My favorite EN photo submission of all time. Thanks again to Jade!
Hello EN, happy Wednesday! You are halfway to the weekend. Which means we are only two days away from another event. I’m sure you have been missing your usual live score links, but fear not- the first Poplar Place Horse Trials of the year begins on Saturday. I distinctly remember the one year I went to the January Poplar: it was raining and about 35 degrees and the most miserable show I’ve ever attended. This year it’s supposed to rain again, but temperatures will around 69 degrees…global warming at it’s finest? Fingers crossed for a cloud-free weekend! Good luck to all competitors. Entry times are posted on the farm website. [Poplar]
As Ali reported yesterday, a tragic fire destroyed Pleasant Ridge Farm’s barn and killed nine horses early yesterday morning. The farm was home to eventer Rebecca Greene and she lost both of her competition horses. EN sends sincere condolences to the farm owner, Briana Yetter, who lost four of her own horses, along with all others connected to the tragedy. There is a link to a recovery fund on Rebecca’s website, and a Facebook page has updates. [Pocono Record] [Rebecca Greene] [Facebook Page]
Big news from across the pond: William Fox-Pitt has announced that Cool Mountain, his “banker,” is out of the running for the Olympics. In an interview with The Telegraph Fox-Pitt says Cool Mountain sustained a tendon injury in Germany last year and he will give him a whole year off. Don’t worry: he still has two other mounts (Parklane Hawk and Oslo) with victories at Burghley and Pau AND up-and-coming Lionheart in the barn, so chances are we will still see him running round the track at Greenwich Park. [The Telegraph]
That isn’t the only shakeup in the English ranks. As reported earlier today, Mary King now has the ride on Chilli Morning, a four-star stallion who spent the last six years with Nick Gauntlett, produced from novice to his clear jumping round at Burghley last fall. [Horse and Hound]
Sara Lieser and Mollie Bailey have done a nice recap of the USEF meeting for The Chronicle. By now you probably know about the one-fall rule drama, but just in case you want to know about the rest of the meeting’s agenda you now have an easy guide. [COTH]
More stories from England: reversing their 2008 decision, this year the organizers of Badminton are reinstating the entry fee. They have been deluged with entries since removing the fee and hope that the $480 price tag will prevent those who aren’t actually capable of competing from sending in entries and taking up valuable spots. [COTH]
As Eventing USA reminded readers, the memorial Lesley Long & Family Silent Auction is up and running. Eventing USA wrote a lovely tribute to Lesley and her dedication to horses. Online bidding runs until Feb 15. [Eventing USA] [Auction]
Remember the controversy about the mistreatment of NYC carriage horses? The Village Voice has named New York’s horses one of the “100 Most Powerless New Yorkers.” Horses are ranked at #9 on the list, and advocates hope that the coverage will help their movement to ban carriage horses in the city. [Horsetalk]
The New York Times mentioned Neville’s HOTY award. [NYT]
Best of Blogs:
DPEquestrian posted podcast #6
Lauren Shannon plans her season for Horse and Hound
That’s all for today, Go eventing!
