Dara Knot! Photo courtesy of Babette Lena.
A familiar field is sporting a new name! Welcome Dara Knot to the Eventing family! Babette Lena has announced the new name for the Aiken venue, and we are all delighted to see where this new chapter takes us all. As Babette explains it, “the Dara Knot is the Celtic symbol for inner strength, and comes from the Gaelic word ‘Doire’, which means ‘Oak Tree’—representing wisdom, power, endurance and strength. This property embodies all of those qualities, and as we take stewardship of and build on the farm’s strong foundation we felt this name was the most respectful direction we could take. It just seems to make sense as the best way to honor and respect the legacy of Paradise Farm.” Also, small note, due to the predicted ice storm in Aiken this weekend, the open house for the farm will be delayed a bit.
U.S. Weekend Preview (woohoo!):
Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (Reddick, Fl.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]
Additional Volunteering Opportunities: [Ram Tap January Combined Test – Fresno, Ca.]
News From Around the Globe:
Did you know? EN’s News & Notes is always open for news items. Is your facility hosting a clinic? Want to announce a schedule change or other update? You can submit your news item by emailing [email protected] (note: sale ads and working student/groom openings are not permitted — check out Sport Horse Nation for these services — and inclusion in News & Notes is subject to editor discretion).
The Ocala and Aiken migration is well underway, and many eventers are high-tailing it south for warmer temperatures and the opportunity to get a jump start on prep for the upcoming season. Whether it be for a long weekend or a few months, a trip south can be a memorable one that also makes a difference by providing opportunity to focus on and enjoy your horse. If you haven’t made the trek yourself, there are a lot of questions to answer and the process can be overwhelming. So we’re tapping into the think tank that is our EN community. We want to know: what’s your best advice for a first-timer heading south this winter?
Your farrier needs your help. After all, you need his help too! We don’t talk enough about safety in farriery and the necessary precautions required for farriers to work effectively and with the least risk. Farriers should communicate with horse owners and barn managers about safety issues because many of them really do want to improve situations; they just don’t know how. [From the Farrier: 8 Tips for Safer Shoeing]
Attendees of the 2022 USEA ICP Symposium at Barnstaple South Farm in Ocala, Florida on February 8-9 will get a first look at the all-new USEA Eventing Handbook by the Levels. This educational tool was developed over the course of two years and is loaded with materials and resources targeted for all levels of eventing professionals, instructors, and coaches. The ICP Symposium has undergone a reboot and will feature an interactive and inclusive format that encourages participation and input from active professionals at all levels through a hands-on live teaching session. While geared towards eventing professionals, the ICP Symposium is open to all who wish to attend and will feature relevant information that all riders and eventing enthusiasts can learn from. [ICP: Be The Best Instructor You Can Be]
Welcome to Myth Buster Monday (even though it’s Thursday whoopsie), where Horse Nation will be diving into different equestrian myths and providing research-based evidence to either bust or confirm those myths. Today’s topic: chiropractic care in young horses. Is it harmful for young horses to have their bones and joints manipulated while growing? Read further to find out! [Chiropractic for Young Horses?]
