Tuesday News & Notes from Cavalor

Kyle Carter and Madison Park. Photo by Sally Spickard. Kyle Carter and Madison Park. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Kyle Carter posted a video announcement on his Facebook page yesterday that Madison Park, his upper level partner of many years, will be retired from upper level competition rather than competing at Rolex or Badminton this year.

“Parker” is 19 this year, and together he and Kyle have completed six CCI4* events, including the 2008 Summer Olympics in Hong Kong and the 2010 World Equestrian Games, representing Canada. Kyle and Madison Park finished fifth individually at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro as members of the silver medal winning Canadian team.

Parker also boasts an incredible comeback on his CV, successfully rehabbing from an injury sustained at Blenheim in 2011 to continue on to compete at the top levels of the sport.

In all, Parker has 35 FEI competitions on his record, the majority of which are three-star competitions. In 2016, he finished 34th at Rolex and this year finished 16th in the Advanced at Rocking Horse Winter II.

We would like to wish Parker the happiest of retirements, though Kyle has said that the Thoroughbred gelding isn’t done competing altogether — we’ll likely see him out playing at the Prelim and Intermediate level, with perhaps an Advanced scattered in for fun.

Events Opening This Week:

Mystic Valley Hunt Club H.T. (CT, A-1), The Spring Event at Woodside (CA, A-6), Virginia CCI/CIC & H.T. (VA, A-2), Coconino Spring H.T. and Dressage Show (AZ, A-10), May-Daze at the Park H.T. (KY, A-8), Equestrians Institute H.T. (WA, A-7), Willow Draw Charity Show (TX, A-5) Flora Lea Spring H.T. (NJ, A-2), Paradise Farm HT (SC, A-3)

Events Closing Today:

University of New Hampshire Spring H.T. (NH, A-1), Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Spring H.T. (VA, A-2), Fresno County Horse Park H.T. (CA, A-6)

News & Notes:

Don’t forget, entries are now open for our 2017 Dubarry of Ireland Rolex Nations Team Challenge Fantasy League! You can select your four team members all the way up until the morning of the First Horse Inspection, and the grand prize up for grabs is a pair of Dubarry boots from our friends at SmartPak! [2017 RK3DE Fantasy League]

The O’Connor Equestrian Eventing Camp is now accepting entries! Confirmed instructors include Karen and David O’Connor, and Cathy Wieschhoff. Campers rotate among all instructors and ride in small groups to ensure each student receives individualized attention. Top level grooms, who assist with horsemanship and lectures, will be available to answer questions regarding stable management and horse care. [O’Connor Eventing Camp]

Big news! The USEA will be offering new Worth the Trust Sports Psychology Scholarships in 2017. The Worth the Trust Sports Psychology Scholarships will be available for the first time this year for Adult Amateurs and Young Adult Amateurs. The first Worth the Trust Sports Psychology Scholarship will be awarded at the 2017 USEA Annual Meeting and Convention, December 5-10, 2017 in Long Beach, Calif. The deadline for this inaugural award is October 2, 2017. [Worth the Trust Sports Psychology Scholarship]

Tuesday Video:

Here’s a great throwback to the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, and if you watch you’ll catch a glimpse of Kyle Carter and Madison Park: