Classic Eventing Nation

Canadian Eventing Gets Back at It With Will O’ Wind H.T.

By on Jul 13, 2020 9:00 am -

To set a good example, even Will O’ Wind’s Canadian moose, beaver and Mountie were wearing masks! Photos by Sarah Roberts.

Equine Canada’s pause on competitions expired at the end of June, and Will O’Wind H.T. got the season back up and running over the July 4-5 weekend. Hosted by Ann and Geoff Morgan, the Ontario venue, which hosted cross country for the 2015 Pan American Games, ran Pre-Entry through FEI CCI3*-S divisions and was well attended by eventers who were happy to be back in the game.

We hear that the event ran safely under the protocols laid out by Equine Canada and local Public Health requirements, with terrific cooperation from all riders, grooms, coaches, volunteers and officials. From the event:

“Thanks everyone for helping us make the first event of the 2020 season a success. We had to limit the number of competitors and support staff in order to minimize the number of people in the warm-up rings, walking courses etc. Everyone co-operated, and we did not hear a single complaint about the rules or restrictions. Directors of the OEA were invited to be on site to remind all members about new rules and to support the organising committee. Thanks for the help.

“Despite having to follow Public Health and EC rules and guidelines, most competitors accepted the lack of prizes and ribbons gracefully. Hopefully we will soon be back to normal, with full blown award ceremonies and pageantry.”

Thanks, Ann and Geoff Morgan, for your dedication to the sport. And to Sarah Roberts for keeping EN in the loop!

The CCI3*-S was won by Colleen Loach with her 2016 Rio Olympic Games and 2018 Tryon WEG partner Qorry Blue D’Argouges, a 16-year-old Selle Français (Mr Blue x Hardie du Bourg, by Count Ivor) owned by Peter Barry. They were second after dressage and posted a clear show jumping and the second fastest cross country time in the division to win on a final score of 34.9. Colleen was also second with FE Golden Eye (36.2) and 4th with Vermont (38.4). Holly Jacks-Smither and Candy King took the third place spot (38.3).

CCI2*-S winner Jess Phoenix had a very busy weekend. She had seven horses in the CCI2*-S and claimed six of the top eight spots in the division. Freedom GS, an 8-year-old Canadian-bred mare owned by Charlotte Schickedanz, was 3rd after dressage, moved to 2nd after show jumping and then up one more spot into the lead after cross country to finish on a score of 26.8. She was 2nd with Mighty Mouse, 4th with Virginia GS, 5th with Isla GS, 6th with Eric GS, and 8th with Tugce, and 16th with Shaitani. In the CCI3*-S, Jess also had Bentley’s Best (5th), Humble GS (7th), Watson GS (8th), Pavarotti (9th), Bogue Sound (10th) and Wabbit (11th). That’s 13 horses across two FEI divisions and nary a cross country jump penalty among them — very impressive!

View complete final results here.

Photographer Teresa Mae Finnerty was out in the field capturing all the action, all available here.

Lots of great photos available both candid and action shots, from https://www.facebook.com/teresamaefinnertyfoto 

The last of the candids and volunteers that happened to be within camera distance….

Posted by Teresa Mae Finnerty Photography on Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Two more Canadian events, Grandview Horse Trials and Glenarden Horse Trials, have stepped up to run events this month. Best of luck to all!

Go Eventing.

Monday News & Notes from Fleeceworks

By on Jul 13, 2020 5:02 am -

Eventing’s back and I’m getting soppy again. But first: a long-awaited #eventingfail.

“It’s just made us all realise what we’ve got, hasn’t it?”

Thus spake Long Tall William F-P, grinning like a kid at Christmas in the lorry park at Tweseldown Horse Trials in gloriously sunny Hampshire yesterday — and it was a sentiment widely shared. Lockdown — and the ongoing pandemic — has been an odd time; coronavirus patients aside, there are those who have struggled to adapt to the new circumstances, who have found the experience extraordinarily painful, and there are those who have rather welcomed the weirdness, enjoying the breather from a normalcy that didn’t, perhaps, quite fit their needs. And then there are those somewhere in between on the spectrum; the people who have missed some parts of their life with a kind of constant dull ache, while simultaneously feeling quietly happy in many other ways. But one thing really is for sure — we’ve all missed eventing, in whichever form we welcome it in into our lives.

“I’ve not been this excited about Tweseldown since — I don’t know when!” laughed William over the buzz of the burger van’s generators, the shrill shouts of boxed-up horses yelling their hellos across the lorry park, and the socially-distanced catch-ups taking place hither and thither. No, I thought, neither have I — but I hope I don’t slip back into ‘normalcy’ so quickly that I forget what a special joy it is to be back out and about.

National Holiday: It’s National French Fry Day. I celebrated prematurely at the burger van out eventing over the weekend, and I’m not sorry.🍟

Your Monday Reading List:

The last few weeks have been chock full of big conversations, intense debates, a tonne of learning opportunities, and, gloriously, the sowing of seeds of change. This piece from Horse&Hound details some of the people leading the charge for a more diverse equestrian industry in the UK. [‘Change is coming’ to improve diversity in equestrianism]

Honestly, nothing has ever made me want a mule more than this INCREDIBLE throwback. Oscar the mini-mule was a stalwart of the hunter leadline ring (and apparently a dedicated killer of Jolly Balls) back in his glory days, and I promise you, you need to start your week with these photos. [Throwback Thursday: Oscar Brought Big Ears to Leadline]

Have you taken on any unusual challenges over lockdown? Amelia Harvey certainly did, in an attempt to rebuild her relationship with her cheeky gelding Jack, with whom she was rather at odds after a tricky autumn. After discovering that the horse needed a new saddle — which was on backorder — Amelia began riding and jumping him bareback with impressive results. Apparently he once bucked her off ten times in one ride so honestly, this gal’s got cojones. [Rider bucked off 10 times in a row uses lockdown lack of saddle to master bareback jumping]

Hoof wounds are one of those things that kind of give me the fear. Mainly because I’ve never quite gotten over the unavoidable queasiness of seeing the abscess hobble in those heady moments before you realise why the horse is three-legged lame. Ugh. This quick read was a good brush-up for me over the weekend – it’s been a while since I’ve dealt with a hoof injury of any sort, and I hope that continues, but it never hurts to brush up. [Managing Horse Hoof Wounds]

Tim Price’s absolutely delightful Wesko is the FEI’s Horse of the Month. If you can look at that big white face and those dairy cow eyelashes and not fall hopelessly in love with the KWPN dreamboat, I’m afraid I simply don’t understand you at all. [FEI Horse of the Month: Wesko]

CHIO Aachen — aka horsey Shangri-La — couldn’t go ahead this year due to COVID-19, but it’s coming to you in digital form. Partnering with the stats chaps at EquiRatings and technological whizz-kids SAP, my favourite event in the world is also giving you the chance to get involved, with a champions tournament in the Eventing Manager app. Styled after Fantasy Football, Eventing Manager allows you to campaign a team of superstars, going head-to-head with the simulation to try to come out on top. It’s GREAT fun and time-suckingly addictive — and the market’s open now. [CHIO Aachen Goes Digital to Crown Eventing Champion of Champions!]

