Classic Eventing Nation

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: At Home with Team Sweden

By on Mar 17, 2021 5:12 pm -

Ever wondered who the coaches behind some of eventing’s global teams are? In this new video from FEITV, you’ll meet Fred Bergendorff, chef d’equipe of the Swedish team and undeniable provider of eye candy at major events all over Europe.

Though many of Sweden’s riders have made waves on the world stage, the team is something of a work-in-progress – but they’re swiftly gaining on the leading nations, bagging a qualification for Tokyo, a Nations Cup series win, and a European Championships bronze medal in 2019. Now, even with the spectre of coronavirus looming overhead, they continue to go from strength to strength – thanks to some savvy adaptability and an awful lot of Zoom calls.

With both the Olympics and the European Championships on their schedule for the year ahead, could we be on the cusp of watching the great Swedish takeover?

Need to preserve healthy joints?

Ask your vet about JointWise™.

JointWise:

  • Maintains a balanced immune response within the joint, decreasing damaging inflammation and the development of osteoarthritis.
  • Preserves fluid motion and flexibility.
  • Supplies the building blocks necessary to support normal cartilage growth and the regeneration of damaged tissues.
  • Sustains ample high-quality synovial fluid, which lubricates and nourishes the joints.

For more information, visit KPPvet.com.

In Memory of Red Hills Horse Trials Co-Founder Sylvia Ochs

By on Mar 17, 2021 4:52 pm -

Photo courtesy of Sallie Ausley.

The eventing community lost a lifelong supporter of the sport in Red Hills Horse Trials co-founder Sylvia Ochs last week. Sylvia passed away peacefully in Tallahassee, Fl. on Thursday, March 11, on the eve of the 2021 event at Red Hills, at the age of 79. Fellow co-founder Sallie Ausley has graciously shared the following memorial tribute:

The Red Hills Horse Trials family has lost one of its own – Sylvia Coons Ochs, one of the event’s founders, passed away on March 11, 2021. In 1998, Sylvia Ochs with co-organizer Sallie Ausley along with three other original organizing committee and hundreds of volunteers began the first Red Hills Horse Trials in Tallahassee, Florida. The event succeeded to become a World Cup Qualifier and now a CIC**** competition.

Sylvia was the ultimate horse person. Over the years, she served as Vice President, District Commissioner and Regional Supervisor of the United States Pony Club. Her community spirit extended well beyond the horse world and impacted Tallahassee in countless ways.

She had many talents and amazing organizational skills along with grace and a magnetic personality. She spearheaded events and projects with an eye to every detail and was twice voted Volunteer of the Year! Sylvia was President of the Junior League of Tallahassee, worked with Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, LeMoyne Art Foundation, the Tallahassee Symphony, and the Museum of History and Natural Sciences.

Photo courtesy of Sallie Ausley.

Sylvia died peacefully at the age of 79. She was born in Walton, N. Y. graduating with honors from New York University Belleview School of Nursing. She is survived by her children, Lisa Perry, Karla Newton, and Dr. George Ochs and seven beloved grandchildren.

A private memorial service will be held in Walton, NY at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Tallahassee Memorial Health Care Foundation, Tallahassee Symphony or the Leon County Humane Society. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Sylvia Coons Ochs please click here.

[Remembering Sylvia Ochs]

Friends of Ferdinand, Inc. Launches New Broodmare Pilot Program

By on Mar 17, 2021 3:30 pm -

Stock image.

Friends of Ferdinand, Inc. (FFI) is thrilled to announce the launch of their new pilot program called Broodmare Bunch. This program is an expansion of FFI’s current mission to rehab, retrain, and rehome Thoroughbreds directly off the track after their racing careers. Broodmare Bunch will be open to Thoroughbred mares who have been pensioned from broodmare duty as part of the horseracing breeding industry. The program will assist potentially at-risk broodmares in finding homes after their breeding careers have ended.

“While there are many organizations that assist horses fresh from the racetrack, there are very few that have a program dedicated to the broodmares. This is an unmet need,” says FFI President Sara Busbice. “Anything from fertility issues, difficulty foaling, lack of successful racing offspring, or downsizing a herd can cause a broodmare to be removed from a breeding farm, often at a young enough age that she could go on to have a terrific ‘third’ career after her jobs on the racetrack and as a mother are over.”

