The Near Side: This Week in Horses – October 31, 2014

Happy Friday, everyone, and happy Halloween! Here’s what you may have missed this week while you were coming up with the perfect costume for your barn’s party (I’ve been saying for years that I’m going to find a Robin costume for me and dress Snoopy as Batman, but I’ve yet to follow through.)

• Sad news from Team Zenyatta. The great mare’s 2014 foal, a filly known as Z Princess, was euthanized this week after sustaining an injury in turnout. She was just six months old.
• Happier news: The National Horse Show is taking place right now (assuming you’re reading this before Sunday evening.) If you’re not here in Lexington, you can still watch it live thanks to USEFNetwork.com

• A new college equine program? It seems like any news from the land of higher ed that I’ve shared since I started compiling This Week in Horses has been depressing. I feel like sharing this press release from LIU Post about their brand new equine studies program helps balance that out a little.
• The Breeder’s Cup is coming up this weekend. So far, my favorite story out of the upcoming event is this one about a mare who has been scratched from her race because she refused to travel in an airplane. This New York Post article frames it as the horse being a diva (or “a Kardashian forced to sit in coach”) but that’s not fair. Flying stinks. I’d pitch a fit if I could get away with it, too.
• The USEF has banned helmet cams from competition. Say it ain’t so! In the meantime I guess everyone will have to get their entertainment with videos from halter cams and girth cams.

That’s it for this week. Have a great Halloween weekend!

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