Classic Eventing Nation

Check Your Qualifications! FEI General Assembly Approves All Proposed Eventing Rule Changes for 2020

By on Dec 3, 2020 2:00 pm -

A new look for this year’s FEI General Assembly. Photo by FEI/Richard Juilliart.

The FEI General Assembly met this past weekend and unanimously approved all of this year’s proposed rule revisions for the sport of eventing. One of the biggest changes that will affect a large number of riders comes in section 520.2 of the FEI Eventing Rules, Minimum Eligibility Requirements for CIs and CIOs for “Athletes already categorized at the level of the Competition”.

As a refresher, here is now the Athlete Categorizations are laid out for eventing riders. The categories are updated using riders’ results on the first of July and at the end of each calendar year, taking into account results from the past eight years on a rolling basis.

Screenshot via FEI Eventing Rules.

The new revisions will add an additional MER required for Uncategorized, C, and D level riders as follows:

Generally speaking, an additional MER is now required for athletes in these categories wishing to compete at the CCI4*-S, CCI3*-L, CCI4*-L, and CCI5*-L levels. These changes and the others approved will take official effect on July 1, 2021. Riders in the C, D, or Uncategorized categories should double-check their competition plans and qualifications obtained to ensure that they meet these new requirements.

Here is a look at the remaining rule revisions, as summarized by Leslie Wylie:

501.3.4 World Individual and Team Championships: The maximum number of Athletes per National Federation is limited five if the World Championships are combined with other Championships or six combinations when the Eventing World Championships are held separately from the other disciplines.

505.3.1 Distribution (Prizemoney): The total amount of money published in the schedule must be distributed; BUT organizers have some new flexibility with regard to allocation.

511 Requirements for Promotion: The requirement for transfer and maintenance of status will be included in a separate document dedicated to the Education system and removed from the FEI Eventing Rules.

513.1 Short Format (CCIs-S and CCIOs-S), 513.2 Long Format (CCIs-L and CCIOsL), 513.3 CCI 1*-Intro (Unified Level), 513.5 Championships & Games, 513.5.1 Championships and Games: Further to the update of the Veterinary rules in regard to veterinary officials educations/eligibility a number of revisions have been proposed.

515.3.1 General Duties: The TD is now responsible for an event’s Serious Incident Management Plan.

515.4.1 Course Designer & 515.4.1 Cross Country & 515.4.2 Jumping: The Course Designer role during cross country is to work with the Technical Delegate and Ground Jury to deal with judging queries, sanctions, reviewing of course/fences during XC in case of repetitive falls or weather situations. The Course Designers are responsible to ensure that all frangible technologies are fitted in accordance to the rules and guidelines.

520.1 Athletes not yet categorised at the level of the Competition: Qualification requirements for less experienced riders to participate at higher level events will be strengthened, to be implemented after the Olympic Games deadline for qualification of July 1, 2021.

523.3 Examination after a fall & 524.3.2 Cross Country – Finishing Area: Clarification that an athlete leaving the venue without seeing a doctor or without having his horse checked by the vet is considered a specific eventing sanction.

525.2 Warnings and Penalties (Dangerous riding): Clarification that in case of Dangerous riding the sanction is either 25 penalties or elimination.

526.1 Definition (abuse of Horse): A serious case of Dangerous Riding should be sanctioned by a Yellow Warning Card and added to the list of Abuse of Horse.

538.1.1 Protective Headgear (Dress) & 538.2.1 Civilian (Dressage Test) & 538.2.2 Members and employees of military establishments and national studs: While riding anywhere on the show grounds, the use of a properly fastened Protective Headgear is mandatory. See rule for details and exceptions.

538.2.1 Civilian (Dress) & 538.4.1 Civilian (Dress): Athletes shall wear the official clothing of their NF.

539.1.2 Permitted (Training and exercising saddlery), 539.1.4 Forbidden (Training and exercising saddlery), 539.2.2 Permitted (Dressage test),539.2.3 Forbidden (Dressage test), 539.3.2 Forbidden (Cross Country and Jumping test saddlery) & Annex A 1.4 Illegal bits & 1.5 Permitted Mouthpieces: 

  • Blinkers are not allowed for the cross country; for show jumping, jumping rules apply
  • Further to the Eventing Rules update last year including a differentiated list of bits allowed for Eventing compared to Dressage, the following needs to be clarified:
    • Leather bits and leather-covered bits are permitted
    • Leather-like material for bridles for dressage are permitted
    • Throat lashes are compulsory for cross country
    • Sliding Hanging Cheek mouthpieces are not allowed; clarification that the bit cannot slide vertically and that the rein must be able to move freely in the ring of the bit
    • A bit may have a curved port; the height of the deviation is but the width is not. In order to clarify this, the proposal is to line with the Dressage rules and use the same wording.
    • Clarification of what type of mouthpiece/cheekpiece can be used for a Briddoon when a double bridle is used

544.1.2 Scoring Flying Change: The Eventing Committee had agreed to review the rule proposal on a yearly basis. Now that the dressage tests have been modified, it should be easier to judge the flying change and therefore it should not be necessary to review a video.

547.2.4 Frangible/Deformable Obstacles: The introduction of mandatory frangible devices to higher level events will be extended across all levels for 2021. All open oxers, open corners, verticals or near verticals with open rails, top rail on triple bars and gates where the rail dimensions and weight fit the acceptable parameters of an FEI approved frangible device, must be fitted with frangible devices.

547.2.5 Water Crossings: Each cross-country course must have at least one obstacle related to water.

547.2.7 Ground Lines: Ground lines must be used on fences at all levels.

547.5.2 Obstacles with Alternatives: An alternative obstacle must be sited in such a way that the horse/ rider must make a new attempt/approach after a refusal or run out.’

Annex A 1.2 & 1. 5 (Dressage bits): The ‘French link’ snaffle is allowed.

Annex D – Medical Services Explanation: Recommendations for Medical services at FEI Eventing Events including specific requirements for the cross country test should be considered as guidelines for two years before being implemented as mandatory.

Annex H.1.2 – International Pony Events and Qualification: CCIP2-S results should also count as a qualification for Championships.

To review all of the proposed eventing rule changes that have since been approved, click here. You can also view all of the documentation and summaries from the 2020 FEI General Assembly here.

Volunteer Nation: How You Can Help Rocking Horse and Sporting Days This Weekend

By on Dec 3, 2020 12:00 pm -

We have the BEST volunteers ever; Check out the list on our web page – each and everyone of them helps make your HT experience fun, safe, and affordable!
https://southernarizonaeventing.org/volunteers

Posted by Southern Arizona Eventing Association on Monday, November 30, 2020

It’s time to volunteer once again! This weekend we have two recognized events on the docket: Rocking Horse in Altoona, Fl. and Sporting Days in Aiken, Sc. As many riders make their way to slightly warmer areas for the winter, we’ll see a few of these events popping up ripe with volunteer opportunity.

We’ve compiled some resources on volunteering with COVID-19 regulations in mind. We’ll reference this list each week in Volunteer Nation, so take a few moments to familiarize yourself with what’s new and different.

COVID-19 Resources for Eventers
Volunteers Adapt to the New Normal
Volunteers Weigh In on New COVID-19 Protocols

As always, you can earn merit points when you donate your time through the USEA’s Volunteer Incentive Program. Registering to volunteer through EventingVolunteers.com makes it easy and seamless to both find a job and shift as well as learn what your role will entail.

Event: Rocking Horse Stables H.T.
Dates: Saturday, December 5 through Sunday, December 6
Address: 44200 S.R. 19 N , Altoona, FL, 32702
Positions Available: General Help

Event: Sporting Days Farm H.T.
Dates: Friday, December 4 through Saturday, December 5
Address: 3549 Charleston Hwy, Aiken, SC, 29801
Positions Available: XC Finish Timer, XC Jump Judge, Dressage Bit Check, Dressage Steward, Office Help, SJ In-Gate, SJ Jump Crew, SJ Steward

#EventerProblems Vol. 244, Presented by Haygain: $h!t Eventers Unite

By on Dec 3, 2020 9:00 am -

One of the best parts of our sport is the camaraderie between riders. We’re all in this together, especially when things get… shitty. This next edition of #EventerProblems comes straight to you from a few of the fantastic members of the Facebook group shiteventersunite. This group is the epitome of #EventerProblems, so enjoy their highlights.

Do you have your own #EventerProblem you’d like to share? Please send it our way. During the election, Instagram has disabled the ability to scroll through recent posts, so that means we can’t see all of YOUR epic #EventerProblems. Share yours in the comments or email them to [email protected] for a chance to be featured in an upcoming edition!

Photo courtesy of Anne Slater.

“My application credentials (there are many options but this should cover it). A few years ago now but still very relevant!! I’ve had some utter disasters since but avoided the camera in most. I promise to catch a few more in 2021 for the sake of the brotherhood.” – Anne Slater.

Photo courtesy of Lauren Criddle.

“A blast from the past – When your pony is expelled from Pony Club for being too naughty… So you have to borrow a slightly less naughty pony and get put in the ‘shit children’ group 😂 I spent most of pony club being bucked off of my jumping cob and landing on my head! Feet in the air like you just don’t care!” – Lauren Criddle.

Photo courtesy of Katherine Stewart.

“When your horse chips in an extra stride at the last second and bounces you out of the saddle. He then proceeded to turn around and jump all the fences on the way home 🤣 He’s gone to 2* since this!” – Katherine Stewart.

Photo by Jj Sillman.

“I just want to jump on and say I’m so glad I found this page! Too often I found myself taking myself too seriously and forgetting to just have fun! This photo has somewhat haunted me in that this fall was a sort of the undoing of my stadium confidence. My horse had never stopped, I had never fallen from him at a jump like this and at a show no less. So thank you to all for reminding me when can fall, laugh at ourselves, and that the goal is to have FUN! These photos are in fact funny to see now. I’m grateful we were both ok and went on to jump big things anyway. And I’m grateful to find a group where it isn’t all rainbows and butterflies but we laugh and ride on.” – Bobbi Lynn Westbrook.

Photo courtesy of Elicia Race.

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Thursday News & Notes

By on Dec 3, 2020 12:03 am -

I collect silly horse faces. Photo by Kate Samuels.

You know, I love a good Disney movie as much as the next girl, and I know all the parents out there have watched more than their fair share of Frozen, but there’s just one thing that bugs me: “The cold never bothered me anyway!” Look, Elsa, respectfully, I disagree. It hit the 20’s this week in Virginia, and while it took me significantly longer to dress in 47 layers that morning, I can still confidently say that the cold did bother me anyway.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Rocking Horse December H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status]

Sporting Days Farm H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Major International Events:

Portugal Winter Tour Week 3: [Website] [Entries]

News From Around the Globe:

Poll tightness is something a lot of our sport horses experience. Aside from keeping tabs on your regular bodywork and vet work, there are some easy daily massage techniques that you can incorporate into your grooming session that will help your horse feel his best for every ride. [Preventing and Relieving Poll Tightness]

Ecogold wants to give you cash. Yep, you read that right! By placing an Ecogold order from now until Dec. 20, you will automatically be entered into our weekly drawing for $200 cash. On December 7th, 14th, and 21st, we will pick a winner at random from all the orders that have been placed this year. There is no minimum purchase required to enter. [Ecogold Gives Back]

Best of Blogs: The Best Gift You Can Give Yourself is a Trainer Who Believes in You

Ever wondered why your horse suddenly stops or spins around out hacking, or snorts and spooks unexpectedly — usually when there is nothing there? In fact there is, but as the horse’s range of hearing eclipses a rider’s, you are unaware of what they have heard. Although small, the ears are one of a horse’s greatest assets, and it is important to understand how they work. [11 Things You Need to Know About Your Horse’s Ears]

Movie Review: Black Beauty

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: A Winter Whoopsie

By on Dec 2, 2020 7:07 pm -

What a remarkably quiet December this is so far. Sans the usual excitement of indoor cross-country derbies around the world, it’s free to be a festive smorgasbord of advent calendars, hot booze, and softening waistlines – and let’s be real, it really is what we all deserve as a reward for making it to the tail end of 2020.

But even though the indoor derbies are off the table this winter, I’ve still been enjoying going back through the archives and rewatching some of my favourite moments from these fast and furious competitions. And so I stumbled upon a forgotten classic: arguably 2016’s save of the year, it features a very nimble Falk-Filip-Finn Westerich somehow dismounting and remounting Giaccomo YSK in the Stuttgart Indoor Derby without ever touching the ground. Is it great watching? Absolutely. Does it inspire me to stop stuffing Quality Street into my mouth by the fistful and try to mimic his athleticism? Not even a little bit.

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Clinic Season: Choosing the Right Clinician for Your Education

By on Dec 2, 2020 3:00 pm -

Kyle Carter teaches a clinic in Kentucky. Photo courtesy of JJ Sillman.

As the eventing competition season winds down for the winter, many professionals will hit the road to teach clinics to fill their open weekends. We’re lucky in this sport that most professionals can be found teaching clinics throughout the year (shout-out to those bills that constantly need to be paid), and it can be tempting to want to send in an entry to every clinic that pops up in your area. While the clinic organizer and clinician very much appreciate your support, there can be such a thing as “over-clinic-ing”. What should you take into account when selecting a clinic this winter?

1. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

First things first, do an honest assessment of where you and your horse are in your training and fitness. It is not fair to ask a horse that has done very little to suddenly step up and do a full-blown two- or three-day clinic with little prep. On the flip side, you may be winding down your own competition season. Does your horse need some downtime?

In addition to fitness, factor in the level you’ve been competing and training at (which can differ sometimes). Perhaps you’re eyeing a move up to Intermediate next year, or maybe you just completed your first Novice. Don’t be afraid to push yourself in a clinic, but also remember that there is absolutely no shame in signing up for a lower level. Chances are, the clinician will challenge you to step out of your comfort zone regardless of the level you’ve signed up for. Don’t put yourself in an unsafe situation just to feel like you’re in the right group. Overfacing yourself or your horse can be disastrous for confidence.

2. What is the clinician’s teaching style?

Every coach has their own way of doing things. I’ve audited and participated in several clinics through the years, and each pro has their own take. For example, William Fox-Pitt is a man of few words – he expects riders to have their own plans and to ask their own questions. Laine Ashker, who can often be found teaching all over the country, will push you outside of your comfort zone and ask you to challenge yourself and put your insecurities to the side. Some clinicians will do a day of flatwork, others will only do show jumping lessons. Take some time to research the clinician before signing up. Could you see yourself learning from this person? An additional benefit of this due diligence is that you’ll have a better idea of what to expect from the clinic, even if the exercises taught vary.

Lisa Hickey thanking Irish Olympic eventer Joseph Murphy after riding in his Ocala clinic at Horsepower Equestrian. Photo by Jenni Autry.

3. What is your learning style?

Some riders thrive in group environments, while others prefer to go at their own pace and have more individualized teaching. Clinics tend to be taught in small or medium-sized groups. Some riders need to ask a lot of questions, others prefer to watch others and learn from them. Understand what helps you learn the best, and also factor in how your horse learns. Your green Thoroughbred might need some extra time to understand a question, while a more experienced horse may have less trouble adjusting to new challenges. Confidence is key; a clinic should leave you with a few new tools and a sense of accomplishment. Ask yourself how you can best maximize the learning opportunity according to how you and your horse prefer to learn.

4. Is there such a thing as too much?

This really depends entirely on you and your horse. Every coach will have their own philosophy, and while the base material may be the same, the methodology may vary. This can be confusing! If you attend a different clinic twice this month, and each coach has a different method of accomplishing the same task, this can be overwhelming. Of course, there is the argument that exposure to different ways of doing things helps riders create their own individual training philosophies. But before you sign up for every clinic on the calendar, take a moment to assess the similarities or differences between each coach and how that may transfer to your horse.

William Fox-Pitt teaching a clinic at Great Meadow. Photo by Jenni Autry.

It can be tempting to sign up for a clinic with a well-known rider, and the probability of you learning some valuable lessons is high no matter what. However, there must still be a level of personal responsibility when it comes to choosing the right clinician and the right frequency of these learning opportunities. After a clinic, put the concepts you learned into practice. Allow them to absorb and integrate into your training routine before you venture out for more. After all, you’ve invested good money into the opportunity to ride in the clinic! If you skip off to a new clinic the following weekend, how much time will you have to actually practice what you’ve learned?

Clinics serve an invaluable purpose in every rider’s education, and they’re also a great way to support professionals’ careers. At the end of the day, we as riders should be striving to become more confident in our individual abilities. Riding in a clinic can do a lot to improve confidence, if they’re selected properly.

Want to find a clinic near you? We love using Strider to find and enter these great learning opportunities! You can also check out our running list, “What’s Happening”, for more.

Weekly OTTB Wishlist: Off To a Good Start

By on Dec 2, 2020 12:00 pm -

Not every available OTTB is straight off the track and green as grass. Many of the aftercare organizations whose horses we feature week after week take great care to give their charges the best possible beginning in their new careers by giving them the building blocks they need for success as riding horses. Many organizations also watch out for the horses who have come through their program by offering to take them back and re-home them should their original adopters need to place them for any reason. Because of this, you can nearly always find some OTTBs who are already off to a good start in their second careers if you’re not looking for a horse directly from the track. This week we’re highlighting three such horses from three different fabulous organizations:

Return Tothe Skies. Photo via Friends of Ferdinand.

Return Tothe Skies (MONDAVI – RETURN TO FLYING, BY RIVER FLYER): 2015 15.3-hand Indiana-bred mare

“Skies” is a chestnut mare with a great attitude, always coming to work ready and willing and she enjoys learning new things. Her attitude is so great in fact, that she can even be ridden bridleless. Skies has actually done a lot of different things since last racing in 2017 and retiring after four starts. This mare has gone to dressage and hunter/ jumper competitions, been cross country schooling, and even participated in a mounted archery clinic.

Located in Mooresville, Indiana.

View Return Tothe Skies on Friends of Ferdinand, Inc.

That’snothername. Photo via New Vocations Racehorse Adoption.

That’snothername (BOB AND JOHN – J. B.’S ANNIE, BY ROY): 2015 16.1-hand New York-bred mare

That’snothername is in fact her name, but she’s better known around the barn as “Joanie.” Joanie is a New Vocations alumni originally adopted out last year and she’s recently returned through no fault of her own to find a new family. She’s an easy going mare who retired after three career racing starts with a chip fracture that was then successfully rehabbed. Joanie is a forward ride, yet goes quietly at all three gaits and is enjoying starting over cross rails now.

Located in Gansevoort, New York.

View That’snothername on New Vocations Racehorse Adoption.

Omni Precious. Photo via Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue.

Omni Precious (HOOK AND LADDER – GILLINGHAM, BY HATCHET MAN): 2007 15.3-hand Pennsylvania-bred mare

It’s hard to believe by looking at her now, but Omni Precious was nearly a kill pen horse. The folks at Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue (MAHR) originally purchased her at New Holland from a kill buyer who had bought her off the track in 2011. She was adopted out and has had several years of professional dressage training, but her adopter’s situation has unfortunately changed and she finds herself back at MAHR looking for a new home. “Sierra” is an honest, brave, and forward mare and the MAHR staff are looking forward to starting her over fences during her time with them.

Located in Salley, South Carolina.

View Omni Precious on Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue.

Don’t forget! Trainer applications for the 2021 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover are now open through January 15! Learn more here.

Jockey Club Signs Five-Year Contract to Run Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials

By on Dec 2, 2020 9:00 am -

Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border take Blenheim in 2017. Photo by Libby Law.

The fate of the UK’s SsangYong Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, which has long been run as British Eventing’s sole self-organised competition, has been secured after a bidding process that’s been ongoing throughout the latter half of 2020. From 2021, the event – which hosts a CCI4*-L alongside the prestigious CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds, will be run by the Jockey Club in an exciting first foray into eventing for the organisation.

A five-year contract has been signed for the running of the event, which was cancelled in 2020 as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with its classes relocated to Norfolk’s Burnham Market International, run by Musketeer Events – one of the expected frontrunners of the bidding process.

“The international horse trials is one of our most prestigious events, attracting world-class riders to compete in this iconic competition,” said Blenheim Palace Estates Director Roy Cox in a statement released this morning (December 1). “We are delighted its future has been secured and have every confidence the Jockey Club, with its rich history and wealth of experience, working alongside British Eventing is the perfect combination to ensure this great event, which contributes so much to the local area, continues to thrive.”

Sarah Bullimore rides Lilly Corrine during the Event Rider Masters finale at Blenheim. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

The Jockey Club, which was founded in 1750 and boasts Her Majesty the Queen as its patron, has considerable experience staging world-class competition: with over 340 fixtures in its remit, including industry stalwarts such as the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National, it’s the largest commercial group in racing, turning over an extraordinary £201.1 million in revenue each year.

Ian Renton, Regional Managing Director of the organisation, hopes that Blenheim’s proximity to Cheltenham – dubbed ‘the home of jump racing’ and responsible for an estimated £100 million annual boost to the local area – will allow for further opportunities to broaden eventing’s scope as a spectator sport.

“It truly is a great honour to be appointed to organise the Blenheim Palace Horse Trials for the next five years,” he said. “We look forward to working closely with Blenheim Palace and British Eventing to ensure the event has a fantastic future.

“As a company, we welcome nearly four million people a year to events at our venues and our team are excited to put on a fantastic show at Blenheim in keeping with the international prestige of both the horse trials and the palace itself.

“With he Home of Jump Racing just 40 miles away, I’m also confident there are economies of scale and cross-promotional opportunities from this partnership,” he continued. “Overall, we’re thrilled to be involved and thank the Blenheim Palace and British Eventing team for placing their faith in us.”

Piggy French and Brookfield Inocent win the CCI4*-L in 2019. Photo by William Carey.

Eventing first came to Blenheim Palace, the Oxfordshire seat of the Duke of Marlborough and the birthplace of wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill, in 1990. That fledgling competition was won by Lucinda Fredericks on Just Jeremy, and by 1994, the young event had grown roots sufficient to host that year’s European Championships for Young Riders. In 2005, it stepped up to host the Senior European Championships, and in 2009 – following the event’s only cancellation prior to the pandemic – the much-heralded CCI4*-S class was introduced. In its eleven runnings, the class has produced an extraordinary roll of honour, with winners going on to success at the upper echelons – including five CCI5* victors. After some speculation this autumn that bids for the fixture included plans to potentially relocate the event, it’s a great relief to see it stay in situ at its home of three decades.

Jude Matthews, Chief Executive of British Eventing, said: “Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials is a key fixture in the British Eventing calendar, showcasing some of the most talented horse and rider combinations in the world. The event has been established over many successful years and we look forward to working with the Jockey Club to continue this development and to potentially bring our sport to a wider audience.”

British Eventing’s decision to step back from organising the event – the only one it organises directly – came in August of this year to allow the body to “focus on the delivery of core sport.”

The 2021 renewal of the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials is set to take place from September 15–19.

Wednesday News & Notes

By on Dec 2, 2020 12:01 am -

The International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. has announced the launch of a new website chronicling the stories and impact of Black Americans in the horse industry. Made possible by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the International Museum of the Horse, the new website, africanamericanhorsestories.org, is intended to act as a resource for research and education in understanding the rich history of Black equestrians.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Rocking Horse December H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status]

Sporting Days Farm H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Major International Events:

Portugal Winter Tour Week 3: [Website] [Entries]

Wednesday Reading List:

The United States Hunter Jumper Association is hosting a Diversity and Inclusion session as a part of its virtual annual meeting this month. You can register here to tune in on Friday, December 4 at 11:00 a.m. EST.

Nina Ligon became the first female eventer from an Asian country to compete in the Olympic Games in 2012, and this is one milestone she reflects on in her most recent think piece on Medium.

Applications are now open for the 2021 Retired Racehorse Thoroughbred Makeover. Currently scheduled for October 17-21, 2021, the Makeover will play host to competitors from both the 2020 and 2021 eligibility years to make up for the cancelation of the 2020 Makeover. Applications will be accepted through January 15, 2021 – click here to learn more.

What impact do fireworks have on horses? UK equine welfare charity The Blue Cross has launched a survey to dig into this topic more after concerned animal owners have petitioned to ban sales of fireworks to the public.

Want to support the Kentucky Three-Day Event? The organizing nonprofit for the event, Equestrian Events Inc., has been hit hard by the pandemic and has put together a fundraising auction to help. You can view the items and place your bid for the auction, which runs through Tuesday, December 8, here.

Wednesday Video Break: Want to get a feel for the new Equestriad World Tour mobile game? Here’s some gameplay and review for you to chew on while you decide which horse to buy first.

Tuesday Video from Horseware: William Fox-Pitt and Jackie Potts on Reducing Travel Stress

By on Dec 1, 2020 6:00 pm -

Traveling with horses is a detailed process that can easily turn stressful if you’re caught unprepared. Luckily, there are a whole slew of well-seasoned experts willing to lend their experience to provide some insight on reducing stress and anxiety – for both you and your horse – during travel. In the latest video from Fox-Pitt Eventing, William and top pro groom Jackie Potts shine some light on their transportation process.

Here are some of the key takeaways that you’ll learn about in this video:

  • Always be watchful for signs of ulcers, which affect upwards of 50% of horses
  • Jackie will often use a light rug to cover the neck of the horse to keep the horses warm with proper ventilation in the trailer
  • Start with a clean horse and bandage the tail to prevent soiling and protect the dock area
  • Find shipping boots that are easy to remove and that have sufficient coverage of the coronet band to help prevent pulled shoes
  • If you travel with hay nets, make sure to secure them tightly and position them properly
  • Clean your trailer out! This reduces bacteria and ammonia that can overpower the nostrils
  • Do a proper assessment of your horse’s condition upon arrival; keep track of how much he eats or drinks during transport