Good morning EN! Today I am excited to introduce the newest inductee to eventing’s (Irish) blogging sphere, Power Eventing’s head groom Emily Dunn. Esib Power will be at Barbury competing for a spot on the Irish Olympic squad with September Bliss (“Seb”). Emily’s first post, “Harry Potter and the Tentative First Blog,” covers her decision to be a groom (made while she was riding with Paul Tapner, after realizing she wasn’t going to be the next Mary King and learning that she was “blessed with OCD, military style organization skills and a love of well turned out horses”) and taking the plunge from being part of a team to leading the charge at Power eventing. Currently Esib and Emily are based at Maizey Manor Farm, where they will remain until winter when they head back to Esib’s home in Ireland and the comfort of an indoor arena. They will be heading to Barbury with six horses. Go Power Eventing. [Anecdotes by Emily]
Sinead Halpin wrote a new blog post for the Chronicle and talks about why she chose to forgo Bromont in favor of giving Tate more time to settle into a routine in England before Barbury. Apparently she was ready to head to Bromont until she got home from Rolex, found herself with a very fit horse, and decided at the last minute to run at Jersey instead. She also gives readers a sage piece of advice: ultimately, it’s all on you. “There’s no point in blaming your result on the weather, the coach, the final warm-up, the saddle or 100 other things… When your feet are in the irons, the responsibility is yours.” [The Chronicle]
Veteran dressage rider Anky van Grunsven has been once again named to the Dutch dressage team, riding Salinero. She will head to London along with Edward Gal and Adelinde Cornelissen. This is Anky’s seventh consecutive Olympics and 18-year-old Salinero’s third. They will be defending individual gold and team silver. [Horse and Hound]
The only female rider with the potential to ride for Saudi Arabia at the Olympics is out of the running due to horse injury. 20-year-old Dalma Rushdi Malhas would have been the first female rider for Saudi Arabia to ever go to the games. Earlier this year Malhas spoke at the IOC Women and Sport conference in Los Angeles and said, “I cannot yet compare myself to the riders of the Saudi first team, but I am determined to give my best to reach their level one day, and prove that all women athletes, all over the world, should be given equal opportunities.” Go Dalma. [Horsetalk]
Going to Young Riders? HorseShow.com is offering free judging of a test ride video to all eventing and dressage riders headed to NAYRC. Submit a video of your test to HorseShow.com and international international dressage judge and renowned eventing dressage coach Natalie Lampinge will judge your ride. In addition, any area or region team that submits at least three individual riders’ videos to HorseShow.com will receive $500 towards their travel expenses for NAYRC. Videos must be submitted by July 15. [USEA]
Ohio’s Gemwood Horse Trials has been cancelled due to the heat, drought, and lack of entries. On Gemwood’s website, organizer Laura Beaver wrote, “With entries slow to come in, I am unable to make the necessary financial commitments that must be made in order to host the horse trial.” She announced the decision in advance of the closing date so that riders can potentially still enter other events. Riders who did enter will be given a full refund. [COTH]
Today on Horse Nation: Confessions of a former USEF Drug Testing Assistant. [Horse Nation]
Nutwell Court Horse Trials in England has a record number of entries, most likely due to the high number of cancellations due to rain this spring. 470 horses will compete over July 3 and 4. According to organizer John Colson, they are absolutely delighted. Fingers crossed for sunshine! [British Eventing]
21-year-old British jockey Campbell Gillies, winner of the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, died on Monday while on vacation in Greece. He was there with fellow jockeys. Gillies was based in Scotland and rode for Lucinda Russell, who posted the following statement on her website: “He was a much loved, popular and respected member at Arlary House, and it is so hard to lose part of our ‘family’. Our hearts go out to his mother Lesley, brother and sister Finlay and Rita.” Rest in peace, Campbell. [Horse and Hound]
In England, six horses were rescued from neck-high flood waters after a river burst its banks. [Horse and Hound]
Best of Blogs:
Silva rode in the PVDA Ride for Life
SmartPak’s newest “Ask the Vet” installment
Finally, there aren’t any new videos floating around the internet, so I am posting a Buzzterbrown throw back- specifically from the 2007 Morven Park Advanced. Enjoy your Wednesday, and thanks for reading.
