Pippa Funnell and Redesigned at Badminton earlier this year, photo taken by Jenni
As Jenni reported earlier, Pippa Funnell had a great weekend at Tattersalls International this weekend, winning the Irish Field CCI3* aboard Billy Beware and finishing third in the same division on Billy Landretti. Bill Levett, who recently won the Saumur CCI3* with Shannondale Titan, came in second with Improvise. According to Horsetalk, a record number of 21,895 spectators came to watch the event this weekend, which is the biggest in Ireland. Congrats to all the riders who competed this weekend. [Tattersalls International Results] [Horsetalk Recap]
Weekend Results:
Genesee Valley Riding and Driving Club HT
As was reported last week, PETA has called for eventing to end after the death of King Artus at a German horse trials last month. Germany campaign manager Jennifer Kirchner said in a statement that “horses are sensitive animals. Rushing for time on dangerous obstacles is animal cruelty. Again and again it causes serious accidents to horse and rider.” She also called on “animal lovers” to stop attending horse trials and three day events. [Horsetalk]
In honor of International Helmet Awareness Day, over 200 retailers worldwide will offer discounts on new helmets on June 22. Riders4Helmets, the groups that sponsors the awareness day, will also be streaming “Get Educated” webinars via their website on June 22. Viewers will be able to ask an expert panel questions in real time. Panel participants will be announced later this month. [Horsetalk]
New research conducted at Louisiana’s McNeese State University confirms that lavender aromatherapy eases stress in horses.The study tested the ability of lavender to reduce the heart and respiratory rates of horses after “induced acute stress,” which was produced by blowing an air horn. After the air horn was blown by the horse, the experimental group was placed in an environment of humidified air infused with lavender oil essence. The study demonstrated that 15 minutes of aromatherapy treatment reduced the heart rate of the horses in the experimental group compared to those in the control group. [Horsetalk]
Looking for ways to beat the bugs this summer? SmartPak has you covered (literally, if you are talking about fly sheets). From fly spray to fly predators, they have everything you might need to help keep your horses as fly free as possible. [SmartPak Blog]
Leaving you with a video of Andreas Dibowski’s dressage ride aboard FRH Butts Avedon at Strzegom Horse Trials, which took place over the weekend.
