Doug Payne and Crown Talisman at Carolina International. Photo by Jenni Autry.
We’ve been waiting to hear whether Doug Payne would contest Rolex with Crown Talisman or head to Saumur CCI3* with his Land Rover grant. Doug announced on his blog this morning that he and Tali will just do the dressage at Rolex to expose the horse to a big atmosphere before withdrawing from the remaining phases and heading to Saumur.
Doug explains his rationale over on his blog: “I’ve made a concerted effort to enter shows or events which offer the greatest atmosphere to improve his ability to cope with exciting, large environments. He is well on his way and has continued to get better with each outing, but this is an ongoing process. …
“Last week I received the email from Joanie Morris delivering the great news that I was a recipient of the Land Rover grant! For me it’s a humbling experience receiving validation of a lifetime of efforts and the past six years with Tali. I am incredibly thankful both to Land Rover as well as the countless individual donors who have afforded me this opportunity. It’s a great feeling knowing you have the backing of so many, I hope you all can share this experience with me.
“So what about my Rolex entry? I am still going to still attend this year for the Dressage phase being that there is no other place in this hemisphere to gain exposure on the world stage. Tali and I will no doubt come away from the experience stronger, more resilient and better prepared for Saumur and beyond. This is an invaluable opportunity!”
Click over to Doug’s blog for his full post. It goes without saying that Tali is a very exciting course for the future, and I like that the horse will get to see a big atmosphere at Rolex before tackling a Pierre Michelet course in France. It’s definitely a smart move on Doug’s part. Go Tali!
