A graphic for those of us who don’t want to read a thousand pages of rules.
I’m probably late to the party, seeing as I haven’t competed yet this year, but neck straps! Allowed in dressage! Wheeeeee!!! How many times have I warmed up with a neck strap on a spicy horse and then done the old throw-at-my-poor-groom as I’m trotting towards the test arena. And honestly, it’s not changing the way I ride, but it will save my butt if my horse decides that there is a monster in a corner and takes off doing un-prescribed moves straight out of the Spanish Riding School, so I’m glad they updated this rule.
Oh, also, Happy St Patrick’s Day!!! Make sure to wear green clothing, and not just a grass stain on your pants.
U.S. Weekend Preview
SRF Carolina International CCI and H.T. (Hoke County, NC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times][Volunteer] [Scoring]
Ocala Winter II (Ocala, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Pine Top Spring H.T (Thomson, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Ram Tap National H.T. (Fresno, CA) [Website] [Volunteer] [Entries / Ride Times / Scoring]
News From Around the Globe:
Ayden Schain and Sarah Ross were two young riders that participated in the first ever Emerging Athlete U21 National Camp, but they are joined by more than just their passion for horses. Both enterprising young ladies could easily be pursuing a spot on the national team for skiing, and have been motivated by the pursuit of high-intensity sports from a young age. Adrenaline junkies, amiright? [Adrenaline Seeking Young Riders]
If you love a good thoroughbred story, this one’s for you. A lifetime of loving the thoroughbred breed has brought Jim Phillips a variety of story-worthy experiences, but a rare few top watching his ex-racehorses blast over enormous cross country fences with an Olympian in the irons. [OTTB’s Soaring to New Heights]
Best of Blogs: Saying My Thoroughbred Looks Like A Warmblood Is Not a Compliment
Looking to switch up your horse’s nutrition program for the 2023 eventing season? Dr. Tania Cubitt, Ph.D., chats with USEA podcast host Nicole Brown about all things nutrition related. From determining the appropriate amount of feed to which feed sources are best for your horse, get a crash course in equine nutrition in this week’s edition of the USEA podcast. [Feeding for Success]
Why do donkeys have such big ears? As a donkey owner and lover, I honestly love his super soft long ears most of all. But donkeys, while in the Equus family, aren’t really much like horses physically or mentally. Training one is an entirely weird experience, and interpreting their *lack* of expression has taken me many years to decode. [Donkeys Differ]
Sponsor Corner: Four more days until registration closes for the Stable View April 4* Horse Trial! Don’t miss out on your shot at $60,000 in prize money. Spectators: Mark your calendars! The 4* cross country runs on Saturday April 8th.
