Today’s video share is an oldie but a goodie, from the archives of the Noelle Floyd Masterclass series. We’ve heard rumours that a new batch of Masterclasses are coming very soon, which we’re delighted about — this series is packed with training gold, and also features the rare opportunity to see behind closed doors at the home bases of some of the best riders in the US. This episode does just that with Boyd Martin, and it’s a fascinating and timeless watch. Check it out!
EN TRENDS:
Classic Eventing Nation
Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands
Exciting news out of Vermont’s Green Mountain Horse Associate (GMHA)! In addition to offering $10,000 in prize money at this August’s big event, their annual GMHA Festival of Eventing, the event will offer a new Modified course and will also run on a new schedule. Beginner Novice through Preliminary levels will now run over Friday, Saturday and Sunday while the FEI classes and the Intermediate national division will have dressage and show jumping on Friday followed by cross country on Saturday. This means that not only will the lower- and mid-levels get to experience a traditional three-day event format (not to be confused with the classic long-format) but everyone riding in these divisions will also get to stick around and spectate the upper level divisions. Sounds like a really fun weekend to me! Keep your eye on the USEA Calendar entry and the GMHA website for more details.
U.S. Weekend Action:
Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (Tyler, TX): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
March Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (Ocala, FL): [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]
Full Gallop Farm II H.T. (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Ride Times] [
Links to Start Your Weekend:
Equine Injury Database Finds Record Year for Safety
Equine Residences: Turning a Passion for Horses into a Barn-Designing Career
Can Nutrition Help a Horse Shed?
Hot on Horse Nation: Highlighting the Story Stables Podcast
Sponsor Corner: Zoe Crawford Eventing and Zara are flying down banks with style. Zoe loves her World Equestrian Brand’s Amerigo saddle to keep her secure and in place.
Morning Viewing: Nothing to see here, just a bridle less four-star horse!
The Road to Badminton: 150 Competitors for Thoresby CCI4*-S British Season Opener
The 2023 MARS Equestrian Badminton Horse Trials is just under six weeks away, and even despite the abortive start to the British Eventing season, which has seen a number of cancellations due to either snow earlier in the month or rain now, horses and riders on this side of the pond are still locked, loaded, and ready to tackle their prep events in fine style. Top of the priority list for almost all of them? The Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby, which will host the first CCI4*-S of the British season next weekend (March 30–April 2). With 150 entries (yes, you read that right) in the four-star feature class alone, the competition will be seriously hot and the opportunities to talent-spot some of this season’s biggest stars, unmissable.
Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
How do you even begin to pick highlights from a field of 150, anyway?! All the usual suspects are here: we’ve got five-star winners in the form of Tim Price and Coup de Coeur Dudevin (Maryland 2022), Mollie Summerland and Charley van ter Heiden (Luhmühlen 2021), Laura Collett and London 52 (Pau 2020; Badminton 2022), and Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser (Pau 2019). We’ve also got reigning World Champions Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir, as well as a number of horses and riders who came achingly close to a five-star victory in 2022 (Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, second at Badminton, and Tom Jackson and Capels Hollow Drift, we’re looking at you!).
Gemma Tattersall’s aptly-named Johansome takes fourth place at Le Lion d’Angers in 2021. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
There are some up-and-comers we can’t wait to see in action, too: Mollie Summerland had some fantastic results last season with the Cloke family’s leggy Flow 7, who won the CCI3*-S at Nunney and was third in the CCI3*-L at Osberton, among his accolades, and we can’t wait to see how he takes to his four-star debut. Just a touch more experienced, Gemma Stevens‘s (nee Tattersall) Johan-Some has one CCI4*-S under his belt, at Chatsworth last spring, and then sat the better part of a year out – but in his eight FEI starts, he’s never finished lower than ninth, and all being well, he should be very impressive in 2023. It’ll be just a second international start together for Jonelle Price and the former Cathal Daniels ride LEB Lias Jewel, but their first — a top ten in the CCI4*-L at Lignieres at the tail end of the season — looked a very promising start indeed, and we look forward to seeing what they do together. Plus, we’ll get the chance to follow the continuation of new partnerships between established horses and riders such as Oliver Townend and As Is (formerly piloted by Andrew Nicholson), Tom McEwen and Nicola Wilson’s European Champion JL Dublin, and Ros Canter and the five-star pony Dassett Cooley Dun, previously campaigned by Sarah Way.
Dirk Schrade and Casino 80. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
We’re also delighted to see Germany’s Dirk Schrade make the trip over with his excellent Casino 80, who was runner-up at both the ultra-competitive Luhmühlen CCI4*-S, which acts as Germany’s national championship, and the Blenheim CCI4*-L, too, and to see the return of intrepid Aussies Sarah Clark and LV Balou Jeanz, who tackled Burghley last year and are now crowdfunding their way to Badminton.
Of course, that’s really just the tip of the iceberg, so we highly recommend skimming through the jam-packed entry list here — and, of course, tuning in to EN from Thursday, where myself and Diana Gilbertson will be busy boots on the ground to bring you all the news, views, and stories you need from this almost obscenely exciting few days of sport. Go Eventing!
Howden Way Spotlight Award Aims to Champion Ambassadors for the Sport
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
British Eventing is delighted to be launching an exciting new award to recognise outstanding achievement across The Howden Way Regional Academies, supported by uvex.
The Howden Way Spotlight Award will be presented monthly to a rider who has stood out as embodying the culture and values of The Howden Way – championing welfare, driving for inclusivity, creating camaraderie and supporting others, celebrating development of skills and knowledge over outcomes and developing true ambassadors for our sport.
The winner will be selected each month by Olympic Gold medallist, Laura Collett. Laura will make her choice from a shortlist of contenders, who have been nominated by The Howden Way coaches as being deserving of this special recognition.
“I am really looking forward to helping launch this award,” says Laura. “I love the fact that it will shine a light on some of those moments that may otherwise be overlooked, especially where riders have put themselves out for the welfare of their horse or fellow riders. Training hard and raising your performance is one thing but going the extra mile to make improvements for yourself and those around you is especially worthy. I can’t wait to find out more about our nominees.”
The British Eventing coaches delivering The Howden Way Regional Academies, that offers training to members of all ages and abilities, are invited to nominate members on a monthly basis that are attending their academies.
“This award is an opportunity to recognise some of the fantastic achievements that we are seeing within The Howden Way training, not just in terms of improved performance but in the development of individuals,” says Justine Parker, BE Head of Training and Development. “The culture and values underpin the entire delivery of The Howden Way Regional Academies. The Howden Way is so much more than just improving riding, it’s about the whole person. Developing skills and knowledge, while also building camaraderie and mutual support amongst participants. This award will recognise and celebrate riders who live out those values through their engagement and activity beyond the training.”
The Spotlight Award, supported by uvex and will see each winner receive a fabulous uvex exxential helmet, as well as a rosette that recognises their achievement.
Simon Middleton, Managing Director of Zebra Products says, “We are delighted to be working with British Eventing as an official partner for the 2023 season and are looking forward to supporting them with The Howden Way Spotlight Award with one of our well-known brands, uvex.
“uvex protect people from head to toe and have done so for more than 90 years. Setting the highest standard in helmets and riding gloves, uvex provides cutting edge products that are designed to last and we are proud to be supporting the monthly winners with uvex products.”
Bargain Alert: Bag a Burgham CCI4*-S Ticket for Just £1!
Oliver Townend and As Is. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.
Tickets are now on sale for Burgham International Horse Trials (26-30 July) – and, for a limited period of time, visitors can attend Northumberland’s premier international equestrian event for just £1 per person.
Early-bird offers on tickets for Burgham, which attracts the world’s very best event riders and their top horses every year, mean that on Wednesday, 26 July and Thursday, 27 July, adult entrance to the event site can be purchased for £1. This offer concludes on 7 May.
After two days of international dressage and the prestigious Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse qualifiers, the thrilling cross-country and showjumping of the feature classes commence on Friday, 28 July. From then until Sunday, 30 July, Burgham, hosts the jumping phases of classes from international CCI4* level right through to the grassroots part of the sport and British Riding Clubs competitions. There are also classes for ex-racehorses and thoroughbreds on Sunday, 30 July. Tickets for these three days are available currently from just £6 for an adult. An adult season pass can be bought now for £20.
Burgham offers amazing opportunities to see the major stars of eventing up close in an intimate, friendly atmosphere. There are also great shopping opportunities, and a range of delicious, locally-sourced food and drink for sale.
The Northumberland Challenge – a huge £45,000 prize-pot available for riders who do well in the CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S classes at all three of the county’s international horse trials (Belsay, 31 May-4 June, Alnwick Ford, 23-25 June) and Burgham – culminates on Sunday, 30 July at Burgham, and is bound to add a further level of excitement and high-stakes competition to this popular event.
Burgham’s Event Director Craig Anderson said: “We have lots of plans to make Burgham 2023 even bigger and better than ever. The fact that so many of the very best riders in the world always bring their superstar horses to Burgham shows the high opinion they have of our courses, our ground and our relaxed yet professional approach, and we love the fact that we can showcase the sport in such an accessible way to our visitors. Every year we strive to improve what we can offer to everyone who attends.”
For more information and to buy tickets, please visit www.burghaminternationalhorsetrials.co.uk.
Friday News & Notes from Stable View
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Happy Friday, EN! What have you got planned for the weekend ahead? Hopefully plenty of eventing — which is slightly more than we’ve been able to manage over here in the UK, where we’ve now already had cancellations due to snow and rain so far in this very short season! Who decided eventing in March was a good idea?!
U.S. Weekend Preview:
Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (Tyler, TX): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
March Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (Ocala, FL): [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]
Full Gallop Farm II H.T. (Aiken, SC): [Website]
News From Around the Globe:
Great news from Ireland’s Jonty Evans and #ThePeoplesHorse Cooley Rorkes Drift. The pair, who have overcome so much since that catastrophic fall at Tattersalls in 2018, have set their sights on the paradressage ring. We’ve seen them throw so many low-20s scores on the board at four- and five-star that we can only imagine they’ll take this new challenge by storm. [Jonty’s got his sights set on Olympic rings again]
You probably recognise Kevin Keane’s name — he’s the high-flying vet taking on the upper levels. And, as of the end of 2022, he’s also the Capital Square USEA Adult Amateur of the Year. Learn more about him and his horse, Sportsfield Candy, and how they pinned down their first-ever FEI win at Tryon, in this great story from US Eventing.
In the wake of the passing of Primmore’s Pride, COTH is looking back on that history-making Grand Slam win. Re-read their coverage and check out some brilliant shots from the Burghley that sealed the deal for Pippa Funnell, who remains the only person ever to win the series in the true long format. [The Burghley that was]
And finally, a British study has identified sixteen risk factors for horse falls on cross-country. These include dressage scores, as worse scores appear to be linked to a higher risk rate of a fall — which is probably more to do with relative experience — and rider gender, with men more likely to fall than women. [Check out what they found]
Sponsor Corner: Entries have now closed for the forthcoming $60,000 FEI event at Stable View, but did you know you can also school comprehensively there? We love the look of their Integrated Training days, which are offered for Training level and up horses and riders, and include use of the capacious schooling field, plus the dressage and showjumping arenas on a surface. Check it out, and book here!
Thursday Video: Carolina Through the Ears
I’ve been back from the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International for just a couple of days, but I’m still basking in the glow of how much I enjoyed the event and, particularly, its very cool Ian Stark-designed CCI4*-S course. This is a seriously up-to-standard four-star, and one that’s a great prep for big spring aims to come — but even with that in mind, we still saw a couple of first-timers at the level. One of those was Elisa Wallace’s Maryland CCI3* winner Renkum Corsair, who finished 15th after a steady clear across the country, looking every bit an upper-level horse on his way around. Now, you can see the round from Elisa’s perspective with a great hatcam video. Go Eventing!
Win The Ultimate Trip to the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event
Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
‘Tis the season for seriously beefed-up prize packages for eventing fans! Yesterday, we shared details of Ride iQ’s competition to win an all-expenses-paid trip for two to any horse show in the world; today, we’re back with a prize bundle that gives you everything you could possibly need to have the trip of a lifetime to this spring’s Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by MARS Equestrian, with your best pals!
This year’s event takes place from April 26–30, and one Grand Prize winner in the Defender VIP Insiders Package Sweepstakes will receive:
- Four VIP Hospitality Passes for the 2023 EEI Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event
- A VIP course walk for four people during the event
- Defender-branded swag and USEF-branded swag
- One Preferred Tailgate space for the 2023 event which will include six general admission tickets for Saturday, April 29
Not too shabby of an offering, all things considered! Entries are open until 11.59 p.m. ET on April 1, and you can make sure your name is in the draw by submitting an entry here. Good luck, and Go Eventing!
Stable View Foundation Launched to Support Local Causes
Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.
Stable View is pleased to announce the formation of the Stable View Foundation, which has been created to efficiently collect and donate money to local causes. These local causes will be selected by a three-person independent board and will focus on organizations in our communities that serve youth and families in need.
Reflecting current best Corporate Governance practices, the following guidelines are in place:
- An independent three-person Board that selects three area Charities annually.
- All Charities will have a high percentage to cause—they do not have significant overheads.
- Funds for distribution from the Stable View Foundation will be received by Stable View’s May “Local Charities Horse Trials”—a minimum of $10,000.
- The Foundation will also distribute a minimum of $5,000 from each of eight shows in Stable View’s USEF/USHJA $550,000 Challenge Series.
- Once prepared, the Stable View Foundation’s Accounts will be reproduced on the Stable View website.
- The expenses of running the Foundation are planned to be de minimis.
The Directors—Morgan Batton, Michele Bradley, and Pippa Moon—have selected the following charities for 2023:
Cumbee Center to Assist Abused Persons
Ronald McDonald House of Columbia
Announcements regarding the progress of the Foundation will be made via e-mail, on social media, and available on our website.
Please contact Michele Bradley with any questions at [email protected].
Thursday News & Notes
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Equiratings has come out with their early predictions for who shall win Badminton 2023! Will we see a repeat with Laura Collett and London 52? After their incredible year last year, it’s hard to imagine anyone topping them, but with the unpredictable nature of our sport, anything goes. And honestly, that list of ten horses is astonishingly stacked, and I wouldn’t bet against a single one of them.
U.S. Weekend Preview
Full Gallop Farm March II H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Volunteer]
March Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (Ocala, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]
Texas Rose Horse Park H.T (Tyler, TX) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
News From Around the Globe:
Caroline Martin had a very successful year abroad in 2022. She took two of her top horses, HSH Blake and HSH Connor to the Young Horse Championships at Le Lion, finishing 10th in the CCI3* and 2nd in the CCI2*. Caroline spent much of her year in England training with Pippa Funnell, which allowed her to pick up strong placings at the Preliminary and two-star levels with “Connor.” As a result, the Irish Sport Horse gelding (Connor 48 x Galwaybay Merstona), who’s owned by Martin, Sherrie Martin and Luann McElduff, was named the 2022 USEA Preliminary 6-Year-Old of the Year. [HSH Connor Wins USEA 6-Year-Old Award]
Super-groom Courtney Carson is stepping into a new role as US Coordinator for the International Groom’s Association. Having stepped back from working as a full time groom, Courtney has been able to devote some time to helping strengthen the IGA presence in the US. Read her blog to learn more about her background and plans for the future! [Courtney Carson Joins IGA]
Over the last month, U.S. Eventing hosted its annual series of training sessions in Ocala, beginning with the Emerging Training Session and ending with the Development Training Session and Elite and Pre-Elite Training Sessions. The programs are part of the U.S. Eventing Pathway, which is focused on developing combinations to deliver sustainable success in team competition at the championship level. In total, 24 athletes were named to the Emerging and Development programs–all part of the Eventing Pathway Programs–ahead of the training sessions. Take a look at the goals from each session and a rewind of each group’s experiences. [Rewinding USEA Training Sessions]
I think we’ve all dreamt of having a custom Breyer of our favorite horse in the barn. Well, Buck Davidson can now check that off his list. Ballynoe Castle RM, or “Reggie,” the Irish Sport Horse who became the U.S. Eventing Association’s highest point-scoring horse of all time in 2014. Reggie was made into Breyer model in 2019, though his release planned at Breyerfest in 2020 was canceled due to COVID-19. But now he’s here!! [Reggie is an Actual Breyer Model Now]
