Warrent♥n Horse Show – Friday Neighs, um, News

Okay, we really do ♥ Warrenton Horse Show, and we have a fun post for you, albeit later than we wanted to deliver it – partly because of the Burghley Horse Trials in England where two American event riders, short-listed for Olympics, topped the standings after dressage by taking FIRST & SECOND!!!! We are absolutely thrilled for Sinead Halpin & Manoir de Carneville, the 2011 USEF National 4-Star Champions were left off the US Olympic team for London – FIRST AFTER DRESSAGE AND DOUBLE CLEAR ON THE XC to improve their hold on first with a score of 36.3, their personal best dressage score to date. Lots of information at Eventing Nation , and a great post by John of EN saying lovely things about Sinead and Allison. We ♥ Eventing Nation for running the live feed by Horse & Hound !!! Of course, following the XC action at Burghley meant huge delays to writing this post because we kept jumping to EN to read H&H’s live feed coverage, but now it’s a done deal.
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Wednesday at Warrent♥n H♥rse Sh♥w

Think we’re overdoing the ♥?
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Venus and Jupiter

In Cheshire Country education of the young hounds has progressed to the point that they are now leaving the kennels under the direction of the Huntsman, Ivan Dowling.  The hounds bound out of the kennel yard precisely at 7 A.M.
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Upperville – Shady News Wednesday A.M.

WE ♥♥♥♥ UPPERVILLE!!! Spent the afternoon there, took some photos, wandered around both sides of John Mosby Highway and enjoyed the afternoon, nice and cool most of the day, took a few pix, watched some horses – what’s not to enjoy at Upperville? Plus, it’s so friendly – exhibitors, spectators, families – it’s a great outing even if you just like watching all the pretty Dobbins. Wunderkind Tori Colvin is back, showing hunters and jumpers - shown here with Monsieur de Reverdy after winning the $25,000 Welcome Stakes last year. © Lauren R Giannini   One thing we find really handy is the convenience of a golf cart. We still do a fair amount of walking, but the cart saves time – and energy – and gives our dog a shady spot while we take photos, gather quotes, and yak with people. LOVE THIS GOLF CART !!! Lee Smith of Metro Golf Cart Rentals sits behind the wheel of the '59 Chevrolet Belair Golf Cart. We were so hoping this was for rent, but alas - it's for sale
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Upperville – Shady News Tuesday A.M.

WELCOME TO THE 159th UPPERVILLE  COLT & HORSE SHOW! We love Upperville and while we have not had the pleasure of showing at Upperville, we’ve known some great riders and horses who have performed under the oaks in the hunter rings and across the street in the jumper rings. There is state of the art footing in the main jumper ring – we think that Tommy Lee Jones, show manager par excellent, has done a fantastic job. We had just a moment to say hello to Tommy yesterday – he’s so busy all the time, but if you know him, give him a warm hello, because he and all his people, volunteers and staff, put their hearts and souls into making Upperville a great great show. Here are two links to visit: WUSA9.com story about Upperville and a WUSA9.com Upperville slide show of photos by Teresa Ramsey, official Upperville photographer (with seven taken by yours truly at the end!)
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AHP Conference: Counting Down to Awards Dinner

Okay, we’ll admit it. We don’t know how to relax. We think that we have been racing from deadline to deadline for so many years that we have totally forgotten how to relax and enjoy “leisure” – and that’s what this conference is, compared to our real life. This is leisure.
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ON THE ROAD AGAIN & MORE ROLEX

It’s been too long since our last post, but we have an excuse – endless deadlines. Now, we’re not complaining per se, we love to write. However, the pressure of making each story unique and special and fresh can be uber-challenging as well as extremely brain-draining, especially when you are writing about 3-day riders who hope to make the US eventing team for the 2012 London Olympics Games. There is only so often you can contact an Olympic-hopeful to acquire more quotes: she/he has spent years and years to get to the top of the game and therefore tend to be hounded by other members of the working press
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Lustre of the Gemstone

Thursday night prior to winning the Grand Prix, McLain Ward formally retired his two-time Olympic gold medal partner, Sapphire.  He rode the 16 year old chestnut mare into the ring through to the awards section where she stood while the announcer read her list of accomplishments, and then Ward dismounted, removed the saddle, replacing it with a white sheet embroidered with her name.  He took her past the grandstand where her fans could get up close to admire her, then walked back out the “in gate”, into the warm up ring, and down to the far end nearest the stabling area.  As he handed her off to a waiting groom, in the distance I could see his hand move to his bowed head and it was clear that he was wiping away a tear.                      
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Rolex in Retrospect: Beverly Equestrian Toasts Allison Springer, Karen O’Connor & Marilyn Little-Meredith

Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event provided the first major step in the US team selection process for the 2012 Olympics. Several riders made incredible bids for their ticket to London and on May 6 Beverly Equestrian Center (The Plains, VA) celebrated the three eventers for their rides ’round Rolex. Marilyn Little-Meredith, Allison Springer and Karen O'Connor celebrate Rolex and their quest to make the US 3-day team for the London Olympics this August with a congenial crowd at Beverly Equestrian Center. © Lauren R Giannini   Allison Springer & Arthur – they broke through several years of bad luck and misfortune to finish second overall and the best of the Americans to win the USEF National Four-Star championship. In the event that Allison & Arthur make the team, this will be their first Olympics.
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Rolex Kentucky – New Vocations & Retired Racehorse Training Project Fundraiser & Dubarry Babies

Dawn comes early, especially during Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgeston. Last night, however, we feasted very well at the Alltech Press Dinner hosted by Dr. Pearse Lyons at his Alltech Brewery, home of Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale.
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