Megan and "Festy" at last year's Adelaide CCI****, photo via ESJ
Good morning and happy Thanksgiving-eve EN! I hope you are all having a good start to the holiday season. This is definitely a slow time for eventers around the country (and for us writers) but believe it or not there is still one event happening this weekend over in Georgia at Pine Top. The Thanksgiving Horse Trials will run all levels but Advanced, with dressage beginning on Saturday. I just did a quick check of the calendar and it appears that this is the very last event of the 2012 season. Make sure to check out the final point standings on USEA- you might end up with a ribbon at the annual convention, which begins two weeks from today on December 5 in Colorado Springs. Good luck to all competitors this weekend! [Pine Top] [Entry Status] [Overall Leaderboard]
Today’s big story comes from the land down under: Megan Jones has withdrawn Kirby Park Irish Jester from this weekend’s four-star AI3DE and announced his retirement after a bothersome adductor muscle injury flared up this week. The 19-year-old Jester (also known as Festy) has been with Megan since birth and carried her to a bronze medal at the 2006 world championships and silver at the Beijing Olympics. “Jester has a passion for competition like no other horse I have ever ridden and the partnership I have with him and still have, is one that I will cherish forever,” Jones told Horsetalk. Jester will spend his days working lightly on the Jones family farm. [Horsetalk]
Speaking of the aforementioned annual convention, the schedule of seminars is up and it looks to be an interesting weekend. On Wednesday there is a seven hour Richard Jeffery show jumping workshop (FYI it requires extra registration), and on Thursday there is a seminar called “Xentry Explained.” On Friday, among many other things, there will be a talk called “Recent Innovations in Equestrian Safety” presented by Charles Owen and a chance to meet David O’Connor at “The Care and Coaching of our Future Olympians.” On Saturday there is a round table discussion about “Issues Affecting the Sport” and the Annual Meeting itself featuring keynote speaker Mary King (!!). Click for registration info, schedule, and more. [USEA Annual Meeting] [Schedule]
Dr Donal Geaney, the breeder beind Mr Medicott, has been honored with a Horse Sports Ireland Breeders Award for as the year’s best “Breeder of the Top International Event Horse.” [Horse and Country]
The USEA’s ICP is sponsoring the 2013 Ocala Symposium next February at Longwood Farm South. The event is open to the public and will feature British eventing team coach Yogi Breisner, Linda Zang, and David O’Connor. [USEA]
British international Grand Prix dressage stallion Donnersong has been put to sleep at the age of 22. Donnersong had a successful career with Carl Hester, reaching its high point in 2000 when the duo won 12 out of 17 international classes they entered. Read more about Donnersongs life in this article from 2004. [Horse and Hound]
Three-year-old Danish Warmblood colt Sezuan has broken a record at his 35-day stallion performance test in Denmark, earning a record 987.5 points out of a possible 1000. Oh and he won the competition by more than 100 points. [Horsetalk]
The US Polo Association has named the men’s lineup for the International Polo Cup doubleheader against England that will take place in Wellington this Saturday. The best of the best will be competing for both teams, and proceeds from the match will go towards a planned expansion project at the National Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame. [COTH]
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) have issued a joint statement calling for strengthening of the Horse Protection Act in response to the ineffectiveness of the current measure to prevent abuse in the Walking Horse industry. [Horsetalk]
That’s all for today EN, enjoy your holiday and thanks for reading!
