Tidbit the pony won this blanket from SmartPak through 3D3W
Greetings Eventing Nation. Every few months I go through a labor of love making various design changes on EN based on reader suggestions. Since I have virtually no web design background, it’s a character building experience that is akin to a digital version of ‘Pin the Tail on the Donkey.’ As you have probably noticed, I have made several minor adjustments to the EN site design over the past couple days, including the flame icons on posts with more than 10 comments to highlight the most popular posts, and added numbers in the comment section. The idea behind the numbers is to make referencing/replying to comments easier within the comment threads. As always, Eventing Nation is a site for and from our wonderful readers so please let us what we can do to make the site better in the future. Now for some eventing news and notes…
–The Wall Street Journal is reporting that several animal-welfare groups are banding together with ranchers to revive the US slaughterhouse industry. The article explains that when Congress closed US slaughterhouses in 2007 horse exports for slaughter to Mexico climbed by 50,000 the next year, which is roughly the number of horses slaughtered in the US the previous year. The article voices several more arguments in favor of horse slaughter, but I wonder what slaughter advocates would say about slaughtering other domesticated animals. I hate the idea of horse slaughter because I view horses as so much more than livestock, but it seems like momentum is growing for slaughter advocates. [WSJ]
—Organizers of the Rio Olympics are on the defensive after similarities between their logo and a Colorado-based charity foundation were discovered. The logo, which was revealed on New Year’s Eve, portrays several figures embracing. It was soon noticed that the design resembles the logo for The Telluride Foundation, a Colorado charity. Of course, the Olympic designers are saying it was a coincidence. I’m not sure which is worse–that they might have stolen the logo or that they might have cheated and still came up with something this bad. You be the judge: 
–In other news, 70 abandoned stray horses are causing havoc in southern Wales. The local authorities closed roads over the New Years holidays to avoid accidents cause by the horses roaming on the roads, but reportedly the Wales residents were too drunk at the bars to care. [Horsetalk]
–Two weeks after she passed away, the FEI has written an ‘In Memoriam” press release for Rebecca Broussard. Frankly, it’s embarrasing that the governing body for horse sports throughout the world can be so out of touch sometimes but I suppose late is better than never. [Press Release]
—‘Tis the season for tack room mold [Smart Horse Keeping blog]
–A recent report suggests that EPM incidence in horses is holding steady since 1990 as discovered by laboratory tests. But 43% of veterinarians said they diagnose EPM without using laboratory testing, relying instead on neurologic exam and the horse’s response to EPM medication. Sometimes it is more effective to treat and observe than to test. Anyone who has experience dealing with EPM knows that we need to find a better way to diagnose and treat the condition. [Thehorse.com]
–Our friends at the Island Equestrian Park in British Columbia have won a spot in the Pepsi Refresh Everything Project which is a community grant project that rewards a $25,000 grant. Island Equestrian Park will use the grant to repair the arena and fencing, but they need your votes to win. Visit www.refresheverything.ca/island22 to vote for the Island Equestrian Park.
–A local Canadian site reported on Tuesday that the Canadian Eventing Team qualified for the Olympics at the WEGs. That’s not really new news in any sense, but it’s 0 degrees in Canada right now so I guess there’s not much else going on. [Langley Advance]
—Best of the Blogs: Sinead writes about getting a new groom and the work dynamic in her barn
–Last but not least, Pennfield has added several new dealers over the past few weeks. Click here for a full dealer directory, but if you are training in Florida this winter be sure to check out the list of new dealers–
Wagon Wheel Feed in Brooksville, FL
Golden Gate Nursery in Naples, FL
W2 Equine and Cattle Co in Bushnell, FL
Farmers Feed Depot in Dade City, FL
Okeechobee Feed in Okeechobee, FL
Boyette Feed & Grain in Lake City, FL
Go eventing.
