Kristi Nunnink’s Thursday News and Notes from Devoucoux

Who doesn’t love a clean bridle

Good morning EN! The big news of today is that Kristi Nunnink was found not liable in the case of Mia Eriksson’s death at Galway Downs CCI** in November 2006.  For those familiar with the case the resolution has been a long time in the making. The ruling comes as a relief to Nunnink, who has been battling the issue in court since 2008.  According to the Chronicle the judge threw out the case without hearing Nunnink’s side of the testimony on the basis of lack of evidence. This is obviously a tragic situation for all parties involved, and hopefully some form of closure will be possible now that it is out of the courts. The Chronicle has more quotations from Nunnink on their website. [COTH]

Did you know there was an event yesterday?! Yes, on a Wednesday- the Full Gallop February Intermediate Horse Trials. Sara Cousins took home the blue in the Intermediate and Michael Pollard won two of the three preliminary divisions but gave Will Faudree a chance to share the limelight in Preliminary C. Today was a day for the pros in the winner’s circle but amateur and training competitor Annika Lipsky made it into the Aiken Standard after her successful first outing of the year. [Final Scores] [Aiken Standard]

As you all know by now, Horse Nation launched yesterday! I’ve been hearing about this mysterious creation for such a long time I can’t quite believe my eyes. Now you get to read the pearls of wisdom that flow from Wylie’s pen (fingers?) on a daily basis. Or those that come from Amanda Ronan, HN contribute and bona fide Texan-beach-going-foxhunter. Leave it to Wylie to find a story that I can summarize by putting those three words in the same sentence… [Horse Nation]

The qualified Para-Equestrian teams have been announced for London; the US is qualified to have a team of four riders represent the stars and stripes. Great Britain, Germany, Denmark (the top three teams at WEG), and Canada (the top ranking team not automatically qualified by the WEGs) will have an additional individual berth for a total of five riders. 23 countries will be competing: 4 with with a team and individual, 11 with a four person team, 3 with two riders, and 5 with a single spot. Ireland will be competing for the first time. The Para-Equestrian competition will run from August 20-September 4 in Greenwich Park. [Horsetalk]

More Olympic news: Headley Britannia is back in action and aiming for a three star this. Lucinda Fredericks has been very cautious with the mare for the past two years due to her small size and short stride- factors that make her work twice as hard on course. Fredericks hopes to gain her Olympic qualification at Fontainebleau or Vairano. At 19 “Brit” will be a long shot, but her wins at the trifecta of four stars will probably help. Fredericks says that this will be the mare’s last year of competition with her, but hopes to hand the reins over for her daughter’s first event season next year. [Horse & Country]

The USEA has approved a policy to allow Novice and Beginner Novice Three-Day points to count towards AEC qualifications and year end awards. They have also created a new Novice dressage test that will use the standard arena. Want to attend at event? GMHA (Vermont), the Indiana Eventing Association, and the Heart of the Carolinas (South Carolina) all host the competitions. The USEA release has links to the new policies and a draft of the dressage test. [USEA]

The USET has a successful fundraiser in Wellington on January 27- so successful in fact that the Chronicle reports they raised over $1 million from the benefit dinner and auction. The event, “An English Country Evening,” was held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center and attracted over 500 guests. [COTH]
 
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And finally here’s a video of Rocking Horse OI-A winners Buck and Absolute Liberty putting in a very nice show jump round- Check out Thehorsepesterer’s YouTube profile for many more Rocking Horse and Ocala clips. 

That’s all for today EN, happy Thursday!