It might be eighty degrees and sunny down in Florida, but winter is clinging by the fingernails up here in the Northeast. I walked home through a lovely mix of rain, sleet, snow, and slush today, and there’s more to come on Thursday. Can I please call in sick for the rest of the winter? I have decided I will just bundle myself into a pile of blankets and watch the live stream of Red Hills show jumping this weekend.
U.S. Weekend Preview:
Southern Pines H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]
Red Hills CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]
Full Gallop Farm March I H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]
Do you have a Horse of a Different Color? One of the most wonderful aspects of this sport is its diversity, from ponies to draft horses and everything in between. Eventing Nation is looking for stories to feature in our “Horse of a Different Color” series! If you own or ride a horse or pony that has been successful in the sport of eventing while representing a unique breed, email [email protected].
Pippa Roome offers her opinion on rider categories. Currently the eventing editor for Horse & Hound, Pippa Room quit eventing six years ago, but misses it every day. I think many of us can relate to that. Recent changes in British Dressage rider categorizations have led her to ponder why so many eventers are fine with a level playing field. [Why We Do It]
Top British riders reveal how they celebrate. Spoiler alert! The answer is: not much. Most of them are right back to work, whether that means trailering home from a big championship or getting right back into the workings of the yard. All three Olympic disciplines are represented here, and maybe it’s a sign… [Rider Celebrations]
The USEA has dug into their archives to recount some great moments in eventing. First up is David O’Connor, his historic gold medal, and the gasp-inducing moment when all of America realized he had forgotten which direction the next fence was in. I personally remember screaming directions at the television in that moment, as if he could hear me through the screen. Luckily, he quickly recovered and ended up with a gold medal. [David O’Connor Makes Us All Gasp]
Podcast from the USEA: This episode, Susan Graham-White, Robin Walker, and Marilyn Payne discuss how the recent Future & Young Event Horse Symposium. [USEA Podcast]
This week on the Eventing Radio Show: Sinead Halpin. This week Sinead and her husband Tik Maynard join hosts Jess and Samantha to discuss her 2015 plans, the pony she’s riding, and what it’s like to be newly married. [Eventing Radio Show]
SmartPak Product of the Day: Now that it’s March, the wind is picking up, and many horses hijinx with it. My boy finds the wind greatly unsettling sometimes, and I’ve found that a good set of ear plugs under a bonnet helps with this issue immensely. [SmartPak]
Donner is back to play, and he celebrated his first event of the season with a lovely clear round.
