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I know the Olympics are coming right up and that SHOULD be my sole focus, but I’ll be real with you – at least fifty percent of my brain is taken up at all times with thoughts of Indy 500’s very expensive, very cheeky, VERY CUTE baby, Cha Ching 500, which I’m hoping desperately is going to be his actual, official, registered name. He and mama had a rough start to life but now, thanks to the round the clock ministrations of their team helmed by Andrea Baxter, they’re both doing great, and Chingy celebrated his month birthday last week. When this one wins a five-star, it’ll be a real fairytale, won’t it?
National Holiday: It’s the day before National Anthony Bourdain Day, which is really all I care about.
U.S. Weekend Action
Fox River Valley Pony Club H.T. (Barrington Hills, IL) [Website] [Results]
Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Summer H.T. (Leesburg, VA) [Website] [Results]
Midsouth Pony Club H.T. (Lexington, KY) [Website] [Results]
Round Top H.T. (Castle Rock, CO) [Entries] [Results]
Stable View Summer H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Results]
Valinor Farm H.T. (Plymouth, MA) [Website] [Results]
UK International Events
Alnwick Ford International (Northumberland) [Website] [Results]
International Events
Strzegom Horse Trials & FEI Nations Cup (Poland) [Website] [Results]
SemaLease Kilguilkey House International 1 (Ireland) [Website] [Results]
Your Monday Reading List:
Ever thought about entering an eventing derby? Or have you never even encountered one? If you haven’t, we definitely recommend seeing if you’ve got one on the calendar near you. They’re a great, low-pressure, enormously fun introduction to the sport for inexperienced horses, new competitors, or even for a mid-season refresher. Here’s a primer on what to expect.
We’ve shared this before, but I’ll share it again because I love it and it’s important. Chris Talley isn’t just a top-level eventer, fighting to get his name up in lights – he’s also a proud gay man and an advocate for safe spaces within our sport. Take five and get to know him, his story, and his continued commitment to creating a platform for representation.
We won’t see our reigning Olympic champion at Paris this year, but good news: she’s pregnant! That’s Amande de b’Neville, not rider Julia Krajewski, mind you – but what a mama-t0-be she is. She’s been confirmed in foal to Cascadello, following her retirement from competition in January owing to an unresolvable hoof issue. We can’t wait to follow along with her journey, and would like to put ourselves forward to take the maternity photos in a pumpkin patch somewhere, thanks. Here’s the full story.
Not an eventer, but the high-flying husband of one: huge congratulations to William Funnell, husband of Pippa, who won a record fifth Hickstead Derby yesterday with his wife overcome with emotions at the ringside. Talk about a power couple!
Morning Viewing:
Rewatch all the action from Strzegom’s Nations Cup CCIO4*-S – which was also the final Olympic selection trial! – here:
