Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class lead after cross country. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Forty horses will move on to the show jumping finale at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials following this morning’s final horse inspection on an overcast day in Stamford, England.
Our American contingent is down to four after Woodge Fulton withdrew Captain Jack before the inspection in order to treat a severe cut on his hind leg.
“Jack is my little legend and to say I’m proud of him is the biggest understatement ever,” Woodge said. “At some point out there he acquired quite the cut on a hind leg, and at the recommendation of the great team of vets here, we are en route to a hospital to get him treated properly. We won’t be completing the event, but he took great care of me out there and now it’s time to take care of him.”
Mackenna Shea and Landioso. Photo by Jenni Autry.
The remaining four American combinations — Mackenna Shea and Landioso, Lauren Kieffer and Veronica, Boyd Martin and Steady Eddie, and Lynn Symansky and Donner — were all accepted. Veronica was asked to jog twice, and Donner thought about reenacting his antics from the first inspection on Wednesday, but aside from that both were accepted without fanfare.
In addition to Captain Jack, one other horse, Sarah Ennis‘ mount BLM Diamond Delux, was withdrawn prior to the inspection.
Boyd Martin and Steady Eddie. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Four horses were sent to the holding box: Caroline Powell‘s mount Onwards and Upwards, Izzy Taylor‘s mount Trevidden, Louisa Milne Holmes‘ mount King Eider, and Dee Hankey‘s mount Chequers Playboy.
Both Onwards and Upwards were withdrawn from the holding box. Chequers Playboy was sadly not accepted upon re-presentation.
Trevidden, sitting in third place overnight after delivering one of three cross country rounds inside the time, was accepted upon re-presentation to much applause from the crowd.
Lauren Kieffer and Veronica. Photo by Jenni Autry.
The grooms awards were given following the inspection, with Amber Skelton, groom to Louise Harwood’s mount Mr Potts, winning Best Cared-For Horse. She won £300 and a bottle of Pol Roger champagne. Andrew Rogers, super groom to Alan Nolan’s mount Bronze Flight, received the runner-up prize of £150.
We have to send a big shout out to the Team USA super grooms for turning the horses out beautifully this morning: Kerryn Edmands (Landioso), Mike Pendleton (Steady Eddie), Kendyl Tracey (Donner) and Shannon Kinsley (Veronica).
And, of course, there are four more grooms still taking meticulous care of the American horses that did not move on in the competition. Thank you Grace Fulton (Captain Jack), Isabel Bosley (LCC Barnaby), Kristen Stammer (Under Suspection) and Lexie Thacker (Indy 500).
Lynn Symansky and Donner. Photo by Jenni Autry.
The first group of show jumping starts at 11 a.m. BST/6 a.m. EST, with the top 25 jumping in reverse order at 2:30 p.m. BST/9:30 a.m. EST. Mackenna Shea and Landioso will be the first to jump in the final group. Click here for the show jumping order. You can watch live on The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials Official Facebook Page.
If you’re looking to pass the time before show jumping starts, remember you can rewatch cross country on Burghley’s Facebook page, as well as dressage. Click here to catch up on all of EN’s coverage of Burghley. Go Eventing.
Burghley: Website, Schedule, Show Jumping Order, Live Scores, How to Watch Live, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram
