Wednesday News and Notes from MDBarnmaster

Madison Temkin honors the late Amy Tryon as she represents Area VI this weekend. Photo via Madison Temkin FB page. Madison Temkin honors the late Amy Tryon as she represents Area VI this weekend. Photo via Madison Temkin FB page.

Young Riders is getting a bit overshadowed by the Pan American Games this year, but for many of these kids, NAJYRC is the culmination of years of blood, sweat, and tears. Pan American U.S. team member Lauren Kieffer and alternate Jennie Brannigan both came up through this program, and it isn’t inconceivable that years from now we’ll see some of these names representing our country on foreign soil. Good luck to everyone representing the U.S. this weekend, whether in Kentucky or Toronto!

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Fitch’s Corner H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Maryland at Loch Moy II H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status]

Hunter Oaks H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Aspen Ridge H.T.  [Website]

Coconino Summer II H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Ten things I learned about Barbury. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words and here’s ten to sum up Barbury Castle in a nutshell. The Cliff Notes are Avebury is awesome, William Fox-Pitt does occasionally part from his horse, and the venue is a spectator’s dream. Best of all, there’s an Italian pizza vendor. Please come to the States, pizza truck. [Barbury Horse Trials in Pictures]

Ellegria likes to eat bananas, skin and all. Lauren Sprieser’s Grand Prix mare loves to eat bananas whole. She dresses like a stormtrooper for turnout because she hates bugs so much. Also, she has acquired strange injuries throughout her life despite everyone’s best effort. [Behind the Stall Door: Ellegria]

This week in Horse & Hound’s Numbers: Nicky Roncoroni brought her four star partner Trig Point out to play for the first time in 22 months.  [Eventing in Numbers]

Carl Hester has some pretty amazing tidbits for the flat. I somehow missed this for two months, but read it today and thought everyone else should too. Carl has plenty of short, sweet training tips here, including not sitting the trot on young horses and picking up a whip only to work on specific issues. Give yourself a dressage lesson with one of the best while sitting at your desk. [A Morning at Carl Hester’s Yard]

Notable eventers will be joining other prominent horsemen for RRP. The Retired Racehorse Project is hosting Thoroughbreds for All Saratoga at Traylor Stable in NY on August 4th. Laine Ashker and Jennie Brannigan will be joining Michael Matz, Rosie Napravnik, and others in Thoroughbred training demonstrations while a Thoroughbred marketplace will offer OTTB for sale. [Thoroughbreds for All Saratoga]

SmartPak Product of the Day: The bugs are horrendous guys. I have fly bites all over me and my poor horse is still suffering despite copious amounts of fly spray. Fly boots like these help decrease his constant stomping and give him some relief. [SmartPak]

Last year, an Appaloosa reigned supreme at the CCI1* for NAJYRC. Who will take the honors this year?