Peter Barry and Long Island T. Photo by Jenni Autry.
As the penultimate pair to go on the first day of dressage in the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International CCI2*, Peter Barry and his own Long Island T made it a test to remember, scoring 44.5 to hold the overnight lead at the halfway point in the division. Peter has been working on his dressage with Phillip Dutton this week at nearby True Prospect Farm, and Canadian team coach Clayton Fredericks warmed them up today.
“Ludwig,” a 9-year-old Oldenburg/Thoroughbred gelding, did his first CCI2* at Jersey Fresh earlier this summer, and he bested that dressage score by a hair today. Peter said he was pleased with the test and that Ludwig was very well behaved in a ring that has been quite electric all day.
“He was relaxed. I maybe had warmed him up a little bit too long. He felt a little more subdued than I wanted him, but it worked very well,” Peter said, adding that Fair Hill will be his own last show of the season. “It’s a very important show on the calendar. I feel my horse will grow up after this course and feel like a bigger horse. It’s a very nice course. The footing is very nice, and I feel it’s an important step in his education going forward.”
Peter said the ultimate goal for Ludwig is to move him up to the Advanced level at some point next year, though he’d like to get him to some jumper shows first to try bigger fences and see how the horse handles that. But first he’ll be looking for a clear round around Derek di Grazia’s cross country course tomorrow.
Phillip Dutton and Z. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Phillip Dutton and Z are sitting in second place overnight in the CCI2* on a score of 45.3. Owned by Tom Tierney, Simon Roosevelt, Jacqueline Mars and Suzanne Lacy, Phillip has had the ride on this horse since early in the summer when he imported the 2007 Zangersheide gelding from Portugal.
“It was a good test; the rider left a few marks on the table,” Phillip said. “I could have done a little bit better, so I was a fraction disappointed coming out of the ring because he’s a beautiful mover, and I think eventually he’s going to do a really nice test. I’m excited about him.”
This is Z’s first CCI2*, and Phillip said he thinks the horse will come away on Saturday having learned a lot. “I think it’s a championship course and a great education for horses and riders,” he said. “We’re fortunate to have a real proper championship level course in this country at the two-star and three-star level to finish the year on. It’s a good barometer to see where you’re at.”
As for how the new partnership with Z is coming along, Phillip said it’s going “pretty bloody good,” pointing out that Carol Gee of Fernhill Sport Horses sourced all three off the horses he has here at Fair Hill this weekend: Z, Mighty Nice and Fernhill Cubalawn. “Z is a little bit of a highly strung guy, but him and I are starting to get to know each pretty well. I like him a lot.”
Doug Payne and Lysander. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Doug Payne and his own and Kristin Michaloski’s Lysander held the lead at the lunch break and finished the first day in third place on a score of 46.6. “Big Leo,” an 8-year-old Thoroughbred/Holsteiner gelding, is coming off a big win in the CIC2* at Plantation Field, and Doug said he was pleased overall with their test today.
“He was a little bit tighter today than I was hoping for, but I think he’s better for coming here for sure,” Doug said. “I’m looking forward to cross country because I think this course and this length will suit him very well — definitely a stepping stone along the way. “
Doug and his wife, Jess, have been based out of Phillip Dutton’s Red Oak Farm in Aiken while their own farm is under construction in Apex, North Carolina, and he said being based in a different location has meant he’s had to change up his fitness strategy.
“I’m using a completely new environment to get them fit, so I’m a little unsure of how fit I have him. We’ll find out on Saturday,” Doug said. “It’s going to take a solid effort to navigate around the course. It’s not going to be a dressage show at all, but he’s quite honest and really good cross country.”
Leslie Law and Tre’ du Kernat. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Looking to the rest of the leaderboard, Matt Flynn and Flynn Sport Horses’ Get Lucky kicked things off with a bang after the lunch break, scoring 48.8 in the 7-year-old Dutch gelding’s first CCI2* to sit in fourth place currently. Leslie Law had a lovely test with Tre’ du Kernat, Orin Tre’ Book’s 8-year-old Selle Francais gelding formerly campaigned by Stuart Black, scoring 49.2 to round out the top five.
Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border. Photo by Jenni Autry.
The first 16 horses in the CCI3* did their dressage late this afternoon, with Kim Severson and the Cross Syndicate’s Cooley Cross Border holding the very early lead on a score of 45.8. Buck Davidson and Wiley Post sit in second place on 49.0, with Marilyn Little and RF West Indie in third place on 52.4.
Click here if you missed the CCI2* lunchtime report to catch up on the morning’s action. Both CCI2* and CCI3* dressage start bright and early at 8 a.m. tomorrow, with Kelsey Briggs and The Gentleman Pirate first in for the two-star and Boyd Martin and Crackerjack kicking us off in the three-star.
Sally has been covering the USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships all day, so be sure to click here to catch up on all of EN’s coverage from #DuttaFHI. We’ve also been posting plenty of behind-the-scenes photos on our Instagram. The welcome party is underway now, so Chinch is off to find the bar. Go Eventing!
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