Who jumped it best? Photo courtesy of Sh*tEventersUnite
It’s not even September, and yesterday I body clipped my first horse. Granted, he is Irish, and hasn’t gotten the memo about living in Virginia, so his “summer” coat is basically a fall coat anyway, but it was truly gruesome. Clipping when it’s about 100 degrees outside is less than ideal, and all the itchy hair sticks to you like mad. Blegh!
Don’t forget: the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics are happening now! Dressage officially kicked off on Wednesday, Tokyo time, with the First Horse Inspection, and the competition will open today very early, with Grade II riders leading off. Click here to view the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic schedule and results.
Let’s catch up a bit with the U.S. team. Be sure to give them all a follow and support their efforts this week. Good luck to all!
Millstreet International H.T. (Millstreet, Ireland) : [Website] [Scores]
Wooroloo Bates Saddles International H.T. (Perth, Australia): [Website]
News From Around the Globe:
The USEA introduced the new Modified Trophy, in Remembrance of Ashley Stout. The perpetual trophy will be presented to the Modified Champion at the AEC’s this year, and each year moving forward. Artist Jean Clagett produced a bronze trophy replica of Ashley Stout and her mount Avant Garde that will remain as a perpetual trophy at the USEA headquarters and each year’s AEC Modified Champions will be engraved onto brass plates and mounted on the trophy base. Ashley Stout and her Westphalian gelding Avant Garde both passed away in a tragic cross-country schooling accident in July 2019 when Ashley was just 13 years old. Stout had been a member of the USEA since 2016 and quickly earned success in 2017 when she won the JBN Under 14 division at the AEC, riding her horse at the time Deo Volente, finishing on their dressage score of 19.8. Stout then began riding Avant Garde in the spring of 2018 and the pair had zero cross-country penalties in their 15 USEA starts together. [Ashley Stout Modified Trophy]
Fun jog outfits from Classic Series competitors? Yes please! The classic three-day-event format continues to gain popularity and enthusiasm from riders of all levels, and everyone gets really into their two jog outfits. The USEA picked their favorites from this year already. [Favorite Jog Outfits from Classic Series]
With their newly upgraded safety systems, Stable View is at the top of your list for schooling opportunities. The Boyd Martin ETB Cross Country schooling field and 330 ft. x 230 ft. outdoor arena is open for $100 per horse/day, 7 days a week. There are 30 jumps and 6 fixed assets including a water complex. The obstacles are built by Eric Bull and start at Training level. Rider and Trainers at Training Level and above only. [Schedule Your Schooling Day]
Martin Fuchs’ Olympic mount Clooney remains in the hospital a week after his pasture accident that ended his sporting career. Fuchs updated everyone on his instagram, saying that Clooney is in a sling due to a fracture of his humorous on his right side, and is getting the best care possible at a hospital in Zurich, with daily visits from both his groom and his owner. We wish you the best on your recovery and retirement, Clooney! [Clooney Recovers in Zurich]
One more week to stock up on your favorite EcoVet fly spray! Take 40% off in their GALLON SALE! Shop now and get stocked up for the rest of the year. Use code ECOGAL40 at checkout and never see a fly again. [EcoVet Sale]
Ian Stark makes his comeback: first FEI trot up in 10 years!
First time in 10 years doing a 3DE trot up!!!! Blair Castle 2021
Another edition of the MARS Equestrian Great Meadow International is in the rearview, but we’re still reliving the action thanks to the archived live stream on H&C+. Covering an event in real-time is always an incredible experience, but I inevitably find myself revisiting the live stream playback when I get home so I can see everything I missed! You can do so too by clicking here and using (or subscribing to) your H&C+ membership.
Your CCI3*-S and CCI4*-S winners were Caroline Martin with Redfield Dexter and Phillip Dutton with Fernhill Singapore, respectively, and we’ve got their winning cross country rides for you right here! There is always something to learn from watching good cross country riding, so pull up a seat and soak it in:
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Japan’s Grade IV athlete Katsuji Takashima and his horse Huzette pose for a selfie after the Para Dressage horse inspection at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games (FEI/Liz Gregg).
On the 25th anniversary of the introduction of Para Dressage in the Paralympic Games, the field of 77 athletes from 26 countries in Tokyo promises to be the most competitive yet.
Expect to see fierce competition in the arena as reigning champions go head-to-head to defend their titles, while newcomers and seasoned campaigners look to upset the odds and take their place on the podium.
The Equestrian Park at Baji Koen will be the focus of fantastic sporting performances, finesse and artistry over five days of competition. The athletes are not just here to look pretty in the arena, they’re here to get the gold medals they want so desperately.
And everyone has their eye on the top prize in the Team competition, which will see 15 nations compete for the honours. Great Britain have been the title holders since the competition started at the Paralympic Games in Atlanta 1996. And, while they remain a strong contender at Tokyo 2020, they face their toughest challenge yet from the Netherlands and Team USA.
The Netherlands come into Tokyo 2020 as the current World and European champions and it’s no secret that they are keen to add the Paralympic title to that roster. Fielding a team full of individual World and European champions, they remain a hot tip to do just that.
Team USA currently top the FEI Para Dressage Paralympic Team Ranking and their charge for gold will be led by overall individual world number one, Roxanne Trunnell. Building on strong performances at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018 in Tryon (USA), the team has since developed into a Para Dressage powerhouse with high hopes for Tokyo 2020.
Paralympic Games always have an element of surprise and, with just three athlete/horse combinations, team results could turn on the smallest of margins. With Germany, Denmark, Australia, and Belgium in the mix too, it is difficult to predict the outcome.
There are five Grades that make up the Para Dressage competition, with Grade I athletes having the most impairment, and Grade V the least. Grade I athletes compete at walk only, Grade II at trot, and Grade III and above can canter.
While Grade I should be dominated by Roxanne Trunnell, she faces stiff competition from World and European medallists, including current double World champion Sara Morganti (ITA). Singapore’s most decorated Paralympian, Laurentia Tan, will want to add to her medal collection, and World number two, Rihards Snikus (LAT), is due a Paralympic podium finish too. Look out for the current European champion, Jens Lasse Dokkan (NOR), who is the only Para Dressage athlete to have competed at every Games since Atlanta 1996.
Lee Pearson (GBR) and Pepo Puch (AUT) went head-to-head for medals at the Paralympic Games in Rio 2016 and constantly tussle for the top spot whenever they compete together. Puch is currently the World number one in Grade II, with Pearson third. Extra frisson has been added to this competition with the last-minute inclusion of Great Britain’s Georgia Wilson. Ranked second in the World in the Grade and the athlete who famously beat Puch for the Freestyle title at the FEI European Championships 2019 – her first major competition – she was called up to the British team following the withdrawal of Grade I athlete Sophie Christiansen.
It’s going to be a tight tussle at the top in Grade III, which includes Rio 2016 Individual, Freestyle and Team gold medallist Natasha Baker (GBR), as well as Rixt van der Horst (NED), who won Individual, Team and Freestyle gold medals at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018 in Tryon (USA). Joining them will be Tobias Thorning Joergensen (DEN), who took Individual and Freestyle gold at the FEI European Championship 2019 in Rotterdam, and is currently ranked number one in the Grade III Para Dressage World Individual Ranking. Also included in the mix is Rebecca Hart (USA), the world number two in this Grade, as well as Emma Booth (AUS), and van der Horst’s teammate and Paralympic debutant, Maud De Reu (NED).
Grade IV could prove to be the hottest ticket at the Para Dressage competition, as Sanne Voets (NED) bids to add Paralympic gold to her European and World titles. Riding the brilliant Demantur N.O.P., Voets has come out of the pandemic year looking stronger and more confident than ever. However, Rodolpho Riskalla (BRA), runner-up to Voets in the Individual and Freestyle Tests at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018, will be hot on her heels. They will face competition from Kate Shoemaker (USA), who picked up a Freestyle bronze in Tryon 2018.
In Grade V, Michèle George (BEL) will be looking to add to the Freestyle and Individual gold medals from London 2012 and Freestyle gold in Rio 2016. Her country’s flagbearer at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games’ Opening Ceremony, she is here in Japan with a new horse, Best of 8.
For many years now, the Grade V has been dominated by George, Sophie Wells (GBR), and Frank Hosmar (NED). The trio will be vying for a place on the podium again this week, but will need to look out for the likes of Regine Mispelkamp (GER), Natalia Martianova (RPC), and George’s teammate Kevin Van Ham (BEL).
Competition gets underway on Thursday 26 August and runs to Monday 30 August. The forecast is for hot weather, and hot competition too.
Philippa Cross and Scoop de Ferbet. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
It might be British eventing’s most far-flung FEI competition, but there’s something about the Land Rover Blair Castle International Horse Trials that keeps it well up the list of mustn’t-miss competitions. This week, the crown jewel of Scotland returns after sitting 2020 out, and it brings with it five exciting international classes and a whole host of grassroots competition besides.
At the forefront of it all is the feature CCI4*-L class. We’re used to seeing relatively small fields for this section, and though this year is no exception, it’s rather a beefier line-up than usual with 21 combinations entered. (In comparison, the CCI4*-S boasts 42, the CCI2*-L has 95 and the CCI1* will see a whopping 120 competitors go head to head — but we’ve also seen fields of half this size in this class, partly because of its far-flung location but more pertinently because of its unique terrain, which requires a very fit, very specific kind of horse, and preferably one with some percentage of mountain goat in its pedigree.) This afternoon, all three long-format classes headed into their first horse inspections, and each of the 21 horses in the CCI4*-L was accepted without issue by the ground jury, made up of president Judy Hancock (GBR), Faith Ponsonby (IRL), and Janet Surr (GBR).
One of the great joys of a competition like Blair, with its smaller field and tough, influential track, is that it gives us all the chance to focus on some of the circuit’s lesser-known horses and riders. For example, fresh off their gold medal success in Tokyo, heavy hitters Oliver Townend and Tom McEwen each come forward for a crack at the title, but their horses — Arklow Puissance and Dream Big, respectively, are both ten years old making their CCI4*-L debut. Alongside them, some of Britain’s up-and-coming riders will try for a top placing for their record — but first, they’ll need to tackle the uniquely mountainous cross-country track that’s previously been the site of arguably the soggiest European Championships on record. So far, so good: the sun is out in force, bewildering the residents of nearby Pitlochry, a town that sells, well, knitwear and not an awful lot else. We reckon a sporran could be crafted into something rather like a bikini if necessary, but we may have to report back to you on that one.
Tomorrow afternoon will see both the long and short four-star classes embark on their first sessions of dressage from 1.00 p.m. and 4.20 p.m. respectively, and there’s lots to be excited about in both classes — including the return of Astier Nicolas‘s exceptional ten-year-old Babylon de Gamma, who will try to defend the CCI4*-S title he won here in 2019 as an eight-year-old. Unfortunately, there’s no live stream this year — but keep it locked on to EN for all the news, views, updates, and plenty more reasons to get your kilt in a flutter as we dive into the very best of wild and woolly Scotland this week.
Until then: Go Eventing!
Oliver Townend and Arlow Puissance. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Helen Marsh and Disco Chick. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Holly Richardson and Caraghs Buffet. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Emma Hyslop-Webb and Darrant. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Philippa Cross and Scoop de Ferbet. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Alice Casburn and Topspin II. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Emma Hyslop-Webb’s Darrant. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Richard Jones and Kilballyboy Bob. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Tom McEwen and Dream Big. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Eilidh-Jane Costelloe and Westmur Quality. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Izzy Taylor and Ringwood Madras. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Tom McEwen’s Dream Big. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Ali Wilkes and Social Butterfly. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Phoebe Buckley and Tiger Mail. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Phoebe Buckley and Tiger Mail. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Rosie Fry and True Blue Too II. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Tom McEwen and Dream Big. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Nicola Wilson and Erano M. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Simon Grieve and Drumbilla Metro. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Nicola Wilson’s Erano M. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Katie Bleloch and Goldlook.Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Merel Blom and The Quizmaster. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
The following press release has been translated from Dutch. Please forgive any translation errors.
National coach Andrew Heffernan will take a relatively ‘young’ Dutch team to the European Senior Eventing Championships, from September 22 to 26 in Avanches, Switzerland. However, the coach who lives in Great Britain opted for routine, which is clearly present in this TeamNL.
