This Week in Horses — June 27, 2014

Hope you all enjoyed the first official week of summer! Here’s the horse-world news roundup for this week.

• Clydesdale-inspired public art? Yes, please. A town in Scotland has set up an art installation of more than 50 life-sized Clydesdale horse and foal sculptures painted by local artists. It’s similar to the Horsemania exhibit we had here in Lexington a few years ago. Once the 10-week “Ready Steady Gallop” event has ended, the horses will be auctioned off to support charity.





 

• We’re winding down Lightning Safety Awareness Week. I think we’re all guilty of trying to squeeze in a few more minutes of riding as a storm rolls in on these summer days, but it’s unwise and we should stop. Make sure all your barn buddies read this.
• Sad news last weekend as we learned that two-time Olympic show jumping horse Sapphire died due to complications of colic. The big chestnut mare made it look easy every time out. She received a well-deserved, but earlier than planned retirement in 2012, which she celebrated by eating a donut. We’ll miss you, old girl.
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• Zara Phillips, 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games eventing gold medalist and member of the royal family, is a real person, just like you and me. Normally I dislike these sort of paparazzi-driven pieces that are so popular in The Daily Mail, but I kind of love everything about these photos. Phillips is deftly juggling the duties of new motherhood with that of an equestrian, and she’s carb-loading on competition day in the best possible way. Also, I really like that faithful hound there on the left side of the frame. I look at these photos, and I think she and I could be friends. Call me, Zara!
• British Eventing has implemented a rule that forbids its members from posting anything potentially objectionable to social media, or they face consequences. It’s not that much different from the kind of social media policy a lot of businesses have for their employees, but it’s pretty far-reaching for an equestrian organization to impose upon its members. Whatever BE’s intention with the rule, it certainly seems like they’re trying to stifle members’ criticisms. I think EventingNation.com’s Chinch the Chinchilla put it best.

I support freedom of tweets for BE members. RT if you do too https://t.co/Cb7clIQWso #censoredbyBE #freedomoftweets pic.twitter.com/Gi68hPhZ7z

— Chinch (@ENChinch) June 25, 2014

 

• Speeding pony! A pony was caught by a speed camera on a German highway. You can’t make this stuff up.

That’s it for this week. Have a great weekend, and don’t forget to hug your horse.

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Follow Leslie on Twitter: @LeslieInLex