Classic Eventing Nation

Thursday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

By on Sep 23, 2021 12:03 am -

Wedding in a barn, but make it fancy. Photo courtesy of Stable View.

While you’re thoroughly enjoying Stable View’s Oktoberfest this weekend, imagine yourself (or a friend!) getting married there! That’s right, you can have the barn wedding of your dreams, but also super fancy. The main barn and the pavilion are fully equipped for indoor and outdoor rehearsal dinners, ceremonies, and receptions. With accommodations for up to 75 guests, check out the full details on the Stable View Wedding site!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Stable View Oktoberfest 2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Twin Rivers Fall International (Paso Robles, Ca.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

ESDCTA New Jersey H.T. (Allentown, Nj.): [Website] [Volunteer]

Old Tavern H.T. at Great Meadow (The Plains, Va.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

University of New Hampshire H.T. (Durham, Nh.): [Website] [Entries]

Major International Events:

FEI Eventing European Championships: [Website] [Entries] [Start List & Scores] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

News From Around the Globe:

Ingrid Klimke is looking to win a third individual title in a row at the FEI European Eventing Championships in Switzerland, a feat achieved by only two other riders. Only Britain’s Ginny Elliott and Klimke’s compatriot Michael Jung have won three-in-a-row from 1985 to 1989 and 2011 to 2015, respectively. Klimke is teaming up with her 17-year-old gelding SAP Hale Bob again, having excelled on the horse at the 2017 Championships in Strzegom in Poland and on home ground two years later in Luhmuehlen. SAP Hale Bob has also won European team gold in 2015 and an Olympic team silver medal at Rio 2016. [Ingrid Looks for Three-In-A-Row]

We all strive for greatness. Regardless of your age, level, or discipline; your horse and sport are just too important for you to give anything less than your best. But what happens when mistakes or missed opportunities interfere with your ability to achieve that greatness? What happens when disappointments make you mess up or feel let down? Well, for most riders the answer is simple. Regret. Regrets happen when you give 100% but it’s not good enough – when you do your best but your best isn’t enough. It happens when you should’ve done something different, should’ve done something better, or should’ve beat someone else. Learn how to remove regret from your mental game with Daniel Stewart. [Pressure Proof: Forget the Regret]

On the @blackequestrians Instagram page, a Sept. 14 post did not match the others: the photo was missing a horse. But make no mistake, Sabrina Lewis, 24, is most definitely an equestrian. She’s also the newly minted Miss California USA. Dressed in a dazzling gown with a sparkling crown, dangling earrings, sash and bouquet of flowers in hand, Lewis did not look like she’d been spending much time in a barn. But hey, we riders can clean up okay sometimes. Lewis rode at Berkely and was the captain of the Cal Equestrian Team, competing in IHSA competition. She began riding at age five, and in 2017, she was even accepted into the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program. While she spends less time in the saddle now, she wrote in a post last year, “To me, confidence is beautiful, and I feel my most confident on the back of a horse.” [Miss California USA Is An Equestrian]

Attention all USEA Intercollegiate Eventing teams, do you want to show off your school spirit while watching five-star competitors tackle cross-country? The USEA and Maryland 5 Star invites you to decorate a table with your eventing team on cross-country day, Saturday, October 16, at the inaugural Maryland 5 Star. They will also be offering an opportunity for USEA Interscholastic Eventing League members to learn more about colleges or universities that might suit them. [Exclusive Event for Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Eventing League]

As we head into winter, it’s time to think about care for our senior horses. After the age of 18, some senior horses may struggle to maintain weight, especially in the winter. As horses age, the wear and tear of a lifetime of exposure to parasites and other damaging events negatively affect the efficiency of their gastrointestinal tract. Even horses on stringent deworming schedules can have some damage from parasites. Combine that with worn teeth and aging digestive tissues, and you have a horse that can no longer maintain his or her weight. In this case, addressing dental problems, maintaining healthy digestive tract tissues, and adding easy-to-digest, energy-dense calories to the diet are your goal.[Choosing Supplements for Senior Horses]

Scenes from the Euros: The Wednesday Gallery

By on Sep 22, 2021 5:41 pm -

EN’s coverage of the 2021 FEI Longines European Eventing Championships is brought to you in part by Kentucky Performance Products. Click here to learn more about Kentucky Performance Products and its wide array of supplements available for your horse.