In addition to veteran Merel Blom, a team of experienced young riders has been selected by Andrew Heffernan for the European Championship eventing in Avenches. He chose Sanne de Jong, Aliene Ruyter and Jordy Wilken, all three of whom were part of the team that finished second in Haras du Pin’s FEI Nations Cup last week. Three riders that were regularly part of the Dutch teams in their junior and young riders period and have already gained the necessary experience in various Nations Cup competitions. Sanne de Jong and Jordy Wilken were also on stage earlier at the Dutch National Championships in Boekelo. They will be joined in the European Championship team by their contemporary Janneke Boonzaadjer, who represented TeamNL at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Janneke was also present in Haras du Pin, but she did not compete in the Nations Cup with her Olympic horse Champ du Tailleur who was enjoying his holiday.
Merel Blom is the most experienced member of the team. This will be her fourth European Championships for the rider. TeamNL at the European Championships consists of four combinations, the fifth will start individually.
The selection is also a great success for the KNHS Talent Team, Janneke Boonzaadjer is currently still part of the Talent Team and both Sanne de Jong and Jordy Wilken were previously members of this select group of talents.
National coach Andrew Heffernan is looking forward to the European Championship, “The Team Spirit was great in Haras du Pin, I am looking forward to working with this group again in Avanches.”
Merel Blom (35, Aalten)
The Quizmaster (v.Albaran xx), KWPN, 12 years old
Owner:Blom Sports Stables en Stal Hulsman B.V.
Janneke Boonzaaijer (24, Renswoude)
ACSI Champ de Tailleur (v.Quidam de Revel), KWPN, 14 years old
Owner: H.J.C. Roozendaal en Lieke van der Werf
Sanne de Jong (26, Aalsmeer)
Enjoy (v.Cartano), KWPN, 12 years old
Owner: Sanne de Jong en Jantien van Zon
Aliene Ruyter (25, Opheusden)
Bomba (v.Verdi), KWPN, 15 years old
Eigenaar: A.J Ruijter
Jordy Wilken (27, Olst)
Burry Spirit (v.Casco), KWPN, 15 years old
Owner: J. Wilken
Anna Siemer and FRH Butt’s Avondale. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Teams and individuals named for the upcoming FEI Eventing European Championships are beginning to emerge, and Germany is the latest nation to announce who will be representing the country in Switzerland next month. The European Championships will be hosted at Avenches September 23-26.
Each nation has the ability to send a four-member team along with two individual competitors. In alphabetical order, the following combinations have been named to the German squad:
Andreas Dibowski and FRH Corrida (12-year-old Hanoverian mare owned by the Dibowski family)
Michael Jung and fischerWild Wave (9-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Klaus and Sabine Fischer and the Jung family)
Ingrid Klimke and SAP Hale Bob OLD (17-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Ingrid Klimke)
Dirk Schrade and Casino 80 (11-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Freya Rethmeier)
Anna Siemer and FRH Butts Avondale (14-year-old Hanoverian mare owned by Dr. Volker Steinkraus)
Christoph Wahler and Carjatan S (12-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Lena Thonenies and Christoph Wahler)
First Reserve: Andreas Ostholt and Corvette 31 (13-year-old Westphalian mare owned by Rudolf Westmeyer)
Other Reserves: Emma Brussels and Dark Desire GS (12-year-old Hanoverian mare owned by Jürgen Brüssau/ Sophie Leube and Jadore Moi (11-year-old Bavarian mare owned by BG Jadore Moi and Sophie Leube)
British eventer Nick Gauntlett‘s young stallion Party Trick, plus three horses belonging to British-based US rider Sophie Hulme (Ice Cool Cooley, Charisma TH, and Fairytale Cooley) died on Tuesday afternoon (August 24) in a lorry accident on Scotland’s A9, less than an hour from their intended destination of Blair Castle Horse Trials. Nick took to Facebook to confirm the news, sharing that his horsebox had broken down and was struck by another lorry.
“Tough day… maybe an understatement! My amazing family are fine & that is definitely the main thing, but today we lost Party Trick & 3 of Sophie Hulme’s horses. Having broken down just 30 [minutes] from Land Rover Blair Castle International Horse Trials we sat on the grass verge & watched a lorry (whose driver we think may have been on his phone) plough into our truck. You don’t need the details but we lost all 4 horses on board. We are obviously all heart broken. Lucy Morgan & Asha Riches-Wood, the emergency services, vets and people generally were amazing. Thank you everyone for your words of support and offers of help. The Eventing world yet again proving what at an amazing family it is.”
Nine-year-old Party Trick, by Badminton winner Chilli Morning and out of a Tolan R mare, had been making a splash in the eventing world, both as a sire and as a competitor in his own right, and had stepped up to four-star this season with success.
We are additionally devastated for American rider Sophie Hulme, who hails originally from California and has written for EN in the past (including this piece spotlighting Party Trick). Each of Sophie’s string of horses was entered for this week’s CCI2*-L; Ice Cool Cooley had jumped well around Haras du Pin and Gatcombe previously with Sophie, while Cairnside Sir Alex competed to four-star with Nick in the irons, notching up an impressive top-ten placing at Tattersalls in 2015 before Sophie took the reins in 2019. This week would have marked their first international run together after a top twenty finish at Burgham last month. It was also to be an international debut for Charisma TH, who joined Sophie’s string earlier this summer.
No further information on the accident has been released, as yet, by the Scottish police, though a local news report confirmed that an air ambulance had attended the scene. There have been at least eleven accidents on the A9 since the beginning of June, with several fatalities in that time period and a number of incidents involving freight lorries, making this Scotland’s most notorious road and one, perhaps, in need of more stringent policing.
There are no words to convey the sheer horror and heartbreak of today’s accident. Our most heartfelt sympathies go to Nick and Amanda Gauntlett, Sophie Hulme, and all those connected with these wonderful horses.
Lost shoes, lost fly masks, lost bell boots … it’s enough to make an eventer lose their mind. Here are a few things your horses lost, and were later discovered, this summer.
Remember to tag ’em on Instagram for inclusion in a future edition of #EventerProblems!
Don’t forget: the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics are happening now! Dressage officially kicked off on Wednesday, Tokyo time, with the First Horse Inspection, and the competition will open tomorrow (very early Thursday morning, U.S. time) with Grade II riders leading off. Click here to view the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic schedule and results.
Let’s catch up a bit with the U.S. team. Be sure to give them all a follow and support their efforts this week. Good luck to all!
Millstreet International H.T. (Millstreet, Ireland) : [Website] [Scores]
Wooroloo Bates Saddles International H.T. (Perth, Australia): [Website]
Wednesday News & Notes:
The long-awaited USEA American Eventing Championships are almost upon us! With a record number of entries received following last year’s postponement, and with it being the last year AEC is hosted at Kentucky Horse Park (for the foreseeable future at least), it’s sure to be a weekend to remember in the Bluegrass State. Get all the info you need to know for next week in the USEA AEC info hub here.
We heart volunteers! Spotlighted in the most recent VIP Volunteer column on the USEA is California’s Golly Martin, who has been an invaluable help to both riders and events alike. Read all about her lifelong dedication to the sport here.
German gold medalist Andreas Dibowski keeps it simple when it comes to teaching cross country riding. The word you need to know? “Forward”. In this article from Practical Horseman, learn more about the foundational skills Andreas uses to instill proper instincts and good riding in his students.
You won’t want to miss out on Equitana this year, happening in October at Kentucky Horse Park! With a Phillip Dutton clinic, bodywork seminars, a full shopping experience, and many other exhibitions aimed at all aspects of equestrian sport, Equitana promises to be a true celebration of the horse. Click here to find your tickets.
*Trigger warning* This video contains discussions of sexual abuse and misconduct.
Grooming is an inside job. So is prevention. Your voice has power.
Here is preview of the third PSA of the #WeRideTogether campaign. It elevates the voice of Jessica Manning, a horsewoman and horse lover whose abuser used horses to groom and sexually abuse her.
#WeRideTogether gives a voice to survivor stories, provides resources to report abuse and get help, and offers educational information for athletes, coaches, and families. Sexual misconduct and abuse have long been an issue in equestrian sport, and is often ignored, minimized, or wrongly blamed on the victim. The equestrian community is no longer sitting idly by.
The microsite will be updated on an ongoing basis to provide a safe place for survivors to share their experiences. It is intended a true movement and cultural shift that demands increased accountability from trainers and coaches, gives survivors a safe platform for their voice, and helps diminish the stigma and fear of coming forward.
