Classic Eventing Nation

A Valentine’s Match: Three Chocolate-Colored U.S.-Based Stallions to Check Out

By on Feb 14, 2022 2:30 pm -

We are pleased to introduce our new breeding columnist, Amanda Chance! Amanda Chance is an amateur eventer working the corporate 9-5 also working as a bloodstock advisor for Willow Tree Warmbloods (Midland, TX/Ocala, FL). Amanda has an OTTB, Henry, that has competed to the Preliminary level, a second generation homebred warmblood by Mighty Magic named Presto, and a Thoroughbred mare named Gemma. She has written mostly on her blog BreedRideEvent, as well as for U.S. Eventing magazine. Amanda is an eventing fan, competitor, and very interested (and perhaps overly enthusiastic) about breeding event horses in the USA. She’ll be joining EN to promote U.S. breeding and take some deep dives into sporthorse lines.

We’ve all heard the saying “love comes in all shapes and sizes”, and the same can also be said of event horses. Short, tall, lean, stout, warmblood, Thoroughbred, pony, spicy, lazy, fancy, plain – you name it, someone is out there eventing it and having a blast in the process. That’s one of the things that makes our sport so fun and inclusive… everyone can ride, breed, buy, own and love whatever type of horse they prefer and still find success in our sport.

On Valentine’s Day, the holiday of love and romance (and of course chocolate, hopefully), we couldn’t think of any better way to celebrate than by showcasing three very different but equally successful breeding stallions that are currently out there competing at U.S. events. These stallions are all very different shapes, sizes, and breeding, but are also all successful eventers.

If you have a special mare looking for a baby daddy, are thinking about taking on the adventure of buying a foal or young horse, or if you just plain enjoy looking at a handsome horse, you’ve come to the right place. Love is definitely in the air here today! Any of these three boys could be your (or your mare’s) Valentine this year. Coincidence that they’re all chocolate colored? Um… no. Definitely not.

Photo by Victoria DeMore Photography.

Saketini – 2009 Thoroughbred stallion

The first chocolate to unwrap is a full Thoroughbred stallion named Saketini, by Bernardini (AP Indy x Mr Prospector) out of Mining My Business (Mining x Believe It). Despite being a race sire himself, Bernardini has also proven quite capable of siring good event horses too, having produced 4*L horses Humble Glory and Global Victory. Saketini is yet another successful event horse in the family, having competed so far through the I/P level with owner/rider AJ Dyer. While Saketini is obviously easy on they eyes, according to Dyer the best part about him is his easy going nature and rideability.

“Personality-wise, he’s very kind and smart, dignified and classy. He loves going to horse shows, schooling, anywhere. He seems to like being a show horse and leaving stallion responsibilities at home, which makes him a joy to compete. Under saddle he’s very rideable and straightforward. He’s careful over fences, and really easy to adjust to any distance. Beyond ‘work’ he is a lovely horse to hack out, he loves trail riding and won’t flinch at traffic. He’s quiet and trustworthy, making him a good guest horse. I’ve even ponied his yearling sons off him, prepping them for FEH Championships.”. Having a full blood stallion like Saketini, with a great thoroughbred type and good sporthorse bloodlines – especially one that is proven in sport himself – make him a fantastic asset for U.S. eventing breeders.

Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.

Coud’Poker Tartifume – 2012 Connemara stallion

Next up we’ve got a fun-size chocolate, because we all know that sometimes the best things come in the smallest packages. Coud’Poker Tartifume, better known as Cooper, is a Connemara stallion by Westside Mirah II out of Quitus de la Loue (by Dexter Leam Pondi) that was originally bred in France. Both his sire and damsire were known for producing excellent pony jumpers successful through the 1.30m level.

Cooper definitely inherited those jumping genes, and despite being relatively pint-sized at 14.2, Cooper is an absolute powerhouse on the cross country course, having competed through the Preliminary level with owner/rider Donna Miller and eating up courses that are definitely bigger than he is.

To go along with his sportscar exterior, Donna says, “Cooper is a very kind, big-hearted pony. He always tries his hardest and is very confident in himself. He is so easy that he tends to be the babysitter for our other horses and has been known to make long trips just to keep others company. Cooper’s favorite thing is to follow you around his stall until you let him put his head in your chest so you can scratch and rub his face, head, and ears. Once he has you there, it is very hard to leave or finish what you went in there for!”. Big time athleticism in a smaller package, topped off with a stellar temperament make Cooper a perfect choice for breeding event horses for all types of riders.

Photo courtesy of Alex Green-Kerby.

Isselhook’s First Sight TSF – 2014 Trakehner stallion

Last but not least to round out our little variety pack we’ve got the German chocolate, er… Trakehner, Isselhook’s First Sight TSF (by Lissow out of Funflinden, by Hibiskus) better known as Goody in the barn. Born and raised in Germany, Goody was the 5yr old Bundeschampion and then went on to finish in the top 10 at the Eventing World Championships at Le Lion D’Angers as a six year old with Sophie Leube.

Goody was imported to the U.S. in 2020 and is now owned by Janine Hill and ridden by Alex Green-Kerby, so far competing through the 3* level. I guess you could say that their partnership has gotten off to a pretty good start, as Goody was also named the 2021 USEA Stallion of the Year.

In addition to being a superb and very promising young event horse, Goody has also made himself a reputation for his kind temperament and quiet demeanor, trailering and competing side by side with mares with no fuss. While most of the horses in his pedigree have been known largely for their aptitude in dressage, Goody has certainly displayed plenty of talent for eventing, and according to Alex has heart to spare on the cross country course. His Trakehner lines are particularly hard to come by, which makes it even more exciting to have him available for breeding here in the U.S..

I think it’s safe to say that love does indeed come in all shapes and sizes, especially when you love event horses. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Weekend Winners: Full Gallop, Ocala Winter I, Pine Top, Poplar Valentine’s Day, Copper Meadows Sun Series

By on Feb 14, 2022 11:00 am -

Busy eventing weekends are what dreams are made of! Nearly 700 horses took to the start box over the weekend at Florida Horse Park, and with busy events running in South Carolina and Georgia we were treated to a full-send weekend once again.

Our Unofficial Low Score Award winners this weekend are Liz Halliday-Sharp and Emilie Mudd’s Quite Nice 11, who won their Preliminary division at Ocala I on a final score of 20.8.

Take a look at the rest of this weekend’s winners below, and keep scrolling for some snippets from schooling events at Poplar Place and Copper Meadows!

Full Gallop Farm February I H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Live Scores]

Preliminary: Brooke Burchianti and Cooley Space Grey (49.3)
Training: Meg Bowers and L’Avventura (29.2)
Novice: Barbara Selmayr and Just My Style (25.8)
Training/Novice: Meaghan Marinovich-Burdick and HSH Bitcoin (32.7)
Beginner Novice: Julia Paratore and Hanleen McFly (25.2)
Starter: AJ Carter and Texas Avalanche (23.2)

Ocala Winter I H.T. (Ocala, Fl.): [Website] [Results]

Advanced/Intermediate A: Woods Baughman and C’est La Vie 135 (28.0)
Advanced/Intermediate B: Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye (33.9)
Intermediate Rider: Sydney Rovira and Oakdale (39.6)
Open Intermediate A: Kendal Lehari and Audacious (29.0)
Open Intermediate B: Kurt Martin and D.A. Lifetime (35.6)
Open Intermediate – Jackpot: Jennie Brannigan and Twilightslastgleam (23.0)
Open Preliminary One Day A: Alex O’Neal and Redtail Achiever (33.2)
Open Preliminary One Day B: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Quite Nice 11 (20.8)
Open Preliminary A: Bethany Hutchins-Kristen and Geluk HVF (26.7)
Open Preliminary B: Maxine Preston and Wants To Be Cooley (33.3)
Open Preliminary Jackpot: Buck Davidson and Victor B Z (21.8)
Preliminary Horse: Buck Davidson and Stracathro Solitary Minstral (28.4)
Preliminary Rider A: Sophie Miller and Quarlotta C (30.2)
Preliminary Rider B: Rebecca Roth and Chapter Two (26.1)
Modified Open A: Ainsley Hagen and Risque S (26.7)
Modified Open B: Michelle Mercier and Tullibards Chance Taken (21.8)
Modified Rider A: Lydia Bradshaw and Cassio’s Picasso (26.1)
Modified Rider B: Katherine Hyndman and Sir Oberon (33.3)
Open Modified One Day A: Hugh Wrigley and FE Money Made (24.3)
Open Modified One Day B: Maya Black and FE Chardonnay (26.5)
Jr. Training: Chloe Paddack and Hawthornstud Fortunate Love (26.4)
Open Training One Day A: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Sky Watch (25.3)
Open Training One Day B: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Newmarket Cooley (24.7)
Open Training A: Brodie Seabrook and Maserati (30.8)
Open Training B: Sophia Middlebrook and Monbeg Odyssey (29.1)
Sr. Training Rider A: Sophie Ann Stremple and Street Fighting (32.6)
Sr. Training Rider B: Tanya Miller and Churros (32.1)
Training Horse A: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Maybach (28.1)
Training Horse B: Megan Loughnane and Lynton (22.5)
Jr. Novice: Ava Davis and Timothy (27.5)
Novice Horse A: Clayton Fredericks and FE Velvet Underground (23.3)
Novice Horse B: Hannah Sue Burnett and “J” (23.6)
Open Novice A: Jimmie Schramm and Castletown Cooley (28.1)
Open Novice B: Molly McMillen and Lily (27.2)
Open Novice C: Joe Meyer and Crugraff (27.5)
Open Novice Jackpot: Sarah Matuszewski-Sullivan (26.7)
Sr. Novice Rider A: Jenna Alland and Carro de la Leche (26.7)
Sr. Novice Rider B: Alyssa Cairo and Paddington (28.9)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Emma Suess and HVF On Point (23.8)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Jaeli Uselding and My Fair Prince (24.4)
Open Beginner Novice A: Keith Robinson and Magnolia (21.5)
Open Beginner Novice B: Charlotte Collier and Celtic King (26.5)

Pine Top Intermediate H.T. (Thomson, Ga.): [Website] [Results]

Advanced/Intermediate: Mia Petersen and Fernhill Royale (48.5)
Intermediate Rider: Lisa Borgia and Silmarillion (35.4)
Open Intermediate A: Tim Bourke and Quality Obsession (31.8)
Open Intermediate B: Tim Bourke and Lennard (28.2)
Open Preliminary A: Jenny Caras and Sommersby (29.6)
Open Preliminary B: Emily Beshear and Rio De Janeiro (23.4)
Open Preliminary C: Emily Beshear and Cayr Della Caccia (26.1)
Preliminary Rider: Maddie Hale and Cinzano 87 (45.4)
Modified Open A: Erin Kanara and Morning Glory SE (30.5)
Modified Open B: Emily Beshear and Plumpjack (26.8)
Modified Rider: Anna Scoggins and Pretty Like Me (32.5)
Jr. Training: Breeana Robinette and Cape Kimberly (26.9)
Open Training A: Caitlin Silliman and Excel Star Vero Amore (28.1)
Open Training B: Darci Phelps and Sandro Street (23.3)
Sr. Training Rider: Keyanna Farken and Fernhill Saulsford Nazar (32.2)
Training/Novice: Angelika Beutel and Canaday Z (29.4)
Jr. Novice: Catherine Kelly and Cooley Meridian (28.3)
Open Novice A: Maddie Lichten and RF Luminati (24.7)
Open Novice B: Caroline Honeycutt and Beall Spring Seahawk (24.2)
Sr. Novice Rider: Claudia Schultze and Windchase Lionstar (44.5)

