Classic Eventing Nation

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Mar 29, 2021 4:14 am -

It’s finally here! As of today, England’s lockdown restrictions are loosening just enough to allow for organised sport to take place and for individuals to leave their local area with reason – and that means that competitions and facility hire can begin again for anyone not in the ‘elite’ sportsperson bracket. The past number of months have felt like the longest, toughest off-season ever, with much of the country in total shutdown since before Christmas, so you’d better believe there’s some celebrating going on today in arenas up and down the country. Roll on (something like) normal life!

National Holiday: It’s National Mom and Pop Business Owners’ Day. We LOVE supporting small businesses, and we highly recommend celebrating by treating yourself to some new saddle pads from your friendly local tack shop owner. It’s only right.

US Weekend Results:

Galway Downs International H.T.: [Website] [Results] [EN’s Coverage]

Stable View Spring 1*/2*/3*/4*: [Website] [Results] [EN’s Coverage]

Full Gallop Farm March II H.T.: [Website] [Results]

March H.T. at Majestic Oaks: [Website] [Results]

Morven Park H.T.: [Website] [Results]

Poplar Place Farm March H.T.: [Website] [Results]

Texas Rose Spring H.T.: [Website] [Results]

Global Eventing Round-Up:

Puhinui International Horse Trials in New Zealand was the only international to take place outside of the US over the weekend, but with levels from CCI2*-S to CCI4*-S on the roster, it certainly didn’t mess around.

Full-time farrier Jake Barham and Atlan took the CCI4*-S win, climbing from 5th to take top honours after dressage leaders Clarke Johnstone and Balmoral Sensation withdrew before the jumping phases. Waikato-based Jake secured his win by adding just 7.2 time penalties over a course that proved a tough challenge against the clock. Kyle Calder and Apteryx scooped the three-star honours, while the two-star went the way of Heelan Tompkins and CP Aurelio. You can check out the full results here.

Your Monday Reading List:

Poland is planning an innovative new pension system for animals in state service, allowing them safety and security after their careers finish. The new law will affect more than 1200 serving dogs and 60 horses, and acknowledges the enormous risks that these animals undertake while aiding their community. Their tough careers often mean that retirement necessarily involves extensive – and expensive – veterinary care and experienced handling, which the fund will provide for. It’s been a while since we’ve been able to say this, but well done to Poland for doing the right thing. [Poland plans pensions for dogs, horses in state employment]

Shopping for a new helmet? If it’s been a while, you might be slightly baffled by the introduction of a new acronym on the market – MIPS. Check out this super-informative article to find out what makes MIPS a must-have in your kit. [Building a Better Helmet: MIPS and Why it Matters]

London Gladney is well on her way to becoming a history-making barrel racing champion. The daughter of Dihigi Gladney, best known for his part in the training of California Chrome, London is a fierce competitor and a consummate horsewoman – and now she’s paving the way for other riders in her arena of choice. [London Gladney has talent — and will — to become first Black barrel racing NFR champion]

Did you write King Lear during lockdown? No, nor did I – and if you want to feel even worse about those endless Netflix binges (hey, I’ve watched all of Sex and the City over the last month), here’s a pony who wrote his first book while stuck at home without much else to do. Show-off. [Lockdown enables riding school’s young pony to write his first book]

Lockdown might be easing, but all’s not clear in the UK’s equestrian guidelines. The latest issue? A disagreement over whether indoor arenas can reopen along with other facilities. [Britain’s indoor equestrian arenas fall foul of Covid protocols]

The FutureTrack Follow:

Black Equestrians has everything I want in a horsey Instagram account: profiles on talented riders across the disciplines (love this; I’m nosy), digestible educational nuggets on topical issues, and seriously gorgeous photos. Follow and treat your feed to some quality.

Morning Viewing:

Do your rounds unravel halfway through a showjumping course? It’s probably because of your turns. Check out Caroline Moore‘s super advice for perfecting them – an essential skill for both jumping phases.

 

 

 

A Goresbridge Match Made in Heaven

By on Mar 28, 2021 11:11 am -

Crissa Gillette and Goresbridge graduate EPA Wildfire. Photo by Reagan Walter.

Crissa Gillette had gone down the path many amateurs can relate to: she’d ridden as a younger teen and adult before settling down to start a family and putting riding competitively on the back burner. When she turned 40, she looked in the mirror and asked herself what she was going to do with her riding, now that her son was getting older and she had more time and energy to focus on herself once more.

“It’s time to figure out what’s good for you,” she told herself.

A former eventer turned mom/trail rider/dressage rider, Crissa had always missed the jumping. So she set a goal to return to eventing and work toward a horse trial in the coming years, the beginning of a new chapter that would eventually lead her to Zach and Hannah Ketelboeter at Terranova Equestrian Center in Myakka City, Fl.

As is the case with many amateurs, Crissa had ended up with a horse that was “more talented than I was,” as she describes. “Like many of us middle-aged women do, I looked at a lot of horses online and bought a horse sight unseen. I’ve learned how important it is to have a good trainer educating you during the buying process.”

It was a learning process for Crissa, who credits Zach for his patience and willingness to educate his client without making her lose confidence. “We’ve put in a lot of work together over the last few years, and he has put up with more than a few tears as we went through two ‘wrong fit’ horses,” she recalled.

Struggling to find the right partner is enough to damage any rider’s confidence, but Crissa felt safe with her coaches, who helped her navigate the process of finding a more suitable partnership for her experience and goals.

Photo by Reagan Walter.

It was Zach who first floated the idea of buying an Irish Sport Horse – a breed well-known for its consistent affable nature that makes for a great amateur-friendly ride – to Crissa. The idea was planted, and with the approach of the season’s Goresbridge ‘Go for Gold’ Select Event Horse Sale, Crissa began perusing the online catalog.

This year’s ‘Go for Gold’ sale was much different than years past thanks to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Unable to host a large number of people, and cognizant of the fact that international travel was down or restricted, Goresbridge organizers Martin and Mary Frances Donahoe created a virtual model for this year’s auction. A live stream of each lot as well as a robust digital catalog was provided in advance of the sale, during which buyers could place their bids via phone or online.

Meanwhile, back at her computer window shopping with Zach and Hannah, who were looking for a few horses of their own, Crissa asked herself what she was looking for in her new horse. “What is important to me? Safe and fun? Absolutely. Able to do a five-star? Absolutely never,” she recalled. “And in this auction, there was a horse for everyone, from the pros to the amateurs.”

It was an easygoing chestnut gelding that caught Crissa’s eye. Lot number one, EPA Wildfire (Carlo Bank – Clongeel Lady, by Kahtan), was featured in Eventing Nation’s ‘Go for Gold’ Wishlist and possessed a kind eye and a quiet, willing demeanor. In short, he looked like the perfect amateur’s horse – and Crissa agreed.

All smiles the day Liam arrived. Photo courtesy of Crissa Gillette.

“As an adult rider now, I do have a heavier focus on safety,” Crissa explained. “I have a family, a life outside of riding, a career to think of. And it has to be fun! There is a reason we go to the barn every day and connect with these animals. All of these things require a horse that allows you to go out and do things and be able to relax. This has become more important as I’ve gotten older.”

For it being her first experience in an auction format – and a virtual one, at that – Crissa said the Goresbridge team and their partners made the entire process seamless. “From the time I placed the bid and received the phone call that I’d won to the time he showed up, we knew every step along the way and were kept informed of how the horses were doing,” she said. The Ketelboeters had also purchased a handful of horses who made the trip to Florida with EPA Wildfire, or Liam as he is now known at home.

Crissa and Liam got right to work, winning their very first Beginner Novice event together at Majestic Oaks in January. “Liam arrived with this puppy dog personality and was right in my pocket,” Crissa said of her new partner. “It’s a testament to the breed and the upbringing he received.”

Photo by Susan Foreman Photography.

EPA Wildfire was brought along by Felicity Ward and Elizabeth Ahern, who typically only produce one special horse each year for the Goresbridge sales. Liam got a later start to his training, originally kept by his breeder as a personal horse. “He really is an old soul,” Crissa described. “You can tell he has been very well-produced.”

Crissa plans to enjoy the sport with Liam and also with her son, Laughlin, who has also begun eventing. With the right partner, Crissa sees possibility where she used to see limitation. “It almost feels like my goals have gotten more intense in the last month because I have the right partner,” she said. “Liam has become a part of my family very quickly, and now I feel like I actually have things I can set out and achieve. I bought him as an experiment, and he has truly been everything I could have dreamed of.”

Sunday Links

By on Mar 28, 2021 12:01 am -

Cambalda enjoying his first official day of retirement. He deserves it… sound and in a field… nothing better ❤️

Posted by Jennie Brannigan on Friday, March 26, 2021

The legendary Cambalda was officially retired this week at age 19. Nina Gardner’s “Ping” had an illustrious career that spanned 13 years. He and Jennie Brannigan traveled the world together before he stepped down to teach up-and-coming young riders the way around the sport. He’s now home in Pennsylvania sound and happy in his field. Congratulations, Ping!

National Holiday: National Something on a Stick Day

U.S. Weekend Action:

Galway Downs International H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [EN’s Coverage]

Stable View Spring 1*/2*/3*/4*: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [EN’s Coverage]

Full Gallop Farm March II H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

March H.T. at Majestic Oaks: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

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

Poplar Place Farm March H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Texas Rose Spring H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Sunday Links: 

Countdown to Kentucky: Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z

A Whole Lot Of Heart

Grooming At My First FEI Show

H&M Chilli Willi Euthanized After Injury At WEF

Kellerhouse, Patterson, and Billys Top Galway Downs International Divisions

Despite Delays the Second Day of the Stable View FEI Spring Event is in the Books

Sunday Video:

Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous Make It Two in a Row in Stable View CCI4*-S

By on Mar 27, 2021 9:41 pm -

Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous. Photo by Jenn Catalano.

Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous ticked another box on their way to the Kentucky CCI5* this month in commanding fashion, grabbing the early lead as expected in the Stable View CCI4*-S and never looking back.

While it’s certainly no surprise to see this pair out in front early on, their biggest challenge to date has been speed across the country. Typically, Marilyn and “Kitty”, who is owned by Phoebe and Michael Manders as well as Ms. Jacqueline Mars, can give themselves a good cushion heading into the jumping phases, and now Marilyn says that a revamped warm-up routine has helped her get the 16-year-old Oldenburg mare (Carry Gold – Richardia, by Lario) that much more focused and, as a result, rideable.

Knowing the time on Capt. Mark Phillips’ track would be tough, Marilyn allowed Kitty to flow out of the start box but elected to take her foot off the gas a bit for the combinations, choosing to navigate home safely and confidently and not have any silly mistakes. The effort paid off, and the pair would win their second four-star in succession (they also took home the win at Red Hills earlier this month) on a final score of 28.5.

“I feel like she’s finally hitting her stride at 16,” Marilyn reflected this afternoon. Many may not realize that Marilyn has mostly been a one-horse woman these days; she’s preparing to launch a new nutroceutical business out of Orlando, Fl. in the coming weeks and says her life looks a lot different these days.

“As a rider, the peaks and valleys of any career are just tough,” she elaborated. “Last fall was one of those times for me. I was having a hard time adjusting to my new lifestyle, which is predominantly in the office these days, and still being sharp with my riding.”

2020, for all of its challenges with Covid, brought other hurdles for Marilyn with the loss of her longtime friend and mentor, Packy McGaughan. “He was a huge part of my support system,” she said. “When we were getting to show again in the fall, I realized what a void there was in my competition routine not having him there as my sounding board and mentor.”

The loss and the change in her rhythm caused Marilyn to lose much of her confidence, and she says her and Kitty’s competition record last year paid the price as a result. So she dedicated this offseason to putting in more work – and she says now she’s feeling stronger than ever in her partnership with the quirky mare. “There’s a lot of pressure on her as my only horse, and on me as well,” she explained. “I was hoping that if I started working in another way, outside of the horses, maybe I could get a little ahead and keep my horses and enjoy them and the sport more.”

Crediting her support team including her parents, Phoebe and Michael Manders, Ms. Mars, Karen O’Connor, and Summit Joint Performance founders Dorian and Dr. Heather Farmer, for stepping in to fill the void left behind by Packy’s loss, Marilyn says she’s feeling more confident than ever as she looks ahead to Kentucky next month. In 2018, this pair were the Kentucky USEF National Champions, finishing third.

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Singapore. Photo by Sam Keats.

Phillip Dutton is also pleased with the efforts of his Kentucky-bound horses competing at Stable View this weekend; Tom Tierney, Simon Roosevelt, Suzanne Lacy, Annie Jones and Caroline Moran’s Z (Asca – Bellabouche, by Babouche VH Gehucht Z) finished second in the four-star on a score of 28.8 and stablemate Fernhill Singapore (Singapore – Riedellia, by Animo), owned by Tom Tierney, Annie Jones and David Vos, finished in seventh on a 39.4.

“It certainly wasn’t a very technical (cross country) course, but it was very big and forward-riding,” Phillip commented, commending the crew at Stable View for their year round efforts cultivating and maintaining the footing. “When you walked it, it seemed it was going to be on an open side, which I think is good training and practice for us.”

For Z, who’s “a very gifted and talented horse, but a bit on the hot side,” this weekend was more practice at getting the 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding feeling good using his whole body rather than relying solely on power and scope. It’s work that’s paying off, and Phillip says Z seems to really be understanding the game and has the best ahead of him yet to come. Phillip and Z will do the Advanced CT at Fair Hill in two weeks’ time before heading to Kentucky, where they’ll look to improve on their previous best finish there in 2019 (7th). Fernhill Singapore will be making his CCI5* debut in Kentucky.

Team Davidson also put in a strong effort on all accounts this weekend, with Buck finishing two of his Kentucky rides in the top five in the four-star and his students (Natalia Neneman, Allie Knowles, and Holly Jacks-Smither) all turned in solid efforts on the weekend.

Highest placed of the Davidson rides is 11-year-old Erroll Gobey (Cassini II – Ulla II by Contender), owned by Cassie Segal, Lisa Darden and Natalie Sandler, finishing the weekend in third place on a score of 32.5 with just some time added on cross country today. The Holsteiner gelding underwent wind surgery over the off-season, and Buck says he’s turned a corner this year.

“The surgery has really been a big difference,” Buck said. “No one ever questioned his physical ability, but mentally it was not always easy and when you have all that ability going in a direction, you’re not really sure which way it’s going to go. He’s just 11 this year, so I’m really excited about him. He’s finally going to the ring and doing better than he does in the warm-up, and cross country is getting much easier for him.”

Kat Cuca’s Jak My Style, a 16-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, finishes in fifth for the weekend, jetting up from 18th after dressage to finish near the top on a final score of 37.4. Jak had a bone spur removed after Tryon last fall and has come out this year feeling strong and ready. “He wouldn’t be the world’s best move, but he’s very accurate and steady and has beautiful changes,” Buck explained. Jak will also head to Kentucky next, where he’ll be seeking his first five-star completion.

Holly Jacks-Smither made a plan to leave everything she had out on the table for each FEI event she contests this year as she makes a strong bid to snag one of Canada’s individual spots for the Tokyo Olympics this summer. Thanks to some confidence boosting from longtime coach Buck Davidson and the ability to concentrate just on More Inspiration this weekend, Holly also moved up the board from early 30th into fourth overall on a score of 36.9.

“It was nice to just bring one horse and concentrate,” Holly said. “My goal this year is just to not leave anything on the table for Tokyo. Buck told me that I needed to be the best I can be every time out, and Morris was great this weekend. I can really ride him as fast as I need to when I want to, and he’s just a solid horse who does everything he’s supposed to do.”

Leslie Law and Lady Chatterley in the CCI3*-S show jumping. Photo by Jenn Catalano.

