Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! It’s my favorite holiday, honestly, and I have a few main reasons. One: I think the idea of gratitude is something that we should practice more often. Two: There isn’t the same level of stress as Christmas. Three: stuffing. Four: pie. Five: mashed potatoes with gravy. See? I started out classy but then took a turn towards my real priorities … AKA food.
National Holiday: Uhhh, duh, it’s Thanksgiving. Also happy 30th birthday to EN founder and publisher John Thier!
U.S. Weekend Preview:
Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
News From Around the Globe:
Germany’s golden girl and WEG Champion Simone Blum added the Fosun Best Athlete Award at the FEI 2018 Awards. Crowned individual world champion and winner of a team bronze medal at the WEG in September, she became the first woman in the 28-year history of the Games and only the second female athlete in 65 years of the World Jumping championship to win individual gold. [Simone Blum Crowned Best Athlete]
Hot on Horse Nation: Horses In The First Snow
This maybe isn’t the right day to talk about rider fitness, but here we are. Laura Crump Anderson has built her life around improving rider fitness, and helping equestrians from all different disciplines understand how to improve their riding through cross training. Her clientele includes NAYC silver medalist Haley Carspecken, Sharon White’s super groom Rachael Livermore, and four-star rider Jan Byyny. Ok, maybe check this out tomorrow when you’re feeling the turkey gravy regret. [Staying Fit Through the Holidays]
One of my absolute favorite things to focus on during the winter is transitions! I know, sounds boring, but seriously you guys, having really excellent transitions will change your life in all three phases. Downwards transitions can be especially challenging for lots of horses and riders, as they actually require a lot more work than just ceasing the previous gait. Check out these incredible tips from Horse & Hound on how to improve your downward transitions before your next training session! [Improve your Downward Transitions]
