“Hi, my name is Leo, and I am ridiculous”
I’m a little bit in agony that I’m not at Millbrook this year, as it’s definitely one of my favorite events. From my house it is about 8 and a half hours, which makes it one of the longer hauls of the year, but I just adore it so much. I did my very first Advanced HT there in 2010 with Nyls, and I was so very excited to finish clean that I leapt off of him right after the finish line, forgetting that I was tied into my newly acquired air vest, promptly popping that sucker and falling flat on my face. Graceful is my middle name, you guys.
U.S. Weekend Preview:
Millbrook H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Olney Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]
River Glen H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]
Catalpa Corner Charity H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]
Silverwood Farm Summer H.T. [Website]
Windy Wyoming H.T. [Website]
News From Around the Globe:
William Fox Pitt will still tell you that the best horse he’s ever sat on was Tamarillo. And when WFP tells you its hands down the best horse, you should take that pretty seriously. Sadly, Tam passed away at a relatively young age this week, but our friends at Horse & Hound have gathered a great group of pictures from the pint sized gelding’s storied career. [Celebrating Tamarillo]
Chris Burton broke a record when he finished a CCI2* on a 24.5 at Camphire International Horse Trials. Yeah, that’s an FEI level test with a 24.5, which means that Chris now owns the international record for the lowest dressage score at a CCI2* and the lowest finishing score for a CCI2*, since he jumped double clean all around on Santano II. Not bad, Chris, not bad at all. [Chris Burton Blows The Competition Away]
Captain Mark Phillips has reversed the direction in which Burghley XC will run this year, and hopes that it all works out. Many of Burghley’s famous fences that have traditionally been at the end of the course will now come quite early, including Lion Bride and Cottesmore leap, whereas Discovery Valley and the arena fences will come at the end. The biggest change is that the big uphill pull to the Cottesmore Leap is in the first five minutes, and riders will have to be careful not to go too gung-ho early on, so that they have gas in the tank for twelve minutes of competition. [Burghley Course Reversed]
Thousands gathered yesterday to watch the Chincoteague ponies swim across the channel from Assateague. About 150 ponies swam early in the morning yesterday, with only a few escaping into the crowd to cavort around. Made famous by Marguerite Henry’s “Misty of Chincoteague”, the annual event is part of a week long carnival in Virginia, and some of the ponies are auctioned off after the swim. One day, I’ll actually go and see it myself. I have to, it’s right around the corner from me! [Chincoteague Ponies Swim]
Remember Pedro and his Pedroscope? If you’re not familiar with what I’m talking about, this is just too adorable. Pedro, a small pony gelding in London who is owned by the Ebony Horse Club, works his little booty off with inner city kids, but for the longest time he couldn’t even see out of his own stall because he was too short! The kids designed him a “Pedroscope” for his enjoyment, but the story has evolved even more. Check out the video below too! [Inquisitive Pedro]
Throw Back Thursday: “When Strapless Galloped”
Pedro!
