Lee Ann Zobbe, who is a coach and excellent horse talent finder in Indiana, sent me this picture a few weeks ago. Lee Ann said that one of her students was riding her 20 year old been-there-done-that calm and quiet horse on a beautiful evening and jumped a tiny fence and came off. Her head only hit the ground–they don’t know if her horses’ foot hit her head. The rider suffered other injuries but her head was fine and she was alert right after the fall–no doubt only because she was smart and wore her helmet. Go helmets.
Members of the beautiful Team Canada and Gordon from Omega Alpha at The Royal
This weekend was one of the busiest weekends ever on Eventing Nation because there were so many important events going on around the world. When I think about it, the one moment that I will most likely be talking about 20 years from now is Zenyatta’s incredible run and heartbreaking loss. Let’s take a look at some notes to recap the weekend and set us up for a new week in eventing.
–Make no mistake, Jennie’s win was about a lot more than a CCI3*. When she won, she took home an array of awards and prizes but most importantly the Cooper Memorial Cooler award. It was an incredible win for Jennie and if you read her quotes in the Chronicle of the Horse, Cooper was with her all weekend.
–I want to give a huge Eventing Nation thanks to Chelan for providing a great weekend of coverage from Galway. I still can’t believe they actually raced golf carts like that. “Oh hello…yes, I’d like to rent some golf carts for the weekend…an equestrian three-day event at Galway…oh, yes, as a matter of fact we would like to purchase accident insurance.” The golf cart races are an instant “Best of EN.”
–Obviously, we were all rooting for Boyd to win at Pau but I think we can consider the trip a success with the top 10 finish. I was really impressed with how Boyd handled Sunday despite his disappointment. A lot of people are more than happy to stand in the spotlight, talk to the media, and write their blogs when things are going great, but it takes someone with a lot of toughness and self confidence to stand up and speak when things don’t go as planned. I know how competitive Boyd is and it must have been incredibly disappointing for him to slide a few spots in the placings on Sunday. Nonetheless, he sent Eventing Nation an email with his thoughts less than an hour after his ride and posted to his blog soon thereafter.
–I mentioned this over the weekend, but Waylon Roberts won the indoor eventing at The Royal in Canada Saturday night for the third time in 4 years. Ecogold has posted videos of Saturday’s rounds on their blog.
In much more positive news, former NZ CCI**** eventer (and top showjumper) Catriona Williams, who is wheelchair-bound since a 2002 fall, completed the New York Marathon Sunday morning in the wheelchair division. And the Mark Todd also completed as part of Williams’s efforts to raise money for spinal cord research [Full story]. The link and news are courtesy of JER.
We have a video to help your Monday morning pass by just a little faster. This is Doug Payne’s helmet cam from indoor eventing at The Royal. It starts with the course walk and then moves on to the warm up and then Doug’s ride. I can’t believe how low the ceiling is in the warm up.
So, apparently there was CCI3* show jumping going on today…
You wouldn’t know it because the REAL thing that everyone showed up to watch was the first annual golf cart races at Galway Downs. I am absolutely certain that the 3 star will continue next year and for many years after that. The golf cart races? Toss up! Frankly, I’m not sure that Robert has enough insurance for such activities. How that event wrapped up with no casualties or deaths I have no earthly idea.
What do you get when you take over a dozen type A competitive, fearless event riders, add blindfolded drivers in golf carts, and a track designed by Ian Stark? INTENSE CHAOS!! The video clearly speaks for itself. East vs West, and although our west coast team ‘won,’ Ian, the blindfolded DRIVER of the last West Coast cart actually crossed the finish line upside down in the cart of Marilyn Payne and Sandy Phillips. So, it was declared a draw. You’ll notice that those sissy dressage judges wore rain ponchos-HA!
Enjoy…
Now, onto the show jumping.
Ali Slusher won the two star on Juicy Couture. Ali was clearly well warmed up by the golf cart races preceding the 2 star!
Then, in the 3 star there were 4 double clears- Casey McKissock (that’s her getting literally RUN OVER in a golf cart) never let it be said that eventers aren’t tough as nails. Frankie, who might have had the smoothest round of the day, Ali, who put the pressure on Jennie, and of course Jennie who was the overnight leader and ended up the leader on day 3. Other lovely rounds were Martha and Andrea. I also forgot to mention Kristin Bachman’s fabulous XC round yesterday.
One nail biter moment came at the CWD jump. Jennie’s horse tapped it and it jumped UP out of the cups and rested comfortably on top of the cup edge, as they sometimes do. It never fell down, so clear round it was.
Again, my heartfelt appreciation to Robert and the entire crew at Galway. What an incredible weekend!
Jennie and Cambalda at their last three-day win–just a few months ago at the Jersey CCI2*
Alexandra Slusher and Last Call jumped a clean round to put all of the pressure on Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda when they entered the show jumping at Galway. Jennie and “Ping” answered with a clean round and took home the Galway CCI3* win. Fittingly, they were the only Galway CCI3* pair to finish on their dressage score, which is an impressive achievement considering that the Galway field was packed with talented jumping horses, many of whom have 4* experience. Jennie will take the Galway trophy back to True Prospect Farm, but she was a hometown favorite at Galway having ridden and trained just across the street from Galway for many years.
1. Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda +0 46.0 2. Alexandra Slusher and Last Call +0 49.2 3. James Alliston and Jumbo’s Jake +1 55.8 4. Kristi Nunnink and R-Star +4 61.6 5. Kristin Bachman and Gryffindor +12 62.6 6. Allison Springer and Arthur +4 69.0 7. James Alliston and Parker II +14 75.6
Looking at the CCI3* leader board, James Alliston also had a great weekend by adding just 15 penalties on two horses for the entire weekend. There were four double-clear show jumping rounds out of 12 CCI3* rides. I’m not sure that it means anything, but Arthur’s 4 time penalties today meant that Jennie would have won even if Arthur’s stop had been reversed.
Looking at the other divisions, Alexandra Slusher and Juicy Couture finished a great weekend by leading the CCI2* wire to wire and winning by 5 points. Maxance McMannamy and Project Runway won the CCI1* and Maxance also won an open prelim division on Beacon Hill. Katherine Groesbeck led from wire to wire in the CCI1* classic…on two horses. Oz The Tin Man was second after the dressage but jumped his stable mate Oz Proof of Purchase in the show jumping to grab the classic win.
Overall, the West coast’s first CCI3* seems to have been a wonderful success. It’s a great sign for North American eventing not just that we can have such a fantastic event and course in California but that so many quality horses showed up to compete this weekend. Chelan will have a full show jumping recap with video in a few.
We have a montage of topics this afternoon as we await the Galway show jumping. The CCI3* rides start at 5:15pm ET, and Jennie will be the official leader. The CCI1* show jumping starts at 2:00pm ET with the CCI2* following before the CCI3*.
Allison’s Protest: The Ground Jury has officially upheld the 20 penalties incurred by Allison. The great Marilyn Payne, president of the Ground Jury, said on Sunday morning:
“The ground jury found insufficient evidence to over-rule the jump judge’s original decision, which was that Allison Springer presented Arthur to fence 14, the Orca, and incurred a disobedience there.”
It seems like all of the appropriate protocols were taken and Allison’s protest was given a fair and thorough look by the Galway officials. As we have been saying from the beginning, the situation was a tough subjective decision that just didn’t go Allison’s way.
Galway Jog: Chelan sent me a quick jog report that said #17, Corner Street, who was second in the CCI3*, did not present. That means that Jennie now only has one rider within a rail of her score going into the show jumping. Randy jogged for Kristy Nunnink–the horse and husband looked sound and apparently caused a big cheer before Marilyn could say accepted. #15, Tullibard’s Hawkwind, was held and not accepted on representation, sadly. All two star horses presented and passed, according to Chelan.
Thoughts on Boyd: I think that everyone here in the US was super pleased and a little surprised at Remington’s fabulous dressage ride, and with Boyd in 4th, we all started to think about winning Pau. It was a real possibility, even today, when a clean show jumping round would have given them the win. A top 10 at a 4* is a good day for anyone, and I think what I take away from the weekend at Pau more than anything is that Remington is a horse with the skills to win 4*’s for the US in the future. Boyd, despite his disappointment, sent Eventing Nation a quick email this afternoon and I am sure he will expand upon this on his blog soon:
From Boyd:
Well, it didn’t quite go how I had planned…… but as Ned Kelly says, “such is life”.
Remington looked super sound in the trot up. I felt that his energy and spirits were well considering he had given me 110% the day before around a very tough day of cross country.
As I was warming up the heavens opened and it started absolutely pouring with rain. I think both me and Remi were dreaming of tropical weather and perfect footing and lost our rhythm a little bit in our warm up.
When it was our turn we went into the ring and took our time to try and get settled. We went around and jumped 75% course pretty well, and 25% pretty average. I am not quite sure what went amiss…. I feel I could have ridden him a lot better, he was a bit tired, the pouring rain and the umbrellas backed him off a bit… whatever it was, we had 4 rails down.
Obviously I am pretty heartbroken. Not only for me, but the horse, the owners and everyone else whom thought he had a shot at winning Pau. I feel like I have learned a lot from the event, and realized that we as American riders are not that far off the pace of these Euro Rock Stars. Top ten finish in a four star is OK. As for the rails in showjumping, I always remember my mate Scotty Keach telling me : “Half the world is fighting over a bowl of rice today mate, and you’re upset about knocking a few rails down…” –Boyd
Lastly, here is some video of the Pau press conference:
William Fox-Pitt added a surprising 12 faults in the show jumping at Pau to waste a 9.8 point lead and give the victory to Andreas Dibowski and Fantasia of Germany. [Insert cliche about it never being over until it’s over] The show jumping at Pau was wet and 17 of 27 show jumpers added more than 10 penalties on Sunday. Only one pair–Peter Flarup and Silver Ray of Denmark–added less than double-digit penalties to their dressage score over the entire weekend and they moved up from 28th to finish in 4th. More amazingly, Ruth Edge and Two Thyme had a stop on the cross country and still finished in 8th.
Boyd Martin and Remington had four rails and one time to drop from 3rd to 7th. There were only two clean rounds in the Pau show jumping. One thing is clear: Pau rode like one of the toughest jumping four-stars of 2010. The show jumping arena had standing water on it and perhaps the footing contributed to so many show jumping faults. When horses are tired after a long three-day cross-country every little thing becomes much more meaningful.
1. Andreas Dibowski and FRH Fantasia (GER) +0 61.0 2. William Fox-Pitt and Navigator (GBR) +12 63.2 3. Karin Donckers and Charizard (BEL) +8 66.6 4. Kai Ruder and Leprince des Bois (GER) +8 69.4 5. Peter Flarup and Slver Ray (DEN) +4 70.0 6. Gwendolen Fer and Leria du Ter (FRA) +0 72.6 7. Boyd Martin and Remington (USA) +17 76.2 8. Ruth Edge and Two Thyme (GBR) +4 78.2
Andreas Dibowski is a worthy first time CCI4* champion and is an excellent rider for Germany. Andreas had a long weekend at the WEGs, but this weekend he brought home the second four-star win in a row for Germany. William must be really disappointed, but I am sure he will handle the situation with impeccable class as always. In consolation, William’s second place finish was good enough to give him the HSBC Classics series title and the US$150,000 prize. Personally, I’d rather have the 4* win, but I guess William has quite a few of those in his trophy case already.
Josh Walker from the USEA and The Red Horse has some truly brilliant video from the XC on Saturday. We will post videos from Pau and Galway as we find them, but I doubt that we will get any videos better than this.
As a quick update on Allison’s protest of her stop at #14, the ground jury was still reviewing the situation as of Saturday evening. Galway sent out a press release Saturday night announcing Jennie as the CCI3* leader but we will not know for sure until we get an official word or until the show jumping starts. I have not heard from any sources that the 20 penalties are expected to be reversed. It looks like a tough break for Allison who feels strongly that she did not commit to the jump before circling, but in the end it is a subjective decision about a brief second in time. Jennie is a worthy CCI3* leader and whatever happens with the protest we will be rooting for Jennie and Allison on Sunday.
As another note, I made some fuzzy math regarding the time change and the Pau times in my indoor eventing post Saturday night. The Pau CCI4* jog is scheduled for 6:15am ET, and show jumping is scheduled to start at 8:30am ET. The CCI2* show jumping starts at 3:30am ET which you can also watch on the online feed (see link below).
Speaking of the time change, if you live in the US, don’t forget to set your clocks back an hourthis morning. There are two 1am hours Sunday night, giving us a wonderful extra hour of sleep and making us all an hour early to church. This post was written in the first 1am hour–trippy, I know. If you live in Arizona, you don’t have to worry about a time change because Arizona does not participate in Daylight Saving Time…that is except if you live on a Navajo reservation in Arizona because the entire Navajo Nation participates in Daylight Saving Time, even in Arizona. You may not believe me about that right now because you are just waking up on a Sunday morning and you are either groggy, hungover, or both, but I promise that, unlike everything else on Eventing Nation, that is true. Now, here are your links:
Tonight is the second and final round of the indoor eventing at The Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. Jessica Phoenix and Exploring have the lead in the competition because they won Friday night. I want to give a shout out to Good Crop Services which is the title sponsor company of the indoor eventing and apparently a big supporter of horse sports in Canada. Saturday’s round starts at 8:45pm ET and The Royal is offering free live online video although registration is required.
1. Exploring and Jessica Phoenix 2. Roundabout and Penny Rowland 3. Steel Commander and Holly Payne 4. Donaghan and Waylon Roberts 5. War End and Will Coleman 6. Crown Talisman and Doug Payne
Doug Payne was kind enough to send me a quick email from the event:
I wish everyone out in EN could come see this firsthand, what a blast! I don’t know one rider that came off course without a huge smile on their face. It’s an amazing logistical feat. They set up the entire course and we complete our course walk in 15 mins. This means 12 jumps total are brought into the stadium including 6 XC jumps (a bank, triple brush, skinny logs, coops and a carved pig) they must have 25 people working on this all at once. Sally Ike is the course designer this year. As always she has designed a great track.
Will and I were talking, and both of us agreed that its really a great thing for these horses. Not only that they benefit from the experience on course, but also from the other worldly atmosphere. Aside from a packed hockey stadium, the warm-up is in a tiny room. You have to avoid hitting your head on piping or beams on the ceiling not to mention the support columns or the full restaurant and bar along the one edge of ring. People are everywhere! It’s not often especially for a younger horse that you can expose them to anything like this. It’s going to be an annual fixture on our calendars! ~Doug
A photo of the 10 minute course change from Cheryl D.
Updated: In news from France, the Pau CCI4* jog is scheduled for 6:15am ET and the CCI4* show jumping starts at 8:30am ET and is scheduled to last until around 10:00am ET. We will have links to the scores and online video posted later tonight. I don’t even want to know how many posts we have had so far today on EN, but I for one am starting to look forward to winter. Go eventing.
Well I feel a little like a kid at Christmas who had way too many presents, opened them all in a hurry, and now don’t know which one to play with first!
I said before, words to express my (and many other’s) excitement and happiness with the coming of age moment of a CCI3* on the West Coast are hard to come by. This is the right venue at the right time with as we now know, the right course designer.
I spent the 3 star in the tower providing colour commentary, assisting Justin Llwellen. It was fun, although of course I would have rather been riding in that division. I managed to get through the entire hour without letting an F bomb slip out! Those who know me well understand what a challenge this was for me.
Let’s cut to the chase–James Alliston smoked around on Parker II double clear with what looked like a foot perfect round. Matthias Schwarz had a few issues mid way and retired, as did Bonner Carpenter. I don’t know Bonner’s horse that well but it looked really unhappy–kind of galloping with it’s front legs leaping up high when she went to take a feel of him. If I had to guess, I’d say too much hardware, but I don’t know the full story. Casey McKissock on her horse was frankly sketchy at the start–she had a stop early at the out of the coffin, then one more stop to finish. Damn ‘chest release’ never works! I try it myself still now and then just to be totally SURE it is not a good idea. After laying on her horses neck and almost falling off, she pulled up her socks and looked pretty darn good.
Frankie and Martha were both clear, and looked solid where I saw them. Kelly Prather popped off at the first element of the coffin, a Pro-log which had to be replaced. Kelly was seen jogging off the course, they both appeared sound! Tough break for Kelly. Kristy’s mare R-Star really would like to come live in MY barn, although I’m sure there is a long list ahead of me who would like to steal her away! Kristy and the mare just looked great. Debbie Rosen looked good early on, but her horse did not want to play stopping 7 or 8 strides away from the vertical in and out at the corral, and picking up a run out at the Orca. Let me clear the air right now by saying that I completely missed that the Orca would cause such a deal. Might I take a moment to quote a Ground Jury member who said, “what? that is a preliminary jump, I’D jump that jump!” Anyhow, several riders had trouble there, which I did not expect. The one stride bank was a little galloping, and the Orca just came up too soon if you did not make your way off the bank okay. We have seen that movie before–there is no such thing as a sure thing cross country!
Allison was looking like a million bucks everywhere that I saw her, but she is as we speak protesting (formally) her run by the Orca. I did not see it, but the two officials were right there, and they seem pretty determined that she presented. Imtiaz had some scrappy moments, picked up 20 with time, Frederico Daners retired at fence 5. Jordan Linstead was clear with time, but her horse looked a little tired. Andrea Baxter had two run outs, one of which was at the sneaky Orca jump. Our (we think) leader Jennie looked like a rock star out there. I spoke to Jennie and she is feeling very much like the rest of the West coast-ers: thrilled to be here! Tammie Smith is sitting second with a catch ride; Kristy’s Corner Street. She first sat on the horse about a week ago. Kristy has had some health issues and felt unsure about riding two horses. So, Tammie stepped into the irons. Ali Slusher and her Last Call aka ‘Fergie’ were fantastic and looked the part. She’s had some ups and downs with the mare, so I’m delighted for her to make it happen in her home state. Finishing the division was James again on Jumbo’s Jake, who was double clear on the second horse as well.
Enjoy the videos–I’m no Buzzerbrown! The vids were shot by my sister Shaye and student Kiyomi Foster (who now owns and rides my 4 star horse Tasman Sea). Thanks guys! I had a fun morning riding my new mount in the preliminary division. He was a superstar and I’m looking forward to the future with him. Thanks to the owners for the ride!
You won’t see a more exciting race than that in an entire lifetime of watching horse racing. Zenyatta lingered in her traditional spot in the back of a pack for just a split second too long. She made her epic charge to the front and crossed the finish line barely a nose behind Blame, ridden by Garrett Gomez. Zenyatta was full of run at the wire and was closing so fast. I still think she was the fastest horse in the field tonight but the finish line was just a few feet too close to the start. I’m heartbroken, but Zenyatta and her connections are the classiest in the business and I am a lifetime fan.
The word from Galway is that Allison has made an official protest regarding the incident at fence #14 earlier on Saturday. The official score sheet signed by the TD was posted just after 5:00pm ET which showed Jennie and Cambalda as the Galway leaders and Allison with 20 penalties.
Arthur had a sticky moment over the drop into the second water and Allison circled before jumping fence #14, which is an orca whale skinny. The entire question is whether or not Allison committed to jumping #14 before making the decision to circle. Allison clearly thinks she didn’t commit and the officials thought that she did when they signed the official score sheet. The result of the protest has large implications to the Galway competition because Allison would be in the lead without the 20 penalties.
I don’t know what the reversal rates are on official protests against stops after the score sheet has been signed but I can’t imagine that they are very high. At Fair Hill, the show jumping was delayed because a protest from Saturday still had not been resolved by Sunday morning so the reality is that because an official protest has been made we don’t know exactly when there will be decision. There’s never a dull moment in eventing.
With the posting of the signed score sheet, Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda are the official leaders of the Galway CCI3*. Protests and score changes are a part of eventing and ultimately we all have to accept the fact that the subjective views of officials will sometimes determine our fate. But, it’s important to remember that Jennie and Cambalda earned their first place with a fantastic round on Saturday. Galway is Cambalda’s first CCI3* and to take the lead into Sunday shows that Jennie has developed a really brilliant young horse. Cambalda is resting comfortably and, like most of the other horses, getting fluids tonight and hopefully Jennie’s EN Karma will carry into tomorrow.
Allison Springer and Arthur made things interesting on Saturday in the Galway CCI3*. The pair reportedly jumped into the second water complex and bypassed fence #14 which is a skinny Orca whale on an angle. She circled left and then jumped the fence. Allison was not scored with a stop by the live scoring at the time, but as of 4:30pm ET has been given 20 penalties despite a protest. We’ll have more info as we get it. Those penalties move Jennie Brannigan with Cambalda into first and Tamra Smith with Corner Street into second just behind Jennie.
4:50pm ET Update: I heard briefly from Allison who said that Arthur stifled over #13B and pitched her forward. She momentarily pulled right, quickly realized that they were not going to make it so she circled left instead, but she said that she did not present and that Arthur did not run out. Apparently the Ground Jury is saying that because she pulled on the right rein even for a moment she was committed.
Obviously, these things happen in literally tenths of a second so the subjectivity factor is really high. I have not yet heard if the penalties are 100% final or if there is still a chance that they will be reversed, but the word is that the officials are relatively convinced that it should be 20 penalties.
5:15pm Update: The TD has just signed the official XC results sheet. That’s a tough break for Allison and Arthur who have yet another great weekend spoiled by a XC issue. Hopefully they will have a good round on Sunday to get some good momentum going into the winter.
The second water complex is a bank up, one stride over a drop and then 3.5 strides to Orca at #14
Statistically, the CCI3* cross-country course seemed to ride really well for about half of the division and really tough for the other half. On the positive side, 9 out of 19 starters had less that 10 time penalties and 5 of those riders had double clears. For the other half of the pairs, the course was tough with 8 riders having at least a stop and 5 pairs retiring or being eliminated. There was only one fall in the CCI3*, which was Kelly Prather with Ballinakill Glory but both horse and rider were reportedly fine.
1. Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda +0 46.0 2. Tamra Smith and Corner Street +0 46.6 3. Alexandra Slusher and Last Call +0.8 49.2 4. Kristin Bachman and Gryffindor +0 50.6 5. James Alliston and Jumbo’s Jake +0 54.8 6. Kristi Nunnink and R-Star +6.4 57.6 7. James Alliston and Parker II +0 61.6 8. Allison Springer and Arthur +24 65.0 9. Martha McDowell and Gaelic Marriage +4.8 75.6
From very early reports I have heard from the riders, the Ian Stark course rode hard but very fair and I think the results support those observations. 8 out of the 19 (42%) riders having at least a stop is pretty average for a three-star. In comparison, 15 out of 33 (45%) of Fair Hill CCI3* starters had problems, but there were proportionally more 4* horses riding at Galway. Overall, it seems like Saturday was fantastic for the inaugural West coast CCI3*. James Alliston was the only rider with two horses in the CCI3* and finished both with double-clears to move into 6th and 8th going into the show jumping.
We will have a full report from Chelan soon, and good luck to the rest of the cross-country riders at Galway today.
The windy and technical cross-country course at Pau gave riders a lot of challenges on Saturday. Only one rider, Peter Flarup of Denmark, had a double-clear ride and only three riders added less than double digit penalties to their dressage score. William Fox Pitt and Navigator added just 3.2 time penalties and moved up from 9th after the dressage to take the commanding lead going into the show jumping. Our North American readers might remember Navigator from his 23rd place finish at Rolex ’09.
Boyd Martin and Remington added 16 time penalties, which was the 7th fastest ride of the day. With Ruth Edge and Sharon Hunt both having problems on course, Remington moved up to 3rd. Remington is not the fastest horse, and it seems like the course didn’t set up perfectly for Remington today with the time being so tough to make. Still, it was yet another clean ride at a four-star for Boyd and he should be extremely pleased to be sitting in 3rd. So far, so good for the Allied expeditionary force in Pau.
1. William Fox-Pitt and Navigator (GBR) +3.2 51.2 2. Karin Donckers nd Lamicell Charizard (BEL) +16.8 58.6 3. Boyd Martin and Remington (USA) +16 59.2 4. Andreas Dibowski and FRH Fantasia (GER) +10 61.0 5. Kai Ruder and Leprince des Bois (GER) +17.2 61.4 6. Peter Flarup and Silver Ray (DEN) +0 66.0 7. Joe Meyer and Sanskrit (NZL) +11.6 67.8
One rider who must be really frustrated is Ruth Edge, who has had fabulous dressage results at Badminton and Pau this year only to have problems on the XC. Aside from William, the Brits didn’t have a great Saturday, and they only have two riders still in the top 10. Just 6 out of 37 starters were eliminated today.
Update: I promise we will post higher quality video of Boyd’s soon, but one of my favorite EN readers, Anne Thompson sent me this quick video filmed using her iPhone. I love the “phew” of relief at 0:44.
The Pau CCI4* course is riding pretty tough and at the time of this post we are just a few rides away from Boyd. Check back soon for a full Pau XC recap and check out the ‘Saturday Links’ post for live scores and live Pau video link. The Galway CCI3* XC doesn’t start until 2:20pm ET, but here is a quick preview of the XC course from Chelan. Chelan is riding, coaching, and keeping EN updated from the event–thanks for multitasking Chelan! Be sure to check out Chelan’s website for more info on Chelan. Thanks for writing this Chelan and thank you for reading. —- The beautiful Galway Saturday sunrise–sent to EN from Hawley Bennett
From Chelan:
I went out to see the XC course Friday afternoon and WOW! It is 5860m 10 min 17 seconds long. Ian and his crew have done a spectacular job. I mentioned before that there is not too much natural terrain here at Galway, so they have to use the infield of the race track and man made berms and mounds.
I was the teeniest bit concerned that it would be too easy as this is the first year, but that is absolutely not the case. Frankly, all of the courses look pretty skookum. The CCI2* has a bounce into the water (with pro logs) as well as an enormous bank, drop and bending like to a big brush corner. The CCI* has a vertical, one stride drop down a double bounce bank and a few strides to a brush skinny. For those divisions, that’s not nothing!
The 3 star has 3 ‘easy’ gallop fences to start and 2 to finish, which should be no problem unless you happen to be German. And at the WEGs… OOPS inside voice, Chelan, inside voice.
Seriously, the CCI3* course just keeps coming with only one spot with two gallop type fences in a row. There are 11 combinations, and then everything else is a skinny or a corner, usually with a hill before or afterwards. So you get the questions fast and furious.
There is a combination drop bending line to an oxer at 4, but the first significant question is the coffin-fence 5a,b,c with a big brush chevron out. Then a max table on the way to the first water; vertical in, big log on a mound bending line to a big brush on a hill. Then the riders and horses get to breathe for one fence until 9a,b the moat.
Remember the angled skinny ditch and brush fence into the head of the lake at the WEGs kiddies? Well now let’s just imagine TWO of those (minus the drop) 5 strides apart with two big logs situated ‘just so’ in between so one can’t get clever and angle the second one to get an easier line. It’s hard to get a photo of the line of two of them. Why? Because 9A is so damn big! Then you gallop to the corral- two very upright verticals.
11 is a table, 12 is a massive brush corner on a hill. The second water splash is a bank up one stride to an Orca (remember San Diego is only 45 minutes away) on and angle out. Next up is a ditch and brush to a skinny brush, two gallop fences in the infield. To follow is the sunken road, which is brand new and features a pro log at the in. Then, an open corner after a down hill then the third water. WHEW! The open corner is right handed and Ian has placed a big carved stump on the right hand side a couple of strides out, with a view to preventing the horses jumping at it from right to left and ending up in the middle of the corner. Nice touch to protect the horses if a silly rider misses the line. The third water (you’d never know we are technically in the desert here) is rails and drop in, 90 degree turn right, up a bank one stride out over another angled brush.
Then he takes you home a little, easing up just a bit, but still no time to fall asleep. There is a corner literally hidden off a turn in the bushes, needing accurate riding but it’s not huge. Next is two roll tops on angles to one another, up the bern and two brush jumps on the down hill slope. The final two are a table and rampy type thing to head you through the finish. Honest to God if anyone who’s second cousin twice removed is of German decent has a fall at either of those jumps I’m probably going to Hell.
I mentioned the pro logs, but Ian has no shortage of frangible pins out there either. Thanks guys for making the jumps as safe as we know how to at this point in our sport.
I am incredibly excited about today. This is a huge step forward for our sport. Of course, no CCI these days would be complete without a funny PRO race of some sort. Word is a golf cart race East vs. West is in the works and put on by PRO. I am already vying for a drivers seat, and will get someone else from our group to video the craziness!!
Go (West Coast) eventing. —-
John’s note: Chelan told me that people are emailing her pictures from Galway for EN, such as this one of Allison wearing her helmet aboard Arthur. Please email the photos to [email protected] to save Chelan the step of forwarding them.
Lastly, check out a Galway video course walk with Ian and Josh Walker from the USEA and The Red Horse:
Today will feel a lot like Friday on Eventing Nation–Pau early and then Galway and Zenyatta later in the afternoon. Here are all the Saturday morning links you will ever need, each in one sentence or less:
Also, don’t forget that daylight savings time ends in the US this weekend. We will fall back and gain an hour Saturday night, except if you live in Arizona. We will have much more in a few…see you soon.
Allison Springer and Arthur lived up to expectations on Friday by taking a five point lead in the Galway CCI3*. Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda are in second and they are trailed by Tamra Smith and Corner Street. Interestingly enough, Corner Street’s owner, Kristi Nunnink, is riding in the same division aboard R-Star. There are four CCI4* horses in the top 8 at Galway.
1. Allison Springer and Arthur 41.0 2. Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda 46.0 3. Tamra Smith and Corner Street 46.6 4. Alexandra Slusher and Last Call 48.8 5. Kristin Bachman and Gryffindor 50.6 6. Kristi Nunnink and R-Star 51.2 7. Kelly Prather and Ballinakill Glory 54.2 8. James Alliston and Jumbo’s Jake 54.8 9. Imtiaz Anees and Interwin 58.2
It was great to see that Kelly Prather and Ballinakill Glory had such a good test. Ballinakill Glory didn’t want anything to do with the dressage at Rolex this year, but she is a super horse when she focuses, as she showed today. The CCI3* cross-country starts at 2:20pm ET on Saturday.
We mentioned the leaders of the other three-day divisions earlier, but I also want to give a big EN shout-out to Erin Spohr and Brave who are leading the Training 3-Day division A, just ahead of Erin Kellerhouse and Roxabelle. The Training 3-Day division B is currently mid-way through their dressage with Tristen Hooks and Learning to Fly in the lead.
At the Breeders’ Cup on Friday, two riders got into a brawl over a gutsy mid-race move. Calvin Borel got physical with fellow jockey Javier Castellano over a dangerous mid-race move that Javier made in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon. The fiery Borel had to be led away by eight security guards.
Video originally posted on the Paulick Report hopefully someone will do something stupid, entertaining, and miraculously safe involving horses and put it on Youtube.” We had to wait all day, but as usual, Calvin came through in the clutch. Go eventing.
The Pau horses are just bedding down in their stalls for the night as the Galway CCI3* horses start their dressage. Earlier today, Alexandra Slusher and Juicy Couture took the lead in the Galway CCI2*, Lindsay Connors and Ballingowan Pizazz took the CCI* lead, and Katherine Groesbeck and Oz Poof of Purchase are winning the classic one-star. It’s been a busy day accross Eventing Nation and here are a few links for your viewing pleasure as we wait to see who will take the lead in California.
–Word is that there has been a Will Coleman sighting at the Royal, I haven’t heard if he will be riding.
–The article that I mentioned earlier this morning from the Chronicle is a montage of opinions from Denny, Uncle Mark, and Jim Wolf and it is definitely worth a read. You get what you would expect from those three–great insight from Denny, Mark talks about the budget and says that we need to get better at dressage, and Jim explains why the budget prevents more investment in developing riders. On one hand I’m glad Denny, Mark, and Jim spoke out about the issue, but on the other hand I feel like we have spent a lot of time talking about the WEGs over the last month. What are your thought’s on the article Eventing Nation?
–In other news from the FEI General Assembly, the 2011 list of prohibited substances was approved on Friday. According to the FEI, the list does not allow the use of NSAIDs at competition. So after last year’s mess of approving NSAID’s, then un-approving them, we are left with pretty much the same rules as we started with in the first place.
–Zenyatta’s historic run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic is of course tomorrow and, as part of her emergence in the mainstream, she is featured on a great Outside the Lines piece from ESPN Los Angeles. Check it out for all the information you ever wanted to know about the incredible mare.
–The top photo of Zara was sent to us by JER and is from The Sun
–The Horse and Hound’s dressage recap from Pau says that William felt the judges were tough on Navigator and briefly mentions “Australian Boyd Martin.”
Indoor eventing begins at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, Canada this evening. 13 top US and Canadian riders will jump over a combined show jumping and cross-country course Friday and Saturday nights. The goal is to cross the line with the lowest time, rails add to your time, and the two rounds are combined for a final score. The indoor eventing starts just after 8:30pm ET on Friday and Saturday.
Before we go any further, I should clarify that a Canadian reader was kind enough to educate my Yankee ignorance and inform me that it is called the “Royal Winter Fair,” or the “Royal Winter Fair Horse Show,” but mostly just “the Royal”–like we say just “Rolex.”
The “Royal” is a huge indoor equestrian, agricultural, and cultural fair held every year for 10 days in Toronto. If you’re wondering why Canadians would have a huge horse show indoors, then you’ve clearly never been to Canada in November. The Royal hosts 10 straight days of vaulting, jumping, driving, dressage, para-dressage, 10 hours of hunters a day, and yes…indoor eventing. I’m not the biggest fan of indoor eventing because I think XC jumps are meant to be jumped as part of a long galloping course, but indoor eventing at the Royal gives some of our best riders a chance to showcase our sport to a large audience of fans. The competitors:
Jessica Phoenix – Exploring Ian Roberts – Viper or Napalm Waylon Roberts – Dunaghan or Chocco de Pomme Diana Burnett – Shigatzi Selena O’Hanlon – Peanuts Leahona Rowland – El Paso Penny Rowland – Roundabout Rebecca Howard – Tristan Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch – Rather Breezy Doug Payne – Crown Talisman Holly Payne – Steel Commander Sinead Halpin – Reba’s Song Clarrissa Wilmerding – Poppet
Personally, I have been to the Royal once in my life. I was about 10 years old and my 4-H club took a break from inbreeding our rabbits to go watch the Grand Prix show jumping for the weekend. I don’t think they had indoor eventing back then, but I remember sneaking back into the barns and getting the great Canadian show jumper Ian Millar’s autograph. This year, you can get autographs from top eventers at the Royal and you don’t even have to break trespassing laws to do so:
Omega Alpha: 4pm Friday — Top WEG Omega Alpha riders will be at the OA booth Friday afternoon signing autographs on a Omega Alpha WEG poster. I hear the poster is absolutely beautiful so be sure to stop by, get some autographs and ask the riders about why they like Omega Alpha supplements so much.
Ecogold: Another one of Eventing Nation’s fabulous sponsors, Ecogold, will be holding an autograph session with their riders at noon on Saturday. Stop by their booth (#1512) to meet the riders and check out their great saddle pads and boots while you are there.
Penny Rowlad won the indoor eventing in 2009 and here is one of her two rides:
