Tamie Smith and Wembley. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Tamie Smith and Kevin Baumgardner’s Wembley put themselves securely out in front of the CCI3* pack today at the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event on a score of 45.9. Besides having a four-point lead, the pair also boast the only sub-50 score in the division.
Originally ridden by Tim Price, Kevin Baumgardner brought the now-14-year-old Dutch Warmblood stateside and competed through the CIC3* level before turning over the reins to Tamie last year. Jersey Fresh will be his first CCI3* attempt, and Tamie has eyes on Rolex Kentucky in 2018.
“This year Kevin and Gretchen and I were looking at what horses could be ready for Kentucky for me to compete next year, so they offered to have me take over the ride,” Tamie said. “I’m really fortunate they are one of my biggest supporters. I hit the jackpot meeting them.”
Each year, Tamie makes the trek from California to Jersey Fresh for a chance to test herself against the competition on the East Coast. Tamie has has been drumming away with dressage trainer Niki Clarke to sharpen their performance in the sandbox. Their rhythmical ride today pays tribute to their hard work, and shows that Tamie remains a West Coast force to be reckoned with.
A video of their ride is available thanks to the amazing David Frechette aka The Horse Pesterer:
It’s a tight race for the next three spots as Buck Davidson, Phillip Dutton and Dom Schramm are all separated by less than a point for second, third and fourth place, respectively.
Buck Davidson and Park Trader. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Rerouting here after a fall early in the cross country at Rolex Kentucky, Buck is looking for redemption this weekend with Carl and Cassie Segal’s Park Trader.
Buck said that something was a little off with “Kobe” two weeks ago. “At Kentucky he was not at all himself. That horse is the bravest horse I’ve ever ridden, and I couldn’t get him to go in the warm up,” Buck explained. “We did some blood work and it turns out he had a little bug.”
Buck says the 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse is feeling right as rain again, biting and pestering anyone who dares to come close to his stall, and showing some exuberance in his test. “We had one major moment where he was maybe a bit excited in the extended canter. I put a little too much right leg, I guess, and he told me,” Buck laughed. “He jumped in the air and played around for a second, but then he went right back to work.”
Despite the excitement in the canter, the pair still produced a score of 50.2.
Phillip Dutton and Mr. Candyman. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Phillip Dutton piloted Mr Candyman, owned by Annie Jones, Bridget Colman, Caroline Moran and Tom Tierney, to third place on 50.5, besting his two other attempts at this level (51.4 at Jersey Fresh and 52.9 at Fair Hill International last year).
“Mr. Candyman is certainly improving all the time,” Phillip said. “There were a couple parts in the test where I left marks on the table, but he is gradually getting better and better.”
“Elmo,” a 10-year-old Holsteiner, is certainly no newbie at the level anymore, and with cross country master Phillip Dutton in the irons he will remain one to watch this weekend.
Dom Schramm and Bolytair B. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Dom Schramm and Bolytair B, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood owned by the Naked Horse Eventing Syndicate, have come out swinging at their first CCI3*, ending the day on a 50.6 for fourth place.
Also starting their first CCI3*, Jennie Janstrom and her own Penelope have landed in fifth. The 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood carry 51 penalty points, their best mark at the three-star level to date.
Sixth place goes to Frankie Thieriot Stutes who earned a score of 52.3 aboard the Chatwin Group’s Chatwin. Though this is their first CCI3*, the pair have proved again and again their prowess on the flat, never scoring above 42.1 at the three-star level.
Daniela Moguel and Cecelia. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Caroline Martin and her own and Sherrie Martin’s Danger Mouse fall in seventh on a score of 54.5. Nilson Moreira da Silva and his own and the Phoenix Syndicate’s Muggle ended the day in eighth with a 55.1.
Ninth place goes to Daniela Moguel and Aurelio Quinzaños & Jorge Eduardo Mtz. Castrejon’s Cecelia, who have also rerouted from Rolex to post a 55.8 on the leaderboard today. Lizzie Jahnke and Light Speed Equestrian’s Princeton round out the top 10 on 56.8.
We would be remiss if we covered the weekend without addressing the looming sadness that each and every one of us feels this weekend as we remember Philippa Humphreys, who died tragically while competing here last year. Philippa was a remarkable mother, wife, friend and horsewoman who is missed very dearly.
Philippa is survived by her husband, Peter, and daughter Millie. Last year, a college fund was created to ensure that Millie has access to the best education possible. The fund is still growing, and getting closer and closer to its goal. Those who feel inclined can donate at this link.
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