NEWS

Sometimes when I catch horse sport coverage on TV it really makes me cringe--especially on the mainstream channels like NBC. Best coverage is certainly when the former OLN now Versus captures Spruce Meadows or one of the Budweiser series. Instead of treating the audience like imbeciles, they show many complete rounds and narrate knowledgeably.

Occasionally Animal Planet will weigh in, with its new Sporthorse Cup. It does a fairly horrible job with horse coverage, missing important moments, editing out entire sections of rounds, and basically cobbling moments here and moments there together.

Beezie Madden has a fall, Meredith Michaels Beerbaum has a fall... Just goes to show you anything at all can happen (and did) in show jumping competition. The USEF reports the results this morning of the Rolex World Cup of Show Jumping in Las Vegas, and if you were betting on these two superstars, who cleaned up in the World Equestrian Games and have continued to impress, winning several major competitions since then, you'd have lost money (as Brian Sosby of the USEF notes in his press release).

Okay, so you know how embarrassing it is when you fall off for no apparent reason? I'm talking about the kind of silly, ridiculous falls that happen when you least expect it, not the, "oh crap my horse is bucking" falls, but the "my horse went left and I went right" falls. Now imagine that in front of 12,000 people. At the highest level of competition. We feel for you, Meredith!

Are you at the World Cup? Post your impressions, thoughts, gossip, favorite deals at the trade show, here! We want to know!

Word comes this morning from USEF that Andreas Helgstrand and his stunning gray mare Blu Hors Matine, withdrew from the World Cup (Dressage) after Blu twisted her pastern. The injury isn't serious and the mare would have likely recovered in time to compete, but she still showed signs of lameness in the trot-out prior to the event.

The pair stunned (see the video we have posted in the video section) World Equestrian Games spectators with their performances in the Grand Prix Special and the Freestyle, earning a silver medal. Both tests were nearly flawless. With a few more months of maturity (Blu is only 9), the pair was a favorite to bring home the gold in the World Cup. More importantly, though, spectators were looking forward to watching Blu Hors and Hegelstrand perform.

So I received this press release from the United States Equestrian Federation today. Is it me, or is this completely incomprehensible? (Posted below, in italics). Perhaps if they want more people to get involved with the federation, they should write in English. But enough critiquing of the writing. What do you think about this idea? They want to reach out to engage new exhibitors. Is this the way to do it? I'm searching for comments, thoughts, ideas on ways to grow all equestrian sports. Post below or add to the forum topic, Rules and Regs!

New USEF Opportunity Classes Offer More Showing Options for Exhibitors and Competition Management

I was happy to see Alexandra Cherubini on the top of the headlines at Phelps Media Group this morning. Alexandra is showing her hunter, Good Night and Good Luck, at the Bainbridge Florida Classic/WCHR Spectacular. Apparently, everything just clicked for her and the stunning horse (see the photo attached)won the championship in the Adult Amateur 18-35 Hunters.
Go Alexandra!