Classic Eventing Nation

82 Horses and Riders Move Forward from First Horse Inspection at MARS Bromont CCI

By on Jun 5, 2024 5:23 pm -

Alexandra MacLeod and Newmarket Jack. Photo by Sally Spickard.

All 82 horses presented across divisions, including 16 pairs entered in the headlining CCI4*-L division, will move forward to dressage over the next two days here at the 2024 MARS Bromont CCI. We’ll also see another 17 horses in the CCI4*-S, which of course does not have to do a formal Horse Inspection at the start of competition.

We’ve got divisions from CCI2*-L up through CCI4*-S and CCI4*-L competing this weekend, including U25 divisions for the CCI2*-L and CCI3*-L. Some of these young riders are also participating in the wonderful Bromont Rising program, which supports a group of U25 riders with some funding assistance as well as coaching and mentorship from Peter Gray and Bettina Hoy, among others.

Heather Gillette and Vincent Chase. Photo by Sally Spickard.

The 4*-L division this weekend is a wide-open one, featuring some newer up-and-coming horses to the level as well as some more experienced combinations. 5* horses in the field include Buck Davidson’s entry, Erroll Gobey, Alex MacLeod’s Newmarket Jack, and Sea of Clouds, ridden this weekend by Olivia Dutton but formerly piloted by Phillip Dutton through the 5* level.

We’d recommend keeping an eye on some potential top performers in this division, including Buck and Erroll Gobey, Great Britain’s Lucienne Bellissimo and Dyri, Boyd Martin and Miss Lulu Herself, Lauren Nicholson and I’ll Have Another, Canada’s Karl Slezak and Chevalier, and Canada’s Waylon Roberts and OKE Ruby R. However, it’s all to play with this field and, at this point, truly any combination’s game to make a statement this weekend.

Phillip Dutton and Kassiopea Preziosa. Photo by Sally Spickard.

The CCI4*-S division, which will get underway on Friday morning with dressage, also features some heavy hitters poised for a big performance. We’ll see Karl Slezak’s Kentucky CCI4*-S winner Hot Bobo, who’s in good stead along with several other Canadian horses here this weekend to make a big for the yet-to-be-named Canadian Olympic squad, as well as fellow Olympic contenders for Canada Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge, Hanna Bundy and Lovely Assistant, Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye, and Jessica Phoenix with four entries (Tugce, Fluorescent Adolescent, Watson GS, and Freedom GS).

You can view entries and live scores here and ride times here.

There is also a live stream from Bromont for the first time, provided free of charge on the Bromont YouTube channel as well as Horse & Country.

MARS Bromont CCI (Quebec, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Dressage Times] [Scoring] [Live Stream]

How to Follow MARS Bromont CCI, Wherever You Are

By on Jun 5, 2024 9:34 am -

Beautiful Bromont Stadium. Photo by Abby Powell.

We’re quite excited that MARS Bromont CCI week is upon us in beautiful eastern Canada. This is an event you need to put on your bucket list, even if you’re just planning to come up and spectate, and to that end stay tuned for a special “come to Bromont with us” video wrapping up the weekend.

This year, we’re pleased to see that the organizing team has enlisted the services of a live stream, which will be available at no cost via the Bromont YouTube channel as well as on Horse & Country (no membership required!).

All phases of competition will be live streamed, starting with the First Horse Inspection today (Wednesday) at 3 p.m. ET. Once we have firm ride times, I’ll update this post with the full live stream schedule.

Stay tuned for our entry preview + jog report coming this afternoon!

MARS Bromont CCI (Quebec, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Dressage Times] [Scoring] [Live Stream]

Wednesday News & Notes

By on Jun 5, 2024 12:01 am -

Photo courtesy Paris 2024.

Last week, the Olympic torch relay made it’s way to Omaha Beach in Normandy, France for a poignant ceremony just a few days shy of the 80th anniversary of D-Day (which is tomorrow). This year, during each leg of the torch relay, the torch is being carried by teams of 24 people representing their sport and during this leg in the Calvados region, which is French horse country, it was the equestrians’ time to shine.

Torch bearer Maxime Wille, the great-grandson of Léon Gautier who died last summer as the last surviving member of the only French battalion to fight on D-Day, arrived by sea via a rescue dingy and passed the flame to the Pénélope Leprévost, 2016 team gold medalist for France in show jumping. Check out some video from this portion of the relay beow!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Golden Spike H.T. (Ogden, UT) [Website] [Entries/ Ride Times/ Scoring]

Cobblestone Farms H.T. I (Chelsea, MI) [Website] [Entries/ Ride Times/ Scoring]

Middleburg H.T. (The Plains, VA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times]

Mill Creek Pony Club Horse Trials (Kansas City, MO) [Website] [Entries/ Ride Times/ Scoring]

Apple Knoll Farm H.T. (Millis, MA) [Website] [Entries] [Scoring]

Major International Events

MARS Bromont CCI (Quebec, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Dressage Times] [Scoring] [Live Stream]

Bramham International (West Yorkshire, UK) [Website] [Entries/ Ride Times/ Scoring]

FEI Nations Cup Avenches (Aveches, SUI) [Website] [Entries/ Ride Times/ Scoring]

Wednesday News and Reading

It’s giveaway time! EcoVet is giving away a bottle of their amazing fly spray. The first fatty-acid fly repellent for horses, this unique fly spray is veterinarian-approved and used by 5* eventers across the USA.

Winning is easy! Simply fill out the form in our June 10th ICYMI newsletter. Sign up for our weekly newsletter here because free is every equestrian’s favorite price.

One hundred years ago, the Olympics were also held in Paris. Yep: Paris 1924! That year was also a notable one for equestrian sport in the Olympics, as it was the first hep since the formation of the FEI 1921. Of course, the Olympics looked quite a bit different then. Sports differed of course, but mainly the event is now just so much bigger than it was a century ago. Here’s a glimpse at what Paris 1924 looked like.

“Oh you ride horses? That must be a fun hobby!” If you’ve ever tried to explain to someone how being an amateur equestrian is a little bit more than just a cute hobby, then this piece from The Plaid Horse is for you. #Relatable.

I remember Jamie Sindell’s hysterical COTH blog from last year about the mayhem involved in preparing her 3-year-old daughter and their backyard pony for the Devon lead line class. Jamie swore she’d never do it again, but … here we are one year and another hysterical recounting later.

Some unfortunate news out of Vermont’s GMHA Horse Trials this past weekend: one horse was euthanized after sustaining an injury when it tripped and stumbled during the cross country. The rider was uninjured. Our thoughts are with this rider and all who knew and loved this horse during this sad time. You can read the press release here.

Video Break

As promised, here’s a glimpse of the Olympic torch relay on Omaha Beach. Even if you don’t speak French, I bet you’ll still get chills.

US Equestrian Announces Defender U.S. Eventing Team for CHIO Aachen CCIO4*-S

By on Jun 4, 2024 10:22 am -

US Equestrian is pleased to announce the following athlete-and-horse combinations selected to represent the Defender U.S. Eventing Team at the CHIO Aachen CCIO4*-S in Aachen, Germany, held from July 1-7, 2024. The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Bobby Costello and Team Leader Gemma Stobbs.

The following combinations have been selected to represent the Defender U.S. Eventing Team and are listed in alphabetical order.

​​James Alliston (San Ramon, Calif.) and Karma, a 2014 Oldenburg mare (Escudo II x Lavita) owned by Alliston Equestrian and Ric Plummer and cared for by Sophie Hulme

Jennie Brannigan (West Grove, Pa.) and FE Lifestyle, 2010 Deutches Sportferd gelding (Leo von Faelz x Bradenburger) owned by Nina & Timothy Gardner and cared for by Alexa Lapp and Isabel Turner

Elisabeth Halliday (Lexington, Ky.) and Miks Master C, 2012 Swedish Warmblood gelding (Mighty Magic x Flyinge Quite Easy 958) owned by Ocala Horse Properties and Deborah Palmer and cared for by Jordan Crabo

Alyssa Phillips (Ft. Worth, Texas) and Oskar, a 2009 Holsteiner gelding (Coriando x Marlo) owned by Julie & Alyssa Phillips and cared for by Addi Mommsen

The following combination has been selected to compete as individuals.  

Elisabeth Halliday (Lexington, Ky.) and Shanroe Cooley, a 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Dallas x Condios) owned by Ocala Horse Properties and cared for by Jordan Crabo

The following combinations have been selected as team alternates and are listed in ranked order.  

Hallie Coon (Ocala, Fla.) and Cute Girl, a 2014 Holsteiner mare (Coventry x Clearway) owned by Hallie Coon & Helen Coon

Emily Hamel (Aiken, S.C.) and Corvett, a 2007 Holsteiner gelding (Corrido x Clearway) owned by Black Flag Option, LLC

Competition Information 

CHIO Aachen is one of the most prestigious multi-discipline events in the world, hosted annually in Aachen, Germany. The CCIO4*-S will begin with dressage on the morning of July 5 at 8:30 a.m. GMT+2, followed by stadium later in the afternoon in the main grass arena at 5:50 p.m. GMT+2. Cross-country will start at 10:00 a.m. GMT+2 on Saturday, July 6, to determine the final team standings.​

Nervous Riders and Overthinkers: Try This

By on Jun 4, 2024 10:00 am -

We’re pleased to introduce a new training series from our friends at Ride iQ! Be sure to check out the Ride iQ app for coaching in your ear, progressive series, podcasts, and much more here.

Picture this. For weeks, you’ve been preparing for the show, and even though you’ve spent ample amounts of time training, you still have some questionable thoughts running through your mind. Maybe they sound something like this:

“What if my horse spooks?”
“What if we stop at a jump?”
“What if I forget my course?”
“I don’t think I’m ready for this.”

If there’s anything we know about equestrian sports, it’s that fear, anxiety, and stress are quite common among most riders. Why is that? Put simply, individuals today are met with high demands both in and out of the saddle.

Described by transformative life coach Natalie Hummell as living outside your window of capacity, individuals are faced with recurring negative thoughts and emotions that take up real estate in your mind, making it difficult to focus and be in the present moment.

Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Natalie works with a range of clients from all riding levels in conquering fear, doubt, and overwhelm. She explains how anxiety and stress accumulated throughout your day can leave you feeling anything but calm, focused, and present when you arrive at the barn. This is where learning more about your nervous system is key.

Learning Your Nervous System

Your nervous system is designed to protect you from danger. When your mind perceives a threat, it enters into one of the following: flight, fight, or freeze.

An overactive mind is a side effect of living outside of your capacity, and you can become stuck here, constantly reacting from a state of fear. Sound familiar?

Here are some signs you are living with an overactive mind or outside your capacity:

  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Racing thoughts
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Irritability or mood swings
  • Sleep disturbances

When your nervous system is in hyperarousal, it makes it harder to stay on task and maintain usual levels of productivity. When you arrive at the barn in a state of hyperarousal and then add the stress of wanting to perform, you move out of your window of capacity and out of the present moment. In order to correct this, we must work to stretch the window of capacity by addressing the mind and body to minimize an overactive mind.

Creating Safety in the Body

When you’re faced with a trigger, your body will create a physiological response while your brain goes into problem solving mode in an effort to keep you safe. In order to stretch your window of capacity, you must create safety in the body by embracing your thoughts and emotions rather than resisting them. You should aim to feel your emotions without becoming them on a somatic level ( the level of your body). When you feel safe and regulated in your body, your mind automatically quiets down, and you’re able to focus better on the task at hand.

The next time you feel stressed, overwhelmed, fearful, or anxious, try Natalie’s somatic exercise to embrace the sensations, calm your mind, and create focus.

Watch the Ride iQ episode with Natalie Hummel on YouTube here.

Nervous System Reset – Somatic Exercise with Natalie Hummell

An important thing to remember through this exercise is that the nervous system heals through feeling versus thinking. Do the exercise as much as possible to build your window of capacity. You can also try completing this exercise during any transitions or tasks in your day, such as leaving the house for work or before beginning a training session.

If you complete this multiple times a day, you’ll start to notice that the things that once caused you stress, you now do with presence and focus.

Duration: 10 minutes

Tip: Find a quiet place with no distractions where you can sit or stand comfortably.

Take a look around your environment and find a glimmer: something neutral or pleasant that you can take a few grounding breaths with.

On your next exhale, close your eyes and allow yourself to tune in to the thoughts going through your mind.

Start to speak all the thoughts out loud without any judgment or analysis.

These can sound like “I’m so overwhelmed” or “I’m so tired.”

After you’ve spoken your thoughts out loud, take a moment to identify the emotions that are here.

Are you feeling anxious, excited, frustrated, or something entirely different?

Acknowledge these emotions without trying to change or suppress them.

Now try to notice where this emotion lives in your body.

Do you feel tightness in your chest? Butterflies in your stomach? Or tension in your shoulders?

Take a deep breath in, and as you exhale, imagine releasing the sensations. Continue breathing deeply and deliberately.

Focus on releasing any tension or discomfort in your body.

With every exhale, just let go. Bring your shoulders down and back.

Allow all sensations to be here.

Think of being the ocean floor, and any sensation, emotion, or thought is just a wave.

Don’t argue with it, but allow it. With every breath, just allow.

Now take a moment and notice how your body and mind feel.

You may notice you feel more relaxed, focused, and prepared to tackle the challenges ahead.

Note: If this was challenging for you, that is perfectly okay. Don’t let your mind create any meaning around it.

Want to learn more about healing your nervous system? Access Natalie’s entire Sports Psychology series by joining Ride iQ. Start your 2-week free trial at Ride-iQ.com. You can also check out some interviews with Natalie here.

Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products

By on Jun 4, 2024 7:27 am -


Yesterday felt like a momentous day in two very different ways, and as I sat with my morning coffee pondering them both, they began to make sense to me as something emblematic of the unique, often odd hamster wheel we all live within in this industry.

Before the announcement of the US Olympic team yesterday, I spent the latter half of the day in a sun-drenched field, raising a glass to the late, great Caroline March at a memorial service she’d helped to organise before choosing to call time on her stint on terra firma. It was a beautiful celebration of a spitfire of a woman: her favourite cider was plentiful, her favourite songs provided a poignant, but also often really funny, backdrop – there aren’t many memorials in which you’ll hear ‘Man, I Feel Like A Woman’, but nothing could have felt more right, really – and so many people who loved her gathered to toast, to laugh, to cry, to share stories of someone who left an indelible mark on everyone she encountered. I didn’t know Caroline particularly well; my attending of the memorial came more as a show of solidarity with her brother Tom and his wife, Piggy, who I do know well, and because, as someone who works in the media in the way that I do, you’re so intrinsically linked with the highs and the lows, and having been there at Burnham Market on the day Caroline had her career-ending fall, I wanted to show my respects. I left wishing I’d had more chances to cross paths with her, to laugh with her. It was yet another reminder to all of us, too, to chase what we love, to take joy in the little things, and never, ever, to take anything for granted.

And then the US team was announced – the first of the Paris eventing teams to be firmed up and put out into the world. And what an exciting team it is! I was personally thrilled to see my favourite of Boyd’s horses, the sweet and charismatic Fedarman B, named, not least because it allows Annie Goodwin – another rider we’ve lost before her time – to be represented at the very top of the sport, as she and her family deserve. No surprise, either, to see Will named with the stalwart Off The Record – “a kitchen table with a Ferrari engine”, as he once described him to me at Aachen.

It’s the two exceptional women on the list who caught me by surprise. I’ll admit I got this one wrong: I thought that Liz would be on the team, probably with Cooley Nutcracker but perhaps, instead, with Miks Master C, and I thought Caroline, on the form of her career, might still be relegated into the reserve slot with HSH Blake. Instead, it’s the other way around, and what an extraordinary thrill that is for Caroline and her team, who’ve really spent the last couple of years going back through every part of their system and seeing if it actually works. When Caroline, already a hugely successful rider in her own right, came to the UK a couple of seasons ago and ultimately ended up training with Pippa Funnell, she did something really difficult, and very admirable: she accepted that her way might not be the right way, and if Pippa wanted to change anything, she’d give it a go. That’s given her the edge and it’s a great reminder to all of us never to let our pride stop us from progressing. Caroline deserves this moment, and I can only begin to imagine how good the celebrations are going to be.

But poor Liz, too. I’m sure the last thing in the world she wants is anyone’s sympathy, and of course, being named as the reserve is still a huge honour – but it’s a tough position to be in. Liz will play a crucial role this summer, helping to keep the team calm, cool, and focused, but it’s got to be incredibly hard to keep yourself, too, ready to perform at your very best, while also reckoning with the fact that you may not need to at all. I hope that either which way, we see that ice in her veins drive her to something huge – a Maryland win, perhaps, or a victorious trip across the pond. That would be a great sweetener, a door opening to make up for another one not quite closing, but perhaps being pushed-to just a touch.

And then, in feeling for Liz, who’s done so much right and, in the old Olympic team format, would have been firmly on the roster, I circle back to square one again: to standing in a rare occurrence of golden hour sunshine, watching a video of Caroline March smiling broadly atop one of her beloved horses, popping fences as though she was born to do it. I circle back to Sunday at Bicton, just after lunchtime, when we were all still laughing and when I last spoke to Georgie Campbell, also smiling broadly as she so, so often did, as she cooled her first ride out from delivering one of the rare clears in that early section. Neither woman is here anymore; both women, though, lived in pursuit of what they loved. They weathered storms; they dealt with disappointments; they never, in any tangible way, would have seen what was around the corner for them. And so, suddenly, the crushing loss of a chance seems less like a cliff edge and more like a speed bump. A half-halt, if you like. A way to rebalance, to readjust, and to prepare to ride out of the corner into the best extended trot of your life. For all those riders who’ll get the call they’ve spent a lifetime dreaming of over the next couple of weeks: savour it. Celebrate it. You’ve done it. And for those who won’t? Rebalance and ride again, and never, ever lose sight of who you are, because that person is exceptional.

Events Opening Today: Silverwood Farm Summer H.T., Applewood Farm YEH & Mini Event, Horse Park of New Jersey Horse Trials II, Course Brook Farm Summer H.T., The Event at Rebecca Farm

Events Closing Today: Valinor Farm H.T., Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Summer H.T., Bucks County Horse Park H.T., Round Top H.T., Stable View Summer H.T., Midsouth Pony Club H.T., Fox River Valley Pony Club H.T.

Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:

There’s a fair bit of furore over in the dressage world in the lead-up to Paris. That comes as the result of a bit of a qualifications snafu, which has seen Chile lose its individual slot after Brazil was downgraded from a team to an individual place. An objection is being lodged, and you can find out more about this fairly major oversight here.

You’ve no doubt seen Olivia Dutton’s name popping up more and more frequently on high-flying entry lists. And, of course, you probably watched her in action as the star of the Dutton show at Kentucky, where she contested the CCI4*-S in fine style in April. But who is this ultra-focused, softly-spoken young talent, really, and what is it that drives her? You can find out this, and much more, in this profile, originally published in Sidelines.

I love following blogs in the leadup to the RRP Thoroughbred Makeover. I think it’s because the folks writing them are so often people I can relate to: they’re usually juggling all sorts of ‘real life’ alongside their horses, which really speaks to me on a spiritual level. While COTH blogger Brit Vegas might be a pro, she’s also not immune to having life get in the way of horse-showing, as her latest entry shares. Get well soon, Seuss!

 

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Sponsor Corner: Do you know your horse’s normal resting heart rate? It’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with your horse’s baseline vitals. In an emergency situation, you’ll need to know your horse’s normal vitals, so you can compare their temperature, respiration, and pulse. Kentucky Performance Products has put together a great infographic to hang in your barn with all the pertinent information on vital signs for horses. Print it out and hang it in your barn aisle here.

Watch This:

Take a walk around Versailles’s hallowed grounds with this episode of FEI TV’s RIDE magazine show. Can you feel the butterflies yet? We certainly can.

US Equestrian Announces U.S. Olympic Eventing Team Ahead of Paris 2024 Olympic Games

By on Jun 3, 2024 6:05 pm -

US Equestrian is pleased to announce the athlete-and-horse combinations selected to represent the U.S. Olympic Eventing Team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games hosted from July 26 – August 11, 2024. Eventing competition will be the first equestrian discipline on the overall Paris 2024 sporting schedule and held at the equestrian grounds of Versailles, beginning on Saturday, July 27, and concluding on Monday, July 29.

The U.S. Olympic Eventing Team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Bobby Costello alongside Team Leader Gemma Stobbs, and supported by team veterinarian Dr. Susan Johns, team equine physiotherapist Linda Vegher, team human physiotherapist Jennifer Mitchell, and team farrier Beck Ratte.

“This was a very thorough selection process and after speaking with each of our team members named to this Olympic team, I can say there is a palpable sense of optimism and determination as we enter these final six weeks of meticulous preparation heading into Paris,” said Chef d’Equipe Bobby Costello. “We have firm but realistic expectations together as a team to continue pushing the needle forward for this program. Let’s go USA!”

The following combinations have been selected to represent the U.S. Olympic Eventing Team and are listed in alphabetical order.

William Coleman (Ocala, Fla.) and Off The Record, a 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Arkansas x Ard Ohio) owned by the Off The Record Syndicate and cared for by Hailey Burlock

  • Direct Reserve: Diabolo, a 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Diarado x Aljano 2) owned by the Diabolo Group and cared for by Hailey Burlock & Erin Jarboe

Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and Fedarman B, a 2010 KWPN gelding (Eurocommerce Washington x Fedor) owned by the Annie Goodwin Syndicate and cared for by Stephanie Simpson

  • Direct Reserve: Commando 3, a 2013 Holsteiner gelding (Conner 48 x Amigo XX) owned by Yankee Creek Ranch LLC and cared for by Stephanie Simpson

Caroline Pamukcu (Springtown, Pa.) and HSH Blake, a 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tolan R. x Kannan) owned by Mollie Hoff, Sherrie Martin, Caroline Pamukcu, and Deniz Pamukcu and cared for by Chloe Teahan

The following combination has been selected as the traveling reserves. 

Elisabeth Halliday (Lexington, Ky.) and Cooley Nutcracker, a 2014 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tolan R. x Cobra) owned by Chris Desino, Rob Desino, Deborah Halliday, Liz Halliday, and Renee Lane and cared for by Abby Steger

The following combination has been selected as first alternates.

Sydney Elliott (Hoffman, N.C.) and QC Diamantaire, a 2010 Oldenburg gelding (Diarado x Sandro Hit) owned by Carol Stephens and cared for by Caitlin Martin

The following combinations have been selected as team alternates and are listed in alphabetical order. 

James Alliston (San Ramon, Calif.) and Karma, a 2014 Oldenburg mare owned by Alliston Equestrian & Ric Plummer

Jennie Brannigan (West Grove, Pa.) and FE Lifestyle, 2010 Deutches Sportferd gelding owned by Nina & Timothy Gardner

Will Faudree (Southern Pines, N.C.) and Mama’s Magic Way, 2011 Hanoverian gelding owned by Jennifer Mosing & Sterling Silver Stables

Elisabeth Halliday (Lexington, Ky.) and Miks Master C, 2012 Swedish Warmblood gelding owned by Ocala Horse Properties and Deborah Palmer

Elisabeth Halliday (Lexington, Ky.) and Shanroe Cooley, a 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Ocala Horse Properties

The U.S. Olympic Eventing Team will participate in a Mandatory Outing in Aiken, S.C. from June 21-23, 2024, at the Stable View Summer HT, before heading to Europe to begin their final preparations ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

View more of EN’s coverage of the Paris Olympics here.

Sara Kozumplik Takes Top Honors in Open Intermediate at 2024 Essex Horse Trials

By on Jun 3, 2024 11:00 am -

Sara Kozumplik and Rubens d’Ysieux. Photo by AK Dragoo Photography.

Sara Kozumplik and Rubens D’ysieux put all the pieces together this weekend to secure the win of the Open Intermediate division at the 2024 Essex Horse Trials. Sara and the 19-year-old Selle Francais gelding, owned by Edith Ramekia, jumped clear over Morgan Rowsell’s Cross-Country course to clinch the title on a final score of 28.9.

“Rubens (aka, The Unicorn) felt great. He cruised around and jumped everything out of stride. We know each other really well so we had a great time. He trotted up sound after, and wasn’t breathing too hard.”, Sara said of her partner.

Lillian Heard Wood and Bassett Olympus finished the division in second on a 33.4 with just a bit of time on cross country, followed by Maya Clarkson and Clueso to round out the top three in Open Intermediate.

Lillian continued her good day with Bellines Quality Lady, a 2016 Irish Sport Horse owned by the Bellines Quality Lady Syndicate, to clinch the win in the Open Preliminary to finish on her dressage score of 26.3.

Lillian Heard Wood and Bellines Quality Lady. Photo by AK Dragoo Photography.

Lillian said of the mare, “Foxy is green at the level so this was a great course for her. It was a hard course but not crazy hard. And she’s fast, so its fun to be able to make the time on her.” She continued saying, “The tracks were amazing and were developed to give the horses confidence. It was the best footing so far this year. It was like running on a cloud.”

Essex Horse Trials also gave out two other awards, the Jean and Elliott Haller Perpetual Trophy for Horsemanship and The Golden Nugget Memorial Trophy.

2024 Jean and Elliott Haller Perpetual Trophy Winner, Sara Kelson, with Morgan Rowsell and Sally Ike. Photo by AK Dragoo Photography.

The Jean and Elliott Haller Perpetual Trophy for Horsemanship was presented to the rider who demonstrates good horsemanship and a superior partnership between horse and rider regardless of their division. Jean and Elliot Haller were the owners of Hoopstick Farm, the site of the first Essex Horse Trials. In addition, they were the parents of Roger Haller, an icon in the sport of Eventing. As a family, they loved their horses and equestrian sport. This trophy was donated by Mrs. Ann David, a close friend of the Hallers and the owner of Hoopstick Farm for over 40 years. Our 2024 Winner was Sara Kelson!

2024 Golden Nugget Award Winner, Olivia Hicok pictured with trainer, Clarissa Wilmerding. Photo by AK Dragoo Photography.

The Golden Nugget Award was donated by Clarissa Wilmerding to encourage the development of young riders as well-rounded horsemen with an appreciation for Eventing and a commitment to good sportsmanship. Clarissa grew up fox hunting with the Essex Fox Hounds and was an active member of the Somerset Hills Pony Club. Her partnership with her first pony, Golden Nugget, fostered the determination and perseverance essential to Eventing. As a professional rider, Clarissa continues to teach and mentor pony clubbers. The trophy was awarded to the lowest-scoring member of pony club aged 18 or younger in any division. Our 2024 winner was Olivia Hicok, who finished 3rd in the Beginner Novice B Division aboard Huckleberry, on a 29.1.

14 year-old Olivia was thrilled with her day and thankful for this award saying, “Huckleberry was amazing and jumped everything like a pro. It’s very special to win my trainer’s trophy. I want to thank my mom for helping me, supporting me, and getting me to all my lessons that has made all my hard work pay off.”

Additional information on the Essex Horse Trials is available at https://www.essexhorsetrials.org. Proceeds of the event benefit the Greater Newark Life Camp which brings 300 inner city youth to summer day camp in the country in Somerset County for six weeks for an enriching educational experience. For more information on the Greater Newark Life Camp please visit https://greaternewarklifecamp.org.

Essex H.T. (Gladstone, NJ): [Website] [Results]

Defender U.S. Eventing Team Finishes in Second Place at FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Ireland CCIO4*-NC-S

By on Jun 3, 2024 9:00 am -

Team USA on the Millstreet Nations Cup podium. From L to R: Development coach and Chef d’equipe Leslie Law, Jenny Caras, Alyssa Phillips, Emily Hamel, Caroline Pamukcu. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

The Defender U.S. Eventing Team concluded a successful outing at the FEI Eventing Nations Cup CCIO4*-NC-S – Ireland on Sunday, securing a team second-place finish at the event held at the Millstreet International Horse Trials. Millstreet is part of the European Development Tour, which is intended to give up-and-coming combinations experience competing overseas in a team environment.

All U.S. combinations finished in the top half of the division, which saw 51 starters from seven countries.

Caroline Pamukcu (Springtown, Pa.) with King’s Especiale, a 2015 KWPN gelding owned by Redfield King’s HX Group, posted the top individual score for the team, finishing on a 37.1 after adding only 0.8 cross-country time penalties to their dressage score. Jenny Caras (Buckhead, Ga.) and Sommersby, the 2012 Holsteiner gelding she co-owns with Jerry Hollis, also turned in a double-clear show jumping round with just two time penalties from cross-country to finish on a score of 38.2.

Alyssa Phillips (Fort Worth, Texas) and her own and Julie Phillips’s 2009 Holstener gelding, Oskar, had a phenomenal dressage test with a score of 30.8, which put them in seventh place after the first phase. With one rail in show jumping and 3.6 cross-country time penalties, they completed with a 38.4. Emily Hamel (Aiken, S.C.) and Corvett, a 2007. Holsteiner gelding owned by Black Flag Option, went double-clear in the show jumping phase and added 8 time penalties from cross-country to their dressage score, finishing with a 44.2.

Molly Duda (Menlo Park, Calif.) and her own Disco Traveler, a 2010 Oldenburg gelding, competed as an individual combination for the U.S. and completed on a score of 41.8 to finish in 23rd place.

“Overall the team did extremely well,” said Chef d’Equipe Leslie Law. “I think everybody was good in the dressage. In the show jumping, I thought the riders were really great. We had a lot of clear rounds.

“I thought they rode extremely well this morning [in cross-country],” said Law. “The ground was very soft and heavy and not the type of going they’re used to. The Europeans get more practice on that type of ground, and even they felt the ground was heavy. So for them to go out and ride the way they did on the going and on top of that, to post really good, fast rounds to stay competitive, and finish second, I think that says a lot. They really rose to the challenge in conditions that they aren’t used to. They’ve done a fantastic job.”

The team came into Millstreet after having had a last-minute schedule change. The intended first stop on the development tour was the Chatsworth International Horse Trials in Great Britain, which was cancelled due to extremely rainy conditions. Several of the U.S. combinations rerouted to last weekend’s Bicton International Horse Trials to run the dressage and jumping phases.

“Bicton was not in our plans at all previously, but with them having CCI4*-S down there, we thought it would be very useful to get them into the ring doing a dressage test and having a show jumping round,” said Law. “It turned out to be a very useful exercise because part of Great Britain’s probable Olympic team was there. To go and compete at that level and against that standard—they posted some really good results in the dressage. When you look at what some of those experienced combinations were doing, our results were very comparable. It turned out to be a very good exercise in the end, and it gave them a chance to get in the ring and settled their nerves. After that, we were able to come here and move forward as planned.”

In addition to the Nations Cup, three U.S. athletes completed the CCI4*-L at Millstreet. U.S. Cosby Green (Lexington, Ky.), a U.S. Eventing emerging athlete, finished in second place with Highly Suspicious, a 2010 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Edie and Clay Green. Caroline Pamukcu and She’s The One, a 2015 Anglo European mare she co-owns with Sherrie Martin, Mollie Hoff, and Andy Hoff, earned the top dressage score in the division—an impressive 28.2— and finished in fourth place overall. UK-based Rowan Laird rode his own Irish Sport Horse stallion Sceilig Concordio to finish in seventh place in his CCI4*-L debut.

Millstreet International Horse Trials (Nations Cup) (Co. Cork, Ireland) [Website] [Scoes] [Free Live Stream Replay NC Dressage 1] [Free Live Stream Replay NC Dressage 2] [Free Live Stream Replay NC Show Jumping] [Free Live Stream Replay NC Cross Country] [Complete Live Stream Replays – CMH]

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Jun 3, 2024 6:16 am -

Here we are, folks: it’s Monday once again, and that means we’ve all made it through a whole week since Bicton. I hope that that week has been a kind and gentle one for you; one in which you’ve been able to slow down, process, and lean on friends and family while you figure out how you feel and how you want to move forward.

Nobody will be ‘back to normal’ quite yet, and nor should they expect to be, but together, we’re going to start taking some steps back into something like ‘ordinary’ life. We might not have a wholly gung-ho start to proceedings; this week’s competition coverage at Bramham will be slightly modified with a weekend-heavy focus, and as a team, we’ll be continuing our conversations behind the scenes on how we can best contribute to the ongoing safety work being done in our sport, as well as lending our hand to the collective healing that’s happening in the wake of Georgie Campbell’s passing.

Today, the day of Caroline March’s celebration of life service, feels as good a day as any to call for a moment of reflection – a reflection on the lives we’ve lost, both human and equine, and a reflection on what safety means and how we can all play a part in furthering it, for ourselves and the community around us. I’m so thrilled that we’ve largely moved on from even just fifteen years ago or so, when I was a working student and riding without a helmet was a way to ‘keep up’ with the ‘cool kids’. But are we doing enough? Is your hat properly fitted and new enough not to have suffered from internal decay or compression? Is your chin strap adjusted correctly? Are you wearing a vest every time you jump solid fences? Have you checked your tack to make sure that your girth straps, your stirrup leathers, your reins are fit for purpose? And, more broadly, are you taking part in the wider conversations on safety in the sport? Not everyone has access to a platform that’ll allow them to contribute to change on a global level, but if this is something you feel strongly about and you’d like to be involved with, we can’t recommend enough getting in touch with your local eventing group, whether that’s your Area committee or a state-wide unrecognised show circuit, and bringing your voice and your observations to the table.

You’ll see a little more from us this week, and a lot more over the coming weeks as we ramp up towards the Olympics. But always, always at the heart of it is a knowledge of what it all means, and what it has cost so many. We don’t want our sport to ever cost so much again.

I’ll also reshare our list of support resources here for anyone who needs it. Go well today, wear your purple and white ribbons, and in the words of Jesse Campbell, “please just smile at each other, don’t feel awkward about laughing, and above all, try and love everything and everyone.”

U.S. Weekend Action

Carriage House Farm Combined Test (Hugo, MN): [Website]  [Results]

Equestrians’ Institute H.T. (Cle Elum, WA): [Website] [Results]

Essex H.T. (Gladstone, NJ): [Website] [Results]

Genesee Valley Riding & Driving Club Spring H.T. (Geneseo, NY): [Website] [Results]

GMHA June H.T. (South Woodstock, VT): [Website] [Results]

IEA Horse Trials (Edinburgh, IN): [Website] [Results]

MCTA H.T. at Shawan Downs (Cockeysville, MD): [Website] [Results]

Ocala Summer H.T. I (Ocala, FL): [Website] [Results]

Poplar Place June H.T. (Hamilton, GA): [Website] [Results]

The Spring Event at Archer (Cheyenne, WY): [Website] [Results]

European International Events

Millstreet International Horse Trials (Nations Cup) (Co. Cork, Ireland): [Website] [Results] [Free Live Stream NC Dressage 1] [Free Live Stream NC Dressage 2] [Free Live Stream NC Show Jumping] [Free Live Stream NC Cross Country] [Complete Live Stream – CMH]

Outdoor Horst (Kronenberg, The Netherlands): [Website] [Results] [Live Stream]

Your Monday Reading List:

The continuing onslaught of violence in the Gaza Strip is affecting every single person living there. But it’s also having an enormous impact on animals – including the horses of Aljawad Club, a riding school and community centre in the heart of the city. Find out more about the centre, its people and horses, and its future in this piece from the Chronicle. Ceasefire now.

Tamie Smith and her team have made the difficult decision to withdraw Mai Baum, who had been heavily favored to contribute to a medal or two for the U.S. in Paris this summer, from Olympic consideration. The decision comes on the heels of a minor setback experienced ahead of the gelding’s scheduled competition in the CCI4*-S at Kentucky in April, and Tamie says there will not be sufficient time for proper training and conditioning ahead of the team’s Mandatory Outing at Stable View in a few weeks’ time. We are obviously disappointed, but always have his best interest at heart and will be looking to aim him for an exciting fall competition. Mai Baum will instead aim for July’s Rebecca Farm event in Kalispell, MT.

One of the most stressful parts of competing is navigating the hustle and bustle of the warm-up ring. It’s no surprise, then, that many generally well-behaved horses come undone in this tricky environment, leaving you to focus on simply managing their stress levels rather than working on coaxing out their very best work. Here are some great tips to help them settle, take a deep breath, and thrive.

You might have clocked Bubby Upton and Cola for the first time when they very nearly won Badminton this year after a horrendous injury. Or you might have been following this dynamic duo’s progress for years, like most of us here in the UK. Either way, now that they’ve been put on the British team longlist for Paris, you’ll definitely want to familiarise yourself with them. Here’s a good starting point.

Bad behaviour often stems from pain. Let me repeat that: bad behaviour often stems from pain. And in this case study, featuring a draft cross who got spicier and spicier into her teens, the naughtiness was coming from one source: a serious case of previously unsuspected kissing spines. This article is a fascinating primer into how this condition can affect horses.

Morning Viewing:

Rewatch all the action from Millstreet’s smoking hot CCIO4*-S Nations Cup cross-country: