Tuesday News and Notes from Cavalor

Alex Ahearn and Mai Baum. Photo courtesy of USEF Eventing High Performance's Facebook page. Alex Ahearn and Mai Baum. Photo courtesy of USEF Eventing High Performance's Facebook page.

The Eventing 18 and 25 programs are underway at Tucalota Creek Ranch in sunny Temecula, California. Check out USEF Eventing High Performance’s Facebook page for updates and photos from the training sessions, including this photo of Eventing 25 rider Alex Ahearn and Mai Baum tackling Coach Leslie Law’s jumping exercises.

Stay tuned for updates, recaps, and other commentary on the training sessions! Go Eventing.

Events Opening Today: Full Gallop Farm February II H.T. (SC, A-3), Rocking Horse Winter III H.T. (FL, A-3), Sporting Days Farm Horse Trials II (SC, A-3), Sol Events Season Opener at Circle T  (TX, A-5), Twin Rivers Winter H.T. (CA, A-6),

Events Closing Today: Poplar Place Farm February H.T. (GA, A-3), Sporting Day Farm Horse Trials I (SC, A-3), Galway Downs Winter H.T. (CA, A-6),

News and Notes:

Get to know Leah Lang-Gluscic’s AP Prime: It’s not everyday that a $750 OTTB qualifies for Rolex, but AP Prime is ready and rarin’ to go. Leah Lang-Gluscic shares the story of how she met AP, and how his career change from racehorse to eventer has taken him from a green jumper to an upper-level competitor. [USEA]

Cavalor Feed for Thought: Is winter weather giving your horse cabin fever? Your hot horse could benefit from a nutritional adjustment. Feeding your horse a diet low in simple sugars and protein can help prevent spikes in blood sugar (and thus energy levels), as well as feeding a dietary supplement that helps balance out any nutritional deficiencies or hormonal imbalances. Chamomile, inositol, magnesium, taurine, thiamine, and tryptophan are some common ingredients in calming supplements; click the following link to read about each nutrient and how it can help your overreactive horse. [Feed for Thought]

Rescue ponies go missing: Two Shetland ponies who were rescued by Holly’s Horse Haven in Ireland have gone missing after being placed in a foster home. Tyson and Bam Bam were nursed back to health after being rescued from deplorable conditions, and the foster home was presumably a certified charity. The director of Holly’s is concerned that the ponies were stolen or sold without permission. [Horse & Country]

NZ’s Clarke Johnstone is one to watch: Following a series of setbacks that kept him sidelined from New Zealand’s 2012 Olympic team and working hard to rebuild his competition momentum, Clarke Johnstone made a comeback in December by winning the Puhinui International 3-star event. He now has his eye on this year’s Badminton and Luhmühlen with his new horse Balmoral Sensation. We look forward to seeing more of Clarke and his flashy gray on the international field! [Nelson Mail]

Rudy the rescued “dead” horse is on the long road to recovery: Tangled up in a fence, chewed up by animals, and left for dead, Rudy survived a horrific ordeal and has since been rescued and treated by Blaze’s Tribute Equine Rescue, Inc. Despite drastic injuries including a broken jawbone and having both ears and eyelids ripped off, Rudy has been described as “feisty” and responding well to treatments. To read more about Rudy’s story, click the following links; please be aware that some of the images show extensive injuries and could be disturbing. [Horsetalk: Supporters rally to help Rudy fight for his life] [Horsetalk: Oklahoma’s Rudy is on the comeback trail]