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It’s happening. Grooms are packing, teams are putting their finishing touches to their preparations, and everyone’s gearing up for the big one – which, for us eventers, is NEXT WEEK.
Chinchilla-ing has become my verb of choice when I describe what’s going on behind the scenes here at EN, I’ve got a number of documents on the go in my ‘Paris, Baby!!!’ folder, and if our Olympic fever gets any higher we’re likely to explode like the fireworks over the Seine at next Friday’s Opening Ceremony.
ICYMI, we’ve done the math and crunched the numbers to work out the time zones for all you eventing nerds out there who we know won’t want to miss a thing. Here’s what you need to know.
Before I go back to obsessively scrolling through social media and getting tearful over videos of teams walking through train stations, I just want to take a moment to talk shoes. Because who wouldn’t want special shoes for a trip to Paris? Ireland’s Sarah Ennis’ mare Action Lady M has gone all out with a bespoke set for her Parisian jaunt, which I’ve totally got all the feels for:
One last aside before I return to said scrolling/filling my Paris, Baby!!! folder: after the intimacy ban in Tokyo for obvious Covid-related reasons, the organizers at this Olympic edition are taking no chances with sexual hygiene and have stocked up big time in anticipation of a whole bunch of athletes descending on the city of love. This interesting article shouts out the fact that they’ve been diverse in the types of protection they’re providing, but also that the campaign isn’t solely about safety, but also focuses on pleasure and consent. Because there are many ways to celebrate winning a medal.
Go Paris! And go eventing!
U.S. Weekend Preview
Applewood Farm YEH & Mini Event (Califon, NJ) [Website] [Ride Times]
Course Brook Farm Summer H.T. (Sherborn, MA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Full Gallop Farm July H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]
Horse Park of New Jersey Horse Trials II (Allentown, NJ) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Silverwood Farm Summer H.T. (Trevor, WI) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]
The Event at Rebecca Farm (Kalispell, MT) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Thursday News and Reading
Ireland’s Austin O’Connor and his game gray horse ‘Salty’ captured a million hearts when they won Maryland last year. And now they’re off to the Games. EquiRatings’ Nicole Brown caught up with Austin to discuss what’s going down in the O’Connor barn as they prepare for Paris, how it compares to their last Olympic outing in Tokyo, and the role his family play in his eventing journey. Pop the kettle on and settle in for a grand ol’ chat.
A fractured arm and wrist aren’t ideal two weeks out from your first Olympics. Britain’s show jumping talent Harry Charles unfortunately finds himself off games after a fall at Aachen, but he’s hoping he’s not out of the running to try and replicate his dad’s team gold medal from London 2012. The show jumping’s due to start on August 1st, so fingers crossed he’s healed up and gets to make his Olympic debut as planned.
Hot on Horse Nation – Why the US should be training our own Olympic horses.
You may or may not be familiar with Hovis, Horse & Hound’s horse about town. Famed for his Friday Diaries, he’s landed his biggest gig yet – as British Eventing’s supporter mascot to the team. Hovis’ link to eventing has the provenance of having gone eventing with none other than British eventing royalty, Mary King, so he’s well-placed for the role and says he’ll be available for advice on how to tackle the cross country course, how to keep the poles in the cups in the show jumping, and leading the pity party over the fact they have to do stressage. On a serious note, Hovis will be heading up the Here to Help scheme, “which aims to break down barriers and ensure anyone who wants to event is aware they can do so”. You can follow Hovis’ exploits à Paris via the hashtag #HovisInParis.
And finally, a heartwarmer to wrap things up. We love to hear what top eventers get up to in their later years, and this story about Phillip Dutton’s Fernhill Cubalawn is just the sweetest. He’s a big, powerful guy who’ll drag you all over the yard for a bite of grass if he knows you can take it, but put a teeny 4-year-old in charge and he’ll let her glitter his hooves and will follow her along as though he’s a puppy dog. Seriously, this sweeter-than-a-box-of-cupcakes relationship really is something else – take a look.
Video Break
#Supergrooms alert! Meet the team behind the Team GB horses as they prepare to defend their Tokyo team gold.
