Wednesday News and Notes from SmartPak

Meadowbrook's Scarlett thinks 1.3m fences are nbd, tbh. Photo via USEF High Performance FB page. Meadowbrook's Scarlett thinks 1.3m fences are nbd, tbh. Photo via USEF High Performance FB page.

Yesterday, it was spring! And today it is still spring! I don’t want to jinx anything, but it really is starting to look like winter may have exited stage left, even before Daylight Savings Time. All of a sudden, instead of being a little smug that I don’t have to ride or even be outside, I can’t wait until I can get back on my horse. Or maybe buy a second one.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Southern Pines H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Schedule]

Red Hills International CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Full Gallop Farm March II H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Kentucky Equine Research and EN are teaming up to host the Great KER Fitness Challenge this spring! Download the free KER ClockIt Sport app for your phone and record your rides for a chance to win a $100 gift card to shop.kerx.com, an EcoGold Secure XC Saddle Pad, a lesson with your choice of Bruce Davidson, Liz Halliday-Sharp, or Dom or Jimmie Schramm; and feature story about you and your horse on EN. [Contest Details]

Does your horse have an inspiring story about coming back from a serious injury or illness? OCD Pellets wants to hear all about it! Send in your rehab to [email protected] for a chance to win an OCD prize pack (2-month supply of OCD Pellets, 1-month supply of COS Canine, and an OCD Pellets hat and T-shirt). Entries close Monday, May 2, 2016, and the story that receives the most views on EN will win. [Contest Details]

Do you know of a great local eventing organization? EN wants to show them some love! Email [email protected] and tell us about your local organization. We’re looking to spotlight associations that run low level and schooling horse trials in upcoming feature articles. Go Local Eventing! 

Did you know that George Morris apparently taught a three-day clinic in a string bikini? Yeah, me neither! In George Morris’ autobiography, Unrelenting, George Morris opens up about the wild nights, the horses who made him, and the glamour of yesteryear. Check out Jumper Nation’s enticing review.  [Book Review: Unrelenting]

Are you totally clear on how you can accumulate 20 penalties in a combination on cross country? Horse and Hound has created a quiz to test your knowledge. It’s not as easy as you might think. I strongly recommend you take thirty seconds of your day to take this quiz, you might learn something!  [Eventing Quiz]

SmartPak Product of the Day: Guys. I bought these boots by Professional Choice last fall and I. love. them. They stay clean, are impossible to budge, and are super protective. Use them for schooling, cross country, or just for pretty photos. Seriously, they are fab.  [SmartPak]

For comparison’s sake, here is the three-star water from Red Hills last year. With a new course designer this year, it will be interesting to see how similar this year’s complex is.