For Rolex competitors and their support staff, this weekend means the last few rides before shipping out for Kentucky and the last few sleepless nights in their own beds. Here’s a look at a few odds and ends from around the eventing world for those of you who aren’t madly packing and repacking your tack trunks today:
–Leslie included the above photo in this morning’s news and notes, but I think it is definitely worth another mention. Chelan Kozak explains on her Facebook page: “This was taken at Twin Rivers Ranch. Event this weekend. To honour eventing’s hero Amy Tryon who is no longer with us. This is why I LOVE my eventing peeps. Awesome job everyone!” Awesome job indeed and thanks for the photo Chelan, Amy will definitely be on all of our minds as Rolex draws closer.
–In some sad Rolex news, Ying Yang Yo has withdrawn from the competition today. Thomas has had a fantastic comeback including of course the Fair Hill CCI3* win last year. You will recall that Thomas withdrew from The Fork due to an ulcer injury to his eye during the trailer ride to NC. Unfortunately that hasn’t quite healed in time for Kentucky–the eye still has a tiny ulcer and is a bit cloudy. On a personal note, let me just say that one thing several top vets have told me that I have really taken to heart is–never take an equine eye injury lightly, always call your vet at the first sign of eye trouble. A little eye problem can become a big eye problem in a hurry. Thomas is rerouting to Luhmuhlen CCI4* this summer. Get well soon Thomas! [Rolex Entries]
–Boyd has a new horse to add to his arsenal after the recent acquisition of Kylie Lyman’s Fair Hill 2011 CCI2* champion Trading Aces, owned by Geoff and Joan Nichols. Trading Aces is 8 years old. Boyd told me they are targeting the Bromont CCI3* with an eye on the Normandy WEGs in 2014. Boyd also expressed how important Dr. Mark Hart and the Event Owners Task Force was in helping put a team together to buy the horse for him. Boyd is competing Trading Aces at Fair Hill this weekend. Boyd still has Remington and Otis entered at Kentucky. Although this will be Otis’ first four-star, I’m looking for a big performance from him and I think he very well could challenge his stable mate Neville at least slightly to be Boyd’s Olympic horse when all is said and done.
My last Boyd note of the day is just to say that if you missed Reid Forgrave’s article about Neville at Fox Sports this week read it now, but get some tissues first.
““I’m real sorry,” the fire chief told Martin. “Everything’s gone. It’s all gone.”
But Neville Bardos, the horse Martin had saved from slaughter and turned into one of the top eventing horses in the world, was inside. Firefighters told him it was dangerous, that the building was close to collapsing, that he couldn’t go in.
The firefighters’ charge was to protect human life first. But to Martin, Neville was as good as family. Martin felt clear-headed, as sober as a judge, and he knew what he had to do.
So Martin punched the fire chief who was blocking his way, covered his face with a T-shirt and ran into the thick, black smoke.”
–Visionaire wrote about the USEF announcing Barbury HT in England as the final mandatory outing before the Olympics. This has been the unofficial assumed mandatory outing destination since last year and many other nations will be using Barbury as their final run as well–so many that Barbury is going to look like a mini Olympcis. I attended Barbury last year and it is a really well hosted event with a good course.
–We have a busy weekend of eventing already underway here in the US. *Four events have live scores–Twin Rivers, Holly Hill, and Long Leaf and *Fair Hill. The live scoring folks do such a good job that I feel completely lost following events all around the country without them. We will do our best to keep you updated all weekend.
Update: Fair Hill has live scores as well.
Twin Rivers CIC/CCI [Website] [Times/Scores]
Fair Hill [Website] [Entry Status] [Times]
Holly Hill [Website] [Times] [Live Scores]
Long Leaf [Website] [Times] [Live Scores]
Redland Hunt PC [Website] [Times]
–At Twin Rivers, developing rider McKenna Shea and Landioso are leading the three pair CIC3* division on a 51.3 just ahead of James Atkinson and Gustav. Katherine Groesbeck is leading the three horse advanced division on an impressive 24.1 with Oz The Twin Man. [Full Twin Rivers Scores] Check out the awesome interviews in this video from Thursday at Twin Rivers courtesy of Josh Walker, Frankie Thieriot, and the USEA.
–Fair Hill: Here’s a photo of our good friend Molly Rosin and Rivan riding at Fair Hill on this cool Maryland day. Thanks to Kim Parisan for sending the photo. Please send any event reports, tips, and ridiculousness from the weekend to [email protected].
John Nunn and Smilelikeyoumeanit:
Last, but not least, Abby is riding at Fair Hill this weekend. She can recite every Badminton champion in alphabetical order in less than 45 seconds so if you are out and about at Fair Hill please find and ask her to do so under penalty of dumping a bucket of water on her head. To everyone else riding this weekend–good luck, be safe, look after your horse, and have fun. Just 5 days until the first horse inspection…Go eventing.
