Classic Eventing Nation

#EventerProblems Vol. 213, Presented by Haygain: It’s All Fun and Games…

By on Feb 1, 2020 9:01 am -

… Until (insert your own worst nightmare here). For some, the tide turns when the clipper blades come out or when your instructor has to get on your naughty horse. No matter your situation, we all know this is the perfect environment for #EventerProblems. Here are a few more of yours:

Haygain is a science driven company with the horse’s health as the primary focus.

We are committed to improving equine health through scientific research, product innovation and consumer education in respiratory and digestive health. Developed by riders, for riders, we understand the importance of clean forage and a healthy stable environment in maintaining the overall well-being of the horse.

Our Haygain hay steamers are recommended by the world’s leading riders, trainers and equine vets and ComfortStall® Sealed Orthopedic Flooring System is used and recommended by leading Veterinary Hospitals, including Cornell University.

Saturday Links from Nupafeed USA

By on Feb 1, 2020 12:01 am -

New arenas inside the turf oval at Fair Hill. Photo by Steve Horah.

It’s all coming together! These aerial photos of the turf track at Fair Hill Racecourse were taken yesterday morning and it looks like the three main arenas have come along quite nicely. These arenas will be used for dressage, show jumping, and warmup during the Maryland 5 Star this fall and, even sooner, the test event this April! The cross country course will also start and end at the turf track. We can’t wait to see everything in action.

National Holiday: National Baked Alaska Day

U.S. Weekend Action:

Galway Downs Winter H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

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

Three Lakes H.T. at Caudle Ranch [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Saturday Links:

What Do We Know About Rehab Modalities in Horses?

Announcing The Dutta Corporation as Title Sponsor of the USEA YEH Championships

A Day In The Life With: Liz Arbittier, Large Animal Vet And Small Dog Enthusiast

Help on offer in auction as eventers raise £25,000 for Australian equestrians

Give Support, Get Support: The Palm Beach Auction Steps Up For Kevin Babington

Grayson-Jockey Club Foundation to Hold Photo Contest

Saturday Video: Relatable.

 

Friday Video from SmartPak: An Aussie and a Kiwi Walk Into a Bar…

By on Jan 31, 2020 5:00 pm -

…or a horsebox, as it turns out.

After a long, chilly day of showboating and fundraising, a bevy of Kiwi and Aussie eventers (plus two Brits in Alex Bragg and Piggy French) piled into a nearby lorry to warm up. But in true eventer fashion, it wasn’t just going to be a sit-down and a nice cup of tea – instead, they launched into a joke-telling competition, with Chris Burton representing Australia and Tim Price taking the Kiwi mantle. The objective? Try not to laugh at the increasingly offensive jokes, as penned by ERA head and international eventer Bruce Haskell. The winner? Well, you’ll have to watch to find out.

The ERA didn’t just put on the best thing to happen to January since a New Year’s Day Bloody Mary, they’ve also got the eventing fan’s ultimate auction on the go. With over 70 lots, ranging from nabbing a five-star rider as a slave for the day (oooh-er) to having lunch with Lucinda Green, it’s absolutely jam-packed with money-can’t-buy-but-kinda-can-in-this-case items and experiences. Bidding closes at 11:59 p.m. UK time, though (that’s 6.00 p.m. Eastern time) – so don’t dawdle. Head on over and buy something to mitigate those Brexit blues. We certainly will be.

If you want some slightly cheaper fun, you can rewatch all of the Australia Day festivities over on Horse&Country Free – but this, too, will be taken down tonight, so chop-chop, chums!

Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation Named Official Charity of LRK3DE 2020

By on Jan 31, 2020 3:00 pm -

In addition to showcasing top international eventing talent, the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by MARS Equestrian is committed to showing love to charities that support equine organizations and serve the local community. The event names a different official charity to benefit each year, and we are pleased to share that Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation has been named the official charity of the 2020 event.

As the official charity, Grayson-Jockey Club Research will receive a portion of the proceeds from a special farm-to-table charity dinner on Thursday, April 23, at Spy Coast Farm, located next door to the Kentucky Horse Park.

“The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event is one of the most iconic events on the equestrian calendar each year, and we are honored to be named as the official charity of this prestigious competition,” said Dell Hancock, chairman of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. “The money raised from this partnership will improve the lives of all horses, from three-day eventers to horses in your backyard.”

Since 1983, the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation has provided more than $27.5 million to fund 366 projects at 44 universities in North America and overseas. Through the years, research funded by Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and its predecessor (the Grayson Foundation) has uncovered solutions to critical problems affecting horse health as well as clues to numerous other solutions of equine health issues.

“EEI has a long-standing tradition of supporting charities that serve the local community and support the equine industry,” said Lee Carter, executive director of Equestrian Events, Inc., producer of the event. “The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation does a wonderful job of both and we are delighted to work with them this year as our official charity.”

The fundraising dinner’s host venue, Spy Coast Farm, specializes in the breeding and development of top quality performance horses and has three farms located along the East Coast. Spy Coast’s beautiful 800-acre farm on Ironworks Pike in Lexington houses their Breeding, Young Horse Training Center, Quarantine facility, Equine Rehabilitation and Fitness Center and, most recently, an Equine Education Center.

“We are excited to serve as the site for the farm-to-table charity dinner during the 2020 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian,” said Lisa Lourie, owner of Spy Coast Farm. “Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation has had a consistent history of excellence in serving the equine industry and we are proud to be able to support them.”

Tickets to the dinner will be available soon and typically sell out quickly. Please watch the Land Rover Kentucky social media (Facebook, Twitter) for info on ticket availability.

The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by MARS Equestrian returns to the Kentucky Horse Park April 25-28, 2020. Visit the website for more information and to purchase tickets, and we hope to see you there!

Go Eventing.

[Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation Named Official Charity of 2020 Land Rover Kentucky]

#EventerFailFriday: The Road to Success?

By on Jan 31, 2020 1:00 pm -

Every road to success is paved with a few potholes, right? That’s what I keep telling myself anyways. For complete transparency, here’s a few of my own #EventerFailFriday moments:

Here’s a few more submissions from you, our darling readers who used the tag #EventerFailFriday. Thanks for taking us on this crazy, often bumpy journey.

 

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Wait for it…. sound on. Yet another #eventerfailfriday

A post shared by Julie Howard (@juliesweetie10) on

USEA Announces 2020 Educational Symposium Schedule

By on Jan 31, 2020 11:00 am -

Andreas Dibowski is a featured clinician at the USEA Educational Symposium. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The 2020 USEA Educational Symposium is a mere three weeks away, and the USEA has released the schedule. Held Feb. 17-20 at  Barnstaple South in Ocala, Florida, the annual event includes educational demos and training from USEA Instructors’ Certification Program (ICP), Future Event Horse (FEH) Program and Young Event Horse (YEH) Program.

The ICP Symposium will take place Monday, February 17 and Tuesday, February 18 headlined by featured clinician Andreas Dibowski.

The YEH Symposium will follow on Wednesday, February 19 with Andreas, Maren Engelhardt, and Marilyn Payne as clinicians.

The FEH Symposium concludes the Symposium on Thursday, February 20 with clinicians Susan Graham White and Robin Walker.

Tentative schedule:

Monday, February 17 – ICP Symposium

Clinician: Andreas Dibowski
Location: Barnstaple South

Dressage

  • Beginner Novice 9:00 a.m.
  • Beginner Novice 10:00 a.m.
  • Novice 11:00 a.m.

Break – Lunch provided by Barnstaple South

Dressage

  • Preliminary 1:00 p.m.
  • Intermediate 2:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.

Show Jumping

  • Advanced 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, February 18 – ICP Symposium

Clinician: Andreas Dibowski
Location: Barnstaple South

Show Jumping

  • Beginner Novice 9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
  • Training 10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
  • Preliminary 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Break – Lunch provided by Barnstaple South.

Cross Country

  • Beginner Novice 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
  • Training 2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
  • Preliminary 3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Wednesday, February 19 – YEH Symposium

Clinicians: Andreas Dibowski, Maren Engelhardt, and Marilyn Payne.
Location: HITS Post Time Farm and Barnstaple South

7:30 a.m. – Registration at HITS VIP tent
8:00 a.m. – Introduction
8:30 a.m. – Andreas Dibowski and Maren Engelhardt on what they look for in a YEH prospect, particularly the gallop
9:15 a.m. – Gallop videos with commentary from panelists and discussion with attendees
10:30 a.m. – Methodology of judging and scoring system
11:00 a.m. – End classroom session and travel to Barnstaple (next door to HITS Post Time Farm) followed by lunch at Barnstaple.
Lunch Break – lunch provided at Barnstaple.
11:45 a.m. – Closed discussion with YEH judges
12:00 p.m. – Dressage: Evaluating the quality of gaits with Marilyn Payne. Discussion on how to improve gaits and performance with Andreas Dibowski (3 horses)
12:45 p.m. – Dressage Test Rides *YEH judges seated separately.
1:15 p.m. – Evaluating and improving the gallop with Andreas Dibowski and Marilyn Payne.
2:15 p.m. – Break
2:30 p.m. – Jump course preview ride and discussion of course (1 horse)
3:00 p.m. – Jump Course *YEH judges seated separately.
4:30 p.m. – Q&A and wrap up discussion
4:45 p.m. – YEH Judges only – discussion of scores, comments, and placings

Wednesday (evening), February 19 & Thursday, February 20 – FEH Symposium

Clinicians: Susan Graham White and Robin Walker
Location: Courtyard by Marriott classroom (Wednesday) and Barnstaple South (Thursday)

Wednesday, February 19 – *FEH judges/potential judges only

6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – classroom session at Courtyard by Marriott. Dinner provided by the USEA. Includes: In-depth analysis of future event horses, discussion of FEH program – rules, goals, judging guidelines, and a written test.

