Classic Eventing Nation

Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS in Command of USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Championship at Tryon

By on Nov 11, 2021 5:12 pm -

Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

The 2021 season winds down in earnest this weekend with the final international event stateside at The Dutta Corp. Tryon International Three-day Event. The weekend is jam-packed with action, featuring the USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Championship along with the Adequan/USEF Youth Team Challenge East Coast Final. FEI levels from CCI1*-L up are also offered, making it a true destination experience for eventers looking for one last big run before the holidays kick off.

The CCI4*-L roster this year is a bit smaller than years past, simply due to a busy calendar that saw several new events added — including the inaugural CCI4*-L at Morven Park as well as the Maryland 5 Star last month — providing more options than ever before for the Advanced horses. As many of the more experienced horses have already wrapped their season at Maryland, the path has been opened for a rising star to make his or her mark on the weekend — in fact, 10 horses in the 4*L are making their debut.

Will Coleman had the unenviable task of riding first this morning in the chill before the judging panel of Robert Stevenson, Tim Downes and Lynda Ramsey aboard the 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding Chin Tonic HS, who is owned and bears the moniker of Hyperion Stud. But despite a green spook on entry and a general feeling of “a little on edge”, the striking gelding earned a mark of 26.0 to take the early lead and would never be challenged through the remainder of the division. This is the 4*L debut for Chin Tonic HS (Chin Champ – Wildera, by Quinar), but he’s found success before at this venue, having won the 3*L here last fall.

Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

“He was a bit on edge the whole test honestly,” Will reflected. “He’s a very workmanlike horse in that he doesn’t ever totally lose it, but that arena is very hard to get the horses to settle in — it’s just a weird sort of atmosphere. So he was just a little uncomfortable in there, but he can make up for a little bit of spookiness just because he’s so beautiful and such a quality mover. His star quality just sort of outshone his greenness and a bit of spookiness. He’s still a baby in a lot of ways and I’m just trying to do right by him. It wasn’t maybe his best work but we’re excited for his future and I think he’ll continue to get better. We learned some things from today that will help us going forward.”

Chin Tonic, who was originally sourced in Germany as a two-year-old by Hyperion Stud owner Vicky Castegren, is coming off a win in the Notting Hill Invitational show jumping competition in Ocala as well as a win in the CCI4*-S at Morven Park in August. With this being his first 4*-L, Will says he’s still evaluating Captain Mark Phillips’ track for Saturday to formalize his plan but he feels “Chin” is up to the challenge. “For this horse it was mostly about timing (to choose to come to Tryon) and getting a four-long under his belt hopefully gives me some more flexibility next year in terms of what we want to do with him,” he explained. “I think we brought him here because we think he’s ready to do it. We want to go out there and give him a positive ride. He seems to be in good condition and I don’t think we have any expectations, we’re just going to ride him the best we can and give him a good experience.”

Woods Baughman and C’est La Vie 135. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Third here in the 4*-L last year were Woods Baughman and C’est La Vie 135, a 13-year-old son of Contendro I, and they’ll sit second early on here after scoring a 29.4. It’s been a bit of a season of growing pains for Woods and “Contendro”, who won the CCI3*-L at Fair Hill in 2019 and subsequently struggled with control and rideability across the country as they stepped up to the Advanced level. But Woods, who bases and trains with Sharon White in West Virginia, patiently went back to the drawing board this year, stepping down a level to test the brakes and boost confidence. Now, the pair seems to be getting onto the same page once more — they finished second on their dressage score in the CCI3*-S at Morven Park in August and fourth in the Open Intermediate at Hagyard Midsouth last month.

Taking third place into Saturday’s cross country test will be Sharon White with her own Claus 63 (Catoo – Tina II, by Levisto), who is also seeking his first 4*-L completion after two unlucky runs earlier this year. Morven Park was the last attempt at the level for the 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding, who was sourced in Germany by Dirk Schrade, and despite the parting of ways this pair experienced there Sharon was nonetheless pleased with her up and comer’s tackling of all the hard questions. This weekend, then, is a late addition to the calendar, but Claus’ competitive score of 29.9 is his best at the 4* level to date, putting him in good position to have a “third time’s the charm” type of weekend. Sharon will also pilot her stalwart partner, Cooley On Show, in the 4*-S this weekend.

