Classic Eventing Nation

How Eventers Are Coping: Barb Pickl’s ‘Bored AF Horse Trials’

By on Apr 7, 2020 9:00 am -

Photo courtesy of Barb Pickl.

With the rug of their competition season pulled out from under them, eventers out there are finding creative — and occasionally hilarious — ways to keep themselves entertained.

Exhibit A: Barb Pickl’s “Bored AF Horse Trials.”

Barb, a self-described “senior re-rider” from Madison, WI, explains, “Many are sad, for good reasons, that the Horse Trial season has been delayed. That is of most importance. So I offer a HT, but without horses. Appealing to the creative good nature for which eventers are well known. A backyard HT … put on your gear and make it fun, safe, and with a light hearted spirit.”

We love it so much!!! Thank you for sharing, Barb.

The live feed has begun! Morning jog
#boredAFhorsetrials #haveagreatride #uniaccepted #eventer #eventersdoitall #withstyle

Posted by Barb Pickl on Sunday, April 5, 2020

 

Phase I: dressage, or what we do until cross country.
It builds character and humility 😂
#boredAFhorsetrials #eventer #equestrian #goingrouge #razzledazzle #awesometempichanges #teamfunkybitches

Posted by Barb Pickl on Sunday, April 5, 2020

Well quite an exciting day for phase 2: cross country! Out of respect to our gracious host venue, the Exceptionally…

Posted by Barb Pickl on Sunday, April 5, 2020

 

Final phase: Show jumping!
Uni and I are most overwhelmed and profoundly humbled by the support and demonstration of solidarity.

Please enjoy this note from your Show Sponsor.
I miss you all deeply.
You are my heros. My inspiration in all things which matter the most 💖

Never forget: it always ends in joy.
#boredAFhorsetrials #eventer #equestrian #ponyeventer #unicorneventer #eventingstrong #eventersdoitall #withgrace #dontpullonyourinsiderein #iloveeventing

Posted by Barb Pickl on Monday, April 6, 2020

Stay well, EN. Go Eventing (Someday!)

Galway Downs Spring H.T. Is Postponed

By on Apr 7, 2020 5:27 am -

Galway Downs Spring H.T., scheduled for May 1-3 in Temecula, CA, has been postponed with a tentative reschedule date of June 19-21, 2020.

The event has released the following statement:

Given the ongoing situation related to COVID-19, and with the USEF’s latest guidance, our May 1-3 competition is moving to June 19-21 to help prep riders for the remainder of the season. The same class list will be offered as was scheduled for the March International.

Galway Downs International Horse Trials and Shepherd Ranch have combined efforts to provide for the area. We will be adding in classes at Intro as well special pony club classes TBD that will join in the action alongside the international event and horse trials.

In an effort to run a biosecure event we will be regularly disinfecting all public areas as well as providing hand washing stations at all common areas. We will be following the guidance of CDC and our local authorities to keep the venue safe and in compliance with the latest rules for the health and safety of our riders and guests.

The options available have been expanded and adjusted as follows:
Option number one is for entry credit in full except for the stall fees will get transferred to the June 19-21 competition.
Option number two is for entry credit in full except for the stall fees which will be carried over to a future date for those who cannot make it to June 19-21.

We thank you all for your support and understanding during this very unique situation and look forward to seeing you all soon.

Thank you,
Kellerhouse Presents Team

You can view a complete list of canceled and postponed events here.

Stay well, EN. Go Eventing (Someday!)

Tuesday News & Notes from Legends Horse Feeds

By on Apr 7, 2020 12:01 am -

Every day I’m blown away by the innovation and positivity from all of you out there in the Eventing Nation during these difficult times. We’ve got another fun opportunity for you — get your dressage test judged by Peter Gray! His Remote Centerline Workshop will give you scores and feedback from a FEI five-star judge. This service is available for any test. Email [email protected] to sign up.

National Holiday: National Beer Day

Tuesday News: 

The numbers have spoken, and Cooley On Show has been named the April USEA Horse of the Month. In partnership with EquiRatings, the USEA recognizes one horse each month for their recent achievements. [USEA Horse of the Month: Cooley On Show]

As hospitals face dwindling protective equipment, some equestrian companies are showing up to lend a hand. [Equestrian Companies Produce Essential Supplies In Response To COVID-19]

On April 1, the Fair Hill Foundation gained two new members in Bruce Davidson and Fank McEntee. Their unique input will help guide Fair Hill as they complete their massive renovations ahead of their five-star this fall. [Fair Hill Foundation Appoints Bruce Davidson and Frank McEntee to its Board of Directors]

Just in on Jumper Nation: Jumper Nation Clinic: Phillip Dutton

Tuesday Video: Sharon White makes an appearance on the Jon and Rick Show.

Monday Video from CLM DWN: NOT Spring Bay Horse Trials

By on Apr 6, 2020 5:00 pm -

In honor of Spring Bay Weekend we had our own little horse trial in our backyards! There were only three entires (one very last minute) but all riders and horses finished with smiles! Until we can show again…❤️

Posted by Tess Shull Utterback on Sunday, April 5, 2020

Spring Bay Horse Trials, the Area 8 season opener which takes place at the Kentucky Horse Park and Masterson Station in Lexington, Kentucky, was to be held this past weekend, April 4-5th. Organizers were excited to offer the first Modified level in Area 8, and competitors were looking forward to going eventing once again after a long winter. But as we all know, all USEA recognized events have been cancelled in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, Spring Bay included of course.

However, that didn’t stop Area 8 eventer Tess Utterback of Georgetown, Kentucky from having a little fun while honoring Spring Bay this weekend. Tess hosted NOT Spring Bay, as she dubbed it, a backyard event for her daughter Isla Utterback and her mount, the indomitable Crystal Startwist, a young Hobby Horse mare of unknown breeding so that the pair could enjoy an early-season outing. Thankfully, there was excellent media coverage of the event and you can watch interviews with Isla and competition footage of her dressage and cross country rides right here:

Posted by Tess Shull Utterback on Sunday, April 5, 2020

Post-dressage interview:

Posted by Tess Shull Utterback on Sunday, April 5, 2020

And finally, cross country:

Posted by Tess Shull Utterback on Sunday, April 5, 2020

SMART Goals for April with Ashley Johnson

By on Apr 6, 2020 2:13 pm -

Ashley Johnson and Tactical Maneuver. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant, and Trackable. With life changing daily across the country right now, most of us will be spending a lot of time training at home this month. For some of us the ability to take regular lessons or travel to practice and school at different venues will not be possible. For many riders who board their horses, going to the barn may even become a limited activity. It could be an easy month to feel unsure about what type of training to do or to feel stuck in a rut. Using SMART Goals will help boost your confidence and purpose!

First, consider the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic goals. Extrinsic goals focus on ‘be good’ outcomes and performances. One example of an extrinsic goal is challenging yourself to canter a line of cavaletti jumps in five strides, then six strides, then four strides. Intrinsic goals focus on ‘get better’ outcomes and these goals relate more to building competence and mastery. An example of an intrinsic goal is deciding to practice leg yields during two different rides in a week. Both types of goals are useful.

Right now it is the beginning of a new month. All competitions are shut down for the foreseeable future. It is a very good time to set goals that center around intrinsic motivation and are authentic to your own riding. As you gain more mastery, your performance will improve and your extrinsic goals will be more attainable as well. With this in mind, brainstorm a few Specific goals for the next four weeks. Write them down. Be open minded. Perhaps your goal is to create a better independent hand and seat so that you have more strength over jumps, or perhaps
your goal is to maintain core fitness and flexibility for riding at home even when you can’t make it to the barn.

Ashley Johnson and Tactical Maneuver. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Next, think about how Measurable your goals are. For me, this usually centers around how many days during the week I am going to work on a different skill set. When I teach my horses to do flying changes, for example, I often decide that I will practice changes three days a week. During at least two of those rides, I only do a few flying changes. I just touch on them and then move on to other things so that my horse doesn’t feel frazzled. For riders who maybe can’t make it to the barn as often as they would like, a great goal might be to do yoga two days a week to improve balance and flexibility and go for a run three days a week to maintain cardiovascular fitness.

As far as Actionable, think about the resources you have available to you this month. I was just talking to one of my students about her training program for her preliminary level OTTB for the weeks ahead. He needs to become stronger in dressage, but he also really likes variety and doesn’t like getting drilled. She is going to be riding at home all month. I suggested she place a cavaletti jump in the middle of a flat area and on some days not do a traditional dressage ride but instead ride him in the open, cantering the cavaletti on a large circle in both a working and lengthen canter to practice balance, rhythm, and rideability. This will help him to stay fresh and engaged in his work.

Ashley Johnson and Tactical Maneuver. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Making a goal Relevant will improve your own motivation to pursue it. When I coach, I am amazed at how many students come to me not really having any idea of what they would like to improve. The more you understand clearly the areas that you would like to improve, the more you can create goals that will help your riding to flourish.

Lastly, make your goals Trackable. For the month of April, write down week by week what you would like to do to reach your goal, and a vision of where you want to be with this goal by the end of the month. Then, each week as you do what you had set out to do, check it off your list and write a small reflection about how the week went. If one week doesn’t go as well as planned, think about why that was, and regroup for the next week.

In riding we always need to be ready to change from plan A to plan B. This month, our innate resilience as event riders will be put to the test in other areas of our life as well. For many, this will be a very challenging time, but perhaps with the right outlook, this time can be used to grow in our riding through setting creative goals and working towards them!

Photo by Ashley Johnson.

Ashley Johnson is a 5* Event Rider and an ICP Level III Certified Instructor. She is based in Ocala, FL and coaches the University of Florida’s Eventing Team. Ashley is pursuing a master’s degree in psychology through Harvard University’s HES School with a focus on sports psychology. If you would like a customized at-home training program with video and phone call accountability check-ins, contact Ashley at [email protected].

Equestrian Relief: Horse World Unites to Support UK’s National Health Service Heroes

By on Apr 6, 2020 1:42 pm -

Horse Scout CEO Lucienne Elms and the Horse Scout Agency Team have announced that leading Olympic riders from across the disciplines, as well as horse racing jockeys and celebrities, have shown their support for a major fundraising initiative launched by the team behind Bolesworth and Liverpool International Horse Shows.

‘Equestrian Relief’ is an urgent fundraising campaign to raise money and change lives, with donations going directly to support the efforts of the wonderful work being carried out by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

Leading names are all showing their support including two Eventing World Champions Ros Canter and Zara Tindall, Olympic Gold Medallists Carl Hester and Scott Brash and racing legends AP McCoy and Frankie Dettori.

Each day two members of each team will take part in a daily challenge. The five challenges — On the Gallops, Plankety Plank, Horse Drawn, Showstopper and Dark Horse — will test riders skills physically, creatively and artistically. Much more will be revealed over the coming days so make sure you join in the fun at 7 p.m. each evening from Monday April 6 – Monday April 13 where daily highlights will be broadcast across all the Liverpool International Horse Show channels and all info can be found at www.equestrianrelief.com

Nina Barbour, Bolesworth Managing Director:

“Our priority is to unite the horse world to support our health workers and our goal is to raise a sum of money that will make a real difference. All donations will go directly to NHS Charities Together Covid-19 Crisis Fund – supporting NHS staff and volunteers on the front line as they work under pressure and in the most challenging of circumstances.”

“We’ve already got some fabulous sponsors on-board – including long standing Bolesworth supporters Equerry, Equitop and Horse Scout – who have all made generous contributions to get us started.

“The campaign will also be launching a charity auction On Monday 6 April with a host of ‘money can’t buy’ experiences up for grabs! Bid for the chance to get one on one with some of our equestrian celebrities for an exclusive Q&A session online, go behind the scenes with ITV racing, or even bid for a round of golf with AP McCoy and Oli Bell.  The paintings produced by the teams in the Horse Drawn challenge will also be included in the auction lots!”

Zara Tindall:

“It’s a very challenging time for the equestrian community right now with so many people affected in so many ways. Being a high-risk activity, we also have a responsibility to minimise the impact on the NHS who are valiantly working to support the nation and save lives. Taking part in Equestrian Relief and knowing that donations are going directly to help NHS workers on the frontline makes it a no-brainer for me.  I am happy to be part of this campaign and look forward to seeing just how much we can raise.”

Frankie Dettori:

“I am super excited to announce that I will be taking part in Plankety Plank and Bake Off Easter Showstopper all in aid of Equestrian Relief. It’s going to be great fun, however we are all very competitive so I can’t wait to get started – so please make sure you support us!”

Scott Brash:

“All over the country we are coming together to support the phenomenal NHS staff during these very challenging times. As a strong equestrian community we must stay united in the battle against Covid19 and we are hopeful that Equestrian Relief can make a huge impact in raising funds directly to support those who are putting their own lives at risk to help others. Let the challenges commence and please make sure you support us and give what you can to this incredible cause.”

Ellie Orton, CEO of NHS Charities Together:

“Every person on our team and NHS teams throughout the country, are playing a vital role in being there for others during this emergency. Please join in with the Equestrian Relief team effort by showing your appreciation, gratitude and solidarity for our NHS workers who are responding heroically to the biggest challenge the NHS has ever faced.”

To donate and for details of the Equestrian Relief campaign visit www.equestrianrelief.com.

THE  SPONSORS

  • Equerry Horse Feed – A range of top-quality horse feeds produced using the finest ingredients, manufactured by HJ Lea Oakes
  • Equitop – Manufacturers of Equitop Myoplast – a Unique amino acid supplement designed to support healthy lean muscle growth, and Equitop GLME – a unique joint supplement specifically designed to support healthy joint function in horses containing sustainably harvested Green Lipped Mussel Extract.
  • Horse Scout – The UK’s leading equestrian marketplace
  • Horse Scout Agency – The largest equestrian distribution in the world

THE TEAMS 

#TeamRacing
AP McCoy – Racing legend, Champion Jump Jockey (a record 20 consecutive times) and BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2010
Frankie Dettori – Racing Legend and Three-time Champion Flat Jockey
Mike Bushell – BBC Sports Presenter and star of Strictly Come Dancing
Oli Bell – ITV Racing Presenter

#TeamEventing
Ros Canter- Current World Champion
Zara Tindall – Former World and European Champion plus Sports Personality 2006
Oliver Townend – Current World Number One
Alex Hua Tian – First rider to represent China in Equestrian at the Olympics
Ben Hobday – Current British Open Champion

#TeamShowjumpingNorth
William Whitaker – International Showjumper and former Youth European Gold medallist
Geoff Billington – Two-time Olympian (Atlanta 1996 & Sydney 2000)
Ellen Whitaker – European Bronze medallist
Harry Charles – international rider on the Global Champions Tour and Son of Olympic Gold medallist Peter Charles
Anthony Condon – Irish International Showjumper

#TeamShowjumpingSouth
Scott Brash – Olympic Gold medallist
Shane Breen – Irish International Showjumper
Daisy Bunn – Director at Hickstead, TV Presenter and Classical Singer
Jessica Mendoza – former European youth gold medallist
Jay Halim – International Showjumper

#TeamDressage
Carl Hester – Olympic Gold medallist
Richard Davison – Four-time Olympian
Gareth Hughes – World Silver medallist
Toni Terry – Dressage Rider and wife of Chelsea Footballer John Terry
Sarah Higgins – International Dressage rider

USEFUL INFORMATION

Website – www.equestrianrelief.com

Accounts – The campaign will be run through the Liverpool International Horse Show social media accounts. Handles for these are:

Facebook: @LiverpoolInternationalHorseShow
Instagram: @liverpoolhorseshow
Twitter: @LiverpoolInt

Hashtags – #EquestrianRelief #StayHomeSaveLives #HorseScout

Virgin Money Giving Link:  bit.ly/EquestrianRelief2020

Barn Still Open? Here’s an Online Sign-Up Log You Can Use to Schedule Boarder Visits

By on Apr 6, 2020 11:55 am -

Boarding facilities that remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic have had come up with some creative solutions for making sure that both boarders and barn employees remain safe and well. That includes limiting visitation to ensure that, on these beautiful spring days, a crush of boarders don’t all show up at the barn at the same time — no bueno for social distancing.

Here in Knoxville, Tennessee we are under a “safer at home” order, with gatherings limited to 10 persons or less. The barn where I board my horse, Penrose Farm, remains open (for now) but has taken many measures to ensure that everyone stays safe. Boarders are encouraged to stay home unless it’s absolutely vital that they visit their horse, for instance in the event of an emergency or neccessary vet or farrier visit. The essential barn employees have also offered help with self-care feedings, etc. so that boarders can rest assured that all is well with their horses while they stay away.

One of the barn moms found a handy program, Sign Up Genius, that ensures no more than a limited quota of people are at the barn at one time. Basically, each day there are a certain number of spots available for each three-hour time slot and to visit you must reserve your spot online. Here are a couple screenshots form Penrose’s sign-up log, to give you an idea of what that looks like. Be sure to factor barn help into the quota.

It’s a pretty cool and easy-to-navigate program — please feel free to steal if your boarding facility is in a similar situation!

Other measures our farm has put in place, all direct quotes from our fearless leader Erika Adams;

1. WASH YO HANDS
2. If you don’t need to come to the barn, DON’T COME. You all have been fabulous letting us know if you need our help or letting us know when you do not feel well and want us to keep an extra eye on your horse.  Thank you for this, and keep up the good work!
3. Please tack up your horses in their stall. If you are a pasture boarder or your horse does not have a stall, please use a schoolie stall. Only Abel has the use of the cross ties in the barn. As for the wash rack (’cause we are covered in mud), use the outside crossties only and please sanitize the crossties before and after use. Sanitize spigot, hose, anything you touch after EVERY USE.
4. All lessons and clinics are canceled. 
5. WASH YO HANDS
6. Barn hours have been extended. Per the boarding contract, the barn closes at 9 p.m. (unless discussed with me) but to spread out people coming and going, the barn is now open 24 hours. If you want to see your horse, but are concerned with human traffic, by all means come out at 3 am. I would prefer if you do not ride at 3 a.m. in case anything bad happens. We just ask that you try to keep the staff on premise abreast of your plans so we don’t run to the barn with baseball bats or boxing gloves.
7. Use your own equipment. Brushes are included in this.
8. Sanitize everything. We have been trying to keep everything sprayed with lysol or bleach, but do your part as well.  The entry gate is a huge concern and we will look for a way to keep a bleach solution by the gate for your use. Please look for this in the future.
9. No groupies (spouses, children or other non-boarder guests) can come to the barn during high traffic times of the day. Groupies are welcome at night to avoid solo riding.
10. WASH YO HANDS!
 Stay well out there, EN. Go Eventing (someday.) And … WASH YO HANDS!!!

The Story Behind the Brand: SmartPak

By on Apr 6, 2020 9:00 am -

SmartPak: Chinch Approved.

It’s become such second nature to whip out my phone, pull up Amazon, and order a frightening amount of items scheduled to be delivered in an equally frightening short amount of time. I can still remember the days of poring over the JCPenney catalog when it would come in the mail, dog-earing the pages of the clothes I wanted to wear to school that year. It’s quite a stark contrast, thinking of the mail order days from which we aren’t all that far removed.

Twenty years after its inception, most equine households know the name SmartPak. Originally begun with the intent to make dietary supplementation easy and convenient for horse owners, SmartPak has grown to be one of the biggest names in equestrian retail. And in today’s heavily competitive e-commerce and health industries, that’s no small accomplishment.

If you’re like many horse owners, you’ve likely struggled to find the perfect formulation of dietary balance for your horse. Making a decision for your horse’s nutritional needs can be overwhelming when faced with a myriad of choices and opinions on what is best. SmartPak saw this writing on the wall and leapt at the chance to offer an option designed to put horse owners’ minds at rest.

The unique SmartPak system allows horse owners to customize their horse’s supplements into easy-to-use, pre-measured doses. Any combination of supplements can be made into convenient SmartPaks, giving equine nutrition a much-needed boost of consumer education and buy-in. When the concept of the SmartPak was in its earliest stages, the company wanted to accomplish three main objectives:

  • Consistency: Feeding supplements every day is key to supporting a healthy horse. With SmartPaks you get: The right dose every time with pre-measured paks, the freshest supplements due to their airtight seals, and confidence that each supplement has undergone quality control procedures.
  • Customization: Your horse is unique, and his supplement program should be, too. With SmartPaks you get: The exact support your horse needs from custom-made Paks and foolproof feeding because each strip is clearly labeled.
  • Convenience: Feeding supplements from buckets can be a hassle. With SmartPaks you get: Assurance that you’ll never run out thanks to their AutoShip program, an organized feed room due to their free storage drawers, recycled packaging that’s easily recycled again, and world-class service from their Horse Health Experts.

Eliminating guesswork takes much of the stress out of maintaining a proper nutritional profile for your horse. Much of how SmartPak develops its product offerings and the marketing around them comes from input from actual horse owners. SmartPak believes that supplements are part of good horsemanship, and every horse deserves support from the right supplements to help him look and feel his best. Therefore, the idea that the company is made up of horse owners adds a layer of camaraderie — the notion that hey, we’re all in this together.

I asked the SmartPak Health team what they had observed in the equine nutrition industry of late. “We’re seeing the rise of new and novel ingredients to support our horses’ wellness and longevity,” the team responded in an email interview. “The landscape of products available is constantly evolving.”

It’s a welcome challenge for the SmartPak team, constantly hard at work at implementing the best technology and processes as it strives to offer the best quality products that are supported by adequate research.

At the end of the day, SmartPak gets us because, in a way, they are us. They’re also worried about the older horse at the barn who wakes up a bit stiffer each morning. They also watch carefully when their horses play in turnout, ever watchful for any signs of lameness or trouble. They also want the best for their horses, and to have the privilege to spend as much time with them as possible.

Convenience does not necessarily equate to loss of quality. In a world in which competition is cutthroat and information overload is a common ailment, horse owners can trust that the SmartPak way won’t steer them wrong.

Monday News & Notes From Fleeceworks

By on Apr 6, 2020 12:15 am -

View this post on Instagram

Let the bake off commence! #equestrianrelief

A post shared by Ros Canter (@ros_canter_eventing) on

Is it just me, or do the Mondays hit a bit differently right now? Like, okay, the weekend’s over and many of us have to go back to work, and okay, there’s no Happy Hour to propel us through, but a lot of people can also now stay in their pyjamas while they do the 9-5, and that’s an indulgence we can all get behind, right? (Look, if you work with horses, there’s no judgment from me if you want to stay in your pyjamas for that, too. And create your own Happy Hour. You do you, boo.) Also, there’s a lot of banana bread to cure the post-weekend blues – here’s my current favourite recipe. Just swirl some peanut butter on top and sprinkle some smashed up nuts over it for a little bit of Berendt je ne sais quois.

National Holiday: National Student-Athlete Day. Fortunately, tomorrow’s National Beer Day, because these guys probably need one right now.

Your Monday reading list: 

Got a pony-mad kiddo bouncing off the walls at home? Send them Pippa Funnell’s way – but, erm, maybe not literally. Inspired by a rather delightful bit of fan mail, the Grand Slam winner is holding a poetry competition for under-10s and 11–16-year-olds. The winner of each section will get the chance to have a lesson at Pippa’s Billy Stud on their own horse or pony, or spend the day with Pippa and her team at an event. My pleas for her to open up another category to include 28-and-a-half-year-olds have gone unanswered thus far, but I remain ever hopeful. [Pippa Funnell runs poetry competition for young writers during coronavirus lockdown]

Horsey folk have kind of already got the social distancing thing nailed, as Horse&Rider posits. Mostly because we smell a little funky, if we’re totally honest. But we’re surprisingly well-adapted for the current circumstances in a few more ways, as it turns out. [Five ways horsey people are already social distancing pros]

A virtual version of the Grand National ran over the weekend, but even the entertainment of an Equestriad 2001 that you could lose money on was no match for the bonkers history of the race. The Chronicle of the Horse has collected some truly weird and wonderful stories from the annals of Aintree, leaving me absolutely desperate to work the sentence “ta-ta old chap, I must now push a trifle faster” into conversation this week. [Broken bones, butter, and bomb threats: an eclectic glimpse into the Grand National]

Equestrian Relief launches today, bringing top riders from across the disciplines together to help raise vital funds. The riders – including eventing stars Ros Canter and Zara Tindall – will take part in a series of increasingly silly challenges, all while working towards raising ÂŁ100,000 for Britain’s NHS. There’s also an auction of money-(normally)-can’t-buy items and experiences, and apparently, an awful lot of baking. As someone who’s basically become a loaf of banana bread at this point, I am KEEN. [Equestrian Relief fundraising initiative launched to support NHS]

Monday video from Fleeceworks:

With no events on the calendar for now, we’ve got to make our own fun. Increasingly, that fun seems to involve… loo roll. The team at Chinese Olympian Alex Hua Tian‘s Pinfold Stables might have lost the plot, but at least they’re having a lovely time doing so. Just don’t drop it in the muck heap, guys.

Stay-at-Home Dressage Show Series to Benefit Equestrian Aid Foundation

By on Apr 5, 2020 2:00 pm -

Photo by Amber Heintzberger.

Competitor Tent, the app for competitive riders, is teaming up with a panel of amazing judges to create the virtual charity show series, “The Stay-at-Home Dressage Series benefiting the Equestrian Aid Foundation.” This series will allow riders to not only compete from home during this current pause in the competition calendar, but will also make a difference in a time when many of us feel helpless to affect the current crisis. Competitor Tent hopes to help riders continue to work toward their goals and compete safely during these difficult times.

Tentative show dates are the weekends of April 25th, May 2nd, May 9th and May 16th. Riders will register through Equestrian Entries, then video their test and upload it from home. The deadline for video submissions will be the Wednesday before each show weekend. A small team of USDF and USEA judges will then judge the tests and results will be available through the Competitor Tent app (download the free app here).

USDF tests offered will be Training through Fourth Level, PSG, I 1 and 2, and GP. One USEA test at each level BN through A will also be offered.

Competitor Tent encourages riders competing in this show series to follow social distancing guidelines as suggested or required by local authorities. Entries do not have to be in a sand ring, but the riding area should be marked to measure official ring sizes of 20 meters x 60 meters or 20 meters x 40 meters, depending on the test. Show attire is not required.

About the Equestrian Aid Foundation: The Equestrian Aid Foundation and their Disaster Relief Fund helps equestrian professionals and industry service providers who are experiencing an unexpected financial crisis as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Find out more here.

More details to follow in the coming days. Stay tuned!