It’s JOG DAY at Defender Burghley and we couldn’t be more excited to get this 5* party started. We’ve got an absolutely delicious entry list ready for you, and our traditional Form Guide to the full field of competitors will be dropping later on today, so stay tuned. In the meantime, make sure you’re all signed up for Burghley TV, which for about $25 USD will give you access to all of the live and on demand coverage from this year and previous years for a full 365 days. We’ll have Tilly’s preview of Derek di Grazia’s course coming your way soon as well, and you can also keep an eye on this page for the publication of the interactive cross country map. In the meantime, take a quick peek at some of the amazing designs in the Instagram post above, and keep it locked right here on EN for much more.
U.S. Weekend Preview
Five Points H.T. (NC): [Website] [Entries / Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
Flora Lea Fall H.T. (NJ): [Website] [Entries / Ride Times] [Volunteer]
CDCTA Fall H.T. (VA): [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer]
Major International Events
Defender Burghley: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Burghley TV] [Tickets] [EN’s Coverage]
Wednesday News & Reading
The FEI has announced an international stakeholders meeting aimed at addressing the challenges currently facing the sport and industry of dressage. “While the FEI fully recognizes the challenges currently facing the discipline of dressage and has worked to address issues as they have arisen, the primary focus in recent months has been on delivering key events, as well as a successful Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, which has required considerable attention and resources,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said in a press release announcing the meeting. “Our goal now is to collaborate closely with all our stakeholders to address the challenges facing dressage. While many in our community recognize the urgency of the situation, others may not yet fully grasp the critical juncture at which equestrian sport currently stands.” The Chronicle of the Horse reports more on this story here.
There’s a major gender imbalance when it comes to sports media, and we saw this in spades while in Paris covering the equestrian sports. Glorious Sport’s Hannah Bailey traveled to Paris to document this for herself, and the resulting piece is certainly worth your time for a read. [We Mind the Gap]
It’s a well-known fact that horses, wild or domesticated, have been a key part of human civilization throughout history. “As they spread, horses reshaped ecology, social structures and economies at a never-before-seen scale,” William Taylor writes for The Washington Post. “Ultimately, only industrial mechanization supplanted their near-universal role in society.” Thanks to science, we are learning more and more about the horse’s orgin story and how it evolved around humans. This fascinating read is a great way to learn about what we know, what we’re challenging, and what we have yet to learn.
Don’t miss out on this story of a Thoroughbred taking on the USEA Young Event Horse competition. “Ninja is carrying the flag for sport-bred Thoroughbreds, my breeding program, my training program, and representing his sire Saketini. Ninja shows up to work with a smile every day and an occasional playful squeal. I was breeding for an upper-level horse: smart, balanced, athletic, and fun, who loves to gallop and jump, and so far, he’s exceeding all my expectations,” Audrea Dyer writes for the USEA.
Sponsor Corner: Morven Park International & Fall H.T.
Did you know that each U.S. Eventing athlete who competed at the Paris summer Olympics also competed at Morven Park last October?
See extraordinary athletes like our Olympians up close at the Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials, October 11-13, 2024. Spectator admission is FREE, so don’t forget to take some time to visit their bustling vendor village as well as a variety of food trucks. Come #playlearndiscover the exciting sport of eventing!
If you’d like to upgrade your experience, reserve a tailgate space located in the center of the cross-country course on Saturday October 12th or enjoy the VIP Tent experience for all three days! This is the PERFECT way to spend a “Day in the Country”!
Video Break:
A very cool/cute “how it started vs. how it’s going” with Tokyo Olympic champion Julia Krajewski and her Paris partner, Nickel:
