Classic Eventing Nation

FEI Long Format Recap: Sibling Horses with Married Riders Win FEI Classes at Twin Rivers Spring International

By on Apr 17, 2023 11:00 am -

The day after Nemesis won the CCI4*-S at the 2023 Twin Rivers Spring International, his younger brother Flinterro Z won his first FEI competition in the CCI3*-L. James Alliston rode Nemesis to the four-star win, and his wife, Helen Alliston, was aboard Flinterro Z in the three-star. Other highlights from Sunday’s final day of the Twin Rivers Spring International in Paso Robles, California, were the second-straight victory at the CCI2*-L level by Crafty Don and Tamie Smith, as well as a win by Jillian Newman and Curraghgraigue Freeman in the first ever CCI1*-L held at Twin Rivers Ranch.

Both Nemesis, who is 9, and Flinterro Z, who is 8, are out of the Thoroughbred dam Sara’s Muse, and both were bred by Danielle Burgess in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. (Note: The dam of Nemesis is registered with the FEI as Maesy, which is the barn name for Sara’s Muse.) However, the two brothers are quite different in terms of their looks and personality, according to Helen Alliston. Nemesis is by Novalis 46 and is a chestnut gelding registered as a Canadian Warmblood. Flinterro Z is by Figaro B and is a bay gelding registered as a Zangersheide.

Helen Alliston and Flinterro Z. Ride On Photo.

“We just really liked Nemesis, and [Burgess] said she had another one, and she claimed it was even better,” Helen said about Flinterro Z, who was a rising 2-year-old when the Allistons purchased him. “She did say on the phone he’s a bit small right now but he’ll grow, don’t worry. We bought him sight unseen, and when he showed up—Marc Grandia actually drove him down from Canada, and we met him at like one in the morning—and I remember he was tiny and pretty weird-looking. I just remember James and I drove home, and James lay in bed with his eyeballs popping out of his head like, ‘What did we buy?’ He was kind of like an ugly-ducking turned-swan because now he’s beautiful. As soon as we saw him moving, we knew he was a nice horse.”

Flinterro Z added 2.0 time penalties on cross-country and 1.2 time penalties in show jumping to their dressage score of 29.6 to finish with a score of 32.8.
“I wasn’t actually going to do this class, but one of our other horses [Addyson] got hurt that was entered here,” Helen said “So, I took that entry and just threw him in here.”

As far as what’s next for Flinterro Z, Helen joked, “I don’t really have a plan because this wasn’t the plan,” although she added that she’s considering the CCI3*-L at The Event at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana, in July.

Tamie Smith and Crafty Don. Ride On Photo.

The CCI2*-L represented Crafty Don’s (Tolan R x Diamond Breaker) seventh victory in 20 events since 2021 and second at the CCI2*-L level. Julianne Guariglia’s 7-year-old bay Irish Sport Horse gelding and Smith finished on their dressage score of 26.8.

“He’s just super consistent,” Smith said. “He’s very careful. He’s mostly Thoroughbred. He’s Irish-bred. And, even though he’s 18 hands, 17.3, or whatever, he just goes like a Thoroughbred really light across the ground, and he finds all the phases super easy.”

Having finished fifth in the Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) West Coast Championships for 5-year-olds in 2021, Crafty Don is in the running for the Holekamp/Turner Young Event Horse Lion d’Angers Grant, and Smith is considering aiming the bay Irish Sport Horse gelding for this year’s FEI World Young Horse Championships at Mondial du Lion in France.

“He’s probably been ready to move up to Intermediate, and I’ve just been trying to take my time because he is careful,” Smith said. “So, I think he’s ready now. He is in contention for the Le Lion young horse grant for the 7-Year-Old World Championships, and I think we’ll just see how the year plays and see if that’s something that we’ll end up doing with him—as long as when he moves up he feels confident because you’ve got to have a very bold, strong cross-country and show jumping horse there.”

Jillian Newman and Curraghgraigue Freeman. Ride On Photo.

Newman’s journey to victory in the CCI1*-L in the 17-year-old rider’s first FEI competition began when she saw a Facebook post about Curraghgraigue Freeman (Freeman VDL x Curraghgraigue Vella Erri).

“I liked his size and he looked like a good boy, but he had a pink nose,” Newman said, with a laugh. “I really liked his face. He looked like he had a kind eye.”
However, five days after the 8-year-old bay Irish Sport Horse gelding arrived in the United States in June 2021, he underwent colic surgery. It would be six months before Freeman could start working with her new horse, although that time did allow her to develop a bond that helped accelerate their journey through the eventing levels. She bestowed the barn name of “Quincy” on Curraghgraigue Freeman, and that barn name continues to take on several other iterations like “Q Man” and “Quinoa.”
“It was rough, but it was nice because we got time where I got to know him and he got to know me,” Newman said. “So, we trusted each other a lot before I started competing him.”

Jillian and Quincy won their first event together in February 2022 at the Galway Downs Kickoff H.T. in their hometown of Temecula, California, in the Junior Novice Rider Division. They did seven USEA-recognized events together in 2022 with six top-five finishes and moved up to Modified for their final competition of the season in the Galway Downs International Event & H.T. in November. Before Quincy, Newman, who began eventing when she was 13 in 2019, had competed as high as Novice.

In 2023, they were part of the first Modified level ever offered at Twin Rivers at the Twin Rivers Winter H.T. in March, finishing 14th of 26 with a score of 39.1. Before attempting their first FEI competition in the inaugural CCI1*-L at the 2023 Twin Rivers Spring International, Jillian and Quincy entered the Preliminary level at the Galway Downs International H.T. with the plan of doing dressage and show jumping at the higher level and then withdrawing before cross-country.

That set them up for the best dressage score they’ve had together—27.0. They added 1.6 time penalties in show jumping to finish with a score of 28.6.

“He’s great because he’s super brave,” Newman said about Quincy. “So, the size of the jump was never an issue for him; it was just getting rideability. Now, he’s finally at a point where he’s so rideable and good.”

Newman will graduate from Great Oak High School this year and plans to attend Virginia Tech in the fall where she will study environmental policy, join the Hokies eventing team, and compete in the USEA’s Intercollegiate Eventing Program.

In 2023, there were a total of 56 entries across the FEI classes, more than three times as many as the 17 for the Twin Rivers Spring International. Twin Rivers Ranch will next host the Twin Rivers Summer H.T. from June 29 to July 2, followed by the Twin Rivers Fall International on Sept. 21-24, and then the Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse West Coast Championships on October 27-28.

Links Results | Website

Sponsors and Volunteers

Twin Rivers is proud to host the 2023 Twin Rivers Spring International with generous support from sponsors.

Presenting sponsors for the season include: LEGIS Equine, horsemen insuring horsemen, Auburn Labs, manufacturers of the adaptogenic APF Formula for horses, people and dogs; Best Western PLUS Black Oak, which offers exclusive discounts for exhibitors; and Professional’s Choice, manufacturers of sports medicine boots for equine athletes.

Supporting sponsors include: Chubby Cov, makers of beautiful custom stock ties; Riding Warehouse, the horse gear and apparel supplier; RevitaVet, a leader in preventative maintenance and rehabilitative infrared therapy devices; and Devoucoux, saddle makers dedicated to the partnership between horse and rider.
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Christina Gray of Gray Area Events at [email protected].

Volunteers play a major part of events at Twin Rivers. Twin Rivers’ generous volunteer incentive program includes vouchers for show stabling and credits for schooling between events at the beautiful 500-acre venue. That is in addition to the genuine appreciation of the Baxter family and the entire Twin Rivers team. To sign up, please visit
www.twinrivershorsepark/volunteer.

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Apr 17, 2023 5:30 am -

One man’s quest to get the perfect eventing selfie: completed, with help from Hallie Coon and Global Ex.

Let’s talk about non-horsey partners, shall we? For years, I was very happy single, but also convinced that if I did ever want to settle down with someone, they’d have to also work in eventing so we’d actually have half a chance of seeing one another. How wrong I was! Turns out, it works just as well if you find someone who can barely spot a horse in a field of cows, but cares enough about what you love to make an effort. I’ve been so lucky to find that with my partner, a very talented musician who now brings my mare, Bella, bags of carrots while I’m away reporting; who came with me to Boekelo CCI4*-L in October and not only befriended the World Champion but also took it upon himself to teach himself how to use my camera, which meant that I turned around at one point to see him kneeling down in the prize giving looking for some serious angles; who asks earnestly to re-watch all the events I’ve been at the second I get home; and who’s jumping on a plane with me to Kentucky next week as a confirmed eventing super fan. I’m very, very lucky, and I’ve never been happier to be proven wrong in my notions.

Of course, relationships are all about give and take, and it’s been so much fun supporting him in his music career, especially as his band, Lilies in my brain, releases poppy, punky indie bangers that my friends and I just cannot get enough of. Even better, they’ve just been handed the potential for an opportunity of a lifetime: they’ve been shortlisted, down from 2000 bands, to play one of the UK’s biggest festivals. This is a particularly big deal because unlike many bands, they haven’t outsourced work to a recording studio, or a PR person, or a manager, or anything: our living room is the recording studio, my boyfriend does all the mixing and mastering (and playing guitar, and writing drum tracks and bass lines, and splitting songwriting duties with the lead singer), I’ve taken on the role of de facto manager and PR person and booking agent, and last week, we even taught ourselves to screen print so we didn’t have to pay through the nose to make t-shirts for the merch stand. And actually? Every step of the way, it all feels so familiar — because it feels like that sort of let’s-make-it-happen scrappiness that I love about our eventing community. So, while I appreciate that this is a very cheeky use of our News & Notes round-up, I reckon we’ve all got to embrace our newest superfan and show him some love back — especially because it might just mean that pretty soon down the line, we have another person with a really big platform who’s able to help us all tell the world how cool eventing really is. Please give Lilies in my brain a vote for Truck Festival 2023 here; give them a listen on Spotify here; and if you like what you hear, follow them on Insta here for all the latest updates!

(Note to my editor: I did use one of their songs on one of our reels once, so it’s kind of relevant; please don’t fire me)

National Holiday: It’s National Cheese Ball Day. Count me in.

U.S. Weekend Action:

Twin Rivers Spring International (Paso Robles, CA) [Website] [Results]

FENCE H.T. (Tryon, NC) [Website] [Results]

Longleaf Pine H.T. (Raeford, NC) [Website] [Results]

Plantation Field Horse Trials (Coatesville, PA) [Website] [Results]

Poplar Place April H.T. (Hamilton, GA) [Website] [Results]

Spring Bay H.T. (Lexington, KY) [Website] [Results]

UK Weekend Results:

Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International (Burnham Market, Norfolk): [Results]

Oxstalls (Stroud, Gloucs.): [Results]

Your Monday Reading List:

Eventers are a pretty barmy bunch, but we’re also very capable of pulling our socks up and serving the greater good, too. That’s always in evidence when the London Marathon rolls around, which always features a rotating cast of equestrians — but eventers, as always, remain at the forefront. Check out who’s running it this year (if you haven’t seen a certain couple of riders sprinting around in wellies recently, which may have offered a clue or two!) [Eventers running to the clock]

Talent is a nebulous concept, but being a great student is something any of us can do. Sidelines‘ advice columnist introduces us all to the concept of the ‘five Cs’, which will help to ensure you’re improving as quickly as possible, but will also get your confidence on track so that when your trainer tells you it’s time to move up, you actually believe them. [Get to grips with the Cs]

I’ll admit it: I’m addicted to horse-shopping stories. Maybe it’s the perennial window-shopper in me, but reading people’s tales of travel and trials to find the perfect match is one of my favourite idle pastimes. Especially when the person at the keyboard is COTH blogger Lauren Sprieser. [Get in loser, we’re going shopping]

Burnham Market delivered Britain’s second CCI4*-S over the weekend – and for once, Oliver Townend didn’t win it. Instead, we saw Laura Collett’s Dacapo step up to the plate in this hot field of entrants, and we also saw quite a lot of the same weather issues that plagued Thoresby last month, which is a bummer. Will England ever dry out? [Catch up on Burnham Market’s finale]

The FutureTrack Follow:

 

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After watching her ride with wisdom beyond her years around Burnham Market yesterday, it’s got to be Izzy Cook, the 18-year-old daughter of the legendary Tina Cook, and a British team medallist in her own right. There are big things coming for this young talent!

Morning Viewing:

If you’re a fan of Love Island, you might know the name Gemma Owen — dressage rider, footballer’s daughter, and now reality tv star. Get to know her, if that’s what you’re into:

Twin Rivers FEI Short Format and Advanced: Alliston Takes First and Second in CCI4*-S, Duda Wins First Career FEI in CCI3*-S

By on Apr 16, 2023 11:30 am -

James Alliston and Nemesis. Photo by Ride On Photo.

A James Alliston one-two in the CCI4*-S and Molly Duda’s first career FEI victory in the CCI3*-S highlighted the conclusion of the FEI short-format competition at the Twin Rivers Spring International in Paso Robles, California, on Saturday. Also, Rebecca Braitling and Caravaggio II produced a classy cross-country round to win the Advanced level, and Camille Brewer and Cooley Rock Star won the CCI2*-S by just two-tenths of a point.

Alliston was using Twin Rivers as the final runs for Nemesis and Karma before heading to the prestigious Land Rover Kentucky-Three Day Event at the end of the month. Twin Rivers has been his final prep before his last six trips to Kentucky as well. Nemesis (Novalis 46 x Maesy) won the CCI4*-S at Twin Rivers in 2023 by adding just 0.8 time penalties on cross-country for a finishing score of 30.0. The chestnut Canadian Warmblood gelding was third in the CCI4*-S in Kentucky in 2022 and will be aiming for his first CCI5*-L in Lexington in 2023.

Bec Braitling and Caravaggio II. Photo by Ride On Photo.

Karma (Escudo II x Travita) finished five seconds under optimum time—and were the only pair in the field of six to do so—on Morgan Rowsell’s four-star cross-country course to take second in the CCI4*-S at Twin Rivers with a score of 39.2.

“I feel good about the preparation obviously,” Alliston said. “I don’t want to put too many expectations on how competitive I think I’ll be with a young horse, and it’s been a while for me personally. It’s whole ’nother world out there with the world’s best obviously. So, I’m happy with how it went this weekend, and hopefully that can be a springboard to a good performance there.”

Both Nemesis and Karma will be the youngest for their respective levels in Kentucky, and it will be reminiscent of Alliston’s first time there in 2011 when he and the 9-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Parker (Marquetry x Hello Mom) finished 14th out of 45 in 2011.

“It seems a bit aggressive, but I feel like you have a small window with these horses where they’re going well and healthy and everything,” Alliston said.

Also headed to Kentucky out of Twin Rivers’ CCI4*-S will be Tamie Smith and Elliot V (Zavall VDL x Vera-R), a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by the Elliot V Partnership. They were third with a score of 40.5.

Molly Duda and Disco Traveler. Photo by Ride On Photo.

Karma (Escudo II x Travita) finished five seconds under optimum time—and were the only pair in the field of six to do so—on Morgan Rowsell’s four-star cross-country course to take second in the CCI4*-S at Twin Rivers with a score of 39.2.

In the CCI3*-S, Duda’s victory on Disco Traveler (Donatelli x Cadence), a 14-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding, was the first in international competition for the 18-year-old rider from Menlo Park, California. Duda and Disco Traveler were coming off a victory in their move-up to Intermediate at the Galway Downs International H.T. in March. At Twin, they were the only pair in the field of 17 to finish on their dressage score—33.7. They were just one of two to go double-clear on cross-country on Saturday.

“This weekend was absolutely incredible,” Duda said. “Disco gave me his all and took care of me in all three phases. I think what makes our partnership special is that we have so much mutual trust, and we just love working together. I’ve been riding him for about two years now, and he took me all the way from Training level to my first Intermediate, and now my first FEI win. I’m so excited to continue building our partnership this season and see how far we can go together.”

Camille Brewer and Cooley Rock Star. Photo by Ride On Photo.

At Advanced, Braitling and Caravaggio II, a 12-year-old British Sport Horse gelding owned by Arnell Sporthorses, continued their streak of never having a cross-country jump fault in the 29 events they’ve completed since they started competing together in 2019.

In the CCI2*-S, Camille Brewer and Cooley Rock Star (O.B.O.S. Quality x Farna), a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, won with a score of 29.2. They were first after dressage with a score of 28.0, dropped to second after show jumping when they added 1.2 time penalties, and regained the top-spot after a double-clear cross-country round.

FEI competition at the 2023 Twin Rivers Spring International will conclude on Sunday with show jumping for the CCI3*-L, which is the first Selection Trial of 2023 for the U.S. team that will compete at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, at the end of October. Other FEI levels that will crown their winners on Sunday will be the CCI2*-L and the first CCI1*-L in the history of Twin Rivers Ranch.

Twin Rivers Spring International (Paso Robles, CA) [Website] [Entries / Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Sunday Links from SmartPak

By on Apr 16, 2023 12:01 am -

Listen, if all seven of the Barbie horses I had growing up looked like Thomas, I would have been euphoric. I’m unreasonably excited for the live-action Barbie movie release soon (the only thing better than Simu Liu playing Ken would be if it starred the noted “work-in-progress” himself), but the resulting memes may be even better. If you don’t follow Thomas or his “life of the party” stable sister, On Cue, on Instagram, I highly recommend it! While he is indeed “an icon, a legend, the moment” itself, I would love to see how you readers would label your own horses as Barbies — with the riders as Ken, of course.

U.S. Weekend Action

Twin Rivers Spring International (Paso Robles, CA) [Website] [Entries / Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

FENCE H.T. (Tryon, NC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]

Longleaf Pine H.T. (Raeford, NC) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Plantation Field Horse Trials (Coatesville, PA) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Poplar Place April H.T. (Hamilton, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Spring Bay H.T. (Lexington, KY) [Website] [Entries / Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Links to Start Your Sunday:

Win a new trailer? Sign me up: The Official 2023 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event Scavenger Hunt

Zephyr Books welcome Pippa’s Pony Tales, launching in May

New Qualification Requirements and Dressage Tests for the Beginner Novice and Novice Classic Series Levels Effective May 1, 2023

Another milepost for Michael Barisone

The Story Of A Colt Named Kurt, 3-year-old Przewalski Clone

Want more LRK3DE info each day during competition? Sign up for the free LRK3DE Daily Digest email, which will be sent each day beginning Tuesday, April 25 through Monday, May 1. Find all of EN’s latest coverage, sponsor promotions and discounts, chances to win daily giveaways, and much more! Click here to sign up.

Weekly Pick from SmartPak: April showers mean May flowers… and thrushy hooves. SmartPak posed this quiz on their Facebook page. Find the right answer here.

Morning Viewing: James Alliston hit a one-two punch at Twin Rivers’ CCI4*-S this weekend with both his nine-year-old mounts. 1st place victor Nemesis will be the youngest horse on the 5* field at Land Rover in just two short weeks!

Saturday Video: Perfect Your Position with David Doel

By on Apr 15, 2023 5:37 pm -

One of the most fundamental things you need to succeed in eventing is a full arsenal of cross-country positions and the understanding of which situations to use each of them in. In this taster for new H&C series Back to Basics Eventing with Voltaire Design, five-star eventer David Doel explains the mechanics of each and gives some great tips for solidifying them all, helped along by Cameron Beer and Tina Wallace. It’s a great primer ahead of the busy bit of the season — and a great introduction to the delightful David, who heads to Kentucky for the first time in a couple of days!

H&C Unveils Strongest Ever Eventing Line-Up for 2023

By on Apr 15, 2023 2:27 pm -

Anna-Katharina Vogel and DSP Quintana P at Pau, which returns for H&C’s 2023 season. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Leading international equestrian sports network Horse & Country (H&C) today announced its strongest ever eventing line-up. In 2023, members of H&C’s streaming service, H&C+, will enjoy exclusive coverage from 14 events, including four of the world’s seven 5* competitions, with further announcements expected soon.

There’s a strong line-up from the UK, starting with Burnham Market later this month and continuing with Chatsworth, Bramham, Gatcombe, Hartpury and Osberton. On the international front members can see coverage from Australia, Germany, the US and France, including the 5* events from Adelaide, Luhmühlen, Maryland and Pau.

H&C+ members will be able to see all this year’s eventing coverage as well as getting access to H&C’s extensive library of masterclasses, rider profiles and documentaries. Annual membership is only £5.99 per month or £59.99 as a one-off payment, a saving of 16%. And non-members can choose H&C+ Freestyle, H&C’s Pay Per View option, and buy a pass for any event, available at £14.99.

The full list for 2023 is as follows:

  • Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International – April 15 and 16
  • Adelaide International (5*) – April 21 to 23
  • Marbach International – May 11 to 14
  • Chatsworth International – May 13 and 14
  • Melbourne International – June 11 and 12
  • Bramham International – June 10 
  • Longines Lumühlen (5*) – June 14 to 18
  • Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing, Gatcombe – August 5 and 6
  • NAF Five Star Hartpury International – August 9 to 13
  • MARS Great Meadow International – August 24 to 27
  • Osberton International – 30 September and 1 October
  • MARS Maryland (5*) – Oct 19 to 22 (outside of North America)
  • Les 5 Étoiles de Pau (5*) – Oct 26 to 29
  • Ariat Sydney International – Nov 11 and 12

Coverage for the UK events will mainly focus on the Cross Country phase, except at
Hartpury where all three phases will be covered. Coverage of the 5*s will feature all
three phases across every day of the event.

Director of Content for H&C, Jonathan Rippon said “As the Home of Eventing, we are delighted at H&C to bring our passionate audience such a strong line-up this year.”

Members and PPV purchasers can watch online or with H&C’s mobile apps, as well as on Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, and Amazon Fire. Both H&C+ members and H&C+ Freestyle pass holders can watch all the action on-demand from the following day. Full details on how to join or purchase your H&C+ Freestyle pass can be found at horseandcountry.tv

Two Scholarships Currently Open via Strides for Equality Equestrians (SEE)

By on Apr 15, 2023 10:42 am -

Sierra Lesny, recipient of the second Ever So Sweet scholarship, and her OTTB Pea. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Strides for Equality Equestrians is currently accepting applications for Leg Up Scholarships from the Maryland International Equestrian Foundation. These scholarships are geared towards diverse, young equestrians competing at a grassroots level. Scholarship recipients will receive a credit of $500 towards Maryland Horse Trials entries and schooling opportunities at Loch Moy Farm over the next year.

The Ever So Sweet Scholarship, which is the first of its kind, provides a fully-funded internship opportunity for riders from diverse backgrounds to train with an upper-level professional rider. Qualified recipients will train with Sara Kozumplik at her farms in Virginia and Florida. Special thanks to Edy Rameika for funding the scholarship.

Edy Rameika and Sara Kozumplik Murphy will provide bi-annual sponsored internships for riders to train with Sara. Scholarship recipients will receive funding to immerse themselves in a high-performance training program with Sara at Overlook Farm Equestrian Center in Berryville, VA for three months. During the winter, the scholarship will provide two months of training with Sara in Florida. Sara will determine the exact dates of each scholarship period in coordination with the awardee. The scholarship will cover expenses for full board and training costs for the horse, several lessons per week, housing for the rider, a stipend to cover living expenses, competition fees, and coaching at competitions. Participants will learn to manage, care for, and compete horses in an immersive program and will have the opportunity to work as part of the team in all aspects of running a large, competitive barn.

Riders will also make professional connections that would otherwise be unattainable and play an active role in fostering a more inclusive environment within the sport. “I’ve had to overcome many challenges in my life as an upper-level event rider, but I never had the challenge of feeling like the sport wasn’t easily available to me. This scholarship allows access for those that currently don’t have a clear pathway to fight for their dreams,” Sara said when explaining why they decided to offer the opportunity. The Ever So Sweet scholarship is an important first step toward increasing diversity and inclusion in equestrian sports.

Edy shares the passion for providing opportunities for deserving riders, “Our family loves horses and the sport of eventing. My daughters, Roxanne and Nadine, began riding when they were quite young. They rode and competed through high school, and Roxanne continued into her college career. We are very fortunate. But there are students in underserved communities who have the passion and talent for the sport but perhaps not the means. Roxanne passed away in 2017 but her passion lives on through her family. Nadine, Sara, and I want to honor Roxanne and Nadine’s Native American heritage and their love of eventing through this scholarship in the hopes of helping to keep others’ dreams alive. Ever So Sweet is a song that was beloved to Roxanne and Nadine, especially during those memorable years of riding.”

Applicants must…

  • Be a minimum of 16 years old and able to drive.
  • Be based in the United States.
  • Have access to their own horse, either owned or leased.
  • Be dedicated to developing a career path in equine sports.
  • Be willing to track expenses for reimbursement.
  • Be willing to share their experience as part of the ESS Scholarship in blogs, vlogs, social & print media.
  • Be committed to using knowledge gained during the Scholarship period to increase access to equestrian sports for underrepresented groups.

Apply for the Summer 2023 Ever So Sweet Scholarship by May 7 by clicking here.

Applications for this initial round of the Leg Up Scholarship are due April 24, 2023. TWO scholarships will be awarded during this round.

The scholarship can be used to cover the cost of entries, schooling fees, or stabling for events at Loch Moy Farm. Scholarship funds may be used at any of the events in the Maryland Horse Trials calendar. The scholarship period is one year after the date the recipient enters their first event. After this period unused scholarship funds will expire.

This scholarship is geared towards young riders who are just starting their competitive careers. Loch Moy offers a variety of fun and accessible opportunities throughout the year for grassroots riders to learn and compete. Staff at SEE and the Maryland Horse Trials are happy to assist scholarship recipients with planning how they will use their scholarship funds to take advantage of the many exciting events on their calendar.

Applicants should be…

  • Young people riding at a grassroots level who would like to compete at the elementary, beginner novice, or novice levels.
  • Local to Loch Moy farm and able to arrange a suitable horse and travel to the venue. Scholarship funds can also be applied towards stabling. Recipients do not need to own their own horse, or use the same horse throughout the year. Participants in riding school programs are encouraged to apply!
  • Ready to tell us how this scholarship would help them advance their riding goals.
  • Enthusiastic about increasing access to equestrian sports for underrepresented groups.
  • Willing to share their experience as part of SEE blogs, vlogs, social & print media.

Scholarship recipients will be subject to the rules and requirements of the events they enter.

Nestled in the hills of Adamstown, Maryland, the Highlands at Loch Moy Farm provides the perfect setting and facility for Horse Trials, Cross-Country Schooling, and other exciting community and sporting events. Just 15 minutes from Frederick, Maryland, and 30 minutes from Leesburg, Virginia.

The Maryland Horse Trials hosts back-to-back weekends of USEA Recognized Horse Trials as well as many other schooling events and clinics.

The Maryland International Equestrian Foundation (MIEF) is dedicated to supporting equestrian sport from grass roots to FEI level at Loch Moy Farm, and committed to providing funding for the development of dedicated riders from diverse backgrounds to compete at the top levels of our sport.

In addition to sponsoring SEE Leg Up Scholarships for grassroots riders, MIEF also offers scholarships equivalent to riders competing at the 1*, 2*, 3* and 4* levels at the July Maryland International.

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Apr 15, 2023 12:01 am -

 

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Through his legendary course walks, his always-anticipated Chronicle of the Horse preview column, and of course his own great achievements, Jimmy Wofford became very much synonymous with the Kentucky Three-Day Event. It’s therefore only fitting that his memory be honored there this year, the first Kentucky without his earthly presence. A celebration of his life and legacy will be held on Thursday, April 27th from 6-8 PM at Spindletop Hall, just across the road from the Horse Park — and while this is an invitation only private event, we’ll all certainly be feeling the impact of Jimmy’s legacy all week, especially when we’re walking that big, tough cross country course. Take a moment to think of this sporting great as you stand at the Head of the Lake, too.

U.S. Weekend Action

FENCE H.T. (Tryon, NC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]

Longleaf Pine H.T. (Raeford, NC) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Plantation Field Horse Trials (Coatesville, PA) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Poplar Place April H.T. (Hamilton, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Spring Bay H.T. (Lexington, KY) [Website] [Entries / Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Twin Rivers Spring International (Paso Robles, CA) [Website] [Entries / Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

A Bid for Bitless in FEI Competition

Graceful Transitions in Life and Riding

Bulking Up: Does Your Horse Need to Gain Weight, Muscle, or Both?

Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation Combats EHV-1

Daily giveaways, sponsor promotions and discounts, the latest and greatest info: Sign up for the free LRK3DE Daily Digest email.

Sponsor Corner: Did you know that each Amerigo saddle has its own identity code? This serial number can tell you everything from the seat size to when it was manufactured. Learn how to read yours here.

Morning Viewing: This is the most eventer-y barn hack I think I’ve ever seen.

 

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Friday Video from SmartPak: The TerraNova Debrief with Elisa Wallace

By on Apr 14, 2023 6:31 pm -

I, for one, wish every rider was able to release videos like these full-length event debriefs that Elisa Wallace treats us to: with all three phases, and insightful commentary on the decisions she made at each step and how her horse reacted to them, they’re a great educational tool and just plain fun to watch. I was away at the UK’s very soggy Thoresby CCI4*-S while TerraNova was on, and so this has been a great way for me to see what the competition was like on the ground — supplemented, of course, by EN’s coverage from the marvellous Amanda Chance! I think I’ve added a new must-visit event to my list, in any case (especially if it takes me out of England in March…!)

Have you heard of the SmartPak SmartBarns service yet? SmartPak wants to make it easier for you to take great care of the horses and clients in your barn. The SmartBarn Services Team pairs you with your very own Barn Consultant, giving you access to exclusive benefits, including: Supplement advice & planning, Personalized account management, and Inside access to SmartPak Experts. Visit smartpak.com/SmartBarns to learn more.

First-Ever US Equestrian European Development Tour Athletes Revealed

By on Apr 14, 2023 12:58 pm -

US Equestrian is pleased to announce the athlete-and-horse combinations that have been selected for the U.S. Eventing European Development Tour for the summer of 2023.

The following combinations are listed in alphabetical order:
• Jenny Caras (Buckhead, Ga.) and Trendy Fernhill, a 2011 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Elyse Eisenberg
• Andrew McConnon (Vass, N.C.) and Ferrie’s Cello, a 2012 Warmblood gelding owned by Jeanne Shigo
• Caroline Pamukcu (Miami Beach, Fla.) and HSH Blake, a 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Caroline Pamukcu, Sherrie Martin, and Mollie Hoff
• Cassie Sanger (Lakeville, Conn.) and Fernhill Zoro, her own 2008 Irish Sport Horse gelding

The following combinations have been selected as alternates and are listed in ranked order:

• Mia Farley (Ocala, Fla.) and BGS Firecracker, her own 2010 Irish Sport Horse mare
• Mia Farley and Phelps, a 2013 Thoroughbred gelding owned by David O’Connor
• James Alliston (San Ramon, Calif.) and Nemesis, a 2014 Canadian Warmblood gelding owned by Alliston Equestrian
• Allie Knowles (Lexington, Ky.) and Morswood, a 2008 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Katherine O’Brien

The selected athletes will compete in the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Poland CCIO4*-NC-S at the Strzegom (POL) Horse Trials, June 21-25, 2023, under the direction of USEF Eventing Emerging and Development Coach Leslie Law. The athletes will also attend CHIO Aachen(GER), June 30-July 1, 2023, to observe the competition. The Tour participants will receive funding through USEF, and the USET Foundation thanks to the Karen E. Stives Endowment.