It’s time to kick off the final month of 2022 with some free stuff — everyone’s favorite! This year, we’ve partnered with a whole slew of brands for these 12 (or more!) giveaways. There will be plenty you won’t want to miss out on, so remember to check back on Eventing Nation (and also, there are giveaways happening daily over on Horse Nation!) each day through December 12.
The best use of a non-horsey boyfriend? Luring the feral mare back in after a year off, using coercion tactics and a selection box of root vegetables.
I’m a real fair weather rider these days, and after years working as a groom in all sorts of rotten conditions, I’m no longer feeling bad about it. But I must say, after nearly a year of my horse being out in a field with a soft tissue injury, I’m really enjoying even the moochiest of rides in the pouring rain. Twenty minutes of walking? Sign me up, baby! I can’t feel my toes, but I’m having a nice time.
National Holiday: It’s International Ninja Day, because of course it is.
U.S. Weekend Action:
Rocking Horse December H.T. (Altoona, FL): [Website] [Results]
Sporting Days Farm H.T. IV (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Results]
Your Monday Reading List:
We’re all very keen to fight the good fight for grooms and keep working to improve conditions for them. But once in a while, it’s really heartening to catch up with someone in the role who’s having a truly nice time and being treated well by their employer. That’s certainly the case for Abbie Salter, who works for British eventer Jodie Amos and has nearly a decade as a groom under her belt. Even know, she’s happy to say it’s the best job in the world. [Let’s make this a universal experience]
From turmeric curing all that ails your horse to an increasing line-up of products that claim they’ll [zap/laser/magnetize] the pain away, there’s a heck of a lot being sold to us that might be just a touch questionable. Though there’s anecdotal evidence to support just about anything (my own trainer has had great success with those titanium masks, and who actually knows how those are meant to work!), there’s also a fair amount of scepticism out there. And delightful, silly satire — my favourite thing of them all. [This rug will make your horse live forever!Naaaaht]
Qatar, who are currently busy hosting a contentious FIFA World Cup, are now putting their hat in the ring for the 2036 Olympics. Though many keen football fans are opting to boycott the World Cup in response to human rights violations in the country, Qatar believes it’s been such a roaring success so far that the next obvious step is taking on the biggest sporting stage of them all. [Qatar to bid for Olympic hosting role]
Using the winter months to put some time into a green bean? You’ll probably spend as much time reviewing training books, articles, and videos in the evenings as you do actually working with your horse – and so it’s always particularly helpful when someone collates a few good resources together. [Dive in and get those sessions planned]
Morning Viewing:
Catch up with vlogger and amateur eventer Meg Elphick as she takes a lesson with showjumper Dan Delsart:
Holiday gift shopping season has arrived, and with it comes a new twist on our annual Gift Guide! We’re proud to present the Nation Media Holiday Gift Guide, featuring gift ideas for all types of equestrians on your list.
We’ve partnered with lots of amazing brands for this year’s interactive Gift Guide, and inside its pages you’ll find more info, special deals, and suggestions from our editorial team on what to pick up this season. Each page has embedded links, so you can shop directly from the Guide instead of opening a new window!
It’s that time of year when horses are..ahem..feeling themselves, what with the drops in temperature and anticipation of coming back from their off-season holidays. The scene is no different in most top riders’ yards, as French World Championships rider Gaspard Maksud demonstrates with this hilarious video shared on his Facebook page this week.
“I love this horse to bit and I promise he’s a lovely horse but he can feel the cold winter 🥶 coming!” Gaspard captioned the video. “And my grooms aren’t very supportive as you’ll hear with the sound on!”
This video is worth a watch with the sound on, as Gaspard always has a peanut gallery assembled in his arena to provide commentary (or, in this case, relieved giggles that said peanut gallery isn’t the one sat on the horse). Enjoy the laughs, and as for you Gaspard, enjoy the ride!
It’s time to kick off the final month of 2022 with some free stuff — everyone’s favorite! This year, we’ve partnered with a whole slew of brands for these 12 (or more!) giveaways. There will be plenty you won’t want to miss out on, so remember to check back on Eventing Nation (and also, there are giveaways happening daily over on Horse Nation!) each day through December 12.
Today (December 4), we’re partnering with Mare Modern Goods to give one lucky winner a $100 gift certificate to shop to their heart’s delight! All of the most sassy, quirky, and stylish accessories await at maregoods.com.
It’s time to kick off the final month of 2022 with some free stuff — everyone’s favorite! This year, we’ve partnered with a whole slew of brands for these 12 (or more!) giveaways. There will be plenty you won’t want to miss out on, so remember to check back on Eventing Nation (and also, there are giveaways happening daily over on Horse Nation!) each day through December 12.
Ker-A-Form is a scientifically formulated coat and hoof supplement that is named after one of the tissues it was developed to nourish “keratin.” Keratin is the fibrous protein that forms the main structural component of hair and hooves. Without healthy keratin, hooves and hair grow slowly and become dull, dry, and brittle. The combination of nutrients found in Ker-A-Form support keratin as well as multiple other components that make up healthy skin, hair, and hooves.
Summer Games Electrolyte is a unique blend of both electrolytes and trace minerals specifically formulated to replenish critical electrolytes in the proper ratios. Summer Games supports healthy electrolyte balance so horses stay hydrated, perform at optimal levels, and recover faster after exercise or in stressful situations.
Joint Armor’s complete formula provides your horse with the nutrients necessary to support both healthy joint cartilage and synovial fluid.
Spooky, tense, edgy, unfocused. If these words describe your horse, a calming supplement could make training easier and riding more fun. Trouble Free is scientifically formulated to support proper nervous system function and help your horse maintain a more confident, focused, and relaxed disposition.
Congratulations to Caitlin R. — you’re our winner!
‘Tis the season to deck the stalls! Or, if you’re feeling extra festive and are blessed with a tolerant mount, why not deck the whole horse? That’s what riders in the Maryland Horse Trials Donation Cross Country Derby did yesterday. We love to see it, so tag your festive eventing photos with #GoEventing and we might share it in an upcoming News & Notes or #ICYMI eNewsletter.
An artist’s interpretation of the Opening Ceremony flotilla. Image courtesy of Paris 2024/IOC.
Hoping to attend the Paris Olympics in 2024? Your first chance has finally come to snap up some tickets to the biggest competition of the next four years, with the opening of the first draw opportunity.
This first draw for tickets will be for those spectators who want to see multiple sessions of sport: successful applicants will get the chance to buy tickets for three sessions, with all sports and seating tiers available for purchase in what’s been dubbed a ‘Make Your Games’ pack. Nearly 10 million tickets will be made available for purchase across the various sales windows, and 750 total sessions of sport will take place throughout the Games, as well as the exciting Opening Ceremony, which will be held along the River Seine, and the Closing Ceremony.
The equestrian sports at Paris 2024 will take place at the Palace of Versailles.
The draw, which opened on December 1st, will remain in situ until January 31, giving you ample opportunity to get your name on the list for a shot at tickets for the Paris Games. Those who are accepted from the draw will be granted a 48-hour window within which to purchase tickets for their sessions of choice during February and March — though another draw will open in March to give those who miss out in round one another shot at getting into the room where it happens come 2024, with individual tickets available during the second draw. If you want to guarantee your tickets, and you’ve got deep pockets to do so, there are also some very cool hospitality packages available.
Those wishing to put their name in the hat will need to do so via the official Olympic ticketing site. No other website has permission to sell Olympic tickets, so beware if you see a deal that looks too good to be true — it almost certainly is. This method of sale might make it slightly harder to get your hands on your tickets, but it does stop scalpers from snapping up all the seats and gouging prices, which anyone who’s tried to buy Taylor Swift concert tickets lately will be all too familiar with.
To learn more about the Make Your Games packs, click here — or to go ahead and sign up for the draw, click here. Bonne chance!
EN’s pre-Paris coverage is brought to you with support from Zoetis Equine.
It’s time to kick off the final month of 2022 with some free stuff — everyone’s favorite! This year, we’ve partnered with a whole slew of brands for these 12 (or more!) giveaways. There will be plenty you won’t want to miss out on, so remember to check back on Eventing Nation (and also, there are giveaways happening daily over on Horse Nation!) each day through December 12.
Some of the upcoming prizes may or may not be visible in this photo. No, they are not Woods Baughman and/or C’est la Vie 135 — sorry 🙁 . Photo by Abby Powell.
I have to admit, I’ve taken a little peek at the future prizes for our 12 Days of Giveaways and, spoiler alert, (OK not actually — Chinch might fire me if I spoil it all) there are some seriously sweet ones coming up. But maybe — just maybe, wink, wink — there are some enviable World Equestrian Brands products on the docket. Make sure you’re checking out each days’ post to enter!
Also having a holiday themed giveaway are our friends at Horse and Rider Books. They’re celebrating the 12 Books of Christmas by posting a video each day through December 12th featuring one of their best-selling books. Pay attention to each one to unlock a secret code good for an entry to win all 12 featured books! Check our their day 1 post for details.
