Classic Eventing Nation

Best of 2021 Video Countdown: #7 – Watch Tamie Smith & Mai Baum Score a 21.4

By on Dec 25, 2021 1:00 pm -

Each day between now and the New Year we’re counting down the top 20 most popular videos shared on EN in 2021. The #7 spot goes to this video, which garnered 2,547 views when it was originally posted on July 1, 2021.

While official scores were not handed out in yesterday’s dressage practice at the US Equestrian Mandatory Outing, held at Great Meadow in The Plains, Va., Tamie Smith has shared video of her test that earned a 21.4 from the judges.

Riding the new Olympic Games test before Mark Weissbecker and Debbie Adams, the Tokyo-bound combinations and the alternates were able to get some valuable feedback on what to perfect in this short and intense test. You can follow along with the movements using this link.

Want to see some other pairs practicing the Olympic test? Click here to see our round-up from yesterday, and catch up on today’s Mandatory Outing action in Kate Samuels’ report here.

Christmas Saturday Links

By on Dec 25, 2021 12:01 am -

Photo via the vast internet.

Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals! We hope you give your horses heaps of carrots and peppermints today and bring a six pack of your barn manager’s favorite beverage and a piping hot coffee to them if you haven’t already. May everyone find some peace and relaxation this holiday season.

Saturday Links:

‘Good to be back’: five-star eventer has first ridden work since leg injury

Improve your jumping accuracy in just 30 minutes: 3 exercises from top eventer Sam Griffiths

Rule Refresher: How to Handle Inquiries, Protests, and Appeals

Can Moderate Exercise Build Better Bones in Baby Horses?

Saturday Video: Happy Christmas from Piggy March! Her gift to us? Training videos coming next year!

Friday Video from SmartPak: Behind the Scenes at the London International Horse Show

By on Dec 24, 2021 6:21 pm -

 

I’m still not quite over all the festive buzz and excitement at the London International Horse Show, which wrapped up on Monday evening, and if you’re not either — or you’d like your first taste of this delectable little nibble of equestrian excellence, this new video from the FEI in conjunction with a slew of horsey vloggers will certainly whet your whistle. Catch a few vibes, check out the shopping, and get the spectator experience in this great round-up — and then dive headlong into the happiest of holidays!

Best of 2021 Video Countdown: #8 – A Day in the Life at the World Equestrian Center Ocala

By on Dec 24, 2021 1:00 pm -

Each day between now and the New Year we’re counting down the top 20 most popular videos shared on EN in 2021. The #8 spot goes to this video, which garnered 2,460 views when it was originally posted on February 11, 2021.

If you’ve been experiencing some FOMO ever since the new World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Fl. opened, you’re not alone. I’ve been green with envy watching all of my friends competing at WEC Ocala, with its spacious arenas, great footing, and – perhaps most importantly – affordable pricing. Maybe one day I’ll experience it! In the meantime, this video tour gives us a glimpse at life inside this little slice of equestrian paradise.

 

Christmas Eve News & Notes Presented by Zoetis

By on Dec 24, 2021 12:03 am -

Holiday pony! Photo by Captivation Photography.

Today is a day for half horses, half baking. I’m making classic mince pies, and some super fluffy parker house rolls. I meant to get really festive this year and actually make a ton of proper holiday cookies, but alas, the time never appeared on my schedule to get really into it. The weather has been too nice to stay inside and bake!

News From Around the Globe:

Tis the day to look at cute photos of horses and dogs in holiday festive wear! Luckily for you, we have not one, but TWO different links with reader submitted photos that are just too adorable for words. [Holiday Horse Photos] [Holiday Pets Gallery]

Struggling with controlling your hip angle over fences? Every rider has a different style over jumps, but some positions are more functional than others. Beezie Madden gives advice on how to correct a too-closed hip angle over jumps, and why it happens. [Jumping Clinic with Beezie Madden]

The rider/trainer relationship is a crucial relationship in the enjoyment and success of riding horses. So what happens when it’s just not working?Sometimes problems arise when riders rely on their trainers more than they should. While a trainer serves as the ultimate supporter, teacher and mentor (and should be appreciated as such), when is it time to consider alternative options? [Alternatives to Having a Trainer?]

The mystery of breeding horses has long been the subject of study. New research shows that a mare’s attraction to a stallion—specifically, to his body odors, or “MHC”—affects pregnancy success rates. And, researchers found, mares appear to prefer stallions with MHCs that differ from their own. So in other words, opposites attract, even in the horse world. [Equine Opposites Attract]

And in closing this Christmas Eve, I don’t even know how to explain this video, but here you go:

 

Thursday Video: Fireside Chat with Jessica Phoenix

By on Dec 23, 2021 5:00 pm -

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair has been rolling out is “Fireside Chats” — OK, it’s more of a Zoom call than a cozy rocking chair and fireplace sesh, but we’ll accept it — series of interview with top Canadian equestrians. We’ve enjoyed getting to know riders like Team Canada show jumpers Mac Cone and Mario Delauriers, and more. Recently they chatted with Jessica Phoenix, a long-time leader of the Canadian eventing scene, about how she’s been using her time in the past year.

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, which takes place every November in Toronto, is much more than a horse show. 10/10 recommend other content on the Fair’s YouTube channel as well — if farm-to-table is a thing, this is farm-to-laptop? Particularly this butter sculpture challenge video … now that is my kind of art.

The 2021 edition of the Fair did not take place in person, byt the organization looks forward to welcoming guests to its 100th anniversary celebration in 2022!

 

5 Last-Minute Horsey Christmas Gifts for Under $20

By on Dec 23, 2021 3:00 pm -

Procrastination happens, especially to horse people. Between work and the barn and everything else you’re trying with varying degrees of success to juggle in your life, you have approximately seven minutes to yourself at the end of day, which is just enough time for not much at all.

Unfortunately — and we hate to be the ones to drop this bomb on you — Christmas is just around the corner. So the time to wrap up that shopping you’ve been putting off is now.

Still stumped on what to get that special trainer/farrier/vet/eventing buddy in your life? Here are a few places to turn for fast, easy and inexpensive yet awesome last-minute gift ideas.

The Liquor Store

Nothing says “thanks for putting up with my crap all year” like a bottle of good old-fashioned alcohol. Conveniently, several widely-distributed wine brands feature horses on the label: Wild Horse, Dark Horse, Leaping Horse, Firesteed and 14 Hands are all widely available, modestly priced and good-tasting.

My pick: the 14 Hands “Hot to Trot” Red Blend. It’s polished and bright with aromas of cherry, ripe berries and plum, a well-rounded wine that’s perfect for both special occasions (“Hey! I made the Olympic team!”), or for no real reason at all (“Hey! I didn’t fall off in my lesson this week!”)

14hands_beauty_varietals

Photo via 14 Hands Winery

The Drug Store

The neighborhood Walgreens or CVS is an annual destination for crunch-time holiday shoppers looking to dazzle their loved ones with some “as seen on TV” gadget and a singing Hallmark card. With a little thought and creativity, you can make it work for your 11th hour horsey gifting needs as well.

How about an abscess kit for a barnmate? Epsom salts, diapers, scissors and of course some crazy-print duct tape … all that fun stuff you can never find when you need it.

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Photo via Duct Brand

The Grocery Store

Bake up a batch of homemade horse cookies, bag ’em up, and sneak them into your barn mates’ tack trucks. Boom! Christmas. Amanda Uechi Ronan compiled a list of recipes for Horse Nation here. Banana-glazed apple, apple and oat chewies, oatmeal carrot crunchies … they sound good enough to eat yourself.

Ain’t got time for baking? No horse ever complained about receiving a gift bag of carrots, apples and peppermints.

Photo: Pixabay/Creative Commons

Photo via Pixabay/Creative Commons

SmartPak

Not only are SmartPak gift cards quick and easy (click here, fill out a few details and … voila!), you can have them emailed straight to the recipient’s inbox. They arrive the same day, which is handy in the event that it’s Dec. 25 at 10 p.m. and you suddenly realize you forgot someone on your horsey gift-giving list.

They’re available in any amount from $10 to $1,000 and you can even add a thoughtful message, like, “Of course I didn’t forget your Christmas present! You’re the best farrier in the world! (p.s. Esprit lost a shoe if you wouldn’t mind tacking that back on tomorrow.)”

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Photo via SmartPak.

A Good Cause

Make a donation to a local horse rescue or other organization in their honor. These days most 501(c)(3)s accept donations online and will happily send your recipient a personalized greeting card acknowledging the gift. No matter how much or little you are able to give, it will be greatly appreciated. Bonus points if you donate to a cause that is meaningful to the giftee, like an OTTB rescue for the owner of a Thoroughbred.

Screenshot: New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program.

Screenshot via New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program

Go Shopping (like, right now).

Best of 2021 Video Countdown: #9 – Pippa Funnell’s 2003 Rolex Grand Slam Win

By on Dec 23, 2021 1:00 pm -

Each day between now and the New Year we’re counting down the top 20 most popular videos shared on EN in 2021. The #9 spot goes to this video, which garnered 2,088 views when it was originally posted on March 2, 2021.

I thought it appropriate to dedicate a weekly video to just a few of the bold women who have achieved milestones in the sport of eventing, in celebration of Women’s History Month. To kick things off, I dug into the archives to find this gem of a video montage looking back on British rider Pippa Funnell’s historic Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing win in 2003.

Pippa picked up the Grand Slam win – which requires a rider to win Kentucky, Badminton, and Burghley in any consecutive order – just a few years after its inception in 1999, and since then Germany’s Michael Jung has been the only other rider to achieve this (2016). While many riders have come close (Andrew Hoy, Oliver Townend, William Fox-Pitt, and Andrew Nicholson have all won two consecutive legs), the prize remains elusive for most.

These days, Pippa’s hardly hanging about on her past success; in fact, she’s the reigning Burghley champion having picked up the win in 2019 aboard MGH Grafton Street. And really, the Grand Slam could be Pippa’s to chase once again: while modifications to the Grand Slam in light of coronavirus cancellations have not been announced, her status as the last winner of Burghley could come into play should she make the trek to Kentucky – and win – this spring.

Thursday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

By on Dec 23, 2021 12:03 am -

Horse people will understand.

Yesterday, I thought I would take a nice little group hack with my thoroughbred Turkey, my student’s thoroughbred Bird, and my 20-year-old “retired” advanced horse, Nyls. While Turkey was in fine form showing off some of his best above-the-airs combined with his impressive lateral work (unprompted, of course), the “retired” horse also spent most of the time trying to show off to the young bucks. Bird, the winningest thoroughbred I’ve ever had in my barn, walked quietly the whole time and I imagine was rolling his eyes at their idiocy the whole time.

News From Around the Globe:

Canadian horseman Tim Worden, PhD, and international show jumper Sean Jobin shared their evidence-based approach to horse management during a free webinar presented by Haygain and Ontario Equestrian in November. From simple journal-keeping to analyzing high-speed video and complex performance data, Dr. Worden and Sean advocate tactics that ensure the horse’s mental and physical “batteries” are fully charged to attain peak output. Their methods incorporate advances in human athletic performance and encompass reducing injury risk and extending career longevity. [Evidence is Everything in Sport Horse Management]

Trying to get some high level show jumping training this winter? The Babington Foundation is offering lessons with show jumping’s elite through an online auction. Proceeds from this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have a private lesson on your own horse in Wellington, Florida, with premier Olympians and Nation’s Cup athletes will help Kevin’s recovery. Bidding ends February 22nd, 2022. Athletes include Ian Millar, Beezie Madden, Kent Farrington, McLain Ward, Kevin Babington, Nona Garson, Schuyler Riley and more! [Bid on Private Lessons With a Top Show Jumper]

Best of Blogs: Jitterbug’s 2021 Letter to Santa

21-years-old and still keeping up with the young guns! Days after she and her 21-year-old Farley 4 swept the small tour at the World Equestrian Center Dressage V CDI-W in Ocala, Florida, Chloe Fullar said she still is pinching herself to be sure she’s not dreaming. The victory was an emotional one for Fullar, 37, who sold a pair of earrings she had inherited from her grandmother to pay the entry fee and travelled over 1,000 miles from her home in Berrien Springs, Michigan, to compete in her first CDI. [Legal Drinking Age For Horses New Fashion]

 

Iron horse Neville Bardos teaches yet another rider! 

 

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Every Equestrian’s Christmas List

By on Dec 22, 2021 5:44 pm -

Look, we’ve all been there. We’ve all been that kid that begged for a pony and swore up and down that they’d never ask for anything else, ever again, if that pony were to materialise on Christmas morning. We’ve all also been the filthy little liars who brazenly asked for a new saddle, five saddle pads, a monogrammed jacket, and a trailer the very next Christmas. But after that? Of COURSE we won’t ever want anything else! Never ever ever!

Parents, run for the hills.

Leave your horse a 5-star review to win!

2021 is coming to an end. It is time to take a look back at how the year has gone. If you had to leave your horse a review, would it be 5 stars? Leave us a review about your horse for a chance to win custom stickers with your horse’s name on them. Be creative!

Submit your review at KPPusa.com/5-star. All entries must be submitted by 12/31/21.

Winners will be drawn in early January.

The horse that matters to you matters to us®.  Call 859-873-2974 or visit KPPusa.com.