Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack


It’s Monday morning, and as such, there’s not a thought being thunk in this pretty little head – except this video from Lauren Nicholson, which has been playing on a loop in my one remaining brain cell ever since she posted it. May you all have a day that’s more well-behaved-horse-popping-cavaletti and less rogue-hellbeast-gatecrashing-the-party. I mean, unless that’s the vibe you’re into.

National Holiday: If you’re an Arkansan, you likely know that today is Daisy Gatson Bates Day, which celebrates the work of this incredible civil rights activist, who played a huge role in the integration of Little Rock central High School in 1957. After losing her mother in a racist attack when she was just three years old, Daisy grew up fast and dedicated her life to fighting for the rights of Black folks – and by the age of 15, she was the founder, editor, and a contributing writer of The Arkansas Weekly, a paper that focused on amplifying the voices of Black people around the country and advancing civil rights. What a woman.

Black History Bit of the Day:

US Weekend Action:

Jumping Branch Farm H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Results]

Ram Tap Horse Park H.T. (Fresno, Ca.): [Website] [Results]

Rocking Horse Winter II Advanced H.T. (Altoona, Fl.): [Website] [Results]

Stable View Young Event Horse Qualifier & Eventing Academy Schooling Show (Aiken, Sc.): [Website]

Your Monday Reading List:

The latest in the ongoing Sir Mark Todd kerfuffle: another spectator from the clinic in question, this time a trainer, has stepped forward to share his account of events with the British Horseracing Association, the governing body that has temporarily suspended Todd’s training license as investigations into the footage continue on apace.

Ever fancied winning some money for being a spectator? That’s what Michael Cruciotti, creator of Jump Clear Fantasy, is aiming for. Built as a way to attract outsiders to the sport of showjumping, the fantasy league offers you the chance to predict class results and claim real cash prizes. Count me in.

More and more frequently, we see the term ‘GOAT’ bandied about as a way to describe a sportsperson who exists on the topmost echelon of their industry. But are we using the term too freely? And could the moniker actually have a negative impact on sporting performance? Laura Lemon considers both sides of the cin in this think piece.

Mongolia and Kazakhstan are the home of all things horse, with the first evidence of domestication coming from these Asian countries. Now, new research into these nomadic peoples suggests that climate change was the root cause of their expansion from the steppes into the rest of Asia and Europe – a movement that heralded significant global changes and power shifts.

The FutureTrack Follow:

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Black Equestrians (@blackequestrians)

The Black Equestrians account doesn’t just celebrate the history-making Black riders of the past, it shouts from the rooftops about those making waves today across the disciplines. Give them a follow for some seriously supportive communal vibes and some brilliant new riders to support.

Morning Viewing:

Tegan Vincent Cook has one goal in mind: the 2024 Games in Paris. But for this talented young rider with cerebral palsy, it’s the Paralympics that has her attention – and in this emotive short documentary, which was funded through the Netflix Documentary Talent Fund, you can follow part of her journey to put the pieces together and give herself a golden opportunity.