Just a wee table at Great Meadow International. Photo courtesy of Holly Jacks-Smither.
I got the BEST surprise package this week from none other than our own Sally Spickard: a box packed full of horse books. I am an absolute book nerd of the highest degree, and I’ve had to build extra bookshelves in my house just to have locations for them all. Sally sent me autobiographies from several notable riders from different disciplines, a book on stretching your equine athlete, and a certain amazing new book on grid exercises loved by riders from around the nation. I’m so deeply excited to dig into each and every one, I barely have time to actually ride my horses.
U.S. Weekend Preview
MARS Great Meadow International: [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Order of Go] [Scoring] [Live Stream] [Volunteer] [Tickets] [Erin Gilmore Photography] [EN’s Coverage]
Shepherd Ranch Pony Club H.T. (Santa Ynez, CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]
Town Hill Farm H.T. (Lakeville, CT): [Website] [Scoring]
Major International Events
Land Rover Blair Castle International H.T. (Pitlochry, UK): [Website] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring]
Millstreet International H.T. (Cork, Ireland): [Website] [Timing & Scoring]
News From Around the Globe:
The return of Burghley CCI5* is on the horizon! If you’re not pumped already, I guarantee that watching Laura Collett walk the cross country course will get your blood pumping. We haven’t seen anybody compete at Burghley since 2019, which seems like an interminably long time to not see horses leap over the leaf pit as we hold our hearts in our mouths. [Laura Collett Walks Burghley]
Have you ever been told to “drive with your seat bones”? I almost guarantee that you have, as it’s one of the most common things we hear in lessons. Jimmy Wofford thinks that this phrase isn’t really worth the time though, and has a different perspective on what the instructor is trying to communicate, and it’s not about your seat bones. [Lost in Translation]
Twenty-three years ain’t nothin’ for Sagacious HF. Heading into the arena for her Intermediaire II ride in the Adequan/USEF Young Adult Brentina Cup Championship on Wednesday morning at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Championsips, Jordan Lockwood needed a little help from her support crew to lead Sagacious HF into the arena. At 23 years old, the gelding is older than his rider but still just as enthusiastic about his job as when he first trotted down centerline in 2004 at first level. Throughout his career, “Kitty” has taken several riders to Grand Prix, most notably Lauren Sammis, who earned individual silver and team gold at the 2007 Pan American Games at the small tour level. [Still Making Dressage Dreams Come True]
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