Classic Eventing Nation

Great Britain Makes Change to Nominated Entries Ahead of Paris Team Selection

By on Jun 25, 2024 12:00 pm -

Ros Canter and MHS Seventeen. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

British Equestrian and the British Eventing Selectors have added a further combination to the eventing nominated entry list, following the withdrawal of Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class on June 11. Rosalind Canter now has MHS Seventeen, owned by Deirdre Johnston and Lady Milnes Coates, added to the list to join her other two nominated rides, Izilot DHI and Lordships Graffalo.

The 12 eventing athlete and horse combination will be submitted in alphabetical order to the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) as our nominated entries for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on June 25 2024.

Horse and rider detail:

Ros Canter (38) from Hallington, Lincolnshire, with Deirdre Johnston and Lady Milnes Coates’ MHS Seventeen (bay, gelding, 11yrs, 16hh, Callahan x Quidam Junior I, Breeder: Mary Brennan GBR).

The full longlist of nominated entries for the defending gold medalists can be found here.

View more of EN’s coverage of the Paris Olympics here. We are pleased to bring you our Olympic coverage with support from Kentucky Performance Products.

Dutch Team for Paris Announced

By on Jun 25, 2024 10:59 am -

Janneke Boonzaaijer and ACSI Champ de Tailleur. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The Netherlands have named the teams they will be sending to Paris in a month’s time for the Olympics.

National coach Andrew Heffernan says: “I’m looking forward to going to Paris with these four riders. My goal – and assignment – is to achieve a top 6-8 ranking with the team and I have the confidence that these riders can do that. The competitions we participated in during the preparation have ensured that we travel to Paris very well prepared. Horses and riders have shown that they can do it.”

The following riders and alternates have been tapped for eventing in Paris:

Janneke Boonzaadjer and ACSI Champ de Tailleur (by Quidam de Revel, gray, gelding, 2007)
Owner: Hetty Roozendaal and Lieke van der Werf
Groom: Ria Westeneng

Direct Reserve:
I’m Special N NOP (by I’m Special de Muze, brown, mare, 2013)
Owner: Sandhoeve Stables – Bas de Grood and Janneke Boonzaadjer
Groom: Ria Westeneng

Sanne de Jong and Enjoy. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Sanne de Jong and Enjoy (v. Cartano, gray, mare, 2009)
Owner: Sanne de Jong and Jantien van Zon
Groom: Jantien van Zon

Raf Kooremans and Crossborder Radar Love (by Diarado, brown, gelding, 2013)
Owner: Jeanine Steentjes
Groom: Lydie Kooremans

Traveling Reserve: Elaine Pen and Diwali (s.Cardento, dark brown, mare, 2008)
Owner: Eli and Stephanie Leenaars
Groom: Sabine Heijn

First Alternate: Tim Lips and Eckinops D’am (by Naiade Du Baret, chestnut, gelding, 2014)
Owner: Lips Stables
Groom: Sammie Aanraad

Alternate Horse for Sanne de Jong:

Global Faerlie Flashy (s.Primitive Fairytale, dark brown, mare, 2012)
Owner: Morgan Sheehy and Van Zon and de Jong Hippique
Groom: Jantien van Zon

National coach: Andrew Heffernan
Team veterinarian: Leendert Jan Hofland

View more of EN’s coverage of the Paris Olympics here. We are pleased to bring you our Olympic coverage with support from Kentucky Performance Products.

Astier Nicolas Withdraws Babylon de Gamma from Paris Consideration

By on Jun 25, 2024 9:30 am -

Astier Nicolas and Babylon de Gamma. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Astier Nicolas is down to one horse in the running for the yet-to-be-named final French team ahead of their home Olympics in Paris next month. The 2016 team gold and individual silver medalist announced that he had withdrawn Babylon de Gamma from consideration after a minor injury stemming from a lost shoe was sustained at Marbach in Germany in May.

His statement posted on social media, which has been translated from German (please forgive any translation errors!) is as follows:

“The small injury sustained from his cross-country course in Marbach, which was run mostly unbeaten, leaves us a little less time than initially planned to prepare him for the Olympic Games. After discussions with federal staff, his owners and I resolved with great disappointment to remove him from the competition. We are all competitive bitten but we love our horse more than anything. No doubt he will come back stronger to face new challenges together.”

“Ultimately, it turns out that the timing won’t be perfect,” he also told Cheval Mag. “I don’t want to take him if the conditions aren’t ideal.”

Astier was named to the French longlist with two horses, the other being the 14-year-old Anglo Arabian gelding, Alertamalib’or (Summer Song – Dambine, by Prince Ig’or). Alertamalib’or achieved his final MER for Paris in the 4*-S at Luhmühlen earlier this month. The gelding also came second in the 4*-L at Saumur in April and won at the same level and same venue in 2022. Alertamalib’or was also Astier’s partner for the most recent FEI World Championships for Eventing in Pratoni del Vivaro.

So while it could be argued that the 13-year-old Babylon de Gamma (Mylord Carthago – Sunshine Des Ka, by Happy Vergoignan) may have been the more competitive of the two, being a confirmed 5* horse, Astier is by no means out of the running for what would be his second Olympic appearance, and the experience of Alertamalib’or should not be discounted.

Astier Nicolas and Alertamalib’Or. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

“[Alertamalib’or] qualified like the great champion he is with an extremely demanding season where qualification and selection had to be cumulative,” Astier wrote. “He had no fault and never failed in each of his three qualifying outings, and he took on the challenge beautifully.”

The full French longlist can be viewed here as we eagerly await the final selection of the “home team”. Definite entries are due on July 8, so we will have all teams and individuals by or before then. Stay tuned.

View more of EN’s coverage of the Paris Olympics here. We are pleased to bring you our Olympic coverage with support from Kentucky Performance Products.

Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products

By on Jun 25, 2024 7:46 am -

This morning marks the occasion of Georgie Campbell’s funeral — a standing room only affair in the church that’s stood steadfast through her life and many, many complex and beautiful lives before hers.

The endless fall of rain in England has stopped, and the sudden appearance of the sun has sent the verges wild: the drive down the A21 sees them unfurling joyously, rambunctiously into the road. And they’ve come dressed for the occasion, too — there’s a sea of little white flowers, workmanlike and bustling and communal, and a rollicking spread of purple blooms, big petalled and small, giving praise and celebrating, a tiny miracle of nature and serendipity.

And celebrating is what we all need to do, now. Summer has come — it was Camus, I think, who wrote that “in the midst of winter I found there was, within me, an invincible summer”, and though I’ve probably butchered that quote in pulling it out of the back storeroom of my brain, we all need to find in ourselves that sunshine as we forge ahead.

There are fruit vendors, operating out of the backs of their cars, dotted along the roads into Kent. They sell cherries and strawberries, plucked from their nearby vines and trees, and it’s so easy to go on autopilot and cruise past them, thinking only of the end destination. But instead, we all need to find joy and the thrill of the extraordinary gift of life, and we need to stop, and dig around in our centre consoles for some sticky spare change, and buy the cherries. We need to bite into them and feel the warm, sweet, tangy juice drip down our chins and stain our fingers and our tops red. We need to taste and smell and see and hear everything, to take it in, to marvel in how lucky we are to do so. And we need to love one another, and our horses, and our lot in life, because even when it gets incredibly hard to do so, we have a gift: the gift of second chances, of the possibility of changed circumstances.

We’ll never know what’s around the corner for us. We have to live as though it’ll be the greatest thing yet, and we also have to live as though it may be the final chapter.

Today, we say goodbye, but we don’t forget. If you would like to be part of Georgie’s continued legacy, please consider donating to one of the following organisations.

The British Eventing Support Trust is working together with Sporting Chance to continue to provide help to anyone who needs it. You can donate here or call 07780 008877 at any time of the day or night to be connected with a mental health professional. Or, email [email protected].

Georgie was also a passionate advocate for spinal cord injury survivors. You can donate to BackUp Trust in her honour here and help to give people with a spinal cord injury a full and flourishing life.

Fly high, Georgie.

Events Opening This Week: Masterson Equestrian Trust YEH/NEH Qualifier, WindRidge Farm Summer H.T., Fair Hill International Recognized H.T., Woodside Summer H.T, Otter Creek Summer H.T., GMHA Festival of Eventing August H.T.

Events Closing This Week: One & Done Horse Trials, US Pony Club Championships, The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm, Genesee Valley Hunt H.T.

News & Notes from Around the World:

You might not think of Hawaii as an eventing stronghold. And, like, fair enough – it’s not! But there is a community of equestrians there, and a love for horses that was enough to feed the drive and desire of a young Gaby Ruane when she was growing up there. Now, she runs her own eventing business out of Reddick, Florida (that one IS an eventing stronghold!) and is chasing her dreams, big time. Find out more about this up-and-coming talent here.

We’re still riding the wave of an exciting mandatory outing for the US team at Stable View. If you feel much the same, you’ll enjoy diving into this visual review of the weekend.

Noor Slaoui isn’t just Morocco’s first-ever international eventer — she’s also the only rider from an Arab nation to compete in the sport at Paris this year. Both are incredible achievements already, but even more amazing? She began her riding journey on the backs of mules, trekking through the mountains and falling completely in love with riding. She then began competing in her late teens and now, at 29, she’s soon to be an Olympian. Read her remarkable story here.

To celebrate the launch of Canter Culture’s first riding top, the Alice Sun Shirt, Canter Culture is giving away an entire outfit! For your chance to win an Alice Sun Shirt, one pair of Athletic Breeches, Boot Socks, and a Double Circle Belt, all you have to do is sign up for our newsletter and fill out the form in the 7/1 ICYMI Newsletter! Winner will select color options & sizing. Canter Culture seamlessly blends style & sport, so all that’s left to do is enjoy the ride. Stay tuned– we’ll announce the winner in our weekly newsletter on 7/1! Sign up for our newsletter here.

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.

Sponsor Corner: After putting in great performances at the last mandatory team outing last weekend, what’s next for Team USA before they hit the ground in Versailles? Whether they’re heading to Aachen or going back to their home bases, find out the plan for Team USA between now and July 24th. Read it here! All of Eventing Nation’s coverage of the Paris Olympics is made possible by Kentucky Performance Products, your source for affordable, guaranteed, and research-proven horse supplements.

Applications Now Open for Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant

By on Jun 24, 2024 4:07 pm -

The Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant is now open to qualified applicants! The 2025 recipient shall receive $20,000 in funding. All applicants must be:

  • Professional member in good standing with their respective national governing body
  • US citizen or legal resident
  • Demonstrate financial need
  • Reside in Aiken, SC, for a minimum of 3 months annually
  • Between the ages of 18 and 30 years of age by January 31st of application year

This grant is open to riders of all disciplines. The deadline to apply for the 2025 grant is September 30th, 2024. For more information and the online application, visit aikenhorsepark.org/annie-goodwin-rising-star.

The Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant provides financial support for young professional equestrians establishing the early years of their business and wishing to continue their equestrian education and competition. In 2024, the Annie Goodwin Rising Star Grant was awarded to Isabelle Bosley.

What’s Next: Team USA’s Logistical Plan Ahead of Paris

By on Jun 24, 2024 10:15 am -

Will Coleman and Off the Record. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.

Team USA horses and riders have completed their last Mandatory Outing at Stable View this weekend, so what comes next?

A few of our team alternates will be competing at CHIO Aachen: James Alliston and Karma, Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle, and Liz Halliday and Miks Master C, along with also Liz’s other ride, Shanroe Cooley, competing as an individual. Alyssa Phillips and Oskar, who have been basing in Europe to this point, will also join the team in Aachen next weekend.

Meanwhile, most Paris team members will be heading back to their own training bases for the next few weeks to continue fine-tuning details. Chef d’Equipe, Bobby Costello, will make some visits to their various home bases after returning from Aachen.

James Alliston and Karma, alternates for Team USA, will next compete at CHIO Aachen. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.

The team will then have a final conditioning gallop in Pennsylvania, and horses will fly out from The Arc at JFK airport (NY) on the night of July 16 and arrive in Europe on the 17, flying into Liege, Belgium.

Dr. Susan Johns, team veterinarian, will fly with the horses to and from the games. “I always say that my biggest job is delivering this precious cargo to the championships and making sure that they’re safe,” she says.

The riders will follow close behind their mounts and the team will have around six days of training south of Versailles before moving into the venue on July 24. As far as training plans go for that week, it depends on what’s best for each pair.

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.

“Every athlete will have their plan for the week – whatever is going to suit their horse. We also have one final ‘breeze up a hill’ kind of gallop during that week,” Bobby says.

US Equestrian Director of the Elite Eventing Program, Gemma Stobbs, ensures that every little detail that you could ever think of is taken care of. She organizes travel for the riders and horses, lodging, paperwork, accreditations, and so much more. These are all little pieces, but they definitely add up.

“I really enjoy the puzzle of getting all the moving parts together and creating an environment where everyone doesn’t have to worry about those day-to-day things. Then, they can really just focus on their job,” Gemma explains. Gemma is not only figuring out logistics for the three team members, but she’s also organizing the details for the traveling reserve and alternates on stand-by.

Boyd Martin and Fedarman B. Photo by Megan Runge for Liz Crawley Photography.

Compared to other championships, the Games are of course different in that many outside organizations are involved as well. They have to work within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s (USOPC) parameters for transportation, accreditation, etc.

As far as goals for Paris goes, of course, the big one is for Team USA to medal. “I feel very comfortable with the plan that we have, what the expectations are, and how we’re going to fulfill those expectations,” Bobby says. He also acknowledges that anything can happen at any time, like any other event, but feels confident in the selectors’ choice of team members.

“An incredible amount of study and restudy goes into team selection,” he explained. “Selectors spend tons of time going over, line by line, horses’ records and then also taking into consideration current form and the trend someone might be on.”

Aachen-bound Liz Halliday and Miks Master C. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.

Dr. Susan says that as soon as the Tokyo Olympics (2021) ended, they began monitoring the emerging horses with evaluations throughout the year, checking in with their routine vets, etc.
“I make sure that these horses have everything they need so they have a lot of longevity in their careers and they’ll be available for us for multiple championships and things down the road,” she elaborated.

Along with Bobby, Gemma, and Dr. Susan Johns, Team USA Farrier, Beck Ratte, and Team USA Equine Physiotherapist, Linda Vegher, ensure the horses are happy and healthy.

Beck works with the horses’ routine farriers throughout the year in order to be prepared to provide them with the best care at the Games. “It is a challenging and hugely rewarding job to be involved with these horse and rider combinations and watching them compete at any level is inspiring,” Beck says.

Will Coleman and his direct reserve horse, Diabolo. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.

Linda works to prepare the horses’ muscles for training, working out kinks and relaxing their bodiees through massage. Ultimately, she makes sure they are feeling 110% and ready to perform.

“My favorite part of my job is seeing an improvement in the horses after I work on them and also getting to know their different personalities and their communication styles,” Linda says.

Team USA staff work constantly to make sure horses, riders, and support staff are safe, happy, and set up for success. But what can you do to also support the team from home? Gemma says that the best thing you can do is put your best foot forward.

“There’s so much negativity out there around social media, but I think it would be really great if everyone could come together and show the love of the horse sports and the love of the horses.”

Each Olympic cycle, there’s the question of if equestrian events will be included. Gemma explains that “in order to be included in the next Olympic games, people have to want to see equestrian sport at the highest level performing. I think that getting rid of that negativity and coming together to support Team USA is what I would love to see.”

Go Team USA and Go Eventing.

View more of EN’s coverage of the Paris Olympics here. We are pleased to bring you our Olympic coverage with support from Kentucky Performance Products.

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Jun 24, 2024 8:22 am -

 

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A post shared by Andrea Baxter (@a_baxta)

I know the Olympics are coming right up and that SHOULD be my sole focus, but I’ll be real with you – at least fifty percent of my brain is taken up at all times with thoughts of Indy 500’s very expensive, very cheeky, VERY CUTE baby, Cha Ching 500, which I’m hoping desperately is going to be his actual, official, registered name. He and mama had a rough start to life but now, thanks to the round the clock ministrations of their team helmed by Andrea Baxter, they’re both doing great, and Chingy celebrated his month birthday last week. When this one wins a five-star, it’ll be a real fairytale, won’t it?

National Holiday: It’s the day before National Anthony Bourdain Day, which is really all I care about.

U.S. Weekend Action

Fox River Valley Pony Club H.T. (Barrington Hills, IL) [Website] [Results]

Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Summer H.T. (Leesburg, VA) [Website] [Results]

Midsouth Pony Club H.T. (Lexington, KY) [Website] [Results]

Round Top H.T. (Castle Rock, CO) [Entries] [Results]

Stable View Summer H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Results]

Valinor Farm H.T. (Plymouth, MA) [Website] [Results]

UK International Events

Alnwick Ford International (Northumberland) [Website] [Results]

International Events

Strzegom Horse Trials & FEI Nations Cup (Poland) [Website] [Results]

SemaLease Kilguilkey House International 1 (Ireland) [Website] [Results]

Your Monday Reading List:

Ever thought about entering an eventing derby? Or have you never even encountered one? If you haven’t, we definitely recommend seeing if you’ve got one on the calendar near you. They’re a great, low-pressure, enormously fun introduction to the sport for inexperienced horses, new competitors, or even for a mid-season refresher. Here’s a primer on what to expect.

We’ve shared this before, but I’ll share it again because I love it and it’s important. Chris Talley isn’t just a top-level eventer, fighting to get his name up in lights – he’s also a proud gay man and an advocate for safe spaces within our sport. Take five and get to know him, his story, and his continued commitment to creating a platform for representation.

We won’t see our reigning Olympic champion at Paris this year, but good news: she’s pregnant! That’s Amande de b’Neville, not rider Julia Krajewski, mind you – but what a mama-t0-be she is. She’s been confirmed in foal to Cascadello, following her retirement from competition in January owing to an unresolvable hoof issue. We can’t wait to follow along with her journey, and would like to put ourselves forward to take the maternity photos in a pumpkin patch somewhere, thanks. Here’s the full story. 

Not an eventer, but the high-flying husband of one: huge congratulations to William Funnell, husband of Pippa, who won a record fifth Hickstead Derby yesterday with his wife overcome with emotions at the ringside. Talk about a power couple!

Morning Viewing:

Rewatch all the action from Strzegom’s Nations Cup CCIO4*-S – which was also the final Olympic selection trial! – here:

French Winning Streak Continues in Strzegom

By on Jun 23, 2024 1:39 pm -

Team France take the win for the FEI Eventing Nations Cup | Poland. Strzegom Horse Trials. Sebastien At riding Casanova Du Frety; Marie Bouchanville riding Cap’taine Charles; Verane Nicaud riding Baron d’Etat; Camille Laisney riding Avalone.
Photo: Libby Law Photography

If Strzegom proved one thing, it was that eventing is rarely predictable. The leaderboard changed dramatically throughout but a young French team proved they could fight until the end, climbing from last to first in the fifth leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ in Poland today. Their score of 145.5 was just a whisker ahead of cross-country leaders Sweden, who wound up on 146.6. Whilst Poland delighted their home crowd by finishing in third on 168.3.

All four riders were making their first appearance for the French Team in a Nations Cup competition, but this did not stop them beating stiff competition, including a number of leading riders. These included reigning Olympic champion Julia Krajewski (GER) and winner of six Olympic medals Andrew Hoy (AUS) who at 65 years old was the most experienced competitor in the clubhouse.

The French had a disappointing start in the dressage phase, where they finished last of the five teams which came forward with Australia out in front. The cross country phase proved influential, particularly the time with very few riders finishing without penalties. French rider Camille Laisney was one of them and also came out overall winner of the CCIO4*-S.

Camille Laisney rides Avalone during the cross country for the FEI Eventing Nations Cup.
Photo: Libby Law Photography

She was full of praise for her talented French-bred mare, Avalone. “It was a really nice day. For me the dressage was not really good, but I was last to go in cross-country yesterday and I saw that the time was hard to get and my horse is really fast so I say ‘ok I can do something here.’ This is the first time I have come here and the cross-country is amazing. The ground is perfect and all the fences were nice. The showjumping arena is impressive and that can be challenging for horses. I am going to take her of her (horse) as she is just the best.”

20-year-old Verane Nicaud has no doubt impressed French selectors ahead of the FEI European Young Rider Championships which take place next month at this very venue.

“It was an amazing week and many beautiful memories. We all get the chance to do our first Nations Cup here so that was a big experience for all of us and this is part of a dream which we share. My next goal is the Young Rider European Championships which is here (at Strzegom). We just tried our best out there and it paid. The cards were really changing after the cross-country, and the time was hard to make, but we are all happy. My next goal will be a four-star long like Boekelo. We came with nothing to lose and we win, and that was a dream. We hope we have shown that France is ready to compete well at the Olympics in Paris.”

Marie Bouchanville rides Cap’taine Charles during the Cross Country for the FEI Eventing Nations Cup.
Photo: Libby Law Photography

Marie Bouchanville and Sebastien At made up the French quartet and were both full of praise for the venue. “I really like Strzegom. We are really far away, it took two days to come but the weather was really nice and the cross-country was lovely to ride” said Bouchanville.

Technical delegate at Strzegom, Giuseppe Della Chiesa, highlighted how well supported the event remains, and how useful that can be for Nations needing team practice ahead of Championships. “It is great to see how much this event has improved over time. The good thing of the sport is that everywhere is different. Strzegom has been put on the map because there is a good atmosphere and a well-supported atmosphere.”

In just two appearances, France have remained unbeatable in the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Series this season, winning the opening leg in Montelibretti back in March. The nation has shown strength and depth in their Eventing squad over the last few season. They have used the Series to give both less experienced riders and more seasoned team members useful practice competing as a team.

France is now out in front first in the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ standings with 200 points, just ahead of Italy and Switzerland who have 180 points. The Series will now move to Arville in Belgium next month (15-18th August), for the sixth event in this eight-leg Series which concludes at Boekelo (NED) in October.

Full results can be found here.

Sunday Links from EcoVet

By on Jun 23, 2024 12:01 am -

From sitting in 20th after dressage, French rider Camille Laisney aboard Avalone submitted two double-clear rounds in cross country and show jumping to win the whole damn thing today in the CCIO4* FEI Eventing Nations Cup at Strzegom. This brought the gold for Team France as well, with Sweden’s team in second and Poland leaving with the bronze. Quite a nice accomplishment under the belt of this year’s Olympic host team, and a great way to go into the month proceeding the Paris Games. Allons-y!

U.S. Weekend Action

Fox River Valley Pony Club H.T. (Barrington Hills, IL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Summer H.T. (Leesburg, VA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Midsouth Pony Club H.T. (Lexington, KY) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Round Top H.T. (Castle Rock, CO) [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Stable View Summer H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Valinor Farm H.T. (Plymouth, MA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

UK International Events

Alnwick Ford International (Northumberland) [Website] [Entries] [Scoring]

International Events

Strzegom Horse Trials & FEI Nations Cup (Poland) [Website] [Entries] [Timetable] [FEI YouTube Channel – NC Dressage Free Live Stream][Free Live Stream NC Show Jumping] [Free Live Stream NC Cross Country][Whole Event Live Stream via CMH] [Scoring]

SemaLease Kilguilkey House International 1 (Ireland) [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Scoring]

Links to Start Your Sunday:

Tom McEwen’s CHF Cooliser welcomes her first embryo transfer baby by Diarado

It’s Getting Hot In Here: 6 Myths About Cooling Horses in Hot Weather

Bittersweet: William Fox-Pitt’s Grafennacht to transfer to Harry Meade upon his retirement

Equestrian Sports: Millions of Fans, Missing Millions in Sponsorships

To celebrate the launch of Canter Culture’s first riding top, the Alice Sun Shirt, Canter Culture is giving away an entire outfit! For your chance to win an Alice Sun Shirt, one pair of Athletic Breeches, Boot Socks, and a Double Circle Belt, all you have to do is sign up for our newsletter and fill out the form in the 7/1 ICYMI Newsletter! Winner will select color options & sizing. Canter Culture seamlessly blends style & sport, so all that’s left to do is enjoy the ride.

Stay tuned– we’ll announce the winner in our weekly newsletter on 7/1! Sign up for our newsletter here.

Sponsor Corner: Your horse can’t develop insect-related skin issues if the flies can’t land on them in the first place! Take a look at this impressive before and after using Ecovet’s fatty acid fly repellent formula. [Shop now]

Morning Viewing: Settle in to watch cross country for the CCIO4* FEI Eventing Nations Cup at Strzegom here!

Team USA at Final Event Before Paris: Cross Country Report from Stable View

By on Jun 22, 2024 4:44 pm -

Will Coleman and Off the Record. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.

Team USA used their cross country day here at the last Mandatory Outing at Stable View to test their fitness and overall adjustability. Riders didn’t worry too much about making time, though U.S. chef d’equipe Bobby Costello instructed them to ride competitively, ensuring the horses a confident round before heading off to Europe in a few weeks.

Boyd Martin and the Annie Goodwin Syndicate’s Fedarman B (Eurocommerce Washington – Paulien B, by Fedor) picked up 15.2 time penalties and no jump faults. Boyd explained that there are some small improvements that need to be made over the next few weeks, and they’ll probably do another cross country school to work on adjustability, turning, and accuracy.

“We’re in good shape – I feel like they’re confident and they’re jumping well. They feel healthy and everything is going according to plan,” he says.

Will Coleman and the Off the Record Syndicate’s Off The Record (Arkansas VDL – Drumagoland Bay, by Ard Ohio) had 2.4 time penalties, making their round the fastest time among the team. Since we aren’t exactly sure what the course will look like in Paris with designer Pierre le Goupil, Will used Capt. Mark Phillips’ course this weekend to make sure Off The Record was listening and confident.

One thing we do know for sure about the course in Versailles is that the horses will gallop over the Grand Canal by means of pontoon bridges. Will puts it plainly: “As long as the horses stay on top of the bridge, it should be fine.”

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.

Caroline Pamukcu and Mollie Hoff and Sherrie Martin’s HSH Blake (Tolan R – Doughiska Lass, by Kannan) took 18 time penalties, but she says that ultimately, he feels ready for the Games. Again, the team was mainly using this weekend as practice for what’s to come, not worrying about being at the top of the leaderboard. “I’m really fortunate. I feel like the USEF has brought Blake and I up the levels together; they kind of raised us, so we feel really prepared and ready.”

Unfortunately, Liz Halliday and the Nutcracker Syndicate/Ocala Horse Properties’ Cooley Nutcracker (Tolant R – Ballyshan Cleopatra, by Cobra) parted ways after the water question at 5B; no injuries were reported for either her or the horse. While of course never the ideal outcome, Liz will be confident in the results she’s had with Cooley Nutcracker as she prepares to head to Paris as the team’s Traveling Reserve. “At the end of the day, the way the Olympics works is you have to be ready to go, at any moment, in any phase,” Liz told the USEA yesterday. “So I’ll make sure that I’m 100% ready to step in should the team need me…so I’ll have the horse fit to run and all the things.”

Liz Halliday and Cooley Nutcracker. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.

There’s a balancing act between training your horse enough to perform well at the Games and burning them out before such an important event. All team members said the same thing: knowing how to find the happy medium comes with experience.

Caroline relies on consistency to make sure that Blake reaches his peak at the right time. “I’m just following my same program, my same system that I’ve established,” she says. Sticking with what has worked in the past is going to be the best plan for the horses and riders going forward. Will says that the happy medium is taking it day by day. “I have a plan, but I’m very flexible within that plan.”

Boyd Martin and Fedarman B. Photo by Megan Runge for Liz Crawley Photography.

Boyd, no stranger to the Olympics, says that “I’ve made every mistake you could ever imagine. The biggest thing is learning from the errors and thinking back to what you did right, what you did wrong, and trying to refine it each time.”

Overall, Stable View provided a wonderful last outing for the team. “It’s a great group, we have a lot of experience, and some good horses. This weekend served its purpose,” Will says.

The riders and horses are well-supported; it certainly takes a village. Whether it’s the Team USA staff, the grooms, the owners, the ones keeping the fort down at home, etc., each horse and rider pair have many people in their corner.

“We have nothing but world class people and we’re lucky that we’re supported by so many wonderful human beings,” Will says.

Chef d’Equipe Bobby Costello says that he is proud of the team’s ability to work together, especially during this weekend. “The last few team trips have been great because everyone has shown that they can really work as a unit. That’s incredibly important if you want to be successful,” he comments.

James Alliston and Karma. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.

One of the seven alternates, James Alliston, made the trip all the way from California for this outing. Sydney Elliot was kind enough to host him before they shipped both Karma (Escudo II – Travita, by Lavita) and QC Diamantaire (Diarado – Lantana, by Sandro Hit) to Stable View.

James remarked that he appreciates the fact that Karma, who is owned by Alliston Equestrian and Ric Plummer, was able to come and get some experience on different terrain. “It was really nice for her to see a different venue on the grass, which is always good for the California horses. They’re not used to that, so it was really awesome!”

James and Karma will also make an appearance at CHIO Aachen in a few weeks. From now until then, his groom, Sophie Hulme, will ride her a few times while James is back in California. After meeting up with them in Germany, they’ll train with the rest of the Defender US Eventing Team before going down the centerline on July 5.

James only picked up 0.8 time penalties today, and he hopes to keep that swiftness going into Aachen, since that course will require a bit of a faster run. “Karma is very fast and nippy, but she settles into it as she goes. This course at Stable View will have helped with making time at Aachen,” he says.

Will Coleman and Diabolo. Photo by Austin Ross for Liz Crawley Photography.

James and Karma finished with a win in the Advanced division on a 36.1. Will and Off The Record followed on a 37.4, and in third was Will with his direct reserve, the Diabolo Group’s Diabolo (Diarado – Roulett M, by Aljano 2) on a 38.3.

Now, the countdown begins! We’re all wishing Team USA the best of luck gearing up for Paris in these next few weeks. Bon voyage et bonne chance!

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