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My favourite thing about December is the abundance of balls and galas on the calendar — and although I had to miss the British Eventing Support Trust ball at the Savoy in London the other day, I’ve gotten nearly as much joy from looking at everyone’s photos and outfits as I would have done if I was actually there dancing on the tables. Look at Piggy and Nic! Aren’t they a delight! A pair of angels atop the Christmas tree! Nothing gives me the warm and fuzzies more than a good eventing friendship, tbh.
National Holiday: It’s Gingerbread House Decorating Day. I’ll personally send a prize to anyone who can make a gingerbread replica of Badminton or Burghley.
US Weekend Action:
Full Gallop Farm Jingle Bells H.T. (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Results]
Your Monday Reading List:
Every horse has a different capacity for pain, and that can make it really hard to gauge whether a problem is behavioural or pain-related. Learning how to read even the most stoic of horses, though, will only level you up as a horseman — and allow you to spot those little issues before they become really big ones. [How horses perceive pain]
New research has shown that riding can benefit people with cerebral palsy. 343 patients in total spent time using a mechanical riding simulator across ten different studies, with marked improvements in overall gross motor function as a result. Though getting kids into riding for the disabled programs can be tricky if there isn’t one locally, or there are funding issues, riding simulators could provide a seriously helpful workaround in a physical therapist’s arsenal. [One more tangible use for our favorite animal]
Incoming USEA President, Louise Leslie, brings lots to the table: she’s a proud West Coaster, for one, and she understands the amateur perspective, too. Get to know her with this Q&A from COTH. [Meet the new Pres]
Want stables of your own, but don’t have the budget? Follow this resourceful owner’s lead — she built a beautiful set of internal boxes using pallets and screws. It might take a little while, but what a result! [DIY barns for the win]
The FutureTrack Follow:
I’m loving the look back at great horses past that Lucinda Green’s XC Academy is currently in the midst of. If you fancy learning about Regal Realm, Beagle Bay, Wide Awake, and the rest of Lucinda’s horsey heroes — plus learning lots of useful cross country tips in the process — you should definitely give the account a follow!
Morning Viewing:
Check out Boyd’s hatcam footage from his catch ride at the Sweden International Horse Show indoor eventing this month!
