Thursday News & Notes from Virginia Horse Center Foundation

Lisa Barry and F.I.S. Prince Charming. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

We’re sending our love to 5* rider and #supergroom Lisa Barry, who shared news of the loss of her 5* partner, F.I.S. Prince Charming or “Peanut”.

“This horse was my whole world! He taught me how to ride with softness and finesse because he was sensitive (even if it took me 3 years to figure it out 🙃),” Lisa wrote on social media. “He taught me how to be brave and trust my instincts xc, because he was so reliable and loved his job so much. Even the hardest courses felt like driving a very expensive race car on auto pilot! He taught me how to go into the show jumping ring and remember to breathe and stay focused to produce a clear round. Even in his retirement at my parents place, he continued to teach others. He had so much love and goofiness in him that he made everyone that crossed his path have a smile on their face and a warm heart. He was my first five star horse and my best friend. There will never be a horse quite like him.”

Peanut was 21 years old this year, and together he and Lisa competed at FEI levels together from 2011 through 2016. They made two trips to the Kentucky Three-Day Event, and while a completion wasn’t in the cards for them either year, Lisa came away with some lifelong experience and an education of a lifetime from this New Zealand Thoroughbred gelding.

Much love and sympathy to Lisa and Peanut’s connections. Losses like these are the opposite of easy, and we hope you’re caring for yourself during this time of mourning.

Major International Events

Les 5 Etoiles de Pau (France): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Timing/Scoring] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage] [Support Our Sponsor: Horsepal]

U.S. Events This Weekend

YEH West Coast Championships & Last Chance Qualifier (CA): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scores]

Waredaca Classic Three Day Event & H.T. (MD): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scores] [Volunteer: Classic Three-Day] [Volunteer: H.T.]

Bouckaert Equestrian H.T. International (GA): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scores] [Volunteer]

Windermere Run H.T. (MO): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scores] [Volunteer]

Hitching Post Farm H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scores] [Volunteer]

News & Reading

Terry Hilst has a long personal history of loving and supporting eventing. The former organizer of the now-defunct Camelot Equestrian Park event in California, Terry found a new opportunity to foster community and build a base of support for eventing in her home state through her purchase of Fresno County Horse Park (affectionately named Ram Tap before, and now called this once more in the wake of Terry’s ownership of the property). It’s a labor of love that Terry now brings to the beloved Ram Tap facility, which hosts recognized and unrecognized competition opportunities throughout each season. You can still enter Ram Tap’s USEA Classic Three-Day Event next month, and you can also find other ways to support Terry’s ongoing labor of love here.

US Equestrian recently hosted a Virtual Town Hall meeting to allow constituents to voice concerns on topics such as horse welfare, reporting abuse and rule changes. The meeting was organized around a short series of major topics—including how to report abuse, the regulation of supplements, horse welfare guidelines, the roles of officials, and rule change proposals—with a speaker giving a short overview and then answering questions from members. A recording of the town hall will soon be made available online. In the meantime, you can find a summary here.

We’ve often heard the adage that an off-track Thoroughbred can have hoof challenges, for a variety of reasons. So how can we cultivate a better foundational foot for these hardworking and versatile horses? Farrier Sean Plumlee, CJF, based in Redmond, OR, and veterinarian Karen Laidley, DVM, of Fruition Farm Veterinary Services, also in Redmond, agree that with the right approach, most Thoroughbreds can grow better feet over time. Read more on the topic here.

Sponsor Corner: Virginia Horse Center Foundation

Ashton Benefiel and Libris Charlotte. Photo by Sally Spickard.

It’s almost time for the VHC Eventing Fall H.T.! Featuring FEI divisions through CCI3*-S and all National divisions, it’s a weekend that promises to be an epic recap to the season. Start planning your visit, from accommodations to dining recs to golf cart rentals and more, here, and we’ll see you soon!

Video Break

A bet is a bet! After Maryland 5 Star winner Felix Vogg won, he also lost a bet with his groom, Orla Thompson, who now has the privilege of cutting his hair. Check out the glow-up(?):

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A post shared by Felix Vogg (@felixvogg)