We have dressage fully underway at Pau right now, the riders at Galway are getting ready to start their dressage, the FEI approved a list of prohibited substances that excludes NSAIDs from competition a few hours ago, and it’s not even lunch time. Let’s take a quick break from the madness to hear from Australian John Lechner (aka Eventing Safety John) of the Eventing Safety Blog as he continues to get us ready for the Adelaide CCI4* next weekend:
Adelaide Dressage Day is ladies day with fashion, dressage and wine, it is a packed house
From Eventing Safety John:
Do you think a horse knows that they have won? If they do, is it that they remember the extra carrots or is it the feeling of galloping around the main arena? Let’s assume they do know, how long will they remember that feeling?
As Boyd Martin competes Pau this weekend, his former mount and winner of the 2003 Australian Three Day Event 4 Star – True Blue Toozac is preparing young rider Katie Redmond for the tough Adelaide 2 Star event that is run with the 4 Star Event the weekend after Pau.
I imagine that True Blue will remember that Adelaide has more crowds than any other Aussie Event. It is in the park, right in the middle of the city, in fact part of the XC course is only 200 yards from Adelaide’s popular restaurant strip. How many XC courses have you ridden where you can cross the road from the track and choose from about 50 top restaurants?
I know that Adelaide is a big deal for any rider and Katie can take comfort in the fact she is riding such an experienced mount who will look after her on the tight Adelaide track.
As for the 4 Star, 2010 may be the year for someone new to shine. WEG has taken a noticeable toll on entries for the 4 Star.
Local rider Megan Jones won’t be competing, after her WEG mount Jester contracted traveling sickness (an infection in his lungs) after the 36 plus hour trip from Sydney to LA via Hong Kong and Anchorage. To be honest I am surprised Jester is the only one who got sick.
Given Jester’s illness, Megan stayed in the States with Jester in quarantine at Monty Roberts’ “Flag is up farm” and has traveled back in the last couple of days with Jester to NZ along with the other Australian & New Zealand horses from WEG.
Megan has not had any time to prepare her other 4 Star horse Allofasudden, so for the first time in a long time Adelaide local, Megan, will be a spectator, she will be doing course walks and plenty of hospitality.
Adelaide will not be without locals, however, and Wendy Schaeffer will be out to prove a point after a disastrous Adelaide in 2009 where she failed to finish on two of her three 4 Star mounts. Wendy returns in 2010 with Koyuna Sun Dancer and Koyuna Sun Shine, both of whom were eliminated in 2009.
Reigning champion Stuart Tinney is returning to defend his title fresh from his individual 8th place at the World Championships. Stuart is placing his hopes on a single mount, Watermark Greyson, despite the fact he has four horses currently competing at the 4 Star level.
Other Aussie squad members are throwing their hats in the ring, including Christopher Burton (fresh from a tough WEG) on Newsprint, Natalie Blundell on Algebra and Katja Weimann on Pluto Mio.
Finally there is one man out there I will never discount, Heath Ryan returns on his brilliant mount Mystery Whisper. Heath will still be on a high after bagging the Sydney Three Day earlier this year and will also be out to prove a point after failing to finish in 2009.
There has been much talk of Zara Phillips being on the lookout for a new mount for London 2012, personally I believe Mystery Whisper fits that bill. Zara’s Step Mom Sandy Phillips is a member of the Ground Jury, so you never know……….
Back soon, live from Adelaide, hopefully without the heat of last year.
John Lechner
(EventingSafety John)
