Originally from San Diego, Jenni discovered eventing thanks to the Bedford Hunt Pony Club in Virginia. After working in both newspapers and magazines, she joined the EN team in 2012. She travels extensively covering the U.S. Eventing Team and has reported at the Olympic Games, World Equestrian Games, Pan American Games, Badminton, Burghley, Kentucky, Luhmühlen and Pau. As for her favorite event, it’s a toss-up between Aachen and Boekelo. When she isn’t on the road, she’s busy competing her heart horse, Imperial Striker, better known as Derry.
Horse & Hound picked up on a really interesting story about the Qatari eventing team, which has been based at Joss Gray’s yard in Oxfordshire, England, since 2012 in a four-year plan to qualify for the Rio Olympics. Their first order of business is to compete in the CIC* Asian Games this year in South Korea.
In addition to training with Joss, the Qatar Equestrian Federation has also appointed Christopher Bartle as an advisor to the team. Christopher is currently national coach for the German eventing team and worked with the British team for the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, so the Qatari team has a very accomplished team of coaches in preparation for Rio.
Here’s a look at the Qatari team’s plan to get to the Olympics:
Qatar has been successful on the show jumping circuit but hasn’t been on the map much when it comes to eventing. The Qatari team won team gold and individual silver at the Asian Games in Doha in 2006, but hasn’t done much since. Here’s a look at the riders looking to put Qatari eventing on the map:
• Hadi Al-Marri finished 14th on his dressage score in the Firle Place International CIC* last season.
• Ali Al-Marri rode on the gold medal team at the 2006 Asian Games and has ridden at BE100 with MERs at that level.
• Manif Al-Naimi, Hassan Al- Naimi and Saeed Al -Rashdi are all new riders for 2014.
There’s a long way to go to Rio, but when you consider the sheer volume of cash available for investing into the team from oil-rich Qatar, it will be interesting to follow along with their progress. Click here to check out the eventing team’s page on the Qatari Equestrian Federation’s website.
Colleen Loach and Freespirit with Clayton Fredericks at Fair Hill last fall. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Colleen Loach and Freespirit snuck in to win The Fork CIC2* after quietly stalking the leaders all weekend, turning in a quick trip across Tremaine Cooper’s course with just .8 time penalties to finish on 56.4. Emily Beshear and Shame on the Moon, who led through the first two phases, picked up 10 time penalties to finish second on 57.3, and Ariel Grald and LBF O’Leagh’s Image — coming off a big win in the Carolina International CIC2* two weeks ago — were the only pair to make the time to finish in third place on 59.4.
“The dressage can be a little bit difficult with her because she can get tense,” Colleen said. “She was actually really tense in warmup, but she relaxed enough in the ring. Considering how tense she was in warmup, I was happy with the test.” Freepsirit scored 55.6 to tie them for ninth place going into show jumping, which Colleen said is always a fun phase with this mare: “She is amazing to jump. She’s really keen and eager and forward.” June jumped double clear to move up to equal sixth before cross country, which Colleen said the mare handled beautifully. “She’s really confident at this level now, and she answered all the questions easily.”
Colleen dropped “June,” an 8-year-old Hanoverian/Thoroughbred mare owned by Peter Barry, back to the Intermediate level for The Fork after struggling with a move up to Advanced earlier this season. After being very confirmed at the two-star level — this pair finished third in the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International CCI2* last fall — Colleen aimed for a move up to Advanced at Pine Top in February. After two stops on cross country, she tried again at Red Hills only to end up retiring at the corner complex in the main arena.
“Moving up the levels and all the way through Intermediate was always easy enough for her,” Colleen said. “She trusted me, and I think she still trusts me. I think the problem with going Advanced was just my lack of experience, since I haven’t gone Advanced in years. I thought going Advanced meant I had to go faster, so I didn’t take her back enough before the fences, and she didn’t have time to read the questions to figure out what she was supposed to do.”
With another good two-star result on their record and the mare feeling confident again, Colleen will stick to her plan to aim June at the Bromont CCI2* this summer, as she thinks the challenging track will help when she does try to move back up to Advanced. If all goes well at Bromont, she’ll shoot to try Advanced again this fall, with the ultimate goal being the CCI3* at Fair Hill in October. Of course, nothing is official when it comes to horses, but Colleen has a pretty cool relationship with this mare, so I’d like to think luck will be on her side.
Colleen has known June, sired by Freedom Z and out of Rising Spirit, since the day she was born. She backed the mare and brought her through the levels and has also had the privilege of riding June’s babies, as they’ve had four successful embryo transfers out of the mare. One baby unfortunately passed away as a yearling after a pasture accident; one was sold in Ontario; Boyd Martin has the oldest, a 5-year-old gelding named Barry; and Peter kept a 4-year-old mare, April, for Colleen to ride.
“They all seem to be very good jumpers like her,” Colleen said. “They’re very eager to please and to work. Barry kept bucking me off in the beginning, so Boyd helped me out with him and then ended up buying him. He’s quite athletic and doing really well. He’s a very good jumper. The mare, April, suits me in that she’s very much like her mother, so I’m happy Peter kept her for me to ride. April did her first Beginner Novice in Aiken over the winter and finished on her dressage score in third place.”
Congrats to Colleen and June on the win at The Fork, and best of luck in the move up to Advanced later this season.
Will Coleman and Conair at The Fork. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Will Coleman has just released the following statement regarding Conair’s tragic passing yesterday at The Fork. As Will notes in the statement, the final necropsy report has not yet been released, but the preliminary vet examination points to some form of internal hemorrhaging as the cause of death.
Will had an appointment with his surgeon in Charlottesville this morning, who determined that he will need surgery to repair his broken collarbone. He is heading into surgery at the beginning of next week and will be back to riding by the end of the month.
The global eventing community continues to mourn Joey’s passing today, and the EN team continues to send our condolences to Will, Katie, Shannon, the Booth family, Team Rebecca and Nanki Doubleday during this very difficult time.
Statement from Will Coleman:
It is difficult for me to make any sort of statement regarding the events of yesterday. While I have yet to receive the full necropsy report, it is clear from preliminary findings that Joey passed from some sort of internal hemorrhaging. As soon as we arrived at the main stables at the Fork, it became apparent that his injuries were more severe than just a banged stifle, and at that point, there was very little that we or the vets could do. It all happened so fast. I take some comfort in that Katie, Shannon, Nanki, and I were there for Joey’s final moments. He certainly would have known how loved he was.
For me personally, the whole episode was the realization of my greatest fear as a professional event rider. We are a courageous bunch, but our horses are sacred. In many ways, I cherish their well-being more than my own. I am sure that many of my peers feel the same way. Just as I take responsibility for everything regarding their care, training, and happiness, it is hard for me not to feel responsible for this horrid accident.
That being said, things happen in life that are simply tragic and hard to explain. The loss of a horse is no different than losing a family member. One of the few things that lessens the pain is being able to tell them how much they meant to you and how much they were loved before they are gone. Lucky for us, a horseman gets to convey that to his horses everyday; in the way that we care for them, exercise them, and train them, in the various ways that we make them aware that their happiness matters to us. In this regard, I have no doubt that Joey knew how much he meant to us. Anyone who knew him could testify to his zeal for life and work. He did not get by on talent. He was all heart, the “Rudy” of equines. His work ethic will continue to inspire me, and his joyful presence will always be missed.
Myself and Katie want to thank Joey’s owners: The Booth family, Team Rebecca LLC, and Nanki Doubleday for their support and understanding. You have been amazing throughout, and I thank you now for your friendship more than anything. Shannon, you are an amazing horse manager, and your selfless care for these animals and regard for their happiness is second to none. Thank you for giving them so much love on a daily basis, and for being a part of our family here. Katie, I am lucky to have you by my side, now and always. And to Rodney and Alex, thank you for the gift of this wonderful horse. Joey came to us a happy horse and I am confident that he leaves us now as one. We will cherish our time with him, as I know you do. To my fellow eventers, thank you for your generous and comforting support. It never ceases to amaze how this community can pick up a comrade when his or her world seems to be falling down around them. Andrew McConnon and I are lucky to call ourselves eventers after this weekend.
Phillip Dutton sporting his Cosequin gear aboard Trading Aces. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Boyd Martin told Phillip Dutton to make time on Trading Aces, and that’s exactly what happened, with Phillip and Oscar producing the only double clear across both divisions to win Advanced Test A at The Fork. Considering the horse has struggled with fitness in the past — running out of steam at Rolex and being nursed home at Boekelo — this has to be very encouraging news for Boyd and the horse’s owners. After Boekelo, Oscar had a thorough vetting, which found he wasn’t sweating properly. Now that the sweating issue has been resolved, he’s much improved, though the real test will be Kentucky later this month.
Lauren Kieffer and Veronica. Photo by Jenni Autry.
The next three finishers in Advanced Test A, Lillian Heard and Share Option, Lauren Kieffer and Veronica, and Michael Pollard and Mensa, had the exact same number of time penalties — 11.2 — to finish second, third and fourth, respectively. Kevin Keane and Fernhill Flutter rounded out the top five. In Advanced Test B, Sally Cousins and Tsunami clinched the win on a score of 40.1, followed by Allie Sacksen and Sparrow’s Nio on 45.7 and Courtney Cooper and Who’s A Star in third place on 48.1. Lizzie Snow and Coal Creek and overnight leader Katie Frei and Houdini finished fourth and fifth on scores of 53.6 and 55.0.
Lillian Heard and Share Option. Photo by Jenni Autry.
The Advanced course caused problems throughout. Lauren Kieffer gave us quite a scare at fence 13 when RF Cosima hit the jump hard, and Lauren popped off to the side. I chatted with her later in the day, and both she and Big Mama are fine. Lauren said it best when she somberly noted that considering what transpired earlier in the day, she’s just relieved to have all her horses safe back in the barns tonight. While we originally thought Conair was just fine after a mishap at fence 17 in Advanced Test A that unseated Will Coleman, it was later confirmed that the horse passed away soon thereafter. Will broke his collarbone in the fall and is waiting to find out whether or not he will need surgery. Stay tuned for more from The Fork.
Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville. Photo by Jenni Autry.
With just a few horses to go in The Fork CIC3*, Sinead Halpin and Marilyn Little were tied for the provisional lead on 49.8 after double clear trips over Tremaine Cooper’s course. Will Faudree and Pawlow and Allison Springer and Arthur, who were sitting first and second overnight, were on course at the same time as the final pairs to go in the division. Then, within seconds of each other, both Will and Allison had runouts — Will and Ernie at the second water complex and Allison and Arthur at the angled hedge at the mound complex. Since Sinead and Tate were bang on the optimum time of 6:19, they won, with Marilyn and Demi in second place.
Marilyn Little and RF Demeter. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda, Buck Davidson and Balleynoe Castle RM, and Kim Severson and Fernhill Fearless round out the top five. Michael Pollard and Ballingowan Pizazz add another good CIC3* finish to their spring record in sixth place. Sydney Conley Elliott and Cisko A had a cracking good round and looked fantastic at the mound complex where I saw them, jumping clear with only 2.8 time penalties to move from 22nd to seventh place. Marilyn and RF Smoke on the Water were the only other pair to make the time, which moved them from 26th all the way up to eighth place. Erin Sylvester and No Boundaries also had a very quick trip with just 1.6 time penalties to finish in ninth place. Jessica Phoenix and Patras VR round out the top 10 on a score of 59.3.
Buck Davidson and Balleynoe Castle RM. Photo by Jenni Autry.
The course rode fairly smoothly overall, with problems mainly cropping up at the big corner at 4b, the second water complex and the angled brush at the mound complex. Buck Davidson and Petite Flower had runouts at all three of those trouble spots, unfortunately leading to elimination, which is a huge bummer considering she was aiming for Rolex. Katy Groesbeck and Oz the Tin Man had two stops at 4b before continuing on to complete. Holly Payne and Santino, Peter Atkins and HJ Hampton, Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot all had trouble at the second water complex. Allison also had a runout at the angled brush with Copycat Chloe, and Alex Green and Fernhill Cubalawn had a very scary moment there when the horse slammed on the brakes hard and slipped. Alex was shaken up but OK.
Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda. Photo by Jenni Autry.
The overcast day matches the somber mood here at The Fork. While I’m thrilled that many of the horses heading to Rolex got in the good prep run they needed, I’m devastated for Will Coleman and his team at the tragic loss of Conair. As a journalist, I know I’m supposed to be objective, but like everyone who loves this sport, I have favorites, and Joey was one of mine. I saw Will and Joey at fence 16 this morning just before the accident, which is where I snapped this photo. That’s the way I’ll always remember him — galloping along on a brisk spring morning, keen and so very happy to be doing his job. Stay tuned for much more from The Fork.
We’re heartbroken to confirm that Conair has died following an accident at fence 17 on the Advanced cross-country course at The Fork this morning. Conair looked wonderful at fence 16 when he galloped by me with Will Coleman in the irons, and the accident occurred just seconds later at fence 17, a big table to a cheese wedge. The Fork just released the following statement:
It was it with great sadness that we announce that Conair, ridden by Will Coleman and owned by the Conair Syndicate collapsed and died at The Fork event in Norwood, NC, USA at approximately 9:45 a.m. on the date above. Earlier Will and Conair had a fall on the Advanced cross country course and Conair proceeded to run back towards the barns. He was stopped and then transported to the barn for veterinary evaluation.
After the preliminary veterinary exam was completed, Conair collapsed and died. Cause of death has not yet been determined.
The entire organizing committee and officials extends its heartfelt condolences to Will Coleman and the Conair Syndicate at this difficult time.
I saw Conair gallop back by the mound complex after the accident, where he was caught by some spectators near the cross-country warmup. He looked fine when I saw him, so it’s incredibly shocking to lose him so suddenly. Will was up and OK after the fall, but he has reportedly gone to the hospital with his arm in a sling. We will update you on his status when we know more.
It’s heartbreaking to lose any horse, but it stings a bit more when it’s one with so much talent and potential. Will just got the horse last year from Rodney Powell, and the partnership had been coming along so nicely. Will and Joey were third in the Fair Hill CCI3* last fall and were meant to go to Rolex for the horse’s first four star later this month. It goes without saying that this is a tragic loss for both Will and High Performance eventing.
The EN team extends our deepest condolences to Will, Katie, Shannon, Nanki and all the syndicate members who owned the horse. Rest in peace, Joey.
Update 3:45 p.m. EST: Katie Thornton just checked in with an update on Will Coleman’s condition. He broke his collarbone in the fall and will see his doctor back home in Charlottesville to determine if he needs surgery. We’re sending all our best wishes to Will for a speedy recovery.
Update 5:30 p.m. EST: Will just posted the following statement to his Facebook page:
“Just wanted to thank everyone for their support. I’m sorry that I don’t have more to say right now. Today’s events have been hard for me to swallow, and my sadness is overwhelming me at the moment. I’m truly numb, and will miss the Joe dearly. Forgive me for not being more reflective than that at the moment, but thank you again for the kind words and thoughts.”
PRO will be streaming live radio commentary starting at 9 a.m. EST from The Fork. The action kicks off first with the Advanced, followed by the CIC3* at 10:54 a.m. EST and the CIC2* at 1:29 p.m. EST. This is a wonderful way to follow along with the live scores. Don’t forget to check out the course preview here, complete with analysis from designer Tremaine Cooper. Click here to access the Ustream channel.
The course crew has been hard at work aerating and watering certain portions of the track, as Norwood ultimately didn’t see any of the rain originally in the forecast. The riders are saying the going is much better now, and we should see the majority of them go today. Here’s a quick update on who we won’t be seeing on course: Sharon White withdrew Under Suspection in the CIC3*. Becky Holder withdrew Frodo of the Shire in the CIC2*. In the Advanced Test A division, Laine Ashker withdrew Anthony Patch, and in Advanced Test B, Lauren Kieffer withdrew Lucky Devil.
Emily Beshear and Shame on the Moon. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Emily Beshear retained her overnight lead with Shame on the Moon in the CIC2* at The Fork today, pulling one rail over Chris Barnard’s course to move forward on her score of 47.3. Delta, who Emily just got the ride on over the winter, can be easily distracted, Emily said, and the chaotic warmup contributed to a bit of an erratic start to the course, with the mare spooking at standards and trees. “I just wanted to get over the jumps at that point, but it got better as we went,” Emily said. “It’s all part of getting to know her, and it’s only the second time I’ve ever show jumped her in a ring. She had some really fabulous moments. Hopefully next time those will outweigh the awkward moments.”
Knowing Delta can be easily distracted, Emily is going into cross country tomorrow with a game plan to get her focused right away. “At Carolina, we’d be galloping along, and she’d notice something and scoot sideways,” Emily said. “She’s always noticing things around her, so it will be a good test, especially with her going later in the day when more spectators are out watching. I’ve got a plan to go out and go forward, but I might need to take more time at things.” Though she’s green to the level, Delta is honest and brave, and Emily is looking forward to the challenge tomorrow.
Jennie Brannigan moved up to second place after show jumping with Henry thanks to putting in one of eight double clear rounds in the division. As she’s riding seven horses at The Fork, Jennie has been scrambling all weekend to get to her ride times, and she said she was in a big rush today to get to the two-star ring with Henry. “I didn’t have that great of a run on Indie, but I took a deep breath and knew I was sitting on one of the best jumping horses,” Jennie said. “I was lucky to have such a nice round. He’s a really lovely, scopey, careful jumper. I’m happy to be riding him; I feel like I’ve ridden him my whole life.”
Jennie Brannigan and Henry. Photo courtesy of Samantha Clark.
Owned by Sharn Wordley, the horse came over from Europe in the same batch of talented youngsters as Veronica, and Scott Keach campaigned the horse through the two-star level back in 2010. After Henry suffered an injury, Scott competed him in the jumpers for several years until this past February when Jennie brought him out at Ocala Horse Properties Horse Trials to run Preliminary. Sharn wanted the horse to come to The Fork to try the two-star, and it’s been a great weekend so far. “At the end of the day, it’s a super horse, but it’s not gone Intermediate in years,” Jennie said. “Knowing how hard it was to make the time in the Prelim today … I’ll go out to try to give the horse a nice round.”
Lynn Symansky is also sitting on a talented young horse newer to the level in Osborne 9, a coming 8 Westphalian gelding she owns in partnership with Alton Quanbeck. While he’s been slower to develop than she first envisioned, the horse has scope to burn, and Lynn said she was very pleased with his effort today. “He can be a bit distracted when you get in the ring,” Lynn said. “When you put a little atmosphere with it, he doesn’t quite focus on the fences 100 percent of the time.” Lynn and Osborne had a rail down at the fourth fence, where she said she got a bit quick with her body in the inside turn.
Because he’s such a big horse, it can be tough to turn him, which has made the show jumping a challenge. “It’s getting better,” Lynn said. “He’s a big horse, and I’m trying to teach him to be a small horse. It was definitely an improvement from Carolina in terms of rideability.” And the same turning issues extend to cross country too. “He has a lot of Thoroughbred in him, but it takes awhile to turn him still and get him set up for the jumps,” Lynn said. “I would like to have a good run, but I’m not looking to be crazy competitive. The goal is a good outing and to look to be more competitive in the future.”
Will Faudree said Pawlow came into the show jumping feeling like his old self today, and the double clear trip around Chris Barnard’s track gave him the overnight lead heading into cross country tomorrow. “Right from the first jump, he cantered down to it, and even though I got there a little off, Ernie jumped over the top of the standards,” Will said. The only rail he touched was at the oxer following the triple combination, where Will said he took the inside turn on all three of horse horses. “I just started to turn too much in the air, and he just touched it,” Will said. “I heard it, and luck was on my side.”
Chris Barnard’s track produced a number of clear rounds in the three-star — with about half the division leaving all the poles in the cups — but that didn’t make it any less challenging. “I always find his courses very interesting because a lot of the jumps are past the apex of the turn, so it changes your approach,” Will said. “You have to keep riding all the way through the turns so that you have them straight so they can plant both legs before they leave the ground.”
The good show jumping trip has to be reassuring heading into Ernie’s first Advanced cross-country run since Aachen. The horse had colic surgery in October, which meant missing quite a bit of time as he recovered, and he only just started jumping again in February. “I credit how quickly he came back to his ab strength and all the dressage we’ve done over the years,” Will said. He also used a laser on his stomach after the staples came out, and Will said Ernie never showed any signs of discomfort as he came back into work.
Allison Springer and Arthur moved into second place after also producing a double clear in the show jumping. After having the horse for 10 years, Allison said his frame and what he can hold in the movements is a bit more advanced than many event horses, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement. “There were three or four movements I got 4s on,” Allison said. “It wasn’t as accurate as I would have liked. But that said, there was a lot that was very, very good. The quality of the trot work was much better than at Southern Pines. And he was much better behaved than Southern Pines.”
Arthur is fit and looking forward to Kentucky, and Allison is thrilled to have him back after a lengthy period of time off following Burghley. “It’s been such a wonderful year,” Allison said. “He’s my old friend; I call him my handsome prince. It’s felt so good to be competing him again.” Allison thinks the year off and not having the stress of competing and traveling has helped him look the best he ever has through his body, and she knows Arthur is happy to be back to running again too. “I think he missed it a lot,” Allison said. “He loves being out at that main arena and looking toward the cross country. He hasn’t been here in two years, but he knows what’s out there.”
Allison said she and several other riders requested the angled brush following the new mound complex be shaved down, and Tremaine Cooper was happy to comply. “This event has to be the hardest event of the year to design for because you have to send horses to Rolex or Badminton,” Allison said. While you don’t want an easy run at your final prep before Rolex, you also don’t want to come out feeling like you need to work on a ton of things, which is how last year’s coffin complex left some riders, Allison said. She’ll be taking her own advice tomorrow: “You have to be a bit smart about the run you give them here.”
Hannah Sue Burnett also moved up one spot today with her double clear trip, and she said she’s thrilled with where William is heading into his first four-star at Rolex. “Red Hills was a bit of a downer with a little technical communication issue there with the corners,” Hannah said. “But he feels great. I was really happy with his dressage. I think that’s the best I’ve done aside from a couple mistakes there at the very end. I could go for it, and he was really rideable. It’s nice to have a horse that I can ride in the ring like I would ride at home.”
Andrew McConnon and Powderhound at Carolina International. Photo by Brant Gamma.
Andrew McConnon and Powderhound just show jumped in the CIC2* here at The Fork, and Jessica Bortner-Harris has confirmed the horse collapsed back at the barns and passed away soon after. Andrew was on the horse when he fell, but Jessica confirmed Andrew was not injured in the fall. Everyone is very shaken up back at the barns, and we’re sending Andrew our deepest condolences. Rest in peace, Powderhound.
Update 3:35 p.m. EST: Powderhound’s passing has been confirmed by a statement released from The Fork.A 15-year-old Australian Sport Horse gelding, “Carlos” was competing in his first CIC2* event this weekend at The Fork. Andrew just took over the ride from Kaitlynn Mosing this past winter, and they were fourth in Preliminary at Pine Top Winter Horse Trials in their first outing together. Andrew and Carlos were most recently seventh in the CIC* at Pine Top Advanced and third in the Intermediate Rider division at Carolina International Horse Trials.
Update 6:15 p.m. EST: Andrew McConnon’s Facebook page was just updated with the following statement:
“It is hard to find words adequate enough to express the sorrow felt upon the tragic death of a loved horse and competitive partner, and those that know and love Andrew and Powderhound are indeed without words. Carlos was only in Andrew’s barn for a short while, but he was very much loved and very much appreciated for the warhorse he was. He was a wonderful event horse that knew his job and did it well, and we were all looking forward to watching their partnership grow. This tragedy is once again a reminder that we are so lucky to have horses in our lives, and must appreciate them every moment of every day. Hug your horse, and give Andrew a hug as well. Many thanks for all of your kind words.”
Will Faudree and Pawlow, who were in second place after dressage, jumped right before overnight leaders Phillip Dutton and Shamwari 4, turning in a lovely double clear to put the pressure on. Shammie jumped beautifully in warm up, but the unthinkable happened after fence 3, when Phillip turned to fence 8 instead of proceeding on ahead to fences 4 and 5. He’d made that similar turn three times this morning during the Advanced division, and while he’d already jumped the three-star course with Fernhill Fugitive, sometimes even the best in the world have forgetful moments. And this one proved to be very costly.
Allison Springer and Arthur. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Phillip isn’t the only rider who will be appealing to the ground jury to still go around Tremaine Cooper’s course tomorrow after being eliminated. Ruy Fonseca and Tom Bombadill Too parted ways at the first fence of the triple combination when the horse stopped abruptly. Holly Payne and Never OutFoxed were also eliminated for going off course. Despite those three blips, the course actually rode very smoothly, with 22 pairs — about half the division — jumping double clear. The second fence, a plank vertical, came down quite a bit, and rails also fell throughout the triple combination.
Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Will Faudree and Pawlow move up to the lead, followed by Allison Springer and Arthur and Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot. Aside from Phillip and Shamwari’s elimination, the leaderboard remained mostly unchanged from yesterday. Sharon White and Rafferty’s Rules, who were sitting in fifth place overnight, pulled one rail to drop outside the top 10, though Sharon was still all smiles after. It’s wonderful to have Reggie back competing! The scores are incredibly tight, with the top three separated by less than one time penalty. The top 10 will be running in reverse order tomorrow, so it’s guaranteed to be a very exciting conclusion in the CIC3*.
Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot. Photo by Jenni Autry.
We’re sending healing vibes to Becky Holder, who had to withdraw Can’t Fire Me after dislocating her knee while walking the cross-country course yesterday. She came into the main barn last night while we were holding the press conference, and her knee looked incredibly swollen — ouch! There’s no word yet on whether or not she’ll still be able to ride at Rolex. Peter Barry also withdrew Kilrodan Abbott before show jumping, though I haven’t yet been able to confirm why. Eddie looked like his steady self yesterday in the dressage, so hopefully this was just all part of the plan. Stay tuned for much more from The Fork!
Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott at The Fork. Photo by Jenni Autry.
It’s a beautiful day for show jumping here at The Fork, and both Advanced divisions kicked off the action first thing this morning. In the Advanced Test A division, overnight leaders Emily Beshear and Here’s to You jumped a lovely clear but picked up three time penalties, dropping them to fourth place. That moves Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott into first place on 29.7 thanks to their double clear, and Phillip is also now holding second place with Mighty Nice after also jumping clear. Phillip was set to make it three for three today with Trading Aces, but they had the final fence down in the triple combination at the very end of the course. Lillian Heard and Share Option also jumped one of the nine double clears in this division to move up to third place on 30.6.
Katie Frei and Houdini. Photo by Jenni Autry.
In the Test B division, Katie Frei and Houdini kept their overnight lead with one of the eight double clear trips in this division; they’ll carry their dressage score of 29.4 into the cross country tomorrow. Lauren Kieffer and RF Cosima will stay in second place on 30.3 with a very smooth and forward clear round. Sarah Dunkerton and Matapeake, who were tied for second place with Lauren and Big Mama overnight, unfortunately got a bit discombobulated coming into a combination about halfway through the course, and the horse slammed on the brakes. Lizzie Snow and Coal Creek, who were in third place coming into show jumping, pulled a rail, and Sally Cousins and Tsunami moved past them to round out the top three with their double clear trip.
Lillian Heard and Share Option. Photo by Jenni Autry.
It was a bit of a blustery day so far, and the wind definitely led to some unlucky moments in the triple combination, as multiple riders made it through without a problem only to have a pole fall seconds later after a big gust of wind. As evidenced by the number of double clear trips in the divisions, the course rode very smoothly overall, with the problems that did crop up scattered throughout the course. The track is being changed over now for the big CIC3* division, and I’ll be back early this afternoon with a full report, as well as more photos and videos. In the meantime, catch Samantha Clark’s excellent interview with Emily and Jeff Beshear over on the PRO blog here.
You’ve all been on the edge of your seats waiting for the premiere of Creepy Dance Party Volume 2, the much-anticipated sequel to Meg Kep’s viral video from The Fork in 2012. So without further ado, EN proudly presents the latest and greatest video from Team SHE. And be sure to click here to watch volume 1 for the video that started it all. Go Creepy Dance Party!
Phillip Dutton and Shamwari 4 after their winning CIC3* test at The Fork. Photo by Jenni Autry,
It can’t be easy for Boyd Martin sitting on the sidelines at The Fork while his top horses are campaigned by another rider. But if it has to be another rider, at least it’s Phillip Dutton, who’s managed to get to know Boyd’s top horses well enough after just one ride on each to manage very good scores on all. Today, Phillip piloted Shamwari 4 to the lead in the CIC3* division on a score of 45.9, and he said in the press conference this afternoon that this is a pretty cool horse. “He’s got plenty of gears there, so whatever you want to ask for, he’ll do,” Phillip said. “It took me a little time to get used to him in the canter, and we got the break there (in the counter canter loop). It’s exciting for Boyd, and he’s going to be a good horse for him in the future.”
Since Phillip didn’t ride until later in the afternoon, he would have normally hopped on Shammie for a school in the morning, but Boyd said the horse is so quiet he didn’t need the extra ride. While they were still getting to know each other in warmup today, Phillip said David O’Connor has ridden the horse and was able to offer some helpful pointers before the test. So now that he has the lead, what’s the goal for the weekend? Simple — “not to fall off,” Phillip said. The goal is to get the horse feeling good and confident so he’s prepared for what comes in the next few weeks, which remains to be seen. Shammie is entered at both Rolex and Badminton, and it’s really a question of when Boyd will come sound as to which event we’ll see them tackle.
Will Faudree and Pawlow also had a very good day to sit in second place in the three-star on a score of 46.8. He’s been working in the training sessions with David to get Ernie more steady in the bridle, as well as experimenting a bit with different bridles. “I rode him in a double at Carolina, and the double is great when there’s a lot of atmosphere, but when there’s not a lot of atmosphere, it’s too much,” Will said. To counter that, he rode him in the double this morning and then put him in a snaffle for the test, which worked very nicely as a strategy. Will said he was very happy with the communication during the test, though not as pleased with where he left some points on the table — like the halt before the rein back, which didn’t come square, and a loss of rhythm in the first steps of the medium canter circle.
But overall he’s very pleased with Ernie, who didn’t get to run cross country at Carolina International due to tweaking a shoe in the show jumping. He’s going in frog support pads now and feeling much more comfortable, Will said. Ernie’s entered at both Rolex and Badminton, and Will said if he runs well here this weekend, he’d love to take him to England. “He’s been a horse who has surprised me with everywhere he’s gone,” Will said. “When I first got him, I thought he would max out at Intermediate. And now he’s jumped around Rolex a couple times and Luhmuhlen.” Ernie will be 15 this year, and while Will said he thinks it would be a lot of fun to take the horse to Badminton, he’s also thinking of the big picture in a WEG year, and he knows two trips to Europe might not be the best thing for the horse. So we’ll have a much more clear picture of where we’ll see them this spring after cross country on Sunday.
Will said there’s a lot to do on Tremaine Cooper’s course, which is very technical, especially in certain combinations where there’s not much time to react should something go wrong. “It all depends on how they jump at the B or the C element,” Will said. “You have to react very quickly to what you feel underneath you as to whether you bend out or go straight.” Will said he likes the course better than last year and commended the changes Tremaine has made. He did say he wished the horses going to Kentucky could have run the nice long hill on the back of the course for fitness prep, but overall he thinks it’s a very good track.
Phillip echoed the same sentiments, saying he also liked the changes Tremaine brought to the course this year. “It’s a big course but fair, which is what you need before Kentucky,” Phillip said. He’s hoping for a bit of rain, as the footing is more firm than he’d like right now. Tremaine said he’d also like to see some rain before Sunday, and the forecast does currently have thunderstorms predicted, so we’ll have to wait to see how the going looks as the weekend progresses. Phillip also said he would have liked to see a sunken road added to the course since it’s an element at Rolex that always causes trouble, but overall he thinks the course will be a very good experience for the horses.
I was glued to the three-star ring today and didn’t get to watch much of the second Advanced division. Katie Frei and Houdini were the only pair to crack the 20s on a score of 29.4, followed by Lauren Kieffer and RF Cosima and Sarah Dunkerton and Matapeake in equal second on a score of 30.3. In the CIC2*, Emily Beshear and Shame on the Moon are continuing the very good start to their new partnership with a score of 43.3 for first, followed by Lynn Symansky on Osborne 9 on 48.3 and Jennie Brannigan and Henry on 48.6. Show jumping for the Advanced divisions starts tomorrow morning at 8 a.m., and I’ll be bringing you all the photos, videos and reports I possibly can. Stay tuned for much more from The Fork.
EN loves photos shot between the ears! If you happen to be out for a hack, are riding in some obscure place or just take some cool photos aboard your mount, send them to [email protected] with a quick blurb about the photo’s story. This week’s View comes to us from Brittany Lane in Brecon Beacons, Wales.
From Brittany Lane: “I wanted to send along these photos from between the ears of King, the trusty Welsh Mountain Pony I rode while in Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales. I’m in graduate school at University College London, and our school’s equestrian team went on a wonderful riding trip in Wales in March. As an added bonus, I’ve included a picture of one of the wonderful cobs we get to ride in team practice. His name is Puzzle, he jumps beautifully, and he has the best handlebar mustache in all of England!”
Check out Puzzle’s mustache!
The view from King’s ears.
The view from King’s ears.
Editor’s Note: We have to agree. Puzzle’s handlebar mustache is pretty #fabulous.
Phillip Dutton and Shamwari 4. Photo by Jenni Autry.
It certainly proved to be a very exciting afternoon in The Fork CIC3*, with horses and riders rising to the occasion to put in some truly memorable performances. Phillip Dutton continued his trend from yesterday of producing lovely work from Boyd Martin’s mounts, and he’ll hold the overnight lead with Shamwari 4 on a score of 45.9. They had one small bobble when Shammie swapped during the counter canter loop, but aside from that, it was very accurate.
Will Faudree and Pawlow also had a very nice test to move into second place on a score of 46.8, with Ernie looking relaxed and responsive throughout. Will has this horse entered in both Rolex and Badminton, and he said he’ll make the call at the end of the weekend as to where Ernie will be headed for his spring four-star appearance.
Will Faudree and Pawlow. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Allison Springer and Arthur, who rode their test yesterday, are in third place at the end of dressage, with Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot sitting just behind them in fourth place on a score of 47.7. This was another very consistent performance, with the only blip coming at the very end when William swapped in the extended canter down the long side before the final salute. Sharon White and Rafferty’s Rules round out the top five on a score of 48.6.
Reggie looks better and better every outing since coming back from the injury he incurred at Burghley in 2012. He’s quite the showman in the ring and seemed to really enjoy the atmosphere and crowd that gathered to watch his test — many of them sporting Team Orange colors, of course.
Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Another Reggie follows in equal sixth place, with Balleynoe Castle RM making a steady comeback of his own with Buck Davidson following a long break from a bone bruise on his stifle. We know how chill this horse is — what other top four-star horse could escort a bride to her wedding? — but it’s still impressive that he didn’t bat an eye when the entire long side of the arena from F to M blew over in the heavy winds that swept in this afternoon.
You have to watch the video below to see how Reggie takes it all in stride. Buck and Reggie’s score of 48.9 ties them with Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda, Holly Payne and Santino, and Jessica Phoenix and Patras VR. Erin Sylvester and No Boundaries round out the top 10 on their score of 49.5.
Sharon White and Rafferty’s Rules. Photo by Jenni Autry.
We also saw really lovely tests in this group from Sharon White and Under Suspection and Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville, who are tied for equal 11th place with Kim Severson and Fernhill Fearless, Ruy Fonseca and Tom Bombadill Too, and Marilyn Little and RF Demeter — all on scores of 49.8. Tate’s test at Carolina International fell a bit flat, and he was much more expressive and lively today — perhaps a bit too lively at some points!
Sinead said she’s been experimenting with which bit works best for Tate at shows, so it’s just one more piece of the puzzle they’ll be working on leading up to Rolex. I shot a number of videos this afternoon, and I apologize in advance for the shaky quality. The strong winds made it difficult for both horses, riders and journalists alike. Stay tuned for much more from The Fork!
Jessica Phoenix and Patras VR. Photo by Jenni Autry.
The morning group in the CIC3* couldn’t catch Allison Springer and Arthur’s score of 47.1 from yesterday, and they’ll continue to hold the lead through the lunch break here at The Fork. Jessica Phoenix and Patras VR were the best we saw this morning, scoring 48.9 for equal second with Holly Payne and Santino and Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda. This horse is coming off a win two weeks ago in the CIC3* at Poplar Place, and he looked very impressive again today. He’s a striking mover and has a wonderful presence in the arena. Combine that with Jessie’s accurate riding in the dressage and you have a pair that’s going to be very exciting to watch in the future.
Erin Sylvester and No Boundaries. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Erin Sylvester and No Boundaries were one of the last to go before the lunch break, and Bucky looked very good for a score of 49.5, which puts them in fifth place at this point in the class. Bucky’s tension issues have been dormant for an extended period of time now, which has to be a big relief for Erin with Rolex just a few weeks away. They’re always a threat in the dressage, and if they can perform in Kentucky like they did today, we should see a competitive score. Ruy Fonseca and Tom Bombadill Too are sitting just behind Erin in Bucky on a score of 49.8, which ties them for sixth place with Marilyn Little and RF Demeter. Ruy and Tom are here in the States preparing for WEG, and they’re another pair we’ll see at Rolex in a couple weeks. The judges clearly favored this horse’s big way of going.
Ruy Fonseca and Tom Bombadill Too. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Marilyn and Demi, the big winners at Carolina International CIC3* two weeks ago, had another very nice test here today, with the mare looking relaxed and workmanlike about the job at hand throughout. That’s the only test I managed to get video of — which you can watch below — because a certain fearless leader showed up unannounced this morning and proceeded to gab away while I was trying to work. Yes, EN — John lives! Here’s photo proof that he was here. Note that he’s too cool to look at the camera. He has to get back home to clean the chinchilla cages before dinner, so he won’t be here for long. The chinchillas wait for no one! But it’s always a good thing to confirm that he is in fact still alive and breathing.
Marilyn Little and RF Demeter. Photo by Jenni Autry.
The VIP tent right by the CIC3* ring is buzzing today, which likely affected some of the more sensitive horses. Allison did the best she could with a very tense Copycat Chloe, and F.I.S. Prince Charming also seemed to be bothered by the noise. RF Smoke on the Water came undone for Marilyn, which is rather unlike him. While we saw some nice tests this morning, there wasn’t any one performance that really wowed, and there’s definitely room for the afternoon group to step up and challenge Allison and Arthur for the lead. We still have Kim Severson and Fernhill Fearless, Sharon White and Under Suspection, Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville, Phillip Dutton and Shamwari 4, Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM, and Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot still to come. Stay tuned for much more from The Fork.
The "come to Jesus" moment on Tremaine Cooper's CIC3* course at The Fork.
Tremaine Cooper was kind enough to take me around his CIC3* course at The Fork to talk a bit about his philosophy on building a key prep track for Rolex in a WEG year. It’s his second year on the job as course designer, having taken over for the 2013 event from previous designer Mark Phillips. Last year’s course caught out quite a few riders, particularly at the coffin complex. The coffin ran in the opposite direction last year, starting with the same log to ditch but including a skinny brush as the final element. You can see video of how it rode here.
This year, Tremaine has the coffin running in reverse, starting with a log to a ditch to two angled brushed separated by one stride. As he’s done in several places on course this year, he’s added an option at the D element, so riders can choose to ride “out into the next county” to take a skinny brush at D. But while it might save them from a runout at the direct D route, it’s going to be incredibly costly when it comes to time, so it will be interesting to see who chooses the direct route and who plays it safe. The angled brushes are designed to be an inviting question, and horses should lock on well if riders commit to their line coming off the ditch.
But that’s half the battle of being a course designer — when it comes to introducing new courses and questions, you’re either the hero or the villain at the end of the day depending on how those new elements ride, Tremaine said. This course in particular carries quite a bit of burden in the design, as it’s meant to prep riders for Rolex and — with its reputation as one of the more difficult spring CIC tracks and this being a WEG year — there’s also an added expectation of seeing prep questions for Normandy.
Luckily, Tremaine doesn’t disappoint there. The brand new mound complex at fence 21 toward the end of the course is designed to mirror a Pierre Michelet question — as mounds frequently appear on his courses — while delighting spectators and keeping riders kicking all the way to the very end of the course. The mound complex is the last major question on the track, and it’s built to be inviting but appropriately challenging for this point in the season. Riders will tackle a big table before going up the mound to a wide owl hole. Then they’ll descend the ramp in three quick strides to an angled skinny brush.
I chatted briefly with Sinead Halpin after her first walk around the course, and she said she thinks the mound is a good question — if riders can even get to it. She’s right in that there’s really a lot to do around the course. Both water complexes look equally tough, and Tremaine really keeps both riders and horses on their toes until the very end. Sunday will be a very exciting day indeed! Also, Tremaine’s delightful lurcher Bounce joined us on the course tour, and this is the part where I apologize in advance for missing a photo of fence 15 — a big brush table — because I may or may not have been taking selfies with my new canine friend. #sorryimnotsorry
Boyd Martin thought Phillip Dutton did “bloody well” today in stepping up to take over his rides while he’s sidelined with a broken leg following a mishap at Carolina International. In addition to piloting his own mounts Mr. Medicott and Mighty Nice into the top five in the Advanced, Phillip had a very nice test with Trading Aces in that division to sit tied for second place overnight on a score of 29.7. And he also had a very respectable test on Otis Barbotiere, who is continuing his comeback following an injury at the London Olympics, in the Intermediate.
And here’s the kicker — he just rode the horses for the first time yesterday. As Boyd says in the interview above, the fact that Phillip could hop on these two — neither of which is known to be a particularly easy ride — and produce such good results is a real testament to the caliber of his riding. Phillip said the horses are so well trained and well schooled that it wasn’t a difficult task, and that speaks to the prior work Silva Martin has done with them, as well as Caitlin Silliman’s excellent schooling in the past two weeks while Boyd has been laid up.
Mr. Medicott and Mighty Nice — Phillip’s rides for Rolex this year — have both had some rather exuberant moments throughout the start of their spring season, and he said he was very pleased with how they settled today and really focused on the task at hand. Phillip said he chose to do the Advanced and not the three-star because Advanced Test A has many similar parallels to the test at Rolex — and many riders have been telling me they chose to do the Advanced for the same reason. Marilyn Payne has kindly offered to review tests with the riders to determine where they could have earned extra marks.
And everyone will be relieved to know Silva continues to improve. She’s back to teaching lessons now, and even though her limited visibility at this point in the healing process makes it difficult for her to see, Boyd said the return to normalcy has been a real godsend. She continues to undergo six to seven hours of therapy a day at Bryn Mawr, and her speech is showing marked signs of improvement each day. The eyesight and visibility will follow in time, Boyd said, who remains extremely positive she will experience a full and total recovery.
As a side note, Phillip had originally been scheduled to ride Peter Barry’s Sir Donovan in the CIC3* this weekend, as Boyd has been aiming the horse for Rolex and a potential run at the World Equestrian Games team. But Sir Donovan was sold earlier this week to Philippa Humphreys, a rider out of Michigan who has successfully competed to the two-star level. Boyd said he wishes Philippa all the best in her new partnership with Don. Phillip still has one more ride for Boyd tomorrow — Shamwari 4 in the CIC3*. Stay tuned for much more from The Fork.
Allison Springer and Arthur. Photo by Jenni Autry.
We saw a small chunk of the large CIC3* class do their dressage tests today at The Fork, and Allison Springer and Arthur are leading the way on a score of 47.1. The test was nearly flawless until the end when Allison really went for it in the extended canter, and Arthur got a bit up in the turn to the final salute, but Allison brought him back nicely for a good recovery. The way she works through Arthur’s fussy moments is a good study for all riders who have horses that can throw little fits like that. She keeps her cool and stays patient, and we’ve seen that work very nicely with both Arthur and Copycat Chloe during their tense moments.
Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda were the last pair to go today, throwing down a beautiful test for 48.9, which puts them in equal second place. Owner Nina Gardner was practically jumping up and down after the test and so clearly proud of Jennie and Ping. Their season has been building nicely to culminate in a key prep run for Rolex here at The Fork this weekend, and they’ve put themselves in a very nice place to still be high up the leaderboard after the rest of the division rides their tests tomorrow. The real success story of the afternoon has to be Holly Payne and Santino, who performed their personal best dressage test in a CIC3* for a score of 48.9 to tie with Jennie and Ping. It was a very consistent, fluid performance, and Holly has to be over the moon.
Jon Holling and Zatopek B. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Temperatures warmed up considerably this afternoon — a far cry from last year where I remember little icicles forming on Josh Walker’s video camera during the dressage. It’s been a lovely day to kick off The Fork, and I still have much more to bring you. I chatted with Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton during the lunch break and finally was able to sweet talk the video into uploading, so I’ll be bringing you that shortly. And I’m about to go hop in a golf cart with course designer Tremaine Cooper to tour the CIC3* course. Samantha Clark is about to catch up with Emily Beshear, who is currently leading the Advanced and CIC2* after dressage with Here’s to You and Shame on the Moon, so we’ll also have that for you later. Stay tuned for much more from The Fork!
Emily Beshear and Here's To You. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Emily Beshear and Here’s To You set the benchmark as the second pair out in the first Advanced division here at The Fork, scoring 29.1 to hold the lead following the dressage. Quincy was going beautifully when the judges suddenly stopped him toward the end of the test just before the extended canter. Apparently there was a bit of confusion as to whether she had missed a movement; she hadn’t, and they continued on to finish well. Emily said after the test she was very pleased with him, and it’s certainly the test she wanted heading in to Rolex. Emily and Quincy had to skip Kentucky last year due to a last-minute injury, so she’s definitely one who will be buying bubble wrap in bulk in these final weeks.
Phillip Dutton and Trading Aces. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Phillip Dutton had a bang up morning with his three rides, who are all sitting behind Emily and Quincy in third through fifth places. He scored 29.7 with both Mr. Medicott and Trading Aces, who he’s riding this weekend while Boyd Martin is sidelined recovering with a broken leg; that score ties both horses for second place. Mr. Medicott looked very keen in the warmup but settled very nicely for the test. Oscar, who Phillip rode for the first time yesterday, has had some naughty moments in the dressage so far this season, but he was on his best behavior today for a very good performance. Phillip was first out this morning with Mighty Nice, and Happy looked very obedient for a consistent test to score 30.0 for fourth place. It’s also notable here that all 12 changes between Phillip’s three rides were clean — not a bad way to start the weekend!
Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Lillian Heard and Share Option were the final pair to go in the division, scoring 30.6 for fifth place. The changes were a bit of a mixed bag, but this was a really nice showing from this pair. Veronica was very excited to be out today, and she was not at all happy to be held to a trot in the beginning of the test. Multiple breaks to the canter unfortunately affected Lauren Kieffer’s score of 32.8 for sixth place. Michael Pollard and Mensa didn’t perform to the level we usually see from them, and the horses didn’t look very settled in the bridle today; they’re sitting on 33.1 for seventh place. Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch put in the consistent performance we’ve come to expect. While the changes weren’t quite on par with what we normally see from them, there was still a lot to like about this test; they scored 34.7, which ties them for eighth place with Will Coleman and Conair.
Will Coleman and Conair. Photo by Jenni Autry.
It’s impressive how much Conair’s trot work has improved since Will took over the ride on this horse. He’s gained a considerable amount of strength and looks incredibly fit right now. They lost a bit of rhythm in the canter work, and that’s another piece of the puzzle that will come together with time as the horse continues to gain the muscle he needs to achieve consistency in the gait. Kevin Keane and Fernfill Flutter round out the top 10 on 35.3. This horse tries so hard for Kevin, which always makes them a nice pair to watch. They’re also heading to Rolex, and Kevin said he was pleased with how the horse handled the atmosphere here. We’re on a break now before the CIC3* dressage starts at 2:37 p.m. I’ll also be touring the cross-country course today with designer Tremaine Cooper. Stay tuned for much more from The Fork!
Who’s excited for cross-country videos from The Fork? To whet your appetite, here’s Buzzterbrown’s fantastic 32-minute video from 2012, when an Olympic year made the competition that much more fierce. Look for the top four finishers at these minute markers: Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper (16:50), Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master (25:40), Marilyn Little and RF Demeter (6:25), and Karen O’Connor and a very keen Mr. Medicott (24:42). Thanks, Buzzterbrown!
In addition to all the awesome things happening at The Fork Horse Trials this weekend, Meg Kep and Area II Young Riders are offering a #FITNESSATTHEFORK schedule to to promote fitness for eventers and raise cash for the team’s trip to NAJYRC. All activities request a $5 donation, and all proceeds will benefit the Area II Young Riders. Check out the schedule below, which runs this afternoon through Friday afternoon.
Keep checking Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for #FORKHORSETRIALS14 and #FITNESSATTHEFORK for updates and more information. And you can post pictures of how you are staying fit at The Fork with #FITNESSATTHEFORK for a chance to win a new Prestige Neckstrap by Sinead Halpin Eventing. I saw Manoir de Carneville modeling one of the new neckstraps at Carolina International a couple weeks ago, and I can vouch for the fact that they are pretty #fabulous.
#FITNESSATTHEFORK Schedule:
WEDNESDAY: 6 Minute Abs at 6 p.m. with Tik Maynard and Sinead Halpin in the Main Barn Yard. Make six minutes of time to get abs of steel!
THURSDAY: Runners and not-so-runners unite at 5 p.m. at the Main Barn. Join Meg Kep, groom superstar Katie Thornton, and the one and only Joanie Morris on an all-levels run through the trails of The Fork. We will end at the Henson House just in time for the Course Builder’s Pig Roast … but no eating until after.
6 Minute Abs at 6 p.m. with Tik Maynard and Sinead Halpin. Enjoy the Builder’s Party guilt free after this quick session.
FRIDAY: Try your luck with a modified CrossFit Workout of the Day at 6 a.m. with Mike Pollard and Jennie Brannigan. Meet at the Main Barn, and bring your water. You are going to need it!
Those looking to get in the zone before cross country: Join us at The Ordinary at 6 p.m. for a yoga session with Ryan Stone, Allison Springer and Lainey Ashker.
