Monday News and Notes from Event Clinics

Photo via the Nadeem Noon Support Fund Facebook page

A collection of stories, quotes and photographs submitted by students, friends and family of Nadeem Noon, who passed away last month, have been published together in a work titled “In Our Words and His.” Nadeem, who died after a battle against a condition called Amyloidosis, had a major impact on our sport, particularly in the tight knit eventing community in Area VIII. Remember Nadeem’s passion for life and for horses through these stories, written by those he inspired.

Monday News and Notes:

Congratulations to Julie Henk and Beth Johnson, the winner of yesterday’s 12 Days of Christmas giveaway from Omega Alpha! Julie will win a gallon of Sinew X Plus, while Beth will take home six tubes of RegenerEQ Plus for her horse. Well done, ladies! [12 Days of Christmas: Omega Alpha]

Leah Lang-Gluscic is spending the quiet winter reflecting on the season with her young horses and looking ahead to a big year in 2016, when her youngsters will move up and her four-star partner AP Prime gets back in action! As a self proclaimed ‘tightly wound type A personality,’ having all the pieces in place for her program is essential. To that end, she’s thankful for FLAIR Nasal Strips for putting her mind at ease when it comes to her horses’ respiratory soundness. [The Downtime]

The USEA’s Evaluation of the Young Event Horse Prospect Symposium will return to Ocala, Florida February 22-23, 2016. This is a great opportunity for breeders and young horse enthusiasts to get a feel for what the judges are looking for during Future and Young Event Horse competitions as well as train your eye for spotting young talent. Speakers will include Susan Graham White, Marilyn Payne, Robin Walker, Gareth and Shauna Spurlock, professional handler Phil Silva, Leslie Law, and top German rider Kai-Steffen Meier, among others. [Evaluation of the Young Event Horse Prospect]

The Virginia Horse Trials has announced an exciting opportunity for an aspiring cross country course designer to take over the Beginner Novice through Preliminary courses under the mentorship of FEI designer John Nicholson. Virginia Horse Trials runs two popular events each year which include Adult, Intercollegiate and Young Rider team challenges as well as FEI and National divisions and championships. This could be an incredible educational opportunity for a person pursuing licensing as a cross country course designer. Applications are due January 8, 2016. [VHT Course Designer Mentor Program]

A new FEI eventing competition venue is coming to Ocala, Florida in 2016, with the Ocala Jockey Club gearing up to host a CCI*, CCI2* and CIC3* on Thanksgiving weekend. Richard Trayford of Equiventures has big dreams for the venue. A three-star is a good start, he said, but a four-star is the ultimate goal. Construction is well on its way, with the show jumping arena nearing completion and the Mike Etherington-Smith designed cross country course coming soon. [Phase 2 Underway at Ocala Jockey Club]

A former four-star event rider has written a book about her recovery from a traumatic brain injury. The book, titled Where Did I Go?, chronicles author Polly Williamson’s journey back to health and rediscovering her identity. [Where Did I Go?]

Virginia Thompson won the Honda NZCCI3* at Puhinui International Horse Trials this weekend with her horse Star Nouveau after a nail-biting finale. They are now qualified for the Adelaide CCI4* next year. [Virginia Thompson Takes Victory at Puhinui]

Shenanigans during the awards ceremony at the Honda New Zealand 3*** class at the Puhinui International Three Day Event New Zealand.