The mare lives in Wellington County. The post Ontario Mare Positive for Strangles appeared first on The Horse.

The horse lived in Somerset County and was euthanized. The post Maine Horse Tests Positive for EEE appeared first on The Horse.

The cases are located in Elkhart and LaGrange counties. The post 2 Indiana Horses Test Positive for WNV appeared first on The Horse.

Ros Canter became the first rider of the modern era to hold both first and second place after dressage at todays Defender Burghley (Friday 6 September).Yesterdays overnight leader, Izilot DHI, still heads the leaderboard with the only sub-20 mark (19.9) from a field of 66 starters. Stablemate Lordships Graffalo slotted into the runner-up spot this afternoon with a score of 22.The latters stunning test included a 10 for his final halt. This horse carried Ros to team gold at the Paris Olympics a few weeks ago and she said the plan was always for him to run at Burghley as well.Im from Lincolnshire; Michele Saul, his owner, is from Lincolnshire and a nine-minute cross-country course in Versailles didnt affect him at all, said Ros.It is amazing for him to perform like he did today after all the razzmatazz of the medal ceremony in Paris. When I came out of the arena today, I took my hands off the reins and he just smiled.Scores are tight at the top of the leaderboard and less than seventies separate the top 10 after two days of dressage. Only 10 penalties separate the top 18.View the top 10 in pictures belowOvernight leader Britains Ros Canter and Izilot DHI: 19.9 penalties2nd Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo: 223rd New Zealands Tim Price and Vitali: 22.34th British rider Emily King and Valmy Biats: 24.1=5th Britains Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent: 24.4=5th New Zealands Monica Spencer and Artist: 24.47th Frances Gireg Le Coz and Aisprit de la Loge: 25.38th New Zealands Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier: 25.49th Frances Nicolas Touzaint and Absolut Gold HDC: 26.110th Frances Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza: 26.8All photos by Trevor HoltThe cross-country phaseBritish rider Harry Meade will be first out of the start box during tomorrows cross-country phase. He is due on course at 11am riding Superstition, the firsts of his three rides.General consensus is that US designer Derek di Grazias cross-country course is intensive for the first part and then opens out into a galloping track.Tim Price described it as a proper Burghley test.Some things look unjumpable at first sight, but I like to trust the designers at these big events and Derek knows what he is doing, said Tim. Hes putting his mark on Defender Burghley.Useful linksHow to watch Defender BurghleyView the full overnight leaderboardSee the cross-country fencesCross-country running orderThe post One-two after dressage for Ros Canter at Defender Burghley appeared first on Your Horse.

The horse lives in Cass County and has recovered. The post Unvaccinated Michigan Pony Tests Positive for EEE appeared first on The Horse.

At some point in their life, your horse is likely to be prescribed a course of antibiotics by a vet. Youll tear open the packet of powder and mix it into their hard feed, hoping youve disguised it well enough for your horse to eat the medicine in full. Potentially, these antibiotics will save your horses life.So what if these drugs stop working? Resistance to antibiotics is on the rise and it is a serious threat to horse health (and humans) right now. If we are not careful, antibiotics will stop working and we might not be able to save our horses in the future.Without fully effective antibiotics to administer, something as simple as a cut could become infected and kill our horses.What does resistance mean?Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) refers to resistance developed by bacteria to antibiotics. It has been classified as a disease in its own right.Its now a clinical problem on an international scale and one of the largest threats to both equine and human health. So why is it only being flagged up with such urgency now?Dr Kirstie Pickles is a European specialist in equine internal medicine and clinical assistant professor at University of Nottinghams School of Veterinary Medicine and Science. She is a world-renowned vet and, according to her, antibiotics have been used for a long time.However theyve been used extensively and not always appropriately.If people are given five days worth of antibiotics for their horse, theyll often only use three days worth, until the clinical signs of an infection have gone. Then they save the remaining antibiotics to give to their horse at a later date, without the guidance of a vet, states Kirsty.Not finishing a full course of antibiotics means not all offending bacteria will be killed, increasing the likelihood of resistance developing.What are antibiotics?An antibiotic is a type of medication that is used to treat bacterial infections. It is not effective for viral infections, such as horse flu.Antibiotics work by either killing bacteria or inhibiting their growth, thereby helping the horses immune system to overcome the infection. They can be classified into several categories based on their mechanism of action and the types of bacteria they target.Antibiotics are commonly prescribed by healthcare professionals to treat a wide range of bacterial infections in horses (and people), including those of the respiratory system, urinary tract, skin and more serious conditions, such as pneumonia and sepsis.It soundslike a miracle drug and it truly is, says equine vet Lucinda Ticehurst. However, extensive use and overuse over decades has seen resistance to antibiotics rise to dangerously high levels. Today vets have to exercise extreme caution when prescribing them.The risk factors are greatTwo of the most serious times I can remember giving my horses antibiotics was when one ex-racehorse had peritonitis, and another Thoroughbred mare suffered a puncture wound on a hind fetlock, which became infected. Both horses survived after being prescribed a course of antibiotics by my vet.Without those antibiotics, they probably wouldnt have. And that, sadly, could well become reality if antimicrobial resistance continues to rise.While the issue of resistance to horse wormer is a well-known and frequently discussed threat to equine health, AMR is not and it is in urgent need of attention.While weve certainly not got parasite resistance under control yet, worming is something owners do regularly with their horses, which means its become better publicised and understood, says Dr Kirstie Pickles.On the other hand, most horse owners wont often have to give their horses antibiotics. Its far more unusual and the issues surrounding AMR are therefore less well understood, despite the related risk factors being much greater.Antibiotics in horse feedIt is imperative that a horse consumes the full course of antibiotics, as prescribed by a vetSometimes under dosing is the result of horses refusing to eat feed containing the antibiotics they need.The advice of equine vet Kieran OBrien is to mix antibiotics with water to create a paste, which can then be administered to your horse via syringe, much like when worming.Kieran used to treat my horses when I lived in Devon and I used this trick for one particularly crafty mare in her mid twenties who would instantly refuse feed the second any medicine was added to it.Even if I tried to disguise it with a garlic and tasty sugar beet, it would still be a firm no from Prudence, so syringe it was.Lucinda Ticehurst suggests that an alternative method is syringing the medication. Mixing the antibiotics with yoghurt and a small amount of honey provides a sticky and tasty accompaniment.Antibiotics are not without riskTo tackle the problem of resistance to horse antibiotics and increase awareness about this growing issue, the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA)s Antimicrobial Awareness Week runs every November.In 2023, its main message was alerting horse owners to the risks of hoarding antibiotics and storing them for use another day.BEVA said the responsible use of antibiotics (also known as antimicrobials) is essential to help prevent widespread resistance and to ensure continued availability of antimicrobials both in terms of effectiveness and legislation.Giving random, left over or old antibiotics to your horse for a suspected infection is irresponsible and potentially dangerous, said former BEVA President David Rendle, RCVS and European Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine.It could make things worse, as they might not be the right type of antibiotic for that specific infection and could easily contribute to the problem of resistance.People also forget that antibiotics are not without risk and their use can trigger serious even fatal intestinal disease. Read our full story here.Guidance for vetsBEVAs guidance for vets around horse antibiotics is to self-regulate, only giving antibiotics when cases absolutely require them and being more selective about the types of antibiotic they use.Particular antibiotics used in human medicine are the same as those used in animal medicine, adds Dr Kirstie Pickles.New antibiotics are only licensed infrequently, which means we have to be strict on our use of the antibiotics we have.Added to this, very few are licensed for use in horses. In fact, theres only one antibiotic licensed for oral use in horses. Others can be injected, but this is much harder for owners to do themselves.New study finds increasing resistanceA study by Marshall and Marsella published in January 2024 set out to determine how common antibiotic-resistant infections are in horses, particularly Staphylococcusspecies.These are bacteria that are normally found on the skin of horses. Previous studies documented antibiotic resistance in horses but did not focus on skin specifically.We investigated antibiotic resistance and correlations between resistance patterns in skin infections, say the researchers.Overgrowth of [Staphylococcus] bacteria can lead to infection. In recent years, the emergence of resistance to antibiotics to treat these infections has been shown with these bacteria in humans and dogs.Determining how widespreadStaphylococcalresistant bacteria are in horses helps to educate the veterinary profession on potential changes to horse resistance.This can help guide appropriate antibiotic usage as well as prove the need for innovative treatment options for both veterinary and human medicine.The study found increasing resistance to horse antibiotics and also found that Staphylococcalbacteria affects the resistance.Researchers concluded that larger studies with more horses are needed to evaluate the clinical usefulness of these results. You can see the fully study here.BEVA warning about horse antibioticsAs part of its Safeguarding Antibiotics Fact Sheet, BEVA states that antibiotic drugs are essential for the treatment of bacterial diseases in humans and animals. This is why all healthcare professionals including vets and doctors are working together to further limit the spread of antibiotic resistance.Resistance occurs when bacteria mutate their genetic code so antibiotics can no longer kill them. Some bacteria can then pass this acquired resistace to other bacteria either in the same animal, another animal, or even in [people].BEVAs key message is two-fold:Every time an antibiotic is used, there is potential for bacteria to become resistant to that drug.Every time an antibiotic is used when it is not essential, the risk of resistance outweighs any potential benefit of the drugs.Therefore, it is vital that antibiotics are used very carefully to ensure they are available to help our horses for as long as possible.When shouldnt antibiotics be used?Antibiotics can treat a bacterial infection, but they have no effect on viruses its the same in people as well as horses. So listen to your vet when they say no; its probably because antibiotics would be ineffective. Common health problems that require veterinary attention that usually dont require horse antibiotics are:Strangles this is because the abscesses that form as a result of this infection is your horses natural healing response to the bacteria.Hoof abscesses pain relief may be prescribed by your vet, but antibiotics isnt usually necessary. In fact, giving a horse antibiotics can actually slow down the healing process.Diarrhoea this isnt usually caused by bacteria and antibiotics can actually make it worse, because they kill the good bacteria thats in a horses stomach as well as the bad.Foals arent born with natural immunity, but they can get antibodies from the mares first milk, which is called colostrum. This is why the early feeds are so crucial (its the same in human babies too). According to BEVA, if a foal is healthy there is no benefit from treating them with antibiotics.Download the full Safeguarding Antibiotics Fact Sheet from BEVA here.How to use horse antibiotics correctlyUltimately, prevention is the best chance we have of slowing down resistance to horse antibiotics and there are things every horse owner and rider can do to help this happen, including:Always follow the advice of your vet and only ever give antibiotics when theyve been prescribed.If horse antibiotics are recommended by a vet, do all you can to ensure your horse gets the dosage they need.Make sure you administer the full course of horse antibiotics, even if they make a speedy recovery. The full course will be prescribed based on several factor, including your horses size/weight, which means only the full amount will be able to kill the infection they are fighting.If you have any old antibiotics stored in your feed room, give them back. Never self-medicating, as you could be giving the wrong thing and make matters worse, and dont use out-of-date antibiotics, which could be less effective.Start a conversation about growing resistance to horse antibiotics. The more horse owners and riders that know about it, the quicker the message will spread. Only by working together can we safeguard the future for our horses.Remember, adds Dr Kirstie Pickles, that prevention is always better than treatment. This means better biosecurity and good horse management and care to prevent infections in the first place.Its time we all take responsibilityImogen Johns, a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and vet at B&W Equine Vets in Gloucestershire, says its time we all take responsibility in fighting the threat of resistance to horse antibiotics.Resistance to antimicrobials, including bacteria that are resistant to all commonly used antibiotics, does appear to be an increasing problem in horses, she confirms. These resistant bacteria can be part of the normal bacterial population of the horse, such as on their skin or the intestinal tract, but they can also cause infections, which become very difficult to treat.At present, the best way we know of minimising the development of resistance is to use antibiotics responsibly. That is, only use them when there is a true bacterial infection (not a virus!), and reserving so-called powerful antibiotics only for severe and life-threatening infections.View BEVAs Protect Me Toolkit hereRelated contentEquine flu: how to lower the risk to your horseAtypical myopathy: important vet advice for every ownerHow to identify and prevent colic in horsesSymptoms of strangles in horses and everything else you need to knowHorse worming schedule and management adviceThe post Growing resistance to antibiotics is a major threat to horse health appeared first on Your Horse.

Declan Cullen and Seavaghan ASH. Photo by Pan Cunningham.Irish rider Declan Cullen wryly refers to himself as the grandfather this weekend, not only earning the title of eldest rider at age 56 but also laying down a healthy dose of if I can do it, so can you inspiration in making a long-anticipated CCI5* debut at Defender Burghley.Teaming up with the very special, splashily-colored Seavaghan ASH (Glenhill Gold Davys Instructions, by Safety Catch) makes the weekend that much more meaningful for Declan, who also campaigned the 15-year-old Irish Sporthorse geldings sire, Glenhill Gold, to the 4* level. Glenhill Gold was actually intended to go to the 5* level, but a change in FEI qualifications and the institution of athlete categorization meant he wasnt able to get the amount of MERs needed in time to achieve the goal.We were qualified for Badminton 2012, we were actually qualified in 2010 [as well]. FEI changed the rules, we couldnt go, Declan explained. As an amateur rider, [with] only two horses, I had more qualifications to do, and that boat sailed, and we missed it. He was getting on so then he was retired, and now Ive had his son, which we bought as a foal. We produced him on, you could say, patiently hes now 15. But we were qualified last year to go to Luhmhlen. He took a wee bit of a virus. This year, wed go back to Luhmhlen but I run my own Horse Trials called the Clare in Ireland and it was just clashing with that. And so we said, okay, lets bite the bullet [and go to Burghley].That chasing of an always-elusive goal of getting a horse to an event like Burghley has had to balance with the other realities of life. Declan and his wife, Becky, run their own business in Cullen Equine Solutions, and Declan is also a nutrition expert working for Pegus Horse Feed. Becky is a 5* rider in her own right, having done two of the three phases of Badminton in 2004 with Wee Hot Toddy and is now a respected coach and mentor while maintaining her riding alongside. For the Cullens, that trip to Badminton lit a fire and spurred them on to make a return one day.Seavaghan Ash was purchased as a foal, along with several other foals sired by Glenhill Gold, and hes been produced by Declan patiently and tactfully as a true member of the family. He is Mr. Laidback. He should be at the household calvary, just standing [at Westminter].He will not move. He is idle, but [he has] a great temperament and [is] a great soulmate. Hes very special, very special for everything that weve done. I can recall, as a four year old in March time riding around the muddy fiends, and that horse has never had a lead. Hes never had anyone to show him how to jump ahead or jump a ditch. Hes done it all on his own back. Hes been amazing.Declan Cullen and Seavaghan ASH. Photo by Pan Cunningham.Declan and Cassidy scored a 35.2 on Thursday, a very respectable debut 5* score that tracks in line with their typical averages at the 4* level. Declan admits he felt he got a bit of the yips (known in sports as a temporary abandonment of ones skills that ordinarily would come naturally) as he headed in for his test. To be honest, Im pleased the way he went. He was fabulous, Id say. But of course, its a different deal when you go inside and you have the tension and following Max [Warburtons] test and the applause. Yes, I got a bit of the yipsI didnt really ride as I did outside. So I left it I left marks there. What luck, its my first five star, Ive left it late in life to tackle this challenge, so Im happy.Late in life is truly a relative term when it comes to eventing, and Declan keeps his gratitude for this special horse and an opportunity hes been dreaming of for so long close.It was something weve been looking to do a long time, and theres so many years I was going to retire, Declan mused. I was going to quit financially, motivationally, horsepower. It is a very expensive sport that were in. We all question the effort and the reward of all the disciplines, dressage and show jumping and eventing. We just dont seem to get the same reward and to keep going, its a credit to all the riders, all the owners that do it. So what kept me going? I believed he was a five-star horse. I hope he goes to prove me that, and thats why Ive stood the journey.Our coverage of Burghley is brought to you by our incredible supporters,Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional products to keep your horse feeling their best at all times. Theyll even get on the phone with you to help you formulate a solid supplementation plan for your horses individual needs! Wed really appreciate your support of KPP, as theyre champions for our sport and beyond and are wonderful people to boot.Check them out here.Defender Burghley:[Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Burghley TV] [Tickets] [Cross Country Preview] [ENs Coverage]

My, thats a big b(r)ush. Photo via CrossCountryApp.OK, so Ive taken a little creative liberty with that headline, but whats a missing r between friends? In case youre wondering, the consensus is that Derek needs to trim his bush (sorry, not sorry), particularly in the Leaf Pit area [Fence 7abc]. Richard Jones says the triple brushes at the bottom of the drop are bigger than anything Ive ever seen in a five-star and Matt Heath declares that hes never seen so many monstrous triple brushes in my life. Unjumpable has been uttered once or twice and theres very much a feeling that the majority of the riders will choose a longer route there, although the options are almost as formidable albeit on slightly more forgiving lines.For those that do plough ahead and take them on, and of course we (and course designer Derek di Grazia) hope they will, theres been speculation that they wont be jumped well. But in this totally stacked field, which is being heralded as the strongest in recent history, those riders at the top of the pack will surely give them a darned good go, and will perhaps even make them look easy. Tom McEwen certainly thinks so.Aside from the big brushes out there, what else has got the riders talking? Well, theres no prizes for guessing the buzz words: big, intense, massive, brave, imposing everything we expect from Burghley, as Jennie Brannigan sums up very nicely:This is what eventing is about, this is eventing, this is the sport. Everyone knows it: big bad Burghley.Meanwhile, Dereks singing away to himself, just under his breath, I like big brush and I cannot lie (probably).Anyway, weve wrangled the riders and asked for their thoughts on what theyll be facing as they head out of the start box on Saturday.Which empathetic soul snagged her sneakers and took a run round the track, to put myself through what the horse is going to go through?Who was most succinct in his assessment?Which young rider is in denial?Whos broken out the F word?And whos being kept up at night by something hard and huge?All this and more down below. Dive right on in and go eventing! Defender Burghley: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Burghley TV] [Tickets] [ENs Coverage] ENs coverage of Defender Burghley is proudly presented by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional support for every horse. Click here to learn more about KPP. Ros Canter Izilot DHI 19.9 1st Lordships Graffalo 22 2ndRos Canter and Lordships Graffalo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Ros is in it to win it against herself as things stand going into cross country, with Isaac sitting in the lead and Walter just 2.1 points behind in second. How does she think the course will suit each of her guys?It looks pretty intense at the start to me. I think certainly for Izilot, the narrow passageways into the main arena, thats the kind of thing that would unsettle him. If I can get him out of Discovery Valley, the Leaf Pit, back through Discovery Valley, I think hell settle and Ive got every faith in his jumping ability, Walters jumping ability, and obviously Walters galloping ability. Im sat on two great horses, so Ive got to go out and attack. Tim Price Vitali 22.3 2nd Viscount Viktor 29.5 16thTim Price and Vitali. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Tim had a wee spin round on the bike and came back to us with its decent, proper. Succinct. Emily King Valmy Biats 24.1 4thEmily King and Valmy Biats. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Never mind hunting round to the finish flags, Emilys hoping Val doesnt hoof it home.I think its a proper track, a really good test. The going is amazing so I think itll give them a fair chance. I think youve got to get stuck in early on. To me, some of the biggest questions are actually in the first quarter of the course. Mines a really bold horse so I need to make sure I come with enough attack and ride it well enough, but actually not go too over the top because he might just make his way back [home] to Chester! I think you really need a bold, brave horse for this type of course. I think you need to get stuck in the beginning and then try and navigate your way round. Oliver Townend Cooley Rosalent 24.4 5th=Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Oliver thinks that Burghley has a feel of Kentucky given that Derek is the designer for both, but hes not complaining Cooley Rosalent took the Kentucky crown in the spring, so that surely bodes well. Only time will tell.Its serious. It looks, and this isnt a complaint, but it looks more and more like Kentucky every year, which is bound to happen with the same course designer. [Cooley Rosalents] jumped around some big tracks before, and Im just going to ride her positively and try and look after her as best I can, hope she learns a lot along the way, and hopefully we come home with a good result. The terrains the same but the fences seem to get bigger and bigger and narrower and narrower. Its a serious, tough cross country course. Monica Spencer Artist 24.4 5th=Monica Spencer and Artist. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Does Monica like the look of the course?I mean, likes a strong word! Im terrified! But Im sure once I leave the start box Ill find some bravery. Gireg Le Coz Aisprit de La Loge 25.3 7thGireg le Coz and Aisprit de la Loge. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Giregs planning on using the benefit of his later draw to see just how much trouble the dreaded Leaf Pit causes before he commits to a solid plan.I think Ill go the direct route everywhere, just to see for the Leaf Pit at the beginning because its really difficult. I have time to see other riders go before me, so if it causes too much trouble then Ill go around maybe. But except that, Im happy to sit on a horse like him. Caroline Powell Greenacres Special Cavalier 25.4 8thCaroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Caroline and Cav won Badminton in the spring, so theyre totally good with a massive track. But theres one fence on her mind as she contemplates the task at Burghley, you guessed it, the Leaf Pit.The Leaf Pits pretty beefy, I havent quite made up my mind what Im going to do there. The whole way round its just quite relentless. If we can take each jump in each section as it comes, theres plenty of places to put little breathers in.Caroline also put a shout out to one of her girls at home who was kicked in the face on Thursday and was operated on on Friday. Speedy recovery Allison, dont be too long! Bad way of getting time off! Pippa Funnell MCS Maverick 28.3 12th Majas Hope 29.6 17thPippa Funnell and MCS Maverick. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Pippa made her debut at the top level almost three decades ago, with Bits And Pieces at Badminton in 1997, so youd think shed seen it all when it comes to cross country fences. Apparently not.Ive never seen such big arrowheads in my entire career. Tom Jackson Capels Hollow Drift 28.6 13thTom Jackson and Capels Hollow Drift. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Toms got a shout out for the Burghley team, for the amazing ground not just out on course, but in the warm ups too.I mean, theres a lot to do. I think its a very fair test in that its fairly obvious what weve got to do, but that doesnt make it easy because theres some really big, tricky combinations out there. And the thing is here that if you make a marginal error, or the horse does, then youre going to end up with penalties, so youve just got to be on it all the way around. Theyve done an amazing job with the ground. I mean, I cant believe even all the warm ups, its just phenomenal. So big thanks to the Burghley team because that is very much appreciated by all of us riders, I think. Felix Vogg Cartania 28.8 14thFelix Vogg and Cartania. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Felix is feelin curious.Its a bit higher than Badminton, but it will be interesting. Ive only walked it once, but I think its very clear, like always with Derek. I have no idea how it will ride and how the profile will be, the up and down, but so far, it will be interesting. Max Warburton Deerpairc Revelry 28.9 15thMax Warburton and Deerpairc Revelry. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Max seems undaunted by the task ahead and will be taking the Pony Club kick on approach.Its big, were at Burghley obviously. But its all there in front of you to jump and weve just got to kick on. Gemma Stevens Chilli Knight 29.7 18thGemma Tattersall and Chilli Knight. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Wash your mouth out, young lady! Gemmas broken out the profanities because big just wont do. Have you seen the Leaf Pit?! Big the F word jumps. Theres not much else to say. Youve got to be accurate, youve got to be fast, youve got to be bold, youve got to be straight, brave, completely and utterly nuts to do this. Hannah Sue Hollberg Capitol H I M 30.7 20thHannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol H I M. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Hannahs having sleepless nights about something hard and huge. OK, context is everything:It looks like Burghley. Its hard and huge. The Leaf Pit is kind of keeping me up at night right now. The beginning is a lot to do, and then hopefully you can just stay upright all the way home. Im looking forward to it on this horse. Tom McEwen CHF Cooliser 31.2 23rdTom McEwen and CHF Cooliser. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Bucking the trend and 100% looking forward to taking a spin round the behemoth of a track, Toms gone all out and given EquiRatings a run for their money with a bold prediction that three combinations will be clear inside the time.I think the course is great. I think those skinnies are bloody massive and theres plenty of other big fences out there. But do you know what? Its a great track. I actually think it flows very well, and honestly, I can see some of the stellar five-star cross country horses actually make it look really good and fun, and actually cruising around with the time, to be honest. I think its another stellar track for Burghley. Matt Heath Askari 31.9 27th Golden Recipe 43.7 64thMatt Heath and Askari. Photo by Libby Law.Burghleys no dressage test, thats for sure, and Matt sees the scoreboard being shattered on cross country day.I dont know whether its as big as 19, 2019 I thought was massive, [Captain Mark Phillips] last year I walked out of that thinking hed got five years of ideas left and decided to pack them all into his last year. But I think its the second biggest that Ive come across, if not challenging the biggest. The only difference is that 2019 was quite a solid track, the fences were all quite solid; there is a lot of brush out there this time. Ive never seen so many monstrous triple brushes in my life. I think its very intense early on as well. I can see the scoreboard shattered on Saturday, not with a dangerous track in any way, shape or form, I think its a great track, but I think its going to cause a lot of influence.Hes one rider who is planning on going straight at the Leaf Pit despite those monstrous brushes.My plan A at the moment, on both horses, is to go straight. I think that the long route is very long, and its still very big. All the long routes all the way around, theyre not much smaller, anywhere you go. Normally were used to the long routes taking quite a lot of time but they can be quite kind and forgiving and give riders an opportunity to get horses home, but I dont feel like the long routes out there do that for us, I think it just takes more bloody time to be honest. Will Rawlin Ballycoog Breaker Boy 32 28thWill Rawlin and Ballycoog Breaker Boy. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Will is approximately 12 feet tall and even he thinks the triple brushes at the bottom of the Leaf Pit are enormous.Burghley is just so much bigger! Particularly in the first couple of minutes, its very intense, and if youre on a horse that could get a bit brain-fried, then this is a course that could do that, particularly down at the [Leaf Pit], those brushes are huge. Im a tall guy and I can barely see over the top of them. Ian Cassells Master Point 32.4 30thIan Cassells and Master Point. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Ians taking a leap of faith at his first Burghley with a sink or swim metaphor. Hopefully neither, Ian, really.Its my first time here, never walked it before, so Im literally going in the deep end. I think it starts off quite nice to the arena. I think you want to get the horses nice and settled and into a good rhythm. A lot of combinations, very fast up to the first water, and then I think it allows them to take a breath a little bit with a little bit more galloping fences, and really like settle into your rhythm. I really think its important to be efficient and take a little pause, but save the horse at the start. Nicole Mills Fearless W 32.6 31stNicole Mills and Fearless W. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.All the riders here are at least a little on the crazy scale, but Nicole gets extra points for actually running the cross country course. Seriously. I ran it last night. I did, I found it quite hard! I thought, Ive got to put myself through what the horse is going to go through! Yes, its big. I mean, I have nothing to compare it to because Ive not ridden at five-star before and not ridden here before, only in Pony Club. So, yeah, its big. I think theres probably a couple of long routes I might take on first glance, but I plan to walk it another five times, at least, probably not run!This pair are making their 5* debut at Burghley, so thats a few more points added to her crazy tally.Burghley is massive and maybe it was a brave choice to come here for our first five star, but hes a real jumper, like, hes super scopey and really careful. Ive just got to make sure I manage him correctly tomorrow [Friday], so that hes not super wild when he comes out the start box.My first feel was that actually up to the Trout Hatchery, its like throwing everything at you, and then I feel like I might be able to get a bit of a breathing space after that. But yeah, I shall be taking deep breaths around the first nine fences, thats for sure. Dan Jocelyn Blackthorn Cruise 33.3 34thDan Jocelyn and Blackthorn Cruise. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Dans thinking of sneaking out in the night with some shears.I just couldnt believe the size of those arrowheads in the Leaf Pit. A lot of people honestly thought, have they not finished trimming them yet? Its a real Burghley track out there its tough and demanding all the way and youve got your little whoop-de-dos in the ground. Mia Farley Phelps 33.7 36thMia Farley and Phelps. Photo by Sally Spickard.[Interviewer] Like it?[Mia] I do.[Interviewer] Good. All the Americans have been very positive.[Mia] Well, we might be in denial! Austin OConnor Colorado Blue 33.9 37thAustin OConnor and Colorado Blue. Photo by Sally Spickard.Austins a very cool customer, and a 5* winner, but he admits to being terrified. We dont believe you, Austin.Its proper big, terrifying Burghley. [Colorado Blues] in good order and I wouldnt want to be sat on anything else at this point. Jennie Brannigan FE Lifestyle 34.7 40th=Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Big. Enormous. Massive. Pah! Jennies living the dream and wouldnt want to be anywhere else in the world than at Burghley going eventing.I love it. The hardest event in the world, but I love it. I wouldnt want to be on any other horse. I just think its the hardest event in the world. Everyone knows, its the best event. To me, this is what eventing is about, this is eventing, this is the sport. And this is why, as a kid, I wanted to do it. I wouldnt want to be anywhere else competing at any other show this year. This is it for me. Everyone knows it: big bad Burghley. Francis Whittington DHI Purple Rain 34.7 40th=Francis Whittington and DHI Purple Rain. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Ever the horseman, Francis plans to ride off feel, although hes very certain about his plan to go long at the Leaf Pit.Ive walked it twice now, and on my second walk, Im clear Im going to go long route down off the Leaf Pit. Its quite an imposing fence, I mean, the dimensions on that look crazy ridiculous. The ground, the terrain in front of it theres so many variables, and youre at fence six. Mentally, if it does go wrong, its not far back to the stables! So if youre going to walk the course earlier on in the day and watch some rounds on Saturday, Id stay near fence five. The thing we have about Burghley, its an accumulative thing, isnt it? So somebody might have an issue later on around the course, but it will be down to an accumulation of knocks; youre taking out of that bucket, and as a rider youre trying to make sure that you put some goodness back into that bucket where you can. Its not necessarily a course that you ride off your watch, youve got to ride off what you feel. Alex Bragg Quindiva 35.1 42ndAlex Bragg and Quindiva. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Alexs plan is to keep his eyes firmly between the flags and not get distracted by the beauty of the estate.Its amazing. I mean, he [Derek di Grazia] does build some amazing courses with the help of the team, and Burghley is just stunning, so Im going to try and concentrate and not just enjoy the scenery on the way around. It looks magnificent so lets see lets see where we are on Sunday. Declan Cullen Seavaghan Ash 35.2 43rdDeclan Cullen and Seavaghan Ash. Photo by Eventing Nation.Declans feeling a little peaky.Theres no cameras on me, but I am pale. Yeah, its big. Its what we expected. Hopefully my horse is pretty good. Hes generally been a very honest soul. My wife actually backed him and broke him while she was expecting our child. Hes as quiet as a lamb; hes honest and straight but its Burghley, anything could happen here. My lack of experience at this level, plenty of experience at four star, but this is when I step up. Libby Seed Heartbreaker Star Quality 36.1 46thLibby Seed and Heartbreaker Star Quality. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Libby tells it as it is.Its big isnt it?! Richard Jones Alfies Clover 36.3 47thRichard Jones and Alfies Clover. Photo by Tilly Berendt.This will be Alfies Clovers last ever 5*, sniff. What a great ambassador for the sport this guy has been throughout his long career and what a joy it is to watch him hunting around the biggest cross country courses in the world, which we get to do one final time. Heres what Richard thinks of those notorious triple brushes at the Leaf Pit.I dont think dressage will be too relevant, in fact, Id say dressage will be probably not relevant. The brushes off the Leaf Pit look bigger than anything Ive ever seen in a five-star, any five-star Ive ever done, nearly verging on unjumpable. Im sure on Saturday they will be jumped, but not by many, not the direct way, well.Some riders have requested a triple brush to be put into the warm up in preparation for the enormous ones at the bottom of the Leaf Pit.I think if youre doing your homework in the warm up, its probably too late. I certainly wont be getting stressed jumping in the warm up, theres enough to jump out there. Emma Hyslop-Webb Jeweetwel 37.7 52nd View this post on InstagramA post shared by Emma Hyslop-Webb (@emmahyslopeventing)Emmas very sensibly, and rightly, leaving her ego in the start box as she sets out on her round.Its a very well built course, I thought. With him only being ten, there will be a couple of places that Ill go long and it will be very much riding one of those rounds for the horse, not for my pride, you know, go straight everywhere, and Im a warrior, and all that. It will be very much a round for the horse.On that sage note, all thats left to say is kick on and go eventing!Defender Burghley: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Burghley TV] [Tickets] [ENs Coverage] ENs coverage of Defender Burghley is proudly presented by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional support for every horse. Click here to learn more about KPP.

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.And so we come to the conclusion of the first phase at the 2024 Defender Burghley Horse Trials one in which, so far, its really just Ros Canters world, and the rest of us are just living in it.The diminutive Olympian (and European Champion, and former World Champion, and two-time five-star winner, and all the rest) began her week in fine style yesterday, putting a 19.8 on the board as second in the ring with Pau champion Izilot DHI. In doing so, she set a standard that couldnt be beaten and delivered Burghleys second best-ever dressage result in the process.This afternoon, there were two horses up to bat who, we though, might stand the slightest of chances of usurping Izilots lead. One of them? Tim Price and Vitali, who set the Burghley dressage record last year when delivering an incredible 18.7. The other? Ross second ride, her Badminton-winning European Champion and Paris team gold medallist Lordships Graffalo.Look, we already spoiled this one for you: no one beat her. But at the end of the day, its Ros who is Ross closest challenger, thanks to a five-star personal best effort from Lordships Graffalo, with whom she posted a 22 a mere tenth of a penalty better than their prior PB, obtained at Badminton in 2023, when they won, and 1.4 penalties better than their score at the Paris Olympics.I was delighted with Paris, but I knew we could do better, to be honest, admits Ros. So the last couple of weeks, after we had a bit of a break, weve been kind of trying to work out what it was I was struggling with and things like that. And really, [we] just had a light bulb moment about seven days ago on straightness. [We] got straight, and the whole thing got so much easier. Its funny, that!Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Ros and twelve-year-old British-bred gelding Walter (Grafenstolz Cornish Queen, by Rock King) are known for their prowess in this phase (along with, well, both the others, too), but still, Ros confesses, Im pleased to get that out of the way! Im pleased that [with] Paris and the atmosphere and everything he was still dead relaxed today. We had a good plan; I didnt do too much with him this morning and he felt great really great.I was hoping for [a score like that], but I do find him slightly trickier, she continues. I talk about Izilot being tricky spookiness-wise, but actually, Walters just a little bit trickier in that he gets a bit stressed with work and pressure and things like that, [so you] have to be a little bit more careful and tactful with him. So I always feel like its slightly more of a question mark, whether I pull off the day. But then actually, when I get on him, and I get working, I realize what a dude he is he actually just loves it, doesnt he? He absolutely loves the people and being in an environment like that.Ros will now go into tomorrows cross country with 2.1 penalties in hand over herself or five seconds, in real-world terms while Lordships Graffalo has a margin of just 0.3 between him and third-placed Tim Price and Vitali, which doesnt even give them a second to spare.Tim Price and Vitali. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.I cant quibble with a 22.3, can I? says Tim, pragmatic after not quite smashing the lofty heights of last year with the fourteen-year-old gelding. He was really, really good, and I actually found him it was more conventional, this time. You know, everyone sees what goes on in the ring, but last year, he was really funny out here [in the warm-up], and this was just nice and normal. I could just be a bit more conventional with our preparation and when we went in, he just did what he does so well, which is a nice flowing test. To pick a few holes here and there is doable. I can think of little bits and bobs, but he tried really hard, and he was really good fun.Coming into the ring as the last combination of the day, and with last years record fresh in everyones mind, was a uniquely pressurising situation, Tim says.Hes a really good dressage horse, so you just put a bit of pressure on yourself to do what the horse is capable of. So I had a little bit of that playing in the background, and all day to sit and wait for my test, he says. But what is pressure, really? It depends what you do with it. You do an 18 one year, so youre like, well, how do I go a little bit better? Because thats what we do with all our horses across all levels you just want to improve and push a bit. I watched last years test, actually, to see how I could improve upon it but its all just words now, in the end, isnt it? He was great; he went in and was rideable and happy doing his job, and I think I did a good job, too.Other than that outlier of a test from Ros in the lead, much of our top ten is now tightly packed scores-wise (and, in fact, a single 20 penalties covers the entire top 55, which sets the stage for no end of excitement tomorrow). The best of this mornings session, Emily King and Valmy Biats, now sit fourth on their 24.1, 1.8 penalties, or just a hair over four seconds, behind Tim and Vitali, while Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent in fifth are just 0.3 penalties behind them.Monica Spencer and Artist. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Sixth place after dressage goes the way of US-based Kiwi Monica Spencer and her charismatic Thoroughbred Artist, who delivered a sparkling 24.4 despite a frustrating error of course in this new test.I was having so much fun out there, I went the wrong way! she laments. So Im disappointed with myself, but thrilled with the horse.This isnt the pairs first time flirting with scores this low: they posted a 24 at Adelaide in 2023 on their CCI5* debut, and the year prior, put a 25.6 up at the World Championships in Pratoni, which uses a five-star test. Their more recent five-star tests, at Maryland last year and Kentucky this spring, have seen them drift into the high-20s and very low-30s, respectively, but on both occasions, theyve finished seventh after efficient cross-country rounds and two-rail showjumping finales.Monica Spencer and Artist. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Hes a real trier, and his best attribute is how trainable he is. So he just keeps getting better and better, says Monica. Ive done Maryland and Ive done Kentucky, and was seventh at both of those, so Im looking to improve on that here. And everyone keeps telling me Ive got a Burghley horse, so its time to find out.Frances Gireg le Coz, who produced a 25.3 this morning with Aisprit de la Loge, sits seventh going into cross-country, and Badminton winners Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier move into eighth on their 25.4, while this afternoon saw Frances very good day in the office continue with two new entries into the top ten.Nicolas Touzaint and Absolut Gold HDC. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Nicolas Touzaint, who was part of the silver medal-winning team in Paris with Diabolo Menthe, began his Burghley debut with Absolut Gold HDC on the horses international personal best across all levels. Or, his equal personal best, anyway the pair also scored a 26.1 in the CCI3*-S at Arville this year, which has markedly fewer flying changes (none. It has none.).Im very, very happy with the horse I know that he can do the very best, but I dont always get it out of him. Today, we did it, says Nicolas.Nicolas Touzaint and Absolut Gold HDC. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.Nicolas, who is the only Frenchman ever to win Badminton, which he did in 2008, has long dreamed of coming back to Britains other Big B, and to do so with Absolut Gold, a horse who has partnered him to team medals and individual placings at the Tokyo Olympics and the 2023 European Championships, is a particular treat.Ive never ridden here at Burghley, so Im really excited about it, he smiles.His compatriot Gaspard Maksud sits just 0.7 penalties behind him on a 26.8 and overnight ninth place with Zaragoza, with whom he finished sixth at the 2022 World Championships.For British-based Gaspard, who was left off the Paris team over concerns about his horses first-phase performance, delivering a best-ever five-star score, and one of the eleven-year-old mares best international performances ever, was an enormously emotional moment.Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.When youve been told your dressage isnt good enough, you want to make a point to build at a big one and show [it, like] you know what? Look at her, he says. After Luhmhlen, and being told she was a bit too quiet but shes a hot horse she cant be ridden in that way all the time, otherwise she would explode. So she was very prepped for [Paris] and [now] she was prepped for Burghley, to be able to do, on the day, the test she needs to do to be competitive. And when you put it up in a big one like this, its always quite emotional.In the test itself, Gaspard says, Zoe did everything I asked. She got a bit hot after, but I tried to be brave and just to manage [her] at the end. She just keeps giving. She knows the atmosphere, she knows why shes here, and she wants to do her best. I know on a good day we could be like just [under?] 27. You never know what can happen, but I knew about 27, 28 would be a very good result, [and] so with a 26.8, I couldnt be happier. Were going to enjoy today tomorrows another day.Gaspard, who began the week as a two-horse rider, will now just ride Zoe tomorrow hes withdrawn early ride Kan-Do 2, whos been sold. That takes away his chance to learn about the course ahead of his competitive ride later in the day, but it does give him lots of time to watch, learn, and adapt his plans accordingly.Andrew McConnon and Wakita 54. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.The last of our strong US contingent, Andrew McConnon, was all smiles after his test with Wakita 54, who he knew wasnt coming to her Burghley debut to try to lead this phase. But what makes her tricky on the flat they earned a 40.4 for overnight 57th place after some green wobbles in the walk and canter work is exactly the collection of qualities he hopes will help her shine tomorrow.Shes a great horse, he smiles. She wouldnt find the dressage to be the easiest, so I was pleased with her. She went in there, she was really happy and stayed with me the whole time. Shes funny shes really, really quiet, and anyone can hack her. But when she gets going, shes pretty difficult to ride. She wants to have her way, which is great. So as long as I kind of go with it little bit of a loose rein and stay out of her way, then shes pretty happy. Id say [the last] two years, shes really come even more on side, become a little softer. Shes 11 this year, and I think given another year or two, I can get her a bit softer over her top line, softer over her back.The [rideability] is a little bit easier on cross country: I can give her a little bit longer of a rein the judges dont want me to go around in a stretchy circle the whole test! and I kind of leave her down and alone, and then kind of balance her up when I need to, he continues. But as long as I kind of remotely guide her to the fences and then stay out of the way, she normally has the rest. So Ill want to support her, not leave her to do it on her own, because this is a big track, but you know, well give it our best shot.Andrew, who was previously based in the UK with William Fox-Pitt, has long held a dream of competing at Burghley a dream hes realising this week for the first time.I visited in 2011 for the first time, and then 2016 and 2017 to watch, but never to ride.Its been a goal forever, but more specifically when I was over here with William [Fox Pitt]. Burghley has always been my favorite event anywhere, and so I wanted to come back, and my mare, shes bold and strong and willing, so it should be a good track for her. I just hope that weve done the preparation to give her a good run.Weve currently got a hefty field of 65 starters pending any overnight withdrawals for tomorrows trip around Derek di Grazias cross-country track, which begins at 11.00 a.m. BST/6.00 a.m. EST. And the verdict on it? Well be bringing you insights directly from the mouths of the riders soon, but for now, suffice it to say that nearly all of them have told us that theyve never seen fences as big as the arrowheads in the Leaf Pit. Its an awe-inspiringly big, bold track, with a huge amount of intensity in the first quarter of the course, and tomorrows going to make for some pretty thrilling viewing. For now, you can take a look at the rider times for tomorrow here, and have a walk around the course via the CrossCountry App here. Youll be able to watch all the action on Burghley TV, where theres also a comprehensive course preview video, and, of course, you can join us right here on EN for live updates and a bumper end-of-day report full of insights and analysis.Until then: Go Eventing!Our coverage of Burghley is brought to you by our incredible supporters, Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional products to keep your horse feeling their best at all times. Theyll even get on the phone with you to help you formulate a solid supplementation plan for your horses individual needs! Wed really appreciate your support of KPP, as theyre champions for our sport and beyond and are wonderful people to boot. Check them out here.Defender Burghley: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Burghley TV] [Tickets] [Cross Country Preview] [ENs Coverage]

Ocala, FL The Championship Show 2024 is officially underway at World Equestrian Center Ocala (WEC), with NSBA and AQHA approved competition running through September 15. Todays highlight was the $35,000 3-Year-Old Ranch Riding class in Indoor Arena 5. Thirteen horse-and-rider combinations competed over a challenging pattern, but Bud Lyon of Whitesboro, Texas, guided his and Kim Lyons They Not Like Us (Electric Snow[...]Read MoreThe post The Championship Show 2024; Friday, September 6, 2024 Featured Class Highlights appeared first on World Equestrian Center.