Blenheim Mid-Morning Update: Pippa Funnel 2nd in CCI3*, Lauren Kieffer Toughs Out CIC3* Test

Pippa Funnel and Billy The Biz. Photo by Samantha Clark. Pippa Funnel and Billy The Biz. Photo by Samantha Clark.

At the mid-morning break in the second day at Blenheim Palace Pippa Funnell has moved into second place in the CCI3* division on Jane Toliver’s Billy The Biz, a horse bred by Pippa and her husband Will Funnell’s The Billy Stud. Having just watched Pippa on Sandman 7 all weekend at Blair where she was representing Team GBR in the European Champs, and thinking how nice it was to see her on such a classy, bay thoroughbred type again, (after having really enjoyed watching her on Redesigned at Burghley the week before!)

I saw her enter the arena this morning on this eye-catching white horse and thought how well they suited each other, and what a lovely type he is — I suppose the long and short of it is I’m just always happy to see Pippa ride, no matter what she’s sitting on! Billy The Biz is stunning, he popped against the dreary grey, morning, and floated through the test.

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Lauren Kieffer and Vermiculus. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Meanwhile across the park, Lauren Kieffer was having slightly less of an easy time on naughty Vermiculus who threw a minor temper tantrum in the CIC3* arena — during the second canter he put his head up in the air, changed leads, and then refused to continue. Lauren rode with her usual calm and poise, and saved the day, and I’m sure he’ll gain lots of experience on the cross country and show-jumping here. More to come from the CCI3* dressage very shortly where Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen have just taken a commanding lead with a score of 33.8. Go USA!

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