Branscomb Farm

07/05/2024

Although I haven’t seen the actual statement, I’m heartened that the USEF appears to be taking this tragedy more seriously now and may be considering commitments to investigate responsibility and invest in making sure it doesn’t happen to other horses. The USEF as our governing body, as well as all of us owners and riders—we can all do better by the horses we love. Let’s invest in sport horse welfare and science-based understanding of what they actually need to live happy, healthy lives especially in competition. Let’s get our hardworking veterinarians — especially those responsible for our horses in international competition - better trained and more accountable for sport horse safety and welfare.

The sudden death of Chromatic BF after a competition at the FEI World Cup Show Jumping Final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last spring will never be forgotten by the horse’s owner/breeder, Kc Branscomb, who is determined to ensure nothing like that happens to another horse representing the U.S. in comp...

07/04/2024

More and more senior Veterinary experts are weighing in. Dr. Mansmann is an internationally recognized expert in anaphylaxis and part of a larger AAEP effort to improve understanding of what allows sport horses to live happy, healthy, and safe lives with their human partner/custodians.

07/04/2024

Happy 4th of July from the flying fur balls of Branscomb Farm

06/11/2024

https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/owner-usef-disagree-about-what-killed-chromatic-bf/

The final necropsy report for Chromatic BF, the American horse who died at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final in Riyadh in April, was completed June 8. It states that the horse died of pulmonary hemorrhages and edema, which “could be attributed to multiple causes, including disseminated intr...

06/05/2024

For all of you who have been empathetic and supportive of my efforts to come to terms with Chromatic’s untimely death, I am pleased to offer the following: Today, I want to applaud the USEF executive team and all those involved in Chromatic’s tragedy at the World Cup Jumping Finals in Riyadh for their proposed new Horse Participation Consent Agreement that I believe is a significant step forward in protecting team USA horses competing internationally from the potential adverse effects of well intentioned but not medically necessary USEF veterinary intervention and medication. By requiring prior written consent from the Athlete (rider) prior to any non emergency medical intervention by USEF vets, conscientious Owners can establish strict protocols for how and when medical intervention can occur. I look forward to rapid implementation of this important new safety net for our equine teammates and for, at last, being able to put Chromatic BF to rest here on the California farm where he was born and lived his entire life. May his legacy be the memory of his spectacular performances, his love of the sport he excelled at, and the positive impact his death will have on veterinary safety protocols for future competitors.

For those that are interested in the details, I have included the wording of the new proposal from USEF as well as the old version of the HPCA which I signed back in early April in the comments below.

06/01/2024

Update on Chromatic BF and the discussions with the USEF as promised: Yesterday I had a constructive call with several top USEF Executives (Sonya Keating Chief Counsel and COO, Bill Maroney President and CEO, and David O’Connor Chief of Sport discussing how to prevent a similar tragedy in the future. While a difficult month has passed since our beloved Chromatic BF was killed by a USEF veterinarian’s independent action in Riyadh, the executives at USEF do appear now to be in agreement with each other and with me that it is in the interest of the sport and our horses safety that they make changes to the Horse Participation Consent Agreement. This agreement that owners have been required to sign when their horses respresent the USA at a major international competition, mandates that Owner’s transfer custodial responsibility for their horses (a “loan”) to the USEF during international events. This explicitly includes granting permission for the USEF veterinarians to medicate the owner’s horses without any prior consultation or approval by the owner, the athlete/rider, or the owner’s veterinarian regardless of whether it is a veterinary emergency or members of the owner’s team (owner/rider/owner’s vet) might be immediately available to consult or object. I am promised an opportunity to review a redraft of a new agreement in the next few days that I understand will remove this language and provide the effective safety net of owner or athlete review that was clearly absent in Chromatic’s case. I look forward to offering constructive feedback to the legal team at USEF so we can all reach closure on this tragic event. My goal is that Branscomb Farm, Jill Humphrey, and Chromatic’s sacrifice may at least, in the end, have had a positive impact for the safety and management of our top international competition horses now and in the future. I am grateful to the executive team at USEF and the USEF representatives in Riyadh for taking my urgent concerns seriously and showing some action in the direction positive institutional change.

04/19/2024

Shortly after putting the United States on the podium Thursday, April 18, in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final, Chromatic BF collapsed and died in the stabling area, the Fédération Equestre Internationale has announced.

04/18/2024

I am writing this to try to clarify what has already begun to travel as rumors surrounding events that happened here in Riyadh involving Chromatic after tonight’s spectacular performance. After hacking normally after the class, Chromatic returned to the barn happy and calm attended by his life time caretaker Pepe Rodriguez and Jill. After resting and refreshment, he was given a routine recovery shot of electrolytes by the USET Team veterinarian. Upon returning to his stable to be wrapped, blanketed, and put away for the evening, with me present (Kc Branscomb) the horse began seizured and collapsed in the stall. He was immediately treated and examined by both the USET and FEI veterinarians and was pronounced dead shortly after. The horse did not suffer and there is no evidence that his passing was in anyway related to his strenuous and spectacular performance with Jill well over an our earlier or any action of his Branscomb caretaking team. A full autopsy report will be provided to me at some point.

But what I HOPE people will take away from this freak accident and great tragedy is that it was a night of tears - tears of joy and tears of loss. If I would ask anything of those of you that knew or celebrated him, let’s remember him for how he lived and not for how he died. The sport lost a great one today.

04/17/2024

The video says it all. Beautiful clean round for the first leg of the 1.60m 2024 FEI Jumping World Cup Final in Riyadh. I’m so proud of the Branscomb Farm team that got us all here and gave this horse the heart and desire to give his very best when it really counted. There are no words for how grateful I am to Jill Humphrey for unlocking his potential and giving him the best possible ride in the most challenging course he has faced yet. Video in the comments.

04/16/2024

Team Chromatic BF at the WCF warm up today. Beautiful venue.

04/14/2024

We had a very difficult foaling tonight with our maiden Lupicor 4 year old covered by Diarado. Thanks to Santos Jesus Garcia Peres quick thinking and Dr Philip Bellamy’s emergency care with an assist from
Dr Dini, Department head of Theriogenology at UC Davis, both the mare and her c**t made it through. There were some difficult moments but I’m very proud of how the whole team including Ivy Creahan and Lindsey Memering stepped up to assist and prepare for the worst without hesitation.

04/13/2024

Jill and Chromatic BF jet lagged perhaps but hacking in the Convention Center Riyadh - the whole event from
Stabling to schooling to competitions arena is indoors and climate controlled. Saudis appear to have really made the effort to make this a great urban venue. Eager to see it for myself.

04/12/2024

https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/the-u-s-bred-horse-taking-on-the-jumping-world-cup-final/

On Wednesday, April 17, the first round of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final starts in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and among the U.S. entries is Chromatic BF, who was bred and owned by KC Branscomb of Branscomb Farm in Half Moon Bay, California.

04/12/2024

Vagabond de la Pomme -From Diarada BF by Diarado

04/12/2024

Reunited in Riyadh and ready to roll….

04/10/2024

While Pepe is in flight to Riyadh via Doha from Holland, Jill and Rudy left California for to Riyadh a couple of minutes ago, and Chromatic BF is getting ready to get back on another airplane to fly tomorrow (later today) to Riyadh, I’m calming my nerves with helping the younger generation learn the basics of round pen work with a crazy human. Almost 1 year old Pixel (aka Jasmim do Brasil) learning basic voice ques:

04/10/2024

Wed night vs Monday morning(4 days). If you blink they grow

04/09/2024

The CA horses and their humans including Pepe, Javi, and Skyler all flee together on Qatar Air LAX or Brussels then quick trip to Holland where they layover for a couple of days and then on to Riyadh

04/08/2024

And so it begins. Chromatic BF following the incomparable Pepe Rodriguez into the Qatar Air cargo container for his long flight to Europe. There they will both spend a day resting in Holland at Travers so Chromatic can be checked by a veterinarian for hydration and gut sounds before loading another charter flight with the rest of Team USA and EC Countries teams to Riyadh. Pepe will fly from Europe to RUH via Doha ahead of him so to be there when he lands and to set up stables for his and the other California horses arrival in Riyadh. I would have preferred he fly with Chromatic for both flights but we didn’t get to make that decision. Kent Farrington’s groom will accompany him to load in Liege Belgium for the Charter to Riyadh. Wish them safe passage and good health on what will be basically a month long trip away from home for this important Team USA event.

04/04/2024

Nova Luna BF checking out her future rider and wondering when her friends will start arriving. Dr. Bellamy and Jesus have been doing round the clock checks on our breeding mares and with the recent cold snap and bad weather all the ladies, those pregnant and hoping to be, seem to have slammed on the brakes this week. Breeding can drive you crazy so it is wise to enjoy the sweeter moments like this.

03/29/2024

🔜 World Cup Finals

The following athletes will be representing at the FEI World Cup Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from April 16-20. 🇺🇸

♦️Kent Farrington (Wellington, Fla.) and Greya (Colestus x Contessa) owned by Kent Farrington LLC; and Toulayna (Toulon x Vuelta) owned by Rabbit Root Stables LLC and Kent Farrington LLC // Groom: Denise Moriarty
♦️Jill Humphrey (Sacramento, Calif.) and Chromatic BF (Connor x Sonnengirl BF) owned by Branscomb Farms LLC // Groom: Porfirio Rodriguez
♦️Devin Ryan (Long Valley, N.J.) and Eddie Blue (Zirocco Blue VDL x Silvana) owned by LL Show Jumpers LLC // Groom: Angela Baugh
♦️Sophia Siegel (Portola Valley, Calif.) and her own A-Girl (A-Dur x Sandburgs Carina) // Groom: Javier Ibarra
♦️Skylar Wireman (Bonsall, Calif.) and her own Tornado (Diarado x Chiquitita) // Groom: Alicia Thompson

03/28/2024

Foaling season begins with a new filly by the young VDL stallion New Pleasure (For Pleasure -Diamant de Semilly) on our D-Christina BF. Just a few minutes in the world and already up and checking out those long legs - grateful she landed safely thanks to our excellent professional staff.