Oh Carolina!
Setters’ Run Farm is ready, the welcome party drinks are on ice, the courses are being walked, the ring familiarization is a go, and Team EN – headed up by Chinch – is geared up to bring you all of the news and action from what’s sure to be a great competition.
Here’s what’s happening, when:
Today (Wednesday) at 1pm – the complementary 4*-S course walk with Carolina International Rider Rep Ariel Grald.
The center line comes into play tomorrow (Thursday) at 9:20am EST / 6:20am PDT / 1:20pm GMT when the 4* dressage gets underway. Show jumping starts at 10am EST / 7am PDT / 2pm GMT on Friday for the 3* competitors, with the 4* going at 12 noon EST / 9am PDT / 4pm GMT. Ian Stark’s cross country course is the place to be on Saturday, with horses leaving the start box from 8am EST / 5am PDT / 12 noon GMT right through ’til 5pm EST / 2pm PDT / 9pm GMT. The 4* will be out on course from 11:46am EST / 8:46am PDT / 3:46pm GMT.
If you’re not able to be there but have Carolina on your mind, don’t fret. As well as our awesome coverage (if we do say so ourselves) via the EN website and @goeventing – including live updates from the 4* cross country – H&C+ is running a livestream (subscription required).
How many trading cards will Chinch snag? Will I finally beat my husband at Eventing Manager? Who will take home the big one and bag the 4* win? Carolina knows!
Carolina International CCI & H.T. (Raeford, NC) [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Cross Country Maps] [Live Scores] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]
Meanwhile, over in Europe the first leg of the FEI Nations Cup is kicking off in Montelibretti, Italy. More on this in tomorrow’s News & Notes, but if you just can’t wait, here’s some info to get you started:
FEI Eventing Nations Cup Leg 1 (Montelibretti, Italy) [Website] [Timetable] [Entries] [Live Scores] [Dressage Day 1 Live Stream] [Dressage Day 2 Live Stream] [Show Jumping Live Stream] [Cross Country Live Stream]
U.S. Weekend Preview
Carolina International CCI & H.T. (Raeford, NC) [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Cross Country Maps] [Live Scores] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]
Ocala Winter II (Ocala, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]
Pine Top Spring H.T. (Thomson, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Ram Tap National H.T. (Fresno, [Scoring]CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]
International Events
FEI Eventing Nations Cup Leg 1 (Montelibretti, Italy) [Website] [Timetable] [Entries] [Live Scores] [Dressage Day 1 Live Stream] [Dressage Day 2 Live Stream] [Show Jumping Live Stream] [Cross Country Live Stream]
Wednesday News and Reading
Here’s your chance to walk the Badminton course with an Olympic, World and European gold medalist. That’s right, eventing hero Tina Cook will be doing a Badminton course walk on Thursday May 9th. Find out how to ride the famous fences from someone who spent three decades doing just that. Scan the QR code on this Instagram post to book your ticket.
If you’re stepping up to International competition this season, make sure you check out these new CCI1* offerings. There are now seven opportunities for British Eventing members to compete at International 1*, including new fixtures at Alnwick Ford and Catton Park. Here’s everything you need to know.
Will you be watching the Olympic equestrian events this summer? We all know that horse sports are treading a fine line when it comes to continuing as part of the Olympics. One way you can vote for them to stay is by tuning in to the equestrian events happening in Paris. Viewing figures bear some weight when it comes to deciding which sports to include in future Games – alongside financial and environmental considerations, and the ever present social license – so if you want to play your part in keeping us in the game, make sure you’re planning on tuning in.
Will the Kiwis be on the podium in Paris? High Performance Manager Jock Paget thinks so. There’s a confident air in the Kiwi camp, according to Jock. Twelve years after winning team bronze at London 2012, they are so ready to be back in the medals this summer, and Jock says that they’re “up for it”. It’s all to play for in Paris!
Horse trainer, author and 2024 Gaucho Derby rider Warwick Schiller talks about the lessons he learned whilst undertaking the greatest test of horsemanship on earth. This year’s Gaucho Derby threw up all of the stories you would expect from a mammoth 500km trek across the Patagonian wilderness. So much more than a race, the Derby calls for survival skills, fortitude, resilience and horsemanship on an epic level. Warwick describes his experience as a “spiritual journey” and shares the life lessons he gleaned from the trip in the latest episode of his Journey On Podcast. It’s a long listen, so a perfect accompaniment for those bigger barn chores, but not as long as the Derby.
We’ll finish up with fashion news, and horsegirl chic from Bella Hadid. Spotted taking inspiration from her cowboy boyfriend, teaming sparkly sequins with a Stetson (or other brand of cowboy hat that lacks the pleasing alliteration I’ve gone with here), the fact that Bella’s bringing the horseworld to Vogue is pretty cool, no matter what she wears.
Sponsor Corner
Liz Halliday and Ocala Horse Properties‘ Cooley Quicksilver, Miks Master C, and Cooley Nutcracker shone bright at the Conceal Grand Prix Eventing Showcase! Keep an eye on the Liz Halliday and Ocala Horse Properties‘ team this weekend at the SRF Carolina International CCI4*.
Video Break
Twelve months ago Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake took third in the 3*-S at Carolina International. Fast forward to the Pan-Am Games in Santiago and they delivered an individual gold medal performance. They’re in it to win it in the 4*-S at Carolina this year. Here’s a look back at their cross country round last time they visited Setters’ Run Farm.
