Decade lists are all the rage as the days of ’00s come to a close. Not to be outdone, EN will also take a look back at the last ten years of our sport: test your memory of these notable moments in history… or challenge your mad Google skillz, for those of us who have fallen on the ol’ noggin a few times too many! Feel free to post your guesses analysis in the comment section, and we will unscramble the list sometime soon.
H) This was the first year Rolex ran SOLELY as a CCI****, with no concurrent 3-star. Tiffani Loudon and Makabi won the inaugural MBNA Foxhall Cup CCI***. David O’Connor made a mental mistake that all of us could relate to, yet still managed to come out on top in Sydney. 2000
J) Due to hoof and mouth disease outbreak, Badminton Horse Trials was cancelled. This year began the “Dan Dynasty” as Winsome Adante traveled abroad with Kim (then) Vinoski to win the CCI*** at Blenheim. After winning Rolex with Giltedge, David O’Connor went on to finish first and third at Fair Hill CCI*** (on The Native and Tigger Too, respectively). The blaze-faced international eventing icon, Biko, was retired at a heartwarming ceremony at Rolex. 2001
A) Winsome Adante won his first Rolex CCI****. John Williams (Carrick) finished 4th individually to lead the US team to a WEG gold medal in Jerez, Spain. Custom Made went out in dramatic style, as he won his final competition at Fair Hill CCI***. 2002
D) David O’Connor won the first Jersey Fresh CCI** event, riding Gorta Glen. Pippa Funnel won $250,000 as she completed the Rolex Grand Slam of eventing, winning Rolex, Badminton, and Burghley consecutively. Fair Hill hosted the Pan Am Games in addition to the regular three-day event. J. Michael Plumb, Torrance Watkins, and Jimmy Wofford were inducted into the USEA Hall of Fame. 2003
F) Winsome Adante won his second Rolex CCI****, finishing on his dressage score of 37.00. Phillip Dutton was second on Nova Top. This year, Rolex also ran an abbreviated “Olympic format” won by Darren Chiacchia and Windfall; a signal that the classic long-format era was coming to an end. Custom Made was officially retired. Kim and Dan went on to win the individual silver (and team bronze) in Athens, after the bizarre Bettina Hoy Show Jumping Incident. The USEA Young Event Horse Series was initiated in this year, as well as the American Eventing Championships. 2004
C) “Dan domination” continued as Winsome Adante and Kim Severson won Rolex again for the third time in four years. Phillip finished second (again) with the Foreman, and also fourth and fifth. Jersey Fresh cross-country was a struggle for many, as barely 60% finished the CCI** and CCI***; the infamous Bridge caused trouble for many early goers, before it was removed from the course. Nathalie Bouckaert Pollard and West Farthing won Fair Hill CCI***, narrowly edging Will Faudree and Antigua. The Florida Horse Park was introduced with its inaugural event in November. 2005
I) Rolex ran for the first time in its current short format (without steeplechase). Andrew Hoy (Master Monarch) moved from 6th to 1st, after a disappointing showjumping round from overnight leaders Becky Holder and Courageous Comet. Three Magic Beans completed his last three-day event, ending a long, productive career. Jan Bynny finished first and second at Jersey Fresh CCI***, with Task Force and Waterfront. Zara Phillips collected the Gold at Aachen, with Amy and Poggio finishing 3rd. 2006
G) Phillip collected his first individual CCI**** victory, but suffered embarrassment later in the summer, when the German dentist found Gold. Touzaint won Badminton, and Tamarillo got it done at Burghley. 2007
B) The year of Teddy. The super-pony placed 3rd at Kentucky, and led the US to team Gold in Rio. Behind the strong coaching of David, Canada emerged as an international force with a Silver. One of the Fredericks won Kentucky. Bonnie Mosser won everything at Jersey, and True Prospect dominated at the Fair Hill CCI***. 2008
E) The year of Townend. Olliver won both Badminton and Burghley, and tried for an unprecedented 3rd CCI**** win at Pau. Fredericks won Kentucky, and Boyd collected his first CCI*** win. 2009
