Hannah Sue’s Fair Hill CCI3* Cross Country Report

Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot went double clear to maintain their lead in the CCI3*

Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot jumped double clear in cross country to maintain their lead in the Fair Hill CCI3*. Marilyn Little and RF Smoke on the Water kept their second-place position, jumping clear and coming home on 3.6 time penalties. That’s where the similarities to the overnight leaderboard end, as the course took its toll on numerous riders. Heather Gillette and Our Questionnaire, in third place after dressage, picked up 20.8 time penalties to drop to 13th. Mara DePuy and Fun Maker, in fourth place overnight, retired on course after a runout at the Farmyard Corners. Will Faudree withdrew Pawlow, who was tied for fifth, after taking a fall from DHI Colour Candy. Jan Byyny, also tied for fifth, had two runouts before retiring on course. Danielle Dichting, in seventh overnight, fell from Tops at the Sunken Road.

On the flip side, riders who jumped clear with little to no time penalties were rewarded with huge jumps up the leaderboard. Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Eagle moved up from 11th to third after a double clear. Marilyn Little and RF Demeter jumped clear with four time penalties to move up to fourth. Most notably, Lainey Ashker and Anthony Patch, who sat in 20th after dressage, put in the first double clear round of the day to move all the way up to fifth place. Daniel Clasing and Houston moved up from 22nd to sixth after a double clear; Katie Ruppel and Sir Donovan moved from 17th to seventh; Lindsey Solorzano and Enchantez moved from 25th to eighth; Jan Byyny and Syd Kent moved from 15th to ninth; and Leslie Chelstrom and Cecelia moved from 18th to 10th.

Marilyn Little and RF Smoke on the Water stayed in second place in the CCI3*.

Hannah Sue and Harbour Pilot smoked the course. Interestingly, Hannah Sue has never made the time in an Advanced to date. So, of course, the first time she decided to jump double clear she made a huge statement, running 18 seconds inside the time. I asked her about how William recovered after the course, considering their blazing pace. “He recovered really well,” she said. “He can run a little hot sometimes; he came back and was dragging me around the vet box. David (O’Connor) came by and asked what time I was riding.” Marilyn Little said she started out slower than she would have liked — per David’s orders — and she couldn’t quite make up the time later in the course. That said, she was very pleased with the course and said it was a confidence builder for all the horses that were able to finish.

Unfortunately, many horses didn’t complete the course. While Will Faudree took the only fall of the day when he and DHI Colour Candy parted ways at the Springhouse Water Complex, there were eight retirements or eliminations on course. The Farmyard Corners and the Sunken Road caused the vast majority of problems, with many riders seeing runouts and refusals. Only four riders finished double clear: Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot, Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Eagle, Lainey Ashker and Anthony Patch, and Daniel Clasing and Houston. You can view scores here. Hannah Sue has a rail in hand going into tomorrow’s show jumping. The jog is scheduled for 8 a.m., with show jumping for the CCI3* horses set to begin at 1 p.m. Stay tuned for more Fair Hill photos, videos, and a detailed press report conference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhQ3QIFft6E
Fair Hill CCI3* Cross Country Recap with Jennie Brannigan and No Objection,
Danica Moore and Utah B (X2), Emily Renfroe and Walk the Line (X2),
Alexandra Green and Fernhill Cubalawn, and Marilyn Little and RF Smoke on the Water