BEST OF WEB & PRINT
What’s Hot On The Web u Hunter Princess Completes First Event, Places Only Almost Last What happens when an avowed hunter princess turns to the dark side? COTH staffer Ann Glavan is finding out—and blogging about it with hilarious results! “I felt like I was about to go whitewater rafting as I strapped myself into my life vest and pinney, complete with the medical armband and Moji’s seriously intense tendon-guard boots. All function, no frills. I kind of felt like an Avenger putting my battle garb on versus a courtier on her way to hunter land,” she writes in her account of her first event with her Friesian-Thoroughbred cross, Moji.
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MOLLY SORGE PHOTO
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Read about her decision to give eventing a go: coth.com/article/hunter-princessgoes-rogue, and all about her first foray into the land of three phases: coth.com/ article/hunter-princess-completes-first-event-places-only-almost-last
u COTH Horse Show Dad: Why They Ride
u Being A Hero Vs. Being A Horseman
Chad Oldfather, professor and non-horsey dad of horseobsessed daughters, shares his insight and wisdom on coth. com with thought-provoking blogs. In this one, he addresses the question of just why he supports his daughters’ riding considering the financial and time commitment it involves. “And yet, you may be thinking to yourselves, here you are,” he writes. “So what gives, Horse Dad? Why not just send your kids out for soccer or softball instead? “I’ve tried to puzzle my way through that,” he continues. “Just what might my daughters get from riding that they wouldn’t get somewhere else? What’s the added value? I can’t say that I’ve got a complete list, but I think I’ve managed to identify a few things that are more effectively learned in riding even if they may not be unique to the sport.” Read more: coth.com/article/coth-horse-show-dad-why-they-ride
Riders who represent the United States abroad carry a unique weight on their shoulders—not just of their own expectations but also those of the general public and fans. After a disappointing outing at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton CCI**** (England), Lynn Symansky took to the keyboard to explain her week and discuss how public scrutiny affects a rider. “It’s easy to have an answer for everything while hiding behind a computer screen, but it’s much harder to back up that scrutiny face to face and accompany it with realistic expectations,” she writes. “I believe that constructive criticism and difficult discussions are necessary to bringing about positive change, but not at the expense of mudslinging those who are trying to give it their all.” Read more: coth.com/article/being-a-hero-vs-being-a-horseman
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