Dom Schramm knows how 2 ride horses, 4 realz. Photo courtesy of Dom.
Yesterday I had the joy of starting my new once-a-week job as instructor at a local barn, wherein I give group lessons to a variety of adorable children on lesson ponies. I never got the chance to experience these saintly animals as a child, because I rode at home with my mother and my own ponies….who were probably still saints, but significantly more naughty as I remember. Ponies are the best thing ever because they always know exactly just how much they can get away with, and where to draw the line. My favorite is when the pony is absolutely not going to canter unless you are super determined to make it happen, and they begrudgingly give the kid a few strides before lapsing back into a trot. God bless ponies.
U.S. Weekend Preview:
Hitching Post Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]
Fair Hill International May H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]
CHC International H.T. & CIC [Website] [Entry Status]
Otter Creek Spring H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]
Sol Events at Corona del Sol H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]
The Event at Woodland Stallion Station H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]
Equestrians Institute H.T. [Website]
CCC Spring Gulch H.T. [Website] [Ride Times]
News From Around the Globe:
Want to join the most eclectic team of eventing journalists around? Then you’ll want to enter our Fifth Annual EN Blogger Contest for your shot! We’re looking for our next victim talented writer to join our team, and entries are open until Tuesday, May 19 at 8 p.m. EST. [EN Blogger Contest]
Sadly, an inquest into the death of eventer Jordan McDonald revealed that his body protector did not meet British Eventing standards. Jordan was fatally injured in a rotational fall at Nunney Horse Trials last year in England, and a recent inquest proves that the cross country vest he was wearing at the time was substandard. Amongst other injuries, his fall caused a lung laceration, which could have been prevented with a better vest, and possibly increased chances of resuscitation. BE is now reevaluating rules for approval of cross country vests in competition. [Substandard Cross Country Vest]
As we well know, William Fox Pitt claimed his second Badminton title last weekend on Chilli Morning. This makes him the first stallion ever (Chilli, not William) to win the event! William last won the event eleven years ago on the incomparable Tamarillo, who William has confessed as his favorite horse ever. Click to watch the interview where he talks a bit more about Chilli and Tam and how they are similar and different! [WFP Wins Badminton]
It’s not every day you see a paint thoroughbred racehorse. Koda Chrome, already famous at the age of three, made his racing debut last week at Beltarra Track in Ohio. He finished third, and his owners have big hopes for him to beat the pants off more plain clothed thoroughbreds in the future. [Overo TB Third in Maiden]
Best of Blogs: Havarah Equestrian Sends off “Hannah Banana”
Horses (and cowboys) rescuing horses in a flooded farm.
