Leslie Law’s Monday News and Notes

If you didn’t catch the news last night (don’t worry, only Coren reads Eventing Nation on Sunday nights), Leslie Law became the 5th confirmed application for the US coaching position.  I say ‘application’ because there have actually been 7 applicants with the two paired applications of the Hoys and Bobby/Phillip.  My guess is that there will still be one or two more applicants, but we can safely say that the USEF’s Search Committee now has a wide variety of choices. 

The application deadline is today, and then the next major step in the process is when the USEF Search Committee will pass a short list onto the Active Athletes Committee.  Wisely but frustratingly, a deadline has not been announced for when that step or the final hiring decision will occur.  We’ll have more about Leslie Law later, but my first reaction is that it’s a very good application from the standpoint that Leslie is familiar with US eventing, having lived in the US for 4 years, but he is also very independent because he has never been part of the USEF’s system.

Now for your news and notes, which are scientifically guaranteed to cure a case of the ‘Mondays’:

Buck Davidson kicked butt at Rocking Horse, winning two intermediate divisions and taking second in the other intermediate division.  Buck was riding Ballynoecastle RM in the Open Intermediat-B and won by 8 points.  Canadian Kendal Lehari placed first and second in the Intermediate/Preliminary.  I could tell you a story about Kendal’s jack russell, but I should probably stay on topic.  Leslie Law won the Prelim Horse division on Amarna, edging Karen O’Connor by two points. [Rocking Horse Results (FL)]

–The Pine Top results page appears to be offline at the time I am writing this, but I can tell you from chatting with someone at Pine Top on Sunday that Nathalie Pollard won a prelim division on a 20.  That dominant finish was likely made all the more satisfying by the fact that she beat her husband Michael who was in the same division.  Nathalie has been taking a maternity break from riding for the past 3 years, but she obviously hasn’t lost a step from her previous USEF training list days.  Nathalie scores 9’s for rider about half the time…and 10’s the other half of the time.  To get an 8 on rider you need to have perfect position, to get a 9 you need to have perfect position and have the horse so well tuned to the aids that it looks like you are doing absolutely nothing.  Seriously, go watch Nathalie ride dressage at an event some time, it’s a very humbling experience for us dressage mortals.  [Pine Top Results]   

–Buck Davidson spent all of Saturday at Rocking Horse riding in a Green Bay Packers jersey because he lost a bet with Jon Holling, who is a big Packers fan.  If you can find a photo of Buck wearing the Packers jersey, please send in to the EN Team at [email protected].  It will certainly be worth EN Karma, and it might be worth an EN hat.  Speaking of which, yes, the hats are coming soon.  More importantly, who is EN rooting for in the Super Bowl?  Which reminds me Jon, whose my little…?  Inside jokes were not meant for websites.

–Ecogold, one of Eventing Nation’s fantastic sponsors, tweeted Sunday night that “Buck Davidson no longer rides My Boy Bobby, who will have a happy future at a lower level.”  Ecogold has a pretty good source for this, but I haven’t confirmed it yet.  For what it’s worth, keeping Bobby sound while getting him 4* fit has always been a challenge, but Bobby is one of the truly great US horses and I would hate to see him retire from the upper levels so soon.  A sponsor finding news for EN?  Gotta love it.  Also, if that’s not enough, the Ecogold Facebook page reports that 23 Canadian pairs have already applied for the Pan Ams.  @ecogold  @eventingnation

–Eventing Nation was rocking loud and proud courtesy of the announcer at the Rocking Horse HT.  Cyndi Kurth is absolutely one of my favorite announcers in eventing, and not just because she was able to sneak in two Eventing Nation shout-outs while our very own Annie Yeager was galloping around the cross-country.  I have already sent an email request to Cyndi to not mention EN when she announces my rides because that would almost certainly make me fall off.

–In other news, the world is all ears for a major grand prix showdown.  The champion Swedish team is facing staunch opposition from the Brits in the UK’s first rabbit Grand National.  The BBC has all the coverage (cute bunny video included) [BBC via the great one, JER]  If you send us enough awesome news tips, you can get an official EN title like ‘the great one’ too.    

–Top 10 reasons to wear your helmet [Riders4Helmets]

–Samantha welcomes Obi home [Samantha’s blog]

–Zara Phillips will marry Rugby player Mike Tindall in Edinburgh on July 30th. [Daily Mail]

–Winter hacking with Buzzterbrown [Youtube]

–Something that I forgot over the weekend was to give a big congratulations to the Chronicle for winning the USEF Pegasus award for General Publication.  It’s a pleasure to work along side the Chronicle on a daily basis and they have some really great journalists working for them.  A special shout-out to the Chronicle crew that I see regularly at events including Sara, Kat, Lisa, and Lindsay. [Chronicle

–Hay is becoming so scarce in the UK that supply companies are having to import hay from as far away as Pakistan.  As one supplier exaplined: “We’re importing hay from Norway, Sweden, France, Pakistan, Canada and America and I’m trying Morocco next.” [Horse and Hound]

–Today’s Tack of the Day items are high and standard neck heavy turnouts for 35% off retail.  Click here to view them, but hurry–you only have until noon ET before TOTD posts new items.  And, whenever you see the TOTD banner in the EN sidebar, be sure to click on it and check out what new items they have each day. [Tack of the Day]

–Eventing Nation seems a bit brighter today, can you tell why?    

–Be sure to enter our EN Point Two contest.  Some people have told me that the video is dull to watch, which I can agree with, but I think it’s well worth the chance to win a Point Two Airjacket.  I had to watch the entire video and I don’t even get the chance to win one!

That’s all for now.  We are speeding towards the most exciting two months in eventing and Eventing Nation is absolutely at the top of its game.  I’ll be leaving for Ocala this week, but I am around all day today with regularly scheduled posts and breaking news as it happens.  Now more than ever, thanks for coming to the Eventing Nation community for your latest eventing news, commentary, and fun.  Wherever you may be, thanks for making us part of your day.  See you soon…

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