It was definitely still #WardWednesday yesterday with McLain Ward placing 8th individually aboard Clinta. Photo via USA Jumping FB.

So now the excitement over the dressage and the eventing is over, but the game goes on with show jumping for three days in a row! I watched a fair amount yesterday, and while I’m an admitted moron when it comes to the finely tuned details of that sport (give me a big advanced cross country table any day over those jumps), I still really enjoyed it. I can see why it holds so much thrill! Everything is built on hair breadths of a second, and there are some seriously incredible horses.

National Holiday: National String Cheese Day

Major Events This Week:

Plantation Field: Website, Start Times, Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

U.S. Weekend Preview:

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

Aspen Farms H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Totally team Chipmunk.

Sorry, all the other riders today, I know it’s unpatriotic of me, and I know there are a lot of really good eventing horses to come … but I’m totally Team Chipmunk all the way. I’ve been stalking this horse for years now, and I am completely obsessed with him. Not only is he unbelievable on the flat, but the horse can jump too! The modern event horse personified. Also a very, very adorable rodent. Memes await you, Chipmunk the horse.

National Holiday:  National Virginia Day (whoop whoop!)

U.S. Weekend Preview:

#Tryon2018: Website, Entries, Schedule, Start Times, Individual Scores, Team Scores, Ultimate Guide, How to Watch Live, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

GMHA September H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

CDCTA H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Otter Creek Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Equestrians Institute H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Flying Cross Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

There is a bottomless pool of puns about Tim and Jonelle Price, but only because of their last name. How often are a husband and wife on the same WEG team? Probably about as often as that husband and wife winning 3/4 four-star events in the same year, I guess. Personally, with their strong cross country records and the glamorous year they’re having, I wouldn’t bet against them. [Will The Price Be Right?]

How does team selection work, anyway? Don’t worry, The Event College is in session at Tryon with Chair of the USEF Eventing Selector’s Working Group Bobby Costello giving a detailed video interview on the process for the United States. It’s some seriously complicated stuff that is constantly ongoing for each championship selection every two years. [Team Selection with Robert Costello]

What do riders from the different countries have to say about the WEG cross country course? With Tryon as the first year with the WEG running as a 3* cross country course, it will be intriguing to see how the course runs and how it affects the final standings. Also, you know, the hurricane thing might have some sort of impact. [Riders React: Tryon Cross Country Course]

So you’ve landed the working student job of your dreams. Congrats! Welcome to slavery the barn! JK, kinda. Working student jobs are the backbone of our industry, it’s where you learn if being a professional rider is for you, and how the professional riders keep their barns going while teaching the next generation. Elise Fleischman penned a great guide for working student newbies on how to get the most out of your time in the barn. [Working Student Survival Guide]

Total tail envy for Louise Svensson Jahde’s Waikiki (SWE). Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

As a person who has a grey horse in the barn, this photo of a grey tail has me literally swooning. HOW??? I need to know. My dreams are literally made of tails like this, and I feel like that groom deserves a serious raise for maintaining that level of bright whiteness. Tell me your secrets!

National Holiday:  National Kids Take Over The Kitchen Day

U.S. Weekend Preview:

#Tryon2018: Website, Definite Entries, Schedule, Start Times & Scoring, Ultimate Guide, How to Watch Live, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

GMHA September H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

CDCTA H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Otter Creek Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Equestrians Institute H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Flying Cross Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Need a quick refresher on the action from yesterday? Horse Nation has you covered. A tumultuous first day of competition at the World Equestrian Games to say the least. While reining saw a brilliant day of sport in the climate-controlled indoor facility, the endurance race was fraught with controversy and challenge from the beginning, not the least of which was the weather. The first day of team dressage took place as well. [Day One Rundown]

Keep referring here as the next two days go on: [Team Orders & Dressage Start Times for Eventing]

We hope that by the end of the WEG, Boyd will have mastered the pronunciation of Tsetserleg. However, he’s always good for a laugh in press conferences! Team USA is ready to rock it this weekend, hurricane or no hurricane. With a team full of proper cross country horses and riders, the games this weekend are integral to securing our spot in the 2020 Olympic Games, and the team is hoping for a top finish. [Come Prepared, Then Let ‘Er Rip]

I know it’s dressage day, but can you really resist taking a walk around the cross country course? Nah, me neither. Good thing we have a fence by fence breakdown for you to preview what the riders will be attacking on Saturday. While you’re “walking” the course, keep in mind that the weather will certainly play an integral role this weekend, and we’ll be looking for the horses to dig deep for clear rounds. Whatsup, Jonelle. [Fence By Fence: WEG Cross Country Course]

Photo courtesy of Tik Maynard.

Big congrats go out to new parents Sinead and Tik on the birth of their son, Brooks! Their little bundle of joy was born on Tuesday, and everyone is happy and healthy and heading back to the barn to start training him up as the next four-star champion in the family! Also, guys, best thing now is that you can start buying ridiculously cute and slightly evil ponies for him! OK, maybe in a few years, I don’t know, perhaps I jumped the gun on that…

National Holiday: National Lazy Moms Day

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Course Brook Farm H.T. [Website] [Ride Times]

Seneca Valley Pony Club H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Five Points H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Bucks County H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Dunnabeck H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Chardon Valley H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Speaking of Tik and Sinead, check out this quick “Day In The Life Of” feature that the Trafalgar Square Books (publisher of Tik’s In the Middle Are the Horsemen) blog did before the arrival of Baby Brooks. They have 23 horses in their barn and live in Florida, so the day starts early at 5:45 every morning, and Tik becoming a functional human being around 10 a.m., due to him not being a morning person at all. Top things on the day to day list: bad dad jokes, burritos, mowing the lawn, coffee, and ridiculous basketball outfits. [24 Hours with Tik & Sinead]

Do you like Plantation Field? Do you like running? If you check both those boxes, make sure to attend the Plantation Field Fun Run! On Saturday September 22, there will be a low-key 5k race around the cross country field at Plantation Field, with awards to the top three men and the top three women. Dogs and walkers welcome! [Plantation Field Fun Run]

This week, it’s the event that needs no introduction. THE Event. That one in Kentucky, in April I think? Equestrian Events, Inc. was formed in 1975, three years before the Kentucky Horse Park opened, to stage the World Championships at the Horse Park. In preparation for the event, they held the first ever horse trials at the Horse Park in the fall of 1976. The following year they hosted the National Pony Club Rally in August and staged the North American Junior Three-Day Event Championship in September. The World Three-Day Event Championships were held in September of 1978 and were an unprecedented success. [USEA Events A-Z: Kentucky 4*]

If you’re any kind of self respecting horse person, you’ve seen trailers for the new series Yellowstone, and you’re just as pumped as we are to watch it. It’s like a rule: if a new movie or TV show comes out and it has horses in it, you gotta check it out. Yellowstone is Dances with Wolves meets The Sopranos, with a cattle baron versus a land developer in Montana. Horse Nation took a deeper look into why we love it so much. [8 Reasons We Totally Love “Yellowstone”]

WEG Forage & Feeds Update from KER: The WEG feed and forage team from Kentucky Equine Research is hard at work getting the first flights of horses set up. About 170 eventing, endurance, dressage, and reining horses have arrived on the venue so far. As horses arrive from abroad, they transfer from the airport to post-arrival quarantine on the venue.

Most horses will require a delivery of feed and forage to tide them over during the 42-hour quarantine. When the horse is released, anything brought into quarantine has to be disposed of, so a separate order of feed and forage needs to be available when they arrive at competition stabling. Fulfilling these double orders has the team hopping! Stay up-to-date with the latest from behind the scenes at WEG here.

#WardWednesday courtesy of THIS FB Page

Taylor Harris has decided to start a new thing for Wednesdays, and I’m completely behind it. Instead of Humpday, Wednesday will now be known as #WardWednesday, but we can also exchange it for #WCW because McLain’s current droolworthy mount, HH Gigi’s Girl, can be my girl crush any day of the week. That photo is like a photoshop master’s dream come true….what can you put under her? Literally anything because she’s 10,00 feet over the jump.

National Holiday: National Coffee Ice Cream Day

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Course Brook Farm H.T. [Website] [Ride Times]

Seneca Valley Pony Club H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Five Points H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Bucks County H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Dunnabeck H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Chardon Valley H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

In the news of weird science, a 40,000 year old foal was dug up in Siberia lately, and now they’re trying to clone it. The effort to clone the foal, which will require using a horse as a surrogate, is being made by Russian and South Korean scientists who are already collaborating on efforts to recreate the woolly mammoth.  Dug up out of the permafrost, the mud coated foal was entirely intact, described as having a gingery coat and a dark mane and tail with a dorsal stripe. It is being called the Lenskaya, or Lena horse (Equus lenensis). It is said to be genetically different from those living in Yakutia now, and was only 20 days old when it died. [Cloning a 40,000 Year Old Foal]

Hot on Horse Nation: ROUND ONE of the Blogger Contests! Mustangs IRL (Inspired by Spirit, Obvi)

It might not feel like it yet, but blanket season is just around the corner. And with that, we welcome the onslaught of questions about how to, when to, and why to blanket. SmartPak has gathered experts from Horseware, Shires, Weatherbeeta and within their own company to answer any and all questions about blanketing for the future. [Blanket Experts Unite]

Situations occasionally arise where a competitor may wish to lodge an inquiry or a protest. Are you aware of the rules that govern this process? Read on below for rule EV 118: Inquiries, Protests, and Appeals. Text has been taken directly from the USEF Rules For Eventing, with emphasis added by the USEA. Take a moment for a quick brush up before your fall season! [Rule Refresher: Inquiries, Protests & Appeals]

Best of Blogs: The Knackered Riders Club: Like You’re Literally Falling to Bits

Want to ride around the AEC Prelim course? Today is a good day for that!

Fence 10 on the CCI* course at Foshay International. Photo by Waylon Roberts.

Woah, check out this tiny Kentucky look-alike log at Foshay International! I was just perusing some photos of the courses up there for the inaugural event, and they look simply smashing! There is almost nothing better than rolling up at an event and being totally blown away at the effort and craftsmanship put in to the cross country course, it makes you feel like a celebrity. Even if you’re not competing at the four-star level, you can still feel like it, and Foshay has it fo sho.

National Holiday: National Trail Mix Day

Major Events This Week:

American Eventing Championships [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Burghley CCI4* [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Foshay [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

U.S. Weekend Preview:

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

Silverwood Farm H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Woodland Stallion Station H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Park Equine KY Classique H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Don’t forget to complete your USEF Safe Sport online training before next year. Effective January 1, 2019, all US Equestrian (USEF) adult members with a Competing Membership must complete USEF’s Safe Sport Training in order to be eligible to participate in USEF activities.  Members can immediately access the free Safe Sport Training directly through their member dashboard. Members are encouraged to complete the training as soon as possible. [USEF Safe Sport Training]

My horse gets tense in a dressage test, what do I do? Ah, the age old question for eventers everywhere. This week on H&H advice from four-star rider Coral Keen gives one rider tips for helping their horse improve on relaxation during the first phase. This is some advice we can probably all use at some point! [How To Help a Tense Horse]

Hot on Horse Nation: On Suitability: Realizing It’s OK To Say Goodbye

It’s time to vote for the Smarty Awards! The what awards? I’m talking about SmartPak’s best of the best for twelve categories. You and I both know that we’re always on SmartPak all the dang time, and you probably have some input. We are all secret product reviewers. [2019 Smarty Awards]

KER WEG Feeds Update:

Kentucky Equine Research is the Official Equine Nutritionist of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 (WEG). They coordinate the ordering, shipping, testing, storage, delivery, and overall logistics of getting familiar feeds from around to world to the horses competing in Tryon. Ever wonder how top riders ensure their equine partners can stay on their proven diet throughout travel and competition? The last thing anyone wants is to make a drastic change right before the biggest show of their career!

For most competitors, the feed process started before final team selections were made. Kentucky Equine Research contacted national federations in June to start the ordering process. For the teams shipping feeds from Europe, it was a bit of guessing game to predict which horses are most likely to come. Teams placed orders through a website and had the option to either select an all-inclusive package at a set rate per horse, or to purchase from a menu of pre-selected feeds available a la carte on the venue.

The goal is to have the correct feeds on the venue, fresh, secure, and ready to quickly deliver to the stables when the horses arrive. Fortunately, Kentucky Equine Research has done this a few times. To stay up-to-date with the latest on with the WEG feeds and forages crew, visit https://ker.com/equinews/news/weg/.

Photo via LRBHT Official FB Page.

This is my favorite story about Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials: the above photo is George Bates performing his duty before dressage and mowing the center line for the competitors. George has used the same exact mower for his purpose and this purpose only for the past 58 years! If you’ve ever been to Burghley, you’ll know that the sight of the dressage arena on Wednesday is a magical thing, and we all have George to thank for that.

National Holiday: National Toasted Marshmallow Day

Major Events This Week:

American Eventing Championships [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Burghley CCI4* [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Foshay [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

U.S. Weekend Preview:

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

Silverwood Farm H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Woodland Stallion Station H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Park Equine KY Classique H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Can’t make it to The Colorado Horse Park for the 2018 USEA American Eventing Championships  presented by Nutrena Feeds? Don’t worry! The USEA announced that they will be providing live streaming at the 2018 USEA AEC in partnership with Ride On Video. That’s right, you can sit in the comfort of your own home (or on the back of a horse with a cell phone) and watch your friends compete for championship titles in Colorado. [AEC Live Stream]

Overall badass and Olympic champion Zara Tindall just gave birth to her second child, and wasn’t shying away from talking about the challenges of coming back to fitness. Her daughter Lena was born on June 19th, and she has since then competed in two horse trials, but said it wasn’t quite as easy the second time around. However, don’t worry, she hasn’t ruled out another Olympic experience for her future! [Zara Tindall On Motherhood]

Conformation: it’s not just about looks. Helen Brettell is frequently seen as the President of the Ground Jury at events, a dressage judge at the national and international level, or a Young Event Horse (YEH) and Future Event Horse (FEH) judge. Born and raised in England, Brettell has years of experience competing at the upper levels both in Europe and the United States. An advocate for proper, correct foundation in young horses, Brettell looks for an “overall balanced athlete with clean straight limbs, good feet, an alert eye, and a big shoulder for reach and uphill balance.” [Conformation 101 with Helen Brettell]

AEC 2018 is on! With over 500 entries, there are 18 divisions full of horses and riders from all over the country. We have 9 combinations entered in the Advanced division, while the Junior Beginner Novice division is cranking out the numbers with 31 entrants. Tremaine Cooper is the designer for all the cross country while Marc Donovan is in charge of the Show Jumping. [AEC Fast Facts]

How do you put some light fitness miles on a three year old in preparation for the FEH championships in a month? Pony them! Nyls, who actually hates all other horses, oddly tolerates pony-ing and is excellent with babies even if they don’t really know what they’re doing. Slap on a rope halter and go to town, doing some hill work and hacking out past scary stuff. Little Mattie did 3 hills yesterday and was pretty pooped, but a very good sport!

National Holiday: National Peach Pie Day

Major Events This Week:

Millstreet: Website, Schedule, Start Times & Live Scoring, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage

Blair Castle: Website, Schedule, Start Times & Live Scoring, Live Stream, Event Rider Masters, ERM Live Scores, EN’s Coverage

U.S. Weekend Preview: 

Town Hill Farm H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]

Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Shepherd Ranch SYVPC H.T. II [Website]

Caber Farm Horse Trial  [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

The Event at Archer [Website] [Live Scoring]

Stone Gate Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Not going to WEG?  Looking for a confidence building, forward riding, galloping course for your young horse?  Looking to move up to the next level?  CDCTA Fall Horse Trials in Berryville, VA is still accepting entries.  Our goal is to provide courses that encourage horses and riders to gallop, be brave cross country, and enjoy what they are doing. In addition to the recognized divisions BN-P they offer an intro division which is a great way to get started in the sport. They have CASH awards for both VA Bred Horses and the Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP) as well as other prizes and ribbons through 8th place. [USEA Omnibus]

As the Official Charity for the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018, The Brooke is bringing its mission to life at the World Equine Expo being held at Tryon International Equestrian Center during the WEG on September 11-23, 2018. From virtual reality experiences and book signings to plush toys, bar nights and the unveiling of TIEC’s commemorative “Brooke Breezeway,” there are many interactive ways spectators can support Brooke before, after and during the Games. In developing countries across the globe, working horses, donkeys, and mules are lifelines for families who depend on them for existence. Brooke, Action for Working Horses and Donkeys, works around the world to improve and protect the lives of working equines. [The Brooke Named Official Charity of the WEG]

Hot on Horse Nation: Why Horses Are A Child Therapist’s Best Friend

The KY Classique Horse Trials run once a year on the first weekend in September at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky (Area VIII), offering Starter through Intermediate divisions. This year, KY Classique will host the Area VIII Championships for Beginner Novice through Intermediate levels as well as USEA Classic Series Beginner Novice and Novice Three-Day divisions. This year they celebrate their 30th anniversary! [USEA Events: KY Classique]

Lisa Hickey thanking Joseph Murphy after riding in his Ocala clinic in February. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Big news, EN! After teaching a series of highly successful clinics in Ocala earlier this year, Irish Olympian Joseph Murphy is returning to the States. He’ll be teaching for three days, Nov. 5-7, at Boyd Martin’s Windurra USA in Cochranville, PA. Widely considered one of the best cross country riders in the world, Joseph is also an extremely effective teacher who specializes in building confidence in both horses and riders. Click here to read a clinic report about what you can expect when riding with Joseph.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a tune-up for anyone heading to the Ocala Jockey Club CCI, for those looking to build confidence on cross country, and for those looking to move up a level in early 2019. Lessons are small group sessions and approximately 80 minutes long. Cost is $125 for one day, $240 for two days, and $360 for three days, plus a $60 facility fee for Windurra. We expect this clinic to fill fast! Reserve your spot with a $50 deposit on PayPal (choose the friends & family option) to [email protected]. Specify date and level in the notes section. Questions? Ask here.

National Holiday: National Sponge Cake Day

Major Events This Week:

Millstreet: Website, Schedule, Start Times & Live Scoring, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage

Blair Castle: Website, Schedule, Start Times & Live Scoring, Live Stream, Event Rider Masters, ERM Live Scores, EN’s Coverage

U.S. Weekend Preview: 

Town Hill Farm H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]

Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Shepherd Ranch SYVPC H.T. II [Website]

Caber Farm Horse Trial  [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

The Event at Archer [Website] [Live Scoring]

Stone Gate Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Your Thursday News & Notes:

Phillip Dutton will be teaching a one-day jumping clinic on Oct. 10 at Rutledge Farm in Middleburg, Virginia as part of the Olympic Gold Medalists equestrian clinic series. Cost is $175 per rider, and $20 per auditor. Sessions are 70 minutes with 4-6 riders. All levels welcome. Register at eventclinics.com

Is a WEG Luxury vacation on your bucket list?  Then here is your opportunity!  One of Boyd’s best supporters is making a one week dream vacation available for sale for the week of Eventing at the Biltmore.  The owners are asking for this package to be purchased, but the proceeds  will go towards Baby Leo’s hospital expenses. With a deluxe room at the Biltmore and four tickets to all days of WEG Eventing, this will be a vacation week to tell your grandchildren about. [Luxury WEG Weekend]

Researchers are attempting to identify racehorses at risk of catastrophic injury by using blood tests for inflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers as early indicators. Scientists have made many attempts to use biomarkers as indicators of injury, given the big economic costs of breakdowns to the racing industry, but the data so far has shown this isn’t reliable. Researchers in the two-year $164,488 study have been collecting samples since January with the help of multiple state and local racing jurisdictions. [Blood Samples to Determine Risk of Catastrophic Injury]

Having a horse that jumps ditches properly is integral to the success of the modern eventer. In this episode of Eventing Training Online, Kyle Carter discusses how to introduce horses to ditches in the least stressful way possible. Kyle  has the riders approach a set of rails situated next to the ditch and then incrementally moves the rails over the ditch. He discusses that he isn’t necessarily going to nitpick straightness or the rider’s position as he simply wants the horse to move confidently over the ditch. He emphasizes giving the horse the same ride every time, not changing anything as they progress from the rails to the actual ditch. [Eventing Training Online]

Taylor Harris Insurance Services agents aren’t just experts in insurance: they’re experts in horses! All agents are also experience horse people from many different disciplines and parts of the United States, making them uniquely qualified to help you choose the best way to #protectyourhorse. [THIS]

Margaret the dog is SO fashionable I can barely stand it. Photo by Whitney Weston.

Today is jump lesson day for me! I don’t have the opportunity to have lessons that often, so going for a day to have jump lessons is a real treat. Also, I get to jump my baby head Turkey, and he’s maybe the most fun I’ve ever had on a horse for jumping. He’s so well naturally balanced, and refreshingly not spooky about different kinds of jumps, which is a delightful breath of fresh air considering most of the horses I’ve had are ten million more times complicated. Super pumped!

National Holiday: National Black Cat Appreciation Day

Major Events This Week:

Bromont: Website, Entries, Start Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

U.S. Weekend Preview:

GVRDC H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Huntington Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Waredaca Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [FEH Scores] [YEH/NEH Scores]

Full Gallop Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

The USEF finally named the Show Jumping Team for the WEG! Featuring several oldies (but goodies) and two newer faces, we’re hoping for great things from this team. Laura Kraut with Zeremonie, Devin Ryan on Eddie Blue, Adrienne Sternlicht on Christalline, and McLain Ward on Clinta and HH Azur round out the team, with Beezie Madden and Darry Lou named as the traveling reserve. [USEF Names Show Jumping Team for WEG]

Oliver Townend is fighting back from his exclusion from the British team with five entries to Burghley this fall, including defending champion Ballaghmor Class. He’ll have to narrow it down to three of course, but let’s just say he’s got a fairly good chance of showing BE what’s what and taking the title for the second year in a row. Also, he’s been drawn AGAIN to be the first in the order of go, which ironically has happened to him more often than not. [Ollie Townend to be Trailblazer at Burghley]

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will introduce a new award to honor the highest-placing TAA graduate and the TAA-accredited organization affiliated with that horse at the Retired Racehorse Project’s $100,000 Thoroughbred Makeover, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. The award, which will be a $1,500 cash prize and other gifts, will be divided between the rider of the highest-placed TAA horse and the TAA-accredited organization that rehomed or is in the process of retraining that horse. [New TAA Award for RRP 2018]

It’s time for the Horse & Hound 2018 Awards nominations! With eleven categories, H&H is accepting nominations for any person, horse or group that you believe deserves recognition. A shortlist will be announced in October for online voting, and the winners will get to participate in a star studded ceremony at Cheltenham Racecourse in November. [Nominate for H&H Annual Awards]

Feeding the World: WEG Feed & Forage Insider

Kentucky Equine Research is the Official Equine Nutritionist of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 (WEG). They coordinate the ordering, shipping, testing, storage, delivery, and overall logistics of getting familiar feeds from around to world to the horses competing in Tryon. Along with shipping feeds from around the world, they’ll also provide items available for purchase on the venue on an a la carte basis. From managing this role at previous events, they know one item that will top the request list: Tons of carrots. (Literally. Many tons.)

For example, Olympic horses in Hong Kong consumed an incredible quantity of carrots. More than 11 tons of fresh carrots imported from New Zealand and Australian were fed over the course of the competition, averaging around 5 lb per horse per day! At WEG in 2010, competing horses munched through more than 13 tons of the crunchy treats.

To stay up-to-date with the latest on with the WEG feeds and forages crew, visit https://ker.com/equinews/news/weg/.

Eventer Nicolette Merle Smith & fiancee Joel Scholz fording the river! Photo courtesy of the Mongol Derby.

Yesterday I had one of those days where I got home from the barn at 8 p.m. and then struggled to walk down my stairs to my kitchen from wobbly legs, but then I remembered that there are people out doing the Mongol Derby and I felt like a total wimp. If I ever did the Mongol Derby, I would imagine that getting home to your own bed and sleeping for two weeks straight would feel like the most luxurious and amazing thing ever. Then again, I’m just really into sleeping.

National Holiday: National Rum Day

Major Events This Week:

Bromont CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

U.S. Weekend Preview:

GVRDC H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Huntington Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Waredaca Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Full Gallop Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Speaking of the Mongol Derby, we have a winner! Two winners, actually: Adrian Corboy of Australia and Annabel Neasham of Great Britain. Fun fact: Annabel evented through the two-star level in the UK before moving to Australia to work as Racing Manager for Ciaron Maher Racing Stables in Melbourne. [Mongol Derby Day 7: And We Have a Winner(s)!]

As eventers we think about our horse fitness constantly, but what about rider fitness? Turns out riding all day isn’t enough for the pros and riding six days a week isn’t enough for the amateurs. “You have a responsibility for staying fit for your animal” says Allison Springer, coming fresh off a third place finish in the Advanced at Millbrook. Two areas of fitness are important: cardio, and strength with flexibility. [Rider Fitness with Allison Springer]

Never stop learning new jump techniques! This week in Eventing Training Online, we have a great couple of exercises from Dorothy Crowell. In this excerpt from the full educational video, she coaches a rider through strategies to create a flexible step at the canter while jumping a course, explaining how the rider’s body position and aids from the heel all the way up to the eyes can be used to create adjustability. [ETO: Get Those Feet Moving]

You been living under a rock or you heard of Tik Maynard’s new book? Two options only, guys. With “In The Middle Are the Horsemen” Tik has created an incredible book for horse lovers and normal people alike. Read this book review, then go buy it. [Inside The World of Horses]

Hot on Horse Nation: Equestrians & The Lost Art of Self Care

Figuring out horse insurance can be complicated and slightly scary stuff. Luckily, the pros at Taylor Harris Insurance Services are there to answer any and all questions you might possibly have. Not sure about your horse’s current market value? What the heck are exclusions? What do you do when you need to make a claim? We got you covered. [THIS FAQ]

Photo by Lee Ann Zobbe

Lee Ann sent us this wonderful photo of her student Eva Taylor riding It’s All About the Game (aka Sega) over the last fence at IEA Horse Trials. If this photo doesn’t sum up what Eventing is all about, I’ll retire today. Also, bonus points for your color coordination Eva, I’m digging those yellow gloves!

National Holiday: National Lazy Day

Major Events This Week:

Hartpury International [Entries] [Results]

Strzegom Summer Tour [Start Times and Live Scoring]

FEI Nations Cup at Haras du Pin [Start Times and Live Scoring] [Live Streaming]

U.S. Weekend Preview:

GMHA Festival of Eventing August H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Fair Hill International H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

WindRidge Farm Summer H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Otter Creek Summer H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

The Summer Event at Woodside [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Area VII Young Rider Benefit H.T. [Website]

News From Around the Globe:

It’s that time of the year again….preparing the the AECs! While a contingent of the eventing world is pumped up for the WEG, there is a whole ‘nother section of our community that is preparing for their own personal championships, and a few of them are lucky enough to blog for the USEA during the lead up. Top Gun Tess and Caitlyn Ruud started from the bottom and now they’re qualified and heading to the AECs in the Beginner Novice division. [Road to the AECs]

A pin-prick concussion blood test could be on the market as soon as 2019. Researchers at the University of Geneva, in collaboration with hospitals in Barcelona, Madrid and Seville, have developed a small device that can diagnose mild brain trauma from a single drop of blood. The research involved identifying biomarkers in the blood that increase when a person has experienced a brain trauma.[A Single Drop of Blood Identifies Concussion]

The ninth Riders4Helmets International Helmet Awareness Day, will be held Aug. 18 and 19. Riders4Helmets International Helmet Awareness Day is a campaign event designed to educate people about the importance of wearing a helmet, following dressage Olympian Courtney King-Dye’s accident from which she suffered a brain injury. To mark the occasion, they have eleven top tips to consider when choosing, using, and fitting your helmet. [International Helmet Awareness Day]

Hot on Horse Nation: 28 Equine Bad Hair Days

Feeding the World: WEG Feed & Forage Insider

Kentucky Equine Research is the Official Equine Nutritionist of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 (WEG). They coordinate the ordering, shipping, testing, storage, delivery, and overall logistics of getting familiar feeds from around to world to the horses competing in Tryon. Last week they packed up three refrigerated shipping containers with feeds and bagged forages from Europe. Here are some stats on the transatlantic cargo:

• Three refrigerated containers holding 40 tons of feed, chaff, and haylage
• 135 feeds from 20 participating manufacturers
• Brands from Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, The Netherlands, and even Australia
• Estimates based on each horse consuming up to 6 kg (13.2 lb) of feed and grains and approximately 11 kg (22 lb) of hay or other forage products per day

To stay up-to-date with the latest on with the WEG feeds and forages crew, visit the KER Website and find out where the ship full of food is today by watching this ship tracker!

Two photos taken seconds apart.

I have this quiet theory that my horse Turkey is in fact a secret mental case, wrapped in a very cute outer coating. He’s actually got a really good brain, but he also has multiple personalities and a horrible case of ADD which make him a little, uh, interesting to deal with. He can go from being a complete slug to broncing around with little to no reasoning, and loves to stand dead still and cutely quiet in the field only to whip into one of the craziest wild stallion rears and then land grazing like nothing happened. Luckily yesterday I had my phone camera ready, so I could catch the magic.

National Holiday: National Book Lovers Day

Major Events This Week:

Hartpury International [Entries] [Results]

Strzegom Summer Tour [Start Times and Live Scoring]

FEI Nations Cup at Haras du Pin [Start Times and Live Scoring] [Live Streaming]

U.S. Weekend Preview:

GMHA Festival of Eventing August H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Fair Hill International H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

WindRidge Farm Summer H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Otter Creek Summer H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

The Summer Event at Woodside [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Area VII Young Rider Benefit H.T. [Website]

News From Around the Globe:

Blythe Tait made his (hopefully) triumphant return to a championship level team with the naming of the New Zealand WEG crew. Fourteen years after “retiring” from eventing, the Olympic champion is heading to Tryon with Dassett Courage alongside Mark Todd, Tim & Jonelle Price, and Dan Jocelyn. Maybe he and Mark can reminisce about their time at the first ever WEG in Stockholm in 1990 where Blythe won individual and team gold… 28 years later…[Blythe Tait Makes His Comeback]

Ever wondered why Lauren Kieffer’s WEG mount Vermiculus is nicknamed “Bug”? Wonder no more, my friends. COTH takes us behind the stable door with the funniest little Anglo-Arabian eventer who shot to fame this year with his gutsy performance and a fifth place finish at Land Rover Kentucky, and stole our hearts with his model good looks. [Behind the Stall Door: Vermiculus]

Ready to hone your show jumping skills? In this week’s educational video, Boyd Martin has riders jump a vertical on a figure-8, turning first right then left, and making sure to simply open the rein and look in the direction of the turn instead of leaning into the turn over the fence. Martin offers advice to each of the riders on how to improve their position, encouraging them to resist the temptation to twist and to use a soft opening rein to turn and keep the horse balanced. [Eventing Training Online]

US Equestrian will officially kick off its new Safe Sport awareness campaign, #YouAreNotAlone, during Pony Finals. They are inviting members and media to attend a Safe Sport Town Hall meeting on Friday, August 10, at 4:30 p.m. EST during the 2018 USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm. The town hall will take place in the Kentucky Horse Park’s Covered Arena, in the second-floor lounge at the far end of the arena, directly opposite the in gate. [US Equestrian Safe Sport Awareness]

KER COO Eileen Phethean at the WEG feed consolidation point in Europe. Next stop for all these bags: Tryon! Photo courtesy of Saracen Horse Feeds.

Have you ever wondered what goes into feeding all the horses at the FEI World Equestrian Games? We have a behind the scenes look thanks to Kentucky Equine Research, the Official Equine Nutritionist of Tryon 2018! This week, Kentucky Equine Research staff flew to Europe to process feeds gathered at the consolidation point. They’re taking inventory, collecting samples for naturally occurring prohibited substances (NOPS) analysis, and repairing bags damaged in transit, before packing it all into two 40-ft. refrigerated shipping containers.

Overall, they’re importing about 120 different feeds from nearly 20 European brands and will be offering an around 20 different feeds from a selection of U.S. brands as well. In addition, Kentucky Equine Research is coordinating with the federations, Peden, Dutta Corp., and U.S. regulatory agencies to facilitate the shipment of additional feeds with the horses, since in many cases final team selections are made after ocean freight containers depart to reach the U.S. in time for the competition.

National Holiday: National Watermelon Day

Major Events:

#Millbrook: Website, Schedule, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

U.S. Weekend Preview:

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

River Glen Summer H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

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

Cobblestone Farms H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

The World Equine Expo will run Sept. 11-23 during the FEI World Equestrian Games at Tryon 2018 and is set to feature a slew of exhibitions, demonstrations, authors and speakers. The EQUUS Film Festival and an extensive Art Festival will also bring more than 200 vendors to the venue. [World Equine Expo]

Waredaca is currently waiving all late fees with any post entries as a goodwill gesture to riders trying to get qualifications completed or just wanting to run. All late entries must be received by August 12 and paid via a credit card. [August HT Omnibus]

Did you know a racehorse running one mile in approximately two minutes will produce more than two gallons of sweat? Understanding the effects of dehydration in horses is extremely important in the summer. [Horse & Hound]

Keysoe Horse Trials in North Bedfordshire, England are so confident of their cross country ground conditions that they have pledged to refund start fees to anyone who does not agree. That’s a bold move! [Keysoe HT]

Photo taken very safely while at a stop in my truck.

This is the first year in many that I haven’t attended Millbrook, which kinda makes me sad because it’s one of my top five events in the U.S. for sure. However, I’m going to take this opportunity to plead with everyone who is inevitably passing this weird castle thing every day on their way to the event: WHAT IS IT?? I am consumed with curiosity every year about this castle/guardhouse whatever is going on behind it but it’s very secret. One hundred points to Gryffindor if you can answer my question.

National Holiday: National Ice Cream Sandwich Day

Major Events:

Millbrook H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

U.S. Weekend Preview:

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

River Glen Summer H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

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

Cobblestone Farms H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

There aren’t many events that have Beginner Novice through Advanced, and Millbrook is one of them. With 450 horses entered throughout the levels, the winner of the USEA Adequan Gold Cup Advanced division, the action kicks off this morning with two days of dressage. Boyd Martin has a cool FIVE horses in the Advanced, so it’s a pretty chill weekend for him (read: sarcasm). [Gold Cup Fast Facts: Millbrook HT]

Have you been following eventer Cortney McDaniel and her incredible Clydesdale mare, Charlotte? They recently made a dream come true by competing in the Novice Three Day at Rebecca Farm a few weeks ago. Yep, you read that right, a Clydesdale did steeplechase! In fact, Charlotte is the very first of her breed to compete in a long format three day event ever. Check out their latest blog on the USEA that recaps the action. [Charlotte the Flying Clydesdale]

Speaking of unlikely heroes, Wallace the dressage mule is taking over the British dressage scene, one event at a time. After shredding the rule book that banned mules from competing in dressage and winning his first recognized show, Wallace has now been invited to participate in the Gatcome Festival of British Eventing this weekend to show off his skillz. [Wallace the Mule Takes Over]

I know in Virginia this year it’s been weirdly full of thunderstorms for the summer, with an unimaginable amount of rain. My horses go out overnight, rain or shine, so I sleep well at night knowing they’re protected by Taylor Harris Insurance Services with their Fire, Lightening, & Risks in Transportation coverage. I mean, I don’t want them to get struck by lightening, don’t get me wrong, but if they did, we’re all protected. [THIS Horse Insurance]

Photo courtesy of the German Riding Instructor.

So, I’m following most of my fellow competitors for the 2018 Retired Racehorse Project through our secret trainer’s group on Facebook, and it’s truly astounding the number of different ways that people prepare for and get to the event. There is everything from people who have already run a few Training level events to riders who are just now getting their horses going under saddle after setbacks.  I can’t wait to see everyone in October in Kentucky!

National Holiday: National Get Gnarly Day (?!??)

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Stoneleigh-Burnham Summer H.T. [Website]  [Live Scores]

Horse Park of New Jersey II CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Hunt Club Farm H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Now that Michael Jung has won everything there is to win in Eventing, he’s turned his eyes to Show Jumping. He’s slated to compete this weekend in the Longines Global Champions Tour on home turf in Berlin. He didn’t show up on our radar for Aachen, because he was enjoying a top ten finish there in the other sport, because he’s just that good. [Top Eventer Turns Show Jumper]

Pint sized eventer The Little Frenchman gave his fans a thrill as he jumped around his first Advanced this past weekend. Standing on the lower side of 15 hands, Fin was piloted by his longtime jockey, amateur rider Alice Goring to a clear cross country round. In the classic way of little horses, Fin has no idea that he’s tiny, and thinks he is in fact 17.2 hands. [Diminutive Advanced Pony]

Stormy Daniels is in the news again, but this time for the horse world specifically.  Stormy has just received notification that she is being sued by Ellen Doughty-Hume for defamation, business disparagement and intentional infliction of emotional distress. This is following Stormy’s posts on the COTH forums as well as Facebook alleging that Ellen (amongst other things) was intentionally denying horses in her care proper veterinary care, and causing them to be injured as well as die in unnecessary situations. [Ellen Doughty-Hume Sues Stormy Daniels]

Hot on Horse Nation: Diary of a Mule: My Owner is Trying to Kill Me

Photo via the THIS FB page.

Do you ever just act like a real and total stalker, but to yourself? In this instance, basically obsessively refreshing the page for the photographer from a show because you just know in your bones that they got some REAL gems and you really wanna laugh at them? That’s me right now, sorry, hold all my calls, I’m busy hitting the refresh button and refraining from messaging the company about their expected release date.

National Holiday: National Chili Dog Day

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Stoneleigh-Burnham Summer H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Horse Park of New Jersey II CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Hunt Club Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Biggest news from yesterday: Justify is officially retired. There have been mumblings about the possibility for weeks now, as he was removed from training due to some filling in an ankle. However, the swelling isn’t responding to treatment, and trainer Bob Baffert says that without 60-90 days rest, he just can’t be sure of the outcome. That takes the colt out of any fall races, and we already knew he wasn’t going to race as a four-year-old. (Cue keyboard experts freaking out left right and center). [Justified Retires]

A website that helps you find proper boarding and training in your area? Hold the phone. I know I’m not alone in saying that people are constantly asking me where to board their horses, or send them for training, or just find a nice retirement home for the oldies. It’s impossible! However, horse loving entrepreneur Tori Sullivan has started a new way to navigate this old problem, with BarnWhiz. Easy to navigate and expanding soon, check it out! [BarnWhiz]

Pony love. Photo courtesy of the NAYC FB page.

You know what I love most about watching NAYC? The obvious love that those young riders have for their horses, and how they don’t hold back with showing it. We could use more of that in the professional ranks with adult riders, because when we spy that kind of overt passion, we all can relate. After all, isn’t the love of a pony why we all got here one way or another?

National Holiday: National Moon Day

Major Weekend Events:

The Event at Rebecca Farm C.I.C., 3DE, & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

NAYC @ Rebecca Farms [Live Stream] [Schedule] [Ride Times/Live Scores]

CHIO Aachen [Website] [Entries] [Start Times & Live Scoring] [Live Stream]

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Fitch’s Corner H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Full Moon Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Silverwood Farm Summer H.T. [Website]  [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Penny Oaks H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]  [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Nominations are open for the Ira Schulman Thoroughbred Rehoming Award for the Retired Racehorse Project 2018. Created to recognize an individual who successfully and responsibly repurposes off-track Thoroughbreds as a professional, the award honors the legacy of Schulman, whose career in placing OTTBs spanned over 50 years with thousands of horses going on to second-career homes. [Nominate for Ira Schulman TB Rehoming Award]

Obvi, CHIO Aachen needs to go on your bucket list. We hope we don’t need to convince you, but in case you’re on the fence, Noelle Floyd has come up with a pretty convincing argument. Where else will you get to watch Henrik von Eckermann, McLain Ward, and Marcus Ehning battle it out Gladiator style in the jump-off, see the German enthusiasm for Dressage, and of course watch the best Eventers in the world ALL IN ONE PLACE? [Wish You Were Here: CHIO Aachen]

You race 33 times, you win over $1.5 million on the track, now what? Of course you go into training with Phillip Dutton to start a new career as an Event horse. 7-year-old grade-1 winner Ring Weekend has arrived at True Prospect farm this week, and begun his journey into his second career, and we can’t wait to see what happens. [Ring Weekend in Training with Phillip Dutton]

Smile for the camera, Ping! Photo by JJ Sillman.

I’m sooooo jealous of a) people in Montana and b) people at Aachen this weekend. Both of those places are definitely bucket list events for me. Quick shout out to my girl Kim Severson this weekend, Crossy is gonna win! That team is amazing and I can’t wait for them to get another taste of international victory. I’ll be stalking both competitions throughout the next four days, and probably live streaming on my phone while I hack out. #safetyfirst

National Holiday: National Daiquiri Day

Major Weekend Events:

The Event at Rebecca Farm C.I.C., 3DE, & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

NAYC @ Rebecca Farms [Live Stream] [Schedule] [Ride Times/Live Scores]

CHIO Aachen [Website] [Entries] [Start Times & Live Scoring] [Live Stream]

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Fitch’s Corner H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Full Moon Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Silverwood Farm Summer H.T. [Website]  [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Penny Oaks H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]  [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Calling all volunteers! The Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Horse Trials is October 20-21 at FENCE and they need lots of volunteers! It will be their 43rd consecutive year, and last year the reviews from both competitors and volunteers through the USEA were outstanding, so this year should be no different. You can sign up online. [Volunteer for TRHC HT]

Wearing green for Jonty this weekend but forgot to pack something to use as an accessory? Don’t worry, Lauren Snider has you covered at Penny Oaks. Just stop by stall E1 this weekend to grab a ribbon or a pin so you can #weargreenforJonty and support him as he recovers in the hospital.

Three star action is soon to be underway at Rebecca Farm. With 11 horses in the CIC3* and 12 in the CCI3*, it’s a mix of experienced 4* combinations as well as 4* first timers. The Adequan USEA Gold Cup CIC3* dressage kicks off Friday at 1:45 p.m. (MST) and the CCI3* immediately follows at 3:50 p.m. (MST). [Montana Three Star Action]

Brinley Voss leading her unicorn back to the stable. Start ’em young! Photo by Skyeler Icke Voss.

I have two three year olds that I’m training right now, each for a client. I really love young horses, and these two are the same age, but pretty different in their places in training. One is a TB that was originally meant to be a racehorse but never even went to the track, and the other one is a purpose bred TB/Oldenburg cross. The TB just did his first cantering under saddle yesterday (yay!!) with no fuss at all, and the other one just learned to live in a stall this week! It’s a real baby university over at mine right now, and I love it.

National Holiday: National French Fry Day

Major Events This Weekend:

Event Rider Masters at Jardy: Website, Start Times, Live Scoring, Live Stream

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Gennessee Valley Hunt H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Riga Meadow H.T. [Website]

Maryland at Loch Moy II H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Champagne Run at the Park H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Coconino Summer II 3DE & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

As Eventers, we know that all events are BYOB, but Rebecca Farm is taking it a step further: BYOWB. In an effort to reduce plastic waste and be more environmentally conscious, The Event at Rebecca Farm is now Bring Your Own Water Bottle for all riders and spectators. With water bottle filling stations around the competition grounds, the event will also have recycling boxes stationed everywhere for cardboard, paper, and aluminum cans as well. [BYOWB At Rebecca Farm]

Hunt Club Farms in Berryville VA hosts an annual event with Intro through Prelim/Training levels every summer. Hunt Club only runs as a one day, with three dressage arenas on the grass, and show jumping in their outdoor arena, but provides an educational start to eventing for numerous horses and riders. The cross country is designed by Tremaine Cooper, giving challenging courses to each level. Quick shout-out to my girl Alyssa Peterson, old NAJYRC teammate from years ago, who is now based out of the lovely farm. Come see Hunt Club Farms in two weeks! [USEA Events A-Z: Hunt Club Farms]

Looking for something to drool over? Look no further than this five-and-a-half acre Wellington dreamboat of a farm designed by McLain Ward himself for equestrian excellence. Two barns, a house, a pool, a grass jump arena and a regular arena….what else could you ask for in a winter residence? [Fantasy Farm Thursday]

In a continued effort to raise the standard of eventing show jumping course design in the United States, US Equestrian has announced its plans for the 2018 Eventing Show Jumping Course Advisor Program. After reviewing all FEI level eventing show jumping courses in 2017, US Equestrian Eventing Show Jumping Course Advisor Richard Jeffery will turn his focus to 12 National Horse Trial show jumping courses across the preliminary and intermediate levels in 2018. However, in a shift from 2017, Jeffery will evaluate the courses prior to each event in addition to offering a critique of the course post event. [US Equestrian Show Jumping Course Design]

Team GB at GMI Wearing Green for Jonty!

Everyone is getting behind the #WearGreenForJonty movement, including myself. You’ll have to wait for this weekend’s event at MDHT to see my (slightly garish) nod to Jonty with some green incorporated into my daily look, but you can participate too with a little green to help you around the course. If it’s a new shirt, a saddle pad, or just a ribbon in your hair, help support Jonty this weekend as you compete no matter where you are!

National Holiday: National Fried Chicken Day

Major Events:

Great Meadow Links: Website, Entries, Schedule, Live Scores, Course Preview, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Huntington Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Maryland at Loch Moy I H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

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

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

42nd Annual Whidbey Island H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Powder Basin H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Coconino Summer I H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

The British are coming! Only days after the US celebrated it’s liberation from the Brits many years ago, we also welcome them to our home ground for the Great Meadow International Nations Cup CIC3*. Three of the four arrived in Virginia this week, with Ben Hobday, Sophie Brown and Georgie Spence meeting US-based Leslie Law at Beverly Equestrian for some pre-competition team training. [British Team Arrives for GMI]

Marilyn Little and Karen O’Connor’s Clearwater won the $35,000 1.50m Welcome Stake CSI3* at Tryon International Equestrian Center yesterday. She is also competing in pure show jumping classes with her U.S. WEG Team mount RF Scandalous at Tryon Summer IV this week. [Marilyn Little Wins at Tryon]

Will Coleman’s had a busy spring with several top level horses contesting for spots on the US team for the WEG. Flying back and forth between the US and England for Tight Lines at Kentucky and Obos O’Reilly at Badminton and Tattersalls, and then back for Bromont in Canada, Will definitely got his air miles. This week he’s got two entered at GMI, and is long listed with Tight Lines for the WEG team. With a few disappointments and some highlights along the way, it’s been a busy spring for his team.  [Will Coleman’s Spring Season Recap]

The Eventing Riders Association of North America (ERA of NA) announced the continuation of the Triple Crown Nutrition Prelim to Pro Team Championship for ERA of NA Plus Members. The program will run in conjunction with the Plantation Field International Young Rider CIC* division, September 20-23, 2018. Participants will interact with sponsors and receive Prelim to Pro “swag” in addition to enjoying media exposure and mentorship by top professionals. [ER of NA Prelim to Pro]

Why not pick up some jumping tips from Leslie Law to help you this weekend? In this excerpt from a Leslie Law clinic, Law coaches a group of riders through an exercise to help put their horses on the aids. Each horse and rider combination rides on a figure-eight over a liverpool, performing rollback turns off the left and right leads. Law explains how the repetition of an exercise at home helps increase both the rider’s and the horse’s comfort with it when they encounter it in competition. [Eventing Training Online]

Jan Byyny and Inmidair at Great Meadow over the THIS jump! Photo by Jenni Autry.

With the flooding and cancellation of Surefire two weeks ago, Jan kindly offered a free day of cross country schooling for all the entrants on the Fourth of July, and I’m pretty sure 95% of the people took part in it. I got there at 8:30 thinking I would try to beat the heat, and I wasn’t the only one with this clever plan. It was packed! However, since a lot of us re-routed to MDHT this coming weekend, it was perfect preparation and lovely to get to use the Surefire cross country course.

National Holiday: National Oh God I Have To Go Back To Work Day? JK It’s National Apple Turnover Day

Major Events:

Great Meadow CICO3* [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Huntington Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Maryland at Loch Moy I H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

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

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

42nd Annual Whidbey Island H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Powder Basin H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Coconino Summer I H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

The social media support movement #WearGreenForJonty is gaining momentum across the world. From stenciled green stars on a tiny pony bum in England, to young riders supporting him in Australia, to riders in FEI competitions, and to secretaries at events, everyone in the eventing family is sending much love and healing thoughts to Jonty. [Inspiring Photos Wearing Green For Jonty]

Attending Great Meadow this weekend? Inova Loudoun Hospital’s Outpatient Rehab Center & Concussion Clinic has a booth at the trade show and they’re asking all of you to visit them so you can get a baseline test for head injuries. You can also ask the experts about your risk for concussion while you’re there, and learn about signs and symptoms as well as what to do in the event of an injury.

The United States Eventing Association American Eventing Championships are now two months away! The AEC is making history this year as it celebrates its 15^th year while moving to the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, Colorado while Tryon prepares for the WEG. Thanks to the many devoted AEC sponsors, the USEA has thus far accrued over $100,000 in prize money to be awarded across all 19 divisions at the AEC. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of dollars in products will be distributed to first through sixth place finishers including; saddles, bridles, helmets, body protectors, boots, blankets, halters, horse feed, supplements, magazines, therapeutic products, saddle pads, custom artwork, stall plaques, gift certificates, and much more – all provided by the generous sponsors! [AEC Countdown]

Taylor Harris Insurance Services has their main office in Middleburg, and so is excited to be part of Great Meadow International again this year! If you see a THIS banner or the THIS jump, snap a selfie and stay tuned for our social media contest! BONUS POINTS FOR PHOTOBOMBING a horse while it’s jumping over the THIS jump.  [THIS on Facebook]

Just a little Turkey doing some springy jumping!

Hey it’s time for your weekly update on my horses! So fun, I know. Mostly I’m just unreasonably excited about my young OTTB, Turkey, and I can’t help but tell everybody about everything that he’s doing. Maybe I should channel myself into a blog for EN instead of just bombarding strangers on the street with facts and photos about how gosh darn cute he is and how fun he is to ride and how much he loves being broomed on the face. Yeah, brooming. Lainey taught me to identify champions by brooming them and I’ll never stop because so far it’s proven accurate.

National Holiday: National Waffle Iron Day

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Groton House Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Horse Park of New Jersey I H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

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

South Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

News From Around the Globe:

Volunteer recruitment is underway for the The 2018 Event at Rebecca Farm, to be held July 18-22 in Kalispell, Montana. Organizer Sarah Broussard says, “Our amazing volunteers are what make putting on one of the largest equestrian triathlons in the United States possible. I could not be more thankful for them. The Event has a strong sense of community, and that is what creates such a spectacular atmosphere.” Rebecca Farm offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities, ranging from score running and jump judging to food service and hospitality. No prior experience is necessary to volunteer. Broussard encourages all adults and teens 16 and older to volunteer. Teens 13-15 are welcome, but must have a parent or adult guardian on site. Children ages 10-12 may volunteer alongside a parent or legal guardian. [Get Involved]

The Horse Park of New Jersey (HPNJ) is a multi-use equestrian facility in Allentown, New Jersey (Area II) that hosts two USEA recognized events each summer. With thirty years under their belt, HPNJ knows how to put on a first rate competition, and not only at Jersey Fresh. The first event offers Beginner Novice through Advanced levels as well as USEA Young, Future, and New Event Horse divisions while the second event offers Beginner Novice through Intermediate in addition to CIC* and CIC2* divisions. [USEA Events A-Z: Horse Park of New Jersey]

Best of Blogs: The Horses That Heal Us

The end of life plan for your horse isn’t something we want to talk about: but we need to. Horse Nation writer Kristen Kovatch goes through the details of how we euthanize and dispose of our horses across the country, and it’s important for any owner to understand the details within. While this isn’t a fun subject, it’s something that all horse owners should be well informed on, so when the time comes, they can make an educated decision on how to proceed. [Humane Euthanasia Needs to Be a Viable Option]

With the summer heat as bad as it is, dehydration is a serious concern for horse owners around the world. You’ll want to make sure that your horse has constant access to fresh clean water at all times to help him avoid a multitude of health complications that can arise from overexertion and dehydration in hot temperatures. Additionally, knowing how to tell if your horse is dehydrated is very important to your success through the summer months. [Battling Dehydration in Horses]