Welcome to the first December edition of Weekend Winners for 2020! We have two events to get to this weekend, plus a special shoutout to some fun folks in Area VI.
This weekend’s Unofficial Low Score Award goes to Ronald Zabala-Goetschel and Wise King Cooper, who won their Open Novice division at Rocking Horse’s December Horse Trials on a 17.4. Wise King Cooper is a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion homebred by Ronald and Christine Geurden. “Cooper” is a half-brother on the dam side to Ronald’s Pan American Games and Bolivarian Games partner, Mr. Wiseguy. Congratulations!
Open Intermediate: Kimmy Cecere and Landmark’s Monaco (27.5)
Open Preliminary: Laura Welsh and Saturday Night Clive (24.8)
Preliminary Rider: Sara Kelson and Rhonaldo (32.5)
Open Training A: Leslie Law and Windchase Starfire (25.2)
Open Training B: Catharina Ardakani and Cobra King (29.8)
Preliminary/Training: Holly Jacks-Smither and Anderboch Flier (33.5)
Training Rider: Kathleen Abrams and Spintastic (24.6)
Jr. Novice Rider: Ava Rickert and Favonius Nite (33.3)
Open Novice A: Robin Walker and Oldcourt Grafen Dance (24.8)
Open Novice B: Ronald Zabala-Goetschel and Wise King Cooper (17.4)
Sr. Novice Rider: Krista Wilson and Stella (31.7)
Jr. Beginner Novice Rider: Hannah Catsulis and Solo Mio Amor (29.3)
Open Beginner Novice: Carole Schaff and Lucky In Louisiana (24.5)
Sr. Beginner Novice Rider: Jessia Vaughn and Mr. Sandman (36.5)
Open Preliminary: Sarah Cousins and Hagrid (51.8)
Preliminary Rider: Leila Cluff-Ryan and Grand Finale (34.6)
Open Training: Jodie Potts and Island Fever (33.9)
Preliminary/Training: Julie Richards and Fernhill 13 (35.0)
Training Rider: Crockett Miller and Mr Panda (29.6)
Novice Rider A: Ava Friese and CMF Diamond Promise (31.7)
Novice Rider B: Eleanor Gray and Get Going (34.5)
Open Novice: Becky Holder and Miracle Eclipse (28.6)
Training/Novice: Mellisa Warden and Unfolding Blame (35.4)
Beginner Novice Rider: Jane Manetta and George (32.3)
Open Beginner Novice: Elise Santiz and Power Trip (28.5)
Starter: Carleigh Fedorka and Judge Johnny (32.8)
Finally did the damn thing 🏆
Leo was foot perfect today for the win, scoring a 28.5 in the dressage and putting in 2…
And just for fun, I wanted to give a special shout to my buddies in Kansas City, who put on a fundraising jumper show for much-loved Area IV coach Julie Wolfert, who has her sights set on contesting the 2021 Mongol Derby. Julie is a stalwart part of Midwest eventing and her students and supporters showed up to party this weekend at this fun show!
A quieter Burghley than usual, as seen from the Lion’s Bridge. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
This is such a strange and unfamiliar holiday season, but something about that is making me lean into it more than I have in years. I’ve somehow become some sort of manic Martha Stewart mini-me, drying orange slices for hours in the oven to make garlands, festooning my entire cottage in delicate little copper-wire twinkle lights, and concocting an endless assortment of mulling spices and festive gin infusions. (Do we need a hip-flask recipe post, EN? I feel like we do.) I’m spending this entire strange month seeing off this entire strange year with wonderful friends near and far, old and new, meeting up for socially-distanced walks and talks and coffees in red cups, and it’s honestly already the best Christmas I’ve had in years.
What has this got to do with eventing, or with your own Monday plans? Well, not a lot, admittedly, but for the fact that I felt that all this making merry needed to include an appropriate send-off to my homes away from home, most of which I never got to see this year. And so I hopped into the car, headed three hours due north, and met up with two of my very best friends – both exceptional journalists at Horse&Hound and all-around good eggs – for a jolly good stomp around the hallowed turf of beautiful Burghley Park. I’ve been coming to Burghley for years – it was the first five-star I ever attended, and years later, my first-ever press accreditation – but I’d never been to the estate or house at any other time of the year.
The easiest way to make equestrian journalists giddy in the off-season? Take them to their favourite venues and let them jump logs on the ground. On foot. Photo by Lucy Elder.
Reader, it was surreal and magical and all I can say is this: if you’re missing all the eventing that wasn’t this year and you’re in reasonably close proximity to the home of one of your favourite internationals, do try to pay it a visit. Driving in the usual press entrance by the house gave me actual tummy butterflies, and seeing its gilding and ALL. THOSE. WINDOWS. sparkling in the crisp winter sunlight made everything feel as though it would be alright eventually. Off we trotted from the house to the Lion Bridge, where we watched the estate’s resident herd of sheep clamber around the Collyweston Slate Mine fence. Then we picked our way down to Discovery Valley, confirmed that none of us fancied jumping its cavernous open corner, and headed out into an eerily empty field to find the jog strip – extraordinarily small without its usual fanfare of crowds, grandstands and marquees. Now, in its off-season, it’s just a tiny sliver of hard surface in the middle of an expanse of surprisingly undulating green. It all felt quite remarkably peaceful (until, of course, we wandered over to the Leaf Pit, which somehow looks even bigger when found in the wild).
It’s been a funny old year without so many of our favourite events, but visiting Burghley in its hibernation period reminded me of one unshakable truth: they will be back, and when they are, they’ll be even better than we all remembered. And honestly, I’ll raise a hip flask of mulled pomegranate gin to that.
National Holiday: It’s National Cotton Candy Day. I’m not sure I’ve ever eaten cotton candy outside of the months of July and August, but okay.
The third and final week of the Portugal Winter Tour came to a close in Barocca d’Alva, with the long-format divisions joining the array of short-format divisions on the roster. The premier class, the CCI4*-L, was won by experienced British-based Aussie pair Sammi Birch and Hunter Valley II, while Belgium’s Karin Donckers took the CCI4*-S with her stalwart partner Fletcha Van’t Verahof. The US was well represented with a fourth place finish in the CCI3*-L for Hallie Coon and new partner Global Ex.
Your Monday Reading List:
The team at EquiRatings have launched a new rating system designed to definitively determine the best event horses of all time. The Elo system – named for Hungarian physics professor Arpad Elo – has been reworked from the world of chess, and the horse who takes the lead for the all-time best record probably won’t come as much of a surprise. [Who is the best event horse in the world? Data experts build a ranking to find out…]
Have you been obsessively watching the new series of The Crown? If so, you’ve likely been loving the focus on Princess Anne’s equestrian career (discipline switch and venue change aside, of course). But do you know the young British rider who stepped in to play the character in those nail-biting riding scenes? Meet 23-year-old Amy Inglis. [How Amy Became a Star of ‘The Crown’]
I’m never more glad to have a plain brown wrapper mare than I am in mud season. If you’re not so lucky, keeping those white legs clean – and that sensitive skin healthy – is probably one of your biggest stressors at this time of year. Fortunately, Heels Down has got some tips to help you. [How to Keep Those White Legs…Actually White in Winter]
In your riding life, you’ll occasionally encounter those horses who are just, well, tough. Whether it’s because they’re naturally just tempestuous characters, or whether they’ve been made tricky through bad experiences, working with them will be among your biggest challenges – but they can be extraordinarily rewarding, too. Here, Tik Maynard explains how he approached three such characters. [My Three Toughest Horses, and How I Addressed Each One]
Morning Viewing:
Have you got to grips with travel-induced ulcers? The team at Fox-Pitt Eventing explain their tried-and-tested preventative measures for keeping your horses happy and healthy when hauling.
Charlotte Dujardin recently took the trip of a lifetime to Kenya where she saw some of the world’s most beautiful creatures. Her view was especially unique as she toured the landscape from the top of her borrowed horse, Kyoto, a Boerperd/Friesian.
