Classic Eventing Nation

Monday News & Notes

By on Feb 1, 2021 7:00 am -

At the forefront of many of our minds is how we can create a more inclusive equestrian industry. If the magnitude of the question has left you with an uncomfortable feeling of inertia, try setting some actionable goals this month that’ll increase your awareness and allyship. While the onus is absolutely on all of us with a platform in the industry – whether that’s working in media, running stables, or sitting on the board of a governing body – to ensure we’re opening doors and creating a safe and welcoming space for every rider, individual actions are so important, too.

I found this Instagram post from the blackequestrians account so insightful and educational. Have you ever stumbled over the word ‘Black’? Are you unsure whether it’s a better choice than, for example, African-American? Does the thought of getting it wrong push you away from engaging in conversations in which it could come up? Take ten minutes this week to read an article or two penned by a Black writer, which will help you understand the nuances of terminology and make you that much more comfortable with it. Don’t be afraid of being corrected by someone who’d prefer you use different language. Accept it with grace, thank the person for letting you know, and commit to the change – that one small step will make a difference in creating a space that’s open to everyone. Oh, and while you’re at it, give this piece by John Eligon a read to learn about why we capitalise ‘Black’.

National Holiday: It’s National Freedom Day, which marks the anniversary of the formal abolition of slavery in 1865. It’s also the start of Black History Month – and we’re excited to bring you plenty of special content looking into the history of Black equestrians throughout February.

US Weekend Results:

Full Gallop Farm H.T.: [Results]

Galway Downs Winter H.T.: [Results]

Rocking Horse Winter I H.T.: [Results]

Your Monday Reading List:

Have you joined the insanity yet? ICYMI, Eventing Nation is now on Patreon! We’ve created a private Facebook group just for Patrons and are giving out an EN Yeti mug or wine tumbler for anyone who signs up by February 14. Click here to learn more!

As the pandemic continues its reign of terror, an event rider has called for fellow equestrians to take risk management seriously. Many of us are continuing to ride and train our horses as normal – but when Sasha Hargreaves had an accident at home, she saw firsthand just how over-capacity the medical system is. [‘We must minimise risk’: eventer’s eight hours in hospital highlights scale of Covid pandemic]

There are some lucky folks out there who are in a position to get out competing right now. I enjoyed this reflection on the eight things you learn on returning to the ring – and not just because it gave me a chance to live vicariously through someone else’s far more exciting life. [Eight Things I Learned This Week]

Liz Halliday-Sharp certainly made the most of her 2020, winning the USEA Rider and Lady Rider of the Year titles. But she’s not the only member of her team to top the rankings – Cooley Stormwater has been named the USEA Seven-Year-Old of the Year. [Cooley Stormwater: 2020 USEA 7-Year-Old Horse of the Year]

How well do you know affable British star Alex Bragg? We’re willing to bet at least half of these fun facts about the rugby-player-turned-farrier-turned-rider will come as a surprise to even keen fans of Alex and his top horse, Zagreb. [Horseball, water treadmills and a French connection – nine things you didn’t know about Alex Bragg]

Opportunity of the Week: Want to take your horse to college, but don’t have the means to transport them across the country? Brook Ledge Horse Transportation can help. Their new scholar programme will award one student with a return trip for their horse – and you don’t have to be on an equestrian course or team to be eligible. Check it out here. 

Follow of the Week:

Celebrities who ride have been a major topic of conversation since Chrissy Teigen donned her first pair of tall boots and rolled around her living room floor in wholly relatable agony. But my attention’s been caught by Selma Blair, the noughties queen of film whose MS diagnosis in 2018 brought a new wave of attention to the nervous system disease. Nearly one million people in the US are affected by MS, which can cause pain, numbness, and loss of hearing and motor functions, and for which there’s not yet a cure. But Selma’s candour about her condition, and her outspoken hope and optimism, prove that your life doesn’t end at diagnosis – and we’re thrilled to see her back in the saddle, exactly as she’d hoped for when she first broke the news two years ago.

 

Looking for More Insanity In the Middle? Meet the New EN Patreon! We’re running a special launch promo: join as an EN Patron at any level by February 14 and receive a free EN Yeti tumbler or wine mug!

Morning Viewing: 

Irish Olympian Camilla Spiers is getting more than she bargained for from her tough new trainer…

Best of JN: Confessions of a Hunter Princess Gone Rogue from Old Folks’ Hell Week with Jimmy Wofford

By on Jan 31, 2021 10:00 am -

This clinic report was first published on our sister site, Jumper Nation.

Generally when one is invited to something called “Hell Week,” the answer is no. Any sane person would say no to something with that name. I, however, have not claimed to be sane and I’ve certainly never passed up a new lesson opportunity with Olympian Jimmy Wofford. So, on January 18th, 2021 this hunter princess began six days of Hell Week.

What IS Hell Week you ask? It is six days of lunge lessons designed to improve the rider’s dressage (flat) position, taught by Jimmy. It’s been a regular part of Jimmy’s training program since its inception in the spring of 1973. You may be surprised to know that Jimmy did in fact come up with its name, and it’s doubtful that any participating rider has disagreed with the namesake. Hopefully you aren’t surprised to hear that many of our sport’s “forefathers” have been big fans of lunge lessons. Horsemen like Chamberlain, Jack LeGoff, Mike Plumb and even Bill Steinkraus used them. The cavalry was known for starting riders with no reins and stirrups. The exercises within Hell Week were not designed to be easy, but rather to be very helpful in developing independent aids, correct use of the spine and balance in the saddle.

Shall we set the scene? An even number of riders are needed, generally four but occasionally six riders participate. For old folks Hell Week, there was myself (of ACE Equestrian), Tom and Clare Mansmann (of Pacific Farms) and Courtney Olmstead (of LCO Eventing). I lovingly named our Hell Week, Old Folks Hell Week, because in general, all four of us are roughly 15-20 years OLDER than the usual riders who participate in Hell Week. We got to work in the indoor at Destinaire Farm all week which provided protection from the cold as well as soft footing for our old bones to smash onto should we take an unscheduled flight off our horse.

Amanda of ACE Equestrian, photo by Courtney Noel Studio.

The week began on a Monday afternoon with a class room lecture. Jimmy covered the basics of the different positions we use and when we use them. He then gave a description of the exercises we’d be doing. The exercises were as follows:

Ready position– Outside hand holding the pommel to pull your pelvis deep and inside hand behind the back. By the end of the week, we were just touching the pommel instead of pulling ourselves in.

Ankle rolls– Exactly as it sounds. Draw big circles in opposing directions with your toes. Done at the walk.

Leg Stretches– Grab your right ankle with your right hand and pull the heel to your seat, stretching the knee downwards. This should happen without leaning or tipping of the body. Repeat with the other leg.

Splits– Place your arms crossed over your chest and move one leg straight and as far forward as possible, while the other goes back. The trick is completing this without tipping of the body and seat bones. Isolating just the leg movement. Done at the walk.

Puppet Master– Stretch your arms out, palms up, at shoulder height and move one leg at a time towards your hand (as if you were following a string up to your hand). This was another exercise to isolate leg movement. It really highlighted stiffness in the hip. Done at the walk.

Windmill– Starting with your arms at your sides, palms to the back, bring one arm forward and around. Your other arm rotates opposite of the first arm that moved. Imagine the hands of a clock. This exercise opens up the shoulders and is meant to be done in the rhythm of your horse’s gait. Done at the walk, trot, and canter.

Amanda of ACE Equestrian, photo by Courtney Noel Studio.

Body twisters– Arms outstretched shoulder height, palms up and rotate the body until you and your arms are parallel to the horses body. You should be able to look to the opposite hip. Then you twist back around the other way. Meant to isolate body movement. Done at the walk, trot, and canter.

Sit-ups– Yes I said sit-ups. Arms crossed in front of your chest and you bend forward, touch your helmet to the horses neck and then bend backwards and touch your helmet to the horses croup. Serious strength training. Meant to be done with the abs and not by pinching with the knee. Done at the walk and canter.

Courtney of LCO Eventing, photo by Courtney Noel Studio.

Side saddle– Without a side saddle. Inside hand holds the cantle and outside hand holds in the pommel, to be starting with legs on the outside of the circle. Switch your hand position when you switch your legs to the inside. Done at the walk and canter.

Tom of Pacific Farms,photo by Courtney Noel Studio.

Jockey position– Pull yourself into a tight two point that mimics the position jockey’s do.

The next exercises were called the gymnastics portion. The horse is standing still for each of these. Safety was a common theme during the week and there were always two spotters for these exercises. I won’t go into spotter body placement, but I will say, kids don’t try this at home (unless you’re doing this with an educated Hell Week graduate).

Amanda of ACE Equestrian, photo by Courtney Noel Studio.

Around the world– Bring both legs to the left side of the horse, lock your elbows and place the hands on the pommel and withers, rotate your body clockwise so you’re facing the horse balancing on your palms and then swing your right leg back over the horse. Repeat on the other side.

Heel clicks– Put your palms on the withers, lean forward while tucking your chin, swing your legs up and behind you and click your heels together.

Scissor kicks– Put your hands on the withers. Begin like for a heel click, but cross your legs to land back in the saddle facing the opposite direction.

Flying dismount– Heel click, push yourself away from the horse and stick the landing like a gymnast.

Backflip– Both legs on the right side of the horse and your left hand on the pommel and your right hand on the cantle. Shimmy your seat down the flap of the saddle and then kick your legs up and over you until you land on the ground facing your horse.

These exercises were all done in repetitions of five.

I can’t say I was feeling super confident after hearing all of the exercises, but I was the lunger first, so I did get to watch Clare do everything. Despite knowing that I’m less flexible than she is, I felt better after watching everything. Later in the week, when I watched things like the canter side saddle, it created some form of dread.

Day 1 came and went, no one fell, we laughed A LOT and despite all waking up feeling a little sore, there was a sense of confidence when we entered day 2. This however was also the day that the “gloves came off”. During our lecture we didn’t actually talk about which gaits we’d be doing for each exercise. I felt really comfortable with body twisters and windmill at the canter. I thrive off of counting around a course, so these motions felt like my body counting the strides. But when I witnessed going from the walk to the canter in side saddle, I peed a little.

Although I had picked the laziest, most comfortable school horse for Clare and I, I was still panicking when it was time for the transition. Panic makes you do really dumb things, like tighten every muscle in your body even though you know you need to relax in order to follow the canter motion. As if picking up the canter wasn’t bad enough, I had to return my left leg to the correct side, switch my hands and move my right leg over the neck, all while cantering. Watching back the video, I know I was being a huge baby, but in my head it was the most terrifying task of the day.

By day 3, you could see the pain in everyone’s faces. The mild soreness we felt on day 2 was a distant memory and today we all felt like the oldest people to attempt Hell Week. Day 3 brought on the new activity of doing sit ups at the canter, which no one seemed to enjoy. Luck was bestowed upon me this day, I did not have to do canter sit ups. Why you ask? Well because I had an epic launch off my horse while cantering in side saddle. I earned my first “honorable scar of combat” (I’m not sure anyone speaks as eloquently as Jimmy). I didn’t bring any pride to these lessons, so fortunately the only thing I damaged was my left hip that I landed squarely on.

Photo by Courtney Noel Studio.

That night the doctor assured me I didn’t have a fracture and I limped into day 4. The rest of the week was somewhat limited for me, since I didn’t have a great range of motion and a decent amount of pain. I was bummed about that, but happy I didn’t get taken out completely. My unscheduled flight with air-Jimmy meant I had to use a different horse for day 5 and 6. On a slightly confident whim, I chose my horse Duncan. He may spook at dead grass, but he somehow doesn’t mind acrobatics on his back. It was an invaluable opportunity to improve my seat on my own personal horse.

I expected to learn a ton, and I wasn’t disappointed. If you’re a Jumper Nation fan, you’re likely a hunter or a jumper, not an eventer. It’s also likely you’re familiar with the H/J way of doing lunge lessons and no stirrups. Because the focus was on our dressage position, Jimmy wanted our leg as long as we could manage, with droopy toes. I have pictures to prove just how hard letting my toes droop was. What I also learned, however, was that by lifting my toe, I tense my ankle and by association my whole leg, making it much harder to sit with the motion of the horse’s spine. Everyday I became more aware of what I tense in my body that keeps me from being able to sit deeply and correctly. With everyday that our seats and positions improved, we felt our horses become more sensitive to the littlest change in our back and seat.

Overall, my Old Folks’ Hell Week experience was a 10 out of 10. I can’t wait to take these exercises and start using them for my students.

Sunday Links

By on Jan 30, 2021 11:50 pm -

Photo courtesy of the Carolina Horse Park.

Changes are afoot at the Carolina Horse Park. Above you’ll see a sneak peak at the new James P. Baker Show Pavilion, which is set to be completed in March. This space will host officials’ and announcers’ platform, an education and learning center as well as spectator viewing and hospitality space. Additionally, the Park has installed a brand new 160′ x 250′ area with all-weather footing. The team at Carolina Horse Park is always aiming higher, especially as we get closer to their major event, Cloud 11~Gavilan North LLC Carolina International CCI and Horse Trial, which will be held March 18th – 21st, 2021.

National Holiday: National Hot Chocolate Day

U.S. Weekend Action:

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

Galway Downs Winter H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

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

Sunday Links: 

‘We must minimise risk’: eventer’s eight hours in hospital highlights scale of Covid pandemic

Looking for More Insanity In the Middle? Meet the New EN Patreon! We’re running a special launch promo: join as an EN Patron at any level by February 14 and receive a free EN Yeti tumbler or wine mug!

Introducing the USEA Classic Series Modified Three-Day Event

Unpopular Opinion: It’s time for the hunter world to decide if they are a sport or an exhibition

LiftMaster Returns for 3rd Year as Title Sponsor

Trauma doctor shares simple life-saving actions all equestrians should know

Sunday Video: Elisa Wallace takes her gang cross country schooling.

Dappir Ridge Road to the Makeover: Meet the New OTTB Lineup

By on Jan 30, 2021 10:00 am -

For trainers accepted to the hybrid 2020/2021 Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, the work continues after a weird last year. The 2021 event will take place at Oct. 12-17 at the Kentucky Horse Park. Between now and then, this team of four trainers will be blogging their journeys, including their triumphs and their heartbreaks, successes and failures, for Eventing Nation readers.

In 2020, we met the team of trainers from Dappir Ridge Eventing in Charlottesville, Virginia, and it sounds like they’ve had some hills and valleys since their last check in last summer. Here’s the latest Dappir Ridge Eventing update!

Kelly and Robbie Jones finished 6th at the 2020 War Horse Championships at the Carolina Horse Park. Photo courtesy of Brant Gamma.

Quite a few changes have transpired since our last blog post in June. Of our four main 2020 Thoroughbred Makeover hopefuls, only one of them still remains with Dappir Ridge. Sevennotrump (“Tricks”) and Hunters Dream (“Fox”) found wonderful new homes, while Prince Attack (“Prince”) returned to Illinois to be enjoyed by his owner, Laurie. Only the infamous Robbie Jones remains with us- Kelly will fill you in on his recent adventures below.

Over the fall and winter, we have had a handful of OTTBs pass through the barn, which we have brought along as resale projects. A few have since been sold, and a few of them were just too nice to let go! Those in the latter category will stay with us this season to hopefully contest the 2021 “Mega Makeover”.

Of our collection of “keepers”, there is one common thread, which is fairly unusual: ALL of them came from Illinois! Go figure! Since Kiki, our fearless leader, hails from the great state of Illinois, it is only befitting that all of our horses would be from there as well.

Adriana Nannini

Last fall, my 2020 Makeover horse, Sevennotrump (“Tricks”), found his stride in the jumper ring. I took him to a couple of jumper shows at the Virginia Horse Center, where he earned himself champion in the 2’6 division, then easily moved up to the 2’9. In November, Tricks was sold to a 5* event rider, and is now in Aiken for the winter, living his best life! We can’t wait to see how Tricks (now called “Ted”), progresses with his new rider.

There’s a new face in the barn, and a cute one at that, whom I hope will be my 2021 Thoroughbred Makeover project. Her name is Wicked Soprano, aka “Raven”, a 2017 model 16hh black/dark bay filly, purchased sight unseen from CANTER Illinois. Raven had 7 starts on the track, without much success. She was described by her race trainer as a “Morning Glory”- a horse that performs well in their workouts, but doesn’t run well in the actual races. Lucky for me!

This fancy lady stole my heart from day one. She is gorgeous, feminine, and full of pizzaz. Alex says that her human doppelgänger is Posh Spice, if that gives you any idea of her diva personality and stunning looks. Under saddle, Raven has springy, expressive gaits with incredible natural balance, and seems to be a quick learner. She is sensitive to the leg and soft in the bridle- a real sportscar type.

Hacking out is a huge part of our program with the OTTB babies at Dappir Ridge, but some of them take to it more readily than others. Raven really seems to love it, so far! She has hacked alone and with company, through fields, wooded paths, and down our dirt road in a brave, quiet manner. Most recently, Raven has begun trotting over poles, cavaletti and small cross rails, and has taken to it all with confidence and nonchalance. Furthermore, she is sweet and polite to handle in the barn, and has a very persuasive cookie face!

I think my main challenge with Raven will be teaching her to slow everything down. She is a forward-thinking type- I probably say “whoa” about 1,000 times during each ride! She is respectful and wants to learn, but sometimes she still thinks she’s a racehorse. After all, her last race was in mid-December, not that long ago!

I am super excited to bring along this spunky, athletic mare and look forward to our journey to the Thoroughbred Makeover together this season.

Adriana Nannini and Sevennotrump at the Virginia Horse Center in October 2020. Photo courtesy of Adriana Nannini

Wicked Soprano, aka “Raven”. Photo courtesy of Adriana Nannini

Raven and her human doppelgänger. See the resemblance?! Photo courtesy of Adriana Nannini

Raven’s first post-track ride! Photo courtesy of Kiki Osbourne

Dr. Kelly Giunta, VMD

Robbie Jones had a fantastic fall. His feet were finally doing great and we were able to attend most of the shows at the Carolina Horse Park War Horse Event Series. We ended up coming in 6th place in the series championships for Beginner Novice! We also practiced schooling the Novice course a few times and it was no problem at all for Robbie.

In October, we went to a hunter show at the Virginia Horse Center and won a ribbon in a big class against fancy warmbloods! Robbie even went fox hunting a few times with Farmington Hunt Club!

This winter we have been working on perfecting our dressage training with the help of Kiki. We were just figuring out counter canter (sort of) when we were sidelined by a foot abscess- the 2 week long drain out the heel bulb kind! So now, Robbie is nursing his foot back to health and mom is going skiing. We should be back in action soon.

Kelly Giunta and Robbie Jones at the War Horse Championships. Photo courtesy of Brant Gamma

Kelly Giunta and Robbie Jones at the War Horse Championships. Photo courtesy of Brant Gamma

Alex Austin

Last summer, Hunters Dream (“Fox”), came into his own and really grew up, with each ride becoming a little more focused and a little more productive, and handling new environments gracefully. He was listed for sale in August and went to a lovely home with the first people who came to look at him! We keep our eyes out for him on the local show scene, as he didn’t go too far away! I feel very honored and grateful to have been a part of Fox’s training. 

This year, my Makeover hopeful is nearly the exact opposite of little Fox. Crafty Oak’s Run, “Rōnin”, is a 2016 17hh (!) liver chestnut, who came to us from Robbie Jones’s trainer in Illinois. Rōnin had very little (read: zero) success as a racehorse with only three starts. Also, just like Robbie Jones, Rōnin has a lovely sensible brain and affectionate and engaged personality. Not to mention three gaits that are balanced and have a surprising amount of suspension. My face was plastered with a huge smile during the entirety of my first ride on him. 

Rōnin reminds me a bit of a Great Dane puppy at the moment, head and feet a little too big for the body and a similar disposition. He is ready and willing to please and has been a joy to work with so far, hacking out alone or with others, and learning to handle his large body in the smaller space of our arena than previously used to on the track. The right lead is frequently elusive for him at this stage, and bending left is most difficult…my left side will be very strong one day.

I am very excited to see what this big guy wants to do in his second career!

Alex Austin and Hunters Dream in Summer of 2020. Photo courtesy of Adriana Nannini

Alex Austin and Crafty Oak’s Run. Photo courtesy of Alex Austin

Crafty Oak’s Run, aka “Rōnin”. Photo courtesy of Adriana Nannini

Alex Austin and “Rōnin”. Photo courtesy of Kiki Osbourne

Kiki Osbourne (Our Fearless Leader)

It’s been a short while since we all checked in! Thanks to our ongoing pandemic, not surprisingly, the 2020 Thoroughbred Makeover was canceled. Because of this, my 2020 Makeover hopeful, Prince Attack, didn’t have to stay with us until November anymore. Onto “Plan B”. Laurie, Prince’s owner, was anxiously awaiting his return to Illinois so she could get to know her “little carrot”, as she fondly calls him. Shortly after one of the War Horse events, Prince loaded on a fancy horse van with one other horse, an American Pharoah filly- I told him he really had to behave in that company! Laurie met the van in Kentucky and shipped him back to his old/new home state of Illinois. Prince originally came from the CANTER Illinois crew, so I think he’s a Midwest boy at heart!

Laurie took Prince to meet “Cowboy Tim” so that he could continue his education. Laurie was just getting back into riding after a long hiatus, so Prince needed to keep improving his skills to be a suitable mount for her. It was really nice that Laurie understood this, and didn’t try and take on the 4 (now 5) year old solo.

Prince has been thriving in his new home. I get pictures and videos frequently. He even has an Instagram account (@princeattack_ottb)! Prince has learned about western tack and being a versatile citizen. He actually looks pretty fancy in that western saddle! At this point, since it seems like so much is still not a sure thing, we are unsure if Prince will make it back to Virginia in the spring to continue moving toward the 2021 Makeover, or if he will remain with his mom in Illinois instead. Either way is fine with me, I’m just happy Laurie is enjoying the journey with her horse! If Prince doesn’t make it back East, I may have one more option…

In November, I saw another horse on the CANTER Illinois site named Shake and Spin. He was a 2018 model, jet black, leggy gelding and a grandson of Vindication (sire of my beloved OTTB “Galvani”).  I hesitated to call because he was only 2, but kept going back to his picture/video, and a few days later decided to call the trainer. Not surprisingly, she told me that he had been sold- to someone in Virginia. I had a hunch who had bought him. Sure enough, about 3 days after my call, a picture and post about him showed up on Liz Millikin’s Facebook page. Of course I had to comment on the post that she beat me to him, and that he looked lovely. Thanks to Liz, after a phone call and a text or two, I was driving up to Middleburg to pick him up. Hmmmm. There’s now a stunning 3 year old in my barn, now named “Frijole”, or “Ole” for short.

“Ole” had 4 recorded workouts but zero starts, so he is much different than most racehorses. He is a soft, rangy mover and is exceedingly quiet. We have only been on him 5-6 times since the first of the year. He is technically not even quite 3 yet, and clearly has some growing to do, so we plan to mostly just hack him for the next few months, then slowly start some work. If he’s moving along ok, and seems mentally ready for a big atmosphere like the Thoroughbred Makeover, he could maybe go and do some dressage tests, or something low-key. He won’t be forced to go out and do a ton this year if he’s not ready. As usual with horses, time will tell!

Prince Attack with his owner, Laurie, in Illinois. Photo courtesy of Laurie Baker McNeil

Shake and Spin, aka “Ole”. Photo courtesy of Adriana Nannini

Kiki Osbourne enjoying her new mount, Shake and Spin. Photo courtesy of Adriana Nannini

Kiki Osbourne enjoying her new mount, Shake and Spin. Photo courtesy of Adriana Nannini

We hope you enjoy following our continued journey to the RRP Thoroughbred Makeover. Go Eventing and Go Thoroughbreds!

Saturday Links

By on Jan 30, 2021 12:01 am -

This saddle rack is one of the items up for auction and I can’t be the only one who thinks it’s really neat! Photo via CDCTA.

I always like to practice and preach shopping locally and I believe that the sentiment is the same for supporting local organizations as well. If you happen to be located in Norther or Central Virginia, the Commonwealth Dressage and Combined Training Association (CDCTA) is running a silent auction through 9 PM this Sunday (Tomorrow, 1/31!) which is a great opportunity to support eventing locally. There are lots of gift certificates for lessons up for grabs as well as other neat items — take a look!

U.S. Weekend Action:

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

Galway Downs Winter H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

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

Saturday Links:

Looking for More Insanity In the Middle? Meet the New EN Patreon!

The Kentucky Horse Park Will Serve as a Regional Vaccine Site

An Update on the 2021 Ocala Jockey Club International 3-Day Event

Area Declaration Extended for 2021 Adequan®/USEF Eventing Youth Team Challenge

Empowerment Happens When You Own Your Labels: Dr. Auriel August’s Journey Back to the Ring

Monarts Masterpiece Made 2020 Look Easy

Researchers, Veterinarians Still Learning About The Capabilities Of Sensors To Detect Injury In Racehorses

Saturday Video: “‘For the Love of Equestrian’ is actually not looking at it from only the horse point of view, but actually the whole community that is around the horses.” Wise words from Namibian show jumper and veterinary student, Salom Nghinamito.

Friday Video from SmartPak: Ginger Spice Rides Horses, Guys, and We’re Into It

By on Jan 29, 2021 6:08 pm -

 

Do I take my role as a purveyor of very serious equestrian news stories seriously? Totally. Have I been thinking about Geri Halliwell — the very best of the Spices — and her involvement with the horsey community ever since she wandered into the stables at Blenheim a year and a half ago and cuddled Oliver Townend? Honestly, nothing else has so much as flickered in my brainbox.

If you’re as much of a sucker for pointless celebrity non sequiturs as I am, you’ll love nothing more than diving into the sweet (and, okay, slightly bittersweet) story of Geri and her rescue horse Beauty, and how their relationship gave her the courage to embrace her inner Spice once again. If nothing else, it might make you really, really, really wanna zig-ah-zig-ah, whatever that means. Need me anytime soon? You can find me desperately trying to get Geri on board for an EN interview and horse box karaoke session and doing no other actual work.

Detecting and Treating White Line Disease in Horses, Presented by Banixx Horse & Pet Care

By on Jan 29, 2021 3:00 pm -

White line disease in progress. Photo courtesy of Banixx.

White Line Disease is a hoof infection caused by fungi, bacteria, or a combination of both that destroys tissue connection within the hoof. The disease gets its name from a powdery, crumbly, white residue that is visible when the hoof is trimmed. This residue is made of the hoof’s disintegrating white line area. White Line Disease is also known as Seedy Toe.

The fungi or bacteria enter the hoof via old nail holes, cracks and other weak points. Once inside, they slowly erode the layers of connective tissue or laminae that make up a healthy hoof and hold the coffin bone in place. The coffin bone is the largest bone in a horse’s hoof and helps shape the hoof wall. The destructive organisms lead to cavities and weaknesses within the hoof. If left unchecked, the hoof slowly disintegrates from the inside out and requires professional care to treat it.

Detecting White Line Disease

If you see white residue, take swift action to get it diagnosed by your farrier or veterinarian to prevent worsening internal separation of the interior hoof laminae. But here’s the tough part: you can’t actually see the infection. Even though the disease enters from the outside, it doesn’t spread to the hoof’s exterior, it only attacks the vital internal hoof tissue. The pathogens that make up White Line Disease are anaerobic, meaning they cannot tolerate exposure to oxygen. That makes the interior of a horse hoof the perfect place for them to thrive without interruption. Perhaps a more accurate name or description for this hoof infection is “hoof wall separation” since the infection separates the white line hoof tissue from the interior hoof laminae.

Luckily, this disease is not fast-acting. It’s a sneaky infection that has the tendency to be easily overlooked. When White Line Disease is caught in the early stages, it is easily and quickly treatable. As with so many infections, early detection is key to successful treatment without complications.

Treating White Line Disease

Most veterinarians and farriers agree that the most effective treatment for White Line Disease follows a two-step process. First, begin with an x-ray of the affected hoof. An x-ray will assess the damage and determine the extent of the infection. This step must not be skipped, as there are no visual cues you can rely on to accurately assess the infection’s severity. It is important to determine how far inside the hoof the damage traveled which can affect the integrity of the hoof. No hoof, no horse!

The second step is to resect the affected area of the hoof (either by drilling holes or hoof removal) to expose the offending organisms to oxygen and treat with a solution, such as Banixx.

In minor cases, conventional procedures call for the infection to be first dug out using a small pick, hoof nippers, a knife or a Dremel-type tool followed by the chemical treatment. More advanced cases might require the removal of the diseased tissue (this means the hoof tissue) to expose the disease’s anaerobic pathogens to oxygen that spells their demise.

Some success has been achieved with an easier and less invasive process such as drilling access holes at the top of the infection site. A time-honored practice in more complicated cases is the removal of areas of the hoof wall. However, removing large areas of the hoof wall will compromise hoof stability and likely result in your horse needing a special custom shoe. While this doesn’t sound particularly frightening, there is danger if your horse loses this shoe.

A common issue with the traditional method of trimming away affected hoof tissue is that it simply isn’t comprehensive enough. If even the littlest smidge of white line disease infection is left, it will multiply and you’ll be back to square one.

Banixx has even proven to be effective at eradicating stubborn, long-afflicting White Line Disease thanks to its unique pH level which completely inhibits the growth of any fungi or bacteria.

Applying Banixx for Treatment

To apply Banixx the hoof must be awash in the solution. You can set up this treatment via a medicine boot or via a homemade device which possesses an entry point where you can re-apply Banixx. A clean, used, saline IV bag (obtained from your vet) may serve well for this purpose if a medicine boot is not available.

In summary, with Banixx, you change the pH of the hoof environment to arrest infection but render no damage to healthy hoof tissue. This method also avoids accidentally exposing your horse to potentially harmful chemicals such as copper sulfate, formaldehyde or certain chemicals found in iodine-based treatments. Banixx is safe for your horse and you, as well as safe for the environment.

Preventing White Line Disease

Although White Line Disease may be a common problem, do not disregard it as a “minor disease.” If allowed to progress, your horse may require extensive hoof repair, treatment, and rest – that means no riding potentially for months while incurring significant expense. Keep your horse’s feet current with a qualified farrier; it’s a much more cost-effective solution.

White Line Disease loves to grow in mostly warm, moist climates, although it’s not uncommon for horses living in dry climates to suffer from it. It can affect both shod and unshod feet, and it can affect one hoof as easily as it can affect multiple. Even horses being reared under the most sanitary conditions can succumb to it.

Remember that regular hoof care and good hygiene are your best defense against White Line Disease. Moreover, it’s vital to note that even with an “abnormal” hoof confirmation, a defensive, well-thought out trim job goes a long way to avoiding this disease. Additionally, knowing what to look for, such as the appearance of crumbly, white granules in the area where the firm white line used to be or an unexplained lameness that suddenly develops can serve as a signal to investigate more deeply. Any hoof cavities that you discover should be quickly disinfected with a high-quality antifungal/antibacterial product such as Banixx with follow up with your farrier and possibly your veterinarian. Early detection and effective treatment will greatly simplify you and your horse’s life!

Brought to you by BANIXX – The #1 trusted solution for equine and pet owners! Learn more about Banixx

British International Season Opener at Thoresby Cancelled in Face of Pandemic Uncertainty

By on Jan 29, 2021 12:00 pm -

The British international season was set to begin with new fixture Thoresby Park, the intended replacement for Belton, pictured. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The British eventing season has taken an early hit to its calendar after today’s announcement that the Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby, Notts., the intended opener for the year’s international roster, has been cancelled amid uncertainty around pandemic regulations.

Intended to run from April 1–3, the Carnival was set to host national classes from Novice to Advanced and international short-format sections from CCI2*-S to CCI4*-S. Its 2021 iteration was its second attempt to run as a new event on the calendar, and its second thwarting at the hands of COVID-19.

Stuart Buntine and his team at BEDE Events were forced to make the tough decision for the second year running as it became clear that there would be no immediate easing to Britain’s current lockdown, which will remain in place until at least March 8 but is expected to continue on beyond that date.

Though the fledgling fixture, which was intended to replace the much-loved Belton International after its last renewal in 2019, hasn’t yet had a chance to settle into its role as season opener, it was used as the host for 2020’s autumn British Young Horse Championships. Ordinarily hosted at nearby Osberton, the Championships gave riders and sport stakeholders the chance to see the venue’s enormous potential as an eventing hub.

“Thoresby Park is a fantastic venue and we were very relieved when we were able to re-route the autumn Osberton International Horse Trials [here],” said Buntine in a statement released this morning [January 29]. “We ran what quickly became known as ‘Thoresberton’ to much praise from riders, owners and sponsors thanks to the efforts of Thoresby Park’s Gregor Pierrepont and the team.”

Thoresby’s much-anticipated season opener will be shelved once again until 2022. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography for BEDE Events.

Stringent stay-at-home orders meant that the BEDE team’s preparation period was drastically reduced in the lead-up to the event, which would have served as a crucial run on the road to Badminton for many horses and riders.

“In order to run The Eventing Spring Carnival in April, work needed to start in early February, which has meant we have had to make the difficult decision to cancel this year’s event and plan towards a bigger and better 2022,” Buntine continued. “As ever at BEDE Events we are a positive team and are sure our busy calendar of fixtures will get underway before we know it, but in order for riders to plan their season we felt they needed to be kept in the loop.”

Buntine praised the support of the team at Thoresby Park and lamented the necessity of such a tough decision: “It is very sad for Gregor and the team at Thoresby Park as they have been a brilliant support and this is the second year that the virus has led to cancellation of the spring event, but let’s hope 2022 is third time lucky. Of course, we are very aware that whilst the sport is central to our lives and those of our competitors, it is vital that we support the efforts to rid the country of this pandemic.”

The striking backdrop of Thoresby House made its debut as the one-off home of the British Young Horse Championships in 2020. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography for BEDE Events.

Gregor Pierrepont of Thoresby Park supports Buntine’s call and remains optimistic about the event’s future.

“Over the last two years we’ve done everything that could be done to make the inaugural Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby Park the best it can be, and we remain determined it will launch in 2022 with a bang,” he said. “The autumn event at Thoresby really showcased our strengths as a venue, with massive potential to put on a truly international event. We are determined to get there and look forward to welcoming everyone as soon as we can.”

The BEDE team is in ongoing communication with British Eventing to find a suitable new date for their Oasby Horse Trials, which ordinarily runs on the second weekend of the season but was cancelled when the organisation pushed 2021’s start date to March 26. Oasby, which hosts classes from BE90 to Intermediate, is an early and comprehensive season opener for riders across the levels – and one that would be a significant boon for those with major international aims in the formative part of 2021.

Just one international remains on the British calendar prior to Badminton in early May: competitors will set their sights en masse on Norfolk’s Burnham Market International, which runs April 16-18.

Breaking Down Beginner Novice and Novice Dressage with Allison Kavey

By on Jan 29, 2021 9:00 am -

We are pleased to welcome our newest guest columnist, Allison Kavey of Rivendell Dressage. Allison Kavey is an international grand prix dressage rider with a long-standing affection for teaching. Her eventing clients include professionals, such as Colleen Rutledge, and juniors and amateurs ranging from Beginner Novice and up. We begin our series with Allison at the beginning, by breaking down the fundamental elements of the Beginner Novice and Novice dressage tests.

Annabelle Sprague and Meadowlark competing at the Novice level. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

The fact that every single combined test or event begins with dressage must seem brutally unfair to event horses. I have had the pleasure of teaching and riding many of these wonderful athletes, and while they are remarkable for their willingness to diligently participate in “sandbox activities”, they are not subtle in their preference for gravity defiance and galloping. Their riders are often the same! But the reality is that dressage translates directly to the jumping phases, and by paying close mind to each element of your test you can create a more balance horse and rider for the (decidedly more fun) jumping phases. I’ll begin by talking about the Beginner Novice and Novice tests, the questions they ask, how you can best present the exercises for higher dressage scores to lower your overall score, and how they can translate into better success in the run fast-jump high parts of your weekend.

I like to think of events as a prison break. Dressage is the part where you, in full Shawshank mode, carve a long tunnel to freedom using only the spoon you pocketed when you were on kitchen duty. It is the slow, diligent expression of your desire to be free to run and jump.

The Beginner Novice and Novice tests provide you with the tools you need to start digging your tunnel – the spoon and the first crack in the wall. They are remarkably similar to the USDF Training Level tests, in that they repeatedly address your ability to perform the most fundamental aspects of dressage: bend and rhythm in various shapes and across all three gaits. You have two big advantages over those of us in the dressage ring: you do not have to halt on your first centerline (which means you are much more likely to continue all the way down it because your horse will not have been given five seconds while you salute to consider better options), and you compete in the small arena, which forces you to keep your horse very focused on your aids.

Photo by Penny Wilson.

The Centerline

Think of centerline as your very best friend. It should be part of every dressage school you do because it tests your ability to keep your horse straight between your legs and going from her hind legs to the bit without you spreading your hands or pulling on either rein to achieve this feat. Integrate centerlines into every schooling session from the moment you start walking onward. You can use the centerline much like a long diagonal as a means to change direction at walk and trot and it is a perfectly fair exercise to practice rhythm and straightness at the canter.

Make it a goal this year to replace every long wall you planned to ride down with a quarterline, centerline, or diagonal. It will maximize your practice time and get you really good at being straight without the wall crutch. It will also help you remember to keep your rhythm while using your legs to maintain straightness. You will be rewarded with higher scores on your centerlines and diagonals and fewer comments of “wandering” and “losing straightness”.

When you turn onto centerline, remember to use your outside leg and, to a lesser extent, rein to create the turn while keeping your inside leg just behind the girth to prevent the horse from tipping over and provide her with something to bend around. You will notice your horse tends to turn “wide” one way and shallowly the other. For the side the horse prefers to turn wide, think of making an 8-meter rather than 10-meter turn by using more outside leg to yield in as you make the turn. For the side your horse likes to turn too quickly, use more inside leg and think of leg yielding up and out to your outside rein. This will ensure your accuracy.

If you do the exact same preparation for your turn off of centerline, your horse will bend around your inside leg rather than leaning or bulging and you will have an excellent first corner. Once you are on the line, stare straight at the end of the arena at your eye level. If you are anxious about dressage – and who isn’t? – consider setting up an elevated table at the end of your arena and making a scarecrow judge. It only seems stupid until you try it. It is a great way to accomplish two things at once: acclimating your horse to the often-terrifying judge’s box and making yourself practice being really straight on every centerline.

Now I am going to bore you with the obvious: straight, rhythmical centerlines are setting you up for straight, rhythmical approaches to jumps. This is why you should canter them, too.

The 20-meter Circle

20-meter circles at trot and canter are common to both Beginner Novice and Novice tests. They are discipline building taskmasters when done correctly. The principles of rhythm and bend you demonstrated on your turns onto and off of centerline are tested again here, but added to those now is geometry.

The size, shape, and placement of your circle needs to be accurate and consistent to earn the highest marks. For a circle at C or A in a small arena, you need to begin at C/A, not go into the next corner, touch the wall between the H/M or F/K and E/B, touch the centerline at X, touch the next wall between E/B and H/M or K/F, NOT fall into the corner, and conclude at C/A.

I know this sounds like gibberish, but it makes sense if you look at an image of a short dressage arena. For Novice test A, you will take that very same circle and make it into a figure eight to do the inaptly named “two loop serpentine” from C to A. This exercise requires that you ride your first circle at C, then develop your new bend approaching X, and ride your next circle to A. The geometry remains the same.

Now that you know the correct size and the points to ride to on the long walls and centerline, the shape actually becomes less of a challenge. To practice riding 20-meter circles well, you can use ground rails to mark the four places you will need to reach to create four equal arcs. Ride the outside of the rail at C or A, the outside of the rails on the two long walls, and the middle of the rail at X.

Novice Test B tests a different skill: square turns at E and B. This is preparation for when you will see again in the higher level tests. The square turn requires the same outside leg-inside leg balance you developed practicing your centerline with the additional challenge of a quick change of bend over X without losing straightness, thus further assessing your ability to effectively balance your horse between your legs.

Allison Kavey. Photo by Annan Hepner/Phelps Media Group.

Transitions

Transitions are the bane of many dressage tests, especially in the short arena. They come up quickly, which makes riders tense and that translates into fussy horses. Part of this is because when we are schooling, we usually do transitions when we feel the horse is ready and will do them well. That’s all well and good, but it does not translate into horses who are consistently on the aids.

The Beginner Novice tests are very clear in their directives for transitions. They almost always occur between two letters, which seems like a generous gift because you have all that space to get your horse to walk, trot, or canter. No, you do not. You are expected to perform the transition halfway between the two letters.

The advantage is that you have a bit more time to prepare and, often, a corner to help you do it. The training plan to conquering those transitions is simple: do more of them. Start your ride with walk-halts in which your horse stays straight and round. Do them on centerline. Do them while you practice your 20-meter circles. Do them until the mere tightening of your core muscles and slight push forward of your upper back brings your horse to halt and the release of those core muscles and tucking of your lower back brings her to walk. Walk-halt should not involve rein pressure, and halt-walk should not require that you release the reins or kick.

Hot horses who dislike halting need to practice doing it. Dull horses who like to ignore your leg need to practice obedient takeoffs into the next gait when you take your leg off to ask for it. Practice will make this so. You can then take this exercise to trot-walk-trot and trot-walk-halt-trot transitions, and then trot-canter-trot and trot-canter-trot-walk transitions. Soon you will start noticing how little physical effort is required to half-halt your horse and how annoyingly simple these transitions are. To keep yourself challenged, you can add in half transitions, in which you practice shortening and lengthening the trot and canter. All of this will translate into better pace regulation in your jumping work and a lot less dependence on the reins.

Allison Kavey. Photo by Annan Hepner.

The Free Walk

Free walks on the long rein are always fun, especially when the hapless child designated to run scores comes trotting out from behind the judge’s booth or someone falls off in the stadium ring just when you are at the closest quarterline. But they are very important – they are the only double coefficient that stays in dressage from Training Level through Grand Prix, though they earn the lofty title of extended walk at Second level.

This is an extension of all that transition work you just did. Practice shortening and lengthening your walk while you are working on your walk-halt-walk transitions and integrate shortening and lengthening your frame while you do so. Of course the goal is a walk that lengthens stride and frame symmetrically and a “10” would be awarded for a horse who stretches her neck forward, maintaining her nose ahead of the vertical, and downward at least below her knees as she marches across the diagonal.

Free walks are not pleasant saunters in the sun; your horse must maintain her rhythm with added swing and intention. As you progress across the diagonal, maintain the rhythm with your leg and back but do not shove with your seat as it shortens the stride and can make the walk lateral. As you hit the second quarterline, begin closing your core muscles and shortening the swing of your back and gather up the reins as the shorter stride transitions into a shorter frame. By the time you get to the end letter, you will be back in a working walk with nicely gathered reins and ready for the next exercise. This is a great thing to practice as you warm up and cool down your horse, as well as throughout your regular work sessions.

William Nilsson Fryer and Joel (SWE) tackle the stretchy circle. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The Stretching Trot

Stretching trot circles test the exact same principle as the free walk explained above, though you do not want to demonstrate a significant change in stride length in this exercise. It is, however, a nice place to show off all of the work you have been doing on trot transitions. The goal is to demonstrate that your horse can lengthen her frame and trot with her nose ahead of the vertical and at or below her knees while you maintain some rein connection.

I like to practice this exercise by dividing the circle into quarters. I develop the stretch in the first quarter, show maximum stretch for the second and third quarters, and shorten the stretch in the final quarter so I have my reins back and a happily trotting horse at the end of the circle.

Start by developing that first section. What happens when you close your leg, add your core muscles, and slowly push the neck away? If your horse speeds up, you need more half halts. If her neck goes out but not down, you need to add more lower leg to keep her hind legs marching up through her back. As you confirm your ability to consistently produce one level of stretch, you can then ask for more. Should your horse fall apart, half halt, reorganize, and start again.

Repetition will be required because this is not an easy movement: it tests your ability to balance the horse from side to side and back to front while maintaining a rhythm and bend. The more you practice it throughout your schooling, the easier it will get, and the earlier you can begin practicing this, the better.

If you practice all of these things, I hope you will notice they become easier, more comfortable for you and your horse, and less daunting. They should also translate into your having a more adjustable, turn-able horse in stadium and cross country.

Allison Kavey. Photo by Annan Hepner/Phelps Media Group.

International Grand Prix competitor Allison Kavey founded Rivendell Dressage, Inc. in 2007 with Andrea Woodner. Allison has extensive experience teaching dressage riders from Training Level up to Grand Prix, working on position and basics to improve riders’ harmony with their horses. She also works with eventers through the CCI***** level and hunter/jumper riders looking to improve their position and flatwork. In addition to training and coaching her students, Allison develops and sells young dressage horses of exceptional quality. RDI horses have achieved many national championships and multiple top 20 placings in the USDF national standings since 2007.

Friday News & Notes

By on Jan 29, 2021 12:03 am -

Just taking a moment during cross country to hug her horse. Photo courtesy of Katherine Linkogel.

Oof, just when you think winter is close to being over, it comes with vengeance at the end of the longest January in the world. I’m a little spoiled in Virginia so that I’m offended when it’s in the teens overnight, but I realize anything north of this thinks it’s no biggie. I don’t know why I’m always surprised when January and February are the worst, but they always are. Don’t worry, I’ve perfected the art of layering until I look like the Michelin Man.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

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

Galway Downs Winter H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status]

Rocking Horse Winter I H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

News From Around the Globe:

We hope you’ll join the EN team on Patreon! We created a Patreon dedicated to our superfans who want to connect with our team and our work here at Eventing Nation. Sign up by Valentine’s Day and we’ll even send you an EN Yeti mug or wine tumbler (pick your poison!). You’ll get access to a private Facebook group just for our patrons, special content and perks, and much more. Click here to learn more!

Get your online auction on! Check out the CDCTA online auction. With 95 items offered this year, you can get lessons from Olympians, vet services, custom leatherwork, photography sessions, cross country schooling, and so much more. The auction ends Sunday night at 10 pm EST.  [CDCTA Auction]

Don’t let bad myths ruin alfalfa for you or your horse. Alfalfa can be an important part of your horse’s diet, especially during the winter to keep the weight on. It won’t make your horse hyper, and it won’t cause kidney failure. [4 Misconceptions About Alfalfa]

Best of Blogs: When Riding Is a Key Component for Treating Mental Illness

Red Hills Horse Trials has a new look for 2021. Slated to be held at the beginning of March this year, there will be no spectators this year, and more changes to the cross country course. [Red Hills Horse Trials 2021]

Time to hone your skills for conformation critique with young horses. This week we’ve got a lovely 3-year-old thoroughbred gelding who shows good promise for the future. A key point of assessing a young horse is seeing past the possible awkward growth stages and envisioning what will become in a few years. [Conformation Critique with Chris Ryan]

Time to get those shoulders supple. Nope, not yours! Getting control of your horse’s shoulders is key for all phases, because without the shoulders your steering goes straight out the window. These exercises were specifically designed with the jumping horse and rider in mind by the great Jane Savoie, so don’t skip this link. [Exercises to Supple the Shoulders]