Natalie Sharp started 2020 full of hopes and dreams for her first Olympic Games as a groom. Then COVID-19 happened. In this blog for the British Grooms’ Association, Natalie — who works for Japan’s Toshiyuki Tanaka and Ryuzo Kitajima — explains the ups and downs of life in a pandemic when a lifelong goal is suddenly put on ice. [If I Said I’ve Found Lockdown Easy I’d Be Lying]

What I’m Listening To:

My weekend was dominated by the New York Times Magazine’s 1619, an extraordinarily well-researched and inventive podcast that details the history of slavery in America and links it with the present day, creating a remarkable — and utterly unpausable — patchwork quilt of a narrative. I listened to episode one as I mucked out, episode two as I rode, episode three as I plaited my horse, and episode four as I trawled through the supermarket’s chocolate aisle at 9pm to stock up on lorry snacks, and I suspect I’ll polish the rest off during my 4.5 hour drive to Nicola Wilson’s yard tomorrow. How anything I tune into after will top its skillful execution is utterly beyond me.

Where I’ve Donated:

I’ve been loving putting together a first order for books for the incredible Saddle Up and Read, using the profits from the Racism Ain’t Cowboy t-shirt and sweatshirt line I’ve been posting out from my little cottage. As the kind of pony-mad kiddo who lived with her nose in a book, it’s been a fun way to remember some of the horse stories I ate up like chocolate, and I love the work that SUAR does to bring this magic to a new generation.

That’s why I was even more excited to see this great event in the pipeline by the fab Milton Menasco and Dapple Bay Co. A virtual read-a-long with PONIES? Sign. Me. UP.

Monday Video from Fleeceworks:

I’m not going to lie to you, lads. I kind of want to get my horse a weave.

Horse Wigs

She makes wigs for horses.

Posted by 60 Second Docs Animal Style on Friday, 15 November 2019

Tilly Berendt’s ‘Racism Ain’t Cowboy’ Shirts to Benefit Equestrian Access Programs

By on Jul 12, 2020 1:45 pm -

Photo courtesy of Tilly Berendt Media.

Since protests erupted around the world in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd, EN’s British correspondent Tilly Berendt has had her foot on the petrol, committed to making a difference both within our sport and beyond. Her activism isn’t limited to the words she writes but is also evident in her actions, the latest of which is her launch of a limited range of t-shirts and sweatshirts. 100% of the profits from their sale goes to equestrian access programs such as Ebony Horse Club (London), The Urban Equestrian Academy (Leicester), Compton Cowboy Jr. Posse (California) and more. Also, each sale buys a book for Saddle Up and Read, a North Carolina-based literacy program that gets kids in the library and in the saddle.

The idea for the shirts has its roots in Tilly’s June 15 edition of Monday News & Notes. The post featured photos from a horseback-led Black Lives Matter demonstration in Compton, California, as published in the New York Times. Hanging from one horse trailer, penned in marker on a piece of cardboard, was the message “Racism Ain’t Cowboy.”

View this post on Instagram

Tapping into a long tradition, black cowboys are taking to the streets. This past Sunday in Compton, Calif., a group of black men and women known as the Compton Cowboys led a peaceful protest through the streets with Mayor Aja Brown. As hundreds of people marched alongside, the cowboys rode with their fists raised in the air, yelling, “No justice, no peace,” as the music of Kendrick Lamar, also from Compton, blared in the background. Around the country, hundreds of other black cowboys and cowgirls have joined in the protests over the death of George Floyd and against police violence and racism. Their presence is a reclaiming of sorts of the traditional role of mounted riders in demonstrations. Historically, horses have been used by military units and law enforcement as a way to show authority — their visibility and height seen as a symbol of power. The @comptoncowboys grew out of a group of 10 friends who came of age in the 1980s and 1990s — one of the city’s most violent and chaotic eras. They learned about horses on Richland Farms, an agricultural community in the heart of Compton. Many of them have talked about what it means to be a black cowboy in one of the world’s most stigmatized communities, and how horses provide salvation from past trauma and safety from police violence. Randy Hook, in the 2nd photo, saddled his horse that day for a larger cause, he said: “I could cry, and I never imagined anything like this. We’re making our family proud, our ‘hood proud, and our city proud.” Keiara Wade, the only woman in the Compton Cowboys, in the 6th photo, expressed similar emotions. “These horses feel whatever we feel, and they are hurting right now because we are hurting right now, too,” Ms. Wade said. “There is so much love and unity within the black cowboy and cowgirl community. We’re just trying to bring that energy to these marches in a peaceful way.” Tap the link in our bio to read more from @mychivas. Photos by @kaylareefer.

A post shared by The New York Times (@nytimes) on

Tilly dug into the history of Black cowboys in the American west.

“Think about cowboys – what comes to mind? It’s John Wayne hunting down injuns (problematic), it’s Budweiser at the rodeo, it’s Toby Keith putting a boot in yer ass, ‘coz it’s the American way, right? ​

“But here’s the thing: the idea we’ve all got of American cowboy culture is all wrong. In fact, the wild, wild west was pretty damn, well, black.

“Before the abolition of slavery, many slaves in the southern and western states were taught typical ranching skills – they learned to ride, to rope, to patrol fence lines and tend cattle. The only difference between what they did and what their white compatriots did? The white ones got paid. But then the Civil War happened, and white Confederate ranchers were conscripted into the war efforts en masse, heading into battle to fight for their “right” to keep slaves. Spoiler alert: they lost. Even bigger spoiler: while they were away, their cattle – you know, the thing that earned them the big bucks – had sacked them off with much the same enthusiasm as their newly-freed ex-slaves. The ranchers were, in a word, screwed – their staff numbers were way down, their retirement fund was mooing off into the sunset, and the white lads they’d normally hire had all gotten themselves killed in service of the world’s worst cause. There was only one option left.

“So that’s how tending America’s ranches and leaning hard into cowboy life became one of the earliest ways for a free Black man to earn a living after the Civil War – in fact, around 25% of cowboys were Black, though the extraordinary whitewashing that Hollywood gleefully undertook has told you a very different story. As it happens, Django wasn’t quite as much of a fairytale as you might have thought.

“These days, the Black cowboy is one of the most enduring symbols of the ongoing human rights movement, thanks in large part to organisations such as the Compton Cowboys, and individuals such as Brianna Noble, who rode her horse Dapper Dan into urban Oakland to take a peaceful stand against police brutality and systemic racism. All over the country – and beyond! – mounted protesters have raised their fists and demanded better from the world. Once again, the horse has become a conduit for freedom.” Read more here.

Photo courtesy of Tilly Berendt Media.

Equestrian sport is one of the final frontiers to tackle in the push for diversity, representation and inclusion, and the onus is on us all to do our part. Your purchase of one of these limited edition slogan tops can help encourage the next generation of BIPOC cowboys and cowgirls — you can do so at the “Racism Ain’t Cowboy” website here.

Photo courtesy of Tilly Berendt Media.

 

 

Masks Are Heck in Hot Weather, But Look at You Guys Out There Doing Your Part Anyway

By on Jul 12, 2020 9:00 am -

It’s miserable enough out there in the sauna that is a mid-July horse trials, even without a face mask that makes it seem tenfold hotter. The Sunday forecast is showing highs of 84 for Genesee Valley Hunt H.T. (Geneseo, NY); a high of 90 for Maryland H.T. II at Loch Moy Farm; a high of 94 for the War Horse Event Series H.T. (Raeford, NC); and a high of 96 at Poplar Place in Hamilton, Georgia. 84 (Geneseo, NY). Champagne Run H.T. (Lexington, KY) endured a temp of near 90 on Saturday but looks to be getting a merciful reprieve today (well, if you call scattered thunderstorms and 80 degrees a reprieve?)

Summer temps + horse trials + face mask = I’m sweating just scrolling through your Instagram pics. I know it’s incredibly uncomfortable, but thank you for doing your part dutifully and without complaint, for the health of yourself and others, and for our sport.

A few of your mask pics from the weekend:

View this post on Instagram

Saddlebreds proving they can JUMP!

A post shared by Columbia Equestrian Center (@columbiaequestriancenter) on

View this post on Instagram

We did it! One phase left.

A post shared by Ramblin Jo (@ramblin_jo) on

That’s #eventerstrong to the core. Go Eventing!

Sunday Links from One K Helmets

By on Jul 12, 2020 12:01 am -

It was great to be back showing in Europe for the first time in 2020 at CSI Opglabbeek in Belgium and it also marked my…

Posted by Eric Lamaze on Wednesday, July 8, 2020

If Eric Lamaze can wear a mask to jump around a CSI2* show jumping course… then you can wear one to the grocery store.

Take care of those around you. Wear a mask (over your nose too…). Spread some joy to your friends. Go eventing.

National Holiday: National Pecan Pie Day

U.S. Weekend Action:

Champagne Run at the Park H.T. [Website][Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Maryland HT II at Loch Moy Farm: [Website][Entry Status][Ride Times][Live Scores]

Poplar Place HT: [Website][Entry Status][Ride Times][Live Scores]

Genesee Valley Hunt HT: [Website][Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

War Horse Event Series HT: [Website][Entry Status][Ride Times][Live Scores]

Sunday Links: 

Volunteering at the 2020 AEC

The Essentials of First Aid

9 Things I’ve Learned During My Years Selling Horses

Dear Shutterfly, You Are The Horse of a Lifetime

From The Magazine: Drumming Up Good Vibes

Pandemic the biggest challenge ever confronted by horse sport – FEI president

Sunday Video: Cross training at its best! Sara Kozumplik Murphy’s husband Brain traded the colored poles for some cross country fun.

Brian says he thinks he made time? We love to cross train our jumpers but it’s usually me doing the logs since Murph…

Posted by Sara Kozumplik Murphy on Friday, July 10, 2020

#EventerProblems Vol. 234, Presented by Haygain: Horses, the Most Honest Teachers

By on Jul 11, 2020 3:00 pm -

Horses just love to call us on our bull crap. Just yesterday, while riding with a friend, I said, “I’m going to pop over a few fences without stirrups for practice.” She warned me against it, reminding me that my horse loves to buck. It was noon, and in the high 80s in Georgia, so I said “He’s way too hot and lazy to buck!!”

I’m sure you can guess how this played out. Cross rail … then BUCK! My horse was just really trying to make sure I took full advantage of my no stirrup work. Horses really are the best teachers.

Anyway, enjoy our latest batch of #EventerProblems, on the house.

View this post on Instagram

🏇🤕 Im Falle eines Falles … 🧐🤕 Im neuen @racebetsgermany Blogbeitrag habe ich mir einige Unfallstatistiken aus dem #Reitsport angeschaut – was sind die häufigsten und gefährlichsten Verletzungen? – und danach auf die Suche nach der perfekten #Schutzausrüstung gemacht. Mit manch einer Überraschung: 🤔🤭 Habt ihr zum Beispiel gewusst, dass die EU Norm EN 1384 für Reithelme bereits vor 6 Jahren abgeschafft wurde? Und dass, mangels einer neuen, trotzdem noch mit dieser Norm gearbeitet wird? Oder dass @stiftungwarentest eine stolze Fallhöhe von 1,5 Metern simuliert hat? Das mag Shetty-Reiter beruhigen, doch wer nicht gerade auf dem Weg zur Aufsteigehilfe stolpert, fällt tendenziell etwas höher … https://blog.racebets.de/risikosport-reiten-unfallpraevention-schutzkleidung #EinRennpferdegehtinRente #VonderRennbahnindenBusch #Unfall #sturz #Unfallprävention #Verletzung #Krankenhaus #Schutzkleidung #Reithelm #Schutzweste #Airbag #Steigbügel #eventersdoitbetter #eventerproblems #safetyfirst #sicherheit

A post shared by Ein Rennpferd geht in Rente (@ein_rennpferd_geht_in_rente) on

View this post on Instagram

🏇🤕 Im Falle eines Falles … 🧐🤕 Im neuen @racebetsgermany Blogbeitrag habe ich mir einige Unfallstatistiken aus dem #Reitsport angeschaut – was sind die häufigsten und gefährlichsten Verletzungen? – und danach auf die Suche nach der perfekten #Schutzausrüstung gemacht. Mit manch einer Überraschung: 🤔🤭 Habt ihr zum Beispiel gewusst, dass die EU Norm EN 1384 für Reithelme bereits vor 6 Jahren abgeschafft wurde? Und dass, mangels einer neuen, trotzdem noch mit dieser Norm gearbeitet wird? Oder dass @stiftungwarentest eine stolze Fallhöhe von 1,5 Metern simuliert hat? Das mag Shetty-Reiter beruhigen, doch wer nicht gerade auf dem Weg zur Aufsteigehilfe stolpert, fällt tendenziell etwas höher … https://blog.racebets.de/risikosport-reiten-unfallpraevention-schutzkleidung #EinRennpferdegehtinRente #VonderRennbahnindenBusch #Unfall #sturz #Unfallprävention #Verletzung #Krankenhaus #Schutzkleidung #Reithelm #Schutzweste #Airbag #Steigbügel #eventersdoitbetter #eventerproblems #safetyfirst #sicherheit

A post shared by Ein Rennpferd geht in Rente (@ein_rennpferd_geht_in_rente) on

Haygain is a science driven company with the horse’s health as the primary focus.

We are committed to improving equine health through scientific research, product innovation and consumer education in respiratory and digestive health. Developed by riders, for riders, we understand the importance of clean forage and a healthy stable environment in maintaining the overall well-being of the horse.

Our Haygain hay steamers are recommended by the world’s leading riders, trainers and equine vets and ComfortStall® Sealed Orthopedic Flooring System is used and recommended by leading Veterinary Hospitals, including Cornell University.

Weekly OTTB Wishlist from Cosequin: Still Waiting

By on Jul 11, 2020 1:00 pm -

My sister has been trying to adopt a dog for a past few months, subsequent to the passing of our elderly family dog earlier this year. It turns out, though, that everyone and their brother is also trying to adopt a dog this summer too, probably because it’s a great time to get to know a new fuzzy family member during their pandemic stuck-at-home-ness.

I’ve been wondering if the same is true for OTTBs. It’s gotten harder and harder to find new horses to feature through the various rehoming organizations we scout, because it seems they’ve all gotten scooped up! In that vein, here are three perfectly lovely horses that we’ve featured in past editions of OTTB Wishlist and yet are still waiting to find their new homes. Come on, you know you want them!

Paddock Prince. Photo via Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center.

Paddock Prince (CAIRO PRINCE – EL FASTO, BY EL PRADO (IRE)): 2017 16.1-hand Kentucky-bred gelding

Here’s a lovely-looking unraced youngster for you all! He certainly lives up to his name and a real princely-looking prospect. Though Paddock Prince did not race, he did live on the track and have published workouts (so he is 2021 Thoroughbred Makeover eligible!) he was gelded upon arrival at MMSC so and he’ll need an experienced adopter at this time for that reason. He’ll also need a couple more months of pasture turnout to help him recover from a tendon lesion, to allow him to make a full recover before he begins work again, but the sky’s the limit for this guy once he’s been given the opportunity rest and recover!

Located in Lexington, Kentucky.

View Paddock Prince on Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center.

Can Do Man. Photo via Second Strides.

Can Do Man (CAN THE MAN – QUALITY MISS, BY GRAND SLAM): 2017 15.3-hand Kentucky-bred gelding

Can Do Man can do anything when he grows up! This young one is still growing into himself and packing on some pounds, but I can picture a sleek-looking sporthorse under that baby chestnut fuzz, can’t you? He already shows off a big tracking-up trot and good use of his hind-end when working in a round pen. Can Do Man never made a career start on the track and actually hasn’t done any racing, so he’s a clean slate for anyone looking to scoop up a nice young horse to bring along.

Located in Prospect, Kentucky.

View Can Do Man on Second Stride.

Heading to Boca. Photo via Friends of Ferdinand.

Heading to Boca (MAJESTIC WARRIOR – CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC, BY GOOD AND TOUGH): 2011 16.3-hand Indiana-bred gelding

This handsome tall hunk of a gelding needs someone to give him a job! Boca is an athletically gifted guy who enjoys working, but he can be hard on himself if she doesn’t answer the question right the first time. He’ll therefore flourish best with a rider who can be a confident, tactful and encouraging. On the ground, he’ll try to get away with some naughty behavior if you let him, but if you present yourself as the leader and gain his trust then he’ll be a perfect gentleman. The Friends of Ferdinand staff say this horse is real trier and will excel in whatever he’s asked if you can show him patience and dedication.

Located near McCordsville/ Fortville, Indiana.

View Heading to Boca on Friends of Ferdinand.

Jumper Nation Clinic: Warm Up with Doug Payne & DP Equestrian

By on Jul 11, 2020 11:00 am -

Now that horse shows have begun running again, Jumper Nation Clinic continues — this time with exercises and tips to try in the warm up ring at shows. Jumper Nation has teamed up with top, respected riders who we love for both their horsemanship and their creativity with exercises they use at home and at shows. Each week, we’ll be bringing you new tips and exercises to try in the warm up. You’ll be primed and ready to have a great round!

This week’s featured tips are courtesy of Doug Payne and DP Equestrian.

Doug Payne and Starr Witness (USA) at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

The overarching theme of your warm up is to finish it with a super confident, sharp horse ready to go into the ring.

Individualize the warm up for each horse.  I do like to individualize the warm up for each horse to work on their weakness and support their strengths. Our basic starting point is starting with a small square oxer, gradually building it to full height and width and finishing with a vertical. For the last two jumps, I will do a large sweeping turn to the vertical followed by a tight roll back from the opposite direction.

Replicate course questions that may cause trouble.  If there is a particular angle or question presented in the first round or jump off that might cause some trouble, I will try to replicate that in the warm up.  To generalize, say a horse is weak with rollback turns off the left lead, and it just so happens that fence 5 in the jump off has a tight rollback off the left lead.  Be sure to practice that in the warm up.

For horses that are slow up front, I would be quick to use a ground line and change the filler, such as by draping a cooler or towel over the top rail of the fence to catch it off guard.  In general, I try to stay away from ground lines in the warm up ring, as they aren’t in the show ring.  If a horse makes one mistake, that’s fine.  However, if it makes a mistake two or three times and keeps hitting itself up front, then it would be time to explain the situation to the horse.  I would start with the ground line close, and then pull it out further if it’s not being as effective as I would like.

For horses that are weak behind, I may end up with starting with a small, square oxer over moving up to quite a large, ramped shape going quite wide early.  This will encourage them to use their body best following through behind.

For horses that are not quite as careful, and additionally for horses that are lazy, I may do much fewer warm up jumps and head right to the ring.  For example, I have a Grand Prix horse who does maybe three warm up jumps and then heads right to the in-gate: I start with something around 3’6″, then go right to a full height oxer, and then then do one more fence to finish.

For spooky or ultra careful horses, I will progress slowly with height.  I might raise the fence only a couple of holes at a time.  This does inevitably mean that the horse will end up jumping more fences in the warm up.

For horses that are bold or sometimes careless, I’ll get to full height very quickly.  I will raise the fence 4-5 holes at a time, rather than just a couple like for spooky horses.  Also on occasion, I’ll start with a trot vertical up to full height with a 9′ rail.  Once at full height, then move to an oxer.

About Doug Payne

Doug Payne is a 5* event and Team USA PanAm gold medalist. He also competes in Grand Prix show jumping and has won numerous Grand Prix classes most recently at HITS Ocala. Doug additionally is an FEI dressage and USDF silver rider. He is a USEF judge, author of The Riding Horse Repair Manual, and clinician. He is also a mechanical engineer and a pilot. DP Equestrian is based in North Carolina in the summer and South Carolina in the winter. To learn more about Doug Payne and DP Equestrian, click here and be sure to “like” and follow Doug on Facebook and Instagram.

Missed previous weeks’ warm ups?  Check them out here:

Missed grids and exercises from our first Jumper Nation Clinic series with top tips for practicing at home?  Check out them out here:

Go Jumping!

Photo of Doug Payne with students via DP Equestrian Instagram. Text edited for clarity.

 

Saturday Links from Nupafeed USA

By on Jul 11, 2020 12:01 am -

2019 Eventing Thoroughbred Makeover Champions Rosie Napravnik and Sanimo. Photo by CanterClix.

It’s a big bummer for a lot of folks that the Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover competition will not happen this year, but it certainly seems like the right call especially after reading the organization’s statement and RRP executive director Jen Roytz’s thoughts. I took the time to read the whole thing and can tell that the decision was not made lightly at all and that the competitors thoughts were taken into account as well, with many reporting via surveys that they did not feel they were able to adequately prepare their Makeover horses with so many shows cancelled up to this point.

The 2021 Makeover sounds extra exciting, however, since it will feature classes specifically for this year’s would-have-been competitors so it will be neat to see different levels of training side by side. We’re also looking forward to Makeover Marketplace still being held in October, albeit in a virtual format, because who doesn’t like a little OTTB eye candy?

National Holiday: National Mojito Day (yes, please!)

U.S. Weekend Action:

Champagne Run at the Park H.T. [Website][Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]
Maryland HT II at Loch Moy Farm: [Website][Entry Status][Ride Times][Live Scores]
Poplar Place HT: [Website][Entry Status][Ride Times][Live Scores]
Genesee Valley Hunt HT: [Website][Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]
War Horse Event Series HT: [Website][Entry Status][Ride Times][Live Scores]

Saturday Links:

Amateur Showcase: Hutcheson On Life With Scoliosis And Her Best Quarantine Purchase

H&H eventing editor’s blog: ‘Did I sleep for four months?’ – dispatches from the first day of BE post-lockdown

Practical Horseman Extra: Sit the Trot or Not

The Essentials of First Aid

Watch Barbury Horse Trials on Horse & Country TV

Application Deadline for $5,000 Diversity Scholarship Extended by One Week to July 17

Saturday Video: We knew Doug Payne was a boss in the jumpers, in addition to being a 5-star event rider, but now he taking to the hunter ring as well! Watch this smooth as silk ride aboard Quiberon. Color us impressed.

Friday Video from SmartPak: When Eventing Legends Judge the Lower Levels

By on Jul 10, 2020 5:41 pm -

The last 18 months or so has seen the equestrian vlogging scene take on a life of its own, and quite remarkably, this hasn’t slowed down in the face of a global pandemic. Instead, creative video-making types are finding new ways to stay motivated and keep churning out content for their viewers.

Enter Virtually Eventing, a series put together by British eventing vloggers Tina, Lucy, Meg and Emily. All four compete at the lower levels, though from bases scattered around the country, and they have one other thing in common: they love a jolly good giggle.

Their latest video sees them take on a BE100 level dressage test (that’s Training level, yankee doodles) for submission to an online competition. But there’s a twist — not only are they competing against other entrants in the virtual show, they’ve also recruited some very, very big names to analyse their rides. It’s not just good entertainment, it’s a surprisingly educational way to glean some great pointers for your next dressage test. As someone who has to ride the very same one this weekend, I’m watching very closely indeed.

Go Eventing — whether it’s on YouTube or in person!