Friday News and Notes from FLAIR Nasal Strips

Congratulations to Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch and Josh Jenkins on their engagement! Photo via Facebook Congratulations to Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch and Josh Jenkins on their engagement! Photo via Facebook

This weekend is jam packed with eventing excitement, and with both Luhmühlen and Great Meadows live streaming their events, it’s a sure bet many of us won’t be dragged away from our computers for anything other than our own horses. It’s weekends like this one that definitely motivate me in my own riding and get me thinking about how all the hard work eventually pays off. The riders we’ll see competing this weekend have put in a lot of hours and made a lot of sacrifices to be where they are, and they did because they love the horses and the journey they’re taking with them. That’s what makes our sport so special!

Luhmühlen Links: Website, Live Scores, Entry List, Schedule, FEI TV, EN’s CoverageTwitter, Instagram

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Great Vista H.T. [Website]

Great Meadows CIC [Website] [Entry Status]

Surefire H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status]

Lost Hounds Pony Club H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Bucks County Horse Park H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Fox River Valley PC H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status]

Corona del Sol H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Shepherd Ranch SYVPC H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Midsouth PC H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Golden Spike H.T.  [Entry Status/Ride Times]

News and Notes:

The USEA announced last night that the AEC will be hosted at the Tryon International Equestrian Center and the Colorado Horse Park over the next three years. These are both fabulous venues with all the amenities an eventer could ever want, and the fact that one of the three years will be hosted in the West meets the longtime requests of West Coast riders to have the AEC closer to home. The fact that the TIEC is practically in my backyard, well, that’s a bonus! [USEA Selects TIEC and Colorado Horse Park for AEC]

The FEI has appointed Göran Akerström (SWE) as the new FEI Veterinary Director. Göran was Chief Veterinary Officer at the Swedish Trotting Association for five years and was Head of the Equine Welfare department for the past two years. He holds a masters degree in veterinary science and was once veterinary inspector for the Swedish Board of Agriculture and the Swedish Animal Welfare Agency where he specialized in equine sports, welfare, disease control and horse transportation. He will start his position September 1, 2015. [FEI Appoints New Veterinary Director]

Megan Kepferle has become Assistant Trainer and Head Rider at Sinead Halpin Eventing. For the last five years, Megan has been Head Groom and Manager at SHE and will now be available for lessons on and off the property as well as coaching at local shows. Since Sinead is so often on the road as a high performance rider, this new arrangement will allow SHE to provide a full-service year-round program. As part of SHE’s interest to expand their program for eventing newbies and riders with goals unrelated to high performance, they will be offering Intro to Eventing Workshops and short-term day camps this summer. [Intro to Eventing Workshop Form]

A yellow card and verbal warning were issued by the ground jury at Bromont. Peter Barry had an unfortunate lapse in concentration while riding on the CCI2* course, and he accidentally jumped a three-star fence, incurring a technical elimination and a yellow card. Kelli Temple’s mare grabbed a heel early on course and it was irritated during the final horse inspection. The horse was spun and, at the discretion of the ground jury, Kelli received a verbal warning. [Ground Jury Awards Yellow Card and Verbal Warning]

Instead of complaining, make suggestions. That’s what German eventing team trainer Christopher Bartle is doing in response to the International Olympic Committee’s 2020 Agenda and the FEI’s proposals to overhaul eventing. Christopher suggests a two-phase cross country course, and it’s not the first time he’s brought it up. He says his idea is one of many and he’s looking to stimulate discussion. [Christopher Bartle Wades into 2020 Agenda Eventing Debate]

Congratulations to Audra, the winner of this week’s Fab Freebie from Kerrits! Audra will receive a stylish Competitors Koat — so she will be ready to ride into the show ring!

Best of the blogs: The Story of Little Orphan Andee

Too cute for words:

Some of our yearlings having a lazy Sunday morning, can you hear the snores

Posted by Irish National Stud on Sunday, June 7, 2015