Good Morning Eventing Nation! I hope this Thursday finds you well. If you happen to be one of the lucky ones down in Aiken right now, and find yourself wanting something fun to do over the next couple days, you should to head over to Bridle Creek Farm. Bettina Hoy is teaching a three day dressage clinic which begins today, and will be a great auditing opportunity. The riders for the sessions include Boyd, Jan Bynny, and Will Coleman, to name but a few. I think one of the best parts of being down south for the winter is having the opportunity to watch the teaching of some really great coaches, that you normally would not have the opportunity to see. The best coaches in the world are coming in to the southern hubs very regularly to teach, and many times the auditing fee is minimal, or even free. The US Training sessions are one of the easiest and most accessible ways to watch some great horses, riders, and instruction.
I remember Mark Phillips making a comment in one of his Eventing USA articles last year stating that he was disappointed to see that hardly any of the riders participating in the Spring Training Sessions came to watch their peers ride before or after their lessons.
Mark felt that the lack of attendance showed little in the way of team spirit and camaraderie, but also he felt that the riders were missing out on one of the most valuable parts of the training session: watching and studying others (especially ones practicing the same things as you). If you are lucky enough to be in Aiken or Ocala, or in close proximity to them, I urge you to go check out Bettina’s clinic and some of the other neat clinics and training sessions coming up! [
Bettina Clinic]
This week’s Eventing Radio Show features London Olympic Course Designer, Sue Benson, along with William Micklem, who shares some of his insights on horsemanship. The episodes do take a while to listen to, but I’ve found they are perfect for taking on runs when I get bored with all the music on my Itunes playlist!
[Eventing Radio Show]Over 200 lucky riders, ranging in level from Beginner Novice up through Intermediate, got to travel to the Sydney Olympic venue last weekend, to partake in a one-day cross country clinic. They schooled the majority of the fences on the course (for their level) while receiving instruction from some of the best names in Australian Eventing.
[Manly Daily]A new association for Farriers in North America was formed recently, and appears that it will be headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.The association has been christened ‘The American Association of Professional Farriers’ and is a non-profit organization created to represent professional farriers. I’m not that familiar with the different leagues and associations for farriers except that I know some are in existence, but I can’t help but wondering what the effects (if any) that this new organization will have on the other organizations already in play. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
[Horsetalk]Pippa Cuckson did a great article for the Chronicle
taking a deeper look into the reason behind Britain’s complete turnaround in the pure Dressage world in recent years, from being a country of mediocre standing, at best, to one of the elite Dressage Powers in the World. The reason for Britain’s newfound success is multi-fold, from having strength in depth of good riders mounted on good horses, to the changing perception of Dressage in the minds of the British, and maybe even the changing perception of British Dressage in the minds of the FEI judges!
[COTH]That’s all for now Eventing Nation! Have a great Thursday!
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