Did you know that the legend of Lady Godiva comes from the 11th Century? She was married to Leofric, the Earl of Mercia, and she felt pity for the people of Coventry who were suffering grievously under her husband’s oppressive taxation.

Lady Godiva appealed again and again to her husband, who obstinately refused to stop the taxes. At last, weary of her entreaties, he said he would grant her request if she would strip naked and ride on a horse through the streets of the town. Lady Godiva took him at his word, and after issuing a proclamation that all persons should stay indoors and shut their windows, she rode through the town, clothed only in her long hair.

Now you may have heard parts or all of that story before, but this part may be new: just one person in the town, a tailor, bore a hole in his shutter so he could gaze upon Lady Godiva as she trotted past and he was known ever after as Peeping Tom!

Guest article from Peter Claydon, Endurance Rider.

Jazzi, (also known as Islandian Jazzi), an 11-year-old Arabian and I just completed the 100-mile Tevis Cup trail together, earning high marks at each vet check exam. This is my fourth Tevis Cup. The first one I completed in 2004 aboard Remy, where we also finished in the top 16 in 2012 and 2013 with equally high vet marks.

The Tevis Cup is the most demanding and challenging endurance race in the world, and typically fewer than 50% of horse and rider teams finish. Vets throughout the trail pull any horse that has even the slightest lameness or metabolic problem.

This year was the 60th anniversary, and it was no exception. Of 200 horses at the start, only 90 finished. Jazzi came in 31st place, which was in itself a tremendous achievement. But even more impressive were the high vet scores he was given at every vet check throughout the day and through the night. Jazzi also “pulsed down” to criteria heart rates set by the race veterinarians, typically much faster than other horses, and was thus released quickly to continue down the trail. By the way, this trail has approximately 42,000 ft. of elevation change.

Jazzi has been taking Grand Meadow supplements since I acquired him three years ago. Last year he earned second place for our regional “Best Condition” award. I know his success at the Tevis Cup, like the “Best Condition” award, is in large part due to the quality and effectiveness of Grand Meadow supplements. His pasture mate, Remy, has three Tevis Cup completions for the same good reason!

Thank you Grand Meadows team for your support of all our horse’s wellbeing in one of the toughest tests of equine ability.

Guest post from Sabine Schut-Kery.

Sanceo is finally settling back in at home after our amazing trip to Europe! A huge thank you to United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and USET for this opportunity to the U.S. riders! Jenny Van Wieren Page, Hallye Griffin, and Dr. Mitchell, thank you for taking such good care of us and our horses! The support from everyone on this trip was incredible and everyone was in great Team Spirit and made this trip so fun!

Robert Dover and Debbie McDonald, you both rock as always. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, experience and encouragement! I learned so much in so many ways! I am beyond thrilled that Sanceo and I made it on the U.S. Team for the upcoming Pan Am Games in Toronto.

There is a whole team behind this that I am so grateful AND thankful to. Dr Mike Heitmann AND Alice Womble and everyone at Horsegate Ranch, you have believed in us from the very beginning! Carmelin Zavala, the best groom ever, who has cared for Sanceo since he came to me as a three-year-old. Jackie Rogers and Angela Garfinkel, for keeping everything organized at home! My long time coach, trainer and friend Christine Traurig, who has guided us every step along our journey!

My vet, farrier and physical therapist, who keep Sanceo in world class condition! A heartfelt thank you to Samira and Claudia, who helped me with Sanceo during this trip and in Munich and Achleiten! Steffen Peters and Johann Hinnemann Krüsterhof Hinnemann, who shared their valuable knowledge and insights during training sessions while we were at Gut Ising!

Thank you also to my sponsors, who enable me to provide the very best care and equipment for my horses and myself: Barbara Horseandrider, Samshield America, Grand Meadows, LUXE Heavenly Bodies, Custom Saddlery, MDC Stirrups and Hermes of Paris!

I have so many more friends who have touched my life and encouraged me along the way. I hope you know how much I appreciate you! Here are some more pics from our last show in Achleiten.

Guest post from VIP Rider Heather Blitz, 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Reserve & Team Gold Medal WEG

Don’t mistake the prompt to relax as a prompt to become limp.

Many riders are told to relax in their lessons, but instead make the mistake of then becoming limp. Unfortunately, limp muscles won’t help when trying to stabilize yourself on a powerfully moving object, a.k.a. your horse.  If riders become too limp, they’ll invariably fall behind the motion, not matching the forces of the horse underneath them, therefore causing more of a feeling of desperation and clutching.

As a rider, you should concentrate on a powerful body that can keep up with your horse’s movement in all three dimensions. Riders who do that really well appear to be “relaxed” much like an elegant ballerina performing highly advanced moves.

Guest article from Dr. Peter Claydon, Endurance Rider

This VERY shocking pink halter was recently awarded to Jaazi (AKA “Islandian Jaazi” ) for his second place finish in the Best Condition standings for all of 2014 among Pacific South endurance horses!

Last weekend he and another horse, “King,” tied for first place at the 50-mile Montana De Oro endurance race, setting a course record in the process. There were 32 starters.

He is all set to attempt the 60th running of the 100-meter Tevis Cup on August 1st. His achievements, equal to those of his now retired pasture mate, “Remy,” (AKA “Knight To Remember”) are in no small way thanks to the invaluable addition of Grand Meadows supplements to his daily rations. I am sure that these, as well as good conditioning and practicing, keep our horses in tip top shape.

Thank you, Angela Slater, for introducing me to your impressive and very competitively priced Grand Meadows supplements when we started endurance racing over 11 years ago. The care that Grand Meadows takes in ensuring their purity during the manufacturing process is also very reassuring.

Dr. Peter Claydon
Endurance Rider