Classic Eventing Nation

Real Rider Cup Lexington Raises Over $90,000 For Thoroughbred Aftercare

By on Jul 12, 2022 1:00 pm -

Real Rider Cup welcomed 30 horse and rider combinations along with hundreds of spectators to New Vocations at Mereworth Farm Saturday, July 9th for an evening of lively competition and entertainment. Created by Anita Motion, the charity show jumping competition brings together personalities from across the breeding and racing industry to increase awareness and raise funds for Thoroughbred aftercare, with each rider pledging to raise at least $1,000.

Offered for the first time in Lexington, the racing community embraced the Real Rider Cup concept in phenomenal fashion, nearly doubling the event’s previous fundraising record, bringing in over $90,000 and counting.

Riders, mounted on off-track Thoroughbreds and wearing the silks of their employers, colleagues, and clients contended a winding course of fences with the fastest clear rounds taking home top honors. Connections and institutions represented included WinStar, Godolphin, Stonestreet, Pin Oak, Lane’s End, Bonne Chance, Airdrie, Stone Farm, BloodHorse, a 1/ST Racing team lead by Aaron Gryder, Churchill Downs, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, R. Brisset Racing, an entire team headed up by Rosie Napravnik, and more.

Noteworthy horses included the first son of Zenyatta, Cozmic One, with Hidden Brook Farm’s Sergio de Sousa in the tack, 5* event horse Sound Prospect, piloted by John Ennis, and Discovery Stakes (G3) winner Sticksstatelydude expertly ridden by Kristin VanMeter. “The voice of Fasig-Tipton,” Terence Collier, served as emcee, providing color commentary.

Awards were given for individual results, as well as teams (riders were given the option of forming their own team or to be assigned to one based on their industry background).

Individual results:

  • Win: Jesslyn Woodall on Lead Player
  • Place: Keira Nygaard on Judge Johnny
  • Show: Tara Coombs on Baptizo

Team Results:

  • Win: Team Blood-Horse (Woodall, Ennis, and Gash)
  • Place: Team Breeding & Bloodstock (Nygaard, de Sousa, and Brooks)
  • Show: Team Off-Track Sporthorses (Napravnik, Crow, Swirsky, Buckberry, and Czerwonka)

“We are totally overwhelmed by the response to the Lexington event,” said Real Rider Cup founder Anita Motion. “It is so apparent that retraining and aftercare are at the forefront of people’s minds and we are incredibly grateful to all the riders and sponsors that worked so hard to make the show possible and to all that came to cheer them on. Lexington really threw down the gauntlet, and we’re excited to return to our home in Fair Hill to see how the mid-Atlantic region will respond.”

With the second leg of the Real Rider Cup to be held at Fair Hill September 16th, the games have just begun as there is still plenty of time to get involved. Rider registration is open through September 9th with a variety of sponsorship packages available.

View full results and learn more at www.therealridercup.com.

Proceeds of the Real Rider Cup benefit the Retired Racehorse Project, New Vocations Thoroughbred Adoption and the Fair Hill Thoroughbred Show.

Fair Hill Thoroughbred Show is a 501c3 organization supporting riders of Thoroughbreds by providing affordable show fees, scholarships, stakes classes and prizes in every division. By supporting their riders, we are helping more OTTBs find second careers.

The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) is a 501(c)3 charitable organization working to increase demand for off-track Thoroughbreds in the equestrian world. In addition to producing the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium the world’s largest and most lucrative retraining competition for recently-retired racehorses, the organization also publishes Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine, produces the Master Class retraining clinic series, and presents programming at major horse expos and events around the country. The RRP maintains an educational library of content to empower more equestrians to ride a Thoroughbred.

Founded in 1992, New Vocations has grown into the largest racehorse adoption program in the country. Its mission to rehabilitate, retrain and rehome retired Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorse has led to the placement of over 7,000 individuals, with 500 retirees entering the program each year. With facilities in Kentucky, Louisiana, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, New Vocations serves over 40 racetracks, working directly with owners and trainers in need of aftercare options.

 

Mollie Summerland Takes Barbury 4* Crown With Record-Breaking Dressage Score

By on Jul 12, 2022 11:00 am -

Mollie and Charly Van Ter Heiden jump through the Keyflow Feeds water on their way to CCI-S 4* success. Photo by Hannah Cole.

As the heatwave spreading across the UK started to reach full force, the competition at the Keyflow Feeds Barbury International Horse Trials in Wiltshire was also hotting up last weekend.

Mollie Summerland and Charly Van Ter Heiden took an early lead in the CCI-S 4* on Saturday morning with a record-breaking dressage score of 18.7 – the best four-star dressage test by a British rider since Izzy Taylor with Orlando at Bramham in 2014, which was also 18.7!

They remained in the top spot after show jumping and all eyes were on them as they set off around Alec Lochore’s challenging cross country course. The crowds were not disappointed. They delivered one of the standout rounds of the day and sealed the coveted 4* title at Barbury.

“It’s lovely to win here,” said Mollie. “This is our local event, we’re only 10 minutes away. Charly was just pipped to the post by the King of Barbury, Andrew Nicholson in 2019 – so it’s really nice to get our name on this title!

“I’m absolutely thrilled with Charly today. He did two really nice jumping rounds. He was fantastic in the show jumping, I just made a small mistake; then in the cross country I wanted to look after him and take it steady on some of the turns, but I also wanted to really make sure I attacked the fences and rode positive into the water, and he gave me a great feeling. He finished sound and happy and that’s all I could have wanted from him.”

Mollie receives the trophy from Cam Price from Keyflow Feeds and members of the CCI-S 4* FEI Ground Jury, Nice Attolico Guglielmi and Janet Surr. Photo courtesy of Musketeer Events.

Of her outstanding dressage score, Mollie added, “I definitely wasn’t expecting a record-breaking score. I don’t think you ever can come out of a test and expect something like that. I knew that I was really happy with him, and I hoped that we’d be quite near the top because he did do a lovely test, but it was definitely unexpected. It was nice that the judges really enjoyed watching him as well. They spoke to me when we came out and were very happy with him. It’s always nice when they compliment you at the end.”

Another good cross country round for Pippa Funnell and Billy Walk On saw them hold on to second place – meaning that the top two places remained unchanged throughout all three phases of the competition. Beyond those two it was a different story, however, with one of the best rounds of the day propelling Fiona Kashel and Creevagh Silver De Haar up from outside the top 20 to complete the podium in third.

The incredible natural amphitheatre of Barbury’s landscape and the viewing platform that it provides for spectators makes it worthy of some superb sport; and the cross country certainly proved to be influential for both international classes throughout the weekend.

Alex Bragg and Quindiva complete the competition on their dressage score of 28.7 to take the CCI-S 3* title. Photo by Hannah Cole.

With a number of the top placed combinations in the 3* choosing to give their horses a steadier, educational run in the cross country, the door was opened for some serious gains to be made by those who were able to deliver quick clear rounds – something that our winners, Alex Bragg and the 12-year-old mare, Quindiva did in style. Two super jumping rounds left them on their dressage score of 28.7 and saw them take the 2022 CCI-S 3* title.

The pair were just inside the top ten after dressage, a position that Alex could see had potential. “Quindiva did a really good dressage test that left her lying tenth and in a good position for the jumping phases,” he said. “The main arena at Barbury is spectacular and she jumped a wonderful [show jumping] clear. She’s very talented in that sphere.

“The cross country is always difficult for the time because it is very undulating – you’re on the side of the bank and you are always up and down or turning, so you need a very athletic sort of horse and Quindiva is certainly that. She pulled off a great cross country round, really, really scopey. We finished on our dressage score and pulled off a convincing win actually, a few marks ahead of the rest of the field. Her owners are happy, I’m happy, the team’s happy and I have been enjoying the win in this wonderful atmosphere, so thanks to Barbury and to Musketeer.”

Max Warburton and the Nicholson’s Monbeg Exclusive finished on their dressage score of 32.6 to leap up the order into second and Wills Oakden and Cooley Pot of Gold completed the top three – another combination to benefit from strong jumping performances.

Alongside the International classes, visitors to the event were also able to enjoy an array of Novice classes across the four days – including a Pony Trial, the ROR Championship and the prestigious Novice Masters.

Full results are available on the Eventing Scores website here.

Should Eventing Have a 5*-Short Level?

By on Jul 12, 2022 9:00 am -

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Be Cool contest the recently-added 4*S cross country track running concurrently with the Kentucky Three-Day Event. Photo by Abby Powell.

After a dark cross country day at the Bramham International 4*L last month, course designer Ian Stark remarked that the sport of eventing is at a kind of crossroads.

As the current qualifications stand, Ian said, not all horses and riders are ready for the level for which they are qualified. That means that testing the best horses and riders with a tough course can make it prohibitively difficult for those who are just barely qualified but still enter the event. “As a course designer, I now have to figure out if it’s my job to dumb it down to make it acceptable for that level, or if we expect them to get better,” he said.

Ian went on to explain that this problem comes, in part, from a lack of standardization across events. It is possible, for example, to qualify for a 4*L with one 4*S run, and that 4*S can be at a relatively flat venue with a course that is known to be on the softer side. A rider can do that, check the qualification boxes, and head off to a 4*L like Bramham. You can be qualified on paper, but not in practice.

In fact, I did this in 2018. I did two 4*S events that spring, got one qualifying score, and then went to Bromont 4*L and promptly fell off. It was my and my horse’s first 4*L. I was qualified on paper, but I wasn’t ready to go to Bromont, which is one of the biggest and hardest four-stars in North America. That horse and I went on to do our first 5* together successfully after four 4*Ls. We got a lot of experience at the four-star level before trying to go five-star.

What about having a 5*S?

When I was first learning about the FEI levels of eventing, it struck me as strange that there was no 5*S to correspond with the 5*L. Every other level has a short format to go along with its corresponding long format. For example, there is a 2*S level as well as a 2*L level. But there is no 5*S corresponding with the 5*L.

The Lexington 4*S has quickly earned a tongue-in-cheek reputation as a “5*S” track. Photo by Abby Powell.

Starting at the three-star level, it is required that horses and riders do a Short format before they can do a Long format in most cases. These requirements are softened for riders in the higher-level categories (based on their MERs at 3*, 4*, and 5* levels), but in general a minimum eligibility requirement (MER) in the Short format is required for qualification for the Long format at any level above 3*. However, the 5* level does not have a short-format division at all.

Would one solution to Ian’s concerns be to have a 5*S division which was a prerequisite to entry at a 5*L? Ian’s main concern seems to be about people who are qualified to compete at a certain level but probably need more experience at the level below that. This can happen at any level, but it is probably most dangerous at the 5* level because of the lack of margin for error and the sheer difficulty of the cross-country test.

If 5*S divisions existed and were required as MERs to move up to the 5*L level, then competitors would have to show their ability for that level before actually attempting it.

How would a 5*S be structured? One idea is to have the dressage and jumping phases be at the 5* level of difficulty and dimensions, while the cross country could be more technical than a 4*S, but not much longer.

Another benefit of a 5*S would be that horses that lack the endurance for the long courses but have the scope and ability for the 5* fences could contest a shorter course. The 5*S could be like their championship event of the year.

Some have remarked that the 4*S at Kentucky, which has run as a new division in the last two years, is tantamount to a 5*S. Perhaps that should be the standard for this kind of division: it could be held alongside the 5*L’s which are already running (Maryland, Badminton, Burghley, etc.), sharing the same venue and perhaps some of the same fences over a short course. Riders could test their horses over this kind of course, provided they are qualified to do so, before attempting the absolute top level of the sport.

Of course, there is no silver bullet for safety or readiness.

In my previous article, “Most Planes Don’t Crash for One Reason”, most of my discussion touched upon how individuals tend to have the mindset that everything happens for a reason.

Proper, careful practice and preparation are needed to safely contest the top levels of the sport. Photo by Shelby Allen.

However, there are usually a multitude of factors that contribute to or cause a problem or accident. On a broader, sport-wide level, we can also think about accidents in a holistic way. It is very, very sad when fatalities occur in the sport. It is also easy to jump to conclusions about how things should change based on what people think causes accidents. “The courses are too technical” or “the time is too tight” or “the jumps are too difficult” or “the qualifications are too easy to meet” are all arguments made. And while these are all rooted in valid concern and desire for a safer sport, these are often blanket statements that simplify the actual problems. What we need to realize is that there is, in all likelihood, more than one thing that needs to change in order to reduce the number of tragic accidents in our sport.

There may not be a silver bullet, however, one area to direct some focus is a creative way to ensure the standard of riding is up to par with the courses. Cross country is the essence of eventing, and it should continue to be the centerpiece — the ultimate challenge — over the three days of competition. Adding a 5*S division as a qualification for 5*L could be a multifaceted solution to the safety and perception issues our sport faces.

Not all accidents are preventable, and even the best riders in the world have crashes. That is the nature of our sport. However, even though it’s impossible to eliminate all accidents, we shouldn’t take that as reason to throw up our hands before trying harder to mitigate the risks.

Tuesday News & Notes from Ocala Horse Properties

By on Jul 12, 2022 8:09 am -

I truly, truly believe that watching a key round is often more nerve-wracking than being the person in the saddle — particularly if you’re watching as a teammate and you know the round that’s underway will decide whether or not your nation scoops the win. This video of the Swiss eventing team, who were victorious in Avenches’ Nations Cup leg last week, watching leading rider Robin Godel deliver his winning round absolutely nails the tension of those final moments. It does also sort of look like an ’80s aerobics video.

