Classic Eventing Nation

Instagram Roundup: Sand Dancing at Carolina International

By on Mar 24, 2022 10:00 pm -

I know … dressage day photos and videos aren’t exactly clickbait, but we love some good sandbox action on social media. We especially love and appreciate snaps posted by riders with commentary and personal narratives of how their weekend unfolds — it makes the experience so much more accessible and interactive for the rest of us — so bring it on! And be sure to read EN’s full recap of Thursday dressage here.

 

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Carolina International CCI & H.T. (Raeford, Nc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Live Stream] [Volunteer] [Official Photographer]

Go Eventing.

Carolina International CCI & H.T. (Raeford, Nc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Live Stream] [Volunteer] [Official Photographer]

 

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum Set New Carolina International CCI4*-S Record to Lead After Phase One

By on Mar 24, 2022 6:47 pm -

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.

As Tamie Smith and the Ahearn family’s Mai Baum (Loredano – Ramira, by Rike) came trotting from warm-up to competition ring this afternoon, one of the final pairs to see in the Setters’ Run CCI4*-S at Carolina International, other riders, judges, grooms, and spectators gathered around to watch the poetry in motion we’ve all come to anticipate.

“Harmony” is the word that has replaced the former collective marks on the dressage tests, both at National and FEI levels, and it’s what we see epitomized during a test like this. Riding in front of Peter Gray and Christina Klingspor, two members of this year’s FEI World Championships for Eventing, to be held in Italy this fall, Tamie and the 16-year-old “Lexus” danced and wove their way to a new record for this event: a 20.7 to shave just .10 off Kim Severson’s 2018 record with Cooley Cross Border.

“It’s awesome having [Mai Baum] as a long time partner,” Tamie said after her test. “Dressage is very enjoyable when I ride him now…he feels so strong this year and through and I’ve gotten better and he just feels amazing.”

Tamie has worked with highly sought-after coach Johann Hinnemann off and on for the last decade, but in the past few seasons has begun working with him on a more regular basis. Last year during her trip overseas, Tamie based with Johann for some additional help on the flat, and she says that mentorship has really helped her develop her partnerships further.

“Training with Jo has been game-changing,” Tamie said. “He’s a legend. My flatwork, my horses, and the feeling of them in their suppleness and throughness — I’ve learned so much. I learn almost more from just having conversations with him after our lessons and I feel grateful to have him part of my team.”

Tamie is basing with Will Faudree during her remaining time on the East coast before heading to Badminton with Mai Baum and has four of her other horses in tow while the rest of her team keeps the ship running back at home in southern California. Julianne Guariglia’s Solaguayre California (29.8 – 6th), Judith McSwain’s Fleeceworks Royal (32.0 – 12th), and the Elliot V Partnership’s Elliot V (25.7 – 18th) are all also competing in the 4*S this weekend.

“This would be their first time out at a big event,” Tamie said of her string to Frankie Thieriot-Stutes on the live broadcast. “Fleeceworks Royal hasn’t been out in a really atmosphere type event for a couple of years, she’s just been kind of running locally at home and I was traveling a lot so she didn’t get a lot of runs last year. The others are green — [Elliot V] is green, I was really proud of him in the ring and how he composed himself, and Solaguayre California is a super promising young horse who had some green mistakes, but she’s stunning. So we’re training and kind of assessing where they’re at and going to go from there. With Lexus, it’s just getting him in the ring — I wish you could’ve seen his warm-up because he was just so excited to be at an event. He always makes me a little bit nervous these days because he gets quite excited, but we’re here training even though we’re competing.”

As Tamie continues her prep for Badminton in May, she told Practical Horseman she does not plan to run Mai Baum cross country on Saturday.

You can watch Tamie and Mai Baum’s full test below, thanks to our friends at Horse & Country:

Watch Tamie Smith (Next Level Eventing) and Mai Baum break the Carolina International CCI and Horse Trial CCI4*-S dressage record with a 20.7 earned from judges Peter Gray and Christina Klingspor.

Full scores ▶️ https://evententries.com/#LiveScoreszDxH9bYVfZ$DK9E8OvrUGQ==

Horse & Country TV live stream: https://app.horseandcountry.tv/usea

Posted by Eventing Nation on Thursday, March 24, 2022

Will Coleman and Dondante. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.

Will Coleman all but punched the air with satisfaction after a near-flawless ride aboard Team Rebecca LLC’s Dondante (Pachio – Muckno Clover, by Euro Clover), who earned a personal best at the level and improved on his previous lowest by 5.3 penalty points for a 27.4 and second place early on. The striking Irish Sport Horse gelding is 12 this year and looks to be in his finest form yet here on day one; this is a wonderful partnership to have watched develop since the horse’s Young Event Horse days, and even Will told The Chronicle in 2019 that Dondante wouldn’t necessarily blow anyone away on the flat — look at him now!

“I was really pleased with Dondante today,” Will commented. “He is feeling a little bit more established and confident and while there are always some areas we can clean up, he was great today. My team and I have been quietly confident that he was capable of getting some better marks and I am just thrilled for his owners, Team Rebecca and the Four Star Eventing Group who have been a part of his career from the start.”

Doug Payne and Starr Witness. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.

Another busy rider in the 4*S this weekend is Doug Payne, whose 2019 Pan American Games partner Starr Witness (Chello II – Carmen, by Veneur) showed her growing strength and maturity in the ring to lay down a 28.7 that took the lead during the first half of the day. Starr Witness is owned by Laurie McRee and Catherine Winter.

“I’m privileged to have such a great group of horses here,” Doug commented after his test. “Starr Witness was excellent, it’s probably the best test she’s ever done to date.” He describes “the Ginja Ninja” as more on the careful side of the spectrum during the jumping phases, but he’ll have a couple of cracks around Ian Stark’s beefy track ahead of her time to figure out the best plan of attack.

Doug’s Tokyo Olympics partner, Debi Crowley’s Vandiver (Windfall – Visions of Grandeur, by Mystic Replica xx), also put in a solid effort to earn a 30.7 for eighth place overnight. Doug describes Vandiver as “not impressed by anything”, which means we’ll likely see him be the most efficient and quick with his experienced partner come Saturday.

Sydney Elliott, who rode earlier in the day, took the lead after her test with Carol Stephens’ QC Diamantaire (Diarado – Lantana, by Sandro Hit), scoring a 28.8 that would eventually be overtaken but still leave this pair tied for fourth overnight. This pair, who represented the U.S. on the silver medal-winning Nations Cup team that traveled to Boekelo in 2021, is headed for their second 5* start at Kentucky next month (they finished inside the top 20 during their first 5* start together in 2021).

“I was super thrilled with Q,” Sydney said. “This is our second outing of the year and we’re getting better so hopefully we continue to trend to Kentucky.”

Speaking on Carolina as a popular prep for Kentucky, Sydney agreed with the general sentiments. “It’s monumental, especially for fitness with our horses. We expect to go quite fast on Saturday and really open up his lungs and have a good run. Even though we have one more event with The Fork, this one will set the tone for Kentucky.”

Will Faudree impressed early on with a relaxed and workmanlike show from Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables’ Pfun (Tadmus – Celerina, by Cento), who scored a 28.8 to tie with Sydney, who is also a member of the “sorority house” Will calls his home these last few weeks (I think “Sigma Tau Faudree” has a nice ring to it), for fourth. “He is just such a dude,” Will said of Pfun. “I’ve had him a really long time, we have a great partnership. This phase is not easy for him. He doesn’t have huge flamboyancy in his movement, but he’s very workmanlike.”

This is a home event for Will, whose Gavilan Farm and Cloud 11 are perennial supporters of Carolina International. “I’m a bit biased because it’s my home event,” he explained. “Carolina Horse Park has done [a lot of work] to ensure top, top footing and a really good track. Ian Stark has designed a really beautiful, tough track. It just is a track you can really attack, and it sets the horses up really well for their five-stars at the end of April.”

Bits & Bobs:

Ariel Grald is riding with plenty of grit this weekend after losing her front teeth and breaking her nose from a kick to the face in January. She’s a tough nut, that one, and she turned in a lovely test from the impressive-looking Forrest Gump 124 (Fuerst Hymphenburg – Amaterasu, by Amerigo Vespucci xx), earning a 31.4 to tie for ninth. Annie Eldridge’s 11-year-old Hanoverian, “Shrimp” as he’s known at home, is new to this level, having won the CCI3*L at Tryon last fall, and showed some real promise as he continues to develop his strength and understanding of the sport. “I’m so lucky to ride him!” Ariel said. “His nerves and the atmosphere got to him a bit today, but I’m really excited about his future.”

Tamie Smith isn’t the only West coast representative competing at Carolina this weekend. She’s joined by Washington-based Marc Grandia, who comes forward with the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding Campari FFF (Camiros – Tanner, by Ariadus). This pair put in a lovely effort today and were rewarded with a personal 4* best 30.5 to sit in seventh overnight. Recently relocated to Ocala from Washington, Alina Patterson with the 11-year-old German Sport Horse Flashback (Fuerst Fugger – Queen of Joy, by Quaterback) are also competing here this weekend, earning a 34.5 to sit in 16th overnight.

We love to welcome riders back to the top levels after some time away and today we shout out Heather Gillette, who returns to the Advanced and 4* level this year with the big and handsome off-track Thoroughbred, Vincent Chase (Value Plus xx – Her Entourage xx, by Elusive Quality xx). Dressage wouldn’t be “Vinnie’s” favorite part of the job, but he’ll be keen to get out jumping as the weekend progresses. Heather last competed at this level with her former five-star partner, Our Questionnaire, in 2013.

Looking to the other FEI divisions running this weekend, your leaders are:

CCI3*-S: Caroline Martin and Redfield Champion (27.0)

Caroline Martin and Redfield Champion. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.

“Redfield Champion is just phenomenal,” Caroline said. “Paul Hendrix sourced him two years ago and he has been brilliant ever since. To have a horse that really wants to come out and win every day is an incredible feeling and it was great to see all his talent reflected in the marks today. He is only eight and both Blake and King are seven having just stepped up to the level this year so to see them all sitting at the top of such a competitive division is so rewarding.”

CCI2*-S: Dom Schramm and Quadrocana (25.2)

Dom Schramm and Quadrocana. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.

“I thought Quodrocana did a lovely test, and she deserved every mark she got,” Dom said. “She has always been a super nice horse on the flat but for one reason or another something has always popped up. I thought today everything really came together and she did her best test. I’m looking forward to the weekend ahead and jumping on the grass tomorrow as I have found it is good practice and exposure.”

CCI1*-S: Lily Dal Cin and FE Bobby Dazzler (26.4)

Lily Dal Cin and FE Bobby Dazzler. Photo courtesy of Brant Gamma Photography.

“FE Bobby Dazzler was super today, and I am just thrilled with him,” Lily said. “We had an amazing warm up and he was so relaxed going into the ring. He was obedient, and I was thinking he might have been a bit looky once he got into the ring, but he was so focused. This is both of our first FEI’s and he couldn’t have been better. I am really excited to be able to jump in the Derby Field tomorrow and I think the cross country course looks great.”

Next up, riders will take on Marc Donovan’s show jumping track tomorrow, followed by the cross country finale on Saturday. The schedule, updated as of yesterday, can be found here. Show jumping will begin at 10 a.m. ET with the CCI3*-S, followed by the CCI4*-S at 12:00 p.m. ET.

All jumping for the FEI divisions will stream on H&C+ this weekend. I highly recommend signing up for a subscription as H&C+ has a full roster of live streams coming up for 2022, on top of the masses of entertainment and educational content also available. Check out the USEA H&C+ hub here for more information. You can also sneak a peek at Ian Stark’s cross country course here on CrossCountryApp.

That does it for us after an exciting day one at Carolina! We’ll be back tomorrow with much more — thanks for following along, and as ever, Go Eventing.

This post may be updated with additional photos and quotes. Many thanks to Amanda Chance and Mikaela Kantorowski for their contributions to this report, as well as to official photographer Brant Gamma for providing media images.

Carolina International CCI & H.T. (Raeford, Nc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Live Stream] [Volunteer] [Official Photographer]

How to Watch the 2022 Carolina International Live Stream

By on Mar 24, 2022 11:00 am -

David Vos competing at Carolina International. Photo by Brant Gamma photo.

The 2022 Cloud 11~Gavilan North LLC Carolina International runs today through Sunday, and Horse & Country TV+ members can watch all three phases live.

The live broadcast schedule is as follows:

Thursday, March 24
Dressage: 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. EST

‼️ Alert: Dressage has been delayed by one hour due to lightning; the live stream will begin at 11 a.m. ET.

Friday, March 25
Show jumping: 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. EST

Saturday, March 27
Cross Country: 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. EST

Annual H&C+ Membership is $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year (a savings of 16%). Members can watch online or with H&C’s mobile apps, as well as on Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, and Amazon Fire. Full details on how to join can be found at horseandcountry.tv. If you’re already a member, here’s a quick link to the Carolina International live stream.

Sign up now for an Annual H&C+ Membership in time to catch all the events streaming throughout the season. In addition to Carolina International, will provide exclusive live coverage from at least 11 major international events throughout the year including two of the world’s five-star events: Pau and Luhmühlen (both the four- and five-star divisions will be streamed at the latter). H&C+ Membership also includes access to a wealth of Training and Learning content for riders of all levels, Masterclasses from Will Faudree and Will Coleman, as well as episodes of H&C’s Barn Talk series featuring profiles of both Wills, Liz Halliday-Sharp and much more.

Members can watch online or with H&C’s mobile apps, as well as on Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, and Amazon Fire. Full details on how to join can be found at horseandcountry.tv.

Carolina International CCI & H.T. (Raeford, Nc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Live Stream] [Volunteer]

Thursday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

By on Mar 24, 2022 12:03 am -

Just a little sneak peak at Carolina International! Photo by CrossCountry App.

This is my favorite 2-3 week period of the year, this beginning of spring weather. The grass is super green, the first trees and bushes and flowers are blooming bright colors, and my horses don’t need hay thrown out in their fields anymore! Nothing makes me happier than seeing new tasty grass growing after so many months of looking at brown and grey lands. Carolina is also the first event where the background looks properly green, and it never ceases to raise my spirits coming out of winter.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Carolina International CCI & H.T. (Raeford, Nc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Live Stream] [Volunteer]

Full Gallop Farm March II H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

March H.T. at Majestic Oaks (Reddick, Fl.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (Tyler, Tx.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

News From Around the Globe:

Buying a young horse but looking for more guidance? Purchasing a young horse can be challenging but, three eventing professionals, who specialize in young horse training, provide advice when shopping for a young event horse. Learn more from Martin Douzant, Tim Bourke, and Kelty O’Donoghue, all of whom specialize in bringing young horses along and are regularly successful in the YEH and FEH classes. [Tips When Shopping For a Young Horse]

We always say, “No hoof, no horse”, but why do so many of us leave it up to the farrier to know everything? While it’s fairly easy to see obvious hoof problems, such as distortion, cracks, or rings, balance problems can be much more subtle. In this article, you’ll find the tools you need to read between the lines when looking at your horse’s feet. They explain what a “perfect foot” should look like, and will outline a five-point foot check you can use to evaluate basic foot balance. With this information in hand, you’ll be able to tell if your horse’s feet are happy, or when trouble might be brewing. [Reading Your Horse’s Hooves]

Dr Tracey Cole is an accredited neurolinguistic programming (NLP) coach based in the UK. She specializes in coaching equestrians to be confident and calm in the saddle after finding success with NLP in treating her own show nerves. As an expert on the equestrian mindset, and a rider herself, Dr Cole understands the unique pressures that come with riding and competing, whether you’re a Dressage Diva or an Eventing superstar in the making. Confident riders, Dr Cole says, are not necessarily born that way. Which is great news, because it means that any of us can become confident in our own abilities. [Stay Calm & Confident in the Saddle]

I love a good older horse story. At twenty-seven years young, the beloved Brazilian Warmblood Rio or Lanciano as he is known in the show ring,  continues to compete. Just this past week, Rio proudly carried twelve-year-old Amanda Huard to top ribbons at WEC. With the same owner since the age of five, Rio didn’t fancy retirement, and is well known for his impeccable manners both in the barn and the show ring. [27 And Going Strong]

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Is This the Ultimate Stable Yard?

By on Mar 23, 2022 5:00 pm -

I’ll confess – I’m a little bit addicted to luxury living. My cottage is full of dusty stacks of back issues of Country Life, with its endless pages of stately piles for sale, and whenever I get the chance to go to the Winter Equestrian Festival, I always end up spiriting away a few local realtor brochures so I can take a peek behind the scenes of those incredible barns dotted around the showgrounds.

Fortunately for me (and my nosy ilk), veteran vlogger and dressage rider Matt Harnacke has made it his mission to get the golden ticket to go behind the scenes at some of Europe’s most impressive stables. This time, he heads to Salzburg, Austria to tour the facilities at young dressage rider Diana Porsche‘s base. And yes, it really is that Porsche – and yes, it is also cleaner than my actual house. By a long shot.

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Check out this KPP article: Vitamin E and the Performance Horse – A Winning Combination.

The horse that matters to you matters to us®. KPPusa.com

Nothing Great Ever Happens in your Comfort Zone

By on Mar 23, 2022 3:00 pm -

Emily Hamel and Corvett. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

How many of you enjoy doing things that make you uncomfortable? My guess is not too many hands are shooting up in the air. If you’re anything like me, you try to put off uncomfortable situations or tasks as long as possible. The problem with this is that if it’s inevitable and can’t be avoided forever, you cause yourself more anxiety by not doing the thing instead of just doing the damn thing.

Over the holidays, I received a daily calendar called UNF*CK YOURSELF with a motivational but blunt quote to start each day. I have received similar calendars in the past and usually remember to tear off the pages for the first few days, but then next thing I know, it’s June 1, and January 17 is staring back at me. This calendar’s direct and unfiltered approach made me excited to see what insight the next day would bring.

January 8, I awoke to this gem, “Nothing great ever happens in your comfort zone.” I knew this to some degree but felt the strong desire to explore the idea more. How many things had I been putting off because it made me feel uncomfortable, and how was that lack of action taking away from creating the life I wanted?

On the one hand, I am pretty happy with my life and feel grateful for everything I have achieved. However, on the other hand, I have much more that I want to do in this life, and my biggest fear is not living up to my full potential. So, how do I face this fear and work towards becoming the best possible version of myself? That is the million-dollar question.

I decided the best way to begin this process was by making a list of things that made me uncomfortable because everything is figure-out-able with a list, right? So, I put pen to paper and listed anything and everything that I regularly encountered, which made my body tense at its thought. There were minor things (aka first world problems) like having to get up right when my alarm goes off in the morning and not being able to hit the snooze to stay in my warm, comfy bed for five more minutes (or more because, let’s face it, I am a snooze addict!). Then, more significant things fit into the broader category of awkward situations I try to avoid at all costs because they are uncomfortable AF. For example, having a “difficult” conversation with someone or expressing my opinion when it differs from popular belief.
The thing that stuck out to me the most and affected my life in real-time was asking for help. Not for little things like bringing in horses from the field or changing blankets, but for big things that required other people’s time, effort, and/or money. I have struggled with this throughout my life for multiple reasons. For instance, I never want to inconvenience people or feel like I’m burdening them, which stems from deeper issues that we don’t need to get into right now. That coupled with my firm belief that I am a strong, capable, and independent woman makes for a lethal combo. Why should I ask for help when I’m perfectly capable of doing it myself?!

The harsh reality is that I don’t have the time, energy, or money to do all the things, all the time. No one does, and no one should. Once you accept this truth, it is less painful to relinquish some control, put ego aside, and ask for the support you need. Of course, this is easier said than done, but here’s what helped me…

  1. Make a clear ask. What do you need in this exact moment? Don’t beat around the bush…get to the point.

  2. Right now, I need support to make my dreams of competing at Badminton and Burghley this year a reality. Taking a horse overseas is a massive time, energy, and money commitment. I can’t do it alone, and I am asking Team Barry fans for anything they can contribute, and it doesn’t have to be financial. I’m all about finding creative ways to make things happen. Maybe you have a product or service that you could donate for me to auction off, which I can then use the proceeds towards the trip. Or perhaps you have a connection to an equestrian brand that would be interested in some form of sponsorship. There are endless opportunities to achieve something when people work together towards a goal.

  3. Solidify your why. What is the deeper purpose behind your ask?

  4. I’m a small-town girl from Wisconsin with an ordinary background, and as much as I knew from a young age I wanted to ride at Kentucky, I understood I would need to work extremely hard and be persistent to make my 5* goals a reality. I want to inspire other riders to pursue their dreams and show them what is possible with dedication. Also, the partnership between horse and rider has always been important to me. My horse, Corvett (aka Barry), was always talented but very quirky, so no one was able to showcase his full abilities before I bought him. I knew he was special, and it was my mission to bring that out in him. I think it’s safe to say he is a phenomenal athlete and that we have an extraordinary partnership together. I hope this can encourage others to see greatness in their horses and learn to bring it out through patience and some good old TLC.

  5. Create value for others. How can your ask be mutually beneficial?

  6. As I said earlier, I hope that following my dreams will inspire others to do the same. Also, I understand my responsibility to myself, my horse, and everyone who has helped get me across the pond to put in my best possible performance at these prestigious events. I want all Team Barry supporters to feel like they are a part of something bigger when I’m galloping across the English countryside and riding proudly for the U.S.A. Additionally, I will be sharing my experiences while overseas through more blog posts and social media updates so that everyone can feel like they are a part of the ride!

After all of this, I think it is important to note I have had many people help me throughout the years, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of others. However, the support I have gotten so far has been freely given, and I have not had to ask for it. Even though asking for help still makes me uncomfortable, I am pushing past it to seek greatness. So, I am asking you to be a part of Team Barry in any way that works for you because teamwork truly does make the dream work, and together, we can do great things!

Badminton-Bound and Beaming: The Countdown Begins on the ‘Gram

By on Mar 23, 2022 12:36 pm -

 

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Imagine the butterflies and excitement you’re feeling about heading back to Badminton Horse Trials this year – or, indeed, planning your viewing parties from afar. Now multiply that by 100 and add in some serious bum-clenching, and you’re well on your way to replicating how this year’s smoking hot field of entrants are feeling about the whole thing. The countdown is officially on, and preparations are well underway – so let’s catch up with some of this year’s field and see what they’ve been up to on their way to the world’s most prestigious event.

Padraig McCarthy and HHS Noble Call nailed the publicity push before the big day:


Tim Price took Ringwood Sky Boy and Xavier Faer out for some sunny prep:

 

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Mike Winter made the most of the spring rays, too, taking El Mundo for some crucial canter work:

 

Harry Meade pulled out the scales for his trio of entrants (and, as it turns out, himself):

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum got some showjumping finessing done with Scott Keach:

 

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Now that competition season has started, we’re seeing some entrants log early runs – including Richard Jones and Alfies Clover, who was seventh at Burghley a couple of years ago:

And British-based Aussie Sammi Birch, who has two entries this year:

 

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Reigning winners Piggy March and Vanir Kamira got some match practice in: 

 

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A post shared by Piggy March (@piggy.march)


Three-time Adelaide CCI5* winners Hazel Shannon and Willingapark Clifford have started their year based at Kevin and Emma McNab’s yard in England, and they made their British Eventing debut at Tweseldown:

 

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Kiwi entrants Amanda Pottinger and Just Kidding also settled into life in the UK:

 

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A post shared by Muzi Pottinger (@amanda_pottinger_nz)


Emily King started her year well with the micro-syndicate owned Valmy Biats, whose many owners will be following his progress on tenterhooks:

 

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The youngest entrant in this year’s field, 19-year-old Alice Casburn, took the win in the OIu21 at Oasby with her homebred entrant, Topspin:

 

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A post shared by Alice Casburn (@alice_casburn)

Phillip Dutton and Z stormed around Ocala:

 

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A post shared by Phillip Dutton (@duttoneventing)


Olympic team gold medallists and Pau five-star winners Laura Collett and London 52 took an early-season second: 

 

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A post shared by Laura Collett MBE (@laura_collett)


Reigning World Champions Ros Canter and Allstar B dusted off the cobwebs at Poplar Park, scoring an impressive 17.5 in the first phase:

 

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Pippa Funnell celebrated a good start to the season with a goldfish bowl full of gin:


All around the world, members of the media have been preparing, too – starting with some spring cleaning:

 

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‘We Owe Him Countless Moments of Happiness:’ Double Olympic Gold Medallist Butts Abraxxas Dies at 25

By on Mar 23, 2022 9:37 am -

We’re sad to share the news that Ingrid Klimke‘s exceptional Butt’s Abraxxas, who helped contribute to Germany’s Olympic team gold medals in 2008 and 2012, has died at the age of 25 due to a heart condition.

“He was still fit and alert, but an acute age-related heart failure made us not let him suffer. We owe countless moments of happiness to the little fighter with his huge heart,” says Ingrid in a translated post from her social media.

The Hanoverian gelding (Heraldik xx x Kira-Annabell, by Kronenkranich xx) retired from international competition in 2013, after a successful final run at Burghley saw him take fourth place and cap off an exceptional career.

“At 16, Braxxi once again showed his courage and stamina in Burghley one of the 5* classics of eventing. After that I decided to say goodbye to him from the big sport,” says Ingrid. Together, the pair had contested the level four times, picking up a second place finish at Luhmühlen in 2010 as their best result, and were great stalwarts of the German squad. They competed at three European championships, winning team gold at Luhmühlen in 2011 and finishing tenth individually at Pratoni del Vivaro in 2007, and they were part of the team for the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in 2010, where they finished thirteenth. The highlight of their career was, undoubtedly, those two Olympic gold medals – but as Ingrid explains, ‘Braxxi’ was more than just a competitive partner.

“Fresh and motivated [after his retirement at 16], he enabled Greta [Busacker, Ingrid’s daughter and the current Young Rider European Champion] to switch from a pony to a big horse and was a great teacher. Braxxi spent another 7 wonderful years with us in the stable in his box number 1 and on the pasture with his best friend Weisse Düne. We are very sad and miss him! Braxxi, you will always have a special place in our hearts.”

Ingrid Klimpke and FRH Butts Abraxxas. Photo courtesy of Nico Morgan Photograph.

We could wax lyrical about this special horse all day, because for so many of us on the team here at EN, he was part of our own formative golden age of horses that inspired us and propelled us into careers at the heart of the sport. But nothing we can write will hold more power than the stories Ingrid herself tells about her journey with Braxxi, and we particularly wanted to share the tribute she penned after his retirement, which you can read in full on her website.

“Dear Braxxi!

It was as I was searching for my next horse to follow in the footsteps of Sleep Late that Hans [Melzer] and Chris [Bartle] discovered you. Carmen and I saw you for the first time at Luhmühlen; a tiny black horse with little pony hooves and movement that gave away your thoroughbred breeding. From a dressage point of view I was not exactly jumping for joy. The first cross country jump however showed how fast and confident you were. The first time jumping over colourful poles on this hot and sunny day was not so impressive but with the hopes that it would improve, you came to our stable in 2005.

Carmen still remembers your first few days and weeks with us: small and unremarkable but you showed us very quickly just what an amazing character you were.

I was still very unsure if you would be talented enough however your pony-like self-assured way impressed me from the start. It was clear fairly fast — you wanted to stay. You tried your little heart out, had stamina, willpower, you were tough as nails and mastered each step of your training with flying colours.

Carmen, who would become your best and most trusted friend, was always behind you, and supported you in the best possible way. You thanked us with your incredible soundness.

From 2007 you were on the German Team for 6 years in a row. We won Team Gold at the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong and then at the London games in 2012 you fought to help me win Gold again for the Team. This is an incredible achievement, the only other horse to do this was Charisma with Mark Todd (1984 and 1988).

After Hong Kong you were meant to be sold but luckily Madeleine Winter Schulze stepped in and bought you and we were able to stay together. After winning our second Team Gold I was asked about retiring you after such a sensational result. I started you in Badminton to see how fit and motivated you still felt — you were super. As Escada showed us what she was capable of in Malmö you fought back only one week later at Burghley to remain as Number 1 in the stable. Burghley was our most difficult cross country course together and you once again, with your typical heart and fighting spirit, more gave me everything you had.

I often asked myself when the right time would be to retire you. I was hoping you would give me a sign as Sleep Late had done. You were so fresh and motivated as always in this season; there was no German combination that had finished in the British 4 star-classic Burghley in the top 5. There were only 6 four star courses in the world, 4 of which you had successfully completed,with a trip to Australia now being out of the question. It simply could not get any better!!!

[…]

My dear Braxxi, the time is right for a change, for the next chapter in your life. Carmen, with whom you are so close, and I, will continue to train and keep you fit, you will remain our favourite; whether hunting, riding out or teaching the children,who can learn so much from you, you will not be bored. We will enjoy seeing your spirit when playing in the field with your buddies Nemo and Barney. Carmen says you can read and write, you are always in a good mood and willing to have fun. When Carmen rides you in nothing but a neck rope this is pure joy and shows the trust and incredible friendship between you.

My dear Braxxi, I thank you for the countless and unforgettable moments of absolute happiness. To shine in the dressage arena — you made it so easy for me. Riding the most difficult cross country courses in the world you were always “as fast as a hare” (to quote Chris Bartle) and brave as a lion. You touched my heart so often. You gave me the gift of trusting me absolutely and never questioned that I would choose the correct path for us. We are a wonderful team and could always rely on one another. Often I was disappointed after show jumping — not one of your strengths! However, every horse in my life has taught me something important. From you I learnt that one must sometimes simply accept things as they are and learn to live with them.

Braxxi, for this I thank you, that what I have learnt from you I will take with me on my journey, both as a person and a rider. The words of my Father are always with me: “we want to understand the nature of the horse, respect his personality and never suppress it with our training”

You have such an amazing personality, dear Braxxi,  and will always remain this way for me!”

All of us at Team EN send our condolences to Ingrid, and to everyone connected with this wonderful horse. Thanks for the memories, Braxxi.

 

Wednesday News & Notes from Haygain

By on Mar 23, 2022 12:01 am -

It’s that time of year when I incessantly remind you that applications are currently open for the next round of the Strides for Equality Equestrians Ever So Sweet scholarship! If you want some inspiration/motivation to apply, you should definitely follow the Ever So Sweet Instagram page for all the #FOMO your heart could desire. Then head on over to the SEE website to apply. Easy as that!

#WomensHistoryMonth Bit of the Day

Eventing hasn’t always been a sport in which both men and women could compete on the same playing field. Sheila Wilcox was one trailblazer who helped pave the way for this to happen — and she also won Badminton three times in a row as further evidence of her general badassery. Read more in this article and then order Sheila’s biography here.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Carolina International CCI & H.T. (Raeford, Nc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Stream] [Volunteer]

Full Gallop Farm March II H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

March H.T. at Majestic Oaks (Reddick, Fl.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (Tyler, Tx.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Wednesday News & Reading

What inspired you to pick up riding? We all have a slightly different story in terms of “catching the bug”, and here’s a cool story from Sharon Holland, a Townsend Ludington Distinguished Professor in American Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Professor Holland took her inspiration from the history books, riding now in honor of those who came before her.

The revamped ICP program is intended for trainers to up their game and safely coach their students through the levels. In a new USEA series, ICP-certified instructors are bringing their training tips for all of our benefit. Click here to read up on a simple but challenging exercise you can do on the flat from Emily Beshear.

German online auction platform horse24.com is hosting a fundraising auction benefiting Ukrainian relief efforts. Over 100 stud fee vouchers will be auctioned, and all proceeds from the auction will go to Doctors Without Borders and Equiwent. The last day to place a bid is Sunday, March 27. Click here to view the auction.

Are you ready for Carolina International this week? If you’re into fantasy sports, you’ll definitely want to check out the EquiRatings Eventing Manager game. The market is open for this weekend, and you’ll get $10 (fake) million to build the most competitive team of four you can afford. It’s addicting! To play you need to have the Eventing Manager app, but it’s free — download it here.

Reminder: sometimes the best things are waiting on the outside of your comfort zone. This is something Emily Hamel knows to be very true, and she muses on this topic in her latest blog. Find some inspiration and advice here!

Watch This on H&C+

Don’t forget to sign up for your H&C+ membership to follow along with all the action at Carolina International this weekend, starting tomorrow!

Wednesday Video Break

Take a visit to The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art (which makes me feel fancier just by typing the name):

Being Aggressively Passive, Not Passive Aggressive

By on Mar 22, 2022 3:00 pm -

We’re pleased to collaborate with Chelsea Canedy as a guest contributor on Eventing Nation and Horse Nation. Chelsea Canedy is an event rider and trainer based in Wales, Maine, at her beautiful Unexpected Farm. Her training approach places a strong emphasis on understanding how horses learn, as well as rider mindfulness, and how that translates into better performance. Learn more about her at www.chelseacanedy.com.

Photo courtesy of Chelsea Canedy.

Recently, I was having a conversation with my lovely barn manager about an issue that arose at the barn while I was out of town. Everyone was okay, and it wasn’t a terribly dire issue, but there seemed to be some unrest about it and a lot of back-and-forth between her and a group of students. I could see that everyone actually had the same view, but everyone was worried about upsetting each other, and were, at the same time, upset by the situation. Consequently, there was an air of passive-aggressiveness wafting around.

It was, in the scheme of things, a very small deal. If you have a group of boarders and students dealing with the stresses of surviving a New England winter with their horses, you’re bound to have moments that are slightly tense, and everything was ultimately resolved with no hard feelings.

But in the aftermath of that, I felt the need to explain to my barn manager (who is new to the team) that I really, truthfully, do not get angry very often, and I was not angry in this case at all. However, I am intense in my desire to fix things and to communicate, and sometimes that can come across as upset. I address things head-on and talk them out until we can reach an understanding.

She was surprised by this. Basically everywhere else this barn manager has been, people were generally passive aggressive. I explained that I wanted to be the very opposite of that. I wanted to be aggressively passive.

This term came to my mind while I watched Shawna Karrasch in a clinic recently. She was working with a horse that had been incorrectly familiarized with r+ training and had become a pushy cookie monster, and she became the epitome of aggressively passive. The horse was pushing her arm, nudging her (not dangerously, just obnoxiously), and trying to search her for treats. Instead of shoving him out of her space, as many of us would be tempted to do, she just didn’t react; she was almost limp, simply showing him all the ways that his behavior wasn’t working. And then came a split second moment when he moved out of her space and paused – boom, there was the reward.

I think as riders and horse trainers, we struggle with this. I know I have. It’s a challenge to be so committed to seeing something through to the other side that you have to do perhaps the most challenging thing of all: wait. To tell yourself that you’re okay just being there, as long as it takes.

This is why meditation can be so difficult. It’s the epitome of just being.

With hot horses, there’s so much waiting required. Your job as the rider is to set the boundaries and wait. Let them try. You’re choosing to be passive in every moment, to not go there with your emotions, to not let things escalate. Every step, you’re choosing that neutral energy. When you’re letting the horse work it out — you have to be really passive and stay out of their way.

I’m stationed in Florida for the winter and lucky to have the help of Tik Maynard and Sinead Maynard (formerly Halpin) while I’m here. I found myself, unconsciously, arriving in Florida with a bit of a competitive mindset that Albert and I had something to prove – that we’d come all this way, so we really had to put our best foot forward. My sensitive horse must have caught wind of that energy in my first lesson with Sinead – he was tense to the jumps, and I was subconsciously feeding into it, trying to “fix” it.

Sinead offered to hop on to see if she could feel what was going on, and it became a lesson in and of itself for me to watch her. When his tension would come up, she wouldn’t bat an eye. He’d get weird and wiggly in his body, she wouldn’t engage. She would just sit there and wait until he decided to join the party. It was the best reminder for me that we are tempted to do so much fixing, but sometimes, we just need to be aggressively passive. Since I am a visual learner, watching this process was the reminder I needed to turn towards that place in myself when I got back on. That place exists in all of us … we just need practice recognizing it.