Classic Eventing Nation

The Race to Le Lion: That’s Me Z Set to Receive 2024 Holekamp/Turner Grant

By on Sep 27, 2024 9:30 am -

Tommy Greengard and That’s Me Z. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is pleased to announce that That’s Me Z, owned by Tommy Greengard and Andrea M. Pfeiffer, is the likely recipient of the 2024 Holekamp/Turner Grant and The Dutta Corp. prize. That’s Me Z (Take A Chance On Me Z x Venetia) is a 7-year-old Zangersheide gelding ridden by Greengard and was bred by Simons Roeland. The pair aims to represent the U.S. at the 2024 FEI Eventing World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in the 7-year-old CCIYH3*-L championship. The championship will take place at La Mondial du Lion in Le Lion d’Angers, France, from Oct. 17-20.

The intention of the Holekamp/Turner Grant is to further develop an upward pathway for U.S. team horses in the sport of eventing. The grant recipients who are North American-bred are awarded the full cash grant of $17,500. If the winner is an imported horse, he/she will be awarded $8,000. Since That’s Me Z was imported, his team will be awarded $8,000 USD. The team will also receive The Dutta Corp. prize which is one round-trip flight to Europe. The grant will be officially awarded after That’s Me Z passes the first horse inspection at the championship in France.

“Andrea and I fell in love with ‘Z’ after seeing a Facebook photo Matt Flynn posted over two years ago,” said Greengard. “Since then, we’ve shared a fantastic journey together, owning several horses. We playfully set our sights on Lion when Z was the highest-placed young horse from both coasts, and he has continued to exceed our expectations. Andrea has been an incredibly supportive coach and owner, encouraging us to go early for much-needed European experience before aiming for the CCI3*-L at Lion. We would not be here without her.”

Z has had the opportunity to compete at some bigger-atmosphere competitions leading up to where he is today including the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds (Lexington, Kentucky), as well as the Eventing Championships at Galway Downs (Temecula, California), and the Wellington International (England). In an attempt to best help prepare Z for the experience at Le Lion, the pair packed up at the end of July and made their way overseas where they are currently based with New Zealand Olympian Jonelle Price. They recently competed in the CCI3*-S at Cornbury House (England).

“He has grown a lot from his experiences here in England,” noted Greengard. “As he matures, Z has become quite comfortable in the larger venues and high-pressure situations. This year, as a 7-year-old, has been significant for his growth. It’s a crucial learning year for him, marking a step up from the Preliminary level, but he has developed noticeably in his mind and strength. His natural understanding and aptitude for the job continue to impress us. We look forward to seeing him come out of his shell even more this fall.”

Greengard describes Z as a quirky, sensitive type, but in the past two years his confidence has grown exponentially, and so has their relationship together.

“Watching Z embrace this role and develop a love for the sport has been a joy,” he shared. “Our goal is always to bring horses to the top levels of competition and major championship events. This feels like a natural progression for both mine and Z’s career, and I look forward to gaining more exposure and experience. Ultimately, that’s what it’s all about. I hope to do him justice because he is truly a special horse, and his time will surely come.”

The horse that has the highest score from the 2022 USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) 5-year-old Championships that is also qualified to compete in the 7-year-old championship and is able to travel, receives the Holekamp/Turner Grant. Last year was the first year in the history of the grant that the overall champion from the YEH Championships was the recipient of the grant, and that tradition will continue with That’s Me Z. The Zangersheide gelding won the Dutta Corp. USEA YEH West Coast Championships on an impressive score of 85.3, topping all scores from both the East and West Coast Championships.

If the highest-scoring YEH horse from the 2022 YEH Championships does not qualify or is unable to attend, the grant is then awarded to the next highest scorer who is qualified and able to go. The 2022 Reserve Champion Top Carrera, a 7-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Roland Millican and Gabby Dickerson and ridden by Dickerson, have expressed an interest in competing and representing the U.S. if they were to receive the grant funding.

Friday News & Notes from Stable View

By on Sep 27, 2024 12:01 am -

Morning at Stable View Photo by Shelby Allen.

We are underway today at Stable View Oktoberfest, where an absolutely bursting roster of competitors spanning nearly every level is ready to tackle this perennial fall stop on the calendar. We’ll be bringing you a full report from the CCI4*-S division later this weekend, but in the meantime don’t forget that Horse & Country will be hosting a live stream (membership or streaming pass required) from show jumping this afternoon around 1:18 p.m. EST. You can follow along with the live stream here and with live scoring here. You can also check out our preview of the weekend that was published yesterday here. Good luck and Go Eventing to all!

Stable View Oktoberfest 2/3/4* & H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

U.S. Weekend Preview

Spokane Sport Horse 10th Annual Fall H.T. (WA): [Website] [Entries] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Jump Start H.T. (KY): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Sundance Farm H.T. (WI): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scoring]

Tomora H.T. (CO): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

ESDCTA New Jersey H.T. (NJ): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scoring]

Old Tavern H.T. (VA): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Fleur de Leap H.T. (LA): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scoring]

Course Brook Farm Fall H.T. (MA): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Major International Events

FEI Nations Cup Lignières (France): [Website] [Entries, Timing, Scoring] [FEI TV Live Streams]

News & Reading

Hurricane Helene made landfall late last night on the northwestern “Big Bend” of Florida and is expected to wreak havoc as a Category 4 storm as it makes its way north and then east. We’ll add updates to our News & Notes of offers for shelter, etc. as we see them (you can also tip us by emailing [email protected]).

The Maryland 5 Star is in the news! Read up on this event and its hope to become one of the largest equestrian attractions in the horse-friendly state of Maryland here.

Meet this inspiring duo who competed at AECs last month. Tonka the Haflinger’s day job is to assist his owner and rider, Emma Kane-Mikan, with her work in mental health. [Read more on this pair]

Horses are shod differently based on their hoof health and which discipline they participate in. Biomechanics play a big factor in this decision-making process, as does the surface the horses is commonly ridden on. [Read an interesting deep dive on shoeing horses by discipline]

We are just a few weeks away from the 2024 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover! A few format changes and updates have been introduced this year. You can learn more about this year’s event and how to follow it here.

Sponsor Corner: Stable View

 

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Check in on the latest news from Stable View as we head into Oktoberfest!

Video Break

Find out what Amelia Newcomb took away from Ingrid Klimke’s masterclass:

On Tap: Preview and How to Follow Stable View Oktoberfest This Weekend

By on Sep 26, 2024 2:30 pm -

Emily Hamel and Corvett. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Coming up this weekend is another major prep for fall 5*/4*-L season with Stable View’s Oktoberfest taking place in Aiken, SC. Oktoberfest runs National levels from Beginner Novice up through Advanced as well as FEI divisions from 2*-S through 4*-S, making it a premier stop for riders at all levels looking to cap off their summer season strong or ramp up for a competitive end of the year.

In the CCI4*-S this weekend, 16 combinations will come forward en route to their respective major fall goals, including pairs heading to Military Boekelo CCIO4*-L, Morven Park’s CCI4*-L, and the Maryland 5 Star.

Featuring on the 4*-S list are Boekelo-bound Phillip Dutton and Possante as well as Mary Bess Davis and Imperio Magic, both of whom will represent the U.S. on the Boekelo Nations Cup team. Representing Great Britain, Lucienne Bellissimo also brings forward her two top horses, Dyri and Tremanton, as she aims them at the Morven Park CCI4*-L in early October. Arden Wildasin is another rider aiming at Morven Park with Sunday Times as she eyes a 5* move-up potentially next year.

Arden Wildasin and Sunday Times. Photo by Sally Spickard.

This weekend also marks a 4* move-up for Colin Gaffney and Baymax, as well as for Kate Sand and Top Shelf. Emily Beshear‘s Rio de Janeiro, who are coming off back to back 3*-S victories at Virginia Horse Center and Fair Hill, will also step up to the 15-year-old geldings first 4*-S. Sweden’s Jennie Jarnstrom-Dennis also has a younger horse in her move-up era, competing in the 4* with the 10-year-old Splash Dance. Jennie will also compete her 4*-S podium finisher, Flower Girl.

Canada is well-represented by Lindsay Traisnel, who brings forward her stalwart partner Bacyrouge, as well as Katie Malensek, competing with two horses in STX Mex and Landjaeger. Rounding out the entry list are British Olympian Leslie Law and Lady Chatterley, Maryland 5 Star-bound Emily Hamel and Corvett, and Phillip Dutton with a second ride in Azure.

You can view the full entry list here.

Katie Malensek and Landjaeger. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Horse & Country will be providing a live stream from show jumping tomorrow (Friday), which for the 4*-S begins at 1:18 p.m. on 9/27. The FEI divisions will conclude competition on Saturday with cross country. We’ll have a full report on the 4*-S coming your way on Sunday, and you can also follow along on Stable View’s Instagram for much more from on the ground.

Tailgaiting and a car show? A real neighborhood event at Stable View! Photo by Christine Quinn.

For spectators, there is much to enjoy during your Oktoberfest experience, including VIP opportunities (click here to see what’s still available). The Aiken Horsepower Association’s Annual Car Show will also be on site adjacent to the Pavilion featuring fast cars and hot rods along with knowledgeable car owners to chat about their wheels. You can also enjoy a bustling Vendor Row for all your shopping needs, and then end the day with friends at the Graze & Gaze happy hour sponsored by StableFeed from 5 pm-7 pm! The Graze & Gaze is hosted downstairs in the Pavilion at Ollie’s Pub. Complimentary food and beverages (beer, wine, non-alcoholic options) for VIP guests, competitors, and families.

Want to lend a helping hand? There are still a handful of volunteer spots open for the taking. Snacks and food are provided to volunteers, and you can also grab a free schooling pass for your time. Click here to view the current open opportunities.

Stable View Oktoberfest 2/3/4* & H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Morven Park to the Maryland 5*: The Ultimate Itinerary for Locals & Horse Lovers

By on Sep 26, 2024 1:00 pm -

Beautiful Morven Park! Photo by Sally Spickard.

Eventing is sadly siloed from the non-horse community. It feels as though the days where the average person would attend a horse show as easily as going to the movies are long gone. Now that horses aren’t a part of everyone’s daily lives as either transportation or working partners, few people outside of the horse world know much of anything about how special they are. It’s time we welcomed non-horsey spectators into the fold and re-introduced them to the animals that worked and played alongside all of our ancestors.

To that end, I’ve created an itinerary for a day at a horse show and put it to the test. With the Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials right around the corner, I built my itinerary around the venue’s hometown: Leesburg, Virginia. What makes this road trip so amazing is that it can become part of a larger itinerary where you get to see two back-to-back events that are just two hours away from each other: the Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials (October 10th through the 13th) and the Maryland Five Star (October 17th through the 20th).

Everyone is welcome to the Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trial on October 10th through the 13th. Spectators get free admission, unless they’d like to tailgate on Saturday or enter the VIP tent on Friday and Sunday. If you’re new to the sport of eventing, I’d highly recommend spending Saturday morning at the horse park to watch cross country, which is arguably the most exciting phase of the sport. Wear good walking shoes and if you’re unsure where to go, stick with the crowds. Spectators will want to gather by Morven Park’s newly expanded water jump which has essentially doubled in size, and will now be used by all FEI levels, not just the CCI3* and CCI4*.

Caitlin Silliman and Ally KGO compete at Morven Park. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Dogs are welcome at Morven Park, however, they must be leashed (with the other end of the leash securely in your hand!) and you must clean up after them. I was accompanied by my long-suffering mutt, Maddi. She definitely enjoyed walking on the cross country course with me and also got lots of treats and made plenty of new friends as we walked around Leesburg. The town is famously dog friendly. Knowing that many eventers bring their dogs with them to horse shows, I decided to put that reputation to the test. I’m happy to report, we had a wonderful day and you can absolutely bring your dog with you to downtown Leesburg. If you have a pup with you, look for the dog-friendly decal on store windows; many stores welcome your dog inside.

After spending your morning watching some of the best riders in the business tackle the Olympic level cross country course, hop in the car for a short 10-minute drive to Goosecup, the cutest cafe in Leesburg, in my opinion. The atmosphere there is very modern indie. What do the youths say? It’s very “brat.” …I think. I got the Hugo Grey tea, and it was delicious, like an Earl Gray, but instead of Bergamot Oil, there was a hint of grapefruit. Check out the amazing pastries in the glass case and remember that you’re an adult and have to practice self control. Then remember that you’re an adult, you make your own rules, and buy one.

Leesburg and Loudoun County are very dog-friendly!

Goosecup is directly across the street from the Washington & Old Dominion Trail (or the W & OD as the locals call it). It’s the perfect spot to take a walk with your tea or coffee, but watch out for cyclists. They’re very respectful but they tend to come in hot. I’d suggest walking on the grass. After a brisk walk, drive a few minutes up the road to the downtown public parking garage to take advantage of the free parking from Friday evening through Monday morning during the summer.

You can’t go wrong with simply wandering around downtown without a plan. Stores are welcoming and each one has something different to enjoy. But because I’m a planner, I had a list of stores and shops that I wanted to hit while I was in Leesburg, starting with the Birch Tree Bookstore.

Located right next to the downtown parking garage, Birch Tree Bookstore is a little maze of a shop, filled with books crammed into every corner in the front and with a beautiful plant store in the back. If you follow the signs to the outdoor courtyard, you’ll find a hidden spot where you can sit under a sun shade, read the book you just bought, and enjoy the plants surrounding you in what feels like your own version of a secret garden. If you’re not sure what to read, ask the clerks. They’re lovely and have some great recommendations. I picked up “Yellowface” by R. F. Kuang and can’t wait to crack it open.

 

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After that, I headed to SideBar Lounge for brunch and to try their Verdict cocktail, which was so pretty. Similar to a paloma, it was very grapefruit forward and had a beautiful heart design on the top of the drink. I would absolutely recommend the french toast with seasonal fruit, it had the perfect amount of whip cream and chocolatey hazelnut drizzle, topped with blueberries and strawberries.

Next, I headed to the Brick & Mortar Mercantile where Maddi got a treat and a couple pats and I toured a fun collection of products, from funny coasters to nice t-shirts. If you’re looking for a present for a man in your life, whether that’s your father, brother, or significant other, I’d definitely recommend stopping in there.

Before getting back in the car, I stopped at the Loudoun Museum. Now, you can’t bring your dog inside, but there is a beautiful mural to admire on the outside wall, as well as a few placards and a small exhibit on women’s suffrage next to a historic cabin. Hiding behind the Museum, next to the parking garage, is a quiet little garden with chairs and tables where you can sit and read before hopping in your car and driving on to your next destination.

Now, technically, you can walk to the Dodona Manor Gardens at the George C. Marshall International Center, however, if you’ve just walked the cross country course at Morven Park in the morning and around downtown Leesburg as well, you may want to drive a couple minutes. The entrance and parking is in the Dodona Manor Shopping Plaza. There are two dog-friendly, self-guided exterior tours you can take: a tree tour and an architectural tour. Interior docent-led tours are not dog-friendly and cost $15 dollars for adults. If you’re not much of a history buff, I’d still recommend going and at least checking out the grounds. For being tucked away in the center of Leesburg, it’s a remarkably quiet spot.

Driving just 15 minutes west of Leesburg, you’ll find Another Turn Tack, which has great prices on a variety of supplies. If you forgot anything you need for a competition at Morven Park, you’ll be able to find a replacement there. I picked up some much-needed Hawthorne Sole Pack for my barefoot Off the Track Thoroughbred and spent some time admiring some really nice four-fold stock ties that came in a variety of cute colors and patterns.

Finally, I ended the day with a glass of wine at The Barns at Hamilton Station. The wine was delicious. I’d highly recommend the 2021 Cascina, if you’re a white wine person like me. It’s full bodied, complex, and not too sweet. They have live music on the outdoor patio every weekend from 2 to 5 p.m. I was treated to the musical stylings of Steve Boyd and Friends, who performed an excellent rendition of Rocky Top.

If you’re starting to make your fall plans, I’d highly recommend adding Morven Park and Leesburg to your list. Whether you’re a die-hard eventer or haven’t seen a horse since you took a pony ride at the county fair when you were 8 years old, you’ll enjoy an amazing day in small town Virginia. After you’re done in Northern Virginia, you can take a scenic two-hour drive to Northern Maryland and enjoy more eventing action at the Maryland Five Star at Fair Hill.

This article is sponsored by Morven Park International Equestrian Center, where you can find Olympic-level eventing at a welcoming venue tucked away in the rolling hills of Northern Virginia. Join us at the Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials this October! Reserve your tailgate spot to get up close to all the cross country action. Or, buy a VIP pass to watch dressage and show jumping from the best seat in the park.

Lara de Liedekerke Meier’s Hermione d’Arville Passes Away in Stables at Lignieres

By on Sep 26, 2024 12:31 pm -

Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Hermione d’Arville. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

We are incredibly sad to report that Hermione d’Arville, Lara de Liedekerke Meier’s Pratoni and European Championships partner who also finished seventh individually at CHIO Aachen this summer, has passed away at Lignieres (France). The event reported that the 11-year-old mare passed suddenly in the stables and despite immediate intervention of the on-site veterinary team could not be saved.

We are sending Lara and her team all of our love and support in the wake of this devastating loss. Fly high, Hermione.

US Equestrian Announces 2024 The Dutta Corp./USEF Eventing High Performance Flight Grant Recipients

By on Sep 26, 2024 9:30 am -

Mary Bess Davis and Imperio Magic. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

US Equestrian is pleased to announce The Dutta Corp./USEF Eventing High Performance Flight Grant recipients for 2024. This year’s recipients are the U.S.-based athletes selected to represent the U.S. at the 2024 Eventing Nations Cup™ Netherlands CCIO4*-NC-L at Boekelo, Oct. 9-13.

These grants provide a $5,000 horse flight credit from The Dutta Corp. to transport team horses to Europe for Boekelo for each of the three recipients: Mary Bess Davis (Mansfield, Ga.) and Imperio Magic, Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and Possante, and Cassie Sanger (Wilmington, Del.) and Redfield Fyre.

Davis and Imperio Magic earned strong results this year including at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4*-S and a top-ten finish at the Tryon International Three-Day Event CCI4*-L, finishing both events with no jumping penalties. Dutton and Possante recently finished third in the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final at the American Eventing Championships after moving up to the CCI4* level this spring. Sanger and Redfield Fyre earned successful completions at the four-star level this spring at Kentucky and in Great Britain at Bicton and Bramham before returning to North America to post a top-ten finish at the Bromont CCI4*-S in Canada.

“The Dutta Corp’s support is invaluable in bringing our U.S. athletes to compete on equestrian sport’s biggest stages,” said US Equestrian CEO Bill Moroney. “In addition to the financial support these grants provide to our eventing athletes, The Dutta Corp’s expertise in safely and reliably transporting horses around the world offers priceless peace of mind for the athletes and their teams as they embark on their journey to the podium at Boekelo and beyond.”

“The Dutta Corp. is proud to support the U.S. Eventing Team as they represent our country overseas,” said Tim Dutta, founder and CEO of The Dutta Corp. “We’re thrilled to be a part of their journey and look forward to cheering them on at Boekelo.”

Thursday News & Notes from TerraNova Equestrian

By on Sep 26, 2024 12:01 am -

Some fun content is coming your way after show jumping brother duo Daniel and Steven Bluman took a day to visit Windurra, the home base of one Boyd Martin. We can’t WAIT to see what these boys got up to! Welcome to the dark side, Blumans.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Stable View Oktoberfest 2/3/4* & H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Spokane Sport Horse 10th Annual Fall H.T. (WA): [Website] [Entries] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Jump Start H.T. (KY): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Sundance Farm H.T. (WI): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scoring]

Tomora H.T. (CO): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

ESDCTA New Jersey H.T. (NJ): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scoring]

Old Tavern H.T. (VA): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Fleur de Leap H.T. (LA): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scoring]

Course Brook Farm Fall H.T. (MA): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Major International Events

FEI Nations Cup Lignières (France): [Website] [Entries, Timing, Scoring] [FEI TV Live Streams]

News & Reading

Poplar Place H.T. (GA) could use your help to ensure their October event can run! As of yesterday, the venue posted that they need about 35 more entries to make the event viable. Late fees will be waived until Friday, 9/27. Click here for more information on how to enter.

If you’re fleeing the path of Hurricane Helene, Carolina Horse Park (NC) has also opened up their stabling to evacuees. Stalls are $10 per night and you will need to bring at least 3 days worth of shavings, food, and supplies. You can also view some tips on prepping for hurricane season here. [More information]

Do you have a crooked horse? There are several signs that this might be the case, and bodywork and physio expert Jo Ann Wilson has some valuable advice on how to identify and treat these signs. [More here]

California-based Taylor McFall beelined her way straight to a horse’s back as soon as she knew what a horse was. Fast forward a few years, and she’s now full speed ahead as a budding young professional. [Read this great feature on Taylor]

Sponsor Corner: TerraNova Equestrian Center

No detail has been spared in the exquisite main barn at TerraNova. Photo by Jane Bannon Photography.

Who doesn’t have a visit to TerraNova Equestrian Center (Myakka City, FL) on their bucket list? Just check out the incredible attention to detail in these barns. The competitor and spectator experience at TerraNova is not one to be missed! We hope to see you at the November FEI event, happening November 14-17. Click here for more information.

Video Break

Another fun helmet cam coming your way, this time from Bouckaert Farm in Georgia!

Breeding Spotlight: The Story Behind the SE Moniker

By on Sep 25, 2024 9:30 am -

Rose Sullivan and Clair de Lune SE. Photo Courtesy of Rose Sullivan.

Dedicated eventing breeders are a rare breed when compared to their hunter jumper and dressage counterparts. Finding a U.S. event horse breeder is a bit like hunting for a needle in the haystack: they exist, but sometimes they are not easy to find.

However, over the last twenty years, one such breeder has made a name for herself on the West Coast especially.

Rose Sullivan of SE Farm in Newburg, OR was born in Buenos Aires where she lived until she was six years old. When her father, a physician, received a teaching and research position at the University of Miami, the whole family moved to Florida. The horse bug was very present in Rose and blessed with understanding parents, she received riding lessons as she grew up.

“I took lessons and I rode and loved horses. But my mother wouldn’t let have my own horse,” she says of her childhood. “I always thought, Well, when I grow up, I’m gonna have horses.”

It wasn’t until Rose had daughters of her own that she started thinking about breeding.

“Both of my daughters were in the equestrian world, and as they got older, they needed horses that would do the upper levels,” Rose explained. “So I thought, well, those horses were pretty expensive to buy, so I figured, let me do some research.”

That research led her to oocytes. An oocyte is an unfertilized egg taken from a desirable mare which is then injected with sperm. Once the oocyte has become an embryo, it is then transferred to the recipient embryo transfer mare.

Rose found a lucky combination: an ooctye from a high end mare in Europe and sperm from Contender, a prolific and successful sire for sport horse bloodlines.

This lucky ooctye became two foals: the mare USA SE and the stallion Clair de Lune SE. Clair de Lune would form the basis of Rose’s breeding operation.

“When you breed a horse, you can always look at them when they’re about three weeks old, and that’s how they’re going to look. That confirmation [is what] they’re going to have when they’re fully grown. It’s three weeks, three months, and three years. So when he was three weeks old, I knew that I had bred a really, really nice horse. He was just beautiful. His confirmation was perfect. His movement was beautiful.”

Early fame for Clair de Lune SE!

Boudewijn Schepers, a friend of Rose’s and the head of the BWP, the Belgian Warmblood Breeding Association (Belgisch Warmbloedpaard in Belgian), recommended that she freeze his semen while he was young and campaign him as a performance horse for he also saw the potential in the young colt.

“I had him provisionally approved [by BWP], which they do when the stallions are young and they still don’t have a show record. It’s called provisional breeding. So he has to do a certain amount of performance every year. I listened to [Boudewijn] because he’s a horse expert, especially with stallions, and I froze 600 frozen straws, which was a big investment at the time.” Rose connected with Robyn Fisher, a Southern California FEI rider and now FEI judge, and Robyn took on the ride.

The partnership competed at the West Coast USEA Five Year Old Young Event Horse Finals in 2009 where he scored an 83.90% and the win. From there, Clair de Lune went from strength to strength, competing and winning to the now-2* level with Robyn. After a small break, he returned to eventing with Marilyn Little before moving to Grand Prix Show Jumping with Rich Fellers.

When he was 15, Rose brought Clair de Lune home to focus on his breeding career.

Erin Kanara and Morning Glory SE. Photo by Amy Dragoo.

While he had been competing, Boudewijn’s advice and Rose’s foresight meant the breedings had already been happening during the height of his performance career, including to Rose’s own mares. “That way I would have something to show because when people breed to a horse, they want to breathe to a horse that has successful offspring.”

In 2012, four horses were born at SE Farm and have since proven they inherited the temperament, movement, and athletic abilities of their sire. Morning Glory SE partnered with professional Erin Kanara to compete and win at the 4* level on the East Coast. M Creme de la Creme SE and professional Alexis Helffrich, professional Taryn Nolte-Pearce and Mi Campion SE, professional Caitlin Davison and m-Cloudy de Lune SE all competed successfully to the 3* level.

Pearce also has Milagro SE who she has taken to the preliminary levels. Professional Joa Sigsbee and K Cosimo SE have dabbled in dressage, jumpers, and prelim eventing. West Coast high performance vet and amateur rider Leah Forquer with Oakley’s Hunt SE competes at the intermediate level and professional Mckenzie Rollins and O Gigi SE compete at the 2* level.

While quite a few amateurs have had success with the SE horses, the list of riders who are professionals and enjoy high level performances is quite high. Rose believes it first starts with Clair de Lune and then it is the positive relationships she encourages with the riders.

“I’m very proud to have bred him. I always tell everyone, he’s North American bred. He’s bred here in this country, and he is the highest scoring stallion that was bred in North America for eventing,” she said. “I like to listen to the horses about what they want to do and I have a good relationship with all my partners. I’m not in a hurry to sell and I usually let [the riders] make a decision about what they want to do with the horse. I give them a percentage of the horse and if they want to go all the way with the horse, then I’m fine with that. If they want to sell the horse, then I’m fine with that. We just have a contract that mutually agrees on what we want to do.”

Caitlin Davison and Cloudy de Lune SE. Photo by MGO Photography.

Good programs and good riders make good reputations.

“That’s how I built my breeding program,” Rose remarked. “I’m focused, is what I consider myself. I wouldn’t say I’m small but I wouldn’t say I’m big either. I am very careful with the mares that I use. And I don’t do large volumes. I do two a year. I used to do a lot more, but now I’m getting older, and it’s harder to bring babies up. I like to do a good job. I like to handle my foals, to imprint them. I like them to get out and do things, because that’s why my horses do so well.”

What started as an endeavor to help her daughters has now come full circle. Her youngest daughter, Katie, is an assistant in her breeding operation.

And the future is bright for SE Farm. In another full circle moment, Rose has two Master Imp oocytes in embryo transfer and a breeding to a Calido I mare with Clair de Lune as the sire. Robyn Fisher, who helped get Clair de Lune’s start in eventing, competed Lady Calido, a daughter of Calido I.

Rose’s parting words were of advice to those looking to breed future eventers.

Rose Sullivan and Clair de Lune SE. Photo courtesy of Rose Sullivan.

“Do your research, check your bloodlines,” she said. “Pick a mare that’s the best you can find with good feet. Then make sure that you pick a stallion that complements her. Whatever she is lacking, the stallion should have. When you pick a stallion, look at his feet. Make sure he has nice, solid feet. Check his brain to make sure that he produces babies that are trainable, rideable, and willing. You can breed a beautiful horse, but if he is hard to train, you have nothing. You want a compact, light stallion with exceptional movement, with a short back, and a good neck set. You want to look at the whole picture.”

For more info on SE horses and for breeding contracts, go to https://sefarm.com/.

Wednesday News & Notes from Morven Park

By on Sep 25, 2024 12:01 am -

Sydney Elliott Conley officially inducted into the Northwest LA Walk of Stars. Thanks to all that made today a great…

Posted by Northwest Louisiana Walk of Stars on Saturday, September 21, 2024

Many happy returns to Sydney Elliott, the Traveling Reserve rider in Paris this summer with QC Diamantaire, who was inducted in the Northwest Louisiana Walk of Stars this week. According to the Walk of Stars website, “The Walk of Stars award was created to recognize individuals from northwest Louisiana who are distinguished in their professional and/or civic endeavors or who have brought recognition and attention to the area. The honorees may come from any profession or industry including, but not limited to, athletics, music, acting, business, politics, education and community service.”

Congratulations and well-deserved, Sydney! You can watch a video of the proceedings below:

U.S. Weekend Preview

Stable View Oktoberfest 2/3/4* & H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Spokane Sport Horse 10th Annual Fall H.T. (WA): [Website] [Entries] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Jump Start H.T. (KY): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Sundance Farm H.T. (WI): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scoring]

Tomora H.T. (CO): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

ESDCTA New Jersey H.T. (NJ): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scoring]

Old Tavern H.T. (VA): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Fleur de Leap H.T. (LA): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scoring]

Course Brook Farm Fall H.T. (MA): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

News & Reading

William Fox-Pitt has been named to the Horse of the Year Show judging panel happening next month. He’ll joined by fellow judges Ann Overton-Ablitt and Tissie Reason, and will be part of a panel that includes Colin Tibbey, Simon Reynolds, and Caroline Dale-Leech. [Read more here]

Catch up with Hong Kong eventer Yuxuan Su after a busy summer season in this blog.

What should you know about topical antibiotics and horses? Learn more on The Horse here.

How effective is the use of a whip on cross country? Researchers in the UK wanted to know. This study looked at whip use during 200 videoed cross-country (XC) rounds at the FEI 2*-5* level. Variables recorded included fence type, fence number, number of whip hits, stage of jump, faults occurred, viable reasons for use, and horse’s reaction. [See the findings]

Sponsor Corner: Morven Park Fall International & H.T.

Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

The entries are in and Northern Virginia’s most historic horse park is gearing up for competition! The Morven Park Fall International & Horse Trials are less than a month away. Pack a picnic and come #playlearndiscover the exciting sport of eventing on October 10th through the 13th. Tailgate spaces are located in the center of the cross-country course, awarding spectators prime viewing of world-class eventing against the scenic backdrop of the Davis Mansion. Or take advantage of the best seats in the park for 4*-S and 4*-L dressage and show jumping with passes to the VIP Hospitality Tent.

Buy your tailgate pass here. Buy your VIP tickets here.

Video Break

A cool then vs. now with Ema Klugman and RF Redfern:

Equestrian Mastermind is Back: Season Two Goes Inside the Heads of Top Dressage Riders

By on Sep 24, 2024 1:30 pm -

Equestrian sports are as much mental as they are physical. We can be our own demons, or our own cheerleaders—and sometimes both in the same weekend. Mastering our minds might be one of the most challenging parts of our sport.

Ride iQ is an innovative platform that supports riders in a variety of ways, including offering resources that focus on the psychological side of riding and competing. As a professional rider who struggles with psychological challenges, particularly in competition, I was both excited and curious to listen to the second season of Ride iQ’s “Mastermind” series, particularly because the first season was so intriguing.

The first season of the Mastermind series included workshops with three top event riders: Tamie Smith, Sinead Maynard, and Jon Holling. Led by sports psychology coach Natalie Hummel, the series focused on the beliefs, challenges, and goals of these riders through several candid conversations (link to previous article).

The second season of the Mastermind series features professional Grand Prix dressage riders Lauren Sprieser, Olivia LaGoy-Weltz, and Lehua Custer. This workshop reflected many of the same themes as the eventing riders’ workshop, including delving into the riders’ various experiences in competition and training, with a focus on nervous system regulation.

In the first episode, Lauren, Olivia, and Lehua share their backgrounds, intentions for the Mastermind, and career goals. For instance, Lauren’s vision is to be known for consistently producing international-quality dressage horses and to be recognized as a top rider, not just a writer. Olivia’s vision involves producing more horses to a high level and overcoming the challenges of finding the right horses. The discussion goes on to cover the significance of feeling a sense of belonging, managing shame, and dealing with stress and pressure. Olivia shares her experiences with one of her top horses, who came so close—on two occasions—to representing the United States in the World Cup Finals. All three of the riders are candid about the day-to-day, month-to-month, and year-to-year, emotional challenges they face, which sets the stage for the next three episodes of reflection and growth.

In the second episode, the riders discuss their recent breakthroughs and mindset shifts. Lehua shares her realization that not achieving her goals—which is sometimes down to factors outside of her control—doesn’t equate to failure. Lauren talks about forming a new syndicate to support her ambitions, and Olivia reflects on refining her business model and seeking advice from mentors. Natalie then leads an exercise to uncover and address subconscious blocks hindering the riders’ progress. One of my favorite moments in this episode was listening to Lehua think through the exercise, including talking about her underlying belief in her responsibility to, as she put it, always “smooth the waters.” Smoothing the waters seemed to be a symbol for managing chaos and pressure. The exercise helped all of the riders uncover some of their subconscious beliefs, and one of the cool things about listening to this podcast episode is that you can participate in the exercise yourself, just as the other riders are doing.

What is the best way to manage competition stress? In the third episode, Natalie Hummel shares some important ways to cope with stress. Natalie addresses common misconceptions about mental strategies for peak performance. For example, although some people might believe that meditation will make them calmer and better able to compete, Natalie points out that meditation aids relaxation but does not build the flexibility needed to handle sudden stress. Instead, she suggests that somatic work, which helps increase physical and emotional resilience, is preferred for athletes. Natalie also goes into the scientific explanations for why we feel the way we feel, especially under the pressure of competition. The nervous system has three main states, she explains: ventral (a state of calm and safety), sympathetic (fight or flight mode), and dorsal shutdown (a state of withdrawal and collapse). Lehua, Olivia, and Lauren discuss their experience with their feelings in competition, including feeling overwhelmed by expectations, and they identify when and where they enter each of the three mental states. Each of them had slightly different experiences with stress in competition, and much of the discussion was centered around understanding those different experiences. A major focus of this episode was that in order to manage different mental states, riders need to understand and accept their emotions rather than running from them.

In the final episode of Equestrian Mastermind Season 2, Natalie Hummel discusses the concept of embracing both positive and negative thoughts and emotions in order to fully commit to one’s goals. She has the riders engage in an exercise where they rate their emotional state from 1 to 10, where 1 to 9 represents various degrees of ego, characterized by conditional feelings based on external validation, and 10 represents a state of unconditional commitment and self-belief, where the person remains centered regardless of external conditions. Each of the riders reflected on where they fell on the scale. For instance, Lauren believed that she was at a 5 with herself despite being at a 10 with her horses. Olivia felt that she was in a limbo between 1 and 9 due to many shifting goals and setbacks. What I found fascinating about this exercise was that these riders all compete in a sport (dressage) where they are subjectively judged on their riding skill and ability (in a dressage test). Thus, external validation is hard to escape, because it is by definition the measure of their success. Despite that paradox, the riders gave some deep reflections about how they could find internal strength to maintain what Natalie called an “all-in” mindset.

I often think of my own mind in competition as being simply an annoying source of mental blocks: doubts, fears, and distractions. My mind rarely has nice things to say! Listening to this podcast series convinced me that my brain can make me a stronger competitor, but I have to listen to it, understand it, and direct it. I would encourage any rider, or even spouse or relative of a rider, to listen to this series.

To catch up on Ride iQ‘s family of podcasts, including Equestrian Mastermind, visit your favorite podcast platform.