White-out snow conditions at Virginia Horse Trials this morning. Photo via Emily Daily.
Can winter give it up already, please? I’m getting quite fed up with holding my breath each time I check the weather forecast just in case there is some impending doom headed my way involving cold temperatures and freezing precipitation. Fortunately, the Midwest appears to be holding steady, but the East Coast is a different story. A freak storm is currently pelting Lexington, Va., with snow, forcing the Virginia Horse Trials to just hold a combined test today due to the white-out snow conditions. They’ll be offering cross-country schooling on Wednesday now instead.
A sad eventer selfie at Virginia Horse Trials. Photo via Emily Daily.
Yesterday, my social media was full of stories of rain delays and lower than average temperatures at various events. I must give a big shout out to the organizers at Rocking Horse, who have been dealing with absolutely torrential downpours this weekend. They have had to change the competition schedule as they go, so if you are competing please keep a watchful eye on their Facebook page and website for more updates. Fortunately, it looks like the sun came out to play today, so hopefully competition can go off without a hitch. [Website] [Facebook]
I also must give some mad EN props to Katy Groesbeck and her crew for pulling off what appears to be an epic ensemble of borrowed items so that Katy could still compete yesterday at Rocking Horse. And the crazy rain affected events further up the East Coast too, as Morven Park had standing water across much of the grounds yesterday, leading many riders to ultimately scratch. Eventers just can’t a break!
Best of luck to all who are still braving icy temperatures and uncomfortably cold precipitation this weekend — not to mention freak spring snow storms — to compete this weekend. I feel like this just can’t continue, but I’ve been quite wrong about weather before so I’ve decided to just not hold my breath anymore. When will it end? Send in your own #sadeventerselfie photos to [email protected], our Facebook wall and Twitter @eventingnation as you battle the elements this weekend.
Go (winter) Eventing.
