Classic Eventing Nation

Letter from the Editors: February 2021

By on Feb 13, 2021 10:00 am -

As co-editors Leslie Wylie and Sally Spickard discussed Eventing Nation’s goals for the upcoming year, we wanted to make a conscious effort to connect more with the readers who take time to read our content each day. To that end, we’re pleased to offer our reflections on the year behind and ahead of us. Do you have an editorial you’d like to share with EN? You can send your Letter to EN to [email protected].

Sally Spickard

It’s a weird year to be closely involved with a sport that works like a large clock around the ticking cycle of the Olympics and World Equestrian Games. With the pandemic disrupting last year’s Olympics – and, potentially, this year’s – it leaves a lot of us with questions on the future of the sport.

“The future” is hardly a new conversation; as with anything, we deal with the constant of change and the evolution of our sport as the society around it shifts on a daily basis. But the very real threat of losing five-star events and even the Olympic Games poses a lot of questions.

This has prompted me to turn to look at the rest of the sport even more closely than I did before. After all, the amateur rider makes up the vast majority of all equestrian endeavors. As the sport at its highest levels sorts out its future, how can we also expand this majority market to be larger, more financially sustainable, and a better foundation of support for the riders at the top?

There are two focuses in terms of the function of the sport’s foundation. On one hand, you have the high performance program, the tip of the pyramid if you will. These are the riders on the Wheaties boxes, the faces of our sport. Their success is crucial for the survival of the sport; their names and likenesses bring in sponsor support and general recognition. The function of the foundational support, for this purpose, is to source and produce new generations of talent to keep the team on a competitive level. The functionality of the Eventing Pathway Program and its evolution under USEF Managing Director of Eventing Jenni Autry is proof that the net being cast is becoming wider.

But then there is another function of the foundation, and this function really has little or nothing to do with the tip of the pyramid, save perhaps from a financial support standpoint. It’s the foundation made up of riders who don’t aspire to reach the Olympics or the Advanced level – or even an “upper level”, period. It’s the riders who love to compete a handful of times each year, as their budget and work schedule allows, those who circle the American Eventing Championships as their career goal. And it’s my opinion that it’s often these riders who are the most forgotten, the most infrequently seen, and the least supported.

So how do we marry these functions? How can we bolster the ranks of the amateurs not only for the benefit and support of the top levels (which are fully necessary and highly valuable) but also to offer them the best possible system? How can we welcome more riders into our sport to discover their passion for partnership with a horse? Not only does this increase the pool of talent for the top, it also creates a stronger foundational base of dedicated amateurs. How do we evolve to become more efficient in our business model as a sport so as to ensure its lasting viability? How do we keep from pricing out those who would join us if it weren’t for financial limitations? How do we protect the most vulnerable among us? And how to we ensure that every rider has a seat at the table, and a voice to be heard?

These are topics that are very near and dear to me, and I plan to dive into them in more depth this year. I certainly don’t know the answers, but I’m willing to learn and I know our sport is worth it. Watching the likes of Gina Miles, Karen O’Connor, Ingrid Klimke gallop effortlessly around the most difficult courses in the world sucked me in; jumping my first cross country fence without fear years later solidified my love for the sport. It is my hope that we can continue to work toward a more sustainable, more accessible world that benefits all riders and builds a future for the sport we all love so much.

Thanks for riding along with us.

Sally

Leslie Wylie

February 2021 feels a different planet than February 2020, doesn’t it? This month last year I was jetting off to Wellyworld for the eventing showcase, cheering with the crowd as horses raced around beneath the sunshine and palm trees, hugging folks with abandon, blissfully unaware that just a month later our season would come to a screeching halt. We adapted, though, and while lots of things are still up in the air at least it feels like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I took my mother-in-law and grandmother in for their vaccinations last week. Until then I hadn’t realized how much constant anxiety I’d been carrying around with me, worrying about them getting sick, until I was finally able to take a breath and let a little bit go.

In this weird year we’ve had a bit of extra time to tend to gardens that need to be tending to, and one of EN’s weediest flowerbeds is its classifieds site Sport Horse Nation. It looks exactly the same now as it did when a pimply-face baby CEO named John designed it in his mom’s basement 11 years ago. Yet it’s still somehow THE place to buy and sell event horses (testimonial, I found my midlife crisis sportspony Princess on SHN). These nice fancy horses deserve better than some crappy WordPress blog, so we’re giving them a brand new completely redesigned website –coming soon! Thanks to our Patreons who shared feedback for the redesign; I was able to integrate a bunch of it. Honestly, the equine marketplace is in dire need of reform, and our goal is to create a radically transparent space for buyers and sellers alike. All Patreons will receive a coupon code for a free ad ($75 value) AND they’ll be the first to get the gate code, so all the more reason to join the club!

Other than that … the snowbirds are already flapping their wings down in Aiken and Ocala. The first two Advanced horse trials of the year, Rocking Horse II (Feb. 18-21) and Pine Top Winter II (Feb. 26-28), and Twin Rivers Winter (Feb. 25-28) are this season’s upper-level appetizers — loaded potato skins, truly, is how I like to imagine them. Maybe fried mozzarella sticks.

Honestly I’m just glad to have 2020 behind us, and I’m really excited about our new Patreon (one day left to score a sign-up before Feb. 14 at ANY tier and receive an EN Yeti mug or wine tumbler!) I’m already loving the lively conversations taking place in our invite-only Facebook group and the breadth of experiences you guys are bringing to the table. Now more than ever, it’s a relief to have a friendly, safe space where you can kick it with friends, even if we’re separated by computer screens. Community is what sets eventing apart, and I’m so honored to be a part of it with you.

Now more than ever, go eventing!
Leslie

Saturday Links

By on Feb 13, 2021 12:01 am -

Photo via Polk County Division of Public Health on Facebook.

Equestrian areas like racecourses, The Kentucky Horse Park, and, above, the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) have been able to play a role in the fight against COVID-19 in their use as vaccination sites. Organizers of the vaccination clinic at TIEC  have been able to utilize the indoor arena and allow recipients of the vaccine to drive to drive on in and remain in their car throughout the process. Polk County Health Director Josh Kennedy, who has been essential in mobilizing the community to volunteer for the vaccine rollout, believes that TIEC would make an excellent site to host a mass regional vaccination event that could potentially administer 5,000 doses per day.

U.S. Weekend Action:

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

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

Ocala Winter I H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

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

Saturday Links:

Low risk of Covid-19 spread via sporting equipment, research shows

Don’t Forget Your Mask and Social Distancing at the Barn

Four Reasons to Join EN on Patreon Right Now

How Did The Kentucky Three-Day Event Nearly Fall Through The COVID Cracks? An Interview With EEI Executive Director Lee Carter

Rule Refresher: Extraordinary Rule Changes Taking Effect April 1, 2021

15 Riding Exercises to Correct Common Leg, Seat and Hand Problems

10 Soft Tissue Injury Resources on TheHorse.com

Saturday Video: What’s it like to watch cross country from inside the rider’s tent at Badminton? Well, here’s what it sounds like:

Friday Video from SmartPak: The Long-Awaited Debut of Celebs in the Saddle

By on Feb 12, 2021 5:48 pm -

If your web-browsing habits are anything like mine, you probably spend a lot of time checking in on the flurry of social media posts from the Leicestershire-based Urban Equestrian Academy, an inner-city riding school dedicated to helping its students embrace the far-reaching possibilities of a life on horseback.

Led by the enigmatic Urban Cowboy himself, Freedom Zampaladus, UEA’s mission is dynamic: it’s about providing access, of course, but it’s also about shaping the industry itself to allow everyone who wants to be involved a safe place to do so. And because Freedom’s own extraordinary life has been so heavily influenced by the horses he’s known and the opportunities he’s carved out, there’s no better man to spearhead a new and exciting project – a web-based series called Celebs in the Saddle.

Celebs in the Saddle made its long-awaited debut on YouTube tonight with boxing commentator and former Cruiserweight Champ Johnny Nelson saddling up to join Freedom for a chat and a hack through urban Leicester. We’re so excited to dive into this compelling new series, and can’t wait to see who’s next on the mounting block. In the meantime, if you’re enjoying the show, consider donating to the UEA’s ongoing efforts here.

Go Eventing — and even more importantly, go equity in equestrian sport!

Four Reasons to Join EN on Patreon Right Now

By on Feb 12, 2021 3:00 pm -

Join the party!

If you haven’t heard – and we wouldn’t be mad if you hadn’t, it’s been a crazy last two weeks in eventing land – Eventing Nation launched its very own Patreon this year. Created to connect on a more intimate and candid level with our readers, EN’s Patreon is a growing community with over 50 members to date. If you’ve been on the fence about joining, here’s a look at what you could be missing out on:

1. Community and camaraderie

Our sport is like a little small town – which can be a good thing and a bad thing, all at once. We wanted to create a safe, inclusive space where riders and diehard eventing fans could share their thoughts and experiences. By joining us as an EN Patron, you’ll gain access to our private Facebook group, Insanity In the Middle, where we discuss eventing topics, share memories, and ask members for feedback on upcoming editorial projects.

2. Exclusive content in the Facebook group

We’re really excited to kick off a series of candid and informal video Q&As with professionals from the horse industry. Think mental health, fitness, riding, training – every topic you could think of, we plan to tackle. First up on Thursday, February 18, I’ll be sitting down for a Facebook Live with Sarah Carlan, a wellness coach I worked with on this article about mental health hurdles. This will be an intimate Q&A for Patrons only, and I’m really looking forward to normalizing mental wellness through these conversations.

3. Editorial feedback

Our platform was designed to represent the eventing community at-large, so it makes a lot of sense to include the perspectives of our readers in our work. To that end, our Patron group will also serve as a focus group of sorts, meaning members will have the opportunity to preview our editorial calendar, provide story tips and suggestions, and even sit in on some of our editorial team meetings. We want all of our readers to feel seen and included – this means we’ll always need your input!

Snag a cool Yeti wine mug (or a tumbler, your choice) when you sign up!

4. We’re giving away cool swag to our founding Patrons!

We wanted to celebrate the launch of our Patreon with a cool promotion: any members who sign up by Sunday, February 14 will receive an EN Yeti tumbler or wine mug (your choice!) as a token of our appreciation. All you need to do is sign up as a Patron at ANY tier (member tiers start at just $5/month) by Sunday, and we’ll send you your gift.

We’re overwhelmed with gratitude from all the support we’ve received so far. With any hope, one day we’ll be reunited in person at a cross country tailgate, but for now, we’ll see you online. Click here to become an EN Patron.

Go Eventing.

Who Gave You the ‘Eventing Bug’?

By on Feb 12, 2021 12:00 pm -

Embed from Getty Images

A recent discussion in the Facebook group for EN Patrons (haven’t joined us on Patreon yet? Click here to learn more.) got me thinking and interested in hearing our readers’ responses. It centered around the topic of the “eventing bug” – you know, that moment where suddenly life seemed more clear and the only thing that seemed to make sense was hurling yourself, atop a horse, over solid obstacles at speed. And now, here you are: an eventing rider, a trainer, a photographer, a vet, an owner, a volunteer, a fan.

Surely many of us can remember a specific moment in which that clarity came to us. For me, it was watching Gina Miles and the great liver chestnut, McKinlaigh, soaring over the fences in the old Rolex arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. It was 2003, and it was my first year attending what was then known Rolex Kentucky. Somewhere, there’s a scrapbook made up of instant camera photos and scribbled notes about the horses that stood out to me: Antigua, Leaps and Bounds, Primmore’s Pride…everywhere I could crane my teenaged neck, I was surrounded by superstars.

My 2003 program covered in signatures like the true eventing nerd I have always been.

It was this year, driving back to Missouri with red shoulders and a program book covered in rider signatures, that I knew I’d found the horse sport I loved the most. Growing up, I’d gravitated towards racing as that was primarily what you saw on TV, but once I got wind of what eventing was, there was no going back.

Each year from then on, I attended the big event on the Bluegrass, booking my hotel in December when I just couldn’t wait any longer and stalking the schedule for autograph signings and course walks. A tradition had been born.

Years and years later, I would finally get the chance to interview Gina Miles for a story right here on EN – after I got my starstruck gushing that goes against most journalistic standards of conduct out of the way, of course.

These days, I love discovering people’s “aha!” moments – the simple exchange between Alexia Blake and Lauren Ferguson that gave a little girl stars in her eyes comes to mind as a recent favorite. The memories shared on social media over the past week surrounding this year’s Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event have spurred me to curiosity, so now I give the mic to you: who gave you “the bug”? Tell us your story in the comments or by emailing [email protected] and I’ll compile them into a future article.

Go Eventing.

U.S. Eventing Team Hosts First High Performance Training Session of 2021

By on Feb 12, 2021 9:00 am -

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z. Taylor Pence/US Equestrian Photo.

The U.S. Eventing Team hosted the first high performance training session of the 2021 competition year in Ocala, Florida last week, welcoming athletes from the Elite and Pre-Elite Training Lists to an intensive four-day camp focused on individualized training with Erik Duvander, the U.S. Eventing Team’s High Performance Director, and the program’s new show jumping coach, Peter Wylde.

The training session offered athletes the ability to familiarize themselves with Wylde’s coaching style and focus on fine-tuning their jumping technique with the opportunity to train on multiple horses each day. The first two days showcased combinations named to the program’s Elite list, with the final two days tailored to athlete and horse combinations on the Pre-Elite list.

Duvander, who is entering his third year with the program, was pleased with the talent and quality the combinations displayed over the four days and also discussed his enthusiasm welcoming Wylde to the coaching staff of the program.

Erik Duvander (left) and Peter Wylde (right). Taylor Pence/US Equestrian Photo.

“This is the first session of the year, so this is an opportunity for Peter to check in on the horses and get to know some of the horses he hasn’t seen yet,” said Duvander. “The first day started with easy exercises to get the horses nice and supple and jumping in a relaxed manner. The second day was jumping more of a real track, not of high difficulty, but seeing more of what we need to focus on for the next training session and working on the fundamentals before the competition season so these riders can apply in their own training at home.”

Wylde holds an impressive resume having competed for the U.S. Jumping Team for more than two decades and represented the United States at the 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, where he secured an individual bronze medal aboard Fein Cera. He was selected to the team for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, helping to secure team gold. Wylde has recently turned his focus to coaching and training – a perfect fit for the needs of the U.S. Eventing Team program.

Doug Payne and Quantum Leap. Taylor Pence/US Equestrian Photo.

“We have been working on control, having a really good relationship with the horse, and getting the horses supple and jumping well, their rideability – these are all things that we do and focus on the pure show jumping side, too,” said Wylde. “I have to say, I’m so impressed with the riding and the horses. We have an incredible group of riders, both the seasoned ones and the younger athletes, who are just fantastic with really good horses.”

“This group likes to ride with a faster pace and more forward to jumps. That’s just normal with cross-country being a part of what you do. Everything that I feel – and the more I’ve done this with the eventing group it further strengthens my opinion – is to actually work on collection, suppleness, control, and getting the jump to be much more vertical and up than forward and flat. That’s a big part of it. It includes the roundness of the jumps and gymnastics training, so that’s really what we’ve worked on a lot. Most of it is very simple: low jumps, jumping out of hand, jumping with collection, landing and having collection after the fences.”

Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire. Photo: Taylor Pence/US Equestrian

Building support around the program has been a key strategic focus for Duvander, who has enlisted top trainers from around the world to offer their expertise and coaching to program athletes. Duvander, who started his tenure with the program in 2018, sees the growth and progress so far in just three years, and the talent, quality, and competition results of program combinations are consistently trending in the right direction. In addition to Wylde, Duvander has also recruited Johann Hinnemann to join the team as the U.S. Eventing Team Dressage Coach.

“I’ve been in this role for a few years now and have been looking for someone as a show jumping trainer who would be the right fit for us. I got connected up with Peter about a year ago, and I was always a great fan of Peter, especially when he was riding and competing internationally. He rides in such a beautiful way. We had the chance to try him with a few riders at the start of training last year and it’s been super suitable, not just for the jumping, but the same style flows into the dressage and cross-country with the softness and the harmony,” added Duvander. “It’s very important to me to have a system that is a consistent way of training horses, so the jump training doesn’t do one thing and the dressage training does another.”

Last week’s jumping session was the first of 10 training days with Duvander and Wylde scheduled for the Elite and Pre-Elite athletes in the lead-up to the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, and dressage-focused training with Hinnemann will be introduced soon.

Jo Ann Wilson with C’est La Vie 135. Taylor Pence/US Equestrian Photo.

“We were thrilled to host a successful and safe training session in Ocala under the USEF’s COVID-19 protocols,” said Jenni Autry, USEF Managing Director of Eventing. “The horses on the Elite/Pre-Elite squad were also evaluated by Team Vet Dr. Susan Johns, Team Equine Physio Jo-Ann Wilson, and Program Farrier Beck Ratte to establish a baseline for the year. We were lucky to host both the training session and vet evaluations at Rob and Chris Desinos’ beautiful farm and are very grateful for their support and generosity.”

As an important spring season on the horizon will culminate with team selection for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Duvander feels confident and pleased looking ahead to the future and the progress made so far.

“This year is the first year I really feel like things are starting to gel,” he said. “When I look at the quality of the riders and horses we have at the moment, and their focuses, I think we’re really on to good times ahead of us.”

View the photo galleries and coverage from the 2021 USEF Eventing Winter High Performance Training Session here.

Watch the 2021 USEF Eventing Winter High Performance Training Session highlight video here.

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOPC, and USEF sponsors and members.

[U.S. Eventing Team Hosts First High Performance Training Session of 2021]

Friday News & Notes

By on Feb 12, 2021 12:03 am -


As I sit here writing this, there is snow piling up outside my window, but it’s not going to look as beautiful as this picture of Burghley. I mean, it might for a few hours in the morning, but then it will inevitably turn into more mud, which I can hardly believe is possible. Having my fields on the hillside is great most of the year because it helps my horses with their fitness, but in the winter, it’s a straight up slip ‘n’ slide. I have one flat paddock, and the dummies go in there for a few hours in the morning so they can get their hoohas out without breaking a leg. I wish I had an indoor for riding, but also maybe for turnout sometimes.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

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

Full Gallop Farm February H.T.: [Website] [Volunteer]

Ocala Winter I H.T.: [Website] [Volunteer]

Pine Top Intermediate H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Show Photos] [Volunteer]

News From Around the Globe: 

Only two days left to take advantage of our Patreon launch promo! We’re giving a free EN Yeti tumbler or wine mug to every new Patron who signs up by Sunday, February 14. We’re excited about the exclusives our Patrons will get to take advantage of as members of our private Facebook group – don’t miss out! Click here to join us and become a supporting fan of EN.

Exercising your horses in the winter is different than during warmer weather, and not just because of the layers of clothing required. You’ll definitely want to increase your warmup and cool down times, keep an eye on the frozen footing, and sometimes you just have to sacrifice a workout for health reasons. If it’s too cold to breathe, it’s probably too cold for your horse to exercise, so just let it go. [Tips to Safely Exercise in the Winter]

In 2018, a Utah couple was doing landscaping in their backyard near the city of Provo when they unearthed something surprising: an almost complete skeleton of a horse about the size of a Shetland pony. Scientists and the media took note. Preliminary data suggested that the horse might be more than 10,000 years old. A new analysis of a horse previously believed to be from the Ice Age shows that the animal actually died just a few hundred years ago—and was raised, ridden and cared for by Native peoples. The study sheds light on the early relationships between horses and their guardians in the Americas. [Horse Remains Reveal New Insights into Native Peoples]

How do top grooms keep their tack so clean? Aside from a lot of elbow grease and experience, worldwide professional grooms have their own secrets to taking care of the expensive and valuable accessories for their top performance horses. [Tips & Tricks on Cleaning Tack]

Keep things steamy this Valentine’s Day weekend with Haygain! Steamed hay offers so many benefits to your horse, including respiratory health, digestion, increasing hydration, and improving palatability. What more could your love ask for this holiday season? Now even better because they’re having a Valentine’s Day sale! [Haygain Love]

Best of Blogs: WEC is the Future, and the Future is Here

Video: So pretty and proper.

 

 

Volunteer Nation: 4 Events You Can Help This Weekend

By on Feb 11, 2021 3:00 pm -

Photo via Hunt Club Farm.

With the USEF’s current moratorium on spectators extending through June of this year, a great way to get out and see some of your favorite local riders in action and help out the hard-working event organizers is to volunteer. Volunteers continue to be essential to the running of every event, and there are still plenty of opportunities available to help out this weekend.

We’ve compiled some resources on volunteering with COVID-19 regulations in mind. We’ll reference this list each week in Volunteer Nation, so take a few moments to familiarize yourself with what’s new and different.

COVID-19 Resources for Eventers
Volunteers Adapt to the New Normal
Volunteers Weigh In on New COVID-19 Protocols

As always, you can earn merit points when you donate your time through the USEA’s Volunteer Incentive Program. Registering to volunteer through EventingVolunteers.com makes it easy and seamless to both find a job and shift as well as learn what your role will entail.

Event: Fresno County Horse Park February H.T.
Dates: Friday, February 12 through Sunday, February 14
Address: 7430 North Weber AVe, Fresno, CA, 93722
Positions Available: Dressage Steward, Temperature/Waiver Checker, XC Crossing Guard, XC Jump Judge

Event: Ocala Winter I H.T.
Dates: Thursday, February 11 through Monday, February 15
Address: 11008 S Highway 475, Ocala, FL, 34480
Positions Available: XC Decorator, XC Finish Timer, XC Jump Judge, XC Warm-up, Dressage Check-In, Dressage Score Runner, XC Score Runner, SJ Scribe

Event: Pine Hill GHCTA Schooling H.T.
Dates: Saturday, February 13 through Sunday, February 14
Address: 1720 Hwy 159 East, Bellville, TX, 77418
Positions Available: Event Prep – General, Greeter, XC Jump Judge, XC On-Course Timer, XC Warm-up, Event Takedown – XC, Secretary

Event: Pine Top Intermediate H.T.
Dates: Thursday, February 11 through Sunday, February 14
Address: 1432 Augusta Hwy, Thomson, GA, 30824
Positions Available: XC Jump Judge, Dressage Bit Check, Dressage Steward, SJ Jump Crew

Tokyo 2020 Update: Official Playbooks Outlining Athlete Protocol Released

By on Feb 11, 2021 9:00 am -

Excerpt from the Athletes Playbook.

As the calendar ticks closer to the postponed 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan (currently scheduled for July 23 – August 8, 2021), Olympic officials have released Playbooks outlining Covid protocol for Athletes, International Federations, Press, and Broadcasters. It remains the intent of the Olympic organizing committee to proceed with the Games despite a surge in cases in Tokyo and a decline in public approval of the Games. Organizers have also stated that a vaccine will not be required of athletes; vaccine distribution in Japan is scheduled to begin this month.

Though it remains uncertain whether or not spectators will be allowed at the Games this summer, the protocol outlined in the Playbooks addresses the other stakeholders that will be participating.

An excerpt from the Athletes Playbook.

“We are #StrongerTogether. The values we share – Excellence, Friendship and Respect – will lead us to a safe and successful Games,” the Playbook states. “We firmly believe that if every single one of us commits to following the Playbook, we will come together in the summer for an extraordinary Games that will stand out in memory for all the right reasons. Our gathering is a symbol of hope for humanity. Our gathering requires the best within us.”

Excerpt from the Athletes Playbook.

Participants will make use of Japan’s COCOA and health reporting smartphone apps for contact tracing and exposure notifications. A negative COVID-19 test must also be provided, along with additional testing upon arrival and throughout the Games, prior to entry into the country.

In addition to these parameters, participants are also cautioned to use normal social distancing and hygiene throughout their travels. All who will be in attendance are also encouraged not to chant or sing as encouragement, but rather to clap only.

“You are responsible for proactively monitoring and reporting your personal health every day via the health reporting app,” the Playbook says. “Testing will be a crucial part of minimizing transmission: used for general screening and for those identified as a close contact of a positive case; as well as used for diagnosis for those experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.”

All official Playbooks for Tokyo can be found here.

We will continue to monitor the status of the Olympics and are also working on providing an update on the Eventing High Performance program and its preparation for the Games.

Go Eventing.

Thursday News & Notes

By on Feb 11, 2021 12:03 am -

Amy Tryon and Poggio II. Photo courtesy of Lauren Ferguson.

Athens 2004 Olympics was the first time I vividly remember watching the entirety of the Eventing portion with rapt attention, and following all of the US riders from start to finish. I was a teenager running around Training level, and I didn’t know any of them personally, so they were superstars in my mind. I particularly remember watching Poggio in the jumping phases, because his style of going over the fences was heart stopping. Not only was he unbelievably catty and quick, but he was pretty wild at times. I didn’t have a clue what it took to get to that level, but watching him go on cross country made me think one day I’d like to do that, and run that fast and jump that high. Thanks Poggio, for inspiring many young girls across the world with your unique style.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

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

Full Gallop Farm February H.T.: [Website] [Volunteer]

Ocala Winter I H.T.: [Website] [Volunteer]

Pine Top Intermediate H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Show Photos] [Volunteer]

News From Around the Globe: 

Nothing we love more here at EN than snooping around famous riders’ farms! Ever wondered what Piggy March’s yard looks like from the inside? Wonder no more, my friends. Piggy is based in Northamptonshire, on a farm that was specifically built to meet all the needs of an Eventer, plus a view from the arena that’ll knock your socks off. Can I move in too? [Arena with a View: Piggy March’s Yard]

We’ve all known a grumpy horse or two, and chances are that it’s just brushed off as “that’s just him”. But new studies into equine behavioral science show that a horse that’s grumpy in the barn is likely not having a good time under saddle either. This study has shown that there’s a relationship between poor welfare in a stall and the expression of behaviors, postures, and even a particular way of moving when the horses are being ridden. [A Grumpy Horse]

Throwback Thursday to the 2010 YEH Championships, and the successful horses that came from there. With the east coast championships at Fair Hill and the west coast championships at Twin Rivers that year, the two championships saw 26 starters. Twelve of those horses fulfilled the program’s mission and went on to be successful at the upper levels of eventing. [YEH Yearbook: 2010]

Science confirms what we all knew to be true: pelvic mobility and control dictate riding efficacy. In general, the rider’s pelvis pitches in the opposite direction and rolls in the same direction as the rotation of the saddle. Riders need core stability to follow and guide the horse’s movements and avoid giving unintended or conflicting signals. In this study, they assessed performance in the saddle by measuring quality and harmony of a dressage test, as well as measuring the horse’s heart rate and salivary levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Riders were also studied on their ability to roll their pelvis on a giant rubber ball. [Importance of Pelvic Mobility]