Classic Eventing Nation

Jackie Potts Receives British Equestrian Medal of Honor

By on Dec 22, 2022 10:18 am -

Last week, British Equestrian honored leading equestrian figures for their services to the industry. Eight individuals were presented with the British Equestrian Medal of Honor by the Federation’s Chair, Malcolm Wharton CBE, and CEO, Jim Eyre. The presentation took place in the main arena at the London International Horse Show, presenting medals to:

Charlotte Fry (2021)
Gareth Hughes (2021)
Sophie Thomas (2021)
David Trott (2021)
Professor Eric Jenkinson (2022)
Dr. Chris Meadon (2022)
Jackie Potts (2022)
Charlotte Thornycroft (2022)

The British Equestrian Medal of Honor is awarded to those recognized as having completed acts of international endeavor in relation to equestrian sport, and for outstanding services to the Federation or its Member Bodies.

Jackie Potts, longtime head groom and manager-of-all-things for William Fox-Pitt, needs little introduction as one recipient of this prestigious award.

A familiar figure on the eventing circuit, Jackie has been the head groom at William Fox-Pitt’s yard for over thirty years. The epitome of a world-class groom, Jackie’s knowledge, skill and attention to detail are second-to-none and she is always ready to offer support to those who need it. She has five Olympic Games, five World Championships and eight European Championships on her CV, and too many three-day events to count. Jackie is a founding Director for the International Grooms Association and a longstanding ambassador for the British Grooms Association. Being a groom is, in her own words, ‘a way of life, not a job’.

Hear from Jackie after her award (can’t see the embedded video below? Click here to watch it on Facebook):

 

We caught up with super-groom Jackie Potts after she was presented with a British Equestrian Medal of Honour earlier today. Watch the video to hear some of Jackie’s highlights of working with Fox-Pitt Eventing for over 30 years and how she hope that receiving this award will inspire a new generation of grooms 🫶 👇

#LIHS2022

Posted by British Equestrian on Friday, December 16, 2022

You can read more about the recipients of the British Equestrian Medal of Honor here.

Thursday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

By on Dec 22, 2022 12:03 am -

The grinch came to the barn! Photo by Kim Green

Yesterday I had my personal Christmas miracle, when after frantically grocery shopping at four different stores for my ambitious holiday dinner plan, I stopped at a gas station before heading home. At which point I put my wallet on the roof of my car, and drove home. Three hours later, I realized the disaster, and drove back to the gas station to ask if anybody had found it. No luck. However, several miles down the road on my way home, was my sweet little wallet on the side of the highway. Apparently karma decided to swing my way, and I’ve never been more thankful.

News From Around the Globe:

Don’t forget to enter our Ultimate LRK3DE Giveaway! You and three friends could win tickets, premium tailgating for cross country, a travel voucher valued at $750, and Dubarry gear for the trip. Entries are open until 12/31, so don’t delay! [Fly Away to LRK3DE]

The biggest determining factor of getting around a course successfully is having the horse in front of the leg, and thereby having the quality of canter to indeed tackle all of the obstacles with both power and balance. In this episode of Thoroughbred Logic with Aubrey Graham, she discusses what it really means to be in front of the leg, something you maybe didn’t consider a problem with thoroughbreds, but most definitely is an issue. [In Front of the Leg]

The 2022 MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill led the way in collecting and keeping horses’ medical records secure and organized this year. The competition’s veterinary team used Equine MediRecord (EMR) to collect required health information for horses competing in the U.S. Eventing Association’s Young Event Horse East Coast Championship. The EMR system helped the veterinary team at the Maryland event determine which of the horses entered in the Young Event Horse East Coast Championships were compliant with vaccination requirements and other health paperwork. Ninety horses were listed on the starting orders for both the 4- and 5-year-olds. [Equine MediRecord Digitizes Equine Health Records]

Nicola Wilson said she is delighted to join the coaches on the Wesko Equestrian Foundation, which is expanding to benefit more young riders. The European eventing champion joins top names including Pippa Funnell and World Class performance manager Dickie Waygood to provide coaching, advice and support. The foundation, set up in memory of eventing owner Christina Knudsen to support eventers from all backgrounds, has announced its expansion, aiming to support 60 young riders. [Nicola Wilson’s Next Steps]

Suppose your Christmas stocking contained a ride on the horse of your dreams… Which superstars of yesteryear this top rider would love to try? Mary King, a six-time Olympian who counts Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky wins on her record – along with a seriously impressive medal haul – admired a certain grey superstar who took the showjumping world by storm. [Mary King’s Horse Wishlist]

 

Video of the week honestly:

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: The Horse-Shopping Survival Guide

By on Dec 21, 2022 6:30 pm -

I always think trying horses for myself will be great fun. I’ll get to ride loads of lovely eventers! I’ll get to explore other people’s yards! What larks and japes we shall have! In reality, though, I always end up finding the whole thing pretty stressful, particularly having to ride unfamiliar horses in front of their owners. Suddenly, it’s like I’ve never experienced a trot before. I am guaranteed to be at my absolute worst, because of course I am! That’s part of the, um, fun, I guess.

Anyway, if you’re embarking on a similar shopping spree (lucky you! But also, my condolences.), you could probably use a bit of a pep talk and some advice. I really enjoyed this video from dressage rider Joseph Newcomb, who shares plenty of tips for making the process a little bit less painful. May your next trial ride be aboard a unicorn.

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The horse that matters to you matters to us®. KPPusa.com

Will Coleman, Off the Record Represent Eventers in 2022 USEF Equestrian of the Year Awards

By on Dec 21, 2022 12:00 pm -

Off The Record’s crew. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Eventers, it’s time to rock the vote!

The USEF Horse of the year and Equestrian of the Year Awards are put to a popular vote each year to determine the winning athletes, pulling from a pool of finalists from multiple disciplines. Eventing doesn’t always make the cut in these awards, but this year FEI World Championships team member Will Coleman represents the insanity in the middle along with the Off the Record Syndicate’s Off the Record.

The International and National Equestrians of the Year will be announced at the 2022 Pegasus Awards Dinner on Thursday, January 12, and the International and National Horses of the Year will be announced at the 2022 SmartPak/USEF Horse of the Year Awards Dinner on Saturday, January 14, at the 2023 US Equestrian Annual Meeting in Lexington, Ky.

[View all nominees and vote]

Voting is open now through 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 29. Click here to vote now. Please note that you must be logged in to your USEF account to vote. After submitting your selections, you will receive an email asking you to confirm your vote. You must confirm your ballot in order for your votes to count!

Let’s take a look at the full field of nominees for International Equestrian of the Year:

Will Coleman and Off The Record. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Will Coleman
Ocala, FL
Eventing

2022 World Championship silver medalist Will Coleman is a notable athlete and competitor for U.S. eventing. His decorated 2022 hit its pinnacle with helping the U.S. Eventing Team qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics with an incredible effort at the World Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, highlighted by a clutch clear show jumping round with medals on the line, but they don’t end there. Coleman’s consistency placed him within the top 10 as an individual in every CCI5*-L competition he entered this year, finishing seventh at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ with Dondante, seventh at the FEI World Eventing Championship in Pratoni del Vivaro with Off The Record, and sixth at the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill with Dondante.

Additionally, Coleman took home a win at the Carolina International CCI4*-S with Dondante, placed third at the Great Meadow International CCI4*-S with Off The Record, and was second at the Morven Park International CCI4*-L with Chin Tonic HS, as well as a pair of top 10 placings at CHIO Aachen on both Chin Tonic HS and Off The Record.

Coleman, who owns and operates Okonokos Farm in Ocala, Fla., a conditioning and training site utilized by U.S. Eventing, is living a “lifelong dream” that began when he was six years old in Charlottesville, Va., on a Shetland pony and continues today.

Kate Shoemaker, a member of the U.S. Para Dressage Team that won bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, enjoyed another banner year in 2022.

Adrienne Lyle and Salvino. Photo by Matt Turer / US Equestrian.

Adrienne Lyle
Wellington, FL
Dressage

Coming off a team silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games just last summer, U.S. dressage athlete Adrienne Lyle has not slowed down.

In August, Lyle posted an 83.704% in the Blue Hors FEI World Dressage Grand Prix Freestyle Championship at Herning 2022 on Salvino—the second-highest score of her career and good for sixth place amongst a strong international field. The combination was the only American team partnership to compete in the Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special, and Freestyle at the World Championships, where they also played a key role in qualifying the U.S. Dressage Team for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Ranked 11th in the FEI Dressage World Ranking at the time of her nomination, Lyle took home two national championships at the 2022 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions, winning the Markel/USEF Young Horse Four-Year-Old Dressage National Championship with Fürst Dream and the Markel/USEF Young Horse Five-Year-Old Dressage National Championship with Valor, positioning herself for an exciting present and future with U.S. Dressage.

Kate Shoemaker. Photo by Taylor Pence / US Equestrian.

Kate Shoemaker
Wellington, FL
Para Dressage

She shone on the international stage, most notably at the ECCO FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark, where she was the U.S. team’s highest-placing individual medalist. In Herning, riding her own mare Quiana, she scored a personal-best 80.275% to win the silver medal in the FEI Para Dressage Grade IV Freestyle. The pair also contributed the highest score toward the Adequan® U.S. Para Dressage Team’s team bronze effort, which qualified the U.S. for a team berth at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

Riding Quiana and Solitaer 40 during 2022 season, she also earned a team silver and individual overall CPEDI3* championship in Doha, Qatar, as well as top individual CPEDI3* results in Wellington, Fla., and a team victory and individual reserve honors in Tryon, N.C., among other notable achievements.

Shoemaker’s contributions to para dressage in 2022 went beyond her own competition performances. Through her mentorship and coaching, and through training and lending horses, she has made a lasting impact on the sport. In 2022, she helped put together four horse-and-rider partnerships, including helping her Herning teammate Roxanne Trunnell secure the ride on Fortunato H2O. In October, she also coached a pair of up-and-coming riders at the Perrigo CPEDI3* at Tryon: overall winner Fiona Howard and junior rider Genevieve Rohner, who achieved a personal best score.

And the nominees for International Horses of Honor:

Will Coleman and Off the Record. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Off The Record
(VDL Arkansas x Drumagoland Bay, Ard Ohio)
2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding
Owner: Off The Record Syndicate

Off The Record, frequently called “Timmy,” began his international career with Olympian Will Coleman in 2015. Seven years into that partnership, the combination was as strong as ever in 2022. Off The Record and Coleman finished 12th at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ CCI5*-L and two months later placed sixth at CHIO Aachen as a member of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team.

A top-three finish at the Great Meadow CCI4*-S set up Off The Record for three days of key results at the Pratoni del Vivaro 2022 FEI World Eventing Championship. After a 26.4 dressage score, Off The Record and Coleman were trailblazers for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team on cross-country day, finishing just two seconds over time. On show jumping day with medals on the line, Off The Record and Coleman produced the only clear round for the team, managing the questions asked throughout the difficult track with poise, demonstrating the scopiness, rideability, and talent the 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding is known for.

The pair finished as the highest-placed individual U.S. combination in Pratoni del Vivaro, taking seventh place overall and helping the U.S. to a silver medal—its first eventing team medal at a World Championship since 2002.

Orafina. Photo by Sportfot.

Orafina
(For Fashion x Corofina, Canturo)
2012 KPWN mare
Owner: Kent Farrington LLC

Orafina has been a member of Kent Farrington’s string for the past two years, developing through the levels to become a top international CSI5* horse. The pair started the 2022 season with several top placings in Wellington, Fla., at the Winter Equestrian Festival, including a win in the $75,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge CSI5* and a second-place finish that same week in the $406,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix CSI5*. They also captured a win in the $140,000 Bainbridge Companies Grand Prix CSI3* just a few weeks later. Farrington then traveled to Thunderbird as part of the NetJets U.S. Jumping Team where he and Orafina earned top honors in the $186,900 Longines Grand Prix CSIO5*.

With Orafina in top form, the pair secured several podium-topping performances at Spruce Meadows before continuing their Canadian tour success, notching another victory in the $215,000 RBC Grand Prix CSI5* in Ottawa to mark their ninth victory together in 2022. Farrington piloted Orafina to another international win in Tryon, taking the $139,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI3* with the pair closing out their season in California, earning a final win in the $74,200 CWD Jump-Off Challenge CSI5* and a second-place finish in the $450,000 Marshall & Sterling Grand Prix CSI5*.

Quiana. Photo by Matt Turer / US Equestrian.

Quiana
(Quaterstern x Rubina, Rubinstern Noir)
2014 Rheinland mare
Owner: Kate Shoemaker

Quiana began her partnership with Paralympian Kate Shoemaker in January 2022, and the pair quickly became a winning combination. Quiana and Shoemaker won their first CPEDI3* together and helped the Adequan® U.S. Para Dressage Team earn the silver medal at CHI Al Shaqab in Doha, Qatar. They finished in the top three in the Grade IV classes at their next CPEDI3* in Randbøl, Denmark, including a personal-best 75.813% in the Individual Test.

The impressive results secured Quiana and Shoemaker a spot on the Adequan® U.S. Para Dressage Team at the ECCO FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark. The duo helped the U.S. earn a team bronze medal and qualify for a team berth at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Quiana and Shoemaker closed out the World Championships by scoring a personal best 80.275% to win the silver medal in the FEI Para Dressage Grade IV Freestyle and being the U.S. team’s highest-placing individual medalists.

Following their World Championships success, Quiana and Shoemaker finished their remarkable 2022 season by sweeping the Grade IV classes at the CPEDI3* in Riesenbeck, Germany. With Quiana’s help, it was the first time that Shoemaker topped the podium at an international competition in Europe.

Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Salvino
(Sandro Hit x Dynastie, Donnerhall)
2007 Hanoverian stallion
Owner: Betsy Juliano LLC

Currently ranked 11th in the FEI Dressage World rankings with Olympian Adrienne Lyle, Salvino closed 2022 as one half of the top-ranked U.S. Dressage combinations in the world. And for good reason.

Success for Salvino, also known as “Vinny,” started at the 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival in February and March. At AGDF 7, he and Lyle placed first in the CDI5* Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special. Then, at AGDF 11, another first-place finish, this time in the CDI4* Grand Prix.

Salvino added to a long list of career accomplishments during August’s Herning 2022 FEI Dressage World Championship where, with Lyle, he was a part of the only The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team combination to compete in the Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special, and Freestyle in Denmark. In the Freestyle, Salvino posted the second-highest score of his career with an 83.704% that put him and Lyle sixth in the extremely competitive Blue Hors FEI World Dressage Grand Prix Freestyle Championship.

A 2007 Hanoverian stallion owned by Besty Juliano LLC, Salvino notoriously loves showing off for a crowd, and Lyle felt the excitement and energy in Denmark. The pair have successfully completed three championships together. Lyle says that she’s grateful and cherishes everyday she gets to spend with Vinny as the pair has formed an incredibly close partnership over the past seven years.

[Click here to cast your vote by Dec. 29!]

Wednesday News & Notes from Haygain

By on Dec 21, 2022 12:01 am -

Is there much better of a feeling than returning to the saddle after some time off? Our team here at EN is a mixed bag of current and former riders, and we love to cheer each other on as we wrangle with life, babies, jobs, and words about horses. EN’s Maggie Deatrick returned from a competition hiatus earlier this month with Cthulhu (or as he’s affectionately know, “Squid”), finishing 11th in her first Prelim since 2019. Welcome back, Maggie!

U.S Weekend Preview

Your only assignment this weekend is to enjoy the holiday break!

Wednesday News & Reading

Don’t forget to enter our Ultimate LRK3DE Giveaway! You and three friends could win tickets, premium tailgating for cross country, a travel voucher valued at $750, and Dubarry gear for the trip. Entries are open until 12/31, so don’t delay! [Fly Away to LRK3DE]

Part of competitive success is the ability to “get in the zone” — but this is, of course, much easier said than done. Daniel Stewart is back in his latest column with some thoughts on “mojo-mantras” and how they can encourage us to go into a flow state. Super interesting stuff. [Pressure Proof with Daniel Stewart]

Have provisions intended to protect racehorses from falling through the cracks failed? Is aftercare really at the top of the priority list for most stakeholders? Writing for Thoroughbred Daily News, Nicole Forbes makes the case that the system has, in fact, failed. “To be frank, it might be too late,” she writes. “I’m honestly not sure if we can act fast enough on an industry-wide solution to eliminate this crisis.” [Op/Ed: The System Has Failed]

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Edinburgh has sought to identify whether or not dressage judges’ marks are indicative of “conflict behaviors” and “horse antagonistic responses”, Horse Sport reports. With more attention being paid to horse body language, this study and its results will provide useful information that can be used to improve judging. [Conflict Behaviors and Dressage Scoring]

Not all candy canes are created equal — and your horse doesn’t actually need all the sugary treats this holiday season. As knowledge of equine nutrition continues to expand, sugar content comes under higher scrutiny in terms of its effects on overall health. Should you let your horse indulge this winter? [Sugars and Peppermints: Not Safe Treats for All Horses]

Best of the Blogs: A Good Ride on Good Horses

Tack Facts with Sterling Essentials: Can you use Sterling Essentials on buffalo leather? Find out here.

Sponsor Corner: “Not all steam is created equal.” That comes early in the story of Haygain’s development of high-temperature hay steaming. This Business of Horses podcast host Amanda Watson elicited that knowledge nugget from Royal Agricultural University professor Meriel Moore-Colyer in a recent edition. [Read more + listen]

Wednesday Video Break

I love a good horse-y vlog, and this one’s been a favorite to watch!

Tuesday Video: All the Highlights from Maryland 5 Star

By on Dec 20, 2022 12:30 pm -

This year’s MARS Maryland 5 Star was one for the books, and if you’re anything like me you came home from the event and immediately tuned in to the replay coverage to catch up on any moments you might have missed in person (if you haven’t done this yet, or you’re just looking for something to do over the holiday break, USEF Network has all the on-demand your heart desires!)

I’m getting definite FOMO from this highlight reel, and I was there! If you missed out on this year’s event, you’ll definitely not want to miss it in 2023. Save the date for October 19-23, 2023!

US Equestrian Announces Modifications to the 2023-2027 U.S. Eventing Calendar for Area VI

By on Dec 20, 2022 10:00 am -

Lauren Billys and Can Be Sweet. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Following a review of Area VI community feedback, modifications to the 2023-2027 U.S. Eventing Calendar were recommended by the Eventing Strategic Calendar Task Force to the Eventing Sport Committee, who in turn recommended the modifications to an Ad Hoc of the Board of Directors.

Due to hardships demonstrated for qualification under the current structure and criteria, and to limit the travel to achieve those qualifications in the interest of horse welfare, the following modifications were approved to offer the best preparation for high-performance athlete and horses.

Week 16

  • Current criteria: one event to host the CCI4*-L, CCI4*-S, and CCI3*-L levels in Area 6
  • Modification: withdraw Week 16 from the 2023-2027 U.S. Eventing Calendar
  • Modification: add Week 15 to the 2023-2027 U.S. Eventing Calendar with the criteria: one event to host the CCI4*-S and CCI3*-L levels with the option to add the Advanced level in Area 6

Week 21

  • Current criteria: one event to host the Advanced level in Area 6
  • Modification: one event to host the Advanced level with the option to add the CCI4*-S level in Area 6
  • Note: this will re-open for bidding as the criteria has changed

Week 41

  • Current criteria: one event to host the CCI4*-S level with the option to add the Advanced level if desired in Area 6
  • Modification: withdraw Week 41 from the 2023-2027 U.S. Eventing Calendar
  • Modification: add Week 40 to the 2023-2027 U.S. Eventing Calendar with the criteria: one event to host the CCI4*-S level with the option to add the Advanced level in Area 6
  • Modification: add Week 42 to the 2023-2027 U.S. Eventing Calendar with the criteria: one event to host the Advanced level with the option to add the CCI4*-S level in Area 6

Week 11 was allocated to Ram Tap National Horse Trials as a result of the bid process.

[View the 2023-2027 Eventing Calendar here]

Tuesday News & Notes from Ocala Horse Properties

By on Dec 20, 2022 8:41 am -

Hello from the panicky end of the 20th of December, in which I’m suddenly realising how little I’ve actually got ready for Christmas. I’m about to do a raid of the supermarket and start gifting people cutlery sets, I’m telling you. Everything’s fine. Everything’s cool. This can all be fixed by just going to the barn and hanging out with my horse, right?

Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:

Don’t forget to enter our Ultimate LRK3DE Giveaway! You and three friends could win tickets, premium tailgating for cross country, a travel voucher valued at $750, and Dubarry gear for the trip. Entries are open until 12/31, so don’t delay! [Fly Away to LRK3DE]

The debate on conditions for grooms and working students continues on apace. This time, we’ve got an interesting insight from the employer’s perspective as dressage rider Lauren Sprieser pens an op-ed on what the hiring crisis looks like from her end and what degree of resilience is actually useful to build up as a young person. [It’s not a job for the weak]

Planning some Christmas Day treats for your horse? I’ve always been a fan of a hot mash and a snowy hack — and that hot mash is mixed with apple juice and studded with all sorts of snacks, including apples, carrots, parsnips, and, of course, festive peppermints. But for horses with certain health conditions, the innocuous mint could be a Christmas-ruiner. [Be treat-conscious]

My 96% Thoroughbred mare always drops off around this time of year. It’s a battle I fight every winter, particularly as she lives out: I up the forage, increase her hard feeds, and try a number of different conditioning supplements and balancers, all in the name of keeping some fat pads over her body. (FWIW, Keyflow Pink Mash and Bailey’s Outshine have been the best combo of ‘extras’ I’ve found so far). If you’re dealing with a similar problem, you’ll be glad of some advice. [Keep your pony nice and round this winter]

Researchers in Britain are developing a way to learn from footage of jockeys falling. The framework for analysing footage of falls will help them to ascertain how and why the fall happened in the first place, and the necessary steps to ensure safety in similar situations. This could be good news for eventing, which tends to pick up on many of racing’s safety developments a few years down the line. [How to make sport safer]

The OHP Dream Farm of the Week:

Once, a few years back, I was spending the week in Ocala, taking a busman’s holiday to stay with my great pal Hallie Coon, when she suggested we go fill an afternoon at Golden Ocala. Now, admittedly I’ve not spent a lot of time at country clubs, but I have such fond memories of the hours we spent soaking up the sun by the pool there, drinking Pina coladas and chatting about horses and life in that stunning, peaceful setting. So this absolutely 10/10 EXTRA chateau within the confines of the club is calling to me today as I watch the English rain melt all that English ice, let me tell you. I know there’s absolutely no way I’d be able to keep those white interiors that clean, but I would revel in the act of slowly mucking them up and then flinging myself into the pool. What a delight this spot is.

Watch This:

Check out 22-year-old Nadja Minder’s round from the Geneva indoor eventing class. This remarkable gal has been one of our favorite riders to follow this season, and there’s plenty more to come. Jump on board the fan club bandwagon now!

Monday Video: The Long Format Lives on at Waredaca

By on Dec 19, 2022 4:00 pm -

For better or for worse, the classic long format event is no longer part of eventing at the international levels — but that doesn’t mean it isn’t still a valuable aspect of the sport! A number of incredible venues around the country keep the long format alive at the lower levels, providing irreplaceable educational (not to mention fun!) opportunities on the USEA calendar.

Waredaca Farm in Laytonsville, Maryland has hosted their classic format three-day event every October for the past 18 years. This year they even added a Beginner Novice classic division, in addition to their Novice though Preliminary offerings, and saw their highest numbers of entries this year. They’ve recently released this excellent promotional video for the event that explains what makes it so special and why the classic long format can be such a great experience for so many horses and riders.

Wesko Equestrian Foundation – Expansion Confirmed For 2023

By on Dec 19, 2022 11:00 am -

The Wesko Equestrian Foundation, a non-profit organisation founded in memory of Christina Knudsen, has today announced its further expansion via the Young Eventers Pathway which aims to support sixty young riders, between the ages of 21-28 years, with training, education, and support.

The Foundation aims to support young Eventers from every background, to become better
and more viable athletes, with a vision to create an eventing community and peer learning
environment that surrounds these riders, who are participating in the programme, expanding
its support from grassroots all the way to 5* riders.

Applications for the 2023 intake of riders to the Young Eventers Pathway are now open (19th December 2022) and will close on 1st January 2023.

The new Young Eventers Pathway will operate at 3 different levels encompassing the
grassroots of the sport (BE80, BE90 and BE100), a combined CCI2* and CCI3* pathway,
and a combined CCI4* and CCI5* pathway. Each Pathway will welcome up to 20 supported
riders, with a minimum of 2 riders at each level receiving full funding for both the ridden
training and education programme.

Each pathway level will feature a tailored training programme, with all ridden training taking place at Aston-Le-Walls. Riders will benefit from expert training, advice and mentorship from British Olympian and Rolex Grand Slam Winner, Pippa Funnell MBE, European Champion, Nicola Wilson, World Class Performance Manager, Richard Waygood MBE, 5* dressage judge Nikki Herbert and British Equestrian Assistant Performance Manager, Philip Surl. The Pathway riders will have shared access to a 12-month education programme, that will offer
riders support in a variety of areas, from business to media training, fitness and nutrition, and equine welfare.

Photo by Equus Photopgraphy.

European Champion, Nicola Wilson is welcomed as a new addition to the Foundation’s
coaching roster. Of the new appointment Nicola commented: “I am delighted to be supporting the new programme that the Wesko Equestrian Foundation are launching, and I very much look forward to getting started with many exciting up and coming riders and their horses. It is a fabulous foundation allowing riders to draw on a wealth of knowledge and experience in a lovely environment.”

With the Foundation named after his CCI5* winning mount, Wesko, FEI World Number 1,
Tim Price continues as Foundation Ambassador and said of the expansion: “The help the foundation gives to young riders is invaluable, to have that support system in
place to be able to help and guide you is second to none. The change to Pathway training
days will see more riders across all levels have access to this support and programme and
I’m very excited to see the progress the riders will make.”

The goal at the heart of the Foundation continues to be, bringing increased education and
training to talented young event riders to support their futures, with the welfare of the horse and rider at the heart of the programme. The Wesko Equestrian Foundation has played a key role in supporting the careers of several young riders over the past 3-years, including new FEI World Champion Yasmin Ingham (GBR) and Susie Berry (IRE) who made her senior championship debut at the 2022 World Championships in Pratoni.

Said Yasmin Ingham of the Wesko Equestrian Foundation: “It was a privilege to be a part of the Wesko Equestrian Foundation, even though I have graduated from the foundation I still stay in contact and asking Pip for her valuable advice! I believe what I learnt when on the programme I use in my everyday life running an equestrian business. I am very grateful to all at the Wesko Equestrian Foundation.”

The first of the new Young Eventers Pathway training days is scheduled for the 13th – 16th
February, at Aston-Le-Walls.

The Wesko Equestrian Foundation is a non-profit organisation founded in memory of
Christina Knudsen and her passion for the sport of Eventing. The aim of the foundation is to bring education and training to talented young event riders to support their futures, with the welfare of the horse and rider at the heart of the programme. 

The Foundation’s riders receive mentoring and in-depth training from one of the world’s most decorated eventing riders, Pippa Funnell, along with former Team GBR World Class
Performance Manager, Yogi Breisner. The programme also includes a 360-degree
education programme in partnership with A Young Riders Academy.

Learn more about the Wesko Equestrian Foundation by reading about the Young Eventers Pathway Program here, training session takeaways here, and take a look at their Instagram account for updates.