Classic Eventing Nation

A Companion for Your Horse? Presented by Banixx

By on Oct 2, 2020 3:30 pm -

Friends! Photo credit: Lynn McGugan

Horses are herd animals, and as we know, in the wild, they live in groups. Horses often are calmer and less prone to anxious behaviors with a companion; think of it as protection/safety in numbers.

Seabiscuit was difficult to train until he was united with his friend Pumpkin, another horse. Pumpkin accompanied Seabiscuit everywhere. American Pharoah had Smokey the horse as his calming companion. Goats seem to be popular at the racetrack barns as well.

Should you get a companion for your horse? Some options that have some popularity are dogs, cats, goats, ponies, donkeys, miniature horses, pigs, cows/steers, chickens, alpacas, llamas, retired horses, and horses rescued from the kill pen.

Before you start searching Facebook or Craigslist for a new critter, do some research! It might be helpful to answer these questions as you consider your options:

  • What care does the companion need?
  • What is the life expectancy of the new buddy?
  • Are the buddy’s dietary needs compatible with your horse’s needs?
  • Could food competition be an issue? A
  • re the living conditions/shelter/environment suitable for the companion to thrive?
  • Will the new chum attract other critters like foxes and coyotes (chickens and other small animals may attract prey critters as well)?
  • What type of animal are you and your caretakers (think barn sitters, etc.) comfortable with?
  • Is there a veterinarian in your area that is knowledgeable about the type of animal you are considering?

Companion animals can have their own habits/norms and may have behavioral issues, too. And a particular animal may have special needs. Also, certain types of animals have helpful qualities as well; for example, donkeys, burros, llamas, and alpacas are known to ward off coyotes.

I checked in with some horse people that have buddies for their horses, and this was the feedback I received:

Maria Caplan found that Nubian goats are great companions for her horses. They are a large breed of goat, so a horse is not likely to hurt them. They need very little care and live off grass. Their teeth do not need to be done but they do need their hoofs and horns clipped a few times a year.

Maria learned how to trim their feet and horns herself. She has found them to be very loving and friendly, making them great pets. Nubian goats very good with horses, and she has never had a goat hurt a horse or eat its’ tail (as some people think goats will do). The goat looks to the horse as a leader and leaves them alone/respects them as a protector.

Howie and his goats. Photo credit: Maria Caplan

There was a shortlist of cons of goats as companions that Maria shared, too.  They will climb your fence, and it doesn’t matter if it’s electric or no climb wire. There is a joke that if you pour water over your fence and a drop gets through, your fence is not goat proof – they will get out!

It is important to keep the goats happy and busy in their enclosure as they will escape once they are bored. Also, Nubian goats are loud. Maria finds their noise kind of endearing/cute but warns that if you have close neighbors, they may not appreciate their “cute” noise.

Bringing in a companion animal requires some time for getting acquainted safely. Put your horse and his new friend in adjacent stalls or paddocks so they can start to get to know each other from a distance. You want the two animals close enough to see and smell each other, but not close enough that one would be able to injure the other.

Keep that arrangement, if it goes well, for a few days. Then progress to supervised sniffing with your horse on a lead line and in an area where everyone can be safe. When you feel the animals are ready to be in the same area together, provide ample room to get away from one another. Provide a place where the smaller creature can get completely away just in case your horse gets aggressive, but not too much space so the horse cannot run. Until everyone settles in, it is best to allow supervised visits and at unsupervised times, keep the animals near each other but not together.

Before committing to taking on a new animal, it might be good to see if there is a “return policy” if the arrangement does not work out (after an honest effort).

Do your research!  Know the deficits that come with each animal.  Read on for a few pointers.

Goats seem to be popular for racehorses as companions.

Did you know that the life expectancy of a donkey is 25 to 30 years?! That’s something to consider!

Jade. Photo credit: Lynn McGugan

Chickens do eat bugs, even ticks, but their poo is a bit toxic.  Chickens can transmit salmonella, fungal infections, candidiasis, botulism, and streptococcus, so it is best to keep them out of your horse’s hay and feed.

Or do you just get another horse? How about that horse that nobody wants because it is broken down? Sure, it may need some care, perhaps some veterinarian attention and medication but his/her living environment needs are like that of your horse’s, so it may be the simplest alternative.

Many animals need adoption/homes so it really should be easy to find the right companion for your horse without breaking the bank.

Oh, and be able to laugh at yourself because I am sure there will be some adventures ahead if you decide to get your horse a companion!

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

Ingrid Klimke and SAP Hale Bob OLD Rise to the Occasion in Luhmühlen CCI4*S

By on Oct 2, 2020 1:00 pm -

Ingrid Klimke and SAP Hale Bob OLD at Strzegom. Photo by Leszek Wójcik.

Ingrid Klimke wasted no time in setting the standard for this year’s German Eventing Championships in at Luhmühlen, where the federation’s top riders are competing for the honors in the CCI4*S division. It was Ingrid’s stalwart partner, SAP Hale Bob OLD — who even at 16 years young today looked to be feeling himself as the pair prepared to enter the arena — with whom she would cement the spot at the top of the board on a blustery day. This experienced pair earned a 21.8 nod from the judging panel of Christian Steiner and Edith Schless-Störtenbecker to take the lead following the dressage phase of competition. Click here to watch a replay of Ingrid’s test, thanks to ClipMyHorse.TV.

Michael Jung and his sole entry in the CCI4*S, fischerChipmunk FRH, kept the pressure on with a score of 22.3 for an overnight second place. Interestingly, the judges showed a distinct differential in their scores for Ingrid (75% from Christian Steiner at C and 81.46% from Edith Schless-Störtenbecker at B), giving the razor thin advantage to Ingrid when all was said and done.

Naturally, both of these pairs have proven many times over that they’re capable of catching the time even on a quick CCI4*S track and this competition will certainly come down to quickness across the country and an ability to leave the rails where they belong come Sunday.

Christoph Wahler and the 11 year old Holsteiner gelding Carjatan S will round out the top three following dressage after an expressive test earned them a score of 22.4. This horse has flashed some brilliance in the past and pulled out a handful of ultra competitive scores; this will be a personal best for the gelding at the CCI4* level to date. He’s also proven capable of cleanly grabbing the time in both the Long and Short formats, which makes tomorrow’s contest that much more thrilling.

Ingrid will have two horses in the top five heading into cross country tomorrow; the 9 year old mare SAP Asha P, with whom Ingrid took silver in the 2019 German championships here, bested her 2019 score and recorded a 22.9 in today’s dressage test. You can view photos from the action in this report from Buschreiter.

The top 10 will each take a score below 30 penalty marks into the cross country, making for some tight competition from some of the most experience riders in the world. As a reminder, you can watch the live stream of the action on ClipMyHorse.TV all weekend (for those of you who prefer to sleep, the rides seem to be populating for on-demand viewing quickly). You can sign up for a free trial of ClipMyHorse.TV here to tune in.

Michael Jung is in possession of the lead in the CCI3*L division with Star Connection FRH, taking a score of 21.0 into the second phase of competition.

Another incredible storyline from Luhmühlen comes to us from the CCI2*L class, the German Junior Eventing Championships, where Ingrid’s 18 year old daughter, Greta Busacker, has taken the lead aboard Scrabble 15 on a score of 24.4. Greta began her international eventing career in 2014 and most recently this year has advanced to the CCI3* level with two primary horses in her string: Scrabble 15 and Coco Maurice 2. You can watch her lovely ride in the video below.

Posted by buschreiter.de on Thursday, October 1, 2020

Timetable – CCI4*S:

Cross Country: 1:00 p.m. local / 7 a.m. EST on Saturday October 3
Show Jumping: Following CCI2*L, which begins at 9:30 a.m. local / 3:30 a.m. EST on Sunday October 4

German Eventing Championships at Luhmühlen: [Website] [Schedule] [Dressage Order of Go] [Live Scores] [Live Stream]

Don’t Miss Central Kentucky Riding For Hope’s Annual Tack Sale

By on Oct 2, 2020 11:00 am -

Photo courtesy of Central Kentucky Riding for Hope.

Many nonprofits need an extra leg up this year due to interruptions in their regular fundraising activities. Central Kentucky Riding for Hope (CKRH)’s annual Tack Sale, a tradition that transforms CKRH into a treasure chest of amazing finds and great deals, might look a little different for 2020 but we’re excited to share that the sale is on!

This year’s event will be taking place on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 8 a.m. at the facility’s Kentucky Horse Park location. Community residents and businesses have donated all types of new and slightly used tack, riding clothes and shoes, horse gear and more. From the most seasoned equestrian to a new horse owner, everyone can find exactly what they need. And with proceeds going straight to CKRH, you don’t have to feel guilty about buying another horse blanket or pair of boots.

Maximum capacity will be 75 persons, with masks and social distancing required. You can learn more about the Covid-19 protocols here.

Founded in 1981, CKRH’s mission is to improve the quality of life and the health of children and adults with special physical, cognitive, emotional and social needs through therapeutic activities with the horse.

Can’t make it to the sale? There are many different ways to help CKRH — learn more here. Keep up with all the latest from the Tack Sale and more at CKRH’s Facebook page here.

Small Yet Mighty CCI4*-S Field Ready for Bromont

By on Oct 2, 2020 9:30 am -

Images from the show site ahead of the Bromont CCI-S Horse Trials on October 3rd. Photos: Kristel Glockner

Posted by Bromont CCI Three Day Event on Monday, September 28, 2020

Canada’s much-loved Bromont venue is preparing to host its first CCI of the season; the traditional annual dates in June were unfortunately vacated due to the coronavirus pandemic. This weekend will see riders contesting CCI2*S, CCI3*S, and CCI4*S as well as an Open Training division that was made available. The event has been condensed to a one-day format to be held on Saturday, October 3.

Since the border between the U.S. and Canada remains closed to nonessential travelers, we won’t see any foreign entries this weekend. Canadian riders who wish to return to the country after spending time in the U.S. must undergo a 14-day quarantine upon their return.

The headlining division this weekend will feature veteran Canadian team member Jessica Phoenix, who will bring forward five horses in the CCI4*S. Jessica’s team has had a lighter year, picking off a couple of events earlier this spring before the pandemic hit and then returning north to her home base to hunker down for the remainder of the season.

We’ll see stalwart veteran Pavarotti in action this weekend; at 18 years young the Westphalian gelding has shown this year that he’s still very much up to the task with two top 10 finishes on his international record in 2020. Accompanying him on the entry list are four of his barnmates: Bogue Sound, Humble GS, Watson GS, and Wabbit.

All of the horses competing in the CCI4*S this weekend had a summer outing at Will O’Wind in July, which Colleen Loach handily won aboard her WEG partner Qorry Blue D’Argouges and finished second with FE Golden Eye, who are also entered at Bromont this weekend.

Also featuring on the entry list are Melissa Boutin and EWSZ Jalando, an 11 year old Zweibrucker gelding making his CCI4*S debut. The pair completed their first Advanced in Florida earlier this year at Rocking Horse and most recently finished sixth in the CCI3*S at Will O’Wind in July.

Many thanks to Jacquie Kelton, who graciously allowed us to share her photos for a mini-tour around Jay Hambly’s cross country tracks. Jacquie will be competing her Thoroughbred mare, Cruze, in the Open Training division this weekend and we wish her great and safe rides.

We’ll bring you more updates from Bromont this weekend. Best of luck to all competing, and Go Eventing.

Bromont CCI Horse Trials: [Website] [Entries]

By the Numbers: Morven Advanced B

By on Oct 2, 2020 7:30 am -

As mentioned in yesterday’s By the Numbers for the A division, we sadly won’t have the new 4*-L here at Morven Park this weekend. With that being said, this venue has put some incredible work into their facility over the past few years, with new dressage and stadium rings with top of the line footing. Of course we are hoping that this weekend will serve as a little bit of a test run of some of the fences that might appear on the 4*-L in the future, so keep your eyes locked to Eventing Nation for a course walk later today.

Again, Tremaine Cooper has been the course designer for cross country here for a number of years and makes a reappearance this year as the show jumping course designer as well.

It should be noted again, Morven’s cross country is extremely tough to make the time; only three pairs out of 84 starters have done so since 2015. Only one of those, Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border, managed to also finish on their dressage score. Although none of the horses here have previously won, three winning riders return this year with multiple rides: Jennie Brannigan, Buck Davidson and Caroline Martin will all aim to become repeat winners with multiple rides across the two divisions.

DRESSAGE

Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Rubens D’Ysieux. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Rubens d’Ysieux makes his first start at the A/4* level for this year with Sara Kozumplik-Murphy. These two have had some ill-luck the past couple of years but have been able to put in solid scored that exceed 70% in half of their starts together. That includes a stellar 23.4 at Millbrook in the summer of 2018. If they’ve been doing their homework during quarantine, they’ll be tough to catch. Jennie Brannigan and Stella Artois might make a run of it though; while this mare very consistently has scored between 30 and 32 in her starts over that last two years, she caught everyone’s attention at Great Meadow by flirting with 75%, ultimately landing a score of 25.2 penalties.

Meanwhile, Lillian Heard has the ride on CharmKing while his regular rider (Holly Payne-Caravella) is out on maternity leave. This horse has been strong in this phase in two starts, with an average of 30.5 in two 4*-S tests. The other young gun to keep an eye on will be Luke 140, who is re-united with Boyd Martin after a short stint with Phillip Dutton. In the horse’s first and only start at this level with Boyd, the pair came close to breaking 70% and in the horse’s most recent start at Great Meadow, Phillip Dutton did pull out a score in the high twenties.

SHOW JUMPING

Rubens d’Ysieux is also about as close as it gets to a guaranteed clear round; since being paired with Sara, he’s had one rail in nine rounds at the level, two of which were at the long format. These two have never had a penalty in this phase at an A/4*-S. Also likely to jump clear is Stella Artois, who has jumped clean in five of her last six starts, three of which were 4*-L.

In two rounds at the level, CharmKing has put in two clear rounds and Luke 140 is three for three. While there’s no guarantee with horses this new to the level, there’s no evidence that either of them will have a rail this weekend.

Will Coleman and Dondante. Photo by Abby Powell.

Looking further down for some change in rankings, Will Coleman will be in familiar territory stalking the leaders with a horse solid in the jumping phases; DonDante has incurred only one rail in this six rounds at this level. Caroline Martin and Ariel Grald are both on one-or-none horses that are more likely to jump clear than not; both Danger Mouse and Leamore Master Plan have had long streaks of jumping clear at this level.

CROSS COUNTRY

Like the other division, the competitors in this division largely consist of those who tend to take the short format at a bit of a slower pace. Over a course like Morven, that will make cross-country hugely influential. Sara Kozumplik-Murphy will have her work cut out for her; thanks to the shutdown, she and Rubens d’Ysieux have only been able to get out once at this level since their accident at Millbrook in 2018, putting in a clear but steady round at Ocala Jockey Club last fall. A pace similar that will leave the door wide open for those ranked lower.

Both Stella Artois and Luke 140 are more likely to edge into double digits in terms of time penalties; Luke 140 has been exactly 25 or 26 seconds over optimum time with both of his pilots in three completions, while Stella Artois has averaged 22 seconds over optimum in her three starts at this level over the last two years. Even with this amount of time, both should still be in the hunt for a win, unless a wildcard like CharmKing can match the pace of his one completion at this level.

Daniel Clasing and MW Gangster’s Game. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

One pair to keep a sharp eye out for is Daniel Clasing and MW Gangster’s Game, who pick and choose where to push the pace, but has finished within ten seconds of the fastest pace or optimum time in three of their last six completed runs. This is definitely a pair who can press the pace if they choose to, and choosing to do so this weekend would let them contest for the top of the leaderboard.

Will Coleman tends to stick to a pace approximately 16 seconds slower than the fastest cross country pace with DonDante, which would be enough to continue their upward creep in the ranks into the top five, but not likely quick enough for the win. We could see Mama’s Magic Way make a big leap into the top five as well, as Will Faudree has been averaging only 13 seconds behind the fastest cross country pace.

PREDICTIONS:

WINNER

Jennie Brannigan and Stella Artois. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Time penalties will make a huge difference in this division, but in the end it’s likely to be Stella Artois and Jennie Brannigan who take the edge and refuse to relinquish it.

LONGEST CLEAR JUMPING STREAK

Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Rubens D’Ysieux. Photo by Justin Black/Millstreet Horse Photography.

There are simply not that many horses who have had the record in stadium that Rubens d’Ysieux has had under Sara Murphy-Kozumplik. Although their current streak is only four consecutive rounds, their career shows only one rail on their A/4* record as a pair.

NEW TO THE LEVEL

Skyeler Voss and Argyle. Photo courtesy of Skyeler Voss.

Skyeler Voss brings Argyle out to contest his second Advanced after a second place finish in the horse’s debut at the level at Five Points. They certainly made a statement on cross country day, storming around inside the time. That makes this pair the first to make the time at Five Points out of 44 cross-country starters in the last five editions of that event, dating back to 2014 (Five Points did not host an Advanced in 2017 or 2019).

Dressage and show jumping will be held Friday, while cross country will begin on Saturday.

Morven Park Fall H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Show Photographer] [Volunteer] [EN’s Coverage]

Friday News & Notes

By on Oct 2, 2020 12:03 am -

Hello from Morven Park! Photo courtesy of
Joanna Yeomans.

Morven Park Horse Trials holds many fond memories for me over the years, and I’ve competed there almost every year since I began eventing all those years ago with a pony and a dream. This year I’ll be missing it, but luckily we have live coverage here on EN so you can keep up with all the action at all the levels. Stay tuned!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Morven Park Fall H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Show Photographer] [Online Program] [Volunteer] [Live Scores]

Genesee Valley Riding and Driving Club Spring H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Heritage Park H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks: [Website] [Entry Status] [Show Photographer] [Volunteer] [Live Scores]

Poplar Place Farm H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Show Photographer] [Volunteer] [Live Scores]

Spokane Sport Horse Sixth Annual Fall H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Show Photographer] [Volunteer]

WindRidge Farm Fall H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Horse & Country is partnering with the USEF to bring you even more live streaming of competitions worldwide. Now you’ll be able to enjoy premium content from H&C with your USEF membership, and see even more events on livestream! With spectating limited this year (and maybe next) it’s really great for all of us at home to be able to keep up with all the action. And no extra membership fees! [H&C Partners with USEF]

The Retired Racehorse Project is back again with an amazing online auction! To raise money for the Thoroughbred Makeover, which next year will be a super makeover featuring both 2020 horses and 2021 horses, you’ll find some truly sweet goods available for the next 8 days. Offering a variety of options ranging from coveted racing memorabilia, unique gifts, original art, handcrafted goods, quality services, and one of a kind experiences. [RRP Online Silent Auction]

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and SmartPak is encouraging riders to help them give back. For the second year in a row, they’ve partnered with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and giving back a portion of their sales on exclusive pink-ribbon items. With limited edition Piper Knit Breeches and SmartPak saddle pads, you too can go pink in style and show your support! With their most comfortable and popular styles featuring pink ribbon accents, you’ll be sure to get a great product while also supporting a great cause. [SmartPak Goes Pink]

Kristian Beverly speaks to being actively anti-racist in the horse world. “My existence is not a difference of opinions. A difference of opinion is whether you like glazed or jelly donuts. Not if a person deserves humanity.” [All Parts of Me]

Have you experienced level-shaming? It’s all too common for some of us to casually mention our first “real” event horse, and simply mean our first upper level horse. But within that, we are suggesting that horses or riders that don’t compete at the upper levels are somehow worth less, and this is simply ridiculous. A solid horse that can throw down three good phases at Training level with an amateur rider is just as real as any five-star competitor on the international scale. [What is “Real”?]

Video: A real flashback to Morven 2008!

Thursday Video from FLAIR: Ride Around the Keysoe CCI2*S with Andrew Hoy

By on Oct 1, 2020 4:00 pm -

Australia’s Andrew Hoy will typically don his helmet cam on cross country and we’re always pleased to share them as both entertainment and education. Andrew’s latest camera video comes from this past weekend at Keysoe International in Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, where the 9 year old Brigant made his international debut. The Selle Francais gelding owned by Andrew’s longtime friend and supporter Linda Mars finished in the top 30 of the CCI2*S division, and Andrew wrote on his social media that he was “delighted” at the young horse’s progress.

“Linda Mars’ Brigant has had a challenging ‘Corona year’ and this was his first Eventing run of the 2020 season,” Andrew wrote. “So you can see him being as little ‘green’ at times but still mastering all questions asked so well.”

Nurturing a young horse as they progress through their careers is always a process that requires time and patience. This unusual year has, of course, added even more time to most riders’ schedules, and many horses are coming out of their lockdown time better for the extra polish. Andrew knows this young one quite well, having joined up with him in 2017 and produced him through the levels patiently.

Andrew says the tall gelding needed some time to mature into his body, so the extra time never hurt anyone in this instance. And that growing maturity is evident on this track; Brigant takes in Angus Smales’ questions with poise and his keen expression is apparent even from our viewpoint. Andrew says he gained some confidence and experience along the way, and we’ll be sure to keep an eye on this one as he continues to mature.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and FLAIR will donate 25% of the proceeds from its pink and limited edition Kick Breast Cancer strips to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation this month. You can shop FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips by clicking or tapping the banner below.

Volunteer Nation: 6 Events You Can Help This Weekend

By on Oct 1, 2020 1:30 pm -

Prepped and ready to scribe… Photo by
Claire O’Dell.

What is your favorite volunteer role? I am a bit limited in the positions I’ve volunteered for, personally, but I think most of us would probably choose jump judging or scribing as our favorites. With jump judging, there’s the excitement of cross country action while with scribing the educational opportunities (and potential for hand cramps, of course) is exponential. Volunteering has always been an educational role for eventing fans, and seeing the sport from the perspective of each role is beneficial for building better stewards of the sport. What’s something new you could try during your next volunteering stint?

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: Heritage Park H.T.
Dates: Thursday, October 1 through Sunday, October 4
Address: 16801 Pflumm, Olathe, KS, 66062
Positions Available: Event Prep – SJ, General Help, XC Jump Judge, Dressage Steward, Event Takedown – Dressage, Logistics, SJ Jump Crew, SJ Timer

Event: Majestic Oaks Recognized H.T.
Dates: Saturday, October 3
Address: 17500 N US Highway 441, Reddick, FL, 32686
Positions Available: XC Crossing Guard, XC Finish Timer, XC Jump Judge, XC Warm-up, Dressage In Gate Steward, Floater, General Help

Event: Morven Park Fall 2020 H.T.
Dates: Friday, October 2 through Sunday, October 4
Address: 41580 Sunday Morning Lane, Leesburg, VA, 20176
Positions Available: Dressage In-Gate Steward

Event: Poplar Place Farm October H.T. and Area III Championships
Dates: Thursday, October 1 through Sunday, October 4
Address: 457 Kingsboro Road, Hamilton, GA, 31811
Positions Available: Temperature/Waiver Checker, XC Finish Timer, XC Jump Judge, XC Start Timer, XC Warm-up, Dressage In-Gate Steward, Dressage Scribe, Dressage Warm-up, SJ In Gate, SJ Warm-up

Event: Spokane Sport Horse Farm 6th Annual Fall H.T.
Dates: Thursday, October 1 through Sunday, October 4
Address: 10710 S Sherman Rd, Spokane, WA, 99224
Positions Available: Dressage Score Runner, Health Steward, Temperature/Waiver Checker, Parking Steward, Office Help, SJ Warm-up, SJ Timer, Hospitality Helper, Awards Committee, SJ Jump Crew

Other Events This Weekend:

The countdown is on…Only 9 days til the Spring event! Still need 2 volunteers for 3 hour shift on 10/4 (7am-10am)…

Posted by Genesee Valley Riding and Driving Club on Thursday, September 24, 2020

By the Numbers: Morven Park Advanced A

By on Oct 1, 2020 11:30 am -

While we sadly won’t have the new 4*-L here at Morven Park to look forward to, we do have a stacked field coming forward for the Advanced this weekend. Although the field has been split into two divisions, we’ll still get to see quite a few prominent head-to-head match-ups in the lead-up to our only two 4*-L of the year at Tryon and Galway. Today we will preview the A division while tomorrow morning we will look towards the B.

Tremaine Cooper has been the course designer for cross country here for a number of years and makes a reappearance this year as the show jumping course designer as well.

Morven has historically been a course where it is extremely tough to make the time; only three pairs out of 84 starters have done so since 2015. Only one of those, Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border, managed to also finish on their dressage score. Although none of the horses here have previously won, three winning riders return this year with multiple rides: Jennie Brannigan, Buck Davidson and Caroline Martin will all aim to become repeat winners with multiple rides across the two divisions.

DRESSAGE

Buck Davidson and Carlevo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

In the A division, Long Island T under Boyd Martin is the clear standout, with an average of 25.2 over their three outings together in 2019. This will be the horse’s first start of 2020 at this level. Carlevo and Buck Davidson could potentially catch them on a good day; their two year average for the level sits at 28 penalties. But their two most recent scores have just missed the 70% mark, so they will need to return to the form they displayed at Blenheim last fall.

Allison Springer has occasionally broken the 70% mark with Business Ben, but most often sits in the low 30s. In fact, this pair has scored exactly 31.1 in each of their three 2020 A/4* outings, which takes the cake for consistency. Finally, Sharon White and Cooley On Show make an appearance. They’ve won their only two outings this year at this level, taking the win at the only 4*-S in North America just before the world shut down and adding another win at Five Points early last month. At Five Points, they cracked into the 20s in dressage for the first time since 2018, but they very consistently score in the low 30s overall.

SHOW JUMPING

Sharon White and Cooley On Show. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Interestingly enough, Long Island T is a horse who has better show jumping results when stadium falls to the final phase, with clear rounds more than 50% of the time and jumping clear in his last three outings with Boyd when the cross country is first. This horse has more recently struggled slightly in this phase when stadium is first, incurring a rail or two in his most recent two outings with the phases in this order. A rail at Morven this weekend would leave the window open for another to take the lead.

Carlevo has jumped clear in seven of his nine rounds at the A/4*-S level in the last two years, incurring only one rail and one time penalty up … until his most recent outing. He added three rails and two time penalties in his latest round, a shocking departure from his usual form. Sometimes we just have a bad day in the office, and it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see Buck return this horse to his typical rail-free form.

Cooley On Show has been on top form in this phase for a while; he and Sharon haven’t had a rail since March of 2018. That is seven consecutive clear rounds at the A/4/5* levels, both long and short format. Expect this pair to narrow the gap with the dressage leaders.

Unfortunately, Business Ben has struggled with tension in this phase and while a clear round is within his capabilities, he more commonly incurs one to three rails. That will leave the window open for Will Coleman to sneak up the ranks with Tight Lines, who has jumped seven consecutive clear rounds at this level dating back to 2017, and TKS Cooley, who has thus far been rail-free in four rounds at this level in this career.

CROSS COUNTRY

Buck Davidson and Jak My Style. Photo by Shelby Allen.

There are no true speedsters in this field, at least not for the short format. While horses like Tight Lines and Cooley On Show have more than proven themselves capable of hitting the optimum at a long format, their riders tend to reserve that speed and take a slower pace at the A/4*-S levels. So over a course like Morven Park, where time is difficult to catch at the best of times, this field is likely to all incur some significant time penalties.

Carlevo and Long Island T have a typical average pace nearly identical to one another, both coming in around 20 seconds slower than either optimum time, or the fastest horse of the day if optimum time isn’t obtained. This would keep them neck and neck with one another if the first two phases have gone as expected, but would open the door for a faster horse to overtake them.

That horse could very well be Cooley On Show, who as previously mentioned, is coming off two consecutive wins at this level. Despite reserving most of his speed for the long formats, Sharon still brings this horse in at an average pace that is swifter than the majority of the field. It will be down to the wire, and those extra few seconds might make a difference between winning or settling for a spot in the top three.

Two pairs to keep an eye on in this phase as well are FE Lifestyle under Jennie Brannigan, who in four complete runs at the level have stayed within 16 seconds of either optimum time or the fastest time of the day, and Buck Davidson with Jak My Style, who have averaged a slightly more sedate pace over their last two runs but who have also achieved top placings a few times thanks to their turn of foot.

PREDICTIONS:

WINNER

Sharon White and Cooley On Show. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Sharon White and Cooley On Show have been quietly chipping away with wins at shows off the beaten path. This will be the first time in a while they see a match up against some of the bigger names in the country, and while it isn’t the fully stacked division that the 4*-S divisions on the east coast have seen this fall, it will still be a very competitive contest at the top. This pair will use the pace of Morven Park to their advantage and paired with a strong stadium record, make their way to the top.

FASTEST CROSS COUNTRY ROUND

Ema Klugman and Bendigo. Photo by Valerie Durbon Photography.

Ema Klugman and Bendigo have really made themselves a force to be reckoned with based on their jumping prowess over the last two years. These two have had six clear runs at this level in 2019/2020, and have been within five seconds of the fastest cross country time in five of them, including putting in the fastest pace at this venue in their division last year. They’ve made the optimum in their two 2020 starts at this level as well.

LONGEST CLEAR JUMPING STREAK

Will Coleman and Tight Lines. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Tight Lines has jumped clear rounds in his last consecutive rounds at the A/4*-S levels. He also hasn’t had a time penalty in any of those rounds, leaving him with a penalty-free record in this phase.

BIGGEST MOVER

Ema Klugman and Bendigo. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Bendigo has been the absolute master of flying up the ranks in this 2020 fall season. He has finished on his dressage score in both of his 4*-S starts this season, something replicated only by Deniro Z, who won those same starts. Two weeks ago, he was the biggest mover of the 4*-S division, moving up a whopping 38 places out of 53 starters. Back in August, he moved up even more, jumping 41 places out of 68 starters. Obviously he won’t be able to move up that many spots in a division with 21 starters, but we are still likely to see him and Ema Klugman make a huge leap between the first and last phases.

OTHER DIVISIONS

  • Old friends such as Obos O’Reilly, Captain Jack, Fly Me Courageous
  • Kurt Martin is bringing out his five star ride Delux Z to contest an Intermediate division.
  • Steady Eddie is making his first start since the shutdown in the Intermediate with Mike Pendleton.
  • Boyd Martin will get his first start of the fall aboard WEG mount and Pan Ams gold medalist, Tsetserleg, also in the Intermediate.

Dressage and show jumping will be held Friday, while cross country will begin on Saturday.

Morven Park Fall H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Show Photographer] [Volunteer] [EN’s Coverage]

How to Watch the 2020 German Eventing Championships at Luhmühlen

By on Oct 1, 2020 10:00 am -

Photo by Thomas Ix, courtesy of Luhmühlen.

The German contingent this weekend heads to Luhmühlen to contest the rescheduled German Eventing Championships in CCI4*S format, and a stiff entry list awaits those seeking the top honors. As if an all-German competition could be anything less than strong, we’ll see a full roster of top riders duke it out, and it’ll all be streamed on ClipMyHorse.TV for you to follow along with all weekend.

Turniergesellschaft Luhmühlen plays host to both a CCI5* as well as a CCI4*S each year, the latter division serving as the championship division for German riders. While we won’t see defending German champion Julia Krajewski, who won in 2019 with her 2018 World Equestrian Games partner Samourai du Thot, we will see defending European Champion Ingrid Klimke with three rides this weekend.

Ingrid finished second in the CCI4*S at Luhmühlen in 2019 aboard SAP Asha P, who comes in hot this year off a second place finish at Strzegom (Poland) in August. Ingrid will also pilot Equistros Siena Just Do It in the 8 year old Westphalian mare’s CCI4*S debut. This mare has also had a nice run up to these Championships, collecting a win in the CCI3*S at Kronenberg in the Netherlands followed by a fourth place in the CCI3*L at Strzegom. And of course, who could leave out Ingrid’s champion of champions, SAP Hale Bob OLD, winner of the Nations Cup at Strzegom in August.

Michael Jung will present just one ride this weekend with fischerChipmunk FRH, whom he acquired the ride on from Julia Krajewski last year. Chipmunk has also had a strong lead in to this event, picking up a win in his most recent outing at Avenches in Switzerland.

Other highlights of the German Championships entry list include Sandra Auffarth with Let’s Dance 73 and Viamant du Matz, Christoph Waller with Ikke 2 and Carjatan S, Andreas Dibowski with FRH Corrida, and many others.

The live stream, provided by ClipMyHorse.TV, does require a subscription, options for which start at $14 per month when billed annually and $19 per month if you prefer to just pick up a month at a time. You can view the full line-up for the live stream, which will also include the CCI2*L and CCI3*L divisions running concurrently, by clicking here. You can also vote and cheer on your favorite rider by clicking here.

Action has already begun for the CCI2*L and CCI3*L, and we’ll see the first horse down centerline in the marquee CCI4*S division at 9 a.m. local time / 3 a.m. EST tomorrow.

Timetable – CCI4*S:

Dressage: 9 a.m. local / 3 a.m. EST on Friday October 2
Cross Country: 1:00 p.m. local / 7 a.m. EST on Saturday October 3
Show Jumping: Following CCI2*L, which begins at 9:30 a.m. local / 3:30 a.m. EST on Sunday October 4

German Eventing Championships at Luhmühlen: [Website] [Schedule] [Dressage Order of Go] [Live Scores] [Live Stream]