While the excitement of the European Championships took precedent on the airwaves this weekend, another important competition was also taking place at Blenheim Palace: The GFS Saddles 8- and 9-year-old CCI4*-S, a perennial preview of horses that are en route to future CCI5* and/or Championship events.
New Zealand’s Samantha Lissington continued her top form in this division, piloting Quantas R (owned by The High Flyers) to the win, ending on their dressage score of 22.4. The 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding rose to victory at the CCI4*-L at Royal Jump in France this spring. Samantha also finished with two other horses in the top 15 of this enormous class that had 68 finishers, taking seventh with her own, Neil Robertson, David Taylor and Emtec Laboratories’ Lucas Stone, and 15th with Mr. and Mrs. Robin Greville Williams and Juliet and Martin Humphreys’ Malibu TS.
Several U.S. riders also competed in this division, with “keep an eye on this one” Quidley Kellerman and Blakeney’s Cruise, the best-placed of the group, coming in 13th on a final score of 40.1. Quidley’s is a cool story — you can read more on her background in this piece by Amanda Chance, after the now-19-year-old competed this horse at Le Lion in 2023. “Pancho” is a horse Blakeney has developed all the way up from Novice, and after spending time learning from riders like Kelty O’Donoghue and Avery Klunick, she relocated to the UK, based with Kevin McNab and Isabel English.
Other U.S. riders flying the flag were Hallie Coon with Lucky Fortuna, Cosby Green and Belinda Horne’s Libero D, Chris Talley and Allison Pratt’s FE Marco Polo. It’s an exciting glimpse at the U.S. pipeline, both of young horses and developing riders — with the majority finishing in the top half of the huge field, it’s a good banner for the future.
Major International Events
Agria FEI European Eventing Championships at Blenheim: [Website] [Live Stream Replays] [BBC iPlayer Broadcast] [FEI YouTube Streams] [Scores] [EN’s Coverage] [Support Our Sponsor: Horsepal]
U.S. Weekend Events
Twin Rivers Fall International (CA): [Website] [Scores]
Heritage Park H.T. (KS): [Website] [Scores]
Unionville H.T. (PA): [Website] [Scores]
University of New Hampshire H.T. (NH): [Website] [Scores]
News & Reading
We’re teaming up with Sentinel Horse Nutrition to give away a year’s worth of Sentinel Horse Feeds! This sweepstakes is accepting entries until 11:59 p.m. ET on October 6. You can full the full terms and conditions + enter for your chance to win a big break for your bank account here.
Training horses presents a delicate challenge that demands balance, not least if you’re going to team up with a horse in a competitive setting. More athletes are using data to inform their training programs, and Equestrian Sports Science Consultant Tim Worden is one advocate of data-informed decision making. In a recent presentation, Dr. Worden spoke on the importance of using biomechanics and fitness levels to achieve training objectives. You can read a full recap of the presentation here.
Ingrid Klimke recently welcomed a group of children and young people to her stable, in partnership with the Münster Child Protection Association. The visit coincided with Vielfalt Pferd, or “Horse Diversity Action Week”, which is an ongoing project in Germany that promotes more equitable access to horses. Read more about the kids’ special visit to Ingrid’s here.
A stable lower leg is paramount no matter what discipline you call home. And who better to learn from than the queen of the lower leg herself, show jumping icon Beezie Madden? Check out Beezie’s latest Jumping Clinic column on Practical Horseman for some real-life takeaways.
Sponsor Corner: Morven Park Fall International
Photo by Annan Hepner.
Limited tailgating spots are still available for the Morven Park Fall International in Leesburg, VA! It’s promising to be an unforgettable weekend of sport, with the finale of the US Equestrian Open of Eventing, the USEF/USEA Developing Horse National Championships and competition across FEI levels all on tap. You can book your tailgating experience or your free general admission pass here.
Video Break
Watch Laura Collett and London 52 claim individual gold at the Agria FEI Eventing European Championships (and read our final report here):
