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Saturday, June 05 2021 / Published in Sidelines Feature

Eventing With Boyd Martin — Behind the Scenes at the Land Rover Kentucky 5* Three-Day Event 

Congratulations to Boyd Martin and On Cue on winning the 2021 Land Rover/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship. Boyd and On Cue placed fourth and were the highest placed American team at the Land Rover Kentucky 5* Three-Day Event.

The 2021 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event is one that we’ll remember for a long, long time. It’ll be memorable due to the fact this competition happened in the middle of the pandemic and somehow, with a huge push from the American public, the organizers managed to run this great event. I absolutely live for five-stars; as a competitor, this is all I care about in my equestrian dreams. This is the pinnacle of the sport and the hardest level of competition, and the best horses and riders all seemed to end up at one event this year.

Building up to this big event, you have dreams and aspirations and goals of getting the very best out of each horse. I went to the Kentucky five-star with three of the best horses I’ve had in a long time: Tsetserleg TSF and On Cue, both owned by the Turner family and myself, and Long Island T, owned by a syndicate. I felt like I had a wonderful build-up to Kentucky, basing in Aiken, South Carolina, over the winter and doing a couple of lead-up events, including Tryon, and I arrived in Kentucky nervous, terrified and optimistically confident.

The long and short of it is the horses all did great dressage tests, and then I really knew it was going to be an interesting competition after walking the cross-country course. It was big, bold and technical, and quite tricky.

My first ride was Long Island T, who started off really well. Then I got to the Head of the Lake. Coming out of the water to the hedge out was quite a tough line, with either two big or three small strides to the hedge. I opted to go for two big strides with Ludwig and he gave a massive effort, but sadly couldn’t make the width: He clipped the back end and came crashing down. I remember lying on the ground and looking up, thinking, This was not the start I dreamt of! 

I went back to the barn with my tail between my legs and then had to ride my greenest horse, On Cue, who had been training well in the lead-up but had the least experience of my group, having never competed at the five-star level. I had every reason to play it cautious and just get her around safe. But I thought to myself, Who knows when I can ride at another five-star — I’m going to have a crack at it! She went around like a rocket. She was a bit tired and inexperienced toward the end of the course, but to her credit, kept fighting the whole way. We were one or two seconds over the time but it was a great effort. All of a sudden my spirits were high again and I really felt confident getting on my top horse, Tsetserleg.

Thomas has been around this level many times and I really felt that he should go for it. As I was warming up, I heard the announcer calling out the scores to the other riders and I realized if he went clear and in the time, he’d be in the lead, so I went for it. He gave me an incredible round; it was like he’d walked the course the day before. He was jumping every fence out of stride and ripping around, hitting all the minute markers.

The last combination had caused some trouble earlier in the day and the horses weren’t jumping it very well. I must admit, our round had almost been going too well; I was thinking about the time and the line to the next fence, instead of focusing on that challenging combination. We jumped the big log and sadly, Thomas misread the jump, flicked off and crashed. I lay there on the ground for the second time that day, not believing what had just happened! Sadly, that was the end of my chance at winning Kentucky.

On Cue was tired and less experienced, so during her round I was riding every step. Thomas was going so sweet, it kind of caught me off guard. Hindsight is really a wonderful thing. If I had to do it do again, I’d have leaned back and wrenched him into the air and kept him on his feet! 

To me, the event was a very different feeling this year with no crowds or spectators. I admit part of me liked it, because with this great event, as a rider you’re often pulled in every direction when you’re trying to focus on the competition. Obviously we love our sponsors and the fans, but it can be a challenge balancing autograph signings and other obligations with focusing on the competition. But I also have to say in dressage and show jumping, even thought there was a little less atmosphere, the horses were still nervous in the big stadium and as a rider I had the same feeling of nerves and pressure, no less than if there was a crowd there. 

I think I’ll be buying my photos of the presentation with masks on and of the show jumping in front of an empty grandstand. In decades to come, we’ll look back and remember how unique an event this was. I can’t tell you how much I appreciated how everyone pulled together to make this happen.

Photos by Ruby Tevis

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Tagged under: Land Rover Kentucky three day event, three-day eventing

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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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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

#dressage #equestrian #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #equestrianlife #showjumping #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #instahorse #dressur #horselove #eventing #equestrianstyle #cheval #dressagerider #horselife #horselover #pferde #love #riding #jumping #pferdeliebe #horseofinstagram #horsebackriding #paard #dressurpferd
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