Thursday, February 20 – FEH Symposium

8:00 a.m. – Registration
8:30 a.m. – Introduction
9:00 a.m. – Mock Judge Testing – Morning session of in-hand presentations in order of horse’s age. Discussion led by Susan Graham White and Robin Walker.
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Lunch at Barnstaple, provided by Equiappraisal. Discussion among judges and review of written test.
12:30 p.m. – 4-Year-Olds under saddle
1:30 p.m. – Individual Judge Testing – Afternoon session of in-hand presentations. Discussion led by Susan Graham White and Robin Walker.
3:30 p.m. – Wrap-up and Q&A

Ready to register? Fill out these forms: ICP Symposium Registration Form and/or YEH/FEH Symposium Registration Form. The USEA is still accepting demo horses for the Symposium, you can sign up here: YEH/FEH Demo Horse Sign Up Form.

Go eventing.

[Announcing the 2020 USEA Educational Symposium Schedule]

 

Weekly Training Tip from Kate Chadderton: Make The Most of Your Winter Season

By on Jan 31, 2020 9:00 am -

Kate Chadderton is an Australian native who operates her competition and training business in Annapolis, MD and Aiken, SC. She’s back again to share tips and advice with EN readers. Keep an eye out for new tips from Kate!

Kate Chadderton helps members learn how to train their horses to make improvements. Photo by Gillian Warner.

Unless you’re able to relocate to Aiken or Ocala for the winter, then this is probably the least inspiring part of the year. For a lot of riders it’s indoor riding only as the ground has frozen, or if there’s no indoor then you’re completely reliant on the weather to dictate when you can ride and what you can do. I suggest to my students who stay in the north to take this time of the year to take it easy, it’s only January and there’s a LOT of the year left to go! Work on your position, do pole work even ground work and long lining. However if you are keen to prepare for the spring events there are plenty of things you can do.
Clinics
Find some good clinics and use the quiet time to get some fresh ideas. Whether you have a full time trainer or not, a different set of eyes and exercises can be really helpful. Choose clinics which focus on the phase you and your horse finds most difficult. If your goal is to lower your dressage score by 5 points this season, go to dressage clinics. If you’re planning to move up early in the spring, go to a clinician who will push you to jump at the edge of your comfort zone. Any good clinician will have a decent course and exercises set up, and they are built in ground crew! Clinics are also a good excuse to get your horse away from home and into an unfamiliar arena.

Ground poles are an easy way to mix it up in your arena. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Ground Poles
There are LOADS of exercises you can set up with simple poles on the ground. If you’re lucky enough to have a lot of poles, then you can easily find online exercises to emulate. Even if you only have a few poles, you can still get creative and set up new exercises. The great thing about poles is that you can practice them in your jump or dressage saddle and you can do them almost every day if you want, as there is no wear and tear on the horse unlike jumping. One of my favourite exercises involves just 3 poles, set up in a triangle formation. You can use all three corners of the triangle to school your horse in the walk (near the pointy end of the formation), trot (a little further away from the pointy end) and canter (near the base of the triangle). You’ll know soon enough if you have the wrong line or pace! Remember, if you’re copying something you see online, trot poles should be set at 4ft and canter poles at 9ft.
Editors note: Check out our Tuesday Video from Flexible Fit Equestrian USA for some inspiration. 
Hacking
Fitness can be difficult to get and maintain in a ring, so take any good weather you can to get out and trot or gallop! It doesn’t matter if your calendar says that today you’re working on your 5 loop serpentines or square halts, get outside in the fresh air! The serpentines will wait for another day.
Schooling Shows
Shows are along the same line as clinics, they can get you out of your home arena and somewhere with more atmosphere. Although not as much pressure as the real thing, they can aid in keeping you and your horse tuned up and ready for when spring finally arrives.
Like I said in the beginning, don’t panic when you see all the pictures of the competitions in the south. There’s still a LOT of the year left! And it’s great for your horse to have a little slower part of the year.

Friday News & Notes from World Equestrian Brands

By on Jan 31, 2020 12:03 am -

Welcome, Fiona! Photo by Sally Crane Cox.

Big congrats to Ellie and Alex O’Neal who welcomed their first child, daughter Fiona Quinn O’Neal, on Tuesday of this week. She was born at 5:48 p.m. in Ocala, weighing in at 7 pounds, 9 ounces and 22 inches. She had her first tour of the barn yesterday afternoon and met Ellie’s four-star mare, Zeta, pictured. Fiona has actually already “ridden” Zeta, when Ellie and Fiona competed Bromont last summer!

Can’t wait for photos of Fiona and her first pony later this year! Another little champion eventer in the making — watch out Kentucky Three Day Event 2040!

National Holiday: National Hot Chocolate Day

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Galway Downs Winter H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

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

Three Lakes H.T. at Caudle Ranch [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Our new girl crush is Mount Saint John Freestyle, and we’re not afraid to admit it. Don’t mind the fact that she’s a fancy dressage lady, “Mrs Valegro” was purchased as a foal by her owner, Emma Blundell, and partnered with Charlotte DuJardin in 2015 after Emma did young horse classes with her. According to reports, she’s the Mary Poppins of horses, Practically Perfect in Every Way. [9 Things You Never Knew About Mount Saint John Freestyle]

Let’s talk about poop! More specifically, fecal transplants. Diarrhea is an inconvenience for humans, but can be deadly for horses, with 30% of affected horses dying. In the diarrhea therapy, called fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), veterinarians take manure from a healthy donor horse and put it in the gut of the horse with diarrhea. Although exactly how FMT works has yet to be determined, the hypothesis is that it repopulates a patient’s depleted gut bacteria to restore its natural species richness, normalizing the gastrointestinal microbiome. [The Scoop On Poop]

Why do horses nicker? Contrary to literally every horse movie director, it’s NOT when a horse sees another human, or experiences some kind of emotion, or the camera pans to them. Please. Somebody send this to Hollywood. PLEASE. [Why Do Horses Nicker]

Thursday Video: Ins and Outs of Cross Country Course Design

By on Jan 30, 2020 5:00 pm -

It is fascinating to get inside the mind of a course designer. The amount of detail that goes into setting each fence, each line, each combination according to terrain and a multitude of other factors is nothing short of astounding.

In the latest video from the FEI, French course designer Pierre Le Goupil walks us through what he enjoys about course design and what all goes into the work. Take a look, and if you’re thinking of starting your journey to obtaining your course design certification, stay tuned for a new series here on EN on how to accomplish that goal!

Go Eventing.

Got Crud? Get Banixx! Brought to you by Banixx Horse Care

By on Jan 30, 2020 3:00 pm -
Banixx, Scratches, Horse, Skin

Comparison photo courtesy of Banixx.

Got the crud? Or rather, your horse has crud on his legs, body or head? Rain rot, rain scald, scratches, scurf, crud, mud fever, Cannon Keratosis – these issues that may start small but quickly can become very big! We groom groom groom, but some horses are just more prone to ‘getting stuff,’ or your week got out of control and so now your horse has a wretched, unsightly skin condition.

Give this a go (might wear gloves to keep any infection from spreading):

It’s best to NOT pick off scabs as that exposes tissues to bacteria. As the tissues heal the scabs will slough off.

Dampen the area with water, apply a small amount of Banixx Medicated Shampoo, gently massage the shampoo in to the skin surface, let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse and towel dry.

For extra ‘power’, spray with Banixx Horse & Pet Care Spray.

Another option is to dampen the area with water, apply a small amount of Banixx Medicated Shampoo, gently massage the shampoo in to the skin surface, go for a ride, muck some stalls, etc., — when you come back rinse the area with water and towel dry.

The secret to keeping Simon’s sensitive skin calm and clear while in Florida? Banixx baths! 🧼🧽💫

Posted by Ariel Grald Eventing on Thursday, January 9, 2020

For itchy spots: For horses that itch at the same areas (allergies or whatever). Wash the area (or whole horse) with Banixx Medicated Shampoo and once dry apply Banixx Wound Care Cream or Banixx Horse & Pet Care Spray. Repeat every few days if the itching persists. Also, follow up applications of  Banixx Horse & Pet Care Spray between washings are effective at providing relief and soothing the skin.

Girth galls: We all do our best to avoid them, we feel terrible when it happens, but it does happen. Clean gently with Banixx Horse & Pet Care Spray, allow it to dry and apply Banixx Wound Care Cream. Repeat the application of Banixx Wound Care Cream daily.

Banixx Medicated Shampoo and Banixx Wound Care Cream have chlorohexidine that helps with killing bacteria/fungus, but are ultra-enriched with moisturizing, rejuvenating marine collagen. The Banixx product line has no clinical odor, no sting, no alcohol, no steroids, and is non-toxic. So safe and easy to use, with no worries!

Click below to learn more: