Classic Eventing Nation

Weekend Winners: Barnstaple South, Fresno, River Glen, Waredaca

By on May 3, 2021 9:00 am -

We love wrapping up your weekend each Monday morning, and no matter whether or not you brought home a ribbon for your efforts, we hope that any weekend spent out eventing is worth its while. A big shout-out to the riders we know and love shaking off their five-star hangover (and here’s looking at everyone else involved with the event who was right back to the grind this past week!) and getting their younger horses out competing over the weekend. No rest for the wicked, eh? Or maybe it’s the insane. Either way, we’re right there with you sharing the love for this crazy sport!

Our Unofficial Low Score Award this week goes to Grace Walker Alonzi and Frantz, who won their Training division at Fresno County Horse Park in California on a score of 18.8. This is a personal best for this pair, who have been competing together for just under a year. Congratulations! Now let’s round up the rest of the winners from the four USEA-recognized events this weekend:

Barnstaple South May H.T.: [Final Results]

Open Preliminary: Blake Fortson and Quiana AF (30.4)
Open Training: Maxine Preston and Shannondale Magnum (27.7)
Training Rider: Jerry Barnette and Evan Almighty (33.8)
Novice Rider: Wendy Low and Pybyru (31.0)
Open Novice: Anna Loschiavo and Contefino Grande (24.8)
Beginner Novice Rider: Audrey Bennett and Bad to the Bone (30.3)
Open Beginner Novice: Hillary Irwin and Konecke (28.3)

Fresno County Horse Park H.T.: [Final Results]

Open Intermediate: James Alliston and Nemesis (31.3)
Open Preliminary: James Alliston and Get Wild (22.0)
Preliminary Rider: Taylor McFall and High Times (31.6)
Open Modified: Amanda Boyce and Mercury (31.5)
Open Training: Grace Walker Alonzi and Frantz (18.8)
Training Rider Junior: Coco Meerkamp and Dalanteretto (28.8)
Training Rider Senior: Matthew Walley and Cassiopeia (31.4)
Novice Rider Junior: Ellie Eyhorchuk and Russian Roulette (32.4)
Novice Rider Senior: Jordan Chase and Wellington (31.9)
Open Novice: David Adamo and Desdemona (23.8)
Beginner Novice Rider Junior: Bridget Sibley and Venus (34.0)
Beginner Novice Rider Senior: Stefanie Gladen and Columbus (23.5)
Open Beginner Novice: Sarah Bonfield and Angel (28.0)
Introductory Rider: Katherine Jackman and Lookit Louie (33.3)
Open Introductory: Caitlin Davison and KeepSake (29.7)

River Glen H.T.: [Final Results]

Open Intermediate: Alexandra Green Kerby and Isslehooks First Sight (41.5)
Intermediate/Preliminary: Alexandra Green Kerby and Fernhill Leitrim Lass (38.1)
Open Preliminary A: Alexandra Green Kerby and Fernhill Corbeagh Delux (36.1)
Open Preliminary B: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Shanroe Cooley (30.1)
Preliminary/Training: Hannah Warner and Drombane Dynamite (36.2)
Training Horse: Alexa Ehlers and Curraghraigue Clear Future (31.9)
Open Training: Alexandra Green Kerby and Fernhill Vitality (34.8)
Training Rider Junior: Annabelle Friend and Fine With Me (32.4)
Training Rider Senior: Eric Sampson and Pancho Villa (29.3)
Training/Novice: Olivia Marsh and Decadence (33.3)
Novice Horse: Alexandra Green Kerby and Fernhill In Motion (29.1)
Novice Rider Junior: Sidnee Milner and My Valentine (29.5)
Novice Rider Senior: Stephanie Friece and Zander (31.7)
Beginner Novice Horse: Laura Crowl and C’Zara (28.1)
Beginner Novice Open: Emily Brooks and Nucifera (33.6)
Beginner Novice Rider Junior: Kennedy Daley and Classic Coin (30.3)
Beginner Novice Rider Senior: Tori Coakley and First Fling (37.5)
Starter Junior: Riley Jones and Endgame (34.8)
Starter Senior: Mason Fierro and Brew (30.8)

Waredaca H.T.: [Final Results]

Intermediate: Monica Fiss and Malibu Rock (65.0)
Intermediate CT: Morgan Connelly and Benevolence (60.6)
Open Preliminary: Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride and Versace (31.8)
Preliminary Rider: Zara Flores-Kinney and Elusive Dassett (39.8)
Modified A: Martin Douzant and Beall Spring Seahawk (35.2)
Modified B: Stephen Bradley and Erika Louvo (25.7)
Open Training: Daniel Clasing and Butts Arthur (31.0)
Training Rider A: Erin McElhone and Mamoobil (31.2)
Training Rider B: Payton Myers and Tekkenistic (36.1)
Novice Horse: Jan Byyny and Layla LFS (26.2)
Novice Rider A: Isabella Craft and WallE’s World (28.3)
Novice Rider B: Julie Augustine and Texas Riddle (31.2)
Novice Rider C: Rachel Narrow and Nui (27.6)
Open Novice: Kurt Martin and Jump Street Hero (26.0)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Elizabeth Burns and Nazrullah (31.9)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Carla Lindsay and Paint Misbehavin’ (26.1)
Open Beginner Novice: Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride and Tommy (28.3)

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on May 3, 2021 8:23 am -

Today marks the end of a three-day social media boycott across a number of sporting federations, which has been undertaken as a way to encourage more considerate and sympathetic use of these platforms. Simply giving up social media for the weekend might not seem like an effective way to curb online bullying, but it can have a powerful impact – by showing the companies behind these platforms how much money they could potentially lose if their users were to jump ship, they’re pressured into enforcing more robust anti-bullying and anti-bigotry policies on their apps.

Regardless of whether you took part in the boycott, let’s all commit to being the best versions of ourselves online this week: support, rather than criticising; celebrate, rather than envying; like and share to spread joy, not to demoralise others. We’re lucky to have access to one another in a way that was previously impossible; let’s use it to bolster our little community and make it a great space for everyone to co-exist in. (Oh, and definitely watch the above video through to the end for possibly the funniest Lanky Will cameo I’ve ever seen.)

National Holiday: It’s National Specially-Able Pet Day. This is our three-legged, deaf, and half-blind farm lurcher, Roo, reminding you that it’s the wonky bits that make her (and her fellow unique animals) wonderful.

US Weekend Action:

Barnstaple South H.T.: [Website] [Results]

Fresno County Horse Park H.T.: [Website] [Results]

River Glen Spring H.T.: [Website] [Results]

Waredaca H.T.: [Website] [Results]

UK Weekend Action:

Bradwall [Results]

Cirencester Park International [Results]

Chilham Castle (1) [Results]

Frenchfield (1) [Results]

Global Eventing Round-Up:

It’s been a busy weekend around the world for FEI-level eventing, with CCI2*-S sections on offer at new fixture Cirencester in the UK and Rotorua in New Zealand, which also held a CCI3*-S. The two biggest events on the calendar, though, were France’s Saumur and Poland’s Strzegom, both of which held sections from two-star through CCI4*-L, providing crucial opportunities for top-class horses and riders to gain MERs ahead of next month’s Olympic qualification deadline.

Saumur attracted a star-studded field and offered us the chance to see the best of the French contingent in action – and as we’ve mentioned previously, they have an enviable bevy of ‘up-and-coming’ young Advanced horses who we’re expecting to be almost unbeatable in the years to come. But even the likes of Tom Carlile’s Birmane (second in the CCI4*-L) and Astier Nicolas’s Babylon de Gamma (third in the CCI4*-L) couldn’t trump a consistently excellent external force. Germany’s Julia Krajewski led throughout with the eleven-year-old (and, coincidentally, French-bred) Amande de B’Neville to take the horse’s first win at this level. This is an enormously exciting result for the mare, not least because she unexpectedly became the rider’s top horse this spring after the shock announcement that her two-time National Champion, CCI5* winner and Olympic mount Samourai du Thot was to be retired early after a freak accident cost him an eye. That Julia has been able to bounce back after this enormous blow – plus the still relatively recent loss of fischerChipmunk FRH to fellow German Michael Jung – is testament to her strength in depth and the care she takes in the production of her horses. It should also fill us all with some healthy fear about the German efforts to come in this summer’s Games. Check out the full results from Saumur’s CCI4*-L here.

