Heads Up By Kathryn Selinga
Eventing news Junior Beginner Novice riders to Preliminary adult amateurs to Olympians such as Leslie Law, Phillip Dutton, and Karen O’Connor.
LEN ATKINSON
Stephanie Mallick riding Abe at the UNH Horse Trials.
UNH EVENT ORGANIZER CHRISTINA KEIM is collecting photos, memories, and similar contributions for riders who have taken part in their competitions, for inclusion in a retrospective booklet to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the UNH Horse Trials. Photos can be sent as an attachment in an email to ckeim@unh.edu; scans or copies can be sent to her at 278 Mast Road, Durham, NH 03824. If you have memories to share or have played a role in the history of the event, please get in touch with her. Chris can also be reached by phone at 603-862-1174. NEW JERSEY NATIVE KRISTIN SCHMOLZE was named to the Short List for 2011 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the Pan American Games after taking seventh place at The Event at Rebecca Farm with her equine partner Ballylaffin Bracken. The Mandatory Outing at the Richland Park Horse Trials in Richland, Mich., on August 25-28 will determine the final roster for the games—a CCI** event—which will take place October 20-23, 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
82
HORSE ME N’ S Y A NKEE PED L AR
YET ANOTHER BLOW WAS DEALT TO EVENTING GREAT PHILLIP DUTTON this year, when he lost his talented partner, Woodburn, in early August. The horse had to be euthanized when it was discovered he was suffering from massive internal bleeding. At the time this issue went to press, the cause was unknown. Through his recent tragedies, however, we can see light. We get this sinking feeling that riding has become more and more (in every discipline) about the winning, the money, and the prestige, instead of the love of the sport and the bond with the animal. But just as Boyd Martin and Dutton reminded us that the passion, purity, and love still remains in many when they ran into their burning barn to save the life of Neville Bardos, Dutton again showed the world his compassion in his address to fans on www.phillipdutton.com after the passing of Woodburn. “Most horse people understand the trust, love, and respect that one has with a horse after a certain bonding time together. For those fortunate enough to ride around a four star, this love, trust, and respect is multiplied by 100,” he said. “I realize that this is part of the sport and life, and I feel very fortunate to have had Woodburn as a partner, but it is very difficult to accept his loss. He will be terribly missed.”
SEPTEMBER 2011
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN ONE MORE HEARTBREAK IN THE WORLD OF EVENTING turned into an inspiration when local hero Grace Pilkington thought only of her horse Hershey, running into her burning trailer to save the animal’s life. Pilkington, 14, of Massachusetts and her mother Deborah were driving through New Hampshire on their way to the Area I Young Rider Eventing Camp at GMHA in late July when they noticed steam from a malfunctioning water cooler billowing out of their trailer. The pair stopped in the breakdown lane of the highway, and Grace rushed into the trailer, despite the fact that there was now fire coming from it, to unhook her horse’s head while Deborah lowered the gate. Hershey escaped with minor smoke inhalation and a slightly singed fetlock, while the trailer was destroyed. Kudos to Grace and Deborah! Send your eventing news to kathryn.selinga@ pedlar.com.
MICHELLE DUNN
CONGRATULATIONS GO OUT TO STEPHANIE MALLICK of Abenaki Farm in Campton, N.H., for qualifying for the American Eventing Championships (AEC) in Beginner Novice Horse, to be held September 8-11, 2011 at Chattahoochee Hills in Fairburn, Ga. She qualified on Abe with her second score by going double clear in jumping to finish in fourth place at the UNH Horse Trials on July 10. Her first qualifier was at King Oak, where she took first place. The AEC has been known to draw more than 500 entries and approximately 20,000 spectators from 42 different states. Competitors range from
NOW FOR AN UPDATE ON THE GMHA CROSS-COUNTRY UPGRADES; at the time this issue went to press, approximately $100,000 of the $200,000 in funds needed had been raised toward the project. Work has already begun on restoring existing jumps, and the plan is to begin initial site work this fall. The organization is having a fundraising contest for local barns to benefit the Upgrade Project, and encourages riders of all ages to participate. The barn that raises the most amount of money will receive up to 15 saddle pads embroidered with the Upgrade Project logo and a private, informational course walk with Tremaine. In addition, barns raising $500 or more will have their efforts acknowledged with a sign at a jump during the GMHA Horse Trials. The winners will be announced at GMHA’s September Horse Trials.
SPEAKING OF BOYD MARTIN, since that devastating morning when his barn burned to the ground with six horses trapped inside, he and his wife Silva were forced to put the promotion of a recent project off to the side. The pair has completed a series of informative eventing videos geared toward the general riding public. The Martins are now planning to help raise money for their new facility through the sale of these training videos. It is a means for their fan base to receive something in exchange for their financial support. You can see the teaser videos at www.boydandsilvamartin.com/Pages/boyd/TrainingVideos.html.
Phillip Dutton and Woodburn took second place at the 2010 Rolex Kentucky. Woodburn will be sadly missed.