Is there any good luck charm more potent than a kiss from La Biosthetique Sam FBW? We reckon not – and it looks like Michael Jung agrees with us. He made sure to fit in some good cuddles with the now-21-year-old (and new baby Lio) before jumping on a plan to try to scoop up another couple of gold things for his trophy cabinet with fischerChipmunk FRH. If Sam needs to be hacked out while you’re away, Michi, you know where to find us.
Holiday: It’s World Refugee Day. Want to learn more about the refugee crisis, or keen to help with relief efforts? Visit Worldwide Tribe for educational resources and to subscribe to their excellent podcast, featuring frank and honest conversations with asylum seekers and those working in the sector. Or, head to any of these super charities (or, of course, another not on the list!) to donate, volunteer, or buy refugee-made goods:
- Refugee Action works to help asylum seekers once they’ve reached the UK, providing advice and resettlement support and fighting to avoid the years of limbo that refugees can often find themselves in
- ActionAid focuses its attention on women and children, providing resources and support in displacement camps and working to minimise sexual violence against refugees
- Choose Love offers an innovative way to donate: you can buy supplies for refugees from a shopping list, with every budget represented, and they sell gorgeous merchandise, too, the proceeds of which goes directly to supporting refugees around the world
- Women for Refugee Women creates an essential support network and helps displaced women to develop their existing skills and gain new ones. Through workshops, lessons, and activities, this super group gives women the chance to begin their new lives with dignity
- Safe Passage focuses its attention on the thousands of unaccompanied children who make it to Europe each year. The charity provides safe access to resources and support as they face the legal quagmire of resettlement
- Refugees at Home matches refugees with people in the UK who have a spare room, whether for the short term or a long stay. This doesn’t just provide a safe shelter – it’s also a great psychological support to people who often feel wracked with loneliness after a horrific odyssey away from war and persecution
- Care4Calais is one of the foremost charities operating on the ground in Calais. These groups sprung up as refugee camps formed in the area years ago and no major charities were willing to get involved at ground level. Now, even after the disbanding of the ‘Jungle’ camp, C4C continues to operate out of its warehouse, sorting donations and managing distributions for the refugees sleeping rough in Calais and Dunkirque
(Author’s note: Okay, okay, I flubbed this one. World Refugee Day was June 20. I no longer know what days, weeks, months, or even years mean. Apparently today is Moon Day! And that’s great. But you can also help the aforementioned charities any day of the year, and that’s also great.)
Events opening today: American Eventing Championships, Adequan Advanced Final and ATC Finals, Chattahoochee Hills H.T., Silverwood Farm Fall H.T., Woodland Stallion Station 1 Day H.T., Bucks County Horse Park H.T., Course Brook Farm Fall H.T.
Events closing today: Hoosier H.T., Millbrook H.T., Area VII Young Rider Benefit H.T., Cobblestone Farms H.T. II, Fair Hill International H.T., River Glen Summer H.T., Spring Gulch H.T.,
News and Notes from around the world:
A distressing new documentary from BBC Panorama is highlighting the plight of ex-racehorses in the UK, with covert footage gathered in one of the country’s biggest abattoirs showing the true extent of the cruelty within. Now, some of the sport’s biggest names are under fire for letting their horses suffer. [Horse racing: Thousands of racehorses killed in slaughterhouses]
The dressage horses and riders got a headstart on Tokyo tours, and we’re taking full advantage of that. Check out Steffen Peters‘ snaps as he prepares for his fifth Games. [Steffen Peters’ Photo Tour of Tokyo Olympic Equestrian Center]
One of the focuses of this Olympic cycle – other than, you know, COVID-19 – is sustainability. At this Games, nearly everything will be constructed from recycled materials — including the medals themselves. [Tokyo 2020 highlights the possibilities for a circular economy]
British-based Canadian eventer Mike Winter is outspoken in his allyship — and Strides for Equality Equestrians (SEE) has delved further into his perspectives and his view of racial inequalities in the horse world with this great interview. [Ally Interview: Mike Winter]
One of Tokyo’s major sponsors has pulled the plug on its Games-related advertising. Toyota has expressed concerns that the Olympics are too polarising this year for the Japanese public and could spark ill will towards the company from consumers. [Olympic sponsor Toyota pulls Games-related TV ads in Japan]
And finally, a spate of Rio equestrian competitors are en route to Tokyo for another crack at a big win. Meet them here. [Rio Stars Looking to be the Toast of Tokyo]
Want to get all of the latest Olympic eventing news in your inbox? Sign up for our free Olympic Digest newsletter, sent each Monday and then daily beginning July 28. Upon sign-up, you’ll receive a welcome message containing links to any editions that were already released. Sign up here.
Best of social media:
Listen: The latest episode of the USEA podcast delves into all things Tokyo with Erik Duvander and Jenni Autry. Listen here.
