Jessie Phoenix showed her mettle this morning in the CCI*** dressage when just minutes before she was due to perform the first test of the day on her WEG, Burghley and Rolex mount Exponential he went inexplicably lame; she explains what it was all about in our video below, and then went on coolly and calmly to perform one of their best tests ever. Jessie also has Erodium here at Jersey Fresh, and her Pan Am partner Pavarotti. I meant to ask her about Patras VR’s background which is interesting – she originally rode him, I believe, as a stallion to get him ready for testing or showing, and then again when he was for sale I think, and as luck would have it he found her way back into her life as a gelding and they have had a fantastic career so far. I will try and get the full story from her again as I fear I may have got some of the details wrong, but it seems like the organisers were keen to get the party started, and Jessie was anxious to go and walk the course so I didn’t want to keep her much longer.
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Many thanks to Jessie for her time, and congratulations on a good day at the office; wishing her and her team the best of luck this weekend. Go Phoenix Eventing and Team Canada!
We’ve probably become somewhat accustomed to Michael Pollard being near the top of the leaderboard after the first phase and it’s certainly not down to luck – as he explained to me after yet another lovely test on Mensa he works hard on improving every single aspect of the test that he can. We also talked about breeding, and he was very good natured about me going on the offensive as far as OTTBs are as concerned and said he welcomes a good debate, so we may take it even further, but I have to concede he brings up some good points, and he admitted he’s ridden some lovely OTTBs and they do exist, so we’ll call it a truce! As for Chatt Hills next weekend, who could argue that it’s anything but a boon for the US eventing calendar and I can’t wait to get down there and cover it for Eventing Nation and the Eventing Radio Show.
Thank you so much to Michael for his time; it’s always great to see him and his gorgeous wife Natalie, and I look forward to seeing him compete the stallion Halimey next weekend, but in the meantime, best of luck here at Jersey Fresh. Go Pollard Eventing!
Buck Davidson warming up D.A Adirmo before a very nice test in the CCI*** at Jersey Fresh. The ear bonnets were a birthday present from Hawley (Bennet Awad) who has a friend who custom makes them for her – he wore them on Reggie at Rolex and so then thought it might be fortuitous to bring them out again this weekend. Buck actually had his last pre-Saumur ride last weekend, but is making a point of watching his team members compete, and generally fostering good team spirit ahead of the trip to France. I don’t think anyone would argue that he was a large part of why USA brought back the gold medal from Guadalajara at the Pan Ams, and he seems pumped up and positive to represent the USA again. His team mates are Will Faudree who currently leads the CIC*** on Andromaque, Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot who actually did an immaculate test bar one rather ill-timed temper tantrum, very frustrating but rather here than in France, and Marilyn Little on Smoke on The Water who worked beautifully this evening around the arena, and is down to ride in the CIC** tomorrow afternoon. (As a sidenote, Mr Medicott is here as a Non-Compete horse due to Marilyn apparently missing too much time off with her shoulder injury)
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I’m really excited about both our teams for Saumur, and Aachen a little later on this summer. The mood in the US camp is great, we have some terrific horses and riders on really good form, and I like the way everything seems to be gelling together so well, there really does seem to be a good energy at all levels. Go Team USA and Go Eventing!
Jennie Brannigan put a disappointing Kentucky in her rear view mirror and came to Jersey Fresh with a smile, a great support crew as always, and laid down a super dressage test to make her intentions for not only this weekend known, but also more importantly, the Luhmuhlen 4* in a few weeks time. I caught up with her and Jackie Imholte earlier in the day, before Cambalda, or Ping, went out and nailed a 50 in the dressage to take the lead at the break.
Wishing Jennie, Jackie, Cambalda and owners Tim and Nina the best of luck this weekend, and of course in Germany. I hardly need to tell them to enjoy themselves as this crew have a fantastic attitude and whatever happens they’ll make the best of it, but let’s hope things go all their way. Go Team Brannigan and Go Eventing!
Zach Brandt and Cavallino Cocktail who travelled here in illustrious company
Jersey Fresh may not have the numbers that it boasts some years, but quite a few competitors have logged several hundred miles or more to get here; to wit brave U25 competitors Zach Brandt, above, and Mackenna Shea who immediately made their massive road trip worthwhile on the first day by taking the CCI*** lead. I caught up with them both after their tests, as well as Tamie Smith who is here in a coaching capacity.
Thanks so much for chatting, and wishing all the left coasters the very best of luck this weekend, and crossing fingers and toes that the sunshine stays out for us all! Go California Eventing!
It’s always a conundrum to know what to squeeze in between the Rolex Kentucky and Badminton CCI****s, and this year at EN we have the perfect answer – GJM Eventing! Gavin is back with another of his unique and amazing videos to update on his Spring season, and also give us some important fashion tips on how to get that Eventing in March in England look! Gavin, we salute your dedication to the cause, and thank God for so many reasons that the weather has now improved in the UK!
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Gavin is on location at Badminton this weekend so we can look forward to his fashion review and much more to complement Jenni’s slightly more mainstream reporting. Thank you as always Gavin for sharing your wonderful East London perspective with Eventing Nation – Dream on! xxx
Emily Renfroe headed to Kentucky last week with her chestnut mare Walk The Line to be the youngest competitor at her first ever CCI****. You’d imagine she would be nervous, but in fact it may have been her coach Kyle Carter who suffered the most, “He did shed a tear as I left the start box on Saturday!” Jess Montgomery and I spoke to both Kyle and Emily a couple of weeks before the event for our Triple Crown Feeds Mentor Series on the Eventing Radio show, and I caught up with her on a rainy Sunday afternoon after she’d just completed her first Rolex, and asked her how it felt.
A huge congratulations to Emily and Walk the Line, and the whole Carter family who were in attendance to help and support her. We look forward to seeing you again next time out. Thanks for chatting, Emily; thank you for reading, and Go Rolex Kentucky eventing!
Quimbo jumps clear and adds three time penalties to seal the deal, winning Andrew his first Rolex Kentucky title
William Fox-Pitt and Seacookie rose to 2nd place with a double clear despite William breaking a finger on his left hand in the process, and finished on their dressage score.
Andrew couldn’t quite pull off the 1-2 a la Mary King, but finished third on Calico Joe; he said that jumping the last on him with three down he was as pleased and proud of him as jumping the last on Quimbo, freely admitting that Calico Joe “is no show-jumper!”
Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM slipped to 4th place with two rails down
Lynn Symansky and Donner move up to fifth place with a splendid clear, AND won best turned out at the Final Horse Inspection AND she and William are the only pair to finish on their dressage score.
Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo cantered around Derek Di Grazia’s four star track at the Kentucky Horse Park and hardly seemed to break a sweat. It’s almost scary how easy he’s made it look on both his horses.
Buck Davidson rode Ballynoe Castle RM around inside the time, his second double clear of the day and now moves into third place behind Andrew’s two rides. As the US Rider closest to the optimum time (on Mar De Amor, lying 8th) he also wins a two year lease on a Range Rover courtesy of Land Rover. Funnily enough he told us he’d been eyeing them up earlier in the season and his girlfriend, Andrea had nixed the idea, “You need another car like you need a hole in the head!”
Jonelle Richards and The Deputy move into 7th place after a solid clear with just a couple of time faults.
Along with Buck, James also piloted three horses around the course clear today, and Tivoli moves into ninth place
Megan O’Donoghue and Pirate looked seriously impressive – and look at the smile on Megan’s face! Pirate galloped so easily and was leaving feet over each fence, just pinging over them, I got total goosebumps watching them go round.
Andrew Nicholson and Calico Joe jumped clear and fast which means he can do no worse than a second place overnight; he’s our current leader at Saturday lunchtime but we have William Fox Pitt to come again on the dressage winner Chilli Morning, and Andrew has a chance to see if he can best himself on Quimbo currently lying second. There were some super rounds – we have come to expect greatness from William and Andrew, and I’m looking forward to watching some Mary King magic after lunch, but we also saw some of our first timers rise to the occasion and look really impressive.
Our EN friend, Daniel Clasing rode Houston beautifully to finish clear inside the time
Kristin Schmolze is no stranger to Rolex but her stunning horse Ballylaffin Bracken is having his first crack at it and looked fantastic – what an exciting prospect for her.
Likewise Donner who made his first attempt look like the proverbial walk in the park. Despite riding with a splint on her hand, “the claw!”, they cruised round and although she was a bit slow picking up the knitting after this enormous jump in, (she said at The Fork that that would be her main concern) Donner is so bold, honest and genuine that he just locked onto the Goose coming out and never looked for a second as if he would do anything else. Donner embodies everything I adore about OTTBs and I was absolutely delighted to see him go so well.
The very first horse I saw on arrival at the Kentucky Horse Park was none other than the current leader Chilli Morning, looking very cool, calm and collected (does that sound like his rider too?) and out for a stroll with super groom Alex Van Tuyll. Of course his golf cart was following faithfully behind too – the entourage! Could this be a lucky omen? I certainly hope so. It is cross country day here at Rolex Kentucky and EN is wishing for safe rides for everybody. Go Chilli Morning and William Fox-Pitt, and Go Eventing!
Before we wave goodbye the dressage phase of Rolex 2013 and usher in an exciting day of cross country I wanted to share some of the pictures I took, mostly from the warm-up arena.
William Fox-Pitt’s test on Chilli Morning was stupendous. As William remarked later Chilli has incredible presence but it’s coupled with very correct work, a calm confidence and of course the trademark Fox Pitt stamp of excellence. Chilli is so relaxed, I watched him work in – gorgeous, but I’ve also seen him hacking out and being walked in hand and he appears to be a model citizen, rare enough in any horse let alone a four star fit stallion. Jenni remarked yesterday that he should he win this weekend he will be the first stallion to win the official Rolex CCI4*, and we now think he may be in fact the first stallion to ever win any four star at all should that happen. (Note: Darren Chiacchia rode the Holekamp’s Trakehner stallion Windfall to victory in the 2004 “Modified Format” Rolex…the first short-format event, which ran alongside the official traditional-format CCI4*).
Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo, 2nd after dressage
Look at our gal Allie, hanging with the big boys! So incredibly proud of her, and crossing everything for a wonderful ride for her today.
The always incredibly popular Mary King is in 5th place currently with Fernhill Urco
Marilyn Little rode through what must have been shocking pain from her separated shoulder, and shares 5th place with Mary
Becky Holder and Can’t Fire Me, who looked so good on this cross country course last year, are handily placed in 7th.
However, if there’s a prize for best turned out and ‘Teddy’ doesn’t win it that’s daylight robbery!
The answer is indeed Tim and Nina Gardner’s Cambalda – Ping in the stable. Pictured above with rider Jennie Brannigan we wish Ping a speedy recovery and with tremendous admiration and respect for the way she’s handled everything this week, we look forward to seeing Jennie back again soon. Caroline Andrews was the first person to answer correctly who wasn’t annonymous, so Caroline, please email me your address ([email protected]) and I’ll make sure the chinchillas reward you greatly! Thanks for all the answers and please enter the next quiz, coming along later today. Go Rolex Kentucky and Go Eventing!
With William leading after dressage on Chilli Morning, and Andrew Nicholson occupying 2nd and 3rd places, it only seemed right to bring up our local hero, Georgetown gal Allie Knowles who blew us all away earlier today on her lovely mare Last Call to score 43.3 and lie in 4th place. Girl Power! Allie is a very impressive young woman. If you’ve been following her via our training diaries here on EN, you’ll remember how grounded she is, hardworking and of course, quite a decent jockey! However, today is the first time I’ve seen her betray any nerves, and it wasn’t in the arena, it was when she was standing next to Mary King, (“I can’t believe how close I am to my all-time idol!”) and then again later sitting in between William and Andrew and trying to answer questions about herself and her horse with her voice shaking! We also just found out that Last Call has had a foal before she was imported, a very successful jumper born in 2003, Le Petit Prince; Allie told me she’d always had an idea that “Fergie” might have had a baby because she’s registered as a broodmare, and now we know!
William talked about his decision to bring Chilli Morning here to Kentucky rather than Badminton, and of course about that fabulous dressage, once again paying credit to Chilli’s former rider Nick Gauntlett, but also explaining that he’s worked very hard with Team GB Trainer Tracie Robinson over the winter.
Andrew told us his thoughts on the course, and also spoke about how pleased he was with Quimbo’s first effort at this level in the dressage. All three riders are graduates of their respective pony clubs in three different countries, and when I asked Allie afterwards what advice she might have for Pony Club girls who’ll now want to emulate her, she said, “Just keep trying. Try again and again, don’t give up!”
Congratulations to the top 3, and all the other riders also. EN wishes them all safe rides on Saturday, and we look forward to lots more exciting things to come on Eventing Nation. Thanks for visiting us, come and see us at our tailgate party if you’re in the Park, otherwise we’ll be making it feel as if you’re here with us via lots of action on the site. Go the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event and Go Eventing!
We first spoke to Daniel at The Fork where he told us that he’d had Houston since he was a foal, and since then who could fail but to have a soft spot for them both! After good runs at Southern Pines in the Advanced and at The Fork in the CIC***, he and Houston are well-prepared to tackle their first CCI**** together. I caught up with him after his dressage on Thursday and asked him how he was feeling, “It’s the end of a long journey to get here, and it’s obviously really exciting. In my riding I try not to think about the magnitude of it all too much, the more you think about anything except the movements the more distracted you’re going to end up being so I’ve been trying to focus really hard on riding the test like any other test. I thought we did a pretty good job in the dressage, I felt like we could have got a few more points but I feel like I kept my focus in the ring. When I walked down the chute and into the main arena I did feel slightly awed for a second, but then I told myself to snap out of it and go and do my job!” Daniel kindly agreed to have a look at the first water complex with us, the HSBC Water Park at 7a,b and c;
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Many thanks to Daniel for his time and wishing him the best of luck on Saturday. Go Daniel and Houston, and Go Rolex Kentucky Three Day Eventing!
Allie Knowles kept a remarkable cool as she entered the Main Arena here at the Kentucky Horse Park and rode Last Call, both of them competing in their first CCI**** to perfection. With a massive entourage of friends and supporters, and I imagine an ever-increasing amount of fans she handles the pressure with maturity and poise, the only time I’ve ever seen her close to nervous was after Mary King’s test – Mary is her absolute idol she shared with me, and just standing so close to her was making her shake! Luckily she showed no such sign in the main ring and now sits very handily in the top 3 at lunch time on the second day, sandwiched between legends Andrew Nicholson and Mary King — way to represent, Allie and we like the company you keep!
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Massive congratulations to Allie and her entire team – looking forward to seeing you rock it out on course Saturday. Go AK Eventing and Go Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event.
Since I last spoke to Team GB Performance Director Will Connell quite a lot has happened in his life! He has kept himself busy winning all manner of medals at the last Olympics, the 2012 London Games – gold medal show-jumping, gold medals dressage, silver medal Eventing…. so he hasn’t made a trip out to the Kentucky Horse Park in a while. I was delighted to catch up with him before William Fox-Pitt’s dressage to talk about whether he has taken a day off , or even had a moment to savour his success, and what does one do next?
Many thanks to Will for his time, and looking forward to seeing Team GB crush the opposition in Rio! Go Team GB and Go Eventing!
Although Boyd may be the front man of Windurra USA, the whole operation would collapse without three very special women – his wife, Silva, a Grand Prix Dressage rider, Caitlin Silliman their assistant trainer and rider, and of course Barn Manager Lyndsey Taylor. Apologies to Lyndsey for not featuring her here, but we do expect to be able announce something exciting concerning an association between her and Eventing Nation next week. I caught up with Silva and Caitlin after the First Horse Inspection to find out how they’re coping.
**note: due to high traffic volume, we are limiting the videos embedded on the site. Please click on the link above to view. Sorry for the inconvenience!**
Thank you so much to Caitlin and Silva for chatting and wishing them the very best of luck this weekend. We’ll be checking in with them throughout the competition. Go Windurra USA and Go Rolex Three Day Eventing.
In my opinion Jan Byyny was definitely one of the best dressed ladies at the First Horse Inspection this afternoon. I simply can’t pick out one person because there were so many good looking combinations strutting their stuff despite the rapidly dropping temps and bone-chilling wind.
Jessie Phoenix and Exponential
Catch A Star, Caitlin Silliman and her mother
Emily Renfroe nails it at her first four star
Lynn Symansky (check out those shoes!)
and her horse, Donner!
Allie Knowles and Last Call
Erin Sylvester and no Boundaries
Hawley Bennet-Awad
Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda
Kendal Lehari and Daily Edition
Marilyn Little – extra points for the awesome shoes, detail below, and for gritting her teeth and jogging up RF Demeter herself despite the separated shoulder.
Valentino, baby!
Shandiss McDonald
Shandiss’ horse Rockfield Grant Juan with freelance groom for the weekend Sandra
Pirate and Megan O’Donoghue
Jonelle Richards and The Deputy
Katie Ruppel, winner of the Dubarry Best Dressed Award, Fillies Edition
Winner of the Dubarry Best Dressed Colt Edition – Boyd Martin!
Andrew Nicholson
You can take the boys out of Australia but….! Boyd Martin and Clayton Fredericks
Buck Davidson rocking his trademark lucky red socks with yellow polka dots
Daniel Clasing and Houston
Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Eagle
It’s a family affair – John Alliston leading his son James’ Jumbo’s Jake
Mike Alliston leads Parker for his brother James
Peter Atkins and HJ Hampton
Ringwood Mississippi with Austin O’Connor and the crew!
The look of love! Will Faudree carries off the French Detective style with Pawlow.
William Fox-Pitt
Yogi Breisner with Chilli Morning and Seacookie
Yogi Breisner and Chilli Morning
Massive props to all the grooms who turned out every single horse immaculately, and full marks to the riders for looking so poised and glamorous, even in the freezing conditions.
Commiserations to Emily Beshear and all her connections; I spoke briefly to her husband Jeff who told me they had decided to err on the side of caution and that ‘Quincy’ will be absolutely fine. Meanwhile, Emily’s lovely grey horse River King will do the CIC*** at Jersey and then the CCI*** at Bromont. They hadn’t got as far as deciding future plans for Here’s To You yet. It was also nice to bump into Will Coleman and Holden and say hello before they went out to walk the course – Will will be signing autographs in the Cavalor booth this weekend.
I wish I could have got photos of everyone – not pictured but definitely deserving of mentions – Mary King, naturally stylish and sponsored by Joules = always looks good and Becky Holder – flawless, her outfit was perfect and Can’t Fire Me looked amazing too.
Dressage starts Thursday morning at 10 o clock, and Reese Koeffler-Stanfield will perform the test ride at 9:30. We’ll be all ove r the Kentucky Horse Park tomorrow – the cross country, the barns, the live blogging of the dressage, hopefully some tradestands….Thanks for visiting Eventing Nation and Go Rolex Kentucky Three Day Eventing!
Erin Sylvester and No Boundaries smiling through the rain, although shortly after I took this photo it started to absolutely bucket down, and then came the thunder, and after that came the lightning. At that point it was almost time for the Rider Meeting so I called it quits and ran for cover!
Before that however I saw Buck Davidson working Mar De Amor with David O’Connor and looking very impressive – flawless changes, forward-going, relaxed – if he can pull that off in the ring – Look out!
Love Tivoli’s browband. I haven’t seen this horse since Galway Downs at the end of 2011; he’s improved tremendously and I liked him then! James is one of the most modest riders on the circuit, he’s always polite, chats, is helpful, thinks of everyone around him and takes excellent care of his horses, almost single-handedly (shout out to non-horsey brother Mike who’s helping this weekend!). His whole family are wonderful too and once again have flown over to support him, and they’ve adopted hosted many US riders when they stay in England. I’m really hoping for a good Rolex for James, especially as he’s now independent and running his own business in California, which he told me he’s enjoying tremendously. You can follow his adventures via his blog for EN.
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There may or may not be a board in the US ‘command central’ with simply the words “Beat Fox-Pitt/Nicholson” but if there was such a board then surely Mary King’s name would also be on it? Fernhill Urco returns to the Kentucky Horse Park two years after finishing 2nd here to Mary’s other ride two years ago – would you really want to bet money against this combination?
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Stanley – taking cover while watching Kristi on Rosie!
By the time poor Kristi Nunnink came down to work R-Star with David it was absolutely tipping down, and once the storm warnings started blaring they called it a day, and rescheduled for later.
Colleen plaiting Kilrodan Abbot ready for the Trot-Up this afternoon, while poor Dragon quakes in the corner of the stall, terrified of the storm – an older greyhound that Peter adopted- she was literally shaking!
A shout out to all the grooms who are working hard to prepare the horses for the First Inspection at 3pm in frankly, pretty horrible conditions – torrential rain and falling temps, sounds horribly familiar! However, although the forecast isn’t for warmer weather, it is supposed to dry out so we’ll be back a little bit later with all the action from the Jog (US lingo!). Thanks for visiting Eventing Nation and Go Rolex Three Day Eventing!
Ringwood Mississippi might be the dark horse, literally, in the isolation block, and as Austin O’Connor moved to England only shortly before I left for the States I was keen to find out a little bit more about him too.
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Many thanks to Austin for his time, and wishing him and owner Kate Jarvey the very best of luck this weekend, and lots of fun too so that they make Rolex Kentucky a regular habit! Go the Brits and Irish abroad, and Go Rolex Kentucky Three Day Eventing!
Tuesday at the Kentucky Horse Park saw sunny skies for most of the day, and lots of hacking and flatwork from the assembled competitors. I saw Buck ride Reggie down by the main arena where they looked very nice, and earlier watched him ride Mar De Amor up by the stabling.
Mar De Amor is a LOT of horse but Buck rides handles him like a little sports car, making it look easy.
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Becky Holder’s Can’t Fire Me looked super; Becky was being brave and asking for plenty in the trot and canter extensions, and Teddy delivered.
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Kristi Nunnink rode with David O’Connor early Tuesday morning and R-Star is looking really good; in the background of her lesson you can see Max Corcoran grazing Master Rose, and Becky Holder grazing Teddy. Boyd rode Trading Aces with his wife Silva in the afternoon while David looked on.
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Michael Barisone also arrived in the afternoon and helped Phillip Dutton (above on Fernhill Eagle) with both his horses.
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The Canadians are here! Jessie Phoenix worked Exponential with coach Clayton Fredericks, as did Shandiss McDonald and Rockfield Grant Juan (stunning!) Shandiss told me afterwards that this is her first trip to Rolex, although she did come to the WEG here in 2010, but she has never ridden in any competition at the Kentucky Horse Park before. Conversely, I chatted briefly to Erin Sylvester (13th here last year) and she is adamant that No Boundaries remembers exactly where he is; she told me he got nervous going up to the main arena and kept staring out towards the cross country.
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Seacookie heading out for a hack with William Fox-Pitt
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William’s groom for Rolex 2013, the super-experienced and lovely Alex Van Tuyll – she said she’s thrilled to see Max Corcoran again (Max is freelancing this week for Ecaudor’s Ronald Zabala-Goetschel but gutted not to see Will Faudree’s groom Nat V-C, “I know she’s not traveling to competitions anymore but I thought if I was coming then she HAD to come!”).
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Last year Hawley Bennet-Awad’s hair was streaked with red to represent Canada, and Hawley told me it’s blue this year because her colours are blue and white, but I think she’s trying to earn extra Kentucky (Wildcat) points and must be a closet UK fan!
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Hawley joined fellow Olympians and Rolex competitors Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton, and double World Champion Reiner Lyndsey Jordan to visit at the University of Kentucky Childrens’ Hospital. The hospital is one of the charities that benefits from Rolex each year, and this is the second consecutive year that a group of riders have spent some time with the kids there. Bonte, 10, above, seemed to especially enjoy the company, particularly Boyd, asking him “What? Are you like Crocodile Dundee or something?!” as soon as Boyd said hello! He then showed Boyd his scar and seemed surprised and slightly disappointed when Boyd remarked on how cool it was, “I can’t scare him at all!” At the end of his visit he chose to pose with Hawley and Lyndsey alone, and when Boyd teased him, “Don’t show that picture to your girlfriend!” he quipped right back, “Which one?!”
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Hawley was a total natural and afterwards said she really enjoyed her time there, while Lyndsey has plenty of practice with children as she teaches Riding for the Handicapped.
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Back at the Kentucky Horse Park it was all business. Andrew Nicholson’s groom Arthur, above with Quimbo, watched Andrew ride on the flat, occasionally offering his opinion when Andrew asked how a certain movement was looking.
When Andrew was finished riding I asked him to explain the family tree; Quimbo and Qwanza were both bred by Ramon Beca’s sister, Ana, and may be related to Ramon’s Armada and Nereo (also brothers), “If you traced the mothers back they probably would be, because Nereo’s mother originally came from Ramon’s father – he was a big breeder and when he died he left the breeding stock to his daughter Ana. I would think Nereo’s mother would go back to Quimbo’s mothers but probably three or four generations ago. Quimbo’s father is German, Lacros, a Grand Prix jumper and the mother is by a horse called, she might be by Florian, he was a thoroughbred.” Andrew has had both Quimbo and Qwanza since they were three years old, and when I asked him how long it took him to assess how good a horse might be in the future, he answered without hesitation, “Five minutes. As three year olds – one minute! Put it this way, when Quimbo was three I bought him and Qwanza, they were the only two I bought. Ramon had asked me to go and look at some young horses Ana had bred for show-jumping that she couldn’t sell them so I looked at half a dozen, and brought this one (Quimbo) and Qwanza.” Qwanza was seventh here in the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** last year. Andrew shared that he has since gone back and bought more, “I’ve got a bunch of them now, and they’re all related and quite similar. It’s a good breed.”
Perhaps Andrew’s best horse currently, Nereo’s father is a racehorse who raced in Spain and his mother is “English/Irish/French/American….” Nereo’s full brother Armada will be first out on the course next weekend at the Badminton Horse Trials CCI**** with Oliver Townend, after Andrew recommended him as a jockey to owner Paul Ridgeon, “It’s all good publicity; it was my suggestion that Oliver take the ride on the horse, and if it goes well people might buy me horses!” The combination looked very impressive last year, notching up an 8th place at Luhmuhlen CCI**** in the Spring, and then coming back to be 4th at Burghley CCI**** in September, and I had to ask Andrew if he was now worried that he might have helped his competition out a little too effectively, which he completely denied, “The whole idea is it goes well for them; if he beats me he beats me. The owner is still going to have horses with me. I think a lot of people get upset if they lose a ride but although Armada had been very good, I’ve got horses like Nereo, Avebury, Mr Cruise Control all coming along so Armada had become surplus to requirements and I suggested they try Oli.”
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Quimbo working on the flat.
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The riders briefing is Wednesday morning at 1o o clock, and the First Horse Inspection is at 3pm. Last I heard the weather forecast was for heavy rain until about 1pm, and then much cooler here in Kentucky. The rain will do the footing good, but may spoil some of the outfits if it doesn’t clear up on time. Much more on the ‘jog’, and general Rolex coverage to come on Eventing Nation over the next few days; thanks for visiting and Go Eventing!
