Classic Eventing Nation

Five Reasons to Grab a Pair of Ariat’s Tri Factor Breeches This Spring

By on Apr 5, 2021 2:30 pm -

Photo courtesy of Ariat.

There are a few factors that are perennially important to riders shopping for their next pair of breeches. Durability, comfort, fit, and price are all taken into consideration – among many other things – in a competitive riding apparel industry. We’ve got our eye on the popular Tri Factor line of breeches from Ariat as the new main staple in our closet, and here are a few reasons why:

  • So long, restrictive waistband! There is truly nothing much more uncomfortable than a waistband that’s rigid and doesn’t allow you to move properly. The Ariat Tri Factor line of breeches features a “V-panel” built into the back waistband, allowing the fabric to give and stretch (without losing its shape) as we move about. This simple feature combined with the mid-rise design makes these breeches a great fit for the multitude of beautiful body types in the sport.
  • No more sweaty legs. I’m not sure if you can relate, but there is just something particularly gross about finishing up a summer ride and finding your pants damp from sweat. Luckily, Ariat has thought of this issue, too, and the Tri Factor breeches also feature Moisture Movement Technology™, which pulls moisture away from the skin and encourages evaporation. In addition, Ariat’s Freeze Point™ cooling technology can cool the skin by up to 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Blisters be gone. You know that rubbing caused when the bottom of your breeches gets wrinkled by the close fit of your boot? I’ve sustained some pretty epic blisters this way. The Tri Factor breech calls on Ariat’s CFS™ Calf Fit System, cutting down on this friction while providing support to the calf and ankle.
  • They just don’t feel like breeches. There was a time when breeches were either strong enough to retain their shape or they were comfortable – there wasn’t much that combined both. The Ariat Tri Factor breeches, which come in both knee grip and full seat styles, are made in a mid-weight knit that will hold its shape through a day of riding without feeling restricting or scratchy. That’s a huge plus for riders who spend long hours riding multiple horses or who prefer hanging out in breeches to most other types of pants.
  • Ride like an athlete. Riders are athletes, and our apparel should allow us to live the active lifestyle required in this sport. While not all brands are created equal, Ariat’s compression technology sets it above the rest in terms of athletic performance. The Tri Factor breech’s compression material allows the breech to keep its shape no matter how hard you work, while still ensuring a sleek and smooth fit.

Photo courtesy of Ariat.

Ariat has long been known for its innovative textile technology and catering to the athletic nature of our sport. The Tri Factor Breech is a great option to add to your show or everyday wardrobe this year – you can shop for your next pair by clicking here. For all your riding apparel and show clothing needs, click here.

With a Little Help from Her Friends, Holly Payne Caravella Marks First Post-Baby Run with a Win

By on Apr 5, 2021 11:30 am -

Not only did Holly Payne Caravella make a successful comeback to competition after returning from maternity leave at the Carolina International CCI last month, she stamped her return with an emphatic exclamation point, bringing home the blue ribbon aboard CharmKing LLC’s CharmKing in the Open Intermediate division.

It wasn’t all roses for Holly, however, who faced the devastation of a miscarriage in 2019 before deciding with her husband, Eric, to keep trying for a baby last year. As it would happen, the pandemic-induced shutdown of the 2020 competition season would coincide with Holly’s pregnancy, but as events started back up again, she knew the talented CharmKing needed to get out and get some miles.

Herein lies the crux of complication for many professional women, who in this industry often must choose between pursuing their career and starting a family, putting one on hold in favor of the other. And for the determined women who elect to do both, there are many ends that need tending to in order to keep a business running while pregnant.

Luckily, Holly had a supportive group of clients at home and a close friend she could call on when it came time to send CharmKing to another rider to keep him going: Lillian Heard.

“That’s always a really hard decision, to send a horse to another rider, since there are so many good pros out there,” Holly said. “In talking with Mary Bancroft, who owns Charm with me, we decided we wanted to keep him with a woman so it was a more similar ride. I’ve known Lillian for a long time, and she’s such a quiet, correct rider who I knew wouldn’t change who Charm is – I would get the same horse back.”

Lillian Heard and CharmKing. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Cross country was the phase the 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Cassito out of O-Heraldika needed the most practice with, and Lillian’s prowess in this phase made her an obvious choice to continue to young horse’s tuition. “I knew she would be confident enough, as I know it’s really hard to catch-ride someone else’s horses,” Holly explained.

It would actually be Lillian who would move CharmKing up to the Advanced level, doing so in the CCI4*-S at Great Meadow in August of 2020 – the first international competition post-shutdown – after running two Intermediates. “It was very nerve wracking to be the owner, I have to say!” Holly recalled. “Even though there was no reason to be nervous, I felt responsible. I’d trained him to this point, and I’m telling Lillian he’s good and ready, but at the same time if something had gone wrong, I’d have blamed myself in the training.”

The move up did go to plan, however, and CharmKing would go on to finish in the top 10 at Great Meadow and also in the top 10 in the CCI4*-S at Tryon later in the fall. Meanwhile, back at home, Holly was doing what she could to maintain her fitness and her business as her pregnancy progressed.

In preparation for riding a little less, Holly had sold on the young horses she’d had, keeping only her veteran partner, Never OutFoxed, and her adult amateur client horses on her roster. “It was really useful for me to stay active with ‘Fox’ at home while Charm was getting tuned up,” she recalled. “I rode a lot of really safe horses, a lot of amateur horses, but I was able to stay sharper than if I had taken off completely.”

Holly Payne Caravella and Charmking. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

All told, Holly took just four weeks away from the saddle in total, giving birth to beautiful baby Harper Lynn Caravalla on January 7. Once back to riding – “I kind of snapped back into it like riding a bike” – Holly jumped right in. “My clients were eager to have me back, and I wanted to dive right in. It was a good, fast way to get back in shape,” she laughed.

Soon enough, it was time to begin preparing for the new season – and Holly couldn’t wait to get back out there. Lillian had tuned Charm up for Holly, taking the gelding out at Pine top twice in February before turning the reins back over to her friend.

“We packed up the whole family to head to Aiken and went cross country schooling, where Charm just felt great, like the horse I gave her,” Holly said. “He was confident and just felt really good. She kept him prime and ready but ‘my’ horse at the same time.”

It was just the shot of extra confidence Holly needed as she then headed to Carolina to contest the Open Intermediate with both CharmKing and Never Outfoxed. She laughs now as she tells me she’s glad Never OutFoxed was out of the box first – near the beginning of the course the pair had an uncanny, rusty stop and then a near-miss when Holly nearly forgot a jump in show jumping. “I had my rusty moments, but they got taken out on Fox,” she joked.

In the end, it was an easy win for CharmKing, who finished the weekend on his dressage score of 23.0 but perhaps most importantly brought Holly back where she felt the most at home on the same token.

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Apr 5, 2021 10:21 am -

British Eventing opened its doors to riders of all levels over the weekend, after debuting their Elite events for top-level riders over the latter part of March – and it’s been so great to see everyone enjoying outings in the sunshine, catching up with friends and putting their lockdown lessons to the test. Four-star rider Holly Woodhead certainly came back with a bang, taking two wins from her first event back after a nasty injury last year saw her spend months on crutches. Welcome back, Holly – and welcome back, BE!

National Holiday: It’s Easter Monday – and it’s also, erm, National Hug a Newsperson Day. Maybe don’t though, because ‘rona.

US Weekend Action:

The Fork at TIEC: [Website] [Results]

Pine Hill H.T.: [Website] [Results]

Rocking Horse Spring H.T.: [Website] [Results]

Global Eventing Round-Up:

The Wayer Osborne Equine International Horse Trials took place over the weekend in Brigadoon, Western Australia, with short and long international sections at two- and three-star level, plus a CCI4*-S on the roster. Olympic silver medallist Sonja Johnson and Misty Isle Valentino took the win in the small (just three starters!) four-star, while Will Baxter and Kdale Mr Collins followed up their CCI3*-S win of two weeks ago at Capel with victory in the CCI3*-L here. Check out the full results here. 

Your Monday Reading List:

I’ve been waiting to watch Netflix’s Concrete Cowboy for like, ever. Whether you’re the same as me or whether this is the first you’re hearing of the newest horsey offering on the streaming platform, you’re guaranteed to get drawn in by the remarkable true stories behind the film. [The True Story of the Black Cowboys of Philadelphia Depicted in Concrete Cowboy]

How often do you closely inspect your horse’s mouth after a cross-country run? I’ll hold my hands up and say that other than a cursory glance and a quick feel, I don’t do any serious examination – partly because my mare’s not that keen on letting me, and partly because I always assume I’ll know if there’s an issue that requires a closer look. Consider me proved wrong by this new study that suggests we all need to exercise more care. [Study: Bit-Related Lesions Found in 52% of Eventing Horses]

Trakehner breeder Anissa Cottongim sadly passed away in January of this year, but her legacy lives on through a remarkable selection of Trakehners. One of those — Jon Holling‘s Prophet — is making waves at Advanced this season. [Cottongim’s Legacy Lives on in Prophet]

Are you competing in international events this spring? Then CCI5* rider and Harvard scholar Ashley Johnson needs your input. She’s collecting data on elite eventing athletes — click here for more information and to get involved with the study.

The FutureTrack Follow: 

Horses are getting cleverer (and somehow more dexterous) – and Liz Halliday-Sharp‘s Deniro Z is the latest eventer to show off his grasp of hashtags with his own Instagram account. Follow him for a behind-the-scenes look at life in the big leagues.

Open Door of the Week: Are you a talented, British-based young rider without the financial resources to source a quality competition horse? Hambro Sport Horses have launched a unique scholarship opportunity, which will pair you with an exciting BE100 horse and see you join their roster of riders – including CCI5* competitor Tom Jackson – to benefit from support and mentorship. Applications close on the 16th of April, so head over to their website for more information and to apply. 

Morning Viewing:

Honestly, I’ll be thinking about Natasha Baker‘s mum crying in this video for like, the whole week.

Weekend Winners: The Fork at TIEC, Pine Hill, Rocking Horse

By on Apr 5, 2021 9:00 am -

It’s one more weekend down until the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event! As these final preps for the big five-star tick down to the final weeks, riders at every level are also in full-tilt spring season, making for some large, competitive divisions.

The Unofficial Low Score Award for this first weekend of April goes to Benita Strini and Plain Dealing Farm’s DHI Kevin G (who I sincerely hope owes his name to Mean Girls), who earned a personal best of 20.2 and would go on to finish on it to win their Open Novice division at The Fork.

Here’s a look at the rest of this weekend’s winners:

The Fork at TIEC: Final Results

CCI4*-S: Doug Payne and Vandiver (25.7)
CCI3*-S: Lucienne Elms and Tremanton (28.9)
CCI2*-S: Maya Black and Double Diamond C (28.8)
CCI1*-S: Austin Skeens and What Gives (39.4)
Advanced A: Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way (52.2)
Advanced B: Boyd Martin and Luke 140 (41.8)
Open Intermediate: Gabrielle Hutchison and Straight Moonshine (28.6)
Junior Preliminary: Maia Kantorowski and Pebbly Maximus (42.5)
Open Preliminary: Caroline Martin and Vamonos (32.2)
Preliminary Rider: Emily Shilling and Enchanting Class (37.8)
Modified: Andrew McConnon and D’Luxe Steel (25.9)
Open Training: Sophie Click and Tarantino 54 (23.8)
Training Rider: Kathleen Bertuna and Excel Star Harry (25.0)
Novice Rider A: Nancy Z. Wilson and Lagerfeld (22.4)
Novice Rider B: Victoria Baugh and Curioso (27.9)
Open Novice: Benita Strini and DHI Kevin G (20.2)
Beginner Novice Rider: Caroline Adams and Simon Says (26.9)
Open Beginner Novice: Chelsey Sawtell and Toto’s Weather Tamer (28.6)

Really pleased with big, bad Bolytair B this weekend. Had big improvement on the flat thanks to Peter Grey and Nicholas Fyffe. He showjumped great under the lights, and was a monster today around the XC. Emily Lehman has done a perfect job as usual making sure he has everything he could possibly need, which is not always easy around this time as Boly starts to become quite the handful!

Fingers crossed now that the next show for us is at the Kentucky Horse Park and we can let him RUN! 🚀

Posted by Dominic Schramm on Sunday, April 4, 2021

Reddy or not was super this weekend in the advanced. A good dressage and show jumping (we had a rail but she’s getting…

Posted by Kyle Carter on Sunday, April 4, 2021

Pine Hill Spring H.T.: Final Results

Open Preliminary: Myalee Muller and Claster (35.8)
Open Training: Anna Howell and Bodacious Affair (36.9)
Open Novice: Janet Marden and Flagmount’s Millennial (33.2)
Open Beginner Novice A: Kaetlyn Perkins and Arizona Sweet (31.1)
Open Beginner Novice B: Lauren Replogle and Cornerstone’s Natural Perfection (31.9)
Open Beginner Novice C: Darcy Barnett and Double the Silver (27.8)
Open Starter: Lolly Perry and Phenway (30.7)

Rocking Horse Spring H.T.: Final Results

Open Intermediate A: Buck Davidson and DHI Showman (31.3)
Open Intermediate B: Michael Nolan and Bad Moon Rising (35.9)
Open Preliminary: Stephanie Cauffman and Chatsworth Third Revolution (30.4)
Preliminary Horse: Buck Davidson and Up On Stage (30.4)
Preliminary Rider: Alan Montemayor and AZ (30.7)
Preliminary/Training: Alexander O’Neal and Honor Society (27.7)
Jr. Training: Ava Rickert and Favonius Nite (39.7)
Open Training A: Clayton Fredericks and Quirlige (26.8)
Open Training B: Michelle Mercier and Tullibards Chance Taken (28.3)
Sr. Training: Jackson Dillard and Layla Q (29.1)
Training Horse: Michael Nolan and Carrabeg Hulla Balou (28.6)
Jr. Novice: Kate Brown and Royal Lufttanzer (27.4)
Novice Horse: Diego Farje and Wise Hamlet du Rouet (34.3)
Open Novice A: McKena Knott and Alice Alice (30.5)
Open Novice B: Karl Slezak and Blackjack (26.4)
Sr. Novice: Erin Nance and Fine Way to Fly (34.1)
Jr. Beginner Novice: Meadow Carani and Elan V (38.5)
Open Beginner Novice: Leah Lang-Gluscic and Dwana Miracle (33.0)
Sr. Beginner Novice: Kyla Tovar and Mighty Smart (27.0)

Doug Payne and Vandiver Grab the Win in The Fork at TIEC CCI4*-S

By on Apr 4, 2021 10:30 pm -

Doug Payne and Vandiver. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Sunday saw thrilling finishes across the board for The Fork at TIEC presented by Nutrena®, but none as definitive as Doug Payne (USA) topping the leaderboard in the ProElite® CCI4*-S Division, in addition to top-ten placings with Quantum Leap and Starr Witness, in fifth and eighth. In between rides and coaching across all divisions in Eventing, Payne was also winning in the Jumper rings as part of Tryon Welcome 2 competition, where he went two-for-two aboard Quintessence. Read more about Tryon Welcome 2 results here.

Sunday at Tryon International Equestrian Center and Resort (TIEC) saw competitors contest Cross-Country and Show Jumping phases of The Fork at TIEC presented by Nutrena®, with upper levels challenging the Captain Mark Phillips (GBR) course design on the White Oak Cross-Country Course and Michel Vaillancourt (CAN) designing Show Jumping courses in Tryon Stadium. Read below to see results and interviews from all divisions.

Doug Payne (USA) and Vandiver, the 2004 Trakehner gelding (Windfall 2 – Visions of Grandeur, by Mystic Replica xx) owned by Debi Crowley and Doug and Jessica Payne, were the only pair to avoid adding time faults to their score after Cross-Country, securing the win in the ProElite® CCI 4*-S Division on a score of 25.7. Payne also collected fifth place with Quantum Leap, the 2011 DSP gelding (Quite Capitol – Report to Sloopy, by Corporate Report) owned by Doug and Jessica Payne, on a score of 34.6, while Starr Witness, the 2011 Dutch Warmblood mare (Chello III VDL – Carmen, by Veneur) owned by Laurie H. McRee, Doug Payne, and Catherine Winter, scored 37.9 to grab eighth place. Holding steady all weekend at second place, Boyd Martin (USA) finished on a score of 28.1 for reserve with Tsetserleg, the 2007 Trakehner gelding (Windfall *PG* – Thabanna, by Buddenbrock) owned by Christine, Thomas IV and Tommie Turner. Tamie Smith (USA) held onto the podium with Mai Baum, adding 7.2 to her score to finish with a 28.4 in third aboard the 2006 German Sport Horse gelding (Loredano – Ramira, by Rike) owned by Alexandra Ahearn, Ellen Ahearn and Eric Markell.

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Payne, whose three CCI 4*-S mounts are all qualified for Tokyo should he get the chance to go, reported that his goal with each horse was to “let them flow and see what we could get done,” which resulted in top ten finishes. “Quinn [Vandiver] is the old man of the group, but he’s just getting better and better each year! He’s honestly easy and efficient – it’s not that I wasn’t trying to go fast, but he’s just a quick horse. He covers the ground and is easy on himself,” Payne explained. “Whereas, with Quantum [Leap], who was pretty close to the time, every once in a while needs to be set up a little more. He’s a five-star horse in the making, without a doubt.”

Starr Witness, Payne’s Pan-American Games mount, is aiming at a 4*-L run in Jersey unlike the others, who are aimed at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, he explained. “Clearly, she’s a classy horse as well. She just doesn’t have the base fitness that the other two do at the moment. Fitness is a little less urgent with her right now. We’ll see what we can do the rest of the season!”

Doug Payne and Vandiver. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Payne was one of numerous riders to take advantage of jump schooling opportunities under the lights in Tryon Stadium and Dressage test of choice schooling offerings. “I think it’s a great opportunity, and honestly, under-utilized,” Payne shared. “You seldom ever get a chance to ride in an atmosphere that’s provided here, so to do that in a schooling environment is awesome. Hopefully that continues, because it was super valuable.

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

“Only at Tryon could you jump and event in the same weekend easily,” Payne emphasized about his multidiscipline weekend. “The footing [on Cross-Country] was excellent, I thought. It’s super helpful that they pulled the little jumps off last night. I can’t say enough [about the team here.] Tryon has done an excellent job here, and we look forward to coming back as often as we can!” Payne concluded, “I’m really lucky to have this group of horses and the team behind us that makes it all happen. There’s certainly a lot going on, but it’s great.”

Lucienne Elms and Tremanton. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Lucienne Elms and Tremanton Breeze to CCI 3*-S Win

Lucienne Elms (GBR) blazed around the White Oak Cross-Country Course with Tremanton to maintain their lead in the CCI 3*-S Division, finishing on a score of 28.9 for the win. Allison Springer (USA) and Crystal Crescent Moon, the 2013 Connemara cross gelding (Catherston Dazzler – Ebony Moon, by Mystic Replica) owned by Nancy Winter, grabbed reserve on a score of 29.3 after their double-clear Cross-Country run, while Tamie Smith and Solaguayre California, the 2011 Silla Argentina mare (Caspara – Solaguayre Calandria, by Casall) owned by David and Julianne Guariglia, kept their 30.8 score to receive third place.

Elms said that the 2012 Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain mare (Birkhof’s Graffenstolz – Trevia, by Hand in Glove) felt confident and balanced, lending to a speedier ride than she had anticipated. “Genuinely, my plan was actually just to let her find a rhythm and then not hassle her out a bit, but I set off riding forward and actually, the way they built it, the course rewarded quite forward riding, I guess, and the combinations were built to sort of just keep moving. So she felt confident, and balanced, and the ground was great. So I just kept the same rhythm and when I got to the furthest part of the course, I saw that I was on a pretty good time at that point. Every time she landed, I kept her just moving forward; she’s got a lot of blood in her with a natural gallop. I rode carefully through the second water. That was a little bit big for her. And then she had loads of gallop left!

“That’s the joy of her having a full thoroughbred dam: she can open up and dig deep when she needs to!” Elms emphasized. “But I’ll definitely now back off for a month or so to give her some time, but I’m really encouraged with that run. The course was brilliant; it was really educational, and there was a table on four strides to a corner on the way home. When they build like that, it’s lovely cause it just prepares them for the next level. It’s just lovely education for the horses’ brains.”

After a successful weekend with multiple rides beneath her, Elms is now looking to aim Tremanton for a 3*-L at the Tryon International Three-Day Event in November, after a lighter summer ahead of her. “I really just want to say thank you so much to the Tryon team for creating such a professional, international environment. The arenas and the footing are fantastic. I know how much effort they’ve had to put in, given that we had so much rain here last week,” she concluded.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Maya Black and Double Diamond C Dominate CCI 2*-S Division

Maya Black (USA) and Double Diamond C, the 2015 Hanoverian gelding (Diacontinus – Lois Lane CBF) owned by Laurie Cameron, capped off the weekend with a win in the CCI 2*-S Division, making light work of the White Oak Cross-Country course to finish on a score of 28.8. Meghan O’Donoghue (USA) and Fashionable Man, her own 2013 Thoroughbred gelding (Charitable Man – So Francie), claimed second place on a score of 30.8, while third place went to Jordan Crabo (USA) on a score of 32.3 aboard her own FE Uncle Sam, a 2014 Holsteiner gelding (Uriko – Tinka I, by Paramount).

Black summed up her Cross-Country tour with Double Diamond C, whom she calls “Perfect Peter,” as a “pretty perfect round. He was perfect out there, and everything rode great. He jumped very confidently, and very rideable, and he jumped really well into the water. Sometimes he can jump a bit big into the water, but now at this level, the water jumps are getting bigger, so he’s jumping more normally into the water because it’s a bigger drop. He felt very well prepared and comfortable and just galloped around and felt exactly how I would have hoped him to be!”

Facing no trouble at the drop-in at the water obstacle that caused her to take a tumble last fall, Black emphasized that she was extra prepared to have good rides on all three shots she took on course. “I jumped off that jump into the water three times today, and I made sure to put my arm back all three times, which might’ve been a little extreme, but I [was determined] to not do that again! They all three jumped in super, and didn’t have any bobbles, so that was good.”

After qualifying her rides for a 2*-L later on in the season, Black will give her young mounts some well-deserved rest time before planning for the fall season. “Really, for their age, my horses are ahead of schedule, basically, so they’re going to have an easy while when we head back to Virginia. They’ll get out in the fields for a month or so, and then we’ll start working on flat work and fitness again before we look at the plan for the fall. I’m trying to keep them sound and happy for the future!”

Boyd Martin and On Cue. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Austin Skeens and What Gives Win their First CCI 1*-S

Austin Skeens (USA) the 2014 Thoroughbred gelding owned by Heather Skeens, What Gives, made light work of the CCI 1*-S Division to claim the gelding’s first FEI event on a score of 39.4. Second place went to Anna Billings (USA) with her own Wexford Cruise, the 2013 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Loch Cruise – Glebe Creme, by Rich Rebel), on a score of 44.1, while Sandra Holden (USA) and Cano Cristales, her own 2003 Hanoverian gelding (Conteur – Konny, by Kolibri), rounded out the podium on a final score of 65.6.

Skeens reported that he wasn’t sure how What Gives would handle the massive environment that TIEC offers as a venue, but was amazed to see his young mount take everything in stride. “We came into this not exactly sure what we’d have, because it’s just such a big venue, especially [for a horse] who’s never been here. But he was just such an absolute superstar, in all three phases. I’m just incredibly impressed with the way he handled all of the atmosphere everywhere that he went.”

Beyond the scores, Skeens is excited to have discovered that What Gives handles atmosphere and excitement “like a pro” and that even on Cross-Country, they left the start box and “didn’t look back. He was super super fast, and jumped everything just as well as he could and carried on straight to the finish line. He had lots of gas left in the tank at the end, even after the big hill. At the bottom, he was ready to take me right up it. It was really, really great.”

Going forward, Skeens will reassess his plans for What Gives after such a successful outing, he admitted. “We will just kind of see where the road takes us. When you have a weekend like this, you kind of look at everything in a different light. He came into the Dressage and really held his own against some really nice horses, and then of course he ran Cross-Country like a champion. He’s proving that he’s really a great horse, so we’re just lucky to have him on board.”

Though he’s competed at TIEC before, at the 2017 American Eventing Championships, Skeens concluded that he had especially enjoyed arriving early and enjoying Tryon Resort’s atmosphere outside of the competition rings. “I just brought one horse, so being at Tryon has been great. I always love coming here – whenever you get an excuse to come to a place like this, definitely do! It’s just another world, you know. The experience is great, and it’s like Disneyland! It was nice to have an extra day to kind of take in the sights and spend Friday just enjoying the park and enjoying life here. It’s just really fun to be here, and it was a great weekend. We will definitely be back!”

Arden Wildasin and Tokyo Drift. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Will Faudree and Boyd Martin Collect Advanced Division Wins

Will Faudree (Southern Pines, NC) and Mama’s Magic Way, the 2011 Hanoverian gelding (Mighty Magic – Straightaway) owned by Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables, collected a win in the Advanced – Test A Division despite pulling two rails in Show Jumping and adding 16.4 time penalties after Cross-Country, finishing on a 52.2. Lucienne Elms (Campobello, SC) and Atlantic Vital Spark, her own 2010 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Atlantic Sparky – Atlantic Biance), improved from fourth to second on a final score of 58.7, while Sarah Kuhn (Aiken, SC) and Mr. Cash van de Start, Deborah Kuhn’s 2012 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Deauville de la Vie – Ishtar van de Start), retained third place honors on a final score of 59.1.

Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way led the entire weekend in the division, and he calls the gelding a “kindred spirit” who is really starting to come together as an Advanced horse. “He’s a really cool horse. Everybody that knows me and him knows we’re basically like kindred spirits, like 3-year-old toddlers let loose in a candy store on a sugar high. The Dressage is starting to come together, and there’s more there, which is really exciting. He’s a super jumper and he’s really fun to ride on the Cross Country and in the Show Jumping.”

Though pulling a few rails in Tryon Stadium Saturday night didn’t cost them the win, Faudree mentioned that his horse’s extreme carefulness became a bit of a foil when shadows on the ground started to look like ground poles: “I felt a bit bad for him last night. One rail, I could’ve given him a bit more room, but the next rail it was like he was trying to bounce the shadow rail in front of the jump. The lighting in the ring at the time, about an hour before sunset when he went, just made him a bit spooky. I felt a bit bad for him because he does not like to touch things! He was just superb at Cross-Country,” Faudree shared. “It was a great track and a great venue to be at leading up to Kentucky in a couple weeks.”

Boyd Martin (Cochranville, PA) retained his one-two placing in the Advanced – Test B Division, with Long Island T taking over the lead after Cross-Country phase to finish on a score of 41.8 with the 2006 Oldenburg/Thoroughbred gelding (Ludwig von Bayern – Highlight) owned by the Long Island T Syndicate. Luke 140, the 2011 Holsteiner gelding (Landos – Omega VI) owned by the Luke 140 Syndicate, finished in reserve on a score of 42.7. Staying steady in third, Daniela Moguel (Shelby, NC) piloted Cecelia, the 2003 Thoroughbred mare (Connecticut – Penny Stock) owned by Jorge Martinez and Paloma Garcia, to third place with a final tally of 47.3 points.

Tamie Smith and Danito. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Caroline Martin and Vamonos are Victorious in Open Preliminary

Caroline Martin (Miami Beach, FL) and Vamonos, the 2015 Zangersheide gelding (Andiamo VH Kapelhof Z – Quasimodelle Kapelhof Z), which she owns with Sherrie Martin, scored a win in the Open Preliminary Division on a final total of 32.2, improving from second to first and trading places with Paige Crotty (Southboro, MA) aboard Excel Star Armina Z, her own 2012 Irish Zangersheide mare (Air Jordan Z – Cromina Z), who finished on a score of 33.4 for reserve after adding four faults to her score. In third, Mary Bess Davis (Mansfield, GA) and her own Imperio Magic, the 2014 Warmblood gelding (Cassander C – Khadija des Hayattes), scored 38.1 after pulling a rail in Tryon Stadium.

Martin is still getting to know Vamonos, after she received him as a wedding present recently, she revealed. “I just started riding him about a month and a half ago. He was produced by Emily King, who took him to young horse championships and stuff like that as a six year old. He had a quiet year last year and went back to his home in Ireland. Funny enough, he’s a wedding present! My friend who is a dealer and sells horses with me got him for me as an engagement/wedding present. He’s a super horse, and I ended up buying him. We’re just getting to know each other.”

Though they’ve only been to a few shows together yet, Martin sees Vamonos as a horse to bring up the levels and keep in her string for the long haul. “He’s definitely able to go up the levels. We’ve got a big future, and we’re looking more towards next year! It was a good weekend for all of the horses,” she concluded. “The surfaces for Dressage are amazing, and the Show Jumping under the lights in the big stadium is a great atmosphere for the horses. It was very good practice for them, and the Cross-Country course was lovely.”

Benita Strini and DHI Kevin G Collect Open Novice Win

Benita Strini (Scottsville, VA) and DHI Kevin G, the 2015 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Plain Dealing Farm, led Open Novice the whole way to finish on a score of 20.2 in their competitive division. Kelly Waters (Verbank, NY) earned second place aboard Family Man, her own 2008 Hanoverian gelding, ending up with a final score of 21.2, while Audrie Stanka (Simonton, TX) and Jenny, the 2014 Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Zachary Brandt, took home third place on a score of 23.3.

The Fork at TIEC: [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

First McKinlaigh Cup Set to Be Awarded at Twin Rivers Spring International CCI4*-L

By on Apr 4, 2021 10:00 am -

Bec Braitling and Caravaggio II. Photo by The West Equestrian.

The debut of a CCI4*-Long division at the Twin Rivers Spring International Three Day Event highlights a much-anticipated long weekend of high-flying eventing action. The competition takes place April 8-11 at the Baxter family’s Twin Rivers Ranch in Coastal Central California’s Paso Robles.

The CCI4*-L, one of only six normally held in the U.S., was originally scheduled to debut last year as the cherry atop what’s become a fixture of the eventing circuit in the West. Despite last year’s cancellation, entry levels are back at pre-COVID highs. “It’s exciting to see the sport rebounding as a whole and there is a lot of enthusiasm about coming back,” says Connie Baxter, Organizer. Since resuming events under “new normal” protocols last summer, the Twin Rivers team has ample experience staging safe competition. Those measures prevent spectators, but there are ample opportunities to enjoy the action as a volunteer.

Based at Twin Rivers Ranch, CCI4*-L contender Bec Braitling relays that already substantial upgrades and improvements have intensified. “At Twin Rivers, it’s always about the cross-country,” she says of the 500-acre property’s beautiful track and challenges designed for the past year by Hugh Lochore of Great Britain. “The Baxters have gone especially out of their way on the footing and there are several new fences and complexes, plus a lot of little improvements that will give it a good feel.”

International dressage and the jogs will be staged in the beautiful hilltop area where show jumping takes place, adjacent to the covered collecting ring. International flags and sponsor banners contribute to an electric atmosphere surrounded by the wine country’s rolling hill vineyards. Long format divisions at the 2*, 3* and 4* level run alongside Short format competition at 3* and 4*, plus Horse Trials levels Beginner Novice through Advanced.

Gina Miles and McKinlaigh. Photo by Mike McNally.

The McKinlaigh Cup

Prize money in the CCI4*-L division jumps to $5,000 and the winning horse will be honored with the new McKinlaigh Cup. The beautiful trophy has been donated by Thom Schulz in honor of his lovely late wife Laura Coats. Schulz and Coats owned McKinlaigh, the Irish Sporthorse who partnered with Gina Miles in 2008 Olympic individual silver. McKinlaigh was developed and lived out his retired life at the couple’s Rainbow Ranch in nearby Creston. The handsome, bold horse passed away at 26 in January of 2020.

Schulz and Coats were impactful supporters of eventing, Pony Club and other equestrian activities in the Central Coast area. The presentation of the McKinlaigh Cup at the Spring International connects that generous tradition to today’s top sport. Winners in each of the Long format divisions will also receive a custom Twin Rivers jump provided by Jen and Earl McFall’s Dragonfire Farm.

Alexis Helffrich and Graceland’s Lincoln. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Proving Ground

The Spring International is one of only six competitions in the United States to offer the CCI4*-L division. This rigorous test of the horse and rider partnership, guts, stamina and skill is an important proving ground and preparation for international contenders.

“They are constantly upping the game here,” said USEF Eventing Performance Director Erik Duvander of Twin Rivers Ranch during a March 2020 visit. He described it as one of a few venues that is shifting the sport’s geographic balance in the United States. “In the past it was often said that you need to go East to make it, but it’s really important that riders be able to make it out here.”

Twin Rivers Ranch began when the Baxter family saw 500 acres of dormant farmland and envisioned it as the perfect stage for international equestrian competition. With the Spring International, those visions materialize to the benefit of equestrians and fans throughout the West Coast. Remarkably, Twin Rivers’ growth and national prominence has not come at the expense of the welcoming, family vibe that has distinguished it from the get-go.

The family’s continual focus on upgrades includes new permanent stabling this year. Fully-covered permanent stabling with 36 12′ x 12′ stalls are first offered to Twin Rivers Ranch members. Year-round supporting Ranch members also receive unlimited access to all open facilities — for two horses with the same owner. Members are exempt from non-member fees at all schooling shows, and family members and/or additional horses can be added at a modest cost.

The Spring International is made possible by generous sponsors: Presenting sponsors include Professional’s Choice, manufacturers of sports medicine boots for equine athletes; Auburn Labs, manufacturers of the adaptogenic APF Formula for horses, people and dogs; Best Western PLUS Black Oak, which offers exclusive discounts for exhibitors; and Get Away RV Rentals, which delivers fully-outfitted RVs to the venue for those who want to stay on site.

Supporting sponsors include Riding Warehouse, the horse gear and apparel supplier; and Chubby Cov, makers of beautiful custom stock ties. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Christina Gray of Gray Area Events at [email protected]. Volunteers are critical to the Spring International’s success and offer a great entrée to the sport, even for those without prior experience.

James Alliston and RevitaVet Elijah. Photo by Ride On Photo.

Up Next

The Spring International anchors an exciting year of competition at Twin Rivers Ranch. The Fall International in September is a happy host of the Adequan/USEF Youth Team Challenge and the 2021 season finalé is another prestigious calendar highlight: The Future Event Horse and Dutta Corp. Young Event Horse West Coast Championships. These two West Coast championships were staged together for the first time last year by the Twin Rivers team, receiving high praise from all involved.

  • Spring International: April 8-11
  • Schooling One Day Horse Trials: May 23
  • Schooling Show: June 6
  • CDS Dressage: June 12-13
  • Summer Horse Trials: July 1-4
  • Area VI Adult Camp: July 30-31
  • CDS Dressage: Aug. 14-15
  • Fall International: Sept. 23-26
  • USEA Future Event Horse & USEA Dutta Corp. Young Event Horse West Coast Championships (and an FEH qualifier), Oct. 29-30.
  • Schooling Halloween Horse Trials: Oct. 31

Easter Sunday Links

By on Apr 4, 2021 12:01 am -

Happy Easter, EN! Whether you’re out competing, working hard as usual, or enjoying some downtime this Sunday we hope have a an enjoyable holiday, whatever that means for you! Every year I see a few photos of lucky kids doing their annual Easter egg hunt on their ponies and I have a pang of nostalgia for the good old days of being a kid on Easter. Sure, I can buy my own Cadbury eggs now, but given the opportunity I’d still grab a basket and scour the the yard for eggs again if someone hid them for me. I always did love a bit of competition! And if I could ever get someone to set up a horseback egg hunt for me, well, that would just be *chef’s kiss*.

U.S. Weekend Action:

The Fork at TIEC: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Pine Hill H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Rocking Horse Spring H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

International Action:

🇦🇺 WAYER International CCI: [Website] [Entries] [Scores]

Sunday Links:

Three five-star winners, a medallist and an unusual mare: 17 top horses have fun in the sun at Aston-le-Walls elite event

Taking the Edge Off: Calming Supplements for Horses

$2m goal to build new facility for Philly’s real-life “Concrete Cowboys”

The Jockey Club Releases 2020 Data From Equine Injury Database

EHV-1 relief fund aims to help devastated showjumping community

Just in on Jumper Nation: Paradise in Maryland: Dream Farm Presented by Stable View

Sunday Video: Piggy March had 5 horses in the Advance section at Aston-le-Walls, which took place this past Wednesday. She recaps her day — just her second competition of the season so far — in her latest vlog:

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum Atop the The Fork at TIEC CCI4*-S

By on Apr 3, 2021 10:30 pm -

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

This article has been updated on 4/4 with additional information and quotes from the official press release.

Reporting on an event remotely in the absence of a live stream presents a challenge, but it’s one we’re happy to navigate thanks to the help of photographer Shannon Brinkman. Action condensed into two days kicked off today at The Fork at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) presented by Nutrena, and it’s Tamie Smith and the Ahearn family and Eric Markell’s Mai Baum leading the charge in the ProElite CCI4*-S division after dressage and show jumping’s completion today.

Tamie and the 15-year-old German Sporthorse gelding by Loredano out of Rike earned a career-best at the four-star level in the dressage, riding before judges Mark Weissbecker and Gretchen Butts, scoring a 20.4 to best their previous FEI best of 21.9 (CCI3*-S, 2019). “Lexus” wouldn’t be one to lower a rail at this level, and though he and Tamie collected two seconds of time as the sun set on Tryon, their two-phase score of 21.2 was enough to keep them atop the leaderboard.

“Like any competitor, you can always find places where you can improve, but he’s just super consistent,” Tamie reflected. “The things we’re improving are very miniscule, really. I was really pleased with him. He’s such a professional in the sandbox.”

While Tamie herself has competed at TIEC before, Mai Baum is a Tryon first-timer, but wasn’t fazed by the atmosphere in Tryon Stadium, she reported. “I wouldn’t have been in a stadium like that with him before, and he’s never been here to Tryon. The atmosphere in the stadium is quite electric, and he’s a careful horse, so sometimes that can work against you, but he was super confident and felt great.”

A confident ride in a new, exciting environment was exactly what Tamie was hoping to get from her experience before heading to contest the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, she revealed. “I thought that it would be a good idea to come to Tryon to get the electric, big arena atmosphere, because that’s how Kentucky is going to be. I wanted to get a read on the horses leading up to Kentucky, so I’m just really pleased with how he handled it, and he’s super rideable and confident,” she detailed.

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Turning in one of only five double clear rounds on Michel Vaillancourt’s show jumping track were second-placed Boyd Martin and Christine, Thomas and Tommie Turner’s Tsetserleg TSF (Windfall – Thabana, by Buddenbrock), who will go into tomorrow’s cross country with a score of 23.7. Boyd and the Turner family’s On Cue (Cabri d’Elle – On High, by Primitive Rising) are also inside the top five after two, sitting fourth on a 26.6.

Doug Payne and Vandiver. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Doug Payne and Debi Crowley’s Vandiver (Windfall – Visions of Grandeur, by Mystic Replica xx) move one spot up into third overnight thanks to their double clear round, leaving them on a two-phase score of 25.7. Rounding out the top five are Liz Halliday-Sharp and The Monster Partnership’s Cooley Moonshine (Cobra – Kilpatrick Duchess, by Kings Master), who finished second in the 7-year-old Young Horse World Championships at Le Lion in 2019 (and third in the 6-year-olds at Le Lion in 2018).

Lucienne Elms and Tremanton. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

In the CCI3*-S division, it’s Lucienne Elms with Horse Scout Eventing LLC’s Tremanton (Birkhof’s Grafenstolz – Trevia, Hand In Glove) in charge after two phases on a score of 28.9, moving up from third after dressage. This is the first CCI4*-S for Tremanton, a 9-year-old British Sport Horse mare with whom Lucienne has been partnered since 2020.

“She’s still very green at the 3* level, and just did her first one last month with me at Stable View. Dressage today was the best result that she has had at the FEI level. She’s a very nice moving mare,” Lucienne explained, “but she has a tendency once she gets in the arena [to let] tension interrupt her lateral work, and today was the first time that she really let me ride her, so I am thrilled for that! It was the biggest track that she has jumped, and I was pleased that she jumped really cleanly, [for] a nice confident round.”

“I have to go steady with her tomorrow. It wouldn’t be in her best interest for me to try and make the time because she is still very new to this level. I would like to keep her in a rhythm that keeps her in a fairly decent position. She is really one that I want to produce slowly and properly,” Elms emphasized. “I have no doubt at all that one day she will be back in the lead and I can then put my foot [on the gas] a little bit!”

Leading the way in the CCI2*-S are Maya Black and Laurie Cameron’s Double Diamond C (Diacontinus – Lois Lane CBF), a 6-year-old Hanoverian gelding making his FEI debut this weekend.

“I think he’s handling the atmosphere really well, and he went into both the Dressage and Show Jumping and just was on task, and jumped well and confidently,” Maya said in the event press release. “He was really rideable and really as good as he could be for this point in his training and his career.”

Last but most certainly not least in the international divisions this weekend, Austin Skeens and Heather Skeen’s What Gives (Spring At Last – All the Words), moving up from second into first to tackle cross country on a two-phase score of 31.4. This is also an FEI debut for this pair, who most recently finished fourth in the Open Modified at Carolina International last month.

Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Two Advanced divisions are also running this weekend, and after dressage and show jumping it will be Will Faudree with Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables’ Mama’s Magic Way (Mighty Magic – Straightaway, by Star Regent xx) in the lead of the A division on a score of 35.8; Boyd Martin and the Luke 140 Syndicate’s Luke 140 (Landos – Omega VI, by Limbus) in charge of the B on a score of 28.3.

Many of these horses, including four-star leaders Mai Baum, Tsetserleg TSF, Vandiver, and On Cue (as well as many others in the four-star and Advanced divisions this weekend) are in their final prep stages for the Land Rover Kentucky CCI5* at the end of April. Capt. Mark Phillips’ four-star track tomorrow consists of 35 jumping efforts with an optimum time of 6 minutes, 31 seconds. Check out a preview of the track:

Many thanks to Shannon Brinkman for the gorgeous shots from today’s action – you can order your own show photos from this weekend by clicking here. We’ll be back tomorrow with a final report – and we will also update this report with additional details as they are made available.

Go Eventing.

The Fork at TIEC: [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Five-Star Rider Ashley Johnson is Studying Elite Eventing Athletes: How You Can Help

By on Apr 3, 2021 12:00 pm -

Ashley Johnson and Tactical Maneuver. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Ashley Johnson is a busy woman. When she’s not competing at the top levels with her longtime partner, Tactical Maneuver, she can be found coaching the University of Florida’s eventing team, judging, or running her own business in Ocala, Fl. – and now she’s adding a master’s program through Harvard University to her busy day planner. As a part of her studies in Psychology, Ashley is running a study on elite eventing athletes in an effort to collect more data about the sport.

“The reality is that there have been a lot of studies done on elite athletes in other sports, but almost none for eventing athletes,” Ashley explained. “And eventing is an extremely demanding and technical sport, so there is surely some interesting data to collect by studying the riders at the top.”

As a part of her Master’s Thesis, Ashley is conducting a research study aimed at riders competing at the CCI2* – CCI5* level this spring. Following each international event on the calendar, Ashley is requesting that riders take a few minutes to fill out the anonymized survey.

“I’m trying to collect as much data as possible in order to make the resulting analysis more accurate,” she explained. “My goal is to contribute to the overall literature about elite eventing athletes through this study.”

If you are 18 or older and are competing at the two-star level or above between now and Land Rover Kentucky, please email or text Ashley (610-212-0294) to obtain a link to the survey. Riders can complete the survey multiple times if they compete at multiple events and are asked to do so within 48 hours of the conclusion of the event.

#EventerProblems Vol. 252: Prepare for Takeoff

By on Apr 3, 2021 12:30 am -

The perfect distance? I don’t know her. Sometimes you just have to go out there and measure that distance with your heart ❤️. Some of you feel the same from the looks of it! Here’s the latest roundup of your #EventerProblems: