O'Connor Eventing Camp 4 - ECOGOLD Saddle pad Technology

Ecogold president, textile engineer John Da Silva, Karen O'Connor and Max Corcoran, O'Connor Event Team Head Groom explain the technology behind ECOGOLD Secure saddle pads and how they help make the sport of eventing safer.

O'Connor Eventing Camp - ECOGOLD Saddle pad Technology

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