Jacky Green works for her own Jacky Green Equestrian Media company and operates out of Maizey Manor Farm in the UK, and we are lucky to have her as a regular Eventing Nation contributor. She spoke with both Rebecca Howard and Buck Davidson after their cross-country runs at Burghley, and we’re grateful for the coverage. Many thanks as always to Jacky for writing, and thank you for reading.
Buck Davidson and Park Trader at Burghley. Photo via Burghley's Twitter @LRBHT_Official.
From Jacky:
What an extraordinary day of cross country at Burghley. It felt like the clock had been turned back and we were back to four-star at its best after the disappointment of a rather boring Badminton this year. Andrew Nicholson noted that is was not the biggest Burghley he had ever seen but that Capt. Mark Phillips had built a very strong track that would sort the men from the boys.
Hugh Thomas was quoted after Badminton saying that the good ground had contributed to so many clear rounds inside the time and that the days of building courses that saw horses falling and being injured were over. Well, to be fair, Mark Phillips had great ground and pretty much perfect weather at Burghley, and he built a track where there were a few mishaps but no serious injuries to horses or riders, and yet a clear round could move you up the score board dramatically. At Badminton Laura Collett and Noble Bestman did a 57.2 test, picked up 10 time and went from 60th to 53rd after cross country. At Burghley, Jonelle Richards and Flintstar did a 58 dressage, picked up 10 time and moved from 53rd to 23rd after cross country. That is the influence four-star cross-country tracks should have.
Rebecca Howard has stamped her card with truly consistent European form — from her top five placing at Fontainebleau CIC3* in the spring, her 12th place at Badminton, her recent outing at Haras du Pin where she again was in the top 10, to a brilliant Burghley for 12th place. Canada should be justifiably proud of her and her fabulous Riddle Master. There were few riders watching them this weekend who would have happily taken Riddle Master home with them.
Rebecca sometimes refers to him as “Rockstar Rup,” and he really is a little diva. He spooked his way into the main arena in his customary way, but that was one determined lady aboard him on Saturday ,and she was having none of his quirks. From then on, he was attentive and impressive and got a huge cheer in D box as riders watching the closed circuit TV saw her be the first one to tackle the Dairy Mound brush arrowheads on the direct route. As Rebecca had said earlier, “If there is one horse here that can jump that route, it’s mine,” referring to the way that Rupert is so very honest on a line.
After cross country she was rueing her nine time penalties, and said that she felt that now, having ridden Burghley, she felt she could have made more of the downhill galloping stretches, where in hindsight perhaps she was a little cautious. This is a combination that is going to head into the World Equestrian Games as a real contender for a medal.
Buck Davidson and the mighty Park Trader had impressed us at home in the week before Burghley. I remarked to Buck one day that his horse had a bit of a temper on the flat and Buck replied, “Yup, but when I kick him at 11 minutes, that’s when he responds, so I don’t mind that temper.” Buck had a long day watching before he started out second last to go and had plenty of information about the course and where the problems lay. He had the most fabulous round with Park Trader, making light of the big fences, and as he approached the innocuous cottage before Cottesmore Leap, he was aware that there was a horse standing there and quite a commotion with vets running round and people on the course.
He did not know that it was Jock Paget and Clifton Promise, who had been pulled up so the ground jury could check blood on his tongue, but whether Park Trader picked up on that too is something we will never know, as for a split second the horse lost his concentration and tipped up at one of the plainest fences on the track that had not caused a problem all day. Ever the professional, Buck said today that he had “had the ride of his life” up until that point and that he felt that “I am coming home with a better horse than I left with,” as he had been so impressed with the way the horse had jumped up until that point.
Park Trader was trailered back to the stables, but more because he had cut the skin above his eye in the fall and it was bleeding. Although the horse was fine and it was superficial, Buck felt it was a long way home through the crowds from that point on the course. Park Trader thought it was a pretty cool way to come home and bounced out of it at the stables looking for all the world as though he would like another go.
Dry Old Party bolted after unseating Tom McEwen at The Planet and found himself at the bottom of the Leaf Pit Drop on his way back to the stables. He then TROTTED UP the drop backwards through the flags and was caught by an astounded fence judge. Connections are hoping Capt. Mark Phillips does not hear about this, as it’s not the way riders would want that flagged in 2014!
So, to wrap up, none of the horses in the top 20 jumped clear over the coloured poles on show jumping day. Burghley is undoubtedly one of the toughest tests of stamina, and maybe that showed this weekend. You can argue that Badminton had a stronger field, you can say that the European Championships took the cream of the horses at Malmo just a week ago, but William Fox-Pitt and Tina Cook for Great Britain still made the top 10 on their second string.
The Swedes and Germans won medals in Malmo, but Ingrid Klimke and Ludwig Svennerstal also made the top 10. You cannot help but marvel at New Zealand finishing first, second, and third and Andrew Nicholson’s three in the top 10. And you have to take your hat off to Jock Paget, who has done the Burghley-Badminton double on Clifton Promise. Will he be heading to Kentucky in the spring for his crack at the Grand Slam? You can bet your life on it!
