Just a little sneak peak at Carolina International! Photo by CrossCountry App.
This is my favorite 2-3 week period of the year, this beginning of spring weather. The grass is super green, the first trees and bushes and flowers are blooming bright colors, and my horses don’t need hay thrown out in their fields anymore! Nothing makes me happier than seeing new tasty grass growing after so many months of looking at brown and grey lands. Carolina is also the first event where the background looks properly green, and it never ceases to raise my spirits coming out of winter.
U.S. Weekend Preview
Carolina International CCI & H.T. (Raeford, Nc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Live Stream] [Volunteer]
Full Gallop Farm March II H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]
March H.T. at Majestic Oaks (Reddick, Fl.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]
Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (Tyler, Tx.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]
News From Around the Globe:
Buying a young horse but looking for more guidance? Purchasing a young horse can be challenging but, three eventing professionals, who specialize in young horse training, provide advice when shopping for a young event horse. Learn more from Martin Douzant, Tim Bourke, and Kelty O’Donoghue, all of whom specialize in bringing young horses along and are regularly successful in the YEH and FEH classes. [Tips When Shopping For a Young Horse]
We always say, “No hoof, no horse”, but why do so many of us leave it up to the farrier to know everything? While it’s fairly easy to see obvious hoof problems, such as distortion, cracks, or rings, balance problems can be much more subtle. In this article, you’ll find the tools you need to read between the lines when looking at your horse’s feet. They explain what a “perfect foot” should look like, and will outline a five-point foot check you can use to evaluate basic foot balance. With this information in hand, you’ll be able to tell if your horse’s feet are happy, or when trouble might be brewing. [Reading Your Horse’s Hooves]
Dr Tracey Cole is an accredited neurolinguistic programming (NLP) coach based in the UK. She specializes in coaching equestrians to be confident and calm in the saddle after finding success with NLP in treating her own show nerves. As an expert on the equestrian mindset, and a rider herself, Dr Cole understands the unique pressures that come with riding and competing, whether you’re a Dressage Diva or an Eventing superstar in the making. Confident riders, Dr Cole says, are not necessarily born that way. Which is great news, because it means that any of us can become confident in our own abilities. [Stay Calm & Confident in the Saddle]
I love a good older horse story. At twenty-seven years young, the beloved Brazilian Warmblood Rio or Lanciano as he is known in the show ring, continues to compete. Just this past week, Rio proudly carried twelve-year-old Amanda Huard to top ribbons at WEC. With the same owner since the age of five, Rio didn’t fancy retirement, and is well known for his impeccable manners both in the barn and the show ring. [27 And Going Strong]
