Classic Eventing Nation

Where Are They Now? Neville Bardos Still Has That Get Up and Go!

This article is brought to you with support from Zoetis.

Social media is a great way to keep up with the horses we loved to follow in their hey-day. Neville Bardos is a name most everyday eventing fans know well: the cheeky former racehorse purchased off the sale truck for $850 back in Australia would go on to be Boyd Martin’s partner for the 2010 World Equestrian Games, where they finished 10th individually. Neville also made a remarkable recovery after being rescued from the devastating fire at Windurra in 2011, returning to not only complete but also finish in the top 10 at Burghley that same year.

Neville Bardos training at Windurra

Going to have to agree with Silva Martin on this one…glad to see Nev is feeling like himself after all these years 😂

Posted by Boyd Martin on Monday, January 31, 2022

Neville is now 23, but as you can see in the video above he still has plenty of pep in that step! He’s spent his days teaching the next generation of riders at the Martins’ home facility, and we’re happy to see him thriving in his well-deserved retirement.

Want to walk down memory lane with Neville Bardos? Here are a few links to send you down the rabbit hole:

NBC News: Neville Bardos Cheats Death and Jockeys for a Position on U.S. Olympic Team
USEA: Horse Heros – Neville Bardos
New York Times: Fire Survivor and a Possible Olympian – A Horse Named Neville (paywall)

A long career (and, more importantly, a long and healthy life) is always a goal for our horses. Ask your veterinarian about Zoetis’ line-up of Regenerative Medicine Devices that can help support your horse for a long-lasting and comfortable career and life.

MARS Bromont Rising U25 Grant Program Returns for 2022 Competitions

Quebec’s Melissa Boutin (CAN) and Threes are Wild at the Bromont CCI-S in 2021. Photo by Cealy Teatly.

The MARS Bromont Rising U25 scholarship program is pleased to announce that following two years of pandemic related cancellations of the program, grants will be available once again for riders aged 25 and under.

Bromont organizer Sue Ockendon has had a long-time dream of offering financial support “to recognize and support the youth in the sport; the future of Eventing in North America.”

Bromont Horse Trials located in Quebec, Canada, with its European charm has been a popular destination for North American competitors and provides a unique opportunity for athletes heading to their first international competition.

2019 was the first year the Mars Bromont Rising U25 scholarship program was offered and was the brainchild of organizer Sue Ockendon and the late Steve Blauner.

Steve had a vision of supporting young eventers from the US and Canada who were not yet under the radar of national U25 training programs. Riders competing at any level of FEI competition offered are eligible to apply.

MARS Bromont Rising U25 grants of up to $2,500 will be awarded to ten successful applicants to help assist with travel expenses and entry fees for the MARS Bromont CCI happening June 8-12, 2022. In addition, classroom presentations will be made by course designers, High Performance riders and a dressage test analysis by a 5* FEI judge. Optional coaching during the three-day event is also available.

The MARS Bromont Rising Program is delighted to announce that the same financial assistance will be given to 10 athletes traveling to Galway Downs International to be held November 2-6 in 2022. This is the first time the grant has been offered to a West coast competition and organizer, Robert Kellerhouse could not be more delighted, stating “we are honored to be the West Coast host for the MARS Bromont Rising U25 grants. This program will inspire it’s recipients to do more as it shines a light on those up-and-coming athletes and provides a lift in advancing their abilities in our sport”.

Grant application forms and hotel information can be found on the respective websites;

MARS Bromont CCI
June 8-12, 2022
CCI4*-L, CCI4*-S, CCI3*-L, CCI2*-L
https://bromontcci.com

Galway Downs International 3-day Event
November 2-6, 2022
CCI4*L, CCI3*L, CCI2*L
https://galwaydowns.net/

For more information contact Program Director Peter Gray [email protected].

Wednesday News & Notes from Haygain

Not quite the “tiger” we envisioned this Lunar New Year… Photo by Tilly Berendt.

I always chuckle at the end of a calendar year when I send my sister in Korea a “Happy New Year!” text because I know what I’ll get in response: “Silly, that’s not the new year!”

I was 30 before I really learned about the existence of Lunar New Year, which coincides with the moon’s phases and this year began yesterday, February 1. My 30th year was the year I met my birth mother, and I’ve subsequently met my biological sister in person in the years since that first trip back to Korea. Through this extended family, I’ve been able to learn more about Lunar New Year and its celebrations around the world. For example, Koreans celebrate Seollal, a festival commemorating the Lunar New Year and treated similarly to how we would on Christmas or another family-centric holiday. In this sense, the turning of the Gregorian calendar to January 1 doesn’t mean quite as much to some — the “real” new year begins when the moon begins a new cycle of 12 phases, meaning the date of Lunar New Year changes year to year. In 2023, the Lunar New Year will begin on January 22.

2022 brings the year of the tiger. What does that mean, exactly? Each year is represented by one of the 12 animals depicted in the Chinese Zodiac and, as you might have imagined already, people born within these years often are characterized by traits of that year’s animal. Tigers, for example, are characterized as “natural leaders who are both brave and thrill-seeking, often craving attention”, among other things.

What does this have to do with eventing, you might ask? Well, nothing, specifically. Except for the fact that you may share barns with an Asian rider who celebrates this holiday as religiously as you might celebrate Christmas, and now you have some additional knowledge from which to grow a conversation!

Black History Bit of the Day:

Each day in February, we’re celebrating Black voices in honor of Black History Month. We look forward to sharing what we’re learning about Black equestrians right here in News & Notes each morning.

When you hear the term “cowboy”, many call to mind the image of a wizened, white man in a tall cowboy hat. Stereotypical as this has become, it’s not the only accurate depiction of the horsemen who roamed the country before us. Smithsonian Magazine tackles the lesser-known history of Black cowboys in this deep-dive.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Galway Downs Kickoff H.T. (Temecula, Ca.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Sporting Days Farm February H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Three Lakes Winter I H.T. at Caudle Ranch (Groveland, Fla.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Wednesday News & Reading:

The new Eventing Handbook by the Levels is intended to be every rider and trainer’s best friend, and it’s full of useful information particularly for those wanting to obtain their Instructor Certification Program designation. Click here to read more about the revamped ICP program and the new Handbook.

The EquiRatings Horse Form Index (HFI) was developed in partnership with the FEI and is now available for public use. The HFI considers recent performances (similar to the EQRI index found on your USEA profile) and is intended to help riders assess their readiness and safety before attempting a competition. Horse & Hound has the full report here.

California riders! There are a lot of excellent clinicians headed to Earl and Jen McFall’s Dragonfire Farm this season. Want to ride with Hawley Bennett-Awad, Susie Hutchinson, Phillip Dutton, or Boyd Martin (or, all of the above)? Check out this Instagram post for dates and information on how to sign up.

Did you miss Strides for Equality Equestrians’ presentation at the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in December? Now you can watch the full session online here — and it’s well worth a rewatch for perspective on DEI work in the industry and ways to help grow our sport through greater representation. Click here to watch the video.

Amateur 2* eventer Courtenay Tuxhorn is a lifelong athlete — but it hasn’t always been horses that have caught her competitive fancy. In fact, she’s a former triathlete, and she sat down with Chris Stafford for the Women in Sports podcast — you can listen to the episode here.

Watch This on H&C+:

Tuesday Video: A Few Fresh Fernhills

There are now over 200 horses registered with the FEI with the Fernhill Sport Horses prefix. Carol Gee, an experienced Irish eventer with an eye for matching horse and rider, founded the brand back in 2005, catering to all budgets and levels.

A few of my favorite names: Fernhill Check Your Pocket, Fernhill Disco, Fernhill Feel Happy, Fernhill Footsie, Fernhill Friend Request, Fernhill Gump, Fernhill Mr. Cool, Fernhill Playboy, Fernhill Tastic … I could go on and on.

Most of all, I love watching Fernhills making a name for themselves stateside. Here are a few recently spotted in Florida! Many thanks to our good friend, The Horse Pesterer, for most of these videos.

Go eventing.

10 Unique Airbnbs For Your Next Ocala-Area Event

I’m a big fan of Airbnb and Vrbo. I’ve booked accommodations through these sites everywhere from Rebecca Farm in Montana to Red Hills in Florida, LuhmĂźhlen in Germany to LRK3DE in Kentucky, Badminton in England to Boekelo in The Netherlands, and many many more. Not only can they be cheaper than a hotel (always a plus for EN, on our quest to cover every important event in the world with a budget of literally zero dollars), they often have character and help create memories in a way that cookie cutter chain hotels just can’t.

