Thursday News & Notes

An unrepentant failure of a retired horse. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Nyls, as many of you may remember, was my partner at the Advanced/4* level for many years, and this year he turns 22. This seems impossible, as I’ve had him from the age of 4, and he’s defined my life. However, semi-retirement is not to his liking (he would prefer to be doing Advanced still) so he’s rediscovered an old beloved habit from his younger days: jumping out of the field. In the new year of 2023, he decided January 15th was a good night, and escaped once again. Look at him, does he look like he regrets his decisions? Like he’s sorry in any way for continuing to terrorize me? No. He does not.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Stable View Aiken Opener H.T. (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Entries] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Grand Oaks H.T. (Weirsdale, FL): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

News From Around the Globe:

Ariel Grald has rocketed to the top of the eventing world, thanks to fantastic partnerships with her horse and owner. A horse-crazy kid, a microbiology degree, a chance encounter with the owner of a lifetime, and a whole lot of hard work and humble grit. Just ten short years after Annie Eldridge partnered with Ariel, they were competing at the World Equestrian Games. Ariel has been quietly picking away at 5* events with Leamore Master Plan, her first horse at that level, and finished last year with an 11th place finish at the WEG in her first Team appearance. [Ariel Grald’s Fast Moving Career]

Your bodyworker wants you to know that it’s super easy to spot horses that are trained with too much compression of the neck. The parotid gland is the hidden indicator of training quality and we just weren’t paying attention. When you don’t see them, it is most likely a good sign. Parotid glands are usually clearly visible on horses that tend to move in a short, tense, and compressed frame. This can be caused by bad training, and some horses may offer this frame themselves – in both cases the horse needs to learn to trust the rider and reach to the bit in a soft and balanced way. [The Invisible Gland]

The revamped USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP — formerly known as ICP) is hosting an educational symposium at Barnstaple South in Ocala, FL this week. Participants are certified or pending certified coaches who participate in seminars, lessons, and demos from world-renowned pros in order to bolster their tool box for students. [Keep Up with ECP Symposium Coverage]

Best of Blogs: Unboxing Old Breyer Horses

Riding along with your vet is invaluable experience. I did it during the summer in my high school years, and besides getting to snoop in other people’s barns (my favorite!), you learn so much. Not just medical stuff, but you learn about horses, owners, riders, managers, and so much husbandry to help you on your way as a horseman. [6 Non-Medical Things I Learned From My Vet]

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