Did y’all see this flyer? Coach David and a few brave eventers are teeing off to promote the event horse ownership experience. You’ve got to salute their courage–I know the only thing my golf skills would promote is the fact that I should be banned from all golf courses everywhere forever. On the ownership front, if you haven’t already checked out Experience Eventing website, you should. It makes a pretty solid case for the importance of syndication in our changing sport, and perusing the various available syndicates is fun in an “imagine yourself owning a piece of Manoir de Carneville” sort of way. Download the High Performance Owners’ Day flyer here.
Today’s news:
Events Opening Today: The Fork CIC3*/CIC2* & HT (NC, A-2), CDCTA Spring Horse Trials & C.T.(VA, A-2), Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (GA, A-3), Sporting Days Farm Horse Trials (SC, A-3), Spring Bay H.T. (KY, A-8)
Events Closing Today: Southern Pines H.T. I (NC, A-2), Red Hills International Horse Trials & Trade Fair (FL, A-3), Full Gallop Farm March H.T. (SC, A-3)
Using Their Heads: Riders4Helmets announced the winners of its 2012 Craig Ferrell M.D. Equestrian Safety Awards, aimed at recognizing individuals who were exceptional role models for helmet wearing or equestrian safety. Award winners included event riders Allison Springer, Elisa Wallace, Laura Backus and Lucinda Green. [Riders4Helmets] The USEF has approved a new rule that mandates protective headgear for all riders competing at or riding on the grounds of a nationally recognized show. (FEI class competitors may still wear top hats if they so desire.) [Horse Channel]
Cross-border Travel: As participation in equestrian competition reaches a record high, the FEI and the World Animal Health Organization have teamed up to announce a three-year plan to help improve international movement of top-level sport horses. [FEI.org]
Horsemeat Scandal: A total of 13 countries are now embroiled in the horsemeat scandal, with tens of millions of processed beef products having been removed from supermarket freezers and public institutions across Europe since the scandal began last month. Suspicions of international conspiracy have been voiced by government officials. [Horse Talk]
U.S. vs. Canada Voltaire Eventing Jumping Challenge: $5,000 in prize money? That’s not something you hear in the same sentence as “eventing” very often. To be held on March 5 at 2 p.m. at Southern Cross Equestrian in Reddick, Fla., competitors vie off over two rounds (1st round at 1.25m, 2nd at 1.30m). Anyone can enter as an individual and/or a four-person team (best three scores to count). A prelim/int. schooling show will be held earlier in the day. [Flyer PDF]
Help Wanted: The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is kicking off its 5th annual Haydrive campaign, aimed at funding hay costs for its 95 retired racehorses. Donations of either hay or money are greatly appreciated. [COTH]
Found on Facebook: My Virtual Eventing Coach is constantly posting stuff that’s fun to think about and discuss, like this:
