Sara Kozumplik has shared that her former horse, As You Like It, has passed on at the age of 34. He had been living in retirement with Sara’s parents not far from her longtime owner, Edy Rameika’s, farm in Virginia. “I cannot express how thankful I am that we had him in our lives so long, and that he left us the way I’d always hoped…..in his sleep at night,” Sara shared on social media.
“Auggie” was a horse of a lifetime for Sara, partnering with her at the Kentucky Three-Day Event, Burghley, Badminton, Pau, and Bramham, to name a few. We found this throwback article on The Chronicle of the Horse in which Sara looks back on the biggest cross country fence she’d ever seen at that point, the Burghley Bounce Bank — it’ll provide a small glimpse at the heart As You Like It Had and the wings he gave to Sara.
“Thank you Auggie,” Sara wrote. “You are one of the four reasons I’m anything in this sport today. Thank you for saving me and taking me places I had no business being at the time. You were tough, funny, kind, careful, and brave as a lion. I’m glad you got to meet Rubens, he’s the same.”
You can read Sara’s full tribute to As You Like It here or in the post embedded above. We’re sending our love to Sara and her family, and all of those who knew and loved Auggie.
Events Opening This Week
Sporting Days Farm January H.T. I (SC)
Events Closing Today
Rocking Horse December H.T. (FL); Full Gallop Farms Jingle Bells H.T. (SC)
News & Reading
US Equestrian has announced the four finalists for the inaugural Heart Horse Award, recognizing horses that have made significant impacts in their communities. The award will be presented during the 2025 USEF Pegasus Awards Dinner on January 23 in Lexington, KY, as part of the 2025 US Equestrian Annual Meeting. The finalists were selected from applications submitted by organizations in the Community Outreach Program, highlighting horses that assist inner-city children, provide calming influences, and contribute to community well-being. Voting is open to USEF members until 11:59 p.m. ET on November 30. Members can cast their votes by logging into their USEF accounts. Read more on the award here.
Japan’s eventing team is riding high after their historic bronze medal at the Paris Olympics and setting sights on even bigger goals. With top riders Ryuzo Kitajima and Toshiyuki Tanaka continuing their training in the UK under Angela Tucker, the team is focused on building momentum for the 2026 World Championships and the LA 2028 Olympics. Horse & Hound has the inside scoop on their strategic plans and efforts to expand their talent pool.
British Eventing has named 18-year-old Alicia Corbett as November’s Howden Way Spotlight Award winner. Recognized for her impressive dedication and sportsmanship, Alicia has had a standout season, including a podium finish at the National U18 Championships and successfully moving up to Novice with her horse, Calvino II. Learn more about Alicia’s journey and what this recognition means for her here.
Bettina Cardinael has been honored with the Cavalor FEI Best Groom award at the 2024 FEI Awards Gala in Abu Dhabi. Recognized for her outstanding work with Belgian eventer Lara De Liederkerke-Meier, Bettina played a key role in a stellar season that included a CCI5* win at Luhmühlen and a 13th-place finish at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Read more about Bettina’s dedication and this well-deserved recognition here.
Sponsor Corner: Kentucky Performance Products
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Posted by Kentucky Performance Products on Thursday, November 14, 2024
Dehydration can be as much of a problem in winter as it is in the summer. Inadequate water intake increases the risk of your horse developing impaction colic.
Summer Games Electrolyte is formulated to support electrolyte replacement and keep horses drinking no matter the season. Learn more about Summer Games here.
Video Break
Need to build some confidence? Try Amelia Newcomb’s “safety circle”:
