Classic Eventing Nation

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.

Wednesday News & Notes

By on Sep 18, 2019 12:01 am -

Plantation at sunrise. Photo by Maggie Deatrick.

Plantation Field at dawn is something both soft and surreal; the rings at the top of the hill are often clothed in heavy mist, thick and dense. The muffled thud of hooves are sometimes the only hint that riders are out there, taking advantage of the obscured views to stretch their horses’ legs. In an hour or less, the fog has burned off, the warm-up is bustling, and the venue seems on top of the world but for those few minutes at dawn, the universe is limited to just horse and rider.

National Holiday: National Cheeseburger 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]

Your Wednesday News & Notes

Never OutFoxed has taken Holly to Burghley and back. The gelding, bought sight unseen by Holly off the basis of a video of him swimming in a lake, has a perfectionist streak that makes him tough on the flat but tremendous on cross country day. [Behind the Stall Door]

The Thoroughbreds of the American Eventing Championships were celebrated by top awards in the Bluegrass State. From experienced campaigners showing their riders the ropes to green horses displaying their talent, the Thoroughbred once again displayed their affinity for the sport of eventing at the AEC. [The Thoroughbreds of the AECs]

Jonelle Price has yet another horse to add to her star-studded string. Following the retirement of her fellow countryman, Sir Mark Todd, Jonelle has picked up the ride on his WEG mount McClaren. [Mark Todd WEG Mount to Jonelle Price]

Wednesday Video: 

Big thanks to Hicks Bros for spiking and slicing the summer footing on the cross country schooling field.

Posted by Boyd Martin on Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Tuesday Video from SmartPak: A Fairy Tale Weekend at Foshay

By on Sep 17, 2019 5:00 pm -

Over labor day weekend the quiet hay fields in Lower Jemseg, New Brunswick came alive for Foshay International. The team behind this impressive event left no stone unturned to ensure excellence for each and every competitor and visitor. If you missed this year’s event, not to worry, we’re less than a year away from the next one!

Foshay International CCI: Website, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage

Jess Wilson’s Mission to Help Working Horses and Donkeys Continues: How to Help

By on Sep 17, 2019 3:00 pm -

Last year, former head groom to Sir Mark Todd, Jess Wilson, embarked on a journey to Egypt to work with Animal Care Egypt and Egypt Equine Aid. The efforts of these nonprofits help working horses and donkeys who are in need of medical care and support. It’s tough and heartbreaking work, but Jess returned again this year to contribute more time.

For this go-round, Jess has started a fundraiser to auction off a Burghley t-shirt signed by none other than Sir Mark himself. You can bid on the shirt through Friday, September 20 here.

You can read Jess’ blog from last fall here. We asked Jess to share her experience from this year’s trip:

The accommodations for carriage horses. Photo by Jess Wilson.

This time, I was there at the end of summer so got a small taste of how hot it gets!! It was 43 degrees Celcius (in mid-summer it gets up to 49 degrees) and on the East Bank where the carriage horses are it’s really stuffy in the city with no breeze off the Nile and NO SHADE. There is one water trough for hundreds of horses and no washing off facilities. So it’s actually really difficult for owners to keep them cool if they wanted to!

It’s the same in Cairo at the pyramids – there’s no water at all at the horse stand up there. Animal Care Egypt’s (ACE) policy is that horses must be untacked, offered water and thoroughly hosed off before being presented to the vets (unless there is an emergency). Secondly, in the summer there are much fewer tourists because of the heat so the pressure to get business is increased. Last November we would get harassed in the streets to buy carriage rides for 120LE (about £6), whereas last week we were getting hassled to buy rides for just 20LE (95p).

This man was really lovely and was stroking his great conditioned and very clean horse and chatting to him whilst hand feeding him his barseem grass. So to me it’s frustrating that there are caring owners out there but there are no rewards for looking after your horse well!

For me the real issue and thing that’s preventing any progress is still the lack of legislation and provision of better facilities by the government. Owners really need to be accountable in some way for their animals and punished for any abuse. And there need to be regulations to level the playing a bit so that the poor owners who actually do care and are really trying to do their best for their animals get rewarded with enough business. Also, it was great to see two student vets working at ACE – there are no practical elements to the vet med courses in Egypt so great that ACE is offering this opportunity.

Skinny horse with bleeding knees. Photo by Jess Wilson.

At some point, veterinary care will always be needed for these horses. So it’s important that organizations such as ACE are able to serve these areas. Funding continues to be an issue, as does awareness. The more we can all do to help and bring much-needed assistance to these horses, the better.

Nupafeed Weekend Winners: Nine (9!) USEA Events Across the Eventing Nation

By on Sep 17, 2019 1:00 pm -

Grab your pumpkin spice, y’all — this week’s edition of Weekend Winners is a big one! Fall eventing is one of the best times of the year, and we saw nine recognized horse trials running this weekend all over Eventing Nation.

A shout-out is due for this weekend’s lowest finishing score, an 18.3 scored by Karli Wright and Master Eli in the Novice Rider at Blue Ridge. Congratulations and well done!

Without further ado, let’s get to this week’s roundup of winners!

Otter Creek Fall H.T. [Website] [Final Scores]

Open Intermediate: Nita Sanfilippo and Alarmabull (49.5)
Open Preliminary: Todd Wulf and Kilcannon Max (46.1)
Junior Training: Mya Poulos and Sir Duke (27.5)
Open Training: Sam Kelly and Cobra King (27.5)
Preliminary Training: Elly Bates and Bold Move (34.8)
Senior Training Rider: Chris Heydon and Is He A She (32.1)
Junior Novice: Abby Oldham and Donkey Hodie (28.3)
Open Novice: Todd Wulf and Kando (26.9)
Senior Novice A: Rose Kelly and Kitty’s Irish Diamond (33.3)
Senior Novice B: Camber Sannes and Charlie Parker (32.6)
Junior Beginner Novice: Elle Kennedy and Wayward Girl (30.5)
Open Beginner Novice: Ellen Grady and Deshi CR (29.5)
Senior Beginner Novice A: Cecilia Emilsson and Blazing Angel (29.3)
Senior Beginner Novice B: Linda Pozanc and Caesar Armani (36.3)
Starter Beginner Novice A: Emily Haug and LA Top Gun (30.8)
Starter Beginner Novice B: Jane Griggs and Arthur (31.8)

Flying Cross Farm H.T. [Website] [Final Scores]

Open Preliminary A: Dan Kreitl and Carmango (28.4)
Open Preliminary B: Emma Drury and Aberlour (25.0)
Open Training A: Emily Hansen-Palmus and FireFox (26.7)
Open Training B: Erin Pullen and Koko Chanel (24.3)
Training Rider A: Hannah Maloney and Phoenyx (33.6)
Training Rider B: Ruth Rosendaul and Kaloosh (33.4)
Novice Rider A: Madelyn Leahey and Pursuit of Perfection (30.7)
Novice Rider B: Megan Northrop and Harrison (29.5)
Open Novice: Sydney Ayres and Be Cool MEC (24.1)
Beginner Novice A: Anne McMillin and Shoshone (29.8)
Beginner Novice B: Sierra Thomas and Chambery (30.3)
Beginner Novice C: Sally Smedley and Golden Ticket CR (28.8)
Open Beginner Novice: Susannah Lansdale and Four Star (29.3)

The Event at Skyline [Website] [Final Scores]

 

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So much hard work lead our team to such great results this last weekend at The Event at Skyline!!!! Taisyn Johnson/Atkinson on Ferrari Ari finished on their dressage score in 6th place in the Jr. beginner novice! Lilli Killpack on scarlet with a great performance finished 8th in the Jr. beginner novice! Amelia Hall on Absolute at their first recognized show finished 3rd with a score of 31.8 in the Jr. beginner novice! Carly Atkinson on Unbridled Gambler finished on their dressage score for 4th in the Open beginner novice!! Travis Atkinson on Ruger finished 1st with a 27.3 in the Open beginner novice!! Kathleen Boyle on Awfully Lucky finished on their dressage score for 5th in the Open novice!! Steph Whitlow on Abigail had a great show finishing 4th in the Open Novice! Alli Duffy on Relevance finished 2nd in the Open Training with a 28.8 in their training level debut! Tatiana Larson on Eloquent finished 2nd in the Jr. training! Carly Atkinson on Ironie finished 7th in their first Training/prelim! Travis Atkinson on Don Darco were 1st with a 26.7 in the Open preliminary! It is so exciting to see everyone’s hard work pay off!! We are so proud of our whole team and their impressive performances!! On to the next one!! . . . . . . @littlerelevance @skylineeventingpark @lilliandscarlett @_amelia_hallll @kathyboyleottb @steph_snuffy @horsesrule99 @carly3atkinson #bestweekendallyearinseptember #skylineeventing #dynamicequestrian #bestteamever #barnfullofunicorns #hardworkpaysoffs #eventing #finishedondressagescore #youngriders #equine

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Open Intermediate/Preliminary: James Atkinson and Fleur de Lis (31.4)
Open Preliminary: Travis Atkinson and Don Darco (26.7)
Open Preliminary/Training: Vicki Baker and Got the Last Call (39.4)
Junior/YR Training: Jodie Willow Maguire and Flint And Steel (31.8)
Senior Training: Erin Contino and Handsome Ransom (28.6)
Junior/YR Novice: Cate Lowham and CJ Thunder (30.7)
Senior Novice: Lindsay Wagner and Jenson (29.7)
Junior/YR Beginner Novice: Analise Christensen and Happy Boy (26.5)
Senior Beginner Novice: Travis Atkinson and Ruger (27.3)
Junior/YR Starter: Kyla Tovar and Moylough Dapple (27.8)
Senior Starter: Paula Cudd and Latte (32.8)

GMHA September H.T. [Website] [Final Scores]

 

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My prelim pony 💙🧡 #triplecrowncustom #psofsweden #ifthebonnetfits #neuschulebits

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Open Preliminary: Anna Loschiavo and Fernhill That Guy Jack (27.6)
Preliminary Rider: Megan Tardiff and Vindakova (28.5)
Junior Training: Anna Dias and Le Vent Noir (43.6)
Open Training: Lakiesha Varney and Kolor Me Gone (26.1)
Training Rider: Shannon Wallman-Hatch and Glidawn Master (27.5)
Junior Novice A: Isabel Estes and Fernhill Blue Moon (25.7)
Junior Novice B: June Clark and Dealin’ Diamonds (29.1)
Novice Rider A: David Cornell and Fernhill Sinatra (28.6)
Novice Rider B: Pamela Bolek and Well Decorated (29.3)
Open Novice: Michelle Kulak and Pantheon (25.2)
Beginner Novice Rider: Marion Pomeroy and Romance II (25.5)
Junior Beginner Novice: Whitney Lewis and Meadowlark (38.3)
Open Beginner Novice: Jennifer Fitch and Caraway Dairein Romance (25.5)

Blue Ridge Mountain H.T. at TIEC [Website] [Final Scores]

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)

Poplar Place Farm September H.T. [Website] [Final Scores]

YR Intermediate: Savannah Blackstock and Garryndruig Albie (80.4)
Open Intermediate: Werner Geven and L’Avventura (33.2)
Intermediate/Preliminary: Jenny Caras and Trendy Fernhill (35.5)
Open Preliminary: Werner Geven and Double Dare (32.4)
Open Training: Lizzie Chamberlin and Theodora (33.6)
Preliminary/Training: Jorja Miller and Calypso Girl (34.7)
Training Horse: Jessica Shull and Free Radical (29.8)
Training Rider: Katarina Midgley and Blaze of Charm (29.1)
Novice Horse: Carden Burdette and Stay Frosty Oscar (33.2)
Novice Rider: Maisie Wagner and Hokuloa (26.1)
Open Novice: Zach Ketelboeter and TN Anonymous (37.9)
Training/Novice: Skylah VinZant and The Black Pearl (35.0)
Junior Beginner Novice: Reagan Walter and Ideal Design (31.40)
Open Beginner Novice: Lara Roberts and Boukoo Round Trip (28.6)
Senior Beginner Novice: Lee Fairchild and Leprechaun Lane’s Drumgrey (38.4)
Starter: Alice Moran-Tilles and Wyatt (25.3)

Flora Lea Fall H.T. [Website] [Final Scores]

 

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After A little more than a year of not showing, Salsa and I had a fabulous day at Flora Lea Horse Trials!

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Open Preliminary: Tiffany Wandy and CV Outlaw (39.2)
Preliminary Rider: Cassie Sanger and Born Ready (39.5)
Open Training: Caroline Martin and FE Sergio Grasso (30.0)
Training Horse: Erin Sylvester and MHF Scottie (28.6)
Training Junior: Olivia Barone and Wexford Wonder Boy (40.4)
Training Senior: Jill Macauley and Take Your Time (33.8)
Novice Horse: Lillian Heard and Cooley Gentleman (29.3)
Novice Junior: Emma Humble and My Painted Princess (30.6)
Novice Senior: Leighanne Sadley and Licorice (30.4)
Open Novice: Jane Jennings and Larano 5 (30.2)
Beginner Novice Rider: Jennifer Garutti and Labras Leannon (30.6)
Open Beginner Novice: Courtney Cooper and Excel Star Tic Tock (31.5)

Stone Gate Farm H.T. [Website] [Final Scores]

Preliminary: Sarah Erbes and Chili Infused (38.9)
Training: Kathleen Neuhoff, DVM and Swiss Mystique (36.6)
Novice: Madeline Bletzacker and Landtino S (24.8)
Beginner Novice A: Vanessa Miller and Obvious Diamond Article (36.0)
Beginner Novice B: Kyle Smith and KSE Modest Mouse (33.3)
Starter A: Amanda Gantz and My Bugatti (25.3)
Starter B: Elliana Sanchez-Muir and Jabez (32.2)

CDCTA Fall H.T. [Website] [Live Final Scores]


Open Preliminary 1: Dominic Schramm and Quadrocana (23.7)
Open Preliminary 2: Jimmie Schramm and Imperial Striker (29.7)
Open Training 1: Woods Baughman and Lord Calegro (31.9)
Open Training 2: Adriana Nannini and Tall Tale (29.5)
Open Training 3: Arden Wildasin and HelloHello (30.7)
Open Novice 1: Lynn Symansky and Ramiro’s Magic (24.5)
Open Novice 2: Lindsay Berreth and Oh So Extreme (30.2)
Open Novice 3: Arden Wildasin and Tokyo Drift (25.5)
Open Beginner Novice 1: Sarah Bernat and Inci’s Sweet Vice (33.0)
Open Beginner Novice 2: Erin Murphy and Papa Pablo (27.8)
Introductory: Robin Bickel and Black Sea Baron (34.2)

Who Jumped It Best? GMHA Junior Training Edition

By on Sep 17, 2019 11:00 am -

It’s time to vote on another edition of Who Jumped It Best?, EN! This time, we’re bringing you some talented junior riders captured by our good friend Joan Davis of Flatlands Foto.

If you competed at GMHA (or any show that Flatlands has shot), you can look for your show photos here. In the meantime, let’s vote for the winner from the GMHA Junior Training division!

GMHA September H.T. [Website] [Final Scores]

Anna Dias and Le Vent Noir. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlands Foto.

 

Maggie Sheehan and Practically Perfect. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.com.

 

Genevieve Morel and One Cool Devil. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.com.

 

Abigail Steinberg and Infinity. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.com.

 

Sophia Midgley and Aries. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.com.

 

Emerson Bergan and Can’t Stop Coyote. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.com.

Vote below – the poll will close on Friday, September 20!

First Look at Stable View Oktoberfest’s Dazzling Entry List

By on Sep 17, 2019 9:00 am -

Phillip Dutton and I’m Sew Ready. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Stable View is gearing up for Aiken’s premiere autumn event, held September 27-29. With over 338 horse and rider combinations entered, this will be Stable View’s largest Oktoberfest to date.

Twenty-seven combinations have stepped forward to try their might in the feature CCI4*-S class, now in its second year. Defending champion Phillip Dutton has two rides, Fernhill Revelation and his 2018 WEG partner Z, entered in the division.

Other heavy hitters in the four-star include Boyd Martin and Contestor, Leslie Law and Voltaire De Tre, Lynn Symansky and Under Suspection, and Clark Montgomery with Caribbean Soul. You’ll also want to keep an eye on Doug Payne and Quantum Leap, who recently won the Advanced division at the Blue Ridge Mountain H.T.

This is also an exciting time of year to welcome a few four-star debutants. First-time horses include Sinead Halpin’s Cutty Sark, Hallie Coon’s Cooley SOS, and Nilson da Silva’s Rock Phantom. For a complete look at entries, click here.

Stable View is rolling out the red carpet for competitors, offering $80,000 in prize money to be allocated between all divisions, including the Novice, Training and Preliminary classes, which account for 200 of the 338 entries.

In addition to cold, hard cash, riders have ample amenities on site including three rider lounges, which will offer breakfast each morning (A new, and even larger, rider lounge to debut in 2020!). Humans can find water and carrots for the four-leggeds in the show office all weekend, and they should be sure to indulge in the misting station as well.

CCI Divisions will complete their dressage on Friday, followed by show jumping and cross country on Saturday. The national divisions will run as a one-day on Sunday.

Entertainment will include Karaoke with Clayton Fredericks on Friday, and Attwood Equestrian Surfaces Competitor Party on Saturday night following the 3* and 4* awards. There will be a 4* Course Walk with Boyd Martin benefiting the Cumbee Center for Abused Persons on Friday at 4:00PM for a $10 required donation. 

The Stable View signature drink, the “Horse Treat”, will be available from 4:00PM on Friday at Ollie’s Inn. On Saturday, the Pavilion will host the VIP guests with spectacular views of both show jumping and cross country. VIP tickets are available for purchase here. In addition to the equestrian competition, there will be the Aiken Horse Power Car Show on Saturday, a vendor village, Kid’s Corner, and alcohol tastings. 

Unfortunately, the brand new CCI*-S division was cancelled due to lack of entries, but Stable View intends to run this level at their new FEI event, to be held March 27-28, 2020.

Stable View Oktoberfest: Website, Schedule, Entry Status, Tickets

Tuesday News & Notes from Legends Horse Feeds

By on Sep 17, 2019 12:01 am -

Our North American contingent is on the ground for the  SsangYong Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, which runs this weekend. We’ve got six pairs stepping forward in the CCI4*-L including Cornelia Dorr and Sir Patico MH, both making their overseas debut. Keep it locked here for all the latest! Blenheim Palace International: Website | Entries

National Holiday: National Apple Dumpling Day

Events Opening This Week: The VHT International H.T., Rocking Horse Fall H.T., Galway Downs International Event & H.T.

Events Closing This Week: Kent School Fall H.T., Morven Park Fall International H.T. & CCIS-2/3/4*, WindRidge Farm Fall Horse Trials, Fair Hill International CCI****/***, Middle Tennessee Pony Club H.T., Heritage Park H.T., Woodside International H.T., Spokane Sport Horse Fifth Annual Fall H.T.

Tuesday News: 

The Area VIII leg of the Charles Owen Technical Merit Award took place at the Cobblestone Farms Horse Trials last month, and Noah Stanlaske and Michelle Weeks earned the junior and adult amateur awards, respectively. [Stanlaske and Weeks Conquer Charles Owen Technical Merit Awards at Cobblestone]

The endurance day is the cornerstone of any USEA Classic Series Three-Day Event, and one important piece of that is the steeplechase phase. Frederic Bouland has a few top tips for this run and jump effort. The major key is that it’s ok to be a little behind! [The Thrill of the ‘Chase: Steeplechase Riding with Frederic Bouland]

Money can be a sore subject for many, especially those involved in a high cost sport like eventing. Noelle Floyd gets the conversation going. [This 35-Year-Old Nurse, Mom Of Three Feels Guilty About Her Horse Expenses]

Tuesday Video: