Ahh, and so it begins again. After a seriously, record-breakingly, trench-foot-inducingly wet 2023 season, I think all of us in the UK were hoping for some respite this year (and maybe the prospect of a slightly drier Badminton). Alas, it would appear, we’re having no such luck. We’re two weeks into the eventing season and we’ve already seen several outright cancellations and mid-event abandonments. Will we ever get going properly? Or will next week’s Kronenberg International, where British-based riders are heading en masse, be the first real chance we’ll get to see some eventing over here?
National Holiday: It’s National Awkward Moments Day. I don’t know who’s doing the copywriting over at National Today, but I suspect much of their output falls under the remit of today’s celebrations.
U.S. Weekend Action:
Carolina International CCI & H.T. (Raeford, NC): [Website] [Results] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]
Ocala Winter II (Ocala, FL): [Website] [Results]
Pine Top Spring H.T. (Thomson, GA): [Website] [Results]
Ram Tap National H.T. (Fresno, CA): [Website] [Results]
UK Weekend Results:
Lincolnshire (Grange de Lings, Lincs.): [Results]
International Events:
FEI Eventing Nations Cup Leg 1 (Montelibretti, Italy): [Website] [Results]
Your Monday Reading List from FutureTrack:
The 2024 FEI Nations Cup series officially kicked off over the weekend at Montelibretti. There, we saw the French team take a decisive victory in this early outing, with France’s Benjamin Massie also taking the individual win with Figaro Fonroy. This’ll certainly be a case of starting as they mean to go on – and while we won’t have another Nations Cup leg to judge each country’s standard by until mid-May, we’re now officially into the form-stalking part of the season. Find out more about the Olympic host nation’s victory in this round-up from the FEI.
Goodbye and goodnight to Seacookie TSF, the exceptional Trakehner with whom William Fox-Pitt recorded one of his Pau victories. Together, the pair also won Blenheim and finished second at Kentucky and Burghley before the gelding’s retirement in 2014. Since then, he’s enjoyed a happy retirement with owner Catherine Witt, and was put down, aged 25, after years spent living his best life turned out with his fellow five-star winning best buddies. Look back on his career here.
If you buy, sell, or source horses, you’ll need to understand how the law pertains to your position. Lucky for you, equine law specialist — and international eventer — Jodie Seddon is here to help. She and solicitor Hannah Bradley are putting on a comprehensive webinar on the 8th of April that’ll take you through all the nitty-gritty of what you need to know. Reserve your place here.
Sometimes, I just sit in my horse’s stable and think about how lucky I am to have her in my life. Owning horses is hard – it can be brutal on your emotions, your body, your bank account, your schedule — but there’s so much good that comes out of having these odd, opinionated, beautiful animals in our lives. USEA caught up with a cross-section of its membership to find out why they feel so lucky to have their horses, and it makes for some nice, heartwarming content to start your day.
And finally, based in or near London and looking for an entertaining, educational day out for a kiddo in your life? I love the look of this picture book reading and illustration session at the Southbank Centre on the 4th of April, featuring writer Raymond Antrobus and illustrator Ken Wilson-Max’s new book, Terrible Horses. It’s all about learning to understand the perspective and emotions of the people around you, told via the story of a bickering brother and sister and a notebook full of horse drawings. Find out more and get your tickets here.
Morning Viewing:
Catch up on all that juicy Nations Cup cross-country action from Montelibretti with the entire live-stream on replay:
