One could argue it’s the biggest moment of every competitor’s entire weekend at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event: that jump into the famous Head of the Lake on cross country day. It’s the splash heard ’round the world for eventing fans, but what do the riders really think of Kentucky’s most iconic fence?
In the latest installment of Behind the Barn presented by Athletux and Amberway Equine, some of our favorite riders are asked just that and as you might imagine there are a variety of feelings and insights! Hear what they have to say straight from the horses’ (riders’) mouths in today’s featured video.
Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Ahead of this week’s Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, we’re excited to announce the return of our Pick ‘Em & Win Contest, presented by Horseware!
The rules are simple: predict the winning horse and rider combination, along with the winning score for tie-breaking purposes. This form will close at 12 p.m. EST on Wednesday, April 27 ahead of the first horse inspection. The winner will be determined by the closest to the finishing score. This year’s winner will receive a pair of full-size Horseware Ice Vibe boots, a tried-and-true staple in eventers’ barns for their ease of use and functionality.
To enter, you can use the embedded form below or, if you can’t see the form, click here to access it. Entries will close at 12 p.m. EST on Wednesday, March 27. We’ll draw a random winner from the correct answers Please note: By filling out this form and entering this contest, you agree to receive emails from both Eventing Nation and Horseware. We will not share your information with any other parties, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Three USEA Events — River Glen H.T. in New Market, TN; Sporting Days H.T. in Aiken, SC; and Unionville H.T. in Unionville, PA — took place over the weekend and were well-contested by all. Let’s give a round of applause to the winners, with extra recognition to the lowest scoring pair in the country: Phillip Dutton and Vitalis, who won their Open Preliminary division at Unionville H.T. on a finishing score of 20.5.
Open Intermediate: Matthew Ulmer & Wellview Mister Lux (48.2)
Intermediate/Preliminary: Jesslyn Woodall & The Luckdragon (39.6)
Open Preliminary: Laura Crowl & Dinner at Malones (36.4)
Preliminary/Training: Lauren Nunn & HSH First Impression (53.6)
Open Training: Chelsey Sawtell & Toto’s Weather Tamer (33.2)
Training Rider: Lydia Eifler & Hans Christian (32.5)
Training/Novice: Samantha McLean & Reputation (35.9)
Novice Rider: Stephanie Letarte & GarryNdruig Albie (24.4)
Open Novice Final Scores Tate Northrop Bourbon Boy 28.9
Beginner Novice Rider Jr: Marin Swyers & Harrison (21.1)
Beginner Novice Rider Sr: Heather Norman & Faldeus (38.3)
Open Beginner Novice: Caroline Johnson & Wembley (36.7)
Starter Test – Junior: Lizzie Brennan & Make Me (40.7)
Starter Test – Senior: Ben Douglas & Magnolia (27.3)
Open Preliminary: Kristi Foresman & RevitaVet Perkunos (32.9)
Preliminary Horse: Julia Fanello & FE Prince of Darkness (41.4)
Preliminary Rider: Julia Khan & Yet To Be (29.5)
Open Training: Alexander Conrad & Ricky (22.6)
Preliminary/Training: Nilson Moreira Da Silva & Elmo (33.4)
Training Horse: Eliza Quigley & Kwibus (30.6)
Training Rider: Katelyn Ross & Midnight Krogh (35.3)
Novice Rider: Eloise Plante & Mr. Lickety (28.9)
Open Novice: Alexander Conrad & Classic Chrome PCH (21.7)
Beginner Novice Horse: Jessica Schultz & FGF Personal Time (27.9)
Beginner Novice Rider: Heidi Gyselinck & Bricktop JHF (32.1)
Open Beginner Novice: Katelyn Smith & Lisbane Spartacus (35.8)
Starter A: Emma Bozeman & Manorvens Master Adanac (29.3)
Starter B: Victoria McMillen & Jackson Blues (33.3)
Unionville Spring H.T.: [Website] [Results]
Open Intermediate: Boyd Martin & Monbeg Medlar (45.0)
Open Preliminary: Phillip Dutton & Vitalis (20.5)
Preliminary Rider: Molly Koch & Lowhill Toome Diamond (48.4)
Open Training A: Lillian Heard & Bellines Quality Lady (26.1)
Open Training B: Lillian Heard & Fernhill Mac an Bata (28.3)
Training Rider: Julia Marrinan & Snownado (32.8)
Junior Open Novice: Carly Stiller & PLS Beroko (25.3)
Novice Rider A: Jessica Gehman & Ray Price (26.7)
Novice Rider B: Meg Colaianni & Old Army (32.8)
Open Novice A: Ashley Adams & Global Halcyon (25.6)
Open Novice B: Ryan Wood & Ben Lomond (29.6)
Beginner Novice Rider: Ty Burke & Carmella (29.4)
Junior Open Beginner Novice: Emma Whitaker & Delilah’s Boy (30.9)
Open Beginner Novice: Maya Chinana & Popstar (23.8)
Indy, 2019 Top Dog Winner. Submitted by Rachael Leneweaver.
