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Live Blog with Karen O'Connor from Rebecca Farm

By John on July 24, 2010 4:58 PM, Filed Under

Karen generously agreed to join us for a quick chat right from the FEI barns at Rebecca Farm in Montana.  I'd like to extend a huge Eventing Nation thank you to Karen for taking the time to reach out to her many fans here at EN literally minutes after getting off of her last horse. 

Be sure to check out the OCET site at www.oconnoreventteam.com

Click the link below to read the live blog...
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Continue reading Live Blog with Karen O'Connor from Rebecca Farm.

Live Blog with Karen O'Connor Saturday 6PM ET

By John on July 23, 2010 11:39 AM, Filed Under

I am very proud to say that I just got word from Karen that she will be able to join us for a live blog Saturday evening right after her XC rides.  Please join us to chat about Rebecca Farm and bring your own questions for Karen.  It is a big honor for me to have Karen as a guest here on Eventing Nation.   Thanks to Karen and all the OCET people for helping us set this great opportunity up.  Of course, the technical and real time aspects of the live blog, and the fact that Karen is riding several horses and has many other obligations leaves a small probability that we may have to shift the timeframe around some, but we will keep everyone posted and the current plan is 6PM ET Saturday.  Go eventing.
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Destination Bromont: driving and blogging all night!

By John on June 8, 2010 8:10 PM, Filed Under
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I'm driving through the night to Bromont with Emily and Jeff Beshear, their son Nicholas, and their labrador Theo.  If you don't know, Emily is an upper level rider and coach, Jeff is a rider and equine vet, and together they own and operate Brickland Farm, a training facility in Somerset, VA.  Needless to say, young Nicholas is the brains behind the operation.  We left Brickland around 8pm on Tuesday in their RV and I will be posting updates of our drive throughout the night.  

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8:13 PM - Location: Central Virginia, Status: Leaving Brickland farm
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55 miles to DC

Frankly I'm just glad to be on the road because getting my passport turned out to be an absolute nightmare.  Like everything, I left getting my passport until the last minute, and I nearly missed Bromont as a result.   We used an expedited passport service--let's call it HushMyPassport.com--and they guaranteed delivery by Tuesday at the latest.  I know, I know, we were cutting things pretty close, but it was guaranteed right??  Making a long story sort, I got a call at 9am this morning saying that for unknown reasons the courier hadn't picked up my passport on Monday and so it wouldn't be arriving Today.  The only way for me to get my passport was to go to the passport office in Washington, DC.   Fast forward 5 hours and I was completely lost in DC, driving down Pennsylvania avenue, and getting directions from a Taxi driver--while we were both driving.  God bless taxi drivers.  Anyhow, I managed to get the passport with 3 minutes to spare before the passport office closed, paid my $8 in parking and only got lost once on the drive home.  Fortunately, the day can only get better from here and all I have to do before bed is drive to Canada.



10:30 PM - Location: Just across the PA border, Status: Working on the computer
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Well, it's 10:30 at night, Emily is driving, and I'm doing the same thing I would be if I was sitting at home--working on the computer.  We have just crossed into the keystone state--why is it called the keystone state anyhow?  Honestly, I completely missed our short journey through Maryland because I was busy writing emails and adding the USPEA banner to out sidebar, which I think looks great.  

The Beatles are keeping us company right now, Elanor Rigby to be exact.  My British Lit teacher in high school said Elanor Rigby is "a poor man's Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock."

Let us go then, you and I, when the evening is spread out against the sky...

Either way, Elanor Rigby is a top 5 song of all time, no doubt.  While we're at it, Prufrock is a top 5 poem, along with Ulysses, but if I start reciting that I'm going to start crying.  

It little profits that an idle king...

If you only memorize two things in your life memorize those.  Sorry, like vampires, my inner nerd thrives at night.  Now to more emails.  Links: Prufrock, Ulysses



9:20 PM - Location: Sheetz, Status: Bathroom break -- 7 games of Pok'emon, 3 games of UNO, 1 government quiz by yours truly (inspired by my trip to Washington), and 1 Gatorade later and it's bathroom time for Nicholas.  Oh the wonders of traveling with a 7 year old.  9:30 at night and Sheetz is packed--welcome to Northern Virginia.  Pop quiz time: how many Air Force Ones are there?


11:40 PM - Location: Somewhere in PA, Status: Refueling
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Bromont One sitting in the hanger

Time for me to begin my shift after quickly refueling at a Pilot station.  Why don't more gas stations sell Vault energy drink??  And why does Pepsi make Diet Mountain Dew (which tastes awful) look almost exactly the same as regular (which tastes decent)??  I will be pondering these questions and more over the next few hours.


5:00 AM - Location: Upstate NY, Status: Tired
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Well my 5 hour driving shift has ended and it was thankfully uneventful.  The worst part is always right before dawn.  The RV drives like a boat, which reminds me that there are a lot more boating accidents than most people think--primarily due to intoxication and the fact that boats take a lot longer to stop than some people think.  Unlike boats, cars decelerate faster than they accelerate, which modeling has shown to be one reason for traffic backups.  While I was driving I saw a tractor trailer that was pulling two full length trailers in tandem.  In other news, it's colder than I anticipated in upstate New York--probably around 40 degrees right now.  Sorry, I ramble when I get tired.  Alright, off to try to catch a bit of shut-eye before the border crossing.  Thankfully Ally is handling the morning post.

8:00 AM - Location: Border, Status: Sleeping
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I woke up just long enough to show my passport to the officer.  No questions asked.



9:00 AM - Location: Bromont!!!
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Arrival!  I woke up to the Bromont gate keeper directing us to the camping spot.  First impression: Canada is green and hilly.  That's all for now.  The jogs are this afternoon and until then I'll be out and about Bromont.


[[Note: if my posts suddenly stop for a while this morning, it's probably because my wireless card is out of service area.  That or a Moose ate me.]]

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The route:

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A few quick links from Tuesday:



Nearly 50% of Brits have never ridden, which is nearly 50% more than have brushed their teeth



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CCI3*-Tiana Coudray wins big

By John on May 9, 2010 2:00 PM, Filed Under
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CCI3* Results
1. Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister +4 45.6
2. Phillip Dutton and Inmidair +0 58.0
3. Colin Davidson and Draco +8 64.2
4. Sharon White and Rafferty's Rules +8 65.8
5. Kate Brown and Mojito +4 70.6

Link: Final Jersey Fresh Scores

Photos from the Chronicle:  Sunday Jog, Show Jumping, and... Polocrosse ?!

Quick recap: 

(1) Tiana Coudray had 4 rails in hand when she entered the arena and just pulled one with a very solid round.  The California pair won Jersey by an impressive 12.4 points behind their impeccable dressage test.


(2) Phillip jumped a great round on the big jumping Inmidair, and moved up to 2nd when Draco and Rafferty's Rules both had 2 rails down.  Phillip finished 1st in the CIC3*, second in the CCI3*, and his student Jennie won the CCI2*.  

(3) During Tiana's victory gallop, Brian played the song "California dreaming."  Let me just take the chance to say how much I appreciate Brian's great job as an announcer.  I spend quite a bit of time looking at my computer doing this, and Brian acts like a second pair of eyes, keeping everyone posted on anything and everything that is happening.  

(4) Brian asked everyone to spread the word that the competition went well this weekend in the hopes that we will have more Jersey entries next year.  Without question, the courses had good results and rode safe this year.

(5) Colin Davidson won closest to the optimum time on XC award--he was just 1 second under optimum.  Sharon and Raffferty's Rules wins best conditioned horse in the CCI3*.

(6) Make sure to check out our Mother's Day post from this morning--I don't want it to get lost in out event coverage.  

(7) GO MOMS


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Tuesday Evening Eventing Entertainment

By John on April 27, 2010 6:06 PM, Filed Under
   
Steph Rhodes-Bosch                      Samantha Clark

Welcome to our live blog! Tonight we were joined by Samantha Clark from the horse radio network, our very own Visionaire, and Steph Rhodes-Bosch, who placed 5th in her first Rolex.  We chatted about Rolex, frangible pins, how Steph started eventing, Samantha's favorite Rolex horses and much more.  Click the big Cover It Live box for the replay.  This live blog is part of our ongoing efforts to get people in eventing together and talking about the issues in our sport.  Samantha's Twitter, Visionaire's Twitter, Eventing Nation's Twitter, Steph's Blog.  Go eventing.

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Live Blog 7PM EST Tonight with Samantha Clark

By John on April 27, 2010 12:57 AM, Filed Under
Samantha Clark, host of the 2010 Radio Show and, perhaps more importantly, a very well connected eventer extraordinaire, will join us as 7PM EST tonight for a live blog.  We're going to chat about Rolex, Badminton, and anything else Eventing Nation wants to discuss.  Please join us because you don't want to miss it.  Word in the barns is that we might be joined by a top 5 Rolex finisher, and that Visionaire might also participate.  While I'm starting rumors, I might as well also say that we intend to incorporate live blogging in our Badminton coverage.  Oh, and we will reveal the winner of our Eventing Nation $100 Bit of Britain Challenge during the live blog.  Go eventing.
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Cooper is Coming Home

By John on November 10, 2009 4:22 PM, Filed Under
Jennie announced that Cooper is doing great and will be coming home from New Bolten tomorrow!  Read about that and much more in the live blog below.  Jennie was forthright and open, as always, in her discussion of the financial issues surrounding the surgeries, and in addressing her critics.  Cooper also made a cameo, check it out.
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Thanks for visiting Eventing Nation!  A special welcome to new viewers, many of whom are visiting us for the first time this evening to watch our live blog with Jennie.  To our hundreds of regular readers: it's always an honor.

Jennie will be giving clinics over the next two weekends to support the Cooper Fund.  The first is this weekend at Footlight Farm.  The second is at the farm of Lisa Thomas, and we will give you more info as we get it.  Auditing these clinics is a wonderful way to support a great cause and have a fun time over the weekend.

For more information on the Cooper Fund, visit Jennie's website.  For more information on the Cooper situation, check out Jennie's blog, and Eventing Nation's coverage.  Thanks to Jennie for spending time with all of us tonight, and thanks to Lisa Thomas for all of her help.

As always, this Eventing Nation live blog is brought to you by Old Dominion Equine Associates, a great veterinary practice serving the Central Virginia Eventing community.  Old Dominion does work for all the top riders in the area and travels to all the major competitions. Eventing Nation is donating the proceeds of our live blog to the Cooper Fund, and, once again, Old Dominion has generously decided to double that donation.
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Jennie Brannigan on EN Live Blog Tuesday 7pm EST

By John on November 9, 2009 10:02 AM, Filed Under
A note from Jennie to Eventing Nation: "Hi everyone! It's Jennie Brannigan here and I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has kept tabs on how Cooper has been doing. I am looking forward to awnsering any questions you all have!! -Jennie"
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Jennie will join us for about 30 minutes at 7pm EST Tuesday.  Please tell your friends and bring your questions at 7pm to speak with Jennie live.  Watching and participating live is so much cooler than reading the archives later.  This live blog is a continuation of our support for the Cooper Fund.  Please visit Jennie's website for more information.  Be here.
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Kelly Sult and Hannah Burnett Live Blog

By John on October 29, 2009 6:03 PM, Filed Under
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Thank you everyone for joining us, we had a great time!  Click on the box below to read what Kelly and Hannah had to say.
 

This Eventing Nation live blog is brought to you by Old Dominion Equine Associates, a great veterinary practice serving the Central Virginia Eventing community.  Old Dominion does work for all the top riders in the area and travels to all the major competitions. 
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News and Notes

By John on October 28, 2009 8:21 PM, Filed Under ,
    • Breaking News: Cooper Continues to Struggle in Recovery-*Jennie's Oct. 28 blog post.  More info on Salmonella.

    Here is an interesting article from the New York Times about today's horse market.

    Also, please join Kelly Sult, Hannah Burnett, and the rest Eventing Nation at 7pm EST Thursday for our live blog.  Remember to bring your questions!
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    Thursday Live Blog Mystery Guests Unveiled

    By John on October 27, 2009 7:26 PM, Filed Under
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       Photos Courtesy of Facebook

    ~Hey Eventing Nation, this is Kelly Sult, and I am looking forward to joining you for a live blog on Thursday. My horse's name is Hollywood, he is 17 yr old off the track tb. I have had him for nine yrs. I have brought him up through the levels from Novice to the 4*. I am 23 yrs old and have been living my dream. I have done most of the work on my own. I hope you will join us Thursday, Kelly and Hollywood.

    ...and...

    ~Hey Eventing Nation, this is Hannah Burnett--can't wait to chat with you on the live blog on Thursday. Here's a snapshot of my background: I'm originally from Louisville, KY and I'm 23 years old. I ride and work for Karen and David O'Connor. In 2007 I completed Rolex KY as young rider on Keep the Faith, who is now retired. Recently I have had great success with Richard Thompson's gelding St. Barths with wins this year at Stuart Horse Trials CIC** and FairHill International CCI**. I hope you can join us on Thursday at 7pm EST. -HSB
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    Boyd Martin Live Blog

    By John on October 21, 2009 3:37 PM, Filed Under
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    Photocred Amber Heintzberger

    In tonight's live blog, Boyd responded to questions ranging from his favorite beer, to his technique with young horses, to the pressure of growing up with two Olympians as parents, to the secret of having a great eye, and much, much more.  Click on the live blog below to read everything.

    **We had a brief technological glitch early on, with my name showing up as "Boyd", but we got everything sorted out just after Boyd joined us at 6:27.  We are learning as we go, thanks for visiting Eventing Nation.**

    This Eventing Nation live blog is brought to you by Old Dominion Equine Associates, a great veterinary practice serving the Central Virginia Eventing community.  Old Dominion does work for all the top riders in the area and travels to all the major competitions.
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    Finally, a special thanks to Boyd's sponsors:
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    LIVE BLOG from Fair Hill Show Jumping CCI3*

    By John on October 18, 2009 12:28 PM, Filed Under ,
    • Click here for CCI2* results and the order of go for the CCI3* (reverse order of placing).  To view the live blog, click the countdown circle once we have started.  Welcome to Eventing Nation and thanks for reading!


    Also, the comments are moderated, meaning that when you hit 'submit' they show up on my screen but not immediately on the live blog.   I then have to hit a button to put them on the screen that everyone can see.  I tend to get absorbed in watching at writing and it sometimes takes me a few minutes to ok comments, so please bear with me.  

    If Eventing Nation takes a while to load or goes off-line, it means that our servers have crashed due to such a high traffic volume.  We will get back online asap.
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