The bad news is that it’s Monday. The good news is that, if you’re anything like me, there are still plenty of leftovers…dare I say left over from Thankgiving. So, let’s all enjoy our Turkey sandwiches today and pass the time until then with a few eventing news and notes:
—Doug Payne won the open prelim at Pine Top and Julie Richards finished two horses in the top four of that division. Samantha Clark was on-scene and will have a full Pine Top report from later today. [Eventing Scores]
–The Burghley Horse Trials has undergone a leadership transition with the Burghley Estate taking over full ownership of the organizing committee, which is now called (surprisingly) Burghley Horse Trials Ltd. Richard Jewson, one of Pippa Funnell’s owners, has been appointed as Chairman of the new committee. Elizabeth Inman will continue as current event director and I don’t expect the changes to make any major difference to eventing fans. [British Eventing]
–The big non-eventing news from the weekend is that Matthias Rath of Germany will get the ride on Moorlands Totilas. Apparently, Rath’s stepmom, Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff has “acquired the riding rights” to Totilas from the stallion’s new owner Paul Schockenmohle. Matthias Rath won bronze with the German team at the WEGs this year and he is an excellent rider, but I wouldn’t be so quick to envy him. It’s like taking over as quarterback for a team that has won 5 straight Super Bowls. Every success will be attributed to Totilas and anything less than winning will be considered a complete failure. [Eurodressage]
–Heading below the fold, two donkeys in Shaftesbury, England had to be rescued by firefighters when they became trapped up to the neck in a pile of manure. Neither animal was harmed during the incident as crews used ropes and machinery to free them. In other news, I have withdrawn my application to work for the Shaftesbury fire department. [BBC]
–A farrier named Brent Jury won the advanced New Zealand eventing championships. Personally, I love it when vets and farriers event because it gives them more of a practical view of our sport that only comes with time in the saddle. [Stuff.co.nz]
–Vets in Australia are concerned that toxic tropical plants have led to over 40 horse deaths in Queensland. The major issue seems to be that the illness seem to be showing up in the horses months after the suspect plants have gone. [H&H]
We are back to normal on Eventing Nation this week…enjoy.
