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
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 âChase: Steeplechase Riding with Frederic Bouland]
Frankie Thieriot Stutes announced today that she has withdrawn Chatwin from Military Boekelo CCIO4*-L after a recent minor illness compromised the horse’s fitness. Traveling reserves Tamie Smith and Mai Baum will replace them in the team lineup, and Matt Flynn will fill the role of traveling reserve with Wizzerd.
The event, which takes place Oct. 10-13, in Enschede, the Netherlands, will serve as a test event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The competition is testing the new Olympic team format, which means there are only three riders on the team and no drop score.
Due to a recent bout of enteritis, Chatwin’s fitness schedule has been interrupted, and while he is currently in full health — over the weekend Chatwin jumped clear around a 1.30 show jumping course at the Sonoma Horse Park — Frankie, U.S. Team Vet Dr. Susan Johns, and Chef dâEquipe Erik Duvander agreed travel and competition at Boekelo were not in the the horse’s best interest.
Frankie released this statement:
“After being sick a few weeks ago with enteritis that resulted in an ICU stay at UC Davis, Chatwin has been back in full work, and been doing very well in his flat and jump schools. However, as a result of his compromised immune system and recovery from being so sick, his fitness has taken a hit and it has become clear in his last couple of gallops that asking him to push ahead to achieve the fitness needed to compete successfully at Military Boekelo in just a few weeks time along with the stress of putting him on a plane to fly him across the globe would not be putting his best interests first.
“The pride I feel for the opportunity to represent my country on the international stage is not something I take lightly and in addition to always advocating for Chatwinâs well being as my first priority, it is incredibly important to me that Team USA always be represented by the very best possible performances. At this time, I feel with Chatwin not being as fit as he needs to be after being sick, we would not be contributing our very best performance on behalf of our country and my teammates which is something I care a great deal about.
“In collaboration with my amazing vets as well as Dr. Susan Johns and Erik Duvander we have made this decision with Chatwinâs well being as paramount.
“I look forward to attending Boekelo to cheer on Team USA and I am very excited about the strength of the team being sent! Additionally, I would like to thank the wonderful group of people who have signed on to support Chatwin and I this year for their support of always putting Chatwinâs health first and the selectors for believing in our ability to represent our country at a Nationâs Cup.”
The following athlete-and-horse combinations will now make up the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team:
Jennie Brannigan (West Grove, Pa.) and Stella Artois, the Stella Artois Syndicateâs 11-year-old Holsteiner/Thoroughbred mare
Liz Halliday-Sharp (Ocala, Fla.) and Cooley Quicksilver, the Monster Partnershipâs eight-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding
Tamie Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) and Mai Baum, Alexandra Ahearn, Ellen Ahearn, and Eric Markelâs 13-year-old German Sport Horse gelding
The following combination has been named as the traveling reserve:
Matt Flynn (Reddick, Fla.) and Wizzerd, A. Patrick Flynn, Kathleen Flynn, and Merry Go Round Farmâs 10-year-old KWPN gelding
The following combinations has been named as first alternates:
Caroline Martin (Miami Beach, Fla.) and Danger Mouse, her and Sherrie Martinâs 11-year-old Warmblood gelding
Under the new Olympic team format, the traveling reserve is still a very critical fourth member of the team. The way Boekelo is testing the format will differ from the Olympics, as the reserve for Tokyo will only step in should one of the three team horses be unable to continue on to the next phase (due to elimination, unsoundness, etc). For Boekelo, the traveling reserve will compete in all phases, and their score can be substituted in as a counting score should one of the three team members be unable to continue (due to elimination, unsoundness, etc.)
There are a number of rules that dictate how substitution will work at the actual Games. Full FEI Regulations for Equestrian Events at the Olympic Games are available here. Click here for a direct link to the Games rules. View more information about the FEI Eventing Nations Cup the Netherlands here.
“Where’s Hwin?” is a question Elisa Wallace admits to often being asked. From 2015 Mustang Magic top-ten finisher to Preliminary level eventer to real life Breyer horse, Hwin has been a staple in the Wallace Eventing barn, and she’ll continue to be — she’s just taken a bit of a backseat on the competition front in recent years (though Elisa has hinted that hopefully we’ll see her out and about more!) She did, however, make an appearance at the Georgia Open Mustang Show this past weekend.
The now 10-year-old mare has greyed out considerably since we last saw her about, with her mane changing from a deep pewter to snow white over the years, but it seems that she certainly hasn’t lost any of her spark. Elisa brought a herd of five to the Georgia Open Mustang Show, competing with her previous Makeover mustangs Rune and Fledge plus Hwin in freestyles and her new horses Wyeth and Eton in the Trainer Incentive Program (TIP) Challenge. Sit back and enjoy their performances!
Why do we take so much better care of our horses than ourselves? After each ride we’re out there wrapping legs and applying various assorted goops and obsessing over every square inch of our horse’s body in search of the tiniest smidgeon of discomfort. We have the equine chiropractor/acupuncturist/massage therapist/saddle fitter on speed dial, and it’s a small wonder that our long-suffering vets and farriers haven’t just blocked our numbers already.
We’ll go the extra mile for our four-legged partners every time but when it comes to our own bodies, our self-prescribed RX is always something along the lines of “take two ibuprofen and do it all over again the next morning.”
You guys, we could all try a little harder. Here are four smart life hacks for post-ride rider recovery, all borrowed from our horse’s own wellness toolkit.
Soak Away the Stiffness: Why let your horse’s abscesses have all the fun? Draw up a warm bath after you get in from the barn, add two cups of epsom salts, pour a glass of wine (in a glass, not the tub), and hop in. Epsom salts have many health benefits, from promoting better digestion and sounder sleep to soothing sore muscles and drawing out swelling.
#ProTip: Save the generic brand for your horse — youâve earned some swanky Dr. Tealâs. Amazon Prime has a 9-lb. three-pack of the good doctorâs scented salts (lavender, eucalyptus & spearmint, rosemary & mint) for $26.95. Put your credit card info in and click “purchase.” Trust me, it will change your life.
Also, you can keep your epsom salts in mason jars and it’s very Pinterest. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Stretch Those Muscles: You start every ride with suppling exercises and end each ride with a cool-down, and yet when was the last time you hit up a yoga class — or even just took a few minutes for a basic stretch?
Remember: as riders we are half of the equation (if not much more), and our own stiff muscles and joints aren’t doing our horses any favors. Just like you do for your horse, work in ample warm-up time of your own before swinging into the saddle. A little bit of stretching can go a long way to improve your flexibility in the saddle and reduce tension.
“10 Stretches You and Your Horse Should Be Doing, Presented by Draper Therapies” is a great place to start, or if you’re a visual person check out this video from the FEI’s Fitness with Equestrians series. Ali and Mari share simple exercises to help jump start your new routine with âyoga-inspiredâ poses for equestrians. They target hip health in particular, which is important to improving the âbalance between stability and mobility.â
Watch the video below to learn seven stretches you can do right there at the barn. You donât even have to change out of your breeches!
Eat (and Drink) Like a Horse:Â Riding, if you’re really putting your back into it, is a legit workout! We sweat, we burn calories, and then what? We pick up a soda and Chinese takeout on the way home from the barn.
Would you feed your horse soda and Chinese takeout? Of course not. Gross. You know the exact nutritional breakdown of your horse’s grain, his SmartPak is the length of your arm, and the only thing he’s drinking is clean, fresh H2O like the good lord intended. So why are YOU eating and drinking garbage?
Oh right, because you’re busy and exhausted and don’t have the time or energy to whip up that precious paleo/vegan/whole-30 approved dish your friend posted on Instagram. Great news! The year is 2019 and a number of companies now exist that will deliver pre-measured, convenient, nutritious, delicious, ready-to-cook meals. It’s basically the human equivalent of SmartPak. Check out Blue Apron, Hello Fresh, Sun Basket, Gobble, Freshly, Purple Carrot, Fresh Direct and there are many more out there catering to your own dietary needs just a Google search away.
As for the hydration bit, we get that the struggle is real, but just try to make better decisions every now and again m’kay?
Choose wisely (sometimes). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Borrow Your Horse’s Stuff (Or Get Your Own Stuff!): You’ve done it, I’ve done it, we’ve all borrowed stuff from our horse and used it for ourselves. Ice boots, poultice, magnets, liniments, even maybe a laser thingee … I’ve taken them all from the tack room to the couch. Draper Therapies, whose products I’ve believed in since this saddle pad made a big difference for a sensitive mare I had several years ago, gets it. But they don’t want you using their cooler as a bedspread anymore.
In fact, they’ve come out with a whole line of products just for human therapeutic use. From bed liners and blankets to socks, support sleeves, t-shirts, hats and scarves, Draper has us covered, literally. Put that brilliant Celliant technology to good use, on yourself!
Is it a cute, comfortable, breathable t-shirt, or is it a therapeutic product that promotes quicker recovery as well as increased strength and endurance? Spoiler alert: It’s both. Images via Draper Therapies.
Take better care of yourselves, EN. Until next time … Go Jumping.
Draper Therapies is proud to produce the highest quality products featuring CelliantŽ, the first technology of its kind to be designated by the FDA as a medical device. Celliant is shown to increase tissue oxygenation by eight percent, which helps the body recover faster from physical activity as well as increase energy, endurance, stamina, and performance. To learn more about Draper Therapies and Celliant, visit www.drapertherapies.com.
Laura Szeremi (alias: “Bad Eventer”) has a legion of fans, and you can count us among them. Her self-deprecating moniker might seem misleading — she’s a lovely rider, actually! — but it’s a nod to her ability to find positivity and humor in the inevitable swings-and-misses that we all experience in this sport. She writes a blog, Tales from a Bad Eventer, chronicling the experience of leaving her home and veterinary practice in Texas some years ago to become âThe Worldâs Oldest Working Studentâ in Florida — a little adventure that was supposed to be short-term but has since seen Laura evolve into a legit upper-level rider.
This weekend Laura was out and about at the inaugural Blue Ridge Mountain H.T. at Tryon International Equestrian Center, an exciting new event at a world-class venue. She kept herself quite busy, finishing 7th in Open Intermediate with Atrax Robustus, 4th in Open Prelim with Quatar Z, 10th in Open Prelim with Toxicodendron, 3rd in Open Training with Fizz, yet still made time to share the journey on Instagram.
From a failed cross country course walk (“Well this is fun. It’s a major storm; I found a port-o-potty to hide out in, so as long as it doesn’t get blown over by the wind we’ll be good.”) to farrier emergencies, show jumping under the lights, and some concerns about a Steve Miller cover band, we thank Bad Eventer for keeping it real out there and bringing us along!
Horse shows are always way more fun when you have a great team and fabulous friends surrounding you. Doug Payne’s crew knows how to work hard and have fun at the same time! Find yourself a posse like the Payne posse here. #SquadGoals.
Surefire Horse Trials will be accepting entries until this Wednesday, Sept. 18. Their fall event, which offers Beginner Novice through Intermediate divisions plus YEH, takes place Sept. 28-29. Contact the show secretary, Mary Coldren, at (302) 547-0695 or [email protected] to enter.
Are you a victim of the wandering free walk during your dressage test? My pony would quite prefer to look around and take a tour of the arena instead of stretching forward and down. These tips from USDF gold medalist and USDF Certified Instructor Jessica van Eyck might help straighten things out. [Dressage Training Tips to Straighten a Horse’s Meandering Walk]
Two weeks after spinal surgery following his fall at Hampton Classic Horse Show, Kevin Babington is alert and recovering but still has a very long road of rehabilitation ahead. The show jumper is currently unable to move, but but maintains a positive attitude and is able to mouth words and communicate as a tracheotomy hinders his speech. Whether or not limb function returns to any degree will be determined by whether the swelling around his spinal cord decreases. The equestrian world has continued to rally around and support Kevin and hopes for the very best outcome for him. [Babington Remains Positive Following Spinal Injury]
Monday Video:Â Ride the GMHA Open Training course with Kiesha Varney and Kolor Me Gone:
Doug Payne is no stranger to the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), so it seems fitting that he would take the win in the Advanced section of the first annual Blue Ridge Mountain Horse Trials at TIEC, held Sept. 14-15 at TIEC in Mill Creek, North Carolina, aboard his own and Susan Drillockâs Quantum Leap.
The 8-year-old Holsteiner gelding made his Advanced level debut earlier this year at Pine Top and has since then primarily been competed at the CCI4*-S level. Doug has managed to consistently improve on the horse’s first phase performance over the summer and yesterday the pair turned in their first sub-30 performance at the level to sit in third place after dressage.
The Advanced horse trials competitors took centerstage for “Saturday Night Lights” in the Tyron Stadium show jumping late yesterday evening. Doug’s experience moonlighting as a show jumper proved helpful as he was the only one in the division to post a double clear round, moving him into second place overall.
Cross country took place this morning on TIEC’s White Oak property, which played host to the cross country phase of last year’s World Equestrian Games (WEG). In fact, all divisions of the Blue Ridge Mountain H.T. ran on the White Oak Course today. Posting the fastest time of the day over the Captain Mark Phillips-designed course secured Doug and Quantum the win on a final score of 40.60.
Watch the videos above and below and you’ll recognize a few iconic landmarks and fences from WEG!
Allison Springer held a one-two lead with both her rides headed into the show jumping phase under the lights. Katie Lichten’s Sapphire Blue B, a 9-year-old gray Irish Sport Horse who simply sparkled under the Tryon Stadium lights, jumped a clear round just one second over time under Allison to eventually end their weekend in second place overall with 51.70 penalty points.
Unfortunately, the immensely talented but tricky first-placed Business Ben, a 9-year-old Thoroughbred owned by the Business Ben Partnership, took a number of rails to slip down the leaderboard.
Allison Springer and Sapphire Blue B. Photo via Tryon International Equestrian Center on Facebook.
Rounding out the top three is Ema Klugman and 17-year-old Bendigo, owned by Jeni Klugman, who moved up to yellow-ribbon position after initially beginning their weekend in seventh-place following dressage. They also show jumped with just one time penalty and delivered the second fastest time of the day across the country to end their weekend on a score of 52.40.
In the market for a new four-legged partner? You may find your unicorn on our sister site, Sport Horse Nation. To help with the search, weâre going to feature a selection of current listings here on EN each week. We include the ad copy provided; click the links for videos, pricing and contact information.
There’s nothing more satisfying than the sheen of a sleek, bay horse’s coat in the afternoon sun. Live that dream with these latest bay horses listed for sale on Sport Horse Nation:
Dude Whatâs Up: 2010 16h bay Thoroughbred gelding
By Lord Champagne out of Dinner Delight
This experienced eventer is ready to show you the ropes this fall! Dude has ribbons at Novice and Training, and is best suited for a junior, young rider or adult amateur looking to have some fun. He is easy to make round on the flat and is brave to his fences. Come try him today and show him tomorrow! Located in Pennsylvania.
I canât say enough good things about this horse. âDâ is a 15â2 hand, 4 year old thoroughbred gelding who retired sound after only 7 starts. He is the perfect combination of fancy, athletic, and good brained; and would be a great restart for a junior, amateur, or professional. He is easy to handle in the barn and loves hacking through the fields. He is going nicely w/t/c and is being started over fences. D is the type of horse that I wish I could keep! Located in Free Union/Charlottesville VA. $4,500. Located in Virginia.
RC RAZZLE â Bay 2008 Dutch Warmblood/Thoroughbred gelding by Ramiro Z. Just under 16 hands, this attractive horse is a lovely mover and athletic jumper. He is an experienced Foxhunter, and also has experience in Eventing, dressage, jumpers and hunter pace events. Well-schooled and easy to ride, he has plenty of potential to move up. A good very safe all-rounder to gain experience on. $23,000.
Photos and video: www.teamwindchase.com/RCRazzle.htm
We also have many other excellent horses available, from green prospects to experienced Eventers. We can also help you sell your horse. Visit www.teamwindchase.com/forsale.htm for more info. Phyllis Dawson, Windchase, Hillsboro, VA E-mail: [email protected]. Phone: (540) 454-3834 cell, (540) 668-6024 stable, (540) 668-6548 home.
Recent Top 10 finish at SVPC Horse Trials in the Novice division. Will be at CDCTA in the Training division this weekend!
We canât say enough good things about this fun mare! âDollyâ is well-educated and has years of experience both eventing and out in the hunt field. She is brave without being strong, and quite without being dull. Imported in 2016, Dolly is a good mover and quite versatile, and could easily transition to the hunter/jumper arenas as well. Located in Virginia.
Registered Hanoverian mare, 17.1 hands out of an elite mare, competed through 1.1 meter (3â7âł) jumpers at Princeton Show Jumping, PJA, WEC, Duncraven, NJ HP with an amateur. Schooled cross country and scored over 70% at training level dressage as a 4 yo with 8s for gaits. Ready to teach some one the ropes in the show ring or move up the levels in eventing.
Super brave will jump anything, confidence builder, easy ride and beginner friendly, Spur and kick ride. Very good mover and very ride able over fences and on the flat- schooling second level dressage.
Great breeding- dam was an elite imported mare by Lemon Park/Bolero with 8s for jumping ability and technique at MPT, Half siblings are competing successfully in training level eventing, PSG dressage and 3Ⲡhunters with amateur riders. Clips, loads, hacks out, no vices.
Being sold by breeder -too many homebreds to keep up with, Looking for excellent home. Open to lease or sale. Located in New Jersey.
Listings included in this article are randomly selected and confirmed to be current and active before inclusion. Sport Horse Nation features user-generated content and therefore cannot verify or make any warranty as to the validity or reliability of information.
The middle of a field in fall. Photo by Holly Covey.
You open the tack room door on the horse trailer – and the smell hits you. Or the truck door. Or the car door. Pe-euwww.
It’s that smell of sweat and horse manure. It is the thing that makes people turn around and look at you in the store. Push their grocery cart past you quickly. Wrinkle their noses and pull out a tissue to cover their mouth.
We get so we don’t even notice it, and sometimes, that’s a good thing. Horse smell is an odor I don’t ever want to feel badly about.
There are so many smells that remind me of eventing – the poopy/sweaty one, of course, but also the early morning smell in the fall of dewy, cut grass. That’s the smell of fall events to me, and it stirs my soul, because it means cooler weather and big galloping and big jumps.
Fall has a definite odor of promise, of dreams coming true, of strength and purpose. You can stand in the middle of a field at Fair Hill and smell it coming.
The smells of eventing include that wonderful smell of fresh horse breath when you put the bridle on your favorite. The smell of leather, well cared for, and fresh boot polish. The smell of a musty, opened-once-a-year secretary’s booth for the event everyone can’t wait to attend.
There are other smells too. The smell of freshly cooked hamburgers and hotdogs, the smell of french fries and ketchup, the smell of carrots and apples and horse treats once you open the package you got for your horse at the trade fair.
How about the smell of the good Wawa food you finally get to wolf down in the truck driving home from the event, or the smell of the strong coffee you just had time to carry to the truck and stick in the cupholder before leaving in the morning?
Or the acrid smell as you walk your course of freshly-stained cross-country jumps. The sharp and clean smell of newly-painted show jumps, gleaming in the morning light and shadows. The gentle perfume smell of the nicely-dressed officials who are the only clean people you run into all day.
The only place I couldn’t really think of a smell was dressage — which probably is OK, since most of the time dressage sort of has its own smell, if you know what I mean. Unless the volunteers are eating something really delicious, like chili, or freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.
Our eventing world is full of odors, some we love and some not so much. Yesterday, I checked the winter blanket stack, and opened up a container that alas was not washed before being packed away for the summer. I’ll let you all just close your eyes and imagine that smell. Darn. Nothing a little soap and water can’t fix, though.
Instead, I’ll leave you with these thoughts: think of the smell of your horse’s breath, and the wet grass this morning. What smells of eventing to you?
In 2010, Allison Springer was the first person to wear a helmet in the dressage phase at the Kentucky Three-Day event. She’s picture here in 2014 on Arthur. Photo by Jenni Autry.
It’s International Helmet Awareness Day (well, International Helmet Awareness Weekend, really) and it’s the perfect time to go shopping for a new brain bucket, should you be in the market. Each year, Riders4Helmets partners with helmet manufacturers to offer deep discounts on their headwear via retailers around the world.
Here at EN, we’re big proponents of minding your melon each and every ride. We’re also cash-strapped horse-poor crazy people who, despite measly checking account balances, still can’t pass up a good sale. Though safety is nothing to skimp on anyway, the enticement of up to 25% off is particularly alluring and we wouldn’t want you to miss out on such great deals.
Here are three reasons/ reminders why you might need to go helmet shopping today:
1. You’ve fallen (or your helmet has otherwise been impacted.)
This should be a no-brainer (pun very much intended), but if your helmet has hit the ground or otherwise been whacked real good then it needs to be replaced regardless of whether or not it shows signs of damage. Any impact can compromise the integrity of the helmet by crushing the layer of foam inside — that’s what it’s designed to do after all. So even though you might not see a crack or dent, the level of protection that your helmet provides might not be as great during the next impact it takes, which means your head it more at risk.
2. Your helmet has reached it’s expiration date.
There’s not exactly a crystal clear expiration date stamped on your helmet like there is on a can of beans from the grocery store (not that those are always crystal clear either, but that’s beside the point here) but the general consensus is that helmets have a lifespan of 3 to 5 years from the manufacture date, which can be found on a tag inside your helmet. Like all plastics, the materials that make up your helmet degrade over time, meaning your helmet offers less protection as time wears on. Inadequate storage of your helmet, such as in a hot car, can also accelerate the degradation of plastics and cause your helmet to ‘expire’ sooner.
3. You’ve been eyeballing the latest and greatest.
Maybe your current helmet is still perfectly good, but you’re ready for a little upgrade — excellent! Now is the time to treat yo ‘self and save some of that hard-earned cash while you’re at it. Are you looking to get in on the rose gold trend? Or maybe you’re ready to add a little bling to your look (hellooo, glittery One K!) Maybe you want to outfit yourself in the newest technology, MIPS (which to be be fair, isn’t actually a new technology, it’s just being newly adopted in equestrian helmets.)
Whatever you’ve got it mind, go shopping and go eventing (with a helmet!)
