Thanks, Jon Holling, for this photo of “Ocala Horse Properties Pond,” the first water on this weekend’s Ocala Horse Properties International 3-Day Event CCI** course.
Today’s news is overshadowed by the news of Amy Tryon’s untimely passing. Amy was a force and an inspiration in American eventing and we send our very deepest condolences to her family and friends. What an incredibly sad day for the horse community. [EN]
In other unfortunate news, U.S. Show Jumping Chef d’Equipe George Morris will be undergoing treatment for prostate cancer this spring. According to a USEF press release, he “will remain in his position of Chef d’Equipe and will stay closely involved with the program, the selection process and the riders even though he will be unable to travel to the Observation Events.” Morris has asked Robert Ridland, who will be Morris’ successor beginning in 2013, to attend the Observation Events in his place. Morris is expected to be recovered in time to prepare the team in Europe for the Olympic Games. We wish him a swift recovery. [USEF]
Weekend competition links:
Ocala [Ride times] [Schedule] [Live Scoring]
Full Gallop [Entry Status] [Website]
St. Johns Horse Trials [Entry Status and Times] [Website]
Pine Hill [Website]
Plantation Field [Entry Status] [Website]
A tentative schedule has been posted for the 2012 Adequan FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships. The event will be held July 17-22 at the Kentucky Horse Park. [NAYRC]
Badminton competitors can expect a completely fresh cross country course for 2012. Course designer Hugh Thomas has changed nearly every obstacle in an attempt to create new questions throughout the course and provide a “thrilling competition in this Olympic year.” [British Eventing]
HN Today: Turn that useless picnic table into a nice cross-country jump; jockey Edgar Prado’s random act of kindness; and a frank discussion of the “f” word.
Top of the Tweets: EN “favourite” eventing correspondent Samantha Clark (@samanthalclark) apparently spent her afternoon snooping about the soon-to-be Rolex cross-country course. She tweeted photos of the head of the lake, sunken road and the hollow. She also reports that the squirrels are, for now, “loitering near the @rolexkentucky cross-country course hoping to be picked, but so far no dice!”
Best of the Blogs: 21-year-old British eventer Gabby Cooke is trying her best to carry on after the loss of her horse, Sir Roscoe, at the Belton CIC*** earlier this month. [H&H]
Found on Facebook: An outpouring of love for Amy Tryon.
Go Amy.
