Maya Black Looks Ahead to Fair Hill with Doesn’t Play Fair

Maya Black and Doesn't Play Fair. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Though Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair just moved up to the Advanced level this year, they’re quickly making a name for themselves at the biggest events in the country, and they’re on track for a very good showing again this weekend at Plantation Field International Horse Trials, sitting in second place after show jumping in the CIC3* on a score of 48.9.

But first they’ll have to conquer Mike Etherington-Smith’s cross-country course. After finishing fifth in their first CCI3* at Bromont in June, Maya and “Cody” ran the CIC3* at Richland Park Horse Trials, where they fell at a table late in the course — the first mandatory retirement either one has ever had.

“I’m not 100-percent sure what happened,” Maya said in yesterday’s press conference. “It was kind of a fluke thing. I think he maybe caught a hind boot, and we just landed really short off the back side. It happened really quickly.”

Thankfully, they both walked away totally unscathed, and now she’s ready to face her first time going cross country since the fall. “I don’t really plan to do anything completely different,” Maya said. “My plan is still to go out and put in a consistent ride with good balance.”

Maya’s goal for the fall is run the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International CCI3*, so she her focus is a consistent run that can prove confidence building for both of them. Sitting in equal third place after dressage, Maya and Cody have been quietly stalking current leaders Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM all weekend at Plantation Field.

By far he was the hottest in the ring for dressage than he’s ever been, but with Fair Hill being the goal this fall, fitness has been a really big component of our preparation,” Maya said. “I’ve been lucky to use the gallop at the O’Connors; that’s been really helpful for him.”

Maya said she arrived to the venue late Thursday night, so she didn’t get to familiarize Cody with the setting before dressage. “That combined with the atmosphere — it was a lot for him,” Maya said. “He just had more mistakes. Consistency is really important, and we got more 4s and 8s with a few 9s.”

After their move up to Advanced at Pine Top in February, Maya and Cody have struggled to jump clear show jumping rounds. They pulled it off at Carolina International in March, and they pulled it off for a second time yesterday with a lovely double clear.

“I was really pleased with him,” Maya said. “I feel like the show jumping has improved the most this year. In the past, his spooky side has been a bit challenging. He’s risen to the occasion as they jumps have gotten bigger.”

Maya has been based with Jan Byyny in Virginia since the off season, and her parents and Cody’s owner Dawn Dofelmier, who live across the country in Washington, were able to watch her clear show jumping round live yesterday thanks to PRO TV’s broadcast. Dawn supports the idea of Cody going to Rolex next year if all goes well at Fair Hill.

“We’ll see how the fall goes,” Maya said. “I’m not qualified at this point, but it’s not something I’m saying no to.” But first thing’s first, she’ll be looking to jump clear around cross country today. We’re sending all the EN karma to Maya and Cody for a good trip this afternoon. Stay tuned for much more from Plantation Field.

Plantation Field International CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Times] [Live Scores]

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments