Meghan and Pirate, post-European adventure. Photo courtesy of Jil O'Donoghue.
The Wayne Eventing Derby is held every year at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois, as a way to help shake off winter rust for the midwest. Two rounds of jumping, one over portable cross country jumps and the other over stadium fences, are held in Lamplight’s lovely rings. Levels from Starter to Preliminary are offered, and each year the organizers designate a cause they’d like to contribute towards.
This year, the Wayne Eventing Derby has decided to help of one their own achieve a dream. Meghan O’Donoghue has plans to return overseas again with Pirate this fall, after an uncharacteristic fall ended her Burghley dream early. The organizers will be donating a percentage of every entry towards Meghan’s trip, and the more who come out to play, the more money will be raised!
U.S. Weekend Preview:
The Fork H.T. & CIC [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]
CDCTA Spring I H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]
Chattahoochee Hills H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]
Spring Bay H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]
The Ocala Horse Properties International Festival of Eventing has added a VIP hospitality tent for this year’s event, which will be held April 8-12 at the Florida Horse Park. The hospitality package covers admission, preferred parking, open bar, gourmet lunches and dinners, and snacks. Individual seats in the hospitality tent are $125; a full table (six seats) is $600. [Order VIP Tickets]
Camphire International in Ireland has gained Alltech and GAIN feed as sponsors. The CIC3* has gained both of these companies as title sponsors of the class. Last year, the Mike Etherington-Smith designed course attracted riders and spectators alike at Camphire House and the Browne family farm. Held near Blackwater River in late July, Camphire International is looking to continue growing into a world class event. [Alltech and GAIN Partner with Camphire International]
Now I know what Verdades is really like. Next up in the Chronicle of the Horse Behind the Stall Door series is USA’s brightest dressage star, Verdades. Surprisingly, Laura Graves is not only his rider, but also his groom, and knows him as well as the back of her hand. [Behind the Stall Door]
Podcast from the USEA: This episode, Karen and Stephen Fulton, who run Full Moon Farm in Maryland, talk Pony Club. Tara Shegogue drops by to discuss her recent article on farriery for the modern event horse in USEventing’s latest magazine. [USEA Podcast]
This week on the Eventing Radio Show: Jennie Brannigan and Kurt Martin. This week Jennie Brannigan talks about her recent racing debut with Where’s the Beef, a steeplechaser owned by Nina Gardner. Kurt Martin joins in to talk about his grant to Bramham while also discussing his interest in course design. [Eventing Radio Show]
Sadly, Glengarrick has passed away. Glengarrick, along with his rider Heelan Tompkins, were the highest placed NZL combination at the 2004 Athens Olympics, finishing in seventh. In addition, they won the 2005 Puhinui CCI3* and were second at the 2002 Boekelo CCI3*. [Rest In Peace, Glengarrick]
Blogger extraordinaire Kristen Carpenter recounts her weekend at Carolina. Despite a fairly dismal weekend, for which her family members drove far to watch and saw very little of her, Kristen still had a blast all weekend. She was lent show coats by Olympians, watched show jumping at the open bar, and was fed by the organizers for the duration. All events should be like this. Especially the open bar. [Eventing Isn’t Us Versus Them]
SmartPak Product of the Day: Now that the season if finally about to get started up here in the north, everyone is dusting off their trailer after it sat covered in snow all winter. I always need to check my haynets, as I inevitably leave hay from the fall sitting in it. I like using haynets with small holes, like this one from SmartPak. The smaller holes keep the mess my horse makes down to a minumum. [SmartPak]
Rocking Horse wrapped their season with their spring event last weekend. Here’s peek at the Intermediate water.
