Classic Eventing Nation

16 Horses We’re Excited To See at Luhmühlen This Week

By on Jun 14, 2022 4:30 pm -

Somehow, Luhmühlen week is already upon us again, and Germany’s showpiece event brings with it two hugely competitive classes: the CCI5*, one of just two in continental Europe, and the packed CCI4*-S, which also incorporates the German National Championships.

Journalism is all about impartiality, but here at EN, we also occasionally like to indulge in a little bit of pure pony-loving madness — so here’s our picks of some of our favourite horses in each class and why we’re so excited to see them. It’s non-exhaustive, and we’re almost guaranteed to have missed someone you love, but that’s the beauty of subjectivity — so please, join in the discussion and share your favourites in the comments. Life’s too short not to fangirl over great horses, right?

CCI5*

Sophie Leube with her Boekelo winner, J’Adore Moi. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

J’Adore Moi

Sophie Leube’s 2021 Boekelo CCIO4*-L winner is elegant, typey, and looks like a Munnings painting come to life — and she and her German jockey, who cut her teeth in the industry as an apprentice for Ingrid Klimke, are a real force to be reckoned with. Together, they’ve also finished eighth at Aachen, where they led the dressage, and tenth in the CCI4*-S here, as well as a number of other very good placings at three and four-star level. This is their five-star debut, so of course there’s only so much predicting anyone can do, but we’ve been given no reason to suspect they can’t pull out a top ten finish and make themselves very, very attractive indeed to the German team selectors. We’re calling it now: Sophie will be an individual medallist at a championship within the next couple of years. Watch them closely this week.

Lithuania’s Aistis Vitkauskas and Commander VG. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Commander VG

Though the Lithuanian eventing contingent might not have made it onto your radar yet, they should do. Aistis Vitkauskas, who’s based in Denmark, is a serious producer of young eventers and show jumpers and the crown jewel of his stable, Commander VG, is a seriously appealing horse. He made his five-star debut as just a nine-year-old at Pau in 2020, jumping a very quick clear across the country. His inexperience caught up with him on the final day with a real cricket score in the showjumping, but since then, he’s only gained in strength, and he was eleventh on his second time at the level, which was a run here last year. He then went on to the European Championships at Avenches, finishing 25th with three solid phases, and he was eighth in a CCI4*-L at Sopot in Poland last month, too. His dressage scores stop him from being a real threat to the leaders at the moment: he can score in the mid-30s, but he can also score in the 40s, though he is still just eleven, so there’s plenty of time to iron out the little niggles. Across the country, though, he’s as genuine, straight, and reliable as they come, and a joy to watch in action. The goodness really just shines through with this chap — and at that Pau debut, we saw it in action in other ways, too: Aistis’s very young daughter took him for pony rides after schooling sessions, wearing her bright pink helmet and whooping with happiness, and we could have sworn we saw Commander smile along with her.

Tom McEwen and Bob Chaplin. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Bob Chaplin

Another eleven-year-old in the field is Tom McEwen’s Houghton CCIO4*-S winner Bob Chaplin, who former rider Paul Tapner once described as ‘practically perfect’. This is a real contender for the dressage lead, as his naturally extravagant movement has finally been matched with sufficient physical strength and balance to deliver correct tests that judges really want to throw the marks at, as we saw when he earned a 25.4 at Houghton a few weeks ago. He was second at Burnham Market CCI4*-S this spring, too, and ninth at Blenheim CCI4*-L last year, so he’s certainly on a competitive streak at the moment — but really, he’s always been a competitive character. Back when he was under Paul’s stewardship, we saw him win the silver medal in the Six-Year-Old World Championship in 2017. This is his five-star debut, but there’s also every chance he could add himself to the elite list of horses who’ve won on their first run at the level.

Kylie Roddy and SRS Kan Do. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

SRS Kan Do

‘George’ is an interesting horse from a number of angles, not least because he’s owned by Downton Abbey actor Michael C. Fox and we still can’t figure out whether he’d be an upstairs or downstairs character if he was a human. Even better, though, is his partnership with the truly delightful Kylie Roddy, who took over the ride when Michael, who competed the gelding at the lower levels, had to focus more of his time and attention on his flourishing career. Kylie and George, who reminds us a bit of a classic, clever fox hunter, made their five-star debut together at Pau last year, finishing in a very good eleventh place, and they were excellent at Badminton, too, scoring a 29.4 and looking super classy on course until well past the halfway point, when the horse lost his front shoes and Kylie made the sensible — but heartbreaking — decision to put her hand up. This reroute sees them come back to the top having lost absolutely no confidence from their experience, and they should put themselves well in the hunt. We’re calling a top ten finish for the dazzling duo.

Cathal Daniels and LEB Lias Jewel. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

LEB Lias Jewel

This 12-year-old mare has an extraordinary FEI record under Ireland’s Cathal Daniels: in 26 starts, she’s finished in the top ten 20 times. That’s included ninth place on her five-star debut here last year, when she finished on her dressage score of 38.1 — quite high for her, though she’s generally a bit off the pace in this phase in the low-to-mid 30s — and eighth at Blenheim CCI4*-L in 2019. She’s placed so many times at four-star that it must be getting quite boring for them both, really, and she also represented Ireland in last year’s European Championships, though we did see her have a very rare 20 penalties there. Cathal is one of the most competitive riders in the world, and this little mare is full of gumption — enough to overcome a dressage score that isn’t quite up there with the big guns yet. That’ll stand in her way of a win this week, but don’t count them out of a competitive placing.

Tim Price and Vitali. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Vitali

Former Luhmühlen champ Tim Price has two very interesting debutants in this week’s five-star — Spartaco, whose record has been a bit up and down but has some very exciting results in there, and Tokyo ride Vitali, who Tim inherited from fellow Kiwi James Avery in early 2021, after the gelding had had a couple of years out. They promptly won Strzegom CCI4*-L, the gelding’s debut at the level, just a couple of weeks after joining forces, and they were sixth in this class last year, securing their place at the Olympics. It went a bit pear-shaped on the final day there, with three poles falling, but they returned to international competition at Houghton CCIO4*-S a few weeks ago to take the dressage lead on 21.2 and hold it with an excellent clear jumping round before withdrawing. There’s a very strong chance that this is your dressage leader this week, and he’s a real weapon across the country — and time will tell if the Sunday goes to plan. If it does, he’ll give stablemate Falco a real run for his money as the selection for the World Championships draws ever closer.

Jonelle Price and Faerie Dianimo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Faerie Dianimo

It would be remiss of us not to mention a former Luhmühlen champion in the field, and 17-year-old Faerie Dianimo is just that: she and Jonelle Price won here in 2018, just weeks after Jonelle took the Badminton title with stablemate Classic Moet and established the Prices as the family of the year. (Or the decade, frankly.) They’ve competed at the Olympics, too, finishing in the top twenty at Rio in 2016, and they were tenth at Pau the following year. In 2019, they were eighth at Aachen CCIO4*-S, and then it gets a bit topsy-turvy: Jonelle put her hand up at Burghley in 2019 after knocking a safety device, and then at Pau the following year, they withdrew after dressage. They came here last year, but had a really unlucky fall when the mare pecked on landing after a straightforward single table. Their prep run at Millstreet CCI4*-S last week saw them finish seventh with a steady round and a 37.1 dressage, but they can certainly go sub-30 and made a real habit of it in the mare’s heyday. They won’t be the favourites on stats, but don’t count them out: Jonelle is savvy and wouldn’t travel a horse to a five-star if she didn’t have good reason to.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Cooley Quicksilver

Liz Halliday-Sharp’s great grey makes the long journey over the pond off the back of a very exciting result indeed: the pair won the very tough CCI4*-S at Kentucky in April, adding just 4 cross-country time penalties to their 25.7 dressage. They’re always well in the hunt at four-stars in the States, and the gelding is reliable across the country and only getting better.

This will be his third five-star — the now-eleven year old debuted at Kentucky last year, picking up an educational 20 penalties, and then jumped clear around Pau in October to finish just outside the top twenty as a result of his uncharacteristic three rails. Every time he comes out, he seems to improve enormously, and we’ll be looking to ‘Monster’ and Liz to put up a serious fight for the US this week, helped along by fellow competitors Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus and Matt Flynn and Wizzerd. They should be well up there from the first phase, and Liz will go out full of fight to stay at the business end of the leaderboard.

Felix Vogg and Colero. Ewa Wojtysiak photo.

Colero

None of us can stop talking about Switzerland this year, but Felix Vogg is a man who’s been pulling out super results for the nation long before the hype began. He and his Tokyo mount Colero finished sixth at the Kentucky CCI5* back in 2019, when Felix was based in the US, and they’ve got a serious list of four-star placings in Europe since then, too. They finished in the top twenty at Tokyo despite picking up eleven penalties for activating a MIMclip, and they come here off the back of a win in the CCI4*-S at Poland’s Baborowko International. They should start the week well, as they’re very good on the flat, and cross-country will be an exciting watch — they’re reliable and very, very quick. They’re prone to a rail or two, but if they can keep them all up, they could really cause a stir.

CCI4*-S

Esteban Benitez Valle and Milana 23 (ESP). Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Milana

Spanish competitor Esteban Benitez Valle has two horses in this class, and there’s certainly a compelling argument for choosing nine-year-old Utrera AA, who’s an exceptional jumper and seriously swift across the country, in our list. But the heart wants what it wants, and our hearts are owned wholly and completely by Milana 23, the tiny, feisty, strong-willed little firecracker that Esteban has been piloting since 2016. She’s got as much scope as she has attitude, and she has plenty of that — so if you’re a fan of gutsy, exceptional gals, you’ll adore her as much as we do. She won’t challenge the leaders on the flat, because although she’s an exceptional mover and can do all the movements, she’s also prone to expensive tension in this phase. But watch her out on cross-country, and then over the poles on Sunday, and you’ll find her love for the game totally contagious. At eighteen years old, she’s one of the week’s ‘senior citizens’ — but more fool you if you try to tell her that. She’s finished eleventh here in a four-star before — though the October fixture, not the summer one — and should put up a jolly fight this week.

 

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Black Ice

This 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse did the rounds before landing with German up-and-comer Jérôme Robiné (yeah, he is German, even with a name like that): he was initially produced by Neil Morrison and Catherine Robinson of Ireland, before a good stint with Mexico’s Anibal Garrido Viveros, who gave him plenty of continental milage. Jerome took on the ride in 2020, and in their 12 FEI runs together, they’ve finished in the top ten eight times, including all three of their runs this season.

They’ve proven they can go sub-30 at four-star, though they more regularly do it at three-star, and they’re still gaining mileage at this level — but they’re quick and really fun to watch across the country and they’re good over the poles, too. This will be their first time in this class, but they shone under pressure at Aachen last year for 21st place and they’ve been seventh in the CCI3*-L at this venue before, finishing on their 34.5 dressage.

 

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Dark Desire GS

13-year-old Dark Desire GS and her 23-year-old rider, Germany’s Emma Brüssau, made major headlines in 2019 when they became the Young Rider European Champions at Maarsbergen. That victory certainly didn’t come out of thin air, though — the year prior, they won individual silver, and since stepping up to four-star, they’ve been finding their feet and throwing out some super results, including a win in a CCI4*-S at Renswoude in the Netherlands. Their partnership is well-established: since Emma took over the ride from Andreas Brandt in 2015, they’ve had 41 FEI starts, finishing in the top 15 in 27 of them.

This will be the pair’s second time competing in this class, which incorporates the German National Championship; last year, they finished just outside the top thirty after a respectable 32.3 dressage, just 2 time penalties across the country, and a tough three rails. It’s the final phase that has proved the trickiest part of their step up to four-star, but they’re a super pair to keep an eye on and Emma, who trains with Olympic gold medallist Julia Krajewski, is a real star in Germany’s ‘next generation’ talent pool.

Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Chin Tonic HS

Arguably one of the most exciting up-and-comers in the US scene at the moment, Chin Tonic HS is making his first competition trip abroad a bit of a homecoming one, as he was bred and sourced here in Germany as a two-year-old. He’s been part of Will’s string since he was five and now, at the age of ten, he’s got five four-star starts under his belt, with two wins, a third place, and a fifth place finish among them. His most recent run at Kentucky’s CCI4*-S (or five-star short, as everyone’s dubbed it) was a bit more of a fact-finding run, but he’ll have taken a lot from it and now, he comes to Luhmühlen to embark on the Master’s degree bit of his ongoing education.

European eventing fans might have some questions about his name and providence, because it’s very similar to ChinTonic 3, Julia Krajewski’s seven-year-old full brother to fischerChipmunk FRH, who was fifth in the Six-Year-Old World Championship. We’d argue both offer up the same excitement levels — and Will’s edition looks set to put up a serious three-phase fight in this week’s CCI4*-S, which is packed to the hilt with continental talent.

Aminda Ingulfson and Joystick. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Joystick

We first encountered Aminda Ingulfson’s clever, jolly Joystick when the pair came forward as part of the Swedish team at the Pratoni Nations Cup last month, which also served as the test event for the World Championships later on this year. Though both are still gaining experience at the upper levels, they’re a very cool pair to keep an eye on, particularly across the country: true to his name, 14-year-old Joystick tackles tough tracks with a big smile on his face, and Aminda is a real fighter, as described by Swedish chef d’equipe Fred Bergendorff. We saw their hard work, and all that contagious joy in their work, pay off when they took a win in the CCI4*-S at Strzegom this spring, and they were eleventh at Pratoni — but they also have Luhmühlen form behind them, with a thirteenth-place finish in a CCI3*-S at the venue back in March. Though the first phase is still a work in progress, they’ll put themselves close enough to climb on a low 30s mark, and we can’t wait to watch them do so in the hot CCI4*-S this week. Another good result under their belt could see them line themselves up for consideration for a championship debut.

Clever Louis

This is still a very, very new partnership, but Bubby Upton is one of Britain’s finest young talents and Clever Louis, who won the Blenheim eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S under Chris Burton in 2019, is an exceptional horse. Originally produced by Germany’s Ben Leuwer, he spent the latter part of the 2019 season with Burto, finished with a second place at Boekelo, missed 2020, and then had a couple of reasonably unremarkable runs in CCI4*-S classes in 2021 before his rider stepped back from eventing. Bubby’s been putting in the hours at home getting to know him, and though their one FEI run — the CCI4*-S at Chatsworth — was steady and uncompetitive, he’s an enormously talented addition to her string. This will still be a formative run, but they could just swoop their way into a competitive placing. Even if they don’t, though, it’ll be brilliant fun to watch them get to know one another in real time. The same can be said for her other Burto ride, Jefferson 18, who’s also in this class and also very, very exciting.

Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and her homebred Hooney d’Arville. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Hooney d’Arville

Sweet Hooney isn’t just any homebred — she’s out of Lara de Liedekerke-Meier’s Nooney Blue, with whom the Belgian Olympian stepped up from the Young Rider ranks to the World Equestrian Games early in her career. Hooney is just nine, and still finding her feet at this level, but she’s got plenty of talent and she’s also just an adorable sort of mare, who can often be seen cuddling Lara’s kids between phases. Their seventh place finish in the CCI4*-S at Kronenburg this spring was an exciting teaser about what might be to come this year, and they jumped clear around this class last year in the mare’s debut at the level. They were sixth in the Six-Year-Old World Championships in 2019, and Lara thinks a lot of her family pet — this week, we’re looking forward to seeing how far she’s come on in a year.

Longines Luhmühlen CCI5*: Website, Entries, Schedule, Scoring & Timing, H&C+ Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

How to Watch the 2022 Longines Luhmühlen CCI5* This Weekend

By on Jun 14, 2022 3:00 pm -

Get excited for the final CCI5* event of the front half of 2022! The Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials begins in earnest Wednesday, June 15 with the first horse inspection.

Want to keep up with all of EN’s coverage? Sign up to receive our Luhmühlen Daily Digest email and/or bookmark this Ultimate Guide to stay on top of all the need-to-know from Germany.

Horse & Country is carrying this year’s live stream of Longines Luhmühlen. You do need to have an H&C+ subscription to view, but you can sign up for a free trial if you’re new to Horse & Country or you can cancel your membership at any time (no contract required). Subscriptions start at just $9.99/month.

[Watch Luhmühlen on H&C+]

The H&C+ broadcast and event schedule is as follows:

Wednesday June 15
9:00 a.m. EST / 3:00 p.m. CEST: First Horse Inspection

Thursday June 16
3:00 a.m. – 7:15 a.m. EST / 9:00 a.m. CEST – 1:15 p.m. CEST: CCI4*-S Dressage
8:35 a.m. – 10:40 a.m. EST / 2:35 p.m. – 4:40 p.m. CEST: CCI5* Dressage

Friday June 17
3:00 a.m. – 7:15 a.m. EST / 9:00 a.m. CEST – 1:15 p.m. CEST: CCI4*-S Dressage
8:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. EST / 2:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. CEST: CCI5* Dressage

Saturday June 18
3:15 a.m. – 5:55 a.m. EST / 9:15 a.m. – 11:55 a.m. CEST: CCI5* Cross Country
6:40 a.m. – 9:55 a.m. EST / 12:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. CEST: CCI4*-S Cross Country

Sunday June 19
2:30 a.m. EST / 8:30 a.m. CEST: Final Horse Inspection
4:15 a.m. EST / 10:15 a.m. CEST: CCI5* Show Jumping
7:10 a.m. EST / 1:10 p.m. CEST: CCI4*-S Show Jumping

Longines Luhmühlen CCI5*: Website, Entries, Schedule, Scoring & Timing, H&C+ Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Lauren Billys Shares Her Respiratory Health Routine

By on Jun 14, 2022 12:00 pm -

Lauren Billys (Puerto Rico) and Castle Larchfield Purdy. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Two-time Olympic eventer Lauren Billys learned about equine respiratory problems the hard way.

The rude awakening occurred when her 2016 Rio Games partner Castle Larchfield Purdy was coming back to work after a serious colic in 2018. “After his first cross-country run, I noticed that his breathing sounded really different. Almost like he was roaring.

“That took us down the whole rabbit hole looking into respiratory health,” she recounts. Long story short, Lauren developed a management routine so effective that Purdy was able to condition for and compete at last summer’s Tokyo Olympics – at 19, no less.

Along with getting a second Olympics with Purdy, Lauren gained knowledge and experience that now help protect the respiratory and overall health of all the horses in her training program in Northern California.

Lauren Billys and Castle Larchfield Purdy. Photo by The West Equestrian.

Happy to help others benefit from what she’s learned, Lauren shares these tips for minimizing respiratory risks in our horses’ environments—the #1 veterinary recommendation for this area of equine health.

Lauren recently purchased her own property and has complete control over the horses’ management. Respiratory health is a top priority. “It’s part of the way we live and breathe.” The ability to manage all horses is an advantage. “It’s hard to treat or manage just one horse,” she notes. “It’s best when the whole barn lives the lifestyle.”

Paddocks covered in wood chips help tamper down dust. Photo courtesy of Lauren Billys Shady.

Lauren’s Dust Busting Tips:

1. In our part of Northern California, we have a lot of silica in the soil. That is bad for horses’ breathing, so we really manage the whole property to keep it as dust free as possible.

2. We cover our paddocks in wood chips. I found a local tree trimming company that needed a place to dump their chips. I specified no holly, elderberry, poison oak or other trees that can be harmful to horses. We have virtually no dust in our paddocks.

We also spread a little bit of wood chips onto our dirt roads, then compress them into the surface. Some properties water their roads, but with California’s drought situation I didn’t want to do that. The chips are a little labor intensive, but otherwise very inexpensive to do and it really helps keep the dust down.

3. Every turn-out has a mat under the feed bucket, which cuts down on the amount of dust our horses inhale when they eat off the ground. It also reduces the risk of sand colic.

4. We feed our horses Haygain Steamed Hay. That was a game-changer for Purdy when he was diagnosed with Inflammatory Airway Disease in 2019. Now all of our high-performance horses get it as a preventative measure. We have the full-bale steamer at home, which our guys find very easy to use. And we go to shows with the travel size models: we used the smallest model, the HG ONE, at Tokyo.

5. We chose Footing First’s dust free arena footing when we had to re-do the formerly Western arena at our new property. Their product is a geo-textile blended with silica sand, which is OK because it’s treated with a binding agent that contains the dust.

6. Our horses live outside at least half the time. That’s good for their mental and physical health and it’s good because a lot of dust inhalation happens when they’re in the barn. We keep them inside at night, when there is less activity in the barn that could stir up dust.

7. We don’t use blowers when horses are inside the barn. That’s bad for anybody’s breathing. In fact, our maintenance guys have worn masks in the barn for that reason – well before COVID.

8. We wipe down all the flat surfaces in the barn at least once a week. It keeps things looking nice and helps remove dust.

9. We brush back the shavings in the stalls so the horses eat off their mat, not the shavings. That keeps their stalls cleaner and cuts down on the amount of dust they inhale because bedding, like hay, is a main source of respirable irritants in the equine environment.

10. We monitor all our horses for respiratory issues because I know from experience how often and easily these conditions can go undiagnosed. For one horse, coughing once or twice at the beginning of a ride was the only sign to what wound up being diagnosed as Inflammatory Airway Disease.

11. We also monitor carefully for allergies. Whenever a horse gets diarrhea, coughing or hives, we run an allergy panel on them. The best company we’ve found is Spectrum. We’ve found their serum testing and allergy relief sprays very helpful.

Brushing back shavings means horses eat straight off the mat and don’t ingest or inhale bedding. Photo courtesy of Lauren Billys Shady.

After Tokyo, Purdy stepped down from the international level and is helping one of Lauren’s students learn the ropes at Preliminary. “He is good and happy and I am so grateful to have him at the barn,” Lauren says. “One of the many things for which I’m grateful to him is learning the respiratory health routines that I now apply proactively to all our horses.”

Canada’s ‘Pratoni. Let’s Go!’ Fundraising Campaign Launches with Significant Kick-Off Donation

By on Jun 14, 2022 9:00 am -

Karl Slezak and Fernhill Wishes. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

The recently refreshed Equestrian Canada High Performance Advisory Group, Eventing (HPAG) are thrilled to announce a significant donation from Kelly McCarthy-Maine and Shane Maine toward the urgent fundraising appeal just launched in support of the Canadian eventing team. The campaign “Pratoni. Let’s Go!” has been developed to fill the funding shortfall for the team.

To send a full five-member squad to the FEI World Championships 2022 in Pratoni, Italy, September 14 – 18, 2022, the HPAG needs to raise $250,000. Without raising this money, Canada will be unable to send a full team to the championships. Sending a team is the first opportunity for Canada to qualify for a team allocation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Canadians Kelly McCarthy-Maine and Shane Maine want to see the Canadian team at international competitions and are providing a substantial initial donation of $100,000 to kickstart the “Pratoni, Lets Go!” campaign.

“Team Canada belongs at the World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympics. Congratulations to our riders for their perseverance and determination and to the High Performance Advisory Group for giving us the confidence to make this lead investment. We hope this acts as inspiration for other supporters to get behind our Canadian riders,” said Kelly McCarthy-Maine of Canadian Colours Equestrian. Kelly operates a sport horse breeding, producing, and competing operation in Wiltshire, UK.

“We are honoured and incredibly excited that Kelly and Shane have decided to fund our high-performance program in this way and welcome them to the team,” said Emily Gilbert, Co-Chair of the HPAG. “This donation provides the impetus and excitement we need to kick off a larger, more long-term fundraising effort to support our Canadian eventing program and riders for years to come.”

“It’s quite unprecedented in Canadian eventing to see this kind of large-scale donation and we’re hopeful it will help bring others to the table to support our longer-term program plans and infrastructure rebuilding,” commented Greg Paull, Co-Chair of the HPAG. “I feel we have some exciting momentum building and seeing our Canadian athletes competing successfully on the world stage is paramount to our efforts. We couldn’t be more grateful to Kelly and Shane.”

Graphic by Sarah Greer.

Coinciding with this announcement are details of the “Pratoni. Let’s Go” campaign which is focused on the Pony to Podium journey. Canada’s top eventers plan to post videos of their journeys on social media and tell the stories of how they got to the top of the sport.

The co-chairs have relayed how critical the need for funding is for the future successes of Canadian riders and how thankful both EC and the HPAG are for their active engagement in the critical fundraising initiative.

The committee have ensured there are many ways to donate including online, in person and by contacting the HPAG directly. A QR code has also been established with a unique Canada Helps URL. Secure donations through the website allow donations to be directed to the Eventing campaign. To donate, donors can click on the Donation Link and select Horsepower Fund – Eventing.

At Canadian competitions for the rest of the summer, volunteers will be decked out in Canada gear asking for donations and providing a wristband to those who donate.

An on-line auction will run June 17-20, 2022, featuring lessons by famous Canadian riders of all disciplines, priceless experiences with riders, vacation home stays, equestrian apparel and more.

“This significant donation signals a great endorsement for our athletes,” said Gilbert. “And with all the planned fundraising efforts, our group of volunteers on the HPAG are very confident the campaign will be a success.”

“Together, we are committed to the mission of supporting horse and rider athletes to keep Canada on the world stage,” said Paull. “We are confident that the community understands that the time is now, and the momentum is building. So, Pratoni. Let’s Go!”

Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products

By on Jun 14, 2022 7:22 am -

We’re always in awe of amateur riders who manage to balance all the moving parts of their lives alongside their riding ambitions — but there are some pros out there who are quietly doing much the same thing. British five-star competitor Tom Crisp was honoured with a Jubilee service medal this week for ten years spent as part of the East Sussex Fire & Rescue team, which he fits in alongside running a string of horses, training lots of students — including son Harry, who’s stepped up to affiliated competition — and raising three kids with his wife, Sophie, at their Sussex yard. Oh, and he’s spent the last couple of years building the family’s home by himself — brick by brick. Good on ya, Tom.

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

Events Closing Today: Essex H.T., Chattahoochee Hills H.T., Summer Coconino H.T. I, Twin Rivers Summer H.T.

Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:

I know I’m not the only one who rolls my eyes so hard I give myself a migraine every time someone says “if gas prices keep going up, I’m going to buy a horse!” My friend, they cost significantly more than the $9/gallon we’ve reached over here in the UK. [It’s ranting time]

Planning to tackle the Adult Team Championships at this year’s AECs? Don’t forget to ensure you’ve submitted a letter of intent before the July 19 closing deadline, or you won’t be able to take part in this exciting competition. [Here’s what you need to know]

Imagine winning your FEI eventing debut. Now, imagine doing it as an amateur rider, who’s also making moves in the FEI dressage world while working as a stylist and managing life after the Army. [Lisa Chan’s got it all going on]

Need some schooling inspiration this week? Try this cool cavaletti exercise from Waylon Roberts, which will help you improve your horse’s footwork and jumping without the wear and tear. [It’s grid pro quo time, baby]

Watch This: 

Want to see what the competitors in Bromont’s CCI4*-L faced over the weekend? Check out this course walk with Elisa Wallace.

Got an ulcer-y horse or wondering if your horse is at risk? Check this out:

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 here.

The horse that matters to you matters to us®.

KPPusa.com

Where Are They Now? The Great Shiraz is Pony Club Championships-Bound

By on Jun 13, 2022 6:00 pm -

Olivia Clark gives Shiraz some post-show love. Photo via Facebook.

Racehorse: ✔️
Kentucky: ✔️
Burghley: ✔️
Luhmühlen: ✔️
Pau: ✔️
Badminton: ✔️
United States Pony Club Championships: 🔜

You know the great Shiraz and Colleen Rutledge as record the holders of first pair to complete all of the Northern Hemisphere five-stars (and in stylish fashion without any cross country jumping penalties). Now 24 years old, the Thoroughbred gelding (who also made 15 starts under the Jockey Cub name Bold and Burley) will add another big event to his resume: USPC Pony Club Championships, where he’ll be ridden by Colleen’s student Olivia Clark.

Shiraz’s last major event came in 2015, where he and Colleen finished 14th at the Kentucky Three-Day Event. He retired soundly from the upper levels and Colleen had told us previously that “Luke” thrives on having a job, so the happiest retirement for him has come with remaining at some level of work. He and Colleen did a stint of show jumping around 2018 and competed in the $15,000 Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational that year as well as in jumper classes at Tryon. Since then, Colleen has handed Luke’s reins to her students and he’s helping the next generation to learn the ropes.

After the Capital Region Showjumping Rally this past weekend Oliva and Luke qualified for the USPC Championships East, which will be held next month in Tryon. Enjoy a couple videos of their rounds:

Go Shiraz and Olivia!

A long career (and, more importantly, a long and healthy life) is always a goal for our horses. Ask your veterinarian about Zoetis’ line-up of health support options that can help support your horse for a long-lasting and comfortable career and life.

Weekend Winners: Coast-to-Coast Recap + Social

By on Jun 13, 2022 3:00 pm -

School’s out for many, which means it’s time to #goeventing for the summer! Diving right in to this week’s Weekend Winners column…

Leading us off, a battle of the sub-20s was duked out at Aspen Farms in Yelm, Washington, but it would be Stephanie Goodman and Esmèe who took home the Unofficial Low Score Award, finishing on an impressive 18.6 in their Open Novice division. They were not too far ahead of Kendall Pugh and Rafiki, however, who finished on a 19.7 in their Beginner Novice division. Well done to all!

Here’s a look at other winners from events this weekend, as well as some social media to live vicariously through:

MARS Bromont International (Quebec, Canada): [Website] [Final Scores] [EN’s Coverage] [EN’s Instagram]

Aspen Farm H.T. (Yelm, Wa.): [Website] [Final Scores]

CCI3*-S: Sophie Click and Tarantino 54 (35.3)
CCI2*-S: Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14 (30.4)
Open Intermediate: Meika Decher and Archie McPhee (64.6)
Open Preliminary: Tommy Greengard and Leonardo Diterma (33.9)
Preliminary Rider: Amy Haugen and Ebenholtz (40.1)
Jr. Training: Addison Maxwell and Better Than Free (27.3)
Open Training: Kelsey Devoille and Cute Casalita (25.0)
Training Horse: Morgan Wenell and Kremer VD Falieberg (21.1)
Jr. Novice A: Krisalyn Brown and Jack Wi Ro Z (25.3)
Jr. Novice B: Abigail Popa and Gio (30.7)
Novice Amateur A: Sarah Hallman-Luhn and Vantage Point (28.5)
Novice Amateur B: Lorilee Hanson and Contigo (26.2)
Novice Horse A: Natalie Sullivan and Firn Limit (21.4)
Novice Horse B: Marc Grandia and Sunsprite Chiasso (21.1)
Novice Rider: Hope Cochran and Freesela (29.4)
Open Novice: Stephanie Goodman and Esmèe (18.6)
Beginner Novice Amateur A: Kendall Pugh and Rafiki (19.7)
Beginner Novice Amateur B: Teri Sowder and Sweet Basil (31.7)
Beginner Novice Horse: Karen O’Neal and Escapade (21.4)
Beginner Novice Rider: Kady Ellifritz and Yankee Bay (29.7)
Jr. Beginner Novice: Kate Schultheis and Ready Or Knot Here’s Mouse! (28.2)

Cobblestone Farms at Revel Run H.T. (Chelsea, Mi.): [Website] [Final Scores]

Open Preliminary: Carrie Mulks and Colony’s Finale (42.4)
Open Modified: Ali Kuhn and Little Hall (33.9)
Open Training: Jamie Allison and Jedi (26.9)
Training Rider: Hannah Willford and Kontiki (27.5)
Open Novice 1: Nancy Koch and Quality Rox (32.0)
Open Novice 2: Kasidy McMartin and Newtown’s Llewellyn (28.6)
Novice Rider: Valerie Spicer and Oliver Wendell Douglas (33.3)
Open Beginner Novice 1: Caitlin Henderson and Battle of Ramada (25.6)
Open Beginner Novice 2: Jane Papke and Wilderness Run (26.1)
Beginner Novice Rider: Jessica Lebert and No Nottings Nest (30.5)
Starter 1: Lily Shultis and Rebel Nation (30.7)
Starter 2: April Habenicht and SF Lonely Heart (24.7)

Golden Spike H.T. (Ogden, Ut.): [Website] [Final Scores]

Open Preliminary: Eileen Galoostian and Ardeo Living The Dream (32.6)
Open Preliminary/Training: Shallary Guymon and Coco Chanel (69.6)
Open Training A: Rosie Smith and Seamus (26.7)
Open Training B: Kimberly Castro and Athenian Conqueror (31.4)
Open Novice A: Jacqueline Cameron and Penny Lane (30.0)
Open Novice B: Sara Windley and Georgia Peaches (38.2)
Open Beginner Novice A: Olive Bevilacqua and Amos Leigh (35.6)
Open Beginner Novice B: Mark Rivers and Flirtacious (36.9)
Open Beginner Novice C: Emily Rosenbaum and Inquizitive (27.5)
Open Beginner Novice D: Donna Hayden and FlynnStone (26.2)
Intro Jr.: Alice Macleod and KF Alamode (35.9)
Intro Open: C’Dale Jore and A Zarabanda (36.9)

Middleburg H.T. (The Plains, Va.): [Website] [Final Scores]

Open Preliminary 1: Mia Farley and Invictus (33.2)
Open Preliminary 2: Mia Farley and BGS Calculated Chaos (38.2)
Open Modified 1: Colleen McCarthy-Orta and Jackson Maine (31.7)
Open Modified 2: Catherine Meehan and Salute the Captain (27.5)
Open Training 1: Kendyl Tracy and Justified (24.4)
Open Training 2: Nicholas Beshear and Rule of Thumb (28.1)
Training Rider: Colby Poe and Windchase Brego (26.5)
Training Senior: Lexie Horn and Doctor Jones (30.6)
Open Novice 1: Martin Douzant and He’s My Rock (30.3)
Open Novice 2: Krissy Smith Shellenberger (23.6)
Novice Senior: Emma Tuit and Rapid Romero KV (28.7)
Novice Rider: Lauren Allen and FGF Bob’s Wired (27.5)
Novice Junior: Quidley Kellermann and Cruising Along (26.9)
Open Beginner Novice 1: Autumn Rae and C’Adagio (28.2)
Open Beginner Novice 2: Autumn Rae and Lowenbrau (22.1)
Beginner Novice Rider: Karen Eichert and Mizz Indy Cat (29.4)

Queeny Park H.T. (St. Louis, Mo.): [Website] [Final Scores]

Open Modified: Courtney Kuriger and Eagle Rising (37.5)
Open Training: Lisette Healy Kremer and Roulette (31.4)
Open Novice CT: Abbey Clark and Smokin Star (35.0)
Open Novice A: Camryn Holcomb and Quite Breit (29.2)
Open Novice B: Skylar Thornton and Ace of Spades (29.7)
Open Beginner Novice A: Julie Wolfert and Dolcetto (22.4)
Open Beginner Novice B: Darcy Kammeier and Let It Be (30.6)
Open Beginner Novice C: Michaela Frye and Small Talk (34.0)
Beginner Novice CT: Mae Lieberman and Casper
Starter CT: Addison Wheeler and Gingersnap (34.3)
Open Starter A: Stephanie Heise and Hyperion (30.1)
Open Starter B: Cayla Bethea and Impressed by Surprise (28.0)

River Glen H.T. (River Glen, Tn.): [Website] [Final Scores]

Open Intermediate: Rebecca Hoos and Little Cruz (47.5)
Open Modified: Brooke Kahl and Nata Montada SCF (29.5)
Open Training: Katherine Brown and Gorsehill Amy (30.3)
Open Novice: Chelsey Sawtell and Dutchess (26.7)
Beginner Novice Rider: Christine Pasko and Essential Elegance (30.6)
Open Beginner Novice: Lisa Bauman and Joyride B (32.2)
Starter Jr.: Catherine Goosmann and Another Irish (24.7)
Starter Sr.: Allison Thompson and Kacey (26.3)

Unionville H.T. (Unionville, Pa.): [Website] [Final Scores]

Open Intermediate: Tiffany Wandy and CV Outlaw (49.6)
Open Preliminary: Dan Clasing and Et Cetera (25.5)
Open Training: Molly McMillen and Lily (30.0)
Training Rider A: Olivia Ford and Kilcannon Pride (29.4)
Training Rider B: Kaylyn Cunningham and Ollivander (35.0)
Jr. Novice: Sophia Fedak and B E Never Say Never (36.5)
Novice Rider: Laura Fazio and Royal Dancer 43 (22.8)
Open Novice: Delaney Emerson and Redfield Lavei (29.2)
Open Beginner Novice A: Brooke Sidorsky and Daddy Said Yes (30.6)
Open Beginner Novice B: Tara Astacio and Money to Burn (30.2)

Take a look at some social media from the weekend below!

Sophie Click and Tarantino 54 Triumph in Aspen Farms CCI3*-S

By on Jun 13, 2022 12:00 pm -

Sophie Click and Tarantino 54. Photo by Cortney Drake Photography.

Sophie Click and Tarantino 54 jumped clear with just 6.4 time faults on the cross-country track designed by Morgan Rowsell to win the CCI3*-Short at Aspen Farms Horse Trials in Yelm, WA on Sunday.

“He was amazing,” said Click of Tarantino’s clear cross-country ride. “The ground was definitely wet, so I was just trying to give him a good ride, and he was really good today. He had one of those hard-to-find weekends where he was really good in all three phases, and it all came together.”

Up next the pair is aiming for the 3*-L at Rebecca Farm in Montana next month. Californian Tommy Greengard and his Dutch Warmblood gelding Joshuay MBF finished second in the CCI3*-S. It is the gelding’s first season at Intermediate/3* level.

“He was absolutely perfect,” said Greengard. “He didn’t put a foot wrong anywhere. He felt amazing. The course road to plan everywhere. We are so happy with him. He has come up to play at this level.”

Looking ahead, the pair will be headed to the American Eventing Championships at Rebecca Farms in Montana in August.

Tommy Greengard also won Open Preliminary aboard Andrea Pfeiffer’s gelding, Leonardo Diterma. They led the division from start to finish, earning their third consecutive Preliminary level win in a row.

“He was super,” said Greengard. “He kept trying the whole way around. It was a big ask for him, especially with the rain we got earlier in the week. He kept showing up and was totally on task. We’re thrilled with him.”

Anna Stein and her OTTB mare Lucy Lucy Lucy moved up from fourteenth place after show jumping to finish second, thanks to jumping a clear cross-country round with the fewest time faults in the division.

In the CCI2*-S, Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14, owned by Annika Asling, led from start to finish. They jumped clear cross-country and added just 4 time faults to win on a score of 30.4. Kerry Groot and Borasco finished second on 34.3.

In Open Intermediate, Meika Decher finished first aboard her homebred, Archie McPhee, after producing the fastest clear cross-country round in the division. It was thirteen years ago almost to the day that Decher returned home from Aspen Farms Horse Trials to meet her newborn foal, Archie, out of her three-star mare, A La Mode, by Ariadus.

“This is a long-time coming,” said Decher. “I’ve gone up and down with this horse from Prelim to Intermediate for the last two years, and he has not been easy. This time it felt like everything was right in its place. He answered every single question beautifully.”

In Preliminary Rider, Amy Haugen and Ebenholtz held their lead thanks to a clear cross-country round with only time faults. No combinations made the time. Brianna Lerner and Horton finished just .7 points behind the leaders to claim second.

“He is amazing, and I’m so thrilled with him,” said Haugen. “He’s an incredible horse; he’s so honest. We had a great round. We’re still working out some kinks early on in the season, but he kept getting more and more confident all the way around the course. We had some great fences. We weren’t fast today at all, but the wet conditions weren’t suited for fast today anyways.”

Next month, they hope to make their FEI debut at the CCI2*-L at Rebecca Farm in Montana.

Over 300 hundred horse and rider combinations competed at Aspen Farms Horse Trials, and more than $25,000 worth of prizes went to top finishers on Sunday, thanks to generous show sponsors. Aspen Farms Horse Trials looks forward to hosting the USEA Area VII Championships at the September Aspen Farms Horse Trials, September 16-18, 2022.

‘The Sport’s Got a Lot to Think About at the Moment’: Ian Stark Reflects On Bramham Cross-Country Day

By on Jun 13, 2022 9:00 am -

James Avery and One of a Kind II navigate Bramham’s hills. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

It hasn’t, arguably, been the most straightforward weekend at Bramham International Horse Trials. Two fatalities were recorded through Saturday’s cross-country day: Allie Knowles‘s Ms. Poppins was euthanised after sustaining an injury while travelling late in the course, while Toshiyuki Tanaka‘s Ventura de la Chaule JRA was also euthanised after falling at the second element of fence 7AB, which was ultimately removed from the course after three incidents. Two riders, France’s Stanislas de Zuchowicz and under-25 competitor Ailsa Wates, were also admitted to hospital overnight for observation, though Stanislas has since been discharged and Ailsa is reported to be “feeling well”.

We caught up with course designer Ian Stark on Sunday to reflect on the day’s highs and lows.

“It’s always a nightmare when horses are injured, and nobody wants that,” he says. “Three people fell off at the one fence, so we had no choice but to take it out — it was disappointing that we had to do that, and the riders, to be honest, were hugely supportive afterwards. They’ve been pulling me aside left, right, and centre. At one point yesterday, I was just about to walk away from the sport; you put your heart and soul and life and everything into it, and when something goes wrong with that, it’s a bit of a punch in the guts. You just begin to wonder, ‘why am I doing it?’ But then the riders come and say ‘please don’t change it; please keep the standard’.”

Bramham is renowned worldwide for being arguably the biggest, boldest, and most terrain-heavy four-star competition, and one which riders use not just as a goal event in and of itself, but as necessary education, progression and preparation for the five-star level. But just as riders argue they need a Bramham-style course to prepare for the likes of Burghley, they also need appropriate stepping stones on the way there, too.

“I think the sport’s got a lot to think about at the moment, and I’m not the right person to say one way or the other what way we should go, but I think it needs to be standardised,” Ian continues. “We need to try to make sure that horses and riders are ready for the level. A lot of them [this week] were very ready — there was some great riding yesterday, and some fabulous horses out there, but there were also definitely one or two horses and riders that weren’t ready, in my opinion.”

“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 and move up the levels. I don’t know the answer to that; I think these are all question marks, and I’ll go and think about things. Some very, very important people and riders in the sport have come to me and asked me not to give up and not to back down — but that’s easier said than done. I’m not sure I’m tough enough.”

One of the factors that Ian’s been considering while reflecting on Bramham — and on the sport as a whole this spring — is ensuring riders know the difference between being qualified and actually being ready, and planning their seasons accordingly. Part of that, he says, is working on creating a greater distinction and progression between the national, international short-format, and international long format competitions at each level.

“My general feeling is that there’s quite a few events that people need to do to qualify, but they’re not necessarily getting the education for the proper four-star and five-star level. I’m not blaming the events, necessarily — riders also have to think about which events they’re going to go to to prepare for the three-day events. If riders are chasing MERs, they want to go to these events to get their qualifications, but being qualified doesn’t mean they’re ready. But I don’t know whether we should be getting [designers] to ask a little bit more and get a little bit tougher, or whether I need to back off and get down to their level — but that’s dumbing the sport down again, and I’m anti that. I’ve always been anti that.”

“It’s all got to be discussed and thrashed out. I don’t want to be out on a limb giving tough tracks if everybody else is going to be doing something different, because then that’s not fair on anybody, so I don’t know what the answer is to that. I’m just trying to look at it openly from both sides. Everybody said that if they jump around here, they’re going to be ready for Burghley, and that’s great. But what direction to go in? I don’t know.”

Heidi Coy and Halenza, who finished third in the under-25 CCI4*-L. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

While there was plenty of drama in the feature CCI4*-L class, the under-25 CCI4*-L, which ran over the same course and to the same optimum time, saw far fewer issues –- and had very nearly the same number of clears inside the time, despite a much smaller field of entries. Six of the 21 under-25s achieved this feat; in comparison, just seven of the 62 senior CCI4*-L started managed it. For Ian, who wants to emphasise education — and classic cross-country riding — in his courses, this is enormously heartening.

“[The under-25s] were brilliant; they’re talented young riders on talented horses. Maybe we need to get tougher on qualifications, but these riders got out there and got on with the job, and that’s kind of what I want to see — I want to see people react and ride cross-country. I don’t want to see trained riders who are used to riding on all-weather surfaces, and we’re in danger of getting along that line. I know we all want to look good out there, and we want good pictures, but it’s not all about having the nice picture to put on your mantelpiece. It’s a tough sport, it always has been, and it’s a risky sport. We all know that, and nobody wants to see horses or riders injured, but on the other hand, because I’m an old has-been, I want people to enjoy what I’ve enjoyed about the sport. That’s why I give them courses like this — because what I loved to do was ride that.”

In 2019, the event’s last renewal, the numbers in the under-25 class looked considerably different: 26 competitors started the cross-country, but just five came home without jumping penalties. 2018 saw a more successful Saturday: 27 under-25s left the start box, and 12 of those recorded clear rounds.

“It was interesting for me, because the first time I designed here [in 2009], the young riders’ class was a disaster. There was a group of them that came to me on the Sunday and they said, ‘we don’t know how to ride your course, but we will learn.’ I feel that they’ve been true to their word: they’ve risen to the challenge. Maybe that’s something to do with age and bravado, or maybe the rest of us are comfortable at a level.”

That ongoing education continues to play out, year on year. In 2019 we saw the coffin complex exert considerable influence throughout both long-format sections, largely because riders came in at too high a velocity. At the time, he told us that he was adamant about keeping the coffin in the course, because riders needed to put the time into learning to ride them properly and add them into their training regime — and this year, we saw the question answered consistently and correctly across the board.

“They’re learning, and if I’m honest, I gave them a fraction more room in the coffin and lowered the rail a couple of inches going in, because I thought, ‘they haven’t necessarily had coffins of that technical difficulty since 2019’,” he says. “Both in the long and the short, I thought people rode it really well, so they’re learning coffin canters, which is fantastic — hallelujah! But there’s still a lot to learn about riding lines and reacting. [Cross-country riding] is all about the reactions: we can all sit on a brilliant horse and steer them around there, but you’ve got to be ready as a rider to react quickly if the horse needs a bit of leg or a little bit of assistance.”

Matthew Heath and Askari jump around the CCI4*-L track. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

In our various conversations with riders, all were effusive in their praise of Ian’s Bramham track — a level of support that was bolstered by the event’s officials, who have to sign off the track before it can be used.

“There was no complaints about the course here,” says Ian. “At the riders’ briefing on Friday night there wasn’t a word from the riders — they were all happy to get out there and do it. The technical delegates said they’d never been to an event that had so few comments or negativity from anyone, so the ground jury were happy.”

Every event is an opportunity for development, though, particularly major ones and events like this, or like Badminton last month, where not everything goes quite to plan.

“I just need to go away and think a little bit more about the whole thing, because if the answer is that I need to make things a bit easier, what I have to have straight in my own head is whether I’m comfortable doing that and helping the sport be dumbed down. And I don’t know whether I am. That’s not arrogance, it’s not me being difficult — it’s just how I am. I’ve always been a very competitive person, and I want everyone to strive to be better. Maybe that’s unrealistic.”

“This day has just made me question myself, but it’s also my opinion just looking at the sport as a whole. I think we need to steer in a direction that’s right for the sport, and right for the riders. I’ve always been against us old farts dictating what the younger riders should have. I never liked it when I was a rider and the old bodies used to tell us what they wanted; I didn’t like it when they got rid of the steeplechase and roads and tracks; I didn’t like it when they got rid of all the weights. I’m sort of an old-fashioned traditionalist. But it’s the overall sport: I’m seeing a gentle dumbing down. Things evolve, we move on, and if that’s not right for an individual — ie., me — then it’s time for me to move on. But on the other hand, if people want what I’m doing… don’t get me wrong, I love it, but I’m not as tough as I pretend and it’s quite a sensitive issue when you put your heart and soul into and things go wrong. And they inevitably do. It feels like I have to a serious look at myself, as well as the sport, and then I have to move forward. And I will — I’ll get over it, but I want feedback to know which direction to go.”

He pauses. “I feel vulnerable, and I think the sport’s vulnerable,” he says, finally.

Bramham International: [Website] [Schedule & Orders of Go] [Live Scoring] [EN’s Coverage] [EN’s Instagram]

 

Monday News & Notes from Futuretrack

By on Jun 13, 2022 12:01 am -

Photo via Pippa Funnell on Facebook.

Nicola Wilson received a visit from some well-wishing friends and colleagues last week as she continues to recover from a fall at Badminton in May.

“It was so wonderful to take time out from my training duties at Bramham International Horse Trials to visit Nic and Al along with William [Fox-Pitt], Dickie Waygood and Liz Brown,” Pippa Funnell wrote on her Facebook page. “What an inspiration she is, so incredibly cheery and positive and in such good form making very good progress. Those doctors and nurses are going to struggle to hold her back.”

The most recent update from Nicola’s channels indicate that she currently is (as of June 2) on bed rest and without hand or arm function, but with good feeling. It’s anticipated that she’ll remain at the spinal rehab unit at James Cook Hospital for the next three months.

U.S. Weekend Results

Aspen Farm H.T. (Yelm, Wa.): [Website] [Final Scores]

Cobblestone Farms at Revel Run H.T. (Chelsea, Mi.): [Website] [Final Scores]

Golden Spike H.T. (Ogden, Ut.): [Website] [Final Scores]

Middleburg H.T. (The Plains, Va.): [Website] [Final Scores]

Queeny Park H.T. (St. Louis, Mo.): [Website] [Final Scores]

River Glen H.T. (River Glen, Tn.): [Website] [Final Scores]

Unionville H.T. (Unionville, Pa.): [Website] [Final Scores]

Major International Events:

MARS Bromont International (Quebec, Canada): [Website] [Final Scores] [EN’s Coverage] [EN’s Instagram]

Just north of the U.S.-Canadian border at the return of the MARS Bromont International, Jennie Brannigan took home the title in the headlining CCI4*-L division with Tim and Nina Gardner’s Twilightslastgleam. Bromont has been hailed for its test of 4* mettle (and, perhaps 5* worthiness), making it an excellent place to spot some future Kentucky or Maryland horses. Catch up on all of our coverage from Bromont this weekend here.

Bramham International (West Yorkshire, England): [Website][Final Scores] [EN’s Coverage] [EN’s Instagram]

It was a devastating weekend at Bramham International that saw the loss of two horses as well as two riders transported to local hospitals.

These stories sadly contrast with the other end of the spectrum: the triumph felt by Great Britain’s Izzy Taylor, whose partner in the CCI4*-L Monkeying Around proved he belongs — for good — at this level and, hopefully, beyond. You can read back through Tilly Berendt’s coverage of Bramham here.

Melbourne International (Melbourne, Australia): [Website] [Final Scores] [Live Stream Replay]

 

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In the southern hemisphere, Melbourne International marks the celebration of the Queen’s long birthday weekend. Similar to its Adelaide counterpart, the Australian International Three-Day Event, the Melbourne International is also very publicly placed, with the cross country track meandering its way past the zoo, a hotel, in front of a mansion, and through vast park and polo fields in Victoria. See for yourself in this look at the 4*-L cross country track on CrossCountryApp. The course was designed by Ewan Kellett.

Monday News & Reading

There is still time to register for the upcoming US Equestrian DEI Community Conversations, scheduled for TODAY (June 13) at 5 p.m. EST. This edition, which is held over Zoom with a panel of speakers, will center around Cultivating Inclusive Spaces for Transgender and Non-Binary Equestrians. You can register for a Zoom invite here. There’s no cost to attend and you do not need to be a US Equestrian member.

Sometimes, the right horse is all it takes to realize goals you thought were too far-fetched to achieve. That’s how northern California-based Alice Chan feels about the Morgan mare she found as a three-year-old. “I never imagined that at this age, I would be wanting to move up the levels of eventing,” Alice wrote for the USEA. “But as we all know, this is a sport of true partnership, and when your partner is game, it changes everything.” [Alice Chan and Merriewold Quintessa Conquer a Lifetime of Firsts Together]

“He was a big part of our family. It was hard saying goodbye when he’d always been around – getting married, having children, breaking my back and 10 ribs in a bad hunting fall; Paddy was always here to go the stables and have a cuddle with.” British rider Serena McGregor pays tribute to the horse that took her to her first Badminton and many other destinations in the 27 years they spent together. [Former 5* Eventer Was Part of the Family]

It’s time to start thinking about taking care of your horse in higher temperatures, depending on where you live. Horses are generally, of course, fairly adept at self-regulating, but it’s good to know how to manage and avoid stress in hot weather. [How to Help Your Horse Avoid Heat Stress This Summer]

The #FuturetrackFollow: The Mongol Derby

The Mongol Derby is returning this year! Last held in 2019, the toughest horse race on the planet makes its return on the Mongolian steppes. We know of at least one eventer — Area IV’s recent Tryon 3*-L winner Julie Wolfert — competing, but if you know of another please tip us by emailing [email protected]! In the meantime, here’s a fun look back at our very own Leslie Wylie’s trip to Mongolia: