Classic Eventing Nation

Thursday at Blenheim: Will Rawlin is the VIP

By on Sep 19, 2019 1:36 pm -

Will Rawlin and VIP Vinnie take the lead in Blenheim’s CCI4*-L. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

It’s only fitting, really, that Will Rawlin should take top billing in our report today – after all, it was just a year ago at the SsangYong Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials that he made his first appearance on Eventing Nation. Then, his top ride VIP Vinnie showed off all the wrong sorts of dance moves, nearly mowing Will down on the trot strip and garnering us many of those sweet, sweet likes on social media.

Sorry, Will.

We sheepishly promised him at the time that one of these days, we’d shout his name from the rooftops for less comical reasons – and almost exactly a year later, he’s given us all the reason we need to do just that, delivering a level personal best of 24.2 with Vinnie to sit atop the CCI4*-L leaderboard at the end of the first day of dressage.

“He’s been going really well, and I felt confident coming into this, but in the warm-up he got tense – and when he gets tense, it’s quite difficult to actually ride him forward and get him going,” says Will of the expressive eleven-year-old. “A couple of times in there I was like, ‘oh god, oh god, keep going!’ – but he kept a nice outline and a good rhythm, and he was with me most of the way. It’s more about me getting the corners and really preparing him for each movement.”

20 penalties across the country was the only black mark on their result here last year, where both made their CCI4*-L debut, but the pair have proven themselves an exciting combination to watch this season. In June, they finished third in the hotly-contested – and enormously difficult – under-25 CCI4*-L at Bramham, and they finished just shy of the top ten in a strong field at Burnham Market’s CCI4*-S at the dawn of the season. Despite a blip at Chatsworth, which was swiftly followed up by that Bramham result, Will feels ready to tackle a hot competition against a top field – and rightly so.

“Although it’s a very strong field, and full of very good riders, I did feel confident coming in in my ability and my horse’s ability,” he says. “This year we’ve had a couple of silly blips, which have been down to me not setting up right for the fence – and actually, the last time I rode him, I fell off, but it was all me! I know if I stick to my plan and ride him properly then we should be home safely. I just need to do my best on each day and then hopefully, we’ll all be smiling at the end.”

Will Rawlin and VIP Vinnie. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

For the 25-year-old up-and-comer, a top result would be understandably special – but it would be made even more so by his long partnership with his horse.

“He’s more like a pet – he’s the first horse I bought as a four-year-old, and my mum and dad own him wholly. We’d never sell him; he’s our baby,” he says with a smile.

Piggy French debuts the impressive Brookfield Inocent at CCI4*-L. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Piggy French holds second place overnight with Brookfield Inocent, the ten-year-old Irish Sport Horse on whom she took the ride in 2018. Though it’s the gelding’s first CCI4*-L, he demonstrated professionalism and pizazz – the right kind, fortunately – to post a 25.4. 

“I’m so pleased with him, and I know I made a couple of mistakes as well,” says Piggy, who finished second with the horse at Hartpury CCI4*-S last month. “But the thing I’m so pleased with is that he’s such a spooky horse, but going in there with the atmosphere and the flower pots – believe it or not, they seem to be the most terrifying things! – he just stayed with me the whole time. This is his first three-day with me, and I’m just over the moon. It’s so exciting for the future. I messed up the first flying change – that was my fault – and I did something radical in the halt, so there’s a couple of bits I thought I could have done better, but overall, I’m delighted. I just rode him like he’s an old one that’s done it plenty of times and he hasn’t.”

For Piggy, who is building up a multilayered and formidable string, Brookfield Inocent is a welcome addition.

“You hate to put the touch of bad luck on them, but he’s such a cool horse and an amazing cross-country horse,” she says. “At the beginning I thought, would that spookiness let him down, or am I going to find it difficult to manage or find him difficult to ride? But I’m starting to figure him out, and if I do figure him out and find the key to it all then there’s no reason he can’t be as good as any of them. I think he’s definitely a five-star horse because he’s got a lot of blood and he loves to gallop, and he’s easy to ride across the country. I’ll be interested [to see how he goes] on Saturday – it’s always a different game when you get to a three-day, because you haven’t had the other two phases first, but I’m hoping he’ll be as good as I know he can be.”

Pippa Funnell and Billy the Biz. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Brookfield Inocent’s former rider, Australia’s Kevin McNab, sits third overnight on a score of 25.7 with Scuderia 1918 A Best Friend, also making his CCI4*-L debut after a clear round in the eight- and nine-year-old class last year, and top-ten finishes in CCI4*-S classes at Hartpury and Millstreet this year. Burghley winner Pippa Funnell holds fourth with her Rio mount Billy the Biz, with whom she posted a 26.3.

“He’s a bit lacking match practice,” says Pippa of the fourteen-year-old, who last ran a long-format in 2017, when he finished tenth at Luhmühlen’s CCI5*. “He was so fresh yesterday that I had to give him enough work, and then with the sunshine today I thought that maybe I’d just overdone it a bit. His trot was very good but I felt that he just got a bit flat in his canter. But I have to be pleased with him; he’s not been on this sort of stage for a while. No, it’s not a winning test, but I’m happy enough.”

The experienced gelding’s preparation for Blenheim has been somewhat scuppered by Pip’s recent absences, which have seen her head to Luhmühlen as part of the silver-medal winning British team at the European Championships, and then straight on to Burghley, where she took the top spot with stablemate MGH Grafton Street.

“It’s made it a little bit difficult, because then they come out and they’re so fresh, and they’re fit, but obviously they haven’t had me on the flat so I have to give them a bit more work than I’d like to here,” she explains.

It’s certainly been a special day for local rider Kylie Roddie, who took an early lead and finished the day in fifth with Carden Earl Grey after scoring a 27.4.

“He’s so naughty at one-day events,” she laughs, “but he’s amazing at three-days – it just doesn’t play in his favour if you can’t work him in and relax him. But secretly, you always know what they can do at home, and I’ve always known that in the big picture, the test is there. He’s just a bit opinionated, and can be a bit wild – but they’re all the things you expect from a true three-day horse. The proper ones event horses have got to be a bit edgy.”

For Kylie, who runs a busy livery and competition yard, that it all came together in the shadow of Blenheim Palace is poignant for a number of reasons – not least because the thirteen-year-old British-bred gelding, who was piloted by Nick Gauntlett until 2015, has been something of a labour of love.

“He’s a fragile horse to manage from a veterinary standpoint, and he’s had injuries that have stopped him from coming out,” she explains. “He’s actually been in my yard for quite a while – over three years now – but it was only last year that I started to compete him, because he was rehabbing.”

When the horse’s longtime owner Madelaine White had to sell the horse, a group of Kylie’s close friends stepped in to secure him for the hard-working rider, who hails from a totally unhorsey background.

“I’ve had to tell them that [horse ownership] isn’t always like this,” she laughs.

Carden Earl Grey’s debutante ownership group aren’t Kylie’s only supporters on the ground this week: “I’ve been teaching my Riding Club and Pony Club groups all week, because they’re coming for the arena eventing,” explains the rider, who holds a BHSI qualification. “That’s why the event is so special for us – it’s so nice for them to be able to come here, have a great ride, and hopefully enjoy seeing someone who helps them, too.”

Buck Davidson and Park Trader. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Buck Davidson heads up the American efforts at this early stage with the first of his two rides, the experienced Park Trader. They sit tenth overnight on a score of 29.2, setting the second leg of Buck’s autumn UK tour off to a promising start.

“He’s so experienced now, and he’s been putting up some good scores,” says Buck, who competed at Burghley a fortnight ago with Jak My Style. “He’s not a big mover, and in his younger years he was fairly temperamental, but he knows his job now and we get along. I let him be him, and then he has to go in the ring and pay attention for five minutes, and then he can screw off. He’s my favourite and it’s a treat to have him.”

Park Trader’s mercurial nature means that Buck has had to refine his system to allow the gelding to perform at his peak.

“I would never ask him to be perfect two days in a row,” he explains. “I’m almost happy when he’s bad the day before – then he gets it out of his system! The day before, I just hack him and let him gallop, and buck, and play, and have a kick out at my leg – whatever he wants. Then I work him for about twenty minutes before the test and it works pretty well.”

Though Park Trader went to Burghley last year, Buck opted to aim him at Blenheim this season to allow his owners, the Segals, the experience of joining the fun.

“They weren’t able to go to Burghley this year, and they called me to tell me they couldn’t but if I’d like to take him I could go – but part of why I like doing this is doing it with them, so I said ‘no, we’ll do something else,'” he explains. “Then they said they’d never been to Blenheim – and I’d been here in 2008 and it got rained out after dressage, so we decided to come. Carlevo was supposed to come here last year but banged himself, so he came along too.”

Lexi Scovil and Chico’s Man VDF Z. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Lexi Scovil and Chico’s Man VDF Z have spent a busy season with William Fox-Pitt with one big goal in mind: a trip to Blenheim. They begin their week in provisional equal seventeenth on a score of 31.7 after producing a confident, expressive test that just lost out on marks at the end when the gelding offered up a lead change in the counter canter. But for Lexi, who makes her debut at the level this week alongside her horse, his calm, professional attitude in the ring was the real victory.

“Normally he goes in and just holds his breath a little bit,” she explains. “He typically scores anyway, because he’s quite fancy and round and correct, but he went in and let me ride him today. That’s such an exciting feeling – at Blenheim! In my experience, the big events like this are the ones where it all falls apart, so for him to go in and have one mistake the whole test was unbelievable.”

Lexi credits her season in the UK with helping to revolutionise her mindset towards competing – and the results along the way are tangible.

“I rode a little bit of a safe test, because I didn’t want to risk it, so for him to still score 8s is amazing. I didn’t expect it at all. In the past, [the big ones] are where I fail,” she says. “We’d always do well at the lower levels, but then we’d go to an international and it would all fall apart a bit. But being over here, there’s such a relaxation in the preparation – there’s attention to detail, but it’s also just another day of riding. You just do the same thing you’re always doing, and there’s no need to get worked up about it. Because I’ve been like that earlier in the season and it’s been proven to work, I’ve realised that as a rider, self-confidence is so important for success. That’s all I can say that’s changed – I don’t know that I have more skills, but I’m in a different place mentally. Normally I’d go into a three-day thinking, ‘oh my god, I’m so scared, why am I doing this?!’ But now, I’m walking the course thinking, ‘I’m capable of this!’ There have been big questions at all our prep events, so we’ve been building to this.”

The top ten at the conclusion of the first day of dressage in Blenheim’s CCI4*-L.

CCI4*-S

If the CCI4*-S level of competition is a college degree for up-and-coming top-level superstars, then Blenheim’s eight-and-nine-year-old iteration is the Ivy League – and its alumni line-up would make Harvard weep, frankly. So how good are we talking? Think five-star winning and flag-carrying good: William Fox-Pitt’s Pau winner Oslo, Mark Todd’s Badminton winner NZB Land Vision, Andrew Nicholson’s Kentucky-winning Quimbo, and Laura Collett’s Europeans ride London 52. And this year – Calling Card?

The Year of the Pig continues in fine style, as Piggy French holds onto the overnight lead with Calling Card. Owned by Jayne McGivern, also boasts ownership of the remarkably consistent Quarrycrest Echo, the debutante is quickly proving himself a star of the future.

“He’s a really beautiful horse – he’s stunning,” says Piggy. “Bar his changes, which he’s still a bit green at, he’s very impressive on the flat. He was beautiful to ride in there.”

But despite his promising early start, Piggy remains pragmatic and forward-thinking.

“He is green – this will be his first Advanced competition – and so I’ve come into the competition just really interested to see how he goes, and not really thinking that running flat out and getting the time will be what he’ll do this weekend,” she explains. “It’s more about the stepping stone. However, if he comes out of the start box and he feels really good, I am always quite competitive, so I’ll probably half have a go! But it’s a stepping stone rather than thinking this is his one to get. I really like the horse and I want to do what’s right for him at this stage in his career.”

Australia’s Sam Griffiths sits in second place aboard Freestyler, owned by Lady Rothermere of the Daily Mail empire.

“I’ve done about a season with him now – she bought him for herself to ride,” he explains. “She hadn’t had him that long and she asked me to do some events on him to get him some mileage, and it went from there.”

So will Sam have to relinquish the ride on the horse once the season ends?

“We’ll see how things go,” he says with a smile. “He’s a really good jumper, so he’s a really nice horse to have!”

The top ten in the eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S at the halfway stage.

We’ll be back tomorrow with the final wrap-up from the first phase – stay tuned, and Go Eventing!

Blenheim: Website, Ride Times, Live Scoring, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Volunteer Nation: 4 Events That Need Your Help This Weekend

By on Sep 19, 2019 12:09 pm -

From the the Marlborough Horse Trials Facebook page: “Getting our volunteers started young! Big thanks to these pony clubbers (and more) for helping with jump painting today! We ❤️our volunteers!”

The bases are loaded for another big weekend of U.S. eventing, with horse trials taking place from coast to coast. And they need YOUR help!

We’re exited to team up with eventingvolunteers.com each week to spotlight volunteer opportunities still available (at time of publication) for the upcoming weekend. For more details, click on the event name to be taken to that event’s eventingvolunteers.com portal.

Here are four USEA events that need your help this weekend! Visit eventingvolunteers.com for more opportunities to lend a hand including schooling events.


Event: Twin Rivers Fall Horse Trials
Date(s) volunteers needed: Thursday, Sept. 19-Sunday, Sept. 22
Address: 8715 N River Rd, Paso Robles, CA, 93446
Positions available: FEH Conformation In Gate Steward, YEH Score Runner, Dressage Bit Check, Dressage Score Runner, Dressage Scribe, Dressage Steward, XC Jump Judge, XC Jump Videographer, SJ In Gate

Event: Marlborough Horse Trials
Date(s) volunteers needed: Friday, Sept. 20-Sunday, Sept. 22
Address: Rosaryville State Park, Upper Marlboro, MD, 20772
Positions available: Event Prep – XC, XC Crew, XC Jump Judge, XC Starter, XC Warm Up, Dressage Bit Check, Dressage Steward, Hospitality Helper, Secretary – Awards, SJ Announcer, SJ Jump Crew, SJ Warm Up

Event: Equestrians Institute Horse Trials
Date(s) volunteers needed: Thursday, Sept. 19-Sunday, Sept. 22
Address: 1202 Douglas Munro Blvd, Cle Elum, WA, 98922
Positions available: Event Prep – Dressage, Event Prep – General, Hospitality Helper, Parking Steward, Dressage Bit Check, Dressage Score Runner, Dressage Warm Up, Event Prep – XC, Event Takedown – Dressage, Hospitality Helper, Floater, Office Help, XC Crossing Guard, XC Finish Timer, XC Jump Judge, XC Score Runner, XC Starter, XC Warm Up, Event Prep – SJ

Event: Plantation Field International Horse Trials
Date(s) volunteers needed: Thursday, Sept. 19-Monday, Sept. 23
Address:387 Green Valley Road, Unionville, PA, 19375
Positions available:Event Prep – General, Stable Manager, Event Prep – SJ, Event Takedown – Dressage, XC Jump Judge, XC Crossing Guard, XC Starter, Office Help, SJ Jump Crew, SJ Steward, SJ Timer, Event Takedown – XC

About eventingvolunteers.com: 

It’s often said that volunteers are the backbone of our sport — because it’s true! Thanks to the USEA’s creation of eventingvolunteers.com, it’s easier than ever before to connect volunteers with organizers. A smartphone app, available for both iOS and Android devices, is available as well.

Prospective volunteers can use eventingvolunteers.com to sign up for open shifts and duties, check in with organizers and track their hours for the Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP). After a simple sign-up process, volunteers can select a specific event and easily see which assignments and shifts are the most needed and which are already filled.

Organizers can use the website to track the status of filled or open volunteer positions with at-a-glance visualization of which assignments still need to be filled. They will be able to tell very quickly if they are short a dressage scribe for the day, or perhaps three more fence judges are needed. They can also more easily get in touch with a specific group of volunteers, rather than sorting through individual emails.

Go Eventing.

A New Chapter

By on Sep 19, 2019 9:00 am -

Photo courtesy of Laura Harris.

I started riding at 9. I knew I wanted to have a lifetime full of horses by 10. I pictured Olympic Games, a beautiful farm, and a clear view of ‘success’ that would haunt me for years. Quite simply, it was a vision I chased for … decades. I knew it would take hard work. I never wanted a family, to be rich, to be famous. What I didn’t have in talent, I could make up for in try. What l lacked in money, I could replace with heart. I didn’t have a dream, I had a goal.

Life, however, has other plans. It is wonderfully neutral like that, throwing good and bad at us. And it is up to us to decide what is good and what is bad. Common thought suggests that if you want ‘it’ badly enough, if you work hard enough, anything is possible. But let’s look at the converse, if you did not prosper, if you did not thrive, is it because you didn’t want it badly enough or work hard enough? Perhaps. But perhaps not. Re: Life and its other plans. Choices make us and break us, and we have little way to know at the time which is which. We do our best. I’m not here to say, “don’t try.” Because if you don’t try, you’ll always wonder ‘what if.’ I’m here to say: try, try with all your heart — however, don’t let it break you. Or if you do break, like I have, it is not the end.

I believe there are tenacious people, who overcome no matter what. The people who stir in the rest of us inspiration to continue on. The people who the stories are about, the ones that beat the odds. But no one tells stories about the people who are the odds. Why? Because we all know what the odds entail. The sadness, the struggle, the fear and all the rest that has to be overcome. I’d love to hear about someone who didn’t beat the odds; someone who put it all on the line and lost. Some of us shoot for those bright stars and stumble or fall through cracks instead. Those stories are real and untold. Maybe hearing more of them and knowing life goes on is valuable.

Maybe that is why I write. I write about the things no one wants to talk about, but most of us think about. The feelings that tighten your throat, and you feel ashamed to talk about. Because everyone else looks so happy. They must not understand your struggle. Maybe it’s just me. I like asking questions. I’m learning it doesn’t matter where or why I went wrong, but does it truly matter? It doesn’t come from self-pity, but from trying to make sense of the broken pieces of myself that people have left and didn’t want. But I want myself. So I examine those edges and think of kintsugi as I try to salvage the keepworthy shatterings and create myself anew.

In the words of Joseph Campbell, “We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” I spent so long trying to make what I KNEW I was supposed to be happen. To chase a dream, to chase a passion. But I’m learning to let go of what I wanted, what didn’t want me back, and see what else is out there. I’ve made peace with the aging of a dream and reawakened my writing with a voice that desires to speak. So many things you think are stupid when you are younger, adult concepts that aren’t worth the time, dawn and you watch your longings evolve to meet the new vision of who you are and what you want. Luckily, I’ve never been afraid to embrace change. It is the salt of life. I suppose it depends on how salty you like your life then.

My current status has put a moratorium on showing, clinics, and other inevitably costly fun. I toil on at my job, and pay down my debt, and love my horses. There is no shame in going to an unsatisfying job that affords you to do what you love and to take care for those of whom you are responsible. My brain wants to trick me, shame me for not being a professional in my first career choice. That I have failed. That I’m not worthy. I would be appalled to hear another amateur speak this way of themselves, but somehow tolerate it inside my own head. But then I remember the most important piece of all: am I being the best rider for my horse? She doesn’t give two flicks of her tail what I am to anyone else: professional, amateur, paperpusher. Those are just words in the end. She only knows what is right there in front of her. Me. I am just hers.

Thursday News & Notes from Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS)

By on Sep 19, 2019 12:03 am -

Just some ponies on Corolla having a seaside nap. Photo via Corolla Wild Horse Fund.

Fun fact relating to this photo: one of my first ponies was actually from the wild herd in Corolla. They adopt a few out occasionally, if they are removed from the wild herd from one reason or another. I got Moonstar when she was a yearling and I was seven, as her mother was hit by a car and she was taken in as a very young foal and basically domesticated. Not many parents would get their seven-year-old a yearling from a wild herd, but, here we are.

National Holiday: National Talk Like A Pirate Day

Major Weekend Events:

#Plantation Field: Website, Schedule, Entries, Times, Live Scoring, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Twin Rivers Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Equestrians’ Institute H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

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

Feather Creek Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Apple Knoll Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Cedar Ridge H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

What’s Sam Griffith’s Happy Times up to now that he’s retired? The 20-year-old Oldenburg gelding certainly had a storied career, with many years at top international level and wins and placings at four and five star events. He retired last year, and now lives with his 2012 Olympic groom, Mouse Berry, and his girlfriend, a 12-hand pony named Bluebell. He still hacks about and does a bit of work here and there, and he’s richly spoiled. [Happy Times Retirement Days]

As many of you know, one of eventing’s bright lights went out prematurely last month with the loss of Ann Haller. Ann touched so many lives through this sport around the country, and her family and friends have extended an open invitation to any who are willing to come celebrate her life at Ashland Farm in Covington, GA. [Celebrating Ann Haller]

Real talk: Is there such a thing as a woman’s horse? We hear all the time that horses are either a man’s ride or a woman’s ride, but how much of this is true? Personally, I think a lot of it is tied into our preconceptions about the behavior of men and women, but horses can also definitely differentiate between the two, and if they’ve had a bad experience with one or the other, can remember it for life and generalize against that gender. [Woman’s Horse vs. Man’s Horse]

Warming up the excitable or hot horse is basically an art form at this point. For me, it’s just about figuring out the perfect formula that keeps him with enough energy to perform a nice dressage test, but not bubbling over the top and exploding out the sides. Five-star rider Lisa Barry lends her tips in this article on how she approaches warm up with these types of horses for the best results. [Warm-Up the Excitable Horse]

What did you do this summer? Nothing as cool as Sarah Bartlett and her Fell pony Billy, who rode across England from coast to coast to raise over £6,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support. Sarah and Billy went along the challenging Trans Pennine Trail, which took eight days of 25-30 miles a day riding. Inspired by her father’s cancer diagnoses last Christmas, Sarah is a hero to us all. [Riding Across England for Cancer]

Ready to see Taylor Harris Insurance at Plantation Fields? Don’t miss the THIS jump in stadium — it’s hard to do so with the splashy red colors! Returning this year as a sponsor, THIS is proud to participate in the highest levels of eventing, and is excited to see some of their riders galloping across the countryside. Learn more about Taylor Harris Insurance Services and how you can join the team! [THIS Horse Insurance]

Best of Blogs: In The Beginning, There Was A Red Filly

Video: Watch the Adequan North American Youth Championships at Rebecca Farm on demand here.

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Introducing Club Steady Eddie

By on Sep 18, 2019 5:30 pm -

Mike Pendelton and Steady Eddie at Millbrook H.T. 2019. Photo by Abby Powell.

They say hard work reaps reward and Mike Pendleton is one of the hardest working folks out there. Mike has been an instrumental part of the team at the Windurra for the past seven years, working his way from working student to international traveling groom to assistant rider for Boyd Martin.

This year, Boyd and Steady Eddie‘s owners George and Gretchen Wintersteen, Pierre Colin, and Denise Lahey, are giving Mike the opportunity to get some upper-level mileage and break into the top level of the sport by giving him the ride on the 16-year-old Australian-bred Thoroughbred gelding with the ultimate goal being for Mike and Eddie to compete at the Kentucky Three-Day Event next spring and perhaps the new Fair Hill five-star next fall.

After getting to know the gelding through the national Training through Intermediate levels in the winter and early spring, they made their FEI debut in the CCI2*-S at Fair Hill in April. They were later awarded one of the inaugural Bromont Rising grants which assisted them in completing the CCI3*-L at the MARS Bromont CCI Three-Day Event in June. Mike made his Advanced debut with Eddie at Millbrook Horse Trials this August and most recently the pair placed 12th in the CCI4*-S at Great Meadow. In the hunt for their five-star qualification, they’re looking ahead to Fair Hill International and perhaps also the Ocala Jockey Club Three-Day Event this fall.

But with great opportunity, comes great responsibility (or something like that, as the saying goes) so Mike will be need to take financing these upper-level goals into his own hands. He is doing that by offering an annual buy-in to Club Steady Eddie, wherein members will get regular updates from Mike as well as access to their training at the farm and at competitions, plus an all important Steady Eddie hat!

Good luck, Mike and Eddie! Watch the video below to learn more and contact Mike if you’re interested in joining their journey.

Fight back against an energy crisis that can impact condition and performance.

Equi-Jewel® is a high-fat, low-starch and -sugar formula developed to safely meet the energy needs of your horse.

Whether you have a hard keeper that needs extra calories to maintain his weight, or a top performance horse that needs cool energy to perform at her peak, Equi-Jewel can meet your horse’s energy needs. Equi-Jewel reduces the risk of digestive upset, supports optimal muscle function, maintains stamina, and helps horses recover faster after hard work, all while providing the calories your horse needs to thrive.

The fat found in rice bran is an extraordinary source of dietary energy. In fact, fat contains more than two times the energy that carbohydrates and proteins do, thereby fueling horses more efficiently. Fat is considered a “cool” feedstuff because it does not cause the hormone spikes that lead to excitability. Adding Equi-Jewel rice bran to your horse’s diet allows you to decrease the amount of starchy concentrates (grains) you feed, reducing the risk of colic and laminitis resulting from grain overload. Equi-Jewel is an excellent source of calories for horses on low-sugar and low-starch diets. 

The horse that matters to you matters to us®.

Not sure which horse supplement best meets your horse’s needs? Kentucky Performance Products, LLC is here to help. Call 859-873-2974 or visit KPPusa.com.

One Horse Spun in Blenheim First Horse Inspection

By on Sep 18, 2019 3:14 pm -

Not a bad setting for a trot up – Ginny Howe and Trendy Captain Clover strut their stuff in front of Blenheim Palace. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Spare a thought for poor old Blenheim Palace and its hard-working team behind the scenes. Just a week before it opened its grounds to host one of the world’s most prestigious three-day events, it was beleaguered by the greatest art heist the country has ever known – this month, anyway. The stolen object? A £4.8 million 18-carat gold toilet, designed by the Italian artist Maurizzio Catalan and named ‘America’. Excuse us while we hold an emergency meeting to name the portaloo nearest the media centre.

The crime does drum up rather a lot of questions: how do you steal a toilet without being spotted, for one? (As it turns out, the golden loo – anything but bog standard, amiright? – was plumbed in and open for use by the public. No one was guarding it because a) that’s a recipe for stage fright and b) yeah, as if anyone’s going to de-plumb the thing and run away giggling, clutching a gleaming throne with the ghost of someone’s breakfast lining the inside. Alas!

While we’d love to say that this week’s CCI4*-L and CCI4*-S competition will become a giant game of Cluedo (was it Francis Whittington, in the bathroom with a candlestick?!), two suspects – #1 and #2, you could say – have been flushed out. It’s nice to know the police had something to go on.

But moving onto the competition – and what a competition it is! A field of 87 horses and riders, flush (sorry, we will stop now) with the promise of fierce competition, came forward this afternoon before the ground jury of PollyAnn Huntington (AUS), Andrew Bennie (NZL), and Jane Holderness-Roddam (GBR).

US fans will have another jam-packed week to look forward to, with five horse-and-rider combinations (plus a bonus Canadian combo!) contesting the CCI4*-L and one – Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver – in the CCI4*-S.

Daisy Berkeley and Ballinteskin Cooper S. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Four horses were held through the course of the afternoon: Max Gordon‘s Redwood Clover, Daisy Berkeley‘s Ballinteskin Cooper S, and Cornelia Dorr‘s Sir Patico MH were all passed upon re-presentation.

Rebecca Nicholson and Uno II. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Unfortunately, the competition ended before it began for Rebecca Nicholson and her own Uno II, who were not accepted after re-presenting from the hold box. 86 horses will proceed to dressage.

Country jewellers Hi Ho Silver were on hand to suss out the sartorial offerings on the strip, and they duly awarded two prizes for their best-dressed riders. Piggy French took the ladies’ prize, while Jack Pinkney  – one of many male riders to channel a little bit of Peaky Blinders realness this season – scooped the gents’.

Robbie Kearns leaves behind an essential element of his outfit – but at least his horse, Master McCormack, is suitably well-shod. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

There was drama of a different sort for Ireland’s Robbie Kearns, who discovered he wasn’t quite as well-shod as his horse, Master McCormack. After losing a shoe on the strip, he bravely soldiered on, leaving one forlorn brogue behind.

Cornelia Dorr and Sir Patico MH. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Want to follow along from afar? We’ll be bringing you full reports on both classes every day, but for those of you who want the action in real-time, there’ll be live-streams for each arena on the Blenheim website. 

Dressage gets underway tomorrow morning from 9.00 a.m. local time – that’s 4.00 a.m. Eastern, for you early risers – and we’ve got some considerable talent to keep an eye on throughout the day. Whether you’re tuning in for the whole show or you just want to keep an eye on our US representatives, here are the Thursday rides you shouldn’t miss:

CCI4*-L

  • Andrew Nicholson and Andrea BT4 – 9.30 a.m. BST/4.30 a.m. EST
  • Jesse Campbell and Amsterdam II – 9.37 a.m. BST/4.37 a.m. EST
  • Buck Davidson and Park Trader – 10.07 a.m. BST/5.07 a.m. EST
  • Cathal Daniels and LEB Lias Jewel – 11.00 a.m. BST/6.00 a.m. EST
  • Lexi Scovil and Chico’s Man VDF Z – 11.07 a.m. BST/6.07 a.m. EST
  • Millie Dumas and Fabian II – 11.15 a.m. BST/6.15 a.m. EST
  • Tom McEwen and CHF Cooliser – 11.45 a.m. BST/6.45 a.m. EST
  • Georgie Spence and Wii Limbo – 12.00 p.m. BST/7.00 a.m. EST
  • Piggy French and Brookfield Inocent – 3.07 p.m. BST/10.07 a.m. EST
  • Will Rawlin and VIP Vinnie – 3.22 p.m. BST/10.22 a.m. EST
  • Pippa Funnell and Billy the Biz – 3.52 p.m. BST/10.52 a.m. EST

CCI4*-S

  • Bubby Upton and Cola III – 9.30 a.m. BST/4.30 a.m. EST
  • Astier Nicolas and Babylon de Gamma – 9.37 a.m BST/4.37 a.m. EST
  • Cathal Daniels and OLS King Aragon – 9.52 a.m. BST/4.52 a.m. EST
  • William Fox-Pitt and Georgisaurus – 10.07 a.m. BST/5.07 a.m. EST
  • Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver – 10.30 a.m. BST/5.30 a.m. EST
  • Tom Carlile and Birmane – 2.30 p.m. BST/9.30 a.m. EST

If this seems like a hefty viewing list, welcome to Blenheim – one of the most popular events in the calendar, it attracts a plethora of the very best riders in the world, for whom it’s a crucial autumn fixture. So buckle up and prepare yourselves, folks – this week, we’ll have the privilege of watching top-class athletes compete for CCI4*-L glory, and we’ll see the birth of a new superstar in the CCI4*-S, too. Churchill would be proud (were it not for the proliferation of petty crime in his humble abode).

Until tomorrow, EN-ers – Go Eventing!

Blenheim: Website, Ride Times, Live Scoring, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Unbelts Wardrobe Malfunction Contest: And the Winner Is …

By on Sep 18, 2019 3:00 pm -

EN’s friend Denya Massey (proud owner of two Unbelts) sent us this neat photo: “Eric Lamaze — brain cancer and all — won a Spruce Meadow class in July and his groom was wearing her Unbelt.” Screenshot from CBC TV.

The last thing anybody needs while riding is a wardrobe malfunction. Or even a wardrobe inconvenience — and our friends at Unbelts agree. That’s why they’re revolutionizing the belt market with pants keeper-uppers that are as comfy as they are smart (think: machine washable, airport security friendly, ethically made and made to last).

For last week’s “Fab Freebie,” we asked you to share YOUR best equestrian wardrobe malfunction for a chance to win two two-packs of Unbelts! And the winner is …

“Soggy” Sonja Piana from Michigan! We received several stories of ripped breeches (not too many photos, though, haha), but only one reader ‘fessed up to wetting her britches.

From Sonja: “I was riding my trusty Welsh cross in my first post-baby horse trial, she zigged, I zagged, and she made a tremendous leap over fence 3. She was so pleased, she started bucking. My bladder was not pleased and emptied COMPLETELY, filling my britches and both tall boots, soaking my saddle, and delighting my wicked barn friends. Fifteen years later, I still can’t borrow a saddle without a joke about adult-size diapers.”

Sonja will receive a Hybrid Two Pack (1 Intrepid + 1 Classic belt, retail value: $99 USD) — congrats, Sonja!

L: Unbelts Hybrid Twin-Pack, R: Unbelts Classic Twin-Pack. Photos courtesy of Unbelts.

Of the ripped britches set, several of your stories made us belly-laugh:

Svenja Huntemann: “A few years ago I was wearing my oldest pair of breeches, which had a tiny hole in the crotch area (not sure anymore why I didn’t wear another pair). Partway through the ride I started to hear popping sounds and I realized the seam was splitting. By the time I was done riding it had split all the way from the zipper to the back. Good thing I was wearing nice undies and only friends of mine were at the barn!”

Mandy Duhrels Wallen: “I was at a schooling show with my horse Wally. He spun to the left and I came off. My rear end hit the fence, broke the board and tore my breeches. Thankfully my wonderful trainer was there to cover my ass … literally!! 😂”

Shawni Hunt: “I had a little paint horse who was not my best suited mount … we argued all the time and were constantly disagreeing in the arena so much so that he would run me into fences consistently ripping my socks and riding pants at my calves … holy calves (cow) … literally he was a black and white paint 😅.”

Chloe Abbajay: “When I was young, I had borrowed my mother’s very nice and expensive fleece lined full seat riding breeches for a barn party in December. After we rode our ponies around for a while we dismounted like usual. However, when I went to slide myself off, my breeches caught on the hook of my safety stirrup which then proceeded to rip my breeches all the way down from my thigh to my ankle. I will never forgot looking down and seeing my pant leg wide open. I truly wish someone had gotten a picture as I was quite the site to look at. Thankfully my mother forgave me but I never wore any of her breeches again — lol!”

We’ve got to the runner-up honor to Mandy Duhrels Wallen, as falling off is just adding insult to injury. Mandy will receive a Classic Two Pack (2 Classic belts, retail value: $75 USD).

Many thanks to Unbelts for sponsoring this edition of “Fab Freebie” — learn more and shop at the Unbelts website here.

Go Eventing.

 

 

Catching Up with Winners of the Inaugural Blue Ridge Mountain H.T.

By on Sep 18, 2019 2:00 pm -

By all accounts last weekend’s Blue Ridge Mountain H.T. at Tryon International Equestrian Center was a success, with 150 entries from Beginner Novice through Advanced contesting the inaugural event. In addition to the world class venue’s usual amenities — super footing, beautiful stabling, a big-time atmosphere — all the levels were invited to 2018 WEG cross country venue, the White Oak Course, which featured seven tracks designed by Captain Mark Phillips and built by ETB Equine Construction.

Earlier this week we shared a quick results recap; today we follow up with interviews with the winners of the Advanced, Intermediate and Prelim divisions.

Doug Payne and Quantum Leap. Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.

ADVANCED

In the Advanced, Doug Payne piloted Quantum Leap to the win on a final score of 40.6. Allison Springer and Sapphire Blue B, a 2010 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Heritage Fortunus x Lucy Blue) owned by Katie Lichten, finished second on 51.7, while Ema Klugman and Bendigo, a 2002 Trakehner gelding owned by Jeni Klugman, took third on 52.4.

Doug’s ride, Quantum, made his Advanced level debut earlier this year at Pine Top and has since tackled a handful of CCI4*-S events. “He is an eight-year-old and still greenish to the level for sure — he has probably five events under his belt at this point,” Payne said of the 2011 Zweibrucker gelding (Quite Capitol x Report to Sloopy), co-owned with his wife, Jessica Payne and Susan Drillock.

The pair was third after dressage on 28.6, then turned in a fault-free show jumping round and the fastest cross country round of the day. Doug picked up 12 time, but nobody got closer to beating the clock and it was enough to move them into the lead.

Of his cross country strategy, Doug explained, “I wasn’t looking to going crazy fast, but he’s a very efficient and good galloping horse, so he just covers the ground so well. I’m very, very lucky to have such a talented and willing horse to go with. He goes in a rubber snaffle, and you barely have to touch him.”

Doug commended the course design to accommodate multiple courses on one footprint. “Initially I was thinking [the course] might get real busy, but there is enough space here that it’s quite good,” Doug said. “The course was wonderful. I think the footing couldn’t have been any better. It was a good, flowing course, and I think the whole competition has been excellent.”

Allison Springer and Sapphire Blue B. Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.

After turning in a clear show jumping round with 0.4 time on Saturday night under the lights in Tryon Stadium, Allison and Sapphire Blue B were still leading on their dressage score of 27.7.  They picked up 23.6 time cross country to ultimately finish second.

“He is my student Katie Lichten’s horse,” Springer said. “We call him Steve in the barn — he’s a unicorn. He’s young, and was definitely spooky in there but he jumped great. He’s a talented young horse, and I feel really honored to be able to ride him for Katie.”

INTERMEDIATE

The cross country clock made all the difference in the Intermediate division as well, with Lucienne Elms and her own Mistralou posting the fastest round to move from 8th after dressage into the top spot on 46.4. Second place went to Annie Goodwin and Mettraise, owned by Jeanne Sylvester, on a score of 52.5, while John Michael Durr finishing just behind in third on 52.6 with Becky Brown’s Tilikum.

Lucienne Elms and Mistralou. Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.

“It was a fantastic course design; Mark Phillips is ever the master,” Lucienne said. “[The course] rode really well, there were plenty of questions, with all combinations rewarding to just keep a forward rhythm, too.”

Although Lucienne just started competing again after sustaining injuries in late 2018, her determination to be competitive hasn’t wavered. “I wanted a strong result,” she said. “Mistralou is not green, so I intended to set out for the time. He is a full-blood horse and always a pleasure to finish on [since] he just keeps galloping, so I was confident I would be competitive providing the time wasn’t easy to attain.”

Lucienne hopes to return Mistralou to 4*-L competition later this year and looks forward to returning to TIEC in 2020: “TIEC really is a world-class venue: the cross country venue has the best ground you could ask for, the show jumping gives great mileage to the horses prepping for an international run, as the main arena really creates an educational atmosphere for both horse and rider requiring the exposure, and the footing for dressage is immaculate with plenty of space to work in.”

Kimberly Steinbuch and PDQ Leigh. Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.

Kimberly Durr (née Steinbuch) and PDQ Leigh, owned by Jil Walton, led the pack Saturday after scoring a 29.3 to lead the dressage phase and producing a fault-free show jumping round. They dropped to 4th after collected 24.4 time faults cross country. “He’s very new to me — I’ve had him for just over two and a half weeks,” Kimmy admitted. “I’m very excited about him and looking forward to a very good partnership.”

Kimmy shared that the course set by course designer Chris Barnard was her first show jumping round “under the lights,” and only her second show jumping round with PDQ Leigh. “It was a little back-and-forth and a little discussionary, but he knows his job is just to leave all of the rails in the cups,” she said.

Kimmy is not used to riding a horse of PDQ Leigh’s size and said that it could be a challenging dynamic on cross country: “He’s definitely over 17 hands, so it’s very different for me to have a horse his size to try and ride around, but he’s pretty straightforward and he knows his job.”

Kimmy and her husband, John Michael Durr, operate out of Shelby, North Carolina, which allows them to compete at TIEC as often as they wish, she said. “We’re here two to three weeks a month, so we basically live here. We do all the jumpers and hunters here, and then we do eventing on the weekends. It’s nice to be centrally located.”

OPEN PRELIMINARY

John Michael Durr maintained his lead from the first day of competition in the Open Preliminary division to win it all, earning a final score of 29.1 aboard Casofino, owned by Madigan Murphy. Ema Klugman and Jeni Klugman’s Bronte Beach Z came in a close second after finishing with a final score of 30.0, while Doug Payne  and Stephen Blauner’s Baymax finished in third with a final score of 34.40.

John Michael Durr and Casofino. Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.

“The course rode really well,” John Michael said. “Mark [Phillips] did an amazing job; even though there were a lot of courses it felt like the horses were never confused about where they were going. It was really well done. There were several different tracks, and he nailed it.”

He explained that he has been working on giving Casofino “consistent miles and education” before turning the reins back over to his adult-amateur owner, who is also Durr’s student. “He’s a really exciting young horse. He just needed a little making up to win with his adult amateur,” he said. “This was the first time he had been in a ring like this under the lights. His heart was going a million miles a minute and he saw every kid rolling down the grass, but he focused on the jumps and did his job.”

John Michael Durr and Casofino. Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.

He concluded, “Every part of what Tryon does makes you feel special — it doesn’t matter whether you’re there for a national horse trials, a B-rated Hunter/Jumper show, or the 5* week. Tryon gives you that championship feeling all the time, so when my students do go to the championships or go to Young Riders or something like that, they don’t fall apart, because they’re used to being in a big atmosphere.”

Congrats to all the event’s winners!

Advanced A: Doug Payne and Quantum Leap (40.6)
Intermediate/Preliminary: Magdalena Valenti and Wish I Am (43.6)
Open Intermediate: Lucienne Elms and Mistralou (46.4)
Open Preliminary: John Michael Durr and Casofino (29.1)
Preliminary Rider: Maddie McElduff and Spring Easy (32.9)
Modified: Erin Kimmer and Jude (32.7)
Open Training: Tiffani Loudon-Meetze and Mini Cooper (29.5)
Preliminary/Training: Alison Smith and Irish Blend (51.2)
Training Rider: Karli Wright and Sorocaima (34.7)
Novice Rider: Karli Wright and Master Eli (18.3)
Open Novice: Jessica Schultz and FGF Peri Whan (23.1)
Beginner Novice Rider: Lynn Welles and Quiet Love (23.7)
Open Beginner Novice: Keileigh McMurray and Rapport (29.8)

For full results from the Blue Ridge Mountain Horse Trials at TIEC, click here.

Preventing Laminitis: A Year Round Threat

By on Sep 18, 2019 11:30 am -

Article provided by Haygain. The science-backed horse health company manufactures Haygain Hay Steamers and ComfortStall Orthopedic Sealed Flooring and distributes the Flexineb Portable Equine Nebulizer. For more information, visit www.haygain.us.

Photo courtesy of Haygain.

Despite a long-standing belief that laminitis is a spring-time disease, a recent study identified that there is no ‘safe’ season: laminitis remains a threat regardless of the time of year. The same study also revealed that 1 in 10 horses/ponies develop laminitis every year.

When to Worry?

As horse owners, we must remain cautious and not reduce preventive measures when the perceived spring ‘high-risk’ period is over. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of recognizing subtle signs of potentially life-threatening episodes.

This is supported by 2017 study published in the BEVA Equine Veterinary Journal which revealed 45% of owners did not suspect laminitis was the problem prior to veterinary diagnosis, making it critical to recognize the more subtle signs.

In addition, research by Rossdales Veterinary Hospital and the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket warned that commonly cited clinical signs, such as the classic ‘laminitis stance’ and divergent growth rings, were found in less than half of the active laminitis cases in their study.

What To Look For?

Evidence suggests there is a period where laminitis is present and causing changes to the hooves, but lameness is not yet apparent. Picking up these early signs of laminitis before there is any pain associated with the condition would allow horse owners to adjust their management strategies and their veterinarian to treat the underlying disease to help prevent a painful episode of laminitis.

The signs of laminitis can be broadly grouped into two groups: signs associated with hoof changes, and signs associated with hoof pain.

Signs associated with hoof changes:

  • Hoof rings that are wider at the heel than the toe (divergent hoof rings)
  • Cracks in the wall of the hooves
  • Changes in the angle of the hoof walls
  • Increased amount of horn at the toe of the hooves
  • Changes in the angle of the hoof walls
  • Bruising in the wall or the white line
  • Sensitive to pressure on the soles of his/her feet

Signs associated with hoof pain:

  • Spending more time lying down than normal
  • Rocked back or rocked forward stance
  • Unwilling to move/ unable or unwilling to stand
  • Lameness
  • Constantly shift weight from leg to leg
  • Foot-sore after a farrier visit
  • Resistance to you picking up one or more of his/her feet
  • An unusually strong pulse in one or more of his/her digital arteries. (This pulse can be felt if you place your fingers below the back of the horse’s fetlock)
  • Feet feel hotter than usual

Photo courtesy of Haygain.

If you suspect laminitis: 

Call your veterinarian immediately!

While you wait for the veterinarian, remove your horse from pasture, provide soft footing for them to stand on and make sure they have water and hay within reach.

Prevention:

Prevention is better than cure … especially when there is no cure!

Feeding remains key to reduce the risk of laminitis. Modern grass varieties are generally productive grasses, too rich for horses, especially those susceptible to laminitis which is closely linked to obesity.

Access to grass should be restricted, but they still need plenty of fiber to avoid other problems such as gastric ulcers and colic. While most cases of laminitis have an underlying hormonal cause, their diet certainly contributes, usually in the form of excess sugar (a.k.a.: water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and starch, the main sources of which are grass and cereals. If too much sugar and starch is consumed at one time, it overloads the small intestine and accumulates in the hind gut instead.

The digestion of the sugar and starch by the hind gut bacteria produces stronger acids than would be produced by fiber digestion (the hind gut’s usual job). This results in acidosis causing bacteria to die and release toxins which can enter the bloodstream via the leaky gut wall caused by the acidity. This is thought to trigger a series of reactions that result in damaging enzymes. These enzymes destroy the bond between the pedal bone and the hoof capsule which ultimately can result in pedal bone rotation and euthanasia is then about the only option.

Alternatives to Grass

Consider supplementing at least part pasture with hay. This can be fed outside on a dirt area so the horse still gets to spend time outside as well as in the stable. The recommended sugar level of hay for those at risk of laminitis is 10% sugar, so it’s best to choose a lower grade hay and get it tested to determine its nutrient content. It’s not always possible to find a suitable hay and you can’t tell just by looking at it, hence the importance of having it tested. Most feed companies offer this service as do independent nutritionists.

Photo courtesy of Haygain.

Soaking or Steaming?

It’s common practice to soak hay for horses with laminitis. While this is effective for leaching sugars – and most other nutrients – from the hay, it has many drawbacks. Soaking increases the bacterial content, reducing the hygienic quality; it produces an environmental pollutant (the brown yucky water left in the bucket); and results in an unpalatable, soggy hay that can sour in summer temperatures and freeze in the winter. It’s also a huge hassle!

High-temperature hay steaming is also an option. Haygain’s patented method improves the hygienic quality of hay by killing bacteria, mold and fungal spores as well as reducing airborne respirable dust by up to 99%. Another benefit of steaming over soaking is that it retains hay’s nutrients, except for a variable loss in WSC that are crucial to laminitis prevention. The amount of WSC reduction by steaming varies based on the type of hay, and time and location of harvest.

Once you’ve had your hay tested and you know the starting WSC content, you may find you only need to reduce the sugar by a small amount. The recommended overall content is 10% or 100g WSC/kg dry matter (DM), so a single hay steaming is typically sufficient to reach that level if the original WSC content is only slightly higher. The benefit of this steam-only scenario is maintaining the hay’s nutrients, including protein and minerals, while reducing the WSC to safe levels.

However, if your hay has a high sugar content, then you will need to leach more WSC and it’s best to use a combination of soaking and steaming. This means you will have the benefit of the clean steamed hay but with the nutritional value leached out more by the soaking phase. Research has labelled the gold standard treatment as a 9-hour soak followed by a 50-minute steam cycle. In the study, soaking plus steaming reduced the WSC contents of all hays down to the recommended level of 100g WSC/kg DM (Harris et al., 2017) for fat horses and those pre-disposed to laminitis. The steaming after soaking further reduced the WSC content and killed any bacteria that had multiplied during the soaking process, thus improving the hygienic quality of the hay.

Be aware of the risks of laminitis to horses and ponies at all times, manage their weight and diet with it in mind. Be vigilant of any signs of hoof changes and hoof pain no matter how subtle and seek veterinary advise as soon as you suspect laminitis.

Author Becky James, BSc, MSc, was instrumental in developing Haygain’s patented high temperature steaming while studying at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, England. She joined Haygain in 2008 and is now the company’s Director, Technical Sales. 

Weekly OTTB Wishlist from Cosequin: Illinois Edition

By on Sep 18, 2019 9:00 am -

How about a little Midwest love this week for our OTTB Wishlist presented by Cosequin? The fine folks of CANTER Illinois have listed a number of really good looking horses recently and frankly, they’re really too pretty not to share with you all!

All of this week’s featured horses are located at Fairmount Park Race Track in Collinsville, Illinois, which sits just east of the Mississippi River and a stone’s throw from St. Louis, Missouri.

Purrfect Kitten. Photo via CANTER Illinois.

Purrfect Kitten (FOREST ATTACK – TWO HEARTS DREAM, BY KITTEN’S JOY): 2015 16-0 hand Illinois-bred gelding

Purrfect Kitten could be your perfect match if your looking for a fancy little partner for the future. After 15 starts and no wins, Purrfect Kitten’s connections are hoping he’ll shine a little brighter in a different career and we think his odds are pretty good. He has a really nicely balanced build and those four while socks are seriously eye catching. His jog videos show an over tracking walk and trot that could have the potential to get some great marks in the first phase in the future.

Located at Fairmount Park Race Track in Collinsville, Illinois.

View Purrfecr Kitten on CANTER Illinois.

Holyhoot. Photo via CANTER Illinois.

Holyhoot (CHEROKEE RAP – LAST HOOT, BY BIANCONI): 2011 16.0-hand Illinois-bred mare

Just look at that face! Holyhoot looks like a real sweetheart and her connections confirm that assumption. She’s an easy to handle gal with good manners who’s been around the track a bit. With 47 starts and $79,614 won, Holyhoot has very nearly reached warhorse status and has clearly been a great athlete for her owners. At 8-years-old she still has plenty left in the tank to impress in a second career as well.

View Holyhoot on CANTER Illinois.

Nafirs Best. Photo via CANTER Illinois.

Nafirs Best (CHEROKEE RAP – NAFIR (GB), BY MARK OF ESTEEM (IRE)): 2009 16.3-hand Illinois-bred gelding

Warhorse alert! Nafirs Best really did put his best hoof forward throughout his race career as he racked up 12 first-, 20 second-, and 15 third-place finishes for a career total of $106,156 in winnings. This season, he just hasn’t come out of the gate with quite the same zest as he’s had before and hasn’t had any top finishes in 2019. As you’d expect from a warhorse he has excellent manners and a laid-back been-there-done-that attitude, but he also has plenty of spunk left and certainly doesn’t deserve to be passed over for a chance to rekindle his athletic abilities in a second career.

View Nafirs Best on CANTER Illinois.