Pawlow getting a well deserved loosened flash from his groom Nat after scoring a 44.0
Friday morning scores:
1. Allison Springer and Arthur 35.7
2. Phillip Dutton and Wooburn 42.3
3. Phillip Dutton and Connaught 42.8
4T. Stephen Bradley and Brandenburg’s Joshua 43.8
4T. Boyd Martin and Remington 43.8
6. Will Faudree and Pawlow 44.0
(1) One thing to remember when we are looking at these scores is that the advanced AEC division is riding the FEI CCI4* test B, and the tests are being scored accordingly. So, Allison and Arthur scored 35.7 riding a three-day test, and they bettered their score at Rolex by 7 points. All the other divisions are doing the national USEF B tests.
(2) 17 US short listers are set to start at the AECs and the US riders, vets and team coaches need to get a lot of credit for keeping the US short list sound over these past few weeks. Inevitably, these last two weeks before the WEGs are incredibly tense but it is definitely a ‘so-far so-good’ for the US team on the soundess front–knock on wood.
(3) The weather in Georgia this weekend is very warm with highs in the 90’s and humidity around 40%.
(4) With 702 competitors, the word is that the AECs are the largest horse trials in history although I have no idea how one would verify that statistic. Let’s just say it is really really big here. The Chattahoochee Hills venue is about a kagillion acres but the stabling and dressage arenas are all very close together, giving the AECs the feel of a big hunter/jumper show.
“We’re going to need a bigger scoreboard” –10 points to name the movie
(5) Brandenburg’s Joshua apparently got loose this morning and galloped around the dressage area for a while during Carl’s ride. Just another day of eventing.
(6) Of course we will have much more ridiculousness from Chattahoochee Hills later today and throughout the weekend, including my much-awaited NFL Super Bowl picks. Let’s just say I’m not buying into the Jets.
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In addition to providing our own Eventing Nation coverage, we will be sure to link to all the great AEC coverage on other sites this weekend so that our readers can get the best of all worlds.
Tursday USEA recap video
The USEA Blog has bunches of great photos up now from Thursday
3D3W has a ton of fun photos from around the AECs that go well beyond the competition arenas
Go eventing.
