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It’s the first day of Olympic dressage for the Eventing crowd! Don’t forget to check out our Ultimate Form Guide for the schedule, order of go, information on the new Olympic format, and much much more. Also, with the time differences, and the competition running at weird hours due to the heat in Tokyo, it’s important that you check out our handy-dandy guide to times so you can be near a TV (or at least try to). I’m not sure I have it in me to wake up at 4am to watch dressage…but we shall see. Also, in case you are curious, here is the order of jogs for bright and early this morning.

Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Website, Latest News, EN Olympic Digest Newsletter Signup, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Coverage

Want to stay in the know with all things Olympic eventing? We’re sending out daily Olympic Digest updates, and you can sign up for free right here.

• Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl took individual dressage gold — on top of her team gold — in her Olympic debut. She scored over 90% in her freestyle, which was ridden to a La La Land medley.
• Oh, and Charlotte Dujardin took bronze, making her officially the most-medalled female British Olympian of all time.
• Fintan McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan took gold in the lightweight double sculls, making the rowers the first Irish gold medallists in any sport since 2012.
• The heatwave grew so unbearable that Spain’s Paula Badosa had to be removed from the tennis court in a wheelchair after falling ill in the quarterfinals, while Russia’s Daniil Medvedev told the umpire, “I can finish the match but I can die. If I die, are you going to be responsible?”
• Germany’s cycling director, Patrick Moster, was sent home from Tokyo after shouting racial slurs during the men’s time trial. Now, there are calls for his resignation in the wake of the incident.
• British golfer Tommy Fleetwood confessed that he doesn’t use a hairdryer to achieve his voluminous, luscious locks – after lamenting that he’s been asked several times to borrow one.
• US gymnast Simone Biles decided to withdraw from the individual final, a day after stepping out of the team final. Her decision has sparked much debate online, but this insight into the ‘twisties’ should silence even the most vocal of naysayers. 
• The IOC praised transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard‘s courage and tenacity ahead of her Olympic debut early next week in what has been a landmark moment for sport.
• Fiji won its second-ever Olympic gold as the rugby sevens triumphed – an enormous emotional boon for the tiny South Pacific island nation, which has been ravaged by Covid. And what a team: the captain learned to play rugby on a traffic roundabout, and another member of the team was homeless when they debuted in 2016.
• The Australian athletics team has been sent into self-isolation after contact with a US athlete who tested positive for Covid. Though the Aussies have all since tested negative, this throws a spanner in the works of their final preparations.
• Keen sports fans found creative ways to glimpse the action, despite the behind-closed-doors policy this year.
• The US leads the overall medal tally with 37 won so far, but it’s a tie between Japan and China for the most golds: they’ve each won 14, compared to the US’s 13.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Coconino Summer H.T.: [Website] [Live Scores and Times]

Hunt Club Farms H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

Catalpa Corner Charity H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Olney Farm H.T: [Website] [Entry Status/Live Scores]

Fouaad Mirza is the third-ever Indian rider, and first to qualify in 21 years, and he’s competing in Eventing this week. Partnered with his double Asian Games silver medallist Seigneur Medicott (Micky), Fouaad is confident that he can do well for his country due to Micky’s technical precision over the jumps as well as his previous experience with hot weather. [Two Hearts & One Soul]

Oh, did you want full replays of all the action you missed this week? Never fear, EN is here with your links to everything you wanted and more. Catch up on the dressage action, and save this link for when you don’t wake up at 4am to watch Eventing dressage. [Equestrian Olympics Full Replays]

Fancy a chat with McLain Ward prior to the Olympics? Listen to this podcast and find out everything you wanted to know and more about the man/myth/legend, his preparations with his horse Contagious, and his vibe going into the Olympics. The episode focuses on the struggle of dealing with the postponement of the Olympics last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He also discussed the massive operation to get the horses ready to travel across the world. Plus, he discussed the makeup of the equestrian and his teammates Laura Kraut, Kent Farrington, and newcomer Jessica Springsteen. [Sports With Friends Podcast]

Best of Blogs: It’s Not Hard Work vs Privilege: It’s Fighting For Your Own Success

Equestrian themed sun shirts with an Olympic discount? Sign me up! RemiLee & Co is offering a buy-one-get-one-50%-off deal on their incredible sun shirts, emblazoned with personalized power words and kitted out to be the perfect riding companion for the summer months. [Olympic Deals]

Montana sunset. Photo by Bec Braitling.

One day, I keep telling myself, I’ll make it out to Rebecca Farms for their summer horse trials. Maybe I won’t have the gumption to drag my horse halfway across the country (especially as my current horse has a tendency to scalp himself on long journeys) but perhaps next year I’ll go for the reporting. And the sunsets. And the overall vibe. Rebecca Farms 2022!

U.S. Weekend Preview

The Event at Rebecca Farm: [Website] [Entries & Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Halt Cancer at X] [Live Stream] [Show Photographer] [EN’s Coverage]

USPC Festival Eventing Championships: [Website] [Entries & Ride Times]

Course Brook Farm Summer H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Horse Park of New Jersey II H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Silverwood Farm H.T.: [Website] [Volunteer]

News From Around the Globe:

Michael Jung made Eventing history by becoming the first to hold the European, Olympic, and World Championship titles at the same time. Now, he has his sights set on an individual hat-trick in Tokyo, partnered with Fischer Chipmunk, and we all know he won’t leave anything on the table. Only two other riders have won two Olympic titles in Eventing, Charles Pahud de Mortanges won both Amsterdam 1928 and Los Angeles 1932 riding Marcroix, and Mark Todd won Los Angeles 1984 as well as Seoul in 1988 with the legendary Charisma. Can Michael Jung beat ANOTHER world record and win three Olympic gold medals?? [Tokyo 2020 Eventing Preview]

Lack of riding time is a common complaint among adult amateur equestrians. Between professional careers, family commitments, and an often-overwhelming number of other responsibilities, riding for a short time, even a few days a week can be tough to fit in. But, even if you only have a short time to devote to working with your horse, there’s a lot that can be accomplished in less than an hour with some longeing and riding exercises. [7 Riding & Longeing Exercises For A Time Crunch]

 Does Phillip Dutton feel extra pressure with the added mantle of being the oldest American at the Olympics? Nah. Pretty much standard stuff for him. In his seventh Olympic appearance, Phillip won an individual bronze at Rio in 2016, making him the oldest American medallist since 1952. He credits his longevity to his dedication to core strength and balance. [Team USA’s Oldest Olympian]

Best of Blogs: We Have To Fix Our Audience Problem Before We Can Fix Our Sponsorship Problem

HORSE FIRST know that finding the right supplement can be difficult. Whether you’re looking for a calmer horse, stronger hooves or supple joints, you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for within our product range. HORSE FIRST use only the highest quality active ingredients and are renowned for being some of the most tailored and advanced supplements on the market – Made by horse people for horse people.

Photo via Jennie Brannigan.

If you’re at Rebecca Farm this week, track down Jennie Brannigan or grab one at check-in and get one of these ribbons she’s made in honor of Annie Goodwin, who was preparing to compete there this weekend, and will be terribly missed. Annie touched so many lives within our sport, and was known for her vivacious smile and positive attitude. Tag EN in your photos of competition this weekend with the striped ribbon.

U.S. Weekend Preview

The Event at Rebecca Farm: [Website] [Entries & Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Halt Cancer at X] [Live Stream] [Show Photographer] [EN’s Coverage]

USPC Festival Eventing Championships: [Website] [Entries & Ride Times]

Course Brook Farm Summer H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Horse Park of New Jersey II H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Silverwood Farm H.T.: [Website] [Volunteer]

News From Around the Globe:

Time for some fast facts about The Event at Rebecca Farm! The 2019 CCI4*-L winner Jennie Brannigan returns this year to defend her title, this time with Nina Gardner’s 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Twilightslastgleam. 549 riders will compete in 26 divisions across 10 levels. Novice is the most popular level with 208 riders entered, while the CCI2*-L has the most entries across the FEI divisions. [Rebecca Farm Fast Facts]

Doug & Quinn have arrived in Tokyo! Doug and Vandiver were first named as the traveling reserve but, due to Elizabeth Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z sadly withdrawing from the team, the pair are now going into Tokyo as part of the three-person Olympic team. While Quinn doesn’t have a favorite treat, he does have some weird quirks. [US Olympic Horse: Vandiver]

Best of Blogs: Olympic Judges, Please Mark What You See, Not Who You See

We’ve had Olympic horses in Tokyo before, for the 1964 Olympics. Things were a little different then, with Australian horses coming in by ship, but some of the equestrian events were held in Baji Koen Park—the same location in which the equestrian sports will be contested this year— and Japan also provided a sprawling eventing course at Karuizawa, a forested area 90 miles from Tokyo. [Throwback Thursday: Tokyo 1064]

Brisbane has been announced as the site for the 2032 Olympics. The Australian city and surrounding South-East Queensland region were approved as the Games hosts at an International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Tokyo on Wednesday. “Brisbane 2032 is the first future host to have been elected under, and to have fully benefited from, the new flexible approach to electing Olympic hosts,” said IOC President Thomas Bach in a statement. The approach encourages Olympic projects which make use of existing and temporary venues. [Brisbane 2032]

Just a post full of excellent equestrian Olympic Instagram posts. [What Else Could You Want]

YouTube: The 2021 Thoroughbred Makeover is feeling closer than ever. Join RPP for a panel discussion with Makeover veterans to learn some do’s and don’ts to help the final months of Makeover preparation go smoothly for you and your horse!

Faudree really leaning in to the local culture in Germany. Photo by Boyd Martin.

You know, I had a whole cute story about a horse I rode yesterday in my mind for this leader paragraph, but then I saw this….delightful photo of Will Faudree on my Facebook feed and literally everything else in my mind dissipated immediately. The lederhosen, the clogs, the knee-high socks, and of course, the hat so you know he’s from Texas, it’s all just pure magic. You’re so, so welcome.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Champagne Run at the Park H.T. (Lexington, Ky.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Summer Coconino Western Underground Inc. H.T. (Flagstaff, Az.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Essex H.T. (Fair Hills, Nj.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Full Moon Farms H.T. (Finksburg, Md.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Genesee Valley Hunt H.T. (Geneseo, Ny.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

News From Around the Globe:

In the FEI’s centenary year it is perhaps fitting that this year’s Olympic Games will be staged by one of its founding members, Japan. The Tokyo 2020 host has a long history in equestrian sports, although achievements on the biggest stage have been rare. This year could change that with a talented squad including an Eventing team that challenged for the podium at the most recent FEI World Equestrian Games. [FEI 100 Years]

The world’s tallest horse, who held a Guinness World Record, has died aged 20. “Big Jake” died last month at Smokey Hollow Farm in Wisconsin, United States. The Belgian gelding stood 2.75 inches over 20 hands, without shoes. Jake broke the record for the tallest living horse on 19 January 2010 and first appeared in the 2011 edition of the Guinness World Records book. The record was formerly held by a 20hh Clydesdale in Texas, called Remington. [RIP Big Jake]

Hot on Horse Nation: Why Invoice? What It Means To Your Business

Best of Blogs: Working Hard Isn’t Always Enough

Olympic Beat:

A piece of history was made this week when 36 horses flew into Japan – the first full cargo load of horses ever to land in Haneda, the waterfront airport that serves the greater Tokyo area and which is now welcoming a very different group of Olympic athletes. The four-legged time travellers are all dressage horses and include some Olympic superstars, among them Bella Rose, the mare ridden by Germany’s Isabell Werth, the most decorated Olympic equestrian athlete of all time. [Dressage Horses Land in Tokyo]

Bookmark this page: Tokyo Equestrian Live Streaming Schedule

Want to get all of the latest Olympic eventing news in your inbox? Sign up for our free Olympic Digest newsletter, sent each Monday and then daily beginning July 28. Upon sign-up, you’ll receive a welcome message containing links to any editions that were already released. Sign up here.

Confused about rules with alternates and substitutions for Tokyo? You’re not alone. And Equestrian sports are not the only ones trying it out this year, with artistic swimming, BMX racing and freestyle, track cycling, fencing, handball, hockey, football, rowing, rugby, table tennis and water polo joining the ranks. Learn more about how it all works here [Understanding Alternates & Substitutions for Olympics]

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HORSE FIRST know that finding the right supplement can be difficult. Whether you’re looking for a calmer horse, stronger hooves or supple joints, you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for within our product range. HORSE FIRST use only the highest quality active ingredients and are renowned for being some of the most tailored and advanced supplements on the market – “Made by horse people for horse people.” [Horse First]

When your 4-year-old really loves the water complex. Photo courtesy of Mikayla Mather Carlton

With a whole week of continuous brutal hot Virginia weather, I finally cracked and decided to ride my last horse in a bareback pad, shorts, and flip flops. We went for a happy little jaunt through the woods and down into the river for some splashing, which is honestly the only respectable choice in July in Virginia. However, luckily my horse did not make the choice that Mikayla’s did when she tried to school the water complex!

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Champagne Run at the Park H.T. (Lexington, Ky.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Summer Coconino Western Underground Inc. H.T. (Flagstaff, Az.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Essex H.T. (Fair Hills, Nj.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Full Moon Farms H.T. (Finksburg, Md.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Genesee Valley Hunt H.T. (Geneseo, Ny.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

News From Around the Globe:

Tina Cook is one of Britain’s most successful event riders, with a numerous wins, placings and team call-ups to her name, including individual and team bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, followed by team silver at the London 2012 Olympics. Looking back to 2008, Tina remembers being a late call up to represent her country in Hong Kong aboard Miners Frolic. Doing dressage at 10pm due to the heat, completing a tricky cross country course, and jumping her way up the leaderboard to individual bronze, Tina and Henry had a magical trip. [Tina Cook Reminisces]

Hot Take: Why Dressage Is Like The Great British Bake Off

Allyson Felix, one of the most decorated athletes in women’s track and field, has announced plans to pay it forward with a new partnership that will cover childcare costs for mothers participating in the Summer Games. The mother has teamed with her primary sponsor, Athleta, and the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) to launch The Power of She Fund: Child Care Grants. The program will commit $200,000 to childcare costs for nine mom-athletes competing and participating in the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. [Girl Power]

International equestrian judge Helen Christie, of Waikaia, is off to her sixth Olympics, where she’ll officiate as the chief steward at the eventing for the first time. She previously worked Sydney, Athens, Hong Kong, London, and Rio, but being the chief steward is the highest you can go, and she’s positively delighted despite the year delay. [Six Olympics for Helen Christie]

An online public-awareness campaign launched this week takes aim at sexual misconduct and abuse in equestrian sport, and changing how these issues often are ignored, minimized or wrongly blamed on the victim. Announced Monday, the collaboration among Horse Network, the Wrigley Media Group and the Kehring family, who are involved in SafeSport and criminal allegations against show jumper Rich Fellers, has launched #WeRideTogether, a  series of  digital PSAs and an in-depth microsite designed to empower, inform, and unite the equestrian community. [We Ride Together]

Horse girl challenge: accepted. Photo by Amanda Hjert.

Nobody knows how to multi-task and get stuff done like horse girls. Take Amanda here, who is walking her dogs, feeding her horses, and lulling her baby down to a nap all in one very organized trip. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, but nothing can teach you how to get a million things done in one efficient trip like working in a barn.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Fairburn, Ga.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Huntington Farm H.T. (South Strafford, Vt.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm (Adamstown, Md.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Round Top H.T. (Castle Rock, Co.): [Omnibus] [Ride Times]

Major International Events

Barbury International (Wiltshire, United Kingdom): [Event Hub]

News From Around the Globe:

You may think you know everything about Tsetserleg, but we’ve got a few more juicy deets. Thomas has long been a stalwart competitor at the top levels and in international competition for Boyd Martin, representing the US at the WEG, the Pan American Games, and coming 2nd at Kentucky in 2019. He’s a cuddly barn favorite, and performs well in all three phases, but cross country is definitely his favorite. [Sporthorse Stars: Tsetserleg]

Best of Blogs: A Black Horseman’s Perspective on our Current Climate

As riders, we all have past injuries or weird features about our bodies that continue into our riding career. Learning about how your body works (or doesn’t work), and understanding your everyday habits that give us asymmetry in the saddle is a lifelong journey. Awareness of your body and knowledge of these daily habits and how they give us tension and weird behaviors in the tack is a necessary point of personal education. [Everyday Habits You May Have That Drastically Affect Your Riding]

What the heck is going on with the horse market right now? That’s a question on a lot of minds, and as I’ve spent this spring searching for a few client horses, I can tell you it’s pretty wild. Horses sold within four hours of posting, horses selling for double the normal asking price, and all of it happening at an alarming pace. Who would’ve thought that a pandemic would send us into a horse buying frenzy? [WTH Horse Market??]

Olympic Beat:

We’re eagerly awaiting the finalized entry list for Tokyo, nominations for which were due to each country’s respective Olympic committee and the FEI earlier this week. We’ll update you with a final and complete list as soon as it becomes available! In the meantime, don’t forget to sign up for EN’s Olympic Digest email, which is sent each Monday and will begin daily editions on July 28.

In response to the declared state of emergency in Tokyo, Olympic minister Tamayo Marukawa has announced that the Olympics will run without spectators. The state of emergency due to the coronavirus will run from the 12th of July through the 22nd of August, encompassing the entire games. Japan’s vaccination rate has been low all year, with only 15% of the population vaccinated, and cases suddenly rising again in just the past week. [No Spectators for Olympics]

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HORSE FIRST know that finding the right supplement can be difficult. Whether you’re looking for a calmer horse, stronger hooves or supple joints, you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for within our product range. HORSE
FIRST use only the highest quality active ingredients and are renowned for being some of the most tailored and advanced supplements on the market – “Made by horse people for horse people.” [Horse First]

Deniro Z made light work of the cross country at the Mandatory Outing at Great Meadow. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Obviously the biggest news of the week for the eventing world is the last-minute switcharoo of the team bound for Tokyo, with the withdrawal of Deniro Z. All of us at EN want to send our hugs to Liz Halliday-Sharp, as we can’t imagine the heartbreak she’s feeling, and the disappointment of getting so so close to a lifetime goal. However, a rider like Liz with a string of horses like she’s got will definitely be back on Team USA very soon, and we look forward to that day very much.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Fairburn, Ga.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Huntington Farm H.T. (South Strafford, Vt.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm (Adamstown, Md.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Round Top H.T. (Castle Rock, Co.): [Omnibus] [Ride Times]

Major International Events

Barbury International (Wiltshire, United Kingdom): [Event Hub]

News From Around the Globe:

Any good horseman will tell you, management and simple decisions under saddle are your best weapons against injury. From employing cross-training over varied terrain, to properly managing your warm up and cool down, equine and human physiotherapist Sasha Chelin knows how to keep horses sound. They’re also no guarantee of soundness, but are good measures to put in place for better horse management and to minimise your risk of an unnecessary muscle or soft tissue pull, tear, or strain. [3 Tips for Injury Prevention in Horses]

Gary Snyder has been involved with horses for about 50 years, and has spent many of those volunteering at USEA events. Over the years, Snyder has done several different volunteer positions, but startbox is definitely his favorite. “I’ve been startbox, I’ve scribed, I like sit-down jobs because my feet are old, and I’ve been steward,” commented Snyder. “My goal in startbox is to give everyone a blue ribbon. What they do with that after they leave my start box is up to them. The nice thing about the start box is that your life is easy if you get a good steward. Also, being in startbox allows you to meet everybody.” [VIP Volunteer Gary Snyder]

Breathing exercises can really help in stabilizing your core and strengthening your position. But we hardly think about breath when we’re riding. Meanwhile, the horse is continuously moving forward, and it is important for the rider to keep moving the chest and shoulders forward together with the horse’s movement. The horse moves the rider’s pelvis forward, and the rider needs to balance the upper body into this forward motion. Get some breathing tips here to improve your riding at the core. [Breathing Techniques for Stability and Suppleness]

Best of Blogs: You Don’t Have to Dream Big

Olympic Beat:

We’re eagerly awaiting the finalized entry list for Tokyo, nominations for which were due to each country’s respective Olympic committee and the FEI earlier this week. We’ll update you with a final and complete list as soon as it becomes available! In the meantime, don’t forget to sign up for EN’s Olympic Digest email, which is sent each Monday and will begin daily editions on July 28.

Video: 

No shame in my crush on Mama’s Magic Way. Photo by Kate Samuels.

I haven’t been out at a competition yet this year, for a variety of silly reasons, so it was really nice to go to Great Meadow yesterday and watch some of our favorite pairs gallop around Ian Stark’s cross country course. I also had way too much fun taking photos, and I love going through all of them afterwards and examining everyone’s ridiculous jumping faces when they get splashed in the water jump. Don’t worry, riders, I didn’t post those. Publicly.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Larkin Hill H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

The Maryland International + Horse Trials: [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

Chattahoochee Hills H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Twin Rivers Summer H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Cobblestone Farms H.T. I: [Website] [Live Scores]

Great Meadow Mandatory Outing: [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

It’s possibly the world’s longest continuously running event held on the same site, however that’s not Naracoorte Horse Trials’ only claim to fame. Its cross-country course designer, Wayne Copping, is a local legend whose expertise is world-class.Meandering through towering old red gums across picturesque farmland, Naracoorte Horse Trials’ cross country course — and its rich history — make the unique event a must-attend for those in south-eastern Australia. What started in 1975 as a junior three-day event has since continued to run for 46 consecutive years, all the while being held at the same property, Strathyre, with the same landowners. [The Going is Always Good at Naracoorte]

Despite its tiny population, New Zealand has developed an incredible pipeline of talent in Eventing in particular – between 1984 and 2000, New Zealand athletes won six of 15 Individual Olympic medals on offer as well as three Team gongs. Their top stars during this glorious period included two-time Olympic Individual champion Sir Mark Todd and 1996 winner Blyth Tait. Now New Zealand is looking forward to another Olympic Games with Eventing and Jumping athletes looking for success in Tokyo. [Local Heroes: New Zealand]

Israeli showjumping rider Daniel Bluman will not be attending the Tokyo Olympics due to an “administrative error”. His horse Gemma W’s ownership was incorrectly registered with the FEI as American rather than Israeli. According to FEI rules, horses must be registered by January 15th of the Olympic year with owners as the same nationality as the rider, and despite an appeal to the FEI Court, Daniel’s case was denied. [No Olympics for Daniel Bluman]

I’m as guilty as anybody of neglecting my paperwork for my equine business. Is reconciling your accounts on your monthly list of things to do? Between feeding the horses, teaching lessons and keeping everything at your farm organized, you should also be verifying your checking and saving accounts, plus any credit cards, as well as your PayPal or Venmo account each and every month. While we know everyone is busy and adding one more thing to the list can seem overwhelming, if your answer was no, let us explain why it should be right up there at the top of your priority list, along with feeding the horses. [Reconciling Your Accounts]

What kind of cross country rider are you? Do you plan out every approach on cross country, and count all your strides? What do you do when something goes amiss? Are you a fair weather rider or a rough and tumble take-no-prisoners hurricane warrior? Only Lucinda Green’s quiz will be able to tell you! [Take the Quiz]

Can’t get enough Olympics? Every Monday beginning July 5 and daily beginning July 28 through August 3, you can get all of the latest Olympic eventing news delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for EN’s Olympic Digest newsletter for free here.

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HORSE FIRST know that finding the right supplement can be difficult. Whether you’re looking for a calmer horse, stronger hooves or supple joints, you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for within our product range. HORSE FIRST use only the highest quality active ingredients and are renowned for being some of the most tailored and advanced supplements on the market – “Made by horse people for horse people.”

 

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I can hardly believe the Olympics is only a month away. With the delay from last year, it feels like we’ve literally been waiting for a million years for the Olympics, and honestly, many of us started this year wondering if it would even happen at all. But a month will pass in a flash! With the final outing next week, I can’t imagine the pressure the riders and athletes are feeling, after such a weird year and a half. Crazy!

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Arrowhead H.T. (Billings, Mt.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Fox River Valley Pony Club H.T. (Barrington, Il.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Inavale Farm H.T. (Philomath, Or.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Summer H.T. (Leesburg, Va.) : [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Midsouth Pony Club H.T. (Lexington, Ky.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Stable View Summer H.T. and Area III Championships (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

News From Around the Globe:

Help us as we plan our coverage of the Tokyo Olympics! Please take a moment to fill out this single-question poll.

The Olympics are a month away, but it’s not too early to look at the NBC Equestrian schedule. That’s it, this is just a link so you can pencil in your schedule the days on which you will be fully unavailable to everyone in your life as you’re watching the Olympics eventing. [NBC Equestrian Schedule]

Weighing the value of protection over the risk of heating tendons has always been on my mind. Turns out I’m not alone, and now scientists have done quantifiable studies on the heat effects of many different boot and wrap options that we customarily encounter. Spoiler alert: if you can ride your horse without boots, do. [Do Boots and Wraps Overheat Horse’s Legs?]

What do you do when you drive almost six hours to get to your first international FEI but your horse box breaks down? Well, if you’re Tia Lewis, and you’re determined to get there, you pop on your dressage gear with tails and all, top it with a high vis vest, and hack three miles down the road to get to your dressage test on time. [High-Vis and Tails, A Quest for Dressage]

I will not apologize for more Mollie Summerland articles. This one is from FEI, and it features some fun facts you may not already know about her, even if you’ve read all of the previous articles I’ve posted about her. If she wasn’t a professional rider, what profession would she choose? Read more to learn! [5 Facts About Mollie Summerland]

HORSE FIRST know that finding the right supplement can be difficult. Whether you’re looking for a calmer horse, stronger hooves or supple joints, you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for within our product range. HORSE FIRST use only the highest quality active ingredients and are renowned for being some of the most tailored and advanced supplements on the market – “Made by horse people for horse people.” [Learn More About Horse First]

Photo courtesy of Stable View.

If you enjoy your time this weekend competing at Stable View, don’t forget that you can always go back for incredible schooling opportunities! With use of the Boyd Martin, ETB Schooling Field at Stable View along with the adjacent New 320 x 250 Attwood Surfaces Arena for $100/horse, riders can use the excellent footing that’s available for Training level and beyond. Additionally, the new arena is set up with stadium jumps and a full court dressage arena.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Arrowhead H.T. (Billings, Mt.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Fox River Valley Pony Club H.T. (Barrington, Il.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Inavale Farm H.T. (Philomath, Or.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Summer H.T. (Leesburg, Va.) : [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Midsouth Pony Club H.T. (Lexington, Ky.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Stable View Summer H.T. and Area III Championships (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

News From Around the Globe:

Can’t get enough of the success of Mollie Summerland? Mollie’s ultimate dream was set aged just 11. Mollie’s mum has the proof – a hand-drawn poster announcing her aim of riding at the Olympics. Unlike many other childhood dreams that faded over time, Mollie’s is still firmly in place a decade on and her ambition shows no sign of waning. [Dream of a Lifetime]

Norman came all the way from Hungary to fulfill a young rider’s dream, but two colic surgeries and a deep digital tendon tear in two years seemed to threaten their life together. At the Aspen Farms Horse Trials recently, Madison Langerak rode her Normandy Kivalo to victory in the preliminary rider division, adding only cross-country time penalties to their dressage score of 23.3. While anyone would be proud of that result, the win was especially poignant considering that not only was it the pair’s first successful preliminary completion in two years, it also came after overcoming a series of challenges that threatened to end not just the horse’s career, but his life. [Norman Overcomes it All]

Taking lessons from McLain Ward can never be a bad thing, as he’s one of the most beautiful and successful riders in the world. His strong position and coordinated efforts of all his aids is what makes him so brilliant. Are your aids clear and independent of each other? Are you telling your horse conflicting or contradictory things at the same time? Maybe you are aware that you clash your aids but have difficulty avoiding it? Can you isolate and use different parts of your body?  [Independent and Effective Aids Start With a Strong Position]

Video: Aside from straight Grand Prix show jumpers, has there ever been a horse more fun to watch in flight than Mai Baum?

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When you’re trying to gallop into the water but there are ducks in the way. Photo by Mike McNally.

You guys, I almost don’t want to mention this, because I need to knock on a ton of wood while I do, but it’s mid-June and I haven’t gotten heat stroke yet this year, which is almost unheard of in Virginia. It was 55 last night! I wore a sweater in the morning! I turned off my air conditioning yesterday! It’s so wild, and I’m loving it. Is this what it’s like to live in California all the time??

Major International Events:

Longines Luhmühlen: Website, EN’s Form Guide, Entries, Timing & Scoring, CCI5* Friday Dressage Ride Times, CCI4* Thursday Dressage Ride Times, CCI4* Friday Dressage Ride Times, CCI4* Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Flora Lea Farm YEH and Mini Trial (Medford, Nj.): [Website] [Entry Status]

Full Gallop Farm June H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Honey Run H.T. (Ann Arbor, Mi.): [Website] [Ride Times]

Horse Park of New Jersey H.T. (Allentown, Nj.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Kent School Spring H.T. (Kent, Ct.): [Website] [Entry Status]

Shepherd Ranch Pony Club H.T. (Santa Ynez, Ca.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Silverwood Farm H.T. (Camp Lake, Wi.): [Website] [Volunteer]

News From Around the Globe:

The U.S. Equestrian Federation announced today, June 17, the four athlete-and-horse combinations selected to represent Team USA at the Tokyo Olympic Games, as part of the U.S. Dressage Olympic Team. Adrienne Lyle and Salvino, a 14-year-old Hanoverian stallion owned by Betsy Juliano LLC, Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Four Winds Farm and Akiko Yamazaki, Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo, a 15-year-old Hanoverian stallion owned by Alice Womble. Nick Wagman and Don John, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Beverly Gepfer have been named as the traveling reserve. [US Dressage Team Announced]

Best of Blogs: Pride Belongs in Equestrian Spaces

Ready to do some deep cleaning of your barn during the hot summer months? Time to power wash the stalls and spend the day doing organizational stuff that you neglected over the winter. Check out these top ten tips for making your barn sparkle again, and trust me, you won’t regret it when you’re done. [Top 10 Tips to Spruce Up Your Barn]

A new study shows that withholding feed from your horse can decrease their water intake. Especially during the summer months, it’s important to make sure that your horses are drinking as much as possible, so you might rethink your feeding program and when you withhold hay or grain from them. [Withholding Feed Affects Water Intake]

Hot on Horse Nation: Philadelphia Urban Riding Academy: Building Futures from the Legacy of the Fletcher Street Cowboys

Diet is going well. Photo by Gail Smith.

Is there anything more satisfying than seeing a horse in your care explode into dapples? My personal horse is currently having a really good dapple season, and I’ve got to take photos of him just because I feel somehow personally responsible for how pretty he looks. Maybe it’s just me being slightly neurotic, but I’m always obsessed with getting my horses super glossy and silky soft, and if I can get dapples I’m positively delighted. Also why I keep buying plain bays, because otherwise this isn’t possible.

Major International Events:

Longines Luhmühlen: Website, EN’s Form Guide, Entries, Timing & Scoring, CCI5* Friday Dressage Ride Times, CCI4* Thursday Dressage Ride Times, CCI4* Friday Dressage Ride Times, CCI4* Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Flora Lea Farm YEH and Mini Trial (Medford, Nj.): [Website] [Entry Status]

Full Gallop Farm June H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Honey Run H.T. (Ann Arbor, Mi.): [Website] [Ride Times]

Horse Park of New Jersey H.T. (Allentown, Nj.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Kent School Spring H.T. (Kent, Ct.): [Website] [Entry Status]

Shepherd Ranch Pony Club H.T. (Santa Ynez, Ca.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Silverwood Farm H.T. (Camp Lake, Wi.): [Website] [Volunteer]

News From Around the Globe:

Andy Kocher has received a ten-year ban from the FEI Tribunal regarding his use of electric shock equipment attached to his spurs. More details have been made available following the trial, including testimonies from various witnesses in the form of grooms, riders, and previous owners throughout the years associated with Kocher. His only defense was to say that the device found in numerous photos was a clicker used for positive reinforcement, and called no witnesses to his defense. [Andy Kocher Details Emerge]

Ready to learn a simple exercise to help you feel your distances instead of counting them? Riding your horse in a good balance and a good rhythm will always help, and Andrew McConnon shares a simple yet challenging exercise that he learned through both Bobby Costello and William Fox Pitt. He focuses on feeling the canter and riding it to help each individual horse stay straight and forward, rather than aiming for a specific distance by counting strides. [How to Feel Strides Instead of Count Them]

Our horses and sport provide us with an endless array of amazing opportunities and experiences, but sadly our brains are sometimes really good at thinking really bad things. Even though we love our horses, riding peers, classes, and competitions; our thoughts don’t always match the greatness of our experiences. Sometimes we just get stuck thinking bad things when good things are happening. The next time your thoughts and emotions don’t match the greatness of your experiences give the following three-part positive-thinking tip a try. [Daniel Stewart’s Brain Babble]

Best of Blogs: Horses Shouldn’t Always Be Expected to Jump

Is there a better feeling? Photo by JJ Sillman.

Can we talk about the horse market for a hot minute? I don’t know what is happening, or if anybody could have predicted that the result of a year of pandemic was that the sales of horses would absolutely become fire. This is wonderful news for sellers, of course, but as a regular person trying to find some horses for students, it’s crazy that by the time I text the owner, there is already a waitlist and we can hardly even get out to see a horse! Hopefully it calms down soon, and I can actually, you know, sit on a horse and maybe buy it.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Aspen Farms H.T. (Yelm, Wa.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Bucks County Horse Park H.T. (Revere, Pa.): [Website]

Golden Spike H.T. (Ogden, Ut.) : [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Seneca Valley Pony Club H.T. (Poolesville, Md.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer] [Live Scores]

Queeny Park H.T. (St. Louis, Mo.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

River Glen June H.T. (New Market, Tn.) : [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Valinor Farm H.T. (Plymouth, Ma.): [Website] [Entry Status]

Woodland Stallion Station H.T. (Woodland, Ca.) : [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Major International Events:

Bicton International (Devon, United Kingdom): [Website] [Schedule and Ride Times] [Scores] [Live Stream]

News From Around the Globe:

Improve your mental focus with my personal favorite and longtime dressage guru, Ali Brock. Ali is the master of controlling and understanding your mental game, and we all know that is at least half of the battle in learning to ride effectively and competitively. Read and take these five tips to heart, and you won’t regret it. [5 Tips to Improve your Mental Game]

Want to learn more details about Phillip Dutton’s WEG and future Olympic partner, Z? Practical Horseman has you covered with this in depth interview about everything Z, from where he came from, what his personality is like, and what challenges Phillip faces in training this athletic and intense horse. [Sporthorse Star: Z]

The USEA has announced a request for expressions of interest to host the AEC for two years, in 2023 and 2024. In 2021, the USEA AEC will again be held at the Kentucky Horse Park, and in 2022 the AEC will move to Kalispell, Mont. at Rebecca Farm. Host site(s) should; be attractive and presentable venues, have consistently good footing, have the ability to promote to and accommodate large numbers of spectators, and have a demonstrated record of a media plan with demonstrated ability to successfully work with local media. [New AEC Venue Requested]

Is reconciling your accounts on your monthly list of things to do? Between feeding the horses, teaching lessons and keeping everything at your farm organized, you should also be verifying your checking and saving accounts, plus any credit cards, as well as your PayPal or Venmo account each and every month. Learn how to integrate this into your monthly activities for better business and less headache with this article. [Reconciling Your Accounts and Becoming a Better Business Person]

Dressage in Austraya. Photo by Calico Pony.

Sweet, blessed rain came to Virginia this week after several weeks of concrete ground and wondering if we’d get a second cutting of hay this year. I never thought as a kid I would be happy for a rain day in the summer, but here I am, living the dream. Of course, now all my sensitive skinned thoroughbreds have hives because god forbid they get rained on, but you can’t have everything I suppose.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Aspen Farms H.T. (Yelm, Wa.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Bucks County Horse Park H.T. (Revere, Pa.): [Website]

Golden Spike H.T. (Ogden, Ut.) : [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Seneca Valley Pony Club H.T. (Poolesville, Md.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer] [Live Scores]

Queeny Park H.T. (St. Louis, Mo.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

River Glen June H.T. (New Market, Tn.) : [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Valinor Farm H.T. (Plymouth, Ma.): [Website] [Entry Status]

Woodland Stallion Station H.T. (Woodland, Ca.) : [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Major International Events:

Bicton International (Devon, United Kingdom): [Website] [Schedule and Ride Times] [Scores] [Live Stream]

News From Around the Globe:

We know that the physically fitter we are, the better we ride – and the better our horses perform, but actually getting on and doing the exercise necessary rarely happens. Life is busy, and there are many demands on our time – particularly work, of course, be that in the saddle or behind a desk – and exercise often gets put to the bottom of the priority queue. Get fit with Will Faudree and follow his daily workout for hot tips on improving your riding. [Feeling Fit with Faudree]

Best of Blogs: Selecting A Team Isn’t An Easy Matter

The Fair Hill Organizing Committee, announced yesterday tickets for the inaugural Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill will go on sale Monday, June 14 at 10 a.m. EDT. Ticket information and purchasing options will be available at Maryland5Star.us/Tickets.

Looking for a jump exercise to inspire you this weekend? Look no further than Doug Payne’s Oxers and Angles exercise from Practical Horseman. A great mental challenge for both horses and riders, the exercise here consists of an oxer with placing rails before and after it, followed by five strides to a vertical, then a wide turn to another oxer and a bending line to an angled in-and-out. Unless you and your horse are very experienced, introduce it one section at a time, repeating each step until it’s riding well before putting all the elements together. [Doug Payne’s Oxers & Angles]

Best of Blogs Part II: Controlling Your Emotions While Competing

Peter Wylde has a go at cross country:

I have literally no words. Photo courtesy of Chip the Lamb.

More happy Pride Month from Chip the Lamb! Here at EN we’ve been championing diversity and inclusion from all angles for some time now, and we are delighted to be able to celebrate Pride during this month of June, and beyond. Also, does anybody have this outfit in a horse size? Because I would pay money to see that.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Genesee Valley Hunt Club H.T. (Geneseo, Ny.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

IEA H.T. (Edinburgh, In.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

The Spring Event at Archer (Cheyenne, Wa.) : [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

GMHA H.T. (South Woodstock, Vt.) : [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

The Middleburg H.T. (The Plains, Va.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer] [Live Scores]

New Jersey Region’s H.T. (Allentown, Nj.): [Website]

Ocala Summer I H.T. (Ocala, Fl.): [Website] [Volunteer]

Poplar Place June H.T. (Hamilton, Ga.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Unionville H.T. (Unionville, Pa.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

News From Around the Globe:

Will the postponed Tokyo Olympics open despite rising opposition and the pandemic? The answer is almost certainly “yes.” Tokyo is under a COVID-19 state of emergency, but IOC Vice President John Coates has said the games will open on July 23 — state of emergency, or no state of emergency. But why? What’s at stake, and what are the considerations preventing cancellation? [Tokyo Olympics a Go Despite Opposition]

A celebration of life will be held for the late Patrick “Packy” G. McGaughan on Saturday, June 19, at 4 p.m. EST. The celebration will be held in the jump field of Banbury Cross Farm, 26315 Haines Rd, Clarksburg, MD 20871. All who wish to honor Packy’s life are invited to attend to tell their stories, pat Bandit, and toast a well-lived life. [Celebrate Packy]

As equestrians, we all know we’re suckers for a good horse movie. For us, they’re all tear-jerkers, but they also remind a lot of us about what made us fall in love with horses in the first place. After all, if it weren’t for some of these scenes, we may not have begged our parents to let us ride. So here it is, Horse Nation — a compilation of 12 of the greatest horse movie scenes that we just can’t stop watching. [Hot On Horse Nation]

It’s common for defense mechanisms and coping strategies to be used interchangeably, but they’re actually quite different. Coping mechanisms are mental strategies that resolve stressful thoughts and feelings, while defense mechanisms are behaviors that attempt  to avoid or hide from them. Learn four coping mechanisms from Coach Daniel Stewart in this impeccable article. [Your Ego Still Isn’t Your Amigo]

Best of Blogs: Why Are So Many American Owned Young Horses Growing Up Abroad?

Video: So cool to see Rosie Napravnik, who broke gender barriers as a jockey and has done some much to champion OTTBs, out and about and crushing it.

 

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Guys, a pro tip here: never ever ever dislocate your ankle. I thought I was the ankle sprain champion of the world, and I’ve sprained my right ankle about a million times at this point and I don’t even know how it’s still functional. However, two months ago I dislocated my GOOD ankle (the left one), and did some damage to my achilles tendon and some other fun tendons, and I’ve never felt so much sympathy for a horse on stall rest with a suspensory before in my life. WHY. Just heal already!

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Genesee Valley Hunt Club H.T. (Geneseo, Ny.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

IEA H.T. (Edinburgh, In.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

The Spring Event at Archer (Cheyenne, Wa.) : [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

GMHA H.T. (South Woodstock, Vt.) : [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

The Middleburg H.T. (The Plains, Va.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer] [Live Scores]

New Jersey Region’s H.T. (Allentown, Nj.): [Website]

Ocala Summer I H.T. (Ocala, Fl.): [Website] [Volunteer]

Poplar Place June H.T. (Hamilton, Ga.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Unionville H.T. (Unionville, Pa.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

News From Around the Globe:

Wondering what an average day in the life of Boyd Martin looks like? Starting at 5:15 in the morning and finishing work around 7:30 at night, it’s surely not a life for the faint of heart. Coffee, foam rolling, flatwork, more coffee, lessons, more riding, child wrangling, tractor driving, more coffee, and passing out on the couch. Riding is glamorous. [A Day In The Life: Boyd Martin]

We’re giving away a Cambox V4 Pro helmet cam! In partnership with our friends at Cambox, we’re doing a social media giveaway for one lucky winner – to learn more, visit this Instagram post.

And while you’re in the contest mood, be sure to vote for the winner of our SmartPak #MudMadnessGiveaway winner by hitting the “like” button on your top photo – click here to view the album on Facebook.

Following the second positive test result from Medina Spirit, Churchill Downs has banned Bob Baffert for two years. The suspension prohibits Baffert, or any trainer directly or indirectly employed by Bob Baffert Racing Stables, from entering horses in races or applying for stall occupancy at all CDI-owned racetracks. “Reckless practices and substance violations that jeopardize the safety of our equine and human athletes or compromise the integrity of our sport are not acceptable and as a company we must take measures to demonstrate that they will not be tolerated. Mr. Baffert’s record of testing failures threatens public confidence in Thoroughbred racing and the reputation of the Kentucky Derby.”  [Bob Baffert Banned from Churchill Downs]

Popular Brazilian rider Ruy Fonseca has officially withdrawn from Olympic contention. He announced yesterday on Instagram that he will not be participating in Olympic selection trials for what would be his 4th Olympics. “With the recent personal private events and my focus is completely in support my family brothers and sisters , we decided to withdraw from targeting the Tokyo Olympic Games qualification and selection process.” [No Olympics for Ruy Fonseca]

Just a stunning horse at VHT for no reason other than eye candy. Photo by Kristin Schmolze

Well obviously the big news of the week is the announcement of the US Eventing Team for Tokyo, and congratulations all around to the riders who made it, and those who were listed as alternates. While trepidation continues about the running of the games in the midst of the pandemic, plans continue towards the goal with the assumption that everything in Japan will be sorted out in time.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Virginia International H.T. (Lexington, Va.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Live Scores]

Spring Coconino H.T. (Flagstaff, Az.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Equestrians’ Institute H.T. (Elum, Wa.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Live Scores]

May-Daze at the Park H.T. (Lexington, Ky.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Live Scores]

Mystic Valley Hunt Club H.T. (Gales Ferry, Ct.): [Website]

The Spring Event at Woodside (Woodside, Ca.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Speaking of the Olympic Games, there is still a lot of talk about if it should be held at all this year. In May, a 350,000-siganture petition calling for Olympic cancellation was submitted to organizers, as the Japanese government extended the COVID state of emergency until at least the end of that month and a poll showed 60 percent of the Japanese public wanted the Games called off. Only 3 percent of Japanese citizens had been vaccinated by mid-May and the head of online retailer Rakuten, Hiroshi Mikitani, believed holding the Games would be “a suicide mission.” [Summer Games: Is It a Go?]

When Liz Halliday-Sharp was the only elite event rider who also competed as a professional race car driver she had two goals:  Make the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and make the U.S. Olympic equestrian team. Halliday-Sharp, 42, just missed the podium at Le Mans in 2006, finishing fourth in the LMP2 Class and 19th overall with Intersport Racing in a Lola-AER. Now she’s accomplished her second goal by making the US Eventing Olympic Team. [Liz Halliday-Sharp Poised for Olympic Debut]

Time is running out to submit your entry to our #MudMadnessGiveaway in partnership with SmartPak! Up for grabs is nearly $500 in rain-and-mud-ready gear for both you and your horse. To learn how to enter, click here.

While you’re at it, enter to win a YETI EN-branded coffee mug as a token of our thanks for taking a few minutes to fill out our 2021 Gallop Poll to learn more about our readers. Click here to learn more.

Phillip Dutton is already taking home some records for the Olympics with his name added to the team list. At age 57, and attending his 7th Olympic Games, he’s the oldest U.S. Olympian since John Dane in the 2008 Olympics, and the second oldest U.S. Olympian since the 1952 Helsinki Games. [Phillip Dutton]

Cosby Green leads the charge for the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championships, scoring a 28.7 in the CCI3*-L at the Virginia Horse Trials yesterday. The 2021 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championships kicked off today, Thursday, May 27 at the Virginia Horse Park in Lexington, VA. This year’s event marks the fifth year of the Championships, which began in 2016. This year there are 105 entries, 29 teams, and 15 schools entered to compete for the 2021 Championship title. [USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championships]

Paulank Brockaugh’s first filly! Photo by Paula Cullen.

Summer is here folks, and I know this because last night I had to wait until 9 p.m. to turn out my horses to avoid the horrible awful sweltering humid hot Virginia heat. Yesterday was the first day where just existing outside for more than 20 minutes left you drenched in sweat for literally no reason, and I was not about it. Florida people, I honestly don’t know how you do it.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Virginia International H.T. (Lexington, Va.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Spring Coconino H.T. (Flagstaff, Az.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Equestrians’ Institute H.T. (Elum, Wa.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

May-Daze at the Park H.T. (Lexington, Ky.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Mystic Valley Hunt Club H.T. (Gales Ferry, Ct.): [Website]

The Spring Event at Woodside (Woodside, Ca.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

News From Around the Globe:

As a coach, clinician, rider and trainer, Kyle Carter emphasizes process and horsemanship over all else. Throughout his career, the World Equestrian Games Silver Medalist, Olympian, Pan American Games athlete, and five-star competitor has sought to understand better the programs and theories that lead to the success of great horses and great riders. [Featured Clinician: Kyle Carter]

The nomad McLain Ward is back, and he’s thrilled about it. After being forced to slow down and get comfortable with his sedentary side last year, he’s happy to back on the road at last. The Chronicle of the Horse caught up with him May 24, as he was en route to the airport, bound for Rome and the CSIO5* Nations Cup where he will continue his journey to earn a spot on the Tokyo Olympic team. Before he jetted off, he reflected on living life despite uncertain times, a pandemic Olympics, and his star mare Sapphire. [McClain Ward Reminisces & Ponders the Future]

Time is running out to submit your entry to our #MudMadnessGiveaway in partnership with SmartPak! Up for grabs is nearly $500 in rain-and-mud-ready gear for both you and your horse. To learn how to enter, click here.

While you’re at it, enter to win a YETI EN-branded coffee mug as a token of our thanks for taking a few minutes to fill out our 2021 Gallop Poll to learn more about our readers. Click here to learn more.

Do you have a product or brand you’d like to get in front of more potential customers this year? We are opening up partnerships to accompany us on our event coverage at a star-studded list of events happening throughout the remainder of 2021 and into 2022. If you’d like to learn more about these exciting opportunities, email Sally at [email protected].

Best of the Blogs: A Murder the World Witnessed — How Sport Joined the Fight for Change

Video: Grace Conde sent us this helmet cam video she took with her Cambox V4 Pro. She is riding her 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, Kipper. “We are training for our first recognized Novice in a few weeks,” Grace says. You can follow them on Instagram at @gmceventing. Best of luck, Grace and Kipper!

Helping??? Photo by Susan Skene.

Helping??? Photo by Susan Skene.

Sometimes in the horse world, you have to take pleasure in the small things of every day life, because the never-ending daily work of it can get tiring. Right now, and I know this sounds silly, but in Virginia it’s been cool and we’ve had what I call a blackberry spring, and at the moment, all the blackberry bushes and the honeysuckle are blooming at the same time. I’m lucky enough to have access to a few thousand acres of wilderness hacking, and there is nothing more satisfying than taking a ride down by a river in the shade and smelling the honeysuckle and the blackberries. Like I said, it’s the little things.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Fairburn, Ga.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Flora Lea Farm H.T. (Medford, Nj.): [Website] [Entry Status]

MCTA H.T. at Shawan Downs (Hunt Valley, Md.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Otter Creek Spring H.T. (Wheeler, Wi.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Spring Gulch H.T. (Highlands Ranch, Co.): [Website]

News From Around the Globe:

Seven horses are in the running for the Holekamp/Turner Grant for Le Lion Championships this fall. Camarillo is the only horse in the U.S. with full qualifications already under his belt, but six more horses are on his heels looking to get that travel grant. American-bred horses receive $17,500 to travel to Le Lion, while horses bred outside of the US receive $8,000, thus incentivizing U.S. breeding programs for promising young horses. Read about each horse here.

Have you heard? We just launched an epic giveaway in partnership with SmartPak to get you all kitted out in rain/mud gear. For your chance to win over $400 worth of rain-ready gear, you’ll definitely want to check out this fun contest here.

Holly Hudspeth has been around some of the biggest eventing tracks in the world, but now she knows the real meaning of nerves as she watches her 9-year-old daughter Hailey tackle eventing at the lower levels. Paired with the unicorn Cookies N’ Cream, the duo recently picked up their first win at the maiden level at the Carolina Horse Park for the War Horse Series. For some seriously cute photos and an adorable story, look no further. [Young Eventer Follows in Five Star Mom’s Footsteps]

Gypsy Vanner horses aren’t something we usually think about in the eventing world, but now they’re a subject in the equestrian community at large. The Gypsy Vanner horse has become the subject of recent online debate as the sensitivity of the term “Gypsy” faces a cultural reckoning. But getting to the bottom of the name—and whether it harms or helps the people it describes—is a thorny issue with an extraordinary history at its heels. [Is It Time for Gypsy Vanner’s To Find a New Name?]

Video: 

Trick pony? Photo by Lorie Gillies.

Oh boy I have been spoiled this spring with some lovely cold weather at night, and the most wonderful 70-degree days, but I’m about to pay for it with at least a whole week in the 90s. The alarm clock gets earlier, my arms get browner, and my legs look vastly more pale in comparison. Such is the glamorous life of a horse girl.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Fairburn, Ga.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Flora Lea Farm H.T. (Medford, Nj.): [Website] [Entry Status]

MCTA H.T. at Shawan Downs (Hunt Valley, Md.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Otter Creek Spring H.T. (Wheeler, Wi.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Spring Gulch H.T. (Highlands Ranch, Co.): [Website]

News From Around the Globe:

The Tokyo Medical Practitioners Association has thrown its weight behind calls to cancel the Tokyo Olympics, saying hospitals are already overwhelmed as the country battles a spike in coronavirus infections less than three months from the start of the Games. A jump in infections has stoked alarm amid a shortage of medical staff and hospital beds in some areas of the Japanese capital, promoting the government to extend a third state of emergency in Tokyo and several other prefectures until May 31. [Tokyo Doctors Call for Cancellation of Olympic Games]

Have you heard? We just launched an epic giveaway in partnership with SmartPak to get you all kitted out in rain/mud gear. For your chance to win over $400 worth of rain-ready gear, you’ll definitely want to check out this fun contest here.

Meet the 2021 Intercollegiate Eventing Teams! The 2021 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championships will take place on May 27-30 at the Virginia Horse Trials in Lexington, Virginia and over 18 teams will be making the trip to Virginia to compete. Auburn University is looking to reclaim its championship title for the third year in a row, but James Madison University, Randolph Macon College, University of Kentucky, University of Virginia, and Virginia Tech University will all be bringing multiple teams for their chance to be crowned Champions. [Get Hyped for Intercollegiate Eventing]

The abdominal muscles play a vital role in stabilising a horse’s pelvis, spine and back and those horses with poor core strength will struggle with their movement and balance and be unable to reach peak performance. Functional anatomist and biomechanist Gillian Higgins from Horses Inside Out shared some of the best exercises to help strengthen these all important muscles. [4 Exercises to Build Your Horse’s Core Strength]

Best of Blogs: For Young Riders, A Guide to Growing Up

Is this real life? Photo by Kate Samuels.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Galway Downs Spring H.T. (Temecula, Ca.): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Live Scores]

Fair Hill International H.T. (Elkton, Md.): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Hitching Post Farm H.T. (South Royalton, Vt.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Hunt Club Farms H.T. (Berryville, Va.): [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Live Scores]

Majestic Oaks Ocala H.T. (Ocala, Fl.): [Website] [Volunteer] [Live Scores]

Mill Creek Pony Club H.T. (Kansas City, Mo.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Spokane Sport Horse Spring H.T. (Spokane, Wa.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (Tyler, Tx.): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Live Scores]

Winona H.T. (Winona, Oh.): [Website] [Entries] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Woodland Stallion Station H.T. (Woodland, Ca.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Major International Events:

Aston-Le-Walls International (UK): [Website] [Ride Times and Live Scores] [EN’s Coverage]

New Zealand Three-Day Event Championships at Taupo: [Entries]

News From Around the Globe:

With selection trials now complete, the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team expects to name its team for the Tokyo Olympic Games in less than three weeks. The team set a June 1 deadline for naming a three-member squad, direct reserves and a traveling alternate to compete in Tokyo. Under the new Olympic format approved in 2016, teams are reduced to three members, with no drop score, but substitutions allowed under certain circumstances. Individual medals will be determined by a second show jumping round among the top 25 finishers in the team event. [US Olympic Team Named by June 1st]

We’d like to thank you for your support of our Ultimate Form Guide to the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event. We are proud to present a portion of our sales to two deserving nonprofits, each nominated by EN readers: Freedom Reigns in Thompsons Station, Tn. and Renew Therapeutic Riding Center in Holland, Mi. We’ll have much more to come on these two awesome programs very soon!

Have you submitted an application for the Strides for Equality Ever So Sweet Scholarship? It’s a brilliant opportunity! Check out the details here.

A dressage rider using cows to enhance her training? There’s a sentence I never thought I would type. But Kasey Perry-Glass’ husband Dana specializes in colt starting and groundwork, and has been asking Kasey to try working cattle with one of her upper-level prospects, Hutopia Van Bergsham, who struggles with confidence. The end result was taking her dressage horse to a western clinic, and finding out that it was incredibly helpful. [Working Cattle with a Dressage Horse for Confidence Building]

Best of Blogs: Against Fearlessness

Twenty-five years ago, Kerry Millikin and her off-the-track Thoroughbred gelding, Out and About won the individual Olympic bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, making her one of five females to have earned an individual Olympic medal for the United States. Outie was only 8 years old at that time, and the Atlanta Olympics were the first Olympics with a new format of separate team and individual competitions for eventing. The individual competition had a different cross-country track and show jumping course than the team competition. Atlanta Olympics were the first Olympics with a new format of separate team and individual competitions for eventing. The individual competition had a different cross-country track and show jumping course than the team competition. [Memories from the Vet Box]

Video: 

Deep breath Lauren, it’s only dressage. Photo by Mike McNally.

The Great Gas Panic of 2021 has finally reached my area of Virginia, and it’s absolute pandemonium. I actually had to get gas today, and luckily I didn’t leave it until the light was blinking like I usually do, because I went past eight gas stations before finding one that actually had gasoline available. Then it was just a short thirty minute wait and I filled up, but I’m definitely judging how much I really need to take each trip over the next few days. How is the gas shortage affecting your horse show plans?

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Galway Downs Spring H.T. (Temecula, Ca.): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Fair Hill International H.T. (Elkton, Md.): [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer]

Hitching Post Farm H.T. (South Royalton, Vt.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times]

Hunt Club Farms H.T. (Berryville, Va.): [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer]

Majestic Oaks Ocala H.T. (Ocala, Fl.): [Website] [Volunteer]

Mill Creek Pony Club H.T. (Kansas City, Mo.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Spokane Sport Horse Spring H.T. (Spokane, Wa.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (Tyler, Tx.): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Winona H.T. (Winona, Oh.): [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer]

Woodland Stallion Station H.T. (Woodland, Ca.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Major International Events:

Aston-Le-Walls International (UK): [Website] [Ride Times and Live Scores] [EN’s Coverage]

New Zealand Three-Day Event Championships at Taupo: [Entries]

News From Around the Globe:

We’d like to thank you for your support of our Ultimate Form Guide to the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event. We are proud to present a portion of our sales to two deserving nonprofits, each nominated by EN readers: Freedom Reigns in Thompsons Station, Tn. and Renew Therapeutic Riding Center in Holland, Mi. We’ll have much more to come on these two awesome programs very soon!

Have you submitted an application for the Strides for Equality Ever So Sweet Scholarship? It’s a brilliant opportunity! Check out the details here.

You’ve seen a horse you like. You’ve ridden it; you love it. The money’s right; you’ve agreed to buy it. What happens next? Pre-purchase veterinary examinations are one of those topics that a roomful of horsey people could discuss – and argue amongst themselves about – for hours. Get the lowdown from Dr Shauna Spurlock and her husband Gary Spurlock, who between them have more experience than any other veterinary super couple. [Pre Purchase Exams]

Best of Blogs: Serviceably Lame: Learning that I, Not My Horse, Have The Soundness Issue

Let’s talk about body image in the equestrian sports. Let’s be real, a community based around tight pants and judgement isn’t exactly the ideal place for an inclusive ideology. Only recently have we been more open in discussing weight discrimination in horse sports, from availability in sizes for clothes, to judging bias. It’s time to grow. [Breeches That Fit]