The Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing gets underway on Friday for a special 40th anniversary edition.
Held in the grounds of Princess Anne’s house, this spectacular show always attracts a whole host of top riders and this year is no different. Last year’s winner Tim Price will be trying to retain his title, but with Piggy March, Pippa Funnell, Tom McEwen, Oliver Townend, Emily King, Zara Tindall and SO MANY MORE entered, it’ll be all to play for.
The big class at the event is the Magic Millions British Open Championship, which first ran in 1986 when Bruce Davidson and JJ Babu brought home the victory for the U.S.
You can follow all the action on H&C+ (with a subscription). Find out more here.
Festival of British Eventing [Website] [Entries] [Timetable] [Live Stream] [Live Scores]
Also…
The Mongol Derby is under starters orders and is kicking off today!
Find out how to ride along with this awesome event here.
U.S. Weekend Preview
Area VII Young Rider Benefit H.T. at Caber Farm (Onalaska, WA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Catalpa Corner Charity Horse Trials (Iowa City, IA) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer]
Cobblestone Farms H.T. II (Dexter, MI) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]
Early Bird Summer Event at Galway Downs (Temecula, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]
Hoosier Horse Trials (Edinburgh, IN) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Huntington Farm H.T. (South Strafford, VT) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer]
Olney Farm Horse Trials (Joppa, MD) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
River Glen Summer H.T. (New Market, TN) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]
Spring Gulch H.T. (Highland, CO) [Website] [Volunteer]
Wednesday News and Reading
Elisa Wallace has a couple of great opportunities at her farm in Reddick, FL. She’s got on-site leases for two of her mustangs on offer as well as lessons in exchange for some part-time work. Both opportunities are beginner-friendly and quite frankly, I’m checking flights from the UK to Florida right now. [See You There]
Piggy March wants to know if anyone has a photo of her and Tilly taking a dip in Badminton Lake in 2018. Not our Tilly (which is what I first thought when I read the post and wondered just what goes on at the cocktail party) – Piggy’s Badminton and Burghley winner Vanir Kamira AKA Tilly Bean. [Did You Catch the Splash?]
Jessie Phoenix has shared the cutest news about what her Pam Am gold medalist and World Championships horse Pavarotti has been getting up to in his retirement. He’s completed his first cross rail class with a very lucky little rider. [Still On Song]
Someone’s Burghley dreams are about to come true… Applications are open to take part in a Yogi Breisner masterclass. A ride round the main arena at Burghley anyone? [Eventing Dreams]
Ooh la la! It’s less than a year ‘til Paris – and Team GB are on the hunt for mascots. Do you know an Olympic-crazy kid between the ages of 5 and 11? Find out how to apply for them to join Team GB at the Paris 2024 Games. [Mini Mascots]
For Sale: Dappled gray schoolmaster – very spooky. This is a for real auction prospect with a precautionary note included in the catalog: “The vendor’s [great] grandfather was a trance medium/ghost hunter in the 1940s, and the horse was used for séances”. OK, so it’s not an actual living horse (or is it?) but if you fancy a punt on this haunted rocking horse, you’ll probably want the Winchesters and Mystery Inc. on speed dial. [Something Strange]
What’s it like to be part of the eventing “tribe” as the owner of a top event horse? Most importantly, fun, according to Patricia Vos, one of the owners of Phillip Dutton’s 5*, Olympic and World Championships ride, Z. There have been ups and downs, celebrations and commiserations, but when you’re surrounded by an “odd little group of people singularly obsessed with this somewhat obscure sport of eventing”, you know you’re in for one hell of a ride. [Owner Spotlight]
Sponsor Corner
15 acres practically next door to WEC? Sign me up! This 15-acre Ocala horse farm features two barns, a riding arena, round pen, and Eurosizer.
Video Break
The dressage display at the Festival of British Eventing in 2018 included a rather unorthodox special guest – Wallace the mule.
Abandoned in Ireland and rescued by the Donkey Sanctuary, Wallace not only found a home when Christie Mclean took him on, but a career too – in dressage.
After some initial queries over his eligibility, Wallace is now fully registered with British Dressage.
Check him out strutting his stuff in the main arena at Gatcombe Park:
