Arthur with a big smile for the crowd after his test
Chattahoochee Hills Farm is in exquisite condition for the 8th annual American Eventing Championships and the 2nd being held here in Georgia. A combination of cool weather and rain earlier this week have made for great conditions on and off the cross-country course. The mood at the AECs is a bit calmer that last year due to fewer competitors and the absence of the World Equestrian Games selection trials that was hosted last year. The advanced dressage has just concluded and we have a full day of training, preliminary, and intermediate to continue in the four arenas running today.
Allison Springer and Arthur had a couple of tense moments during their test but the majority was lovely and they have the lead in the AECs advanced division after the dressage on a 27.9. Arthur has had a year of ups and downs including a win at Red Hills, a fall at Rolex, and then the show jumping mess at Rebecca Farms. Allison and Arthur have handled all of that with class and I’m rooting for them to put it all together this weekend.
Advanced Dressage Results:
1. Allison Springer and Arthur 27.9
2. Emily Beshear and Here’s To You 30.9
3. Barbara Crabo and Eveready II 32.4
4. Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle RM 32.8
5. Doug Payne and Running Order 33.8
6. Melissa Miller and Detail Specialist 34.5
7T. Becky Holder and Can’t Fire Me 35.4
7T. Danielle Dichting and Tops 35.4
Emily Beshear and Here’s To You aka Quincy just missed being named to the US Pan American squad/alternates last week, but they have bounced back in great form today. Quincy nailed all of the four flying changes in the test and they are in 2nd. I felt like their test easily could have been considered the nicest of the day. Barbara Crabo and the beautiful Eveready finished the dressage on a 32.4. They will go into the cross-country in 3rd place.
The advanced dressage scores are what you would expect from experienced horses at the AECs. 12 out of 18 riders broke under 40 penalty points although only Arthur broke under 30. There are two judges in the main arena which hopefully increases the fairness of the marks.
Alexandra Slusher and Last call recently received a grant to travel over and compete at Boekelo in October. Today they scored a 36.4 in the dressage and are in 10th place going into the cross-country.
Sara Gartland and Always A Lady are an advanced pair from Pennsylvania that I am not as familiar with. Always A Lady shows nice suspension but was a bit hollow. I’ll look forward to watching them for the rest of the weekend.
Doug Payne was very pleased with Running Order’s test, which finished on a 33.8. Doug Payne has been going through a few growing pains with this horse this summer, which shows Doug’s intelligence in not going to Blenheim on a Land Rover grant. When they put it all together on the cross-country they are not going to have any trouble winning at advanced.
The advanced division at the AECs offers $20,000 in prize money (winner gets $10,000) so competition will be fierce throughout the weekend and I expect riders to be running for the time tomorrow on the cross-country. Fortunately the footing is much better than last year.
This morning also featured three arenas of preliminary competition. Fie Ottosen and Clifton have the lead in the preliminary amateur championship division. Marissa Hughes and Odie have the lead in the junior/young rider preliminary division. Julie Norman and Consensus are leading the prelim horse division on a 29.8 with a few rides still to go.
I want to give a big thanks to our friends at the USEA for being wonderful hosts at the AECs. The USEA team has been here since Monday and everything is superbly organized as a result of their hard work. They have given me a plug and shelter in the media tent and I am forever grateful.
Stay tuned for much more from the AECs. Go eventing.
