Classic Eventing Nation

Behind the Breeding: Banzai du Loir

By on Sep 22, 2022 9:00 am -

France’s Axel Coutte with a young Banzai du Loir. Photo courtesy of Pierre Gouyé.

When you think about what a top event horse must have looked like as a foal, it’s easy to imagine that surely they must have always looked special — that this caliber of horse is just born beautiful, the crème of the crop, with fantastic gaits and obvious talent from the word go. That they came out of the womb with an air of greatness, obviously marked with a bright future. In reality that isn’t always — or perhaps rarely is — the case.

Indeed, if someone had asked you to choose in 2011 which French-born foal was destined to wear the future title of World Champion, it’s highly unlikely that you would have chosen Banzai du Loir. He was a skinny foal with an umbilical hernia, and in the words of his breeder Pierre Gouyé , “he didn’t make you dream”.

Axel Coutte and Banzai du Loir. Photo courtesy of Pierre Gouyé.

Looking at Banzai’s pedigree though, it’s easy to see how he eventually grew into a quality athlete. His sire, Nouma d’Auzay (by Carthago out of a Quidam de Revel mare), was an exceptional showjumper, competing to 1.55m international Grands Prix. Nouma’s sire, Carthago, was himself was an Olympian, competing in the showjumping at both the 1996 Atlanta Games and the 2000 Sydney Games.

Nouma’s damsire, Quidam de Revel, is one of the most successful modern show jumping sires (if not THE most successful) and also an Olympian, earning 4th place individually with Herve Godignon at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.

But what really drew Gouyé to Nouma d’Auzay, and his reason for choosing the stallion to breed to his mare, was Nouma d’Auzay’s exceptional mother line. His second dam, Via d’Auzay, as well as his third dam, Kysra d’Auzay, both jumped to the 1.60m level (also with Herve Godignon). They hail from Selle Francais mare family 52, one of the most successful and proven sport families in France. Just within the last 5 generations, Nouma d’Auzay’s direct mare family has produced two 1.55m jumpers, two 1.60m jumpers, two 1.65m jumpers, two 4-star event horses, and a 3-star horse.

While Banzai du Loir’s sire is certainly impressive, so too is his dam. Gerboise du Cochet was an event horse herself, competing to the 2-star level in the early 2000s. She was by the stallion Livarot, a Selle Francais who had ample Thoroughbred blood in his pedigree via the stallions Furioso xx, Red Star xx, and Rantzau xx.

Gervoise du Cochet’s dam was a full Thoroughbred, Passera xx, from the TB mare family 2-i, which has produced multiple show jumpers through 1.60m and eventers through five-star. Passera xx was also the dam of Tresor du Cochet, who — in a twist of kismet — competed in the 1998 World Equestrian Games in Pratoni with Cadre Noir rider Pierre de Bastard. Turns out Pratoni runs in Banzai’s family!

All that Thoroughbred blood on his dam’s side helps make up Banzai’s blood percentage of over 66%, and likely contributes to his speed, stamina, and athleticism on the cross country course.

Yasmin Ingham meets Banzai, Pierre, and Axel on a fortuitous shopping trip to France. Photo courtesy of Uptown Eventing.

While Gervoise du Cochet did have two more foals for Pierre Gouyé’s breeding operation, Elevage du Loir, neither of them have yet reached the success of their brother. Nine-year-old Divine du Loir (by Kalaska de Semilly) has competed through 5 and 6 year old eventing classes in France with an amateur, despite breaking her jaw in a pasture accident as a 4 year old. Eleven-year-old Aspro du Loir (by Quinoto Bois Margot) was sold to the UK, where he competed through the BE100 level and in Pony Club events.

Despite being a perhaps not-so-promising foal, Banzai’s pedigree along with his excellent training certainly helped pave the way for his future success. Gouyé is quick to credit both Yasmin Ingham as well as French rider Axel Coutte for helping the horse realize his full potential. As a young horse, Banzai was competed by Coutte through the 3* level, including a trip to Le Lion d’Angers Breeding World Championships in 2018 where they finished 26th in the 7 year old class.

When asked how it felt to be the breeder of a World Champion, Gouyé replied with what I can only imagine is the most perfect answer: the Star Eyes emoji. Perhaps the only adequate and appropriate way to sum up what has turned out to be a truly fantastic superstar of a horse. Trust us, Monsieur Gouyé, we’re all starstruck for Banzai too.

Thursday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

By on Sep 22, 2022 12:03 am -

Photo courtesy of Stable View Farm.

It’s Oktoberfest! Well, at Stable View this weekend anyway. They have some super exciting new features this year, including creative prizes for Furthest Traveled, Best Groomed Horse, Lowest Dressage Score, and Competitor on the Most Horses, and more! They have a new food court featuring Ronnie’s Ribs, Roasted and Toasted, Ice Cream Island, Mobile Coffee Shop and Lobster Dogs Food Truck & Pub. Get your culture in by watching the Aiken Symphony Orchestra put classical spins on mainstream music, relax in the rider lounges with free snacks, coffee, tea, and water, and keep your horse cool as a cucumber with equine misting stations.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Stable View Oktoberfest (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Twin Rivers Fall International (Paso Robles, CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

ESDCTA New Jersey H.T. (Allentown, NJ): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]

Larkin Hill Fall H.T. (North Chatham, NY): [Website] [Scoring]

Meadowcreek Park Fall Social Event (Weatherford, TX): [Website] [Scoring]

Old Tavern H.T. (The Plains, VA): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

University of New Hampshire H.T. (Durham, NH): [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer]

Major International Events

Ballindenisk International CCI4*-L: [Website] [Entries/Times]

News From Around the Globe:

When Sweden instituted a ban of the whip at the beginning of the 2022 racing season, racing official Dennis Madsen was pretty sure what would happen, which was nothing. The races would still be competitive, the betting wouldn’t be impacted and there would be no issues when it came to safety. Five months into the racing season in Sweden, Madsen, the head of horse racing for the Swedish Horse Racing Authority, who was a speaker at this year’s Jockey Club Round Table, says he has been proven right. “There has been no negative impact on racing at all after we took away the whip,” he said. [Sweden Makes a Seamless Transition to Whip-Less Racing]

Aspects of a horse training method made famous by Monty Roberts, author of the The Man Who Listens to Horses, have been called into question by research at the University of Sydney. Two main features of the method, also known as round pen horse training, are that it depends on the human trainer being able to communicate with the horse using ‘horse’ , and that it is a humane form of training. Our study casts doubt on both those claims. [Researches Urge Horsemen to Rethink the ‘Monty Roberts’ Method]

The best way to describe Tryon Riding and Hunt Club’s (TR&HC) Morris the Horse Trials is “strengthening its roots as it looks to the future.” This year’s event on October 22 & 23 at the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE) marks 47 years of the competition set in the picturesque North Carolina Foothills. Part of Morris’s “roots” are exemplified by this year’s organizer Molly Bull and technical delegate Erin Stormont, both of whom grew up competing at this same event. [Eventing in Small Town North Carolina]

Researchers have created a scoring system that evaluates the level of bonding humans have developed with their horses. Stephanie Evans, MSc, HCPC, MCSP, ACPAT Category A, RAMP, of Hartpury University in the U.K., explained that understanding attachment could reveal more about the psychological advantages humans gain from interacting with horses, as well as help researchers explore how bonding affects performance and welfare.“Human attachment to animals has been shown to have numerous benefits, including positive physical, social, and psychological outcomes,” said Evans. “And the human horse-human and horse-rider relationship is considered a cornerstone of successful partnerships.” [How Bonded Are You To Your Horse?]

Best of Blogs: Yearning for Bliss Deep in Mongolia (the first part of the blog is here if you didn’t read it before)

 

It’s Safety Awareness Week at SmartPak! How to Save 25% off Helmets and Vests

By on Sep 21, 2022 3:00 pm -

 

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Safety remains paramount in our sport and all sports involving horses, and our friend at SmartPak are helping you save big all week with their Safety Awareness Week sale on select helmets and protective vests.

 

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Helmet safety and the newly-created ratings and research from the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab have given riders more options than ever when it comes to minding their melon — and looking stylish while they’re at it. And yes, even riding on the flat should be an instance where you don a helmet — take it from Silva Martin, who says her helmet saved her life when she sustained a head injury after falling on the flat several years ago.

But despite all this, the fact remains that quality equipment can be difficult to find at an affordable price. Take advantage of SmartPak’s savings on your favorite helmets from brands like Champion, Uvex, Charles Owen, One K, Trauma Void, and more here. And if you’re in the market for a new vest, you can also save 25% on those here.

Reflections of a Baby Lawyer (Plus, Some Horsing Around)

By on Sep 21, 2022 1:00 pm -

Much can be gleaned simply from watching ringside at the warm-up. What’s the best way you bring your thinking cap to your riding? Photo by Sally Spickard.

“You’ll find that as you start working, you have less and less time to think.”

I have just started my second year of law school. One of my professors said this to us on the first day back in class this semester. He was, of course, primarily admonishing us to read our case assignments and come to class prepared. But he was also reflective about the fact that once you leave school, you may not have time to think about and consider lots of different ideas. You won’t be required to read so much, so you may not read enough because there are more pressing things on the agenda.

He had put his finger on what I like most about school: the whole point is to think. There are subsidiary goals, like performing well on exams and writing good briefs or papers, but in the end the greater goal is to think about stuff, often in a critical way. If you learn how to do that well in school, you can apply that skill to anything later on.

I spent the summer working full-time at a small firm outside of Washington, DC and riding my horses in early mornings and evenings. Learning the law and practicing it could not be more different, and as usual, I have been thinking about how the horses relate to what I have learned. Here are some themes I noticed:

What can be gleaned from well-respected horsewomen such as Ingrid Klimke? Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The thinking happens behind the scenes. Great horsemen and great lawyers have a few things in common: they make mistakes, they use their brains, and they are able to not only work in the dredges of the everyday but also pull back and see the longer view. In short, they are able to keep thinking, even if the majority of their time is spent in the day-to-day of managing the smaller pieces.

One of my favorite things to do is watch the warm-up or practice arena at a major horse show. Watch it as the sun is rising, and you see how the riders prepare their athletes by stretching and relaxing them, or allowing them to have a playful buck on the lunge. Watch closer to the time of the class, and you see how they put the horses through their paces a bit, or school some fences and get the horse ready to perform. When they get to the arena, the “proof is in the pudding,” but getting to watch back-stage means you get an idea of how the pudding is made.

Watching lawyers work—and trying to work like they do—is similar in many ways. We have all seen lawyers on TV, speaking and reacting and presenting at a trial. However, that is just the tip of the iceberg (assuming the case actually goes to trial). Preceding those moments are hours and hours of thinking, revising, strategizing, and researching. Just like preceding the moment in the show ring are hours and hours of training and conditioning and preparation.

Problem-solving, teamwork, and creativity lead to success. I have worked in the barns of two former U.S. Team riders. When you show up to someone’s barn, you know that it will run in a particular way. It will function a bit differently from anywhere else you have been. This is particularly true in a high-performance setting. The owner or head trainer will have philosophies and preferences, whether they be the way blankets are hung, the manner in which manes and tails are trimmed, or the frequency of fitness work the horses do. A law firm is a bit like a high-performance stable: there are specific house rules to follow, and the tone of teamwork and excellence is contagious. Unlike riders, lawyers generally have the luxury of air conditioning, but like great riders they spend most of their time problem-solving and working with a team to figure out how to succeed.

Everyone has their own style. In law school, they taught me how to write like a lawyer should write. Not many frills; lots of formatting and other technical rules; no room for metaphors or even an ounce of humor. Needless to say, I enjoyed writing horse blogs more than legal briefs. But at work, I read and edited briefs that were written in all manner of styles. Within reason, there is room for creativity, as long as it is in the service of being persuasive.

Everyone has their own preferences and method of learning, and there’s nothing wrong with finding the trainer who has the right philosophy that matches your style. Photo by Sally Spickard.

People skills matter. I know some amazing riders who can hardly hold a conversation for over five minutes. They could be the next Michael Jung, but without communication skills to connect with the people to help them get there, it doesn’t really matter how well they ride. Interacting with so many lawyers over the summer—as well as my colleagues and classmates at school—has made me realize that people skills are very important, perhaps over and above anything else. It doesn’t matter what industry you are in: building a relationship of trust through communication, whether it’s with a client or a colleague, leads to new opportunities. That doesn’t mean you have to be someone other than you are in these situations. You should be authentic and true, because people need a feeling of connection to build bridges, and in this sport and this life we can’t get to the places we want to go without those kinds of bridges.

Competitiveness and the “winning feeling” are important, but they aren’t everything. Lawyers are competitive people. Most good riders I know are also competitively-minded. One thing that I have learned from horse people is that if you do the sport to win, you won’t last long in it. Even the best people don’t win all the time. The day-to-day of training and improving has to be motivating to you, because even when you do everything right, there’s a chance that you won’t win. The same is true in lawyering, especially in litigation. There has to be a winner and a loser. Just like you cannot get mad at your dressage judge for giving you an unfair mark, you have to accept the results of a ruling—although you may have the opportunity to appeal it in some instances. The point is that circumstances beyond your control may determine whether you win, and you certainly won’t win every time.

It’s fun to win, and it’s important to enjoy it. But I imagine that relying on that “winning feeling,” whether you’re a lawyer or a rider, is not the secret to longevity.

Three Horses Pass Away at Blenheim International

By on Sep 21, 2022 11:00 am -

 

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Three horses have now been confirmed to have died following incidents at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, which took place from September 14–18 in Oxfordshire, UK.

British-based Kiwi competitor Samantha Lissington suffered a horse fall at 12B, the Spinney Cottages, with Sharon Honiss’s nine-year-old Ricker Ridge Ricochet in the prestigious eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S, in which they were one of the earliest pairs out on course. After a hold and some deliberation, during which Samantha was transferred to hospital, organisers opted to remove this B element from the combination. Later on, it was confirmed that the talented young mare, who was making her second start at the four-star level after finishing third in the CCI4*-S at Kilguilkey, had been euthanised.

“It is with great sadness we announce that following immediate veterinary treatment Ricker Ridge Ricochet, ridden by Samantha Lissington passed away after a fall at fence 12 today,” added the statement. “Our thoughts are with all connections at this sad time.”

Fanta Boy, the twelve-year-old top-level partner of Great Britain’s George Goss (née Spence), was also confirmed to have died on Saturday night after successfully completing the CCI4*-L course without jumping penalties.

“With a broken heart I can confirm that very sadly our Fanta Boy passed away late into the night on Saturday. He was an incredible horse and I will cherish the memories I’ve shared with him and his wonderful owners, Nicky [Cooper] and Lucy [Fleming],” said George in a statement on her social media. “Gallop free my very special boy.”

Equador III, the ride of Great Britain’s Thomas Martin, was also confirmed to have died after a rotational fall in the CCI4*-L.

“This is a hard pill to swallow,” wrote 25-year-old Thomas, who was making his CCI4*-L debut with the gelding, in a statement on Instagram. “Me and Eddie had a rotational fall at Blenheim yesterday and unfortunately Eddie sustained a leg injury. Due to that leg injury we had to make the tough decision this morning to put him to rest.”

He continued his statement with a heartfelt letter to the horse, with whom he’d taken his first steps into the upper levels of eventing:

“Dear Eddie,

You have came along way since that £5 purchase 6 years ago, what was quite an uncertain time for you, through to you turning into my horse of a life time. We have been there through many highs and you’ve seen me through plenty of lows yet you never once wavered. I’m so proud of what we achieved. Although we did not make our £5 to 5* we did give it a bloody good go and had all the fun along the way. Your were nothing but heart and you are going to be sorely missed by not only me but by the whole of team Martin and many others that’s you touched along the way. It’s just not going to be the same on the yard with out you.  RIP the bestest good boy I could of ever asked for. Love you for ever.”

All of us at Team EN extend our most heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the connections of these remarkable horses, and wish Sam Lissington a speedy recovery.

Editor’s Note: The headline of this article has been updated to reflect the passing of three horses, two of which were confirmed to be euthanized following incidents on cross country.

Virginia Tech Helmet Lab: Redefining the Helmet Safety Landscape By Quantifying Concussion Risks

By on Sep 21, 2022 9:16 am -

Photo by Shelby Allen.

PAS, VG1, ASTM, SEI, EN1384: these abbreviations represent just a few of the helmet standards tested worldwide. The more certifications, the greater the variety of situations in which a helmet has been tested, so theoretically, the more certifications, the safer the helmet. But that only tells part of the story.

“With the same impact, there can be very different biomechanical responses between helmets. We felt a responsibility that everyone should have this information,” said Dr. Steve Rowson, Virginia Tech Helmet Lab Director.

The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, based out of Blacksburg, Va., began researching equestrian helmets nearly four years ago. The lab—which has already studied and tested helmets in the sports of football (with which the lab first began its research in 2003), hockey, cycling, soccer and snow sport—is now set to release its first STAR ratings (Summation of Tests for the Analysis of Risk) for equestrian helmets by year’s end.

According to Rowson, certifications and STAR ratings are analogous to comparing pass/fail and letter grades in school: just because one passes doesn’t mean they’ve received an “A.”

“Not all helmets are the same just because they meet a [pass/fail] standard. That’s true for skull damage but not concussions,” Rowson explained.

In December 2020, the United States Equestrian Federation, along with the United States Hunter Jumper Association and United States Eventing Association and with support from horse owner Jacqueline Mars, announced that they had collectively raised more than $425,000 to bring the Helmet Lab’s research to the finish line. In August, the Helmet Lab welcomed stakeholders to Blacksburg for its Equestrian Symposium, where Rowson and Drs. Stefan Duma, Mark Begonia, and Barry Miller provided an update on the operation’s progress as it heads into its critical—and final—Phase 4.

Their testing finished, the Helmet Lab is in the process of calculating and assigning its final STAR Ratings for 26 helmet models, achieved by evaluating 104 helmets in 312 tests, quantifying elements like actual drop height (where a rider is positioned when actually parting ways with a horse), what body parts are impacted when falling, liner and rotational impacts, and surface, among other factors. In total, the lab conducted 26 non-consecutive hours of testing.

“We wanted to bring it down to a reasonable amount of testing. Otherwise, you’ll test forever,” Duma said. “We try to look for a balance between having really good representation and establishing a system where we can ideally test a helmet model in about a day.”

STAR ratings will correlate with real-world injury rates; the lower the STAR value, the better the star rating (one to five stars, with five stars being the highest-rated helmets). Once published, the ratings will allow the public to search helmets by certification type, helmet type, brand, and more to make more informed choices about the helmets they wear and purchase when riding. The ratings also will help educate manufacturers on how to improve the safety of their helmets. All of the research is 100% independent of any funding or influence from helmet manufacturers.

“Everything we do starts in the real world,” Rowson said. “Our primary interest is in quantifying concussion biomechanics through direct and indirect ways of data collection.”

Photo by Shelby Allen.

Four Phases of Research

The Helmet Lab began its research with a video analysis of 100 equestrian falls, all ground impacts. An integral part of this research was quantifying the actual drop height and identifying the impact location of these falls. The group found that one-third of the falls they studied had no head impact. They also found that the “majority of the time” riders incurred “lower energy” falls, as they were able to grab onto a part of the horse at some point in their trajectory to the ground—“free falls” were rare. In fact, 73% of the falls were identified as “medium impact,” and when it came to head impacts, the majority (31%) came at the back of the head.

“A lot of times, you’re not going headfirst into the ground,” Duma asserted. “We needed a lower-impact component.”

The lab’s task was then to build a machine that characterized equestrian falls. Using the VT Helmet Lab Bike Tower and Pendulum Impactor, researchers replicated and manipulated a series of “falls” by adjusting the height of falls and the direction (front, back, side) of impacts. They then compared the peak linear and rotational accelerations of the test rigs, as well as the time traces of the impacts.

“Most [certification] standards only look at linear [impacts],” Duma said. “We look at both [linear and rotational]. As linear and rotational acceleration goes up, the risk of brain injury [also] goes up.”

The next question the lab tackled in the field at the VT Equestrian Center: how much does surface matter? Using their Portable Pendulum and a CLEGG Impactor—which measures surface densities or impact attenuation—the group conducted impact testing on both dirt and sand, considered the “extremes” of hard and soft surfaces. During these tests, researchers also tested football helmets and a “bare,” or no-helmet, scenario to offer real-world comparisons.

“A football helmet is the most advanced designed and optimized helmet. We’ll also evaluate a ‘bare’ or no helmet situation to show what the helmet is [helping with],” Duma explained. “If an equestrian helmet is producing similar numbers to a [highly rated] football helmet, it probably doesn’t need improvement.

“Football is a multiple head-impact sport,” he added. “In equestrian, exposures are very different, and we have much lower numbers.”

Allison Springer was the first five-star rider to don a helmet in the first phase of eventing competition at the top level. Leslie Threlkeld Photo.

Breaking Down the STAR Equation

After comparing surfaces using a variety of impactor faces—and then measuring contact area at different impact locations–the lab had all the data they needed to begin calculating STAR, which is currently in process.

The STAR value is the theoretical number of concussions someone would sustain if their on-field exposure matched the laboratory impacts. It is calculated by multiplying exposure (as a function of impact location and velocity) and concussion risk (as a function of linear and rotational headform acceleration).

Put more simply, each helmet is tested twice under six conditions, with three centric and non-centric impact locations (front, side and rear) and at two impact velocities. The results of the two tests are then averaged and multiplied by the exposure. The resulting number is the STAR Rating. That STAR rating (a number—the lower, the better) is then given a star rating (one to five stars, with five being the best or safest).

Risk function becomes a critical component, because it accentuates riskier impacts. “With helmets that don’t do well, risk function exaggerates that value,” Duma detailed. “If a helmet

does a great job and gets lower accelerations, it’s going to produce a lower [STAR value]. Risk function exaggerates that value to draw out which helmets are doing better than others.”

The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab was to release its ratings in the fall and planned to make the ratings available available as a public service resource on the lab’s website at helmet.beam.vt.edu. Learn more about how this research will affect equestrians by watching this video from the Helmet Lab.

“[STAR Ratings] are meant to be complementary to [existing certification standards],” Begonia said. “We’re here to fill in the gap for concussion risks.”

This press release was distributed by US Equestrian.

Wednesday News & Notes from Haygain

By on Sep 21, 2022 12:01 am -

Just a few weeks until Strides for Equality Equestrians (SEE) begins SEE Month! All October, SEE will be celebrating its two-year anniversary with a fundraising and awareness drive that includes a fundraising auction the second half of the month, a cool gift with donations, and more. The organization dedicated to raising visibility for riders from diverse backgrounds through the amplification of stories and the support of aspiring horse professionals will use the funds raised to grow programs such as the Ever So Sweet Scholarship and more opportunities soon to come. Full disclosure, I am on the steering committee of SEE, and I’m likely to harass you for a donation in the coming days! If you’d like to contribute a donation to the auction, click here.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Stable View Oktoberfest (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Twin Rivers Fall International (Paso Robles, CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

ESDCTA New Jersey H.T. (Allentown, NJ): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]

Larkin Hill Fall H.T. (North Chatham, NY): [Website] [Scoring]

Meadowcreek Park Fall Social Event (Weatherford, TX): [Website] [Scoring]

Old Tavern H.T. (The Plains, VA): [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer]

University of New Hampshire H.T. (Durham, NH): [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer]

Major International Events

Ballindenisk International CCI4*-L: [Website] [Entries/Times]

Wednesday News & Reading

Puerto Rico has once again been devastated by natural disaster as Hurricane Fiona cut off power and clean water to most of those on the island. There are many ways to help, and every little bit helps. [How You Can Help Puerto Rico]

We’ve all heard of biosecurity protocol when it comes to protecting our horses from spreading and contracting infectious diseases. But what’s actually involved in these measures? With the FEI requiring a greater amount of responsibility from competitors in terms of tracking temperatures and travel health, it’s good to know what’s gone into preventing disease spread in other areas such as veterinary clinics. [Stop the Spread of Equine Infectious Diseases]

Team Canada didn’t quite nab the Olympic qualification they were aiming for at FEI World Championships last week, but there is still a lot to look back on positively, says chef d’equipe Rebecca Howard. [The Canadian Debrief]

Captain Mark Phillips takes a moment to share his thoughts on the major competitions happening overseas, and his latest Horse & Hound column dives into the nitty-gritty at Pratoni. [Mixed Emotions and Tight Margins]

#TackFacts from Sterling Essentials: Got moldy tack? No judgement here. See below (or this Instagram post, if the embedded post below doesn’t show up in your browser) for some helpful tips:

Sponsor Corner

I thought this post from Robyn Fisher at Pratoni was a prime example of just how big a role Haygain plays in many horses’ feeding programs:

Wednesday Video Break

A pit stop for Vassily de Lassos en route back to the UK:

Pratoni Performance Look Back from KPP: Yasmin Ingham Seals the Deal

By on Sep 20, 2022 4:30 pm -

I’m still floating on a Pratoni high, so naturally I’ve spent the last few days perusing YouTube for more highlights to share. We’ll surely have more to come — personally, I’m holding out for a Sam Watson helmet cam video and hoping he wore one! — but for now let’s revisit the epic weekend had by British rising (can you even call it “rising” anymore?!) superstar Yasmin Ingham, the new individual eventing champion crowned at Pratoni this weekend. I mean — just take a look at the girl’s Instagram bio:

Missing just one teeny, tiny title…

A star, indeed — and the first rider not on a team to win individual gold in the history of FEI World Championships:

A few more nuggets from Yasmin:

Area VII Championships: Marc Grandia Wins Tin Man Supply Advanced at Aspen Farms

By on Sep 20, 2022 2:00 pm -

Marc Grandia and Campari FFF take the Tin Men Supply Advanced. Open Intermediate. Photo by Cortney Drake Photography.

Marc Grandia and the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding Campari FFF (pictured above), owned by Team Rebecca LLC, led the $4,000 Tin Men Supply Advanced division from start to finish at Aspen Farms Horse Trials September 16-18. Sophie Click and her 9-year-old gelding, Tarantino 54, finished second.

For Grandia, the highlight of the weekend was Campari’s performance over the Advanced cross-country course designed by Morgan Rowsell. “We came here looking to improve in the dressage of course, but mostly the cross-country after a disappointing go around the American Eventing Championships,” said Grandia. “I think that we did that. We were definitely in sync out there. And we tried a new bit. I’m feeling confident now going forward.”

Grandia reflected on today’s show jumping round: “The course here is always just a little tricky. The shadows were kind of long this morning. My horse was fantastic, just out of sync in a couple of places. We’ll hope to clean that up before Morven Park.” The pair, who calls the Pacific Northwest home, will leave later this month for the East Coast to compete there.

Stephanie Goodman and Carolina Morning, winners of the Open Intermediate. Photo by Cortney Drake Photography.

In the Open Intermediate, Stephanie Goodman and her 12-year old Thoroughbred, Carolina Morning, jumped double clear in stadium to win. Josh Barnacle and Bittersweet 2 and Alexis Helffrich and M Creme De La Creme SE also jumped clear to finish second and third, respectively.

“It was great,” Goodman said after their show jumping round. “It was a little spooky in the ring, but I love this horse and he’s been here before, so it was super fun. Overall a good ride.”

Ultimately it was their clear cross-country jumping performance on Saturday that moved them up from fourth to first. It was Goodman’s favorite part of the weekend.

“It was so fun,” she said. “I thought it was a proper Intermediate track with good jumps. He hasn’t been at this level for a while; it was a blast. He ran fast and was super confident.”

Stephanie Goodman, USEA Area VII Open Training Champions. Photo by Cortney Drake Photography.

Goodman also won the Area VII Open Training Championships division with Esmèe, owned by Deanna Briggs, on their dressage score of 23.3. Leigh Robinson and Alliance took second, and Jordan Linstedt and CGF Galway Girl, owned by Melissa Mohr, took third.

In the USEA Area VII Open Intermediate Championships, Karen O’Neal and the 8-year-old Warmblood gelding Clooney 14, owned by Annika Asling, won on a score of 38.7. Tommy Greengard and Joshuay MBF jumped clear for second, and Jordan Linstedt and FE Friday, owned by Kiran D’Souza, took third.

Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14, owned by Annika Asling, USEA Area VII Open Intermediate Champions. Photo by Cortney Drake Photography.

“He was good today,” O’Neal said after their show jumping round, where they added just 4 jump faults. “It’s funny because the Wishing Well is always out there, and he always looks at it. I thought for sure he wouldn’t look at it today, but he did! I should have went past that way in the beginning. Spooking has been our biggest nemesis from day one. He’s still young, and he spooks sometimes still, but he’ll keep going now, and it’s getting less and less. I got kind of disorganized when he spooked today, but then I pulled my act together, fixed it, and the rest felt really good. It rode exactly how I wanted it to.”

O’Neal said the best part of their performance was Saturday’s cross-country ride: “He was the best he’s ever been! I cried afterward. He was so amazing. Skinnies aren’t my favorite fences; I don’t like them! And there were 14 of them on that course; a skinny it seemed like everywhere! It made me be very sharp. And he just listened to me. He was great; he did everything I asked. The course was lovely.”

O’Neal and Clooney are now aiming for the 3-star at Spokane Sport Horse Fall H.T. later this month.

Rhys Bentley and Overtime Magic, USEA Area VII Jr. Beginner Novice Champions. Photo by Cortney Drake Photography.

In the closely contested Area VII Open Preliminary Championships division, Kelsey Horn and her Oldenburg gelding, Cleared For Take Off, jumped double clear in show jumping to move up from second to first. Jordan Linstedt and Lovely Lola, owned by Lovas Partners LLC, took second, and Amy Haugen and Ebenholtz took third.

Horn shared that the best part of the weekend for her was having “no rails in show jumping. That is always my goal at every show, because show jumping is hard and it causes me stress. I’m working on how to mentally handle that. It’s slowly getting better. Having the confirmation of no rails makes me feel like I’m making progress.”

Despite one rail that dropped them to second place, Jordan Linstedt was thrilled with her mare’s performance in the Championship division: “Lola was fantastic. Unfortunate rail at fence 2–bummer–but after that she jumped like a million bucks. She is so fun to ride, so I can’t be upset about that, and Kelsey had a beautiful round for the win!”

Lizzie Hoff and HSH Explosion, USEA Area VII Jr. Training Champions. Photo by Cortney Drake Photography.

Lizzie Hoff secured the top two spots in the Area VII Jr. Training Championships, with HSH Explosion and HSH Limited Edition, owned by Caroline Martin.

“I had a rough start today with my Prelim horse,” Hoff said after her show jumping rounds. “I broke my finger, so I feel like I didn’t quite ride as well as I could have. But both of my Training level horses really were there for me and helped me out! I’m so happy with them.”

Dr. Crystal McRae and Pursha, owned by Asia Thayer, USEA Area VII Open Beginner Novice Champions. Photo by Cortney Drake Photography.

In the Area VII Training Rider Championships, Bryce Meeker and Centerfield Pixel Star won on their dressage score, followed by Karin Batdorf and Wesson in second.

“My horse was brilliant in show jumping” said Meeker. “I didn’t ride as well as I could have, but he did a wonderful job of getting around clean. For me the highlight was definitely cross-country. That’s been a place we’ve had some sticking spots… the water. He finally did it; I’m so excited!”

In Area VII Open Novice Championships, Jordan Linstedt won with the 5-year old mare Liberty R, owned by Amy Itkin, on a score of 21.9. Mary Burke and Valentino placed second, and Madison Flanders and Nobu placed third.

Bryce Meeker and Centerfield Pixel Star, USEA Area VII Training Rider Champions. Photo by Cortney Drake Photography.

“Liberty got a little bit feisty in show jumping today, but she jumped really, really well,” said Linstedt. “I had an unfortunate rail at 8A–she overtook in the turn, and I set her back and got her a little too close. She’s still very green, and she is a dressage-horse-turned-eventer this year. She absolutely loves eventing. She attacked the cross-country yesterday. She has a great dressage foundation, and is great to ride.”

Linstedt is considering making a trip to the East Coast to compete in the early spring with young horses including Liberty R, as well as her upper level rides. “I’m very fortunate to have wonderful owners who are supportive.”

In the Area VII Jr. Novice Championship, Macy Hale and Ardeo Audacity sailed through a double clear show jump round to win, followed by Kate Gerth and O’Donnell’s Nuit Lilly in second and Piper Hale and Diavolo in third.

Amanda Zeddy and Johnny’s Sparrow, USEA Area VII Novice Rider Champions. Photo by Cortney Drake Photography.

“It went really well,” Hale said of her clear show jump round. “I stuck to the plan of going straight and riding every stride and not taking any fence for granted. He, of course, was amazing!”

For Hale the highlight of the Championship weekend was that she: “really loved being here with my team, Rowan Hills Stables, and all the teamwork that we have together. We’re such a family; I’m so grateful for it!”

The title of Area VII Novice Rider Champions went to Amanda Zeddy and her Connemara/Thoroughbred gelding, Johnny’s Sparrow. They qualified for Championships at their first-ever attempt at Novice, and the Championship division was their second horse trials at the level.

“He’s 6 years old,” said Zeddy. “I’m just super proud that he marched around and was very brave for a horse that inexperienced. This was my first time at Aspen Farms, and I thought the courses were super fun.”

In the Area VII Open Beginner Novice Championships, Dr. Crystal McRae and the Hanoverian mare Pursha, owned by Asia Thayer, led from start to finish to win on a score of 20.3. Jessica Heidemann and Barracuda, owned by Sandra Donnelly, took second, and Kady Ellifritz and Yankee Bay took third.

Jordan Linstedt and Liberty R. Photo by Cortney Drake Photography.

“It was spectacular!” said Dr. McRae of their winning ride. “This is my first season three-day eventing, on a horse I’ve known for a long time and developed a beautiful relationship with. I’m so grateful to Asia Thayer for her wonderful coaching and for trusting me with her fine lady.”

In the Area VII Junior Beginner Novice Championships, Rhys Bentley and Overtime Magic finished on their dressage score of 26.9 for the win. Lindsey Ellis and Sir Winston Churchill finished second, and Olivia Ogan and Hoo Did That finished third.

“The highlight for me was the dressage,” said Bentley. “We always have some kind of issues with dressage like being too tense, so him being really adjustable in the beginning really helped. He was great.”

Macy Hale and Ardeo Audacity, USEA Area VII Jr. Novice Champions. Photo by Cortney Drake Photography.

The pair plans to run their first Novice at Spokane Sport Horse Fall H.T. later this month.

Thanks to generous sponsors, over $30,000 worth of cash and prizes were awarded to top finishers at Aspen Farms Horse Trials and USEA Area VII Championships.

Aspen Farm H.T. (Yelm, WA): [Website] [Results]

IOC President Bach Makes a Visit to FEI World Championships at Pratoni

By on Sep 20, 2022 11:30 am -

President Thomas Bach visits the Cross country competition at Pratoni. Photo: FEI / Richard Juilliart

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Dr. Thomas Bach expressed his appreciation for the FEI Eventing World Championships 2022 venue during his visit to the iconic grounds in Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA) on Saturday.

Accompanied by FEI President and IOC member Ingmar De Vos, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez, Olympic gold medallist and Chair of the FEI Eventing Committee David O’Connor and President of the Italian Equestrian Federation Marco Di Paola, President Bach had the opportunity to tour the venue, take in the cross country competition and meet with some of the sport’s top athletes.

“These are amazing facilities to see and it is a pleasure to experience a real Olympic legacy and sustainability success story,” Bach said. “I’m very impressed by the many measures the FEI has taken to safeguard the wellbeing and the health of the horses, and I am pleased with everything the International Federation is doing to ensure the future of the sport.”

The Rocca di Papa Equestrian Sports Centre, in the heart of the beautiful Parco dei Castelli Romani, was also the cross country venue at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. The cross country course designed by Event Director Giuseppe della Chiesa for the FEI World Championships, featured fences that were also used during the Olympic Games over 60 years ago.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Dr. Thomas Bach, FEI President and IOC member Ingmar De Vos, and Olympic gold medallist and Chair of the FEI Eventing Committee David O’Connor (FEI / Richard Juilliart)

Eventing has been an Olympic discipline since 1912, and the FEI Eventing World Championships 2022 in Pratoni del Vivaro will provide the first qualifying opportunity for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with seven team qualifying spots on offer. More than 22,000 spectators were in attendance during cross country day which saw Germany, USA and Great Britain take the team lead going into the Jumping phase of the competition.

“We are very pleased that President Bach could join us here in Pratoni to witness some of best the discipline of Eventing has to offer,” Ingmar De Vos said. “Eventing has grown and evolved over the years, as evidenced by the incredibly high level of sportsmanship at these World Championships.

“What has remained, however, is the close knit nature of the Eventing community and the respect for good horsemanship practices. This truly is a sport where the focus is on ability and expertise, rather than gender. Women have participated alongside men in all the FEI Eventing World Championships since 1966 and I know that the amazing atmosphere here in Pratoni has only encouraged our athletes to give the best of themselves and their horses.”

The FEI Eventing World Championships has also put a spotlight on the intergenerational dynamics of the sport. At 22-years of age, Nadja Minder (SUI), Jarno Verwimp (BEL) and Alina Dibowski (GER) competed against veteran Eventer Andrew Hoy (AUS) who at 65 years, was the oldest competitor in Pratoni. Hoy, who took part in the 1978 World Championships, is already the owner of an impressive portfolio of six Olympic medals and four World Championship medals.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Dr. Thomas Bach and Olympic gold medallist and Chair of the FEI Eventing Committee David O’Connor at the FEI Eventing World Championship 2022 in Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA) (FEI / Richard Juilliart)

While there are 13 former Olympic medalists participating at the FEI World Championships in Pratoni, athletes from Lithuania and Thailand were also present to make their mark in their countries’ first ever appearance in the competition.

“Eventing is a complete test of horse and rider,” David O’Connor explained. “For the human athlete, Eventing puts their relationship with their horse well and truly under a microscope. A rider needs to be able to keep their horse centred and in a strong frame of mind during the Dressage test, and then guide the horse’s natural instincts through the challenges of a cross country course, while maintaining this focus when Jumping.

“It takes a great deal of horsemanship and expertise for the athlete and horse to carry out three completely different tests, and this relationship between the human and equine athlete is not one that is forged overnight. Patience and time is required for this mutual confidence to develop, and the athletes train as intensively as they would for any other sport.”

Catch up on EN’s coverage of the 2022 FEI World Championships for Eventing here.