I am currently sitting in the sun outside the USEF merchandise booth, which is in a prime viewing location. The international Ring is directly in front of us and the warm-up is directly behind. Yesterday as we were setting up I snuck up the stairs a few times to watch some of the rounds in the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 8.

The class was won by Mario Deslaurier and Jane Clark’s lovely grey gelding Vicomte D. Mario looked fantastic as did McLain, Beezie and Margie who did not jump their Nations Cup horses in yesterday’s class but all the combinations looked on form. It would be a wise bet that Urico, Sapphire, Coral Reef Via Volo and Indigo are also primed and ready to show their fantastic form in tonight’s $75,000 FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm. If last night’s pep rally is any indication I would also expect the USA section is ready to cheer very loud tonight.

View of the Warm-Up

Oh, Beezie just qualified for the jump-off with an up-and-coming horse in the 1.40m class in the International Ring. Hopefully, this is a precursor to even more clean rounds in that ring for the US throughout the rest of CSIO week.

My friend advanced level eventer Sinead Halpin, who is in town for the Derby Cross tomorrow, just stopped by and is looking like the Ocala winter has treated her very well. Bottom line she’s tan and I’m jealous! However, Sinead also told me that “This isn’t a bad way to spend a Friday morning.” And I couldn’t agree with her more…..

Back to work, a customer wants to buy a Blue USA Jacket, hopefully I can convince them to buy a hat too!