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 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?!”
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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
A photo posted by Eventing Nation (@goeventing) on
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.
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.
9:14 a.m. EST:
