Okay, okay – maybe it’s a little shameless to lead today’s News & Notes with my own photos – but I’ve just woken up from the first big sleep after another crazy week at CHIO Aachen (and let me tell you, the post Aachen big sleep really does hit different), and I’m still getting butterflies when I think about yesterday’s Grand Prix. Even just getting the chance to watch one of the biggest showjumping classes in the world would already be a huge privilege, and Aachen is everyone’s favourite competition because of all that rare exposure we get to the very best of the rest of the disciplines. But getting to shoot it from inside the ring; to hear the roars and whistles and gasps of over 40,000 enthralled spectators; to feel the ground shake beneath you as horse and rider rollback around the fringes of the photographers’ pen; to hold your breath and squeeze the shutter and will your subjects on to a win is something that really is beyond special. I’ve loved Marcus Ehning’s Stargold for a while – and he became a firm favourite this February, when I was called in to run the media centre at Qatar’s CHI Al Shaqab 5*, and watched him buck and frolic his way to the Grand Prix win here – and watching him take this title yesterday was a real top-ten moment. Marcus is a serious legend of our sport, and even he couldn’t contain his tears after he realised he’d pulled it off by less than a second – and that love for the horse, and the gratitude for a partnership, is what this is all about. I can’t wait to go rewatch every class, frankly.
National Holiday: It’s National Stay Out of the Sun Day. If you can’t do that – duh, horses are an outside job – make sure you slather on the factor 50 and consider treating yourself to some protective riding gear. I like this detachable sun visor for helmets, which means you don’t have to invest in one of those expensive wide-brimmed hats, and these sun shirts all have built in UPF protection that’ll help keep you safe.
US Weekend Action:
Twin Rivers Summer H.T. (Paso Robles, CA): Website, Results
Inavale Farm H.T. (Philomath, OR): Website, Results
Summer Coconino H.T. I (Flagstaff, AZ): Website, Results
Chattahoochee Hills + Area III Championships (Fairburn, GA): Website
Global Weekend Coverage:
CHIO Aachen: [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]
Your Monday Reading List:
There are few things I love as much as a seriously epic save. This one, expertly delivered by British event rider Chloe Pearson en route to a placing in an Intermediate class, is one of the best I’ve seen this year. Check it out – could you stay on board?
Let’s talk ration balancers. Balancers are one of those enigmatic feeding products that promise the world, but that few horse people seem to really understand the true benefits or purpose of. Can they really revolutionise your horse’s meals, or are they a snake oil money pit? Here, a nutritionist explains the functionality.
Horse Network is back at it again with a bit of barn-bitchiness satire. I am here for it.
And finally, the world’s oldest Olympic equestrian medallist has passed away at the age of 102. Eventer Dr Wilhelm Büsing won two medals at the 1952 Olympics, and then returned to his initial career plan as an equine veterinarian, as well as serving as chef de mission for the German team for a number of championships. He was also heavily involved in the German breeding industry, and completed his doctorate with a thesis in Oldenburg breeding. Read all about him here.
Morning Viewing:
I can’t stop thinking about that Marcus + Stargold jump-off round, so let’s relive it together, shall we?
