Tiny human or giant horse? Photo courtesy of Access Copperline Equestrian
Honestly y’all, TGIF for real. This week started out with my 21-year-old “retired” 4* horse jumping out of his field at 4 am and running around my house, followed by my dog impaling himself on a large sharp stick the next day and requiring emergency surgery, then the night after that my miniature donkey broke out of his field and ran amok at 1 am. So, when I say I’m glad this week is over, I mean it, for real. Please, all animals stay in the appropriate enclosures from now on.
U.S. Weekend Preview
Red Hills International CCI4*-S (Tallahassee, Fl): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [Volunteer]
Full Gallop Farm March H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]
Meadowcreek Park Spring Social Event (Kosse, Tx.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]
SAzEA Spring H.T. (Tucson, Az.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]
Southern Pines H.T. (Raeford, Nc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]
News From Around the Globe:
Do you know the difference between rhythm and tempo? The terms “rhythm” and “tempo” describe two totally different things, yet they’re commonly confused. In dressage, it’s very important to understand how they differ, learn how to evaluate your own horse’s rhythm and tempo and correct them when necessary. [Rhythm With Ali Brock]
What’s in a bag? A high-level professional groom’s bag, more specifically. The chief groom plays an important role for all top athletes, offering their assistance just before the rider enters the arena and when they return. Usually, they are carrying a rucksack on their back, containing water for the rider and mints for the horse. But there is so much more in that special rucksack as Ruth Asquith, head girl for European champion Nicola Wilson explains. [Success is in the Bag!]
Competing a barn full of horses in four disciplines is no mean feat. But Doug Payne seems to be handling it, operating his business out of Rougemont, North Carolina, alongside his wife, Jess. He started showing in FEI jumper classes in 2014, and over the years his involvement in the sport has grown to the point where his time now is split almost evenly between eventing and show jumping. He’s also started playing with Grand Prix dressage movements on his 2019 Pan American Games team gold medal-winning mount Starr Witness, and competes Quiberon in hunter derbies alongside his eventing career. [Doug Payne Talks Riding Four Disciplines]
Wondering about whorls? A swirl, or whorl, is a distinctive pattern in the lay of hair on the horse. Though they can be found anywhere on the horse’s body, it is believed that there is a meaning behind the whorl on a horse’s head. No whorl is alike, they are a permanent form of identification for horses because a whorl at birth does not change in location or direction during a horse’s lifetime. [Whorlology 101]
