Badminton grounds, photo taken by Samantha last year.
Good morning EN, before I jump into the news I want to mention that the Ocala Horse Properties International CCI**/* kicks off today in Ocala, FL. After In-barns wrap up around 9am there will be a competitor briefing followed by the first horse inspection from 10-1. CCI* dressage begins at 2pm with Canada’s Jessica Phoenix and Extraordinaire. This weekend Jessica is also riding Erodium, Exultation, and Executive Decision (sensing a trend yet?). The one-star is the only division competing tomorrow, and will finish dressage on Friday, as do all divisions above Training. Good luck to all competitors this weekend, whether in Florida or elsewhere! [Ride times] [Schedule]
Other event links for this weekend:
Full Gallop [Entry Status] [Website]
Ram Tap [Website]
St. Johns Horse Trials [Entry Status and Times] [Website]
Pine Hill [Website]
Plantation Field [Entry Status] [Website]
Today’s top link comes from the blogosphere across the pond. Talking Horse brings you a Badminton 2012 preview on the same day Hugh Thomas’s course was revealed (yesterday was the traditional Badminton Press Preview Day, a fantastic marketing tool for all you organizers out there). Talking Horse posted photos and even video of some of the jumps, as well as some of his own observations about the event this year. While he thinks there are several potential problem areas, he expects some to call this year’s track “soft.” However he points out that there is no need to push those who are saving their horses for Greenwich- Badminton isn’t the be-all-end-all in an Olympic year. Also for the first time in recent memory the number of foreign entries outnumbers that of the British. Colleen and Shiraz and Kristen Schmolze and Cavaldi will be making the trek to represent the US. Olivia Loiacono and Subway are currently on the waiting list. 21 days and counting! [Talking Horse] [Official Entry List] [Official Preview]
The 2012 ICP Assessment dates have been announced: July 23-26 in Poolesville and Adamstown, Maryland, and November 5-4 in Willis, Texas. Also announced were the dates for the B and C Jumping Training Program, which will be conducted from June 1-3 in Edinburgh, Indiana. By participating in the program you will become an “r” licensed eventing TD or eventing judge. [ICP Announcement] [B and C Training Program]
The Twin Rivers leg of the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series has been moved from the spring to the fall due to lack of entries. The Twin Rivers Advanced HT will take place September 19-23 in Paso Robles, CA, and the advanced division there will serve as the Gold Cup division. Three Gold Cup events have already taken place this year: Red Hills, Galway Downs, and the Fork. The series is now on a bit of a break, and the next competition will be the Rebecca Farm CIC*** in July. [USEA]
Today on HN: How to win at Galway Downs, by CIC** winner Oz the Tin Man (as narrated to his rider Katy Groesbeck) [Horse Nation]
Rest in peace Camilla Enemark, a Danish show jumper who represented Denmark at the European Championships last year. Camilla died of a brain tumor that she was diagnosed with in 2006. She was only 31 years old. EN sends sincere condolences to her family and friends during such a difficult time. [Horse and Hound]
Polo had a moment in the spotlight as the main story on last week’s episode of CBS’s 60 Minutes. Featuring Ralph Lauren model and top Argentine polo star Ignacio Figueras (also known as Nacho), the episode shows the tough side of the sport at the US Open Polo Championship in Florida, as well as the side rarely seen in interviews with a West Philadelphia high school polo team. The team was featured on CNN (Horse Nation coverage here) not too long ago and is part of “Work to Ride,” a program that uses horses to keep at-risk youth off the streets. Click the link for clips of the episode. [Horse and Hound]
The Chronicle’s annual junior art contest is officially open: all readers 18 and younger are invited to submit their original art work and the winning submissions will be published in the June 4 issue. Horse-related essays and poems are also accepted. The deadline for the contest is May 4. [COTH]
Joining the likes of Dame Judi Dench and French chef Raymond Blanc, Mary King has submitted her own “extra juicy flapjack” recipe to a celebrity cookbook. All sales of the book will benefit Child Brain Injury Trust, a charity that helps families of children with brain injuries. [Horse and Hound]
Feel-good story of the day: after nearly drowning in a river, seven-year-old Bring It On! came back to win the point-to-point race at the Badsworth and Bramham Moor Hunt. [Gazette and Herald]
And your daily dose of Royal news: The Queen’s granddaughter, Lady Louise Windsor (age 8 ) has fallen off a horse and broken her arm. Reports indicate she was wearing a helmet and body protector when she fell. [Horsetalk]
Best of Blogs:
Lauren Sprieser re-enters the real world
Tom Symonds: a racehorse is not just a number
Below is a video of Badminton course designer Hugh Thomas and rider Daisy Berkeley previewing the 2012 cross country course. As always, thank you for reading! Go eventing.
