Classic Eventing Nation

Dressage Sets the Stage for an Epic Showdown at Adelaide Equestrian Festival CCI5* & Oceania Championships

By on Apr 17, 2026 12:33 pm -

Madison Seivwright and Waitaingi Pinterest. Photo by Atalya Boytner Photography.

What day is it? Where am I? How is it already cross country tomorrow?

The action at Adelaide Equestrian Festival is nonstop in the best way possible. Care about the next generation coming through? Check out the Racing SA CCI3*-L. Care about senior team members making their bids for championship opportunities? Check out the Horseland CCI4*-S. Care about the pinnacle of accomplishment of horse and rider and the very elite levels of the sport? Say no more, there’s also a CCI5* for you.

May I also mention the guitar playing cowboy positively jamming while cantering bridleless who also has goats that stand on horses’ backs and sheepdogs that join them? Yes, Tom Curtain. I am talking about you and I am a fan.

Between the Oceania Championships and the Adelaide CCI5*, if you are not on the edge of your seat, allow me to list all the reasons why you should be (you’ll be on the edge of your seat for the cowboy too, not to worry):

The Racing SA CCI3*-L runs concurrently with the Young Rider Teams for the Oceania Championships. Thirty-five total riders contest this division and eight of them are representing Australia and New Zealand, four per squad. Charlotte Lalak, member of the Team Australia U25 team, leads not on Along Comes Lucy, but on her second ride in Fairbanks Casino with a 25.4. However, her fellow teammates sit directly behind her with second place going to Tahlia Pursell on a 28.8 and Georgie Elias holding third on a 29.4, allowing Australia’s U25 team to hold the top position heading into cross country. A double victory for Charlotte rests on how well the jumping phases go. She’ll ride her team horse first so will be bringing valuable information back to her second ride.

Four-time Olympian Stuart Tinney is a busy coach this week. Photo by Atalya Boytner Photography.

Coach extraordinare and sort of chef d’equipe for Team Australia Stuart Tinney (I truly lost track of just how many people he was coaching but it feels like more than 10, including acting as Chef d’Equipe for the two Australia teams) noted the atmosphere at Adelaide is unmatched and a big benefit of having the Oceania Championships here.

“What’s really good about this event and what we need [is that] we don’t get a lot where we can get into this sort of atmosphere, which is real and what we need for competition. We’re setting up a new program now with the [Australian] Institute of Sport, which is more a developing program heading towards Brisbane, and it’s really exciting. We’ve got some really good young riders and new combinations coming through. We’ve got the old core group that we’ve had in the past, and they’re getting exciting new horses coming through, but also we have a whole heap getting into the program and helping them [with] the opportunity to be on an Australian team and have that experience.”

Sophia Hill and Tulara Baltango. Photo by Atalya Boytner Photography.

That core group of senior team members had a lot to live up to in the Horseland CCI4*-S and the stories and emotions did not stop all day. U.S. readers will have heard the name Sophia Hill multiple times this year as she crisscrosses her way across the globe to manage her business in Australia and keep her 5* partner, Humble Glory, in the U.SS to contest the Defender Kentucky CCI5* next week. But she brought forward a special horse in Tulara Baltango on the Australian Senior A Team, sitting in sixth with a 32.3.

“He’s from the Tulara Warmblood Stud that’s actually 20 minutes from us in Mansfield, Victoria. He was bred by the late Mark Fraser, who I was very close with, so it’s super special to have a horse at this level,” she said. “I’ve had him since 2020; I picked him out as a five-year-old. I saw him at an event cantering around, and I was like, I need to have that horse. He’s so athletic and so beautiful. [Mark] bred the Tulara’s for show jumping, but I always teased him that I was going to get one to the Olympics or WEG for eventing first.”

Rebecca Wardle and Dingmac Eccles. Photo by Atalya Boytner Photography.

Jumping down the list, Rebecca Wardle, representing New Zealand team, holds the 17th spot with her half pony partner Dingmac Eccles on a 40.1.

“I’m feeling pretty blessed to be here. It’s an amazing event. It’s an amazing atmosphere. I mean, I’m here with my wee pony, little old Eccles. He’s my ride or die,” she laughed. She kept a positive perspective despite the pressure she must be feeling about the team competition. “I do horses as a hobby. I work for my family business, where we’re beekeepers by trade. We make honey, and I also shoe horses. I’m here because [it’s] fun for me, and so I’ve got to make it fun. I can’t let myself get too up and too stressed, because I’ve got to enjoy the moment, right?”

Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture. Photo by Atalya Boytner Photography.

Finally, as we were approaching the end of the division, the leader arrived in the final three. Shenae Lowings and her veteran OTTB World Championships and CCI5* partner Bold Venture came out swinging and left nothing on the table for 25.6.

“[I’ve had him] around 10 years now. I purchased him off the track from Gino Paletti Racing,” she remembered. “I just saw a standing shot of him, and think I paid $1,000 for him or something. And, yeah, it’s been a wonderful journey, really that I could not have expected.”

The cross country track — designed by Mike Etherington-Smith for the CCI5* and Clayton Fredericks for the CCI4*-S and Michael Pineo for the CCI3*-L — is beefy with plenty of options but to be competitive, straight routes bring terrain and stamina challenges with no let up all the way around. Shenae plans to use her horse’s experience, and his talents, to stay at the top. “[The cross country] looks very good. There’s enough questions out there, and the time in the four-star is usually very difficult, so that adds a bit of extra risk to it. But it is a strength of ours, so I can’t wait to go out there.”

But wait! There’s more.

Samuel Jeffree and Santoro. Photo by Atalya Boytner Photography.

The sole CCI5* in the Southern Hemisphere did not let the Oceania Championships outshine it. A field of 13 horses strutted in front of a ground jury made up of President Nikki Herbert (GBR), Jutta Koivula (FIN), and Amanda Miller (USA). The crowd rode every step with the riders and cheered and cried along with them. In particular, Samuel Jeffree won biggest groan when Santoro tripped into the final halt.

“He was quite rideable and didn’t pick up too much in the atmosphere so I’m very pleased with him,” Samuel laughed. “There’s things you can’t control and it is what it is. Unfortunate to happen in the ring but he didn’t do anything wrong there and I just smiled it off, gave him a pat, and saluted the judges.”

Andrew Cooper and Sharvalley Thunder. Photo by Atalya Boytner Photography.

Andrew Cooper and Sharvalley Thunder finished on the podium at the Luhmuhlen CCI4*-S and competed as part of the Australian team at CHIO Aachen last year. Holding the third spot on a 31.5 going into cross country, the careful and slow production of “Thunder” has had Andrew living in a dream today. “I was having such a good time in there that I fell asleep a little bit!” He remarked on a fault in the changes. “He was awesome. He stayed with me. He sometimes can get a little distracted, but, I mean, that’s sort of a thing of the past with him, so he’s now laying down some really solid tests.”

At home, Andrew works both on a racehorse farm and with his own string of performance horses so riding 20 horses a day is the usual. “I actually learned a lot about [Thunder] overseas. We have a lot of horses – we do racehorses, we do all the things here in Australia. So taking him and just having one horse overseas, I learned so much about him. Riding at Luhmühlen and Aachen, it was an unbelievable experience. I’m very fortunate that my wife supported this crazy idea. I’m very lucky for the people that I have around me.”

Andrew Cooper comes with a full family support crew this year. Photo by Atalya Boytner Photography.

Indeed he won the cutest support team award when his three children came running up to congratulate him after his ride.

In second lies 5* debutante Oliver Barrett with Sandhills Briar on a 30.6. He rides not one but two horses in the CCI5* who also are family homebreds. His parents, Australian Team riders Prue and Craig run the Sandhills Stud and carry the legacy of generations. The brand for Sandhills, a C diamond 1 brand, comes from Prue’s mother, Jennifer who began the Barolin Pony Stud when Prue was a child.

Oliver Barrett and Sandhills Briar. Photo by Atalya Boytner Photography.

As the only rider with two horses, Oliver opened competition with Sandhills Gem and finished the competition with Sandhills Briar. “I’m really happy with how [Briar] went,” he remarked. “At Adelaide, there’s a whole lot of atmosphere and I was really impressed with the way he coped and stayed with me.”

But today’s real joy came from watching New Zealand’s Madison Seivwright and the 18-year-old mare, Waitangi Pinterest break the 30’s barrier to score a 27.0 to take the lead. A rhythmic and clean test, they earned 7 and 8’s almost across the board to earn their lead, showing that correct riding can overcome flash.

Madison Seivwright and Waitaingi Pinterest. Photo by Atalya Boytner Photography.

“She was awesome. She’s very professional. She knows her job. She knows exactly what she’s doing, and she gets in there and she listens to everything I say. I’m very pleased with her!” Madison gushed. “I actually hunted her down many years ago, when she was a seven-year-old. I loved her expression going around, and it took me three months of begging my father. I said, we need to look at this little horse. And he said, But why? She’s kind of a small, dark bay, plain. I said, there’s nothing plain about her! There was just something about her expression, and you could tell that she loved her job, and she was a hearty little thing, and she’s been just that amazing.”

Madison has only run the mare when it counts, and it has paid dividends today. And she’ll enjoy it but not lose sight of what’s coming. “I know I’ve got to do my job to the best of my ability. There’s a lot to do. There’s a lot to do tomorrow, and there will be a lot to do on Sunday, so I just need to stay focused on what I’m up to and then see where that lands us.”

There’s a history of 18 years olds winning Adelaide. Clifford? Can we call you for some tips?

We’ll be back with you (in U.S. time) on Saturday evening with a concluding report from Adelaide. Be sure to tune in live this evening (again, speaking to our U.S. and UK/European readers) on Horse & Country for the cross country action. You can also catch a preview of all three cross country courses on CrossCountry App here.

Adelaide Equestrian Festival CCI5* & Oceania Championships (AUS): [Website] [Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

One More Box to Tick: Braden Speck Aims High at CCI5* Debut with BSF Liam

By on Apr 17, 2026 9:00 am -

Braden Speck and BSF Liam. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Even the most devoted eventing fan can be forgiven for not being familiar with the name Braden Speck. The 2026 Defender Kentucky Three Day CCI5* first timer is an increasingly rare type of upper level competitor: an amateur young rider with one fine horse aiming to compete at the highest level of the sport.

Braden’s partnership with BSF Liam, his handsome grey Connemara-cross gelding (Ballywhim An Luan—Rumor Risky, Hawkster), seemingly occurred after a bit of kismet brought the two together. Braden grew up in eventing hub Kennett Square, PA with decidedly non-horsey parents. But older sister Kaelen found the sport and convinced seven-year-old Braden to give it a go. “Neither of my parents rode but my sister started riding and she eventually convinced me to try riding and I really liked it,” he says.

Braden joined Kaelen in Erin Kanara’s program with lessons and competitions up to Beginner Novice on Kaelen’s old pony, Rosenharley Romello, or ‘Weasel.’ After outgrowing Weasel he moved on to Regal Dancer, who was already a trusted member of Erin’s program, and the two progressed to the Preliminary level when Braden was in the eighth grade.

The next two years of Braden’s young life were marked by three losses that would test anyone’s faith. During a normal cross-country school at Boyd Martin’s Windurra Farm, Dancer collapsed from a ruptured aneurysm and passed away immediately. Braden stayed committed to riding and his family supported him by leasing another mare, Moondance, a couple of months later. She suffered a colic and was successfully treated at New Bolton but suffered a relapse soon after and had to be euthanized. Horses were firmly a part of Braden’s life and he didn’t want to give up so he then began to ride Kaelen’s horse, American Fortitude or ‘Wolf’. Braden and Wolf progressed well together until Wolf sliced his leg on a show jump cup while schooling at home. An expensive surgery on Wolf’s superficial digital flexor tendon plus extended stall rest offered a marginal possibility of recovery. The Speck family made the agonizing decision to euthanize Wolf since the outlook for a high quality of life for him was so low.

Tragically losing three horses in two years would be more than enough reason for most people to step back and move on to anything else that didn’t involve such a close connection to another living animal. But in 2019, the late Annie Goodwin reached out to Erin to let her know that she had the perfect horse for Braden. “We went down (to Aiken, SC) and I tried one or two other horses but pretty much as soon as I saw Liam, I knew I wanted him,” Braden recalled. “He is very special, he’s a big pony. He’s got a pony attitude and pony brain but very athletic. He’s got a switch that flips on for cross country. He can be a real nut but I love him to death.”

Braden Speck and BSF Liam. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Still recovering from losing his previous horses, Braden did not purchase 6-year-old Liam to be an upper-level prospect. “I just wanted something I could ride and have fun on. He had originally trained as a hunter and he was just like a cute fat pony.” This focus on personal, not competitive, success translated into a solid foundation and steady rise up the levels. Braden says, “We kept progressing. Liam didn’t really ever say no to anything. He just kept going and kept going and loves his job. He absolutely loves going cross country.”

As Braden’s partnership with Liam strengthened, he also began to shape his professional future. The medical profession runs deep in Braden’s family with his Mom being a doctor, his Dad a dentist, and his sister now in school to become a dentist. “I had always wanted to do be in a healing profession. Then the whole experience of losing three horses, watching the vets treat my horses and everything I learned through that made me want to go into vet med,” Braden explained. He graduated from University of Delaware pre-veterinary medicine and was accepted into University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine with classes starting this August. Braden is currently on a gap year to focus on his goal of competing at Defender Kentucky CCI5* and is also working part-time at New Bolton research labs in Kennett Square.

Braden Speck and BSF Liam. Photo by Sally Spickard.

With one eye on his future medical career, Braden continued to progress with Liam but without the personal pressure to move up the levels. He believes that his connection with Liam under Erin’s guidance is the secret to their success. “I think if Liam was in a more traditional professional program where they’re trying to get the horse up the levels faster that it wouldn’t work quite as well. I’m learning too and we’ve taken the time that we need to learn each level and then get confident at the level before moving up,” Braden continues, “We spent two years at Preliminary, then two years at Intermediate, and now two years at Advanced.”

Like many eventers, Braden always wanted to compete at the Defender Kentucky CCI5* but didn’t necessarily think it would ever happen. But after a solid performance at their first CCI3*-L at MARS Maryland 5 Star in 2022, he started to think that a CCI5* could be on the horizon. “At that point Liam was starting to come out of his shell and get more confident. He just walked around the cross country course at Maryland and I was like, ‘I think you might be ready for more in the future.’”

After that first CCI3*-L, Braden smartly did not rush the move to Advanced and instead spent another year at the Intermediate/CCI3* level, which helped give Liam more time to physically develop. “When we got him he was a bit short-strided, so it was a little bit more difficult for him to make the distances. That is part of the reason why we took our time at Preliminary and Intermediate to give him the time to get the strength for him to open his stride up a bit more. It’s really paid off because now he is insanely adjustable. We’ve been together for so long and he’s so smart and he knows exactly what’s happening.” In 2024 Braden and Liam moved up to Advanced and to date have never had a FEI cross country jumping penalty.

Braden and Liam’s trajectory have not completely been without its challenges. At the start of the 2025 competitive season, Braden had a solid plan to earn the qualification needed so that he and Liam could attend the Defender Kentucky CCI5* in 2026. However in March, Liam hit his stifle jumping into water while the pair were competing in the Advanced class at The Event at Terranova in Myakka City, FL and needed surgery to repair his patella.

Braden Speck and BSF Liam. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Liam’s surgery was successful but it meant that they would not be able to attend both the Defender Kentucky CCI4*-S and the Rebecca Farm CCI4*-L as planned. With the surgery behind them and Liam doing well in rehab (that Connemara pony fortitude certainly came in handy), Braden recalibrated his major goal before going to vet school from attending the Defender Kentucky CCI5* to competing at the US Equestrian Open at Morven Park CCI4*-L in Leesburg, VA, which they accomplished. “He came back super well. He felt great at Morven and after Morven so I decided it was worth making that shot to go for the five-star.”

Braden focused on solid, confidence building runs with Liam this year in the lead up to late April in Kentucky. With positive completions at Pine Top Horse Trials and Carolina CCI4*-S, Braden is set up to achieve his main goal of finishing his first CCI5*. He also has an eye on having a clean run around Kentucky’s blue grass. “My main goal is to get around, but if we can also complete with no jumping penalties around cross country I’ll be very, very happy.”

EN’s coverage of Defender Kentucky is supported by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for all the science-backed nutritional support your horse needs. Learn more about KPP here.

Defender Kentucky: [Website] [Entries] [Tickets]

Friday News & Notes from Stable View

By on Apr 17, 2026 12:01 am -

One Big Thing: 2026 EA21 Regional Program Athletes Announced

Paige Beauchamp Crandon, one of this year’s EA21 Athletes. USEA/Atalya Boytner photo.

Join us in congratulating the athletes selected for the 2026 USEA Emerging Athlete U21 Program! Open to USEA Young Rider program members aged 21 and under, EA21 is designed to build a strong pipeline of future team riders by identifying and developing promising talent.

EA21 participants will train with top coaches from the USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) for each regional clinic, working under the leadership of EA21 Director of Coaching David O’Connor, who will provide mentorship and oversee the program curriculum. The season will culminate in a national training camp led by David O’Connor in Paso Robles, California, from December 29 – January 2, 2027. Athletes invited to the National Camp will be selected from the summer regional clinics, with final selections announced in the fall.

The 2026 EA21 regional clinic locations, dates, and coaches are listed below, along with the selected athletes for each clinic:

*Athletes are listed in alphabetical order per clinic, and the alternate athlete wait lists appear in the order the athletes will be accepted should openings occur at the clinics that have waitlists.

Central Clinic – Chaps Equestrian Center (Bucyrus, KS), coached by Ashley Johnson — June 16-17, 2026:

East I Clinic – Morven Park International Equestrian Center (Leesburg, VA), coached by Bec Braitling – June 16-17, 2026:

West I Clinic- Twin Rivers Ranch (Paso Robles, CA), coached by Emily Mastervich – June 16-17, 2026:

East II Clinic- Stable View (Aiken, SC), coached by Rebecca Brown – July 28-29, 2026:

West II Clinic – Aspen Farms (Yelm, WA), coached by Jan Byyny – August 11-12, 2026:

Auditing will be encouraged for all applicants and those on the waitlist. More information will become available for auditing as schedules are finalized.

[Click here to learn more about EA21]

Major International Events This Weekend

Adelaide Equestrian Festival CCI5* & Oceania Championships (AUS): [Website] [Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Burnham Market CCI4*-S (GBR): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

Oudkarspel North Holland HT CCI4*-S (NED): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

Ocala International Festival of Eventing CCI4*-S (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

Fair Hill International April HT CCI4*-S (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

US Events This Weekend

Sporting Days Farm April HT IV (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

River Glen Spring HT (TN): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Redefined Equestrian HT (CO): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Other Links and Reading

Sponsor Corner: Stable View Update

Stable View has reluctantly decided to close the Boyd Martin ETB Schooling Field.

In the future, the land, fixed assets, and other infrastructure will be integrated into FEI, USEA, and Eventing Academy HT’s. As a result of the increased acreage, consideration is being given to apply for Long-format HT’s. Stable View has also decided to construct a new large water feature on the 5-acre field to the left of the Tiger Trap and Pine Top Cross. The water feature should be ready for use in 2027.

Inquiries can be directed to to Barry Olliff (215-313-3774) or Molly Bull (434-962-0306).

Training Tip of the Day

If your horse feels inconsistent, distracted, or a little “up and down”, this cavaletti exercise from Lisa Hellmer is one of the simplest ways to reset everything:

Go Eventing

Continuing on from yesterday’s “Spotlight on Eventing”, Episode 2 recaps the Thoresby Eventing Spring Carnival and previews the Badminton entries:

How to Follow the 2026 Adelaide Equestrian Festival and Oceania Championships

By on Apr 16, 2026 5:00 pm -

Adelaide’s beautiful parklands play host to the first CCI5* of the season in April. Photo by Atalya Boytner.

If you’re itching for some CCI5* action, this weekend is just the ticket for you (it just may require some alarm juggling on your part — but more on that soon!). The 2026 Adelaide Equestrian Festival CCI5* and the Oceania Championships officially kicked off on Thursday in South Australia with the Racing SA CCI3*-L/Young Rider Oceania Championship starting the dressage and the Horseland CCI4*-S and CCI5*-L starting Friday (and yes, it’s already Friday in Australia!).

For our U.S. readers, the action will be broadcast live late in the evenings; if you’re a night owl this might just be the best weekend ever! Of course, on-demand replays are also available if you prefer to follow along at a more reasonable hour.

Here’s a look at the live stream schedule on H&C+. To keep it simple, I’m going to use the CCI5* for our primary reference point and direct you to the full event schedule here for the remaining divisions.

We also know we have readers in all corners of the world, so we recommend using the free resource, WorldTimeBuddy for easy time zone conversions. We’ll reference Eastern, Central and Pacific Standard Time as well as British Summer Time and Central European Standard time.

Friday, April 17 – Dressage

CCI5* Start Time:

1:00 p.m. ACST / 11:30 p.m. EST (Thursday) / 10:30 p.m. CST (Thursday) / 9:30 p.m. MST (Thursday) / 8:30 p.m. PST (Thursday) / 4:30 p.m. BST (Friday) / 5:30 p.m. CEST (Friday)

Saturday, April 18 – Cross Country

CCI5* Start Time: 

12:00 p.m. ACST / 10:30 p.m. EST (Friday) / 9:30 p.m. CST (Friday) / 8:30 p.m. MST (Friday) / 7:30 p.m. PST (Friday) / 3:30 a.m. BST (Saturday) / 4:30 a.m. CEST (Saturday)

Sunday, April 19 – Show Jumping

CCI5* Start Time:

3:00 p.m. ACST / 1:30 a.m. EST (Sunday) / 12:30 a.m. EST (Sunday) / 11:30 p.m. CST (Saturday) / 10:30 p.m. MST (Saturday) / 9:30 p.m. PST (Saturday) / 6:30 a.m. BST (Sunday) / 7:30 a.m. CEST (Sunday)

The Oceania Championships CCI3*-L and CCI4*-S are run alongside the CCI5*, so be sure to check the full schedule on the Adelaide website here. You can also refer to the links below for much more, including a preview of Mike Etherington-Smith’s 5* and Clayton Fredericks’ 4*-S courses on CrossCountryApp.

Atalya Boytner is boots on the ground for EN this weekend, and we’re proud to also be assisting Adelaide with their media outreach. We’ll have more stories from Australia coming your way all weekend long, so stay tuned and Go Eventing.

Adelaide Equestrian Festival CCI5* & Oceania Championships (AUS): [Website] [Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program to Recognize Top TBs at Defender Kentucky

By on Apr 16, 2026 2:03 pm -

Monica Spencer and Artist. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.), created to encourage the retraining of Thoroughbreds into other disciplines upon the completion of their careers in racing or breeding, today announced that it will once again recognize the top Thoroughbreds at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L and CCI4*-S with prize money, prizes, and ribbons, including the following:

$1,500 to the top Thoroughbred in the CCI5*-L
$500 to the reserve high point Thoroughbred CCI5*-L
$750 to the top Thoroughbred in the CCI4*-S
$250 to the reserve high point Thoroughbred in the CCI4*-S

At this time, 10 Thoroughbreds will be competing over the weekend, with seven competing under their registered names:

Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L

  • Humble Glory, ridden by Sophia Hill (Registered as Camon Houdini (AUS))
  • Sorocaima, ridden by Buck Davidson Jr.
  • Malibu Preacher, ridden by Alexander Conrad
  • Artist, ridden by Monica Spencer (Unnamed 2011 out of Maxamore (NZ))

Ali Kuhn and Little Hail. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S

  • Venezuelan River, ridden by Tracey Bienemann
  • Beautiful Storm, ridden by Jan M. Byyny
  • Sea of Clouds, ridden by Olivia Dutton
  • Little Hail, ridden by Ali Kuhn
  • Creative Genius, ridden by Alexander O’Neal
  • Argyle, ridden by Skyeler Voss (Registered as Office Hours)

The Retired Racehorse Project has compiled a guide to the Thoroughbreds contesting the 5* and 4* levels, which can be found here. The guide includes links to the horses’ OTTB Profiles, provided for free for this event from equineline.com.

Thursday News & Notes

By on Apr 16, 2026 12:01 am -

One Big Thing: Rider Safety Equipment 101 with Ride EquiSafe

 

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This week on Ride iQ’s Ask an Expert podcast, Catherine Winter, founder of Ride EquiSafe, shares what actually makes safety equipment effective and how to make sure yours is doing its job.

In this episode, Catherine discusses helmets, body protectors, air vests, and safety stirrups, explaining how to assess fit, understand safety standards, and avoid common mistakes so you can ride with confidence at every level. Her top three tips for riders of every level are:

  • Prioritize fit first. Even the most highly rated helmet or vest won’t protect you if it doesn’t fit correctly. Proper fit is what allows the safety technology to work as intended.
  • Work with an expert. Don’t try to figure it out on your own. Trained fitters can help you compare brands, understand your options, and find what truly fits your body and riding needs
  • Know when to replace. Safety equipment doesn’t last forever. Helmets and body protectors should be replaced every few years and immediately after any impact, even if the damage isn’t visible.

About Ride EquiSafe

A frequent supporting partner of Eventing Nation, Ride EquiSafe is dedicated to helping riders make informed decisions about their safety equipment. A lifelong equestrian, Catherine created Ride EquiSafe to make rider safety more accessible through education, expert guidance, and a curated selection of protective gear. Her work focuses on helping riders feel more confident and protected in the saddle.

What is Ask An Expert?

Ask an Expert is Ride iQ’s weekly public podcast featuring in-depth conversations with equestrian professionals. This series is your go-to for practical, real-world advice from top equestrian pros. Whether you’re curious about improving your riding, training a green horse, or mastering horse care, our expert guests are here to help. Ride iQ is sharing select favorites with hundreds more available inside the Ride iQ app.

Major International Events This Weekend

Adelaide Equestrian Festival CCI5* & Oceania Championships (AUS): [Website] [Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Burnham Market CCI4*-S (GBR): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

Oudkarspel North Holland HT CCI4*-S (NED): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

Ocala International Festival of Eventing CCI4*-S (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

Fair Hill International April HT CCI4*-S (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

US Events This Weekend

Sporting Days Farm April HT IV (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

River Glen Spring HT (TN): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Redefined Equestrian HT (CO): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Other Links and Reading

Training Tip of the Day

Listen… skinnies are hard. And they just get harder as you climb the levels, making runouts more and more difficult — listen to the experts advice:

Go Eventing

Horse & Country has a new series out titled “Spotlight on Eventing”, your brand new weekly deep dive into the world of eventing. This debut episode hosted by Saffron Cresswell highlights some standout combinations this season, offers strategic insights into course design and performance, goes in-depth with some recent major eventing features, and looks ahead to what’s coming next in the British and global eventing scene:

 

Adelaide Equestrian Festival & Oceania Championships Promise Top Sport and Abounding Storylines

By on Apr 15, 2026 12:30 pm -

Photo by Atalya Boytner.

The 2026 CCI5* eventing season starts off in the Southern Hemisphere, April 16-19, at the Adelaide Equestrian Festival in Adelaide, South Australia. Perhaps the most urban eventing competition in the world, Adelaide takes place in the parklands of Adelaide’s city centre known as Victoria Park, or Pakapakanthi in the language of the Kaurna people. 

Staged in the middle of autumn, it is the culmination of the Australian eventing fall season and the 2026 edition features not just the Southern Hemisphere’s solo CCI5* but also the biennial Oceania Championships, which will be run concurrently with the CCI4*-S and CCI3*-L divisions.

Formerly known as the Trans-Tasman, the Oceania Championships pits Australia against New Zealand in both senior (CCI4*-S level) and under-25 (CCI3*-L level) categories with four team members per team. First held in 1985 prior to the Gawler 1986 World Championships, it was meant to give those nations a chance to experience the event and terrain before the major championship. 

Frequently receiving enormously positive reviews, this became a biennial event between World Championship and Olympic years, providing athletes with the opportunity for team experience without the pressure of a more global stage. Changed to the Oceania Championships in 2014 after the foundation of the Oceania Equestrian Federation, this is an important developing event for young, emerging, and senior talent based in Australia and New Zealand. With both the 2026 FEI Eventing World Championships (August – Aachen) and the inaugural FEI Eventing U25 World Championships (July – Millstreet) looming large, the Oceania Championships are a major building block for athletes aspiring to be selected for a team.

Andrew Cooper and Sharvalley Thunder. Photo by Atalya Boytner.

The entries making up the Racing SA CCI3*-L, the Horseland CCI4*-S, and the Adelaide CCI5* are ripe with major competition and global results on the line.

Among the competitors, FEI Eventing U25 #13 Carys McCrory (NZL), #26 Lamoza Velisha (AUS), #27 Georgia Bradford (AUS), and #38 Bridie Quigley (NZL) are making some serious bids for July’s inaugural FEI U25 World Eventing Championship in Millstreet, Ireland.

Australian senior team members are also leaving nothing on the table for their own World Championships considerations with notable names such as Andrew Cooper – Luhmuhlen 2025 CCI4*-S podium finisher, Aachen 2025 Australia team member, and among the top 100 eventing athletes in the world – Sophia Hill, the most global athlete on the entry list with time spent in the UK, USA, and Australia but yet to make a senior team, Hannah Klep – who flies under the radar as another top 100 eventer in the world for Australia as #66 – and Charlotte Penny, 2025 Equestrian New Zealand’s Young Person of the Year for Eventing and 2025 4* Eventer of the Year.

The Adelaide CCI5* division is full of homebred and self-made combinations.

Shane Rose, a three-time Australian Olympic medalist, adds another CCI5* start to his name with a 9 year old Warmblood-Thoroughbred cross in Holy Moses after the sale of his three top horses. Madison Seivwright, an Aachen 2021 New Zealand team member, returns to the level with her Aachen partner, Pau competitor, and powerhouse jumper, the 18-year-old mare Waitangi Pinterest. Oliver Barrett, World U25 #2 rider who is aiming for WEG selection, makes his CCI5* debut with not one but two horses from his family’s Sandhills homebreds in Sandhills Briar and Sandhills Gem. Yona Lloyd, whose lifelong dream of completing a CCI5* was fulfilled last year, returns with the same horse, Ballahowe Ayurvedic. Jess Somerfield and her beautifully quirky $1 ride in Finch Farm Carpentaria seek a second CCI5* completion to build off their 2025 result. Emma Mason, a London 2012 short-listed eventer who balances riding with her work as a lawyer, and the 13-year-old gelding, KHP Kingfisher return to better their sixth place finish from last year’s Adelaide CCI5*. 

Photo by Atalya Boytner.

But sport is not the only thing worth attending. The Education Hub, new this year and spearheaded by Dr. Andrew McLean from Equitation Science International, brings five sessions a day of learning to any ticket holder on Thursday and Friday. Registration is necessary to manage venue space but does not require additional ticket purchase. Geared towards horse enthusiasts of all levels, session topics range from horse behavior, shoeing management, nutrition, and horsemanship. All education is aimed to provide clear, ethical, and science-backed practices to foster a more holistic approach to horse welfare and horse sport.

For the horse-enthused and unfamiliar alike, plenty of entertainment options correlate with the Adelaide Equestrian Festival with options for the whole family. Live music will be provided by renowned artist Tom Curtain, the ATCO Kids Corral will have a full slate of daily activities just for kids, and ResourceCo returns as a partner for FREE Festival admission on Thursday, April 16. 

Horse & Country TV returns as the livestream provided for The Adelaide Equestrian Festival, with full-scale streaming available at horseandcountrytv.com. 

At an event unlike any other and so uniquely its own, the stories on deck for this year’s Adelaide Equestrian Festival promise to bring spectators in person and abroad to the edge of their seats. Whether tuning in to the livestream or enjoying some of the most accessible eventing possible, the stage is set for athletes to showcase their skills and hard work on a global stage. 

Further information, tickets and scheduling can be found at adelaideequestrianfestival.com. 

Press releases, story leads and photo assets will be distributed to international equestrian media throughout the Adelaide Equestrian Festival by Eventing Nation. To join an asset folder to make your coverage easier, please click here. If you have specific needs, please contact Sally Spickard at [email protected]. 

Wednesday News & Notes

By on Apr 15, 2026 12:01 am -

One Big Thing: US Equestrian Allocates $100,000 each to Safety Vest Study and Chromatic Fund

 

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US Equestrian is pleased to announce that the Federation has committed $100,000 over two years toward an ongoing, international research effort into equestrian safety vests — a decision that was made at a regular meeting of the USEF Board of Directors in February.

While equestrian riding helmets have standardized systems for testing and rating products from different manufacturers, there is far less standardization of rating safety vests in equestrian sports. Many international ratings systems are based on motorcycle vests, which may not be absorbing the same kinds of impacts as equestrian safety vests.

The project began with a survey of riders to determine a baseline for what riders believe about the protection of vests and body protectors, and how they’re being used in the field. The current research effort will work with an academic research partner to establish testing standards and then test existing products against those standards, similar to the helmet ratings work that has taken place at Virginia Tech. The unknown aspects of safety vest protection don’t mean that equestrians shouldn’t be wearing them (they’re required for eventing), but it does mean there’s a gap in our understanding of their strengths and limitations.

Funding for this research doesn’t just come from US Equestrian — a variety of national and international governing bodies and affiliates, as well as private donors, are coming together to make the work possible. The FEI also announced in June 2025 that they had approved the creation of an Equestrian Safety Vests Working Group (ESVWG), led by Dr. Mark Hart, who has previously served as the chair of the US Equestrian Human and Equine Safety & Welfare Committee. The FEI’s ESVWG will also be composed of a multidisciplinary scientific panel of experts in biomechanical engineering, injury computer modeling, medicine, vest manufacturing, and international standards, as well as an advisory panel of members nominated from their respective National Federations.

“While there is growing support for the use of body protectors and air vests in both sport and recreational riding, there is still minimal data to fully understand their effectiveness,” said Dr. Hart of the FEI and USEF’s ongoing and collaborative research. “We feel it’s our duty as an organization to take a leadership role to evaluate and improve riders’ personal protective equipment. A lot of our USEF members have been requesting that this research be done to enhance rider safety.”

The Chromatic Fund

USEF is also pleased to announce that an additional $100,000 will be directed toward the Chromatic Fund, a collaborative initiative of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), USEF, Chromatic’s breeder KC Branscomb, and The Foundation for The Horse that will fund innovative science-based, equine-specific research and education initiatives designed to improve the health, welfare, and career longevity of sport horses worldwide.

The fund is named in honor of Chromatic BF, a 13-year-old Oldenburg US show jumper who tragically died at the 2024 World Cup Jumping Finals in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, after several superior performances. His avoidable loss underscores the urgent need for superior scientific research and education such as the first series of projects made possible by the Chromatic Fund, including a study on the effects of vitamin E supplementation in healthy horses, and another examining the safety of high versus repeated low-dose steroid use.

To join in this effort in honoring the legacy of Chromatic BF and working to improve the welfare of horses like him through this fund, you can make an online donation here.

Major International Events This Weekend

Adelaide Equestrian Festival CCI5* & Oceania Championships (AUS): [Website] [Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Burnham Market CCI4*-S (GBR): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

Oudkarspel North Holland HT CCI4*-S (NED): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

Ocala International Festival of Eventing CCI4*-S (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

Fair Hill International April HT CCI4*-S (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

US Events This Weekend

Sporting Days Farm April HT IV (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

River Glen Spring HT (TN): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Redefined Equestrian HT (CO): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Other Links and Reading

Training Tip of the Day

Rather than just training your horse, you may need to start thinking about training your own nerves:

Go Eventing

Just can’t wait to walk the Kentucky 4* course? Walk last year’s course with Dana Cooke:

 

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Defender Kentucky 5* Rookie Gabby Dickerson is Focused on the Process

By on Apr 14, 2026 6:30 am -

Gabby Dickerson and Traditionally Fernhill. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

It’s easy to get distracted as a rookie in the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event CCI5*. There’s a lot of external chatter on how first-timers will fare. Plus, translating a lifelong dream into the actual leaping into the Head of the Lake and the rest of Kentucky’s many big moments.

But 30-year-old Gabby Dickerson is firmly focused on the process that got her to this point, even if it took a little longer than she might have liked.

Gabby and her Kentucky partner, Traditionally Fernhill, came together in early 2024. “Ken,” a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse by Killinick Bouncer, came from Alex Green Kerby with one 4*-short outing on his resume. Gabby brought the experience of developing several horses to the 3* level, and years of work with and the ongoing guidance of luminaries and Olympians – Great Britian’s Nicola Wilson and the USA’s Kim Severson.

An Early Inspiration

Gabby competes at Kentucky Horse Park in 2009.

Kentucky has personal roots for Gabby. At about 11, she’d ridden with Kim in a clinic and lessons, then found herself helping Kim out on the Kentucky Horse Park’s hallowed grounds. “My mom and I were planning to go watch Kentucky anyway, and Kim allowed me to get involved. Since then, it’s always been the ultimate goal to get there and, eventually, to do pretty well.”

At 12, Gabby moved from her family’s home in Outer Banks, North Carolina, to work with Kim full time. “My folks looked at it like sending me to boarding school, except that I was getting an equine education. I went to online high school before it was normalized by COVID.”

Her next leap of independence took Gabby to England, at 17, to work with Nicola. The opportunity started, again, with a clinic. “I could just tell she was going to be a great person to spend time around,” Gabby recalls. “I knew college wasn’t going to be right for me, so I asked her if I could do a little trial working for her. And the rest is history!”

Gabby spent a year in England with Nicola, followed by shorter stints with German legend Ingrid Klimke and German Olympian and dealer Dirk Schrade.

Catching Up On The Competitive Side

Gabby Dickerson and Traditionally Fernhill. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

She returned to the United States, in 2016, at 20, ready to go professional. “I naively decided it was time to go out on my own then,” Gabby shared. “I’m not sure why people are in such a rush to do that. For me, I did make it work and I had some success, but more like success with business and life skills. It took me a while to even have an Advanced horse, and I feel like now I’m catching up on the competitive side of things.

“I just always believed that if I kept working at it, and taking opportunities to make connections, I could catch up. Hopefully, that’s what’s happening now.”

Through her early professional years, Gabby produced over a dozen 3* horses. They excelled there but, for all the familiar reasons, didn’t go beyond that.

Enter Roland Millican, a real estate investor and amateur competitor whose support enabled Gabby to get over the horsepower hump.

“He’s been a game changer.”

Along with Traditionally Fernhill and other promising horses in Gabby’s now solid string of confirmed and likely Advanced horses, Roland purchased a beautiful farm in Gordonsville, Virginia. Milltop Farm is Gabby’s homebase for her competitive ambitions and sales business, and a hub for the region. It has a full-size show jumping arena, mirrors in the dressage court and a cross-country schooling course modeled on Boyd Martin’s.

“We started with a few young horses, and at some point, I put a bug in Roland’s ear about buying a ready-to-go horse that would help me catch up,” Gabby shared. “Since we picked up Ken, the experience I’ve gained with him has helped me now produce three others to the CCI4* level.”

Wilton Fair Gives Wings

Gabby Dickerson and Casalto. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Receiving the Wilton Fair Grant from the USEA Foundation in early 2024 was another career catapult. Gabby applied it to a summer based with Nicola in the U.K. “We ticked along and checked off boxes” in CCI4*-Ss including Aston le Walls and Burgham International in England and Scone Palace in Scotland. Having both Ken and Casalto, a 13-year-old German Sport Horse by Casalito, doubled the tour’s benefits as an experience builder.

“One big result” could make Gabby the proverbial “overnight sensation 10 years in the making,” but she’s determined stay focused on the process. “It’s easy to get caught up in thinking about the outcome you want, but I’m trying not to belabor that. I’m trying to focus on the process and keeping it all moving in the right directly.”

It’s one of many areas where Nicola’s influence is especially valuable.

“Nicola has done everything I want to do, and accomplished it all, many times over,” Gabby said. “Whenever I’m feeling a little unsure, I always get a really clear answer from her. She’s also super detail oriented and very good on the coaching side. I’m very grateful to her.”

WhatsApp-ed schooling sessions are critiqued from across the pond and Nicola comes to the States frequently for in-person sessions.

One of Nicola’s recent visits was Morven Park, one of two CCI4*-Ls Gabby and Ken completed last year. “I’d been trying to tell her how hard that course was, and when she finally saw it, she said, ‘This is a 4.5* course! It’s worth me coming out of retirement for!’”

As Kentucky prep, “It felt really good to get that one out of the way,” Gabby said. “Ken’s spring season has gone to plan and we feel pretty prepared.” Morven Park built on an #8 finish in their 4*-L debut, at Tryon International last May, after a solid 4*-S run at the Cosequin Kentucky CCI4*-S last April.

Gabby is grateful to have both Nicola and Kim Severson on speed dial. Both help with the big picture planning for each horse and granular details like how many gallops, and at what distance, to get in with Ken in these finals weeks before Kentucky.

Simple Strategies In Care

Gabby Dickerson and Traditionally Fernhill. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Beyond the training, Gabby roots her horses’ development in simple, proven management strategies, while also being open to new solutions.

Airlite Cardboard Bedding is one example of a new solution Gabby found while supporting an allergy-prone horse. Popular in the high-performance jumping world, the bedding is made of pre-consumer cardboard and is virtually free of dust and other allergens. Gabby was first impressed by significantly less dust in the trailer coming home from Florida earlier this year. “We noticed a huge difference in air quality in the trailer. That’s always been a concern when you have so many horses in a tight space – the air can get really bad, really fast.

“We’re really happy with the cardboard bedding and I’m now using it for all our Advanced horses,” Gabby continues. “More people are paying more attention to their horses’ respiratory health because it’s so important in our sport.”

All her horses spend as much time outdoors as possible and their days usually begin with an hour on the horse-walker by Kraft, a free-walker that’s common in Europe. “They walk in both directions and it’s a smooth, flat rubber surface, so it’s a bit like doing roadwork.”

“We try to keep the program simple,” Gabby shared. “We’re not giving a thousand supplements because they get what they need through good feed from Nutrena. We keep everything as high quality as we can regarding their care, then ride them as correctly as we can.”

Simple stable management is part of the “consistency and slow steady steps” that Gabby trusted to bring her to this point. “Of course I’d love to push out a personal best at Kentucky, but I am aiming more for a solid result. It’s a 5* and anything can happen!”

EN’s coverage of Defender Kentucky is supported by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for all the science-backed nutritional support your horse needs. Learn more about KPP here.

Defender Kentucky: [Website] [Entries] [Tickets]

Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products

By on Apr 14, 2026 12:01 am -

One Big Thing: The Badminton Horse Trials App

If you’re headed to Badminton in a few short weeks, you’ll want to download their free app pronto.

Not only will the home page of the Badminton Horse Trials app give you a full hourly timetable for every day of the event, you can also register to follow your favorite horse and rider combinations in real time and receive live notifications and updates as they progress through the weekend. Follow the competition closely in a dedicated tab listing the entries, start lists, live results, and the 2026 cross country map.

The app’s News center is filled with the latest news and top stories of Badminton, including the Director’s Blogs leading up to the event. You can find each venue exhibitor sorted into categories and marked with their stand location, images, links, and contact information. And of course, if you get lost on site, the app features a full color site plan map with a key and stand number ranges for the shopping village.

New for 2026: Badminton Plus!

Badminton Plus is the event’s new membership platform where you will be able to tune in to the live broadcast — Radio Badminton — via the app on your phone or the Badminton website from your computer. If you’re attending in person, this is the best possible way to stay completely plugged in to all the action across the grounds — and if you’re watching from home, this will make you feel like you’re there in person!

Additionally, if not most importantly, if you’re on the ground at the venue, the Badminton Plus membership will also provide you with tons of special discounts from various exhibitors in the Badminton shopping village.

Badminton Plus can be purchased in the app for £4.99.

[Click here to get it in the App Store]

[Click here to get it in the Google Play Store]

US Events Opening Entries Today

Equestrians’ Institute HT (WA); IEA Horse Trials (IN); The Spring Event at Archer (WY); GMHA June HT (VT); MCTA H.T. at Shawan Downs (MD); Ocala Summer I + Area III Championships (FL); Genesee Valley Riding & Driving Club Spring HT (NY); Essex HT (NJ); Carriage House Farm Combined Test (MN)

US Events Closing Entries Today

The Event at Skyline (UT); Windridge Farm Spring HT (NC); Waredaca HT (MD); Stable View Local Charities HT (SC); Majestic Oaks Ocala HT (FL); Texas Rose Horse Park HT (TX)

Other Links and Reading

Sponsor Corner: Kentucky Performance Products

Do you know all the areas to check when assessing your horse’s body score and condition? While weight tapes are a convenient and easily-accessible way to estimate your horse’s weight, they can still be imprecise — especially when considering certain metabolic, insulin-resistant, or older horses. Keep an eye on these highlighted zones, as fat deposits or muscle loss may determine a different body score range than what the weight tape is telling you.

For those struggling with hard keepers or aging horses, Kentucky Performance Products offers several high-calorie and high-fat supplements that ease the burden of heavy caloric intake.

For those with easy keepers — the ones you’re afraid to give more than just a handful of grain, but are now worried about a nutrient deficit — KPP can also help improve that balance with several different formulas targeting these low-metabolism horses.

[Click here to learn more about body scoring and the importance of knowing your horse’s weight]

Training Tip of the Day

What makes eventing different isn’t just the phases, but the way it forces riders to think. Will Coleman breaks down eventing success:

[Click here for the full article on ThePlaidHorse.com]

Go Eventing

Come along with Simon Grieve to the gallops as he prepares Buster for Badminton: