Aussie Paul Tapner has had a roller coaster few days. Sadly, Highpoint, the 22-year-old Polish Warmblood gelding whom Tapner piloted around Bramham, Badminton and Burghley and credited as “the horse that put me on the northern hemisphere map,” was put down following an illness at owner Sarah Smith’s farm. After an illustrious eventing career, “Joey” went on to become a dressage schoolmaster before retiring last year. [Horse & Hound]
On a happier note, Inonothing, Tapner’s 2010 Badminton champion, has affirmed his recovery from the stifle injury he incurred on the WEG cross-country course with solid performances at Tweseldown and Aldon (UK). Paul wrote in his Badminton blog: “At the end of the day at Tweseldown when I confided in some of my colleagues about my nervousness about riding XC on Inonothing, none of them really gave me any sympathy, but just rebuked me with a few different versions of: ‘I wish I was riding a Badminton winner around here, what have you got to worry about!’ ” Here’s sending some EN karma Tapner Eventing’s way. [Badminton]
British Eventing President Jane Holderness-Roddam will bear the Olympic Torch through the village of Shurdington on May 23. Holderness-Roddam was the first female member of the British Olympic eventing team, helping win a team gold medal aboard her 15-hand mount Our Nobby at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. [British Eventing]
If you’re still on the lookout for London Olympic tickets, Cosport.com has a few eventing and dressage seats available in the $200-500 range. Email registration required, then click “Products” and “Individual Tickets.” [Horse Junkies]
The Phillip and Evie Dutton-hosted fourth annual Olympic Gala raised (cha-ching!) $65,000. All proceeds go to the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation for the benefit of the U.S. Eventing High Performance programs. [COTH]
The Daily Racing Form weighs in on the complicated relationship between racing and slot machines: “The day-to-day racing at tracks such as Parx and Delaware Park is just about as dreary as it was before slots inflated the purses. One track that has made the most of slots money is Woodbine, in Toronto, which offers some of the best daily cards on the continent and uses its resources to promote the sport and to create new horseplayers. But Woodbine is a rarity.” [DRF]
A note from our friends at Cavalor: Congrats to Marsha Zebley, winner of a month’s supply of Cavalor Calm through Cavalor’s Tail of Solutions Contest with Bit of Britain. Marsha’s 5-year-old OTTB experiences anxiety when other horses leave the barn, leading to nervous behavior during their rides. The solution: Cavalor Calm. Enter this week’s contest on Facebook.
Most Ridiculous Headline: “Three mounted officers pursue man after horse slap“
Found on Facebook: Olympic Dressage Rider Courtney King Dye, still recovering from her traumatic fall in 2010, is looking for the right horse to qualify for the walk-only, Grade 1A division of the Para Equestrian Olympics. She appealed via Facebook: “I would absolutely love to do the last qualifier to get into the Para Equestrian Olympic Selection Trials which are coming up quick, April 26-29. I’m allowed to borrow a horse. Does anyone know of a super quiet horse with a fantastic walk near Houston who I could borrow? I know it’s a slim possibility, but it’s worth a try. Email me at [email protected] if you do!” [Courtney’s Facebook]
Best of the Blogs: Sam Griffiths’ season is underway, with Happy Times targeting Badminton [FLAIR]
Runner-Up: Boyd’s March-October Waredaca clinic dates [The Martins]
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