London all decked out for the upcoming Olympics!
The HEAT is coming, so get your swimmin’ trunks ready! More like, get your alarms ready to wake up at 4 AM so you can ride before it gets too hot (9 AM). Seriously though folks, be careful with the summer heat, and remember to be watchful of the effect it has on your horses. Stay hydrated, stay cool, and if possible, dunk your head in a bucket of water between horses.
Upcoming Events:
South Farm HT (OH): [Website] [Entry Status]
Groton House HT (MA): [Website] [Entry Status]
Horse Park of New Jersey HT (NJ): [Website] [Entry Status]
Barbury Horse Trials (UK): [Website] [LIVE SCORES]
The rest of your links!
In the biggest news of the day, the FEI has decided against enforcing a 21 point penalty for breaking frangible pins in international competitions. The decision was made after British Eventing submitted a formal appeal in May of this year. BE chief executive Mike Etherington-Smith said: “We’re completely against [penalties] for breaking a pin, as we were for elimination. You cannot penalize people for something they cannot control—we have data to support the fact that pins weaken.” [FEI Changes Frangible Pin Rule]
This weekend’s Barbury Castle will have lots of competitors out to prove their salt in the final run before the Olympics, but none more than the Kiwis. Barbury is officially the last competition for riders from New Zealand to prove themselves to the NZ eventing selectors, and they will be out to change history, hopefully the first Kiwi victory at the event. [Last Shot for NZ Eventers]
YEH entries are rising, and thus far the program is expanding by the day. Five of the twelve competitions have already happened this year, with another coming this weekend at South Farm HT. A new part of the YEH Series has emerged, the New Event Horse (NEH), which is for horses who are inexperienced but older than the age of five. Bring on the OTTB’s. [YEH Summer Update]
Ah the 90’s…..plaid shirts, Kurt Cobain, Hey Arnold! (anybody?), but most importantly, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where Karen and David, Bruce Sr and Jill Henneberg won team Silver in Eventing. The 90’s were a time when ASTM helmets were finally required at competition. The Chronicle continues with it’s 75th Anniversary flashbacks, this time with the 1990’s. [Reminisce on Old Times]
The 4th of July is coming up, which usually means I spend the 3rd of July warning local hoodlums that if I catch them lighting firecrackers anywhere near my horses I will personally bring my dressage whip and chase them down with a fury like they would only know from their mothers. On a similar note, Smartpak gives us some clues on how to soothe your nervous pooch during the festivities. [4th of July or End of The World: Does Your Dog Know The Difference?]
A little bit more fun with Rafalca Romney and the uproar that has developed in the non-horsey realm. [Horse People Sure Can Be Touchy]
Best of Blogs: Bettina Eistel, armless Paralympic Dressage rider
Hot on HN: Top Ten Perks of Dating/Marrying a Horse Girl
Thanks to Claire Tyner and Walnut Trace Farm students for this little gem:
