O'Connor Eventing Camp 3 - XC Boots

O'Connor Eventing Camp - Presentation and discussion about the important aspects of Cross-country Boots with ECOGOLD president and textile engineer John Da Silva, Olympian Karen O'Connor and O'Connor Event Team Head Groom Max Corcoran.

O'Connor Eventing Camp 3 - XC BOOTS

O'Connor Eventing Camp - Karen O'Connor introduces ECOGOLD

The O'Connor Event Team invited us to their eventing camp in Lexington, VA. Karen O'Connor introduces ECOGOLD and talks about the importance of having experts from outside the equine industry come in and bring new technologies to develop innovative products to benefit horses.

O'Connor Eventing Camp 2 - Karen O'Connor introduces ECOGOLD

O'Connor Eventing Camp 1 - Natural Horsemanship

Yesterday, we were at the 2010 O’Connor Eventing Camp in Lexington, VA. The O’Connor Eventing Team hold a few camps annually, in different locations around the USA. Karen O’Connor and David O’Connor often team up with another instructor, and for this camp, it was top event rider Cathy Wieschhoff. There are about 20 participants, from children on ponies to adults (there’s a rider competing at the CCI1* level).

We expected to see a dressage lesson at the beginning of the camp. Instead, the O’Connor camp starts with a full morning of theory and natural horsemanship lessons. In addition to being a fabulous way to get riders to bond with their horses, they teach the horse to listen to the rider, which results in the horse being more attentive and respond to a gentler aid.

Enjoy the video!

O'Connor Eventing Camp 1 - Natural Horsemanship Techniques

Canadian Eventing Team - "Aim for the Games" Fundraiser Sunday June 27

A group of dedicated volunteers have organized a fundraiser to help the Canadian Eventing Team going to the World Equestrian Games. It is this Sunday, June 27 at East Side Mario's in Mississauga,ON near Toronto. There will be a silent auction where you can bid for an ECOGOLD saddle pad and Cross-Country Horse Boots. Several team riders are expected to attend. Support this fantastic event!

Dressage at Blainville CDI 2010 - Grand Prix Freestyle videos

Blainville CDI Freestyle results - Victoria Winter and Proton 73.4, Lauren Sammis and Sagacious HF 73.2, Jacqueline Brooks and Gran Gesto 71.9, Jaimey Irwin and Dover 69.850, Ute Busse and Lindor's Finest 66.2, Denielle Gallagher and Abrikos 65.5. Enjoy the videos!

Jacqueline Brooks and Gran Gesto - Grand Prix Freestyle 2010 Blainville CDI


Victoria Winter and Proton win 2010 Dressage at Blainville CDI


Lauren Sammis and Sagacious HF - Grand Prix Freestyle 2010 Blainville CDI


Jaimey Irwin and Dover - Grand Prix Freestyle 2010 Blainville CDI


Ute Busse and Lindor's Finest - Grand Prix Freestyle 2010 Blainville CDI

Dressage at Blainville CDI - Grand Prix videos

We're at Dressage at Blainville CDI, which if not the biggest, is one of the most important dressage shows on the North American East Coast. With riders still looking to make the team for the World Equestrian Games and the North American Young Riders Championship, it is full of excitement.

This year, a major change: helmets galore! After Courtney King's accident, we've seen more and more top riders sporting helmets in the show ring. In Friday's Grand Prix, there were 5 top riders with helmets: Jacqueline Brooks, Denielle Gallagher, Jaimey Irwin, Lauren Sammis and Sue Blinks. Dressage at Blainville and Equine Canada posted notices on all the bulletin boards to encourage all riders at all levels to wear one. That's a first!

In Saturday's FEI Young Riders class, one of the riders lost consciousness and fell off her horse right before entering in the ring. No helmet! Thankfully, she was ok but it was a reality check for all of us watching that it only takes a split second to have a silly accident with serious consequences.

Enjoy the videos from Dressage at Blainville!

Jacquie Brooks and Gran Gesto - Grand Prix - 2010 Blainville CDI

Denielle Gallagher and Abrikos 2010 Blainville Grand Prix

Ecogold riders on Canadian Eventing WEG Team Short-List

The Canadian Eventing High Performance Committee announced the names of the Canadian Eventing Squad for the World Equestrian Games. The WEG Squad will participate in a training sessions and preparatory competitions throughout the summer leading up to the final training camp, which will take place in September prior to the Games. The final team of up to six rider /horse combinations and alternates will be named in September.

Several Ecogold-riders made the cut. Click on their names for their profiles in our Hall of Champions:

Diana Burnett and Manny
Jessica Phoenix and Exponential
Kyle Carter and Madison Park
Hawley Bennett and Gin and Juice
Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch and Port Authority
Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master
Ian Roberts and Napalm
Michelle Mueller and Amistad
Selena O'Hanlon and Colombo.

Congrats!!!!

Jessica Phoenix 3rd at Bromont Three Day Event

New mom and ECOGOLD-rider Jessica Phoenix rode 2 horses in the Bromont Three Day Event CCI3* and finished 3rd with Exponential, riding in ECOGOLD's Secure XC Saddle pads. Here are the show jumping videos!

Jessica Phoenix and Exponential finish 3rd at Bromont CCI3*


Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master finished 2nd - Bromont CCI3* Showjumping Video


Buck Davidson and Mar de Amor finished 5th - Bromont CCI3* Showjumping Video


Jessica Phoenix and Exploring - Bromont CCI3* Showjumping

Boyd Martin and Minotaure du Passoir win Bromont CCI1*

Boyd Martin had a very good weekend at the Bromont Three Day Event. He brought it home with Minotaure du Passoir, winning all three phases of the CCI1* and also finished 3rd with Charla. Here are Boyd's show jumping videos, riding in Ecogold's Secure Jumper pad.

Boyd Martin and Minotaure du Passoir win Bromont CCI1


Boyd Martin and Charla - Bromont CCI1* Showjumping

Bromont Three Day Event - Cross-country Videos CCI3*

After the Cross-country, Jessica Phoenix moved up from 12th to 2nd place with a clean ride at super-sonic speed. She told us: "It's the saddle pads!!" Here are the CCI3* videos.

Jessica Phoenix and Exponential


Buck Davidson and Mar de Amor


This guy did not want to miss any of Rebecca Howard's ride


Diana Burnett and Wild T Mater


Jessica Phoenix and Exploring


Callie Judy and Call on Me

Bromont Three Day Event - Cross-country Videos CCI2*

Here are a couple of videos from the CCI2*

Valerie Vizcarrondo and Clifton Jade - insider information: Val bought Clifton Jade (aka Morris) from Boyd Martin, who imported him from New Zealand.


Canada's Penny Rowland riding Flying Finn - insider information: Penny is a full-time vet for small animals and travels with her entourage of Jack Russells

Bromont Three Day Event - Dressage Videos

The Bromont Three Day Event is our only local CCI (about 1 hour from ECOGOLD headquarters in Montreal, Quebec) and we love to support this great event. The facility was used for the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games and this year, it is entirely being renovated. The competition is underway with many riders proudly sporting Ecogold's Secure Dressage saddle pads. Here are some videos!

Jessica Phoenix and Exploring - Dressage test


Jessica Phoenix and Exploring - Warming Up before the Dressage test


Buck Davidson and Cruise Lion


Diana Burnett and Wild T'Mater


Jessica Phoenix and Exponential

Sinead Halpin's top horse getting fit in the pool

We're glad to hear that Sinead Halpin's top horse Manior De Carneville (aka Tate) is on the mend, after an injury earlier this year which sidelined him from the Rolex Three-Day Event.

Here he is having an aqua-therapy fitness session (aka - fun in the pool.)