Burghley Jogs: Unofficial Awards & Photo Gallery

Bay My Hero feeling a bit fresh. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Bay My Hero feeling a bit fresh. Photo by Kate Samuels.

The first horse inspection at Burghley was quite dramatic yesterday, with five horses being sent to the holding box and more than a few of the horses deciding it was a fun day to act silly. Whenever one combines an incredibly fit and intelligent four-star horse with a high tension situation (bonus for a crowd of onlookers), you’re just asking for some nonsense to happen.

In honor of the ridiculousness that happens at four-star horse inspections, I am giving out very special awards to riders who survived the activities of yesterday. Of course, we will start with…

Best Black Stallion Impression

Winner: Bay My Hero, begrudgingly attached to William Fox-Pitt. Winners of this year’s Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, Bay My Hero was feeling more than up to the task at Burghley trot-ups yesterday. He, like many of his fellow horses, took affront at the flower boxes lining the jog strip, and then parlayed it into the best above the airs we saw all day. William suffered him with a good-tempered smile, and eventually got back down the runway without damage to anyone.

Honorable Mention: Hasty Imp, very much impeded by Francis Whittington.

Hasty Imp acting out while still attached to Francis Whittington. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Hasty Imp acting out while still attached to Francis Whittington. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Slickest Male Outfit

Winner: Ben Hobday, presenting Mulry’s Error. Ben threw away the casual ill-fitting-jeans-and-blazer look and gave it a new fashionable twist, wearing some very sharp jeans, a skinny tie and some super cool Ray-Bans. Mad Men style with a 21st century twist!

Biggest Feet

Winner: Mulry’s Error. Have you seen these things? They look like they might be the same size as Ben’s head. It must be the half Clydesdale in him that gives him these flippers. Note: Mulry has his own Twitter account, where he actually claims to have “the biggest feet in the business.”

Ben Hobday & Mulry's Error. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Ben Hobday & Mulry’s Error. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Most Stylish Female

Winner: Georgie Spence, presenting Wii Limbo. Georgie took ladies fashion to the next level, caring for all the details. I loved her long french braid, and with the tailored thigh-length tweed coat belted just so — she killed it. Also, ankle boots with heels are always a win in my book.

Georgie Spence on the runway. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Georgie Spence on the runway. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Best Donkey Ears

Winner: Millthyme Corolla, accompanied by Andrew Heffernan. One of the few pairs to complete Badminton this spring, this 11-year-old mare finished 21st this spring and is back for a (hopefully) less muddy CCI4* experience. They are representing Holland, which Andrew noted quickly in the orange of his tie.

Andrew Heffernan & Millthyme Corolla. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Andrew Heffernan & Millthyme Corolla. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Best “Aw HELL NO” Face

Winner: Westwood Mariner, presented by Piggy French. One of the many horses to take offense at the flower boxes, this horse started before he was even presented to the ground jury. Please note his hairy eyeball, pointed directly at a flower box.

Photo by Kate Samuels.

Piggy French & Westwood Mariner. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Best Integration of a Bright Color

Winners: Allison Springer presenting Arthur. Arthur always looks sharp for jogs, and Allison stepped it up a bit yesterday with the only acceptable use of orange: pants! I also give her extra points for her crimped hairstyle; it looked fabulous!

Allison rocking the orange pants. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Allison rocking the orange pants. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Best Dapples

Winner: Sidnificant. What are they feeding this horse!? Where can I get some? His dapples blew everyone else out of the water; with dapples head to toe, there really was no competition for the rest of them.

Photo by Kate Samuels.

Sidnificant. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Most Heart Palpitation Inducing

Winners: Avebury & Andrew Nicholson. Avebury put our hearts in our throats as he was asked to represent and then subsequently sent to the holding box. Two-time winners hoping to pull the impossible and win a third time in a row, thwarted at the first horse inspection!? Thankfully, he was accepted after a third run down the strip. Andrew wins the award for being the Silver Fox.

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Andrew Nicholson & Avebury. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Most Daring Outfit

Winner: Louisa Milne Home, presenting King Eider. Representing their Scottish roots, Louisa rocked the red tartan look, and it complimented her lovely white gelding perfectly. Anybody who can pull off wearing a hat for jogs is ace in my book.

Louisa Milne Home & King Eider. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Louisa Milne Home & King Eider. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Best Use Of Bling

Winner: Clifton Promise, presented by Jock Paget. Returning winners Jock and Promise are coming off a less than perfect WEG performance, but nonetheless looking like a pair of winners this weekend. They can wear whatever kind of blingy browband they want; it doesn’t bother me. I won’t lie — I would definitely like them to win this weekend. (Sorry, Andrew …)

Jock Paget & Clifton Promise. Photo  by Kate Samuels.

Jock Paget & Clifton Promise. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Best Run-Your-Rider-Off-The-Strip Move

Winner: Glengarnock, presented by  Paul Sims. FLOWER BOXES!!! In close competition for “cutest face,” this horse instead decided to enter in another category and try for the best spook right off the jog strip. Poor Paul had no chance; those flower boxes were absolutely getting nowhere near this horse.

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Most Likely To Pursue Second Career as Lipizzaner 

Winner: Bay My Hero, amusingly presented by William Fox-Pitt. Moonie is just winning all the awards. During his antics, there was no break in the shutter clicks from the photographers lining the stands. Does that tell you something about us? We see naughty action and jump at the chance to get a sweet picture.

Moonie being naughty! Photo by Kate Samuels.

Moonie being naughty! Photo by Kate Samuels.

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