When it’s the Olympics you’re targeting, do you need a fire built under you? Because it puts Will Faudree and Andromaque in a unique position, left off the plane by Monday’s Short List only to receive the call-up yesterday. Certainly, Monday and Tuesday nights were long in the Faudree household, but also maybe fortuitous? Because I have this feeling they’re going to prove something big at Barbury.
And on the subject of Barbury, word on the street is that extra, unaffiliated FEI 4* dressage and jumping rounds may be on offer pending interest. The rounds would follow the international tests, allowing competitors to ride the same horse and get in some additional, perhaps critical ring time.
Luhmühlen CIC*** dressage was yesterday (surprise: Michael Jung is winning) and CCI**** dressage is today (Colleen rides at 9:33am local time/3:33am ET, Peter at 9:57am/3:57am, Boyd at 11:34am/5:34am, and Julian at 2:45pm/8:45am). Follow @Luhmuhlen2012 on Twitter for updates throughout. FEI TV will broadcast Saturday and Sunday’s jumping phases for a fee. [3*] [4*]
Events This Weekend:
Seneca Valley Pony Club Spring HT
Olympic dressage judge Linda Zang, ringside at many three-days this spring, will continue her coaching ways at the London Games. Zang told Dressage News: “As a judge, I can provide a different perspective for dressage that, as we all know, has become so important in eventing.” [DN]
Richard Thompson, 1930 –2012: “After serving as a Three-Day Eventing competition volunteer at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California, Mr. Thompson then became the Discipline Manager for Three-Day Eventing at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. He was also the Manager of the Competitions Communications Center at the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Lexington, Kentucky. Equestrian participation, community advocacy, and charitable endeavors were endemic to Mr. Thompson.” [USEA]
Aid Rebecca and Riddle Master’s quest to London: A Hit Air vest, golf rounds, painted portrait, etc, are up for grabs in a silent auction ending tonight at 5pm. [Go Rebecca]
Having raised over £200,000 for spinal research—four times her stated goal—by walking the London Marathon, paralyzed eventer Claire Lomas is now planning a London>Paris cycle trip via a “bike powered by her legs and arms” next spring. Claire, you’re continually inspiring. [Horse & Hound]
Gearing up for next year’s Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs has abandoned the graded earnings system in favor of points-based qualification. Under new rules, 3-year-old stakes races during the six-week lead-up to the Derby are prioritized, none of which are less than a mile, and all but one of which are run on dirt. [DRF]
Invoking safety and welfare rules, the USEF has temporarily suspended Amber Hill Farm’s Elizabeth Mandarino in connection with the death of Humble, a small pony, at the Devon Horse Show last month. [USEF]
The Southeastern Conference recently voted to give equestrian league-sponsored status, meaning schools like Auburn, Georgia, Missouri, South Carolina and Texas A&M will go head to head in their own conference championship. [Athens Banner-Herald]
Piggy French loves cheese and onion crisps. And David Beckham. [Horse & Country]
Best “Exponential” Headline Use: Uxbridge’s Jessica Phoenix looking for Exponential gains at Olympics
Hot on HN: Discussion of Horsey Hotspots; Horses doing the Darndest Things.
Best of the Blogs: Francis Whittington reports Luhmühlen’s four-star track looks “inviting,” the ground “firm.” He’ll enter at A on Easy Target at 11:50am local/5:50 am ET today. [Whittington Eventing]
