Viva la Coldplay

The new album will be released in the U.S. on June 17th. I simply cannot wait!

Speechless

This makes my heart hurt. I'm thrilled for Phillip, but devastated by the (now seemingly inevitable) accidents that occurred. I really don't know what else to say.

Rolex Week!

This week is all about Rolex!!! I'm heading up to Lexington on Thursday and won't be back to Knoxville until sometime on the following Tuesday (ok, my "Rolex week" also entails an extended stay in Kentucky with friends, so my week isn't entirely all about "Rolex"). But, my blog will be all about Rolex, at least! I hope things go well this year. I mean, I REALLY HOPE THINGS GO WELL THIS YEAR. The eventing community has already gone through enough heartbreak and frustration over the past 12-18 months. It would be nice for everyone to be able to get together, support our 4-star riders and their horses, and for everybody to have a safe, happy, and healthy 3 days.

Oh No!!!

Great Middleton Oak

Oh, wow...

This article was on the front page of the New York Times last week. Of course our sport only really gets national or international media attention when something really bad is going on. I even had one of the engineers in our Lexington office call me last week and say, "So, Holly, I saw this article in USA Today about eventing...Be really careful out there!"

Next year...

I missed the Cooper River Bridge Run this year (I was riding last weekend), but it doesn't look like the weather was all that terribly much better in Charleston than it was in Nashville. Oh, well. Maybe I'll make it down again for the run next year!

You Go, Girls!

Well, since the guys couldn't do it, I guess the ladies had to. :) Yay, Lady Vols!!!

Eddie Time

Now, I know I spent all last weekend with Eddie, but I never just spend time with him that doesn't feel like we're working or scrambling to get ready for a competition. So, last night, I saddled him up and we went for a hack out on the back of my property, through the woods and out to my property line. I don't do that very often, since it's sketch back there in the wilderness (you never know who or what may be lurking around) and because if I fall off and Eddie runs back home...it's a long and possibly painful walk for me back to my house! But, things were perfect last evening and we just trotted and cantered through the fields, down the lane, and over the hills. It was pleasant and breezy, and I just enjoyed being alone with my horse. I'm not exactly anti-social or a loner, but if I have the option of spending time with my horse or with a crowd of people out in a bar, I'd rather be with my horse 99.9% of the time. :)

First outing of the year

This past weekend, Eddie and I traveled to Nashville to compete in a Middle TN Pony Club schooling horse trial. We did the Novice division, which only consisted of dressage and show jumping (no cross-country). I was a bit apprehensive, as this is only our second time competing at Novice (first time was also an unrecognized schooling horse trial) and I haven't ridden much nor really jumped Eddie in the past few months. He did spend time in boot camp in February, but that wasn't with me and he never did any jumping. I just figured that this was all in the name of practice, so we'd see how it all turns out. Well, he was very unhappy about the muddy footing in the grass dressage arena, but he LOVED show jumping and couldn't have been happier! He over-jumped everything by about a mile, and he was flipping his tail and bucking...pretty much being a total punk all weekend long. He had a great time and we ended up 5th. It was a positive and productive event and I can't wait to get back out there again.

Copy Cat

After my post on Monday, it made me think back upon those idealistic days when I loved eventing and thought I could do it. Do it FOR REALZ (not just recreationally like I do it today). This is a picture of me attempting to channel Lucinda Green (or Virginia Leng...take your pick). I love this picture (and, I love how I am riding in my blue and black striped bikini - I can see the top of it peeking out from under my tank top - since I had left the pool to go take my riding lesson and most likely went right back to the pool when I was finished...ah, way back when I didn't have a job and didn't need to work). I want my sport and its competitors to return to the good old days of grassroots eventing and I hope we get back there soon.

You take the bitter with the sweet

Some good news, some bad:
STATEMENTS FROM CHIACCHIA FAMILY

March 31, 2008 5:00 PM EDT - As the family paid their respects to his deceased grandmother, Darren took his first steps today. He was unsteady, but this is indeed a milestone in his physical recovery. His cognitive functioning remains more guarded. He is confused and illogical, but optimism remains.

March 30, 2008 9:30 PM EDT - Darren’s condition is basically unchanged from yesterday. He is able to be transferred from his bed to a chair, but cannot stand unassisted or walk. He also has difficulty maintaining his posture. The family is hopeful his chest tube can be removed early this week.

March 29, 2008 7:00 PM EDT - The United States Eventing Association (USEA) has continued their support for Darren in many ways, including placing an ad for donations in the next issue of Eventing USA and creating a poster for sale at Rolex Kentucky, where all proceeds will go to Darren’s medical expense fund. The family wishes to thank the USEA and the thousands of others who have provided prayers, cards, and other offers of support during this very difficult time.Darren remains in ICU and has begun communicating verbally, but his responses are inconsistent and illogical. Continue to pray for Darren as he attempts to pull himself from his darkness. Darren’s mother and sister Kim are now at his bedside, hoping to help him reconnect to the world he knew and loved.

March 26, 2008 - 8PM EDT Although still in the ICU Darren continues his gradual improvement, responding to commands and moving his extremities with more consistency. His left lung remains problematic with a chest tube still in place and draining fluids. Cognitively he is more alert, and able to indentify familiar faces. The hospital staff is pleased with his progress.