Good morning EN! Today one of my favorite events kicks off in Lexington, KY, at the Kentucky Horse Park: NAYRC. Young Riders, while not relevant to most of the adult eventing world, is the holy grail of competition for junior and young adult riders and an important stepping stone into the upper levels of our sport. Repping the US this year are seven one star teams and three full two star teams. I can’t get through this post without a special shoutout to the riders from my old stomping ground, Area V- the only area to supply two full teams (and individuals!), one at each level. I know all the riders competing this weekend have been preparing for many anxious months, and EN is sending lots good karma their way. Today the first jog commences at 3:00pm, and dressage beings Thursday morning. Keep checking EN for further coverage! [US Teams] [Schedule]
The FEI broke down Olympic Eventing by the numbers in a final preview as we get down to the wire- just 10 days to go! 22 nations will compete for gold with 13 teams and 75 total competitors. This year Andrew Hoy will be matching Mike Plumb’s record for Olympic appearances, riding at his 7th games and vying for his fifth medal. New Zealand’s Mark Todd and Andrew Nicholson have been competing at Olympic level for 28 years. The Cross-Country course is approximately 5,700 metres in length. The time-allowed is 10 minutes and the maximum number of jumping efforts will be between 42 and 45. And last but not least, the USA holds the record for most Olympic team gold medals in Eventing – 4 in total, secured in 1932, 1948, 1976 and 1984. [FEI]
Our friend JER was kind enough to send over a link about the ground conditions at Greenwich Park, and big surprise, it’s going to be muddy. Lord Coe, the chairman of the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games, warns spectators to wear appropriate footwear, but long term forecasts tentatively predict better weather during the games themselves. As a last resort, Lord Coe says, there are extra days built in for the equestrian and rowing competitions should the weather deteriorate. [The Telegraph]
Horsetalk did a story about Nina Ligon, one of ten individuals representing a country that does not have a team in the Eventing portion of the Olympics. Nina was last year’s winner of the FEI’s HSBC Rising Star Award, and she hopes that she will inspire other Thai riders to follow their dreams. According to Nina, “to know I was selected from a pool of incredibly talented young equestrians gave me the confidence that I can hold my own on the competition field and the reassurance that I could make my goal of the London 2012 Olympics a reality.” She will ride Butts Leon, who won a team gold medal for Germany at the 2008 Olympics. [Horsetalk]
Wrapping up today’s Olympic news (at least until we get to the blogs) the USEA posted a breakdown of equestrian competitors that will compete in London. Whoever can name all the countries listed by their abbreviations without using Google or their smart phone gets a high five from me. [USEA]
California’s Tamra Smith had an unlucky fall at Rebecca Farm this weekend that resulted in a fractured fibula. After cross country Smith was leading the CCI** on Top Secret, but she fell from her CIC* mount Rafflasia Z after the horse spooked. The fall itself was insignificant, but Rafflasia Z kicked out and caught Smith’s leg once she was on the ground, breaking her fibula. Everyone at EN is wishing her a speedy recovery! [COTH]
Are you interested in becoming a Cavalor Champion? As a participant in the program, you will receive benefits ranging from discounts to promotional support, and in return you are asked to enthusiastically rep Cavalor products and feeds in participating states. One catch- you have to live in one of the following cities: Fairhope, AL; Archer, FL; Grayslake, IL; Hardwich, MA; Williston, SC; Sealy, TX; Benson, AZ; High Springs, FL; Lexington, KY; Walpole, MA; Camden, SC; Ashland, VA; New Port Richey, FL; Lake City, FL; Louisville, KY; Tryon, NC; or Chattanooga, TN. If you are interested, please email [email protected]. [Cavalor]
In the wild American West, this summer’s epic drought is causing problems for wild horse populations. Wild Horse Education predicts intervention will be necessary to help wild horses in parts of the Diamond herd management area in Nevada if the drought continues to last. Domestic overgrazing and fencelines that cut through the herd management area are compounding the problem, and Wild Horse Education founder Laura Leigh is calling for immediate action. “It’s plain and simple. Regardless of how we got here, we are here,” she said. [Horsetalk]
The kind of Action Leigh is calling for is already being taking in California, where the Bureau of Land Management is planning to relocate 12 wild horses to a water source within their herd management area. The horses are staying close to a water source that has dried up due to drought conditions in the Fox Hog Herd Management Area and their condition is deteriorating. The bureau has been trucking water in troughs to the herd, hoping that it would eventually move to the new water source, but since they have not the more drastic measure will be taken. The horses will be caught using a water trap and will be transported to a nearby with a constant water source and adequate foliage. [Horsetalk]
Weird news of the day: A virtual racehorse has been sold at a virtual auction for a very real $5,225. Digiturf.com, a virtual racing website where users maintain their own training operations and race their virtual steeds for real cash stakes. There’s even a $79,000 Championship Series. Five trainers started competing against each other in an aggressive bidding war that drove “Demonic Hamonic’s” price up to its impressive level. [Horsetalk]
Eventing isn’t the only horse sport suffering from the incessant rain in England. [Horse & Hound]
Best of Blogs:
Will Coleman is staying busy in England, “cranking out sets of one-handed push-ups in the driveway, Terrell Owens-style” with “Spartan Martin” and “Papa Phil” after daily morning runs. They also do yoga and ride a few horses. [Will Coleman Equestrian]
Need a horse? Courtney Cooper can help. Courtney is making lemonade from lemons after an injury sidelined her riding for the rest of the season, and she also looking for a new working student. [C Square Farm]
CDP Stables posted a summer update for PRO. [PRO Blog]
Will Connell, the Performance Director for British dressage, showjumping, eventing, para-equestrian dressage, driving, endurance, reining and vaulting teams, is writing an eclectic blog about the Olympics. In his most recent entry, he describes the Olympic Village, volunteer uniforms, the drama surrounding hooking the horses to the athlete’s minibus, his dislike of anonymous internet forums, and odd construction projects around the park. [Will’s Blog and other thinkings from Equestrian Team GBR]
From Cavalor:
Finally I leave you with a word from Horse Quencher; thanks for reading, and as always have a wonderful Wednesday!
Water is the stuff of life. And being properly hydrated make all the difference in performance. In the words of Tiffany Clemons of Terra Wynne Stables, “I had to say thank you for existing. We recently went to a show and our horse stressed more than usual. He was sweating horribly and we were fearing he was going to colic badly. We tried to get him to drink and he wouldn”t touch it. Luckily we had picked up a few samples of Horse Quencher. We put them in a bucket and got him to drink almost 2 full buckets before he showed. He ended up taking his rider to champion that night! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!”
