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News, Sports, Lifestyle. Everyday.Mia Farley & Her $1 Thoroughbred Phelps Go Double Clear on K3DE X-Country 27 Apr 2024, 7:51 pm
It was British domination on cross country day of the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event with Tom McEwan holding his lead, Yasmin Ingham defending her second place, and Oliver Townend moving up into third.
But the Defender USEF National Championship title is currently in the possession of a name sitting in fifth that is becoming more and more familiar at the very top levels of U.S. eventing and now globally: Mia Farley with her trusty $1 Thoroughbred Phelps.
In her second ever five star, Farley and the 11-year-old Phelps went double clear, one of only two riders to do so today (Germany’s Christopher Wahler and D’Accord FRH were the second). Equiratings ran the numbers and out of over 1000 horses, only 37 have gone double clear in their first two five-star events.
New Zealand’s Monica Spencer with Artist (0.8 time penalties added) and Farley and Phelps sit in fourth and fifth respectively on the only full Thoroughbreds in the top ten. Farley felt the blood of the Thoroughbred was in her favor today:
“With Phelps and a lot of Thoroughbreds, you set the tone in the beginning of the course, and that’s what they have for the rest of it. What I found that’s really cool is that at the end of the course, if you ask them to go, they have it…you [have] options at the end. So I think the Thoroughbred blood plays a lot into that.”
The eyes on Farley added to the pressure to deliver today after the success of her five star debut in the Maryland 5* in October so nerves were a bit high coming into the cross country. But some of the biggest cheers of the day were for the partnership as they came by.
“I came here and it was a little bit more nerve wracking than Maryland because I knew that I could do it. It was just up to me to give him the ride that he needed. So it’s very fun to have a lot of support.”
At the end of the day, the love of the sport is what draws riders back over and over. Farley is no different. “I came to have fun and I did. So did Phelps.”
Farley’s chances of a top 3 finish rest at 5% after cross country, according to the Equiratings Prediction Centre. But a top 10 finish? It’s a 49% chance.
For the British contingent made up of Olympic medalists and world champions, Equiratings predict 65-88% for a top 3 finish for the three riders at the top and a 96% top 10 finish. Tom McEwan’s chances of a win though are coming up to 79%.
When asked about the decision to come to Kentucky instead of Badminton in two weeks, the three Brits were in agreement.
“The American crowd are definitely a more enthusiastic bunch than what we’re used to, which is a brilliant thing and a great experience for the horses.” Oliver Townend said. “As Tom and Yasmin have said already, for us guys to be in that stadium is special, which is why we keep coming back as often as we possibly can.”
Farley laughed when asked about how the crowds affected her ride with Phelps. “Today, I think he enjoyed seeing the colors fly by.”
Five star horse inspection begins at 8:50 am EST and first horse enters the ring at 2:15 pm where the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event champion will be crowned.
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Nicholson “Walks” into Third, McEwan Takes Over the K3DE Lead after Dressage 26 Apr 2024, 6:53 pm
Familiar faces complete the leaderboard after day two of dressage at the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event in Lexington.
But USA is knocking on the door.
Great Britain takes one-two on the podium with Tokyo silver medalist and last year’s reserve champion Tom McEwan on JL Dublin surpassing Yasmin Ingham’s test of yesterday with a 24.6. It’s a repeat of last year’s dressage results but swapped between Ingham and McEwan.
“It’s hours and hours of work no one ever sees but you try and do it so you can perform on stage with this,” said McEwan of the effort behind the score.
Joining Great Britain in equal third is USA’s Lauren Nicholson with veteran partner Vermiculus and Liz Halliday with five star first-timer Cooley Nutcracker on 30.6 each.
Nicholson had her hands full with a hot 17-year-old Anglo Arab fit to run a five-star cross country course. Luckily, “Bug,” as Vermiculus is known in the barn, kept a lid on a it in the electric atmosphere of the Rolex Stadium.
“It was definitely a big team effort [to get in the ring],” Nicholson laughed.
“He’s had a very long career. Amazingly, he did his first four [star] long as an eight-year old and his first Kentucky five-star as a ten year old and has done two big things every year for the last decade. Last year was the first year he hasn’t and when we got here, he certainly let us know that he was very pleased to be back.”
With over a decade of experience together, Nicholson has put together a plan to keep Bug happy and mentally stimulated. Her warmup before the her test is only seven minutes of walk interspersed with small moments of work but lots happens behind the scenes to make those seven minutes productive.
“Thank God for Sally [Robertson] my head groom!” She said. “She’s been my partner with all the horses for many years and has put in five times as much work as I have [this week]…we do a lot of ground work with him because it works his brain and keeps him interested and busy without drilling on his body and everything. He’s an Arab cross so you’re never going to wear him out. So that’s never the tactic.”
When she saw her score, Nicholson was pleased. “It came together well because he felt extremely fresh in the ring. It’s a fine line between that freshness being impressive and being airs above the ground!”
Halliday shared in the thrill of a successful dressage test with rookie Cooley Nutcracker, or Bali in the barns.
“I was really thrilled with him actually. He’s very much a horse in the making still. For him to be in the top three with what I wouldn’t consider the finished product sort of test, I’m thrilled…I’m [also] really pleased I went after the break because he definitely noticed the crowd cheering earlier in the warm up!”
All eyes now turn to the second phase of competition with Derek Di Grazia’s cross country test. Consensus among the riders is it is not as simple as it looks and that’s what makes them worried. But their faith in Di Grazia’s design to reward forward riding without catching the horses out and ruining their confidence means they are ready for the challenge, even if they are a bit nervous.
Five star cross country commences tomorrow at 1:30 pm EST and the Kentucky Invitational CSI4* Two-Phase begins at 6 pm EST in the Rolex Stadium.
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Wellington Blowout Salon Will Say “Non-Non” to Horse Girls in 2025 26 Apr 2024, 12:24 pm
“You’re wasting my time and yours.”
WELLINGTON, FLORIDA—A Forest Hill Boulevard blowout shop called ‘The Blow & Go Bar’ has made a startling business decision following the wrap of the 2024 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). From now on, owner Piers Reims says, he will no longer cater to the equestrian market in Wellington.
“This was a difficult decision, and one that I pondered for many reasons—the winter months are our biggest season. There is no denying that horse rider ‘snowbirds’ make up the bulk of the blowout market,” Reims reflected.
“But this is what it comes down to: Oui, I am a hair stylist, but I am also an artist. And a man. It is folly to continuously waste my time on these women who leave my salon, and not 20 minutes later, are slapping a dirty, sweaty helmet over my blood, sweat, and tears.
“This is my life,” Reims said passionately.
The 46-year-old stylist says he moved from Quebec, Canada decades ago to pursue a better life, working for pennies on the dollar for years in Miami before striking out on his own. Since that time, Reims has built a veritable blowout empire in Palm Beach Country, and while he’s grateful for the role the equestrian market has played in his success, watching the constant desecration of his work, he said, has taken a toll on his mental health.
“Oh, the things I’ve seen,” Reims lamented. “They ride all day, they go to the bars all night, and then they show up here on Monday mornings with the hair shellacked to their ears. I think, in many cases, it could stand up on its own it’s so dégoûtant.
“Not to mention the things I’ve found in—how do you say it in English? Those ‘rat’s nests!’ Old hair nets, chewing gum, baling twine…. Once I even found a horse ear plug in the girl’s extensions! Can you believe it? And she just giggles, and says to me, ‘Oh! We’ve been looking for that!’
“I spend an hour of my day on each client—sometimes more than that—fixing their hair; washing, shampooing, drying, straightening. It is my craft! And then, voila! The client walks out looking like a movie star: she is red-carpet ready.
“I wave goodbye, I feel proud, and then, what do you know? A few days later, she’s back, covered in hay; ratchet, unwashed tresses. She sits there, scrolling her phone, drinking her iced café, barely acknowledging my existence.
“I am a human being! I have feelings too!”
Reims has already posted a sign on The Blow & Go Bar’s door, apologizing for the inconvenience, but noting he will no longer accept horse-riding clients in his establishment. And while he acknowledges the considerable financial impact this decision is likely to have on his business, Reims says you can’t put a price on piece of mind. “I don’t regret my decision for a minute,” he said.
“My only thought now is for those poor ladies who run the nail salon next door.”
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Chin Tonic HS Will Not Compete in Kentucky 25 Apr 2024, 8:10 pm
Will Coleman has withdrawn veteran partner Chin Tonic HS from the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event in Lexington.
The American rider announced on Thursday that he has pulled the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding from the CCI4*-S start list to prevent a potential injury.
Posted Coleman on Facebook:
“I’m sorry to say that Chin Tonic HS will be withdrawn from this year’s Kentucky 4*S. Chin arrived here after a great spring season and is in fabulous form. He’s sound and well, his usual happy and proud self. Despite his wellness, an issue in his carpal sheath has surfaced that could present the possibility of injury were we to compete here, and so we’ve made the obvious and responsible decision to pull him from the competition and explore this issue more fully.”
Coleman and Chin Tonic finished second in the CCI4*–S in Aiken earlier this month and won their final CCI4*S of 2023 in October. The pair has finished top five in 13 of their 21 career international starts since 2019.
“With so much riding on this year, this may seem to have been a difficult decision to make,” continued Coleman. “But it honestly wasn’t. It never is a hard decision to do right by your horse, and protecting them from a potential injury is a responsibility I take very seriously, regardless of our aspirations.
“Grateful to my team at home, my wife, Chin’s groom Erin Jarboe, and my vets Lisa Casinella and Tim Ober, all of whom have played such a huge role in getting Chin to this point in his career. I am especially thankful for Chin’s owner, Vicky Castegren of Hyperion Stud. She could not be more supportive of this decision, and her always horse-first attitude cannot be commended enough. It is truly an honor to ride for her, as it is for all of my incredible owners. Chin will be back, and I have no doubt he will better than ever when he does return to top sport.”
Coleman sits in second in the CCI4*S division with Diabolo on a score of 29.9 and in third with Off the Record on 30.1 after Thursday’s dressage. Boyd Martin tops the leaderboard with a one point lead on Commando (28.9).
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Böckmann Makes 5* Debut, Ingham Takes the Early Lead Day One of K3DE 25 Apr 2024, 5:57 pm
In a sport where weather can make or break a ride, it bears mentioning the beautiful forecast set for the 2024 edition of the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event.
The sun shone for every test of the day from the 4*-S to the 5*. For one rider in particular, the atmosphere, the venue, and the competition, all feels surreal.
“I mean, to be very honest, it took me literally three days to just like realize where I am,” Calvin Böckmann said after his test. “Two days ago, driving from the hotel to [the Horse Park] was the first morning where I was like, ‘I am actually here.’ I get goosebumps again when I think about that.”
Böckmann made the trek from Germany for his five-star debut, and he made it count between the boards today by claiming the early lead in the first group of five-star dressage. His equine partner, the 13-year-old chestnut Holsteiner gelding named The Phantom of the Opera, or “Phantom” for short, brought focus and reliability to their test. Their 31.4 gives them a 47% chance for a top-10 finish and a 9% chance of a top-3, according to the Equiratings Prediction Centre.
The two have not finished outside the top-10 in their 2024 season so far, so the only question is, can they bring that same consistency to the new level?
“Being here now it feels quite unreal and actually being the leader after the first few riders is quite amazing,” Böckmann enthused.
It will come to no one’s surprise that he was pipped into fourth by British and German domination. Reigning World Champion Yasmin Ingham is in first, British five-star veteran Kirsty Chabert in second, and fellow German Malin Hansen-Hotopp beat Böckmann to third by 0.3 points.
Ingham with Banzai Du Loir, who has an 18% win chance and a 70% chance for a top-10 finish, put down a 26.0, a full five points ahead of Aachen 2023 team member Chabert who ended the day with a 31.0.
“[Banzai] carries himself so beautifully in the arena now and holds so much presence when he’s in between the boards, so I think he’s definitely displayed that today,” Ingham said of her test.
Indeed, there was very little to pick apart in their beautifully presented test. The 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding and his partner look ready to put their name into the mix for British Olympic selection.
Chabert and the bay Anglo European mare, Classic VI went immediately before Ingham and received a 31.0 from the ground jury.
“It sounds a bit daft but at 15 years old, she actually is improving. So hopefully she’s a really nice bottle of red wine and just keeps maturing.”
Final rider of the day, Hansen-Hotopp, along with her steed Carlitos Quidditch K were given a 31.1. Hansen-Hottopp begrudgingly bought the now 12-year-old Holsteiner when he was only 5.
“He was really grumpy, bucking all the time so it was not easy—now we built this together.”
Heavy hitters such as Oliver Townend (GBR), Tom McEwan (GBR), and Liz Halliday (USA) lay waiting in the wings for the second day of dressage, and a five-star event is never a dressage show.
When Böckmann was asked about the cross-country, he said: “It’s so beautiful. You don’t really see that on video. I think it is really, really fair, but it’s also something where you always need to be focused.”
Five-star action resumes in the Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park at 1pm EST Friday.
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Moving Shoulders and Hips 24 Apr 2024, 5:55 pm
Lateral work is helpful in strengthening and suppling the equine body, and in teaching the horse more advanced moves in performance.
Most people start moving a horse’s shoulders and hips sideways from the saddle. For example, they might ride to an arena corner, face the corner, and ask with their outside leg behind the girth and steady hands for a turn on the forehand.
For a turn on the haunches, they would follow a similar procedure, placing the horse’s hind end in the corner then using their inside hand and outside leg at or slightly in front of the girth for a turn on the haunches.
You might notice from trying to parse that paragraph, that this can get complicated! Sometimes, a youngster just doesn’t understand what we want him to do. My green warmblood True was one of those youngsters. He was willing and motivated, but confused.
After you’ve mastered the groundwork I described in the past few articles of this column—”Groundwork on the move” and “More on Movement During Groundwork“—you can teach your horse to move her shoulders and hips from the ground. It’s an easy way to signal the direction you wish the horse to move. And it reduces the anxiety that can emerge when a young horse is being ridden at the same time she is asked to do something completely new.
Put the horse through a little longeing or round pen exercise for 15 minutes of easy exercise to soften the edges, then start in the middle of a quiet open space where the horse can concentrate on you.
Have your horse do the standstill she learned in the previous two articles, and position yourself looking at the horse’s left shoulder from a left front angle. In other words, if her head is pointing toward noon, your body is going to be at 11:00. Stand a little more than arm’s distance away, so you can’t quite touch her shoulder with your hand.
Now, gently bump the halter toward the horse’s right side. Probably nothing will happen.
If it doesn’t, bump again and tap the horse’s left shoulder with your stick. (Remember, we use a long whip or stick as an extension of our arms, just to touch distant body parts but not to inflict fear or pain.) Keep tapping the shoulder and bumping the halter until the horse moves one front foot sideways to her right.
As soon as you get just one step, praise and pet that horse like she’s worth a million bucks!
Lead the horse around to “reset” her mind, and try again. Five minutes of practice is enough the first time, and be sure to praise and stroke when even only one step is taken in the proper direction. You can ask for a second step tomorrow.
Great. But what about the horse who roots to the ground like a statue and will not move her forehand to the right no matter how much tapping and bumping you offer?
Enter True. He seemed to believe that he had been taught to stand STILL, not to move his feet, and indeed he had. So I had to persuade him that it was OK to move when asked.
There are three ways to do this.
One involves a flag that you point or shake near the horse’s left shoulder. He will move away from it, taking a step to the right. This requires some advance work with flags, and flags often scare other horses nearby. I’m not a big flag waver because I don’t want to spook my horse into moving—I’d rather teach him to move at the simple pointing of a finger. And I don’t want to spook other people’s horses at all.
A second method—theoretically—involves using the whip or stick more harshly, moving from a tap to a thump, to multiple whacks. We are definitely not going to do that! The whole idea with brain-based horsemanship is to keep the horse calm, positive, and motivated. And to use the human brain’s capacity for thought instead of the body’s capacity for force.
So I like option three. You’ve already taught the horse to keep a spatial distance from you, to respect your bubble. Put that knowledge to use by taking a step toward the horse’s left shoulder. If that doesn’t work, try again with a bigger, more assertive step. Add direct eye contact into the mix.
Prey brains consider eye contact to be a warning. It says, “I am a predator, you need to move away from me.” I tried this with True, and Mr. Stubborn immediately moved his front feet to the right. I praised and stroked him. He very quickly learned that this maneuver was different from the standstill exercise, and he never appeared to become confused between the two.
But what if your little stinker still won’t move? Take a second step, right in to her shoulder. Push her shoulder with your body until she steps to the right. It won’t take much push. Then praise, stroke, reset with some walking, and try again.
After one or two sessions, she’ll have the right idea.
I stuck with these turns on the haunches for about two weeks before suggesting to True that turns on the forehand also exist. Once you’ve taught the shoulders to move independently, the hips are easier.
For that lesson, just place the horse in a standstill, walk to her left hip, and tap or step toward the hip until she moves her right hind leg away from you. If necessary, at first, push slightly with your hand against her left hip. When she moves away, be sure to praise and stroke! It’s important to let horses know not only what the wrong behavior is, but also what the right behavior is.
From here, you can practice moving shoulders and hips in arena corners, back and forth along the rail, and eventually from the saddle. Under saddle, start in the arena corners and work gradually to turns on the forehand and haunches out in the open part of an arena or field. Baby steps win the race!
Why bother with all this? Because it’s the start of lateral movement in the horse’s training. Many equine performance maneuvers in reining, jumping, and dressage, for example, require lateral movement—shoulder-ins, leg yields, half passes, side passes, canter pirouettes, and spins, to mention only a few.
And these moves are not just for dressage competition.
I use shoulder-ins to reset a quality jumping canter in corners on a hunt course, side passes for trail horses to traverse log obstacles in rough country, and leg yields to straighten the gallop or reverse lines in a reining pattern.
They can also be used to supple any horse’s body, creating greater flexibility in the horse’s muscles and joints.
Lateral movement also allows you to teach your horse a number of important basic skills—to pay attention to you, to yield to your body on the ground, to learn that physical aids have meaning, to understand that humans and horses can communicate using body language, and to give you your spatial safety bubble.
Good luck, and happy riding!
More on ground work:
Brain-Based Horsemanship is a weekly column that chronicles Janet Jones, PhD, and her journey with True, a Dutch Warmblood she trained from age three using neuroscience best practices. Read more about brain-based training in Jones’ award winning book Horse Brain, Human Brain.
A version of this story originally appeared on janet-jones.com. It is reprinted here with permission.
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Mai Baum Withdrawn from K3DE 24 Apr 2024, 1:20 pm
Tamie Smith has elected to withdraw veteran partner Mai Baum from the Land Rover Kentucky Three Day Event CCI4*-S this week.
Smith made history last year when she won the 5* division in Kentucky on the black gelding (aka, Lexus). It was her career first 5* title and the first win for an American woman since 2005.
The pair were the favorites to win the CCI4*-S in the bluegrass state this year, but have been sidelined due to a minor injury.
Wrote the American eventer on Instagram:
“Sadly, Mai Baum will be sitting out this Kentucky 4S and resting up for an exciting summer. They say timing is everything and while I was away competing some of my other horses last weekend, Lexus was a bit wild & feeling exuberant and pulled away from his handler and tweaked himself. He wasn’t a 100 percent in time to make the trip across the country to Kentucky and we have elected to withdraw him from the Defender 3-Day Event.
“It can be difficult to withdraw your horse from a key competition, especially leading up to this summer, however, this decision is in his long-term best interest and the one thing we’ve never wavered from is our commitment not to compromise the well-being of any horse.”
Competing together internationally since 2015, Smith and the now 18-year-old Dutch Sporthorse gelding were traveling reserve for Team USA at the Tokyo Games in 2021. They helped the Americans to team gold at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima and team silver at the 2022 World Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy. This year, she has the Paris Games in her sights.
“Lexus is turning 18 this year and I think about it and it’s a bit on an end of an era. When I think about that I get a little chocked up. He’s been my best friend and, I mean, he will continue to be but it’ll just look different,” Smith told ClipMyHorse TV.
“The horse, he’s just phenomenal. I feel very lucky and fortunate to have had everything that I’ve already had on him and to be able to do the Olympic Games is—especially with having been the travelling reserve in Tokyo. That was so difficult for both of us to have our dreams right at our fingertips and then not be able to compete.
“I honestly didn’t think he’d still be going at this Olympic Games so the fact that we’re here vying for that is really cool. It’s really special. So fingers crossed.”
Smith will compete in the CCI4* division in Kentucky on 15-year-old Hannoverian gelding Danito and 9-year-old KWPN gelding Kynan.
“I look forward to seeing everyone in the Blue Grass state; and, although I know Lexus will certainly miss seeing all of his fans, he has been given strict orders to behave himself until I return home.”
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Doing It His Way: A Timeline of Catch Me Not S 23 Apr 2024, 11:55 am
Just call him the Robert Downey Jr. of show jumping.
Last weekend at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup
Final in Riyadh, Sweden’s Peder Fredricson finished third aboard the 18-year-old Catch Me Not S in a field that included a handful of the best horse and rider combinations on the globe.
Ironically enough, the gelding’s “senior” status may actually be the least interesting thing about him.
Despite “Charlie’s” steely-grey good looks and seemingly reserved personality (not to mention the veritable ease with which he clears highly technical, 1.60m tracks), in his younger days, Catch Me Not S was a bit of what you might call, a hell-raiser.
Like a fine wine, the gelding has matured to become one of Fredricson’s most dependable mounts, dropping just 2.1 faults on average over 78 rounds at 1.60m and finishing in the top-10% more than half the time (57%), according to his Jumpr stats.
But the gelding’s path to the top has been anything but direct. Here’s a look back at just some of Catch Me Not S’s most career-making—and notorious—moments.
2006: What’s in a name?
On the hunt for a son of Cardento, Charlie’s owner, Ebba Berglöf, purchased a “wild” Cardento foal along with its mother, Ralmea, from her breeder-neighbor Krister Svedberg. Not long after, the gelding earns his unusual name, ‘Catch Me Not’ when Berglöf realizes she can’t get a hand on him—and is forced to leave his halter on for three months.
2009: Has talent, needs time
During a free-jumping test in his three-year-old year, Catch Me Not S performs well… until someone in the stands moves, and the gelding jumps out of the shoot barriers. “He always had a strong flight instinct,” Berglöf told World of Showjumping.
2010: Ups and downs
At age four, Berglöf, a former eventer, takes Catch Me Not to his first .80 cm class in southern Sweden. After the gelding fails to pick up the canter, Berglöf decides she’ll just trot the first jump. Charlie decides otherwise, jumping straight up and down—touching the back rail of the oxer and freezing in place. Berglöf has to dismount and walk him out of the arena.
2012: Timing is everything
Berglöf doesn’t feel Charlie is quite ready to compete in formal Young Horse classes and opts out of the national and international four, five, six and seven year old young horse championships.
At age six, they reach the 1.30m level and she takes him back to Peder and Lisen Fredricson’s Grevlunda Stables for evaluation. This is the second time Fredricson is offered a shot at the quirky gelding; he once again passes.
2018: Show him the money
For nearly a decade, Berglöf slowly and carefully produces Catch Me Not S up to the 1.50m level. While competing at a national horse show in 2021, she once again connects with Fredricson, who—after watching Charlie put in a strong performance under slippery, snowy conditions—finally agrees to take the gelding on.
Not long after, they win their first 1.50m CSI3* class at Knokke, Belgium, and by the end of the year, earn individual gold at the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final in Barcelona, Spain.
2019: World Cup-worthy debut
In their first appearance at Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Finals on home soil in Göteborg, Sweden, Fredricson and Catch Me Not—now a full-fledged member of the Swedish rider’s string—earn third place in good company behind champion Steve Guerdat (SUI) and Alamo and runner-up Martin Fuchs (SUI) with Clooney 51.
2021: A team player
Having finally hit their stride, Fredricson and Catch Me Not S earn $495,955 in 2021 thanks to GCL wins at Stockholm City, Ramatuelle/St. Tropez, and London during their most lucrative competition season to date (Jumpr). That same year, they take individual bronze at the Longines FEI Jumping European Championship in Riesenbeck.
But while they may have built a winning partnership, don’t expect Charlie to take it too easy on the Swedish rider—especially at home. “He doesn’t like veterinarians, or when we do blood tests, do his teeth, or clip him,” Fredricson told World of Show Jumping.
Final, Riyadh 2024, Saudi Arabia. © FEI/Martin Dokoupil2024: “Better than ever”
After three days of championship jumping competition, Fredricson and Charlie—now 18—once again take third place at Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Finals Riyadh behind countryman Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward, and France’s Julien Epaillard and Dubai du Cedre.
A full five years after their World Cup debut and first podium finish, it’s a full-circle moment for the partnership and Charlie’s ever-faithful owner, Ebba Berglöf—who never doubted her horse’s talent for a moment.
“Thank you to Ebba for the confidence with amazing Charlie,” Fredricson wrote on his Instagram after their performance in Riyadh, adding simply, “better than ever.”
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What’s the Right Joint Injectable for Your Horse? 22 Apr 2024, 8:00 am
“He’s due for work.”
“She might need injections.”
“It’s time for some routine maintenance.”
They’re all different expressions for the same, common veterinary treatment in horses. For many equine athletes, joint injections are an important part of a regular, veterinary care program. The reason for that is simple: in competitive horses, or those with an injury, injections can help to prevent osteoarthritic pain; both now and, ideally, in the future.
“When we look at joint pain, it’s a feedback loop,” says Dr. Beau Whitaker, a Texas-based sport horse veterinarian and certified equine rehabilitation practitioner through the University of Tennessee.
“In cases where we have arthritis or pain in a joint, it causes a reflex spasm of the muscles around that joint—or the tendons that are connected to the muscles around a joint—which then adjust to position that joint in the greatest comfort.”
To you, that might look like a horse that used to stand straight in the crossties starting to habitually prop a leg in a certain way. In other cases, you might notice that your horse starts jumping crooked, or moves differently than you remember up front or behind. Changes like these can indicate discomfort in a range of locations within a horse’s joints.
Because let’s face it, joints work hard.
“The joint has to carry the horse. It has to be able to weight-load. When you have this animal that weighs 1,000 pounds when it’s standing, that’s a lot of weight,” says Dr. Whitaker.
“When that horse is running or jumping, it’s a whole lot of weight. So those joints have to be able to take that concussion. They have to be able to shock-absorb, and they have to stay stable, as well, because you don’t want those joints or bones shearing as the horse moves.”
The good news? While there are many things that can go wrong in a joint, there are also many proven treatment options that can help to relieve soreness, promote healing in injuries or after surgery, and repair damage.
In an April webinar presented by Hilltop Bio, Dr. Whitaker broke down the anatomy and function of the joint, discussed the reasons why they can become painful, and examined the different types of joint injections available, including orthobiologics such as Strydaflex.
Why do horses have joint issues?
In a perfect world, a horse’s joints would always function properly. Joints are essentially a place in the body where two bones come together, joined by an articular capsule, which contains the joint cavity and fluid, encased by a membrane.
Cartilage attaches to each end of bone, as do the tendons and ligaments that stabilize the joint, preventing it from moving side to side or front to back. Joints also include extensor and flexor muscles, which attach to the tendons, allowing for motion.
“We have this intricate play of the muscles on one side contracting at the same time as the muscles on the other side relax,” Dr. Whitaker explains.
Of course, horses being horses, things can go wrong in any or all of these structures, and according to Dr. Whitaker, there’s a long list of reasons why horses may need joint injections.
Among these are horses with developmental or genetic joint disorders, such as osteochondritis dissecans (or OCD), or with systematic inflammation or autoimmune conditions. Horses with hypermobility—the kind of big, elastic movers often prized in disciplines such as dressage—are vulnerable to both joint issues and suspensory problems. Mechanical problems in the joints can also stem from conformation issues or malalignment; for example, a horse that’s pigeon-toed.
Acute injury is still another cause. Trauma to the bone, cartilage, or the soft tissue surrounding the joint can all result in inflammation and pain.
And then there’s age—”any of us over 35 can relate!”—and routine wear and tear (i.e. mechanical stress) on the joints, sometimes caused by working too hard, but often simply a result of overuse based on a horse’s discipline.
“Jumpers are more prone to having some fetlock issues versus dressage horses, which are more prone to stifle issues, because they’ve got so much weight on their back-ends,” says Dr. Whitaker.
A Vicious Cycle
What many horse owners don’t understand is that joint damage can begin long before a horse hobbles off from a flexion exam. Any kind of injury, disease process, or motion that causes repeated, low-grade inflammation, when left to its own devices, can ultimately develop into osteoarthritis.
Here’s how: repeated cell damage in the cartilage signals to other cells in the joint that something is wrong. This causes the release of proteins and proteases, which are then detected by immune cells in the body known as macrophages.
The problem? Macrophages are kind of the Frozen Elsa-character cells of the body; they’re well intentioned, but often create additional problems. Instead of accidentally shooting magic ice bombs from their hands, however, macrophages release additional proteins known as cytokines. Some of these cytokines are helpful and anti-inflammatory (yay!), but others actually cause inflammation in the cartilage (no bueno).
“The best way to intervene on osteoarthritis is to interrupt this cellular communication, or at least steer it in the direction we want it to go. A lot of the new research is looking at macrophages and the role that they play in osteoarthritis,” explains Dr. Whitaker.
“The problem with that, sometimes, is that there’s already this cycle going on before we are able to intervene. And so, by the time we do, there’s already permanent damage that we can’t reverse.”
Orthobiologic vs. Corticosteroid Injections
Joint injections are typically a veterinarian’s first line of defense when it comes to intervening on osteoarthritis. For most sport horse veterinarians, the two most common injection options on the table fall into the categories of orthobiologics and/or corticosteroids.
“As long as we’ve been treating horse joints, we’ve been putting steroids in them,” says Dr. Whitaker.
There are good reasons for that. In addition to their longstanding position in the veterinary medicine cabinet, corticosteroids are typically more fast-acting than orthobiologics. For a horse that has severe inflammation, or is in need of immediate relief, they are often the most effective option.
Orthobiologics, on the other hand—which include regenerative treatments such as PRP, IRAP, ProStride, and stem cells—offer their own unique benefits. Derived from either the patient-horse itself, or a donor, orthobiologics can be used on horses with metabolic issues (think: Cushing’s Disease or PPID) and pregnant mares. They also require less drug-testing withdrawal time for competition horses.
What’s the right injectable for your horse should be determined on a case-by-case basis with your veterinarian. Some vets may use corticosteroids in combination with orthobiologics, or—as Dr. Whitaker often does—inject different types of orthobiologics a few weeks apart from one another.
“Number one [when choosing an injectable product] is it has to be safe, and ‘safe’ means we’re going to cause no harm,” says Dr. Whitaker, adding that inflammatory flare reactions as well as infections are top concerns.
“Number two, we want it to be effective—how long does it help? And how quickly is it going to start helping?” he says. “There’s a broad spectrum of joint damage that we can treat, and we’ll use different products based on the severity.”
Exosomes & Strydaflex
Tackling the osteoarthritic cycle often requires a multi-faceted approach. Strydaflex, a new orthobiologic injectable, is a multifaceted product. One vial of Strydaflex, in fact, contains anti-inflammatory cytokines and IRAP, both helpful in counteracting those ‘bad’ inflammatory cytokines.
Then there’s the exosomes: 3.5 billion exosomes, to be exact.
In short, exosomes are a kind of “messenger” capsule, created and released naturally from cells, and containing a bunch of good stuff for the joints. According to Dr. Whitaker, that ‘good stuff’ includes proteins, peptides, lipids, and nucleic acids, as well as more than six different types of RNA (genetic material). In other words, the osteoarthritis Avenger squad.
“I think of exosomes like a carrier pigeon and a message in one,” says Dr. Whitaker, noting that the exosomes released in Strydaflex are programmed to travel to certain sites in the joint. “They get to that site, that cell recognizes them and pulls them in. Once the RNA is in there, it tells that cell, ‘okay, produce this,’ or, ‘quit producing that.’”
In other words, stop producing those inflammatory proteins that cause joint damage over time.
Dr. Whitaker adds that Strydaflex is also safe and effective, lasting—by his estimation—anywhere from six months to a year in the horses he’s treated. “It really is my first line of defense if I have a horse with a joint injury,” he says.
Dr. Whitaker adds that Strydaflex can also be a good option to assist with the healing process of post-surgical cases and, thanks to its regenerative properties, for the treatment of younger horses as well.
“I wish all my clients had a long-term view of joint health,” he says. “We know that exosomes can have a protective effect in the cartilage and also slow down the progression of arthritis in those joints.
“For clients that want to have their horse around for the next 10 years, I think Strydaflex is a great product.”
Learn more about Strydaflex at hilltopbio.com and speak with your veterinarian to find out if Strydaflex is right for your horse.
The post What’s the Right Joint Injectable for Your Horse? appeared first on Horse Network.
King Edward Is King of the Ring, by Every Metric 21 Apr 2024, 8:11 pm
Four gruelling rounds. Four foot perfect performances. King Edward and Henrik von Eckermann were at the top of their game in Riyadh.
The world dominating pair didn’t just successfully defend their Longines FEI World Cup Final title in Saudi Arabia, they left no question about it, leading from start to finish without dropping a single rail all week.
“It’s amazing. It’s something I could never dream of when I was younger that I would be two times winning after each other,” said the exhausted and delighted Swede on Saturday.
von Eckermann might not have imagined it, but the Jumpr stats certainly predicted it. At 14, his chestnut phenom is at the peak of his career and exceptional by every metric.
91% Clear Round Average
King Edward’s clear round average over 11 rounds at 1.60m in 2024 is an unprecedented 91% (Jumpr App). That’s show jumping genius status.
It’s also their highest clear round stat to date.
Over the same period in 2023, they were clear in an already impressive 78% in nine classes at the height. The year prior, 2022, when they first achieved world no. 1 status, that stat was 89%.
For context, HH Azur had a 82% clear round average (over 11 rounds) at the height of her career in 2022.
His all-time earnings are €3,582,674
That’s not just a tidy sum, it’s a figure on par with the highest earning horses of the past quarter century.
King Edward’s closest rivals in earnings are HH Azur, who’s won €3,765,124 with USA’s McLain Ward and Gazelle at €3,525,681 with USA’s Kent Farrington. Both horses are now retired.
Within King Edward’s age group, the highest earning 14-year-olds are Killer Queen Vdm at €2.85 million and Checker 47 at €1.93 million. Take that in for a moment. The third highest earning 14-year-old show jumper since 1999 has brought in €1.6 million less than King Edward.
36 podium finishes at 1.60m or higher
No horse in the past 25 years has earned more podium finishes at 1.60m and above than King Edward. And by a longshot.
The chestnut gelding has 36 and counting. The second most frequent podium finishers at the height are Hermes Ryan and HH Azur, tied on 32, followed by Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z with 30 and Explosion W on 28.
His closest rival by age is Beauville Z N.O.P. at a distant 23.
King Edward also has the most Grands Prix wins with 10 titles—all 5* and at 1.60m or higher. That’s more than any 14-year old horse in the past 25 years. (Killer Queen Vdm has 6. Beauville Z N.O.P., 5.)
Only three horses have won more Grands Prix in the past 25 years and they all have several years on King Edward, which means he’s likely to move up the list. Those are 18-year-olds Gazelle (15 Grand Prix wins) and HH Azur (14) and 16-year-old Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z (11).
King Edward is quite literally king of the ring.
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Why Skylar Wireman Withdrew from the Final Round of the World Cup Final 21 Apr 2024, 1:27 pm
One of only two 19 years on the start list, USA’s Skylar Wireman was among the youngest riders to qualify for the 2024 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final in Riyadh.
She was also on one of the youngest horses in 10-year-old Tornado.
Partnered for less than a year, the young American made her championship debut for Team USA last week. And they didn’t disappoint.
In Wednesday’s opening speed round, Wireman and the Swedish Warmblood gelding finished 10th against world-class talent. But by Thursday’s jump off class, their greenness showed in an uncharacteristic 16 faults. At 1.60m, the pair averages 4.8 faults (Jumpr).
Related: The Making of Skylar Wireman
Their combined two-round results put them just inside the top 20, ahead of proven championship contenders Martin Fuchs, Devin Ryan and Kevin Staut, earning them a spot in the Final on Saturday.
But Wireman rewrote the script. Instead of taking to the warm up ring for Saturday’s Final, she took to social media to share her reasoning for opting out of the final round of her first World Cup Final.
“I have made the very difficult decision to withdraw from the final round of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Finals. Tornado, my horse, is 100% well, sound and fit and I would like to explain why I have withdrawn,” wrote the young American on Instagram.
“I came here knowing this would be an incredible learning experience and hoped to be competitive. I am at the start of what I want to be a long and successful career as a jumping athlete and to compete against the very best in the world has been an honor, and I have learned so much. I hope I have proven that I deserved to be here and that I will give my all to jumping clear rounds and being a winner.
“While I want to ride every round and grow my experience level, I care deeply about my horses. I love Tornado more than anything. I came here with a horse that is 10 and is very much still learning and his welfare will always be at the very heart of every decision I make. Without our horse we are nothing, and they put their complete trust in us.
“Tornado was a rock star in the 1st Round of the World Cup Finals finishing 10th amongst the legends of our sport. He jumped his heart out in the 2nd Round on Thursday.
“Tornado is inexperienced at this level and having studied our round on Thursday and talked extensively to my coach and many others whose opinions and experience I have high regard for, I will not risk his welfare or his future in the sport by asking Tornado to jump a course he might not be quite ready for.
“The course today will be big and technical but fair for this level of competition: I knew it would be but I knew Tornado and I had the potential to jump it; that potential is still there but we need just a little more experience to realize it.”
Wireman concluded her post expressing her gratitude for her horse, mom, groom, coach and USEF.
“I look forward to representing the team in the future!”
Suffice it to say, she’s already doing the team proud.
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Top 5 Takeaways from the Jumping World Cup Final 20 Apr 2024, 6:30 pm
Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward retained their crown at the 2024 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final, winning every leg over three days of championship jumping in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Heading into Saturday’s fourth and final round, the world no. 1 and his chestnut phenom had a rail in hand. Four faults and they’d force a jump off with speed specialists Julien Epaillard (FRA) and Dubai du Cedre. A clear would mean victory.
And they delivered. If not the smoothest round they’ve ever done, one of the most significant.
“It’s amazing,” said the Swede of winning back-to-back Finals. “It’s something I could never dream of when I was younger, that I would be two times winning after each other.“
Epaillard took silver, jumping two fault-free rounds on Saturday to finish on a total of 4. Peder Fredricson (SWE) and Catch Me Not S had a single rail in the first round, jumping the rest of the course with a broken martingale, but returned with a clear in the second to take bronze on a total of 6.
Here are the top 5 takeaways from the World Cup Final press conference.
von Eckermann fell off in the warmup ring
Before the first round of the Final III on Saturday, von Eckermann and King Edward parted ways in the warmup ring. How did the world no. 1 manage the upset? Calmly.
“It doesn’t help to get nervous or stressed, because the horse feels everything and King Edward is anyway a very, very sensitive horse so for him when that happened I just said don’t worry, let’s stay calm and don’t let him feel that everything is a little not like it should be!
“We’ve been together so long, so we know each other so well. And, I have biggest confidence in King Edward, of course, that helps—to have that feeling in you that, even with this mistake, what happened, happened and it’s still zero on the scoreboard, and that’s what counts. So, just focus on that.”
Julien Epaillard is playing the long game
With the Olympic Games being hosted in Paris this year, Frenchman Julien Epaillard is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to make the home team. The World Cup silver medalist said Riyadh was a warmup for Paris.
“Okay, my mare was already great in the European Championships last year. She was good in Prague [GC Playoffs] also and in Geneva [for the Rolex Grand Slam]. I was coming in with idea to be on the podium, but also to learn her better before the Olympics this year. [The Games] in France is very important for us.
“So, I’m very happy of the result this weekend. I did a little mistake on the first day and also in the jump off on Thursday. But I think today the two rounds were superb. She was very relaxed and with me. She has a lot of energy. It’s good when she uses [it] to be with me and not [against] me. Today she was giving all this energy to the jump and was with me. So it was a great feeling.”
Take “note” of Peder Fredricson
Fredricson is typically the first rider to enter the ring for the course walk and the last to leave. He can be spotted on course with pen and notebook in hand, scribbling down his plans. Why the cheatsheet?
“I have a really bad memory and a bad sense of direction,” smiled Fredricson.
“I write down how many meters it is in-between the fences and how I will ride—how many strides that would ride, how I would ride the strides, if I ride forward or backward, or outside line or inside line. So then I have it. And after I walk the course, I go and visualize sometimes. If I’m not quite sure [about a line] rather than having to ask somebody was it 5 or 6 strides, I always have my notes so I feel secure about it.”
Fredricson has an attitude ofgratitude
A year and half ago Fredricson had a bad fall on a young horse at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Stockholm and spent three days in the hospital. On Saturday, he equalled his career best finish (third in 2019) at a World Cup Final on his 18-year-old partner Catch Me Not S.
“I’m really happy that I’m getting back. It took a bit of time. But now I feel my body is coming back, and, I’m really grateful to experience this, because it’s something very special to ride these events, these championships. You feel the adrenaline and everything—it’s a very special thing, so I’m very grateful.”
von Eckermann takes a moment in the moment
As defending champions, von Eckermann and King Edward now join an elite roster of horse and rider pairs that have logged back-to-back World Cup Final titles that includes Ian Millar and Big Ben (1988 & 1989), John Whitaker and Milton proved (1990 & 1991), Hugo Simon and ET (1996 & 1997), Rodrigo Pessoa and Baloubet du Rouet (1998, 1999, 2000), Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Shutterfly (2009 & 2010). (Aside: Steve Guerdat (SUI) and Marcus Ehning (GER) hold the title for most wins at three apiece, but never on the same horse.)
What was going through the von Eckermann’s mind as he stood on the podium for a second time and the Swedish anthem played?
“I’m always trying to sing along. Very quiet, for myself. Because it’s a proud moment. And then you try to, you know, just feel that moment a little bit, and it’s a little bit of the moment where everything runs out of you. Somehow you’re happy that it’s over. But at the same time, you’re really proud and happy that it went this way.”
The World Cup season starts all over again in September.
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Patrik Kittel Is Your 2024 Dressage World Cup Final Champion 19 Apr 2024, 7:36 pm
Patrik Kittel has eight times contested the FEI Dressage World Cup Finals.
Eight times, since 2010, he’s finished in the top 10 and with five different horses. Twice, he just missed the podium. Kittel was fourth at the 2016 World Cup Final in Göteborg on Watermill Scandic and again in the 2018 Paris Final aboard Deja.
This year, he returned with a new World Cup partner in Touchdown and, on his ninth try, scored a “touchdown” 14 years in the making.
In Wednesday’s Grand Prix, Kittel was second on a score of 73.292 behind Lottie Fry (GBR) and Everdale. It was his then best World Cup finish.
“I’ve done a lot of Finals but I’ve never been second!” said Kittel after. “I’m a bit surprised because I thought OK you know The Queen (Isabell Werth) is coming. But then I saw she had some mistakes, which is a bit unusual for her, and then I got a message that I was second and, of course, I was happy about that!”
On Thursday, he did one better. When Fry and Everdale were eliminated before the competition after blood was spotted in the horse’s mouth, Kittel’s mission switched gears from trying to overtake the lead to maintaining it.
And he delivered. Aboard the 12-year-old Swedish warmblood (Quarterback x Sack) and performing to new James Bond themed music, he danced to an 81.661 score, finishing just ahead of Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Don Olymbrio (81.429). German living legend Werth and DSP Quantaz took third on 81.404.
It was first time Kittel has been last into the ring at a major event and said it was a lonely feeling in the warm-up beforehand.
“I think this moment is something I will never forget!” he said.
“Touchdown just flew with me today. I had to try to control my nerves all day but he was just unbelievable! The power and the fighting spirit that he showed for me is the biggest win. The winning of the show is unbelievable but to go in with so much atmosphere—before I came in the audience was going crazy—but he just stayed with me and I cannot thank him enough!”
Kittel is the second Swede in history to win the World Cup Final. He watched his trainer, Louise Nathhorst, accomplish the feat 24 years prior in Gothenburg.
“I cannot believe it—seriously! My trainer Louise (Nathhorst) won it the first time for Sweden and I’ve won it for Sweden again. I just want to thank everyone for supporting us—I’m very overwhelmed!”
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Lottie Fry & Everdale Eliminated in World Cup Final Freestyle 19 Apr 2024, 2:14 pm
Shockwaves were sent through the FEI World Cup Finals for the second day in a row.
World Cup favorites Lottie Fry and Everdale, leading by a 2% margin after Wednesday’s Grand Prix, were eliminated in Riyadh prior to contesting Friday’s medal deciding Freestyle after judge Hans-Christian Matthiesen (DEN) spotted blood the horse’s mouth.
Under the FEI blood rule, fresh blood in a horse’s mouth or in the area of the spurs results in an automatic elimination.
From the FEI:
British athlete Charlotte Fry and her horse Everdale were eliminated from the Grand Prix Freestyle competition today at the FEI Dressage World Cup Final in Riyadh (KSA).
A minor bleed originating from the front gum mucosa was found in the mouth of the horse by the Judge at C, and in accordance with Article 430.7.6 of the FEI Dressage Rules, this results in elimination.
Elimination under this rule does not imply there was any wrongdoing but the rules are in place to protect the welfare of all competing horses.
The 15-year old KWPN stallion (by Lord Leatherdale x Negro) helped Great Britain to the team bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games and team silver medal at the 2021 European championships. The pair hasn’t finished below second in their past four international appearances together.
This story will be updated as new information becomes available.
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Bizarre Olympic Horse Sports 19 Apr 2024, 12:08 pm
When I think of summer Olympic sports, I think of track and field, swimming, gymnastics, equestrian and a few other staples.
But now because I have successfully made it to middle-age, I look at some of the new sports being introduced and I think how seemingly unsuitable. Skateboarding for one and new to the 2024 lineup is what they call “breaking,” which is what we call breakdancing.
Yes, I’m aware there’s a lot of skill involved with both athletic endeavors and yes, there are probably just as many injuries in these sports as any other. It just seems to me that these sports are a little bizarre for the Olympics or maybe I need to be more hip to the game. Who knows?
Learning that breakdancing is considered an Olympic sport, I gathered that there must be a rather long list of peculiar sports that have been deemed Olympic-worthy. And so, my dear readers, this is the rabbit hole we shall venture down today.
Olympic Horse Sports
Horses made their big debut in the Olympics in the 1900 Paris Games, which you’ll see is a running theme here.
There were five disciplines in total, but they aren’t what you might think.
There was jumping, long jump, high jump, mail coach and hacks and hunters combined. Four of the five events were dropped from the Olympic roster after their debut and I’ll discuss those now.
Jumping or show jumping, as we like to call it, is the only remaining sport from the early days of the modern Games.
Horse Long Jump
This is exactly as it sounds.
Which horse and rider duo can jump the furthest? Picture a water jump that you’d see in a grand prix today, that’s how they got the distance rather than the height. After each successful attempt, the take-off point was moved back in increments.
The competition started with a spread of 4.50m/14’8”, which is the maximum spread in any grand prix today. All 17 competitors in the 1900 Games successfully made the leap, however, once widened to 4.90m/16’07” most of the field fell away. The winning leap was 6.10m/20’ made by Constant van Langhendonck and Extra-Dry from Belgium.
Horse High Jump
This sounds a lot like the Puissance, which it was. The main difference is instead of jumping a wall, as today, it looks as though they jumped a brush fence with a rail.
During the 1900 Games, there were 19 competitors, though back then you were allowed to enter more than one horse, so there were 19 horses and 18 humans competing.
The starting height was 1.20m/3’9”, which seems rather Pony Club. The bar was raised in 10cm increments and then later 5cm and each horse and rider pair was allowed three attempts at each height. At the end of the day, the gold medal was shared by Dominique Gardères on Canella from France and Gian Giorgio Trissino on Oreste from Italy for clearing a height of 1.85m/6’06”.
As a point of interest, the Puissance record is held by Germany’s Franke Sloothaak and Optiebeurs Golo who cleared 2.14m/7’10.5” in 1991. The bareback Puissance record is held by Irish chef d’equipe Michael Blake.
Mail Coach
Mail Coach. On the surface, it sounds very curious indeed. However, with a smidge of research it was clear that Mail Coach is a fancy way of saying Four-in-Hand Driving. Which I suppose is how the mail was once delivered.
Mail Coach was a demonstration sport at the 1900 Games and there isn’t anything written about what the contestants were asked to do. All I can find is that a mail coach was pulled by four horses and driven by one man.
While there are records of the gold, silver and bronze medal winners, there are no precise details of which of the 29 entrants started and/or finished. There is also some confusion as to who was at the helm, as it were, during competition. Was there a special driver or did the owner do the driving? Nobody seems to know, but such is life.
Hacks and Hunters Combined
This was another demonstration sport held during the 1900 Games. I suspect, and I’m going out on a limb here, that Hacks and Hunters Combined (HHC) was the forefather to the class we know today as Hunter Hack.
During the Games, those who entered the HHC were asked to walk, trot, canter and hand gallop. Once that was done individuals would head out and do a short pattern that included small jumps.
It is, once again, unclear how many people competed in this class, as some sources say 50 while others say 29, but what is consistently stated is that three women competed, which is a nice piece of information.
This sport, as with Mail Coach, did not cut the mustard and will forever remain a one-time demonstration sport.
Sources
- Paris2024.org/breaking
- Inside.fei.org
- Olympics.com/horsehighjump
- Topendsports.com/events/hacks-and-hunter-combined
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Chromatic BF Dies Suddenly at World Cup Finals 18 Apr 2024, 10:06 pm
“It was a night of tears—tears of joy and tears of loss,” wrote Kc Brascomb on Facebook.
The American breeder’s horse died suddenly an hour after jumping to a third place finish in Round II of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Chromatic BF, competing under USA’s Jill Humphrey, made his championship debut this week following a breakout World Cup season that saw them finish as the top ranked American and fifth overall pair on the North American League standings.
The 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Connor was bred and raised at Branscomb Farms LLC in Half Moon Bay, CA and cared for by lifetime groom Pepe Rodriguez.
His rise up the international ranks was nothing short of meteoric. Chromatic BF made his international debut in 2023 under Humphries saddle while continuing to live and train at his home farm.
The pair found immediate success on the World Cup tour, jumping to an eighth place finish in Sacramento, CA last October. In the two months following, they went on to log third place finishes at World Cup qualifiers in Fort Worth, TX and Las Vegas, NV, securing their invite to the Final—Humphrey’s first in 17 years. (She last competed at a World Cup Final in 2007.)
This week in Riyadh saw their best performances to date—and against world class talent.
In the opening speed leg, Humphries and the striking black gelding finished 12th in a field of 37. On Thursday, they took third following a seven-horse jump off in Round II, moving the pair into fifth on the overall leaderboard ahead of Saturday’s Final.
Over seven rounds at 1.60m, Chromatic BF averaged just 1.7 faults and finished in the top 10% at an 80% clip with Humphrey (Jumpr App).
“It was just an instant bond and, and he obviously had a wonderful upbringing and he was ready to come up to this level,” said the American rider. “I felt a connection with him and I think it’s just been a wonderful story.”
Then disaster struck. An hour after Thursday’s career high the horse collapsed suddenly in the barn.
Wrote Branscomb on Facebook:
“After hacking normally after the class, Chromatic returned to the barn happy and calm attended by his life-time caretaker Pepe Rodriguez and Jill. After resting and refreshment, he was given a routine recovery shot of electrolytes by the USET Team veterinarian. Upon returning to his stable to be wrapped, blanketed, and put away for the evening, with me present (Kc Branscomb) the horse began seizured [sic] and collapsed in the stall. He was immediately treated and examined by both the USET and FEI veterinarians and was pronounced dead shortly after.”
She continued in her post:
“As owner and breeder, I want it clearly stated that no one was at fault. The horse did not suffer and there is no evidence that his passing was in anyway related to his strenuous and spectacular performance with Jill well over an hour earlier or the routine injection by the veterinarian.”
A full autopsy is in the works.
“What I HOPE people will take away from this freak accident and great tragedy is that it was a night of tears—tears of joy and tears of loss. If I would ask anything of those of you that knew or celebrated him, lets [sic] remember him for how he lived and not for how he died.”
Earlier in the day, Humphries was asked in the mixed media zone at Riyadh what makes Chromatic BF special:
“His personality. He’s such a love,” she gushed. “This is his first trip on a plane. He was born and raised at Branscomb Farm, and his owners and his team that has been with him his whole life are here to watch him. So that’s really exciting too.”
It’s a devastating end to a heartwarming story.
Condolences for Chromatic BFs connections continue to pour out on social media.
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Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward Are in a Class of Their Own in Riyadh 18 Apr 2024, 8:54 pm
Few combinations are as exciting to watch in the ring as Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward.
But this week is exceptional even by their impossibly high standards.
After two rounds, the Swedish sensations aren’t just winning the 2024 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final. They’re dominating it.
von Eckermann and King Edward claimed their career first World Cup title in 2023, winning the first round and dropping a single rail each in the second and third rounds before delivering a clutch clear to clinch the victory in the fourth.
Defending their title in Riyadh this week, the world no. 1s have already improved their win chances over the year prior.
On Wednesday, they won the first round (again). This time by a full second over countryman Peder Fredricson and his 18-year-old SWB gelding Catch Me Not S.
On Thursday, they lengthened their lead on the Swede by a rail, topping a seven horse jump off. This time by over two seconds.
“It was a great feeling from the start to the end, both rounds,” said von Eckermann. “I couldn’t be more happy. The horse jumped fantastic. I actually rode also quite good for once. It was a good finish.”
In nine rounds at 1.60m this year, King Edward has a mind-blowing 89% clear round average, highlighted by five podium finishes and €444,640 in earnings (Jumpr). They haven’t finished outside the top 10 in a 1.60m class in 2024.
There are still two rounds of difficult jumping ahead in Saturday’s Final III and the Swedish rider is cautiously optimistic about the task ahead.
“So, so much can happen. But, if he keeps on jumping like this and I keep on riding like this, for sure it will look not so bad,” said von Eckermann.
You can bet he’ll be turning over every stone to make the win happen. The Olympic team gold medalist has continued to tweak his evolving brownband-less bridle on King Edward, adding a nose net since their last outing at the Dutch Masters.
“He’s very sensitive, like you [saw] in the prize giving—the blanket just came on his bum [and] he gets all excited and he gets a bit stressed from it. And he’s a little bit scratchy in his face. The net makes him a bit calm because it scratches a little bit and he plays with [it with] his nose.
“Everything you do, you try to find a way that the horse is just relaxed.”
The champion of the 2024 Longines FEI Jumping Word Cup Final will be crowned on Saturday. But all signs suggest he’s already wearing it…
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More on Movement during Groundwork 18 Apr 2024, 9:09 am
Last week, we talked about teaching a horse to trot with you in groundwork, with crisp forward movement when you request it.
But he also needs to back up when you do.
To back a horse in this sequence, begin at the halt, facing forward as usual. Turn 180 degrees so that your body is facing backward and the left side of the horse’s face is next to your left arm. Bump the halter back as you walk toward the horse’s shoulder. He should move back.
If your horse is stubborn on this—my green Warmblood True often is—tap a whip or stick across his chest as you bump the halter back. Again, I must clarify: whips or sticks are ONLY used as extensions of your body. Because horses are big, human arms cannot reach every spot, so we have to use tools.
The whip or stick is never to be used as an agent of punishment or harm. Punishment is the least effective method of teaching any lesson, and it creates a host of new problems in its wake.
So, just tap the whip against the skin of his chest lightly. You’re merely trying to signal your intention, not punish or scare the horse. True was stubborn on learning to back, both on the ground and from the saddle. He stood like a rock when I tapped his chest lightly.
In that case, try tapping it faster. Not harder, just at a faster rate.
If that still doesn’t work, you’ll have to use the halter to back him up, teach him the word “back,” and reward for good performance until he gets the idea. Then try with the lighter method again.
When your horse learns to back with you facing him, turn your body to the front and teach him to back while you walk backward.
The idea of movement in groundwork is to teach your horse to pay attention to your body language. That’s a very critical lesson for a young horse, who might not yet know that riders are going to communicate using body language, too.
It also teaches him to remain in spatial position no matter what you do—walk, jog, halt, turn, back. When your horse remains in his spatial position throughout the sequence, while leaving you free inside your human bubble, you’re ready to begin the next step.
This involves teaching the horse about spatial boundaries and obedience in more detail.
Place your horse in a standstill. Now begin to move to different locations around his body. You will need to lengthen the lead rope at times but it should remain in your hand and in a slack position no matter where you are.
With True, I move one step to the right side of his neck, and he wants to come with me. I bump him back into position with the halter and say “whoa.” There’s no shouting or sharp bumping—he’s learning! Everything needs to be gentle, calm, easy.
When the horse returns to the correct position, I praise and stroke. Too often, we tell our horses what they’re doing wrong, but we forget to tell them what they’ve done right!
Each time I take a step in any direction, True’s job is to remain still. His head and neck can move, but not his feet. With this exercise, soon you will be able to adopt any position within 10 feet of your horse while he remains in place, including positions to the sides of his hindquarters.
Why do I bother with all this groundwork?
First, it teaches horses to pay attention to their humans. That’s a lesson that is critical to all training. Your horse can’t learn anything on the ground or in the saddle if he’s not paying attention to you.
Second, it teaches horses that humans use body language, as mentioned above.
Third, it teaches that humans have boundaries. They cannot be stepped on or bumped into. They deserve respect and require space. That lesson is critical to your safety.
And fourth, groundwork increases the horse-and-human bond. It teaches the horse to trust in you for guidance, whether you are riding her or on the ground beside her.
More on ground work:
Brain-Based Horsemanship is a weekly column that chronicles Janet Jones, PhD, and her journey with True, a Dutch Warmblood she trained from age three using neuroscience best practices. Read more about brain-based training in Jones’ award winning book Horse Brain, Human Brain.
A version of this story originally appeared on janet-jones.com. It is reprinted here with permission.
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The King Bows to No One, Day One in Riyadh 17 Apr 2024, 8:18 pm
Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward aren’t giving up the crown without a fight.
The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final defending champions raced to the top of the leaderboard in Round I of the 2024 Final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. They were the only pair to post a sub-67 second round.
The Swedish sensations were more than a second fastest ahead of countryman Peder Fredricson and his 18-year-old SWB gelding Catch Me Not S (67.40) and two-seconds faster than third place finishers Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) and Elysium.
“I’m really proud of my horse, really proud of my round,” said Dreher afterward. “To lose against Henrik and Peder…it’s not a problem.”
Thirty-four combinations representing 19 nations took a crack at Frank Rothenberger’s faults-converted speed course. Three seconds were added to clock of each pair’s time for every fence down.
Posting a foot perfect round, von Eckermann and his browbandless wonder used massive stride and cat-like agility to their advantage.
“It was a great round today. I’m really pleased with it,” said the world no. 1. “The first day’s always the worst one. I’m glad to have it behind me.”
Related: The Story Behind King Edward’s Avant-Garde Bridle
The highly decorated pair—von Eckermann and King Edward are the reigning Olympic team, double World, and World Cup champions—are in exceptional form heading into the Final.
In seven rounds at 1.60m this year, they have an 86% clear round average, according to Jumpr App. It’s an eight point improvement over the same period in 2023, when they averaged an already phenomenal 78% clear round average. #overachievers
Three Americans finished in the top 12 after Round I. Kent Farrington and Toulayna are tied for fourth with France’s Julien Epaillard and Dubai du Cedre. Nineteen-year-old Skylar Wireman put in the second best effort for the USA finishing in 10th. Jill Humphries and Chromatic BF sit in 12th.
The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final continues Thursday and Saturday and streams on FEI TV.
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Lottie Fry and Everdale Lead World Cup Final by 2% 17 Apr 2024, 5:50 pm
Medal favorites Lottie Fry (GRB) and Everdale took the lead in the 2024 FEI Dressage World Cup Final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday with a Grand Prix score of 75.388.
Runnerups Patrik Kittel (SWE) and Touchdown trail by more than 2% on 73.292. Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Don Olymbrio sit in third on 72.904.
It’s a commanding lead for Fry and the 15-year-old stallion, but one well off their high score. Their personal best in the Grand Prix, achieved at Aachen last year, is 78.913.
“He loves arenas like that and sometimes he can barely contain his excitement but he just about managed it today!” said Fry.
The podium shock of the day came from Germany’s Isabell Werth, the most decorated equestrian athlete in history. Second-last into the ring, her promising test on DSP Quantaz fell apart in the two-tempi changes and was followed by more costly errors. The pair earned a score of 72.236 to slot into fourth place on the standings.
Werth and DSP Quantaz were second in the first round at the World Cup Final last year and have scored over 78% in the Grand Prix seven times prior. Their a personal best is 80.348, achieved in Achleiten, AUT in 2020.
“I’ve done a lot of Finals but I’ve never been second!” said eight-time World Cup Finalist Kittel. “I’m a bit surprised because I thought OK you know The Queen (Isabell Werth) is coming. But then I saw she had some mistakes, which is a bit unusual for her, and then I got a message that I was second and, of course, I was happy about that!”
Top 15 combinations advance to the Freestyle on Friday.
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