Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo clinched the win with a beautiful clear round in show jumping.

Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo came into the Rolex stadium with two rails in hand, but ultimately didn’t need it, as the pair put in one of just five clear rounds of the day and added three time faults to clinch the victory. Show jumping proved to be very influential, with the last jump serving as the bogey fence, coming down more than any other jump today. But Quimbo didn’t touch any rails and jumped like he wasn’t fatigued in the slightest after his double clear cross-country trip yesterday. Andrew’s win here at Rolex this weekend creates an unprecedented situation we may never see again in the history of eventing, as Andrew and William Fox-Pitt will now battle it out for the Rolex Grand Slam next weekend at Badminton.

William finished in second place with Seacookie TSF after jumping double clear despite breaking a finger on his left hand in the show jumping. This pair also jumped double clear yesterday on cross country and looked very good today. The horse looked a bit tired coming through the Calumet triple combination, but William is one of the best show jumping riders in the world and knows exactly how to coax a tired horse home on show jumping day. This was not the weekend William envisioned, as he also came to Rolex with Chilli Morning and led the dressage overnight coming into cross country. But after retiring Chilli early on in the course, William opened up room for Andrew to slip by with Quimbo. Andrew also finished in third place with Calico Joe despite pulling three rails in show jumping, an outcome Andrew said could happen in yesterday’s press conference. While show jumping isn’t this horse’s strong suit, it still says a lot that Andrew was able to drop three poles and still take third place.

William Fox-Pitt and Seacookie TSF finished in second place.

Buck Davidson had a fantastic weekend overall, but unfortunately struggled today in show jumping, pulling two rails with all three of his rides. After two knockdowns at two of the three jumps in the last line with Ballynoe Castle RM — who was sitting in third place coming into today — Buck left the arena looking gutted. But the crowd still showed him an incredible amount of love, and Buck still finishes as the highest-placed American rider in fourth place with Reggie. Buck also finished in ninth place with Mar De Amor and 22nd with Park Trader — definitely a result to be proud of. If it’s any consolation for Buck, he’ll have a two-year lease on a Land Rover Evoque thanks to coming home closest to optimum time yesterday on cross country and winning the Land Rover Ride of the Day.

Lynn Symansky and Donner had the weekend of a lifetime, finishing in fifth place in the horse’s first trip to Rolex with a fantastic clear show jumping round. While Lynn was a bit disappointed after her dressage test, she didn’t let that faze her going into cross country yesterday, where she finished double clear despite riding with her right hand in a cast due to a spiral fracture in her pinkie. She raised “the claw” — as she’s been calling her hand — to the very enthusiastic crowd when she came home clear, and she sported a million-dollar smile when she came through the in-gate. Donner is quite simply a horse for the future, and we will be seeing much more from him. He’s also one of three Thoroughbreds to finish in the top six, the others being Calico Joe and Pawlow. Although Will Faudree pulled a rail with Pawlow, he still had an excellent weekend and very quietly stalked the leaders all weekend. He brought Ernie around cross country yesterday with a smooth trip, picking up 6.4 time penalties to move into fifth. While he dropped a rail today to drop one place to finish in sixth, this was still a super weekend for this pair.

Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM finished in fourth place.

Canada had a great day, with Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice finishing as the highest-placed Canadian pair in seventh place. Hawley had one of the only five clear trips this afternoon, and considering the explosive cheer she received upon crossing the finish line, you would’ve think she’d won the whole thing. Hawley took a celebratory gallop past the grandstand with a very excited Ginny doing airs above the ground. Hawley and Ginny won the hearts of the Rolex crowd on Saturday by energetically flying around the cross-country course. Ginny proved that yesterday’s brilliance was no fluke, and they moved up four places into seventh. Peter Barry and Kilrodan Abbott delivered the first clear trip of the day and also received a lot of support from the crowd. Peter and Eddie moved up eight places from 25th into 17th — more than any other pair today — thanks to their double-clear trip.

Kristi Nunnink and R-Star finished in eighth place after dropping one rail. The mare jumped beautifully today despite the rail, and she also looked fantastic on cross-country yesterday, pulling Kristi around and absolutely eating up the course. Crowd favorites Peter Atkins and Henry Jota Hampton — the only pair competing for Australia this weekend — came oh so close to having a clear trip today, but pulled the final rail. The crowd still showed Peter and Henny a lot of love, and they finished the weekend in 10th place after jumping clear on cross country yesterday and coming home with just 1.6 penalties. In a very touching moment, Peter gave Henny a huge hug after hopping off at the in-gate, showing just how much this horse means to him.

Lynn Symansky and Donner finished in fifth place.

There were five clear rides this afternoon out of 29 pairs — Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo, William Fox-Pitt and Seacookie TSF, Lynn Symansky and Donner, Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice, and Peter Barry with Kilrodan Abbott. There were just four double-clears in the show jumping, with Quimbo finishing three seconds over the optimum, likely spending a few extra seconds as he cleared each fence by inches. Seven pairs had just one rail. Four other pairs incurred time penalties. The U.S. only had one of five double-clears, despite starting the day with just over half of the show jumpers. Canada was the only country with more than one double-clear show jumping round. Breaking down the results by country, New Zealand dominated with Andrew Nicholson finished with two horses in the top three. Great Britain claimed second with William and Seacookie TSF’s performance. The U.S. finished five pairs in the top 10, Canada had Hawley Bennett-Awad and Ginny, and Peter Atkins and Henny gave Australia one pair in the top 10 with 10th place.

Only two pairs finished on their dressage score — William Fox-Pitt and Seacookie TSF and Lynn Symansky and Donner. William and Seacookie moved up from 10th to second on a perfect weekend of jumping, and Lynn Symansky and Donner moved up from 19th to fifth. Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice moved all the way up from 29th to seventh by adding just one second on the cross country to their dressage score. Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Eagle moved up 23 places to 11th with just a rail added for their weekend’s work. James Alliston and Parker moved up an impressive 36 places with just a rail today and a double-clear yesterday to finish in 14th place; he also finished in 23rd with Jumbo’s Jake.

It was a wild weekend here at Rolex, and things are only going to get more interesting going forward this week as we prepare for a showdown at Badminton between William Fox-Pitt and Andrew Nicholson. William joked at the press conference that Michael Jung would win anyway, so there was no use predicting a battle for the Rolex Grand Slam, but it will be a very exciting week nonetheless. Stay tuned for a full report from the Rolex press conference with William, Andrew and Buck, as well as a lot more photos from show jumping today at Rolex. Go eventing.

[Live Scores]

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Andrew Nicholson currently leads with Quimbo.

All 30 cross-country finishers presented this morning at the jog at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Twenty-nine horses passed, with only James Alliston’s Tivoli being spun. Three horses in total were held: James’ Tivoli, Meghan O’Donoghue’s Pirate, and Kendal Lehari’s Daily Edition. Both Pirate and Daily Edition passed upon reinspection. Word around the barns is that the vast majority of horses look excellent after running Derek Di Grazia’s cross-country course yesterday, which we can likely attribute to excellent footing. A huge crowd turned out to watch the jog this morning, with the crowd stacked eight deep at some spots. The sun was shining at the beginning of the jog, but clouds began to roll in as the jog progressed, an omen that we will likely be seeing rain for show jumping later this afternoon.

Andrew Nicholson is sitting in second place with Calico Joe.

It’s a real shame for James that Tivoli was spun, as this horse was sitting the best out of his three rides in 14th place after cross country. But James’ two other mounts Parker, sitting in 21st place, and Jumbo’s Jake, sitting in 26th place, both looked wonderful this morning during the jog, and it’s still a huge achievement to bring two out of three mounts into Sunday’s show jumping at Rolex. All of Buck Davidson’s three mounts were accepted, and he heads into show jumping in excellent position with Ballynoe Castle RM setting in third place. The crowd waited anxiously to hear if Reggie would be accepted, and there was a huge cheer when that confirmation was made. The crowd is really pulling for Buck this weekend, who is the highest-placed American rider heading into show jumping. Buck is also sitting in eighth place with Mar De Amor and 23rd place with Park Trader.

Buck Davidson is sitting in third place with Ballynoecastle RM.

Quimbo looked incredible this morning and very fresh. Andrew gave him a pat on the nose to settle the horse as he pranced a little, showing that he looks in fine form to seal the deal and take the Rolex win this afternoon. Andrew said yesterday in the show jumping that this horse is a very good show jumper, so it’s hard to bet against him. Should things go awry with Quimbo, Andrew also has a chance to clinch the win with his second-placed horse, Calico Joe, although Andrew said this horse is not as solid of a show jumper as Quimbo. Buck has an excellent chance sitting in third place with Ballynoecastle RM, and, of course, we can’t count out William Fox-Pitt and Seacookie TSF — who looked lovely this morning — sitting in fourth place. Will Faudree, who is in fifth place with Pawlow, looked very dapper this morning; someone standing next to me commented that he was “bringing sexy back.”

Will Faudree is sitting in fifth place with Pawlow.

Quite a few horses looked very fresh this morning. Sal Dali hauled Beth Perkins down the jog lane and looked like he was ready to go around cross country again. Jan Byyny’s Syd Kent also looked very keen and ready to go; she heads into show jumping in 13th place. Kendal Lehari — who won our Ballsy Ride of the Day Award yesterday — wins Best Dressed today. She rocked a hot pink dress that someone standing near me observed matched the color of the geraniums lining the jog lane. Daniel Clasing’s Houston, who skipped around cross country yesterday for a double clear in his four-star debut, also looked ready to go, and Lynn Symansky’s Donner looked brilliant. It will be an exciting finale to Rolex this afternoon. Show jumping starts at 1:15 p.m. Stay tuned for much more.

Kendal Lehari sported a fabulous pink dress with Daily Edition.

Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo take the Rolex lead. Photo by Samantha Clark.

After a relatively quiet morning, Derek Di Grazia’s cross-country course took its toll on the second group of riders at Rolex this afternoon, with four riders falling — with no major injuries — and five horses retiring on course. The overnight leaderboard also saw a major shakeup, with only four of the top 10 horses after the dressage remaining in the top 10. Most notably, leaders William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning retired on course at the first element of the HSBC Water Park. Chilli looked very peaky at the Curving Brushes at 6AB and never really seemed to lock on at the first water complex. William’s retirement on course means Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo move into the lead thanks to a brilliant double clear cross-country trip. Saturday turned into moving day for the Rolex field, presenting an opportunity for anyone to skyrocket up the leaderboard with a good ride. Buck moved up a collective 17 places on all three horses today, moving up from 8th to 3rd on Ballynoecastle RM, from 20th to 8th on Mar De Amor, and remaining in 23rd with Park Trader. Hawley Bennett moved up 18 places from 29th to 11th by coming in just one second over the optimum time with Gin & Juice.  Kendal Lehari and Daily Edition moved up more than any other pair by jumping 20 places from 36th to 16th on a double-clear.

Andrew and Quimbo’s double clear was one of three this afternoon and 10 total double clears for the day. While the afternoon group included many of our Rolex first-timers, it also included seasoned pairs who were unexpectedly caught out. In addition to William and Chilli Morning retiring, Mary King also called it a day with Fernhill Urco at the Horse Park Shelters at 26AB just four fences from home. Mary had a runout earlier on course at the out element at the Head of the Lake and had been tied for fifth place overnight. Boyd Martin made the same decision to retire with Trading Aces at the Horse Park Shelters after Oscar began to tire badly toward the end of the course. Boyd, who was sitting in 12th place overnight, gave Oscar a brilliant ride the whole way around, and the horse looked very good early in the course. Oscar needed 30 seconds more of run today, but he showed earlier on the course that he’s definitely a possible team horse for Boyd in the future.  These two retirement decisions from Mary and Boyd were true displays of horsemanship.

We reported earlier this morning that Phillip Dutton would not ride Mighty Nice, as he had decided to save the horse for another day. Phillip changed his mind and decided to ride Happy after all, perhaps after so many riders in the top 10 were caught out this afternoon. Unfortunately, Phillip and Happy had a runout at the Bridgestone Park Question and subsequently retired on course. The heartbreaker of the afternoon came when Allie Knowles and Last Call, the first to go after the lunch break, had a rough ride to the Ditch Brush at fence 12, where Fergie banged herself on the fence. Allie and Fergie then had a runout at the first element of the Sunken Road at fence 13, and were then eliminated after more stops while trying to take the option. Allie and Last Call were the highest-placed American pair coming into cross country in fourth place, and today was just sadly not their day.

Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle RM move into third place. Photo by Samantha Clark.

There were four falls in all this afternoon and five total for the day, with the most unfortunate fall coming when Marilyn Little took a spill from RF Demeter when the mare got her legs tangled at the out element of the Land Rover Hollow. Marilyn was riding with a Grade 3 separated right shoulder and looked like she was in immense pain when she fell. But she got up quickly, and both she and Demeter are fine. They were tied for fifth place coming into cross country. Ronald Zabala-Goetschel also had a scary fall from Wise Equestrian Master Rose when the horse hung a leg at the Head of the Lake. Rachel Jurgens fell from Ziggy at the first element of the HSBC Water Park, and Heather Gillette and Our Questionnaire fell at the Head of the Lake. Becky Holder fell from Can’t Fire Me in the morning session at the last water. Luckily all horses and riders were up and looked fine.

Buck Davidson gets a huge shoutout for coming home clear on all three of his rides, with double clear trips on Ballynoecastle RM and Mar De Amor. He moves up to third place with Ballynoecastle RM and eighth place with Mar De Amor. James Alliston also came home clear with all three of his rides and had a double clear trip on Parker. To bring three rides to Rolex and bring all of them home safely is an incredible achievement — HUGE kudos to both James and Buck. The Ballsy Ride of the Day Award goes to Kendal Lehari and Daily Edition, who had a blazing fast double clear trip around and quite a few Superman moments. Meghan O’Donoghue and Pirate also had a brilliant trip around their first Rolex, and Meghan rode like a seasoned pro.

Looking at the results from the perspective of nationality, there are five U.S. pairs in the top 10 after the cross-country (Buck on two, Will on Pawlow, Lynn on Donner, and Kristi Nunnink on R-Star), three pairs from New Zealand (Andrew with his two, and Jonelle), and two from Great Britain (William and James). All three Kiwi pairs to start the competition (Andrew with Quimbo and Calico Joe and Jonelle with The Deputy) finish the day in the top seven. Canada’s highest placed rider is Hawley in 11th, but four out of Canada’s five starters moved up on the day and all of them finished the course.

Five of the top 10 horses after the dressage were eliminated or retired. Going into show jumping, Andrew Nicholson is 7.2 points ahead of third-placed Buck Davidson and Quimbo going into the show jumping. In total,19 of 21 starters in the morning finished the course, with 18 coming home clear. Just 10 of 20 afternoon starters finished, with only eight coming home clear. The course definitely proved to be very challenging, especially when looking at the afternoon rides, but the course was still incredibly safe, with no falls resulting in major injuries. Stay tuned for a full report from the press conference.

[Full Scores]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ_Ouhc3g4E
Andrew Nicholson talks about his rides

Andrew Nicholson and Calico Joe came home double clear. Photo by Samantha Clark.-

We’re halfway through the field on cross-country day here at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, with seven riders coming home with no jumping penalties and inside the time. So far, Derek Di Grazia’s course has ridden very well and has proven to be challenging while safe — an important factor for the record 12 first-time competitors this year. William Fox-Pitt and Seacookie TSF started things off this morning with a cracking trailblazing round, coming home exactly on the optimum time at 11:21 and showing the riders back at the barn that the time was attainable.

The seven double clear trips this morning came from William Fox Pitt and Seacookie TSF, Andrew Nicholson and Calico Joe, James Alliston and Parker, Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Eagle, Buck Davidson and Mar De Amor, Lynn Symansky and Donner, and Daniel Clasing and Houston. Time is definitely doable but not necessarily easy to make, with 19 riders coming home clear but with time penalties. Thirteen riders finished clear with less than 10 time penalties, and we saw a lot of smart rides toward the end of the course when horses began to tire and riders nursed them home.

Four riders withdrew before cross country, including Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice. Phillip decided  to save the horse for another day after his dressage test didn’t go quite the way he wanted yesterday. Happy is a young horse and the jumping isn’t a problem for him, so he really has nothing to prove by running today. Sally Cousins also withdrew Tsunami, as the mare had a rough trip to Lexington and has developed a cough. Jessica Phoenix also withdrew Exponential and will reroute to Jersey Fresh. Jan Byyny and Inmidair are the only other pair to withdraw thus far.

Becky Holder took the only spill of the morning when she fell from Can’t Fire Me at the out element of the Animal Water Park at fence 24B. It was a soft fall, and Becky and Teddy were both up right away and are fine. This fall is a huge disappointment for Becky, as she also didn’t complete at Rolex last year with this horse when he was pulled up due to a cut on his leg. Becky and Teddy were sitting in seventh place after dressage and were on course for a very solid finish here this weekend. While Becky took the only fall of the day thus far, there have been some close calls on course with riders taking some impressive flyers, especially at the Horse Park Shelters at 26AB toward the end of the course.

Maddie Blackman and Gordonstown were the first to have trouble on course as the seventh pair out when the horse stopped at both the first element of the Bridgestone Park Question and the out element of the Land Rover Hollow. She chose to retire on course after the second stop. Caitlin Silliman and Catch A Star had an unfortunate runout at the first element of the Land Rover Hollow, but kicked on to finish well in their Rolex debut. The Land Rover Hollow has been riding sticky for quite a few riders, as have the Curving Brushes at 6AB. The Sunken Road has also seen quite a few creative rides, but so far has ridden very well.

The round of the morning is a tie between Daniel Clasing and Houston and Lynn Symansky and Donner, who both came home double clear. Houston looked fantastic the whole way around in this pair’s Rolex debut, full of running at the end and barely breathing. This is a very long, hilly course, and it’s a real testament to Daniel’s preparation for his first four-star that he was able to come home in such fantastic fashion. Lynn and Donner looked equally brilliant, also coming home double clear despite Lynn riding with her right hand in a cast after fracturing her pinky last month. After watching Donner in his first four-star appearance, it’s clear he is a horse for the future.

Six of the top 10 horses after dressage are still left to go in the afternoon session, including the overnight leader by a wide margin William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning. Andrew Nicholson’s double-clear trip on Calico Joe puts him one step closer on the road to the Grand Slam. Allie Knowles sat between Andrew and William Fox-Pitt yesterday at the press conference to “separate them,” as Andrew must win here at Rolex this weekend and at Badminton next weekend to clinch the Rolex Grand Slam, while William needs to win Badminton to take the Grand Slam. Allie Knowles and Last Call — the highest-placed American pair after dressage in fourth place — will lead off after the lunch break at 1:30 p.m. Check out the Rolex Cross-Country Open Thread for a breakdown of all the rides thus far.

[Live Scores] [Live Blog] [Open Thread] [Ride Times] [Course Walk] [Rolex Preview]

Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo are in second place on a 38.

Andrew Nicholson couldn’t quite catch William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning in the exciting finale of dressage here at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Andrew and Quimbo put in a really lovely test for a 38 to move into second place. Aside from missing on the last change — which has proven tricky for quite a few riders today — this test was excellent. Quimbo is a fabulous mover and very light on his feet; he almost looks cat-like as he covers the ground. Andrew also sits in second place on 40.8 with Calico Joe, giving himself two very good chances to win at Rolex. A victory this weekend also puts Andrew in a potential position to win the Rolex Grand Slam, which he would clinch should he win both Rolex and Badminton on back-to-back weekends. Tomorrow’s cross-country day may prove to be a Fox-Pitt vs. Nicholson showdown.

Marilyn Little and RF Demeter are in fifth place on a 43.7.

Marilyn Little rode a stellar test today on RF Demeter despite having a Grade 3 separated shoulder, which happened last weekend when a young horse she was riding fell during a jump school. Samantha tweeted that Marilyn looked sore in warmup, but she really put on her game face and pushed through the pain. Her determination to ride this weekend despite her injury paid off, as she and RF Demeter scored a 43.7 to tie Mary King and Fernhill Urco for fifth place. David and Karen O’Connor both intently watched Marilyn’s test, and Karen looked absolutely thrilled when her score was announced. The EN team is keeping our fingers crossed for a safe trip around cross country for Marilyn tomorrow. Kudos to Marilyn for riding through what has to be severe pain.

Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle RM are in eighth place on 45.2.

Buck Davidson put in a superb performance on Ballynoecastle RM and moved into eighth place on a 45.2. This is the best test I’ve ever seen from Buck and Reggie, and this pair definitely deserves it. Buck gave Reggie a huge pat at the end of the test and looked thrilled when he left the ring. Cross country can be Reggie’s nemesis, so tomorrow will really make or break this pair. Buck will have three chances to get around tomorrow; he’s also sitting in 20th on Mar De Amor and 23rd with Park Trader. Jan Byyny and Inmidair looked fantastic in their test and were rewarded with a 49.2 to move into 13th place. This is J.R.’s Rolex debut, and he handled the atmosphere very well. There changes looked fabulous, and aside from a slight bobble in the canter transition out of the reinback and doing a California roll through the final salute, this was a super test.

Jan Byyny and Inmidair are in 13th place on 49.2.

James Alliston and Tivoli also had an excellent test, and particularly had some really nice moments in the trot work. The changes were a bit sticky, but James should be very thrilled with Tivoli in the horse’s first trip to Rolex. James and Tivoli scored 49.5 to put them in 14th place. Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice were the final ride of the day, and unfortunately things did not go their way. Happy was fussy in the halt and tried to break to the canter right off the bat in the collected trot. The atmosphere really seemed to affect the horse, and Phillip couldn’t take his foot off the brakes to really show what this horse can do. The good news is Happy just turned 10 and is just beginning to come into his own. Phillip and Mighty Nice scored 57 to sit in 24th place; he is in 34th with Fernhill Eagle.

Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice are sitting in 24th with a score of 57.

John predicted yesterday that the leaderboard would see a major shuffle on Day 2 of dressage, and he was certainly correct. While William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning absolutely wowed the crowd today, I have to give the ride of the day to Allie Knowles and Last Call, who are currently the highest-placed American pair — and in their Rolex debut no less. Allie has worked incredibly hard to get where she is with this mare — as Samantha has extensively chronicled in her training diaries series — and I’m thrilled for Allie to have such a wonderful day on such a big stage. Stay tuned for much more from Rolex, as Samantha will be bringing you a full report from the press conference. Tomorrow will be a very exciting day as the horses and riders tackle Derek Di Grazia’s Rolex cross-country course. Go eventing.

[Live Scores]

William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning just took the lead at Rolex with a 33.3.

William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning brought down the house at Rolex this afternoon with an incredible test to move into first place on a 33.3, crushing Andrew Nicholson and Calico Joe’s 40.8 test from yesterday. This horse is so lovely and almost mesmerizing to watch — a perfect picture of harmony and rhythm. I predicted William and Chilli Morning to win in my Rolex preview, and they have certainly put themselves in an excellent position with that performance. If Chilli Morning does in fact win, he will become the first stallion to do so in the history of Rolex. He was fifth at Pau last year and won the Blenheim CCI3*, so Chilli Morning certainly has the talent and experience to pull off a victory this weekend. William is also currently sitting in seventh place on a 47.2 with his second ride, Seacookie TSF. If William wins here this weekend, he will carry a lot of momentum forward into next weekend, when he was a chance to clinch the Rolex Grand Slam with a win at Badminton.

Heather Gillette and Our Questionnaire scored 58.7 to move into 21st place.

Heather Gillette and Our Questionaire scored a 58.7 to move into 21st place. Questie almost didn’t make it to Rolex after a trailering accident left him with a nasty wound following Poplar Place. But Heather and her team worked incredibly hard to get this horse here, and he looked great today. Questie appeared very obedient and most notably had really excellent changes. This pair competed at Rolex on 2011 but retired on cross country; they’ll be looking to make it around tomorrow. Kendal Lehari and Daily Edition put in a solid test for their Rolex debut to sit in 30th place on a 63.2. This horse has a lovely trot, and Kendal really got to show him off in the extended trot. He spooked a bit at the judge’s box at E during the free walk, but Kendal settled him well. Aside from missing on a change and looking tense at points, this was a really nice test for this pair.

Kendal Lehari and Daily Edition scored a 63.2 to move into 30th place.

Rachel Jurgens looked absolutely elated after finishing her test with Ziggy. This pair is also making their four-star debut, and Ziggy was very cooperative and quiet until the reinback, when he became a bit argumentative. But Rachel settled him well during the canter work, and they had some really excellent changes. Rachel and Ziggy scored 67 to tie for 35th with Maddie Blackman and Gordonstown. Lindsey Oaks and Enchantez were the first to go after the lunch break when spectators were still settling into their seats, so they were a bit unlucky in that there was more buzz coming from the stands than usual. Enchantez handled the atmosphere as well as can be expected for a horse making a four-star debut; this pair scored 70.7 to sit in 38th. We have six more rides to go to wrap up dressage here at Rolex. Marilyn Little and RF Demeter will kick off the final group of rides at 2:40 p.m.

[Live Scores]

Boyd Martin and Trading Aces scored a 47.5 to move into eighth place.

Boyd Martin should debut a new horse every year at Rolex if he’s going to continue to lay down dressage tests like this. Trading Aces looked superb in the first four-star test of his career, scoring a 47.5 to move into eighth place as the final horse before the lunch break here on Day 2 of dressage at Rolex. Aside from a few naughty moments where Oscar bucked during his changes, the test was very good, with the horse looking relaxed and obedient throughout. Boyd finished in third place at Rolex last year with Otis Barbotierre in the horse’s four-star debut, and he’s set himself up for a repeat performance this year with Oscar. Jonelle Richards and The Deputy also performed a brilliant test, and are sitting in 10th place on a 52.7. This is the horse’s first four-star, and I thought he handled the atmosphere very well. Jonelle’s test had some lovely moments, and aside from one break to the trot during a canter serpentine, this was very well done.

Jonelle Richards and The Deputy are in 10th place on a 52.7.

Ronald Zabala-Goetschel and Wise Equestrian Master Rose kicked things off for the second group of riders today, and they just barely scooted into the ring at the last possible second after the bell rang. The horse struggled a bit in the canter work, but overall I thought this was a very good test for Ronald. Also, Big Boy looked fabulously turned out; the horse was absolutely shining in the sunlight. Kudos to Ronald’s groom! Big Boy made mincemeat of the CIC3* course at The Fork earlier this month and should easily romp around the cross-country course tomorrow. Emily Renfroe and Walk The Line were the second to last to ride before the lunch break. This pair is making their four-star debut at Rolex this weekend, and suffered the same fate as Lynn Symansky and Donner yesterday when Emily struggled with the halt and had a tough time pulling the test together after that. I thought she recovered well under such pressure; the two are sitting in a 30th place on a 65.8.

Ronald Zabala-Goetschel and Wise Equestrian Master Rose are in 16th place on a 55.7.

The real heartbreaker of the morning was Erin Sylvester and No Boundaries. Bucky spooked badly while circling the arena before the test, which turned out to be a precursor for how the rest of their performance would fare. Erin did her best to settle the horse and get the test back on track, but Bucky was tense and unresponsive throughout. Considering their brilliant performance here at Rolex last year when this pair finished 13th, I know Erin has to be crushed that things did not go her way today in the little white box. But Erin is tough and this horse is fantastic; they will be back to fight another day. Erin and No Boundaries are in 34th place on an 86.3. We now have eight rides in the 40s going into the afternoon session. Lindsey Oaks and Enchantez will kick things off after the lunch break at 1:30 p.m. We still have some exciting rides yet to come, with William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning set to ride in the next group, and Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo and Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice scheduled as the respective final rides of the day.

[Live Scores]

Allie Knowles and Last Call move into second place with a 43.3.

Nailed it — that’s the best way to describe Allie Knowles’ dressage test with Last Call in their four-star debut this morning on Day 2 of dressage here at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. The pair scored a 43.3 to move into second place with a fluid, beautiful test. The crowd was really pulling for Allie and Last Call, and everyone groaned when they missed their final change before the halt. But that bobble doesn’t tarnish this test in the least — it was just fantastic. The crowd gave them a huge cheer and well-deserved applause when they left the ring, and Allie seemed just thrilled with the score. By laying down such an excellent dressage test, Allie puts herself into a fantastic position for the rest of the weekend. This pair was very competitive at The Fork, placing sixth in the Advanced division, and has all the tools they need to put in a clean trip cross-country trip tomorrow.

Mary King and Fernhill Urco are sitting in second place on a 43.3.

Mary King and Fernhill Urco also put in a lovely test to move into third place on a 43.7. This horse is an incredible mover, and Mary knows exactly how to squeeze the marks out of each movement. There were no major bobbles in the test, and Mary gave a big wave to the crowd upon leaving the arena. Look for her to put in a double-clear cross-country trip tomorrow to hold her place at the top of the leaderboard. We also saw a wonderful, obedient test from James Alliston and Jumbo’s Jake, who kicked things off as the first pair of the morning. They scored a 51.5 to move into eighth thanks to very accurate riding from James. In my preview, I predicted we would see the best result this weekend from Parker, but Jake might prove me wrong yet; this was really a lovely test. Jake came here to Rolex in 2011, but didn’t make it around the cross-country course. James will be looking for redemption with this horse tomorrow.

James Alliston and Jumbo's Jake are sitting in eighth place on a 51.5.

Meghan O’Donoghue has to be thrilled with her first CCI4* dressage test with Pirate; the pair scored a 58 to move into 15th. Pirate was definitely intrigued by the large crowd, but Meghan held him together well and should be very proud of that performance on such a big stage. We also saw Rolex first-timers Austin O’Connor and Ringwood Mississippi in this first group of riders. This is a stunning, big black gelding who lacked impulsion throughout the test, but still looked relaxed and obedient. Austin and Ringwood Mississippi are sitting in 21st place on a 60.7. Michelline Jordan and Irish Diamonds, who are also making their Rolex debut, rode last in the first group of the morning. They lost some marks for accuracy, but should be very pleased for completing their first four-star test, scoring a 60.2 to tie for 19th place with Sally Cousins and Tsunami. Ronald Zabala-Goetschel and Wise Equestrian Master Rose will start us off for the second group of rides before the lunch break.

[Live Scores]

Andrew Nicholson and Calico Joe

I had a bird’s eye view of riders’ expressions as they left the Rolex stadium after completing their dressage tests today. It’s very interesting to watch their faces, as you can generally tell exactly how they felt about their tests based on the looks they share. Some riders — like Caitlin Silliman — looked jubilant after finishing their tests. Others, as you’ll see below, didn’t look so happy. But everyone who rode today should be extremely proud, especially the riders who are competing in their first four-star event at Rolex this weekend. Getting to Rolex is an incredible accomplishment that many aspire to but a precious few accomplish. Here are my favorite faces from Rolex today.

Shandiss McDonald and Rockfield Grant Juan moved into third place on a 45.7.

Shandiss McDonald and Rockfield Grant Juan offered an exciting conclusion to Day 1 of dressage at Rolex by performing a brilliant dressage test to score 45.7 to move into third place. Aside from one small bobble when the horse broke to the trot in the free walk, this was a very relaxed, accurate test with beautiful changes and canter work in general. Shandiss and Rockfield Grant Juan received a big cheer from the crowd on their final salute and are now poised for a very good weekend should things go their way. This pair can be extremely dangerous and will definitely be ones to watch for the rest of the weekend. Lynn Symansky and Donner also put in a nice test coming off a win in The Fork CIC3*. Lynn rode very well despite riding with a broken pinky and a cast on her right hand. Their test started out a bit rocky when Donner tried to canter out of the halt, but he looked fantastic in the reinback and much more obedient for the rest of the test. Lynn pulled this test together really well and scored a 54.8 to move into eighth.

Lynn Symansky and Donner are in eighth on a 54.8.

Buck Davidson and Mar De Amor are right behind Lynn and Donner in ninth place on a 55.2. This test had some really nice moments, and Buck should be very happy with this horse’s first CCI4* dressage test. Aside from a few cheat steps during the canter depart out of the rein back, there were no major bobbles in this test. Kristi Nunnink and R-Star are sitting just behind Buck and Mar De Amor in 10th place on a 55.3. I love this mare; she is super fancy and has incredibly correct gaits. R-Star looked very keen throughout the test and aside from missing a change, this was a very nice performance from this pair. Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice walked into the Rolex stadium like they owned the place. This was not their best work today, with Ginny looking tense and fussy throughout the test. Hawley and Ginny are sitting in 14th on a 59.8. Cross country is where this pair really shines, so they’ll be in their element come Saturday.

Kristi Nunnink and R-Star scored a 55.3 to sit in 10th place.

Sally Cousins and Tsunami unfortunately had an error in their test when she turned to the left in her canter depart coming out of the rein back. She also struggled a bit to hold the counter canter serpentine, but Sally and Sue are still within striking distance in 15th place on 60.2. That concludes the rides on Day 1 of dressage at Rolex. The current leaders are Andrew Nicholson and Calico Joe in first on a 40.8, Becky Holder and Can’t Fire Me in second on a 44.2, and Shandiss McDonald and Rockfield Grant Juan in third on a 45.7. We have some heavy hitters set to go on Day 2 tomorrow, with James Allison and Jumbo’s Jake kicking things off at 10 a.m. We saw some truly lovely tests today, with quite a few Rolex first-timers stepping up to tackle their first CCI4* tests. Be sure to check in later today for Samantha’s wonderful interviews and photos. Go Rolex.

[Live Scores] [Ride Times]

The top 15 after Day 1 of dressage at Rolex

Kristin Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken move into tie for fifth place on a 53.7.

Kristin Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken were the best of the third group to go today at Rolex, scoring a 53.7 to tie Caitlin Silliman and Catch A Star for fifth place on a 53.7. This is Rox’s Rolex debut, and he looked very relaxed and obedient throughout the test. His changes were very exuberant, and Kristin and Rox lost some marks in their canter work. But overall this was a fantastic test for the horse’s first CCI4. Peter Atkins and Henry Jota Hampton were the second best of the third group, scoring a 59.2 to move into ninth place. Henny looked very keen with his ears pricked like always. This horse has a very lovely extended trot and looked eager to go throughout the test. They had the best canter depart out of the reinback that we’ve seen all day. Get excited to see the latest Henny helmet cam on Saturday!

Peter Atkins and Henry Jota Hampton move into ninth on a 59.2.

Katie Ruppel and Sir Donovan are right behind Peter and Henny in 10th place after scoring a 61.8. This test looked a bit quiet in the trot work, but overall it was a very solid test for this pair. Katie has been plagued with bad luck here at Rolex in the past and will hope to complete at their third attempt here. I spoke to Jon Holling, who is here coaching Katie at Rolex, over the lunch break, and he is very confident this pair is going to get it done this weekend. Best of luck to Katie and Sir Donovan as they seek to prove that the third time’s the charm. Peter Barry and Kilrodan Abbott put in a lovely test to sit in 12th place on a 62.8. This horse tries so hard in dressage and is always a pleasure to watch. Eddie struggled a bit in the changes, but overall this was a very good test for this pair.

Peter Barry and Kilrodan Abbott moved into 12th on a 62.8.

Jessica Phoenix and Exponential are sitting in 14th on a 65.5. Tucker was very fussy during the test, tossing his head throughout and  never really settling. He jigged during the free walk and kept trying to break into the trot, and then threw his head during protest in the reinback. Jessie also struggled to get the changes, but held it together well overall. Daniel Clasing and Houston were the last to go in the third group of the day, scoring a 64.5 to sit in 13th place. This is Daniel’s Rolex debut, and he should be very pleased with this test. Houston was a touch quiet in the trot work, but put in some really lovely canter work and picked up some marks there. I thought their changes were particularly good. Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice will lead off in the fourth and final group of the day.

[Live Scores]

Becky Holder and Can't Fire Me scored 44.2 to move into second place.

Becky Holder and Can’t Fire Me couldn’t quite catch Andrew Nicholson, but they put in a hell of a test to move into second place on a 44.2. The entirety of this test was very accurate, obedient and smooth. The trot work at the beginning of the test was particularly good, and Can’t Fire Me looked very relaxed throughout. If I had to pick one thing to nitpick about, I’d say the changes could have been smoother; but Becky should be absolutely thrilled with that test. She received a huge, much deserved cheer from the crowd as she left the ring. Will Faudree and Pawlow were the next best in the second group before the lunch break, scoring a 47.2 to move into fourth place. This was also a very good test with the best changes we’ve seen so far today.

Will Faudree and Pawlow moved into fourth place on a 47.2.

Caitlin Silliman performed the dressage test of a lifetime on Catch A Star to move into fifth place on a 53.7. There’s no better time than your Rolex debut to have a peak performance, and Caitlin absolutely delivered today. Hoku looked relaxed and fabulous sporting some bling on her ear bonnet. They were a bit crooked in the reinback and the changes were a touch sticky, but aside from that it was a spectacular test. Between overcoming horrific burn wounds after Hoku narrowly escaped the True Prospect Farm barn fire and Caitlin recovering from a skull fracture last year, this pair was due for some good luck. What a great comeback story! Caitlin was all smiles leaving the ring, and I am absolutely thrilled that the test went so well for her.

Caitlin Silliman and Catch A Star moved into fifth place on a 53.7.

Maddie Blackman and Gordonstown kicked off the second group of riders. The horse seemed a bit tense throughout and a tad fussy at points, but overall this was a solid test for this pair. Maddie and Gordonstown scored a 67 to sit in 10th place. Beth Perkins and Sal Dali scored a 70.3 to sit in 11th place. Sal Dali jigged the whole way through the free walk and was obviously feeling very good. Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda were scheduled to ride second to last before the lunch break, but Ping slipped this morning while being lunged and is apparently a bit banged up. Kudos to the Rolex officials for allowing Jennie to push her test to tomorrow so Ping can be feeling his best. We’re in the lunch break until 1:30 p.m. when Peter Barry and Kilrodan Abbott will lead off the third group of riders for the day. I’ll be back later in the afternoon for my next update.

[Live Scores] 

Andrew Nicholson and Calico Joe are leading after the first group on a 40.8.

Andrew Nicholson and Calico Joe laid down a stunning test to take the provisional lead on a 40.8 here on Day 1 of dressage at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Six riders kicked things off in the first group to go here on a beautiful, chilly morning in Lexington, Ky. Calico Joe spooked a bit coming down the diagonal toward M in the extended canter, but Andrew corrected him beautifully and got back on track quickly. Aside from being a tad sticky on the changes, this was a relaxed, fluid test. William Fox-Pitt and Seacookie TSF kicked off the morning as the first to go and also put in a very correct test for 46.2 to sit in second place. Andrew will return with his second ride Quimbo tomorrow, as will William Fox-Pitt with Chilli Morning.

William Fox-Pitt and Seacookie TSF are in second place on a 46.2.

Buck Davidson and Park Trader are sitting in third place on a 56.7 as the highest placed American pair thus far. Buck held the horse together very well in his first CCI4* dressage test. Park Trader showed a bit of tension in the free walk and didn’t settle well after that, giving a slight rear after the rein back. Buck struggled to hold the counter canter during the first serpentine, but I think he will be really happy with this test. Jan Byyny and Syd Kent are sitting in fourth place on a 58.2. I also thought this was a lovely test. While Syd Kent showed he was a bit opinionated with a buck during the canter depart out of the reinback, overall this was a very obedient test. Buck will be back for his second ride on Mar De Amor this afternoon and his third ride on Ballynoecastle RM tomorrow, while Jan will return with Inmidair tomorrow.

Buck Davidson and Park Trader are in third on a 56.7.

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Eagle are sitting in fifth place on a 62.3. The horse seemed rushed through the first extended trot, and he also snuck in a few trot steps in the canter depart out of the reinback. Fernhill Eagle had a big spook in one of their flying changes and overall seemed a bit tense. The temperatures are in the mid-40s with a brisk wind, and quite a few of horses seem to be using that as an excuse to act out a bit. James Alliston and Parker rounded out the last of the first group of rides and are sitting in sixth on a 66.2. Parker looked quiet but obedient, and I thought his half pass to the right looked particularly good. He broke during the second canter serpentine, but had some nice changes in the test. I’ll be back during the lunch break with a full report on the second group of rides.

[Live Scores]

Forty-six horse and rider pairs will leave the start box on Saturday.

I’m seriously impressed after walking Derek Di Grazia’s Rolex cross-country course this afternoon. The course is definitely big enough to challenge the seasoned four-star riders, but it also includes a number of options that will help the record 13 first-time Rolex riders get around the course safely. The volunteers have done a wonderful job of decorating the course and are laying a protective covering over the flowers as I type this, as Lexington is under a frost advisory for tonight. Many thanks to all those who worked so hard to put together such a beautiful course for Saturday. Go Rolex.

Chattahoochee Hills. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

It may be Rolex Week, but don’t forget about CHC International, the newly branded May event at at Chattahoochee Hills that organizers Michael Pollard and Hugh Lochore hope will change the way eventing is marketed to and perceived by the public. “We can all run an event with a good cross-country course that really works for the riders, but the sport has got to develop the same way it’s gone in Europe, which is much more appealing to the general public,” Hugh said. “The event becomes a day out for the whole family, and that’s the only way we’ll get major sponsors. We have to make a legitimate sport out of it and appeal to a much wider audience.”

Thus, the concept for CHC International — a true festival in the country — was born. Michael and Hugh, who is also the course designer, have been working tirelessly to prepare an action-packed entertainment lineup for the event, which will feature live bands, a beer garden sponsored by Sweetwater Brewing Company, rider meet and greets, gourmet food trucks, a Saturday night bonfire and a Kid Zone complete with bouncy castles. All of these events and activities will take place right next to the Grand Prix arena, which will host dressage and show jumping on Friday and contain a portion of the CIC cross-country course on Saturday.

“There’s not really a heart to the venue at a lot of events,” Hugh said. “Running cross country through the main arena is the aspect of the event I think will resonate the most with people purely because all the spectator activities are geared around that area. An event can be quite boring if you’re not a horse person, but when you have horses galloping by within reaching distance of a bouncy castle and a beer tent, that’s something that can really capture the public’s imagination.” Similar to the way Red Hills has successfully become a highly popular community event in Tallahassee, Hugh and Michael hope CHC International will attract the public in the south Atlanta area and create a new benchmark for major events going forward.

“Right now, we put on these events for the competitors, and it’s run from their entry fees,” Michael said. “We need to change the model so we can get spectators to pay for prize money instead of the entry fee being the sole source of revenue. We have to make events viable without needing competitors to pay for every piece. I know event organizers would certainly be happy with that model. Sometimes you just have to give it a shot and try something different, and that’s what we’re doing with this event.” Michael has high hopes for this year’s inaugural CHC International and expects it will take about three years to fulfill his entire vision for the event.

CIC show jumping will take place under the lights Friday night, adding yet one more exciting element to this groundbreaking event. “We decided on show jumping under the lights because we thought it would set the event apart,” Michael said. “This year, it’s going to be more for the novelty, but we hope in years to come it will in conjunction with a nice sit-down dinner in the VIP tent. Our main concern for this year is making sure the format is done well and that people have a good time and want to come back next year with their friends.” CHC International will run May 17-19 at Chattahoochee Hills in Fairburn, Ga. Be sure to visit the new CHC International website, “like” the event on Facebook and follow the event on Twitter.

My pick to win is William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning. Photo by Samantha Clark.

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Barring any further scratches, 47 pairs will present at the jog for the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event tomorrow afternoon. I’ve compiled information and recent results for each Rolex horse and rider combination to help you know who to keep an eye on when you’re wandering around the cross-country course or watching the USEF live feed. While I would love to see an American win, my pick to take home the Rolex watch is William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning. Here are the 47 horses and riders in the order we’ll see them for dressage and cross country, along with my predictions for how they’ll fare:

William Fox-Pitt and Seacookie TSF
14-year-old bay Trakehner gelding owned by Catherine Witt
Seacookie TSF hasn’t competed in a four-star event since Burghley in 2010, but he did place second, so we can’t rule him out. While his competition record is peppered with a lot of retirements and withdrawals, he also has some really fantastic finishes, like winning the Blenheim CCI3* last year. The horse most recently finished ninth in his intermediate division at Weston Park. With William in the irons, Seacookie should finish high up the leaderboard.

James Alliston and Parker
11-year-old bay Thoroughbred gelding owned by James
EN blogger James and Parker retired on course at last year’s Rolex, so they’ll be looking to complete again this year, which they first did in 2011 by finishing 14th. Parker finished sixth in the Galway Downs CCI3* last fall and most recently finished third in the Advanced division at Galway Downs last month. Out of James’ three Rolex mounts, I expect we’ll probably see him have the best finish on this horse.

Buck Davidson and Park Trader
11-year-old bay Irish Thoroughbred gelding owned by Carl Segal
Buck took over the ride in 2011 on this horse and has steadily put together a string of decent finishes at major events. This pair finished 17th at Fair Hill CCI3* last year and most recently finished 19th in the CIC3* at Red Hills. While Buck withdrew Park Trader before cross country at The Fork, the horse is sound and ready to tackle his first four-star. I imagine Buck’s main goal will be a solid trip around cross country to build this horse’s confidence for down the road.

Jan Byyny and Syd Kent
15-year-old bay Thorougbred gelding owned by Jan
I’m pretty positive I jinxed Jan at The Fork when I had her offer analysis on the new CIC3* coffin combination for an EN post. That pesky coffin combination caught her out with both Syd Kent and Inmidair. I promise I won’t walk the Rolex course with you, Jan. I love Syd Kent, and he’s had a very solid season, winning his Advanced division at Pine Top Spring Advanced and finishing 11th in the CIC3* at Red Hills. This pair can lay down a really nice dressage test; don’t underestimate them.

Andrew Nicholson and Calico Joe
11-year-old bay Thoroughbred gelding owned by In Mind Syndicate
Andrew retired this horse on cross country at Rolex last year, but went on to finish fourth at Luhmuhlen CCI4* and 13th at Burghley. Unfortunately, he’s had rails at all of his outings so far this spring, most recently pulling four poles at Weston Park. But if Calico Joe can leave up the rails this weekend, we should see them finish very well.

Jan Byyny and Syd Kent. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Eagle
13-year-old bay Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Team Rebecca
Fernhill Eagle looked fantastic at The Fork earlier this month, where he placed eighth in a very competitive Advanced division. He’s had a fairly easy spring season, but this horse really has nothing to prove. He was third in the Fair Hill CCI3* last fall and placed 12th at Rolex last year. I expect to see a another top 15 finish from this pair.

Madeline Blackman and Gordonstown
15-year-old black Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Madeline
Maddie kicked around for a 24th place finish at Rolex last year. The pair retired on cross country at Fair Hill CCI3* last fall and have had a quiet spring this season. They were sixth in their Advanced division at Poplar Place last month and had a stop on cross country in Advanced at The Fork earlier this month, finishing 25th.

Caitlin Silliman and Catch A Star
13-year-old grey Holsteiner mare owned by Caitlin
I’ll definitely be rooting for Caitlin and Hoku, the mare that cheated death during the tragic fire at True Prospect Farm and came back from terrible burn wounds to compete again. This pair has had a lackluster spring, with their best finish being 15th in their Advanced division at Pine Top in February. Caitlin is a fighter and will be looking to make it around her first four-star course.

Beth Perkins and Sal Dali
15-year-old bay Thoroughbred gelding owned by Cynthia Barclay
Beth and Sal Dali were 26th at Rolex last year, where they jumped around cross country clear with 12.4 time penalties. This pair was most recently 32nd at The Fork CIC3* and finished in 10th in their Advanced division at Pine Top in February. Beth will be looking to bring home another Rolex cross-country trip with no jump penalties.

Will Faudree and Pawlow
14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Jennifer Mosing
Will has the potential to finish high up the leader board on this horse; they were 15th at Rolex in 2010. Last season, they finished fourth in the Bromont CIC3* and third in the Jersey Fresh CIC3*. Most recently, this pair finished 14th at The Fork CIC3*. They looked a touch quiet there to me, but if there’s any place to step up your game, it’s Rolex.

Will Faudree and Pawlow at Southern Pines. Photo by Samantha Clark.

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Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda
11-year-old bay Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Nina Gardner
Some mistakes in dressage kept Jennie and Ping from fighting for the win at The Fork CIC3*, where they placed second. But that dressage test still looked fabulous despite the bobbles, and Jennie will be looking to prove herself at her first Rolex. This pair placed fourth in the Red Hills CIC3* and also completed the Boekelo CCI3* last year. Watch out for them.

Becky Holder and Can’t Fire Me
14-year-old grey Thoroughbred gelding owned by Phil and Melissa Town and Tom Holder
This pair unfortunately didn’t finish Rolex last year when a cut on the horse’s leg and visible blood forced them to retire on cross country. Becky will be back this year with a vengeance. Two rails and time on cross country kept them from finishing higher up the leader board at The Fork, but I’m predicting a top-10 finish should all go according to plan in Kentucky.

Peter Barry and Kilrodan Abbott
14-year-old bay Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Peter, Susan and Dylan Barry
Peter and Eddie represented Canada at the Olympics last year, where they had an unfortunate fall. They’ve been looking for redemption this spring, placing 20th in the Red Hills CIC3* and 36th at The Fork CIC3* after an unfortunate runout at the coffin combination. I love this horse and the partnership this team shows.

Jessica Phoenix and Exponential
15-year-old bay Thoroughbred gelding own by Jessica
Jessie and Tucker were the only Canadian to pair to complete at London last year, finishing 22nd individually. They’ve had a quiet spring preparation for Rolex, finishing fifth in their Advanced division at Poplar Place last month and sixth at The Fork CIC3*. They looked absolutely brilliant at The Fork, completing the event with no jump penalties, which I expect them to do again at Rolex.

Peter Atkins and Henry Jota Hampton
12-year-old chestnut Argentine Sport Horse gelding
Peter’s broken leg sidelined much of his season with Henny last year, but they’ve come back this season looking excellent. Peter and Henny finished ninth in their Advanced division at Rocking Horse II in February and most recently finished ninth in the Red Hills CIC3*. This pair is experienced under pressure, having competed at the World Equestrian Games in 2010 and Rolex that same year. I’m predicting a solid showing for Peter and Henny.

Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda at The Fork. Photo by Jenni Autry.

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Kristin Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken
13-year-old bay Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Kristin, Bill and Janet Schmolze
Kristin is no stranger to Rolex, having completed at Kentucky three times previously with Cavaldi; this is Rox’s Rolex debut. This pair placed 15th in the Fair Hill CCI3* last year. This season, they finished fourth in their Advanced division at Pine Top in February and 23rd in the Red Hills CIC3* due to cross-country time penalties. I expect them to hold nothing back here.

Katie Ruppel and Sir Donovan
11-year-old chestnut Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by the rider
Katie is due for some good luck at Rolex. After being eliminated in dressage in 2011 and falling on cross country last year, she is back to hopefully prove that the third time’s the charm. It’s all a mind game for Katie and Sir Donovan at this point. This pair placed sixth in Advanced at Red Hills and most recently finished ninth in The Fork CIC3*. God speed, Katie.

Daniel Clasing and Houston
12-year-old chestnut Anglo-Arabian gelding owned by Daniel
This horse is a cross-country machine, and we caught a glimpse of just how good Daniel and Houston can be at Fair Hill last year, where they finished eighth in the CCI3*. While show jumping tends to be a challenging phase for this horse, I think Daniel will be thrilled to get around his first Rolex cross-country course without any jump penalties. I think they can do that.

Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice
13-year-old Thoroughbred mare owned by Hawley and Linda Paine
Hawley and Ginny have had an incredible spring season and are coming into Rolex on a three event winning streak, most recently claiming victories in Advanced at Twin Rivers and Copper Meadows and in the CIC3* at Galway Downs. Hawley and Ginny are a force to be reckoned with; I’m predicting a top 15 finish.

Kristi Nunnink and R-Star
12-year-old grey Holsteiner mare owned by Kristi
Kristi and R-Star completed two four-stars last year and jumped clear around the Burghley cross-country course. While Kristi hasn’t gone for time yet this season, I fully expect her to put the pedal down at Rolex. This pair most recently finished third in Advanced at Twin Rivers at third in the Galway Downs CIC3* last month. Expect great things from Kristi and R-Star.

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Daniel Clasing and Houston at The Fork. Photo by Samantha Clark.

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Sally Cousins and Tsunami
14-year-old bay Thoroughbred mare owned by Sally
Sally and Sue were 14th at Rolex last year, showing just how dangerous they can be to crack the top 10. They were most recently third in the CIC2* at Poplar Place and 16th in the CIC3* at The Fork. Sally told me after The Fork that she wasn’t trying to go for time, but Sue’s huge stride just ate up the course and only left them with 3.2 time penalties. Look for Sally and Sue to jump clear on cross country and come very close to making the time.

Shandiss McDonald and Rockfield Grant Juan
11-year-old bay Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Jorge Bernhard
Shandiss came so close to finishing in second at The Fork CIC3* with this horse, only to slip and fall on one of the final turns coming home on cross country. She looked absolutely devastated when I saw her in the vet box afterwards, and I know she’ll be looking for redemption this weekend. This pair won their Advanced division at Poplar Place last month and have all the tools they need to play spoiler.

Buck Davidson and Mar De Amor
13-year-old bay Selle Francais gelding owned by Leigh Mesher
Buck and Mar De Amor have had a very solid spring, finished third in their Advanced division at Rocking Horse II and Poplar Place. They most recently ran second in Advanced at The Fork. This horse certainly has the talent to finish well in his four-star debut at Rolex. Part of me thinks Buck will play it safe with this horse and give him a good confidence-building ride, but I also wouldn’t be surprised for Buck to go for it on cross country.

Lynn Symansky and Donner
10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Lynn
Coming off a win in The Fork CIC3*, Lynn has to be feeling very confident about her chances with Donner. While she’s riding in a cast on her hand due to a broken pinky, that injury didn’t hold her back at all at The Fork. When I spoke to Lynn after her win, she seemed very optimistic about a solid showing in Kentucky. This is a really lovely horse with the potential to perform in all three phases. I’m predicting a top 15 finish.

James Alliston and Jumbo’s Jake
15-year-old bay Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by James and India McEvoy
This pair placed 17th at Rolex in 2011 and retired on cross country last year. James and Jake have had a solid spring preparation, finishing fourth in the Galway Downs CIC3* and winning the Advanced at Twin Rivers earlier this month. They also placed second in the Galway Downs CCI3* last year. All the pieces are there. It’s really a matter of whether James and Jake can deliver.

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Sally Cousins and Tsunami at The Fork. Photo by Samantha Clark.

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Allie Knowles and Last Call
14-year-old bay Mecklenburg mare owned by Allie and Christie Campbell
This is Allie’s Rolex debut with her lovely mare Last Call, who looked stunning at The Fork. This horse can be incredibly competitive in dressage. If Allie can handle her nerves and the atmosphere, look for them to be well up the leaderboard after dressage. Allie and Last Call most recently finished sixth in Advanced at The Fork and will be looking for a solid cross-country trip.

Austin O’Connor and Ringwood Mississippi
11-year-old bay Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Kate Jarvey
Austin and Ringwood Mississippi completed the Blenheim CCI3* last year and were most recently 11th in Intermediate at Twesledown and eighth in Intermediate at Weston Park. This is their first four-star appearance, and it’s great that Austin chose Rolex for the horse’s CCI4* debut. They will be looking for a performance to build on for the future.

Meghan O’Donoghue and Pirate
11-year-old bay Thoroughbred gelding owned by Meghan
I really love this horse. In his entire eventing career, he’s jumped clear on cross country at every single event but one. I have no reason to believe that he can’t put in the same performance at his first four-star. Megan and Pirate were 12th in the Fair Hill CIC3* last year and most recently placed 19th at The Fork.

Mary King and Fernhill Urco
12-year-old grey Portuguese Sport Horse gelding owned by Edwin and Sue Davies and Janette Chinn
Fernhill Urco placed second at Rolex in 2011. After taking all of 2012 off, he’s back this season and most recently placed eighth in his Advanced division at Burnham Market. Mary almost clinched the Rolex watch on this horse once. While he’s been out of four-star competition for awhile, I’m predicting a top-10 finish for this pair.

Michelline Jordan and Irish Diamonds
15-year-old bay Thoroughbred gelding owned by Michelline
After retiring on cross country in the CIC3* at The Fork, Michelline and Irish Diamonds rerouted to Ocala, where they finished seventh in their Intermediate division. They were 24th in the CIC3* at Red Hills last month and will be looking for a positive cross-country trip to build confidence for future runs at the four-star level.

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Meghan O'Donoghue and Pirate at The Fork. Photo by Samantha Clark.

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Ronald Zabala-Goetschel and Wise Equestrian Master Rose
13-year-old bay Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Ronald
Ronald and Big Boy completed at the Olympics last year, becoming the first rider from Ecuador to represent his country in eventing. Big Boy has been slowly coming back from an injury he incurred right before London, and Ronald told me at The Fork that the horse is finally starting to feel like his old self. They had an easy cross-country trip at The Fork CIC3* to finish 28th, and I think Ronald will step it up on the Rolex stage.

Erin Sylvester and No Boundaries
13-year-old bay Thoroughbred gelding owned by Erin
Erin and No Boundaries finished in 13th at Rolex last year and have since also completed at Burghley. Most recently, this pair finished second in their Advanced division at Pine Top and eighth in Advanced at Southern Pines. They did not go for time at The Fork CIC3*, where Erin and No Boundaries finished 20th. This pair has a good shot to finish in the top 15 again this year.

Jonelle Richards and The Deputy
11-year-old bay Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Lucy Sangster and Jonelle
This is The Deputy’s first four-star. He and Jonelle were 32nd at the Blenheim CCI3* last year and have been out three times this year, finishing seventh in Intermediate at Isleham, sixth in Intermediate at Tweseldown and seventh in Advanced at Weston Park earlier this month. Competing in England gives this horse an edge over other Rolex first-timers.

Emily Renfroe and Walk The Line
11-year-old chestnut Hanoverian mare owned by Emily
Emily and Walk The Line placed 19th in the Fair Hill CCI3* last year and will be looking to complete around their first first-star cross-country corse. This pair most recently finished third in their Advanced division at Rocking Horse II and 18th in the Red Hills CIC3*. This horse is very good on cross country and certainly has the talent to get around the course.

Boyd Martin and Trading Aces
9-year-old bay Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Trading Aces Syndicate
Boyd has had much success at Rolex in years past. He guided Otis Barbotierre to a third-place finish last year in the horse’s four-star debut, and I have no doubt he will get Oscar around safely and confidently. Oscar looked a bit quiet at The Fork to me, but Boyd typically likes to set up his horses to peak at the big events, so I imagine that’s the strategy here with this horse.

Boyd Martin and Trading Aces at The Fork. Photo by Jenni Autry.

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Lindsey Oaks and Enchantez
13-year-old bay Thoroughbred gelding owned by David Oaks and Bobbie Faircloth
Lindsey and Enchantez are yet another first-time pair at Rolex. They were seventh in the Fair Hill CCI3* last year thanks to a very fast and clean cross-country trip. They were most recently 26th in the Red Hills CIC3*. This pair definitely has the talent and experience to get around their first four-star course.

Rachel Jurgens and Ziggy
17-year-old bay Thoroughbred gelding owned by Rachel
Ziggy ties for the oldest horse in this year’s Rolex field, but age is just a number to this horse. He’s still very full of running and has had a great spring season leading up to Kentucky. This pair most recently finished seventh in the Advanced at The Fork. This is their first trip around a four-star, and I imagine Rachel is feeling confident going in.

Emily Beshear and Here’s To You
13-year-old bay Thoroughbred gelding owned by Emily
Emily and Quincy finished 20th at Rolex last year and certainly have the talent and experience to improve on that this year. This pair also finished 24th out of 90 starters at the Blenheim CCI3* last year. Most recently, they were 17th in the Red Hills CIC3* and 12th in The Fork CIC3*. If Emily goes for time, Quincy has the potential to be up there with the leaders going into show jumping.

Kendal Lehari and Daily Edition
15-year-old chestnut Thoroughbred gelding owned by Kendal
Kendal and Daily Edition came back this season after taking most of 2012 off. They were most recently 28th in the Red Hills CIC3* and won their Advanced division at Poplar Place last month. This is another pair making their four-star debut at Rolex.

Heather Gillette and Our Questionnaire
17-year-old bay Thoroughbred gelding owned by Heather Gillette
It didn’t look like Heather and Questie would make it to Rolex after the horse injured himself during the trailer ride home from Poplar Place last month. But Heather has worked incredibly hard to get Questie healed to compete in what will likely be his last Rolex. This pair most recently finished 33rd in the Red Hills CIC3*. They competed at Rolex in 2011 but retired on cross country.

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Emily Beshear and Here's To You at The Fork. Photo by Jenni Autry.

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William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning
13-year-old chestnut Brandenburg stallion owned by Lisa Stone
This is a relatively new ride for William, who took over the ride from Mary King last year. Since then, the horse won the Bramham CCI3* and finished fifth in the Pau CCI4*. Most recently, William and Chilli Morning were fourth in their Advanced division at Weston Park. After a fantastic start to his partnership with William, I’m predicting Chilli Morning will win Rolex. Plus, did you see him in the video Samantha posted? He looks fantastic.

James Alliston and Tivoli
13-year-old chestnut Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by James
Tivoli has had a fantastic preparation leaded up to his four-star debut. He and James won the CIC3* at Woodside and the Galway Downs CCI3* last fall. Most recently, this pair placed second in Advanced at Twin Rivers and in the CIC3* at Galway Downs. I still think that his stablemate Parker will just edge Tivoli on the leaderboard, but this horse might surprise us.

Marilyn Little and RF Demeter
11-year-old chestnut Oldenburg mare owned by Raylan Farms
We had originally heard that Marilyn Little withdrew after she separated her shoulder on Sunday. But we now have confirmation that she will still compete. Marilyn and Demeter were ninth at Rolex last year and have continued to produce top placings since then, finishing fourth at the Fair Hill CCI3* last fall and most recently finishing fourth at The Fork CIC3*. Marilyn will almost certainly go for time, so I expect to see them bring home another top 10 finish.

Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle RM
13-year-old bay Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Cassie Segal
I love this horse; unfortunately, he always seems to be plagued by a bit of bad luck. Buck and Reggie are returning to Rolex for the first time since 2009, when they finished 15th. They competed together at the 2010 WEG and went to Pau last year, where Buck was eliminated on cross country. Buck and Reggie most recently finished third in The Fork CIC3*.

Jan Byyny and Inmidair
14-year-old bay Thoroughbred gelding owned by Jan
Jan didn’t have the ideal conclusion to her Rolex prep when she and J.R. were eliminated at the coffin combination at The Fork CIC3*. But they had a solid season prior to that, finishing sixth in their Advanced division at Southern Pines and sixth in the Red Hills CIC3*. This is the horse’s first trip to Rolex, so I imagine Jan will be looking to give him a steady ride.

Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo
10-year-old bay Spanish Sport Horse gelding owned by Deborah Stellar
If there’s anything we’ve learned during Andrew’s incredible career, it’s to never count him out. He could easily swoop in here and play spoiler in Quimbo’s four-star debut. This horse was second in the Barbury CIC3* and won the Boekelo CCI3* last year, so he’s certainly ready to make the step up.

Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice
9-year-old bay Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Bruce Duchossois
If any American pair is going to win Rolex, it’s likely going to be Phillip on one of his two mounts. I was incredibly impressed with this horse at The Fork, who would have challenged Lynn Symansky for the CIC3* win had they not pulled two costly rails in show jumping. Happy has had an excellent spring season, winning the Red Hills CIC3* and placing second in Advanced at Pine Top. This pair finished 10th at Rolex last year; look for them to improve on that this year.

Marilyn Little and RF Demeter at The Fork. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Marilyn Little suffered a Grade 3 separation of her right shoulder on Sunday when a young horse fell with her during a jump school in Ocala. While Marilyn has been hospitalized and the injury is serious, she still hopes to ride RF Demeter at Rolex later this week. The following information about the injury has just been released:

From the press release:

Marilyn Little sustained an injury when a young horse fell during a weekend jump school session on April 21^st in Ocala, Florida. Following a series of tests, an overnight stay in Ocala Regional Hospital, and a subsequent consultation with specialists at The Orthopedic Institute at Gainesville, she has been diagnosed with a Grade 3 separation of her right shoulder. Marilyn has been in close contact with USOC Medical Consultant Dr Mark Hart, who has arranged to meet with her on Thursday of this week in Lexington. Meanwhile, she remains optimistic about this weekend and reports she is feeling better by the day.

Marilyn will arrive at the Kentucky Horse Park with RF Demeter, her entry for the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, in time for the horse to be presented to the Ground Jury for the first Veterinary Inspection.

RF Demeter will be accompanied by four other horses that will be present during the week of Rolex to continue their training programs as usual before departures for their own selected European competitions, including RF Smoke on the Water and Mr Medicott. Marilyn’s dressage time with RF Demeter is Friday 2:50pm.

We originally had heard this morning that Marilyn would not compete at Rolex due to being hospitalized, but it now appears that there’s a very good chance she will still ride later this week. Marilyn said her shoulder feels better every day, and we wish her a very speedy recovery. Go Marilyn.

Will Coleman and Twizzel at Rolex last year. Photo by Samantha Clark.

This is a post I really didn’t want to write. After trying so hard to bring Twizzel back from his injury in London last year, Will Coleman has officially withdrawn the horse from Rolex. When Will scratched the horse after dressage at The Fork, I had an ominous feeling it might come to this. He posted the announcement on his Facebook page earlier this morning.

From Will: 

“Unfortunately, I am afraid Twizzel will not be competing at Rolex this weekend. After much deliberation between his owner, Jim Wildasin; his vet, Kevin Keane; and myself, we have decided that it is simply too soon for the horse to compete at the four-star level coming off his injury at the Games last year. Twizzel is well and will remain in work to look towards something later in the season. As disappointing as it may be, this certainly is not the finish line for Twizzel, and he will certainly be seen again at a major event down the road. All the best to each and every competitor at Rolex this week. I will be there watching every step of America’s premier three-day event, and hoping our country provides a winner at the end of it. Thanks to all.”

We’re absolutely gutted for Will and wish him all the best in bringing Twizzel back to full health. While Rolex was meant to be the finale  to Twizzel’s storied career, I’m excited to hear that the horse will be back at another event after fully recovering from his injury. Go Will, and Go Twizzel.

Flashpoint. Photo courtesy of Brant Gamma Photography.

As Tori reported in News & Notes this morning, Flashpoint, a 20-year-old Thoroughbred gelding ridden by Susan MacRae, passed away Sunday morning at Fair Hill International Horse Trials after finishing a double-clear trip on the preliminary cross-country course. Susan’s husband, Duncan, posted the following information on Facebook last night:

“Tip had a great go at Fair Hill this weekend until the very last. He finished the prelim course with Susan clear and inside the time only to expire immediately after crossing the finish. His body has been taken to New Bolton Center for a necropsy. It was almost certainly some type of catastrophic cardiac event as he died very suddenly after running a textbook prefect trip around the course. Tip was my once in a lifetime horse and I will miss him terribly and forever. He died doing what he loved and doing it with style and grace. He was a gentleman and a competitor and my best friend until his last breath.”

EN extends our deepest condolences to Duncan and Susan on the loss of Tip. See The Chronicle of the Horse for more information on Tip’s death.

Boyd Martin and Trading Aces at The Fork. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Rolex Week has finally arrived, and that means the final installments have been posted on the featured Rolex blogs. Here’s a sneak peak at what Jennie Brannigan, Will Coleman and Stephen Blauner, a member of Boyd Martin’s Trading Aces Syndicate, have to say about the final days leading up to Kentucky. Many thanks to Rolex for orchestrating these blogs, and many thanks to Jennie, Will and Stephen for writing. Go Rolex!

Jennie Brannigan [Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4]

“When you see a horse galloping by at Rolex, chances are that there’s a core group of 25 or more people who’ve played a key role in getting that horse and rider to the event. And don’t forget the additional unsung heroes who’ve helped that combination every step of the way… The working students who put in 12 hours a day with dreams of competing at that level someday, all the instructors who taught the rider at different stages of the game, the horses that helped that rider learn through the levels, and the grooms who love the horses like they’re their own, with their only glory being the pure pride in watching them go out and do what they love.”

Click here to read Jennie’s full blog.

Will Coleman [Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4]

“This stage of any Rolex journey is often the most nerve-wracking. With one or two gallops left before putting our horses on the truck for Lexington, KY, we riders are on edge, hoping everything stays well and sound until that day comes to head off for Rolex. In my case, I have not been shy in saying that, with Twizzel, who turned 17 this year, there was a good chance we could not end up leaving the start box at this event in a couple weeks. Twizzel has given Jim and I an awful lot. Two top-five four-star finishes, multiple wins and top-five finishes at the three-star level, and an Olympic Games this past summer are no small feats. Slightly injured after those Olympics, we decided at the beginning of this year that while we would tentatively aim for Rolex, we would take every precaution to ensure that the horse’s overall well-being was preserved, and that his career would end the way that it should, hopefully going out on a high-note at a world class event.”

Click here to read Will’s full blog.

Stephen Blauner [Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4]

“Looks like there will be about six members of the Oscar syndicate at Rolex. We will have a blast. Horse went really well at The Fork. It was a confidence building outing for all three phases. Good and focused dressage test, beautiful show jumping round, and Oscar answered all of the questions on cross country. Boyd was not going for time, as he always has a plan that allows the horses to “peak” at the big events. As Rolex will be his first 4*, I’m expecting that Oscar will find the arena a bit electrifying. Boyd has an unfortunate habit of pulling the #1 order of go (the Olympics, for example). Happily, we are in the middle of the afternoon on Friday so the horse will have a chance to settle in for a few days. I know that Boyd can’t wait to get to Kentucky, a feeling shared by all of Oscar’s owners.”

Click here to read Stephen’s full blog.