Classic Eventing Nation

#Supergroom Sally Robertson’s 6 Pieces of Advice for Professional Grooms

By on Aug 25, 2022 9:00 am -

We love celebrating and learning about the #supergrooms who make this sport go around — quite literally! — so we’re on a mission to interview as many grooms as we can to learn about their journeys. Catch up on the other interviews from this series here and nominate a #supergroom of your own by emailing [email protected]!

Sally Robertson and Vermiculus. Photo by JJ Sillman.

Sally Robertson, from Coromandel, New Zealand, has been working in the equine industry for decades. Having worked for riders like Chris Chugg, Clark Montgomery, and Lauren Nicholson, it’s safe to say Sally has learned quite a bit — and so, ahead of next month’s FEI World Championships for Eventing, where Sally will be caring for Team USA member Lauren Nicholson’s partner, Vermiculus, we wanted to pick her brain and learn a few things from this top pro. So, without further ado, here are Sally’s six pieces of advice for aspiring professional grooms!

1. Be patient and stick with it.

Sally has experienced various programs and their atmospheres, but says it may take time to find one that really fits you. “Lauren and I, we just work really well together. I probably wouldn’t want to work for anyone else; she has a great program. She not only respects her horses, but she really respects the staff. It’s taken me a long time to find a position that I feel extremely valued in.”

Being a professional groom is not an easy journey, and the tough days can be as frequent as the exciting ones. But if you stick with it, it’s worth it. “In the early years you have to be prepared that it’s going to be a lot of hard work. You might not get to where you want as quickly as you want. But if you can stick with it, and you find the right place, it’s incredibly rewarding.”

“There are a lot of sacrifices. So it’s up to the individual whether those sacrifices are worth making. Personally, I find that they are.”

Sally and Lauren Nicholson at Kentucky. Photo courtesy of Sally Robertson.

2. Take care of yourself.

It’s typical for anyone in this line of work to ignore minor injuries or pains. No pain, no gain, right? Although that mindset is shifting and becoming less common, it’s still important to be conscious of taking care of yourself, especially when the job is taxing on your body.

“If you get into the profession and you want to stay with it long term, don’t make the mistake I did. Start looking after yourself from the get-go. If you need to see a chiropractor, if you need to have a massage, if you need to take that day off and not leave the house and lay on the couch and reboot yourself, you need to take care of yourself from the get-go. And then, you’ll make your life easier in the long run.”

3. You’ll learn something from everyone that you work for – people you like and people you don’t like. Learn something from each person and keep those lessons in your toolbox.

“To be honest, I’ve learned something from everyone I’ve worked for. And whether that be right or wrong, I think each program has its ups and its downs. If you can take away what they’re trying to teach you whether you agree with it or not agree with it, then you’ll never stop learning. And you’ll find many different ways to deal with people and deal with the horses. Not one staff member is the same; not one horse is the same. The more tools you have in your box, the more versatile and better you can do your job.”

Pony hugs… the best kind. Photo courtesy of Sally Robertson.

4. When the job gets stressful or tiring, remember why you started.

“In the past, if I’ve been in that situation, I just try and take a moment, take a breath, remember why I’m doing it. At the end of the day, everything’s going to get done because it has to get done.”

Sally also said that preparing for what comes next and staying organized helps reduce those stressful moments, which leads us to her next point…

5. Stay organized and think ahead.

Typically, Sally thinks and plans as much as two months ahead of time.

“I’m actually like that on a daily basis and weekly basis. So I don’t have the surprises, but then when the surprises do pop up, I generally find it pretty easy to deal with that. I think just grounding yourself again, for a moment, and remembering to breathe, and the most important thing is making sure the horses are taken care of properly. So if that’s your number one priority, then the rest will fall into place. You might not be finishing at the time you want to but that’s horses. It’s any animal.”

That smile says it all! Photo courtesy of Sally Robertson.

6. Witch hazel is your best friend.

Sally’s go to product is witch hazel, especially because it can be useful for so many things.

“That’s a thing daily in our barn. Once we’ve done our afternoon grooming and they’re curried and brushed off and whatnot, they all get a spray with witch hazel. I just find it helps the coats a lot. I won’t ever at shows put fake stuff on them to make them shiny. I’m not big on that. I think sometimes it interferes with the tack, then you can end up with a slippery saddle pad or something. But I find that witch hazel can actually help with that, a bit of an extra shine if need be without making their coats yucky and greasy.”

Thank you Sally for passing some of your wisdom on to us!

Go Sally and Go Eventing.

Thursday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

By on Aug 25, 2022 12:03 am -

Keepin’ it real. Photo courtesy of Boyd Martin.

There’s a genuinely model-worthy shot that followed the photo above, but I figured it was more fun to post the real one, and not the perfect Instagram photo. Look at old Neville! He is just so bored with all of it, he knows he’s too cool for school. Honestly, Silva and the dressage horse still look fabulous, and Neville and Boyd look very derpy, which is pretty much on point anyway.

U.S. Weekend Preview

MARS Great Meadow International: [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Order of Go] [Scoring] [Live Stream] [Volunteer] [Tickets] [Erin Gilmore Photography] [EN’s Coverage]

Shepherd Ranch Pony Club H.T. (Santa Ynez, CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]

Town Hill Farm H.T. (Lakeville, CT): [Website] [Scoring]

Major International Events

Land Rover Blair Castle International H.T. (Pitlochry, UK): [Website] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring]

Millstreet International H.T. (Cork, Ireland): [Website] [Timing & Scoring]

News From Around the Globe:

Em Loerzel grew up hearing stories about the Ojibwe horse from her uncle, about small ponies that would roam free near Ojibwe communities tucked among the forests and lakes along the Minnesota-Canada border, and help with tasks such as hauling wood and trap lines. She recently raised money to rescue several of the Ojibwe ponies, and brought them to a farm owned by a friend outside River Falls, where Loerzel moved last year with her husband. And she started a nonprofit called The Humble Horse, to raise awareness about the breed–which is also known as the Lac La Croix pony, and to help revive it. Only about 180 Ojibwe horses remain, mostly in Canada. [Return of the Rare Ojibwa Horse Lifts Spirits]

Every teacher of riding lessons has A Thing that makes them nutsy. Maybe it’s people who want to fly up the levels and do tricks without a solid foundation. Maybe it’s students who talk all the time and don’t listen as well. Maybe it’s students who make the same mistake over and over again. For dressage rider Lauren Sprieser, the thing is students who talk back, who tell her why the thing she’s suggesting to them won’t work, or why they can’t try it. [Let The Yeahbuts Live in the Forest]

Ever been shocked that you need to carry a crop or wear spurs with a former racehorse? At the recent Thoroughbred Logic Clinic, riders addressed horses that ranged from four to twenty years old, hot to sluggish, mares to geldings. The great thing about addressing them throughout a single day was that despite a wide range of differences, clear trends surfaced in how to approach successfully riding each one. This week, we’ll take a look at how to be incremental but effective when in the irons. [Thoroughbred Logic: Incremental but Effective]

For creatures of any species, proper diet and exercise are key to maintaining health and proper body weight and condition. But when a horse isn’t getting regular exercise, the onus falls on diet alone. And, of course, this presents its own set of challenges. A horse might be idle for a variety of reasons. He could be a senior mount who has served his time in work and is enjoying a well-deserved retirement. She could be a young prospect who is getting time to grow and mature before starting in training. Or he could be a mature campaigner with a performance-limiting injury who’s embarked on a new career as an equine babysitter. [How To Feed the Non Working Horse]

 

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Win a Prelim Aboard Sharp Decision

By on Aug 24, 2022 5:00 pm -

As a truly mediocre event rider, I often think that winning a Prelim would be rather like taking Olympic gold, relatively speaking. Of course, for some of these pros, it’s just par for the course, but those pros also don’t need leak-proof knickers on whenever they think about jumping trakehners, so bully for them, I guess. Anyway, I’m currently sidelined from riding, so catch-riding other people’s horses via hatcam footage is my only way of getting that cross-country rush — and so I’m particularly grateful to Elisa Wallace and Sharp Decision for winning the Open Prelim at Ocala Summer II for me, just so I can feel what it’s like. And you know what? It feels great.

Equi-Jewel®

Simply put, horses need energy.

Energy is traditionally supplied by cereal grains such as oats, corn, and barley. These feedstuffs deliver energy as carbohydrates or starch. But what if you want to supply more energy to your horse without increasing the feed intake? Feeding a fat supplement is an excellent way to achieve this.

Fat is considered a source of “calm” energy and is thought to modify behavior in some horses, making them more tractable. This, in turn, allows horses to focus their energy on work rather than nervousness.

Learn more at https://kppusa.com/2017/10/20/high-energy-advantages/

The horse that matters to you matters to us®.

KPPusa.com

Checking In with Valerie Pride’s English Experience

By on Aug 24, 2022 3:13 pm -

When Valerie Pride sat down during the off season to do some thinking on what the 2022 season would look like, she focused on something other than a major spring five-star event. It wasn’t for lack of a capable horse; her longtime partner, Favian, finished in the top-25 at Maryland 5 Star last year and had gone into vacation feeling healthy and sound. But while more five-star events remain a goal of Valerie’s, this season emerged as an opportunity to pursue a different goal: world experience.

“I’ve never had the experience to go overseas, not even to groom,” she explained. “I’ve been to Badminton as a spectator/eventing junkie, but that’s about the extent of it. Favian is getting to be slightly on the older side, and he’s feeling wonderful so it felt like this was kind of my chance to go and do it.”

At 14, Favian is certainly well within his competitive prime period, and Valerie wants to make the most of having a happy and sound partner to go on adventures with. So she set about a whirlwind of planning, contacting British eventing great William Fox-Pitt (with whom she’d connected over the winter thanks to a clinic organized by Sara Kozumplik and who she also shares a connection with through Mary Guinness, Tamarillo’s owner), who graciously offered to let her base with him in Dorset, England.

Initially, the Luhmühlen 5* was a goal for Valerie this spring. But with Covid still running rampant and some areas experiencing closures and shutdowns, she felt it safer to wait. From this decision came another: “The more I was thinking about it and talking to people, the more I thought going to be competitive at a four-star just felt like an excellent plan,” she explained.

Thus, a plan began to take shape to compete at Blenheim Palace International’s September CCI4-L — which as recently as 2021 yielded a Kentucky runner-up in Great Britain’s Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir (who were also just tapped to represent the defending champs at Pratoni next month).

Of course, leaving behind a fully operational business isn’t an easy task. On top of the travel logistics, Valerie’s grandmother passed away shortly before her departure. Amongst all of the turbulence, though, Valerie maintained a steady determination. “I’m so grateful to my clients,” she said. “I realize this is a big ask on them because they would like me here, but we’re going to try to do FaceTime lessons. And that should be able to keep everyone going. My husband is amazing, I already leave him to go south for the winter and now I’m leaving him again to go to England! He’s going to come over for Blenheim.”

Since arriving in England earlier this month, Valerie’s gotten off to a successful start — though she’ll be the first to admit it’s been quite the whirlwind of a learning experience! #Supergroom Conner Ann Clark flew over with Favian, where he was received by the capable team at Fox-Pitt Eventing before she turned around to return to the U.S. and help run the ship at home for Valerie. She also was unable to fly Favian’s famous emotional support mini, Theodore, due to paperwork complications (luckily, William has offered up his daughter’s Shetland as a stand-in for Theodore), but has reported that Favian has taken the changes in stride.

Here are some missives from Valerie’s email updates, which you can sign up for on the Blue Clover Eventing website:

“I have been very lucky that William has been here nearly this entire week for lessons. I will call it Blenheim Bootcamp! In my dressage lesson, I thought three times at least the lesson was over and ‘oh no, pick back up those reins and let’s make it better’ and that inevitably leads to something else to work on. And we did!

He emphasizes softness and stillness which is rather incredible for a man whose left leg is as strong as my entire body. He has declared war on Favian’s mouth — Favian chomps as a habit. It doesn’t matter if it’s in his stall, in the crossties, or in a 5* dressage test. It’s his thing. Well, William doesn’t want it to be a thing!

Another William thing! Tails! Oh boy, does this one make me nervous. I’m watching a jump session the other day and William disappears after warm-up (ok maybe not all that unusual) but the re-appears talking to me about something else with the pair of scissors from the feed room visible in his hands (unusual). He walks up to the horse, has the rider stop, and then and there bangs it nearly above the hocks. Satisfying? I suppose so because it was immediately gratifying to see. Terrifying? Definitely. Because I know his next target — even though I have explained that we have a fake tail #sleepwithoneeyeopen

I do feel forever grateful that they have bestowed upon us a real British tail wrap. It’s so flattering and proper! Now they must teach me how to actually tie it.

As silly as this sounds, the other biggest takeaway from this trip has been about walking. Thus far I have spent you-don’t-even-want-to-know how much money and invested so much time and effort into walking in my daily lessons. It’s so hard! To walk with a purpose is really a feat and yet all of Williams horses do it without an ounce of hesitation. For hours each day. Favian and I are playing catch up and making literally every step count. I have a new faith and confidence and William to back me up if Favian doesn’t want to hear it!

I recognize my limitations and have adopted a fitness program in the gym upstairs in his office. I call it my dojo. You walk in to hundreds of pictures on the wall. Mostly winning. Some epic saves, and some epic fails. Championship trophies are on the ground being used as door stoppers! In the middle of my most trying, defeated moments of the workout session, I look up to see William smiling on some podium or grinning on a victory gallop. And I fight. And I focus! Don’t you try to coast through your week — you know I won’t, either!”

Valerie and Favian enjoyed a sixth place finish in their first English event at Aston le Walls two weeks ago, and next Valerie will jet up to Scotland to judge at Blair Castle International this weekend. Above all, she’s enjoying the full immersion into a world-class program, eager to bring her new knowledge back home. The support she’s had to make this trip happen has been immeasurable, she says. “It just really feels like so many people are trying to make it work. There is some pressure — you want to do well — but it’s about the experience and being able to bring that back to help everyone else.”

Blenheim Palace commences during the same week as FEI World Championships for Eventing, and we’ll be sure to keep up with Valerie and Favian as their English adventure continues!

Go Eventing.

A Star-Studded 4* + Final Outing for Team USA & More: Previewing MARS Great Meadow International

By on Aug 24, 2022 1:00 pm -

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

We’re just a day away from the start of competition at one of the landmark summer events on the calendar each year at MARS Great Meadow International. Held in The Plains, VA, this event has become a late-summer staple for horses coming into full prep mode for their respective fall destinations. This weekend is also the final outing for the U.S. riders (and a Canadian or two) heading to Italy for the FEI World Championships in September, which means there is a positively stacked CCI4*-S division featuring on the docket.

If you’re as eager as we are to follow along with Great Meadow, here’s a quick primer on what you need to know:

The Entries

A total of 43 entries feature in the CCI4*-S division, including Team USA’s squad plus one Canadian pair heading to Pratoni. Just a few notable Friday dressage ride times include (* indicates a World Championships rider or reserve rider):

  • Will Coleman and DonDante: 8:15 a.m. EST
  • Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire: 8:37 a.m. EST
  • Doug Payne and Quantum Leap: 9:40 a.m. EST
  • Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus*: 9:55 a.m. EST
  • Boyd Martin and Fedarman B: 10:02 a.m. EST
  • Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver: 10:10 a.m. EST
  • Buck Davidson and Erroll Gobey: 10:45 a.m. EST
  • Tamie Smith and Solaguayre California: 11:15 a.m. EST
  • Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z: 1:30 p.m. EST
  • Holly Jacks Smither and Candy King*: 1:37 p.m. EST
  • Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg*: 2:10 p.m. EST
  • Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan*: 2:18 p.m. EST
  • Will Coleman and Off the Record*: 2:40 p.m. EST
  • Phillip Dutton and Z*: 2:48 p.m. EST
  • Tamie Smith and Mai Baum*: 2:55 p.m. EST

You can view the full entry list on the Order of Go here.

The Schedule

The CCI4*-S competitors will begin their competition on Friday with dressage in front of judges Peter Gray (also a member of the Ground Jury for Pratoni) and Christina Klingspor, followed by show jumping Saturday evening beginning at 5:04 p.m. and concluding with show jumping on Sunday beginning at 1:27 p.m. Other divisions include a CCI3*-S, CCI2*-S, and Preliminary. A full schedule, along with ride times, can be found here.

How to Watch

Horse & Country is providing the live stream this year as they have for the past few seasons. You do need to have an H&C+ subscription (which starts at $9.99 per month and also comes with a free 30-day trial for new subscribers).

What to Do

There are always plenty of activities happening alongside the competition at Great Meadow. This year, Hilltop Bio is sponsoring a ringside competitors’ lounge. Spectators can also enjoy Great Meadow’s fall family festival with a vendor village, food trucks, tailgates, and catering. Tailgating and VIP passes are sold out, but general tickets and ringside spots still remain — click here to purchase your tickets if you plan to come and enjoy the fun.

You can also join STRIDER CEO Tara Swersie and COO Natasha Sprengers-Levine for a fun tailgate on cross country day (Sunday) beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the Piedmont Tailgates area near the show jumping arena. Food and drinks will be available (and we even hear Chinch might make an appearance), so be sure to add this stop to your list.

Last but certainly not least, there’s a very special occasion happening before 4* show jumping on Saturday: Lynn Symansky’s WEG and longtime 5* partner, Donner, will have a retirement ceremony in the main Flemming Farm Arena at 4:14 p.m.

How to Volunteer

There are still many volunteer positions open throughout the weekend. Volunteers for this event receive a t-shirt, box lunch, and passes to park and gain admission to the event. Currently, jobs such as Stabling Check-in, Office Help, Floaters, Cross Country Jump Judges, Hospitality, and Event Takedown are available and can be flexible to your schedule. Click here to see openings and sign up using Eventing Volunteers.

I will be on the ground all week at Great Meadow doing some volunteering/team stalking, so stay tuned for much more from Virginia!

MARS Great Meadow International: [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Order of Go] [Scoring] [Live Stream] [Volunteer] [Tickets] [Erin Gilmore Photography] [EN’s Coverage]

Strides for Equality Equestrians Announces Immersive 3-Day Training Camp with Ashley Johnson

By on Aug 24, 2022 11:00 am -

Ashley Johnson and Tactical Maneuver. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Since Strides for Equality Equestrians (SEE) began in 2020, the group has focused on providing opportunity for riders from diverse backgrounds to access training and immersive experiences within the equine industry. With the formation of the Ever So Sweet Scholarship, supported by Edy Rameika and the USEA Foundation, SEE has given three deserving riders the chance to train with Sara Kozumplik in Florida or Virginia for several months.

But leaving home for months at a time isn’t always an option, yet there are countless riders who would benefit from an immersive training opportunity. In stepped 5* rider Ashley Johnson, who is the coach for a newly-announced 3-Day Training Camp opportunity through SEE.

One applicant will be selected to join Ashley at her own Totem Hill Farm in Ocala, FL. The camp will take place over three weekdays in December of 2022, and there is some flexibility regarding the dates. Room, board, and lessons will be provided. Applicants must arrange and pay for their own transportation to and from the camp.

“Strides for Equality Equestrians is doing meaningful work within our sport to promote a more equitable and inclusive culture towards Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) people,” Ashley said. “In developing this scholarship with them, my aim is to open another door in the three-day eventing community for a BIPOC rider to develop skills and have personal access to an active upper-level professional. I would love to see diversity in our sport become the norm instead of the exception, and I hope other professionals will join me in considering how they can open doors as well.”

Applicants with the ability to bring a horse are welcome to do so, otherwise a lesson horse maybe available. Applicants interested in using a lesson horse for the camp should provide a video of their riding to ensure they are an appropriate fit for one of Ashley’s available horses. Applications are due on October 15 (along with applications for the fall/winter award of the Ever So Sweet Scholarship), and you can learn more + apply here.

Want to support SEE’s ongoing mission? Mark your calendars for SEE Month, happening in celebration of the organization’s two-year anniversary all throughout the month of October. Click here to learn more about SEE Month and how you can participate.

Holly Jacks: FEI World Championships Team Member and Advocate for Canadian Equestrian Sport

By on Aug 24, 2022 9:00 am -

Holly Jacks and Candy King. Photo by Abby Powell.

The Canadian Eventing Team is gearing up to send a full squad of talented athletes to the 2022 FEI World Championships, September 14 – 25, 2022 in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy. Holly Jacks and Candy King will be joining the team of Hawley Awad and JollyBo, Colleen Loach and Vermont, Karl Slezak and Fernhill Wishes, as well as Michael Winter and El Mundo.

Holly and her veteran partner, More Inspiration, have previously enjoyed success competing on two FEI Eventing Nations Cup teams. They were long-listed for the 2015 Pan American Games and short-listed for the 2016 Olympic Games. In 2020, Holly qualified both More Inspiration and Candy King for the 2020 Olympics but had to retire “Morris” at the 2021 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event due to a detected heart murmur.

Fast forward to 2022 and Candy King, a 2010 gelding by Granfenstoltz out of Eye Candy, is finding himself in the spotlight. Produced by Holly since he was imported as a six-year-old, Candy King has stepped up with several impressive results including a win at the 2021 Bromont International CCI2*. Highlights of 2022 include finishing eighth in the Advanced at Rocking Horse, ninth in the Red Hills International CCI4*-S, 15th in the CCI4*-S at the LRK3DE, and eighth in the Tryon International Spring CCI4*-L.

Being selected for the Canadian Eventing Team for the 2022 FEI World Championships is an honor for Holly and years of hard work in the making.

“I’m humbled to represent my country with such an exceptional group of teammates,” she said. “I look forward to traveling with our team to Italy and interacting with top riders from throughout the world. This is a crucial moment in our qualification toward a bid for the 2024 summer Olympics in France!”

But more importantly, Holly is declaring this her moment to advocate for Canadian Horse Sport. For riders based in Canada, the road to the Olympics presents several more challenges than their USA-based counterparts.

Holly Jacks and Candy King at Kentucky. Photo by Kristin Strehlow Photography.

It’s well known that Canadian riders relocate to warmer climates within the United States for the winter months, or travel abroad to access better training and competitions. In fact, both Karl Slezak and Mike Winter have been based in the UK in their lead up to the World Championships. Horse sport in Canada does not get the same level of attention as it does in the United States, and because the sport isn’t as well known, funding challenges exist.

Holly feels fortunate to have a solid group of owners in the Candy King Eventing Limited Partnership, who also act in an advisory capacity. They have encouraged her to take this moment in the spotlight to advocate for Canadian equestrian sport.

“Canada is known for ice hockey, so we need to work hard to raise awareness of equestrian sport in order to find owners and raise funds to develop an Olympic team. I’ve had to sell a lot of other horses in order to develop one to the World Championship level,” she said. “Ownership in Canada is different, it’s a boutique experience because we usually don’t operate with the same volume of horses in our program. Our owners get more personal attention at our facilities and up close at the FEI level events – that is why my owners have encouraged me to seize this moment to draw attention to the benefits of supporting Team Canada.”

Canada’s new High Performance Advisory Group, has worked tirelessly over the past 3 months to attract big donors to support the team. Co-chaired by Emily Gilbert and Greg Paul, this grassroots crew of volunteers has raised a remarkable $250,000 for the team in a short period of time to fund the trip to Europe.

Holly Jacks-Smither and Candy King. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

“Eventing in Canada was in a challenging place 12 months ago and this amazing group of volunteers has done an incredible job pulling together a program for us,” said Holly. “I can’t thank the HPAG and our donors enough. We aspire to make this a world-class program and coming up with the funds to send a full team to the World Championships is a fabulous start. This group of volunteers has an amazing vision for our team and country.”

Today (August 23), Jacks will begin her journey to Great Meadow International in The Plains, VA, for her last competition with Candy King leading up to the World Championship. The horses fly from JFK to Liege, Belgium on September 2nd. The team will be based 20 minutes from Pratoni, Italy for 10 days of training before the World Championships commence on September 12, 2022. The Canadian Eventing team will be supported by Team Leader James Hood, Team Manager Fleur Tipton, and Chef D’Équipe Rebbeca Howard.

Want to support Holly’s journey to Italy? Click here to view her fundraising auction, which closes on Sunday, August 28. You can also donate to support the Canadian High Performance program by visiting https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/35625 (Select Horse Power Fund – Eventing).

About Holly Jacks Eventing and the Candy King Eventing Limited Partnership:

Holly Jacks Eventing is based in Erin, Ontario and Ocala, Florida. Jacks has worked with many top international riders, including USA-based rider Buck Davidson, competing and training horses before starting her Holly Jacks Eventing in 2006. Candy King is currently owned in partnership with The Candy King Eventing Limited Partnership.

For more information on Holly Jacks Eventing, please visit her website at http://hollyjacksequestrian.com.

For more information on the Candy King Eventing Limited Partnership, see https://bit.ly/3woouZY.

Don’t miss out on any #Pratoni2022 action! Click here and bookmark EN’s Ultimate Guide to FEI World Championships for Eventing.

Wednesday News & Notes from Haygain

By on Aug 24, 2022 12:01 am -

I know, I know — you weren’t really expecting to see a random movie poster as the lead to today’s News & Notes. But, I have a fun fact to go along with it: the newest addition to the Predator franchise (though you don’t have to have been a Predator fan to enjoy this new movie), Prey, was edited by amateur eventer Angela Catanzaro! Angela’s been sharing some of her work on her social media (talk about a cool gig!), and this movie marks one of her proudest accomplishments. Notable for this movie is its entirely-Indigenous cast and the availability of a Comanche language dub for the film. This article on Screen Rant provides some great background on the efforts that were made to properly represent the Comanche. It’s a good movie — I thoroughly enjoyed it despite the fact I wouldn’t call myself a Predator fan, plus I’m always interested in work that a fellow eventer does!

Naturally, my curiosity got the better of me and I’ve actually wound up on a very random cross country school with Angela before, so I reached out to her and she’s agreed to do a profile on her work-horse balance — stay tuned for that in the coming weeks!

U.S. Weekend Preview

MARS Great Meadow International: [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Order of Go] [Scoring] [Live Stream] [Volunteer] [Tickets] [Erin Gilmore Photography] [EN’s Coverage]

Shepherd Ranch Pony Club H.T. (Santa Ynez, CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]

Town Hill Farm H.T. (Lakeville, CT): [Website] [Scoring]

Major International Events

Land Rover Blair Castle International H.T. (Pitlochry, UK): [Website] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring]

Millstreet International H.T. (Cork, Ireland): [Website] [Timing & Scoring]

Wednesday News & Reading

We’re keeping you in the loop on all things Pratoni as the FEI World Championships for Eventing loom closer. Be sure you’ve bookmarked our Ultimate Guide to FEI World Championships for all the latest coverage, and stay tuned for sign-ups to our free Pratoni Daily Digest coming soon!

If you’ve ever experienced the heart failure that accompanies a close call involving a phone and a horse show porta-potty, you’ll certainly want to help Carolina Horse Park raise funds for permanent bathrooms! The 2022 Envelope Challenge benefitting the Park’s “Fund a Potty” Project is now live and available for participation until September 30. Donors can “purchase” envelopes of different values, contributing towards the overall fundraising goal of $225,000. [Play the Envelope Challenge]

Team USA rider Tamie Smith has two staples in her arsenal when it comes to producing young horses. Her focus on each horse as an individual has lead to much success in building relationships, but that isn’t the only thing that’s important in her program. [More on how Tamie trains young horses]

I’m not going to lie, I’ve begun following show jumping a bit more closely because I am positively obsessed with newly-crowned World Champion King Edward. Also a team gold medalist in Tokyo, King Edward has done the #SuperSwedes proud — and he’s done much of it without shoes. In fact, rider Henrik von Eckermann calls the choice to remove King Edward’s shoes a game changer. [Read more about King Edward’s journey to world champion]

Been thinking of investing in a Haygain Forager? Here’s your sign! Haygain is offering a “buy more, save more” sale through Monday, August 29 on the popular slow-feed option, making it the perfect time to outfit multiple horses or an entire barn. [Shop the sale]

#TackFacts from Sterling Essentials:

Have you met Sterling Essentials’ newest product line yet? Sign me up for the Fresh Helmet Spray, for real. P.S.: you can save 10% off your order this month using code ENAUG.

Watch This on H&C+

Don’t miss the return of MARS Great Meadow International and the final outing for the Pratoni-bound Team USA, streaming live on H&C+ all weekend beginning Friday. Click here to view the live stream / subscribe to H&C+ (30 day free trial available for new members).

Wednesday Video Break

A throwback compilation from the 2019 MARS Great Meadow:

Tuesday Video Break: The Millbrook Hunt Tradition

By on Aug 23, 2022 5:00 pm -

Each August, the Millbrook Hunt begins its season in earnest. A tradition dating back to 1907, the Millbrook Hunt is an homage to history and an opportunity to enjoy the gorgeous landscapes of the Hudson River Valley. The Hunt also plays a key role in land stewardship and conservation.

We were incredibly sad to see Millbrook’s August Horse Trials, a popular fixture on the Area 1 calendar each year, canceled in 2022 after the event and a key landowner were unable to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. We’re hopeful that we’ll see the return of this event in 2023 and look forward to more Millbrook shorts like this one from our friend Marion de Vogel.

Ride iQ is Celebrating One Year! How to Enter Their Celebratory Giveaway

By on Aug 23, 2022 3:00 pm -

Graphic courtesy of Ride iQ.

Riding on your own has become more productive and enjoyable thanks to the rising popularity of Ride iQ, a virtual coaching and training app that provides access to guided “lessons” from top professionals such as Doug Payne, Leslie Law, Kyle Carter, Lauren Sprieser, and many more.

This month, Ride iQ is celebrating its one year anniversary, and they’re doing it up big with a cool giveaway from HorsePlay Tack Store. One lucky winner is going to receive a $3,000 shopping spree with HorsePlay, which is a women-owned business based out of Bend, OR featuring anything and everything riders need.

Here’s the scoop on the giveaway, which is taking entries until Thursday, August 25 (can’t see the embedded Instagram post below? Click here to view or here to view/enter on Facebook):

This grand prize just might be every equestrian’s dream giveaway (we know it’s ours)!

⭐️ The grand prize includes a $3,000 shopping spree to @horseplaybend, a 6-month Ride iQ membership, and awesome Ride iQ merch!

We’re excited to partner with HorsePlay on this MASSIVE giveaway! HorsePlay is a female-owned small business based out of Bend, Oregon (but don’t worry, everything’s online!) and they offer everything for the horse, rider, barn, and dog.

To enter, follow the steps below:

👉 Step 1: Follow @RideiQOfficial and @horseplaybend

👉 Step 2: If you’re not a Ride iQ member yet, download the Ride iQ app for iPhone or Android (link in bio) and start your 2-week free trial through the app. You can cancel anytime and maintain access through your trial, but we’re pretty sure you’ll love it! If you don’t believe us, check out our latest reel to see what members are saying about Ride iQ.️ (Ride iQ members: Step 2 is already complete ☑️)

👉 Step 3: Comment on this post with what you’d get at @horseplaybend if you won the shopping spree.

👉 BONUS: Share this post to your grid or stories for a bonus entry! Make sure to tag @RideiQOfficial and @horseplaybend so we don’t miss it!

📍The fine print: entries close Thursday, August 25th at 12pm ET and the winner will be announced and contacted on 8/26. This promotion is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram/Facebook. By entering, entrants confirm that they are 13+ years of age, release Instagram/Facebook of responsibility, and agree to Instagram/Facebook terms of use.