At Scotland’s Blair Castle International, top-level sport wasn’t the only thing on the agenda (actually, very far from it – you should see how many rings and competitions they’ve got on the go up there!). Beyond all the high-flying action was a great initiative to help promote equestrian sport in Scotland, and part of their efforts included a course walk with friend of EN, Jamaican eventer Lydia Heywood. Lydia’s an outspoken advocate for diversity in the sport, which we love, and she’s also a business-minded, savvy woman who’s always looking to bring the sport to larger audiences. We love seeing her being put in the position of ambassador for eventing.
National Holiday: It’s Honey Boo Boo’s birthday. Apparently these days she’s at college, studying nursing. The more you know.
U.S. Weekend Action:
MARS Great Meadow International (The Plains, VA): [Website] [Results] [EN’s Coverage]
Shepherd Ranch Pony Club H.T. II (Santa Ynez, CA) [Website] [Results]
Town Hill Farm H.T. (Lakeville, CT) [Website] [Results]
U.K. Weekend Results:
Defender Blair Castle International (Pitlochry, Perthshire): [Results]
Scottish Grassroots Eventing Festival at Blair Castle (Pitlochry, Perthshire): [Results]
Shelford Manor (Shelford, Notts.): [Results]
Wellington International (Hook, Hants.): [Results]
Your Monday Reading List:
I can think of few riders more deserving of a broadsheet long read than Nicola Wilson. And that’s not just because of the extraordinary drive she’s shown following her spinal injury last year — though that’s certainly the focal point of this piece in The Times, which sees her tackle the tough topic with tetraplegic journalist Melanie Reid, who also sustained her injuries while riding. The two women in conversation make for a real powerhouse read, and while it’s behind a paywall, it’s well worth signing up for a free trial or a short-term membership just for this one. [Life after a spinal injury]
Here’s a novel one: a donkey with a pacemaker. After a number of fainting incidents, the two-year-old donkey was diagnosed with bradycardia — a too-slow heartbeat. In what is the first instance of this kind of use of a pacemaker in a donkey, vets were delighted to report that seventeen months later, all is well with the donk and there have been no repeat occurrences of his fainting spells. [It’s all quite impressive, actually]
When it comes to feeding, there are a few rules we all know to be true. Feed to a consistent schedule, for one thing; be careful feeding alfalfa, for another. But what if these aren’t actually the truisms we think they are? Get ready for some feed-room myth-busting with EQUUS. [How’s your nutrition knowledge?]
Turns out, we’re all actually vets. Kind of. Okay, maybe not so much — but being a horse owner definitely does necessitate learning how to spot, diagnose, and treat a number of little ailments, most of which are gross and most of which give us all minor heart attacks every time. This funny piece reminds us all how ridiculous the whole thing sometimes is. [An ode to gazing at snot colours]
Morning Viewing:
Sneak a peak at some Burghley fences with Kitty King:
