Soundbite’s Thursday News and Notes from Devoucoux

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Just in case you need reminding

Good morning EN! It may not come as a surprise that there isn’t much news to write about today during one of the most random weeks of the year. Shows are over, schools are closed, and a lot of people are on vacation until New Year’s. I can’t believe that 2011 is nearly complete; I guess it’s time to start implementing my resolutions before the last few days slip away. Or maybe just write the new ones…I’ll start now. #1: Stop procrastinating.

Lauren Sprieser has written another great article for the Chronicle where she lists her “soundbites.” Soundbites are little phrases that a trainer uses as teaching aids for students to get across the meaning of an exercise or position adjustment. If I had a dollar for every time I was told to “hold the ice cream cones!!” or “make your shoulder blades touch” I would be able to buy an entire string of four star horses. Read Lauren’s sayings and maybe learn a new way to think about your riding. [COTH]

A tragic report comes from Florida, where a horse was found butchered on the morning of the 26th in Miami-Dade County. Horsetalk reports that the attacker probably killed the horse for food, a growing problem in Florida where horse meat can fetch $40 a pound on the black market. Officials are hoping that spreading word of the attack and of the $10,000 reward for information will help bring the perpetrator to justice. Purchasing the meat of an illegally slaughtered horse is a felony in the state of Florida. [Horsetalk

Calling all high school students! In the world of Western and Saddleseat a high school outside Los Angeles is allowing its riders to work towards earning their varsity letters: through the USEF’s high school program. The USEF program allows riders across all disciplines to earn an equestrian letter patch based on hours logged in the saddle and competition results. The patch can be worn on jackets (or wherever you want to put it) and is a great way to take back some of the limelight from the football team. The program is open to all 9th-12th graders and runs from June 1-May 31 each year. This is a new initiative that launched in 2010 and is a great way to connect all levels of riders to excellence, not just those who are advanced enough to compete at shows like Young Riders. Click to read more and find the online application. [USEF]

Trainer Katie Brown-Maxwell wrote about her daughter’s scary accident last month at a horse show in Aiken for the Chronicle. Rather than focusing on the accident and her daughter’s subsequent injuries, Katie instead talks about the support she and her students received from their fellow competitors while they dealt with the ensuing chaos. I believe her experience is just as applicable in the eventing world; it is a nice reminder of the web of acquaintances we make while riding and their willingness to step in without hesitation. [COTH]

More donkey news! Ebenezer the donkey is selling calendars to pay for his winter expenses (well, his human caretakers are) and they are going fast. Ebenezer is the 32-year-old town ambassador of Grandview, Missouri. His website proclaims that he is “technically a donkey, but really an Icon in the animal world.” Ebenezer is struggling in the cold this year and his owners are raising money to build him a heated barn. His owners expected only 100 orders, but right now it looks like 500 might be a more accurate prediction. Did I mention he has his own Facebook? Popular guy. [Horsetalk] [Buy a Calendar

Best of Blogs: Three Days Three Ways’ fashion find

George Morris’ Horsemastership clinic will be on the USEF Network January 3rd to 7th

Ricochet EDF is for sale

Finally I leave you with your daily dose of cute:

Happy Thursday! Go eventing.

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