Happy middle of the week Eventing Nation! I got you a little Equestrian Ryan Gosling as a reward for making it this far into the week, and hopefully he will help you power through to the weekend! If you’re not familiar with the above website, A) where have you been? and B) you’re welcome for the introduction.
Richland Park HT starts tomorrow, and most people drove up yesterday so that the horses could have a good rest before putting their dancing shoes on for dressage on Thursday. It’s an exciting weekend, full of big names and all the horses you drool over on a regular basis. Richland offers Novice through Advanced, in addition to a CIC2* and a CIC3*, as well as YEH classes! [Website] [Entry Status]
You know that really popular Jan Byyny cross country critique column in the back of the USEA magazine? This time, they’re switching it up in honor of the upcoming AEC’s and only accepting photos from past AEC’s! Send in your photos of your super sweet drop fence, your incredibly speedy horse and your galloping position, or you (cool as a cucumber) flying over a huge table fence. [Send in Your AEC XC Photos to Jan Byyny Column]
Never heard of the Mongol Derby? Me neither, until today. It is 620 miles long, over the inhospitable steppes of Mongolia. It just wrapped up last week, with the winner being Irish jockey Donal Fahy. Check out these sweet pictures of this crazy race. [Mongol Derby Pictures]
Need a quick lunchbreak giggle? Let me introduce you to “Dog Shaming”, which isn’t quite as weird as it sounds, but three times as funny. [Dog Shaming Tumblr]
Three of the famous Greenwich cross country fences will be making a celebrity appearance at Burghley. The “Olympic Game Horses”, the “Sundials”, and “The Planet” will be combined near the end of the course in a one time only feature combination in the Main Arena. [Greenwich Fences Feature at Burghley]
Ever wanted to own some circus horses and a performing zebra? Here’s your chance! Four Fresians, two other horses and a zebra are for sale as a performing act. They have worked together their whole lives, and are very well behaved. [Circus Performers Seek Second Career]
In case you somehow missed it, Mary King, WFP and Tina Cook (members of the GB Team Silver) are all entered at the upcoming Burghley CCI4*. WFP won a record 6th title at last year’s Burghley and also currently leads the HSBC Classics Series. Should he pull it off (which is all too likely with him), winning Burghley would give him an insane 50th international three day event victory of his career. [Eventing Olympic Medallists Back in Action]
Seen/Heard/Read enough about Secretariat, but still want the thrill of a really good Thoroughbred story? Check out the lesser known, but equally awesome Sir Barton, the first horse to win the Triple Crown. [Famous Horses in History: Sir Barton]
Preakness runner-up Bodemeister has been retired after his trainer and veterinarian found that he has a peripheral nerve injury which caused atrophy of the infraspinatus muscle in his left shoulder. At three years of age, the son of Empire Maker will go to stud at Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm. [Bodemeister Retires Due to Injury]
Found on Facebook: Michael Pollard drives to Richland HT in style….meet his new co-pilot Fin! (Also it seems they packed a working student in the tack room…)
Also Found on Facebook: Horse Collaborative shares some absurd Hermes saddle designs, including a Leopard print jump saddle!
Best of Blogs: Callie Schott, who works for John & Beezie Madden, gives a behind the scenes look at the Breeder’s Bridge to High Performance Contest
Best of Blogs Part II: Lauren Sprieser keeps us up to date with Camp Barisone
