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Travelling reserves and ‘fifth men’ have the hardest jobs at the Olympics, and you won’t convince me otherwise — and 23-year-old Calvin Böckmann spent time in each role for Germany in Paris, first as the fifth and then stepping into the TR role when Julia Krajewski was subbed in for Sandra Auffarth. And so, in the aftermath of those weeks of waiting in the wings, working tirelessly to ensure a perfect performance that may or may not even happen, it’s amazing to see him take the win in the ferociously competitive CCI4*-S at Arville, where he bested approximately eight gazillion entrants to ride to victory with his Paris mount, The Phantom of the Opera. We’ll be bringing you lots more with this brilliant rising star soon — not least because we hear he has something rather exciting planned for the autumn season! Here’s to brilliant results and just rewards for all our unsung Olympians.
National Holiday: It’s National Potato Day. Don’t even get me started on an ode to horse show cheesy chips, because you won’t stop me.
U.S. Weekend Action:
Applewood Farm YEH & Mini Event (Califon, NJ): [Website]
Bromont CCI-S Horse Trials (Bromont, Quebec): [Website] [Results]
Caber Farm H.T. (Onalaska, WA): [Website] [Results]
Full Gallop Farm August HT (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Results]
Genesee Valley Riding & Driving Club H.T. (Pending USEF Approval) (Geneseo, NY): [Website] [Entries] [Ride [Results]
Hunter’s Run H.T. (Metamora, MI): [Website] [Results]
Ocala Summer H.T. II (Ocala, FL): [Website] [Results]
The Event at Archer (Cheyenne, WY): [Website] [Results]
Waredaca Farm H.T. (Laytonsville, MD): [Website] [Results]
UK International Events:
Frickley Park International and Regional Championships (South Yorkshire): [Info] [Results]
European International Events:
FEI Nations Cup (Arville, Belgium): [Website] [Results]
Your Monday Reading List:
We’ve been overdue an update on the Eric Lamaze scam of the century (allegedly), and here it is: further confirmation that he is, indeed, a very, very naughty boy (again, allegedly, which I think is something we have to say to protect ourselves legally, or something). Read the latest here and scratch your Anna Delvey itch.
Never heard of craniosacral therapy? It could help your horse feel his very best. Here’s an interesting insight into how it works, what it can do, and how you can incorporate it into your own daily routine with your horse. Give it a go.
I’m always amazed and inspired by people who transform tremendous grief into something that helps people. That’s exactly what Suffolk’s Christine Nicholls is doing in honour of her late son Ollie, who passed away at the age of 27 from a brain tumour. She’s putting on The Ollie Nicholls Memorial Show on September 8, which will hold a wide array of classes and raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity. You can find out more, learn how to take part, and support the show here.
There are few things I love more than spunky Connie crosses. Margo Goldfarb’s Ridgetop Pirate Blue is a perfect example. This king of ping will head to the AECs ready to take over the world, and Margo, who’s balancing grad school with her eventing ambitions, is no slouch either. Meet them in this piece from US Eventing.
Morning Viewing:
Okay, we’ve convinced you now, haven’t we? Catch up on all that Arville CCIO4*-S cross-country action here!