Good morning EN readers! I hope Sunday is finding you well and that everyone is prepared to enjoy some Father’s Day activities. Whatever it is that you may be doing, I hope the weather supports it and it involves food. I love food so personally I feel this might be the most important part of Father’s Day. Kidding.
Luhmuhlen is nearing the finish and Piggy French is leading the CCI**** by less than a point. The CIC*** is being lead by Kai Ruder. By the time many of you find your way to the results, you will be able to have a good idea of how the show jumping is going.
The starting order for the horse inspection can be found here for the CCI**** and here for the CIC***. The horse inspection is expected to start at 8:15 am local time with the CIC***.
That is all for now. Annie, I hope your “class” went well and you are safely back to driving. Thanks everyone for reading and being apart of all things Eventing Nation. Go Eventing.
Today is the start of the Luhmuhlen Three Day Event in Germany. US riders Jennie Brannigan and Will Faudree will be playing with the CCI**** crowd while Tiana and Will and his lovely mare, Andromaque, will be holding down the CIC***. The first horse in inspection will be held tonight at 5pm with dressage starting Thursday. For more information on Luhmuhlen please check out their site. Just make sure to click the British flag so you can understand it!
For those of you applying or wanting to apply, please don’t forget that today is the deadline for the Rebecca Broussard travel grant. This is a fantastic opportunity that could really open some doors for a lot of people. Ms. Broussard offered fantastic support of eventing for so many years. Hopefully she will know how many people will be honored to accept a travel grant.
Silva Martin’s farm will play host to a Michael Barisone clinic on June 20. Auditing is cheap so if you are in the area pop in to gain some great education.
Amazing Frankel wins the Royal Ascot. The Royal Ascot is a very famous race in England which is attended by many members of the royal family as well as some familiar names (William Fox-Pitt).
Speaking of William- he, Pippa Funnell and Piggy French will all be attending the London Test Event in July. They join 3 American riders as well as riders from other various places in the world.
Now speaking of London- let the protesting begin at Greenwich Park. This will be good mental training for all the riders aiming to be back in 2012.
The Chronicle of the Horse has some great blogs out this weekend. Of course, EN favorite, Jennie B., blogs about her reflection on the past two years. Jennie always gives great truth in her blogs and this time she really opens up about being in a good place mentally. Bill Moroney has written a fantastic blog about the importance of developing young horses in all disciplines. And finally, Molly Sorge writes about Ernie and how his trust is the most important component to his success with Will (and Nat!).
Equestrian Events, INC. are gearing up to help victims of the TPF fire. The EEI has pledged a $1500 donation as well as 5% of the proceeds from the Kentucky Three Day Event Shop over the next 60 days. “The Eventing community has been shaken by this tragedy that resulted in tremendous loss for Boyd and Silva Martin in particular, and also for Phillip and Evie Dutton and others at the farm,” said Christina Gray, Director of Competition for the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. “Boyd and Phillip are two of the best loved and most respected riders in our sport and all of us associated with the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event want to help by
By now most have heard the Clark has won the 3* at Bromont. Congratulations to Clark and his crew. Clark is incredibly hard working and deserves every bit of this victory.
Across the pond, there was some excitement in the dressage world. Great Britains, Laura Bechtolsheimer, has won the Gran Prix Special at the CDI Weisbaden. Laura won on a score of 78.766%. Not coming second, but coming third was Matthias Rath and Totilas. I haven’t followed Totilas’ results closely with his new rider but it does seem that maybe they are quiet as successful… yet. Time will tell. Congratulations to Laura. I am a huge fan of hers and love to see her at the top of the leader board.
In case you were totally tuned out of eventing on the home front…
And now for some news and notes with a lot of fun blogs.
Boyd Martin has a nice weekend at Plantation Field HT. He even tastes victory.
Hailey Huddpeth is here! After some tense moments, she has arrived into this world healthy, beautiful, and perfect according to mom Holly. Check out Holly’s blog.
Express Eventing has had a successful third go. After the first year starting off painfully, there have been changes made to make it a more successful event. There is a lot of prize money offered and it is far less taxing on the horses so I would expect to see many more top riders out having a go. There are 3 qualifiers left for the season and it will be interesting to see who shows up to the final competition.
Nat VC blogs about the Quarter Horses, lack of coffee, and the laid back atmosphere. I am sure all the riders in Germany are enjoying this down time before things get neurotic and crazy. Thanks for blogging Nat and keep them coming.
Hickstead has decided to go hi-tech with a new iPhone app. Now while I think this is really cool, it makes me think more about how Eventing Nation should have an iPhone app. Think about it, keeping up to date with all the news would be even easier! So for those of you who think John should create an app, leave a comment!
Lee Lee Jones gives us more from Bromont. I bet Philip is just jealous he doesn’t get to spend that much time planning his jog outfit…
Things are starting to look up for UK based, American rider, Logan Rawlings. With a new job, new place to keep the ponies and a call from Ms. Ike, Logan is getting back on track. Good luck to Logan at the London test event.
I am now going to leave everyone with a great video I was sent the other day. If any of you are single like me, you should probably make a video like this. I am sure you will be drawing in the love…
I can’t really decide if he is cute or freaky. I guess if you put your finger over the eyes, he is pretty cute. Did you try it?
Happy Sunday! As everyone probably knows by now, it’s a very busy weekend for eventing. With great coverage from Bromont- thanks Samantha and John- I will not go on too much about that. The 3rd horse inspection starts at 8 am and showing jumping begins with the open training at approximately 9:30.
I always love a good challenge. So when John said I was going to list every first place rider from every division of every horse trial, I was tempted. However, this time I am going to accept my defeat. Don’t get any ideas John, next time I will live up to your challenge.
For those that were home this weekend or those who want to stalk others at different events….
I don’t know about where you guys are, but holy HE double hockey sticks its hot outside. Personally I hate summer. As I canter endless circles I can feel the sun burning my skin, one cell at a time. Tonight I Google random things about beating the heat. None of them offered any great advice. One even suggested you go sky diving to beat the heat. So EN, what do you guys do to stay cool?
The heat in Canada was in the 90s today. Lets hope that it will cool off for the safety and comfort for all the horses and riders. Fingers crossed!
Now for some news and notes…
Tuesday was a great day with Neville and Min heading home from New Bolton. Even though they are back in the comfort of their own beds, they will still have weeks of stall rest. In effort to help with more relief, Full Gallop Farm is offering a combined test to benefit the TPF victims. So all you South Carolina locals (we know your used to the heat!) get out and practice for your upcoming events.
Speaking of Neville and Min heading home, Amy Dragoo was on hand to take some photos.
HRTV is going to air Badminton Horse Trials. There will be 7 hours of coverage and those with high speed internet may watch from the comfort of their lazy chair. Of course, you will need a subscription so get yourself organized in time.
WEG Paradressage gold medalist, Lee Pearson has been injured in a fall. Pearson was training when he fell from his horse, injuring his back. He will be out of the saddle for 8 weeks. Unfortunately his time off will cause him to miss the selection for the 2011 European Championship- the last major championship before London. EN wishes Lee a speedy recovering.
Melbourne Three Day Event is going on this weekend. Hopefully ESJ will be along with a report. But until then, check here for results and updates.
John is doing a great job covering Bromont and I can’t wait to hear from Samantha. But thank goodness someone was on hand to cover the fashion! The first picture I believe is Kerry Blackmer and Case Closed. Smokin! 😉
Mark Todd is heading to Pontispool to compete. This popular British event will host approximately 750 entries over 3 days. That is a lot of horses and really a testament to the fantastic organizing system of the event.
And sticking to the UK theme, Britain’s pony event squad for the Europeans has been announced. These riders average around age 14 and will be competing in the Barbury Castle HT during July. They will join in the Open Novice (USA preliminary) section. The team will be heading to Poland to hopefully bring back a gold medal.
Greenwich Park is gearing up for the Olympic test event. Forty-five horses will compete in the test event which is held at the CIC** level. Will Faudree will be there to represent the US.
Missy Miller has written a fantastic blog about the chance to go to William Fox-Pitts yard for the summer. Really just shows how when one door closes, another will open. Good luck to Missy in her time overseas.
And for another great blog- Lauren Sprieser hasn’t written about her 3 wishes for change in the American dressage sport. Lauren, if that genie in a bottle visits you, can you send her my way? Preferably with some Ben and Jerrys in tow.
Flair LLC is proud to announce their sponsorship of the 2011 Dutton Academy Eventing Camp. The camp is held June 12-17 at True Prospect Farm. All attendees will receive FLAIR nasal strips as well as education and information on equine respiratory health.
Now for part two of the Fredericks interview:
Stay tuned for some fantastic Bromont coverage. Go Eventing.
One thing I find so funny, interesting, annoying and sometimes even pathetic about obssesive compulsive dedicated horse people is there ability to lose touch with reality. Day in and day out, many of us thrive on our horses and the enjoyment they give us. How many of you find yourself planning your entire schedule around your horse getting his/her nails done, going for a lesson in a square sand box, or making sure you are there to give Adequan on time? We all do it. I certainly do. I once had a friend tell me that after he left the barn, horse talk was not allowed. Of course, this is practically impossible but somehow I still find it important. In no way am I saying we should be less involved with our horses, our riding/competing/etc. I’m just saying don’t lose touch with reality. We all know horses cause heart break. In times of heartbreak we need other places to focus our hearts, occupy our minds, or simply forget about how much we just cried. Lets face it, horses are not the only ones who need Ulcerguard. For those of you out there that have ever needed something to distract you, or a little “Ulcerguard,” I highly suggest you check out this [blog]. A little inappropriate at times? Yes. But aren’t we all? Don’t forget to make things simple, to have a good laugh, to enjoy drinks out with friends and remember that when things go belly up, it is finding laughter and reality that will push you back to sanity.
Side note: The entire paragraph above came from unknown random thoughts walking around my brain.
Second side note: I stopped while hacking and tried to count the blades of grass in a random patch of grass. I just needed to confess that. I think I need therapy.
Now let’s continue to the simple news and notes:
According to Horse-Canada, the Canadian Eventing High Performance Committee will wait until after the Olympics to conduct its search for a new eventing coach. David will be leaving the role at the end of 2012, which means they will need to find a new coach soon after the Olympics. The article says “Out of respect to David O’Connor, the riders, owners and support group, the committee feels that an undistracted commitment to the current program and its goals is the priority.” The search committee will be co-chaired by Graeme Thom and Grit High and the rest of the committee will be from the HP committee. The search committee’s recommendation will be ratified by the Eventing High Performance Committee at large.
Fox River Valley Pony Club Horse Trails now has a three element outline to providing the best cross country experience for horses and riders. Over the next three years, a committee will be working to improve the the quality of the ground of this Illinois event.
A Washington vet says the state outbreak of EHV-1 is contained. However, those horses that have cleared their symptoms should still remain in isolation for 28 days. The disease can still be highly contagious even after the symptoms are resolved.
Ride your horse to work day. Over 1500 in China are attempting to go green and ride their horses to work. I think we should install this in America. Or better yet, ride your horse to the bar day. Just saying…
Silva Martin and Faye Woolf have the horse of a lifetime. Only a week has passed since Faye lost her beloved Ollie, but she was thrilled with the result of her amazing “Stately.” Unfortunately they just missed qualifying for Germany. But that doesn’t seem to get them down. Faye is quoted as saying, “happy, healthy, safe and sound. Anything after that is icing on the cake.” Faye is a person that truly means every word of that. If you ever happen to see Faye at an event, go introduce yourself. You will never meet a kinder, more caring, or bigger cheerleader than Faye.
Off to Germany they head and the blogging war has begun. Kelley Merette gets her chance. Should be interesting to find out who comes out on top!
Oliver Townend is set for Llanymynech ride. Reading this article left me a little confused on what type of ride we are talking about. Maybe endurance? Never the less, it appears Oli will be very busy the next few weeks and will hopefully be racking up some good results.
June winners have been drawn for the Horse Quencher contest. Heather Pelligrini – 3rd place – set of Cheers! coasters, Kaitlyn Leiter – 2nd place – a Cheers! t-shirt, Sheri Thornley – 1st place – a 3.5 pound bucket of Horse Quencher, Caroline Glen – Grand Prize – a 20 pound (!) bucket of Horse Quencher. If you’ve already entered, no need to enter again – they draw from the whole pool. If you haven’t entered – you should!
Now for a totally unrelated to horses video:
As we all know, Bromont week has started. Stay tuned for a great day of eventing. Go Eventing.
Thank you to Jess Halliday and her students for completing Annie’s challenge!
Where ever this Sunday finds you, I hope you are doing something you enjoy! As John mentioned in his post earlier, some of the TPF crew was out at Waredaca today. While I am sure the the tragedy of this week is still in the front of everyones mind, I am sure they enjoyed a temporary distraction. Hopefully the rest of the weekend will offer great enjoyment.
Across the tiny pond, Kai Ruder is leading the CCI*** at Bramham. Overnight dressage leader, Pippa Funnell was unfortunately eliminated on Billy Landretti but holds on to sixth place with Pure Addiction. American Jules Stiller, had to pull up Axel Rose because his tongue getting over the bit (according to fb) but he was going well until that point. She had a fall on her second horse but is fine. The CIC*** is now complete with Jonathan Paget winning on Clifton Lush. For full Bramham results, hit it up.
A big shout out to fellow Kansan, wish she was a fellow Virginia (more than a few weeks a year), Julie Wolfert. She and her super jumper, Buenos Aires, are leading the CCI* in Colorado. Best of luck tomorrow Julie!
Those are some great smiles! Jennie, Lillian and Boyd at The Fork HT April 2011
Currently I am not feeling so creative. I am feeling burnt. Showering is never fun after a day of riding with extremely fair skin which was wildly exposed. Should I skip the shower? No. Did I? No. Did it hurt? Yes. But showering is a must when you sweat like a 500lbs pig all day. Recently, Ali Smallpage started writing for EN. While her fabulous reports from events like Otter Creek and Fence give us excitement, her recent lack of showering does not. Now Ali, I know your recent unplanned dismount which resulted in the twisting of your finger (leading to surgery and a pin) has caused your plans to change. However, it is important to remember that people like people that smell nice. Thank you for just texting me that you are getting in the shower for the first time since…. well I won’t say the day. EN readers- feel safe. I can now assure you all writers support their own personal clean hygiene. This paragraph has nothing to do with anything but now you have a little insight to how my brain functions- complete randomness at all times.
Now what your probably actually here to read about…
Farewell to House Doctor. Nina Gardner has written a lovely tribute to a special horse. Most of you will remember “Doc” from Sydney 2000. At only 8 years young, Doc carried Philip to a gold medal. He then went on to finish fifth individually at the 2002 World Equestrian Games. In recent years, Doc has been enjoying retired life at Welcome Home. The past 3 weeks Doc has been battling laminitis. Unfortunately the battler has ended. House Doctor will be greatly missed by all of his connections and all of those who so greatly enjoyed watching him and Philip take on the world at the highest level.
We have heard from the American Horse Trials Foundation that the AHTF Board has immediately approved a waiver of their 7% administration fee for those riders affected from the True Prospect Farm barn fire. Everyone can now know 100% of their donations through the AHTF will go directly to the riders. The donations are tax deductible and as always please attach a note with the rider’s name on it rather than writing their name on the check. This is a great way to ensure that 100% of your money goes directly to the riders.
Actor Michael Douglas is backing the FEI Awards. The FEI Awards are for athletes and horses who have contributed to the “progress and excellence” of equestrian sport. Michael said: “The FEI Awards provide a platform for the global community to applaud riders and organizations for their outstanding achievements. I am delighted to offer my support and urge you to submit your nominations.”
Jennie B. has written a nice blog post about how the True Prospect Farm is stronger and closer and will continue to become even more so. I love the way Jennie has touched on each individual. The kind of relationships that have been demonstrated by TPF the past few days are the kind that we all need to cling to.
Chelan Kozak has written a nice blog post about Ecogold helping out the fire relief.
Matthias Rath and Totilas have made their first debut together at the 2011 CDI Munich today. They won with a 767.787%. Surely this takes a little pressure of Matthais. This report says that Matthias rode Totilas in a different frame allowing him to stretch more through his neck resulting in him coming too deep at times. To read more about the test go [here].
And my hometown police department wins todays “stupid” award. Police responded quickly to a reported alligator sighting in a local pond. The officers opened fire on the alligator but it wasn’t until the second shot bounced off the gators head that they realized it was fake. The concrete gator was used in the pond to scare off children.
A few weeks ago we posted the Team Flying Solo blog. Now you can get a visual of the VHT cross country ride!
The Whip Tavern hosted a fundraiser for Boyd and his crew. Amy Dragoo was on hand to capture the evening. I love seeing the smiles on everyones faces. It will be a long healing process but the moments where smiles and laughter can come through will be moments cherished.
Now just in case you ever wanted to ride a chicken! And don’t forget the diaper…. thanks RAP!
Thank you for stealing all the links. Also, I am very sorry that you consider singing Brittany Spears at the top of your lungs to be a “cool” Wednesday night out. Don’t worry, no one is judging you- especially not me.
So go on with your bad self. Just keep on dancing till the world ends.
Yours truly,
Someone that isn’t jealous of your “cool” plans
Now for a few news and notes and some sweet videos…
We have heard from Peter Atkins that there will be an ad running in the next issue of the Chronicle announcing that the HJ Hampton auction date was August 15th. However, Peter also said that the auction has been postponed. This is confirmed in a brief statement on his website here.
Actor and comedian, Steve Martin, is scammed over a 1915 horse painting. The painting that he purchased in 2004 and then onsold turned out to be a fake. Martin did not know it was a fake when he onsold it.
The vet hospital in Colorado that was affected by EHV-1 has now reopened to patients. However, they will be taking extra precautionary measures to horses that will be traveling in. Clients will be asked to monitor their horses temperature for 48 hours leading up to the appointment. There will also be an extensive history taken on each horse including travel details.
Totilas’s only Finland baby was born on Monday. The foal had a dramatic entrance to the world as he arrived during a thunderstorm. Friday, June 10, a press conference will be held. Media will be allowed to meet the foal as well as hear the plans for his future. His formal name will also be revealed. Only a 100 mares received AI from Totilas this year. Sixty of them being in the Netherlands and 40 others around the world.
Bramham Horse Trials starts today. The CCI*** horses and riders are listed here and the Under 25’s are listed here. Don’t forget the CIC***! On the note of Bramham, Nicola Wilson is hoping for a top 10 finish aboard Bee Diplomatic. Bee Diplomatic is half brother to Wilson’s other mount, Opposition Buzz (man I love that horse). Nicola discusses how a top finish here would really make the selectors take a look for London 2012.
Chinese eventer, Alex Hua Tian, speaks with India’s media about spreading the sport of eventing in China. Alex has become a fiercely successful on the eventing scene in the UK and around the world. I know he trained for years with Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks and I believe he is still there. It is people like Alex that the eventing world needs. He is determined to spread the sport around the world and gain it the recognition it deserves.
Evaluation of the piaffe. The art of a piaffe is amazing to me. In this article, you can pretty much learn everything you wanting to know. The depth shows you just how much detail goes into piaffe and dressage in general. Whoever said dressage is easy better just back the fudge down.
The Horse Radio Network has announced the launch of Horse World Gives Back. This program will help horses and owners that have been affected but the flooding and tornadoes that have caused so much devastation across the US.
Lastly, I just wanted to say how deeply saddened I am for Boyd and his entire “family.” What they have experienced will take many weeks, months, and years to recover from. I know they know that the entire equine world is behind them to support them, comfort them, and help them in anyway possible. It amazes me how caring horse people are and their ability to rise in moments of devastation. I would also like to say thank you to Lillian, Caitlin, Ryan, Philip and Boyd. Your bravery to rescue those horses will never be forgotten. You risked everything. To those 6 horses who weren’t able to make it- may you run wild in the greenest of pastures. You were all incredible horses, athletes, friends, and family. You will be greatly missed.
I know there are many are many ways to donate. I hope that everyone is able to contribute one way or another. I noticed tonight on Twitter that AK Dragoo will be donating 20% of all photo purchases to the fire relief. Please check out her website to find out more. Dover has offered to donate any necessary supplies. Koper equine is donating 50% of all sales in June to the recovery, here. And of course, there are the funds such as the one in the EN sidebar and individual donations can be made through the AHTF to guarantee your check gets to a specific person.
A tribute to the 6 horses lost in the fire
Hope everyone has a happy Thursday. No John, I am not thanking you for the links you sent to my email. Go Eventing.
I hope everyone is having a good weekend. Holiday weeks are supposed to be filled with fun, friends, family, and hopefully a nice beverage. Also, a good bit of laziness is necessary for a successful weekend. Hopefully many of you have the weekend off, but if you don’t try and make some time for fun. If your one of those unfortunate people who has to work this weekend, I think you should just take the celebration to work. And riders, please be kind to those you wear your swim suits around- give everyone warning so they can get their sunglasses in place before you bare those pasty white legs.
Check in with this weekends horse trials…
Texas Lions Camp Charity H.T. at Meadowcreek [Live Scores]
I find drive thrus to be a really fascinating place. While I have never seen a horse going through the drive-thru, I have seen people on bikes. Once when I was 13 I tried to go through on foot. It doesn’t work. Today I was at the drive-thru an hour after it opened. No one came to the microphone to take my order and when I pulled to the window to glare, there was no one there. So naturally, desperate from my fake tacos, I head inside. Door is locked. I look in, the staff is just sitting around shooting the “sh….t.” Really? Why am I rambling about drive-thrus? 1) because I love to talk about absolutely random things. 2) Because a women in Britain was denied service at a McDonald’s because she was driving a horse and buggy.McDonald’s claimed it was a health and safety issue but the woman was confused because she had used this drive-thru before. She went across the street to another establishment where she was served.
I love hearing stories about horses getting rescued and seeing how their lives change for the better. Mikey, an American Saddlebred, was saved from the slaughter truck in 2010. This past April, Mikey competed in his first USEF recognized horse trial at River Glen. This is a wonderful story. Mikey’s owner, Becky Brown, deserves a lot of recognition for her act of kindness. I wish them the best of success. I love seeing this unique breed trying out eventing!
And for a bit more good news…A US vet alliance has been formed to help ex-racehorses. The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation said the Nation Equine Veterinarian Alliance consists of vets who are offering their services free of charge for non-profit organizations that have been registered and approved by the foundation.
Its British invasion week on the Eventing Radio Show. Ohhh how I love all things British…
Another really fantastic blog by an EN favorite. I really enjoyed reading this and hope you do too. It is also nice to have a reminder on “how to win at life.”
William Fox-Pitt is showing class as usual. He is leading the CCI*** at Tattersalls on Oslo and second in the CCI** on Bay My Hero. Tattersalls began today with over 300 top international horses competing. There are seven different sections that will take place over the entire weekend. [real time results]
When we hear about Alltech, we usually think positive things- the WEG for example. They are a fantastic company that offers great sponsorship. Unfortunately, Alltech currently has a bit of bad media shining upon them. The former US controller for Alltech is suing the international feed company for sexual assault. She is claiming that she suffered three years of emails, text message, and comments that were highly graphic and inappropriate. Alltech released a statement defending their work environment saying, “We provide a productive and comfortable work environment for all our employees. Our policies prohibit harassment of any kind. Employees are always encouraged to voice any concerns they have, and we investigate all concerns thoroughly.”
For more information about this check out the article [here]
If the event must go on, UC Davis has put out an article advising organizers on the security against EHV-1. Organizers need to follow a few steps to help prevent the spread of the virus. “Event managers should create a short document for participants to sign upon arrival at the show grounds to confirm that their horses, mules, and burros attending the show/event have not attended or had prior contact with horses from the NCHA Championships in Ogden, Utah and/or the Kern County Cutting Event in Bakersfield, California, or been on the same premises with horses that have returned from these events.” The show should also have a no fever policy and allow for horses to endure random temperature checks throughout the duration of the show. Those who develop a fever must leave the premises immediately. The USEA also shares the same info.
John sent me the link to this blog… I wondered if he was trying to give me hints at how much he likes shoes? and the color pink….Regardless, this is a fun read.
Another fun blog. This writer has a good sense of humor. My favorite is the picture of the monster jump. I think I laughed out loud- I just love her attitude about it all.
In England, a stallion was thrown out of his trailer and on to the motorway when the trailer was struck from behind by another car. It sounds like everyone was OK. Lorry drives created a barrier to block the stallion. After a phone call, a new trailer arrived to pick up the stallion. The motorway remained closed during this entire process for the safety of everyone.
Boyd Martin is teaming up with Atwood Equestrian Surfaces to build a new ring. Atwood provides wonderful footing. I have had the chance to ride in two rings they created and WOW. I am sure this new ring will be put to good use. Hopefully there is no fighting among one of eventing and dressages most beautiful couples.
Spillers feed company has renewed the sponsorship of the British Grooms Association.The British Grooms Association (BGA) is “a national organization for grooms of all disciplines aiming to bring together those who work in this sector of the equine industry and give all members a sense of belonging. The organization aims to increase national and international recognition of grooms, and the work that they do.”
I wish America would create a grooms association to recognize all the fantastic grooms in this country. Grooms are one of the main reasons riders can be so successful.
Well I think it’s safe to say that the rapture didn’t happen. And if it did, I think I like this hell on earth. One person who is probably also glad she is here on earth is Lauren Kieffer. Most of us love to win an event. Well Lauren did just that this past weekend- 5 times over. Lauren won Prelim Horse B, Training Horse A, Open Novice A, Novice Horse A, and Beginner Novice Horse B. She was second in Open Prelim A, and third in Beginner Novice Horse B as well. These kind of wins don’t come from luck (although luck is always involved), they come from hard work, proper training, and dedication. I don’t know Lauren personally, but I admire her. She clearly puts forth the effort required to be successful in this sport at the highest level. I am sure we will be seeing her many times over at Rolex in the next many years. Congratulations to Lauren and her entire team on a fantastic weekend. For more on Lauren visit her website [here].
– In another part of the world -France- John’s man crush, Clayton Fredericks, had a good week to win the CCI*** aboard Bendigo. Clayton is having a good year and is such a fantastic rider. I hope some of you got the chance to watch the live streaming of Saumur. Unfortunately, Clayton had to withdraw his second mount before the final horse inspection. For full results go [here].
– Optical Illusion takes the win in the SmartPak/USEA Preliminary Three-day Event at the Virginia Horse center. Hope Nicymer-Meryman, age 17, traveled all the way from New York to contest in this beloved classic three-day event. It sure looks like the journey was worth it. Congratulations to Hope and her wonderful horse.
– The EHV-1 is continuing to cause stress throughout the US. The death toll is now at 8 horses. In Arizona, 21 horses were exposed, and 67 are considered to have secondary exposure. In California 54 horses were exposed. In Colorado 30 horses were exposed with 68 having secondary exposure. Thirty-six horses were exposed in Idaho with 14 more potentially exposed. One horse in Illinois has been exposed and 5 in Iowa. Click here for more info on the other state exposures.
– I know the rapture didn’t happen. But many people believed it would. For those believers, there was an interesting service that was provided to them. What you may ask? Pet care. For those who would be Heaven bound and leaving animals behind, Eternal Earth-bound Pets was there for you. They were able to provide care for your pet during hell on earth. If there ever come another rapture, save this article so you can have your horses, dogs, ferrets, etc., watched over after you go. Don’t worry, Paypal is accepted. Thank you RAP for sharing.
– With only one rail down and an employee scoring an 18 in dressage, Body Martin and his crew have had a good weekend at Virginia HT.
Speaking of Virginia HT, rumor has it that Arden Wildasin had the save of a lifetime in the CCI*JYR division on XC. I will try and track down the pictures to share here. Well done Arden for hanging tight!
– June 11 is the designated helmet awareness day around the world. This June 11 many retailers that support Riders 4 Helmets will be offering a discount. There is an estimated 500 retailers around the world that will participate in this day. Helmets are the in thing and I don’t expect them to go out of style. So if you are in need of a new stylish hat, June 11 is your day.
– Will Coleman crossed back to his former life on Saturday night to win the Mini Prix at Keswick Hall near Charlottesville Virginia. I believe Will also took 5th place. I love seeing event riders be successful in other disciplines. Well done Will.
Well as I am sure many of you have heard, the world is ending this Saturday for all Christians. Yup, according to multiple “news” sources all Christians should all be taking shelter in under ground bunkers that were built just for this day. The world will officially will be over October 2011.So, you should probably go crazy, jump out of a plane, run through main street naked, name your son Rufus, confess your love for John- whatever you choose. In all honesty, with all the talk about the end of the world, it makes me want make sure I do everything in life that I can. So, if the world really is ending Saturday (which I really doubt it is) what would you want to do? Personally I want to do a great white shark dive off the coast of South Africa. So whatever it is you dream of doing, make a plan, and try and do it before the world actually ends!
So for those of you who are going on with life, check out these few news and notes….
– There are now 4confirmed casesof the EHV-1 in Canada. The US agricultural officials are now on high alert. To date 10 horses have been confirmed to have the neurological form of EHV-1 in California, 2 cases in Colorado, 1 in Washington and 1 in Alberta. EHV-1 is not passable to humans but has serious effects on horses including respiratory problems and neurological disorders. Symptoms include “fever, decreased coordination, nasal discharge, urine dribbling, loss of tail tone, hind limb weakness, leaning against a wall or fence to maintain balance, lethargy, and the inability to rise. While there is no cure, the symptoms of the disease may be treatable.” {More on EHV-1}
– Olde Hope Horse Trials is low on entries. This fantastic farm runs many unrecognized events throughout the year. Give them some love, send you entries! This is a great way to get your green horses and riders out for a fun experience.
-Update on Shannon Baker: Directly from Shannon on her fall at Jersey–“Cordonelli is doing fine. I rode him today.I wanted to clarify what happened and let you know that we did not have a rotational fall as reported on some outlets. Cindy Deporter was at the fence when I fell and saw the whole thing. She found me on Sunday morning and explained that she had reported the incident as a rider fall and NOT a fall of horse. She said Cordonelli managed to get his front feet down then fell to his knees, got up, lost his hind end upon landing, pulled that up then cantered off to a stop close by. She said he rolled me around a bit while trying to get his feet down and kneed me or stepped on me. But he never went down…. thank god! I was so devastated by my fall because we were going really well on course. It was only my second CIC and Cordonelli’s first. He was being really great and we were so far along on the course…. but I made a huge error on the way to the oxer. He was backing off and drifting left at the same time and I didn’t react at all. We got to a really bad distance without enough power. He tried to jump the wide oxer….. dropped his right front down in the middle of it, hit his upper -arm on the back log, and scissored it. So I became a flying airbag.”–Both Shannon and Cordonelli are fine 🙂
– Top Canadian dressage horses, Key West, has died after developing a painful and untreatable spinal cord compression.
– The GVRDC May 19 jump staining and June 5 Spring Event are both canceled. However, there is a June 5 combined test at Lehman’s Farm instead.
– The 100 day count down has begun to the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships. The championships will be held at Luhmuhlen in August. The HSBC has supported the FEI Classics since 2008 and will continue to support them for the next 3 years offering $1million in prize money.
– The SmartPak Equine/ USEA Preliminary Three Day heads to Virginia this weekend. There will be 7 riders there getting to participate in the long format 3day. We wish them the best of luck!
– Romania claims Balkan Eventing Championships. The home country of Bulgaria took top honors in the team competition. But, in the individual, it was Romania snagging the gold. Eight combinations started the competition with only half of them finishing. The competition was held at the CCI* level.
– The Brahman course has been reveled. Designer, Ian Stark, has changed the direction and added many new fences to the course. The site has undergone significant changes to allow for better traffic flow, increased space, and better safety for the horses moving around the site.
– And now you have it! Twilight jumpers… modeled after twilight polo. For everything you need to know, click {here}.
– A video has been created to help in the Honduras horse campaign. The video will help people to understand the challenges that are faced.
And now for a teaser…
That is all for now- have a great day! Go Eventing.
My hometown horse trial is showing some love to Eventing Nation. Thanks to good friend, Brooke for sending the photos of this years horse trial t-shirt.
This week will be a nice one for EN. There are no major US three-day events that will force drivers to watch out for John on the road-thank goodness. This week in the US there are horse trials including- Hitching Post Horse Trials, Virginia Horse Trials and Three-day Event, Otter Creek Spring Horse Trials, Greater Dayton Horse Trials, Chattahoochee, and CCC Spring Gulch Horse Trials. Live scoring will be posted as available.
In case you haven’t check out this past weekends events…
– Out in California, James Atkinson maintained his lead in the Open Intermediate to win witha 15 point lead. Erin Kellerhouse picked up 2.4 time on the XC to move down to third. In the Open Preliminary, Dawn Robbins held her lead to win on a 23.1 (dressage score of 19.1- impressive!)
– In Ohio, Holy Shine also held on to her lead to win the Open Preliminary. Emma Heald kept the lead in the starter division for a good end to her weekend.
– Out in the midwest, Julie Wolfert and Dehlia McAfee both held their leads to win the OP and OT respectively. Get it girls…
– The FEI has decided to make a DVD on their vision for the future of cross country. The FEI said the video will focus on the cross country and be used for an educational resource for officials, trainers, riders, and national federations. There will be riders, officials, and memebers of British Eventing that will work on the DVD.
– Andrea Leatherman literally kicks on for the Jersey Fresh CCI***. Major congratulations to Andrea and Mensa “G”. These two are a fantastic team and Andrea is a seriously hard and dedicated rider and we will see so much more from her.
– Boyd Martin has had a successful weekend at Jersey. He updates us on all of his horses as well as the success of his students.
– There are now two confirmed cases of EHV-1 in Colorado. Both horses attended the National Cutting Horse Association’s Western National Championships. One horse was euthanized after showing major neurological signs. The Colorado Department of Agriculture is working hard to prevent the spread of the disease.
– Last week I mentioned Smoke the donkey. He has now touched down safely in the US.
– The FEI is going to have 3 open forums this year to discuss eventing’s future. The forums will take place this June at Luhmuhlen, October at the Pan Ams, and November at Adelaide. Discussion papers will be produced after these forums and I would imagine they will be made available for the public.
That is all for now. Have a great Monday! Go Eventing.
This is a special event for me because not only is it in my home town, it’s where I did my first event in 1995. I’ll never forget my run out at fence 3- the worlds scariest beginner novice coop.
There are a lot of events going on this weekend. For those of you who haven’t seen the scores, check them out. Some of the events seem to not have the scores up yet. Keep checking back as I am sure they will be up shortly.
-At Mill Creek PC HT good friend, and fellow Vampire Diaries lover, Julie Wolfert is leading the Open Preliminary on a score of 40.4. Julie’s horse, Aires, is a serious jumper and one to watch out for in the future. The training level is being lead by Dehlia McAfee and her long time partner Whispered Notion. Third place in that division is Callie Judy with her up and coming star, Bada Bing M2S. We should note Callie is also an avid Vampire Diaries follower. Yes, I am aware that note has no importance to many of you 🙂
– Out on the west coast, Galway Down’s is going well with James Atkinson leading the Open Intermediate on Gustav. James holds an almost 15 point lead. Erin Kellerhouse, who is second in the OI, is also leading the Open Novice on her mount Raffaelle.
– Back in Ohio, Winona HT is underway. This event is holding a starter division. I love seeing starter divisions as they are a great way to get green horses and/or riders out at a level that is really comfortable. There are ten entries in the starter division with Emma Heald and Caught In The Rain leading the way.
– Well Sally Cousins has done it again. She has won not just first, but second and third places as well, in the Open Intermediate at Plantation Field HT. Sally is a serious jump jockey with an amazing ability to see a stride. In the Junior Open Training, Adrian Jones is taking the blue on the lovely Irish Odyssey. The Open Training was won by Kristen Bond with Sally Cousins brining up second riding the fantastic jumper, Oliver. Ryan Wood had a busy weekend with lots of young horses and some great placings as well.
Hope anyone out at these events is having a safe and fun weekend! Hopefully not to much rain is in your area. Until next time… Go Eventing.
Everybody has made it through “hump” day! Now it should be easy, downhill sailing to the weekend. Today we see the start of dressage at Jersey.As usual, John has driven from his latest destination in Antarctica to cover the weekend. Be ready for up to date news, photos, and probably no gossip.
In exciting news, Smoke the donkey is will be flying from Iraq to JFK in route to his new life in Nebraska. Smoke was rescued in 2008 by a US Marine and has severed as an Iraqi US Marines unit mascot. Smoke, who was in poor health when rescued by Marine Corp Colonel John Folsom, will be the first animal to cross into Turkey since the start of the Iraq war. He will be accompanied on his journey by SPCA International rescue expert, Terri Crisp, on his journey. After a few days in quarantine, he will be reunited with old friend, and life saver, John Folson.
Young equestrians now have an opportunity to give back and potentially receive a $1500 grant:
“The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Equestrians in Action program tracks youth volunteer hours that are aimed at improving the welfare of the horse or positively promoting equestrian sport. Sponsored by The EQUUS Foundation, the program encourages youth to give back to equestrian sport – at horse shows, equine promotional events, equine businesses or organizations, trade fairs, therapeutic riding clinics, horse rescue and 4-H events.”
Are you living in the UK and want your horse to have the chance to be a super model? Well guess what? Now you can!Leading animal charity The Blue Cross is offering owners the chance for their horse, pony, donkey or mule to become the face of its National Equine Health Survey (NEHS), a twice-yearly survey designed to help improve the health of equines in the UK. The winner will receive a photo shoot with their horse. The photos will then be used to help promote the survey.
The Dressage Foundation has released the names of 10 riders who have been selected for the Dressage Foundations Olympic Dream Program. These riders will take part in a 10 day dressage training experience. Even better- this training happens in Frankfurt, Germany starting June 28. The riders were chosen by: “candidates’ essays, competitive record, recommendations, videos of riding technique and evidence of a commitment to the sport of dressage.” To find out who the chosen ones are, click {here}.
24 year old jockey Michael Baze was found dead in his car. Baze was found slumped down in the car in the stable area of Churchill Downs on Tuesday afternoon. The police have ruled out any foul play. Baze, who hails from California, was from a racing back ground and is a relative to hall of fame jockey, Russell Baze. Thoughts go out to his family, friends and the entire racing community. [Paulick Report]
The other side of the Martin team has been out and about. Silva Martin and students hit up Morven Park for a bit of a dressage outing. They were joined by new student, Ashlea and her mount Mintie, who are trying to qualify for Young Rider Dressage World Championships in Frankfurt, Germany. Silva was also busy with 4 rides this weekend and several blue ribbons.
I hate Monday’s. For most, the weekend is a time to kick back, enjoy time away from work, go out competing, or just enjoy time with friends. For a lot of event riders, Monday’s are filled with doing laundry, catching up on phone calls, putting the barn back in order, and preparing for the upcoming weekends event. So whether you have been away competing all weekend, are finally getting over your Debry hangover (or real hangover), or just heading back to work after a nice weekend with friends, I hope this Monday finds you full of energy and ready for a great week.
This week is another busy week for Eventing Nation. Jersey Fresh takes place in Allentown, NJ. The first trot up is Wednesday with Dressage on Thursday and Friday. John will be on hand to give everyone play by play action and I will be there to hopefully help in between rides and trips to the bathroom. For a list of competitors at Jersey, click [here].
And in case you missed the results from the weekend…
– Clark Johnstone is on a roll. I know Annie linked to this but I just have to mention it again. After winning the FEI World Cup Qualifier in New Zealand just over a month ago, he has done it again– this time in Australia. Twenty-four year old Johnstone had a fantastic weekend finish on a dressage score of 45.4. Johnstone will be heading to England with his mount, Orient Express, where they will train in preparation for London 2012. After having a good friend of mine work for Clark for a year and hearing nothing but amazing things, I am a huge fan. Best of luck to you Clark!
– Paul Schockemohle does it again. After purchasing one of the most famous horses today, he has now purchased another. However, this isn’t your average horse. This one comes for a bit cheaper of a price and is red, not black.
– A top NZ Show jumper has been sold to the Middle East for a guessed millions amount. Twenty-four year old Katie McVean, the rider of Delphi, said the mare was never intended for sale. However, the offer from Saudi Arabia was one the group of owners could not refuse. While Katie is sad that her Olympic dreams may be put on hold, this money will give her a chance to build a future and bring along more future stars. Horses are unpredictable and while selling was probably a huge sadness, it is one that cannot be turned down considering the horse may take a bad step at any moment.
– The FEI has opened their new head quarters in Switzerland. Now lets hope nobody has to visit these head quarters for bad purposes!
– Sinead Halpin reflects on her Rolex weekend. It is obvious Sinead’s mental preparations played a huge roll in her sucess in Kentucky. Even more important was how Sinead handled the emotions and distractions while in Kentucky. Everyone jumped every fench on Sunday with you, Sinead. You deserve this!
– After being sold the the United States and then being found on the auction block, Cusack has a lot of friends trying to save him. Former owner and trainer shares what it was like having to sell Cusack. Now there is the Cusack fund which is sending him to his new home in Kansas.
As the week after Kentucky carries on, laundry gets done, phone calls returned, it is important to remember to catch up on the rest that everyone hasn’t been getting. Whether you were competing in Kentucky, spectating in Kentucky or just simply stalking results instead of doing your work, it is important that you remember that sleep is important and every once in a while it is OK to let yourself have a rest. After finishing my day earlier than expected, I curled up in the hammock with a blanket and my dog- talk about refreshing! So grab your dog, cat, turtle, penguin, or whatever you want and allow your self to have an hour to refresh!
Now while you sip your coffee, check out some news and notes…
– Want to name Ravel’s first US born foal? Ravel’s owner, Akiko Yamazaki, has decided to create a contest for naming the baby and wants the public to participate. The contetst ends May 15 and the winner will recieve a photo montage of the baby along with a photo of Ravel at the WEG. Both photographs will be autographed by Steffen Peters.
– Sam Barr, who was known for the Welton horses and Welton Stud has passed away in a Gloucester Hospital. Barr had many famous “Welton” event horses. One of the best known horses, Welton Envoy, won Rolex with Blythe Tait on Barr’s 80th birthday.
– The Germans have invented a new horse blanket that will help keep the bugs away. The blanket is designed to deliver natural repellents to give the horses a two way protection. The aim for the blanket was to use both mechanical and chemical protection in a safe and comfortable manor. They also stand by their claim that the horse will not build up sweat in the hot summer months.
– Jessica Pye blogs about Bounder’s upcoming operation. I admire her honesty in the situation. It is always hard to share the negatives or your horse, especially when related to vet work. I’m happy for Jessica that Bounder will return to prime form and she will be able to carry on with all of her goals. Thanks for sharing your story Jessica!
– Riding for Gold, Naturally: Laura Barwick’s Incredible Journey– a book about a girls return from a a live altering event. At 22, a healthy and athletic young woman was enjoying riding her horses and jumping. But after a bale of hay fell on her, she awoke to find her back broken and she was now a paraplegic. This book is intended to entertain and inspire while taking readers in the the unique world of competitive equestrian sports.
– Carrie’s Rolex experience. What it’s all about… This is a fantastic blog about Rolex and what makes it such a fantastic weekend.
I have to start this post with talking about Sinead. Finally, hours after the fact, I was able to watch her round. While watching her and Tate jump (with the lovely John on the phone) my heart was racing. Of course, I already knew the outcome, but the glory of her round will forever be in my mind. What was more awesome than watching her leave all those colored rails up, was watching her emotion afterward. Sinead works hard. Harder than anyone. She has been working for years for this moment. While I haven’t known Sinead personally for long, the time that I have has always been full of fun, laughter, and my love for watching her intense focus on competition. So Sinead, well done! You deserve this. Here’s to you having the weekend you worked so hard to achieve, to a sound horse tomorrow and each day thereafter, and to continuing on to 2012 where you are definitely on a few peoples minds.
– The Monday after a 3day is always a huge let down in my mind. And after two weeks of high class 3day competition, today will be a big let down. Back to do laundry, returning to the office, answering ignored phone calls- whatever it may be. But don’t worry, despite the let down after these two weeks, there will still much more exciting coverage to come with Jersey, Bromont, Luhmuhlen, and several other top class events. So stay locked in for up to date coverage on your favorite news site!
Even though Rolex was at the front of many people’s minds this weekend, there were three other events taking place around the US:
– I love seeing events put on long format three days. The Heart of the Carolina’s put on a long format three day which will allow people to get the experience. This three day ran at training level, novice, and beginner novice. While there weren’t too many entries, I would expect over the next few years the entries will grow. For 2011 the top prize for the training three day goes to Becky Brown and EZ. And the novice award goes to Anne Lane-Maunder with Penny Lane. Congratulations!
-Loudoun Hunt was a busy weekend for those in area II. Sarah “Sally” Cousins had a winning weekend with top place finishes in both intermediate sections. Oh hey, Sally also took second in both intermediate sections. The glory of winning will never get old. With many more divisions and many more winners, don’t forget to check the results.
– Up in New Hampshire it was a busy weekend. With five open novice and beginner novice sections, there were plenty of participants. In the open preliminary, Kami Wolk took top honors.
-The Heart of the Carolina’s Three Day Event finishes to rave reviews.
-Even though these fires happened in England, there have been several in the US this year as well. We can never be too careful when it comes to watching out for our stables. This is why everyone should be encouraged to check fire precautions.
– In the Show Jumping world, Germany’s Christian Ahlmann won the World Cup Jumping final on his stallion Taloubet Z. Margie Engle, Beezie Madden, and McClain Ward also had good rounds to finish well on the leader board.
-Check out some footage from a CIC** that I believe to be in Switzerland. I didn’t use a translator to decide this so excuse me if I’m wrong!
-Ben Hobday explains his 97 time pentalties at Badminton. Poor guy was struggling himself. His mention of rider fitness is something I find important. No matter what level you go, or how many horses you ride a day, it is important that as riders we stay fit. The weather is getting nice- so get out those dusty running shoes and tear up the roads!
Now, for those of you who have a boarding facility, know a boarding facility, seen a boarding facility, or simply have had anything to do with a boarding facility:
Hope everyone has a wonderful Monday. Go Eventing.
What a day for cross country! With lots of mishaps and bad fortunes, I am just happy to know that everyone is safe. I have been searching for some good XC footage to share because there certainly were some fantastic rounds but there isn’t much yet. Stay tuned for that… Huge shout out to Sinead Halpin for absolutely tearing it up today and being the highest placed American.
Check out the press confrence
ECOGOLD Q&A with Philip Dutton (Doug Payne doing the interviewing)
That’s all for now. There is much more coverage to come of this fantastic even so keep locked in to EN to satisfy all your Rolex cravings. Go Eventing.
While the eventing world has been lost in a Badminton haze, it is important to remember there are other events going on (just helping John out on his lack of memory). Perhaps one the the most exciting things that has happened over the weekend is Tamra Smith winning Twin Rivers HT on Leigh Mesher’s Mar de Amor. Dinero, as he is called in the barn, is a fantastic horse with amazing talent. Mesher, who is currently not able to compete due to a bun in the oven, has given the ride to the very capable Smith. Smith and Big D $$ are currently aiming for the 2011 Pan American Games. For those who are interested in helping them get there, stop in and donate in a fun way!
Fair Hill Horse Trials also happened this weekend. While I hear it was very wet and cold, it seems like it was a good weekend. The CIC*** was won by Nina Ligon and Fernhill Fearless. Doug Payne pulled the win in the Advanced section with Jennie Brannigan and Walkabout following close behind. For full results, check below. Twin River Scores
What a day of cross country riding at Badminton. I wasn’t able to see all of the rounds, but of the ones I did see, there were some pretty amazing ones. Andrew Nicholson hands down makes XC riding look like going for a quiet hack. His skill in the saddle is to die for. Of course, there were the ever impressive young riders. Everyone should know about my Laura Collett obsession by now. I’ve been thinking about calling her up and asking to switch lives for a month or so. I’m sure she would love it here in Virginia… But besides my crush Laura, there were some other impressive rounds including Georgie Spence and Flora Harris.
These two weeks are so exciting in eventing. I love the non stop coverage of two of the greatest events in the world. Badminton and Kentucky as so motivating. So much so, I got Finley (for those of you who don’t remember Finley, click here) out and practiced my half pass and changes. In time, we should be pretty good together. Don’t worry, despite these two huge events, Eventing Nation will be right here to give you coverage on all the national horse trials as well.
–Ben Hobday discusses his very slow cross country round today. Despite racking up some 97 time penalties, Ben was thrilled with his horse and said they both came away much smarter.I love seeing riders being so thrilled with their horses- even when they have an undesirable about of time penalties.
-The Lexington Herald Leader profiles Kentucky’s Hannah Burnett and her trip to Rolex
-Blyth Tait’s Ready Teddy has passed away due to colic complications. Many of you will remember this fantastic chestnut when he helped Tait achieve Olympic and World Championship gold. 23 year old Ready Teddy will be greatly missed among all those he touched.
Riders reflect on their XC rides:
The final horse inspection is at 3:30am Eastern, the first section of show jumping is a 6am and the top 20 ride at 9am ET. Hope everyone stays tuned for tomorrow exciting finale at Badminton. No matter who wins, they will surely deserve it. Go Eventing.
Because no matter how you feel, cute things always make you smile (wiki commons)
Well I first off have to apologize for my mood when I write this. It has been a long day and ended with my horse forcing “plan B” into my life. Well I suppose that is just horses and why you come up with multiple plans! But one thing I have learned about bad moods is you always need something to make you smile. Penguins do just that for me. I heart penguins. I don’t know what it is about the cute, cuddly, little winged creatures that does it, but I can’t resist them. Maybe it’s the fact the men have to watch the egg all winter while the female hunts. Who knows. For all you other penguin lovers, I was going to share an awesome ‘penguin getting tickled video” but YouTube has taken it down due to copyright issues. So, I sincerely apologize for not being able to share with you. Instead I ask, what do you do to help cure your bad mood?
On to the news and notes…
–The 2011 DPE promo is live. -In a recent article, Akaash Maharaj discusses how the FEI structure shows age and how it needs to built into a more modern organization. Maharaj states:
As national federations, we now have a unique opportunity to assume responsibility for rebuilding the FEI on a foundation of greater democracy, accountability, and transparency. We can remake the FEI as a modern institution, equal to its mandate and worth of its name.
Maharaj outlined the process to be followed by the task force, beginning with an upcoming meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.
– Now you can master your riding and your mind. You know you want to, so check it out.
-For those of you who can’t wait for the start of Badminton, get excited. The ever popular Horse and Hound live blogging will be back in action for this years event. H&H editor Pippa Roome will be in action with several special guests. I’m even guessing you can pull the blog up on your smart phone to keep tabs while heading to your event.
– HBO has released a teaser for its’ highly anticipated horse racing drama….
– Fiona Walker’s racy novel will be ready just in time for Badminton. The novel is a drama about upper level event riders, their love lives and “ride offs” at Badminton. I am assuming all names are fake but one can only wonder if there isn’t some true behind the characters of this novel.
– Sinead Halpin blogs about her pre-Rolex panic. EN wishes Sinead the best and hopes all the panic moments can stay under control a little bit longer. However, no one will judge you Sinead if you start sleeping in Tate’s stall.
– With London just a year away, all eyes will be on up and coming talent at this years Badminton. English riders, Laura Collett, Harry Meade, and Emily Llewellyn are just three incredible talents that selectors will have their eyes on.
That is all for now folks. Have a wonderful Wednesday. Go Eventing.
My hometown horse trial is showing some love to Eventing Nation. Thanks to good friend, Brooke for sending the photos of this years horse trial t-shirt. 
