3…2…1…have a good ride
It was raining at the Kentucky Horse Park early this morning, but the clouds parted soon after the cross country started and the sun poured down on a great day of XC riding. Overall, I give the day two big thumbs up, and not just because of the weather.
The overall quality of riding was fantastic, and it was easily the best I have ever seen at Young Riders. The riders were mature about setting their horses up well before the fences and the horses finished the course looking good, especially in the 1*. I think a lot of the credit for the good riding goes to a very quality group of coaches that has developed in the Young Rider program, such as EN favorites Jon Holling, Kyle Carter, and Rebecca Howard.
In the individual 2* competition, Kentucky natives Lauren Lambert and Baba Creek had a great ride to move up 4 spots and into the lead. Julia Norman and Sauvignon had the only 2* double clear of the day and moved into 2nd. The time was influential in the 2*, with only three riders having less than 4 time penalties.
1. Lauren Lambert and Baba Creek +0.8 53.6
2. Julia Norman and Sauvignon +0 53.7
3. Kelly Pugh and Copycat Chloe +4 55.9
4. Karen Shull and Fernhull Figaro +4.8 57.2
Link: Full 2* results
Some of the early one-star riders had minor issues on course, but the rides quickly started going well and 80% of the one-star riders had clean rounds, with 17 double-clears on the day. Overnight leader Kelly Loria had a great round on her horse LSD, to hold onto her lead going into the show jumping. The top four one-star riders all had double-clears. Peekachu has been a fantastic Young Rider horse for many years, and looked great around the course today to keep Claire Kelley in second.
1. Kelly Loria and Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds +0 40.0
2. Claire Kelley and Clifton Peekachu +0 42.5
3. Kendyl Tracy and Ever So Lucky +0 48.5
4. Rowdie Jo Adams and No Money Down +0 48.5
Link: CH-J* results
In the team competitions, the Area V & IX 2* team had 4 clean rides to maintain their overnight lead. The Area VI & VII were very impressive, adding just 18 penalties for all three riders and closed the gap to just 13 points behind the fist placed Area V & IX team. In the one-star, the Fighting Hollings jumped from second to first by adding–get this–0 penalties to their team score for the day. The Area V and Area IX teams also finished the day on their collective dressage score. Well done! If the US team can do that at the WEGs, we will win in a landslide.
Link: 2* team results, 1* team
Air conditioned fans kept the horses cool
I give the David O’Connor designed courses a grade of A+. My idea of a perfect Young Riders 2* course is for the course to be safe and for the time to be influential, which it was today. A perfect YR 1* course is safe and pretty easy to make the time, which it was today. David gave all the riders a great flowing first minute to calm their nerves and let the horses settle into their gallop.
A big thanks to Rebecca Howard and Samantha Clark for saving the day. Being an idiot, I forgot my phone charger and video camera when I left for the trip to Lexington. Rebecca kindly loaned me a phone charger, and Samantha gave me her video camera to use.
This is just a quick recap post, check back later this afternoon for video and more ridiculousness, including a vet review and the reason there are thousands of horses at the KHP this weekend. Go eventing.