France’s Maxime Livio and Api du Libaire. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

We’ve been at Avenches, the site of the 2021 FEI European Eventing Championships, for a scant few hours, and already, we’re irrevocably in love with sunny Switzerland and its picture postcard vistas. And it seems like we’re not the only ones: while course-walking earlier, there was nothing but smiling faces and happy chatter as far as the eye could see as everyone embraces this ongoing slide back into normality that the summer has brought. Today’s mostly been about soaking up the sights and touching base with the 67 competitors before the start of the competition proper tomorrow — so dive into life at Avenches through the EN lens with some of our favourite snaps from day one and the first horse inspection.

The 2021 FEI Longines European Championships: [Website] [Schedule and Scoring] [Entries] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

The 2021 FEI Longines European Championships: [Website] [Schedule and Scoring] [Entries] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

How to Watch the 2021 FEI Eventing European Championships This Week

By on Sep 22, 2021 1:30 pm -

Ingrid Klimke and SAP Hale Bob OLD. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Another frenetic weekend of eventing action is all queued up for you this week, and headlining the international line-up of competition is the 2021 FEI Eventing European Championships at the beautiful Swiss Avenches venue. The best of the European best is slated to compete — including a handful of horses and many riders we saw in Tokyo — and action has already begun with the first horse inspection this afternoon, Swiss time. Click here to check out Tilly’s report from the trot-up.

Tilly Berendt is on the ground in Switzerland (and yes, we’re all jealous and considering relocating EN headquarters as we speak) and she’ll be along all week with reports from the competition. You can follow along as well — if you signed up for a free trial of ClipMyHorse.TV, you’re in luck as this will be the same platform for the European Championship live stream. Will Ingrid Klimke defend her crown and become a three-time European Champion? Will Germany take the top honors again, or will Tokyo gold medal-winners Great Britain snatch the gold? It’s all up for grabs at this point…

Here’s a quick view of the live stream schedule:

Provider: ClipMyHorse.TV / FEI.TV

Dressage Day 1, Thursday September 23: 3:50 a.m. EST / 9:50 a.m. CEST
Dressage Day 2, Friday September 24: 3:50 a.m. EST / 9:50 a.m. CEST
Cross Country, Saturday September 25: 4:50 a.m. EST / 10:50 a.m. CEST
Show Jumping, Sunday September 26: 4:50 a.m. EST / 10:50 a.m. CEST

If you’re not an early riser, not to worry – ClipMyHorse.TV generally has replays available within 24 hours so you’ll be able to rewatch when it’s better for you.

Take a look back at Ingrid and Bobby’s winning ways:

FEI Eventing European Championships: [Website] [Entries] [Start List & Scores] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Two Held in First Horse Inspection at European Championships

By on Sep 22, 2021 11:53 am -

EN’s coverage of the 2021 FEI Longines European Eventing Championships is brought to you in part by Kentucky Performance Products. Click here to learn more about Kentucky Performance Products and its wide array of supplements available for your horse.

Kitty King and Vendredi Biats, highest placed of the Brits in 2019, return for their second Europeans as a partnership. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

We’re not sure which all-powerful entity the eventing community has pleased this year, but in this latter half of the season, we feel like we’re being spoiled absolutely rotten: not only did we get the postponed Tokyo Olympics to sink our teeth into, but we’ve also been gifted with a wildly exciting one-off CCI5* at Bicton, a brand-new CCI5* to come at Maryland next month, the return of the glittering and glamorous CHIO Aachen and now, on top of it all, the FEI European Eventing Championships, taking place this week at the almost ludicrously pretty Avenches in Switzerland.

Before we dive into the action, which commenced today with the first horse inspection, let’s cast our minds back over how this Euros came to be. This was always meant to be a Europeans year: the Championships take place every other year, filling in the gaps between WEGs and Olympics. The last we saw was the 2019 Europeans at Luhmühlen, Germany, and after that wrapped up, we were looking ahead to a late-summer 2021 edition at France’s Haras du Pin. But when the pandemic forced the postponement of the Olympics this year, all three disciplines’ European Championships were initially cancelled, much to the chagrin of riders and supporters of the sport, who made the very valid point that not every nation gets to go to the Olympics, and these ‘regional’ Championships provide vital developmental opportunities for up-and-coming riders, horses, and nations. This argument was enough to see both the showjumping and dressage Europeans reinstated quite swiftly, but the FEI took an initial hard line on eventing — until Michael Jung stepped up to say his piece. He proposed that Avenches, which has formerly held FEI events up to CCI4*-S, would be the perfect venue with an organising team that was eager and prepared to fill the gap, and his social media campaign received such widespread support from his compatriots in the sport that the FEI agreed to reopen the bidding process to assign a Championships venue for this year. Bids were put forward by Avenches, Montelibretti in Italy, and Boekelo in the Netherlands, and ultimately, Switzerland’s national equestrian centre was awarded its first-ever European Championships. And so here we are, soaking up the sun and the dramatic, mountain-fringed countryside, with 67 horse-and-rider combinations and a whole lot of hopes and dreams ready and waiting to be realised.

Jean Lou Bigot and Utrillo du Halage. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

All 68 of those horses, which represent 17 nations, were accepted in this afternoon’s first horse inspection by the ground jury of Andrew Bennie (NZL), Christian Landolt (SUI), and Christian Steiner (AUS). Just two horses were sent to the holding box: Robert Mandl and Sacré-Coeur of Austria and 1993 European Champion Jean Lou Bigot and Utrillo du Halage of France each re-presented and were subsequently accepted to begin the competition, which kicks off in earnest with the first day of dressage from 10.00 a.m. local time/9.00 a.m. BST/4.00 a.m. Eastern time tomorrow.

Robert Mandl and Sacré-Coeur. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

We’ll be back after the Opening Ceremony with a full gallery of images from today’s proceedings — until then, Go Eventing! (Or Go Walking Around in Circles Clutching a Flag! We’re not picky!)

The 2021 FEI Longines European Championships: [Website] [Schedule and Scoring] [Entries] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

 

10 Reasons Why We’re Excited About Stable View Oktoberfest

By on Sep 22, 2021 11:00 am -

All eyes are on Aiken, South Carolina this weekend for Stable View’s fourth annual Oktoberfest, September 24-26, 2021. With $60,000 in prize money up for grabs for the FEI International 2*, 3* and 4* divisions plus prizes for all National divisions, competitors will be in it to win it at this top-tier venue that never fails to go all out for its guests.

A few reasons why we’re looking forward to this year’s incarnation of Oktoberfest, and why we’re just huge fans of Stable View in general!

  • Bigger and better than ever. Oktoberfest received 400 entries including 110 for its FEI divisions, which are stacked to the roof with big names including previous Stable View 4*-S winners Liz Halliday-Sharp, who’ll come forward with Cooley Quicksilver, and Phillip Dutton, who’ll be riding Fernhill Singapore and Sea of Clouds.
  • A truly unique experience. Stable View has tried to develop a program that’s different, uses technology and enables the venue to stand out in an increasingly competence marketplace. Its team is always thinking outside the box for ways to further Oktoberfest reputation as the East Coast’s premier fall FEI CCI4*-S event, and that attention extends to the high quality of experience for competitors of all levels.
  • First-class hospitality. Rider lounges offers breakfast to competitors and grooms and coffee/tea and snacks throughout the day. Each evening a complimentary “Graze and Gaze” features wine, beer, soda and a charcuterie board.
  • A commitment to affordability. Pricing at all events at Stable View is at the lower end of what would be a market rate, and the venue doesn’t charge entrance or grounds fees. Future advances, including the introduction of entries via Compete Easy, will lead to even lower costs and entry fees. For spectators, admission and parking are free, as is access to programs and entry to the Pavillion.
  • Top-notch courses. The same team of course designers — Mark Phillips, Mogie Bearden Muller, Eric Bull, Chris Barnard and Molly Bull — have been working at Stable View for many years, some from its inception. This consistency is very powerful in what’s an ever changing sport. Each course is different from its previous incarnation, as the jumps are put away after each event.
  • First-class footing. All the cross country courses are irrigated, and dressage and show jumping take place on Attwood Equestrian Surfaces footing. Riding in the arenas, it truly feels like you’re floating on air.
  • The people. Stable View’s owners live on property — they are, truly, “invested.” Their proximity and involvement supports a quick decision taking process and is evident in their accountability and consistently high standards. Their team of permanent employees mean that the venue’s amenities are maintained to that standard year-round. Between its accomodations and Stalls with Paddocks program, it’s no wonder Stable View has become a way-station for many riders as they travel up and down the coast.
  • The latest technology. From electronic programs that go above and beyond with enhanced information and links, to its future introduction of entries via Compete Easy which will lead to even lower costs and entry fees, Stable View is always on the cutting edge.
  • Serious about safety. Approximately 50% of the cross country jumps are either new or have [MIM] frangible Technology — the venue has been at the leading edge regarding support for and the use of this technology.
  • An eye to the future. Stable View has lots up its sleeve for the future, including a Loyalty Program, continued improvement to its Eventing Academy program, a new area within the cross country course that will allow for Long Format events, and the announcement of some good additional high profile dates in 2023.

For more information on Stable View and to view its full calendar of event, visit the website here!

Stable View FEI Oktoberfest FEI CCI-S 2/3/4* & USEF/USEA Horse Trials: Website, Entries, Stabling

Horses and Graduate School, Part 1

By on Sep 22, 2021 9:00 am -

As Ema Klugman navigates her way through law school and a professional riding career, she’s taking us along for the ride. You can catch up on other editions of this column here.

Ema Klugman and RF Redfern at Great Meadow. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Just about a month ago, I attended the first day of orientation at George Washington Law School. Before I left early that afternoon to compete in the Great Meadow International CCI4*, I listened to our new dean, the first woman in the school’s history, express excitement about the fact that five hundred of us 1st year law students were actually physically present in the same auditorium. Among us were athletes, veterans, historians, parents, political staffers, healthcare workers, industry professionals, and fresh-faced youngsters straight out of their undergraduate degrees. We came from countries around the world and almost every state in America. We laughed at how excited she seemed, but understood that it had probably been exhausting to lead the law school entirely behind a computer screen for the past year. Her exuberance was contagious, and we all left that auditorium feeling energized. Yes, we were here. We were here.

Now we are in week 4 of classes, and some of that initial exuberance has traded places with fatigue and confusion. Like any transition to an unfamiliar setting, the past few weeks have been a learning curve. I, for one, sort of forgot what it was like to do homework and masses of reading (I guess I have a bad memory, because it’s really only been 18 months since I finished my undergraduate degree). I certainly got physically lost a number of times, despite the fact that all of our classes are in one block of three connected buildings. I was intellectually lost for the first two weeks for sure, but now some concepts (approximately 50%) are starting to make sense. I took forever to pick up my school ID card, so I was at the mercy of other students to swipe me into buildings. I actually haven’t entered the library yet, which might be a good sign that I’m not too stressed out. Alternatively, it could mean that I’m not stressed enough! Who knows, we are all figuring this thing out together.

There’s a guy in my writing seminar class who is working full-time on a political campaign. I haven’t told him this, but the fact that he’s doing that while enrolled in law school full-time encourages me that I’m not crazy to ride three horses at the upper levels of eventing while also enrolled in the same program. But maybe we are both crazy, and by November we will wonder what we were thinking….

To read the rest of Ema’s article, click here to read on Jumper Nation, EN’s sister site.

Last-Minute European Championships Call-Up for Ireland’s Sam Watson

By on Sep 22, 2021 6:36 am -

EN’s coverage of the 2021 FEI Longines European Eventing Championships is brought to you in part by Kentucky Performance Products. Click here to learn more about Kentucky Performance Products and its wide array of supplements available for your horse.

Sam Watson and Ballybolger Talisman at Aachen. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

There’s been a last-minute change to the Irish squad ahead of this week’s FEI Longines European Eventing Championships, set to get underway this afternoon in Avenches, Switzerland. Sam Watson, who was part of the 2019 team at Luhmühlen, will now bring forward his Aachen competitor, the relatively inexperienced Ballybolger Talisman, to fill the gap left by two withdrawals from the squad.

The first of those withdrawals came on September 14, when Steve Smith announced that his mount, Galwaybay Echo, wasn’t 100% in the lead-up to the event.

“Sadly Galwaybay Echo has had a minor setback in his final preparations for the European Championships. After much discussion, we feel the best course of action is to not travel to compete,” his team said in a statement on social media. “All of us, especially Steven, are incredibly disappointed. However the welfare of “Thomas” is our priority and at 13 years old he has many more big days ahead.”

The second withdrawal came from championship debutants Fred Scala and Everon Vivendi, who are based in southwestern England. On September 17, Fred announced that he, too, needed to pull his partner from contention after a minor injury sustained in training.

“The good news is that Donald is in good shape. He has picked up a small injury in our final preparations that luckily we found before traveling,” he said in a statement. “His welfare is paramount and there will be plenty more big days for us both in the future.”

Sam’s addition into the five-strong squad means that Ireland will have just one individual competitor alongside its four-person team, which hasn’t yet been announced. His compatriots in the squad are:

  • Clare Abbott with Jewelent
  • Cathal Daniels with LEB Lias Jewel
  • Padraig McCarthy with Leonidas II
  • Joseph Murphy with Cesar V

The Europeans kick off in earnest at 4.30 p.m. local time today (3.30 p.m. British time/10.30 a.m. Eastern) with the first horse inspection, followed by the opening ceremony. We’ll be bringing you full coverage throughout the week, and you can watch along via ClipMyHorse.TV, too. Let’s go chase some podiums!

The 2021 FEI Longines European Championships: [Website] [Schedule and Scoring] [Entries] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Wednesday News & Notes from Haygain

By on Sep 22, 2021 12:01 am -

Ava L. presents prizes to Alyssa Phillips at Great Meadow. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Strides for Equality Equestrians (SEE) were able to welcome riders from Warrenton, Va.’s White Oak Stables to MARS Great Meadow International last month — major thank you to Darrin Mollett and the team at GMI for making the opportunity possible! It was so great to meet some new faces and watch them take in the sport at its finest. One rider, Ava, even got to hand out some prizes to division winners. All in all, it was an incredibly special weekend — and SEE looks forward to working with more events in the future to welcome riders from all backgrounds to the sport. Want to get involved with your barn or event? Visit StridesForEquality.org for more!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Stable View Oktoberfest 2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Twin Rivers Fall International (Paso Robles, Ca.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

ESDCTA New Jersey H.T. (Allentown, Nj.): [Website] [Volunteer]

Old Tavern H.T. at Great Meadow (The Plains, Va.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

University of New Hampshire H.T. (Durham, Nh.): [Website] [Entries]

Major International Events:

FEI Eventing European Championships: [Website] [Entries] [Start List & Scores] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Wednesday Reading List:

The deadline for the winter Ever So Sweet scholarship, part of Strides for Equality Equestrians and the USEA Foundation, is rapidly approaching! October 15 is the last day to submit your application for the scholarship, which provides an incredible opportunity of all expenses paid training with Sara Kozumplik Murphy at her Ocala, Fl. facility this winter. Visit this link to learn more and submit your application.

Eventing Nation is proud to partner with the Maryland 5 Star to produce the official Digital Program & Form Guide that will feature all the information you need to know, right at your fingertips and free to access. We’ll also be including a Deal Book with discounts and deals from both on-site vendors as well as other brands. Do you want to include your brand or product? Email me at [email protected].

It’s International Helmet Awareness month (or at least, it should be — let’s be honest, every day is IHAD!) and SmartPak is not only running an excellent deal on helmets and safety equipment, they’re also sharing meaningful stories about the impact (no pun intended) helmets can have on our safety and well-being. In this blog, learn about Team SmartPak rider Silva Martin’s life was saved by wearing a helmet.

The saga that is Canada Equestrian continues as another chair of the federation’s Eventing Committee has now vacated his post, voicing several concerns with the management of the organization. “I’ve resigned for three main reasons,” Nicholas Austin explained to Horse Sport. “First, Equestrian Canada has treated the volunteers with disrespect. Second, [EC] is making changes to the sport without consultation with the committee. And third, there is little evidence to show they actually comprehend the ramifications of any of their decisions as it relates to Eventing.”

Looking for a cool gig in the horse industry? I have a couple opportunities for you! First up is a videographer opening with West coast service Ride On Video. Ride On Video films riders at events all up and down the West coast and is in need of help through the fall season. You can visit this Facebook post for more information — this is a great gig with awesome people, perfect for some side cash and the opportunity to visit some cool events. Next is an opening for a Marketing Manager for Equitana USA through the show’s producer, ReedPop. This position is open to remote work, though you will want to have some experience backing you up before you apply. Visit this link to learn more about this position.

Wednesday Watch This:

Did you know that H&C+ has a whole library of Masterclass content with riders such as newly-crowned CHIO Aachen winner Will Coleman, five-star rider Liz Halliday-Sharp, and many more? View the Will Coleman Masterclass — which is accessible with your H&C+ membership — here.

Wednesday Video Break:

Just some zen from Beezie and John Madden’s heavenly farm…

And hey, who doesn’t love more Will Coleman?

Rest in Peace, Polaris

By on Sep 21, 2021 12:51 pm -

Sara Gumbiner and Polaris at the 2018 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

EN is heartbroken to report that Sara Gumbiner’s Polaris, whose story and spirit captured the hearts of so many, has passed away at age 16.

Sara produced “Larry” from Beginner Novice through the five star level, twice completing the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event with no cross country jumping faults. Notoriously unpredictable in the dressage ring, the Irish Sport Horse gelding (Brandenburg’s Windstar x North River Lady) had the heart of a lion over fences and consistently jumped his way up the scoreboard — and the bigger the fences, the better he got. We chronicled their journey together in a 2018 Kentucky preview article here.

Sara shared the following on Facebook today:

“We had to say goodbye to my heart horse too soon.

Larry,

These last few days have been filled with massive heart ache, it’s all I can do to muster the strength to admit that you’re gone.
I will be forever sorry that I wasn’t able to give you a massive green-field retirement that you deserved.
Thank you for teaching me never to give up and that even the wildest dreams can come true.
Saving my life more times than I want to admit.
Being the constant through a lifetime of change.
Teaching me that asking for help is the opposite of giving up and that partnership is everything in a cross country horse.
Humbling me and teaching me patience and giving me the greatest successes in my life to date.
Teaching me that this sport is the best and worst thing that can happen to a person.
Allowing me to compete on the international stage with the best riders in the world.
Teaching me that eventing is most definitely not a dressage competition.
Thank you for making my career; afterall we both knew everyone in my village is there because of you. Being the glue that created relationships with amazing supporters like Ann Nawn and Melanie Talent; whom I still cherish every day.
You were the king and very often the reason I woke up in the morning during the darkest hours.
You have taken a piece of me with you that will never be replaced.
I feel lucky to have known you and privileged to have been your person.

Rest in Peace Polaris; you are so very loved.
Sara”

We had to say goodbye to my heart horse too soon.

Larry,
These last few days have been filled with massive heart ache,…

Posted by Sara Gumbiner on Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Photos from the EN archives:

Our condolences to Sara and all of Larry’s team. Rest in peace, Polaris.