Classic Eventing Nation

Preview the Mitsubishi Motors Australian International CCI5* Cross Country with Mike Etherington-Smith

By on Nov 15, 2019 3:45 pm -

The Mitsubishi Motors Australian International Three Day Event is well underway as the final CCI5* of the 2019 season, and it’s Emma Bishop with CP Issey Miyake leading the way on a dressage penalty mark of 30.3. Emma and CP Issey Miyake, an 11-year-old mare, finished in seventh in this event last year and have shaved 1.5 points off their score.

The pressure is on for tomorrow’s cross country, however, as second-placed Hazel Shannon and Willingapark Clifford are aiming to become the fifth horse in history to win three CCI5* events at the same venue. This pair has much experience both at this venue and at the level; you may remember them from their trip to the States for the 2019 Land Rover Kentucky Three Day, where they finished 26th. This is their fifth start in the Australian CCI5*.  Lauren Brown and Sky’s Da Limit round out the top three after dressage, sitting on a score of 31.0 in their second go at Adelaide.

If you want to take a deeper dive into the numbers, visit our friends at EquiRatings, who’ve been hard at work on an exciting new project, the EquiRatings Prediction Centre. You can check out our preview of the CCI5* division here.

Graphic via EquiRatings.

Cross country day at the Australian International CCI5* has a unique feel to it due to the fact that the course winds its way through the middle of Adelaide’s East City Parklands, crossing roads and getting up close and personal with city dwellers stopping by to spectate.

A satellite view showing the unique location of the Australian International Three Day. Screenshot via CrossCountryApp.

Take a look at the main road that riders will be galloping across on Saturday:

This year’s Mike Etherington-Smith course features 45 jumping efforts and an optimum time of 11 minutes 31 seconds. This year, the course’s start and finish locations have been moved, and the distance the horses and riders will travel is a bit longer than previous years. With the start and finish locations being moved this year, Mike’s put some more technical questions in the arena where previously just the first and final fences were placed.

One of the tricker questions on the course at fence 14ABC, the 7 Network Stag Corner.

Mike starts riders off with three typical rhythm fences and kicks things into high gear rather quickly at fence 4AB, a pair of upright gates set on two strides. The first third of the course is fairly flat, Mike comments during his course narration, setting riders up to manage their pace early on. With several thoughtfully placed let-up fences mixed with technical questions that, when combined with the buzz of the crowd around features such as the water jumps, will make for a great challenge for the pairs coming forward.

The main water jump, fence 16AB. Photo via Cross Country App.

All three phases of the CCI5* at Australian International will be live streamed on the Equestrian Life Facebook page, so be sure to give them a “like” so you can follow along with the action. For anyone unable to watch live, replays will also be available on Equestrian Life’s Facebook here. The CCI5* cross country will begin at 12:45 pm local time Saturday/9:15 pm ET this evening. The rest of the live stream schedule is as follows:

Friday, November 15 – 12:30pm local/9:00 pm ET (Thursday) – CCI5* Dressage

Saturday, November 16 – 12:45 pm local/9:15 pm ET (Friday) – CCI5* Cross Country

Sunday November 17 – 1:00 pm local/9:30 pm ET (Saturday) – World Cup Show jumping and presentations AND 3:00 pm local/11:30 pm ET – CCI5* Show Jumping

To view the fence-by-fence analysis with Mike Etherington-Smith, check out the full preview on CrossCountryApp.com.

You can also view a flyover of the entire course here:


Australian International Three-Day Event: Website, Entries, Schedule, Ride Times, Live Scores

Phillip Dutton & Fernhill PickPocket Carry the #TeamLeeLee Torch in OJC CCI3*-L Dressage

By on Nov 15, 2019 2:36 pm -

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill PickPocket. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Phillip Dutton wins a lot of events on a lot of horses, but there’s something extra special about the winning streak his been on of late with Fernhill PickPocket. We were all dabbing at our eyes a bit when they swept the MARS Great Meadow International CCI3*-S from start to finish back in August, and then followed that up with two more wire-to-wire CCI3*-S wins at Morven Park and Virginia.

Phillip took over the ride from his stepdaughter, Lee Lee Jones, who is now a part-owner of the horse with her grandmother Annie Jones and Caroline Moran. Here at Ocala Jockey Club International, the pair is once again in the hunt for a win, taking the dressage lead on 28.9.

“It’s a little bit of an emotional relationship because he was actually Lee Lee’s horse, and she bought him originally from Ireland,” Phillip says. “So it’s kind of sad, but it’s also exciting to have him.”

Lee Lee acquired “Ollie,” an 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Chacco Blue x Bracklin Mystique, by Solitair), as a 4-year-old from Carol Gee and produced him up to Training level before her accident in 2016. The following spring, Phillip took over the ride, bringing the horse along slowly and methodically.

“We’re really excited about his future,” Phillip says. “He’s a little bit of a volatile horse, he’s not the most laid-back horse you’d ever see and so everybody’s in agreement we’re going to take our time with him and slowly produce him. He’s got the makings of a really top horse. He can move and operate on the flat, but he’s also a good jumper as well.”

Looking ahead to cross country, he says, “It’ll be the longest course he’s done but it should be well within his capabilities at this stage of his career. There’s some quite decent proper jumping efforts there and there’s also some jumps there that are a bit small compared to some of the course. The course varies a lot. He can be a bit of an aggressive jumper, so I’ll just have to make sure that he doesn’t get too flat and low at the smaller stuff so that he’s at his best for when the harder stuff comes.”

Katherine Coleman, winner of the 2018 CCI4*-L, is 13th in the CCI3*-L with Monbed Senna. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

In second is Leslie Law with Zick Zack, a 10-year-old Swedish mare (Blue Hors Zack x Mercedes, by Master) owned by Sally Cox, on a score of 30.5. “I thought the test went pretty well, I’m very happy,” Leslie says.

The horse is a new ride for Leslie, who is taking the reins until Ellie O’Neal has her baby in January. The pair got off to a super start, finishing 4th in the CCI3*-S at Stable View in September.

Of tomorrow’s cross country track, Leslie says, “It’s a great course, the terrain is so good here, the setting is so good, the ground will be really good after last night’s rain. It’ll be a good competition. There’s a few lines which are questions as to whether we’re leaving a stride out or adding a stride here or there and so I’ll have to feel my way a little bit since I don’t know the horse inside out so we’ll go out there and see where we are at about fence five or six and hopefully get the job done.”

“Ellie has done a great job with the horse and the mare’s been really well produced and she knows the horse very well. So where there is a question of, in a line whether it might be an extra stride or one less stride, I’ll ask Ellie what she thinks because she’s got way more experience on her and knows the horse way better. So any kind of information like that for me right now is only useful to have. You have to feel your way when you’re out there and so a lot of it then becomes instinct.”

Gratuitous pup pic! Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Jon Holling is third on 33.0 with Prophet, his own 7-year-old Trakehner bred by Anissa Cottongim (Tatendrang x Pennant’s Valentine, by Pennant).

“I’ve had him for a long time, I got him when he was three. But it’s only his fourth Intermediate, so while I know the horse really well and I feel confident going out he is still green at the level,” Jon says. “Like Leslie was saying, there are some questions out there where I know in another 12 months’ time, he’ll be ready to attack it — I’d say tomorrow I’m just going to have to see how he feels when he leaves the box. He’s been really good and strong and bold on the cross country, the three competitions he has been at the level. But it’s still new enough to him that I’ll just have to see how he feels. He’s a pretty brave, bold, confident cross country horse so fingers crossed he’s up to the challenge.”

Jon is pretty easy to spot this weekend, having found himself on the losing end of a bet: Jon’s Green Bay Packers lost to Buck Davidson’s Philadelphia Eagles, leaving Jon relegated to wear an Eagles Jersey throughout the weekend — including on cross country. (“Buck tried to make me wear it during the jog but that’s where I draw the line,” Jon says.) Oh, you two. Payback is heck, I guess.

Regardless, we’re all looking forward to a sporting day of cross country tomorrow followed by a thrilling finale come Sunday. Everyone has glowing praise of Ocala Jockey Club.

“I can’t think of a better venue that I’ve been to, it’s beautiful here,” Jon says. “It’s the perfect time of year and setting for an autumn four-star. Obviously I’m a bit partial to it because I live 30 minutes away, but I’d travel to come to this event. To me, it’s on par with some of the best venues I’ve ever seen. The courses are built really well, and there’s a good team in place.”

Katherine Brown sits 4th with Carnaby, her own 6-year-old Oldenberg gelding (Cabachon x Clingolda, by Clinton H).

“This is a horse I got as a 3-year-old (from Harrington Horses in England), he’s still pretty young,” she says. “He’s awesome, he was really, really great in the warm-up, got a little bit distracted in the ring. But like I said, he’s young so I’m okay with that for now.”

Of the course, she says, “I think it looks very appropriate, very good  a little bit long. It’s his first CCI3*-L. See how he feels and take it one jump at a time.”

CCI4*-L dressage is underway, along with the conclusion of the CCI2*-L. Stay tuned for those reports later today! Until then, you can watch the action live on EN or via EQTV Network.

#OJC3DE: Website, Schedule, Entries, Ride Times, Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

CCI3*-L Dressage Top 10: 

 

 

This Week in Horse Health News Presented by MediVet Equine

By on Nov 15, 2019 12:00 pm -

As horse owners and competitors, we want to give our equine athletes every opportunity to feel and perform their best. Keeping up to date with the latest news in horse health and medicine is an important part of that, and it’s why Medivet Equine is bringing you the latest in horse health news each week.

Following the medical model of “do no harm”, MediVet Equine develops scientifically based therapeutics enabling the horse to call on its own healing ability, thus achieving its full performance potential. MediVet Equine provides effective, all natural, drug free products and lab services designed to optimize the overall health of performance horses. They specialize in regenerative treatments that help the body heal itself to get stronger naturally. Boyd Martin has several of his top competitive mounts on MediVet ACS, and has had terrific results!

This Week in Horse Health News …

The breaking horse health news this week is, of course, that the USEF has banned the use of Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) in competition horses. MPA, commonly known as Depo, is a human contraceptive which is also used in horses to control hormones in mares or exert calming effects on geldings though it is not FDA-approved for use in equines. The ban comes after reports of equine fatalities and anaphylaxis. It is effective December 1, 2019 and carries a penalty range starting at a 3-6 month suspension and a fine of $3,000-$6,000 for a first offense. [US Equestrian]

Treating respiratory allergies and diseases in competition horses is tricky, but doable. Conditions like allergies and asthma in average pleasure horses is relatively easy to treat, but due to a number of factors, the challenges in managing these conditions generally increase as horses move up the levels. Belgian veterinarian and researcher Dr. Fe ter Woort recently reviewed the challenges that owners and veterinarians face in managing these conditions in competition horses, what can be done to keep them healthy, and competition-friendly treatments. [The Horse]

An investigation into the death of Breeder’s Cup Classic runner Mongolian Groom is underway. Mongolian Groom suffered a catastrophic injury in the homestretch and was ultimately euthanized. Videos taken during workouts a week prior to the race which showed the colt visibly lame were shared heavily on social media, particularly after the race, and have called into question the pre-race veterinary protocols at Santa Anita. Dr. Larry Bramlage of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital was contracted by the Breeders’ Cup board to review the information relating to Mongolian Groom’s death, including his pre-race condition and the track’s pre-race protocols. [Paulick Report]

Terrifying Cavalry Training Tips Part 4: Skinnies

By on Nov 15, 2019 9:00 am -

In honor of Veterans Day and in the spirit of celebrating eventing’s military roots, each day this week we are republishing a section of Wylie’s 2015 series “Terrifying Cavalry Training Tips.” So far we’ve tackled the subjects of down banks, grid work and water jumps, and now we present the series’ thrilling conclusion: skinnies. 

“I’ve eaten slices of pizza that were wider than this, y’all.” –Wylie. Photo courtesy of CrossCountryApp via Pau 2019.

Itty-bitty teeny-weenie skinnies, the kind that make you suck in your own gut just walking up to them, are pretty standard fare on modern cross-country courses.

But long before we were pointing our event horses at carved wooden waterfowl and corners the size of a billiard ball rack, cavalry riders were practicing their accuracy over obstacles like this (source: British Pathe):

2

3

4

5

Um, yeah. Which brings us to our Cavalry Training Tip of the Day, presented by the Cadre Noir de Saumur.

Now that's what you call a skinny. Photo: Flickr/jmbaud74/Creative Commons.

So skinny. Photo: Flickr/jmbaud74/Creative Commons.

Even skinnier. Photo: Croquant/Creative Commons.

Even skinnier. Photo: Croquant/Creative Commons.

Founded in 1828, the historic role of the Saumur School of Cavalry was to provide training for the officers and non-commissioned officers of the French cavalry. After World War II, however, the mounted element of the French Army had been greatly reduced and the need for a purely military riding academy had almost vanished. Fortunately, the international prestige of French horsemanship ensured the survival of the Saumur training centre in the form of a national riding school under the Ministry of Sports.

In 1972 the National School of Équitation was constituted around the Cadre Noir, which forms its core teaching staff. Today there are about 50 horses and a team of elite riders, usually limited to 22. The members of the Cadre Noir have either civilian or military status.

The equitation on which the school is built was taught by Francois Robichon de la Gueriniere, the French riding master to King Louis XV and author of the book École de Cavalerie, published in 1731.

Today this troupe of elite French riders still dazzles audiences with spectacular displays of horsemanship — like this bonkers progression of skinnies. First a table, then a chair, then for dessert … a single upright pole.

Well kids, there you have it. Drag that dining room furniture out to the ring and get started! (Note from EN’s lawyer: Eventing Nation shall not be held liable for broken, smashed or otherwise damaged personal property.)

Go Eventing.

Friday News & Notes from World Equestrian Brands

By on Nov 15, 2019 12:03 am -

Free lease baby! Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Do you like babies? Do you enjoy holding them, and sniffing their little milk-smell heads while they blather nonsense and paw the air with their grubby little hands like “Look at me! I’m a baby!”? Are you also, by chance, at Ocala Jockey Club International? Has Wylie got a job for you!! Free baby lease! She’ll even buy you a drink(s)! Any drink(s) you want! Not to mention EN karma 4ever! Flag her down or hit her up (865-414-9313) if you have a few spare moments to snuggle an adorable tiny human while Wylie writes.

National Holiday: National Bundt Day

Major International Events:

Australian International Three-Day Event: Website, Entries, Schedule, Ride Times, Live Scores

U.S. Weekend Preview: 

Ocala Jockey Club International: Website, Schedule, Entries, Ride Times, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

News From Around the Globe:

Heads up that there’s a two-hour rain delay at Ocala Jockey Club. Dressage will now begin at 10. Updated ride times can be found here and here.

Emma Bishop is your Mitsubishi Motors Australian International CCI5* leader following dressage. We’ve got a cross country course preview coming your way later today, and you can catch up on the dressage action in this report from An Eventful Life.

Is there anything more fun than snooping around somebody else’s barn? Nah, don’t think so. Luckily Horse & Hound did some snooping for us at Gemma Tattersall’s barn, and took some pictures of the scenes. It’s a barn of stars, including the incredible Arctic Soul, Chilli Morning (and some of his progeny) and several other international stars. [Check out Gemma Tattersall’s Yard]

When you have a foal on your hands, it’s easy to get a little too eager for training. After all, don’t you want to create the *perfect* horse? However, new research shows that even with very short training sessions, days off are essential to keeping the foals’ stress levels low and their learning curve consistent. [Young Foals in Training]

Help Team Hylofit with some information about you and your horse! Hylofit is seeking to better understand the habits of horse owners when it comes to technology and collecting/understanding data. Please take a few moments to fill out this anonymous survey. [Hylofit Survey]

Some companies are getting a head start on Black Friday this month. EN partner Nupafeed is amongst them, with a huge year end sale that you’ll want to capitalize on. The sale starts today and goes through the weekend, including both horse and dog supplements. [Nupafeed USA]

Featured Video (for our readers who are fluent in German):

#OJC3DE Day Two Social: And They’re Off!

By on Nov 14, 2019 7:30 pm -

Day two is done and dusted at the Ocala Jockey Club International, where the majority of pairs completed their dressage test and are now on to the running and jumping. Leslie Wylie is our eye on the ground this weekend, baby Thomas in tow like the true trooper she is, and we’ll be bringing you much more action from the last FEI event of the North American season.

Let’s take a look around social media from today’s events! Don’t forget to tag your posts with #OJC3DE or #OcalaJockeyClub for a chance to be featured in our daily social recaps.

#OJC3DE: Website, Schedule, Entries,  Ride Times, Dressage Order of Go, Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

View this post on Instagram

What Biggie thinks of dressage #nowforthefunpart

A post shared by Matt Brown & Cecily Clark (@eastwesttraining) on

Little family photo! Patty 🍀 practiced his trot up today perfectly! Onto more practicing for Patty, dressage on Friday!

Posted by Lauren Kieffer Eventing on Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Day one at the Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event was a success as all three horses passed inspection!…

Posted by Sharon White on Thursday, November 14, 2019

And finally, a friendly neighborhood PSA to walk the extra three steps and kindly place your manure dumps into the proper receptacle so that poor Cecily Brown doesn’t have to! Hero status, Cecily.

So Cecily was staring at this (picture) for a couple hours and then I walk back over to the barns and see this (video). She just couldn’t take it. #cantstanddisorder #queenofshitmountain #dontaggravatemywife

Posted by Matt Cecily Brown on Thursday, November 14, 2019

Marilyn Little & RF Scandalous Take Center Stage on the Centerline in Ocala Jockey Club CCI4*-S

By on Nov 14, 2019 5:46 pm -

Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Marilyn Little‘s partner RF Scandalous has been tucked away on the shelf for much of the past year. After an injury sidelined the mare in the lead-up to the 2018 World Equestrian Games, they’ve been MIA while the mare rested and, ultimately, recovered. Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event marks their international comeback, and they pair has come roaring back to form in the first phase, taking the CCI4*-S lead on 24.4.

“I can’t tell you how much fun it is to ride her here and have her back,” Marilyn says of the 14-year-old Oldenburg mare (Carry Gold x Richardia, by Lario), owned by Ms. Jacqueline Mars and Phoebe and Michael Manders. The latter missed today’s competition but will be here to cheer the mare on this weekend. “When you’ve lost something and you get it back, it’s really cool so this is a really special weekend for me. It’s been a long road. There’s been an incredible team of people that have helped get her back here.”

Marilyn says “Kitty” was all business today, although their test was plenty effervescent. “She was very excited — she was calm right up until the last moment she went in and got a little excited in the atmosphere,” she says. “Two years ago we were here, and that translated into not such a great test, and she’s just become so mature and such a great partner that she went in and did her job like she always does … She did everything I hoped she would and kept a lid on the excitement.”

Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

The pair’s preparations have been relatively light: a couple Prelim horse trials, an Advanced combined test, and a show jumping dress rehearsal at the Duke Horse Show in Raleigh, North Carolina en route to Florida (Marilyn won the Grand Prix with Karen O’Connor’s horse Clearwater). They knocked the cross country rust off at Liz Halliday-Sharp’s facility upon arrival. “I just have to rely a bit on the fact that she thinks she knows what she’s doing out there,” Marilyn says. “She has gotten to have a few outings, but not the steady preparation for an event like we would normally like to have.”

Certainly, the pair has experience in spades, including but not limited to a 3rd place finish at Kentucky in 2018, a 4th at Luhmühlen in 2017, and a win at Fair Hill in 2016.

“This is her first big event back,” Marilyn says. “In all fairness to her, the last big event she was preparing for was the Worlds and before that it was Kentucky. They absolutely know when it’s a big weekend and when it’s just a practice weekend, and she had a very big sense of that. I think she thought she was going in to a championship level event this weekend. She felt like it was that kind of day.

“It’s great that I’m back at an event with this horse. She’s such a special horse for me, so it’s wonderful to be back at an event, but it’s even better being back with a best friend, it’s that much more fun. For me, if I didn’t have this horse I wouldn’t be eventing so I event for her because I love her and it didn’t really make sense for me to be at them without her.”

Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Rubens D’Ysieux. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Rubens D’Ysieux, a 14-year-old Selle Français gelding (Balougran x Davidoff Silver Shadow, by Mr Blue) owned by the Rubens D’Ysieux Syndicate, are 2nd on 32.5.

This pair is something of a comeback story as well, as the horse has been recovering from colic surgery in April. “I haven’t really dealt with that before — he’s never been sick ever and I’ve actually never had a horse that had to go through that,” Sara says. “I’ve just been sort of taking my time making sure he feels good and playing it one day at a time but he honestly feels really good, I was very happy with him, he feels very strong.”

Their last international outing was the Bromont CCI4*-L in 2018, where they finished 8th.

Sara says, “He’s always a competitor, he’s a very kind horse, he’s a sassy horse, so I never have to worry from that perspective because he doesn’t like to be embarrassed. He’s a really, really good boy.”

She admits she was a bit surprised at their score, that she thought she’d be a couple marks lower. Her serpentine may not have been accurate enough, she reckons, and she may have lost some ground on her halt and reinback. “But I couldn’t have been happier with the horse,” she says. “He was super so I can’t really get too fussed about it.”

Looking forward to cross country, Sara says, “I’m expecting a nice course, they’re always really good courses here at the Jockey Club, it’s amazing terrain and it’s a proper galloping cross country place.”

Rebecca Brown with Dassett Choice. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Rounding out the top three is Rebecca Brown with Dassett Choice, her own 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Caricello x Vilja), on 34.7.

“It’s his second Advanced,” Rebecca says. “Actually, I didn’t love (my ride). He can really do a kind of amazing test, and I had two little blips but we’ve been working really hard and so obviously even that was still pretty competitive. I was obviously still pleased, but always knowing you can do better, right?”

Rebecca shared her first impressions of the cross country course: “The short does look nice, a little bit friendlier than the long which I appreciate. They always present it so well and I feel like it always rides really well.”

Alyssa Phillips and Oskar. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Alyssa Phillips and Oskar are 4th on 35.1, and Jessica Phoenix and Humble GS are 5th on 35.7.

Elsewhere, in the CCI3*-L, Leslie Law and Zick Zack have the overnight lead on 30.5. In the CCI2*-L Buck Davidson with Cooley Candyman and Will Coleman with Steam Engine are in equal first on 27.9. Dressage for those divisions continues Friday at 8 a.m. The CCI4*-L begins at 10:20 a.m.

Much more to come, stay tuned. Go Eventing!

#OJC3DE: Website, Schedule, Entries,  Ride Times, Dressage Order of Go, Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

CCI4*-S Top 10 After Dressage:

Photo Gallery: Dressage Is Fun & Everybody Is Having a Great Time at Ocala Jockey Club

By on Nov 14, 2019 4:22 pm -

Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

You know that feeling when you’ve just nailed your dressage test and it’s like BOOM!!!!

(I don’t know that feeling, personally, but hopefully you do.)

Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Segway to adorable pic of the Coleman fam.

Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

A hard act to follow, but these pups are pretty stinking cute, too:

Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Good vibes are in the air here at Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event, taking place through the week here in Reddick, Florida.

Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

CCI4*-S dressage completed today, and CCI2*-L and CCI3*-L are back for more tomorrow along with the CCI4*-L. We’ve got a full report on the day forthcoming shortly, but thought we’d share a little teaser photo gallery by the great Shannon Brinkman as an appetizer.

Much more to come. Go Eventing!

#OJC3DE: Website, Schedule, Entries,  Ride Times, Dressage Order of Go, Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Cathal Daniels Catch-Rides to Stuttgart Indoor Eventing Victory

By on Nov 14, 2019 3:00 pm -

Cathal Daniels and Alcatraz. Photo via Stuttgart German Masters.

For those poor, unfortunate souls who don’t have access to an Ocala to escape to – that’ll be all of us on this side of the pond, then – there’s got to be something to fill the drudgery of the grey and soggy winter months.

Cue indoor eventing, the fast-paced, Europop-fuelled, boozy and enthusiastic little brother to the sport proper, which takes a plethora of familiar faces into the heart of some of Europe’s most prestigious indoor horse shows. Though it’s a decidedly Eurocentric undertaking, the indoor eventing season got off to a rip-roaring start in Canada, with the Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge at the Royal Winter Fair going to Karl Slezak and Fernhill Wishes.

Yesterday, though, it was back to Bratwurstier climes, as indoor eventing took to the floor at the Stuttgart German Masters. 19 horse-and-rider combinations from seven countries came forward to tackle the course, made up of two parts: the first, a twisting, turning accuracy challenge over 17 solid fences, and the second, a quickfire timed figure-of-eight over showjumps. For every fence knocked, three seconds would be added to a competitor’s time – but competitors would have to finish the first section of the course within the optimum time of 98 seconds to be allowed to put the pedal to the metal and ride for the chance to take top honours.

And thus commenced an hour of frenetic fun, with a packed house of enthusiastic spectators clapping and cheering each competitor around the whirlwind track, designed by Rüdiger Rau. It quickly became apparent that one fence in particular would be the bogey of the evening: the final showjump at 23, a substantially-filled upright at the end of a long gallop, fell and fell and fell some more.

Photo via Stuttgart German Masters.

This allowed Spain’s Esteban Benitez Valle and his diminutive firecracker Milana 23 to hold the lead for much of the class after their ferociously quick one-pole round set the tone as the second in the order of go. Though he would ultimately have to settle for fifth place after a hot batch of late riders, his little mare certainly earned the unofficial EN award for the horse we’d most like to smuggle home in our carry-on.

The winner would only end up 0.19 seconds faster than the Spaniard, but that three-second penalty proved costly – and Ireland’s Cathal Daniels, well-known for his inimitable ability to pair speed with precision, edged the victory with fourteen-year-old Alcatraz, a catch-ride borrowed from Oliver Townend and owner Sarah Hughes for the competition. Previously piloted by Great Britain’s Alex Bragg (and a handful of Americans as well, including Ryan Wood, Phillip Dutton, and Allison Springer), the KWPN gelding (Cartier van de Heffinck x Imperatrice, by VDL Corland) won last year’s Paris class, and is proving something of a specialist in these buzzy, close competitions.

Despite opting for a slightly wider turn onto the final gallop down to that fickle final fence, the 23-year-old European bronze medalist stopped the clock on 36.65 seconds, perhaps spurred on by the nostalgic overtones of…Crazy Frog? We don’t know what they’re feeding these German arena DJs, but we’d quite like some, actually.

Photo via Stuttgart German Masters.

It would be an Irish one-two, after final rider Padraig McCarthy would cross the finish line less than a third of a second slower than Cathal, riding his 2018 Geneva indoor eventing victor Rosemaber Lancuest. Ingrid Klimke would lead the way for the home side, finishing third on her 2016 Seven-Year-Old World Champion Weisse Düne, who gained some experience in this type of novelty class when joining in with Aachen’s infamous Ride and Drive this summer. They clocked in at 38.47 seconds, while fourth-placed Laura Collett and Cooley Again – rather charmingly referred to as ‘Nostrils’ – would finish up on 39.80 seconds, and €2,000 the richer.

One might suspect, though, that drinks were on Cathal, whose catch-ride was sweetened by the prospect of being able to keep all his prize money – a not insubstantial €10,000. Ever the competitor, he could be found rigorously tackling a pull-up challenge in the stables before making his merry way to the bar. Shots for nailing all the shots? We certainly hope so.

The next leg of the hotly-contested European indoor eventing circuit takes place at the Sweden International Horse Show in Stockholm on Thursday, the 28th November. After that, we’ll be heading to Paris for the Salon du Cheval on Saturday, the 7th of December, and swiftly onwards to Switzerland’s CHI Geneva, where the indoor eventing will take place on Friday, the 13th of December.

Stuttgart German Masters: Press Release

Thursday Video from Professional’s Choice: Emma Ford’s Blanket Folding 101

By on Nov 14, 2019 2:30 pm -

Learning Center: Blanketing 101 with Emma Ford brought to you by Horseware Ireland

It's blanketing season! Do you know how to fold a perfect blanket so it sits neatly on the stall door? Watch the full Learning Center video to check out Emma Ford's top 🐴 blanketing tips 👉 https://www.usef.org/learning-center/videos/blanketing-101

Posted by US Equestrian on Thursday, November 14, 2019

US Equestrian’s Learning Center is a great place to find useful information that horse owners from all areas can benefit from. In the latest educational video released in the Learning Center, longtime Dutton Eventing barn manager Emma Ford breaks down her best practices for everyone’s favorite time of year, blanketing season.

In this video, Emma explains her recommendations for folding blankets of all weights so that they’re easy to hang on stall fronts without any pesky and unsightly dangling straps. Tidy barns for everyone!