Classic Eventing Nation

Weekend Winners: Ram Tap and SAzEA

The Eastern Eventing scene might be winding down for a moment as the wintery winds force us to add layers to our wardrobe and cling a little tighter to our neck straps, but out in the West, we turn to California and Arizona for continued Eventing action!

Ram Tap H.T. (Fresno, CA): [Website] [Results]

Open Intermediate: James Alliston and Keep Calm (25.7)
Open Preliminary: Molly Duda and Generous DHI (24.8)
Open Modified: Allyson Hartenburg and Karel H (26.4)
Open Training: Devin Robel and Gillou (28.6)
Training 3-Day: Charlotte Freeman and Graceland’s Ladera (40.4)
Novice Rider Jr: Sophia Johnson and Arogorn’s Elegant Falcon (28.2)
Novice Rider Sr: Saulo Tristao and Luxor (24.2)
Open Novice: Jennifer Wooten-Macouzet and Kensington LV (30.3)
Novice 3-Day: Sofia Seto and Armi (33.3)
Beginner Novice Rider Jr: Carly Chandler and Hells Bells (22.8)
Beginner Novice Rider Sr: Jennifer Ludwig and Griffin (33.8)
Open Beginner Novice: Lisa Sires and Even More Impressive (23.1)
Beginner Novice 3-Day: Kennedy Wiklund and Galaxy Girl (37.2)
Open Grasshopper: Rowan Thomas and Sean O’Connor (33.1)
Open Introductory: Annalise Gudiksen and Lookit Louie (25.3)

SAzEA Fall H.T. (Tucson, AZ): [Website] [Results]

Open Preliminary: Annabelle Nieman and JLo (55.1)
Area X Open Training Championship: Barbara Crabo and I.M. Over It (26.7)
Open Training: Chrystal Flanagan and E llusionist (31.2)
Area X Open Novice Championship: Anastasia Keyser and Samson (23.5)
Novice Rider: Shelby Murray and Mannoury vd Watermolen (29.8)
Open Novice: Denise Krause-Spangler and Kung Fu Slew (35.0)
Area X Open Beginner Novice Championship: Meghan Martin and LBA Otis (27.4)
Beginner Novice Rider: Fifi Abdallah and Over Easy (27.5)
Open Beginner Novice: Darci Stahl and GES Major Leaguer (37.2)
Introductory A: Jacqueline Pardue-Duran and Oaxaca (31.7)
Introductory B: Laura Bentley and Angel’s Envy (32.0)
Introductory C: Polly Lychee and MacGyver (28.3)
Pre-Competition: Bailey Thers and Ruby King Sparrow (37.2)

Learn from Cross Country Masterminds in a FREE Webinar

Boyd Martin and Sky Moon. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography. Boyd Martin and Sky Moon. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Treat yourself this Black Friday to a free zoom gathering with some of the top cross country riders. What better way to kick off the off season with some continued education? Listen in on a conversation Lucinda Green has with Piggy March, Pippa Funnell, William Fox-Pitt, Boyd Martin, and Shane Rose to take some tips and tricks away to focus on this winter to come out strong next year!

To join the free Zoom Gathering this coming Friday (Nov 25th), register by following the link below… But hurry, as spaces are limited.

International times:
Friday, Nov 25th
21:30 (Europe)
20:30 (GMT)
15:30 (EST)
Saturday, Nov 26th
07:30 (AUST)

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NndTlAP1Sji0P2_VohC2iQ

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

The Wesko Equestrian Foundation, which provides a comprehensive education in becoming a professional eventers to a hand-picked group of young riders each year, just returned from the trip of a lifetime to France, where they got to ride with the Cadre Noir, Franke Sloothak, and their mentor, Pippa Funnell. I’m envious beyond words but have been enjoying living vicariously through the gang on social media — and now you can, too.

National Holiday: It’s Odd Socks Day! Frankly, I celebrate this year ’round. Where does the other sock go in the washing machine?

US Weekend Action:

Ram Tap H.T. (Fresno, CA): [Website] [Results]

SAzEA Fall H.T. (Tucson, AZ): [Website] [Results]

Global Eventing Round-Up:

Le Pouget CCI4*-S (Montpellier, France): [Website] [Results]

Your Monday Reading List:

Have you background-checked your practitioner? Okay, so you don’t have to do a full deep-dive — but if you’ve hired someone, for example an osteopath or massage therapist, to work on your horse, are you confident that they’ve been properly trained and qualified for the job at hand? The spread of unqualified, unregistered paraprofessionals in the UK has become so significant that experts are speaking out about it — finally. [Protect your horse; check your professional]

Ahh, blanketing season. I know I’m not alone in second-guessing my decision every time I throw a rug over my horse for the night, even this year, when I’m leaving her unclipped until the new year. Too hot? Too cold? Is there, god forbid, a leak in the outer layer? Ease your winter wear stress with this funny throwback from COTH. [The blanket clause]

Showjumping fans, this one’s for you: Martin Fuch’s extraordinary Clooney 51 will be officially retired in a ceremony at Switzerland’s CHI Geneva next month. If, like me, you followed the dramatic, sad saga of his return from Tokyo and subsequent injury in the field just days later, which nearly ended the special gelding’s life, you, too, will be watching this with tears in your eyes and a lump in your throat. [Farewell to Clooney]

The OTTB lovers among us know that there’s something extra special in retraining an ex-racehorse. Whether it’s their endearing personalities, their enviable athleticism, or the little bit of extra something-something that comes from having been the purveyor of a second chance, it’s always a memorable experience that changes you as a horseman. [Thoroughbred fans, unite]

The FutureTrack Follow:

I love these folksy, Yves Klein-esque horse paintings by Maggie Robertson, whose work I’ll be gobbling up once I make my millions from *checks notes* writing about eventing for a living. Gorgeous.

Morning Viewing:

Ever fancied watching a reality TV competition show — for horse people? The LeMieux All Star Academy is back on Horse&Country TV, and it’s just that. Check out the first episode of season four:

Sunday Links from SmartPak

Quantum Leap’s entourage look on as horse and rider jump to CCI5* National Champion status. Photo by Abby Powell.

As of last weekend we crowned our last 2022 USEF National Champion and I was just reflecting on what a neat grouping of champions we have this year. We have a familiar pro with a American-bred purchased as a weanling as our 5* champion, an amateur/4*-L first-timer as our 4* champion, a 3* champion who’s also a Mustang advocate, and a 2* champion with a nursing degree. I simply love the range of personalities and backgrounds that have been able to really shine this year. The future is bright!

US Weekend Action:

Ram Tap H.T. (Fresno, CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]

SAzEA Fall H.T. (Tucson, AZ): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]

Major International Events:

Le Pouget CCI4*-S (Montpellier, France): [Website] [Timetable] [Entry Lists] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Taupo CCI4*-S (New Zealand): [Website] [Schedule]

Links to Start Your Sunday:

Now On Course: How One Pony Gave Maya Burke Wings

How To Clean and Treat Minor Horse Wounds

London horse show a change of pace for top jumps jock Rachel Blackmore

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Grants $3.6 Million To Accredited Organizations

Six-pronged approach to horse welfare proposed by new equine ethics commission

SmartPak Sunday Pick: Have you made your list and checked it twice? No? The 2022 SmartPak Holiday Gift Guide can help!

Sunday Video: Relatable.

Saturday Video: Meet the Olympic Gold Medallist – from 1920!

This video isn’t even two minutes long, but throughout the course of watching it, I think I said “oh my god” about forty times, which always bodes well, doesn’t it? Enjoy this compilation of clips from the 1920 Antwerp Olympic Games, wherein Sweden’s Helmer Mörner took both individual and team gold in the eventing. This was just the second time the sport had been included in the Olympics: its official introduction came in 1912 in Stockholm, but the 1916 Berlin Olympics were cancelled as war raged through Europe.

In these early years, Sweden was the dominant superpower in the then-military sport, which had a very different look and feel to the sport as we know it today. Safety devices? Nonexistent — they didn’t even wear helmets at this point. Roping on cross-country courses? Nope — you could plunge through a copse of trees and straight into the close-quartered crowd, adding an extra element of chaos to proceedings. Take-off and landing maintenance? Don’t be silly: you jumped the ground as you found it, even if that meant leaping up or down a decaying near-vertical slope. The showjumping was interesting too, as you’ll see in this clip — one fence was to be jumped both ways, with a stopping point just beyond the landing side to pull up, turn, and then jump again from. Bonkers, but the basis for what could be a useful training exercise at home, we reckon.

“Wee Pocket Rocket” 5* Thoroughbred Passes Away at Age 25

Andrew Hoy and Algebra. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Tributes have been paid to diminutive Thoroughbred Algebra (Azzaam x Sand Dollar, sire unrecorded) following his passing on Tuesday at the farm of owner John Glenn and Julia McLean. The gelding enjoyed an exciting career and achieved global stardom after joining Andrew Hoy‘s string in 2015, promptly winning the CCI4*-L at Montelibretti and going on to take Haras du Pin CCI4*-L that summer. He went on compete through his nineteen-year-old season, ultimately retiring on his 20th birthday in 2017.

“The 15th November has been a memorable date — it was “Mr Pocket Rocket’s” birthday and his ‘retirement party’ date at the age of 20,” writes Andrew in a touching post on his social media. “The 15th November 2022 — on his 25th Birthday — is where the journey ended and he passed away at John & Julia’s beautiful farm — where he has been bossing around the young horses right until the end!”

Nat Blundell & Algebra, moved into 2nd place after XC

Nat Blundell & Algebra.

Andrew took the reins after Algebra had already enjoyed a successful, vibrant career with student Natalie Blundell, who produced him through to five-star level. Their debut at the level would come at Adelaide in 2010, where they finished eighth. They followed that up with a fourth place finish in 2011 and second place in 2012, following a campaign for Olympic selection. Though their Badminton debut in 2014 was cut short by a horse fall across the country, they rerouted to Luhmühlen the next month and were thirteenth in a hot field. After a non-completion at Burghley that autumn, Andrew took over the ride, and after a trip to Luhmühlen in 2015, focused on campaigning the horse at the four-star level.

“He certainly was the most special character and I have so much to thank him for — we had an amazing time together and some pretty remarkable results. I was so lucky to take over the reins from my most wonderful student Natalie Blundell at the end of 2014 — she produced him all the way from Grassroots to 5* level.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Andrew Hoy (@hoyeventing)

“2015 was ‘our year’ — with winning the CCI4*-L at Montelibretti and also the CCI4*-L at Haras du Pin,” he continues. “Steffi and I had arranged to catch up with John & Julia, now proud owners of our beautiful girl Byebye Brisquenouille on Tuesday, the 15th, this week — so it was somehow fitting that we could be there to raise a glass with them and share memories of this most amazing little horse, that has touched all our hearts and given all of us the most wonderful experiences and memories. THANK YOU, SAM. You will always keep a very special place in my heart.”

John and Julia also posted their own tribute on Instagram: “With great sadness we advise the passing of the wee pocket rocket Algebra. What a life we had with him! An individual to the end. Sam always did things the way he wanted to — in a terribly polite way of course. He was always very very polite and mannerly on the ground. Destined for the jumps racing in Victoria, I bought [him] because he was pretty but he turned out to be a bit tricky for me! Better riders took him over as in Lizzy McRoberts, Natalie Blundell and then Andrew Hoy and the rest is legend.”

The poignant post continues: “So much joy, so much pride…thank you to everyone who participated along the way — I’d name them but I’d miss someone and then I’d be in trouble — I know who you are — the grooms, the cool down crews taking time from doing your own horses, the people that drove him places, those that participated in his London campaign and contributed $10 every week to support Natalie in her quest for Olympic selection — just so wonderful how much you were all so supportive and inspired. Thank you for such a special once in a life time experience.”

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

Sharon White and Claus 63. Photo by Abby Powell.

At the time of writing this, I’m fresh back home from one of those lessons that just leaves you feeling energized and capable. Like all the puzzle pieces that you’ve been working on finding are starting to click together. Aren’t those some of the coolest lessons when things fall into place like that and all make sense?

I try to hold onto the feeling I get from these lessons for as long as possible every time they happen, because Lord only knows it won’t be terribly long until I feel like I have no idea what I’m doing again. Highs and lows of the sport, right?

US Weekend Action:

Ram Tap H.T. (Fresno, CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]

SAzEA Fall H.T. (Tucson, AZ): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times]

Major International Events:

Le Pouget CCI4*-S (Montpellier, France): [Website] [Timetable] [Entry Lists] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Taupo CCI4*-S (New Zealand): [Website] [Schedule]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Olympic qualification in Baborówko

Four Champions Crowned During 2022 Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse Championships

Largest equestrian complex in the country still growing in Ocala

Breed Profile: Hungarian Sport Horse

Britain’s equestrian accessibility scheme under review

World Equestrian Brands Pick of the Week: Are you ready to shop ’til you drop? Black Friday and all those major shopping days are right around the corner and if you want to get the best sale prices on World Equestrians Brands products you better sign up for their email list. Email subscribers will have access to 25% off (almost) everything! Click here for details and scroll to the bottom to sign up.

Saturday Video: Here’s a little upbeat XC to get you pumped for your weekend!

Friday Video: Boyd’s Helmet Cam Debut

What a time to be alive! Boyd Martin has joined the hatcam crew, and that means we get a real ‘backstage’ insight into what it’s like to be the big man on a day out at a competition. Join him for a spin around Tryon with Contessa, including a near miss at the final fence, because hat cams are the real humblers, aren’t they? We can’t wait to see what Boyd documents next: meditations with Guru Rubee? His spin around the Sweden International Horse Show indoor eventing next week? Wacky races with Nox and Leo? We’ll patiently wait for the suggestion box to open.

