It’s Friday, the sun has been (mostly) shining, and your UK notes and video this week come to you directly from a dodgy AirBNB in a very questionable little town in Norfolk. I’ve been advised to lock the door, for my own protection. This can only mean one thing: it’s an eventing weekend! I’ll be bringing you all the news you need from the Nations Cup competition at Houghton Hall (if I survive Thetford, that is) — tune in and give our Team USA gals a virtual cheer!
There’s lots going on this weekend all around the UK (and apparently in Poland, too) — we’re certainly making up for lost time after losing much of the early part of the season to unprecedented levels of rainfall. Now it already feels like there’s hardly anything left. Please remind me that I said that when October rolls around and I’m dragging myself around the British Young Horse Championships, asking who I am, what I am, and where I am. I will give you a filthy glare through my droopy eyelids, but you’ll be doing me a favour, really.
UK Weekend Preview:
Saracen Horse Feeds Houghton Hall International Horse Trials [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Bishop Burton (1) [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Scotsburn [Ride Times]
Borde Hill (1) [Ride Times]
Pontispool (1) [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Shelford Manor (1) [Website] [Ride Times]
Events Opening This Weekend:
26th: Brightling Park International – BE90-CIC2* – [Enter] East Sussex
26th: Eland Lodge (2) – BE80-N, plus 4y/o class – [Enter] Derbyshire
26th: Offchurch Bury – BE80-BE105 – [Enter] Warwickshire
26th: Hopetoun – BE80-N – [Enter] West Lothian, Scotland
Events Balloting This Weekend:
26th: Catton Park – 5yo/BE100-I – [Enter] Derbyshire
26th: Rackham – BE90-BE100, plus 5y/o class – [Enter] West Sussex
27th: Burgie – BE80-N – [Enter] Moray, Scotland
27th: Farley Hall – BE100-AI – [Enter] Berkshire
Friday video: the save of the century
Okay, okay, so it’s not strictly speaking eventing-related — but we all love a good Thoroughbred, and we all REALLY love a good bit of madness and heroism. At the Races presenter Hayley Moore served up some Calamity Jane realness when racehorse Give Em A Clump (yes, really) played a great game of Dodgems at Chepstow Racecourse earlier this week. Don’t try this at home, kids.
Need a pair of breeches that will hide the evidence when you’re ignoring our advice and executing similar catching tactics? We love the Equetech denim grip full-seat breeches, available from World Equestrian Brands — they’re rugged, they’ll hide the telltale grass stains, AND they’ll make your bum look great. Win, win, win.