Fritz isn't quite sure what to make of Onyx Jr. Photo by Lindsey Kahn
My household has become approximately 45% creepier after the addition of a life-size horse head that I ordered on eBay to help me display and sell my handmade custom halters at the AEC trade fair next week. It has been dubbed “Onyx Jr” (after my little black gelding) and is currently freaking out my boyfriend, cats, and tiny dog by sitting in the middle of the living room. Staring. Hungrily.
I’m so excited to head down to Texas to cheer all of the competitors on and plug some high-quality equine safety gear at the trade fair. If you’re at the Texas Rose Horse Park next week, feel free to say hi! The one and only Chinch will be making an appearance, so keep your eyes peeled!
Events Opening Today: The Virginia H.T. (VA, A-2), Rocking Horse Fall H.T. (FL, A-3), Full Gallop Farm H.T. (SC, A-3), Pine Hill Fall H.T. (TX, A-5), Galway Downs H.T. (CA, A-6)
Events Closing Today: Kent School Fall H.T. (CT, A-1), Morven Park Fall H.T. (VA, A-2), WindRidge Farm Fall Horse Trials (NC, A-2), ESDCTA New Jersey H.T. at the Horsepark (NJ, A-2), Fair Hill International Three-day Event (MD, A-2), Woodside International Horse Trials (CA, A-6), Hagyard Midsouth Three-day Event (KY, A-8)
News and Notes:
Calling All SHN Success Stories! Horse shopping can be a long and stressful operation. Buyers want to find their perfect new partner, and sellers want their horses to go to the right home. If you used EN’s classified site Sport Horse Nation to find your new best eventing friend, we want to hear about it! Email [email protected] with “SHN Success Story” in the subject.
Sinead Halpin is teaching a clinic at River Glen Equestrian Park in New Market, Tennessee, Oct. 25-26. Levels offered include Starter, Beginner Novice, Novice, Training and Prelim and up, divided further if necessary. Groups will start with flatwork and stadium on Saturday and cross-country on Sunday. Cost is $175/weekend for Crossroads Dressage & Combined Training Society members or $225/weekend for non-members. Stabling is available for $25/night (1 bag of shavings included) or $10 day stall (no shavings). Contact Katherine McDonough at [email protected]. More details and entry form available on CDCTS website here.
Journey the service dog’s journey to the Games: The WEG paparazzi went nuts over Journey, a service dog belonging to para-dressage rider Sydney Collier. For those who haven’t heard Journey’s story, the standard poodle had the honor of being the only accredited dog at the Normandy games, “paving a path for so many other service animals.” Chronicle of the Horse has the scoop on Sydney and Journey.
FEI disqualifies King’s Cup winner: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa has been disqualified from February’s King’s Cup CEI2* endurance race, following an FEI tribunal hearing. Al Khalifa, who was originally issued a yellow card for horse abuse and rule noncompliance and then suspended from competition, forfeited everything he had won at the race. For more information on the case against the sheikh and the implications of this ruling, visit [HorseTalk]
Let’s hear it for the little guy: Rothchild, the comparatively tiny but indisputably feisty mount of renowned jumper McLain Ward, is a horse worth rooting for. Read about their WEG experience here: [Chronicle of the Horse]
Video of the Day: I admit that I still get a thrill whenever I see a horse blasting its way around a barrel pattern… But can a barrel horse beat a dirt bike at a test of speed and agility? Watch the video to find out!