Independence for Our Arms: An Excerpt from ‘The Riding Doctor’

In this excerpt from The Riding Doctor, retired medical doctor, Pilates specialist, and riding instructor Dr. Beth Glosten explains the importance of independent arms when riding.

Photo by Tim O’Neal courtesy of Horse and Rider Books.

Use of your arms for a rein aid must not disrupt your posture, alignment, and balance. This is challenging: In the saddle, your upper body can be relatively mobile, making it easy to lean in one direction or the other to counterbalance a rein aid. But leaning causes an unwanted shift in your weight—confusing your horse. Stability of position starts with balancing from the muscles of your torso. Arm suppleness, mobility, and control are then possible.

Steadiness and Stability

If you need to use more rein as a restraining aid for a strong horse, be careful that your torso position stays solidly upright on the vertical in neutral spine alignment. It is tempting to lean back, press your feet forward, and use body weight to control your horse. This works in the short term and is appropriate for a bolting horse. But to improve your horse’s balance, leaning back is the worst thing to do. Leaning back puts you behind the horse’s movement and gives the horse something to lean against.

When you lack suitable stability, a strong horse can pull you forward, putting you in a dysfunctional position—perched forward out of the saddle without a base of support—and opening the door to the horse for more evasions. If your horse gets strong, find your base of support by anchoring your pelvis to the saddle with your core muscles and anchoring your upper arms by your sides (think of those latissimus dorsi muscles). From this position your rein aids are functional and are more likely to make positive changes in your horse. I am not suggesting that you ride around and around with your horse hanging on the reins, but if you let your horse change your position, you have lost effectiveness. Work to keep a stable position when your horse pulls; meanwhile, do exercises and transitions geared toward improving your horse’s balance.

Some trainers coach riders, “Keep your hands still!” But this cue can be confusing. Your hands should move sometimes, depending upon your horse’s gait. Steady is a better word to describe hand position: You control where your hands are at all times. Think of it this way: If you had a pressure meter between the reins and your fingers, the pressure would stay quite stable. Clearly, your horse has some role in this goal! And so do you. Keeping your hands steady develops a quiet connection.

Arm position can reveal balance problems. An arm that persistently “feels” compelled to cross over your horse’s neck is likely adapting for a problem with your body’s balance and alignment. If you sit heavily to the left when tracking right, you may find the need to cross your left (outside) hand over your horse’s neck to try to control his bulging left shoulder. This arm position is not desirable. Notice what your arm is doing and check your alignment, balance, and position. If you sit heavily to the left while tracking left, you might find your left arm trying to “hold up” your horse’s left shoulder by coming up and in, crossing over your horse’s neck. Again, note this faulty arm position, and realize it reflects a balance issue. Work to sort out your balance so your arms stay in a correct position.

Your Arms Are “Alive”

Your hands and arms must not be dead weight on your horse’s mouth; rather, you must keep your arms in self-carriage, just like the rest of you. Otherwise, your horse will feel backward pressure on the reins. To keep a sense of your arms being “alive,” imagine a current running through a loop defined as follows: from the bit in your horse’s mouth, to the right rein, to your hand holding the right rein, to your right wrist, forearm, elbow, and upper arm, then across your upper back and down the left upper arm, elbow, forearm, wrist, hand, left rein, and back to the bit in your horse’s mouth. This loop of current must remain unblocked. Unnecessary tension in any part of your arm, such as from a cocked wrist, a locked elbow, or a shoulder shrug, will block current through this loop, and elasticity will be lost.

Do not equate soft and elastic contact with loose fingers on the reins. Loose fingers allow the reins to easily slip out of your hands, causing you to lose steadiness in the contact. Keep your fingers closed on the reins, making your arm “part of the bridle.” Elasticity and soft contact come from suppleness in your whole arm, not just in your fingers. Certainly your horse feels an increase in squeeze on the rein; just be sure you do not let go of the squeeze so much that you let go of the reins!

Movement in your elbow is key to maintaining a steady contact with your horse’s mouth, especially in the walk and canter, in which your horse’s neck undulates as part of the mechanic of the gaits. To keep steady contact, you must allow movement of your elbow joints, as well as your shoulders, so that your hands move with your horse’s mouth. At the trot, however, your horse’s head and neck are quite steady, while his body (and your body) moves up and down. At this gait, your elbows must allow your body to move up and down while your hands stay steady; your hands should not go up and down.

Try This

A simple example demonstrates the importance of arm-muscle suppleness in preserving elastic contact: Hold a cup of liquid in your right hand and walk around. The liquid will not slosh around much because your supple arm adapts for the movement of your walk to keep the cup level. Now tuck something under your right upper arm and walk around. You will see the liquid slosh around madly as your locked upper arm and elbow can no longer move. (I discovered this while carrying the morning paper under my arm with a cup of coffee in my hand.)

This excerpt from The Riding Doctor by Dr. Beth Glosten is reprinted with permission from Trafalgar Square Books (www.horseandriderbooks.com).

Ocala Horse Properties Dream Farm of the Week: Spiraling into the 60s

Brick. Circles. 1960’s. 

That summarizes everything you need to know about this listing on Ocala Horse Properties. Join me on a ‘60s-themed field trip to the world of Dream Horse Farm. 

If you love Frank Lloyd Wright, the famed American architect and creator of eight World Heritage Sites, then we found the *perfect* horse farm for you. If you have no clue who that is, you might still like it. It’s just that good. 

Now, this property is a little different. And I know we’re all equestrians here who probably just want to hear about the barn, but hang tight, because this house is something to talk about. Let’s start with the most obvious– it’s a literal circle. 

Photo courtesy of Ocala Horse Properties.

Yes, that is a curved indoor swimming pool in one section. And yes, that is a circular courtyard in the middle of your circular house surrounded by curved trees and a semi-circle driveway. After living here, you’ll have no excuse if you can’t ride a perfect circle in your dressage test.

Photo courtesy of Ocala Horse Properties.

This 11,000 square foot house features carved brick walls with an equestrian motif, which is echoed in the gorgeous red brick barn with a carved brick mural of a horse over the entryway.

Photo courtesy of Ocala Horse Properties.

When I said that this house was committed to brick, I meant it. 

Do you have a side hustle? (What equestrian doesn’t, these days?) I just found your new home office. 

Photo courtesy of Ocala Horse Properties.

Doesn’t that dark wood wall just scream “make me your Zoom background!” Take your lunch break on the balcony or simply watch over your farm while you consider your client’s latest problem with a cup of coffee. Either way, this potential home office, complete with fireplace, is the perfect place to run your empire. 

Photo courtesy of Ocala Horse Properties.

If I lived here, I would say the phrase “take a turn about the gardens” as often as humanly possible because it would make me feel like I was living in a Bridgerton-esque universe. And, of course, for the pun.

Also, let’s just take a moment to close our eyes and imagine how nice it would be to hash out your dressage test with friends after a long show day while floating in that pool. Ahh, I can almost feel the margarita in my hand. 

Now to the important part of the tour– the bar. This bar, complete with an elegant photo of Audrey Hepburn, looks like something out of Mad Men. Invite your clients down for a glass of champagne after selling your latest prospect and making a ridiculous profit. Or host a party after a horse you own wins its most recent $100,000 Classic. 

Photo courtesy of Ocala Horse Properties.

This house has a good sense of humor, because on the other end of the house, the second bar is a little more light-hearted. 

Photo courtesy of Ocala Horse Properties.

I promised you a ‘60’s-themed rock-and-roll bar, and I’ll be darned if I didn’t deliver. This seems like an amazing place to hold a ‘60s-themed party with all the other equestrians in your neighborhood. Or, you know, if you’re a relatively normal person, I guess you could just have a normal non-themed party? But you know what they say about opportunity knocking… 

Now for the moment you’ve all been waiting for… the barn. Doesn’t that sleeping horse carving just instantly make you feel more relaxed? Maybe it’ll calm down your spicy chestnut mare, too, but no guarantees.

Photo courtesy of Ocala Horse Properties.

The good looks don’t end at the entryway. Inside, this barn is bright and airy with pristine white walls and rich hardwood accents (no cribbers allowed in my dream farm). You can almost feel the breeze blowing down that wide aisle way through the picture. 

Photo courtesy of Ocala Horse Properties.

I’m also very into covered arenas, so this was a huge plus for me. It might be an unpopular opinion, but I think they’re the best of both worlds. The roof keeps the worst of the weather off, but you still get that nice breeze and wide open feeling. Plus, this arena looks big enough for just about any discipline. 

Photo courtesy of Ocala Horse Properties.

Did we mention that this farm is situated on over 80 acres? You could trail ride for days and still see new sections of your own property. The rolling hills are perfect for conditioning your next eventing superstar or putting miles on that green prospect. 

If you’re like me and love a property that offers something a little different than your garden-variety rectangular house, check out this farm on Ocala Horse Properties. Or, if you want to play it safe, you can search for a beautiful house on their site