Classic Eventing Nation

Weekend Winners: Thanksgiving at Pine Top

By on Nov 30, 2020 9:00 am -

 

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It’s a bit of an abbreviated Weekend Winners column this week as we saw just one recognized event run over Thanksgiving weekend. As per tradition, Pine Top in Hamilton, Ga. hosted its popular Thanksgiving Horse Trials with divisions from Beginner Novice up through Intermediate. This is one of the final few events of 2020, and our Unofficial Low Score Award this week goes to Mary Bess Davis and Imperio Magic, who won their Training division on a score of 24.9. Well done!

Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T.: Final Results

Open Intermediate: Hannah Hubsch and Bethel Park (37.7)
Open Preliminary: Heidi White and Captain Fernhill (29.6)
Preliminary Rider: Elle Choate and Paddrick (30.2)
Open Training: Mary Bess Davis and Imperio Magic (24.9)
Preliminary/Training: Jenny Caras and Sommersby (25.4)
Training Rider A: Nicole Kemerling and Modern Man (32.2)
Training Rider B: Lauren Alexander and Excel Star Over The Moon (27.3)
Novice Rider A: Malin Eriksson and WHF Wilhemina (26.6)
Novice Rider B: Darci Phelps and Sandro Street (27.6)
Open Novice A: Emily Brooks and Lord Darby (28.3)
Open Novice B: Laura Orlowski and St. Benedict (28.6)
Training/Novice: Drew Cheek and Dexter (39.3)
Beginner Novice A: Nina Braun and Abraxas (29.2)
Beginner Novice B: Tiffany Stewart and Crimson Clover (28.9)
Open Beginner Novice: Erin Flynn Mobley and In Sync (30.3)

 

Proud mom post…
Nicholas and Bear made it look easy jumping around their first Intermediate XC at Pine Top today!

Posted by Emily Beshear on Sunday, November 29, 2020

 

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Monday News & Notes

By on Nov 30, 2020 5:49 am -

The most amazing and incredible gift is a child, and the even more incredible gift is when your baby has a baby. So…

Posted by Next Level Eventing on Sunday, November 29, 2020

Huge congratulations to Kaylawna and Tyler Cook, who welcomed their first child into the world over the weekend (and a big congratulations to newly-minted grandmother Tamie Smith, too, of course!). We can’t wait to see all three generations out there tearing up the West Coast scene before too long.

One of the biggest topics of conversation over the weekend has been the newly-rehashed debate about the fate of the 2021 European Eventing Championships, originally scheduled to take place at Haras du Pin but ultimately cancelled in favour of the Olympics. Both dressage and showjumping have seen their Europeans reinstated, but eventing is facing a fight for their own competition, led by some chap called Michael Jung, who divulges that Switzerland’s Avenches team is ready and able to host the competition, giving developing riders, horses and nations the opportunity to step up to the world stage. You can add your voice to the conversation using the hashtag #eventingwantseuropeans, and stay tuned for the full story on EN.

National Holiday: It’s both Personal Space Day and Stay Home Because You’re Well Day, which is like, the ultimate panny-D combo. Oh, and it’s also Cyber Monday, so treat yourself to an online splurge with a super small business. Here are some ideas.

US Weekend Results:

Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T.: [Website] [Results]

Global Eventing Round-Up:

  • Week two of the Portugal Winter Tour wrapped over the weekend, with Germany’s Andreas Dibowski riding Brennan to a win in the top class of the week, the CCI3*-S. You can check out the full results here.

Your Monday Reading List:

Over To You certainly earned legend status in his storied career, in which he became the most capped British event horse of all time. Jeanette Brakewell shares some of her fondest memories of the horse in this piece – it’s available exclusively to H&H Plus members, but you can access it by signing up for a free trial on the site. [Legends of the sport: Over To You — ‘I came home many times thinking that was his best round ever’]

20-year-old Kanane Francis is making impressive moves in the world of racing, while working to shift perspectives on what a jockey ‘should’ look like. The young rider has graduated from the British Racing School and started his first industry job just a year after riding a horse for the first time – and he’s calling for the industry to put in the work to further diversity. [‘It doesn’t matter what colour you are’]

Look, don’t lie, we know you’ve definitely punched yourself in the face while girthing up at least once. In fact, you might have ticked off a fair few of these universal embarrassing moments for equestrians… [Embarrassing Mistakes All Riders Have Made]

We’ve all had that one saddle that’s become a part of who we are. It might have been the first one you owned, the one that you loved a little too hard like a functional Velveteen Rabbit. Or it might be your first custom bit of kit, or the ancient old thing that starts all your breakers out. Either way, they carry more than the weight of their riders – our saddles carry all our memories, too. [Selling a Saddle After 16 Years of Rides and Memories]

Morning Viewing:

Never let anyone tell you you can’t make your dreams come true. Take a little Monday morning inspiration from In Shaallah Saad Hameed’s journey to become Iraq’s first-ever Youth Olympian.

Sunday Links

By on Nov 29, 2020 1:41 am -

A few weeks ago I watched that movie The Social Dilemma about the horrifying damage social media is inflicting on society and ever since I’ve been fantasizing about just deleting my Facebook, Instagram, all the stuff. And then somebody tips me off to a group like shiteventersunite, which describes itself as such: “For all the crap eventers out there! We want your event reports about how bad your day went! No more ‘event reports’ like ‘Biggles and I would have been selected for the Europeans if we hadn’t have had that pole in the 80,’ ‘an unlucky run out cost us the win’ etc etc. No ‘unlucky poles’ here! Hands up if you need to sack the jockey!✋ … Share your crapness here without judgement.”

This weekend Horse & Hound published a wonderful interview with the creator, Cressida Kitchin-Townshend — you can read it here. The group’s popularity has exploded of late, and she guesses that its honesty really resonates with people. “I think people are relieved,” she says. “When you get back to the yard and people ask how you did, and you say ‘eliminated,’ or when people do event reports, I think there’s real pressure to say ‘my horse stopped at every fence but I still love him’, or ‘we’ll learn from it’; to be positive. There’s so much pressure to be perfect but it’s OK if it goes wrong. I might say I had an unlucky 12 faults but it wasn’t unlucky, it was because I rode like a muppet.”

It’s easy to take ourselves too seriously and lose perspective. Along the same lines, 10/10 recommend the Instagrams jog.it.or.drop.it and, of course, her royal highness dressage_queen_of_memes. Thanks for keeping it real out there, folks. Insanity in the middle 4ever.

U.S. National Holiday: National Mousse Day

U.S. Weekend Action:

Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Major International Events:

Portugal Winter Tour/Barroca d’Alva: [Website] [Entries]

Sunday Links: 

Olympic riders back campaign to boost diversity in equestrianism

Michael Jung Is Engaged

Equestrian events at Paris 2024 Olympics to be held at Versailles

Todd Minikus: Show-Jump Salvage Job

Now on Course: Amber Luce Comes Back from the Brink

From a Wheelchair to the World Equestrian Center: An Average Equestrian’s Quest Through Pain

Video: As one of three sisters who grew up riding together (statistically speaking, at least one of us fell off at every event), I’m sending up a cheer up for the Duda sisters who did very well for themselves at Twin Rivers at Twin Rivers H.T. a couple weekends ago!

Saturday Video from Cambox: Ride Le Pin au Haras with Pierre Texier

By on Nov 28, 2020 1:30 pm -

French rider Pierre Texier typically dons his Cambox helmet cam for cross country with Joli Coeur, the 11 year old gelding that Pierre has produced for his whole international career. Now, we have the opportunity to take a spin around the CCI3*S track at Le Pin au Haras, located to the west of Paris and south of the site of the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen. Pierre and Joli Coeur finished this track clear with some time after a positive and efficient ride.

Cambox is running a big Black Friday and holiday sale! Get up to 30% off the purchase of a Cambox camera, suitable with all helmet types. View your rides in 4K with a wide angle 150 degree lens that also features ultra-stabilization technology. Click here to shop.

Small Business Saturday: #ShopSmall with These Equestrian Brands

By on Nov 28, 2020 9:00 am -

If you’re all set to get some holiday shopping (or stocking up) done this weekend, it’s a great time to support a small business. There are a multitude of small businesses and entrepreneurs to support within our community, so we wanted to round up a few options for every shopper. This is by no means an inclusive list; we encourage business owners to tag their brand’s social media page in the comments of this post so that we can help promote your business.

Happy Shopping! To visit the Black Friday deals post from yesterday, where most of the deals are still happening all weekend, click here.

Note: This post is not sponsored, and Eventing Nation receives no compensation from this post.

BNJ Tack: This gently used reseller has a great reputation for quality tack, equipment, and apparel for a reasonable price. Until Sunday, November 29, buyers will receive 10% off their purchase.

Le Bonheur/Chatsworth Stud: Shopping for a new breeding match? Take advantage of Le Bonheur and Chatsworth Stud’s Black Friday sale for 50% off of a breeding to Koninklijke Diamant DS.

**Black Friday Special!!**

To celebrate the holidays, anyone who books a breeding to Koninklijke Diamant DS between now…

Posted by Le Bonheur / Chatsworth Stud on Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Equus Couture: Offering Black Friday deals on their high-end leather goods and crystal pieces.

 

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Hunt Club: This stylish collection of apparel and accessories is very popular, and for good reason. Right now, you can save 25% off regularly-priced merchandise and save an additional 50% off sale items using code BLACKFRIYAY.

 

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Just a Bit She-Shed: This new quality reseller is opening in Georgetown, Kentucky, this weekend! To learn more, visit the event page here.

MareGoods: Witty, bold, and modern are the name of the game for this popular lifestyle brand. Black Friday is happening for the next week; save 20% off sitewide using code BF2020.

 

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Remilee & Co. Designs: For the discerning rider or horse fan, equestrian lifestyle gifts. Keep an eye on the website for Black Friday/Small Business Saturday specials and exclusive gift sets.

 

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Tricolor Tack: Kansas City area riders can shop for a good cause this holiday season with Tricolor Tack’s Donation for a Discount program. To participate and receive 25% off your purchase, you can make a donation to Harvester’s Community Food Network or No Shame: A Period Product Project. Learn more here.

Do you have a horse who’s prone to getting rubs from their halter? Get them our No Rub Halter for Christmas! Our deerskin lining is butter-soft (and comes in fun colors). Click to shop–just $40!

Posted by Two Horse Tack on Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Two Horse Tack: This affordable, quality tack shop is running special deals all throughout this week.

Saturday Links

By on Nov 28, 2020 12:01 am -

I think I’m probably the most boring Black Friday shopper — I’ve never physically gone shopping the day after Thanksgiving and if I hit up any online sale it’s usually just to lock down a good deal on barn supplies I buy regularly anyway. I really love Small Business Saturday though, and tomorrow you’ll be able to find me masking up and making a trip out to my tack/ feed store, my favorite town coffee shop, and more. Not that I don’t frequent those places enough on the regular, but the more the better as far as I’m concerned!

U.S. Weekend Action:

Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Major International Events:

Portugal Winter Tour/Barroca d’Alva: [Website] [Entries]

Saturday Links: 

Horse riding is risky: How do riders manage their safety?

#IamPartoftheChange launches to bring diversity to equestrian sport

Are Hot And Cold Therapies Helpful For Tendon Troubles?

Does your event horse need a breastplate? Find out what sort the top riders use…

Confidence for All With Standing Tall Life Skills Program

Simple Ways To Prevent Tendon And Ligament Injuries In Horses

‘Light at the end of the tunnel’ as equestrian activity and competition set to resume in England

Saturday Video:

Friday Video from SmartPak: Andrew Hoy Shares His Pandemic Year

By on Nov 27, 2020 6:36 pm -

There’s nary a soul on the planet who hasn’t been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and horse people have had some unique conundrums on their hands – we’ve had to keep our four-legged pals happy and healthy too, while balancing fitness and production against a period of time out of the competition ring that had no definable end point.

In this video from FEI TV, Australia’s Andrew Hoy divulges how he structured his year, the challenges he faced and his hopes for 2021, when he hopes to contest his eighth Olympic Games. If you, like us, are getting quietly excited about an Olympic year – for real this time – you’ll thoroughly enjoy this one.

Happy Friday, folks – and Go Eventing!

Tips for Managing Hard Keepers – Brought to you by Banixx Horse & Pet Care

By on Nov 27, 2020 3:00 pm -

Hard keepers can keep us guessing! Photo credit: Shellie Sommerson

What do you do with those hard keepers – the horses that need to eat but don’t want to eat or eat but don’t seem to gain weight? Weight loss happens much more quickly than weight gain.

The first step is to make sure there are not any underlying health issues:

  • Teeth – get your horse’s teeth checked (especially if they were last checked 6 or more months ago)
  • Deworm/have an egg count done in a fecal
  • Sand – if you are in a sandy area give a supplement that helps remove sand from your horse’s system
  • Blood – have your veterinarian run a blood panel to ensure your horse’s system is functioning well and there is not an underlying issue (high white blood cell count, Cushing’s, etc.)
  • Non-sweaters – if your horse is a non-sweater talk with your veterinarian about options (clipping, air flow and there are some supplements on the market)

Then review your horse’s diet with your veterinarian. Does he/she feel that the quantity and quality is appropriate for your horse with his activity level or are there some adjustments that should be made? Today, more than ever, there are horse feeds designed for the hard keeper. Talk to the feed company that manufacturers the feed. Most have knowledgeable reps who are also horse people who can help and advise you. Use these experiences to improve your knowledge of what is available. Some feed companies will provide a coupon to get you started on their particular brand. And-remember knowledge is Power, so educate yourself.

The more comfortable and relaxed a horse is in his environment the more likely he is to eat well and not pace/walk off weight. So, review your horse’s living situation.

Be careful to not over blanket and do clip (trace clip) if your horse needs some help staying cool. Likewise, ensure he can get out of the wind, rain, snow, etc. or is properly blanketed. Poor eaters seem to eat even less if they are too hot or too cold.

Does he get anxious when alone, or does he not eat well where his hay is placed because he cannot see others? Environmental adjustments sometimes remedy the issue. Try moving his hay to an area where he can see others, or to the area of his space he seems most prone to hang out in. If your horse was moved recently it can take a bit for him to adjust to his new surrounds and new routine. Sometimes a little patience on our part is needed; however, if his weight drops quickly then you likely need to act right away.

The basics will do more than potions and supplements. The market is full of ‘magic fixes’, so don’t just fall for the latest and greatest weight-gain product – do your own research.  The basics for hard keepers are calories and fiber. Options like hay, pasture, beet pulp, hay stretcher, hay cubes (alfalfa and other mixes) are great for providing fiber, and some provide additional calories; all are good for your horse’s healthy digestive system and can add body mass. Soak anything pelleted to avoid choking issues. If your horse is not used to eating soaked feed, then start with small amounts and not too much water. Many horses enjoy their soaked food being topped lightly or inter-mixed with a fat-laced product such as rice bran, a little grain sprinkled over the top, chopped carrots and/or apples stirred in.

It’s a good idea when testing a different feed to start with very small portions to see what your horse likes. But in all cases avoid over-serving as it can be counterproductive.  Too much food in front of them at a time can be unappealing, just like when you don’t really feel like eating and someone puts a giant portion in front of you. Some horses will overeat at one meal and then not eat the next; their digestive systems are built for grazing, so smaller portions more often usually work best.

And lastly, interact with your horse! If he can still be exercised, then get him out and about with mild exercise or at least hand grazing or a walk in-hand. If he cannot be exercised, you can still interact with him by grooming him, massage or even teach him a simple trick. Horses are social creatures and interaction is part of their ‘need’.

Happy Horse Keeping!

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

5 Horses on Our Goresbridge ‘Go for Gold’ Wishlist

By on Nov 27, 2020 12:00 pm -

Photo courtesy of Goresbridge Online Auctions.

We’re drawing closer to the 2020 Goresbridge ‘Go for Gold’ Select Event Horse Sale, set to be held in Wexford, Ireland, on December 7 and 8. This year, the auction has added virtual bidding and a live stream in order to offset some of the restrictions necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic. If you’ve never participated in an auction and are horse shopping, why not try something a little different this year? We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite horses available in this year’s sale to whet your appetite. Each horse has its own performance page where you can view conformation photos as well as videos that preview all of the horse’s skills.

Lot 1: EPA Wildfire. Image courtesy of Goresbridge Go for Gold.

There are two 6-year-olds and one 5-year-old presented in this year’s sale; the vast majority of the horses offered are three. First up, literally, is Lot 1, also known as EPA Wildfire, a 6-year-old gelding with a little competition experience under his belt. EPA Wildfire (Carlo Bank x Clongeel Lady, by Kahtan) stands 16.3 hands and has lovely, well-established manners on the flat and over fences. You can view this lot’s page and performance videos here.

Lot 5: Kilcannon Hotshot. Image courtesy of Goresbridge Go for Gold.

Moving on, we also have our eyes on Lot 5, a 4-year-old gelding. Kilcannon Hotshot (Colandro x Aster, by Crown Z) is a stunning gelding with a lot of natural balance and scope. He’s regally bred, slowly produced, and looks kind enough to be someone’s perfect match whether they’re a pro or an amateur. View more on Lot 5 here.

Lot 25: Unnamed. Image courtesy of Goresbridge Go for Gold.

Looking now to the 3-year-olds in the Go for Gold sale, Lot 25 also caught our eye. Unsurprisingly, the late great Cruising, well-represented this year as a grandsire, features in this attractive chestnut gelding’s pedigree. Lot 25 is unnamed and is by Yeats, out of Prime Adage (by Marignan). The dam for this horse is a full Thoroughbred, giving this gelding 70% Thoroughbred blood. View more on Lot 25 here.

Lot 27: Unnamed. Image courtesy of Goresbridge Go for Gold.

Next up on our wishlist is Lot 27, an unnamed dark brown gelding by Con Air, out of BP Masterpiece (by Cruising). This royally bred gelding also features Contender, the class Holsteiner stallion who is well-represented in today’s sport horse lines, on the sire side. View more on Lot 27 here.

Lot 36: Sullane Ava. Image courtesy of Goresbridge Go for Gold.

And finally on our shopping list this week is Lot 36, a 3-year-old black filly by Wido, out of Sullane Kate (by Bonnie Prince). This lovely girl, Sullane Ava, has a full sister to Irish rider Ciaran Glynn’s CCI5* mare, November Night in her dam. This filly is all class and looks to be a top prospect for someone looking for their next special mare. View more on Lot 36 here.

These are just a few of the 66 horses available from the Goresbridge ‘Go for Gold’ Select Event Horse next month. Indeed, we could go into great depth with each and every horse on the lot, as each has been carefully bred and tactfully produced, resulting in a truly quality mix of talent suitable for any rider. Each horse has a full set of radiographs as well as a veterinary exam report available to prospective buyers. If you’re nervous at the prospect of importing a horse for the first time, fear not! This is perhaps one of the easiest ways to get a “one stop shop” experience, all from the comfort of your home.

If you’ve got your eye on any of the Go for Gold horses, you’ll want to tune in for the live stream in the days preceding the actual auction, as each horse will be ridden for the live stream in numerical order.

You must register ahead of time to place your online bid. To learn more about the process and to view the full catalog and performance video gallery, visit goresbridgegoforgold.com.

Black Friday Deals for the Eventer on Your Shopping List

By on Nov 27, 2020 9:00 am -

It’s a little hard to believe that the holiday season is already here. While the concept of gathering for the holidays is quite different this year, there are some great shopping deals to be had during this big weekend. Many retailers, especially smaller companies, have been hard hit during the coronavirus pandemic, and many wallets are stretched even thinner than usual, making for an uncertain time on all accounts. If you’ve got some holiday shopping to do for the eventer on your list (or for yourself, we won’t tell anyone), here are some great deals from EN’s sponsors who we always love to support.

Stay tuned tomorrow for a round-up of some great Small Business Saturday deals to take advantage of as well. Happy Holidays!

CamBox: CamBox is running a fantastic deal on its array of low-profile helmet cams. Here’s the skinny:

  • New Cambox V4 Pro $475 instead of $600 : $125 off.
    Bundle includes a Cambox V4 Pro helmet cam + 64 Gb micro SD card + 2 Velcro fasteners + Cambox cap + Power Bank + 36 month extended warranty
  • New Cambox V4 + $459 instead of $514 : $55 off.
    Bundle includes a Cambox V4+ helmet cam + 64 Gb micro SD card + 2 Velcro fasteners + Cambox cap
  • Cambox Isi3 $299 instead of $433. $134 off.
    Bundle includes a Cambox Isi3 + 32 Gb sd card + 5 velcro fasteners + Cambox cap + Protective case
  • Cambox Isi2 $199 instead of $273 : $74 off.
    Bundle includes Cambox Isi2 + 16 Gb SD card + protective case + Cambox cap

Haygain: Receive a free Starter Park (valued at $150) and 5% off the purchase of a Haygain Hay Steamer.

SmartPak: Receive 15% off your purchase and receive a free gift with code BF2020.

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Success Equestrian: From November 26-29, buy one, get one FREE on Dressage Friction-Free, any size/black or white!

Legends: Enter the Legends Thanksgiving Giveaway by November 30 for a chance to win 20 bags of Legends Horse Feed.