A new niche for the Witch: Mia Farley and The Good Witch tackle cross-country at the American Eventing Championships. Photo via Mia's FB page.
COTH features a happy story about Jennifer Wooten’s four-star veteran mare, The Good Witch, whom she retired from international competitions a year and half ago. Knowing the fiesty “Pooh” wouldn’t be happy out in a pasture, Wooten and the horse’s owner and trainer found a match for the 17-year-old mare in a 13-year-old girl. Mia Farley, who rode her new mount last weekend at that AEC’s, agrees they’re perfect for one another. “We both have our sass parts!” she said. [COTH]
Events Opening Today:
Full Moon Farms H.T. (Marlyand, A-2), Fresno County Horse Park H.T. (California, A-6), Ocala Horse Properties Fall Event (Florida, A-3), River Glen Fall H.T. (Tennessee, A-3), The Fork Horse Trials (North Carolina, A-2), Las Cruces H.T. (New Mexico, A-10), Grass Ridge H.T. (Arizona, A-10), “The Event” at Kelly’s Ford (Virginia, A-2), Fresno County Horse Park H.T. (California, A-6)
Events Closing Today: The Virginia CCI1*, CIC2* and H.T. (Virginia, A-2. Registration for 3-day only closes today), Hagyard Midsouth Three-day Event & Team Challenge (Kentucky, Area 8), Paradise Farm H.T. (South Carolina, A-3), Fair Hill International Three-day Event (Maryland, A-2), USEA XENTRY Demo Event (Arizona, A-10)
News:
Forget Obamacare, the government shutdown could impact the horse industry. And not just the postal service delivering your horse’s new blanket. The American Horse Council outlines an overview of potential problems, including freezing USDA quarantine facilities, blocking access to public lands for riding and halting processing of temporary worker visas for the thousands of people our industry relies on. [AHC]
Metallic eyeshadow in eventing? Luxury designer label Polo is bringing the new International Horse Trials to Johannesburg this weekend and the local press offers some tips for spectators at horsey happenings. “Overly glamorous and over-the-top dress codes at a polo match or horse show are a sign that people are not understanding the brief,” one fashion consultant says. “It’s a fashion lifestyle event, not a red carpet event. People need to not only distinguish between day wear and evening wear, but must also make an effort to look more polished by knowing the difference between day make-up and night make-up. No metallic eye shadow, please.” He means for spectators, of course. If you can find matching saddle pads, boots and helmet cover, we see nothing wrong. [SundayWorld]
Flies croaking, but WNV and EEE cases creeping up. Even though some of the nasty little devil’s spawn are freezing to death and we’re trading fly spray for clippers, horses around the country continue to test positive for both Eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus, reports thehorse.com. As of last week, there were 139 cases of EEE, and 157 cases of West Nile reported. The totals remain lower than last year. [thehorse.com]
Find a ShowReady Ice System in your trailer when you were unpacking from Texas? Alas, this was not part of an Oprah Winfrey style “Look under your seat! Everyone gets a car!” type- promotion from ShowReady. A helpful friend of vet and instructor Cynthia Wiseman carried the unit back to the trailers and put it in what she thought was Wiseman’s tack room. However, it was the wrong one. If you found one, please let her know at [email protected]. She says her pony is really missing his spa unit.
SmartPak Product of the Day: Is your horse’s blankey still bearing the “customization” scars he and his pasture pals incurred last season? Time to face one of life’s saddest truths: Duct tape is not forever. Instead, the Horseware Blanket Repair Kit comes with everything you need to fill those holes in your pony’s insulation. If only they made a similar kit that would fill the holes in your horse’s training. Or in your memory of exactly what you said three glasses in at the competitors party.
Video of the Day:
Not seen on the drive back from Texas:
