Will Faudree and Caeleste at Pine Top Intermediate 2015. Photo by Hoofclix.com.
The highly anticipated Pine Top Intermediate Horse Trials are nearly upon us, and more than 50 horses are entered across three Intermediate divisions, with many of them making their first competition appearance of the 2016 season in Thomson, Georgia, this weekend.
Looking to last minute entry changes, Boyd Martin was meant to compete nine horses at Pine Top this weekend, but instead he’ll be watching from the sidelines after falling and breaking his collarbone at Full Gallop Farm Horse Trials yesterday. He confirmed to EN that he will undergo surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City today. Boyd expects to be back in the saddle in about 10 days thanks to a bone regrowth procedure that uses stem cells to speed the healing process.
Phillip Dutton has now stepped up to ride Boyd’s Olympic hopefuls Shamwari 4 and Master Frisky in the Open Preliminary division instead. Both horses are returning to competing after lengthy breaks. The Shamwari 4 Syndicate’s Shamwari 4 last competed at Waredaca in May, and Steve Blauner’s Master Frisky was last out at Rolex, where he finished seventh in his first CCI4*.
This isn’t the first time Phillip has helped Boyd during an injury. Phillip also competed Shamwari and Trading Aces in the lead up to the 2014 World Equestrian Games after Boyd broke his leg at Carolina International that year. Phillip piloted Trading Aces to a eighth place finish at Rolex, and both horses went on to make the U.S. WEG team, with Boyd riding Shamwari and Phillip riding Trading Aces in Normandy.
Thankfully this latest injury in Boyd’s long list of broken bones occurred far enough before Rolex and the remaining U.S. Olympic selection trials that it should not throw any major kinks into his plans to make a run at representing Team USA in Rio. EN will continue to keep you up-to-date on Boyd’s recovery.
As for the rest of the packed Intermediate divisions at Pine Top, there are a number of horses that will be out and about for the first time after successful fall results or lengthy hiatuses. Here’s a look at who to keep your eye on this weekend:
- Deep Purple Eventing’s Shame on the Moon will compete for the first time since finishing seventh at Blenheim CCI3* with Emily Beshear last fall.
- 17-year-old Kilrodan Abbott returns with owner and rider Peter Barry after enjoying a lengthy break following retiring on course at the Bromont CCI3* last summer.
- Top U.S. Boekelo finisher Super Socks BCF, owned by the Blossom Creek Foundation, will be out for the first time since making his country proud with a sixth-place finish in his overseas debut with Matt Brown.
- With her top partners Inmidair and Syd Kent out of the game, it’s wonderful to see Jan Byyny making her way back to the upper levels with two other horses. She has both Urrem and Jane Musselman’s Duke of Diamond in the Intermediate this weekend.
- Eventing 25 rider Jenny Caras will have her Fair Hill partner Fernhill Fortitude out for his first run since making an impressive CCI3* debut last fall.
- Phillip Dutton will make his competition debut aboard Patricia Vos’ Sportsfield Candy, who last competed with Jenn Simmons at Carolina International last year.
- Share Option will be back out with owner and rider Lillian Heard after a disappointing end to their trip to Pau last fall when she retired the horse on cross country due to a breathing issue.
- Sir Donovan and Rich N Famous both return to competition for the first time in about a year now that their owner and rider Philippa Humphreys has given birth to her adorable daughter, Millie.
- Eventing 25 rider Avery Klunick will have her own In It To Win It out for the first time since competing in the Adequan USEA Advanced Gold Cup at the American Eventing Championships.
- Colleen Loach will compete Peter Barry’s Qorry Blue D’Argouges for the first time since he carried her to win a team bronze medal for Canada at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto.
- Beth Groblewski’s Santino will eat up the cross country with Holly Payne Caravella in his first competition back since a strong 12th-place finish at Fair Hill CCI3* last fall.
- Julie Richards had her new mount, 2012 Adelaide CCI4* winner Sandhills Brillaire, were out at Rocking Horse last month, but this is definitely a combination to keep your eye on as they make a bid for Rio.
- It’s looking to be a promising start to the season for Pam Ams medalist Waylon Roberts as he has both Kelly Plitz’s Bill Owen and Faolan back out for the first time since finishing fourth and eighth with them at Fair Hill CCI2* last fall.
- Kim Severson has her 2014 WEG partner Fernhill Fearless in good form and competing once again after last showing him at Five Points last September.
- Allison Springer will compete the Team Springer Syndicate’s Mr. Sydney Rocks for the first time since he finished eighth at the Jersey Fresh CIC3* in May last year.
- Ryan Wood has five entries in the Intermediate, including the Fernhill Classic Syndicate’s Fernhill Classic, Steven and Kari Guy’s Frankie and Heather Sinclair’s McLovin, all of which are aiming for Rolex this year.
Click here to check out the full list of entries and ride times for Pine Top Intermediate. Keep scrolling for a look at the schedule for the weekend. Intermediate dressage starts at 8 a.m. Friday morning, followed by show jumping and cross country later in the day.
Keep it locked on EN for all the latest news and photos from Pine Top, and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Twitter. Who will you be cheering on this weekend at Pine Top?
Pine Top Intermediate Links: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Schedule, Live Scores
