Catching up: In March, Phillip and Evie Dutton hosted the fourth annual Olympic Gala in Aiken, SC at their winter facility in Bridle Creek. They helped bring the Aiken community together for a night of cocktails, a catered buffet, dancing and a silent auction. The night raised $65,000 with all proceeds going to the USET Foundation for the benefit of the U.S. Eventing High Performance programs. Phillip and Boyd Martin stepped forward as the Celebrity Hosts of the evening, welcoming the crowds as everybody gathered to enjoy the open bar and hors d’oeuvres, partaking in the raffle and silent auction while enjoying the music of Preston and Weston.
Congratulations are definitely in order for Japanese rider Hiroshi Hoketsu, the oldest competitor at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, who has qualified for an individual dressage slot at the upcoming London Games when he will be 71. Hiroshi should be everyone’s hero!
An outbreak of an equine virus is preventing horses from traveling in the Netherlands, causing animals including those of triple Olympic dressage champion Anky van Grunsven to miss competitions inFlorida this spring. The rhinopneumonitis virus, or equine herpes, poses no risk to humans. Symptoms vary from a common cold to miscarriages and paralysis, according to the website of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. The disease, which can be fatal, is spread by close contact between horses. It can also be transferred indirectly by people, feed or equipment.
Everyone has heard by now of the flap about Dr. Cesar Parra. It sounds like a witch hunt to us…
Horses: Spanish young rider Estefania Rios has lost her super talented small tour horse Lord de Nicole following a severe colic attack. The bay Holsteiner gelding was euthanized after breaking his leg in the equine clinic in an attempt to stand up in the recovery room. The fracture was too complicated and it was decided to humanely put down the horse. Recently, Rios and Lord de Nicole were a fixture for Spain on the international Young Riders circuit. They competed at the 2011 European Young Riders Championships, 2011 Young Riders World Cup Finals and won gold at the 2010 Spanish Championships and silver at the 2011 Nationals. Rios was trained by Lucas Elias and Nuria Vila Perez.
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