Classic Eventing Nation

Wednesday News & Notes from Haygain

By on Dec 15, 2021 12:01 am -

We’re so pleased to be here at the United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) Annual Meeting & Convention! Our…

Posted by Strides for Equality Equestrians on Saturday, December 11, 2021

It was a true honor to be able to represent Strides for Equality Equestrians (SEE) at the USEA Annual Meeting and Convention last weekend. In a day when most work seems to be done remotely, it feels that much more special to get some quality in-person time with people you care about. My colleagues at SEE fall into this category, and any time I get to spend with them having conversations with our peers about growing the sport makes everything better. If you want to learn more about the work SEE is doing, click here.

Melissa Mayo – photo courtesy of JJ Sillman.

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s take a moment to congratulate Melissa Mayo, the winner of our very popular Fairfax & Favor Wardrobe Malfunction Photo Challenge! Melissa submitted the most epic of wardrobe fails and has now been crowned the champion of this contest and will receive a new pair of Fairfax & Favor Regina Boots for her next jog. Hopefully the next one goes better! Congratulations, Melissa!

Wednesday News + Reading:

This past week, the middle of the country was devastated by record-breaking tornadoes that wreaked havoc and left a trail of fatalities and damage in their wake. These tornadoes have impacted equestrian communities in these areas, and the USEA has compiled some important information on how you can help.

Bareback riding certainly has its advantages (and not just because it makes for less tack to clean!). If you’re planning to get in some quality bareback time this winter, use this article from Horse Sport to learn how to make the most of it.

Haygain is having a sale! Now through December 18, you can unlock savings to “up your hay game” in the new year. Click here to see what discounts you can grab!

Want to make sure you don’t miss any important eventing news each week? You should probably be signed up for our weekly email newsletter, the EN #ICYMI. We send this email once each week to keep you on top of the latest news and stories from around our sport and beyond. Sign up for free here.

Hot on Horse Nation: Horse Nation editor DeAnn Sloan took a snoop through the Aztec Diamond Equestrian catalog to pick out her favorite “Diamond Deals” best enjoyed by you after you spoil yourself for the new season!

Watch This:

If you’re still hankering for 5* action, might we interest you in the Maryland 5 Star highlights show? Check it out, available exclusively on H&C+ here.

#GoEventing Video of the Day: Cue the tunes for the cutest pony in all the eventing land…

The USEA American Eventing Championships Will Return to Kentucky Horse Park in 2023, 2024

By on Dec 14, 2021 5:45 pm -

Molly Adams & Caletto’s Symphony. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photo.

The USEA has announced that the American Eventing Championships will return to Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington for 2023 and 2024 following a Board of Governors vote at the Annual Meeting and Convention this weekend. Equestrian Events Inc. (EEI) and Mary Fike will organize the AEC, reprising their roles played for the 2019 and combined 2020/2021 Championships, pending contract negotiation/finalization.

The 2022 AEC will be held in Kalispell, Mt. at the picturesque Rebecca Farm venue. Stable View, in Aiken, Sc., was also a finalist to host the 2023-2024 series of AEC.

“We are truly elated for the AEC to return to the Kentucky Horse Park,” USEA CEO Rob Burk said in a press release announcing the venue as host. “Our partners at EEI and Mary Fike have developed a strong working connection with our staff over the previous three years. The USEA Board of Governors had a difficult decision to make and I want to thank all of our bidders including Barry Olliff, Molly Bull, and the entire team from Stable View. We received an overwhelming amount of feedback from the membership about their desire to return the AEC to Kentucky, and we are happy to deliver this news to the USEA members.”

AEC dates for the next three years are as follows:

August 30 – September 4, 2022 – Rebecca Farm – Kalispell, Montana
August 29 – September 3, 2023 – Kentucky Horse Park – Lexington, Kentucky
August 27 – September 1, 2024 – Kentucky Horse Park – Lexington, Kentucky

Planning to compete at Rebecca Farm for the 2022 AEC? Be sure to book your accommodations early as Kalispell is a popular tourist destination! The AEC in Montana is sure to be one to remember.

Tuesday Video: Cool-Down Massage With Lauren Allport

By on Dec 14, 2021 5:00 pm -

“Do you know how a proper cool down after exercise benefits your horse’s wellbeing?”

As part of its #HealthForHorses campaign, the FEI together with Boehringer Ingelheim brings us the second in a series of three videos on how to level up the care we can give our horses. Lauren Allport of the popular @EddiesGun91 YouTube channel, who is also an FEI Permitted Equine Therapist, shows us how to correctly cool our horses down after training and exercise, and shares an some equine massage techniques we can use at home to help muscles recover faster. 

Will Coleman & Chin Tonic Receive the USET Foundation’s Connaught Grant in Memory of Bruce Duchossois

By on Dec 14, 2021 2:00 pm -

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

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation has named Olympic eventer Will Coleman of Gordonsville, Virginia, and his mount, Chin Tonic, a nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Hyperion Stud, LLC, the recipients of the 2022 Connaught Grant.

Each year, the USET Foundation administers up to $25,000 to a CCI1* or CCI2* horse in the U.S. that is seen as a potential candidate to represent the U.S. Eventing team on an international level. The grant was established by Caroline Moran in memory of her dear friend, the late R. Bruce Duchossois, who was passionate about and dedicated to encouraging the development of eventing horses in the United States, and is named after the famous eventing horse Connaught, who was owned by Duchossois and ridden by Phillip Dutton.

As the recipient of the Connaught Grant, Coleman, who is an athlete on US Equestrian’s Eventing High Performance 2021 Pre-Elite Training List with other top mounts, will be able to use the funds to support further competition and training with Chin Tonic with the aim of riding for the United States on the international stage.

Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. Photo by Sally Spickard.

“Obviously winning the Connaught Grant is a tremendous honor, primarily because of who it represents and the horse it represents,” said Coleman who represented the U.S. at the 2012 London Olympic Games and the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina. “Bruce Duchossois was such a generous person and an incredibly supportive horse owner for Phillip Dutton for so many years. He was the backbone for Phillip as well as for horse shows and equestrian endeavors around the country. He supported the community in such a humble way, and I always had a tremendous amount of respect for him. I genuinely enjoyed the times I got to be around him, so I’m very honored for this horse to be recognized.

“Chin Tonic is owned by Hyperion Stud and Vicky Castegren,” continued Coleman. “Vicky has been an incredible supporter of mine for many years. Chin Tonic was a horse she bought as a two-year-old stallion. He’s an incredible athlete, and he is a testament to patience. We’ve been taking our time with him and allowing him to develop physically and mentally. I’m really pleased with the horse he’s become. There’s still another level to be attained so we still have work to do, and the Connaught Grant will be hugely helpful in that regard.”

For Coleman, grants have allowed him to gain international experience over the years, and he’s grateful for the support from Caroline Moran and the USET Foundation that is offered to up-and-coming eventing talent. “The grants are a huge benefit to horses and riders,” he explained. “If you’re lucky enough to get one, they’re a bonus and something that emboldens you to do the country and do the U.S. team proud. My team and I are all very, very appreciative of the grants.

Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. By Shannon Brinkman Photography.

“Caroline is already a horse owner for other riders, so for her to so generously donate funds to someone who she may not support as an owner speaks to how the country as a whole wants to see the American eventing program succeed,” stated Coleman. “Her generosity contributes to a greater sense of camaraderie and shows that we’re all on the same team. I think that speaks volumes.”

Coleman, who made history as the first American to win CCIO4*-S at CHIO Aachen in September 2021 with Off The Record, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse owned by the Off The Record Syndicate, has no plans to rest on his laurels with any of his horses. “I’m very humbled by the win at CHIO Aachen, and I’m anxious to keep working and keep getting better,” he shared. “I love producing horses. I’d love to get some other ones, maybe a horse like Chin Tonic, that can go back there and do as well as Off The Record.”

Thanks to the Connaught Grant, Coleman and Chin Tonic can continue their training with the goal of representing the United States in future international competitions.

Best of 2021 Video Countdown: #18 – Watch Phillip Dutton’s 15.0 Dressage Test

By on Dec 14, 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 #18 spot goes to this video, which garnered 1,389 views when it was originally posted on March 1, 2021.

Phillip Dutton and Carlchen. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.

As the first pair to Enter at A in front of judge Janis Linnan in the Advanced B division at Pine Top, Phillip Dutton and Carlchen set the bar quite high (or low, if we’re talking dressage scores) for the day. Their score of 15.0 sets a new record at the level, previously held by Tamie Smith and Mai Baum who scored a 17.7 at Rebecca Farm last July. Prior to Tamie’s test last summer, the previous record of 17.9 had been held by Darren Chiacchia and Windfall II since 2008.

Very proud of Caroline Moran's Carlchen, who set a new USEA Advanced dressage record today at Pine Top Eventing with a…

Posted by Phillip Dutton Eventing on Friday, February 26, 2021

Carlchen, a 13-year-old Oldenburg (Clinton x Sunshine, by Lordanos), is a semi-new ride of Phillip’s. Imported stateside in 2019 by Caroline Moran, this was their first start at the Advanced level as a pair. Phillip credits their success on the flat to a winter in Wellington:

“This winter in Wellington served him well, as I had Scott Hassler and Erik Duvander training me in dressage every week to 10 days,” Phillip said in a press release. “Being in the Wellington environment where you are exposed to great horsemanship and top dressage riders on a daily basis also makes you aim that much higher and expect that much more.”

In case you missed Phillip’s test, here it is! To catch up on Shelby’s Pine Top coverage, click here.

Pine Top Advanced H.T.: Website, Final Scores

12 Days of Giveaways Day 9: Win a Jim Wofford Book + DVD Bundle from Trafalgar Square Books

By on Dec 14, 2021 11:38 am -

Want to get your learn on this off-season? Well, this next giveaway is definitely for you! We’re teaming up with our friends at Trafalgar Square Books (Horse and Rider Books) to offer a Jim Wofford Book + DVD Bundle to a lucky winner for Day 9 of our 12 Days of Giveaways!

One winner based in the U.S. will receive:

  • A set of Modern Gymnastics in both book and DVD format
  • A copy of Cross Country with Jim Wofford
  • A copy of Jim’s new memoir, Still Horse Crazy After All These Years

To enter, use the form below or click here to enter by midnight tonight and we’ll draw a winner at random and announce them in tomorrow’s giveaway. We will not share your email address with third parties, but you will opt-in for emails from us (don’t worry, we won’t overwhelm you and you can opt-out at any time!). We’re sorry, but this giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only. Good luck!

Congratulations to Rachel N., the winner of yesterday’s giveaway with Success Equestrian!

Tuesday News & Notes from Legends Horse Feeds

By on Dec 14, 2021 6:47 am -

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Laura Collett (@laura_collett)

I love the eventing community — and, indeed, the equestrian community at large — best when it bands together as a watertight support system. We’ve seen the ‘family’ come together so many times before when a fellow rider has faced a life-changing injury, or a top horse has nearly been sold on, but never do we see our folks doing more fervent good than when one of the next generation leaves behind an unfulfilled dream.

We’ve seen eventers around the world embrace the Willberry Wonder Pony charity in honour of the late Hannah Francis, who in her lifetime and following her incredibly sad passing, made a colossal impact on the industry as she battled an aggressive form of cancer. Now, following the death of young Irish talent Tiggy Hancock, whose undoubtedly huge career to come was cut short by a training accident earlier this year, a whole lot of familiar faces have once again come together to support Tiggy’s Trust, a foundation that will help young riders lacking in resources to get the training and support they need. That’s just the tip of the iceberg where this incredible foundation is concerned, and we’ll undoubtedly see it change lives over the years to come just as Tiggy herself would have liked to — and every step of the way, it’ll be boosted and bolstered by the great and good of the horse world, many of whom convened at Cheltenham Racecourse for the launch party and a day of racing, where they turned the iconic venue yellow in honour of Tiggy.

If ever we lose faith in our sport and the foundations it’s built upon, it’s these moments we need to return to to understand that together, we have the power to do so much good.

Events Opening Today: Rocking Horse Winter I H.T.

Tuesday News:

Thoroughbred owners, look away for this one. Those of you whose horses come with a little extra spinal padding, this winter could be a great opportunity for you to experiment with bareback riding. Not only does it provide central heating to your undercarriage, it also apparently has plenty of benefits for your riding. If you can stay on, that is.

Planning to compete in FEI events next season? You’d better get abreast of the FEI’s updated horse health rules, then, because it’s easy to fall foul of the rules if you don’t read the fine print, and we’d really love to save you from making an annoying (and expensive!) error.

The fight for safer roads for riders continues on apace in the UK. And following the largest-ever survey of mounted road users, it’s being helped along by some shocking statistics that won’t come as much of a surprise to anyone who’s ever been nearly mown down by a Tesco delivery van on a country lane.

Sometimes you climb aboard an ostensibly perfect horse and feel…nothing. Chemistry is a complicated thing, and it’s so often the glue that holds our relationships with our oddball horses together — but where does it come from? Can you make it from nothing? Or is this the magic we all spend our lives chasing?

Video Break:

If the weather outside is frightful, improving your riding from the sofa is SO delightful. I’m enjoying rewatching masterclasses on YouTube at the moment, like this one with Harry Meade and Laura Collett:

Best of 2021 Video Countdown: #19 – Kathleen Cuca & Jak My Style Take on Beginner Novice

By on Dec 13, 2021 7:00 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 #19 spot goes to this video, which garnered 1,377 views when it was originally posted on July 6, 2021.

We’re going to hold you to it, Kathleen! Kathleen and Roberto Cuca own Jak My Style, the 16-year-old Thoroughbred that sailed around the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event earlier this year with Buck Davidson finishing clear with a few time penalties.

Buck Davidson and Jak My Style. Photo by Shelby Allen.

 

Monday Video: Gallop Around Geneva (Indoors!) in this Video Roundup

By on Dec 13, 2021 5:30 pm -

We know that indoor cross country isn’t really actual cross country, but we love it anyway for what it is: an exciting, fast-paced showcase of the sport that can get spectators pumped up and maybe even pique their interest in eventing. While the regular eventing season slows down in Euorpe, the indoor showcase season heats up and one of the largest indoor cross country events took place toward the end of last week at CHI Geneva, presented by La Tribune de Genève.

We’ve got several videos for you today of various competitors’ round. Above, Switzerland’s Robel Godel rides Grandeur de Lully CH to the win in front of a roaring home crowd. After a tough year, this was surely a shining moment for the Olympian, who dedicated this round to his late partner, Jet Set. The home country clinched another podium spot in third place finisher Nadja Minder riding Aquila B.

We saw a number of Olympians, of both the human and horse variety, out competing at CHI Geneva. Tokyo team bronze medalist for France Karim Florent Laghouag came in second riding 18-year-old Anglo Arabian gelding Punch de l’Esques who, after finishing top ten in his CCI5* debut at Pau in 2016, has become something for an arena eventing specialist, either winning or coming close with a second place finish at eight out of 10 FEI-recognized arena events between 2017 and 2020.

A really neat pair to watch finished in fourth place: Frenchman Maxime Livio, who coached the Thailand’s first ever Olympic evening team, rode his student’s Olympic mount: Arinadtha “Mint” Chavatanont‘s Boleybawn Prince. Here they are:

In fifth place was Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier with her Tokyo Olympic partner Alpaga d’Arville. Just behind them in sixth place was the one and only Michael Jung with up-and-comer Kilcandra Ocean Power, who will certainly be one to keep an eye on.

And what would we be if we didn’t leave you with an Andrew Hoy helmet cam to round out our video collection? Andrew rode Creevagh Cooley, a clever 13-year-old mare and a former ride of Michael Jung’s, to an 11th place finish. Enjoy the ride!

Want to see all the action? A reply with English commentary is available to H&C+ members here.

CHI Geneva Eventing: Website, Results

Vote for the Winner of the Fairfax & Favor Wardrobe Malfunction Photo Challenge

By on Dec 13, 2021 3:00 pm -

We asked and you certainly delivered! It’s time to decide the winner of our Fairfax & Favor Wardrobe Malfunction photo challenge! We asked you to submit your best wardrobe or equipment fails (let’s face it, we’ve all had a few!) and now it’s time for you, dear readers, to vote on the winner. Here are the finalists, and you’ll find a voting poll at the bottom of this post. Voting will close on Wednesday, December 15 at midnight and we’ll announce the winner in Wednesday News & Notes. The winner will receive a pair of iconic Fairfax & Favor Regina boots. Good luck!

Delaney Emerson: “The jumpsuit was just a little too long….horse passed, I was questionable for soundness…”

Melissa Mayo: “My first jog at my first long format”

Melissa Mayo – photo courtesy of JJ Sillman.

Tilly McCarroll: “Not a ‘wardrobe malfunction’ as such, but the floaty pants were the culprit as to why I fell over!”

Photo courtesy of Tilly McCarroll.

Grace Netter: “Never wear new tall boots on cross country, cause he spooked and they popped open – #Bootgate2017”

Photo courtesy of Carissa Lynn Equine Photography.

Helen Southwell: “Entered a ridden best turned out class with an unbacked youngster, and after my next class realised I’d had my trousers on backwards the whole time!”

Photo courtesy of Helen Southwell.