Everybody falls
Ralph Lauren ads a touch of truth to a campaign for his Big Pony fragrance collection with a model sporting a (pristine white!) cast. The plaster “accessory” brings the shot only a tiny closer to horse sport reality – alas, the volunteers who will chase me down for my pinney this weekend at the Colorado Horse Park will probably not look like these guys.
Over the weekend, Colleen Rutledge fractured her hip during a fall at Morven Park, just as she was poised to ride Covert Rights in his first CCI3* at Fair Hill in two weeks. Instead, she’ll will be recovering from surgery. EN wishes Colleen, and everyone else healing from a (real) horse-related mishap, a speedy recovery.
Events Opening Today:
MeadowCreek Park H.T. – The Fall Social Event (Texas, A-5)
Events Closing Today:
Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Georgia, A-3), Heritage Park H.T. (Kansas, A-IV), Holly Hill Fall H.T. (Louisiana, A-5), Waredaca H.T. and Classic Training 3 Day Event (Maryland, A-2),
News
Shutdown on Chincoteague. An annual roundup of wild ponies on the Eastern shore of Virginia has been cancelled due to the government shutdown. Every fall, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company rounds up the Assateague Island herd for a vet check before winter. Oddly, moronic government shutdowns were not mentioned in Marguerite Henry’s tale of the ponies’ trials and tribulation in her iconic 1947 book “Misty of Chincoteague.” [NBC12]
And you thought the trakhener was your biggest worry on course. Horse&Hound offers a roundup of near misses between horses and cars on cross country courses a month after Tom Rowland and his horse were hit by a car during cross country at the Hartpury Horse Trials. Apparently, Americans are better drivers (or our volunteers directing traffic are fiercer) as a quick search revealed no similar trend of incidents on this side of the pond. [H&H]
Nation’s unemployed masses flock to farrier school? The Minneapolis Star Tribune features the story of Matthew Pederson, who, following advice and testing from his local government WorkForce Center for unemployed residents, went to farrier school and is now transitioning to the industry full time. “It’s shocking how physical the work is,” he told the paper. [Star Tribune]
Learn stuff (for free!). The USEA’s announced two Future Event Horse Educational Seminars scheduled for High Point Hanoverians in Chestertown, Marlyand on November 16-17 and at DGBar Ranch in Hanford, California on December 14-15. Both will feature presentation by breeders, judges and a biometrics specialists. Open to the public and free to members, the seminars are aimed toward anyone with a passion for young event prospects. [USEA]
Horses have no respect for history, ice makers. Horses have been running amuck throughout Mesa Verde National Park in southwest Colorado, stomping the park’s famed archeological sites, vandalizing ice making machines in search of water and tearing up the wiring on a weather station. Officials are backing off a plan to manage the 150 wild horses, but not as a result of the urging of horse-advocacy groups who want to see the horses remain as a viable part of the park. They simply lack the staff and funds to manage them. [Denver Post]
SmartPak Product of the Day:
Avoid deciding whether its cold enough for a jacket and make it simple for yourself, go for the vest. The ELT Scarlett Vest has a snuggly lining, water resistant outer fabric, high collar to hide the dripping snot on those brisk mornings, and two zippered pockets so your phone/sugars/ibuprofen don’t bounce out. Granted, a Hit Air or Point Two vest would better prevent you from needing this feature, but if you do happen to be sporting a sling like the unfortunate Polo model, the Scarlett Vest is a convenient option for layering up.
“In my drunken state of mind the other day, a pony disappeared,” – The Pony Thief.
” That’s life,” – The Pony Owner.
For today’s video, in the spirit of Boekelo, in the Netherlands which is near Denmark, we present one man’s quest to find his stolen, 12-foot tall pink pony.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQLZwvnU55I
