Looking for a fun thing to do over Valentine’s weekend this year? Bundle up and head over to Loch Moy Farm (Adamstown, MD) for their Hot Pink X-Derby on February 15 and 16! Loch Moy Farm and its team work hard every year to create a calendar that features not just top-level FEI and recognized events, but also plenty of accessible and educational activities designed for everyone. The Hot Pink X-Derby will make use of the venue’s arena infrastructure and is a great opportunity to get some rust knocked off over cross country and show jumping fences. You can learn more about this and other events at Loch Moy Farm here.
Events Opening Today
Carolina International CCI & H.T. (NC); Ocala Winter II (FL); Ram Tap National H.T. (CA); Pine Top Spring H.T. (GA); Masterson Equestrian Trust YEH/NEH Qualifier (KY)
Events Closing Today
Rocking Horse Winter II (FL); Ram Tap H.T. (CA); Jumping Branch Farm H.T. (SC)
News & Reading
Are horses and riders fit enough at the 5* level? This was the topic of a panel session mediated by German Olympian Bettina Hoy during the FEI Eventing Open Forum earlier this week. ““One thing that has come up in a lot of our committee meetings when we talk about previous five-stars and championships, is that we do notice a lot of the horses and also the riders are actually not fit enough. They have the MER [minimum eligibility requirement], but the level of fitness seems not good enough,” Bettina said. Horse & Hound reports more here.
Uncertainty surrounds the Irish eventing calendar this year after disagreements between Eventing Ireland and a group of Event Organisers (EOGs) that has resulted in a flurry of public statements outlining a potential withdrawal of several events from the 2025 schedule. Eventing Ireland’s board released this statement on Monday.
Some of the top 9-year-olds in the world have been tapped by EquiRatings as horses to watch in 2025, and one of them hails from the U.S. Find out who EquiRatings is keeping an eye on here.
Can horses get depressed? It’s a different process to determine this in comparison to humans, who can fill out a questionnaire or sit down and voice their emotions to another, but how do we make this determination in horses? Horse Sport dives in here.
Sponsor Corner: Kentucky Performance Products
Impaction colic is a real threat during the winter when conditions are dry and horses are drinking less water. Here are three easy tips to ensure your horse Is getting enough water this winter!
Tip 1: Provide moist feed when possible.
Tip 2: Keep drinking water from getting too cold or freezing.
Tip 3: Ensure horses are consuming adequate levels of salt.
Click here to download an infographic for your feed room. The more you know!
Video Break
A different view, from the vital seat of the navigator on a combined driving course at TerraNova this past weekend!
