Classic Eventing Nation

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Introducing Let It Be Lee

By on Feb 26, 2020 4:00 pm -

Five-star eventer Elisa Wallace has a new upper-level partner in her string. Introducing Let It Be Lee, a 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Bernstein X Sugaree, by Broad Brush) owned by Donna Biggs and Rosemarie Spillane. “Lee” raced under his Jockey Club name Leerider, making 12 career starts and earning almost $13,000 before coming off the track in 2011, and has previous eventing experience with Kyle Carter who produced him up to the Intermediate/ CCI3* level.

After first trying out Lee in December, the new team got their first run together under their belts with an outing at the Preliminary level at Three Lakes Winter I H.T. before stepping up to Intermediate at Rocking Horse Winter II where they finished in 10th place on a score of 50.4. Elisa shared this video of their first Intermediate together and walks us through each phase and how she’s working on building a relationship with her new partner. Good luck Elisa and Lee — we can’t wait to see you out and about more this season!

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RRP’s 2020 Master Class Series Kicks Off Friday at Grand-Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field

By on Feb 26, 2020 2:00 pm -

Buck Davidson and the late Archie Rocks in the 2018 Fair Hill CCI4*-L, where they finished 3rd. Bred in Michigan by Sharon Smith, the OTTB won $32,176 in 30 starts, racing under the Jockey Club name Smittys Messiah (Le Monde x Unbridled Diva, by Unbridled Jet).Photo by Shelby Allen.

Spectators at the LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field in Aiken, SC will enjoy a real treat on Friday when five-star eventers Buck Davidson and Phillip Dutton headline a Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) Master Class. The RRP’s innovative demonstration allows spectators the opportunity to observe how experienced horsemen and horsewomen analyze off-track Thoroughbred prospects and demonstrate their approach to the first rides in a second career.

Davidson and Dutton will share their insight on selecting and restarting the off-track Thoroughbred in a unique format for the Master Class: Dutton will demonstrate his process himself, while Davidson will coach two riders — RRP Thoroughbred Makeover veterans Brit Vegas Gengenbach and Jordan Pruiksma — from the ground. Horses will be provided by Equine Rescue of Aiken, and after the participating trainers analyze their conformation and movement, they’ll be randomly paired with a horse and put their methods into action. Eventing coach Richard Lamb will provide additional commentary.

2014 $10,000 America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred Contest winners Icabad Crane and Phillip Dutton. Graham and Anita Motion’s former star racehorse (Jump Start  x Adorahy by Rahy) went on to compete at the two-star level, winning the Plantation Field CCI2*-S in 2015, and Phillip has continued championing the breed for eventing. Photo by Megan Stapley Photography, courtesy of the Retired Racehorse Project.

The RRP Master Class will take place at the conclusion of dressage on Friday, Feb. 28 in Jumper Ring 1 at approximately 2 p.m. ET. The demonstration should last about an hour and a half, and is free to attend within the LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field.

The original Master Class, which debuted at the 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, was the brainchild of the RRP’s managing director Kirsten Green, who was inspired by the RRP’s founder Stuart Pittman recalling a colt-starting competition he had observed at the Colorado Horse Expo. Green applied the concept to off-track Thoroughbreds, but removed the competitive aspect, creating the Master Class and showcasing that in restarting the OTTB, there are many roads to get to the same goal.

Elisa Wallace was a featured trainer in the 2019 Master Class at the Thoroughbred Makeover, demonstrating her unique brand of horsemanship with a challenging horse. She worked alongside racing and restarting trainer Douglas Nunn and Grand Prix dressage trainer Emily Brollier Curtis to demonstrate three vastly different approaches that all worked toward the same goal: a relaxed horse that had taken his first successful step into a second career.

While the RRP is perhaps best-known for the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium — the world’s largest and most lucrative annual retraining competition that draws hundreds of professional, amateur, junior and team competitors from across North America with recently-restarted OTTBs — an important component of the organization’s mission to increase demand for Thoroughbreds in second careers is providing education to the equestrian industry. That’s why in 2020, the RRP Master Class is hitting the road, with at least three more demonstrations on the schedule.

“The RRP was created with a focus on expanding the market for Thoroughbreds after racing as sport horses and we’ve seen the Makeover serve that mission in a tremendous way,” said RRP executive director Jen Roytz. “The Master Class is a different spin on that. Attendees get to see several top professionals simultaneously take and explain their first rides on recently-retired racehorses, and what the subsequent months of training would look like if the horse were in their program. No two clinics have ever been the same – everyone has their own approach and offer tips, tricks and techniques that work for them — but they’ve always been extremely interesting and educational.”

Spectators can find the RRP Master Class — which will feature a different set of experienced trainers and new horses provided by an aftercare organization — at US Pony Club Championships on July 18 at the Kentucky Horse Park; at the Thoroughbred Makeover on Oct. 9; and at the Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event, Nov. 12-15 (specific date to be determined). Additional dates may be announced at other events throughout the year.

For more information about Friday’s RRP Master Class and the Retired Racehorse Project, please visit the organization’s website.

Road to the Makeover: Meet the Dappir Ridge Eventing Team

By on Feb 26, 2020 11:00 am -

For 616 accepted trainers, the journey to the Retired Racehorse Project’s 2020 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, has begun! The 2020 event will take place at Oct. 7-10 at the Kentucky Horse Park. Between now and then, three trainers plus one team of four trainers will be blogging their journeys, including their triumphs and their heartbreaks, successes and failures, for Eventing Nation readers.

Today, we’re meeting a team of four trainers from Dappir Ridge Eventing in Charlottesville, Virginia. Any journey is more fun when you’ve got buddies by your side! We’ll let Adriana Nannini lead off — be sure to check out her website here.

Photo courtesy of Dappir Ridge Eventing.

My name is Adriana Nannini and I suppose you could say that I’m a Thoroughbred superfan. I ride with Kiki Osbourne at Dappir Ridge Eventing in Charlottesville, Virginia, and am one of four trainers from our Dappir Ridge team that was accepted to participate in the 2020 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover.

The four of us make up an eclectic cast of characters including a veterinarian, a high school teacher, an equestrian professional and an assistant trainer that also gallops racehorses on the side! Despite our differing backgrounds, we share one major commonality: our passion for the Thoroughbred. Between the four of us, we have obtained six OTTB prospects for the Makeover. This is the first installment in our collective  journey.

Adriana Nannini

I’m Adriana, the aforementioned Thoroughbred Superfan. I’m a high school photography teacher by day and work a restaurant job at night to support my horse addiction. Additionally, I own and operate a small organic farm where we grow vegetables, raise free-range chickens and honeybees, board retired horses and sell a variety of homemade goods.

I have previously been employed in various horse-related positions  as a working student, exercise rider and lesson instructor, to name a few, but that was long ago. Now I run around like a sleep-deprived circus clown, attempting to juggle all of my jobs and hobbies like many of us adult amateurs tend to do. I have competed through Intermediate level eventing on my good old fashioned American Thoroughbred that I purchased as a rogue 2-year old more than a decade ago. When I decided to breed my partner-in-crime last year, I knew that somehow I’d have to fill the void during her “maternity leave.” That’s when I decided I may as well have a crack at the Makeover. 

Because my mare, you see, she made me believe that Thoroughbreds can do anything. Her trot would knock your socks off, and she can jump the moon with knee-tucking, back-cracking style. I wouldn’t trade her for any warmblood on this planet. Because you know the one thing that money can’t buy? Heart.

Fable is a small, unimpressive bay mare that no one would look twice at standing in the field. But when it is time to compete, she gives 110%. In sticky situations on cross country, she is forgiving and is willing to bail me out if necessary. The amount of trust that she puts in me to navigate her around safely is matched by my trust in her to do the same. I truly believe that the bond we share has been the single most important factor in the success we have had in our competitive career together, and it is not something I take for granted.

Reflecting on this, I truly would not want to be mounted on anything other than a Thoroughbred! I’m proud to ride with a trainer and a team that share my sentiments of Thoroughbred Superfandom. I can’t wait to participate in this journey so that I can help show the world what Thoroughbreds can do.

My mount for this RRP journey is a 4 year old, 16.1+ hand, Kentucky-bred gelding named “Tricks” (JC name Sevennotrump). Tricks was sourced off the track by Clare Mansmann, fellow RRP participant and OTTB superfan! Tricks has a laid-back yet playful personality. He has spent the past month of his new life at Dappir Ridge learning to move off the leg, stretch through his topline, and steer. Steering is hard, we’ll just leave it at that. We have mastered trotting over three poles in a row in a vaguely straight line, and we hack out in a civilized manner.

Last week we attempted “jumping” little crossrails for the first time and it was not in the slightest bit graceful, but I am confident he will figure out what to do with his long spider legs at some point! I hope you will enjoy following along on our journey, and those of my fellow Dappir Ridge comrades.

 

Sevennotrump aka “Tricks.” Photo courtesy of Ashley Holden.

Dr. Kelly Giunta, VMD

I’m Kelly Giunta, an equine veterinarian and accomplished amateur equestrian with experience in eventing, hunters, jumpers and foxhunting. I work for Blue Ridge Equine in Earlysville, Virginia, and specialize in lameness and sports medicine. I’ve been riding with Kiki Osbourne/ Dappir Ridge Eventing for about eight years. Riding is a hobby and a stress relieving activity for me after putting in many long hours providing veterinary care for my equine patients. I have been riding Thoroughbred horses since I was a child in New Jersey and they are my favorite breed of horse due to their athleticism, intelligence and good work ethic.

As a veterinarian, I am often involved with unwanted horses and work closely with several equine rescues and retirement homes. RRP is a great initiative that helps transition racehorses into new careers and show the public the amazing things that these horses can accomplish. I have always wanted to participate in the RRP and this year I finally have an eligible horse and a great support group of friends and trainers at Dappir Ridge Eventing.

My mount is Robbie Jones, a 6 year old Kentucky-bred gelding that is about 16 hands tall. Robbie was found on the CANTER website in Illinois and purchased sight unseen, which is something I had never done before. I thought it was a crazy idea but when I first met this plain little bay horse I knew there was something special about him.

Robbie is a barn favorite with an in-your-pocket personality. He has excellent ground manners and on his first ride on a cold winter day he walked, trotted, and picked up both canter leads. Robbie could excel in many disciplines but I’m hoping he will take to eventing. At the current stage in his training, Robbie is learning to be soft and supple in the bridle. He has started jumping small fences and has taken to it very quickly. He is going out on the trails and soon he will be introduced to natural obstacles such as logs, water, banks and ditches.

Robbie Jones, aka “Robbie.” Photo courtesy of Dr. Kelly Giunta.

Alex Austin 

My name is Alex Austin — I am a lifelong equestrian who found working with horses as my vocation from a young age. I feel fortunate to have a broad range of experience in the horse world, including working as a groom for an FEI rider, guiding trail rides through the Great Smoky Mountains, apprenticing with a Spanish and Circensic Dressage trainer and more.

Thoroughbreds have long been my favorite breed since having the opportunity to own a big, quirky thoroughbred mare at the age of 12. “Zoë” took me through Preliminary level and showed me the intelligence, personality, power, and versatility the breed embodies.

Since working as an exercise rider for race trainer Patrick Nuesch, I have developed a deeper, more detailed appreciation of Thoroughbreds on the track and the benefits of bringing them up correctly with confidence and correct fitness as the focus.

Currently, I am employed as Assistant Trainer to Kiki Osbourne at Dappir Ridge Eventing and am thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in the Makeover. I will compete with one of Dappir Ridge’s eligible OTTBs at the Makeover in 2020 and help exhibit what an OTTB has to offer after their racing days are over.

Kiki Osbourne (Our Fearless Leader)

I am Kiki Osbourne, an eventing and hunter/jumper professional. I am originally from the Chicago area, but am now based in Charlottesville, Virginia, and have been for almost 15 years. I run my own business, Dappir Ridge Eventing, out of two lovely facilities in Albemarle County. Mostly you will find me standing in the ring helping riders and their horses meet personal goals, like doing a first Beginner Novice event, an equitation class at a local show, an FEI 3-Day Event, or just learning how to make better transitions. I have competed through the Intermediate level of eventing (years ago), have ridden competitively in hunter divisions and derbies (so fun!) at “A” circuit shows, and am an “A” graduate of USPC.

I  have always had a keen interest in off-the-track Thoroughbreds. Growing up, we had a family friend who owned several racehorses and we would go to see them run at Arlington or Tampa Bay Downs. We would get to go back to the stalls after the races, and I was like a kid in a candy store — I wanted them all!

When these horses finished their racing career, they were offered to me to ride and re-home. Unfortunately, none of us really knew what we were doing. My mother probably shouldn’t have allowed her 13 year old to try her hand at this alone, but she did, and so did their owner. At this point, I was involved in Pony Club, so a little more guidance from local pros and older members helped me along the way. Somehow, rider, horse, old owner and new owner came out OK in the end. It was then that I realized what an amazing breed these horses were — tough, brave, smart, and something I could afford at the beginning stages.

I am excited about being able to participate in the Makeover in 2020, and more excited that so many people in my circle will be able to participate as well. While we have a general idea of which horses we will be taking, we are keeping options open. We have a fun and talented small group that we can choose from this summer. I’m very excited to see what these horses can learn and show us this spring and summer!

Hunter’s Dream aka “Fox.” Photo courtesy of Kiki Osbourne.

Hunter’s Dream aka “Fox” is a 4-year-old, 16.1-hand, Florida-bred gelding. Fox was found through Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds in New York. He is a sweet-tempered, mild-mannered guy that flats happily in the ring as well as hacks out, and is starting to learn about jumping.

Baltic Art aka “Thor.” Photo courtesy of Kiki Osbourne.

Baltic Art aka “Thor” is a 7-year-old, 15.3-hand, German-bred gelding that raced 19 times, earning nearly $100,000! He is known as a “dude” around the barn and has taken to jumping naturally, demonstrating very stylish form in his very first jump school!

Prince Attack aka “Prince.” Photo courtesy of Kiki Osbourne.

Prince Attack aka “Prince” is a 4-year-old 16.1-hand Illinois-bred gelding that was purchased sight-unseen through CANTER Illinois. Prince is owned by Laurie Baker McNeil. He is sporty and athletic, but is also a stereotypical strong-willed redhead! Prince has been practicing his flatwork in the ring and has done lots and lots of hacking, as well as starting over small jumps.

Call Triple A aka “Buddy.” Photo courtesy of Kiki Osbourne.

Call Triple A aka “Buddy” is a 6-year-old, 16-hand Pennsylvania-bred gelding adopted by Ashley Holden through Rerun in New York. Buddy is a super willing guy with a patient, easygoing disposition. He flats happily in the ring as well as hacks out, and might be the quietest horse of the whole bunch!

We hope you will enjoy following our collective journey on our road to the RRP Makeover! Go Eventing and Go Thoroughbreds!

2020 USEA FEH & YEH Championships Details Announced

By on Feb 26, 2020 9:00 am -

Babies … they grow up so fast! 2 A.M., a now 8-year-old Dutch gelding (Sheraton x Regina K, by Ahorn), won the USEA YEH East Coast Championship as a 4-year-old with Matt Flynn before finishing second the following year on a score of 72.08 in the West Coast Championship with Charlotte Babbitt. Charlotte and 2 A.M. went on to win team gold at the NAYC CCIJ2*-L in 2019 (pictured above) and now compete at the three-star level. View past YEH Championships results here. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Big news this week for baby event horses! A wealth of details regarding the USEA Future Event Horse (FEH) and Young Event Horse (YEH) programs for 2020 have been released. Click here for the USEA’s full story  — we’ve included an at-a-glance version below.

2020 USEA FEH Championships

Description: In-hand classes for yearlings, 2-year-olds, and 3-year-olds to be judged on conformation and movement, and additionally, the 3-year-olds compete in a free-jump class. The FEH Championships also offer a 4-year-old class in which the horses are judged on conformation, gaits, and movement under saddle, and then an additional free-jump class as well.

Championships:

  • FEH East Coast Championships – Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26-27 at Loch Moy Farm in Adamstown, MD
  • FEH Central Championships: Thursday, Sept. 24 at Haras Hacienda in Magnolia, TX
  • FEH West Coast Championships – Friday, Oct. 23 at Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, CA, to run concurrently with the Dutta Corp. USEA YEH West Coast Championships

All three Championship venues will offer a last-minute qualifier and a jump chute clinic the day(s) before their respective Championships.

Qualification: Horses must earn a 72% or higher at any FEH qualifier and may only compete in one Championship.

Judges: Susan Graham White and Robin Walker. The pair will also be teaching a judge seminar on Oct. 21-22, just before the West Coast Championships.

Links:

2020 USEA Dutta Corp. FEH Championships

Description: The Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse Championships offer classes for 4-year-old and 5-year-old horses under saddle with a dressage test, a conformation test, and a jumping and galloping test. The jumping courses are designed based on the YEH jump course guidelines.

Championships:

  • YEH East Coast Championships – Thursday and Friday, Oct. 15-16 (5-y/o) and Thursday, Oct. 15 (4-y/o) at Fair Hill in Elkton, MD, concurrently with the new Maryland Five-Star
  • YEH West Coast Championships – Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24 (5-y/o and 4-y/o) at Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, CA, concurrently with the FEH West Coast Championships

Judges:

  • YEH East Coast Championships – Debbie Adams and Chris Ryan (5-y/o); Linda Zang, Susan Graham White, Peter Gray and Phyllis Dawson (5-y/o)
  • YEH West Coast Championships – Debbie Adams and Chris Ryan (4-y/o and 5-y/o)

Qualification: Horses must earn a 75% or higher at any YEH qualifier to be eligible for the East Coast Championships, while horses must earn a 70% or higher at any YEH qualifier to be eligible for the West Coast Championships. Fair Hill has also committed to accept more YEH horses at this year’s Championships, offering space to 40 4-year-olds and 50 5-year-olds.

What’s at Stake: The Holekamp/Turner YEH Lion d’Angers Prize and Grant is awarded to the highest placed horse from the USEA YEH 5-year-old Championships, who two years later, is qualified and willing to compete in the FEI Eventing World Breeding Championships at Le Mondial du Lion d’Angers in France. North American bred winners will be awarded $17,500 in aid; imported winners will be awarded $8,000. New for 2020, title sponsor The Dutta Corp. is offering a round trip flight to the Holekamp/Turner Grant recipient to travel to Mondial du Lion.

Links:

Wednesday News & Notes

By on Feb 26, 2020 12:00 am -

That feeling when you find out you have the honor and the opportunity to do the test ride Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event Never been more pumped to do dressage in my life!#roguewonsyndicate

Posted by Meg Kep on Thursday, February 20, 2020

Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event entries opened yesterday, Meg Kep is officially doing the 5* test ride, and brand new this year, EEI is hosting an Advanced CT alongside of the 5* to give our U.S. based horses another opportunity to get in the electric atmosphere of the Rolex Stadium. Are we pumped or are we pumped?

