Friday News & Notes from FLAIR Nasal Strips

At the end of the first day of dressage at Rolex Kentucky, friends of Roger Haller gathered to celebrate his life and acknowledge the immeasurable impact he had on the sport of eventing throughout his many years of involvement. There were several speakers, who told stories of Roger’s contributions as a rider, judge, designer, committee member, how serious he was about the sport, how he could always be counted on for a joke, and how he loved his wife, Ann. There were many tears and laughs alike. Rolex Press Chief Marty Bauman (pictured) told the large audience who gathered to celebrate Roger, that instead of focusing on the fact he is not with us at Rolex this year, we should remember how lucky we all were to have had him in our lives. 

#RK3DE: WebsiteScheduleEntry List & Ride TimesLive StreamEN’s CoverageEN’s Rolex GuideEN Tailgate InfoTwitterInstagram

U.S. Weekend Preview:

University of New Hampshire Spring H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Spring H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

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

News From Around the Globe:

Want to win an exclusive clinic with Tamie Smith at your farm? If you’re attending Rolex, there is still time to enter our Inaugural Rolex Scavenger Hunt, presented by Fleeceworks. Please review the rules before entering, and you can enter by emailing your team members and Instagram usernames to [email protected]. Sign up soon — you want to have enough time to complete the tasks! [Fleeceworks Scavenger Hunt]

Who has inspired you throughout your riding career? We’re giving you a chance to recognize the important people in your life with this year’s Tredstep Ireland Pay It Forward challenge. Nominate a friend on Instagram for your chance to win a Solo Pro Show Coat for both you and your nominee! We’ve extended our entry deadline to Sunday, so get those nominations in! [Tredstep Pay It Forward Challenge]

Be sure to follow us on Instagram this weekend (and always, really) for chances to win great prizes from our sponsors each day. We’ll be posting a new daily Instagram challenge each morning, so keep an eye out for your chance to enter. [EN on Instagram]

In shocking news, Carl Hester’s Olympic mount Uthiopia has been slated to be auctioned with no reserve as part of bankruptcy proceedings. Partnered with Uti for 11 years now, this move is distressing for Carl and he is already seeking backers to help him assure that the horse is able to stay in his yard. To be sold alongside jewelry and luxury cars at a bank auction is simply disrespectful to the 15 year old athlete, and everyone is worried for his welfare as the Auction draws near. [Uthiopia to Auction]

Leah Lang-Gluscic rides at 9:48 this morning, which meant yesterday she got to feast her eyes on the cross country course. She’s video blogging for Chronicle of the Horse this weekend, and made one just for all y’all on the course and how she feels AP will tackle it come Saturday. [One of Many Rolex Course Walks]

Boyd Martin’s Steady Eddie makes his 4* debut at Rolex this weekend, but what’s his story? Originally bred in New Zealand but sold to Australia, the gelding raced a total of 36 times under the name Big Jet, garnering only 6 wins with earnings of about $30,000. Boyd saw him on a trip home as the horse was out in a field, and liked the looks of the scruffy boy, and hopes this weekend will prove him right in that foresight! [Retired Aussie Racehorse at Rolex]

Speaking of which, Boyd blogs from Rolex Day One! He’s quite pleased with both Eddie and Shammie as they put in good performances in the square box, and shares his thoughts on the road ahead. [Boyd & Silva Martin Blog]

Former Eventer turned Show Jumper Scott Keach made history this week by getting named to the Australian Show Jumping team for Rio with his horse Fedor. Scott has broken the record for the longest time between Olympic rounds, as he represented Australia in Eventing 28 years ago in Seoul. Now he switched disciplines and is back at the top level and ready to get competitive in Rio. [Scott Keach Makes History]

Waredaca’s Classic Three-Day Event and Fall Horse Trials is excited to announce the creation of ‘3-2-1 GO! End Breast Cancer’ in an effort to raise funds that will directly support research efforts at the Johns Hopkins Breast Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Waredaca is proud to be hosting an event in which funds will be benefiting a wonderful cause that provides innovative, integrated, high quality, and cost-effective care to those suffering from cancer. Waredaca’s first fundraising event will occur on Thursday, May 19th at the Waredaca Brewing Company where $1 of every pint sold plus 100% of the tips and money raised from the silent auction from this event will be donated directly to the Johns Hopkins Breast Center. The event will feature a silent auction with items such as: a lesson with Olympian, Stephen Bradley; a clinic entry at Waredaca with U.S. Eventing Team Coach, David O’Connor; an Under Armor prize pack complete with items from their new line, and much more! [Waredaca Classic Three Day]

Guess what? Now is the PERFECT time to buy your desired winter riding gear because SALES at SmartPak are the best. I know it seems bizarre to be buying a winter coat and some badass boots right now as we are approaching summer, but let’s be real, you want them anyway, and you’ll definitely use them in just a few short months. Or, if you’re in Vermont, you can use them now. SmartPak has amazing seasonal clothing sales, and you can get insane markdowns, so check it out for sure. [SmartPak Winter Riding Gear]

Go Shammie!

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