Eventers are planners by nature. Most horse people are, I guess. We plan out our show season then our gallops then jump and dressage schools, days off etc. We plan the shoeing and vet schedules, nutrition schedules, etc. It’s SO easy to get wrapped up wishing you had more money, more lessons, the best equipment, trainers, facilities, the list goes on. Always take a break and slap yourself in the face a deep breath. Look around you, and then smile. Don’t sweat the small stuff unless it’s a 25 lb tiny pug named Stink. He might bite you. 🙂 So, Eventing Nation, what always makes you happy?
Even Boyd says “it can always be worse”. He would know. Boyd made it into a Sports Illustrated article! It might not be the cover of the swimsuit issue, but it’s still pretty cool. The article recaps the year Boyd and his team had in 2011. It’s well written and still worth a read. [SI]
Colleen Rutledge has set her sights on Badminton 2012. There is a holiday clinic in Maryland December 26, 27, 29, 30 being held as a fundraiser for the trip. We wish her the best of luck! [CREventing]
Phillip Dutton won PRO Rider of the year award by amassing the most points in the PRO tour Series. His partner, Nina and Tim Gardner’s William Penn, will take home top horse honors. Buck Davidson was the rider runner up, and Loughan Glen was the horse runner up. Congrats to all! [PRO]
The Wellington Equestrian Preservation Alliance is hard at work trying to stop a high rise development and mall from being built in the heart of Wellington. There is also plans for an RV park and fairgrounds that the developer, Mark Bellissimo, compares to “Rockefeller Center”. Alliance members say “there is room to grow”, but they need to maintain the unique Wellington feel that’s been carefully planned and developed for the last 40 years. [Horsetalk]
Stockland Lovell, a very popular and superbly run event in the UK is closing its doors after 21 years of hosting events. This is due to the Environment Agency taking a large proportion of land, but the cross country course will remain unharmed. Mr. Martin Hill, who spoke for the Stockland Lovell team said they had a great 21 years and another event in the future isn’t out of possibility. [Eventing Worldwide]
This one’s a bit NSFW. The ladies of Leeds University Equestrian Society have started a fundraiser. They are selling calendars of themselves and not much else. Let’s just say, we’ve seen more (less?) on Eventing Nation. It looks like the team bonded well, and one of the girls remarked, “There will never be an awkward moment between any of us again”. The calendars are being sold to raise funds for the Riding for the Disabled Association. They’ve raised over £1000. There are more calendars available if you’d like to show your support. [Trot On]
Steffen Peters has acquired quite a nice Grand Prix ride. One of his sponsors, Akiko Yamazaki, bought Legolas, a 9 year old Westfalian gelding with an “amazing piaffe and passage”. There’s a video on the right hand side of the page, and his piaffe and passage are quite amazing. [EuroDressage]
It takes the will to win. Seems like GBR has it, but does the US?
Go eventing.