Trainer Lori Miller, who runs Greenstone Stables where many of FFI’s horses live during their retraining, expressed her excitement about FFI expanding into this new realm of the Thoroughbred industry. “We would certainly be fulfilling an industry need by adding broodmares to our roster,” she says. “Diversifying our herd will give us the ability to have more horses available for different levels of potential adopters. We are looking forward to expanding our existing program by bringing these new horses into our barn!”

The pilot program for FFI’s Broodmare Bunch is launching in March 2021. Individuals or farms interested in submitting a broodmare for consideration into the program can do so by filling out a “Donate a Horse” form on the Friends of Ferdinand website. A limited, select number of broodmares will be accepted into the program initially. Preference will be given to horses with connections to racing or breeding in Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky.

As the only Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited program in Indiana, FFI is dedicated to assisting off-track Thoroughbreds transition to their second or third careers. The program has TAA-accredited farms around Indiana and Ohio as rehabilitation and retraining facilities for Off-Track Thoroughbreds, and these will also be available for mares that are part of the Broodmare Bunch.

The Broodmare Bunch is funded in part by groups and individuals donating to FFI. One of the first, and largest, benefactors of the Broodmare Bunch is the Indiana Thoroughbred Alliance (ITA). ITA is a collaboration of breeders, owners, trainers, and horse-racing enthusiasts dedicated to the continued success of Thoroughbred breeding and racing in the state of Indiana. Their donation of $5,000 will help to launch the program. The money was raised from ITA’s first stallion service auction in December.

“As passionate breeders in Indiana, we know how important it is to not only find second careers for our racehorses, but also for our broodmares,” says Christine Cagle, owner of Springcliff Farm and ITA board member. “The ITA is not only dedicated to the promotion of horse racing in Indiana, but also to the transition of second, or third, careers for our Thoroughbreds. This partnership was a no-brainer.”

Photo courtesy of Friends of Ferdinand.

To learn more about the Broodmare Bunch program, visit the Friends of Ferdinand website. If resources for these broodmares are important to you, and you want to support Broodmare Bunch or get involved, you can direct your questions and comments to [email protected]. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to support this new program, you can do so securely through the Friends of Ferdinand website. 

For more updates on this exciting new expansion of Friends of Ferdinand’s retraining program, and to learn about the mares that will be accepted into the pilot program of Broodmare Bunch and eventually listed for adoption, follow FFI on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay in the loop.

Friends of Ferdinand, Inc. (FFI) is a 501c3 nonprofit equine organization that is dedicated to retired racehorses, and the only organization in Indiana that is accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA). Graduates from the FFI program have gone on to have success in eventing, dressage, calf-roping, western riding, trail riding, as hunter/jumpers, and as therapy horses. 

Harry Meade Is Back in the Tack

By on Mar 17, 2021 12:00 pm -

Harry Meade and Tenareze at Luhmühlen in July 2019. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

It’s been a slow road to recovery for 2014 British WEG silver medalist Harry Meade since a fall at Thoresby last October left him with a head injury. His foot got caught in the stirrup, and he was repeatedly kicked in the head by being dragged at a gallop; by the time his foot eventually detached from the stirrup his hat had been badly damaged and kicked free from his head.

Harry is a horseman through and through and has one of the biggest hearts in the sport — even while badly concussed and injured being loaded into the ambulance, in fact, he asked for a message to be sent to the competitors waiting at the start, apologizing for holding them up! — and his resilience has shown through time and time again. We couldn’t be happier to hear that he is back in his happy place, on the back of a horse.

Harry Meade and Superstition in October 2020. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Harry Meade Eventing shared this update on Friday:

“It’s great to see Harry finally back on a horse and feeling good. He twice started riding and twice had to back off, but is now on a consistent path and coping well. It’s been a fairly grim and humbling few months for Harry – unfortunately with a head injury a simple determination to push through is futile – but he’s now the other side of the main difficulties he was faced with.

“Whilst he’s largely recovered and to the outside looks and sounds himself, he’s still limited by his mental stamina. The neural fatigue he has been experiencing is incomparable to any sort of normal tiredness – the brain starts to shut down with very little warning and the only remedy is to go straight to sleep. However, we are thankful that the thinking part of his brain has been unaffected.

“We’re aware that this is a still an ongoing process and improvements will continue over the course of the rest of the year. The great thing is that thanks to the hard work and patience of those involved in his rehab he is back doing what he does best.

“We’re very grateful to our superb team here at Church Farm, our supportive owners and the brilliant professionals who’ve been working with Harry throughout his rehab, and it’s lovely to see all their support paying off.

“The horses are in great shape and Harry’s planning to start at the elite pathway events before and the season proper kicks off properly as planned in early April.”

Go Harry. Go Eventing.

Painted Ponies Art Walk & Auction to Benefit Carolina Horse Park Foundation

By on Mar 17, 2021 9:30 am -

“Secretariat” by Tiffany Teeter. Photo courtesy of Carolina Horse Park Foundation.

Painted Ponies are once again roaming the streets of downtown Southern Pines! The second annual Painted Ponies Art Walk and Auction runs through March 30 as 12 five-foot tall fiberglass works of art line Broad Street for all to view as visitors walk the downtown area. After the display is over, the ponies will be auctioned off on Saturday, April 3 from 5 – 6:30 p.m. EST with the proceeds benefiting the Carolina Horse Park Foundation.

This year’s auction will take place both live AND online, hosted by professional auctioneers Ben Ferrell and Matt Newsom. People can register now to bid on their favorite pony! There are also several raffle options and the chance to donate to a ‘Fund A Potty’ campaign to build permanent bathroom facilities at the Park.

Carolina Horse Park is, of course, a preeminent venue on the Area II eventing calendar, with its marquee event Carolina International CCI fast approaching on March 18-21, 2021. Other events throughout the year include its War Horse Event Series, Longleaf Pine H.T. (April 17-18), and Five Points H.T (Aug. 28-29). View a full calendar of horse trials here.

Founded in 1998 as a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization by equestrian enthusiasts, CHP is dedicated to the preservation of open space for equestrian events, as well as educational and recreational purposes. We are grateful for their support of the eventing community, and the Painted Ponies Art Walk and Auction is an opportunity to support them in kind.

“The Sun and Her Flower” by Jenay Jarvis.

“Sergeant Reckless” by Larissa Lycholaj.

“Home of American Golf” by Dan Dreyer.

 

For more information about the Painted Ponies Art Walk and Auction, visit www.CarolinaHorsePark.com.

Wednesday News & Notes from Haygain

By on Mar 17, 2021 12:01 am -

The Optimum Youth Equestrian Scholarship (OYES), currently in its third round of applications since launching in 2020, aims to provide more opportunity within the equestrian industry to assist youth from underprivileged communities. Through financial awards and mentorship, the scholarship hopes to open more doors and, in turn, create a more diverse and equitable industry for all.

To help raise funds and awareness for the scholarship program, OYES has teamed up with Riding Warehouse and Better Dressage Scores to put on a Virtual Horse Show with USDF, USEA, and WDAA classes available for participation. Interested riders can submit entries through April 8 for feedback from judges Aviva Nebesky, Ida Norris, and Janice Mumford. To learn more and enter, click here.

The deadline for the spring award is April 15, 2021, so there is still time to submit your application for consideration. OYES is also always seeking more mentors interested in helping scholarship recipients and applicants – to learn more and to read about past applicants, click here. You can also read more about the program and its founder, Mandy Collier, who also collaborates with board members Shaq Black and Jacqueline Ely, in this interview with HorseRookie.com.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Carolina International CCI and H.T.: [Website] [Schedule] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Orders of Go] [Live Stream] [Volunteer]

Ocala Winter II H.T.: [https://flhorsepark.com/” target=”_blank”>Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Pine Top Farm Spring H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Southern Arizona Eventing Association H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

International Eventing Preview:

Oasby Elite H.T. (UK): [Website] [Entries] [Live Stream]

National Holiday: Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Wednesday News and Notes:

Entries are now open for the Twin Rivers Horse Park Fundraiser Combined Test, happening April 3 and 4 in Paso Robles, Ca. Combined tests from Walk/Trot through Advanced as well as single dressage and jumping rounds will be offered, and funds raised will go to benefit ongoing facility upgrades and maintenance. To learn more and to enter or sign up to volunteer, click here.

Our weekly email newsletter is getting a facelift! Starting this Friday, we’ll transition to our all-new weekly email, the EN #ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)! Catch up on news you may have missed from the week, as well as useful links for the upcoming weekend’s events. It’s free to sign up – you can do so here.

We’re gearing up with our planning for coverage of the 2021 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event! We can’t wait to bring you the most comprehensive coverage of the beloved Kentucky event this year, and we’re also cooking up some cool perks for our Patreon supporters! Haven’t joined us on Patreon yet? Click here to learn more.

How does entering an event prior to closing date help the organizer? The USEA’s re-sharing of its 2015 series, “The Entry Fee is Only the Beginning”, continues with part three on entry timing from an organizer’s perspective.

Benefits of steaming your horse’s hay range from improve respiratory health to greater hydration levels, with a slew of other perks in between. If you’re new to the concept, use this reference page from Haygain to read up on the topic.

Just In on Jumper Nation: Incorporating mindfulness in the barn can help us focus and establish a stronger relationship with our horses. How so? Gillian Warner writes on the topic of developing partnerships for Jumper Nation here.

Wednesday Video Break: Piggy March talks about the biosecurity efforts taken in her stables to keep her horses and team safe amidst the EHV-1 outbreak.

In Memory of Tremaine Cooper

By on Mar 16, 2021 2:23 pm -

Former USEA president Carol Kozlowski with Tremaine Cooper 2016. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

It deeply saddens us to report that beloved husband and father, horseman, and well-accomplished course designer Tremaine Cooper passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, March 13, 2021. He was 52 years old.

Tremaine was perhaps best known in the eventing community as a course designer, having gotten his start riding on his family’s farm with a “fat little pony named Daisy”, putting together little courses for the Pony Club run out of the farm. He would eventually compete up through the former CCI2* level himself in addition to course design. After taking a year off before college to do some course building, Tremaine was officially hooked on the art of design.

“The thing I love about designing is it’s not something you can read a book about and all of the sudden know everything there is,” he said in an interview in 2015. You can do it for 50 years and still be learning…it’s not a static thing, you can always have something better.”

From left: Rob Banner, Great Meadow Foundation president; Darrin Mollett, co-organizer; Mike Etherington-Smith, course designer; Tremaine Cooper, course consultant; and Travers Schick, course builder. Photo by Shauna Alexander.

Tremaine was well-known for his courses all over the U.S. as well as overseas, designing at venues including Aspen Farms, Full Gallop Farm, Virginia Horse Trials, Morven Park, and many, many more. He was also frequently seen mentoring fellow course designers, always nodding to those who came before him and spent the time teaching him the craft.

He was also a staunch supporter of safety, putting his experience behind emerging concepts such as frangible technology and the Modified level as a stepping-stone between Training and Preliminary. Indeed, a true list of every accomplishment, accolade, kind word, and time spent from a person who was a true integral part of the eventing community would take up hundreds of pages.

Tremaine Cooper leaves behind a family and a community of riders and eventing enthusiasts who are forever impacted by his legacy, which has been sadly cut far too short. You can read much more about Tremaine’s legacy in the USEA’s In Memoriam here; we will update this piece with information concerning a memorial and/or donations once they become available.

This past Saturday was a day filled with mixed emotions. I was in Aiken doing some last min design work on Full Gallop's…

Posted by David Taylor on Monday, March 15, 2021

Honestly I’m at a loss for words right now. Tremaine was one of the kindest most reserved people I knew. He served on…

Posted by Jonathan Holling on Monday, March 15, 2021

Tremaine Cooper3/16/2021 0 Comments PictureI think I’m still in shock that I won’t see Tremaine Cooper again. As I…

Posted by Jan Byyny on Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Devon Horse Show $50,000 Arena Eventing to Return in 2021

By on Mar 16, 2021 1:30 pm -

Boyd Martin and Contestor. Photo by The Book LLC.

After the cancellation of the 2020 Devon Horse Show due to the coronavirus pandemic, we’re pleased to see the historic show make its return this May – and the prize list indicates that the $50,000 Arena Eventing will also be returning this year. The 2021 Devon Horse Show is scheduled for May 27 through June 4, 2021, with the Arena Eventing occurring on Sunday, May 30 at 7 p.m. EST. Entries for the Arena Eventing, which will distribute $50,000 in prize money through 12th place, are now open and will close on Monday, May 17.

Screenshot via the Devon Horse Show 2021 Prize List.

With a twisting track designed by Capt. Mark Phillips and with Sally Ike serving as Technical Delegate, the condensed format version of cross country jumping is sure to thrill onlookers accustomed to traditional hunter and show jumper courses.

Arena Eventing was first introduced at Devon Horse Show in 2017, with Sara Kozumplik Murphy taking home the inaugural win aboard Rubens d’Ysieux. Chris Talley and Sandro’s Star won the event in 2018, followed by Boyd Martin and Contestor in 2019. Who will the 2021 champion be? Stay tuned for entries as the event draws closer.

Riders interested in submitting an entry can find information here. The event will be classified as Intermediate Level/Arena Eventing, so riders can consult the USEF Rules for Eventing, Annex 3 for qualification information.

Want to relive the action from Devon? Check out this helmet cam ride from Doug Payne and Flamount’s Mischief, who finished fifth here in 2017:

Go (arena) eventing!

Woods Baughman to Receive USET Foundation Amanda Pirie Warrington Grant

By on Mar 16, 2021 11:30 am -

Woods Baughman and C’est La Vie 135. Photo by Abby Powell.

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation has named Woods Baughman of Lexington, Ky., as the recipient of the 2021 Amanda Pirie Warrington Grant. Baughman is a current member of the US Equestrian 2021 Eventing High Performance Pre-Elite Training List.

As the recipient of the grant, Baughman will receive up to $5,000 to help offset expenses associated with his training over the next year.

“I can’t thank the USET Foundation and the people involved with this grant enough,” stated Baughman, 25. “You can never have enough training, and I’ll certainly put this to good use.

“It can be hard trying to put yourself in the right place without having enough financial backing to get the training and support that will help the rider and horses improve,” he continued. “Having good eyes on you is important because there is always something you’re missing. It’s huge to have this help and not have to worry about if I can make this happen.”

Baughman plans to use the grant to support training with his horse C’est La Vie 135, a 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Contendro I x Aarking xx).

“C’est La Vie is at the top of the sport and I think if I can polish him, he’s really world class,” explained Baughman. “Anything and everything I can do to fill my gaps [in training] so that I can show off the horse I am lucky to ride is worth it.”

The USET Foundation Amanda Pirie Warrington Fund allocates the Amanda Pirie Warrington Grant annually. Pirie’s family established the fund in her memory for the purpose of providing financial assistance to an eventing athlete identified with great talent and ability to represent the United States in the future. It is intended for a recipient that will benefit most from the opportunity to continue their training with top coaches and to compete against the world’s best in eventing, one of three Olympic equestrian disciplines.

Thanks to the Amanda Pirie Warrington Grant, Baughman can continue to focus on his training and prepare for competitions, helping to reach his goal of representing the United States on the international stage.

2021 Carolina International Will Stream Exclusively on Horse & Country TV

By on Mar 16, 2021 9:00 am -

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Horse & Country (H&C), the international equestrian sports network, is pleased to announce exclusive coverage of the 2021 Carolina International on its streaming service, H&C+ from the 18th to the 20th of March. With the event closed to the public, in line with USEF and FEI guidelines, H&C+ members can still enjoy the action from one of the most prestigious three-day events in the calendar.

Viewers will be able to watch all three phases from the 4*, as well as the Showjumping and Cross Country from the 3*. Riders confirmed include Will Coleman, Phillip Dutton, Will Faudree, Clayton Fredericks and Liz Halliday-Sharp. With an Ian Stark designed Cross Country course, it’s set to be a fascinating competition as combinations set their sights on Kentucky.

“We’re delighted to be streaming the Carolina International,” said H&C Executive Producer, David Qualls. “Our coverage will ensure that, notwithstanding the closed doors, the event reaches the widest possible audience in 2021.”

H&C+ members can watch online or with H&C’s mobile apps, as well as on Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, and Amazon Fire. Membership is just $9.99 per month and full details on how to join can be found at horseandcountry.tv.

Over and above H&C’s extensive sports coverage, members also get access to over 1,600 hours of programming, including Masterclasses by Will Faudree and Will Coleman, and episodes of H&C’s Barn Talk series featuring profiles of both Wills and Liz Halliday-Sharp.