Not the usual morning commute!
And so we re-enter the grind! I mean, as a British-based ENer, I kind of never left it, but I’m straight back in the mix this morning taking a train to London in my breeches to go for a ride with a showjumper in the city. It’s certainly never boring being an equestrian journalist, and now that I’ve got this assignment on my roster, I’m beginning to wonder if I ought to insist on doing all my interviews on horseback. Heads up, eventers: I want to ride your steeds, and I want to do it right now. Okay, hang on, not all your steeds. I’d like to have the option to cherry pick. Basically, what I’m saying is: Tamie, call me. Mai Baum and I have some business to attend to.
National Holiday: It’s Cyber Monday! Fortunately, ‘cyber’ means something very different now than it did to those of us who grew up in Yahoo! chat rooms in the early noughties.
US Weekend Action:
Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T. (Thomson, GA): [Website] [Results]
Your Monday Reading List:
I love intrepid women who’ve defied the social convention of their time — and Victorian adventurer Isabella Bird is certainly one of those. She covered a huge swathe of the US on horseback, and despite being less than five feet tall, she did everything that needed doing all by herself — from wrangling cattle to gutting bears. For some reason, there’s a TV show about one of the Spice Girls retracing her route in the works, but we can dig it. [Let this woman be your Monday inspiration]
Ever fancied giving hunting a go? Even if you’re not keen on the idea of killing something — which is totally fair enough — there are so many great trail hunting options to give you the thrill of the chase and the inimitable experience of riding across the country at speed. But getting started can feel kind of intimidating — unless you can follow along with the advice and experiences of another rider first. [Prepare yourself for the most fun you’ll ever have on a horse]
Goodbye to event horse owner and former British team member Shirley Thorp. The extraordinary equestrian died at the age of 89, following a colourful life that included trips around Badminton in the 1950s and ’60s. [Read more about her here]
Further evidence has been collated that proves the effectiveness of horses in therapy situations. This time, the research has been conducted on adolescents in care environments, many of whom have come from enormously traumatic backgrounds. [The case for access to horses, universally]
Morning Viewing:
We all love a cross-country helmet cam video — but how about a Grand Prix showjumping one? Prepare to spend plenty of time in the air over these fences!
