The view in front and behind me as I headed home the other night. Photo by Maggie Deatrick.
As a weekend and evening warrior, I’m thankful to finally be able to be leaving the barn before sunset. That’s not actually because I’m leaving any earlier, but more because the sun is setting later. I’ll take it though, as well as the warmer temperatures that let me wear short sleeves while riding and let me go on a quick hack after being stuck in the indoor.
U.S. Weekend Preview:
Plantation Field April H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]
Ocala 3-Day Festival CCI & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]
FENCE H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]
Twin Rivers CCI, CIC, & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]
St. Johns H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]
If you’ve ever wanted a horse with Cruising DNA, here’s your chance! Frozen semen is available through Replica Farm from two of Cruising clones, Cruising Arish and Cruising Encore. Because they are clones to the great Cruising, their DNA is exactly the same, and their progeny can get registered as Cruising progeny. Science! It’s everywhere! [Cruising Progeny]
Alice Dunsdon would like to be the first to complete all six four-stars with one horse but the one most local to her may be a stumbling block. Alice and her Fernhill Present have now completed five of six, including the most challenging to get to, Adelaide. However, due to the points system and the fact that Alice does not generally push ‘Hilly’ for time, they have found themselves well down the waitlist. Instead of bemoaning their fate, Alice has determined to make herself ready and present and not dwell on what might not be. [Badminton Blog]
Leah Lang-Gluscic perfectly articulates why eventers love cross country. I was reading this blog Leah wrote and perfectly identified with the way she described the pit in one’s stomach on cross country day, the way that pit grows and turns to stone until you ask yourself why you even bother with this sport. And then you throw a leg over and it all goes away, feeling of adrenaline and partnership washing the nerves out of your system. [Why Do I Do This?]
Ocala is wrapping up their season with the Spring Festival of Eventing. Long considered the definitive conclusion of the Florida winter experience, the spring Ocala event boasts levels from YEH all the way through CCI2*, with an Advanced CT thrown in for good measure. Beginning today and concluding on Sunday, the show provides spectator experiences for everyone as well as fabulous prizes. [Ocala Welcomes More than 450 Competitors]
What happens when your tack malfunctions on cross country? Mikki Kuchta recounts her experience this past weekend at The Fork, when her reins unbuckled and she was left holding two flapping ends in the Advanced aboard Rubens D’Ysieux. Unfortunately for Mikki, her experience ended in a harmless tumble and she’ll look forward to taping those rein ends in the future. [When Eventer Problems Strike on Cross Country]
SmartPak Product of the Day: It’s that in-between season where you can’t quite avoid showering your horse anymore after a good ride, but you also can’t leave them to air-dry because it’s just a bit too cool. Enter the Irish-knit, which will keep your horse warm while they dry. [SmartPak]
Rhys Williams and her 12.5 hand pony Lolita dominated the 1.1m at the Royal Dublin Horse Show last year. Check out the springs on this pony powerhouse!
