“I can say he is a Burghley horse now,” Lauren Kieffer said of the Anglo Arabian, Vermiculus, at the conclusion of the 2019 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. What a euphoria that must be to finish at an event like that — much less in the top 10. Lauren Kieffer talks with John Kyle about her weekend, this horse and what’s ahead (Tokyo 2020 anyone?).
If you missed it, catch up on EN’s complete Burghley coverage here.
Photo courtesy of John Michael Durr.
If you’ll recall from the 2018 World Equestrian Games at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), cross country took place a short hack away at the White Oak property. Formerly a golf course, White Oak was praised for its excellent footing and varying terrain. Now, riders of all levels can follow in the hoof-prints of WEG competitors as a new permanent fixture on the fall eventing calendar, Blue Ridge Mountain Horse Trials, will feature cross country on the same course that hosted the Games.
The inaugural Blue Ridge Mountain H.T. will take place Sept. 14-15 at TIEC in Mill Creek, North Carolina. The venue has hosted events — The Fork, Pony Club Championships East, and the 2017 American Eventing Championships — but this will be the first time cross country has been held at White Oak other than WEG.
The event offers USEA Beginner Novice through Advanced levels, including Modified, as well as Intermediate and Advanced combined tests (riders can choose the FEI or USEF test of choice). Show jumping will take place under the lights on Saturday night, followed by cross country on Sunday.
2018 WEG course designer Captain Mark Phillips has been preparing the courses in collaboration with Eric Bull’s ETB Equine Construction. “We’ve got all the divisions down on the golf course, which is what the lower divisions have wanted for a long time. That means it’s very busy down there, with lots of fences, but the footing is fantastic and the fences are good, so the riders should have a good experience,” he said while overseeing fence placement.
Photo courtesy of John Michael Durr.
The White Oak Course offers something for every level of rider, despite its history of hosting and challenging some of the world’s best. Phillips explains, “I think high-performance riders want to run over good courses on good footing, especially when going a lot faster on those horses, and so good footing is paramount. And then we’ve got a lot of good fences, particularly after the World Equestrian Games. Lower-level riders want to have a good run and good experiences for their horses with nice surroundings, and again over nice courses.”
The former golf course boasts meticulously-manicured footing tended by a team led by TIEC’s full-time agronomist, Daniel Fradley, and incorporates scientific management to produce the best experiences for horse and rider alike.
Organizer Shelley Page took this video today — talk about irrigation! If you’ve ever fantasized about galloping headlong across an emerald green (former) golf course, this is your chance:
“Tryon is Tryon,” Phillips says. “We’re lucky enough to be able to run cross country on fantastic, [former] golf course footing, where we can control the moisture content in the ground. We find here that if you have 25-26% moisture content, the footing is nigh-on perfect. With the irrigation system at TIEC, we’re able to replicate that all the time. So, we’ve got the ability to control that and give riders and horses the best possible experience. Plus, they have fantastic stabling here, and dressage and show jumping is done on all-weather footing. It’s top-quality footing.”
From obstacles highlighting iconic Carolinas geography and wildlife to greenways and varied terrain, the White Oak Course is shaping up to provide an abbreviated version of what WEG competitors experienced just a year ago – sans the long, uphill gallop to the finish. (Of interest to combined test competitors, use of this irrigated, manicured gallop, up to three times, is available for $75.
“WEG was a long-format, single course at White Oak, and the [Blue Ridge Mountain Horse Trials at TIEC] has seven divisions on a smaller, shorter footprint. In the long format, riders came up the hill and finished in the [International Stadium], but now for this, everything happens down on the [former] golf course,” Phillips explained.
The White Oak Course will also provide an atmosphere that Phillips believes can help both riders and their horses at lower levels improve and advance: “I think we have a lot of lower-level competitions at nice farms, but it’s not the kind of atmosphere or the facilities at Tryon. And, I think once in a while, to be able to come and experience top-quality facilities is a nice thing to be able to do.”
“I think from a course designer perspective, Beginner Novice through Intermediate is an educational process, with each level being a rung of the ladder to educate the horse and, to a lesser degree, the rider,” Phillips continues. “It’s a process to go through before you really start answering questions at the Advanced level. I think here [at TIEC] we’ve got the rungs of those ladders in the right place for that.”
Entries are open through September 13, and stalls are discounted by $100 for all competitors of the inaugural event. View the USEA calendar listing here. Registration is available online at www.EventEntries.com.
Blue Ridge Mountain H.T.: Website, Entry Status
Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
“All that effort for a two dollar rosette! If ribbons really mean that much to you, I’ll just buy you a box of them. Much easier …..”
I’m sure I’m not the only person who hears this lament reasonably often. And I get how it looks. I have waited seemingly interminable amounts of time after a class to collect a rosette. Sometimes, the competition in question is what my non-horsey husband lovingly refers to as an ‘everybody gets a prize’ show (aka clear round jumping or similar), but still I am collecting that rosette regardless.
Because it’s not about the actual rosette, is it? No one could possibly be that unnecessarily enthusiastic about some ribbon and a bit of cardboard. It’s about what each rosette represents. For some people, taking home that frilly ribbon can be the culmination of years and years of soul sapping work. Of what to others may have looked like sheer blind faith in your horse. Of thousands of dollars worth of lessons and equipment, and of fees and vets bills. It might stand for the return to competition of a badly injured horse, or of a perceived ‘no hoper’ horse finally coming good. The one thing you can be sure of is that every rosette has its story, and that each one means a lot to someone.
Walking through my own tack room, I look at the many rosettes pinned along the beams. I know what each one was awarded for, and to which horse. As I take the time to stop and remember, I find myself on a trip down memory lane. Looking at a dusty blue and turquoise ribbon, I am instantly transported back to the day when my horse of a lifetime placed sixth in a 1.10 class. To most riders, this might have been no big deal, but for me it was a huge achievement at a height I was struggling with. I remember the location, the weather and the time of day. I can almost hear the wind rustling the leaves on the trees at the in gate. I can see the horse’s beautiful long ears pricked in anticipation. I can feel the knot in my stomach, ever present at every show. It is wonderful to remember that day and that horse. I lost him the following year, but when I stop and look at that old rosette now, he feels close by for a moment more.
I come across a large blue and yellow rosette, with the familiar Tattersalls logo adorned on each of the three ribbon tails. The Centre disc says ‘3rd Place.’ On that occasion, I was competing a homebred horse of my own, at the Tattersalls summer show. He was a big, roguey sort who had the measure of me, but I felt like one of the cool kids that day as I let my eyes go fuzzy and pretended I was competing at the world renowned three day event-as it happens, my hazy daydream was as close as ever I got … but the horse went on to enjoy success at 4* level in America with Canadian Kyle Carter, and that rosette always reminds me of a special, sunny July day in Ireland.
A small red first place rosette holds the story of the day a dream came true. I had been eventing an assortment of waifs and strays for several seasons, and I believed that success in this sport was simply beyond my clearly mediocre abilities. A month before my wedding and with my father in attendance, I rode a big black horse to victory in a four and five year old pre-novice class. I was genuinely shocked at the result, and I remember so clearly driving home in torrential rain feeling five hundred feet tall. I had finally done it, after eight years of failure and disaster. Suddenly, anything seemed possible. The dream was truly alive, and the fire within blazing brightly. This sensation has eluded me for many years now, but looking at this tatty ribbon I feel it once more — just for a fleeting few seconds.
Of course, anyone can buy a box of rosettes — but what would you be buying? A box of ribbons, glued together around a bit of fancy cardboard. And that’s all that they are, they can never be more than that. The rosettes pinned in my tack room are technically, just the same. Except that my rosettes tell a story-one of deep struggle, huge sacrifice and bitter experience. They remind me of some truly special times with some wonderful horses-days when the stars aligned and it all came right for an hour or two. They inspire me to see what the next 20 years might hold, and they take me back to a place when I had great hope and tremendous faith in my journey.
No money in the world could buy what these flimsy ribbons mean to me. No shop is selling anything so special or so meaningful. I will always be the sad case waiting hours at a show for my ribbon, so that I can hang another memory of my journey up on the wall.
Franky Reid-Warrilow and Billy Champagne. Photo by Mike Nuttall Photography.
Upper level riders are often asked about their horses, their plans and their results. However, they are rarely asked about the ‘behind the scenes’ aspect of their successful systems. In this episode of ‘In the Locker Room,’ I talk to up and coming British rider, Franky Reid-Warrilow.
Based in Wales, UK, Franky runs a select string of quality horses and has been part of many Nations Cup teams. In 2017, she was accepted onto the World Class Podium Potential Programme, and she has competed at 5* level. Franky has had impressive results this year at the CCI4*-S level with Billy Champagne, including an 11th place finish at Barbury Castle and a 12th at Hartpury, as well as top three-star finishes with other horses in her string.
EN: What attributes do you look for in an event horse? What appeals most to you, and are there any things you absolutely won’t overlook?
Franky: “The two main things I look for are conformation and attitude. I have learned that horses with less than ideal conformation can be significantly hampered in showing their ability and scope in the dressage in particular. You can work around a lot with correct training if the horse has a good attitude, but it certainly means you are starting on the back foot against other horses with better conformation. My 4* mare ‘My Squire De Reve’ is a prime example of attitude and trainability winning out over less than ideal conformation. She finds certain things difficult on the flat because of how she is built, but she is easy to train and tries really hard so these things cancel each other out somewhat. I have also previously spent far too long on very talented horses who were difficult mentally, and in the end it is often not worth it.”
Franky Reid-Warrilow and Dolley Phantom. Photo by Mike Nuttall Photography.
EN: What are your ‘can’t live without’ items of equipment for horse and for rider?
Franky: “For the horses, my Amerigo tack and my Veredus boots. Everything that we put onto the horses has to be of the best quality, comfort and design so that it impacts the horses as little as possible. The saddles have to fit perfectly so that they don’t move or pinch, and allow as much freedom as possible for the horse. The same applies to my bridles-I never use tight nose bands, and quite often do dressage without a flash strap. I use a grackle for jumping. I like the horses to feel free, so that they don’t need force or to be constricted to perform.
“For the rider, definitely my Cavallo gear. In particular, I love the Varius riding boots which I use for jumping, and the Ciora Pro Grip breeches, which I live in every day and also use for competing.”
Franky Reid-Warrilow and Dolley Whisper. Photo by Samantha Clark.
EN: What sort of things do you focus on in the warm up for the dressage, cross country and show jumping?
Franky: “Relaxation of horse and rider is number one in all three phases. For dressage, I begin with focusing on making sure that the contact is correct, and that the horse is responsive to my aids in the correct way. For showjumping, I try to feel what sort of shape the horse is making over the warm up fences. I try to see if there is anything I can do to help or improve this before we go into the ring. For cross country, the horse has to be jumping the fences confidently and out of a forward rhythm-but in control. I like to jump angles appropriate to the course ahead, and to be able to land and turn if necessary. The contact and focus between my leg, seat and hand is key for my warm up.”
EN: How do you get yourself in the right frame of mind for competition?
Franky: “I have a system and process in place that I have been adapting and modifying for a few years now, and it works for me.”
Franky Reid-Warrilow and Dolley Phantom. Photo by Mike Nuttall Photography.
EN: What is your most used jumping exercise, and why?
Franky: “A pole exercise I use a lot between competitions is simply having two poles on the ground set out on four, five or six strides. I like to work the horses over poles before or after a run to ‘recalibrate’ the canter, and make sure I am in the correct canter for jumping-not too big or too small. You begin to know your horses, and whether they will run up tight and short after competing, or long and strung out. The information gained helps you to make a plan for the following days or weeks.”
EN: What music are you listening to in your lorry currently?
Franky: “The Eventing Podcast from Equiratings is our ‘go to’ on lorry journeys.”
“My dad Neil always by my side.” Photo by Mike Nuttall Photography.
EN: What is your fitness and diet regime like during the season?
Franky: “I eat normally. Breakfast is a big thing for me, I love it. Once the season is up and going, I don’t tend to have to focus on my fitness as yard work and riding works well. I do use yoga every morning, and I go to a Physio when I need it.”
EN: Describe your perfect day off!
Franky: “Having a lie in, going off the yard with my boyfriend Arthur and doing something non-horsey like having a nice lunch somewhere.”
Photo by Samantha Clark.
EN: Your most embarrassing moment in the sport?
Franky: “I have had a few! Probably getting thrown off a horse before fence one on the cross country course and just after leaving the start box is one that springs to mind. I could hear the commentator warning people to not get in the horse’s way as he ferociously headed back to the lorry, adamant he was not going cross country on that day……”
EN: Who is your sporting hero? And why?
Franky: “Sir Mark Todd, for sure — even more so now that I actually know him, have trained with him and compete against him. LEGEND is all that needs to be said!”
With sincere thanks to Franky for her generous contribution to this article.
Photos courtesy of Unbelts.
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).
Here’s what the good folks at Unbelts have to say about why their product is a super fit, literally, for equestrians:
Keepin’ it snug.
“Hiking up loose pants is drag; hiking up stretchy breeches while riding a moving, 1000-pound animal seems REAL ill-advised. Your pants need to be snug. And guess what? We kiiiiind of keep pants up as, like, it’s our full-time jobs.”
Flexibility is everything.
“We saw the red marks riders get in their hips and tummies from stiff, bulky belts that don’t move with your body: not cool, people. To that we say NO MORE. Unbelts are made from stretchy, flexible elastic that hugs every shape.”
A sleek look.
“Riding is a good-lookin’ sport, but most belt buckles add bulk where you really want to be smooth like buttah. Enter Unbelts’ 1/8-inch buckle, perfectly invisible under show jackets (and approved by English equestrian officials across all disciplines).”
Real talk — breeches get dirty.
“We know what’s involved in grooming and riding. We suspected a belt that was machine-washable in the belt loops could be pretty darn handy, and our riders enthusiastically agreed. (There might have been cheering.)”
Plus, they’re available in a gazillion colors — perfect for our matchy-matchy eventer needs. For a deeper dive into the Unbelt in action, check out EN’s product review, “Sisterhood of the Traveling Unbelts.”
Exciting news! For this week’s Fab Freebie, we’ve teamed up with Unbelts to give away two two-packs of Unbelts! The winner will receive a Hybrid Two Pack (1 Intrepid + 1 Classic belt, retail value: $99 USD), and the runner-up will receive a Classic Two Pack (2 Classic belts, retail value: $75 USD).
L: Unbelts Hybrid Twin-Pack, R: Unbelts Classic Twin-Pack. Photos courtesy of Unbelts.
All you have to do is share your best equestrian wardrobe malfunction, in words or a picture or both! Post it to the Facebook comments of this post or email it straight to us at [email protected].
Best breeches snafu? Lemme get the ball rolling on this one: I was at Carolina International doing my first Intermediate in a hot minute and feeling more than a little nervous. In a fit of panic before cross country, I bought some sticky spray at the tack trailer and thoroughly drenched my saddle with it, which proved to be a lethal combination with my trusty Kerrits Sit Tight breeches. I knew I was in trouble went I went to post the trot in warmup and every time my bum came up, my breeches stayed glued to the seat of the saddle. Honestly, I couldn’t have fallen off my horse if I tried — of if I did, I would have had to fall out of my breeches as well. It wasn’t long before the seat of my pants ripped wide open (see also: this UK Olympic bobsled outfit malfunction), and I only lasted a third of the way into the course before calling it a day. To all the jump judges, my sincere apologies.
What’s YOUR best equestrian wardrobe malfunction? We’ll announce the lucky winner and runner-up, to be decided by chinchilla committee, next Tuesday, Sept. 16! Many thanks to Unbelts for sponsoring this edition of “Fab Freebie” — learn more and shop at the Unbelts website here.
Go Eventing.
Photo courtesy of Stable View.
We are just over two weeks away from Stable View Oktoberfest, Aiken, South Carolina’s only four-star event. Aside from the banner competition, they’re offering competition at all FEI levels including the new one-star level. They’ve also ponied up $80,000 in prize money. (Today is the closing date!)
Admission is free for spectators, and there’s a lot of entertainment options including karaoke with Clayton Fredericks (Friday), a course walk with Boyd Martin (Friday, 4 p.m. $10 Donation to the Cumbee Center to participate), and much more! Click here to view the USEA calendar listing, and here to visit Stable View’s website.
National Holiday: National Swap Ideas Day
Events Opening This Week: Waredaca Classic Three Day Event & H.T., Chattahoochee Hills H.T., Windermere Run H.T., Holly Hill Fall H.T., Windermere Run H.T.
Events Closing This Week: University of New Hampshire H.T., Larkin Hill H.T., Surefire Farm H.T., ESDCTA New Jersey H.T. at the Horsepark, Stable View Oktoberfest 1/ 2/3/4* and H.T., Sundance Farm H.T., Willow Draw Charity Show, Jump Start H.T., FEH Qualifier at Loch Moy Farm, FEH Championships at Loch Moy Farm, FEH Central Championships at Snowdonia Farms
Tuesday News:
Pick the next cover model for Eventing USA! [Vote for an #AEC2019 Champion to be on the Cover of Eventing USA!]
Mark Todd’s incredible career was celebrated this weekend in his official retirement ceremony held before the show jumping at Burghley. You might remember his first retirement ceremony was held at Burghley, too. [Sir Mark Todd waves farewell to eventing in emotional Burghley retirement ceremony]
Meet Valley Creek Carlin LeBeau, the horse with the lowest finishing score at the 2019 USEA American Eventing Championships. The 14-year-old Connemara gelding won the Beginner Novice Master Amateur division on an incredible 25.1 with Carla Jimmerson. [USEA Horse of the Month: Valley Creek Carlin LeBeau]
Tuesday Video:
Burghley debutante Doug Payne and didn’t quite have the weekend he wanted aboard Vandiver, but we can always count on him for a good helmet cam video and he didn’t let us down!
Doug and the fifteen-year-old Trakehner gelding (Windfall II x Visions of Grandeur) owned by himself, Jessica Payne, and the horse’s breeder Debi Crowley, were having quite a foot-perfect round up until they ran into trouble at fence 13ABCD, Joules at the Maltings, the giant white oxers and open corners that dashed the hopes and dreams of many other pairs as well.
A formidable team, Doug and “Quinn” will be back to fight another day and we can’t wait to see them tackle their next big course. Until then, Doug is taking us along for the ride through several of the key combinations on this year’s Burghley cross country course.
Above, they take us through the first combination on course: an ABC element through the main arena. Once you’ve ridden through that combination, click the arrow on the right of the Instagram post to ride through Discovery Valley going out and back.
Take a trip through the Leaf Pit next, but before you click that arrow to the right again and drop off the Leaf Pit yourself, first take a look at Doug and wife Jess’ adorable son Hudson enjoying the ride!
Finally, it’s through the tricky Trout Hatchery we go, and just about as smoothly as could be at that:
#LRBHT19: Website, Entries, Final Scores, Live Stream Replays, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram
Madeline Cracknell and Commanding Curve in the Jr. Beginner Novice division at the 2019 American Eventing Championships. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
You remember Commanding Curve: the big bay gelding is popularly known for his fast-closing second to near-Triple Crown winner California Chrome in the 2014 Kentucky Derby. He was retired from racing a couple years later to pursue a second career as an eventer, with his first trainer being none other than Phillip Dutton himself — you can watch one of their earliest jump schools together in this EN post from July 2016.
Commanding Curve (Master Command – Mother, by Lion Hearted) was bred in Kentucky by Tom VanMeter. He was initially purchased by Bradley Thoroughbreds for $60,000 at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale, then bought by West Point Thoroughbreds for $75,000 at the 2013 OBS April 2-Year-Old in Training Sale. He earned $609,378 in 16 starts on the track, and came darn close to beating California Chrome in the Derby.
Commanding Curve (#17) on the heels of 2014 Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome as they cross the finish. Photo by Bill Brine/Creative Commons.
“He took his partners and our team on a great ride and gave us the thrill of a lifetime when he was rollin’ turning for home in the Derby,” said West Point president Terry Finley upon the horse’s retirement. “We haven’t been able to recreate the magic of Derby day on the racetrack, and owe it to him to retire sound with the ability to move on to a second career. His partners came from coast to coast with backgrounds ranging from investment bankers to school teachers, but for only a modest investment they all experienced the highest of racing’s highs together.”
Those partners didn’t stop following the career trajectory of Curve when he shifted from racing to eventing. After finding a fresh start with Phillip only to be derailed by an injury, the horse recovered and found a new home with 15-year-old Madeline Cracknell in Pennsylvania a couple years ago.
With Lillian Heard in the irons, Curve won his first USEA event in February this year. He earned an AEC qualification with Madeline in July, having won their Beginner Novice Rider division at Horse Park of New Jersey Horse Trials II.
To the Kentucky Horse Park they went, posting a double-clear cross country round to finish in 23rd place in a very competitive Jr. Beginner Novice division.
We caught up with Madeline after cross country. “He was really good,” she told us. “He was really feeling the course. He knew what day it was and he was going for it. He was very willing — even if I messed up in some spots he still went over everything perfectly. He’s such a good boy.”
Commanding Curve and his connections. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
The pair had a big cheering section, including some of his former ownership partners who drove up from Florida to see their “horse of a lifetime” in his new life. Madeline also met his Derby hot walker and handler who drove from Louisville to see him, and one of the farriers on site was also Curve’s former farrier and paid his respects as well.
Madeline expressed gratitude for Commanding Curve’s racing connections and their support even years after he last stepped foot on a track: “It’s really awesome.”
Congrats to Commanding Curve and all the Thoroughbreds represented at the 2019 AEC. Go OTTBs. Go Eventing!
The Jockey Club awarded Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) prizes for all 2019 AEC divisions to include coolers, ribbons, and prize money for Champion and Reserve Champion Thoroughbred winners. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Dorothy Hall and Lyrical Lightning. Photo by JJ SIllman.
I always love watching the live streams of events other than the big international events like Kentucky or Burghley because these give us such a good view at the variety of horses that we see competing at all levels.
We all know that many horses can defy their genetics or their conformation to accomplish things we never thought possible. It’s these stories that often fuel our fire. After all, isn’t life really about making the most of what you’re given?
It was during the live stream of Rebecca Farm that I came across a pony named Lyrical Lightning competing in the CCI2*-L with owner Dorothy Hall. I always love seeing ponies jumping fences seemingly bigger than them, and this little mare — one of the smallest I can recall seeing in recent memory — was no different.
Naturally, I had to call up Dorothy and get the scoop on her sassy little Ferrari of a pony.
Not everyone can say that their first pony is the horse that took them on to their first international competition. Dorothy is one of these, having worked off the cost of purchasing “Lyri”, as the mare is known at home, during summer camp at the barn when she was just 12.
As is so often the case, Lyri didn’t just hand over the keys to the kingdom right off the bat. “She definitely was not easy,” Dorothy recalled with a laugh. “She bucked me off almost every ride, would bulldoze me in the cross ties, wouldn’t load in the trailer, and just overall wasn’t very nice.”
But the pony, who stands just 13.3 and is 75% Connemara and 25% Thoroughbred, was what Dorothy had to work with. After obtaining her C2 rating in Pony Club, Dorothy turned her attention to eventing.
Dorothy is a petite girl, but she has still had to adjust her riding to account for Lyri’s short stature. Standing 5’5, Dorothy says the biggest factors are her stirrup length and the resulting balance. “I’m quite light on her, and I put my stirrups up quite a bit to be able to be light,” she explained. “I do have other horses that I ride for clients and for my trainer, so I have to adjust to her after riding them.”
Adding to the challenge is the fact that Lyri is built slightly downhill, which makes dressage come less naturally to her. But there’s been marked improvement — Dorothy credits her time working with coach Sabrina Glaser for transforming the pair’s dressage from mid-pack and climbing to top five-worthy scores.
“The canter has always been especially difficult with her,” Dorothy said. “But Sabrina has been so helpful with us, teaching her to sit more and get her off the forehand.”
Lyrical Lightning took to eventing like a fish in water, quickly showing that her fiery, sassy personality gave her an extra rocket boost over jumps that should have been too big for her.
It even took Dorothy awhile to really buy in to the mare’s talent and unbelievable scope. “It has been on my mind to try to sell her for years,” she said. “In 2016, I went to Florida with her and worked with Sinead (Halpin) and Tik (Maynard), and when I came back and took the job with Sabrina I was prepared to sell her as a Training level horse.”
But the mare just kept saying yes, with much enthusiasm. In the spring of 2018, Dorothy experimentally moved Lyri up to the Preliminary level at Woodside. It wasn’t the ideal start at the level, and there were some kinks to work out over the first few shows at the level. Eventing is a learning process, and both Dorothy and Lyri were learning together.
The pair regrouped and gained some confidence back at Training level and in 2019 attempted Prelim again — this time, there was no looking back.
Attempting the CCI2*-L at Rebecca Farm was a lofty goal for the little mare, but the runs she’d had to start the 2019 season gave Dorothy confidence. “I wasn’t sure how she’d do on a longer course,” she recalled. “But I followed Sabrina’s training program, working on hills and lots of hacking before our rides. And it really paid off. At the end of the course, she still felt really good and she came out of the vet box early.”
Take a look for yourself:
So what’s next for the little red mare that could? Dorothy says that’s up to her, but at the end of the day the preservation of her special pony is what matters most. “She’s so bold that she will get to the other side of the fence somehow, even if it was Advanced size,” she said. “But I don’t want to put her in that situation.”
For now, Dorothy is enjoying ticking off her bucket list with the pony she never imagined she’d come this far with. “I tried putting kids on her to sell her before,” she laughed. “But no one really liked her, so here we are!”
We think you should hang onto this one and enjoy the ride, Dorothy! Go Eventing.
Want to follow along with Dorothy and her super pony? Follow them on Instagram here.
Madeline Hartsock and Global Innocenzo DHI.
Grab a pumpkin spice latte and get ready because fall eventing season is upon us! We’ve got lots of results to cover from a busy weekend all over Eventing Nation.
Many congratulations to the Area VII champions who were crowned at Aspen Farms in Yelm, Washington this weekend, as well as to our lowest weekend score earned by Martin Douzant and BSF Ducati 696 at Seneca Valley in the Open Novice. This pair finished their weekend on a score of 20.7.
BSF Ducati 696 looking quite proud of himself after his cross country round!
Let’s get to this week’s edition of Nupafeed Weekend Winners!
#LRBHT19: Website, Entries, Final Scores, Live Stream Replays, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram
U.S. Weekend Results:
Course Brook Farm Fall H.T. [Website] [Final Scores]
Preliminary: Betsy E. Bodner and Regal Cadence (48.2)
Prelim/Training: Madlen Fields and Ballynoe Bruce (49.1)
Training A: Madeline Hartsock and Global Innocenzo DHI (37.5)
Training B: Sally Davis and MFF Manhattan Affair (37.7)
Novice A: Lanie Mourgenos and Fit & Frisky (32.9)
Novice B: Julia Hurlburt and Havanna (36.0)
Novice C: Karen Inouye and Appollo (35.7)
Novice D: Alison Eastman-Lawler and Lexington II (30.0)
Beginner Novice A: Margaret Doherty and Shadow Fax (34.5)
Beginner Novice B: Linnea Ackerman and Farrington’s Rothaarige (29.3)
Beginner Novice C: Karen Lorenzo and Fernhill Fly By (31.3)
Many thanks, as always, are due to Joan Davis and Flatlandsfoto — you can order your show photos here.
Seneca Valley Pony Club H.T. [Website] [Final Scores]
Open Intermediate 1: Colleen Rutledge and C Me Fly (34.4)
Open Intermediate 2: Alyssa Peterson and R-Perfect Storm (42.5)
Open Preliminary 1: Boyd Martin and Miss LuLu Herself (30.7)
Open Preliminary 2: Phillip Dutton and Toute Va Bien (32.4)
Open Preliminary 3: Lynn Symansky and Global Cassero 3 (21.3)
JYR Open Preliminary: Makenna Rold and Excel Cool Quality (33.2)
Modified 1: Emily Beshear and Charly (36.3)
Modified 2: Mary Schwentker and Cactus Dazzler (30.7)
Open Training 1: Holly Covey and Tully Cross Hamish (24.3)
JYR Training: Greer Melville and VS McCuan Civil Liberty (38.1)
Open Training 2: Phillip Dutton and Iniesta (33.0)
Open Training 3: Savannah Kilpatrick and FE Painted Black (28.9)
Open Training 4: Cindy Anderson-Blank and Reveille (33.2)
Open Novice 1: Lynn Symansky and Ramiro’s Magic (30.0)
Open Novice 2: Martin Douzant and BSF Ducati 696 (20.7)
Novice Junior: Caitlin O’Roark and What the Devil (28.1)
Novice Senior: Ashley Gross and Chocolate Pearl (24.3)
Novice Rider: Mckenna Martinez and Commitment (34.0)
Open Beginner Novice 1: Gabby Dickerson and Kwibus (26.8)
Beginner Novice Junior: Catherine Dennehy and Fenian (27.8)
Open Beginner Novice 2: Briana Yetter and Martini Please (27.0)
Starter: Molly Kinnamon and Faralli Flame (34.3)
Elementary Junior: Kristin Wagner and Styled By Deuce (44.5)
Bucks County Horse Park H.T. [Website] [Final Scores]
Prelim/Training: Caroline Martin and Redfield Dexter (30.4)
Training: Caroline Martin and Redfield Bajall (28.4)
Novice I: Caroline Martin and Farfadet De Barbereau (26.2)
Novice II: Mikayla Meek and East Of Heaven (33.8)
Beginner Novice I: Monica Gallen and Rule Five (30.8)
Beginner Novice II: Megan Berthiaume and Dooligan (29.5)
Chardon Valley H.T. [Website] [Final Scores]
Open Training: Erika Fichter Erlandson and SBT Rynca (33.8)
Novice A: Lucia Menozi and Fernhill For Luck (26.9)
Novice B: Sara Ann Merrifield and Trotty Veck (34.1)
Novice Jr.: Miriam Bolyard and Quest in Time C (26.2)
Beginner Novice Jr.: Hayden Owens and Chips A Hoy (51.3)
Open Beginner Novice: Valerie Johnson and Henson (31.9)
Starter: Margo Smith and Shaken Not Stirred (45.0)
MeadowCreek Park H.T. [Website] [Final Scores]
Preliminary Rider: Chloe Johnson and DaVinci (46.7)
Jr. Training Rider: Sunny Courtwright and Around Midnight (30.0)
Open Training: Kadi Eykamp and Ole Boy (28.4)
Sr. Training Rider: Henley Fletcher and Goody Two Shoes (41.3)
Jr. Novice Rider: Hannah Elbert and Deanfield Teddy Edward (32.6)
Open Novice: Katie Carney and Tuie’s Image (29.3)
Sr. Novice Rider: Kelli Gruss and Lil Miss Thing (33.6)
Jr. Beginner Novice Rider: Elle Snyder and You Have A Friend In Me (28.8)
Open Beginner Novice: Georgia Phillips and Mighty Mississippi (32.5)
Sr. Beginner Novice: Kristin Wirges and Jos Estoico (33.0)
Starter: Abbie Chappell and Good As Gold (38.9)
Aspen Farms H.T. [Website] [Final Scores]
Advanced: Sara Mittleider and La Paz (43.6)
Area VII Open Intermediate Championship: Brennan Kappes and Amistoso (42.9)
Open Intermediate: Amber Levine and Carry On (32.9)
Area VII Open Preliminary Championship: Cassie Weber and Minnie (31.1)
Open Preliminary: Lois James and Whiskey Business (38.1)
Area VII Jr. Training Championship: Jadyn Silver and Bro A Bryn Gellan Goch (31.6)
Area VII Open Training Championship: Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14 (23.0)
Area VII Training Rider Championship: Carolyn Sufit and Kapowsin (26.8)
Open Training A: Lilly Linder and Mia San Mia (28.6)
Open Training B: Samantha Bergin and Rainland Gabriel (31.8)
Area VII Jr. Novice Championship: Connor Black and Jewel (26.9)
Area VII Novice Rider Championship: Anne Marie McSwiggan and Cavalier Locked For Joy (31.4)
Area VII Open Novice Championship: Jordan Linstedt and Lovely Lola (24.1)
Open Novice A: Jordan Linstedt and Cafe Noir (25.2)
Open Novice B: Amber Levine and Keep Calm (27.1)
Area VII Jr. Beginner Novice Championship: Beth Ward and Quanta (32.3)
Area VII Open Beginner Novice Championship: Tara Tangney and Gone With the Wind (26.5)
Open Beginner Novice A: Megan Robinson and Just A Little Renegade (31.0)
Open Beginner Novice B: Marc Grandia and Derry Connorsseur (29.5)
