#AEC17 Thursday Wrapup: Happiness Is Waterproof

Erin Liedle and Mick Jagger celebrate after a clear cross country round in the Prelim Rider division. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

This morning’s fine Irish mist gave way to a steady deluge in the afternoon here at Tryon International Equestrian Center. But AEC competitors worked too hard to get here to have their spirits dampened by some loser raindrops!

Thursday got a faceful of Novice and Advanced dressage, while Prelim and Training competitors headed out to tackle cross country. I could have stood by the finish line all day, watching riders celebrate successful rounds with fistpumps and assorted displays of human-horse PDA.

One more of Erin and Mick because this is what it’s all about, amiright? Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Hot off the presses, the first helmet cams of #AEC17! This one is courtesy of Nicolette Merle-Smith and Ratatouille in the Prelim Rider division. Hard to tell who is having more fun out there — those happy, pricked ears, squee!

And in this one Doug Payne and Steve Blauner’s Mr Mitchel give us the grand tour of the Training course.

Take a quick spin around the Training #crosscountry at the #AEC2017 on Steve Blauner’s Mr Mitchel #doubleclear #5yrold #horsesofthefuture @camboxhorse #helmetcam #onlythebest #gallopingintherain

A post shared by Doug Payne (@dpequestrian) on Aug 31, 2017 at 2:30pm PDT

The AEC’s headline division (other than The Only Division That Really Matters AKA Jr. Beginner Novice 14 & Under, which begins tomorrow) completed its dressage today. Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous lead the Adequan Gold Cup Advanced Final on a 27.8 — they won The Fork CIC3* here at TIEC this spring and no one would be surprised to see a repeat here at the AEC. Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda sit second (29.6), with third split between Jordan Linstedt/Revitavet Capato and Phillip Dutton/I’m Sew Ready (30.7).

Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Here are our leaders at day’s end:

And a few Instagram photos that pack a 1,000 word punch:

Cuteness alert Madeline Hartsock just jumped double clear around the @profchoice Junior Training to keep her lead with Prinz S.W. #AEC17

A post shared by U.S. Eventing Association (@useventing) on Aug 31, 2017 at 2:48pm PDT

This is how Detroit does volunteering. Which bits are allowed, just check the shirt! #aec17 #eventingnation #EN #eventing #tryoninternationalequestriancenter

A post shared by Carrie Matteson (@carriematteson) on Aug 31, 2017 at 7:24am PDT

It’s still raining here at Tryon but I’m continuing to smile because I can’t help but feel blessed. Yes this rain is disappointing but I’m thinking and praying for all of those people in Texas who have endured so much more and lost it all. Coursewalk later today for Texas!! #AEC17 #hackingintherain #americaneventingchampionships #blessed #prayingfortexas

A post shared by Tara Katherine (@tara_kpics) on Aug 31, 2017 at 10:07am PDT

So proud of my pony!!! We had a super fun and confident cross country. It rained all night, all day and during my ride… Dorothy knows how much I love rain . I was super nervous but I still managed to get my head in the game. Manning was bold to everything and it ended up feeling pretty easy! I took care of him on the turns and ended up with a little bit of time. So happy! a little bummed about the time but I felt like I rode responsibly. My pony is the best pony. #aec17 #thoroughbredmanning #ottb #unicorn

A post shared by Alison Wilaby (@alisonrobyn) on Aug 31, 2017 at 3:28pm PDT

The action continues to snowball tomorrow with show jumping added to the mix, plus the start of Beginner Novice dressage and more cross country action. Keep those smiles coming, EN! Rain or shine, go eventing.

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