Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) and Gio, Tokyo bronze medalists. Photo Copyright © FEI/Shannon Brinkman.
Well, we, the greater equestrian sport, are not off to a great start in terms of social license ahead of the Olympics this weekend. In case you missed it, yesterday the horse world was rocked with the news of Charlotte Dujardin’s withdrawal from this Olympic Games followed by her suspension from FEI and British Equestrian competition after a years-old video of her using training methods not in line with the FEI’s principles of horse welfare was submitted to the FEI. Of course, this news has hit mainstream media including the New York Times and The Guardian. And of course, this is not the kind of publicity that equestrian sport was hoping for ahead of taking the world stage once again.
This means it’s even more important for everyone to be equestrian’s biggest hype person throughout this Olympics. We know that the IOC monitors viewing figures and they’re very likely keeping an eye on the amount of social media chatter via hashtag use as well. So get your friends and and family and your next door neighbor to watch, watch, watch, and share, share, share. We’ve tried to make it as easy as possible to figure out how to tune in, even breaking it down by time zones. Yes, for anyone in the Americas it’s a bit of an ask to wake up and watch that early but even tuning in halfway through a phase is better than not at all. Peacock will also have replays of all events at some points.
Do your part to help keep equestrian sports in the Olympics and HYPE IT UP.
U.S. Weekend Preview
Millbrook H.T. (Millbrook NY) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Hunt Club Farms H.T. (Berryville, VA) [Website] [Entries] [Scoring]
Major International Events
#Paris2024: [Website] [Equestrian Schedule, Timing, Scoring] [Peacock for U.S. Viewers] [How to Watch Guide] [Ticket Resale Market] [Spectator Guides] [EN’s Coverage]
Wednesday News and Reading
In better mainstream media coverage, the US eventing horses flying off to Paris have hit the Associated Press. Get an inside look at the horse’s journey through the The Ark at JFK International Airport and onto their planes, plus what goes into packing and travel from the grooms and team veterinarian. Read to the end for a great quote from Steph Simpson, a most relatable queen.
Another Olympic preview show for you: RideiQ brings us Kyle and Jen Carter, who’ll walk us through their predictions, the format, and the buzz around the Versailles cross country course. Listen/ watch here.
WEC is widening its reach. A deed filed earlier this month reports that the same family that developed the World Equestrian Center and Golden Ocala neighborhood purchased Classic Mile Park, a 700 acre facility, which is just a ten minute drive from WEC. We don’t know what the plans for the property are yet, but it sounds like the perfect place to host a new event if you ask me.
Today is the last day to win yourself an EPIC prize bundle, including a $200 shopping spree and VIP tickets to Maryland 5*, amongst other, amazing prizes?! The be sure to enter EN’s Summer Sweepstake, our biggest giveaway yet! But be quick – the entries close July 24, with the winner notified the following week, July 29. An Olympic hangover cure, if you will. It’s super simple to enter too, simply fill in the entry form and you’re in with a shout. Good luck!
Everyone has their own ‘Olympics’. For some it’s, well, the actual Olympics. But for most of us who will never reach that level, a more attainable goal that still takes a whole lotta work can be extremely fulfilling and feel like just as big deal to achieve. For many, a classic three-day is that goal. Here are some tips for your first classic series event!
Morning Video Break: Here’s Boyd Martin checking in from Team USA’s Olympic training camp:
