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.
Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice. Photo by Sally Spickard.
After the jog and before walking the course, riders were out jump schooling with their respective coaches this morning. It’s an absolutely gorgeous morning here at Rolex for the final day of competition, and the horses I saw jump this morning looked keen and ready to go.
Silvio Mazzoni giving Meghan O’Donoghue some tips. Photo by Sally Spickard.
USEF Eventing High Performance show jumping coach Silvio Mazzoni was in the ring coaching riders, and Boyd was hanging out at the rail watching Phillip Dutton school Trading Aces, who looks fantastic this morning.
Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton trading stories. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Hawley Bennett-Awad and Allison Springer were also out schooling for just a few minutes — just enough to ensure their horses are sharp and ready for the task at hand today.
Allison Springer on a keen looking Arthur. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Show jumping begins at 12:40 p.m., so stay tuned for much, much more from today’s big finale.
Gamal Awad, superstar husband to Hawley Bennett-Awad, demonstrates one way to score bonus points with eventers. Photo via Dragonfire Eventing.
Every eventer needs a support group, and horse-y significant others are among the best there are. I was curious as to how the husband’s of Colleen Rutletge and Hawley Bennett were coping this weekend, so I was able to grab a few minutes to ask them some pertinent questions. These guys are rockstar husbands, always there to lend a supportive hand in whatever way they can. Ladies, you’ve found yourselves some keepers! Let’s give a big collective round of applause for our significant others who tirelessly put up with our love for the sport.
Brian Rutledge on being a Horse Husband:
Gamal Awad on being Hawley’s Horse Husband:
Earl McFall on supporting Rolex Rookie Jen McFall:
It was a wild ride on the Rolex cross country course today, and we definitely saw some wonderful performances across the board. The weather turned out gorgeous and the crowds really seemed to be enjoying themselves. We caught up with a few of the riders after their rides to gather their thoughts on how everything went today.
I spoke with Meghan O’Donoghue in between autograph signings, and she said that she was absolutely thrilled with Pirate’s performance at their second run around Rolex. “We really got into a rhythm and he trusted me the whole way around,” Meghan said. “He cooled out great and I’m very pleased with how he did.”
Michael Pollard – Clear with 2 time, 51.5
Michael stopped by the EN Tailgate Party to visit with fans after a seamless cross-country go that was one of the best we saw all day. He took a moment to chat with Leslie about how the course rode and his game plan for tomorrow.
Hawley Bennett – Double clear, 58.7
Sharon White – Double clear with Wundermaske, 71.3
Libby Head – Clear with 7.6 time, 71.4
Frankie Theriot also caught up with just about every rider after they crossed the finish line. Here are a few of their interviews. You can check out the full list on the Rolex YouTube page.
William imparting his wisdom. Photo by Sally Spickard.
William Fox-Pitt has seen the most imposing cross country fences in the world, and he is no stranger to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Thanks once again to the generosity of Jeep, I was able to walk a portion of the course with William yesterday afternoon, and it was great to hear his comments on what promises to be a challenging di Grazia course.
Photo by Sally Spickard.
William stressed accuracy at the fences he commented on. This has shaped up to be quite the technically challenging course, and each fence poses a new question to riders. William walked several of the lines for those of us attending the walk to show us exactly how the question should be ridden. Even the single fences are positioned in such a way that the rider must be thinking ahead to the next combination in order to correctly ride the preceding fence. He pointed out that his two rides, Seacookie TSF and Bay My Hero, are different based on their amount of experience, so he would need to adjust his riding for each of them.
Group shot! Photo by Sally Spickard.
I must also say that William’s wife, Alice, is an absolute treat to be around. Not only does she tirelessly support her rockstar status husband but she is quite the consummate horsewoman herself as a former race rider and eventer who has ridden on both the Grand National course at Aintree and the Badminton Horse Trials. This pair is without a doubt a dream team who works together exceptionally well.
William has stated this weekend that he loves being in Kentucky because it provides a different atmosphere than the events back home. As eventing fans, we are definitely privileged to be able to see a rider of his caliber making mincemeat of a monstrosity of a cross country course, so be sure to throw up some big cheers for him today!
