels all too familiar after last week’s Badminton. It’s got a deep, holding wetness to it, topped with swiftly drying turf, and the end result is curiously springy feeling when you first put your heel into it – until, of course, you try to follow through on that springiness and find you can’t quite pull yourself back out. It’s a little bit like trying to go for a jog along an endless line of memory foam mattresses: in theory, it all seems quite nice and squidgy, and then you realise it’s very hard work, actually.

But at this point, if we start getting too picky about ground, we’ll have no eventing left at all — and so the intrepid organisers here had to say a sad goodbye to their two-star and Novice (US Prelim) classes, plus a day’s worth of lower-level arena eventing, in favour of the 150 or so CCI4*-S competitors that had come from near and far alike to give this prestigious competition a jolly good go. Bolstering their resolve is the fact that this year is Chatsworth’s first hosting the FEI Eventing Nations Cup, a competition that was previously hosted at Houghton Hall, and which saw a swift fall-off in true international entries post-Brexit. But this venue, with its famous terrain, its much-loved Ian Stark course, and its feeling of prestige and atmosphere, has drawn them all back again, and we saw eight teams and a true international field log some serious miles to get here.

Following 17 withdrawals before the start of the competition, this class (the first of two CCI4*-S sections) saw 82 starters in the first phase – a number that swiftly began to dwindle. Four further pairs withdrew before showjumping, and of those that did opt to tackle this phase, one retired on course and sixteen were eliminated over Chris Barnard’s tough track — mostly for exceeding 20 jumping penalties, which, as of this year, will incur the Big E at FEI events when showjumping comes before cross-country. Now, we were down to 61 — and then fourteen more horses and riders pulled out of the competition, leaving us with a much diminished field of 47 horses and riders who actually left the start box to tackle course designer Ian Stark’s challenge, set in the relentless hills of Chatsworth’s estate. Just 25 would finish: fourteen retired on course, and eight were eliminated, despite the pre-phase removal of an entire complex, the Sunken Hollow at 17AB, and the mid-class removal of 18, the Percuro Perfect Food Table, following a small spate of falls. That, for those of you who are numbers inclined, is a full-competition completion rate of just 30.5% – or a cross-country completion rate of 53% – which, for those of us who aren’t quite so numbers-minded, translates to this: it was reet bloody tough out there today, duck.

Once again, we saw the British team head into the finale of the action as the firm favourites, leading in both the team and individual standings. Ultimately, though, it would be the French team, who had sat in wait in second place throughout the competition, who made the moves they needed to to secure a double victory in a competition that they have long sent riders across the Channel in pursuit of. Not only did all four of their team riders complete — a feat that was unmatched among the eight assembled teams — but all of them finished within the top twelve, delivering swift, accurate, and typically attacking rides across Ian Stark’s tough, hilly course.

Nicolas Touzaint acts as pathfinder with the experienced Absolut Gold HDC. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Team — and competition — pathfinders Nicolas Touzaint and the very experienced Absolut Gold HDC, with whom the former Badminton champion finished in the top ten at both the Tokyo Olympics and the 2019 European Championships, set the pace for the day to come with a 16.8 time penalty round that ultimately ended up being one of the faster efforts of the day.

“It was as I thought it would be; the ground was really wet, but fortunately it dried a little bit today, so it was runnable. It was good for the horses,” says Nicolas, who took eventual seventh place with the 13-year-old Selle Français, following it up with a decisive second place finish with 15.6 time penalties aboard ten-year-old Diabolo Menthe. “These are my two main horses, and the two I count on to take to the Europeans this summer and going into Paris next year. That’s why I’m very happy with the result, because they both worked really well today — I’m pleased with their quality, and because they did a very good competition, and because Chatsworth, with its tough track and the atmosphere, is a very good preparation for the Europeans.”

That there’s been such a strong French front here is no accident: “Our chef d’equipe [Thierry Touzaint] really likes this course to be able to judge the horses, and to prepare them,” explains Nicolas. “We know this is a difficult cross-country, and it really helps them to develop their physical condition. We can really see which horses gallop well and which ones don’t have the staying power – and the ambience of the place help us to evaluate how they’ll do in bigger atmospheres under pressure.”

Winners Stephane Landois and Chaman Dumontceau. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

But it was to be his teammate who would be the star of the day: 28-year-old Stephane Landois, who had put himself in a very good position indeed when posting a 22.8 with his partner Chaman Dumontceau, climbed to the business end of proceedings when he delivered one of the scant six clears inside the time over Chris Barnard’s hugely influential showjumping track. And when second-placed Mollie Summerland opted not to run Charly van ter Heiden, and overnight leaders Ros Canter and Izilot DHI put 25.6 time penalties on the board, the door was open for him to take the victory with his swift, classy 11.2 time penalty round — the second fastest of the day.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Stephane and his eleven-year-old Selle Français (Top Berlin du Temple x Cocagne des Pins, by Narcos II) secure the bag for the French team: they finished fourteenth, and best of the French, at Aachen last year, helping the team to third place, and they were tenth in the Nations Cup finale at Boekelo in October, too. In their short partnership, they’ve also won a prior CCI4*-S at Lignières and finished second in the CCI4*-L at Saumur last spring. Now, they look an almost sure thing for the European Championships this year – particularly because France, as the host nation, will get extra individual slots to use. But with their stellar form, and the French squad’s current strength in depth where young up-and-coming talent is concerned — and the resources it’s willing to put their way — they should earn their spot on the team.

Stephane Landois and Chaman Dumontceau. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

And if they do so, and continue on current form? Not only will they be a formidable threat to all the rest of us, and not only will Stephane set himself up as a known name globally in the sport, and not only will they put themselves firmly on the pathway to Paris — they’ll also, and perhaps most importantly, honour the memory of the gelding’s former rider. Thaïs Meheust died tragically at the age of 22 while competing Chaman Dumontceau in the French Young Horse championships at Haras du Pin — the site of this summer’s European Championships — at just the second fence on course, and her death prompted new pushes for safety in the sport via the Ride for Thaïs Foundation, which continues to raise vital funds for safety devices in eventing. More than anything, the much-loved young rider, who competed for France in three Young Rider, three Junior, and two Pony European Championships, had her eyes on Paris 2024: and now, thanks to her friend Stephane and the horse she believed in so whole-heartedly, that trip could well happen in her honour.

“We have a special relationship; he really listens to me,” says Stephane of the gelding with whom he’s enjoying such a fruitful partnership. “Today, he ran really well, and I’m so happy with him. The ground was a little bit heavy, but he managed it so well. We still have a national competition in France to plan for, and then after we hopefully have the European Championships – so we’re really thinking of that now.”

David Doel and Ferro Point deliver the fastest round of the day. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Great Britain’s second-placed team is best represented by David Doel, who delivered the fastest round of the day — a swift 10.8 time penalties — to finish third aboard the nippy little Ferro Point. The pair added just those time penalties across the country to their first phase score of 35.1, allowing them to climb and climb in this tough day of sport.

“She’s a little, nimble, lightweight horse, and she’s really blood — so I just had a bit of a plan that I make up most of my time at the start,” says David. “I thought I’d use the sort of downhill bit to try and make up as much time as I could, and then I just picked my way through the last third of the track and just let her trundle her way through — and it seemed to work. She made up the ground actually quite easily, and cantered across it really well — but she does lots of hillwork at home, so she loves the hills, and I love Chatsworth as a track –it quite often suits me.”

Though the tricky UK spring season has left many horses and riders under-run coming into these more difficult events, David is enjoying the knock-on benefit of a trip to Kentucky two weeks ago with Galileo Nieuwmoed, where he finished eighth — his third top-ten five-star finish with the gelding — and also, crucially, got his eye in over a big course after a long off-season.

“I feel my preparation has been good all the way through this year,” he says. “I went over to [Dutch international] Kronenberg at the start of the season, and it just got us going, so when everyone else was sort of struggling and trying to get the runs, the decision really paid off.”

David, who has long worked away behind the scenes with his family, balancing a burgeoning eventing career with a bustling ice cream business, is now reaping the rewards of a job well done — though, as he knows well, that usually means the work is just getting started.

“It’s been a long term progression and goals with this crop of horses, and I’m so lucky to have such wonderful owners who let us go abroad to make results like these happen,” he says. “It’s nice that we’ve had a few good results — and now we’re just going make sure I can back it up with the next group of horses!”

Ros Canter and Izilot DHI. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

While Ros Canter‘s impressive dressage score of 18 gave her a decisive first-phase lead with the ten-year-old Izilot DHI — a lead that she narrowly lost out on when adding 2.4 time penalties in the showjumping — it wasn’t to be her win, as she opted to feel out the talented youngster beneath her and let him learn on his way around Ian Stark’s track, picking up 25.6 time penalties along the way. Those penalties wouldn’t cost them much, though: they slipped just a few spots down the order to a final fourth place, giving the exciting young gelding a great experience en route to Bramham, where he’ll contest his second CCI4*-L, having made his debut at Boekelo in October.

“He did come out quite spooky at the start of the year, as he tends to — and he had a bit of an issue with the pink haylage bales at Thoresby as a result,” she says, referring to his uncharacteristic 20 penalties in the Open Intermediate there with a grin. “But that early spookiness isn’t unusual for him, and this time last year, he’d have already had six or seven runs and wouldn’t be feeling quite so cheeky, whereas this time, he hasn’t done so many.”

But, she explains, we’re suddenly entering into the time of year when — rain notwithstanding — young ‘Isaac’ will feel at his best: “He likes it when the sun starts to shine and it gets a little bit warmer and he gets to live outside, and he’s now doing that, so he’s starting to behave,” laughs Ros.

Ros, whose Badminton-winning run last week with Lordships Graffalo was a masterclass in coping with tough ground, found the conditions not dissimilar today: “It’s definitely hard work for the horses — the ground is less than ideal, but Izilot has the benefit of being extremely scopey, so the jumps are well within his capability,” she says. “And I think that’s probably the important thing on ground like this, that you run a horse that you know is experienced and very capable of probably jumping bigger than what they’re jumping today.He’s all of those things, so he actually had a lovely spin, and I think it really benefited him. It’s great for him to see crowds, because that’s what he would find a bit spooky. So yeah, we took it very steady, and we picked around, but I think he had a nice experience today.”

Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza II. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The French coup continues with another duo of young talents rounding out the top five: Gaspard Maksud piloted Zaragoza II, with whom he finished sixth in last year’s World Championships in the mare’s nine-year-old year. Today, she looked every inch as classy as she did last season, and though she tipped two rails in the tough second phase, she shone across the country to add a relatively scant 14.4 time penalties and take fifth place on a final score of 51.8.

“Personally, I went cross country without a watch – I thought, ‘there’s no point; just let the horse gallop at her own speed’,” says Gaspard, who is the sole UK-based member of the French squad here. “If I wanted to be 20 seconds faster I could have been, no problem, but there was no point — this is a way to prepare for bigger events.”

Even athletic, light Zaragoza found the holding ground quite hard work: “She struggled a bit in the ground, but as we saw at Badminton last week, you’ve got to ride the horse, not the watch. You have to listen to the horse and ride what you’ve got, and mine really felt full of running at the end, like she could have done another four minutes and been fine.”

Now, with this experience in the bag, she’ll head on to tackle the CCI4*-L at Bramham — and then, Gaspard hopes, on to the European Championships to try to follow up last year’s excellent result with another placing.

Sarah Ennis and Grantstown Jackson. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Ireland’s Sarah Ennis, who executed one of the fastest rounds of the day here at the ERM back in 2018 with Horseware Stellor Rebound, finished sixth today aboard Grantstown Jackson, adding 1.6 time in showjumping and 14.8 across the country to their first-phase score of 36.5, while Japan’s Ryuzo Kitajima and Feroza Nieuwmoed slot into eighth behind Nicolas Touzaint and his pathfinder, having added 20 time penalties across the country. British team pathfinder and reigning World Champion Yasmin Ingham takes ninth place with stalwart Rehy DJ, who added 26.8 time penalties to his first-phase score of 30.2 and will now head to Luhmühlen for the CCI5*, and tenth place went the way of Belgium’s 22-year-old Jarno Verwimp and his World Championships ride, the eleven-year-old Mahalia, who also secured third place for their country in the Nations Cup competition.

This is the second event of the 2023 FEI Eventing Nations Cup series, which will be a crucially important one this year to those nations that haven’t yet secured their qualification for the Paris Olympics next year, as the highest-ranked as-yet-unqualified nation at the culmination of the series, which finishes at Boekelo CCI4*-L in November, will earn a team spot on the roster. At the moment, things are looking very good for Belgium: they took the win in the first leg, at Italy’s Montelibretti in March, earning themselves a cool 100 points, and their third place today earns them another 80, giving them a 35 point lead over Italy, who now sit on 145 after taking second at Montelibretti and sixth today. Spain sits on 110, while the Dutch are on 115 — so there’s plenty of ground to try to make up at the next leg of the series, which will take place at Ireland’s Millstreet Horse Trials, held June 1–6.

Tomorrow we’ll head back to Chatsworth for the second of the CCI4*-S classes, which will showjump in the morning and then head onto cross-country from 11.00 a.m. This secondary CCI4*-S is a great showcase of new faces and great stories, and is currently lead by Caroline Harris and D.Day on a score of 26, closely followed by Lizzy Baugh and B Exclusive on 27.1. Kate Rocher-Smith sits third on 28.2 with HHS Dassett Class. Keep it locked on EN for coverage of all of tomorrow’s action, plus catch-ups with the leading riders at the end of the day — and until then, Go Eventing!

The final top ten in CCIO4*-S section G, incorporating the FEI Nations Cup.

Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials Links: Website, Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage

4 of the Most Innovative Products We Saw at Kentucky

By on May 13, 2023 11:30 am -

The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event isn’t just a competition. It’s also a meeting of the minds for some of the best brands in the sport. We prowled the halls of the Trade Fair and Sponsor Village to find four of the most innovative products available this year at LRK3DE. 

A Passion Project for Safety | ARRO Helmets

This helmet made a big splash at the Trade Fair, thanks to its unique look and high-tech design. ARRO is President Reese Powell’s passion project. He set out to make the absolute safest helmet on the market, no matter the cost. Fun fact, ARRO is actually an acronym for his family’s names: Antoinette, Reese, Ryder, and Owen.

The ARRO helmet’s most visually distinctive feature is the chin guard that wraps around the jaw of the rider and buckles in on either side of the helmet. This feature is what makes it look the most like a Motocross helmet, but if the look isn’t for you, you can simply unbuckle it and not wear it– the helmet looks great either way. The chin guard is surprisingly lightweight, thanks to its carbon fiber and kevlar construction. Overall, I was surprised at how comfortable the helmet was including the chin guard. I could barely see the guard in my peripheral vision and could speak, breathe, and move my jaw freely. 

If I had to choose one product to help me survive the apocalypse, this would be it. While it includes MIPS technology, it’s also SNELL certified, which means his helmet is rated for flat impact, hazard edge impact, spike impact, crush resistance up to 225 pounds, and is hemisphere anvil and horseshoe anvil rated. The carbon fiber and kevlar shell won’t crack, but will instead spiderweb, like safety glass. A quick release metal buckle minimizes movement of the rider’s head and neck if it needs to be removed in an emergency situation. 

At first glance, the visors on these helmets seem standard, but they hide a secret. In the event of a fall, the visor will snap up and away, preventing your neck from getting pulled up and back if you land face first. The breakaway visors aren’t just for safety– they’re also quick change, so riders get three looks for the cost of one helmet. Simply remove the visor altogether to have the appearance of a skull cap, or swap it out for a wider sun visor for hunter/jumper-esque sun protection. 

Leather Meets High-Tech | Majyk Equipe Bionic Boots

These cleverly-named boots are brand new on the market. In fact, the unveiling of the Majyk Equipe Bionic Boots was on day one of LRK3DE. “Bionic” refers to the marriage of organic leather and the latest dilated foam technology. At first glance, you could be forgiven for thinking the open-front boot was just a particularly good-looking set of show jumping boots. In reality, there’s a lot going on beneath the surface. 

The back of each boot features a carbon fiber strike guard that covers a layer of dilated foam technology to protect the horse’s tendons and provide shock absorption against impacts. The liner is breathable and easily removed, so you can clean it conveniently or replace it if needed. 

Available in five colors, this boot offers you a subtle way to match your cross country colors or match your saddle, if you’re more of a traditionalist. 

The Safety Alert System that Does It All | EquineTrac

Fellow thoroughbred owners and solo trail riders – this device is on the very top of my shopping list and it should be on yours, too. EquineTrac company president Tanner Oliphant created the device to keep his wife safe while he traveled for work. She would ride alone at home with just their two young kids for company. The EquineTrac was developed so that he would be alerted if she fell off. 

This small device attaches to your saddle easily via a metal clip that slides onto a D-ring. It’s a simple set it and forget it device, which is my favorite type of safety device. The battery lasts for 12 months, so you can turn it on, clip it to your saddle, and forget it exists. It connects to an app on your phone that tracks a lot of data– including where you are, what speed you’re going, how many miles you’ve covered, and how long you’ve been riding for. 

EquineTrac measures the distance from your phone to the device on your saddle, so if you’re the kind of person who regularly dismounts without unclipping your air vest, you may wind up sending a lot of false alerts to your emergency contacts if you dismount before stopping your ride on the app. If you do fall off, your emergency contact will receive a customizable message with your location. 

All Natural Immune Support | SmartImmune Mushroom

I would have never thought of giving my horse mushrooms, but SmartPak did! The SmartImmune Mushroom supplement combines the health benefits of adaptogenic botanicals with the fruiting body extracts of chaga, cordyceps, maitake, shiitake, and reishi mushrooms. I spoke to one SmartPak employee at the booth about the SmartImmune Mushroom supplement and what someone would use it for. She stated that she started giving it to her horse with pastern dermatitis (scratches), and they’ve started to heal. 

The antioxidant-rich extracts in the formula are said to help support cellular health, restore homeostasis, and mitigate the impact of stress on the body. The mushrooms contain high concentrations of beta glucans, the polysaccharide component of the mushroom known for its ability to support your horse’s digestive microbiome. Research has indicated that beta glucans can increase the body’s production of pathogen-fighting white blood cells and may be beneficial for your horse when consumed before stressful events. 

What did we miss?

That’s what I’ve got on my list of thought-provoking products, but I’m sure I missed something you also found fascinating. Tell us all about what caught your eye this year in the comments! 

Editor’s Note: While EN does partner with SmartPak and Majyk Equipe, inclusion in this article did not come by way of sponsorship. All observations and opinions are the author’s.  

Kentucky On Catch-Up: Watch Along on NBC Today

By on May 13, 2023 9:00 am -

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum: your 2023 LRK3DE winners. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

With Kentucky and Badminton in the rearview mirror, I’ve just about dragged myself out of my mid-spring post-event hibernation — and now I’m ready to relive all the action. Luckily for me, and for you, today’s the day that NBC will be airing its Land Rover Kentucky highlights program, which hits the airwaves at 2.30 p.m. Eastern time. Obviously, all of us want to experience the thrills of THAT win all over again, but you can also consider tuning in an act of giving back to the sport: every single one of us who switches over to NBC to watch will give those viewer numbers a boost, and if we can show the powers-that-be in broadcasting that eventing’s got a robust fanbase, it gives us a foothold for future broadcasting opportunities, which would be great news.

You can also rewatch the action in full from both the CCI4*-S and CCI5* (and, actually, those CSI3* showjumping classes on Friday and Saturday night!) via USEF Network/ClipMyHorse.TV. There’ll be further chances to catch horse sport on mainstream TV, too: the highlights program will also air on CNBC on Saturday, May 27 at 12.00 p.m. EST. Tune in and feel it all, all over again!

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on May 13, 2023 12:01 am -

Need more LRK3DE in your life? You’re in luck, because the NBC replay is TODAY! Tell your friends! Tell your family! Tell everyone you know to turn to their local NBC station at 2:30 PM Eastern to watch some eventing on mainstream television! Let’s boost those ratings!

U.S. Weekend Action:

Tryon International Three Day Event (Mill Spring, NC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Galway Downs Spring H.T. (Temecula, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Hitching Post Farm H.T. (South Royalton, VT) [Website] [Entries / Ride Times / Scoring][Volunteer]

Majestic Oaks Ocala H.T. (Reddick, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Plantation Field H.T. (Coatesville, PA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Spokane Sport Horse Spring H.T. (Spokane, WA) [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring][Volunteer]

Winona Horse Trials (Hanoverton, OH) [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Looking Back at the Top 10 Moments from the 2023 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event

Charlotte Dujardin: Six-time Olympic medallist wins in Windsor

Greta’s Badminton Bow

Two Weeks until Prizes, Parties and Spirit at the 2023 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship

How a ‘horse whisperer’ can help engineers build better robots

Presenting the Vermont Eventing Challenge

Sponsor Corner: Are you ordering your next pair of Sergio Grasso boots? Follow these step by step instructions to discover your correct size with Dan Kreitl and our Sergio Grasso specialist.

Morning Viewing: And ant’s eye view of Badminton:

Tryon Dressage Concludes: Jacob Fletcher Strongest of Friday Bunch

By on May 12, 2023 6:00 pm -

Jacob Fletcher and Fabian. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Jacob Fletcher and Fletcher Farms’ Fabian (Up to Date – Ineke) were the best of the Friday CCI4*-L bunch at the Tryon International, presented by Fairfax & Favor, slotted into second position on a score of 31.2. A penalty gap of 3.8 marks gives overnight leader Liz Halliday-Sharp and Ocala Horse Properties + The Nutcracker Syndicate’s Cooley Nutcracker (Tolant R – Ballyshan Cleopatra) just under 10 seconds’ worth of time in hand on cross country tomorrow.

Bringing up third after their test Friday are Boyd Martin with one of his newest rides, DSN Equestrian Ventures’ Commando 3 (Connor 48 – R-Adelgunde), just behind Jacob on a score of 31.5. Kaylawna Smith-Cook, traveling from her Temecula, CA base to compete here via the test ride at LRK3DE last month, also slots into the top five overnight with Passepartout (Pasco – Preschel), going just ahead of mom Tamie and Elliot V.

Boyd Martin and Commando 3. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Cross country for most divisions will run tomorrow (May 13), beginning with the CCI4*-L at 9 a.m. ET. There is sadly no live stream of competition this weekend, but you can follow live scores here and find cross country course maps here.

Take a look at the track Capt. Mark Phillips has put together for the 4*-L, with an optimum time of 10 minutes, 14 seconds.

The Short divisions have also completed show jumping after Friday’s action, and here’s a look at the current leaders:

CCI4*-S: Boyd Martin and Luke 140 (27.9)
CCI3*-S: Buck Davidson and Business Class (28.3)
CCI3*-L: Caroline Martin-Pamukcu and She’s the One (28.3)
CCI2*-L: Allie Knowles and Boo Radley (27.1)
CCI2*-S: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Maybach (24.2)
CCI1*-S: Gabby Dickerson and Top Carrera (27.2)

We’ll be back tomorrow with a recap and photos from cross country! Many thanks to Shannon Brinkman Photography for keeping us in the loops through her lens:

Tryon International Three Day Event (Mill Spring, NC): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times][Volunteer] [Scoring] [Cross Country Maps]

Friday Video: Catch Up with Katherine Coleman at Badminton

By on May 12, 2023 5:16 pm -

One of the brilliant victories of Badminton last week — in our humble opinion, anyway — was the illustrious return to five-star undergone by US competitor Katherine Coleman, who piloted her debutant Monbeg Senna to clear rounds in both jumping phases. Not only that, but she was the first rider to deliver a clear on the final day, and the only one in the first session to do so. Horse & Hound caught up with her for a video interview to sum up her week and the journey that’s brought her here — tune in and cheer her on!

Badminton Horse Trials: [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Live Stream – Badminton TV] [Radio Badminton] [Tickets] [EN’s Coverage]

Great Britain – and Ros Canter – Lead the Way in Chatsworth Nations Cup Dressage

By on May 12, 2023 2:00 pm -

Poetry in Motion: British team member Rosalind Canter and Izilot DHI scored 18 in the dressage to head the individual leade rboard in CCI4* Section G at Chatsworth International Horse Trials, sponsored by Delarki. Photo by Libby Law/Chatsworth International Horse Trials.

Great Britain leads the FEI Nations Cup team competition after the dressage phase at the Chatsworth International Horse Trials, sponsored by Delarki.

The British quartet of reigning world champion Yasmin Ingham, former World Champion and Badminton winner Rosalind Canter, Bubby Upton and David Doel have a 6.5-penalty lead over the French squad, which includes dual European champion and Olympic gold medallist Nicolas Touzaint, who is in individual fourth place.

 Belgium is third of the seven teams, followed by Italy, Netherlands, USA, Spain and New Zealand. Chatsworth is the second leg of the prestigious FEI Nations Cup series of team competitions which culminates in a final in Boekelo, the Netherlands, in October.

 Ros Canter also heads the individual leader board in CCI4*-S Section G with the outstanding score of 18 on her team horse, Izilot DHI, a 10-year-old, Dutch-bred bay gelding. “This was real dressage,” exclaimed Ros afterwards. “Izilot has really come into his own this season.

 “His ability was never in doubt — he’s a fantastic horse — but he is not straightforward at home and can be spooky. However, he has a good brain for the arena and we managed to get some real training in over the winter. As a result he is more rideable and is more on my terms.”

 Another British combination, Mollie Summerland and Charly Van Ter Heiden, winners of the German CCI5*-L at Luhmuhlen in 2021, are renowned for their prowess in the dressage arena and they are less than a penalty in arrears of Ros, on the brilliant score of 18.9.

 France’s Stephane Landois is third on Chaman Dumontceau on a score of 22.8.

 In an alteration to the timetable, the show jumping and cross-country phases for CCI4*-S Section G and the FEI Nations Cup will take place tomorrow (Saturday, May 13), with show jumping starting at 8am and cross-country from 12 noon.

 The jumping phases for CCI4*-S Section H, which is currently led by Caroline Harris and D Day on a score of 26.0, and the advanced class will take place on Sunday, May 14.

 For up-to-date scoring and start times, visit www.eventingscores.co.uk

 In addition to the eventing action, there are more than 80 tradestands and great family entertainment including the Yorkshire Countryman, dog agility, the Sheep Show, scurry driving, Pony Club jumping and a children’s entertainment zone.

Handling the Heartbreak of Horses with 5* Rider Valerie Pride

By on May 12, 2023 12:00 pm -

 

Valerie Pride and Favian at LRK3DE in 2022. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Valerie Pride’s riding career is perhaps best described as an emotional roller coaster. From postponing big dreams as a young rider to the recent retirement of her five-star horse, Favian, just days before their biggest event of the year, Valerie sometimes probably wishes someone would hit the stop button on this ride. Admirably, she’s able to take it all in stride thanks to one simple philosophy: being grateful. 

While these days she’s able to focus on that gratitude for everything she has and find the silver lining in almost every struggle, it wasn’t always this way. As a teenager and young adult, Valerie “was definitely an overachiever, driven by a fear of failure,” she says. “I would miss the extra credit on an exam and be upset for two days because I only got a 106 and 108 was possible. That was my mindset. I was valedictorian of my college.”

Growing up like this had its pros and cons. On the one hand, she got amazing grades and was an all-star lacrosse player. But it also instilled in her the idea that if you work hard enough, you’ll always be successful. And, unfortunately, that’s not always how it works with horses. You can bend over backwards yourself working so hard and your horse can still pull up lame with an abscess two days before a show. Valerie says she had a lot to learn about shifting her mindset as she got older. 

“I got my Pony Club A when I was 16, I went to young riders, and then I thought, ‘wow, I’m gonna be at the Olympics by the time I’m 24,” she says. “And then, fast forward, it’s another 20 years. I’m 41, 42 years old. And I’m proud of everything that I have done and achieved and all of that, but I think when I was that age, I probably thought the people that were 41 were has-beens.”

Favian and his road-trip buddy, Theodore — who, yes, made the 2021 trip to Kentucky with the crew!

Recently, Valerie has had this heartbreaking lesson hammered home once again. Sadly, she had to retire her only five-star horse, Favian, from the upper levels just ten days before they were due to compete at the Land Rover Kentucky Three Day Event. Favian’s retirement was due to a chronic issue in his left front foot, and while this has been a carefully managed issue for the entirety of his career, it finally caught up with him.

“We will never know why his left front foot has issues,” says Valerie. “It’s just that it’s always shown more chronic wear and tear. He has excellent conformation, and I have an excellent farrier, but just from the start, this was a problem.”

Throughout his career, Valerie has been working with a team of highly-qualified veterinarians and farriers to make sure that he stays comfortable and that they’re doing everything possible to ensure he’s happy doing his job. For example, before every five-star run, Valerie has paid for him to have an MRI, to ensure that they’re not missing any source of pain or hidden changes to his hoof. While Valerie knew this might be coming, she had been hoping that Favian had just one more five-star in him, so they could retire on a high note.

“I think that I just knew in my heart of hearts that it was heading that way. And you were hoping for him that he could do one more amazing thing. You know, he was so close,” says Valerie. “He was a bit on borrowed time his whole life. But that just makes him that much more of a champion, you know? That’s how awesome he was.”

Valerie Pride and Favian. Photo by Abby Powell.

Mentally, she wasn’t just dealing with “Black Beauty’s” retirement, but also with pressure from sponsors and trying to decide what would be best for her barn and her clients. “Should I just go and do a dressage test? Because it means so much to sponsors. This year, Kentucky was just back on again in full force, with autograph signings,” says Valerie. “But at the same time, being short staffed is a big thing. You know, even if I go to Kentucky just to be a presence, which is so important, I’m leaving my groom behind, my clients behind. It just didn’t help.”

At the end of the day, Valerie decided to stay home. She says she would rather retire him before the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event than risk him breaking down during the run. “This horse owes me nothing. He’s been amazing.” 

Despite knowing she made the right decision with Favian’s best interests at heart, all of this stress caught up with Valerie. After deciding to stay home, she didn’t have any desire to watch footage of LRK3DE and wasn’t finding joy in being at the barn for long hours and teaching lessons in the same way she was before Favian’s retirement.

Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride and Favian. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

But in true Valerie fashion, she’s been working hard to find the silver lining in Favian’s retirement. “I’m grateful for this free time that I have. I’ve been trying to catch up on some sleep that I haven’t had since like November and have a day off here or there. I’m just trying to spin this into a positive and take some time,” says Valerie. “I know it’s maybe not ultimately what I wanted, but I’ve got to make the most of it.”

It was a sign of her return to normalcy and of better things to come when she started to look forward to watching footage of Badminton. “I was actually really excited to be aware of how excited I was about Badminton,” says Valerie. “I was bouncing back. I’m grateful that there was another five star one week later to kind of redirect my attention and my focus and be like, okay, you know what, the month of May is going to be really light; let’s go horse shopping.”

Looking to the future gives Valerie some hope. While Favian will still be in her life as a lower level horse for a lucky young rider, she’s hoping to get a new upper level horse in her barn quickly. In the past, Valerie has been happy to be the sole owner of her horses. She enjoyed the reduced pressure that comes from not having owners and being able to make her own decisions when it comes to her horse’s future. But, she’s looking to switch things up for her next horse. 

“I do have syndicates that have been put together and it might be time to utilize that, to align people,” says Valerie. “The goal is to get something that can go to like the CCI3*-L at the Maryland Five Star, because I just think it’s a fantastic event.”

Caring so much about the horses, her clients, and the sport of eventing only to be constantly let down can wear a person out quickly. “I’m a very empathetic person. I care for my horses. I care for my clients. I care for the sport of eventing and that sort of thing can be easily overwhelming,” says Valerie. “You don’t want to stop caring, that’s not the right answer.”

A side effect of caring so much is the toll it takes on those around you. According to Valerie, you can try so hard to make everything perfect, which is impossible, that you wind up burning through your support team. “I think when you first start your career you want everything to be ideal, and you work so hard for it to be ideal. And you can burn through yourself and your staff and the horses. It’s not malicious. It’s because you just try so hard to do everything right and then eventually the real world just beats you down.”

Valerie’s solution to this problem is to prioritize, realign, and focus on a growth mindset for herself and her staff. “Everybody’s here to learn and unfortunately learning does take time and mistakes and you just have to try to minimize that,” said Valerie. “But that is part of the process. And I think that that is something that I’ve probably gotten a little bit better about. You assume that people know what you know, and that’s not right. You have to really kind of think about where is that person coming from and how can you best use them on the team.”

Valerie Pride and Favian at the Maryland 5 Star. Photo by Abby Powell.

At the end of the day, Valerie focuses on growth and positivity. Whether it’s training horses, judging, or working with her staff to run her home base of Blue Clover Eventing, Valerie is someone who definitely celebrates the journey, not just the end result. “We’re all trying to achieve the same thing, and sometimes a different horse or person might need to go about it in a slightly different way,” Valerie says. “It’s when you have that learning process and that growth – that’s really what makes life fun.”

Her growth mindset and unending positivity just might be Valerie’s secret weapon. One word that kept coming up throughout our conversation was gratitude. She always keeps in mind that even on her hardest days, she gets to live some little girl’s dream of riding horses for a living. “I’m very grateful. I kind of went through this phase where you think to yourself, ‘hey, when your right foot hits the ground and when your left foot hits the ground be grateful. There’s some people that didn’t even wake up this morning.’ So it puts things in perspective that we get to play with horses.”

Valerie didn’t develop this mindset on her own, but has been working with a sports psychologist to help her create tools and techniques to handle the day-to-day stress that comes from being a professional eventer. “I do have a sports psychologist. He is probably one of the most important people on my team,” says Valerie. “He just listens to me and helps with exercises.”

It was actually Valerie’s sports psychologist who helped her figure out the source of debilitating migraines. After she got knocked out going up a bank, Valerie began to have migraines so intense that she would be forced to lay in bed, unable to sit up without vomiting. Finally her sports psychologist figured out that they were occurring when she became too stressed. 

“Those migraines are the universe literally putting me in bed on my bum. And it’s just saying ‘girlfriend, you’ve got to chill out.’ Because you pretty much can’t sit up or you’ll vomit everywhere,” Valerie says, laughing. “It’s horrible.”

While these migraines could be a form of torture for Valerie, she’s actually managed to use the enforced downtime for the better. “I literally just have to lay there and think about nothing except gratitude and how I’m grateful for so many things.”

Valerie Vizcarrondo-Pride and Favian. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Valerie focuses so hard on being grateful because she’s a big believer in the power of the universe, and that everything happens for a reason. “I think like attracts like, so you have to keep projecting these good thoughts,” Valerie says. “You have to be aware of what mentality you’re projecting to your colleagues, your horses, your owners, and to the other members on your team, right? It’s definitely your aura coming out. And if you sit there and think about the negative then I think the universe thinks that’s what you’re asking for and it’s just going to send it your way.”

But, Favian’s retirement has tested that faith. “The universe must think I’m a pretty strong person because it’s not going to give me stuff that I can’t handle. But I don’t know that I believe I’m as strong as the universe does right now, because it’s really given me a lot.”

To help young riders avoid setting unrealistic expectations on themselves, in the same way she did, Valerie has this advice: “Anything is possible. Never stop dreaming and never stop learning! Work hard, the right people will notice and know that the right people come into your life at the right times. The universe always has a plan, be grateful, and enjoy the ride.”

Who Jumped it Best: The Kentucky CCI4*-S Defender Off-Road Combination

By on May 12, 2023 10:34 am -

Who Jumped It Best?

Our Who Jumped it Best? today takes us back to nearly two weeks ago, when all eyes were fixed upon the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event and its two jam-packed, ludicrously exciting classes. We’ve already given you the chance to cast your educated eye over some of the CCI5* competitors, who we pitted against one another over the Wofford Rails before the Head of the Lake, so now we’re turning our attention to the CCI4*-S — and, more specifically, to the Defender Off-Road question at 10ABC. This sunken road complex consisted of a set of upright rails on MIMs clips, a bounce to a step down, and then an arcing left-handed turn to a broad brush-topped spread at the C element, which is what we’re judging today. Bearing in mind the long, downhill approach to the complex, and the need to prepare for another single fence not long after this one, take a look at the following pictures and then scroll down to the cast your vote for the horse and rider who made the best effort over this big fence.

Tamie Smith and Elliot V. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Sara Kozumplik and Rock Phantom. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Sarah Kuhn and Mr Cash van de Start. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Tracey Bienemann and Reg the Ledge. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

John Michael Durr and Blue Rodeo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Andrew McConnon and Wakita 54. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Now, it’s over to you: cast your vote for the horse and rider you think made the best effort, and help them on their way to eternal glory and bragging rights:

LRK3DE: [Website] [5* Times] [5* Scores] [4* Times] [4* Scores] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [Tickets] [EN’s Form Guide] [EN’s Coverage] [EN’s Ultimate Guide]

[Click here to catch up on all of EN’s coverage of the 2023 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event]

Friday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

By on May 12, 2023 12:03 am -


You know what, this video above made my whole week. Pippa Funnel, Tim Price, and Gemma Stevens taking their horses into the lake at Badminton, after the prize giving ceremony, and letting them splash off the mud. Tim’s horse is a menace and I love it, and his splashes make everyone giggle and realize in our hearts that this is the moment when you remember the reason for this entire horse obsession. All the long hours, the money, the hard work, the tears, the blood, the money you should have spent on a therapist, the ramen noodles, the sweat, the poop, all of it; this is what it’s about. Love. And if it’s not for the love of the horse, and with happiness at the forefront of your mission as a rider, then this is not the sport for you.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Tryon International Three Day Event (Mill Spring, NC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Galway Downs Spring H.T. (Temecula, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Hitching Post Farm H.T. (South Royalton, VT) [Website] [Entries / Ride Times / Scoring][Volunteer]

Majestic Oaks Ocala H.T. (Reddick, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Plantation Field H.T. (Coatesville, PA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Spokane Sport Horse Spring H.T. (Spokane, WA) [Website] [Entries / Ride Times / Scoring][Volunteer]

Winona Horse Trials (Hanoverton, OH) [Website] [Entries / Ride Times / Scoring] [Volunteer]

News From Around the Globe:

High level competition horses are older than ever, with more than a handful peaking at 15 or older. With that, comes a new challenge, of managing a horse of that age, at that level. Obviously this starts with management at home, and consistency throughout their lives in as many aspects as possible. This fascinatingly science based article details just how to keep your horse performing at his best for as long as possible, and feeling great. [Keeping the Older Horse Performance-Ready]

In April 2023, the USEF announced that beginning in September, foreign participants will no longer be permitted to participate in USEF national competitions unless they join USEF as Competing Members. As well, individuals 18 and older must take SafeSport Training to be eligible to participate in national USEF shows. This news was understandably met with a barrage of questions from riders across the globe, so Horse Sport got some answers for you. [Clarifications on New USEF Rule]

Tamie Smith is a name that is known in the eventing world, especially after her recent win with Mai Baum at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ CCI5*-L. Following in her mother’s footsteps and making a name for herself is Kaylawna Smith-Cook. This talented mother-daughter duo is taking eventing’s international stage by storm and helping one another along the way. The pair are competing against one another in the CCI4*-L at Tryon this weekend, but I guarantee they’re each others biggest cheerleader. [Mother Daughter Power Duo]

The MARS Bromont Rising U25 scholarship program has announced the first recipients of this year’s grant funding for riders aiming to compete in the MARS Bromont CCI. Each will receive $2,500 toward their travel and competition costs and participate in an extensive educational program during the event. The brainchild of Bromont organizer Sue Ockendon and the late Steve Blauner, the scholarship program was first offered in 2019 for riders competing at Bromont and at the time Ocala, and was expanded to include Galway Downs in 2022. Highlighting this year’s program is the return of three-time German Olympic team member Bettina Hoy as a guest coach for 2023. Hoy will be coaching athletes on dressage days as well as providing course walks for cross-country and show jumping. [Bromont Rising Scholarship Recipients]