Eventing dogs! Photo by JJ Sillman.
My favorite thing about the dogs of horse people is that they never have a leash. I don’t mean that they’re unleashed, I mean they don’t own proper leashes. Because, like, are you going to leash your dog around the farm? No. So when they go to competitions, they always have the most ratty lead rope anybody could find, clipped onto some kind of collar or harness thing that we dug out of a pile in the tack room. If you go in public, everyone looks at you funny with your ratty lead, but horse people know.
U.S. Weekend Preview
Heritage Park H.T. (Olathe, KS) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]
Meadowcreek Park H.T – Fall Social Event (Kosse, TX) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times][Volunteer] [Scoring]
Unionville H.T. (Unionville, PA) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Twin Rivers Fall International (Paso Robles, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]
University of New Hampshire H.T. (Durham, NH) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]
News From Around the Globe:
Veterinarians have finally found a genetic variant is associated with the severity and likely development of kissing spines in horses. Now, let’s be clear from the start, this is not a causative gene, merely one that shows up alongside horses that have developed severe kissing spine. It’s only one of many factors linked to disease development, including exercise, rider skill and weight, riding equipment and fit, core muscle strength, head and neck position, injury, and lameness. However, this research does provide information to breeders for future generations of horses, as to decrease the likelihood of kissing spines. [Kissing Spines Gene Discovered]
As somebody who has had too many concussions due to youthful stupidity, and a general disregard for helmets in my younger days, this story hits home. It’s one we know well, but in 2014, Silva Martin had an accident schooling a horse at home, and almost died. Her brain bleed was severe, and her recovery took over a year, with lasting effects, but Silva sure as hell never goes near a horse without a helmet, and neither should you. [How a Helmet Saved Silva Martin]
All thoroughbred riders and trainers know about the power of a perfectly balanced half-seat. If we look at the most useful rider positions, the ‘half-seat’ (also known as the two point) is probably second only to the ‘upright’ heels, hips, shoulders in a line. It is even more useful when astride a green or recently restarted Thoroughbred. So what is so great about hovering slightly above the saddle? Find out in Aubrey Graham’s most recent article! [Thoroughbred Logic]
Sponsor Corner: Celebrate 50 years of eventing at Morven Park this fall. When you ride at Morven Park, you follow in the hoofprints of the eventing legends that have galloped these paths before you. Check out this cool snapshot– eventing sure has changed a lot over the last half-century!
James Alliston & Karma having one last cross country school before they head off to Boekelo!
