Classic Eventing Nation

“He’s the Most Talented Horse I’ve Ever Sat On”: Alex Hua Tian Takes Houghton Lead

By on May 27, 2021 3:24 pm -

Alex Hua Tian and Jilsonne van Bareelhof. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Such is the strength and consistency among the upper echelons of the British eventing scene that we’re used to seeing the same tiny handful of superstar horses lead the first phase week in and week out at four-stars. And so it’s always thoroughly exciting to see a less familiar face take the top spot and challenge this set supremacy – which is exactly what happened in day one of the CCI4*-S at Houghton International, incorporating 2021’s first FEI Nations Cup leg.

You may not yet be familiar with Jilsonne van Bareelhof, the 12-year-old Belgian warmblood who posted a 24.3 – one of just two sub-30 scores – to take a decisive overnight lead today. But you’d be hard-pressed not to know his rider, China’s Alex Hua Tian, best known for his partnership with top horse Don Geniro. Together, they scooped a top ten finish at the 2016 Rio Olympics – but Jilsonne van Bareelhof, or ‘Chocs’, as he’s known at home, “might be my favourite,” he admits. In fact, he says, “he’s the most talented thing I’ve ever sat on – he’s truly wonderful.”

Despite this high praise, only the most eagle-eyed eventing fans will have taken notice of the horse – he’s only run internationally seven times, a strategic move on Alex’s part as he figured out the best possible career trajectory for the gelding.

“He doesn’t run very often, but when he does, he’s just so special,” says Alex, who made the decision last year to produce Chocs as a CCI4*-S specialist, with an aim to campaign him at valuable short-format runs such as the Event Rider Masters series. This isn’t due to any shortage of talent, but rather, as Alex explains, a result of the extravagant gelding’s only apparent flaw.

“Basically, whatever we do with his feet, he loses shoes,” he explains. “But now that we’ve made that decision, he just thrives. He’s one of the those very few horses that’s exceptional in all three phases – and a lovely person. He’s as close to being a perfect horse as they get, but none of them are perfect!”

Chocs was originally produced by Australia’s Kevin McNab, who produced him through Novice (US Preliminary) before Alex bought the horse in 2017. By the end of the year, the new partnership had notched up two top-five finishes at Novice, and Alex decided to aim him at 2018’s Asian Games, held at CCI2*-L. Despite a spate of cancellations plaguing the early part of the 2018 national calendar, Alex fast tracked Chocs to a debut CCI2*-L at Tattersalls, where he made the best of a tough Ian Stark track to lead after cross-country, finishing eighth ultimately after dropping a pole.

“I remember going there and thinking, ‘I hope it’s a seven-minute Novice’ – but I hadn’t realised it was Ian Stark [designing],” he says with a laugh. “It was definitely not a seven-minute Novice. But he’s a serious animal – he pulled the whole way around and we were about thirty seconds under the time. He’s a very capable and ambitious horse.”

Alex Hua Tian and Jilsonne van Bareelhof. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Since then, we’ve seen him jump clear in a CCI3*-S at Barbury Castle, though he was withdrawn from two other starts at the level while Alex and his team crafted a plan – and a career – to suit him. While his record and trajectory might not be the most conventional, changing the goalposts appears to have worked: Chocs debuted at CCI4*-S at Burnham Market last autumn, jumping two clear rounds for a top fifteen finish, and though he clocked up twenty penalties at the same event last month, Alex has chalked it up as a positive educational moment.

“He was more interested in going than looking — he just flat out galloped past a triple brush without looking,” laughs Alex. “But I think he learnt from it.”

Today’s score is an international personal best for the gelding, and marks the latest in a decisive downward trend in his marks: he posted a 29.4 in his last CCI3*-S at Barbury in 2019, a 27 at Burnham Market last year, and a 26.5 at Burnham Market this spring. This shift, Alex explains, has come as the inexperienced horse learns to focus and settle into his season.

“He can be a fresh bugger,” he says. “He can do a stunning test, but if he’s wild, he’s wild. But now that we’ve made the decision to keep him as a four-star horse, he’ll be run much more consistently. The issue he’s always had is that because he gets fresh, and because he runs so little, when we do take him out it’s all very exciting for him. This takes the pressure off a little bit, and he should find it a lot easier. That’s where the consistency today came from – he ran at Burnham Market, he’s stayed in work, and it’s all gone better.”

As a result, Alex found a new degree of rideability – and with it, the chance to push each movement for a higher degree of expressiveness.

“I was able to have him a little more with me, and he just goes in there and turns on the power to 100%. He’s such a big mover, so to keep him in a 20×60, even in a flat, beautiful arena, can be difficult [if he’s not focused].”

Oliver Townend and Tregilder. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Oliver Townend and Tregilder produced the only other sub-30 test of the day, delivering a smart 27.7 to sit second overnight. This is a welcome return to form for the established four-star horse, whose scores tend to fluctuate – we’ve seen him go as low as 22.9 at this level at Burgham last year, and as high as 38.4, and his last two tests have split the difference at 30 and 31.1. Though two more packed sessions of dressage will likely yield a spate of competitive scores to challenge the current leaderboard, today’s judging proved that riders will have to work hard for every mark – and so the strength of Tregilder’s work today is promising indeed for the eleven-year-old British-bred Sport Horse. He won on his CCI4*-S debut at Blair Castle in 2018, and Oliver will be looking for a golden opportunity to bring this up-and-comer back into the spotlight.

Selina Milnes holds third place with her reliable Iron IV, who led for much of the day on a very respectable 30. Like Tregilder, Iron’s previous form has seen him dip into the 20s, including a 25.6 at Bramham in 2018, but he’s tended towards an upward trajectory since then and is generally a low-30s contender. Now, as he looks towards his first international run of 2021, he could well be on track to add another placing to his record.

Ireland’s Susie Berry sits fourth on 30.5 with the fresh and enthusiastic John the Bull, who scored a 30.5 after Susie tactfully piloted him through the test. Though she may not have been able to push for the extravagance this game little horse is capable of, her strong early showing for Ireland should set a precedent for her team ride aboard Ringwood LB on Saturday morning. Just a hair’s breadth behind her sits another young up-and-coming rider, though this one a Brit – Heidi Coy and Royal Fury round out the top five on 30.6.

Tomorrow will see another full day of dressage tests from non-team competitors, while Saturday morning features a short head-to-head between the three Nations Cup teams before the showjumping commences after lunchtime. Great Britain, Ireland, and Australia will battle it out for valuable points in this pivotal first leg – here’s how those teams break down:

 

The top ten after the first day of dressage in the CCI4*-S at Houghton International.

Houghton International and Nations Cup: Website | Times and Live Scores | Course Preview | EN’s Coverage | EN’s Instagram | EN’s Twitter

The U.S. Eventing Olympic Team Has Been Announced

By on May 27, 2021 3:07 pm -

US Equestrian is pleased to announce the four athlete-and-horse combinations who will represent the U.S. Eventing Olympic Team as part of Team USA at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in Tokyo, Japan. The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Erik Duvander and Team Leader Jenni Autry. Competition will begin July 30 and continue through August 2, 2021, at the Equestrian Park and Sea Forest Cross-Country Course venues. Three combinations will compete as a team with one traveling reserve. Two direct reserves have been named alongside six alternate combinations.

“I believe we have a competitive team to represent the U.S. in Tokyo. All the horses have had a little break, and we will now be working to improve some details we identified at the Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L and Jersey Fresh CCI4*-L before we head to the team’s Mandatory Outing at Great Meadow in Virginia,” commented Chef d’Equipe Erik Duvander. “Following that outing, we travel to our Pre-Export Quarantine in Aachen, Germany. This is a great facility and will function as our final training camp where we will be working with dressage judges and have Peter Wylde working with us on the show jumping. This is a very focused group of athletes who are committed to delivering a top performance in Tokyo.”

The following athlete-and-horse combinations will represent the United States at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and are listed in alphabetical order:

Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and Z, a 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding owned by Thomas Tierney, Ann Jones, Caroline Moran, Simon Roosevelt, and Suzanne Lacy

Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp (Lexington, Ky.) and Deniro Z, a 13-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Ocala Horse Properties

Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and Luke 140, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by The Luke 140 Syndicate

  • First Direct Reserve: Tsetserleg TSF, a 14-year-old Trakehner gelding owned by Christine Turner, Thomas Turner, and Tommie Turner
  • Second Direct Reserve: On Cue, a 15-year-old Selle Français mare owned by Christine Turner, Boyd Martin, Thomas Turner, and Tommie Turner

The following combination has been named as the traveling reserve:

Doug Payne (Aiken, S.C.) and Vandiver, a 17-year-old Trakehner gelding owned by Debi Crowley, Doug Payne, and Jessica Payne

The following combinations have been named as team alternatives and are listed in selected order:

First Alternate: Tamra Smith (Murietta, Calif.) and Mai Baum, a 15-year-old German Sport Horse gelding owned by Alexandra Ahearn, Ellen Ahearn, and Eric Markell

Second Alternate: Will Faudree (Southern Pines, N.C.) and Mama’s Magic Way, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Jennifer Mosing

Third Alternate: Will Coleman (Gordonsville, Va.) and Off The Record, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by the Off The Record Syndicate

Fourth Alternate: Sydney Elliott (Bossier City, La.) and QC Diamantaire, an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Carol Stephens

Fifth Alternate: Bruce Davidson Jr. (Unionville, Pa.) and Carlevo, a 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Katherine O’Brien

Sixth Alternate: Lauren Nicholson (The Plains, Va.) and Vermiculus, a 14-year-old Anglo-Arabian gelding owned by Jacqueline Mars

All team nominations are subject to United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee approval.

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Volunteer Nation: 5 Recognized & 4 Schooling Events That Need Your Help This Weekend

By on May 27, 2021 2:00 pm -

We LOVE the idea of an “eventing kindergarten” series, such as the one hosted by Wit’s End in Mulmur, Ontario. You can learn more about theirs here and/or sign up to volunteer!

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.

Here

USEA Events

2021 USEA FEH/YEH Qualifier + Young Horse Show/Jump Chute

May 27th, 2021 to May 28th, 2021

Woodside Eventing Spring Horse Trials 2021

May 27th, 2021 to May 30th, 2021

VHT International and Horse Trials

May 26th, 2021 to May 30th, 2021

Equestrians Institute Horse Trials May 2021

May 26th, 2021 to May 30th, 2021

May-Daze at the Park Horse Trials

May 28th, 2021 to May 30th, 2021

Other Events

MCTA Schooling Days at Shawan Downs

May 25th, 2021 to May 27th, 2021

Stone Gate Farm Mountain Trail Challenge

May 2nd, 2021 to May 30th, 2021

2021 MDHT May Starter Horse Trial

May 28th, 2021 to May 30th, 2021

MCTA Unrecognized at Shawan Downs

May 27th, 2021 to May 31st, 2021

Go Volunteers. Go Eventing!

Where’s Your Focus? An Excerpt from ‘Ride Big’ by John Haime

By on May 27, 2021 11:59 am -

In this excerpt from his book Ride Big: The Ultimate Guide to Building Equestrian Confidence, renowned performance coach John Haime tells us that to achieve top results in our equestrian sport, we need to develop laser-like focus in the saddle.

Oliver Townend and Ballaghmore Class, winners of the 2021 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. Photo by Shelby Allen.

If you ask Oliver Townend (the #1 ranked FEI eventer in the world in 2020 and winner of the Kentucky Three-Day in 2021), your ability to keep your attention on the task at hand is critical to any success you might have in equestrian sport. He believes that focusing on the right things — what’s important to him and his own program—has been crucial to him reaching the top of the sport.

Oliver has convincing words for you to consider on the importance of focus and what it means to performance excellence in equestrian sport: “I don’t think it would be possible to compete successfully at the highest, or for that matter, any level, without being able to have a high level of focus. The focus levels required in competition are just too high for your mind to be able to wander — it has to be on your process and your job. It can mean the difference between winning and losing, and unfortunately, it can also mean life and death in our sport.”

So, where do you think your focus is in your equestrian experience? Is it “on your process and job,” as it is with Oliver, or do you wander in and out and let your attention drift to things around you that take away from your performance? Can you separate what matters from what doesn’t matter? Are you able to pull yourself into the moment and keep your mind focused on your riding?

What are you focused on? The right things? The wrong things?

Too much?

What’s important? What’s not important?

What just happened or what might happen?

These are all questions to ask yourself in considering whether your level of focus is helping or hurting your performance, and how it might be impacting whether you are Riding Big or riding small.

Focus is a significant area of interest today. Because of the growing number of distraction around us, including ever-changing advancements in technology, attention spans are shrinking to the point where it has become difficult for performers to keep their minds on a particular task for more than a few seconds. And science tells us there is a link between your focus skills and how well you perform your tasks. If your attention muscles are well developed, there is much more likelihood that you can excel. Confidence and focus are so closely linked. If your mind is paying attention to what’s important, what matters, and is grounded in the moment without the temptations of attention on the past and future, your opportunity to build confidence will be greater.

I became interested in the idea of focus when reflecting on my own professional sports career in golf. That’s when I realized I was struggling with focus and keeping my mind and energy centered on my plan to win a competition. When in the heat of competition, I found that my emotions would, at the worst times, knock me off my focus (I had a lack of awareness and inability to direct my emotion), and eroded my chances of being a consistent contender.

Challenging emotions like frustration and the wrong kind of anger wreaked havoc, and often diverted my attention to the past or propelled my attention into the future—exactly the places where I didn’t want to be. Because of this challenge, as may be true for you too, the real competition was always inside of me as I tried to keep my mind where it should be — confidently executing my skills in the present moment. You might know the feeling—drop a rail, have a mediocre ride, or struggle in a match, and you find it difficult to get your mind back in the game. That makes it even harder to create the right internal environment to complete the course, show your potential in the next class, or score in the final chukker. Some call it being “frazzled.”

There is always the tendency to focus on what’s not important—those distractions that are dressed up as important but really don’t do much to move things forward and help you improve. They are all little threats to your confidence.

This excerpt from Ride Big by John Haime is reprinted with permission from Trafalgar Square Books (www.HorseandRiderBooks.com).

Photo courtesy of John Haime.

 

Pre-Purchase Exams: What to Expect, Presented by FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips

By on May 27, 2021 9:00 am -

Before any investment, it is good to do your research on what you are getting into. Doing your research before investing into a horse isn’t any different! A pre-purchase exam performed by a veterinarian is the way to research the current health and soundness of a horse. Although a crystal ball would be ideal, a pre-purchase exam is the closest resource available to a suspected buyer for researching the horse in question.

The horse’s value almost always plays a role in how extensive of a pre-purchase exam a prospective buyer wants. But, whether the horse is free or has a high value price tag, money spent on a pre-purchase exam is often money saved later. The more spent on looking for potential existing problems prior to purchase, the more likely an existing problem can be found. With the information collected, more educated decisions can be made before purchase. Being able to make decisions based on potential risk is the goal of a pre-purchase exam.

A pre-purchase exam typically starts with a thorough history taking, in which the veterinarian asks questions to the seller about the horse: previous medical history, current diet, exercise routine, vices, and more. An in-depth history can help a veterinarian make informed recommendations about the horse to the buyer.

Typically, the vet then performs a physical exam. A physical exam is a systematic way of looking at all of the health organ systems of the horse. The TPR or temperature, pulse rate, and respiratory rate, is only a small component of the physical. The heart and lungs are often listened to, both prior and after exercise. Heart murmurs or evidence of inflammatory airway disease are screened for during this section of the exam. The horse’s eyes, teeth, and conformation are looked at closely, and much more.

A trained veterinary eye is also necessary for evaluating the horse for scars from previous procedures such as colic surgery, orthopedic surgery, or airway surgery. Sometimes a surprise such as a minor scar from a previous undisclosed surgery is found by a veterinarian, that could make a significant difference in the decision of whether or not to make the purchase.

An evaluation of the horse’ssoundness or a lameness exam usually comes next. This typically entails a thorough palpation of the horse, evaluating the horse in all gaits and on all surfaces, and flexions. (See our blog post onlameness examsfor more detailed information on this process). If a horse is lame at a pre-purchase exam, in some cases a basic nerve block could be performed in order to see if the region causing pain is from an already known issue or something new. For example, an owner may just want to know if the mild lameness on hard ground is coming from the horse’s feet, as they may be willing to purchase the horse and then try making some farrier changes.

A neurological exam is performed to establish if the horse’s nervous system is normal. The veterinarian may evaluate the cranial nerves by testing various reflexes on the head, and evaluates the horse’s gait via circles, backing, and other specialized maneuvers. Radiographs are the most common diagnostic procedure performed at a pre-purchase exam. How many radiographs are taken and of which regions however, is very variable. Depending on the history, intended use of the horse, and buyers budget, a radiographic plan on which areas of the horse will be lookedat is made. But again, the more time and money spent on looking for potential existing problems prior to purchase, the more likely an existing problem can be found.

More extensive pre-purchase exam procedures such as upper airway endoscopy, soft tissue ultrasound, or an echocardiogram (ECG) can be helpful and justified depending on the medical history and intended use of the horse, but are much less common. A drug screening, looking at the horse’s blood to see if any substances such as pain-medications or sedatives have been used, is the only way to determine if something could be changing what is seen on the day of the pre-purchase, and how the horse was during the trial.

It is important to note however, a pre-purchase exam can only evaluate the horse in a moment in time, meaning the horse’s health and soundness can only be evaluated for the day of the exam, and what happens in the future cannot be known. The more thorough the pre-purchase exam however, the fewer guesses have to be made. The more of an educated purchase one can make, the more likely it is to be a good match between owner and horse. Good matches lead to happy horses… and again, it’s about the horse!

Thursday News & Notes from Ecovet

By on May 27, 2021 12:03 am -

Paulank Brockaugh’s first filly! Photo by Paula Cullen.

Summer is here folks, and I know this because last night I had to wait until 9 p.m. to turn out my horses to avoid the horrible awful sweltering humid hot Virginia heat. Yesterday was the first day where just existing outside for more than 20 minutes left you drenched in sweat for literally no reason, and I was not about it. Florida people, I honestly don’t know how you do it.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Virginia International H.T. (Lexington, Va.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Spring Coconino H.T. (Flagstaff, Az.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Equestrians’ Institute H.T. (Elum, Wa.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

May-Daze at the Park H.T. (Lexington, Ky.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Mystic Valley Hunt Club H.T. (Gales Ferry, Ct.): [Website]

The Spring Event at Woodside (Woodside, Ca.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

News From Around the Globe:

As a coach, clinician, rider and trainer, Kyle Carter emphasizes process and horsemanship over all else. Throughout his career, the World Equestrian Games Silver Medalist, Olympian, Pan American Games athlete, and five-star competitor has sought to understand better the programs and theories that lead to the success of great horses and great riders. [Featured Clinician: Kyle Carter]

The nomad McLain Ward is back, and he’s thrilled about it. After being forced to slow down and get comfortable with his sedentary side last year, he’s happy to back on the road at last. The Chronicle of the Horse caught up with him May 24, as he was en route to the airport, bound for Rome and the CSIO5* Nations Cup where he will continue his journey to earn a spot on the Tokyo Olympic team. Before he jetted off, he reflected on living life despite uncertain times, a pandemic Olympics, and his star mare Sapphire. [McClain Ward Reminisces & Ponders the Future]

Time is running out to submit your entry to our #MudMadnessGiveaway in partnership with SmartPak! Up for grabs is nearly $500 in rain-and-mud-ready gear for both you and your horse. To learn how to enter, click here.

While you’re at it, enter to win a YETI EN-branded coffee mug as a token of our thanks for taking a few minutes to fill out our 2021 Gallop Poll to learn more about our readers. Click here to learn more.

Do you have a product or brand you’d like to get in front of more potential customers this year? We are opening up partnerships to accompany us on our event coverage at a star-studded list of events happening throughout the remainder of 2021 and into 2022. If you’d like to learn more about these exciting opportunities, email Sally at [email protected].

Best of the Blogs: A Murder the World Witnessed — How Sport Joined the Fight for Change

Video: Grace Conde sent us this helmet cam video she took with her Cambox V4 Pro. She is riding her 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, Kipper. “We are training for our first recognized Novice in a few weeks,” Grace says. You can follow them on Instagram at @gmceventing. Best of luck, Grace and Kipper!

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Check Out These Cool Drone Videos from Chatt Hills

By on May 26, 2021 7:00 pm -

We’ve seen some drone videos pop up every now and then, and it looks like a full-on drone pilot was on hand to record cross country runs for riders competing at Chattahoochee Hills in Fairburn, Ga. this past weekend. Seriously – what a great idea for riders who want to relive their rounds from above!

Check out Rebecca Hunt and Snowflake Lane, who took home third in the Preliminary Rider division:

As well as Julie Wolfert and Cloud Nine, who took eighth in the Intermediate:

Way to go ladies – and way to represent Area IV while you’re at it! For more like this, be sure to check out 4 Props Aerial on YouTube.

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Rookie Reflections: Ride Around Kentucky with Ema Klugman and Bendigo

By on May 26, 2021 2:00 pm -

Ema Klugman and Bendigo. Photo by Shelby Allen.

It’s hard to believe it’s already been a month since we were watching the best of the best duke it out at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. Luckily, it’s the event that just keeps giving in terms of content, and now many riders are receiving the videos of their cross country rides.

We were over the moon for one of the Land Rover Rookies, Ema Klugman and her own Bendigo, who is a member of Team Nation Media as Jumper Nation’s editor. Ema made the whole weekend look, well, easy, and one would never know that Bendigo was 18 years young as he left the start box that wet and soggy Saturday.

We #BelieveInBendigo! Photo by Elena Perea.

“Actually the timing (getting to the start box) was a bit off because there had been holds on course and it was unclear when my ride time was,” Ema reflected. “We were a bit late, which was probably good because I didn’t have time to stress. I got to the box with 30 seconds to go, and for whatever reason all I could think was that I needed a drink of water before going! The starter was super nice and got me a bottle, so I took a sip, threw it back to her, trotter a circle and we were off!”

“Bendigo was fantastic around the whole course,” she continued. “I had a solid plan thanks to my coach, Marilyn Little, and everything rode just about according to plan. About halfway around the course I thought, “wow, we are actually doing this!”. I was impressed by how much horse I had left in the final minute, and I have to say the feeling going over the final fence was just thrilling!”

Ema Klugman soaks in the moment before awards. Photo by Sally Spickard.

I asked at what point during the course did she think, “OK, I got this!”, to which she answered: “Landing from the last jump.” Realistic until the very end! When the dust and mud settled, Ema would finish 33rd in her first five-star and would also take home the Highest Placed Youngest Rider award from the event – all in all a successful effort for team #BeliveInBendigo!

Bendigo is now enjoying his well-earned vacation as Ema works with her young horses and prepares to begin law school at The George Washington University in Washington, DC later this year. We may see this pair out once more, though, as Ema says she’s eyeing the inaugural Maryland 5* in October for her longtime partner.

Enjoy the ride with Ema and Bendigo!

 

Got the official footage from Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. What a ride this horse gave me! Thanks to the best team who made it possible– my Mum, Marilyn Little, Kangaroo Josh Klugman, Elena Perea, Hilary Moore Hebert, Britt Gillis, and everyone else who said #believeinbendigo! <3

Also a huge thanks to the Equestrian Australia NEXT squad and Will Enzinger who pushed me to take my riding to the next level. Looking forward to many more Kentucky’s.

Posted by Ema Klugman on Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Grooming at Kentucky: Paige Ansaldi, Groom to Favian, Reflects on a First Five-Star

By on May 26, 2021 11:30 am -

As the fan-voted runner-up in our “Flyest Horse at Kentucky” contest in partnership with Ecovet and Horse & Rider Books last month, Paige Ansaldi was happy to oblige us and answer a few questions about her experience grooming at her first five-star. While her charge, Favian, and pilot Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride sadly ended their weekend early with an untimely fall on cross country, they’d pick themselves up and redeem themselves with a fiery completion at Jersey Fresh a few weeks later. We also caught up with the contest winner, German groom Ayleen Stuhr, who you can read about here. Go Eventing!

The Blue Clover Eventing team at Kentucky. Photo courtesy of Paige Ansaldi.

EN: Tell us about your experience traveling to Kentucky – is this your first 5* grooming? What were your feelings leading up to it?

PA: This was my first 5* so even arriving at the Kentucky Horse Park felt surreal! Leading up to it, I was full of mixed feelings; half of me was taking it day by day making sure Favian (“Faves”) was feeling 100%. The other half was just thankful to be part of Val’s journey.  Prior to Kentucky, the highest level I had groomed at was The Virginia Horse Trials at the 3*L. That was a good opportunity to be exposed to the expectations and environment of the upper level shows. Still, nothing can truly prepare you for the energy that surrounds Kentucky!

EN: What are some things in Favian’s routine that you take care of at home?

PA: My main responsibilities involve his upkeep and therapies to help Favian feel his best.  This includes therapy blankets, liniment gels, daily stretches and much more. I also have the responsibility to be present for all of his critical rides such as schooling, training sessions and all of the shows that lead up to Kentucky.  On a day to day basis, it is a true team effort to ensure Favian maintains his strict routine so he is healthy and happy.

EN: Do you get nervous as the caretaker, on cross country day or any other day?

PA: Thankfully Faves has always been such a great cross country horse, but I honestly get nervous for all three phases. You see all of the hard work they’ve put into this sport together every day and you just hope it shines at a show.

EN: What was your routine at Kentucky?

PA: Lots and lots of hand grazing!! Thankfully we only had one horse going so any free time was spent keeping him out of his stall, and moving. Besides that, we try to keep our away show routine as close to our home routine as possible so we’re not adding any unnecessary stress. We made sure to have his little shadow come along as well. “Theo” is Fave’s mini and also his best friend! He definitely helped keep Favian calm and made my life easier in Kentucky.

Paige with Favian and his road-trip buddy, Theodore – who, yes, made the trip to Kentucky with the crew!

EN: Do you have a favorite moment from the trip?

PA: It’s hard to pick just one, but I think watching Val do her dressage test in the Rolex arena surrounded by our team and seeing the smile on her face at the end was pure joy. Just finally seeing all of her hard work payoff to be competing at Kentucky, I couldn’t have been prouder. In contention with that moment, I think the hand grazing conversations with our group of girls, Alex Peterson and Molly Koch, was next to it. We all have believed in Val and Faves from the start and don’t always have the same schedules at home so to be able to be together at an event like this was great.

EN: What is most important to you as the groom? Either at home or at shows.

PA: I think my top priority is making sure you’re keeping your horse as calm and as happy as possible. I try to minimize going in their stall, but just enough so they receive everything they need and have a chance to relax by themselves before their ride. Faves definitely likes to have his down time before he gets ridden at a show. Then of course after having them feel their best, making sure they look their best! Presentation is everything, and I think it demonstrates the pride you take in your job and the love you have for the horse. Thankfully,  Faves being black, which makes my life a bit easier! There are definitely some tools that I really rely on like my L’Apogee sheepskin mit and Premier Eqyss Spray to help him really shine!

EN: How long have you worked with Valerie? And what is your background?

PA: I’ve been with Val for five years now. I started as a client and began helping here and there. As time went on, Val gave me many opportunities to learn as much as I could about eventing including working as her groom. I am currently a junior at the University of Maryland studying Criminology and Criminal Justice, so I haven’t always been able to work as much as I’d like but I do as much as possible! As far as riding, I started eventing when I was 7 and currently am the president of the eventing team at my school and also have a young horse named Boomer going training. He is such a talented horse and has already topped a handful of USEA leaderboards in his 3 years in the sport, so I’m definitely looking forward to what we can do this year and achieving our goal of competing at the 2* level in the future!

EN: In your opinion, what is the most important thing for a groom to know how to do?

PA: I would say knowing how to read your horse! Every horse is different and has unique things that work just for them. I think being able to tell when there’s been a change in your horse’s behavior or demeanor is key to keeping them happy and on a routine fit for them. Other than that I would say to take pride in your work and trying to stay in the moment!

Horse & Country and British Eventing Announce Partnership, New BE TV Channel on H&C+

By on May 26, 2021 9:00 am -

Piggy March and Brookfield Quality. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

British Eventing (BE), the National Governing Body for the sport of eventing in Great Britain, and leading international equestrian sports network Horse & Country (H&C) today announced the details of a wide-ranging partnership. The rationale behind the new arrangement is underpinned by H&C’s extensive eventing coverage, which includes live and highlights sport, training content and rider profiles, and the increasing role of video in BE’s communications activity.

At the heart of the partnership is the creation of the BE TV Channel on H&C’s streaming service, H&C+. The Channel will host all of H&C’s eventing live streams starting with Belsay International and Bicton International in June, followed by Barbury International and Burgham International in July. There’s also live coverage of major events from overseas including Longines Luhmühlen 5*, Mars Great Meadow International from Virginia, and Les 5 Étoiles de Pau.

The BE TV Channel also features a wealth of eventing-related material including Masterclasses from William Fox-Pitt, Lucinda Green, Ben Hobday, Emily King, Ros Canter and many more. For those who want to see behind the scenes and into the lives of some of the biggest names in the sport there are rider profiles including Piggy March, Tina Cook, Alex Hua-Tian and Oliver Townend. And for a real insight into how the stars of the sport relax off-duty, H&C’s hugely popular series, Daisy Dines With, features Daisy Bunn sitting down to dinner with Laura Collett and friends, The Fox-Pitts and the Funnells.

The BE TV Channel will be continually updated and refreshed with new material and information about further joint initiatives from BE and H&C.

Other key features of the partnership include:

  • A promotion throughout June offering a 15% discount on annual membership of H&C+ for BE members
  • Ads promoting BE membership to run in all H&C eventing live streams
  • Cross promotion of key messages to each other’s social communities

H&C Director, Richard Burdett said: “We’re showing more live eventing than ever before this year, so a partnership with BE is a great way to add further value for the passionate eventing community. We know that many of our viewers are both fans and competitors in their own right, so we’ve created the BE TV Channel to pull together a wide range of content to help them get even more from the sport they love.”

Wendy McGowan, Chief Operating Officer at British Eventing, commented: “We are delighted to be partnering with H&C to bring top quality eventing content to the eventing community and to be able to mark this occasion with a special introductory offer for our BE members.”

To watch all of H&C’s eventing live streams and access the BE TV Channel, make sure you are signed up to H&C+, Horse & Country’s worldwide streaming service. H&C+ members can watch online or with H&C’s mobile apps, as well as on Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, and Amazon Fire. Membership is just $9.99 per month, or $99.99 annually, and full details on how to join can be found at horseandcountry.tv.