Classic Equine Equipment’s Facebook page">
Jump the shark? From Classic Equine Equipment’s Facebook page
I don’t know what the story is behind this photo–where it was taken and whether the shark was actually on the course or just put there to freak riders out during their walk. (If you have insight, please fill us in via the comments section below.) However, it did get me to thinking: What if the the USEA staged an annual “extreme” eventing championship? No prissy dressage tests or rinky-dink show jumps–just one giant, terrifying cross-country course to determine the bravest event horse in the land. I’m thinking flaming brush jumps, max cinderblock tables, ditches full of snapping turtles, a water complex overflowing with bubble bath, a keyhole resembling a portal into outer space, maybe a race against an Indiana Jones-style rolling boulder near the end. Instead of flags there are pulsing red and white strobe lights, and instead of jump judges there are demon clowns. Imagine the excitement! Consider the mainstream public appeal! Talk to your people, USEA, and let us know what you think.
In the meantime…
Events opening today: University of New Hampshire Spring H.T. (A-1, NH), Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Spring H.T. (A-2, VA), Fresno County Horse Park H.T. (A-6, CA)
Events closing today: Morven Park Spring H.T. (A-2, VA), Full Gallop Farm H.T. (A-3, SC), Rocking Horse Spring H.T. (A-3, FL), Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (A-5, TX), Galway Downs International Horse Trials (A-6, CA)
Your news:
Cali High Performance + Developing Rider/Eventing 25 Training Sessions: David’s first stop is Flying Tail Farms in Gilroy today, with lessons beginning at 8 a.m. Auditors are welcome. The address is 9380 New Ave./ Gilroy, CA. The schedule is as follows:
8:00 – Teresa Harcourt
8:45 – Kelly Pugh
9:30 – Jolie Wentworth
10:15 – Bea di Grazia
11:00 – Jolie Wentworth
11:45 – Camille
12:30 – 1:00 – lunch break
1:00 – Brynn Littlehale
1:45 – Zach Brandt
2:30 – Abbie Read
3:30 – Bea di Grazia, Zach Brandt, Kelly Pugh, Matt
4:30 – Matt, Brynn Littlehale, Teresa Harcourt, Abbie Read
The sessions continue on Wednesday and Thursday at Next Level Eventing in Temecula. [USEF Eventing High Performance’s Facebook page]
Red Hills remix: Kat Netzler penned a wrap-up for the Chronicle here; Tallahassee.com concluded its coverage here.
The news from Tweseldown: Eventing Worldwide posted a comprehensive report from this popular early-season British event, whose Intermediate winners included Andrew Nicholson (NZ), Vittoria Panizzon (ITA), Tim Rushbridge (NZ), Kitty Kind (UK). As Tori noted yesterday, William Fox-Pitt competed on Running Order, Doug Payne’s former 4* mount, and Clark Montgomery was in action on Universe. [Eventing Worldwide] [ [Tweseldown Results] Lucinda Fredericks continues to recover in the hospital from four broken ribs and a broken collarbone following a rotational fall at the event. [Horse & Hound]
Farewell, HSBC: The bank is withdrawing its global sponsorship of eventing at the end of this season after a six year partnership with the FEI. The HSBC FEI Classics series included Pau, Adelaide, Rolex, Badminton, Luhmuhlen and Burghley. The FEI sounds hopeful that the series “will be snapped up by another sponsor keen to get global visibility in the equestrian world.” [Horse & Country]
Lucinda’s lawsuit: A rider whose horse broke its neck on a Lucinda Green XC the Safe Way Clinic has received a £35,000 out-of-court payment. The rider claimed that the accident took place after Lucinda instructed her to jump a fence the wrong way; Lucinda countered that although the jump was flagged that way from a recent hunter trials it was perfectly jumpable from either direction. [Horse & Hound]
Video: Check out this helmet cam video from Diane Zrimsek and Mister President from Full Gallop last weekend. The pair finished in 7th on their dressage score in a division of Novice.
