Oliver Townend celebrates his third consecutive Kentucky win. Will he make it four in 2022? Photo by Shelby Allen.
Happy Kentucky Entries Day! I’ll tell you something for nothing – in all the madness of the last week or so, watching riders’ giddy social media posts about submitting Badminton entries has really cheered me up. And now we’ll have double the fun, because LRK3DE entries have officially opened and we can start the countdown to next month and the #BestWeekendAllYear!
If you’re planning to head to the Bluegrass State this year, today is a great day to secure your tickets, too, because tomorrow is the last day to get advanced entry prices. Save money now, spend it later at the trade village. It’s only right.
Events Opening Today: Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, Spring Bay H.T., Longleaf Pine H.T., FENCE H.T., Fair Hill International April H.T. & CCI-S, Twin Rivers Spring International
Events Closing Today: Pine Top Spring H.T., Copper Meadows Eventing, LLC H.T., Ocala Winter II H.T.
Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:
Spending too much time stressing about perfecting your position? Don’t – because the perfect position doesn’t exist. Showjumper Karl Cook explains the fundamentals of form vs function – and why the US system tends to emphasize the former at the expense of the latter.
Inmates at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center are benefitting from an extraordinary program. In working with mustangs, they not only give their horses a second chance at life, they also undergo a multifaceted process of rehabilitation themselves. “This is biggest relationship essentially I have here in prison, so I come out here and she relies on me and I rely on her every day,” says one inmate in the program.
The European Equestrian Federation has released a treatise on social license after eventing’s most recent foray into the mainstream media. The piece makes some salient points about how our sport is seen from the outside and why the perspective of a non-horsey viewer is so, so important.
I feel like all of us live in low-ebb fear of ulcers. Horse a bit girthy? You’re already pricing up a scope. Kicking out against your leg? GastroGard costs how much again? Rather than living in fear, learn to spot the signs of gastric ulcers with this useful guide from The Horse. (And then maybe consider taking out an insurance policy in case your horse does require expensive treatment for any ailments in the future!)
USEA has released a clarification for its new Novice B test. If you’re planning to compete at the level this season, be sure to check out the change, which adds some specificity to the walk.
With EHV-1 once again rearing its head at major horse shows, there’s no better time to brush up on your biosecurity practises and intel. Learn how to keep your horse safe from contagious nasties with this handy how-to primer.
Listen to this: Ryan Wood has reliably delivered the goods year-in and year-out, consistently racking up the most cross-country clears of any USEA competitor in a season. Check out his recent stint on the USEA Podcast here and find out how he manages it.
Video Break:
We love Nissan’s commitment to honouring Black entrepreneurs – and we particularly love this insight into Brittney Chambers’s brilliant riding program that emphasises positive mental health.
