Classic Eventing Nation

Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier Take Defender Blair Castle CCI4*-S Title

By on Aug 24, 2024 8:00 pm -

Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

After Saturday morning’s showjumping, the top three places in the CCI4*S at Defender Blair Castle International Horse Trials were occupied by four 5*-winning riders as Piggy March (GBR) joined overnight leaders Olympic Gold medal teammates Ros Canter (GBR) with her own and Alex Moody’s Izilot DHI and Tom McEwen (GBR) and Mrs Alison Swinburn, John and Chloe Perry’s Brookfield Quality. Along with current Badminton title-holders, Caroline Powell and the Chris Mann-owned Greenacres Special Cavalier, Piggy slotted into joint third place on Mrs Alison Swinburn and John & Chloe Perry’s Brookfield Future News.

Ros Canter and Izilot DHI. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

With the cross country time not achieved by anyone, Caroline and her 2024 Badminton-winning, Burghley-bound mare, Greenacres Special Cavalier snatched the honours with a finishing score of 41. World and European Team Gold Medallist Piggy March and Brookfield Future News rose to 2nd place overall, finishing on a score of 41.4 after a clear cross country round in a time of 7.26. Finishing in 3rd was current world number two Ros Canter and Izilot DHI who heads back to Lincolnshire ready for their local 5* at Burghley next and Ros also repeated last years’ 4th place result with MHS Seventeen owned by Lady Milnes Coates and Mrs Deirdre Johnston.

Of her win Caroline said ‘What great timing huh? I’ve been coming to Blair for about 30 years now so to be here for the final one is quite sad. Finishing all the individual phases and realising that those are your last ones is quite something. It has just been the most amazing event. It’s grown arms and legs and hairy bits and the team have done the most amazing job of building it into what it is today.

Piggy March and Brookfield Future News. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

Blair has always produced cross-country riders courses and your good jumping horses that do well here usually go on to do really well at the big events like Burghley and Badminton, fingers crossed Cav doesn’t buck that trend in two weeks time.”

It was all change at the top of the leaderboard following a somewhat soggy spin around the cross country for our CCI2*L competitors first thing Saturday morning. Adding nothing to their first phase score of 27.6, Wills Oakden (GBR) and Mr Daniel Ockenden & Mrs Stephanie Oakden’s Mile Beach head the charge. Matthew Heath (GBR) and Sugar Rush TH owned by the rider and Mrs Clare Davis, AND Emily Lawson (GBR) and Mrs Julie Lawson’s Faerlie Similar sit in equal 3rd a mere 0.4 points behind the leaders.

An eventful second phase for the CCI-S 2*P riders meant not a single clear round was banked meaning all change for the leading riders heading into tomorrow’s cross country.

Piggy March and Cooley Goodwood. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

Chloe Chan (GBR) and her own Blennerville Rua had just a single pole down in the show jumping adding the least penalties to their dressage score to sit in the lead on 34.2 overnight. Less than 2 points behind them are Florence Baron (GBR) and her own Muckrim Evan on 36, with first-phase leaders Florence Drewitt (GBR) and Mrs Helen Drewitt’s Battlestown Delight on 36.1 just 0.1 points behind in 3rd.

Piggy March (GBR) and Mrs Susie Wood’s Cooley Goodwood cruised around the cross country adding just 1.2 time penalties to their dressage score of 27.9 to sit in the lead in the CCI3* L going into the final day. Piggy also occupies second place on the Andrew Nicholson owned Filipo who flew round for an immaculate clear inside the time to climb from 4th overnight. Adding just 0.8 time faults to remain in 3rd are Nadja Minder (SUI) and her own Top Job’s Jalisco with Jalisco’s stablemate Jezebelle GS sitting just behind in 4th place.

Competitors in the CCI4*L headed out on cross country Saturday afternoon and with the time seemingly impossible to make, it was all change at the top when the fastest round of the day went to Wills Oakden and Geoff and Elspeth Adam’s Keep It Cooley. Posting 10.8 time faults to take their two-phase score to 45.6, Wills sits just in front of world number one Tom McEwen and Mr Fred and Mrs Penny Barker’s MHS Brown Jack who stopped the clock at 10.43. Daisy Berkeley retains her overnight third place with Diese Du Figuier after a clear cross-country round in a time of 10.42.

Wills Oakden and Keep It Cooley. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.

An eventful showjumping wrote the second phase story for the CCI1* competitors as Max Warburton and Monbeg Condor rose to the top of section E after completing one of only 8 clear rounds in a section of over 90 competitors. Best of the CCI 1* F, Daisy Cross (GBR) and her own DHI Nielson, jumped a clear round to rise to the top of the leaderboard going into the cross country Sunday.

Defender Blair Castle International (Perthshire, Scotland) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

10 Reasons to Visit Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina

By on Aug 24, 2024 10:00 am -

Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.

The fall season is kicking off, but it won’t be long before the 2024 competition season is wrapped up and locked away into the recesses of photo albums and memories. Make the most of the remainder of the competition season and head to Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina.

As part of Eventing Nation’s team of reporters, I’ve been lucky enough to visit Stable View several times now, and it’s become a dream of mine to go with one of my horses, just for fun. Here’s why it’s on my bucket list and why it should be on yours, too.

World-Class Competition

We would be absolutely remiss if the number one reason to visit Stable View wasn’t their world class lineup of competitions. There’s a reason why Stable View was chosen as the location of Team USA’s last outing prior to the Paris Olympics. Stable View hosts a variety of amazing competitions to take advantage, from kicking off the spring season with the USEF/USEA Aiken Spring Opener Horse Trials to the April $60,000 FEI CCI-S 2/3/4* & USEF/USEA Horse Trials and finally, ending the season with their Oktoberfest CCI4* at the end of September, Stable View’s summer calendar is filled with action for every level of competitor.

Stable View isn’t just an eventing mecca. It’s also home to a series of dressage and hunter/jumper competitions. If you’d like to work on your show jumping or dressage phases, you’ll have double the opportunity you would if you stayed at a straight eventing venue. Or, if you really feel like switching things up, try your hand at a hunter derby.

Endless Schooling Opportunities

If you’re looking for schooling opportunities in Aiken, South Carolina, start with Stable View. Even Olympians take advantage of schooling Stable View’s cross country fields and atmospheric arenas. Boyd Martin spends his winter months at the Aiken horse farm, taking full advantage of all that Stable View has to offer. The Boyd Martin/ETB Schooling Field is available to everyone who wants to come to Stable View to school cross country.

If you’re looking for a schooling competition, take advantage of Stable View’s Eventing Academy series. Designed for riders of all levels, this unique schooling competition allows riders to train on the cross country course and in the dressage and/or show jumping rings two days prior to an unrecognized competition.

Tailgaiting and a car show? A real neighborhood event at Stable View! Photo by Christine Quinn.

Be Part of an Active Community

Unlike many other competitions, Stable View creates opportunities for competitors to stay and talk to other riders and staff after competition has ended. Most evenings, they host a free Gaze & Graze at the eco-friendly pavilion with amazing food right from their kitchen and drinks from the downstairs bar. Last season, a mechanical bull even made an appearance!

Stay with Your Horse

Make every night a sleepover at the barn. Stable View offers luxurious accommodations for horses and riders alike. In many cases, you can stay just feet away from your horse or opt for luxurious accommodations in the upstairs apartment above the main barn. Whether you choose to board in the Work Shed, Kennel, Main Barn, or East Barn, you’ll have an option to stay close to your horse.

Affordable Training Opportunities
Despite having so many amazing facilities, Stable View is able to keep their prices relatively low. The Eventing Academy is a great way to get in some schooling and competition time without spending the hundreds of dollars you would burn at a recognized event. You can also take advantage of Stable View’s integrated training program, which costs $100 per horse per day and includes the use of the Boyd Martin/ETB Cross Country field and the outdoor arena for dressage and stadium. Otherwise, use of the Boyd Martin/ETB Cross Country Field alone is $60.

Train on Top Notch Footing

The footing you ride on matters! Good footing can mean the difference between a soft tissue injury and a sound horse. Stable View has six arenas that feature premiere Attwood Footing. As the world’s leading equestrian surfaces company, Attwood works hard to stay ahead of the latest technological developments when it comes to footing. When you ride in one of Stable View’s arenas, you know you’re riding on the gold standard of equestrian footing.

Explore Beautiful Aiken, South Carolina

Stable View calls beautiful Aiken, South Carolina home. With streets lined with Live Oaks draped in Spanish Moss and a thriving downtown community, Aiken is worth the time away from your horse. Every week there’s something new going on downtown, from art exhibits to live music to farmer’s markets and more, everyone will find something to enjoy during an evening in downtown Aiken.

Veronica Green-Gott and Carolyn Weinheimer in the Hitchcock Woods

Enjoy Hitchcock Woods

Just a short 20 minute drive away from Stable View, you’ll find the iconic Hitchcock Woods. One of the largest urban forests in the nation, the Hitchcock Woods is a paradise for equestrians, especially eventers. With 70 miles of sandy trails, you’ll find cross country fences scattered throughout the 2100 acres. Feel like a kid again as you gallop through the trails, jump cross country fences, and trail ride through scenic woods

Visit The Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame

Are you a history buff? The Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame is perfect for those equestrians who love history and horse racing. The Racing Hall of Fame celebrates Thoroughbreds who were trained in Aiken and who have gone on to become national champions. Once inside, you’ll find a large collection of trophies and photographs from Thoroughbred race horses who played polo, ran steeplechase, and pounded down the track to victory. Admission is free!

Fun for the Whole Family

Are you a blended family of equestrians and non-equestrians? Lucky for you, it’s become easier than ever to convince your non-horsey family members to visit Stable View with you. Stable View isn’t just for equestrians– it’s for everyone. Spanning 1,000 acres, Stable View also plays host to a series of foot races, great for the runner in your family. Spend time in their Healing Arts Center, where they host yoga classes and more. With the recent development of an environmental program, Stable View is also the perfect retreat for avid birdwatchers. You may even catch a glimpse of the rare Red-Cockaged Woodpecker!

Eventing Nation is proud to be sponsored by Stable View, Aiken’s Gathering Place. To learn more about all that Stable View has to offer you, your family, and your horse, take a look at their website. Get in touch with Stable View here.

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Aug 24, 2024 12:01 am -

It’s a bittersweet weekend as we take in the final running of eventing at beautiful, hilly Blair Castle in Scotland. The weekend is made that much more special by many, but let’s take a moment to shout longtime Blair course designer Ian Stark, a Scottish native, who will also be hanging up his designing hat at the close of this season.

Ian’s also still competing here and there, in fact tackling the CCI3*-L at Blair this weekend with Chatsworth Diamond, with whom he was in the top-20 in 2021 contesting the CCI2*-L division. Ian’s certainly left an indelible mark on our sport, and surely this weekend will be one where we all tip our collective hats to a horse-first designer who loves eventing more than just about anyone else.

Meanwhile stateside, we’re having LOADS of FOMO as Boyd Martin’s first-ever summer camp is currently taking place. The amount of detail that’s gone into this event, which sold out in under a day once entries opened, is pretty astounding, with Boyd’s sponsors and support team pitching in to teach lessons, offer seminars, and even lead the group in some “night meditation” from GuRubee, Boyd’s spiritual mentor. You can follow along with more from Camp Windurra here.

US Weekend Events

Bouckaert Equestrian H.T. International (Fairburn, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Shepherd Ranch Pony Club H.T. II (Santa Ynez, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Town Hill Farm H.T. (Lakeville, CT) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

UK International Events

Blair Castle International (Perthshire, Scotland) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

European International Events

Lisgarvan House International (County Carlow, Ireland) [Website] [Entries] [Scoring]

Saturday Links & Reading

Are you suffering from Olympic closing ceremony disorder? Us too.

The Paralympics are coming soon! Find out more about the equestrian sports here.

Tune in for a panel judging seminar with Marilyn Payne and Valerie Pride

Tips on training your horse to be more responsive to your leg

Why many brands struggle to crack into the equestrian market

Attention AEC competitors! Erin Gilmore Photography is the official photographer of the 2024 American Eventing Championships. All rounds, all divisions will be photographed with high resolution photos available after the conclusion of your division. No waiting weeks for photos! Visit www.eringilmorephotos.com.

Sponsor Corner:

Not every magnetic rug is created equal… The Equilibrium Magnetic rug from World Equestrian Brands allows you to move the magnets to exactly where you need them. Designed to support mobility, aid joint function, and maintain a healthy horse, this rug is ideal for ridden horses, veterans, and even those on box rest. [Shop now.]

Watch This:

POV: You’re a mustang getting a taste of cross country with Elisa Wallace:

Olympic Gold Medallists Lead Last Ever 4* Classes at the Defender Blair Castle International Horse Trials

By on Aug 23, 2024 5:45 pm -

Ros Canter and Izilot DHI. Hannah Cole photo.

The final dressage test at the final ever Defender Blair Castle International Horse Trials is done and dusted and the very last competitor to head down the centreline was none other than Olympic Gold medallist and world number two Ros Canter (GBR) with her Pau 2023 winning ride, Alex Moody’s and her own Izilot DHI.

Ros Canter and Izilot DHI. Hannah Cole photo.

Usurping her Paris teammate and current world number one Tom McEwen (GBR), Ros and ‘Isaac’ performed a sensational test to take the lead in the CCI4*S and head into tomorrow’s jumping on a score of 23.9. Tom and Mrs Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry’s Brookfield Quality sit in second on a score of 25.4 with Caroline Powell of New Zealand and her two rides Nicholas and Fiona Lambert’s Legally Grey and Chris Mann’s Greenacres Special Cavalier in 3rd and 4th place respectively.

Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality. Hannah Cole photo.

Piggy March (GBR) holds the lead in the hotly contested CCI3*L with Mrs Susie Wood’s striking grey Cooley Goodwood. Breathing down their necks on a score of 29.1 are New Zealand’s Dan Jocelyn and the Atomic Syndicate’s 8-year-old gelding Greannanstown Atomic with Switzerland’s Nadja Minder and Top Job’s Jalisco sitting in third on 29.6.

Piggy March and Cooley Goodwood. Hannah Cole photo.

The CCI2*-L is also led by Ros Canter, this time partnering Mrs Kate Willis, Mrs Mel Pritchard’s Armscote Explorer, hot on their heels is Alex Hua Tian (CHN) with the Chilli Morning Clone, Chilli Morning III who go into the cross country on a score of 26.1. Last night’s overnight leader, Hazel Towers (GBR) with her own Torpex lie in third on 26.6.

Ros Canter and Armscote Explorer. Hannah Cole photo.

Leading the CCI1*-S Section E, Emma Lawton and her own Ross Skylark bagged a score of 29.6 and with a score of 29.8, Annie Broad (NZL) with Dr Linda McSwiggan’s Chieftain of the White Legs retain their overnight lead in CCI 1*-S Section F.

Pony power was on full display in the main arena this afternoon as the CCI-S P2* got underway. Leading the charge is Florence Drewitt on Mrs Helen Drewitt’s Battleston Delight who sit at the top of the leader board on a score of 27.7.

Florence Drewitt and Battlestown Delight. Hannah Cole photo.

With both design and build befitting of Blair Castle’s eventing swan song, the cross-country courses are strung, the lines have been walked and walked again, the jumps are dressed and we are ready for the riders’ final fling around the Blair Castle turf.

Blair Castle International (Perthshire, Scotland) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Video Break: An Alternative Burghley Course Walk

By on Aug 23, 2024 1:00 pm -

Ahead of the *official* course preview content yet to come from this year’s Defender Burghley Horse Trials, the team on the ground has put together an alternative “walk” around with four Team GB members who competed in other sports in Paris: Modern Pentathlete Jessica Varley, who’s from Burghley’s home town of Stamford, and Leicester-born Paris Olympic hockey player Sam Ward, plus GB archer Sarah Bettles and Paris Rugby Sevens player Grace Crompton.

Defender Burghley: [Website] [Entries] [Burghley TV] [EN’s Coverage]

EN’s coverage of Defender Burghley is proudly presented by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional support for every horse. Click here to learn more about KPP.

A New Approach to Fitness & Recovery at Twin Ponds Farm

By on Aug 23, 2024 9:45 am -

When Eventing Nation reporter Abby Powell spoke with Dr. Ashley Taylor back in 2015, she was working alongside Dr. Keane in his practice, Sports Medicine Associates of Chester County, dreaming of becoming a top veterinarian. Nearly a decade later, Dr. Taylor is well on her way to realizing that dream, if it hasn’t come true already.

Now the owner of Sports Medicine Associates of Chester Country. Dr. Taylor recently founded Twin Ponds Farm, a sports medicine rehabilitation and fitness facility offering the latest technologies in equine health. Recently established, this will be Twin Ponds Farm first summer in operation.

Located in Chester Country, the rehab center is managed daily by a crack team, including long-time friend of Dr. Taylor’s Sara Stone, and Emma Ford. If you’re familiar with Chester County, then you’ll know how this little slice of Pennsylvania is truly a piece of eventing heaven. Twin Ponds Farm is closely surrounded by Phillip Dutton, Boyd Martin, Jennie Brannigan, Erin Kanara, and Caitlin Silliman, many of whom bring their upper level horses to the facility. “Within a five to 10 mile radius, we have a really strong concentration of upper level eventers, and even a lot of racehorses that train nearby, as well as jumpers and Hunter/Jumpers. It’s a really concentrated area of sport horses,” Dr. Taylor said.

Establishing the facility has been a dream of Dr. Taylor’s since she took over Dr. Keane’s veterinary practice. “It’s really fun to see these horses get better and go home and some go on to show again and some are just retired and people love them,” she said. “I’m obviously very interested in eventing, I compete myself and grew up competing. Most of my clients are eventers. Fitness is extra important in eventing and something that we spend a lot of time focusing on with the event horses. So it was a personal and professional interest of mine.”

Rehabilitation/Fitness Coordinator Sara also has a passion for equine sports medicine. “I love being in this area, it’s just so nice to be involved with this clientele. Originally my interest was more in racing, but coming here just seemed like a good progression, because I knew these people from a few years ago, before I left to go to Kentucky, and then I get to come back and it was like, nothing really changed. Having worked for Ashley, I know how she sees things and treats things. And because we’re friends, I think we have a really good level of communication.”

Dr. Taylor and her team offer a wide variety of services, including everything from treadmill work to PEMF to Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES). Dr. Taylor’s services focus on building fitness in the event horse without the wear and tear. Many of her upper level professional riders bring their horses in either pre- and/or post-ride. What’s perhaps most used by eventers is the cold saltwater treadmill.

“After a big cross country school or gallop, they’ll come here afterwards and use [the treadmill] just to loosen the horses up, break down all that lactic acid and get them really loose and comfortable after their ride because it’s the cold salt water that really helps them out,” Dr. Taylor said. “And then also some riders are using it before their dressage rides, because it really helps loosen the horses up, supple them up. People have said that they warm up a lot faster and are a lot more comfortable during their ride.”

Why salt water and not your run-of-the-mill tap water? Similar to soaking a horse’s feet in epsom salts when they have an abscess, salt water has additional benefits. “It adds just a little bit of an extra therapeutic benefit,” said Dr. Taylor. “And it is helpful for pulling inflammation out of the horse’s legs. That’s why it tends to be great because the horses are moving their large muscle groups when they’re on the water treadmill, but their distal limbs are basically getting cold saltwater treatment. So their tendons and ligaments are getting cooling anti-inflammatory therapy while their muscles are getting warm.”

This combination of inflammation-reducing cold water, as well as the additional drag of the water is a unique combination that allows event horses to build fitness without the possible damage to the legs of traditional galloping. Dr. Taylor says she wouldn’t replace traditional methods of cardiovascular fitness completely with the saltwater treadmill. “It’s not the same cardiovascular workout that you get from swimming a horse or galloping a horse, their heart rates don’t get up that high. It is very much like strength fitness, like if you were doing squats. Depending on the height of the water, we can increase the horse’s mobility in their back, their movement, all that. So we use the water height as a tool to help the horses move.”

That being said, you wouldn’t want to jump right into the highest water level available. Dr. Taylor builds the horses in her program up to deeper levels over time, depending on the feedback from the horse. “Sara is really good at talking to the rider and evaluating the horse as they’re going and seeing what they can tolerate or what’s too hard,” Dr. Taylor said. “And we have a really precise record keeping system so that we can follow every horse every time they’re on the treadmill. We can see any changes, good or bad.”

If you’re planning on using Twin Ponds Farm’s services to get your event horse fit, Sara says the best thing to do is start early and come in often. “I want them to be training at what I call full capacity for a little while before the event. So I think it takes about seven or so sessions to get them to where I really think I can put the water up to knee and above– in that range. And then work them up incrementally to a time where they’re in there for about 25 minutes.”

There’s a fine line between building your horse’s fitness and overdoing it, which is why having the experience of Dr. Taylor and Sara on hand to guide the horse’s program is so valuable. “I want them coming in quite a bit before crunch time, so the riders know how the horse is gonna react,” Sara said. “For example, I don’t want them to go into their jump school with a tired horse, you know? I need to know how they respond to the work to really lock in the right program. But the more you can do, I think the more benefit.”

Dr. Taylor and Sara work hand-in-hand with their mentor, German veterinarian Dr. Mathias Boughman, who has been using cold saltwater treadmills for equine fitness for the last 30 years. “Dr. Boughman found that by getting their bodies so much stronger, their legs only benefit. He found less soft tissue injuries as they were getting their core and their backs and all those things strong,” Sara said. “I think it can be a game changer for equine fitness and injury recovery.”

Their program was really put to the test when a horse with a fractured shoulder came into their facility. “The owner basically called me and said, ‘My vet said I should put my horse down and I know you rehab horses. Can you fix him?’ And I said, ‘I have no idea.’ Because it’s not the wrong recommendation to put the horse down by any means. But you know, at that point, he was at least comfortable enough to be stall rested. And so we started there,” Dr. Taylor said.

Sara and Dr. Taylor pulled out all the stops for the horse with the fractured shoulder. At first, their hope was that he could possibly be rehabilitated into a pasture puff, but as he became more and more sound, they began to wonder if he could possibly be a riding horse once again.

“We used a lot of different modalities with the Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) and the laser, because he had a lot of atrophy from the injury. So we use the FES to help build the muscle in the shoulder while he was on stall rest,” Dr. Taylor said. “And then we just gradually increased his turnout and his hand walking, we did some cavaletti for physical therapy to try to get him to like lift the leg because he was kind of dragging the toe. And then we progressed him to the treadmill, which was once again helping him increase the range of motion in the leg.”

As Sara engineered a program for him on the treadmill, he began to get stronger and stronger. “He was interested in the treadmill, because we kind of got to a point where the water was at his knee. And we’re like, ‘Okay, well, he’s here, he’s doing really well. Let’s play with it. Let’s raise the water up even higher and see what happens,’” Sara said. “And I feel like at the end when Ashley injected his knee, and we raised the water up, I think that last little bit of added strength, added movement really helped him.”

Now the horse is back in full work, he’s turned out with his pasture mates and is being ridden on a near daily basis by his owner. Without surgery and only through non-invasive treatments, the horse went from a fatal injury to healthy, happy, and back under saddle.

Many people view rehabilitation facilities as just for extreme cases like the horse with the fractured shoulder. And while these extreme cases make for great studies on how these modalities can help our horses heal from injury or exercise, the reality is that a place like Twin Ponds Farm can prevent horses from being injured in the first place by increasing fitness without the wear and tear.

“A lot of these tools can be used in conjunction with a healthy, normal horse that you’re trying to improve their condition or their fitness, and a lot of them also are used to help promote healing for horses with injury,” She said. “Our goal is just to offer a resource for horse owners and other veterinarians, whether it’s for a horse that’s sick or injured or just a horse that is competing that you want to try to improve or maintain.”

Go eventing.

Friday News & Notes from Stable View

By on Aug 23, 2024 12:01 am -

Say hello to your overnight leaders in the Defender Blair Horse Trials CCI4*L : FEI World Number One, and Olympic Gold Medallist, Tom McEwen and MHS Brown Jack. The cross-country takes place on Saturday, with several other international sections taking place over the weekend as well. This year there will be a somewhat sombre atmosphere to this great Scottish event, as it will be the last ever running of a fixture that has been a staple of the British Eventing calendar for what seems like forever. Host to several Junior and Young Rider European Championships, as well as the Senior Europeans in 2015, Blair holds a special place in many a heart, and will be sorely missed. Social media is awash with memories of Blair from years gone by, with Holly Woodhead amongst those sharing their special moments. Thank you for all you have given the sport, Blair. We will miss you!

US Weekend Preview
Bouckaert Equestrian H.T. International (Fairburn, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]
Shepherd Ranch Pony Club H.T. II (Santa Ynez, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Town Hill Farm H.T. (Lakeville, CT) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

UK International Events
Blair Castle International (Perthshire, Scotland) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

European International Events
Lisgarvan House International (County Carlow, Ireland) [Website] [Entries] [Scoring]

Friday News and Reading

Burghley may be just around the corner, but it is not the only big Autumn 5* we can look froward to! October boasts not one, but TWO 5*’s, with both Maryland and Pau, and if you’re thinking of buying tickets for Maryland, then you might want to take a trip to The Fair Hill Saddlery x Maryland 5 Star Ticket Sales Event this weekend. Not only will you receive a 10% discount on General Admission tickets for the event, but you could also win exclusive prizes and if that’s not enough, there is also a chance to meet Hannah Sue Holberg, who will be there signing autographs. Run, don’t walk!

Speaking of Hannah Sue Holberg, she is the latest guest on the ‘Riders Unscripted’ podcast. She joins Natalie to discuss the work that she has done on her own mindset and nervous system, to enhance her performance, and that of her horses, as a result. A really fascinating listen!

More top rider podcast content! This time, it is the turn of Jessica Phoenix, on the In Stride podcast. She and Sinead Halpin Maynard discuss a whole array of different topics, including Jessica’s career thus far, how she maintains her competitive edge without losing her love for the sport, the future of eventing in Canada, and much, much more!

Much has been said about the future of horse sports, and especially when it comes to their inclusion in future Olympics. Sam Watson of EquiRatings delves deeper into the subject, suggesting that greater public engagement could be the way forward, and that rather than focusing solely on changing the narrative surrounding social license, we could do more to garner an interest in the sport itself. A fascinating read, from one of the greatest minds within the sport. Sam certainly provides food for thought, daring to speak out on a subject that is at the forefront of all of our minds, as the question mark over the future grows ever greater.

On a happier note, it is Lisvargen House International Horse Trials this weekend, over in Ireland. You can hear more from Sam, who joins Nicole on the EquiRatings Eventing podcast to take a look at the 4* entry list, and make their predictions on who will top the podium. A fun listen, and a great addition to the eventing calendar in recent years!

Hoping to make it to Burghley next month? Then you might want to enter this fantastic competition that Piggy March is running! All you have to do is tag a pal, and you could win 2 tickets for Saturday AND a free car pass. All you really have to do is choose the friend you most want to take with you!

Headed to the AmericanEventing Championships this year?! Erin Gilmore Photography is the official photographer for 2024; all rounds, all divisions will be photographed with high resolution photos available after the conclusion of your division. No waiting weeks for photos! Visit http://www.eringilmorephotos.com to get yours!

Sport Horse Nation is expanding, and they’re on the look out for some part time team members! As the world’s largest event horse marketplace run by chinchillas, Sport Horse Nation has changed little since its founding just after the invention of the internet. The SHN team is working on some exciting upgrades including a redesign to fulfill its mission of helping eventers everywhere find their unicorn. If you are familiar with newfangled human toys like YouTok and FaceTube, or have other suitable skills to aid our internet takeover, please shoot us an email with subject “Big Chinchin” to [email protected].

Sponsor Corner

Everyone looks good in SunHeist 😎☀ SunHeist is now an official sponsor of Stable View’s Oktoberfest! If you’re looking for a great pair of sunnies that can stand up to the daily wear and tear of working and riding horses, you need a pair of SunHeist sunglasses. Personally, I’m in love with the Alder Sunglasses in grey turquoise. Shop for your next pair of sunnies here.

Weekend Watching
The countdown is on, with less than two weeks to go until the Defender Burghley Horse Trials! Who will be adding their name to Winner’s Avenue this year? Take a trip down memory lane with last year’s winner Oliver Townend. With a 5* winner entered this year in Cooley Rosalent, perhaps Oli can pull of another win, and put himself back in contention for the coveted Rolex Grand Slam…watch this space!

Paris Olympics Medalist Laura Collett Joins Grassroots to Glory Masterclass at London International Horse Show

By on Aug 22, 2024 9:30 am -

Photo courtesy of London International Horse Show.

Paris Olympics Team Eventing Gold Medal winner and Individual Eventing Bronze Medal winner, Laura Collett MBE, will join equestrian influencer, Megan Elphick in the return of the Grassroots to Glory masterclass at London International Horse Show led by British Equestrian’s Eventing Performance Manager, Richard Waygood MBE. Part of the LeMieux Masterclass Series, this very popular event will take place on Friday 20 December in The New Horizon Plastics London Arena.

The 45-minute session promises to be a highlight of the Show and has proved very popular in the past. It will offer a comprehensive exploration of the path to competitive success, tailored to inspire and educate riders of all levels, from aspiring amateurs to seasoned competitors.

Spectators can expect an engaging and informative experience, featuring demonstrations of advanced techniques as well as practical, step-by-step exercises that can be implemented at home. Drawing from his extensive career, Richard Waygood will guide the audience through the essential stages of building a successful competition partnership. From establishing strong fundamentals to refining techniques and making pivotal advancements in competition, Waygood will share invaluable insights and personal tips throughout the class.

Aside from serving as the British Equestrian Federation’s Technical Director and Eventing Performance Manager, Richard’s accomplishments include competing at prestigious competitions including the Badminton and Burghley Horse Trials, a distinguished tenure as Riding Master of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, as well as being awarded an MBE for his services to equestrianism in 2009.

Laura Collett and London 52. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Speaking about the upcoming masterclass, Waygood remarked, “I’m delighted about the return of the Grassroots to Glory masterclass at London International Horse Show this year. Last year’s session with Laura and Megan was a fantastic blend of fun, innovation, and valuable learning for our audience. With the excitement of British Eventing’s recent success at the Paris Olympics, I’m eager to share new insights and experiences that will make this year’s masterclass even more impactful.”

Laura Collett, a familiar face at London International, returns to the Show fresh from her remarkable achievements at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where she secured both team gold and individual bronze with her outstanding partner, London 52. In addition to her Olympic triumphs, Laura has enjoyed a stellar season which included victory in the CCI4* at Burnham Market. As the current World No.7 in international eventing, her participation in this masterclass presents a rare and invaluable opportunity for the Show’s audience to learn from one of the sport’s most elite riders.

Megan Elphick, known for inspiring thousands through her online chronicles of the grassroots journey, will bring her unique perspective and relatability to the masterclass. Her participation will see her demonstrating the foundational elements of horse education alongside Richard and Laura, bringing practical knowledge to life for the audience.

Simon Brooks-Ward, Show Director, said, “We are delighted to welcome back Richard, Laura, and Megan to the Show this year. This is a very popular masterclass and its inclusion in the LeMieux Masterclass Series presents our audience with a great opportunity to access world-class knowledge and insight.”

The Grassroots to Glory Masterclass takes place on Friday 20 December at 13:35 in The New Horizons Plastics Arena. More information about London International Horse Show, the full LeMieux Masterclass series, and how to buy tickets can be found here.

Thursday News & Notes from TerraNova

By on Aug 22, 2024 12:01 am -

This week marks the end of Defender Blair Castle International Horse Trials after 50 years on the eventing calender and 35 years of international competition. Moving forward, the land will be used in a regenerative agriculture initiative involving year-round management which doesn’t line up with hosting the horse trials. It’s a great loss to eventing, although there’s a new event coming to town – Scone Palace has stepped up and will be home to an international 4*-L event next August, which will also incorporate the Scottish Grassroots Championships.

For now though, we get to enjoy the glory of the Blair Castle grounds one last time, and with a roster of a whopping 400 competitors set to descend on the Scottish estate, including Paris team bronze medalist Japan’s Ryuzo Kitajima (above), World No. 1 Tom McEwen, Ros Canter with her Pau 5* winner Izilot DHI, Badminton winners Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier, former Ros Canter ride Pencos Crown Jewel with new pilot Millie Juleff, US interest in Zach Brandt and Grace Taylor, as well as a whole bunch of Burghley entrants. Unfortunately, there’s no live stream from the event this year, but keep it locked onto EN for a full round-up report headed your way.

Also, check out this cool find – the event program from the first ever Blair Horse Trials, including none other than William Fox-Pitt’s uncle on the start list:

US Weekend Preview

Bouckaert Equestrian H.T. International (Fairburn, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Shepherd Ranch Pony Club H.T. II (Santa Ynez, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Town Hill Farm H.T. (Lakeville, CT) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

UK International Events

Blair Castle International (Perthshire, Scotland) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

European International Events

Lisgarvan House International (County Carlow, Ireland) [Website] [Entries] [Scoring]

Thursday News and Reading

First up, a couple of notices:

Sport Horse Nation is looking to add several new part-time team members. As the world’s largest event horse marketplace run by chinchillas, Sport Horse Nation has changed little since its founding just after the invention of the internet. The SHN team is working on some exciting upgrades including a redesign to fulfill its mission of helping eventers everywhere find their unicorn. If you are familiar with newfangled human toys like YouTok and FaceTube, or have other suitable skills to aid our internet takeover, please shoot us an email with subject “Big Chinchin” to [email protected].

Call-out for ENers to share your hustles. We get it, horses are spensy. So how do you hustle to pay for your horsey habit? Do you work at your barn? Groom on the weekends? Sell your kidney? Whatever you do to afford your horse, we want to hear about it! We’re putting together an article on various ways equestrians have hustled so they can afford to keep horses in their lives. Help a girl out, maybe learn a new hustle from someone else. Tell us all in the comments on this post. *Comments may be featured in an article on Eventing Nation!*

Live stream headed your way from the USEA American Eventing Championships. Beginning Tuesday August 27 and running through Sunday September 1, Kentucky Horse Park will play host to the AECs and you can watch it all via H&C+. USEA members can get a 15% discount on annual H&C+ memberships – login to your account to access the code and sign up.

Meet bronze medal volunteer, Robert Chick, who’s not horsey per se, but has found his family in the eventing community. Penned by our very own Veronica Green-Gott, this enjoyable insight brings together the spirit of eventing and the volunteers that make our world go round.

More horsey goodness coming your way – The FEI Solidarity program has been working with the Libyan Equestrian Federation to bring horses to children who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to interact with these marvelous creatures. Focusing specifically on working with orphaned children and children with autism, the organizers have seen first-hand the enormous impact equines can have in so many ways. Read more here.

And finally, an emotive tribute to horseman and show jumper Henrik von Eckermann, whose Paris didn’t go to plan but whose horsemanship won the day. The utter disappointment was palpable when Henrik took a shock tumble from King Edward in what was to be the superstar horse’s last Olympics, but what came next is the picture that will be etched into the history of the sport, the pinnacle of a hugely successful career which ended in a showing of love and respect for the horse. This letter to Henrik from his many grateful fans details the high highs of his career and care for King Edward and reminds us all to always think of our horses first, over and above accolades and titles and medals and ambitions, and strive to do better for them every day.

Sponsor Corner

We’re only 3 months away from another set of horses trotting down the scenic jog strip at TerraNova! Entries for the Event at TerraNova open on October 1st. Will you be there? With divisions from Starter all the way up to CCI4*-L, there’s something for everyone at TerraNova. Find the details here.

Video Break

It’s almost time for the alternative Burghley course walk! Over the years we’ve seen bikes, Gurkhas, dogs, parkour pros, and a gymnast. Here’s a teaser for what’s in store this time around:

Ask Amelia Newcomb Anything: Bending and Suppleness at the Canter

By on Aug 21, 2024 2:30 pm -

We recently polled our readers to find out their burning questions about dressage, and now we’ve enlisted Amelia Newcomb‘s help to answer them! Do you have a question for Amelia? Email us at [email protected] and you could see your question addressed right here on EN! 

Photo courtesy of Amelia Newcomb Dressage.

Q: What is a good exercise to get my horse supple and bending to the right in the canter?

Great question! If I have a student who is having trouble getting their horse to bend in the canter, I usually recommend going back to the trot and reconfirming your bending aids at the lower gait. Doing this is super helpful, because often much easier to fix the bend at a slower gait.

Some great exercises to work on the bend at the trot are serpentines, spiral circles, and figures eights. Start with wider turns, then go tighter as your horse gets more supple. You want to be feeling that you can bend to a higher degree in the trot than you need in the canter (ie 12-15m circle bending in trot for a 20m circle in canter). Once you feel like your horse is soft and bending evenly left and right, then you can go back up to the canter.

Remember the bending aids are:

  1. Inside leg on pushing your horse into the outside aids
  2. Outside leg supporting behind the girth
  3. Outside rein steady, catching your horse
  4. Inside rein suppling to keep your horse soft

It’s the inside leg that is your primary bending aid.

Once you’ve done some bending exercises in the trot, you can bring in your canter work. Here are two great exercises:

Leg-yield to canter:

This is a great exercise to help you set up your horse to bend around your inside leg and puts your horse in a better position to pick up the correct lead.

For this exercise, turn up the quarterline, and once you have your horse straight, leg-yield them over to the rail. Make sure your leg yield isn’t too steep that you loose the shoulder. Right as you reach the rail, sit the trot, ask your horse for the canter, and immediately turn on a circle. The transition for the canter should happen at the point when you’ve just as you’ve reached the wall, the stride before you turn on your circle.

Repeat this exercise a few times in both directions, and I know you will see a difference in your canter!

Snowman:

Another great exercise to help you work on bend in your canter is the Snowman.

For this exercise, you will first ride a 10m circle at the trot at X, then when you reach the centerline again, change direction and bend to ride a 20m circle, and ask for canter. Then, when you get back to the centerline, transition to trot, change direction and bend, and trot your 10m circle again. The change in directions and bend in varied circle sizes in this pattern really help you get your horse supple.

When you ride frequent changes of direction like this, it really helps to work both sides evenly and helps your horse develop the balance and coordination without just drilling it. Eventually the easy side will transfer make it easier for you to get the bend on the harder side.

Check out this video where I demonstrate these exercises as well as a couple others to help you improve your canter!

About Amelia Newcomb:

Amelia Newcomb is a USDF Gold medalist and recipient of the Carol Lavell Prize from the Dressage Foundation. Based in Somis, California, she incorporates complete dressage training from starting the young horse through the FEI levels. Amelia works to develop a trusting and confident relationship between horse and rider. Her approach incorporates all aspects of horsemanship from basic groundwork to advanced dressage movements. The emphasis is always on the foundation with the basic trust, understanding, and relaxation for both horse and rider to create a harmonious partnership. Amelia’s mantra has always been “Dressage for All,” which is evident in both her in person and online coaching. With a successful YouTube video library of hundreds of free educational videos, over 290,000 subscribers (and counting!), and thousands of students enrolled in her online USDF-accredited courses, it is clear that Amelia has a passion for teaching and dressage! “I have been blessed with many great teachers in my career and I hope to help each and every one of my students develop a connection and solid relationship with their horses.” Learn more about Amelia on her website (www.amelianewcombdressage.com) or discover her free educational videos on her YouTube channel “Amelia Newcomb Dressage.”

Read our feature on Amelia here.