We are deeply saddened at the loss of a great influence in the eventing world, as Patrick (Packy) McGaughan passed away Thursday night in his sleep at the age of 56. Packy was known for his humor, his passion for coaching, and his honest evaluations of the sport of eventing and competitions at home and abroad. He rode with Jack LeGoff on the US Team in the ’80s, and helped win a Team Gold in the 1987 Pan American Games. He will be deeply missed. [Packy McGaughen 1963-2020]
As major sporting organizations around the world continue to announce suspensions, postponements and cancellations due to the spread of the coronavirus, the equestrian world is feeling the effects as well. We are receiving updates from major competitions like Carolina International and Kentucky Three-Day Event that they are still planning on going forward, but all competitors who feel even a little sick are encouraged to PLEASE stay home, and everyone is to practice lots of hand washing and social distancing at competitions. Keep an eye on our continuously updated list here: [Equestrian Events Canceled or Modified]
Two jumps and a simple but difficult exercise from the reigning world champion? Sign me up, I’m all about minimal jump setting for maximum results. Ros Canter shows you how to achieve a number of training goals with horses of all levels with just two jumps in your ring, and gives you goals for both horse and rider as you proceed. [Ros Canter’s Useful Jumping Exercise]
Eventing legend Blyth Tait has retired from the sport for the second time, at the age of 58. He was considering a fifth Olympics at Tokyo later this year, but upon consideration, realized that he was happier to hand the reins over to young talents than pursue another overseas adventure. Blyth won team and individual gold at the 1990 WEG on Messiah, individual gold in the 1996 Olympics on Ready Teddy, won team and individual gold in the 1998 WEG, team silver and individual bronze in the 1992 Olympics, as well as two wins at Burghley in 1998 and 2001. [A Legend Retires]
We are greatly saddened to report the sudden passage of Patrick “Packy” McGaughan, who passed away in his sleep at age 56. Well known and widely respected for not only his accomplishments in the saddle but also for his coaching and analysis of the sport, Packy was a stalwart presence in our community.
Packy McGaughan was a member of the gold medal winning U.S. eventing team at the 1987 Pan American Games in Indiana, where he also finished third individually aboard Tanzer. Packy’s contributions to the sport as a rider, a mentor, a coach, and many other roles will continue to have a lasting impact on future generations of event riders. He will leave a large hole, and our condolences are with his family and friends during this time.
Emilee Libby and Jakobi, winners of the Galway Downs International Horse Trials CCI4*-S in March 2019. This year’s edition, scheduled to take place March 27-29 in Temecula, CA, will be closed to the public. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
With sporting events around the world being cancelled in response to coronavirus, the eventing community is anxiously awaiting news about the fate of our own competitions. At the time of this publication, Copper Meadows H.T. (March 14-15 in Ramona, Calif.) is the only USEA recognized event to have been postponed or cancelled. Click here to view a rolling list of equestrian events worldwide that have been cancelled, postponed or closed to spectators.
Nine FEI events are scheduled to take place in the U.S. in March and April: Carolina International (March 19-22 in Raeford, North Carolina), Stable View Spring CCI (March 27-29), Galway Downs International (March 27-29), The Fork at TIEC (April 2-5 in Mill Spring, NC), CHC International at Chattahoochee Hills (April 3-5 in Fairburn, GA), Ocala International (April 9-12), Twin Rivers CCI & H.T. (April 9-12 in Paso Robles, CA), Fair Hill/5* Test Event (April 1o-12 in Elkton, MD), and the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event (April 22-26 in Lexington, KY).
Four of those events have issued statements in response to the coronavirus pandemic. We encourage you to keep an eye on their websites and social media channels for further updates.
“As news of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to increase concern throughout the United States, the Carolina International CCI and HT is on schedule to run on March 19-22, 2020. The Carolina Horse Park is working hard to ensure the safest environment for everyone that visits the Park. Moving forward Park Officials and the Carolina International Organizing Committee will continue to monitor information from the CDC, North Carolina Officials, and USEF as we move forward and consider additional steps as they may become mandated or necessary.
“To protect against exposure risk, the Park is taking all available precautions and following rigorous sanitary protocols. We encourage people that are feeling ill to remain at home. For those attending the event, please stay 6 feet away from other people when possible and wash your hands regularly. The use of hand sanitizer is a necessity and cleaning surfaces touched regularly by people is also highly recommended.
“The CI Organizing Committee is carefully following state health guidelines and is working proactively with healthcare liaisons, public officials and healthcare officials in the area as well as our safety coordinators to ensure we are in compliance with state regulations. The Carolina Horse Park looks forward to hosting our competitors, owners, and spectators on March 19 – 22.
“For more information, visit www.carolinainternationalcci.com or contact Jane Murray at 978.578.1043 or [email protected].”
“As concerns about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) have become daily news, Stable View would like to assure our supporters that our competitor’s interests are always our number one concern. To that end we will continue to adhere to the most stringent sanitary protocols, and follow advice from trusted veterinary and health professionals. At this time Stable View plans to run all scheduled hunter/jumper, eventing, and dressage events. However, should organizations such as the CDC, USEF, or other governing bodies issue statements that would mandate an event’s cancellation, Stable View is adopting a full-refund policy for all entry fees. In this, and all decisions made by Stable View, you should feel secure in your commitment of time and resources, knowing that we are here for the long-term, and hope that you are too.
“Please call 484-356-3173 or email [email protected] with questions.”
“With the recent developments on the COVID-19 and with the statement from the Governor in mind we will be taking these steps to ensure our upcoming Galway Downs International Horse Trials is a biosecure show with the health of the riders and horses as they are our number one priority.
“To coincide with the Governor’s recommendation we will be changing the schedule of our show to limit the amount of people on the grounds. In order to do this we will be splitting the divisions to run two separate shows, a Thursday-Friday show and then a Saturday-Sunday show. We are in the process of reworking the schedule and will send out an update once we have that finalized.
“We will also be closing the show to the public and only allowing competitors, family members, officials, and volunteers to attend. The volunteer meeting we normally have in the MD Barn will be hosted in a larger more open area. We will be canceling both our Welcome Party as well as our Competitor Party. We will be regularly disinfecting all public areas as well as providing hand washing stations at all common areas. In line with best practices if you are sick or have had contact with someone showing symptoms in line with the COVID-19 we ask that out of an abundance of caution you do not attend the event.
“We have a known audience that we trust to make the right decision on whether or not they are in proper health to attend the event. Galway Downs will be running a Live Stream for our FEI divisions for anyone who is not able to attend but wants to watch all the action.
“We look forward to seeing you all at the end of the month!”
“Since 1978 EEI has put on the Kentucky Three-Day Event every year without cancellation. We know the coronavirus and the travel ban have created a lot of questions and anxiety regarding this year’s event. We are closely monitoring the situation and in constant communication with state and local officials to determine the best path forward.
“As of today, March 12, the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event will continue as scheduled. We know how important this event is to our fans, our competitors, our organization and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. We have 41 days remaining before the event and a lot can change.
“Decisions EEI makes regarding the event will be made keeping in mind the health and well-being of our guests, our volunteers and our competitors. Should it become necessary for us to cancel the event, EEI will contact each of our ticketed customers with their available options.”
“…We are closely monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and we are getting regular updates from experts in the field as well as consulting with peers through our professional networks and organizations. We are taking extra precautions to ensure the health and safety of all Tryon Resort guests and employees.
“In response to the guidelines provided by NC Governor Roy Cooper, Tryon Resort’s March 14th events featuring The Cat in the Hat, Touch A Truck, and Community Yard Sale and the March 21st Viking Dash are cancelled. At this time, all other events on the calendar for this year are still planned to proceed as scheduled. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and make adjustments as needed. We will communicate any additional cancellations as decisions are made.”
Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam FBW. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
The Badminton Horse Trials social media team has been treating us to some throwback videos of past winners on cross country. If you missed the recent release of William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning’s winning round, click here to watch it.
Andrew Nicholson and Nereo. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.
This week, we have two more winner’s rounds for you to relive from the archives: Michael Jung’s 2016 win with La Biosthetique Sam as well as Andrew Nicholson’s win in 2017 aboard Nereo. These two legends of the sport will most certainly never be replaced, and it’s a privilege to have seen rides such as these during these two incredible horses’ careers. Enjoy!
This week our Wednesday lunchtime video treat is the 2017 winner's cross country round – a brilliant round featuring an all-star commentary team to boot! Partnered with Nereo, Andrew Nicholson finally won his first #BadmintonHorseTrials title after 36 attempts. What a performance it was and made for a truly memorable Badminton.If you want to come and witness the incredible atmosphere of Badminton for yourself this year, make sure you buy your tickets before our Early Bird Discount ends at the end of March. You can book online now via: bit.ly/BHT_tickets2020
Last week we shared William Fox-Pitt Eventing's fantastic 2015 cross country performance with Chilli Morning.Today's Wednesday lunchtime treat is a return to German rider Michael Jung's 2016 storming cross country round with La Biosthetique-Sam FBW.They went on to jump a superb clear in the final Show Jumping phase to not only secure the Badminton trophy, but also the ROLEX Gram Slam – the most valuable prize in Eventing – for consecutively winning Burghley, Kentucky and then Badminton Horse Trials. Not only is it wonderful to watch 'Michi' and Sam's breathtaking round but it is lovely to hear the wonderful voice of our much missed friend, Mike Tucker.
Cribbing, also known as crib biting, aerophagia and wind sucking, is a behavioral situation in which the horse is most likely relieving stress. Historically we thought was that horses cribbed to receive a high or euphoria but, new studies (which vary) suggest that a horse cribs for stress relief.
Cribbing happens when a horse puts its front incisors over an edge (such as a board) and pulls back, arching his neck, and sometimes ‘taking in’ air.
A long time ago, cribbing was considered an unsoundness. In 1889, a colt that cribbed was returned from Scotland to Belgium (no small journey) because it was deemed unsound as a ‘crib-biter’. Interestingly, wild horse/horses observed in the wild do not crib. Yep, we ‘caused’ it!
So, what are some causes of cribbing?
Horse management/maintenance: Long stretches of time with no forage and little to no interactions (boredom and stress).
Possibly genetic predisposition: Some horses may inherit their cribbing behavior; these horses start cribbing at a young age. Thoroughbreds, more than warmbloods and Quarter Horses, and possibly following certain bloodlines (per a Japanese study of 1,500 Thoroughbreds with a 1 percent rate of cribbing, but 7 or 8 percent within certain bloodlines), may be more prone to this habit.
Diet: High grain diet/low forage. Especially when this is started at a young age, this seems to increase the frequency of a young horse starting to crib.
Pain: Likely related to confinement after an injury.
Is it contagious?
Apparently not, since many companions of cribbers do not take up the habit. Companionship can help reduce cribbing and is a suggested management step.
How to manage the cribbing?
Cribbing has been called a behavioral disorder, and a harmful addiction; however, thoughts on this are changing. Rather than attempting to stop or curb the behavior, letting the horse crib is growing. The following are steps recommended to limit cribbing.
Keeping forage available all the time, which is, after all, what nature intended
Having companionship for the horse – can be a goat, chicken etc.
Reducing surfaces that the horse can ‘latch’ onto are becoming more accepted practices.
Cribbing collars are an option and have been widely used. There are several types, but they do not eliminate the urge, they just make the action of cribbing painful or uncomfortable. Some consider this option tormenting, due to the thought that a horse cribs for stress relief, as opposed to an addiction that they might become ‘weaned from’.
Is cribbing harmful to the horse?
Cribbing may result in increased colic, gastric ulcers, weight loss, wearing down of the upper incisors (checking these teeth is a quick way to check to see if a horse cribs), under development of some neck muscles and over development of others, weight loss/eating challenges, damage to fences, barn, etc., and flatulence.
The above problems all fall in the category of damage; however, the degree must be weighed against the value of the horse. For example, is this horse a fantastic babysitter for your other horses or for his/her rider? Is this horse a great performance horse? Is this horse a great producer? Is this horse your unicorn? Does this horse show great promise? Look hard enough and you will find a blemish in everything. Okay, so with cribbing we do not have to look hard, but is it really a reason to turn away? In the past, multiple horses that led in their sport were cribbers… many major competitions, including the Olympics, would very likely have been different if those horses were passed over due to their cribbing.
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Following an announcement this morning from California Governor Gavin Newsom urging the cancellation or postponement of non-essential gatherings through at least the end of March, Copper Meadows Horse Trials (Ramona, Ca.) has announced it will not run this weekend in an email sent to competitors:
“The California Department of Public Health banned the non-essential gatherings of 250 or more people last night. And after checking the footing and the weather forecast (calling for more rain), the decision was made to not hold the event this weekend and look into the possibility of alternative dates.”
Copper had consolidated the weekend’s event into a two-day format in anticipation of heavy rainfall hammering southern California this week. Further updates will be provided on the status of postponement. The cancellation comes as the latest in a wave of equestrian events and other large group events that have announced postponements or abandonment as an effect of the worldwide spread of the coronavirus COVID-19. The NBA announced the suspension of its season following last night’s games, and Major League Baseball announced the suspension of operations this afternoon.
For more of the latest news on equestrian events affected by COVID-19, click here.
Blyth Tait and Xanthus III. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
While competing at the Land Rover Horse of the Year Show in Hastings, New Zealand this week, eventing legend and four-time Olympian Blyth Tait announced his retirement from the sport at the age of 58.
“The likelihood of me competing again overseas is unlikely, I’m very happy to hand over the reins to the younger ones coming through and I support them fully,” Blyth said in a press conference at the HOY show. “There is a bright future and still some serious young talent out there.”
Blyth Tait enjoyed a career worth a thousand stories, first splashing onto the international scene in the 90s with an individual and a team gold medal in Stockholm at the 1990 FEI World Equestrian Games aboard Messiah. Blyth went on to win four Olympic medals and also finished first and second in a dramatic Burghley competition in 1998. He would also win Burghley for a second time in 2001 with perhaps his best-known partner, Reddy Teddy.
Blyth hung up his boots once before, following the 2004 Olympics, spending some time as a coach and team manager for the Kiwi team through the 2006 WEG and 2008 Olympics, but returned to have a second go at the top levels in 2011. We were privileged to see Blyth come to the U.S. to compete at Kentucky in 2016 with Xanthus III. Not to worry, as we certainly haven’t seen the last of the New Zealand rider in the irons — he says he’ll be doing some show jumping going forward.
Many thanks and cheers for the memories, Blyth. It’s been a true honor. Enjoy a few highlight reels from Blyth’s storied career:
We are saddened to hear that Catalpa Corner Charity Horse Trials will no longer be hosting USEA recognized horse trials. The Area IV event, founded in 2007 in Iowa City, Iowa, offered Starter through Prelim divisions and had two events planned for 2020: its May Madness H.T. on May 2 and its Charity H.T. on Aug. 1-2.
You can read a wonderful profile of the event via the USEA’s “Events A-Z” series here.
From a post on Catalpa Corner’s Facebook page on Wednesday:
“With a heavy heart but clear conscious, please note that CCCHT has withdrawn from USEA recognized competition in Area IV. We are an aging population of labor, and it has become too physically strenuous with accidents/trauma waiting to happen.
“Honestly, this past weekend as I was planning the jumps for the cross country course, having moved approx 75 plus obstacles, I had a near fatal accident with the Bobcat trying to elevate and move a 12 foot oak log. No matter how many wonderful CCCHT volunteers that come and go, I am usually alone working on the farm with heavy equipment, and despite common sense and a healthy paranoia, situations just got out of hand.
“My family has was wanted us to pull back our commitments and obligations, and the time has come. I am confident Area IV will continue to thrive with new venues emerging and expanding events in the future. Catalpa Corner will continue to be open for schooling. We at CCCHT wish you all the best and thank you for the wonderful memories.”
EN salutes the dedicated group of people who have worked tirelessly to put on this event for so many years. For more information about Catalpa Corner, visit the website here. Go Eventing.
Just living my best dog and pony life in the warm spring weather. Photo by Kate Samuels.
I got excited about a warm spring day this week and had an afternoon free, so I set out with my dog and my thoroughbred, and hit the trails. Lucky for me, I have access to a few thousand acres of trails right out my backyard, and it was so perfect. Unluckily, a group of angry dogs from another farm resulted in a detour that made the ride slightly, uh, longer than expected. Like three-and-a-half hours long. My horse needed a day of rest after his day of hacking.
Tamie Smith has announced the retirement of 2018 top 15 Kentucky finisher Wembley. The 17-year-old Dutch gelding, owned by Kevin Baumgartner, was originally competed by Tim Price before heading stateside, where Kevin competed him through four-star and Tamie through five-star. “When you decide a horse needs to retire typically it is because they are lame or just very old. Wembley isn’t that old yet, and he’s sound, but Kevin and Gretchen have decided that Wembley proved more than he needed to and how better to retire a horse than when they are sound and happy.” [Next Level Eventing]
In honor of International Women’s Day, EquiRatings is airing a full week of interviews with women in eventing sport. Guests thus far include: Sue Baxter, who has been on the Ground Jury at all six of the world’s 5* events; Pippa Roome, magazine editor of Horse & Hound; and EN’s own Leslie Wylie. [Equiratings Podcast]
Heading to Kentucky in April? You and a friend might just win a chance to walk the 5* show jumping course with a rider, a renowned owner or trainer, or an equestrian celebrity on Sunday prior to the competition! Thanks to Hagyard Pharmacy, this could be your life. To enter, you just have to like Hagyard Pharmacy on Facebook, and fill out a short survey. [Enter to Win Showjump Coursewalk]
What are the chances of equine twins? Low. The chances of TWO sets of equine twins from the same mare?? Teeny teeny tiny. But Irish Sport Horse mare Destiny delivered a healthy pair of twins in 2018, and again this year. Both times, the twins were not perceived on the pregnancy scans, but came as a surprise. [Mare Has Two Successive Sets of Twins]
The effects of COVID-19 have begun to impact the equestrian world, and leave our competition season in question. We have compiled a list of competitions that have been modified or cancelled across the globe, categorized by country. We will keep this updated so you can plan accordingly. [Events Cancelled/Modified Due To COVID-19]
Featured Video: Nearly $100,000 has been raised in the past week and a half toward the implementation of frangible technology nationwide thanks to YOUR incredible generosity. Let’s keep the momentum going. [USEA Frangible Fence Research] [Frangible Fences for Eventing US GoFundMe] Speaking of Jon, tune in at 6 p.m. tonight for a new edition of The Jon and Rick Show, with special guests Elisa Wallace and Timothy Harfield.
We’ll take every opportunity to learn from the best, so we love that Jackie Potts, award-winning Head Groom to William Fox Pitt, is sharing some of her trick of the trade via the Fox Pitt Equestrian YouTube Channel.
This week she talks to us about Manuka honey, which is a honey native to New Zealand and Australia and well-regarded for its antibacterial properties. Jackie finds its use for treating wounds particularly useful for two reasons: First, she’s noted that the hair over the wound tends to grow back pigmented as opposed to white. Second, it can safely be used at the corners of the mouth if you notice a horse is starting to get bit rubs.
Thanks for sharing, Jackie!
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