Last week was a long and achingly sad one, marked by an enormous blow to human justice and the completely unnecessary death of a man who didn’t need to die.
“This is a website about eventing,” some of you might comment, “so stick to writing about horses.”
I hear that, and I politely decline. We all owe it to our communities, to one another, and to ourselves to speak up, but also to know when to stay quiet and listen. That’s something I’m working on, and all of us at Eventing Nation hope we can build a safe space for our fellow equestrians — or aspiring equestrians — from every and any background and of any colour. This is our space, and there’s room for everyone at our table — even if that means we take our conversations wider than the bubble of the eventing industry. We hope you’ll join us, learn with us, and be a positive part of the movement.
National Holiday: It’s National Olive Day. Do you love them? Do you hate them? They were the one food I couldn’t stomach for 24 years, and then I went on a holiday to the Greek islands and forced olives into my face until I liked them and that, folks, is your Monday-anecdote-that-no-one-asked-for-brought-to-you-by-Fleeceworks.
Your Monday reading list:
It feels hard to think about anything else in the wake of the tragic and senseless death of George Floyd. This might not be equestrian-related reading, but it’s human-related reading, and that’s important. I consider myself a staunch and outspoken anti-racist, but I’m also a white woman living in a privileged industry, and that means that I don’t always get it right. I appreciated this piece, which explains how we can all help in terrible situations like this one — and how those of us in a place of privilege can become better allies to our fellow human beings. [People Are Protesting the Unjust Death of George Floyd]
Eventing is a remarkably gender-progressive sport, but where racial diversity is concerned, it’s still lacking. Shaquilla Blake shares her experiences as a Black adult amateur rider in this world where few look like her, and we’re glad for her presence at the table. [We Need More Diversity in Equestrian Sport]
This New York Times piece is a 2018 vintage, but a great read and beautifully photographed. In it, you’ll get to know the Compton Cowboys — a group of men in one of California’s most notorious neighbourhoods who are turning preconceptions on their heads and challenging the idea of a whitewashed wild west. [For the Compton Cowboys, Horseback Riding is a Legacy, and Protection]
If you’re anything like me, you’re obsessed with Refinery29’s Money Diaries series. This one has a horsey angle — it follows the income and outgoings of a Montana-based rancher for the week as she juggles long days in the saddle with tackling her 20s. [A Week in Montana on a $28,000 Salary]
It might be a bit of wishful thinking, but the Young Horse World Championships at Le Lion d’Angers are still on the calendar for this year. US Eventing takes a closer look at all the horses eligible for the Holekamp/Turner grant to contest the CCI3*-L for seven-year-olds. Prepare yourself for Allison Springer’s Connemara. [Race to Le Lion: Riders share their excitement]
Monday video from Fleeceworks: Your passport to Le Lion
Has the above got your hopes up for some French eventing action this autumn? Yeah, same. Might as well while away the long hours of your Monday with a full recap of all the 2018 cross-country action, then…!
