Sally Spickard is a Korean adoptee living in San Diego, California. Sally joined the Eventing Nation team in 2013 and has subsequently written for Noelle Floyd, Heels Down Mag, and other publications both in and out of the equestrian world. Sally is an eventing fan through and through and enjoys telling the stories of riders who are not well-represented within equestrian media.
The Tredstep Solo Pro Coat and Interchangeable Collar.
Eventers are an inspiration, and this weekend was further proof of this. Last week, we introduced the Tredstep Ireland Pay It Forward challenge, where we invited you to nominate someone who has helped and inspired you during your riding career.
Both the nominee AND the person who nominates will receive a Tredstep Solo Pro Coat and Interchangeable Collar! The Solo Pro Coat is a uniquely tailored, traditional style jacket that combines innovative materials with performance enhancing features.
We’re excited to have had a lot of great entries, and we’ve made the difficult decision of narrowing the list down to 8 finalists. Take a look here and vote for your favorite in the poll below. Voting will close on Friday, May 6 at 5 p.m. EST, and we’ll announce the winner this weekend. Good luck to our finalists!
Heather Morris and Charlie Tango. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Heather Morris and Charlie Tango, an 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by the Team Express Group, enjoyed a fantastic season in 2015, highlighted by five top-three placings at the two-star level, two of which were victories.
The year wasn’t all about the highs, however, as Heather lost her beloved brother, Dylan, to cancer in the fall after a hard fought and emotional battle. In the wake of such a devastating loss, Heather has rallied in honor of Dylan, and her success and hard work were honored at the end of the year with the announcement that Charlie Tango had won the inaugural $25,000 Connaught Grant.
The Connaught Grant was the brain child of the team behind Phillip Dutton as well as his owner Caroline Moran and was designed to honor the memory of Bruce Duchossois, who lost his battle with cancer in 2014. The award focuses on horses competing at the one- and two-star levels that the selection committee feels is a proper candidate to represent the U.S. internationally in the future.
“I actually didn’t know we were even being considered,” Heather said. “I know he was the USEA Intermediate Horse of the Year in 2015, so that likely narrowed it down. I know the committee talked to my vet and other people who know Charlie.”
Heather Morris and the Team Express Syndicate’s Charlie Tango are the first to receive the $25,000 R. Bruce Duchossois, which was announced at the Convention last year in memory of the late Bruce Duchossois. This grant is given to a one- or two-star horse that shows U.S. team potential. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Unfortunately, the award was overshadowed by some health issues on Charlie’s part. The gelding contracted botulism on the way home from the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International, where Heather had to withdraw before dressage in order to return to California to be by Dylan’s side. Charlie missed the end of the 2015 season and the early part of the 2016 season while recovering.
Botulism, which can be contracted by consumption of food that contains the bacterium that trigger it, attacks the nervous system of the horse and is often fatal.
“When Charlie arrived home from Fair Hill, his nose was a bit runny,” Heather said. “We thought it was a batch of shipping fever. Then he wasn’t swallowing his food, so we rushed him to the hospital and he ended up there for two and a half weeks. Botulism basically numbs their whole neurological system.”
When Charlie returned home, they started the long road to bringing him back into form. “He was home for a couple of months and then we literally started from scratch,” she said. “He had no muscle. He went from being a really fit two-star horse to having no muscle, so he just walked for a month and we treated him as if he’d never been ridden before. We just built it up from there.”
Heather Morris and Charlie Tango on their way to being crowed Merial Open Intermediate Champions at the 2015 American Eventing Championships. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Charlie returned to competition in March at Copper Meadows, finishing fourth in the Open Intermediate. “He felt like he didn’t miss a beat,” Heather said. “He’d been going to some shows and had done some dressage tests and a test ride, but he finally ran cross country at Copper.”
Given the fact that botulism is a terrifying illness, it was to Heather and her team’s great relief that Charlie made easy work of his return to competition, especially since she initially worried he wouldn’t compete again at all.
With the time he’s had off, making plans to target a specific competition using the $25,000 Connaught Grant has been difficult, but Heather is nonetheless grateful to have received it and is looking forward to putting it to good use soon.
In the meantime, Charlie is continuing to show he’s a very exciting horse for the future. He made his Advanced debut at Galway earlier this month, where he finished second in commanding fashion. He then went on to a second place finish in the Advanced at Twin Rivers.
Charlie’s gusto for stepping up a level, even amidst the health issues he has been battling, is further proof of the possibility of overcoming odds when they are stacked against you — he added just time on cross country to his dressage score on both outings.
In spite of the devastating loss of Dylan Morris, his memory lives on every day for Heather. The additional significance of the grant is not lost either, as Heather and Charlie will be riding with additional wings this year, ever honoring those whom we have lost.
If I had a dime for every photo with Michael Jung this weekend, I think I’d be wealthy. Naturally, when I went to ask for my own photo, Michael was being whisked out of the press conference faster than you could say “Rolex,” so I’m still wallowing in the fact that I missed my chance. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of photos to peruse — including this awesome one of the U.S. ladies with Michael in the Patron’s Tent this weekend. The envy is real, girls.
Weekly Business Tip from Mythic Landing Enterprises: When you sit down to review your business goals, be sure to have your budget next to you. I like to do this every quarter, but bi-annually would be sufficient. By regularly checking in, you will be able to make adjustments to both your business goals and budget as needed.
Let’s be honest, unless you’re independently wealthy, you’re going to need to shape your business around what is bringing in income. Say at your start you were trying to gear your lesson program towards adult amateurs, but at the end of your quarter you find that you’re making more money from teaching your local Pony Clubs. You can now keep an eye on this until the next quarter and see if the trend continues. If it does, you know that you can safely adjust your business plan and budget.
Rebecca Farm is seeking volunteers for the 2016 event, to be held Jule 21-24 in Kalispell, Montana. This is one of the best venues I’ve personally seen, and I highly recommend signing up to volunteer if you can! [Rebecca Farm]
In case you missed it, Uthopia, the iconic ride of Carl Hester’s, was auctioned off last week with no reserve to the shock of Mr. Hester. He now believes that he has secured enough to ensure that the horse’s future is secure after what had to have been a very stressful few days. [Hester Believes Uthopia is Secure]
Five board members have announced their mass resignation from the Board of Directors heading up the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Bromont. The organization behind WEG has been beleagured with financial trouble from the outset, leaving many to question the fate of the Games. This latest development is the most recent in a series of troubles. [Board Members Resign from WEG]
Tuesday Video:
Check out this awesome helmet cam from FENCE Horse Trials, sent in by Katharine Stancliff and Poppyfield’s Tristan:
Ellen Doughty-Hume cruised around Rolex cross country yesterday for the second time, braving tough footing and rainy weather for a clear round with time added. Sir Oberon is Ellen’s 14-year-old Holsteiner/Thoroughbred gelding, and both Ellen and “Obie” managed an amazing save at the Hollow yesterday.
Co-commentating at the time, Will Coleman called Ellen’s save “the most graceful leg-hang you will ever see.”
Michael Jung with his parents Joachin and Brigitte. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Michael Jung won his second Rolex in grand, dominating fashion on a final score of 39.2, the only rider to finish in the 30s and finishing well ahead of second placed USEF National Champion Lauren Kieffer and Veronica.
His winning ride aboard fischerRocana FST has just been uploaded to USEF Network, so enjoy these videos of all three phases of Michael’s decisive win.
The top three finishers at a thrilling edition of Rolex Kentucky gathered in the media center following the awards ceremony to drink champagne break down their show jumping rounds today. It should come as not a huge surprise that Michael Jung now has a Rolex for each wrist, but the U.S. contingent should also be thrilled with the fact that two of our top younger riders find themselves in the second and third position.
The final press conference is always a happy one, and everyone was in great spirits as we celebrated another successful weekend full of eventing highs. Congratulations to all, and here are your final top quotes from your Rolex 2016 top three:
Michael Jung on how he feels about his second Rolex win: “I’m not usually one for so many words… but the big thing I have to say: thank you to all the people that help me, that I can come back again and compete with so many good horses.”
Michael Jung on how he is feeling looking ahead to Badminton: “It’s a normal competition for me. It is a very big competition, it is tough, but you have to give the horse a normal feeling like it’s just a dressage practice. If you put too much pressure on in the warm-up then it comes to mistakes.”
Michael Jung on if the expectation to win caused more pressure: “My personality is a little bit calm, but when you wait all day for your ride that makes you a bit nervous.”
Lauren on how it feels to win the USEF National Championship for a second time: “There was definitely a lot of planning going into this one. Last time, it was a bit of a pleasant surprise… I think it’s important to notice that the U.S. kind of dominated the leaderboard this time and we had a lot of nations here. The U.S. team has certainly been working hard to raise their game, and hopefully everyone keeps on that and we gain confidence going into the summer.”
Maya Black on the fact that she didn’t know the media center existed before this weekend: “I really like being here!”
Big hugs for a 17-year-old going on 5-year-old. Photo by Sally Spickard.
I wandered about the warm-up today during show jumping. It’s an area where I prefer to be some days; it’s fascinating to see how the riders execute their warm-ups and also what their reactions are as they enter and exit the arena. Game faces on, here is your on the sidelines gallery from the final day of Rolex Kentucky.
We’re just under an hour to go until we finish out another Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Riders will be tackling a very tough course designed by Richard Jeffery, and add in the factor of a big crowd in the grandstands, and it will not be surprising to see the final standings shaken a bit at the end of the day.
Many thanks to Earl and Jennifer McFall, who traveled from their home base in Northern California to cheer on their friends this weekend, for giving us this great preview of what to expect today.
Laine Ashker uploaded her helmet cam video from yesterday after what she called the ride of her life aboard her longtime partner, Anthony Patch. Laine told the media that she felt she rode like “the old Laine” and put some demons to rest, particularly at the coffin, on yesterday’s course.
Laine added 18.4 time penalties to head into today’s show jumping within the top 30. Enjoy the ride, and stay tuned for more from the final day here at #RK3DE!
Lauren Kieffer, Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton. Photos by Leslie Threlkeld.
Despite losing one of their teammates to Derek di Grazia’s course, Team USA still clinched the top spot and a hefty lead following today’s cross country thanks to three clear rounds. With just time added on to their scores, the team of Phillip Dutton, Boyd Martin and Lauren Kieffer will take a team score of 151.5 into the grand finale tomorrow to conclude Rolex and the $20,000 Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge.
Marilyn Little and RF Demeter unfortunately had a fall late in the course — they’re both reported to be ok — but luckily their score can be dropped as per the usual team format, leaving the team intact otherwise.
Team New Zealand had a bit of a rough day out there, with Tim Price sadly falling just two fences from home and resulting in the drop score. Blyth Tait and Xanthus III picked up one refusal after the Head of the Lake and Mark Todd and Jock Paget brought their horses home with just time penalties added. The Kiwi team score rests at 222.0 — barring any absolute disasters tomorrow, it seems the win is fully in Team USA’s pocket at this point.
In bronze position is the mixed team of Australia, Germany and Great Britain. Ryan Wood will be the drop score with Frankie after he had an early dismount on course, but Michael Jung and James Alliston helped carry the team with clear rounds. Panda Christie, riding for Great Britain, is also a member of this team.
We’re all gearing up for the exciting finish tomorrow, and looking to our Dubarry Fantasy League, it’s Team Buck leading the way on a score of 198.5 before his dropped score is applied. Unfortunately, Kyle is in a tough spot with one of his riders, Tiana Coudray, retiring on course and another, Allison Springer, incurring 20 jumping penalties.
As we look ahead to the final day tomorrow, we wish all of our Fantasy League competitors good luck and are also eagerly anticipating the finale of the Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge. Stay tuned!
Samantha Clark braved the cold and rain all day today to interview riders as they were coming off of the cross country course. We posted these videos as they came up in our open thread (here and here), but in case you missed them you can watch all of them right here. Enjoy!
And the rest of the rider interview videos can be found within this playlist:
Rolex leaders and Derek di Grazia following cross country. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
We enjoyed a great press conference with Michael Jung, Phillip Dutton, Maya Black and Lauren Kieffer this afternoon following cross country here at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.
After tenaciously holding onto his lead heading into tomorrow, Michael was quick to give credit to fischerRocana FST, who if anything looked better than she did last year in the muck.
Phillip Dutton also finds himself in second and third place aboard Fernhill Fugitive and Mighty Nice, respectively. And Maya Black has landed in fourth place at just her second Rolex, and she admitted she didn’t even know there was a media center here at the Park!
We also must congratulate Lauren Kieffer for winning the Land Rover Ride of the Day award on Landmark’s Monte Carlo by coming home closest to the optimum time of the American riders with 2.8 time penalties. Even more impressive, this was Landmark’s Monte Carlo’s first four-star.
The gathered leaders gave us some great quotes from their rides today, and we were even joined by course designer Derek di Grazia toward the end. If you missed our live stream you can view the press conference video in its entirety below.
Michael Jung on how the weather affected his ride: “For me it was a bit hard working today, but I’m absolutely happy about my mare, fischerRocana, she was absolutely fighting and really concentrated and trusted me. That gives you, as a rider, a very, very good feeling. She (was) galloping in the end and when I push her a little bit, she (was) galloping as fast as she can. She tried all the best. That’s absolutely great feeling.
Michael Jung on the timing of Kentucky: The four-star in Kentucky is always very early in the season. You have not so much time to bring the horse to the best condition. Maybe we need one or two more three-stars that you have a very good feeling before it comes very early.
Phillip Dutton on Fernhill Fugitive’s run today: I thought all three went well, but like Michael said it wasn’t easy. The conditions, especially as the day went on … but it’s always safe. I think Derek does a great job with the course because the problems were spread throughout. I think this was a great learning experience for them.
Maya Black on if she’d thought she’d be in this press conference today: “Not particularly, but I’m very happy to be here!”
Lauren Kieffer Land Rover Ride of the Day on Landmark’s Monte Carlo: “THe horse, it was his first four-star. He’s a homebred and we’ve had him his whole life. He’s owned by (Ms.) Jacqueline Mars and he hasn’t always been the easiest but she believed in him from the beginning and he really was foot perfect today. I’m really happy with him.”
Michael Jung comparing his cross country ride to last year’s: This year, I feel that the mare was really a lot fighting, really good galloping … my idea was that I give the mare a bit more time in the beginning, but she (was) galloping very fast and very good up the hills.”
Lauren Kieffer on how the conditions varied between her two rides: “I think the ground was a lot better this better. It started to deteriorate — on Veronica I did have to hunt for good ground. The nice thing about Kentucky is it really took it quite well, it wasn’t bottomless or anything. I certainly think that’s why you saw the time get harder and harder to get.”
Maya Black on her trip today: “I wasn’t really concerned about any of the fences, per se, I was more concerned about just getting around safely with my horse and making sure I did the best thing for him. Last year, he got a little bit more tired. This year, I was really pleased with how he galloped and how he recovered. He definitely felt better. I was more just wanting to be smart and ride him the best I could towards the end of the course.”
Michael Jung on whether or not he would sleep well tonight knowing he has three rails in hand: “I sleep very well because of today.”
Michael Jung on what he looks for in a potential four-star horse: *silence and raised eyebrows*
Derek di Grazia on the weather forecast for today: “I think you’re always a little nervous about it. Last year, we rain in the rain and the footing held up pretty well last year, so I knew the ground here is quite good. We hadn’t had that much rain throughout the week, so I knew that starting out we’d probably be ok. It was just a matter of what was going to happen during the day. I take my hats off to the riders, I think they did an excellent job and they really produced some great rounds.”
Stay tuned for much more from the penultimate day of Rolex, and many thanks as always for sharing this weekend with us!
The USEF Network has uploaded this great flyover video featuring the elements on Derek di Grazia’s cross country course that riders will be tackling today. There are plenty of variables — mostly the weather — to deal with today, so we’ll be eagerly anticipating seeing how the riders execute their plans on course.
Many thanks to the USEF Network for continuing to provide such top-notch video coverage of Rolex! Remember, you can watch the action FREE beginning at 10 a.m. EST with Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitivehere.
2015 Top Dog Lincoln in his Land Rover (Land Rover not included in prize).
Keep your children on a leash and your dogs in focus! Sniffing, wagging, splashing, napping – and hopefully not chasing Buck Davidson – the pooches will be on parade at Rolex this year, even in the forecasted monsoon! Capture one with your camera in the always popular Fifth Annual WEB Rolex Top Dog Contest!
Here are a couple faves from last year to help you hone in on the hounds:
Claire Ryner’s Macy.
Jessica Pershing’s Hewie wanted to display his excellent bascule over some fences.
The winning photo will receive a Veritas Fancy Raised Figure-8 Bridle from our awesome sponsor, World Equestrian Brands. The Veritas Figure-8 Bridle features unparalled luxurious padding on the single crown piece, select premium leather and stainless steel buckles. These bridles are designed for superior comfort, style and performance.
Photo courtesy of World Equestrian Brands.
World Equestrian Brands products are well-known for their functionality as well as their sophisticated look — you and your horse will be riding in high style with this addition to your tack closet!
Contest Details:
Send your puppy pic to [email protected] with the subject line “Top Dog.” One entry per person.
Caitlyn Fischer and Ralphie in the CIC* at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre in February. Photo used with permission from Main Event Photography.
We are heartbroken to report that 19-year-old Caitlyn Fischer has died after a fall at fence two on the CCI* course at Sydney International Horse Trials while competing Ralphie, her 12-year-old Thoroughbred cross gelding.
Ralphie is in stable condition and under observation by veterinarians.
Organisers of the Sydney International Horse Trials wish to advise the cancellation of all competitions due to a tragic accident.
It is with the deepest regret that we announce Miss Caitlyn Fischer suffered a fatal accident while competing at the Cross-Country competition of the Sydney International Horse Trials at 10:40am on Saturday 30 April 2016.
Caitlyn, aged 19 from Bairnsdale, Victoria, was riding the horse Ralphie in the one star competition when the accident occurred at fence two.
Caitlyn was provided urgent medical attention by the on-course paramedic and doctor but unfortunately was unable to be revived.
Caitlyn’s horse Ralphie is in a stable condition and remains under the observation of veterinarians.
Equestrian Australia Chairwoman Judy Fasher said, “On behalf of the whole sport I would like to extend our deepest sympathy to Caitlyn’s parents Ailsa Carr and Mark Fischer and her family. The thoughts and prayers of horse people all over the country are with Caitlyn’s family and friends at this sad time.”
Please be advised that Equestrian Australia Chairwoman Judy Fasher will address the media at 2pm today at the Sydney International Horse Trials – Saxony Road, Horsley Park. Please contact Equestrian Australia media contact Michelle Cook – 0414 702 697 upon arrival.
Photo used with permission from Main Event Photography.
Caitlyn began competing at the one-star level with Ralphie last year, completing five CIC* competitions. They most recently finished seventh in the CIC* at Equestriad Australia.
The EN team extends our deepest condolences to Caitlyn’s family, friends and acquaintances.
Team USA for the Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge. Photos by Jenni Autry & Leslie Threlkeld.
The Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge is fully underway, with five teams competing for the $20,000 prize. In its fourth year, the Dubarry Nations Team Challenge gives riders the ability to compete in a team atmosphere — a key component considering the fact that it’s an Olympic year.
The Team Challenge encourages friendly competition and the team members were selected based on their current FEI World Ranking. Two teams consist of mixed nations as well. The five teams competing this weekend are as follows:
USA:
Marilyn Little / RF Demeter
Lauren Kieffer / Veronica
Boyd Martin / Shamwari 4
Phillip Dutton / Mighty Nice
New Zealand:
Mark Todd / NZB Campino
Jonathan Paget / Clifton Signature
Tim Price / Bango
Blyth Tait / Xanthus III
Canada:
Jessica Phoenix / Pavarotti
Selena O’Hanlon / Foxwood High
Lisa Marie Fergusson / Honor Me
Kyle Carter / Madison Park
AUS, GER, GBR:
Michael Jung / fischerRocana FST
Panda Christie / Little Leo
Ryan Wood / Frankie
James Alliston / Parker
BRA, IRE, MEX:
Tim Bourke / Luckaun Quality
Daniela Moguel / Cecelia
Nilson Moreira da Silva / Muggle
At the conclusion of the first phase of competition, it’s team USA in the lead on a total penalty score of 131.0. After solid performances in the low to mid-40s for all four team members — who are also stalwart and gritty cross country competitors — they should be feeling fairly confident heading into tomorrow.
Team New Zealand isn’t far behind the Americans, they’re just 8 points in second place on a total score of 139.0. The Kiwis are formidable forces on cross country, so don’t deal them out of the running for first place just yet. Between the number of Olympic medals between them all, I’d say this should be a treat to watch tomorrow.
In bronze position after dressage is Team Canada, and once again there’s a wealth of experience on this team. One rookie, Lisa Marie Fergusson, is on the Canadian team as well, and we’ll be looking for safe and clear yet competitive rounds from this bunch.
We’re also in the midst of our Dubarry Rolex Fantasy League, where we’re pitting Buck Davidson and Kyle Carter against each other in an epic match game. Here are how Team Buck and Team Kyle are faring after dressage:
It’s splitting hairs to decide who has the better shot on cross country tomorrow. Buck has a narrow lead but I suspect things may very well change at the end of the day tomorrow. We will find out soon enough!
Samantha Clark was waiting in the wings as riders came off of their horses today following their dressage tests. We’ve got the scoop on their thoughts about their rides. Enjoy!
The top three following dressage, Michael Jung, Allison Springer and Marilyn Little, talked about strategy in the day two press conference. The current forecast is calling for an 80% chance of rain, including thunderstorms, for basically the whole day.
The general consensus among the riders is that the changes to Derek di Grazia’s course this year will make for a very challenging day tomorrow. Here are some of the best quotes from this afternoon’s press conference, including the rider’s thoughts on their dressage rides.
Allison Springer:
On being back at Rolex after missing the 2015 event: It’s always so emotional and wonderful to be here. It’s such a long partnership with that horse. He’s tricky, but it brings a tear to my eye to be able to be here. To hear the crowd cheering you on — it’s just a great feeling here.
On her overall impressions of her test: “I think the 2014 test was a tick better. I feel like I was sneaking through the walk here. He was great, but I certainly was praying for the walk to get done with and the rein back to not be too exciting. But I was thrilled with him.”
On how she feels about the track tomorrow: “To me, this is probably the most tiring track I’ve seen at Rolex. It used to be that we had this really nice long hill down from the tents back through the steeplechase field and it seems to be they could catch their breath and you could make up a little bit of time. I don’t think there’s anywhere to make time at the end. You have to be really smart in your turns everywhere and kick away from the fences. I just think it’s a very tiring track. Fitness is going to be different.”
On her spot as the last rider on course: “I guess that could totally depend on the weather. If it rains quite a bit and the footing deteriorates, I can’t imagine it would be an advantage to go at the end. But you’re just dealt the cards you’re dealt and you deal with it. Right now, I have my plan and you have to be wise and be a horseman and adjust as needed.”
Marilyn Little:
On the cross country course: “Everything looks a little big to me right now. I’ve only done two Intermediates this season so I’ve lost a little perspective. But I have a very experienced horse with a big heart. I think that the weather will play a very big role; we’re all hoping for as dry of a day as possible. The footing feels very nice out there right now. I go later — and obviously Allison goes very late — so we’ll both be hoping that we’re not up to our knees.”
On her dressage test: “I’ve had tests where there were some more moments of brilliance and we had a few mistakes that were disappointing. But it was certainly one of the more relaxed tests and I was quite pleased to see that. She wants to be a reliable horse in dressage and I’d like to be able to carry that relaxation into the future tests and also bring back a little of the sparkle that I felt before.”
Michael Jung:
On his strategy tomorrow given the forecast: “We will see how is the weather tomorrow. At the moment, we try to go fast because I think my mare is in a very good form. She feels very happy and very strong, but it can change tomorrow morning.”
On his thoughts on going for the Grand Slam: “It’s very important. For me, it’s a long trip to here, and I’m not coming to here to have a nice holiday! When I come to here, I try to win but it depends also (on) the horse. Sometimes the weather is not so good or the horse doesn’t feel so good or you lost a shoe on the track and you go more slow — in the end, it’s very important that you have to finish the competition with a healthy horse and then the season can go on.
Watch the whole press conference here, and stay tuned tomorrow for the press conference which we will be live streaming on our Facebook page. We’ll try to ask some of our readers’ questions in tomorrow’s session!
Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Day Two Press Conference
World Equestrian Brands rider Allison Springer stopped by to chat with the press after her always impressive dressage test aboard Arthur. Arthur is 17 this year, but you’d never know by watching him. This is their 11th CCI4* start — such an impressive feat for a long standing partnership.
A score of 39.6 is just a tick off of their score from last year, and this puts them into second place after the dressage phase of competition. She’s got a bit of ground to make up to catch Michael Jung in the next two phases — she told Frankie Thieriot after her ride that she’d have to “ride as fierce as a German tomorrow!”
Stay tuned for our full report on the day as well as the press conference, which we’ll be streaming live on our Facebook page in just a few minutes.
Allison Springer and Arthur. Photo by Jenni Autry.
We’re just a few minutes away from kicking off the first of our final two groups to see in the first phase of competition at Rolex. We have some great scores that have come in this morning, including Marilyn Little’s second place test aboard RF Demeter.
West Coast wonders Barb Crabo and Eveready will kick us off at 1:30 p.m. EST and we’re looking forward to seeing the final few riders!
3:46 p.m. EST:That’s a wrap for dressage! Stay tuned for the full report. Full live scores here.
3:45 p.m. EST: Allison tells Frankie Thieriot that her walk and a couple of her changes could’ve been better, but that she’s so thrilled. “I’m going to have to ride as fierce as a German tomorrow, right?!”
A photo posted by Eventing Nation (@goeventing) on
3:44 p.m. EST: A 39.6 for Allison and Arthur to slot them solidly into second place! This is one of her lowest scores at this level (2014 was her lowest).
3:41 p.m. EST: This is going to be a strong test to threaten Marilyn, but unfortunately she doesn’t seem to be trending to topple Miche Jung. What a BEAUTIFUL test, as usual!!
3:40 p.m. EST: Jessie Phoenix on her test with Pavarotti:
3:28 p.m. EST: Phillip has dedicated his ride on “Happy” this weekend to the late Bruce Duchossois.
3:27 p.m. EST: P-Dutty is in next with Mighty Nice. He said yesterday he hopes to challenge Miche in his dressage today. And then we have #Allithur (told you, it’s a thing) to close us out. Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti score a 44.5 for a current 8th place.
3:25 p.m. EST: Rotti just got a bit unraveled towards the middle and end of his canter work, which will cost them some points. Jessie still has a big grin and has lots of pats for her friend.
3:23 p.m. EST: Nice reach in the half-pass to the right here from Rotti:
3:21 p.m. EST: Pavarotti is a showman. Should be fun to watch this test.
3:19 p.m. EST Deep breath and a pat for Blackfoot Mystery. A few bobbles in the changes but a solid debut. Trust me, Boyd will want to be sitting on this one come tomorrow!
3:13 p.m. EST: Boyd is in the ring with “Big Red,” Blackfoot Mystery. Fun fact, this horse is a Kentucky bred! His breeder, John O’Meara, stopped by to say hi earlier this week.
3:10 p.m. EST: Lillian Heard managed some tension from FYI quite well. Just a bit of tension in the upward transition to canter and a couple of the changes.
2:47 p.m. EST: Emily Beshear on her day with Delta:
2:33 p.m. EST: 60.4 for Ryan and McLovin. The final break of the day now, we’ll resume at 2:50 p.m. EST with Sir Mark Todd and NZB Campino and…drumroll…#ALLITHUR to bring the house down. The hashtag is a thing, guys. Use it. Love it. Embrace it.
2:32 p.m. EST: Ryan completes his third ride – he’s a busy guy this weekend!
2:31 p.m. EST: Lauren Kieffer and Tiana Coudray chat about their rides:
2:31 p.m. EST: “He looks slow, I think he’s getting time faults.” – Karen. Can I use the cry laugh emoji here?
2:27 p.m. EST: Emily and Shame On the Moon receive a score of 52.3.
2:26 p.m. EST: Next in is Ryan Wood on his final ride, McLovin aka BEST NAME EVER.
2:25 p.m. EST: Delta was a bit star struck by the atmosphere – bear in mind, this is her first time at Rolex. All things considered, a lovely ride for Emily and a talented horse to keep producing. On to cross country!
2:22 p.m. EST: Delta settles in a bit but she’s still going to lose traction due to tension. This pair has tons of potential for a brilliant test, Karen O’Connor says, and it’s evident in the movement she displays:
2:18 p.m. EST: It’s the battle of the grays! Next in, one of my personal favorite horses, Shame On the Moon with Emily Beshear in the irons. I think it’s the purple tails Emily usually wears. Delta is VERY tense, which will be a shame if she carries that into the ring.
2:18 p.m. EST: Bobby Meyerhoff stops to chat about his test:
2:16 p.m. EST: Karen O’Connor and Gina Miles comment that Tiana isn’t picking up the scores that they thought she might in her canter work, then said the canter work didn’t flow as nicely as Michael and Marilyn. Regardless, still a test that Tiana looks very pleased with.
2:15 p.m. EST: Just a few. Horse Pesterer in the house!
2:13 p.m. EST: A nice floaty medium across the diagonal for Tiana and “Finn”:
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2:11 p.m. EST Member of the 2012 Olympic team Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister are in the ring! This is a lovely horse who can put in a very competitive test.
2:10 p.m. EST: A 43.9 and sixth place for Lauren and Veronica. This is their lowest CCI4* score to date! That deserves a high five from David!
2:07 p.m. EST: Karen O’Connor says the walk has always been Veronica’s weaker point – she tends to shorten and tighten her back. Hold your breath for this score!
2:05 p.m. EST: Lauren was trending ahead of or even with Michael Jung but has lost some ground in the walk.
2:03 p.m. EST: Veronica struts in at A like “I heard some other mare is saying they’re better than me.”
2:02 p.m. EST: High hopes for this next pair – Team Rebecca’s Veronica with the inimitable Lauren Kieffer in the irons.
2:01 p.m. EST:
Heads up – Veronica looks freakin’ awesome in warm-up; could it be 3 for 3 mares at the top @RolexKentucky leaderboard?
2:00 p.m. EST: A very nice and strong test from Tim and “Obie”. Tim trains with Sharon White, and their hard work has really been paying off. You definitely won’t want to miss this pair tomorrow.
1:58 p.m. EST:
Tim trains with Sharon White. Announcer Gina Miles says Obie is such a big, long ground-covering horse. He’s in a double-bridle. #Rolex16
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1:50 p.m. EST: Al is a bit up today – he’s ready to get on with tomorrow. But he did have a lovely extension – his favorite movement.
1:48 p.m. EST: Al says, “wait mom, I have to say hi to my fans!”
1:47 p.m. EST: Laine and Al are in the ring for the seventh time in their career together.
1:46 p.m. EST: A 56.1 for Bobby and Token. This is a cool trend – they started with a score in the 70s in their debut in 2014, got down in the 60s in 2015 and now have reached the 50s. Nicely done, you two!
1:44 p.m. EST: Token looks to be in fighting fit form during his test. Bobby ends with a big grin and he’ll be ready to tackle that beefy cross country course tomorrow. Up next is the selfie queen of eventing, Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch.
1:41 p.m. EST: #FBF (flashback Friday for those who aren’t hip) to Bobby’s top hat flying off in 2014:
Avery Klunick and In It to Win It. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Avery Klunick is a well traveled girl. Growing up in Texas, she never imagined she’d one day end up on both coasts pursuing her dreams of competing at the uppermost levels of the sport. Now, she’s just made her CCI4* debut today in the fabled Rolex Stadium.
In It To Win It, a 16-year-old New Zealand Sport Horse, came to Avery when she was younger, at the end of 2008. Avery’s trainers in Texas, Bobo Wroe and Kathleen Zins, found him in Michigan. He’d won a CCI1* with former rider Julia Briskin, but it wasn’t all butterflies and rainbows for the new pair at first.
“It was hard to learn how to ride him,” Avery recalled. “I was just a kid, I didn’t have much experience. He’s a really cool horse, he’s super brave, I just wasn’t that good when I got him. It was an example of a kid getting a really nice horse that they weren’t necessarily ready to ride, but somehow it ended up working out as we kept going.”
“He’s pretty much been my first everything,” she continued. And this is definitely true — in 2011 “Winston” took Avery to the FEI National Junior and Young Rider Championships, where they finished fifth individually in the CCI1*. The next year, they returned to Young Riders to finish sixth individually in the CCI2*.
It’s been a labor of love for Avery and Winston, whose partnership is numbering eight years this year. “We’ve basically grown up together,” she said.
Avery recalls receiving a poster from Rolex in 2009 and zeroing in on this event as her big goal. It was when she went to Young Riders for the first time that she truly realized that this sport was special and that she wanted to see the game through.
Avery Klunick and In It To Win It. Photo by Sally Spickard.
But she took the ‘typical’ route, going to college straight out of high school. This didn’t prevent her from working towards her goal, however, and she eventually took a job working for Derek and Bea di Grazia in California.
“Senior year of high school, I went to Galway to do the one-star,” Avery said. “My coach had gotten really sick, but her daughter had ridden with Derek and Bea, so she called and asked if they could help me.” After that, she called the di Grazias asking if they had a spot for her in the summer, which she did.
“Texas is wonderful, but I just wanted to see what else was out there,” she said. “I worked with Mike (Huber) and Heather (Morris) as well, and I just had access to really great coaching. It was ironic, my parents didn’t know horses when I first started and we somehow found Bobo and have always just been really fortunate with who we’ve chosen to work with.”
Avery calls Derek and Bea di Grazia “game changers” for her career. “They expected a lot from me, and they knew that I could do some really cool things with this horse if I kept working. They’ve definitely been my mentors through everything.” She’s also quick to thank Mary D’Arcy, with whom she has also worked for almost two years.
Avery Klunick and In It To Win It, Richland CIC3*. Photo by Rare Air Eventing Photography.
Avery and Winston have been campaigning at the Advanced and three-star level since 2014, picking up several top placings, including a fifth place in the CIC3* at Twin Rivers in 2014, a top-25 in their first CCI3* at Bromont, and a top-10 in the CCI3* at Rebecca Farm last year.
College graduation was coming up quickly, though, and Avery needed a plan as she looked ahead to what she knew she wanted to accomplish. She thought about who she’d want to work with going forward and eventually made a call to Boyd Martin.
“The funny thing about me is, I’ve always just met random people throughout my life,” Avery said with a laugh. “I had only met Boyd once before, and I’m sure he doesn’t remember, so when I called him it was definitely out of the blue.”
Sure enough, Boyd offered her a spot working for him in Aiken for the winter, so once again Avery packed her bags and her trailer and this time headed east.
“Basing at Stable View for the winter was an incredible experience, it really makes you up your game,” Avery said. “There were times when you’d be riding and there’d be several Olympians in the ring with you. It’s surreal. But it’s a really great feeling to be a part of a big team and a big program like that.”
“Boyd is a really good cross country rider, which is one reason why I really wanted to be able to work with him. He’s very intuitive, he can see things that I need to fix just at a glance. He really emphasizes riding accurately. I feel much better prepared now than I have before for Rolex.”
Avery’s goals this weekend are to have a respectable result — she’s realistic about this being her first goal but believes that she has the tools to do the job. “You never know what’s going to happen, but at the end of the day I just want to do right by my horse. It’s at the point where our work at home is getting so much better. I know Winston wants to do it, I just need to help him out.”
Marilyn Little and RF Demeter. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Welcome to day two of dressage here at Rolex Kentucky! We’ve already seen some downright incredible rides on the first day of competition, but there is plenty more to come yet today. Michael Jung currently holds a handy lead with last year’s winner fischerRocana FST after a dazzling performance yesterday.
We’ll be looking for several riders to come up to the challenge of Michael’s mid-30s score today, so it should be a battle right down to the very end, when dressage powerhouses Allison Springer and Arthur close out the day.
We’re bringing you the latest updates right here on our open thread this morning. Refresh this page to keep abreast of the action and also follow along with the USEF Network live stream here.
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12:14 p.m. EST: Allie had a big smile on her face while recapping her test with coach Buck Davidson. A great way to close out the morning group! Michael Jung’s score remains the only in the 30s, and Marilyn Little is in second with RF Demeter. Stay tuned here for more videos and photos and also keep an eye out for Jenni’s lunchtime report! We’ll pick up with our final groups at 1:30 p.m. with Barb Crabo and Eveready.
Hang on, ma. Got an itch.
12:14 p.m. EST:
50.4 for our last before the lunch Allie Knowles and Sound Prospect #rk3de#eventinglive
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11:54 a.m. EST: Liz Halliday-Sharp stops to chat about her test with HHS Cooley:
11:51 a.m. EST: Lisa Barry has withdrawn F.I.S Prince Charming – they were due to be next so now we’ll wait for Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville.
11:49 a.m. EST: A great test to watch from Kim Severson and Sparky. A bit of keenness broke through in the canter work, but they earned a respectable 51.6. Kim’s quiet mannerisms with her horses is really neat to watch. Look how she spends a quiet moment with him after the final salute:
11:44 a.m. EST: Very expressive medium trot from Fernhill Fearless, aka “Sparky”.
11:40 a.m. EST: And now we welcome back one of our leading ladies, Kim Severson with Fernhill Fearless. We spied Kim in line at Starbucks today, let’s hope it was some dancing fuel! #notlikesheneedsit #dressageskillz #gosparky
11:39 a.m. EST: Liz Halliday-Sharp and HHS Cooley finish their test which had a bit of tension in the changes. They’ll take a score of 54.8 into tomorrow.
11:30 a.m. EST: Two textbook changes to finish out Hannah Sue’s test. A couple of little mistakes but she should be very pleased with this comeback test.
11:27 a.m. EST: This is a beautiful, accurate test so far. Harbour Pilot is a fantastic mover and Hannah is doing a great job of riding through some extra energy and making it look seamless.
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11:25 a.m. EST: Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot make their return to the four-star level. This horse is a great dressage horse, let’s see what you’ve got, William!
11:25 a.m. EST:
@BlythTait and Xanthus III suffered from a few mistakes in the canter work but lovely walk/trot work. Score of 54.1 #rk3de#eventinglive
11:22 a.m. EST: Xanthus’ canter work is a bit more green than his lovely trot work but Blyth is putting in a very quiet ride. This reinback is probably the best so far:
11:22 a.m. EST: 60ish tests in and I still don’t have the test memorized. #howdotheydoit
11:18 a.m. EST: Blyth Tait and Xanthus III are in the ring now. Blyth is a living legend, truly a great opportunity to see one of the greats here on U.S. soil!
11:16 a.m. EST: Daniela Moguel and Cecelia score a 57.8 in their debut. Big pats for the mare!
11:14 a.m. EST:
Announcer Gina Miles on Cecelia: Seeing signs of a little lack of submission, some tension in the back. Strides get short behind. #Rolex16
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10:46 a.m. EST: Into our second break of the day, we’ll pick back up at 11:10 a.m. with Daniela Moguel and Cecelia.
10:45 a.m. EST: Flaxen was super amped by the cheers from the crowd. Hi Ho .. Flaxen? Score of 46.3 for this pair for a solid debut.
10:40 a.m. EST: Flaxen is strutting his stuff out there. A few things that Gina has pointed out to improve, but overall this is a great debut. And it’s no surprise — this pair is used to being in a big atmosphere.
10:28 a.m. EST: Check out Elisa Wallace and her mustangs showing off in the rain yesterday:
10:27 a.m. EST: Holly Payne Caravella tells Frankie Thieriot that mom Marilyn Payne gets nervous as a spectator when she has to watch both her and Doug at events! #showmomlove
10:26 a.m. EST: Honor Me saw the final short diagonal and tried to take off for home, but Lisa kept a lid on and they’ve officially made their Rolex debut!
10:22 a.m. EST: Here are Rookie rider Sydney Elliott’s thoughts on her test:
10:20 a.m. EST: Holly Payne Caravella looks elated with Santino after her test, and appropriately so as they’ve scored a 46.5 for seventh place! Look at that grin!
10:18 a.m. EST: And how about those Rolex Rookies! Here is Avery’s interview:
10:17 a.m. EST: Hear from Bunnie Sexton as she talks to the media after her test:
10:17 a.m. EST: Selena O’Hanlon rehashes her test with Foxwood High:
10:15 a.m. EST: Santino is a really nice mover. He commands a lot of attention in the ring.
10:13 a.m. EST: A 62.1 for Leah Lang-Gluscic and a 55.2 for Sydney Conley Elliott. Now in the ring is Holly Payne Caravella and her second ride, Santino.
10:09 a.m. EST: Sydney having a great go for her first four-star test. She’s been working with Will Faudree in the lead-up to this event, and she’s been trending around mid-60 percentage so far.
10:03 a.m. EST: Leah looks absolutely thrilled with A.P. after her final salute, to big cheers from her fan club. The scoring is down at the moment so we’ll have her score as soon as possible. In the meantime, look at this and try not to get emotional:
9:59 a.m. EST: A.P. has gotten much stronger in his flatwork and is looking fairly consistent and relaxed in his test.
9:58 a.m. EST:
The dressage warm up is a popular spot for spectators. A unique view of how riders prepare to enter the ring. #rk3depic.twitter.com/JHLUub9llK
9:56 a.m. EST: In next are Leah Lang-Gluscic and A.P. Prime. This pair withdrew after dressage last year and are looking for their first Rolex completion this weekend. Side note, AP is super fun to ride.
9:54 a.m. EST: Lovely test from these two. Selena has been around her fair share of four-stars and Woody has really stepped up to be a top horse for her. A 51.8 for this pair.
9:51 a.m. EST: Selena is focusing on accuracy here and “Woody” is obliging. A lovely picture.
9:50 a.m. EST: Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High, our first Canadians of the day in the ring now.
9:35 a.m. EST: Hear Marilyn’s thoughts on her test:
9:23 a.m. EST: Lots of love for a longtime love. Bunnie scores a 71.3. We now go to our first judge’s break of the day and will resume at 9:50 with Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High.
9:22 a.m. EST: Bunnie will likely be a bit disappointed but she rode so quietly and tactfully to get what she could out of “Ecko”. Class act right here, ladies and gents.
9:20 a.m. EST: Bunnie is doing her best to ride a very tense Rise Against. This is definitely his least favorite ride, she’s just trying to get on to cross country!
9:17 a.m. EST: Bunnie Sexton is back from the West Coast with her partner, Rise Against.
9:15 a.m. EST: Marilyn and Demi just #NAILEDIT – Karen O’Connor says this may be their best test ever. Absolutely stunning and a well-deserved 42.5 and second place.
9:14 a.m. EST:
Announcer: The accuracy of leader Michael Jung’s test yesterday is what sets him apart from others. He doesn’t give a point away. #Rolex16
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9:02 a.m. EST: Avery is also the queen of great saves. Exhibit A
9:01 a.m. EST: This pair has done all of their firsts together, including a trip to Young Riders for both the one- and two-star level. Keep an eye out for her Rolex Rookie profile today!
9:00 a.m. EST: And another Rolex Rookie enters the ring: Avery Klunick and In It To Win It!
8:50 a.m. EST: Little Leo wasn’t a big fan of the sandbox today, lots of exuberance in the canter, but it’s on to the next phase for these two!
8:45 a.m. EST: Fun fact: Flower just knocked over 10 points off of her Rolex score from last year. She earned a 57.2 and a 54.2 in her other two CCI4* starts. We now welcome Great Britain’s Panda Christie to the ring – learn more about her here.
8:43 a.m. EST: Buck looks super pleased with little Flower after a lovely and harmonious test. This is definitely one pair to watch this weekend. 8:38 a.m. EST: Buck Davidson joins us again with Petite Flower. 8:38 a.m. EST:
8:35 a.m. EST And phase one down for LCC Barnaby, who really kept it together and had a few green moments but worked hard for Lillian.
8:32 a.m. EST: Streeeetch!
8:32 a.m. EST Karen O’Connor has joined the panel for commentary this morning, alongside John Kyle and Gina Miles. It’s like getting a free dressage lesson! Which is something I desperately need.
8:29 a.m. EST: And we’re underway! LCC Barnaby enters at A. Lillian was a Rolex Rookie not too long ago, and now she’s back with three horses this year.
8:25 p.m. EST: Lillian Heard will bring out the second of her three rides at 8:30 a.m. to kick us off with LCC Barnaby.
Lillian Heard and LCC Barnaby. Photo by Jenni Autry.
The USEF Network has uploaded several tests from the first day of dressage at Rolex, and we’re thrilled to relive the top five tests consisting of Michael Jung, Liz Halliday-Sharp, Phillip Dutton, Boyd Martin and Maya Black.
You can read all about the day in our full reports here and here. Also, you can catch play by play action in our morning and afternoon open threads.
Many thanks to the USEF Network for sharing these memorable tests. Don’t forget to tune in to the live stream beginning tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. EST.
The Tredstep Solo Pro Coat and Interchangeable Collar.
9:14 a.m. EST:
