Can’t get enough of this dopey horse!
This time last year, Charlottesville was covered in snow for weeks already. Mercifully, this winter seems to be going much better, with reasonable temperatures and mostly unfrozen ground! I remember last year when I returned to Virginia to prepare for the Carolina International CIC3* (at the end of March) and it snowed so much in the week leading up to it that I was relegated to trotting Nyls on a section of dirt road about 50 feet long that didn’t have ice. Up, down, up, down, up, down. Yesterday, Leo was napping in the sun without a blanket! He was asleep when I went to take his blanket off, and when I attempted to pull it out from under him, he groaned, refused to move, and decided to make funny faces at me. I mean, really. What is his life?!
U.S. Weekend Preview:
Rocking Horse Winter I H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]
Full Gallop Farm January H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]
Fresno County Horse Park C.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Times]
News From Around The Globe:
Congratulations to Cayleigh Winkelhake, the winner of this week’s Fab Freebie from Bette & Court! Cayleigh will receive a Bette & Court Devona jacket, which we know she is going to love. Congratulations, Cayleigh! [Fab Freebie: Bette & Court]
U.S. dressage rider Adrienne Lyle has announced the retirement of her longtime partner, Wizard. As well as being the 2008 Brentina Cup champions, the pair represented the U.S. at the 2012 London Olympic Games and the 2014 Normandy World Equestrian Games. Wizard is 16, and unfortunately he recently came in from turnout with a suspensory strain, and rather than push him for rehab, his owners and Adrienne made the decision to retire him happily after a successful career. [Wizard Retires]
The USEA’s “Evaluation of the Young Event Horse Prospect” Symposium is FREE for USEA members. Taking place in Ocala, Florida February 16-18, this educational event is ideal for anyone interested in breeding, handling, buying, riding and evaluating young event horses. A full schedule will be available the week before the seminar to those who pre-register. [Schedule of Topics] [Panelists] [Sign Up]
In quite possibly the most hilarious clinic report I’ve ever read, Wendy Angel reports from a recent Doug Payne clinic. She introduces her “12-year-old Percheron/TB cross with the TB hiding, he’s always on the forehand, I’m a weenie, we need more from behind, OH AND SOMETIMES HE DOESN’T TURN.” Ollie, as he is fondly known, has some naughty habits that Doug helped her with, and Wendy has the best sense of humor about it all. [In Which Doug Payne Kicks Ollie’s Ass]
I’m not sure I’m brave enough to go hunting in Ireland, but I’d love to go hunting in England. One day! Recently, Pytchley Hunt did something awesome: they had a “grey horses only” day! 72 horses were in attendance, all different shades of grey, and all immaculately turned out! I would have loved to see that. I also wonder if the town ran out of purple shampoo that week….Horse & Hound was there to take pictures. [Greys Only Hunt]
Custom leather bracelets have got to be the most classic horse girl accessory. What I didn’t realize is that you can now get them padded with different colors underneath, to match your cross country colors! I remember being super jealous of the girls that had them when I was younger, and it’s no different now. They are classy, awesome, and you can wear them everywhere. [SmartPak Padded Leather Bracelets]
Hot On Horse Nation: Horse Trader Tricks: Don’t Fall Victim
Check out these horses from Storybrook Horse Farm having a blast galloping after the hay truck in their giant beautiful field:
