My wonderful groom-in-training husband snapped this photo over the weekend looking out over the cross-country course at Poplar Place. Weather is always a gamble this late in the season but it couldn’t have been more perfect in Georgia: brisk mornings that saw horses prancing their way across the free-walk diagonal to the start box and sunkissed, 70-degree afternoons. It was Poplar’s final event of the year, and the event’s organizers–along with organizers across the country–are owed a big round of applause for helping to make 2012 another fantastic year for eventing. There are only five horse trials left on the calendar: River Glen, Ocala Horse Properties, Las Cruces and Ram Tap, all taking place this coming weekend, and Pine Top’s Thanksgiving weekend event. Then it’s a full month of crickets before things start firing up again in the balmier parts of the country. Anyway, here’s wishing you all mild winters to see you through until your first event of 2013.
Here’s your morning eventing news:
‘Tis the season for schooling shows: Brush up on your showjumping skillz at the TaylorMade Jumper Show, to be held on Sunday, December 2 at TaylorMade Stables in Mt. Airy, Maryland. The show is a fundraiser for international mounted games competitor Mackenzie Taylor and her partner Inky. 18″ through 3′ jumping heights are offered. [Info]
Today at the USEA: Leslie Threlkeld interviews Maj. Laurie-An Lanpher, a Joint Base Charleston Airman, about balancing her eventing goals with a military career. Also, check out this profile of 17-year-old Lydia Kennedy, who won the final SmartPak Equine USEA Training Three -Day of 2012 at Rocking Horse aboard Subtle Dream. [USEA]
Continuing Education: The Canadian Eventing Symposium is scheduled to take place Dec. 1-2 at Thunderbird Equestrian Show Park in Langley, BC. This year’s presenters include David O’Connor, Hawley Bennett-Awad, Rebecca Howard and Jessica Phoenix and special guest Liz Ashton. The weekend features practical training sessions, and riding demonstrations along with panel discussions. The pre-registration deadline is Nov. 23. [Horse-Canada]
Speaking of ways to keep oneself entertained in December: Don’t forget about the USEA’s Annual Meeting and Convention, taking place in Colorado Springs Dec. 5-9. This year’s keynote speaker is Mary King (!!!) and the gathering features an array of seminars, forums, and meetings along with annual inductions into the Eventing Hall of Fame. [Schedule]
Get well soon, Lucinda Green: The British event rider is still in recovery from a trampling incident last week. Bedside visitors include Mark Todd, who brought her a bottle of champagne on her birthday last week. [Horse & Hound]
Best of the Blogs: A big congrats is in order for Laura Szeremi’s successful foray into “jumping the red numbers” over the weekend at Texas Rose HT. She writes about it on her blog–which, Laura, might be due for a renaming. [Tales from a Bad Eventer]
Runner Up: Do you need a limited edition oil painting print of wonderhorse Neville? Sure you do–just think how great it would look hanging in your tack room, reminding you that anything is possible with determination, or perhaps in your horse’s stall for a little role model action. The artist is Chris Johnson, a student at Savannah College of Art & Design. [Boyd & Silva]
Found on Facebook: Headquartered in Jersey, our friends at Horse Quencher took a beating from Sandy last week. Read their fun post about felled beehives, a lucky bear and the importance of keeping Horse Quencher on hand to ensure that your horses stay hydrated even in the event of an emergency. [HQ’s Facebook]
Video: Phillip Dutton answers questions, and hands out autographed photos and FLAIR® Nasal Strips to all the course walk participants at Rolex earlier this year. [FLAIR]
