Julie Norman schools Consensus in the dying sunlight. Photo courtesy of Ashley Hays.
Two weeks from today, Rolex will commence with the first jogs. I’m not exactly a fashionista, but I love looking at all the amazing outfits that show up on the jog strip on a lovely April afternoon in Lexington. At this point, all the riders will be busy bubble wrapping their horses and crossing their fingers that they behave themselves in turnout. T-minus fourteen days!
U.S. Weekend Preview:
Plantation Field H.T. [Website] [Omnibus] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]
Ocala H.T. & CCI [Website] [Omnibus] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]
FENCE H.T. [Website] [Omnibus] [Entry Status]
Pine Hill H.T. [Website] [Omnibus] [Entry Status/Ride Times]
Twin Rivers H.T., CIC, & CCI [Website] [Omnibus] [Entry Status/Ride Times]
Rest in Peace, Wanda Webb. Wanda Webb was a long time rider and instructor out in Wyoming, based out of Flying W Farm with her sister, Wendy. On March 27, Wanda sadly passed away from breast cancer. EN’s thoughts and prayers are with her friends and family. [In Memoriam, Wanda Webb]
Jennifer McFall isn’t just a four star competitor. While Jennifer is most well known as a Rolex competitor with High Times, she also has had great success with her homebreds in the FEH and YEH series. She spends lots of time with her babies, and has a method for breaking them to the bit. [Introducing A Young Horse to Contact]
British Eventing has followed FEI’s lead on medical armbands. Riders will no longer be required to wear armbands on cross country, although it is still advised that riders with a medical condition such as a drug allergy continue to sport them. Officials say the change was made after determining that riders rarely kept them up to date, or even legible. [New Medical Armband Rule Sparks Debate]
Oliver Townend scored the eventing equivalent of a triple double at Burnham Market. Oliver took first and second in the CIC3* with Mr. Hiho and Armada. He then captured the top two placings in the CIC2* with Cooley SRS and Colonel Joe. To polish it off, he finished top two with Red Andes Fanfare and Peruising in an Intermediate section. Wouldn’t we all like to have that sort of weekend? [Oliver Townend Scores Three One-Twos at Burnham Market]
This week on the Eventing Radio Show: Jennie Brannigan and Jessica Phoenix. This week Jennie Brannigan is back, thanks to her win last weekend at The Fork. Jessica Phoenix recaps her year and looks forward to Rolex. [Eventing Radio Show]
SmartPak Product of the Day: I heard someone say recently that Virginia has two seasons: winter and bugs. Now that the one is gone, it’s time for the other. Every year, my horse destroys a fly sheet, and every year I have to buy a new one. I like the SmartPak brand with the neck, because of the large discounts they often offer on their own brand line. [SmartPak]
Now you can watch a ton of the cross country from The Fork, courtesy of The Horse Pesterer. Here’s Lauren Kieffer on one of her four Advanced rides this weekend, Meadowbrook’s Scarlett.
