When Texas eventer Rebecca Brown told us she had been selected to compete on the U.S. dressage team at the 2013 Maccabiah Games — think Jewish Olympics — we jumped at the chance to have her blog about the experience. Visit www.RBriding.com and www.maccabiah.com for more info on Rebecca and the Games.

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All good horse show photos have a porta potty in the background. Photo by Harley Cozewith.

From Rebecca:

Wow — time flies when you’re in the middle of show season. Rolex and Badminton have come and gone and now we are getting closer to the next major equestrian competition: the 2013 Maccabiah Games! OK, probably not the next MAJOR equestrian competition, but certainly the newest and potentially most exciting INTERNATIONAL equestrian competition. We fly to Israel July 10, and competition starts around July 20, so it will be here before we know it! So, what has happened since I last blogged?

First of all, we have a new member to the show jumping team — a face that many will recognize and another fellow eventer (YAY!): Alexa Perkiel. Alexa has signed on to the team recently, and we are so excited to have her. To find out more about her, please click here. She is just beginning her journey to the Maccabiah, so there will be much more to come on her journey in later posts!

Secondly, I have good news and bad news on my part. The good news: I have been approved to compete for the U.S. in Israel. The bad news: my original request to compete in Iceland was denied. Lesson learned: use computers, not iPhones, when sending in important documents. Just like any international competition, the riders for the show jumping and dressage teams had to apply to the USEF for permission to compete abroad. Apparently, I need to study my country abbreviations. Luckily for me, Courtney Barnett from USEF caught my mistake and approved my application for Israel. So, one bullet dodged!

Alexa Perkiel. Used with permission from the USEA, www.useventing.com

In March, I held a fundraiser with all my family, friends, and clients to raise money for the trip. It is going to be quite costly between all the travel and horse rentals. Maccabi USA is funding a good portion of it, but all riders are required to raise a certain portion, called a “Yachid.” We had a great time, ate too much Mexican food, and managed to raise all the funds in one night (huge thanks to everyone!).

Through the bets placed on my exceptional limbo skills, I sealed my passage to Israel. I ended up winning my age division (13 years and up), although I nearly ended my Maccabiah career prematurely. Only 13 year olds are built to bend that way! It’s like that time you slip-and-slided when you were 15, trying to relive your youth, and realized you were too large to be throwing yourself on the ground in an effort to slide 10 feet through the grass … only 13 year olds are the size to do it without injury! There’s a reason the package says “for ages 13 and under,” folks! It’s possible that I was the only person over 13 years old who took part in the limbo contest, but no one needs to know that and, sorry, all photos have been burned.

Since my last EN update, our Equestrian Coordinator Sloane Milstein has traveled to Israel to scope out the competition facilities, help to finalize competition plans, and, most importantly, find us horses to ride! When we were selected for the team, we were given the option to bring our own horses to ride. Because this is the first year that the competition is being held, all the riders elected to borrow horses for the inaugural competition. At the time, it was uncertain where the competition was going to be held, and, therefore, the quality of the facilities was in question. The Maccabi Federation has great plans for the future of the equestrian sports but, for the time being, it is definitely an adventure! While there is still much up in the air, here is what I do know:

• The competition will be held in a format similar to college-style riding. There will be a draw for horses after Opening Ceremonies, followed by a short ride to get to know our horse. We will have two to three practice rides before the official competition starts. We will have a Welcome class, followed by two days of competition.

• The dressage competition will be held at the FEI Medium and Advanced level, and the showjumping will be held at 1.25-1.30m.

• My mother, Becky Brown, is the dressage coach, and Neal Shapiro is the showjumping coach.

• The facilities for the competition are brand new. It is being held at Kibbutz Yagur near Tel Aviv. The riding arena is already built, but the stables, exhibitor arena, lockers, etc. are under construction. HOWEVER, the good news is that the most important elements — the pool and nightclub — are already in place. Needless to say, I’m pretty stoked to find out what a Kibbutz nightclub is all about. I’ll be back with investigative reporting later …

• Competitors are coming from all over the world — the U.S., Europe, Australia, etc. It is a true international competition.

• The U.S. is sending around 1,100 people — athletes, coaches, medical staff, etc.

So, it should be a really fun competition and certainly a life-changing experience! It will be really neat to say that I took part in the inaugural year of this competition, especially if it becomes the caliber of equestrian competition that they are planning to make it! Please read along on my adventure. I’ll be blogging all the way to the podium. Go USA!

Jessica Phoenix and Exponential win the Jersey Fresh CCI3*.

As the second to last pair to ride in the CCI3* division at Jersey Fresh, Jessica Phoenix and Exponential dropped a rail to give overnight leaders Buck Davidson and D.A. Adirmo some breathing room. While D.A. Adirmo jumped incredibly well with his knees cranked up to his eyeballs, he pulled two unlucky rails to give Jessica and Exponential the win. Jessica rerouted here to Jersey Fresh after withdrawing before cross country at Rolex last month, and she told me after her ride that she was thrilled she ultimately made that call, which was a very tough decision at the time. Tucker looked fantastic all weekend, and this pair had one of the nicest trips through the water complex on cross country that I saw all day yesterday. As you’ll hear in the interview below, Tucker has earned a nice break and will gear up for his next major outing in 2014. While I’m sure Buck is disappointed in this outcome, I think we really saw D.A. Adirmo mature and grow immensely this weekend, and I’m excited to see what this pair accomplish in the future.

Buck Davidson and D.A. Adirmo finished in second place.

Courtney Cooper looked elated after jumping just one of two double clear show jumping trips in the whole division with Who’s A Star to finish in third place. Courtney and Tag were sitting in ninth place after dressage and moved up to fourth place after a clear cross country trip and six time penalties yesterday. Lillian Heard and Share Option pulled one rail to finish in fourth place; you can view video of their trip below. Katie Ruppel and Houdini pulled one rail and picked up four time penalties to round out your top five. Rails fell all throughout the division — with five rails dropped between the top five — and time also proved to be a bit tricky, with three riders picking up faults there. I have to send a huge shoutout to West Coasters Zach Brandt and Cavallino Cocktail, who jumped the only other double clear round and should be thrilled with their performance here this weekend; they finish the CCI3* in 10th place, and you can view a video of their round below.

Courtney Cooper and Who's A Star finished in third place.

The organizers, designers, and officials who made Jersey Fresh such a success this year deserve major kudos. We had almost perfect weather all weekend, and it was a very safe competition for horses and riders alike. In addition, Brendan Furlong has renewed his commitment to award $25,000 to the horse and rider combination that wins the CCI2* and returns the following year to win the CCI3*. It wasn’t possible for someone to win the $25,000 prize this year — Boyd Martin and Crackerjack won the CCI2* last year, and Boyd is currently grounded due to recovering from ankle surgery — so we’ll have to wait one more year to see if Caitlin Silliman and Remington XXV can take home the very generous cash prize. It’s just one more example of what makes Jersey Fresh such a fantastic event every year. Thanks so much to everyone who followed along with EN’s coverage this weekend. Go Jersey Fresh, and go eventing.

[Website] [Live Scores]

[Video: Lillian Heard and Share Option]
[Video: Michael Pollard and Mensa]
[Video: Zach Brandt and Cavallino Cocktail]

Will Faudree and Andromaque win the Jersey Fresh CIC3*.

Will Faudree and Andromaque led the CIC3* at Jersey Fresh from the first phase and sealed the deal today in the show jumping thanks to a double clear trip. Missy looked on point all weekend and ate up the cross country yesterday, coming home as the fastest of all horses in the CIC3* with just four time penalties. And the quick trip across the country didn’t seem to tire her in the slightest, as she jumped very well today and looks in fantastic form for Saumur. Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda are also looking primed and ready for their upcoming trip across the pond and finished second in the CIC3* with a double clear show jumping round. Jennie and Ping are headed to Luhmuhlen CCI4* in about a month and had a super final preparation trip this weekend.

Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda finished in second place.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot came into the show jumping in fourth place and moved up one spot to finish in third on the merits of a clear trip with one time penalty. William looked great today and will also be traveling to Saumur for the CCI3*, which is just a few short weeks away on May 22-26. Marilyn Little and RF Demeter were jumping very well in the first part of their show jumping round before pulling two unfortunate rails toward the end of the course. They still finish the weekend in fourth place, moving all the way up from ninth. Marilyn was also sitting in fifth place in the CIC3* with RF Black Pearl, but she withdrew the mare before show jumping. Lauren Kieffer and R.F. Cosima jumped a beautiful double clear round to finish in fifth place. She’s having a super weekend here at Jersey Fresh, as she won the CIC2* with Veronica earlier today.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot finished in third place.

We saw just four double clear trips in the CIC3*, and five riders incurred time faults. Just like for the CCI2* group, no one fence caused more problems than others, although the sequence of fence 5 to 6 to 7AB continued to fall frequently; I imagine we’ll continue to see those fences cause problems for the CCI3* division. No pairs in the CIC3* finished the weekend on their dressage scores, as time on the cross country course played a factor in the final scores. Many of the riders in the CIC3* division are preparing for larger runs and overseas trips — hence the steady runs across country — and this weekend proved to be an ideal final event. I sacrificed taking photos of the top finishers in the division to bring you videos of their winning trips, which you can see below. We’re still running behind schedule, and the CCI3* is expected to start their show jumping at about 3 p.m. I’ll be back with a final report from the CCI3* shortly!

[Website] [Live Scores]

[Video: Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot]
[Video: Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda]
[Video: Lauren Kieffer and R.F. Cosima]
[Video: Phillip Dutton and Crackerjack]

Caitlin Silliman and Remington win the Jersey Fresh CCI2*.

Caitlin Silliman and Remington XXV led wire to wire in the CCI2* at Jersey Fresh and won decisively today after a lovely double clear show jumping trip to finish on their dressage score of 41. After giving themselves an 8.8-point berth from second place after the dressage, Caitlin and Remi were impossible to catch all weekend in a truly dominating performance. Will Faudree and Reisling De Buissy also had one of the eight double clear show jumping trips we saw in the CCI2* division to clinch second place. Will and Reisling De Buissy were sitting in third after their dressage test on a 49.8 and moved up to second yesterday thanks to a double clear trip across the country. This horse is an exciting newer ride for Will, and I’m looking forward to seeing how their partnership continues to develop.

Will Faudree and Reisling De Buissy finished the CCI2* in second place.

Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights also jumped double clear in the show jumping to finish on their dressage score of 51.9 in third place. CR tries so hard, and he really put his heart into the round today for Colleen, who has to be thrilled with her homebred’s result here this weekend. Colleen flew straight back from Badminton to compete with CR at Jersey Fresh, and now she’s earned some well-deserved rest and time to revel in her accomplishments both across the pond and here in the States this weekend. Sally Cousins and Ideal Contini pulled one rail in the show jumping to finish in fourth place, and Lauren Kieffer and Czechmate put in a beautiful double clear round to complete the weekend in fifth place. Lauren and Czechy originally sat in second after the dressage, but time penalties across the country pushed them down the leaderboard. I thought they had one of the nicest show jumping trips we’ve seen so far today.

Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights finished in third place in the CCI2*.

Four pairs in the CCI2* finished the weekend without a single jump penalty: Caitlin Silliman and Remington XXV; Will Faudree and Reisling De Buissy; Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights; and Buck Davidson and Cool N’ Cavalier, who traveled farther up the leaderboard than any other pair after dressage, jumping from 20th to finish in ninth place. Rails fell all throughout the course for the CCI2* riders, with no one fence serving as the bogey jump. Fence 5 — a red, yellow, and black vertical — fell frequently, as did the first element of a green and black two-stride combination at Fence 7AB. We definitely saw some tired horses in the CCI2* group, showing just how challenging the terrain proved to be on the cross country yesterday. We’re running on a bit of a delay now, and the CIC3* group is expected to begin show jumping at 1:30. Stay tuned for much more from Jersey Fresh.

[Website] [Live Scores]

Mackenna Shea and Landioso were sadly spun at the final horse inspection.

