Cross-Training
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Las Vegas, NV-April 15, 2009- One girl’s dream was dashed today when new Dutch dressage star Adelinde Cornelissen was forced to withdraw her ride, Parzival, from the 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Dressage final which kicks off in the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas at noon Thursday.
The Rolex FEI World Cup™ Finals will continue at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas through Sunday. The Finals feature World Cup Finals in the two Olympic disciplines of show jumping and dressage.
A whole week of eventing experiences with top riders - catered to YOUR needs. What better way to get back into the swing of things in the early spring? Pull yourself out of the winter doldrums, back your bags, and get pepped up for some neat riding opportunities with the nation’s top riders. Check out this list of a few camps being offered this year…
By Bronwyn Gold
Photos by Sara Greene
The USEA’s Intro to Eventing clinic series is new program designed to introduce eventing to all equestrians - the only requirement to enter an Intro Clinic is to not have successfully completed two recognized Horse Trials. It’s a great opportunity for upper level riders to get together and help bring along the next generation of eventers, as well as giving the lower level riders a good foundation of knowledge of the sport. Why should upper level eventers care about what the lower level riders are doing? Jennifer Holling sums it up: "As upper level riders we are seeing the demise of the sport that we love due to a lack of education in safe riding and proper competition preparation. These clinics allow us to interest people in the sport of eventing in a safe and controlled manner while showing people the skills necessary to produce a safe cross country horse."
(Left: A group of excited riders gather to learn at the latest Intro to Eventing clinic taught by Jon Holling.)
by Joyce D’Aquila
It was Saturday morning, September 27, 2008, and INTRO TO EVENTING CLINIC day at Loch Moy Farm in Adamstown, Md.
With riders ranging in age from eleven years to fifty-something, there was an air of excitement and anticipation that this would be a day of both learning and fun. We had the perfect setting and facility at Loch Moy, and the horses were very useful types, who were well-matched to their riders, so we were all in for a fun day.
(Left: Peggy Pariso instructing students at Loch Moy.)
By Kristie Wehmeyer
The Three Phase Event is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to provide quality combined competition venues for all breeds of gaited horses and supporting a training, education and development (T.E.D.) program for children, young adults and senior riders of gaited horses. The second annual national Three Phase Event, held at the new Kentucky Equestrian Center in Winchester, KY on April 19-20, 2008, was a huge success by the organizers, the competitors and those who attended to watch.
by Erica Larson
Let’s face it. Most of the horses we ride would much rather be living it up on the cross-country course than pulling it all together and turning in a perfect Dressage test. And most of the horses we ride probably will never become a Grand Prix Dressage horse. But if you’re like most of the eventers I know, you may have been given the chance to ride one or two of these Grand Prix movements thanks to a phenomenon I like to call ‘Mad Horse Dressage’.
By Bronwyn Gold
May 29th, 2008. Exactly two years since the day we brought Boomer home. And what better way to spend the day than out cruising around a cross country course? That’s right, Boomer was out on cross country! We’ve been having jumping lessons with Jon Holling, and last Thursday was our first time to actually school cross country. After warming up, Jon had us start off at a small log. It was in the shadows, it was pretty airy, and the groundline was non-existent. I had some trouble getting Boomer to realize it wasn’t one of those “Horse Eating Logs,” so Jon grabbed his hat and climbed on.
I’m not a huge racing fan, but I DO always watch the Triple Crown simply because it’s such a sporting icon and the horses are amazing… I love the lead-up to it, too - they always do some neat background information on some of the "favorites" and some people and horses have some really good stories. I got a press release from the American Horse Council and thought I’d pass it along. Sounds like a pretty neat film - I love the behind-the-scenes stuff! (Of course, I live in an era of Reality TV with shows like The Bachelor, American Idol, The Amazing Race, etc…) Here’s the press release from the AHC:
"With the Triple Crown races fast approaching, we wanted to make sure you know about a unique documentary film that will be shown in more than 20 theaters over the next few weeks.
The award-winning film is called “The First Saturday in May,” and it features a captivating, behind-the-scenes glimpse of six trainers and their horses as they take aim on the 2006 Kentucky Derby. Barbaro is one of those horses.
The film, produced by John and Brad Hennegan, has won numerous awards and rave reviews at film festivals throughout the country. It will open in 20 theaters Friday, April 18.
In a generous gesture to “give something back to the industry,” the Hennegan Brothers have decided to donate 25 percent of box office revenues to Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, the worldwide leader in equine research.
To see a short preview of the film or to get additional information, including an up-to-date list of theaters and starting dates, visit www.thefirstsaturdayinmay.com or http://www.grayson-jockeyclub.org/tfsim.asp .
We hope you get the chance to see the film and that you will tell your family, friends and other racing fans about it."
Signed,
Jay Hickey
President
American Horse Council
By Zeb Fry
(Sorry, couldn’t get photos to work! Click here to see them - they’re great!)
The day starts at the crack of dawn, as buckets are filled with oats and the hay is piled high as soft nickers trickle their way down each stall. There’s always a big pot of coffee brewing and the sweet mix of its aroma along with the heavy scent of leather hangs through the air. Everyone is waking up, stretching and yawning and as in most racing stables, looking forward to what lies ahead.
I grab my tack and pass through the office, and as I do I have their eyes looking down on me. So many photos . . . black and white irreplaceable photos of past winners, their grooms and beaming faces smiling at anyone who passes near. In one photo, stands HRH Queen Elizabeth wearing the lovely fashion of the 1960’s with lilac colored gloves as she holds a large silver cup in the Winner’s Circle. I go through my usual routine each time I pass, repeating their names to myself – El Senor, Decidedly (Kentucky Derby winner), Northern Dancer (Derby and Preakness winner), Nijinski (leading Broodmare sire), Tap Shoes, Riva Ridge and I am in awe that they were once here.
Every season a fresh batch of young fillies and colts come in from the fields to be trained and prepped for their freshman year as a racehorse. In a way it’s a type of graduation where they’ve learned how to count and do their A B C’s. Now, playtime is over and it is time to get serious. By 2 years of age, the Thoroughbred is very advanced in their training and handling compared to the average horse. They’ve become accustomed to wearing full tack, how to be groomed and bathed daily, being tied and exercised on a hot walker, adjusting how to walk, trot, canter and gallop, exiting from the start gate and eventually leaving home on a big semi. It all has its place and time in the education and future success of each Thoroughbred on the farm, and if they’re lucky enough, they may even one day have their photo placed on the wall along with the others.
Do the numbers really mean anything?
By Zeb Fry
Deciphering your ex-racehorse’s Dosage Profile may be part of a missing link and could answer questions as to the type of horse you own. Have you ever sat on a Thoroughbred and wondered what drives them to be the way they are? Do you event a Thoroughbred and feel like your horse could gallop all day long and never tire? Do you have a Thoroughbred that barely needs any conditioning?
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