I’ve just spent a week working on the press team at Hickstead, where I’m always particularly excited to see eventers infiltrating the dark side. This year’s iconic Hickstead Derby saw a huge number of them lining up, in a class where we ordinarily see one or two, perhaps, every few years. From Germany, we had entries from 2014 eventing World Champ Sandra Auffarth and veteran five-star competitor Kai Rüder; from Britain, we had ex-five-star rider Paul Sims and, of course, the debut of Gemma Steven’s (neé Tattersall) on her brilliant catch ride, Dime Bar. Imagine being this talented in multiple disciplines. Nuts.
National Holiday: It’s National Sarah Day! Take a moment to confuse a Sarah in your life with some hearty congratulations. I recommend Sarah Bullimore, Sarah Clark, or — and this still counts — Sara Kozumplik.
US Weekend Action:
Stable View Summer H.T. (Aiken, South Carolina): [Website] [Results]
Midsouth Pony Club H.T. (Lexington, Kentucky): [Website] [Results]
Fox River Valley Pony Club H.T. (Barrington Hills, Illinois): [Website] [Results]
Woodloch Stable Young Event Horse Qualifier (Hugo, Minnesota): [Website] [Results]
Loudon Hunt Pony Club Summer H.T. (Leesburg, Virginia): [Website] [Results]
Round Top H.T. (Castle Rock, Colorado): [Results]
Valinor Farm H.T. (Plymouth, Massachusetts): [Website] [Results]
Bucks County Horse Park H.T. (Revere, Pennsylvania): [Website] [Results]
Your Monday Reading List:
Speaking of eventers at Hickstead — one of those who had a major win on Saturday was 21-year-old discipline-hopper Ella Dalton, who took the hugely prestigious Speed Derby in her first-ever attempt, riding a freebie horse. It’s a great story, and she’s every bit as smiley and sweet as you’d imagine.
As an incurable Thoroughbred addict, I’m also well-versed in dodgy hooves. One of those old adages that holds true here is that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure (and, y’know, no foot, no horse, and all that) — and so everything I can do to make my horse’s hooves robust and healthy before we start wheeling in the big guns of, say, remedial farriery is always key to the whole equation. The starting point? A diet that promotes growth and strength. Here’s what you need to know.
“You just can’t find the staff these days” — that’s a very common moan in the horse world, but even if you DO find a brilliant employee, are you doing all you can as an employer to keep them? It’s less and less likely these days that a young rider will want to work every day of the week in exchange for the odd lesson and their horse’s board (and that’s a good thing, IMO), and so employers need to take a hard look at what they’re giving back before they bemoan ‘this generation’s’ work ethics. This is an interesting and salient piece.
Morning Viewing:
Join Ellie Fredericks, daughter of the legendary Lucinda, as she tackles her first-ever four-star:
