Fence 15 on the ERM Jardy cross country track. Photo via CrossCountryApp.
One thing I can tell you about having a two-month old baby is that I’ve been watching a LOT of European eventing live streams at odd hours. Up rocking a fussy infant back to sleep at 4 a.m.? If it’s a weekend, there’s a good chance that I can catch some action that I probably would otherwise have missed. Call it a lack of dedication, but even pre-baby I loved sleep too much to set a pre-dawn alarm to watch horses run and jump on the other side of the world. I mean, unless it’s Badminton, or Burghley, or Luhmühlen, or Pau, or ….
If you’re up early too, (or if you haven’t gone to bed yet — hey, I don’t know your life!) check out the Event Rider Masters Haras de Jardy live stream, as Leg 4 continues today with both jumping phases. Home-nation hero Thibaut Vallette and his long-time partner Qing du Briot ENE HN delivered a score of 23.2 to secure the dressage lead — if you missed Tilly’s recap of the dressage, check it out here.
First up is a tough show jumping track in the morning, and the competition will be heated as just one pole separates the top seven competitors, and two separate the top 20. That’s EARLY morning for those of us stateside; the show jumping will be broadcast live from 9 a.m. CEST/8 a.m. BST/3 a.m. EST. For a full list of showjumping start times, click here.
Next up the riders will tackle the twisty, technical cross country test designed by Rio Olympics course designerPierre Michelet — click here to preview the course. That will be broadcast from 1 p.m. CEST/noon BST/7 a.m. EST.
Put on some coffee, or mix a mimosa if you’re feeling froggy (it’s 5 a.m. somewhere, right?), and let’s watch. Alléz Concours Complet!
The tributes keep rolling in for Ashley Stout, who sadly passed away earlier this week in a schooling accident as eventers share their photos with the hashtag #Ride4Ashley. The news of losing another UK eventer hit heavy yesterday morning, and there are no words to that can soften the impact of their loss. More than anything, our hearts hurt for their friends and family.
With seventeen horses and riders delivering sub-30 scores and offering up the lowest ERM venue average yet, it was going to take something seriously special to lead the first phase in the pivotal fourth leg of the 2019 series, which commenced today at Paris’ Haras de Jardy. And that’s exactly what Frenchman Thibaut Vallette and his long-time partner Qing du Briot ENE HN delivered.
The home-nation hero rode the eye-catching and enormously experienced gelding with whom he took the team gold medal at 2016’s Rio Olympics, and delivered a score of 23.2, equalling their own career personal best — incidentally, a score produced at the same venue in 2017.
Thibaut Vallette and Qing du Briot ENE HN sail into the lead in a hot ERM field. Photo courtesy of Event Rider Masters.
“He’s a very good horse for this test,” says Thibaut, who has contested two European Championships and the World Equestrian Games with his fifteen-year-old Olympic mount, too. “He has really good paces and he’s very quiet to ride – it’s very good. It’s very nice to be here – I was here two years ago, and I hope this will be our last round before the European Championships this summer.”
Formerly an officer in the Alpine Troops, Lt. Col. Vallette joined the legendary Cadre Noir at Saumur in 2009, where he teamed up with the cavalry-owned Qing du Briot. The Cadre Noir, which is France’s prestigious and centuries-old seat of the cavalry, is known for its commitment to classical training – not unlike the Spanish Riding School, it specialises in teaching the high school of dressage. In a sport like eventing, with its origins firmly rooted in cavalry training, it’s a poignant throwback of sorts to see the enormously competitive Cadre Noir riders contesting the uppermost levels. And when they do? Well, they’re quite often unbeatable, as we saw today.
Though Thibaut’s score of 23.2 put him well in the lead, the assembled ground jury of Eric Lieby, Christina Klingspor, and Les Smith were happy to reward work done well across the board. This meant that many combinations scored several marks better than predicted, putting extra pressure on the consistent first-phase performers to deliver their best work.
Gemma Tattersall praises Quicklook V for another top-notch performance. Photo courtesy of Event Rider Masters.
One of those combinations expected to top the leaderboard was Gemma Tattersalland Quicklook V, who began the day as EquiRatings’ predicted winner. Quicklook – known at home as Princess Pebbles – rose to the occasion, putting a score of 25.1 on the board. Although it wasn’t quite enough to edge the lead, the polished performance between the boards belied a rather more excitable warm-up.
“She came into the warm-up and she was pulling my arms out — I was like, ‘excuse me, let’s not do that!'” laughs Gemma. “She thought she’d be sassy and feisty, but we managed to have a few little conversations – we understand each other really well, so I could get her back in the box and then release her in the ring.”
‘Pebbles’ is at her best in the sunshine and on sand, and once in the arena, Gemma was able to put her faith in her Olympic partner’s ability. Just one small error in one of the flying changes saw their mark fall.
“She’s such a show-off, and she knows her job really well. She did a fantastic performance — that flying change was all my fault,” says Gemma.
Bill Levett and Shannondale Titan lay down their second-best test at any international level. Photo courtesy of Event Rider Masters.
Australia’s Bill Levett and his stalwart partner Shannondale Titan are among the ERM’s most regular competitors, and they’re inarguably one of the most consistent pairs in this phase, too. Today, they delivered a personal best in an ERM leg, scoring a competitive 25.3 to sit in third place overnight.
“He’s very solid now,” says Bill, whose fourteen-year-old son Josh makes his international debut at Jardy this weekend, too. “It’s nice to go in there, and I’ve got the set-up right as I know [the horse] so well. He doesn’t need more than ten minutes, and he’s such a genuine horse. It’s nice to be in the mix — we’re right up there with the leaders!”
Felix Etzel is best of the Germans after the first phase. Photo courtesy of Event Rider Masters.
Germany’s Felix Etzel and Bandit 436 struck a fine balance in the arena, with the up-and-coming rider allowing his horse to soak in the vibrant atmosphere of the main arena without letting him bubble over. The result was a nearly foot-perfect test that earned the pair a score of 25.4, putting them in fourth place overnight and making them the best of formidable German entry.
“He did a couple of good tests this year and this is another one,” says Felix of his eleven-year-old Hanoverian. “In the warm-up he was tense and hot, and in the beginning he was quite nervous, but I got him calm enough for the test, and he did his best. As you saw after the last halt, he’s really fresh and wants to go forward, so he’s motivated for tomorrow!”
Felix Vogg makes an impression in his ERM debut with Colero. Photo courtesy of Event Rider Masters.
Swiss superstar – and ERM debutante – Felix Vogg rounds out a truly international top five. His impressive test with Colero earned the duo a mark of 25.8, which saw them lead for much of the afternoon. Now, he sits just a tenth of a penalty ahead of sixth-placed Emily King and Brookleigh.
“I didn’t expect that – it was a bit difficult in the beginning, and he spooked a bit at the camera,” says Felix. “But he did his best and I’m really pleased with him. He can do a really good test – he’s shown that a few times. But my feeling is still that there’s a lot more that he can do. Even his scores now, where he’s doing well – I think there’s a good future for him in this phase.”
Leg 4 continues tomorrow with a tough showjumping track in the morning, followed by the twisty, technical cross-country test, designed by Rio Olympics course designer Pierre Michelet, in the afternoon. Just one pole separates the top seven competitors, and two separate the top twenty, so there’ll be no room for error as our intrepid challengers chase down those crucial series points.
Tomorrow’s competition will be broadcast live from 9.00 a.m. CEST/8.00 a.m. BST/3.00 a.m. EST, with cross-country to follow from 13.00 p.m. CEST/12.00 p.m. BST/7.00 a.m. EST. For a full list of showjumping start times, click here, and to preview the cross-country course, click here.
Want to take a deeper dive into the world of ERM? Make sure you download EquiRatings Stacks, the high-stakes prediction game that can win you an iPad. Want to get ahead of the competition? Head over to the Prediction Centre to see how your favourites stack up against the competition. Then, jump into the SAP Spectator Judging app to see how you fare against our experienced panel of judges and to gain valuable Fan League points.
The top ten after a red-hot day of dressage in Jardy’s leg of the Event Rider Masters.
It is with sadness that we share news of a rider fatality following an incident at an unaffiliated British one-day event at Solihull Riding Club in West Midlands today. British Eventing confirmed the death this afternoon.
British Riding Clubs released the following press statement on its website:
“It is with the deepest regret that we announce that a rider died, following a fatal incident, whilst competing at the Solihull Riding Club one day event today. The next of kin have been informed. Solihull Riding Club and BRC extend their deepest sympathy to the family of the rider at this tragic time.
“Access to the grounds at SRC will be closed until further notice.
“No further information will be released at this time.”
Our deepest condolences to the rider’s family and connections. We will update this post when more information becomes available.
Bethel Wildcat, a 6-year-old 16.1-hand gelding (Discreet Cat x Excess’s Best, by In Excess), is one event prospect being offered for sale through the Marketplace. Since beginning retraining in February 2019, he has has won each of his three schooling events to date, including two horse trials and a jumper derby. Check out his listing here. Photo via tbmakeover.org.
In support of helping more retired racehorses find second careers and new homes as sport horses and recreational mounts, the Retired Racehorse Project is once again facilitating the ASPCA Makeover Marketplace at the 2019 Thoroughbred Makeover, October 2-5 at the Kentucky Horse Park. Made possible by a generous grant from the ASPCA, the Makeover Marketplace is expected to feature over 100 restarted Thoroughbred ex-racehorses ready for the next chapter in a variety of careers.
The Makeover Marketplace has made the Thoroughbred horse shopping experience as easy and enjoyable as possible. All in one venue, buyers can:
Watch horses compete in one or two of ten disciplines, including barrel racing, competitive trail, dressage, eventing, field hunter, freestyle, polo, show hunter, show jumper and ranch work.
Try horses in a designated trial ring right at the Kentucky Horse Park
Vet horses with veterinarians from Hagyard Equine Medical Institute on call all weekend
Recognize this guy? It’s Any Given Royal, a 2009 15.3-hand gelding (Any Given Saturday x Really Royal, by Unreal Zeal) — better known as “George” to our readers from his EN blog updates by owner Jennifer Reisenbichler. He has already been out and about at mini-trials this year, and Jennifer says, ” I would love to see him move up the levels with the right partner, Prelim/CCI2* could very well be in his wheelhouse. I have plans to move him up to Novice and step into recognized competition before the Makeover, so stay tuned for updates!” View his listing here. Photo via tbmakeover.org.
The Makeover Marketplace offers an amazing opportunity to watch, try and vet multiple prospects in one weekend — instead of burning time driving all over the country to chase prospects.
Makeover trainers work hard to prepare their horses for the Thoroughbred Makeover and its big atmosphere: many of the horses offered for sale at the Marketplace will have plenty of off-property and show experience (check out #FieldTripFriday on Retired Racehorse Project social media), and many trainers are documenting every step of their process on social media leading up to the Makeover itself.
“Their racing careers may have ended, but these retirees still have much to offer as they transition into new and varied careers,” said Dr. Emily Weiss, vice president of ASPCA Equine Welfare. “Helping horses transition seamlessly to new careers and safe homes is vital to helping us achieve our goal of ensuring good welfare for all equines, and we are proud to be supporting the Thoroughbred Makeover Marketplace.”
Here’s a chestnut mare we can get behind: Tapanista is a 2015 16.3-hand mare (K One King x Atlantic Tap, by Stormy Atlantic) whose main main focus has been in the hunters but has shown promise at local horse trials and dressage shows as well. View her listing here. Photo via tbmakeover.org.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to shop over 100 horses in one weekend: view the online catalog now. Trainers will be continuing to add their horses through July 31st and updating existing ads through the Makeover itself, so check back frequently for new listings and updates. Many trainers will also provide their social media links so you can follow each horse’s individual progress. In August, ride times and stall assignments will be posted so you can find the horses you want to see.
Need a hard copy? Sign up for the Marketplace catalog. The catalog will be printed and mailed in August so you can start planning your trip to Kentucky!
Learn more about the 2019 RPP Thoroughbred Makeover here.
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, we’re 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.
Do you have dreams of competing at the USEA American Eventing Championships? Especially this year at the storied Kentucky Horse Park? Then you’re in luck — we have quite a few horses listed for sale on Sport Horse Nation who are already qualified and ready. Horses and riders each individually have to achieve qualifications, but do not have to qualify as a pair. For more information about AEC qualifications, click here.
9 y/o 16.3 hh chestnut TB gelding. Charlie is a low level packer dream! He has experience through novice level eventing with potential for more. Currently being competed by a young rider in a professional program. Has a warmblood build and movement. Great jumping technique and very safe. He would be suitable for a lesson program or beginner’s horse as he has a very easy-going attitude. Goes in a snaffle for everything. Uncomplicated and sweet. He is currently qualified for AECs 2019. X-rays available, no soundness issues. Price is negotiable.
Copper Shine “Val” – a 5 y/o 16.1hh OTTB gelding, retired sound from racing with only 4 starts. He regularly scores in the upper 20’s or very low 30’s in dressage. He’s a solid citizen over fences and will go from any distance. He has an AMAZING BRAIN that makes him ideal for AA or JR/YR no spook, stop or unruly behavior. Val runs all three phases in a snaffle and always tries his hardest for you. Qualified for AEC’S at BN. Schooling second level dressage at home and has a lot to give to his next rider.
Ties, clips, loads, stands for farrier. UTD on vaccines, Coggins, teeth. No lameness or colic issues. Does have a splint left fore but is cold, set and does not bother him. Clean legs otherwise. Located in Kentucky.
Monty’s Revenge: 2011 16h bay Thoroughbred gelding
This fun guy is easy, uncomplicated and kind, and would make the perfect addition to any barn! Monty has had much success at the lower levels of eventing, bringing home wins with his amateur owner as well as a professional. He has earned dressage scores as low as 23, and is already qualified for AECs. All of this combined with a super temperament make him suitable for a junior, young rider or adult amateur. Located in Pennsylvania.
2010 TB Gelding, Jackhammer II, 16 hh, is the dream horse for an AA or junior rider.
“Casper” has been produced by an amateur and is super easy on the ground, no vices. Lovely mover. Very genuine and brave to the jumps. Excellent USEA record. Very sound and reliable. Available to be tried in Watkinsville, GA.
Priced at $20k. Please call/text 404-358-7894 or email [email protected] for more information. Located in Georgia.
Have You Heard “Rumor” 2007 15.2 h Trakehner/Thoroughbred cross mare. Novice/training packer. Has successfully been campaigned by an amateur through the modified level without any cross country penalties! Recently placed first and second at her first runs this season. Point and shoot to the fences, autochanges, same horse at home and away and a good confidence booster who loves her job and aims to please. Easy on the ground, loves attention, Gets along well with both mares and geldings, lives out 24/7. Loads well, easy to clip, stands for the farrier, no vices or hormones. Sound, fit and ready to go! Will continue showing until sold. 18K. Located in Aiken, SC. call or text Johannah: 706.575.4953.
Flagmount’s Rebel is a 10 yo registered Irish Sporthorse gelding. USEA#141661. He has multiple top three placings with an amateur at Training level. He was ridden by a Young Rider through Intermediate (1st) and has multiple top placings at Preliminary. He is AEC qualified at Preliminary. He has solid 3rd level dressage movement. He and his amateur owner are one score away from their Bronze Medal in dressage. He is bold over fences and has fabulous ground manners. A real gem, great in all three phases.
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.
Andrea Baxter and Enfinity. Photo by Shelby Allen.
For the last three years, The Holekamp/Turner Grant has given a leg up to U.S. horses aiming to compete in the FEI Eventing World Breeding Championships at Le Mondial du Lion d’Angers in France. It is awarded to the highest placed horse from the USEA Young Event Horse 5-year-old Championships, who two years later, is qualified and willing to compete in the 7-year-old CCIYH3*-L Championship, made possible by the generosity of Tim and Cheryl Holekamp and Christine Turner.
The grant was created to continue a pathway for producing young horses from breeding all the way to senior team competition. To encourage breeding event horses at home, the full amount of the grant — $17,500 — is available to U.S. bred horses. Imported horses are eligible for $8,000. Past recipients include Quantum Leap, Fleeceworks Royal and D.A. Duras.
Minimum Eligibility Requirements to qualify include one CCI2*-L and one CCI3*-S completion. Both must have zero cross country jump penalties and no more than four jump penalties in the show jumping. These must be achieved by September 24, 2019. Eligible horses should notify the USEA of their intention to compete no later than September 1st.
Doug Payne and Cascor. Photo by Amy Flemming-Waters Photography.
Since the 2017 YEH Championships, three of the 42 horses have achieved qualifications: Cascor, 2 A.M. and Enfinity.
Stephen Blauner’s Cascor was the highest scoring, finishing 11th at the East Coast Championship on a score of 73.74 with Doug Payne. The previous year the 2012 Westphalian Gelding (Catoo x Lovely), who was bred by Schultz Carsten, finished 6th in the 4-year-old Championships on a score of 81.81.
Since graduating from the young horse program, Cascor has moved successfully up the levels, having his best finish this spring at Jersey Fresh where he and Doug were fourth in the CCI3*-L.
Charlotte Babbitt and 2 A.M. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Next in the placings would be 2 A.M., who won the East Coast Championship as a 4-year-old with Matt Flynn before finishing second the following year on a score of 72.08 in the West Coast Championship with Charlotte Babbitt.
Now owned and ridden by Charlotte, the Dutch Warmblood (Sheraton x Regina K) won the CCI2*-L in 2018 and finished fifth in the Aspen Farms CCI3*-S this spring.
Andrea Baxter’s Enfinity was third in the West Coast Championships as a 5-year-old on a score of 67.3. The Holsteiner mare (Cortilo x Ericka) had her International debut last summer, and has since moved through the three-star level without a single jumping penalty on cross country. Bred by Brian Jalbert, Enfinity is the only U.S. bred horse who is currently qualified.
This is just the beginning for many 2017 YEH graduates, and there are eight other horses who are partially qualified: Quality Start, Wil Celtic Charlie, Can Be Sweet, Quality Pop, Monbeg Game Face, Carlsburg, Summerbridge Parc, and Miks Master C.
Kazuma Tomoto and Tacoma d’Horset at Badminton. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.
Have you jumped aboard the #JapanWatch bandwagon yet? It’s hard not to get swept up in the excitement surrounding this relatively new team’s astonishing rise to the top — and when its constituent parts have such compelling back stories too, you can be forgiven for quietly rooting for the home team to take top honours at next year’s Tokyo Olympics. (In fact, if they manage it — and it’s not beyond the realm of possibility, when you consider that their considerable resources have been dedicated to just that for several years now — they’ll be the first Japanese equestrians to win medals at the Olympics since Colonel Baron Takeichi Nishi took individual gold in 1932’s showjumping competition, riding Uranus.)
Nishi, who fell into a glittering social circle led by Charlie Chaplin during that fateful Olympic pilgrimage, was a universally admired rider who became something of a celebrity when he made his way to America. Eighty-eight years later, Team Japan’s shining stars look set to follow in his footsteps.
Kazuma Tomoto and Vinci de la Vigne. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Kazuma Tomoto — or King Kazu, as you might hear him affectionately nicknamed around the lorry park — has certainly made definitive strides into the spotlight. Although he’s only been eventing for three seasons — he was a showjumper previously — he’s made those years count, basing himself with William Fox-Pitt and filling up his international record with some enviable results.
A year after his international eventing career began, he finished second by a tenth of a penalty in Blenheim’s CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds. The following year, after a succession of top-ten placings at four-star, he finished 23rd individually and helped Team Japan to fourth place at the World Equestrian Games. After that, he headed to Boekelo, where he finished fifth in the CCIO4*-L. This year, he’s won CCI4*-S sections at Chatsworth and Ballindenisk, finished second at Tattersalls, jumped clear around his first Badminton, and led the dressage at Luhmühlen. On top of all that? He’s one of the most genuinely happy, sunny people we’ve ever met.
The eventing community has responded to the loss of Area II Young Rider Ashley Stout with an outpouring of compassion and support. Ashley was clearly well-loved as a daughter, friend and teammate.
Many have remarked on Ashley’s passion for her horse and the sport of eventing. In an email from the school superintendent to parents at Ashley’s school, it was noted that “her mother wanted the community to know that she ‘was doing what she loved and was so very brave.’ ”
This helmet cam video from Sporting Days March H.T., where the Ashley and Avant Garde finished 3rd in the Junior/Young Rider Open Training division, is proof. The footage tells the story of a happy, confident horse and a poised young rider who is quick with praise and pats for a job well done. Running and jumping was clearly their wheelhouse, and they had nary a cross country jump penalty in their 15 starts at USEA competitions.
Ashley was, indeed, so very brave. May her example inspire strength in those she left behind.
