What do eventers do to keep themselves entertained in the off-season? Nicolette Merle-Smith is in France accompanying her parents on a hunting trip. Sounds like she’s having a blast, bounding through gorgeous French forests in hot pursuit of stag. Yesterday she posted on Facebook, “I wish I could just have two lives. One at home, riding my horses, competing, and living the American dream. The other here in France, caring for the Rallye Chouan hunt stables and hounds and hunting all the time. Both are so darn appealing.”
It’s a News & Notes double header! Here’s a photo of Boyd and Silva Martin a-hunting in Chester Counter from their blog. Photo by Alec Thaye.
How about the rest of you, EN? Have we got any foxhunters in the house?
This morning’s news:
If you have your horse on a once-a-month Adequan program, you might want to reconsider. Eventers Jade Anderson and Gwen Patterson explain how using Adequan in accordance with its FDA approved label (one 5 mL injection i.m. every four days for seven treatments) made all the difference in their horses’ soundness. [USEA]
The ASPCA announced yesterday that a total of $250,000 is being granted to 53 equine welfare organizations and animal control agencies across 19 states as part of its Equine “Hay Bale-Out” grant program. The funds will provide relief for horses impacted by the high cost and low supply of hay in these drought-stricken states. [ASPCA]
Researchers from the University College Dublin found that elite racehorses tend to be leaner than their less successful counterparts. The conclusion was the result of a study on the effects of age, gender and training on body composition, and the relationship between body composition, physiological measurements and performance in thoroughbred racehorses. [Horse Talk NZ]
The MidSouth Eventing & Dressage Association is preparing its 2012 Year End Awards. If you think you might qualify, get your scores in by November 30. [Midsouth]
Horse & Hound compiled an amazing list of Carl Hester-isms from a recent clinic, with gems like, “Use lots of forwards and back transitions within the canter to spice up the hindleg” and “It doesn’t matter what type of horse you have, you can teach it square halts – they’re ‘free’ marks.” It’s definitely worth checking out. [H&H]
Video: How does Buzzterbrown keep entertained in the off-season? Check out this video of the Thanksgiving meet with the Blue Ridge Hunt at Historical Longbranch House & Farm. Buzzterbrown writes, “An overdose of horse & hound, with mulled port – yum! If you look carefully you might spot an eventer or two. Thank you Mr. Issacs.”
