As we wind into the holiday season, we’re gearing up for gift-giving with our upcoming Holiday Gift Guide, created in partnership with our sister site, Horse Nation. As a part of our holiday campaign, we’ll be donating a percentage of proceeds earned from the sale of Gift Guide placements to a handful of nonprofit organizations. We’re also encouraging our brand partners and Gift Guide participants to take part in Give Back Week, November 21-December 4, 2022.
During this period, we will publish a list of brands who are donating a percentage or dollar amount to a nonprofit (one of our choices or one chosen by the brand), as well as any promotions or deals that brand is offering. If you have a brand or business that would like to participate in Give Back Week with us, please click here to sign up! No contract or purchase is necessary to participate in Give Back Week.
In the meantime, we’re also looking for help from you to choose our benefitting nonprofits! In particular, we’d love to support nonprofits dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the horse world — but please feel free to nominate any organization here. We’ll make an announcement on the organizations we’ve selected in the coming days.
U.S. Weekend Preview
Dutta Corp. Tryon International Three-Day Event (Mill Spring, NC): [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Shannon Brinkman Photo] [Live Stream] [Scoring]
Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (Ocala, FL): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
River Glen Fall H.T. (New Market, TN): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scoring]
Major International Events
Montelibretti CCI4*-L: [Website] [Schedule/Scoring]
Wednesday News & Reading
Have a brand that NEEDS to be on everyone’s holiday list this year? We’ve just opened up spots for our 2022 Holiday Gift Guide with Horse Nation. Info/book your spot here.
It’s Day 3 of SmartPak’s 12 Days of Deals, and today you can receive 50% off SmartSupplements in SmartPaks using code 22Deal3. [Click here to stock up]
The conversation on accessibility in the horse world is an ongoing one, and there are multiple viewpoints on the topic to be found. We’ve shared this bit from The Plaid Horse before, but it’s well worth a reshare as junior rider Katarina Ostrov shares her thoughts on “making it”. “It’s never too late or too often to discuss these issues in our sport,” she wrote. [Read the full essay]
The late Col. Harry Chamberlain is the fifth and final inductee for the 2022 USEA Hall of Fame class. On top of his riding accomplishments, Harry Chamberlain’s riding and training philosophies have become canon in American riding. The 2022 class of inductees will be honored at next month’s USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in Savannah, GA. [Harry Chamberlain joins USEA Hall of Fame]
Before you hit the road with your horse next, give the latest episode of the “Equestrian Voices” podcast on Noelle Floyd a listen. Host Caroline Culbertson sits down with full-time sporthorse vet and event rider Dr. Kevin Keane to talk about travel stress and how it affects horses. [It’s well worth a listen]
If you follow the junior equitation circuit at all, you’ve likely heard the name Augusta Iwasaki multiple times recently. Crowned the 2022 ASPCA Maclay winner this week in Lexington (and, before that, the WIHS Equitation Final and the USEF Talent Search – East Final), Augusta’s record speaks for itself. But it hasn’t been a straightforward trip to the top for the Asian-American rider who has also dealt with criticism of her “non-standard” body type. “She has the athletic build we might associate with other sports, not necessarily our own. From other trainers ‘being helpful’ by mentioning these things, owners not offering catch rides in these divisions, and commentators commenting on her height, weight, and ethnicity, we heard it all from a young age,” her mother said. [Read all about Augusta in this great story on The Plaid Horse]
What goes into developing young horses for future success? Will Coleman knows a thing or two about this, and he said down with the USEA’s Kaleigh Collett to answer some burning questions. [Will’s thoughts on training for success]
Sponsor Corner
Now through 11/12, all Haygain Hay Steamer purchases will ship with an accompanying Starter Pack!
Wednesday Video Break
Since we talked about Augusta Iwasaki’s win streak earlier, here’s a look at her Maclay-winning final round (click here if you can’t see the embedded Instagram post below):
