Wednesday News & Notes from Haygain

CDCTA on Sunday was a blast with Sebastian and put the wind back in my sails after a tough few weeks. So many thanks…

Posted by Helen Casteel on Monday, September 13, 2021

Well, because horses can never be truly straightforward, it seems life has thrown a box of lemons at Helen Casteel, who was awarded the first Strides for Equality Equestrians Ever So Sweet Scholarship earlier this year. After spending the summer training with Sara Kozumplik Murphy with her off-track Thoroughbred, Unapproachable, “Abel” sustained a soft tissue injury that has sidelined him for the time being. Helen had been preparing for the American Eventing Championships with Abel, but Sara — never one to let a problem go unsolved — quickly stepped in and offered up the ride on Edy Rameika’s (who also is the generous sponsor of the Ever So Sweet Scholarship through the USEA Foundation) Sebastian in the interim.

Helen and Sebastian tested the waters at CDCTA this past weekend and it’s safe to say they’ve found all the right buttons so far: the pair finished third in their Beginner Novice division.

A little over three months ago I was awarded the first ever (and first of its kind) #eversosweetscholarship from Strides…

Posted by Helen Casteel on Thursday, September 9, 2021

Strides for Equality Equestrians is offering a second round of the Ever So Sweet Scholarship (ESS) this fall, and applications close on October 15 so be sure to get yours in! The purpose of the scholarship is to provide education, experience, and networking opportunities for diverse young people interested in careers in competitive horse sports, particularly in the disciplines of eventing or show jumping. To learn more about ESS, click here.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Alhambra Fall Event (Alberta, Canada): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Aspen Farms International H.T. (Yelm, Wa.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Flying Cross Farm H.T. (Lexington, Ky.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

GMHA September H.T. (South Woodstock, Vt.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

MeadowCreek Park H.T. (Kosse, Tx.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Otter Creek Fall H.T. (Wheeler, Wi.): [Website] [Entry Status]

Stone Gate Farm H.T. (Hanoverton, Oh.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Unionville CCI4*-S (Unionville, Pa.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

The Event at Skyline (Mount Pleasant, Ut.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Major International Events:

CHIO Aachen CCIO4*-S (Aachen, Germany): [Website] [Schedule and Scoring] [Entries] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Blenheim Palace International CCI4*-L/CCI4*-S (Oxfordshire, UK): [Website] [Entries] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Wednesday Reading List:

Boyd Martin has taken the reins of Annie Goodwin’s Fedarman B after Annie tragically passed away in a cross country schooling accident this summer. It’s an emotional time for all, but Annie’s parents and fiancé decided to entrust Boyd with the ride in her honor. “It really is a privilege to be riding Bruno,” Boyd told The Chronicle of the Horse. “The first couple times I rode him, it was quite emotional, sitting on the young horse Annie had ridden for years and years and done such a sensational job training. A part of me is honored to ride him, and a part of me feels uncomfortable with the success we’re achieving together because it’s all due to her hard work.”

British rider Will Rawlin was eager to get his first five-star under his belt at Bicton last weekend, but the eventing gods weren’t smiling down on him as VIP Vinnie came up lame after just two fences. Thankfully, Will hopes “Vinnie” will make a return after a year of rehab, and he reflects on the weekend that wasn’t in his latest blog.

Want to smooth out your cross country riding? Caroline Moore wants you to have five gears when you’re out on cross country — trot, coffin canter, related distance canter, gallop, and top speed. How do you achieve these, and make your riding safer in the process? Find out here.

And while you’re at it, why not brush up on some dressage skills? Carl Hester shares eight “training gems” to improve your dressage mark — and hey, he would be one to know! — with Horse & Hound here.

On the fence about adding a Haygain steamer to your barn? Your investment can go a long way to make your horses healthier and happier. Want to hear it from an expert? Read about why Dr. Hilary Clayton, a veterinarian, researcher, horse owner and dressage rider, trusts Haygain here.

Wednesday Watch This from H&C+:

It’s Blenheim weekend! It’s a star-studded line-up in the headlining CCI4*-L, with British heavy hitters such as 2018 FEI Eventing World Champion Ros Canter, Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Tom McEwen, Badminton winner Piggy March, Emily King, Toshiyuki Tanaka, Olympic gold medalist Oliver Townend…the list truly goes on and on.

You won’t want to miss the live stream with your H&C+ membership, and we’ll have Catherine Austen checking in regularly with reports from beautiful Blenheim all weekend long.

Wednesday Video Break: The ultimate “desensitizing” as demonstrated by the Brianna Noble and her crew: