It’s midsummer’s day today and I can’t help but reflect on the fact that the eventing season is galloping along far too quickly for my liking. Four of the seven 5*s are in the rearview – Shane Rose has won his third Adelaide, Tamie Smith has become the first woman in 15 years to take Kentucky, Ros Canter defeated the Badminton mud to lead the event from start to finish, and Laura Collett has just made Luhmuhlen her third 5* win with her Olympic team gold medal winning partner, London 52.
What a season it’s been so far, and, although I wish it would slow down some so I can hold off the long winter without eventing for a while longer, there’s still plenty of excitement left to be had before I hunker down to watch re-runs until we start all over again.
For one, CHIO Aachen – which starts on Friday – will be offering a bonanza of equestrian events to cover the needs of most die-hard horse sport fans.There’s dressage, show jumping, eventing, driving and vaulting all going on at the World Equestrian Festival.
Flying the flag for the US in the 4*-S are Will Coleman and Off the Record, Phillip Dutton and Z, Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C, and Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Dan Kreitl and Carmango go as the US individual combination.
For team GB we have Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir, Tom McEwan and JL Dublin, Gemma Stevens and Flash Cooley, and Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI. Riding as an individual for Great Britain is Hector Payne with Dynasty.
Gemma Stevens will also compete in the Ride and Drive with Santiago Bay, and Australian eventer Bill Levett’s daughter, will represent Britain in Vaulting.
EN will have boots on the Aachen ground, where Tilly will be bringing us ALL the news from the event. Keep up with the EN coverage and follow @goeventing for all the content you can handle.
CHIO Aachen World Equestrian Festival (Germany) [Website] [Schedule] [Starters and Results] [EN’s Coverage] [Live Stream]
Major International Events
LOTTO Strzegom H.T. / FEI Eventing Nations Cup (Poland): [Website] [Entries] [Live Stream] [Timetable] [Scoring]
U.S. Weekend Preview
Bucks County Horse Park H.T. Revere, (PA) [Website] [Entries / Ride Times / Scoring]
Fox River Valley Pony Club H.T. (Barrington Hills, IL) [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]
Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Summer H.T. (Leesburg, VA) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Midsouth Pony Club H.T. (Lexington, KY) [Website] [Volunteer] [Entries / Ride Times / Scoring]
Round Top H.T. (Castle Rock, CO) [Volunteer]
Stable View Summer H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer]
Valinor Farm H.T. (Plymouth, MA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Woodloch Stable Young Event Horse Qualifier (Hugo, MN) [Website] [Ride Times] [Scoring]
Wednesday News and Reading
There’s royal approval for the Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare in King Charles’ Birthday Honors. Roly Owers has been awarded an OBE for his services to equine welfare. He says, “What I find inspiring is that recognition at this level demonstrates the continued relevance of horses to society and the part we all play in protecting their welfare for future generations.” Here, here. [Royal Approval]
And on the subject of kings and horses… King Charles took to horseback for the Trooping of the Colour at the weekend – the first time a monarch has been mounted at the event since 1986, when the late Queen rode her 18-year-old mare, Burmese, at the spectacle. [All the King’s Horses]
Popular opinion in the barn is that this exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York looks rather tasty. Proof that anyone with a hay barn is a modern artist, or a social critique? I have it on good authority from an artist friend that this particular stack of hay bales is “a comment on how we value everything – the raw materials are cheap, but call it art and it’s worth a fortune. In the hay stack there’s a real gold needle with golden thread, however it’s impossible to find, representing the human condition of ignoring the value of what’s right in front of you”. I’d argue on the cheapness of hay – it depends on how many horses you’ve got, right? [Needle in a Haystack]
Whilst we’re in the art zone, check out these totally moody horse photos. The MMX Gallery in London has brought together the stunning work of the late John Reardon in ‘Whistlejacket’, an exhibition of his glorious horse photography. [Say Neigh]
Researchers in France have discovered that horse poop could be an extremely valuable resource. Turns out, that what you toss in the wheelbarrow when you’re mucking stalls is a valid prospect for biofuel and your muck heap may well be the energy source of the future. [Not Just Good for your Roses]
It’s International Yoga Day today so here’s a fun yoga class designed especially for equestrians. As well as a lovely stretch, this video comes with a healthy dose of Yoga With Adriene’s usual sense of humor, and her pupper Benji comes along for the ride. 108 sun salutations it is not, a fun frolic through some horsey poses it is. You can even sub the namaste for a yee-haw if you like! [Stirrup Posture and Horsey Lips]
Sponsor Corner
Liz Halliday Sharp and Miks Master C. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
What is it like to take a lesson from THE Liz Halliday-Sharp as an amateur? Ocala Horse Properties made it possible for this amateur rider to find out.
Click here to read all about the lesson of a lifetime.
Video Break
While we were living it large in Luhmuhlen, back in England Bolesworth International Horse show was happening and Guy Williams was winning the Puissance (again) with Mr Blue Sky UK. There is just something about this gorgeous, enormous gray that takes my breath away. Here he is clearing 2.15 meters of big red wall at London International Horse Show just before Christmas last year.
