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Saturday, September 3, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Boyd and Neville 12th after First Day of Dressage at Burghley
Nev went in and did a pretty good dressage test at Burghley. I was very happy with the way he warmed up - he was really trying. In hindsight I probably warmed him up 10 minutes too long, as he was a little flat, especially in the trot work. All of my dressage coaches (Bettina, Mark & Silva) agreed that I should have pushed him a bit more in the trot work. He finished on a 49, which left him in 12th on the first day. (Results)
I felt pretty bad for my USA teammate Will Coleman who had to withdraw in the final warm up. Twizzel all of a sudden looked a little uneven and Will decided to pull him out. After spending the last two weeks with Will, I know how devastated he must be. He has put so much into this event, moving to England for 6 weeks, training harder than he ever has before, and the horse is in magnificent form.
I enjoyed a cocktail party at the Burghley House last night with some of the Neville Syndicate members. It is an amazing backdrop to this great event. The Neville syndicate also joined me on a course walk this morning (photo above) as I wheeled the course. It looks to be a long way around over some bloody big fences! I look forward to walking the course this afternoon with my jumping super coach, Phillip Dutton.
Boyd
I also took the folks from Horse Junkies United on a little course walk and they've got photos and videos on their website - check it out!
Also have a look at some fun facts about Neville!
I felt pretty bad for my USA teammate Will Coleman who had to withdraw in the final warm up. Twizzel all of a sudden looked a little uneven and Will decided to pull him out. After spending the last two weeks with Will, I know how devastated he must be. He has put so much into this event, moving to England for 6 weeks, training harder than he ever has before, and the horse is in magnificent form.
I enjoyed a cocktail party at the Burghley House last night with some of the Neville Syndicate members. It is an amazing backdrop to this great event. The Neville syndicate also joined me on a course walk this morning (photo above) as I wheeled the course. It looks to be a long way around over some bloody big fences! I look forward to walking the course this afternoon with my jumping super coach, Phillip Dutton.
Boyd
I also took the folks from Horse Junkies United on a little course walk and they've got photos and videos on their website - check it out!
Also have a look at some fun facts about Neville!
Silva and Stately Finish 3rd Overall at National Young Horse Championships
Third place overall in the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championship 6-year-old division was awarded to Faye Woolfe's Aesthete (Trento B - Unusual by Gribaldi), who earned an overall 8.728. Silva Martin guided the lovely KWPN gelding to a score of 8.8 in the Final Test, earning them second place in Sunday's class.
Photos courtesy Cindy Lawler
Photos courtesy Cindy Lawler
Photos of Duvent by Cindy Lawler
Cindy Lawler has graciously shared her photos of Silva riding at Lamplight last weekend. Here is the "Duvent Collection" - more to follow!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Burghley Underway
Things are finally underway at one of the greatest four star events in the world, Burghley. All of the US horses trotted up without any nervous moments this afternoon. I am very happy to say that all of the Americans are gathering together in a group getting behind each other and it's a real team feeling within the group.
We walked the cross-country course together and after fence 4, we all started getting very quiet. The jokes and small talk stopped as we started checking out the fences that we are taking on on Saturday.
Mike, Will, me, Jules & Sinead at the biggest cross-country jump in the world, Cottesmore Leap.
Will, Mike and I are lucky enough to be here with the assistance of the Land Rover Grants. Land Rover has really got behind the American team, and are an awesome backer to assist us in covering an enormous shipping and traveling bill. After the trot up we did some photos with a couple of very nice Land Rovers which we have been given to cruise around in this weekend.
Nev went well in a lesson with Bettina Hoy this afternoon. Our dressage is at 3:15 tomorrow, so let's see if all the hard work has paid off.
Boyd
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
More Exciting News for Boyd
Boyd and Otis Barbotiere are one of four US horse/rider combinations to have been awarded a USEF Developing Grant to compete at the Boekelo CCI3* in The Netherlands. This event runs October 6-9, 2011. Boyd will also take Ron and Densey Juvonen's Remington XXV with the Land Rover Competition and Training Grant they were awarded earlier this month.
Also Boyd and Manny and Dana Diemer's Cold Harbor have been selected as alternates for this year's Pan-American Games team in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Let's hope the good news continues to roll in as Boyd and Neville tackle the Burghley CCI4* in England this week!
-AMH
Also Boyd and Manny and Dana Diemer's Cold Harbor have been selected as alternates for this year's Pan-American Games team in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Let's hope the good news continues to roll in as Boyd and Neville tackle the Burghley CCI4* in England this week!
-AMH
Arrived Safe and Sound at Burghley
I had a great dressage lesson first thing this morning with Bettina Hoy at Headley Stud and Nev looks to be in fine form as we put the finishing touches on his dressage test.
Mike, Will and myself then loaded up the boys (Nev, Icurus, Twizzel & Milo) on Mark Todd's super amazing lorry for the drive to Burghley. It was a great trip, joking around with the boys, firing ourselves up for the toughest four star in the world.
I gave Nev a hack and a light flat this arvo (that's afternoon in Australian), trying to settle the redhead in at a magnificent venue.
I am stabled right in the middle of the Cannucks and Americans. There is a great atmosphere in the barn as everyone gets ready for the trot up tomorrow.
Boyd
Monday, August 29, 2011
Top Riders Use Ecogold Saddle Pads at Burghley CCI4*
For Immediate Release: Top Riders Use Ecogold Saddle Pads at Burghley CCI4*
Media Contact: Amber Heintzberger, 828-289-0658, amberwriter@aol.com
England – 29 August, 2011 – Top riders competing at The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials CCI4* in England will have something in common: their ECOGOLD saddle pads. ECOGOLD North American sponsored riders at this year’s Burghley Horse Trials CCI**** include Sinead Halpin, Boyd Martin, Kyle Carter, Jessica Phoenix and Hawley Bennett. ECOGOLD is also supplying saddle pads to the Land Rover US Eventing Teams competing at Burghley and Blenheim (England), Boekelo (the Netherlands) and the Pan-Am Games (Mexico).
"Christmas came early to Gladstone; the boxes kept coming!” said Sara Ike, Managing Director of Eventing for the USEF. “Our Land Rover Eventing Team will be using crisp new saddle pads. ECOGOLD went above and beyond."
Ecogold Saddle Pads are also used by Burghley competitors William Fox-Pitt, Lucinda Fredericks, Hamish Cargill and Dag Albert. “The ECOGOLD Saddle Pads are fast becoming a competition favourite for me,” said William Fox-Pitt, World and British leading Three-Day Event Rider. “It is imperative that my horses remain comfortable during their work and the fantastic non-slip, breathable fabric ensures just that, whilst also looking extremely smart.”
The choice of leading three-day event riders, the ECOGOLD Secure Saddle pad is specially designed to improve the safety, comfort and performance of horse and rider. This means no slipping and no sliding, even in the worst conditions!
"In addition to our sponsorship of individual riders, it is a great honour to supply the US and Canadian Eventing Team's official saddle pads for international competitions. It proves a great confidence in ECOGOLD products," said Marketing Director Patricia Da Silva of ECOGOLD.
“We absolutely love riding in the ECOGOLD pads,” said Lucinda Fredericks. “Whilst being cool and breathable for the horse, the non-slip properties mean they sit brilliantly on the horse and distribute any pressure evenly. I can’t recommend them highly enough!”
The 100% breathable high-density foam in the seat area protects the horse's back from impact without adding extra bulk while the ergonomic shape and ultra-thin flaps provide the rider with a more stable position. The high-tech, 100% breathable materials quickly evaporate moisture away, keeping the horse cool and dry, even on the hottest days.
About Ecogold
ECOGOLD is a Canadian textile engineering company making innovative saddle pads and horse boots to improve your horses’ safety, comfort and performance. For more information or to order ECOGOLD saddle pads, please visit www.ecogold.ca or call 1-866-432-6465.
Media Contact: Amber Heintzberger, 828-289-0658, amberwriter@aol.com
England – 29 August, 2011 – Top riders competing at The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials CCI4* in England will have something in common: their ECOGOLD saddle pads. ECOGOLD North American sponsored riders at this year’s Burghley Horse Trials CCI**** include Sinead Halpin, Boyd Martin, Kyle Carter, Jessica Phoenix and Hawley Bennett. ECOGOLD is also supplying saddle pads to the Land Rover US Eventing Teams competing at Burghley and Blenheim (England), Boekelo (the Netherlands) and the Pan-Am Games (Mexico).
"Christmas came early to Gladstone; the boxes kept coming!” said Sara Ike, Managing Director of Eventing for the USEF. “Our Land Rover Eventing Team will be using crisp new saddle pads. ECOGOLD went above and beyond."
Ecogold Saddle Pads are also used by Burghley competitors William Fox-Pitt, Lucinda Fredericks, Hamish Cargill and Dag Albert. “The ECOGOLD Saddle Pads are fast becoming a competition favourite for me,” said William Fox-Pitt, World and British leading Three-Day Event Rider. “It is imperative that my horses remain comfortable during their work and the fantastic non-slip, breathable fabric ensures just that, whilst also looking extremely smart.”
The choice of leading three-day event riders, the ECOGOLD Secure Saddle pad is specially designed to improve the safety, comfort and performance of horse and rider. This means no slipping and no sliding, even in the worst conditions!
"In addition to our sponsorship of individual riders, it is a great honour to supply the US and Canadian Eventing Team's official saddle pads for international competitions. It proves a great confidence in ECOGOLD products," said Marketing Director Patricia Da Silva of ECOGOLD.
“We absolutely love riding in the ECOGOLD pads,” said Lucinda Fredericks. “Whilst being cool and breathable for the horse, the non-slip properties mean they sit brilliantly on the horse and distribute any pressure evenly. I can’t recommend them highly enough!”
The 100% breathable high-density foam in the seat area protects the horse's back from impact without adding extra bulk while the ergonomic shape and ultra-thin flaps provide the rider with a more stable position. The high-tech, 100% breathable materials quickly evaporate moisture away, keeping the horse cool and dry, even on the hottest days.
About Ecogold
ECOGOLD is a Canadian textile engineering company making innovative saddle pads and horse boots to improve your horses’ safety, comfort and performance. For more information or to order ECOGOLD saddle pads, please visit www.ecogold.ca or call 1-866-432-6465.