Gin ‘N Juice just before her flight to Amsterdam
Good morning Eventing Nation! The start of Badminton is now officially less than a week away. Remember that Badminton dressage starts on Friday and the show jumping ends on Monday due to a bank holiday on Monday, which is where everyone parades through the streets throwing money in the air and celebrating how awesome banks are. Make it rain good people of England, make it rain. We’ll be arriving at Rolex in less than 10 days!
–The CCI* started dressage in Ocala on Thursday, which you can read all about in Coren’s post below. Looking ahead, the CIC2* starts dressage today along with all of the horse trials divisions. We’ll keep you posted on the Ocala three-day throughout the weekend.
[Florida Ride Times, Live Scores]
–Other USEA events this weekend include St. Johns [Ride Times], and Plantation field which both start on Saturday. We’ll have links to Plantation’s live scores tomorrow morning. Corona del Sol in Texas, Ram Tap [Ride Times], and River Glen [Ride Times] round out the USEA events for the weekend.
–Last week we mentioned that Kristin Schmolze and Cavaldi had sadly withdrawn from Badminton. Kristin explains why in her last USEA blog:
“Joey has a minor strain of a medial splint bone and the ligaments that attach it to the cannon bone. It is a minor injury and he only needs to walk for a few weeks, but it is most certainly not in Joey’s best interest to fly to England this week.” [USEA blog]
–The FEI is revamping its Classics series schedule. Burghley will be the final and they are adding Adelaide to the list, which means that all of the world’s 4*’s will be part of the series. ESJ sent me an email about sources telling him Adelaidewas being added a day before the FEI sent out their press release, so I have to give him credit for having the scoop there. [Horse and Hound]
—Ecogold is having a really fun program at Rolex where they are putting several amateur riders at the center of an Ecogold Rolex experience, where they will go around and do cool stuff with Ecogold riders and then write about their experience on the Ecogold blog. We’ll of course keep you updated on all of the fun that will surely ensue. I have talked to Patricia and they have some great stuff planned although I am sworn to secrecy. [Ecogold blog]
—ERS – The Fork Report and 4* Previews
In some fun mysterious developments, the USEA has sent out a pretty cryptic message on their website announcing that “an opportunity of groundbreaking proportions” will be announced after the Competitors’ Briefing at Rolex. [USEA Website]
–In addition to the 4*, Badminton will also play host to the British Grassroots Championships next week. It’s a great way to give attention to the Grassroots Championship in Britain and it must be an incredible experience for the lower level and younger riders to compete on the Badminton grounds as part of such a big setting. Doing some joke with the Grassroots Championships was actually our second choice for an April FOlls joke, but I think the snapping turtle worked out well. [West Sussex Times]
–I heard from Steph that *she and Ollie have arrived safely at Jackie Green’s farm.
Best of the Blogs: A recipe for world class athletes
–As usual for our Friday news and notes, I’d like to wish a big EN good luck to all of the competitors at events around the world this weekend. Stay safe, have fun, and don’t forget to pat your horse as many times as possible–every pat is worth 3 utils of EN Karma.
That’s all for now. Stay tuned for a busy day around Eventing Nation with more from ESJ, Coren, Hannah Burnett, and the rest of the Team, and I’ll be keeping an eye on the news and checking in as well. As always, wherever you might be, thanks for making Eventing Nation part of your day. Stay classy Eventing Nation.
