United States Eventing Association

Lauren Kieffer and Buck Davidson, winners of the Devoucoux Lady Rider of the Year and World Equestrian Brands Rider of the Year respectively, share their reaction to winning the titles this year and offer a preview of their plans for 2014. Lauren also presents this week's Training Tip. You can find the full list of rankings on the website here.

Chris Stafford: This is the United States Eventing Association's Official Podcast. Hello and welcome to the program. I'm Chris Stafford. On the show today Buck Davidson, who won the World Equestrian Brand's Rider of the Year and Lauren Kieffer who won the Devoucoux Leading Lady Rider of the Year. Lauren's partner, Veronica, owned by Rebecca Farm, LLC also topped the CWD Mare of the Year rankings. Buck had three horses in the Smart Pack horse of the year top ten horses. Congratulations to both of you on winning the titles this year.

Lauren Kieffer: Thank you.

Buck Davidson: Thanks, Chris.

Chris Stafford: Buck, obviously, it's been a big year for you. Not least of all your international responsibilities, as well as your national campaign. What does this title mean to you first of all, Buck?

Buck Davidson: It just means that I thought I had more horses than anybody else and that I probably fall off more than anybody else, but I get back up and try it again. It really is just the recognition of the team and the group of horses that we put together here more than what I've accomplished. It takes everybody to do this and I'm just one small part of it. I'm just so fortunate to have the people that I have behind me and the people that take care of the horses. Just lucky with the group that I have.

Chris Stafford: I know there are so many people that you do want to credit, but who would you like to recognize today?

Buck Davidson: Everybody. All the owners and certainly Kathleen Blauth, who's been with me forever. Natalia Gurmankin who without her this place doesn't run. Obviously, Andrea. My success has certainly, my career has certainly gone up since I met her, so I figured I might as well marry her and that way she can't get away. She does such a good job training my horses for me when I'm on the road. Teaching clinics or an event or whatever. I certainly couldn't do it without her.

Chris Stafford: Lauren, let me come to you now because, as we know, it's all about the team behind you but tell us what this title means to you now.

Lauren Kieffer: Kind of the same as Buck. I think I fell off more this year than I have any year. I had a lot of really quality horses that I went out and had really good results. A lot of them I've had their whole careers. This is the first year I've had lots of horses competing in intermediate events. They've just been very consistent. Like Buck said, it's a tribute to the owners that stuck with them for this long, until they got to this level, and all the people in the barn, and the team, and the staff. It couldn't happen without any of them.

Chris Stafford: Let's name some of those, Lauren, because as you said, there are so many, but they all deserve the recognition.

Lauren Kieffer: Yeah. They really do. My owners, obviously, Jacqueline Barnes owns a lot of my horses. Then Court and Kylie Ramsey were one of my very first owners when I was younger. They're one of the horses that went from novice to advanced. Marie le Menestrel, Shannon O'Roark. The cool thing is a lot of these horses are, and obviously, the Broussards with Veronica, and a lot of these horses are American home breds. Hopefully, that keeps supporting the breeders and gives them something to work towards with the American home breds.

Chris Stafford: As well as winning the Leading Lady Rider of the Year, Lauren, you also finished fifth in the overall rankings of the top 50 riders. Buck, you were out there with well over 1,000 points and it's all down to your string of horses. Talk about how many you have had that have contributed to those rankings this year.

Buck Davidson: I don't know the number, but I know that there are very few horses that ... as I sit here in Florida and look out around my farm ... there's very few horses that didn't win an event this year. There's a group of horses that were everything from novice all the way up to the advanced level. There's probably 20 horses, maybe 30 horses, that I've ridden and gotten points with.

For me it's satisfying in that they're all ... I've got the most loyal, understanding owners that don't get mad at me when things go wrong and give me way too much credit when it goes right. They're really interested in the sport and they love the sport.

Instead of spending lots of money on one horse, we try to get a young horse every year, or two or whatever, to bring up and start them from the beginning and have them go up through the levels. I think it's, as they say, the fastest way to do anything is go slow. It really does.

For me, the whole system and the whole program has been in place for ten years or so, the oldest one now being Reggie, who's 14. In that way the pipeline stays filled and we never have to break the bank, and we have a lot of fun along the way.

I'm very lucky to have the owners that I have, but they're also horse people. I'm very lucky. All the people that are involved with me are involved in the sport and engaged in what the horses do and very involved on a day-to-day basis, but they'll come out in the pouring rain in Ocala and watch a novice horse go. I feel very, very, fortunate for that.

Chris Stafford: You mentioned Reggie there, of course, Ballynoe Castle, our own Cassie and Carl Segal, who've been loyal owners to you now. He finished actually fourth in the Smart Pack Horse of the Year Top Ten Rankings, so good year for him.

Right behind him was the mare of Team Rebecca LLC's and that's Veronica. We've talked about her so much on the program, Lauren, but she has been an incredible partner to you already in the short while you've been relatively riding her. Obviously finishing runner-up at Rolex, but she topped the CWD Mare of the Year Top 10 Mare's Rankings as well this year. You must be over the moon about this mare now and the synergy you must have.

Lauren Kieffer: Yeah, I'm pretty thrilled that she got that many points because she really didn't run a ton this year. The only FEI event she did was Rolex in 2014 and then otherwise I just did three horse trials before each of them. It's really her consistency and we really seem to click together this year. She's just a great partner to have.

Chris Stafford: Another one that's contributed to your string, of course, is a mare, Petite Flower, Buck. Tell us about that mare, home bred. Obviously you're as proud of the partnership you have with her. What of her prospects for 2015?

Buck Davidson: She's a bit like my golf game. One day I shoot seventy-five and one day I shoot a hundred and five. That's a little bit like Flower. When I play golf down here this time of the year, a little bit of the off season. I was playing with a buddy and I said to him, every time we hit a shot, we come back and we say, this is why it was good or this is why it was bad.

I said you know when I go to Kentucky, I don't do that. Those are called excuses. I think I'm a little bit like that with Flower. I feel like when there's something good happening, it's like oh, this is why. Then try it again and it doesn't work.

She's one that I didn't start from the beginning. She had a little bit of trouble when Caroline was learning and things like that. I haven't been able to get it right consistently. Basically, that's all I'm trying to do now is just I've got to make it consistent and forget these oh I have to put my left ear forward or any of this other stuff, just make it correct and not that I just got ...

I've pretty well decided now that I think when it works maybe I'm lucky. When it doesn't work, it's not unlucky It's that there's something missing. If I'm being completely honest, I don't know what that is, but I'm determined to figure it out.

One thing about me, I think I'm probably too stupid to quit. She's the most talented horse in my barn, but the results are we either win or we don't make it. That is not what my program is about. Having Reggie be the all time winningest horse or the most points ever gives credit to his consistency. I think [inaudible 00:09:33] that and the longevity of my horses lasting.

The one thing I can't seem to figure out is consistency with Flower. We've already started for the 2015 preparations and got lots of funny little things built in my farm to make her go better. We'll see how we get on. I've given up figuring out or telling anybody what I'm doing because it doesn't work.

Chris Stafford: Well, the other horse to finish in those top ten rankings was Carl and Cassie Segal and Sherri Martin's Copper Beach.

Buck Davidson: He's only eight years old and [inaudible 00:10:10] quietly with him we quite honestly got lucky to win Jersey Fresh three star. I almost didn't take him because I didn't think he was ready. Then he won that. Then I actually took him back and won at preliminary on a couple of events and intermediate and just took him quietly. Then I had a big run on him at plantation and second there in the three star.

I took him back preliminary at Morven Park. Then I took him out to Galway and he was second at Galway and I felt like if lucky as he was to win Jersey, was as unlucky as he was not to win Galway because he really gets it going, good horse. He did really good [inaudible 00:10:50] really good cross countries, really good short jumping. Kicked the one pole and it fell down, which that's the sport. I feel like after Galway I have a way better horse than I felt like after Jersey.

Chris Stafford: We should also mention that you had the apprentice in those top ten rankings as well. A terrific stable of horses at all levels for you, Buck. What will be the highlights of 2015 according to your campaign schedule at this time?

Buck Davidson: Obviously it starts with Reggie and what he does or doesn't do. As long as he's happy and whatever. If he's not winning big events with me then hopefully he'll win a lead line class or something with Kathleen's kids. Obviously, I would love to win Kentucky with him. Flower has the ability to do it. I have to get that going better. The apprentice, he has done four or five three stars, has been in the top ten in every one. Copper Beach is there.

I've got some two star horses in Quasar who was sixth at Fair Hill and Be Mine who won at plantation that are very nice horses coming up through the intermediate ranks. [Inaudible 00:12:10] I've got to get his head down, but he's as fancy as I have in the place. Park trader got hurt last summer and he should be back. We've got a couple of new, young horses that are stepping up.

The pipeline is filled up and we're really looking for bigger and better things next year. The horses all have come back into work, bigger, better, stronger, more educated than they did last year. I feel like I'm better than I was last year. It should improve.

Chris Stafford: Clearly not short of horsepower. In the meantime, over the winter you're going to improve on your handicap on the golf course, Buck?

Buck Davidson: Yeah, I think that's maybe it's like my riding that you sort of think you're getting better and you're really not. I think the less I play golf the better I'm going to be on the golf course. I don't think I take ... maybe I'm too stupid to take that approach into riding. I keep riding away thinking I'm going to get way better. Maybe I'm just what I am. We always try and get better and I'm very lucky. I've got some good horses to help me out and should be exciting.

Chris Stafford: Again, congratulations on winning that rider of the year title, Buck, and good luck for next year.

Buck Davidson: Thank you very much.

Chris Stafford: Well, Lauren, you talked about the young horses that you're bringing along and I know you've got a tip for us. It is all about young horses. What do you have in mind?

Lauren Kieffer: Well, as the new year's rolling around and everyone's starting to get the young horses going and the three and four year olds going out into the big bad world, one of the most important things that I like to do is when you take them out doing new things, going out around the property even the first time they jump things, I like to send them out with an older, more experienced horse.

They really don't quite know what their job is yet. I think it's really important and really confidence building for them to watch that older, experienced horse do it and then they have the right idea of what they're supposed to do. I think it helps with a lot of issues and it prevents a lot of issues because there's a lot less confusion.

Chris Stafford: It is all about giving them confidence, isn't it?

Lauren Kieffer: Absolutely.

Chris Stafford: Give us some ideas then, when you take a youngster out for the first time, you're just riding him around the farm, are you riding with one other horse or a horse either side?

Lauren Kieffer: It kind of depends what type of [inaudible 00:14:43] is going out. It really doesn't matter. We'll take him out even just you know they can follow along on a trot set and we'll just hop them over logs and ditches and through the water.

When they're following an older horse like that, it really becomes not a big deal. Then none of those things or anything it doesn't seem like a big deal to them. It just makes your life easier as things get harder and they start going up the levels. If it starts out not being a big deal, it rarely turns into one as they start doing more.

Chris Stafford: What about leaving the pack often when you take out a young horse and he's used to going with his mate or others in a group, the herd instinct kicks in and he thinks I can't possibly leave the group. Do you sometimes turn left with that kind of thing and take them away to get them to go in front or separate from the group? At what point do you do that?

Lauren Kieffer: Yeah, for sure. Yeah, you just kind of feel out how they're going and we'll send them to the front of the pack and go off and work a little bit by ourselves in the field. You know oddly enough in this you would think that they would be nappy after being with the pack a lot, but since it does so much for their confidence I rarely actually have an issue with them being nappy, much less one than I do if I take a horse out by itself.

I think it is confidence has so much to do with all of it. If they're confident in what they're doing, they really don't question it when you send them off on their own because they haven't had you make them doing anything scary yet.

Chris Stafford: Right, all about just step by step building their confidence. Now, do you do any long reigning? Do you drive them at all around the farm?

Lauren Kieffer: No, we actually don't. Our basis is we really start them off in a round pin or a hitch cock pin and we actually we don't even put bits on them until their four or so. We actually all their first jumping and riding around the farm and everything else just in the rope halter. They learn how to yield to pressure that way and they learn how to jump and everything else just with the rope halter.

Then we actually don't put the bridal and bit on until much later. I think it creates a lot less issues because they learn to yield from pressure before getting a bit in their mouth. Then once you do put a bit in their mouth they already get the idea of giving to pressure and you don't end up with a dull mouth and someone just pulling on both sides of the reigns and the horse not knowing what they want.

Chris Stafford: Well, that leads me onto another question, we're deviating a little bit, but putting the bit in the mouths, that's interesting to do that after you've gotten them going and gotten them used to pressure. When you put a bit in their mouths, do you just start off with the snaffle and do you find over time that you can stick with that snaffle or do you, obviously, depending on the horse, I'm generalizing now, Lauren. That's an interesting philosophy and I'm wondering if it enables you to stay with the same bit over time.

Lauren Kieffer: Yeah, I generally 99% of my horses go in the same bit, just a normal loose ring snaffle. Then you'll find later on some horses have different shaped mouths or prefer certain things. If they don't like that and you kind of ... some like a thicker snaffle, some like a thinner snaffle. Then sometimes, depending on the shape of their mouth, they might prefer a double jointed snaffle, a french link.

You have to spend some time where they just get used to it. I start out with actually just put them in the stall with a bridal ... head stall with a bit on, no reigns and let them just hang out in the stall with it. They're going to spend several days just chomping and playing with the bit. You have no idea whether they like that kind of bit or not. At the end of the day, you have to get them used to it before you can decide what they like or if you need to change it.

Chris Stafford: Good hands make a good mouth too.

Lauren Kieffer: Absolutely.

Chris Stafford: It sounds as if that philosophy, though, of starting them without the bit in their mouth does lead to a more long term better mouth.

Lauren Kieffer: Yes. Absolutely.

Chris Stafford: All right, then that as well as confidence and getting them to go out in front or on their own leaving the pack, all of those things you'll play with over the winter now. How many young horses do you have that you're playing with over this winter that won't show next year necessarily, but you're working on over the winter?

Lauren Kieffer: We have three three year olds of Miss [Mars 00:19:02] and then actually a three year old off of track that David and Joanie Morris own. They've already started, they're out and about and popping over jumps and everything. They'll probably have their first outings at one of the young event horse competitions at Ocala. That's probably where they'll start getting introduced to the rings and everything else.

We really as four year olds don't compete them a ton. We get them out, they'll maybe do five or six events in the year total and just at most novice and the young event horse competitions. We give them lots of breaks in their training. A lot of it they're still growing, their bodies are still changing and the last thing you want is for them to get sore and cranky about the job.

Chris Stafford: Looking forward to 2015, then with the mare Veronica, obviously looking forward to seeing her back on the rankings next year undoubtedly, what can we expect of your program with her?

Lauren Kieffer: I think we'll shoot for Kentucky again this spring. Obviously, we're just going to try to keep improving on that consistency. [Fondly 00:20:18] enough, I was pretty disappointed with Poe not on her performance, but at the end of the day it wasn't good enough. We had too many time penalties and that kind of thing. She has been incredibly consistent this year and hopefully we can just keep reproducing good results and keep making them better and better.

Chris Stafford: In the meanwhile, are you going to be seen out on the golf course whilst you're in sunny Florida for the winter?

Lauren Kieffer: No, I am not ... I do not have the temperament for golfing, that's for sure.

Chris Stafford: All right, Lauren, well thanks so much for coming on the program, sharing your training tip, and again congratulations on winning the leading lady rider of the year award.

Lauren Kieffer: Thank you.

Chris Stafford: You can of course find all the rankings on the website at US eventing dot com. Don't forget that you can download this podcast from the iTunes podcast store to your smart phone podcast app and listen to the show on the go. Until the next time, thank you for listening and enjoy your eventing.