Galway Downs International CCI4*-S overnight leaders Emilee Libby and Jakobi. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Show jumping day at Galway Downs International saw some leaderboard shuffles, including a new leader in the CCI4*-S division. Here’s a recap of the day’s action with gorgeous photos from Sherry Stewart.
Emilee Libby and Jakobi Overtake CCI4*-S Lead
When dressage leaders Frankie Thieriot Stutes and Chatwin felled a couple mid-course rails, the door swung open for 2nd positioned Emilee Libby and Jakobi to overtake the lead. Emilee and the 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Ustinov x Expression, by Coriano), owned by the rider and Linda Libby, jumped a clear round with 0.4 time penalties to slide into the top spot.
Emilee says she was happy to have contained Jakobi’s “electric and strong” attitude in the warm-up well enough to log a clear over Marc Donovan’s track. The pair has been honing their show jumping this winter, spending two weeks on the HITS Coachella hunter/jumper circuit earlier this year. Emilee bought Jakobi as a 5-year-old, off of a video sent by a friend of a friend. While powerful and athletic, Jakobi can also be tense and jumpy, Emilee says, but “he’s always been really tuned into what the rider wants him to do.”
Emilee is aiming to go clean and quick over Jay Hambly’s cross country course on Sunday. “He’s great on cross-country. With how he felt today, I’m a little worried about the power,” Emilee admitted. “Maybe I should do some push-ups tonight! Mostly, I’m excited to just gallop and open up his lungs, jump all the jumps and go between the flags.”
Emilee Libby and Jakobi. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Tamie Smith and Wembley, a 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Lester x E-VIP, by Cantus) owned by Kevin Baumgardner, turned in a clear round with 1.2 time to shift from 3rd into 2nd.
Tamie Smith and Wembley. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Tamie Smith and Wembley. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
A clear, fast round also paid off for Kentucky-bound Andrea Baxter and Indy 500, her own 14-year-old Thoroughbred mare (Cromwell x Tens of Thousands, by Spend a Buck), who made a big jump from 6th into the top three, having produced the only double-clear round in the CCI4*-S division.
Andrea Baxter and Indy 500. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
CCI4*-S cross country begins at 9 a.m. PT Sunday.
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum Are Smooth Sailing in CCI3*-S
Tamie and Mai Baum, a 13-year-old German Sport Horse (Loredano x Ramira, by Rike) owned by Alexandra and Ellen Ahearn and Eric Markell, remained uncatchable in CCI3*-S show jumping. The pair produced a clear, fast round to remain in the lead on their super dressage score of 21.9.
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Tamie kept control of 2nd as well with Danito, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Dancier x Wie Musik, by Wolkenstein II) owned by Ruth Bley, who also jumped clear with no time.
Tamie Smith and Danito. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Tamie Smith and Danito. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Erin Kellerhouse and Woodford Reserve, her own 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tinaranas Inspector x Laharns Laughton, by Laughton’s Flight), moved from 4th into 3rd.
Erin Kellerhouse and Woodford Reserve. Photo by Kim Miller.
Erin Kellerhouse and Woodford Reserve. Photo by Kim Miller.
Tamie and Fleeceworks Royal, a 10-year-old Holsteiner mare (Riverman-ISF x Marisol) owned by Judy McSwain, turned in a double-clear round to move from 5th to 4th.
Tamie Smith and Fleeceworks Royal. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Tamie Smith and Fleeceworks Royal. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Lauren Billys and Castle Larchfield Purdy sit 5th with a clear stadium round for a 32.2 score. Shannon Lilley and Greenfort Carnival and Tamie and En Vogue share the six-spot with a 33. The large 3* division cross country begins at 10:20 a.m. PT Sunday.
Meg Pellegrini and RF Eloquence Keep Hold of CCI2*-S Lead
There would be no shaking Meg Pellegrini and RF Eloquence from their lead in the CCI2*-S. Meg and the 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Contender x D-Ginger, by Grundyman xx), owned by Margaret Pellegrini, kept up the rails to head into cross country on their dressage score of 26.8.
Meg Pellegrini & RF Eloquence. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Meg Pellegrini & RF Eloquence. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
James Alliston and Cassio’s Picasso collected just 0.4 time to move from 3rd into 2nd.
James Alliston and Cassio’s Picasso. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
James Alliston and Cassio’s Picasso. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Lilly Linder and Tucker Too had two rails but it only cost them one place, from 2nd to 3rd.
Lilly Linder and Tucker Too. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Lilly Linder and Tucker Too. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
And in 4th is Meg again with Ganymede, who pulled one rail.
Meg Pellegrini and Ganymede. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Madison Tempkin and Dr. Hart Out Front in Advanced
Madison Tempkin and Dr. Hart pulled one rail but maintained their dressage lead in the Advanced Horse Trials division. They’ll head to cross country on a score of 35.0.
Madison Tempkin and Dr. Hart. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Much more to come tomorrow! International, Advanced and Open Intermediate cross country will all be live streamed by Ride On Video. Beginner Novice through Training divisions conclude with show jumping on Sunday.
Galway Downs: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Live Scoring, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage
Galway CCI4*-S Standings After Show Jumping:
Galway CCI3*-S Top 10 After Show Jumping:
Galway CCI2*-S Top 10 After Show Jumping:
