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.
Andrea Leatherman and Mr. Poppers. Photo via Lainey Ashker's IG.
The Novice and Beginner Novice riders have perhaps the biggest challenge this weekend, competing in very large divisions for their shot at the top prize. We see some very good scores coming out of these divisions from the first phase of competition and are excited to see these pairs finish the weekend out strong with cross country tomorrow and show jumping on Sunday.
In the Junior Novice, Seguin Alexander took one for the home Texas team and scored the first place award aboard Motion Granted with a 22.5. Side note here, every Novice and Beginner Novice division is currently lead by a score in the 20s. Very impressive!
Emily Ciafone and Cady O’Daly Gabriel hold second place on a 23.5, and Amber Curry with Taylor Mea Rainbow are in third on a 25.0. Just 10 points separate the top 18 riders in this division, so it’s still very much anyone’s game, especially considering that every other division’s cross country has been tough on the time.
Andrea Leatherman and Mr. Poppers took the lead in the Novice Horse division, scoring a competition low 21.5. This horse has yet to finish outside of the top 10 at this level, and you can expect a very capable ride from Andrea tomorrow on the cross country.
Corinna Garcia and Jamaica Skodstrupp are in second on a score of 23.0, followed by Julie Norman and Neferhotep on a 23.5. I also must shout out to my coach extraordinaire, Julie Wolfert, who earned a 25.5 with Buenas Suerte to sit in fourth overnight.
The Senior Novice division is currently led by both Kristin Hardy and Enchanted and Julie Denton with Win/Win Situation, who both scored a 27.5. It was an emotional press conference this afternoon for Kristin, as she is here riding with Team Fearless in honor of the late Avery Dudasch. Being here this year is so meaningful to this team, and their touching story had the whole press room wiping their eyes by the end.
Erin Pullen and Strider Can Fly won the dressage in the Beginner Novice Horse division, scoring a 20.0. Teach us your ways, Erin! Laura Corsentino and Gravitas are in second on a score of 22.0, followed by Ellie Celarak and Princess Song of Joy on a 23.0. This is another tightly bunched division, with less than 10 points separating the top 11 right now.
Hannah Gurske and Buenos Dias are the dressage winners in the Junior Beginner Novice. You may recognize these names from a story we did on them earlier this year. I caught up with Hannah after her ride, and she said she has really learned to use her leg and ask for more from “Dia.” Hannah feels confident going into cross country and says as long as she rides the right way, she thinks she and Dia will have a great remainder of their weekend.
Jane Cook and Dun Luck are in second after dressage with a score of 24.0, followed by Melissa Morris and RSR Private Eye.
Grace Peters and Dream Catcher are your Junior 14 & Under leaders, scoring a 23.0 to take a 1.5 point lead over Maddalyn Hunt and Jos Estoico. Molly Humes and Madoc Golden Graham are in third overnight on a score of 25.0.
In the Senior Beginner Novice, Missouri’s own Jill Wagenknecht and C.D. Dancer scored a 23.5 to take the lead into cross country. Jill has attended every AEC since the event’s inception and is thrilled to be here in Texas with her eye catching mare. Kelly Quick and Better Than Chocolate, who has Hershey’s wrappers all over his stall door as a temptation to starving journalists, are in second place on a 26.0, followed by Jennifer Ramsey and Lil’ Birnie.
Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Capt. Mark Phillips’ cross country course for the Adequan USEA Gold Cup division had riders checking their watches and opening their horses up between fences in an effort to make the time. Overall, the course rode very well, although no pairs managed to come home inside the time, and Laine Ashker has officially taken command with the fastest time of the day.
Laine is recovering from a mysterious illness that placed her in the hospital on Wednesday night, and she said yesterday that she planned to get a full night’s sleep and go for gusto this weekend. She certainly looked in command and in sync with Al, and she commented in the press conference today that she really felt like knowing the course from last year helped her prepare.
“Instead of longer gallops, I did shorter sprints sets,” Laine said. “I think this year he really delivered as soon as I asked because I changed my preparation. Last year I felt he got a bit more tired than usual.”
Laine knows the pressure is officially on for a repeat win in the Gold Cup tomorrow, but she’s staying focused on ensuring she still has a happy, confident horse at the end of the day.
Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Unfortunately, the only blip on the scoreboard was a major one, as overnight leaders Becky Holder had a very scary fall from Can’t Fire Me at the skinny chevron at fence 6B. It appeared that Becky and Teddy had a miscommunication on the distance, and Becky came off over Teddy’s head, his bridle pulling completely off in the process. Becky remained on the ground but appeared to be conscious, and was quickly attended to by medics. She was loaded into the ambulance and taken to the hospital; we will update this post with more information as it becomes available.
Matt Brown retained his second place position with a clear and fast round aboard Super Socks BCF, a trip he’s likely to be thrilled with. This pair really looked on point in the early parts of the course that I saw. Matt came home with 4.8 time penalties and is sitting just .7 off from Laine.
Jon Holling and Zatopek B. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Jonathan Holling was the last on course after the lengthy hold from Becky’s fall and looked very strong aboard a game Zatopek B. Jon has been working through a right drifting issue with this horse, and they had no qualms for taking direct routes and making it around while going for the time. They came home strong, also with 4.8 time, to go into third.
“Zack” was loaded onto a trailer following his cross country run and vanned back to the stables, but Jon confirmed that the horse lost a shoe and that since the trailer was already there he thought he’d save Zack from having to walk back on the hard ground.
“(With Zack), he was really on point all day. This is our last prep before Fair Hill so I knew I wanted to press for some more speed,” Jon said. “There were a couple of places where I probably could have gone a bit quicker, but I’m really pleased with him. The one big question for him was the oxer to the corner, and once he locked on and did that I knew we were good to go for Fair Hill. I’m lucky that I’ve had Leslie (Law) coaching me and helping me get Zack back on track this summer.
“I thought the course rode exactly the way it walked; it was very technical and twisty. I knew we really needed a good run for Fair Hill, and I think both horses are right where they need to be at this point.”
Jon is recovering from getting a kick to the stomach when he arrived here in Texas, which he says has had little ill effect except for causing a bit of an upset stomach.
Buck Davidson and Petite Flower. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Buck Davidson and Petite Flower looked handy and keen through the fences I watched them through and will hold their fourth place position going into tomorrow’s show jumping. This mare looked confident and rideable for Buck, and they were able to keep a strong rhythm throughout their ride.
Barb Crabo and Eveready. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Both Jen McFall and Debbie Rosen withdrew their horses prior to cross country today. Jen McFall cited a heel bruise that had become aggravated as her reason for withdrawing, and Debbie posted on her Facebook that she had elected to enjoy her last couple of days with The Alchemyst hacking and spending quality time together.
Going into the show jumping finale tomorrow, less than a rail separates the top four riders. This will definitely be an exciting finish – show jumping begins at 5:30 p.m. CST tomorrow evening.
Buck Davidson and Quasar. Photo by Sally Spickard.
The Intermediate horses and riders have just wrapped up here at the Nutrena American a Eventing Championships. Buck Davidson and Quasar, holding the overnight lead, went out about mid-pack and cruised around to come home one second under the optimum time of six minutes and four seconds to take their lead into show jumping tomorrow.
Buck commented yesterday that this horse has been easy for him to get to know and ride, and today’s trip certainly looked effortless for this pair. In the press conference this afternoon, Buck said that he was very pleased with how Quasar had gone, and that he made for an adjustable and confident ride around Capt. Mark Phillips’ course today.
Elisa Wallace and Corteo. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Moving up with a double clear round from a tie for third is Elisa Wallace and Corteo. This is another pair who made a tricky course, and even trickier time, look like a walk in the park. This is only Corteo’s third run at this level, which makes their smooth cross country round and current placing all the more impressive.
Tamie Smith and Twizted Syster. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Tamie Smith needed a day brightener after taking a tumble on another horse earlier, and she got it with a foot perfect round with Twizted Syster. This pair is another who looked quite polished and professional around a challenging and technical track. I saw Tamie through the second half of the course, and she really gave the mare a great ride. Twizted Syster has a great, ground-covering gallop that really made the time attainable, saving time in between fences and opening up when there was room to gallop.
Matt Brown and Happenstance. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Matt Brown and Happenstance also had a great run, looking confident and full of gallop even towards the end of the course. Happenstance seemed to be jumping quite big and excitedly; Matt is here on a mission to get to Fair Hill, and he had two great prep runs for the CCI3* and CCI2* today, which he should be quite pleased with.
I saw most of the pairs through their two trips to the second of two water complexes on course. The great thing about this layout is that you can see a good amount of the course from one spot, which Capt. Phillips has remarked was a big factor when it came time to design this year’s course.
Problems popped up throughout, with the big corner following a table at 6AB causing a good amount of trouble. There were also a few hairy moments through the water I was at, with many horses jumping quite exuberantly into it.
Tashi Brundige and Ringo Star. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Cross country got underway first thing this morning at the Nutrena American Eventing Championships, and the Training level horses have completed their runs. I went out to check out the course and snap some photos for Who Jumped It Best, and it seems to riding smoothly overall for the junior riders I watched. You can listen live to John Kyle’s commentary here.
The fence pictured is the eighth fence on the Training course, which came after two technical combinations early on in course. Riders came off of a bending line on a slightly downhill approach to this fence. After setting up for the previous combinations, this was a good galloping fence to get the pairs back into their rhythm.
Preliminary is underway now, followed by the Merial Intermediate and the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Advanced, so we’ll have much more coming your way from Texas! In the meantime, check out this gallery of a handful of the junior riders and vote for who you think jumped it best in the poll below. The winner gets infinite chinchilla karma and plenty of cool points to last for the weekend.
Anna Duggan and Instant Impact. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Hayley Clark and Bold Impression. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Anna Honeycutt and Two Out Rally. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Emerson Gotcher and Kurious. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Sofia Gurachi and Fernhill Shannondale. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Hannah Slade and Kingfisher II. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Arden Stephens and No More Rocks. Photo by Sally Spickard.
*Chinch not included. First place prize pack shown.
By now you’ve surely heard of EN’s awesome stall and golf cart decorating contest at the Nutrena American Eventing Championships, right? Well, if you’re on the fence about entering, here’s a little extra motivation for you. Want to know exactly what is up for grabs tonight when reigning Adequan USEA Gold Cup champion Laine Ashker judges the contest? Here’s the breakdown:
First Place: Success Equestrian Deluxe Cross Country Monoflap Pad
Cosequin Bucket Cosequin ASU joint Supplement Cosequin Joint Supplement Treats for Dogs
Cosequin ASU Joint Supplement Capsules for Humans
FLAIR Equine Nasal Strip Do or Do Knot Rope Halter Smart Tie Safe Clip Cross-tie Set
Official EN Hat and Sticker
Autographed photo of 2013 Adequan USEA Gold Cup champion Laine Ashker
Second Place: Success Equestrian Deluxe Cross Country Jumper Pad Cosequin Bucket Cosequin ASU Joint Supplement Cosequin Joint Supplement Treats for Dogs
Cosequin ASU Joint Supplement Capsules for Humans
FLAIR Equine Nasal Strip Do or Do Knot Rope Halter
Official EN Hat and Sticker
Autographed photo of 2013 Adequan USEA Gold Cup champion Laine Ashker
Third Place: Success Equestrian Deluxe Cross Country Dressage Pad Cosequin bucket Cosequin ASU Joint Supplement Cosequin Joint Supplement Treats for Dogs
Cosequin ASU Joint Supplement Capsules for Humans
FLAIR Equine Nasal Strip
Official EN Hat and Sticker
Autographed photo of 2013 Adequan USEA Gold Cup champion Laine Ashker
Don’t forget, Laine Ashker is our guest judge, and entries will be judged this evening following the conclusion of Advanced cross country. To enter, decorate your golf cart or stall — the more INSANE the better — and text/call Sally at 314-813-8171 or email [email protected] with your stall number and name. We will give you a time frame for judging once we receive your entry. Please send us your entries no later than 4:30 p.m. CST today!
We’re so excited to see your creative (and insane) entries tonight! Once again, we’d like to thank our wonderful sponsors as well as Laine for helping us put on this great contest. Good luck, and Go AECs!
Day two of the Nutrena American Eventing Championships is officially here, and RNS Video is on hand to bring us the latest and greatest in videography this weekend. The Training through Advanced divisions played in the little white box yesterday, and RNS has compiled video showcasing all of the division leaders going into today’s cross country.
In case you missed out on any of the action, be sure to check out all of EN’s coverage here, as well as the links below.
Buck Davidson leads Training riders on a course walk this evening. Photo via USEA on Facebook.
Whew! That’s about the best way my sleep-deprived brain can describe a whirlwind of a first day of competition at the Nutrena American Eventing Championships. They do say everything is bigger than Texas, and they sure weren’t kidding when it comes to the size of this competition!
While I was unable to head over to check out any of the other divisions doing their dressage today, I did get the chance to speak with a couple of the leaders thanks to some very conscientious peers in the media center. I definitely plan to check out some of the action tomorrow before the Intermediate and Advanced go out on cross country, so keep checking back for more from Texas!
The training through preliminary horses and riders completed their first phase of competition today, and some really impressive scores are popping up on the scoreboard tonight.
In the Jr/YR Preliminary division, Texas’ own Megan Noelle Wilson and Ghypsy are currently leading after scoring a 27.6 for the dressage. This pair has been averaging scores in the 30s for the most part this year, so it seems that their hard work and practice really paid off today.
Megan doesn’t have a ton of breathing room, though, as Mia Farley and former Jennifer Wooten ride, The Good Witch, are hot on their heels with a score of 29.1. This pair has been unstoppable this year, winning all five of their starts at this level. There should be some sort of award for that, don’t you think? Tomorrow’s cross country course is twisty and full of accuracy questions, but Mia’s got a good horse underneath her and this pair should do quite well.
In third and also from Texas are Clara Cargile and White Indian. This pair is also having a very strong season in 2014 and has not finished out of the top 10 once yet. Clara and White Indian scored a 30.7 to keep the leaderboard quite tight for the next phase.
In the Preliminary Adult Team Challenge division, Catie Cejka, hailing from Washington, and Light in the Dark are your early leaders on a score of 31.3. Catie and Light in the Dark stepped up to Prelim this year and have only finished outside of the top 10 once, making it no surprise that they’re taking the lead here this weekend.
Area IV’s Camie Stockhausen and Best Etiquette are close behind in second on a 31.3, and this is also their first year together at Preliminary. Camie and Best Etiquette are making just their fourth Preliminary start together this weekend – quite impressive!
Louise Leslie and Santarae, also from Washington, will take third place overnight after scoring a 38.0. Joy Simon and Wlloughby Bay complete the division on a score of 42.0.
Heather Morris and Charlie Tango are your Preliminary Horse leaders following the dressage on a score of 25.4. This horse competed in the Training division last year, placing fifth, and looks to improve on that in the next level up this year. Heather and Charlie Tango have done well with their time at Prelim so far, so a top finish is definitely not out of the question for these two.
Erin Kellerhouse and Raffaella are in second place after scoring a 26.3. Erin has had the ride on this Oldenburg mare for a couple of years now and moved her up to this level in the spring of 2014.
Florida’s Natalia Neneman and Legate round out the top three on a score of 27.8. Natalia and Legate have also been together for awhile now and look to be having a great season of Prelim competition this year. Here’s hoping for a strong finish from all of these talented competitors!
We were able to grab Christina Henrikson, who leads the Senior Amateur Preliminary tonight with Princess Paven, for a quick interview today. This is one to keep your eye on, EN! Christina spent a lot of time in nursing school, which put her big time eventing plans on the back burner for awhile. Now, though, she’s got a talented horse in Princess Paven who has answered every question Christina has asked so far.
Christina and Princess Paven are entered in their first CCI event at Midsouth next month, and this weekend should be a great prep for their next step up. Be sure to check out the video below for more from Christina.
Darlene McInnis and Warlord are in second after dressage with a score of 28.3. This pair is quite solid at this level and has finished out of the top three just once this year (to finish fourth!), so this weekend will certainly be a good challenge for this pair.
Alexandra Wikstrom and Change Order are in third overnight on a 28.9. Alexandra and Change Order have won here before, taking home the blue just this past June in the Preliminary Rider division – look for them to defend their title on home turf tomorrow!
We also got to speak with Jr. Training leader Kelsey Holmes, of Mailbu, Ca., who scored a 21.4 with Heart of Gold SE to take the early lead.
Natasha Erschen and Magic Drummer are currently in second on a score of 22.3. This is Natasha’s first trip to AECs and her second year at Training level with Magic Drummer.
Gigi Hogan and Aron round out the top three with a score of 23.6, making for yet another tightly packed leaderboard going into cross country. This pair has enjoyed four wins at Training level so far this year – will they pick up another this weekend?
Another Area IV shoutout! Carrie Meehan and Cavalier currently lead the Sr. Training division after scoring a 27.7. Carrie is no stranger to the AEC atmosphere, and she definitely brought her ‘A’ game today. This pair has really been putting the pieces together at this level this year and has locked in three consecutive second place finishes leading up to this weekend. Will this weekend bring their sought after first win?
Anne Kornak and Double Rivers Really Cool will take second place overnight on a 29.1. Anne has come up the levels with this horse, who was formerly campaigned by Kadi Eykamp, and this is just their fifth start at Training level together.
Pamela Kimmel and Special Performance, from Kentucky, complete the top three with a 29.6. This is another pair who has come up the levels together, and they’re looking quite strong for a good finish this weekend.
The Adult Team Challenge for Training riders is comprised of just three riders, but it’s a tightly packed race. Carrie Polson and High Maintenance currently lead on a 37.7, followed by Cindy De Porter and Drop the Buck (38.2) and Jean Fowler and NZ Bay of Islands (41.4). Look for an exciting finish for this division as the weekend continues!
And last, but certainly not least, we have the Training Horse division that began competition today. Your two leaders are Beau Guimond with Filibuster ST, who scored a 28.2 for equal first with Lisa Mendell and Teslin Bay. Filibuster ST has campaigned at Training level all year and has not been beaten yet. Aside from two early eliminations, this pair has won an astounding seven times at this level this year! Can they make it eight this weekend?
Lisa Mendell and Teslin Bay would sure like to take that lead over on their own to put the cherry on top of a great first season at Training level. They’re coming off of a five place finish at Five Points, and they’ve already bested their dressage score from that weekend.
Rebecca Brown and Belafonte d’Avalon are in equal second with Elliot Blackmon and W.H. Topgun after the first place tie with a 28.6 – so close to being a four-way tie!
These divisions will run cross country, along with the Intermediate and Advanced, tomorrow, while the Beginner Novice and Novice riders begin their competition with the dressage. Stay tuned for much more from AECs!
Becky Holder and Can't Fire Me. Photo by Sally Spickard.
It’s all about the grays today in the Merial Intermediate and Adequan USEA Gold Cup Advanced divisions at the Nutrena American Eventing Championships, and Becky Holder turned in a positively lovely test aboard Can’t Fire Me to take the overnight lead with a 31.2.
Becky and “Teddy” have had a lighter year in 2014, originally aiming for Rolex but sidetracked when Becky injured her knee walking cross country at The Fork in April. Becky also mentioned in the press conference that Teddy still struggled with hoof regrowth since coming back from an injury last fall. Since then, the pair have a first place finish in the Intermediate at River Glen last month but have otherwise taken it easy on their way to Texas.
No ill effects were to be found this afternoon, as the pair effortlessly executed their test, looking quite relaxed and engaged. The Gold Cup final is now in Becky’s hands as the Advanced pairs look ahead to Capt. Mark Phillips cross country course tomorrow afternoon.
Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Also turning in a great looking test was Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF, who will take second place into tomorrow with a score of 32.5. Matt had a slight bobble in the extended canter but recovered nicely and was all business for the rest of his test. This is our first time seeing Super Socks in the flesh, and he definitely looked impressive and no worse for the wear after his long trek to get here. This pair is heading to the CCI3* at Fair Hill next.
Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Defending champions Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch entered the arena with their game faces on and put in the solid test we’ve come to expect from them. They took the early lead with a score of 33.4, a couple of points higher than their score from 2013.
Laine informed us in the press conference this afternoon that she spent the night in the hospital last night with a mystery ailment that left her still feeling weak today. She said she was pleased with her test, although she is definitely feeling the effects of a less than ideal night. This pair will now look forward to the cross country course tomorrow, hopefully after a full night of sleep!
Buck Davidson and Petite Flower. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Buck Davidson and Petite Flower also looked spot on their game today. Flower is such an elegant mover and she really tries hard for Buck. Buck noted in a brief interview that he’s thrilled to be here in Texas again – we’re sure he was talking about the pseudo-vacation he’s taking with just two horses competing! This pair scored a 34.0 to sit in fourth place overnight.
Jon Holling and Zatopek B. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Jon Holling has both Zatopek B and Proper Timing in fifth and sixth, respectively, after putting in lovely tests on both. Proper Timing was the first horse in the ring for the Advanced division and really put in a solid effort. The Thoroughbred gelding is coming off of a 14th place finish in the CIC3* at Richland Park and looks primed to go for a top placing this weekend.
Leslie Law and Fernhill Whatever. Photo by Sally Spickard.
No one could quite catch morning leaders Buck Davidson and Quasar in the last group of 10 this afternoon, but a couple did give it their best shot. Leslie Law and Fernhill Whatever showed their professionalism and polish by laying down a lovely test for a 31.0 from the judges, good enough to take over second place.
The Irish Sport Horse gelding is coming off of a second place finish in the CIC2* at Poplar Place, and Leslie has commented in the past that this horse definitely has a plethora of talent, which was evident today.
Tamie Smith and Twizted Syster. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Elisa Wallace and Julie Richards’ tie will move down to equal third place with Leslie’s score, and Tamie Smith moves into fourth place with Twizted Syster on a 33.3. This pair likely wins my favorite test of the day, as the mare looked relaxed, complete with floppy ears, for a fluid and put together test. Tamie gave Twizted Syster lots of big pats after her final halt and salute, and she is surely thrilled with her ride today. I plan to catch up with Tamie later on today, so stay tuned for more.
Bailey Moran and Loughnatousa Caislean. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Also moving up to challenge in the final group was Eventing Dad’s daughter, Bailey Moran, and Loughnatousa Caislean. Bailey and her chestnut Irish Sport Horse put in a very accurate test that really showed off the horse’s movement. This pair scored a 34.2 for fifth place going into cross country.
Julie Richards and Beaulieu’s Cayenne. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Julie Richards also brought her second ride into the top 10, tying for ninth aboard Beaulieu’s Cayenne with a 35.4. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting this mare’s owner, Sher Schwartz, here in Texas, and she’s thrilled to be here not only riding her own horses but cheering Julie on.
We’re on just a brief break now before the USEA Adequan Gold Cup final kicks off with Jon Holling and Proper Timing at 3:08 p.m. CST. Stay tuned for much more from the first day of competition here at the AECs!
Buck Davidson and Quasar. Photo by Sally Spickard.
It’s a hot and sunny day here at Texas Rose Horse Park, and we’ve just seen about two-thirds of the Merial Open Intermediate division ride dressage, with 10 more to come after the lunch break.
Buck Davidson and Quasar, a 7-year-old Oldenburg gelding, put in a lovely, rhythmic test to score 30.4 for the lead going into the lunch break today. Quasar is a new ride for Buck this year, and the pair has enjoyed success at the level, most recently notching a 12th place finish at GMHA last month. You can view a video of Buck’s test below.
Julie Richards and Urlanmore Beauty. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Julie Richards and Urlanmore Beauty took an early lead this morning, earning a 31.7 from the judges with an expressive test from the big Irish gelding. This horse really had a great presence in the ring, and Julie’s expert piloting earned them a very competitive score.
Elisa Wallace and Corteo. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Julie is currently tied for second with Elisa Wallace and Corteo, who also turned in a lovely test. We featured the 6-year-old Dutch gelding on EN’s Got Talent nearly two years ago, and he really is an expressive mover who tried his heart out for Elisa today. This pair is coming off of a fourth-place finish in the CIC2* at Poplar Place. Fun fact about this pair: Elisa had Corteo here at the AECs last year in the Training division where they placed fourth. What a difference a year makes!
Sara Beth Anton and Blitz Volo. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Sara Beth Anton and Blitz Volo have had a successful year, earning four wins at the one-star and Intermediate levels in their prep for AECs. This pair rode an accurate and fluid test for fourth place currently on a score of 34.4.
Riding his first test in Texas after the cross-country trek, Matt Brown and Happenstance battled just a bit of tension to score a 35.6, which will slot them into sixth place for now. The handsome dark bay gelding really is a nice mover, and he seems to have a “can-do” attitude with Matt, but a couple of naughty moments hurt an otherwise lovely test.
Ellen Doughty-Hume and Fuerst Harrisburg. Photo by Sally Spickard.
I have to give a shout-out to Ellen Doughty-Hume, who really rode Fuerst Harrisburg well even though he was clearly already thinking about the next phase. This big Hanoverian gelding wanted to get a bit behind the vertical, and he just oozes power; Ellen definitely had to work to keep the medium canter in check!
We’re on a lunch break now, and Bailey Moran with Loughnatousa Caislean will kick us back off at 1:28 p.m. CST. I’ll be back after the conclusion of the Intermediate with a final recap, and then we’ll see the Advanced riders go later on this afternoon.
AEC week is finally here! The Texas Rose Horse Park was already bustling with activity in preparation for the weekend when I arrived yesterday, and competition officially kicks off today with the Training, Preliminary, Intermediate and Advanced dressage. Stay tuned all weekend for updates from the Intermediate and Advanced all weekend, as well as any other divisions I can squeeze in.
Capt. Mark Phillips’ Advanced cross country course is definitely looking up to speed for a championship level course. The terrain here definitely needs to be taken seriously, and Capt. Phillips has integrated the course into the undulating hills here at the Texas Rose Horse Park
If I had to pick one word to describe this year’s Advanced course, it would be “twisty.” Debbie Rosen commented that the course is definitely a “rider’s course” in that it demands accuracy and has a lot of “land and turn” questions throughout.
Spectators will want to camp out at the first water complex, fences 12ABC and 13, which is a new addition for this year’s course. It’s quite an interesting looking complex, with a table leading into the water, four strides to a vertical brush, five to a rather steep bank and over another brush vertical, followed by another table, which rides at an angled four strides.
Stay tuned for much more from the AECs, and click here to see all of EN’s coverage so far.
Debbie Rosen and The Alchemyst at Rolex 2014. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Debbie Rosen and her big chestnut gelding, The Alchemyst, have one of those stories that will long be remembered as inspirational. Debbie and “Al,” who is coming 15, have enjoyed a nine-year partnership that has spanned the country, including four trips to Rolex and countless Advanced and three-star competitions, as well as Debbie’s own battle with breast cancer.
So it’s with much thought and deliberation that Debbie has decided to move Al to Jennie Brannigan’s program to sell following their last hurrah together in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Final Advanced division at the American Eventing Championships this weekend.
“It’s been bittersweet. I had a super good fall last fall and a great spring, so I decided to try Rolex again, and I think that he’s been around a couple of times, and I know he doesn’t want to play there anymore,” Debbie said. “I think at the three-star level and below, he can really excel still.
“Jennie is an old friend, and I saw her at a wedding recently. So we came up with this plan where I would come to the AECs and then send him to her after that,” Debbie said.
Debbie is hoping to find Al a new junior or amateur partner who is looking for upper-level experience and miles. Al is ready to be a teacher, she said, and moving on to a new home where he can do that will be a good next step. “I could keep him and we could live at the Advanced level, but he just gets a different light in his eye when he gets to teach someone now, so it’s the right thing to do,” Debbie said.
“Prelim is pretty easy for him. He packs around Prelim and Intermediate, so I imagine any (level) would be fine as long as you’re sensible about it. You just have to be mindful that the horse is used to going fast, but he goes in a snaffle, and he’s super manageable,” she said.
Jennie will be the acting agent for Debbie, who chose to send him to the East Coast in the interest of finding a good fit for perhaps a young rider who is looking for a 2015 mount. “(Jennie) has a gift for matching horses and riders, and it’s paramount that he goes to a good home,” Debbie said. “I trust her, and she knows him; she’s known him since before I got him, and he needs the right person.”
Debbie had entertained the idea of selling Al previously, giving the ride to James Atkinson in 2012 with wonderful results. “I thought that it was a good time to look into selling him, but I wanted to make sure that someone else could ride him first,” Debbie recalled. “James got along really well with him, and I would have loved to be an owner in that situation, but it just didn’t work out. If I were to give a horse to anyone, it would be James; I just wasn’t in the position to do it.”
After James, junior rider Jerica Coert took over the reins and rode Al around her first one-star and Intermediate. “She did great, but then came the acceptance letter to the university, and so that’s how I ended up riding him again.”
Debbie realizes that her goals are different than Al’s at this point. She’s got a few younger horses coming up the levels currently and hopes to find another four-star mount, as she’s got Rolex in her sights still. “I think it’s time for (Al) to be a teacher; we’re both very goal-oriented individuals, and I think he will do well showing someone else the ropes.”
This weekend, Debbie plans to have a good time for her and Al’s last event together. She’s walked Capt. Mark Phillip’s course once and is planning out her attack strategy for the challenging track that awaits the Advanced pairs on Friday. “I just have to make sure I’m in the right frame of mind to go out there and do it justice,” Debbie said. “I certainly imagined it would be hard, and I think it will take a very accurate type of ride.”
It will definitely be a weekend full of emotion for Debbie and all of Al’s fans who are here in Texas cheering the pair on. Their story is one that will not soon be forgotten even though they are going their separate ways come Sunday. We wish both Debbie and Al the best of luck in their next endeavors, and we’ll be cheering them on as they contest their last event together here in Texas.
The Best. Event. Ever. has come and gone once again, and we’re finding ourselves wanting to watch every video we can of the action so we can relive it. Fortunately, both RNS Video and The Horse Pesterer were on the ground this weekend, so there are plenty of videos to binge on. Who needs Netflix, anyway?
Keep an eye out for more Plantation Field videos coming your way this week. Today, we’ve got another great compilation from RNS Video of the CIC* water complex.
Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against pose with some of their fan club. Photo via Bunnie Sexton on Facebook.
We’re going to have to get some sort of award together for Maggie’s prediction skills, as she’s once again correctly picked a winner, this time in the Advanced division at Twin Rivers. Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against were the only pair to finish on their dressage score this weekend, moving up from fourth after dressage to take the win on a score of 37.7.
Andrea Baxter and Indy 500 grabbed the Thoroughbred mare’s highest Advanced placing to date, adding just .4 time on cross country to their dressage score to finish in second place, ahead of predicted second place finisher David Acord and Reigns for Justice.
Picked as the Dark Horse for the weekend, Tamie Smith unfortunately was unable to complete the event aboard the her catch ride, Novelle. This pair were in fourth after one of just two double clear cross country runs, but Tamie had a flight to Texas for AECs that she couldn’t miss, so her weekend was cut short. We’re not sure what the final result would have been, but we’re going to go ahead and say that the leaderboard could well have looked a bit different!
Lauren Billys and her newest hopeful for Rio, Castle Larchfield Purdy, took home the win in the Open Intermediate, finishing on their dressage score of 30.0. Lauren packed a one-two punch this weekend, also delivering second place on Ballingowan Ginger, who steadily moved up throughout the weekend to finish just behind her stablemate.
Bea di Grazia and Lad’s Night Out dropped a rail in the show jumping to drop into the third place slot for the weekend.
Lisa Borgia and Frodo of the Shire continued their winning ways at the Intermediate level this weekend at Otter Creek, finishing with a sizable margin over Rebecca Gall and Can Ya Dig It, who were making their Intermediate debut. Rebecca and Can Ya Dig It have been competing at the Prelim and one-star level for the past two years and were coming off of a 12th place finish in the CCI* at Bromont in June. The pair finished with time and one rail in show jumping for a solid showing at their first run at the level.
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night at Boekelo 2013. Photo by Jenni Autry.
It came down to the wire for the CIC3* competitors at Ballindenisk this morning, and in the end it was Joseph Murphy and Sportsfield Othello who took the top honors. Show jumping proved to be quite tricky and influential, with just three pairs managing to leave all rails in their cups.
Leading overnight, Izzy Taylor and Thistledown Poposki picked up 20 faults on course today, but their final score of 67.8 was still enough to keep them in the top five, finishing in fourth place overall. Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night put the cherry on top of a smooth Boekelo prep by turning in one of the three double clear rounds to move from fourth to second.
In second after cross country, Oliver Townend and Dunbeau had 12 faults today to move down into third overall. I also must send my profuse apologies to Tiana Coudray, who I did not mention in my recap yesterday! Tiana rode Kinnordy Rivaldo to a 12th place finish after lowering one rail today in the show jumping.
Tiana took over the ride on “Ken” from Chris Burton last year, but the horse was diagnosed with a bone disease that kept him sidelined for quite awhile. Earlier this summer, PRO reported that the horse was back in work but that Tiana and her team were approaching the situation cautiously. The pair’s finish today gives them their highest placing this year and their first CIC3* completion together.
Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee put in a solid show jump round, knocking one rail to finish ninth overall for Canada.
Clare Abbott and Euro Prince held onto their overnight lead in the CCI3* today, show jumping clear to win comfortably on a 43.8 over second place finisher Oliver Townend and Skyhills Cavalier (8 faults for a 55.6). Tim Boland and GV Billy Elliot round out the top three, finishing on a score of 60.6 with a double clear round today.
Just four out of the 15 riders completed double clear rounds today, including the U.S.’ Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino, who finished on a final score of 100.2 for 11th place, the pair’s first CCI3* completion.
Izzy Taylor and Thistledown Poposki. Photo by Jenni Autry.
The cross country portion of the CIC3* competition at Ballindenisk completed today, and the two North American riders competing both came home strong enough to remain in the top 10 going into show jumping tomorrow.
Leading after dressage, Liz Halliday and Fernhill By Night came home with 14.4 time penalties to move them down into fourth place. Liz posted on her Facebook page that she and “Blackie” had time since they are heading for the CCIO3* at Boekelo next, but that Blackie tried his heart out for a clear round today.
Representing Canada, Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee are in 10th after turning in one runout and 19.6 time penalties on a score of 87.8.
In second after dressage on a 47.8, Great Britain’s Izzy Taylor and Thistledown Poposki took over the lead with the only double clear run of the day. Should this pair hang on to the 2.6 point lead they have over Oliver Townend and Dunbeau, this will be the 15-year-old gelding’s highest placing at this level.
Fun fact on the live scoring for this event: by clicking the magnifying glass under the “Info” column next to each pair, you can see all individual marks and individual cross country fence results. Nerd away, EN!
In the CCI3*, Clare Abbott and Euro Prince, who re-routed here after WEG, are holding the lead after a double clear cross country run. Of the 16 horses and riders to complete, just three were able to get home clear and inside the time: Clare and Euro Prince, Oliver Townend and Skyhills Cavalier, and Matthew Glentworth and Ultimatt.
Clare Abbott and Euro Prince at WEG. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Clare has just 3.8 points of breathing room ahead of Oliver Townend, who is also stalking Izzy Taylor’s lead in the CIC3*, so tomorrow’s show jumping should prove to be quite the nail biter in both divisions. In the last CIC3* start for Euro Prince, the pair dropped one rail, while Skyhills Cavalier has one rail in each of his CIC3* starts this year.
After an unlucky parting of ways from Atlantic Domino at Blenheim last weekend, Jacob Fletcher re-routed to Ballindenisk. On cross country today, the pair picked up a 20 at fence 25, just five from home. Jacob and Domino sit in 13th going into tomorrow’s show jumping.
AEC week is almost upon us! As we speak, hundreds of eventers are packing their trailers, washing and re-washing their horses, and doing air dressage circles trying to memorize their tests as they prepare to converge on Texas Rose Horse Park. EN will be on the ground to highlight the competition, and we want to see you while we’re there!
In light of the insanity that is sure to be the AECs, we’re excited to announce a contest for all who are attending! We want to see your stall or golf cart decorations — the more insane the better — for a chance to win one of three prize packs from a few of our generous sponsors. You won’t want to miss out on these prizes! Here’s what’s up for grabs:
AEC Insanity Contest Prize Bucket contents may include any of the following:
Autographed photo of 2013 Adequan USEA Gold Cup champion Laine Ashker
Laine Ashker herself will be guest judging each entrant alongside EN on the evening of Friday, September 26 upon conclusion of the Advanced cross country.
How do you enter?
Please email [email protected] or text/call 314-813-8171 with your barn and stall number no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 26. Expect to be judged on Friday evening, so you’ll want to stay around for the fun!
Remember, funny and creative will be rewarded the most, so let’s see just how insane you can get. Everything is bigger in Texas, right?
We’d like to thank the sponsors who have generously donated prizes: Cosequin, FLAIR, Success Equestrian, as well as Lindsey Kahn for volunteering some of her company’s awesome products. Also, we’d like to send a big thank you to Laine Ashker for joining us in the AEC insanity as she defends her crown as Gold Cup champion.
Pack your colorful duct tape and we’ll see you in Texas!
EN’s good friend, The Horse Pesterer, is on the ground at the Best. Event. Ever. this weekend with his trusty camera in hand, which means we have lots of videos coming your way of all the action. Yesterday, the CIC2* and Advanced divisions rode dressage, the coverage for which you can check out here.
World Equestrian Brands riders Buck Davidson and Caroline Martin have a whole slow of horses running this weekend, likely outfitted in the best that this awesome company has to offer. Be sure to click the banner below to check out all of the offerings from World Equestrian Brands.
We all do it: we find that perfect soft shell jacket or sweater and purchase it, swearing up and down that we don’t plan to wear it to the barn. What happens next? When dressing for the barn, we immediately grab our precious new piece of clothing and traipse off to the barn with it. Next thing you know, it’s covered in manure, hay, and other unmentionables and it’s officially designated as a “barn coat” from that point forward. Sound familiar?
Luckily for us, the UltrOZ therapeutic ultrasound system, sold by Hamilton BioVet, is totally wearable in the barn, or just about anywhere else you can think of. How’s that for convenient? Be sure to check out both our review of this great product, as well as a guest blog on the experiences one of our lucky readers has had in rehabilitating her horse’s injury.
Matt Brown and his wife, Cecily, launched an ambitious fundraising plan a few short weeks ago to help them reach their goal of traveling to the American Eventing Championships and Fair Hill this fall. Thank to the generous support and help from friends and family alike, Matt has achieved his fundraising goal and is packing his trailer to head east. He posted the following on his Facebook page to express his gratitude. Best of luck on your trip, Matt!
Matt Brown and BCF Belicoso. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
From Matt:
As many of you may know, I am preparing for a month-long trip to the American Eventing Championships in Tyler, Texas, and then on to Fair Hill in Maryland for my first CCI3*. I am working towards a larger goal of representing the U.S. in eventing and am hoping against tiny hope to be in consideration for the 2015 Pan Am Games, the 2016 Olympics and beyond!
We’ve just concluded a fundraising effort including a dinner and online auction in hopes to raise the funds for the trip east this fall. With the incredible support of my own students and family, fellow riders, competitors and industry professionals, we somehow put on a dinner and two auctions in three weeks, and not only did we reach our fundraising target, but we have surpassed it!
I feel it is only fair, given how much so many of you have done to help me get to this point, that I share some of my reflections on this experience so far with you.
It has always been hard for me to ask for help. I never want to put anyone out or inconvenience anyone in any way. But, there always comes a time in one’s life when help is needed. No one person alone can have all of the necessary time, resources, money or expertise to accomplish a goal.
When one comes upon this dilemma, there are only a few choices: You can give up, you can try in vain for that goal by yourself, grasping for something that will never be in your reach if you stand alone or, you can learn how to get comfortable with asking for help and reach for your goals by standing tall upon the shoulders of others.
Sometimes that goal feels too big, that even if you can muster up the courage to ask for help, it could never be enough. And usually the people surrounding you are just like you: short on time and short on money.
I’ve spent my life with horses. Starting out like everyone else, a horse crazy kid who couldn’t imagine anything better in life than the smell of horse sweat and slobber that lingers on you long after you’ve left the barn. The satisfied exhaustion that comes after riding 10 horses and mucking 10 stalls, or working for hours days, or months on one skill that is just out of reach, but close enough you can almost feel it.
That exhaustion and hunger to learn is what has driven me for all of my life and is what compelled me to forgo a more traditional life path and become a horse professional.
When you start out, of course you think and hope that you will become good enough to make it to the Olympics one day. As a kid, that somehow seems like the inevitable conclusion of a lifetime of hard work. In the juvenile mind, it seems that everyone that never made it just must not have worked hard enough or wanted it badly enough.
But, as you get older, you realize how hard EVERYONE in this industry works. You learn every day how much you do not know, the skills that you don’t possess, the experience that you don’t have, how short the days are, how meager your bank account is and how even your best horse doesn’t seem to measure up to the ones that you see on the Olympic teams.
Slowly you start to come to the realization that you probably don’t have what it takes after all, how mistaken your childhood assumptions were. Maybe you have the talent, but you don’t have the time. Maybe you have the time but you don’t have the money. Maybe you have the drive but you don’t have the experience. The list goes on, and it becomes far easier to come up with the reasons why you can’t accomplish something, and far more difficult to come up with ways that you can.
And then that becomes your reality, and you grow comfortable in that. Maybe not completely happy, but comfortable, resigned and accepting of it. And that voice from your childhood grows quieter and quieter, until he’s almost gone, just a stifled whisper. I’m not quite sure what it was that made me listen to that voice again, maybe it was the grey hairs starting to reveal themselves at my temples, or a temporary dropping of my guard that let that voice bubble up to the surface of my consciousness.
Whatever it was, I heard that voice again, loud and clear, and somehow I found the courage to speak the words out loud. And the most amazing thing happened …. Someone heard me. And that gave me hope, and a little bit of tentative, fragile confidence, so I began saying those words more loudly and more often, and more people heard me, and more people told me that they believed in me.
Matt and John Michael Durr during the high jump competition at the Browns’ fundraising dinner.
And now I find myself on this journey, self conscious and doubtful still, leading me in the direction of my dreams. Who knows whether I will ultimately even get close, there are still so many literal and figurative miles left to climb. But what I now know, after putting my dreams out there, putting a voice to them, asking others in my same situation — with little time and less money — for help, is that if you ask a question, you just might be overwhelmed by the response.
My fellow riders, who I compete against on a regular basis, and who no doubt want to win as much as I do, have gone out of their way to tell me that they believe in me, and that they are rooting for me. They’ve donated their time and money toward my goals, no doubt taking precious hours and dollars away from their own efforts. For the record, guys, I believe in you, too. You all drive my hunger to learn more, and you push me to get better. Your talent, hard work and dedication inspire me to work to be the best horseman that I can be.
My students have been patient while I have traveled more, been home less and have shifted some of my focus back on to my own riding and developing my own skills. They are just as excited as I am, if not more so, when I do well or reach a new milestone. They greet me with signs of congratulations when I return home, and they conceal their understandable disappointment when I tell them I’m going to be gone for another extended period of time chasing down this dream. What they show me instead of disappointment is enthusiasm for what I’m doing, and they rally with me, spending their own time and money to help me along the way.
Other professionals in our industry, from show organizers, videographers, photographers, tack shop owners, saddlers and everyone in between have eagerly offered their assistance and excitement in helping me toward my goals.
I am completely overwhelmed by the support that everyone in Area VI and beyond has shown me. Those I know well have gone above and beyond, and even those I don’t know well have stepped up to offer a kind word and their support.
When I was a kid, I thought that if I became good enough and worked hard enough, success would surely come my way, and my dreams would be achieved. Time made me realize those qualities in themselves would not be enough, so doubt crept in and then I thought my dreams would forever stay out of my reach.
What I realize now is that my own hard work and determination are an important part of achieving success, but that success never comes from a singular effort. In order to find a path of successes, to reach for my dreams, I must not only allow myself to be propelled forward by the generosity and enthusiasm of the members of my community, but I need to ask them for that boost.
Ultimately, after putting that call for help out to the Area VI community and the eventing community at large, I’ve found that not only can we reach our goals, but we can exceed them.
Thank you to all for your incredible support. I know that you all have your own dreams, goals, obligations, challenges and hardships, which makes your support mean that much more to me. I hope that I can thank you by not only doing you proud and reaching some of my own goals, but by returning the favor in kind, and letting you stand upon my shoulders when you need your own boost.
I promise, if you ask me, I will do what I can to help. It will more than likely not be all that you need, but when our community comes together and everyone does what they can, even if it’s only a little, we can accomplish a lot!
And I must send a special, massive thank you to Bob and Valerie Fish and Mary McKee and Lance Hurd for believing in me enough to ride your incredible horses, and the incredible depth of support that you have shown to me over these past few years. I love your horses and riding them more than I could ever possibly adequately express.
We hear all the time about horses at the top of the sport, but what about the next generation of equine talent? EN’s Got Talent introduces the future superstars of the sport, interviewing riders about how they’re tackling training with these youngsters. Have you spotted a spectacular young horse at an event you think should be highlighted in this column? Tip me at [email protected].
Justine Dutton and Jollybo. Photo courtesy of Andy Partridge.
Justine Dutton made a name for herself on EN as “the Other Dutton,” and now she’s got another talented horse in her arsenal who will be making her CIC2* debut this afternoon at Plantation Field. Jollybo is a 10-year-old British Sport Horse mare who Justine found in December of 2013 on a shopping trip in the UK.
“I went with a client who was looking for a dressage horse, and (Jollybo) was one of the horses they pulled out,” Justine recalled. “I got on her and immediately we knew that I would want her. I tried to think of everything I could to make me not like her, because I really wasn’t shopping for myself, but I just really liked her.“
Justine put together the Sport Ponies UK Syndicate to purchase the mare, and before long Jollybo was on her way to Florida to join Justine at her winter base. The mare had competed up to the one-star level with Anthony Clark in the irons previously, and Justine brought her out at Preliminary over the winter. “When we first came out, we really didn’t get along straight away,” Justine said. “I think she was used to having a stronger rider, and with me she kind of got too bold and forward. I struggled with allowing her to go forward, so we’d fight about that. I spent a lot of time trying to figure her out, changing bits and trying different things to make it work.”
On paper, Justine and Jollybo’s early starts at Prelim are solid. The pair finished in the top 10 in the first three events together, but Justine still felt there was work to be done. She began working the mare with coach Buck Davidson, who advised her against her initial thought to try to sell the mare. “There was a point where I thought maybe she wasn’t for me,” Justine said. “I just had to figure her out, and we sort of came to an agreement. I would agree to let her come more forward and she would agree to let me have a bit more say in what was going on.”
In March, Justine took Jollybo in the Prelim at Poplar Place, and she said she felt that this was the first event where she really felt their partnership beginning to click. “I decided that I wasn’t going to wear a watch on cross country, and that I was just going to canter around and teach her that she didn’t need to go blasting around. We just continued to build on that after Poplar, and then we went to Fair Hill and I felt that I could add a bit more speed.”
Buck was persistent with figuring out the mare on the flat, as he knew that improving Justine and Jollybo’s communication on the flat would translate into an easier time over fences. “He was right of course,” Justine laughed. “We got to the point where we were both ready to take the next step and move up to Intermediate.”
Justine moved the mare up to Intermediate at Plantation Field in June, and immediately found that the level almost suited Jollybo better. “Her dressage improved, and the fences just felt easier for her. Then we went to Jersey Fresh (in July) and I walked the course and thought ‘well, I guess we’ll know if I really have an Intermediate horse after this!’ And then she coasted around just like (Huck Finn) would have, and it just felt amazing.”
Justine and Jollybo won the Intermediate that weekend at Jersey Fresh, coasting home with 3.2 time and show jumping clear to finish on a score of 39.5.
“I very well think she could go Advanced, maybe next year,” Justine said of her talented mare. The pair will trot down centerline in their first CIC2* today at Plantation Field, an event Justine chose as a qualifier to get to the CCI2* at Fair Hill next month.
Next week on EN’s Got Talent: We’ll learn more about Jollybo and her personality around the barn, as well as how her and Justine’s weekend went at Plantation Field.
William Fox-Pitt and Cool Mountain. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Another Fox-Pitt (eventing superstar?) entered the world yesterday, a yet-t0-be-named baby girl who was born healthy at 8 pounds, Horse & Hound reports. Alice and William have three children already: Oliver, Thomas, and Chloe.
Having already won a Rolex watch for each child, will William secure a fourth to give to his new daughter? We’ll have to find out, but we think the odds are in his favor. It is William Fox-Pitt, after all.
Please join us in congratulating the Fox-Pitt family on their new addition! We can’t wait to see those kids grow up; of course, we’d love to see the next generation of eventing greatness emerge from that gene pool.
Francis Whittington picked up his biggest win to date yesterday in the CCI3* at Blenheim. Riding Easy Target, Francis jumped an easy clear round to secure the win over leader after cross country William Fox-Pitt. It’s great to see the huge smile on Francis’ face as he punches the air triumphantly; it’s definitely a well-deserved win for this pair.
Andrea Leatherman and Mr. Poppers. Photo via Lainey Ashker's IG.
