My horse enjoying some river time. Photo by Kate Samuels.
There isn’t really anything important happening in the horse world this week that can possibly compare with the importance of this historic moment of civil unrest and protest. I’m so thankful that I get to wake up every morning and spend my days with animals of empathy, but I recognize my privilege in this matter as I watch thousands of lives being torn apart every day on video.
The horse world is almost overwhelmingly white, and that’s no surprise to anyone. It is our job, therefore, not to be silent over racism and injustice, but to stand up to it and be actively anti racist. You don’t think an eventing website should be commenting? Suck it up, buttercup, because here I come.
We would also love to bring more attention to the efforts of those within the eventing community who are making strides against inequality. If you’d like to share a story with us, email. us at [email protected].
National Holiday: National Cheese Day🧀
U.S. Weekend Preview:
Plantation Field H.T. [Website] [USEA H.T. Entry Status] [Starter H.T. Entry Status] [USEA H.T. Schedule] [Starter H.T. Schedule]
River Glen Summer H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]
Feather Creek H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]
Take a moment today to sit with your discomfort over current events. What a privilege it is to get to educate yourself on racism, instead of experiencing it yourself throughout your life. Now go use that privilege and actually educate yourself on how to actually help. [The Burden of (Finally) Being Seen]
Are you a nerd like me and enjoy watching TED Talks in your free time? Good. I cordially invite you to check out their archive of powerful ideas from experts and thought leaders as a starting point to understand the roots of racism, its painful consequences — and how we can combat it together. [TED Talks To Combat Racism]
We said goodbye to Valegro’s dam this week, as she died at her breeder’s farm in Holland. Maifleur, the dam to double Olympic champion Valegro, died aged 26, and until last year was still enjoying hacks. The KWPN chestnut mare, owned by Valegro’s breeders, Joop and Maartje Hanse, was by Voltaire stallion Gershwin, out of Heidelberg mare Weidyfleur. [RIP Maifleur]
Thoroughbred names are known for their silly quality, but Left For Dead unfortunately fulfilled his JC name. As part of the large seizure of 46 starved and neglected horses in 2016 from Breeder’s Cup trainer Maria Borell and her father Chuck Borell. After rehabbing from that, Left for Dead went on to a lackluster racing career, and then found himself in Lara Anderson’s barn at Full Gallop Farm. [Left for Dead is the Ultimate Comeback Kid]
Best of Blogs: We Still Have Lots To Learn, and We Want the Conversation To Continue
What We’re Listening To: The Jon and Rick show podcast is now available on Apple Podcasts! Check out previous episodes here.
Featured Video:
This feels like when the Riders of Rohan arrived to save Helms Deep pic.twitter.com/tUf8DQNz7l
— Zack Bornstein (@ZackBornstein) June 2, 2020
