If there’s one thing I will feel some massive FOMO over this week, it will be that I don’t have my dog with me. I first got to see the MARS VIPet Experience at Great Meadow earlier this summer, and it was easily one of the best things I’ve seen at a horse show (or anywhere, honestly). Now, it looks like the pet lounge — which included a dog play area, toys and apparel for sale to benefit nonprofits, and plenty of swag for your dog — has officially pulled in to the Maryland 5 Star and will be on site all week. Be sure to stop by and check it out!
By the way, if you’re attending the Maryland 5 Star this week and you’d like to get involved behind the scenes, there are still a few volunteer positions available! Click here to see what’s still open.
Events Opening This Week:
Events Closing This Week:
FEH & YEH Last Chance Qualifier for West Coast Championship, Course Brook Farm Fall H.T., The VHT International & H.T., Chattahoochee Hills H.T., The Event at TerraNova
Tuesday News:
We are teaming up with RideIQ for a CCI5* course walk at Maryland this week! Join us with resident CCI5* rider Ema Klugman, who will be leading a free course walk on Friday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. Please meet by the start box on cross country — we’ll have goodies to hand out!
If you’d like to follow along with every bit of EN’s coverage of the Maryland 5 Star this week, you can sign up for our Daily Digest email, which will begin sending tomorrow evening and continue through the event. It’s the best way to stay up-to-date on all things Maryland! Click here to sign up.
Did you know that seven of the horses entered in the Maryland 5 Star are graduates of the USEA Young Event Horse Program? This program, which encourages the proper development of potential event horses, has become a well-established pipeline of young talent and it’s always fascinating to keep up with horses who continue to progress through the levels. Find out which horses at Maryland are former Young Event Horses here.
Don’t forget that it’s also Thoroughbred Makeover week in Kentucky! This year’s “Mega Makeover”, an expanded showcase of the off-track Thoroughbred hosted annually by the Retired Racehorse Project, will feature over 500 former racehorses who’ve begun their training in a variety of disciplines, including eventing. You can learn more about this year’s field here.
You know you love a firecracker five-star mare! In the latest Behind the Stall Door column, we get to know a little more about Fylicia Barr’s Galloway Sunrise. This pair is competing in the Maryland 5 Star this week, and she’s sure to have a big fan club cheering her on. Read more about “Sunny” here.
Tuesday Video Break:
Some tips on body clipping (yes, it’s already that time of year again) from Courtney Cooper of C Square Farm:
