Rick Wallace saw Horse Nation’s “15 Horses With Really Cool Facial Markings” post and raised us this picture of his two-star horse Ultimate Victory, who has a perfect “V” on his forehead. Team Wallace South kicked off its 2013 show season over the weekend at the Gulf Coast Classic Hunter Jumper Show in Pensacola, Fla, where Ultimate Victory placed 2nd in the 1.20 meter Open Jumpers with a clear round. Rick wrote on the Team Wallace Blog, “He was super and I am excited about 2013.” We’re excited about 2013, too. Here’s wishing all of you out there in Eventing Nation loads of victory this year!
Events Opening Today: Rocking Horse Winter III H.T.(A-3, FL), Sporting Days Farm Horse Trials (A-3, SC), MeadowCreek Park – The Spring Social Event (A-5, TX), Twin Rivers Winter H.T. (A-6, CA)
Events Closing Today: Sporting Days Farm Horse Trials (A-3, SC), Poplar Place Farm February H.T. (A-3, GA), Galway Downs Winter H.T. (A-6, CA)
News:
Speaking of victory, Canada has it on the brain. Equine Canada has proposed an ambitious six-year strategic plan, titled “One Vision,” that it describes as “a blueprint to reinvigorate the organization and set the stage for future successes as we build towards 2018.” The detailed plan has been two years in the making and aims not only to improve Canada’s performance on the international equestrian sports stage, but also to bolster the horse industry at large. [Dressage-News]
You are cordially invited to the 2013 Ocala Symposium, presented by the USEA Instructors’ Certification Program. The event takes place Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 18 and 19, at Longwood Farm South in Ocala. This year’s featured clinicians are British event team coach Yogi Breisner, dressage judge Linda Zang, and incoming U.S. eventing boss David O’Connor. Attendance of ICP-certified instructors will earn them ICP Continuing Education credit, and riders are also being sought to participate. Cost and more information is available on the USEA website. [USEA]
New Zealand’s annual Horse of the Year show is a big deal, and Mark Todd will be taking center stage during the 2013 edition taking place March 12 to 17. In addition to competing in the New Zealand Speed Championships, he’ll be a special guest speaker at the HoY’s Hall of Fame Gala Dinner. [Horse Talk NZ]
Horse owners can now elect to obtain a Equine Interstate Event Permit, a new six-month passport, in lieu of a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) that is only good for 30-days. Fourteen states will accept the permit: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Permits are available through accredited veterinarians. [TheHorse.com]
There’s so much going on in Florida right now, it can be hard to keep up. Molly Sorge is making it a little bit easier with her Omega Alpha’s Weekend Wrap-Ups for the Chronicle. Check out her most recent wrap-up, which includes results from the Ocala Horse Properties Winter I Horse Trials held Jan. 5-6. [COTH]
Best of the Blogs: ‘Tis the season for sitting down with your event calendar and mapping out your year. British event rider Lauren Shannon outlines her intentions for 2013 in her blog for Horse & Hound, noting that no plans are immune to revision. “Last year didn’t go to plan for a lot of people, and the weather played a big part in that,” she writes. “I am currently writing this in my kitchen watching the snow fall outside. So I’d like to say we are in for a more predictable 2013 as far as weather goes, but the truth is, we could be in for just as much of a roller coaster this year! I like the phrase lightening doesn’t strike twice, but I think flooding can… so we’ll leave it there.” [H&H]
