Classic Eventing Nation

Nominate Your Eventing Heroes for the Horse & Hound Awards

By on Aug 18, 2022 1:00 pm -

Tom McEwen was the winner of the Uvex Helmets Professional Rider of the Year at the Horse & Hound Awards (In partnership with NAF) held at Cheltenham Racecourse in Cheltenham in Gloucestershire In the UK, on the 1st December 2021

It feels a bit naughty to start thinking about the Horse&Hound Awards, which are one of the highlights of the British off-season, already – it’s a bit like walking into the grocery store and discovering that the Christmas decorations are already on the shelves in mid-August. But these winter shindigs take some serious planning, and in the case of the H&H Awards, which take place in the midst of a glittering gala evening at Cheltenham Racecourse, there’s plenty of prizes to plan, too. Once again, the awards will be open to the public for a first round of nominations, which you can submit until 5.00 p.m. BST (12.00 p.m. EST) on September 22, after which there’ll be a round of voting.

“The Awards seek to recognise both the big names who have made 2022 special and the unsung heroes who make it possible for all of us to enjoy equestrian sport and our horses,” says the team at H&H. “Last year’s successful Awards achieved record participation from the equestrian community, with nearly 103,000 votes cast. The Awards return this year, with a glittering ceremony planned for 30 November at Cheltenham Racecourse. Some 300 people, including Olympic and Paralympic medallists and other legends of our sports, will enjoy a glamorous evening of champagne, winner reveals and dancing.”

Though the awards are open across the disciplines, a number of eventers have previously been victorious, including Lucinda Green, Tom McEwen, Jonty Evans, who won for his successful crowdfunding effort to secure Cooley Rorkes Drift in 2017, Piggy March, and plenty more besides.

The award categories for 2022 are as follows:

●  Bloomfields Horse of the Year

 

●  Equo Pony of the Year

 

●  Pikeur Professional Rider of the Year

 

●  PIVO Amateur Rider of the Year

 

●  Equipe Moment of the Year

 

●  Tommy Hilfiger Equestrian Young Rider of the Year

 

●  NAF Five Star PROFEET Farrier of the Year

 

●  Absorbine Groom of the Year

 

●  The Horse & Hound Podcast Volunteer of the Year

 

●  Baileys Horse Feeds Vet of the Year

 

●  HorseDialog Inspiration of the Year

 

●  Agria Horse of a Lifetime

 

●  Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement (no voting)

H&H editor-in-chief Sarah Jenkins says: “We cannot wait to welcome once again our shortlisted stars, supporters and guests to Cheltenham Racecourse to honour their achievements in 2022. We are very grateful to our longstanding headline partners NAF, and to all our individual Awards sponsors, without whose support these Awards wouldn’t happen. It has been fantastic to see support for these Awards grow year after year, and quite how much readers want to both nominate and vote for their heroes in such large numbers.”

Isla Boxall-Loomes, UK Marketing Manager at NAF, adds: “2022 has already given us a number of incredible accomplishments and performances to celebrate at both amateur and professional level. With that in mind, we are already looking forward to a fantastic evening in which the nominees and winners’ achievements will be recognised and shared. We very much look forward to the Horse & Hound Awards every year and have been delighted to see how they have grown. We’re excited to see who the shortlisted candidates will be alongside, of course, the eventual winners.”

To make your nominations, click here.

Learning Opportunity Klaxon: Join STRIDER’s Equine Careers Webinar (For Free!)

By on Aug 18, 2022 11:30 am -

All participants are invited. Even the ones without opposable thumbs.

We never like to consider equestrians a monolith, but if there’s one thing that pretty solidly unites us all, it’s our ceaseless desire to learn – and even better when that learning opportunity doesn’t cut into our emergency vet bill-and-beers fund. That’s why we’re so keen on STRIDER’s Professional Development series, which allows you access to some of the industry’s leading professionals through free, super-informative webinars, which can be watched live or on-demand.

The next of the series will take place on August 30 at 7.00 p.m. EST, and will focus on Equine Industry Careers. With insight from Alexandra Cherubini, founder and CEO of EquiFit, superstar equine photographer Erin Gilmore, and the one and only Max Corcoran, whose own career has spanned from Olympic grooming to becoming the USEF Eventing Elite Program and Team Facilitator, it’ll be absolutely packed with wisdom, advice, and inspiration from a broad cross-section of the industry.

