RNS Video was out and about at the VHC Eventing’s Horse Trials this weekend, which saw a full roster of competitors from Starter all the way up through CCI3*-S. You can read the wrap-up from a busy weekend in Virginia here.
If you missed out on eventing at VHC, never fear! Check out the highlights above from the upper water complex featuring Intermediate and 3* pairs. Who had your favorite ride through this question?
In this excerpt from his book “Horses Came First, Second, and Last,” the late great Olympic event coach Jack Le Goff gives us his seven tried-and-true rules for mentally and physically preparing the horse for competition.
Jack Le Goff riding Laurier to third place at Burghley in 1963. Photo courtesy of Jack
Le Goff.
The mental attitude of the horse is of equal importance as the physical conditioning. A relaxed, happy horse will not only compete better but will have far less chance of injury. If a horse is happy in his work, then competing at an event will take less out of him. A calm horse has a longer stride. Take one extra foot on a stride, and multiply that by the number of strides on a cross-country course and you will see a big difference. The horse will be faster on the course with no increase in speed because he is taking fewer strides to do it. The development of your conditioning program should include both the body and the mind and will help the horse do his job at maximum efficiency.
Conversely, if the horse is unhappy, he may not make the extra effort. You can pretty much get the horse up to the Preliminary level whether he enjoys it or not. But when it comes to the big fences, you cannot force him. It is all down to the mental attitude; many horses are physically capable of jumping the heights and widths, but they just will not do it. Horses have to like you and be happy in their work to put out that kind of effort. I see some people who do not ride so well, but horses go for them. I believe someone like that must be a good horseman or horsewoman because the horse wants to work for him or her.
Injuries are often related to the horse’s mental condition. If a horse is relaxed, he is not going to get into half the trouble he will if he is fighting the rider all through the course. Not only is the unhappy horse going to knock himself, he is also going to have problems in his back, muscle soreness, and problems in the shoulders, all because he is mentally unhappy and tense. He is going to run around with his head in the air, unresponsive to his rider, who will then head to the hardware store for a solution instead of the drawing board!
The happy horse will use his body properly. He will be able to make the time between jumps; he will seem like he is flowing, coming back smoothly for turns and flowing forward. His muscles will work freely. The tendons will slide inside the tendon sheath, and they will seldom be injured. The articulated joints will work fluidly. There will be no rubbing or grating because the horse is relaxed. His muscles are relaxed and he is supple, listening, obediently responding to the rider’s aids, and he is covering the ground with relaxed, efficient strides, not wasting an ounce of his energy. This is the epitome of our goal in our training and conditioning program. And again, it all comes down to going forward, coming back, and turning smoothly like a well-oiled machine.
Although there are basic principles to conditioning horses, I never trained two teams the same way and have always adjusted the conditioning of event horses according to specific factors, such as:
1. The distances and speed required and the nature of the terrain of the target competition.
2. The length of time since the horse’s last competition. A horse that has not been competing for several months will need more conditioning than one who is competing regularly.
3. The facilities available for conditioning. Gently rolling open fields are ideal, some hills would be an asset, but you must make the best of what you have nearby.
4. The temperament of the horse. With a hot horse, you must use a lot of long distances at slower speeds. With a more easygoing horse, you will use shorter distances at faster speeds.
5. The age and soundness of the horse. With a horse whose soundness is delicate, you must replace the speed work on the flat with slower work uphill and possibly swimming.
6. The upcoming competitions. When conditioning for a three-day event, the horse trials leading up to it will be a critical part of the horse’s fitness preparation and nothing can replace competition.
7. The rule of three. Three weeks prior to a major competition I always sharpen up the horses with a competition. If you have to travel a long distance to the final competition, then the trial can move to four weeks prior. Racehorse trainers would not conceive running the Kentucky Derby without prep races. Finally, let me say that it is essential that a horse get a rest period after a hard season. They should be turned out for 10 hours a day in a safe pasture whenever possible and for at least three weeks. Young horses at the Preliminary and Intermediate levels don’t need any riding during this decompression period, but an older horse may need a gentle hack to keep his joints loose and his back muscles in decent shape. A rest of less than three weeks simply will not do. Also, a midseason break just doesn’t work as the horse simply won’t let down during that short length of time, but you can give him what I call an “active rest.” This means taking him for hacks with no work as such. It is better to let the groom do it if possible as you would be tempted to do something instead of leaving him alone. Horses can go sour more quickly than people. Treat them like people because they think and react to their conditions and they have feelings; they also need a vacation!
This excerpt from Horses Come First, Second, and Last by Jack Le Goff is reprinted with permission from Trafalgar Square Books (www.horseandriderbooks.com).
Phillip Dutton and Z. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
With just hours until entries close, Bromont Horse Trials is excited to announce a few of the top local and international riders entered to compete at the MARS Bromont CCI taking place June 8-11, 2023 at the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park.
Widely considered one of the most prestigious three-day events in North America, and the only Canadian event offering the penultimate CCI4*-L and CCI4*-S divisions of eventing competition, athletes will compete for $25,000 in prize money and awards offered by the generous sponsors of the MARS Bromont Three Day Event.
Local Olympian Colleen Loach (Dunham, QC) currently the highest-ranked Canadian eventer on the FEI Longines World Rankings list (58), has been a Canadian team member since 2015. She participated in the Rio and Tokyo Olympics, the FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Tryon (2018) as well as winning bronze at two Pan-American Games in both Toronto and Lima. Loach has entered Vermont in the CCI4*-S and FE Golden Eye in the CCI4*-L.
Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
“Bromont is one of my favourite competitions and not just because it’s my ‘hometown’ event,” says Loach. “Bromont’s charm is its low-key, top class atmosphere in a beautiful setting. The rolling terrain makes for excellent cross-country and Derek DiGrazia is my favourite course designer which definitely adds to the appeal. We are lucky to call this event our own and a big thank you must go out to the organizing committee for keeping it alive and persevering through the turmoils of the past few years.”
Fellow Canadian Teammates Jessica Phoenix of Cannington, ON (5-time Pan-Am medalist and Canadian Olympian) and Selena O’Hanlon of Kingston, ON (Canadian Olympian with multiple World Championship starts and team silver medals from the 2010 WEG in Lexington, KY and the 2011 Pan-Am Games in Guadalajara, MEX) join Loach on the current list of entries.
America’s Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) has competed in every Olympic Games since 1996, winning team gold with Australia in 1996 and 2000, and as a member of the U.S. team in 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020, winning individual bronze at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He has competed in seven FEI World Equestrian Games, representing the U.S. for the first time in 2006. He won team gold and individual silver at the 2007 Pan American Games and team gold at the 2015 Pan American Games.
“Bromont is always a good experience for the horses and supporters,” says Dutton. “[Bromont] has great international feel with atmosphere and top class arenas for dressage and showjumping. And it’s usually a very challenging cross-country course. I’m really looking forward to competing there this year.”
Canadian Olympian and multiple Pan-Am Medalist Jessica Phoenix of Cannington, ON, currently has four horses entered across multiple levels in the MARS Bromont CCI June 8-11. Pictured here with Wabbit from the FEI Nations Cup Eventing at Bromont, August 2022. © Cealy Tetley
Making it truly international are entries from Australians Ryan Wood and Hugh Wrigley, as well as Sweden’s Jennie Jarnstrom-Dennis.
For the full list of current entries click here.
Often described as an equestrian triathlon, the Olympic sport of three-day eventing features three separate phases of competition where the same horse and rider pair complete each phase together over three days.
For the MARS Bromont CCI 2023, the opening phase, dressage, will be held over Thursday/Friday, the exciting and spectator-friendly cross-country will take place Saturday and the event will conclude Sunday with the show jumping phase, to determine the overall winners. Daily general admission is free with parking $15/car. The full schedule can be found here.
CCI4*-L, CCI4*-S, CCI3*-L and CCI2*-L divisions will be offered at this year’s June event as well as U25 sections in both two- and three-star levels. The MARS Bromont Rising educational program will also take place the week of the event.
Renowned course designer Derek DiGrazia (CA, USA), course designer for the Tokyo Olympics and some of the biggest three-day events in the world will be back at Bromont for 2023, to design the courses set amid the challenging terrain, with the help of Canada’s Jay Hambly.
Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.
More than a year of debate surrounded the December 2022 announcement of Area VI’s calendar revisions (For more context from Area VI’s perspective, click here). A new process for the creation of the U.S. eventing calendar had broken ground in April of 2021, the aim of which was to bring “critical structure and overdue stability.” Additionally it would “facilitate a healthy calendar to the benefit of the U.S. Eventing athletes, their horses, stakeholders within the sport, and the U.S. Eventing Pathway as a whole,” Amber Braun, Managing Director of Eventing at USEF, explained.
The creation of three week breaks in Advanced competition came from a new policy from the USEF Strategic Task Force Committee for the new Eventing Calendar Process Proposal: “The Task Force recommends that preparation for all CCI5*-L and CCI4*-L competitions, Games, and Championships should be placed in three-week intervals leading up to the competition in order to ensure optimal preparation and welfare of the horse.”
With concerns that upper level horses were running too often, horse welfare became a top priority. On the East coast, with more than 20 venues across different Areas offering 72+ upper level competitions in one calendar year, that was possible; difficult but possible.
When word came to the Area VI Committee in late 2021, the new calendar seemed possible too. “Honestly I liked it for my upper level FEI horses initially,” said Bec Braitling, member of the Area VI Committee. “The more it went on…the realization of how deep it would impact our national calendar became apparent.”
As the 2023 Area VI calendar began to take shape, committee members realized there were two snags: The Area would have back to back horse shows in order to accommodate the breaks in upper level competition and lose a CCI3*-L in the spring.
A policy that prioritizes horse welfare and strategic planning is something to be lauded and emulated, not condemned. But for Area VI, the consequences of adhering to the new schedule and its resulting loss of international competition had the potential to challenge the health of the sport financially and its ability to hold elite level eventing.
For Bec Braitling, Christina Gray, Teresa Harcourt, and Andrea Pfieffer, members of the Area VI Committee, this meant an intervention was needed.
Bec Braitling and Caravaggio II. Photo by Ride On Photo.
At first glance, it would be feasible to accommodate three week breaks by extending the California eventing season into the winter. But as Bec pointed out, “We HAVE to run on a two week schedule here, due to weather mostly. The winter is wet and the footing doesn’t allow ‘year round eventing’, the summer is DARN hot in most areas, so we cluster Feb through May and Sept through November — and it’s busy! Once you switch to three weeks, you squeeze out competitions and force some to run back to back weekends. We cannot support this schedule. There just aren’t enough entries to split.”
Mitigating the loss of FEI competition in the spring remained a serious obstacle, but the national calendar ranked higher in the concerns of the committee members and organizers of Area VI. As a whole, they decided that it was more important to keep eventing viable rather than allow any single event to fall away.
“Ram Tap was going to be severely impacted,” Andrea Pfieffer, chair of the Area VI Committee, explained. “Terry [Hilst] last year, she stepped up. She pulled that Advanced together for the Area when we really needed an Advanced at the end of the year… [Terry] did it for the area and did an amazing job.” Terry Hilst, organizer at Ram Tap Horse Park, had also loaned an enormous amount of equipment to the Horse Park at Woodside so that they could run their October horse trials after parting ways with former organizer Robert Kellerhouse. Creating direct competition between any venues was not an option for the committee.
Christina Gray, secretary to many horse shows across the U.S. including Area VI staple Twin Rivers Horse Park, commented that many of Area VI competing members are not professionals. “When we were going to put events back to back and you’re an adult amateur and you’re working or you’re a kid in school, you can’t be gone two or three days out of every week. It’s people enjoying the sport and this is their vacation that they’re taking.”
Olympic rider for Puerto Rico Lauren Billys turns and burns with Can Be Sweet. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
“In fairness to USEF, these proposals were open for comment from riders and there was little to no feedback,” Bec added.
So the work began to try communicating the gravity of the situation. “The people that could make a change jumped onboard,” Andrea said. “We were able to hit it on all sides… Bec being on the [USEF Calendar Working Group] made a huge impact, Teresa Harcourt on the Board of Governors made a big impact, and…I [talked] directly to Rob [Burk], [talked] directly to Jonathan Elliot up at Aspen because he’s on the [USEF Calendar Working Group]…it was a collective group who absolutely made the changes happen.”
Bec stressed the importance of getting involved: “One key point I want to get across is how we perceive governing bodies and how we complain about things that happen, but not many step up to take positive action. I’ve actually never been much of an ‘activist’ type and am usually guilty of being a complainer and not a doer myself! This time…I was able to sit across from Bill Maroney (USEF) himself and with the help of members of the Strategic Calendar Task Force present the facts, the struggles associated with the revised schedule and ultimately develop a solution. That’s so important going forward, we HAVE to be a part of our sport, be advocates for our sport, be INTERESTED in what’s going on and participate…Not nearly enough riders help shape the sport at the governance level, but then complain about things we don’t like. That’s why the newly established USEF Calendar Review Task Force is so important. But riders, organizers and supporters need to give feedback so those concerns can be addressed. Fill out questionnaires, respond to emails asking for feedback. Without it, we can’t change the things we don’t agree with.”
Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Twin Rivers Horse Park (Paso Robles, CA) had previously held a CCI3*-L division at their April Horse Trials. Without it, the only other option for a run prior to Rebecca Farms in July meant a 3.000 mile trek (one way) east to Tryon.
For those not well versed in upper level eventing, the absence of a spring CCI3*-L created a challenge. Horses and riders need to complete a national Advanced in addition to two CCI3*-L and one CCI4*-S or one CCI3*-L and two CCI4*-S in order to achieve qualification for a CCI4*-L. No matter which route a rider took, it would have meant either a trip to Tryon in the spring for the first and Rebecca Farms in July for the second OR taking a full year or more to achieve CCI4*-L qualification.
Area VI members are used to driving far. “If you grew up in California, you grew up in a vehicle,” Andrea pointed out. “On the West Coast, you do have to be willing to get in the truck and travel a bit. So getting in the trailer, driving 10 hours to get to Galway? To me, it’s a jaunt.” Rebecca Farms in Kalispell, MT is a 20 hour drive without stops from Galway Downs in Temecula, CA while Tryon is a full 34 hours without taking into account rest and food breaks.
So if an option existed and competitors are used to driving, why was there a problem?
Within the whole Area, just six venues offer 19 competitions, both upper and lower levels, in the calendar year. If you are willing to go farther, three venues outside Area VI in Washington and Montana offer an additional four upper level competitions. Even when taking Tryon into consideration, the proposed calendar operated under the assumption that competition plans would go perfectly.
Amber Biracial and Cinzano. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.
“If your horse had an abscess and missed an Advanced, there’s not half a dozen in different Areas that I can drive to and go, ‘no big deal we missed this one’. I can drive to Virginia or Kentucky or Florida or Maryland,” Andrea Pfeiffer remarked, a concern echoed by Bec. “Back east, there’s a lot of Advanced events. You can pick and choose. But out here, if your horse missed one, you’re making it so these horses are essentially going to be an entire year behind where you wanted to be.” As we have learned with the recent covid pandemic, losing a year is not an ideal situation for horse or rider.
Enough time remained to make adjustments before the 2023 season was confirmed. Bec explained that, “during 2022, some of the Area VI competitions petitioned for date changes but those were denied…”
One of those denied competitions was the Twin Rivers Horse Park. As secretary for Twin Rivers, Christina Gray put together the modification request for the date change.
According to the 2023-2027 U.S. Eventing Calendar CCI4*-L, CCI4*-S, CCI3*-L, Advanced Policies and Procedures, the request needed to address four primary criteria: high performance sport impact, technical aspects (footing/stabling/management/etc), U..S Eventing team plans, and the growth of equestrian sport in the U.S. Additional criteria can include the organization’s experience, volunteer engagement, benefits for U.S. eventing, participation, local community engagement, media/sponsorship/donor opportunities, along with anything the presenter feels serves the sport’s best interest.
“It was hard..there were a lot of changes going on,” she commented. Twin Rivers had been granted Week 16 but applied for a modification to run on Week 15 instead. “We’ve run on both weekends and so we had a lot of data…which was more financially viable, which was healthier for the area, which was healthier for upper level riders trying to go to Kentucky.”
Source: Christina Gray to USEF/USEA on behalf of Twin River’s bid for modification. In 2013, the spring event moved from Week 16 to Week 15 where it has been placed in the calendar since.
Based on Twin Rivers’ data, Christina could confidently quantify the effect on high performance eventing. “[Week 15 was] drastically more used for people going to Kentucky…when they [Kentucky and Twin Rivers] are back to back weekends, that doesn’t allow for the travel that it takes because if you’re driving your own horses, it’s three day drive, and then if you’re flying your horse, you can only fly on certain days. So a lot of times you have to get a flight the week before.” As she pointed out, “that’s a bit much for horses to fly on Tuesday and jog on Wednesday.”
But it’s not just those horses aimed at Kentucky that were affected by the policy change. “Our upper level events have to have support of the lower level events to survive,” Christina said. “We’re not getting the divisions of forty or fifty at the 4* or 3* level. We’ll run an FEI event and it might have 45 entries total between all the divisions so it really takes having 350 national entries to help fund those FEI levels. And I think people don’t necessarily know that’s how it balances on the West Coast.”
Even if one venue could get an exemption from the three week policy, having events on back to back weekends competing for entries challenged any ability to hold upper level sport at all.
When Christina and Twin Rivers initially presented their desire for the modification to run on Week 15 instead of 16, the response from the governing bodies endorsed a trial year. But “on the West Coast, we can barely fill two [shows] every other weekend,” Christina went on. “That’s with support at the upper levels from all over the west. It’s not just California. You’ve got people coming from Washington, you have Canadians coming down to really fill those divisions. If you’re looking at an event making enough money to continue to run, we can’t afford to lose anything else.”
Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.
“It was no easy feat and it really was a team of individuals. It wasn’t one person who carried the load,” Andrea recalled.
After many ears bent, letters of support written, and emails sent, the committee members managed to convey the gravity of the situation to the Eventing Strategic Calendar Task Force. The goal of this appointed group is, Amber Braun describes, “to carefully review the strategic calendar and address any deficiencies as well as consult on the future process.” The Task Force passed it on to the Eventing Sport Committee. Those modifications were then recommended to an Ad Hoc of the Board of Directors.
On January 23, 2023, the press release that accompanied the announcement of the new and approved calendar wrote: “Due to hardships demonstrated for qualification under the current structure and criteria, and to limit the travel to achieve those qualifications in the interest of horse welfare, the following modifications were approved to offer the best preparation for high-performance athletes and horses.”
That one sentence encompasses the work and effort of so many people across so much time. From Area VI committee members to USEF and USEA representatives, from elite athletes to show organizers, it shows what happens when we do the work to engage honestly with each other and to communicate across difficulties even when everyone comes with the best of intentions. However, Bec Braitling, Christina Gray, Teresa Harcourt, and Andrea Pfieffer led the charge for Area VI by doing the work to help resolve the challenges posed by new strategic policies.
In the words of Andrea Pfieffer: “The calendar, as it stands right now, is absolutely, completely workable…If we had another venue in California, that would be really fantastic. But that doesn’t happen overnight — that’s not going to be in 2024 — that’s a big undertaking to find a location…That’s my big dream. but as it stands right now, we have a very healthy calendar..I think Bec said, ‘we might be small but we are mighty.’”
I love it when new eventing podcasts hit the airwaves, and this one’s already topping my list of favourites: Eventing Weekly is the brainchild of Kiwis abroad Mitch and Brayden, who are also, rather conveniently, five-star eventing husbands (Brayden is married to Samantha Lissington, while Mitch is the other half of Ginny Thompson). Now, they’re putting their heads together to cover the sport from their perspective with a series of brilliant interviews — and their second, with Badminton champ Laura Collett, is well worth tuning in for, particularly if you’re also keen on rugby. Subscribe here!
Events Opening Today: Larkin Hill H.T., Champagne Run at the Park H.T., The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm
Events Closing Today: Kent Horse Trials, Inc., Full Gallop Farm June H.T., Seneca Valley Pony Club H.T., Horse Park of New Jersey H.T. I, Honey Run H.T., Silverwood Farm Spring H.T., Shepherd Ranch Pony Club H.T. I, Aspen Farm H.T
News & Notes from Around the World:
Way before women could join in with the Olympic disciplines, they were kicking ass in rodeos. But many of their names and stories have faded into obscurity, despite how progressive their participation was at a time when traditional gender roles still reigned supreme. Horse Nation is spotlighting them in this great round-up that’ll have you daydreaming of a ranch holiday to slot into your mid-summer eventing break.
Are you meticulous about things like cleaning your tack, but less meticulous about checking in with yourself? Long days, high expectations, and plenty of pressure put upon ourselves is fertile breeding ground for a mental health wobble, and so it’s vitally important that us horsey folks take the time to keep in touch with ourselves and how we’re feeling. Just like a regular clean and oil can avoid a broken rein in the ring, regular self-care will help you to avoid a big issue down the line. Read more here.
It probably seems like a bit of a no-brainer, but research proves that we need to school both canter leads equally. That’s because canter, unlike trot, is an asymmetrical gait, and an increased focus on one side over the other will lead to uneven muscle gain and asymmetry, as well as differing levels of wear and tear and potentially unilateral stiffness. So even if your horse feels particularly one-sided, work through it on both reins.
Not ready to say goodbye to the Intercollegiate Champs just yet? We feel the same. Dive into this gallery from US Eventing and Lindsey Berreth to relive the weekend that was.
Sponsor Corner: Is your horse stiff during warm up and sore after riding? A Vitamin E deficiency could be to blame! Elevate was developed to provide a highly bioavailable source of natural vitamin E to horses like yours. Check it out!
Watch This:
Go behind the scenes at the Royal Stables in the Netherlands:
It was the eventers’ turn in the famed Dixon Oval and Wheeler Ring at the Devon Horse Show last night for the $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing class! Coming out on top by just 0.3 seconds after a nail-biting jump-off round were Buck Davidson and 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding Erroll Gobey, owned by Cassandra Segal, Natalie Sandler, and Lisa Darden. Watch their winning round above!
Buck and “Gobey” narrowly edged out eventual second-placed finishers Caroline Pamukcu and 2023 Connaught Grant recipient HSH Blake. Arielle Aharoni and her show jumping powerhouse Dutch Times took third place. Enjoy some additional clips from their big night under the lights below and click here for the full class results.
Virginia Horse Center Eventing presented by Capital Square wrapped up yesterday after a fun-filled weekend of top competition. The Virginia Horse Center welcomed riders of all levels from Olympic to beginner eventers.
The course updates and world class officials made the inaugural VHC Eventing, presented by Capital Square memorable.
The entire VHC Eventing management team and the Virginia Horse Center appreciate all who competed at this weekend’s event, and look forward to welcoming you back in November!
Sydney Hagaman and her own Charmeur Victorious in the CCI3* S
Sydney Hagaman and Charmeur won the CCI3* S with a final score of 31.3. Photo by Brant Gamma.
Congratulations to Sydney Hagaman and her own Charmeur. The pair won the CCI3* S with a final score of 31.3.
Hagaman lives in Middleburg and is coached by Mike Pendleton. Charmeur is a ten-year-old German Sport Horse and Hagaman has owned him since he was four. “I had always had thoroughbreds and he is the first warmblood I’ve owned,” said Hagaman.
She continued, “He [Charmeur] was really good. He was super relaxed, really rideable and jumped well in show jumping. The cross country course rode really nicely and the way it was set was great. I really liked it. The new jumps were nice and despite the fact that we haven’t had any rain, you could definitely tell where the course had been aerated.
“That was the fastest I’ve ever gone in cross country. The whole course rode well and Charmeur felt really good,” she said.
“I was very happy to be here this weekend and a lot of the riders I spoke to felt the same way,” she said. “It’s a great facility and we’re happy to see the VHC continuing eventing here.”
Click here for full results.
Sydney Hagaman Proudly Shows off her awards provided by World Equestrian Brands
World Equestrian Brands provided a newly redesigned Vespucci figure 8 bridle and Vespucci rubber reins as prizes won by Sydney Hagaman.
World Equestrian Brands has been equipping equine athletes for over twenty years. World Equestrian Brands proudly represents Amerigo Saddles, E.A. Mattes Sheepskin products, Equilibrium Products leg protection and therapy items, Vespucci bridles and strap goods, and Sergio Grasso riding boots. Visit their website for more information.
Halliday-Sharp Takes Top Two Placings in CCI 2*L
Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and The Newmarket Syndicate’s Newmarket Cooley earned an overall score of 27.3, earning them the win in the 2* L. Halliday-Sharp also took home second place honors with Deborah Palmer’s Maybach for their overall score of 28.1.
Liz Halliday-Sharp and The Newmarket Syndicate’s Newmarket Cooley won the CCI2*L. Photo from the Virginia Horse Center.
Halliday-Sharp commented, “I really enjoy this event and I’ve come every year since 2020. It’s a great event for the young horses. These are both young horses doing their first 2* long. I honestly really love the big hill and it really teaches you a lot about them as horses and how they come out the next day. This was a great experience for them, and I think it will make them bigger and better horses in the future.”
Halliday-Sharp placed second overall in the CCI2*L with Deborah Palmer’s Maybach. Photo from the Virginia Horse Center.
In addition to the top two placings, Halliday-Sharp received a newly redesigned Vespucci figure 8 bridle and Vespucci rubber reins, generously donated by World Equestrian Brands as well as a Brant Gamma Photography gift certificate.
Ariel Grald Wins CCI 2* S with Claire Williams’ In Vogue
Ariel Grald and Claire Williams’ In Vogue won the CCI 2* S with an overall score of 28.8, narrowly beating second place Kim Severson and Anita Antenucci’s Arden JuJu’s score of 29.1.
Ariel Grald Wins CCI 2* S with Claire Williams’ In Vogue. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.
“The pressure is on when Kim Severson is right behind you,” she laughed.
“Stella [In Vogue] belongs to a good friend, Claire Williams, who has been laid up recovering from a skiing accident. We sourced her from Ireland as a four-year-old. This was her final prep run before Bromont where I will be riding her in the 2* Long. We strategically picked Virginia to work on our gallops up the hills. My intention was not necessarily to make the time on cross country, but to focus on giving my horse a good prep run. But she really loves to gallop and despite my trying to slow her down a bit on the hills, her rideability and efficiency on the cross country course has her going faster than you actually think you are. And it turned out my watch wasn’t working correctly either,” she said.
Grald also earned a fourth placing with Annie Eldridge’s Adagio’s Nobility for their combined score of 33.8.
Grald commented, “Bringing Michel [Vaillancourt] in to design the show jumping course made a huge difference. The courses were well set and while we have some good designers in the US, we need to ride various tracks and it’s important to have the opportunity to ride different styles,“ she said.
“We all recognized the positive changes to the event and the future and the direction its headed in. The feel and vibe is very different and with this reinvigoration, it will be cool to see how the event develops,” she added.
For full results on the CCI2*S click here.
Grald also won the Advanced/Intermediate with Eldridge’s Forrest Gump 124 [Shrimp] and sixth with Edridge’s Caballe.
Grald also won the Advanced/Intermediate with Eldridge’s Forrest Gump 124 [Shrimp] and sixth with Edridge’s Caballe. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.
Grald said, “I came into the weekend wanting a little redemption because I fell off of him in the skinny ditch in the 4* Short in Tryon a few weeks ago. He [Shrimp] is heading to Bromont in the 4*Long and my aim was to have a good confidence weekend with him. I’ve only had him for about two years and this is a relatively new partnership for us. He can be a bit quirky so it’s important to keep him confident and trusting our partnership. He is very capable in all three phases, and this was a really good run for him and for us to get on the same page before Bromont.”
For full Advanced/Intermediate results, click here
Grald also won the Open Preliminary with Eldridge’s Cullintra End Game [aka Jasper] with an overall score of 38.5.
Grald commented, “This was Jasper’s Prelim debut. Annie and I bought him as a three year old from Ireland and I’ve been quietly producing him at home. He is the young one who gets put on the back burner sometimes when we’re busy with the upper level horses. He enjoys the job and finds it easy; eventing comes naturally to him. We’ve had a nice progressive run of events this spring with him. Jasper moved up to Prelim this weekend and we’re really happy with him. He is six and young and needs a lot of strength and overall development, but Annie and I are excited about him as an upper level prospect. His success this weekend just checks another box on this journey.”
For full results for the Open Preliminary, click here.
Marley Stone Bourke earned a first place finish with Benita Strini’s Superstorm Sandy with their overall score of 45.6. For all Open Intermediate results click here.
Claire Robinson and her own Fernhill Swatch Out won the Open Prelim One Day with an overall score of 33.1. For all Open Prelim One Day results click here.
Madeleine Richards aboard her own Global BGK was the overall winner in the CCI 1* L after earning an overall score of 33.8. The win marked Richards’ first FEI win and her first win on Global BGK.
Madison Richards and Global BGK in the CCI 1* L. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.
Richards also placed third with her own The Turning Point.
Richards commented, “It was amazing to have been at the Virginia Horse Center this weekend. I haven’t been here for a while and hadn’t been here with these two horses before. I wasn’t sure how they were going to like it, but they were absolutely amazing. I’m not used to the hills here on the cross country course and I was initially a little nervous. But my horses just cruised, and we had no problems.”
Richards got Global BGK about a year ago. According to Richards, “Our relationship has been slowly growing and he’s a super horse and jumped so hard for me today. He’s been so great over the weekend and I’m really proud of him. He was so good and absolutely loved it.”
For complete CCI 1* L results click here.
Mary Cooke Catlett [Molly] drove directly from her graduation from Foxcroft to the Virginia Horse Center to compete her own Cooley Romance in the Prelim Rider Division and went on to win it with an overall score of 40.2.
Mary Cooke Catlett [Molly] drove directly from her graduation from Foxcroft to the Virginia Horse Center to compete her own Cooley Romance in the Prelim Rider Division and went on to win it with an overall score of 40.2. Photo from the Virginia Horse Center.
Molly, who will be attending the University of Virginia in the fall, commented “She’s a 17.3 big bay mare and she’s a total trooper. Even though she is very chunky, she is quick and takes really good care of me. I think she was born to be a ‘kids’ horse’ and while she does take care of me, she will also hold me accountable.”
Molly has been coming to the Virginia Horse Center for the last six years and said she did her first Novice and Modified here.
“It was great to compete here this weekend. The cross country course finally had a different loop, and the course used the terrain differently. I really liked it!” she said. “The ground was definitely better, and you could tell the grass had been aerated. The Horse Center has done a lot of work with the cross country course. We always used to know what to expect for cross country, but this time was different. The questions in the course were not so much about the jumps, but more about the terrain. It was consistent and I wasn’t worried. Overall, it was very refreshing,” she said.
Amber Mabus rode her own Mighty Grace to a blue-ribbon finish in the Novice Rider A Division earning an overall score of 30.6.
Amber Mabus rode her own Mighty Grace to a blue-ribbon finish in the Novice Rider A Division earning an overall score of 30.6. Photo from the Virginia Horse Center.
Mabus, a US veteran, did not start riding until she was older. Her horse Mighty Grace is an OTTB, and this is the first time the pair has competed away from their home in Southern Pines.
Mabus commented, “This is maybe our third or fourth recognized event and it was really cool to be able to come here. The Virginia Horse Center has such a nice atmosphere, and everyone is so nice. Even though we were away, we really felt at home here,” she said.
For complete results click here.
The 2023 Woodside Spring H.T. served as a celebration of the successes of the West Coast eventers that competed in the Kentucky Three-Day Event, as well as what’s in store for the future of the sport in California.
On the eve of competition on Thursday, organizers at the Woodside Horse Trials held a party in honor of both Tamie Smith’s historic win in the Kentucky five-star and the team of cross country builders led by Bert Wood that unveiled new courses at The Horse Park. Derek di Grazia designed the new Advanced and Intermediate tracks, with Wood designing the new tracks for Preliminary through Starter.
“Of course it is always a wonderful feeling being back home in California, and to have been recognized the way Woodside did is humbling and a tremendous honor,” Smith said. “There are many of us who dream of being able to accomplish big things in this sport. So I hope to continue to be an advocate and example of the ability to achieve these goals and dreams from the West Coast.”
In addition to Smith’s becoming the first American since Phillip Dutton and Connaught in 2008 and the first West Coast eventer since di Grazia and Sasquatch in 1985 to win the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, California-based James Alliston completed his first five-star since 2016.
James Alliston and Call Me Rudi. Tina Fitch Photography photo.
Alliston, who rode Nemesis to 20th place in the five-star debut for the 9-year-old Canadian Warmblood gelding (Novalis 46 x Sara’s Muse), is back competing California. Focusing on his up-and-coming prospects, he rode Call Me Rudi and Cora to a one-two finish in the Open Preliminary division at Woodside. Alliston has developed a reputation for bringing young horses up the levels, and Nemesis was the youngest in this year’s Kentucky five-star field.
“Good to be back home helping my students and riding my up-and-coming horses who will hopefully be able to go east in a few years,” Alliston said. “Very exciting that Tamie won in Kentucky having honed her skills and produced her horses in California. Courses were amazing and excited to have such challenging and educational tracks here. Many thanks to Derek and Bert and also the Woodside organizers who have worked hard on this show.”
Call Me Rudi, an 8-year-old bay Bavarian Warmblood gelding, finished on his dressage score of 25.3. Cora, an 8-year-old bay Hanoverian mare, was second on her dressage score of 26.8. James’ wife, Helen, was seventh in the division riding HSH Redfield Hillside Star.
“They are both exciting German horses who look like they have promising futures,” Alliston said. “Call Me Rudi is owned by a partnership with John Matheny and will be for Helen to ride. I think she will take over after this show.”
While Smith and Alliston have proven themselves at the highest levels of the sport, the Woodside Spring H.T. also spotlighted the continuing rise of 18-year-old Molly Duda. Duda was coming off her first career FEI win in the CCI3*-S with Disco Traveler at the Twin Rivers Spring International. The dark bay 14-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Donatelli x Cadence) won the Open Intermediate division at Woodside as the only horse at the level to finish on his dressage score, 33.4. Duda and “Disco” were the only pair to go double clear on either di Grazia’s cross-country or Marc Donovan’s show jumping courses at Intermediate. This was their third win in a row at either the Intermediate or three-star levels.
Molly Duda and Disco Traveler. Tina Fitch Photography photo.
“My trainer [Mickayla Howard] and I got emotional last Thursday when we arrived at The Horse Park— exactly one year ago at this event, Disco and I completed our first show together and took home our first blue ribbon in the Junior Training Rider division” Duda said. “Now, winning the Intermediate just a year later feels like a dream. I am absolutely filled with gratitude for this horse, and for my trainer, Mickayla, who has always supported our partnership and pushed us to be the best we can. Disco and I are still at the beginning of our journey together, and I can’t wait to see where it takes us.”
At Advanced, Amber Birtcil and the Cellar Farm Corp’s Cinzano won in the return of the 12-year-old dark bay Holsteiner gelding (Classe x Walta) to the level for the first time since 2021.
“Cinzano and I have been together for about seven years now; even though the scoreboard doesn’t reflect it, I was thrilled with our weekend,” said Birtcil, who won with a score of 108.2. “This was our return to the level, and although I felt a bit rusty, he was excellent and it felt great to cross that finish line. I’m excited to build on this and tackle the rest of the season together. The event was wonderful with new course by Derek, brand new show jumps and everything was decorated and looking stunning. They’ve truly done a wonderful job! I’m excited to come back later this year.”
Amber Biracial and Cinzano. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.
In addition to the new cross-country tracks, The Woodside Horse Trials unveiled new show jumps built by Jonathan Berger of JB Horse Standards in Sacramento. The new jumps reflected how the West Coast eventing community came together to support horse trials at Woodside with 15 training barns donating to the building of new jumps and acquisition of other eventing equipment.
“To me, the incredible thing about this weekend was that it was a celebration of West Coast eventing where everybody came together,” said Steve Roon, Executive Director of The Horse Park at Woodside. “We had enormous support from the community to enable the work to be done, and we had marvelous artisans to create the cross-country courses. We had marvelous JB jumps to execute all the stadium jumps. It truly ended up being a celebration of West Coast eventing.”
The Woodside Horse Trials recognized: Anke Herbert Dressage, Bay Haven Equestrian, Cellar Farm, Cheval Training, Chocolate Horse Farm, Equinox Equestrian, Fox Equestrian, Kismet Farms, Lauren LoPiccolo Equestrian, Portola Valley Pony Club, Rising Tides Equestrian, Sauvignon Eventing, Tayside Sport Horses, The Fencing Pony, and Webb Ranch. Many had their logos emblazoned on custom-built jump standards.
Tamie Smith speaks at the party in her honor on the eve of competition at the Woodside Spring H.T.
Tina Fitch Photography photo.
“The changes that the team at Woodside made were absolutely vital to our success and future of West Coast eventing, and to see the community from all demographics contribute was even more touching,” Smith said.
Horse trials at Woodside will continue in 2023 with the Woodside Summer H.T. with plans to add a Modified level. Then, the Woodside Fall International on October 6-8 will mark the return of eventing at the FEI levels to Woodside with a CCI1*-S planned to be run for the first time alongside the CCI2*-S, CCI3*-S, and CCI4*-S.
“In order to continue to keep our horses and riders at the top of their game, these changes and efforts are imperative,” Smith said. “Overall, Woodside and their team hit it out of the park, and I only can hope other venues and our eventing community use this as an example to strive for in years to come.”
Victoria Klein and Steve Roon from The Horse Park at Woodside present a plaque to Tamie Smith recognizing her
five-star win in Kentucky that she could choose to place on any cross-country fence at Woodside.
The full list of winners from the 2023 Woodside Spring H.T.:
Advanced: Amber Birtcil and Cinzano (108.2)
Open Intermediate: Molly Duda and Disco Traveler (33.4)
Open Preliminary: James Alliston and Call Me Rudi (25.3)
Preliminary Rider: Coco Meerkamp and Dalanteretto (29.2)
Open Training: Sophie Tice and Viva La Vida (23.6)
Jr. Training Rider: Isabelle Eppink and Enfinity (28.6)
Sr. Training Rider: Mickayla Howard and Miss Tique (23.6)
Training Amateur: Leah Yacoub Halperin and Rodrigue Du Granit (30.5)
Open Novice: Kristen Joly and Kleary’s Rosie the Riveting (29.7)
Jr. Novice Rider: Holly Fosmark and When Starz Align (24.7)
Sr. Novice Rider: Eri Takada and Toronto Z (27.2)
Novice Amateur: Angela Bryson and Petite Pavarotti (28.3)
Novice Horse: Lauren Billys Shady and Mister Cooley (22.5)
Open Beginner Novice: Alexis Helffrich and Casanova (23.2)
Jr. Beginner Novice: Zoe Barker and Kontessa M (21.2)
Sr. Beginner Novice Rider A: Eileen Morgenthaler and Levitate (23.6)
Sr. Beginner Novice Rider B: Annie Desmond and Little Elf (25.6)
Jr. Starter: Michaela Smith and Cashmaker (22.3)
Sr. Starter: Megan LeFave and Lord Rocco (28.7)
Connect with Woodside
Location: 3674 Sand Hill Road, Woodside, CA 94062
Email: Send message at http://www.horsepark.org/emailmessage.php
Website: http://www.horsepark.org/
Volunteer: http://www.horsepark.org/volunteer.php
Instagram: horseparkatwoodside
Ok, Eventing Nation, buckle up as we celebrate a massive weekend of competition. From Washington to Maryland to Texas to New Jersey, Eventers were found all throughout the country, competing from starter events to FEI.
Congrats to all for getting out and about, and working towards your season goals! A special shout out is reserved for our Unofficial Low Score Award winner, Ariah Transmeier with Bold Remark, who won the Beginner Novice Senior Rider at Willow Draw on an impressive 19.4!
Equestrians’ Institute H.T. (Kenmore, WA) [Website] [Results]
Open Intermediate: Patience O’Neal and Clooney 14 (41.6)
Open Preliminary: Sarah Sullivan and FR’s Let It Go (30.0)
Preliminary Rider: Hanni Sreenan and Zena (28.8)
Junior Training: Beatrice Wurfel and Kellican (31.1)
Open Training: Mindy Sands and Roman Express (30.7)
Training Amateur: Bobbie Smith-Ede and HS Cool River Jane (33.5)
Junior Novice: Ella Miller and McFly (29.4)
Novice Amateur A: Madison Flanders and Nobu (26.4)
Novice Amatuer B: Tracey Trewin and Coby R (29.2)
Open Novice: Kathryn Nichwander and Blind Date (27.5)
Senior Novice Rider: Anne Ward and Full Moon Fever (28.1)
Beginner Novice Amateur A: Cat Steele and G Salsa (25.0)
Beginner Novice Amateur B: Bryce Meeker and Centerfield Varsity (28.4)
Junior Beginner Novice: Talia Knox and Twisted Oliver (32.7)
Open Beginner Novice: Whitney Spicher and Excel Star High Jinx (30.6)
Starter A: Juliet Perrotta and Centerfield Futura (29.0)
Starter B: Whitney Spicher and Castleside Maguire (26.7)
Flora Lea Spring H.T. (Medford, NJ) [Website] [Results]
Open Preliminary: Olivia Dutton and Sea of Clouds (37.9)
Preliminary Rider: Matt Crutchfield and Independer J W B (45.3)
Open Training: Caroline Pamukcu and Billy Be Jolly (25.0)
Training Rider: Nancy Lee and PHF Wine Me Up (30.0)
Novice Rider: Avery Cascarino and Excel Star Quidam’s Cavalier (24.7)
Open Novice: Lee Maher and Curiosity (25.8)
Beginner Novice Rider: Adalena Campisi and Belmont (38.5)
Open Beginner Novice: Jamie Leuenberger and N’Chantress (24.4)
YEH 4 Year Old: Lee Maher and Redfield Teun (80.600)
YEH 5 Year Old: Caroline Pamukcu and D.A. Nixon (84.050)
May-Daze at the Park H.T. (Lexington, KY) [Website] [Results]
Preliminary/Training: Alexandra Knowles and Leamore Venture (27.9)
Modified/Training: Cora Severs and Cuervo (29.5)
Open Training: Diana Rich and Midway Train (34.2)
Training Horse: Jamie Allison and Jedi (34.5)
Training Rider A: Kaylianna McMorris and Fernhill Future Star (35.1)
Training Rider B: Marin Swyers and Fernhill Mac an Bata (31.7)
Training/Novice: Mary Clare Owdziej and City of Ember (26.7)
Jr Novice Rider: Sami Turner and Rainstown Covergirl (23.9)
Novice Horse – A: Simone Cardosa and I’d Toast to That! (29.7)
Novice Horse – B: Ivie Cullen-Dean and Fernhill Cardevega (26.7)
Open Novice – A: Hannah Reeser and Ltl Ireland Summr Soldier (23.6)
Open Novice – B: Sarah Grice and Close Up Aly (32.8)
Sr Novice Rider – A: Caroline Adams and Simon Says (24.8)
Sr Rider Novice – B: Ashley Anderson and Global Jedi (25.6)
Sr Novice Rider – C: Deirdre Vaillancourt and Invictus (29.4)
Beginner Novice Horse – A: Slater Boos and Will You Be Mine (32.5)
Beginner Novice Horse – B: Emma Petrick and Hawthornstud Futures Bright (25.3)
Jr Beginner Novice Rider – A: Kendall Doran and My Misty Morning (27.7)
Jr Beginner Novice Rider – B: Caraline Cathcart and Relentless (32.9)
Open Beginner Novice – A: Melanie Helms and Edelweiss du theil (19.7)
Open Beginner Novice – B: Claire Seals and Fancy Don’t Let Me Down (28.1)
Sr Beginner Novice Rider- A: Susan Hamblen and James Baxter (24.4)
Sr Beginner Novice Rider – B: Leslie van der Wal and Doonhill Dancer (32.2)
Sr Beginner Novice Rider – C: Nicola Tucker and Pandora (28.9)
Junior Starter: Mia Volpentesta and Legally Totilart (32.7)
Senior Starter – A: Elissa Gibbs and Freddie Mercury (25.0)
Senior Starter – B: Molly Schaffner and Rudy Ruxpin (19.7)
Mill Creek Pony Club Horse Trial (Kansas City, MO) [Website] [Results]
Preliminary: Ellie Furtado and Secret Tapit (52.3)
Training Sponsor Paradox Farms: Katie Sisk and Long Legs Lenore (30.0)
Novice Junior Sponsor Jack’s Favorites: Rayna Williams and Storm Surge (33.9)
Novice Open A Sponsor Gold to Blue Sport Horses: Lauren Schiller and Chairman of the Board (28.1)
Novice Open B Spn Wilhite and Frees Equine Hospital: Jillian Wisneski and Rubato (32.2)
Beginner Novice Junior Sponsor One Stop Trailer Center: Isabell Pezold and Uncharted (35.0)
Beginner Novice Open A: Nicholas Staples and WF saturdays are for the boys (35.3)
CT-Beginner Novice: Judi Dietz and Rearcross Clover Q (32.2)
CT-Green As Grass: Rachel Scriven and Macaroni Pony (35.0)
CT-Starter: Kaylin Conner and Granna (42.0)
Starter Junior Sponsor Ava and Jordan Chase: Holly Goen and Four Point Oh (36.0)
Starter Open A: Haydan Vosburgh and Kiss Me If You Can (35.0)
Spring Coconino H.T. (Flagstaff, AZ) [Website] [Results]
Intermediate/Prelim Open: Heather Drager and Winnsome (51.6)
Preliminary Open: Ashley Fischer and Cimbria RC (52.9)
Training Open: Jennifer Achilles and Excel Star Lance (36.8)
Novice Open A: Katie Willis and Royal Street (25.4)
Novice Open B: Jennifer Achilles and Excel Star Solstice (28.3)
Beginner Novice Open – A: Anastasia Keyser and Wesley (36.1)
Beginner Novice Open – B: Elizabeth Dugan and Johnny’s Lover (42.2)
Intro A: Mckenzie Doyle and Rosie (37.5)
Intro B: Lyn Fagan and On A Whim and a Prayer (Gabriel) (35.3)
Starter 1-Day: Amanda Crangle and Little Lady Liberty (23.7)
Tryon International Spring H.T. (including the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship) (Mill Spring, NC) [Website] [Results]
Open Intermediate: Emilie Mudd and Quite Nice 11 (35.2)
Open Preliminary: Sydney Shinn and HSH Crypto (27.4)
Modified: Lucienne Bellissimo and Caitane Z (26.9)
Open Training: Lara Roberts and Fernhill Show Biz (25.0)
Training Rider: Katelyn Smith and Lisbane Spartacus (31.4)
Novice Rider A: Ellie Teasley and Quintessential (31.1)
Novice Rider B: Elliana Sanchez and Chronicles of Jabez (33.6)
Open Novice: Kaley Crosby and Valentino (31.5)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Samantha Torcise and Classic (35.9)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Ajay Ryan and Master Machiavelli (27.8)
Open Beginner Novice: Brie Seltser and Paris in Color (25.3)
Virginia Horse Center Eventing (Lexington, VA) [Website] [Results]
CCI 3* S: Sydney Hagaman and Charmeur (31.3)
CCI 2* L: Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and Newmarket Cooley (27.3)
CCI 2* S: Ariel Grald and In Vogue (28.8)
CCI 1* L: Madeleine Richards and Global BGK (33.8)
Advanced/Intermediate: Ariel Grald and Forrest Gump 124 (35.8)
Open Intermediate: Marley Stone Bourke and Superstorm Sandy (45.6)
Open Preliminary: Ariel Grald and Cullintra End Game (38.5)
Open Preliminary – One Day: Claire Robinson and Fernhill Swatch Out (33.1)
Preliminary Rider: Mary Cooke Catlett and Cooley Romance (40.2)
Modified A: Lindsay Kelley and Cooley Carrera (34.8)
Modified B: Lindsay Kelley and Sydney (33.5)
Open Modified – One Day: Berkley Gardner and Aristocrat (30.8)
Open Training A: Andrew McConnon and Connery Cooper Z (28.3)
Open Training B: Ashley Adams and Global Halcyon (23.7)
Training Rider A: Riley Zgrebnak and Cooley Criminal Mind (26.9)
Training Rider B: Heidi Siegmund and Ashwood HJ Leandro (28.9)
Novice Horse: Laine Ashker and Konnons Diamant VT Willebeke Z (29.1)
Novice Rider A: Amber Mabus and Mighty Grace (30.6)
Novice Rider B: Kendal Fansler and Curioso (26.9)
Open Novice: Mandolin Whitten and Bossanova (26.8)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Eliza Klaitman and Tekkinistic (28.5)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Ella Quesenberry and Rockefeller’s Fortune (31.2)
Open Beginner Novice: Karen Mahaffey and C C the Boss (24.4)
Starter: Adriana Nannini and Hoboken Jack (30.9)
YEH 4 Year Old: Caitlin O’Roark and Maple’s Spicey Chilli (79.500)
Willow Draw Charity Show (Weatherford, TX) [Website] [Results]
Open Training: Diane Hanrahan and Lakota VI (30.3)
Training Rider: Scarlett Peinado and Shadow Inspector (27.2)
Novice Rider: Caroline Burkhardt and Stonehavens dream (27.3)
Open Novice: Hannah Corlett and Ernest Fuerst Dance (28.9)
BNovice Jr Rider: Jaeli Uselding and Benmore Westonhouse Boy (25.6)
BNovice Sr Rider: Ariah Transmeier and Bold Remark (19.4)
Open BNovice: Megan Sykes and Magnificent Red (26.2)
Starter Test: Stephanie Martin and Sea Quest Ripples (29.0)
Woodside Spring H.T. (Woodside, CA) [Website] [Results]
Advanced: Amber Birtcil and Cinzano (108.2)
Open Intermediate: Molly Duda and Disco Traveler (33.4)
Open Preliminary: James Alliston and Call Me Rudi (25.3)
Preliminary Rider: Coco Meerkamp and Dalanteretto (29.2)
Jr. Training Rider: Isabelle Eppink and Enfinity (28.6)
Open Training: Sophie Tice and Viva La Vida (23.6)
Sr. Training Rider: Mickayla Howard and Miss Tique (23.6)
Training Amateur: Leah Yacoub Halperin and Rodrigue Du Granit (30.5)
Jr. Novice Rider: Holly Fosmark and When Starz Align (24.7)
Novice Amateur: Angela Bryson and Petite Pavarotti (28.3)
Novice Horse: Lauren Billys Shady and Mister Cooley (22.5)
Open Novice: Kristin Joly and Kleary’s Rosie the Riveting (29.7)
Sr. Novice Rider: Eri Takada and Toronto Z (27.2)
Jr. Beg. Novice Rider: Zoe Barker and Kontessa M (21.2)
Open Beginner Novice: Alexis Helffrich and Casanova (23.2)
Sr. Beg. Novice Rider A: Eileen Morgenthaler and Levitate (23.6)
Sr. Beg. Novice Rider B: Annie Desmond and Little Elf (25.6)
Jr. Starter: Michaela Smith and Cashmaker (22.3)
Sr. Starter: Megan LeFave and Lord Rocco (28.7)
One thing about Chinch is you just never know which party he’s going to invite himself to — and over the weekend, it was the Virginia Horse Center prizegivings that he picked as his perch of choice. We all know that a cuddle with a dirty rodent is really the greatest honour when you find yourself atop a podium, right?
U.S. Weekend Action:
Equestrians’ Institute H.T. (Kenmore, WA) [Website] [Results]
Flora Lea Spring H.T. (Medford, NJ) [Website] [Results]
May-Daze at the Park H.T. (Lexington, KY) [Website] [Results]
Mill Creek Pony Club Horse Trial (Kansas City, MO) [Website] [Results]
Spring Coconino H.T. (Flagstaff, AZ) [Website] [Results]
Tryon International Spring H.T. (including the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship) (Mill Spring, NC) [Website] [Results]
USEA MDHT YEH Qualifier (Adamstown, MD) [Website]
Virginia Horse Center Eventing (Lexington, VA) [Website] [Results]
Willow Draw Charity Show (Weatherford, TX) [Website] [Results]
Woodside Spring H.T. (Woodside, CA) [Website] [Results]
UK Weekend Results:
Bicton Arena International (East Budleigh, Devon): Results
Bishop Burton (Beverley, East Yorks.): Results
Mendip Plains Ston Easton (Bath, Somerset): Results
Blindley Heath (Blindley Heath, Surrey): Results
Shelford Manor (Shelford, Notts.): Results
Your Monday Reading List:
This is a bittersweet one, but so inspiring: when Joanna Hare was told in early 2019 that she had just weeks to live, because her breast cancer had spread to her brain, she refused to lie back and wait for the inevitable. Instead, she and her friend began working through a seriously cool horsey bucket list, which included meeting Pippa Funnell, competing side-saddle in the Caledonian Showing Championships, riding on the beach, and much, much more. Sadly, she passed away last Monday, but her memory is inspiring numerous riders to chase down the experiences they’ve always quietly dreamed of – and we reckon you should do the same. [Be more Joanna]
USC Aiken might have had one of the smallest squads in attendance at the Intercollegiate Eventing Champs, but they smashed it. The small but mighty school took the win after a tight and tense showjumping finale, plus one of their own was responsible for the lowest finishing score in the entire competition. [Go Pacers!]
How are your collecting ring manners? There’s nothing more frustrating than a rider who doesn’t seem to get the left shoulder to left shoulder thing, or doesn’t know where the appropriate track is for walking. Brush up on the essentials with this handy primer and please, I beg you, for the love of god, send it to all your friends who compete, too. Together we can make the warm-up less of a death trap! Maybe! [Collecting ring etiquette for all disciplines]
The FutureTrack Follow:
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If you’re not already following 2021 Luhmühlen 5* winner Mollie Summerland, where have you been?! She’s well worth a follow for the same reasons any high-flying rider is — but even more so because of her candid conversations about mental health, her regular Q&As about how to deal with the tough days, and her commitment to normalising these kinds of conversations. Life at the top isn’t always easy, and we commend Molls for her bravery in sharing her truth.
Morning Viewing:
Ever wondered what goes down at a Wesko Foundation training day? Join in on one helmed by Sir Mark Todd and find out:
