Classic Eventing Nation

Friday News & Notes from World Equestrian Brands

By on May 8, 2020 12:03 am -

Weekend pole inspiration! Photo by Kate Samuels.

I’ve been getting really into complicated pole and cavaletti exercises this spring, in an attempt to build strength on my horses, keep their brains engaged, and do flatwork without doing dressage. This one was particularly tricky. Come off the left, canter down over the center poles, turn left and transition into trot, turn left over the middle trot poles, turn right, pick up canter, canter down the center poles, turn right, transition to trot, and trot the center poles. Then start it all again! You’re welcome.

National Holiday: National Coconut Cream Pie Day

News From Around the Globe:

Lots of Badminton memories coming up this weekend, but can we really top the time that Mark Todd rode around cross country clear with ONE STIRRUP? The year was 1995, and a young 39-year-old Mark was bopping around on Bertie Blunt when a third of a way around, his left stirrup snapped off. Committed to continuing, he figured out a way to hitch his leg up on the pommel during galloping stretches and put it down before and over fences. Absolute legend, don’t miss the video. [Mark Todd, 1 Stirrup, Badminton XC]

Mary King’s newest homebred has had a terribly rough start to life. The last foal of winning CCI5* mare King’s Temptress, his dam was put down on April 18 suffering from peritonitis. Luckily he found a foster mare locally, however she died from a freak colic just this week on the 4th of May. Vinnie has now found a third mother to love him, and he seems to be quite a tough little lad, taking it all in stride. [Heartbreak Again for Mary King’s Foal]

Speaking of Mary King, can we throw it back to her first Badminton victory? The year was 1992, the horse was the stunning King William. Through an unbelievably wet and muddy cross country course, the pair triumphed that year to record her first victory at the level, beginning the storied career we know now. [Mary King Wins Badminton]

Helmet safety: let’s talk about it. While helmet awareness is at an all time high, studies still show that 88% of riders who suffer from concussions from a fall were wearing helmets at the time, which leads us to the question, how can we make helmets safer? COTH got a tour of the MIPS research facility in January to learn more about how they’re working on developing new technology for equestrian helmets, and it is fascinating. [Helping Brains, One Liner At A Time]

Best of Blogs: Building Confidence: Brandy & Fancy

Featured Video: Earlier this week 2019 winner Piggy March (neé French) penned this poetic ode to Badminton — here’s another bit of lyricism for you.

Hartpury Announces Cancellation of 2020 International Horse Trials and FEI Junior & Young Rider Championships

By on May 7, 2020 7:32 pm -

Sarah Bullimore and Conpierre at the 2019 iteration of the NAF International Hartpury Horse Trials. The CCI4*-S class is a popular prep run for Burghley, whose fate has not yet been decided. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Gloucestershire’s Hartpury Equine, the events sector of Hartpury University, has announced today (May 7) that its 2020 roster of international competitions will not go ahead due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The cancelled events span the disciplines and include the NAF International Hartpury Horse Trials, scheduled to take place from August 13-16 and spanning the levels from 2*–4*, and the FEI European Championships for Juniors and Young Riders, scheduled for July 27–August 2.

Phillip Cheetham, Equine Director at Hartpury, said in a statement: “While we are extremely disappointed not to be running any of these competitions in 2020, we feel this is a necessary decision to make in the current circumstances. The health of staff, volunteers, officials, competitors and visitors to Hartpury remains our top priority as well as reducing any unnecessary pressure on our local NHS services.”

“So much work has gone into the preparation for the FEI Championships, and we’ll continue to work hard with the FEI to find a way to run the competition bigger and better in the future years. We’d like to thank all our long-standing supporters and sponsors, NAF in particular, who have done so much to help prepare for our 2020 events and we look forward to working with them again in future. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for celebrations beside the International Arena when these challenging times are behind us.”

Hartpury has confirmed that it has broached the subject of staging further Championships at the venue, and has also assured ticket holders that they can expect a refund in the coming weeks. All on-site accommodation booked will also be refunded.

The NAF International Hartpury Horse Trials will return in 2021 with provisional dates of August 11–15.

[Event News Update]

Yasmin Ingham Tops Virtual Eventing Leaderboard on Day One

By on May 7, 2020 4:25 pm -

The first day of dressage in the NAF Virtual Eventing 5* was jam-packed with famous faces from around the world, with representatives of seven different nations heading down their respective centrelines as they competed from home, while comedic commentary duo Pammy Hutton and Spencer Sturmey led the day’s proceedings.

Doing a dressage test in a familiar setting, without the atmosphere of a full house, might seem like dream circumstances for eventing folk, but today’s competition was no walk in the park – we saw some moments of serious tension, an elimination (hey Spencer Sturmey, you silly boy – you’re not meant to take a call midway through your test!) and one surprising instance of mid-test horse swapping from Tom Crisp.

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Absolutely delighted Sandman produced a stunning test to take the top spot on a 26.3 on day 1 of dressage 😁 he is a pleasure to ride and I’m so lucky to ride him. ❤️ a big thank you to his owners Sue Davies and Janette Chinn. Lots more amazing combinations to come tomorrow for dressage day 2, make sure you’re watching! Followed by XC & SJ over the weekend! Another huge thank you to my amazing team for helping me with this, Sandman was looking stunning 😍, and to all of my incredible supporters both 🇬🇧 and 🇮🇲 – you rock!! 💥 THE BIGGEST well done to Virtual Eventing for doing such a brilliant job putting this together 👏🏼 Please keep the donations rolling in, our total overall is over £110,000 😮 – THANK YOU! Link in bio!

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At the end of the day, young gun Yasmin Ingham leads the way with the former Pippa Funnell ride Sandman 7 after scoring an impressive 26.3 from the socially-distant ground jury of Annabel Scrimgeour, Les Smith, and Jane Tolley. This allowed them to squeak ahead of dressage dynamos Gemma Tattersall and Quicklook V, who sit a whisper behind them in second place on 26.4 at the culmination of day one.

“I’m so happy to be the overnight leader at Virtual Eventing,” says Yas, who hails from the Isle of Man but is now based in Cheshire. This marks her first time performing this test with Sandman 7; she made her five-star debut in 2018 at Pau, but rode Nightline on that occasion. Her step up into senior competition is a promising one: she’s won every under-25 British title going, and is the current reigning British under-25 champion, having finished second to Ireland’s Cathal Daniels at Bramham last season.

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WE'VE GOT A NEW LEADER! 👑 As we arrive at our third and final break of the day, the talented young rider from the Isle of Man, @yasmin_ingham_ & Sandman 7 take lead after a stunning performance for a well-deserved mark of 26.3. Just 0.1 of a mark ahead of @gemma_tattersall Don’t forget that all our riders and our charities would love your support with their fundraising efforts for covid-19 charities around the world. 🌍 🙏 Please do help, no matter how big or small. Head over to our JustGiving Page below to donate 👇 🔗https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROSomeoneSpecialPage?pageId=1157025 . . . #donate #forcharity #nhs #doctors #nurses #getinvolved #virtualeventing #herewego #partygettingstarted #eventing #professionalriders #poweredbynaf #naf #naffivestar #fivestarcompetition #juniors #potd #gif #eventing #eventingunited #eventingnation #horses #horsesofinstagram #greatbritish #riders

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Though with Nightline she’s proven herself plenty capable of producing her own horses, Sandman isn’t the first horse she’s taken on that was previously ridden by a major name. She previously campaigned former Mary King rides Fernhill Urco and Imperial Cavalier, who helped her gain experience at the junior level. It would appear that riding both horses also made her impervious to this unique sort of pressure.

“I knew Sandman did a super test, even though it’s our debut at this level together – he’s so flashy, so he obviously caught the judges’ eye,” she says.

Italy’s Vittoria Panizzon and Chequers Play the Game sit third after an impressive, fluent test late in the day earned them a score of 26.9. 2014 Badminton winners Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh lead the way for the Antipodean contingent in fourth on a score of 28.6, while Holly Woodhead piloted her comeback king DHI Lupison to a 29.2 and overnight fifth.

Though the event is being held to benefit medical charities globally – and has currently raised over £110,000 – the seriously experienced ground jury wasn’t willing to give any charitable marks today. Only the denizens of the top five broke the thirty barrier, while many – including William Fox-Pitt and his 2010 Kentucky winner Cool Mountain, 9th on 34.1 – scored surprisingly low. But what did the riders have to say about their tests?

Judging an event like this must be something of a challenge. At an ordinary five-star – or, indeed, any international – we’d see our three judges sitting at set points around the arena (notably, an arena that exists in one place, rather than around the world as Virtual Eventing’s does!). But the ground jury, which scored the tests as they were live-streamed, could only see from the same angle that the audience could – an angle that could easily be affected by shaky filming, bright directional sunlight, or a swift change of camera. Those of you who are extra nerdy and want to see how they scored individual movements – and, indeed, if the discrepancies between them were diminished by dint of sharing a view – can look at the scores in full here.

Virtual Eventing will kick off again tomorrow at 11.05am BST/6.05am Eastern time. You’ll also be able to enjoy another day of access to the virtual trade village, which is jam-packed with great deals. In the meantime, here’s a look at the top of the leaderboard so far:

For all tomorrow’s ride times, and to rewatch today’s action, head to VirtualEventing.com.

Thursday Video: Michael Jung’s Horse of a Lifetime

By on May 7, 2020 2:57 pm -

I must be in a particularly sappy mood today, mourning the cancellation of Badminton but also enjoying all the entertainment that Virtual Eventing has to offer. At any rate, this video from the FEI all about Michael Jung’s definite horse of a lifetime, La Biosthetique-Sam FBW, has me dabbing my eyes a bit.

Take a look back at some of the greatest moments in Michael and Sam’s historic careers — then click here to relive their Badminton and Michael’s Grand Slam win at Badders in 2016.

The Economy May Be Down, But OTTB Adoption Is Up

By on May 7, 2020 11:00 am -

The global market has collapsed, the economy is in shambles and bad news is flooding the front page of your newspaper. What better time to buy a horse?

The New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program is scratching its chin at why, in the face of a pandemic that is wreaking havoc on the human race, OTTB adoptions have suddenly shot through the roof. The organization sent 60 retired Standardbred and Thoroughbred racehorses into new and loving homes last month, the largest number of April adoptions the program has ever accomplished since its inception in 1992. The program also received 225 applications from potential adopters, which is a 100 percent increase from months prior.

“I’m very proud of our entire team for pulling together to ensure our mission is moving forward during the lockdown,” said Thoroughbred Program Director Anna Ford. “This has been a very stressful time for all of us, as there are concerns that funding will decrease due to the long-term effects of COVID-19. However, seeing the uptick in adoptions has given us great hope and we continue to have faith that the funding needed to keep our doors open will come.”

The reason for the increase in adoptions is still being reviewed, but the program has seen a major increase in viewership on all their social media platforms as a result of many people staying home across the country. New Vocations noticed the trend early on and turned their attend to finding creative ways to showcase adoptable horses, like offering daily Facebook Live meet-and-greets with available horses. Adopting a horse sight unseen is not a new concept for the program, as nearly half of New Vocation’s adoptions are done this way.

With most racetracks closed entirely or open only for training, the program anticipates there will be a significant increase in horses needing their aftercare services soon. Currently, New Vocations is not at full capacity; the program only received 25 new retirees in April, which is a rare scenario. More horses are scheduled to arrive in May.

“The increase in adoptions puts us in a good position to take in more horses,” Anna says. “For the first time in years, we have open stalls, so we’re well prepared for our intake to increase. We are here to serve the racing industry and the true stars of the show, the horses. We plan to do as much as we can with the resources we have.”

For information on adopting a horse, donating a retired racehorse or supporting this important mission, visit newvocations.org.

About New Vocations: Founded in 1992, New Vocations has grown into the largest racehorse adoption program in the country. Its mission to rehabilitate, retrain and rehome retired Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorse has led to the placement of over 7,000 individuals, with 500 retirees entering the program each year. With facilities in Kentucky, Louisiana, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, New Vocations serves over 40 racetracks, working directly with owners and trainers in need of aftercare options.

Vote for the ‘Would Rather be at a Virtual Horse Show 5k/10k’ Spirit Award Winner!

By on May 7, 2020 10:00 am -
We loved cheering on runners in the Would Rather Be at a Horse Show Virtual 5k/10k, which took place last weekend via Baile Hill Farm in Sutton, MA. The concept: an all-inclusive virtual race that encouraged participants, of all speeds, to get out there and be active during this time of quarantine. There were categories for Fastest, Turtle awards, Dog Awards, and Spirit Awards, with prizes sponsored by New Balance, SmartPak, Purina, Buck Off Cancer and more.
We agreed to help select a winner for the Spirit Award, and today we’re putting it to a reader vote! The top four:

Sarah, Muffy, Andrea looking for horse

Sarah, Sparkle Unicorn, and Melissa in show clothes

Pam – Groom

Jo and Paisley Pacers

The inaugural “Would Rather Be at a Horse Show Virtual 5k/10k” was such a success that it’s now a series — the next dates are for a “Christmas/Holiday in July” themed race July 17-19 and a “Sports” themed race September 18-20.
Many thanks to Jess Halliday and her crew for helping to keep our community’s spirits up, and keeping us active, during these weird times.
Go Eventing (Someday!)

US Equestrian Releases COVID-19 Competition Toolkit

By on May 7, 2020 8:00 am -

US Equestrian has released its Licensed Competitions COVID-19 Toolkit that features the USEF Action Plan, outlining mandatory requirements and recommended best practices for competition organizers and participants as equestrian competitions prepare to resume on June 1, 2020, dependent on federal, state, and local regulations and restrictions.

Ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of participants and their horses is a paramount priority for US Equestrian. The COVID-19 Competition Action Plan includes key resources and guidelines to ensure competition organizers, exhibitors, and additional stakeholders are able to accurately assess and mitigate risk when at a competition venue.

The requirements and recommendations included in the COVID-19 Action Plan are effective immediately, and will remain in place until further notice; however, the document may be subject to modifications as guidance from the federal government and public health officials is adjusted or updated. In addition, once USEF receives notification of the FEI’s Guidelines, an amended document with updates to the current protocol will be issued.

In addition to the Action Plan, the Toolkit provides several resources and tools for use by both organizers and participants to assess the current situations in their respective states, mitigate virus transmission and spread, and assist in the management of risks associated with COVID-19.

US Equestrian will continue to monitor developments, while actively referencing and reviewing updates from the World Health Organization and Center for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as regularly consult with members and competition organizers as we navigate through our “new normal” together.

Click here to view the Licensed Competition COVID-19 Toolkit.

• For questions regarding Competitions, please contact Katlynn Sacco at [email protected]
• For questions regarding Compliance, please contact Debbie Saliling at [email protected]
• General comment or feedback regarding the USEF Action Plan or the Toolkit can be directed to [email protected].

Thursday News & Notes from Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS)

By on May 7, 2020 12:03 am -

Summer sights. Photo by Kelsey Briggs.

You know, it feels like summer in the way that I have a rocking farmer’s tan from Monday, but also I live in Virginia, which means that it’s going back down to 32 this weekend. Don’t put your heavyweight blankets away until at least June folks because you just never know!

National Holiday: National Roast Leg of Lamb Day

News from Around the Globe: 

The 2020 FEI NAYC for dressage and jumping has been canceled as well. It was announced a while ago that eventing has been canceled, but as the disciplines have been split over location, the dressage and showjumping was still slated to take place until yesterday. A heartbreaking decision for so many young riders, but without qualification competitions and with considerations for travel during this uncertain time, an understandable one. [NAYC Dressage and Jumping Canceled]

Today marks the beginning of the virtual competition Mega May Eventing. A host of contenders including Princess Anne on Doublet and Pippa Funnell on Primmore’s Pride will be among those taking on the challenge for charity. During the time when Badminton Horse Trials should have run, LeMieux is running its virtual “event” in aid of NHS Charities Together and British riding schools. [Mega May Eventing]

Bored on quarantine and out of baking ideas? Make some healthy banana treats for your horse! With just a few ingredients, our friends at Horse Nation have whipped up an excellent recipe that your ponies are sure to enjoy. [Banana Horse Treats]

Best of Blogs: How to Reopen Safely

Featured Video: 

 

 

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Piggy Turns to Poetry

By on May 6, 2020 5:50 pm -

Somehow it’s been one whole wild, whirlwind year since Piggy March (neé French) lifted the Badminton trophy — her first five-star victory, and the crown jewel of her utterly spectacular 2019 season. 

Pragmatic Piggy spent much of our interviews last season speculating on what could be to come for her in 2020 — after all, she’s no stranger to the ups and downs of the sport, and her worst ever year in 2012 came hot on the heels of her best to that point in 2011. She was, she told us, just riding the wave — but no one could have predicted that this season would see the whole sport confined to box rest.

When has moping ever fixed anything, though? Instead, Piggy’s looking back on that win and those high points, and today, she decided to commemorate her enormously special Badminton with a little bit of lyricism. Take it away, Pig.

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USEA Will Resume Recognition of Educational Activities After May 13

By on May 6, 2020 3:49 pm -

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group/STRIDER.

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) Board of Governors has voted to resume recognizing educational activities after May 13, 2020. All educational activities must follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as federal, state, and local guidelines.

Educational activities scheduled to be held after May 13 that will be eligible for USEA recognition include clinics, camps, and cross-country schooling. All other activities applying for USEA recognition will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis until further notice.

If the educational activity is able to be legally held, then the USEA strongly recommends the organizer follow the US Equestrian (USEF) guidelines for safely hosting an educational activity or event. The USEF has indicated that those guidelines will be released as a USEF Action Plan later this week, and in the interim, we recommend that organizers view the USEF Webinar: Planning for a Safe Return to Competition which is available here.

The USEA is continuing to mirror the USEF’s suspension for recognizing competitions – the current suspension period lasts until May 31, 2020. The USEA will announce as soon as possible if recognition of events can resume after May 31.

“With all of us staying at home for the last few months, we felt that educational activities are very important to knock some of the dust off in anticipation of the potential June 1, 2020 start-up to competitions,” explained USEA President Max Corcoran. “Attending an education activity is a really good way to ensure that horses and riders are fit enough and still have the skills to safely start competing again. The Board hopes that everyone takes great care in resuming competing and we look forward to seeing you all out there soon. Stay well, stay safe, and keep those hands washed!”

[USEA Board of Governors Votes to Resume Recognition of Educational Activities]