Jennifer Alfano riding Jersey Boy won the Hunter Derby at Devon this afternoon with a score of 395, topping Kelley Farmer on Red Sky with 389.  Kelley Farmer took three of the five top places, taking third with Taken and fifth with Clearly.  Peter Pletcher rounded out the top five with a fourth place aboard NF Shakespeare’s Rhythm.

Jennifer Alfano with Jersey Boy

Kelley Farmer with Red Sky

Kelley Farmer with Taken

Peter Pletcher with NLF Shakespeare’s Rhythm

Kelley Farmer with Clearly

It is surely coming as no surprise to you that McLain Ward won the Grand Prix on Thursday night, but I thought you’d like to see how he did it.  This is a photo essay about Ward and his mount, since 2010,  Antares F, an 11 year old Wurtemburger grey gelding (http://www.theequinest.com/breeds/wurttemberger) and Margie Engle and her horse, Indigo, a 12 year old gelding who was second.  Chill R Z, ridden by Charlie Jayne was third; Cedric, ridden by Laura Kraut was fourth; and Vornado Van Den Hoendrik, ridden by Jessica Springsteen was fifth.  Less than one second separated first and second place in the jump off, Ward having ridden it in 34.32 seconds and Engle in 35.28.

McLain Ward and Antares F

The First Round

Leaving the ring after the first round, Ward communes with his horse.

The Jump Off begins…..

…..and ends.

Leaving the ring after the awards ceremony and victory gallop.

Margie Engle and Indigo in their first round.

The Jump Off

Charlie Jayne and Chill R Z

Laura Kraut and Cedric

Jessica Springsteen and Vornado Van Den Hoendrik

Thursday night prior to winning the Grand Prix, McLain Ward formally retired his two-time Olympic gold medal partner, Sapphire.  He rode the 16 year old chestnut mare into the ring through to the awards section where she stood while the announcer read her list of accomplishments, and then Ward dismounted, removed the saddle, replacing it with a white sheet embroidered with her name.  He took her past the grandstand where her fans could get up close to admire her, then walked back out the “in gate”, into the warm up ring, and down to the far end nearest the stabling area.  As he handed her off to a waiting groom, in the distance I could see his hand move to his bowed head and it was clear that he was wiping away a tear.

It’s the last week of May and you see this color:

You’re thinking:  a box from Tiffany’s, The Robin’s eggs that have just hatched, a beautiful cloudless sky?  If you’re one of the legions of competitive hunter or jumper riders, breeders, pony, horse or coaching drivers, side saddle, gaited or western riders, you are seeing Devon Blue, the ubiquitous color that drapes the boxes and grandstands at The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.

The first Saturday night of the 2012 Devon Horse Show brings a chance to check out the vendors, the food, the carnival, who else is there, and, oh yeah, the horses. Devon has something for everyone punctuated by a few traditions of its very own.

The seating area alongside "Cafe Row" is not only a place to nosh, but a place to catch up with your friends.

Casual clothes and home furnishing accessories (here shown at Anthropoligie) are side by side with fine estate jewelry and antiques.

Fishing for prizes

The carnival area had a water spray in action to cool the customers.

Bright colors abound

The merry-go-round attracts young and old.

As my companion pointed out "you pick your fights". This young spectator seemed comfortable with the extra ventilation.

A tradition of The Devon Horse Show is the Lemon Stick - a lemon candy straw stuck into a fresh lemon through which you drink the lemon juice.

A half hour before the evening competition begins, the lines for food are long but moving quickly.

This little girl really would have rather cleaned a stall than her room.

Now appropriately nourished and clothed, we move to our seats.

A competitor's tools await the rider at the in-gate while she walks the course.

Competitors walk the course with their coaches just prior to the first round.

Course builders tweak the jumps and rake the footing.

Class 203, the $15,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior Jumper SJHOF Classic was won by Victoria Colvin on Waminka, owned by Rivers Edge, taking home $4500.00 for her effort.

A Clean Round One….

…and here winning the Time First Jump Off.

Victoria Colvin picked up the second place, as well, with her own Monsieur du Reverdy, winning $3000.00.

The Clean Round One…

….followed by the winning time-first jump off.

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Before you read any further, take a closer look at images (5) and (7) above to see what I discovered today on editing these images:

Victoria Colvin took the last two jumps in the winning ride…… without stirrups.!

Following the Junior Jumpers, there was a competition for Hunt Teams, won by Royal Crown Stables.  Radnor Foxhounds came to the ring and made a swing through with Huntsman Joe Cassidy.  Young rider/trainer Lizzie Traband gave a demonstration with her pony riding Unicorn and performing several tricks with him.

You can see more of Lizzie at her Youtube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4N1L_-ZsL0

She is a most impressive young lady.

Cindy and Audrey Buchanan rode together in the Parent and Child class, taking fourth.  They hunt with Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds.

Cindy Buchanan

Audrey Buchanan

Finally, the Buchanans won the Family Class with Cindy, Audrey and Maggie (on the far right in this picture) riding Side Saddle.  Father Richard Buchanan rode astride.  The family moved through the walk, trot, canter and turning phases as one.

The family leaving the ring with Blue Ribbons and a joyful "We Did It" from Cindy.

This Winter, Anne Hambleton, former eventer, steeplechase rider, pony clubber and now devoted fox-hunter, published her first novel, drawing on her life-long love of horses and riding.  Anne’s book, Raja, the Story of a Racehorse, begins at a stud farm where the handsome, black foal with aristocratic genes stands out among the others.  With a Kentucky Derby winner as his sire, a great name is needed to seal great expectations; he is named “Raja”, meaning “hope” in Arabic, and “king” in India, by the owner’s daughter.

As is the case of many modern thoroughbreds, his life is marked by changes, both minute and catastrophic, that take him from a safe, caring and respectful environment where he is “special,” to places where he is but one of many and “not so special”.   Woven through this “first-horse” narrative are the voices of his dam and the Arabic princess who had named him but who is pulled from his life by the exigencies of the 911 attacks.  His dam told him, “Remember this always; even when life is hard, never, ever give up.”   Princess Ayesha told him, “You’re the most perfect thing in the universe and I will always love you.”  He will need the strength of these memories to pull him through because, as the farm manager reminds us, “racing is a business, plain and simple.  It’s a beautiful sport, but you can’t be sentimental if you want to win at the highest levels.”

Anne Hambleton’s commitment to riding and horses has continued unabated throughout her varied academic and business lives. During the years that she was a steeplechase jockey she was working full-time at her home in Vermont and commuting to the Delaware Valley of Pennsylvania on weekends to race horses.  When she left steeplechasing, she picked up three day eventing and continued the commute.  These days she is still commuting from her farm to foxhunt with Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds.  She has taken the sum of these experiences to author Raja.

In 2002, she rode her horse Holtzman, who is the model for one of the characters in Raja, at Mr. Lady’s Manor Races in Monkton, Maryland.  The trip to the races, about two hours from the barn where Holtzman was trained in Unionville, Pennsylvania by Lilith Boucher, brought along fellow jockey, Don Cochran, as friend, as well as two grooms, brother and sister Gina and Brian Korrell.  When a horse goes to the races, or any other event for that matter, there are many more people behind the success of the horse than just the rider.

Anne arrives early and walks the course with fellow jockey Don Cochran.

Anne fills the pad with lead prior to weighing in.

Weighing in with boots on and tack in hand.

After weighing in, back to the holding barn to do some last minute braiding.

Besides the rider herself, the horse has been accompanied to the races by the trainer and two grooms, here, Gina Korrell fixing the flash.

Trainer Lilith Boucher applies hoof polish.

Brian Korrell finishes the bandages with tape.

Brian Korrell places the anti-slip pad, then the saddle....

... then extends the front legs to stretch.

Holtzman, led by Gina, leaves the holding barn for the paddock.

Checking the tattoo against the entry.

Pre-race in the paddock.

Moments before the race are time for reflection.

Brian and Gina give Anne a leg up.

Led to the start by an outrider.

Horses get a look at the first jump before the flag falls for the start of the race.

Racing in the meadow, a half mile from home.

Anne is first to the last fence.

Over the last fence.

Landing, then off.

Heading to the finish line.

Anne's husband, Dave, her most ardent supporter, helps remove her helmet.

Off to weigh in after the race.

Between the last fence and the finish, Holtzman lost the momentum and came in second. Anne got a congratulatory hug from the eventual winner anyway.

Gina takes Holtzman back to the holding barn for a bath.

Hotwalking and the occasional sip of water before the bath.

Trainer Lilith Boucher bathes Holtzman.

"You are the most perfect thing in the universe and I will always love you."

Anne and Holtzman

Putting on the shipping bandages.

Rest and relaxation, grass for Holtzman, before loading up to ship home.

I was struck, as I prepared these photographs ten years later, that every person who made an appearance in this photo-essay is still active in steeplechase, still supporting each other in the pre-race paddock and most importantly, imparting the love of the sport to the next generation.

These days, Anne grooms for Maggie Buchanan who is busy checking the program before the Small Pony Race at The Cheshire Races.

Leading Maggie in the paddock, pre-race.

Gina Korrell groomed for her sister-in-law, trainer Elizabeth Korrell at the 2010 Brandywine Point to Point, where Elizabeth's husband, Brian, was the jockey.

Gina on the way to the paddock.

Brian, about to weigh in prior to the race, chats with Don Cochran, who still rides as a jockey in the races and now gives of his time as a member of the Delaware Valley Point to Point Committee.

Off to the start on Voice of Power.

Over the stonewall, half-way through the race.

This years Cheshire Races finds Brian riding his wife's horse again.

The paddock is a family affair. Elizabeth Korrell and her daughter chat with the groom on the way out to the course to watch the race.

Brian, over the stake and bound, heading to the final lap.

Brian, in green, ten yards from the finish line.

Don Cochran prior to the 2012 Cheshire Heavyweight Race.

Don Cochran, to the left, on Armed Brat, a horse he has campaigned for several years.

Don Cochran heads for home.

With the publication of Raja, Anne has synthesized the details of her rich life in horse sports with the elements of a terrific and engrossing story.  As in the book, the same people appear and re-appear in her life providing continuity and community.   She has lived the life she conjures in the book and continues to come to the races as spectator and mentor.

Her novel is so well crafted it is appropriate for a young reader and captivating enough for an adult.  I couldn’t put it down.

For More information, or to order a copy of Raja, please visit the website:

http://rajaracehorse.com

As the 2012 foxhunting season draws to a close, Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds met Saturday, March 25 at The Laurels at Landhope.  On the way to the Meet, scattered showers moved through the area presaging a long, cold, wet weekend.  Despite the subsequent downpour, for the Cheshire community, good things happened from the start, marking the celebration of a hunting season that began with the Opening Meet in November and continued unabated to the end of March.  It was the first time in recent memory the season had not been weathered out or closed down by mid-January.

Riders, car-followers and staff met before 9 A.M. rather than the usual 11 because it had been so warm, the “scent” of the fox dissipating as the temperature rises.

Long-time Cheshire member Conrad Somers waits for the hunt to begin.

Joint Master Russell Jones asked the riders to come closer as he had an announcement; it was a “graduation” ceremony of sorts.  Cheshire Hunting Etiquette states that “Children who can go at the pace set by the Fieldmaster, and jump whatever he jumps, may hunt up with the adults as long as they are with an equally proficient adult responsible for them.”     A few years ago, the Board of Directors decided to formalize this by awarding “armbands” which recognizes not only the ability of the child to ride the pace required, but also their broad understanding of the sport of foxhunting and its rules.  This privilege is awarded sparingly and without notice.

Russell Jones makes the formal announcement at an informal meeting.

And so when MFH Jones awarded armbands to children at the Meet, it was a surprise.  One child was not present but two others were.  The delight and pride of the recipients was tangible.

MFH Jones awards the armband to Rachel Wilkowski.

Another recipient is Audry Buchanan.

Rachel Wilkowski can hardly contain her joy.

Business having been concluded, the Huntsman and Whip move off to begin the day’s chase.

Leaving the Meet.

The Huntsman, followed by the First Fieldmaster, Bruce Miller, moved along the woods  after leaving the Meet, encouraging the hounds to find the scent of fox.

Huntsman Ivan Dowling and the Cheshire pack.

Ivan Dowling

The First Field, led by Joint MFH Bruce Miller (champion Steeplechase trainer of Eclipse Awards winners in 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2000 and Hall of Fame chaser Lonesome Glory).

Another young member of Cheshire was out that day on her new thoroughbred for the first time.

Lydia Fisher and her new mount.

As the day progressed, the rain became a steady downpour but it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the field which “carried on” despite.

The field jumping into the Hannum’s, headed up the hill and across the road to Plumsted Farm.

Car followers brought out umbrellas and continued to watch the hunt.

Carol Hannum stands out in the field with her red umbrella. She is the daughter of former Cheshire MFH Nancy Hannum and mother of eventer Bruce “Buck” Davidson.

The chase continued for another two hours; chilled, damp, but exhilarated, riders returned back to their trailers to put away their horses and head for a hunt breakfast.

Dr. Cindy Buchanan organizes volunteers to bring food and prepare the coffee and lays everything out before the hunt commences.

That night, in anticipation of the Cheshire Point to Point (the 67th year), a local landowner sponsored a well-attended cocktail party.  The next morning, storms had moved on and it was overcast and cool.  Race goers dressed for fifty degrees but by 2 P.M.,  the sun came out and immediately everyone shed a layer.  Preparing for chilly weather, everyone had worn fleece.

The Third Race, the Heavyweight Race is defined in the Conditions Book as “open to riders that are non winners of sanctioned races over timber … (with a minimum weight of 190 lbs….)”.  Conrad Somers, the rider in the first photograph of yesterday’s hunt, has been a perennial entrant into the Heavyweight Division and always the bridesmaid.  For years his entry has been a family endeavor, his wife supporting his chase after the “grail”,  his daughter grooming and hot-walking at the races.  This year, riding the horse “Undignified”, Conrad led from the fall of the flag by the starter to the finish line.  It was a family celebration I was privileged to witness.  The following tell the story without any need for narration.

I was very glad to have been there.

The Show in the Woods

There are sometimes places so magical that even though you go there every day, it’s spell never fails to seduce you.  The Hitchcock Woods, in the center of Aiken, South Carolina, is one of those.  Somehow, as soon as you enter The Woods, the canopy surrounds and embraces you and time holds still.  The air is clean and soft, scented with Longleaf and Loblolly Pine needles underfoot; footfall is muffled by the sand. This time of year, the woods have gone from the yellow blooms of Carolina Jesamine to the purple haze of the wisteria which envelopes every tree and shrub.  Soon the wild azalea, Confederate Jessamine and kalmia will unfold and turn the landscape white, coral and pink with the fragrance of The South.

The Hitchcock Woods is one of the largest urban forests in the country, but rather than drawing its maintenance budget from the tax base, it is owned and managed by a private foundation supported solely by membership contribution. Thus has evolved a unique relationship between the stewards of this amazing treasure and the community that surrounds it.  Most anyone that has heard of Aiken has heard of The Woods; the city has come to be defined by its presence.  Admission to 2100 acres of The Woods is free and open to all and because it is located in the center of the city, surrounded on all sides by houses and retail, the park is heavily, but respectfully, used and enjoyed.

One of the major fundraising efforts by the Foundation is the annual Aiken Horse Show in the Woods, this year marking the 96th year that the show has taken place.

The Show Grounds are as carefully groomed as the first tee at Augusta National. Horses are prohibited from entering the show ring except for the three days a year of The Show.

Two weeks before The Show, the grounds have been mowed and primped.

Flowering trees at the Entrance Gate.

The week beforehand, the tent is erected.

Tuesday the jumps and trees are laid out on the course.

Feverish preparations the night before include a bath and braiding, then on to the next barn for another four.

Riders from outside of town frequently trailer in to ride in The Woods and park at the South Boundary entrance below Banksia, a former Winter Colony home now occupied by the Aiken County Historical Society. The morning of the show, competitors arrive as the sun rises, unload their horses and ride the mile to the show ring.

The Hitchcock Woods are restricted to equestrians, hikers, dog walkers and joggers; wheeled vehicles are prohibited.  So three days of the year, there is a sight not seen at any other time – cars and trucks shuttling participants, volunteers, guests, staff and caterers the mile or so to the horse show grounds from the main entrance at South Boundary Road.

Roads more commonly traversed by horses become crowded when traffic comes in and goes out on one lane.

Once there, parking is dense.

Team Canada, at ringside, enjoys a tailgate, a great view of the course and the company of their horses.

Inside the tent, spectators watch their friends compete in the Foxhunter classes, enjoy lunch and bid on silent auction items.

The Foxhunter Under Saddle class at the canter.

The view is incomparable.

Gretchen Wintersteen, winner of the Foxhunter Winners Stake, and her husband George.

The 2012 Pine Top Farm Advanced Horse Trials organizers had one ordeal after another to deal with this past weekend.  Pine Top Farm, in Thomson, Georgia, was the scene of the area’s first Advanced competition for the season and when they realized a week or so beforehand that they couldn’t run everyone in the three phases in the daylight, they had to notify 280 riders that the Dressage and Cross Country phases of Advanced had been moved to Friday.  Then Friday opened with a Tornado watch and a Severe Storm Warning.  Dressage went on as scheduled but then the skies opened up with such a torrential downpour that riders, horses and grooms sought shelter in trailers and barns hoping that the roofs didn’t blow off.  In fact, some distance to the north exactly that happened.  Again, the organizers were notifying everyone of a change to the schedule – Cross Country was now moved to Saturday:  look at the order of go published on the internet, subtract two hours from the Friday time and off you went.  Organizers scrambled for volunteer fence judges but the event went off as planned.

The view from the inside of the Aiken Brew Pub during Friday's storm. High winds and hail brought down trees and then the electricity.

Saturday dawned bright, crisp, with low humidity and the clear blue skies for which this area of the south is known.

One of the early jumps of the day, successfully cleared, a stroller sans baby.

A view of 19 and 20A,B and C and 21 on the Advanced cross country course. After jumping out at C, riders took a bending line to 21, which is just out of the picture to the right of the flag for 19.

As someone commented that morning, there was a disproportionate number of greys competing at this event.  Michael Pollard dominated the top places after dressage and took first and second in the Advanced Open Division One with two greys.

Michael Pollard on Icarus III taking home the Blue.

Michael Pollard on Schoengreen Hanni bringing home Second.

Advanced Open Division Two was again topped by two greys.

Jude's Law in first.

Becky Holder on Can't Fire Me is second.

Division Three of the Advanced Open was won by Michelle Mueller on Amistad, followed by Rachel Jurgens on Ziggy.

Michelle Mueller and Amistad.

Rachel Jurgens and Ziggy.

Open Intermediate Division One was won by Boyd Martin on (my hometown favorite) Remington XXV.

Boyd Martin and Remington XXV.

William Coleman III on Zipp takes home the red ribbon.

Phillip Dutton and Ben take first in the Open Intermediate Division 2.

Will Faudree and Pawlow are second.

Jessica Schultz and Lock N' Load headed to home and number one in Open Intermediate Division Three.

Lizzie Snow and Coal Creek for second.

Action in the Aiken Eventing arena continues this weekend, March 2-4, with Sporting Days Farm USEF/USEA Horse Trials Tadpole through Intermediate/Preliminary.

The Paradise Farm Winter Horse Trials took place this weekend, February 17-19, in Aiken, South Carolina with some 280 rider/horse combinations registered to compete Beginner Novice through Preliminary.  Paradise Farm is situated in the middle of the eventing venues of Aiken, just east of Downtown.

Paradise Farm looking toward the Cross Country Course.

Saturday, the first cross country ride was at 9:00 and by 8 AM, there was a meeting of volunteers and officials taking place in the barn just off the central office space.

The volunteer meeting in the barn.

Younger volunteers visited with the boarders.

The youngest volunteer, Ruairi MacLoed, smiles at his mother, Jane McDonald, as he awaits final instructions for the cross country phase.

A walk around the warm-up with WHF Kitaro before preparing for the Novice Rider show jump phase later in the day.

Johanna Hall Glass, owner and organizer of Sporting Days, venue for another event, helps set up the show jumps.

For the Preliminary Eventers, cross country began with moderate temperatures and overcast but as the morning progressed, temperatures rose to the mid-60‘s.

Lellie Ward, owner of Paradise Farm and organizer of the Event, is particularly proud of the newest obstacle on the course, the Sunken Road Complex, situated at 13abcd (of 20 questions) and which debuted this week.  As the first competitor, Will Faudree on Embellisher, rode through the complex, Lellie Ward was standing a short distance away.

Will Faudree on Embellisher

Close behind him, at pinny number 7, was Phillip Dutton on Gran Banks, a 2002 Hanoverian gelding owned by Augie Vettorino.  Showing how the complex should be ridden, Phillip led the Open Preliminary Division on Gran Banks at the end of cross country on Saturday, finishing on his dressage score.

Phillip Dutton riding Gran Banks

And so the sequence begins:

Second in the Division was Elizabeth Ricklefs riding On The Rocks.  Elizabeth is a veterinarian with a practice in York, Pennsylvania.

Elizabeth Ricklefs riding On The Rocks

Galloping away.

Andrea Glazer, on Deputy Commander, won the Junior Young Riders Open Preliminary Division, rising from fourth after dressage to first after cross country, jumping double clear in show jumping.

Andrea Glazer and Deputy Commander

Preliminary Rider was won by Stephen Rogers on Rugby Road, second went to Laura Duhamel on Fate’s Patriot.

Stephen Rogers and Rugby Road

Laura Duhamel and Fate's Patriot

Color coordinated.

Mark Lehner of Hoofclix.Com (http://www.hoofclix.com/Paradise-Farm/2012-02-19-USEA-Horse-Trial) works diligently to get the “right” shot and here shows his dedication, racing camera in hand, foot to the pedal, to get to the right spot before the competitor goes by.

Mark Lehner of HoofClix

Coffee, cream and sugar were delivered and scores were picked up by roving Gator.

Return to the office following the Preliminary Division

(Un)Divided Loyalties

Fancy Footwear

The Aiken area Eventing Series continues next weekend with the Pine Top Spring Advanced Horse Trials in Thomson, Georgia, February 24-26  (http://www.pinetopfarm.com/events.shtml).  Due to the high volume of entries, Advanced and Intermediate Dressage and Cross Country will take place on Friday.

USEF Aiken Training Sessions continue today and tomorrow with a jumping clinic with Lauren Hough and Captain Mark Phillips.

With the goal of bringing home Gold from London this summer, the 2012 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team Training Sessions continue in Aiken, SC this winter, hosted by Ilene and Bob Boorman at their Mohaph Farm, the winter home for Boyd Martin, his staff and horses.  Mohaph Farm is located within the Bridle Creek Equestrian Community which also encompasses the training facilities of Phillip Dutton and Kevin Keane.

  http://www.usef.org/documents/highPerformance/eventing/EventingHPP.pdf

The dressage arena comprises the front "lawn" of the beautiful Boorman barn and home combination. The Boormans have invested heavily in separate paddocks and a cross country schooling area.

The United States Eventing Association announced an updated 2012 Eventing High Performance Training List last fall (http://useventing.com/news/usef-high-performance-training-lists-updated-2012-land-rover-us-eventing-team) and two of the four A List Riders and several of the B List Riders showed up for the Training Sessions with Bettina Hoy and Captain Mark Phillips; in addition, several of the USEF 2012 Eventing Developing Riders were participating as well  (http://useventing.com/news/usef-announces-2012-eventing-developing-riders).

Bettina Hoy Clinic

From January 26th through the 28th, Bettina Hoy, arriving from Germany especially to give a clinic, provided support and critique for Boyd Martin, Jan Byyny, Will Coleman, Allison Springer and Erin Sylvester .  Riders entered the ring, warmed up and then went through walk, extended and collected trot, working up to the canter.  Bettina Hoy watched the riders, made suggestions then followed up by riding the horses herself.

Jan Byyny and Why Not

 Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos

Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotierre

Kevin Keane and Fernhill Flutter

Captain Mark Phillips Clinic

February 6th through the 9th brought Captain Mark Phillips to Monaph Farm to work with a long list of rider/horse combinations, starting at 8 o’clock A.M. and running through the 5 in the afternoon.  Attendance by auditors and spectators at these sessions was large enough that vehicles had to park outside the farm on the common streets of the community.

Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos

Susan Beebee and Wolf

William Coleman III and Twizzle

Training sessions continue at Mohaph Farm February 17th through the 19th with Captain Mark Phillips and Katie Prudent.