Selena O’Hanlon and Bellaney Rock. Photo by Jenni Autry.
We’re sending Selena O’Hanlon and her team all of our love this morning after learning of the loss of her former 5* partner, Bellaney Rock, at the age of 26. Bellaney Rock was a major part of Selena’s string of horses during the 2013 and 2014 seasons in particular, debuting at Kentucky in 2014 after a strong campaign at the then-3* level.
“I love you Bellaney Rock,” Selena wrote on social media. “Only three horses in my whole life I’ve had the privilege of competing 5* with. You and Woody Woodstar in the same 5* at Kentucky. How lucky am I to have two rockstars at the same competition. I owe everything to you and Woody. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Grace Simpson-Stover for giving him the best life until the end. Rocky never wanted for anything from us. Forever grateful to be a part of your life Rocky. You had such presence and will be sorely missed.”
U.S. Events Opening Entries Today
MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill (MD); Hagyard Mid-South Three-Day Event (KY); Ram Tap National H.T. (CA); Willow Draw Charity Show (TX)
U.S. Events Closing Entries Today
Twin Rivers Fall International (CA); Unionville H.T. (PA); Heritage Park H.T. (KS); University of New Hampshire H.T. (NH)
News & Reading
It’s officially Defender Burghley week! We’re proud to team up with Kentucky Performance Products to bring you coverage of all the action on site this week, with both Tilly Berendt and Sally Spickard as your boots, eyes and ears on the ground. Stay tuned for our Ultimate Guide coming today and our Form Guide coming tomorrow as you get studied up on all of the intel before competition gets underway Thursday. In the meantime, you can visit the Burghley website to sign up for Burghley TV, find timetables and scheduling and more.
If you’ve got a senior horse, chances are their eyes and/or vision may be impacted by age or general health decline over time. Eye issues can cause everything from mild discomfort to accelerated deterioration, so it’s best to act quickly to treat any symptoms that make themselves known. Catch up on some primers regarding eye problems here.
Germany is down one short-listed pair ahead of the FEI Eventing European Championships later this month. Anna Siemer has withdrawn FRH Butts Avondale from consideration for selection, citing a minor issue that would have prevented the 18-year-old Hanoverian mare from reaching full peak fitness at the Championships. Read more here.
Sponsor Corner: Kentucky Performance Products
What does eventing mean to you? We asked several competitors at last weekend’s USEA American Eventing Championships, and we weren’t disappointed by the answers!
Video Break
Walk the Defender Dairy Mound question at Burghley with none other than Pippa Funnell:
