This year’s only four-star first timer Sara Gumbiner comes on the show this week to share her experience at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. She and Polaris, her own and Vanessa Crumpley’s 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, finished the weekend in 27th place on a score of 76.6. Gumbiner talks about the atmosphere of the event, how she managed her nerves, the story of how she and “Larry” came to be partnered together, and what they learned together over the course of the weekend.
Oliver Townend also comes on the show this week fresh off his victory in the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event with Angela Hislop’s 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Cooley Master Class. The pair finished on their dressage score of 28.7. Townend also finished 7th on Tom Joules’ 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, MHS Tom Joules, on a score of 35.3. Townend discusses his journey with Cooley Master Class, whom he’s had the ride on since the horse was 4 years old, what goes into traveling across the pond to compete, and how things went at the competition with both his horses. This weekend, Townend will be competing at the Badminton Horse Trials as he attempts to secure the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing!
Eventers who are new to the sport may feel a little overwhelmed by the often-misunderstood world of saddle fitting. Riders are often bombarded with information from peers online or self-described experts, putting them at risk of following bad advice related to equipment that impacts horse welfare perhaps more than any other piece of tack. Finding a qualified expert to answer these questions is crucial. Who better to turn to than both a qualified Master Saddle Fitter and a fourth-generation saddle designer to answer some of these questions?
Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? With grants that assist riders with accomplishing their competition goals, grants geared toward licensed officials, grants that are specific to continuing education for coaches, grants that assist competitions with obtaining frangible technology, and so much more, there really is a grant opportunity available to almost anyone!
With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.
Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.