Welcome to The Debrief, where well recap the experience of a rider or equestrian following a big result or otherwise memorable competition or achievement. Click here to read more editions of The Debrief. In this edition of The Debrief, we spoke to arguably the friendliest person in eventing, Adam Short, head #supergroom to Tom McEwen. Having learned the tricks of the trade under Jackie Potts at William Fox-Pitts yard,he became Toms right hand man in 2020.Later this month, Adam will be taking a trip to Paris with Tom and JL Dublin, as part of Team GB but Tom and Dubs have already enjoyed several podium finishes, not least of all in the 5* at Kentucky and of course Adam was there to take care of their every need. Adam also accompanied Tom to Kentucky last year, where he and Dubs also finished second. Ahead of their trip across the English channel, we sat down with Adam to find out where his journey with horses began, and to hear what he thinks of the Best Weekend All Year.Adam cheers on Tom and Dubs at Kentucky in 2023. Photo by Shelby Allen.It may come as a surprise to Eventing Nation readers that you do not come from a horsey family, and have also moved several hours away from home to pursue your chose career path. Could you tell us a little about your journey and how you ended up dedicating your life to horses?Well, when I was three years old, I wanted a dog for Christmasbut my mum wouldnt get me a dog, because we lived right in the centre of Newcastle [a city in Northern England, for U.S. readers!]. Instead, she decided to get me a few riding lessons at an amazing place called Stepney Bank Stables, which is just the most phenomenal charity and I still love it so much there. So I started riding there a three, and just kept on going and going.When I was around 13, I started to develop my riding a little more, and began to travel round the local area, riding other peoples horses. I charged 10 a horse to try to make a little money out of it, but it wasnt until I had completed my first year at University that I thought actually, horses are the direction I really want to be going in.That was when I applied for a job with William [Fox-Pitt], and I was so lucky to get the job it was one of those things where I applied but didnt even think Id hear back! I got on so well with them, and had the most fantastic three years there, and learnt so much. William, Alice, the whole family, theyre just great and Jackie Potts, who has worked for William for about three hundred years (she wont mind me saying that!), is the most helpful, knowledgeable great human ever, who taught me so much.Adam with William Fox Pitt and Jackie Potts.You have mentioned that you did a lot of riding when you were younger. Did you never want to pursue a competitive riding career yourself?Ithink from a young age I always wanted to ride, and even when I moved to Williams, I still had it in my head that I was going to ride around Badminton and Burghley one day. But then I actually walked the courses, and realised that I maybe didnt want to do that! Its funny because when you are younger, you rarely learn about the grooming side of things all people think about is learning to ride, but when I moved to Williams and had the opportunity to travel with him and the horses, I realised that this was kind of my ideal job.Having made that decision, do you no longer ride, or is that part of your role too?Yes, I do still ride when I first went to Williams, he gave me the ride on an older horse, and I took that up to Intermediate level. So even when I was there, I was still learning, doing more competition riding. I would ride some of the younger horses too, and take them around their first BE100s, and when I moved to Toms I did a little of that too.But then it got to the point where, although I was still enjoying my riding, it became quite difficult to combine that with being a travelling groom. If youre travelling, then obviously youre not at home with the horses, and similarly, when I was at events, trying to look after Tom and his horses, it was then hard to try to ride mine at the same time. It just gets quite a lot like trying to be a ack of all trades, instead of a master of one! Far better to put your all into one thing, and doing that to the best of your ability, instead of rushing around and half-arsing two jobs.Photo by Shelby Allen.You mentioned Tom there, and I think perhaps now, most of our readers will associate you more with Team McEwen now. When did you move there, and why did you decide to move away from William?No real reason; Williams yard was getting a little quieter, with a few less horses, while I was wanting to get busier. So I moved to Gloucestershire and after a little bit of freelancing, I started working for Tom. This is now my fourth season with him, and I love it just as much there as I did at Williams. Lots of nice horses, nice people and Im really busy going to all of these wonderful places.One of those places, is of course Kentucky! You, Tom and JL Dublin Dubs have made the trip out there twice now. Is it really The Best Weekend All Year?!100%! I would say that its my favourite 5*, for sure. Ive been twice now, and I think I enjoyed it even more this time around. I mean, I still had a brilliant time last year, but this year was even better. Once youve been somewhere once before, and you know the lay of the land, you know where everything is and how it all works, then it makes it much easier and even more enjoyable.They [the Kentucky team] look after the British competitors and their teams so well. Anything you want, they get it for you they cant do enough to help you. One day they were even like, Have you guys got lunch? and went and got all the grooms something to eat; theyre just so nice! Last year, I met a guy who transports the horses from the airport to quarantine, and from quarantine to the Horse Park, and he was lovely, and this year he arranged for his wife to drop off their car, so we had a car for the week! He wanted to come and watch the event on the Saturday, so I went up to the office to see if they could get him tickets, and they immediately sent him free tickets with hospitality too. Other events arent always that generous!Other than the hospitality, Kentucky Horse Park itself is just the most amazing place. That main arena, there is nothing quite like it in the world or at least, not that I have been to. Its just so special.The whole trip is just a really fun thing to do even down to the fact that the horses fly over, and we pack everything into trunks rather than a lorry. Its just a way bigger deal in terms of the preparation than any other event.JL Dublin arrives at Kentucky for The Best Weekend All Year!Can you tell us a little more about the travelling process? Obviously the horses fly over, with the grooms and riders going out on different flights. Do you meet them at the airport, or is someone else responsible for unloading them? Do you worry about leaving your precious steed with someone else?So this time, we [the grooms] flew out from Heathrow at around 11.30 AM, while the horses flew from Stansted at around 10PM that same night, so we were ahead of them and other people took them to the airport.Its funny, because since we have had Dubs, the only two times he has ever left the yard without me is when he has gone to the airport. But saying that, you do trust the people who are in charge of them; its their job so you know that theyre going to do a good job. Plus, we were in the sky when they took off, so its kind of beyond our control at that point! As soon as we landed though, we all took our phones straight off Airplane mode and made sure everything was alright.There is always quite a large European contingent taking the trip to Kentucky. Is there a sense of being part of a wider community when youre out there do you and the other grooms stick together?Certainly, and that makes it even more special. This year, there were five of us grooms on the flight out there Alison who works for Yas Ingham, Jess who was with Oliver Townend, Chrissy Salmon who was with Susie Berry and SJ who works with Kirsty Chabert. It was such a brilliant group to go out there with we are all really good friends anyway, and I think thats another reason I enjoyed Kentucky so much this year.We stayed together in a hotel near quarantine initially, and then when the horses moved to the Horse Park, we all stayed on site, in RVs it was very cool! There were three RVs between the five of us, and we all had dinner together in the swankiest one every night. It was really lovely.Saying that, the European competitors are all made to feel very at home by the American grooms we would all go out and hand graze the horses together, and I made even more friends out there this year.Adam Short, groom to Tom McEwen, after a stellar Badminton dressage test. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Is there any down time before or after the competition, so that you can explore a little more, and maybe enjoy a few touristy hot spots?Yeah! We got there on the Saturday and obviously the competition doesnt start until Wednesday, so the days leading up to that are kind of chill days. We did ride the horses a little before the riders got there, and there was lots of hand grazing. While the horses were in quarantine we did a few fun things too, because we are only allowed in there [quarantine] for like an hour each day. So we took a trip to the Churchill Downs, where the Kentucky Derby is held, and we also managed anight out before the competition started, which is always fun. We had another night out actually, on the Sunday after the competition ended, which is all part of the American tradition. Thank God we werent leaving the next day we were not our best selvesIn terms of your role as groom, do you feel any pressure or nerves when youre watching Dubs, or are you just happy to see him safe and sound?To be honest, I dont really feel any pressure: Im not really a competitive person. My main priority is to go and do my job the best that I can, and if that means winning then great, and if we dont win, at least I have still done everything I can to help them to be successful as possible, whether that is getting round or winning. If I can do the best that I can, then I am happy he could have come first, he could have come last.Plus, in terms of Kentucky, it is such a big trip, I really do enjoy just being involved in it all, and actually havingthe chance to take such a massive trip; its so rare, so being part of it all is really, really cool.A second place result must have been the icing on the cake for you then! Was there much time for celebration when you got back to the UK or were you straight back to work?Not really! I landed on the Wednesday lunchtime, went straight back to work, packed the lorry and set off for another event the next day. We were there Thursday Sunday and then came home, unpacked and repacked and set off for Badminton. It really is non-stop, and Im rarely at home but I love it and it keeps me buzzing. Theres nothing else that I can think of that I would rather be doing, and on top of that, I get to travel all over, and see the world.Adam will be seeing a little more of the world this month when he travels to Paris with Tom and JL Dublin, and we cant wait to see what they get up too! Wishing Team McEwen and Team GB the very best of luck out there and thank you Adam for confirming what we already thought The Defender Kentucky Horse Trials really is The Best Weekend All Year!

