We’ve partnered with Horse and Rider Books (Trafalgar Square Books) to give away a copy of a few of their most popular titles this holiday season. Are you still shopping for some last-minute holiday gifts? You can enjoy 20% off at the TSB Online Bookstore by clicking here – don’t wait! Sale ends on December 24.
Cover image courtesy of Trafalgar Square Books.
I recently stepped into yoga practice as a way to lengthen and restore my muscles while also taking advantage of the meditative nature of the breathwork. It’s only been about two weeks, but I can honestly say that I feel an incredible difference in my bodily awareness and lean muscle strength already – and I can only imagine how helpful this work will be in the saddle. That’s why I’m particularly excited about our first Horse and Rider Books Fab Freebie this week!
From the TSB Blog:
Billions of people around the world embrace the practice of yoga. Its lessons in breath control, simple meditation, and specific bodily postures are widely regarded as a means to achieving health and relaxation. Yoga teacher and horsewoman Cathy Woods says that’s not all: She believes the meditative, mindful breathwork and lifestyle aspects of the tradition, as well as the postures, can be profoundly helpful in our interactions with horses.
Her unique program is presented here in the form of highly illustrated instruction, guiding you through the steps to achieving present moment awareness; finding body, breath, and energy awareness; breathing through challenges; listening to your inner voice; slowing down; and developing balance and symmetry in the saddle.
“While cleverly disguised as a ‘yoga for riders’ book, this text contains the secret sauce to having the ultimate connection and communication with your horse,” says worldwide clinician Warwick Schiller. “Creating the human mind/body connection is not only a spiritual practice, but the key to better horsemanship. I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking to deepen their relationship with their horse.”
To enter this giveaway, simply use one of the options from the Rafflecopter widget below. We’ll announce the winner next Tuesday, December 22 when we unveil our next book giveaway. Good luck!
Unable to use the widget? Click here to visit the raffle page!
Terms and Conditions: Thank you for entering our Fab Freebie! The Rafflecopter widget above will collect your email address, which may be shared with the sponsor of the giveaway but will not be sold or shared with any other third parties.
Ingrid Klimke, Groom Carmen Thiemann Win Big at FEI Awards 2020
Winners in the FEI Awards 2020 five categories were revealed last week, with multi-medalled young Dressage star Semmieke Rothenberger claiming the Longines FEI Rising Star Award for the second year in a row, and Eventing legend Ingrid Klimke also taking back-to-back wins as Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete.
This year the task of choosing the best of the best from the past decade’s previous awards winners was entirely in the hands of the public who cast their votes for the 55 nominees from 19 nations. Over 70,000 votes were cast on FEI.org and on the Chinese social media platform WeChat. Podiums in each of the five categories were occupied by a global spread from Germany, Great Britain, Australia, China, Ireland, Palestine, South Africa, The Netherlands and Zambia.
With the FEI Awards Gala cancelled this year due to the pandemic, the winners were revealed to their online audience in a moving video narrated by British Paralympic champion Natasha Baker.
Semmieke Rothenberger, winner of the Longines FEI Rising Star Award, was overcome with emotion when her family held a surprise presentation of the award at their home in Germany.
“I’m very grateful that so many people voted for me and that there is such a big fan base of people that support me,” Semmieke Rothenberger said. “It is also quite surreal because there were so many good athletes in this category, including my brother Sönke, so I didn’t really expect that I would win it again.”
The 21-year-old, winner of 22 FEI European Championship medals through all the youth categories right up to Young Riders, has even bigger goals for the future.
“My parents have always taught me to dream big and reach for my goals and I would really like to canter on that centre line of the Olympic Games one day. I’ve been to the Olympic Games in Rio with my brother and I would love to see myself there with one of my horses and feel the atmosphere of representing my country at the Olympics!”
Along with other individual FEI Award winners, Semmieke Rothenberger received an elegant timepiece from FEI Top Partner Longines, the Swiss watch brand which attaches great importance to encouraging young people to practice sports.
“This Longines FEI Rising Star Award was created to recognise young athletes between the ages of 14 and 21 who demonstrate outstanding equestrian sporting talent,” Longines Vice President of Marketing Matthieu Baumgartner said. “We are delighted to once again celebrate Semmieke Rothenberger’s dedication to equestrian sport and we applaud her determination, passion and energy, which we are confident will take her to the very top in her sporting career.”
Double Olympic Eventing team gold medallist and five-time Olympian Ingrid Klimke (GER) was delighted to win a second Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Award, together with a horse transport voucher from title sponsor and Official FEI Equine Logistics Partner, Peden Bloodstock.
“This is all still a little bit unreal but I’m so thrilled and happy,” she said. The 52-year-old, who was also nominated for the Award in 2015 and 2017, going on to win in 2019, is only the second person in history to win back-to-back European titles on the same horse, claiming individual gold with SAP Hale Bob OLD at the Longines FEI Eventing European Championships in 2017 and 2019. This year she took her fifth German National Championship, having won previously in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2009, sharing the spotlight with her daughter Greta Busacker, who was crowned German National Junior Champion on the same day.
Although Ingrid Klimke has set her sights on winning her first individual gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games next year, she is not shy of stating her longer term ambitions. “I’m already thinking of Paris 2024 which is not so far away. I love to ride, I love to compete and I love to keep going.”
There was further cause for celebration at the Klimke stables when Carmen Thiemann, head groom for more than two decades, won the Cavalor FEI Best Groom Award and a voucher from title sponsor and FEI Official Nutrition Partner, Cavalor.
“It’s the trust between us and the fun we have with the horses,” Carmen Thiemann said when asked about the longevity of her professional partnership with Ingrid Klimke. “I try to make the horses happy and healthy so that they are ready to work with Ingrid.”
Carmen Thiemann, who won the FEI Best Groom Award in 2013, has a special bond with the Klimke family having started her career as a groom for Ingrid’s father Dr Reiner Klimke, an Olympic Dressage legend for Germany.
“Everyone who knows Carmen knows how valuable she is as a person and especially in her job with the horses,” a delighted Ingrid Klimke said.
“We have been successful as a team for many years and I would never go to a show or a Championship without Carmen. She is a best friend to the horses and I can totally focus on my job, either in Cross Country or in Dressage, knowing that Carmen brings them out as happy and healthy as possible.”
It is also interesting to note that the runner-ups in these two respective categories – Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete and Cavalor FEI Best Groom – went to another dynamic duo: Great Britain’s superstar Charlotte Dujardin and Alan Davies, the experienced and highly respected “Super Groom” to Carl Hester’s horses, and also a key member of the FEI Grooms Working Group.
Ten years after winning their first award, the Ebony Horse Club (GBR) was once again the recipient of the FEI Solidarity Award.
“This award, coming at the end of a really challenging year, just validates everything that we’re working for,” General Manager of the Ebony Horse Club Naomi Howate said. “To be recognised as the best of the decade is such a huge accolade and has made us extremely proud of the work that we do here.
“Ebony is a youth club with horses, rather than a riding centre, because our ethos is all about helping our young people be the best they can be both on and off the horses.”
The organisation, which is based in Brixton, South London, provides young people from low income families with the opportunity to ride horses and take part in a variety of sporting and educational activities.
The FEI has provided the 2020 FEI Solidarity Award winner with a financial donation to support the Ebony Horse Club projects. “We are a small club and we don’t have lots of resources,” Naomi Howgate said. “Donations are everything, as it is how we can provide the work we are doing. We support about 400 young people in a year and we can only do that with donations of money that allow us to run our services. So receiving this from the FEI is really fantastic!”
This year’s FEI Against All Odds Award goes to German Paralympian Dr Angelika Trabert. Born without legs and only three fingers on her right hand, Angelika is well known in the equestrian community for her indefatigable spirit and her motto, “It’s ability, not disability, that counts.”
She had just won individual gold at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2010 when she picked up her first FEI Against All Odds award, given to the person who has pursued their equestrian ambitions despite a physical handicap or extremely difficult personal circumstances.
Dr Trabert, an anaesthetist by profession, was inspired to be an athlete and coach in the years after tragically losing her long-time partner in 2005. She has won six Paralympic medals and four at the FEI World Equestrian Games™. She is also the current Para Athlete representative on the FEI Athletes’ Committee and a member of the FEI Para Equestrian Committee.
“I feel this is an award and a reward for the work I’ve been doing and what I feel is important for our sport,” Angelika Trabert said. “You should always look on the positive side, especially in these times. It’s very hard for a lot of people and it counts more than ever to look upon the possibilities and abilities that we have. And there are many.”
“Our global and diverse community is built on our shared passion for horsemanship and the team spirit, which is so present in all five of our winners, is replicated around the world and at every level of the sport, both on and off the field,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.
“Passion and resilience define our community, and these values are echoed in the stories of each of our FEI Awards winners for 2020. Congratulations to all the nominees and especially to our winners, thank you for your commitment to the sport and the values which make the equestrian world so rewarding and inspiring.”
During USEA Annual Meeting, Liz Halliday-Sharp and Piggy March Reflect, Inspire
During the finale of the virtual USEA Annual Meeting and Convention, viewers were treated to candid interviews with featured speakers Liz Halliday-Sharp and Piggy March. Hosted by Nicole Brown, the interviews yielded some insights into the lives and careers of each rider as well as some perspective that we can all use as inspiration this winter.
You can rewatch the Annual Meeting and see all of the presentations given by clicking here.
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
‘If You Really Want It, Turn Up and Fight for It’
Liz Halliday-Sharp said winning the World Equestrian Brands USEA Rider of the Year award was the cherry on top of her first full season in the U.S. in 20 years. “We’re really lucky to have a lot of great horses, a lot of horses that I’ve mostly produced from young horses,” she said in her interview with Nicole Brown. “You sort of don’t know how it’s going to go. I have a wonderful set of grooms and a great group of sponsors and of course my owners and my family who have always had my back.”
Earlier this year, life as we knew it devolved quickly. The front end of the eventing season had already seen the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic as the Kentucky Three-Day and Jersey Fresh, top of mind as selection trials for Tokyo-hopeful riders, fell victim to cancelation. Yet the riders with a strong shot at the team had wavered – did they continue to keep their horses fit to run a selection trial – or even an Olympics? Or did they take the foot off the gas and play the waiting game?
And so it almost came as a relief when word finally arrived that the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo were to be postponed to 2021. It didn’t prevent the disappointment of the postponement from sinking in, however. Every minute had been planned so as to prime the horses for a peak in Japan – and now, who knew what another 12 months would bring?
“I feel like I started 2020 with a really big plan in place and I had everything in mind,” Liz said. “And suddenly in March it was like, ‘ok, it’s lockdown. All the horses are going in the field for holiday’.”
Looking back now, though, Liz says she doesn’t see the shutdown and the extra year of Olympic prep as a bad thing. In fact, with a bit of refocusing the clear silver lining emerged: more time meant more polish.
Liz got to work making different plans. Where could her horses use improvement? Where could she do better? “[The extra time] just gave them more time to get better, she said. “That’s sort of how we looked at it.”
Taking a moment to look back on her career – which includes time spent on the international sportscar and GT endurance auto racing circuits – Liz says she embraces the mental challenge of sport but also recognizes that there is always space to improve. This concept of mental fortitude, she says, is one area she plans to really hone in on over the winter. She says she is all-in with eventing, the sport she has called home since hanging up her racing gloves in 2013 (never say never on getting into another racing car, she indicated at the same time).
She also extended gratitude to USEF Eventing High Performance Director Erik Duvander, who she says has believed in her since day one. “He continues to push me to be better and he’s always challenging me to be better,” she said. “I have an endless amount of respect for him and I think he’s been very, very good for this country.”
This year, she says, has been full of lessons learned – mostly to the tune of “how to pivot from one plan to another, to another.” But it’s something she can apply to all aspects of her work. Get off one horse, wipe the slate clean, get on the next and treat it as the individual it is. Make a mistake, find the lesson and forget the rest. Change one plan, make a new and improved one to replace it. “I think it’s just how you can keep pulling yourself together and take what you can learn with you and throw the rest away,” Liz said.
Asked for her advice for others seeking to “make it” in the sport, Liz thought for a moment before recalling the years she spent in England as a younger rider, riding any horse she could get on and sacrificing sleep for saddle time without hesitation. “If you really want it, just turn up and fight for it,” she advised.
Piggy March and Vanir Kamira. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.
‘How Do You Dare to Dream Again?’
If Piggy March was going to miss the 2012 Olympics in her home city of London, it wouldn’t be for lack of intensity, desire, talent or try. Piggy candidly reflected on the devastation she experienced when her two Olympic hopeful horses went lame just before selection. She would experience another crushing blow when her European Championship horse the following year was also sidelined.
“It was really tough, I’m not going to lie,” she said. “I did really struggle. To be honest, we can all miss events through an injury, but for it to be your hometown, your London Olympics, your own home Olympics … a once in a lifetime massive thing, and to have two horses go lame so close before when you’re living your life for those horses and trying to do everything you possibly can. It wasn’t like you could sit there and say ‘oh, I was a bit casual here or could have done that’. I found it really hard, mentally, to deal with it, to understand it.”
Indeed, she found it difficult to allow herself a new dream. Here she was, having left everything on the table with nothing to show. “How do you dare to dream again when you think you’re doing everything you possibly can?”
Piggy’s love for her horses and for the sport of eventing is palpable, even through the video.
“I’ve been obsessed with eventing ever since I was so small,” she reflected. “And it is a way of life for me. There is nothing else that makes me tick, nothing else that excites me, nothing else that I’m passionate about. This is my life.”
It’s this lifestyle that has kept Piggy going, even on her worst days. Since those low moments, she’s gone on to accrue countless international achievements, including winning her first five-star – Badminton – in 2019. Even so, she’s the humblest rider you might meet.
“I live in my own little world and I do my own thing, so it’s crazy when you get people that say, ‘I really look up to you’, ” she said. She tells stories of writing to Mary King as a young girl, and how even today she still feels as starstruck with her fellow riders as we do with her.
And for Piggy, the winnings, the titles, the accolades – those are all icing on the cake. She describes her desire to compete, alluding to what matters the most to her: her relationship with her horses. “I love working with horses, and I take that feeling that I get at home and I want to take it to competitions … and if it’s good enough, it’s the best feeling in the world.”
Tuesday News & Notes from Legends Horse Feeds
Sunrise through the ears. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Sunday morning had some fabulous views for those of us at Ashland Farm in Walnut Grove, Georgia. It was the perfect amount if chill without being too cold, and the golden hue made my ride feel extra magical — so magical in fact that my ex-racehorse decided we could in fact manage a right lead canter. Small miracles are all around us.
National Holiday: National Cat Herders Day
Events Opening This Week: Rocking Horse Winter I H.T., Full Gallop Farm January H.T, Galway Downs 2021 Kickoff H.T.,
Tuesday News:
Deonte Sewell may have a dream job, but he’s still pushing for more. He’s been working for Phillip Dutton since September, and says that every day is an offer for a wealth of opportunity from a masterclass rider. In this blog, Deonte shares an honest reflection of his experiences (and his nerves). [Settling In At True Prospect Farm]
Must competition horses be stalled for a healthy lifestyle? Or is more time in the pasture best? These are questions that have passionate answers from many horse owners. Dr. Janet Greenfield Davis breaks down the risks and benefits. [Let’s Settle It: Do All Horses Need to Be Stalled?]
We are saddened to learn of the passing of course builder Daniel Starck at the age of 69. Daniel entered into the event building sphere in 1985 when he was among the team of builders at the Kentucky Three-Day Event. Our thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family. [In Memoriam: Daniel Starck]
Dashing through the snow is fun, but first let’s make sure your horse is all set. Let you farrier know if you have plans to ride frequently in the snow. Don’t forget your layers, too, to keep warm while you’re at it! [Tips for Winter Riding in Snow and Ice]
Tuesday Video: Mia we aren’t laughing at you, we are laughing with you.
Monday Video: Behind the Scenes at a Top Show Jumping Barn
Are you ready to take a walk through an actual dream barn? Enjoy this tour courtesy of Matt Harnacke and HorseWorldTV around Stal Tops in Valkenswaard, Netherlands, home to show jumping power couple, Australian rider Edwina Tops-Alexander and her husband, Dutch rider and founder of the Longines Global Champions Tour, Jan Tops
Stal Tops backs right up to Stal Tops Equestrian Center, a world-class competition venue complete with a grandstand and everything. The stables themselves are just as impressive as the competition area, but this barn is likely nothing you may have pictured in a barn before. The tack room kind of looks like a high-ride board meeting room and the stables is also home to a vet clinic with two full-time veterinarians working on site. Just a few of the many amenities Stal Tops boasts are a water treadmill, outdoor walker, and not one but TWO ginormous heated indoor arenas with a built-in sprinkler systems.
Enjoy the video (and try not to be too jealous!)
FEI Confirms Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill Official CCI5*-L Status
Tim Bourke and Quality Time at the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill’s test event in August. Photo by Amy Dragoo.
It’s all systems go for the postponed-from-2020 Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, now scheduled for Oct. 14-17, 2021. The inaugural event has been granted official CCI5*-L status following support from the FEI. The formal ratification was received following the FEI’s evaluation of the host venue at a test event in August 2020 held at the newly constructed Fair Hill Special Event Zone in Cecil County, Maryland.
FEI officials were on-site at Fair Hill in August where competitors utilized the new Special Event Zone for the first time since construction was completed in February 2020. The CCI3*-S event served as the test event for the Maryland 5 Star after the original test event planned for April was cancelled because of the pandemic.
“The five-star designation is the top level of our sport and in turn, there is an extensive evaluation process that takes place in order to host such an event,” said Catrin Norinder, FEI Director of Eventing and Olympic. “Despite the challenges 2020 has presented, the organizers have made tremendous strides and met the necessary requirements to date, and the FEI Eventing Committee supported its inclusion in the FEI Calendar.”
In 2017, the USEF board of directors selected Fair Hill as a potential host site for the newest CCI5*-L competition on the international eventing circuit. Last year, the Maryland Board of Public Works approved funding for the construction of the Fair Hill Special Event Zone to serve as the annual host site for the Maryland 5 Star. Phase One of the project was completed this year including the construction of a new cross country course designed by Ian Stark, as well as new dressage and show jumping arenas located within the infield of the refurbished Turf Course at Fair Hill.
“On behalf of The Fair Hill Organizing Committee and our partner Fair Hill International, we want to thank the FEI for their continued support,” said Jeff Newman, Fair Hill Organizing Committee President and CEO. “This validation of the new Fair Hill Special Event Zone to host a five-star level event is yet another exciting step forward as we gear up for the inaugural Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill next fall.”
The event will be the seventh CCI5*-L worldwide and Maryland will join Kentucky as the second location in the United States.
“The Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill will be a significant addition to our country’s eventing calendar and is the result of a major, multi-year initiative to bring a second CCI5*-L to the U.S.,” said Bill Moroney, Chief Executive Officer of US Equestrian. “This event is the culmination of that vision and we’re looking forward to working with the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill team to support a successful event in 2021 and beyond.”
The Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill recently hosted a virtual event as part of Governor Larry Hogan’s proclamation of October as Maryland Horse Month. Exclusive content showcasing the Fair Hill Special Event Zone can still be viewed on the event’s website here.
Happy Holidays! The Winners of the Nation Media Holiday Contest are…
Happy holidays! We are ready to welcome 2021 with open arms and say a hearty farewell to 2020. Thank you, all, for submitting your horsey holiday traditions for a chance to win some awesome prize packages in the Nation Media Holiday Contest!
Some of our amazing sponsors generously donated sweet prizes…
- Banixx: Super effective grooming products
- Haygain: Super luxe hay nets
- Kentucky Performance Products: Coolers and other “cool” goodies
- Legends: ProElite performance horse feed
- SmartPak: Cute saddle pads
And the winners are…
My “holiday” tradition is nothing flashy, but it’s important to me. My 8 y/o appendix mare Duchess (Royal Trouble) has PSSM 2, a disease that involves muscular problems due to abnormalities in the horse’s ability to process sugars into usable polysaccharides. She is lovely to ride during the warmer months. In the cold, she gets pretty uncomfortable under saddle. Therefore, around November or December, we stop riding and dedicate the winter to in-hand dressage work. As hard as it is not to ride her, it’s really beneficial to work on strength and subtlety of cues on the ground, and then transfer these things to the saddle in the spring! During this time, I get the chance to ride many of the other horses at my barn, giving me the opportunity to test my riding abilities on different types of horses and strengthen my connections with my barn family. The start of the winter reminds me to be thankful for their willingness to support me and my mare. Plus, I get the chance to slow down and really appreciate all of Duchess’s cheeky moments from the ground! — Kelsey Walworth
Riding in Christmas parades dressed in poinsettias with sleigh bells as a breast collar so we jingle down the whole route. — Ami and Jamie Smith
Ready for the parade! Photo courtesy Ami and Jamie Smith.
Our horsey holiday traditions begin with Thanksgiving. We organize a barn “Turkey Trot” aka a trail ride with all the boarders. Christmas for us is typically spent out of town (not this year), so my mom and I make a point to go for a New Year’s Day ride. No better way to ring in the new year than on horseback! This year we might sage the place as we go and hope for better juju in 2021. The photos are of my mom attempting to convince my horse Beau to wear reindeer antlers for holiday pictures. He wasn’t into it. — Leslie Threlkeld
Attempt #1. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Attempt #37. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Beau may or may not have removed these antlers immediately after this photo was taken. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Keep an eye out for an email from our team so we can mail you your prize packages!
These readers had some lovely holiday traditions, as well:
Since we moved to AZ, we’ve taken on a traditional southwestern Christmas Eve dinner of posole and tamales. Jolene approves of the great winters here. — Lisa Burnett
A happy camper in the southwest! Photo by Lisa Burnett.
Our Horsey Holiday tradition is to give our employees Christmas Eve and Christmas off and my husband and I take care of all the horses. Everyone gets a secret surprise from Santa, including homemade mashes peppermints! For the boarders who come to visit, we go on a bareback blanket ride! — Jaclyn Burke
Glad to see this horse is on the “good” list! Photo by Jaclyn Burke.
Normally I give peppermints to the ponies and cookies to the humans, but this year I have more free time on my hands, so I combined the two and made these outrageous cookies for the ponies! PS. I also shaved a Christmas tree in my mare’s butt. It might become a new tradition. — Cortni Edwards
Want the recipe? Click HERE! Photo by Cortni Edwards.
Pure epic-ness. Photo by Cortni Edwards.
Thank you again for sharing your horsey holiday traditions.
Go Eventing! Happy Holidays from Nation Media and our wonderful sponsors!
Weekend Winners: USEA Year-End Awards + Full Gallop Farm
For this week’s edition of Weekend Winners, we’re recognizing all of the Year-End Award winners announced by the USEA over the weekend. Typically, these winners would be recognized as a part of the Annual Meeting, but this portion of the proceedings has been scheduled instead for January 8, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. EST on Zoom. Scroll down to view this year’s Year-End Awards.
The final recognized event of 2020 is in the books as Full Gallop Farm had its December horse trials over the weekend. On that note, our final Unofficial Low Score Award winner of the year is Lauren Alexander, who won her Training division aboard Excel Star Over The Moon on a score of 28.8. This pair has a handful of wins together, and this weekend is their third win at the Training level. Many congratulations!
Full Gallop Farm December H.T.: Final Results
Preliminary: Daryl Kinney and Moneyball (34.9)
Preliminary/Training: Daryl Kinney and Punch It (34.3)
Training: Lauren Alexander and Excel Star Over The Moon (28.8)
Novice: Taylor Berlin and Carlingford Castle (33.3)
Training/Novice: Amy Wise Walker and Ruger (29.0)
Beginner Novice: Kerry Tracey and Big Bear’s Cor Dei Cor (30.0)
Starter: Lauren Lindsay and FGF Holdum (34.4)
USEA Annual Meeting: Year-End Award Winners
Year-End Leaderboards by Level
Beginner Novice:
- Junior Rider – Riley Jones
- Intercollegiate Rider – Jessica Wymbs
- Young Adult Rider – Ansleigh Craven and Morgan Scudder
- Adult Amateur Rider – Jennifer Brown
- Adult Rider – Casey Locklear
- Master Amateur Rider – Heather Sinclair
- Master Rider – Ann Schliemann and Brenda Hutton
- Horse – Señor Santana
Novice:
- Junior Rider – Tessa Geven
- Intercollegiate Rider – Paige Ansaldi
- Young Adult Rider – Paige Ansaldi
- Adult Amateur Rider – Lily Barlow
- Adult Rider – Megan Edwards
- Master Amateur Rider – Brooke Kahl
- Master Rider – Alison Eastman-Lawler
- Horse – Lexington III
Training:
- Junior Rider – Carlin Keefe
- Intercollegiate Rider – Mikayla Kearney
- Young Adult Rider – Lea Adams-Blackmore
- Adult Amateur Rider – Skylar Rowen
- Adult Rider – Heidi Crowell
- Master Amateur Rider – Natalie Epstein
- Master Rider – Beth Murphy
- Horse – Herr Winzig
Modified:
- Junior Rider – Ella Kay Lane
- Intercollegiate Rider – Kaley Crosby
- Young Adult Rider – Kaley Crosby
- Adult Amateur Rider – Kelsey Hoiness
- Adult Rider – Kelly Ransom
- Master Amateur Rider – Micheline Jordan
- Master Rider – Carolyn Wehle
- Horse – Shirseen Ice
Preliminary:
- Junior Rider – Katarina Midgley
- Intercollegiate Rider – Ryan Keefe and Audrey Sanborn
- Young Adult Rider – Camryn Holcomb
- Adult Amateur Rider – Arden Wildasin
- Adult Rider – Caroline Martin
- Master Amateur Rider – Pedro Gutierrez
- Master Rider – Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp
- Horse – Maryville Sir Henry
- 6-Year-Old Horse – Vandyke
Intermediate:
- Young Rider – Katie Lichten
- Intercollegiate Rider – Katie Lichten
- Adult Amateur Rider – Marley Stone Bourke
- Adult Rider – Boyd Martin
- Master Amateur Rider – Asia Vedder
- Horse – Lady Chatterley
- 7-Year-Old Horse – Cooley Stormwater
Advanced:
- Young Adult Rider – Madison Temkin
- Adult Amateur Rider – Ashlynn Meuchel
- Adult Rider – Boyd Martin
- Master Amateur Rider – Kevin Keane
- Horse – Luke 140
USEA Overall Year-End Awards
- Lowest Score at Waredaca Classic Series Training Three-Day: Ema Klugman
- Sunsprite Warmblood Volunteer of the Year: James Newman
- RevitaVet USEA Young Rider of the Year – Linda Moore Trophy: Benjamin Noonan
- USEA Adult Amateur of the Year – Col. Allen D. Smith Memorial Trophy: Arden Wildasin
- Bates USEA Lady Rider of the Year – Essie Perkins Trophy: Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp
- Bates USEA Mare of the Year – Frolicsome Trophy: Lady Chatterley
- SmartPak USEA Stallion of the Year – Windfall Trophy: M Crème De La Crème SE (Claire de Lune SE x Zathalida SE)
- SmartPak USEA Pony of the Year – Theodore O’Connor Trophy: Seńor Santana
- Standlee Premium Western Forage USEA Horse of the Year – Caser Trophy: Luke 140
- World Equestrian Brands USEA Rider of the Year – Windy Acres Farm Trophy: Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp
USEA Special Awards
- USEA Groom of the Year: Rachel Livermore, groom to Sharon White
- Vintage Cup (for members 60 and over): Lorilee Hanson
- Cornerstone Instructor’s Award (for lower level instructors): Elizabeth Tuckey, Stephanie Baer, Brad Hall
- Instructors’ Certification Program Sue Hershey Award (for ICP certified instructors): John Camlin
- Ironmaster Trophy (for fortitude and courage): Lynn Kilsavage
- Andrew H. Popiel Memorial Trophy (for event organizers): Jonathan Elliott
- Governor’s Cup (for those working behind the scenes): Ben Ascani, Jean and James Moyer, Dr. Mark Hart
Broussard Charitable Foundation Trust Grants
2020 Broussard Going Forward Educational Grants
Horse Immersion Program:
- Patricia “Peaches” Cava
Instructors’ Certification Program:
- Laura Vello
- Gina Pletch
- Michael Graham
Eventing Officials “r” Training Program:
- Jeanie Clarke
- Jennifer Rousseau
- John Meriwether
A Soft Landing for OTTBs: Meet Suzanna Norris, Founder of Hidden Acres Rescue for Thoroughbreds
Quite a few eventers take pride in restarting OTTBs to event, and Suzanna Norris is no different. I was fortunate enough to have a chat with Suzee about her love for the breed and her aftercare organization, Hidden Acres Rescue for Thoroughbreds (HART). Founded in September 2011 in Cocoa, Florida, HART is a safe space for OTTBs and has successfully adopted out 150 horses ot happy and healthy homes.
Q: What was your inspiration for HART?
A: I’ve been riding all my life and as a teenager, I always had a soft place for thoroughbreds. I didn’t understand that the horses coming off the track didn’t have a place to go, so I connected with an organization and started learning more about aftercare. I was compelled to step into action, so I started HART. I’ve always had a passion for thoroughbreds—horses for sure—but thoroughbreds have always had a soft place in my heart.
Suzanna and her first TB, Megsense (aka Webster) won the High Point Rider Award at the 1989 4-H show. Photo courtesy of Suzanna Norris.
Q: How did you get your start into riding?
A: I joke around with everybody, I think it was a genetic defect. My twin sister and I harassed my dad at an early age for riding lessons and my dad finally gave in and it kind of escalated from there. He kind of thought it was a phase and that we’d grow up to be engineers. So we did get engineering degrees but we ended up moving to the horse business anyway. I believe it’s my calling, honestly. I believe I’m here for the horses and I guess specifically for the thoroughbreds.
Q: How did you go from engineering to a horse business?
A: I come from a family of engineers and I’m kind of designed to be an engineer. When I went to college, I got a civil engineering degree but throughout college, I had my horses and I worked on a Trakehner breeding farm. When I graduated, I got a job as an engineer, but even on the side, I started a pony training business with one of my friends that I met on the Trakehner farm.
Finally, I was 28 years old and I decided to move into the horse world. It all just kind of evolved from there. I bought my horse farm in 2006 and eventually in 2011 is when we became a non-profit and started our aftercare organization officially.
Q: What is your favorite part about working with OTTBs?
A: I love the underdog. I like to get down to that horse’s level and learn who they are and help them succeed in our human world with our expectations. Of course, the most rewarding part of that is seeing them transform and become a horse that is more comfortable in their skin. Every day I get to experience a smile on someone’s face or a transformation in their lives because of their connection with the horses. There’s so much need for positivity that I just want to be a little part of that the best I can and these horses give me that ability to do so.
Comrade and Suzanna at Tryon International Equestrian Center. Photo courtesy of Tracey Butcher.
Q: Is there a specific horse you’ve worked with that has stuck out to you?
A: Of course they are all special in their sort of way. I had a horse that I adopted about three years ago and developed for the Retired Racehorse Project in 2017. He was a big 17-hand unicorn. His racing name was Ratnik, which is a Russian name for a warrior, so we named him Comrade in the barn as a spinoff of the Russian thing. He came to us from a good home off the track, but when he got to us he had a lot of abscesses. I was able to get him to the makeover even though we weren’t able to train as much as we wanted to because of some of the issues he had. I fell in love with him, but when I met Dana, who owns him now, I knew it was the right home and he’s been spoiled rotten! She does lower level eventing with him and he’s deserving of the best of homes.
Q: How has this Covid had an impact on HART this year?
A: You know, I feel like to get these horses in from the track and develop them, there’s always more to do than you can manage. This year has kind of felt the same. But we were a little worried when everything shut down in March so we buckled down and went after every bit of funding we could find. We got some emergency funds from the Thoroughbred Charities of America which was great. We were also able to get some funding locally through the government so that helped keep us afloat. There’s always more to spend and more to have so really just balancing the care of the horses with the money coming in is key.
HART’s wonderful volunteers are a big help! Photo courtesy of Suzanna Norris.
Q: What can the readers do to help?
A: Everybody can help in their own big or small way. To me, one of the easiest ways people can help is on Amazon Smile. You can just go on Amazon, choose Hidden Acres as your charity of choice, and every time you shop we’ll get a small percentage of it. Donating equipment and creating awareness is helpful too. There are reputable organizations like HART and other Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) organizations. You can go on the TAA website and see other organizations that are held to high standards through the TAA. If you’re close to one of the organizations, you can go ride or clean stalls. At HART, a lot of people are there to learn and grow, so we offer opportunities for them to work with the horses. If you’re looking for a horse, look at HART or other organizations to see if they have a horse that might suit your needs.
Go Thoroughbreds. Go Eventing.
Monday News & Notes
The happiest of holiday seasons from Kirsty Short‘s stalwart CCI5* campaigner Bouncer, who swapped his usual duties for a starring role as the donkey in the nativity play at the school at which Kirsty teaches. The 18-year-old gelding, who has completed every European CCI5*, was reportedly a ‘complete professional’ about the experience. You can read more here.
National Holiday: It’s Green Monday – so named for all the, um, green we’re all going to drop on this, one of the biggest days for last-minute Christmas shopping. I’ll be real with you; I’ve barely started mine.
U.S. Weekend Results:
Full Gallop Farm December H.T.: [Website] [Results]
Your Monday Reading List:
Need to brush up on your Lauren Nicholson fun facts? H&H has compiled nine things you might not know about the Olympian – though we suspect many of you probably will! [Maggots, Mars bars and marriage: nine things you didn’t know about US Olympian Lauren Nicholson]
He’s one of the best jockeys the world has ever seen these days – but once upon a time, he was just a tiny rebel who fell off in his first-ever race. The Racing Post takes a look back at Frankie Dettori’s inauspicious start on the eve of his fiftieth birthday. [‘He couldn’t speak a word of English. He could barely speak a word of Italian’]
Sure, it’s annoying when your horse kicks his stable door for his dinner – but it could be a sign of significant stress, too. New research suggests that off-schedule feeding could be posing a welfare concern for your horse, so if you’re habitually a bit late to start each day, consider this your Monday motivation. [Study: Off-Schedule Feeding Compromises Horse Welfare]
The British Horseracing Association is reviewing its process for approving horse names after a runner named for a racial slur caused outcry over the weekend. Though the horse’s trainers claim the mistake was an innocent one, with the name coming from a computer game, it’s a stark reminder of the fallibility of the current systems in place to spot problematic nomenclature. [BHA to conduct review after racehorse runs with racial slur as its name]
It’s a racing-heavy sort of Monday, but if you’ve been following the curious case of Oisin Murphy and his positive (and then negative) cocaine tests, you’ll enjoy this interview. 2020 has taken us from positive equine tests after a sneaky stable wee to positive jockey tests after an illicit liaison – be careful out there, kids. [Oisin Murphy exclusive interview: Sex, drugs, Justin Bieber – and why he will not succumb to self-pity]
We’re so delighted to see Caitlin Gooch of Saddle Up and Read in the spotlight after her charity and mission got a huge shout-out from Oprah Winfrey. We’ve sung the North Carolina-based equestrians praises before for her brilliant work in providing both literacy and horsey opportunities to underprivileged kids, and we’ll keep on doing it. Check out this great piece published by CNN over the weekend. [Meet the Black cowgirl who inspires children to read]
And finally, it’s a piece behind a paywall, but if you’re among the many eventers wondering why the discipline won’t get a European Championships next year, the FEI has released a statement explaining it. Though a social media campaign by Michael Jung has enjoyed some traction and put Swiss CCI4*-S venue Avenches into the spotlight, no formal bid was ever made to host the Championships. [Decision to cancel eventing Europeans explained following social media debate]
What I’m Listening To: If I’m honest, I currently spend most of my time revisiting the questionable music of my early teenage years, because as it turns out, screamy lip-ring music is absolutely ideal for smashing out a good gym sesh. But in between guitar solos, I’ve been loving The Worldwide Tribe‘s podcast, Stories About Refugees. Each episode focuses on a different person or works to demystify global conflict or more home-grown legislature that contributes to the ongoing refugee crisis, with one crucial message at the heart of their work – refugees are more than just their search for a safe home. They are, ultimately, people.
Morning Viewing:
Curious about how young horse classes work, or have a youngster of your own you’d like to debut in 2021? This helpful primer from Martin Douzant explains the conformation and turnout that’s expected.
Stable View
Success Equestrian
FutureTrack
Sport Horse Nation
