Thursday Reader from Devoucoux

One of the things that makes horse people a uniquely bizarre species of the human race is our enthusiasm for gifts that might as well have our horses’ names written on the “To” tag. Dog people don’t get freak out when someone gifts them a new squeaky toy. Cat people don’t squeal with delight when someone gifts them a bag of tuna-flavored kitty chews. Give a horse person a present they can use on their horse, though, and watch the sparks of happiness fly.

As you wrap up your last-minute gift shopping for the special horse people (and horses) in your life, please choose to make your holiday purchases through our sponsors. Not only are they all fantastic companies with top-quality products, their support enables us to continually provide you with the news, commentary and ridiculousness you’ve come to expect. ‘Tis the season to show them some love in return!

Here are your headlines:

Not a ton going on in the eventing world, I’m not gonna lie. The biggest headline I could scrounge up was a USEA announcement regarding the 2013 leaderboard point system and eligibility requirements. Explains the press release, “The major change from previous years is that a horse or rider can move up a level, but will still retain the leaderboard points earned at the lower level. For example: if you are on the Junior Training Rider leaderboard with 45 points and you move up and complete more than two Preliminary level competitions, then you will keep your 45 points on the Junior Training Rider leaderboard. But, after completing more than two Preliminary level competitions, any further points earned at the training level, will not be applied to the Training level leaderboard.

The point chart has also been updated to reflect the Novice Three-Day and Beginner Novice Three-Day point values. Points for the BN3D and N3D are the same as a CIC* while a T3D and P3D are equivalent to a CCI*.” Got it? [USEA]

The dressage world, on the other hand, is rocking. 2012 Olympic individual and team gold medalists Charlotte Dujardin and Velegro capped off their banner year with a win in the fifth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League series at Olympia in London. [Horse Talk] In the same competition, Dujardin’s Olympic teammate Carl Hester left the arena to a standing ovation after his final competitive ride aboard Uthopia. They scored a 79.9% to finish third behind Dujardin and Isabell Werth. [Horse & Hound] Where to from here? According to the Chronicle, Hester has stated that both horses are for sale. Dujardin hopes to gather a syndicate to purchase Valegro so she can continue competing him. [COTH] Speaking of owners, those of Pan Am Games gold medalist Weltino’s Magic have decided to extend a lease that will enable his rider, 18-year-old phenom Brandi Roenick, to continue competing him at least through the fall. [Dressage-News] And… the USEF has appointed new USA Dressage High Performance and Eligible Athletes Committees. [USEF]

Best of the Blogs: Jitterbug, the Chronicle of the Horse‘s “quadruped correspondent,” uses his letter to Santa to dispel any opinions that he might be better suited to Santa’s “naughty” list. [COTH]

Found on Facebook: …A really gross picture of eventer Katie Ruppel‘s arm bending in a way it totally shouldn’t be bending (the official diagnosis was dislocation). She took a spill during a jump school and, while lying facedown on the ground in pain, requested that her buddy Ashley Adams take a picture of her mangled arm. That’s an eventer for you.

Also, Laine Ashker reported that her mother Valerie suffered “a broken leg and countless stitches” after getting pinned beneath a tractor this morning. Here’s wishing her a speedy recovery!

Video: Are you one of the 18,000 (and counting) people who has seen Horse Nation’s 6 Videos of Little Girls TOTALLY Freaking Out Because They Got a Horse for Christmas post? Here’s an excerpt:

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