Events Opening Today: Town Hill Farm H.T., Shepherd Ranch Pony Club H.T. II, Great Meadow International, Full Gallop Farm August HT

Events Closing Today: Hunt Club Farms H.T., Horse Park of New Jersey Horse Trials II

Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:

Take a closer look at Mollie Summerland’s weekend four-star win at Barbury, courtesy of H&H. The 2021 Luhmühlen winner regrouped after a tricky Badminton by revisiting the basics — and deleting social media from her phone, which has proved an enormous help in the face of external pressure. [Don’t let the social media haters get you down]

Anyone who’s ever ridden a game little chestnut mare knows one thing for certain: they’re the horses that make you. One sterling example of the genre is Sydney Shinn’s Paprika, whose resumé reads like a who’s-who of riders and who, at seventeen, has competed at over 100 horse trials. [The mare that’s touched countless lives]

One place that’s been firmly on my travel bucket list for years is Maryland’s Assateague Island. That, and Chincoteague in southern Virginia, are so indelibly burned into my mind as pony heaven, thanks to well-thumbed copies of Marguerite Henry’s much-loved books, and I’m quietly hoping that I might get a chance to visit when I’m over for the Maryland Five-Star this October. Until then, I’m living vicariously through this fascinating account of life as a ranger on the island. [The tourists take more wrangling than the ponies]

Seventeen-year-old Katherine Maroko might be a new face on the five-star circuit, but she’s making a big impression. As one of two grooms for Hannah Sue Burnett at Kentucky this year, she won the Buckeye Horse Feeds Best Turned Out Horse Award – and that’s the just the tip of the iceberg where her equine education is concerned. [Meet her here]

Sponsor Corner:

This new listing from Ocala Horse Properties is located a mere 15 minutes from the World Equestrian Center and has a lot of existing infrastructure in place to hit the ground running. Ocala is THE place to be these days, especially for eventers, and you can consider this your sign to go ahead and make that move:

 

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Pick up a few new tips for your next jump school from Ocala Horse Properties-supported rider Liz Halliday-Sharp:

Monday Video: Check Out the Maryland International 3* Cross Country

By on Jul 11, 2022 4:30 pm -

We can’t always have a livestream of every big event, so it’s thanks to some diehard phone/ camera-wielding eventing fans that we get some excellent glimpses of events around the country that we otherwise might not be able to enjoy from our couches.

Emma Hinke managed to capture nearly every rider in the Maryland International CCI3*-S across Ian Stark’s cross country course on a very soggy day this weekend. Give the video a watch for a look at all the major complexes, including the Badminton-esque broken bridge!

The Maryland International + H.T. (Adamstown, MD): [Website] [Final Scores]

Weekend Winners: Arrowhead, Chatt Hills, Genesee Valley, Huntington Farm, MDHT, Round Top, Coconino

By on Jul 11, 2022 2:00 pm -

There’s just something magical(ly hot and sweaty) about eventing in the summer, isn’t there?

This week’s Unofficial Low Score Award was hotly contested, but in the end it was Hailey Patno with Quality On Trend, who won their Novice division at Arrowhead H.T. in Billings on a score of 18.9.

Arrowhead H.T. (Billings, MT): [Website] [Results]

Open Preliminary: Alessandra Allen-Shinn and Fool Me Once (24.1)
Open Training: Hailey Patno and Burleigh Grimes (26.6)
Open Novice A: Katherine Van Alstyne and Fun and Games (19.4)
Open Novice B: Hailey Patno and Quality On Trend (18.9)
Open Beginner Novice A: Avery Calder and Lismore (23.1)
Open Beginner Novice B: Ann MacDonald and Rock Rabbit (22.5)
Starter: Ben Nevis and Emma Campbell (20.0)

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Fairburn, GA): [Website] [Results]

Open Intermediate A: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Be Cool (26.2)
Open Intermediate B: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C (24.4)
Open Preliminary A: Leslie Law and Castle Howard Romeo (24.2)
Open Preliminary B: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Alina SD (30.8)
Preliminary Rider: Solomon Edwards and Graffique (33.7)
Modified Rider: Emma Spring and Fernhill Copas (23.5)
Open Modified: Leslie Law and Really All Good (23.8)
Jr. Training Rider: Olivia Moore and Kubota (36.1)
Open Training A: Joe Meyer and Gold de Riverland (24.4)
Open Training B: Bobby Meyerhoff and Cabin Crimson LF (30.8)
Sr. Training Rider: Henley Fletcher and Fernhill Kujwana (33.1)
Jr. Novice Rider: Katelyn Smith and Lisbane Spartacus (28.6)
Open Novice A: Chelsea King and Olympus (30.1)
Open Novice B: Mary Bess Davis and Mendelssohn (23.6)
Sr. Novice Rider: Molly Adams and Zenith Almost Got Away (26.6)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Julia Bryant and Mac Creiche (26.3)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Carolyn May and Big Bear’s Coriana (34.4)
Open Beginner Novice: Lauren New and Zenith Diamond (30.3)
YEH 4 Year Old: Erin Farrell and Atavious (78.950)
YEH 5 Year Old: Cole William Horn and The Wellerman (83.750)

Genesee Valley Hunt H.T. (Geneseo, NY): [Website] [Results]

Open Training: Katherine Fegan-Organ and Heartbreak Kid (30.1)
Novice A: Carol Kozlowski and Kieran (30.4)
Novice B: Sharla Englerth and Holy Land (38.3)
Beginner Novice A: Emilija Zygelyte and Carriage House Dirk (30.9)
Beginner Novice B: Carolyn Wehle and Scorecat (31.3)
Foxhunter’s: Meg Lloyd and Heracles (26.5)
Intro Junior: Maeve Green and River (36.2)
Open Intro A: Rylee Delaney and Gypsy West (26.5)

Huntington Farm H.T. (South Strafford, VT): [Website] [Results]

Jr. Preliminary: Chloe Johnson and Chilli Bean (38.3)
Open Preliminary: Anna Loschiavo and Fernhill That Guy Jack (37.6)
Jr. Training: Eleanor Winter and Figlio (28.9)
Open Training A: Stephane Jackson and Ballycapple Fernhill (29.7)
Open Training B: Eliza Quigley and Contaro (25.3)
Open Training C: Alexander Conrad and Amore (32.2)
Jr. Novice: Ava Applebaum and FE Bail Me Out (23.6)
Open Novice A: Julia Hulett and Ardeo Krafty Warren (31.4)
Open Novice B: Jane A. Hamlin and Fernhill Nicholas (25.8)
Open Novice C: Alyssa Lapierre and Witten Valley (31.7)
Jr. Beginner Novice: Geneva Rumi and James Bond 007 (31.2)
Open Beginner Novice: Andrea Flannery and The Last Kiss (30.0)

The Maryland International + H.T. (Adamstown, MD): [Website] [Results]

CCI3*-S: Alyssa Phillips and Oskar (33.2)
CCI2*-S: Kirsten Schuitema and One Sly Fox (37.0)
CCI1*-S: Conner Ann Clark and Second Chance McFly (36.9)
Open Intermediate: Jan Byyny and Beautiful Storm (39.2)
Open Preliminary: Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Jungle’s Gold (25.3)
Modified Rider: Casey Poe and HHS Tiger Lily (32.3)
Open Modified: Lauren Nicholson and Ziggy Stardust (26.0)
Jr. Open Training: Jacob Rozga and DeAngelo (33.1)
Open Training A: Mackenzie Parks and Mr McGoey (23.9)
Open Training B: Alexa Gartenberg and Cooley Kildaire (31.1)
Training Horse A: Jebb Simpson and Grantstown Coney Street (28.3)
Training Rider B: Susan Gehris and Steddy Eddy (23.3)
Jr. Open Novice A: Abigail McGowan and Mystic Serenade (28.2)
Jr. Open Novice B: Bailey Kent and Scooby Dooby Doo (27.9)
Novice Rider A: Ally Sobera and Casper (32.5)
Novice Rider B: Kelsey Hamilton and Eyes of the World (25.0)
Open Novice A: Kristen Merala and Excel Star Kerry Pippin (28.3)
Open Novice B: Boyd Martin and Fast Forward (30.8)
Open Novice C: Kim Severson and Cooley Corraghy Diamond (24.7)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Gillian Smith and Red Cloud (29.7)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Susan Thompson and Legion of Honor (27.7)
Jr. Beginner Novice: Peyton Travis and Badger (23.2)
Open Beginner Novice A: Jennifer Hoey and Candy Cigarette (27.7)
Open Beginner Novice B: Autumn Rae and C’adagio (24.1)

Round Top H.T. (Castle Rock, CO): [Results]

Training: Madeline Backus and Baratheon (30.9)
Novice: D. Santistevan and Vegas (30.0)
Beginner Novice A: E Sletten and New Song’s Freedom (29.1)
Beginner Novice B: Madeline Backus and Slew the Blues (25.0)
Intro: Mary Guthrie and Lone Maverick (23.8)

Summer Coconino H.T. (Flagstaff, AZ): [Website] [Results]

Preliminary: Heather Drager and Winnsome (48.9)
Open Training: Erin Contino and Handsome Ransom (29.7)
Training Rider: Razieme Iborra and Mother of Dragons (30.7)
Open Novice A: Taylor Lindsten and WonderElla (30.0)
Open Novice B: Laura Worl Kober and Sterling Impression (21.1)
Novice Three-Day: Brittany Caflisch and Balance Due (27.9)
Jr. Beginner Novice: Sierra Warner and Jurisdiction (21.9)
Open Beginner Novice: Eileen Morganthaler and Chicago GS (31.9)
Beginner Novice Three-Day: Jaeli Uselding and My Fair Prince (31.8)
Intro A: Micaela Masino and Buzz (32.7)
Intro B: Jessica Kammeyer and Sully (28.7)
Pre Competition: Carylann Williams and Dem Poco Hancock (22.3)

History Repeats Itself for Red-Hot Swiss Team at Avenches Nations Cup Leg

By on Jul 11, 2022 12:00 pm -

Team Switzerland are proving to be ‘the ones to watch’, in this year’s FEI Eventing Nations Cup™, after winning both their appearances in the Series. On both occasions the Swiss riders have won both team and individual prizes in the CCIO4*-NC-S. After winning the opening leg in Pratoni (ITA) back in May, this time they delighted their home crowd in Avenches. This promising quartet – three of whom competed in Pratoni, all showed strong two-phase jumping performances, to finish on a score of 127.7.

Just as they had in Pratoni, France had to settle for second spot in Avenches – this time scoring 134.9. There were just four teams competing in this fourth leg of the Nations Cup, and after a disappointing team performance on the cross-country, Germany lagged behind on 216.1 and Italy on 256.4.

A superb double clear in the cross-country and Jumping phases was achieved by Robin Godel, who rode the fastest cross-country clear of the day, adding just 0.4 of a time penalty to his good dressage score. This meant the 23 year old rider, was also a deserving individual winner of the CCIO4*-NC-S. He was also crowned the winner of the Swiss National Championships. Fittingly, he was riding the Swiss-bred horse, Grandeur de Lully CH. The ever-consistent pair climbed from fourth place after the dressage to first after the cross-country.

Also contributing significantly to the team victory and proving that age is irrelevant to eventing success, were 20 year old Nadja Minder and 52 year old Patrik Rüegg, who said “the atmosphere is very special. There were a lot of people on the cross-country. I am proud of our performance today”.

Making up the quartet was 38 year old Mélody Johner who rode her Tokyo Olympic team horse Toubleu de Rueire, to finish fourth individually. She has been riding ‘Toubleu’ since 2020 and describes the 15 year old Selle-Francais gelding as “a very generous and experienced horse”. Johner hopes good results here will put the pair in contention for the FEI Eventing World Championships which will be held in Pratoni from 15-18 September. “I am moved and happy. The cross-country was quite technical. The requirements we have set ourselves up to have now been met. Now we have to continue working”, she said.

The French team led after the dressage phase but lost their edge over the Swiss in the cross-country phase on the basis of time faults. World-renowned course designer, Mike Etherington-Smith built a strong cross-country test which made the most of the natural features and topography, with no riders making the time and only 19 riders out of a total of 36 jumping clear.

The event took place at the Institut Equestre National d’Avenches (IENA) – also the site for last year’s FEI Eventing European Championships as well as the FEI European Pony Championships for Dressage, Eventing and Jumping in 2008. It is on the outskirts of Avenches, the former capital of Roman Helvetia, and is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland.

The overall result means that Italy, who have attended all four legs of the Series are now leading on 245 points, whilst Sweden are in second on 220. Switzerland who have now won both of their appearances are on 200 points which puts them in third place at this early stage of the Nations Cup Series. Le Pin au Haras (FRA) will host the fifth leg which runs from 11-14 August.

Cornelia Dorr and Daytona Beach 8 at Houghton Hall. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

We also had a United States rider represented in the top 10 at Avenches this past weekend. Cornelia Dorr and her Oldenburg mare Daytona Beach 8 finished in 9th place in the CCIO4*.

Since January, Dorr has been based in the UK with McNab Eventing, using the time abroad as an opportunity to further her education. Dorr recognizes that the time away has been good for her and her horses, noting “I think we were just a little stuck in a rut together at home… Kevin [McNab] has been really great helping me with her.”

Originally aiming for Kilguilkey House’s 4*-S in Ireland, a cancellation of the event due to weather led Dorr to enter Avenches instead. Despite the change in plans, Dorr’s homework with Daytona shone through. “She just has a lot of anxiety and adrenaline and she hasn’t had an outlet for it in the dressage… This weekend at Avenches, [Daytona] put in a really quiet test for her, and I think it’s because Kevin’s helping me learn how to test ride. So I have different tactics in the ring now.”

Adding 10.8 time penalties on cross country and picking up two rails in the show jumping to add to her dressage score, Dorr and Daytona have utilized their time abroad to buckle down on homework to deliver results. Looking forward to the upcoming months, there are some exciting plans on the horizon for this U.S. pair.

Gillian Warner contributed to this report.

FEI Nations Cup of Eventing CCIO4*-S (Avenches, Switzerland): [Website] [CCIO4* Leaderboard]

#ICYMI: Courtney Carson and Vandiver Enjoy the Moment at War Horse (and Beat the Boss Man, Too!)

By on Jul 11, 2022 9:00 am -

Ever since we got word that #supergroom Courtney Carson would be taking the reins on Doug Payne’s Tokyo and 5* partner, Vandiver, after the 17-year-old Trakehner gelding’s retirement this spring, we’ve been eagerly awaiting this very weekend.

Doug watches Courtney and Vandiver on course.

Courtney and “Quinn” made their first trip out of the start box together in the Modified division at the War Horse Event Series July leg at Carolina Horse Park — and they even won the boss-vs-groom showdown in the division as a bonus.

Courtney, who competed through the former 1* level before she began working for Doug and Jess Payne, had mostly hung up her riding boots — save the all-important fitness and conditioning work she puts on Doug’s horses — to focus on caring for the competition horses. But it has always been at the top of her list to leave the start box on Vandiver, whom she has cared for nearly since the beginning of his time with Doug, just one time.

Photo courtesy of Courtney Carson.

Quinn’s old man mascot even made the occasion! Pictured: Madelyn Leahey, Beasley Turegon, Courtney Carson, and Kelly Lulaj.

It would wind up being a big piece of cake for Courtney, who ticked up the leaderboard after sitting seventh after the first phase and eventually finished the weekend in fourth place on their dressage score of 29. Meanwhile, bossman Doug also competed in the Modified with Wendy Luce’s Cadillac Ranch, but we’re sorry to say he was just no match for Courtney and Vandiver, finishing just behind them in fifth. Better luck next time, Doug.

The next stop for Vandiver will be owner and breeder Debi and John Crowley’s farm in Huntsville, Alabama, where Debi is looking forward to enjoying taking the ride on the horse she’s watched from his first steps all the way to the Olympic stage. And we certainly can’t wait to follow along!

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Jul 11, 2022 7:02 am -

What a treat for eventing fans on the hottest weekend of the year so far: spectators at England’s Barbury International Horse Trials got to see 2021 Luhmühlen winners Mollie Summerland and Charly van ter Heiden take a decisive win in the CCI4*-S after delivering a record-setting score of 18.7 (no, that’s not a typo!). Mollie, who has been open about her struggles with the mental pressure of being a young rider in unrelenting glare of the spotlight, certainly sends us all a powerful message with her excellent performances this week: if you give yourself the grace and the space to focus on your horse and yourself, you’ll always come out better and stronger for it. Go get ’em, Molls.

U.S. Weekend Action:

Arrowhead H.T. (Billings, MT): [Website] [Results]

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Fairburn, GA): [Website] [Results]

Genesee Valley Hunt H.T. (Geneseo, NY): [Website] [Results]

Huntington Farm H.T. (South Strafford, VT): [Website] [Results]

The Maryland International + H.T. (Adamstown, MD): [Website] [Results]

Round Top H.T. (Castle Rock, CO): [Results]

Summer Coconino H.T. (Flagstaff, AZ): [Website] [Results]

UK Weekend Results:

Keyflow Feeds Barbury Castle International CCI4*-S (Marlborough, England): [Website] [Results]

Tweseldown (3): [Results]

Buckminster Park: [Results]

Global Eventing Round-Up: 

 

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The FEI Nations Cup series headed to Avenches, the Swiss setting of last year’s European Championships, for the fourth of its nine legs this season — and the crack Swiss team, helmed by coach Andrew Nicholson, continued on with its extraordinary season, taking the team and individual win. This is the second time this year we’ve seen the Swiss attend a Nations Cup, and the second time they’ve made a clean sweep: just as at the Pratoni test event, which they won, we saw Robin Godel  and Grandeur de Lully CH take the individual honours. This is Robin’s third four-star victory of the year.

Now, Italy heads up the series rankings, as they’ve attended all four legs so far and have accumulated 245 points in the process, with prolific series victors Sweden sitting behind them on 220. The Swiss sit third overall but look laser-focused on Pratoni success — and you’d be hard-pushed to want to bet against them doing themselves proud there.

FEI Nations Cup of Eventing CCIO4*-S (Avenches, Switzerland): [Website] [CCIO4* Leaderboard]

Your Morning Reading List:

The UK eventing scene said a sad goodbye to Miranda Filmer, who died last month at the age of just 30 of a rare type of cancer. The ambitious amateur eventer had previously worked for top riders including William Fox-Pitt and Mike Winter, and has already left a legacy even more enduring than her much-loved character: nearly a quarter of a million pounds has been raised for cancer research in her honour. [Check out these heartfelt tributes]

I remember so well being a teenager and wholly occupied with the panic of what I ‘had’ to accomplish before my junior years were over. (Spoiler alert: I had no money, lived in rural Maine, and cleaned stalls in order to ride; I accomplished nothing in my junior career.) I know I’m not the only one — and this essay about the ‘seasons’ of life in the saddle has got me thinking about how the mindset shifts as we get older, but the learning never, ever stops. [One for those of us who’ve moved past quarter-life crises]

Are you focusing on improving your horse’s fitness this season? Whether you’re aiming for a first long-format, or you’ve noticed you struggle to catch the clock in the final minutes of a course, it’s never a bad idea to brush up on your fitness knowledge and put the time into getting him firing on all cylinders. [Jon Holling’s here to help]

The debate about working student positions rages on apace. I enjoyed this piece on COTH, which is packed with anecdotes on the pros and cons of the traditional work-to-learn set-up that most of us have gone through at some point — and I particularly liked the section about Strides for Equality Equestrian and the work the group is doing to increase diversity at this entryway to the professional world. [Lots of hot takes]

Speaking of diversity within the sport, we’re so excited to see that London’s Ebony Horse Club has been named as the official charity for this year’s London International Horse Show. The club, which is based in Brixton, has provided access to horses and ponies for countless inner-city kids, and many of them — including Magnolia Cup winner Khadijah Mellah — have gone on to make great waves in the sport and pursue careers in equestrian industries, too. [A worthy recipient]

The FutureTrack Follow:

 

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Like a bit of high fashion with your horsing around? Give British supermodel and four-star eventer Edie Campbell a follow.

Morning Viewing:

Rewatch Avenches’s cross-country action — over one of the most stunning courses in the world, no less.

 

Sunday Links

By on Jul 10, 2022 12:01 am -

Mary Hutchins surveys her domain earlier this spring. Photo by Joan Davis/ FlatlandsFoto.

Today we’d like to give a very special shoutout to Mary Hutchins, who spent her 90th birthday yesterday judging stadium jumping at Huntington Farm H.T.  in Vermont. Mary first discovered eventing in the ’60s and learned how to score at the Green Mountain Horse Association (GMHA) and she took part in Huntington Farm’s vert first horse trials in 1969. Since then she has become a fixture of Area 1’s eventing scene, been certified as a technical delegate and course designer, travels annually to volunteer at Kentucky and Fair Hill, and received the prestigious Wofford Cup in 2016. Happy Birthday, Mary, and thanks for all you do!

U.S. Weekend Action

Arrowhead H.T. (Billings, MT): [Website] [Volunteer] [Ride Times/Scores]

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Fairburn, GA): [Website] [Entry Status] [Scores] [Volunteer]

Genesee Valley Hunt H.T. (Geneseo, NY): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scores]

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

The Maryland International + H.T. (Adamstown, MD): [Website] [Entry Status] [Scores] [Volunteer]

Round Top H.T. (Castle Rock, CO): [Scores]

Summer Coconino H.T. (Flagstaff, AZ): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scores] [Volunteer]

Major International Events

FEI Nations Cup of Eventing CCIO4*-S (Avenches, Switzerland): [Website] [Schedule] [CCIO4* Leaderboard] [Live Stream]

Keyflow Feeds Barbury Castle International CCI4*-S (Marlborough, England): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scores] [Live Stream]

Sunday Links:

Lost in Translation: Why “Drive With Your Seat Bones” Was Probably Not What the Classical Authorities of the Sport Were Telling Us to Do

The Importance of Finding the Right Bit for Your Horse

12 Students Participate in MET Grant Week at Stonewall Farm

Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Watchdog Site Launched by Animal Wellness Groups

Breakage concerns prompt recall of Nathe horse bits

Saturday Video: Raise your hand if crossed flags have saved you a TE!