Classic Eventing Nation

Monday Video: Videographers Say the Darndest Things

By on Jan 2, 2023 2:00 pm -

Click here to view the embedded video above if it does not appear.

We probably all have that one friend who can’t help but provide a little commentary as they video our rides, but lucky for the rider (and for us, when those involved feel like sharing their videos) that means all their remarks are caught on camera and we all get to have a good chuckle later.

Take these videos from Australian eventer and blogger Sydelle Boscarello for example, who’s friend Sarah provides some highly relatable thoughts throughout. We might laugh a bit at their commentary, but really a friend that is willing to video your rides is a very good friend indeed!

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The US Event Horse Futurity: A Patriotic Dream

By on Jan 2, 2023 12:00 pm -

If you want to start an argument in a room full of riders, all you really have to do is mention importing horses from overseas vs buying them in America. On one side you have those who believe that the horses are better in Europe, or that it’s easier to shop there, or that there are more “good deals” to be found. Whether those opinions are right are wrong (I’ll get to that in a minute) what I do know for sure is that at their core Americans are some of, if not the, most patriotic people on the planet. You have to admit, if it was possible to sit every US Team rider on a US-bred horse, it would make our star-spangled hearts grow three sizes.

The old-fashioned belief that US breeders aren’t producing the same quality of horse has certainly been disproven. Two of the three horses on our last Olympic team and two of the four horses on our last World Championships team were bred right here in the USA. In recent years US-bred horses have permeated the ranks at all levels, with some of the best young talent in the country having come from domestic breeding programs. While that sounds like a win, and on some level it certainly is, if you dare to dream bigger, it’s really just the beginning.

Breeding, buying, and raising young horses in this country is not without its challenges. We’re a much larger country geographically than any of our European counterparts, which means everything is further apart. The cost to raise horses here can be more expensive. And perhaps most poignantly, many people don’t believe in, promote, or support domestically bred horses as much as they do in other countries (you have not truly lived until you’ve been held captive in a pub listening to an Irish rider tell you 101 reasons why an Irish-bred horse is superior to any other). We also have a bit of an ingrained social belief that anything imported is better by default, a notion that facts and data just don’t support.

What is perhaps our biggest and most difficult challenge is that we don’t have a tried-and-true system to connect our breeders, young horse trainers, and riders the way that many other countries do. After all, people can’t buy US-bred horses if they don’t know where to find them. Insert: The US Event Horse Futurity.

The US Event Horse Futurity is working to connect US breeders, young horse trainers, and riders.

Founded in 2018 by leading US eventing breeders Elizabeth Callahan and Laurie Cameron, The US Event Horse Futurity’s purpose is to support and reward the breeders, trainers, and riders of US-bred young event horses. They believe that there are many distinct advantages for riders to purchase US-bred horses, advantages that they try to highlight within The Futurity. “There is a degree of transparency here in the US that you might not find oversees, both in the horse’s background, training, and health as well as in the vetting process.” Callahan said, “There is also the opportunity to develop the horse from the very beginning so that you know that horse inside and out.”.

Bringing a horse along from the beginning, directly from its breeder, offers the opportunity for riders to know their partners thoroughly.

With decades of experience in the breeding industry (and multiple 5-star horses) between them, Callahan and Cameron recognized that one of the biggest issues we had here in the US was the lack of an established pipeline. Callahan said, “We had no way of connecting the breeders to the people who develop these young horses into our future superstars.”. Their solution was to quite literally put their money where their mouth is and start a program to do just that.

The Futurity, which is run entirely on volunteer efforts, is a competition that follows Young Event Horses from the beginning of their 4 or 5-year-old year to the culmination of their competition season at the YEH Championships in the fall. Breeders or trainers of US-bred horses can complete the application on the Futurity website and pay a one-time entry fee into the Futurity. From there trainers are asked to submit regular social media updates (of varying content) that is shared widely on the Futurity’s platforms so that fans can follow along with these young horses as they progress through the year. Most of these horses will be aimed at USEA Young Event Horses classes, with the goal of making it to YEH Championships in the fall. For those that do make it, there’s $10,000 of Futurity prize money up for grabs, a cut of which also goes to the breeder, as well as several other special awards (including the ever-popular Fan Favorite).

The program offers prizes, including $10,000 of Futurity prize money.

The Futurity encourages trainers to not only chronicle the successes, but also the trials and tribulations we often see with young horses – as we all know, it certainly isn’t always a linear path. Futurity trainers get the chance to show us how they address common problems, let us follow along with the highs and lows of young horses, and give us a behind the scenes look at their training programs and skills. The breeders get exposure for their horses and their breeding program, with the goal that long-lasting connections will begin to form between both groups. For fans and followers of the Futurity, it gives a unique educational opportunity to learn from some of the best riders and trainers in the country.

Since 2018, The Futurity has awarded over 40k in prize money, with more added each year, and has already seen results: several of the inaugural Futurity class have progressed to the 3*L level. While the first few years of the Futurity focused purely on 4-year-olds, this year they will be expanding to include 5-year-olds as well as West Coast entrants. The Futurity features each horse, trainer, and breeder on their website and social media and also offers a public database of breeder and trainer links, to help potential Futurity trainers and horses make a connection.

When asked why she’s so passionate about the Futurity and it’s mission, Callahan said “I bred a horse, Quantum Leap, that was selected to represent the US at the World Championships for Young Event Horses at Le Lion d’Angers in France, and was lucky enough to attend. The best young event horses in Europe were there, as were the best riders. And at the end of the day, my US-bred horse, the only US bred in the over 100 horses that were there, was just as competitive as the best Europe has to offer. There are many more of these horses in the US – we just have to get US riders to find them and get breeders to find the trainers and riders. It’s simple, it’s just not easy!”.

Callahan and Cameron believe that working together and creating a community to source and develop US-bred young horses can only strengthen our position for future upper-level success for the US in Team competitions. The US Event Horse Futurity is the first big step toward making that dream a reality.

If you’re a trainer or breeder interested in entering the 2023 US Event Horse Futurity, check out their website or Facebook page. If you have questions, are interested in sponsoring an award, or would like to be added to their breeder and trainer database, contact [email protected] .

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Jan 2, 2023 7:50 am -

I’ll admit I’ve not been particularly productive over the last few days, but I have been giving my thumbs a jolly good workout on Instagram, where I’ve been thoroughly enjoying scrolling through eventers’ recaps of their 2022 seasons. Ups, downs, learning opportunities, and a shared commitment to using it all to make 2023 the best year yet are all commonalities — and that’s something I can totally get on board with. We’re all learning as we go in this funny old game of life!

National Holiday: It’s 55mph Speed Limit Day. I dunno, man. According to NationalToday.com, “55 mph Speed Limit Day is observed on January 2 to remember former U.S. President Nixon’s 55 mph speed limit proclamation. If you drove a car in the United States between 1974 and 1995, you had to adhere to this law unless you were a daredevil rule breaker. In 1974, President Nixon signed the wildly controversial law intending to cut down gas usage in America and make roads safer. Two categories of people celebrate 55 mph Speed Limit Day: the first and most popular category remember the former nationwide speed limit with fondness and believe it should be reinstated; the second category did not experience the limit but agree that it would do some good today. Regardless of your thoughts on the speed limit, 55 mph Speed Limit Day is a day to think about road safety and energy conservation and make smarter and safer decisions on the road.” If this is a big priority for you, I’d like to prescribe you a long session at the barn to cure you of what ails you.

Your Monday Reading List:

Nobody ‘gets’ winter quite like Canadians. And although here in England, we’ve emerged from our serious cold spell into a period of much milder (and wetter) temperatures, none of us can be sure another one isn’t on the way — and so I’m taking every bit of advice I can to prepare for round two. [The Canadians share their wisdom]

I love reading riders’ letters to their younger selves. And although this edition, which features hunter judge Rob Jacobs, doesn’t come from our corner of the industry, it’s a salient read about growing up as a young black man in an industry that’s predominantly made of up white folks. [Keep opening the doors]

Every time I watch a film or a show with horses in it — even tangentially — I find myself wondering how I could get into stunt riding. This interview with prolific British stuntman Ben Atkinson, who’s worked on shows such as Peaky Blinders, The Witcher, and more, has made me realise that it’s perhaps a little more involved than I expected — but even more fascinating, too. [On training and trick-riding]

Running upper-level event horses ain’t cheap. Part of it, then, necessarily involves getting owners on board — but more and more riders are turning to syndicate options to make it work for them and, in many cases, to allow people who can’t afford to be outright owners to get access to the upper echelons of the sport. Here’s a few riders — including the USA’s Hallie Coon — who are doing just that. [Joining the club]

The FutureTrack Follow:

 

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If you loved cartoonist Lisa Hanawalt’s recent New Yorker cartoon on why she’s chosen horses over kids, you’ll love following her account, which has plenty of horse-girl content for your brain box to absorb.

Morning Listening:

Get your 2023 goals in order with an inspiring listen from Irish Olympian and EquiRatings co-founder Sam Watson, who’s on the US Eventing podcast this week to explain how to set sustainable, actionable goals and see them through. Just what we all need after weeks of non-stop cheese consumption and stasis.

New Year’s Day Links from SmartPak

By on Jan 1, 2023 12:01 am -

2022 FEI Eventing World Champion Yasmin Ingham celebrates after her clear round with Banzai du Loir. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Happiest of New Years to YOU, citizens of Eventing Nation! As we close the book on a literal championship year, the EN team would like to say thank you for being here and sharing in our love for the horses, people and community that bring this sport to life. The whole team here is honored to have been your go-to source for the most insane and comprehensive eventing coverage throughout 2022 and we’re looking forward to another big year in 2023. Onwards!

Links to Start Your New Year:

The Stars Pick Their Magic Moments of 2022!

The Best Blogs Of 2022 Encouraged Empathy With Horses And Riders Alike

Tips on Surviving Winter from Northern Ontario

Why I Chose Horses Instead of Babies

Fast Facts: EA21 National Camp

Changing Riding Disciplines

SmartPak Pick of the Week: Have you got some gift certificates burning a hole in your pocket? Now’s a great time to spend ’em, since SmartPak is currently holding their winter clearance event. Get up to 75% off some of your favorite winter gear!

Morning Video: A gentle reminder courtesy of our friends at Dapple Bay <3

One-Eyed Horses, Spectacular Saves, and Star-Spangled Suits: EN’s Top Nine Instagram Posts of 2022

By on Dec 31, 2022 10:52 am -

We could spend hours sifting through our own content, picking out our favourites stories and photos from our extensive annual oeuvre — but EN is all about you guys, the fans and the heartbeat of the sport, and so we’re much more interested in what you loved this year. We’ve been sharing your best-loved stories over the past couple of weeks across our social media channels, but today, we couldn’t resist diving into our Instagram stats to find out which nine photos made the biggest impression — and why. Here’s how the year stacked up on the grid.

 

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#1: Sweden’s Therese Viklund pilots one-eyed Viscera around the CCIO4*-S Nations Cup at Houghton Hall, England. 

Photographer: Tilly Berendt (@tillyberendt)

Caption: “Never tell an eventer they’ve got limitations — because as one-eyed Viscera and her gutsy pilot, Sweden’s Therese Viklund, prove, there’s no such thing. They finished fourth in Houghton’s jam-packed CCIO4*-S today with one of the fastest rounds of the day đŸ’ȘđŸŒ”

At a whopping 20,752 likes, this black and white snap of Therese and her one-eyed wonder, Viscera, inspired everyone in May — whether you ride an unlikely champion yourself or simply love to cheer on the underdog. The fourteen-year-old Hanoverian ultimately finished fourth at Houghton, her first FEI event since a trip to the Tokyo Olympics the year prior, after which she sustained suspensory injuries that required a slow recovery process. But as always, gutsy Viscera and her devoted rider came back with a bang, and although Therese has decided to focus on taking the pressure off and having fun around CCI4*-S tracks, they’ve certainly not lost their edge. They were among the fastest combinations of the day, adding just 1.2 time penalties in the tough Nations Cup competition.

The dressage-bred mare has had an unusual trajectory; she was rejected as a prospect for her intended discipline because it was felt she wasn’t a good enough mover, and then had a foal quite young before joining Therese’s string as a six-year-old as a sales prospect. Three years ago, the now fourteen-year-old had her left eye removed after a two-year battle with uveitis, and in the years since has picked up a number of four-star placings, several team spots, and a trip to last year’s Olympics, seemingly without missing a beat.

“From day one, it’s like she hasn’t noticed. She’s very confident, so I think that helps a bit, but she just thinks she knows it all and just does it. I’m so impressed with her — every time she does the cross-country, she’s so straight,” says Therese, who suspects that the mare’s sight had begun to wane prior to the removal of the eye, indirectly helping the transition process. “I’m thinking, ‘is it harder to have the flag on the left side or the other side?’ but she’s so straight between my legs that she just goes for it either way. She’s the bravest little horse.”

 

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#2: France’s Sebastien Cavaillon becomes Monsieur Stickabilité aboard Sarah d’Argouges at Les 5 Etoiles de Pau. 

Photographer: Tilly Berendt

Caption: “Save of the day, or save of the season?! đŸ€Ż France’s Sebastien Cavaillon sticks a serious one with Sarah d’Argouges at Pau, and will go into the final day in the top 25.”

There’s nothing quite like a five-star to bring the inner superhero out of riders — and when his longtime partner Sarah d’Argouges did what so many horses in the field did at Pau and hung a leg while jumping the second of two hanging logs after the final water crossing, Frenchman Sebastien Cavaillon temporarily put the laws of gravity to the side and found his way back into the saddle. Sarah, for her part, continued following the track downhill, at speed, and around the turn, keeping her focus on her job and her head up, allowing her rider to scramble back upright. We’d love to know what core exercises Sebastien works through in the gym — and 6,783 of you agreed. That, or you, like us, just loved how well his Willberry Wonder Pony stuck out the ride, too!

 

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#3: Laura Collett celebrates — or gently loses her mind, tbh — in this mad GIF after a clear round inside the time at Badminton with London 52.

Credit: Badminton Horse Trials live-stream

Caption: “That @bhorsetrials finish line feeling — especially when you’ve stopped the clock inside the time to hold your lead! @laura_collett is on cloud 9 after a scrappy ride around what she called a 6* cross country with her Tokyo partner, London 52. #goeventing“

Laura Collett’s Badminton win in May felt like the stuff fairytales are made of — she’d persevered even through a tough, educational year in 2019 with the extraordinary London 52, and that was after sustaining a laundry list of injuries in a horrific accident aboard another horse while out eventing in 2013. Though she’s only got 10% of her vision left in one of her eyes, she’s gone from strength to strength over the last few years and has become a real poster girl for aspiring competitors who need an idol who proves that you don’t have to have it all to, well, have it all. When she celebrated after crossing the finish on Saturday, we all celebrated with her.

 

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#4: Boyd Martin delivers a stone-cold LEWK at the Land Rover Kentucky CCI5* final horse inspection.

Photographer: Abby Powell (@ashequine)

Caption: “It was a drama-filled jog this fine, rainy Sunday but at least @boydmartineventing came to party…or something.”

You can always count on Boydo to make a fashion statement (I mean, who didn’t Google kitty Christmas jumpers after his holiday post on social media?), and on the final day of Kentucky this year, he…really made one. The star-spangled suit of dreams (nightmares?) was made worth it purely to see Tsetserleg look more embarrassed than we thought a horse could actually look. We reckon next time, he’ll be begging to be dropped off around the block and left to do the trot-up on his own. Ugh, you’re so embarrassing, dad! 

 

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#5: Pippa Funnell and her five-star debutant Maybach deliver the goods on the final day at Kentucky. 

Photographer: Abby Powell

Caption: “That feeling when your horse jumps double clear on the final day in his first 5* đŸ€·â€â™€ïž”

No matter how long we all spend in this profession, we’ll never stop idolising Pippa Funnell — and it’s not even really because she’s a total bad-ass on a horse, although she certainly is that. Instead, it’s really because, despite being very open about her lifelong battles with confidence wobbles, she always seems to be having the most fun with her horses of just about anyone we know. That was exemplified on the final day of Kentucky, when she and her first-timer Maybach made it happen, earning themselves a sixth-place finish and cementing the 12-year-old as a real one-to-watch for the years to come.

 

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#6: EN’s April Fool’s joke breaks a few hearts.

Caption: “Have you heard?? Hot on the heels of the success of ‘Formula 1: Drive to Survive’, Netflix has a new show on its roster. Tap the link in our bio to see more! đŸ€”đŸ˜‰ #goeventing“

Sorry, folks. We wish we didn’t have to do this stuff to you, but lying to you on the morning of April 1st is a tradition, and we love our traditions here at EN. Our Netflix eventing series might not have been real, but we wish it could be — and we’re quietly hoping that maybe some savvy documentary producer will see how much you all wanted it and jump on the bandwagon of our little pocket of insanity.

 

 

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#7: Great Britain’s Andrew James sits a long one through the water at Houghton Hall. 

Photographer: Tilly Berendt

Caption: “A treatise on strides: you can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you just might find you get what you need. Thanks, Mick Jagger (and Andrew James and Celtic Morning Star)”

In eventing, there’s rarely such a thing as a Plan A that goes off without a hitch — and sometimes, when things go a bit pear-shaped, you’ve just got to get in the back seat, keep your eyes up, and trust in our eventing overlords (and a very good horse) to see you through to the other side. Andrew James exemplified that approach when his horse, Celtic Morning Star, saw the long one in the water at Houghton Hall CCIO4*-S in May, and his trajectory through was a (comedic) masterclass in how to remove interference and let your horse sort himself out.

 

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#8: German one-two Christoph Wahler and Sandra Auffarth celebrate as they log another valuable clear en route to team gold in Pratoni.

Photographer: Shelby Allen (@shiiibbyyy)

Caption: “Teamwork: it does, in fact, make the dream work đŸ’ȘđŸŒ German pathfinder Christoph Wahler slaps a high five on second out Sandra Auffarth as she crosses the finish line with her Aachen champ, Viamant du Matz đŸ‡©đŸ‡Ș”

Months later, I’m still in awe of Shelby’s impeccable timing when she got this super shot of German team anchor, Christoph Wahler, darting out of the crowd to high-five second-out Sandra Auffarth as she zoomed through the finish on Viamant du Matz. Neither knew, at that point, that the weekend would end with them standing proudly atop the team podium with gold medals around their necks, but they definitely knew that their incredibly solid rounds had paved the way for the rest of the team to confidently tackle the challenges to come. Seeing the once-dominant German team return to its very best was a cool moment, and watching Christoph lead the way in his championship team debut was even better. A star is born.

 

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#9: Cross-country day at the FEI World Championships at Pratoni — immortalised in one heck of a reel. 

Creator: Juliane Barth (@juliseventer)

Caption: “Well, THAT was a cross-country day! We’re coasting through on the afterglow — so join us to relive it all over again đŸ€©”

This year, we were delighted to welcome German media superstar Juliane to our team in Pratoni, where she created reels throughout the competition that somehow packed ALL the excitement, drama, and emotion into under a minute a piece. You loved all her work — and so did we, as we rewatched them over and over again in the press office and at our Italian party villa — but cross-country day was a definite stand-out. Point very much taken: we all need more Juliane in 2023!

Catch more behind-the-scenes shots, stories, inspiring images, video interviews and reels, and much more on our Instagram — and, as always, Go Eventing!

New Year’s Eve Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Dec 31, 2022 12:01 am -

A very big, successful year for Caroline Martin turned out to be even more memorable than we imagined! She and Deniz Pamukcu were married one week ago on Christmas Eve and our warmest wishes go out to the happy couple. We’ll be watching out for Caroline Pamukcu on the entry lists next year!

Links to Start Your Weekend:

The Official Horse Inspector of the Tournament of Roses Parade

Black Girls Ride Too! How This 24-Year-Old Equestrian Entrepreneur Is Galloping Toward Olympic Gold

Gradually Build the Trot Extension

‘Badminton was a childhood dream – and next time I want to be more competitive’ – riders to watch in 2023

Betting bias against female jockeys is costing punters, study findings suggest

Last day to enter: the Ultimate LRK3DE Getaway!

World Equestrian Brands Pick of the Week: Roll call! Who was lucky enough to find some goodies from World Equestrian Brands under their tree this year?

Friday Video: A Deep-Dive Into the History of the Kentucky Three-Day Event

By on Dec 30, 2022 5:32 pm -

Today’s video post is actually what I’d call a visual podcast – so it’s great to stick on while you’re cooking dinner, finishing up the yard, or taking down the Christmas tree (a job that most of us are only bothering with because we’d like to use it as a jump filler before it loses all its needles, to be honest). This episode of Late Night Riders features Margaret Ostrowski, a longtime fence judge at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event who has also plied her trade at a number of World Championships, too — and she’s sharing her insights into the history of the sport. It’s fascinating stuff!

Rein-Back the Right Way: An Excerpt from ‘The Principles of Riding’

By on Dec 30, 2022 1:00 pm -

In this excerpt from “The Principles of Riding,” the classic book from the German Equestrian Federation (FN), we learn what makes for a correct rein-back and how to correct common rider mistakes that lead to issues in the movement.

Photo courtesy of Trafalgar Square Books

When performing rein-back, the horse moves backwards with each diagonal pair of legs in unison. The diagonal steps are in the same sequence of leg as in trot, but without the moment of suspension. Therefore, as with trot, the footfall of rein-back is referred to as steps. The horse should step back willingly, markedly and on a straight line, with even steps. The horse’s feet should be lifted actively off the ground and set down backwards. This can only be achieved when the rider manages to have a controlled driving influence, even when going backwards. The rider’s aids are comparable to riding half-halts, which means that the horse is ridden into the sustaining or lightly asking hand, from back to front, with weight and leg aids. This is then followed by a giving rein aid.

Specifically, rein-back is ridden with the following aids, with the precondition that the horse is in a square halt on a straight line.

  • The rider needs to have the horse on the driving aids so that she would be able to ride off at any time without any delay.
  • By tilting the pelvis backward, a weight aid on both sides carefully gives a forward impulse without placing any more weight on the horse’s back (the upper body remains erect).
  • The rider’s lower legs both provide a forward-driving impulse to enable an active lifting and, subsequently, stepping back of the horse’s legs.
  • Both reins work briefly in a retaining or slightly asking manner and then immediately yield again. The diagonal pair of feet lifted off the ground through the driving aids steps back; the movement impulse being diverted in a backward direction.
  • This giving of aids as an interplay of driving, regulating and then once again giving aids is continued step by step until the horse is brought to a halt by the last half-halt.
  • Any sideways stepping of the horse is countered by the rider bringing the forehand onto the same track as the hindquarters, but not by pushing over the hindquarters.
  • Rein-back is completed when the rider rides the horse clearly forward using the leg and weight aids and gives with the hands without giving up the connection.

 Typical seat-and-aid mistakes/possible reactions of the horse:

  • If the rider uses the rein aids in a dominant or exaggerated way, she makes it very difficult for the horse to step backwards. If the contact becomes tight and stiff, or if the neck is too “short,” and the support from the driving aids is lacking, the horse will not go backwards with clear two-beat steps. The feet are instead dragged backwards (for example, dragging forehand). If resistance also emerges, the horse will tense up in the back. The horse is then no longer able to step backwards with a pure rhythm.
  • If the rider reacts incorrectly to the horse escaping sideways, owing to natural crookedness, for example by positioning a leg slightly too far back or by a rein that is directing minimally sideways, the horse might step backwards in an entirely crooked way. However, crooked steps can also be caused by an uneven use of leg and rein aids.
  • If the rider leans the upper body forward and at the same time, places the lower leg too far back, she no longer has the horse “in front” of her. The aids are then reduced to the rein aids only. In this case, horses frequently tend to drag their feet backwards in an irregular sequence, or they become too rushed.
  • Excessive forward-driving aids cannot be understood by the horse if it is meant to step backwards. In this instance the rider works against the forward tendency with distinct rein aids. The horse will react with resistance.

Photo courtesy of Trafalgar Square Books

This excerpt from The Principles of Riding from the German Equestrian Federation is reprinted with permission from Trafalgar Square Books (www.horseandriderbooks.com).

Friday News & Notes Presented by Zoetis

By on Dec 30, 2022 12:03 am -

It’s called Fashun, look it up. Photo courtesy of Boyd.

Only two more days of 2022! I don’t know about everyone else, but this has been an odd year for me, and I’m looking forward to accomplishing much more in 2023. I don’t really do resolutions, but there is always something exciting about starting a new year, and a new season of competition. I’m sadly not heading south this year, but I am already planning to do it next year, and hopefully that will help me endure the next two months of horrid weather.

News From Around the Globe:

Only two more days to enter our Ultimate LRK3DE Giveaway! You and three friends could win travel funds for your trip to The Best Weekend All Year, general admission to each day plus premium cross country tailgating, and Dubarry gear — all you need to do is enter by December 31 for a shot at winning. [Fly Away to LRK3DE]

Best of Blogs: Being Enough

It’s now been more than 10 months since Russia invaded Ukraine. Amid almost incomprehensible hardship and destruction, the Ukrainians who remain in the country (14 million are estimated to have fled) continue trying to survive and maintain some semblance of normalcy. For some, that includes continuing to look after their horses. For horse owners, this means more difficulties and troubles. Stables are looking for generators to be able to produce electricity during blackouts and water buckets to create and store an emergency water supply. Horse owners are asking in addition to hay and feed also for blankets to keep horses warm. Before the war, putting a blanket over a horse during winter was not very common in Ukraine. During the times of feed insecurity, blankets became essential to lower the feed expenses. [Ukranian Relief for Horses]

2022 Photo Collection of the Day: COTH’s Favorite Photos

As a complete book nerd, my childhood days were filled with books on horses. The Black Stallion, Misty of Chincoteague, Billy and Blaze, the list goes on. These writers shaped my childhood, and quite honestly my adult life as well. Learn more about these authors in this article. [Famous Horse Authors]

You’ve been training hard, putting in the hours at the barn and the gym – but could you actually be doing more harm than good? Scheduling in time for a bit of R&R – that’s rest and recovery – is one of the smartest things you can do for your body. [Rest & Recovery: Your Secret Weapon]

What’s On Tap for Paris: Summaries from the FEI General Assembly

By on Dec 29, 2022 11:08 am -

Last month’s FEI General Assembly covered a wide gamut of issues across the global equestrian sporting industry — but at the forefront of discussions was the swiftly-approaching 2024 Paris Olympics and, crucially, what they mean in the face of the ongoing battle to win public approval for horse sport.

“We have an incredible sport and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognises the value of equestrians — but we’re only as good as our last Games,” says Ingmar de Vos, who was re-elected for a third and final term as FEI President at the Assembly. “We’re judged on our performance, and so we need to continue to keep our sport safe, attract new fans, engage youth and do what is necessary to appeal to a global audience. Like all other sports in the Olympic programme, we’re constantly under review — and again, context is everything, as we have to compete with new sports, new media landscapes and new trends.”

The addition and removal of sports from the Olympics is par for the course in every cycle, and the IOC tends to try to keep its finger on the pulse of what the next generation of sports fans — the very people who will engage with valuable sponsor campaigns — are interested in. That push saw four new sports added to the roster for the Tokyo Olympics —  skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing, and karate all made their debut at that Games — while Paris will add break dancing, now known as ‘breaking’, to its line-up. The perennial conversation on equestrians’ lips, of course, is how long we can guarantee that our own sports will stick around; a conversation that’s been intensified by the social license debate. Paris, which will stage the equestrian disciplines at the sumptuous Palace of Versailles west of the city proper, is a guaranteed stronghold — but beyond that, all depends on public perception and the success of this Games.

De Vos, who has named continued inclusion in the Olympics as one of his major priorities as President, was bolstered by the success of the FEI Eventing World Championships in Pratoni this year, which was similarly used as a way for the IOC to determine the sport’s risk and reward balance as an Olympic sport. IOC President Thomas Bach attended the event, and delivered “very complimentary” feedback, citing “the willingness of our community to embrace change” as one of his overwhelmingly positive impressions. But that doesn’t quite put eventing — or its sibling sports, dressage, jumping, and para-dressage — in the clear: though the FEI has sent representatives to Los Angeles to scout out suitable venues for the equestrian sports, their inclusion will only be confirmed if Paris goes off without a hitch. And after the pentathlon debacle at Tokyo, which saw the sport swiftly lose its mounted phase — mercifully taking public attention away from eventing’s equine fatality? Nothing is guaranteed.

But, says de Vos, increasing mainstream media attention and coverage is essential, even if it comes with a greater risk that the wider public will see an accident, thus damaging social license.

“One of the biggest challenges for us, but also many other sports, is around broadcast figures,” he says. “There were issues with Tokyo 2020, as many fans were unable to find or understand where they could watch our sport, on top of the unfavourable time zone differences. This is something we have already started to address, and will actively work to mitigate for Paris, and ensure equestrian fans and new audiences know where to watch our sport during these Games.”

Continuing to embrace change is key, he continues: “The future is on everyone’s lips, and although this future seems to be uncertain, there is one certainty: the youth of today will become the future of equestrian sport tomorrow. They already dictate the popularity of sports online, and so this is a key demographic we must invest in and listen to.”

Change will be a watchword for Paris, which announced in its timetable that the eventing dressage will be held over one jam-packed day. That’s 65 tests in one day, and although they’re the much shorter Olympic tests that we saw in action in Tokyo, it’s a big change from that Games, where 44 tests were performed on the first day, followed by 21 on the second. Eventing dressage will take place on Saturday, July 27 from 9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. CEST. Cross country will be held the following day from 10.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m., while the jumping finale, with its separate rounds for team and individual medals, will run from 11.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on Monday, July 29.

Teams of three, sans a drop score, and substitutions are here to stay, despite mixed reactions at Tokyo, though there’s some refinement to the substitution process, and minimum eligibility requirements — or MERs — have been tightened up for the qualification period, which runs from January 2023 to an as yet undetermined date in 2024. The addition of a ‘confirmation’ result prior to Tokyo, which was introduced in order to allow athletes to maintain their qualifications after the delay of the Games, but also required them to prove that they were still safe and competitive to run, has encouraged the FEI to vote in favour of an additional MER for Paris that must be garnered in 2024. The new MERs will require one CCI5*-L or one CCI4*-L plus a CCI4*-S, and then an additional qualifying result (at any of the three aforementioned levels) to be achieved in 2024, thus proving that the horse and rider remain competent and safe to compete.

There’s also a change to the tie-break decider for individuals: in the first instance, the best cross-country score will take precedence, but now, if both are on the same cross-country score (for example, if both athletes have finished clear and inside the time), the athlete who earned the most good marks in the dressage phase will step ahead.

And what of the running of the Games themselves? We’ve been treated to several exciting mock-up images over the last couple of years, showing how the arena itself might look — and the Assembly confirmed that it will be situated at the far end of the sweeping Grand Canal, which spans from the Palace itself well out into the grounds of the estate. GL Events has been appointed as the organising team on the ground, and their equestrian director, Sylvie Robert, explained their vision for maintaining the integrity and beauty of the parkland while also providing a top-end sporting experience for competitors and spectators alike.

“The grandstand and the main arena are fully integrated into the landscape to protect the site and its spectacular trees,” she explains. “A very large part of the park will be dedicated to the cross-country track, with the majestic Grand Canal to highlight this magnificent event.”

An aerial view of the Versailles site and the distance between the Etoile Royale — the site of the arena and grandstands — and the Palace itself. Photo courtesy of the FEI/Paris 2024.

The course, which will be designed by Pierre le Goupil — also the designer for the 2023 European Championships at Haras du Pin — will be 5.3km long, with an optimum time of 9:18, and will feature 25 numbered obstacles, three water jumps and two pontoon crossings, making use of the Grand Canal itself. The course will be longer than that seen at Tokyo, where extreme heat conditions meant that the organising team presented a shorter track.

The Etoile Royale as it looks from overhead currently…

…and the planned layout for the Etoile Royale when the grandstands and arena have been installed. Photo courtesy of the FEI/Paris 2024.

Pierre le Goupil’s map of the cross-country warm-up, cool down, pontoon crossings, and more. Photo courtesy of the FEI/Paris 2024.

Ground preparation has already begun, with many galloping lanes closed off to pedestrians — and that’s because the site will need to be made largely ready by September 2023, when the cross-country test event will be undertaken. Further test events, which will be largely staged in order to put the organising team through their paces, and to test the intended arena footing, will be held at Fontainebleau in the spring of 2024.

Ground preparations are underway at Versailles. Photo courtesy of the FEI/Paris 2024.

The first round of access to tickets has already opened, so if you’re planning a trip to Paris in 2024, make sure to get your name in the draw. We’ll be bringing you lots more Olympic news soon — including a refresher course on how teams can qualify over the next 12 months.

EN’s pre-coverage of the Paris Olympics in 2024 is brought to you with support from Zoetis Equine.