Equestrian Park looking amazing! 🤩 #Tokyo2020 #Equestrian pic.twitter.com/uiXFB9YJHc
— Carola Brighenti (@CarolaBrighenti) July 5, 2021
What an epic journey it has been to the Tokyo Olympics, and we aren’t even factoring in the long flight over. The whole thing still seems like a vaguely terrible idea, what with tens of thousands of visitors coming to a country that is only 13.8% fully vaccinated and is experiencing a sharp uptick in its caseload. A member of the Ugandan team tested positive for the highly contagious delta variant upon arrival, and we’re just getting started — the opening ceremony is still over two weeks away, on July 23.
Nonetheless, the show shall go on, and it sounds like there is good protocol in place to keep everybody safe. We’re certainly looking forward to cheering on Team USA, in eventing and beyond. The Olympics are such an incredible showcase of indomitable human spirit and the far reaches of physical ability. Did any of you catch Simone Biles in the gymnastic selection trials? Just wow.
Sally Spickard will be reporting live from Tokyo for EN, so you’ll want to keep it locked here throughout the month. Be sure to get on the mailing list for our Olympic Digest, sent Mondays starting this then daily starting July 28 — you can sign up here.
Holiday: National Fried Chicken Day
Events Opening Today: Genessee Valley Riding & Driving Club H.T., Huntington Farm H.T., Great Meadow International, Full Gallop Farm August H.T., Ocala Summer II H.T., Caber Farm H.T., Metamora Hunt II Pony Club H.T., The Event at Archer
Events Closing Today: Course Brook Farm H.T., Horse Park of New Jersey H.T. II, Silverwood Farm Summer H.T., Event at Rebecca Farm
News & Notes From Around the World:Â
See the British Olympic eventing team horses enjoying their final outing before Tokyo. All four horses ran in the open Intermediate class at Kesoe and jumped double clears, while they took it slow cross country. After this last run on British soil, they’ll quarantine before boarding the plane to Tokyo. [Horse & Hound]
Hope is fading in the fight for the Irish dressage team’s place at the Tokyo Olympics. A further appeal was dismissed against Horse Sport Ireland (HSI), whose decision to not to take up the place was met with great backlash. [Horse & Hound]
The world’s tallest horse has died in Wisconsin. The 20-year-old Belgian named “Big Jake” is recorded as measuring 210.2 cm — think about 20 and a half hands or 6′ 10 3/4″ at the withers — and weighed 2,600 pounds. After Sampson, who towered at over 21 hands, he is the second-tallest horse on record. [Associated Press]
For IEL Team Wilmerding Equestrian, it’s all about the journey — and celebrating success along the way. Learn more about this USEA Interscholastic Eventing League team based at Wilmerding Equestrian in Gladstone, NJ and Ocala, FL. [USEA]
