Living his best chubby boi life. Photo by Kate Samuels.
So, my big horse Nyls is retired from competition, but I still ride him every day. My neighbor has a few thousand acres with trails maintained by the hunt club, so we spend every day adventuring around and doing whatever we want. He’s moved to the full time snackamore life, and the rule is that he’s allowed to eat as long as it doesn’t impede our progress in the direction or speed that I’ve chosen. In my mind, I was imagining more like while you’re walking you can grab a bite or so, but no no, ever the overachiever, he’s moved on to fully trotting while grazing, and yesterday he tried to graze while CANTERING up a hill. Do you know how hard that is??! Talent doesn’t fade with age, ladies and gents, it just develops in other directions.
National Holiday: Butterscotch Brownie Day
U.S. Weekend Preview:
Jersey Fresh CCI [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Spokane Sport Horse Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]
Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Galway Downs H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Winona H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]
Plantation Field H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
WindRidge Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Mill Creek Pony Club H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]
Woodland Stallion Station H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]
News From Around the Globe:
We’ve had our first CCI5* and now this weekend is the first CCI4*-L of the year at Jersey Fresh. There are 133 combinations entered in the four divisions available, and both the CCI4*-L and the CCI3*-L are serving as selection trials for the Pan American Games later this year. Captain Mark Phillips is returning as the cross country course designer as well as Chris Barnard for the show jumping design. [Fast Facts JFI 2019]
Badminton director Hugh Thomas has elected to retire from his position this year. Hugh has been the steward director of the infamous event for 31 years, and will be in charge of finding and training his successor. Hugh not only competed to the highest levels himself including the Olympic games, but was both director and course designer until 2013. 2019 marks the end of an era, with the departure of both Hugh and Mitsubishi Motors as the presenting sponsor. [Hugh Thomas Retires from Badminton]
What do top riders look for when purchasing an event horse? Outside of a good record, there are several things that make a good event horse, regardless of experience or expectations for the future. Conformation is slightly subjective, but temperament is not and across the board the riders look for a careful and natural jumper. [What to Look for in an Eventer]
Hot on Horse Nation: Race Horse To Ranch Horse: Positive Associations