The foal lived in Montral-Nord. The post Quebec Foal Dies From Salmonellosis appeared first on The Horse.

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Struggling owners have been urged to rehome their horse now rather than later, to avoid a winter welfare crisis. In response to the escalating cost of living crisis, World Horse Welfare and Blue Cross have joined forces to try to prevent a surge in equine welfare cases during the colder months.The charities are urging owners who are already struggling financially to consider rehoming their horses during the summer months, rather than waiting until winter when conditions are harsher and more horses will be seeking new homes.Recent findings from a cost of living survey conducted by World Horse Welfare on behalf of the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) highlight the financial strain many horse owners are experiencing. A significant number of owners are contemplating rehoming their horses due to increased costs in livery fees, feed, bedding, and veterinary care. Of the 6,143 survey respondents, 1.9% indicated they might need to approach a charity to rehome their horse within the next year. This percentage translates to over 7,000 households across the UK.World Horse Welfare and Blue Cross emphasised that summer is the optimal time to rehome horses. The longer days and better weather allow new owners to bond with their horses more effectively. In contrast, winter can present challenges with dark, cold nights, increased mud, and the need for more feed and stable time, making horse care more demanding.Rehoming your horse during the summer gives both the horse and the new owner the best chance of a smooth transition, says Tony Tyler, World Horse Welfare Deputy Chief Executive. Waiting until winter can be far more difficult for everyone involved, and this is the main time of year people decide to rehome their horses, so there will be far more competition for homes just at the time it becomes much harder to care for your horses. We know many people understandably hang on to their horses for as long as possible, but it may be in everyones best interest to plan ahead and start the process now.Over two-thirds of all horse owners who responded to the survey admitted to having made additional sacrifices in their lives in order to provide the basic care needed by their horses.Our priority is always the welfare of the horses, said Ruth Court, Horse Welfare Manager at Blue Cross. With 98% of concerned owners worrying about their financial situation regarding horse care over the next year, we strongly encourage anyone struggling to seek advice and consider rehoming now before the winter months set in. Both ourselves and World Horse Welfare offer advice lines where you can talk in confidence to a kind and understanding member of our teams, and they will discuss options with you. Its so important to do this before it is too late and the horse has started to suffer and stands the risk of becoming a welfare case.Blue Cross offers a direct rehoming service, which World Horse Welfare and Blue Cross can point struggling owners towards. Owners can keep their horses during the process while Blue Cross advertises the horse through their website and performs necessary checks on potential new homes, just as they would if rehoming one of their horses.For more information on how to seek help or to rehome a horse, contact World Horse Welfare or Blue Cross.Further readingResearch paints worrying picture for owners due to cost of living crisisEquine rescue cases soar during cost of living crisisBuying horse feed: its not cheap, but these tips will save you moneyHow much does it cost to own a horse? *PROMOTION*Useful reading for every type of owner: Mary King praises new Blue Cross care guidesThe post Struggling horse owners urged to rehome now rather than later to avoid winter welfare crisis appeared first on Your Horse.

If you are keen to incorporate some of the principles of natural horsemanship into your riding and training, or are simply interested to find out what this means, youve come to the right place.Fuelled by top names like Monty Roberts and Pat Parelli, many riders are keen to embrace all that natural horsemanship has to offer.Whether youre happiest hacking a horse, driving a carriage, or live for the thrill of competing in dressage and jumping, natural horsemanship is thought to hold the key to a more harmonious relationship with a horse as it helps you tap into their way of thinking.But what exactly is natural horsemanship, and how can we crack the code? The answer lies in the fact that its more a philosophy than an exact science, based on the premise that in order to train horses effectively we need to tune into their natural instincts, body language and way of communicating within a herd, and understand that they learn not through fear or pain, but from pressure and the release of pressure.Terms such as horse whisperer give the impression natural horsemanship trainers come armed with a magic touch. In truth, theyve simply learned, through years of experience of working with horses, what makes them tick.Every natural horsemanship trainer has a slightly different take on what works and what doesnt, but what unites them is the underlying principle that training should be humane as we empathise with our horses and learn to work with them, rather than against them.Natural horsemanship: what is Join-Up?When Monty Roberts was a teenager in the early 1950s, he grew up studying the behaviour of the wild Mustangs he lived alongside in the USA. This led to the development of his world-famous Join-Up method as an alternative to the violence that was traditionally associated with the breaking-in process. Join-Up creates a safe, co-operative environment in which a horse can progress and develop. It works on the premise that horses learn not through fear and intimidation, but through mutual respect and body language.Working in a round pen, Join-Up starts with the natural horsemanship trainer making large movements and noise, as a predator would, driving the horse to run away. They then adopt a more passive body language, turning their back on the horse with no eye contact. This invites the horse to come close and Join-Up, with them willingly choosing to be with the handler.As Monty explains, his methods focus on communion with the horse, rather than domination. For centuries, humans have said to horses, You do what I tell you or Ill hurt you. Im saying that no one has the right to say you must to an animal or to another human, he says.Find out more about Monty and his Join-Up methodNatural horsemanship: what is Parelli?With the emphasis on training people first and horses second, the Parelli concept was developed by husband and wife team Pat and Linda Parelli and quickly became a global phenomenon. It is based on the principle of teaching people common sense around horses, so they can learn to negotiate effectively with their horse on the ground and in the saddle.The Parelli philosophy focuses on building a horses confidence in five key areas:Self-confidenceIn you as their leaderIn themselves as a learnerIn new environmentsAmong other horsesIt does this via the Parelli Seven Games, which are the foundation of the Parelli natural horsemanship concept. The seven games of Parelli are:The Friendly game This is about letting your horse become comfortable with you in their space.The Porcupine game This teaches a horse to move away from a steady point of pressure (or feel).The Driving game This is learning to move away from rhythmic pressure (ie light tapping) or the suggestion of pressure.The Yo-Yo game Teaches your horse to back up, and then move forward when you retreat.The Circling game Being able to send your horse out on to a circle; letting the horse move forward on the circle with you in a neutral position (this is the allow); then the bring-back, using the same body language as in the send to bring your horse back to you.The Sideways game The horse learning to step sideways.The Squeeze game Letting your horse become comfortable to squeeze between objects.Four levels of ParelliParelli focuses on four Savvy levels to develop a persons skills with horses both on the ground and in the saddle. The four Savvys are:On line: communicating with the horse via lead ropeLiberty: communicating with the horse on the ground without a lead ropeFreestyle: riding without a constant rein contactFinesse: riding with a rein contactFind out more about Parelli Natural HorsemanshipNatural horsemanship: what is Think Equus?Horse training and behaviour consultant Michael Peace developed his Think Equus philosophy after working as an apprentice jockey. He soon learned that understanding a horses mindset and developing a relationship based on mutual success made his working life easier. This led to his 50/50 approach.In a nutshell, Michaels premise is that a successful working relationship with your horse relies on a 50/50 partnership. You both have to do your bit for the benefit of the whole and. equally, the balance in the relationship is both of your responsibility. You help each other out when necessary because you recognise the value of each others input.This means you never reach the level where you have to battle things out with your horse because you make tiny adjustments as you go along to keep everything in balance.Find out more about Think EquusNatural horsemanship and liberty horse trainingThe end goal of liberty horse training is for horse and handler to have established a true connection based on how horses interact with each other in a herd. To work at liberty means the horse is completely free to make their own choices and decisions: there are no saddles, bridles, head collars or lead ropes involved, even when being ridden. Ben Atkinson is a master of liberty and he travels around the world giving demonstrations and talks about this method of natural horsemanship, alongside training stunt horses for film and TV.Liberty is exceptionally honest it either works or it doesnt, depending on the level of training, says Ben. You cant force the horse to do anything. Either your signals are clear and you and the horse understand each other, or you have proven that you dont make good decisions often enough and the horse decides that you arent worth listening to.The aim is that, by the time you get to a point where youre working with your horse loose, you have a confidence in that animal and that animal has confidence in you. The conversation flowing between both parties is so strong that you can achieve whatever you want, adds Ben. The bond and love and mutual respect is something that is grown from communication. More than anything, liberty horse training is a system of communication.Find out more about Liberty Horse Training and Atkinson Action HorsesNatural horsemanship: what is Intelligent Horsemanship?Founded by Your Horse Live regular Kelly Marks, Intelligent Horsemanship is an organisation, its sole aim being to bring the best horsemanship ideas together from around the world in an effort to promote understanding and fair treatment of horses. The daughter of a racehorse trainer, Kelly showjumped successfully in her teens before becoming a jockey. Intelligent Horsemanship was borne off the back of Kellys lifelong passion for horses. It is heavily influenced by her friend and mentor Monty Roberts, whom she metthrough a chance meeting at a petrol station in France in 1993.Kelly was trained by Monty and soon became the first teacher of his methods worldwide. Today, Kelly together with a nationwide network of Recommended Associates helps owners, on a practical level, to overcome behaviour problems and train their horses effectively.On her website,Kelly is described as a horse whisperer or horse behaviourist, specialising in understanding horse psychology, and finding workable solutions tobenefit both horses and humans. She helps people to learn to understand your horse better and become the human a horse would choose.Find out more about Intelligent HorsemanshipNatural horsemanship: what is Your Horsemanship?Developed in the UK by Australia-born Jason Webb, a regular contributor to Your Horse and Your Horse Live, Your Horsemanship embraces the philosophies passed down by generations of stockmen, who understood how to read a horses reactions to situations and adapt their own movements and behaviour to bring out the best in their equines.Jason has spent years refining these techniques to develop a system based on three key areas:Developing a balance between trust and respect in both horse and rider in order to create the attitude to learn.Having the skills and confidence to to be a good leader to your horse.Understanding that knowledge is power.The more you learn, Jason reasons, the more knowledge you can impart to your horse and the more your partnership will progress. Jason regularly tours the UK holding demonstrations, where you can watch him explain and show his natural horsemanship techniques. He has a really lovely way of working with horses and riders I know, because Ive watched him work several times and I always leave inspired to try new things with my own horses.If hacking a horse is your thing, Jason runs hacking confidence clinics, as well as offering general support and training, at this base in Kent. Jason specialises in starting young horses and solving all ridden and behavioural problems, and he works with everyone, from leisure riders to Olympians.Find out more about Your HorsemanshipNatural horsemanship and classical trainingThe world of natural horsemanship doesnt stop at the five philosophies Ive explained above. Its principles extend to the realms of the likes of classical dressage trainer Jenny Rolfe, who bases her training on the connection that simple breathing techniques can create. Put simply, Jenny believes in connecting with horses via energy thats created by her breath, which controls her heart rate. This, in turn, alters the energy surrounding her heart and changes the energy field around her, to which a horse will react.Horses are always listening to our signals, our voice, our body language and, most importantly, to our heart rhythms and energy field, explains Jenny. However, for much of the time they listen to signals when were not even aware were giving them.Scientific research has evidence from experiments with individuals that show that emotional distress causes chaos in the rhythm of the heart, continues Jenny. Our horses quickly tune into our emotions and heart rhythm, and if the heart rhythm is steady they will immediately feel more calm. I am convinced that breath energy is a natural part of herd language.Jenny adds that while horses respect assertive behaviour, aggression only creates anxiety. Her methods therefore involve learning to be more confident and the feel that its OK to expect your horse to listen to even the most subtle of clues.I teach my horse to listen to my breath when Im riding. If he doesnt respond to my breath, I take with my legs, just once. If he doesnt respond to my legs, Ill then tap my own leg with a whip. Because horses are so sensitive [remember they can feel a fly land on them] they can learn to respond to your breath in this way.Using electromagnetic signalsThe energy Jenny speaks of is also referred to in science as electromagnetic signals. These waves are transmitted through space or matter by electric and magnetic fields, generated by a changing electrical charge. In the human body, the heart has been proven to be the most powerful source of electromagnetic energy. This description might sound complicated, but using it doesnt have to be.If theres a spooky corner in your school, on your horse will react to, focus on your own state of relaxation. Sigh deeply and even yawn. Then try riding small circles towards the corner until they gradually take you closer to it. When you arrive at the spooky spot, relax your reins and sigh very deeply. As you relax, your horse will too, says Jenny.As well as how you use your breath, horses respond well to positive energy too.When you enter your horses stable, have you ever stopped to think what messages youre giving? asks Jenny. Your horse will not only tune into your body language, but with your emotional state of mind and breathing too.When youre feeling rushed and tense, your heart rate is faster. This state is known as heart incoherence.Approaching your horse in this states means youll have many thoughts rushing through your mind and less clarity of thought. In comparison, when you go into the stables with a clear mind, feeling calm, assertive and ready to enjoy the time you spend with your horse, you can gain the best response from them.Find out more about classical training with Jenny RolfeHorse whisperersNo guide to natural horsemanship is complete with including the original horse whisperer, Buck Brannaman. Buck was the inspiration for the character of Tom Booker in the Nicholas Evans novel The Horse Whisperer, which went on to become a Hollywood blockbuster directed by and starring Robert Redford, alongside Scarlett Johansson and Kristin Scott Thomas.Buck was one of the founders of the natural horsemanship movement. He developed his training methods based on the principles of patience, leadership, compassion and firmness. His goal is to help horses feel safe around people, so that horse and rider can achieve a true union.Find out more about horse whisperer Buck BrannamanMain image: copyright ShutterstockRelated contentLearn to listen and understand horse behaviour6 things you need to know about horse communicationWhat is liberty training?Age-appropriate training: when do horses physically mature?Groundwork for horses: build trust in each other and grow in confidenceThe post Natural horsemanship: tap into a horses way of thinking appeared first on Your Horse.

View this post on InstagramA post shared by USEF Eventing (@usefeventing)I am, at heart, a ludicrously sentimental person, and what always gets me the most about any sporting triumph is the understanding of what it took to get there. The setbacks, the injuries, the heartbreaks, the closed doors, the endless, unrelenting work; the upward battles, the downhill coasts, the dreams deferred. Its the horses you invest your hopes into but then something goes irrevocably wrong; the horses everyone tells you to give up on but then everything goes undeniably right. Its the questioning of whether this really is meant to be your life, and your calling, or if youre trying to force a square peg into a round hole. Its trying your best and weathering the pain when it goes wrong andstill having to wake up to see someone tearing you down online in the morning, even though they dont know any of the details. Its early mornings in the rain; late nights in the cold. And here you are: youve made it.Whether your made it is a trip to the Olympics or simply getting your baby horses right lead for the first time, take a moment today to celebrate yourself. Becauseyou did this. And that is very, very cool.Events Opening Today:Silverwood Farm Fall H.T.,Bucks County Horse Park H.T.,Seneca Valley PC H.T.,USEA AEC, $60,000 Adequan Advanced Final, and ATC FinalsEvents Closing Today:Area VII Young Rider Benefit H.T. at Caber Farm,Cobblestone Farms H.T. II,Hoosier Horse Trials,River Glen Summer H.T.,Catalpa Corner Charity Horse Trials,Huntington Farm H.T.,Olney Farm Horse Trials Modified Pending USEF Approval,Bayou Gulch H.T.Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:Great news for folks who have tickets to some, but not all, days of the equestrian sports at Paris 2024.The kind folks at Haras de Jardy, which is just five minutes from Versailles and truly, one of the most beautiful competition venues you willever come across, will be putting on an unofficial fanzone throughout the equestrian disciplines at the Games, with a big screen for viewing and a restaurant and bar to keep you fed and watered. Find out more here, plus get involved with their stop on the Olympic flames relay through France.The Tory government has been toppled in the UK after a series of colossal misfires, and like, thankgod.But what does the right-leaning equestrian industry think about having Labour back in charge? Heres a bit of a round-up courtesy ofHorse & Hound, and yeah, its mostly about hunting.Heres something to keep us all going in the dregs of next month,when were all feeling the post-Paris blues and autumn is on the verge of creeping in even thoughwe never even got a summer (in the UK, anyway lord help us). Horse & Country has teamed up with the USEA to offer wall-to-wall streaming of this years AECs, and even better, as a USEA member you can watch it all for free with a week-long trial. Heres the info you need.As if being a high-flying eventer, a former World Champion, and a soon-to-be Olympianagain wasnt enough,Germanys Sandra Auffarth is also really, really good at the whole showjumping thing. Over the weekend, she took herself to CHIO Falsterbo in Sweden and casually won the CSI5* Agria Grand Prix, beating several partnerships thatll be heading to Paris in that discipline. Wild stuff. We wouldnt want to bet against her in that two-round final day in Paris. Check out the full story and a video of her winning round here.View this post on InstagramA post shared by KPPusa (@kentuckyperformanceproducts)Sponsor Corner:Italy has announced their team for the Paris Olympics! Congratulations to Evelina Bertoli, Emiliano Portale, Pietro Sandei, and Giovanni Ugolotti. Want to catch up on the latest Olympic updates?View more of ENs Olympic coverage here.Watch This:Head to Versailles, our home for next week and the weeks beyond, to see the gilded Palace thatll be the backdrop for the greatest sporting moments of the summer.

Horse Illustrateds coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics is presented by CareCredit.A member of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) team since 2011, Hallye Griffin was appointed as the Director of FEI Sport in March 2023. With that role, she assumed position as Chef de Mission at the Olympic, Paralympic, and Pan American Games, as well as the FEI World Championships. In taking this post, Griffin has made history as the first female US Equestrian Chef de Mission.Horse Illustrated had a quick chat with Griffin ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics to discuss this years Games and what her role as Chef de Mission entails.Horse Illustrated: Congratulations on being the first female US Equestrian Chef de Mission. What does it mean to you?Hallye Griffin:Being the first female US Equestrian Chef de Mission is very special, but really what it brings me is a lot of gratitude for all the people Ive worked for. Ive worked for a lot of people in my time here at USEF, as well as my time before USEF, and learned a bit from each one of them. So I really just have a lot of gratitude.HI: How did you get started in high-performance equestrian sport?Griffin:I grew up riding myself; I came from an eventing background. I was fortunate that when the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games came to Lexington, Ky., I worked as a competition department assistant. That was really eye-opening to me, to where the horse sport world could take me and my career. After the 2020 World Equestrian Games, I found myself at US Equestrian.HI: What does a typical day at the Olympic Games look like for you?Griffin:A typical day at the Games normally starts for me quite early. Luckily, Im a morning bird, so Im up quite early. I try to have a little bit of time to myself in the morning to first organize all my notes, my thoughts for the day, whats on the agenda, go through any rules that I might need to freshen up on, and then we hit the road to venue pretty early.My role at the Games is a lot of troubleshootingmaking sure that our teams have everything they need to put in their best performances. And hopefully bring home some medals!HI: What advice would you give to the first-time Olympic riders representing the U.S. in equestrian sports?Griffin:The advice that I would give to any athletes representing the U.S. Olympic or Paralympic teams in equestrian for the first time would be to remember to trust what got you there. Remember to trust the training systems and all the work that these athletes have put in over the years, and thats what got them to the Olympics. And then, ultimately, its about putting in the best performance they can and hopefully bringing home medals for the U.S.HI: Tell us about your first horse.Griffin:My horseand Ill say it was actually my first ponywas a pony named Coco. She was about 12 hands I wanna say. Bucked me off plenty of times; not the most well-behaved thing. But taught me quite a lot, and certainly didnt stop me from riding.HI: What is your favorite Olympic sport outside of equestrian?Griffin:Favorite Olympic sport outside of equestrian: for sure, track and field.Find all of our coverage, brought to you by CareCredit, on our Paris 2024 Olympic Games main page.The post 2024 Paris Olympics: Q&A with Hallye Griffin, US Equestrian Chef de Mission appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Your Horse has teamed up with the Defender Burghley Horse Trials (5-8 September) to offer two lucky winners a family season pass and car pass, plus one place on a course walk (Thursday and Friday only) and a special Burghley goody bag to take home.The Defender Burghley Horse Trials is undoubtedly the autumn highlight of both the British equestrian scene and the rural social calendar.The central focus is the CCI5* the ultimate test of horse and rider and Defender Burghley is cherished by the worlds elite equestrian athletes for its legendary cross-country course around the varied terrain of Burghleys beautiful park.I think its the best event in the world, said Piggy March, who won Burghley for the first time in 2022 with Vanir Kamira. I grew up wanting to ride at Burghley, and its always the event I look forward to the most all year.ENTER HEREClosing date: 19th August, 2024 *UK onlyGreat entertainmentBurghley is also the proving ground for future champions. The prestigious Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Finals (Friday 6 September) feature Britains best four- and five-year-old horses and always draw a huge crowd.The main arena masterclasses on Thursday and Friday this year will not only feature Carl Hester, but also William and Pippa Funnell, Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Henrietta Knight and six-times Burghley winner William Fox-Pitt.New for this yearAnd everyone loves the Shetland Pony Grand National, which takes place in the main arena on both the Saturday and Sunday.New for 2024 are bookable cross-country course-walks with top riders, while Tea and the Trot-Up, during which guests enjoy a delicious tea while listening to former Burghley course-designer Mark Phillips thoughts on the event before watching the first horse inspection and then taking a short guided walk of the track, is back after its success in 2023.Shopping galoreOf course, while Defender Burghley is a feast of horse sport, it is probably equally famous for its superb shopping. There are around 500 carefully chosen retailers from which visitors can purchase everything from clothing, jewellery and accessories to garden (and house) furniture, art and sculpture and fabulous food and drink.Additionally, the Defender Experience, which sees attendees driven over dynamic display equipment, is always a hit, and the title sponsor is also bringing mini Defenders this year.Camping and glampingFor anyone wishing to stay at Burghley, for the first time campers can bring their horseboxes, while Burghley Boutique offers glamping in the lovely setting of the Walled Garden.Defender Burghley, a truly special event, offers something for everyone. For more information, and to buy tickets, click here.Watching from homeFor those who cant attend Defender Burghley every day, they can watch all the action and more on Burghley TV. A year-round subscription costs 20 and gives access to hours of footage from past events. Find out more.The post Win a family season pass and course walk at Defender Burghley appeared first on Your Horse.

Ocala, FL Week VII of the 2024 Summer Series at World Equestrian Center Ocala (WEC) will host Hunter Derby Friday in the WEC Stadium. Taking place on July 26, hunter riders can take advantage of the WEC Stadiums world-class atmosphere to prepare for the upcoming Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships and the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship in Lexington, Kentucky. WEC[...]Read MoreThe post Prepare for Hunter Derby Finals during Week VII of the World Equestrian Center Ocala 2024 Summer Series appeared first on World Equestrian Center.