Jacky Green has once again sent us a great report from across the pond, this time from Ballindensik, for which we are eternally grateful. Jacky works for Team New Zealand and also runs her Maizey Manor Farm in the UK and she is a regular Eventing Nation contributor. Thanks for writing this Jacky and thank you for reading.
Photo via Wikipedia Commons
Jacky Green
Gossip from Ballindenisk CCI***/CIC***
Word is that Ballindenisk is being run as the fastest three star in the West…..competitors were thrilled to discover that far from taking Tuesday to Sunday out of their training schedules they could arrive on Friday morning, trot up, do a test, and that was phase one and two done and dusted! CIC *** then showjumped after their test and are all done and free to go home tomorrow afternoon after cross country whilst CCI*** go cross country tomorrow and then showjump on Sunday.
Jules Stiller is the busiest rider there with three horses: Enjoy Me and Chapel Amble in the CIC*** and Axel Rose in the CCI***. Chapel Amble lies 5th in the CIC*** whilst the gorgeous Enjoy Me posted a cracking 44 in the same division but has been WD before showjumping and Axel Rose lies 18th in the CCI***. Jules said that Axel Rose was just damn naughty in his test displaying acrobatics that are not unusual for a fresh horse at the start of the season whilst Enjoy Me tried his best but was struggling with the going so she decided to save him or another day. Jules said that the event was super rider friendly and trying to help in every way but the stabling being 30mins away is quite a dilemma, word is Irish gateways are not as generous a UK and more than one rider has dented his truck…..
Sam Watson who led the dressage in the CIC*** with Horseware Bushman on an incredible 37 has also withdrew before showjumping but it appears that was always the plan… back to Badminton for “George”….
Esib Power told me that the going in the dressage arena for the CCI*** was “challenging” and she tried to avoid the outside track where possible as it was tacky and holding and would not suit a big moving horse which would lose its balance….Rodney Powell confirmed this saying that his normally high scoring Zinzan struggled to keep his balance in the mud. He also said that the cross country track walks better going than the dressage but it will be interesting to see how it stands up tomorrow. He said that it was big and bold, a galloping track that was more technical towards the end which will certainly not make it a dressage competition.
All the competitors have noted that the course walks long but that could be an indication of the fact they have spent all winter walking from the barn to the arena to see if it is rideable……
Ollie Townend leads with Artic Mouse in the CCI***, it is not a lead he will give up easily, for all these combinations it brings back memories of the foot and mouth season when we headed straight to a three day with no prep runs…not the easiest to do and good luck to all of the starters for aiming high in 2012 for their first run!
[Results]
