Jamie and Nicole at NAJYRC in 2012. Thanks to Sheryl Kursar for the photo.
It’s every equestrian teenager’s favorite season: NAJYRC has officially kicked off in Lexington at the Kentucky Horse Park. Pictured above are Jamie and Nicole Doolittle, two sisters who are competing in dressage and eventing, respectively. Nicole rides for Area III and will be competing in the CCI1* aboard Tops. Jamie is an eventer as well (and was recently named to the Eventing 18/Advancing Athletes list), but will be riding Wild Tiger in the dressage competition. Good luck to the Doolittle sisters and all other competitors!
Weekend Preview:
Coconino Classic 3-Day Event & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Times]
Fitch’s Corner [Website] [Entry Status]
Olney Farm [Website] [Entry Status/Times]
Aspen Ridge [Ride Times]
Good news from Britain: Laura Collett walked down the hall of the hospital she is recovering in on Monday. Laura suffered serious lung injuries after her mount Tis A Beauty had a rotational fall at Tweseldown a week ago. She was kept under sedation for much of the week to help her lungs heal, but from the sound of things she is on track to getting back to normal. [Yahoo Sport]
Moves are being made to allow Princess Haya a third term as FEI President. Under current FEI rules, presidents must step down after serving two four-year terms, but Horsetalk reports that regional group chairs had submitted “a formal unanimous request that the FEI statutes be modified so that the term of the president may include one additional four-year term.” Under current rules, Princess Haya would have to step down in 2014. [Horsetalk]
Kentucky Performance Products is hosting a “Trail Riding Rocks Contest” and lucky winners will receive KPP products. All you have to do is submit a photo of you and your horse hitting the trails and tell KPP why your horse is a great trail buddy. Be sure to have your friends vote on your entry because the top 10 highest vote-getters will move into the finals, from which the KPP judges will pick the winners. The deadline for entry is July 31. [KPP Trail Riding Rocks Contest]
There was a royal presence at Brightling Park in Suffolk, England, last weekend. Zara Phillips competed in the CIC2* days after announcing her pregnancy, placing 29th and 35th on Mr Murt and CG Master Lu. Her husband Mike Tindal was in attendance and told reporters Zara is working with her doctors and will keep riding as long as possible. In addition, Sir Mark Todd also competed. [Weekly Times]
Australian equestrians are gearing up for Normandy. The 7th annual WEGs are roughly 13 months away and riders are anxiously awaiting the announcement of elite training lists to know who is in the running. Eventers were told that the Normandy Elite List would be announced after the Sydney CDI held in May, but as of yet no announcement has been made. Currently there are five horses on the preliminary Normandy list. [Weekly Times]
This week on the Eventing Radio Show: Samantha and Jess preview Rebecca Farm. Ian Stark, upcoming young competitor Zach Brandt and organizer Sarah Broussard Kelly join them as guests. [Eventing Radio Show]
As you may have read, The Chronicle has been purchased by Mark Bellissimo and his family. Kat Netzler writes about her own reflections on the sale, backlash from readers, and the future direction of COTH. [The Chronicle]
Today’s video: check out footage from the inaugural Kilguilkey House International Horse Trials, which took place from July 6-7 in Ireland.
