The best use of a non-horsey boyfriend? Luring the feral mare back in after a year off, using coercion tactics and a selection box of root vegetables.
I’m a real fair weather rider these days, and after years working as a groom in all sorts of rotten conditions, I’m no longer feeling bad about it. But I must say, after nearly a year of my horse being out in a field with a soft tissue injury, I’m really enjoying even the moochiest of rides in the pouring rain. Twenty minutes of walking? Sign me up, baby! I can’t feel my toes, but I’m having a nice time.
National Holiday: It’s International Ninja Day, because of course it is.
U.S. Weekend Action:
Rocking Horse December H.T. (Altoona, FL): [Website] [Results]
Sporting Days Farm H.T. IV (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Results]
Your Monday Reading List:
We’re all very keen to fight the good fight for grooms and keep working to improve conditions for them. But once in a while, it’s really heartening to catch up with someone in the role who’s having a truly nice time and being treated well by their employer. That’s certainly the case for Abbie Salter, who works for British eventer Jodie Amos and has nearly a decade as a groom under her belt. Even know, she’s happy to say it’s the best job in the world. [Let’s make this a universal experience]
From turmeric curing all that ails your horse to an increasing line-up of products that claim they’ll [zap/laser/magnetize] the pain away, there’s a heck of a lot being sold to us that might be just a touch questionable. Though there’s anecdotal evidence to support just about anything (my own trainer has had great success with those titanium masks, and who actually knows how those are meant to work!), there’s also a fair amount of scepticism out there. And delightful, silly satire — my favourite thing of them all. [This rug will make your horse live forever! Naaaaht]
Qatar, who are currently busy hosting a contentious FIFA World Cup, are now putting their hat in the ring for the 2036 Olympics. Though many keen football fans are opting to boycott the World Cup in response to human rights violations in the country, Qatar believes it’s been such a roaring success so far that the next obvious step is taking on the biggest sporting stage of them all. [Qatar to bid for Olympic hosting role]
Using the winter months to put some time into a green bean? You’ll probably spend as much time reviewing training books, articles, and videos in the evenings as you do actually working with your horse – and so it’s always particularly helpful when someone collates a few good resources together. [Dive in and get those sessions planned]
Morning Viewing:
Catch up with vlogger and amateur eventer Meg Elphick as she takes a lesson with showjumper Dan Delsart:
