June 2010 Archives

We all started eventing somewhere.  For me, it was back when I lived in Michigan, trotting around local dressage and hunter shows, and then moving up to unrecognized horse trials.  Those first few ribbons I won are still hanging in my room to remind me of where I came from.  Today we have a guest article on the topic of starter horse trials from Charlene Eurick, who is well connected to top eventers in California.  Thanks for writing this Charlene, and thank you for reading.

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Photo: Lexie Thacker (4^th Place/Intro Division B) getting some sage advice from her coach, Jennifer Wooten-Dafoe.  This was Lexie's first event, and she finished on her dressage score of 39.0

Have you ever seen an "Intro Level" division at a horse trial?  I hadn't until this past weekend at Shepherd Ranch Horse Trials in Santa Ynez, California and I'll tell ya, there should be more of 'em!  Watching those cute pony kids (with a few adults thrown in) riding cross-country on their Saints disguised as horses was such a treat!  The jumps are so little that even the small ponies can get around and it's a nice step before Beginner Novice.  Cross-country was 1,300 meters with 12-14 jumping efforts set at 20-24 inches high, with a water option.  At 300 mpm, you could probably make the time trotting. 

 

As I watched the warm-up, I guessed that most of these riders don't get out of the arena very often.  There were some really little kids on some really little ponies and the adults looked like they probably hadn't gone Advanced.  They left the start box with either an ear-to-ear grin or the "What am I doing and where do I go?" look but they finished looking happy and confident while the relieved parents and coaches jumped up and down and cheered.  Ok, so there was a bit of drama when "Itty Bitty Cocoa Puff" was eliminated on cross-country, but all-in-all it was a good day. 

 

Without many opportunities these days for riding in the open, it was great to see so many have the chance to go cross-country without the pressure of a jump higher than 24 inches.  Of the 27 entries, 18 finished, and both the A&B divisions ended on a score of 30.5 (not too shabby). 

 

I hope this division will be offered by more organizers and I think it would be a great addition to the USEA recognized divisions.  I've seen enough scary riding at the Beginner Novice level to know that many of those people would do well with some experience at an even lower level.  What a great way to draw people from other disciplines and get kids started really young.  It's terrific to see happy new Eventers and seriously, what's more fun than watching a kid on a pony? 

It is eventing camp season across Eventing Nation, when, for one week out of the year, top programs are turned from organized chaos into unorganized chaos.  Patricia from Ecogold spent  some time at the O'Connor Event Team camp earlier this week, and told me that she expected to see the camp start with a dressage lesson, but instead it started with mechanical bull riding and natural horsemanship sessions.  If you haven't already recognized the picture, the OCET camp is being held at the Virginia Horse Center.

I want to share a story that makes me glow with pride for Eventing Nation.  If you recall, in my semi-delirious Sunday morning reader from last weekend I linked to eventer4life's blog.  As an aside, I thought it might quite possibly be my last link ever considering I was about to go out on XC with a young horse who can jump a mile but often does so in three different directions at once, but I survived and here we are now.  I linked to the blog because it was a young eventer writing about her first horse trials with her new horse and I thought it made for good reading, and Tuesday night eventer4life responded on Sunday morning post with the following comment:

Wow!
Thank you for putting my blog on here!
I actually had 502 views the day this was posted, up from....4...the day before.
So WOW and thanks again!

You're more than welcome eventer4life; Eventing Nation had a couple of days with 4 readers way back when we started. And well done Eventing Nation--we each are powerless as one person behind a computer, but united together as Eventing Nation we have a great deal of power to influence, and, in this case, make a young eventer's day.  Go eventing.

If you recall, last week we published a preview article by Katie Wherley about the Full Moon Farm 1/4 star three-day for novice to elementary level competitors.  Margaret Rizzo was kind enough to write a recap of the event, which sounds like it was a lot of fun and very educational. Thanks for writing this Margaret and thank you for reading.I finally had a chance to catch up with Karen Fulton of Full Moon Farm following their 2nd Annual 1/4 Star Three-Day Event. Immediately following the three-day the Fultons headed off to Surefire Farm for the weekend's horse trials. Needless to say, I think the Fulton family deserves a day off! 

No matter where you were born or who you are, it's still a long way to the ground from the back of a horse.  

It is with a great sense of pride that I welcome Tack of the Day and Nunn Finer to the Eventing Nation team.  John Nunn has been a supporter of Eventing Nation from the very beginning and he sponsored our Rolex $100 Bit of Britain Challenge earlier this year.  I am also very thankful to Mr. Nunn for providing me with valuable advice and guidance throughout the development of Eventing Nation.

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You know when you are walking (or riding) around an event and you notice the photographers standing there all day with those huge cameras?  Well, as part of our ongoing interest in showcasing the many fascinating roles in the eventing community, it is my pleasure to bring you the perspective of a photographer from Surefire horse trials this weekend.  Thanks Lindsay for writing this and thank you for reading.  Link: Surefire results

We have featured skijoring on Video Saturday, but check out this hardcore rendition: Offroad Joring!  Thanks to Sarah for sending in the following video and inspiring this week's VS.

It is with great pleasure that I introduce you our first guest blogger for the fall season. I raved about Steph and Ollie all spring, so Eventing Nation's readers were probably the only people on Earth not surprised by their 5th place finish at Rolex. Steph and Ollie have been named to the Canadian short list for the WEGs, and I can't wait to watch their progress this summer and into the autumn.  If you have a second, be sure to check out Steph's site.  Thanks for writing this Steph and thank you for reading.

First, and most importantly, happy take your dog to work day.  Secondly, we have 8 USEA events this weekend.  Most of the Rolex horses are back into work and some of them are starting to stretch their legs at horse trials this weekend.

After the spring four-stars, New Zealand has released its latest A&B lists for the World Equestrian Games.  Andrew Nicholson is the only A-lister, as Joe Meyer was previously on the A-list but has been dropped back to the B-list on his two rides.  New Zealand plans to take a team of 4 or 5 eventing pairs to the WEGs.  

A. 2010 - A Squad: The 2010 A Squad includes horse/rider combinations currently deemed capable of achieving a top 16 individual placing at the WEG Eventing Competition based on recent performances: 

Andrew Nicholson Nereo 
Andrew Nicholson Avebury 
Andrew Nicholson Mr Cruise Control 

Andrew Nicholson Armada 
Annabel Wigley Black Drum 
Caroline Powell Mac MacDonald 
Clarke Johnstone Orient Express 
Joe Meyer Snip 
Joe Meyer Clifton Lush 
Jonathan Paget Clifton Promise 
Mark Todd Grass Valley 

We love hearing stories about our readers' wonderful lives with horses.  Today one reader tells us about a surprise horsey encounter while on vacation in Egypt.  And no, it wasn't a mirage!  But before we hear her story, let's learn a little about Sarah and her horse, Hugh Mungo!  

I am 28 and live outside of Cleveland, Ohio (Area VIII).  I have been eventing for 15 years and riding for 20.  I feel like my eventing career (at least the last several years) has been like "Lemony Snicket's, A Series of Unfortunate Events," but I'm a total die hard and can't shake the eventing bug!  I currently have a very large but lovely 6 year old Cleveland Bay/Thoroughbred cross aptly named, Hugh Mungo.  It will be interesting to get all 17.3 of him around a course, but our plan is to try!  He was fantastic this past fall at a few fox hunts (Eventers should all hunt-it's a BLAST and I'd argue fox hunters give the West Coast Eventers a run for their money in the party department!!!), and shows great promise in dressage.  He's recovering from an unusual surgery (the story is best shared over drinks), but we're back in the tack and my plan is to make a competitive go of it later this summer.  Given our luck, "later this summer" is long term :)  I couldn't resist and included a picture.

My husband and I took a wonderful cruise through the Mediterranean this past winter.  We went to Egypt for two days, which was amazing!  We took the requisite "Camel Safari" (why my dear husband would eagerly hop on a camel, but never dare sit on a horse is totally beyond me!!!) across the desert and were astounded to learn that less than 20% of Egypt's pyramids have been discovered.  This 100% non-horsey trip turned very exciting very quickly when out of NO WHERE (again, total desert, nothing but sand) 2 beautiful horses came walking up!  I assumed it was a mirage (most people see water, I see horses), but low and behold there where two lovely horses! With open front jumping boots, no less!  It was the highlight of my trip (just don't tell my husband that...half way around the world and the best part is still horses, he he he).What a trip!  I'll bet seeing a majestic horse in the open desert is gorgeous, especially when you weren't expecting it!  Thanks for sharing your story and pics with us, Sarah!  Good luck this summer!

Sometimes I get called upon by not-so-tech-savvy friends for assistance in completing tasks that usually wind up being simple and mundane, yet forgivably misunderstood by said victim of modern technology.  I lucked out recently, when a friend asked me to copy old VHS tapes onto shiny new DVDs.  The very first tape on the top of the stack just so happened to be a recording of the 1989 World Cup featuring the legendary Canadian showjumping combination, Ian Millar and Big Ben.

One of the things I love about Eventing Nation is that we can spend a weekend writing about one of the biggest events in the world at Luhmuhlen, and then turn around a few days later and cover the smallest three-day event in the world--literally.  

"...Phillip Dutton has been appointed President of the Board of Directors following founding board member Craig Thompson's decision to step down as president. In a letter to the Board of Directors and Riders Advisory Board, Craig cited his desire to focus his time and energy on his family and evolving business interests. He will continue to serve on the board as a member of the Executive Committee."

In other news, with less 100 days to go, World Equestrian Games ticket sales are 55% below expectations.  Fox 41 in Louisville published a quick story that the COTH linked to which said:

World Games Foundation CEO Jamie Link said the event is "seeing the effects of the economy."

Organizers expected to sell 600,000 tickets by this time. But only a little more than 260,000 have been sold.

The winning comment, picked arbitrarily, will win a winning supplement from Omega Alpha.  Go eventing.

Could you ever imagine willingly giving up horses? Not just for a weekend, but for a minimum of 5 years? That's exactly what Midshipmen Dulce Johnson and Bethany Carlson did when they were accepted to the United States Naval Academy. 

The Academy is college, boot camp, and officer training all rolled into 4 years with only a few weeks of leave for the Mids. to go home and see their families. It's hard work and takes a huge amount of dedication, but at the end, the graduates are commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corp, or as an Ensign in the Navy. Johnson couldn't see herself anywhere except the Academy and starting working to get accepted during her Junior year of High School. She knew in 6th grade that she was going to be a Navy Officer and that she would attend the Academy located in Annapolis, Maryland (its harder than the movie).
After Johnson's first year, also known as Plebe year, she realized that she just couldn't live without her horses. Before attending the Academy, Johnson was an accomplished pony clubber who had successfully competed through Prelim, excelled at 3'9" jumpers and was a heck of a games player. It was in the fall of '09 when she and Carlson, a former hunter/jumper, decided that the Navy could really use an Equestrian Club.

  

By Spring of 2010 they had 74 members and 15 of those members were actively riding. Their goal is to have at least 15 Mids. compete in IHSA shows next fall. Currently they are considered an extra curricular activity, but are trying to gain "club" status. This would give their members excuses to miss evening meals, a few formations, and count for their intramural requirement. But most of all it would give them funding to pay for the farm lease and care of the club's 4 donated horses, all of which is currently being paid out of the pockets of Johnson and Carlson.

Johnson, currently a second-class Mid (Junior), and Carlson, a first-class Mid (Senior), are great examples of how horse people never quit being horse people, they may simply go horseless for a time.

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He was named one of the 50 most influential horsemen of the 20th Century by the Chronicle in 2000.  He is also the only rider to have won both a gold medal in Eventing and a Tevis Cup buckle in Endurance.  Denny Emerson was inducted into the USEA Hall of Fame in 2006 carrying honors including team gold for the US at the World Championships in '74, Rider of the Year in '72, and acting as President of the USEA for a total of five years.  He has also received the USEA Wofford Cup for lifetime service to Eventing.  Denny runs Tamarack Hill Farm with his wife, May, in Strafford, VT and Southern Pines, NC.  (Above: Denny and Core Buff [out of Royal Core] in Blue Ridge, VA in the late 70's.)  

1. What are 3 essential skills you stress to students?

One of them goes back to something Jack LeGoff preached all the time.  To jump a fence correctly you have to have a canter that combines speed, balance, and impulsion.  The problem is balance and impulsion are not compatible qualities.  It is easy to get impulsion without balance and vise versa.  The trick is to keep a canter with both that is active enough to go forward and back as needed.  One thing said about Margie Goldstein-Engle is her body is a tuning fork for the right canter.  Within two strides after a fence she recognized the canter she had and knew immediately if and how she needed to adjust it.  So one skill is to make your body a tuning fork for the right canter and to learn to combine balance and impulsion.  How do you take a horse running long, flat, and on the forehand and get him to bring his hocks under him and his body up?  So another skill is to have the ability in the last few strides before a fence to take a canter that is forward and down and turn it into something that is over and up.  That's a real skill.  If you watch Bruce who rides with a bit of a half-seat and Phillip is standing straight up-every rider achieves this goal differently, but this skill is very important because it is related to safety.  Not being able to make this adjustment is what leads to horses catching a knee and these darn rotational falls.  So many Eventers aren't foxhunting, steeplechase riding, and learning to "ride by the seat of their pants."  They don't gallop, set up, and jump up, they just gallop and keep galloping.  Jack LeGoff said the key is three things: 1: a good seat; 2: a good seat; 3: a good seat.  In other words, having an independent seat. 

2. Why are gymnastics jumping exercises so important?

Because you put the horse in jeopardy where his job is to get himself out of trouble.  You have to say "Here, Horse. Sink or swim."  The distances are already set right so you don't have to worry about that.  The best exercise is this: Jump a cross-rail, 18 feet to a Swedish oxer with a false ground line in the middle, then 18 feet to another X.  The Swedish oxer will be slightly confusing and will encourage him to really jump up and round; you want his withers to hit you in the sternum.  All you have to do is look up, smile, and close your legs.  Gymnastics give the horse a chance to learn how to save his own ass.  You'll get it wrong sometimes.  It doesn't matter if you're Mark Todd. Even the best will get it wrong, and that is when your horse has to have survival instincts.

3. In a sentence (or several), what makes a four-star horse?

Especially with the short format you've got to have...well...what you can't have is weak links.  In the long format, a horse who is a little flat in showjumping or dicey in dressage but is a mega machine on cross-country could get away with having a slightly weak link.  Not today.  A four-star horse must be bold.  He has to be fancy enough to get good scores but quiet enough to ride correctly.  He must be brave, agile, fast and scopey and still sound enough on Sunday to pass the jog and leave all the rails up.  What a four-star horse really needs is a four-star rider.

4. Do you support bringing back the long format?

It isn't going to happen.  The world has changed.  There is no land, no foxhunting, no steeplechase rides.  It is also a different group of people.  This is my 57th year competing. I've been Eventing since '62 when judges were military guys so the sport was still close to its military roots.  Technically it was a great test, but it's not going to happen.  The Training and Preliminary three-days are great opportunities to ride horses that want to jump all day.  He's on fire on XC if he's the right horse.  Do you know how nervous you get before showjumping?  Imagine doing a second showjumping round almost immediately.  You'll be a lot less nervous and it's easier;  that's what it's like on XC after doing steeplechase.

5. How does a conditioning program change from the short format to the long format?

They had to be such a bloody rock to do 18 miles.  When I was at Burghley in '74 the endurance test was 17.7 miles.  You had to have a horse that could go all day and had to be at almost Tevis Cup fitness.  The heart, feet, and lungs had to be fit.  Like Iron Man.  I think the short format is harder because it is easier to run at a steady pace for a long time than run like a scared rabbit, set up, showjump a fence, run, SJ, etc.  That's really hard on a horse.  I don't think people have quite figured out how to get ready for the short format.

6. How did you become an Eventer?

I watched the Wofford Cup in 1961.  I was riding Morgans and doing 100-mile endurance races at the time.  I had never jumped.  I was 20.  I wanted to do it because I did not know how. (Left: Denny and Paint at his first competition, 1954 -- times are different and these days cool kids wear helmets all the time when riding)

7. Has your experience in Eventing affected your approach to Endurance in any way?  Or vise versa?

I was 15 years old when I did my first 100-mile race.  Everybody used to do Endurance.  You learned how to get horses fit the long and slow way.  There are two kinds of fitness.  The heart and lungs get fit the fastest before the muscles and tendons which get fit before the hooves and bones, which are the slowest to get fit.  To get rock hard fit, you had to do tons of long slow miles on pavement and up hills.  The fitness of an Endurance rider is to gut it out, not have the iron quick reflexes of an Advanced Event rider.  

8. Who are three up and coming riders to watch out for?

Like Jimmy says, you always go to the "usual suspects"...the two Wills [Faudree and Coleman].  Michael Pollard, I think he's a sleeper who just doesn't have the stock right now.  Rebecca Howard is a good girl.  She has guts.  There are 10 or 15 of them out there who just need to catch a break with the right horses.

9. Do you have a favorite horse from your career?

I think the best horse I've had is York, who I bought from New Zealand in the mid-70's.  The American Eventing community didn't know how susceptible to worms the horses from New Zealand and Australia are.  So I lost two years with him to worms.  Then he came back and won Chesterland and was USEA Horse of the Year.  York would be a horse in 2010 who could still be a big time horse.  Victor Dakin was a cross-country machine, but he wouldn't be good today because he was bad in dressage. (Right: Denny and York at Groton House, 1979.  York was bought sight-unseen from NZ through Lockie Richards)

10. What are your interests besides horses?

I write some, I read, garden, build stone walls...but I'm pretty interested in horses.  I like breeding and jumpers.  I have a theory that in the next 10 years if Eventing doesn't keep changing....When I started 48 years ago, the speeds were identical but the courses were more flowing.  I think they could try slowing down the speeds by 20 mpm or so.  See if it allows the riders more time to gallop and set up where they don't have to run like scared rabbits in between fences.  There is going to be a Congressional hearing if we don't stop losing riders and horses.  Someone will come down on us like a ton of bricks.  Last year, Phillip had two rotational falls and lost one horse.  Zara had a rotational fall, broke her collarbone and lost her horse.  That is not a fixed sport.  Somehow we have to figure out how to make it safe without gutting it.  You are going to be the ones to figure it out; I don't know how to do it.  We should start trying new things.  [Here Denny quoted from the poem "Charge of the Light Brigade" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson]  "Theirs not to make reply / Theirs not to reason why / Theirs but to do & die / Into the Valley of Death."  That's what our riders are like.  They don't analyze, they just do it.  The upper-level riders need to be more advocates for fixing the sport.  They don't make waves but they have the most invested.  I don't know if it's the shift to the short format or if it's because the sport is more suburbanized.  No seat-of-the-pants stuff.    Kids learned to be clever and ride in the backseat by going out and being defensive, aggressive riders.  Kids need to get savvy.  Imagine Buck's experience compared to 99% of the riders.  He rode ponies, foxhunted, steeplechased, all because he was Bruce's son.  It's not their fault, it's just a different world.  

Thanks Denny for educating Eventing Nation, and thanks for reading!

Note: including the full list of Jog-Up topics is getting rather lengthy, so click on the "Sunday Jog-Up" category to see all entries, or use the search function on the upper toolbar.

 

WANTED:  Your Jog-Up tips and grooming stories!!  Please send me your ideas, failures, and successes so I can share them with the rest of EN!  I'd love to hear any feedback, or see before/after photos of your horse.  Email me at VisionaireEN@gmail.com. 

 

Girths

An oft-forgotten piece of equipment (both figuratively and literally...I can't tell you how often I've left it at home) the girth is an extremely vital piece of equipment.  Think about it-- you can live with a broken stirrup leather, even a broken bridle...but a broken girth is pretty much the worst thing that could happen while riding.  There are many styles of girths available, made of many different materials, but no matter what you choose, ALWAYS check the elastic and stitching at the buckles for safety. 

 

Long girths are the traditional saddle-attachment device.  They are most often seen in a shaped, chafeless style to avoid rubs at the elbows.  The "overlay" girth is of the same shape, but with an extra panel of leather across the width to prevent curling at the elbows.  Most of these girths have elastic at one end; it is customary to attach the girth with the elastic on the left side.  If a girth has double elastic, be careful to avoid overtightening which can lead to soreness or rubs.  "Anatomical" girths are also popular; they have a special carved pattern at the elbows, hopefully providing more comfort and preventing the saddle from slipping back.  In my experience, the girth's effectiveness is greatly dependent on the individual horse.

Girths are available in many other materials.  String girths are helpful for some sensitive horses, and/or after body clipping.  The strings allow the skin to breathe, causing less irritation.  Other synthetic fabrics are available, from cloth to fleece to neoprene.  Be sure that cloth girths are washed frequently, as they can become stiff and crusty with dried sweat.  Neoprene girths are quite easy to care for, just hose them off after use and they will remain soft and flexible.  Synthetic fleece may not be as beneficial as real shearling, but it still avoids rubs, and is immensely easier to wash, not to mention cheaper! 

 

With the recent trend of monoflap saddles, short girths are increasingly prevalent.   Like their long counterparts, you will find them in leather, cloth, fleece, and neoprene.  I generally prefer synthetics over leather for a short girth-- and double-end elastic as well.  It seems to create more even girthing. 

 

Short girths used to be plain, straight bands of leather-- now they come in all sorts of shapes, contours, and styles.  I tend to like a shaped girth, just to avoid the elbows.  Other girths go to extremes with wide belly pads and fancy buckles to distribute pressure.  I'm sure those things work to some degree, but in most cases I doubt the added expense is really worth it.

 

The average-sized long girth is a 48" for most normal horses; short girths vary a bit more, but 26" fits a lot of them.  A long girth is "properly fitted" when you have at least two holes above and below the buckles when it is tightened.  A short girth should have the buckles lie about half-way between the horse's elbow and the lower edge of the saddle.  As with the long girth, be sure you have extra holes to allow for last-minute adjustments. 

The girth is only half of what holds your saddle on the horse-- the other half is the actual saddle billets!  Be sure the billets are in good, safe condition.  Do not use any billets that are cracked, dry-rotted, or overly stretched-out.  It is especially important to care for long billets-- these resting right against the horse are exposed to a lot of dirt and sweat.  And long billets only have two-- compared to the average three on short billets-- so it is extremely important to take care of them.

 

Overgirths

With the disappearance of the long format, overgirths aren't quite as popular as they used to be.  The risk of a billet breaking during a two-hour endurance phase, over steeplechase fences no less, was enough to see every rider using one.  Now, when you're only on the horse for 30 minutes, you have enough faith in your tack that overgirths are a bit more rare.  Not to mention using them with a monoflap is a bit tricky.  If you do use an overgirth (never a bad idea, at prelim and above), be sure your girth has loops sewn on to thread it through.  Any saddler or bridle-repair shop can stitch them on for you.  Or, if you're in a bind (such as if one loop breaks, or is sewn too high), you can create your own loops out of electrical tape.  Just wrap it three or for circuits around, doubled back on itself on the underside to prevent sticking to the overgirth.  I had electrical tape loops that lasted for three seasons or more!

 

A common overgirth length is 80"; some horses a bit more, others a bit less.  When putting the overgirth on, be sure it buckles under the horse's belly, far away from the rider's leg (it's uncomfortable!).  Try to keep the billet and elastic low, as well, to avoid interference with the rider's thigh or calf.  Some riders like to do up the overgirth while mounted: tighten normal girth, get on and walk around, tighten the regular girth again, then have the groom adjust the overgirth.  Others, like me, tighten the regular girth, and adjust the overgirth before we get on (because we have no groom to do it for us!).  An overgirth should never be tighter than your main girth-- always pull it as tight as you can, and then loosen it one hole.

 

Other girthy notes:

When the girth is tightened, it's a good idea to stretch the horse's front legs forward to loosen any wrinkled skin that could become chafed. 

 

Anytime you tighten the girth from the saddle, be careful!  Put your leg forward over the flap, and try to adjust by feel, keeping your head up and alert to your surroundings.  It is generally a better idea to get off and tighten a short girth from the ground, but use extreme caution when you are too lazy and decide to bend over in the saddle.  For this reason, I prefer short girths with large single loops-- easy to tuck in quickly-- rather than individual billet keepers that you must fiddle with an instant too long when your young horse loses his patience and decides to trot off. 

 

Tighten the girth slowly!  Most horses are not "born girthy," but rather are made that way.  Poor-fitting saddles are the main cause, but cinching up roughly doesn't do you any favors.  Cold-backed horses often benefit from a short walk down the barn aisle before you tighten the girth one final time and mount .  

 

Pony Clubbers:  We've all heard the lecture about getting your elastic clean for formal inspections.  I've tried pretty much all the concoctions-- toothpaste (PASTE, not gel!), oxyclean, dilute bleach, Whisk, Shout, QuicSilver-- you name it I've used it.  And never been happy with the results.  So what do I recommend?  Go buy a girth with black or brown elastic.  Even if you ONLY use it at USPC events, you will thank yourself a hundred times over.  Trust me on this one!

  

"[After XC] we noticed that he had a hematoma above his right knee on the inside of his forearm which we got ice on right away. He walked comfortably back to the barn. The hematoma got bigger and began to move down the leg and become very painful for him. I had to make the incredibly tough decision to withdraw him from the competition.  There was a small hope that this would all resolve by sunday for showjumping, but the very best thing I could do for the horse was to give him anti-inflamatories and manage his pain. My horse's wellfare always comes first. We have been incredibly aggressive about ice and pressure. It's currently 3:45 in the morning here and I have just checked him again. He seems happy enough but I hate him not feeling his normal self. Hopefully a lot will change for the better in the next day."

Thanks to a commenter for giving us the heads up on this one, and as they said, props to Allison for making a tough call.  Only Jennifer Wooten and The Good Witch are still in the competition for the US.

(1) In my Luhmuhlen preview, I mentioned that in the five previous Luhmuhlen CCI4*'s, the Germans have won Luhmuhlen three times and Brits twice.  The trend looks likely to continue as Germany and Great Britain have 8 of the top 10 riders going into the show jumping.

(1) Overnight leaders Ingrid Klimke and FRH Butts Abraxxas held onto their lead by posting a double clear.  Ingrid has only been back riding for two and a half months, which is apparently Will Coleman's model for success.  There were 8 double-clears around Mark's kindler, gentler XC course.

1. Ingrid Klimke and FRH Butts Abraxxas (GER) +0 = 39.2
2. Sharon Hunt and Tankers Town (GBR) +0 = 43.0
3. Oliver Townend and Ashdale Cruise Master (GBR) +0.8 = 43.6
4. Andreas Dibowski and FRH Fantasia (GER) +0 = 44.2
5. Lucy Wiegersma and Woodfalls Inigo Jones (GBR) +0 = 44.8
6 Joe Meyer and Clifton Lush (NZL) +0 = 49.0
7 Andrew Nicholson and Mr Cruise Control (NZL) +0.8 = 49.0
8 Lucy Wiegersma and Granntevka Prince (GBR) +2.8 = 51.0
9 Mary King and Apache Sauce (GBR) +1.6 = 52.6
10 Andreas Ostholt and Franco Jeans (GER) +0 = 53.3

Link: Luhmuhlen leaderboard

The Luhmuhlen event is the four-star many of us in the States probably know the least about.  Here is a somewhat shaky yet comprehensive look at last year's competition including cross-country, the Sunday jog, and some showjumping.  Have a great weekend everyone!

Years of dreaming and training all come down to a few minutes around a course in the middle of Germany.

Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice
Diana Burnett and Manny
Kyle Carter and Madison Park
Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master    
Michelle Mueller and Amistad
Selena O'Hanlon and Colombo
Jessica Phoenix and Exponential
Stephanie Rhodes Bosch and Port Authority         

Ian Roberts and Napalm                                                                          

(4) But, don't go popping your bottles of maple syrup in celebration of WEG gold just yet Canada.  The top four Canadians were 10th through 5th at Rolex, whereas the top four US short listed riders were placed 2nd through 7th, and that was with Leyland, My Boy Bobby, Ballynoecastle, and TruLuck sitting the weekend out.  On paper, I expect Canada to have anywhere from the 4th to 6th best team going into the WEGs.  But, we all know the World Equestrian Games are not competed on paper.(6) As a final note, like the US short list, the Canadian short list is short.  With only 9 names, there is not a ton of room for error in terms of pre-4* attrition.  Canada, like the US, can send up to 6 pairs to the WEGs for eventing.

"I think I was feeling very confident & relaxed with the superb preparation given to me by Bettina Hoy--- love her! It was considerably colder and windy today, so Arthur felt very up!!! He also felt very on the job... I love how he is maturing. Two out of three of the judges had me winning, one was 4% different which left me in second."

Looking ahead to Saturday, we are getting some mixed messages about the cross-country course.  Course designer Mark Phillips has said publicly that he has tried to make the course easier than last year, but the quotes from the riders are cautious.  Jennifer Wooten-Dafoe told me that the course looks big and challenging but "oh so much fun!"  Best of luck to Jennifer and to all the other horses and riders.  

We'll have much more on this later, but I just got ahold of the 9 names on the Canadian short list:

Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice
Diana Burnett and Manny
Kyle Carter and Madison Park
Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master    
Michelle Mueller and Amistad
Selena O'Hanlon and Colombo
Jessica Phoenix and Exponential
Stephanie Rhodes Bosch and Port Authority                                                                                   
Ian Roberts and Napalm
                                                                                                                                            

Michael Pollard and Wonderful Will: 3:48AM ET
Allison Springer and Arthur: 7:09AM ET
Jennifer Wooten-Dafoe and The Good Witch: 9:33AM ET

Link: Luhmuhlen leaderboard, competition page

Last week, I wrote a post titled "Why I do this sport."  I wasn't sure how it would be received; I liked it, but I have learned that sometimes you never can tell how your audience will react to what you write.  Some things you think are a huge hit turn out to be nothing, some things you think are silly filler turn out to be fan-favorites.  I was pleasantly suprised by the positive feedback...I hadn't intended to move anyone to tears, but those words came from my heart and are how I honestly feel about this sport.  I must have hit the bullseye, because it seems like you all feel the same way.  That's one of the things I love about this site, how it can bring all of us eventers together.

 

A reader emailed me in response to the article, and it was so good I just had to share it.  Many of us know the feelings contained in this email; we've been there, felt the heartbreak and the hope, and the determination to carry on and try again.

 

So, today I share with you that email.  Carrie's story.

Hey Visionaire -
(I apologize in advance for the length of this email as I am sure you get a ba-zillion a day...)
 
Not sure you remember or not...a little while back, I sent you in my profile ...well, a LOT has changed since then.  Pretty much the week before I sent you that email, Chester suffered what was (unbeknown to me at the time) a season ending (possibly worse) injury... Being as versed as you are, I am sure you know what UFP [Upper Fixated Patella] is...as a result of him being reared up onto out in the field, it caused his hips to be dis-placed, which needed adjusting, three times, which ended up with him not being ridden for 4 or 5 weeks, which caused the tendons over his patella to loosen.... sigh....it has been 9 weeks since it happened and it has been the longest 9 weeks of my life. 
 
We went from being on Top of the World (the weekend before we went to a schooling show where he proceeded to jump around several 2"6 to 3ft courses like it was NOTHING and didn't touch/look at a THING...I could FEEL how proud he was of himself...I don't think I had been more proud of anything in my life) to the absolute lowest you could ever feel...Poof...Just. Like. That.  You want disappointment...? Well, there you go. I was devastated.
 
For the past 4 weeks, I have been administering external blistering (which is a treat.. and I almost get my head taken off on a regular basis...ha) and mixing loooong trot sets up and down hills and easy ring work over pole and cavaletti grids (walk/trot only) in the hopes that the muscle builds up again in his flanks and butt which will help pull the tendon taught so we can move onwards and upwards. (The good good good news is, that there is absolutely ZERO lameness, he just catches every so often with that awful 'clicking' noise...makes me shudder.)  It hasn't been easy...as any athlete going through rehab, he was ouchie, cranky and the complete opposite of his normal quirky, eccentric , loveable self.  But I have made him press on and much like your mare, he LOVES praise.  All he needs me to do is give him a pat and tell him: It's okay. I know it feels weird, but trust me it will get better...' and I can almost feel him sigh and say, 'okay, I might not believe you, but I trust you so if you say so'. 
 
Over the past 4 weeks, we have covered miles and miles outside and it has been good bonding time.  He has gone from being a complete spookaholic space-cadet-tourist who is determined to see my a$s hit the dirt, (I think I told you before he is spooky and scared of everything) to a horse who understands why he is out there trotting miles upon miles upon miles and who is now confident that the rocks, trees, grass and sky etc are not going to eat him.  Now, rather then his trot being all over the place with his head up in the air like a giraffe paying attention to everything EXCEPT what he should be doing...he takes big bold trot steps, looks where he is going, holds his line, keeps his ears pricked and listens to me every step of the way. Confidence.
 
Not going to lie - there were a couple times when I burst into tears out there at the thought of Chester not ever being able to event (the chance is slim, but it is still there nonetheless) and kept asking myself 'Why did this have to happen' over and over again.  (I'm teetering on tearing up again now, it's hard to write about.)
 
So - Why do I do this?  I do this because I believe in my horse.  I do this, because I know that my horse is special.  He deserves every single opportunity to show everyone who ever told him that he would 'never be an event horse' to shut it.  I do it for the moments when he finally gets it and understands just how special he really is and what a strong team we actually are.  I fall in love with him again for the first time every single day that goes by and I get more and more proud of him every single day that goes by...THAT is why I do this...
 
Thanks for writing that article...it was a doozie! 

 

Thank you for reading, Carrie.  And for sharing that with us.

Somehow this profile got buried in my inbox.  A lot has changed in this reader's life since then, and that will be detailed in an upcoming post.  But let's meet Carrie and Chester now, as they were when she emailed me back in April.

 

FEATURED RIDER:

 

 

 

Name: Carrie Braff                      

Age: 29 (and I have 2 years of experience saying that)

Location: Cobourg, Ontario, Canada (An hour East of Toronto)

Primary horse's name: Sippin' On Sunshine (Chester...or S.O.S, depending on what we are schooling.)

 

Age, breed, pertinent info: 

I have had Chester since October, 2009, he just turned 9 on January 14 (but he is going on 5), Chestnut TB, 16'3 (at the wither), blaze, 3 white legs, 4 white feet (WTF was I thinking??!!!), just started jumping about 8 months ago, has never evented in his entire life (again, WTF was I thinking?), cutest little baby face I have ever seen, has the best personality anybody could ask for and is one of the smartest, most inquisitive and eccentric horses I have ever met. His intelligence, desire to please and consistent 'light bulb' moments scare me to death and I have been known to say on numerous occasions that I am worried I won't be able to keep up with him. What is worse is that he has everyone wrapped around his little finger INSTANTLY...the bugger...it drives me bonkers...

 

Level currently competing:

May 29thwill be Chester's first everfull event, he has done a couple short courses.  We're starting with Entry - or in the US, I believe that is Beginner Novice?!  I PROMISE to send in some updated pictures of him at his first event ever!!  I am so excited for Chester!!!

 

Short term goals this spring/summer:

Move up to Pre-training (US Novice, I think) in June, qualify for the Ontario Horse Trials Championships in September at Dreamcrest Equestrian (home to Ian Roberts and Kelly Plitz).  Learn how to deal with Chester's 'tourist' mentality.  He is definitely spooky, definitely looky.  My coach/boss, her name is Joyce Hutchinson, has already drilled it into me that I need to keep his attention at all times, NOT look at what he is looking at, and keep him moving forward...easier said then done right?
Year-end goals: Finish out the season at Pre-Training and consistently improve each time we go out.  I would love for us to be happy and confident and finish xc with smiles on our faces.  Prep for the Bromont 3-Day in June 2011 at Training Level!  I KNOW we can do it!!

 

Overall goals?

Make Chester a confident and happy Preliminary horse, compete successfully at the CCI* level.  My stretch goal would be to hit Intermediate...It is not a question of Chester's ability to hit that level, it is a question of if I am able to grow the necessary body parts to be able to do that level.  What's the best thing you've learned recently?  If I had to pick only ONE thing (because there are so many)...it would have to be the newly found confidence I have as a rider and the confidence I know Chester has in me as his pilot.  (Sidebar - I grew up with horses, evented through the levels, hit university, had to sell said horses, took a 10 year break, decided to come back to it, just completed my first season back last summer and managed to qualify for the provincial championships!! Yay me!!)

The past 2 months have been absolutely monumental to me in terms of my growth as a rider.  I owe that to The Boss for drilling it into my head that the more quiet I am, the better Chester will be.  He is a super sensitive guy who has taught me a lot about riding with my body, legs and weight and NOT my hands.  The quieter I am, the more I ask him (and not tell him), the better he goes, which makes my confidence in my ability skyrocket.  With this horse, it is my job to ask him (properly I should add in here) what I want him to do then literally, stay out of his way...and he rewards me by trying his heart out for me.  

Any big epiphany or light-bulb moment? 

CORE STRENGTH makes a BIG difference....so does no stirrup work on a weekly basis...
I think my biggest strength is my dedication. I commute 225kms (I guess that is about 140 miles) round trip to work every day.  By the time I get to the barn, it is usually pushing 8:00 p.m. ...but, you can ask anyone that I will be there at least 4 times a week in the middle of February when it is pitch black, freezing cold and there is 3 feet of snow on the ground...and 6 times a week during show season. 
I think know my weakness is how tense I get.  When I ride, I concentrate so hard, that I just freeze up, loose the feeling and it goes downhill from there....fast.  The Boss has been heard on numerous occasions yelling at me to relax because "I can see him getting more tense by the second underneath you! Stop right now and get it together!" (I absolutely adore her!!)  Her last words of wisdom to me before turning up the centre line/leaving the start box/going through the flags are "Just ride it and REMEMBER TO BREATHE!"  Trust me, I am working on it.

 

Favorite eventing moment/story? 

I think my favourite moment was when Hinrich Romeike and Marius took the Gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  Why?  Because very much like myself, Hinrich, is an amateur.  He works as a Dentist during the day then rides at night and has achieved the ultimate in winning double Gold at the Olympics.  I work in Human Resources during the day, ride at night and usually don't get home before 10:00 p.m.  I have BIG dreams to achieve on a small budget, one horse and limited riding time.  To know there is someone out there like me who has in-fact accomplished that goal/dream is more motivating then I can put into words.  That said, if anyone wants to be my sponsor, SPEAK UP!

 

Link to blog or website, if applicable: http://carriesembarcadero.blogspot.com/

 

Thursday: CIC3* dressage -- 2AM-10:30AM ET

Friday: CCI4* dressage -- 2AM-10:30AM ET
Saturday: Cross-Country -- 4AM-7:30AM ET
Sunday: Show Jumping - 6:15AM ET

Michael Pollard and Wonderful Will: 3:48AM ET
Allison Springer and Arthur: 7:09AM ET
Jennifer Wooten-Dafoe and The Good Witch: 9:33AM ET

Location: Map of Luhmuhlen, Germany

Weather: The forecast for Luhmuhlen predicts cool weather (highs in the 60's) and sunny skies until Saturday, when light rain is expected in the afternoon.  A few showers are predicted for Snuday as well.

Ecogold has a great library of videos from last week's Bromont Three-Day Event.  Here are a few examples to start your day.

 

Note: including the full list of Jog-Up topics is getting rather lengthy, so click on the "Sunday Jog-Up" category to see all entries, or use the search function on the upper toolbar.

 

WANTED:  Your Jog-Up tips and grooming stories!!  Please send me your ideas, failures, and successes so I can share them with the rest of EN!  I'd love to hear any feedback, or see before/after photos of your horse.  Email me at VisionaireEN@gmail.com. 

 

 Q & A with the Comment Section

 

 

 

The Jog-Up column generates a fair number of comments each week, and I do my best to read and reply to most of them.  However, I know I've missed a few.  And some of them are really great questions that deserve front-page answers.  So, since we missed the Sunday Jog-Up due to Bromont and the Luhmuhlen jog is today, here is your Wednesday Jog-Up.

 

 

February 2:  "Get Those White Legs White!"

Sarah:  Any tips for getting rid of that "hind leg gunk" that seems to thrive come spring time?

A:  Daily currying and hot-towelling (see Shining, Shimmering, Splendid) will help prevent the ickies from starting. It seems simple...but most of us (me included!) sometimes get in a hurry and forget to thoroughly curry those cannons. Sometimes just a little extra attention goes a long way.

If the cannon keratosis has already taken hold, wrapping with a sweat bandage can help clear it up. I use a furacin-based ointment, "faso" (furacin, dmso, scarlet oil, azium), that cleans it up in about 5-7 days. If you catch it early, sometimes a sweat with plain furacin can help.

Also in prevention, make sure your galloping boots are clean. Sweat and gunk can build-up between the boot and the leg, creating an environment prime for ickies. Clean your boots regularly, and dust them lightly with Gold Bond (or off-brand) body powder to absorb sweat and prevent rubbing on the legs.

 

Anonymous: can you offer tips on covering "white scars" on legs?

A: I usually don't worry about scars on the legs. Most judges don't notice or care. However, at the Thoroughbred sales, they like those legs looking as nice as possible. Grooms use colored chalk to hide any minor imperfections in hair color or small bald spots.

 

Kaitlyn: In one of your earlier topics you mentioned tail clipping/pulling (finally, someone with the same tail pet peeve!!) However, I would be interested in your thoughts on braiding and bagging or wrapping tails in addition to products such as MTG. Suggestions for washing/maintaining tails in general, keeping them up out of mud, etc, etc. Love the tips!!

 A:  I have had limited experience braiding and bagging tails...but when I did it, I was very happy with the results.  It is especially helpful with gray horses (MARES!) who pee on the tail and seem to stain it every way imaginable.  And if you stick with it, it does help increase length and thickness to some degree.  I used the three-tube braid-in tailbag, and I didn't have any trouble keeping it on.  I know others use anything from tube socks to vetrap; I can't help you there, but there are many methods that work.  I didn't use any special products; just weekly washing with any handy soap (dish soap or shampoo), and then condition it well (whatever's on sale, usually Suave).  I do use Showsheen, but not daily. 

The trick with the tail bag, especially a long tail, is to *knot it* somewhere just below the dock, once the bag is in place.  This knot will keep tension off the top of the bag, limiting the "drag" on the roots and preventing the bag from falling off. 

There are a few things you must accept when obsessing over a horse's tail: 1) you cannot overcome his genetics.  A wispy tail can get a little better, but it's never going to be like a draft horse's.  2) Maximizing the horse's genetic potential takes effort!  Throwing a tail bag on and ignoring it for a month or more is a bad idea.  Take it down weekly, or else the hair becomes too stressed and breaks off.  Limit the use of combs and brushes; use your bare fingers to pick through the tail strand-by-strand.  You don't have to do this every day, but a couple times a month will help.  Benign neglect on a natural tail is helpful, but don't go hacking at it with a brush later.  Remove any burrs, sticks, or foreign objects promptly, before they create a matted mess.  See Taming The Tail for more tips!

 

Feb 22: "What About Tack Part II"

Heidi:  I cleaned my bridles yesterday using this method and I really loved it! Using dish soapy water was so much better than dealing with the dumb spray cleaner that I have. I liked that my bits could soak while I cleaned, and the dish soap cut through the greasy sweat on the leather. I also melted my glycerine in a Tupperware. It looks a little funny and bubbly, though!

 

Anonymous:  I like the idea of using Shout, does it help get out the black rub marks from the saddle on the white pads? I never can get those to go go away!

A:  Shout does work well, and so does a paste with detergent, OxyClean, and a little water.  Though I have to admit, I have learned to get over a few black streaks on the girth area of my pads.  The area is covered by your leg...and at the end of the day with many horses to take care of, I tend to let the saddle pads slide.  So long as the visible part of the pad is sparkling clean, I don't worry about the girth loops.

 

March 28  "Extreme Makeover: Mane Event"

Mischief Maker: So erm i have a question. are you tearing it out at the roots or do you ust break it off at the desired length? I usually use a pulling comb that is really skinny and i wrap my hair around it the pull it out that way. am i doing it wrong? lol thanks

A: Yes, I'm pulling it out at the roots (unless using the clipper blade). Watch the video, you can see I'm removing chunks of 10-inch hair by pulling it straight out. You can certainly use a metal mane comb and wrap it around-- that's how I did it for years! But I find the current method, without the comb-wrapping, a lot easier and faster. And no sharp, pointy comb teeth to cut your knuckles, either. :D As long as the mane ends up thin, short, and braidable, it doesn't matter what comb you use or how you pull it.

 

Megan: OK, so if you are pulling the mane out by the roots, how do you get the mane at the length you want? You say to tease the mane to the length you want then pull, but if you are pulling it all out...I'm confused. I wrap it around the comb and have to make several passes up and down the mane to get a long mane short. I would love to know how to pull it to a desired length the FIRST time!

A:  Some of the mane you "pull" actually breaks at a shorter length, instead of ripping out at the roots.  Teasing it back frays the hair a bit, weakening it to break instead of pull completely out.  You still may have to go back and touch-up sections to even out length and thickness; it's rare that I'll get the ENTIRE neck done in one fell swoop.  But I can get it pretty close to what I want the first time, and then go back with my fingers and pull any long or thick pieces.

 

May 16:  "Studs"

Some great reader insights:

LisaB:  Great article. I love how in the beginning you state that every horse is different and you have to basically do trial and error with the horse. Anyway, you forgot another set of studs. The hex type of road studs. My whatever-maybe some draft-we think standardbred-Amish-reject loves the wider face of a hex type of road stud up front and then ones with the grass type of tip in the back. He's very sure footed and with big feet and a flatter mover. He does not like 'sticking'. Also, if your horse has an extravagant front end type of jump (knees up to the ears), you will almost think understudding him up front. If you think you'll need a med. grass tip, go to a small grass tip. They need to 'move' a bit on landing.

 

Ouchmy:   My farrier recommend a dental pick to take out plugs and help clean stud holes, it is s wonderful tool to have! I ran cross country today and 6/8 of my plugs had fallen out..so not fun to deal with. If my horse hasn't been out in a while, I typically clean and replace plugs the day before I leave for the show so things go smoothly before xc.

 

May 30  "Bridle Wise"

Lex: Ohhh, good timing! I have a question for you! so I took the mare I Part board to a clinic last week, and discovered that while she really likes her job, I'd like a bit more control of her. She does "grab the bit and run" or she crosses her jaw. For stadium and xc, she goes in a loose rig snaffle. She goes in a loose ring French link for her owner at home. At home, she's not likely to "grab the bit and run", but she does ignore half halts sometimes. And I'm still tryingto figure out when to half halt and leg, and when to stop messing with her and just leg. I'm debating on using a running martingale, or maybe a kineton noseband. It's hard for me to get the same experience trying new equpiment at home, but I also don't like the idea of trying new stuff at an event. Opinions? I'd love a Sunday tip about horse boots. I'm still trying to figure out what to put on her. And I wish i knew more about boots to have an idea of what ones were studied in the video on the USEA.

A:  Without knowing you or your horse, it's very difficult to help you overcome your horse's problems.  Crossing the jaw may be helped by a figure-8 noseband, but the root of the matter is likely that your horse doesn't accept your aids (specifically, the bit).  A running martingale is useful for horses who fling their heads in your face approaching a jump; not so much for a horse that pulls.  I would recommend riding a lot out in the open, practicing your galloping half-halts and transitions, insisting that your horse listen to you NO MATTER WHAT.  If the horse won't listen to you galloping on the flat, how do you expect her to listen when jumps are involved?  Don't be afraid to "rev her up" a bit at home, to get her a little on the muscle like she'll feel at shows.  Play around with different bits if you need to, but try to use the absolute minimum.  Please consult a good trainer who can watch you ride, and offer better advice.

I plan to do a topic on horse boots in the future, I just need to dredge up a bunch of boot styles to try!

 

There were several comments about the Mickelm Bridle.  I do not have any personal experience with it, though I am intrigued by its design.  I have heard a few positive reports, yet I remain a bit too skeptical to purchase one for myself.  At this point, my horses are fine in a normal bridle, so "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."  There is plenty of information about the bridle available, I would recommend a search on the Chronicle forums for first-hand reports.

- - - - - -

 

Thank you to all the loyal Jog-Up readers and commenters.  It was actually quite fun to read back through 21 weeks of topics-- hard to believe I've been writing this long!  I have some good ideas for future articles-- boot polishing, fitting horse boots and other tack, and an actual lesson on presenting/jogging the horse in hand.  As any groom knows, the list of things to be done is endless...so if your topic isn't up yet, it will be eventually!

 

 

For 16 consecutive days beginning this September 25, horses and riders in eight disciplines from around the world will converge on the horse capital of the United States and compete for world titles.  Yes, we've all been counting down the days.

Literally.

This Thursday, June 17th, at the KHP and Fifth Third Pavilion downtown, Lexington is celebrating 100 Days until the WEG.

The day begins at 10am with a press conference at the KHP followed by a tasting of the "food of the games" and live music at Fifth Third Pavilion in downtown Lexington.  Also, fans who do not happen to live within reasonable driving distance to Lexington will be able to creepily spy on their friends at the festival via a live video feed on the Games' website.

I don't know what foods will be featured in the tasting, but as a wannabe-foodie, I'm hoping the Games will feature authentic food from various countries and cultures, instead of the typical American hot dogs and nachos....Oh but in case you haven't heard, Papa's going to be "in the house" in September.  

There's going to be a fashion show featuring All-Pro and Ariat.....this is funny to me only because unless it is relative to horses and equestrian equipment (i.e. matching leather and brass/silver buckles, navy vs. black coats and hats, cross-country colors, jog-up outfits), fashion is usually the last thing on the Eventer's mind.

Come on down and meet some animals from the Newport Aquarium.  No, not fish and sea turtles....alligators and penguins....what? 

These are just a few of the activities planned in Lexington to celebrate the coming of the Games.  Click here for the complete itinerary. 

But no matter where you are in the world on Thursday, you can still celebrate 100 days until the Games begin.  Get together with some horsey friends and compare favorite horse and rider teams.  Pull your carefully guarded tickets out of hiding and hold them just long enough to get giddy...then put them away for goodness sakes, before they wrinkle!

If you don't have tickets, get some!  

If you want to be a hero, volunteer!  General volunteers are still needed, and mandatory volunteer training sessions have begun!

If you want to be kept in the loop, subscribe to the Alltech FEI WEG electronic newsletter and keep reading Eventing Nation!

----

I'd like to extend a special welcome to Point-Two as Eventing Nation's latest sponsor.  Point-Two was one of the first companies to contact us about advertising on Eventing Nation and they have consistently expressed a desire to give back to our readers and positively influence our sport.  That's what we are all about here on EN, and we are proud to be partnering with Point-Two.  We will have Point-Two vests as prizes for contests on EN over the coming months, and we will release the details of the first contest soon.  For more information on the Point-Two vest click the hand-dandy banner.  Go eventing.

Our one-star guest blogger did Eventing Nation proud this weekend at Bromont.  Carrie Meehan and Blue Devil finished the weekend with a clean XC round and a great experience for their first one-star together.  This is our last Bromont post until the next one--but, in all seriousness we will start focusing on Germany over the next couple of days.  Thanks for writing this Carrie and thank you for reading.

Well friends, after a long night of driving I'm fighting the good fight to stay awake all day so I can fall asleep early tonight.  As a random aside, I was driving on I-78 at around 2:30am last night and I passed a tan Ford pickup pulling a two horse bumper-pull.  The pickup and trailer were decked out in USEA and Rolex bumber stickers and I thought to myself that is the Eventing Nation.  Now, here are a few final notes from Bromont.

You've probably been busy following Bromont, but this weekend was a big event for Thoroughbred racing as well.  The two super mares once again proved their superiority, though they have yet to face each other.

 

Saturday, Rachel Alexandra looked like her 2009 self in the Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs.  She drew off to win by ten lengths, with Calvin Borel already gearing her down at the wire.  Hopefully she has hit her stride again, and can aim for a meeting with Zenyatta.

Complete story from the Thoroughbred Times

 

 

 

Speaking of the amazing Zenyatta, she just ran her way into history with her 17th consecutive win (for those keeping score, she's 17-0!).  It wasn't easy, as St. Trinians ran a heck of a race herself.  But the big mare proved herself a true champion yet again, just managing to surge her way in front at the wire.  More story here from the Thoroughbred Times.

 

 

 

It will be a special day when the two finally meet.  Zenyatta looks absolutely unbeatable right now, but Rachel has proven she has more to offer.  Thanks to both their owners, the Mosses and Jess Jackson, for continuing to share both awesome horses with their fans.

It's becoming a Monday tradition to share about your weekend on Eventing Nation.  I spent all weekend at about Bromont, but there were a lot of other events around the world. Take a relaxing moment to tell us about the event you went to or just about a fun time you had with your horse.Sonja Johnson (AUS) won the CCI3* on Ringwould Jaguar, finishing on her dressage score of 45.0.  Sonja, who won team silver in Beijing, was the only rider to make the time on XC, and she did it with her other horse, Parkiarrup Illicit Liason, as well.  Stuart Tinney (AUS) finished with two horses in the top four.  Link: full Melbourne results

Event organizer and Eventing Nation guest writer Katie Lindsay was kind enough to send her next article for this Monday morning after Bromont.  I drove the graveyard shift once again on the way back home from Canada so it is great to have a post ready to go this morning.  We will have a lunchtime post and then a final Bromont recap later this evening.  Thanks for writing this Katie and thank you for reading.

Kelli and Axel Rose pulled two rails, but they had accumulated enough of a lead with great dressage and XC performances that they still won the Bromont CCI2*.  Axel Rose is one of several superb horses that Kelli has developed, and I expect them to be winning competitions for a while.  Will and Andromaque, 2nd placed after the XC, did their best to put pressure on Kelli by jumping a beautiful clear round.  Nate Chambers and Rolling Stone II also jumped a clean round and finished in third.

  

Updated: The scoreboard confirms our initial report that Kelli made the time and leads the CCI2*.  The five riders behind Kelli all had issues, giving her and Axel Rose a 9.6 point lead going into the show jumping.  There were 10 double clears in the CCI2* and the top 8 placings after XC all had double clears.  Valerie Vizcarrondo and Clifton Jade moved up from 19th to 11th on a strong XC ride and one of the 10 double clears.Video link: CCI2* XC video montage

Boyd and his other 1* ride, Charla

Boyd Martin went clean and fast on Minotaure de Passoir to maintain his lead from the dressage.  The rest of the CCI* rides looked pretty solid and I only heard about two people walking off of the course and both are reportedly fine.

The CCI3* Derek di Grazia course here at Bromont challenges the horses in a lot of interesting ways while keeping safety at a premium.  We will see how it rides on Saturday, but the course is getting a lot of praise back in the barns.  The course is big and very technical at times, but it has a nice flow.

Finally, just some random rants and ramblings as I walk around Bromont