In an unexpected conclusion to the Jersey Fresh International final horse inspection, West Coast sensation Mackenna Shea and Landioso were held and ultimately not accepted by the ground jury upon representation. Samantha and I stood in tense silence as the ground jury asked Mackenna to make multiple passes up and down the jog lane after exiting the holding box, and we thought surely calling on EN Karma would be enough to help Landioso pass. It’s an outcome we certainly didn’t expect, and I’m just gutted for Mackenna, who drove five days to compete here in the CCI3* at Jersey Fresh and was sitting in third place overnight going into the show jumping. This is a painful example of how up and down this crazy sport can be, and I know it will be a very solemn morning in the West Coast camp. As far as I’m concerned, Mackenna and Landioso more than proved themselves here in their East Coast debut this weekend, and she can make the long journey home with her head held high.

The shoe fits — Brian Ross returns Kaitlin Spurlock's shoe after she lost it in the jog.

All other horses that presented in all four divisions were accepted. In the CCI3*, Michael Pollard and Mensa and Jennifer McFall and High Times were held but passed on reinspection. Kaitlin Spurlock lost a shoe going up the jog lane with Expedience, and ground jury member Brian Ross placed it back on her foot in a sweet Cinderella moment. In the CIC3*, Sally Cousins and Tsunami III were held but passed on reinspection. All horses were accepted without any holds in the CCI2*; Jane Sleeper and Go Gizmo and Savannah Fulton and Ringfort Tinkatoo withdrew before the jog. In the CIC2*, Tik Maynard and Sapphire, Booli Selmayr and Castle Diamond, Erin Risso and Beacon, and Jodi Hemry and In Style were held but passed on reinspection. In total, 70 horses move on to the show jumping across all divisions.

Buck Davidson and D.A. Adirmo currently lead the CCI3*.

It’s a beautiful day here at Jersey Fresh, with the sun shining and temperatures expected to reach close to 70 today. We’ve really dodged a weather bullet all weekend, as the skies opened up about 10 minutes after the last horse came home on cross country, and it proceeded to rain on and off for the rest of the afternoon and night. CIC2* show jumping is underway now. The CCI2* show jumps at 11:35 a.m., the CIC3* show jumps at 1:02 p.m., and the CCI3* show jumps at 2:13 p.m. I’ll be bringing you full reports and photos from the CCI2*, CIC3*, and CCI3*, so be sure to check back throughout the day. In the meantime, I’ll be adding more jog photos to this post. And I have to wish a very Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms of eventing. If you haven’t watched EN’s very touching Mother’s Day tribute video yet, grab a tissue and check it out here. Go Moms, and go eventing.

[Website] [Live Scores]

Will Faudree in beast mode before Andromaque made quick work of tricky 17B.

Will Faudree and Andromaque made a very tricky CIC3* course look easy in their final prep run before the Saumur CCI3* and came home clear with the fewest time penalties of the division to hold their lead at Jersey Fresh International. We didn’t see any double clear trips in the CIC3* — though we saw 12 of 18 with no jumping penalties — and Will’s four time penalties will give him a rail in hand going into the show jumping tomorrow. Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda had a fantastic clear trip and came home with 5.2 time penalties to move up to second place, while Marilyn Little and RF Demeter’s very fast, clear trip and six time penalties moves them all the way up from ninth to third place. Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot hold fourth place with a clear trip and 12.4 time penalties, and Marilyn Little moved up from 11th to fifth place thanks to a clear trip and 6.8 time penalties with RF Black Pearl.

Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda looking great through tricky 17B.

As has been the theme of the day here at Jersey Fresh, both questions in the Jersey Shore water complex continued to present challenges for the CIC3* group. The tricky brush line into the water, which was numbered 9AB on the CCI3* course, made an encore appearance for the CIC3* riders, this time as much later in the course at 17AB. Phillip Dutton and Crackerjack were the only pair to have a runout there for the CIC3* group, although it rode very sticky for many pairs. Rachel McDonough and Irish Rhythm — who had the second fastest trip of the day with 4.8 time — and Werner Geven and Vilas County both took the option at this fence. Julia Wendell and Cavendish had a very scary fall jumping into the water at 17A, and she went airborne in dramatic fashion before landing in the water. Cavendish took off for a joy run around the horse park while Julia sat in the water, OK but startled. Both Julia and Cavendish are fine.

Marilyn Little and RF Demeter had a super trip and move up to third.

While Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti had a beautiful trip through 17AB at the Jersey Shore, the horse jumped very reluctantly into the water at 22B, and Jessica retired him on course before attempting 22C. Phillip Dutton had trouble at the same combination, falling from Pancho Villa and taking a swim in the water as the last pair on the CIC3* course. Today has just not been Phillip’s day, as he also fell from Fernhill Fugitive in the CCI3* group earlier today. Hayley Parker and Pigrela Des Cabanes were the third and final fall of the CIC3* group when they parted ways at fence 15, the Cordwood. Nicole Parkin and Lexus were the only other pair to have trouble on course, and they retired after one stop at the coffin combination at fence 10ABC. It’s been a very exciting day across the country so far at Jersey Fresh, and the CIC2* division is underway now. Stay tuned for much more from Jersey Fresh!

[Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [CIC3* Course Preview]

The final fence on course in the CIC3* course.

I’ll be bringing you live updates in this post from the CIC3* cross country this afternoon. Marilyn Little and RF Black Pearl will kick things off for us at 1:25 p.m. The rain has held off aside from a few light sprinkles, and it’s turned out to be a really lovely day for all the spectators tailgating at the Jersey Shore, as the water complex has been dubbed. The course caused quite a few problems for the CCI3* riders earlier today, so it will be interesting to see how John Williams’ course rides for the CIC3* pairs. I have to give a special shoutout to Brian O’Connor for his announcing, as I can only see a tiny portion of the course at any one time. These live updates are brought to you very much in partnership with Brian and the fence judges who tolerate my constant nagging for clarification on a stop or fall. Go Brian, go volunteers, and go eventing.

[Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [CIC3* Course Preview]

1:33: Marilyn Little and RF Black Pearl come home clear with 6.2 time penalties.

1:37: Sally Cousins and Westerly come home with 19 time penalties.

1:38: Phillip Dutton and Crackerjack have a runout at 17b, which was 9b on the CCI3* course.

1:46: Julie Wendell had a very scary fall from Cavendish at 17a when the horse hung a leg. She sat in the water for awhile but is up and OK. Cavendish ran off but was caught.

1:48: Hayley Parker was popped out of the tack at the Cordwood and parted ways from Pigrela Des Cabanes. Both are OK.

1:54: Rachel McDonough and Irish Rhythm are the first pair to take the option at 17AB. They had hairy moment at 17b but she kicked on. Well sat!

1:57: Nicole Parkin and Lexus retired after one stop at the cordwood combination.

2:01: Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda had one of the best trips we’ve seen all day through the water at 17AB and gets a huge cheer from the crowd.

2:04: Jennie Brannigan and Ping come home with 5.2 penalties and takes the provisional lead.

2:10: Emily Beshear and River King come home clear with time.

2:13: Will Faudree and Andromaque come home clear with four time penalties.

2:17: Caroline Martin and Titanium finish clear with 20.4 time penalties.

2:18: Werner Geven and Vilas County take the option at 17ab.

2:26: Pavarotti launched himself over 17b, and Jessica Phoenix might as well have been glued to his back. Well sat.

2:27: Pavarotti was very sticky coming back into the water and she had to circle before the out element. But she decided to retire instead.

2:33: Marilyn Little and RF Demeter come home clear with six time penalties.

2:40: Phillip Dutton fell from Pancho Villa during their second pass through the water complex. Both horse and rider are fine. Stay tuned for the full report.

Buck Davidson and D.A. Adirmo take the lead in the CCI3* at Jersey Fresh.

Buck Davidson and D.A. Adirmo took the lead in the CCI3* at Jersey Fresh thanks to a double clear cross-country trip on a course that caused numerous problems for riders today. There were only two double clear trips, with Jessica Phoenix and Exponential having the other, which moves them up to second place. Overnight leaders Mackenna Shea and Landioso took the option at 9AB at the water complex, which gave them 14 time penalties to drop down to third place. But it was a wise decision at the combination that caused the most problems on course, with four riders having runouts there. Courtney Cooper and Who’s A Star move up from ninth place to fourth with a clear trip and six time penalties, and Katie Ruppel and Houdini move from 10th to fifth with 10 time penalties.

Jessica Phoenix and Exponential move into second in the CCI3*.

As I noted in my course preview from yesterday, the line to 9B was very tricky, and horses were glancing off to the right — or having very sticky trips if they managed to scramble over. Caitlin Calder and Jolliyat, Zach Brandt and Cavallino Cocktail, and Jon Holling and Zapotek B all picked up the runouts at 9B. Sharon White and Wundermaske actually circled before 9B, unfortunately crossing her tracks and picking up 20 jumping penalties. She was the only other rider aside from Jessica and Buck to come home without any time penalties. Zach rode into 9A so confidently on Cavallino Cocktail I thought for sure he was going to make it over 9B, but the horse just glanced off the side. Katie Ruppel and Houdini had one of the best trips through 9AB I saw all day, and I was lucky enough to catch it on video for you below.

Mackenna Shea and Landioso drop to third in the CCI3*.

Fence 22ABC, a big drop down a steep hill to two angled tables, also caught out quite a few riders. Bunnie Sexton parted ways there with Rise Against — although Samantha chatted a bit with Bunnie after and said she was thrilled with the horse — Leslie Law retired there with Zenith ISF, and Michael Pollard and Mensa and Werner Geven and Vandiver both picked up stops at this combination. Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive had the only other fall on course when Jack caught a leg at fence 7, the Cordwood, and rolled on top of Phillip. It was a very scary moment for all those watching, but Phillip and Jack were up right away and OK. The CCI3* course definitely shook up the leaderboard, and Buck Davidson and Jessica Phoenix are now separated by just 1.2 penalties going into the show jumping tomorrow. CIC3* cross country kicks off at 1:25 p.m. with Marilyn Little and RF Black Pearl.

[Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [CIC3* Course Preview]

Fence 23 on the CCI3* course

We just wrapped up the CCI2* cross country here at Jersey Fresh, and the CCI3* division kicks off on cross country at 11:30 a.m. with Jessica Phoenix and Exponential leading the way. It’s turned out to be a lovely day here, with the rain holding off and temperatures remaining very comfortable. We saw nine double clear rides this morning in the CCI2*, and only two riders had jump penalties, so it will be interesting to see how the CCI3* course shakes things up. I was parked out by the water complex this morning, which turned out to be where we saw all the action, so I’ll probably stay there for the CCI3* so I have a premium view for the live updates. Go eventing.

[Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [CCI3* Course Preview]

11:32: Jessica Phoenix and Exponential had a handy trip out of the water, which is a tall brush fence set on an extreme angle. I’m predicting some sticky trips through here today.

11:39: Jessica Phoenix and Exponential came home clear and seven seconds inside the time.

11:42: Michael Pollard and Mensa have a stop at the bottom of the big hill.

11:44: Caitlin Calder and Jolliyat had a runout at the skinny brush coming out of the water. It’s an incredibly tricky line.

11:49: Jennifer McFall and High Times come home 32 seconds over time.

11:58: Leslie Law and Zenith ISF retire at 22 after multiple stops.

2:04: Courtney Cooper and Who’s A Star come home clear with six time. Just one double clear so far.

12:06: Bunnie Sexton fell from Rise Against at fence 22. Both horse and rider are OK.

12:08: Sharon White crossed her tracks on her way to the out element of the first water effort at 9b, and the TDs are counting it as a runout.

12:13: Lillian Heard and Share Option come home clear with 11.2 time penalties.

12:17: Sharon White and Wundermaske come home clear with 20 jumping penalties.

12:18: Werner Geven and Vandiver are the first to take the option at tricky 9AB.

12:20: Mackenna Shea and Landioso also take the option at 9AB.

12:22: Werner Geven has a stop at the Allentown Mountain combination.

12:23: Phillip Dutton fell from Fernhill Fugitive at fence 7, the Cordwood. He just popped out of the tack: both horse and rider are OK.

12:28: Big cheer for Buck Davidson and D.A. Adirmo as they come through the water complex at 9AB.

12:29: Mackenna Shea and Landioso pick up 16 time penalties.

12:32: Zach Brandt and Cavallino Cocktail have a runout at 9B at the water.

12:36: Buck Davidson and D.A. Adirmo are the second double clear and take the lead.

12:37: Jon Holling and Zapotek B have a runout at 9B and the retire after a rough trip over on their second attempt.

12:50: Jessica Phoenix and Erodium come home with 16.2 time penalties. Stay tuned for a full report.

Caitlin Silliman and Remington XXV came home double clear.

Caitlin Silliman and Remington XXV put in a very smooth double clear trip this morning in the CCI2* at Jersey Fresh to hold their lead on their dressage score of 41, giving them two rails in hand going into the show jumping tomorrow. Will Faudree and Riesling De Buissy also went double clear, which moved them up from third place to second going into the show jumping, as Lauren Kieffer and Czechmate, who were sitting in second place overnight coming into cross country, picked up 12 time penalties to drop down to seventh place. Buck Davidson and Wiley Post, Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights, and Sally Cousins and Ideal Contini all came home with double clear trips, which moves them up to third, fourth, and fifth, respectively.

Will Faudree and Reisling De Buissy moved up to second place.

While the first five pairs on course all came home double clear — leaving us wondering if time wasn’t going to play a factor today — the time penalties eventually started racking up, with Lauren and Czechmate most notably dropping down from second to seventh due to time. But the nine pairs who came home clear and inside the time were rewarded handsomely, with Allie Blyskal and super pony Sparrow’s Nio most notably moving up from 14th to eighth thanks to a double clear trip. Babette Lenna and Little Oliver came home clear with 2.8 time, which moved them up from 12 to ninth, while Jane Sleeper and Go Gizmo came home double clear, moving them up from 17th to 10th. The optimum time on course was 9:37, and Ireland’s Timothy Bourke and Luckaun Quality brought home the fastest time of the day, crossing the timers on 9:20.

Buck Davidson and Wiley Post moved up to third place.

The course rode very well for the CCI2* group, with only two riders having stops on course. Lauren Kieffer and Lucky Devil picked up the first stop of the morning when the horse ran out at 6B, the big corner coming out of the first trip through the water complex. Will Faudree and DHI Colour Candy had a stop at the out element of the second trip through the water complex. Liz Millikin and Masterpiece 54 had a very close call at the big corner, when the horse hit the jump very hard but slithered over. Sara Gumbiner and Polaris had a sticky moment entering the water when the horse balked and she had to circle, but she had not yet presented him to 6A, so it was not counted as a refusal. In all, 19 of 21 pairs came home without a jump penalty. We’re on a break now, with the CCI3* starting at 11:30 a.m. with Jessica Phoenix and Exponential first out on course. Stay tuned for much more from Jersey Fresh!

[Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [CCI3* Course Preview] [CIC3* Course Preview]

The water complex at Jersey Fresh

The weather app on my phone says it’s 90 degrees here at Jersey Fresh. I don’t think that’s right — it’s probably more like in the mid-80s — but the point is that it’s warmed up drastically here, which made my walk around the CIC3* cross-country course a scorcher this afternoon. Samantha unluckily kindly volunteered to walk the much longer CCI3* course — and the fabulous Jackie Imholte braved the blistering conditions with her — so she had an even more difficult time out there. I was about to carve my last will and testament into fence 16 when two very kind volunteers magically appeared offering complimentary bottles of water. Many thanks to the numerous volunteers who are working very hard to make this weekend such a success.

The CIC3* course is 3,720 meters long with an optimum time of six minutes and 32 seconds. It has 25 total jumping efforts, which includes two trips through the beautiful water complex. The course is challenging but doable and will require a very fit horse for the many hills on course. The first major question on the course comes at 7AB, when horses and riders will tackle a massive drop in the woods and come barreling down to 8AB. I think this is going to be a very challenging line, as will the first trip into the water complex at 17AB. A decorative bridge built next to the B element forces riders to take a very angled line out, and it’s going to require a very forward, confident ride. Get excited, EN! Tomorrow is going to be a blast. Go eventing.

Lauren Kieffer and Czechmate move into second in the CCI2* on a 48.1.

Caitlin Silliman and Remington made a huge statement in their dressage test in the CCI2* this morning, scoring a 41 to leave a large gap behind her. But Lauren Kieffer and Czechmate answered back as the final ride to go in the division, scoring a 48.1 to move into second place. Czechmate was very antsy before the test, throwing in some half rears for dramatic effect as Lauren circled the arena before beginning. But Lauren settled the horse beautifully and pushed some really stunning work out of him during the test. This pair most recently won the CIC2* at The Fork and are a major definite threat here this weekend. Buck Davidson and Wiley Post, who rode second to last in the division, also put in a very good test to sit in fourth place on a 50.3. It looks like the ear bonnet Hawley Bennett-Awad had made for Buck in his signature red and yellow colors is bringing him good luck here at Jersey Fresh this weekend.

Buck Davidson and Wiley Post are in fourth place on a 50.3.

Ashley MacVaugh and Fernhill Can Do performed a workmanlike, steady test to sit in seventh place on a 52.4. They were 18th in the CIC2* at The Fork, and Ashley has put herself in an excellent position to improve on that here this weekend. Poor Liz Millikin and Masterpiece 54 started the second group off after the morning break and were having a lovely test until she got lost, picking up multiple errors. Liz seemed upbeat after the test, and we all know when it feels like to forget a test; chin up, Liz. Liz and Masterpiece 54 are tied for ninth place with Savannah Fulton and Ringfort Tinkatoo on a 56.6. Will Faudree and DHI Colour Candy are sitting just behind in 11th place on 56.7. This horse was eighth in the CIC2* at The Fork and is very good across the country. Will is also sitting in third place on his first ride,  Riesling De Buissy, on a 49.8.

Ashley MacVaugh and Fernhill Can Do are in seventh place on a 52.4.

Caitlin and Remi will be tough to catch, as they’ve given themselves a very wide margin heading into the cross country. But we have a very exciting and competitive top 10, and it should be a thrilling day tomorrow as we see how cross country shakes out the leaderboard. Samantha is walking individual fences with various riders — her interview with Will Coleman at the CCI2* coffin is uploading as I type this — and I’m about to go walk the course to bring you a play-by-play of each fence on the three-star and two-star courses. The CIC2* dressage starts at 12:30 p.m. after the lunch break, and Marilyn Little will be riding RF Smoke on the Water in their final preparation before Saumur. Stay tuned for much more from Jersey Fresh.

[Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [CCI2* Test]

[Video: Shandiss McDonald and Porsch Pride]
[Video: Will Faudree and DHI Colour Candy]

Caitlin Silliman and Remington XXV lead the CCI2* at Jersey Fresh on a 41.

Caitlin Silliman and Remington XXV threw down the gauntlet in the first group of the CCI2* at Jersey Fresh, executing a flawless test to score a 41 — the best score of the weekend thus far. Remi looked brilliant — and I especially loved his blingy ear bonnet — and I can’t wait to see them go the rest of the weekend. I know Caitlin is disappointed she didn’t get to ride Remi at Rolex due to FEI qualification snafus, but we’ll be seeing much more of them in the future, and I’m sure they’ll be extremely competitive in the CCI2* all weekend. Will Faudree and Reisling De Buissy performed a beautiful test to start things off this morning. I really love this horse, and this is the first time I’ve seen him go in person. He is a lovely mover and really draws you into the test. Will and Resling De Buissy are sitting in second place on a 49.8.

Will Faudree and Reisling De Buissy are in second place on a 49.8.

We also saw a lovely test from Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights, Colleen’s homebred gelding who I featured as one of the very first horses on EN’s Got Talent last fall. I haven’t seen CR go in person since the Fair Hill CCI2* last fall, and I thought he looked fantastic today, scoring 51.9 to sit in third place. Aside from a slight bobble when CR stumbled by R in the medium canter, the test was very fluid and smooth. Samantha spoke with Colleen after the test, and Colleen said she thinks CR grabbed his heel, which caused him to stumble, but he is thankfully just fine and no worse for the wear. Sally Cousins and Ideal Contini looked super this morning in their test, scoring a 52.2 to move into fourth place. I think Taz continues to look more and more relaxed every time I see him, and Sally is starting to get some really fantastic work from him away from home.

Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights are in third place on 51.9.

Lauren Kieffer and Lucky Devil looked fantastic today, performing a very workmanlike test for a score of 54.8 to sit in fifth place. We’ll also see Lauren return as the last ride in the CCI2* with Czechmate, who won the CIC2* at The Fork. Savannah Fulton and Ringfort Tinkatoo are making their first appearance here at Jersey Fresh, and looked very good today to score 56.5 to move into sixth place. Allie Blyskal and Sparrow’s Nio put in a very solid test to score 60.5 for seventh place. Aside from a slight bobble in the first simple change and an unfortunate spook at C when they were turning for the final salute, Allie should be very happy with this test. I’ve been looking forward to seeing this little guy so since he won a division of open intermediate at Southern Pines II earlier this season. I’m a total sucker for athletic pony types, and this Connemara cross is a blast to watch.

Allie Blyskal and Sparrow's Nio. I'll be taking him home with me from Jersey.

I really like this test — 2009 FEI 2* Test A — as it places heavy emphasis on the all-important transitions. We’ve seen some really beautiful executions of the simple changes at E, but I expect those movements, as well as the other transitions in the test, will challenge quite a few riders today. It’s an absolutely beautiful day here at Jersey Fresh, with hardly a cloud in the sky and temperatures expected to reach into the high 70s today. We’re on a quick break now in the CCI2* star, and Liz Milliken and Masterpiece 54 start things off with the second and final group in this division at 10:15 a.m. I’ll be walking the cross-country course this afternoon to bring you a full preview, and Samantha is zipping around the grounds tracking down riders for interviews. Stay tuned for much more from Jersey Fresh.

[Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [CCI2* Test]

[Video: Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights]
[Video: Allie Blyskal and Sparrow’s Nio]

Will Faudree and Andromaque lead the CIC3* dressage at Jersey Fresh.

Will Faudree and Andromaque lead the CIC3* on a 47.1 after the conclusion of dressage at Jersey Fresh. This is Will and Missie’s final preparation before heading to the Saumur CCI3* in France, and they looked very good here today. Aside from a break to the canter during the extended trot, this was a very nice performance from this pair. You might  hear me laughing during the video of their test, as Zach Brandt was sitting near me doing some of his famous impersonations. He’s hilarious, and Samantha told me Zach has promised us a special performance for EN before the end of the weekend. Jessica Phoenix wrapped a great day of rides by finishing in second on Pavarotti on a 49.4. We saw just how dangerous this horse can be at The Fork, when he laid down a 31.6 dressage test in the Advanced. Look for him to be in the thick of things all weekend.

Jessie Phoenix and Pavarotti are in second place on a 49.4.

Hannah Sue Burnett had some bad luck in her test with Harbour Pilot, who had some naughty moments. He tried to canter out of the first halt, and Hannah held him together well until the end of the test when William came undone during the first flying change. She had to halt him and calm him before continuing on. But even with those bobbles, Hannah and William had some super moments, scoring a 51.2 to tie for fourth place with Lauren Kieffer and R.F. Cosima. Marilyn Little also had some bad luck with RF Demeter when she picked up an error early in the test after turning the wrong way. Marilyn had an unfortunate fall from Demi at Rolex, and has re-routed here as a result. Marilyn and RF Demeter scored 54 to sit in ninth place.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot are tied for fourth on 51.2.

I know Pancho Villa’s fans have been excited to see him go since Boyd Martin purchased the horse, who is now owned by the Pancho Villa Syndicate, this spring. While Boyd isn’t in the irons today due to recovering from his recent surgery on his ankle, Phillip Dutton rode the horse beautifully, and I’m sure Boyd is very happy with that test. Phillip and Pancho Villa are sitting in seventh place on a 52.9. Samantha is off to the press conference to talk with the top three in the CCI3* and CIC3*. Your top three in the CCI3* are Mackenna Shea and Landioso, Michael Pollard and Mensa, and Buck Davidson and D.A. Adirmo. Your top three in the CIC3* are Will Faudree and Andromaque, Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti, and Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda. Stay tuned for much more from Jersey Fresh.

[Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [CCI3* Test]

[Phillip Dutton and Pancho Villa]

Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda lead at the break on a 50.

After a freak accident kept Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda from competing at Rolex, the pair are back in action here at Jersey Fresh this weekend and have just taken the provisional lead in the CIC3* on a 50. Ping escaped on the longe line the morning of Day 1 of dressage at Rolex and slipped on the pavement, injuring himself enough to keep him out of Kentucky, but not enough to keep him from shining here today. Jennie and Ping performed the accurate test we’ve come to expect from them and will be in good position going into the cross country on Saturday. Lauren Kieffer and R.F. Cosima put in a lovely, correct test to take second place on a 51.2. This mare is a stunning mover and really looked very relaxed throughout the test, allowing Lauren to push her for more at all the right moments. Lauren and R.F. Cosima retired on cross country at The Fork and will be looking for redemption here.

Lauren Kieffer and R.F. Cosima are in second place on a 51.2.

Emily Beshear and River King, who most recently finished in seventh at the Ocala Horse Properties CCI2*, put in a lovely test to sit in third place on a 51.3. River King broke to canter in the trot work, but had a very consistent test aside from that. Samantha wants me to send a personal apology to Emily’s husband, Jeff, as she walked right in front of him by accident while he was videoing Emily’s test on his iPad. Nicole Parkin and Lexus are in fourth place on a 53.8. The horse was a bit argumentative and tossed her head a bit during the shoulder-in, but still had some very lovely moments throughout the test. Phillip Dutton is riding Crackerjack for Boyd Martin this weekend, as Boyd is recovering from surgery to repair torn tendons and ligaments. He is sitting in fifth place on a 56, and Samantha and I agree that Phillip looks super on a grey horse and needs to add some to his string.

Emily Beshear and River King are in third place on a 51.3.

Marilyn Little and RF Black Pearl are right behind Phillip and Crackerjack in sixth place on a 57.7. Marilyn is riding with her shoulder in a brace, as she’s recovering from a Grade 3 separation of her shoulder, but she didn’t seem to be in too much pain today and put in a nice test, aside from a slight bobble in the first flying change and the final halt. South African Hayley Parker is riding the very lovely Pigrela Des Cabanes, who was third in the Fair Hill CCI2* last fall with Clayton Fredericks in the irons. They are sitting in seventh place on a 64.6. Will Faudree and Andromaque kick things off for us after the break at 2:37 p.m. We should see some exciting tests in the last group, with Hannah Sue Burnett, Marilyn Little, Sally Cousins, Jessica Phoenix and Phillip Dutton all set to ride. Stay tuned for much more from Jersey Fresh.

[Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [CCI3* Test]

[Emily Beshear and River King]

[Marilyn Little and RF Black Pearl]

[Phillip Dutton and Crackerjack]

Mackenna Shea and Landioso lead the CCI3* at Jersey Fresh.

Mackenna Shea and Landioso stole the show in the CCI3* dressage at Jersey Fresh, taking the lead on a 46.7 and showing that the West Coast contingent is here to make a big statement this weekend. Mackenna and Landioso, a stunning Bavarian Warmblood gelding, most recently won the CIC3* at Twin Rivers last month, and have had top placings at Galway Downs and Copper Meadows as well. Samantha Clark caught Mackenna for an interview after her beautiful test, so be sure to check back soon for that video. Buck Davidson and D.A. Adirmo also had a brilliant test in the mid-morning group, scoring a 51.5 to move into third place. I thought they had some of the best transitions we’ve seen so far today, particularly to the medium walk and collected canter, and Buck seemed very happy after the test.

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive are in fifth place on a 54.8.

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive are sitting in fifth place on a 54.8 after putting in a solid test. Fugitive was most recently eighth in the CIC3* at The Fork, and I’m sure Phillip will be looking to improve on that here this weekend. Jessica Phoenix and Erodium — her second ride in the CCI3* this weekend, as she’s also riding Exponential — were the last to go before the lunch break and put in a lovely, relaxed test to sit in sixth place on a 55.4. Jon Holling and Zapotek B are sitting just behind Jessie and Erodium in sixth place on a 57.1. I absolutely love this horse, who is a real show stopper and had some stunning moments in the test. Had the horse been a bit less tense, I think we would have seen much higher marks here, but this still puts Jon and Zapotek B into a solid place going into the cross country on Saturday.

Buck Davidson and D.A. Adirmo are in third place on a 51.5.

This is the first time I’ve seen Zachary Brandt and Cavallino Cocktail go in person, and I really loved how this beautiful Irish Sport Horse mare went. While there were some bobbles in the test, this West Coast pair is incredibly talented and will be a lot of fun to watch this weekend. Zach and Cavallino Cocktail are sitting in 14th place on 61.3. The sun has poked through the clouds here at the Horse Park of New Jersey, and it’s turned out to be a very lovely setting for Day 1 of dressage. We’re now on a one-hour lunch break before Marilyn Little and RF Black Pearl kick off the CIC3* dressage at 1 p.m. There are 18 horses contesting the CIC3*, and I’ll be back to bring you more photos and videos from the afternoon groups. Stay tuned for much more from Jersey Fresh.

Michael Pollard and Mensa currently lead the CCI3* dressage at Jersey Fresh.

Michael Pollard and Mensa put in their usual solid, consistent test to score 49.5 to take the lead halfway through the CCI3* dressage at Jersey Fresh. I spoke to Michael recently about how Mensa’s season is going so far, and he was very candid about just how highly he thinks of him: “He’s a really nice horse; that’s the bottom line,” Michael said. “He reminds me a lot of Icarus as far as how he goes and how you ride him.” Jessica Phoenix and Exponential kicked things off this morning as the first to ride and also put in a lovely test, sitting just behind Michael and Mensa in second place on a 52.7. Jessie pulled Exponential from Rolex before the cross country and re-routed here. The horse is in top form, and she will be looking for a very good showing here this weekend.

Jessica Phoenix and Exponential are in second place on a 52.7.

Lillian Heard and Share Option had a slight bobble when the horse wanted to canter out of the halt instead of proceeding forward in a collected trot, but Lillian quickly got things back on track to score 57.5 to sit in third place. Lillian and Share Option were third in the Advanced division at The Fork and will definitely be a pair to watch this weekend. Courtney Cooper and Who’s A Star put in a consistent test and probably one of the nicest I’ve seen from them, scoring a 57.9 to sit in fourth place. Leslie and Zenith ISF seemed to have a few arguments during their test, with the horse looking a bit tense at points to score a 58.3, which ties them for fifth place with Sharon White and Wundermaske. Wundermaske was a bit vocal during the test and also lost the counter canter in the final circle before the salute, which has been causing trouble for quite a few riders this morning.

Lillian Heard and Share Option are in third place on a 57.5.

Jennifer McFall and High Times picked up an error when she forgot the halt and rein back at A, which is unfortunate because the test was going so lovely up until then. Jennifer also had some trouble holding the counter canter, but this test had some nice moments. It’s great to see Jennifer and other West Coast riders here at Jersey Fresh this weekend. They scored 59.6 to sit in seventh place. Caitlin Calder also had some trouble in the counter canter circle before the final halt, but I thought their canter work was lovely overall; they scored 64.6 to sit in eighth place. While it rained quite a bit this morning, we just have overcast skies now. Werner Geven and Vandiver will start the second half of the CCI3* group at 10:45 a.m. Stay tuned for much more from Jersey Fresh.

[Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [CCI3* Test]

It’s like Clark knew exactly where to stand.

Here’s a smattering of some of my favorite shots from the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in no particular order. Final counts estimate that more than 250,000 people attended the cross country on Sunday, and the grandstands were sold out for the exciting finale on Monday. Badminton is one of the most highly attended sporting events in the world, second only to the Indianapolis 500. I hope these photos help to convey the incredible atmosphere and competition at Badminton.

More from Badminton:
Thursday Jog Photos
Cross-Country Rider Interviews
Monday Jog Photos (in progress)

Jock Paget and Clifton Promise at this morning's final horse inspection.

I had intended to bring you a final press conference report much in the spirit of my very accurately subtitled report from yesterday, but I feel Jock’s achievement at Badminton this weekend deserves a more serious approach. To quietly stalk the leaders all weekend — when two of the world’s greatest are battling for a Grand Slam win and Ze Terminator seems to be unstoppable — and ultimately come out on top is an incredible achievement. Jock Paget seemed stunned during the press conference today, almost like he was unable to process exactly how this all happened. The reality is that Jock, who used to work as a brick layer and began riding in his late teens, has done what so many dream of doing but so few achieve. To come to Badminton and win on a first attempt — the first rider to do so since Mark Todd in 1980 — is a heroic feat that will serve as a highlight of his career.

Of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to story lines for this weekend. While Andrew Nicholson jumped a flawless show jumping round with Nereo, his efforts ultimately weren’t enough to catch Jock and Michael Jung, meaning that champagne he sipped during the press conference must have tasted a little flat knowing he’d missed the chance to win $350,000 in the Rolex Grand Slam. But New Zealand’s incredibly strong showing here this weekend is a reminder that you can never underestimate this contingent. In the same light, William Fox-Pitt also missed out on winning the Grand Slam, an outcome he waited two years to see through after Badminton was canceled last year. He pulled a rail on Parklane Hawk at the last element of the triple combination, although a clean trip still wouldn’t have placed him ahead of Jock.

There’s been much talk this weekend about whether this track can truly be considered a tried and true Badminton course, with Mark Todd most notably comparing it to a three-star course with a few four-star questions thrown in. The course was designed last year by Hugh Thomas to serve as a selection trial for the London Olympics. As Badminton ended up being canceled due to record rain fall in the UK, only a few minor changes were made to the course. Most notably, the Mirage Pond was significantly altered and claimed quite a few riders with its new design. While I’m certainly not a course design expert, I did walk Rolex last weekend and Badminton this weekend, so I’d like to think I can offer some perspective on the matter at hand.

I think this year’s Badminton track was definitely a technical challenge. While the course is relatively flat and the going was easy thanks to fantastic course maintenance, footing and good English weather, the technical questions were piled one on top of the other, and the huge efforts required a very fit horse to get around. When you consider that Savills’ Staircase — a practically vertical ascension up two big steps with two or three quick strides to a skinny — was placed as fence 22 of 30 on course, it puts into perspective just how fit horses needed to be to get around this track safely. And we certainly didn’t see clear rides from all the usual pairs. This course caught out Michael Jung, Mary King, Dirk Schrade, Zara Phillips and Bettina Hoy; need I say more?

To be clear, I don’t think the 85-percent completion rate on this year’s Badminton course should in any way diminish the achievement of pairs who came home safely this weekend. Most of all, we should be incredibly proud of our North American pairs, all of whom jumped clean with minimal time penalties. Let’s break it down: Clark Montgomery safely took Universe around the horse’s first four-star. Colleen Rutledge became the first rider in history to complete five of the world’s six CCI4* events on the same horse. Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master had just .8 time penalties and ultimately finished the weekend in 12th place. And although Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister had two rails today, they looked superb yesterday across country and will continue to build their partnership with a bright future ahead. To put it simply, this weekend was an undisputed success for North American eventing.

We now know Michael Jung is beatable — something I think we all questioned after the first three days of competition at Badminton — and it was actually refreshing to see a vulnerable moment from him during the final press conference when he said he simply did not know what happened with Sam at the final fence in the show jumping. While Michael has deservedly sat on the throne in his eventing kingdom for many years, the door may be opening for a new pair to step into the spotlight. We saw so many talented pairs this weekend who could easily be the world’s next superstars — Vittoria Panizzon and Sandra Auffarth come to mind — and it’s exciting to speculate about who will rise to the occasion. For now, Jock Paget can revel in the fact that he dethroned the very best riders in the world this weekend. And it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. Go Jock, and go eventing.

[Final results] [Trophies]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmhsbGnMd78
Final press conference video