We have had a few hours to digest the USEF’s 2011 training and developing rider lists that were released on Wednesday. First, I should say congrats to everyone who made one of the lists–it’s a big honor. That said, one thing that is important to remember is that the odd year training lists are a lot less important than the even year training lists because even years host the Olympics and WEGs. For the USEF, 2011 is all about preparing the US Team’s best pairs for 2012, so I actually like the flexibility that is gained by only naming the riders. Top riders have been working their younger horses into sessions with Mark informally for a while, so why not give everyone the flexibility from the start? If only by the semantics of removing the horses from the list, the USEF is placing a higher priority on rider development this year which is a more sustainable model in the long run.
As for who got named to what list, Phillip and Boyd are no surprises to the A list–they’ll be riding for the Team until they retire, which means that everyone else is fighting for four team spots. I’ll never try to guess at list selection logic, but it is worth noting that the other two A listers (Kim and Amy) were the only other two members of the WEG squad and alternates who did not have something significant go wrong during a fall three-day with their top horses. They didn’t do fall three-days and it seems that doing nothing is better than unsuccessfully doing a fall three-day. All the other usual suspects made the B list along with some excellent younger riders. Now for some other news and notes:
–Wednesday was arrival day at the USEA convention. The only meeting of note was the Richard Jeffrey show jumping seminar [USEA photos]. We’ll be at the convention bright and early this morning with the beginning of what will be a packed schedule throughout the weekend. Apparently our friends at the USEA don’t believe in lunch breaks. We’ll have wall-to-wall convention coverage for the next few days so I won’t say much more about the convention now, other than to mention that the Westin convention center is an incredibly beautiful golf resort. Anyone who needs a fourth–find me golf shoes and a set of clubs, I can go low 80’s. Like I said, more on the convention very shortly.
–I was really disappointed to hear that the mediation was not successful in resolving the Henny situation. We’re back to sitting on our hands until some news comes from the court and no one but the judge has any idea when that will happen.
—Send in your applications now to be Canada’s next dressage coach. Their old one is too busy blogging about eventing.
–Emily Daily wrote about adventures in farm ownership for 3D3W.
–On Tuesday, Zenyatta’s fans braved the cold in Kentucky to see their hero leave for her new life as a broodmare. We will all miss Zenyatta deeply, but I’m glad that she was able to retire in top form.
—A NJ horse rescue is being accused of fraud. That’s an instant ‘people going straight to hell’ nominee.
–As you might know, Madeline Pickens, the wife of oil billionaire T. Boone Pickens, has purchased 500,000 acres in Nevada to house wild Mustangs that have lately been the target of the controversial BLM roundups. But now, local Nevada ranchers are complaining that Ms. Pickens will be fencing off grazing land that their cattle use. It’s cows vs. horses and I think you can guess whose side Eventing Nation takes.
Update: Reportedly, a blog called Bovine Nation has responded by saying “EN sucks, bovines rule”
–Coren says I’m supposed to give Amanda in Rolling Hills a shout out and so I did.
–As a guy, one of the hardest things to do is sit in a car with another guy when Fireworks by Katy Perry is playing and pretend not to like it. I’m just saying.
–This is going downhill fast so let’s end things with a video. This one needs no introduction other than to say: make sure that horse puts on a seat belt. Video via KD.