Our favorite part? Charlotte took the opportunity to school some cross country:
The USEA Foundation’s Frangible Technology Fund at work! Photo by Shelby Allen.
The Frangible Technology Fund was established earlier this year in an effort to raise awareness and funding for research and equipment grants. To date the Frangible Technology Fund has raised over $430,000. Once $450,000 has been raised, a $50,000 matching grant from The Manton Foundation will activate to reach the final goal of $500,000.
🏳️ Calling all eventers! 🚩
We are so close to reaching our fundraising goal for the Frangible Technology Fund!…
The collective efforts of many have made this goal inch ever closer. This technology will serve to make our sport safer, and every single dollar helps the Fund reach its ultimate goal. To learn more about the Frangible Technology Fund and to make a tax-deductible donation, click here.
First ride alert! Three month old Payton Granquist had her very first ride with upper level eventer and mom Jordán Linstedt Granquist this week. She looks right at home on the back of a horse. Now the only question is, will she follow in her mom’s shoes as an eventer?
We’re looking back on the wild year that has been 2020 this month and are counting down the top-viewed videos shared on EN this year. Let’s kick things off with #10, all about rising star Carter Grandia-Dodson.
Photo courtesy of Anni Grandia-Dodson.
Last Saturday we met Laila Alexander, age 4, who had just completed her first mini-trial — yay Laila! This week we’d like to introduce you to another 4-year-old rising superstar, Carter Grandia-Dodson.
Mom Anni shares, “His pony is Polka Dot and he loves to do what the big kids do. He loves to go cross country schooling and jump his pony. He did his first derby a few weeks ago and won his 5-and-under division. Carter has an uncle that events in area VII, I also event and run an event, grandma and his aunt do dressage. We’re producing the next generation here in area VII!”
Vicki Lowell (far right) led a panel discussion with (far left to right) Andrea Evans, Taryn Young, Rich Cronin, and Bob Hughes. Photo courtesy of US Equestrian.
US Equestrian is pleased to share the complete schedule for the USEF Annual Meeting, which will be held virtually January 13-17, 2021. All sessions including the 2020 Pegasus and Horse of the Year Awards Celebration are free for all members.
Members are invited to attend special presentations given by the Member Services Council, National Breeds & Disciplines Council, and International Disciplines Council throughout the week to learn more about results from 2020 and plans for 2021. Additionally, there will be a special Calendar Management Meeting and Q&A open to members on Wednesday, January 13, at 6:00 p.m. The General Session will be held during the afternoon of Saturday, January 16, via Zoom and the USEF Pegasus and Horse of the Year Awards Celebration will take place that evening on USEF Network. The 2021 meeting will conclude with the Board Meeting on Sunday, January 17, via Zoom. Details and times are below, so please mark your calendars! Registration information for each session will be available online and shared via e-mail in the coming weeks.
Wednesday, January 13: Ideas into Action
• 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Member Services Council Presentation
• 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. | Calendar Management Meeting and Q&A
Thursday, January 14: Grassroots to Grand Champion
• 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. | National Breeds & Disciplines Council Presentation
Friday, January 15: Growing the FEI Disciplines at Home & Abroad
• 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. | International Disciplines Council Presentation
Saturday, January 16: Listen, Learn & Lead Together
• 4:30 p.m. | General Session Presentation given by President Murray Kessler & President Elect Tom O’Mara
• 7:30 p.m. | 2020 USEF Pegasus and Horse of the Year Awards Celebration
Sunday, January 17: Board of Directors Meeting
• 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. | New Board Member Orientation (Closed)
• 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Session One (Open)
• 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Session Two (Open)
Look out below! When she’s not schooling her event horses, Pau five-star winner Laura Collett is schools steeplechase horses too. Yesterday she took a youngster who seems not to believe in brushing through brush out to school at the Cheltenham Racecourse, which, according to our resident Brit, Tilly, is “👌👌👌”. You can see why!
I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve never been a natural gym-goer. For years, this wasn’t much of an issue – or so I thought. To my mind, working full-time with horses, doing hours of physical labour and riding three to eight horses per day was more than enough. And it was, kind of – but it took changing careers and having to come to terms with my loss of fitness to understand that by neglecting to give my body regular help in the form of workouts, I was actually only contributing to wonkiness and uneven strength through my body.
Now, I’ve decided to try to find the fun in fitness, by going for a run to Starbucks before my first Zoom meeting of the day, scheduling in some yoga me-time a few times a week, and picking things up and putting them down again now that the gym has reopened. But I’m not yet ready to say goodbye to the in-house personal trainers I used while in full lockdown and forced to attempt to fit a set of burpees in on my living room floor. While YouTube has been a great resource for general workout routines, this super new series from SmartPak is my recommendation of the week if you want to follow along with a great fitness plan that’s designed for equestrians of every age, shape, and fitness level. Just get it up on the big screen, grab your water bottle, and get sweating. Like me, you might just find that in a couple of weeks times, you’re seeing some serious gains in your riding.
We’re just a few days removed from the COVID-modified Goresbridge ‘Go for Gold’ Select Event Sale in Wexford, Ireland. Each year, quality event prospects hand-selected by a discerning board of selectors (Sally Parkyn, Clare Ryan, Chris Ryan, Nicky Roncoroni and Bridget Speirs) is presented to a slew of prospective buyers. Each horse has vet records and basic radiographs included, making this sale a true “one-stop shop” for those in the market for quality.
This year, due to the COVID-19 restrictions around the world, the organizing team of Martin and Mary Frances Donahoe has modified the sale to allow virtual bidding as well as provide a live stream of the horse preview and sale. There is a wide selection of 66 horses available this year, and there is truly a suitable match for any type of rider looking for a prospect here. If this is your first time dipping a toe into the auction world, allow our handy guide to provide the information you need to get started.
What’s happening and when?
The actual auction will happen at 3 p.m. GMT / 10 a.m. EST on Tuesday, December 8. But before the action begins, each horse will be ridden to show its skills on the flat and over fences. This preview will show all horses over the age of 3 on the flat, over fences, and on cross country. The three-year-old horses will free jump for viewers on Tuesday. Here is the schedule of events:
Monday, December 7
10:30 a.m. GMT / 5:30 a.m. EST: Lots 1-24 shown on the flat and over fences in numerical order.
1:00 p.m. GMT / 8:00 a.m. EST: Lots 1-24 shown over cross country in numerical order.
Tuesday, December 8
9:30 a.m. GMT / 4:30 a.m. EST: Lots 25-68 free jumped in numerical order.
3:00 p.m. GMT / 10:00 a.m. EST: Auction begins
Each of these events will be live streamed on the Goresbridge website here.
Can I see the horses ahead of the live stream?
Definitely. Each horse has conformation photos and full performance videos uploaded in numerical order here.
Can I see the horse’s pre-sale exam results and radiographs?
Each horse admitted into the sale will have had a full five-stage exam prior to the sale. A basic set of radiographs (front leg, front fetlocks, hind fetlocks, hocks, stifles, dorsal spinous processes) will have also been taken and the resulting records are available to be sent to a prospective purchaser’s veterinarian on request. We highly recommend contacting the Goresbridge office to arrange any record viewing ahead of time to save time on auction day.
How do I bid on a horse?
If you plan to bid, you’ll need to register ahead of time here. Bidders can take advantage of telephone bidding (Office: +35359 9775145 or Martin Donahoe: +353 87 2569496) and online bidding through the neatly organized portal that can be accessed here.
What forms of payment are accepted?
Credit and debit card payments (American Express, Visa, Maestro, and Laser Debit) will be accepted with no surcharge. Bank transfers are also available, as are cash payments for those attending in person. For those wishing to pay by check, a letter certifying the maximum amount by the purchaser’s bank must be acquired and forwarded to the Bank of Ireland. For more details on this, please see page 6 of the catalog here.
How do I arrange transportation for my horse?
The Goresbridge team has also collaborated with several transportation providers who will be available to set up arrangements upon purchase of a horse. You can start this process by either contacting the Goresbridge office or by contacting the transport companies listed in the catalog here.
