Classic Eventing Nation

10 Unique Airbnbs For Your Next Lexington-Area Event

By on Feb 10, 2022 9:00 am -

I’m a big fan of Airbnb and Vrbo. I’ve booked accommodations through these sites everywhere from Rebecca Farm to Red Hills, Luhmühlen to LRK3DE, Badminton to Boekelo. Not only can they be cheaper than a hotel (always a plus for EN, on our quest to cover every important event in the world with a budget of literally zero dollars), they often have character and help create memories in a way that cookie cutter chain hotels just can’t.

In a new series, we are combing Airbnb listings for unique places to stay in some of the most popular eventing destinations. Previous editions: Ocala, Aiken, Tryon, Rocca di Papa (site of the 2022 WEG). Today we head to Lexington, Kentucky.

Photo via Airbnb.

Vintage Airstream/Downtown

If the idea of camping appeals to you — except for the part about having to set up a tent, and lack of heat/air conditioning or really any basic modern amenities whatsoever — you’re the target “glamping” demographic. This vintage 1960 Airstream is located in downtown Lexington, but feel free to close your eyes and pretend you’re out in the wilderness. It has loads of character and sits behind an 1890 Victorian House with fenced yard, fire pit and outdoor dining area.

Photo via Airbnb.

The Dairy Dream Farm Stay

Moo-oove over, hotels! Three cozy cow-themed bedrooms await guests on this working dairy farm. This would be an especially fun stay for kids, who can experience milking cows, collecting chicken eggs, and play time with sheep and goats. Free coffee, tea and fresh farm eggs for breakfast included. A portion of your stay contributes to the program at Stack-a-Story Inc. to provide farm stays for the underserved.

Photo via Airbnb.

ARCADIA FARM COTTAGE – Luxury Bluegrass Retreat

The word “Arcadia” is often used to describe an idyllically pastoral place, and that checks out with this three-bedroom, four-bath cottage. Located on a historic 384-acre farm, it features include Tempur-pedic mattresses fitted with luxe linens, king bedrooms, classic equestrian decor and a patio with panoramic views.

Photo via Airbnb.

YOU DESERVE IT! DOWNTOWN LEX LUX LOFT. RUPP ARENA

“Is this our Airbnb or are we just at a cool but really empty club?” This downtown loft with a city skyline view is the perfect place to recreate the vibes of Meg Kep’s early “Creepy Dance Party” videos in a more appropriate setting. Includes HDTV with every possible subscription (Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, premium cable, Netflix, Apple TV, etc.) and some crazy lights.

Photo via Airbnb.

Estate in The Heart of Horse Country

Looking for a luxury horse show getaway with up to a dozen of your closest barn buds? This opulent five-bedroom, five-bath estate is adjacent to a working winery and overlooks a stately horse farm. It’s the perfect place to kick back with a glass of bubbly and imagine yourself the silk-stockinged owner of a fleet of champion race horses.

Photo via Airbnb.

Unique Stay – 1907 Log Cabin Near Kentucky River

This 1907 log cabin is a bit of a haul from the Horse Park but it’s so unique, we couldn’t leave it out. Perched on the palisades of The Kentucky River, it has king bedroom and a fun two-bed loft (ladder access, of course!) The hosts recommend dinner at the nearby Proud Marys BBQ, and if you’re luck you’ll catch some live music.

Photo via Airbnb.

Modern & Bright Tiny House

No Airbnb highlight reel would be complete without a tiny house (or two!) This one looks like a dollhouse but actually can sleep up to four; it was built and lived in by its hosts until their family started to grow. Here’s another cute one in the area: Purple Door Tiny House.

Photo via Airbnb.

Bourbon Hous – 7 Bdrms, Bar, Billiards, Brand New!

Why go out on the town when you can just stay in? In my experience stay-at-home bartenders mix the strongest drinks, too. This renovated historic house has seven bedrooms and seven and a half baths, making it a fun place for your whole barn crew to stay.

Photo via Airbnb.

 Enjoy Downtown Lex from your Private Deck

This breezy one-bedroom, one-bath loft makes me want to rip out every wall in my house and replace it with a garage door. Brilliant! So cute and cozy and equipped with basic kitchen amenities, all new appliances, washer/dryer and two TVs. About 20 minutes from the Horse Park.

Thursday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

By on Feb 10, 2022 12:03 am -

A cool new custom jump in the works with Eric Bull! Photo courtesy of Stable View.

After three weeks in January where almost no rides happened due to two snow storms, February has already kicked off at a proper rate and everybody is double panicked about work missed with their horses. My body, however, is not rejoicing. Isn’t it amazing how fast you can lose fitness? I have a PEMF machine for my horses, but honestly I’m using it more days than not, since riding no horses and suddenly riding 6+ horses a day is not recommended.

Black History Bit of the Day:

Did you know that 1 out of every 4 cowboys was Black? Historians now estimate that between 20 to 25% of cowboys in the American West were African American. Oftentimes popular films and literature that depict the Wild West fail to convey the diverse nature of the Western Frontier. Since the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s historians and other scholars have inquired more about the integral role African Americans played in the settlement and development of the West. Being a cowboy was one of the few ways African American men and some women were able to obtain autonomy and freedom in ways typically unheard of during the 19th century.

Even the term cowboy has interesting origins. Originally, White cowboys were called cowhands, and African Americans were pejoratively referred to as “cowboys.” Learn more in this fascinating history here.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Full Gallop Farm February I H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Ocala Winter I H.T. (Ocala, Fl.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Pine Top Intermediate H.T. (Thomson, Ga.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

News From Around the Globe:

To honor the lives of Devyn Merritt Anderson and Jessica Halliday who both lost their courageous battles with cancer in late 2021 Area I has established an annual “Living Courageously” Sportsmanship Award. Both Anderson and Halliday were active Adult Rider Program (ARP) members in Area I. They continued to support their riding friends and family no matter what life threw at them and could often be found cheering others on with a smile. The inaugural award was presented to Katy Raynor DVM during the virtual USEA Area I Annual Meeting held January 26-27, 2022. Several Area I members submitted Raynor’s name for consideration for the award after Raynor combatted an immense amount of adversity throughout 2021 and early 2022. [Katy Raynor Wins Living Courageously Award]

Best of Blogs: Are We Over-Competing Our Horses? By Max Corcoran

Despite the light drizzle, trainers and auditors filed into the tent at Barnstaple South leaving no seat empty for the first day of the 2022 ICP Symposium at Barnstaple South in Ocala, Florida. There were 140 USEA members in attendance, half of which were currently USEA Instructors’ Certification Program (ICP) certified instructors and the other half who were eager to learn more about the program and obtain critical skills from the symposium to take home to their students or to apply to their own riding. The morning began with an introduction of the day’s faculty leaders, Phyllis Dawson, Robin Walker, Eric Horgan, Mary D’Arcy, Karen O’Connor, David O’Connor, Dayna Lynd-Pugh, Jim Graham, Rebecca Brown, Emily Beshear, Bec Braitling, Jennifer Rousseau, and Peter Gray, as well as the much-anticipated first look at the USEA Eventing Handbook by the Levels. [Day 1 Of ICP Symposium]

The second day of the USEA Instructors’ Certification Program (ICP) Symposium at BarnStaple South in Ocala, Florida focused on adapting each lesson to the rider you are teaching, especially while schooling cross-country. The morning opened up with an exceptional seminar over teaching modalities and sports psychology from Dr. Paul Haefner. Following an overview of cross-country course design and risk management measures led by David O’Connor, the attendees made their way to the cross-country course at BarnStaple South to begin the educational exercises. [Cross Country Exercises from Day Two]

Video: Puppy in a puffer coat at Jen and Earl McFall’s Dragonfire Farm!

 

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Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Connie Pride with Allie Sacksen

By on Feb 9, 2022 5:00 pm -

There are some horses that just capture all our hearts collectively as they skip around the top-level events, and Allie Sacksen‘s late, great Sparrow’s Nio was one of those wonderful unifiers. Small, tough, and determined, he made everything about his job look like jolly good fun, and we’d be lying to you if we said we hadn’t been daydreaming about a Connemara pony of our own since then.

“Nio took me places that I could never have dreamed of as a little girl, not because he was the biggest or fanciest horse but because he truly loved what he did and always tried his hardest for me. If you want a heart horse, a Connemara will give you all they have and even a little more,” says Allie in conversation with US Equestrian, who’ve rereleased this video of Nio’s 2019 Kentucky round for us all to get inspired by all over again.

Go eventing, and Go Ponies!

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When in Rome: 9 Places to Stay for the World Championships

By on Feb 9, 2022 3:30 pm -

My travel-hungry little brain has been living for Leslie Wylie’s AirBNB roundups this week – I’ve now picked my pad of choice for trips to Ocala, Aiken, and Tryon that I don’t even actually have in my diary, because she’s such a dab hand at picking out the gems. But if Leslie is a pro at AirBNB-ing America, I’m going to claim the honour of being the queen of European hotel booking. In my years as EN’s British and European correspondent, I’ve blagged my way into chateaus in the Loire Valley, balconies overlooking Swiss lakes, and cozy English hotels that provide you with your very own rubber duckie for bath time. (I’ve also stayed in what I’m absolutely certain was a crack den for a whole £10 per night, but that was early in my career and I was rather more avant-garde about my booking methods. A learning curve, if you will.)

I love nothing more than hunting out my next haunt abroad – and because I got a head start on this year’s World Championships and pre-booked a party villa that’ll likely end up housing all of the equestrian media at this rate, I’ve got a bit of spare time to help you find your perfect (and exceptionally well-reviewed!) spot for your trip to Italy this September. You can thank me with an Aperol at the VIP bar.

First things first — when are we going? The World Championships run from September 14-18 this year.

And where is it, again? Pratoni del Vivaro is situated in Rocca di Papa, which is about 45 minutes south-east of central Rome and about 30 minutes south-east of Ciampino Airport.

What else is nearby? A couple of jolly good lakes. Lago Albino and Lago di Nemi are popular spots to cool down on hot days, and Lago Albino even has its own volcano.

Okay — but how hot are we talking? Pretty much perfect for Rome, actually. The humidity lessens a bit in September and you can expect dry, sunny days between the mid-70s and low 80s, with cool evenings that are perfect for dinners outside.

Cool. But before I book a place to stay, I probably need a ticket. You probably do, yes. Here you go.

All the hotels and AirBNBs listed below have vacancy during the World Championships at the time of posting. Prices represent a stay from Wednesday — that’s trot-up and opening ceremony day — with a Monday checkout. 

FOR THOSE WHO LOVE THE LAKE LIFE

Photo via booking.com.

Hotel Castel Gandolfo

Sleeps: Four

Price for five nights: $1,405 (or $351 per person)

There aren’t many rules I stick to in life, but this is one I take very seriously: if you’re staying near a body of water, you simply must book a place with a balcony. This sweet two-bedroom apartment offers just that, giving you the chance to enjoy some quality time by Lago Albino while remaining in close proximity to the event itself. You’ll enjoy a view of the lake from the apartment itself, as well as access to this stunning terrace, equipped with a hot tub, dining area, and apparently a ‘spa corner’. It’s in the historic part of this pretty town and close to the Pope’s summer home, so you know you’ll be guaranteed a dreamy spot. You’ll also get discounted rates at the local country club, so get those massages and facials booked in stat.

Photo via vrbo.com.

Cozy Refuge In Genzano Historic City Center

Sleeps: Four

Price for five nights: $443 for two guests, up to $675 for four (that’s just $169 per person!)

I’m obsessed with the rooftop views from this sweet, historic apartment, which has one bedroom and a double sofa bed. In fact, the entire village it’s in is medieval and gorgeous, with picture postcard views and, of course, the sparkling expanse of Lake Nemi to its credit. This is the kind of place you can live your best Italian life: head out in the morning and buy your vegetables from the friendly local greengrocer, Virgilio, who’s got as many jokes as he has tomatoes, or visit Juri at the local seafood spot for a special discount. You’ll feel like a local all week.

FOR THOSE ON A BUDGET

Photo via booking.com.

Sole Mio Loft

Sleeps: Four

Price for five nights: $744 (or $186 per person)

I love this as a cheap and cheerful option for a group of friends – it’s just a 20 minute drive from the event and it’s got everything you need, including a pool, a lovely terraced dining area, your own private kitchen for late-night snackage, and that all-important AC. It’s in a pretty, historic-looking building and the owners get lots of nods in the reviews for being incredibly kind and welcoming – plus, they’ll provide breakfast to fuel you up before each day of adventuring.

Photo via booking.com.

Casale Colleoni

Sleeps: Two

Price for five nights: From $595 for a twin; $766 for a double (or $297.50/$383 per person)

This guest house in Tivoli feels old in all the right ways – like the sultry scenes of Italian getaways in Normal People or Call Me By Your Name. If you want to pair your eventing with some countryside bike rides, covert kisses amidst the Cyprus trees, and, um, some snuggles with the resident donkey, this gorgeous spot has all the ingredients to give you a bit of a fairytale experience. It’s about a 40 minute drive from Pratoni, but you’ll be just a matter of steps away from Hadrian’s Villa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an absolute must-see on your trip. Reviews describe this as an idyllic spot, and we totally get that.

Photo via booking.com.

Travelershome Ciampino B&B

Sleeps: Up to four

Price for five nights: $175 if a single traveller; from $530 for four people (or $133 per person)

Flying into Ciampino? Then this easy option will make your life very simple indeed — it’s just three miles from the airport, and a 30 minute drive from Pratoni. It’s also mind-blowingly cheap despite its glowing 9.1 rating, so if you’re coming with a pal, a partner, or just flying solo for a bargain trip to the biggest event of the year, you’ll be able to save all your pennies for pizza and tradestand-raiding. Okay, so it’s not the most inspiring setting – your views will include a perfectly nice, but reasonably modern, suburban neighbourhood, and the decor is a little bit like a sugared-up teenager from 2005 has been let loose in IKEA, but the reviews are super, the place is clean and well-equipped, and as far as a bargain option goes, it’s pretty sweet.

FOR CITY-BREAK STAYS

Photo via booking.com.

Hotel Splendide Royale

Sleeps: Two

Price for five nights: From $3,215, depending on the options you choose

If you’re staying here, I expect an invite to dinner in the Michelin-starred restaurant on site. Talk about doing a championships properly: this place will go down in history as one of your most memorable eventing stays, I reckon. The hotel is housed in a 19th-century monastery next to the stunning Villa Borghese (itself home to a major horse show) and just a few minutes’ walk away from the iconic Fontana de Trevi and the heart of historic Rome. It’s not a cheap stay, mind you, but if this is a treat yo’self sort of trip for you, you could certainly do worse than this beautiful spot. Those views of the city that you’ll be treated to while you dine? Guaranteed to blow your Insta feed up.

Photo via booking.com.

Vatican Studio Apartment

Sleeps: Two

Price for five nights: $794 (or $397 per person)

This gorgeous studio offers you plenty of options — it has a large double bed and a sofa bed, so while the booking suggests it’s a two-person spot, I reckon you can get two more pals in there and make it a real bargain for what it is. (You’ll need to be pretty comfortable with one another, though – there don’t appear to be many doors within the place!) Just ten minutes from St Peter’s Square, the threshold of the Vatican, this all-in-one booking gives you the ease and convenience of a private kitchen, which can make your trip a whole lot cheaper and gives you a great excuse to raid some of those early-morning markets to get fresh ingredients. Is there anything more Italian, really? I’m not sure what I love more – that gorgeous old entryway, the archway in the studio, or the proximity to everything you might want to explore in this incredible city.

Photo via booking.com.

Nikis Collection Navona

Sleeps: Two in a double or up to five in an executive suite

Price for five nights: From $710 for a double; $1341 for a suite with five guests (or $268 per person)

Okay, so staying in the heart of Rome means you could be looking at an hour long commute into the event each day, but when you consider you’ll be within walking distance of the Pantheon and nestled in next to the River Tiber, it all starts to feel as though it might be worth it. I love the idea of getting a group of five horse-mad gal pals together and going eventing all day and partying all night – and the best thing about this place is that its sun-trap terrace will be the perfect spot to sweat out any remaining hangover before you go back to do it all again. The location of this place is a solid 10, and if you go for a suite, you’ll get a kitchen of your own too – ideal for stashing extra bottles of the good stuff.

And finally…

FOR THOSE WITH A LOT OF FRIENDS

Photo via vrbo.com.

Villa dei Castelli

Sleeps: Up to fourteen in seven bedrooms

Price for five nights: $3,248 if you’re bringing 14 people – that works out to $232 per person

Ever fancied running away with all your horsey pals and just totally living the villa dream for a week? This surprisingly affordable place is exactly what you need. Located in Rocca di Papa, just a stone’s throw from the event, it features seven bedrooms and five bathrooms over three floors, with a massive balcony, a huge amount of garden space to go bonkers in, and a living room/second kitchen/party zone on the top floor for end-of-day debriefs about who nailed their changes. You probably won’t need it, but there’s even a fireplace up there if the evenings start to get chilly. If you’re all sick of one another, though, don’t worry — there’s another living area and kitchen on the bottom floor, so there’s plenty of space for everyone to decompress. You’re totally in your own oasis here, so stick those Bluetooth speakers on and make the most of it.

On Education, Part III: Should We Use the Socratic Method to Train?

By on Feb 9, 2022 2:00 pm -

Ema Klugman & Bronte Beach Z. Photo by Abby Powell.

Did you miss Part I and Part II of this series? Click here to catch up. 

After my final exams had concluded last semester, I went through the backlog of documents open on my laptop. Among the practice exams and outlines and all sorts of other study materials, there was a word document with two lines. The first read:

“We should not teach our horses using the Socratic Method.”

I sort of laughed. This is how some of my articles start: I have an idea or I take a position, and then I put it somewhere to look at later. The funny thing about this very-empty document was that it had almost no explanation — a few lines later, there was a second line, which was a single hint:

“It is too frustrating!”

Clearly, I had started this document in irritation during or after one of my classes. I can imagine which class it was because although all of my law professors use the Socratic method, one of them last semester did so in a particularly infuriating way. He would ask the same question over and over for minutes, to dozens of students, usually without any hint, no matter how many people got it wrong. And once someone did finally get it right, he didn’t stop: his follow-up question was always, “why?”.

Obviously at the time I was not convinced that it was the best way to teach, or a suitable way to learn. But in hindsight I think that it is. The Socratic method is a conversation between teacher and student where the teacher leads the student to the correct answer through a series of pointed questions. The idea is that the student will better understand the material if she arrives at the answer on her own, using her own logic.

It is valuable for the students, and fun for the teacher. I imagine that it feels a little bit like guiding a blindfolded student toward the correct answer: “warmer, warmer… no, colder, colder… yes, warmer, hotter, there you go.” Taking wrong turns is part of the process, and the best teachers keep you nimble and curious and willing to keep trying, even if the process is frustrating.

Spending the last few months and preparing to spend the next two-and-a-half years working through the Socratic Method made me think: should we use it when we are training our horses and riders?

There are obviously some reasons not to use the Socratic method with horses:

The stakes are too high. The whole point of law professors asking us incessant questions is to allow us to make mistakes. We are wrong A LOT. But do we want our horses guessing the wrong answers? Maybe not. Not if it means putting them in dangerous situations or scaring them.

Confusion breeds frustration. Having been incredibly frustrated with the method myself, I am not sure that I would want my horses to feel that way. They might begin to despise me as their rider!

Some horses are better learners than others. Not every horse is super clever. Sometimes that is a blessing: you can keep things simple and basic, and they don’t overthink everything that you say. However, it is our responsibility to understand our horses and then to meet them halfway. If they aren’t getting to the answer on their own, the prudent thing to do is to make it very clear. Think of putting wings on a skinny jump, and guiding rails on the approach side — you want to make it as obvious as possible where the horse is supposed to jump, particularly if they are young.

But maybe the Socratic method with horses can make sense in some ways, if used prudently — after all, that “aha” moment tends to be more memorable than when the teacher just tells you the answer and you write it down. Take the example of teaching a horse to be careful in the show jumping: at home, if the rider is always placing them at a ‘gap’ distance and lifting their front end off the ground, they might be clearing the jump, but they aren’t learning the idea that the colored poles are something they are responsible for avoiding.

To learn that lesson, they need the freedom to jump without our help, even if that means that they make a mistake at home. And crucially, when they pick the right answer, they need lots of praise and to be told they are an absolute genius. Remember that if you don’t know you’ve gotten the answer right, you are probably going to keep guessing. Make it obvious when they are correct! If we want our horses to choose the right answer in competition, particularly when we make a mistake and they need to hold up their end of the bargain to pull through, having those teachable moments from the training makes a lot of sense.

The same ideas apply to teaching riders. My most memorable lessons came when I arrived at the answer on my own: by the feeling that my horse jumped much better when I rode a particular way, or the movement he gave me when I showed him how to be through. Your coach can explain things a thousand ways, but you only really learn to repeat them in competition when you have explained them to yourself through feel. You have to be convinced.

On the other hand, because riding horses is dangerous and difficult, coaches need to be mindful that their teaching methods are always putting safety and confidence first. This idea is particularly important when riders are lost or unsure about what they are doing and without further guidance would continue to make mistakes.

My best law professors (including the one about whom I was writing when I began this article, in honest frustration) did not send us blindly into the world to answer a legal question. They gave us a place to start, a framework to follow, and made us keep asking “why?” They walked the line between giving things away and hiding the ball so much that we would never find it. So, too, should we learn to be those kinds of coaches and riders — the kind that guides patiently. Because the reward when they pick the right answer on their own, whether they are a horse or a student, is both lasting and special.

A Roman Holiday: Box Office Opens for the Pratoni World Championships

By on Feb 9, 2022 12:00 pm -

From left, Padraigh McCarthy (IRL), Ros Canter (GBR) and Ingrid Klimke (GER) at Tryon in 2018. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Picture it now: it’s mid-September on the outskirts of Rome. The sultry sun is prowling its way across the sky; the air smells faintly of pasta and Aperol; a single bead of sweat glimmers on your forehead as your peer through oversized sunglasses at Michael Jung as he picks his way through a corner complex. You’re fuelled wholly by quality carbs and Italianate day-drinking, and if anyone were to ask, you’d tell them honestly — and hazily — that you’ve probably never been happier. Later on, you’re planning to cool down from a day of top-notch eventing action by climbing into the Trevi fountain and recreating that iconic scene from La Dolce Vita, but for now, this is the only place you’d like to be: Pratoni del Vivaro, surrounded by the world’s very best eventers.

If this all sounds right up your street, you’ll be delighted to hear that Pratoni opened its box office today — and while the ticket pricing has had us all scratching our heads a bit, there are some super deals to be had. For weeklong visitors, you can get a season pass for as little as €96 (or $110), or upgrade yourself to the VIP pavilion, which gives you upgraded parking, an exclusive bar, lounge and ‘relaxation area’, and, we presume, the chance to get a little bit closer to your heroes. That’s just €143.85 ($165) for the whole week if you use the promo code currently available on the site. Or, if you’re just hoping to pop in for a single day, you can buy day tickets for prices as low as €6.83 ($7.80) for grounds passes without reserved grandstand seating. Under-12s will be able to enjoy free tickets all week, and parking is free and serviced by a shuttle to the grounds. Check out the box office for more info and to get your passes. Of course, it’s worth noting that this year’s World Championship isn’t like the World Equestrian Games of previous cycles: instead of featuring all the disciplines in one facility, the competitions have now been split. Eventing will be followed by combined driving at Pratoni in the following week, while showjumping and dressage will be held in Herning, Denmark.

The event will run from September 14-18, and is situated in Rocca di Papa, a southern suburb of Rome. You’ll find a number of hotels and B&Bs in the immediate area, but move fast — now that the box office is open, we’re expecting to see many of these snapped up by fans and the teams themselves. Options next to the nearby lakes, Lago de Nemi and Lago Albino, look particularly promising if you want to cool down somewhere scenic after a long day of spicy eventing action, or check out hotels near Rome’s Ciampino airport, which is situated between the event and the city. If you fancy staying closer to the city itself, look in the Municipio VII area – you’ll be about a 30 minute drive from the competition and really close to the hub of Rome, which is so worth a lengthy visit. Stay tuned – we’ll share some of our favourite hotel options to help you get your trip set and sorted!

 

Badminton Winner Takes Team Coach Role with Team New Zealand

By on Feb 9, 2022 9:00 am -

Sam Griffiths will take over the role of New Zealand team coach, heralding an end to his own top-level career as a rider. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Winter – ostensibly the off-season in much of the Northern Hemisphere – is always a time of major change. This is the part of the year when you expect to see the sale of big-name horses, and it’s also the window of wiggle room required for staffing switcharoos, too. You don’t have to have been paying particularly close attention to have spotted just how much upheaval has been going on across the board in that department: as well as US eventing’s contentious clear-out of high performance staff, the New Zealand squad also opened its doors after Graeme Thom opted to step down from the role. That, of course, prompted an awful lot of questions from the sidelines: would we see the two squads simply swap their coaches?

As it turns out, no — or at least, we won’t be seeing Erik Duvander return to his former role at the helm of the Kiwis in this cycle, anyway. Equestrian Sport New Zealand (ESNZ) has just announced the appointment of two exciting new names atop its roster, and both look set to hit the ground running en route to this year’s World Championships in Pratoni, Italy.

2014 Badminton winner and Australian Olympic medallist Sam Griffiths will take over the role of head coach, stepping back from his own upper-level competitive career in order to do so.

“Being an Antipodean, I have always had an affinity with Southern Hemisphere riders,” says Sam, who was part of the bronze medal-winning Australian team at the 2016 Rio Olympics and has been based in the UK for over 20 years. “New Zealand has a lot of very talented riders and I know quite a few of them so feel I have a good rapport with them.”

We’ve already seen one of his upper-level horses, Billy Liffey, head to a new rider: young British five-star rider Bubby Upton recently welcomed him to her string alongside two rides of Chris Burton, who has also recently stepped back from eventing in order to pursue his goals in top-level showjumping. Though no further announcements have been made about any of Sam’s other horses, he’s been busy adding more and more coaching engagements into his diary over the last few years, so this might not be as drastic a change as it may appear.

“In my heyday I had a lot of horses but over the last few years I’ve been doing more coaching. I’m really excited about this,” he says. “They are such talented riders and if everything comes together we should be able to get some good results. I’m looking forward to the challenge. I was never the most talented rider; I really had to learn how to manage myself and what had to be done to be competitive to a high level, [so] I bring that experience and knowledge – knowing how to find a way to work through a challenge to get to where you want to go.”

Of course, stepping into a vacancy left behind by a much-loved trainer like Graeme does bring its own unique pressures and so, he says, the first step will just be to build a relationship with the squad’s riders in a new way. “Then we can get on with converting good training into winning medals. I feel honoured to get the role and excited about the future of it.”

ESNZ’s High Performance General Manager (and fellow five-star victor) Jock Paget says: “[Sam] knows how to prepare different types of horses, how to transition them from the Southern to Northern Hemisphere, which is a big part of us. He has a great way with people so will fit well into the team. It is exciting to have someone with his experience on board.”

Fiona Tibone is the newly announced High Performance manager for the New Zealand eventing squad. Photo courtesy of ESNZ.

Joining Sam at the helm of the New Zealand squad is newly announced High Performance Manager Fiona Tibone, who cut her teeth in the industry as a prolific and successful career groom. In the 90s, this saw her groom for Kiwi legend Blyth Tait when he became World Champion in 1990, and she worked with the New Zealand team at both the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games. Her varied and exciting career has seen her take on coaching duties, train young horses, own competition horses, and work in logistical and leadership roles, giving her a unique and multifaceted perspective on how to best serve the many cogs in a complex high performance machine. She’s also previously worked with the US and Italian teams, and can bring her experience of different methodologies to the table.

“She has a real wealth of knowledge and experience and will be such an asset to the team as the new high performance eventing manager,” says Jock.

Both roles are closely linked and will see Sam and Fiona collaborating extensively to reach the ESNZ goal of improved championship results, starting with this year’s World Championships.

“These new appointments come out of an extensive debrief following the Tokyo Olympic Games and understanding the context we are in within the high performance programme – like what the barriers are, what the riders need and how we best support them. The riders have been heavily involved in shaping that need, so this is all completely linked to both the debrief and the strategy going forwards,” explains Jock.

ESNZ chief executive Julian Bowden is equally positive about what’s to come for the Kiwis. “I am very excited about the opportunities and knowledge Sam and Fiona bring to ESNZ,” he says. “Their credentials and track records will certainly bring real value to our entire squad. These appointments show a true commitment to ensuring our eventing programme remains successful going forwards and has the necessary support to perform on the world stage. We believe this team will give us the best opportunity and structure to do well at championship level in the future.”

Wednesday News & Notes from Haygain

By on Feb 9, 2022 12:01 am -

Now here is a cool opportunity just waiting to be seized! Ebony Horsewomen, Inc. Equestrian and Therapeutic Center has received funding from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to provide full scholarships to 20 BIPOC mental health professionals as well as MSW (Masters in Social Work) and BSW (Bachelor’s in Social Work) students. The grant will also provide full scholarships to 15 BIPOC equine specialists. Here is some more information from EHI:

“Ebony Horsewomen, Inc’s model is unique because it addresses cultural differences and diverse demographics. The goal of our training program is to help form and strengthen collaborative relationships with local BIPOC-led clinical care practices, professional associations, and educational institutions for BIPOC mental health students and practitioners. This is a prime opportunity for those in the mental health and equestrian world looking to help heal and empower those in underserved communities.”

For detailed info, an application, and a class schedule, visit this link.

Black History Bit of the Day:

Did you know that the first jockey to win the Kentucky Derby was Black? Learn more about Oliver Lewis, who won the Derby aboard Aristedes:

U.S. Weekend Preview

Full Gallop Farm February I H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Ocala Winter I H.T. (Ocala, Fl.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Pine Top Intermediate H.T. (Thomson, Ga.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Wednesday News & Reading

The Omaha Equestrian Foundation has started a donation drive to benefit Karen Cudmore and Heartland Farms, a beloved community fixture and show jumping barn located in Nebraska. The farm suffered a devastating loss of one human life and nine horse lives after a fire ripped through the main barn. Individuals who would like to make a donation can visit Individual – Omaha Equestrian Foundation and click on “To benefit Heartland Farms/Cudmore”.

Are you planning to ride on an IEL or Intercollegiate Eventing Team this year? Rosters for these programs are due February 15 to the USEA — click here to learn more.

I’ve done some of my best learning astride a schoolmaster, and I’m sure you might be able to say the same. Lauren Sprieser mused about the concept of a schoolmaster — and the internet’s thoughts on them — in her latest blog for The Chronicle of the Horse.

Volunteers make the world go ’round! The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event is just one event that relies on support from volunteers, and their latest blog features a spotlight of the hardworking individuals who make The Best Weekend All Year possible. Read more here.

Have you been playing “EN Wordle”? If not, you’re definitely missing out. We put a horse-y spin on the game no one can get enough of, and you can play today’s puzzle here.

How does Haygain make a difference? We love catching up on Haygain’s blog, which often features case studies and profiles on riders who are seeing massive benefits from steaming hay. The latest case? Meet riding instructor Maryam Edah-Tally of Southern California and how Haygain has impacted her program for the better.

PS: Haygain is running a special deal through Valentine’s Day! Learn more here.

Watch This on H&C+:

Wednesday Video Break

Scenes from Ever So Sweet Scholarship winner Sierra Lesny’s first event ever!

Tuesday Video: Budweiser Super Bowl 2022 Super Bowl Commercial

By on Feb 8, 2022 5:00 pm -

The Budweiser Clydesdales are backkkkk! Budweiser’s 2022 Super Bowl spot has dropped, and once again the beer brand’s beloved mascots are taking center stage. And they’re making worse life decisions than ever, which as a fellow horse person is 10/10 relatable.

Also relatable, trying to drown your sorrows with beer because (1) not only is your horse is broken but also (2) your vet has that pitying look in her eye that says she’s about to hand you a monster invoice, which means for sure that (3) you’re never going to be able to afford a nice craft IPA again.

We’ve all been there, Mr. Hot Sad Cowboy Guy! DM me if you need to talk.

Just when it seemed all was lost, though, aforementioned critically injured Clydesdale busts out of his stall and takes off buck-farting across the frozen winter ground.

I have questions.

Since we last witnessed this horse shred a tendon not 40 seconds ago, was there a video time lapse in which Hot Sad Cowboy has been sweating, magnet-ing, shock waving and shooting stem cells into this leg followed by a tediously gradual process of physical rehab?  Have they been building up gradually for months, starting with two-minute handwalks, building up strength on an underwater treadmill, enduring the vet-prescribed slow torture of pulling a wagon loaded on day 1 with just one lonely can of Budweiser, then two, then three, etc. as not to cause re-injury? And now he is truly recovered and ready, in body and soul, to let it rip?

Or, on day two of stall rest, is this horse just doubling down on self-destruction, soon to be discovered when he pulls up three-legged lame, and Hot Sad Cowboy has to call out the vet … again.

I guess we’ll have to wait until Super Bowl 2023 to find out.

 

 

 

 

New International Eventing Competition to Debut in Le Mans in March 2022

By on Feb 8, 2022 11:00 am -

The Pôle Européen du Cheval, an already well-respected French dressage and jumping venue, will be organizing its first international eventing competition from March 17-20, 2022. The debut Boulerie Horse Trial will take place in Le Mans, about an hour-and-a-half from Le Haras du Pin which hosted dressage and cross country portions of the 2014 Normandy World Equestrian Games.

The program includes a CCI3*S, CCI2*L, CCI2*S and CCI1* with a total prize fund of more than €17,000 alongside numerous prizes. The cross country course designer, Alain Ponsot, and his team have been hard at work building new obstacles, renovating the main track and improving the cross country tracks with sand. Marc Cheminat was named as the show jumping designer.

[Concours complet] A la découverte des obstacles du 3*🤩

Posted by Boulerie Jump – Pôle Européen du Cheval on Tuesday, February 1, 2022

The event will also be hosting an Amateur Team Challenge reserved for amateurs who have not competed at 3* level or higher for at least five years. Riders in the CCI1* and CCI2*-S will be able to compile teams or two or three for an attempt at the prizes, awarded by the West Cheval saddlery with numerous gifts.

More information on this event can be found at the website here and on Facebook here.