Classic Eventing Nation

Boyd Martin Secures First International Win of the Year at VHT International

By on Jul 23, 2020 1:26 pm -

Boyd Martin and Luke 140, winners of the CCI3*-S. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.

Boyd Martin came to Virginia Horse Trials (VHT) International to get himself and his horses back into the swing of competing, and he picked up an international win along the way. Leading from start to finish, Martin and the 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding Luke 140, owned by the Luke 140 Syndicate, won the CCI3*-S on a final score of 35.5.

Starting off with a dressage score of 23.9, they show jumped double clear on Tuesday. They entered today’s cross country test with plenty of breathing room, allowing for the addition of 11.6 time penalties.

“Luke was brilliant in all three phases. I wanted to set him up for an assault on the second half of the year,” Martin said. “It was fantastic doing all the dressage in the shade of the indoor arenas, and the new jumping ring was brilliant to ride on.”

With the majority of the spring season being cancelled due to COVID-19, many competitors are just getting going with their competition season this summer. Martin commented that designer Andy Bowles’ cross country course was appropriate for horses who haven’t been out in a while, but there were “a couple of combinations that really tested the horses, and it’s a true test of fitness with a big, long gallop up the hill in the middle of the course.”

Having finished up his competition on Wednesday afternoon, Martin was already on his way home to prepare for another outing this weekend. “I love the idea of the midweek eventing, especially for the pro riders looking to get horses out,” Martin said. “I’m slowly getting better from surgery a couple months ago, and it was great just getting the horses out and seeing my eventing buddies I haven’t seen in months.”

Coming second in the CCI3*-S was Joe Meyer and his longtime partner Clip Clop. They added only 2.0 time penalties to their initial score, moving up from 11th after dressage. Benjamin Noonan and Keep Kitty rounded out the top three.

CCI3*-S Final Top 10: 

In the CCI1*-L division, Andrew McConnon leads the way with D’Luxe Steel followed by Joanie Morris riding Betterthanexpected.

Elizabeth Halliday-Sharp holds the top two spots in the CCI2*-L with Cooley Be Cool and Cooley Seeking Fortune, respectively, with show jumping still to go. Halliday-Sharp won the CCI2*-S with Marysville Sir Henry – here’s the final top 10 from that division:

VHT’s original date had been postponed due to COVID-19 and this week the event is strictly adhering to necessary protocols, including paperless entries, mandatory face coverings, and social distancing. Martin offered this sentiment: “Everyone is keen to get back to normal life, and everyone is understanding it’s a huge privilege to do this sport [right now]. We are grateful to the organizers who have had to jump through many hoops to get events going.”

The competition continues Thursday with all three phases running concurrently at the Virginia Horse Center.

Links: Website | Omnibus | General Schedule | Event Program | Ride Times | Results | Facebook

[Boyd Martin Secures First International Win of the Year at VHT International]

Volunteer Nation: 6 Events That Need Your Help This Weekend

By on Jul 23, 2020 11:00 am -

Courtesy of Rebecca Farms Facebook page.

It’s the time of year where we’re ordinarily gearing up for an epic on the ground weekend at Rebecca Farm. We’d also be eagerly looking ahead to the Olympics in Tokyo. But alas, the year has been much, much different than we ever could have anticipated. I know it’s a bit broken record sounding of me, but I’m not sure it will ever stop feeling so weird. Nonetheless, eventers soldier on and events have been able to run with proper precautionary measures.

Rebecca Farm is sure to look a bit different this year, which is why this and every other event this weekend needs the help of those competing more than ever. Without spectators and unnecessary personnel on the premises, finding last minute help becomes a bit more challenging. Signing up for a volunteer shift ahead of time helps the coordinator plan better — all of which leads to a more pleasant experience for all involved!

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: Virginia Horse Trials & CCI
Dates: Today through Friday, July 24
Address: 487 Maury River Rd., Lexington, VA, 24435
Position(s) Available: XC Finish Timer, XC Jump Judge, XC Score Runner, XC Start Timer, XC Warn-up, Dressage Bit Check, Dressage In-Gate, Dressage Score Runner, Dressage Scribe, Jog Steward, SJ In-Gate, SJ Jump Crew, SJ Warm-up, Vet In Barn Assistant, Floater

Event: The Event at Rebecca Farm
Dates: Today through Sunday, July 26
Address: 1385 Farm to Table Road, Kalispell MT, 59901
Position(s) Available: Dressage Set-up, Dressage Score Runner, Dressage Volunteer, XC Jump Judge, Show Jumping General Help

Event: Hunt Club Farms HT
Dates: Saturday, July 25
Address: 294 Longmarsh Rd, Berryville, VA, 22611
Position(s) Available: XC Jump Judge, XC Starter, Dressage Warm-up, Parking, Score Runner, SJ Warm-up

Event: Olney Farn Recognized HT
Dates: Friday, July 24
Address: 1001 Old Joppa Rd, JOPPA, MD, 21085
Position(s) Available: Event Prep

Event: Waredaca Purina Checkerboard Summer Challenge Starter
Dates: Saturday, July 25
Address: 4015 Damascus Rd, Laytonsville, MD, 20882
Position(s) Available: Scorers

Event: Stonegate Farm July Mini Trial
Dates: Saturday, July 25 through Sunday, July 26
Address: 31407 Schneider Rd, Hanoverton, OH, 44423
Position(s) Available: General Help, SJ Steward, Dressage Paddock, Dressage Score Runner, Floater, SJ Announcer, SJ Out Gate

But … Does He Walk? Brought to you by Banixx Horse Care

By on Jul 23, 2020 9:00 am -
Banixx,walk,horse,training

At the walk. Photo credit Shellie Sommerson.

This writing was inspired by an interaction with a friend years ago. And in the development, I realized how that interaction has come full circle in many respects. At that time, I was showing a friend the progress a young horse of mine was making. I quickly got to the trot, canter and jumping to show off our ‘progress.’ “What do you think?” I asked. His response, “But does he walk?”

That question has stuck with me through the years, and working with J. Michael Plumb and his emphasis on using the walk to achieve more with training and preparing horses this writing is meant to be a reminder of where we all start. Also, it is okay to return to the start, which is not necessarily starting over.

For most of us, the summer brings on the higher temperatures, and in many areas, increased humidity. What can you do to keep progressing in your horse’s training without over-exerting in the heat? There are 3 benefits of walking that come immediately to mind:

  1. Exercise
  2. Relaxation and bonding
  3. Training

Walking for exercise is not only good for your horse, but good for you too. Go find some hills, even little inclines/declines as they can help build muscle and balance. Pay careful attention to your horse’s shape while doing this to ensure he is not inverted; he should not be curled up either.

Walking for relaxation is a great time to bonding with your horse and get to know him (under tack and hand walking). This can help the rider relax too. Taking the time to walk your horse under tack can help you find out what he needs to be prepared to go to work. Are you struggling with getting the relaxation you need from your horse to prepare for your dressage test? Spend time learning how to get him relaxed and tuned into you, with a quiet mind – walking for relaxation. If he does not stay settled, do a little trotting or another exercise, then come back to the walk and grow the amount of time you can spend at the walk with him.

Working in the walk is easily overlooked in training, yet so much can be taught and accomplished at the walk. Just about everything can be taught at the walk. We have all probably heard about teaching ‘footwork,’ whether in human only sports or equine sports. Teaching footwork is easier at a slower pace; that is the walk in most situations.

Value:

  • Everything comes up slower
  • Less likely to be pulling (on the reins) and more likely to be pushing (with seat and legs)

Starting your session at the walk, on a long rein and stretching down – if possible, is a great way to let your horse start to warm up his back. If he cannot do that, no worries, just get what you can and then get him on the rail (fence). You can use the rail to help teach him where to be and what you want. If you do not have access to the rail you can do the same exercises around an object, like a jump.

If you are doing this around an object your primary rein contact will be in the outside rein, and your primary pushing/activating leg will be your inside leg. Still you want a fairly straight horse.

Using your seat and legs ride beside the rail pushing his hips a little to the inside and tip his nose a bit on the rail with your outside rein; however, keep your horse as straight as possible, not bent. Straightness is achieved by forward, so as difficult as it can be sometimes, push with your seat and legs to get your horse straight (the back-end needs to get straight first before the front end can get straight). The rail will slow your horse without you pulling on the reins, so you can keep pushing and not pull. Be conscious of his foot falls – are they quick? If so, use that rail to slow the speed of the feet. This is a time for slow feet. In early stages your horse might carry his head a bit high, that is okay if his hind feet are moving. Allow him to find his balance behind, then the shoulders and neck will ‘fall into place’ with the benefit of him using his back. After he finds his balance behind and can carry it you can allow him to drop his neck and head.

Once your horse finds his balance and starts to maintain contact from the back-end to the reins, your horse will hint at dropping his neck, allow him that reward for a bit.

The next step is to continue at the walk and just bump him with your calf or ankle while he keeps the contact you have with your reins. You want to feel him step up a bit with his hind legs; feel a surge from the back-end, not the front end. If he does not respond, then bump a bit harder. If still no response, then revisit your ‘go forward’ aides. If he steps up with his hind legs but gets wiggly in the bridle, go back to the rail to use the rail to help keep him straight (then you only have the other side to keep straight) and repeat the exercise. You want to feel him step up with his hind feet and get steady and straight contact in the bridle.

Always remember to Push for Straightness!

Once you can ride him fairly straight at the walk without him speeding off, start to take more of a feel – back to front – work toward as steady of a connection as you can get. You may need to take this part back to the rail if you are using more hand than leg, or if your horse speeds up  Hold that for only a few steps, then allow him to stretch back down on a softer rein (his reward). Repeating this exercise and building on the amount of time he can maintain the proper contact can take some time; however, it will pay dividends!

Spending more time at the walk helps in many ways

  • Low impact/less stress
  • Teach it at the walk, then the trot & canter
  • Perfect it at the walk, then the trot & canter
  • Work on rhythm as the walk is a 4-beat gait with regularity and quality

Brought to you by Banixx – the #1 trusted solution for equine and pet owners! Find out more about Banixx  by clicking here:

Thursday News & Notes from THIS

By on Jul 23, 2020 1:01 am -

Photos courtesy of Amber Young.

We love seeing riders catch the eventing bug! A warm welcome to the club, Amber Young of Bergen, NY, and Emmerich (“Henry”), a 17.2 Hanoverian who gets an “A” for effort but could probably step over most of the obstacles in their first cross country school together. No hope no scope, as they say. Poor Amber nearly got rocket-blasted out of the tack a time or two but held fast and laughed it off in hindsight, so we think she’ll fit right in around these parts!

“We had our first cross country schooling event today,” Amber told EN. “We are both greenies — we’ve never done solid jumps, ditches, water or banks before, but we trust each other and we’ve been working hard with our trainer (Carrie Wehle of Wehle Farm). We had a blast and are looking forward to doing our first intro event this year!”

Best of luck to you two.🚀

National Holiday: National Gorgeous Grandma Day

U.S. Weekend Preview

Virginia HT & CCI: [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

The Event at Rebecca Farm: [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Live Stream]

Horse Park of New Jersey HT: [Website] [Ride Times]

FENCE HT: [Website] [Entry Status]

Hunt Club Farns HT: [Website] [Entry Status]

Thursday Reading List:

The USEA Young Event Horse class of 2007 went on to do big things. Its 5-year-old graduate horses that went on to reach the highest levels of eventing include All The Buzz, Java, Vidalia, Gin Fizz, Peabody, Fantasy Impromptu, Normandy Soldier, and Parfait. [The YEH Yearbook: Class of 2007]

Worth the Trust … it will be worth the wait. The 2021 Worth The Trust Scholarship, which was slated to be awarded at the 2020 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in December, has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Information will be released next year about applying for the 2022 scholarship, which will be awarded in December of 2021 for use during the 2022 calendar year. [Worth The Trust Scholarship Postponed to 2022]

If a picture is worth a thousand words, this photo gallery from Britain’s Aston-le-Walls is worth 17,000. So much fun to see stars like Ros Canter, Kitty King, Dan Jocelyn, Kevin McNab, Izzy Taylor, Alex Hua Tian, Tom McEwen, Paul Tapner and so many more out and about. [Three medallists, two Olympic horses and a five-star runner-up: 17 top eventers enjoy a run at Aston-le-Walls]

Whether you want to advertise your business or organization, or spotlight your OTTB for sale, the Retired Racehorse Project can connect you with clients. Opportunities are available for both the Fall 2020 issue of Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine and the ASPCA Makeover Marketplace catalog. [Ad specs and pricing]

Hot on Horse Nation: I Get Knocked Down (But I Get Up Again): The Refrain of 2020

Just in on Jumper Nation: Watch: No Injury Can Get Her Down…Ali Wolff is Back in Action, Presented by Back Gate

Listen: In the latest episode of the Major League Eventing podcast, Karen and Rob get to know Cindy Anderson Blank.  Cindy is not only a top event rider she is team Windchase and Olympian Phyllis Dawson’s competition rider, trainer and instructor.  Cindy came from a western background until the eventing bug bit her and the rest is history. [Episode #120]

Watch: Ponies, bless ’em. When they’re good they’re good, and when they’re naughty (see pony #1 here) … you just love them even harder. View Leg 2 Strzegom Summer Tour results here.

Social: Just be a friend.

“When the world is so complicated, the simple gift of friendship is within all of our hands.”

📸 ©FEI/ Ctanierephotographie

Posted by Fédération Equestre Internationale on Wednesday, July 22, 2020

 

 

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: The Case for Strange Music on Cross-Country

By on Jul 22, 2020 6:12 pm -

Anyone who watched the Strzegom live feed over the weekend will know exactly what I mean when I say that song choice is really, really important when it comes to showcasing our sport at its bold, ballsy best. Our wacky Polish pals decided to dispense with that wisdom and set the jumping phases to an oddly hallucinatory cocktail of hold music, elevator slow-jams, and the kind of soundtrack you’d expect in a Starbucks circa 2000. Or, as several commenters glibly put it, “it sounds like a funeral.” But the wildly inappropriate music really came into its own not when things were going right, but when things went spectacularly wrong – like when a horse decided to ‘nope’ straight out the side door of a technical combination while some heavily-anaesthetised Muzak puttered along over the top. Truly, the comedy value was unparalleled. Relive it for yourself here.

The whole experience got me thinking about the long and inexplicable history of wholly uninspiring music being used to soundtrack cross-country. That’s when I remembered this clip from the official Olympic YouTube channel, a wonderful channel that does rather seem to specialise in ‘inspiring’ (read: incorrect) music choices. It’s not quite Strzegom’s death march, but it is a fantastic opportunity to relieve Team USA’s glorious week at the ’84 LA Olympics. And honestly, I’ll take any excuse for an Olympic throwback.

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Jack Le Goff: The Need for ‘Eye Control’

By on Jul 22, 2020 4:33 pm -

In this excerpt from his book Horses Came First, Second, and Last, legendary coach Jack Le Goff talks about the importance of using your eyes properly on course.

Jack Le Goff and Image on their way to a team bronze medal at the Rome Olympics in 1960. Photo courtesy of Jack Le Goff.

Whether it is on the flat in a dressage ring, in a show-jumping ring, or on a cross-country course, the eyes are the first and most important tool that a rider has. Most of my life, I have heard instructors yelling, “Keep your eyes up.” Of course, that is true, but do their students know why they are being asked to do this? There is more to it than just saying the words. The eyes should anticipate the track you are following for jumping fences, just enough to make sure you are on the track you walked for riding your course. In dressage, your eyes should be only a few strides ahead as the speed is slow and you know the geometry of the figures in the dressage arena. If you turn your head too much to one side, you are likely to get your horse off the track that you are supposed to follow. One word of caution: your head weighs between 20 and 30 pounds. If you move your head over to one side or the other, you will totally alter the balance, the direction, and the straightness. So if you have a bad habit of tilting your head, then I say, “get rid of it!” The habit, that is.

I have said for years that horses will follow your eyes. Nothing is truer because your eyes dictate the desired position needed to make a turn to the rest of your body. Consequently, it has a significant influence on your weight and balance. I have repeatedly used the example of a racecar going downhill as fast as possible and asked students to think what would happen if the driver took his eyes off the road ahead.

There is also one other imperative factor that is related to the use of the eyes and that is the sense of balance. Without getting too involved in physics, let’s accept that the center of gravity is directly under our feet. When moving forward on a horse, the balance is obviously always moving forward directly under you at a 90-degree angle. So if you keep your eyes on that 90-degree angle relative to the ground (center of gravity), you are in the best place to detect if your horse is speeding up, slowing down, or changing his balance or direction. Please experiment. Look down first and see where the center of gravity is, then raise your eyes directly in front of you and look straight ahead so your line of sight is parallel to the ground. This line will always put you at a 90-degree angle from your center of gravity and down to the ground. I would be surprised if you could not feel a remarkable difference. It is like riding a bicycle or driving a car: you will be able to feel, as well as see, whether the horse is staying on a straight line and whether he increases his speed or slows down. I guarantee you will feel it.

Observing horses teaches you a lot of things. When a horse is jumping please concentrate on his eyes and you will be able to tell at which precise moment he sees the jump. You will then see him react to that jump: he will run to it, slow down, or avoid it. The sooner the horse sees the fence, the sooner he will react to it and the more time the rider has to adjust his riding to the horse’s reaction and make the necessary corrections for a successful jump. So get his eyes on the fence as soon as you can…. People have often heard me shout, “Get his eyes on the jump!” The best way to do this is to get him straight in his neck between the reins. 

This excerpt from Horses Came First, Second, and Last by Jack Le Goff is reprinted with permission from Trafalgar Square Books (www.HorseandRiderBooks.com). 

Virginia Horse Trials Hosts Nearly 400 Entries at Midweek Event

By on Jul 22, 2020 12:16 pm -

Novice competitors Alex Holliday and Gold Peak. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.

The Virginia Horse Trials (VHT) International got underway Tuesday at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Va. The organizing staff is pleased to welcome nearly 400 horse and rider combinations to this week’s competition.

This event was rescheduled from its original Memorial Day weekend date due to COVID-19.

“In rescheduling the event, we wanted to make sure competitors requiring qualifications would have the opportunity to obtain them,” said VHT Organizer Andy Bowles. “The Virginia Horse Center kindly worked us into their busy schedule, and we are grateful that so many competitors have chosen to come to VHT this week. I want to thank everyone for their support.”

VHT is hosting Starter through Advanced/Intermediate horse trials plus CCI1*-L, CCI2*-S, CCI2*-L, CCI3*-S, and Young Event Horse Series divisions. The schedule spans Tuesday through Friday, with national classes running as either a one-day or two-day competition.

On the first day of competition, the CCI2*-L and CCI1*-L competitors presented to the ground jury of Gretchen Butts (USA) and Helen Brettell (GBR) for the first horse inspection. Dressage for these divisions will begin on Wednesday.

The CCI3*-S wrapped up its competition today, with Boyd Martin and Luke 140, a 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by the Luke 140 Syndicate, winning on a score of 35.5. They led from start to finish beginning with a dressage score of 23.9, followed by a clear show jumping and cross country round with 11.6 time faults. Joe Meyer and Clip Clop finished 2nd in the division on 37.7; Benjamin Noonan and Keep Kitty were 3rd on 29.3.

Rebecca Brown and Dassett Choice won the Advanced Intermediate division on 29.4, followed by Dana Cooke and FE Mississippi in 2nd (39.4) and Boyd Martin and On Cue in 3rd (40.0). Open Intermediate A was won by Maxine Preston with Shannondale Magnum (47.7); Open Intermediate B was won by Jackie LeMastus and Lup The Loop (36.9).

Three Novice divisions and one Beginner Novice division completed a one-day format competition. Future stars of the sport also competed in the USEA Young Event Horse Series 4- and 5-year-old classes.

VHT is strictly adhering to all USEF, USEA, state, and local health and safety requirements for COVID-19, and we thank all participants for their cooperation.

CCI3*-S Top 10 Finishers:

Links: Website | Omnibus | General Schedule | Event Program | Ride Times | Results | Facebook

[Virginia Horse Trials Hosts Nearly 400 Entries at Midweek Event]

Checking in With the 2020 E25 Athletes, Part 4: Kaylawna Smith-Cook, Jenny Caras & Felicia Barr

By on Jul 22, 2020 11:17 am -

The 2020 USEF Eventing 25 Emerging Athletes Program is filled with talented and determined upcoming professionals. Just like the rest of us, these young adults have continued to persist throughout this year’s suspension of competitions. In part four of this series, we check in Kaylawna Smith-Cook, Jenny Caras and Felicia Barr to see how they spent their quarantine. 

Part 1: Alyssa Phillips, Megan Sykes, and Woodge Fulton

Part 2: Zoe Crawford and Madison Temkin

Part 3: Hallie Coon and Kalli Core

Kaylawna Smith-Cook and Passepartout. Photo by Kim Miller.

Kaylawna Smith-Cook is from Murrieta, California and had several top three-star finishes last season with Passepartout, including a win in the CCI3*-S at Woodside and a 4th in the CCI3*-L at Galway Downs. Her time at home has allowed her to focus on a newer ride, Mai Blume. 

“Initially I was very disappointed when our season was postponed. I had just run my second event of the year and everything was off to a great start. I can say now, I’m grateful for the time I’ve had to train and build a better relationship with each of my horses. I truly feel like I’ve used this time to really break down the training I have on each horse and focus on what my horses and I need to work on together. 

“I have a mare that I picked up the ride on early this year (MaiBlume). She’s a 9-year-old German Warmblood. At the beginning of the year I felt like I really needed some extra time for us to get to know eachother but was conflicted with the show season in full force. She’s a hotter horse and a mare! So of course bonding is essential. This extra time has been awesome for that!” 

Jenny Caras and Trendy Fernhill. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Jenny Caras

Jenny Caras is from Cartersville, Georgia. She has competed at the Land Rover Kentucky 3-Day Event and Badminton. She started off this season moving Trendy Fernhill up to Advanced at Pinetop. 

“Before all the events were put on hold due to Covid-19 my season started out just how I hoped it would. I had just moved Trendy Fernhill up to the Advanced level at the February Pine Top where he finished second, and had been named to the Futures Team Challenge list for Carolina International. I had my sights set on getting Joey to the Rebecca Farm CCI4*-L. When it was announced that our season was going to be put on hold, I have to admit that I was slightly lost. Thankfully my fiancé Waylon Roberts and I had just taken a horse shopping trip over to Ireland and England and were able to get three lovely new horses imported before the borders shut down. So with all of our competitions on hold, I turned my attention back to focusing on training the horses that we’ve had and developing a relationship with the new ones so that when the time came I’d be able to hit the ground running. 

“I treated the down time like I treat the normal off season. Just focusing on having the horses as happy and well as possible while trying to keep them progressing in their training. It is a lot of stress on the horses going to events and being away from home for periods of time and although it is easy for me to feel behind due to missing the spring season and having to postpone some of the competition goals for the horses, I have really enjoyed being able to focus on training my horses without the pressure of competing. It has also been great to be able to spend a little extra time with my family!” 

Fylicia Barr and Galloway Sunrise. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Fylicia Barr 

Fylicia Barr is from West Grove, Pennsylvania and had top finishes on Galloway Sunrise last season including a win in the Jersey Fresh CCI4*-L. Even though she was aiming for Kentucky this year, she still made the most of her time at home. 

“I won’t lie, at first it was hard to stay motivated but once the initial disappointment of all of the cancellations wore off I was able to shift my focus. During the competition season it is easy to feel like you’re constantly playing catch up and the time off allowed me to take a step back and focus on making my horses overall happier and stronger. My upper level horse who was aimed for Kentucky enjoyed a bit of time off. After her time off I spent a lot of time going back over the basics and polishing up our dressage work. 

“Unfortunately during the stay at home order I was forced to close my barn to everyone except staff. Most of my days were filled with training my young prospects and my students’ horses. Spending so much time watching the young horses learn and get better with each ride was really satisfying. We also found creative and fun ways to keep my riders involved from home. 

“The shutdown allowed me to spend extra time in the barn with each horse. I think it can become very easy to take things for granted and I feel very lucky to be where I am doing what I love. I am grateful to be surrounded by amazing horses and people. We all kept each other motivated and sane! We’re all looking forward to getting back out and competing safely in the future!” 

Go Eventing.

Wednesday News & Notes from Ecovet

By on Jul 22, 2020 12:01 am -

The team at BarnManager published a great profile on the two inspiring women behind Young Black Equestrians, a popular podcast that features voices of Black equestrians from all walks of life. I’ve really enjoyed this new listen in my library and encourage you to tune in here. The latest development for YBE creators Abriana Johnson and Caitlin Gooch is the Black Equestrian Network. This new venture is designed to provide a “horse industry ‘Green Book’ to empower, uplift and highlight Black Equestrians across the globe”.

You may recognize Caitlin Gooch as the creator of Saddle Up and Read, on which Horse Nation ran a feature recently. Abriana is the author of the Cowgirl Camryn book series, and together the two are dedicated to promoting community within the horse world. Be sure to follow along with BarnManager as they collaborate with Abriana and Caitlin in the coming months.

On This Day in EN History: Frankie Thieriot Stutes had a heck of a day on cross country in the headlining class of Rebecca Farm in 2018.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Virginia HT & CCI: [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

The Event at Rebecca Farm: [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Live Stream]

Horse Park of New Jersey HT: [Website] [Ride Times]

FENCE HT: [Website] [Entry Status]

Hunt Club Farns HT: [Website] [Entry Status]

Wednesday Reading List:

A second horse in Horry County, South Carolina was euthanized due to Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE). This case comes a month after another horse was euthanized.

We learn about the importance of riding with an elastic canter, but as is often the case this is not as easy as it sounds. Achieving a truly elastic canter is the result of proper training and balance. Luckily, there are many tools available to the rider willing to learn. The FEI released a new article with some helpful advice on creating elasticity in the canter, complete with several exercises designed to boost this skill.

As multiple sports around the world look to a safe return amidst the coronavirus pandemic, many are looking to equestrian sport and horse racing as a barometer of success. Point-to-point racing will be one such testing ground for dipping a toe back into the spectator pool, as this article in Horse & Hound explains.

Fun fact of the day: The FEI now has a Spotify playlist. I’m a big Spotify fan girl myself, so you can certainly catch me jamming out to “Muck Out Medleys” all week long.

Listen to this during chores today:

Ariat’s Kate Harrison sat down for a conversation with Randy Savy of the Compton Cowboys:

We are pleased to welcome Randy Savvy of the Compton Cowboys. Join us as we talk community, legacy, and sharing the tradition of horsemanship with future generations.

Posted by Ariat on Friday, July 17, 2020

Ecovet is an entirely different type of fly spray … and you apply it to your horse in a different way, too. With fly season upon us, we’re sharing some tips for how to best apply Ecovet:

Tuesday Video from Flexible Fit Equestrian USA: Jump Day Inspo from Phillip Dutton

By on Jul 21, 2020 4:30 pm -

Going into a little more detail about what we set up and why at the clinic in Kentucky yesterday…thanks again to Liz…

Posted by Phillip Dutton Eventing on Friday, July 17, 2020

Want to change the jumps in your area, but need some inspiration? You’ve come to the right place.

Phillip Dutton recently traveled to Lexington, Kentucky to host a clinic at Liz Halliday-Sharp’s gorgeous new facility, Blue Fox Farm. The clinic was a hybrid show jumping/cross country mash, and Phillip has outlined three exercises he used and why they can help horses of all levels.

Flexible Fit Equestrian: Redefining Comfort & Quality at an Affordable Price. Learn more at www.ffequestrian.com.au.