Classic Eventing Nation

STRIDER and EN Are Going Steady, Baby: 2023 Brings Another Year of Partnership

By on Feb 24, 2023 2:00 pm -

Tamie with some happy clinic participants. This could be you – if you get yourself over to STRIDER to sign up for your next clinic! Photo by Amber Heintzberger.

We’re truly chuffed to bits to announce that our partnership with STRIDER will continue on throughout 2023, with a shared aim of increased visibility for equestrian events while enabling equestrian organizers one of the biggest audiences possible to successfully promote their events worldwide.

Strider has become a real giant in our industry, and is the leading bookings platform for equestrians, with over 200,000 annual users. We hope you’re already pretty familiar with us here at EN, but if not, we like to think we’re also pretty good at what we do, with a global readership of over 1.2 million horse enthusiasts. Together, we’re jointly committed to expanding access and engagement throughout equestrian sport.  

Throughout the 2023 partnership, equestrian organizers will be able to easily reach Eventing Nation’s thousands of readers to successfully generate media buzz and community awareness about their events, regardless of discipline.

Key features of the partnership will include:

  • The ability for equestrian organizers to offer a full range of activities for online entry – everything from recognized horse shows, to clinics, to camps –on the popular STRIDER booking platform, and then immediately receive free publicity in front of Eventing Nation’s 1.2M readership.
  • Automatic cross promotion on Eventing Nation’s “What’s Happening” page, a popular resource for thousands of riders each month seeking competitive and educational opportunities.
  • Preferred rates for EN readership on Strider Gold plans, which enables venues to easily send digital entries in recognized eventing and dressage competitions to StartBox online scoring.
  • Immediate access to USEF database results for horse & rider via Strider’s FastEntry product, the only USEF certified entry software capable of supporting across all breeds and disciplines
  • Preferred rates for Strider Members on Eventing Nation’s elite Media Promotion service, scheduled to launch Summer 2023.

“Enabling cross-promotion between Strider and Eventing Nation audiences is a win-win. When we broaden the awareness of what’s happening across equestrian sport, we enable wider participation and ultimately the growth of the sport, says Tara Swersie, CEO of STRIDER.

“Events are a huge part of the equestrian industry, but most horse show and clinic organizers don’t have the marketing resources to get their event seen by thousands of riders,” agrees our own boss lady, EN editor Sally Spickard. “With this collaboration, Eventing Nation is able to offer our 1.2m readership direct access to one of the biggest audiences possible for equestrian promotion, all with a simple click of a button.” 

Under the new editorial leadership, Eventing Nation is fast becoming a resource where the entire eventing community can easily access both global news and educational resources in addition to competitions, clinics and other opportunities. 

Eventing Nation joins the team of STRIDER partners who are committed to connecting equestrians to the very best in opportunities, products, and services available, including ProElite Feed, Horse & Country, Horse & Rider Books, the United States Eventing Association (USEA), Dressage4Kids, United States Equestrian Federation, Morven Park International Equestrian Center, AHT Insurance, Horse & Rider Books, and Dressage Today.

 

 

We’re delighted to continue on with our overall M.O. of helping eventing become the best it can be, and get the worldwide positive attention it deserves. To learn more about STRIDER, which operates the only digital provider certified by the United States Equestrian Federation to support entries across all disciplines and breeds, click here – and as always, Go Eventing!



Friday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

By on Feb 24, 2023 12:03 am -

I mean….I can’t. Photo by Lee Ann Zobbe.

I love this photo so much because it shows how much top level riders truly love the starter phases for both horses and riders. Sara Kozumplik is well known for her passion and enthusiasm, and how better to help a naughty Haflinger learn to go over the log than running and leaping over it yourself. They always say, teach by example!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Full Gallop Farm Mid February H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Pine Top Advance H.T. (Thomson, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Three Lakes Winter II H.T. at Caudle Ranch (Groveland, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times][Volunteer] [Scoring]

News From Around the Globe:

As complex as eventing can be through the various lines and tracks presented to horses and riders in the jumping phases, gridwork can help make things simpler when in the heat of the moment of a competition, clinic, or lesson. Regardless of the level, gridwork teaches horses and riders to establish the rhythm they will need and the feeling they get from successfully riding a line of jumps. Level V USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) Certified Coach Sharon White loves grids because they “do the work for you”. [Understanding Gridwork with Sharon White]

As science, medicine, and equine sports grow, so does the realm of alternative healing therapies. Various forms of massage, laser therapies, PEMF, and chiropractic are gaining popularity for horse management, there are definitely ways to improve the performance and happiness of your horse through incorporating them into your life. When deciding whether or not one is right for you, it’s important to understand what each can do and its focus. Here’s more information on seven of the more popular alternative treatment modalities! [7 Equine Alternative Healing Therapies]

Oh hi fellow audiobook addicts, here are just 10 Horse Audiobooks For Your Next Drive

Girl, I could write a BOOK on how to clean a stall efficiently and well. But, who would buy it? Fellow poop slinging professionals such as myself would have no need for a step by step guide, and everyone else would think I was insane. On the off chance that you are in the “continuing education” phase of your manure mucking career, this article should suit nicely. [Stall Cleaning Tips]

 

British Eventing Adds a Spate of Events to the 2023 Calendar

By on Feb 23, 2023 2:34 pm -

Heidi Coy and Russal Z. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Great news for British-based eventers: just one week ahead of the start of the 2023 season, British Eventing has announced the addition of several events to the calendar, giving riders across the country even more opportunities to enjoy their sport of choice. Here’s what’s been added:

South East – Regional Championships
The South East region will now see a Regional Championship scheduled to take place on 12 & 13 August 2023 at Blindley Heath, Lingfield. This will give members an additional Regional Championship to aim for alongside the five that are already scheduled. Qualification to compete at the Regional Championships is achievable for many with two double clears required during the qualifying period. The top 10% finishers will then pick up the highly coveted qualification tickets for the NAF Five Star BE80 Championships at Bramham and the Voltaire Design Grassroots Championships at Badminton at BE90 & BE100 level. As well as the Regional Championship pathway there will also be the opportunity to qualify directly from the OBP Grassroots Leagues. Further information on the Regional Championships and all they have to offer can be found here.

Little Gatcombe
The highly popular event that was known as ‘Little Gatcombe’ is back in the calendar with two dates for 2023. The first of the two will run on the weekend of 17 & 18 June 2023 and the second on the weekend of 16 & 17 September 2023. Classes on offer span BE80, BE90 and BE100. We know this will be an extremely welcome fixture back in the BE calendar and we are delighted to be able to offer these two dates to the membership once again giving them the opportunity to compete at such a prestigious venue.

Oxstalls
We will now see Oxstalls, Gloucestershire running on the weekend of 15 & 16 April which will replace Ascott-Under-Wychwood (1) which has unfortunately had to cancel. However, Ascott-Under-Wychwood (2) will go ahead as scheduled on 3 & 4 June 2023. Moving the fixture to Oxstalls will see the same classes run at BE80, BE90 & BE100 level alongside Under 18 classes at each of these levels. In addition, Oxstalls will be running a BE105 class as well as GoBE classes at 80, 90 & 100 level.

“We welcome Little Gatcombe back into the BE calendar and know that this will be well received by our members,” says Helen West, Chief Executive for British Eventing. “We are confident that Charles Etherington-Smith and his team will deliver a gold standard product for our membership to benefit from, which will initially be at the BE80, BE90 and BE100 levels, but looking to the future, we know the site has the capacity to run at higher levels also.

“Blindley Heath was a new site in 2022 and proved very popular with the South East membership. BE have listened to feedback received from the membership about the geographical spread of Regional Championships and, having gone out inviting expressions of interest to host a Southeast Regional Championships, are thrilled to announce this addition which we hope will be welcomed by the membership.”

To visit the 2023 fixtures calendar, click here.

The U.S. Breakout Star: Catching Up with Ariel Grald After Pratoni

By on Feb 23, 2023 10:24 am -

Ariel Grald gives Leamore Master Plan a cuddle after presenting for the USA at Pratoni. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Ariel Grald had a very eventful and memorable past year, as she and her horse Leamore Master Plan — known to his friends as Simon — have traveled the world competing at Badminton, the Maryland 5* at Fair Hill, and, of course, the World Championships at Pratoni, among other big events. 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Ariel’s favorite event of the last year was the World Championships at Pratoni: “Having the opportunity to represent the US at the World Championships was just amazing,” she says. “Obviously, I’m very proud of Simon and our individual performance. We finished on his dressage score and it was just fantastic.”

Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

What impressed Ariel the most, however, wasn’t her individual performance – it was the team spirit and camaraderie. “More importantly, it was such a positive experience for the whole US team,” she explains. “Every rider did really well and all the horses were amazing. Every support person that was there, from grooms and owners and friends to USEF staff and coaches – it just was such a motivating and uplifting experience. Everybody was very proud of the performance.”

As it isn’t often that equestrians get to ride in a team setting, I was curious how being responsible for part of the team score impacted Ariel’s mindset. Surprisingly, though, she tells me it didn’t. “That’s never going to be as much pressure as I put on myself,” she stresses. “My goal is always to perform to the best that I can, which is to get the best dressage score possible and finish on it.”

“Yes, being on that sort of World Championship stage, on some levels, it does add more pressure. I’ve been fortunate with Simon – I think that was our fifth trip overseas – so I’ve been able to practice that with him.”

Being in the right mindset and trusting her horse was key to her success, Ariel says. “I just went in with a mindset that I’ve practiced this before and I know how to do this routine. My horse is very experienced, I know him really well, so that was critical to my success with Simon — the fact that he had been overseas and we’ve had a successful outing several times before, I was able to really draw on that experience and put our performance together.”

One of the benefits of competing in a setting like Pratoni is learning from and watching the other riders — but going overseas to learn from international eventers is a big undertaking that only a few can afford. Ariel took full advantage of the opportunity Pratoni presented to watch and learn from riders from other countries.

“Being at Pratoni, I spent a lot of time watching — and I remember a moment that really sticks out was when the five British riders were all flatting and doing some cavaletti work. Watching the quality of the horses and the quality of their riding and just, everything was nailed down to a tee. Watching their execution and their skill level was really eye-opening. That’s what we were competing against.”

Ariel Grald and Leamore Matser Plan. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Ariel left Pratoni inspired and motivated — a feeling that has carried her through the months since. “I’ve been working hard this winter on improving, not only the horses’ training and skills, but my own riding and technical ability,” she says.

She wasn’t the only USA team member who left Pratoni inspired for the future. “I think more than the success of the team winning a silver medal, it was really sort of a spark for everyone, for the future,” she muses. 

United States riders have been fighting to get to the top of the sport for a long time from our isolated spot across the Atlantic. The team’s success at Pratoni, Ariel explains, marks the turning of a new leaf for US eventing.

“I feel like [Pratoni] started to shift the tide a little bit,” she says, “and you start to build momentum where the US team goes overseas and everybody has successful outings and that gives you that much more positivity and motivation for the next [event]. You start to build that confidence over time that yes, the US can go into the medals. And we’ve always been capable of that, but you just sort of grind away at it. We’ve been missing the mark a little bit, but I think that the momentum going forward after Pratoni and the confidence that the riders are starting to have is that our athletes can succeed at championships.”

As for what the future holds for Ariel, she says a lot hinges on Carolina International, which is sponsored by her homebase, Setters’ Run Farm. “I’ve got some up-and-coming Advanced and four star horses so we’re hoping Simon can share the spotlight, and we’ve got some other younger horses coming from overseas as well. We’ll see, as we’re just kicking off the season — but Carolina will be a very important event to sort of see where they’re all at and springboard the horses towards the rest of spring season.”

Good luck at Carolina International, Ariel! Team EN will be there to cheer you on. 

Thursday News & Notes

By on Feb 23, 2023 12:03 am -

 

NO REGRETS. Photo by Kate Samuels.

It has now been almost two months of 2023, and I have several more Equine Houdini tales to share. In his 22nd year of life, Nyls has truly rekindled his passion for escaping any and all containment attempts by pathetic humans. Twice yesterday he careened around the farm partying it up. Once while I was IN THE BARN he unclipped his stall guard and passaged his way around the barn. The second time, his nimble lips undid yet a different door handle, and I returned from buying nice western alfalfa in town for his ungrateful a$$ to find him covered in red clay eating new grass on my lawn. Do. Not. Believe. Them. When they tell you that your horse will “grow out of it”. As a friend said, “Age is just a number, immaturity is forever.”

U.S. Weekend Preview

Full Gallop Farm Mid February H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Pine Top Advance H.T. (Thomson, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Three Lakes Winter II H.T. at Caudle Ranch (Groveland, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times][Volunteer] [Scoring]

News From Around the Globe:

Horses are able to distinguish between certain letters of the alphabet! In a study published in Animals, and carried out by Clara-Lynn Schubert, Barbara Ryckewaert, Carlos Pereira and Tetsuro Matsuzawa, it was found that four out of five horses learned to discriminate five letters: O, B, Z, V, and X. [Horses Are Smart as Hell]

If you’ve ever lit a scented candle to help yourself relax after a long day, you may not be surprised to learn that the smell of lavender can help calm stressed horses. Researchers at the University of Arizona measured cardiac parameters in eight dressage horses before, during and after they inhaled humidified lavender essential oil. Each of the horses was also tested with plain water to serve as a control either one week before or one week after the lavender trial. The experiment was then repeated with the chamomile essential oil. Read more to discover their findings! [Smells That Calm Horses]

Podcast(s) of the Day: Equus Barn Stories

Are you an Adult Rider interested in competing in the Adult Team Championships at the USEA AEC this Aug. 29–Sept. 3, 2023, at the Kentucky Horse Park? Start building team camaraderie and get valuable competition experience at your Area’s Adult Team Challenges! View the list of ATCs here to see what is being offered in your area in 2023. [ATC Challenges by Area]

Best of Blogs: Thoroughbred Logic — Don’t Move

As a horse owner, you know if your horse is the boss or at the bottom of the pecking order when he interacts with a herd. But keep in mind that herd dynamics — and therefore your horse’s place in the herd — can change. Just because he was the leader in one situation doesn’t mean he’ll act the same within all herds at all locations. If you find your horse acting differently at a new barn, his past and present herd interactions may be the key to understanding his behavior. [Changing Herd Dynamics]

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: The Royal Eventing Legacy

By on Feb 22, 2023 5:00 pm -

Let me share with you a secret: during lockdown, while most people took up baking sourdough loaves and, I don’t know, writing gratitude journals, I accidentally became a royal correspondent…and not a very good one, either. I was asked to be a talking head on a TV documentary about Zara Tindall and her mother, the great Princess Anne, and frankly, I’ve never even watched the thing, partly because my grown-out lockdown highlights are SO offensive to look at, and partly because I think I waffled earnestly about missed clocks at the WEG more than anything else. I’m even more red-faced to admit I did another one after this (with a home-cut fringe, to make matters even worse). Look, we all had to make money somehow, and Carl Hester also got talked into doing it, okay? Anyway, here’s the sordid proof of the whole thing. Yes, my highlights look better now.

Wish your horse was calmer?

Spooky, tense, edgy, unfocused. If these words describe your horse, a calming supplement could make training easier and riding more fun.

Trouble Free is scientifically formulated to support healthy nervous system function and help your horse maintain a more confident, focused, and relaxed disposition.

Trouble Free:

  • Contains alpha-lactalbumin, a unique ingredient that supports normal nerve function and maintains calmness.
  • Helps horses maintain a relaxed attitude and supports a positive experience for both horse and rider.
  • Provides supplemental thiamine (B1), taurine, inositol, and magnesium.

The horse that matters to you matters to us®.

Have you grabbed your winter running horse stickers? Check them out at KPPusa.com/winter23.

Yanmar America Takes On Sponsorship of Carolina CCI4*-S – and Reveals Sneak Peek of Entries!

By on Feb 22, 2023 2:33 pm -

Boyd Martin and Miss Lulu Herself. Photo by Joan Davis / Flatlandsfoto.

The eventing world would come to a shuddering halt if it weren’t for the phenomenal sponsors who fund competitions around the world – and if there’s one thing you can rely on Yanmar America never to do, it’s grind to a shuddering halt. Their tractors and farm equipment are the thang for the busy countryside type who has a to-do list as long as their arena and needs a versatile bit of kit with which to do it. That’s why it’s particularly exciting that they’ve taken on the mantle as sponsor for the feature CCI4*-S class at next month’s Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International CCI and Horse Trial, which is the first CCI4*-S class of the US season — and as part of their sponsorship deal, they’re providing the on-site emergency medical technicians with two of their market-leading UTVs, giving competitors peace of mind that they’ll be attended to quickly and reliably in case of a wobble on course.

Yanmar’s got some of the most useful bits of kit on the market for horsey folks.

Fancy putting your name down for a tractor, UTV, or bit of industrial kit for your farm? You’ll be able to check out the wares in person at the event, which runs from March 16-19.

“We are very much looking forward to working with the Carolina International to support this exciting event for the equine community,” says Jon Richardson, Director, Rural Lifestyle Division, Yanmar America. “Yanmar America has long supported bringing communities people together in the shared excitement of sports and is working to develop future generations through its sports sponsorships.”

“We are excited to welcome Yanmar America as the CCI4*-S sponsor for the Carolina International,” says Shannon Habenicht, Director of Development and Communications at the Carolina Horse Park. “Our EMTs will have reliable Yanmar equipment to provide support for the competitors, and visitors will get to see these distinctive red Yanmar tractors on display during the event.”

If you like your farm kit to come with the assurance of a long history of quality, Yanmar’s got you covered there. With beginnings in Osaka, Japan, in 1912, Yanmar was the first ever to succeed in making a compact diesel engine of a practical size in 1933. A pioneer in diesel engine technology, Yanmar is a global innovator in a wide range of industrial equipment, from small and large engines, agricultural machinery and facilities, construction equipment, energy systems, marine, to machine tools, and components around the world. Even better? They’re committed to sustainability — something we tend to fall short of as a sport. Keep on rocking, Yanmar!

Doug Payne and Starr Witness. Photo by Alison Green for Shannon Brinkman Photography.

The new partnership with Yanmar also offers us our first look at the entry list for the CCI4*-S, which has 22 star-studded entries with a week left until closing day. Among those are 2021 USEF CCI4*-L National Champions, Woods Baughman and C’Est La Vie 135, who led the dressage at October’s Maryland 5* — the event at which fellow entrants Elisa Wallace and Renkum Corsair took the CCI3*-L National title. This will be the eye-catching gelding’s debut CCI4*-S, and it’s set to be a move-up that many will have a close eye on. Olympian Doug Payne has an enviable triple hander in the inexperienced but exciting Camarillo, the flashy-toed Starr Witness, and the great-jumping Quantum Leap, who was a top-ten finisher at both Kentucky and Maryland last season, and Boyd Martin, too, will be keeping busy with three entries in this class. Bromont CCI3*-L victor Miss Lulu Herself will make her CCI4*-S debut, while Contessa, who was never out of the top ten in FEI classes last year, looks a hot tip for the business end of the leaderboard. If you watch winter horse transfers as keenly as some people watch… whatever ‘transfer season’ is in other sports, his third ride — Commando 3 — will be of particular interest. It’ll be their first FEI event together since the horse came over from Sweden’s Louise Romeike, who notched up ten top-ten finishes in internationals out of 18 starts across her tenure with the ten-year-old Holsteiner.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Allie Knowles continues to be a fan favourite with her exceptional Irish Sport Horse Morswood, who was previously piloted by Piggy March and Susie Berry and is universally loved by, well, everybody, and there’ll be plenty of folks rooting for Liz Halliday-Sharp to have a great week with her two rides, the exceptional Cooley Quicksilver, who was in the top ten at Luhmühlen CCI5* last year, and Miks Master C, who was very impressive even as a new ride at Boekelo in October. Carolina will offer us a first opportunity to see how they’ve used their winter, and we reckon they could be onto some magic after a bit of getting-to-know-you time. Speaking of magic, wasn’t that US team silver in Pratoni sprinkled with just a touch of the stuff? You can catch up with individual rider Ariel Grald and her mount Leamore Master Plan — who did so well at the event that had they been on the team, the US would actually have won gold — at Carolina. Plus, see international jet setters Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire (and a second ride for Syd in the delightful Commando d’Osthuy, too), and a much-loved twofer in Pfun and Mama’s Magic Way for Will Faudree.

You can check out the list of entries for all classes — which will continue to be updated through the closing date of February 28 — here, and keep it locked on EN for all your Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International news!

British Eventing to Introduce Six- and Seven-Year-Old Classes in 2023

By on Feb 22, 2023 9:30 am -

Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent add another completely penalty-free cross-country run to the mare’s spotless record at her second Le Lion d’Angers appearance in 2021. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

British Eventing’s commitment to providing pathways for young and upcoming horses and riders – a commitment we’ve seen magnified in 2023 – has been bolstered by a new series of classes for six- and seven-year-old horses this season.

These Young Horse classes are being supported by The Howden Way, which has provided a significant cash injection for the sport since its introduction last year. In this case, that means that the prize pot will be increased from that offered in the non-age-specific sections: the top three combinations in each class will receive £250, £150, and £100, respectively, on top of the prize money already stated on the schedule.

These new classes will be held across the spring and summer, allowing for horses of each age group to test their mettle against their peers – a huge benefit for owners and riders aiming their charges at the FEI World Breeding Championships at Le Lion d’Angers, which hosts a CCI2*-L World Championship for six-year-olds and a CCI3*-L World Championship for seven-year-olds.

Piggy French and Cooley Lancer, winner of the Six-Year-Old World Championship in 2019. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Six-year-olds will run at the Novice level, beginning with a kick-off event at Gloucestershire’s Cirencester Park from April 29-30. Seven-year-olds will run at the Intermediate level, beginning on the weekend of the 10-14 May at Northamptonshire’s Aston-le-Walls.

The full lists of venues and classes are available here:

6YO

7YO

“Developing the equine talent that we have in this country is vital to the future of our sport,” says Justine Parker, BE head of training and development. “The new provisions that we have been able to implement thanks to the support from The Howden Way – such as the Young Horse Academy – are helping us to take big strides forward in developing our home-grown talent. These new young horse ages classes will provide yet another string to the bow and will be invaluable for helping riders assess the progress of the equine proteges against their peers.”

Wednesday News & Notes from SRF Carolina International

By on Feb 22, 2023 4:33 am -

Ah, self-doubt. That niggly little earworm that takes up too much space in too many people’s brains. We know it’s not helpful, but how do we politely tell it to skedaddle?

Self-doubt chips away at our confidence, undermining our true abilities and preventing us from achieving our potential. At worst, a lack of confidence can even be dangerous when it comes to riding and being around horses.

We all know that our horses are tuned in to our emotions and react accordingly. Any negativity we’re feeling is translated directly to our horse, through our body language, our aids and perhaps even in the energy we’re projecting.

Your Horse Magazine has shared a practical way to rationalize those thoughts of not being good enough by getting hands on with actual evidence, rather than the distorted viewpoint which self-doubt is often initiated from.

For example, that one time we fell off when tackling a trakehner doesn’t mean we’re more likely to fall off every time there’s one on course, no matter how loudly that doubting little earworm tries to tell us it does.

If we believe that self-doubt though, becoming tense on the approach, shortening our reins too much because we’re scared, flapping our hands around because we’re not thinking straight, then it probably is more likely that we’ll make the same mistake again.

Check out how to keep that self-doubt in check here.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Full Gallop Farm Mid February H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Pine Top Advance H.T. (Thomson, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Three Lakes Winter II H.T. at Caudle Ranch (Groveland, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Wednesday News and Reading

Since devouring the Silver Brumby books as a kid, I’ve been fascinated by wild horses — and this historic herd in the Tehachapi Mountains of Central California really is a sight to behold. The origins of the 100-strong herd of Oak Creek Horses isn’t known, although it’s believed that they are descendants of western working Morgan horses used on cattle ranches in the late 1800s. In this article, herd manager, Diana Palmer, explains how she and her husband are working towards a sustainable future for the wild herd. [Behold the Beauty of the Wild]

As we all know, animals don’t speak human; if they’re in pain, they don’t say, “hey there, that hurts”. And so it’s up to us to learn animal speak, AKA non-verbal signaling that something may be wrong. Here are six signs to look out for that may indicate that your equine friend needs a little TLC. [Horse Speak for Ouch]

Irish dressage rider, Abi Lyle, talks competition nerves and how not to get overawed by the situation. Abi’s debut international indoor competition happened at The London International Horse Show in December, and rather than letting the excitement get to her, she focused on her mindset. [A Good State of Mind]

The critically endangered Suffolk Punch has had a recent welcome addition to the breed with this delightful little foal, Florrie. Dating as far back as the early 16th Century, the Suffolk Punch was originally developed for farm work. With the advent of mechanized farms, the breed’s numbers declined, and is now listed as critical, which is why Florrie is one special little lady. [Just Look at Those Fluffy Ears!]

Is zebra print the way to go to deter those pesky horse flies? Scientists have known for a while that flies don’t like to land on striped surfaces, but new research has furthered this by using various rugs in a range of patterns to see what the flies thought of different fashion statements. [Can I Have That in Zebra Print?]

Dreaming of channeling your horsey passion into a profitable business? When your business is an extension of your passion, it’s all too easy to forget that the point of a business is to make money. Here are eight tips to make sure that your heart business is also good for your bank balance. [Putting the Emphasis on Profit]

Sponsor Corner

Have you sent your Carolina International entry yet? Entries close on February 28, but it makes your event organizer much happier to send yours in earlier. View the omnibus listing here.

Video Break

This is how I’ll be slurping my margarita later in honor of National Margarita Day…

Tuesday Video: The Next Ingrid Klimke?

By on Feb 21, 2023 3:48 pm -

Okay — so that’s a big accolade to award to a young rider. But Germany’s Greta Busacker isn’t just a gold medallist in her own right already — she’s also Ingrid’s daughter, and her deft, sensitive horsemanship definitely comes in part from her dam line (and the incredible education she’s received in the saddle as a result). We know that New York magazine has been pretty rough on the nepo babies recently, but Greta bucks the trend: she’s a true grafter and a lovely person, to boot, and it’s been great fun to watch her progression from the corner of my eye as I gallivant around Europe reporting for EN. Get to know her in this short feature from the FEI, and watch out for that name atop the big-time leaderboards soon!