Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products

I still can’t quite believe that warhorse Virgil is retired from competition, because it feels as though he’s been around and brilliant for…well, my entire career, certainly, and a long stretch before that, too. But since returning home to Oz from the Paris Olympics, he’s been living the life of Riley at Bimbadeen, the Roses’ expansive property, hanging out with the next generation of champions. We can only imagine what those youngsters are learning from him — how to be very good at top-level horsing, probably, but also, in fine Aussie fashion, they’re probably being handed a metaphorical beer and being taught a thing or two that their people would rather they weren’t. Good luck to everyone!

Events Opening Today: SAzEA Fall H.T.

Events Closing Today: Hitching Post Farm H.T.Bouckaert Equestrian H.T. InternationalWaredaca Classic Three Day Event & H.T.YEH West Coast Championships & Last Chance Qualifier

News & Notes from Around the World:

Alright, UK-based shopaholics, here’s one for you. H&H has rounded up their top picks from Amazon’s Prime Day deals, and immediately, I’m pressing ‘buy now’ on that discounted heated gilet, which will also apparently charge my phone. Winter yard days will be forever improved, I reckon. Get your own wishlist sorted here (and yes, there’s some picks for US shoppers, too!)

While we’re on the H&H site, here’s a lovely story about a rescue horse landing on his feet. The Cotswold Cup has become the go-to unaffiliated competition series for grassroots eventers in the UK, who love the smart courses, the chance to compete against fellow amateurs, rather than a sea of pros, and the rare and welcome opportunity to win some serious prize money. And this year’s CC 90cm champion? RSPCA Kastone, who was rescued from a grotty barn as a malnourished yearling, and is now emblematic of how cool rescue horses are. It feels like a fitting story to wrap up this year’s CC season, as the series shows that anyone can be a champion if they put in the work.

There’s so much more awareness about opening doors in our sport than there was even just a couple of years ago — but there’s also a long way to go, still. This piece, from the USDF, touches base with several movers and shakers in the DEI space, including BIPOC equestrians and leaders and a representative from the para-equestrian community, to find out what’s being worked on, what still needs to be done, and how we can all help make our sport a much more inclusive one. Read it here.

Need a bit of inspiration for your ride today? Having an exercise to focus on always gives me the drive to get off my bum and tack up, I find, and this one from Phillip Dutton definitely does the trick. It requires just three fences, and I know that working on it for half an hour will make me — and you! — ride better, more balanced jumping turns and feel a bit less like I’m winging it around courses.

And finally, while I’m currently thinking about nothing more than caning a Grolsch and dancing on a table at Boekelo this week, I’m also very aware of the peripheral buzz of two five-stars to come. First up to bat? Next week’s small but perfectly formed field at Maryland, which is a wide open competition with some seriously heavy hitters in the mix. Tune in to the latest episode of the USEA Podcast to find out all about it and get properly excited for it all to unfold.

Sponsor Corner: Should you be adjusting your horse’s diet for seasonal changes? A horse’s dietary requirements can shift based on season, and there are a few things you can do to assess your current program and make adjustments as appropriate. For example, do you body score your horse going into winter? Doing so is really simple and fast, and can help you get way ahead of the curve where condition changes are concerned. Learn more with Kentucky Performance Products here.

Watch This: 

Relive the Paris Olympics? Oh, go on then!

 

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