WEG blog: finger lickin' good chickin

I’ve found a fellow reining convert! Sophie Wells, who is leading the paradressage grade IV individual as I write and was best of the Brits at the young rider Euros last month. She has bought the Stetson and is on the look out for the cowboy boots. “Cowboy dressage!” she said, “I think it could definitely catch on in the UK.” I hope so and will get Skippy in training on my return.

Sophie rode Dr Jackie Walker’s stunning Pinocchio, a huge chestnut with wonderful paces that flashed around the arena in a league of his own. I could swear the commentator introduced the horse as belonging to Dr Jackle (think Hyde) rather than Jackie, but I could have misheard. The commentator yesterday informed the audience that she believed Lee Pearson was more recognisable in Britain than Barack Obama. I’m more thrilled than most about the growing interest in the sport in Britain, and there’s no denying Lee is a class A ambassador for the sport and a hugely entertaining sportsman, but I’m unconvinced about this claim. Otherwise, the leader of the western world might like to get himself a slot on celebrity masterchef…

Being in Kentucky, I have naturally become a bourbon expert. I went to my first tasting on my first day here (no calling AA, I’ve only been to two, the second was last nights’, and it’s practically the law here to attend). At the first, I met Jim Beans’ grandson, and he patiently answered my dumb questions including, “what’s the difference between bourbon and whiskey” and “can I put some diet coke in this one?” It had been a cold rainy day, and the strongest of the offerings numbed my throat and warmed me up nicely. “Of course you’re cold,” one endurance reporter told me, “you don’t have any pants on.” I’d like to reassure everyone that I did have pants on, and since then I’ve ditched the skirts and worn trousers as well…

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Sarah has worked at an equestrian journalist and editor since 2004 and has held the position of Horse & Hound Editor-in-Chief since 2014. She has reported for Horse & Hound from major championships including Europeans and World Equestrian Games. She has co-written books on horses and horse sport including The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horses & Ponies. She has owned and ridden horses since 1993, and worked for and trained with Olympic gold medallist event rider Leslie Law prior to going to university. While studying for a BSc at London School of Economics Sarah also worked for top British dressage rider Louise Spate.