Here is some commentary from William on fence 11, the Ditch and Brush:
Mr. Chinchilla is ready for you to come to the EN tailgate! Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Happy Rolex cross country day! I hope you have your sunscreen and walking shoes on, because it’s going to be a fantastic day chock full of some gritty cross country performances. The US riders have put on a show in the first two days of competition, and currently eight of the top 10 are representing the US. Pretty impressive, I must say. It’s no surprise that William Fox Pitt right in the running in second with Bay My Hero, and virtually the entire leaderboard is within 20 penalty points so it’s safe to say that this will definitely not be a dressage competition. As planned, Doug Payne has withdrawn Crown Talisman from competition since he will be traveling to compete in the CCI3* at Saumur next month, thanks to a Land Rover USEF grant. It’s truly a shame that we won’t get to see this talented horse run around cross country, but I know we haven’t seen the last from this horse and the best is most definitely yet to come.
Tipperary Equestrian is running “Dash for Cash” for riders competing at Rolex this year! This exciting contest gives riders who wear Tipperary gear at Rolex a chance to win an additional $5,000 in prize money. All three phases have a $5,000 which riders can qualify for. The winning rider must be wearing a new Tipperary 3015 Eventer Pro vest in the cross country phase of competition. In the dressage and show jumping phase, the winning rider must be wearing a Tipperary T-Series helmet to qualify for the bonus money. Be sure to read up on the full guidelines and rules here. Good luck to all Rolex riders who plan to participate!
Chill with the chinchillas! Stop by our primo tailgate spot #89 and join us and our Tredstep friends as we raise a glass (and a cookie cake or two!) to celebrate the best day of the year! Free refreshments, EN swag, chances to win great Tredstep prizes. Look for the insanity in the middle of the tailgate flagged like a cross country jump.
Have you entered any of EN’s Rolex giveaways yet? Snap a pup, a Protect YourSELFIE, something funny enough to make the Mona Lisa smile, your very own patriotic Dubes and a Tipperary rider today for fab prizes. Contests currently running are: The Point Two Protect YourSELFIE Contest, Design Your Dubes, SmartPak’s Too Fun To Have Just One, Show Us Your Collection Contest, Omega Alpha’s Pick ‘Em, and Tipperary’s Snap the Dash. [Enter Contests — Win Big]
Want to snag Boyd Martin’s autograph? He may even let you take a selfie with his walking stick if you ask nicely. Already making appearances at many different booths this weekend, Boyd will be stopping by the Devoucoux booth today at 12:30 PM to sign autographs. Be sure to put it on your to-do list, and get there early as the line will grow very fast! Swing by the lovely, new Devoucoux booth in the Sponsor Village for some fine tack, expertise and autographs with other Devoucoux riders Emily Beshear at 3:30 PM Hannah Sue Burnett at 4 PM and Peter Barry at 5 PM.
Phillip Dutton will also be signing autographs at the Cosequin booth after he finishes cross country today. Keep an eye on Phillip’s website and an ear on the loudspeaker for more information on times. [Phillip Dutton Schedule]
Get in the mood for cross country by watching Peter Atkins’ helmet cam from last year. Remember, Peter and Henny are competing at Badminton this year and they need your help! Visit Henny’s website or their GoFundMe page for ways to help.
Ellen Doughty (now Hume) preparing to walk down the aisle with Sir Oberon and her father. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Every little girl dreams of the day she will walk down the aisle. Event girls dream of walking down the aisle on the hallowed grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park, and Ellen Doughty was one of them. “I brought the idea up jokingly at first,” Ellen said of her wedding planning. “But my mom made some calls, and before I knew it we were planning a wedding at the Kentucky Horse Park.”
You may now kiss the bride! Photo by Sally Spickard.
After an unfortunate end to her competition weekend here at Rolex, when Sir Oberon did not pass the first horse inspection, the sun came out and shone down on the other highlight of Ellen’s weekend: her wedding to fiance Alistair Hume. The Doughty and Hume families and friends gathered around to witness the ceremony, which was held at the Rolex Head of the Lake complex on the cross country course.
Ellen and Obie. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Sir Oberon was the guest of honor, bringing Ellen down the aisle with her father by her side. Obie was a bit up from the atmosphere and the long veil on his back, but he handled himself like a gentleman, perhaps with one eye on the fences the whole time. David O’Connor performed the ceremony, which he turned into an intimate experience for all present. The onlookers gathered close around the wedding party while David joined Ellen and Alistair in marriage, and there were not many dry eyes to be found.
Ellen and her wedding party preparing to walk down the aisle. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Many congratulations are in order for the new Mr. and Mrs. Hume. The idea of having a Rolex wedding is one that fairytales are made of, and Ellen certainly got her fairytale story this weekend.
Boyd is chilling on the sidelines this weekend, playing coach and cheerleader while he recovers from his broken leg. He’s still got plenty to do, as he’s got several students riding and is also keeping an eye on Phillip riding Trading Aces. Luckily, Boyd is in good spirits and is happy to be here in Kentucky regardless of his role. Boyd plans to be back in the saddle in time to compete at Jersey Fresh in a couple of weeks, so fingers crossed that the recovery continues to go well. He was walking pretty well with a little assistance of a cane today, so all looks good in Camp Martin.
Sinead Halpin did her dressage yesterday with The French Princess, and while she thought the test was better than the score reflects, she still finds herself currently in the top 10 going into tomorrow. Manoir de Carneville relishes cross country, so it should be a treat as always to see them out there doing their thing tomorrow.
Many thanks to Boyd and Sinead and lending me a few moments of their time on a busy weekend, and stay tuned for more commentary later on. Go Rolex.
Elisa Wallace and her mustang, Fledge. Photo by Sally Spickard.
How are you enjoying your Rolex weekend so far, EN? It certainly is an exciting weekend so far, and currently the riders wearing the red, white, and blue are throwing down in the sandbox. There are several breaks in competition, though, and there is plenty of other options for entertainment while you are wandering the grounds.
1. Catch some demonstrations.
There are so many exhibitions going on in the Walnut Ring each day, from Fresians to Mustangs and everything in between. Elisa Wallace and her mustangs, Fledge and Rune, are here showing off their mad skills. These mustangs are so well-trained that they can even perform bridleless, so be sure to check out Elisa’s demos.
Elisa will be performing on Saturday at 1:45 pm so don’t forget to stop by!
A few area colleges are scattered about throughout the trade fair, and for all of you college-bound folk this would be a great opportunity to chat with some potential schools. Many of them even have equine programs and teams, so what better place to go to school? The chinchilla agrees, as indicated by the photobomb above.
3. Horse shop.
The Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center, New Vocations, the Retired Racehorse Training Project, and other adoption agencies are all here representing the wonderful OTTB. I’ve been trying very hard to not look at the listings too hard lest I fall in love with some handsome bay out there, but there are plenty of horses to go around, so give one a great eventing home if you are looking!
4. Shops on shops on shops.
We all know there is a ton of shopping to do here, so it goes without saying that the wallet is going to get a decent workout this weekend. It’s been a bit sketchy with the weather today, but don’t forget there are plenty of booths inside in the trade fair as well as outside.
5. Grab a refreshment.
The food here is plentiful, as are the beverages. I’ve been gorging myself on gyros all weekend, but the occasional Bloody Mary doesn’t hurt either. Mr. Chinchilla definitely needed one this morning after spending the night plugging away to make sure the site runs smoothly. Well deserved, Chinch, well deserved.
Doug Payne, who is electing to just ride dressage with the stunning Crown Talisman this weekend, was kind enough to walk some of the cross country course with me yesterday morning. There is a lot to do on Derek di Grazia’s course this year, and I would expect there to be plenty of interesting fences to keep an eye on throughout the day on Saturday. Doug and I stopped by the Land Rover Hollow (Fence 14), the Offset Brush (Fence 16), and the Rolex Head of the Lake (Fences 18 & 19). Many thanks to Doug for taking the time to give us the insider scoop on how these fences should ride.
Side note: I apologize in advance for any wind interference in these videos. There was a light breeze coming through while we were walking, and sometimes even the slightest breeze can cause some issues.
Doug Payne comments on the Land Rover Hollow — an inviting but solid keyhole fence down a steep hill to a right hand corner and then out over a skinny oxer. There is an option available, but as Doug comments it will take quite a long time to get it done; the option is there for any riders who may not have a good ride into the combination.
Next up is the Offset Brush, which ride at quite an angle. I presume this is a nod to Pierre Michelet’s courses, which utilize many angled brushes. Fence 15, the Sheep Shelter, looks to feed the riders onto a good line, but the combination of fences 15 and 16 will require a very accurate ride in order to make it through the brushes. Again, there is an option available, but as usual it will take a few extra of those precious seconds and still requires the A element of the Offset Brush to be jumped.
Finally, we stopped by the Rolex Head of the Lake, where Lauren Kieffer was checking her minute markers. This fence comes up right around 7 minutes and 30 seconds into the course, and as stated before there is plenty of work to do here.
