It was a very busy week around the eventing nation with five recognized events hosting nearly all levels of national competition and one event hosting two FEI divisions and three-day divisions.
The Colorado Horse Park, which was recently named as a future location for the American Eventing Championships, hosted Beginner Novice through Intermediate horse trials as well as a CIC2* and CCI1* division. Stacey Winter and Serenade were the sole competitors in the CIC2*, so a completion guaranteed a win, but they did it without a cross country jumping penalty.
Four riders competed in the CCI1*, with Jennifer Burk and Ollie Olly Oksen-freh (awesome name and tons of fun for any announcer I’m sure!) taking home the win after producing the only double-clear show jumping round in the division.
Colorado Horse Park in all its glory! A wonderful day cross country. Everyone home safely and able to tell tales about…
Posted by Mellisa Davis Warden on Saturday, August 15, 2015
The Preliminary divisions saw two riders leading from start to finish. The Open division was won by Diane Hanrahan and Lakota VI. They scored a 29.8 in dressage and added on time penalties to finish 20 points ahead of second place. Bryn Jorgensen and Vonrica won the Rider division on a score of 40.3, producing one of only two double-clear cross country rounds at the level.
CHP also hosted Novice and Training Three-Days. Completing one of these is a huge accomplishment for riders who work for many months towards the goal of riding in a long-format event. Linda Quist and Belle Gambe were the winners of the T3D at CHP, scoring a 34.5 on the flat and adding only four penalties from show jumping. John Thurman and Timmy were second and Julie Wolfert and Djabouti were third.
Hannah Gurske and Buenos Dias won the Novice Three-Day on a 30.3. They took the lead in dressage and added two cross country time penalties to their score. Grace Peters and Dream Catcher were second with a 34.6 and Sarah Richards and Storm of the Century finished on their dressage score in third.
Colorado Horse Park CIC, CCI & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times][Live Scores]
Back on the East Coast, Full Gallop Farm ran a massive competition with Tadpole and Beginner Novice divisions all the way up to Advanced/Intermediate. Leslie Law and Tout de Suite won the AI division. They were second after dressage and show jumping but had the fastest round across the country to move up and win.
Leslie also won both of the Preliminary divisions with Bounce (division A) and Cooleys Rule of Law (division B). Each of these horses led from the start on very good dressage scores (22.7 and 19.6!) and added only a handful of time penalties.
Tiffani Loudon-Metze and Hap won the Intermediate class, beginning in third place and moving up after a fast cross country round. Andrew McConnon and Ziggy took home the blue in Intermediate/Preliminary.
Full Gallop Farm August H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]
It’s a win for Pinki’s first training level event. Thank you Andrew Bossard for all your support , love and help. And Eleanor Eltoft , Elandale Farm for breeding this awesome mare- thank you
Posted by Lancaster Stables on Saturday, August 15, 2015
Skipping north a few states to Pennsylvania, the Erie Hunt and Saddle Club Horse Trials hosted Starter through Preliminary divisions. Rachel Davis and her own In Stride took an early lead in the Preliminary division on a score of 33.3. A double-clear show jumping round and 4.4 time penalties gave them the win with room to spare.
Brandi Podboy and Aint It Easy were second on a 43.1, Alayna Pastuck and Isn’t She Fast were third with 44.6 and Amber Longreen and Klassic Storm rounded out the division in fourth.
Congrats to Susan Robshaw and Pretty Woman EF (pictured above) for their win in Open Training.
Erie Hunt and Saddle Club H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]
At Waredaca in Maryland, more than 250 horses showed up for the Beginner Novice through Intermediate horse trials and another 25 are participating in the Future Event Horse and Young Event Horse classes.
Nora Battig and Steppin’ Out took command of the Open Intermediate division with a 27.9 in dressage. A rail in show jumping dropped them down to second, but they reclaimed the top spot with a fast and clear cross country round. Waylon Roberts and Faolan came second, and Elizabeth Stewart and Elusive were hot on their heels in third. Cross country time penalties were definitely the deciding factor in this class!
Boyd Martin and Santos crushed it in Open Preliminary-A with a 23 dressage score and just one second of time to add. His student Caitlin Silliman and Gipsy King kept the pressure on throughout, finishing second with a 26.5.
Phillip Dutton campaigned Kristen Bond’s horses this spring while she was pregnant, but she got back in action in May and doesn’t appear to have missed a beat! She and I’m Sew Ready finished third in Open Preliminary-A, and she won Open-Preliminary B with Get Ready.
Darrin Mollett and Beverly’s Diamond Lad were second in the B division, and Caitlin Silliman came third with Vagabon de Champdoux, last year’s 5-year-old Young Event Horse Champion at Fair Hill.
In the Preliminary Rider division, K.C. Cowles and Miss Carlisle finished on their dressage score of 30 to top a class of 16 starters. Brooke Bayley and Pray for You moved up from sixth after dressage to finish second on 35.5, and Michael Pendleton and HH Lancaster were third.
Waredaca Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]
The Genesee Valley Riding and Driving Club in New York held the Area I Championship in addition to a regular horse trials. Congratulations to the 2015 Area I Champions!
Holly Shine and Sunday Afternoon (Preliminary); Carol Kozlowski and Main Attraction (Training); Lakiesha Varney and Kolor Me Gone (Novice Rider); Thomas Davis and Little Miss Tennessee (Open Novice); Ally Fischthal and Ruby (Beginner Novice Rider); Brittany Jamison and Time Well Spent (Open Beginner Novice).
In the Open Preliminary Horse Trials, Mackenzie Williams and Leroy won with the only clear show jumping round and the fastest cross country time. Holly Shine had another good results with Good Man Like Me, finishing second in that division, and Maggie Lloyd and Tumnus were third.
Genesee Valley Riding & Driving Club H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]