Over in Poland, a certain Mr Tim Price looked no worse for wear after a long flight back from Kentucky, where he’d finished in second place and spent a busy week sharing half the rides in the field (well, it probably felt like it, anyway) with wife Jonelle. He took the win in the CCI4*-L riding new mount Vitali in their first FEI event as a partnership. The eleven-year-old gelding was produced through CCI4*-S by fellow Kiwi James Avery, and notably led the Blenheim eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S dressage on his Advanced debut back in 2018. He ultimately finished sixth there — his fifth top-ten FEI result in a row — but that was the last time we saw him out at an international eventing fixture. Since taking on the ride, Tim took him along to the Price family’s Spanish showjumping exodus earlier this year, where he jumped well in CSI1* and 2* classes. At Strzegom, he duly led the first phase on 28.7 — the only horse to go sub-30 in the CCI4*-L — but then slipped to third place after cross-country after adding some time penalties. A clear round on the final day pushed the pair back up to top spot, followed by Switzerland’s Mélody Johner and Toubleau de Rueire in second and the Netherlands’ Merel Blom and Ceda NOP — her reigning National Champion — in third.

Merel Blom was to be victorious in the CCI4*-S aboard The Quizmaster, followed by Sweden’s Niklas Lindbäck and Focus Filiocus in second and Germany’s Andreas Dibowski and Brennus in third. Our kudos to the organising team behind this much-loved venue, who managed to ensure all of the cross-country phases across the levels could be run before the onset of the inclement weather. Check out the weekend’s results here.

Your Monday Reading List:

Fallen in love with Piggy March’s Pau runner-up Brookfield Inocent? Find out more about the striking gelding, known at home as Arthur — he’s just been named the FEI’s Horse of the Month. [Horse of the Month: Brookfield Inocent]

While digging out foundations for a swimming pool in Las Vegas, a team of builders discovered something unusual. Their find? The jaw, shoulder blade, and leg of a horse – believed to be up to 14,000 years old. [Horse Fossil, Possibly From the Ice Age, Is Found in a Las Vegas Backyard]

A selection of Wellington-based FEI dressage horses have found a lucrative side hustle: they’re the stars of Daddy Yankee‘s music video for the track ‘El Pony’. Expect arseless chaps a-plenty. [Dressage horses star in Daddy Yankee’s “El Pony” music video]

Bicton International organiser Helen West has been named as British Eventing’s new CEO. Her appointment, which begins in August, follows the departure of Jude Matthews. [British Eventing Announces Helen West as CEO]

We all know that great horses and great riders are nothing without the superstar grooms behind them. That’s true regardless of the discipline in question – and for Zoe Smalley, travelling head lass to racing trainer Henry de Bromhead, her extraordinary efforts have seen enormous rewards, including a history-making Grand National victory. Relive her experiences for a bit of Monday inspiration today. [4.30am starts, 40,000 steps a day and the ‘best time of my life’:  Henry de Bromhead’s travelling head lass reflects on a ‘crazy’ few weeks]

And finally, if you felt personally victimised by that photo of Boyd Martin chilling (quite literally) in an ice bath, here’s the story behind it. Spoiler alert: the boy dun broke hisself too dang much. [The Story Behind That Photo of Boyd Martin in the Ice Bath]

The FutureTrack Follow:

Halt, salute, mayhem indeed.

 

Morning Viewing:

In need of inspiration? Ingrid Klimke‘s got some for you.

 

 

Fresh Off Kentucky Podium, Tim Price Wins at Strzegom

By on May 2, 2021 10:30 am -

Tim Price and Vitali. Leszek Wójcik photo.

Tim Price of New Zealand with the 11-year-old Vitali was the winner in the CCI4*-L class, the highest ranked one during Strzegom Spring Open. Polish rider finished second in the three-star class.

Price, the current world number two, was the one to watch in the class from the beginning. He took the lead after dressage, but gained some penalties after going over the time in the cross-country and fell into third. He made up for it in the jumping with a clear round that ensured his victory. Second place went to Mélody Johner aboard Toubleu de Rueire. The Swiss rider was the only one clear inside the time in the XC and went into the last trial as the leader, but two knockdowns cost her the leading position. Merel Blom (NED) with Ceda N.O.P. finished third.

Belgian rider Lara De Liedekerke-Meier was victorious in the CCI3*-L with Cascaria V after a clear round in the jumping. Second place went to Rebecca-Juana Gerken (GER) with Fame 227, and third to Seppe Vilain (BEL) riding Lamparo V.

The long two-star class ended with the win of Nicholas Goldbeck (GER) with Chintano 7. Andreas Ostholt (GER) finished second with Chilli Supreme and third went to Nadja Minder (SUI) with Victoryhope Treille.

Cross-country trials on Saturday ended the rivalry in the short format classes. The best pair of the CCI4*-S was Merel Blom (NED) and The Quizmaster. Niklas Lindbäck (SWE) with Focus Filiocus was second, and Andreas Dibowski (GER) with Brennus – third.

Hella Jensen (GER) took home the win in the CCI3*-S with Canjo, before Julia Gillmaier (POL) riding Red Dream Princes and Dutch rider Merel Blom with Crossborder Radar Love N.O.P. Blom was the best rider of the CCI*-Intro aboard Calgary 92.

Strzegom Spring Open selected the winners of six international and three national classes, with 185 riders competing with almost 300 horses from 17 countries.

To view results from the Strzegom Spring Open, click here.

How to Watch NBC’s Land Rover Kentucky Recap Today!

By on May 2, 2021 9:30 am -

If you still can’t get enough Kentucky (and we won’t blame you if you can’t!), you’ll want to set your DVR or tune in live for the annual NBC recap show at 12:30 p.m. EST today. If you have NBC or a streaming service carrying NBC, you’ll be able to tune in for the recap which also features highlights, interviews and all the excitement condensed into an hour-long show.

Don’t forget: NBC and NBC Sports will be the carrying network for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. We can help ensure that equestrian events are shown on NBC’s programming schedule by watching this and other equestrian events on the channel now – your support matters!

Wanting to catch the whole replays? I certainly know I’m spending some time rewatching what I missed this weekend! You can do so on USEF Network’s on-demand page here.

Sunday Links

By on May 2, 2021 12:01 am -

Photo via The GMHA Festival of Eventing on Facebook.

I’m so excited to learn about the addition of a CCI3*-S to the offerings at the Green Mountain Horse Association (GMHA) Festival of Eventing in August! We’ve lost a lot of events here in Area I and others have downsized the spectrum of divisions offered, so it’s always exciting to have something new added.

I’ve you’ve never been, GMHA is a really fun destination event and I highly recommend it. It’s tucked away in a picturesque little Vermont town with scenic views and crisp air (and no cell service, fair warning). It’s The fences are beautiful, there are several big rings with great footing, and there’s even a creek running through the stabling area that you can cool your horse down in. Hopefully the addition of the CCI3*-S will entice more competitors to make the trip up. I can all bust guarantee it’ll be the coolest weather you’ll find in the middle of August!

U.S. Weekend Action:

Barnstaple South H.T.: [Website] [Live Scores]

Fresno County Horse Park H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

River Glen Spring H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

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

Sunday Links:

How to Watch NBC’s Land Rover Kentucky Recap Today

Why I love Kentucky: A Conversation with Oliver Townend

Foster cow steps in to mother orphaned foal

Do We Need To Practice Social Distancing With Our Horses?

Horse vets offered free equine dentistry webinar

USA Equestrian Trust Grants Nearly $70,000 to Equine Nonprofits

Sunday Video: ICYMI, the 147st Kentucky Derby took place yesterday. Watch here:

Saturday Links

By on May 1, 2021 12:01 am -

Photo via Fox-Pitt Eventing on Facebook.

Here’s a photo I bet you’ve never dreamed you’d see. Something about William Fox-Pitt in a cowboy hat just doesn’t really sit quite right, does it? Regardless, it sounds like William had an excellent time teaching a multi-day clinic at RockGate Equestrian in Texas after competing in the Kentucky Three-Day Event. It sounds like there are a lot of happy clinic attendees as well, many of whom are hoping he’ll come back again! I suppose he does fit in quite well, actually. After all, isn’t everything supposedly bigger in Texas?

U.S. Weekend Action:

Barnstaple South H.T.: [Website] [Live Scores]

Fresno County Horse Park H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

River Glen Spring H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

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

Saturday Links:

Cobblestone Farms Launches Crowdfunding Campaign to Build a Modified Course at NEW Event Property Revel Run

GMHA Adds FEI CCI3* Short to Festival of Eventing August 13-15, 2021

MARS Bromont CCI Welcomes Riders From Across Canada and United States

Potential Olympic medallist ruled out of Tokyo

How Quality and Type of Pasture Impact Your Horse’s Diet

The Haiku Handicapper: 2021 Kentucky Derby

Saturday Video: #Triggered.

Friday Video from SmartPak: Behind the Scene’s at Kentucky’s First Four-Star

By on Apr 30, 2021 8:46 pm -

We love tuning into all Elisa Wallace‘s fun, informative vlogs – but this must be the most-anticipated one she’s yet created. In this jam-packed and juicy instalment, she brings us behind the scenes with her horse Let It Be Lee as they tackle the inaugural CCI4*-S at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. And it’s not just about reliving the excitement of what turned out to be a fierce, full-on few days of competition – it’s about getting to see the making of a week on the road, and the bits most people never get to see, even in a non-pandemic year, from unloading and decorating Lee’s stable to walking courses in like, at least three coats, to the intricacies of putting together a showjumping warm-up. If you, like all of us at EN, aren’t quite ready to close the door on Kentucky, this’ll give you the perfect excuse to hold on for a little while longer.

Go Eventing!

 

Why We’re Boycotting Social Media This Weekend

By on Apr 30, 2021 5:08 pm -

English football, alongside other sports, organizations and individuals, are switching off their social media accounts from mid-afternoon today until 11.59 p.m. on Monday, May 3. Riders including William Fox-Pitt, Laura Collett, Alexander Tordoff and Eliza Stoddart have come out in support of the movement, which calls for greater accountability from social media companies to tackle hate, racism and discrimination on their platforms.

From British Equestrian:

“Equestrianism will not tolerate discrimination or abuse in any form, and we call on social media providers to make their users fully accountable for their actions and eradicate online abuse from their platforms.”

From 15:00 BST today, we will stop posting on our social media channels and we will remain silent for the duration of…

Posted by Premier League on Friday, April 30, 2021

Fox-Pitt Eventing will be uniting with the football community and other sports for a social media boycott from 15.00 on…

Posted by Fox-Pitt Eventing on Friday, April 30, 2021

ENOUGH is ENOUGH
#SocialMediaBlackOut #stoptheabuse

Posted by Laura Collett Eventing on Friday, April 30, 2021

Starting at 15:00 today, we are uniting with the football community and many other sports for a social media boycott, in support of bringing an end to online abuse and hate.

The boycott will last until 23:59 on Monday 3 May.

Full story here: https://bit.ly/3u68qbX

#EnoughIsEnough

Posted by British Equestrian on Friday, April 30, 2021

Eventing Nation stands with this movement and will boycott social media through Monday in solidarity. We urge our readers to challenge and report any instances of abuse, discrimination, intolerance and racism they encounter online. #StopOnlineAbuse #NoRoomForRacism #EnoughIsEnough

Meet Ultra-Thin VIP Equestrian Saddle Pad

By on Apr 30, 2021 10:30 am -

Image courtesy of Achieve Equine.

WHAT MAKES THE VIP DIFFERENT?

VIP Equestrian Saddle Pads are made with a unique polymer called VEteq™. VIP Equestrian has exclusive rights to this proprietary polymer used in the human medical field. VEteq is not a gel. It is a viscoelastic polymer that was designed over 50 years ago and has been rigorously tested worldwide in scientific research. Known as the universal gold standard in impact protection, the material in the VIP draws and disperses heat and does not leak or bottom out under pressure, providing cushion to the horse’s back to alleviate pressure points and evenly distribute weight on the horse’s back.

Image courtesy of Achieve Equine.

WHY DOES THE VIP HAVE BOBBLES?

The bobble design maximizes the use of the VEteq material without making the VIP bulky and heavy. The bobbles have a small amount of movement, so when the VIP is placed properly with the bobbles down, against the horse’s back or on the traditional saddle pad, the soft tissues of the horse’s back can move under the VIP. In effect, the top and bottom of the VIP move separately.

Under pressure, the bobble design on the VIP Saddle Pad ensures uniform thickness and no bottoming out. Foams, memory foams, and wool can deform over time in response to a rider’s weight and horse’s way of going. This can have further deleterious effect on the straightness of the horse and symmetry of the rider. The VIP is ultra-durable and retains protective properties.

Image courtesy of Achieve Equine.

DOES THE VIP ALTER SADDLE FIT?

At only 8 mm thick, the VIP is designed so it doesn’t interfere with a correctly fitted saddle. The age-old analogy says, if your shoes fit then why would you make them tight by adding a thick pair of socks? What if you have amazing fitting shoes and add a very thin insole that makes them more comfortable? This is what the VIP does. The VIP adds a superior layer of cushioning for the horse’s back.

Image courtesy of Achieve Equine.

IS THE VIP STICKY?

No, the VIP is not sticky. A sticky saddle pad can cause problems, including friction, sticking to the horse and plucking the horse’s hair when the pad is removed.
The VIP is soft, flexible, and seamless with no pressure causing trims. It is hypoallergenic and bacteriostatic (it will not grow mold or transfer bacteria), so you can use it either directly on your horse’s back under a traditional saddle pad or between a traditional saddle pad and saddle. The VIP is safe to use on multiple horses.

Friday News & Notes

By on Apr 30, 2021 12:03 am -

The newest fashion in hacking attire! Photo by Kate Samuels.

My horses might never stop being embarrassed of me, especially when I get a bee in my bonnet to start riding in rope halters (and funny Zorro masks). However, as long as I don’t make him go in public like this, I suppose he will forgive me, because turns out being ridden in a halter is a great way to snack-n-hack, which everyone thoroughly enjoys with the wild spring grass.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Barnstaple South H.T.: [Website]

Fresno County Horse Park H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

River Glen Spring H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status]

Waredaca H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Show Photographer] [Volunteer] [Volunteer]

News From Around the Globe:

EEI has responded to queries about the logistics about running the Kentucky 3-Day Event. When questioned about the involvement of the USEF and the exclusion of spectators, EEI has given some much needed clarification on the matter. [EEI Responds]

Ready for the Kentucky Derby tomorrow? Bone up on all your stats of the twenty 3-year-old entrants, find your favorite, and pick your underdog. We’ve got the ultimate cheat sheet right here. [KY Derby Cheat Sheet]

As we’re winding up for the Kentucky Derby, we’ve got an interesting story coming from Kentucky. A horse named after Breonna Taylor and owned by the lawyer who represented her family against the Louisville Metro Police Department, won the fourth race Thursday at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week. Breonna, trained by Steve Margolis, rode to victory in the six-furlong race under jockey Corey Lanerie on a muddy track as rain pelted Louisville. [Breonna Taylor Victorious]

Ten years ago, YEH competitors were just making their marks. What became of them? Who made it to the upper levels and fulfilled their potential? Who is still competing today? Meet the YEH graduate class of 2011. [YEH Graduates]

Did you catch all the cool quarter marks at Kentucky? We’ve got an entire article dedicated to them, and they’ve truly evolved into a crazy art form. No longer do we just have the small squares or even just the shark’s teeth, but intricate designs representing different riders and even different countries. [It’s In the Details]