I’m not a fan of “summary” blog posts. That said, Azul and I recently had a big first for any young horse: Azul went to her first show. So in that spirit, here’s my attempt to distill the good, the bad and all of the in-between. The Show: I decided to do the 2’ special […]
Most people walking a five-star track for the first time are intimidated by the maxed-out fences, tricky combinations and serious terrain. But five years ago, when Booli Selmayr first walked the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L course during a trip to spectate at the event, she had one thought: “I can’t wait to do […]
The 11th edition of the FEI Sports Forum, happening April 25 and 26 at the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, will be livestreamed and available to watch on demand on fei.org. The first day of the 2022 forum will have a prominent focus on the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic regulations with individual sessions […]
On a stormy day in March 2020, I found myself trotting around an arena at the Murieta Equestrian Center in Rancho Murieta, California, getting ready to start my dressage test. A tablecloth flapped dramatically in the wind, triggering my horse’s fight or flight response. On that day, “Ben” chose flight. I heard the judge’s whistle […]
It’s a long-standing tradition at Sharon White’s Last Frontier Farm in Summit Point, West Virginia: Every January, the stirrups and reins come off, the longe line goes on, and riders spend a week focusing on balance and stability with a little bit of vaulting thrown in. The aptly named “Hell Week” is the brainchild of […]
When Ashlynn Meuchel was 19, she felt the bitter disappointment of being left off the list of under-25 riders named to the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Emerging Athlete Eventing 25 Program. But out of that disappointment came one of the biggest lessons she’s learned as a competitor and horsewoman. “Tamie [Smith] gave me some of the best advice I’ve […]
The U.S. Equestrian Federation has announced the four combinations who will represent the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at the FEI Eventing Nations Cup Great Britain CCIO4*-S hosted at Houghton Hall in Norfolk, England, from May 26-29. The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Leslie Law. “I am really looking forward to returning to Houghton with […]
When Gwyneth Babington took over the ride on Mark Q in the aftermath of a fall that paralyzed her father, Irish Olympian Kevin Babington, plenty of people wanted to talk to her about the pressure she must feel riding one of his most famous grand prix horses. But the teenager never saw it, or felt […]
Harbour Pilot has a sparkling career spanning 15 years, and he demands a certain level of respect for his accomplishments. “He’s a bit of a prince,” longtime rider Hannah Sue Burnett said. “We call him Sir William Mars of Stonehall. He knows he’s special and expects to be treated with respect at all times.” “William,” […]
At a small farm nestled in Wellington, Florida, Xavier Gomez takes the time to enjoy a few peaceful moments while grooming his charges. He feels their legs for bumps, inspects their bodies for scratches, settles the saddle onto their backs and does up the girth. While on some days the number of horses on his […]
I’m not a fan of “summary” blog posts. That said, Azul and I recently had a big first for any young horse: Azul went to her first show. So in that spirit, here’s my attempt to distill the good, the bad and all of the in-between. The Show: I decided to do the 2’ special […]
Most people walking a five-star track for the first time are intimidated by the maxed-out fences, tricky combinations and serious terrain. But five years ago, when Booli Selmayr first walked the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L course during a trip to spectate at the event, she had one thought: “I can’t wait to do […]
The 11th edition of the FEI Sports Forum, happening April 25 and 26 at the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, will be livestreamed and available to watch on demand on fei.org. The first day of the 2022 forum will have a prominent focus on the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic regulations with individual sessions […]
On a stormy day in March 2020, I found myself trotting around an arena at the Murieta Equestrian Center in Rancho Murieta, California, getting ready to start my dressage test. A tablecloth flapped dramatically in the wind, triggering my horse’s fight or flight response. On that day, “Ben” chose flight. I heard the judge’s whistle […]
It’s a long-standing tradition at Sharon White’s Last Frontier Farm in Summit Point, West Virginia: Every January, the stirrups and reins come off, the longe line goes on, and riders spend a week focusing on balance and stability with a little bit of vaulting thrown in. The aptly named “Hell Week” is the brainchild of […]
When Ashlynn Meuchel was 19, she felt the bitter disappointment of being left off the list of under-25 riders named to the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Emerging Athlete Eventing 25 Program. But out of that disappointment came one of the biggest lessons she’s learned as a competitor and horsewoman. “Tamie [Smith] gave me some of the best advice I’ve […]
The U.S. Equestrian Federation has announced the four combinations who will represent the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at the FEI Eventing Nations Cup Great Britain CCIO4*-S hosted at Houghton Hall in Norfolk, England, from May 26-29. The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Leslie Law. “I am really looking forward to returning to Houghton with […]
When Gwyneth Babington took over the ride on Mark Q in the aftermath of a fall that paralyzed her father, Irish Olympian Kevin Babington, plenty of people wanted to talk to her about the pressure she must feel riding one of his most famous grand prix horses. But the teenager never saw it, or felt […]
Harbour Pilot has a sparkling career spanning 15 years, and he demands a certain level of respect for his accomplishments. “He’s a bit of a prince,” longtime rider Hannah Sue Burnett said. “We call him Sir William Mars of Stonehall. He knows he’s special and expects to be treated with respect at all times.” “William,” […]
At a small farm nestled in Wellington, Florida, Xavier Gomez takes the time to enjoy a few peaceful moments while grooming his charges. He feels their legs for bumps, inspects their bodies for scratches, settles the saddle onto their backs and does up the girth. While on some days the number of horses on his […]
