Classic Eventing Nation

Saturday Links from Nupafeed USA

By on Nov 2, 2019 12:01 am -

I hear folks mention venues like Bromont and Rebecca Farm as bucket list events that they want to compete or spectate at someday and, don’t get me wrong, those are amazing places that I want to go also, but high up on my list of places as well is actually The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.

Now, now … I know it’s an indoor event and not a real horse trials, but I’m a real sucker for a fair and the more agricultural the better! The Royal really sounds like just my kind of place. I can completely do without a midway full of cacophonous and rickety steel rides and carnies hawking cheap prizes — give me some horses to watch, some baby goats to pet, some maple syrup to sample and my week will be made!

We’ll be keeping our eye on The Royal’s indoor eventing this weekend as well as Galway Downs International. Stay tuned!

National Holiday: National Deviled Egg Day

Major Weekend Events:

Galway Downs 3DE & H.T. [Website]  [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

U.S. Weekend Action:

Virginia 3DE & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

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

Full Gallop H.T. [Website]  [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Saturday Links:

Tucker Billeter and Bill’s Midnight Magic Maintain the Lead in the Hylofit USEA Classic Series Training Three-Day at Galway Downs

How To Do No Stirrup November The Right Way (And Keep Your Horse’s Back Happy)

Charlotte Dujardin beats world number one to win World Cup grand prix

Can Horses Eat Pumpkin?

Saturday Video: But seriously, tell me you wouldn’t want to go watch the Royal Canadian Mounted Police perform.

Jennings & Spoltore Take Charge of USEF Two-Star National Championships at VHT International

By on Nov 1, 2019 7:17 pm -

On a brisk morning in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the first horses started down centerline Friday at the Virginia Horse Trials (VHT) International. Following the first phase of competition, Australia’s Ryan Wood and USA’s Jane Jennings are tied for the lead in the CCI2*-LA division on a score of 29.5.

Ryan Wood and Ruby, tied for lead in CCI2*-LA. Photo by Brant Gamma.

Wood is riding Ruby, a 10-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Summit Sporthorses Ltd, Inc. The pair won this same division last year and also won the CCI2*-S last spring at The Fork at Tryon.

“She’s feeling great. She pulled out a cracking test today,” Wood said. “I’m excited for her owner and breeder Ilona English, who stuck with this horse and believed in her since she was a foal. She won the two-star here last year and her brother Powell also won the two-star here [in 2014]. She’s from New Jersey but she’s bred a bunch of Virginia winners.”

Cross country course designer Carsten Meyer has set a testing two-star track for Saturday. On the rolling hills of the Virginia Horse Center, endurance plays a heavy role.

“We’ve been doing a lot of fitness, thankfully, because it’s a serious track out there for the two-star. There is lots of terrain and it’s a long course at 7 minutes, 38 seconds,” Wood said. “Ruby is a really honest jumper and she’s seasoned at the level. We’re looking forward to getting out there tomorrow.”

Jane Jennings and Kontessa M, tied for lead in CCI2*-LA. Photo by Brant Gamma.

Jennings and Kontessa M are fresh off a win at Morven Park’s CCI2*-S. As the highest placed American rider in the CCI2*-LA division, she and the 9-year-old Oldenburg mare currently lead the USEF Two-Star Eventing National Championship.

Francesca Spoltore and Millstreet Mitch, leading the CCI2*-LB. Photo by Brant Gamma.

Leading the way in the CCI2*-LB division and in the hunt for the USEF National Two-Star JR/YR Championship is Francesca Spoltore with Millstreet Mitch. With a leading score of 31.4, Spoltore, 19, and her 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding got a positive start to their first international competition as a pair.

“He was really super today. He’s really trained on the flat. It’s been me learning how to get the perfect test out of him,” Spoltore said. “That’s probably the best test he’s had. I was able to get him uphill and he grew a lot in there.”

Spoltore and “Mitch” partnered only four months ago. He arrived at her trainer Alex Green’s barn to be sold and he was the perfect fit to help Spoltore gain competition miles at the level. The plan for tomorrow’s cross country is to try and stay up on the minute markers early.

“I’m not super fast on the cross country, especially since I don’t know him that well. The times I have run him I’ve just been learning how to ride him,” Spoltore said. “I’m hoping I can go quick tomorrow. It’s a very long course and the terrain here guts them a little bit by the end.”

The CCI3*-L also has a tie for the top spot after dressage. Woods Baughman and the 10-year-old Masterel, a Thoroughbred owned by Denis Glaccum and Sharon White, sit in equal first on a score of 32.1 with John Michael Durr and Becky Brown’s 13-year-old CDE, Tilikum.

Mikki Kuchta and Special Reserve, leading the CCI1*-L. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Earning the best dressage score to lead the inaugural VHT CCI1*-L are Mikki Kuchta and Special Reserve. They scored a 29.7, a solid start to the 6-year-old Thoroughbred’s first international competition.

The remainder of the national horse trials divisions, from Modified all the way to Starter, will begin their competition Saturday while the international combinations tackle cross country.

[Jane Jennings and Francesca Spoltore Take Charge of USEF Two-Star Eventing National Championships at VHT International]

Virginia 3DE & H.T.: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Live Scores

Friday Video from SmartPak: Lucinda Green Swaps Saddles

By on Nov 1, 2019 5:00 pm -

Petplan rider challenge

In this new Petplan Equine film, top riders Charlie Hutton and Lucinda Green swap disciplines. Find out how Lucinda gets on riding piaffe and tempi changes while Charlie finds his feet with angles and skinny fences…

Posted by Horse & Hound on Friday, November 1, 2019

What happens when Grand Prix dressage rider Charlie Hutton and veritable eventing legend Lucinda Green swap disciplines? Rather a lot of infuriating brilliance, you’ll be unsurprised to find. But we’re huge fans of some of the key takeaways of today’s video, which features each rider helping the other get to grips with a slightly alien discipline – there’s plenty that even the most hardened of us can learn from watching (although we recommend pouring yourself a glass of wine first, to numb the pain of seeing Hutton’s absolutely faultless form over a line of fences.)

Have you tried a temporary discipline swap? Did it lead to a revelation for your riding? Let us know in the comments!

This Week in Horse Health News Presented by MediVet Equine

By on Nov 1, 2019 3:00 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 University of Wisconsin-Madison has developed a CT scanner that can be used on standing sedated horses. The machine can be used to scan a horse’s leg while standing, unlike a conventional CT machine which requires a horse to be under general anesthesia and recumbent. This makes the scan, which can be more advantageous than x-rays, a much more accessible and feasible option for horse owners and veterinarians alike. This scanner can also be set in a horizontal position and be used to scan a sedated horse’s head and neck as well. [BloodHorse]

You get your horse’s teeth regularly floated, but do you really understand why? When it comes to understanding why those hooks have to get filed down, it helps to understand the anatomy of the horse’s teeth and how they chew. Dr. James Brown, Clinical Associate Professor of Equine Surgery at Virginia Tech, explains why horses’ teeth grow like they do, what dental issues can arise, and how taking care of them will improve their welfare. [USEA]

Chia seeds: you put them in your smoothie, but what about in your horse’s feeds? Dr. Juliet Getty believes they can be a helpful supplement to a horse’s diet. Chia seeds are best known for being high in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and they are present in a similar ratios as in pasture grasses. There are a host of potential benefits that mainly stem from promoting a healthy immune response and lessening inflammation (which MediVet ACS can help with too!) in the body. [HorseTalk]

FEI Publishes Tokyo Horse Monitoring Research Project Findings

By on Nov 1, 2019 1:30 pm -

The FEI has published the full report of the horse monitoring research project conducted at the Ready Steady Tokyo test event in August, won by Olympic champion Michael Jung (GER) with fischerWild Wave. Photo by FEI/Yusuke Nakanishi.

The results of a major research study commissioned by the FEI, aimed at identifying best practices and management of horses training and competing in hot and humid environments, have been published today.

Conducted at the Ready Steady Tokyo Test Event in August 2019, and led by the FEI’s climate expert Dr David Marlin, the study monitored the combined effects of long travelling times and distances, time zone disruptions and heat and humidity on competing horses.

Horses were monitored before and during the test event, including how they adapted to the challenging climate in Tokyo. Central to the report is data collected on-course and post-competition, which allowed for detailed analysis of the cross country test.

The study findings show that horses generally coped extremely well with the conditions and remained in good health for the duration of the test event, held at the same time of year as the Games in 2020, despite the fact that conditions were thermally challenging, with Wet Bulb Globe Thermometer (WBGT) Index readings frequently in the region of 32-33°C. (The WBGT index is used to measure heat, humidity, solar radiation and wind factor.)

The report confirms that on cross country day (Aug. 13), the high WBGT Index, steep initial climb and sharp turns on the course produced a significant challenge for competing horses. Heart rates during cross country, and blood lactate, heart rate and rectal temperature after cross country, indicated that horses were working at close to maximal capacity.

A new heart rate monitor that also displays the ECG, plus infra-red thermal imaging to provide a rapid and accurate estimate of horses’ temperature were key pieces of technology used in data collection for the study.

The report highlights that “all possibilities must be explored to mitigate the effects of the likely climatic conditions, including reduction in distance appropriate for the conditions and bringing the cross country start time forward to avoid the highest WBGT conditions that would normally peak between late morning and mid-afternoon”.

Following discussions between the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (TOCOG), the IOC and the FEI, consensus has been reached on advancing the cross country start time to either 07.30 or 08.00 on Aug. 2, 2020 as part of the heat countermeasures. A final decision on the move, which is fully supported by the findings in the Marlin report published today, will be made by the IOC Executive Board.

“We have worked very closely with TOCOG to put in place the best possible heat countermeasures for both our equine and human athletes for Tokyo 2020, and the findings in this important research study will play a crucial role in guiding final decisions on appropriate facilities and support,” FEI Veterinary Director Göran Akerström said. “The report will also be a valuable tool for athletes and National Federations as they prepare their horses in the build-up to and during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Heat countermeasures that are already in place for horses include air conditioned stables at both equestrian venues (Bajikoen and Sea Forest), early morning and evening training and competition sessions under floodlights, constant and close monitoring by a world class veterinary team, and multiple cooling facilities including the provision of shade tents, cooling fans, ice and water, and mobile cooling units.

The FEI has been working on optimising equine performance in challenging climates with Dr Marlin since before the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games. Dr Marlin has been working with the FEI for the past three years specifically on Tokyo, reviewing historical climate records, analysing data collected at the main venue at Bajikoen (EQP) and at the cross-country course at Sea Forest (SFC), and leading the test event research project.

The findings from the research project have been sent to TOCOG, the IOC, all National Olympic and Paralympic Committees with athletes competing in equestrian sport, and all National Federations affiliated to the FEI.

The full report is available here.

[FEI Publishes Tokyo Horse Monitoring Research Findings]

Who Patted Their Horse the Best? Galway Downs International CCI3*-L Edition

By on Nov 1, 2019 1:00 pm -

I may be a sentimental sap, but the dressage photos that I love most aren’t the ones of toe-flinging extended trots across the diagonal, or dramatic uphill canters, or even the perfect flying change. They’re the pics snapped after the final salute, of riders showing their horses some well-deserved love for the big effort they just put forth.

Globe-trotting photog Sherry Stewart, who is freshly returned to the States after a tour of European eventing that took her from Boekelo to Le Lion d’Angers, is at Galway Downs International this week, capturing the action with her lens. You can check out her Thursday dressage photos in Kim Miller’s dressage report here. On behalf of EN, thank you ladies for bringing our readers ringside for West Coast eventing action year-round!

Our “Who Jumped It Best?” series is an EN tradition, but lately we’ve been mixing it up a bit, too! Here’s the latest reincarnation of a reader favorite — you know what to do, EN! Vote for your favorite photo in the poll below.

Galway Downs 3DE & H.T.: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage

Anna Stein & Zaboomafoo. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Kaitlin Vossler & Clear Approval. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Jess Hargrave & Regenmann. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Sophie Click & Quidproquo. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

James Alliston & Cassio’s Picasso KD. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Erin Kellerhouse & Woodford Reserve. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Maddy Mazzola & So Cool. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Tamie Smith & Danito. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Tamie Smith & No App For That. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Kaylawna Smith Cook & Passepartout. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Helen Bouscaren & Paper Jam. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Go Eventing.

Tamie Smith Takes Scary-Good Leads in the Galway Downs International CCI4*-L & CCI3*-L

By on Nov 1, 2019 11:00 am -

Tamie Smith and En Vogue. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Given the wildfires burning elsewhere in California, the Halloween start of the Galway Downs International was nowhere near as scary as it could have been. Winds that were lesser than expected throughout the day picked up just in time for late afternoon CCI4*-L dressage, making some of the division’s six equine contenders more spirited than their riders might have liked.

Other than that, the first day of the West Coast season finalé went smoothly. That is until the riding was done, the horses put away and the VIP tent filled with competitors transformed into a four-piece mariachi band, a herd of large, cute animals, angels, devils, Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf during the opening night costume party.

Riding last in the 4* division, Tamie Smith and En Vogue dominated with a 28.50 from ground jury members Jane Hamlin, Robert Stevenson and Helen Brettell. Owned by amateur competitor Ruth Bley, the 14-year-old Hanoverian mare overcame her spooky nature on a spooky day to dial into her rider.

Except for a few glitchy flying changes, Tamie was thrilled with the test. “I’ve been riding her since February and really trying to get her trust,” she explained. “She’s a mare: you’ve got to sort of finagle your way in.” En Vogue spooked at a flapping tent as Tamie made her way to the arena, but once underway, “She was completely with me and I was really proud of her.”

Sara Mittleider & La Paz. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Riders from the Northwest followed in the standings after dressage. Sitting second is Sara Mittleider, of Idaho, and La Paz, nearly five points back on a 33.30.

Marc Grandia & Campari FFF. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Marc Grandia, from Washington, and Campari FFF are third with a 38.50.

Tamie Smith and Danito. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

As usual when so close to her home barn, which is across the street from the Galway Downs Equestrian Center, Tamie had a busy day with multiple rides. She took an even bigger lead in the CCI3*-L on another of Ruth Bley’s stars, Danito, a 10-year-old Hanoverian. Danito was second to En Vogue at the Intermediate level at this year’s American Eventing Championships in Kentucky, and his star is rising just as fast despite less than impressive early years.

Imported by Ruth as a 4-year-old sale prospect, Danito failed to get anyone to fall in love with him until the summer of 2018. Ruth had sent him to Tamie to sell, but after a month, “I called her and said, ‘Are you sure you want to sell him?’” Tamie shared. “I think he’s got all the ingredients.” They agreed to keep him through 2018 and their ascent has been steady and impressive. “He’s been a tricky horse. He’s got all this movement and he doesn’t always know what to do with it, so he can get tense. It’s been all about building a partnership.”

Of the performance that earned a 24.30 from the judging panel of Jane Hamlin, Bobby Stevenson and Bea DiGrazia, Tamie said,“He really couldn’t have been better: that was his best to date.” USEF eventing chef d’equipe Erik Duvander was equally enthused. “When I came out of the ring, Erik said, “That’s probably as good of a test as you had with Mai Baum at the Pan Am Games.’” Which is interesting because Tamie revealed she’d had Danito in mind for the Pan Ams before a pilot snafu and subsequent fall at a spring competition derailed the idea.

Jess Hargrave & Regenmann. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Jess Hargrave and her own Regenmann are second with a 31.60. 

Asia Vetter & Isi. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Asia Vedder and her own Isi are in third on a 32.30.

Whitney Tucker Billeter and Bill’s Midnight Magic. Photo by Captured Moment Photography.

Tucker Billeter Leads Training Three Day

Concurrent with the 3* and 4* dressage, 17 contenders began the last of the year’s Hylofit USEA Classic Series Training Three-Day runs. Whitney Tucker Billeter and Bill’s Midnight Magic led the field with a 25.90 from judges Amanda Miller and Wendy Wergeles.

“He’s always tricky in dressage, because the longer I’m on him the more amped up he gets,” explained Whitney. She’s been an assistant for 15 years to Erin Kellerhouse, who had campaigned Magic up to the 2* level. Whitney used her ample experience with the horse to keep him focused for show time, with help from a morning jog that helped keep his brain “busy but not over excited.” Injuries have sidelined him a few times over the years and Whitney was thrilled to get the ride on the horse owned by John Herich last year.

Friday’s endurance phases — roads and tracks, steeplechase and cross-country — will require more focus, especially with the home field disadvantage that can lurk for horses, like Magic, who live at the venue. Whitney was confident he’d come out Friday “ready to play the game.”

Britt Sabbah and Rickamore Rafferty sit second in the Training Three-Day followed by Jennifer Miller and Bon Bon.

 More To Come

The CCI3* and 4* divisions have Friday off as the 46-horse CCI2* division occupies nearly a full day of dressage, along with national levels Intermediate through Beginner Novice and the endurance phases of the Training Three Day.

Live scoring is available at www.EventEntries.com and www.RideOnVideo.net is live streaming the action on Saturday and Sunday.

Enhancing the equestrian action, Saturday’s schedule includes live music, local craft beers and Galway Spirits beverages enjoyed from tented oasis spots out on the cross-country course designed by Jay Hambly and Galway Downs builder Bert Wood.

The competition and fun festivities are made possible thanks to generous sponsors: Devoucoux, California Horsetrader, CWD and Parker Equine Insurance.

General admission is free with $10 parking, and VIP Patrons Passes include catered meals in the Grand Prix Arena’s VIP tent. For tickets and more information, visit www.galwaydowns.net.

Galway Downs 3DE & H.T.: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage

CCI4*-L Top 5 After Dressage:

CCI3*-L Top 5 After Dressage:

Training Three-Day Top 5 After Dressage:

Virginia Horse Trials International Kicks Off With Spooky Horse Inspection

By on Nov 1, 2019 7:00 am -

Pleasant Humphrey and his unicorn (Will Faudree). Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

The Virginia Horse Trials (VHT) International kicked off Thursday with the first horse inspection for the CCI1*-L, CCI2*-L, and CCI3*-L divisions. Sixty-five international horse and rider combinations presented to the ground juries, and 61 will move on to the dressage phase.

All horses presented in the CCI3*-L were accepted. In the CCI2*-LA, Brittany Crandall and Cooley Almighty were sent to the hold box but opted to withdraw. Jessica Shull’s Valleyofthesun was held but sadly not accepted on re-presentation. In the CCI2*-LB, Rachel Ziemann and Highland Storm were held and withdrew without re-presenting. Olivia Hayes and Astrana De La Galerna were also held but later accepted. In the CCI1*-L, Claudia Iannucci’s Gregory the Great was held and withdrawn from the hold box. Mellisa Warden’s Deadpool was held but accepted on re-presentation.

Mellisa Davis Warden’s Deadpool is ready to take on the inaugural VHT CCI1*-L. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Vanda Stewart (IRL) and Robyn Fisher (USA) presided over the inaugural CCI1*-L. The ground jury for the CCI2*-L includes Nicki Herbert (GBR) and Aniko Vincze (HUN). The CCI3*-L ground jury of Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride (USA) and Marilyn Payne (USA) got into the holiday spirit, arriving at the horse inspection wearing matching witch outfits.

What a “witchy” ground jury. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Announcer Brian O’Connor is hoping for a call up to the Washington Nationals. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Many competitors took advantage of the first jog falling on Halloween and dressed up for the occasion. We saw spooky fascinators …

Arden Wildasin donned a spooky fascinator. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Samantha Bertin and Cresendo. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

… a masked man …

Can you name the masked man? (Answer: Bobby Meyerhoff!) Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

and a unicorn onesie take a pass down the jog lane.

An Intercollegiate & Alumni Team Challenge taking place this weekend includes competitors of every level competing in a friendly team competition. Seventeen teams from 11 schools with both current and former students participating make up the complete roster. Team entries can be viewed at this link.

With around 580 horses set to compete, this is the largest VHT International to date. The competition gets underway Friday with the international, Intermediate, Modified, Preliminary, and Novice dressage. Preliminary will run cross-country, and Advanced/Intermediate and Intermediate will show jump.

“It’s thrilling for our team to have such a positive turnout,” said VHT Organizer Andy Bowles. “We’ve worked hard to put together a fluid schedule and present an excellent competition. We are grateful to everyone for coming. We wish you all good luck and great rides.”

Virginia 3DE & H.T.: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Live Scores

Friday News & Notes from World Equestrian Brands

By on Nov 1, 2019 1:00 am -

Halloween, a two-part holiday for the Davidson fam. Photos via Andrea Leatherman Davidson’s Facebook page.

The best social media day of the year is Halloween, no contest, especially if you’re a sucker for photos of pets and small children in costume. Of course I’m partial to my own baby, AKA the party flamingo, but who really won the Facebooks for me yesterday was the Davidson family, who were similarly avian inspired and in Team BDJ colors to boot. Rubber gloves as chicken feet … gimme a break!!! Genius.

We’ll be leading the morning off with a photo gallery from Virginia Horse Trials, where a costume parade of horses and riders took to the jog strip yesterday. Spoiler alert: Will Faudree in a unicorn onesie. Stay tuned.

National Holiday: National Cook For Your Pets Day

Major Weekend Events:

Galway Downs 3DE & H.T. [Website]  [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Virginia 3DE & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

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

Full Gallop H.T. [Website]  [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe: 

Galway Downs International Three-Day Event is underway in Temecula, California. The event kicked off Thursday afternoon with the first horse inspection for the CCI4*-L, CCI3*-L, and CCI2*-L international divisions as well as the Hylofit USEA Classic Series Training Three-Day. After dressage, Tamie Smith leads the CCI3*-L with Danito on 24.3 as well as the CCI4*-L with En Vogue on 28.5. Whitney Tucker Billeter and Bill’s Midnight Magic leads the Training Three-Day on 25.9. [USEA: All Clear But One in Galway Downs International First Horse Inspection]

At Galway? A US Equestrian Open Athlete Forum will be held during the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event in Temecula, California, today at 4:30 p.m. PST in the Patron’s Tent. The final Open Athlete Forum of the 2019 season will take place during the Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event, Nov. 13-17 in Reddick, Florida. Exact day/time to be confirmed. The High Performance sessions at the 2019 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention will take place on Friday, Dec. 13 in Boston, Massachusetts. [Schedule and session times]

If you or your friends have been waiting impatiently for CrossCountry App on Android, here is your chance to test this exciting new app for free. You can download it from the Early Access Play Store and get updates just like a regular app, but it may not work perfectly all the time. That’s where testers come in: CrossCounty need you to report bugs and issues to help get it ready for its official release. It’s got all the features you know and love in the iPhone app with a an exciting new look and feel. [Get the Android App]

British Eventing membership prices, entry and start fees, prize money and abandonment insurance are all set to increase next season as the organisation looks at “revamping its membership offerings.” BE CEO Jude Matthews said BE and the British Event Organisers Association had agreed a formula for calculating any increase in entry fees, which was “designed to reflect the increasing costs an organiser incurs year on year.” [Horse & Hound: Cost of eventing to rise as more membership options considered]

Featured Video: OK, OK, OK here’s a teaser🦄.

 

Will Faudree you are my hero 😍😂 #happyhalloween #bestturnedout #spirit #goeventing

Posted by Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride on Thursday, October 31, 2019

Thursday Video: Ride Around Windermere Run’s Prelim Course

By on Oct 31, 2019 5:00 pm -

One of Area IV’s premier fall events, Windermere Run in Kansas City, Missouri was held last weekend with divisions ranging from Preliminary to Starter. The event also played host to this year’s Area IV championships.

Rebecca Hunt and Snowflake Lane contested the Preliminary Championship division at Windermere, where they would finish in fourth place with just a handful of time penalties added to their dressage score. Rebecca has produced “Stella”, a 7-year-old off-track Thoroughbred with flatwork moves worthy of being a pure dressage horse, up the levels herself. Together, they’ve formed a partnership that has shown in their increasingly strong results. We hope to see more of this lovely mare next year!

Enjoy this ride around beautiful Longview Park with Rebecca and Stella. Go eventing!