An Ode to Leslie Wylie on Her Birthday

How do I love Leslie Wylie? Let me count the ways … 

… with a smattering of tales from our recent week-long adventure in Normandy at the World Equestrian Games.

There was that time we hadn’t slept for 33 hours and she tracked down a Kentucky Ale bar like a bloodhound. She’s from Knoxville, ya know. Just a hop, skip and a jump from Kentucky.

#freebeers

Then there was that time she told the FEI’s social media reporter she was going to “give her an FEI exclusive” and proceeded to do this:

#thoseabsthough

And the time she gave the leftovers of our face paint as a gift to fellow journalists out of the goodness of her heart, being sure the “Netherlandians” knew they were welcome to take part in painted displays of patriotism too:

#nodutchhere

Or what about the time she asked a muddy spectator to lend his cigarette for a photo op with Chinch? This photo arguably became one of the most iconic of the Games. One EN reader called the Woodstock Chinch her spirit animal.

#WoodstockWEG

A poet, a patriot and the brainchild behind the wacky website that is Horse Nation, please join me in wishing a very happy birthday to the fabulous Leslie Wylie.