It's that time of year again: spring flowers, warm weather and, most importantly, Rolex Kentucky. This year, we will be highlighting riders who are making their first appearance in North America's only CCI4* event. Our final installment of this series is Libby Head and Sir Rockstar, who together make up one of the youngest riders and smallest horses competing this year. Here is the full scoop on this scrappy pair.
Libby and Sir Rockstar at Rolex. Photo by Jenni Autry.
We previously featured Libby Head on our Collegiate Eventing spotlight and we have really enjoyed following this young rider’s career. Sir Rockstar came to Libby as a neglected 10-year-old in 2008 and quickly blossomed under Libby’s care. Once he was healthy and his personality had really begun to shine, “Rocky” began to show his talent for eventing. The pair moved up to Advanced in 2012 and blazed around a formidable course at Fair Hill last year to bring home 12th place.
“Rolex has always kind of been a dream of mine, but when I got Rocky I was more focused on just getting a horse who at least wanted to jump. My last horse wasn’t all too interested in jumping,” Libby said. “After Fair Hill it kind of became a reality that Rolex could happen, so we just made a plan and kept working on his dressage to get ready.”
Libby’s coach, Kyle Carter, has worked with her on accuracy in the dressage ring so that she can pick up as many “easy” points as she can. A Rolex veteran himself, Kyle has also presented Libby with some types of questions that may come up this weekend. Overall, Libby’s small but mighty horse is as ready as he can be, and Libby feels confident in their abilities this weekend.
“My main goal is to complete,” Libby said. “Everything else at this point will just be icing on the cake. He has been here before when we did Young Riders (in 2011), so I am hoping that he remembers and can channel his energy more in our dressage rather than focusing on the atmosphere.”
As far as plans for after Rolex are concerned, Libby hasn’t thought too far ahead yet. She took this semester off from school at the University of Georgia so that she could focus on her Rolex prep, so she will be hitting the books when she returns from Kentucky. “I’m going to get caught up again so that I can finish,” Libby said. “After that we’ll think more about where to go from there.”
Behind every awesome Mom rider are her equally awesome kids! Cassie Rutledge cheers on her Mom, Colleen Rutledge, and Shiraz, in this afternoon's Dressage session. Photo courtesy of Mary Getsey Bernier.
What a whirlwind week it’s been so far! I don’t know about you, but I don’t know that I could ever get enough Rolex coverage. The chinchillas are working overtime to bring you as much coverage as you can possibly handle, and John is here to ensure that the chinchilla cages are kept clean so that they can focus on their work.
It was an exciting day of dressage yesterday, and as of the end of competition yesterday three U.S. riders found themselves atop the leaderboard. Michael Pollard, Will Faudree, and Doug Payne lead the pack after throwing down some seriously wonderful tests. While Doug is likely wishing he could run cross country on Sunday, he plans to withdraw Tali since he received a Land Rover grant to compete in the Saumur CCI3* next month. There are plenty of heavy hitters still to come today, though, so keep your eyes peeled for some shifts on the board as the final day of dressage runs its course.
Don’t forget about the pure awesome that will be the EN Tailgate tomorrow! Chill with the chinchillas! Stop by our primo tailgate spot #89 and join us and our Tredstep friends as we raise a glass (and a cookie cake or two!) to celebrate the best day of the year! Free refreshments, EN swag, and chances to win great Tredstep prizes. Look for the insanity in the middle of the tailgate flagged like a cross country jump.
You might not be able to win a Rolex, but there’s a whole lotta loot here at EN waiting for you to take it home. We’ve got giveaway contests coming out the wazoo here at EN headquarters, and we’re taking notes from Oprah. If you want to win some Dubarry boots, SmartPak pants, a Point Two airvest or a ton of Omega Alpha supplements, you better check out our comprehensive giveaway page! [Enter Contests — Win Big]
Keep your eyes on exclusive official scoreboard for the Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge, as countries vie for $20,000 of bonus money to help them head to WEG. This is a new program this year, and it promises to be exciting [Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge]
FLAIR Nasal Strips has announced a new award for Rolex this year. The annual award, calledthe “FLAIR Protect & Perform Award” will be awarded to the highest place horse and rider pair who use a FLAIR strip during both cross country and stadium. For more information on FLAIR strips and the numerous benefits they offer, click here.
FLAIR has also announced its sponsorship of a cross country course walk at Rolex this year. The walk will be led by Ralph Hill, with participation from FLAIR riders Buck Davidson and Hawley Bennett. The walk is slated to commence approximately 30 minutes after conclusion of dressage competition on Friday April 25. Be sure to check the FLAIR website and Facebook page for more details. [FLAIR Website] [Facebook Page]
Silva Martin has posted an update on her blog about her recovery. Silva remarks that she is recovering quickly, and while she has trouble keeping her eyes open still her doctor is still optimistic on her full recovery. She is able to get out to the barn to keep tabs on her horses being kept in work by her students, and right now the outlook is looking quite positive for Silva even though she is taking it slow. [Silva Recovery Update]
Andrew Nicholson is not happy about the Jock Paget scandal. Using more than one choice word, Nicholson expressed his frustration with the situation recently. He believes that the media are spinning the story incorrectly, and that Jock’s cause was a lost one from the start. [Nicholson Unhappy]
Silva Martin made some comments on Trading Aces’ dressage test with Phillip yesterday. Oscar is sitting in 8th place right now on a score of 52.5. Silva has been observing Phillip and Oscar’s short time together and was pleased with how their test yesterday went. [Silva’s Thoughts on Trading Aces]
British Olympian Ben Maher’s ride Tripple X has been sold to Canada’s Eric Lamaze. Tripple X was part of the gold medal winning British show jumping team at the London Olympics in 2012, so the move is all at once a big blow to the British team and a huge gain for team Canada. [Tripple X Sold]
Meghan O’Donoghue and her scrappy OTTB, Pirate, took the eventing world by storm (and stole a few hearts along the way as well) last year when they rocked around their CCI4* debut to the tune of a 12th place finish. This year, Meghan and Pirate are ready to do it again, although Pirate was definitely ready to get the dressage over with and move on to the fun part. Pirate experienced a few moments of tension throughout their dressage test and are currently tied with Kyle Carter and Madison part in 21st on a 61.8. Meghan feels that this weekend will not be a dressage competition, as should be expected, and we all know that Pirate relishes these next two phases, so we are definitely crossing our fingers for this lovable pair this weekend.
Lynn Symansky and Donner rode the test ride before the judges this morning, and Donner certainly looked raring to go considering he has yet to run a cross country course this year. Lynn has played it safe with the Flying Deer this spring after team vets found a small filling in one of the 11-year-old OTTBs ankles. To that end, Lynn plans to head to Jersey Fresh and Bromont in the next couple of months. She said that he feels great and that he tends to keep himself fairly fit, so she feels confident that bringing him back will be a fairly smooth process.
We featured Dana Widstrand and “Super Rover” (Relentless Pursuit) on our Rolex Rookies series, and we definitely found this pair inspiring. Rover just turned 18 yesterday, but don’t tell him that because he thinks he’s about half that age. Dana is looking forward to her dressage test and says that Rover is well settled in and ready to go.
William Fox Pitt is no stranger to competing here in Kentucky, most recently coming in a close second in 2013 with Seacookie TSF and winning in both 2010 and 2012 with Cool Mountain and Parklane Hawk, respectively. William is back to improve on his second place with Seacookie this year, and the horse is well prepared and coming off of a win at the Pau CCI4* last year. He also has a second mount, Bay My Hero, who is contesting his second CCI4* here in Kentucky. His first CCI4* was at Pau last year, where he earned a fourth place not too far off from his stablemate.
I must give a huge shout-out to Jeep, who graciously invited EN to interview and spend time with one of the most iconic riders in the equine world. William and his wife, Alice, are delightful company and they both seem pleased to be back in Kentucky again this year.
The USEF Network has kindly sent us some footage from a few riders this morning, and Rolex will be uploading interview videos as the day continues. We will continue to update this post with more videos from day one here at Rolex, so be sure to keep checking back. The Rolex YouTube page is practically overflowing with interview videos, so be sure to check their page as well for more. We’ve posted a few of our favorites below!
Frankie Theriot is on site and stepped out onto the cross country course with Jim Wofford and course designer Derek di Grazia to hear their thoughts on this year’s questions. Derek is known for designing challenging but doable courses, and there are several options available on course should they be needed.
What do you think of the course this year, EN? What fence has you quaking in your boots?
Kristin Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken. Photo by Jenni Autry.
There was plenty of fashion on display at the jogs today, and picking our favorites for best dressed guy and gal was definitely a difficult task. Someone has to do it, though, so here are our picks:
We had to give our pick for Best Dressed gal to Kristen Schmolze. Kristin was channeling her inner Top Model today, and she and Rox strutted down the jog strip like it was their own personal runway. Kristin’s choice of a fitted blazer and sunglasses really polished off her look and made her a clear standout in the Best Dressed race. If only we could give you Dubarrys, Kristin!
Sharon White is our runner-up for the gals. Jenni and I ran into Sharon before she had changed into her outfit, and she said there was a “good chance” that orange would be a part of her outfit, as if there were any other choice! As expected, Sharon came out rocking her signature color. She accessorized with an orange barrette in her hair to really pull the whole outfit together. Combined with both of her horses’ dark coats, she really turned heads today.
Doug Payne and Crown Talisman. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Doug Payne gets the pick for Best Dressed guy. It was a close race between Doug and Bobby for best dressed, and perhaps I am a bit biased but I had to give it to Doug because he rocked purple so well. Doug and Crown Talisman made quite the dashing pair, and I can’t wait to watch them do dressage tomorrow.
Bobby Meyerhoff and Dunlavin’s Token. Photo by Jenni Autry.
We also loved the outfit chosen by Bobby Meyerhoff. Bobby made great use of color in his outfit as well (guys, can we thank your respective ladies for the pop of color in the outfits today?), electing to go with a bright pink shirt and a yellow accent in his breast pocket.
Other notables from today included Allison Springer, who also pulled off orange quite well, Jen McFall, and of course Kevin Keane. Kevin looked positively thrilled to be jogging down the strip for the first time, and he got one of the largest cheers from the crowd all day after Butterfly was accepted.
Jen McFall and High Times. Photo by Jenni Autry.
My other favorite moment of the day was Kyle Carter’s reaction to Madison Park’s acceptance on re-inspection. Parker slipped a bit on the concrete prior to jogging the first time, and Kyle’s relief at being accepted was apparent as he gave his horse a huge kiss and hug on the walk back to the barn. This horse’s story is nothing less than incredible, and I am pulling hard for them to have a great run this weekend.
Kyle Carter celebrating Madison Park’s acceptance. Photo by Sally Spickard.
A few horses decided that the jog was not something they cared to participate in, with James Alliston’s Parker being the most notable case. Parker seemed to think that James jumping hurdles over the flower boxes lining the strip would be a much better way to pass the time, but James took it all in stride and Parker was accepted after a re-jog.
Manoir de Carneville threw in a couple of his usual antics, but all in all Tate looked quite well-behaved for Sinead, given the ruckus he has previously caused during jog. Overall, the horses looked fabulously turned out, and the riders’ excitement was contagious. We’re looking forward to the commencement of competition tomorrow. Stay tuned for much more!
Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch and Kim Severson and Fernhill Fearless out for a hack this morning. Photo by Sally Spickard.
It’s a gorgeous day here at Kentucky Horse Park, which hopefully bodes well for the remainder of the weekend. The weather forecast looks like there may be a spot of rain coming our way on Friday, but here’s hoping we’re in for another great weekend of weather for Rolex.
The riders had a competitor’s meeting this morning, and afterward many of them headed out to hack or walk the cross country course for the first time. I chatted with Laine’s mother, Valerie, for a few minutes, who said that the Ashker clan is thrilled to be in Kentucky. I also caught up with Daniel Clasing, who is contesting his second CCI4* here with Houston, who seems to be adept at making monster cross country courses look like a handy hunter round.
Tim Bourke and Luckuan Quality are here contesting their first CCI4* representing Ireland. Obie is an absolute doll and looks quite nonchalant about the fact that he’s one of the two youngest horses at 9 years old about to run around at Rolex.
Tim Bourke and Luckuan Quality. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Tim was kind enough to fill us in on his spring preparation as well as his strategy for this weekend.
Stay tuned for much more from the Bluegrass State!
Derek di Grazia has certainly thought of everything on this year’s Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event cross country course. I was able to get a sneak peek of the course before its official opening to the public at 1 p.m. EST today, so enjoy these preview photos. This course, as usual, will test accuracy, as many questions are quite technical when it comes to holding your line and committing.
Fence 14A
A couple of staple fences are not being used this year, such as the Sunken Road, but there are plenty of updates to keep the course fresh. Fence 14 begins with a nice looking keyhole fence, and there is also plenty to do at the Head of the Lake.
The very interesting fence 16AB, the Angled Brushes.
I am personally quite interested to see how fence 16AB, the Angled Brushes, rides, as looking at them head on makes them appear to be essentially side by side. Fence 15 looks like it will feed the riders right onto the correct line, but lining up the brushes and committing to the striding will definitely be challenging.
