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.
Courtney Cooper and Who's A Star. Photo by Jenni Autry.
The smile on Nupafeed rider Courtney Cooper’s face after her dressage test with her homebred, Who’s A Star, today was all you needed to see to know how excited she is to be here contesting her first CCI4*. We had to know more about Courtney’s journey to get here to Kentucky, so Samantha Clark caught up with her today to chat about her weekend so far.
Many thanks to Courtney for taking the time to speak with us, and good luck with the rest of your Rookie weekend!
Samantha Clark was out and about today, catching up with riders as they came out of the Rolex Stadium following their dressage tests. She was able to catch up with many riders, including our overnight leader Michael Jung:
And she even got Nox Martin to make an appearance!
Dressage day one top three! Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
The early leaders gathered in the media center here at Rolex this afternoon to rehash the rides that put them into the top three after the first day of dressage. It’s surely still anyone’s game at this point, with many powerhouses yet to come tomorrow.
However, it was Michael Jung’s day to shine aboard fischerRocana FST, who knocked about five points off of her score from 2015 to lead on a 34.4. She’s got a nine point lead over second placed Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night, and many will be chasing the bar she’s set tomorrow.
As per usual, Michael was complimentary of his horse and says she did so well here last year that he decided to put Kentucky into his plans for this season as he looks ahead to Rio.
Here are some of the top quotes from today’s press conference. You can view the full video below as well.
On Michael’s decision to come here with fischerRocana again: “I have three really good horses this season and we make a plan in the winter. I think from last year I feel that Rocana likes this competition a lot. She’s very happy in the stables, she traveled more easy than La Biosthetique Sam, for example, and she likes the stadium and the cross country phase, so that’s the reason why I ride her again.”
On Phillip being the first in the ring today: “It’s not always great going first, but when you enter three horses you know you have a pretty good chance of going first. You never know what the scoring’s going to be and I was pleased with the way he went. That’s probably his best four-star score so I was really excited. There’s still another day to go so we’ll see what it looks like at the end of tomorrow.”
On whether or not Phillip thinks he can catch Michael Jung on Mighty Nice tomorrow: “I hope so!”
On today’s rides:
Michael Jung: “I’m very happy about fischerRocana, she did a wonderful test. She traveled very well, she feels very happy in the stables, was very nice to ride the last days and that altogether makes for a good result in the dressage.”
Liz Halliday-Sharp: “Blackie is literally one of the nicest horses — he’s a very nice person. He’s kind of like a big black labrador. I think I got the warm-up right today; it’s all about trying not to get too excited. He tried really hard today. He’s a bigger horse — he’s 17.1 — and he can kind of get away from me in the test a bit, just get kind of long, but today he really tried. We’re starting to get a good partnership now.”
Phillip Dutton: “(Fernhill Fugitive) has really matured. I think if I had the time again I might not have done as much with him as a younger horse and I think it’s taken awhile for him to get stronger and mature. Silva Martin had a big influence on him as well. She took him for quite a few weeks and worked on his flatwork. So I think it’s a whole combination of things that have come together — he’s matured and he’s a very quiet, good-natured horse so he’s pretty easy to teach.”
Michael Jung: “I think it’s a bit more tough than last year. I think it’s a bit more loops and more hills.”
Liz Halliday-Sharp: “I think the course is challenging enough. We obviously have five water jumps this year, that’s quite different. I think there’s a lot to do at the end of the course and you’re going to need to have a fit horse.”
Phillip Dutton: “It’s sort of what we expected — it’s a big, forward riding course and I think it’s good. If you’re on green horses I think you can still make a good experience for your horse, but if you want to make the time and you want to try and do well I think it’s strong enough to sort everybody out as well.”
We’re all set to see the first horse and rider in the ring after the lunch break. We had an exciting morning of fancy dancing, and Liz Halliday-Sharp currently leads on a score of 43.0.
There are some very heavy hitters to come today, though, including last year’s winners Michael Jung and fischerRocana FST. They’ll ride at 1:46 p.m. EST, and we’ll also see Lynn Symansky and Donner (2:02 p.m.), Jock Paget and Clifton Signature (2:50 p.m.), Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn (3:14 p.m.) and Boyd Martin and Shamwari 4 (3:14 p.m.), among others. Stay tuned for much more, and keep refreshing this page for the latest.
To catch up on the morning’s action, click here to visit our open thread.
3:27 p.m. EST: Ryan scores a 57.9 to close out day one. We’ll welcome Michael Jung, Liz Halliday-Sharp and Phillip Dutton to the media center for the first press conference. Stay tuned for much, much more!
3:25 p.m. EST: That’s a wrap for the first day of competition here at Rolex! We’ll have Ryan’s score shortly and we’ll have your full wrap-up coming soon. In the meantime, live scores are here.
3:25 p.m. EST: Fernhill Classic is definitely making a great effort in his first four-star test and Ryan gives him a big pat. He’ll be happy to get out on cross country on Saturday!
A photo posted by Eventing Nation (@goeventing) on
3:20 p.m. EST: Fernhill Classic is also contesting his first CCI4* this year with Ryan. He’s Ryan’s second ride of the day.
3:19 p.m. EST: Boyd goes into fourth place with a 44.6 on Shamwari 4. Lovely! Ryan Wood and Fernhill Classic will close out the day.
3:17 p.m. EST: A little stutter step at his penultimate change, but otherwise very lovely and expressive changes. Can Boyd challenge the leaders with this performance?
3:16 p.m. EST: Liz Halliday-Sharp remarks that this test is quite forward but that the judges seem to be rewarding these types of rides.
3:15 p.m. EST: SO much reach on the hind legs in the left half-pass.
3:14 p.m. EST: Shamwari is a showman. Off to a great start so far with some lovely trot work.
3:13 p.m. EST: Phillip earns a 48.0 with Fernhill Cubalawn. Next up, Shamwari 4 makes his return to the four-star level for the first time since WEG!
3:10 p.m. EST: Not quite going to catch his stablemate, Fernhill Fugitive, most likely, but Cuba tried very hard for Phillip despite being quite keen.
3:07 p.m. EST: Lovely left half pass from Phillip and “Cuba.”
3:03 p.m. EST: Big pats for A Little Romance. Next to go will be Phillip Dutton with his second ride, Fernhill Cubalawn.
3:01 p.m. EST: Jessie is another rider who does a great job, even if the horse isn’t the most flashy on the ground. A Little Romance is a bit tight but trying hard.
A photo posted by Eventing Nation (@goeventing) on
2:57 p.m. EST: Jock scores a 47.6 for New Zealand. Next in is Jessie Phoenix and A Little Romance. “And I do mean little!” says Liz Halliday-Sharp.
2:55 p.m. EST: A very strong and accurate test from Jock. Lovely to have him back in the U.S.! Last he was here was in 2012 when he finished sixth with Clifton Promise.
2:50 p.m. EST: We’re back underway with Jock Paget and Clifton Signature. A lovely, lovely horse. He’s contesting his second four-star here after a top-15 finish at Pau last year.
2:35 p.m. EST:
Michael Jung (GER) speaks with the media after taking the lead with Fischerrocana FST in his Dressage test with a score of 34.4. Watch more: bit.ly/RK3DE16
Posted by USEF Network on Thursday, April 28, 2016
2:35 p.m. EST:
Ellie McPhail, coached by Karen @OCEquestrian, is wearing a horsehair bracelet made from Teddy’s (Theodore OConnor) tail #goodluckcharm
2:32 p.m. EST: A 56.2 for Mikki, and that takes us into our final break of the day. At 2:50 p.m. EST we will pick up with Jock Paget and Clifton Signature and will have five more to see before day’s end.
2:30 p.m. EST Rubens D’Ysieux hopped up from his halt like he was ready to get out of the start box. Soon, buddy! Mikki brings him back to earth with a little pat.
2:29 p.m. EST: This is the first time I’ve gotten to see Rubens D’Ysieux go, and I really like him!
2:13 p.m. EST: Clip Clop got more confident as he went, save a few mistakes in the canter I think Joe will be happy with this horse’s first four-star test. And the harder of the two to boot!
2:12 p.m. EST: A little eager in the early changes for Clip Clop, but he’s handling things quite well.
2:10 p.m. EST: Clip Clop, owned by Madison and Theresa Foote as well as Joe, is contesting his CCI4* debut this weekend.
2:09 p.m. EST: Next up is Joe Meyer with Clip Clop. Where is your kilt Joe??? #dressageattire
2:02 p.m. EST: Now in the ring are Lynn Symansky and “The Flying Deer,” aka Donner. Looking lovely so far. Sadly the audio has gone out of the live feed in the media center.
2:01 p.m. EST:
@WallaceEventing scores a 49.6 with Simply Priceless in their second #rk3de together. That bests their score of 50.8 from 2015!
1:58 p.m. EST: If anyone can point me in the direction of a database, I can only see through 2012 but Michael’s score is the lowest since at least 2012.
1:54 p.m. EST: They drew the short stick in following Michael, but Elisa Wallace and Simply Priceless are more than capable of putting in a strong test.
1:53 p.m. EST:
fischerRocana lowers her score from last year by 5 points. Her third lowest 4* score to date #rk3de#eventinglive
1:50 p.m. EST: Can we watch that again? Michael nods to the judges and the crowd goes wild. Meanwhile, Roxie is just like “just another day, guys. Just another day.”
1:48 p.m. EST: The thing about this mare, and about Michael, is she isn’t the most extravagant, flashy mover. But she’s accurate, as are all of his other rides, and he takes advantage of what movement he does have and knocks the pants off everyone else. They’re currently trending around 75%.
1:46 p.m. EST: Can we make #ForeverJung a thing?
1:45 p.m. EST: OMG. It’s time. I can’t. The Queen has entered. #queenbey
1:43 p.m. EST:
1:42 p.m. EST: Capato looks quite proud of himself and Jordan looks pleased. A very nice performance from this pair who is here in Kentucky for the second time.
1:41 p.m. EST: Capato has one of my personal favorite extended canters. Exhibit A:
Jordan Linstedt and RevitaVet Capato. Photo by Sally Spickard.
A photo posted by Ellen Doughty-Hume (@ellendoughtyhume) on
1:38 p.m. EST: A 51.8 for Kurt and DeLux Z in their debut. Next in, another West Coast rider, Jordan Linstedt and RevitaVet Capato.
1:37 p.m. EST: Just caught a glimpse of Rocana in the warm-up. Game face on, ya’ll.
1:35 p.m. EST: What a nice test from Kurt in his debut at this level. He has worked very hard to get here, and he’s been rewarded with a very consistent and correct test. Nicely done!
1:34 p.m. EST: Nice changes from DeLux Z, expressive though a teeny bit of straightness lost.
1:30 p.m. EST: And now, Kurt Martin and DeLux Z! This is another Rolex Rookie pair.
1:28 p.m. EST:
Rebecca Farm CCI3* winners Kurt Martin and DeLux Z will be the first to go in front of the judges this afternoon.
It’s finally here! I feel like a kid on Christmas (except without the presents, unless someone wants to bring me one from the Trade Fair…) today as we’re all set to begin dressage for the 2016 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.
Will Faudree and Hans Dampf kicked things off at 8 a.m. with a beautiful test ride, and now we’re waiting with bated breath for our first riders down centerline this morning.
Keep an eye on this page throughout the morning for the latest updates. You can also follow along live on the USEF Network here. Many thanks to SmartPak for sponsoring our open threads this weekend — be sure to stop by and visit their tent in Sponsor Village!
A photo posted by Eventing Nation (@goeventing) on
12:04 p.m. EST: Katie Ruppel and Houdini score a 48.3 to go into a tie for fourth place with Tim Price and Bango. We go into the lunch break now and will resume at 1:30 p.m. EST. Last year’s winners, Michael Jung and fischerRocana FST will ride at 1:46 p.m.! We’ll start a new open thread for the afternoon, so stay tuned for the full report and much more. Live scores here.
A photo posted by Eventing Nation (@goeventing) on
12:01 p.m. EST: A very consistent test from Houdini so far. Just coming in for their changes to wrap things up. Gina says if she could be picky, she’d like to see more ground cover but overall this is a lovely test. And Katie is quite pleased!
11:58 a.m. EST: By the way, this is baby Houdini. SO CUTE.
Photo courtesy of the Thoroughbred Incentive Program.
11:56 a.m. EST: A 45.4 for Maya and Doesn’t Play Fair, that slots them into third place. Just one more to go, Katie Ruppel and Houdini, before the lunch break. This is another horse who has really grown up on the flat, looking forward to this test.
11:54 a.m. EST: Just two small bobbles in her final changes, but Maya should be absolutely thrilled with this performance. Those changes might have been costly, but we’ll see.
11:53 a.m. EST: This horse looks so fun to jump. His hind end is ridiculous, imagine the power! Maya is having a really, really nice test.
11:51 a.m. EST: Good LAWD that extended trot. I’m really sorry that I can’t get good quality GIFs because that was a picture perfect moment. Wow.
11:50 a.m. EST: Nilson, Bruce Davidson Sr. and Mark Todd are all smiles after Nilson’s first Rolex test!
11:48 a.m. EST: Maya Black and her pocket rocket, Doesn’t Play Fair are in the ring next. This pair has been on absolute fire this spring — can they peak here in Kentucky?
11:45 a.m. EST: A bit four-beat through the canter work for Muggle, but in his defense he has a lot of body to move around all pretty like. I give him props.
11:45 a.m. EST: LOL
11:43 a.m. EST: Our numbers guru is here!
11:42 a.m. EST: Kyle and Madison Park scored a 58.3. Also, Muggle is almost 18 hands high. SO. BIG.
11:41 a.m. EST: And now in the ring are our third Rolex Rookie pair, Nilson Moreira da Silva and Muggle. Great name, the Harry Potter nerd in me strongly approves.
11:40 a.m. EST: This is one of my favorite photos of Kyle and Parker. Post-jog at Rolex 2014.
Kyle Carter and Madison Park. Photo by Sally Spickard.
11:39 a.m. EST: Kyle shows Madison Park lots of love after his halt to big cheers from the gathered crowd. John Kyle says this pair was trending in the 60s throughout. Waiting for a score now.
11:30 a.m. EST: Ellen is the picture of poise as she comes into her final halt and gives Obie a big pat. A very nice looking test with just a couple of small mistakes.
11:27 a.m. EST: “Obie” looks relaxed in the big ring today. Gina Miles makes some shrewd observations about the gaits of horses, “You can improve the quality of the trot, but there’s not a lot you can do to improve the walk.”
11:25 a.m. EST: A 50.9 for Courtney Cooper and Who’s A Star. Next in, Ellen Doughty-Hume and Sir Oberon. This is their third trip to Kentucky.
11:22 a.m. EST: A funky change towards the end for Courtney and “Tag” but she’s nonetheless thrilled and gives him lots and lots of love. What a special feeling it has to be to bring a horse you bred to this level.
11:18 a.m. EST In the ring next are Courtney Cooper and Who’s A Star. This is a homebred for Courtney and Neal Cooper. Also, low key just spelled that “homebread” – I think I’m hungry.
11:18 a.m. EST: A BIG thank you to all of the loyal volunteers who keep these events running!
A photo posted by Ellen Doughty-Hume (@ellendoughtyhume) on
11:11 a.m. EST: Great Britain’s James Alliston is in the ring now with Parker. This horse is such a consistent performer, he’s a joy to watch in all three phases – and even the jog! *wink face emoji*
11:07 a.m. EST: That Irish blood will come in handy come Saturday!
ISHs holding the top 3 spots: Fernhill by Night/Elizabeth Halliday-Sharp, Fernhill Fugitive/Phillip Dutton, and Bango/Tim Price #RK3DE
10:46 a.m. EST: With 15 down, we’re into our second short break of the morning. Liz Halliday-Sharp still holds the lead on a score of 43.
10:44 a.m. EST: Tactical Maneuver scoots out of the ring after his halt, he’s ready to get on with it! “It was a game of tactics for Ashley,” John Kyle says of a sensible and tactful ride from a very poised Rookie.
10:43 a.m. EST: When you do an Instagram search for #ROLEX and this is what pops up. Thanks for reminding us that we’re poor, IG.
10:41 a.m. EST: Tactical Maneuver’s barn name is Gucci. I love it. I can’t. Someone get this horse a Gucci browband, stat! This pair is working with a bit of tension, especially with his changes, but he’s keeping a lid on.
10:40 a.m. EST: Let’s see those dressage game faces!
A photo posted by Eventing Nation (@goeventing) on
10:39 a.m. EST: Katherine Coleman and Courage Under Fire score a 66.9 in their four-star debut. Next in, another Rookie pair, Ashley Johnson and Tactical Maneuver.
10:34 a.m. EST:
Katherine, an American now based in England full-time, brought Meg back to the States to compete in their first 4*. #Rolex16
10:22 a.m. EST: We’ll see Colleen Rutledge on her sole entry next, Escot 6. Sadly, she had to withdraw heavy favorite Covert Rights this week. This is Escot 6’s first four-star.
10:22 a.m. EST:
Mackenna Shea and Landioso earn a 50.3 in their second #rk3de start. That’s good for sixth at the moment. #eventinglive
10:19 a.m. EST: Chinch has been kidnapped! Though we heard a rumor he’s going to go meet American Pharoah on his escapade, so I guess we can’t be that mad.
10:03 a.m. EST: Liz Halliday-Sharp tells Frankie Thieriot that she’s thrilled with “Blackie” and that he can actually be a bit lazy for a four-star horse.
10:02 a.m. EST: Nice changes from Bango for Tim. A tad hurried in the left to right, but they’ve nailed the halt and Tim has his game face on. Will Bango step up to stablemate’s Wesko’s shoes this weekend?
A photo posted by Eventing Nation (@goeventing) on
10:00 a.m. EST: Tim Price is the first to see with a top hat on, if I’ve been paying attention correctly. Which is questionable. I should probably go get more coffee.
9:59 a.m. EST:
New Zealand’s Tim Price is in the ring now with his sole ride for the weekend, Bango, a 16.3h 10yo ISH gelding #Rolex16
9:58 a.m. EST: And we have a new leader! Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night earn a 43 from the judges. Next in, New Zealand’s Tim Price and Bango. This horse is LOVELY.
9:54 a.m. EST: Liz is THRILLED with “Blackie” after a lovely, lovely test!
9:32 a.m. EST: And we’re into our first break of the day, just a few minutes kicking back off at 9:50 with Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night. Phillip and Fernhill Fugitive lead at the moment on their trailblazing score of 43.1.
9:30 a.m. EST: Lauren looks pleased with “Patrick” after his debut test. One bobble in the canterwork but otherwise a great test.
9:27 a.m. EST: Landmark’s Monte Carlo doing a great job for Lauren Kieffer in his CCI4* debut. John Kyle has just reminded us that this horse made a trip to Europe last year with Lauren, so he’s seen some atmosphere in his time.
9:25 a.m. EST: Fun fact, this is the first time siblings Doug Payne and Holly Payne Caravella are competing at Rolex at the same time since 2012. Keepin’ it in the fam! #eventingfam Ok I’m done. I shouldn’t be in charge of hashtags. Ever.
9:23 a.m. EST: Just one more to see before our first break of the day, Lauren Kieffer and Landmark’s Monte Carlo.
9:20 a.m. EST: Holly Payne will be happy to get this test done, Never OutFoxed is READY for cross country. “Dressage is stupid, mom.”
9:14 a.m. EST: One clean change, one late behind change for Frankie’s first four-star test. Aussie Aussie Aussie! (Come on, Dom, I know you’re out there somewhere chiming in.)
9:13 a.m. EST: Ryan Wood is making his return to the CCI4* level after several years away, and he’s off to a great start with Frankie.
9:13 a.m. EST: Big shout-out to John Kyle, Gina Miles and Karen O’Connor for providing some excellent commentary this morning!
8:48 a.m. EST: Boyd Martin is nursing Steady Eddie through his four-star debut, the first of his three rides this weekend. They’ll finish their day early on a score of 57.1.
8:39 a.m. EST: A score of 43.2 for Phillip and Fernhill Fugitive.
8:43 a.m. EST: Buck Davidson gives Park Trader some big pats and hands out some high-fives on his way out of the stadium. A score of 49.6 for this pair.
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Sally Spickard.
If you’re attending Rolex this year, it’s time to sit up and listen! We’re thrilled to offer this exclusive opportunity in partnership with Fleeceworks to present the inaugural Rolex Scavenger Hunt. The big prize on the line? A clinic with Fleeceworks rider Tamie Smith!
Here’s the scoop on how to enter:
Team up with some friends and barn mates who are attending Rolex this weekend. Teams must be a minimum of two people and a maximum of four. Email your team members’ names to [email protected] no later than Thursday, April 28 at 5 p.m. EST. We’ll then assign you a unique hashtag to use on Instagram to identify your entries.
You’ll receive a full list of items to check off, but here are a few to give you an idea:
Follow Fleeceworks on Instagram
Take a selfie with a Fleeceworks rider (Bonus points if you can snag a selfie with their horse!)
Stop by the Fleeceworks booth in the Rolex Trade Fair to answer Rolex trivia questions each day
Take a selfie with Chinch at the EN Insanity In the Middle Tailgate party on Saturday
And much more!
How will we choose the winning team?
All teams who turn in completed checklists by the end of competition on Sunday will be entered into a drawing to determine the winner. There will be “bonus point” options, and for every 10 bonus points achieved, the team will receive an extra entry into the drawing.
The winning team must have a facility at which to host a clinic with no more than 20 riders with Tamie Smith. The facility must have safe and accessible areas for a flat and show jumping clinic. A cross country area is a bonus, but is not necessary. An indoor arena is preferable in the case of inclement weather.
Should the winning team be unavailable to host the clinic, the prize will be given to another randomly drawn team. We will discuss details with the winners when they are chosen.
The clinic will be hosted by Fleeceworks and all team members from the winning team will receive have all clinic costs waived. All other participants will pay a fee of $125 total, all of which will be donated to charity. Note: Facility fees, stabling, etc. may apply as additional fees.
This is a huge opportunity to learn with one of the top event riders in the U.S., and we’d like to thank Tamie for graciously donating her time as well as Fleeceworks for sponsoring this unique opportunity.
So get your teams together and submit your team names — we will have further instructions for you once we receive your entry. Good luck to all!
It’s Rolex week, and you know what that means! It’s almost time to see the riders’ jog outfits and decide who made the best dressed list EN’s Contest Week!
We’re starting off Contest Week with our annual Pick ‘Em Contest brought to you by Omega Alpha. So we challenge you, dear readers, to pick the winner of Rolex.
Get your calculators, Excel spreadsheets, FEI rider rankings, your Magic-8 Ball, your lucky T-shirt, maybe say some “Hail Mary Kings” and attempt to predict who will walk away with that coveted Rolex watch come Sunday.
Here’s how you play: Give us the name of the horse/rider combination you think will win and their overall score. As a tiebreaker, include your guess for who will finish 2nd (score not required).
The contest entry with the correct horse/rider, closest score (and correct runner-up, if necessary) will win a prize package from Omega Alpha, worth at least $500! Prizes include:
1 gallon of Sinew-X Pus HA (Joint, Muscle & ligament formula with Hyaluronic acid and no MSM)
1-500ml RegenerEQ (appetite stimulant and G.I. regenerator)
6 tubes of Chill Ultra (calming with focus for the mind while relaxing the muscles) … and more!
Please email your entries to [email protected] with “Pick ‘Em” in the title. Contest closes Thursday at 8 a.m. EST before the first horse completes dressage. Entries are only open to readers in the U.S. and Canada.
Here’s the entry list to get your juices flowing, and you can check out the EN team’s picks here. Stay tuned for Maggie Deatrick’s predictions and analysis for the entire top 15!
Welcome to the 2016 edition of the Rolex Kentucky Fantasy League, presented by Dubarry of Ireland! We’ve got some exciting new changes to our league this year and we’re pleased to open up entries today.
Here’s the lowdown on what you need to know:
Kyle Carter and Buck Davidson have teamed up with us to headline this year’s Fantasy League. What does that mean for you? Simply choose Team Kyle or Team Buck by clicking the links below, and you’ll be redirected to the league site to sign up for your team. Both Kyle and Buck will have a team of their choosing as well, so we’ll be watching to see who picked better!
To support this year’s official Rolex charity, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Buck and Kyle will be auctioning off a memorabilia item at the conclusion of the league, with all proceeds going to TAA. Dubarry of Ireland will also be making a donation to TAA in support of seconds careers for off-track Thoroughbreds.
Scores will be updated each night with the latest results. You can pick four team members, with the highest score being dropped at the end of the weekend to determine your final team score.
The overall lowest team score in each league will win a fabulous prize in the form of a new pair of limited edition Dubarry Galway Olive boots. This is a very limited pre-release edition, so this is a great way to snatch up a pair for yourself!
As a tiebreaker, please email your winning pair and winning score predictions to [email protected] with the subject line “Dubarry Fantasy League.”
Entries will close at 8 a.m. EST on Thursday, April 28, just before the first horse canters down centerline in Kentucky. We’ll announce the winners of the league the week after Rolex.
So, without further ado, here is the Rolex entry list — get to picking and good luck in this year’s Fantasy League!
Boyd Martin and Master Frisky at The Fork. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Boyd Martin has withdrawn one of his Badminton entries, Master Frisky, after an unfortunately timed bout of cellulitis cropped up just before he was due to depart for England.
“Somehow he picked up an infection, which is fortunately responding well to antibiotics,” Boyd said on his blog. “Joanie Morris from the USEF delayed the flight by a day to see if we could get him on board, and my vet Kevin Keane said there’s a lot of improvement already, but we decided not to spend the money to fly him over there when he’s not 100 percent.”
Boyd wrote that “Mikey,” a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Steve Blauner, will likely reroute to the CCI3* at Jersey Fresh instead.
“I’m terribly disappointed for owner Steve Blauner as I really felt we had Mikey in tremendous form to put in a good run at Badminton,” Boyd said. “He’ll be good to go soon enough, though, and we will aim to impress at Jersey.”
Best wishes to Mikey in his recovery, and we’ll look forward to seeing him in action at Jersey Fresh next month.
Boyd will still ride Lucy Boynton Lie’s Crackerjack at Badminton in the 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding’s overseas debut. The other North American entries for Badminton are Buck Davidson and The Apprentice, Libby Head and Sir Rockstar, and Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee.
Aubrey Davidson has her first set of credentials! Photo via Andrea Davidson on Facebook.
Just in time to cheer her dad on this weekend, baby Aubrey Davidson received her first set of credentials — an official “Dad’s biggest fan” member of the cheering squad for Buck Davidson in Kentucky this weekend. Buck has a busy weekend ahead of him, but he’ll have the best cheering section there is. Cheer hard, Aubrey!
Don’t miss out on this week’s awesome Fab Freebie from Kerrits! We’ve teamed up with the apparel company to give away a pair of Griptek Breeches — a perfect solution for when you need that extra ounce of stickability! We all know we need as much of it as we can get. [Fab Freebie: Kerrits]
Last year saw the start of a new tradition at Rolex, the MSEDA Party at the Park, presented by Park Equine Hospital. This year the event will take place Friday, April 29th, approximately 45 minutes after the final dressage ride of Rolex. The funds raised by the event will be used by MSEDA to help contribute toward worthy charitable projects such as improvements made to the Kentucky Horse Park by the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation. Previously, MSEDA supported the new dressage complex at the Kentucky Horse Park, contributing toward a laser level for the maintenance of the rings and improvements ot the barns. Online registration is available now! [More information here]
Keep up with the latest happenings in Jock Paget’s program with his new website. Just launched, the slick new site is full of information about Jock’s program and career and all of the resources you could ever need. [Jock Paget Eventing]
EN is delighted to host an online auction on behalf of Carolina International for a beautiful custom jump, with proceeds benefitting Hearts 4 Heroes United States. H4HUS provides equine-assisted and canine-assisted therapy to U.S. veterans and active duty military suffering from physical and psychological impairments. [Auction]
Tuesday Video:
Just to remind us all of what baby Aubrey will be cheering on this weekend, here’s a look at his and Reggie’s cross country run from 2013:
Tredstep rider Elisa Wallace is headed to Kentucky after a spring of preparation for her second go at Rolex with Simply Priceless. The road to the Bluegrass State is a long, arduous one, and her latest video blog chronicles the last few days leading up to the event.
Follow along with more updates from Elisa on the Wallace Eventing YouTube channel here.
Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive will lead the charge on the first day of dressage at Rolex on Thursday, as ride times have just been released.
“Jack” will be contesting his second CCI4*, having finished ninth last year in Kentucky and also tenth individually as a part of the gold medal winning team at the Pan American Games last summer.
This means Phillip will also be our trailblazer on cross country Saturday, followed by fellow veterans Buck Davidson aboard Park Trader and Boyd Martin with Steady Eddie.
Many heavy hitters will ride their dressage tests on Thursday, typically the queiter day for dressage. Last year’s winners Michael Jung and fischerRocana FST will take the floor at 1:54 p.m. on Thursday, and other notables include Boyd Martin and Shamwari 4 as well as Tim Price and Bango.
Lillian Heard and LCC Barnaby are the first riders of the day on Friday — this 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding is making his CCI4* debut.
Also on the roster for Friday are Marilyn Little and RF Demeter, Blyth Tait and Xanthus III and Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister. Allison Springer and Arthur will close out the dressage and will also be the last out on cross country.
Of course, the horses must pass the first horse inspection on Wednesday before proceeding on to competition, but we’re excited to see the schedule for the weekend taking shape.
The Tredstep Solo Pro Coat and Interchangeable Collar.
Eventers are constantly inspiring each other and giving their fellow riders a helping hand. Whether it’s offering a leg up, cheering as a friend leaves the start box, or giving a word of encouragement after a bad day, we all have each others’ shoulders to lean on in this sport.
We love recognizing the special people who lend a helping hand in eventing, so we’re pleased to announce the Tredstep Pay It Forward Challenge as we look ahead to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event next week.
So many color choices, so little time!
How to enter: Nominate someone who has inspired or helped you by posting a picture of the person on Instagram using the hashtag #TredstepPayItForward. Be it your trainer, coach, parent, best friend or anyone else who’s given you a leg up along the way, nominate them! Be sure to tell us why you’re nominating the person when you post the photo.
Deadline: Entries will close on Friday, April 29, and we’ll select the finalists to put to a reader poll to determine the winner.
Prize: 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 LOVE the interchangeable buttons.
The Solo Pro Coat has the option to personalize your look with a selection of interchangeable collars and reversible buttons, making it perfect to switch up your look for dressage and show jumping. Click here to check out all the different color possibilities.
Let’s #TredstepPayItForward this Rolex season! We can’t wait to see your nominations.
“He has earned a bit of a break,” Tim told NZ Horse & Pony. “Last week I was in a terrible state; it felt life-changing. But now I’m at that stage of accepting it. I can’t do anything else. It happens with horses and I’ve had a really good run.”
Tim previously told EN that Wesko was among his top potential horses to represent New Zealand in Rio de Janeiro later this year, and well deservedly so with three top placings at the CCI4* level throughout his career, including a win at Luhmühlen in 2014.
“Dash,” who is owned by Christina Knudsen and the Wesko Syndicate, will have the remainder of the season to rest and rehab from his injury. Tim will still compete his second horse, Bango, in Kentucky next week for the horse’s second CCI4* start. The EN team wishes Wesko a successful and speedy recovery.
Big kudos to Kyle and Jennifer Carter for completing the Boston Marathon this week! That’s definitely one way to prep for Rolex — perhaps a running camp for all Five Ring Eventing students is the next order of business? Either way, major props to this pair who definitely take their fitness seriously!
Events Opening This Week:
Willow Draw’s first USEA recognized horse trials on May 28th, the Willow Draw Charity Horse Show, expects to donate over $10,000 to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. Carsten Meyer has designed an inviting cross-country course to welcome eventers for levels Starter through Training. The Semper Fi Fund is the top-rated veteran’s charity by two charity ratings agencies. The charity provides immediate financial assistance and lifetime support to post-9/11 wounded, critically ill and injured service members of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, and their families. Entries are open now. Closing date is May 10th. [Willow Draw Horse Trials]
New updates have been released on the bombing at Holly Hill in Louisiana last December. The horse trials at Holly Hill is celebrating its 20th anniversary this weekend, and the entire eventing community is grateful to still have this venue and the wonderful Hewlett family behind it, even in the face of such unspeakable acts of violence. [New Updates in Holly Hill House Bomb]
Roebke’s Run in Hector, MN is proud to announce that it will be hosting the 2016 Area IV Championships July 8-10. Prior to this, the first of two added schooling shows begins May 7, followed by Roebke’s Run CCI/CIC 1&2** and Horse Trials on June 10-12. After the July 8-10 Area Championships, Roebke’s Run Dressage Show is slated for September 3 and Roebke’s Run Eventing Schooling Show will take place the following day, Sept. 4. [Roebke’s Run at Schweiss Stables]
Mill Creek Pony Club in Area IV is seeking volunteers for its upcoming Horse Trials at Longview Horse Park in Kansas City, MO on May 14-15.Volunteers will receive a free t-shirt as well as lunch and drinks in exchange for their time. To sign up or to contact them for more information, click here.
Need a room for Rolex at the last minute? Hawley Bennett-Awad has an extra room available at a discounted rate just minutes from the Horse Park at the La Quinta Inn. Please email Hawley if you’d like to take the reservation.
Tuesday Video:
Check out this daring rescue of a horse trapped in floodwaters in the Houston area:
Ok, really. This Haflinger jumping team is really all you need to see today. There’s always something to be said about drill teams, especially those who throw some jumping into the mix. Add in some adorable Haflingers and you’ve got a bombproof recipe for success.
Enjoy this dose of adorable to cheer up your Monday blues!
We’ve had several notable withdrawals from the Rolex entry list this morning, including last year’s runner-up pair, Tim Price and Wesko. Tim previously told EN that Wesko was on his radar as a potential horse for the Olympics in Rio this summer. His second ride, Bango, is still entered to compete in his second CCI4* next week.
Jennie Brannigan has also elected to withdraw Candace Kircher and Nina Gardner’s Catalina from her first CCI4*, instead deciding to give the mare more experience at the three-star level and reroute to the CCI3* at Jersey Fresh. Jennie posted the following statement on her Facebook page:
“After a lot of thought and conferring with Phillip as well as Catalina’s awesome owner’s Candace Kircher and Nina Gardner we have decided that it would be in our girls best interest to withdrawl from Kentucky and give her more time at the three star level and run her at New Jersey CCI***.”
“She has become a horse I respect so much for showing up and showing class beyond her experience but in all honesty she’s one of the best horses I’ve gotten to ride and I want nothing but the best for her future…. as well as mine… I know its the right thing to do. Thank you to my sponsors as well as owners for always making it easy to do the right thing by my horses…. I look forward to Catalina’s future.”
Kristin Schmolze has withdrawn Ballylaffin Bracken from what would have been his fourth go at Kentucky after she reported that he sustained a bone bruise. Kristin reported that “thankfully this is only a minor injury and we will aim for a three-day later in the season.”
Lastly, Jennifer McFall has withdrawn High Times from the entry list after reporting that “Billy” sustained a minor injury. Dragonfire Farm posted a statement on their Facebook page, saying “although the beginning of our season this year was extremely successful, the lead up to Rolex unfortunately has not gone according to plan after Billy sustained a minor injury. As a result, we have made the tough decision to withdraw from Rolex.”
This brings the total number of entries down to 86 with just over a week to go before the first horse inspection. As always, Rolex will be lived streamed on the USEF Network (stay tuned for a more detailed schedule), and NBC will air a 1.5 hour wrap-up May 8 at 1:30 p.m. EST, followed by a wrap-up on NBC Sports on May 28 at 1 p.m. EST.
Clayton Fredericks and FE Money Made at Red Hills. Photo by Jenni Autry.
It was Clayton Fredericks and FE Money Made’s event to lose today in the final phase of the CCI2* at the Ocala Horse Properties Festival of Three-Day Eventing. The pressure may have been on, but Clayton kept his cool and handily won the division with a double clear show jump round.
This was the first CCI2* for FE Money Made, and the horse made an emphatic statement by adding just two time penalties to his overall score for a finishing result of 36.2, the only score in the 30s at the end of the weekend.
Also retaining their position from cross country were Hannah Sue Burnett and Under Suspection, who jumped around clear without time to finish on a 40.5, their dressage score. This weekend was a booster for Hannah Sue, and we’re sure she’s thrilled with her results as the Ocala season wraps up.
Julie Richards and her exciting new mount, Sandhills Brillaire, moved from fourth into third overall with another double clear round. This was a qualification run for this pair, who most recently finished third in the CIC3* at Poplar, and it looks as if this partnership is off to a cracking start this year.
On the West Coast, Kelly Pugh and Corazon picked up the CCI2* win at Twin Rivers thanks to a double clear show jumping effort. They finish their weekend on a final score of 57.0 and their first win at this level. We’re excited to see more from this talented pair in 2016!
Kelly Pugh and Corazon. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Sara Mittleider and Gin & Juice dropped into second place after picking up four jump faults and some time on the show jump course today; they finish their weekend on a final score of 61.4.
Bringing up third place at Twin are Jamie Lawrence and True Distraction, who moved up from fifth following cross country thanks to one of just two double clear rounds today. This was the first CCI2* for this pair, who most recently finished tenth in their Intermediate division at Galway. They moved up to the Intermediate level last fall after enjoying many consistent results at the Prelim and one-star levels.
Gabriel Figueiredo Silva Cury and Grass Valley at WEG in 2014. Photo by Jenni Autry.
We are sad to report that Grass Valley has been euthanized at Belton Horse Trials after breaking his fetlock while competing on the CIC3* cross country course with Gabriel Figueiredo Silva Cury. Mark Todd, who rode the horse on the bronze medal winning New Zealand team at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, confirmed the news to Horse & Hound.
Gabriel, who formerly competed in pure show jumping, purchased the 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding with Shaady Cury Jr. and Helena Figueiro Da Siva Cury in 2013 to pursue eventing. Grass Valley helped Gabriel quickly rise through the ranks, taking him from Novice through to the CCI4* level in just one year.
Their career highlights include representing Brazil at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, where they finished 41st individually. Gabriel and Grass Valley also completed Badminton in 2015, where Gabriel was the highest placed under-25 rider, and achieved an impressive fourth-place finish at Boekelo CCIO3* last year.
Mark Todd and Grass Valley at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Mark Todd enjoyed much success with Grass Valley after taking over the ride in 2008, piloting him to a top-20 finish at Badminton in 2010 and an 11th place individual finish and team bronze medal at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington. Eric Smiley, Alberto Giugni and Jules Stiller Cournane also formerly campaigned the horse, known as “Riley” in the stable.
Gabriel and Grass Valley were strong frontrunners to represent Brazil at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this year. Please join us in sending condolences to Gabriel and Grass Valley’s owners, as well as Mark and all others who knew and loved this true veteran campaigner.
Friend of EN, Thehorsepesterer, is on site at the Florida Horse Park this weekend and is busily uploading videos from the Ocala Horse Properties Festival of Three-Day Eventing. Here’s a look at some rides from the cross country phase yesterday. Stay tuned for more results from Ocala!
Members of 417 Eventing at Rolex. Photo via Cynthia Wiseman.
Eventing and fitness go hand in hand, and this is a correlation that Southwest Missouri eventer Cynthia Wiseman has taken to a new level. Together with a group of like-minded young riders, Cynthia and the 417 Eventing Team have teamed up with Girls On the Run to contest the Rolex 5K Twilight Race later this month.
Named after the area code of the area, the group consists of several riders and their coaches who are interested in all aspects of horsemanship. Cynthia recently volunteered to be the Assistant Coach of her local Girls On the Run chapter, which encourages girls in grades four through six to cultivate good values as well as a good base of fitness.
“We’re kind of a big family,” Cynthia explained. “Everyone is from a separate barn and has a different instructor, but we all work together really well. We tend to go to Rolex every year as a group, so this year we decided that the 5k would be a good goal.”
417 Eventing members with coach Cynthia Wiseman. Photo courtesy of Cynthia Wiseman.
Cynthia looked into the Girls On the Run program as a potential tie-in. She found a program called SoleMates, which provides the opportunity to raise money to benefit Girls On the Run during their training. “It’s just a way to get us all on the same page,” Cynthia said. “We have girls in their teens as well as younger girls, and I like the idea of the older girls being role models.”
The Girls On the Run program integrates fitness with education, and the curriculum involves learning about life situations and skills while also exercising. “One of the exercises we did was on gossip; one girl started on one end of the gym with a piece of gossip written down. Then she had to run to the other side and tell another girl, whose job it was to try to get her off the subject instead of gossiping. They work in the running but it’s also about building respect.”
The 417 Eventing Rolex 5K jersey. Photo courtesy of Cynthia Wiseman.
As 417 Eventing looks ahead to the Rolex 5K, everyone has different goals. Cynthia runs competitively and is planning to go for a personal best, while the other girls are ranging from training hard for a competitive finish to aiming to complete and have fun. Just as with eventing, running is a goal oriented sport that relies on the athlete’s dedication and training.
“All of the girls ride and are very serious about it, and I want them to also be serious about their fitness,” Cynthia said. “Understanding the importance of it is a big part of this sport, and the Rolex run is a great way to focus on both.”
417 Eventing will be raising money for Girls On the Run leading up to their run at the Rolex RK5K. You can view more information on their team here. If you’re interested in running the 5K at Rolex, you can register here.
Clayton Fredericks and FE Money Made at Red Hills. Photo by Jenni Autry.
It’s been a busy day of cross country on both coasts today with both Ocala Horse Properties and Twin Rivers holding CCI1* and CCI2* events this weekend.
Clayton Fredericks and FE Money Made retained their overnight lead with a clear cross country run with two time penalties incurred for a leading score of 36.2. This gives them a bit of breathing room heading into show jumping tomorrow — they have a rail in hand, so the game is still anyone’s to win but Clayton should be feeling confident this evening.
This is the first CCI2* for FE Money Made, a 7-year-old Westphalian gelding owned by Clayton Fredericks, Amanda Bernhard and Diana J Crawford, who most recently picked up a second place in the Intermediate at Rocking Horse. This pair also had a rocking run around the CIC2* at Red Hills, finishing fourth in a very competitive field.
Hannah Sue Burnett and Under Suspection. Photo by Sofie Van Olmen.
Hannah Sue Burnett and Under Suspection bounced back from a rider fall at Carolina International to lay in second place following cross country on a two-day score of 40.5. Hannah posted on her Facebook that she was “so low because of my performances at Carolina International and today I am overflowing with pride for my horses, owners and team.”
This partnership is relatively new, with Hannah Sue and Under Suspection, who is owned by Mary Ann Ghadban, but the results speak for themselves as they’ve amassed several top 10 placings in their campaign this spring.
Lying in third in the Ocala CCI2* is another of Hannah Sue’s rides, Jitter Bug, who is owned by Ms. Jacqueline Mars and Sherry Nemmers. This pair clocked a double clear run today for a score of 44.7 heading to show jumping.
Roughly one third of the division laid down double clear runs today and overall the scoreboard reflects a tough but fair course.
Looking to the CCI1* at Ocala, Alexander O’Neal and DJ also retained their overnight lead thanks to a double clear cross country that leaves them on a score of 33.4.
Alex and DJ are coming off of a win in the Prelim at Carolina International and are contesting their first CCI1* together this weekend. This pair has a good amount of experience at the Preliminary level and just completed a hat trick of wins this season. Can they make it four in a row tomorrow?
Lee Camiolo and Caharron V.E. at Queeny Park. Photo courtesy of Kick On Photo.
Lee Camilo and Caharron V.E. are in second place in the CCI1* following cross country on a score of 37.7 to put the pressure on Alex and DJ tomorrow. This is also a first CCI1* for this pair — they most recently picked up a top-10 finish in the CIC1* at Carolina International.
In third in the CCI1* are Leslie Law and Gliding Class, a 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding also contesting his first CCI1* after a good year of Preliminary miles. This pair lies just a shade off of Lee’s score with a 37.8 and a double clear cross country run. This horse was most recently third in the Prelim at Poplar Place last month.
Looking to the West Coast and the Twin Rivers CCI2*, Sara Mittleider and Gin & Juice are the leaders following cross country on a score of 55.4. This pair has had their ups and downs since beginning their partnership last year but seem to be hitting a rhythm this spring. Gin & Juice is a 16-year-old Thoroughbred mare owned by Terrel and Linda Paine.
Kelly Pugh and Corazon. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
In second are a pair EN has talent spotted in the past, Kelly Pugh and Corazon, owned by David and Candace Garrett. This pair ran across country clear of penalties for a two-day score of 57.0. This pair most recently finished in the top 15 in the CIC2* at Galway earlier this month.
Gina Miles and Contalli Di Revel bring up third place on a score of 59.5, also following a double clear cross country. This 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Corinne Young is contesting his second CCI2* — he finished 13th in his first at Galway Downs last fall. This is also one who has been with Gina since the lower levels, beginning with Novice in 2014.
Julie Flettner and Ping Pong retained their overnight lead in the CCI1*, solidified by a double clear cross country today for a score of 44.1 before show jumping. Ping Pong, a 16-year-old Hanoverian mare owned by Julie, has lots of miles at the one-star level, including a win in their debut at Galway in 2012. This season, this pair most recently finished third in the Preliminary Rider at Fresno.
Julie Flettner and Ping Pong. Photo courtesy of Sherry Stewart.
Kelsey Holmes and Heart of Gold SE are in second place on a score of 48.4 following cross country. The 9-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Kelsey is contesting her third CCI1* — they completed their most recent start at Galway Downs last fall. This pair is coming off of a fourth place finish in the CIC1* at Galway Downs earlier this month.
And in third in the CCI1* are Claire Poch and S.V.R. Ron, who will take a 49.6 into tomorrow’s show jumping. Claire took the reins on Ron last year and have enjoyed consistent results at the Training and Preliminary levels thus far — this is their first CCI1* together, and we’re quite sure Claire is over the moon with her double clear performance today.
Twin is also running HT divisions, and Heather Morris and Charlie Tango, owned by The Team Express Croup, are the overnight leaders following show jumping on a score of 25.0.
Heather Morris and Charlie Tango. Photo by Sally Spickard.
This is the second Advanced start for this horse, who received the inaugural Connaught Grant last winter. We were fortunate enough to catch up with Heather regarding her talented gelding, so stay tuned for much more on this pair!
Emily Pestl-Dimmitt and Michelle Pestl’s Arlington are in second in the Advanced following two phases on a score of 37.6, followed by Bailey Moran and Loughtnatousa Caislean in third on a 40.7.
Stay tuned for the exciting finales of these events tomorrow and keep it locked here for the latest reports! Go Eventing.
We came across this video compilation of footage from Mark Todd and Charisma’s winning run in Seoul at the 1988 Summer Olympics. Mark and the legendary Charisma were a member of the bronze medal winning New Zealand team and also won individual gold that year.
Courtney Cooper and Who's A Star. Photo by Jenni Autry.
