Good morning from Aachen CICO3*! It’s a beautiful morning with temperatures predicted to creep into the 90s as we reach the afternoon on what is going to be a very exciting day of both dressage and show jumping in this FEI Nations Cup. Unfortunately, there is not a live stream today, but I’ll be live blogging ringside all day from the press tribune, so keep refreshing this page for the latest from #Aachen2015.
#Aachen2015: Website, Ride Times, Live Scores, Team Standings, Schedule, Aachen Preview, Course Preview, EN’s Coverage, Twitter, Instagram
U.S. and Canadian ride times & scores:
Lynn Symansky and Donner: 9 a.m. (3 a.m. EST) 49.9
Lauren Kieffer and Veronica: 10:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. EST) 43.6
Holly Jacks-Smither and More Inspiration: 10:37 a.m. (4:37 a.m. EST) 54.5
Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights: 12:15 p.m. (6:15 a.m. EST) 50.7
Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee: 12:22 p.m. (6:22 a.m. EST) 45.1
Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn: 2:37 p.m. (8:37 a.m. EST) 46.3
Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master: 2:45 p.m. (8:45 a.m. EST) 48.4
Final #Aachen2015 dressage scores:
2:50: Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master score 48.5 as the final combination for Canada, and Andrew Hoy and Cheeky Calimbo score 34.5 as the last pair to go in dressage. Click here for final scores, and stay tuned for the full report. I have quotes from all the U.S. and Canadian riders, so those are coming your way next. Show jumping starts at 5:30 p.m. local time, which is in 2 1/2 hours.
2:44: Phillip and Cuba score 46.3 provisionally. Rebecca and Rupert are starting their test now!
2:41: Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn are leaving the ring now. We’re waiting on their score. Next in is Rebecca Howard with Riddle Master, the third and final team members for Canada. Go Rupert!
Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master. Photo by Jenni Autry.
2:39: Damn: Fernhill Cubalawn broke to canter during the half pass to the left in the trot work. Quick recovery from Phillip Dutton, but that will cost them. They’re into the canter tour now.
2:34: Kilpatrick Knight gives a big spook at the judge’s box at C toward the end of the test. Hang on, Austin! They just did their final halt and salute. Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn are entering the ring now for Team USA.
2:30: Sandra and Opgun Louvo score 33.2 for second place with just a few riders left to go! Austin O’Connor and Kilpatrick Knight are in the ring now for the Irish team. Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn will be the last pair out for Team USA, followed by Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master as the final pair for Canada.
Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn. Photo by Jenni Autry.
2:27: Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo deliver the super performance we’ve come to expect from them. Lots of pats for the horse after the test! Tim Price and Wesko’s score is in: 40.2 for ninth place. When Wesko scores a 40.2 are is barely in the top 10, you know the field is massively competitive.
2:21: Here come last year’s Aachen winners and the current World Champions Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo, the final combination for the German team. Sandra is rocking an old school black velvet helmet — love it! #worldchampionstyle
2:14: Tim Price and Wesko are next in for the Kiwis. They won Luhmühlen last year and finished at Kentucky this year. Tim Lips’ score has been announced as 41.3, which puts them in 10th place with just a few more to go.
2:07: Tim Lips and Concrex Bayro are in the ring now for the Dutch team. This is a striking grey Dutch gelding — quite a fancy mover. In case everyone is losing track of how many scores we’ve now seen in the 30s, we’re up to eight. #30sfordays
2:04: Wow! Holly Woodhead and DHI Lupison score 34.3 in their senior team debut for Great Britain, which puts them in second place. Holly and “Luke” won the Under 25s at Bramham CCI3* this year and are heading to the FEI European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle next month. She’s just 21 years old.
1:59: Ludwig Svennerstal and King Bob are next in for the Swedish team. In the meantime, Ingrid Klimke and FRH Escada JS official score has been announced as 32.1. #nobigdeal That’s the seventh score in the 30s so far.
1:52: Ingrid Klimke and FRH Escada JS score 32.4 to sail into the lead! Her score was announced just as 21-year-old Holly Woodhead was circling the ring before her test with DHI Lupison, so the loud cheers didn’t exactly come at a good time for her! But the horse has settled nicely.
1:49: Ingrid Klimke and FRH Escada JS completed their test to much applause from the German crowd. (Also in a string girth. Has she always used string girths and I’ve just never noticed before?) The stands have filled in nicely, and lots of spectators are lining the rails around the arena. It’s a perfect day here in Aachen.
1:45: We’re back underway after the lunch break with this year’s Luhmühlen winners Ingrid Klimke and FRH Escada JS, who are competing as individuals. Ingrid already went already went earlier in the day with her team horse, Horseware Hale Bob; they scored 37.0 and are currently sitting in second place.
12:59: Here’s a look at scores at the lunch break now that the leaderboard has been updated.
12:53: A score of 37.2 for Michael Jung and fischerTakinou will move them into third place just ahead of Halunke FBW. That’s six scores in the 30s here at Aachen. #30sfordays
12:49: That’s a wrap for Michael Jung and fischerTakinou. We’re now on a one-hour lunch break before the final group of the day, when Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn and Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master will do their tests. Stay tuned for more photos!
12:47: Stefano Brecciaroli and Apollo VD Wendi Kurt Hoeve score 39.9 to move into fifth place. That gives us five scores in the 30s so far. Michael Jung and fischerTakinou are into the canter work now.
12:42: Michael Jung and fischerTakinou are the final pair to go in this group before the break. They are competing as individuals here at Aachen. Michael went this morning with his team horse, Halunke FBW, scoring 39.9, so he’ll be trying to best that on his second ride of the day.
12:38: Stefano Brecciaroli and Apollo VD Wendi Kurt Hoeve are in the ring now for Italy. They finished second at this event in 2011 and are putting in a very nice performance thus far. This 15-year-old Belgian gelding is such a nice mover.
Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee. Photo by Jenni Autry.
12:30: Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee score 45.1 for Canada to move into 15th place as we head to the end of the second to last group. A few bobbles throughout, but Kathryn said she was pleased overall. Stay tuned for comments from Kathryn later in the day!
12:21: Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights score 50.7 provisionally. We’ll wait to see if that is confirmed. CR was definitely quiet, but that does seem harshly marked to me. He hasn’t had the ideal preparation just coming in from England yesterday after traveling overseas for the first time. Now he needs to find his mojo for show jumping this afternoon! Kathryn and Let It Bee are starting their test now for Canada.
12:19: That’s the final halt and salute for Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights in their Team USA debut. Consistent and correct work throughout the test, though she was kicking CR along. Quite the opposite problem from what Lynn and Donner were experiencing this morning! Now we anxiously await the score while Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee enter the stadium as the next combination out for Team Canada.
12:16: Nice trot work for Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights. Good expression, though it looks like she is really pushing him along. It’s really warm out there in the sun with temperatures creeping up. They’re into the walk work now, and all is going well so far.
12:12: Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights are circling the ring now! CR looks very handsome rocking a blue and red Team USA ear bonnet. Colleen just gave him a big pat. Looking relaxed and ready. Go, girl, go!
Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights. Photo by Jenni Autry.
12:08: Padraig McCarthy and Simon Porloe are in the ring now for the Irish team. Colleen Rutledge will make her Team USA debut next aboard Covert Rights, who is competing overseas for the first time here at Aachen. This horse is a 9-year-old homebred Clydesdale/Thoroughbred gelding.
12:07: Mark Todd and NZB Campino score 43.6 to tie them for eighth place with Lauren Kieffer and Veronica. Dirk Schrade and Hop and Skip’s provisional score is being announced as 43.7 for the German team.
12:01: Dirk Schrade and Hop and Skip are in the ring now for the German team. Their test is going very nicely so far. This gelding is one of the oldest horses in the field at 16 years old. Two other horses are also 16: Clifton Lush and King Bob, who will go in the final group of the day with Ludwig Svennerstal for the Swedish team.
11:59: Oh my gosh, you guys. Quicklook V’s barn name is PEBBLES! How adorable is that? It’s official: #newgirlcrush
11:55: Oops. Mark Todd got a little lost in the walk with NZB Campino to pick up an error. Mistakes happen even to the best in the world! They’ve recovered nicely and are now working their way through the canter tour.
11:44: Sara and Reality 39 take the lead on a score of 35.9! That now gives us three scores in the 30s about halfway through this Nations Cup field. This 11-year-old Hanoverian mare has been flying under the radar a bit in the last year. She competed with two-time Aachen winner Frank Ostholt last year and has mostly competed at the two-star level with Sara this year. Sara and Reality 39 finished third in the CCI3* at Montilibretti in April.
11:41: Sara Algotsson Ostholt and Reality 39 just finished their test for the Swedish team, and Merel Blom and Rumour Has It N.O.P. are next in for the Dutch team. We’re about five horses away from Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights, the next combination out for the U.S. team.
Sara Algotsson Ostholt and Reality 39 are your new leaders on 35.9. Photo by Jenni Autry.
11:37: Gemma Tattersall and Quicklook V score 41.0 to keep the British team very much in the hunt here at Aachen. The Brits are bringing the heat! This 10-year-old Anglo European mare placed fifth in her first CCI3* at Tattersalls in May. She’s by the Dutch stallion Urkel and out of a French-bred mare named Unabresse M, bred in Britain by Vicky Gosling and Vicky Hart.
11:34: More on Chris Burton’s withdrawal of Graf Liberty this morning: Chris said the horse wasn’t quite right before his test, and he has his eyes set on the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, so no reason to risk running here at Aachen. Disappointing, but relieved to hear it wasn’t anything serious. Chris is still here ringside supporting the Australian team.
11:29: We’re back underway at Aachen! Gemma Tattersall and Quicklook V are the next to go for the British team. Great Britain brought five horses to Aachen, but Izzy Taylor withdrew Allercombe Ellie before the horse inspection. I just chatted with Pippa Roome, guru of all things eventing at Horse & Hound, and she said the mare wasn’t quite right yesterday. A shame, but Team GBR still has four very strong team members.
11:18: Caroline Powell and Onwards and Upwards score 49.3, and Karin Donckers and Fletcha van’t Verahof just finished their test as the sole combination competing for Belgium. We’re now on a quick break. Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights and Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee will both go in the next section. Keep it locked on EN!
11:05: Niklas Bschorer and Tom Tom Go 3 scored 43.8 as individuals for Germany to move into seventh place behind Lauren Kieffer and Veronica. Caroline Powell and Onwards and Upwards just finished their test as individuals for New Zealand, and Karin Donckers and Fletcha van’t Verahof are the final combination to go before the next break.
Holly Jacks-Smither and More Inspiration! (#OTTBgotmoves) Photo by Jenni Autry.
10:57: Paul Tapner and Indian Mill scored 44.1 for Australia, which puts them in seventh behind Lauren and Veronica. Australia now only has three team members after Chris Burton withdrew Graf Liberty this morning. Peter Thomsen and Horseware’s Barny just finished their test as individuals for Germany, and Niklas Bschorer and Tom Tom Go 3 are next in, also as individuals for Germany.
10:50: Holly Jacks-Smither and More Inspiration score 54.5 in for Team Canada! Holly said on Tuesday that she was aiming for a scoring in the mid- to low-50s with “Morris,” which is where he’s currently scoring at this level back home across the pond. The 10-year-old OTTB gelding handled his first overseas test beautifully. More comments coming from Holly soon!
10:40: A score of 43.6 for Lauren Kieffer and Veronica, which is their best score at a CIC3* in three years and trends below their average at this level. That moves the U.S. into fourth place in the team competition. I just talked to Lauren after her test, so stay tuned for her comments. Spoiler alert: She is very happy with Troll!
Lauren Kieffer and Veronica. Photo by Jenni Autry.
10:35: That’s the final halt and salute for Lauren Kieffer, who gives Veronica a pat. Mistake free and accurate. Now we await the score as Holly Jacks-Smither and More Inspiration circle the ring. They are making their overseas and team debut here at Aachen for Canada.
10:24: The scoreboard is showing a 39.9 for Michael and Halunke FBW, which puts them into third place provisionally. Michael Ryan and Dunlough Striker are about to start their canter tour now, and then Lauren Kieffer and Veronica will be next in the ring for Team USA!
10:21: Michael Jung and Halunke FBW just finished their test, and Michael Ryan and Dunlough Striker are in the ring now for Ireland. The Irish are competing with a three-man team after Mark Kyle and Jemilla’s last-minute withdrawal before yesterday’s horse inspection.
10:17: Jock Paget and Clifton Lush score 46.2. This horse had a lengthy break after sustaining an injury at Burghley in 2013 and rebounded beautifully this past spring to finish third at Badminton. He last competed at Aachen in 2013 but picked up 20 penalties on cross country, so Jock will be looking to improve on that!
10:13: Alice Naber-Lozeman and ACSI Peter Parker score 49.7. We’ve had two scores in the 30s so far, but that may be set to change as Michael Jung and Halunke FBW enter the ring. This is a counting score for the German team. Michael is also competing his Strzegom CCI3* winner fischerTakinou as an individual.
10:07: Jock Paget and Clifton Lush are the second combination out for the Kiwi team. Jock needs a score of 50.3 or better to take the team lead from Great Britain in the early going of the Nations Cup. You can follow the team scoring at this link.
10:02: We’re back underway now with Alice Naber-Lozeman and ACSI Peter Parker. Lauren Kieffer and Veronica are four pairs away, and I can see them in warm up behind me. Troll looks relaxed and in the zone, and Lauren just gave her a pat on the shoulder as they’re working in the canter. USA! USA! USA!
9:57: Fun observation during the break: I noticed on Tuesday while Ingrid was hacking Horseware Hale Bob that she was using a string girth. I hadn’t seen one of those in years! She used it during their test today, too. They’re currently leading, so clearly it’s working for her. Go string girths!
Ingrid Klimke and Horseware Hale Bob are your leaders at the first break on 37.0. Photo by Jenni Autry.
9:51: Louise and Wieloch’s Utah Sun just wrapped up their test to take us to a 15-minute break. Alice Naber-Lozeman and ACSI Peter Parker will kick off us off after the break as the first combination out for the Dutch team.
9:45: Flora and Bayano score 44.5, which will slot them in fifth place just behind British teammates Francis Whittington and Easy Target. Louise Svensson Jähde and Wieloch’s Utah Sun are the final pair to go before the first break.
9:40: Flora Harris and Bayano just got a bit lost during the walk tour of their test but are recovering nicely. Bayano is coming off a win in the Bramham CCI3* in June — a lovely Dutch gelding that is a treat to watch on the flat. Love this horse.
9:36: Andreas Dibowski and FRH Butts Avedon score 49.8 as individuals for Germany. That’s the highest score that horse has done at a CIC3* in the last three years, so that definitely gives an indication that’s it not easy out there. Definitely a good amount of atmosphere that has these horses buzzing.
9:30: Bettina and Designer 10 score 42.7 to slot into third place as we cruise through this first group on the order of go. You can click here to view the ride times and here to see live scores.
9:27: It’s a gorgeous morning here at Aachen, and the stands are starting to fill in. Lots of applause for Bettina Hoy as she completes an accurate test with Designer 10 — big pats for the horse. Perhaps lacking some of the expression and impulsion we saw from tests like Faerie Dianimo and Horseware Hale Bob.
9:20: We had a quick break due to Chris Burton and Graf Liberty’s scratch. Claas Hermann Romeike and Cato 60 just completed their test, and Betinna Hoy and Designer 10 are next in. Neither of those rides will count toward Germany’s team score.
Lynn Symansky and Donner. Photo by Jenni Autry.
9:10: Lynn Symansky is sitting on a very hot Flying Deer today in Donner and had to ride very tactfully to keep the lid on. They scored 49.9 as the first pair out for Team USA. Kudos to Lynn for toughing that one out.
9: Ingrid and Horseware Hale Bob answer back with a score of 37.0 to just sneak past Jonelle Price into first place. Ingrid is also competing this year’s Luhmühlen winner FRH Escada JS at Aachen, but Horseware Hale Bob is her mount for the team competition.
8:50: A score of 37.4 for Jonelle and Faerie Dianamo to easily cruise to the lead in the early going. Any guesses as to how many scores in the 30s we’ll see today from this class field?
8:45: It’s clear that it’s going to be a very exciting day of dressage here at Aachen! Jonelle Price and Faerie Dianimo just delivered a beautiful test for New Zealand. This pair is coming off a second place finish at Luhmühlen CCI4* in June.
Francis Whittington and Easy Target. Photo by Jenni Autry.
8:37: A lovely, accurate test from Francis and Smokey to score 43.4 — a great first team score for the Brits. Great Britain is the only country to have ever bested Germany in the Nations Cup here at Aachen, winning the team competition in 2011.
8:30: We’re underway! Francis Whittington and Catherine Witt’s Easy Target are first in the ring for Team GBR.
8:24: Unfortunately, Chris Burton has withdrawn Graf Liberty prior to the start of dressage. That will give Australia a three-man team for the competition.