We will have much more detailed course commentary coming your way in the next few days, as well as the official Rolex course preview video hosted by EN’s good friend Frankie Thieriot, so stay tuned for much more.
Clark Montgomery and Universe at Badminton in 2012. Photo by Jenni Autry.
The other heralded spring CCI4*, Badminton, is getting ready to go off in just a couple of weeks, and the draw has been posted this morning. Izzy Taylor will kick things off in the dressage with one of her three mounts, which she will need to narrow down to two by competition start. 124 horses were posted on the draw, but this list includes several horses still on the wait list. At the first horse inspection, 85 total entries will be on the list.
Clark Montgomery and his first mount, Universe, will be the 21st horse the judges see on dressage day. Tiana Coudray, who chose to stay and compete at Badminton instead of Rolex, with Ringwood Magister drew number 68, and Clark and Loughan Glen round out the US contingent with number 122.
Lillian Heard and Share Option. Photo by Jenni Autry.
With as much time as Lillian Heard has spent grooming for some of the country’s top riders, it comes as a surprise that this week will be just the second time she has actually set foot in the Kentucky Horse Park. “I’ve worked for pros since I was young, and I was always the one entrusted to stay home and care for the horses when the riders would head off to Rolex,” Lillian said. “When Boyd competed at WEG, Caitlin (Silliman) and I were able to drive down for cross-country day, but that’s the only time I’ve ever been to the horse park. It’s crazy because all of my lesson kids and clients have been there at some point, and I’ve never really been.”
Preparing top notch horses, however, is not foreign to Lillian. After losing her horse, Ariel, in the tragic fire at True Prospect Farm in 2011, Lillian decided to redirect her focus for awhile. “After the fire, I kind of realized that I had an opportunity, if you want to call it that,” Lillian said. “I had met Carol Gee when I was in Europe, and she had offered me a job. At first I thought it was a crazy idea and that there was no way I could move to Ireland, but I decided to take the risk and go for it.” Lillian spent time working in both Ireland and England and got a lot out of her experiences. “I really got to see what it was like to be a professional rider. I was able to tell what unproven horses would likely turn into something great and which ones wouldn’t. I really think it was beneficial to make me into the rider I am today.”
Lillian Heard and Share Option. Photo by Mike McNally.
Share Option was waiting for Lillian when she returned home, and she set right to work preparing the 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding, which she had purchased in 2008 after Ann Taylor showed her the horse, with Rolex in mind. She had actually hoped to get to Kentucky in 2011, but “Whitey” suffered an injury that kept him out of contention. At the time of Whitey’s injury, Lillian was working with Jan Byyny, who told her that, while the injury was heartbreaking, it could be a blessing in disguise. “She told me that it might take some time for him to come back, but that I’ll look back and think about how it was a good thing because it gave us more time to prepare and be the best we could be. I am a much better rider now than I was then, and I think it would have been much harder for him to take care of me then versus now. It really makes me appreciate it that much more; I’m just thankful to have another chance on him.”
Lillian is excited to be testing the waters at the four-star level. “I’m nervous, there’s no question about it, because it’s been so long since I’ve done something new with eventing. It’s an experience I’ve never had before, so that’s exciting.” Lillian also expressed sincere gratitude for all of the support she has had. “Boyd definitely gets Coach of the Year from me; he’s done so much for me and has really put in the time making sure I know everything I need to know.” She trains out of Bascule Farm in Maryland, and the support network she has there is something she is very grateful for. “I would never have made it this far without their support.”
Elisa Wallace's dog, Pocket, is ready to head to Rolex for Fledge and Rune's mustang demo!
Are you ready for Rolex mania? We are too. The chinchillas have been furiously scouring the web for the latest updates from Rolex. We will update the social media posts throughout the day, so be sure to check back for more stalking from Kentucky. Be sure to tag us on Instagram @goeventing, tweet at @eventingnation and post photos to our Facebook page all throughout Rolex.
Jennie Brannigan was one of the PRO riders who visited the Kentucky Children’s Hospital today, a really great way to get involved with the community while visiting the Bluegrass.
Jennifer Mcfall riding High Times at Copper Meadows. Photo by Bill Olson.
Jennifer McFall got her start in the horse industry by growing up on a Morgan farm. While she loved to event, a lot of her time was spent breeding, training, and showing Morgans. It was when Jen acquired High Times, or Billy, that her business began to evolve to focus more on eventing.
Billy was five and just beginning to compete in Young Event Horse classes when Jen found him. Billy’s grandsire, Heraldik, can also be found in the blood of other superstar event horses such as FRH Butts Abraxxas and La Biosthetique Sam, so it’s safe to say that the 2004 Holsteiner gelding was bred to event. “He was the kind of horse I was committed to keeping,” Jen said. “I’ve always had nice horses and ended up selling them, and I just decided that I was going to keep Billy no matter what.”
Jen brought Billy up starting at Novice and eventually moved him up to Advanced in 2013. “He was actually quite frustrating at some levels, and even at Intermediate we were having a few stops, especially at Trakehners,” Jen said. “But we had a lot of support from (coach Hawley Bennett) and our friends and family, so I stuck with it.” Once Billy moved up to Advanced, Jen felt that he really hit his stride and began showing his potential in earnest. “It was never a question of ‘could he do it,'” Jen said. “It was obvious from the beginning that he was scopey and talented enough. I’m not sure that he would have picked up and done this naturally, but he’s really learned to love his job.”
Billy settling in at Kentucky Horse Park.
Billy tends to tense up in the dressage, so Jen is focusing on keeping him as relaxed as possible for the first phase of competition. “He’s kind of dramatic with his temperment and tends to overreact to things. The atmosphere is going to be tough, and I know we’ll have plenty of work to do on Saturday, but I know we’ve had the best possible preparation.”
Jen feels well prepared after campaigning on the West Coast in preparation for her CCI4* debut. Jen and Billy are coming off of a tenth place finish in the CIC3* at Galway Downs and a second place in the Advanced at Copper Meadows. “After riding Ian Stark’s course at Galway, I really felt like we were ready. Ian designs courses that really reward forward riding, and I felt like it was a perfect prep for Rolex,” she said.
Jen gives a lot of props to coach Hawley Bennett for imparting her wisdom. “Hawley has this amazing quality that helps you believe in yourself. She believes in you, so you start to believe in yourself. She makes you feel like you can do anything, and when you start thinking that way your goals get bigger and bigger, and the next thing you know, you’re entered at Rolex.”
At the end of the day, Jen is thankful to have a horse who she has been able to forge such a strong partnership, and she still pinches herself that she is fulfilling a dream she has had for so long. “At this point, I think (Billy) would do anything for me, so I’m lucky. This has been a dream I’ve had for a really long time, and now I’m even able to do it before I’m 40,” she joked. “It’s always crazy to me to be a Morgan trainer turned Rolex rider, but I am proof that you can still do it if you try.”
Allison Springer's Arthur taking in the sights at Kentucky Horse Park. Photo via Allison's Facebook page.
Good morning! In case you haven’t heard, Rolex kicks off tomorrow afternoon with the first horse inspection. Horses and riders are arriving and all seem to be settling in nicely, and Jenni and I will be descending upon the Horse Park today with bells on to bring you the most ridiculous commentary you’ve ever seen from EN. Be sure to keep it locked here, on our Instagram, and on our Twitter and Facebook pages for as much Rolex mania as your heart desires.
The Dressage World Cup Final has concluded in Lyon, France. As we all know, Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro positively cleaned house this weekend. Horsetalk has posted a gallery of photos from the competition this weekend. [World Cup Final Photos]
Columbus State University has formed a new eventing team. The team will operate out of Poplar Place Farm in Georgia. This is great news for the ever-growing Intercollegiate Eventing League, and hopefully is the sign of more teams to form in the near future. [Columbus State Eventing Team]
Dressage rider Andreas Helgstrand is under the microscope after some questionable photos surfaced recently. Epona.tv released some images of Andreas riding Akeem Foldage at an Open House event recently in which the horse’s tongue is blue. A veterinarian was sent to check the health of the horse, and a following press release said that the findings pointed to incorrect use of equipment and/or aids. [Helgstrand Under Fire]
There can never be enough safety tips for trailering your precious cargo. The Horse has published a helpful article with tips on everything from recommended trailer types to how to deal with emergencies on the road. [Trailering Tips]
Cavalor Feed for Thought: Herbal treatments for ulcers. Gastric ulcers are a pesky problem that give many a horse owner headaches. How about herbal treatments for this issue? Cavalor goes more in depth with research on this long-used technique, including details on how ginger, chamomile, and quercetin are highly useful. [Cavalor Feed for Thought]
Tuesday Video Break:
Check in on Jennie Brannigan’s Rolex preparations, thanks to Practical Horseman.
Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice. Photo by Sally Spickard.
