Sally Spickard is a Korean adoptee living in San Diego, California. Sally joined the Eventing Nation team in 2013 and has subsequently written for Noelle Floyd, Heels Down Mag, and other publications both in and out of the equestrian world. Sally is an eventing fan through and through and enjoys telling the stories of riders who are not well-represented within equestrian media.
Colleen and Shiraz at Southern Pines. Photo by Samantha Clark.
Colleen Rutledge is slowly but surely recovering from hip surgery following a fall at Morven Park this fall. Recently she updated her blog with a new version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” that was thought up by her working students. According to Colleen, her working students have “gone a little nutty,” but we think the result is quite creative!
“…on the Twelfth day of Christmas, my trainer gave to me…
12 frozen water buckets
11 manes to pull
10 saddles to clean
9 polos to wrap (why only nine? Crap- the Jack Russells have the rest!)
8 horses to clip
7 stalls to muck
6 bales of hay
5 loose horses
4 Jack Russells
3 missing shoes
2 working students and
1 slightly broken but almost mended trainer”
To keep up with Colleen’s latest news, follow her on Facebook as well as her blog. We know she will be up and riding before too long, but in the meantime it looks like she’s got some great company to keep her entertained. Happy Holidays.
I’ve always loved looking back at the history of our sport. If people think eventers are insane now, try taking a look back a few years. I also love to see some of the most influential people in the sport at the height of their competitive careers. This video has all of the above. A clip from a Captain Edgars bloopers tape, there are many famous names who make an appearance. Sit back and enjoy, all while thanking your lucky stars for inflatable air vests. Thanks to Tamra Smith for posting this on her Facebook page!
Good morning from cold, wintry Kansas City! I am settling in for the Chiefs game tomorrow so I am stocking up on hand and foot warmers and lots of attractive layers to beat the cold. It wouldn’t be the holidays without a little winter football to stock up on the alcohol warm you up! We here at EN are hard at work to bring you some great holiday posts over the next few days, so keep it locked here for the best EN holiday season yet!
Saturday Links:
Are you feeling extra creative? What better outlet than our Christmas Jingle Contest, presented by Point Two? All you have to do to enter is send a jingle to [email protected] by midnight EST on Christmas Eve. We will announce the winner on Christmas Day.
Horse Nation posted this hilarious video, and I just had to re-post it here in case you missed it. Elephant show jumping? They really do think of everything.
This wonderful print was designed by Caroline Radtke. Keep an eye out for information on ordering your own! Thank you to Caroline for sharing.
Good morning! Today is my last Friday working the good old nine to five for awhile, so I am enjoying my new found sense of freedom for the time being. I plan to spend the weekend doing some Christmas shopping (read: starting my Christmas shopping) and packing for my big move to the other side of Missouri. How will you be spending your weekend? If you are headed to Florida or somewhere else warmer, don’t forget to show off your winter digs by sending photos to [email protected].
Friday News:
The Attorney General for New Mexico is attempting to halt the reopening of slaughterhouses in the state. Gary King has filed suit to prevent the horse slaughterhouse from opening within the next two weeks. King expresses concerns about violations that the slaughterhouse had previously had and does not feel that horses belong in the human consumption food chain. [New Mexico Attorney General Tries to Halt Slaughterhouse]
Did you know that horses understand humans better than almost any other animal? Studies have shown that horses are excellent at picking up on body language from their human partners. An interesting article about war horses and winning their trust was published recently, and several equine behavior experts weigh in on the abilities of horses to read body language and react to human communication. [Winning the Trust of a Warhorse]
The Breeders’ Cup recently did a study on the use of Lasix on racehorses. An observational study, the results found that about 70% of juvenile racehorses are treated with Lasix. Another part of the study found that juvenile horses who were not treated with raceday Lasix or Salix actually had fewer exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage at this year’s Breeders’ Cup. [Breeders’ Cup Lasix Study]
I’ve dabbled in some photography here and there, but have never mastered the perfect shot. Professional equine photographer Jessica Robinson has created an educational video with some helpful hints of taking the best possible photos of your horse. Definitely a must-watch if you want to get some artsy photos to show off to your Facebook friends while everyone else is putting up pictures of their kids. Wait, that’s just me? [Tips for Photographing Horses]
Grand prix rider Anne Kurinski has a Thoroughbred show hunter. Only One is an OTTB who came to Anne by chance and who has quickly shown that he is quite adept at shining in the hunter ring. Anne has ridden many Thoroughbreds in her career, and she values having a sensitive horse. [Only One]
A movie based on the story of the long shot Kentucky Derby winner, Mine That Bird, is due to release next year. The official trailer has been released, and it gave me goosebumps which is always a good sign.
Welcome to Throwback Thursday! Each Thursday, we will be bringing you some vintage eventing photos and posts. Do you want to show us your first horse or a photo of your early riding days? Email [email protected].
How do you think you did in today’s Guess the Rider challenge? My recognition skills aren’t anything to brag about, so I am sure I would not have been able to guess this one.
The rider pictured below is…
Who is it this week?
…Jon Holling! Jon sent us several photos of himself as a wee one, and we couldn’t resist putting more than one up in this morning’s post. A big thank you to Jon and Jenn for participating in our challenge!
Taking names at the 2013 American Eventing Championships. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Horse Nation posted this video yesterday, and it had me absolutely rolling. Watch this horse cleverly show us how he is a competent escape artist. My favorite part might be his seeming scoffing at the camera before and after. Enjoy!
Welcome to Throwback Thursday! Each Thursday, we will be bringing you some vintage eventing photos and posts. Do you want to show us your first horse or a photo of your early riding days? Email [email protected].
Who is it this week?
We are back with another Throwback Thursday rider for you. We have an abundance of photos to share with you over the coming weeks, so practice those facial recognition skills.
From cowboy to eventer?
Best of luck with this week’s challenge. Be sure to comment below with your guess, and as always don’t forget to check back later today for the reveal.
What do you get the person who made you put your Mean Girl Pants on this year?
Ah, the holiday season. I’m a known procrastinator, so I will be honest with you and tell you that I have barely begun shopping for the people on my list this year. Yes, I am aware that it is a week before Christmas. I will be the one at the mall on Christmas Eve scrambling to find gifts in the shortest amount of time possible.
One of the more difficult people on my list to shop for has always been my trainers over the years. What do you get the person who has seen you at your worst moments and who has coached you through every one? I’ve been privileged to benefit from the expertise of several trainers throughout my life, and I have come to realize that practicality is usually the way to go in this situation. So, I’ve decided to pass on a few tips for holiday shopping for your trainer:
1. Think necessity.
In the midwest, the winters can get pretty nasty. One of my trainers hated being cold. She would bundle up in so many layers during winter lessons that I could barely recognize her. So one year, my barnmates and I decided to look into purchasing a fancy thermal coat for her so that she could actually move around while still staying warm. Another year, we helped purchase some items that she needed to put up at horse shows, such as director chairs and a banner with her logo on it. It is a good idea to think practical when you are shopping for your trainer. I’m sure they will thank you for being thoughtful enough to buy them something they need or could use in their everyday activities.
2. Should you tip?
I’m a big fan of tipping over the holidays. Maybe it’s because I worked in the service industry for so long that I just got used to the holiday generosity. So my hair dresser, doorman and pet sitter all get some sort of tip around this time of year. This can also carry over to your horse’s helpers: farriers, vets, chiropractors and even trainers. As horse people, we know that extra cash is hard to come by, so a tip always goes a long way when it comes to holiday gifts. All of the people who help us keep our equine partners happy and healthy are invaluable, and a token of appreciation will not go unnoticed.
3. Show your appreciation.
I am forever grateful for the training I have received over the years. A client-trainer relationship is a special one, and above all else, showing your appreciation for the hard work and dedication that your trainer puts into your training is the most important part of the holiday season. However you decide to show it, your trainer will certainly be grateful to have such caring clients who help them enjoy their jobs so much.
Last year at the USEA Annual Meeting and Convention, Brian Sabo announced that Diane Pitts would be the new elected USEA President beginning in 2014. This year’s convention signaled the official beginning of Diane’s presidency, and she will be the acting president going forward. The USEA recently interviewed Diane and published the interview on their podcast website. I jotted down a few notes from the interview and have organized the main speaking points below.
To listen to the full interview with Diane, click here.
Background
Diane first made her way into the eventing community as a parent. Her son started eventing at a young age, so she was a horse show mom, groom, driver, and cheerleader for many years. Although not a competitive rider herself, Diane has always been involved as a volunteer at many horse trials, which eventually gave way to a successful career.
Hailing from Area V, she has represented the Young Rider program as well as the USEA Board of Governors. Diane has 25 years of legal experience, so her expertise on the logistical aspects of the sport is well received.
Diane calls herself a problem solver and a creative thinker, so she is looking forward to the challenges that will come as the USEA’s new president.
Challenges and Goals for the Upcoming Years
“I don’t have a preset plan f0r the year ahead yet,” Diane said in the interview. Right now she is focusing on mapping out the year as far as traveling and making sure she is available to support both the professional and the amateur riders.
Diane reiterated what David O’Connor preached about at the convention in that the main goal is to be proactive rather than reactive.
For the High Performance aspect of the sport, the financial aspect will always be a focal point for Diane. Maintaining a public persona that will keep the sport visible for potential sponsors, owners, and other supporters is imperative.
“A large percentage of our membership base are amateurs, and they are the backbone of the sport.” Diane is focused on working to make sure that the sport stays relevant for everyone involved. This effort includes keeping the quality of the horse trials to a high standard and helping keep costs down so that competition is affordable. “We can always do more for all competitors,” Diane said. “It’s a tight rope that we have successfully walked in the past.”
“The American Eventing Championships certainly had a successful first year in Texas, but there is always room for improvement.” Diane plans to work to constantly improve the so-called Super Bowl of Eventing so that it continues to be a marquee event for the sport.
Sponsors
A big part of obtaining new sponsors is to get the “necessary introductions,” according to Diane. Diane encouraged listeners to think outside the horse world as far as sponsors are concerned. To that end, she has begun putting together a corporate group that has access to other sporting companies that could be possible sponsors in the future. She acknowledged that this plan was a bit out of the ordinary, but she has full faith that thinking about possibilities outside of the immediate realm of horses could pay off in the long run.
Diane underscored her promise that she will be accessible and supportive of anyone who wants to share ideas or get involved in any way many times throughout the interview. “There are no bad ideas,” she said.
In listening to Diane talk excitedly about her new position and how she wants to approach various tasks in the upcoming years, I couldn’t help but get excited along with her about the future of the sport. Certainly we cannot take away anything from the work that Brian Sabo has put into the USEA as the former president, and I’m confident that the USEA is fully supportive of Diane’s ventures as Brian’s successor.
Kim Severson and Fernhill Fearless at Fair Hill CCI3*. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Kim Severson’s position on the USEF Eventing Selection Committee has been replaced by Deborah Furnas, according to a USEF press release, with Phyllis Dawson serving as a substitute selector. Kim will now focus her time on her active campaign at the upper levels of the sport.
Kim has been diligently working her way back to active competition at the upper levels with a successful campaign with Fernhill Fearless. Recently named to the USEF National List for the winter/spring training sessions with Fernhill Fearless, Kim plans to compete at Rolex this spring. Kim also has other horses in her arsenal, with the likes of Mighty Himself and Cooley Cross Border making their way up the ranks as well.
Both Deborah Furnas and Phyllis Dawson have been big names in the eventing world for many years, and their naming to the selection committee is well deserved.
The USEF Selection Committee now includes the following members:
Robert Costello, Chair
Bruce Davidson
Derek DiGrazia
Marcia Kulak
Deborah Furnas
Phyllis Dawson, Substitute Selector
To read the full USEF press release, including more background information on Deborah Furnas and Phyllis Dawson, click here.
Seventeen year old Claire Davis was the unfortunate victim of a school shooting at Arapahoe High School on December 13. Claire remains in critical condition after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head. Meanwhile, news broke that Claire is a fellow equestrian, and immediately the equine community banded together to help her.
The Colorado Horse Park, CANTER Colorado and other members of the Colorado equestrian family have started raising funds for Claire’s Care. It is truly heartwarming to know that even in the times of the hardest struggles, the equine community remains small and dedicated to helping those in their time of need.
For the CNN story on Claire, follow this link. If you would like to donate to Claire’s Care, you can visit the designated PayPal website here.
The EN family would like to wish Claire the absolute best of luck in her recovery from a horror that no one should ever have to experience.
UPDATE: We had a few users alert us to the fact that the original PayPal link that we posted was not working. The link should now be correct.
For any of you who have spent time riding ponies as a child, you can certainly appreciate the stepping stone that these little horses provided for your riding career. Pony Glam is a website dedicated to outfitting ponies and their riders with the latest crazes in pony fashion. They also have a blog section of their website, and they recently posted this adorable list, “6 Reasons Why You Should Own a Child Rider”. Written from a pony’s perspective, this list had me laughing and reminiscing all at once. Here are a few bullet points from the list:
1. Treats. They always give you treats. They give you treats before they even get you out of the stall. They give you treats even if they fall off. They give you treats even when the mean boss-mare trainer says not to. And they don’t just give you boring apples, they will give you anything that is remotely edible, including half of their packed barn lunches on the weekends. Who said horses don’t like goldfish?
2. Easy work load. If left to their own devices, these child riders would opt for bareback gossip fests in the arena with their other pony friends every time. Practicing their sitting trots or doing “no-stirrup November” is thankfully lost on the child rider. The best part is that when the trainer asks, “did you practice your transitions today?”, the little child rider nods her head “yes” when in reality the only thing practiced was seeing who could stand up on their pony’s bare back the longest at the trot.
Check out the full list here. Do you have anything to add to the list? Share it with us in the comments below.
Now that is a Santa I would take a photo with! Photo courtesy of Castlewood Stables Facebook page.
When I was a kid, I was terrified of any person who was dressed up. So that eliminated Chuck E Cheese and Six Flags or Disney World from the places that I could visit without having a screaming fit of terror. So you can imagine that taking photos with Santa or the Easter bunny was not at the top of my childhood bucket list. When the barn where I used to ride posted the photo above of their resident Clydesdale, Cadillac, sporting his holiday get-up, I immediately thought about the awesome photo opportunities this would afford. Cadillac is one of the most well-trained horses I have ever had the pleasure of knowing; he knows how to sit, count, bow, and many other things that I used to think you could only teach dogs (and mustangs, right Elisa Wallace?). If you’re in the St. Louis area, it’s definitely worth paying Castlewood Stables and Cadillac a visit!
We made it through another week, EN! I’m about as over the cold weather as the next person, but unfortunately for me there is no end in sight. So I’ve decided to live vicariously through all of you lucky folk who are headed (or who have already headed) down south to wait out the cold. Are you enjoying the sun in Ocala, Aiken, or some other wonderful place where the temperature climbs above freezing? If so, we want to see your winter digs! Send photos for our EN Cribs series to [email protected]. I’m sure I can speak for all of Eventing Nation when I say we would love to spend our winters in jealousy of all of you who are making the trek south.
Friday News:
Do you have some tacky wrapping paper, a few pieces of tinsel, and maybe some glitter laying around? If so, you should wrap your horse’s leg (just one!) in the most creative way possible and enter our Wrap Your Horse’s Legs Contest presented by Hamilton BioVet. Your horse will thank you later when you bring home a whole kit full of the innovative products that Hamilton BioVet has to offer. [Wrap Your Horse’s Legs Contest]
The USEA has announced a new partnership with several top medical experts to benefit American eventing. According to a press release, the USEA has partnered with Virginia Tech’s Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, the International Society of Equine Locomotor Pathology, and Capitol Productions TV. The goal of this new program is to bring cutting-edge medical information to the eventing community. [USEA Announces New Educational Partnership]
Large animal rescue successfully retrieved a horse from a canal in the UK using a forklift. Honey and her owner, were out for a ride alongside the Leeds Liverpool Canal when they slipped and Honey somehow ended up struggling to stay afloat. Thankfully, the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service was able to rescue Honey. Both she and her rider are expected to be just fine. [Forklift Horse Rescue]
Have you ordered your tickets for Rolex 2014 yet? If not, now would be a great time to do so! Rolex Kentucky announced on their Facebook page earlier this week that free shipping would be offered on all ticket orders placed between December 10 and December 18. Only a few days of the sale remain, so go ahead and add some four day passes to your last minute holiday wish list. [Order Rolex Tickets]
A new species of horse has been found in fossil form in Ethiopia. The fossils are 4.4 million years old and the horse is estimated to be similar in size to a zebra. Researchers are saying that this finding is important in piecing together the long evolutionary history of the equine species and that this particular species fills in a gap in their research. [Fossilized Horse]
I’m sure we all wish we were just a tad younger sometimes.Horse & Hound published a list of things that we all miss about being younger. My favorite is not having to foot the bill all the time. Those were the days. [Things We Miss About Being Young]
I love a horse with lots of chrome. So imagine my nerd radar going off when I found this article about a study done on the white markings on a horse and how they relate to the horse’s genetic makeup. The findings of the study are that three main genes are at work when determining how much white a horse will have on its face and legs. [Genetics Behind All the Chrome]
Welcome to Throwback Thursday! Each Thursday, we will be bringing you some vintage eventing photos and posts. Do you want to show us your first horse or a photo of your early riding days? Email [email protected].
Earlier today, we posted this photo and gave you the task of guessing what well known rider is pictured. We must say, this one may be one of the most adorable pairs we have ever seen. Did you venture a guess? Let’s find out if you were right!
The rider pictured below is…
…Laine Ashker! Laine and her mother, Valerie, worked together to dig up the best photo to use for our Throwback Thursday. As a special bonus, check out this photo of her famous four-star mount, Anthony Patch, when he was fresh off the racetrack:
Anthony Patch as a three-year-old.
Many thanks to all who participated. Check back next Thursday for the next Guess the Rider challenge.
All grown up to superstar status. Photo used with permission from Storey Crenshaw Photography.
With the World Equestrian Games rapidly approaching, the USEF Eventing High Performance team has updated its website with pertinent information for the team and any other curious readers.
The selection trials for the U.S. team have been laid out, and we are all anxiously awaiting the start of the 2014 season so that the team can begin to take shape. The last day to apply for consideration to be on the U.S. team for WEG is March 15, 2014, after which a hefty late fee is assessed until the final deadline of March 25.
Here are a few links for your reference as we edge closer to the reveal of the U.S. team:
This memo outlines each and every detail of the selection process for the WEG Eventing team. The Rolex Kentucky CCI4* and the Jersey Fresh CCI3* will serve as the tryout events in the USA, and many horses and riders will be heading overseas to contest the European selection trials.
The dates for the winter training sessions were released yesterday. Three of these sessions, one each in Ocala, Aiken and the UK, will include veterinary evaluations for the horses named to the Global Talent, World Class and National lists.
If you need even more ways to get pumped for WEG, feel free to click on over to the Normandy 2014 website for up to date information.
You can keep a watchful eye on the USEF High Performance Eventing website for more information and press releases as they become available. Go eventing.
We recently asked you to send in your horse-inspired tattoos, and the response has been overwhelming. We will be posting your photos in several reader submission posts over the next few weeks. Would you like to show off your ink? Send a photo to [email protected].
Many thanks to EN reader Amy for sending in this photo of her ink.
We are back with even more equine inspired ink to show you, courtesy of our wonderful readers. The amount of artistry and personal meaning that your tattoos have is touching, and we are proud to show them off to all of Eventing Nation.
Photo from Alyson Waring.
Alyson Waring sent us a photo of her “Equus” tattoo, which she got when she found out she had been accepted into veterinary school. “I figured even if I never touched another horse for the rest of my life (highly unlikely!), I never would have have gotten to where I am without a lifetime of horsemanship teaching me responsibility and hard work.”
Photo from Lisa Douglas.
All the way from South Africa, reader Lisa Douglas showed us her tattoo inspired by her two horses’ names, Global Energy and Altamiras Symphony.
Emily Pestl-Dimmitt and her horse, Arlington.
Emily Pestl-Dimmitt sent in the above photo and the story behind it: “A lot of people have said to me, ‘but you’ll have many other horses in your lifetime.’ All I can say is, not all will be quite like this guy. We’ve accomplished so much together, and along the way, he’s definitely become my best friend. I may ride many other horses, but this horse will always be my first Intermediate/Advanced horse, and to me, that’s a big enough deal. For me, tattoos are there to tell a story, and this cool guy is where the most exciting part of my story begins.”
Photo from Jaclyn Grant.
Our final reader submission for the day comes from Jaclyn Grant. Wondering why her tattoo involves a horse and a lion? “This is my lion and horse forever connected by their manes! My sister and mom came with me and we all got the same tattoo since all three of us are Leo’s and love horses. It also represents a quote by a French instructor I trained with about my chestnut horse (a creature you cannot force to do anything but will do anything for you once their is mutual trust): ‘He is a Lion, he is trying to kill me, he is trying to kill you!’ So that being said I know my horse is a Lion, but he is not the killing type, just the fighting for respect and trust type. The kind of horse that gets upset when he doesn’t understand but is brilliant when he does get it. Anyway, I love my lion, and I love EN!”
Stay tuned for the next installment of Show EN Your Ink. Many thanks to all of our readers for sharing their photos with us!
Welcome to Throwback Thursday! Each Thursday, we will be bringing you some vintage eventing photos and posts. Do you want to show us your first horse or a photo of your early riding days? Email [email protected].
Who is competing for Cutest Kid Ever in this photo?
Last week we kicked off our Guess the Rider series. We had a lot of fun reading your guesses, and some of you were right on the money! We’re back this week with a fresh new challenge for you. Here is your Guess the Rider photo for this week. Comment with your guess, and check back later today for the big reveal. Good luck!
The Young Rider Program for USEA Area II is holding a silent auction to benefit their program for the upcoming year. Many people have offered up some generous prizes to be auctioned off during the bidding period. Bidding for the silent auction began on December 6 and will run through December 21.
Some of the items up for grabs this year include:
Pre-purchase exam with x-rays from B.W. Furlong and Associates
Lessons with Bettina Hoy, Sinead Halpin, Lynn Symansky, and many, many more.
2014 Rolex General Admission passes
Turnout blankets
Four-night vacation at the Wyndham Cypress Palms
and much more!
Even if you are not an Area II resident, you can still participate in the silent auction. Visit the auction site here to check out the auction items. Happy bidding!
Super pony Forrest Nymph getting ready for her arrival at Sinead Halpin Eventing. Photo via Sinead's Twitter.
Who doesn’t love a talented eventing pony? Ever since the days of Theodore O’Connor and countless other superstar ponies, fans of the sport are quick to climb on board with a new rising star. In October, we reported that the talented pony pictured above, Forrest Nymph, was set to join the ranks of Sinead Halpin Eventing. Sinead announced via Twitter yesterday that “Farrah” would be making her way to join Team SHE this week. We can’t wait to see how this new partnership develops. Stay tuned for more updates as they come out of Team SHE.
Cavalor Feed for Thought: Joint Pain or Muscle Pain? Our wonderful sponsor, Cavalor, believes that education is the best way to promote better wellness for our horses. To aid this, Cavalor publishes many different discussions on various horse health issues. This week, they have posted a quick write up on determining whether an unsound horse is suffering from joint or muscle pain. [Cavalor Feed for Thought]
Do you think the USEA should add a new division? There was much discussion this weekend at the convention about the gap between Training and Prelim and how it is difficult for some horses and riders to make the jump. A lively discussion on the topic is also ongoing on the Chronicle of the Horse forum. While there are many Training-Prelim openings at many horse trials, what would the benefits of adding a new division in between Training and Prelim be? The Chronicle reported on this question and how it was addressed at the USEA Annual Meeting. [A New Division?]
Zara Phillips’ mount Toytown and British Olympic rider Tina Cook have been inducted into the British Horse Society’s Hall of Fame. Joining the likes of William Fox-Pitt and Nick Skelton, Tina Cook and Toytown now have their names on the BHS Hall of Fame wall outside of Hyde Park. Congratulations to the newest Hall of Fame Members. [Horse & Hound Reports New Hall of Fame Members]
The US Dressage Federation also held its Annual Meeting this past weekend.The Chronicle of the Horse has a wrap up from the weekend’s events, which include a 2013 recap by Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover and a few new officials. [The Chronicle Recaps USDF Annual Meeting]
The FEI has released a new app for mobile users to view FEI TV anywhere they go. The app is free but requires a subscription to FEI TV to stream events from your phone. However, if you are constantly on the go like I am and want to stay connected with the happenings, the subscription is well worth it. [FEI TV On the Go]
SmartPak Product of the Day:
I’m kind of a snob when it comes to choosing breeches. I like to find pairs that fit nicely without restricting movement. I have also come to prefer full seat breeches at all times, and since I don’t tend to wear jeans and half chaps to ride, I need a pair of breeches that will last for a long time. Enter the SmartPak Soft Shell Bradley Full Seat Breeches. I practically ran to the SmartPak tent at Rolex the year that this line came out, and I have not looked back since. These breeches are show quality but still comfortable and affordable enough to use for schooling at home. I can’t recommend them enough, so go and pick up a few pairs for yourself. [SmartPark Soft Shell Bradley Full Seat Breeches]
Tuesday Video:
An oldie but goodie. Given that most of the East coast is currently digging its way out of the snow, I thought I’d share some true “Pony Power.”
The penultimate day of the USEA Annual Meeting and Convention has concluded, and once more the USEA brought us some fantastic coverage of the meetings and seminars held today. The convention wraps up tomorrow, but in the meantime here is some food for thought from today’s events. You can check out all of the USEA’s coverage on their website and Facebook page.
Led by Jimmy Wofford, this lively discussion touched on topics such as the amount of open space needed to support eventing and the demographics of the sport. This is certainly a topic to take under serious consideration, as the sport of eventing absolutely depends on a thriving support system.
Charles Owen sponsored this lecture, led by Roy Burek, on the importance of helmet safety. Helmet safety, as it should be, has been a recurring subject this year at the convention. The USEA also caught up with both Roy and Phillip Dutton to gather some additional thoughts on the subject.
Other seminars today included a Cardiopulmonary Research Forum led by Dr. Catherine Kohn and Dr. Rob Stevenson and a Rule Change Open Forum led by USEF Safety Committee Chair Malcolm Hook. You can check out the summaries from each seminar and forum today by clicking the link above.
The convention concludes tomorrow with the USEA Board of Governors meeting, a seminar on grant applications, and an Introduction to ICP Workshop. Stay tuned for much more from the final day of the annual meeting.
We recently asked you to send in your horse-inspired tattoos, and the response has been overwhelming. We will be posting your photos in several reader submission posts over the next few weeks. Would you like to show off your ink? Send a photo to [email protected].
Photo from Erin Hite.
A few of our wonderful readers sent in a short story of the inspiration or idea behind their tattoo. Amy Schwartz sent in a photo of her ink, saying, “I just got my first tattoo this past September, for my 40th birthday. My husband took me to celebrate in Las Vegas. I got a snaffle bit, because it reminds me of the little ponies I learned to ride on in a field in Connecticut when I was a kid….we always rode them in a simple little loose-ring snaffle. And that’s where it all began…..33 years later I’m still at it!”
Photo from Amy Schwartz.
Megan Clements wrote in and sent us a photo of her impressive tattoo on her back: “This was my first tattoo at 19. Still love it 6 years later!”
Photo from Megan Clements.
Canadian rider Rebecca Stewart sent us a photo of her patriotic themed horse tattoo. I’ve heard that the rib cage is among the most painful places to get a tattoo, so if this is true, props to you, Rebecca!
Photo from Rebecca Stewart.
We have many more tattoos to bring you, so stay tuned for the next installment in our Show Us Your Ink series. Thank you for sending in your photos, and keep them coming!
The USEA has been hard at work covering the Annual Meeting and Convention in Cincinnati. From interviews to meeting notes, there is plenty of material for the education hungry like myself to devour. Between that and our own coverage, I’ve got enough material to last me quite awhile. Many thanks to the USEA and to Jenni for their hard work in bringing the best coverage possible from one of the most important events for our sport. You can find the majority of the USEA’s coverage here, but be sure to check their Facebook page for live updates as well. Here are a few links for your perusal. Be sure to check back throughout the day for much more from the convention. Go Eventing.
Colleen and Shiraz at Southern Pines. Photo by Samantha Clark.
