War Horse. Photo courtesy of Salon.com.
Good Morning Eventing Nation! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, wherever you may have celebrated it. It’s one of my favorite holidays, and certainly not one to be glossed over on the calendar. We get busy with our horses, our work, and our personal lives, but it’s always nice to come back for a short time once a year and take part in a gathering that signifies something larger than our individual parts.
I made it a goal this year when conversing with extended family I hadn’t seen since, well, Christmas last year, to keep any conversation involving horses to a minimum. Growing up, I was smart enough, well read, and well cultured to talk about a variety of subject matter at family gatherings, but I stubbornly refused to talk about anything other than horses, to anyone that would listen. So this year, I listened as my Grandma talked about her upcoming vacation to Florida, as my Aunt talked about her newly-started business, and as my older cousins talked about their State bound hockey team and first year at college, and as one of my younger cousins talked in depth about the many challenges of the third grade. What did I learn from all of this conversation having nothing to do with horses? In truth, not much, but it did remind me that there is a busy, thriving world outside the horse world, and that it probably wouldn’t hurt if I paid it a little more attention from time to time. If nothing else, the holidays are a great way to get out of the bubble of our own lives and take a look around at what everyone around us has been doing this whole time.
Anyway, back to the last Monday Morning News of 2011. It’s arguably the quietest day for Eventing News of the whole year, but this is what I have for you:
Did anyone go see War Horse yesterday in the theatre? According to Flickster’s Tomatometer, the film received a 75% review from critics, and a 72% review from audience. Just as a comparison, the King’s Speech (which debuted back in early 2011) earned a 95% review from the same panel. I thought the King’s Speech was a phenomenal movie, and was hoping War Horse would be right up their with it, but it’s looking like the reviews are telling a slightly different tale. I haven’t seen War Horse yet, so I’m reserving my judgment. 75% isn’t terrible, but I was hoping for a little better from the horse movie of the year. [War Horse Review] [Horsetalk]
A few of Britain’s best met up over the Christmas holiday to partake in a photo shoot at Exmouth Beach for the Daily Mail. Among the riders were William Fox-Pitt, Mary King, Emily King (Mary’s daughter), and Tim Rogers. Photographer Andy Hooper took some lovely photos of the six of them galloping on the beach, which can be seen here. What a way to spend Christmas morning!
Saudia Arabia brought home the Gold over the weekend in the Pan Arab Games. Eight countries took part in the Games, with Egypt and Qutar rounding out the silver and bronze positions. Herve Godignon, Frenchman, Olympian, and coach of the United Arab Emirates team stated about the Games: “Arab countries have progressed so much. They ride like every other country in the world now. ” Look out world, we may have some real competition coming up in the International show jumping scene in the next few years. [Horsetalk]
Best of the Blogs: Tickets to the War Horse play makes Kimberley’s Christmas
World Horse Welfare shares a Christmas message:
That’s all for now, Eventing Nation! Have a great Monday in what is hopefully a day off from the office and barn. Regardlesss, keep checking back to the best site in Eventing, I’m sure I will see you soon!
