Saturday, November 21, 2009

In every great horse rider partnership...

One will occasionally look like they overslept...

If you aren't into eventing, the horse inspections are kind of a dress-up occasion. Here Ronald Zabala-Goetschel and Che Italica trot before the vets at the Fair Hill horse inspection -- photo from Eventing USA. Ronald is dressed to impress, but his horse looks like he had a hard night. A very cute photo.


The eventing horse inspection
I've actually never attended an inspection in person, but here is the Wikipedia description: "Before the beginning of a three day event, and also before the last phase, horses are inspected by a vet to ensure that they are fit to compete further. It is usually a very formal affair, with well-groomed and braided horses, and nicely dressed riders. It is also a very nerve-racking time, as the "pass" or "fail" determines whether the horse may continue with the competition."


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6 comments:

  1. HollynNovember 21, 2009 at 4:23 PM

    That's very funny! He definitely had something in his ear (or was still nursing a hangover) :)

    Do you have any other funny inspection/show pics? I'm always up for a good horsey laugh.

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  2. JeanNovember 21, 2009 at 4:43 PM

    I've never attended the inspections either. I didn't realize they dressed in "street clothes." Love the horse in the middle of a head shake there. Proves even the big guys are "human." *LOL*

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  3. FionaNovember 21, 2009 at 11:21 PM

    Great pic! My sister did her first formal inspection (they also call them "trot-outs" for obvious reasons) last summer. She was so nervous! She spent at least a week agonizing over what to wear, LOL.

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  4. gemmaNovember 22, 2009 at 11:10 AM

    Eventing magazine in the UK even has a fashion bit in it's diary pages looking at what the riders wore!

    There's a video on horse and hound showing the trot up (and fashions) from Burghley 2008 here: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/burghley08/news/Burghley_Horse_Trials_trotup_Zara_Phillips_William_FoxPitt_Lucy_Weigersma_and_Mary_King_news_266969.html

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  5. English RiderNovember 22, 2009 at 1:56 PM

    With many a groom in the background who has spent the whole night hosing and massaging equine legs. Been there, done that. (Grooms don't look as spiffy).

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  6. panavia999November 24, 2009 at 12:52 PM

    It's nice that some things remain formal. Though I wouldn't stress what to wear - a tasteful black dress and sensible shoes to trot in.

    ReplyDelete

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