The Near Side: This Week in Horses

March 13, 2015

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Happy Friday the 13th, everyone! Here’s what’s been happening in the horse world this week.

You’ve got to love this cute story from Horse & Hound about a runaway pony who was safely returned home by the postman. The missed delivery notification will make you smile.
I think it’s widely accepted that high fashion isn’t meant to be worn by regular people. It’s more of an art form that involves a human canvas. So with that in mind, enjoy the latest equestrian-inspired fashion. The old-school helmet covers are my favorite bit.

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Eventing safety is once again in the news after two high-profile horse deaths. Cadiz, a 15-year-old gelding that was part of France’s 2012 Olympic team, was euthanized two days after a fall on cross-country. Conahy’s Courage, a 10-year-old gelding ridden by Canadian Kyle Carter was euthanized last weekend after a rotational fall at the Red Hills Horse Trials in Florida. EventingNation’s Jenni Autry posted an editorial with a good roundup of the current conversation about the sport’s future.
Let’s stick with trouble in top-level equestrian sport for a moment. The FEI announced that it was suspending the UAE’s equestrian federation until further notice. That country’s endurance competitors have been under scrutiny for horse welfare violations and blatant cheating in recent years. Evidently the final straw for the FEI was when it was found that the UAE was reporting results from events that never happened. I don’t even know what to say.
Once again, I seem to have brought this news round-up down with bad news. So here’s an uplifting story of a community that rallied to save therapy horses from a barn in Massachusetts that was collapsing under the weight of the record snowfall.

Last week we talked about equestrian cold panniculitis. This week, I came across this article about how the principles behind that condition could be used to rid your body of unsightly fat. Seriously. (Note: HorseChannel does not endorse this method.)
And finally, we all know the best thing about Thoroughbred racing is the ridiculous names that owners come up with. Here’s a list of 12 odd ones, some of which suggest to me that the naming is often done by 11-year-old boys.