Monday News and Notes from SmartPak

Come on guys lets put on some white spandex and go run at solid objects in the 28 degree weather!!! Happy Sunday everyone and good luck and HAPPY BIRTHDAY Silvio Mazzoni

Posted by Jennie Brannigan on Sunday, April 10, 2016

Standing ringside for days in a row, watching round after round, test after test with camera in hand isn’t just a great job, it’s a good education for a fellow rider. You end up counting strides along with the competitors, identifying turns and lines that do and don’t work, take note of geometry in tests and closely study equitation. I’m sure I’ve mentioned this all before, but in my bleary-eyed, post-four-day-horse-show condition, it’s what’s on my mind at the moment as next weekend I’ll be competing in a recognized event myself (a rarity). And while I worry nervously about remembering my test and jumping all the fences in the right order, I know that even the best and most experienced riders make mistakes and my job is to just do the best I can on the day and have fun with my amazing pony. What we have in common, no matter what level we compete, is that we’re all learning all the time. And that we’re almost certainly completely crazy.

U.S. Weekend Action:

CDCTA Spring H.T. [Results]

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. [Results]

Pine Hill Spring H.T. [Results]

Spring Bay H.T. [Results]

Monday News and Notes:

Weekly Business Tip from Mythic Landing Enterprises: When creating your business plan, remember that is isn’t something that is set in stone. It can gradually change as your business develops and grows. For example, when I started my business I named it “Mythic Landing Events” because I thought that I would be organizing shows and clinics every weekend. Fast forward eight years and my business is now named “Mythic Landing Enterprises” and the bulk of our business is in marketing and managing equine businesses of all shapes and sizes. My business has grown to fit the needs of my clients, much like I’m sure your business has changed slightly over the years to fit the needs of your clients.

Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) and her feisty mare Lintea Tequila claimed a victory at the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Miami Beach. That’s right. A show jumping competition on the beach. Some of EN’s photographer friends were there this weekend and while we love The Fork Horse Trials, we (at least, I) may or may not have been a tiny bit jealous. Horses, sunshine, bare toes in the sand? And it should be mentioned also that this is a fantastic way to present an equestrian sport to a new audience by hosting it somewhere beautiful and accessible. [Click here to read the show report] [Click here to see what the venue looks like]

The USEA is hosting an “r” Course Design Training Program at Waredaca June 3-5. This training program is for anyone interested in obtaining their “r” Course Design License or anyone interested in learning more about cross country course design. This course can also fufill the requirements to remain “certified” to design through the Training level at recognized events. [Information]

Does your horse have an inspiring story about coming back from a serious injury or illness? OCD Pellets wants to hear all about it! Send in your rehab to [email protected]for a chance to win an OCD prize pack (2-month supply of OCD Pellets, 1-month supply of COS Canine, and an OCD Pellets hat and T-shirt). Entries close Monday, May 2, 2016, and the story that receives the most views on EN will win. [Contest Details]