The hits don’t stop coming for Vermont this summer, but if I know one thing from spending a number of years in this beautiful little state it’s this: Vermonters are strong, caring, and they persist! These summer thunderstorms are not cutting Vermont any slack this year, and Huntington Farm in South Strafford once again experienced a good bit of rain yesterday. It’s nothing that the ground — which has been in great condition leading up to their event this weekend — can’t handle, but the organizers are delaying the start of today’s competition by three hours to let the ground dry out and ensure it’s safe-going for all.
Just to the southwest, you may recall Green Mountain Horse Association (GMHA) had to cancel next weekend’s Festival of Eventing in it’s traditional format after two flash flood events in previous weeks damaged the property. However, GMHA has been able to repair and rebuild their arenas, barns, and roadways enough to go ahead with hosting an alternative event, rebranded as the Festival Schooling Weekend! Competitors can still enjoy the spoils of a weekend of competition, just in a different format. Friday will be a dressage fix-a-test and jumper schooling day, Saturday holds a combined test, and on Sunday there will be a derby cross held in the one cross country field that suffered the least damage from the flooding. Funds raised will go towards helping GMHA to rebuild!
And, if you’re local-ish to the Norhtshore Massachusetts area, there’s another fun way to pitch in to help out GMHA: Ferial Johnson of the historic Ledyard Farm in Wenham, Massachusetts is holding a cross country derby next Tuesday, August 8, to benefit GMHA. That’s the eventer spirit!
Events Around the World:
Festival of British Eventing [Website] [Entries] [Timetable] [Live Stream] [Live Scores]
Also…
Definitely ride along with the Mongol Derby here!
U.S. Weekend Action:
Area VII Young Rider Benefit H.T. at Caber Farm (Onalaska, WA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times][Volunteer] [Scoring]
Catalpa Corner Charity Horse Trials (Iowa City, IA) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Ride Times]
Cobblestone Farms H.T. II (Dexter, MI) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]
Early Bird Summer Event at Galway Downs (Temecula, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times][Volunteer]
Hoosier Horse Trials (Edinburgh, IN) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Huntington Farm H.T. (South Strafford, VT) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Ride Times – Remember to add 3 hours!]
Olney Farm Horse Trials (Joppa, MD) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
River Glen Summer H.T. (New Market, TN) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]
Spring Gulch H.T. (Highland, CO) [Website] [Volunteer] [Ride Times]
Links to Start Your Weekend:
Groom Spotlight: Meredith Ferraris Is A Student Of The Horses
Winner Of The Week: Believing In Her Instincts Brings Sharon White A Pair Of Wins At Millbrook
Insights into dressage scoring obtained through inertial sensors
Pressure Proof with Daniel Stewart: The Anxiety Cycle is Not a Spinning Class!
Best of Blogs: The Purpose of The Lesson Horse
Sponsor Corner: If you followed along with all the action from the MARS Bromont CCI Horse Trials, then you’re probably familiar with the Bromont Rising Program. The program awards young riders grants to offset the expenses and provides them with access to world-class equestrian thought leaders. World Equestrian Brands rider Lea Adams-Blackmore is one lucky rider who has been awarded a place in the program not once, but twice. Read about Lea’s experience learning about life and riding through the program.
Lea Adams-Blackmore and Frostbite. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Morning Viewing: This seems like a handy trick … or not.
