Thursday Morning Dispatch from Devoucoux

It was just too good not to post

Well, Olympic dressage starts today, which means I officially have what I like to call a gigantic three-day event hangover. I don’t know if I’m alone in this sporadic affliction, but I know that it’s very real. Rolex, WEG, and the Olympics all have the same effect upon me: wild inspiration mixed with emotional exhaustion. I would also like to mention that I would like to not troll Twitter for at least a week, and if there is any more breaking news, could it please not occur at 2 am?? I’m slowly returning to EST time, which is weird because I managed to change my time zone without traveling at all. This journalism stuff is rough, I tell ya. Waking up at 4 am, playing with chinchillas all day, getting texts from John at 1:17 in the morning, the only thing that keeps me going is these amazing internet gems, more commonly known as LINKS.

Upcoming Events

Millbrook HT: [Website] [Live Scores]

Area VII YR Benefit HT: [Website] [Entry Status]

Penny Oaks HT: [Website] [Entry Status]

River Glen Summer HT: [Website] [Entry Status]

Rocky Mountain HT: [Website]

Silverwood Farm Summer HT: [Website] [Entry Status]

Snowfields HT: [Website]

GMHA T3D Event & N3D Eventing Test: [Website]

 

Michael Phelps is retiring after the 2012 Olympics, he’s pretty much won everything there is to win anyway, so whats next?? Well, it seems Phelps intends to conquer the horse-racing business as well. He’s already sussed out Bob Baffert as a trainer, and obviously he wants to win the Triple Crown. [No Biggie, Michael Phelps Wants Triple Crown Glory]

Horses in the Morning has an interview with Hawley following her fall at Olympic XC straight from the hospital in England. [Hawley’s feeling much better] [Hawley’s Twitter Feed]

Keep up with our friends at SmartPak while they hang out in London for all equestrian events! [The Pak Across the Pond]

Ever wonder who is behind the scene in Reed Kessler’s barn? Heres an excellent article by Reed’s head groom/life manager Tracey Edge, who is currently living the Olympic dream over in London with Reed and Cylana. Tracey has worked for Reed’s family for three years, but she started out as head groom for Eventer Abigail Lufkin and travelled to the 2000 Sydney Olympics with her. [Read how Reed stays on top through phenomenal head groom] via Horse Collaborative

“The winner will be a horseman. It’s not about the first day of competition, or the second day, it’s all about the last day.” says Chef d’Equipe George Morris, as the Jumper horses move in to the stables recently vacated by the Event horses. Their first day begins on Saturday. [Jumpers Arrive at Olympic Venue]

In case you somehow missed this….Stephen Colbert PIAFFING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

A “summer gelding clinic” is not something I would ever expect to attend, although they seem fairly popular. You can donate to the cause, only $50 to contribute to a stud colt losing his manhood. [Summer Gelding Clinics Complete 66 Castrations]

THIS is a picture of Mark Todd getting arrested after Show Jumping for drinking in a non-drinking crowd. Please refer to the picture below for more laughs.

They sure know how to party

If you’ve ever lived in Middleburg, nay even Virginia during the summer, you know what this is all about: Twilight Jumpers. Doing anything exciting the Friday? Of course not, you’ve got to get up to muck the stalls Saturday morning (me too). If you’re in the area, you totally have to go to Twilight Jumpers, which features more than a few phenomenal Eventers trying to blend in. “Tailgating, VIP Boxes, dancing under the stars, and top-notch horses and riders going for speed over big jumps”.

Dressage riders just don’t know how to do it up like we do at Jogs….half the horses don’t have their forelocks braided (and if they do, the rest of the braids are on the wrong side), their hooves are unpolished, and the rest are cantering. [COTH Photos from Olympic Dressage Inspection]

Going to the AEC’s? ALL competitors will have a free Flair Strip included in the “swag bag” (aka the welcome packet) due to their ongoing sponsorship of the event. I love my Flairs, and I’m always super excited about opening them, they remind me of cross country day, which is always good! [Whoop Whoop Free Flair Strips!]

More Toddy being awesome.

Dressage Ride Times for the GP

 

Hot On HN: Biz Stamm shows us how to incorporate couches, beer, and TV into our Olympic workouts!

Trending on Twitter: The Riding School at the Royal Mews: All Kinds of Awesome

 

 

 

This is Buttermilk the “parkour goat”, who, by the way has a Facebook Page

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