We’re nearing the end of the eventing season now, but if you think that means what it does when school’s winding down for the end of semester you’d be oh so wrong. No, we’re not pulling out the old VHS player and settling back to watch dubiously-relevant-to-the-subject movies – in the eventing world it’s go, go, go eventing!
This week we’re going 5* eventing in Maryland, we’re also going baby eventing at the Young Horse World Championships, and we’re going team eventing at the oldest competition of its kind in the US at Hagyard Midsouth.
We’ve got boots on the ground at Maryland so you won’t have to miss a thing as EN will be bringing you all of the action over the course of the event, so keep your eyes on – and ears pricked – as we go eventing with not one, but three main events at Maryland. The 5* competition trots off today (Wednesday) with the first horse inspection at around 1pm EST / 6pm BST. Running alongside the 5* is the USEF 3* National Championships – you’ll be able to follow along with both of these classes on ClipMyHorse.TV. And that’s not all! Maryland is also host to the USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships with divisions for both four- and five-year-olds. So. Much. Eventing!
Maryland 5 Star: [Website] [Entries] [Drawn Order] [Live Stream] [Volunteer] [EN’s Coverage]
And talking of baby event horses, the Young Horse World Championships at Le Lion D’Angers gets going on Thursday. There’s US interest in both the six- and seven-year-old classes.
USEA Emerging Athlete U21 Program participant Quidley Kellerman will be contesting the six-year-old class with her Irish Sport Horse gelding Blakeneys Cruise.
Fresh from her Nations Cup appearance at Boekelo, Hallie Coon will be riding her own Lucky Fortuna in the seven-year-old division, alongside Chris Talley, who has traveled to France double-handed. He brings forward Corwin Sport Horses, LCC’s Hanoverian mare Gina, and his Irish Sport Horse mare Loughtown Cici. US-based Kiwi Joe Meyer brings forward the six-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Sportsfield Rising Star for a shot at the championship.
The dressage gets underway on Thursday at 9am local time / 3am EST / 8am BST, beginning with the six-year-olds, followed by the seven-year-old class at 1pm / 7am EST / 12pm BST. It continues in the same way on Friday.
Saturday’s cross country starts with the six-year-old division at 10am / 4am EST / 9am BST, with the seven-year-olds going at 1pm / 7am EST / 12pm BST.
The competition will wrap up on Sunday with the six-year-olds show jumping at 11am / 5am EST / 10am BST, finishing up with the seven-year-olds at 2:30pm / 8:30am EST / 1:30pm BST.
You can follow along with all the action from the Young Horse World Championships via the FEI YouTube channel.
Young Horse World Championships: [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Live Stream] [Scoring]
And if that’s not enough eventing for you (admit it, eventing fans are always up for more!) another event I’d like to draw your attention to is the Hagyard Midsouth Three-Day Event and Team Challenge – the oldest team eventing challenge in the US – that’s happening at Kentucky Horse Park this week. The Team competition runs at Preliminary through Beginner Novice levels and draws over 400 competitors – across the event’s history, there have been entries from all fifty states and ten countries. Find out more about this awesome event.
Hagyard Midsouth Three-day Event: [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
And on top of all this – the Pan-Ams are around the corner! The Games officially get going on Friday, with the equestrian disciplines starting out with dressage on the 22nd. That runs ‘til the 25th, then the eventers get their chance to shine between the 27th and 29th. Show jumping begins on the 31st and finishes up on November 3rd. We’ll be following the US and Canadian teams and will be bringing you ALL of the news, so keep it locked onto EN for a VERY exciting time going eventing!
#Santiago2023: [Website] [Sport Schedule] [FEI Info Hub] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]
U.S. Weekend Preview
Maryland 5 Star: [Website] [Entries] [Drawn Order] [Live Stream] [Volunteer] [EN’s Coverage]
Hagyard Midsouth Three-day Event (Lexington, KY) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Ram Tap National H.T. (Fresno, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
SAzEA Fall H.T. (Tucson, AZ) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Willow Draw Charity Show (Weatherford, TX) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Windermere Run H.T. (Grandview, MO) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Major International Events
Young Horse World Championships (Le Lion D’Angers, France): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Live Stream] [Scoring]
#Santiago2023: [Website] [Sport Schedule] [FEI Info Hub] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]
Wednesday News and Reading
Whilst we all want to feel like we’re totally in tune with our horses, this deep dive into research that suggests a scientific reason why being around our equine pals gives us the feels wonders whether the math adds up. The Heart Math Institute claims that the peace we feel when we’re around horses is due to electromagnetic fields that flow from our horse’s hearts and envelop us in feelings of love and connectedness. What a lovely thought. Alas, a hard look at the research throws up a number of problems with the sciency stuff, which is clearly explained by Horse Sport in much more sciency accurate terms than I’ve gone with here. [That Lovin’ Feelin’]
Although progressing in our sport is exciting and rewarding, it can also be pretty scary. Not only do the fences get bigger, but the pressure we put on ourselves can also grow, and in a sport that has the potential to be dangerous for both ourselves and our horses, panic and self-doubt aren’t really an option. This piece explores the emotional impact of moving up a level and explains how to get out of your own way so that you can be the best support for your horse – and have the most fun – as you go eventing. [Level-headed Leveling Up]
Some folk love a Black Beauty, others are dazzled by a gray, and probably a lot of people right now covet a Barbie-style palomino. Whichever way your preferences lie, the genetics behind horse color is pretty fascinating, as this article explains. [All in the Genes]
Legendary jockey Frankie Dettori will race for the final time in the UK this weekend before heading Stateside to ‘The Great Race Place’, Santa Anita. He spent four months racing in America last year and was second in the jockey standings, now he’s looking forward to the challenge once more – as well as the weather – and has his sights set on the Kentucky Derby. [Frankie Goes to Hollywood]
And finally, country music meets Western equestrianism. Country star and horse girl Miranda Lambert swapped the stage for the Western show circuit last weekend accompanied by her gorgeous Gypsy Vanner, Jazz. [On Song in the Saddle]
Sponsor Corner
Liz Halliday and Cooley Nutcracker. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Nutcracker and Shanroe Cooley, owned by The Nutcracker Syndicate and Ocala Horse Properties, had a great weekend at the Morven Park International! Cooley Nutcracker came in 2nd in the 4*-S, while Shanroe Cooley placed 4th in the same division. Get all the details about the Morven Park International in the full report here: A Soggy Day at Morven Park Sees Great Competition.
Video Break
Keen to see the baby event horses in action at the Young Horse World Championships and just can’t wait ‘til Saturday to see them showing off their talents across the country? Well, here’s last year’s six-year-old class doing their thing…
