Classic Eventing Nation

Tuesday Video from Flexible Fit Equestrian USA: GPE at Bruce’s Field on Demand

By on Mar 3, 2020 5:16 pm -

If you missed any of the action from the $50,000 LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve rounded up every second of the coverage from EQTV Network, so you can watch it right here on demand.

We’d like to give a huge thank you to the team at EQTV for their brilliant wall-to-wall coverage! Click here to catch up on all the EN coverage from Aiken.

Go eventing.

Grand Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field: Website, Results, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

An Interview with Liz Halliday-Sharp: 

Congratulations to @lizhallidaysharp on her win at the @grandprix_eventing showcase today!

Posted by EQTV Network on Saturday, February 29, 2020

Cross Country: 

Cross Country from the 2020 LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing at Bruce's Field. Watch the Aiken Eventing Showcase live and on demand at EQTVNetwork.com.

Posted by EQTV Network on Saturday, February 29, 2020

Show Jumping: 

Show Jumping at the 2020 LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing at Bruce's Field! Watch the Aiken Eventing Showcase live and on demand at EQTVNetwork.com.

Posted by EQTV Network on Friday, February 28, 2020

Dressage:

We’re back after the lunch break for the 2020 LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing at Bruce's Field, with Dressage Part 2. Watch the Aiken Eventing Showcase live and on demand at EQTVNetwork.com.

Posted by EQTV Network on Friday, February 28, 2020

2020 LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing at Bruce's Field Dressage Part 1. Watch the Aiken Eventing Showcase live and on demand at EQTVNetwork.com.

Posted by EQTV Network on Friday, February 28, 2020

Flexible Fit Equestrian: Redefining Comfort & Quality at an Affordable Price. Learn more at www.ffequestrian.com.au. 

Three Productive Safety Discussions Happening on Facebook NOW

By on Mar 3, 2020 4:56 pm -

Social media’s ability to facilitate communication cuts both ways. We’ve all seen comment threads driven off the deep end of rational discourse by rising tensions and personal attacks. But we’ve also seen threads where the comments work like building blocks, a constructive place for collaborative thought and a pathway to action.

In the wake of the latest horse and rider fatality as a result of a cross country accident, Facebook’s eventing community has been aflutter not only condolences and support, but with also with important discussions about how to make our sport safer. By and large — and I believe this is a reflection of the eventing spirit — they are positive and productive. Even though we may have differing opinions, we are all invested in working together to maintain the health of our sport. The comments on EN’s own Facebook page are an example of this.

Social media harnesses the collective consciousness, which can be so powerful when channeled in a positive direction. Jon Holling’s call to action for frangible technology fundraising was re-shared nearly 800 times. A Frangible Fences for Eventing in the U.S. GoFundMe subsequently established raised over $45,000 in the span of 24 hours, with donations still pouring in ($55,000 as of 5 p.m. Tuesday) and more being directed to the USEA’s Frangible Fence Research initiative. The generosity of our eventing community is incredible, but we wouldn’t be able to leverage it without social media connecting us together.

As we have said many times before, the issue of safety has many moving parts. The large-scale implementation of frangible technology is vitally important, but the conversation is so much larger and more complicated than just this piece of it. Here are three Facebook posts we found particularly compelling this week, and which sparked some thought-provoking comments.

I love this sport, but we have to do something. Yesterday on Eventing Nation, Maggie Deatrick put it all on the table:…

Posted by Abby Foltz on Tuesday, March 3, 2020

I’m for revolution. But I’m one voice screaming in the wilderness. “We need the attitude that all aspects of safety…

Posted by Re Holly on Monday, March 2, 2020

Hi everyone.
Safety is important and I along with many others will support the incredible Jonathan Holling in his…

Posted by Sara Kozumplik Murphy on Sunday, March 1, 2020

Now it’s up to us to move those ideas from the digital arena into the real world. This, too, I believe we can and will accomplish, if we continue to work together as a united front.

What can you do to keep the discussion going?  Email the USEA. Attend the 2020 Convention. Join a committee. Make a donation. Talk to barn mates, event organizers, your local combined training association, and the people in your barn aisle at your next event. Making eventing safer is going to take a collective effort, and we can all play a part.

$20K Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Live Updates: A Hat Trick for Will Coleman!

By on Mar 3, 2020 1:30 pm -

It is once again time for the $20K Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational held at Max Corcoran and Scott Keach’s beautiful Southern Cross Equestrian in Ocala, Florida. Today we look forward to watching 34 talented pairs take on Chris Barnard’s 1.30m track.

Consider this your base camp for all the action today. We’ve got the live stream included abocve and we’ll be running by the minute updates, so keep refreshing this page for the latest. You can find the entries/order of go at this link.

Of course you can also watch the action live thanks to EQTV. The action starts at 2 p.m.

4:12 Well done Will Coleman! Here’s the tentative standings:

1st: Will Coleman & TKS Cooley

2nd: Karl Slezak & Fernhill Wishes

3rd: Mia Farley & BGS Firecracker

4th: Collen Loach & FE Golden Eye

5th: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver

6th: Lauren Nicholson & Paramount Importance

4:11 Colleen has just the one rail and a time of 41.420.

4:11 Colleen takes down the second fence. Will has officially won this thing for the third time!

4:10 Final rider in the ring. Here goes Colleen Loach.

4:10 They also drop the front rail on the final fence. Their time is 42.818.

4:09 The angle catches them out at fence two and the rail falls.

4:09 Rebecca Brown starts out at breakneck speed. Here we go!

4:08 Monster takes down the back rail of the in and out. They finish with the four jump faults in a time of 44.438.

4:07 Liz Halliday-Sharp is next up. Can she beat Will?

4:06 Mia takes a risky inside turn to the fourth element, but they take down the back rail with a back leg. Her time is 41.400.

4:06 BGS Firecracker has a lot of opinions today! The two are flying.

4:05 Let’s go Mia Farley!

4:04 Dang, Allie pushes for it but misses at the brown oxer and takes it down. They only have that one rail and a time of 45.547.

4:04 Here goes Allie Knowles and Ms. Poppins. She slices to the second fence and gets very lucky.

4:03 A clear for Will!! The time to beat is officially 42.258. He’s put the pressure on.

4:02 He’s clear throught he EquiJets fence

4:02 Will Coleman and TKS Cooley won here last year. Can they do it again?

4:01 Ultimately three come down for Hallie Coon. She has those 12 jump penalties in addition to a time of 42.793.

4:01 The brown owner (7) also falls for Hallie

4:00 Hallie Coon started off all rockets, but she paid the price by taking the rail over fence 1.

3:59 Karl Slezak also falls victim to the EquiJets vertical. He finishes with just the one rail and a time of 41.073.

3:58 One comes down for Lauren — the EquiJets vertical. Her time is 45.615.

3:57 Lauren looks like she’s opting to take more direct lines, but not increase the speed too much. Let’s see if it pays off.

3:57 Let’s go Lauren! She and Paramount Importance head for the first one.

3:56 Dang. Sharon has another fall. That’s 8 jump penalties in a time of 44.832.

3:55 The rail for fence 7 (5th fence of the jump off) falls.

3:54 Here we go! The jump off is underway. Sharon White and Claus 63 are first up. Time allowed is 50 seconds, but really this is fastest wins.

3:37 Here’s who you can expect in the jump off: Colleen Loach, Rebecca Brown, Karl Slezak, Allie Knowles, Liz Halliday-Sharp, Mia Farley, Will Coleman, Lauren Nicholson, Hallie Coon, and Sharon White. We’re on a break now then we will be underway again!

3:36 Collen makes it happen to jump clear! She’s the final rider added to the jump off.

3:35 Colleen is working for it! FE Golden Eye has a spook in him today.

3:34 Here’s our final pair: Colleen Loach and Fe Golden Eye

3:34 We’ve got another coming to the jump off! Great round for Rebecca Brown and Dasset Choice.

3:32 Leslie Law sees two rails fall during his round with Voltare de Tre

3:29 Liz goes clear in a blazing 72.228. That’s good enough for second place at the moment.

3:29 Liz and Monster are flying! This lady does not go to school, she goes to win.

3:28 Fresh off her win at Bruce’s Field, Liz Halliday-Sharp is on course with Cooley Quicksilver.

3:27 Charlotte finishes with two down and four time penalties.

3:25 Charlotte Collier and Clifford M look pretty in pink! They’re clear so far, but they rubbed fence 3.

3:25 Holly has only the one down with a time of 73.2 for 13th place at the moment.

3:23 Holly Jacks Smither and More Inspiration drop a rail at fence four, a vertical.

3:22 Bummer about the one fence down. She has a time of  77.981.

3:22 The oxer at seven falls. They just got a little too much momentum coming toward it.

3:21 Alyssa picks back up and goes clear over fence three. It’s a big oxer to take after a break.

3:20 Whoops, fence three falls as Alyssa jumps over two. The bell rings as they reset it.

3:19 Caroline finishes clear with two time penalties, so she won’t be in the jump off. Now let’s welcome Alysa Phillips and Oskar.

3:17 Next up is Caroline Martin. They’ve rubbed a few from the start, but so far clear.

3:17 Mia is now the seventh person to join the jump off group after a beautiful round.

3:15 We are back on track. Mia Farley and BGS Firecracker get the final group started. They’re clear through six.

3:07 We’re on another drag break and then we will have 10 more pairs to jump.

3:05 Beautiful, beautiful effort from Allie! She moves on to the jump off. Their time of 70.761 seconds is also the fastest clear so far — keep your eye on her for the jump off!

3:04 Allie Knowles and Ms. Poppins have just a little rub on the first fence, but she’s certainly got her foot on the pedal today.

3:02 Jennie Brannigan and Ibella jump clear, but a time of 78.1 keeps them out of the jump off. Those two time penalties were expensive.

3:01 Two came down for Melissa. They had a time of 71.052.

3:01 Weeeee! Jalando takes a long one to the oxer at 7.

2:59 Melissa Boutin EWSZ Jalando are off and clear through three.

2:58 The plank fence comes down for Elisa. What a bummer. They had a time of 74.222.

2:57 I hear some big cheers for Elisa Wallace and Simply Priceless.

2:56 That’s a shame — they take the rail at the oxer at 7. That was their only fault. Their time of 71.377 is the fastest four-faulter, so they could be in the money. They’re sixth at the moment.

2:55 From Canada, now we welcome Shelby Brost and Crimson. They’re clear over the first two, which have proved a little tricky so far today. Fence two is a vertical that heads straight toward the VIP tent.

2:54 Abigail carries on.  She takes a few more rails down with her, but I have to say she certainly kept riding better and better as she went. As Jon Holling said, “she will definitely learn something from this today.”

2:53 Abigail has three rails fall before having a stop at the middle element at the triple. They got a bit close to the first element, and couldn’t quite make up the distance.

2:51 Abigail Niles is now starting with Carrick Finest Lad.

2:51 Dang — Clayton taps fence 13 the EquiJets vertical.

2:50 Clayton opts to add an extra stride ahead of the liverpool at 6, which has been a popular choice among these riders.

2:48 Now we have Australian rider Clayton Fredericks in the ring with a pretty perfect shot into fence 1.

2:48 A clear round for Will Coleman puts them in the lineup for the jump off.

2:47 That was a close call at fence two. TKS Cooley is definitely giving some air time!

2:45 Here’s a big round: defending champions Will Coleman and TKS Cooley. He’s just taking a little walk around the arena because wind has blown over fence 11. He will start after it’s reset.

2:44 Kimmy Cecere and Lankmark’s Monaco knock the rail on fence 2, but have an otherwise lovely round.

2:43 It’s been a while since we saw a clear round, but remember: after those in the jump off are placed, the standings will go to the four-faulters who are the fastest. So far Sara Murphy is the fastest of those with one rail.

2:42 Bummer! The rail on 13 — a vertical — is knocked for Meg and Anakin.

2:41 Meg Kepferle has a lovely start with the Thoroughbred Anakin. They’re clear so far through fence 4.

2:39 Oof the planks ahead of the triple at fence 5 come down. We will not see our past winner in the jump off. Sara did come in at 72.8 seconds, so it looks like the time is being pretty easily achieved by this bunch today.

2:38 Sara Kozumplik Murphy trots around the ring now with the gorgeous Rubens D’Ysieux.

2:38 Shannon looks thrilled with her horse. It was a lovely effort with just the one unlucky rail.

2:37 Fence number three, the Buckeye oxer falls when they drift ever so slightly to the right.

2:35 We’re just finished with the drag break, and now we welcome Shannon Baker and Balligowen Zeal.

2:28 We’re on a drag break now. So far we have four going to the jump off: Sharon White, Lauren Nicholson, Karl Slezak and Hallie Coon.

2:26 Hallie Coon comes in just under the time. She jumped clear in 76.067 seconds.

2:25 Hallie Coon got a little lucky at the second one. This pair might be a littler close to the time.

2:23 Kylie Lyman took down the last vertical in the triple to add four faults with Da Vinci Code.

2:21 That will be a time of 75.996 for Michael, but one falling keeps him out of the jump off.

2:20 Irish pair Michael Nolan SRS Picasso are now starting.

2:19 Two down drops Sinead from the jump off, but her time of 73.5 is good.

2:18 Now we welcome Sinead Maynard and Cutty Sark

2:17 Jessie makes the time, coming in at 74.433, but does take one down.

2:17 Next up, Jessica Phoenix and Watson GS for Canada.

2:16 Ariel Aharoni and Dutch Times put in a beautiful effort, but just knock the middle down in the triple.

2:13 They drop on pesky rail, so they’ll be out of the jump off, but their time of 73.082 is good.

2:12 New mother Ellie O’Neal is in great form with Zick Zack.

2:10 Riding for Canada, Karl Slezak also has a clear round.

2:08 Lauren will advance to the jump off after a clear round.

2:07 Lauren Nicholson is in now Paramount Importance.

2:05 p.m. Second rider Anna Loschiavo has come out of the tack after a miscommunication with Fernhill That Guy Jack. She gets caught in the stirrup but thankfully both separate without issue.

2:04 p.m. Sharon had a foot perfect round. She finished with a time of 74.69, well inside the time of 77 seconds.

2:03 p.m. Beautifully done through the triple for Sharon. This one is set on a one stride to a one stride making it a bit more difficult.

2:00 p.m. First up we have Sharon White and Claus 63. It’s looking very windy in Ocala!

1:30 p.m. Here’s the entries:

This Is How We Save Lives, and Our Sport

By on Mar 3, 2020 12:30 pm -

A table at former event venue Richland Park fitted with frangible technology in memorial to Philippa Humphreys, who died from injuries sustained in a rotational fall at Jersey Fresh in 2016. Collapsible and deformable fence construction has come a long way even in the past four years — and now it’s time for us to put it to large-scale use. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

We’ve come a long way in making our sport safer, but we’re not done. Not even close.

The subject of safety is nuanced and multifaceted. At the end of the day, it’s about personal responsibility. We must ride well. We must be well-educated by coaches who are honest about our abilities. We must make good decisions. Our courses must be well designed.

But not one rider on the planet is immune to making a mistake. Bad decisions will happen, no matter what stopgaps — qualifications, risk indexes, rules, watch lists — are in place to prevent them. Riders will press their luck. Horses will miss. Accidents will happen, but when they do it shouldn’t cost us our lives, or the lives of our horses.

Data from national and international competitions. Graphic by EN.

There must be a safeguard in place, a buffer between a serious wake-up call and a funeral. That safeguard is frangible technology.

To be very clear, frangible technology is not a solution in and of itself or a substitute for good riding. It does not take away a rider’s responsibility to jump cleanly and maintain a healthy respect for the fence. But it IS a safety net. And now that the technology exists, there’s no excuse for it not to be put in place wherever applicable on every single cross country course.

Sure, money is an obstacle to making that happen, and the USEA does allocate funds that provide grants to competitions (about $26,000 a year) so that they can adapt the technology, but it’s not nearly enough to make the needed changes at a quick enough rate. So how do we expedite the process?

We save lives, and our sport, ourselves. And we do that by putting our money where our mouth is.

In the wake of the latest horse and rider fatality as a result of a cross country accident, Jon Holling, Chair of the USEA’s Cross Country Safety Committee, emphasizes that we can’t just wait around for somebody else to make eventing safer.

Our sport’s national and international governing bodies are doing all they can, as quickly as they can, but as Jon says, “It’s not just up to them. It’s up to all of us. I’m tired of watching of watching us die because we make a mistake when there’s technology that can help. We don’t need to do it anymore. There’s no excuse when we know there is technology out there that we know can make us safer.”

Now he is calling on us all to help.

The timeline: three years.

The goal: Starting with tables, any fence that can be frangible in some way would be made so at the Preliminary level and above.

The cost: $500,000+. View a breakdown of that cost estimate here. “It’s going to take more than $500,000, but that’s a good start,” Jon says.

“To have the technology out there that can make it that a table collapses when a rider makes a mistake and not use it is just inexcusable, and we can’t do it anymore,” Jon says. “So let’s get the money together, and let’s make it to where we don’t have to be jumping around over fences that we know can be made safer.”

Do you want this to be the last cross country fatality we ever see? Two ways you can help make that a reality:

  • Donate to USEA’s Frangible Fence Research initiative. Click here to make your secure, tax-deductible donation, earmarked for Frangible Fence Research, today.
  • A fundraising effort organized by Emily Holmes and Andy Bowles as co-chairs, Robert Kellerhouse, Jon Holling, Leslie Law, Kyle Carter and Doug Payne has, in its first 24 hours online, already raised more than the USEA is able to allocate in frangible grants each year. All funds received from this campaign will be given directly to organizers throughout the country who run events at the Preliminary level and above. Visit the GoFundMe here or via the widget below.

In the wake of a tragedy, our generous community tends to be quick to open our hearts and our wallets — there is a significant bump in donations following the death of a horse or rider, no doubt. But how do we keep the funds coming in?

Jaclyn Burke, a Maryland-based eventer who has competed through the three-star level, has an idea.

After witnessing an accident last fall, Jaclyn took it upon herself to do her part to make a difference. “I run a business, I have event horses, I’m trying to get back to the upper levels. But we need to make it safe and we need to do whatever we can. It will never be 100% safe, but the technology is there so we need to rally and raise the money in whatever creative ways we can.”

Jaclyn attended all the safety meetings at the 2019 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in December, and saw firsthand the innovation that was being brought to the table. For example: the new frangible device that Dan Michael, an amateur eventer and retired aerospace engineer, has been distributing to course designers, which would be broadly applicable to many types of fences and alleviate many of the limitations of the current mechanisms on the market.

Dan Michael’s device is essentially a spring inside a cylinder — the spring’s compression can be adjusted to account for the weight of the log or rail that it holds and to change the amount of force required for the device to release. A rounded protrusion at the end of the device next to the rail or log sits in a cup on the log. Force that hits the log/rail pushes the protrusion into the spring and releases the device. The “ball and socket” connection of the device to the log means that it will trigger with force at any angle. Says Dan, “We have to build all of our jumps with the idea of conservation of momentum. When a rider hits a jump, the force is distributed and the weakest link needs to be the frangible break point.” Photo by Abby Powell.

“One thing I saw at the convention was that what is hard about this is that it is expensive, and that is what has held it back,” Jaclyn says, referring to Jon’s video as a call to action. “We as a group need to come together to raise the funds, because there is no reason that these tables shouldn’t have the technology that we have.”

Jaclyn started doing the fundraising math, and a possible solution presented itself: a nominal amount that riders would pay as part of their entry fee that would go toward funding the installation of frangible devices. Those small contributions would add up, even far surpassing Jon’s goal of $500,000.

She ran the numbers from 2019. “At a nominal fee between $5-20 dollars, you are looking at roughly $130,000 a year. You increase that slightly to $10-25 and get close to $200,000 depending on starters. Over a three to five year period we could make a serious dent in adding frangible technology to our courses,” she says.

That is, potentially, a million dollars by 2025. 

Calculations of last year’s starters and the nominal fee and the potential revenue for frangible devices, by Jaclyn Burke.

Basically, she explains, it’s a pay-to-play system. The higher level you compete, the higher “fee” you pay toward frangible technology. Any USEF recognized level must pay into the fund at each and every competition. Like the drug/medication fee to the USEF, you have to pay a “line item” on your entry toward frangible technology. This money doesn’t go into the organizers pocket necessarily, but gets managed through a fund to then allocate money towards events, starters, etc. It would be a way to monitor that the fee is being spent appropriately.

“There is also a psychological effect that as a ‘rider, trainer, owner’ I understand what this is going toward and why it is important,” Jaclyn says. “Frankly if we all want to participate in the sport, we all need to contribute. I know this may be an issue in the foreseeable future as the making it mandatory and getting it passed by USEF, so in the time being if you have an option to opt out, you wouldn’t have to pay.”

It shouldn’t be difficult to have a software writer write it into entry systems like Event Entries and Xentry, and Jaclyn even volunteered to pay for the cost of having it developed as a field on the entry form.

“Not only have we lost lives, we’re risking losing the sport we love too,” Jaclyn says. “I hate to think where the sport will be in five to 10 years if we don’t take action today.”

Abby Powell contributed to this report.

 

Weekly OTTB Wishlist Presented by Cosequin: Rest In Peace, A.P. Indy

By on Mar 3, 2020 11:00 am -

The racing — and sport horse — world lost a legend last month, with the passing of A.P. Indy at the age of 31. If you’ve ever looked up a Thoroughbred’s pedigree on Equineline, chances are that you’ll have seen his name a generation or two back. The stately stallion, who won close to $3 million in 11 races, has been an influential sire for many other race horses and sport horses alike.

There are a number of his progeny running around cross country courses across the nation; for example, if we take a quick look at the Retired Racehorse Project’s user-driven database the Thoroughbred Sport Tracker, there are 60 horses who have A.P. Indy for a grandsire out of the 991 registered as eventers. Of course, we can point out a few particularly recognizable event horse names as well such as Andrea Baxter’s Indy 500 (My Gifted Indyanna), Phillip Dutton’s Sea of Clouds, Leah Lang-Gluscic’s AP Prime, and Jon Holling’s Ragtime Rebel.

In honor of A.P. Indy, this week we’re featuring three geldings who can trace their lineage to one of the most notable stallions of all time:

Shipsandgoods. Photo via New Vocations Racehorse Adoption.

Shipsandgoods (PATRIOT ACT – AIR MAIL, BY GULCH): 2013 16.0-hand New York-bred gelding

With A.P. Indy as his grandsire, Shipsandgoods made 30 career starts over the last four years though he only earned a modest $55,731 in total. Known around the barn as “Captain,” this came to New Vocations through NYTHA’s TAKE THE LEAD Program and they’ve found him to be a friendly and personable horse who enjoys attention. He’s also a forward moving and forward thinking ride who has the making of a great sport horse with consistent training.

Located in Gansevoort, New York.

View Shipsandgoods on New Vocations Racehorse Adoption.

Garey Park. Photo via Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center.

Garey Park (TRAPPE SHOT – EVANGELICAL, BY SPEIGHTSTOWN): 2014 15.3-hand New York-bred gelding

Garey Park made his way to the Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center directly from his owner and race trainer, who wanted to be sure their horse had only the best opportunity at a second career after his 21 races and $50,243 in winnings. Being a Tapit grandson, A.P. Indy is four generations back in his pedigree. This six-year-old is described as having a “busy mind.” He doesn’t have a lot of confidence in his new environment yet, but his caretakers can tell that eventually he’ll thrive in an environment with lots of interesting new questions and challenges as he’s naturally curious and loves learning.

Located in Lexington, Kentucky.

View Garey Park on Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center.

Total Access. Photo via CANTER Maryland.

Total Access (FREEDOM CHILD – MORE EVERYTHING, BY GHOSTZAPPER): 2017 16.1-hand Texas-bred gelding

Total Access looks like the total package with his fun flashy chrome and lovely sport horse type. According to his connections he’s completely sound and has no injuries as he “doesn’t run fast enough to hurt himself.” He earned $24,640 in his 12 career starts. Total Access’ grandsire, Malibu Moon, who is a son of A.P. Indy, is said be a sought after event horse sire.

Located in Maryland.

View Total Access on CANTER Maryland.

Who Jumped It Best? GPE at Bruce’s Field Edition

By on Mar 3, 2020 9:00 am -

It’s time for another round of Who Jumped It Best? This edition takes us to Aiken, S.C. for the Grand-Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field. We caught a few of the finishers over fence 15, the Hitchcock Woods Memorial Gate.

Now you get to be the judge. Put on your equitation hat and decide which horse and rider present the best overall picture by voting in the poll at the bottom of this post.

Grand Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field: Website, Ride Times, Live Scores, Tickets, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Will Faudree and Caeleste. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Mike Pendleton and Steadie Eddie Photo by Shelby Allen.

Phillip Dutton and Z. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Anna Loschiavo and Spartacus Q. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Tuesday News & Notes from Legends Horse Feeds

By on Mar 3, 2020 12:01 am -

Photo via Kat Morel’s Facebook Page.

If you spend any time reading EN today (aside from this News & Notes post) I implore you to give Maggie Deatrick’s ‘A Plea for Transparency‘ a read. Let’s keep pushing and fighting to keep this sport safe and sustainable.

“USEF, USEA, can you hear us? Are you investigating? Are you looking into these deaths behind closed doors? Is our sport learning anything from these deaths? And if we are, will you please let us also learn?

I know nothing about what led to the deaths of these women. I cannot learn from their tragedies and cannot take measures to ensure that I do not share their fate for the same reasons. I do not know if there is a common thread or if each died due to different factors.

I might be making the same mistakes. I might die because of them.

Please let me learn, so that I might not become one of these women.”

Go eventing.

National Holiday: National Mulled Wine Day

Events Opening This Week: Sporting Days Farm April H.T. III, River Glen Spring H.T., Holly Hill H.T., Fresno County Horse Park H.T., St. Johns H.T., Plantation Field April H.T.

Events Closing This Week: Carolina International CCI and H.T., Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks, Poplar Place Farm March H.T., Southern Arizona H.T.

Tuesday News: 

The latest USEA podcast is out! Listen here: [USEA Podcast #252: Marching in on the Season]

This horse is definitely up on the latest fashions. As you know, big sunnies are in. [Behind The Photo: Cool Shades Bro]

Hot on Horse Nation: Forging New Paths: Morehouse College Forms Polo Club

Tuesday Video: Some footage from Twin:

Get an Early Preview of Mike Etherington-Smith’s Red Hills Cross Country Courses

By on Mar 2, 2020 3:00 pm -

The first FEI event of the young East coast season is just around the corner at Red Hills International in Tallahassee, Florida. The picturesque north Florida venue will play host to CCI2* through CCI4* competitors while also running national levels from Preliminary through Advanced.

CrossCountryApp has released a preview of all FEI courses designed by Mike Etherington-Smith. Just a few changes on the CCI4* track from the 2019 version, the course as always taking a meandering path through the forest cloaked in Spanish moss.

Keep an eye on the below course maps, as CrossCountryApp will be updating them in the coming days with photos of decorated jumps as well as audio from Mike E-S. Many thanks to Red Hills event director Jane Barron for taking the time to record these walks.

Red Hills Horse Trials: [Website][Entries]

Take a look at the CCI4*-S course:

CCI3*-S course:

CCI2*-S course:

A Plea For Transparency

By on Mar 2, 2020 1:12 pm -

Clockwise from top left: Nicole Villers-Amatt, Melanie Tallent, Ashley Stout, Katharine Morel, Philippa Humphreys, Jeffie Chapin.

I didn’t know Katharine Morel. She was based in western Canada. I live in the eastern United States. She wintered in Florida while my horse is based out of Aiken. Our paths were unlikely to cross anytime soon.

And now they never will.

I didn’t know Katharine Morel but demographically, I am Katharine Morel.

Katharine Morel was 33 when she died yesterday.

She was born almost exactly a month earlier than I was. Katharine Morel just moved her Thoroughbred up to Intermediate this season. I’m moving my horse up to Intermediate later this year if things go to plan.

I am also Jeffie Chapin, who died at the age of 32 last summer warming up for her Prelim cross country round. I am Philippa Humphreys, who died at age 33 at Jersey Fresh in 2016.

I am all of these women.

I didn’t know Ashley Stout but I have known many young women like her, talented and precocious beyond their years and aiming for the stars. I didn’t know Melanie Tallent or Nicole Villers-Amatt but I know many women like both of them, competent riders for the levels they are at, trying to juggle life and riding.

I know all of these women. I have been or will be all of these women.

And I am terrified.

It is not the riding itself that scares me. I will continue to head out on cross country with a clear mind and full heart. My biggest fear as I head out of the start box is that of failure, of a stop at most. I am nervous, not scared, and I don’t believe that this death will change that feeling anymore than any of the previous deaths have, not at the actual moment of competition.

In the days and weeks between the events, I am terrified. I don’t know why these women have died. Tragic accident is the official story, and so often is all the information that we as the public receive. But every accident occurs due to the decisions leading up to it. Short term decisions, like choice of pace and balance, medium term decisions like choice of level or year-long goals, and long term decisions like horse suitability and choice of trainer. Every decision leading back, not just by the rider, but also by those surrounding them, is a potential factor leading up to the fatal moment.

I didn’t know Katharine Morel, or Jeffie Chapin, or Philippa Humphreys and more importantly, I don’t know why they died.

I’m not asking out of morbid curiosity. I don’t want to know the details of the fall itself, I don’t need the medical records or rotation angles. I’m asking for a dispassionate, non-judgmental safety investigation with a publicly released report. I’m asking for trained safety experts to investigate and for recommendations for improving safety in the sport. I’m asking for dispassionate conclusions, more nuanced than ‘sometimes riders miss’. I want trained investigators to talk to family, friends, and trainers about decisions that were made, where the rider’s mind was at, what her plan was for the cross-country round. I want top level riders and trainers to look at any video, not just of the accident but also any available from previous shows, and provide dispassionate critique on factors leading to the fall. I want these reports regardless of whether the fatality occurred in competition or at home, training for the sport.

I’m asking because I want to make sure that the decisions I am making now are not leading to a fatal moment.

I don’t want to judge anyone involved. But I don’t want to be told it’s none of my business, or that it is disrespectful to circulate this information. I’m not blaming anyone. It was an accident. But something or multiple things went wrong.

I need to know what they were.

We have lost five women in in eight months in cross-country related accidents in North America alone. I don’t know anything about their accidents except that they died at ‘fence 8’ or ‘in warmup’. I don’t know if investigations were done in any of them. If they were, nothing has ever been released.

In 2001, Dale Earnhardt Sr. died publicly and tragically on the last lap of the Dayton 500. Although 27 others had died in NASCAR races over the prior fifty years, Earnhardt’s death became a catalyst for change due to the publicity it received. Both police and NASCAR undertook safety investigations, which were released to the public in full. NASCAR underwent a serious safety overhaul, both in terms of equipment and policy.

No one has died in NASCAR racing since.

USEF, USEA, can you hear us? Are you investigating? Are you looking into these deaths behind closed doors? Is our sport learning anything from these deaths? And if we are, will you please let us also learn?

I know nothing about what led to the deaths of these women. I cannot learn from their tragedies and cannot take measures to ensure that I do not share their fate for the same reasons. I do not know if there is a common thread or if each died due to different factors.

I might be making the same mistakes. I might die because of them.

Please let me learn, so that I might not become one of these women.

Nupafeed Weekend Winners: Twin Rivers, Rocking Horse, Chatt Hills & Sporting Days

By on Mar 2, 2020 11:00 am -

Photo courtesy of Callan Littrell.

We’re extremely proud of the dozens of y’all who earned blue ribbons, but my friend Callan Littrell deserves a special shout out. She won the Open Beginner Novice division this weekend at Chattahoochee Hills with her own Thoroughbred Seeking the Storm on a score of 31.4. “Declan” as he’s called around the barn is a talented guy, but he certainly has a mind of his own — and a buck that give you whiplash only watching it. Callan has put in considerable work to make sure Declan loves the job, and this is an example of good, consistent training paying off.

Also this week, let’s congratulate Meghan Lewis and Rayastrada. They are our low score winners this week after finishing the Twin Rivers Sr. Training Rider division on an incredible 16.7. Well done!

Twin River Winter H.T. [Website] [Results]

Advanced: Frankie Thieriot Stutes & Chatwin (27.8)
Open Intermediate: Lauren Billys & Castle Larchfield Purdy (28.2)
Jr/Y.R. Open Preliminary: Bruce Hill & Bossinova (28.5)
Open Preliminary: Lauren Burnell Freedom Hill (24.1)
Preliminary Rider: India McEvoy E’zara (29.8)
Jr. Training Rider: Payton Piearcy Liam’s Guinness (21.9)
Open Training: Jordan Linstedt Staccato (21.2)
Sr. Training Amateur: Leslie LaBraque Falkonet (34.5)
Sr. Training Rider: Sara Kelson Rhonaldo (20.4)
Training Horse: Amber Levine Keep Calm (26.4)
Jr. Novice Rider A: Emily Schmitz greenfort othello (27.2)
Jr. Novice Rider B: Sophia Merz Clara Bö (24.6)
Novice Horse: Lisa Peecook Twister (29.5)
Open Novice: Robyn Fisher Livdon (26.2)
Sr. Novice Amateur: Matthew Walley Cassiopeia (20.7)
Sr. Novice Rider: Meghan Lewis Rayastrada (16.7)
Jr. Beg. Novice Rider: Elsa Warble Fleeceworks Emerald (29.7)
Open Beginner Novice: Auburn Excell Brady Confetti 42 (20.8)
Sr. Beg. Novice Rider : Amy Luca Saturday Sun (30.8)
Introductory: Edie Halloran Triple Spice (30.8)

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I’m over the moon about today! Miss Rizzo and I took home the blue after finishing on our dressage score 🥳💕 Rizzo was more than perfect the whole time and we had such a great first experience/show together! 🍀👑 Thank you to @rbriding and @ash.worth for everything !! I’m gonna miss Florida so very much but it’s time to head back home to Texas 😢 (It was so great to see @eliza_eventing_ @adsequestrian @skyler.eventing @amg_eventing @ktm.eventing this weekend🤍) #averysdoitbest #fernhillsporthorses #fernhilltickthebox #ride4ashley #ride4grady #frscheckitoutnow #sprinkleofpixiedust #rbriding #fernhillfierce #areav #areaiii #rideforkatharine #rideforkatharineandkerryon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ @polos_over_bros Avery17 for 15% off🎊 @ellanyequestrian Avery10 for 10% off!💛 @msvids_ ambassador☑️ @thepamperedponytreats sponsor 🛍

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Not a single day goes by that I don’t think to myself how insanely lucky I am for the horses that I’m surrounded by, and the people that own them. For anyone who sends a horse to me and trusts me to care for, ride, compete, or sell, I want to do the absolute best job possible. I am not the best there is, but I will always do my very very best, and to the people who believe in and trust me with their animals, thank you. Heath, Bram, and Hank are all three owned by three amazing women who love them dearly. All three were fabulous this weekend, and came away more educated and confident. Heath , who is owned by Jane-Ashe Gailmard, my fairy godmother, absolutely blows me away. I respect his bravery and athleticism so much, and consider it such a privilege to be sat on him. He is the most kind soul, and tries his heart out for me 110% of the time. He was his usual trusty self this weekend giving me such good experience XC, showing me what it feels like to ride a bold, forward, and confident horse. We have some super exciting plans for him coming up! He is so much fun. Bram, who is owned by Teana Costa Phillips, had his first outing in a long time, and completely crushed it!! His scored well on the flat, jumped a super clear show jumping, and gave me the best feeling XC completing his weekend in a super competitive division on his dressage score! This boy is for sale, and ready to win the JR or SR novice and training divisions, and go preliminary with the right rider! This boy has endless scope and potential, with a wonderful brain to match. Hank, who is owned by Rachel Ford, had an extremely educational weekend at his first ever event. He was cool as a cucumber the entire weekend, and came away much more educated than when he arrived at the show! He might be green, but his talent and ability is absolutely endless. Someone who wants talent, ability, scope, and a brain, on a low budget, is going to hit the jack pot on this one.

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Rocking Horse III H.T. [Website] [Results]

Advanced/Intermediate: Leslie Law & Lady Chatterley (37.1)
Open Intermediate A:  Leslie Law & Tout De Suite (40.2)
Open Intermediate B: Marilyn Little & RF Scandalous (39)
Open Intermediate (Friday) A: Sara Kozumplik Murphy & Devil Munchkin (30.9)
Open Intermediate (Friday) B: Elisa Wallace & Simply Priceless (34.6)
Open Preliminary: Hannah Sue Burnett & Harbour Pilot (22.5)
Open Preliminary (Friday) A: Jonathan Holling & Prophet (26.7)
Open Preliminary (Friday) B: Kendyl Tracy & Bobbie Burns (24.2)
Preliminary Horse: Leslie Law & Typically Fernhill (27.6)
Preliminary Rider A: Kiersten Miller & Mama Mia (33.2)
Preliminary Rider B: Lauren Chumley & Atlanta B (32.9)
Jr. Training Rider: Kylie Strate & Supah Cool (29.1)
Open Training A: Jane Stephenson & Ballymoyle Pilot (27.1)
Open Training B:  Jennifer Brannigan & VFE Soldier’s Salute (25.2)
Open Training C: Leslie Law & Shirsheen Ice (28.9)
Sr. Training Rider A: Tracey Corey & Byrnwyck West (28.6)
Sr. Training Rider B: Lea Adams-Blackmore & Fernhill Frostbite (29.8)
Training Horse A: Caroline Martin & Farfadet De Barbereau (29.1)
Training Horse B: Beth Murphy & Jimba (29.2)
Training Horse C: Lesley Grant-Law & Fernhill Finalist (32.2)
Jr. Novice Rider: Avery Daigle & Fernhill Fierce (32.4)
Novice Horse A: William Hoos & L.B Avenue (24.5)
Novice Horse B: Madeleine Richards & Donail Arco Bennett (28.8)
Open Novice A: Rebecca Hoos & Ramble On (34.3)
Open Novice B: Sarah Main & Isaac GS (26)
Sr. Novice Rider A: Kristin Osley & King of Beer (32.9)
Sr. Novice Rider B: Sofie Van Olmen & Highlife’s Je T’aime (31.2)
Jr. Beginner Novice Rider: Emma Miklos & Gun Slingin’ Bully (31.3)
Open Beginner Novice A: Madeline Backus & Title Contender (30.5)
Open Beginner Novice B: Meghan O’Donoghue Wrocket Man (26.5)
Sr. Beginner Novice Rider A: Morgan Scudder & Rossini (29)
Sr. Beginner Novice Rider B: Amy Fowler & Ginnetts Manricko (29)

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. [Website] [Results]

Open Intermediate: Kim Severson & Cooley Cross Border (27.4)
Open Preliminary: Werner Geven & MSH Cooley Twilight (36)
Preliminary Rider: Danielle Bolte & Diamond n the Rough (30.4)
Modified: Julie Richards & Fernhill Fifth Avenue (32.5)
Open Training: Sallie Johnson & Fernhill Copas (22.4)
Training Rider: Alison Kroviak & Dolce (30.2)
Novice Rider A: Lilli Wichert & Fernhill Tito (28.6)
Novice Rider B: Tessa Geven & Tullymor’s Houdini (29.3)
Open Novice: Mary Bess Davis & Imperio Magic (29.9)
Beginner Novice Rider: Olivia Moore & Kubota (28.3)
Open Beginner Novice: Callan Littrell & Seeking the Storm (31.4)

Sporting Days Farm March H.T. [Website] [Results]

Open Preliminary A: Kevin Keane & HH Ontario (28.3)
Open Preliminary B: Boyd Martin & Miss LuLu Herself (27.2)
Preliminary Horse: Matthew Kidney & Social Network LLWB (30)
Preliminary Rider A: Leah Vrieling & Glendening Avis (33)
Preliminary Rider B: Cassie Plumb Vagabon de Champdoux (31.5)
Open Training A: Allison Springer Sir Duke (23.4)
Open Training B: Ryan Wood & Ben Nevis (25)
Preliminary/Training: Katherine Knowles & Cillnabradden Ceonna (25.5)
Training Horse A: Caitlin Silliman & Aspen KD (25.7)
Training Horse B:  Morgan Batton & Jamaican Vacation (25.5)
Training Rider A: Barbara Fitch & Donte (33.8)
Training Rider B:  Elizabeth Weick Bit of Gold (29.6)
Novice Horse: Marty Riney & Geroge Alexander (25.5)
Novice Rider A: Kathleen Bertuna & Excel Star Harry (26.9)
Novice Rider B: Jennifer Achilles & Excel Star Lance (25.5)
Novice Rider C: Grace Mykityshyn & Lusi (32.1)
Open Novice A: Julie Cayer & Great Moments (33.8)
Open Novice B: Madison Smith & Spiritual Advisor (31.2)
Beginner Novice Horse: Adalee Ladwig & Argenta MSF (29.3)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Catherine Dennehy Fenian (32.5)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Mary Bancroft & Twain (28.8)
Open Beginner Novice:  Maya Kozauer & Rhapsody in Red (26.3)