Classic Eventing Nation

#MindYourMelon on International Helmet Awareness Day

By on Sep 14, 2019 9:17 am -

Get in the mood to #mindyourmelon with this timeless Evention classic. 

Here at Eventing Nation, we need every brain cell we can get. And we salute Riders4Helmets International Helmet Awareness Day’s efforts to keep our neurons as safe as possible by reminding us each year to keep a lid on it.

In its 10th year running, International Helmet Awareness Day — or International Helmet Awareness Weekend, we suppose you could call it — will be held this Saturday, Sept. 14 through Sunday, Sept. 15.

Riders4Helmets.com has teamed up with leading helmet manufacturers and retailers all over the world to offer discounts on helmets on these dates. Shout-out to our favorite participating retailer SmartPak, which is offering your favorite helmet brands at a discount throughout the weekend.

“It is a testament to the continued need for educating equestrians on all aspects of helmet wearing that sees International Helmet Awareness Day continue to attract hundreds of retailers for the tenth time,” said Lyndsey White of Riders4Helmets. “I am absolutely overwhelmed at the continued support shown to the Riders4Helmets campaign by helmet manufacturers, retailers, and equestrians around the globe.”

Chinch getting measured for a Charles Owen helmet in the Kentucky Sponsor Village. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

“Back in 2010 when Riders4Helmets was founded and we hosted the first International Helmet Awareness Day, I never imagined that the campaign would inspire tens of thousands of equestrians to wear a helmet for the first time, and serve as a continued reminder to those who were already wearing a helmet, to ensure it is fitted correctly and that they replace it when appropriate.”

As someone who has been pile driven into Planet Earth on many an occasion, I would never dream of leaving the barn without my helmet. Many thanks to Riders4Helmets International Helmet Awareness Day for continuing education on the benefits of wearing a properly fitting, secured and certified helmet.

You know what happens to hunt caps in MY neighborhood? 

For more information on the Riders4Helmets campaign, visit www.riders4helmets.com. You can also follow the campaign on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Saturday Links from Nupafeed USA

By on Sep 14, 2019 12:01 am -

This past week is has really just started to feel like the emergence of fall. I’ve seen some orange and red leaves on the ground here and there, the nights are starting to get just a little chilly, and, oh yes, my horse is starting to spook at everything. Literally. She spooked at blades of grass gently blowing in the wind during our hack yesterday evening. I love fall weather, truly, but save the spiciness for the seasonal lattes, please.

National Holiday: National Cream-Filled Donut Day

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Otter Creek Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Flying Cross Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

The Event at Skyline [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

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

Blue Ridge Mountain H.T. at TIEC [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Poplar Place Farm September H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Flora Lea Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Stone Gate Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

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

Saturday Links:

Behind The Stall Door With: Never Outfoxed

Warm Up For Cross-Country With 5 Confidence Boosting Tips

Featured Clinician: Max Corcoran

Badminton winner to take over the reins of Sir Mark Todd’s World silver medal-winning ride

Connections React to Story on Justify Failing Drug Test

Saturday Video: No matter what happens to you today, at least you didn’t have take refuge in a Porta Potty like our friend Bad Eventer?

Friday Video from SmartPak: If Horses Were People – Show Day, Part 1

By on Sep 13, 2019 5:00 pm -

SmartPak’s “If Horses Were People” series is back and honestly I feel like Sara and Sarah ought to be hosting SNL or something, they’re such a riot. In August they put out “Fly Season” episodes, which if you missed those you need to go watch right now (part 1 and part 2), and now they’ve just released the first episode of “Show Day” and I’m DYING.

Be sure to subscribe to SmartPak’s YouTube channel for all the latest videos. Go Eventing!

Congratulations to the 2019 T.I.P. Eventing Champions!

By on Sep 13, 2019 1:30 pm -

Beginner Novice Junior 14 and Under Championship T.I.P. Champion Chambery with Sierra Thomas and Reserve Champion Inanewyorkminute with Catherine Frank.

Here’s a fun fact: Of the 949 starters in the 2019 American Eventing Championships, 218 were Thoroughbreds, making up 23% of the competition and outnumbering an other breed by far. With so many top Thoroughbred eventers of all levels gathered up in one place — and that place being the heart of Thoroughbred country — the AEC went hand-in-hand with the Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) Championship, also taking place at the Kentucky Horse Park that weekend.

The third annual T.I.P. Championship Horse Show was held Sept. 7-8 in conjunction with the New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Show. Two-hundred forty-eight Thoroughbreds competed in a total of 26 divisions comprising English Pleasure, Western Pleasure, Dressage, Western Dressage, Hunters, and Jumper, with more than $30,000 in cash and prizes awarded.

All proceeds from the New Vocations show will support Thoroughbred aftercare. Between the two shows, a total of 450 Thoroughbreds from 26 states competed.

“I am thrilled with the growth of the T.I.P. Championships since its inception in 2017 and the enthusiasm of all participants toward showcasing off-the-track Thoroughbreds,” said Kristin Werner, senior counsel for The Jockey Club and the administrator of T.I.P. “This weekend showcases the versatility of Thoroughbreds in a wide range of disciplines, and we hope that Thoroughbred-centric competitions will encourage horse owners to consider riding and competing with former racehorses.”

“We are proud to work with T.I.P. to organize a weekend of horse shows that display the ability of Thoroughbreds to excel in careers beyond the racetrack,” said Sarah Coleman, New Vocations’ Director of Public & Community Relations. “We at New Vocations believe that Thoroughbreds have unlimited potential and love seeing this potential turn into results in the show ring.”

The eventing winners and reserve champions for the T.I.P. Championships are as follows (Jockey Club registered names are in parentheses):

$60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final
Champion: Cecelia (Constock) & Daniela Moguel
Reserve Champion: Creative Dreamer & Caitlin Henderson

Open Intermediate Championship
Champion: Military Mind & Whitney Mahloch
Reserve Champion: Shakedown Street (Sound the Bell) & Melanie Smith

Preliminary Amateur Championship
Champion: Mr. Barron & Wisti Nelson
Reserve Champion: Prince of Power & Katherine Nolan

Preliminary Horse Championship
Champion: Stoneman DF (Stoneman) & Jennifer McFall
Reserve Champion: Ermintrude (Miss Dude)& Daisy Trayford

Preliminary Junior/Young Rider Championship
Champion: Dandy Longlegs & Kelsey Ann Quinn

Preliminary Rider Championship
Champion: Fairway King & Lauren Turner
Reserve Champion: Flying Again & Lauren Turner

Open Modified/Training
Champion: All of Indy & Tawn Edwards
Reserve Champion: One Sly Fox (Double No) & Kirsten Schuitema

Training Amateur Championship
Champion: Snowflake Lane & Rebecca Hunt
Reserve Champion: Toga (Ticket to Saratoga) & Sheri Thornley

Training Horse Championship
Champion: Point Nemo & Ryan Keefe
Reserve Champion: Milo Diamond & Daisy Trayford

Training Junior Championship
Champion: Woodstock’s Little Nev (Rommel) & Abigail Mazzatta
Reserve Champion: Born Ready (Luther’sintown) & Cassie Sanger

Training Rider Championship
Champion: Sir Rockstar (Sir Rock) & Erin Jarboe
Reserve Champion: Say So Slew (Say So) & Lisa Davidson

Novice Amateur Championship
Champion: KD Mac & Shannon Allen
Reserve Champion: Magic Mike (Club Soda) & Paige Thompson

Novice Horse Championship
Champion: Perpetual Optimism & Nuno Santos
Reserve Champion: SS Palantir (Palantir) & Jennifer Coleman

Novice Junior 15 and Under Championship
Champion: Limited Access & Reagan McIntosh
Reserve Champion: Dee Ron & Gracelyn Mogelnicki

Novice Junior Championship
Champion: Silver Bop & Kate Thresher
Reserve Champion: Codename Toby (Go Señor Go) & Stephanie Cordell

Novice Master Amateur Championships
Champion: Holloway (Cement Head) & Cindi Moravec
Reserve Champion: Land of Jewels & Melissa McNally

Novice Rider Championship
Champion: B. E. Isabella & Elena Perea
Reserve Champion: Ventry & Liz Schroeder

Beginner Novice Amateur Championship
Champion: Whatinsamhill & Kirsten LaVassar
Reserve Champion: Weight of the World (Scorpion One) & Jessica Wymbs

Beginner Novice Horse Championship
Champion: Sock Monkey (Candy Van Can) & Katarzyna Jachymczyk
Reserve Champion: Perfect Acquisition (Nite Gaze R F) & Hannah Warner

Beginner Novice Junior 14 and Under Championship
Champion: Chambery & Sierra Thomas
Reserve Champion: Inanewyorkminute & Catherine Frank

Beginner Novice Junior Championship
Champion: Tekkenistic & Payton Myers
Reserve Champion: Oliver Twist (Odds On (BRZ)) & Aine O’Rourke

Beginner Novice Master Amateur Championships
Champion: Look Cody Look & Letha Calvin
Reserve Champion: Julie Cayer and Great Moments

Beginner Novice Rider Championship
Champion: Remastered & Beth Allen
Reserve Champion: Concatulations & Cathrine Wunderlich

In 2019, more than 1,300 sponsored horse shows are offering awards for Thoroughbreds in 42 states and six Canadian provinces and in virtually every imaginable discipline. To qualify for the Championships, a T.I.P.-eligible Thoroughbred must participate in a show offering T.I.P. high point awards, classes, or divisions in the applicable discipline beginning Aug .1 of the prior year through July 31 of the Championships year or participate in the T.I.P. Performance Awards in the applicable discipline. Horses shown at a horse trial or combined test can also qualify for the championships through the show jumping phase. To be eligible for T.I.P. shows, a Thoroughbred is defined as any horse that has been registered with The Jockey Club or a foreign Thoroughbred stud book recognized by The Jockey Club.

Learn more about the T.I.P. program, view participating horse shows, and apply for a T.I.P. number at the website here.

Go Thoroughbreds. Go Eventing!

Friday Fashion Forecast: Eskadron ‘Pinkaholic’ Collection

By on Sep 13, 2019 11:00 am -

If you’re like most eventers, you understand the value of dressage work. But you also don’t wake up in the morning giddy thinking about working on transitions and leg yields and suppling your horse. That all changes with the Eskadron “Pinkaholic” collection!

Eskadron Pinkaholic.

Remember when you were told as a child to eat your vegetables? Put a little cheese sauce on that and it makes it palatable! This gorgeous pink set makes dressage more palatable to the event rider, and dare I say, FUN! The Eskdron Pinkaholic set is the perfect matchy-matchy way to get your dressage work in, while having a great time doing it. A bold pink dressage saddle pad with reflective accents pairs expertly with the super luxurious fleece bandages, complete with storage case. The phrase “Ride Eat Sleep Repeat” is embroidered on the set. This collection will make your transitions better, your horse more supple, and help engage those hindquarters (OK, not really, but it will make your dressage far less tedious!!).

Not great at dressage? Look the part by matching. My mare, Hummingbird’s Mendacium, was the model for this product review and she was less than thrilled. Not because she hates dressage, and not because she was upset about the pink, but we like to compare her to the flower that grows out of a big, prickly cactus. We joke that she goes barefoot because the rocks wouldn’t DARE bruise her feet. It’s likely she bruises the rocks with her attitude. In spite of her less-than-willing participation, she managed to get some gorgeous photos! So even if you’re riding around on a feral yak in dressage warm up, rest assured that you will look put together. This was always my strategy as a young snowboarder. I was terrible. But I matched and looked darn good sipping hot cocoa in the lodge!

Eskadron Pinkaholic
Amy Nelson & Hummingbird’s Mendacium

The quality of this matched set is apparent from the start. The saddle pad is cushy, and the fleece bandages are extremely soft. The Eskadron Pinkaholic collection is the perfect addition to your warm up at an event, a dressage lesson, or that day you’re just not feeling it but need to get the work in anyway. I hear through the grapevine that it’s limited edition for 2019, so you’d better hurry and snatch this up before they are gone!

Follow Frantisi on Facebook and Instagram – they are the reason we have excellent brands like Eskadron in North America!

Final Review (Out of 4 Stars)

Cost: $$
Excitement: *** 3 Stars
Durability: **** 4 Stars
Variety: *** 3 Stars (the same set comes in different colors)

 

This Week in Horse Health News Presented by MediVet Equine

By on Sep 13, 2019 9:00 am -

Imogen Murray and Ivar Gooden won the Best Shod Horse award at Burghley. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

This week’s biggest headline in horse health news is so big that you may have already heard it the mainstream media. You’ll certainly want to catch up on that crazy story, but don’t miss our the other interesting tidbits from this week as well, presented by MediVet Equine; in addition to news that’s rocking the racing industry, scroll down and read on to learn a little about the best shod horse at Burghley, how your horse might be eligible for a free Cushing’s Disease test, and a word of caution to anyone planning to travel to Ohio.

This Week in Horse Health News …

The 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify tested positive for a banned substance in a qualifier race before the Kentucky Derby, the New York Times reports.

Justify tested positive for scopolamine, a drug which is used to treat motion sickness and nausea in humans and can act a bronchodilator in horses, enlarging their airways to making breathing more efficient and potentially enhancing performance. The drug test sample was collected when Justify won the Santa Anita Derby and the positive result should have disqualified him to run in the Kentucky Derby, but the California Horse Racing Board eventually dismissed the case.

Horses can test positive for scopolamine due to ingestion of jimson weed (also known as devil’s snare — yes, like in Harry Potter)  which can sometimes be found in straw bedding or hay, and there have been previously documented cases of this happening, however, horses tend to avoid it’s foul odor and bitter taste. The lab results also indicated that the amount of scopalamine detected in Justify’s sample was much higher than they likely would have if they were caused by environmental contamination/ accidental ingestion. [The New York Times]

Ivar Gooden, ridden by Imogen Murray, was awarded the prize for Best Shod Horse at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials last weekend. The annual prize honors the craftsmanship and ingenuity of the farrier who shod the winning horse. Ivar Gooden’s farrier, Paul Varnam, took a forward-thinking approach to shoeing the 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding and used hand-forged therapeutic shoes, which would traditionally only be used to help a lame horse, to help the very sound but somewhat conformationally challenged Ivar Gooden achieve optimum balance. This is the horse and farrier’s second time earning this award and you’ll need to be sure to read Fran Jurga’s full report on The Hoof Blog for all the details on Ivar Gooden’s very fascinating footwear hoofwear. [The Hoof Blog]

Attention horse owners in Canada! Your horse may be eligible to receive a free Equine Cushing’s Disease test thanks to Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Equine in partnership with Guelph Animal Health Laboratory. Cushing’s Disease, or Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), is primarily thought of as a disease of senior horses or ponies, but it actually affect horses as young as 10 years old. As one of the main causes of laminitis, the debilitating disease of the hoof which is the second leading cause of death in horses after colic, it’s important diagnose Cushing’s Disease as early as possible so that it can be well controlled. When caught early, risk of laminitis can be minimized and prognosis can be very good. [Boehringer Ingelheim Equine]

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is restricting the import of horses from counties within states with confirmed and suspected cases of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Though there have been no confirmed cases of VSV in Ohio, the state decided that, with a significant uptick in incoming equine traffic anticipated due to the All American Quarter Horse Congress scheduled to begin in the city of Columbus on Oct. 1, they would take every precaution to keep the state VSV-free. Though the main focus of this restriction is the influx of horses due to the All American Quarter Horse Congress it appear that it applies to any horses moving into or through the state, so do use caution if you plan to go eventing in Ohio! [Horses From VSV-Affected Areas Banned From American Quarter Horse Congress]

Friday News & Notes from World Equestrian Brands

By on Sep 13, 2019 12:03 am -

From humble beginnings … Kate Chadderton and her pony Bluey! Photo courtesy of Kate.

So, it’s Friday the 13th, and if you put stock in that kind of thing be careful today! Also it’s a full moon tonight so I guess werewolves and stuff too? I’m only superstitious about things like a lucky necklace for competitions, but I know horse people are a superstitious lot in general. Lucky socks, anyone??

National Holiday: National Peanut Day

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Otter Creek Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Flying Cross Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

The Event at Skyline [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

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

Blue Ridge Mountain H.T. at TIEC [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Poplar Place Farm September H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Flora Lea Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Stone Gate Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

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

News From Around the Globe:

There is another opportunity to qualify your YEH entry for the Championship at Fair Hill International! Flora Lea H.T. in Medford, New Jersey, was asked by several competitors to hold another qualifier this Friday, Sept. 13th. For those interested in participating, entries may still be made to Debbie Adams at Flora Lea. Email [email protected]. [Flora Lea Farm]

More Burghley you say? We’re not sick of it yet! This time it’s a little throwback to the last time Pippa Funnell won the competition, a mere 16 years ago aboard Primmore’s Pride, cementing her place in eventing history by being the first rider ever to win the Eventing Grand Slam. [Flash Back Friday: Pippa Funnell Wins Grand Slam]

Is your horse a picky eater? We’ve all had that horse at one point or another, the one that you desperately need to keep weight on, but they just pick at their food. You’ve tried everything, and you’re at your wits end. How about flavoring with fenugreek? A new study shows that fenugreek rates the highest with horses in terms of making feed more palatable, over all other possible additions. [Flavoring with Fenugreek]

Best of Blogs: Building Character Through Farm Sitting

Hot on Horse Nation: 8 Questions with Para Dressage Star and Draper Therapies Ambassador Rebecca Hart

Video:

 

 

Thursday Video from Ecovet: Watch Dom Schramm & Bolytair B’s Brilliant Burghley Round

By on Sep 12, 2019 8:07 pm -

Dom Schramm and Bolytair B notch up a near-clear at Burghley. Photo by William Carey.

We couldn’t be more proud of Aussie/honorary American Dom Schramm after his absolute class performance at Burghley last week. He and Bolytair B, a 13-year-old Dutch gelding (Polytair x Nobelle, by Glennridge) owned by the Naked Horse Eventing Syndicate, pieced their way through Captain Mark Phillips’ epic gauntlet with bravery and tact in equal measure, delivering one of the most positive, rhythmical rounds we saw all day despite it only being their second five-star outing.

The pair found the finish line with 11 jumping and 37.2 time penalties, no thanks to one unlucky (if not downright annoying) pin at the Trout Hatchery — and only the one side down, to add insult to injury. Boly barely tapped it but such is life, and such was life for several competitors as the rail fell like a show jump all day.

The Burghley live stream didn’t show near enough of Dom and Boly, who finished 28th overall and won the admiration of an international audience in the process. But, lucky for us, our friends at Australian eventing news outlet An Eventful Life have shared a video showing his entire round. Enjoy, and take notes!

 

My entire round from Burghley! The best I’ve ever ridden! So lucky to be sitting on a horse like Bolytair B!

Posted by Dominic Schramm on Thursday, September 12, 2019

 

“I’m happy to be home in one piece,” he told EN after his round. “I was surprised how backed off he was by the crowds at the beginning, and I couldn’t really get his head down. But what a horse! I came here for redemption – I rode like an idiot at Kentucky. It’s amazing what an outstanding horse can make an average rider look like!”

Editor’s note: NOT average.

“It’s unbelievable, and it kind of feels like I’ve paid my bit back to all the people who support me,” said Dom, who was astonished by the scale and difficulty of the challenge set. “I kept looking at my watch and thinking, ‘how the hell does anyone make the time here?!’ Mark Phillips is a genius course designer, and it’s a privilege to ride around here.”

Cheers, Dom.

Relive all of EN’s 2019 Land Rover Burghley coverage here. Go Eventing.

 

Ecovet fly spray creates a vapor barrier around your horse that confuses and overwhelms an insect’s normal directional ability. Thanks to this Ecovet barrier, the insect is unable to locate your horse as its next victim. Watch Ecovet in action: http://bit.ly/ecovetvideo

Volunteer Nation: 7 Events That Need Your Help This Weekend

By on Sep 12, 2019 4:00 pm -

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.

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 seven USEA events that need your help this weekend!

Capture
Event: Poplar Place Farm September H.T.
Date(s) volunteers needed: Saturday, Sept. 14
Address: 8191 US Hwy 27E, Hamilton, GA, 31811
Positions available: XC Finish Timer, XC Jump Judge, XC Starter, SJ Warm Up


Event: CDCTA Fall Horse Trials
Date(s) volunteers needed: Saturday, Sept. 14 – Sunday, Sept. 15
Address: 927 Kimble Road, Berryville, VA, 22611
Positions available: Event Prep – Dressage, Event Prep – General, Stabling Check-In & Trailer Parking, XC Jump Judge, SJ Jump Crew, SJ Scribe, SJ Timer

Event: GMHA September Horse Trials
Date(s) volunteers needed: Thursday, Sept. 12 – Sunday, Sept. 15
Address: P.O. Box 8, S. Woodstock, VT 05071
Positions available: Event Prep – General, Dressage Steward, Hospitality Helper, SJ Jump Crew

Event: The Event at Skyline
Date(s) volunteers needed: Friday, Sept. 13 – Sunday, Sept. 15
Address: 995 W 1000 S, Mount Pleasant , UT, 84647
Positions available: Dressage Announcer, Dressage Bit Check, Dressage In Gate Steward, Dressage Score Runner, Dressage Scribe, Dressage Warm Up, Office Help, XC Score Runner, XC Starter, Competitor / Volunteer Dinner Set Up, Event Takedown – SJ, SJ Jump Crew, SJ Score Runner, SJ Scribe, SJ Timer


Event: Flying Cross Farm Horse Trials
Date(s) volunteers needed: Friday, Sept. 13 – Sunday, Sept. 15
Address: E5847 1170th Ave, Wheeler, WI, 54772
Positions available: Dressage Score Runner, Dressage Bit Check, Office Help, SJ In Gate, SJ Jump Crew, SJ Scribe, SJ Warm Up, Competitor / Volunteer Dinner Set Up, Volunteer Lead, SJ Jump Crew, XC Jump Judge, XC Score Runner, General Help, Secretary – Awards


Event: Stone Gate Farm Horse Trials
Date(s) volunteers needed: Thursday, Sept. 12 – Sunday, Sept. 15
Address:  31407 Schneider Rd, Hanoverton, OH, 44423
Positions available: Event Prep – General, XC Decorator, Greeter, General Help, SJ Jump Crew, XC Jump Judge, XC Score Runner

Event: Equestrians Institute Horse Trials
Date(s) volunteers needed: Saturday, Sept. 14
Address: 1202 Douglas Munro Blvd, Cle Elum, WA, 98922
Positions available: Work Party – Event Prep

Visit eventingvolunteers.com for information on upcoming USEA recognized as well as unrecognized events that could use a hand.

Go Volunteer. Go Eventing!

Virginia Horse Trials International to Host U.S. Debut of CCI1*-L Level

By on Sep 12, 2019 2:30 pm -

Isabel Finemore and Rutherglen, winners of 2018 USEF JR/YR CCI2* Eventing National Championship. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.

Virginia Horse Trials International (VHT) is pleased to announce that it will host the first CCI1*-L in the United States at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington Oct. 31-Nov. 3, 2019. The CCI1*-L is the Modified (3’5”) level run under the international long format rules, with show jumping being the final phase run in reverse order of standing. VHT is currently the only event in the country to offer the CCI1*-L.

“We are excited to be adding the CCI1*-L to our international offerings at Virginia,” VHT Organizer Andy Bowles said. “It’s a great introduction to FEI competition at the Modified height, and it fits perfectly with our mission at Virginia to provide competitors with positive growth opportunities. We ran two large national Modified divisions at both the November 2018 and May 2019 competitions, so we’re hopeful that the interest in the CCI1*-L will be positive.”

VHT will also host the USEF CCI2* Eventing National Championship for the second consecutive year. Both adult and junior/young rider (21 and under) titles will be awarded. The Championship will run concurrently with the CCI2*-L division, and the Championship titles will be given to the highest placed American rider in each age group.

Back by popular demand is the Intercollegiate and Alumni Team Challenge. Whether currently in school, recently graduated, or graduated any number of years ago, riders are invited to don their school colors, chant fight songs, and enjoy a healthy dose of school rivalry.

“The intercollegiate team challenges have always been one of our favorite components of VHT,” Bowles said. “We realized that recent grads were wanting to stay involved and alumni wanted to get in on the fun, so we are happy to host a team challenge with a mix of current and former students.”

Teams may be made up of alumni only, current students only, or a mix of both. Teams of mixed levels will have coefficients applied to account for the level of difficulty. Scramble teams may be formed with multiple schools. Send your team roster and any questions to the team coordinator, Leslie Threlkeld, at [email protected].

In addition to the CCI1*-L and CCI2*-L, VHT’s fall edition offers CCI3*-L, CCI3*-S, and the CCI2*-S, which was offered for the first time at the May event. National competitors have a broad choice of Beginner Novice through Advanced/Intermediate, including national Modified, and a Starter level for newcomers to the sport. Bowles, Carsten Meyer, and David Taylor will design the tracks on two separate cross-country courses, and Chris Barnard returns as the show jumping course designer.

Come for the competition, stay for the extras. Prize money is once again on the table for the FEI competitors, as well as special awards for Best Conditioned horse and Best Turned Out rider, ribbons through tenth place, and additional gifts and prizes. The top three finishers of every national horse trials division receive discount coupons for future entries. Finally, everyone is invited to a complimentary supper at the Saturday night competitor party.

Entries for the VHT International open Sept. 17, 2019. Find entry information at vahorsetrials.com or the USEA Omnibus listing.

Links: Website | Omnibus | Facebook | Instagram

[CCI1*-L Debuts at Virginia Horse Trials International, USEF CCI2* Eventing National Championship Returns]