I don’t know about you guys, but I’m coming into this rainy Monday feeling absolutely emptied out by the weekend that was — in a nice way, though! I spent my weekend on site at the World Championships for Six- and Seven-Year-Olds at Le Lion d’Angers (more on this to come soon!), watching the five-star winners of the future make their big-league debuts, and on the other side of the pond, half my brain was very committed to following the MARS Maryland 5 Star. That time difference definitely helped me out — Maryland’s 5* was usually beginning as I was wrapping up for the day, so I could fill each day with wall to wall eventing. And now I am a shell of a person, particularly after letting most of my soul escape my body with the shout I let out when that second rail fell for Oliver, ensuring Austin O’Connor Ireland’s first five-star win in nearly six decades.
But let’s also take a moment to talk about Mia Farley, who has been such an extraordinary shining light over the course of her five-star debut. Last Monday, we led this News & Notes roundup with photos of her riding ponies as a wee kidlet; this week, she begins a new week as the only person to make the time at Maryland, six seconds faster, even, than Austin and Salty, who are arguably the fastest duo in the sport. Two rails knocked her off the podium with her OTTB Phelps, but that’s always been his tricky phase and their round was undeniably one of their best — and fifth at your first five-star is pretty damn incredible. Well done, Mia — the future of US eventing looks bright with you.
Major International Events
MARS Maryland 5 Star: [Website] [Results] [EN’s Coverage]
Young Horse World Championships (Le Lion D’Angers, France): [Website] [Results]
#Santiago2023: [Website] [Sport Schedule] [FEI Info Hub] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]
Hagyard Midsouth Three-day Event: [Website] [Scoring]
U.S. Weekend Preview
Hagyard Midsouth Three-day Event (Lexington, KY) [Website] [Results]
Ram Tap National H.T. (Fresno, CA) [Website] [Results]
SAzEA Fall H.T. (Tucson, AZ) [Website] [Results]
Willow Draw Charity Show (Weatherford, TX) [Website] [Entries] [Results]
Windermere Run H.T. (Grandview, MO) [Website] [Results]
Your Monday Reading List:
Voting has opened for the 2023 Horse & Hound awards, and there are plenty of eventers in the running to take these coveted titles in the enormously glam ceremony this winter. Want to help give them something to celebrate? Cast your votes now.
We’ve long been fans of New Zealand’s Monica Spencer, and after Maryland, we reckon a lot of people will be keen to know more about this dynamo and her remarkable Thoroughbred. COTH caught up with her at Maryland to find out more about her journey so far, and her new life in the US.
The Pan Ams are underway, and dressage is leading the way for the equestrian sports. Head to Santiago with the FEI to check out the venue, find out what’s been going down, and see how the riders have been settling in.
Morning Viewing:
Get to know Australian 5* eventer Sammi Birch and her husband Ed in the latest episode of Eventing Weekly!
