Photo via the Rocky Point Farm Facebook page.

Definitely the most exciting thing I saw on social media yesterday was this brilliant repurposing of a polo ball holder, posted on the Rocky Point Farm Facebook page: “Great friend Nikki has brought this over from the polo field. Apparently they actually use it to put extra balls in. It is perfect for two bottles of wine. Who needs a flask?” I found it for sale here.

Here are your news and notes:

Events Opening This Week:

 Willow Draw Charity Show (TX, A-5)  Rocking Horse Fall H.T. (FL, A-3)  Full Gallop Farm Fall H.T. (SC, A-3)  Galway Downs International Event & H.T. (CA, A-6)

Events Closing This Week: 

 Waredaca H.T. and Classic 3 Day Event (MD, A-2)  Woodside International Horse Trials (CA, A-6)  The Event at Skyline (UT, A-9)  Middle Tennessee Pony Club Horse Trials (TN, A-3)  Radnor Hunt H.T. (PA, A-2) FEH Qualifier at Loch Moy Farm (MD, A-2)  Feather Creek H.T. (OK, A-5)  Spokane Sport Horse Farm Fall H.T. (WA, A-7)  WindRidge Farm Fall Horse Trials (NC, A-2)  Heritage Park H.T. (KS, A-4)  Course Brook Farm Fall Horse Trials (MA, A-1)  Las Cruces H.T. (NM, A-10)  The Maryland H.T. at Loch Moy Farm(MD, A-2)  Kent School Fall H.T. (CT, A-1)  FEH Championships at Loch Moy Farm (MD, A-2)

Equestrian Canada president Jorge Bernhard has filed a lawsuit against Shandiss McDonald, the widow of Jordan McDonald, who died while competing in England in June 2014. The suit involves a horse, Rockfield Grant Juan (“Juan”), whom Bernhard owns allegedly in partnership with the McDonalds. According to public transcripts from the Superior Court of Justice in Ontario, Bernhard wants to take full possession of the horse and is seeking $600,000 in damages.
[EC President Suing Canadian Eventing Widow]

Reminder: 2017 USEA Worth the Trust Scholarship applications are due Oct. 3. There are two scholarships available: a $3,000 Amateur Young Adult Scholarship for riders between the ages of 16 and 25, and a $2,000 Adult Amateur Scholarship for eventers 26 and up. Both can be applied toward a variety of training opportunities including clinics, working student positions, private or group instruction or even learning to officiate or working with a course designer, Technical Delegate, judge, veterinarian, etc. with approval from the scholarship panel. [2017 Worth the Trust Scholarship Applications Due Oct. 3, 2016!]

The USEF is now accepting applications to host the 2017 and 2018 FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships. The disciplines of dressage, endurance, eventing, show jumping, and para-dressage will be offered with applications accepted from organizers wishing to host one individual discipline championship, a combination of discipline championships, or a championship combining all five disciplines. Contact Mark Coley at [email protected] for a copy of the bid packet. Bids are due by 5:00 p.m. EST on Oct. 11, 2016.

The Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium is looking for volunteers! To be held Oct. 27-30 at the Kentucky Horse Park, a minimum of four hours of volunteering will get you lunch, admission and a tee shirt. Sign up here.

Did you know that it’s National Equine Veterinarian Week? SmartPak, Henry Schein Animal Health and the Northeast Association of Equine Practitioners (NEAEP) have partnered to launch this special week of recognition, to be held annually the third full week of September. It is being observed for the first time September 18-24, 2016, so be sure to show your own horse doc how much you appreciate them with a note or fruit basket or — if you’re anywhere near as high maintenance a client as I am — maybe a large bottle of really nice scotch. [Does Your Horse Doc Rock?]

“Best of Craigslist” is one of Horse Nation’s longest-running facepalm catalysts, and the latest edition is no exception. If you’re in the market for a “Quarter Horse guelding,” an “Arabin cross,” a “buskin” or a “Frisian,” HN has your hookup. [Best of Craigslist, Volume 46]

Kent Farrington’s win in the $216,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping New York CSI4*-W at Old Salem Farm on Sunday had quite the surprise ending. After galloping through the timers, Gazelle spooked and ejected Farrington from the saddle. No worries, though! Farrington stuck the landing, caught his horse and took a bow for the crowd. Jumper Nation has the full report. [Kent Farrington Falls Off, Still Wins American Gold Cup]

Have you been following Valerie Ashker’s ride across America? Her goal: to raise social awareness of the strength, stamina, courage and versatility of OTTBs after their racing career.

Accompanying her on her journey are the thoroughbreds Solar Express (JC Bold Badgett: Damascus – Anne Campbell, by Never Bend), age 17, and Primitivo (JC Monashee Mountain: Danzig – Prospectors Delite, by Mr. Prospector), age 7, whom Valerie has evented through Training level.

So far they’ve traveled over 1,700 miles since departing California on May 9, with Virginia being their final destination.

You can keep up with Valerie’s journey via her blog here, Facebook here or show your support by donating to their GoFundMe campaign here (any surplus funds raised not used on travel will be donated to Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance).

Photo via Valerie’s 2nd Makes Thru Starting Gates GoFundMe page.

More proof that OTTBs are capable of anything! Here are three more ex-racers who are looking to become something special. Can you help?

Photo via CANTER California.

Babinda (Boomerang – Timely Image, by Image of Greatness) is an 11-year-old 15.2 mare.

“Haiku” is described as gorgeous and lovely but somewhat challenging: a lovely uphill mover with First Level dressage training, and a brave and careful jumper — they say she will jump anything! She also loves trails with the right companions. Thrives on jumping, loves to be groomed and have her bottom scratched. Very social, expressive and opinionated. Excellent ground manners, always sound.

Prefers to live in pasture and grass would be a huge bonus. Has some minor maintenance issues, struggles with anxiety in some situations and still a bit green for a 11-year-old. She needs a gentle and light rider and an experienced assertive handler. Not suitable for a beginner, needs to be with a professional or very experienced amateur working with a trainer.

View Babinda on CANTER California.

Photo via Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds.

Miz Sweet (Noonmark – Sweet Tzipora, by Wheaton) is a 2011 16.3h bay mare.

If ever a horse was aptly named it is Miz Sweet! Her trainer raves about what a sweet and kind mare she is, and Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds got to see her sweetness for themselves as she begged for treats and enjoyed their pats and scratches. They report she is also very pretty and that the photos do not do her justice, so you need to come see this big, sound, sweetheart for yourself.

She had one win and in 42 career starts has found that second win elusive. Her trainer says she is sound and her legs are clean. She had raced just a couple days before her photo session and showed no ill effects, jogging prettily and politely with balanced movement. The trainer also said Miz Sweet is easy to work with and very nice to ride.

View Miz Sweet on Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds.

Photo via CANTER Michigan.

Frequent Reward (Good Reward – Mon Queen, by Maria’s Mon) is a 2009 15.3-hand mare.

She is described as a good jumper and a great eventing prospect who has the ability to do it all! She jumps courses and has a good, easy lead change. Likes to work. Sweet, green, inconsistent but willing. Has been a successful lesson horse but wants her own person to bond with and prefers an experienced rider as she’s sensitive. A mild cribber when stalled. Located in Plymouth, Michigan.

View Frequent Reward on CANTER Michigan.

We loved watching Erika Nesler rocking around the American Eventing Championships Beginner Novice cross country course on Corgi Hill Benson, a 6-year-old Norwegian Fjord (MVF Erlend—Corgi Hill Brynja) owned by Lisa Samuel. The pair turned in a double-clear round and turned a few heads in the process as well, no doubt!

“Love this Fjord pony!,” Erika wrote on her Facebook page yesterday. “Corgi Hill Benson, owned by Lisa Samuel, has introduced me to a whole knew groups of eventers and horse enthusiasts … they’re our Fjord Family. Whether it’s lead line lessons, teaching youngsters to jump, trotting his mother around USDF tests or ‘galloping’ XC this little pony has touched many, many hearts. Love him! And I’m super thankful for the family he’s introduced us to.”

The Chronicle of the Horse had a great write-up on their AEC adventure — you can check it out here.

Photo via Lisa Samuel’s Facebook page.

Erika is competing in the Doug and Cindy Howe’s Right Above It in the Plantation Field CIC2* this weekend, and we wish them the best!

Go Eventing.

Nobody came close to catching Bettina Hoya and Seigneur Medicott in the 2016 Blenheim Palace CCI3*. The pair won by a landslide, leading from start to finish and besting Andrew Nicholson’s second-place score by over 10 points. Their victory marked the first time a German rider has ever won the class.

Check out this video for a play-by-play of their stellar performance. Go Bettina, and Go Eventing!

Blenheim Links: Website, Final Scores, EN’s Coverage, Instagram

Let’s kick off this week’s edition of Weekly OTTB Wishlist with another off-track Thoroughbred success story from the 2016 American Eventing Championships.

Congrats to Deborah and Maxfli! And much love to Second Stride, an organization dedicated to giving Thoroughbreds who have given their all on the track a fighting chance for a new career. Second Stride’s next big fundraiser takes place this Thursday, Sept. 15. via Give Local Louisville — learn more by visiting the Second Stride website here.

And now, for this week’s batch of want-need-have-to-have OTTBs we handpicked three athletic looking bay mares we’d love to see inside a cross country start box!

Photo via CANTER Illinois.

Summer Lassie (Summer Bird – Lemon Pop Lassie, by Lemon Drop Kid) is the chillest filly on the backside.

This 3-year-old is a no-fuss, no-muss kinda gal. Very sweet and gentle. Measured with a stick at a hair under 16 hands, which means she’ll grow to be an inch or two taller. So kind and sweet, great eye and overall demeanor. She has six career starts and shows no promise as a racehorse. She does however look to be an excellent sport horse prospect! Located in Illinois.

View Summer Lassie on CANTER Illinois.

Photo via New Vocations.

Moon Princess (Songandaprayer – Moonlit Lake, by Salt Lake) is a 2012 16.1/2 hand mare who has the look of the Unbridled line and inherited the sweet, kind personality as well.

Moon has a good work ethic and tries to do what is asked, but is still body tight from racing, loosening up a bit as she works. So she will benefit from long and low flat work to allow her to stretch her top line and in time lateral work to gain the flexibility she is lacking right now. She has started to grasp the concept in just a few short rides, showing she has a good brain.

With that said she would be suitable for an upper intermediate rider working with a trainer or an advanced rider who can formulate a good game plan for her training, keeping an eye on her fitness level, knowing when to increase her workload as she can handle it. Moon retired from racing due to lack of competitiveness and has no vices. It is hard not to give her the attention she asks for because she is so happy to receive it and is an easy mare to handle and be around. Located in Maryville, Ohio.

View Moon Princess on New Vocations.

Photo via Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds.

Morning Headache (Repent – Salty Ruckus, by Salt Lake) is a 2011 16.1-hand dappled beauty. She wins FLF volunteers’ prize for the prettiest horse they have photographed this year: solid bodied beautiful conformation, dazzling dapples, an elegant and pretty head, great shoulder, top line and hind end!

She is ready to find a new career because even though she has been in the money in 14 of her 20 starts, this year she has not been as successful on the track. She is described as sound, quiet, well behaved and a real sweetheart. Located in Farmington, New York.

View Morning Headache on Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds.

Will Coleman and Tight Lines. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Will Coleman and Tight Lines, a 9-year-old French-bred gelding owned by the Conair Syndicate, impressed us all when they collected top honors in the CIC3* division at Richland Park a couple weekends back (you can check out EN’s complete coverage of the event here).

Thanks to our friends at RNS Video Media, we can rewatch the cross country trip that helped secure their win.

Go Eventing.

“There’s nothing like running cross-country on an OTTB,” said Maya Black of Mowgli, with whom she won the Preliminary Horse division at the 2016 American Eventing Championships over the weekend.

Maya thinks a lot of the 6-year-old Thoroughbred (Our New Recruit x Night Siren), who steadily moved up the 55-competitor scoreboard from eighth after dressage on a score of 29.2 to the top spot thanks to double-clear jumping rounds. We can’t wait to watch this pair’s career develop, and after his big AEC victory Maya had an exciting announcement about his future:

Congrats, Maya and Mowgli. Here are three more up-for-grabs OTTBs we think could have a bright future in the sport of eventing:

Photo courtesy of Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center.

Rockin Boogie (Rockport Harbor – Only Seventeen, by Exploit) is a 16.1-hand 2009 gelding.

A winner of $159,000 on the track, “Elvis” has a lot to offer in a second career. In the free jumping pen, he has dazzled his trainers with his innate athleticism. In the ring, he shows his work ethic. He is full of try even though the requests made of him are new. He’s eye catching too, with natural self carriage and a rear end that bodes well for jumping. Located in Lexington, Kentucky.

View Rockin Boogie on Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center.

Photo via Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds.

Pioneer of Wifi (Pioneerof the Nile – Apparrella, by Aptitude) is a 2012 17-hand Thoroughbred gelding.

This boy is HUGE, and he still has a lot of filling out to do! He is by the same sire as American Pharoah — Pioneer of the Nile — so here is your chance to own a close relative of the great Triple Crown winner. Wifi is looking for a new career because with only one win in 19 starts, his trainer would like to see him move to a new discipline where he can excel. The trainer says he is very sound, good to ride, and good to handle, with no vices. His legs are clean. Once Wifi finishes growing into his huge frame, fills out, and gets remuscled, his connections at Finger Lakes Finest think he will be an outstanding sport horse prospect. Everyone says they want a big, young, sound gelding with a good temperament, and the chrome and pedigree on this guy are plus factors!

View Pioneer of Wifi on Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds.

Photo via CANTER Minnesota.

Santa Fe Dancer (Dance Master – Santa Fe Queen, by Exchange Rate) is a 2009 16.1-hand Thoroughbred gelding with chrome!

These photos don’t quite show how lovable and playful “Finn” is mostly because photos involve standing still! CANTER took him off the track after three races in 2012 (he won all of $340) and removed a knee chip which he was never actually lame on. They did the rehab and then adopted him out. Unfortunately life got in the way for his new owner; he was never officially restarted and was just given back to CANTER due to unexpected job loss. He is now 7 year old but has the training of a 3 year old. That being said he is the biggest trier and is always trying to please you no matter what you ask of him, and his trainers say he is becoming more and more confident by the day.

This guy really just wants a job and his very own person to bond and play with. He will need someone with experience to bring him along as he is not completely balanced in all gaits yet, but could eventually become a nice youth horse after some good training. Finn is sound for any discipline and has great feet, though his caretakers do recommend shoes in the summer due to harder ground and rocks, but has been mostly barefoot since his track life. He has a good jump in him and could easily make an eventer or hunter jumper or dressage horse. Located in Prior Lake, Minnesota.

View Santa Fe Dancer on CANTER Minnesota.