Looking to the CCI3*-S, it’s Leslie Law and Lady Chatterley who will collect another win. The USEA Mare of the Year in 2020, 10-year-old Lady Chatterley (Connor 48 – Jucy, by Mytens xx), owned by Lesley Grant-Law, Jackie Brown and Steve Brown, collects her third top placing of the young season, ending the weekend on her dressage score of 29.4. This mare is a certain one to keep an eye on as she continues her career trajectory; she’s finished in the top three in 11 of the 14 events she’s started since the beginning of 2020.

Jennie Brannigan and Nina Gardner’s Amazing Anthem (National Anthem – Amazing Truth) finished second in the CCI3*-S on a score of 28.4, followed by Liz Halliday-Sharp and Ocala Horse Properties’ Shanroe Cooley (Dallas VDL – Shanroe Sapphire) in third on a 29.0.

Alyssa Phillips and Cornelius Bo. Photo by Sam Keats.

Alyssa Phillips rounds out the FEI leaderboard, winning both the CCI1*-S and the CCI2*-S on FE Celestino and Cornelius Bo, respectively. This is the ninth (!!) win in a row for 7-year-old Cornelius Bo (Concours Complet – Charlotte), and Alyssa was able to achieve her initial goal of besting her previous two-star score at Virginia last year, improving by 2.6 points with a 27.5 in the dressage. They’d go on to end on this score for a wire-to-wire win.

“It was awesome to see that he’s gotten a lot stronger since Virginia,” Alyssa explained. Another wrench thrown into the plans, show jumping ended up being delayed due to weather just before she and Cornelius Bo were due to jump. Having to wait until first thing this morning to jump – in heavy fog, no less – presented a challenge for the young horse, but he stepped up with aplomb and put in a double clear in both jumping phases.

“There was a lot of galloping on cross country, which was great for him,” Alyssa said. “I tried to build on Red Hills and get him jumping across the fences, and he really stepped up. I couldn’t have asked for more from him.”

Alyssa Phillips and FE Celestino. Photo by Chris Quinn Photography.

FE Celestino (Ce-Matin – Antigone), who is seven this year, has taken a bit of time to mature into his body and mind, but the one-star this weekend proved to be excellent experience and a shot of confidence for the Mecklenburg gelding. “He went on vacation this fall and came out this spring really lovely,” Alyssa said. “This was only his third show of the year, and the one-star ended up being a great choice for him. There were a lot of the same questions that the two-star cross country had, but you had some more room and time in between fences. It was a great course for him.”

Alyssa is also aiming for the CCI4*-L at Jersey Fresh with her 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Oskar (Coriando – Nicole, by Marlo), who finished eighth in the CCI4*-S on a score of 40.0.

Youth Team Challenge winners! Photo courtesy of Stable View.

Looking to the first competition for the new Adequan USEF Youth Team Challenge, three CCI2* and four CCI3* teams competed this weekend, with Area 1 (CCI2*) and Area 2 (CCI3*) taking home the overall wins. Individually, Area 1’s Ayden Schain and Fernhill Hole Shot took home the win in the CCI2* YTC competition on a score of 30.9, and Area 2’s Isabelle Bosley and Night Quality were the individual CCI3*-S winners on a score of 32.9. We’re planning to catch up with a few of these competitors as they gear up for the circuit leading up to the year-end Youth Team Challenge championship – stay tuned for more!

Though we weren’t able to physically be on the ground at Stable View this weekend, we’d like to thank the team on the ground for their efforts to make this key spring prep event happen. We can’t wait to be there in person one day soon! Go Eventing.

Stable View Spring 1*/2*/3*/4*: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [EN’s Coverage]

Road to the 2020/2021 Thoroughbred Makeover: Don’t Be Shy, Willie!

By on Mar 27, 2021 11:00 am -

For over 1,000 accepted trainers in this year’s unique blend of 2020 and 2021 competitors, the journey to the Retired Racehorse Project’s 2020/2021 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, is underway! The event, which combines entries from 2020 with 2021 due to the cancellation of the Makeover last year, will take place at Oct. 12-17 at the Kentucky Horse Park. Between now and then, several eventing trainers will be blogging their journeys, including their triumphs and their heartbreaks, successes and failures, for Eventing Nation readers. Today, we’re kicking things off and welcoming Stephanie Linsley, a trainer and educator based near Denver, Co. who specializes in developing young horses and rehabilitating challenging cases. 

Stephanie entered the Retired Racehorse Project – Thoroughbred Makeover for the first time this year and will be competing with seven-year-old gelding, Don’tbeshywillie (Understatement – Bearlee Naked, by Old Trieste). Stephanie hopes to compete Willie in Eventing and Freestyle at the 2021 Thoroughbred Makeover, but will honor any discipline that Willie shows aptitude and interest for. You can follow Stephanie on the Infinity Horsemanship Facebook page and website. 

Willie navigating obstacles at liberty.

In 2016, Willie (Jockey Club name: Don’tbeshywillie) was beginning his first career as a racehorse like thousands of other Thoroughbreds across the country. Likewise, in 2016 I was beginning a career at a Mustang Sanctuary & Training Center training wild horses and managing the nonprofit. Just like Willie, I burst out of the starting gate and sprinted towards my goals in this career for over four years bringing success to the organization, myself, and those around me. Then just like Willie, the life I knew changed right out from under me. For reasons that had nothing to do with me, my job came to an end and I was left feeling lost and struggling to find my own self-worth. I gave everything I had to my previous career… so what did I have left to give to my future?

This is what so many Thoroughbreds retiring from the racetrack go through every day. Willie was a fairly successful racehorse. He won over $60,000 for his owners, stayed physically sound for 5 years of racing, and was easy to maintain throughout his career. Then for reasons that had nothing to do with him, his job came to an end. He was posted for sale and his entire life changed without his input. He gave everything to his racing career… so what did he have left to give to his future?

I entered the Retired Racehorse Project – Thoroughbred Makeover to find out. I want to find out what Willie and I have left to give to our futures. We’re both still young, full of energy and potential, and if we can give the amount of heart and passion to our next careers as we did our last careers, then we both will be unstoppable.

Willie’s exuberant draw at liberty!

I wasn’t expecting this sudden life-pivot when I acquired Willie and entered this competition. In fact, I most definitely would NOT have taken on such a commitment if I had known I was about to lose my home, job security, and would need to reassess my path. But now I’m thankful that things worked out the way they did, because I feel absolute compassion for Willie as he tries so hard to figure out what is expected of him moving forward. Some days, there is harmony and balance and it seems that Willie has a clear direction towards his next career. Other days, there is struggle and confusion as he tries so hard to stick to old patterns that brought him success in the past. And every day, I feel like I’m looking into a mirror as I personally flop back and forth between harmony and confusion in my own life.

At this early stage in the Makeover, I don’t know yet what disciplines Willie may excel in and what we will compete in. My personal goals would be to develop his skills in Eventing and Freestyle, however it would be unfair of me to drive Willie to these goals without taking the time to discover which disciplines he shows potential and interest in. We are taking the time to develop a connection, build language, and create softness so he can be successful in any discipline he shows aptitude for.

And as for me, I know my future remains in training horses and humans, but as for the specifics, I’m taking the time to let those details work out. I’m retraining myself to let go of my need to control everything and have a solid plan. I must learn to trust that if I just take steps forward, I will get to where I am meant to be.

Learning to jump from the ground.

I’m so incredibly grateful that I have the Thoroughbred Makeover to focus and channel my passion into. I’m excited that Willie and I can help guide each other through this difficult transition period and regardless of where we end up in October (and beyond), we will be stronger and more prepared for future transitions because we shared this experience together.

So Don’t Be Shy, Willie… let’s leap into the unknown together and see what the future may bring!

Marilyn Little & RF Scandalous Still in Lead After Stable View CCI4*-S Show Jumping

By on Mar 27, 2021 8:10 am -

Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous lead the CCI4*-S. Photo by Sam Keats.

It was a soggy show jumping day at Stable View, with a couple holds due to rain and lightning. Jumping for the CCI*-S and part of the CCI2*-S were postponed until Saturday, which anticipates a much improved forecast.

In the CCI4*-S Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous built upon their dressage lead, jumping clear around the Chris Bernard-designed course. No surprise here — as we noted in “By the Numbers,” this pair has had only two rails in 16 of 18 career stadium rounds; the last one occurred in 2018.

Buck Davidson and Erroll Gobey. Photo by Sam Keats.

Phillip Dutton and Z, another notoriously careful jumper, kept all the rails up to move from fourth after dressage into second. Buck Davidson and Erroll Gobey moved from sixth to third. Tamie Smith with En Vogue and Buck with Carlevo, who were in equal second after dressage, had one and two rails respectively to slide down a few places. In fourth is Jennie Brannigan with Stella Artois; Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Singapore are fifth. A few pairs managed to leapfrog their way into the top 10, with 12 double-clear rounds in the 50 horse field.

Leslie Law and Lady Chatterley lead the CCI3*-S. Photo by Jenn Catalano.

The CCI3*-S division has a new leader, Leslie Law with Lady Chatterley, who moved up from second when Amy Ruth Borun and Vitalis withdrew. Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley HHS Calmaria advanced into second, and in third is Tim Bourke with Lennard. Rounding out the top five are Kurt Martin with D.A. Lifetime and Lillian Heard with Dassett Olympus. Seventeen out of 50 CCI3*-S pairs managed double clear rounds.

Tim Bourke and Lennard. Photo by Sam Keats.

The CCI1*-S and CCI2*-S divisions completed dressage on Friday, with Alyssa Phillips leading both with FE Celestino and Cornelius Bo respectively.

Crockett Miller and Mr Panda, 2nd in the CCI1*-S. Photo by Emilie Rollet.

The USEF/USEA Stable View Spring Horse Trials and Adequan/USEF Youth Team Challenge continues with the remaining show jumping and all cross country on Saturday. After six weeks with no measurable precipitation, the footing looks to be in excellent condition.

Stable View Spring 1*/2*/3*/4*: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Saturday Links

By on Mar 27, 2021 12:01 am -

Julia Krajewski and Samourai du Thot. Photo by Mariusz Chmieliński.

Germany’s Julia Krajewski announced via Instagram yesterday that her decorated five-star partner Samourai du Thot —  winner of numerous four-stars, the 2017 Luhmühlen five-star, and back-to-back German eventing championships — will be retired from competition following the loss of one of his eyes due to an infection. Though the 15-year-old gelding will be able to enjoy a healthy retirement, we’re devastated for Julia and for all of Sam’s connections who are surely mourning the truncation of a superstar career which very well could have included the Tokyo Olympics.