It’s time to unroll the slew of contests we’ve got on the docket for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, and what better way to kick things off than with the ever-popular Top Dog Photo Contest?
Each year, we ask you, dear EN readers, to shower us with your pooches and you never fail to deliver! And since spectators will be welcomed back to this event for the first time since 2019, it’ll also be the first time we’ll receive all entries from on the ground.
This year we’ve teamed back up with World Equestrian Brands, distributor of several top-quality brands ready to kit out your horse and yourself, to offer an envy-worth Equilibrium Massage Mitt as the prize to our eventual winner. The Equilibrium Massage Mitt is perfect for promoting relaxation and improving flexibility. The Message Mitt is intended for use on muscle groups in the back, neck, quarters, and hamstrings.
SHARE a photo or video of your dog(s) enjoying Kentucky this weekend (the more ridiculous, the better!) on your public Instagram, Twitter or Facebook page
FOLLOW/LIKE both Eventing Nation and World Equestrian Brands on social media
Via Photo Upload:
If social media isn’t your thing, never fear! Use this form to submit your photo. You can also email your photo to [email protected](please include your name + your dog’s name + your zip code) if the form gives you trouble.
Need some inspiration? Take a look at some doggos from past years:
2014 Top Dog, Caitlin O’Shea’s Sophie. Photo by Adam Frizzell
Submitted by Skye-Anna Nye-Smith.
Kaylen Moon’s Top Dog entry, Tucker, ponders his options at Head of the Lake.
Kelly Lasher: “#ENTopDog Brewski in one if his favorite “if I fits, I sits” spots.”
IT’S HERE! It’s really, truly here! I haven’t felt this many butterflies about Kentucky in a long time – something about knowing the Horse Park will once again be filled with people feels so special, even though I’ll still be taking part from afar. If you’re heading over to spectate (you lucky duck!), please do consider having a bourbon for me. I don’t even like bourbon, I just feel like it’s integral to the experience.
All of us here at Team EN are in similar states of high octane excitement, and we’ve been putting it to good use: you’ll get loads of content over the next week, including a jam-packed form guide that’ll help you get to know every single horse and rider in the field, visual at-a-glance guides to nail the stats down fast, course previews, jog awards, the chance to win prizes and merch, on-site course walks, behind-the-scenes glimpses on our Instagram, and much, much more. We can’t wait to fangirl with you all.
National Holiday: It’s National Hug a Plumber Day! I think I’ve seen this film before.
U.S. Weekend Action:
River Glen Spring H.T. (New Market, Tn.): [Website] [Results]
Poland’s Strzegom Horse Trials hosted a full plethora of international classes over the weekend, and it turned out to be a pretty jolly day in the office yesterday for Sweden’s Christoffer Forsberg, who won the CCI4*-L class from start to finish with Hippo’s Sapporo. That makes two four-star wins in as many weeks for the lanky Swede, whose bid for a spot at the World Equestrian Games looks stronger every day.
Are you attending this year’s Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event? Join EN and Ride iQ for a ridiculously epic course walk led by Kyle Carter and Buck Davidson on Friday, April 29. If you register ahead of time, you’ll be entered to win prizes such as a limited edition signed tote bag and goodies from our sponsors. Click here to learn more.
Your Monday Reading List:
Sometimes on a Monday morning, you just want to look at a few pretty horses. We get that, and the FEI apparently does too, because they’ve put together this piece that literally is just that: 15 event horses that… look real nice. Enjoy (and take note of Christoph Wahler’s position, too, which looks like it came from a page of Hunter-Jumper Equitation).
As Kentucky week begins, I’m thinking about the horses of years gone by who’ve lit a special spark in us all. One of those was the part Shetland Teddy O’Connor, who proved that the little guys can pack just as big of a punch. Here’s a sweet piece looking back at what made him such a cultural rallying point in our sport.
Has your horse been diagnosed with osteoarthritis? Learning how to manage this condition can be stressful – but it doesn’t have to be the end of the road for your eventer if you condition him accordingly and keep him supple. Here’s a great guide.
Want to see what life is like on the road with Team Jung? Give Michael’s head groom, Lena Steger, a follow for plenty of Chipmunk antics and a whole lot of horsey love this week!
Christoffer Forsberg and Hippo’s Sapporo pick up another win, this time in the 4*-L at Strzegom’s Spring Open. Photo by Leszek Wójcik.
Swedish rider Christoffer Forsberg with Hippo’s Sapporo was the best in the CCI4*-L, the most demanding class of the second leg of Strzegom Spring Open.
Forsberg took the lead after dressage, and despite going over the time in the cross-country and four faults in the jumping, kept it until the end of the rivalry. Second place belonged to Italy’s Marco Cappai with Uter, who was clear in the jumping, but had some time faults. Third belonged to Hanne Wind Ramsgaard riding Ameq Torino (Rawa’s Torino). The Danish athlete was second after the first trial, and jumped up the ranks after a clear cross-country course with time penalties.
In the CCI4*-S, the winner was Aminda Ingulfson from Sweden with Joystick. Few penalties in the XC and a clear jumping round secured her the win before France’s Maxime Livio with Elvis de Hus Z and Belgian Jarno Verwimp riding Mahalia. The best home rider was Joanna Pawlak with Fantastic Frieda, who took home the sixth.
The competition in the 3*-L ended with a significant reshuffle. The three competitors leading after dressage gave up on continuing the struggle after mistakes during the cross-country test. The winner was Maxime Livio from France with Vitorio du Montet, who was 10th after dressage and went clear in the XC, although 2 seconds late. The deciding factor was his clear jumping round. Second place went to Dutch rider Janneke Boonzaaijer with Bouncer, and third to Sweden’s Christoffer Forsberg riding Celladonn.
The 3*-S class ended with the victory of Polish rider Wiktoria Knap with Quintus 134. She took the lead after a faultless cross-country round and even a fence down in the jumping did not threat her win. Finland’s Veera Manninen with Sir Greg finished second, and Austria’s Robert Mandl with Sacré-Cœur – third.
Andreas Dibowski with Cristallik won the 2*-L. Going up from third after dressage after clear XC and jumping trials, he triumpher over Dutch athletes Merel Blom with Hallo and Janneke Boonzaaijer with I’m Special N.
Saturday’s cross-country trials revealed the best in the 2*-S and 1*-Intro classes. The win in the 2* as well as the third place belonged to Janneke Boonzaaijer with Mirage and Krek-Mora G. Second went to Andreas Dibowski (GER) with Lillet.
The Intro class ended with Swedish rider Malin Petersen’s victory aboard Hulda, before Elmo Laiho (FIN) with Bali and Pole Ksawery Śniegucki riding Don Fuego Corriente.
The Strzegom Spring Open competition selected the winners of seven international and three national competitions, with 250 horses representing 16 countries.
Our thoughts are currently with fellow eventer, Jennifer Weidrick who suffered a fall during a cross country lesson earlier this month that resulted in severe spinal cord injury and paralysis. Jenny will have long road to recovery ahead of her, but her positive attitude and her tribe of friends are helping her persevere. A GoFundMe has been set up to help offset her some of her medical and future rehabilitation bills. We’d tell you to stay strong, Jenny, but we already know you will — you’re an eventer after all.
Want to stay in the know for all things revolving around the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event and Badminton Horse Trials? We’ll be sending out our Daily Digest email beginning Monday, April 25 for Kentucky and Tuesday, May 3 for Badminton. It’s the best place to keep up with our coverage and all of the latest news from the big spring 5* events — and, it’s free! We’ll also be giving out prizes (think exclusive EN merch and sponsor goodies!) throughout each event, so you definitely don’t want to miss out. Sign up here.
Sunday Video: April is Autism Awareness Month, but Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Center outside of Philadelphia find that their horses and their students have a special connection every day.
Fairfax & Favor Find of the Week: (and by the way, we can’t wait to see the trot up fashion this Wednesday!)
I won’t lie to you — a lot of the time, watching the sprogs of five-star riders completely and utterly bypass me as a rider makes me feel ancient, haggard, and wholly uncoordinated. But these days, I’ve learned to embrace my lot in life as the wise old Grandmother Willow of the sport, if trees could chainsmoke and binge-drink and dance on tables at Boekelo.
Anyhow, our Friday video today comes to you from one of those superstar offspring, and British eventer Ellie Fredericks comes from top stock on both her sire and dam sides. She’s the daughter of Clayton and Lucinda Fredericks, and over the past few years, has been hard at work proving that she’s got what it takes to go all the way herself. Get to know her with her latest vlog, which takes us on a whistlestop tour of Thoresby International. They grow up so fast.
Ramping back up into full work for the spring? SmartPak has everything you need to make the transition back to show season. Click here for more.
Look, as a former resident of the US, I’d never want to disparage the travel times of the average US eventer en route to Kentucky, because I know all too well that it’s the sort of country where you can drive for roughly four hours and still not find a gas station and a decent sandwich. But flying a horse over the Atlantic Ocean? Come on now — even you experienced haulers who can somehow drive for 36 hours straight in a 24-hour time period have to admit that’s a really big deal. And over the last day or so, the European entries for Kentucky have been doing just that as they start their journeys to the Bluegrass State and a shot at one of the sport’s most prestigious titles. Let’s see how they’ve been getting on…
25-year-old British rider Yasmin Ingham is making her first ever trip to Kentucky with debutant Banzai du Loir, an elegant French gelding who’s been tipped as one of Britain’s best young horses after winning the 2020 eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S title and the 2021 Blenheim CCI4*-L. He’s a tall drink of water in the airplane crate he’s sharing with two diminutive but talented pals: he’s flanked by Jonelle Price‘s McClaren, who finished third at Pau last year, and Sarah Bullimore‘s Corouet, who won individual bronze at the European Championships last season and steps up to five-star at Kentucky. Safe travels, boys!
Sarah Bullimore also filled us all in on how the last few weeks have gone as she prepares to send her tiny (15.2hh!) orange child on his biggest adventure yet. The future is bright; the future is orange!
Do you reckon they get a bit of money knocked off the crate for a lighter load? Little McClaren and Corouet certainly won’t be contributing much weight (sorry, Banzai!) — look how sweet the pint-sized Kiwi looks before his departure!
Also heading to the airport in the UK are Pippa Funnell‘s two rides, her own Majas Hope and S.H.E. Eventing’s Maybach, who we hope had enough time to buy a couple of those really big Toblerones from Duty Free before catching a flight out of Stansted Airport.
Ireland’s Joseph Murphy took a break from packing Calmaro‘s overnight bag to deal with his own — and a delivery of trot-up attire from Dubarry will have filled his suitcase nicely.
You can also follow along with Michael Jung‘s Tokyo horse, Chipmunk FRH, who’s en route to Kentucky with #supergroom Lena Steger as we speak. Lena has taken over Michael’s Instagram Stories for the trip and you can follow along here.
We’ll continue to keep you up to speed on all the latest arrivals — not far off now until the week we’ve all been waiting for is upon us!
Time to dive into a fresh new edition of Who Jumped It Best? This selection comes to us from the 3*-S and Intermediate divisions at Twin Rivers in Paso Robles, Ca., from behind the lens of Sherry Stewart.
You know the drill, vote for the pair that presents the best overall picture in the poll below. Eternal EN karma to the winner. Good luck!
Josh Barnacle and Bittersweet 2. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Hailey Blackburn and Kilbunny Amigo. Photo by Sherry Stewart
Andrea Baxter and Laguna Seca. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Alessandra Allen Shinn and Fool Me Once. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
James Alliston and Monkey. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Jordan Linstedt and FE Friday. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Kaylawna Smith-Cook and AEV Above Authority. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Kelly Pugh Goodman and Ringwood Trendsetter. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
James Alliston and Irish Pop. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Lauren Billys and Can Be Sweet. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Audrey Sanborn and OBOS Quality Time. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
