Caitlin Silliman & Remington at the DOC Training Sessions (awesome photo by the amazing Meghan O'Donoghue)
Happy Friday, and welcome to February! February is great for a lot of reasons, such as the promise of spring weather, Pine Top Advanced, and of course my birthday. All of these things being equally important and exciting, I can safely say that I’m glad to be out of January. I’ve got my very first event of 2013 coming up this Wednesday, and I’m a combination of nerves, anticipation, excitement, and apprehension. There is always the chance that my old partner, Nyls, will throw something fun into the mix that I haven’t experienced in our 7 years together, but there is also the chance that this will be the year he decides to grow up and act like an adult at our first show. We shall see!
Events This Weekend:
Galway Downs [Website] [Entry Status/Times]
Poplar Place [Website] [Ride Times]
Sporting Days [Website] [Ride Times]
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News From Around the Globe:
Eventing Radio Show of the week is out! Joe Meyer and Nate Chambers host this time, chatting with about Rebecca Farm and horse ownership and then head south to speak with Joe Watkins of Longwood Farm in Ocala, FL. Talk about a fun bunch of people! [Eventing Radio Show]
New Zealand has announced its new high performance eventing squads, on the back of increased funding following the country’s bronze medal performance at London 2012. The selectors specified that these pairs reflect only those who stand a decent chance of bringing home an individual medal in Rio 2016. Obviously on the list is Andrew Nicholson, who has six horses. Jonathan Paget and Mark Todd each have three horses, while Caroline Powell, Clarke Johnstone and Lucy Jackson each have two horses, and Jonelle Richards has one. [NZ Announces Rio 2016 Long List]
Sinead Halpin has been travelling so much it makes my head spin. She’s been to Kentucky, Alabama, Texas, North Carolina and a slightly chilly Massachusetts teaching clinics, Colorado for the USEA Convention, Houston to get ICP Certified, and Honduras for a small family vacation. She’s also been brave enough to stay in New Jersey for January (god bless) and deal with the sub-30 weather, but now she is heading down to Florida with the rest of the snow-birds, and she’s excited about what the new year is going to bring. [Road Weary, But Ready for More]
Do you ride well at home and in lessons, but then melt down in public with atmosphere? USEA contributer Daniel Stewart suggests approaching your performance anxiety in four ways: Desensitization, Reframing, Targeting and creating a Motivating Motto. Want to learn more? Check it out here. [Daniel Stewart Tip of the Month]
Two British event riders are due to serve six and 24 weeks suspension from competition for “bringing the sport into disrepute”. Matthew Heath and Matthew Wright will pay their dues for a fight last year at Houghton Horse Trials, and following their admissions of assault. [What In The World?]
Best of Blogs: Kristin Carpenter discovers new realms of possibility with her OTTB, Lizzie
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No need to watch the Super Bowl now, you’ve already found the best commercial (plus get to name a baby Clydesdale!):
http://youtu.be/o2prAccclXs