Sharon White and Claus 63. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Leading the way in the CCI3*-L is Buck Davidson, who unseated the lead held by Dan Kreitl for most of the day with Sami Crandell’s 7-year-old Anglo-European gelding, DHI Showman. Scoring an international personal best of 26.1, this pair will lead the 36-strong division, with Dan Kreitl and Horales in second on a 27.5, followed by Ariel Grald completing the top three with Forrest Gump 124 on a 27.7.

The CCI2*-L and CCI1*-L also got underway today, though we’ll see the completion of these divisions’ dressage tests tomorrow. These divisions are also host to the Adequan/USEF Youth Team Challenge East Coast Final, where three CCI1* teams, six CCI2* teams, and two CCI3* teams — along with several individuals — are competing for their respective areas. The Youth Team Challenge is a new offering from USEF this year, replacing the former North American Youth Championships with an East and West coast series culminating in a final on each coast; Galway Downs hosted the West coast final last weekend.

Maya Black and Miks Master C, sitting fourth in the 4*-L on a score of 30.2. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

The 2* and 1* teams will compete their scores tomorrow, but in the CCI3* it’s the scrambled team representing areas 2, 3 and 8 leading the way on a collective score of 96.1. The leading team consists of Alex Baugh and MHS FernhilL Finale, Elizabeth Bortuzzo and Belongs To Teufer, Ben Noonan and Keep Kitty, and Sarah Bowman and Altus Louvo. Just two teams are contesting the 3* YTC Final, but currently the two are separated by a mere 15.2 penalties, so a bit of time on Saturday could easily flip-flop the two teams. Second placed in the team competition is the team representing areas 5 and 6: Kit Ferguson with Kiltubrid Tom, Zara Flores-Kinney and Elusive Dassett, Barrett Phillips and Whole Nine Yards, and Savannah Gwin and Glock Pullman. We’ll have much more to report on once the teams’ dressage scores are completed in this competition tomorrow!

 

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In the meantime, leading the way in the early going in a massive CCI2*-L is Tik Maynard with the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Galileo, who earned a very competitive 21.4 to take a handy lead over second-placed Ayden Schain and Fernhill Hole Shot (26.3). This is the second trip to Tryon to contest this division for Tik and Galileo — they were fourth in the CCI2*-L here in 2020. Most recently, they won the CCI2*-S at the inaugural Event at TerraNova.

Last but not least, Boyd Martin, who’s enjoying what you could call a comparatively light weekend here with just three rides, will lead the way after day one aboard Sherry Pound’s Gestalt, a 9-year-old Mecklenburg gelding making his FEI debut here at Tryon. This pair earned a score of 27.3 for the early lead, but in both this and the CCI2*-L divisions there is still much dressage to see on Friday so the top of the leaderboard could still shuffle a bit ahead of cross country.

I am making my way to Tryon tomorrow, so I’ll have much more for you both here and on our Instagram page through the rest of the weekend. Tomorrow’s action includes CCI4*-S dressage as well as the conclusion of CCI2*-L and CCI1*-L dressage. Saturday we’ll see the jumping action, with the the Long format divisions running cross country and the CCI4*-S show jumping. Don’t forget, you can tune in live on USEF Network all weekend long! Stay tuned for more, and thank you as always for following along!

Tryon International Three-Day Event (Tryon, Nc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Stream] [Volunteer]

Eventing Nation’s coverage of Tryon International is brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products, your go-to source for nutritional support and maintenance. The horse that matters to you, matters to Kentucky Performance Products. Visit kppusa.com to learn more.

Volunteer Nation: Four Events That Could Use a Helping Hand This Week

By on Nov 11, 2021 11:00 am -

 

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“Best seat in the house” is right! And Tryon International Equestrian Center treats its volunteers like royalty. Volunteers a gift card or event ticket for every eight-hour shift worked, plus receive meals and snacks according to shift lengths. There are still plenty of spots to fill for this week’s big event — see what’s available and sign up here.

As always, you can earn merit points when you donate your time through the USEA’s Volunteer Incentive Program. Registering to volunteer through EventingVolunteers.com makes it easy and seamless to both find a job and shift as well as learn what your role will entail.

USEA Events

Majestic Oaks Recognized Horse Trials (November 8th to 13th, 2021)

Tryon International 3-Day Event (November 8th to 14th, 2021)

Other Events

November Schooling Dressage (November 10th, 2021)

November WHES Championships (November 9th to 15th, 2021)

Go Volunteers. Go Eventing!

‘Eventing for the Cure’ Raises $5K at Hunt Club Farms’ Annual Charity Event

By on Nov 11, 2021 9:00 am -

Allison Snowden and Read the Will, winners of the Training Division. Photo by Hannah Jones Photography.

October is a special month at Hunt Club Farms. For the past seven years, the Berryville, Virginia venue has hosted “Eventing for the Cure,” a charity event to raise money for local families battling cancer. Eventing for the Cure is a rider favorite every year. This year did not disappoint — competitors and spectators were ‘pinked out’ and having a blast. The morning began with the Modified/Training division and wound up with the Introductory division. It was a fabulous turnout, and the weather, although a bit damp, kept the horses fresh.

Photo courtesy of Hunt Club Farms.

It is not often that riders get to jump around a demanding stadium jumping course with a pink tutu or run cross country on a gray horse turned pink for the day. The atmosphere was lively and exciting as the riders and spectators donned their most fabulous pink attire for the event. Every shade and variety of pink was well represented, from wigs to wraps, nearly everyone was pretty in pink! “It’s really a competition to see who can have the most fun with the most pink!,” says Falishia Guarno-Philips, smiling as she walks by in her pink tutu.

Gillian Sims riding Copper Cruise. Photo by Hannah Jones Photography.

Seven years ago Hunt Club Farm owner Tracy Zack’s sister, Tammy Scovitch, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. She was in for a long hard fight. “The whole process was exhausting. I could not get over how much was not covered by insurance, and how hard it was on my sister’s family while she was going through the treatments,” Tracy remembers. “Not only was she physically and emotionally wiped out, she was so worried about finances.”

It was October and Hunt Club was gearing up for the fall unrecognized combined test. “I was on my way home from visiting my sister, after she had lost her hair, and was too sick to work. I kept thinking, what can I do? And it just struck me, Eventing for the Cure! We can raise money to help with bills.”

Dawn Beach and Master Magician, Winners of the Modified Training division. Photo by Hannah Jones Photography.

That first year, Tracy gave all of the proceeds from the show to her sister to help pay bills while she was off of work. Tammy’s survival story is awesome and inspiring. She attributes that to the support that was lavished on her by friends, family and community. “When you have cancer the last thing you need is financial stress!”

Photo courtesy of Hunt Club Farms.

After a successful first year, Zack made Eventing for the Cure an annual event. “I saw that we could help others, we could make an impact in our community,” says Zack.

Eventing for the Cure has given to several different organizations over the years; however, the Angel Fund at Shenandoah Oncology came to Tracy’s attention in 2018 and captured the heart of the event. The Angels Fund is unique in that it does not support cancer research, search for a cure or lower medical expenses. The Angel Fund is available for people fighting cancer to help them stay afloat financially. The fund will pay a mortgage or make a car payment, they can keep the lights on, or the water running. The Angel Fund is help, in a time of need. This year $5,000 was raised to support this unique local charity.

Tracy Zack with Sarah Sims presenting $5,000 to the Angel Fund of Shenandoah Oncology. Photo courtesy of Hunt Club Farms.

“Making this work as a charity event takes a team!” Tracy says. “We are blessed with a great team, from our sponsors — Purina, HC Sommers Feed and Supply and Piedmont Equine — to our dressage judge who donated her time, to our incredible volunteers who were out in the weather, to our competitors and auction patrons who supported the event. Every single one of them made a difference. This event is what it is thanks to them.”

When asked about the future of Eventing for the Cure, Zack responds, “It just keeps growing! I see a spectator section and think we can really expand the auction next year. We have great sponsors and would like to increase our reach and give even more to the Angel Fund. It would be great to have people from outside the horse world get involved as well.”

Samantha Pigott and Tracy Zack showing off this year’s shirt. Photo courtesy of Hunt Club Farms.

Hunt Club Farms has donated over $55,000 since the inception of Eventing for the Cure.

To learn more or to get involved visit www.huntclubfarms.net.

Thursday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

By on Nov 11, 2021 12:03 am -

Dreaming of Ireland right now tbh. Photo by Carrie Meehan.

There are two things that set my I-need-a-new-horse-but-not-really senses tingling: the annual fall thoroughbred sales off the track for the winter, and this week’s Goresbridge Go For Gold Sale in Ireland. One is clearly more in my theoretical budget (aka not much) and another is more like a daydream. Maybe one day, I’ll have a horse that is purpose bred and fancy, but so far, I’ll continue drooling online over the pretty free jumping photos and daydream for another year.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Tryon International Three-Day Event (Tryon, Nc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Stream] [Volunteer]

Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (Reddick, Fl.): [Website] [Volunteer]

River Glen H.T. (New Market, Tn.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

News From Around the Globe:

The last long-format of the season runs this weekend at Tryon. Over 200 entries have flocked to the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina for the annual Tryon International Three-Day event which will run CCI*-L, CCI2*-L, CCI3*-L, CCI4*-S, and CCI4*-L divisions over the course of four days November 10-14. [Tryon Fast Facts]

The Area IX Championships took place in Mount Pleasant, Utah at the Event at Skyline in September of this year. The showgrounds were busy with five Championship divisions in addition to their nine horse trial divisions running over the course of the weekend, but competitors were thrilled with the atmosphere and experience at the competition. Five new Area IX Champions were crowned for 2021, and the USEA caught up with each of them to chat about their victories. [Riders Reflect: Area IX Championships]

Ready to pump up your winter training with some online XC training courtesy of Lucinda Green? She’s offering an incredible opportunity to learn how six of the best cross country riders in the world train their horses for confidence and cleverness at different levels. Starting this month, each month will have a different webinar with a different rider. Tune in for tips from Piggy March, Boyd Martin, Ingrid Klimke, Shane Rose, Pippa Funnell, and William Fox-Pitt! [Lucinda Green’s XC Academy]

Read up on your rules: US Equestrian Eventing has several standard rule changes approved for the 2022 competition year coming into effect on December 1, 2021. A complete list of the approved rule changes can be found here. Also, effective December 1, 2021, is the addition of an Annex 5 which will house the USEF/USEA Eventing Competition Standards — they can be viewed here. The current USEF Eventing Chapter can be found on the USEF website here. The Eventing Annexes can be found here. The complete 2022 USEF Rule Book can be found here. [USEF]

Hot on Horse Nation: Of Veterans And Horses, Part 1

 

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Feels, Fashion, Fairfax & Favor: Wrapping Up the Final FEI Jog of the Season at Tryon International

By on Nov 10, 2021 7:30 pm -

Daisy Trayford and Ermintrude. Makayla Rydzik’s Fluorescent Adolescent

Can you believe it’s the final international eventing weekend of the season here in the U.S.? One last time this afternoon, the FEI horses and riders took to the jog strip to trot up for the ground jury, this weekend’s CCI4*-L panel consisting of Robert Stevenson, Tim Downes, and Lynda Ramsey.

Thanks to the lens talents of Shannon Brinkman and her all-star team assembled for this weekend, we’ve got some epic shots to share with you this evening. And thanks to our partnership with British lifestyle brand Fairfax & Favor, we’re soaking in the fall fashion vibes from this particular jog — have a look at some of our favorite moments!

Michelle Mercier and Shirsheen Fun For All. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Personally, as someone who can rarely be found outside of the house (I work remotely and am currently horseless, don’t judge me), I always love admiring the cleaned up versions of the riders who can more usually be seen grinding it out at the barn day in and day out.

A few standout favorite outfits — stylish but also sort of functional enough to pull off an all-out sprint next to your big-striding horse:

Meaghan Marinovich Burdick and Riviera Lu. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Julianne Elliott and Mystic Hazzard. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Zara Flores-Kinney and Elusive Dassett. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

And, of course, enough brave and fancy footwear to go around:

Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Daniela Moguel is the bravest girl on the jog strip. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Katie Lichten and Yarrow. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Kendal Lehari and Audacious. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Barrett Phillips and Whole Nine Yards. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Ellie O’Neal and Koraline. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Lauren Nicholson and I’ll Have Another. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Seriously, we’re a little obsessed with Daniela Moguel’s boot choice:

Dang, girl! Daniela Moguel rocking some over the knee boots. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Daniela Moguel and Estela de la Galerna. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

And we certainly can’t leave out the gents!

John Michael Durr and Tilikum. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Dan Kreitl and Horales. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

And fashion isn’t just for humans — check out this beautifully simply clip job:

A bomb clip job for Makayla Rydzik’s Fluorescent Adolescent. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Makayla Rydzik’s Fluorescent Adolescent. Makayla Rydzik’s Fluorescent Adolescent

Looking to add some new pizazz to your next jog outfit? Check out the just-dropped Fairfax & Favor Brompton boots:

 

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And finally, a few more shots from the jog strip — if you’re competing these weekend, be sure to check out Shannon Brinkman and order your photos!

Stay tuned for much more to come from Tryon! Go Eventing.

Tryon International Three-Day Event (Tryon, Nc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Stream] [Volunteer]

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Five-Star Domination, Shrunk in the Wash

By on Nov 10, 2021 5:30 pm -

Whether you love feisty little chestnut mares from afar (safe; sensible) or you prefer to have them in your own string of horses (risky at best), you’ve probably long been hopelessly in love with the patron saint of the genre, Cathal Daniels‘s Rioghan Rua. Originally intended as a sales horse, the teeny-weeny 15.2hh powerhouse was sent to the then-teenaged rider to produce and move on by her breeders, Mags and Frank Kinsella.

But quickly, it became evident that the savvy rider and the ultra-sharp mare had a special understanding — an understanding that was compounded when she made the step up to become his Junior Europeans mount at just six years old. She would go on to compete at the Young Rider Europeans, too, all while tackling her own age championships at Le Lion d’Angers, and the pair stepped up to five-star at Pau in 2016, when Red was just nine and Cathal a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed 20. Since then, they’ve been part of the silver medal-winning Irish team at the World Equestrian Games in 2018, took the individual bronze at the European Championships in 2019, headed to Tokyo, where they had to step into the reserve spot after a minor health concern, and completed four five-stars in fine style.

But this isn’t the Rioghan Rua Wikipedia page — it’s a chance to get you behind those famous orange ears. (This, arguably, is the safest place to be — signed, someone who has strayed too close to her hind end.) Check out this excellent helmet cam video, courtesy of Irish Eventing Times, from last month’s Pau CCI5*, where the dynamic duo finished 13th and best of the Irish. Do the jumps look a little bigger from the back of a glorified pony? Totally. Are you ever in doubt that this superstar will clear them? Not even a little bit.

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4 More Horses We Window-Shopped at the Goresbridge ‘Go For Gold’ Select Event Horse Sale

By on Nov 10, 2021 3:30 pm -

The Goresbridge “Go For Gold” Select Event Horse sale is approaching next week, and even if you aren’t planning to attend in person there are still plenty of options to bring home your new partner thanks to virtual bidding options. The popular Irish sale, which identifies top quality and talent using a selection panel, is a destination for pros and amateurs alike, and Go For Gold returns this year with both in-person and virtual bidding November 15 and 16.

If you’re interested in getting even more background on some of the lots available in this year’s Go For Gold sale, you can tune in for the live preview show hosted on the sale’s Facebook page this Friday and Saturday, November 12 and 13 at 8 p.m. GMT / 3 p.m. EST / 12 p.m. PST.

We truly can’t stop window-shopping in the lead-up to the auction, so why not share some more of our favorites?

Lot 2: BGS Easy Peazy
Ramiro B – Emma’s Courage, by Courage — 6 year old mare

Lot 19: MBF Celtic Claddagh
Celtic Hero BZ – Janis, by Radolin — 4 year old gelding

Lot 27: Ballygriffin Odysseus
Ulysses M2S – Venture Lady, by Newmarket Venture — 3 year old gelding

Lot 44: Kilderry Storm
Barley A Moment – Kilderry Touch, by Touchdown — 3 year old gelding

Goresbridge “Go For Gold” Select Event Horse Sale: [Website] [Auction Preview] [Instagram] [EN’s Coverage]

U.S. International Eventing Season Set to Conclude This Weekend at Tryon International

By on Nov 10, 2021 2:00 pm -

Sydney Conley Elliot and QC Diamantaire.

We are officially underway at the concluding international event of the U.S. season at Tryon International Equestrian Center, where the USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Championship, the Adequan/USEF Eventing Youth Team Challenge East Coast Final, and FEI divisions from 1* up all running this weekend. I’ll be your eyes on the ground this weekend beginning Friday, but the action has already kicked off with the first horse inspection this afternoon.

A total of 21 horses and riders will contest the USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Championship this weekend while a group of 13 more pairs will compete in the CCI4*-S. The schedule for these two headlining divisions is as follows:

Thursday November 11:

  • 8:00 a.m. EST: CCI4*-L dressage

Friday November 12:

  • 1:15 p.m. EST: CCI4*-S dressage

Saturday November 13:

  • 10:15 a.m. EST: CCI4*-L cross country
  • 11:30 a.m. EST: CCI4*-S show jumping

Sunday November 14:

  • 8:00 a.m. EST Final Horse Inspection
  • 11:00 a.m. EST: CCI4*-L show jumping
  • 12:00 p.m. EST: CCI4*-S cross country

You’ll be able to follow along with every division this weekend thanks to a live stream hosted by USEF Network. You can view the complete broadcast schedule here.

Captain Mark Phillips has designed the cross country tracks for this weekend, all of which with the exception of the CCI1*-L will contain questions at the end on “the hill” — a steep uphill climb that heads back in the direction of stabling and was made famous (infamous?) at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games. Maps of the CCI4*-L and CCI4*-S are below:

The CCI4*-L entry list is as follows (Editor’s Note: the field thinned by two this afternoon after the first horse inspection, where Meg Kepferle’s Anakin along with Victoria Garland’s FE Capricino were sadly not accepted):

  • Alex Baugh and Mr. Candyman
  • Woods Baughman and C’est La Vie 135
  • Lucienne Bellissimo and Atlantic Vital Spark
  • Maya Black and Miks Master C
  • Hannah Sue Burnett and Capitol HIM
  • Kyle Carter and Reddy or Not
  • Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS
  • Nilson Da Silva and Rock Phantom
  • Lillian Heard and Dassett Olympus
  • Jamie Kellock and Summer Bay
  • Meaghan Marinovich-Burdick and Riviera Lu
  • Brandon McMechan and Oscar’s Wild
  • Joe Meyer and Buccaneer
  • Bobby Meyerhoff and Lumumba
  • Holly Payne Caravella and CharmKing
  • Jimmie Schramm and Eclaire
  • Madeline Scott and Crosby’s Gold
  • Sydney Solomon and Early Review C
  • Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge
  • Robin Walker and SBT Barolo
  • Sharon White and Claus 63

We’ll be along later with a jog gallery from official photographer Shannon Brinkman — here’s to one more weekend of top-level eventing before we go into hibernation (or something like that)! Go Eventing.

Tryon International Three-Day Event (Tryon, Nc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Stream] [Volunteer]

Eventing Nation’s coverage of Tryon International is brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products, your go-to source for nutritional support and maintenance. The horse that matters to you, matters to Kentucky Performance Products. Visit kppusa.com to learn more.

Clear View Equestrian Finds Surprisingly Simple Approach to Allergy Management

By on Nov 10, 2021 12:00 pm -

Alexa Ehlers and her head girl/assistant, Hannah Warner, with the two homebred kids.

As a registered nurse who worked in an intensive care neurology unit, Alexa Ehlers is accustomed to health care miracles made possible by modern technology. Yet she was “mind blown” by how quickly Haygain Steamed Hay helped a 5-year-old horse get rid of a cough that got so bad she’d had to pause his jumping training. “I was shocked that such a simple measure could do so much good.”

The owner and trainer at Clear View Equestrian in Lexington, Kentucky is now a full-time equestrian professional. The facility is home to about 25 horses, the majority client-owned and a few of her own that are progressing at various levels of eventing.

The youngster with the bad cough is one of two Clear View homebreds, out of Alexa’s now-retired junior partner, Crystal Clear. The gelding, Clear Candidate, and the young mare Parlez Clear, both struggle with allergies.

Spring Struggles

Initially, their issues presented only in the springtime as occasional coughs. But when the horses’ workload intensified as they matured, the coughs became more frequent, severe and, especially in Clear Candidate’s case, debilitating. He’d start coughing when they began canter work. “It wasn’t fair to jump him,” she recalls. An endoscopic exam did not find anything worrisome in his upper respiratory tract, Alexa relays. The coughing and occasional runny nose was attributed to extreme sensitivity to allergens that are especially bad in the spring.

“We tried the (chelated) silver spray through the nose and a bunch of other things, but they felt relatively invasive,” Alexa explains. “Someone mentioned the Haygain as a useful tool and I’d been around enough to see professionals using them at events and to know that the steamed hay smelled really good.”

That’s when a former client offered to loan an older Haygain unit. “Within two days of being on Steamed Hay, Clear Candidate stopped coughing.”

Parlez Clear’s coughing was more sporadic, but no less concerning. Competing in a Young Event Horse qualifier, Alexa recalls landing after the final show jumping fence and asking for a stride opening. What she got instead was a massive cough. “We thought it was shipping fever and we initiated a lot of preventative measures when we got home from the show.” That was before starting on Haygain and, since then, the mare’s issue seems to be resolved.

Alexa Ehlers and Clear Candidate. Photo by JJ Sillman.

“I was shocked that doing such a simple thing as feeding Steamed Hay helped so much,” Alexa says. The science behind Haygain explains why Steamed Hay helps horses. The patented process attains and retains temperatures of 212°F in steam injected evenly through hay inside a thermally-sealed chest. The high temperature enables reduction of up to 99% of the inhalable irritants — including mold, bacteria and other allergens — commonly found even in hay of good nutrient quality. These microscopic particles are major causes of allergies and conditions on the Equine Asthma Spectrum.

An Ounce of Prevention

Alexa wound up buying the unit from her former client. While it has some mileage on it, the High Temperature Hay Steamer still does its job. “We arrived at Haygain in a bit of a trial by fire, but now all these horses’ hay gets steamed as a preventative measure.”

Now able to train and compete at increasingly high levels without interruption, both Clear View homebreds are excelling in competition. Both have proven their potential in USEA Dutta Corp Young Event Horse competitions and Clear Candidate recently won his first Preliminary.

Along with developing these young horses and helping her clients advance toward their goals, Alexa is an up-and-coming FEI level contender. She and Just To Be Clear recently completed their first Intermediate and were targeting the Morven Park CCI3*-S in October.

This post is brought to you in partnership with Haygain.

Enjoying the Process with a Little Help from Their Friends: Meet Martha Figueroa and Winnie

By on Nov 10, 2021 9:00 am -

Here at EN, we love to hear from riders as they accomplish their goals throughout the season. This update comes to us from Martha Figueroa, who earlier this summer competed on the wings of a show entry scholarship provided by Virginia-area White Oak Stables. White Oak Stables has worked hard to provide opportunities for riders of color to pursue their passion, and this show division scholarship is just one offering with which this program is making strides in the sport. Let’s get to know Martha!

Martha Figueroa and Winnie. Photo courtesy of Virginia Rodriguez.

EN: Tell us a little about yourself, your horse, and how you got into eventing.

MF: I’m a Virginia girl, raised here by my Ecuadorian parents who call this horse crazy state home. I don’t currently have the pleasure of owning my own horse, but I am very much enjoying bringing along my friends talented pony.

I got into Eventing via Pony Club which is a National youth organization that emphasizes being a well rounded horse person. This includes giving kids the opportunity to try many different disciplines. Pony Club exposed me to everything from Eventing, to Mounted Games, PoloCross, and even Tetrathlon (swimming/running/shooting AND jumping). Eventing just happened to be the sport I liked the most out of everything I was shown.

EN: What have been your goals in terms of eventing/riding with your horse?

MF: My goals with this pony have been to bring her to a place where she is a confident and consistent low level Eventing mount. Her owner purchased her for breeding purposes, but the minute I saw how athletic she was I knew they’d stumbled upon a diamond in the rough. She arrived to the farm pretty under exposed to show settings, very head-shy and about a supple as a 2 x 4.

But she’s real smart and has her own engine, so I envisioned her carrying around future Pony Clubbers to their D2 and D3 ratings if we gave her a little more education and some show mileage. In the past 3 years I’ve taken her from her first Puddle Jumpers Combined Test to her first Beginner Novice Horse Trials!

EN: Tell us about this season so far – have you been working toward a specific goal?

This season’s goal was to go to her first Begginer Novice Horse Trial. Her show jumping has flourished and her dressage has really come together (coincidence? I think not). The big question mark has been her cross country over the years because while she loves it and is eager, it’s were her greenness shows the most.

Martha Figueroa and Winnie. Photo courtesy of Virginia Rodriguez.

My over arching goal has been to also work on all the things that happen when NOT in the saddle.

She can now trailer alone and allows her bell boots to be strapped on like total pro. She can be ridden bareback and will cross water. She also lets me fly spray her now! I’m very proud of that because I think part of what makes a good kids horse is their manners and she’s really come so far in that aspect.

EN: Recap your weekend! How did everything go? What were your goals, and what’s next for you?

My goal was pretty simple: have calm warm up rides, go clear in show jumping and complete the cross country, and we did!!

That said, the fact that we were able to attend at all was amazing. I truly mean it took a WHOLE village.

None of it would have been possible without Winnie’s generous owner who allows me compete her, my childhood pony club bestie who lent me her horse trailer AND truck, her Eventing Bestie who’s volunteered to drive us all the way there and back, and of course Ms. Jade Krafsig of White Oaks Stable.

Who is Ms. Jade Krafsig? She is the owner of White Oak Stables, who provided me this opportunity by holding a scholarship for equestrians of color and covered the show fees. She’s an Equestrian who wants to see change and is about being the change. I was proud as heck wearing her colors on my helmet and show pad that day!

Martha Figueroa and Winnie. Photo courtesy of Virginia Rodriguez.

Initially I felt embarrassed at needing so many people’s help to get to one event. It’s awkward sometimes and I tend to feel guilty often, but I am SO lucky and feel grateful for the people who help me participate in this wonderful sport.

Whats next? Right now we will build on the foundation we’ve created together and keep our eyes open for more scholarships. Sky’s the limit for Winnie and I!

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