The Equestrian Blog

Horse Riding & The Winter Blues

While we UK horse owners and riders tough it out through torrential rain, fields full of mud, chapped lips, chilblains and freezing toes;......

Spare a thought for the poor USA and International horse owners and competitiors who've had to drag themselves over to the 2008 CN Winter Equestrian Festival which officially opened Wednesday and kicks off 12 weeks of international equestrian competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

Where Ireland's Shane Sweetnam won the $6,000 1.40-meter competition, beating 54 other entries and riding Sienna. Even that competition name 'Suncast Opener' makes you long for hot sunny days.

Sunny days; and the Winter Equestrian Festival even offers $5 million in prize money.... makes you wanna p'@#k"

 "The sport in America needs to catch up to Europe, and what's happening here is really fantastic," says US international competitor Mark Wylde. "It's what we need as riders and competitors. We need to try and raise the standard in our own country."

A 12 week festival, $5 million in prize money .... catch up, catch up !!

Ah well ..... back to mucking out and looking forward to Spring; when there'll just be more rain and more mud...... but warmer brighter mornings !!