How wide is a horse, exactly? I mean, to the nearest millimeter. Not a silly question.The competition is well underway at Luhmhlen, with the dressage done and dusted and the cross country looming large. Tom McEwens not a big lad, but says he struggled to fit through the skinnies himself, which leaves us wondering whether he actually attempted to clamber over them as he jogged round the course. Im pretty certain a horse will fit through, but they are skinny, thats for sure. (Full disclosure: I havent actually measured them/tried to fit through myself, but course designer Mike Etherington-Smith has been in this game for a fair while, so well assume that they are, in fact, not so skinny as to need to be sat on a My Little Pony in order to squeeze between the flags. I guess time will tell)As well as particularly skinny skinnies, the bounce in the water is quite something 17b and 18a. Notice theyre separately numbered though, so, if needs be, riders can pull a Monopoly move and use their Get Out of Jail Free card, thus allowing them to circle between the fences rather than bounce on over. All in all though, the riders seem to be quietly confident as they contemplate the task ahead. Its impressive but not impossible and apparently not as terrifying as Burghley, but given Burghley is totally terrifying, Im not sure that means its not a pretty darn scary prospect all the same. Its left Emily Hamel worried she maybe should be a bit more worried. Eventers, eh?!Click here to take a look at the whole track through Tillys camera lens.Ill be bringing you live updates from the 5* cross country as it happens, so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, youll find all of our Luhmhlen coverage right here.Whilst we wait for the action to kick off, weve wrangled the riders up and gathered their thoughts on todays track. Heres the low-down, straight from the horses mouth, so to speak.ENs coverage of the Longines Luhmhlen Horse Trials is brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products, your go-to source for science-backed nutritional support across all types of horses, disciplines, and needs. Click here to learn more about what KPP can do for your horse thank you for supporting our wonderful sponsors!Longines Luhmhlen: Website | Entries | Timetable | Live Scores | Tickets | Livestream | ENs Coverage Ros Canter and Izilot DHI 1st 24.9Ros Canter and Izilot DHI. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Reigning European Champion and former World Champion, Ros is no stranger to a 5* podium or two, including a third place finish at Luhmhlen in 2018. Shes also pretty used to leaving the start box as the leader after dressage, as is the case today. Isaac has already had a taste of the big time, winning Pau on his debut at the level, and Ros is in it to win it this weekend, with no intention of relinquishing her position as leader of the pack: Im certainly going go out with the intention of being fast and clear, to be honest. I havent come here to be middle of the pack.Weve seen Isaac can be extremely spooky on the cross country. Massive fences: no worries. Barrels painted as pigs? You know, just for a bit of fun decoration out on course. Woah Mama, take me home. We saw it at Badminton, when he was looking everywhere but where he was going at the Lake, resulting in Ros putting up her hand. How does she think hell cope with the decor at Luhmhlen?Its quite nice here at the start in that its not overly dressed and theres no [having to go] round things. Often he finds that a little bit worrying, and there isnt any of that really at the start anyway. So Im going to go out and give it a good shot. He had a run at Little Downham and he was good and fine there. I dont feel hes lost any confidence from jumping at Badminton, so well go and give it a good shot. Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality 2nd 28.3 / CHF Cooliser 4th 30.8Tom McEwen and CHF Cooliser. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Todays trailblazer (with CHF Cooliser), Toms been runner-up at Luhmhlen (2019) and is sitting pretty with two rides in the top-4 as things stand after the first phase. Eliza finished on her dressage score at Pau in 2021 to take second place, and will surely have been giving 5* debutant Brookfield Quality a few tips over the stable door. Toms a busy boy this week, with two horses going in the 5* and Olympic nominee JL Dublin in the 4*-S, with whom hes hoping for the chance to replicate his team gold from Tokyo, and perhaps even go one better than the individual silver he brought home from the last Games. But first theres the small matter of a 5* cross country; what are his thoughts on whats out there at Luhmhlen?Dimensionally, the width is the true 5*, and the skinnies you can barely fit through them yourself let alone of top of a horse! I think theres plenty to it. Real clever use of the terrain. I think its really clever how, especially early on, theres quite a few intense areas lots of different questions. Some visually look easy but actually, the way you set up, the fences before that youve had, actually make them a little bit tougher. But the ground is perfect and the course looks stunning. Its a good proper, test. I think the bounce in the water is quite something [17a and 18b]. Laura Collett and Hester 3rd 30.6 View this post on InstagramA post shared by Laura Collett MBE (@laura_collett) Last years champ, Lauras back for another go at the title, this time with her unicorn, Hester. This lovely mare made her 5* debut at Badminton this season, but Laura decided to save her for another day when she felt a bit green. And that day is today. She looked every bit the 5* star in the first phase, leading overnight after the first days competition and remaining in a podium place once all was said and done in the dressage ring. Like Tom, shes got one eye on the 4*-S, also hoping for another Olympic medal for her trophy cabinet, but shell be locked onto the 5* as she leaves the start box, hoping to add to her hattrick of top-level wins. How does she think things compare to last year?I think its a great track. Fairly similar-ish to last year, but with a few tweaks here and there. I think the first water is serious [Fences 13 & 14]. It comes very much up in your face. But I think theyve been very kind and theres a Get Out of Jail if things go wrong at the first part, you can do a long route [as theyre separately numbered, similar to the second water, Fence 17b & 18a]. So I think thats fair its obviously still a 5* question, but its fair. Theres questions the whole way round to be honest; I wouldnt really say theres one that stands out particularly, youve got to be on your game the whole way round, right till the end and thats what a 5* track is, isnt it?Indeed it is, Laura, and its why we love em! Nicolai Aldinger and Timmo 5th 30.9 View this post on InstagramA post shared by Nicolai Aldinger (@nicolai_aldinger_eventing) Home crowd hero Nicolai is in a great spot with game contender, Timmo. And it feels very much deserved, given the unlucky circumstances theyve faced at the geldings previous attempts at the level. They were spun at the First Horse Inspection at Luhmhlen last year, and then, on the lead-up to what should have been their second first 5*, Kentucky, a minor injury involving a pulled shoe prevented him from taking his spot on the plane. But hes here and hes put himself well within contention after the first phase. How does Nicolai feel about the track this time around?Its pretty big. I think when you ride it, its always a little bit more than the last year. Last year I walked it, just not so good because I was a bit sad because of the trot up. [] I went home and I stayed at home for two days because I didnt want to talk to anybody. [Somebody give this guy a hug.] But its a proper course. The end is really nice for the horses, I think, with the long gallop. The beginning is pretty strong, so I want to give him a good feeling. Hes not like a crazy cross country machine, he is really, really honest on the technical questions, so I hope I find a good rhythm, give him a good feeling and have some fun. Lara De Liedekerke-Meier and Hooney dArville 6th 31.6Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Hooney dArville. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Laras lovely mare has had a great start to her 5* debut to sit in 6th after the first phase. Being her first time at the level, there will be questions out there that have a, well, question mark on them, but she was clear inside the time at the Nations Cup 4*-L at Boekelo last season, and Laras brought her up through the levels over the last five years, so its safe so say she knows her pretty well. How does she think the mare will find her first 5*?I think the track will suit her. It requires a lot of forward riding, theres a lot of technicity with that. Im confident if I ride well, she will be good. Im not sure about the speed though; she has blood but she needs a lot of preparation for every combination, where I lose a bit of time. I didnt have the gallop I wanted [in the lead-up to Luhmhlen] because of the rain weve had in Europe, but she has a lot of stamina. The last two minutes could be, for her, quite something, but Im confident she wont be tired at the end. I never did an eleven minute course with her, so I still have a lot of question marks, but Im sure if I ride her well she might be really good. Libussa Lbbeke and Caramia 34 7th 31.9Libussa Lubekke and Caramia 34. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Libussa and Caramia 34 are having a superb first 5* and sit well inside the top-10 after dressage. Theyve got the home crowd advantage as they head out onto the biggest track theyve faced thus far. Shes got to be feeling just a little nervous about whats to come, surely? Um, no, not at all. Theyre made of tough stuff, these eventers (although math seems to be a slight problem, unless its intended as hyperbole, which is 1000% OK).I feel quite good, I have to say. Shes a real cross country machine and I can trust her 200% and thats a really good feeling. Im very looking forward to it. Mollie Summerland and Flow 7 9th 33Mollie Summerland and Flow 7. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Former Luhmhlen winner (in 2021) Mollies back, this time with 5* first-timer Flow 7. This guy is stun-ning and has danced his way into the top-10 going into the cross country. Flow may not know whats coming when he leaves the start box, but Mollies got his back. How does she think this years track compares with the one that she, well, won?This one feels more twisty, really; I did feel that when I walked it. Before, we jumped into the Memer water first, so its got quite a different feel to it [this year, the LeMieux Lagune comes at Fences 13 & 14, and the Memer water is at 17ab &18ab]. In the first couple of minutes, Ill know how hes feeling with the crowds and everything, so its just giving him a chance to settle and take it all in really. Im definitely not going to come out the start box hassling him too much. I want to let him settle and find his way and then Ill see what Ive got after the first couple of minutes. Katherine Coleman and Monbeg Senna 16th 34.2Katherine Coleman and Monbeg Senna. Photo by Tilly Berendt.British-based (for the summers, at least) American Katherine, hunted her way through the mud at Badminton last year with this gelding and jumped clear round the tough even when there hasnt been 25,000,000 mm of rain in the lead-up track, which has got to give her confidence coming into the cross country at Luhmhlen, a course famous for its perfect going, whatever the weather (truly, even if the rest of the site is flooded). (In the interests of science, my guestimate regarding the total mm of rainfall in this example is for the purpose of entertainment only, I actually have no idea how much rain fell, but it was a lot.) Katherines planning on having no regrets when she crosses the finish line later on today:For me, with him, I think its like a 4-star plus. What I need to work on with him the most, his kind of weakness Achilles heel basically, is his speed, right? Hes just a little slow and he spends a lot of time in the air. So this, to me, is a wonderful course. Its well within his jumping abilities, where Im like, actually, this time Im going to go out and try and be a little bit quicker. Thats the main goal this weekend. At Badminton, which was his first 5-star, nobody was getting around. I started out like, okay, I just want to finish, because you dont know what youre going to have [at the end]. He finished there so full of running and with so much energy. I was like, Oh, I could have gone faster. This time I dont want to finish and think, Oh, I could have gone faster. Samantha Lissington and Lord Seeknig 18th 34.7 View this post on InstagramA post shared by Samantha Lissington (@samanthalissington) Although this is a first 5* for Mr Charles, it aint Samanthas first rodeo she was seventh at Luhmhlen in 2021 and has completed at Burghley, Pau and Adelaide, so shes aware that the crowds a 5* event draws in will be something the geldings not seen before:To be honest, the first walk, you just walk and pretend like its tomorrows problem! So I walked around it, and thought it all looked impressive, but nothing stood out as impossible, which which was positive for a first walk. I think that the crowds are going to be a new element for him Im thinking Im going to have to make sure I channel him through the middle, but Luhmhlens great in that youve got those twisty turnies through the trees, and it actually makes a little bit of a tunnel for the horses to go through. I think hes a big, bold, galloping horse and Im going to have to use up the few bits of galloping ground that theyve allowed for us. The rest is quite twisty, turny, and the water is massive. So its going to be kicking on and go from there.Tomorrows problem is now today lets hope its no problem! Emily Hamel and Corvett 35th 38.7 View this post on InstagramA post shared by Emily Hamel (@hameleventing) High jump specialist Barry is sure to delight the spectators with his signature style as he hops his way round the Luhmhlen track. This pair are adding another 5* to their card this week, making it five out of seven theyve completed at both the US 5*s and both of the British ones too. At 17, Barrys not actually the oldest horse in the field, but hes sure got a whole lotta miles under his cinch, which makes for a very confident rider:Im feeling pretty good about it. I think I have a good plan at the moment. Im going to walk it again later today and then again in the morning. It looks like a good test, but doable. Its not as terrifying as Burghley, but I do think that Mike [Etherington-Smith] did a good job with the course. Theres lots of options everywhere, which is great for different horses and their experience level. It is a little bit interesting because at some events, youre just like, It has to be a four, and this one youre like, Well it could be a four or a five, and so I think the biggest thing is that Ive got to be on my game and be able to make a decision pretty quickly, based on my jump in. But Im looking forward to it. We do know each other really well, so it just feels really comfortable going out there maybe I should be a bit more nervous! But I just trust him and I know he can jump anything, from anywhere. Hopefully he doesnt have to jump from anywhere, but hes a good boy and I trust him completely.And there you have it. The inside intel into whats in store for the 5* cross country at the 2024 Longines Luhmhlen Horse Trials.Go Eventing!ENs coverage of the Longines Luhmhlen Horse Trials is brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products, your go-to source for science-backed nutritional support across all types of horses, disciplines, and needs. Click here to learn more about what KPP can do for your horse thank you for supporting our wonderful sponsors!Longines Luhmhlen: Website | Entries | Timetable | Live Scores | Tickets | Livestream | ENs Coverage

Ocala, FL The 2024 Summer Series is officially underway at World Equestrian Center Ocala with thrilling hunter/jumper competition Wednesday through Sunday through August 11. Spectators are welcome, there is no charge for admission or parking! Saturday night grand prix events are back! Join us every Saturday night at 7:30pm* for elite show jumping action under the lights in the WEC Grand Arena. Visit[...]Read MoreThe post Whats Happening this Week at World Equestrian Center Ocala appeared first on World Equestrian Center.

Theres nothing like having some nice shade trees around your pasture to protect your horses from the hot afternoon sun. And as long as there is plenty of grass, horses will likely leave the trees alone, but you never know what a bored or curious horse might try to nibble on. Here are 10 toxic trees for horses, which shouldnt be grown near or in pastures.1. OakOak tree. Photo by InspiringMoments/ShutterstockThere are a lot of reasons to love oak trees: theyre tall, majestic, and they possess large leaves that offer perfect shade for any lawn or park. But one place you might not want oak trees is in or alongside your horse pastures. Oaks leaves contain tannic acid, which can cause colic and other digestive problems in horses. The buds and twigs of oak leaves also contain tannins, as do the acorns. The risk in the leaves probably decreases as the leaves decompose, so fresh spring leaves are likely more potent than old brown leaves on the ground from last year. Oak trees are common all over the U.S. and tend to leaf out a little later in the spring than some tree species.2. Red MapleRed Maple. Photo by LiuSol/ShutterstockUnlike oak leaves, in which the toxins decrease as the leaves wilt, the leaves of red maples are troublesome because they become highly toxic to horses after the leaves have separated from the tree. Its not known what the toxin is exactly, but wilted red maple leaves can be fatal to horses who consume them. The unidentified toxin causes the destruction of red blood cells, leading to anemia. The bark of the tree is also problematic.Other maple species may also be toxic, though not as severely as red maple. Maples in general are native to the eastern half of the U.S., but may be cultivated in other regions.3. WalnutWalnut tree. Photo by Peng Tianli/ShutterstockWalnut trees are an oddity in that they affect horses in ways you wouldnt suspect. There are various types of walnut trees around the U.S., but the most problematic is the black walnut. Always check with your shavings supplier to make sure that it doesnt have black walnut in the product because horse bedding contaminated with it can cause laminitis. The branches, leaves, pollen, and nut hulls of the various walnut trees can also poisonous and can cause respiratory problems or even liver cancer in horses. The problem is thought to be a chemical produced by the walnut tree called juglone, which can also affect other plants growing in its vicinity.4. YewEnglish Yew. Photo by PixabayIts true that yew is an attractive evergreen shrub/tree, and for this reason, its planted for decorative purposes in landscapes around buildings. At the same time, its also true that yew is very poisonous and very dangerous to horses (as well as people and other types of livestock). If horses consume yewperhaps by gaining access to clippings or a shrub near a buildingthe results are often quickly fatal, so its critical to ensure that your horses never have access to these toxic trees. Yews can grow for hundreds of years, and are poisonous all year long, but more toxic in the winter.5, 6, 7, and 8. Cherry (and Chokecherry), Apricot, Peach, and PlumApricot tree. Photo by Mathia Coco/ShutterstockPeach tree. Photo by Crisp0022/ShutterstockYou probably havent planted any orchards in your horse pastures, but there might be fruit trees incorporated into your farms landscaping, or orchards on other areas of the property. There are some fruit trees that are toxic to horses that you need to avoidthose of the prunus family. This group includes familiar fruit trees like cherries, apricots, peaches, plums, and others. Theyre all poisonous to horses in basically the same way; leaves from prunus trees become more toxic after theyve fallen from the tree and begun to wilt, because its at this stage that the leaves contain cyanide. The bark and young shoots are also poisonous, as well as the fruit pits. Horses that ingest these parts of the tree will no longer be able to extract oxygen from their blood, leading to increased respiration and bright mucus membranes. If caught quickly enough, a veterinarian can sometimes intervene successfully.Plum tree. Photo by Relu1907/ShutterstockYou may also find undomesticated cherry and plum trees growing wild along the edges of your pastures, particularly in the eastern half of the U.S. The problem here is that the leaves may blow into the pastures and into the reach of your horses, or summer storms might break branches off, and they land inside the fence. Periodic culling of small trees may be necessary to keep your horses safe. Also, watch out for the similar chokecherry, common throughout the northern half of the U.S. The berries have been used for hundreds of years by various Native American tribes, but the seeds and leaves are poisonous to horses.Cherry tree. Photo by Serguei Levykin/ShutterstockChokecherry. Photo by Dee Carpenter Originals/Shutterstock9. OleanderOleander tree. Photo by Sutta Kokfai/ShutterstockOleander is a small evergreen tree (or it may be shaped into a shrub) that is planted for decorative purposes and found in the southern U.S. Its an attractive tree with beautiful flowers, but its quite toxic to horses the trees sap is even utilized in rodent poisons! Horses that consume oleander and it only takes a handful of leaves may show colic-like signs within a few hours, and the poison may be fatal fairly quickly after that. Summer and fall are times of greatest concern.10. Horse ChestnutHorse chestnut tree. Photo by Whiteaster/ShutterstockAlso known regionally as buckeyes, the leaves, seeds, and sprouts of horse chestnut trees are poisonous to horses and can cause multiple digestive ailments, and, if severe enough, some nervous system issues. Though horses may be able to recover with veterinarian aid, horse chestnut trees are nevertheless quite toxic; even the nectar can be poisonous to bees. Youll find horse chestnuts growing throughout most of the U.S., except for the far southern and far northern regions.Have you have any problematic or toxic trees that youve had to remove from your horse property? Let us know in the comments.Further Reading Ten Plants Toxic to Horses Managing Buttercups in Horse Pastures Poisonous Plants to Horses from the University of TennesseeThe post Ten Trees Toxic to Horses appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Wilmington, OHIO June 13, 2024 Entries and stall reservations remain open for the World Equestrian Center Wilmington (WEC) Summer Series. The Summer I and II horse shows will feature USEF Regional/Level 3 Jumpers and nearly $100,000 in prize money and awards. Summer III will feature USEF Premier/Level 4 Jumpers and nearly $300,000 in total prize money and awards and will host new, exciting[...]Read MoreThe post Stall & Entry Reminder for Summer Series at World Equestrian Center Wilmington appeared first on World Equestrian Center.

3-2-1 lets go!Its very nearly cross-country day at the Longines Luhmhlen Horse Trials, and once again, course designer Mike Etherington-Smith has built two beautiful, horse-friendly, technical courses that are just as useful at developing inexperienced talent as they are at testing the top guns.And thats exactly what theyll need to do tomorrow: in the CCI4*-S, the stage is set for a (quite literal) Olympic battle, as the titans of the sport from a wide array of nations make their final bids for selection, while the five-star is, well,a five-star. Want a glimpse of what the feature CCI5* class will face from 8.45 a.m. (7.45 a.m. BST/2.45 a.m. EST) tomorrow morning? Take a walk through the woods with our full gallery:Fence 1.Fence 2.Fence 3.Fence 4.Fence 5A, with B and C beyond.Fences 5B and C.Fences 6AB.Fence 7AB.Fence 7B.Fence 8.Fence 9.Fence 10ABC.Fence 11.Fence 12.Fence 13 and 14ABC, the two hedges in the water, beyond.Fence 15ABC.A closer look at fences 15BC.Fence 16.Fence 17A, with a view onto 17B and 18A on the island.17B and 18A, with the skinny at 18B beyond.Fence 19.Fence 20.Fence 21A, with B and C to the right.Fences 21B and C.Fence 22.Fences 23 and 24.Fence 25.Fences 26A and B, on the left-hand side.Fence 27.Fence 28, with 29AB beyond.Fences 29A and B.Fence 30.ENs coverage of the Longines LuhmhlenHorse Trials is brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products, your go-to source for science-backed nutritional support across all types of horses, disciplines, and needs. Click here to learn more about what KPP can do for your horse thank you for supporting our wonderful sponsors!Longines Luhmhlen:Website | Entries | Timetable | Live Scores | Tickets | Livestream | ENs Coverage

Ocala, FL With hurricane season now underway, horse owners are urged to take proactive measures to ensure the safety and health of their animals before the need arises. As in previous seasons, World Equestrian Center Ocala (WEC) is prepared to open its doors to evacuees and encourages horse owners to have the necessary health documentation ready before arrival. At WEC, we are committed[...]Read MoreThe post Preparing for Hurricane Season: Horse Health Documentation Required for World Equestrian Center Ocala appeared first on World Equestrian Center.

Photo by Heidi Nyland MeloccoDoes your barrel racing horse get overly excited when he sees the barrels? If he has the desire to run and turn, leaving you as a passenger instead of the driver, its time to refresh your cues. This means practicing without a barrel present. Working on speed changes and turns without the barrels will help your horse remember to listen to your aids instead of moving around the cans as he sees fit.Here, trainer and top barrel racer Kelly Kennedy Joseph teaches you a practice drill that she has riders work on if their horses have taken the lead. She wants her horses and riders to work togetherand doesnt want a horse to anticipate what to do if he hasnt received a cue.This is one of the drills we work on to help riders get their bodies in the right position and get the horse and rider in the right timing without working on the actual barrel pattern, she says. This drill helps the horse listen to you and rate his speed and turn on cue. Sometimes horses get running and stop thinking. Theres more to the barrels than going fast and pulling them around. You want them to respond to you.With Kennedy Josephs barrel racing exercise, you can practice barrel racing elements anywhere. Youll have the skills you need to ensure your horse is listening.Ride the DiagonalBegin by clearing the barrels from the middle of your arena so youll have ample space to lope and turn in various locations. You may leave barrels in the arena to help show your horse that the usual clover-leaf pattern isnt the plan for today. Instead, hes to follow your cues as you direct him on a new and different path.Warm up your horse by working in each direction at the walk, trot, and lope. To begin the drill, ride to the corner of the arena. Position yourself so that the long side of the arena is in front of you and your horses hind end is all the way to the left of the short side of the area. Youll travel across the arena diagonally, moving from left to right.Ask your horse to canter and pick your reins up slightly to the inside to keep your horses nose tipped away from the straight line. This will help you rate his speed and keep him from charging ahead.Remind your horse to listen to your body cues. Roll your hips down onto your horses back to ask him to collect and use his body before you ask for a turn. Make sure to keep your hands low and sit down on your pockets as you move straight across the arenas diagonal.Each time you practice this long line, choose the speed youd like your horse to go. You can choose to lope slowly or add leg cues as you ask for speed.The TurnLook ahead and plan for a place where youll turn. Youll circle an imaginary barrel at the opposite end of the arena from your starting point. Youll need to decide when to cue your horse to collect and slow before asking for the turn. 1 of 5 Look ahead and cue your horse for the invisible barrel by rolling your hips down to help him collect his body beneath you as you continue to drive toward your turning spot. Photo by Heidi Nyland Melocco Look ahead and cue your horse for the invisible barrel by rolling your hips down to help him collect his body beneath you as you continue to drive toward your turning spot. Photo by Heidi Nyland Melocco Look ahead and cue your horse for the invisible barrel by rolling your hips down to help him collect his body beneath you as you continue to drive toward your turning spot. Photo by Heidi Nyland Melocco Look ahead and cue your horse for the invisible barrel by rolling your hips down to help him collect his body beneath you as you continue to drive toward your turning spot. Photo by Heidi Nyland Melocco Look ahead and cue your horse for the invisible barrel by rolling your hips down to help him collect his body beneath you as you continue to drive toward your turning spot. Photo by Heidi Nyland Melocco When youre ready, roll your hips down to help your horse collect his body beneath you as you continue to drive toward your turning spot, says Kennedy Joseph. Make sure to keep your reining hand low. As you roll your hips down, your horse will place his hips beneath you.When you reach your invisible barrel, cue your horse into a circle. Turn your horse to the left, toward the middle of the arena. Keep your hips rolled down as you turn by lifting your reining hand to the left and applying outside leg pressure.Do a turn around your imaginary barrel. Turn tightly, then move your hand forward and toward your starting point. Move out of the turn quickly by rolling your hips forward to ask for speed as you finish the pattern.Keep rolling your hips and look ahead as you prepare to turn, says Kennedy Joseph. If your horse thinks he should turn before you ask, use your reins to direct him straight ahead and keep him moving forward. At the same time, roll your hips to keep him collected. Youll need to slow down and stay straight before you turn. Your horse should be tuned in to feel when you want the turn.Kennedy Joseph says this exercise will help you learn how much of a cue your horse needs to move forward and then turn on cue. For some horses, you may need to keep pushing forward so that he doesnt anticipate a turn.Many horses that are trained for barrels will turn as soon as your forward motion cues stop. For other horses, you may need to help guide the straight line and help the horse through the turn. When the barrel isnt present, youll learn to feel what specific cues your horse needs.Kelly Kennedy Joseph has been active in barrel racing since she qualified for Little Britches Rodeos. She now coaches riders from her Berthoud, Colo., facility and races at the professional level nationwide.This article about barrel racing practice without barrels appeared in the May 2023 issue of Horse Illustratedmagazine.Click here to subscribe!The post Barrel Racing Practice Without Barrels appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Ocala, FL Top show jumping competition made a thrilling return under the lights of the WEC Grand Arena for the first feature event of the 2024 Summer Series: the $32,500 Grand Prix Qualifier CSI2*. A star-studded field of 45 horse-and-rider combinations from 11 different nations competed over a challenging course designed by FEI Level III course designer Andy Christiansen (ECU). Fresh off a successful[...]Read MoreThe post Aaron Vale Flies to First Aboard Prescott in the $32,500 Grand Prix Qualifier CSI2* appeared first on World Equestrian Center.

Ros Canter and Izilot DHI. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Yesterdays first day of dressage in Luhmhlens CCI5* saw none of the 21 initial riders clinch a sub-30 and today, they were nearly as hard to come by. At the close of this phase, just two of the 42 competitors were awarded scores in the 20s by the exacting ground jury helmed by Denmarks Anne-Mette Binder.And leading the way as we head into cross-country? Thats the sole five-star winning partnership so far, anyway of this line-up. Ros Canters Izilot DHI has always been very capable of excellent scores, and often delivers them, but hes also a notoriously quirky, spooky horse, and Luhmhlens main arena is bright, buzzy, and full of stuff not least several looky cross-country fences, awaiting their turn for the action tomorrow. And stuff, really, is Isaacs nemesis: when hes had issues in the past, be it on cross-country or, as at Pau last year, before his dressage test, its been with objects that he has to pass, and which turn into monsters in his busy brain.But today, he was cool, calm, and totally on the job, both before, during, and after his test, when he looked just about ready to take a nap during the stewards obligatory bit-check procedure. That zen attitude was well rewarded, too he and Ros were given a 24.9, just 0.6 penalties above the score that began his winning Pau campaign last autumn.Ros Canter and Izilot DHI. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Hes fantastic, says Ros of the eleven-year-old, who now holds a 3.4 penalty lead going into cross-country. That excellent score, and its resultant lead, came from some novel homework behind the scenes.To be fair, hes been on great form all week. Its just always a challenge with Izilot with his neck, and the way his neck is set on with his head, for me to know quite whetherI get the outline right, explains Ros. Often, I dont get it until my last ride. So I have to go back and watch old videos [of our tests] a lot. Thats what Ive been doing for the last hour, is watching old videos and going, quite how short do I need my reins? How exactly do I need him? because he just curls over so easily. Buthes become a real professional, bar being a bit spooky, which obviously he wasnt today.There was just one mistake in their test their second flying change came a couple of strides late, earning them two 4s and a 5.I really went for it in the extended [canter] and I probably just needed another half halt, and then his changes are so smooth I had to go another two strides to decide whether he changed or not, laughs Ros. Id say its rider error rather than his error I should have just brought him back a tiny bit more.Izilot DHI and groom Sarah Charnley. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Time, patience, and a rerouting of pressure continue to be the making of Isaac, who no longer schools on the flat at home, but instead, hacks a lot and is shipped elsewhere to school so he gets plenty of exposure to the unfamiliar.I learn more and more about him all the time, and he gets a year older every year, which helps. Hes much more settled in his brain than he used to be, and hes very established with the movements now, so Im able to really train the brain instead of having to go right, Ive got to teach him [the movements], I can keep him in a happier place much easier.Tomorrows Mike Etherington-Smith track will be Isaacs third experience of cross-country at this level; on his first, at Pau, he won, and on his second, at Badminton last month, Ros set out knowing that the huge atmosphere and much bigger challenge of the place may not suit him. When he went green at the busy lake complex, she sagely put her hand up and decided to reroute him here, where shes confident hell find his stride again.Im certainly going to go out with the intention of being fast and clear, to be honest, she says. I havent come here to be middle of the pack. So hopefully I can give him a good start. Its quite nice here at the start, in that its not overly dressed and theres not [a lot of decorations]. Going around things isoften what he finds a little bit worrying, and there isnt any of that really, at the start anyway. So Im going to go out and give it a good shot. He had a run at Little Downham, and he was good and fine there, so I dont feel hes lost any confidence from jumping at Badminton. Well go and give it a good shot, I think.Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Tom McEwen made a great start to the class yesterday with first ride CHF Cooliser, who now sits fourth going into tomorrows competition on her 30.8 but it was his second ride, the fifteen-year-old debutant Brookfield Quality, who really made a bid for the top spot today. The pair put a 28.3 on the board and are provisionally second overnight.He was mega, says Tom of Nervous Norris, who he inherited from fellow Brookfield rider Piggy March at the tail end of the 2022 season. He listened all the way through he never lets you down. He always tries his hardest, and thats all you can ever ask for.Although Norris is a relatively late debutant at the level, he comes to Luhmhlen with a very good lead-up he won a CCI2*-S section at Thoresby to start the year off, and then finished fourth in Bictons CCI4*-S last month.The preparations have gone really well, says Tom. We waited to start a little bit later in the season which, unless you went abroad, there wasnt much to do in the UK anyway. We had a really good run at Bicton, so that was a fantastic prep for coming here, and we had a few Open Intermediates. He doesnt tend to need too much, andhe knows what hes doing so we got all the work done at home and hopefully we can show it all off tomorrow.Tom chose Luhmhlen as the geldings debut, he says, because its obviously a bit flatter than the UK-based five-stars. The ground is always good, especially considering how much rain weve had out here.Tom will ride cross-country three times tomorrow twice in this class, and once in the CCI4*-S, where hes vying for an Olympic call-up with the former Nicola Wilson ride JL Dublin.Ive got three different rides; two very different in the five-star, so Ive got to reevaluate between horses and assess what I need to do on each one, he says. For Brookfield Quality, I think it suits him really well, I just need to build him up into the course and then let him flow. Theres plenty of questions all the way round, power questions, technical questions, so theres a lot to do.Nico Aldinger and Timmo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Day one leaders Laura Collett and Hester now sit third, while fourth place is held by Germanys Nicolai Aldinger and Timmo, who earned a colossal, and well-deserved, cheer when posting a 30.9 in their long-awaited five-star start. Nico, who lives just ten minutes from Luhmhlen and has frequently contested the CCI4*-S here, had planned to start in this class last year, but withdrew at the first horse inspection when Timmo knocked himself on the way down from the stables and took a few sore steps. Then, they put an entry in for Kentucky this spring, but at their final prep run in Strzegom, the gelding stepped on a clinch and, while uninjured, needed a few days off, disrupting his fitness work.And so just to start is a phenomenal feeling for Nico but to start on such a positive note, and with the full force of the home crowds enthusiasm behind him, is even better.It is pretty special, absolutely, he says with a grin. It helps a little bit that I have a cold ,so I have some pills inside, so Im more relaxed! I slept a lot today. Normally Im really nervous, but my girlfriend always says, Luhmhlen, you just have to ride like every other competition. I put myself under so much pressure, because my family is here, all the owners, all my friends, are my supporters are here and then I want to be especially good. Last time, it didnt work out too good. But today, I just wanted to have fun, and dressage can be a little bit fun. But I hope I have more fun tomorrow!Nico Aldinger and Timmo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Fourteen-year-old Timmo comes into this competition in very promising form: the Holsteiner, with whom Nico competed at the European Championships last year, finished in the top twenty in the CCI4*-S at Marbach in May, and then ran quickly at Baborowko last month at the same level to finish on his dressage score and take third place.He feels amazing, says Nico. Weve changed the plan a lot this year and in the end, its worked. Im hoping it works tomorrow and on Sunday too, but Im really happy, and I dont want to put pressure on him and just keep him happy. He was pretty good in Baborowko, where we were third,and I just want to keep the good feeling for him. Hes a bit special, and if you just keep him happy then he gives you everything you want back.Belgiums Lara de Liedekerke-Meier, third last night on her homebred debutant Hooney dArville, is now sixth going into the second phase, while a duo of young up-and-comers from two nations take seventh and eighth place, respectively.Jennifer Kuehnle and Sammy Davis Junior. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Libussa Lbbeke, who rides as part of Germanys Warendorf programme for talented young eventers, made a fantastic start to her five-star debut with Caramia, putting a 31.9 on the board for seventh, while Irelands Jennifer Kuehnle sits eighth on 32 with Sammy Davis Junior, who she inherited the ride on from partner Cathal Daniels.I was hoping to be this good, but you never know, says a delighted Libussa. For the first 5* test, there are many more flying changes and she felt really good, very comfortable, and I was very happy how relaxed she was. It was a good feeling.One of the great weapons in Libussas arsenal is the support of her fellow Warendorf riders, most of whom are on site either competing or helping, and who include among their ranks Jrome Rbin and Emma Brussau, both of whom made their five-star debut here last year and can share what they learned along the way.Its really nice. You feel really good with them around you, says Libussa, adding that its very special, too, with a homebred horse she was produced by my brother. Going into cross-country, I feel quite good, I have to say. Shes a real cross country machine and I can trust her 200%, and thats a really good feeling. So Im very much looking forward to it!Mollie Summerland and Flow 7. Photo by Tilly Berendt.2021 champion Mollie Summerland, who remains Luhmhlens youngest-ever winner, returned with a bang with a sparkling test with debutant Flow 7, who trended in the lead throughout much of his work but then slipped down the ranks due to his flying changes, which are still a work in progress. Mollie was thrilled to take ninth place overnight on a score of 33 with the young, talented, extraordinarily leggy gelding, who was bred in Germany and reunited with his breeder en route to the event this week.I do think that he has all the ability to go really low in this phase, but I wanted to not do too much work and leave him as fresh as I can for tomorrow, because I think thats the biggest and hardest test for him, says Mollie, whos well known for her prowess in the first phase with her string of tall, dark, and handsome European geldings and, most notably, her Luhmhlen-winning former partner, Charly van ter Heiden.Of the changes, she says, I felt he was a little bit more nervous down the bottom of the arena. So those ones on the counter canter, I didnt really practice them outside, because I know hes green with them and I didnt want to upset him. We were going to be happy with anything under 35, so I was pleased with that.Pleased, too, were Flows owners, Paula and Adrian Cloke, who had played a crucial if long-distance role in Mollies success in 2021, when they lent her a lorry to use for the week and offered plenty of emotional support through the process of tackling a pandemic five-star.We all cried when he finished the test, didnt we? says Paula.No, no, I just had dust in my eye, protests Adrian.No judgment from us: theres plenty of reason to get a bit teary, not least because Flow, their first-ever event horse, has been a bit of a child prodigy.He only started eventing when he was seven, so hes only been doing this just over three years, explains Mollie. So hes really lacking in mileage even the other ten-year-olds in the field, they might have started when they were maybe five or six. So its all really new to him, and hes just kept coping, and stepping up all the time. Hes exceeded all our expectations.I bought him unseen off the internet when he was a six-year-old, so I didnt even go and try him, she continues. He just came off the lorry, and hes a really similar type to all of mine, so I kind of knew that he would probably be a horse Id get along with well, and hes just gone from strength to strength really. I think he has so much more to give, and thats the most exciting thing.In the longer-term, she hopes that will take them to a five-star closer to home but for now, Mollies delighted to have a reason to return to her happiest hunting ground.I love this show, and I just felt that if we were possibly thinking about Badminton, that this might be quite a good stepping stone on the way there, she says.Emily Hamel and Corvett. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Both of our US representatives have now completed their dressage tests: yesterdays, Katherine Coleman and Monbeg Senna, will go into cross-country in sixteenth place on a 34.2, while todays, Emily Hamel and Corvett, are 35th on a 38.7 after some tricky moments in the latter half of the test.The trot work, I was pretty pleased with, but then its just, like, the canter work is what gets us, she says. But thats kind of the usual he anticipates the changes ,and weve been working on it, but just couldnt quite show that today. But on to the jumping, I suppose!The jumping, as fans of the pair will know, is absolutely where they shine: the huge-jumping, bold gelding and his gutsy rider know one another inside and out after eight years together, and this will be their seventh five-star start, though its a Luhmhlen debut for both.Im feeling pretty good about it, and I think I have a good plan at the moment, says Emily, whose last run at the level, at Maryland last year, saw them finish eleventh. Now, shes excited to add another event to a tally that includes both US five-stars, Burghley, and Badminton.Ive always wanted to do [Luhmhlen], because I think itd be cool to do all the 5*s and Ive heard its a really friendly event, she says. Everybodys just like, everyones so friendly, and theres lots of arenas, and the footing is good. I think the footing on course is great. So theres a lot of positive things, but actually, this was kind of my plan B. I wasnt originally coming here, but with Chatsworth being cancelled I came over to the UK with the USEF Development Programme, and so this was not my plan. But then it turned out that way, and now Im here, and Im glad because I can get another 5* in.The relationship between horse and rider is a huge part of their success together so far.I think its a big factor we do know each other really well. So it just feels really comfortable going out there maybe I should be a bit more nervous! But I just trust him and I know he can jump anything, from anywhere, she says. Hes a really quirky horse, but for some reason he kind of chose me. I havent tried to micromanage him too much; his jumping style is not your ordinary jumping style, but it works for him, and so Ive just kind of tried to stay out of the way and let him figure it out.Tomorrows CCI5* cross-country will kick off bright and early at 8.45 a.m. tomorrow (7.45 a.m. BST/2.45 a.m. EST), with fourth-placed Tom McEwen and CHF Cooliser pathfinding. You can check out the times in full here, and keep it locked on EN for a gallery of all the fences thatll be jumped out on course. To rewatch all of the action from the last two days, and to catch tomorrow live, head on over to Horse & Country TV and, as always, Go Eventing.The top ten following dressage in Luhmhlens CCI5*.ENs coverage of the Longines LuhmhlenHorse Trials is brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products, your go-to source for science-backed nutritional support across all types of horses, disciplines, and needs. 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