We’re wishing Ariel Grald the best as her recovery continues from a broken pelvis and several other injuries sustained in a fall at Bromont in June. Ariel has returned home to continue recovering and we know she’ll have the best possible support team around her to keep herself and her horses ticking along.
U.S. Weekend Preview
Summer Coconino HT and Western Underground, Inc. TR,N,BN 3 Day Event (AZ): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]
The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
Genesee Valley Hunt H.T. (NY): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]
Huntington Farm H.T. (VT): [Website] [Volunteer]
News & Reading
Preparations are well underway for the 2025 Agria FEI European Eventing Championships at Blenheim Palace (Sept. 18–21), marking the first senior championship on British soil in a decade. With Sunday grandstand tickets already sold out, increased tradestands, new lakeside hospitality, and high expectations for attendance, organizers are aiming for a gold-standard event. Captain Mark Phillips’ cross country course will begin taking shape in August, blending fan-favorite features with exciting new elements. Coverage will be available via BBC iPlayer, Eurosport, and FEI TV. Read more here.
Megan Neth’s OTTB gelding Rio was a pro in the hunter ring but a drama king at home, prone to meltdowns over everything from spooky straw bales to squawking geese. After ruling out medical issues, Neth turned to CBD—and within a few weeks, she noticed a calmer, more relaxed horse. As research into CBD’s effects on equine stress, inflammation, and pain grows, experts like Dr. Joyce Harman advise careful dosing, product transparency, and awareness of competition rules, as CBD remains a banned substance in many sports. Always consult your vet and check local regulations before trying it. Read more here.
Not all pain in performance horses shows up as obvious lameness, said Dr. Erin Contino at the 2025 Equine Science Society Symposium. Behaviors like tail-swishing, sluggishness, or resistance to contact may point to deeper musculoskeletal issues, gastric ulcers, or even airway or muscle disorders. Using tools like the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram and thorough diagnostics—including nerve blocks and medication trials—can help identify pain-related performance issues. “Very rarely are they misbehaving just to misbehave,” Dr. Contino emphasized, urging riders and vets to work together to get to the root of the problem. Read more about this here.
Sponsor Corner: Virginia Horse Center
Photo by Veronica Green-Gott
Looking to gain mileage in a relaxed, educational setting? Join the Virginia Horse Center for its Fall Schooling Horse Trials & Combined Test, August 23–24—perfect for green horses, new riders, or anyone wanting a tune-up before the busy fall season.
🟢 Saturday: Open Schooling Day
School all three phases—dressage, show jumping, and cross country—from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Open format, trainer-friendly, and safety-monitored. Pre-register at EventEntries.com or enter day-of.
🔵 Sunday: Unrecognized HT & CT
Divisions from Starter to Training (HT) and Intro to Modified (CT), plus dressage test-of-choice. Entries close August 12; late entries accepted through August 18, space permitting.
Courses designed by Tyson Rementer. Volunteers welcome—contact Gammon Lee ([email protected]) to help out!
Brought to you by the Virginia Horse Center—your go-to for learning, fun, and forward progress.
Video Break
David O’Connor gives us some basic tips on mounting and unmounting in this US Equestrian education piece:
