Doug Payne and Crown Talisman at yesterday's Aiken training session, photo via the USEF High Performance Facebook page
Good morning EN! Yesterday the Aiken High Performance training sessions wrapped up for the final time. As March comes to a close most of the migrants will begin to pack up and head back north (even though warmer temperatures have yet to appear). This weekend most of the Aiken-based crew will head to North Carolina to compete at Southern Pines. Yesterday the secretary sent out a reminder that horse park officials are still requiring a health certificate issued within 72 hours of arrival in order for horses to be allowed onto the property. As reported yesterday, the EHV-1 outbreak has made the jump across the pond. As the event officials wisely decided, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Weekend Preview:
Poplar Place [Website] [Entry Status]
Southern Pines II [Website/Times]
In a big victory for the Event Riders Association (and proof of the power of the internet), the FEI has announced significant changes to the new qualification framework it announced this year after the ERA collected nearly 1,500 signatures on an online petition asking the FEI to review its new rules. The changes make it easier for a rider to become “categorized” and ensure that no categorized rider has to start at the one-star level with a new mount. Click to read the full text of the changes. [MER Revisions]
In case you missed it yesterday, Jenni announced about a new monthly feature on EN that we are very excited about: the SmartPak Mystery Product Series. Our generous sponsor SmartPak has given us a great product to give away each month to the lucky EN winner who can guess its identity. We will be posting clues about this month’s prize each day throughout this week (the next one will be up at 11am today). Click to read more about the contest, find information about entering, and see yesterday’s clue. [SmartPak Mystery Product Series]
The USEA posted a nice preview of Southern Pines on its homepage yesterday. It is the second of eleven Adequan USEA Gold Cup Qualifying Events to take place this year, and there will be a lot going on this weekend besides riding. PRO is hosting a golf tournament as well as co-sponsoring “Britches and Bling,” a night of dinner and dancing with a live auction, along with the Carolina Horse Park and the Cancer Care Fund. Tickets are $25 for competitors and PRO division owners, $45 for non-competitors. [Southern Pines Preview]
Monsoon season is adding another worry to British event organizer’s plates: insurance rates. According to Horse & Hound, the rains have caused insurance premiums to rise in response to a greater number of cancelled events. Several organizers have reported that their rates have risen by 50% or more since last year, when insurers were forced to payout to an unprecedented number of events after rain washed away more than 100 days of competition. Some organizers do not take out insurance, but cancelling an event can cost those without it between £1-2million. [Horse and Hound]
Congrats to Ciara Mcmurtrie, the US winner of Cavalor’s “Like, Share, & Win” Contest on their Facebook page. Ciara, along with two winners from Belgium and The Netherlands, will receive a brand new iPad. Check out Cavalor’s North American Facebook page for more contests, promotions, and photos. [Cavalor North America]
Kiwi eventers are out in force this weekend at Amberley One Day Horse in order to prepare for next month’s FEI South Island Three Day Event. Young Rider Katie Rankin and her mount Time To Tango Too will be aiming for a personal best rather than a competitive finish, as they are the only pair entered in the Advanced. [Horsetalk]
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