Good morning EN, I hope this post finds you feeling chipper. I would feel a lot better if the atrocious weather on the East Coast would pass on. I paddled my way to the barn yesterday. And snow in the south before Christmas? Let me rephrase that. Snow in the south at all? What is happening?
Speaking of the south, the USEA Annual Meeting kicks off today in Nashville, which is (among other things) the home of Taylor Swift. I’d take a bet that she might make an appearance at the cocktail party on Saturday night, because obviously it will be the most hopping shindig in town. I saw pictures from last year’s event and let’s just say that the board of governors knows how to get DOWN. [Schedule]
For those of you lucky enough to attend, the USEA website has a handy list of restaurants and attractions around Nashville (though it lacks Taylor Swift’s home address, is it creepy that I looked for it?). Those of you feeling left out can peruse the offerings from your desk and curse the day you decided to join to regular workforce/voluntarily subject yourself to higher education/or both. [Handy List]
Finally, Leslie Threlkeld took photos of the happenings from Wednesday for Eventing USA, so torture yourself a little more and take a look at the shopping opportunities you’re missing out on. [Eventing USA]
The Chronicle has complied a list of the most absurd horse-related news stories from 2011. The stories range from drunk riding to a pony getting stuck in a tire while grazing(?). No horses were harmed in the making of these stories, as far as the Chronicle knows. [COTH]
In an interesting twist of the wild horse dilemma, eight wild Dartmoor ponies are actually being released on the Norfolk Wildlife Trust in Norfolk, England, increasing the current number on the reserve to 84. The ponies are used to reduce invasive vegetation growth and create a more varied plant structure through their grazing habits. It’s nice to see wild horses being used to conserve land, rather than being removed to protect it. [Horsetalk]
Good news from the scientific front: British researchers have found an antibiotic that is successful in treating eye sarcoids. Previously difficult and expensive to treat, this discovery could potentially open up a whole new method of treatment for ocular tumors. Currently the drug is being tested in other types of tumors but it is still too early to see results. Fingers crossed. [Horsetalk]
Japan is stepping their game up by purchasing two new three star horses following their Olympic qualification this autumn. [Uptown]
Your daily list of clinic notes:
Sinead Halpin, Lynn Symansky, and Rebecca Howard are doing a Fork clinic on December 29th and 30th
Colleen’s Holiday Badminton funding clinic is December 26th, 27th, 29th, and 30th
Mike and Emma winter are hosting a clinic in Georgia January 14th and 15th
To finish off this post I leave you with the newest War Horse TV spot. If you send us a photo of your horse jumping a tank you will be added to the official Eventing Nation Hall of Champions. Which doesn’t exist. But if you actually send us that photo I will personally make sure it happens.
