First XC jump of the year is done and dusted! Photo by Maggie Deatrick
It may have been cold for Stable View down in Aiken but since it’s a lot colder up in Philadelphia, I wasn’t complaining. Much. OK, a little, when I realized my show jumping jacket is made of technical fabric and therefore really designed for hot weather, not cold. And maybe a bit when the water jumps had a skim of ice on them for cross country day. Just a bit of complaining, really.
National Holiday: Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day
U.S. Weekend Preview:
Grand Oaks H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Results]
Your Wednesday News & Notes:
Does it make sense to head south for the winter? For trainers like John Michael and Kimmy Durr, it does if you’re willing to shut down your entire northern operation. They’ve shifted the horses vacation to take full advantage of the competition and sales opportunities of the Florida season. [Wintering In Florida]
Entries for the Retired Racehorse Project are up 38%. 812 applications were received this year, up from 512 last year. The applicants came from 40 states, 3 Canadian provinces, and D.C., while the trainers themselves were 13% junior, with the remainder split almost evenly between professionals and adult amateurs. [RRP Trainer Applications Increase]
If volunteering is your bag, then pay attention to the WEG request for volunteers. The Tryon WEG Volunteer Management Program is fielding inquiries from prospective volunteers. In the next phase, the volunteers will fill out an application and by April 1, Tryon will begin notifying volunteers who have been accepted. [WEG Volunteer Portal is Open]
SmartPak Product of the Day: If full coverage is your deal in the winter, check out this beautiful Asmar jacket. With lots of length, it might even be full enough to prevent you from needing to wrap five horse blankets around yourself while teaching! [SmartPak]
