The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be attending the final day of Badminton (May 3-7) to present prizes to competitors after show-jumping. William’s equestrian endeavors are well-documented; Kate, on the other hand, is allergic to horses. [H&H]
Learn how you can be a part of eventing as an owner at the Experience Eventing Reception. The event takes place Sunday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Kentucky Horse Park Visitor Center and is free and open to the public. [Experience Eventing]
A reception for stakeholders from both the thoroughbred racing and thoroughbred sport horse industries will be hosted by Keeneland on Friday, April 27, which is the last day of Keeneland’s Spring Race Meet and the second day of Rolex dressage. The event is presented by the USEF, the Jockey Club, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Keeneland. The venue is the Limestone Cafe at the Keeneland Sales Pavilion, and it is scheduled for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free food and drink, and the first 100 people receive tickets to a “Concert on the Lawn” afterwards. If you are interested in attending or send a message to Shealagh Costello at [email protected].
Horse-Canada.com catches up with William Fox-Pitt on his way to the airport to see Parklane Hawk off on the plane. His immediate plans? “It’ll be all about Rolex this week and then we’ll focus on Badminton and the big dream of winning the Rolex Grand Slam.” [Horse-Canada]
The USEA Membership Department has a few friendly reminders for you. Check them out here.
Australian sports opinion website The Roar observes that eventing is “a very expensive endeavour” and that “athletes must have a lot of money behind them in order to even qualify.” Despite the fact that it is clearly written by a non-horseperson, the article goes on to keenly suggest that the country needs more sponsors and scouts in order to get great, and not just financially well-heeled, athletes to the Olympics. [The Roar]
Hot on Horse Nation: Katy Groesbeck recaps her mixed bag of a weekend at Twin Rivers Horse Trials; a Rolex first-timer sends out a request for tips; and Lorraine Jackson uncovers the story of the first female Olympic equestrian.
Best of the Blogs: From Carter eventing, “On a side note I’ve decided to start a special feature blog, it is called ‘The Real Road To The Olympics.’ Every 4 years there are articles written called the road to the Olympics covering the difficult final months of preparation to get to the competition. Really though this is exit ramp to the Olympics, and not much use for those who want to to develop top horses with that goal in mind.”
Runner-up: Behind the Bit makes the wise suggestion to take your horse’s measurements before you head off to Rolex, so you “don’t get to Rolex and wonder what size SMB boots you should get, or whether the snakeskin-lined halter will fit your horse.” She also recommends simply leaving your credit card at home if you don’t think you can resist temptation.
Found on Facebook: From Heather Youngblood, “Yep…it was that kind of weekend! Got some bad news about lil Reedy, but I’m really lucky to have great friends to help me deal…especially some that have a twisted sense of humor about it.”
