http://teamusa.usatoday.com/bmadden/

Check out Beezie's blog following her, John, Clark and Authentic's quest for gold! Definitely leave her a comment wishing her good luck!

For anyone who has not yet heard, Mark Todd is headed for the Olympics again after an eight-year retirement.

The New York Times picked up a Reuters article about his return that's actually quite good: Mark Todd's Equestrian Wizardry.

The horse he's taking, Gandalf, is a big grey whose previous claim to fame was starring in a rap video. I guess you have to figure that after that experience he was pretty darn close to bombproof?

Regardless, it's good to see him back. :)

Theodore O'Connor Euthanized

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=11964
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/257314.html

Popular eventing pony Theodore O'Connor (pictured, photo by Shannon Brinkman) has been put down after being injured in an accident at rider Karen O'Connor's barn.

The 14.1hh eventer won himself a huge fan club on both sides of the Atlantic when he defied his tiny size to finish third at Rolex Kentucky in 2007 and sixth this year.

The 13-year-old also won team and individual gold medals at the Pan American games last year and was on the short-list for the American team at this year's Olympics in Hong Kong.

"Seeing was believing with 'Teddy' as it seemed impossible to imagine that a pony of his size could do his job with such tremendous ease," said the United Equestrian Federation's (USEF) Joanie Morris in a press release.

"Thoughts and prayers are with Karen and David [O'Connor], Teddy's groom Max Corcoran, all of his owners in the Theodore O'Connor syndicate and everyone associated with this remarkable pony."

To send thoughts to Teddy's connections please email Teddy@usef.org and USEF will pass on messages.

ETA:

May 28, 2008 Statement from Karen and David O’Connor regarding Theodore O'Connor:

Theodore O'Connor was humanely euthanized today, May 28, after injuring himself as a result of an accident sustained at Karen and David O'Connor's barn.

"'Teddy' got frightened and bolted. He slipped running back to the barn and suffered a severe laceration to his hind leg, severing the tendons and ligaments. Dr. A Kent Allen was on the scene immediately and it was determined after examination that the injuries were catastrophic. Everyone who knew Teddy is devastated."

-------------------------------------------------

I just don't even have words.

Alas, there have been two more horse deaths at Rolex this year. So far :( and one rider in critical but stable condition. I'm not really the sort to get into huge debates, although folks are welcome to do so in comments if they want. I've posted (and will keep posting updates) in my horse journal (foalstory); I update more as a news source to those on my f-list ... a sad FYI:

The latest (just posted on the USEA site) is as follows: http://useventing.com/competitions.php?section=rk3de&id=1483 : Statement's of USEA and USEF Regarding the 2008 Rolex Kentucky CCI****

Laine Ashker's horse Frodo Baggins was humanely euthanized after sustaining serious injuries as a result of a fall on the cross country course on Saturday, April 27. The entire eventing community is deeply saddened by the loss of this incredibly brave horse. ( more on the rider )
In a separate incident Sarah Hansel's horse The Quiet Man sustained a serious shoulder injury as a result of a fall. The Quiet Man was humanely euthanized Sunday morning as a result of the fall. Sarah sustained minor injuries and didn't require hospitalization. The absence of this lovely horse is a tremendous loss to the entire sport of eventing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ETA I'm updating with blog/eyewitness details as well as specs on the jupms where the falls occurred. rather than spamming here, feel free to poke my LJ (it's all horse stuff, open to anyone) if you want details. I'm at work, so hunting this stuff down is a good way to pass some time ;)

J. Michael Plumb Inducted Into U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, First Equestrian Ever 
Eight-time Olympian J. Michael Plumb has marched in more Olympic Opening Ceremonies than any other U.S. Olympic athlete, equestrian or otherwise, and the U.S. Olympic Committee members decided to honor him by inducting him into their Hall of Fame.

From www.usolympichalloffame.com:

"J. Michael Plumb began his equestrian career more than 50 years ago with the 1959 Pan American Games in Chicago as his first international competition. Plumb’s first Olympic Games experience took place in 1960, when he was 20 years old. He was named to every Olympic three-day team from that Games through 1984, earning six medals: team silver in 1964 at the Tokyo Games; team silver in both 1968 and 1972; team gold and individual silver in 1976; and a team gold in 1984.

"He has been named to a record eight United States Olympic teams, and competed in several Pan American Games, winning the team gold in 1963 and the individual and team gold in 1967. On the international stage, Plumb has earned team and individual silver medals in 1974 and a team bronze in 1978 and 1982. Plumb has been named the USEA’s Leading Rider of the Year Award ten times."

 Click on the link above to vote. This would be the first equestrian inducted into the Hall of Fame.

For anyone who follows eventing: Darren Chiacchia critically injured, two horses killed at Red Hills.

Sad, sad day for the eventing world. I woke up and checked the results to see how my trainer did, and found this. There are two threads on the Chronicle of the Horse forums discussing the tragedies: here and here.

(Trainer made it around, but with many, many time faults. There's a video of her ride on YouTube that looks like it was an exceedingly difficult ride.)

The top ten go on tour in Europe with USET. Of the top ten, the top four were chosen based on their performance in the Trials in Wellington. The next six were chosen subjectively by the Olympic Selectors. The next ten are substitutes, in order.

1. Laura Kraut/Cedric
2. Nicole Shahinian-Simpson/SRF Dragonfly
3. Anne Kursinsksi/Champ
4. Charlie Jayne/Urbanus
5. Kate Levy/Vent Du Nord
6. Anne Kursinksi/Roxana 112
7. Beezie Madden/Authentic
8. McLain Ward/Sapphire
9. Jeffery Welles/Armani
10. Will Simpson/Carlsson Vom Dach

11. Christine McCrea/Vegas
12. Kent Farrington/Up Chiqui
13. Laura Hough/Quick Study
14. Chris Kappler/VDL Oranta
15. Georgina Bloomberg/Curius
16. Todd Minikus/Olinda
17. Cara Raether/Ublesco
18. Brianne Goutal/Onira
19. Ken Berkley/Carlos Boy
20. Beezie Madden/Judgement

Thoughts??

ETA: Here is the final ten after the Trials. So the top four were kept the same as required by the rules, but you can see how subjectivity played into the bottom six.

1. Laura Kraut, Cedric
2. Nicole Simpson, SRF Dragonfly
3. Anne Kursinski, Champ 163
4. Charlie Jayne, Urbanus
5. Anne Kursinski, Roxana 112
5. Kate Levy, Vent Du Nord
5. Christine McCrea, Vegas
8. Lauren Hough, Quick Study
9. Chris Kappler, VDL Oranta
10. Georgina Bloomberg, Curius

Eight-Time Olympian, Ian Millar, Loses Wife

PERTH, ONTARIO, MARCH 6, 2008 Lynn Millar, wife of Canada’s most frequent Olympian, Ian Millar, passed away today after a long illness, at the family’s Millar Brooke Farm in Perth, Ontario.

Although Lynn played a quiet, behind-the-scenes role in the sport, she was an outstanding horsewoman and an integral part of Ian Millar’s success. She played a fundamental role in developing the top-class training facility at Millar Brooke Farm and in the training of Millar’s mounts.

She was a devoted mother of Jonathon, 33, and Amy, 31. Ian, Jonathon and Amy were by her side in the final weeks of her life. Lynn and Ian were married since 1969.

Lynn played a role in all of the achievements that have made Ian Millar Canada’s most decorated equestrian, known as “Captain Canada” world-wide. She was by his side or assisting with the training for 8 Olympic Games, 8 Pan American Games and 6 World Championships, as well as seeing him set the record as the first-ever to win back-to-back World Cup Finals. She witnessed him receive the Order of Canada and be inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

“This has been a long battle and is a very, very sad, tragic day for us”, Ian Millar said, “I would love more than anything to have Lynn by my side if I am asked to ride at this year’s Olympic Games”, but he added that he does not plan on withdrawing himself from contention for that team. “Amy, Jonathon and I will move forward. That is the only way Lynn would want it.”

Lynn was extremely proud of the recent achievements of Jonathon and Amy in the sport. Jonathon finished runner-up to his father in the last Canadian Show Jumping Championship and Amy is on the Canadian Equestrian Team short-list, following a sensational 2007 season. If Ian earns an Olympic team berth this year, it will equal the world record of 9 Olympic appearances.

Canadian show jumping team candidates are being observed by selectors from March through June. Selection is a subjective process by committee.

Lynn (nee Doran) was raised in Ottawa and settled in Perth, following her marriage to Ian Millar. She will be sadly missed not only by her family but by the entire equestrian community.

http://www.hunterjumpernews.com/?p=4351

The horse related part: USEF Young Horse Team Coach Scott Hassler gives clinics at my farm (in Marshall, VA, an hour west of DC) monthly, the next of which is this Tuesday, February 26, from 6:30 am (no foolin') to 2:45 pm. Riders range from local amateurs to interational professionals; horses from Green to Grand Prix. Auditing is $30, and a potluck lunch is available for those who bring a dish. RSVPs preferred.

The non-horse related part: I desperately need a better system for organizing email lists. I've seen those automatic programs that exist - has anyone used them? Un/recommend one?

Whenever one of the top class riders decides they need to start bringing new horses up the their level so they can compete on them who trains and shows them?

Obviously Anky/Pippa/Severson/etc. don't show their young horses at training level events. (I'm not sure they'd even be allowed honestly)


I finally uncorrupted my hard drive (My laptop is full of magic and wonders and manages to do things that should be impossible, in a bad way.) So here is a picture of my boy looking very muddy and orange/pink/white/brown in the snow.
( My horse was always muddy. )

Can we briefly discuss how cool this is going to be? I wish they'd share what horses they were going to use.

http://www.dawsonandnye.com/auction_result.php?auction_id=40


Kind of wish I was there. not because I'm all "omgz george morris I am not worthy" but because there's some pretty neat things on there that sold for less than I would have expected.

Hello,
I've done a bit of lurking here and now I thought it's time to introduce myself and of course my big boy.


( My boy and me )

I'm going to be riding in Frank Madden's clinic, and I was wondering if anyone here has ever ridden in one.
Just want to know what you thought of it and what I can expect.