U.S. Weekend Action:

Galway Downs International H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [EN’s Coverage]

Stable View Spring 1*/2*/3*/4*: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [EN’s Coverage]

Full Gallop Farm March II H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

March H.T. at Majestic Oaks: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

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

Poplar Place Farm March H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Texas Rose Spring H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Saturday Links:

A Shetland called TJ and a five-star debut at 20: nine things you didn’t know about Will Coleman

Countdown to Kentucky: Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z

Deonte Sewell: Grooming At My First FEI Show

Maryland: EHV-1 Positives Up To 26, Racing Cancelled Next Weekend

Wearable Helmet Tech Could Improve Horseback Rider Safety

A Whole Lot Of Heart

Saturday Video: We don’t have to worry about this quite yet, here in the Northern hemisphere, but here are some things to keep in mind when riding in hot and humid weather:

Erin Kellerhouse and Woodford Reserve Catch the Galway Downs CCI4*-S Win

By on Mar 26, 2021 11:35 pm -

Erin Kellerhouse and Woodford Reserve. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Erin Kellerhouse may have kicked herself for picking up a single second of time around the show jumping track yesterday, but as it turns out that second would come out in the wash as she blazed around Clayton Fredericks’ intense CCI4*-S track with one second in hand to seal the win this afternoon with Woodford Reserve. It was just the confidence kick the pair was looking for as they eye their next start in Kentucky for the CCI4*-S, and they’ll end their weekend here on a final score of 30.1.

Erin Kellerhouse and Woodford Reserve. Photo by Sally Spickard.

“It felt a bit hectic just because it’s a short and I was trying to make the time,” Erin reflected. “And things come up so much faster. In the long (last fall), I felt like I had so much time and it was so smooth and lovely. I have to get used to things just coming up like that. It felt a little uncomfortable, but he was great and he finished super strong.”

The course, which was Clayton Fredericks’ design to both test the newer Advanced pairs as well as allow the Kentucky-bound pairs to have a solid prep, presented a slew of new challenges. The optimum time of seven minutes proved tricky to catch for some, but the top four finishing riders all turned in double clear efforts for a 33% double clear rate and a 67% clear jumping rate.

First and second out of the box, James and Helen Alliston set the early pace, each scorching around on Paper Jam and Ebay, respectively, to give riders back in the warm-up a shot of confidence. Helen and Ebay held their second position, ending their weekend on a final score of 31.5, while James moved up into sixth from 11th on a final score of 49.7.

Helen Alliston and Ebay. Photo by Kim Miller/The West Equestrian.

Helen yesterday told us that she was looking forward to see where the pair was at in their education together. The 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Escudo is still fairly green at the level, she says, having breezed through his Intermediate and three-star seasons before encountering some growing pains at the Advanced level. So with confidence her main focus, Helen says the extra work brought about by the Covid lockdown last year has really begun to pay off.

“He’s kind of been hard for me to educate just with timing,” she said. “He just whizzed through his Intermediates and three-stars, I think he won everything he did. So I just bumped him up, and in retrospect I bumped him up way too fast and when I first moved him up to Advanced, but my first four-star he had a runout here and had some runouts at Montana and just lost his confidence. I think people don’t know actually how green he is because he moved up a long time ago but he hasn’t done that many Advanced.”

Helen is aiming for the CCI3*-L at Rebecca Farm, a qualifier the pair needs to continue their progression. It will be a good opportunity to continue to build Ebay’s confidence, which took a definitive step forward today despite the intensity of the track. She also gave credit to Wendy Sherlock, the breeder of both Ebay and Paper Jam (who was piloted by James Alliston this weekend in the CCI4*-S, finishing sixth) who flew out from Georgia this weekend to watch and groom. A proud moment for Wendy, no doubt, to see her two babies grown up and making such excellent progress under the Allistons’ tutelage.

Emilee Libby is feeling confident about heading to Kentucky next with Jakobi, who she says seems to really be coming into his own body this season. This pair also turned in a clear round inside the optimum time of seven minutes, finishing their weekend on a score of 33.7.

Emilee Libby and Jakobi. Photo by Sally Spickard.

“He was still listening and moving off my leg but still coming back,” Emilee said of the 12-year-old Jakobi. “He used to really not feel like that and not really lock on to the jumps and now I just feel like he’s taking me, so it’s a really good feeling going into his first five-star. I went out and I galloped and I made him go a bit, I wanted to see how fit he was and how he felt at the end, and he felt fantastic.”

Emilee says she’s mainly focused on rideability with Jakobi and credits the PEMF treatments she’s been doing for helping him feel much more comfortable in his body and soft to ride as a result. “Sometimes he can get a bit strong, not so much to the jumps but after and between…he’s just really growing up. He’s twelve this year, so I think he’s just starting to mature a bit into his age, his body, and his mind.”

Emilee entered Kentucky two days before it canceled in 2020, so she’s looking forward to boarding that plane next month to make her first return trip to the five-star level in 14 years.

Amber Levine and Cellar Farm’s Cinzano, who were seventh after dressage and ninth after show jumping, but moved up into fourth place thanks to a double clear effort today. This is their best performance at the CCI4*-S level, ending the weekend on a score of 44.4.

Completing the top five are Rebecca Braitling and Arnell Sporthorses’ Caravaggio II, who steadily climbed the board from 12th after dressage to seventh after show jumping. They enjoyed a clear trip around the cross country, picking up 7.6 time penalties to finish their weekend on a score of 49.1.

Rebecca Braitling and Caravaggio II. Photo by Sally Spickard.

A handful of issues popped up around the track: Derek di Grazia and Ringwood Justice as well as Chloe Smith and Stag Party were eliminated after some trouble on course, and Andrea Baxter parted ways from Laguna Seca after the final water when she was unseated and unable to get back into position.

In all, designer Clayton Fredericks says he’s pleased with how the track rode, confessing he’s almost more nervous to watch how his courses ride than he is to actually go out and ride them.

“I’m super happy with the way (the course) ran,” Clayton commented. “I actually get more nervous designing the courses and watching everyone else ride than I do myself. I’m always sort of anxious pre-watching a course I’ve designed. After I’d finished (walking the course with a group yesterday), I sort of was feeling like I wouldn’t have minded getting out there and giving it a go myself.”

Long term, Clayton hopes to continue building out the grounds and cultivating the cross country track. “One of the things I’ve sort of insisted on in conversation is to stick to the same track and keep trying to develop that ground, keep trying to work that ground, and keep a couple of key areas that I know I can use and develop and change around,” he explained.

Alina Patterson and Flashback. Photo by Sally Spickard.

The CCI3*-S cross country featured an optimum time of six minutes, 30 seconds – just one pair would make the time: Katy Robinson and Caroline and Paul Wolff’s Outrageous Dance. In the end, it was Washington-based Alina Patterson and her own Flashback (Fuerst Fugger – Queen of Joy, by Quaterback), sitting second following show jumping, who would move up to take the win with just two seconds of time added for a finishing score of 30.1.

This was the first CCI3*-S for this pair, who have done a lot of growing together – prior to purchasing Flashback, a 9-year-old German Sport Horse gelding, 18-year-old Alina hadn’t competed above the Novice level. Alina credits the dedication of her longtime coach, John Camlin, with helping her reach this level with Flashback.

“Time was definitely a little harder to make than I expected,” Alina said. “I came out really wanting to push for time and I got pretty close. Everything rode really well, pretty much as expected. He was incredible. He’s a really brave cross country horse and sometimes I have to make sure he doesn’t get too cocky.”

Flashback had done no eventing when he came to Alina as a coming six year old, so the partnership they’ve built together has been a labor of patience and trust. Looking ahead, Alina says she’s aiming for the CCI3*-L at Twin Rivers.

Sabrina Glaser and Cooley Mr. Murphy. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Second in the CCI3*-S this weekend are Sabrina Glaser and Hildegard Johnson’s Cooley Mr. Murphy, who added 5.2 time penalties across the country to solidify their position on a final score of 38.4. This was the first FEI start for the 8-year-old Irish Sport horse by Kroongraaf, and it’s an excellent start for this promising young horse who’s no doubt one to keep an eye on.

Katy Robinson packed up her home base in Colorado to move back to California, having spent time on the West coast several years ago when she last competed at the upper levels, when she realized the talent she was sitting on in Outrageous Dance. She now bases here at Galway Downs and has joined business forces with Emilee Libby.

Katy Robinson and Outrageous Dance. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Outrageous Dance (Outrageous Limit – I Wanna Dance, by Robyn Dancer) was purchased off the track by Carolina Wolff and caught Katy’s eye when he popped over a pile of wood in the pasture one day. For reasons Katy still can’t define, she took a liking to the gelding, who she describes as a bit on the sensitive side. Her instincts proved to be correct, and the gelding has made great strides working through the levels despite a few setbacks dotting the road.

“He’s pretty much the reason I moved out (to California),” Katy explained. “For a while, I had been at the upper levels and then I kind of wasn’t sure that I wanted to be that aggressive. I kind of took some time to find my way and then he came into my life, and now that’s the horse I ride for fun.”

Lauren Billys and Can Be Sweet. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Looking to the CCI2*-S, it was another wire-to-wire win, this time for Lauren Billys and the Can Be Sweet Syndicate’s Can Be Sweet (Candyman – Tres Belle), who clocked a clean, confident round on Bert Wood’s track that caused its fair share of issues throughout to end the weekend on a score of 28.6.

“(Can Be Sweet) was really good today,” Lauren said. “He answered all the questions out on course and he just felt like it was easy for him and how he responded to the course.” Having forgotten to start her watch, she then started it at the one minute marker and kept kicking from there. “I could have been faster,” she reflected (in the end, she came home just one second under the optimum time of five minutes, 21 seconds). “He’s ready to move up to Intermediate. I’d love to qualify for the Pan American Games with him, that is my goal. I have plenty of time to slowly build him to that.”

Lauren is also head to contest the Kentucky CCI4*-S next with her Rio Olympic partner, Castle Larchfield Purdy. While the pair had a misunderstanding on cross country today, resulting in a runout, she says she still feels confident the upcoming trip the Bluegrass. “I’m not overthinking it, it was just a misunderstanding,” she said. “With things like that I have to go back to our history, recognize what he understands and what is green.”

Miranda Olagaray and Tanqueray (34.7) and Hailey Blackburn with Kilbunny Amigo (42.3) round out the top three in the CCI2*-S, each turning in double clear efforts today to seal their positions on the podium.

Photo by Sally Spickard.

It’s been an incredible two days of international eventing here in Temecula wine country, and the action isn’t finished yet! I’ll be back early next week with a photo album from the weekend, and you can continue to follow along with live scores as the National divisions wrap up over the next two days.

Many thanks are due to Kim Miller, who runs press here at Galway as well as other West coast events, and the rest of the team here making this event run on schedule. I can’t wait until next time. Go eventing!

Galway Downs International H.T.: [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Live Stream]

Perspective: How Can We Make Cross Country Schooling Safer?

By on Mar 26, 2021 10:30 am -

A number of riders have shared with us their opinions about a recently proposed rule change by the USEA concerning the increased number of MERs to move up to Preliminary, Intermediate and Advanced. As of March 12, this change has been tabled until the 2023 competition season. Ema Klugman, a professional rider and coach and the editor of Jumper Nation, adds her thoughts on cross country schooling to the mix. To read other Perspective pieces on this topic, click here.

Photo courtesy of Ema Klugman.

The proposed rule change requiring more MERs prior to horses and riders moving up to preliminary has spawned a lot of important discussions around safety in our sport. People have brought up a number of ideas around tweaking the proposal, most of which focus on competitions and qualifications. But as anyone who competes in eventing knows, only about 2% (or less) of the time we spend riding our horses is spent at actual competitions. Let’s say we ride 300 days per year; if we do a show per month, we’ll only be competing for a maximum of 24 days per year. The other 276 days we spend practicing.

We should do everything we can to improve safety at competitions. But falls also occur when we are practicing. Probably the most dangerous activity we engage in while practicing is cross country schooling. Most people haul to a facility to school cross country—either a designated schooling course, or a competition course which is open on specific days following a competition. There are usually rules in place—requirements to sign a release, wear a cross country vest, and an approved helmet—at these venues, but there are a number of ways that we can make cross country schooling safer. Here is a (non-exhaustive) list of ideas:

  • Have colored numbers on every jump to specify their level. For example, a prelim jump could have a green number (the specific number wouldn’t mean anything, but the color would). This would help people know which jumps are which level. Sometimes people mistakenly attempt jumps that are much harder than they appear.
  • Have organizers check footing around jumps and remove them (or place flags in front of them) if there are safety concerns. They should also check for footing irregularities in the water jump (I once had a horse fall while cross country schooling when jumping into water because of a dip in the ground on landing).
  • Absolutely require cross country vests for schooling—even at one’s own property. (More on this below.)
  • Require an ICP instructor to accompany juniors and amateur riders when schooling, or develop a system to have ICP instructors oversee schooling for everyone for the entire “schooling day.” The latter model could work well for events which have open schooling days a few days after competition. Part of each rider’s schooling fee could go to an instructor (or maybe two, if the venue is large) who could oversee schooling.
  • Emphasize rider responsibility. Riders need to be aware of their own and their horse’s limitations. It is tempting to try to jump every jump on a property if you’ve just paid $60 to school there, but that is rarely a good idea. Riders need to make smart decisions, particularly when the conditions are not favorable (i.e. muddy ground or very hot weather).

Supervising a schooling session.

I see photos and videos all the time on social media of people — even top professionals, who should be setting examples for everyone else — schooling cross country fences without a cross country vest. You may think you look cool in your t-shirt, but you don’t. I liken it to the discussion around helmets — people used to say it was an inconvenience to wear a hard-hat, or too hot, or some other stupid reason — but now those arguments are rarely accepted. Everyone is expected to wear a helmet. Wearing a XC vest is not difficult, just like wearing a helmet isn’t.

Cross country schooling is a very important part of horse and rider education. There will always be risk involved with jumping solid obstacles on varied terrain. Riders often practice for a move-up by trying out new or bigger combinations while schooling, which is a crucial part of preparing to debut at the next level. So of course there will be some mishaps. Horses and riders will make mistakes. But having safety equipment, good footing, appropriately labeled jumps, and coaches present reduces these risks. Cross country schooling venues should standardize these procedures to keep horses and riders safe.

Friday News & Notes

By on Mar 26, 2021 1:01 am -

Ready for a partly sunny lesson. Photo by Christine Manske Lies.

Jon Holling spends so much time raising money for frangible fences and filming podcasts that he hasn’t got any time for shopping for a new pair of sunglasses. Or maybe he just prefers the pirate look? If anybody sees him at an event this weekend, perhaps one of you can take pity on him and find him a proper pair of sun shielding glasses with TWO eyes protected.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Galway Downs International H.T.: [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Live Stream]

Stable View Spring 1*/2*/3*/4*: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Live Scores] [EN’s Coverage]

Full Gallop Farm March II H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

March H.T. at Majestic Oaks: [Website] [Volunteer]

Morven Park H.T.: [Website] [Volunteer]

Poplar Place Farm March H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Texas Rose Spring H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

News From Around the Globe:

Harry Meade is back at the top level this year, and we’re excited to see him at Kentucky this year. After suffering every rider’s worst nightmare of a fall last year, Harry has made an incredible recovery over the winter and has reorganized his lifestyle so that he can return to riding. He suffered real head trauma in the fall, and is still experiencing real after effects in his mental stamina, but is hopeful that things will continue to improve. He recently showed four horses at Oasby with clear cross country rounds and top-15 finishes for all. [Meade’s Recovery & Return to Competition]

Some of the top horse professionals in the world hardly ever ride, and that’s definitely true for Steffi Weigard. After 27 years as a professional groom for Michael Klimke, Stefi thought it might be time to retire. That is, until she got a call from Isabell Werth. Eight years later and she’s been by Werth’s side for gold medals at three FEI European Championships, two FEI World Equestrian Games, an Olympics and three consecutive FEI World Cup Final wins. Two of Wiegard’s charges, Bella Rose 2 and Weihegold OLD, have held the No. 1 Dressage World Ranking, and in 2017, three horses in her care were ranked in the top 10. In 2017 and 2018 she was nominated for the FEI Best Groom Award. [Groom Spotlight: The Woman Behind Isabell Werth’s Superstars]

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