Rolex is over...how you can keep the excitement alive!

You can still check out some of the video footage on the USEF Network and the United States Eventing Association.

So what do the eventer fans have to look forward to for big deal events? To check out a full calendar see USEA website. Here are the big ones:

• Jersey Fresh International Event, CIC3 May 8-11th (Tailgate is sold out, let the party begin!)
• Badminton Horse Trials May 7-11
• Virginia Horse Trials CIC2 through Advanced May 22-25 
• Alltech World Equestrian Games Eventing Aug 27-31 France!
• Burhley Horse Trials Sep 4-5

Does William Fox Pitt have a chance at the Grand Slam?! Guess we will have to see at Badminton next month!

Rolex Kentucky Is Starting!

Today (April 24, 2014) Rolex starts with dressage! Very sad I am missing it this year, it was so much fun last year. My favorite Rolex experiences were the cross country, stadium jumping, vendors, and crowds.

Last  Year's Winner: Quimbo and Andrew Nicholson

Follow Rolex Kentucky:
Website
Results
Watch Live
Schedule
Three Day Shop (note; last year at the event they did run out of items and I was told that they are running a low inventory to save money so buy when you see!)
Twitter (best way to follow in my opinion)
Facebook
SmartPak is a major sponsor and will have some coverage/updates
Eventing Nation does an excellent job with breaking news on Rolex!
USEF Network Channel
Rolex Kentucky Youtube Channel

Most recent youtube video from Rolex: Wednesday dressage warm-up.

One of the prettiest horse shows I wish I could see.

The Saut Hermes Show Jumping in France.

http://www.sauthermes.com/?langue=en
Located in the Grand Palais, Paris France. Learn more about the facility here, great history, it truly is amazing:
http://www.grandpalais.fr/visite/en/#

Latest news about the show:
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/equestrian-world-s-leading-riders-set-saut-hermes-015840062--spt.html

Injury + Snow = Reading About Horse Shows On The Internet

I fractured my coccyx bone...ugh. Of course, I am bored out of my mind! I am not able to do much. I cannot even put on my own shoes! And guess what?! This injury is not related to horses in any shape or form. That's right, I did this all on my own by falling down the stairs. Awesome.

The good news it is miserable outside, only 20 degrees and constant snow so there is not much fun things to do anyways.

To cheer my self up I decided to see how some of the big Hunter/Jumper shows are doing right now. It would also be important to note the temperate in these places...all which are better then Colorado right now.

Temperature comparison...
Lyons, Colorado: 20 degrees with snow
Wellington, Florida: 74 degrees partially sunny
Gulf-port, Mississippi: 68 degrees and sunny
Tuscan, Arizona: 57 degrees with some rain (I still would take it!)

First show, Winter Festival and Nations Cup in Wellington, Florida. I have always wanted to go to this show. Perfect time to get away from Colorado snow and watch pretty horses in warm weather. Maybe next year. The show features your standard hunter jumper classes and some high dollar Grand Prix too! The $150,000 CWD Prix and a $200,000 World Cup both which happen tomorrow, Sunday March 2nd.

http://www.equestriansport.com/

Then there is the Gulfport, Mississippi show, where my current barn is residing for the next several weeks. Over $1 million in prize money is being offered. There is at least 2 Prix per week with the biggest one being the $77,000 Week 5 Prix. The show also has some turf based classes.

http://gulfcoastclassiccompany.com/

We couldn't forget HITS Arizona. Everyone knows HITS; the six week show starting in January and ending next week, March 9th which includes several Grand Prix including the Strongid $50,000 Prix also a qualifier for a World Cup in France this April. The winner of the Strongid Prix was Saer Coulter and Springtime.

http://hitsshows.com/arizona/

Gulf Coast Classic Horse Show Results

To view results: http://horseshowsonline.com/RiderResults.aspx

Rein Stops

I recently found a great deal on a bridle with rubber reins, but forgot to check to see if they had rein stops. Doh! I have to use a running martingale, so when the bridle arrived with no rein stops I debated on returning the bridle. Couldn't return it, the bridle was too nice and a great deal so I decided to place myself through the torture process of placing rubber rein stops on.

BUT WAIT I found these and was relieved! Rein stops that clip on by Koper Equine! A screw driver is all you need to place these things on AND they come in all sorts of pretty colors! I paid $28 for the clear crystal and green crystal buttons. Some of the more plain buttons are cheaper.

They are here and so pretty!!

Other options.



Show Shirt Shopping

I am actually going to a real show this winter, finally! After years of owning project horses it finally has paid off. Milo is actually going to go to a real show, the National Western Stock Show in Denver, CO. A less expensive 'A' show indoors. The indoor arena will be a challenge for spooky Milo, but what worries me more? Not having anything to wear!

My show clothes are terribly out of date and everything is blue. I am so sick of blue, not only are all my clothes blue but everyone else is wearing blue. Ideally, I wish I could wear a light green with brown. I have been shopping and shopping online and it is terrible hard to find anything that is not blue! I managed to find some, here we go...

Okay, this is technically navy blue but what I like about it is it is not your normal shirt. The Animo Babila shirt is a little more hip. $109. Buy Here.

The Animo Bang shirt is also adorable with black and white stripes. Buy Here.

I really like the red Animo shirt with flowers. Dover sells them for $209, buy here.

Essex show shirt with green collar, finally...green! $109 Buy here.

Essex in pink $99.99 Buy Here.

Beacon Hill shirts come in many different stripes including a blue/green stripe and a rainbow stripe which I love. $84.00 Buy Here

Horseware Competition shirt gives a tuxedo look. Already bought it, only $50. It's good as a backup shirt if it isn't 100% your style. Buy Here.

Kingsland Show Shirt on ebay for $45.

Kingsland Equestrian Venice Ruffle front show shirt

Cool Blast riding show shirt by Riding Sport $49 on sale at Dover! $49! Comes in teal, blue, pink, and white. Look how much fun she is having in it! UV protection too.

Goode Rider Regal Show shirt $77 at Dover. Very pretty.

Horse show ribbons in a candle lantern

After blogging about what to do with horse ribbons I decided to give it a try myself. I headed over to Hobby Lobby and was going to buy a large, unique vase, but I found a glass candle lantern and thought that would be cool! It was about $50 and some of the larger lanterns reached $80. I would suggest either hitting up Hobby Lobby when there is a sale or heading to Marshalls. I later found some at Marshalls for less than $20!

 

Really like these wooden lanterns for a more country, vintage look. Buy here.

Once I brought the lantern home I shoved it full of flat ribbons without buttons and then placed ribbons with buttons on the outside where they were visible. It was fun!

At Target I saw a serving tray with foxes on the handles and I thought what a cute way to tie in the equestrian theme with a little foxhunting. I placed the lantern full of ribbons on the serving tray. Buy at Target.

The final product! Pretty proud of my arts and crafts this weekend.

 

Check out my previous post of what to do with left over horse show ribbons for more ideas.

End of Horse Show Season...what to do with all those ribbons?

It's almost the holidays meaning the 2013 horse show season is over. I have done two schooling shows...sigh. Not exactly the big time, but it was a good test to see that my horse has started to trust people again. No spooking and no bad behavior, very happy with him and feel more ready for a few real shows next year.

Regardless, I still have too many ribbons from years before, from other horses, and need to do something with them. It's sad to have them in a box in the attic. Regardless of the level of show they are from, they are memories and deserve a little display.

 

Love this for a little girl's room or guest room. Very pretty.

Arrange and take a few black and white photos.

If you are proud to be an American, make a flag. Nice country touch.

 

Cute ribbon buttons like lollipops in a trophy cup.

Frame some of those ribbons that have a common color scheme, especially if they have the vintage look.

Special ribbons from a special horse, this picture frame helps save those memories.



 

Displayed in a classy frame.

 

The obvious, in the barn.

 

Hanging on the wall, décor around the home.

 

Really simple, just use a flat ribbon as book mark. I do this, but that is not my hand.

 

Horse show ribbon pillows...these look a little more complicated to arrange but worth a shot.

 

Cute purse.

 

In a glass display case.

 

Use for an equestrian themed party!

 

Like colors on a silk back drop. Adds nice texture to your wall.

 

And because Christmas is just around the corner, you could try ribbon wreath and Christmas tree. Would look really cute in a barn to add some holiday cheer for the horses.