Recently in Ridiculous Commentary Category

Christmas may be over, but Valentine's Day is right around the corner.  Here are some gift ideas for that special someone in your life, courtesy of Craigslist.

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HORSE LOVERS VALENTINE

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Date: 2012-01-25, 10:08AM EST

 

 

 

• Now that's actually kind of pretty.  I'd wear something like that.

 

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Horses Designer Tail Bags

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Date: 2012-01-22, 3:30PM EST
  

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• Bad fashion sense has extended to your horse! I think I'll pass, and skip the visit to their Facebook page.

 

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GIRLS HAND KNIT HORSE PONY SWEATER WESTERN SZ LARGE - $25 (Leesburg)

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Date: 2011-12-28, 11:32AM EST
 

 

• I am not ashamed to admit I had a sweater like this when I was about 6.  Fuzzy yarn mane down the sleeves and all.  And the teacher's comments on my journal entries were always, "Try writing about something other than horses next time."  Pfft, what did they know...look where it got me now!

 

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Ladies Harley Davidson Leather riding jacket Ladies small - $200 (N Charlotte)

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Date: 2012-01-24, 8:35PM EST
  

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• Well, I guess if you're looking to get out of horses and look good on a Harley, here's your chance. 

 

 

Craigslist is such a strange, and rarely wonderful place. You just never know what you're going to find.  Searching for "trades" frequently discovers the odd, the unusual, and the clueless.  And sometimes, you wish you just hadn't clicked on a listing.

 

 

Horse drawn surrey beutiful - $6000 (tellico plains)

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Date: 2012-01-14, 10:11AM EST

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******THRIPLE REG TWH STUD****** - $1500

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Date: 2011-12-13, 3:13PM EST

 

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Horsepower 4 Horsepower?? - $20000 (Kingsport, TN)

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Date: 2012-01-10, 11:45AM EST

 

 

 

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Stunning Buckskin Appaloosa Colt 7mo. May TRADE (Greenville Area)

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Date: 2011-12-02, 8:17PM EST

I have been meaning to write this article for a while and I apologize in advance that my schedule this evening doesn't give me time to do it justice.  But, the Chronicle's mention this evening that Poplar Place is hosting a CIC3* at their February 4th to 5th horse trials less than a month from today deserves an explanation that leads us to a situation so complicated that only a certain for-profit organization governing equestrian sport can be behind it. 

At some point, with seemingly little thought, the FEI decided to make March 1st, 2012 the deadline for earning the individual nation spots for the Olympics.  Let's take two steps back.  Up to 75 pairs will ride in the eventing competition at the Olympics.  Of those 75 spots, 55 have been allocated based on team qualifications.  Here's the list of the nations who qualified teams and therefore have a guaranteed 5 Olympic spots:

Great Britain (the host nation automatically gets a team)
United States (WEG)
Canada (WEG)
Germany (WEG)
New Zealand (WEG)
Belgium (WEG)
France (European Championships)
Sweden (European Championships)
Japan (Blenheim)
Brazil (Pan Ams)
Argentina (Pan Ams)

The fact that Brazil and Argentina have 5 spots each from placing well at a 2* is a completely different issue that I won't get into other than to say it is ridiculous.  Back to the situation at hand.  There are 20 remaining Olympic nation spots (that's 75-55, Coren).  The FEI's version of planet Earth is divided into 7 regions.  Each of those regions is given one automatic qualifier for the highest FEI Olympic point earner in that region. The FEI Olympic points are defined by the 5 best results from March 1st 2011 to March 1st 2012 in CCI/CH3*, CIC3*, and 4* competitions. 

To be clear, the March 1st deadline has nothing to do with individual Olympic qualification (that deadline is in June of 2012).  The March deadline is only for each nation to earn the number of spots they have for the Olympics.  To make things more complicated, even though the rider earns the spot for their nation, the nation gets to assign that spot to whomever they want for the Olympics.  This goes for all of the Olympic nation spots earned.

So, we are down to 13 spots not spoken for (20-7).  Australia will most likely get 4 of those spots because they missed out on a team qualifier at Blenheim (note that Australia will almost certainly get their regional spot as well).  And then there were 9.  Those 9 will go to the individuals with the top FEI points, who are from nations that do not already have 5 spots.  Those 9 sports are precious, more than precious enough to make nations create CIC and CCI three-stars out of thin air.   

Italy is in a precarious position without a team spot and with poor current positioning in the individual points--their highest placed rider is 23 spots back in the individual rankings.  As a result, the Italians added a CCI3* at Montelibretti at the end of February with the sole purpose of giving their riders extra FEI points.  This threatened Ireland, which is in a much better position to get multiple riders to the Games out of the 9 remaining spots.  The Irish responded by making their own CCI3* and CIC3* at Ballindenisk in Cork, Ireland.  Spain is also hosting two CIC's before the March 1st deadline, as is Argentina, and Russia is looking to continue their age-old tradition of backing into a spot by hosting an event and starting 50 horses in the dressage who then withdraw before the XC but not before the few riders who do finish are on pace to score massive numbers of FEI points.

Which brings us to Poplar Place.  Both CIC3* and CCI3* competitions count towards the FEI points.  To maximize their FEI points, riders should do an early February CIC3* and then target either the Irish or Italian CCI3*.  It's a classic arms race scenario where if one rider or country tries to force three-days in before March then everyone else must do so to keep up.  Ronald Zabala-Goetschel and Nina Ligon are two US based riders who come to mind as being involved in the race for those final individual qualifications (Ronald is racing for his region's individual spot).  February is of course very early in the year to be doing three-days, but that is the position riders and countries are put in by the FEI's March 1st deadline. 

In the Chronicle article linked above, Poplar's organizer Donna Stegman says that she hopes to have 8-12 riders in the CIC3* and I would guess there will be at least a few riders who will jump at the chance to get their coveted CIC3* qualifier at Poplar rather than the always menacing Red Hills and The Fork combination. 

[Poplar Place Omnibus Page, FEI Olympic Rider Rankings]    

That's an hour of my Friday night and 5 minutes of your Friday night that we'll never get back.  Now I'm going to throw down the microphone and walk off the stage.

EN is about to say goodbye to Moveable Type...sparing the frustration of many writers!

 

 

The original source of the following essay is unknown; it seems to be making the internet rounds.  We take no credit for writing it, but are happy to pass it on to you.  Once again, from the EN mailbox:

 

Someone posted a thread asking for advice on controlling their emotions while riding. I never have that problem because I'm so grounded and patient and altogether accomplished a tack cleaner rider. I also grew up in BC where everyone sings kumbaya and communes with nature on a daily basis. So dude, I was, like, born laid back.

I have had a lot of experience dealing with difficult people, though. And, as luck would have it, I also read an advice column this morning on fighting with your significant other that was full of helpful ideas. In other words, I'm uniquely qualified to offer insight in this area. Here are 7 failsafe strategies for keepin' the crazy in check on horseback. You can thank me later.

Use loud verbal cues: Screaming at your horse is a sure fire way to get him to listen to your aids. It also lets other people know that you are confident in your particular training strategy and that they might benefit from this learning opportunity.

Take a timeout: Timeouts allow your horse to think about just how uncooperative he is. Then, when he has relaxed, you can thoroughly confuse him with mixed cues all over again.

Use humor: When things aren't going right for you, make light of your barn mate's horse, clothing or facial tick. You'll feel better about yourself immediately.

Don't get mad, get draw reins: Training tools were made to force your horse into submission. Pull out the spurs, long whip and draw lines, then watch his love grow.

Practice makes perfect: You will never get good at fighting with your horse unless you do it every day.

Bring reinforcements: If you are the one causing the problem--and, be honest, you are--then compensate for your failings with a steady supply of carrots. Only then can the healing begin.

Never get off your horse angry: Every satisfactory ride should have a proper ending. Don't get off until you're sure that he's sorry you ever got on.

Remember, just because you spend a small fortune to feed, train and house your horse, doesn't mean he has to respect you. Or even like you. You can be thankful for what little effort he deems to grant you. Or, you can fight tooth and nail until you Get Your Way. Me, I choose the latter option. (It works for relationships, too).

-Writer Unknown

A few years ago, I started my first post on this site with An Eventer's Letter to Santa.  Why not let the tradition continue?

 

An Event Horse's Letter to Santa

 

 

Dear Santa,

 

I'm not really sure I believe in you, but I do believe in vicious Monsters living in those funny boxes at C outside the dressage arena.  Mom is scared of them, too, you should see how upset she is after she reads the Monster's written death threats remarks.  She's so upset she won't give me treats or anything and just glares at me.  She doesn't understand that I just saved her life out there, dodging and weaving away from all those potential leg-snatching letters.  And my imposing snorting-dragon impression is the only thing that kept the Monster inside its box.  It's ok, I still love Mom, and one day she'll thank me for my astounding athleticism and acute sense of self-preservation (it's a good thing she has a good seat).  But since Monsters are real, I guess you are too, Santa.

 

So, since I've been such a good boy this year (and I really have, Mom tells me so, except for the times she glares at me in disgust) there's a few extra things on my wish list this Christmas.  Besides the usual, y'know, all the carrots I can eat and mints with no annoying plastic wrappers.  That's what I get in my stocking every year-- except for that one year, I was really naughty and lame all the time, and all I got was a tube of bute paste (yuck!).  But this year I earned a big "6" for Submission on one of my tests, that's my highest score ever!  I usually get "4- highly inattentive" under that section of the collective marks.  But a 6... that should get me something really good under the tree this year.

 

OK, St. Nick, here's my wish list:

 

1.  A new turnout blankie.  I'm sorry I ripped up my other one, me and the guys were just having fun.  Rowdy was like chasing me and stuff, and bit my butt, and I couldn't let him get away with that, y'know?  It started as a harmless game of halter tag, but before we knew it we were buck-farting all over the field and playing demolition derby with our clothes.  I held in there for a little while, but I lost my tail flap, the lining shredded, it tore down the side and all the fluff came out.  It was sad.  So please, Santa, can I have a new Rambo this year?  Those things are indestructible, so warm and waterproof.  And Rowdy will be soooo jealous of me since he only wears plaid Dover-brand knock offs bought on Ebay.

 

2.  A new Micklem bridle.  They're so trendy and ergonomically-designed for comfort.  I wear a figure-8 right now, Mom says I open my mouth too much.  But it makes my head look too long, and leaves me feeling itchy at the end of the ride.  Mr. Micklem says his special bridle is contoured to my facial bones (I do have lovely facial bone structure, thanks for noticing) and will make any horse more pleasant in the bridle.  Maybe I'll even keep my tongue in my mouth, if I like it well enough.

 

3.  Better hay.  These silly humans keep throwing me flakes of tasteless dried grass--it may as well be straw!-- and expect me to eat it.  I try to show them quite clearly that it's only suitable for pee and poop, but they just don't get the message.  Don't they know I'm a distant cousin to Man O'War on my mother's side, and I am to indulge in only the very finest of feedstuffs?  Bring me the fancy feast, the high-quality pre-bloom alfalfa I deserve, offered free-choice as all the good books say.  Never mind my expanding waistline...you're one to talk, there Santa boy.  I don't see you skipping your cookies, now do I?

 

4.  A clicker.  Preferably one capable of being operated by an odd-toed ungulate.  My Mom has a few quirks that need re-training (like her treat-dispensing ability), and all my friends say clicker training is a great way to encourage desired behavior.  Something about operant conditioning, whatever that means.  I want to teach her that when I make a cute face, she gives me 10 treats, not just one.  She doesn't think I can count, but I can.  Sometimes I have to make 10 cute faces just to get one single treat.  That's just wrong.  She does not respond well to negative reinforcement (I try to paw, rake the bars with my teeth, and make snarly faces) but usually I get yelled at for that, and the treats are put away.  So we'll see if the clicker method has better results.

 

5.  A helmet camera.  Now, I know what you think...this just something for Mom.  But really, it's all about establishing my brand: my cute little ears and fabulous jumping style.  I saw what it did for Henny-- it went from a couple Youtube videos, to his own website, to hats, mugs and other Henny merch.  Soon, I will be the next star of eventing, with my own helmet cams plastered all over EN, Facebook, and Twitter (follow me @EvSuperhorse).  I will have groupies lining up outside my stall to pet me, take photos with their iPhones, and feed me delectable treats.  Soon, I'll develop my own line of saddle pads, matching polos, and designer dress sheets.  But it has to start somewhere...and I truly NEED that helmet cam to get my vision off the ground.

 

I hope all that stuff isn't too heavy for your deer to pull around.  The don't look like very drafty animals to me.  Perhaps you should consider some Clydesdales in your breeding stock, they even pull trains.  Anyway, Santa, I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  And if you must leave wormer in my stocking, I prefer the apple-flavored ivermectin. 

 

Yours Truly,

The (soon-to-be) Greatest Event Horse In the World.

 

 

PS- Why do they call you "Jolly?"  Do you make Jolly Balls?  Those things are really stupid.  I got one for my birthday a few years ago.  Mom expects me to play with it, but I'm not a golden retriever or a ball-obsessed border collie.  I have more fun chewing on the fence boards, thankyouverymuch. 

How about some smiles from www.icanhascheezburger.com?

 

 I would not recommend trying this at home...but it is a nice party trick.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

 

Baby camel plays with a horse

 

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

 

 

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

 

 

Friday morning, the USEA convention started with a fitness evaluation of the high performance US riders.  The evaluation started at 7am and, being a glutton for punishment, I woke up at 6:55 and sleepwalked down to Hermatage Ballroom B in my sweatpants to participate.  This is the story of what transpired in the following 60 minutes.

The evaluation was conducted by a United States Olympic Committee team that has been assigned to assist the US eventing team with fitness, nutrition, and sports psychology.  This USOC assistance has been welcomed by the USEF as well as most of the riders.  I think that focusing on those three key areas of athletic performance is a blatantly good idea to help our riders perform at their best.  The eventers have participated in several of these tests throughout 2011 and the goal is to help the riders to improve their performance over time. 

The USOC team is comprised of nutritionist Andrea Braakhuis, fitness expert Amanda Wittenmyer, and sports psychologist Sean Mccan and the riders will also have private meetings with each USOC team member.  Although I can only imagine some of the private discussions that go on with the sports psychologist in particular, the USOC team fits in with the eventers really well and all three experts are well liked by the riders.  

The overall atmosphere was definitely competitive but also lighthearted and fun.  I think such evaluations are a really good team building exercise.  In the past, the high performance riders have been only put together as a team at training sessions and pre-competition camps.  In these situations I think the competitiveness of selection can definitely get in the way of team unity.   I think forcing any team to go through a painful workout builds unity and I think we saw that as we suffered together this morning.

I knew we were in for a long morning when the activities started with active stretching exercises conducted by Amanda.  I consider myself to be in reasonable shape and my principle advantage in exercising is that I don't have any muscle to weigh me down.  The evaluation was comprised of three exercises that were the same from the previous evaluations we have covered here on EN.

Planks -- In the plank exercise we were required to stay on our toes and elbows with out body completely horizontal and raised off of the ground.  It was timed and my only goal going into it was not to be the first out.  Will Faudree won the exercise with 4 minutes and 59 seconds.  I was proud to finish in the middle of the pack with 4:01.  Try it yourself Eventing Nation, what's your best time?  The record for eventers is held by Tiana Coudray at 10 minutes which is completely insane.

Squats -- I want to preface this by saying that I think squats are undoubtedly harder for tall people.  The squat exercise was conducted using a chair.  We would squat back until our butt hit the chair and then stand up.  It's pretty simple other than the fact it is extremely painful after about 30 squats.  The record for squats is also held by Tiana at 400.  The USOC team told us that 300 was the maximum allowed for today.  Boyd finished at 299 but could have gotten to 300.  Shannon Lilley reached 300 without breaking a sweat.

Shuttle Run -- The shuttle run was held on a 20 meter long course marked by cones.  It used a computer timing system that gradually decreased the time allowed to run back and forth across the course.  To set the stage, we ran in two groups and the course was in a hallway between ballrooms so we had to dodge people who were trying to get to their first meetings of the day.  Boyd broke his own record by reaching level 13 which is a bit arbitrary but suffice it to say Boyd was at a full run back and forth for a number of minutes.  I was dropped towards the bottom of the pack at level 8 in a disappointing performance.  Will Coleman survived until level 12, Jan was impressive and got to level 11.  P Dutty showed the benefits of riding a million horses a day and embarrassed all of the young guns by lasting until level 10. 

The USOC team said that the performance numbers had improved in general since the last fitness evaluation, which is impressive considering that we are in the middle of the US off season.  I noticed that most riders specialized in one of two exercises and struggled with another and everyone was in the top half of at least one exercise.  Hopefully the riders will use the feedback to work on their core, legs, or endurance accordingly.   I was definitely reminded how fit our riders are to get the job done at three and four-star competitions on multiple horses.   

I was completely exhausted by the end of the shuttle run and it's going to be a struggle to stay awake throughout the Board of Governors meeting. Yet, with an endless supply of water and Jolly Ranchers in each conference room, surviving the day looks more probable with every passing minute. 

Go eventing.

The odd, the ignorant, and the bizarre, with enough typos and grammar errors to make this site seem articulate.  Has to be Craigslist! 

 

 

LIKE TO TRADE FOR HORSE - $1 (HAMLET)

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Heaven help the horse who is traded for that furniture.  I would rarely sit upon it either!

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17 month old palomino fillie - $450 (Tylertown)

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Nice Lil mare. I started longing her and she is doing good. Just needs some more work on her. I don't got time to fool wit her. Aqua registered. Clean coggins U can pick up all 4 feet and brush her I really like the Lil colt but don't have the time to finish her Text for more info / pictures. 985-515-****.
P.s. Dats not no white spot on her hip.

 

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I don't know what "dat" is either.  Are Aqua-registered horses trans-gendered?

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wanting appolosa gelding (i was from Fillmore Mo)

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Cardinalis Equidae (Pegasus) - $10000 (Butler, MO)

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Call it whatever you want (I'd call it an ugly pinto pegasus) but I still don't think it's worth $10,000!

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Here's another Craigslist ad just sent to us from loyal reader Marjean:

 

PURPLE HALTER FOR SALE. PONY SIZED

I have a used bright purple pony halter for sale.  Adjustable and in fairly good condition.    A pony will be included with the halter.  I currently call this pony "Juicy" although he goes by many other names as well, depending on my mood and his behavior.  This pony is just waiting to become someone's little dream pony.  This 12.2 hand, 7 yr old pony is fantastic, if you are into the type of equine that is is constantly invading your space/vehicle, etc.    He believes he needs to be everywhere you need to be, especially when food is present.    He is in great shape, if you consider round a shape.    He never met a horse trailer he didn't like and climbs in them every chance he gets, whereupon he immediately puts his feet up on the manger so he can look out the window.  He made it halfway in the back of my car the other day before I noticed and sped off.    He LOVES little kids, especially little kids with treats.  He will eat them.  (the kids, not the treats) Just kidding.   This pony has been worked over 2'6" jumps and lunged over 3'3" jumps.  However, he likes jumping my 4 ft. pasture gates the best.  He could absolutely be someone (else's) dream pony.    He's very affectionate, both with people(especially women) and horses(especially mares).  This little guy is the neighborhood gigolo.  By affectionate, I mean he will have no issue invading your personal space/private parts, if you know what I mean.  He sticks his nose wherever he wants.  With mares, he is lucky he is quick because he will mount  mares, even the ones who have "a headache."  He is not at all discriminating, although I've noticed he likes the fuller figured gals.  His absolute favorite is mounting a mare while a woman is on the mare.  Ask my friend Lisa, I'm sure she considered that a good time.  And when rejected?  You can see that he is clearly thinking that the female is merely playing hard to get.  This just makes him more determined.  This porky little guy very much thinks that he's got what the ladies want, even if they don't know it yet.  He reminds me of the little guy at the bar who hits on everybody, whom you practically have to blow an air horn in his face to get rid of.  This pony has been on television, which probably adds to his ego trip.  He could be the perfect little dream pony(for someone else).    He walks/trots/canters/jumps, takes trips to the mailbox and to check the waters, goes trail riding, swims, poses on stripper poles(ask me), tests your trailer floor weight limits, tests your trailer emergency walk through doors, taste tests anything and everything, steals food from blind horses, tried to mount my dog(it is a big dog), stands tied patiently to the swing set while my son swings, loves to roll in the sand box, allows little kids to mount him from lawn chairs, buckets, swingsets, clubhouses, ladders, gates, side of the trailer and anywhere else, pulls little kids on sleds in the snow, tries to decapitate adults by running them under arena railings, and so much more.   Did I mention that he could be the perfect little dream pony(for someone else)?  "Juicy" is also a fantastic workout companion. I think I've lost at least 15 lbs since I've had him. I've never run so much in my life, either after him or from him.  Though his little flabby butt cheeks closely resemble two pigs fighting under a blanket, he got me in wonderful shape.   I firmly believe he's a dream pony (someone's else's dream, that is).  Call me if you want a used purple halter and are a glutton for punishment.  734-218-****

This is the top hole, it is 1.9m (6 foot 3 inches), Evan Leuret

These guys are nicknamed the Flying Frenchmen but they do have a Italian boy amongst them so they are called The Horsemen. They are Gerry Dente (ITA), Evan Leuret (FRA) and Bastien Bracq (FRA).  We thought they deserved their own post.

I took lots of pics and some video, much of it is of dubious quality as I was unprepared, that said, in the name of art I have included almost all and the video is unedited. ENJOY! (contains a mild warning, these boys are wearing outfits that leave little to the imagination).

Life was rough growing up eventing in Michigan

I would like to extend a special thanks to The Eventing Association of Michigan for a wonderful time at their annual awards banquet Saturday night.  I started eventing in Michigan and rode in Michigan until I was 12 before I moved to Kentucky for high school.  I returned to the TEAM awards banquet for the first time in 10 years Saturday night and it was wonderful to see so many friends who were such a wonderful part of my early eventing days and continue to be a great influence on me to this day.  TEAM is a great organization that leads a thriving eventing scene in Michigan and I can't give TEAM enough recognition. 

Saturday night was a celebration of the riders, horses, competitions, and volunteers that together make Michigan eventing.  The only real problem with the night was a 20 minute public speaking interlude by yours truly.  Much to the misfortune of my audience, Saturday night was the first speech I have ever given.  I will say that very few cross-country courses have made me more nervous than I was standing up at the podium before I started speaking.  I spent all day Friday and all day Saturday writing the speech and by the sixth paragraph I went off script and started improvising.  The audience was incredibly generous to laugh at a few jokes, nod at a few points, and clap enthusiastically at the end, if only in a frantic joy that I had stopped speaking.

When TEAM asked me to speak at the banquet I was honored and humbled, and I couldn't refuse an organization that has given me so much, but at the same time I had no idea what I could possibly speak about that so many people would want to hear about.  I wanted to speak about something meaningful, something beyond my life or Eventing Nation, something that perhaps I wish I had heard when I listened to speeches at the TEAM annual banquets in my childhood.  So I discussed an issue that has been challenging me over the past few years and that I think always will challenge me--how to live in harmony with eventing.

Speeches are meant to be heard, not read, but nonetheless I will publish my notes for the speech--click on the link below to read them.  As I said, I improvised quite a bit once the speech started and my overall tone was dramatically less formal than the written speech suggests.  Linda Cooper, my fantastic childhood coach was kind enough to introduce me with a slideshow of my first years with eventing.  Let's just say George Morris would not have been impressed with those photos.

Hidden camera footage of the speech:


See you after the jump...

Brian O'Connor has truly outdone himself in today's Insanity in the Middle video.  Brian takes a look back at a great past month of eventing, including such topics as: Bughley, Marlborough, the earthquake, the hurricane, Wits End horse trials, the AECs, Jennie's naked bareback ride at Plantation, and finally the rain at Morven.  Many thanks for Brian for the tremendous video and next year we'll try to bring you a Jack Russell's view of Burghley.  Go eventing.

Hey guys, what's new?  The Eventing Nation mobile command center is on the way to Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia for the American Eventing Championships.  Let's jump right into answers to all of the questions you have never asked about Georgia and the AECs.
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What do you know about Georgia?

Georgia is a small country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia.  It's population is 4.7 million, it was formerly part of the Soviet Union, and it is now bordered on the north by Russia, to the south by Turkey, and the west by the Black Sea.

No, I mean the state.

Right.  Georgia was the last of the 13 colonies to be established.  It is named after King George II of Great Britain.  It is the largest state east of the Mississippi in terms of land area.  Its flag includes two red and one white bars and the state coat of arms which was taken from the state seal. 

There are seals in Georgia?

Probably a few in zoos, but seals are not a native animal to Georgia.  Native animals to Georgia include the American Alligator, the Florida Worm Lizard, the Worm Snake, and many more.  Also, a few wild horses who are the descendants of formerly domesticated horses still live in Georgia. 

Do horses compete in Georgia, perhaps in some championship of American eventing?

I'm glad you asked!  Yes, the American Eventing Championships (AECs) are being held in Georgia this weekend.  The AECs are the USEA championships for beginner novice through advanced.  The AECs are a destination event with a fabulous group of sponsors, including tons of Eventing Nation sponsors such as SmartPak, World Equestrian Brands, Omega Alpha, Point Two, Cavalor, FLAIR, and more.  Interestingly enough, presenting sponsor Bit of Britain's owner, John Nunn, is competing at the event this weekend.  There are over 500 horses competing this weekend and we are all very grateful that Carl Bouckaert has offered his beautiful farm at Chattahoochee Hills to be used for the AECs.  The event is only possible with the help of scores of volunteers who travel from all over the country to be involved.

Anything else you want to shamelessly plug Ricky Bobby?

Coca-Cola is better than Pepsi.  Duh.

What's the schedule for the AECs?

Thursday: Training, prelim, intermediate, advanced dressage
Friday: Beginner novice, novice dressage
    Training, prelim, intermediate, advanced XC
Saturday: Training, prelim, intermediate, advanced show jumping
    Beginner novice, novice XC
Sunday: Beginner novice, novice show jumping

[Website, Ride Times, Schedule, Weather]

Ok Al Roker. 

One last thing, if you are going to the AECs, point your GPS to 10045 Cedar Grove Rd., Fairburn, GA 30213. 

What if I get lost in Georgia?

For God's sake do not get lost in Georgia.