We take a look back at some of the highs and lows, best interviews, event highlights and top training tips of 2015 from the world of international eventing, month by month, in our series of articles. Click on the highlighted text to take you to any of the articles mentioned to read in full
Yorkshire's Nicola Wilson was on great form in June
UK Event Coverage
Bramham International
Northallerton's Nicola Wilson didn't have far to travel to Bramham for the first day of competition to score a personal best for her and Annie Clover in the CIC3* dressage while a young lady who was to impress later in the year at the European Championships, Holly Woodhead knew they ‘were on it’ as she rode down the centre line on DHI Lupison to lead the U25 CCI3*. Pippa Funnell was also delighted with her 'little grey fairytale horse' and Flora Harris told us why dressage is exciting
The local girls did win their classes with Nicola Wilson taking out the CIC3* and Holly Woodhead winning the U25 while Flora Harris, using the power of psychology to give her an edge over the World Number One, won the CCI3*
The course designer at Bramham, Ian Stark is determined to keep the course fresh and give the riders something to talk about; here's what some of the riders and the man himself think about the cross country course that needs brave riding
Hopetoun International
Nicola Wilson continued her winning ways at Hopetoun with a win in both the CIC3* on One Two Many and the CCI2* on Ngong Hills and could Opposition Buzz have been looking down from above?
Videos
Check out some great footage from the Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials in the CCI3* U25 and CCI3* cross country
Two of the best 'grumpy old men' captured on camera during a quiet time at Luhmuhlen ............. eventing legends, Blyth Tait and Mark Todd remember the good times......
How fast were Ingrid Klimke and FRH Esacada going at each spot on the cross country during the Luhmuhlen 4*? Check out this special headcam footage to find out .....
Behine the scenes with Chris and Bek Burton
This lovely short film captures both the ‘at home’ and ‘away’ life of the international eventing rider Chris Burton who was brought up in Queensland and now lives in Surrey, England
Step behind the scenes at Cranford Stud Eventing in Gloucestershire and find out more about the two international riders based there - Italy’s Giovanni Ugolotti and Canada’s Kathryn Robinson
Australia/NZ
Melbourne International 3 Day Event
It may have been typical cold, wet Melbourne weather for the first horse inspection at the Melbourne International 3 Day Event but some good hats, fresh horses and big smiles cheered things up but Eleanor Osborne didn’t need any cheering up when she led the CCI2* on Highborne Rocker with a personal best dressage score
Katie Roots was 'a little surprised but very happy' to be leading the CCI3* after dressage while dad-to-be Rob Palm, first and second in the CCI2*, did an impressive job on two catch rides
Christine Bates and Adelaide Hill on their way to a win
On the cross country course Ewan Kellett had introduced an additional element of difficulty for the bounce at Fences 6 and 7 on the CCI3* course and we asked Katja Weimann and Andrew Cooper for their thoughts on riding it but it certainly posed no problem for the leaders after cross country, Christine Bates and Adelaide Hill https://www.an-eventful-life.com.au/eventing-news/melbourne-international-3-day-event/cross-country-day-melbourne-international-3-day who had her eye firmly on the big event at the end of the year after winning the winter CCI3*
Watch winner Adelaide Hill’s dressage test and second placed Katja Weimann’s show jumping round
Our final day report from the windy CCI1* and Junior classes at Melbourne included interviews with winners Rob Palm and Molly Barry and we found out more about the Western Australian rider Emma King who nearly stole the show while Tim Boland told us how Napoleon - the horse that wants to 'give kisses and cuddles'- has now won both the CCI1* and CCI2* there
The inaugural Young Event Horse Challenge also took place at the 2015 Melbourne International 3 Day Event and Sue Tufnell reported on the new addition to the MI3DE schedule while Wayne Roycroft and Denis Goulding, two of the judges, told us what they thought of the horses, riders and format of the classes and 3* rider Kirsty Douglas joined in too with a rider's perspective!
FEI Series
Luhmuhlen
The Kiwis were out in force at Luhmuhlen but Germany's Michael Jung and Ingrid Klimke were red hot favourites as the action started in the third leg of the FEI Classics™ 2014/2015 series but it was young Belgian rider Julien Despontin who after led the first day and stayed there until the cross country, admitting that ‘I’m not expecting to be in the same position tomorrow’ and indeed, although it was VERY tight at the top in both the CCI4* and CIC3* after a great day of cross country Ingrid Klimke moved into the lead
On the final day Ingrid not only won her second CCI4* at Luhmuhlen but she also secured an unassailable lead in the FEI Classics 2014/2015, to become the first ever German winner of the Series
Nations Cup CICO3*
"We are in the best position we could be but it's a long way from the finish" said Andrew Hoy at Strzegom where Australia was in the lead of the FEI Nations Cup eventing after the dressage but the all girl British team stole the march on the all male Australian team as an Australian rider held the individual lead
However two fences fell for Chris Burton and Haruzac in the show jumping, giving Karin Donckers the individual win and the British team finished on a high to take out this leg of the FEI Nations Cup. In the CCI3* Michael Jung took first and second place on his two horses fischerTakinou and Halunke FBW
News and happenings
William Fox-Pitt (GBR), the multiple Olympic, World and European medallist, was back as the world Eventing number one after his victory at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials
It was a special night for several well known identities in the eventing world, including young Queensland rider Isabel English and Shane Rose as they were presented with their awards at the Equestrian Australia Sport Awards Night in Melbourne
At the FEI Bureau Meeting it was announced that the FEI Classics™ and FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing would continue in 2016 with additional USA event and the 2017 FEI European Eventing Championship for Young Riders and Juniors is to be held at Millstreet, Ireland
Acclaimed cross country course designer Mike Etherington-Smith joined Equestrian Australia’s (EA) Eventing high performance program in an advisory capacity
As June 23rd was Olympic Day we celebrated by reliving some moments from the eventing at the Barcelona Olympics and tested your Australian Olympic eventing knowledge
The British stud book, Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain (SHB-GB) announced a new and exciting prize – The Young Event Horse Grand Slam
Top blog of June
Sam Griffith’s Head Girl Imogen Mercer wrote a moving blog about the highs and lows of the sport, which definitely touched a chord as she talked about the loss of the beautiful Favorit Z
Top photo gallery
The cross country day at the Melbourne International 3 Day Event was by far the most popular photo gallery of the month