Do I have distinct memories of all of the Motel 6s I’ve stayed in at events since 1993? No. But do I remember that Airbnb tipi at a bison farm I slept in at Rebecca Farm one year? Yes, and I will forever.

Bison aren’t as nice as you think they are.

Anyway, in the spirit of horsey travel adventure, we’re launching a new series on Airbnbs to check out the next time you’re eventing in a well-trafficked horsey area. Since it’s winter, let’s start with Ocala, Florida (next up, Aiken, SC!). Some of these are located within comfy driving distance of eventing venues; others, you might want to tack on as a reward for winning and/or just-not-falling-off at your event. Whatever is your definition of success, there is no judgement here.

I’ve tried to list these in cheapest-to-fanciest order,  because that is who I am as a person. Rates vacillate according to date and demand so check the links. And, enjoy!

Photo via Airbnb.

Beautiful Farmhouse Tiny Home

I’m 5’2″ on a big hair day so maybe it’s just me, but I love Airbnb tiny homes! This one in Citra is in a quiet RV park that includes a community fire pit and free morning coffee. For all you Tiger King fans out there (?), there’s an exotic zoo down the road or you can head over to the springs and enjoy a relaxing, post-horse trial day in the water. More neat-looking tiny houses are available through Homestead Tiny Homes in Williston — here’s a sample Airbnb listing.

Photo via Airbnb.

New Retro style camper with loads of fun built in

How cute is this retro-style RV? The little kitchen and dining area looks like a ’50s diner, there’s a Queen Murphy bed, and the setting is in the owner’s beautiful food and flower laden yard with plenty of privacy and a tranquil view of farmland across the street. But don’t get the wrong idea — there are plenty of modern amenities.

Photo via Airbnb.

Equus Inn

OK, so even though it’s listed on Airbnb this is actually a vintage boutique hotel. The Equus Inn features 152 recently remodeled rooms, all featuring Ocala’s rich equestrian history. Amenities include a self-serve bar with wine and craft beers, a heated swimming pool, a gym, and fast wifi. And, of course, ALL the horsey decor!

Photo via Airbnb.

Blueberry Downs Farm Stay Glamping

This unique country getaway is surrounded by birds singing, farm animals (chickens! cows! and, while not novel, still fun, horses!) and a romantic train whistle in the distance. The roomy Bell Yurt-style team includes a plush king-size bed, AC/heat, lighting and a charming stone campfire pit.

Photo via Airbnb.

Enchanted Oaks Farm Experience (Main house)

This would be a great fit for a small group or family, as it can sleep up to six guests. Enchanted Oaks Farm has all the animals: horses, of course, plus cows, goats and even a zebra and adorable wallaby! Other accommodations are available on the property, including teepees.

Photo via Airbnb.

LakeHouse Villa, Golf 4Springs & Manatees Nearby

Canal-view villa with a jacuzzi tub? If intense training or a long weekend horse trial have you feeling … stiff, make this your mecca. This two-bedroom listing is near Crystal Springs, a shimmering blue winter watering hole for manatees.

Photo via Airbnb.

Entire residential home hosted by Ray

Down for a splurge/party? At $1,000 a night (before fees and taxes) you can nab this 10-bedroom, six-bath home with a waterfront backyard that includes use of a pontoon boat, kayaks and paddle boards.

Photo via Airbnb.

Spacious 4 bedroom house 4 miles from WEC

Location is everything for these prime real estate digs. Amenities include an entertainment-minded floor plan, Florida room off the living room with access to outside and grass backyard for dogs to stretch their legs, laundry, four smart televisions, three walk in closets, two Sonos, and a printer station.

Photo via Airbnb.

The Hawthorne – Close to WEC – Spacious Three Bedroom Home

Are we playing a game of go-big-or-go-home now? I think we are! This swank abode is in a swank gated community with lots of places to chill including a swank club, swank pool and swank spa. The hosts have other properties available as well.

Photo via Airbnb.

Summer Dates Open! Luxury Equestrian Ranch

This four-bedroom, four-bath estate may be booked up during snowbird season but maybe you can book it if you plan ahead. Located at the the Royal Gypsy Vanner Ranch (this is Florida, motherland of Gypsy Vanners, after all) This rustic luxury home is centered in the middle of the 80 acre horse farm and there are also 20 stalls available to rent.

Tuesday News & Notes from Legends Horse Feed

 

 

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Well, here it is, folks: the first of February has finally graced us with its presence, and that means you’ve survived all 4,824 days of January, you little rockstar. I’m fond of February, actually – not only is it a petite month, a calendrical hors d’oeuvres, it’s also the final month of preparation before the British eventing season gets underway, and so it’s the point at which all those canter sets and chilly days out to local jumping shows feel doubly valuable. On a non-horsey note, it’s also Black History Month in the US, and while all of us here at EN are firm in our stance that Black history should be celebrated year-round, I do really enjoy deep-diving into all the fascinating content that comes out at this time of year and learning more about the world and culture around me. In honour of that, we’re going to be celebrating the ideas, insights, and contributions of Black equestrians in all of our News & Notes round-ups this month, and with bonus content across the site, too. A huge part of allyship is taking the time to learn and sit with your newfound knowledge, and we can’t wait for you to join us on this ongoing journey!

Events Opening Today: Pine Top Spring H.T., Copper Meadows Eventing, LLC H.T., Ocala Winter II H.T.

Events Closing Today: Stable View Young Event Horse Qualifier, Jumping Branch Farm H.T., Rocking Horse Winter II Advanced H.T., Ram Tap Horse Park H.T.

Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:

Often, when you begin a conversation about the lack of coverage of Black equestrian accomplishments, the pushback you’ll hear is that “there just aren’t that many Black people who ride horses.” But we all know that’s not the case – instead, there’s been a long and complex history of erasure in our sport, and it’s one we need to acknowledge before we can build a better, more equitable industry. Author Katherine Mooney sat down with NPR’s Ailsa Chang to discuss this erasure – listen along or read the transcript to find out what she had to say on the matter.

The busy bees at EquiRatings have released their latest metric, and this one’s all about keeping us safe in the saddle. The Horse Form Index (HFI) has been developed in conjunction with the FEI, gives out grades to riders depending on their record, allowing competitors to look beyond whether they’re qualified for a move-up and instead assess whether they’re ready to safely take that step.

In the aftermath of the Second World War, philosophers and artists waxed lyrical about the state of the human condition. Now, in the aftermath of the golden age that spanned through the 1990s and into the early part of the millennium, folks in our industry use their brainpower to ponder the state of US eventing. What’s it getting wrong? What’s it getting right? And at this undeniable crossroads, which turn should we be taking? One person who’s well-situated to consider these questions is Liz Halliday-Sharp, who split the last two decades of her career between the US and the UK, and now resides full time in the States. Her debut column for Sidelines proposes the notion that none of us are focusing enough on the great things we’ve got going for us in the US eventing scene – and as we sprint headlong into a major period of change and rebuilding, I think there’s something to be said for that viewpoint.

Anxiety is a real you-know-what. So many of my friends have been caught up in its clammy little clutches recently, and it’s an insidious thing that seeps into every part of your life unless you get some robust coping mechanisms in place (and we totally recommend seeking help for this, by the way – no man is an island and all that!). This insightful piece shares one rider’s experience of saddling up despite a misbehaving brain.

The USEA Interscholastic Eventing League is back for its sophomore year – and its calendar of team challenge events has just been released! Get those planners out, gang.

Listen to This: The gang at the USEA Podcast are back for the first time in 2022, and they’ve got lots to discuss, from the upcoming ICP Symposium, the year’s 5* calendar, and new developments in safety science. Listen here!

 

Video Break:

Enjoy a history lesson with this look back at the formation of the iconic Badminton Horse Trials. No, you’ve got butterflies.

Monday Video: Meet Australia’s Littlest Biggest Eventing Fan

 

Wow what a great start to the 2022 Hallmark Farm XC Derby Day Championship Series.

185 horses out the start box!!
And we ran bang on time.
Huge thank you to our starters
Karen Rose @dougle rose
Finishers Bob Shaeffer @lyndle clark

All my amazing jump judges
Peter Cheryl
Jan
Karyna
Nisha Crust
Fran Pagay Doerflinger
Lisa Stuart

@Hayley Douglas
My chief scorer
Janeth Flowers and super groom Kelly Breuls for both riding and stewarding the warm up and keeping the riders to the starters to keep us on time !! Huge job thank you.

Mitchell for manning the gate.

@eventmedical for your support.

@ little cafe for feeding the masses

And of course James for the running commentary all day long!

And we couldn’t do any of this without the support of my super generous and wonderful sponsors.

Your support is nothing short of exceptional.

And to everyone who enters and has a great day.

See you all Feb 20th!!

For now just enjoy sit back and enjoy Clancy😍

@BARASTOC_HORSE
#TEAMBARASTOC
#BETTERONBARASTOC
@KYEQUINERESEARCH
#KENTUCKYEQUINERESEARCH
@KERTARGETEDNUTRITION
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#teamAUS#ausequestrianteam

#equinesofinstagram ##horseblog #horsesogig #horsegram #equestrianism #horsemanship #horselove #equine #horserider #growmyinsta #equestrianlifestyle #workingwithhorses #bestofequines #warmblood #instahorses #pfred #equineblogger #discoverunder5k #explorepage #horseplanet #bestofequines

Posted by Megan Jones on Sunday, January 30, 2022

While those of us up here in the Northern Hemisphere are trudging through the doldrums of winter, event season in Australia is just getting started. Yesterday, Olympian Megan Jones hosted a cross country derby open to all ages and levels at her and husband James Deacon’s Hallmark Farm in South Australia.

The competition attracted one particularly eager and excited young eventer: Clancy and his pony, Oscar. Enjoy this post-ride interview with Clancy, a few pictures, and a quick clip of their round.

May we all greet the week with the energy and excitement that young Clancy brings to his endeavors.

Up Your Care and Management Game with USEGA and ERA This Winter

The winter is an optimal time to spend some time learning before competitions fill the schedule, and the newly-formed US Eventing Grooms Association (USEGA) and Eventing Riders Association have teamed up to offer grooming, care, and management seminars in Ocala. The series began earlier this month with sessions on show jumping course design/walking, clipping, icing, braiding, and other useful topics for eventers (or, really, riders of any background) and continues into February with topics including nutrition and massage therapy.

Below you’ll find the upcoming schedule and locations of the next seminars (note: while these sessions are hosted in Ocala, the organizers will post live streams when possible on social media and video content post-seminar):

These sessions are offered free of charge to attendees — if you’d like to support this program, organizers are encouraging donations to the USEA Foundation for the Liz Cochrane Memorial Grooms Award. You can join this private Facebook group for more updates on this series.

Want to see what’s been discussed so far? Keep scrolling:

Course Design 101 with Chris Barnard: Why design from Advanced down?

Forelock Braiding 101: The legend herself, Max Corcoran, shows us how:

Icing 101: Why ice young horses?

Be sure to follow USEGA on Instagram for more updates.

Weekend Winners: Full Gallop, Rocking Horse

We’ve got a special shout-out this week: you may recall the brilliant pink colors of Charlotte Collier as she swarmed around cross country courses with her longtime Advanced partner, Clifford M. But after Clifford M presented with severe respiratory symptoms last fall, Charlotte thought her heart horse’s career was done for. As it turned out, Clifford M was suffering from a rare and mysterious condition that involved him inhaling his own saliva, essentially drowning himself over time. Surgery was successful in reducing symptoms, but he was still experiencing discomfort.

It was here that Charlotte became connected to Pinpoint Equine, which uses hair follicle analysis to formulate supplementation for each individual horse — and Charlotte says this has made all the difference for “Nils”, who was soon enough back to bucking, squealing, and yes even jumping! We’re thrilled to see Charlotte and Nils make their competition return this weekend at Rocking Horse, where they enjoyed an easy romp around the Training level. Here’s to what we hope will be many more such adventures together! To read Charlotte’s full experience, check out the comments on the post above.

Full Gallop Farm January H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Final Results]

Preliminary: Kristi Foresman and KDR Kingston (64.4)
Training: Jennifer Helgren and Del Rio (29.0)
Novice: Alexander Conrad and Ricky (26.8)
Training/Novice: Erin Pullen and Fibonacci (40.3)
Beginner Novice A: Rosary Murphy and Fiji (24.7)
Beginner Novice B: Erin Pullen and Garvey (25.6)
Starter: Nick Olijslager and Northern Quest Lionheart (26.7)

 

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Rocking Horse Winter I H.T. (Altoona, Fla.): [Final Results]

Intermediate/Preliminary: Jamie McAllister and Army Ranger (39.1)
Open Intermediate A: Leslie Law and Lady Chatterley (27.9)
Open Intermediate B: Buck Davidson and Carlevo (23.9)
Open Intermediate One Day: Natalia Neneman and Electric Lux (33.9)
Open Preliminary: Lucienne Bellissimo and Tremanton (24.3)
Open Preliminary One Day: Sharon White and Cooley Kildaire (29.1)
Preliminary Horse: Leslie Law and Fupsilon Grande Lande (24.4)
Preliminary Rider: Darcy Drury and Ardeo Illusion (27.2)
Jr. Training Rider: Audrey Littlefield and Prince Renan (32.1)
Open Training A: Anna Loschiavo and I’m Special VG (27.1)
Open Training B: Katie Malensek and FE Cheerio (26.0)
Open Training C: Stephanie Jackson and Drumloman Lad (23.3)
Preliminary/Training: Catherine Pournelle and MTF Cooley Knight (35.0)
Sr. Training Rider: Amelia Ebhardt and Fernhill In Motion (28.1)
Training Horse A: Elinor O’Neal and FE Lions Darco (31.4)
Training Horse B: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Sky Watch (25.7)
Jr. Novice Rider: Molly McLaughlin and Fernhill Sinatra (25.8)
Novice Horse A: Chelsea Canedy and Little Einstein (29.7)
Novice Horse B: Alex Green Kerby and Lanikai (26.7)
Open Novice A: Mike Huber and Fernhill Liverpool (22.8)
Open Novice B: Delaney Emerson and Namiro Star (30.0)
Sr. Novice Rider: Alyssa Cairo and Paddington (33.7)
Beginner Novice Rider A: River Rogers and Redfield Jim (25.6)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Maura Tierney and Ballytarsna Dunne Waiting (24.1)
Open Beginner Novice: Angela Bowles and Sybil AB (31.6)

 

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Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

 

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Huge congratulations to Irish eventer Camilla Speirs and her partner, show jumper Ethen Ahearne, who welcomed their first child, baby Tilly (great name), into the world on January 19th. We’re not sure which discipline baby Tilly will end up choosing when she’s older, but we’re ready and waiting to coax her over to the fun side. One of us! One of us!

National Holiday: It’s National Hot Chocolate Day. Bonus points if you add a dash of amaretto.

US Weekend Action:

Rocking Horse Winter I H.T. (Altoona, Fl.): [Website] [Results]

Full Gallop Farm January H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Results]

Your Monday Reading List:

A new leading rider prize from Animalintex, awarded to the rider who accrues the most points throughout the event, will be among the prize pot on offer at this spring’s Thoresby International Horse Trials. The new British fixture, which got a trial run as the temporary home of the British Young Horse Championships last season, replaces the much-loved international season opener at Belton House, which closed its doors to eventing after the 2019 renewal of the event.

Speaking of Britain and its horses, an official update has been made to the Highway Code, which should make a major difference for riders hacking on roads. Though common sense has always dictated a ‘pass wide and slow’ approach to cars and horses, the new rule adds in some specificity – cars will need to leave a 2 meter gap and pass at no more than 10mph. With four horse deaths already recorded on British roads in 2022, this modification is widely welcomed.

Half my friends are in sunny Ocala at the moment (and, okay, I do feel a little bit smug that the state has seen record low temps this month!), while the rest of us are here just trying to survive the worst of the winter weather. I’ll be real with you: I’m feeling a wee bit better about the gale blowing outside while I sit here with a steaming cuppa, reading about a serious set of winter woes.

Mind you, if you’re having a similar winter to the one depicted in the above blog, you might have been considering heating your horses’ water troughs. But how can you do so safely, without risking a rogue electrical current? Here’s everything you need to know.

Finally, if your coping mechanism is simply a bit of escapism, join dressage rider Kasey Cannon as she embarks on the trip of a lifetime to train in Germany. Though I must tell you that I was in Germany just last week, and it’s not warm there, either.

The FutureTrack Follow:

 

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Okay, okay, I know you’re all already following British team gold medallist Laura Collett. But in case you missed her recent hunting excursions with youngster Moonlight Charmer, they’re so worth revisiting – and her write-up in Horse&Hound is super stuff, too. (By the by, if you’re hankering after some H&H in the US, you can find it on the Readly app – you’re welcome!)

Morning Viewing:

How great is it to see Will Coleman and Off The Record back in the ring for the first time since that incredible Aachen win in September? They popped around the 1.35m at Split Rock like it ain’t no thang – what a way to start the year!