Buck Davidson leads Training riders on a course walk this evening. Photo via USEA on Facebook.
Whew! That’s about the best way my sleep-deprived brain can describe a whirlwind of a first day of competition at the Nutrena American Eventing Championships. They do say everything is bigger than Texas, and they sure weren’t kidding when it comes to the size of this competition!
While I was unable to head over to check out any of the other divisions doing their dressage today, I did get the chance to speak with a couple of the leaders thanks to some very conscientious peers in the media center. I definitely plan to check out some of the action tomorrow before the Intermediate and Advanced go out on cross country, so keep checking back for more from Texas!
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The training through preliminary horses and riders completed their first phase of competition today, and some really impressive scores are popping up on the scoreboard tonight.
In the Jr/YR Preliminary division, Texas’ own Megan Noelle Wilson and Ghypsy are currently leading after scoring a 27.6 for the dressage. This pair has been averaging scores in the 30s for the most part this year, so it seems that their hard work and practice really paid off today.
Megan doesn’t have a ton of breathing room, though, as Mia Farley and former Jennifer Wooten ride, The Good Witch, are hot on their heels with a score of 29.1. This pair has been unstoppable this year, winning all five of their starts at this level. There should be some sort of award for that, don’t you think? Tomorrow’s cross country course is twisty and full of accuracy questions, but Mia’s got a good horse underneath her and this pair should do quite well.
In third and also from Texas are Clara Cargile and White Indian. This pair is also having a very strong season in 2014 and has not finished out of the top 10 once yet. Clara and White Indian scored a 30.7 to keep the leaderboard quite tight for the next phase.
In the Preliminary Adult Team Challenge division, Catie Cejka, hailing from Washington, and Light in the Dark are your early leaders on a score of 31.3. Catie and Light in the Dark stepped up to Prelim this year and have only finished outside of the top 10 once, making it no surprise that they’re taking the lead here this weekend.
Area IV’s Camie Stockhausen and Best Etiquette are close behind in second on a 31.3, and this is also their first year together at Preliminary. Camie and Best Etiquette are making just their fourth Preliminary start together this weekend – quite impressive!
Louise Leslie and Santarae, also from Washington, will take third place overnight after scoring a 38.0. Joy Simon and Wlloughby Bay complete the division on a score of 42.0.
Heather Morris and Charlie Tango are your Preliminary Horse leaders following the dressage on a score of 25.4. This horse competed in the Training division last year, placing fifth, and looks to improve on that in the next level up this year. Heather and Charlie Tango have done well with their time at Prelim so far, so a top finish is definitely not out of the question for these two.
Erin Kellerhouse and Raffaella are in second place after scoring a 26.3. Erin has had the ride on this Oldenburg mare for a couple of years now and moved her up to this level in the spring of 2014.
Florida’s Natalia Neneman and Legate round out the top three on a score of 27.8. Natalia and Legate have also been together for awhile now and look to be having a great season of Prelim competition this year. Here’s hoping for a strong finish from all of these talented competitors!
We were able to grab Christina Henrikson, who leads the Senior Amateur Preliminary tonight with Princess Paven, for a quick interview today. This is one to keep your eye on, EN! Christina spent a lot of time in nursing school, which put her big time eventing plans on the back burner for awhile. Now, though, she’s got a talented horse in Princess Paven who has answered every question Christina has asked so far.
Christina and Princess Paven are entered in their first CCI event at Midsouth next month, and this weekend should be a great prep for their next step up. Be sure to check out the video below for more from Christina.
Darlene McInnis and Warlord are in second after dressage with a score of 28.3. This pair is quite solid at this level and has finished out of the top three just once this year (to finish fourth!), so this weekend will certainly be a good challenge for this pair.
Alexandra Wikstrom and Change Order are in third overnight on a 28.9. Alexandra and Change Order have won here before, taking home the blue just this past June in the Preliminary Rider division – look for them to defend their title on home turf tomorrow!
We also got to speak with Jr. Training leader Kelsey Holmes, of Mailbu, Ca., who scored a 21.4 with Heart of Gold SE to take the early lead.
Natasha Erschen and Magic Drummer are currently in second on a score of 22.3. This is Natasha’s first trip to AECs and her second year at Training level with Magic Drummer.
Gigi Hogan and Aron round out the top three with a score of 23.6, making for yet another tightly packed leaderboard going into cross country. This pair has enjoyed four wins at Training level so far this year – will they pick up another this weekend?
Another Area IV shoutout! Carrie Meehan and Cavalier currently lead the Sr. Training division after scoring a 27.7. Carrie is no stranger to the AEC atmosphere, and she definitely brought her ‘A’ game today. This pair has really been putting the pieces together at this level this year and has locked in three consecutive second place finishes leading up to this weekend. Will this weekend bring their sought after first win?
Anne Kornak and Double Rivers Really Cool will take second place overnight on a 29.1. Anne has come up the levels with this horse, who was formerly campaigned by Kadi Eykamp, and this is just their fifth start at Training level together.
Pamela Kimmel and Special Performance, from Kentucky, complete the top three with a 29.6. This is another pair who has come up the levels together, and they’re looking quite strong for a good finish this weekend.
The Adult Team Challenge for Training riders is comprised of just three riders, but it’s a tightly packed race. Carrie Polson and High Maintenance currently lead on a 37.7, followed by Cindy De Porter and Drop the Buck (38.2) and Jean Fowler and NZ Bay of Islands (41.4). Look for an exciting finish for this division as the weekend continues!
And last, but certainly not least, we have the Training Horse division that began competition today. Your two leaders are Beau Guimond with Filibuster ST, who scored a 28.2 for equal first with Lisa Mendell and Teslin Bay. Filibuster ST has campaigned at Training level all year and has not been beaten yet. Aside from two early eliminations, this pair has won an astounding seven times at this level this year! Can they make it eight this weekend?
Lisa Mendell and Teslin Bay would sure like to take that lead over on their own to put the cherry on top of a great first season at Training level. They’re coming off of a five place finish at Five Points, and they’ve already bested their dressage score from that weekend.
Rebecca Brown and Belafonte d’Avalon are in equal second with Elliot Blackmon and W.H. Topgun after the first place tie with a 28.6 – so close to being a four-way tie!
These divisions will run cross country, along with the Intermediate and Advanced, tomorrow, while the Beginner Novice and Novice riders begin their competition with the dressage. Stay tuned for much more from AECs!
