The Christmas competition at True Prospect Farm is just one of the many holiday traditions floating around social media this week. What’s your tried-and-true barn tradition around the holidays?
Time to revisit another EN Christmas favorite! Donner, Lynn Symansky’s stuff-of-legends OTTB and Team USA veteran, is the closest thing our sport has to a magic flying reindeer. We originally published this in 2014 and it’s a holiday tradition to dust it off each December 24! Here we go …
Is that Donner the Reindeer? Read on to find out!
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the farm
not an event horse was stirring in Lynn Symansky’s barn.
All the bridles were hung on their racks with care
horses wondering, “We’re getting tomorrow off, right? That only seems fair.”
Donner was nestled all snug in his stall
dreaming of four-stars and his scheme to conquer them all
and maybe, just maybe, if all goes according to plan
on an Olympic podium in Rio Tokyo his mom could stand
When out on the roof there arose such a clatter
Donner sprang up from the ground to see what was the matter.
The barn lights clicked on and Donner peered out his stall
to see a gang of reindeer marching down the hall.
“Yeah, that’s him,” said the one with the glowing red nose.
“Hey Donner!” he exclaimed, and Donner’s heart froze.
“There’s been a mistake!” Donner neighed in desperate plea.
“I’ve heard of the guy you’re looking for — it’s not me!”
But Rudolph, he wouldn’t take no for an answer
nor would Vixen, Cupid, Blitzen, Dasher or Dancer.
Donner followed them outside, his head hung low.
“Mom’s gonna kill me,” he sighed as he walked through the snow.
But then, to his surprise, what did he spot?
A familiar face among Rudolph’s flock!
“Courageous Comet, is that you, dude?” Donner neighed
to a familiar looking, confused-faced gray.
Comet said, “Yeah man, I guess they needed a sub …
a couple of the reindeer have abscesses or something, welcome to the club.”
They stood motionless as Santa hooked them onto the sled
staring up at the sky with a terrible dread.
But Santa, he knew how to make this crowd fly:
“3, 2, 1 … Have a great ride!”
They took off galloping and at the moment when Santa clucked
They gathered their courage, rocked back on their haunches and jumped.
“Hey,” Donner said, “this almost feels like a dream”
Comet snorted: “I guess you could say we made the team!”
For hours they ran and jumped with no regrets
and it made them thankful for all those long trot sets.
At the end of the night Santa dropped them back at the farm
just before the sound of Lynn and Becky’s alarms.
They dozed off, happy memories filling their heads …
saving Christmas was (almost) as fun as country country at WEG!
Looking for the perfect story for this Christmas Eve? Here’s a great one: Once Upon a Time in Eventerland, narrated by Sam Watson. The story of “Little Badminton” is perfect for eventers of all ages, so enjoy and happy holidays from all of us at EN. We’ll be on a light, primarily News & Notes schedule until January 2, 2025, and we’ll see you back in the new year!
Effective January 1, a new rule change within British Showjumping dictates that padded whips may only be used to back up a rider’s leg aid and not for punishment. Padded whips had already been in place under British Showjumping rules, replaced traditional whips five years ago. Horse & Hound reports further here.
There are many ways to help eventing thrive in the new year (and beyond), and they don’t all have to do with competing (or even riding). From volunteering, advocating for welfare, and increasing your education, the sport has many avenues of support. Learn more about what you can do here.
We sing about them, decorate our Christmas cards and ugly sweaters with them, and love to hear the sounds of a horse-drawn wagon or sleigh bedecked in bells. But why bells? Horse Nation explores here.
Did you know you can find Kentucky Performance Products supplements on SmartPak? Combine your horse essentials with two of our favorite partners, and check more off your restock list each month. Click here to shop for KPP on SmartPak.
Video Break
British Olympian Ros Canter stopped by the London International Horse Show for a demo with her retired and thriving former 5* partner, Alfies Clover:
Most of you may remember Dom and Jimmie Schramm’s Evention TV, where they shared riding exercise videos, tips about grooming, and let’s not forget the very humorous videos like “Dressage Skillz” and “The Difference Between Regular People and Horse People.”
People have been asking for Evention to come back after almost 10 years since their last video, and now Dom and Jimmie are back with a new training series: the Winter Warrior Series.
The inspiration came from the rut that a lot of riders face during the winter months after the holidays. While some flock to warmer weather, not everyone can leave their families and jobs behind. Since most trainers have gone south, riders still need help and inspiration during the short, cold days.
Jimmie and Dom spent January in Florida, and went back to Pennsylvania in February and March a few years ago. “It is dreary and sort of depressing when you’re up here, kind of on your own, so we wanted to try to build a community for people during those couple of months,” Jimmie says.
The Winter Warrior Series is for a rider– just coming off the holidays– and a horse– most likely feral and hairy– who want to get going again for the new season.
“This program is designed to take them from that horse and progressively over the course of 10 weeks into March, prepare them so that as the weather starts to warm up, they’re ready to hit the ground running,” Dom says.
What does the Winter Warrior series look like?
It’s a 10 week program, starting January 20. Each week, there are three main ways to learn and gain value from it:
Weekly Training Videos
Every Monday, a video will be released, walking you through a flat exercise which lends itself into a jumping exercise. Dom and Jimmie demonstrate the exercises from different perspectives, such as from the ground or while riding. To pull it all together, an animated overview will show you how the exercise works together with the measurements and dimensions that the session requires.
If you want to set it up ahead of time, they even have a downloadable course map. “When they go out to the barn and they want to ride the exercise, they can whip out their phone and watch the video if they need a refresher,” Dom says.
Better yet, Dom and Jimmie have made these videos easily adjustable for riders and horses no matter the level. “Throughout the video, when we’re explaining it, we talk about how to make it more simple or difficult. We show different ways to do the exercise that might lessen or increase the difficulty so that anyone can do it,” Jimmie says.
They thought about these exercises through the lens of what they could do in the winter months with limited room and jumps, making it easy to set up with what you have at home.
Dom and Jimmie will more than likely be doing the exercises right alongside you each week, since they are so adjustable from a green horse to a highly experienced one, making them perfect for their barn full of horses that range in experience.
“The exercises are very practical when it comes to rideability, building strength and muscle, and getting ready for the upcoming season,” Dom says.
Wednesday Night Webinars
Dom and Jimmie will host a different equestrian expert on a call each Wednesday, ranging from individuals like Julia Krajewski, Dr. Kevin Keane, and more.
“We’ve got all sorts of different professionals with different elements of the equestrian world doing a Zoom call each week,” Jimmie says.
These weekly calls will give you an opportunity to have unparalleled access to the best of the best. You’ll be able to pick their brains to not only learn but also be inspired!
Don’t fret if you’re unable to attend these calls, as they will be recorded and uploaded for you to watch at any time!
Barn Hours
My personal favorite part of the Winter Warrior Series is the weekly “Barn Hours” on Fridays. Dom and Jimmie will hop on a Zoom call and you can ask any questions or discuss any issues you have about your rides from the week.
“I think the biggest challenge with learning online when it comes to horses is that everybody’s horse is different. There’s an individual tailoring that’s missing if it’s just on the screen,” Dom says.
Because of this, they wanted to make it possible for them to answer your specific questions, so you get the most out of it. “At the end of the day, the goal for us is to have these people feel supported and that they can actually progress over the course of the 10 weeks,” Dom says.
There will also be private WhatsApp and Facebook groups, where riders can ask a quick question if they are unable to make it to Barn Hours.
How much will it cost?
In terms of buying the package, you have a few options. The Winter Warrior Series can be purchased up front for $480, saving 20% off the regular price of $600.
You can also buy it in two monthly payments of $270, saving you 10%.
Or, you can choose to be a weekly subscriber, paying $60 per week and it can be canceled anytime.
How does this compare to Evention TV?
While you can still expect to have some relatable and helpful dialogue from Dom and Jimmie, the increased capabilities of technology today have made for a series that people will be impressed with.
“We’ve had tons of ideas over the years on what we would do differently, and as technology has gotten better and things have changed since our Evention days, we can actually do some of the stuff that we couldn’t do before,” Dom says.
All in all, you can expect to see new, fun ways of explaining training exercises on video. These videos will also go more in depth than the ones on Evention.
“If people wanted to have Evention, but a bit deeper and getting more out of it, that’s what they can expect from the Winter Warrior Series,” he says.
As far as filming goes, Dom and Jimmie say that it was nice to be doing it again after a long break.
“We’re kind of falling back into our old ways and habits and it was basically like history repeating itself. Dom was getting his stuff in one take, and I was forgetting everything and having to repeat myself 10 times,” Jimmie says. “We’re really excited about it. I think it’s a good first project that we’ve done in a while to open up the doors to do a lot more in the future.”
While filming, the weather for them was cold, windy, rainy, you name it. “We’re dealing with the very real winter things that other people are going to be dealing with at the same time,” Jimmie says.
Overall, this series is meant to be flexible, so that riders can work it around their work or school schedules. “We want this to be useful for people. We want it to fill a gap there that has been missing for a while, so I hope it does that,” Dom says.
If you would like to look into being a Winter Warrior with Dom and Jimmie, click here. Hang in there this winter, you got this!
Many congratulations to 5* rider Gemma Stevens, who emerged victorious in the crowd-favorite Cavago Six Bar jumping class at the London International Horse Show on Saturday, besting 12 other competitors aboard Envoy Merelsnest Z through five rounds in which the jumps were raised after each. Facing off against Olympic show jumper John Whitaker and Sharid, Gemma and Envoy Merelsnest Z cleared a massive 1.95m final fence to seal the victory.
“Honestly, I am amazed – he was absolutely brilliant,” Gemma told British Showjumping. “I’ve always known he can jump a big vertical, but putting it all together is the real challenge. I genuinely can’t believe we won today. The atmosphere here at London International is incredible, and like usual he gave his all, trying so hard to clear every jump.”
Enjoy some highlights below or watch the full replay with your H&C+ membership here.
US Equestrian has issued an alert regarding the dangers of the screwworm, a devastating and potentially deadly pest, as it spreads around Mexico. “Screwworm has expanded uncontrollably in the last several months from South America and now into Mexico,” USEF said in a press release. “If not controlled the screwworm flies will continue to move north into the United States. There is the additional risk illegal horse entry into the United States could bring in screwworm. You can read more about this warning here.
Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? During the 2024 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, held Dec. 12-15 in Seattle, Washington, USEA CEO Rob Burk was joined by a panel of individuals deeply involved in the USEA Foundation including USEA Foundation Chair Hilary Miskoe, multi-time Foundation grant recipient Sharon White, Beth Lendrum of the Broussard Charitable Trust Foundation, and USEA Foundation Development Officer Katherine Cooper. Together, these five individuals shared their top tips for those interested in applying for USEA Foundation grant funding in the future to help make sure your application stands out in the most positive way. Read their advice here.
Thinking of attending the USEA ECP Symposium at Galway Downs in January? There are a lot of benefits to furthering your education as a coach or prospective coach, and this seminar is one way to do it! Read up on what you could take away from attending a Symposium here.
You may have heard of TMJ disease in humans, but until fairly recently it wasn’t known that horses could get it as well. TMJ pain can be caused by trauma, arthritis, infection, inflammation or just wear-and-tear and can manifest as a number of symptoms including head tossing, head sensitivity, trouble eating, uneven wear on the teeth, and difficulty with bits and flexing at the poll. Read more about how TMJ can affect your horse here.
Have you checked out the new-and-improved Sport Horse Nation lately? EN’s longtime classifieds sister site recently received a big makeover to help make it the best eventers-only matchmaking service in the land. Almost 250 listings are now live … check it out today!
Where are our Canadian event horses for sale at? At Sport Horse Nation, that’s what we want to know. We currently only have a four listings for horses located in Canada on the site, and we want more.
As such, through the end of December we are offering a promo code — enter CAN1224 at checkout — for FREE unlimited listings.
In the meantime, feast your eyes upon these two pretties. Wouldn’t you like to find one of these under your tree?
“Ellie is the complete package! Sire Ampere, Dam lines Riverman/Thoroughbred. She scores in the low 20s in dressage, is brave and fast cross country and a careful and honest show jumper. Ellie is excellent on the ground for all things, farrier, vet and clipping. Ellie would make a wonderful young rider mount for an ambitious junior wanting to be competitive at NAYRC and beyond. She has competed at the CCI2* level and has the scope and drive for MUCH more. Ellie is very sound and has required no maintenance.” Learn more …
“Tugce is a stunning 12yo German Sport Horse that has top placings through to the 4* level. She has also successfully show jumped through to 1.35m. Tugce has been ridden by a professional, young rider and adult amateur. She would be an ideal candidate for a young rider or adult amateur looking to win! Tugce is extremely well schooled on the flat and over fences and is competitive in all phases. She has three beautiful gates and an impressive gallop.”
“Louis Song is probably one of the most beautiful and athletic Thoroughbreds out there. He is by Bellamy Road out of Song Cat by Unbridled’s Song. He is unraced and started later in life in an eventing program (through no fault of his own). Louis is an impressive mover and very scopey jumper. With all that talent, he requires an experienced rider. He is sensitive and a bit quirky. Needs to be in a regular program. I can see this horse putting a young professional on the map or suiting a talented rider wanting to outshine all the warmbloods, on a TB budget. Sound, up to date on everything, no vices.” Read more…
“Check out the best Christmas present EVER! Takes The Cake is ready to take his new partner up the eventing levels. Cake is a barn favourite with the sweetest disposition. Over the past three years he has gone through Starter to Training (EV100) level with his current partner finishing 6th at the Alhambra Summer event in Red Deer, Alberta. He has the potential to go to Prelim! Cake has many Pre-Training (EV90) ribbons and has travelled and competed in Spokane, California and Arizona. Seasoned show horse who loves to perform and easy to handle. Currently lives inside but is great outside with his pasture mates too. He goes in a snaffle, is schooling Second Level dressage, has auto lead changes, very adjustable, clips, bathes and is an easy keeper with no maintenance required. Would be perfectly suited for an ambitious amateur or junior.” Read more…
Not necessarily the collab we all had on our bingo cards for 2024, but a cool one nonetheless! British Olympic gold medalist Tom McEwen stopped by to cut the ribbon to open the new Aldi store in Bristol, England this week. Next up, an Aldi sponsorship perhaps? We wouldn’t say no to some cool snacks and horse show meals! Put a good word in, will you Tom?
Taylor Bradish and Katydid Duchess 3 Time USEF Advanced Single Horse Combined Driving National Champions 2022 and 2024 FEI Combined Driving World Championships Highest Placed US Pair
The Aiken Horse Park Foundation and the Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant Selection Committee are pleased to congratulate Taylor Bradish on being named the 2025 Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant recipient.
Annie’s father, Putter Goodwin, who has been integrally involved with the grant since it’s inception commented:
“This is the second year of this grant in Annie’s memory. We continue to get quality applications from aspiring young professionals working hard to be successful in the horse business. It’s so important we do all that we can to give those most deserving a leg up. If we can continue to grow this fund, we will be able to make even more of an impact.”
This year’s grant cycle received seventeen applicants from many different equestrian backgrounds including Polo, Hunter/Jumper, Dressage, Eventing, and Combined Driving. Bradish, a 10 year full time resident of Aiken, SC, stood out from the rest, not only with her impressive professional resume boasting accolades such as 3 Time USEF Advanced Single Horse Combined Driving National Champions and the highest places US pair at the 2022 and 2024 FEI Combined Driving World Championships, but also her dedication to growing the sport here in Aiken.
Upon being awarded the 2025 Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant, Bradish remarked:
“I am incredibly honored to have been chosen to receive the 2025 Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to meet Annie. I have heard many great things about her lifelong dedication to her sport, which is something I think we would have had in common. Receiving this grant will be instrumental in helping me towards my goals of growing the sport of Combined Driving, as well as continuing to develop my training business and competing at the international level.”
Not only did Bradish and Katydid Duchess again represent Team USA at the 2024 FEI Combined Driving World Championships in Le Haras Du Pin, France, placing 6th overall and being the highest placed US pair, but following their time abroad and training with coach Boyd Excell, Bradish sold her 2 time World Championship mare to the world number 1 as his new lead horse for his 4 in hand team. It is a familiar, monumental decision that so many young professionals are faced with in their early career of selling their top horse in order to focus on the next string of up and coming equine athletes and continue propelling their career forward.
The selection committee was deeply impressed by Bradish’s commitment to do right by her horse and her own career, a choice Putter Goodwin shared Annie faced at one point with Bruno. The fact that the world number 1, Boyd Excell, thought so highly of this horse Bradish produced he added her to his own team, speaks so highly of Bradish’s talent and skill as an equestrian and horsewoman. The story echoes that of another Boyd’s partnership with another truly spectacular, self-produced horse, who also took a trip to France this past summer.
To learn more about Taylor Bradish and the sport of Combined Driving, you can visit her website goldencarriagedriving.com.
Selection Committee
The selection committee is comprised of a cross section of equestrian industry professionals, a member of Annie Goodwin’s Family, members of the board of directors and staff of the Aiken Horse Park Foundation.
Boyd Martin, Olympic Eventing Rider/Professional
Daniel Geitner, Professional Hunter/Jumper Rider
Eugene Kneece Jr., Professional Polo Player
Catherine Stumberg, Amateur Hunter/Jumper Rider
Caitlin Silliman, Professional Eventing Rider
Putter Goodwin, Annie Goodwin’s Father
Robert Stevenson, FEI Judge
Tara Bostwick, CEO – Aiken Horse Park Foundation
Kate Boggan, Director of Marketing and Communications – Aiken Horse Park Foundation
Thank you to all of Annie’s friends and family who have already donated to the Annie Goodwin Rising Star Fund. To date, we have received $197,034.22. To make a donation to the Fund, click here.
We have a winner! Many congratulations are in order to the newly crowned EquiRatings Horse of the Year for 2024: Pau winner D. Day, piloted by Great Britain’s Caroline Harris! This pair notched an incredible first 5* win on a soggy weekend in France for the final event at the level for 2024, besting a field that saw major changes on cross country, epic mud and weather, and a test unlike any other we saw this year.
Want to relive Caroline and D.Day’s big weekend? Click here to dive into our full final report from Pau.
Here’s a deal for you just in time for Christmas! Sergio Grasso’s Evolution and Progress line of tall boots are on clearance while supplies last through the World Equestrian Brands outlet. Don’t wait! Save your 50% here.
Video Break
Wise words from one David O’Connor himself! Watch, then watch again:
2024 Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse winners Mike Jackson and two-time champion Oscar.
Britain’s most prestigious young horse championships, the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Final, will receive an increase in prize-money as the leading manufacturers of countryside clothing and boots celebrate 15 years of sponsorship.
Britain’s most prestigious young horse championships, the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Final, will receive an increase in prize-money as the leading manufacturers of countryside clothing and boots continues its sponsorship of the series for a 17th year.
The highly competitive championships for the country’s best four- and five-year-old event horses are held on the Friday of Defender Burghley – 5 September 2025 – and always attract a huge crowd. The two classes will be worth a total of £8,000 for 2025, with a first prize of £1,500 for both the Dubarry five-year-old champion and the Dubarry four-year-old champion.
And six-times Defender Burghley winner William Fox-Pitt will make his debut as a Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Final judge; he will assess “potential to gallop” for the top 10 finalists in both the four- and five-year-old sections.
He will join an impressive set of judges for 2025 – dressage will be assessed by experienced top-level ground jury member Harry Payne and famed young horse producer Judy Bradwell, jumping by multiple Olympic, World and European eventing medallist Bettina Hoy and legendary former eventer, trainer and course-designer Ian Stark, and highly respected vet Fred Barrelet will judge “suitability and type”.
The Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Final is the culmination of a season-long series of qualifiers in Britain and Ireland, of which there will be 18 in 2025. These will commence at Osberton on 1 May. There are two new venues for 2025 – Belsay (18 May) and Wellington (22 August – the final chance for riders to gain qualification for Burghley).
Martyn Johnson, Director of Defender Burghley, said: “We are delighted that Dubarry are continuing to support these celebrated championships. While the CCI5* at Burghley shows the world what the very best and most experienced horses and riders can do, the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Finals showcase our future champions and are very important for breeders, riders and owners.”
Charlotte Strange, brand manager of Dubarry of Ireland, said: “We are thrilled to be extending our long-standing partnership with Burghley through our continued sponsorship of the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Series. Each year we see both new and returning riders to the series, where we are proud of the dedication to the development of young event horses and Dubarry’s commitment to the equestrian community.”
A full list of Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse qualifiers for 2025 can be found here.
Defender Burghley is the established highlight of the summer social season. As well as top-class sport featuring both the most famous horses and riders in the world and up-and-coming stars, in the beautiful and historic setting of Burghley Park, the event offers superb shopping opportunities, delicious food and drink, elegant hospitality options and lots to entertain children and less-horsey members of the family.
Every minute of the action from Defender Burghley, including the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Final, is shown live on Burghley TV.
