Back to school, but make it equestrian. Photo by Danielle Mauldin.
Alright August, I’m ready to stop waking up at five in the morning in order to have the energy to ride my barn of extremely energetic thoroughbreds. I don’t know how many of you are in Virginia, or have experienced a Virginia summer, but there is something completely and utterly soul sucking about the combination of heat and humidity. If you like sweating for ten hours straight and feeling a sense of panic about dehydration for months on end, I recommend Virginia. It’s beautiful here, but you’ll regret your life choices every summer.
U.S. Weekend Preview
Fair Hill International H.T. (Elkton, MD): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
GMHA Festival of Eventing August H.T. (South Woodstock, VT): [Website] [Entry Status] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
Otter Creek Summer H.T. (Wheeler, WI): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]
WindRidge Farm Summer H.T. (Mooresboro, NC): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Scoring]
Major International Events
NAF Five Star Hartpury International H.T. (Gloucestershire, England): [Website] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream]
Le Grand Complet International H.T. (Le Pin au Haras, France): [Website] [Timing & Scoring]
News From Around the Globe:
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to compete in a traditional long format Three-Day Event? Can you imagine the thrill of three additional phases leading into cross-country? In the early 2000s, eventing began to shift away from long format events and toward modern short-format competitions. Luckily, the USEA Classic Series competitions preserve eventing’s history and allow riders at the Beginner Novice through Preliminary levels to take on the challenge of traditional long format events. Get some top tips on incorporating a long-format event into your schedule from Dorothy Crowell. [Dorothy Crowell’s Tips on Long-Format Competitions]
We love a good comeback story, and successfully rehabbing from a severed tendon certainly counts. Victoria Gulliksen helped the Norwegian team win the 2019 Longines FEI Nations Cup in Greece with her horse Equine America Papa Roach. On the flight back to Norway, a piece of metal came loose on the plane and severed a tendon on Papi’s back leg. The vets said he was finished, and he would never return to competition. With patience and an incredible rehab however, Papi has returned to the top level. [From Severed Tendon to World Championships]
Trying to go see the Maryland Five Star this year? You’re in luck! Enter this contest now to win a trip for two to the Maryland 5 Star, October 13-16, 2022. One Grand Prize Winner will win an all expenses paid trip including airfare, accommodations, and VIP All Access Passes to the 5 Star! [Practical Horseman Contest]
Making your championship debut by leading the standings isn’t a bad way to start. Dominating proceedings at the top of the leaderboard after two days of competition at the Agria FEI World Showjumping Championships in Herning, Denmark, is French rider Julien Epaillard, riding the 10-year-old mare Caracole De La Roque. This fiery mare, whom his rider describes as slightly out of control at times, needs a special routine to manage her quirky nature, but there is no doubting one thing – she has bucketloads of ability and a fierce will to win. [Meet the Show Jumping Championship Leaders]
