Wednesday News & Notes from SmartPak

Even the pups will be representing Team Flaxen at Rolex next week. Photo courtesy of Diane Finkelstein. Even the pups will be representing Team Flaxen at Rolex next week. Photo courtesy of Diane Finkelstein.

T-minus one week until Rolex officially commences with the jogs and Facebook is slowly starting to fill up with videos and photos of final prep work. For some that includes last lessons, gallops, icing, and holding their breath. Others are busy coming up with ways to display their support for their favorite riders and horses. One thing is undeniable … the moment is at hand!

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Longleaf Pine H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

Plantation Field April H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Sporting Days Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

River Glen Spring H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Holly Hill Spring H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

Your Wednesday News & Notes:

Beezie Madden’s ride Cortes ‘C’ is going to live the good life as a retiree. John and Beezie Madden take their retirement responsibilities seriously, while letting their former champions be horses. With fuzzy coats, mud, and freedom in abundance, horses like Coral Reef Via Volo, Authentic, and now Cortes ‘C’ enjoy a European style retiree barn where they get looked at daily without needing to be handled. [Living the Good Life]

It isn’t every day an amateur tops the field at a CCI2*. That’s just what happened to Julie Anne Boyer at Twin Rivers though, with her 8 year old thoroughbred High Decorum. A former police officer, Julie Anne found ‘Declan’ on the track as a four year old and has brought him through the levels herself. [Winner of the Week]

Madeline Backus is living the fairy tale with her mare P.S. Arianna. Bought to be her first horse after graduating from ponies, ‘Ari’ has grown up with Madeline, ushering through the levels of eventing to compete at their first Rolex next week. Although fitness has changed the mare from affable to fiery over the years, Madeline relates to her as if they are siblings. [Kind of Like a Fairy Tale]

SmartPak Product of the Day: I may have plugged this helmet only a month ago, but after only ten rides in it, I found myself in need of another one after a particularly nasty spill on Easter Sunday. Despite being almost brand new, I found enough dirt on it to convince myself that it was already time to retire that helmet from service. [SmartPak]