Last year's Richland Winner, Becky Holder & Courageous Comet (photo by Samantha Clark)
Good morning Eventing Nation! I hope you enjoyed my insanely thoroughly exhaustive preview of the Richland CIC3* , because it all begins today. I’ve been seeing pictures of eventers from around the country making the trek to Michigan all this week, and a lot of riders arrived Tuesday or even Monday due to the long travel time. Today, the CIC3*, CIC2* and the Advanced divisions are all running concurrently in the dressage phase. We have EN writer Jenni Autry on the scene to give us photos and updates, but due to the fact that she is only one human (although she may seem like a super-human sometimes) she will be focusing on the CIC3* mainly. Good luck to all the riders competing this weekend!
Richland Links:
[Richland Website] [Entry List] [2013 Schedule] [Live Scores]
Events This Weekend:
Shepherd Ranch SYVPC HT: [Website] [Entry Status/Times]
Caber Farm HT:[Website] [Entry Status]
Valinor Farm HT: [Website] [Entry Status]
Difficult Run Fall HT: [Website]
Genesee Valley Riding & Driving Club HT: [Website] [Entry Status/Times]
News from Around the Globe:
Kendal Lehari & Reindalyne Farm is offering a unique opportunity for those looking to buy or sell horses in Ontario, in an effort to support her dreams of competing at the WEG next year for Canada. Kendal and Reindalyne are hosting a horse sale extravaganza, where you can attend and view all sorts of horses for sale at one time! There will be a silent auction, food available, and most importantly, all the horses you could wish for. Also a great opportunity for those who are selling, so you can expose your horses to many prospective buyers in one day. Check it out for more information. [Horse Sale Extravaganza at Reindalyne]
You’ve got one more week to enter to win a $5,000 SmartPak shopping spree. What are you waiting for!!?? Maybe you should visit the site and just browse for ten to twenty minutes and imagine all of the things that you could buy for $5,000. Then, click here to enter. [SmartPak Shopping Spree Enter Here]
Jeanette Brakewell’s ex-4* eventer ‘Chill Out Bob’ is now enjoying a life of Pony Club activities at the ripe old age of 17. Bob, owned by Hazel Stockdale Wright, retired fit and sound earlier this year after a career that spanned 8 CCI4* events, including five consecutive Burghleys and two Badmintons. He has now transitioned into the life of a pony club horse, and is being campaigned by Hazel’s 16 year old daughter, Charlotte, who says that he’s still a grumpy old man in the stables, but loves having a job and is a blast on cross country. [Chill Out Bob, the Pony Club Mount]
The Paulick Report has an excellent story about an OTTB named ‘Cheeks’ who is helping heal wounds of loss and pursuing a second career as a hunter/jumper. A playful little horse who won about $40k in his racing career, Cheeks is now helping his new rider Nicola Ellis of Nashville, Tennessee, heal her heart after the loss of her horse and her dog in a short period of time. Be sure to stay tuned to the Paulick Report in the next few weeks, as they are going to be adding a monthly column with Julie Goodknight and Phillip Dutton on retraining the Thoroughbred off the racetrack. [OTTB Showcase: Cheeks]
Anybody who knows me will tell you that I have an almost unhealthy obsession with boots….for my horse (duh). Any time I go into the tack store, even if it’s just to buy fly spray, I’m drawn to the boot section. If I had it my way, each one of my horses would have a supply of boots that is un-godly. However, I will tell you that my favorite boots to have at a show (or when I’m just feeling fancy) are these Dressage Sport Boots. They are so durable, and yet so comfy for my horse, with their fleece lined insides and their sturdy velcro straps. They come in black, or white, so you can dress up or dress casual. Therefore, they earn my SmartPak pick of the day. [SmartPak Dressage Sport Boots]
