Mark Todd attracted a large crowd, even in the warm-up, of both spectators and riders, perhaps hoping some of that magic might rub off on them!
I saw Mark walking the course yesterday at Fence 7, the coffin, and asked him if coming here straight off a Badminton win gave him an extra boost, but he said not really, “Different horse, different event, different course…” I was also going to ask him if he would do a video course walk of that combination with me, but the pump in the ditch was so noisy it was hopeless, but he just shrugged, looked at me like I was an eedjit, and said, “Jump in, one stride, over the ditch, one stride, and jump out!”! If you’re Mark Todd, it’s that easy!
Later on yesterday afternoon, I was very lucky to “Ride the Rolex Course” for Horse and Hound, and our “tour guide” was David O Connor, western style, on a lovely grey horse called Shameless, and he said in 30 years he’s never seen so much water in the Kentucky Horse Park.
Clayton Fredericks’ Be My Guest: what a nice horse, with that large head, floppy ears and floaty paces. She looked like she might begin to get a little on the forehand, but Clayton rode her really positively and actively, apart from an error of course, and they currently sit in 10th place.
Another lovely grey from the West Coast, Kristi Nunnink’s R-Star
Coincidentally, both kiwis Joe Meyer and Snip (above), and Mark Todd sit in 17th place after dressage.
Jessica Phoenix on her lovely little WEG horse, Exponential, who stands barely 16hh, but packs a hell of a jump.
William on the lovely Neuf des Coeurs, who had a hard time overcoming a sticky start in his test, and of course in my extremely biased opinion was robbed! William and I also watched Oliver’s test together earlier, (when Leo was stolen by an official, for fear he’d be stolen!) and we both agreed that we miss seeing the judges’ marks on the scoreboard, instead of the cumulative percentage.
The cross country course is drying out slowly, the sun has come in and out all day, but the wind has been a constant and welcome, albeit chilly presence. Thank you so much for staying with us, we’re all excited about tomorrow, and I can’t wait to bring you lots more from Rolex and go eventing!