We’re just a couple of days away from the big reveal of Pau’s entry list — and the only CCI5* of 2020 is already looking seriously sharp. As usual, I’m working away behind the scenes on a bumper form guide, but because it’s the only one I’ve had to do this year, it’s already looking… well… a little bit insane. I can’t wait to dive into the form and fun facts (look, it’s all about those fun facts) for every single combination in this huge and hectic field. Stay tuned, darling readers: Party Pau is a-coming.
National Holiday: It’s both National Neighbour Day and… World Rabies Day. Kill two birds with one stone by hanging out with your most rabid neighbours, I guess.
US Weekend Results:
- Stable View Oktoberfest: Results
- The Event at Isaacks Ranch: Results
- ESDCTA New Jersey HT: Results
- Fleur de Leap HT: Results
- Middleburg HT: Results
- FEH Championships at Loch Moy: Results
UK Weekend Results:
- South of England (2): Results
- Moreton Morrell (2): Results
- Kelsall Hill (2): Results
- Keysoe International (4): Results
- Bricky: Results
- Alnwick Ford (2): Results
The Global Eventing Roundup:
- Poland’s Baborowko ran short-format divisions from two-star to four-star, with Japan’s Yoshi Oiwa taking the CCI4*-S win with Calle 44. This is Yoshi’s second four-star victory of 2020, and his third international win of the year — not bad going in a season that’s barely existed.
- Over in Ireland, Ballindenisk had a busy week hosting the full spectrum of international classes through CCI4*-L. The feature class was taken by Irish team silver medalist Sam Watson, who romped his way to glory aboard Imperial Sky. The pair have been in the top two in their last six international runs and should be taken very seriously as we head into 2021.
Your Monday Reading List:
We know horses process sensory stimuli differently than we do, but how drastic are those differences? Researchers have discovered gaps in knowledge around many of the finer points of equine sensory perception, opening the door for new studies that will fine-tune how we work with our four-legged partners-in-crime. [How horses perceive the world: Researchers identify a surprising knowledge gap]
Ariel Grald has been determinedly making her mark on the eventing over the last few years — but who is the woman behind everyone’s favourite flag GIF? Sidelines goes behind the scenes to get to know the girl, the goals, and the great horse with whom she finished in the top ten at Burghley last year. [Ariel Grald: Eventing to the Top, From Ponies to the Five-Star Level]
“What did you do before you knew better?” That’s the question posed by Abriana Johnson, one half of the Young Black Equestrians podcast and a vocal campaigner for working towards a more inclusive industry for all riders, aspiring or current. In her latest blog, she tackles a tricky topic — that of Adam Hollingsworth’s ride down a Chicago highway, undertaken to raise awareness of violence against children in his community. When the horse pulled up extremely lame, the question arose: can you fight for animal rights in a situation like this without diminishing the broader message behind the ride? Abriana says yes — and she lays her thoughts out with extraordinary clarity here. [Black Women are Less Protected Than the Mares We Ride On]
Bored of wearing the same riding attire as everyone else? Want some inspiration from some of the sport’s most fashionable entities? Here are five riders who don’t play by the sartorial rules — and we are very, very into it. [Five Equestrians Who Really Own Their Look]
Okay, okay, it’s not about horses, but I couldn’t resist the story of a rat who won a medal for bravery. Giant African Pouched Rat Magawa has been awarded the animal equivalent of the George Cross for clearing more than 141,000 square metres of land of undetonated landmines in Cambodia, making him the first-ever rat to win the prize. Honestly, the photoshoot that followed is the stuff of dreams. [Magawa the landmine detection rat given gold medal for bravery]
Fleeceworks Follow:
UK-based photographer Sophie LeFevre produces dreamy, ethereal equestrian portraits that make me fantasise about sunsets and flowing dresses, when in reality I know I’d end up tripping over the hem and wearing a horse sneeze in five minutes flat.
Monday Viewing:
Irish Eventing Times and Horse Sport Ireland teamed up to share this fab video from Ballindenisk’s CCI4*-L over the weekend — the perfect bite-sized round-up of the cross-country action for those who couldn’t be there in person.
