This lady: I need to meet her
Happy Thursday, Eventing Nation! Right as you’re reading this, I’m probably all stuffed into my truck with two horses in tow for Southern Pines Horse Trials! I’m excited, as the Carolina Horse Park is always one of my favorite venues, and I get to (hopefully) escape the forecasted snow in Virginia! If you’re heading down there with me, don’t forget that they are still requiring a 72 hour health certificate, and the ride times have changed from the initial posting earlier this week. I don’t have any cutesy story for the intro right now, I’m basically packing more of my stuff in my head, so let’s get down to brass tacks here.
Events This Weekend:
Poplar Place HT: [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Southern Pines HT: [Website] [Ride Times]
News From Around The Globe:
The Germans are heading out in full force this weekend for the FEI Nations Cup at the Complet International de Fontainebleau in France. This is the second year of the Nations Cup Eventing Series, and last year (surprise) the Germans were the winners. They intend to repeat this pattern this year, sending Michael Jung with La Biosthetique Sam & Leopin FST, London 2012 team mates Sandra Auffarth and Dirk Schrade, as well as Andreas Dibowski, Kai-Steffen Meier and Frank Ostholt. A total of eight nations are in a position to field teams of a minimum of three or maximum of four riders for this year’s series: France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain. Exciting! [FEI Nations Cup Eventing Series Kicks Off]
In the best kind of feel good news you can get, Laura Collett recently found out that her partner Rayef is guaranteed to stay with her for life. Rayef’s owner recently began going through a divorce, and it was thought for a while that Laura would have to struggle to syndicate him to keep the ride. However, Rayef’s owner, Jason Houghton, told Laura that there will be no sale, and that she can keep Rayef forever after he retires. Yay!! [Dreams Do Come True]
If you’ve seen some fancy racing trophies on eBay recently…chances are, they aren’t legally there. Several sterling silver trophies used for the Virginia Fall Races at Glenwood Park in Middleburg, VA, were stolen from the home of the chairman Gary Baker. “I came home, and I found a light on in my bedroom that I couldn’t remember having left on,” said Baker, who lives near Middleburg and had left the home unlocked. “I went to turn it off, and I saw the box where I kept the trophies. All of the sterling silver trophies were gone. They left one sterling silver trophy behind. I can’t swear that it happened at that time, but I can swear that I didn’t leave that light on.” [Race Trophies Stolen]
SmartPak Product of the Day: I feel like “Shoulders BACK!” is probably the most over-used phrase within lessons today, for pretty much everybody from your five year old niece trotting over poles, to occasionally even Phillip Dutton. Therefore, my selection is my favorite thing ever from SmartPak: the EquiFit ShouldersBack Lite because not only does it improve your posture, but if you’re like most of us riders, you’ve got some old quirks and pains in your back, and this really helps. Seriously though, why not wear something that will make your position effortlessly better?? [SmartPak]
Going to Southern Pines? Riding an OTTB?? Why not enter yourself for the CANTER Mid-Atlantic competition for top-placing Thoroughbreds while you’re there? Executive Director Allie Conrad will be there in person to award prizes to the best performing OTTB’s at the event. [CANTER Sponsors OTTB Awards at Southern Pines]
Best of Blogs: Sometimes, a Short Term Sacrifice Can Have Long Term Rewards
Remember Elisa Wallace and her mustang Fledge?? Check them out in the new year at the 2013 Southern Horse Bonanza Expo!