It’s totally free to get involved, but you’ll need to make sure you’re registered before the seminar, which you can do here. The webinar will take place live on Zoom, and will be interactive, so you can ask all your burning questions — and if you fancy rewatching some of STRIDER’s previous webinars, you can do so here. Happy learning — and Go Eventing!

 

 

 

 

On-Form Switzerland Reveals Team of Stalwarts for Pratoni

By on Aug 18, 2022 9:00 am -

The Swiss team takes Nations Cup victory in the Pratoni test event in May. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Switzerland is the latest team to reveal their five-strong line-up for next month’s FEI World Championships for Eventing, and it comes after what has been an extraordinary season for the developing nation. They began their year with a decisive double victory at the Pratoni test event back in May, taking top honours in the Nations Cup competition and also scoring an individual victory, claimed by Robin Godel and the excellent Grandeur de Lully CH, who competed at the 2018 World Equestrian Games. The team followed that victory up with another win in the Avenches leg of the series, where Robin and Grandeur de Lully once again topped the bill — and the Olympian, who turns 24 today, has also enjoyed a CCI4*-L victory at Strzegom this season, riding Global DHI.

Robin and Grandeur de Lully will be joined on the squad by team stalwarts Mélody Johner and Toubleu de Rueire, who’ve only finished outside the top ten in three of their international runs as a partnership, and were 17th individually at the Tokyo Olympics, and 22-year-old Nadja Minder, who was part of that winning Pratoni team in May, delivering two of the seven clear rounds inside the time, made her CHIO Aachen debut in July, who will be making her senior team debut next month with Toblerone, the horse with whom she contested her last Young Rider European Championships in 2021. Rounding out the team line-up is perennial success Felix Vogg, who has the luxury of choice between two horses: Cartania II, with whom he was eighth at last year’s European Championships, or Colero, with whom he won Luhmühlen CCI5* this year.

Switzerland’s swift ascent over the last few of seasons has much of its genesis in the appointment of New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson, who joined the squad as cross-country coach in 2018, with the intention of training them through the European Championships and helping them to secure a spot at the Tokyo Olympics. Though they didn’t ultimately nab their berth there, they managed it by the end of 2019 through Nations Cup successes, and since then, Nicholson has stayed in situ as a lynchpin of the team. The results are self-evident, whether looked at on paper or in the flesh: Switzerland’s riders and horses have always had all the raw materials and talent to be truly great, but it’s with Andrew at the helm that they’ve learned to achieve success not by playing it safe, running slowly, and waiting for other teams to make expensive mistakes, but instead by taking clever, calculated risks and training for all the possibilities on course. Now, we’re enjoying a real renaissance for the squad, who have come into 2022 with the bit between their teeth and a palpable desire not just to participate on the world stage, but to win. This will be a seriously exciting team to watch in Pratoni, where they’ll be aiming to try to capture Switzerland’s first-ever eventing World Championships medal.

The final line-up for Pratoni is as follows:

  • Robin Godel and Grandeur de Lully CH – 14-year-old Swiss Sport Horse gelding (Greco de Lully CH x Miola, by Apartos), owned by Jean-Jacques Fünfschilling
  • Mélody Johner and Toubleu de Rueire –15-year-old Selle Français gelding (Mr Blue x La Guna de Rueire, by Bayard d’Elle), owned by Peter Thuerler and Heinz-Günter Wickenhäuser
  • Nadja Minder and Toblerone – 15-year-old Swiss Warmblood gelding (Yarlands Summer Song x Medelyne, breeding unknown), owned by Nicole Basieux
  • Felix Vogg and Cartania II – 11-year-old Holsteiner mare (Cartani 4 x Z-Schatzi, by Clinton), owned by Phoenix Eventing S.à.r.l. and the rider OR Colero – 14-year-old Westfalian gelding (Captain Fire x Bonita, by Bormio xx), owned by Jürgen Vogg

The individual rider will be:

  • Patrick Rüegg and Fifty Fifty – 14-year-old Hanoverian mare (Fidertanz 2 x Meerfuerstin, by Friedensfuerst 1), owned by Angela Häberli

Thursday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

By on Aug 18, 2022 12:03 am -

Happy Times! Photo courtesy of Griffiths Eventing Team.

As the owner of a “retired” Advanced horse, I love nothing more than a good story of a successful upper level horse continuing life into their twenties. It’s a true testament to the management of a program when you see that a horse is still sound and happy to compete after many years of working at the highest levels of the sport, and I truly admire the entire team behind Sam Griffiths and Happy Times. At 23 years of age, Happy is still able to compete and win in his second career!

U.S. Weekend Preview

The Event at Archer and Area IX Championships (Cheyenne, WY): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Caber Farm H.T. (Onalaska, WA): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Genesee Valley Riding & Driving Club H.T. (Geneseo, NY): [Website] [Entry Status] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Huntington Farm H.T. (South Strafford, VT): [Website] [Entry Status] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Ocala Summer H.T. II (Ocala, FL): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Waredaca Farm H.T. (Gaithersburg, MD): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Major International Events

FEI Eventing Nations Cup CCIO4*-S + International H.T. (Bromont, Canada): [Website] [Entry Status] [Scoring]

News From Around the Globe:

The US Eventing community continues to mourn the loss of Richard Picken this week. Richard was key in the success of so many of our upper level competitors, as well as lower level riders across the board. He was not only an amazing show jumping coach, but a wonderful, supporting human who will be deeply missed. [In Memoriam: Richard Picken]

Currently, equestrian helmets undergo only a pass/fail certification before they hit the market. That certification, from the American Society for Testing and Materials, indicates whether the helmet will withstand a catastrophic, skull-fracturing impact. ASTM puts each helmet on a wire drop tower, which looks similar to a guillotine, but with a helmet mounted to a head form instead of a blade, which then is dropped onto a steel anvil. If the helmet withstands an impact at a force equivalent to what would cause a skull fracture or death in a real-life situation, it passes. What ASTM testing does not measure is how the helmets perform at lower impact—like that involved in many riding falls. [Helmet Ratings Advance]

Riders returned to Aspen Farms in Yelm, Washington for the final day of the USEA Emerging Athlete (EA21) Regional Clinic with USEA Instructor’s Certification Program Level IV Certified Instructors Rebecca Brown on Tuesday. Coming off of a solid first day focusing primarily on proper flatwork and dressage basics, the twelve young riders took to the outdoor arena for the show jumping portion of the clinic. Brown, who trained under the legendary show jumper, Joe Fargis right out of college, shed some much needed light on what she called “the most difficult portion” of three day eventing. [Cadence, Canter, & Candidness]

Hot on Horse Nation: Just A Few Moments From Team USA’s Podium Finish in Para Dressage

 

 

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Zoie Brogdon Smashes Her Goals – and Other People’s Expectations

By on Aug 17, 2022 5:00 pm -

“Lack of diversity – it’s often seen as an anomaly, rather than a product of systematic racism.”

Thus begins this fascinating short documentary on teenage show jumper Zoie Brogdon, who isn’t just wise well beyond her years — she’s also making a real name for herself in the West Coast show scene. Now 17, she began riding with L.A.’s. Compton Jr. Equestrians, the youth-oriented sideline of the famous Compton Cowboys, before beginning to train more intensively with Olympian Will Simpson. She’s taken individual gold in the USHJA Zone Team Jumper Championships, was Reserve Champion in the USHJA National Championships, and was named the 2021 Horse of the Year Champion — and she’s not done yet. Get to know her in this fascinating video, and get inspired.

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The horse that matters to you matters to us®.

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Live This Week: How to Watch Arville’s Nations Cup

By on Aug 17, 2022 3:30 pm -

 

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We’re being rather spoiled this week by the FEI Nations Cup series, because there’s two whole legs running concurrently on different continents, which means a whole lot of action coming your way from the media folks on the ground. While we haven’t yet got confirmation of a live-stream from Canada’s Bromont leg, we can confirm that there’ll be a live-stream of both the cross-country and showjumping phases from Arville in Belgium.

Showjumping will take place on Saturday, August 20, with cross-country to follow on Sunday, August 21. ClipMyHorse.TV members will be able to follow along through their accounts, but if you’re not signed up, never fear — the FEI YouTube channel will also be showing the action live, and you can even add the streams to your viewing schedule so that you get a reminder before they begin.

There are five teams going head to head in Arville: the Brits, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, and Italy will all be battling for coveted series points in the grounds of this stunning venue, and you can check out the entry list in full here. Among the 60 combinations entered are many of Europe’s most exciting up-and-coming riders and horses, so it’s a great chance to get to know some of the names you’ll be hearing pretty regularly in a few years’ time. Happy streaming!

Product Review: Sterling Essentials Leather Cleaner and Conditioner

By on Aug 17, 2022 1:30 pm -

I pulled out my package of Sterling Essentials Lavender Leather Cleaner and Conditioner and was immediately met with a pleasantly light smell of lavender. I’ve had many tack cleaning products over the years, and was expecting something similar, not necessarily anything particularly remarkable.

However, as I started cleaning a bridle that had been neglected for too long, I was amazed with how easily the cleaner removed the dirt while leaving the leather light to the touch. Made with natural ingredients with the horse’s well being in mind, while taking steps to protect the leather in the long run, Sterling Essentials Lavender Leather Cleaner and Conditioner has been a great addition to my tack trunk.

With a pleasant smell and a light feel that productively cleaned my tack, Sterling Essentials Cleaner and Conditioner gave my bridle some much needed TLC.

Components

With their simple natural ingredients, including beeswax, food grade natural oils, and top-of-the-line therapeutic essential oils, Sterling Essentials’ leather cleaning products are vegetarian and provide a natural barrier to protect against water damage, mold, and mildew. Additionally, Sterling Essentials’ Leather Cleaner is specifically formulated to match the pH of leather in order to prevent deterioration.

Impressions

There’s no doubt about it — the product definitely smells good, cleans well, and leaves leather soft, supple, and protected. With an easy spray and wipe from the 16 oz cleaner, and an 8oz jar of the conditioner to rub into leather, the product is easily stored and applied.

While that’s all wonderful by itself, what really stuck out to me was how “light” the product felt.

With so many of the cleaners and conditioners I’ve used in the past, I feel like my hands are absolutely coated in the product after use… sometimes I scrub my hands multiple times and I can still feel the cleaner and conditioner on my skin. I saw this affect the leather too, dressing the leather with a slimy residue that only seemed to build on the leather. But with Sterling Essentials, my tack and my hands were left without that sticky goo feeling I’m so familiar with when cleaning tack.

With just a quick clean, Sterling Essentials brought my work boots back to life after a long day at the barn.

Because of its lightness, I would recommend daily use to keep leather looking good, and in good condition. My hard wear and tear on my boots is hard to keep up with, so making sure I am committed to a quick wipe down daily with Sterling Essentials will take full advantage of what this product has to offer.

Whether you’re looking for a daily cleaner and conditioner, or a product that will protect your gear when going into storage, Sterling Essentials has considered everything from the ease of use, smell, and science behind leather care to provide a product for every equestrian.

Sterling Essentials wants you to have more information about the science of clean tack. After all, tack is a huge investment! There’s a whole slew of cool educational content available on the Sterling Essential website and social media channels, so be sure to give them a follow for more. Ready to give Sterling Essentials a spin? You can save 15% off your order using code EN2022!

“Red Hills International Horse Trials Has Run Its Last”: Early-Season CCI4*-S Bows Out of Calendar

By on Aug 17, 2022 11:54 am -
 
Red Hills International Horse Trials, which has been held in March in Tallahassee, Florida’s Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park for 25 years, will not run again after major changes to the USEF eventing calendar. The event’s organising team has released a statement about the decision, which reads as follows:
“Red Hills International Horse Trials has run its last. This is certainly a difficult decision for one of the top CCI4*-S events to be forced to make.
“Red Hills has become a beloved community event for Tallahassee, as well as for the sport of Eventing. Since its inception in 1997, the Red Hills Organizing Team has cultivated a phenomenal working partnership with the City of Tallahassee Parks and Recreation Department and the Northwest Florida Water Management District. These relationships have enabled Red Hills to run annually in Elinor Klapp Phipps Park, public greenspace diligently maintained year-round by Tallahassee Parks and Rec, with every infrastructure need of the March event anticipated and accommodated…magic in motion. Recognized as a Leon County Legacy Event, Red Hills has been generously supported by funding from Visit Tallahassee and Leon County Tourist Development for many years.
“Red Hills is a unique event limited to no more than 220 competitors from around the globe. An all-volunteer organization, as many as 500 active volunteers have come together year after year to produce a spectacular competition, rain or shine… a weekend in the Park that annually attracts more than 20,000 spectators. Key sponsors have returned year after year to ensure the event’s financial viability, as have seasoned competitors who have been the first to enter the competition on opening day. We are humbled and eternally grateful to all who have contributed to the success of the Red Hills International Horse Trials through the years.
“However, the focus of the sport is changing. The unilateral reorganization of the 2023-2027 Eventing Calendar by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will radically impact Red Hills and sorely challenge its financial sustainability. In choosing to prioritize large, commercially-based venues, the USEF has denied Red Hills the CCI4*-S Division for 2023-2027, a Division we have successfully run for many years. The USEF has scheduled the first Four Star of the season on top of Red Hills’ date, severely threatening Red Hills’ anticipated number of entries.
“Our attorneys timely filed official protests with the USEF. These were dismissed summarily. The Federation has flatly refused to openly discuss any rationale for the radical changes in the calendar. Further, the Federation also denied Red Hills the opportunity not to run in 2023, yet remain on the calendar for 2024-2027, in order to restructure an event with a different focus.
“Each year Red Hills must build an environmentally sensitive mini-city for the venue. Sharply escalating costs, compounding requirements mandated by the USEF for competition organizers, the loss of the CCI4*-S Division, and thus, the gamble on the anticipated number of competitor entries have introduced significant financial uncertainty for Red Hills’ success. Both the loss of the CCI4* and conflicting competition will be crippling. So, with mixed emotions, the Board of Directors of Red Hills Horse Trials, Inc., has made the decision to terminate the event.
“We value the tremendous support Red Hills has received through the many years from the City of Tallahassee, Leon County, and the Northwest Florida Water Management District as well as from our volunteers, our sponsors, and crowds of spectators. Red Hills International Horse Trials has had a strong run. We have much to be proud of as we say our goodbye.”
Red Hills attracted up to 20,000 spectators per year, with an estimated positive local economic impact of around $5 million. The calendar for 2023-2027 can be viewed here, and further information on the bidding process is available here.

Australian Team Named for Pratoni World Championships of Eventing

By on Aug 17, 2022 8:54 am -

Australia wins silver: Kevin McNab, Shane Rose and Andrew Hoy. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Prepare yourself for a big week in team announcement land: many of the major nations are planning to drop their final line-up over the next few days, well ahead of the final deadline of September 5, and first under our radar today is the smoking hot team picked by the Australians.

Australia is on serious form at the moment, despite some issues within the federation, which went into administration in June of 2020 and left it in February of last year. The focus since then has been on rebuilding at a structural level, while its riders — many of whom are based in Europe — have focused on continuing their reign of success, which they consolidated with an excellent team silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. All three of those team members – Kevin McNab and Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam, Shane Rose and Virgil, and Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos, who also took individual bronze, have been named for the squad, and are joined on the final list of five by three-time Adelaide CCI5* winners Hazel Shannon and Willingapark Clifford, who have been based in the UK with the McNabs since the tail end of last season, as well as Aussie-based Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture, who won this year’s CCI4*-S at Tamworth and the CCI4*-L at Werribee. Four of the five named combinations will be part of the team, while one will ride as an individual — though this allocation hasn’t been announced yet.

The final list of five is as follows:

  • Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos – 13-year-old Anglo-Arab gelding (Jaguar Mail x Illusion Perdue, by Jalienny), owned by Paula and David Evans, groomed by Clémentine Girardeau
  • Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture – 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Devaraja x Royal Zam, by Zamoff), owned by the rider, groomed by Olivia Barton
  • Kevin McNab and Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam – 14-year-old KWPN gelding (Quidam x Nairoby, by Amethist), owned by Scuderia 1918 and Emma McNab, OR Willunga – 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Olympic Lux x Ringmoylan Beauty, by Coevers Diamond Boy), owned by Samia Murgian and Emma McNab, groomed by Lucy Hartley
  • Shane Rose and Virgil – 17-year-old Warmblood gelding (Vivant x unknown dam), owned by Niki Rose and Michelle Hasibar, groomed by Jamie Atkinson
  • Hazel Shannon and Willingapark Clifford – 17-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Passing Shot x unknown dam), owned by Terry Snow, groomed by Bronte Buttel

The reserves are as follows:

  • Sammi Birch and Finduss PFB – 12-year-old KWPN gelding (Saffier x Belle Miranda, by Sarantos), owned by Parkfield Breeding and Sharon Bishop, groomed by Helen Tagg
  • Sam Lyle and BF Valour –12-year-old Warmblood gelding (breeding unknown), owned by Charlotte Mavris, groomed by Natalya Bretherton
  • Jessica Rae and Fifth Avenue – 14-year-old Warmblood x Irish Sport Horse mare (Raphael x Tia Breeze, breeding unknown), owned by the rider, groomed by Laura Munt
  • Shane Rose and Easy Turn – 10-year-old Holsteiner mare (Casall x Ressina, by Coriano), owned by Angela Shacklady and Niki Rose, groomed by Jamie Atkinson

Wednesday News & Notes from Haygain

By on Aug 17, 2022 12:01 am -

Mark your calendars! It’s nearly time for the 2022 Diversifying The HERD Virtual Summit, a global gathering of equine facilitated practitioners launched in 2021 by The HERD Institute and hosted and led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) within the field. The Summit, happening on Saturday, September 10, features live discussions and an exciting keynote, “Decolonizing Your Equine Program”, presented by Abriana Johnson and Brittney Chambers.

You can register for the Diversifying The HERD Virtual Summit here, and be sure to follow @TheHerdInstitute on social media for the latest updates and content previews.

U.S. Weekend Preview

The Event at Archer and Area IX Championships (Cheyenne, WY): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Caber Farm H.T. (Onalaska, WA): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Genesee Valley Riding & Driving Club H.T. (Geneseo, NY): [Website] [Entry Status] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Huntington Farm H.T. (South Strafford, VT): [Website] [Entry Status] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Ocala Summer H.T. II (Ocala, FL): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Waredaca Farm H.T. (Gaithersburg, MD): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Major International Events

FEI Eventing Nations Cup CCIO4*-S + International H.T. (Bromont, Canada): [Website] [Entry Status] [Scoring]

Wednesday News & Reading

A robust field of competitors will compete for the next FEI Eventing Nations Cup win, hosted this weekend at Bromont in Québec, Canada. The U.S., Canada, and Australia make up the small-but-mighty field of Nations Cup competition, mixed in with a 25-strong 4*-S division. Alongside the 4*-S will be 3*-S and 2*-S with a U-25 division for each, as well as Preliminary and Training level offerings. Bromont is a supremely popular venue that’s recently come under new ownership made up of a group of investors with big visions to grow the park’s footprint within equestrian sport. [Read more about the Bromont field]

The rein-back is one of those tricky movements that often eludes even the most well-schooled riders. I thought Mary Ann Grant’s insight on how a properly trained rein-back should feel to be quite interesting: “Think of the rein-back as a forward movement in which the engaged hind legs take the front legs backward instead of the shoulders taking the hind legs back. Likewise, when we walk forward, it is the engaged hind legs that take the front legs forward rather than the front legs pulling the hind legs forward.” [Read the article]

Summer Ever So Sweet Scholarship recipient Nora Huynh-Watkins has been enjoying her time training and all around being a sponge at Sara Kozumplik’s Overlook Farm in Virginia. She’s written a blog update to bring us up to speed on all she’s learned, and you won’t want to miss it. [Read the blog]

Planning ahead for next year’s AEC? Double check your qualifications, as they’re going to be a bit stronger for the 2023 Championship. A development made during the USEA Board of Governor’s meeting last week, the update removes eligibility for third place in national and FEI competition as qualifiers. First and second place only will count toward AEC qualification. The USEA says 89% of previous AEC competitors would still have been qualified to compete under these updated criteria. [Read the full story]

If you’re on the hunt for a new podcast to add to your rotation, might I suggest In Stride with Sinead Halpin? This podcast, put on by Ride iQ, features conversations on the longer side with riders and professionals as they sit down with 5* rider Sinead Halpin Maynard. The latest episode features Team USA member Will Coleman, who sat down for a chat just after returning from competing in Europe earlier this year. Will is one of the best riders to interview on account of his thoughtfulness and studious approach to the sport. I really enjoyed his interview and think you will too. [Listen to it here]

Tack Facts from Sterling Essentials

“I love moldy tack!”….said no rider, ever. Whether or not you find tack cleaning to be zen, the fact remains that your significant investment requires proper care to stay, well, worth all that money. Sterling Essentials’ all-natural cleaning and conditioning products have a markedly different effect when compared to other products. Spoiler alert: We have a full review of this great stuff coming later today, so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out some facts in the Instagram post below (can’t see it? click here to view it):

Sponsor Shoutout: Haygain

One of my favorite takeaways watching FEI World Championships (pt. 1) at Herning, Denmark was the inclusion of grooms within the programming. Groom names and photos were listed for each horse and rider combination, and there was much more visibility placed on their handiwork than seen at past championships. I was the world’s worst groom, but I did walk away with a healthy respect for how much is required of a groom and how much responsibility they bear. Props to the International Grooms Association for their diligence in promoting grooms and helping them gain proper FEI representation, and props to Haygain for being big supporters of grooms themselves!

 

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Wednesday Video Break

What a grand feeling it must be to become a double World Champion. That feat was accomplished to wrap up an exciting FEI World Championships for Para Dressage in Herning last weekend. Here’s the recap of Michèle George and Best of B’s ride of a lifetime: