One more jewel in Queen Becky’s crown: Her CIC3* win at Richland Park boosted her to the top of the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Leaderboard with Can’t Fire Me and into the #3 slot with Courageous Comet, with whom she placed second. The final Gold Cup series events of 2012 are the AECs and the Twin Rivers Advanced Horse Trials. [US Eventing]
Speaking of Leaderboards and the Ladies Who Dominate Them: Karin Donckers of Belgium is the 2012 FEI World Cup Eventing champion, clinching the title at Haras du Pin (FRA) over the weekend. Swiss rider Felix Vogg was runner-up in the rankings with Sandra Auffarth of Germany rounding out the top three. [Eventing Worldwide]
Events Opening Today (courtesy of Abby Gibbon): The Maryland H.T. at Loch Moy Farm (MD, A-2); Greenwood Farm Inc. Fall H.T. (TX, A-5); The Ethel Walker School (CT, A-1); Grass Ridge H.T. (AZ, A-10); Radnor Hunt H.T. (PA, A-2); Course Brook Farm Fall Horse Trials (MA, A-1); Pine Top October HT (GA, A-3); Fall Horse Trials at the Ark (NC, A-2); Middle Tennessee Pony Club Horse Trials (TN, A-3).
Events Closing Today: GMHA September Horse Trials (VT, A-1); Seneca Valley Pony Club H.T. (MD, A-2); Dunnabeck H.T. (IL, A-4); Feather Creek H.T. (OK, A-5); Flying Cross Farm H.T. (KY, A-8); Windy Wyoming H.T. (WY, A-9); Coconino H.T. (AZ, A-10).
That Explains a Lot: Colleen Rutledge had an off weekend on Shiraz at Richland and suspected that a reemergence of Lyme Disease, with which he was diagnosed a couple years ago, might be the cause. They have since confirmed that this is, in fact, the case, and he is being treated. Here’s wishing Shiraz a speedy recovery!
Post-Olympic Boom: English riding schools are reporting a surge of interest following Britain’s gold-medal sweep of the Olympic games. In addition to new clients, centers are reporting that the Games have had an invigorating effect on experienced equestrians as well. “…Many are telling us they’ve been inspired and have a renewed enthusiasm for the sport,” said one instructor. [Horse & Hound]
An Ounce of Prevention: Gulf Coast horse owners are being urged to make preparations for the arrival of the strengthening tropical storm Isaac, which is expected to make landfall Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning. Check out these suggestions from the Louisiana State Animal Response Team and the Equine Health Studies Program at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. [Horse Talk NZ]
Found on Facebook: Several eventers pulled near all-nighters Sunday thanks to long drives home from Richland. From Hannah Sue Burnett, “Pulled into the farm around 2:30 last night and after putting the ponies to bed and scrubbing all the Michigan dirt off of myself rolled into bed around 4:30!! Feeling a bit whooped today!”
Best of the Blogs: Clark Montgomery is back in the states and trying “feverishly” to catch up on all he’s missed. “Glen is back on American soil and will be released from quarantine tomorrow morning. I would be lying to say that I was not disappointed to miss this year’s selection to the Olympic Games but I am pleased to have been a part of the selection process. While there, I made it a point to take full advantage of all of the instruction available over the six weeks stay and as a result, Glen is happy and healthy and going better than ever. We have our sights set on the Nations Cup at Boekelo in Holland in mid October and I am looking forward to showcasing all that we have learned.” [Montgomery Equestrian]
Video: Check out the winning entry of the British Eventing Cinema Competition, announced yesterday. [Horse & Country]