Looking to the schooling shows that ran this week, let’s check in on Instagram from Copper Meadows and Poplar Place:

Mark Todd Under Investigation After Viral Video from Clinic

By on Feb 14, 2022 9:00 am -

Sir Mark Todd and McClaren at the World Equestrian Games in 2018. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Video footage taken at a clinic with New Zealand’s Mark Todd approximately two years ago made waves online this weekend as the video shows the Olympic gold medalist repeatedly whipping a horse with a tree branch at a water question.

The video and its implications were quickly met with furor online, and Mark Todd has since issued a formal apology for the behavior shown. The British Horseracing Authority (the former eventer now trains racehorses, basing out of Wiltshire, UK) has also launched an investigation into the matter, stating:

“The footage seen this weekend of Sir Mark Todd hitting a horse with a branch has rightly caused anger and upset within the equestrian community and beyond. His behaviour, for which he has apologised, fell a long way short of the standards of care we expect of licensed individuals and that we know is provided to the overwhelming majority of horses in training in Britain every day. The BHA is looking into the incident.”

Mark Todd issued a statement addressing the incident:

“I wholeheartedly apologise to the horse and all involved for my actions in this video clip. One of the main things I preach is about establishing a mutual respect between horse and rider and that patience and kindness is the best way to get results. I believe this is one of the main attributes along with a great empathy with animals that has enabled me to have a long and successful career in eventing. I am very disappointed in myself that I did not adhere to that in this case.”

Several major sponsors of Mark Todd and equestrian sport have made statements regarding pending investigations, including Land Rover UK.

This is a developing story.

Update – February 14, 5:15 p.m ET: Horse & Hound reports that Mark Todd voluntarily resigned from his post as patron of World Horse Welfare in the aftermath of the video. They also report that British Eventing has acknowledged their awareness of the incident, quoting “We are disappointed at the content and would like to stress that we view equine welfare as paramount to everything we do and that we expect our members, along with the wider equestrian community, to uphold the same values.”

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Feb 14, 2022 7:09 am -


Happy Valentine’s Day, you lovely lot! I’m a horrendous commitmentphobe, so this isn’t my holiday of choice, but I’m going to use it as a great excuse to give my mare Bella (currently the world’s most adorable pasture pet as we deal with a bit of a mystery lameness) a lot of smooches and Stud Muffins today. I love this roundup of images by Hannah Cole, showing some of the stars of British eventing doing much the same thing.

National Holiday: If you want to skip the aforementioned, it’s also International Book Giving Day — and as a total bookworm, I’m SO into this. Give your single barn friends a copy of Jilly Cooper’s seminal bonkbuster Riders to get them through the lovefest.

Black History Bit of the Day: What’s it actually like being the only Black rider in a yard? Here, several athletes share their experiences across the disciplines.

U.S. Weekend Action:

Full Gallop Farm February I H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Live Scores]

Ocala Winter I H.T. (Ocala, Fl.): [Website] [Results]

Pine Top Intermediate H.T. (Thomson, Ga.): [Website] [Results]

Global Eventing Roundup:

Just one FEI event took place over the weekend, and that’s a CCI2*-L in Bangalore, India, that’s been a hard-won fixture for the country’s riders ahead of this autumn’s Asian Games. This selection trial was originally scheduled for last month, but was downgraded to a CCI1* after concerns from the FEI over ‘alarming’ completion rates at December’s Delhi qualifier. Concerns sited included “insufficient level of preparation of the Indian athletes” and “lack of cross-country awareness of the riders”. Just 12 of that event’s 41 starters completed, though an improvement in preparations and national-level minimum eligibility requirements re-opened the door for the event to host its two-star qualifier this month. Though it’s no doubt disheartening for athletes and officials to have received the initial downgrading, it’s ultimately a constructive step for the sport in this developing nation, which received a great boost last summer when Fouaad Mirza impressed at the Tokyo Olympics. By putting an emphasis on safety, technique, and proper training at these early stages, Indian eventing can begin to climb the global sporting ladder and create further pipelines for its athletes.

Your Monday Reading List:

The 2022 edition of the Gaucho Derby across Patagonia is about to begin! Click here to meet the intrepid group of riders from around the world who’ll be taking on this extraordinary challenge, which will see them cross some of the world’s most challenging and beautiful terrain.

An amateur rider who suffered a terrifying — and life-altering — freak injury is calling for increased compassion in the horse community. After fighting her way back from an exploded vertebrae that saw her lose feeling in much of her lower body, and function in her bladder and bowels, Jennie Sharpe was horrified to overhear nasty comments about her weight from the ringside before heading in to jump a round at an international. Undeterred, the hard-as-nails rider has become an ambassador for her condition and hopes to help other struck by cauda equina.

Ready to master corner fences? British 5* eventer Eliza Stoddart brings you plenty of tips to take the fear out of these common cross-country questions — starting in your arena.

We’re all about maximising time out in the field for horses – and a new study from Centenary University suggests that horses who spend half their time in the field are actually significantly less prone to soft-tissue injuries, making the argument that “I’m keeping my horse inside so he doesn’t hurt himself” a pretty baseless one after all.

It’s insane to me that we’re only just starting to really put scientific research behind the female anatomy as it correlates to riding. Just a couple of years ago, I covered a study being done at a university in the UK, which measured chest movement in riders and worked towards creating a more functional sports bra. In the twenty-teens! But while we do tend to lag behind as a sport, where research is concerned anyway, I’m glad to see it happening — and this Polish study on the effects of riding on the pelvic floor is another positive step, I think.

The FutureTrack Follow:

Skip the Hallmark cards – I’ll be your Valentine if you send me one of these cheery little numbers from Mare Goods. SO cute.

Morning Viewing:

Ever wanted to train with the legendary Lucinda? Here’s an insight into what the experience is like, with 4* eventer Ashley Harrison.

Virtue of Being Like an Annoying Child: Separating Familiarity from Mastery

By on Feb 13, 2022 10:00 am -

Ema practices under the watchful eye of Packy McGaughan. Photo courtesy of Ema Klugman.

“You mistake your knowledge of what happens for an understanding of why it happens, and you mistake your feeling of familiarity for genuine knowledge.”

-Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons

In my last article, I wrote about the Socratic Method—a teaching method where the teacher leads the student to the correct answer through a series of questions. I discussed the pros and cons of the approach as applied to our sport. As to the question of whether it’s a good method to use when training horses and riders, my final answer was basically “it depends.”

I’m fascinated by the ways people and horses learn. As someone who has found my home and joy in school, I have only recently realized that it is by pure coincidence that the teaching methods used at most of the schools I have attended match up with the way that I learn. But people learn in lots of different ways: by watching, by doing, by listening, by feeling, by emulating. Learning how you learn is perhaps one of the most important things to learn about yourself.

But then there’s the problem of thinking we understand something when we may actually not understand it. Most of us have probably had the experience of studying for a test, believing we are prepared, and then taking the test and realizing that we can’t answer a lot of the questions because we don’t understand the underlying concepts on a deep level. It’s that deer-in-the-headlights feeling that nobody enjoys. It’s similar to forgetting a dressage test you thought you had down-pat. Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons describe this problem brilliantly in their 2009 book:

“Because of our extensive experience and familiarity with ordinary machines and tools, we often think we have a deep understanding of how they work. Think about each of the following objects and then judge your knowledge of it on the same 1 to 7 scale: a car speedometer, a zipper, a piano key, a toilet, a cylinder lock, a helicopter, and a sewing machine. Now try one more task: Pick the object that you gave the highest rating, the one you feel you best understand, and try to explain how it works. Give the kind of explanation you would give to a persistently inquisitive child—try to generate a detailed step-by-step description of how it works, and explain why it works.”

-The Invisible Gorilla: How Our Intuitions Deceive Us (from the chapter entitled “Virtue of Being Like an Annoying Child,”)

I think it’s interesting to actually try doing what’s described in the above example. Personally, I chose a zipper as my example. It seemed simple enough; I’ve zipped lots of zippers before, and zipping zippers doesn’t seem all that complicated. But then I tried to explain to someone how they actually work, and I truly had no idea where to start. How do the teeth push together? How do they stay locked in place after the zipper has passed by? What mechanism is used to actually lock them in place? I could only hypothesize about these questions, and I definitely wasn’t confident in my answers.

I like the passage from the Invisible Gorilla book because it reminds us that to truly understand something, we have to be “persistently inquisitive,” even to the point of being annoying. This means that we can’t say something is so “just because it is.” There has to be a reason, and a reason for that reason, and perhaps even a reason for that reason, too. This is the virtue of being like an annoying child.

There has to be a reason why a zipper stays zipped, just like there has to be a reason that it is mechanically harder for your horse to canter on the left lead than the right lead. Just like there has to be a reason why leg yielding is easier in one direction for you. Just like there has to be a reason for just about everything we do.

The mechanics matter. And it matters for coaches and riders to be able to understand the mechanics, because unless you can understand them, you cannot teach them. If an annoying child asked you, “what’s a shoulder-in?”, could you explain, step-by-step, how it works? To do so, we have to be more than familiar with the concepts. We have to genuinely know how and why they work. And it can take a lifetime to achieve that.

Sunday Links

By on Feb 13, 2022 12:01 am -

Photo by Abby Powell.

I’m not very good as stopping to “smell the roses” day to day, i.e. appreciate the little things in my life, except when I’m around horses. All of a sudden yesterday I found myself savoring the a very specific sound of hoofbeats on a wet road — it’s more of a clip-plop than a clip-clop, if you know what I mean. Horses really have the incredible ability to make us slow down and appreciate the smallest, most random things sometimes.

Black History Bit of the Day:

Here’s a fact I learned from Deianira Smith, a veterinary student at the University of Arizona, Zoetis Student Representative, and aspiring equine surgeon: the intramedullary pin — a big ‘ol metal rod inserted lengthwise down the middle of a fractured long bone, such as a femur — was invented by a Black veterinarian, Dr. Lloyd B. Mobiley. This repair technique allows the patient to bear more weight on the affected limb and better resist outside forces than some other options. Intramedullary pinning is more commonly used in small animal medicine than large animal medicine, but it has been used in foals with broken legs.

U.S. Weekend Action:

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] [Live Scores]

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

Sunday Links:

Ground-breaking research looks at indoor horse arena conditions

Amateur Showcase: Morgenthaler Lives Her Passion At ‘Beginner Nervous’ And Beyond

Grand National hero Pineau De Re still thriving aged 19

Royal reception for Britain’s Tokyo 2020 equestrian stars

It’s All About Perspective: Lily Rhodes on Living the Life She Didn’t Think She’d Have

Sunday Video: Coast to coast and country to country, ’tis the season for eventers in jumperland!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Tamie Smith (@tsmitheventing)

From the Ground Up: Stepping into a Professional Equestrian Career

By on Feb 12, 2022 12:30 pm -

Navigating my interests while starting out as a professional is challenging, but with a strong passion for what I do and a great support system, I feel up to the task.

People looked at me as though I had grown a second head when I told them I moved back to Central Pennsylvania in January to start working with horses. Leaving the (relatively) warm climate of North Carolina where I was working for Doug and Jessica Payne to embrace the snowy tundra in the depths of Pennsylvania’s winter certainly put my grit, and my cozy wool sweaters, to the test.

It’s been one month since I jumped into the equine industry as a professional. There are days when I feel like I am living my dream and experiencing everything I have wished (and worked) for, and there are days where it feels as though I’m running headfirst into a brick wall – again and again.

From finding clients, navigating the creation of my LLC, finding the “right” insurance, growing comfortable with self promotion on social media (blah), mucking stalls, and maintaining some hint of a non-horsey life, starting my own equine business has been an adventure. While I certainly don’t have all of the answers, I’m starting my column “From the Ground Up” to serve as a space for readers to ask questions, share personal experiences, and learn together.

No joke, I had a total of eight layers on in this picture.

Before we jump into the highs, lows, and stories from horsey (and non-horsey) adventures, I figured I could take a minute to introduce myself. I absolutely love meeting new people, so please feel free to reach out to me on my Instagram, or comment below!

My name is Gillian Warner. I’m a young professional based in State College, Pennsylvania, where I work as an Assistant Barn Manager while operating my new business, Warner Equine, providing lessons, training, and clinics.

I started riding when I was four years old, growing from a young horse obsessed girl, to a professional horse obsessed girl. Growing up in Pony Club (through which I have my HB/B certifications), my background is diverse and well-rounded. While I evented through most of my middle and high school years, I also dabbled in dressage, and now primarily focus on show jumping. While I love to compete, my main passion lies in connecting people with horses. Studying Community Development at Penn State (where I graduated May 2021), I constantly researched human-equine connections – how do horses help us develop as individuals, and help us become “good” community members?

While I’ve frequently been recognized as the horse girl among my school peers, I was also known to be the biggest nerd – serving as the student government president at my high school. Also passionate about local government, I considered pursuing a career in community planning and organizing. However, as graduation approached, I realized I wanted to give a career with horses a real shot.

Shortly after graduating from college, I packed my bags and moved to North Carolina. First, I worked as the Equestrian Director for Camp Wayfarer for the summer before starting a position with Doug and Jessica Payne in the fall. Loving the experiences of teaching at camp and competing with the Paynes, I decided to dive a step further and start my own business.

Although I decided to pursue a career outside of community development, I still love to be engaged in local government, and believe it’s important to find a balance between my horsey and non-horsey passions.

As a firm believer that horses have the capacity to develop responsible, empathetic, community-oriented individuals, I use every opportunity to explore the benefits that horses bring to us. My research and the belief that horses have the ability to develop these values lies at the foundation of my business. My goal is to build partnerships between horse and rider that will be mutually beneficial to both involved. I thrive off of assisting horses and riders find their “light bulb” moments in learning to communicate.

Despite feeling like I’m occasionally on a rollercoaster, I wouldn’t change my current plans for the world. And I feel fortunate to have had previous jobs and experiences to help prepare me for this new role. However, there is still so much I want (and need) to learn. If you’re on a similar journey, interested in efforts to kickstart a business in the dead of winter, or generally are looking to hear some funny stories, deep conversations with myself while cleaning stalls, and appreciation for the opportunity to spend so much time with horses, I hope you’ll join me! Welcome to From the Ground Up!

Preview the Entries for the $50,000 Grand-Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field

By on Feb 12, 2022 10:00 am -

Holly Jacks-Smither and More Inspiration, winners of the Retired Racehorse Project Highpoint Thoroughbred Award at the 2021 LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing, Bruce’s Field, Aiken, SC. Photo by Chris Quinn.

It’s nearly time for the popular $50,000 Grand-Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field, happening March 4 and 5 at the Aiken Horse Park in South Carolina. Each year, riders are invited to compete with their four- and five-star partners in an event that’s both exciting and unique, showcasing all phases of eventing in a condensed format.

This year’s Grand-Prix Eventing will be live streamed on Horse & Country, and you can view the full schedule and more details here.

We’ll see a final entry list closer to the event itself, but for now we’ve got a preview of who’s accepted their invitations so far:

  • Alex Baugh (I Spye)
  • Hannah Sue Burnett (Lukeswell)
  • Amanda Beale Clement (Carlson 119)
  • Nilson Moriera da Silva (Magnum’s Martini)
  • Buck Davidson (Carlevo, Jak My Style, Erroll Gobey)
  • Phillip Dutton (Z, Quasi Cool, Sea of Clouds)
  • Sydney Elliott (QC Diamantaire)
  • Jules Ennis (Cooley O)
  • Lisa Marie Fergusson (Honor Me)
  • William Fox Pitt (Rock Phantom)
  • Clayton Fredericks (TBD)
  • Ariel Grald (Leamore Master Plan)
  • Emily Hamel (Corvett)
  • Lillian Heard (LCC Barnaby)
  • Allie Knowles (Morswood, Ms Poppins)
  • Boyd Martin (Tsetserleg, On Cue, Fedarman B)
  • Missy Miller (Quinn)
  • Sara Murphy (Rubens d’Yseiux)
  • Doug Payne (Vandiver, Quantum Leap, Starr Witness)
  • Mike Pendleton (Steady Eddie)
  • Colleen Rutledge (Covert Rights)
  • Jimmie Schramm (Eclaire)
  • Caitlin Silliman (Ally KGO)
  • Sharon White (Cooley On Show, Claus 63)

This event will be open to spectators, so if you’re in the area it’s a great source of entertainment! Click here to learn more and purchase tickets.

Saturday Links

By on Feb 12, 2022 12:01 am -

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Colleen Loach (@colleenloach)

At 18.2 hands Colleen Loach’s Advanced horse, Vermont, has got to be one of the tallest event horses competing right now. He’s a cool dude and you can tell he’s a big boy just at a glance when he’s under saddle with Colleen, but this is the side-by-side comparison I’ve been waiting for. That’s Colleen’s 2019 Pan Am partner, 16.1-hand FE Golden Eye, on the right, who looks looks like a pony in comparison to Monty!

Black History Bit of the Day:

In the early 1970’s, Cheryl White became the first African American female jockey to win a Thoroughbred race in the U.S. In 2008, Sylvia Harris became the second — and she did it as a rookie at the age of 40. Sylvia has an incredible story of overcoming obstacles on the way to becoming a jockey, including but not limited to managing bipolar disorder, a stint of homelessness, and never having ridden a horse until age 35. You can learn more about her story in the New York Times article, this NPR segment, and her autobiogrpahy: Long Shot: My Bipolar Life and the Horses Who Saved Me.

U.S. Weekend Action

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] [Live Scores]

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

Saturday Links:

Pratoni, Here We Come!

Medina Spirit Necropsy Finds No Definite Cause of Death

Kirsten Green Named Executive Director of the Retired Racehorse Project

Announcing the New Format for the 2022 USEA FEH 3-year-old Championships

Three-Legged Quarter Horse Stallion Thriving With New Prosthesis

Saturday Video: One of our favorite girl power duos is out and about enjoying some pre-season training in Spain!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jonelle Price (@jonelle_price)

Friday Video from SmartPak: Cross-Country Schooling – Minus the Rider

By on Feb 11, 2022 6:00 pm -

The concept of cross-country schooling on the lunge isn’t a particularly new one – you can see it in action in just about every sales video of a young horse from Ireland, and even superstars such as Michael Jung have been known to don some wellies and get comfortable in the water jump as their up-and-comers figure out their footwork around them. It’s a great way to encourage natural balance and cleverness, while building a horse’s confidence — and so British YouTuber Meg Elphick decided to give it a go with her six-year-old mare Dora. Find out how they got on, and still some training inspiration for your own horse, in her latest update.