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Friday, May 04 2018 / Published in General

Everything Eventing With Boyd Martin 

Boyd Martin riding Gloria Callen’s mare Welcome Shadow
Photo by Amber Heintzberger

Well known for both his fun-loving approach to life and his indefatigable work ethic, Boyd Martin has represented the U.S.A. in three-day eventing at two Olympic Games and two World Championships, and was on the gold-medal-winning Pan Am Games team in 2015. Boyd’s wife, Silva Martin, is a grand prix dressage rider and they have a son, Nox. Boyd and Silva train out of their own farm, Windurra USA in Cochranville, Pennsylvania, and spend winters at Stable View Farm in Aiken, South Carolina.

How do you incorporate learning from your peers at the top level of the sport?

The sport of eventing is always changing, and I know I sound old, but I’ve been riding around four-stars for nearly 20 years now. Thinking back to my first two-star in 2000, there’s a remarkable difference in the preparation we do for the horses now. I think one of the most important things as an event horse trainer is to always be looking for new ideas and new techniques. The goal posts are always changing, not only in riding but in training techniques. Everyone has their own system and way of doing things and I think you should always be trying to improve the way you do things.

This year I’ve been lucky to cross paths with Felix Vogg, who represents Switzerland at the Olympic and World Championship level but lives and trains in Germany and has been under Michael Jung’s tutelage for the past eight years. Felix has based his horses here in America this year with the idea of having the ideal preparation for the WEG later this year in Tryon. I’ve become good pals with him in Aiken and now he’s at our farm in Pennsylvania, and not a day goes by that I’m not quizzing him about his training and fitness program and the way he rides and cares for his horses.

I’d say the bulk of the training is similar: it’s a lot of hard work that goes into preparing a horse for the four-star level and I believe there’s no way around this. He definitely has put some fresh, new ideas in my mind, one of which is the dressage training. He said a lot of the event horses in Germany do a great deal of their training on the side of a grass hill. Not only does this freshen their mind but it strengthens the hind end and teaches them balance. When I showed him our facilities in Pennsylvania, he thought our cross-country field is perfect for this type of schooling.

It’s also been interesting watching Felix work out of his comfort zone. I’ve quietly watched Phillip Dutton coach Felix on his three-star horse a number of times and I must tip my hat to him for recognizing the brilliance of another master; he said he’s learned a tremendous amount from Phillip while he’s been here in America.

At the end of the day, we’re all trying to get better, from four-star professional riders trying to make a team to adult amateurs trying to get around the lower levels. There’s no set way of doing things: each horse and rider are individuals and we must streamline our training to what suits both horse and rider and their unique character.

What has influenced your horses’ fitness programs?

Since coming to America, the person that I’ve learnt most from fitness-wise is undoubtedly Phillip Dutton. Phillip has a solid plan for each horse mainly taught to him by racing legend Michael Dickinson, and it’s a similar fitness program that Michael would use for his National Hunt and Steeplechase horses back in England.

One of the most awesome things about being in the heart of the Chester County hunt country is that there are a number of legendary horse trainers, from show jumpers, dressage and eventers to racehorse trainers and jockeys. Throughout the winter, I shared a stable with Maryland Hunt Cup winner Mark Beecher. Mark is a good mate of mine from Ireland, and he’s not only America’s leading timber rider but also a top trainer of timber racing horses. It’s been awesome stabling alongside Mark at Stable View and I picked up a number of tools that he uses to keep his horses fit.

We’re lucky to be located near Maui Meadows swimming facility in Pennsylvania. This was built for racehorses; in 2006 Phillip encouraged me to bring Ying Yang Yo there to get him fit for Rolex when he had bruised feet because it was a good way to get him fit without putting any weight on his feet. A number of trainers like Paddy Young, Bruce Miller and Bruce Davidson also use the facilities and I realized quickly that swimming makes the horses work very hard without putting any pressure on their lower limbs and it also definitely makes the horse breathe in a very deep way, really working the lungs. I don’t use it as a replacement for galloping; preparing for Kentucky, we gallop every five days and swim them a few days after they gallop. It’s just a bit of extra work and a different sort of fitness to galloping. I like to think when I turn up to these big international events there’s a bit of comfort, mentally, turning up with a very well-conditioned horse.

 

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What you can read next

Dorrie Douglas: Bringing Out the Best in Every Horse
Everything Eventing with Boyd Martin
Traveling Circus

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It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

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Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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