In Iceland, some horse breeders leave their horses to graze during the summer, then round them up for the winter. Check out Mashable’s photo essay on the annual roundup.
The Man Against Horse Race is an annual endurance-ride-meets-ultra-marathon in Arizona, and it takes place this weekend. As if tackling 50 miles on foot or horseback wasn’t enough of a challenge, check out the footage of Mingus Mountain, the race’s halfway point, shown at around 2:22 in the video below.
If the forecast for your area for this weekend is similar to ours here in Lexington (cold, rainy, windy) you might want to stay indoors with a hot drink, a blanket and some entertainment. I recommend the live stream of the 2015 All-American Quarter Horse Congress (it’s free!)
Also this weekend, the Longines Masters of Los Angeles Horse Show is taking place, and this prestigious show is known for attracting celebrities who are also equestrians, m-/billionaires daughters who are also equestrians, and just plain equestrians.
Speaking of celebrities who are also equestrians, Kaley Cuoco was in the entertainment news this week after announcing the end of her marriage to tennis star Ryan Sweeting. And, as with recently divorced equestrian Miranda Lambert, Cuoco appeared to have consoled herself with horses. In fact, the accomplished show jumper (and as of last week, officially a grand prix rider) just bought a new one named Zaza. Condolences and congratulations to Cuoco.
And finally, if you are in the Bend, Oregon, area and your horse loves carrots, Equine Outreach horse rescue received a donation of 22 tons of carrots—more than they can safely feed their herd before the bumper crop goes bad. (“Challenge accepted,” said the horses.)
Leslie Potter is a graduate of William Woods University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Equestrian Science with a concentration in saddle seat riding and a minor in Journalism/Mass Communications. She is currently a writer and photographer in Lexington, Ky. Potter worked as a barn manager and riding instructor and was a freelance reporter and photographer for the Horsemen's Yankee Pedlar and Saddle Horse Report before moving to Lexington to join Horse Illustrated as Web Editor from 2008 to 2019. Her current equestrian pursuits include being a grown-up lesson kid at an eventing barn and trail riding with her senior Morgan gelding, Snoopy.