Eventing Nation
Red on right, white on left, insanity in the middleWednesday News & Notes 21 Jan 2025, 11:01 pm
UK readers, this one’s for you! World Champion and Olympic medalist Ros Canter is inviting you to her yard for some insight into how she trains, works with her horses, and sets her operation up for success. This event will take place on February 8 beginning at 4 pm local time. VIP and general admission tickets can be booked here.
U.S Weekend Preview
Rocking Horse Winter I H.T. (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer]
Full Gallop Farm January H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer]
News & Reading
We’ve teamed up with Strides for Equality Equestrians to raffle off a private flat lesson with British Olympian William Fox-Pitt during his Ocala, FL clinic in March! Click here for more details on how to enter before the end of this month.
Team EN is hard at work on some very exciting things for 2025! To that end, we’ve love your feedback on merch as we look ahead to re-launching our much-loved line just for you, our readers! Click here to take a quick survey. We’d appreciate it!
It’s the story we’ve all been waiting for. After images and videos of a young girl riding a horse to safety during the raging California wildfires, the equestrian community at large wanted to know more. The Chronicle of the Horse got the full story from 16-year-old Kalyna Fedorowycz, who rode the Fresian-Warmblood gelding Sovereignty to safety. Don’t miss it here.
We’ve mentioned the British Eventing Support Trust many times here on EN over the years, but what does your donation to this organization do? Learn more about BEST and how it helps its members here.
Nazila Hejazi and her 20-year-old Missouri Fox Trotter mare, Tessa, may have made for an unconventional pair at the USEA Area VI Championships, held in October at Galway Downs (Temecula, CA) but they didn’t let that hold them back. It’s uncommon to see a horse in their twenties still competing in eventing, and even more rare for a gaited horse to compete in a jumping sport. Read their story here.
Video Break
A new tip from 5* rider and FEI judge Valerie Pride, focused on instilling confidence on cross country with your horse!
Eventing Community Meets in Lausanne to Shape the Future of the Sport 21 Jan 2025, 8:00 am
Chair of the FEI Eventing Committee David O’Connor leading the proceedings (Photo credit: FEI/Germain Arias-Schreiber)
The FEI Eventing Forum 2025, held for the first time in Lausanne on 17 and 18 January, united 128 participants — including elite Athletes, Eventing Officials, National Safety Officers, Organisers, and National Federation representatives from 27 nations — to address key topics of importance to the development of the sport.
“Our sport is at an important juncture, and we must continue working together as a community to develop a strong plan for the future of Eventing,” said FEI Eventing Committee Chair David O’Connor (USA) who led the proceedings over the two days.
“But this gathering was also an opportunity to reflect on our recent successes. The Olympic Games Paris 2024 showcased the very best of Eventing, with Cross Country day in Versailles delivering an unforgettable experience. Those who were there witnessed the incredible power and athleticism of our horse and athlete combinations up close — an experience few sports can match.
“At the same time, we recognise the need for improvement to ensure our sport remains sustainable and continues to engage future audiences. The past few days have provided an important space for the community to address key issues and have face-to-face discussions about the future of the sport, and the insights from athletes who travelled to Lausanne were invaluable to these conversations.”
The first day of discussions focused on shaping the future of Eventing, with actionable goals prioritising horse welfare as the cornerstone of progress.
Participants at the Athletes and Coaches session on the second day of the Forum (Photo credit: FEI/Germain Arias-Schreiber)
Participants were also asked to consider the potential impact of the possible format changes for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, including their effects on event management, veterinary requirements, and medal ceremonies. Additionally, the FEI Eventing Rules Revision process was discussed, with the revision schedule moved forward to 2025 to ensure new rules are implemented ahead of the 2026 World Championships and aligned with preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Sam Watson of EquiRatings delivered an insightful presentation on risk management and course standards, highlighting the value of data-driven approaches to enhance safety while maintaining the sport’s competitive integrity. He emphasised the importance of measurable benchmarks to guide decisions and ensure the sport remains both challenging and safe for all participants.
The second day of the Forum began with a session which featured a distinguished panel of athletes and coaches, each with multiple Olympic and World Championship medals to their name, including Andrew Nicholson (NZL), Phillip Dutton (USA), Andrew Hoy (AUT), and Ros Canter (GBR). The session was moderated by one of Germany’s most accomplished Eventing athletes in history, Bettina Hoy and France’s Pierre Le Goupil, the Cross Country Course designer for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Key discussions during the session focused on ways to enhance sporting performance while prioritising horse welfare, exploring strategies for better results without compromising horse care, managing fatigue, and the role of senior athletes in mentoring less experienced riders.
Photo credit: FEI
This was followed by a discussion on recent updates to the FEI Eventing Officials’ Education System, the Course Designers Mentoring Programme led by FEI Level 4 Eventing Judge Anne-Mette Binder (DEN), Event Manager Alec Lochore (GBR), and Technical Delegate Neil Mackenzie-Hall (NZL). The fast-track system was also discussed as a way to support athletes nearing the end of their careers in transitioning into officiating roles, offering mentorship opportunities to help them.
The afternoon’s discussions, led by David O’Connor, Geoff Sinclair (AUS), and Stuart Buntine (GBR) focused on critical areas of risk management data, including a comprehensive review of international and national statistics on falls and injuries collected between 2015 and 2024. This was followed by a discussion on the effectiveness of MIM safety mechanisms, which highlighted the implications of soft activations and strategies to optimise their application.
Rosie Williams from British Eventing also provided participants with an overview of a study on the flag rule which was done to better inform the rule change process.
The National Safety Officers Seminar which took place the day after the Forum, focused on risk management programmes within National Federations and helmet safety, with contributions from FEI Medical Committee Chair Dr Mark Hart (USA) and representatives from the National Federations of Germany, Great Britain, Spain and Austria.
Summaries of the FEI Eventing Forum discussions, as well as videos and presentations can be found on the Eventing Seminars 2025-2026 section of the Risk Management Hub here.
Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products 20 Jan 2025, 11:01 pm
Several U.S.-based athletes attended the weekend’s FEI Eventing Forum, held in Lausanne, Switzerland to discuss important matters within the sport of eventing. On topic for discussion were things such as the proposed changes to the eventing format for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, a rule change proposed to the existing flag rule on cross country, risk management measures, and more.
We’ll have more coming from the Eventing Forum in the coming days (and stay tuned for a press release from the FEI recapping the sessions today), but for now we’ll give the mic to Phillip Dutton, who was in attendance and shared his thoughts on social media. You can also review the Eventing Forum topics and recordings of sessions here.
Phillip’s thoughts can be found in the post embedded above or directly on Facebook here.
Events Opening This Week
Sporting Days Farm March H.T. (SC); Bouckaert Equestrian H.T. International (GA); SAzEA Spring H.T. (AZ); Southern Pines H.T. I (NC); Full Gallop Farm March I H.T. (SC)
Events Closing Today
Pine Top Intermediate (GA); Ocala Winter I (FL); Galway Downs Kickoff H.T. – Late Entries (CA)
News & Reading
In honor of Martin Luther King Day on January 20, the USEA DEI Committee penned a thoughtful piece on how to honor his legacy through small acts of kindness within our sport. Read it here.
Chronicle of the Horse blogger Jamie Sindell took pen to paper to expand on how horses gave her young daughter a sense of empowerment. This is surely a sentiment many of us can relate you, and you’ll find some reflections to take to heart within your own journey here.
German Olympian Jérôme Robiné is ready to take a new role within the sport this year as he steps in as co-U25 coach alongside Andreas Dibowski. You can read Jérôme’s thoughts on this new era in an interview with Buschreiter here.
Should you adjust your horse’s diet during their winter time off? Get some help from an equine nutritionist on feeding during this transitional period here.
Sponsor Corner: Kentucky Performance Products
Last week, we introduced you to the all-new offering from Kentucky Performance Products, AirWise! Multiphase research trials conducted at the University of Georgia demonstrate the benefits of AirWise in supporting a return to normal airway function in these horses.
AirWise is s synergistic formula developed to support healthy airway function in horses showing signs of inflammatory airway conditions. Learn more about it here.
Video Break
Take a walk down memory lane with some footage from the 1974 World Championships held at Burghley.
Weekend Winners: Stable View & Ram Tap 20 Jan 2025, 11:30 am
Stable View and Ram Tap kept Eventers busy on each coast this weekend, from Starter/Intro to Preliminary.
Congrats to all of our Weekend Winners, with an extra special shout out to the winner of our Unofficial Low Score Award, Holly Fosmark and Christallo D, who scored a 22.5 in the Training CT at Ram Tap!
Stable View Aiken Opener H.T. (SC): [Website][Scoring]
Open Preliminary: Lindsay Beer-Drury and Southern Time (33.2)
Preliminary Rider: Jillian Newman and Curraghgraigue freeman (29.6)
Modified Rider: Lily Barlow and MBF Dignified Duchess (32.1)
Open Modified: Waylon Roberts and Must Have (30.0)
Open Training: Maddie Hale and Shanbeg Legacy (23.6)
Training Horse: Waylon Roberts and Fernhill THE WILD CARD (30.0)
Training Rider: Ellie Cunningham and Excel Star Brightside (29.2)
Novice Horse: Courtney Cooper and Star Power (29.2)
Novice Rider: Mary McKeon and Sexy Black Dress (28.9)
Open Novice: Shannon Riley and Winsome Willow (25.8)
Beginner Novice Horse: Hayley Frielick and Dunedin LB Muze (25.9)
Beginner Novice Rider: Ashley Thorp and Dassett Olympus (22.7)
Open Beginner Novice: Alexander Conrad and Dream Away (25.0)
Starter: LeeAnn Ingraham and Trump Card (31.0)
Ram Tap Combined Test (CA): [Website][Scoring]
Preliminary CT Provisional Scores: Alexis Helffrich and Casanova (29.7)
Modified CT Provisional Scores: Christine Poulos and Quality Beach (37.5)
Modified Dressage: Nadia Vogt and New Gaillard AJK (34.5)
Training CT: Holly Fosmark and Christallo D (22.5)
Novice CT: Holly Fosmark and Christallo D (27.5)
Novice Dressage: Georgia Gobos and Fernandes (33.1)
Beginner Novice CT: Lauren Klingel and When Starz Align (24.1)
Grasshopper CT: Hannah Ketcherside and Little Sure Shot (35.9)
Introductory CT: Kyra Glass and Tonzagold (35.3)
2nd Annual Sport Science Seminar Unites and IGNITEs Equine Industry 20 Jan 2025, 8:30 am
“Mind-blowing” was a go-to reaction for attendees describing their experience at IGNITE’s 2nd Annual Sport Science for the Olympic Disciplines Seminar.
Dedicated to advancing equine athlete management, the Seminar drew a diverse field of experts to the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, FL on Jan. 12-13. These veterinarians, physios and researchers connected with top riders, grooms, farriers, footing experts, coaches and owners to compare experiences, ask questions and discuss forward paths for ensuring sport horse well-being, longevity and performance.
Lateral thinking, outside-the-box thinking and collaboration were emphasized in developing a progressive culture for teams supporting sport horses.
Presentations ranged from the very specific – like an encouraging study on the potential for orthobiologics in treating equine asthma – to the broad, like Sunday’s no-holds-barred discussion of the future of equestrian sports as social licensing issues intensify along with concerns about equestrian’s place in the Olympics.
Many discussions were enhanced with wet lab-style workshops at the University of Florida Veterinary Hospital at WEC.
“It was mind-blowing,” said long-time international eventing groom Max Corcoran. “There was so much information, so many smart people who are so passionate about everything they do – whether it’s artificial intelligence, understanding gait analysis, lung capacity, farriery, physiotherapy… Bringing all these people together in one place so we can learn from them is amazing.
“Even though we’re just getting a tiny piece of what they can offer us, it’s all things we can put together to make our horses better, more competitive and extend their careers.”
Lateral Thinking
One of IGNITE’s founders, Mark Revenaugh, DVM, welcomed attendees with an invitation to embrace and apply “lateral thinking” to sport horse management.
Along with fellow international vet, Tim Ober, Revenaugh founded the group as the Equine High-Performance Sports Group over 10 years ago. “Our first motive was how can we get better outcomes?” he said. “As time passed, we got involved with human sports practitioners and realized that their priorities were around keeping athletes happy and healthy and knowing that would lead to better outcomes. That helped us converge into dual priorities of getting better outcomes and improving the well-being of the horse.
“IGNITE is embracing new and creative ways to improve our horse’s well-being with emphasis on maximizing performance and longevity,” Revenaugh continued. “It is time for the veterinary profession to embrace modern methodologies, as is done in human sport science, and add them to the toolbox for managing our equine athletes.”
An increasingly diverse membership inspired a rebranding of the group to IGNITE in January of 2024. Late last year, IGNITE transitioned to a non-profit status as a “platform to facilitate open-ended improvement in the equine industry,” he explained.
Tech & Data
The human performance world is far ahead of equine sports in the collection and use of biometric data in training programs and management decisions. But equine veterinarians including Seminar presenter Cris Navas de Solis DVM, University of Pennsylvania, are leading a sea change in horse sports.
Heart rate, heart rate recovery and lactate testing are among the metrics helping horses improve their performance, prevent injuries and – sometimes — get redirected to a discipline better suited to their physiology.
Lactate testing can be a game-changer for high performance horses, Navas de Solis explained. Muscles produce lactate when they’ve used up fat stores for energy. When they switch to drawing on glucose as their energy source, lactate is produced.
Measuring when a horse starts producing lactate during a work-out of specific intensity and duration is a constructive tool.
Navas de Solis shared the example of one of Tamie Smith’s top horses. The Team USA eventer knew she had a great horse in Danito but had struggled to make the time on cross-country. Combining lactate and heart rate testing with Navas de Solis’ help, Smith altered the horse’s conditioning program to include more sprint work going into the Maryland 5* in 2022.
“Prior to that he had never made the time, and that year he was 20 seconds under, even though we had otherwise done the same training,” Smith shared. The pair finished 2nd at Maryland and Smith became one of several leading event riders to add biometric data to her horses’ program.
There’s an injury prevention benefit to Smith’s realization. “If you look at a horsemanship book, you’d think what we were doing was getting our horses fit. But for these types of horses, you are almost doing too much, which could lead to more injury risk.” Working smarter, not harder, is the goal. The dangers of over-training are widely recognized in the human athlete world and becoming so in sport horse management.
In creating a fitness plan, data enables the horse’s team to “make a bigger first floor foundation or raise the ceiling,” Navas de Solis stated. “It guides how we plan for the long run. We know where we are, we determine where we want to be, and we make a plan for getting there.” Expect frequent revisions, he added.
Context Over Content
“The numbers on their own mean nothing,” he cautioned. “They need to be filtered through brains that understand the context. Context is more important than content.”
Swedish veterinarian and researcher Elin Hernlund had similar cautions in her presentations on the use of gait analysis tools made possible by evolving artificial intelligence and machine learning.
A pioneer with the Sleip gait analysis system, Hernlund clarified the important difference between asymmetries in loading patterns and lameness. She referenced a study in which “one-third of high performing horses had gait asymmetry values of similar magnitude to those seen in clinically lame horses.”
In picking up over 150 key anatomical points on a horse moving to, away from or across the camera’s view, the Sleip system is proving most useful as a means of detecting gait patterns and changes flagging potential lameness.
A demonstration with another Team USA eventer, Will Coleman, showed how the rider can influence the horse. In Coleman’s case, it was for the good as his aids helped an 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse push off stronger on its weak side than it had when trotting in-hand.
Gait analysis is rapidly gaining traction with team vets and top riders, Hernlund shared. German dressage team veterinarian Marc Koene uses it to monitor horses when he’s not physically with them. Austrian show jumper Max Kuhner uses it to pick up problems earlier. Swedish show jumper Peder Fredricson records his horses every other week to identify patterns and slight changes and to compare results to what he’s sensing from the ground and the saddle.
Objective data also enhances communication between everyone caring for a horse. “It can reduce tension between the vet, the rider and the groom because it’s data,” Hernlund stressed. “It facilitates an important and interesting way of evolving communication that has the horse in the center of the discussion.”
During the same demonstration on horse-rider interaction, physiotherapists Kirk Peck and Emily Rose discussed how the horse and rider’s biomechanics affect each other. In Coleman’s case, he could improve the balance in his horse’s trot, while a less talented and/or less balanced rider could do the opposite.
Both physios work on people and animals. They greatly prefer to observe the rider and the horse working together, then do hands-on observations and treatments of each.
They stressed that riders must consider and manage themselves as athletes, with the same attention to joint mobility, strength and flexibility they know is critical for their horses.
Peck and Rose noted that human athletes are gradually embracing physical therapy for injury prevention and performance enhancement. It’s the case even though insurance companies typically only cover physical therapy for rehab from an injury.
They encouraged attendees to embrace this “pre-hab” approach in their horse’s management. Pre-habbing also sets a horse up for a more successful rehab if they do get injured.
More Data & Sharing
“More data” was called for in almost every session over two days.
IGNITE’s Equine Clinicians Registry was described as a step toward fulfilling that challenging request. Starting in 2022, the Registry began to “acquire and analyze clinical data to gain deeper insights into outcomes for equine athletes being treated with orthobiologics,” Dr. Revenaugh explained.
It’s early days, he emphasized, including a steep learning curve for the realities of collecting and using the information. “This is a foundation in the horse world to start building info to help inform all of us what is the right thing to do next.”
Attendees applauded the Registry and recognized the need for further support within the industry. “This is a long-term project we can all get behind,” Revenaugh said. “We already have some wonderful support from diverse interests within the industry, but it can’t happen without further and ongoing financial support.”
Technology can help gather data, but the process also requires a shift toward sharing information.
“We’re going to have to take the lid off some things that we sometimes want to keep close to the vest,” said Chris Kawcak, DVM, of Colorado State University. That’s in addition to valuing data from those closest to the horse. “Sometimes the groom has the best feedback of anybody.”
Ali Morton, DVM, Medical Director of the U of Florida Veterinary Hospital, echoed the call for transparency. “We as an industry have to become more transparent and that is really difficult. There’s a nature to not reveal what’s wrong with our horses.
“What IGNITE is doing is brilliant. We all need to jump aboard and get on the bus!”
Too Much Good Stuff!
The summaries above barely scratch the surface of the 11 sessions held over two days in Ocala, plus the afternoon of demos at the U of Florida Veterinary Hospital. Deep dives into respiratory health, progressive shoeing, bone remodeling, heat stress and building a team around an athlete were among many topics spurring engagement, inquiries and lively discussion.
IGNITE members have access to all the Seminar’s sessions online, along with 180+ hours of presentations on a wide range of topics related to sport horse health, performance and longevity.
Hear from Max Corcoran for her thoughts on this seminar:
Monday News & Notes from Futuretrack 19 Jan 2025, 11:01 pm
How cool are these custom shoes created from Becky Moody’s Jagerbomb’s kicks worn during the Paris Olympics this summer! That’s a keepsake to hold onto for life. If you take a scroll through the Polished Shoes Instagram, you might spy a few more famous pairs of customized shoes!
U.S. Weekend Results
Stable View Aiken Opener H.T. (SC): [Website] [Scores]
Ram Tap Combined Test (CA): [Website] [Scores]
News & Reading
We’ve all been taught that a horse in a forward way of going is going correctly, but when you stop to think about it, what details go into achieving this? Eric Smiley breaks it down in this excerpt from his book, The Sport Horse Problem Solver.
After a banner 2024 and the hard work that went into those results with the big picture in mind, amateur rider Arden Wildasin is eyeing her 5* move-up this year. She sat down with The Chronicle of the Horse to dive into her career thus far and how she’s prepping for the step up. Read the interview here.
British Eventing (BE) and The Pony Club are delighted to announce a new collaboration to better align their events, minimize scheduling clashes and enhance the value of membership for their communities. The initiative aims to reduce financial and logistical barriers to encourage broader participation in the sport, demonstrating the dedication of both organizations to educate, inspire and support young riders, nurturing future generations and ensuring the sport’s continued growth and sustainability. Read more about this new collaboration here.
We’ve teamed up with Strides for Equality Equestrians to raffle off a private flat lesson with British Olympian William Fox-Pitt during his Ocala, FL clinic in March! Click here for more details on how to enter before the end of this month.
Team EN is hard at work on some very exciting things for 2025! To that end, we’ve love your feedback on merch as we look ahead to re-launching our much-loved line just for you, our readers! Click here to take a quick survey. We’d appreciate it!
Video Break
Catch up with Elisa Wallace’s latest vlog, featuring Wyeth the mustang:
What Is “Suppleness,” Anyway? 19 Jan 2025, 8:30 am
In this excerpt from The Horse in Positive Tension, movement analysis specialist Stefan Stammer takes a close look at the term “supple,” what it is and what it is not, and how it all applies to the horse’s performance.
“Supple” Does Not Mean “Light”
We all want to make our horses supple—riders of all kinds of different disciplines have this much in common. And they all experience the same truth over the course of their careers: riding with suppleness is anything but light. But if supple is not light, what does riding theory mean by the terms suppling, lowering the neck, relaxation, light hands, and lightness? The basic problem is that the definitions and meanings of these terms are often taken out of the context of riding theory, and so they drift through indoor arenas as empty buzzwords.
“Supple” Does Not Mean “Relaxed”
The meaning of “supple” in equestrian sports has been influenced by its use in other athletic environments. In addition, relaxation is only one part of the movement cycle. A 100-meter sprinter has to stay supple over the last 30 meters of an Olympic final to win. Once this sprinter
“clenches up,” she loses. But if her body tension is too low, she also loses. She is only truly relaxed 20 minutes later, sitting in a chair with a glass of champagne.
A soccer player before the decisive penalty shot has to be supple to score safely. If she’s relaxed, she’ll fail, just as much as she’ll fail if she is mentally or physically tense. This is what inner and outer suppleness means in equestrian lingo—developing positive body tension and concentration.
Developing this kind of suppleness is not easy, but it’s at the core of any good or very good athletic movement. The most important goal of any gymnast, skier, or track-and-field athlete is to embark on their performance in a state of suppleness. Only then can that performance be considered optimal.
This brings us back to the deep, wide rift in equestrianism. Today’s equestrian magazines and books are very often characterized by the depiction of extremes. If you believe these publications, there are mainly two types of riders.
“Formula 1” Riders
The attitude of these riders is that if suppleness cannot be achieved through lightness, that might mean it’s necessary to “take a good grip” now and then. Horses aren’t made of glass, after all, and those who expect performance have to occasionally train past the limit—with predictable results.
Chronic overload clinical signs (“symptoms” are what the horse feels and “clinical signs” are what we see, although I’ll stick with the term “symptoms” for the most part in reference to both) can be expected from this kind of attitude, an attitude that makes medication to treat the back, hoof joints, and stifle joints an accepted part of a sport horse’s health management.
If this is the case, it can then be assumed that the training and showing of a horse in competition is, at least potentially, connected to wear and tear as well as pain. Neither the equestrian world nor the rest of society should accept such an assumption in the long run.
This places the fascinating living being that is the “horse” on the same level as a Formula 1 engine, which can be expected to fail after a certain number of laps. The effort of engineers is
only to delay this failure for as long as possible, until the finish line has been crossed.
The Other Side: “Light” Riders
Meanwhile, another group, which we’ll call “light” riders, has begun to design their own training philosophies. Particularly relaxed horses that are never ever pushed to or past their limits, and a mindset that everything can be learned easily are what these riders have in common. Their horses live their lives mainly falling from one front leg onto the other, with a low head and a long neck—to the applause of so-called “trainers,” whose most important character trait is that they “love” horses. Afterward, these horses are treated to a wellness massage, because they worked so incredibly hard. Completely lacking here is a serious approach to the horse’s nature as an animal of movement, full of pride and natural dignity.
It is, of course, by no means a disadvantage if a trainer loves horses. However, her professional competence is much more important, including her regard for the animal entrusted to her care and her respect for his nature. The outer effortlessness with which a well-ridden horse moves in the end is the result of skillful and experienced training within his first few years of being started. And this is certainly not a “light” task!
You can tell I’m ready to elbow my way into the middle of this! Not so much because I have masochistic tendencies, but because I firmly believe this is the best position for building bridges between the divergent viewpoints in the riding world.
What Happens in the Middle?
There are still many riders and trainers who do not settle for empty words and quick “wannabe” success. They value their profession and the horses and students entrusted to their care more than themselves, and give it their best every single day. They do not feature monthly in magazines because they have just reinvented equestrianism. They have equestrian skills, sound knowledge, and experience. That is nothing spectacular, but rather the only option in order to
build the movement patterns that horses and riders need to stay healthy long-term and reach their goals, over months and years. Whether this takes place in the competition arena or out on the trails, it is always carried out with joy and respect for the wonderful creature that is the horse.
Photo by Ricarda Mertens.
This excerpt from The Horse in Positive Tension by Stefan Stammer is reprinted with permission from Trafalgar Square Books (www.HorseandRiderBooks.com).
Sunday Links 18 Jan 2025, 11:01 pm
Boyd Martin and Commando 3. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Have you gotten your tickets for the 2025 Stirling Venture Capital Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field (Aiken, SC – February 28-March 1) yet? We’re just over a month out from what has unofficially become the opening of the season, featuring many big names and often even some international visitors!
You won’t find a much more spectator-friendly event here in the U.S., and Grand-Prix Eventing is a perfect way to introduce someone new to the sport of eventing and to take it in in a condensed, thrilling format. Tickets and VIP options are available here.
U.S. Weekend Events
Stable View Aiken Opener H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
Ram Tap Combined Test (CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]
Rocking Horse Winter I H.T. (FL): [Website] [Ride Times]
Links & Reading
We’ve teamed up with Strides for Equality Equestrians to raffle off a private flat lesson with British Olympian William Fox-Pitt during his Ocala, FL clinic in March! Click here for more details on how to enter before the end of this month.
Team EN is hard at work on some very exciting things for 2025! To that end, we’ve love your feedback on merch as we look ahead to re-launching our much-loved line just for you, our readers! Click here to take a quick survey. We’d appreciate it!
2024 USEA Volunteer of the Year Susan Hart Makes USEA History with Gold Medal Achievement
Are these our Los Angeles 2028 Olympic eventing individual medallists?
Investigating Prebiotics’ Role in Managing Equine Leaky Gut
Video Break
A celebration of the wonderful ponies who give us the horse bug!
Rising Stars to Watch: Horses Ready to Shine in the 2025 US Equestrian Open 18 Jan 2025, 8:30 am
As the start of the eventing season approaches, anticipation builds for the next generation of rising stars. Among them are horses who delivered standout performances in 2024 with the best CCI3* finishing scores on US soil. From seasoned campaigners to breakthrough talents, these horses are poised to make their mark in the 2025 US Equestrian Open.
Tamie Smith’s Leading Contender: Kynan
Tamie Smith and Kynan. Photo by Ride On Photo.
Horse age: 10 | Owners: Kynan Syndicate LLC
Kynan delivered two CCI3* wins in 2024, including last season’s best finishing score at the level on U.S. soil (27.4 at Woodside 3*-S). Finding form at the CCI4* level, Kynan is set to be a top contender for Tamie Smith if she targets the US Equestrian Open.
A Rising Star in Tamie’s String: Sumas Tina Turner
Tamie Smith and Sumas Tina Turner. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Horse age: 9 | Owner: Julianne Guariglia
The nine-year-old Sumas Tina Turner made a strong transition to US competition in 2024 under Tamie Smith’s guidance, winning the Rebecca Farm 3*-S on her dressage score (27.9) and finishing third in the Stable View Oktoberfest 3*-S two months later. Previously produced in the UK by Kevin McNab and Isabel English, this talented mare is poised to make a significant impact in the coming season.
The Exciting Prospect: Lillet 3
Tamie Smith and Lillet 3. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Horse age: 9 | Owner: Molly Duda
With the highest EquiRatings Elo score (551) among Tamie Smith’s young prospects, Lillet 3 turned heads in 2024 as one of the most exciting additions to her string. Of the mare’s three international starts with Tamie last season, Lillet finished top three in all of them, including a win in October’s Galway Downs 3*-L where she finished on her dressage score of 29.0.
Tamie is expected to rack up leaderboard points with the depth of young talent in her string, especially when the Open heads to the West Coast in April.
Will Coleman’s Under-the-Radar Contender: Cold Red Rum
Will Coleman and Cold Red Rum. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Horse age: 12 | Owners: Cold Red Rum Syndicate
Will Coleman’s Cold Red Rum, a lightly campaigned 12-year-old, secured a CCI3* win in 2024 (The Fork 3*-S). Now qualified for the CCI4* level, this horse may make a splash in the early stages of the US Equestrian Open as Will bids to get some points on the board in his Open campaign.
Lauren Nicholson’s Show Jumping Star: Larcot Z
Lauren Nicholson and Larcot Z. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Horse age: 12 | Owner: Jacqueline B. Mars
Larcot Z impressed with a win at TerraNova 3*-S in spring 2024, finishing on a competitive score of 28.7. After stepping up to the CCI4* level later in the year, the horse remains a top prospect, bolstered by an incredible streak of 15 consecutive clear show jumping rounds at the international level (he hasn’t knocked an international rail since October 2021).
Sharon White’s Breakthrough Talent: Jaguars Duende
Sharon White and Jaguars Duende. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Horse age: 9 | Owner: Sharon White
Jaguars Duende is the highest rated nine-year-old in the USA according to the EquiRatings Elo (603). Of the mare’s nine international completions, she has been on the podium every time, including four wins (Virginia 2*-S 2022, Carolina 3*-S 2024, Tryon 3*-L 2024, Maryland 3*-L 2024). With those three 2024 victories at the CCI3* level, Jaguars Duende’s transition to CCI4* is one of the most highly anticipated developments of the year and she’s likely to earn Sharon points in any Open qualifier they enter together.
Alexandra Baugh’s Breakthrough in the Making: Hubert des 3 Arbres
Horse age: 12 | Owner: Altorac Farm LLC
Despite a quiet end to the 2024 season, Hubert des 3 Arbres and Alexandra Baugh showed potential at CCI3* with two strong sub-30 finishes last year: they won the Stable View Spring 3*-S on a 29.3 after adding just 0.4 cross-country time penalties, and they placed second at Plantation 3*-S by finishing on their 29.6 dressage score. A breakthrough year at the CCI4* level could be on the horizon for this combination.
Consistent Performers: RF Redfern, Rock Phantom, and Landmark’s Monaco
Ema Klugman and RF Redfern. Photo by Sally Spickard.
With Ema Klugman, RF Redfern (12 YO owned by Team Fern) made her mark in 2024 with a second-place finish in the US Equestrian Open qualifier at Morven Park, securing 35 leaderboard points heading into 2025 (sitting equal-fifth currently).
Sara Kozumplik and Rock Phantom. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Rock Phantom (14 YO owned by Edith Rameika) partnered with Sara Kozumplik to claim victory at Bouckaert this past autumn, registering 40 points for Sara who now sits equal-third in the Series standings. Look for “Rocky” and Sara to reliably register Series points as 2025 unfolds.
See the full series standings, which are continually updated, here.
Kimmy Cecere and Landmarks Monaco. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Meanwhile, Landmark’s Monaco (18 YO owned by Jacqueline B. Mars) and Kimmy Cecere produced three top-three placings at the CCI3* level last year, including a win in October’s Bouckaert 3*-S to wrap up their season. A reliable campaigner with two sub-30 finishes at CCI3*, Landmark’s Monaco is another to watch at the CCI4* level in the coming season.
Who Will Make Their Mark?
The 2025 US Equestrian Open is shaping up to be an unforgettable season. Will one of these rising stars seize the spotlight, or will an unexpected contender emerge to steal the show? Stay tuned for all the action and updates throughout the season.
For continual leaderboard updates, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at usequestrianopen.org.
Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands 17 Jan 2025, 11:01 pm
Another perk of taking a casual African safari in the offseason? Swimming! 5* rider Will Rawlin decided to take a quick dip while on safari and shared the photo series with us, and Laura Collett was there too! The FOMO continues!
U.S. Weekend Events
Stable View Aiken Opener H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
Ram Tap Combined Test (CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]
Rocking Horse Winter I H.T. (FL): [Website] [Ride Times]
Links & Reading
We’ve teamed up with Strides for Equality Equestrians to raffle off a private flat lesson with British Olympian William Fox-Pitt during his Ocala, FL clinic in March! Click here for more details on how to enter before the end of this month.
Team EN is hard at work on some very exciting things for 2025! To that end, we’ve love your feedback on merch as we look ahead to re-launching our much-loved line just for you, our readers! Click here to take a quick survey. We’d appreciate it!
Six 9-year-old horses to watch in 2025
5 Tips For Cross-Country Riding from the USEA ECP Symposium Day 3
Like Father, Like Daughther: Phillip Dutton and Olivia Dutton
It’s January, And I Feel Like Cold Garbage. Help Motivate Me.
Social Facilitation and Better Performance
Sponsor Corner: World Equestrian Brands
Now is your chance to save on new tall boots for the season! While supplies last, Evolution and Progress boots are on sale at 50% off list price. Don’t wait, pick up yours here.
Video Break
From the Ground Up: Becoming a Grounded, Kind, and Resilient Horsewoman Through Mindfulness 17 Jan 2025, 8:00 am
Gillian Warner is bringing us along for the ride as she strikes out on her own to launch her business as a professional. You can catch up on more installments from this series here.
I watched as my mare trotted a circle around me, stretching her legs after being relatively stationary with the snow storm that blew in that weekend. She looked good, relaxed.
As her steady hoof beats continued, my mind started to wander. What was next on my list? Did I text my client regarding the change in lesson time? Who should I bring in as a clinician next? What exercise should I set up later? It wasn’t long before the anxiety crept up in my chest and I felt my body tense.
And so did my horse’s.
As the session continued with my encroaching tension, my horse’s performance certainly wasn’t improving – it was even declining. I decided to take a moment, calling her in towards me and asking her to stand. She stopped a few feet away from me, looking and waiting for direction. I closed my eyes, and took a breath.
Working on grounding myself and changing how I interact in my own mind and body has had an impact on how I communicate with horses. Photo by Julia Ellie Photo.
One breath turned into two, turned into three. I decided to count to ten, asking my body to reset and my mind to clear. By the time I reached five, I felt a presence next to me. Erin set her muzzle next to my nose, and took a deep breath with me. I opened my eyes, and sure enough, she had walked closer towards me to rest and breathe together.
We talk so much about how sensitive horses are. From starting so many young horses, it’s clear to me how sensitive to energy they are – the feeling you have in your body, how present you are in the moment, even your breathing. Utilizing your own body language can excite a horse, or quiet a horse. They spend their days reading body language, cues so subtle in their own facial expressions, twitches, and vocalizations that we will never completely understand the complexity of their interactions.
They read your energy too. And are incredibly good at doing so.
That has been one of the most powerful, and the most daunting realizations of my time working with horses. If I can learn to harness and control my own thoughts, feelings, and emotions, I will be better equipped to help my horses. I will be able to show up as a better communicator and partner, helping them find comfort, relaxation, and joy in the work in which we engage.
Photo by Julia Ellie Photo.
If only I can learn to do so.
This realization, and desire to show up as a steady, consistent, and controlled partner, has guided me towards meditation. I started meditation to learn how to find a clear mind to stay present with the horses. While I’m still early into my learning experience, I’m seeing the state of being it can create – a sense of self, a foundational kindness, and a resiliency that becomes how you are, instead of the temporary clear mind I had been seeking.
As part of my routine, I start every day with a brief meditation – just five or ten minutes. I do this before I do anything else (even before I’ve had my coffee!) Taking those few extra minutes has helped ground and center me to approach the day with a steady, patient, and present approach.
Not only do I feel better, but I also feel better equipped to listen and give back to my clients and to approach every training session with a clear and consistent way. I’ve felt more secure in my being, and have felt as though my horses seem to be more secure in their being (despite temperatures in the teens, and incredibly spooky winds!) I can better recognize and utilize my energy, even translating the work to ridden work, where I can “pick up” my energy into a trot, or “settle” my energy back to a walk. My awareness of my own feelings, my body, and my breath has helped me better communicate my intentions, wants, and needs to my horses.
This communication has translated beyond ground work to ridden work as well. Photo by Julia Ellie Photo.
I’m in the early stages of learning and growing in this way, yet so excited to continue to do so. I’m excited about the feeling that I have in my core, I’m excited for the opportunity to show up as a better person for my horses, and I’m excited to see the way the horses have been responding.
Friday News & Notes from Stable View 16 Jan 2025, 11:01 pm
It’s high clinic season here in the U.S., and one of the latest international riders to join the list of visitors is Olympic individual gold medalist Julia Krajewski. Julia will be teaching a clinic in Ocala, FL January 27-31. There are a limited number of spots available for lessons, and auditing is also available for a fee. For more information, please contact Chris Talley at 484-798-9834.
And another rider coming stateside — and another Olympic gold medalist (twice over!) — in Britain’s Tom McEwen. Tom is visiting the West coast for his tour, making stops at Cellar Farm in Petaluma, CA (January 21-23) and Galway Downs in Temecula, CA (January 25-26).
U.S. Weekend Preview
Stable View Aiken Opener H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
Ram Tap Combined Test (CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]
News & Reading
Exciting news! The beloved Essex Horse Trials will make its return in 2025, a positive development after the community worried the event had run its final competition in 2024. The sustainability of running at two venues, a longtime format of Essex, was challenging for organizers. Thanks to the help of multiple supporters, including Olympic dressage judge Marilyn Payne, who stepped up to helm the organizing of the event, have made this year’s event possible. Read more from Nancy Jaffer on this story here.
Some interesting reading on the topic of nosebands has also hit the internet this week. Welfare critics have voiced concern that tight nosebands cause stress, but a recently-published project led by Dr. Hilary Clayton didn’t back up that perception — at least, not in one set of circumstances. The study focused on noseband tightness, which of course has been a major topic of discussion, particularly given the context of a new noseband measuring tool debuted by the FEI this year. Read the summary here.
Meanwhile, the use of spurs and whips has also been limited by British Showjumping, The Pony Club in Great Britain, and British Riding Clubs, which now dictate that a whip may only be used to back up leg aids, and not as punishment or discipline. As for spurs, The Pony Club has laid out new rules that take effect this month, which now require a rider to have passed their C+ test or an assessment showing that they understand spurs’ use and have a stable enough lower leg to wear them appropriately. Read the full breakdown here.
We’ve teamed up with Strides for Equality Equestrians to raffle off a private flat lesson with British Olympian William Fox-Pitt during his Ocala, FL clinic in March! Click here for more details on how to enter before the end of this month.
Team EN is hard at work on some very exciting things for 2025! To that end, we’ve love your feedback on merch as we look ahead to re-launching our much-loved line just for you, our readers! Click here to take a quick survey. We’d appreciate it!
Sponsor Corner: Stable View
It’s time to kick off this year’s Stable View Eventing Academy series! Entries are now open for the February Eventing Academy, which will take place February 14-16 and will, naturally, have a Valentine’s Day theme. You can learn more about Eventing Academy events, which include a day of cross country schooling before an unrecognized, no-pressure competition, here.
Video Break
What at the five primary rider responsibilities? Bec Braitling breaks them down:
Ariel Grald: How I Build Strong Relationships With My Horses 16 Jan 2025, 8:00 am
Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
It’s a known fact that no two horses are the same. The same philosophy applies when creating strong relationships with my horses – the journey in building that relationship always looks a bit different but there are similar themes. Each relationship takes time, work, requiring lots of patience, and determination, but once you form that partnership, they will last forever.
Producing young horses has played a huge role in my success as an event rider and has been one of the parts of my career that I love the most; especially starting the four- and five-year-olds and bringing them all the way up to the top of the sport. Although this takes time, it’s well worth it in the end.
A few years ago, I purchased a going 3* horse and a going Prelim horse in hopes that they would become my next upper-level partners. Although they were great short term, in the long run, I didn’t know them as well as the ones I produced myself and our partnerships were not as successful as I hoped. Taking the ride over on an upper-level horse works great for some riders, but for me, this experience helped to reinforce my passion for developing young horses.
When looking to produce young horses, a key step is picking out the right ones. I tend to be drawn to the ones with quirky personalities which requires me to spend more time getting to know them in the beginning. While this does mean that it often takes more time for me to compete with them, the bond we develop is incredibly rewarding. By understanding each horse’s unique personality and needs, I can tailor my training approach to fit each horse individually.
Event horse or hunter derby champion? Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan demonstrate a textbook set of knees over the last element of the treble at CHIO Aachen (2021). Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Whenever an issue presents itself, I use it as a way to problem-solve and find a solution that works best for them. One of my 4* horses, whom I’ve had since she was five, fits my type for a quirky personality. When I first got her, we went back to the basics of lunging and groundwork, which helped her to feel more comfortable in her own body and taught me new ways to communicate with her. As she gained more experience, I noticed she wasn’t fond of doing straight dressage in the ring for more than one day.
I’ve since used this opportunity to find better ways to improve her flat work and strength. I’ve incorporated poles, hills work, and outdoor arenas into her routine. This way, I can improve her body while keeping her mind happy. Horses are such incredible partners, so I want to ensure they enjoy their work as well.
In my barn, I prefer to keep it smaller in order to create a personal one-on-one relationship with the horses. Currently, I have about 12 horses in training, many of which belong to Annie Eldridge. Annie has been one of my incredible supporters, sharing my passion for discovering and producing young horses through the levels. Since I’ve had many of my horses from a young age, I feel as though I get to know them well early on during groundwork and initial rides. I enjoy figuring out each horse’s likes and dislikes, what training methods and schedules work for them, and how to build the best possible partnership.
Having a smaller group of horses allows me to be the one to ride them every day and provides me with the flexibility to focus on their individual needs. This wouldn’t be possible without my supportive team tacking and untacking, which enables me to spend more time with each of my horses.
Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan.
Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
Understanding each horse’s unique needs is one of the most crucial aspects for developing a strong, trusting relationship. Some horses can be more complex than others, which is when I go back to the basics. For me, this involves going back to the round pen to focus on groundwork and communication.
For instance, one of my horses had experienced anxiety when it came to mounting, so I dedicated three to four months doing groundwork in the round pen. I focused on building her trust in me and helping her be more comfortable in her brain and body, even when she felt worried or scared. I want my horses to know that I will be there to reassure them.
For the groundwork, I use a variety of techniques, some of which I have learned from studying others and some of my own. I have found that learning how to communicate with them on the ground makes a considerable difference when riding.
When I run into difficulties with a riding aid, I like to go back to the round pen and address it there from the ground. This approach helps us reconnect and allows the horse to work through some challenges independently.
Success with horses isn’t always linear and often requires a flexible approach. It can be challenging to not always be successful, but I have learned to keep the bigger picture in mind. During training, I constantly ask myself if I’m pushing too hard or not hard enough, ensuring I listen to the horses and adjust their routines if needed.
Ariel Grald competes for the U.S. at FEI World Championships for Eventing in Pratoni, Italy (2022). Photo by Tilly Berendt.
I have found that time off is never detrimental, especially for young horses, and they tend to come back better, even if the first ride back is a bit of a wild one. Having a team around the barn who know the horses as well as I do helps ensure that we know what’s going on with them at all times. This way, we can notice if they are acting differently on the ground or in their fields, not just while being ridden.
Ultimately, the key to building strong relationships with horses is understanding and listening to them. Each horse has unique needs, and it is important to celebrate the progress and know when to make adjustments. My goal is to ensure they enjoy their work and remain overall happy.
The bond we create with our horses is so special and like no other. It’s a continuous journey of learning and adapting, and it’s one of the most fulfilling aspects of being an event rider.
This article is brought to you in collaboration with Athletux. Click here to see how Athletux can help your business grow!
Thursday News & Notes 16 Jan 2025, 12:30 am
Another great example of the eventing community shines bright today with the latest post from Phillip Dutton and his family! Pictured above are Evie Dutton and Lee Lee Dutton with Rochelle Woodeshick, the owner of Tack Butter. Rochelle has donated a portion of proceeds from Tack Butter sales to aid in Lee Lee’s ongoing recovery from a riding accident in 2017. If you want to help out, pick up some luxurious Tack Butter here.
U.S. Weekend Preview
Stable View Aiken Opener H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
Ram Tap Combined Test (CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]
News & Reading
We’ve teamed up with Strides for Equality Equestrians to raffle off a private flat lesson with British Olympian William Fox-Pitt during his Ocala, FL clinic in March! Click here for more details on how to enter before the end of this month.
Team EN is hard at work on some very exciting things for 2025! To that end, we’ve love your feedback on merch as we look ahead to re-launching our much-loved line just for you, our readers! Click here to take a quick survey. We’d appreciate it!
The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) and the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Committee regretfully announce that the 2025 YEH Symposium, planned for Monday, Feb. 17 in Ocala, FL, has been cancelled. Following the great success of the event in 2024 and due to unforeseen changes in venue availability, the YEH Committee has made the difficult decision to cancel the upcoming educational event to ensure that the quality of the symposium is not sacrificed. Read more about this development here.
From Starter all the way to the top of the sport, the rider’s ability to identify and influence the rhythm, relaxation, balance, straightness, and adjustability of their horse is key, whether you’re riding on the flat or over fences. That was the big focus on Day 2 of the USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) Symposium, held at Galway Downs. Read up on day two’s lessons here.
When EPA Elegance and her owner Shannon Daily ended up with a cheering section, complete with handmade signs, when they crossed the finish line as winners in the training/novice division at the Calais Horse Trials, held Nov. 23 in Powhatan, VA, it marked the end of a year-long nightmare that “Hazel” almost didn’t survive. Read the full story here.
Video Break
And just like that, it’s helmet cam season again! Ride along with Elisa Wallace and Tullymurry Fifi for their pipe opener at Majestic Oaks last weekend:
Your Chance to Win a Private Lesson with William Fox-Pitt + Support Strides for Equality Equestrians 15 Jan 2025, 8:30 am
Sierra Lesny rides cross country in front of William Fox-Pitt. Photo by Lisa Madren.
We are looking forward to the return of 5* winner and Olympic medalist William Fox-Pitt, also a popular clinician who makes frequent trips to the U.S. to teach. William’s clinic in Ocala, FL will take place March 5-8 and is hosted by Rhonda Sexton and Sara Kozumplik at Overlook South and Barnstaple South. If you’d like to ride in this clinic, you can email scherfamily@mac.com to inquire.
We’re pleased to partner with Strides for Equality Equestrians (SEE) to raffle off an exclusive private lesson with William while he is in Florida! Proceeds from this raffle will be used to benefit Strides for Equality Equestrians’ mission of expanding opportunity and visibility for marginalized equestrians. You can learn more about this organization here.
So, what’s the skinny? Here’s how to win your private flat lesson with William!
1: Click here to purchase raffle tickets in bundles of 5, 10, 20, or 30 tickets between now and January 31, 2025.
2: We’ll draw a winner at random using a random number generator from the list of purchasers. The winner will be notified via the email address provided on the purchase page no later than February 3, 2025.
The Fine Print:
Eventing Nation is hosting this raffle on behalf of Strides for Equality Equestrians. 100% of donations/ticket purchases will be given to Strides for Equality Equestrians.
The winner of this raffle is responsible for transport of their horse, stabling and lodging if applicable, and for securing their own spot in the full clinic if they choose (subject to availability). Scheduling requests will be accommodated to the best of the organizer’s ability. The private lesson will be held at Overlook Farm South (13749 NW 115th Street) in Ocala, FL between March 5 and March 8, 2025. Winner must be at least 18 years old or must have a parent or guardian purchase the raffle tickets and handle the registration if winner/recipient is a minor. Winner or parent/guardian must sign a Release of Liability form and any other participation paperwork required by the clinic organizer.
Best of luck and we can’t wait to live vicariously through our winner!
Wednesday News & Notes 14 Jan 2025, 11:01 pm
In the spirit of eventing and community, Pau winner from 2024 Caroline Harris announced that she will be running the Bath Half Marathon this year in support of the British Eventing Support Trust and Saffron Cresswell, a young event rider who was paralyzed from the chest down in a fall while competing at Bramham International last summer. You can read more about Saffron’s rehab journey here. If you’d like to contribute to Charlotte’s endeavor, click here to learn more.
U.S. Weekend Preview
Stable View Aiken Opener H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
Ram Tap Combined Test (CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]
News & Reading
In times of natural disaster, marginalized communities are often hit the hardest. Abriana Johnson has collected a directory of GoFundMe accounts dedicated to helping displaced Black families in the LA area after devastating wildfires destroyed thousands of homes and livelihoods. Click here to view the list.
On a pack trip in Wyoming’s Big Horn Mountains in 2018 with her family, Australia-born Zara Bewley encountered many memorable creatures—moose, mountain lions, and bears. But it was Sam, a stoic 4-year-old blue roan gelding she rode during the journey, who made the biggest impact on her life. Read the story of the “ultimate amateur partner” here.
Get some quick facts about this week’s USEA Eventing Coaches Program Symposium held at Galway Downs in Temecula, CA here.
The annual Painted Ponies Art Walk & Auction blazes into Carolina starting February 1! Always a popular local event for equestrians and non-horse people alike, the Painted Ponies help raise funding for the Carolina Horse Park Foundation each year. Click here to learn more about this year’s Auction.
Do horses actually enjoy being touched? Researchers looked at how therapy horses reacted to various types of patting on various body parts, when tied up or loose. Horse Sport reports more here.
Video Break
Prepping for your first FEI event this year? Go you! Here are some useful tips and tricks from Ride iQ and Jon Holling:
https://www.youtube.com/live/nlJYksir9Xw?si=Lb7NBmqNknq1ILHL
Sport Horse Nation Spotlight: 7 TB Mares + Promo Code for FREE OTTB Listings 14 Jan 2025, 8:30 am
Have you checked out the new-and-improved Sport Horse Nation lately? EN’s longtime classifieds sister site recently received a big makeover to help make it the best eventers-only matchmaking service in the land. 280 listings are now live … check it out today.
There’s nothing that makes you feel invincible on cross country like a Thoroughbred mare who loves her job. Here are seven that popped up on Sport Horse Nation in the past couple weeks.
Have an OTTB event horse for sale? We are running a special for free listings through Feb. 1, 2025. The promo code is OTTBLOVE1224 at checkout. Hope to see yours over there!
- Year Born: 2017
- Height: 16.3
- Breed: Thoroughbred
- Gender: Mare
- Eventing Competition Level: Preliminary
- “HR” is a great first upper-level horse for someone wanting to learn the levels. While she is a hotter type, she will always bring you through the finish flags, even when you are scared and just grab mane! She does get tight through her back in the dressage but is getting stronger in her show jumping form. She has produced a lovely filly. I’ve had this mare for several years, and she has been super fun to produce.” Learn more…
- Year Born: 2019
- Height: 16.1
- Breed: Thoroughbred
- Gender: Mare
- Eventing Competition Level: Novice (US)
- Location: Cabot, AR, USA
- Price ($USD): $32,000
- “Street Ride or ‘Rhoda’ is a mare’s mare!! If you love expressive, bold mares, this is your girl! She is smart. She is kind. She is sassy. She is brave. She is TALENTED! I absolutely adore this horse and think that she is going to make someone a top level eventer one day. She has competed two Novices and will be moving up to Training level during the Florida season. She has also competed 1.0 M at a rated jumper show and would an amazingly successful TB jumper! Extremely brave to the fences and already thinks she knows everything. She will be very fancy on the flat once she relaxes. Her dressage gets better and better each time out.” Learn more …
- Year Born: 2020
- Height: 16.0
- Breed: Thoroughbred
- Gender: Mare
- Eventing Competition Level: Prospect
- Location: Cabot, AR, USA
- Price ($USD): $6,000
- “Twick or Tweat Aka Wednesday is a lovely mare ready for her person! No quirks, easy on the ground, great feet, clean legs. She is sweet to handle and gets along well with others in the field. She has been on trail rides and is happy to be ridden inside or outside of the arena. Wednesday has been started over fences and is happy to do that job. She is a lovely mover and would make a very nice TB Dressage mount! Extremely comfortable to ride! This mare is ready to take in any direction and eager to find her person.” Learn more …
- Year Born: 2014
- Height: 16
- Breed: Thoroughbred
- Gender: Mare
- Eventing Competition Level: Prospect
- Orange City, IA, USA
- Price ($USD): $6,000
- “I have owned her since she came off the track at the age of 3, while rehabbing from a slab fracture in her front left knee. This prior injury has NO bearing on her current functioning. She is the most sound horse I have ever owned. Lexi is sound, healthy, and UTD on everything. She has had regular chiropractic and body work as well, with no other maintenance. Lexi ties, loads, leads, and has good general ground manners. Lexi has schooled full Beginner Novice courses in the past, jumped over 3′ with room to spare, has attended schooling shows in both dressage and combined training, and has even competed in competitive trail.” Learn more …
SUPER Athletic Coming 5 y/o TBM with THE BEST Brain
- Year Born: 2020
- Height: 16.2
- Breed: TB
- Gender: Mare
- Location: Bluemont, VA, USA
- Price ($USD): $15,000
- “Love The Hustle, aka Chessie is a 4/3/20 16.2 hh TBM who only raced twice, but is impeccably bred to be a major athlete. One Grand Sire is Curlin, one of the winningest race horses of all time, who won the World Cup in Dubai. The other Grand Sire is Kitten’s Joy, arguably one of the best turf horses of all time. This one was supposed to be my upper level eventer some day, and it is killing me to put her up for S, but sometimes divorce runs your life.” Learn more
- Year Born: 2019
- Height: 16.1
- Breed: Thoroughbred
- Gender: Mare
- Eventing Competition Level: Training
- Location: Orangeville, ON, Canada but will be in Ocala in February
- Price ($USD): $50,000
- “Misty is an absolute unicorn. Sweetest girl you can imagine. Misty never says no. Misty finished the 2024 season as the Open Novice champion! Misty has also shown training and finished 2nd her first time out! Misty has scope for more but with her only be 5 stopped at training for this year. Has schooled some Prelim. Confident building temperament, an amateurs dream!” Learn more …
- Year Born: 2015
- Height: 16.3
- Breed: Thoroughbred
- Gender: Mare
- Eventing Competition Level: Novice (US)
- Location: Orangeville, Ontario, Canada but will be in Ocala in February
- Price ($USD): $40,000
- “Lula is a stunning girl with beautiful moment. Usually scoring sub 30’s in dressage and a very nice jump, Lula is very brave and honest cross country. She had a very good racing career then was bred twice, her previous owner then decided to get out of breeding so she had a later start to her competitive career but has taken to it very well. Lula is super honest and straight forward, she is definitely very suitable for an amateur but could also keep moving up the levels. Lula has only competed at Novice so far due to a fractured splint bone ending her season early but she is now 100% and schooling Training and Prelim.” Learn more …
Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products 13 Jan 2025, 11:01 pm
As the wildfires in Los Angeles, CA continue to burn, several outposts for assistance have been set up to aid those affected. At the time of writing, the Palisades fire just to the north of Santa Monica is at 14% containment, while the other major fire, the Eaton fire to the north of Pasadena, is 33% contained.
Calabasas Saddlery is one such outpost, setting up a donation site where a large number of items is available for pickup by those displaced or otherwise affected by the fires. Additional donations are also being accepted for distribution into the community. You can find a list of what’s available and what is being accepted above or by clicking here. The Chronicle of the Horse has also compiled a list of ways to assist equestrians here.
Events Opening This Week
Full Gallop Farm March Wednesday H.T. (SC); Rocking Horse Winter III H.T. (FL); Twin Rivers H.T. (CA)
Events Closing Today
Galway Downs Kickoff H.T. (CA); Sporting Days Farm February H.T. II (SC); Three Lakes Winter I at Caudle Ranch (FL)
News & Reading
The FEI has proposed a working group in collaboration with other national federations, including USEF, to conduct further research into air vest technology. As air vests become more prolific outside of eventing, the need for additional research into manufacturer claims and efficacy of the vests has grown stronger. You can read more about this initiative and its goals here.
Tune in for the latest episode of the USEA podcast for a dive into all things rider fitness. Featuring host Nicole Brown as well as Olympian Boyd Martin and equestrian fitness coach Tony Sandoval, the episode will provide you with some insights on making 2025 your strongest year yet. Listen here or on your favorite podcast platform.
Count down to this year’s MARS Badminton Horse Trials, the first CCI5* on the UK calendar that will be here before we know it! Preview the various ticket offerings and need-to-know dates here.
Sponsor Corner: Kentucky Performance Products
New product alert! Kentucky Performance Products is pleased to announce AirWise™, a research-proven supplement designed to support normal airway function in horses facing respiratory challenges. AirWise is formulated with a diverse blend of potent antioxidants and micronutrients. These work synergistically to support a return to a healthier respiratory system in your horse. The end result: Helping horses perform at their best.
Learn more about AirWise here.
Video Break
Peter Wylde was kind enough to brave the cold in Pennsylvania and help me jump all of the horses. Conner aka Commando 3 is fired up for a big year!!
Posted by Boyd Martin on Monday, January 13, 2025
Nothing like the help of an Olympic show jumper to tune up your horses for the season! Here’s a look at Peter Wylde jumping Boyd Martin’s Commando 3 (owned by Yankee Creek Ranch) at Boyd’s home base in Pennsylvania.
Weekend Winners: Majestic Oaks 13 Jan 2025, 8:00 am
Another weekend of Eventing down in the surprisingly chilly south, this time at the Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks. We’re living vicariously as we scroll through socials and celebrate the successes we saw this past weekend. Join us in congratulating these Weekend Winners, with a special shout out to the winner of our Unofficial Low Score Award, Karl Slezak and Zambezi, who won the Open Beginner Novice B on their dressage score of 23.5!
Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (FL): [Website][Scoring]
Open Preliminary: Autumn Schweiss and Global Quarycrest (29.3)
Preliminary Rider: Erin Wages and Cooley One To Many (29.8)
Open Modified: Briggs Surratt and Booming Bodhran (29.8)
Open Training A: Ariel Grald and Cheptel Dreamer (24.2)
Open Training B: Ariel Grald and Sinodinos (27.2)
Training Rider: Scarlett Peinado and Cooley Dejavu (28.6)
Novice Rider A: Alyssa Cairo and EWSZ Jalando (25.0)
Novice Rider B: Zöe Wehrly and Chilli Bean (31.1)
Open Novice A: Ava Wehde and Falconwood’s Glacier (25.6)
Open Novice B: Kalie Beckers and Calla GBF (26.9)
Beginner Novice Rider: Nicky Tucker and Pandora (30.6)
Open Beginner Novice A: Robin Walker and Twenty Park Diamond (30.3)
Open Beginner Novice B: Karl Slezak and Zambezi (23.5)
Starter-Intro A: Scarlett Hamaoui and Smilla’s Sense of Snow (23.7)
Starter-Intro B: Victoria Conway and Ringwood Hustler (25.0)
Monday News & Notes from Futuretrack 12 Jan 2025, 11:01 pm
If your horse had a New Years resolution, what would it be? If we had to guess, probably something along the lines of “figure out a way to get dressage eliminated from eventing” or “make my mom understand that feeding times are simply suggestions” or “attempt to coat my ENTIRE body and not just one side with mud.” What would you add?
U.S. Weekend Results
Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (FL): [Website] [Scores]
News & Reading
Looking back, where were the Paris individual medallists three-and-a-half years before their podium moment? EquiRatings dives into the data behind the top finishers in Paris and what the implications are looking ahead to Los Angeles in 2028 here.
Bringing your future eventing prospect with you to a horse trial as a non-compete can be a wonderful educational opportunity for horses not used to the hustle and bustle of the show grounds. However, horses must be registered with the show office as a “non-compete” horse in order to be allowed on grounds. Bringing horses to an event to school, provide lessons, or to campaign for sale without registering them as a non-compete horse is strictly prohibited. Brush up on the rules surrounding non-compete horses in this Rule Refresher from the USEA.
How to identify and manage hoof abscesses—a common condition that often appears out of nowhere, with some tips from Practical Horseman’s Vet On Call column here.
The world’s official oldest horse has passed away at the age of 36. Read more here.
Video Break
Training up some future champions at The Billy Stud for some very important business!