A huge congrats to all our US Equestrian Eventing team squad members, but in particular I have to give a shout out to Lynn Symansky and her super Thoroughbred Donner. Donner has been one of my favorites since I watched him win the giant Open Intermediate championships at the AEC as a young horse, and my love for ‘The Deer’ has only grown through the years as he’s tackled course after course. Go Lynn, go OTTBs, go USA, and go eventing!
National Holiday: Sun Glasses Day
U.S. Weekend Preview:
Groton House Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Horse Park of New Jersey I H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Chattahoochee Hills H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
South Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Your Wednesday News & Notes
Support Area VII Young Riders by accessing their online auction offering amazing packages at Rebecca Farm, site of NAYC 2018! Up-for-bid items include Patron Packages featuring a cocktail meet-and-greet with Area VII NAJYRC team, coaches and staff during the event, patron passes, Area VII gear, and a course walk for two with cross country course designer Ian Stark. [Area VII Young Rider Online Auction Fundraiser]
In support of the world’s greatest crowdfunder in his fight to regain health, please #weargreenforJonty. Alice Dunsdon and Eventing Worldwide are urging everyone to wear something green to show Jonty’s family support in this difficult time. Eventing Worldwide even has shirts and wristbands that you can purchase, with proceeds going towards the David Foster Injured Riders’ Fun, Jonty’s chosen charity. [#weargreenforJonty]
The Chronicle of the Horse snuck into the stall of the most recently minted U.S. four-star horse, Deniro Z. Turns out Deniro has become quite the king of the barn now that he’s a bona fide four-star horse. In his free time, he loves antagonizing Liz’s dog, Arnold. [Behind the Stall Door]
Attwood Wisdom of the Week – It’s all about the base, ‘bout that base, no kidding.
No matter what kind of footing you choose for you arena, it will not work properly without the appropriate base. Say for instance, your footing is uneven. The one solution would be to harrow it. And harrow it. And harrow it some more. But the only way to get that surface you want is to level that base. All the harrowing in the world will not fix uneven footing.
Now say your footing runs shallow and deep, or has pockets of deep and uneven footing. The good news is that it can be laser graded. The bad news is the undulations in the base will still recur and once again you will have “deep spots”.
For footing success, the base needs to DRAIN properly and be leveled properly.
That is why Attwood compacts and laser levels the base to our specifications for slope before any footing is installed. Of course base recommendations vary by footing choices, location (hilly or flat), and what part of the country your arena is being built (wet or dry).
Unsure about your existing base or planning a new arena, please give us a call 888-461-7788. Let our years of experience be your guide. We will make sure “every inch of it is perfect from the bottom to the top”.
Wednesday Video: Boyd Martin opened the new gallop track at Windurra on Sunday, which features footing from Attwood Equestrian Surfaces. The gallop track is kid tested and approved!