Classic Eventing Nation

Adequan USEF Youth Team Challenge: What You Need to Know

By on Jan 19, 2021 12:00 pm -

Gold for Area VIII. Photo by Shelby Allen.

2021 brings about some changes to the youth competitions here in the U.S., with the former North American Youth Championships (NAYC) evolving into this year’s Adequan USEF Youth Team Challenge. This evolution, USEF Managing Director of Eventing Jenni Autry says, came about after the NAYC repeatedly encountered difficulty fielding international teams. In an effort to more closely align the Young Rider program with the USEF Eventing Pathway Program, the Youth Team Challenge also emerges as a way to expand opportunity to a greater number of riders.

In order to field a larger pool of talent from which to select championship teams, the U.S. here takes a page from the books of federations such as Great Britain, Ireland, and Germany. In these and other European countries, young riders enter the funnel at a much younger age, meaning that by the time they reach the senior level they’ve already had some legitimate team experience under their belts. It’s this model that USEF Development and Emerging Coach Leslie Law hopes to emulate.

“Certainly in the U.S. what we’re trying to do in a way is change the culture of it a little bit,” he explained on an informational webinar hosted by the USEF last night. He went on to explain the importance of this experience under pressure, citing the fact that the U.S. has often put riders on championship teams who had no previous team experience. This, he says, is an area of opportunity, and a reason behind this new Youth Team Challenge.

The team of Jenni Autry, USEF Development Coach Leslie Law, former Young Rider Caroline Martin, and USEF Eventing Performance and Program Support Director Christina Vaughn provided their vision for this new program in the webinar, which expands both the age limitation and the number of competitions available to riders ages 14-25. The full informational webinar has been made available for on demand viewing on the USEF Network.

Below are some key takeaways from the informational webinar. For full information on the USEF Youth Team Challenge, click here.

When do riders need to declare for their respective areas?

The deadline for area declarations is January 29 at 5 p.m. EST. The Area Declaration form is found in an athlete’s MyUSEF account under the Athlete Dashboard. Jenni Autry advised that even if a rider is not yet qualified for a level, submitting a declaration will allow the USEF to have everything in order for when the rider does achieve their qualification later in the year. Information about declaration can be found in the Selection Procedures here.

What are the age ranges for each level?

  • CCI1* – 14 through 18
  • CCI2* – 14 through 21
  • CCI4* – 16 through 25

What events will host the NAYC competitions and finals?

The host venues are expected to be announced soon. We do know that there will be five events on the East coast and four on the West coast, all in Short format, culminating in a Long format final on each coast in the fall.

What will be the team format at NAYC competitions?

A team may be comprised of up to four riders, with three the minimum to field a team. Areas may also send individual riders. At the Short format events, areas may field up to two teams. Mixed teams may also be available. Foreign teams will also be welcomed; riders should reference their own Federation’s selection criteria.

Other notable takeaways:

  • Riders will not be required to stay at the level they begin the year at – so, they could start at CCI2* and end at CCI3*, with proper qualifications
  • There will not be a CCI1* offered at each venue; it is the USEF’s hope that more venues will add CCI1* courses in the coming seasons
  • Riders will not have to compete in each leg in order to qualify for the year-end final

Have more questions? The USEF has published a Q&A addressing common questions about the Youth Team Challenge, and you can also reach out directly to Jenni Autry ([email protected]) or Christina Vaughn ([email protected]) with further inquiries.

Remembering The Alchemyst

By on Jan 19, 2021 9:00 am -

Debbie Rosen and The Alchemyst at the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Photo by Jenni Autry.

We are saddened to report the passing of Debbie Rosen’s longtime upper-level partner, The Alchemyst. The Canadian Sport Horse gelding was 22 years old.

Debbie and The Alchemyst competed at the top levels of the sport from 2007 through 2015, also acquiring two then-four-star completions at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2009 and 2010. The West coast-based pairing was a regular sighting at events scattered up and down California and was a source of deep inspiration after Debbie underwent breast cancer treatment in 2009. Her chemotherapy was completed just a month before the 2010 edition of Kentucky – before that came multiple surgeries – where she would go on to finish 36th overall aboard “Al”.

Big Al said it was time to go. He made my dreams come true and then went on to live his best days with Lauren Sherrill….

Posted by Deborah Rosen on Monday, January 18, 2021

Debbie sent the following tribute to her friend:

“Al had a buck known coast to coast and made five-star fences feel like cross rails. He both terrified and thrilled me every time I stepped in the tack and I came off of him more than all other horses combined. And yet, when I was chemo sick, he watched over me like a parent and babysat even the smallest of children. I think his youngest passenger was 10 months old.

He lived for the roar of the crowd when he show jumped around Rolex clean and the noise was deafening, you could feel his heart burst with pride.

He loved to travel and one year we drove just the two of us across the country. At one point, the wind was blowing semis over so I pulled to the side of the road and got in the trailer with him. The trailer felt like it was going to rock off its axles but we just huddled up until it was safe to continue. He just patiently waited, munching hay, until we could get on with it. He never saw what the fuss was about, in general.”

The Alchemyst truly became the vessel through which Debbie lived out some of her biggest dreams. In 2015 at the conclusion of his upper-level career, Debbie elected to allow her partner to become a teacher, sending him to reside with Lauren Sherrill. He remained under Lauren’s care, traveling with her from the East coast to California to Arizona, all the way through his final days.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Lauren Sherrill (@lsherrill92)

“You taught me more lessons than I ever imagined possible,” Lauren wrote in a statement. “I will forever miss getting to gallop cross country with you. There will never be another like you. What I’ll miss the most, though, are the quiet moments at home. From cuddles in your stall while you napped just before attacking a cross country course, to the bareback trail rides to watch the sun rise or set.”

Please join the Eventing Nation team in sending condolences to Debbie, Lauren, and everyone else who loved The Alchemyst. Please share your favorite “Al” memory in the comments.

Tuesday News & Notes from Legends Horse Feeds

By on Jan 19, 2021 12:01 am -

Gazelle and Kent Farrington. Photo by Andrea Evans/US Equestrian

US Equestrian hosted their Annual Meeting over the weekend that concluded with their year-end awards ceremony. Kent Farrington was crowned 2020 International Equestrian of the Year, and Gazelle, with whom he won the 2020 $213,000 American Gold Cup Grand Prix CSI4*, was named International Horse of the Year. You can read more from USEF.

National Holiday: National Popcorn Day

Events Opening This Week: Southern Pines H.T., Full Gallop Farm March H.T., Rocking Horse Winter III H.T., Sporting Days Farm March H.T. II, Chattahoochee Hills H.T.

Events Closing This Week: Sporting Days Farm February Trials I H.T., Three Lakes Winter I H.T. at Caudle Ranch

Tuesday News:

Nothing can keep Jessica Thomas out of the saddle. When a deadly episode of vasculitis claimed three of her extremities, she still remained dedicated as ever to riding and her horse, Sugar. Since then, she’s been inspiring riders everywhere from her Instagram. [No Limitations for #TripleAmputeeEventer Jessica Thomas]

No horse is perfect, but some have more issues than others. Some riders may find themselves selling horses with baggage, whether that is behavior, soundness or health related. The most important tidbit to keep in mind: be upfront and straightforward. [Selling or Giving Away a Horse With Issues]

While we recover from the long weekend, here’s some listening to pop into your earbuds. In this episode, Nicole Brown, Rob Burk, Max Corcoran, and Diarm Byrne are tackling was ahead on the 2021 horizon. [USEA Podcast #275: The 2021 Preview Show]

Tuesday Video: How’s this for easy watching?

Did someone ask for footage of Regé-Jean Page training to ride a horse for Bridgerton? For more:…

Posted by Netflix on Saturday, January 16, 2021

It’s Okay, It’s Not a Saber-Toothed Tiger

By on Jan 18, 2021 3:00 pm -

In this excerpt from her book Brain Training for Riders, eventer and former psychotherapist Andrea Waldo tells us two things we need in order to successfully deal with a thing we fear.

Photo courtesy of Andrea Monsarrat Waldo.

The brain’s number one concern is survival, and that fear developed to facilitate that survival. In order to get out of your way, your fear needs to know that you’re going to survive whatever is happening; it needs reassurance.

“But I’ve tried that,” most people tell me. “I try to tell myself not to worry, that everything’s going to be fine, but it doesn’t help.”

That’s because those phrases aren’t actually reassurance—they’re more like dismissal. They carry the underlying message, “You shouldn’t feel this way and there’s something wrong with you if you do.”

Meanwhile, your Lizard Brain (the area that includes the brain stem and the amygdala, and where our survival instinct comes from) is shouting, “LIAR! It’s dangerous out there! You don’t know that everything’s going to be fine!” And your Lizard is right: you can’t predict the future, and there is some element of risk every time you get on a horse. While your Lizard Brain does need to accept this element, you can reassure it that in all likelihood you will survive the situation it fears. When it knows you will survive, it can quiet down.

Using an example of my own fear of falling and losing face with other riders and trainers, here’s how to reassure your Lizard Brain.

Fear: If I fall off at that jump again, everyone will think I’m a terrible rider.

Me: Is that thought true?

Fear: Yup. I’m sure of it. (Fear is always sure of everything it believes.)

Me: When we’ve fallen off before, how did other people react?

Fear: They asked if I was okay. Some people told me they’d fallen at that same fence. Pretty much everyone was really sympathetic. BUT maybe they were just being nice, and they secretly thought I was a terrible rider.

Me: Maybe. But when other people fall, do you think they’re terrible riders?

Fear: Not unless I’ve seen them do something really wrong that caused the fall, and even then I usually think that everyone makes mistakes. I’d only think they were terrible if I’d seen them have the same kind of fall over and over a whole bunch of times, without trying to fix the problem.

Me: So chances are, if you did fall, people would be sympathetic rather than critical.

Fear: Yeah, I guess. BUT some people might still think I’m an idiot to make the same mistake twice.

Me: They might. Could you live with that?

Fear: No, that would be AWFUL! It would be the worst thing ever! I hate it when people think bad things about me. I would just die!

Me: Okay, it would feel terrible. But no one has ever died of embarrassment. So could you live with it?

Fear: (sulking) Yes, it would feel terrible, but I could live with it. I guess it wouldn’t kill me.

The brain can’t tell the difference between a real threat and an imagined one—it sees a dressage judge and a saber-toothed tiger as equally threatening. This is why the above conversation is so important. Your fear needs to be reassured that even though something might be difficult, painful or unpleasant, it probably won’t be fatal. Reassurance isn’t telling yourself that you don’t care or that it won’t hurt, because that’s not always true. It’s reminding yourself that even if it feels awful, you can live with it.

That’s all your fear needs to know in order to feel reassured.

A Plan: Escaping from Tigers

Fears, worries, and anxieties are essentially “what if?” questions. The problem is that we either don’t answer the question or we answer it with a worst-case scenario, so we can’t imagine a positive outcome. The only outcome we can see when we’re afraid of being attacked by a tiger is being eaten by the tiger. Coming up with a plan to solve the “what if” lets the Lizard know that you have a strategy for escaping when the tiger comes out of the woods. When your Lizard Brain needs a plan, ask the following questions:

  1. What skills, abilities, or knowledge do I have that will make that worst-case outcome unlikely?
  2. What will I do to prevent the situation from happening?
  3. If the problem starts to occur, what will I do to solve it?

In the case of my fear of falling at the cross-country jump, the answers look like this:

  1. I now know to think about how the time of day will affect the light around the jump (a shadow created the problem that led to the original fall). I’ve practiced this type of jump repeatedly, so my horse and I are familiar with it.
  2. I’ll approach the jump with the right pace and balance. I’ll set up a few strides earlier than usual to really make sure we get it right.
  3. If I feel like I’m going to get to the wrong take-off spot, I’ll half-halt to add a stride. If I’m really not sure, I can circle away from the jump and re-approach—it would mean 20 penalties, but 20 points is better than falling. I can also take the option fence if there is one.

Reviewing in detail how to solve the problem will ease your fears and remind you that you have some control over the problem. Now your fear can step back out of the way so you can get on with your ride.

Image courtesy of Horse & Rider Books.

This excerpt from Brain Training for Riders by Andrea Monsarrat Waldo is reprinted with permission from Trafalgar Square Books (www.HorseandRiderBooks.com).

Weekend Winners: Majestic Oaks, Fresno County Horse Park

By on Jan 18, 2021 12:00 pm -

Welcome to a fresh edition of Weekend Winners! We’ve got plenty of highlights from around the country to get to, so let’s jump right in.

Our Unofficial Low Score Award winner from the weekend was earned by Sofie Vane Olmen and Highlife’s Je Taime. This pair finished their weekend with a win in the Beginner Novice B division on a final score of 20.0. This is a personal best for the pair, their previous having come at Rocking Horse last February, where the finished on a 31.2. Looks like that off-season work is paying off – well done!

Let’s take a look at who else took home the blues this weekend:

Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks: Final Scores

Open Preliminary A: John Michael Durr and PDQ Leigh (31.1)
Open Preliminary B: Eliza Farren and Creffino PJ (29.1)
Preliminary Rider: Ella Kay Lane and Dark Shadow’s (26.6)
Open Training A: Caroline Martin and Redfield King (32.3)
Open Training B: Caroline Martin and Redfield HSH Conner (25.5)
Training Rider A: Tracey Corey and Byrnwyck West (29.8)
Training Rider B: Stephanie Sills and Salt (29.1)
Novice Rider A: Lily Allen and All Aboard (31.4)
Novice Rider B: Emma Tuit and Rapid Romero KV (26.2)
Open Novice A: Ariel Grald and In Vogue (28.6)
Open Novice B: McKena Knott and Alice Alice (22.1)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Crissa Gillette and EPA Wildfire (28.8)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Sofie Van Olmen and Highlife’s Je Taime (20.0)
Open Beginner Novice: Conor Rollins and Meerfalken (26.8)
Starter: Kathleen Roof and Light the Lights (36.4)

Fresno County Horse Park Combined Rest: Final Scores

Advanced CT: Lauren LoPiccolo and Diego (38.6)
Intermediate CT: Alexis Helffrich and Graceland’s Lincoln (30.9)
Open Preliminary CT: Amber Levine and Keep Calm (23.9)
Open Training CT: Amber Levine and Lordanna (23.6)
Training Rider CT: Samantha Stewart and Pride of Tautane (34.5)
Open Novice A CT: Mia Brown and Duke HW (26.7)
Open Novice B CT: Sue Buxton and Clintwald (21.4)
Beginner Novice A CT: Khloe Garrett and Cloud Nine (30.8)
Beginner Novice B CT: Chloe Black and Leap of Faith XI (31.1)
Open Beginner Novice CT: Kelsey Holmes and Karel H (28.6)
Open Intro CT: Laura Tesone and Ehrens Freedom (25.8)

A 28 in dressage and a clear show jump round to begin our partnership. I’m over the moon 💖

The village that helps me step up for this girl grows every day and you are all in my head every step we take.
VC Kim Goto Miner
Equine body work Sara Lujano

#grateful #ottb #panthermackeynbs #newyearnewdream
New Beginning Sporthorses Foundation
Wild Ride Eventers

Posted by Deborah Rosen on Sunday, January 17, 2021

Other Results from This Weekend:

Carolina Horse Park Pipe Opener

Full Gallop Farm Schooling Show

Pine Hill GHCTA Schooling H.T.

Stable View Winter CT

Monday News & Notes

By on Jan 18, 2021 9:18 am -

The third Monday of the year is commonly referred to as ‘Blue Monday’ – the most depressing day of the year. I’ll admit, I’ve always been a little skeptical about this; it’s a concept that was introduced by a travel company with some slightly wishy-washy equation to back it up, and also, I’m not convinced that telling people they’re going to feel rubbish on a particular day is that helpful to anyone.

Having said that, though, January can be a really tough time for a lot of people. Everyone’s broke, the weather’s pretty crap, and, like, we’re in a bloody pandemic, so that’s a bummer. As someone who can struggle with depression and feelings of isolation, I absolutely feel you if you’re having a rough time of it today. Here’s my advice, which you can take, leave, or adapt to suit your own situation:

  • Either go easy on yourself or set yourself an achievable challenge, depending on where you’re at. If you’re feeling low and you’ve got that horrible full-body, full-brain tiredness, know that your horse really won’t mind if you take a day off riding, or just go for a mooch around the farm. On the other hand, if your brain will. Not. Shut. Up. and you’ve got a bad case of Monday anxiety, stick on a YouTube workout class, go for a long run to a noughties pop-punk playlist, or go attempt to ride the 5* dressage test just because you can.
  • Plan a luxury evening in tonight, as opposed to the usual evening in because you can’t legally go anywhere. Pick your boxset or film of choice now so you can get excited about it, daydream about your take-away order, make your bed and lay out the comfiest PJs you own. Go get yourself a bottle of wine that costs more than eight bucks. You’ve got this, baby.
  • Don’t let your brain convince you that you’re fighting any battles alone, or that you’ll inconvenience anyone or embarrass yourself if you reach out for help. There will be days when you think you have no one. That’s just a nasty little trick your insecurities are playing on you. The bravest thing you’ll ever do is send a text asking for a little bit of extra support or just a bit of good banter to fill the void – and I guarantee the person you reach out to will be just as glad to hear from you.
  • If all else fails and you’re just in a slump, sack off your to-do list for now and take a nap if you can. Sometimes a little brain reset is just the ticket.

Ultimately, folks, it’s always worth remembering – if you’re surrounded by horseshit, then there must be a pony.

National Holiday: It’s Martin Luther King Jr Day – here’s some ideas for how you can honour it despite the pandemic.

US Weekend Results:

Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks: [Results]

Fresno County Horse Park Combined Test: [Results]

Your Monday Reading List:

Give it up for the west coast – they’ve got sun, surf, and now, the 2020 SmartPak USEA Stallion of the Year. Rose Sullivan’s M Crème De La Crème, an 8-year-old Belgian Warmblood piloted by Alexis Helffrich, took the honours – click through to find out more about this exciting up-and-comer. [YEH Graduate M Crème De La Crème SE Clinches 2020 SmartPak USEA Stallion of the Year]

Actress and keen amateur showjumper Kaley Cuoco has retired her top horse Bionetty, and honestly, I read this article pretty much solely for the barn chandeliers and the golden tendon boots, and I’m not sorry about it. [Kaley Cuoco Retires Her Show Horse Bionetty: ‘There Will Never Be Another Like You’]

You’ve probably heard people waffle on about how Pilates has transformed their riding – but what does it actually do, and how can you tap into those benefits yourself? This comprehensive piece will answer all your questions (and honestly, folks, it really does make you more secure, more balanced, and more effective in the tack – SO annoying that working out does actually seem to be the answer to everything!) [Fit to Ride: Pilates]

Some Mondays you want hard-hitting news, some Mondays you want a zebra foal going REAL FAST. I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely feeling the kind of brain-mush vibes that require immediate cavorting videos. It would be rude of me not to share the wealth. [Newborn zebra foal delighting zoo staff with his ‘zoomies’]

Those folks who jump the poles have swept the board in the USEF Equestrian of the Year stakes. Honestly, though, I’ll never forget abusing my press pass at Aachen to photograph Kent’s win in the Grand Prix from inside the ring, so I shan’t begrudge him this at all. [Kent Farrington And Tracy Fenney Named 2020 Equestrians Of The Year]

The Monday Follow:

Mollie Summerland isn’t just one of Britain’s most exciting up-and-coming talents, she’s also an outspoken advocate for mental health and incredibly candid about her own ups and downs on her path to becoming the next big thing. We’re a big fan of her honesty, positivity, and hard work – and obsessed with Charly van ter Heiden, the spicy gelding she’s produced through the ranks to finishing in the top ten at their CCI5* debut.

Morning Viewing:

I’ll admit it – for me, when it comes to men riding horses, ability definitely impacts fanciability. They either have to be really, REALLY good, or totally incapable of identifying a horse in a field of cows. I didn’t think there was any wiggle room there, but now I’ve seen this video of Bridgerton‘s Regé-Jean Page bumbling around with his feet through the stirrups and a hoodie tied around his waist and you know what? I still would. Now, who do I call to volunteer as his coach for season two?

Teaching Truths: Daniel Sarango on Partnership, Wellness, and Why You Don’t Have to Be Perfect

By on Jan 18, 2021 9:00 am -

Welcome to EN’s latest educational series, “Teaching Truths”, in which we tap up-and-coming and established professionals for their core training philosophies. Horsemanship runs at the core of our first trainer, Georgia-based Daniel Sarango, who helps run Le Bonheur Equestrian at Chatsworth Stud with a critical eye to horse care and rider wellness.

Daniel Sarango and Koninklijke Diamant DS, an approved stallion he has produced. Photo by Maggie Perkins.

Daniel, who has been at Chatsworth for over nine years, is now in charge of the breeding and training business, working with boarders and horses in training as well as providing coaching at shows. He’s also heavily involved in producing the horses bred at Le Bonheur, priding himself on the fact that he’s often there when the foal is born all the way through their first steps under saddle and early competitions.

“I’m very blessed in my life, I have a great team and I’ve been able to learn so much about management and horsemanship,” Daniel, who immigrated to the U.S. from Ecuador in 2012. “We are so focused on working the horses in their bodies and creating partnerships with them. It’s more important to have a partnership and work them in the way they like to make them stronger.”

We dove into the core philosophies that Daniel employs during every interaction with horses and students alike.

Daniel and Icarus Chatsworth DS. Photo by Maggie Perkins.

Build an Invaluable Partnership

A happy horse will, at the end of the day, outperform her unhappy counterpart who is just going through the motions. As a part of his role with producing the young horses coming through the program, Daniel spends time deciphering what the horses’ strengths are and what they’re communicating to him. “You need to find the job that the horse likes,” he explained. “Not every horse can be an eventer or a jumper. You need to learn what your horse enjoys and what he’s good at – then you can build your relationship.”

Think of it this way: a horse spends the majority of the day in a stall or a turnout and just an hour or two under saddle. In order to maximize this time, a horse must be focused, comfortable in the body, and happy. Time, he says, is the best ingredient for building this comfort level and knowing your horse inside out. “When you start to spend more time with the horse, the horse will start to give you a better feeling,” he said.”

Teaching Sterling Pollard. Photo by Anna Bosworth.

Hone Your Technique

A rider’s education is ongoing, and because of this it’s important to instill proper technique and form in order to ensure correctness of training. Daniel likens improper technique in the saddle to improper technique in the gym – soon enough, this bad form will catch up with you and cause injuries or lack of progress.

“Some people ride every day incorrectly,” he said. “And that doesn’t make the horse stronger, yet they’re being asked to do more and more. Horses start to have pain and then poor behavior comes.”

Daniel Sarango and Katarina Van De Heffinck. Photo by Pat Schmidt.

Implement Wellness and Recovery

The team at Chatsworth has always been fitness focused, and Daniel says rider fitness and taking proper care of our bodies is key to any success in the saddle. This was a realization that came to him later in life, however.

“I never thought you had to be fit to ride a horse,” he recalled. “I thought you just needed to ride and ride and ride every day. I came from Ecuador and was in the anti-narcotics police, and every four months we were given fitness tests. I never thought in my life that being fit could help you ride.”

After beginning his tenure at Chatsworth and learning the Crossfit ways of Michael Pollard, Daniel’s outlook was changed. If anything, he says, taking proper care of ourselves is a way to deal with the everyday stress that comes with running a horse business.

“One of the best medicines for stress is exercise,” he explained. “And you don’t need to do too much, but you just need to invest in your body and your life. If you’re happy, your horse will be happy, too. Everything is about energy.”

In the same vein, Daniel says that he encourages everyone in his program to implement proper recovery – for both themselves and their horses. “You can have all the muscles you want, but too much will stress ligaments if you don’t do proper stretching and recovery,” he said. “The body needs time to recover.”

Daniel and Carmac at Pine Top. Photo courtesy of Hoofclix.com.

Don’t Chase Perfection – Chase Improvement

In teaching clinics, Daniel says he often comes across riders who feel they need to be perfectly “on” during their lesson. This isn’t so, he explains. “I feel the more you try to do, the more stressed the horse will be,” he said. “It’s not stressful. One lesson isn’t going to fix everything. I’m just going to observe and give you some advice to improve. We are all so different – we can’t expect ourselves to always be perfect and ride really nice and be straight all the time.”

Improvement, not perfection, should be the goal. Daniel encourages everyone who rides with him to open their minds to learning. “You need to find the way that is good for your horse,” he said. “You can do many good things if you want, when you’re able to open your mind.”

#EventerProblems Vol. 249: Wheels Up

By on Jan 17, 2021 10:00 am -

Even on lockdown, so many of you are taking flight. Thanks for flying with #EventerProblems. Be sure to tag us in your future adventures with #EventerProblems.

Sunday Links

By on Jan 17, 2021 12:01 am -

Many celebrities are passionate riders, and now another one may have caught the horse bug. I’ll speak for horse people everywhere when I say welcome, Chrissy Teigen! Chrissy hasn’t shared which discipline she’ll settle into, but she definitely has the sense of humor for eventing. First up, finding the right equipment… a.k.a. breaking in your boots.

Everyone and their mother (and Gigi Hadid) weighed in. I’ve always heard to get them wet and ride a bicycle. If you have a better trick, go ahead and tweet at Chrissy @chrissyteigen.

U.S. Weekend Action:

Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks: [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Fresno County Horse Park Combined Test: [Website] [Schedule] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Sunday Links: 

Enjoy the word as Murphy puts 1st winner on the board

Announcing the 2021 USEA Interscholastic Eventing League Calendar

Rebranding With Confidence In 2021

Fecal microbial transplants hastened recovery from severe diarrhea in horses

What You Say About Your Horse Says More About You

From Eventing To Mongol Derby To The Racetrack: Young Trainer Neasham Takes Aim At Magic Millions With All-Female Team

Hot on Horse Nation: Top 5 Mistakes People Make When Buying a New Horse

Sunday Video: Hang on tight, Colleen!

Saturday Links

By on Jan 16, 2021 12:01 am -

Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan at the 2019 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

There has been a bit of doom and gloom surrounding the conversations about the future of the Kentucky Three-Day event this week and while it’s true that there’s a long road to economic recovery ahead (a statement not exclusive to equestrian events) I think it’s important to note that all is not lost. Make sure you check out EN’s latest conversation with Lee Carter, the Executive Director of Equestrian Events, Inc.

U.S. Weekend Action:

Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks: [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Fresno County Horse Park Combined Test: [Website] [Schedule] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Saturday Links:

‘We’ll miss him so much’: five-star horse retires to compete at lower levels

The Armed Forces Equestrian Center: Changing Lives Outside the Box

Horses in Art Throughout the Ages

Rule Refresher: 2021 FEI Rule Changes

Sesamoid Bones: They Take A Lot Of Pressure And Raise A Lot Of Questions For Researchers

Just in on Jumper Nation: Stressed Out, Perfectionistic Junior Riders: Let’s Help Them Put It in Perspective

Saturday Video: