I left Phoenix Sunday afternoon with the goal of getting to my family’s house in Michigan by flying to Chicago and then driving the rest of the way. The flight went well except for a white-knuckle landing in a 40mph windy blizzard. I’m pretty sure we were the only flight allowed to land in Chicago on Sunday, and after our experience they diverted everyone else. The snow was so bad in southwestern Michigan that driving was impossible Sunday night so I spent the evening with some friends in Chicago. On Monday, the lake-effect snow was still falling by the foot in Indiana and Michigan so I decided to take the train. After a three-hour delay because, as Amtrak told us, the train had hit a tree and a car on the same route earlier and needed some repairs. I appreciate their honesty but not really. So, after enough holiday travel excitement to last until next year, I have arrived in the state where I started riding horses about 17 years ago. For the next two weeks Eventing Nation will become ‘Skiing Nation.’
I’m not sure why I named this post after SmartPak, other than the fact that they are fabulous sponsors of Eventing Nation. It’s a great way to support Eventing Nation by making our sponsors happy. Click on the SmartPak banner on EN to do all of your equestrian holiday shopping–they have the best prices and service in the business. Now for some eventing news and notes…
The latest edition of weird horse news features an Emu in New Jersey breaking into a horse pasture, thus allowing the horse to escape. The horse was apparently caught and returned but the Emu has evaded authorities and is currently at large. If you live in New Jersey and see a large two-legged squawking animal covered in feathers trying to kill you, then it is probably just another person from New Jersey wearing feathers.
Best of the Blogs: Among other things, Sinead writes about how I briefly caddied for Karen and David. There were definitely some fun times at the convention. I’d say my top three moment were said caddying, Will Faudree winning the cougar-killer trophy, and EN getting 10 minutes of discussion at the Board of Governors’ meeting.
The Badminton Bog writes about how they are preparing for the January ticket sales. Four-star events only happen one weekend each year but organizing and preparing for them takes 365 days.
Kat Netzler has a great convention recap from Monday for the COTH
FEI President Princess Haya has named Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa (BRN) and Richard Nicoll (USA) as members her executive board. Nicoll is a combined driving official who designed the WEG 2010 course.
Check out Eurodressage’s interview with Colonel Christian Carde. He’s French, he’s a colonel, he practices classical dressage; what’s not to like? Although at one point in the interview Colonel Carde did try to surrender to the Eurodressage reporter. French jokes only get old if you are a communist so don’t be a communist.
VIDEO: Buzzterbrown shows us how to win a WEG gold medal
Lastly, I’d like to send some major EN Karma Leslie’s way. Her Mom’s 19 year-old TB named Gamble is having colic surgery tomorrow at Auburn. We wish Gamble a speedy and full recovery.
We have a lot to catch up on here at Eventing Nation after spending the last 5 days talking about the convention. Someday things are going to start slowing down for the holidays, but not today. See you soon…
