Classic Eventing Nation

Tuesday News & Notes from Legends Horse Feeds

By on Mar 16, 2021 12:01 am -

Clayton Fredericks and FE Stormtrooper. Photo by Shelby Allen.

We’re up to 44 pairs entered in the Land Rover Kentucky Three Day CCI5*-L. Three have joined since our last update: Clayton Fredericks with two entries, FE Stormtrooper and Ophelia, and Phillip Dutton added Sea of Clouds to his roster. Entries close March 23, but with EHV-1 causing quite a stir in Europe, overseas entries still remain unknown.

Check out the complete list of entries here.

National Holiday: National Freedom of Information Day

Events Opening This Week: Waredaca H.T., River Glen Spring H.T., Barnstaple South H.T, Fresno County Horse Park H.T.,

Events Closing This Week: Rocking Horse Spring H.T., Pine Hill Spring H.T., The Fork at TIEC

Tuesday News:

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.

If you’ve spent any time on Facebook, you’ve probably come across a video of Ingrid Klimke gliding through intricate cavaletti. If I’m being honest, all these exercises are a bit mind boggling, but it’s a gold mine of information, and a handy reference to bookmark. [Cavalletti Training for Every Horse and Discipline]

Aachen has moved their date from July to September 10-19 this year. At this point, organizers are unsure if spectators will be allowed, but hope to have an answer when tickets go on sale in June. [Aachen CHIO Moved From June To September]

Buckle up because it’s time for a canter crash course. If you’ve got five days, International show jumper Kama Godek has a program to create a more adjustable canter. [5 Days to More Adjustability at the Canter]

We are delighted to hear that Harry Meade is set to go eventing again this month. After sustaining a nasty fall last October, Harry has been carefully recuperating from a head injury.  [Harry Meade to return to eventing after a ‘grim’ few months following head injury]

Tuesday Video: Check this out — a clone of Chilli Morning having a jump day:

Monday Video from Cambox: Power Through Pine Top Aboard Quality Time

By on Mar 15, 2021 5:30 pm -

We really struggled to put together our Eight Mares We Can’t Wait to Watch in 2021 list and knew we’d be unintentionally snubbing some lovely horses in narrowing down our list. Quaility Time, known around the barn as “Lily”, is one of those mares who certainly would have fit right in on that list were we not narrowing it down to one horse per nation. This mare is a really exciting mount for American-based Irishman Tim Bourke, so consider this an official honorable mention!

The 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Guidam x Ruby Roller, by High Roller) owned by Carla Abramcheck easily powered through the Pine Top Farm Advanced course late last month to finish second in the A division and we’re really looking forward to see what other events she’ll be tackling in 2021. We already brought you a preview of this ride, recorded with the Cambox Isi3, now here’s the full round!

Pine Top Advanced H.T.: Website, Final Scores

Cambox is currently on sale for up to 30% off! Click here to score a deal.

Chatsworth International Joins 2021 Roster of COVID Cancellations

By on Mar 15, 2021 2:00 pm -

Tim Price and Xavier Faer. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

It’s been rather a grim fortnight for eventing folks in the United Kingdom, with a plethora of international cancellations obliterating much of the spring and early summer calendar. And things don’t appear to be perking up with any urgency: on Friday, March 12, the team behind the Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials, set to take place May 14–16, announced that they, too, had fallen victim to ongoing pandemic regulations.

“Like so many other events, the challenges we face this year are very similar to those we experienced in 2020,” explained Patricia Clifton, Horse Trials Director in a statement. “The government roadmap out of the pandemic provides many reasons for hope, but it has been made very clear that the dates given are ‘best case’ and subject to change. As a result. we do not feel that we can guarantee the high standards of safety and quality that we usually would, not only to everyone directly involved but also the local area, which is always so supportive.”

Chatsworth, which hosts classes through CCI4*-S, including, in better years, a leg of the Event Rider Masters series, is a hugely popular fixture – a fact evidenced by its annual flood of entries, which make a spot at the Derbyshire competition especially highly-coveted. It’s also a valuable stepping stone to long-format competitions – and its loss represents another huge blow for riders aiming for Tokyo this summer.

“It is desperately sad that we have to cancel for the second year in succession, especially as we have been working really hard with all stakeholders, including British Eventing, to find some sort of solution, but it has proved a challenge too far,” continued the statement. “Another significant issue was the impossibility of us, or to our knowledge any events, obtaining insurance against the pandemic.”

The Duchess of Devonshire, who so generously opens her estate each year to the wider community, commented, “I am extremely grateful to Patricia and her team for the time and energy they have put in to try and enable this year’s event to go ahead. This decision was not an easy one, however, throughout the pandemic the health and wellbeing of our visitors, colleagues, partners and local communities has always been our number one priority, and this remains the case.”

Title sponsor Dodson & Horrell’s Managing Director, Sam Horrell said: “While we are naturally disappointed that this fantastic event will not take place in 2021, we are very thankful to everyone at Chatsworth who have worked tirelessly over the past few months to try and make the horse trials happen. We instead look to the future and very much look forward to the 2022 event.”

The 2022 iteration is set to take place from May 13-15, subject to confirmation from British Eventing. In the meantime, British-based riders will need to get creative as they grapple to plot their roads to Tokyo and beyond – though some savvy organisers may have a solution up their sleeves. Keep it locked onto EN for all the updates.

Rule Change Proposal Concerning Minimum Eligibility Requirements Pushed to 2023

By on Mar 15, 2021 12:30 pm -

Photo courtesy of Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

After receiving over 1,200 responses from members concerning the proposed modifications to Appendix 3 of the USEF Rules for Eventing – pertaining to qualifications for moving up – the USEA has elected to table the issue until the 2023 eventing season.

Since more information on a proposed increase of Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs) involving as many as 10 qualifying events has been released, members did not hesitate to voice their opinions on the matter.  Safety lies at the heart of this discussion, and many members have expressed concerns over a lack of information or communication (which certainly was not helped by the inability of the USEA to host in-person meetings and conventions for the past year) as well as the terms of the proposed changes.

On Friday, March 12, the USEA released the following statement:

On March 1, 2021 the USEA Board of Governors submitted a rule change proposal to US Equestrian (USEF) modifying Appendix 3 of the USEF Rules for Eventing. That proposal was outlined at the 2019 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, shared in May 2020 by the Chair of the USEA Cross-Country Safety Subcommittee Jon Holling, later discussed in Eventing USA and through various other communication platforms including a live webinar hosted by the USEA. This was one of four different safety-related rule proposals submitted by the Board to the USEF and previously considered with the membership. The Board made it clear that they shared the position of the USEA Cross-Country Safety Subcommittee that more needs to be done to ensure that riders and their horses obtain more than just a minimal amount of experience before advancing through the levels. Moreover, riders, horse owners, and coaches need to take more seriously the increased risk related to moving up through the levels without adequate and substantial preparation.

“The USEA Cross-Country Safety Subcommittee has done an amazing job to champion a major change in how horses and riders are allowed to move through the ranks of our sport,” said USEA Vice President of Competitions, Jonathan Elliott. “The consensus from the feedback I have received and observed is that there is a need for this change, but there are many factors to consider. In the end, this is a safety-driven rule change proposal, and we need to make sure we get it right, not perfect because that will never happen, but right.”

Following submission to the USEF, the Board opened a public comment portal for the membership to respond regarding their thoughts on the Appendix 3 rule change proposal. The Board has received over 1,200 responses since the original announcement. They recognize those surveys include valid concerns that the USEA had not fully addressed publicly. Among that input, it has become clear that without an in person USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in 2020 and related meetings, a large portion of the membership did not feel fully informed about the proposal as developed. Following several committee meetings within the USEA as well as at the USEF, the Board determined that more work needed to be done to both investigate the questions raised and communicate the reasoning behind the rule change proposal.

“I believe more time is needed to continue to develop a complete proposal with justification for the proposed changes,” Elliott continued. “Big strides have been accomplished over the last few years with other safety-related rule changes and the frangible technology fundraising and I am optimistic an updated Appendix 3 will join that evolution of our sport in 2023.”

The USEA Board of Governors unanimously voted on March 11, 2021 to table the Appendix 3 rule change proposal with the intention to further investigate and communicate the purpose behind the proposal. The Board has made it clear that they will submit an amended proposal again with the intent for implementation in 2023. To this end, the USEA will establish a task force to further review the proposal, make additional inquiries into related data, and analyze the input received. This task force will consist of representation by individuals from diverse backgrounds and geographically varied locations around the country. The goal is to have an updated rule in effect for the 2023 competition year.

Weekend Winners: Copper Meadows, Full Gallop, MeadowCreek Park, Red Hills

By on Mar 15, 2021 11:00 am -

After the tumult of 2020, it’s a bit surreal to be looking at a full eventing calendar this week. If you recall, right around this time last year we began to see the first events falling victim to the surging coronavirus. From this week a year ago forward, the world as we knew it changed immensely.

While the virus is still fighting to keep its stronghold on the world, encouraging news about vaccine rollouts and case numbers continue to come in, giving us hope that some normalcy is on its way. We once again extend our deepest gratitude to the essential workers, healthcare workers, first responders, and everyone else who has helped keep the world turning, even on the bleakest of days. And to the victims and families of those who were taken by the virus, our thoughts and condolences continue to be with you.

The eventing community was out in force this weekend, so there’s plenty of action to cover from the four recognized events that ran. Our lowest scores of the weekend come to us from our friends on the West coast at Copper Meadows in Ramona, Ca. Our Unofficial Low Score Award this week goes to Jordan Linstedt and Big Sur, who won their Open Novice division on their dressage score of 21.0. Jordan also took home the win in the Open Training aboard Lovely Lola on a score of 22.9, and I would be remiss not to mention my very good friend, Kayla Surrett, who won the Training Amateur division also on a 22.9, as a perfect prep for her upcoming move up to Preliminary later this month at Galway. Well done, kid!

Copper Meadows Winter H.T.: Final Results

Advanced CT: Hawley Bennett-Awad and Jollybo (48.2)
Intermediate: Sarah Lipetz and Southern Belle (72.9)
Intermediate CT: Hailey Blackburn and Kilbunny Amigo (37.1)
Open Preliminary: Megan McIver and Dassett Whisper (40.5)
Preliminary Rider: Stephanie Simard and Roosevelt (29.3)
Open Training: Jordan Linstedt and Lovely Lola (22.9)
Training Amateur: Kayla Surrett and Blue Suede Shoes (22.9)
Training Rider: Sasha Isaacman and WTF Doria (29.8)
Novice Amateur: Bari Boersma and Chattachoochoo (27.4)
Novice Rider: Razieme Iborra and Mother of Dragons (29.3)
Open Novice: Jordan Linstedt and Big Sur (21.0)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Kelson Freiden and RHS Caspar Conthargos (28.9)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Olivia Keye and Oso Mighty (22.8)
Open Beginner Novice: Melissa Nice and Rides Like a Bentleigh (29.7)
Intro: Taurie Banks and Opening Knight (29.7)

Full Gallop Farm H.T.: Final Results

Preliminary: Amanda Conti and Griegermeister (32.2)
Preliminary/Training: Sierra Shurtz and Master Brooklyn (29.1)
Training A: Fylicia Barr and Justforthehalibut (45.9)
Training B: Anabelle Friend and Fine With Me (33.3)
Novice A: Booli Selmayr and Flowerhill Sophia (27.1)
Novice B: Jessica Schultz and Hardwired (31.7)
Training/Novice: Rachel Miles and Cooley Nyx (34.3)
Beginner Novice A: Mikki Kuchta and Hallygul (32.8)
Beginner Novice B: Sherry Stephenson and Buckharo (31.7)
Beginner Novice C: Maya Chinana and Popstar (28.3)
Starter: Lazet Katy and Addie (33.6)

MeadowCreek Park Spring Social Event: Final Results

Open Preliminary: Ellen Doughty-Hume and Mr. Melvin (44.1)
Preliminary/Training: Gabriela Diaz and Back to Victory (56.0)
Open Training: Tristen Wigg and Pegasus Princess (33.8)
Training Rider: Lindsay Holliday and Numba One Stunna (39.3)
Jr. Novice: Elle Snyder and Fernhill Bijzonder (27.6)
Open Novice: Alexandra du Celliee Muller and Del Rio (30.2)
Sr. Novice: Sarah Keltner and Briteman (34.6)
Jr. Beginner Novice A: Kaetlyn Perkins and Arizona Sweet (31.1)
Jr. Beginner Novice B: Caroline Burkhardt and My Mexico (32.5)
Open Beginner Novice: Christiana Schultz and Alexa Dawn (29.4)
Sr. Beginner Novice: Amanda LeBlanc and Redemption (32.5)
Starter A: Michelle Kennedy and Right Swipe (34.8)
Starter B: Janet Taylor and Just Sum It Up (36.0)

Red Hills International: Final Results, EN’s Coverage

CCI4*S: Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous (22.4)
CCI3*S: Tamie Smith and Solaguayre California (24.1)
CCI2*S: Alyssa Phillips and Cornelius Bo (27.3)
Advanced: Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle (31.8)
Open Intermediate: Katie Malensek and Landjaeger (33.1)
Open Preliminary: Hannah Sue Burnett and Coolrock Wacko Jacko (24.6)
Preliminary Rider: Sallie Johnson and Fernhill DiCaprio (25.8)

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Mar 15, 2021 8:35 am -

It was Mothers’ Day yesterday in the UK, and although US readers won’t celebrate until May, we couldn’t help but share this sweet tribute to the great Mary King, posted by daughter Emily. Two words, folks: MATCHING. HAIRCUTS. Cue the heart-eyes emoji.

National Holiday: It’s the Ides of March. Great, something else for my horse to spook at.

US Weekend Action:

Red Hills International H.T.: [Website] [Results] [EN’s Coverage]

Copper Meadows H.T.: [Website] [Results]

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

MeadowCreek Park Spring Social Event: [Website] [Results]

Global Eventing Round-Up:

It’s been another good weekend for our eventing friends Down Under, who headed en masse to Tamworth International in New South Wales to contest classes from CCI2*-S through CCI4*-S, plus a bevy of national-level classes.

Australian eventing has committed itself to increasing the safety of the sport, and Tamworth’s organisers provided a sterling example of this renewed effort, rejigging courses and removing fences in response to a gloomy weather forecast that impacted ground conditions.

The CCI4*-S class went to home nation superstars Hazel Shannon and Willingapark Clifford, while Andrew Cooper and Manhattan produced two foot-perfect jumping phases to take the CCI3*-S. You can check out the full results here.

Your Monday Reading List:

After a horrific car accident took her fiancé and her career, showjumper Sammy Backstrom felt as though she’d lost everything. But now, she’s back in the saddle and once again pursuing the dreams that took her to the World Cup when she was just 18. Her inspirational story will light a fire in you this morning. [Rider who lost her fiancé and showjumping career in horrific car crash is back in the game with high hopes]

Speaking of plucky women who jump colossal fences, the Chronicle is looking back at the story of Gail Greenough – the first woman to take individual gold in showjumping at the World Show Jumping Championships. What a gal. [Throwback Thursday: Living Legend Gail Greenough]

If you’ve ever experienced burnout, you know it’s no joke. And with the long hours, high expectations, and low wages common to the horse industry, it’s not at all uncommon, either. This anonymous letter, written by a young professional, explains the phenomenon – and what it could mean for the wider industry. [There May Be No Future Horse Trainers: An Inside Look at a Young Professional’s Burnout]

We’re all keeping a close eye on EHV-1 outbreaks in our respective areas. But there’s a lot of misinformation about the disease itself making the rounds on social media. Get to grips with EHV-1 – and EHM, the neurological virus that spread in Valencia – here. [The Deadly Strain: When EHV-1 Becomes EHM]

Calling all Cambox helmet cam users! Did you pick up a new Cambox during their Black Friday sale last year? Are you a huge fan of snapping on your helmet cam for a cross country run? We’d love to feature your helmet cam video right here on EN! If you use a Cambox Isi3 or V4, we want to hear from you! Please email [email protected] with your video link and description.

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.

The FutureTrack Follow:

The concept behind The Positive Equestrian is a simple one: promote the good stuff in the horse world and highlight the people who make it happen. In these dark days of doom-scrolling, it’s a little ray of light on our feeds.

Morning Viewing:

Planning an intense schooling session today (or, heaven help you, stacking some hay bales)? Try these dynamic stretches from equestrian fitness pro Nicola Stuart to help you fend off any latent soreness afterwards.

Marilyn Little & RF Scandalous Repeat History for Red Hills CCI4*-S Win

By on Mar 14, 2021 11:05 pm -

Sally Spickard contributed to this report.

Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous, winners of the CCI4*-S. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous repeated history today at Red Hills International, clinching a second wire-to-wire win in the CCI4*-S. After besting the three-star in 2015, they first won the marquee division in 2018 on a score of 36.0. They bettered their margin from that year today by a whopping 13.6 points, finishing on their dressage score of 22.4 — 10+ points ahead of the nearest competition.

The key cross country day departure between 2021 and past years’ editions is that the time today was doable. Historically, Mike Etherington-Smith’s twisty-turny pinball chute of a course has made time faults a near inevitability. The list of riders who have made optimum time in the four-star since 2013, when we began keeping notes, is a very short one:

  • Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino in 2019
  • Whitney Mahloch with Military Mind in 2018
  • Selena O’Hanlon with Foxwood High in 2013 and 2019
  • Selena O’Hanlon and A First Romance in 2013

By comparison, nine horses made the 4*-S time today, with another five adding four or fewer time penalties. Marilyn and “Kitty,” a 16-year-old Oldenburg mare (Carry Gold x Richardia) owned by Jacqueline Mars and Phoebe and Michael Manders, made the time at the level today for their first time ever, crossing the finish two seconds under the optimum time of 6:44. There’s no better momentum-builder than a top result at the first major event of the season as this pair takes aim at Kentucky.

Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous, winners of the CCI4*-S. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

“Kitty gave me a wonderful feeling on course today,” Marilyn said. “As is expected at Red Hills, the course presented plenty of challenges throughout and was a good combination of substantial fences and combinations with strong technical questions. There was a lot to do, but it was wonderful to feel Kitty so fit, confident, and rideable.”

Marilyn credited a new warm-up routine to get RF Scandalous’ head in the game ahead of cross country, allowing her to set out with the intent to meet her minute markers head on. “Instead of feeling that I needed to protect her from the pace until I was sure she was settled in the task, for the first time I felt able to let our first minute be one of our fastest.”

Expressing gratitude to her team and support crew, Marilyn says it was a key success today in many ways, and she’s “incredibly proud” of RF Scandalous. “Kitty and I owe so much to the many people that allow us the support to continue learning and trying to play the game better.”

Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue D’Argouges finished 2nd in the CCI4*-S. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Show jumping, rather than cross country, proved to be the sorting hat of this year’s four-star field with lots of scoreboard shuffling taking place on Saturday. The second- and third-placed runners up made big moves up the scoreboard from where they began on Friday.

Finishing second is Colleen Loach with Qorry Blue D’Argouges, Peter Barry’s 17-year-old Selle Français gelding (Mr. Blue x Hardie Du Bourg). The pair climbed from 10th after dressage to third after show jumping and bumped up one more spot when previously second-placed Allie Knowles and Ms. Poppins picked up 20 at #13B, the Hammock Table to Skinny Brush.

“He felt great!,” Colleen said. “He’s so dependable on the cross country, you sort of point and shoot. A track like this suits him because he’s easy to turn since he’s not going super fast.” Colleen will now head to The Fork as her last stop before Kentucky.

Leslie Law and Voltaire De Tre finished 3rd in the CCI4*-S. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Rounding out the top three is Leslie Law and Voltaire De Tre, a 12-year-old Selle Français gelding (Gentleman IV x Jasmina Du Fresne) owned by Tre Brook. They started in 15th before moving to fourth and ultimately third.

“He is a horse that is always going to move up,” Leslie Law said. “Although he was 15th he was in a very competitive place, and that’s the main thing, after dressage to have him in a competitive position, because then, if he’s only fractions of points behind the other horses, he’s going to get them in the next two phases.”

The pair was second here at Red Hills in 2020. Leslie attributes Voltaire De Tre’s success to becoming a “real seasoned cross-country horse.”

“He’s an absolute joy to ride cross country,” he says. “Over the years I’ve ridden a lot of horses, in Olympic games, in world championships, in European championships, and I think he has to be one of the best cross country horses I’ve ever ridden.”

Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Monte Carlo finished 4th in the CCI4*-S. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Karl Slezak and Fernhill Wishes finished 5th in the CCI4*-S. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Of 25 cross country starters, 18 pairs went clear. Two pairs picked up 20, another two had two refusal, there was one fall and two retirements on-course. Fence #6C, a coffin, proved a sticky spot, as did #11A, a skinny to a drop. Four horses were withdrawn before cross country. An exciting addition to the cross country this year was the addition of 18 frangible jumps across its six levels of courses.

CCI3*-S 

Tamie Smith and Solaguayre California. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Tamie Smith and Solaguayre California, a 10-year-old Argentine Sport Horse/Holsteiner mare (Casparo x Solaguayre Calandria, by Casall) owned by Jullienne Guariglia, also enjoyed a pillar to post win in the CCI3*-S. They finished on a score of 24.1.

“California is an animal cross country,” Tamie said of the mare. “You wouldn’t think so if you watched her warm up but she gets out there and eats up the cross country. Super proud of her.”

Leslie Law held onto second with Lady Chatterly, a 10-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Jackie and Steve Brown. Sara Kozumplik Murphy was third with Devil Munchkin, her own 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood/Thoroughbred gelding.

Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Devil Munchkin finished 3rd in the CCI3*-S. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Rebecca Brown and Dassett Choice finished 4th in the CCI3*-S. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Rebecca Brown and Dassett Choice finished 4th in the CCI3*-S. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Capitol HIM finished 5th in the CCI3*-S. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

CCI2*-S 

Alyssa Phillips and Cornelius Bo, winners of the CCI2*-S. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Red Hills marks the eighth win in a row for 7-year-old Cornelius Bo, who Alyssa Phillips and her mother imported from Germany in 2019. After taking some time to build a partnership with the gelding, who lives on the spookier side, Alyssa brought him out to test the waters in 2020. Soon enough, he came into his own and discovered his love for the game. This weekend in the CCI2*, Alyssa said, was about confidence.

Alyssa Phillips & Cornelius Bo. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

“I came in and wanted him to have a good go, never having been to Red Hills,” she said. “I knew that he’s never run through the trees or anything and with his spookiness that can be a factor. I wanted to give him a good go on the flat and improve my score from the two-star at Virginia last year. I’ve just been wanting to give him the best go possible to keep him confident and I think he’ll definitely do an Intermediate at some point this year. I’m not trying to push him because he is really talented.”

Alyssa won the Advanced division in 2020 with Oskar.

Lauren Nicholson and I’ll Have Another finished second on 27.6; Caroline Martin and King’s Especiale finished 3rd on 28.4.

Advanced

Jennie Brannigan says the time off in 2020 has helped her shift priorities and rebalance her life — and that extra bit of focus showed this weekend as she takes home the Advanced win with Tim and Nina Gardner’s 11-year-old German Sport Horse FE Lifestyle, also finishing fourth and sixth with Stella Artois and Twilightslastgleam, respectively.

“(FE Lifestyle) was just a champ all weekend,” she said. “He is one of my fastest horses and he really felt good the whole way around. I was thrilled with how (Stella Artois) went; it was probably the nicest round I’ve ever had on her.”

Jennie credits a lot of changes at home — reducing the number of horses in her program, focusing on honing her skills, taking more dressage lessons — with allowing her to add more balance to a lifestyle that used to center around organized chaos.

“I used to thrive on the stress and the chaos, and if I wasn’t going flat-out I wasn’t happy,” she reflected. “I’ve really learned that working harder doesn’t always mean you’re doing better, and so I was all about the break because it gave me the opportunity to redo my life a little.”

Jennie spent massive amounts of time learning from Erik Duvander and James Burtwell, and says the extra focus on the flat has her feeling that much more prepared to take on a season that will see her return to Kentucky — and the five-star level — for the first time since 2015.

Maya Black finished second with Miks Master C on 33.1, followed by Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Moonshine on 35.2.

Elsewhere on the horse trials scoreboard, Katie Malensek and Landjaeger, her own 7 year old Oldenburg gelding, won Open Intermediate; Hannah Sue Burnett and Coolrock Wacko Jacko, Christa Schmidt’s 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, won Open Preliminary; and Sallie Johnson and Fernhill DiCaprio, her own 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, won Preliminary Rider.

Red Hills International: Website, Results, Course Maps, EN’s Coverage

CCI4*-S Final Top 10: 

CCI3*-S Final Top 10:

CCI2*-S Final Top 10:

Advanced Final Top 10:

Perspective: Have We Exhausted Our Options When it Comes to Safety?

By on Mar 14, 2021 1:00 pm -

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. Natalie Lester, a professional rider and coach from Area V, shares her thoughts with EN in this piece. To read other Perspective pieces on this topic, click here.

Natalie in 2013 competing Prelim at Meadow Creek Horse Park with Flagmount’s Freedom. Photo by Mike Stewart.

One common thread amongst those supporting the increase in MERs is that it does not matter how much more it costs because safety is the number one priority. I completely agree with that. Prelim is a serious level and riders must be prepared before they undertake it.

The problem is that there is no evidence showing that 10 MERs will make riders safer at Prelim. The statistics given to us by the USEA only prove that more experienced upper level riders are less likely to have falls at Prelim. It does absolutely nothing to show that more MERs at Training will make an inexperienced rider better prepared for Prelim.

The main type of problem that eventing seeks to prevent is horse falls, those present the greatest danger to the rider and the horse. Anyone who has been around eventing for a while can tell you the answer to this question: What horse is most at risk for a fall, the honest one or the stopper?

The honest horse that tries their heart out even when presented very badly to a fence is the one that is the scariest on cross country when ridden poorly. These are also the horses that will have no problem breezing through 10 MERs (or 8 as is proposed now) because Training level cross country is still very forgiving to unbalanced and inaccurate riding when on a kind horse. Everyone is familiar with the saying, “Practice makes perfect,” and also its correction, “Perfect practice makes perfect.” This rule is ignoring that truth and assuming that merely completing more competitions makes a rider safer. A rider can do many competitions and achieve a certain result while being dangerous all the while and it often will not show in the numbers until the margin of error is removed by moving up a level.

This rule is also going to encourage people to move up to Training level faster now to start getting MERs as going Novice at recognized shows will be viewed by many who have Prelim as a goal, as a waste of money, especially in an age where entry/travel/hotel/coaching are in the ball-park of $1,000 for most Areas except II and III. This certainly will not be for the welfare of the horse or the rider. Now do I think people should do that? Obviously not, but do I believe it will happen? Absolutely yes.

This rule is also going to prevent coaches from taking over the ride for a green horse’s first season at Prelim. There are many, many very qualified coaches, some who have completed Kentucky Five-Star, who are only B riders under the new rules. Now they have to run six Training levels before they could take the horse Prelim. For an experienced coach who has been working with a horse for years, and often doing training rides at home with them, that is excessive. It is also now making it unrealistic and yes, unaffordable for them to give the horse that experience as in Area V for example, they are going to have to show that horse an entire season of training before doing a season of prelim, thus resulting in the owner losing an entire year of competing. This is the loss of a valuable tool that helped prepare many amateurs and juniors for Prelim and allowed them to safely bring a horse along.

This rule is decimating the value of older upper level horses who still could teach very valuable lessons to less experienced riders but need to be run sparingly at their age and mileage. This is also a tool that helps keep inexperienced riders safer while they develop at higher levels and it will largely be destroyed by this rule.

This rule is going to discourage people from attending clinics, unrated jumper shows and doing schooling shows. All of these avenues often offer more of a chance for improvement than recognized shows. Clinics obviously have the benefit of guided instruction with experts. Schooling shows allow for practice at a fraction of the cost taking away the pressure to make time and ride to get the job done rather than improve technique. Jumper shows with their multiple rounds have a tremendous educational benefit to riders and horses. Now, I agree that none of these can be used for qualification since we can only use what we can ensure is up to standard for MERs, but to not consider how much inadvertently discouraging them will hurt developing more skilled, safer riders is short sighted.

This rule is going to discourage many adult amateurs and result in them switching to jumpers. Anywhere other than the east coast this is going to make their dreams unattainable, often not because of skill but because of finances.

Now, as I said when I began this piece, I do not think we should shy away from rules that would truly make the sport safer because of cost. Life is priceless. However, one argument that has been used far too much by those supporting this rule goes something like this: “You are not taking Prelim seriously at all if you oppose this and you think that money is more important than safety! Quit thinking you are entitled to go Prelim and endanger yourself and your horse!”

If we really want to put safety above all else, no matter the cost then the answer is not to have more MERs, it is to stop the sport of eventing. And horseback riding. And driving cars. And having children.

So if we are honest with ourselves then we can agree that none of us live our lives with safety being the goal no matter the cost. And if we are going to impose a rule that has tremendous cost, then it must make the sport tremendously safer to be worth it. And considering that I have students who are the children of medical doctors who are very limited in the number of recognized shows they can do because of the expense, I would say financial impact needs to be heavily considered as well or the sport will not survive in most of the country.

If USEA is going to make a rule that, in every place that is not Area II or III, is going to hurt the livelihood of event horse producers, show organizers, the vast majority of trainers and destroy the dreams of so many competitors, then there must be compelling evidence that it will make the sport much safer.

We must have also exhausted all other avenues to make the sport safer that could actually single out dangerous riders instead of punishing the masses and still allowing dangerous riders who can show enough to slip through.

Avenues such as:

  • Making sure qualified medical personnel would be there when accidents do happen.
  • Making the age of riders allowed to go Prelim that of driving age since it is such a serious level and emotional maturity is needed not just skill. The minimum age to compete at Prelim is currently 14.
  • Creating a licensing program where riders could be judged not just for getting around a course, but for doing so in good balance and technique to move up.
  • Drastically increasing the number of collapsible jumps at Prelim.
  • Requiring more trained spotters to be out on course to help draw the TD’s attention to dangerous riders and get them pulled up.
  • Decreasing the amount of rails allowed in MERs.

There are so many other ways that would actually prevent dangerous riding rather than making a blanket rule that is not going to stop a single dangerous rider that has the pocket book to get an honest horse and go to enough shows. Some of the above the USEA has already begun to work on which is great, but there is still much progress to be made with those and others that have not been touched on at all.

I know the USEA has good motives with these proposals but painting with a broad brush that punishes so many and does not catch the few is not the critical thinking and creative handling a complex problem like this needs.

Sunday Links

By on Mar 14, 2021 1:01 am -

It’s another unorthodox Covid-19 edition of Red Hills Horse Trials and no doubt the big spectator-friendly atmosphere is sorely missed. But as always we appreciate everyone doing their part to stay safe out there until the virus in fully in the rearview. This past year has been a long road but with each passing day it seems to get a little bit brighter.

U.S. Weekend Action:

Red Hills International H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [EN’s Coverage] [EHV-1 Precautions]

Copper Meadows H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores] [EHV-1 Precautions]

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

MeadowCreek Park Spring Social Event: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Links: 

Cleaning Horse Feed Buckets: When, How, and Why? – The Horse

The Healing Power of Rest – The Plaid Horse Magazine

Practical Horseman Podcast Transcript: Tim Bourke

Red Hills Boasts 18 Frangible Fences for Cross-Country Course

Appendix 3 Rule Change Proposal Tabled Until 2023 Competition Season

Calling all Cambox helmet cam users! Did you pick up a new Cambox during their Black Friday sale last year? Are you a huge fan of snapping on your helmet cam for a cross country run? We’d love to feature your helmet cam video right here on EN! If you use a Cambox Isi3 or V4, we want to hear from you! Please email [email protected] with your video link and description.

Video: “Now it hits different. When I’m on a horse I just feel free.” #TripleAmputeeEventer Jessica Thoma continues to inspire us with her determination and positivity.

Mind the Moss! Red Hills CCI4*-S Cross Country Course Preview

By on Mar 14, 2021 1:00 am -

Good morning from cross country Sunday at Red Hills International Horse Trials! For many horses this is their first big ask of the season, and as usual course designers Mike Etherington-Smith and David O’Connor have assembled a stout set of questions to be pondered and hopefully answered correctly. Here is the link to Cross Country App’s presentation of courses for all the levels, including a virtual guided course walk with Mike for the CCI4*-S and Advanced tracks. Many thanks to Shems Hamilton for the photos.

The 2021 edition marks Mike’s seventh year as designer of the CCI4* track, with credit to builders Tyson Rementer and Levi Ryckewaert for creating a course that melds seamlessly with the Florida landscape. The pandemic has necessitated a departure from the usual protocol, though, as Mike explains:

“It was somewhat surreal having a facetime call with David, Tyson, and Levi setting the fences for this year’s 4* and Advanced course whilst sitting back here in the UK. I admit to a twinge of sadness at not being able to get to the event this year but things should be very different in 12 months time as we head back to normality.

“Fortunately, I am very familiar with the venue and can come up with plans for the courses without having to make a pre-visit even though it is obviously not quite the same and I wouldn’t want to do it like this every year. Nevertheless, I have complete faith in the team to produce the courses that everyone wants at this time of year: to ensure that the distances are correct, the lines work, and the small but significant final adjustments, for example, the cutting and shaping of the brush and the angles, are what they should be.

“A few changes have been made but the course still runs right handed as last year. This way round has a good feel to it and seems to flow better than going left handed. Having no sponsor tent opens up other options towards the end of the course where the last combination will be and this may even remain an option going forward.

“The change to running the cross country last for all classes will hopefully prove popular, there is no question that competitors prefer this for short format classes.

“Much work continues to be done on the footing, which I am told looks the best it has ever has and is a great credit to all involved. Credit also needs to go to Jane and Marvin and their excellent team for managing to put the event together in tough circumstances. Running events is like walking a financial tightrope, something I know only too well having run events for 30+ years, and so hopefully their efforts will be justly rewarded – the sport needs a variety of good events.

“My thanks as always to Tyson and Levi for their course building skills, Corinne and her team for all the fence dressing, to the team from the City Parks Department who look after the venue throughout the year, and to David who, in my absence, has very kindly set the fences on my courses.

“As always, I hope that everyone has a good time, that the courses ride well, and that this provides the good early season run that athletes and horses want. I shall be watching from afar and look forward to the feedback.”

Red Hills International: Website, Ride Times, Schedule, Live Scores, Course Maps, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter