Harry Meade and Grafennacht at Kentucky. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Exciting news! World #1 rider Harry Meade (GBR) is slated to appear at this year’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto November 7-16, which is a happening place to be these days for sporting fans. Each year, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair hosts the MadBarn Indoor Eventing Challenge as a part of the Royal Horse Show. Typically, there are a couple of “celebrity” guests who come in for the occasion to ride a borrowed horse. Stay tuned for more on the full entry list, but you can plan ahead and get your tickets here. The MadBarn Indoor Eventing Challenge will take place on November 7 at 7:00 p.m.
Major International Events
Les 5 Etoiles de Pau (France): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Timing/Scoring] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage] [Support Our Sponsor: Horsepal]
U.S. Events This Weekend
YEH West Coast Championships & Last Chance Qualifier (CA): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scores]
Waredaca Classic Three Day Event & H.T. (MD): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scores] [Volunteer: Classic Three-Day] [Volunteer: H.T.]
Bouckaert Equestrian H.T. International (GA): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scores] [Volunteer]
Windermere Run H.T. (MO): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scores] [Volunteer]
Hitching Post Farm H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scores] [Volunteer]
News & Reading
Equestrian sport and what it means to both its participants and the outside world is undergoing an ongoing evolution. With this, Performance Coach Natalie Hummel says in a new column for the USEA, come some defining questions and a responsibility to up the ante when we define the concept of excellence. The narrative must evolve, Natalie writes, as the sport faces new transitions. Natalie dives into this with more depth here.
Are the lower-than-standard entry levels at the Maryland 5 Star a harbinger of troubles for the level? The Chronicle of the Horse muses on this topic, and while here at EN we have our own opinions on this notion, this piece is worth taking a look at. When it comes to the sustainability of the sport and reaching its pinnacle, the 5* level seems like the logical choice, and of course is the traditional loftiest goal. Take a look at the connections found in the entry numbers at the newest 5* and the future of the sport here.
In order to successfully market to the equestrian market, embracing the idea of storytelling is a must, argues Equerry/Co, a marketing and branding agency based in the UK. If you take a look at the marketing and media trends from major events in 2025, some strong connections can be drawn to equestrian sports’ more mainstream counterparts. Dive into the topic further here.
Video Break
Go behind the scenes of judging the Thoroughbred Makeover Retired Racehorse Project with Jen Carter and Ride iQ:
