The crowd was buzzing on this afternoon’s SmartPak course walk, asking both Allison and Boyd to pose for numerous photos between fences, wishing them lots and lots of luck. It’s not every day you get to walk the course with two of the top-ten placed riders.

Though Allison had just finished her test on Arthur within the hour, she hustled out to meet us on course, and both she and Boyd meticulously walked us through several tough combinations.

Notably, Boyd predicted we might see a right run-out or two at the duck D element of the Water Park (“Now hopefully I won’t do that,” he joked), said the coffin has to be jumped out of confidence and understanding, not aggression and momentum, and that he’ll aim for opposite sides of the double-edged brush corner C element of the Normandy Bank—Remington to the right and Otis to the left—to account for each of his horses’ weaker sides (Otis drifts right, Remi drifts left).

Allison said the distance in the bottom of the Sunken Road was quite forward and will require positive riding, noting that the combination looks trickier than in years past, and that riders had to keep themselves from looking too far ahead at the C-D bounce out of the Head of the Lake; take your eye off the bank too early and you could cause a scuffle over the big brush out, she said.

Both riders spent time taking questions and chatting with fans, receiving a big, cheering send-off at the end of the walk.

Is it Saturday yet? Go Allison and Boyd.

At Pony Club nationals, the junior mounted games championship is hotly contested: The top four teams qualify to compete in the annual Prince Philip Cup at Rolex. For the second year in a row, Maryland Region’s Wild Things team—Abby Doud, Courtney Swartz, Emily Hruda, Tiffany Tharp and Jamie Glueck—are making the trip to Kentucky to defend their national title. They’ll face stiff competition from the Capital Region’s Hyperactive and Danger Zone teams, and the Maryland Region’s Frootloops. Courtney, 13, was kind enough to send us this blog from the road. If you’re attending Rolex, be sure to catch the celebrity round on Friday—trust me, you don’t want to miss it. Thanks for writing this Courtney, and thanks for reading.

___

The Wild Things at the 2011 Pony Club Nationals in Kentucky. (Photo courtesy of Courtney)

Let the countdown begin! We’ve set off for Kentucky to ride in the Prince Philip Cup. Last year at Pony Club nationals, our team brought home blue ribbons in both Horse Management and Overall. Since then, we’ve gone to lots of Mounted Games Across America events and had lots of practices. We’ve created a strong friendship on and off the field.

The first day that we ride will be an eventer round where the riders that jump over big jumps will ride small games ponies. This is a very fun experience for us kids to show off our skills that we have worked very hard on to show you.

The Wild Things walking the course at Rolex 2011. (Photo courtesy of Courtney)

Mounted games is a very active sport: We run and vault on our ponies at a gallop or put a flag in a cone. This sport takes hand-eye skills and braveness. The most important thing about this sport is teamwork and friendship. If you’re going to Rolex, please come and watch us play! Make sure you cheer for the Wild Things, it will be our second year riding in this competition!

Adding the “four-star” preface to your bio must feel similar to adding “Oscar-winning,” “Grammy-winning,” “Pulitzer Prize-winning,” “President of” or something. But before getting one’s “four-star,” one must pass through the hazy, mystical, white-eyed zone of “four-star rookie.”  We bring you tidbits on your 2012 Rolex “four-star” aspirants:

Emily Beshear and Here’s To You: Emily and “Qunicy,” a 12-year-old OTTB, had a solid 2011, placing in the top 10 at two CCI***s–eighth at Bromont and 10th at Fair Hill. Expect to hear the Brickland Eventing team cheering her around the course on Saturday. [Emily’s Bio]

Amy & Santa

Amy Ruth Borun and Santa’s Playboy: Amy’s an amateur, Santa’s an OTTB, and together they’ve had a successful spring run-up to their first four-star, most recently placing 18th in The Fork CIC***. Read our profile of Amy and Santa here.

Pam Fisher and Sea Lion: California-based Pam Fisher has owned and operated her own eventing facility since 1986. Sea Lion is a New York-bred OTTB stallion. They were seventh in the Galway CIC*** this spring, and they’ll make their four-star debut at Rolex together. [Pam’s Bio]

Kate Hicks and Belmont: Kate and Belmont are longtime partners with an impressive resume, including a win in the Jersey Fresh CCI** in 2006. Kate used to work for Phillip, and she found Belmont at True Prospect Farm.  [Kate’s Bio]

Jordan Linstedt and Tullibards Hawkwind: Jordan and “Jack” are normally based in Washington, but they drove across country to train with Leslie Law in Ocala this spring. They placed fifth in an advanced division at Poplar earlier this year. Read our profile of Jordan and Jack here. [Jordan’s Bio]

Marilyn & RF Rovano Rex

Marilyn Little-Meredith and RF Rovano Rex, RF Demeter: Marilyn’s no stranger to starred competition, but it’s still crazy to think she made her first eventing start in 2010 and will now make her four-star debut just two years later–on not one, but two talented horses. And I don’t think anyone would be surprised by a top 10 finish. [Marilyn’s Bio]

Brittany Lunney and Cool Dancer: Brittany and her 17 hand Thoroughbred gelding Cool Dancer, whom she bought from Jan Byyny, were 20th in the Galway CCI*** last fall and third in Galway’s advanced this spring. They made the trek to Kentucky from Colorado.

Doug Payne and Running Order: Seem’s about time Doug rode in a four-star, no? Running Order may look a bit unpredictable on paper, but then again he’s only 10 years old.  [Doug’s Bio]

Holly & Madeline

Holly Payne and Madeline: The Payne family are going big in 2012, though Holly, who’s two years younger than Doug, seems to have won the four-star race. Holly and “Baby” are longtime partners and were recently 10th in an advanced division at The Fork. [Holly’s Bio]

Erin Sylvester and No Boundaries: This spring, Erin and her 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood-Thoroughbred gelding were eighth in The Fork CIC***. You’ll likely see her out walking the course with her coach, Boyd Martin.  [Erin’s Bio]

Go four-star rookies.

Before things get too crazy–the first horse inspection gets underway in less than three hours–we’ve put together a little list of course walks and events taking place on site throughout the weekend. This list is by no means exhaustive, which means keep an eye out for additional signs of awesomeness while you’re out shopping and spectating.

Helpful Links:

Event Schedule

Ride Times

Lexington Weather

Four-Star Dressage Test B

Trade Fair Exhibitor List

John’s Guide to Watching Rolex from Home

Course Walks:

Thursday, 4 p.m.: Phillip Dutton, limited to 50 participants. Pick up a pass Thursday morning from a FLAIR representative outside the Bit of Britain tent between 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. The walk will focus on four of the course’s toughest combinations, and participants will receive a FLAIR strip and a Phillip Dutton Eventing memento. [FLAIR]

Thursday, time TBD: Boyd Martin & Allison Springer‘s annual SmartPak walk. As Samantha reported last week, this walk will likely meet at the start box after the end of dressage. Check in earlier in the day at the SmartPak booth to be sure.  [SmartPak]

Friday, 10:30 a.m.: Eric Dierks and Ralph Hill, full course walk. Meet at the start box. [FLAIR]

Friday, lunch break: Doug Payne and Sharon White walk the course for Just World International. Meet at the start box ten minutes after the last ride of the morning session, and bring a donation to Just World that you’re comfortable with. The first 25 to arrive will receive a hat from Sharon’s sponsor Kerrits, and the first 10 will receive a coupon for a free Course Walk App.

Friday, 4 p.m.: Marilyn Little-Meredith, hosted by Bit of Britain and Cavalor. Meet at the Bit of Britain tent in the sponsor village.

Friday, after dressage: Buck Davidson‘s Just World International walk. Meet at the start box ten minutes after the last ride of the afternoon session with your donation to Just World. The first 10 in attendance will receive a coupon for a free Course Walk App.

Friday, after dressage: Jim Wofford‘s annual walk. Meet at the first water jump 30 minutes after the last ride of the afternoon session. From Practical Horseman: “Plan to spend at least two hours on course. Wear comfortable, waterproof footwear, and come prepared for the weather conditions with an umbrella, jacket, sunscreen, bug spray, water and, if you wish, a portable chair or blanket to sit on.” [Practical Horseman]

*Sadly, the William Fox-Pitt course walk has been cancelled. The Fox-Pitt Eventing Team hope to organize one for next year.

Events & Info:

Thursday-Sunday: Bit of Britain’s “Chase the Challenge” scavenger hunt. Beginning Thursday, visit the BoB tent to collect a daily questionnaire, which will lead you along a route through participating sponsors’ tents for your chance to win one of four prizes worth over $1,000 at challenge’s end. [BoB]

Thursday, 5-6 p.m.: Phillip Dutton meet-and-greet and poster signing at the Triple Crown booth. [Triple Crown]

Friday, 6 p.m.: Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup’s $100,000 Concour de Reining International. Country music star Lyle Lovett is amongst the competitors. Alltech Arena. Tickets required. [AKRC]

Saturday, 3:30 p.m.: Exile concert in the Entertainment Pavilion. Concert is included in the price of Saturday General Admission or Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup tickets. [Rolex]

Saturday, 4:30 p.m., PRO’s Meet-A-Rider reception: “Spectators are invited to meet riders following the Cross-Country phase at 4:30 PM in the High Hope Horse Inspection Area for a Question & Answer Session featuring both U.S. and International riders.” [PRO]

Saturday, 5:30 p.m.:  Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup’s $25,000 World Championship Freestyle. Gina Miles, David and Karen O’Connor and jockey Chris McCarron will take on the competition. Alltech Arena. Tickets required. [AKRC]

Sunday, 10 a.m.-noon: Experience Eventing reception, KHP Visitor Center, free and open to the public. Learn more about experiencing eventing as an owner. [Experience Eventing]

Sunday, 10-11:30 a.m.: Pony Club Alumni reception at the USPC’s KHP National Headquarters building. Free, RSVP’s requested. [USPC]

William Speed Lane Fox-Pitt and Rolex entrant Parklane Hawk winning Burghley last fall. (Photo courtesy of Allie Conrad)

UPDATE: The FPET updated us this evening letting us know that Rolex was unable to accommodate an additional walk this year. They hope to organize a walk for next year.

___

The Fox-Pitt Eventing Team reached out to us this morning to see if we could help them gauge interest in a course walk with William at Rolex.

As you’re undoubtedly aware, this would be a chance to walk the course with the current HSBC FEI No. 1 rider and potential Grand Slam winner in a potential Grand Slam-winning year.

The walk would be on Thursday (time TBA), open to the public and cost $15 per person. Update: Hannah of the FPET estimates the time of the course walk would be noon on Thursday; those under 16 years of age would walk for free.

WFP has said that “it’ll be all about Rolex this week and then we’ll focus on Badminton and the big dream of winning the Rolex Grand Slam.”

To help the Fox-Pitt Team gauge interest, please leave comments or at the very least click “like” below.

And of course, if you really want to make it happen, pass this post around to your friends!

We’ll keep you updated as details arise and have a comprehensive Rolex To-Do list of course walks and events posted soon.

Jordan Linstedt of Redmond, Wash., and her mount Tullibards Hawkwind are set to make their Rolex debut. (All photos courtesy of Jordan)

When Rolex rookie Jordan Linstedt, 24, salutes on the centerline next week, her biggest fans will be cheering from the sidelines.

Jordan’s mom, Barbara, bought Jordan’s first pony from the next door neighbor before Jordan was old enough to ride, later ponying her daughter along on trails through their rural hometown of Redmond, Wash. Barbara now owns and manages Saddle Rock Stables, where Jordan is chief rider and trainer.

Her boyfriend John will also be ringside, reunited with Jordan for the first time in over a month. In February, Jordan attended a local Washington clinic with Leslie Law and mentioned she was aiming for Rolex.

“Leslie asked a few questions, and it kind of fell into place,” said Jordan. “I came home from the clinic and told poor John I was driving to Florida—now I can’t wait to see him! I drove across the country five weeks ago, and I think it was the best decision I could have made for [Tullibards Hawkwind].”

Jordan and her 13 year-old, 17.3 hand Irish Sport Horse gelding Tullibards Hawkwind, barn name “Jack,” have spent the past several weeks in Ocala prepping with Leslie’s help, and they’re already experiencing the benefits.

“Our [Washington] eventing season starts in May,” said Jordan, who recently attended Poplar, The Fork and Ocala as prep events. “For Jack, the hardest thing is the fitness. He can be lazy and behind the leg; he doesn’t have a lot of Thoroughbred blood. I have to do a lot of conditioning. The tools and mentoring from Leslie have been really good for him.”

Jordan’s parents bought Jack for her when she was still a senior in high school, and the pair have developed their partnership over the course of the past six years, though friends and family weren’t always convinced a four-star was in their future.

“A lot of people thought I made a mistake when I bought him,” she said. “He’s big, and he can be slow cross-country, but no horse is perfect. I always knew I could get him where I needed to get him. He may not be a team horse or Olympic horse, but he’s the best horse for me, and he’s given me the opportunity to ride at the biggest show in the country.”

“When I first get to Rolex, it’ll be pretty surreal, then it’ll set in that I’m achieving this huge goal that I’ve had for so long,” continued Jordan, who takes third-year online classes toward a degree in Society, Ethics and Human Behavior at the University of Washington when she’s not busy training and teaching a group of devoted students full-time.

Three years ago, she temporarily moved to California to spend a year and a half working for Tamra Smith, catching her first glimpse of the Rolex course while grooming for Tamra in 2009.  “That year, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, these jumps are huge!’ ” Jordan said. “ I’d just moved up to advanced, but I came back again in 2010 after I’d had a season at the three-star level and thought, ‘OK, I can do this.’ ”

Two years later, Jordan hopes both Tamra and Leslie will help her strategize for her toughest course yet. “Cross-country, Jack’s a kick-ride all the way around the course,” she said. “He has the scope and heart and bravery, so we’ll just take the course as it comes. We’re most likely going to have a bunch of time cross-country, and I don’t have any expectations of walking away in a high place. But just to complete would be a huge accomplishment. It’s going to be a huge learning experience just to watch and be around the best riders.”

A contingent of her students and friends will also be in attendance, but the absence of Jordan’s father, Gary, who passed away a year and a half ago from liver disease, will be felt.

“He was definitely my biggest fan,” she said.  “He was so proud of everything, and he had this huge passion to see me succeed. I wish he could be there to see me, because getting to Rolex has been our biggest goal for a long time. It feels really good to accomplish it.”

With less than a week before the big event, Jordan says she’s handling the stress in a “calm way”—but don’t be alarmed if you see her with a far-away look in her eyes in Kentucky:

“I’ll be very quiet, but I’ll be constantly thinking, ‘How am I gonna do this? How am I gonna do that?’ The wheels will be turning!”

Go Jordan and Jack!

TrackPack PA)">“It was a great meet at Oaklawn,” Bob Baffert told the New York Times after his trainees came first and second in the $1 million Arkansas Derby this weekend. (Photo via TrackPack PA)

Welcome, Eventing Nation, to the 10-day countdown to Rolex, the 17-day countdown to Badminton and the 19-day countdown to the Kentucky Derby. It’s still early, but I’m leaning towards a Parklane Hawk-Leopin-Union Rags Trifecta. Who are your picks?

Your weekend eventing wrap-up:

Rails were flying in the Ocala Horse Properties International CCI**—Kara Andrew, Darren Chiacchia and Sable Geiser jumped the only clear rounds of 19 competitors—allowing Nicole Parkin and Lexus, who pulled a single rail, to take the lead from Callie Judy and Call On Me, who dropped two rails to finish second.

In the CCI*, despite a rail, Robin Walker and Someday Never Comes led wire to wire, their final score of 47.1 besting second-placed Leslie Law and Kool Aldo (48.4) for the win. Robin also won the Open Intermediate with a clear round aboard Florenz. Go Robin. [Ocala Results]

Sally Cousins’ intermediate domination continued at Plantation Field, where she won the division on Kestrel Key and took second on The Robber Barron. Carol Kozlowski and Good Earth Bit O’ Honey won the Open Preliminary, Morgan Kelly and Watching won the Preliminary Rider, and Ryan Wood and Frankie topped Preliminary Horse. Ryan also claimed the lowest U.S. eventing score of the weekend, finishing on 16.1 in the Novice Horse-B with Woodstock Bennett. Go Ryan. [Plantation Results]

Elisabeth Mehner and Good Day Gali were the lowest scorers at Ram Tap, claiming a 19.5-point margin of victory over their Senior Novice division by finishing on their dressage score of 20.5. [Ram Tap Results]

At Full Gallop, Momo Laframboise and Raniki won the Open Intermediate, Beth Wheeler and Uncle Fred topped the Open Preliminary, Corinne Ashton and Ardastra took the Open Training, and Alyssa Ford and Bold Decision won the Training Rider. [Full Gallop Results]

Last but not least, Tom Angle and Viking II were the Open Preliminary victors at Arizona’s St. Johns Horse Trials, while Claire Jan and Artistic Flaire won Junior Training, Christine Murphy and Red Hawk’s Remington topped Senior Training, and Manuela Propfe and Brewer’s Bay took the Open Training blue. [St. Johns Results]

Bob Baffert, still recovering from the heart attack he suffered three weeks ago at the Dubai World Cup, wasn’t able to attend the $1 million Arkansas Derby in person, but trainees Bodemeister and Secret Circle didn’t let him down. Bodemeister, named for Baffert’s 7-year-old son Bode, led Secret Circle by nine-and-a-half lengths to score a one-two victory. Earlier in the week, fellow Baffert trainees Mamma Kimbo and Plum Pretty won the meet’s Fantasy Stakes and Apple Blossom Handicap, respectively. [New York Times]

At Keeneland, top Kentucky Derby prospect Hansen ran second to Dullahan in the Blue Grass Stakes after breeder and co-owner Dr. Kendall Hansen (one guess where the horse got his name) caused a bit of a fiasco. Dr. Hansen dyed the pale gray colt’s tail blue for the race, prompting stewards’ warnings of fines and a possible scratch. Come post time, the colt’s tail had been washed gray again. “As the hours wound down, there were some frustrations (between owner and trainer),” Hansen said. [Blood-Horse]

Hansen, Dullahan, Secret Circle and Bodemeister are ranked first, fourth, tenth and eleventh in graded stakes earnings, respectively. The top 20 earners qualify to start the Kentucky Derby. [DRF]

For the second year in a row, two horses died during the Grand National steeplechase, raising “uncomfortable questions:” “There are risks in just about every sport – in fact, just about everything we do – and, as a rule, we do what we can to minimise them. The line in the turf centres around just what level of risk is unacceptable?” [Horsetalk]

Young dressage rider and NAYRC gold medallist Brandi Roenick, 17, has leased Steffen Peters’ Pan Am individual and team gold medal-winning mount Weltino’s Magic with the goal of riding in the Young Rider World Cup Final in Germany this year. “This is making a big jump,” Brandi said. “I’m hoping it will provide some excitement. I’m really focused and determined.” [Dressage-News]

Best of the Badminton-Bound Blogs: “Before leaving New York, I’ve helped to unload and weigh cargo that is bound for the World Cup show jumping as well as my own stuff (the USET’s trunks are ungodly HEAVY). I personally loaded HRH on to his box, (he got to share with one of Beezie Madden’s horses who is heading over to Holland for the World Cup). We had a very uneventful flight into Amsterdam; Luke again, handled it with class, I on the other hand, fell asleep before dinner was served.” [Colleen Rutledge]

Runner Up: Happy Birthday to Kristen Schmolze’s Cavaldi, who turned 17 yesterday. [HJU]

Top of the Tweets: Lucinda Green: Hope everyone has had a nice weekend. Did you compete? If yes, where? and how did you get on? #eventing

Rolex-bound Katie Ruppel and Sir Donovan practice the four-star test in Ocala:

Bodemeister romps in the Arkansas Derby:

After “many hours of hunting,” our friends at the Retired Racehorse Training Project have compiled an awesome list, complete with pedigrees and earnings, of the 24 OTTBs entered at Rolex.

With names like Clifton Promise, Parklane Hawk, Parker and Ying-Yang-Yo on the list, it’s highly possible we could witness a Thoroughbred victory gallop this year.

Perhaps the winningest ex-racehorse entered? Amy Ruth Borun’s Santa’s Playboy, who won nearly $130,000 in 43 starts. Read our Rolex Spotlight on Amy (who’s an amateur!) and Santa here.

And how about Courageous Comet, who raced 36 times, placed in a stakes at Aqueduct and earned over $70,000 before becoming one of the most beloved and successful horses on the U.S. eventing scene?

Courageous Comet and Becky conquering Southern Pines II last month.

At the other end of the earnings spectrum there’s Wonderful Will, who raced 11 times and won just $208. But when we see Will and Michael Pollard zooming around cross-country, there’ll be no doubt Will’s found his true calling.

[Click here to read the Retired Racehorse Training Project’s full report]

If you’re going to Rolex, stop by the New Vocations booth for a “Thoroughbreds For All” program, which includes a pull-out sheet with all the OTTB stats you’ll need to cheer your favorite ex-racehorses around the course. There will also be a pdf version available for download on the Retired Racehorse Training Project’s website.

And don’t forget: Saturday night, April 28, the Retired Racehorse Training Project and New Vocations will host the “Thoroughbreds For All” celebration and symposium of Thoroughbreds in second careers, featuring appearances by four-star eventers Bruce Davidson, Cathy Wieschhoff and Dorothy Crowell and Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron. The event will take place just down the road from the KHP in the covered arena at West Wind Farm. Tickets are $35 and include dinner; space is limited. Click here for details.

Go Rolex OTTBs.

It’s no secret that I, like many of you, am a pretty big William Fox-Pitt fan. But were you aware that his full name is actually William Speed Lane Fox-Pitt? Like, not only is he the first rider to win five of the six four-star events, he’s also got “Speed Lane” in his name? It’s true.

Not so many years ago, I was the little girl who ripped every picture of Karen and Biko from Horse Illustrated’s pages and taped them inspirationally alongside the Pony Club ribbons on my wall. My school friends were tired of hearing about Biko—his lustrous blaze, how he was totally going to win the Olympics. I’m pretty sure a few of you are nodding your heads right now.

Nowadays ripping magazine pages has mostly translated to checking and re-checking favorite eventers’ blogs, websites, Facebooks, Twitters, etc. And in my internet ramblings, I’ve come across something I wish had existed those years ago—the kind of club through which I may have patted beloved Biko’s nose, or further exhausted my friends with a picture of me and Karen.

William Speed Lane Fox-Pitt and the Fox-Pitt Eventing Partnership’s Oslo winning the 2011 Paul CCI****. (Photo by Monty White)

It started several years ago as a high-end club for people interested in following William Fox-Pitt and his horses. The club owned two horses, both of whom competed under the club’s name and in club colors. From the club came a group of people interested in buying larger shares of a horse with William; the Fox-Pitt Eventing Partnership syndicate was formed and Oslo—the horse who in 2011 won the Tattersalls CCI***, Blenheim CIC*** 8/9-year-old division, and Pau CCI****, as well as becoming a serious contender for the London 2012 squad—was purchased. The club continued, though the club-owned horses were eventually sold, and over the last few years as interest in William’s successes has continued to gain, the club has morphed into a more fan-based group, with a much more affordable membership. Like many four-star eventers, William has lots of fans—not all of whom can afford syndicate ownership, and many of whom are current or future Pony Clubbers themselves.

“The Fox-Pitt Eventing Club enables eventing enthusiasts to enjoy an association and involvement with a three-time Olympian and World No. 1 event rider,” said Fox-Pitt Team Member and Club Organizer Hannah Vowles, who noted that for a nominal yearly fee of £20 (~$32) per individual member and £50 (~$80) per family of four, Fox-Pitt Eventing Club members are treated to a yard open day, course walks at Badminton and Burghley, an evening with William, his wife Alice and Head Groom Jackie, bumper stickers, badges, regular club updates via quarterly e-newsletter, a members-only page on the FPE website, a personalized birthday message from William, and discounts on William’s sponsors’ products, amongst other perks.

Fox-Pitt Eventing Club membership perks include course walks with William at Badminton and Burghley. (Photo courtesy of Hannah Vowles/Fox-Pitt Eventing Club)

For a $32 price tag, you’ve got to think Fox-Pitt Eventing aren’t doing it for the money—expenses for the yard open day and evening with William must outweigh the membership fee, let alone the merchandise. I was reminded of Buck Davidson’s excellent Chronicle column last year, “Eventing Enthusiasts Deserve a Deeper Connection with Top Riders” (“Lately I’ve been wondering: How do we keep bringing in the younger crowd?”; “The stories of the horses and riders are very important, but facetime is more important”; “We riders also have to do a better job of hanging out with the kids”).

Buck converted a few new eventing fans through a pick-up game of basketball at Rolex last year, and initiatives like Experience Eventing (read Samantha’s informative posts here and here) are starting to crop up Stateside. And none of this is to say that top U.S. eventers are particularly inaccessible—take Phillip or the O’Connors’ annual eventing camps, for example—but that they’re busy, hard-working professionals whom it might be a little intimidating for the average, non-horse-owning eventing fan to approach between Rolex rides and say, “Um, hi? I’m your biggest fan?”

The Fox-Pitt Eventing Club is neat in that it’s fan-based, providing a broader, more all-inclusive dynamic the likes of which geography, finances and horse ownership don’t limit. It makes specific opportunities for facetime. It takes the hassle and awkwardness out of finding an outside connection to your favorite rider. Can you imagine the anticipation of attending a yard open day when you were 11, 12, or 13?

(Photo courtesy of Hannah Vowles/Fox-Pitt Eventing Club)

What value does a fan-based eventing club provide to top riders? Those of us who grew up in Pony Club would say you’re giving back to the sport. You’re inspiring both the current and next generation of eventers, volunteers, officials and fans.  And you never know who your next owners, students or supporters will be, or how you might help them get involved.

Of course, Fox-Pitt Eventing isn’t just for the kids. With London looming, Hannah says interest is at “an all-time high,” with nearly 100 members. I’d join solely for the course walks at Badminton and Burghley, but then again, since I’ve read and re-read William’s What Will Be: The Autobiography, glory in enlightening folks on the subject of his full name and cannot wait to sport my FPEC badge 24/7, I’m planning to join anyway. (I’d join similar clubs for the USA’s top riders, too, because even though I’m only occasionally ripping pictures out of magazines these days, I’ll never grow out of my eventing fandom).

And if we get enough international members to join, would there a possibility of a course walk with William at Rolex?

“At the moment there is no plan to run a course walk at Rolex,” said Hannah. “We haven’t had the demand and time restrictions are always an issue as William has commitments to Team GBR whilst in the States, and the visits are always so short.  It isn’t something we would rule out though if the demand was there.”

[Click here to learn more about and join the Fox-Pitt Eventing Club]

So Eventing Nation, what do you think? Would you like to walk the course with William at Rolex? Which U.S. riders would you like to see start eventing clubs? How much would you expect to pay for membership, and what perks would you want in return?

A big thanks to Hannah and the FPEC.

Go Fox-Pitt Eventing, Go Eventing Outreach, Go Eventing.