Thoroughbred Logic, Presented by Kentucky Performance Products: You Know You Have an Eventer When…

“… it feels like trust — like if I give you a solid foundation and eventually point you at that big solid fence, are you going to try to get both of us safely to the other side?”

Welcome to the next installment of Thoroughbred Logic. In this weekly series, Anthropologist and trainer Aubrey Graham, of Kivu Sport Horses, offers insight and training experience when it comes to working with Thoroughbreds (although much will apply to all breeds). This week ride along as Aubrey shares her logic on knowing when a horse is well-suited to eventing.

I didn’t event until I was in my 20s. And for that, I found myself on one good ole steep learning curve. That’s OK, though — I have always liked a challenge. And now in my early 40s, it is by far my favorite form of competition.

That would be me at nine years old with my first OTTB, Bold Sailor. Photo by Pamela Graham.

When I was little and riding at a local (read: not fancy) hunter and equitation barn in Connecticut, eventing was stereotyped as being for the yahoo-types without nice horses. I remember hearing things like that and nearly waving both arms in the air. That’s me! I am the yahoo without the fancy hunter pony. I, too, want to jump the big, solid, scary things at speed. In 1988 (I think), I remember staying up late to catch the Olympic cross country runs while in a hotel in Chincoteague with my mom. I was in awe of the horses and their bravery (and the humans, too).

I still am.

But back then (at least in the world in which I rode), eventing was supposedly about the scrappy ponies with knees who would not cut it in a hunter class, Thoroughbreds with too much go, and kids whose equitation wasn’t proper enough to point towards the Medal Maclay. The great thing is that the stereotype was kinda right — those ponies and riders have always had a spot in the eventing world. And so do some damn fine horses. That inclusivity is honestly what I love about the sport (and the fact that damn fine horses can also get beat by kids on scrappy ponies).

Prada (On the Move) was once a show hunter. She took to eventing like she was born for it. Photo by Cora Williamson.

And over the past decade, I have had the enormous pleasure of being able to identify bunches of Thoroughbreds who will not only ‘event,’ but absolutely thrive in the process. If I get to pick them from the track, I look for uphill movers with a matching shoulder and hind end, decent hoof angles (though we can fix those), and an eye that speaks to a brain that is smart and settled.

One of my recent track purchases — He Better Bee Fast — has exactly the look I’m after. Photo courtesy of Amara Kranz.

Once they’re here, I can usually tell within a ride or two if we have an eventer on our hands. The assessment comes together through the physical parts: The balanced canter, the cattiness and self-preservation, and importantly, the brain: curious, confident, smart, brave. The biggest thing though is the ‘feel.’ Can I trust them? They can still be playful or fast, out of rhythm or goofy, but there’s a feel that a quality event horse provides.

Manhattan (Ten Bits) is going to make one hell of an eventer. Photo by Lily Drew.

And it feels like trust — like if I give you a solid foundation and eventually point you at that big solid fence, are you going to try to get both of us safely to the other side?

If they feel like a ‘hell yes’ and the ground covering, hind-end-under canter is there, well alright — let’s give it a shot.

And then the test comes when I put them out on diverse terrain. This little farm in upstate New York might have its set of challenges (including, ahem… winter…), but we have a great test cross country field with a good rolling hill and a bunch a Starter fences, a nice straight away and spaces of mixed footing. Horses who I end up thinking will love eventing figure the field out quickly. They slow down in the trappy footing, push to get up the hill, sit to come down it. They’re game but smart, sure-footed, but able to be catty.

Forrest (Don’t Noc It) is a bit of a freight train on cross country, but he loves his job in the land of lower level eventing. Photo by Cora Williamson Photography.

To state the obvious, Thoroughbreds — unless purpose-bred for sport — were bred to race. They have the lungs and hearts and limbs to pound the ground over long distances resulting in them staying agile and careful over fences even when they tire. There are all sorts of old and new studies about their desirability for eventing: Safe records on cross country, top sires in the four and five star in Kentucky… Sure, in the lower levels, the prominence of the dressage often adds additional challenges for some, but for so many, when they can no longer race, eventing is one of the most obvious fits for a second career.

And I love that eventing is a space to also celebrate the underdog — the $500 horse that made it to the top of the sport, the horse with kissing spines running the four star, the horse that no one thought would get anywhere winning in the midlevels… Because it is a space where, like racing, drive and heart and bravery can carry a win.

Very excited to get this kid (Neil – Lute’s Angel) out and about this summer. Photo by Lily Drew.

And right now in my barn I have a handful of horses that give me goosebumps when I swing a leg over. There’s Neil (Lute’s Angel) and Artie (Reunion Tour) who are ready to really get out there this summer. And there’s Indy (Star Player), who is back on his game and set to absolutely hunt all the flags, and Manhattan (Ten Bits) who is simply born for this sport. And then there’s one of my newest favorites — a legit underdog and an unexpected swan: Emmett (Oboy).

Track to early June transformation for Emmett (Oboy). Photos courtesy of Larissa Lefebure and by Lily Drew.

Emmett came off the track in pretty rough shape. His feet were probably two full cycles overdue and his body score was the type that makes people generalize and dislike the whole of racing. His now-owner, Larissa Lefebure, was talked into taking him, though he was understandably far from her first choice. She affectionately called him Brown, and set to getting him right — fixing his feet and getting weight on. He got pretty damn lucky to land with her.

When she sent him to me to put some additional miles on and market, I squinted at him and had a sense that under the few remaining angles, we had one hell of a nice horse in there. “Brown” became “Emmett” because my partner is a nerd and Back to the Future was a thing. If you know, you know. I digress… Two months later, Emmett has packed on the muscle, figured out how to jump, and is ready for legit event training. This horse is going to be a dynamo on course. He might be nervous when faced with something new, but he remains quiet, and his perfectly cadenced canter covers ground but still listens for the half halts. He’s brave and reasonable and the kid is going to be able to JUMP.

Emmett showing off his clear cadence. Photo by Lily Drew.

For Emmett, though, the underdog title compounds itself. A recent pre-purchase exam noted a bunch of little issues — none of which seem insurmountable for eventing. And so that’s what he’ll do. If he’s still here, you’ll see him out figuring out off-property schooling and hopefully a starter competition in the near future, with an eye to move up the levels. Because with this one — underdog and all — the feel is there. He’ll get himself and his rider safely to the other side. And he’ll hunt the flags. And best of all, all that heart is highly likely to carry many, many wins (and he’ll look great in blue).

So go ride, folks. And if you event, enjoy the hell out of your horse and the cross country days.

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