National Holiday: Ash Wednesday

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Twin River Winter H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Rocking Horse III H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Sporting Days Farm March H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Your Wednesday News & Notes

Despite being a notoriously difficult horse to stay on, Jimmie Schramm fell in love with the quirky Bellamy. After traveling all over the country and competing at the top of the sport, Jimmie was lucky enough to be able to transition Bellamy down to the lower levels. He spent a year competing under our very own Eventing Nation alumni Jenni Autry before fully retiring. [Horse Heroes]

Bids have opened for the 2021/22 NAJYC eventing venues. Rebecca Farm has been a legendary host for the last three years and will host again in 2020, but bids have officially opened to see where it moves to next. [NAYC Venues Bids Open]

Cooley On Show has been part of Sharon White’s barn for a good while now. Despite having a laid-back, ‘quarterback’ type personality, Cooley On Show has an emotionless killer side that pops out when his space is invaded. [Behind the Stall Door]

Wednesday Social Media:

It's time to send in your entries!Fair Hill InternationalThe Maryland Horse Trials @ Loch Moy FarmTwin Rivers Ranch,…

Posted by United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) on Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Tuesday Video: ‘Mud Walking’ with William Fox-Pitt

By on Feb 25, 2020 5:00 pm -

If you’ve felt especially bogged down this winter with all the rain, then you’re in good company. According to William Fox-Pitt, that’s the perfect ground to bring your horse back into work on. In his most recent video, William shows us how he likes to start his horses after a holiday: Mud Walking. Yes, it’s just as it sounds. All you need is a muddy field and a barefoot horse. He credits this exercise to strengthening the horses legs in the early season, also arguing that the first time they see mud shouldn’t be at an event. If it’s good enough for WFP, then it’s certainly good enough for me!

 

EEI Advanced Combined Test Added to Land Rover Kentucky Schedule

By on Feb 25, 2020 3:27 pm -

Oliver Townend and Cooley Master Class led Kentucky dressage on a score of 24.1 in 2019 and held onto their lead throughout the weekend. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

There’s going to be more sport to watch at the 2020 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. The event just announced that an Advanced level combined test has been added to the schedule. Advanced dressage is tentatively scheduled for Friday morning, with the show jumping portion of the combined test happening before the five-star jumping on Sunday.

Spectators: No extra tickets are required to watch the combined test– your same Friday or Sunday stadium ticket lets you experience both competitions. Advance ticket pricing ends March 5, so get your tickets today. (As a side note, we hear that tickets for the Grand Prix on Saturday, April 25, are going fast — here’s the link to purchase. And while you’re at it, be sure to enter to win the Land Rover VIP Insiders Package Sweepstakes; entries close on April 1.)

Competitors: Want to compete in the EEI Advanced Combined Test? Competition details and entry information here. The fine print:

  • Only entries from horses/riders that are qualified to run an Advanced Horse Trials will be accepted.
  • The dressage test will be Advanced Test B.
  • Max number of horses per rider = two. More than two ONLY with special permission from the OC.
  • The combined test will be scheduled in such a way that the horse and rider combinations will have the opportunity to compete in the atmosphere of Rolex Stadium with spectators whenever possible. The rides will be scheduled around the existing, provisional CCI5* schedule.
  • There will be a maximum number of competitors that will be determined once the CCI5* competitor list is finalized. The entries will be accepted based on the FEI Eventing World Athlete Ranking List at the time of closing date – March 24, 2020 and then by postmarked date.
  • Horses entered in the CCI5* may NOT compete in both the CCI5* and the Combined Test. They may NOT change divisions at any time either from CCI5* to the CT unless permission is granted by the OC.
  • Admission information to LRK3DE will be provided upon receipt of entry for the Advanced CT and is different than the CCI5* entry.
  • Horse entered in the CT, even if ridden by a 5* competitor, will NOT be stabled in the FEI stabling enclosure.

What a great idea for acclimating event horses to Kentucky’s electric atmosphere while padding out the schedule a bit for spectators. Looking forward to seeing who ends up on the combined test entry list!

The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event takes place April 22-26, 2020 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. More information is available at the website here.

Prix Caprilli for Dummies

By on Feb 25, 2020 12:00 pm -

It’s harder than it looks. Photo by Holly Covey

Whaaaat? Yep.

Prix Caprilli. (Pronounced “pre-cah-prilly.” It’s a dressage test that uses jumps. No, I am not kidding, and it’s WAY harder than you think it is!)

A local schooling show offers Prix Caprilli dressage tests and had the link to the tests online, so being the out-of-control clicker that I am, of course I downloaded and read them. And that led to bit of research, and even more links to tests and the history of dressage, and of riding over jumps … and you get the picture, so to make a long story short, I ended up out in my arena with three poles and a diagram. Here’s the gist of it:

Prix Caprilli essentially is dressage with some jumps added as a more complete test of training. The jumps are low, and there are only two or three in the tests I’ve found. The regular transitions, gaits, circles and changes of direction are called for with the addition of either trotting or cantering (as you go up the levels) over the placed jumps. Refusals are scored as errors. There can be two or three simple verticals — cavaletti can be used — or one oxer and two verticals. In all they are quite low, 2 ft. 6 in. being about the highest height I’d set for schooling. These are simple but they are training exercises that will blow you away especially on your older horses that know it all. Hahum. Let me explain.

The three-jump pattern in the Prix Caprilli tests. Photo by Holly Covey

When I read through the tests, I thought, this is a fun set of exercises that I can set up at home in the dry spots in my ring. It looked like something far less boring than plain flat dressage, but doesn’t require a lot of jumps for gymnastics or other fancy exercises that, let’s face it, you just don’t have enough time (or light) after work to mess with. It also works well if you have to share a ring with flat riders as there are only three obstacles and they can be set so they don’t interfere with 20-meter circles, etc. So I made a copy, tucked in my barn coat pocket, and went out to the ring and set a few up.

Well, let me tell you something. If you are looking for quick and easy to set up, Prix Caprilli is the way to go. But if you are looking for quick and easy schooling exercises — Prix Caprilli is much harder than it looks! They are indeed a fairly true test of your schooling on the flat, and will very quickly — like after the first jump — give you an indication of what you need to work on.

Like straightness. Impulsion. Bending. Obedience to half-halt. And MUCH more! I was shocked at how badly I actually managed the Prix Caprilli test the first time I attempted to ride just the first half of the Training Level test. (See the crooked line below.) OK. So I’m a dummy. It got my attention, and I went back to work.

Straightness is the centering mantra of just about any dressage instructor and Prix Caprilli will bring that. All of the long lines, the center and quarter lines plus the long trot or canter on the diagonal to the single jump works on that skill. Need balance in your corners? Jumping and then immediately having to land, then turn, then transition to canter will work on that. Need to polish half halts, work on creating impulsion, bend, balance? Prix Caprilli tests work on all of that and also make you switch your balance too from jumping to flat and back again very quickly within the test. It was an eye-opener for me.

Look at this crooked track! Prix Caprilli tests are a good test of straightness. Photo by Holly Covey

As for the history of where this came from, the Prix Caprilli tests appeared evidently sometime in the ’50s or ’60s. While they may have developed in the early days of dressage, the savior of the Prix Caprilli tests was probably Pony Club. I am sure they were embraced for kids on ponies who liked the jumping but where pretty “meh” about the dressage, and disguised as yet another instance of the brilliance of a classical Pony Club education, as they give you a real feel for the essential training of dressage for jumping.

They were named in honor of Captain Federico Caprilli, the great Italian cavalry officer who studied horses free-jumping and developed the forward seat style of riding, a revolutionary theory at his time before the turn of the 20th century. (See Jim Wofford’s in-depth study of the genius of Caprilli published in Practical Horseman here.)

The tests I’ve found are set at Introductory Level, Training Level and First Level. They look as though they’ve been passed down secretively from one group to another, copied in the dark of night and posted under cover. If you go to the USDF, the USEF, or US Pony Club website, I’ll save you the bother of searching — they don’t have them. BUT I have found them online in various underground spots all over the world. Australia. Canada. Great Britain. Texas. California. Pennsylvania.

Rumor has it Lendon Gray’s Youth Dressage Festival can be credited with single-handedly saving Prix Caprilli for us in America, by writing and updating the tests and offering them in her highly regarded competition annually held in New York. Here’s the page. And she includes some judging directions, too.

I’ve linked a few tests here for your own special torture, and after a bit of experimenting, a more detailed jump set up. Bear in mind these are set for a 20m x 60m dressage arena.

I found thatj #3 was the one you can make into your oxer (should be square to be approached in both directions) and it should be set so that it is about 1 meter off the rail, to allow you to pass B comfortably without squeezing — this will not really make it centered on the quarter line but in the general area of it. It should not block the cross-center line from B to E, either, so should be set at least a meter up or down from the cross-center line. It has to be over fairly snugly so you can set the diagonal jumps and not block your line and give you the room to get to X for a 20m stretchy circle.

Jumps #1 and #2 are set on the diagonal, as the diagram indicates. You really want these in the second half (after X) of the long diagonal, but set so that they are in the no-man’s land between the quarter line and center line, so they don’t interfere with the line to jump #3. (See the video below). Walk your diagonal line carrying the pole, then drop it so it is square with your path from H to F/F to H, or K to M/M to K. Also, I used single schooling standards rather than wing standards which take up a bit more room.

Have you ever seen a Prix Caprilli test ridden?

Here’s a very well ridden test by Lisa Evans:

Here are three Prix Caprilli test links courtesy of Blue Goose Stable. Here are two 2019 Youth Dressage Festival tests written by Lendon Gray which are a bit different, with only two jumps.

Ride a test and let us know what you think! Prix Caprilli fans may have been driven underground, but as a recent convert, I can tell you that we’re still alive and kicking. Join the revolution! Ha! I’m only 75 years late!

Haygain Hay Steamer Is Up for Grabs at ‘Kick on for Koalas’

By on Feb 25, 2020 11:00 am -

Photo via Haygain.

Kick on for Koalas, a fundraiser for relief efforts benefitting those affected and displaced by the devastating Australian bushfires, is underway today in Ocala at Barnstaple South. In addition to clinic opportunities from top riders who are donating their time, our friends at Haygain have donated a HG600 hay steamer to the cause.

The steamer up for grabs holds approximately a half-bale of hay, is easily portable, and retails for $1,749. Entries will be collected by event photographer Deborah Windsor on site, and the winner will be announced during closing ceremonies. The steamer will be shipped or can be delivered if the winner lives in the Ocala area.

Kick On for Koalas was instigated by Canadian Olympian and longtime hay steaming believer, Selena O’Hanlon. She is one of the top riders donating their time giving lessons; the roster of volunteer coaches also includes fellow steamers Lauren Kieffer and Buck Davidson, plus Lesley Grant-Law, Scott Keach and Dom Schramm.

Selena took a tip from the top in adding high temperature steamed hay to her horses’ routine. It came from Sir Mark Todd, the six-time New Zealand Olympian designated by the International Equestrian Federation as its “Rider of the 20th Century.”

Selena and her longtime top international partner Foxwood High were stabled at Todd’s base in England while prepping for the Badminton Horse Trials in 2014. Todd was one of the first to embrace Haygain steamed hay as a means to protect and improve equine respiratory health. It also adds water to the diet for improved digestive function and its good taste entices even picky eaters.

Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

In the case of Foxwood High, aka “Woody,” he was initially fed haylage at Todd’s farm, but Selena noticed the big horse was not eating very much of it. His appetite improved significantly once he began steamed hay, and he stayed on it for the next three weeks before Badminton. That alone sold Selena and her mother, Morag, an extremely experienced horsewoman, on steaming’s benefits.

At their base, the Datta family’s 100-acre farm in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, the O’Hanlons have seen steamed hay help all their horses. “Over time, we’ve had a few horses with allergies and Haygain steamed hay has made a big difference,” Selena reports. “We’ve seen a lot less coughing.”    

Haygain high-temperature hay steaming was developed 11 years ago in conjunction with the Royal Agricultural University in the U.K. The process drastically reduces dust, mold, fungi and dust found in even top quality, most expensive hay. These breathable irritants are the main cause of Inflammatory Airway Disease. IAD and other conditions on the Equine Asthma Spectrum affect a surprising high percentage of active sporthorses, often without obvious symptoms. A recent study of 700-plus active sporthorses found that 88% of them had IAD, and that feeding Haygain Steamed Hay reduced the risk of IAD by 65%.

Visit “Kick On For Koalas eventing fundraising clinic” on Facebook for more information. See schedule below. For more information on Haygain, visit www.haygain.com. The host location is Barnstable South, in the Ocala area’s Moriston (10800 NW 145th Ave, Moriston, FL, 32668).   

 

Road to the Thoroughbred Makeover: Meet Kristal Gessler & Fraternal (‘Romeo’)

By on Feb 25, 2020 9:00 am -

For 616 accepted trainers, the journey to the Retired Racehorse Project’s 2020 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, has begun! The 2020 event will take place at Oct. 7-10 at the Kentucky Horse Park. Between now and then, five eventing trainers will be blogging their journeys, including their triumphs and their heartbreaks, successes and failures, for Eventing Nation readers. Today, we meet trainer Kristal Gessler.

Kristal is from Rexford, NY, and operates her business, Kristal Clear Equestrian, a new sport horse training facility specializing in restarting OTTBs, out of Burnt Hills, NY. This will be her second year competing in the Makeover — last year she finished 6th in eventing with her 4-year-old Prolific. This year she returns with Fraternal (barn name “Romeo”), a Godolphin-bred 2017 17-hand Thoroughbred gelding (Into Mischief  x Sister State, by A.P. Indy). Take it away, Kristal!

Kristal’s 2020 Thoroughbred Makeover hopeful, Fraternal. Photo courtesy of Kristal Gessler.

From a young age I had a big interest in OTTBs, and while I had many different types of horses there was usually always one in barn. Growing up on my family farm horses were not the main focus and were only a hobby for us kids. That hobby quickly turned into a passion that I knew I wanted to turn into a lifetime career. I guess you could consider me one of those, almost now extinct, “barn rats”; even though we kept our horses at home I spent most of my time in the barn caring for and riding/driving as much as possible.

I worked with several local trainers — everything from hunter/jumpers to natural horsemanship, learning and soaking up every bit of information I could possibly find. It wasn’t until later into my adult years that I discovered my true passion for eventing and dressage. After finishing college, doing the whole stay-at-home-mom thing and going through a divorce, I decided I wanted more for myself and my son. I didn’t want to have to give up my stay-at-home-mom status and send my son to daycare so I looked for a job that would allow me to have him with me everyday.

I was then introduced to five-star eventer Marcia Kulak. I spent many years training and working alongside her, and learning everything I possibly could regarding the training and management of high-profile equine athletes. The days were long but an experience unlike any other, the best learning environment and window into the eventing world that I could receive. After many summers working closely with the Kulak team, and winters spent in a few different local barns, I decided it was time to step out of my comfort zone, take the leap and start my own business. I spent my first year traveling locally, coaching, and training young horses and riders of all ages and levels. The goal was to develop my reputation and a solid customer base, which was accomplished, and November of 2018 I was able to rent my first barn and establish a base for my training business.

That first winter was amazing and exhausting all at the same time. As with most new businesses the first year was full of ups and downs and lots of learning experiences. It was during this time that I discovered the Retired Racehorse Project and the Thoroughbred Makeover. As I did my research into the RRP/Thoroughbred Makeover and coaching a client through their first year competing at the Makeover, I decided I wanted to jump in and give it a try. I spent countless hours researching and combing through all of the Thoroughbred aftercare and rehoming programs and decided to contact the Godolpin rehoming program.

After many emails back and forth with the director of the U.S. program based in Kentucky, I was matched up with Prolific, a 4-year-old gelding. He was tall, dark and handsome so I said yes and he was shipped to me in February of 2019. From the moment he stepped off the trailer it was love at first sight; I couldn’t believe this beautiful creature was mine!

Our journey to the 2019 Makeover was not an easy one as he had many health complications to overcome, but with our amazing team, veterinarian, farrier and coaches, we were able to get him on the right track. We spent the spring/summer schooling, schooling, and more schooling. Everything was a training opportunity. We took him along to every competition and exposed him to everything he could possibly see when we arrived in Kentucky.

He had three competitions under his belt before we prepared for his final competition before the Makeover. It was at this final competition at GMHA in Vermont when he finally peaked and all the pieces came together. The cross country course was the biggest most intimidating course he had seen yet and I wasn’t sure how he was going to react to it, but I felt it was going to help to prepare him for what he was going to see and give me the best insight into how he would perform over the fences in Kentucky. From the moment he stepped into the start box he was game on. With only a few looks at the running water crossings, he tackled every question without any hesitation and loved every minute of it! I knew from that moment I had an extremely brave and bold cross country horse.

The next week we were off to Kentucky and extremely excited to compete and be a part of this amazing adventure. The week was filled with every possible experience and emotion, from excitement, to nervousness, to doubt, to pure exhaustion. The competitors and staff were absolutely amazing — never before have I felt such a sense of community, and helpfulness. Yes we are all there competing against each other with one goal in mind, to win the Finale, but everyone was so helpful and positive, and just truly wanted to see you succeed. They set a new standard that I wish more competitions would strive for.

Prolific after cross country. Photo courtesy of Kristal Gessler.

Prolific stepped upped his game at the Makeover performing his best dressage test yet that season, earning him second place after dressage. He put in his best effort in show jumping, which is his toughest phase, producing a beautiful round with one unfortunate rail. When it came time for cross country it was time to go out and have some fun. When it was our time to go we galloped off, taking the first jump quietly, and then he kicked into cross country gear and away we went. He tackled every question with a boldness like never before — I was beyond excited. As we approached the final jump I knew the gallop was next. Never letting him truly go before I wasn’t sure what to expect from him. We landed from the final jump, made the turn and I told him to go, he questioned me for a second then took off like a rocket, shooting up the hill, through the finish flags and earning him the highest score on his card for his gallop.

I came off course on cloud 9 and in tears. Prolific overcame an uphill health battle, he made it, conquered it, and had a blast doing it! We wound up placing 6th overall, making it in the top 10 and into the awards ceremonies. This journey was like none other and I was so proud to be a part of it! Prolific and I are now looking forward to the upcoming show season and continuing to move up the levels in eventing.

After competing for the first time at the Makeover, I am completely hooked. What an amazing experience and way to promote the Thoroughbred breed and there afterracing careers. Being at the Makeover opened myself and my business up to new opportunities and solidified my career goals in retraining OTTBs for there second careers.

After all the competing was over I decided I had to do this journey again. While still at the Makeover, on our down day before the Finale, we were able to tour the Godolphin facilities, where I was able to look at and choose my 2020 Makeover hopeful, Fraternal (“Romeo”). This handsome young gelding shows all the potential of an upper level competitor and I am very excited to bring him along.

Fraternal was able to make the journey home with us after the Makeover where he enjoyed some down time with a few buddies as we awaited the December 1st deadline. After the deadline he began a very light training schedule. I start all of my youngsters on the ground, putting in many hours of learning the fundamentals of ground work or “rope work” as I call it before ever starting them under saddle. Fraternal soaked up everything like a sponge and is proving to be extremely smart, willing and athletic.

He now has a full 30 days under saddle and just recently participated in his first dressage clinic with Jeff Lindburg, where he has shown that he has a ton of potential and a great brain. Our goal for the 2020 Makeover is to compete in eventing, but we will see what he will be best suited for mentally and physically as we get closer.  I am very excited to share our journey to the 2020 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover with everyone and hope you enjoy and follow along with us.