Maybe we can hold them hostage
There’s lots of news today, so I’ll keep the intro short. The Olympics is 199 days away!!! If any of you can come up with a plan (minimally invasive) where John would be unable to attend, and I get to go take his place covering the event, I’ll spring for your ticket. Partners in crime. Put your thinking caps on. On to the news..
Doug Payne attended a Progressive Show Jumping Series show in Aiken, SC over the weekend. He came in 3rd in the $10,000 Mini Prix. Both his round and the jump off were clear. Congratulations Doug! [Video here]
One of my favorite bloggers, Kyle Carter, describes how he likes to douse his best clients in water... Check the blog for his New Year’s story. He also chronicles how well his students cleaned up at the year end awards as well as starting Ocala off tremendously with top placings for all his students! [Go Five Ring!]
Gina Miles and Darren Chiacchia are joining Lendon Gray and Courtney King-Dye, among others, at the Third Riders4Helmets Safety Symposium. It’s January 14 in West Palm Beach, Fl. Topics include helmet design, importance of helmets, rider safety, and more. [COTH]
PRO Derbycross is coming up soon in Wellington. Teams of five riders: 3 eventers, 1 show jumper, and a polo player navigate a mix of xc and show jump questions. Boyd’s on Team Smartpak with fellow eventers Jennie B and Phillip, and polo player Nic Roldan. Boyd’s blog has a promotional video from last year including practices and a to die for party. Also, Ke$ha plays in the background, what more could you ask for? [Boyd’s blog]
More from Boyd’s blog, he highlights one of his working students. Emily van Gemeren started with Windurra in September 2011, but she also did a 3 month stint in 2009. She just graduated from Dartmouth in 2011 and is working at Windurra until she starts grad school. [Go Emily]
Are you as excited about the Olympics as I am?! Horsetalk has the lists of countries qualified for each of the dressage, show jumping, and eventing disciplines. The numbers (you know I love em!): 21 total countries represented, 15 countries for show jumping, 11 for dressage, and 11 for eventing. Five countries have teams for all three disciplines: Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Sweden and the good ol’ USA. Everything will be final as of March 1, the deadline. [Horsetalk]
Lewis Whitehall, a blogger for Horsetalk, breaks it down for any male getting roped into seeing War Horse. AKA How to not cry. There’s some awesome tips like laughing hysterically instead of crying or pinching yourself, or not seeing the movie at all. Interestingly though, what I took away from the article is that it mentions a study that suggests too much happiness can be detrimental. Perfect. I have horses. I know all about self-destructive horses that make my heart ache. But then, happier people take more risks… horses are pretty risky. So that means I’m really happy? Wait, what? [Don’t cry]
In more War Horse news, there are some clips up online if you haven’t seen it yet, or if you want to watch some scenes again. [Horsetalk]
Lois Keays writes about the welfare of horses in her latest blog for Barnmice. She bings up an important point that outcry and petitions are not enough. It takes horsemen; those who practice animal husbandry and also have compassion, consciousness, and concern. I feel that the latest legislation has really brought the issue to the forefront, and agree with Lois: things generally start slowly with a few. [Barnmice]
Heather Gilette blogs about “The Eventing Sickness”. You know you have it.
Comedic Eventing is headed to Florida.
Murphy Eventing talks about balance. The good kind that involve friends and family.
That’s all folks! Enjoy your day and go eventing.
