Kate Hick’s son Graham watches his mother ride Belmont on the flat.
It was very hot and sunny wednesday in North Carolina, and while no-one was complaining, most of us were perhaps caught unawares by the intense heat this early in the season; in the middle of the afternoon the temperature in my car read well into the nineties. The staff in the office were slammed with requests for shavings, stabling, parking, and all the usual headaches but couldn’t have been more helpful or cheerful while they dealt with one sweaty rider after another!
I managed to watch some of the training sessions even though I couldn’t hear any of them. Here’s Doug on Running Order who looked great. I also saw the tail end of Jan Byyny riding Inmidair from a distance.
Both lovely horses, and riders, and both could not be more different in physique and style.
Courageous Comet came and watched his stable mate Can’t Fire Me work with Becky Holder. Interestingly after her lesson with Mark, Becky brought Can’t Fire Me (and Courageous Comet came too!) over to the schooling arena and rode for another five or ten minutes on her own, doing lots of very forward trot to canter transitions and canter work, even though it was probably the hottest time of the day. Can’t Fire Me looks in great shape though, and I was sorry not to see Comet go, but doesn’t he look a picture?
Amy Ruth Borun rides Santa’s Playboy in the CIC***, and was preparing for a Friday morning dressage
Jess Phoenix and her Canadian OTTB superhorse Exponential
Jordan Litter rides Dolce & Gabanna in the Prelim Division
Katie Ruppel and Houdini
Anthony Patch at the end of his workout with Laine Ashker
Liza Horan rides Obama in the intermediate
Boyd rode Otis Barbotierre while Silva gave him expert advice via an earpiece. I stood close by and listened for a while and decided I would definitely like to take lessons from her too – she was much more gentle than I’d expected (less germanic?!) but still insistent, very tactful and sensitive and of course missed nothing. I imagine the only thing harder than the husband/wife teaching dynamic might be the mother/daughter one, but I certainly don’t intend to find out – I’ll send Lily to Silva for lessons, and come and watch! I did ask Silva if she was tempted to event now after our April Fools Joke, and she laughed and said not at all, especially not this weekend; when I told her that Neville would look after her she looked at me as if I was quite loopy and said Neville would bolt with her! I think Boyd is safe with his ride for a while, and many thanks again to Silva for being such a good sport! While Silva stayed cool and calm, and of course looks gorgeous at all times, Otis was a little bit on the muscle but looks super fit and probably just needed today to settle down. This afternoon the combination of the clay pigeon shooting in the woods next door (constant gunfire) and then the roar of fighter jets overhead was unnerving for some riders, let alone their horses and I think there were several competitors who might have been relieved they got here a day early to acclimatise.
Our gracious hosts, sort of! Rebecca Howard is based here and runs the barn for Jim and Bernadette Cogdell. She’s riding Riddle Master, aka Rupert in the CIC*** and told me it’s almost harder for him doing an event at home because suddenly things appear that weren’t there the day before, but he’s competed at The Fork every year since prelim level so she said it’s getting easier for him! Many, many thanks to the Cogdells, to Rebecca and her staff, and especially to all the volunteers who have already put in so many hours work, and have a long weekend ahead of them. Thank you, and Go Eventing!
This is one of the best posts I’ve been able to put on Eventing Nation, and I’ve been lucky enough to share some wonderful stories over the last couple of years. Caitlin Silliman lived in the apartment at True Prospect Farm when the barn burned down almost a year ago. Although she and her flatmate Ryan lost everything they owned, they were lucky to survive. The tragedy has been well-documented, but now we can start to follow Caitlin and her horse Catch a Star, stable name Hoku, as they compete at the highest level again, defying the vets who told Caitlin it was unlikely she would ever be able to ride her mare again – sound familiar?! This weekend Caitlin and Hoku will compete in the Advanced division at The Fork, and Caitlin kindly introduced me to Hoku before the competition started.
Hoku is a Holsteiner cross – she is eleven years old and was actually bred in California by the same breeders as Hawley Bennet-Awad’s Gin’N’Juice, Terry and Linda Paine. Caitlin is taking it one event at a time, but is tentatively thinking about the CIC at Bromont as a goal this season. Wishing Caitlin the very best of luck! Go Caitlin and Hoku, and Go Eventing!
Welcome to the 2012 edition of The Fork CIC*** Cross country, designed by Captain Mark Phillips, and built by Travers Schick. Although this year’s course follows roughly the same path as last year, there are some changes, although a few of the combinations are identical, especially at the beginning. The footing, as of wednesday, is wonderful, and the presentation and attention to detail outstanding. I caught up with Travers at the end of the day for a few words,
and here are some photos of the course.
2 and 3: Much the same as last year
Last year I think these were narrow, or at least a table to a skinny
5a and b: Looks the same as last year
This replaces the big ditch and brush at 6
This has been moved forward from last year to fence 7, then the course swings left handed across the road, and instead of going straight into the first water, there are two massive offset tables first at 8a and b,
before riders have to negotiate a switchback to the water at 9a and b
This ditch and brush in turn replaces the trakhener that used to be here at 10, after crossing back over the road, and heading towards the turtle pond at 11
Kate Hick’s son Graham watches his mother ride Belmont on the flat.
It was very hot and sunny wednesday in North Carolina, and while no-one was complaining, most of us were perhaps caught unawares by the intense heat this early in the season; in the middle of the afternoon the temperature in my car read well into the nineties. The staff in the office were slammed with requests for shavings, stabling, parking, and all the usual headaches but couldn’t have been more helpful or cheerful while they dealt with one sweaty rider after another!
I managed to watch some of the training sessions even though I couldn’t hear any of them. Here’s Doug on Running Order who looked great. I also saw the tail end of Jan Byyny riding Inmidair from a distance.
Both lovely horses, and riders, and both could not be more different in physique and style.
Courageous Comet came and watched his stable mate Can’t Fire Me work with Becky Holder. Interestingly after her lesson with Mark, Becky brought Can’t Fire Me (and Courageous Comet came too!) over to the schooling arena and rode for another five or ten minutes on her own, doing lots of very forward trot to canter transitions and canter work, even though it was probably the hottest time of the day. Can’t Fire Me looks in great shape though, and I was sorry not to see Comet go, but doesn’t he look a picture?
Amy Ruth Borun rides Santa’s Playboy in the CIC***, and was preparing for a friday morning dressage
Jess Phoenix and her Canadian OTTB superhorse Exponential
Jordan Litter rides Dolce & Gabanna in the Prelim Division
Katie Ruppel and Houdini
Anthony Patch at the end of his workout with Laine Ashker
Liza Horan rides Obama in the intermediate
Boyd rode Otis Barbotierre while Silva gave him expert advice via an earpiece. I stood close by and listened for a while and decided I would definitely like to take lessons from her too – she was much more gentle than I’d expected (less germanic?!) but still insistent, very tactful and sensitive and of course missed nothing. I imagine the only thing harder than the husband/wife teaching dynamic might be the mother/daughter one, but I certainly don’t intend to find out – I’ll send Lily to Silva for lessons, and come and watch! I did ask Silva if she was tempted to event now after our April Fools Joke, and she laughed and said not at all, especially not this weekend; when I told her that Neville would look after her she looked at me as if I was quite loopy and said Neville would bolt with her! I think Boyd is safe with his ride for a while, and many thanks again to Silva for being such a good sport! While Silva stayed cool and calm, and of course looks gorgeous at all times, Otis was a little bit on the muscle but looks super fit and probably just needed today to settle down. This afternoon the combination of the clay pigeon shooting in the woods next door (constant gunfire) and then the roar of fighter jets overhead was unnerving for some riders, let alone their horses and I think there were several competitors who might have been relieved they got here a day early to acclimatise.
Our gracious hosts, sort of! Rebecca Howard is based here and runs the barn for Jim and Bernadette Cogdell. She’s riding Riddle Master, aka Rupert in the CIC*** and told me it’s almost harder for him doing an event at home because suddenly things appear that weren’t there the day before, but he’s competed at The Fork every year since prelim level so she said it’s getting easier for him! Many, many thanks to the Cogdells, to Rebecca and her staff, and especially to all the volunteers who have already put in so many hours work, and have a long weekend ahead of them. Thank you, and Go Eventing!
Welcome to the 2012 edition of The Fork CIC*** Cross country, designed by Captain Mark Phillips, and built by Travers Schick. Although this year’s course follows roughly the same path as last year, there are some changes, although a few of the combinations are identical, especially at the beginning. The footing, as of wednesday, is wonderful, and the presentation and attention to detail outstanding. I caught up with Travers at the end of the day for a few words,
and here are some photos of the course.
2 and 3: Much the same as last year
Last year I think these were narrow, or at least a table to a skinny
5a and b: Looks the same as last year
This replaces the big ditch and brush at 6
This has been moved forward from last year to fence 7, then the course swings left handed across the road, and instead of going straight into the first water, there are two massive offset tables first at 8a and b,
before riders have to negotiate a switchback to the water at 9a and b
This ditch and brush in turn replaces the trakhener that used to be here at 10, after crossing back over the road, and heading towards the turtle pond at 11
A straight gallop to the edge of the property, before turning left, crossing the same road and rising gently to fence 12, the same as last year,
The sunken road, at 13, also looks very similar, if not exactly the same
The oxer at the first part of 14 is the same, but there’s an imposing corner at B, and the skinny that was the B element last year, has now been moved to C on a curving line, making it a much more complicated question altogether.
The horses then gallop back down the lane to the same hay feeder as last year at 15,
and then swing right-handed up the hill.
I’m pretty sure 16, 17a and b, and 18 are much the same as last year
and actually the brush coming back down the hill towards the water complex looks very familiar, perhaps tweaked a tiny bit, but very familiar!
Like last year, the CCI*** competitors don’t actually go into the water on their way home, but instead, hopefully, jump the two corners with the water complex on their left and the V.I.P tents o their right.
Then, back across the road for a final time and two plain fences before galloping through the finish flags.
The CIC*** is stacked, as are both advanced sections and I’ll be interested to talk to some of the riders over the next few days and get their thoughts as to why they decided to enter each division. There’s also a CIC**, two intermediate divisions, four preliminary divisions, and two trainings – phew! I’m excited to see everyone go, but especially some of the combinations I haven’t yet seen this season. My only concern will be how to see everything, if only I had eyes in the back of my head like my mother used to tell me she had! Lots more to come from The Fork, thanks for being a part of Eventing Nation and Go Eventing!
Jay on Brer Fox (All pictures of Jay used with his kind permission)
Whether you lean towards eventing, show-jumping, dressage, or planking (!), or if you just like twitter to entertain you, @JayTigerHalim should be the very next person you follow if you don’t already. Jay has competed to Grand Prix level in show-jumping, and three star level in eventing, both successfully, and is himself still undecided as to how he would pigeonhole himself if forced to, “I’m on the fence, but eventing probably. At this moment though, as long as I could be successful and have a string of horses I’d be happy in either discipline.” The Tiger in his tweets comes from best dressage friend Laura Bechtolsheimer who teased him one day, “Hello Tiger!”, and it became ‘a thing’ and is now”probably here to stay for a while”.
Jay’s History
An Essex boy, Jay grew up with completely non-horsey parents and frequented the local riding school, cleaning tack and mucking out in exchange for lessons,
“Right from a young age I’ve always been able to get on any horse and get a tune out of it because I’ve had to, and it progressed from there. My parents did their absolute best, my mum got an evening job stacking shelves, but as you know with horses it’s never enough. I did jumping because I thought eventing was for people who weren’t talented enough to show-jump, which is slightly ironic!”
His parents, although of course proud of their son, are still none the wiser as to exactly what he does, “My parents are proud of me, but they don’t really understand what it’s all about. They wouldn’t know one end of a horse from another, the first event they ever came to was Blenheim, and they were most impressed by how good the shops were! They didn’t really comprehend why I had to go and walk the course, or go to a rider briefing, or why I couldn’t spend much time with them. The next event they came to I was doing novice at Goring Heath, and they were very disappointed by the tradestands in comparison! I think they expected it to be like Blenheim every week, and that was the last event they came to!”
Now his talent for producing horses is something of a blessing and a curse as it enables him to make a living doing what he loves, but circumstances have also dictated that horses that he perhaps could have kept and might have made his riding career instead had to be sold, “One thing I’ve learnt with horses is that generally your first offer is normally your best offer so I try and stick to that. For someone so young I’ve been lucky enough to have some quite nice horses through my yard. I produced Kilfinnie, and he was an amazing horse, he should have been five star! It took me such a long time to get over losing the ride on him. I literally felt like somebody had ripped my heart out of my chest, he was my everything, he was everything to me and I loved him so much.”
Before running his own yard, Jay worked for show-jumpers Graham and Tina Fletcher, so when he spotted Hello Sailor who went on to represent Great Britain in show-jumping, he didn’t think twice before calling Tina, “I rang Tina and told her I’d got a horse that was better than anything we’d ever had in the five years I was based there, he’s phenomenal, he’s unreal,and that’s how it happened really; I went and saw Sailor in a local dealing yard and I just knew he was unbelievable. You could tell straightaway how amazing he was. I only did a few shows with him because I was eventing and I’d bought him on behalf of a client. I’ve sold a few others too. When I was at Graham and Tina’s I produced a grey horse that David O’Connor bought, Walk to the Moon, and a chestnut horse I backed and started that Phillip Dutton bought.”
Jay also recently sold Brer Fox to Ronald Zabala-Goestchel, 6th in the CIC*** at Poplar Place in February together.
Jay’s Philosophy
For a young man, (he’ll turn 30 this year) Jay is incredibly strict about the management of his horses, adamantly so which may have hurt him professionally but you have to admire his principles, “Everything I do with my owners is because I want the horse to be at it’s best, and I’m quite strong in my belief in the way that I want to manage the horses. I’ve ridden a lot of naughty horses, and I’ve had to get on and be quite tough with them, and I’m now completely the opposite because I’ve learnt the lesson that generally if they can’t or won’t do something it’s because they’re not right. Now in my management I’d like to say that I’m so ultra-fussy with soundness, because I do believe that if a horse is sound and pain-free it will do as required if it has the ability to do so. I think the British are maybe getting a little bit behind with their management in regards to soundness, and hence why most of them don’t do a very good test, but quite a lot of people still at the top end of the sport are a little bit backwards when it comes to medication and so on. It’s like any other top athlete, they would have the best physio, the best doctor, the best of everything and I think that’s the way you’ve got to go with the horses now.”
Jay jumping in the Grand Prix at Hickstead
Jay’s Training
Jay is equally strict with himself; he relies on technology, and a little help to constantly monitor his jumping technique, “I video most things I do. We have the Ipad so if I’m lucky enough to have a groom that day I’ll get the groom or even the collecting ring steward to video me. I do a lot of self-analysis. I’m really critical and I know that I have weaknesses in my riding, and on a daily basis I’m trying to improve them. Apart from the jumpers doing less gallops, I work my event horses and my jumpers just the same – the jumpers do a little interval training, one of my little jumpers can do a line of fours, threes and twos (tempi changes), I can ride canter pirouettes with him, I can do a half-pass for an 8 on him, I spend a lot of time working my jumping boys on the flat, I do a lot of riding round the farm and hacking. It’s really interesting, the fitter I’ve got my best jumping horse the better he’s jumping.” and Jay trains on the flat with his partner, Grand Prix Dressage rider Spencer Wilton, “Spencer helps me on the flat, he’s amazing, he would be one of my biggest inspirations with the riding and the horses. He’s so incredibly talented, of all the disciplines of riders that I’ve been lucky enough to be around or work with or see in the collecting rings, he is an amazing horseman. His approach to management of the horses, the way he produces them, he’s a huge part of my life and it does help when you watch somebody like him – he’ll spend three months trotting on a 20 metre circle until that foundation is completely imprinted on the horse’s brain and body, and when I was eventing and doing a three star test and needed to do a flying change, I wouldn’t be doing a flying change before that event, I’d be trotting circles and having my horse in balance and self-carriage – he would tell me he couldn’t teach me flying changes if I couldn’t even canter a circle properly! The foundations to him are everything, and he’s taught me that from watching him and working alongside him, he’s pretty amazing.”
Jay on Millenium Mission at the Gatcombe CIC*** World Cup Qualifier 2009
What Jay looks for in a horse, and how he makes a star
The fact that Jay has produced so many top class horses in all disciplines ( a WEG bound, Nations Cup winning show-jumper, a four star eventer, he’s breeding from the mare he won the four year old Burghley Young Event Horse Final on) makes asking him what he looks for in a horse a no-brainer, ” It’s shape. Conformation does mean an awful lot to me because I’m so fussy about the soundness. However, having said that the Brer Fox horse wouldn’t have had ideal conformation as a three year old, but he was such a sound tough horse that I never regretted buying him for a second so..! I like three good paces whether they’re jumpers or eventers. They’ve got to have a good walk. Just their expression. I’m not overly impressed by a horses loose-jumping and going ten foot high over a fence, that almost puts me off a little bit sometimes. You know when you get on them. I think had I not ridden so many horses from a young age, and at Graham’s I rode so many, then maybe I wouldn’t be so good at it. A horse’s natural balance. I always look for horses, all the time, and I’m so fussy that for example, I’ll go over to Belgium and Holland and look at 300 horses and not buy a single one.”
Once Jay does find his perfect horse, don’t expect to see it out at any events any time soon, but you may spot him out show-jumping, “”I’ve got a very nice 5 year old Master Imp Horse that I think will be quite nice; it looked really smart as a four year old, and now it looks very average, but I won’t even bother taking that to an event maybe this year. I’d rather it be going out and jumping up to 1 metre 20 foxhunter level than doing a pre-novice event because I think eventing people tend to take their horses cross country too soon, and they’re not developed enough or strong enough in their technique, and I think that’s why they then struggle to show-jump later. I’ve got a different theory – because I do a lot of jumping with mine I never really find that I have a problem cross country with them, and they’ll go cross country schooling at the beginning of the year once, and that will be it. I think you’re better off to spend their fifth year jumping them and letting them be strong and really comfortable in themelves and their technique before you start galloping them around 1 metre events. As long as they jump a ditch and go through water then I think they can do pretty much anything. I think lots of eventers spend too much time cross country schooling rather than teaching a horse to set up to a fence and be in balance.”
Adagio – A Success Story
“Adagio came to me as a naughty horse and I got him running and ended up winning a national show-jumping finals and qualified it for the Horse of the Year Show and did the National Dressage Championships with him. He was really naughty cross country but quite a lot of that was management issues; he’d been a bit sore on his feet and some other things, and I think one of the reasons I got him to go was I managed him correctly and I had a good relationship with him. I did Tattersalls with him last year, led the dressage, was one second inside the time cross country but sadly he didn’t pass the trot-up on sunday morning. William Fox-Pitt ended up winning the one,two and three star, and I was the one who was going to scupper his plans because there was no way on earth that horse was going to have a rail because I’d done a lot of jumping with him! William was very gracious and came up to me and told me he knew my horses was a clear round horse, and to be honest, I say that I’m unlucky, but really I’m lucky just to have been in the situation in the first place.”
Jay – the man, the myth, the Tiger
Jay and Spencer with glamour model and dressage rider Katie Price
Not shy about sharing his opinions, Jay is wonderful company even if it is, sadly for me, only via skype – amusing, entertaining, and a disarming mix of self-confidence and self-deprecating. Although he tells me doesn’t suffer from nerves as such, “Emotionally, I’m very in control of my emotions as in I don’t get nervous, I’m very brave and positive. I don’t ever really worry about anything, but I do sometimes have to have a little moment to myself, I sometimes get overwhelmed that I’m living out my ambitions. Last year I was third in the Grand Prix at Hickstead and that was one of my childhood dreams, I did have a litle cry afterwards. I still dream of things I want to accomplish. Hickstead was really special for me. I know that I’m capable of doing it, but I still have to pinch myself that I did it. I had one horse that I sold to America, he was a lovely horse but he wasn’t ever going to be a four star horse but I remember crying when he jumped clear round his first novice because I had such an amazing ride with him, it’s just those little moments that make everything worthwhile. At that time I’d already ridden round a three star, so a novice at a local event is nothing but those moments are so special, and I am a bit soppy!”
“Riding into the bowl at Gatcombe, I get tingles just talking about it, it’s one of my favourite events, and because it’s my local event too, it’s an amazing feeling”
With a growing breeding operation at his home base Jay admits he’s maturing and beginning to settle down somewhat, and then he laughs and takes another sip of vodka, and admits he still has some maturing left to do! Jay also has plenty of unfulfilled ambitions, “I’m so desperate to do it, even after more than 15 years, I’m still as desperate as I was then, I don’t know what it is but there’s just something inside of me that success is everything that I want. You change a lot as you get older and you mature, but I’m still so very, very hungry. I don’t want to just win one gold medal, I want to win three and prove that I can do it a few times over. I’m very driven.”
I’d like to thank Jay for his time, and wish him the very best of luck in the future; thank you for reading as always, Go Tiger, and Go Eventing!
I want to give a million thanks to Kate Erickson for being our connection to west coast eventing during this great weekend at Galway. In true EN spirit, Kate did double and triple duty this weekend including the test ride for the CIC3* and an 8 hour drive home before beginning this post Saturday night. I also want to give a big congratulations to James for a great weekend that will hopefully get better today with an advanced win, Galway couldn’t have a classier champion. Good luck to all of the competitors finishing up the horse trials today at Galway and all around Eventing Nation. Please click the link below to see many more photos from Kate. Thank you Kate for the great recap and wonderful photos and thank you for reading!
—- CIC3* champions James Alliston and Jumbo’s Jake
From Kate:
Okay, so what did I say about that perfect California weather? Well, it looks like my future certainly lies in fields other than that of weather forecasting, as Cross Country Day for the upper level divisions of the spring Galway Downs horse trials dawned cool, overcast, and misty, and remained that way throughout the day. While it certainly was not the bright and sunny skies of Friday, the weather was in many ways perfect: quite cool without being too cold to ride comfortably, and with nice even lighting that meant that shadows and glare weren’t an issue all day.
After a relatively smooth Preliminary division first thing in the morning, the first real tests of the day came in the Intermediate horse trial division. Ian Stark’s large and old-fashioned course certainly proved quite the challenge, resulting in numerous stops and a few ‘unseated riders.’ One of the most difficult combinations on this track was 4AB, a double of progressively larger and airier downhill square oxers that came quite early on course and seemed to catch a few of the greener horses by surprise. At the end of the morning, the veteran pair of Julie Ann Boyer and Rumor Hazit maintained their dressage lead on the strength of a clear round with just a handful of time penalties, while James Alliston moved up from 5th to 2nd with a double clear.
The CIC2* seemed to run relatively more smoothly than the Intermediate, though there were still a few problems scattered around the course. Most notably, Kaitlin Veltkamp, who had been lying in 2nd overnight, had a heartbreaking stop at the same 4B that had caused so many problems in the horse trial division, to drop to 7th overall. Katherine Groesbeck rode a smart double clear to secure the win, while Teresa Harcourt and Bonza Twist of Fate moved from 3rd to 2nd with just 0.4 time penalties.
James and Parker II lead the advanced
The Advanced horse trial, like the Intermediate, proved quite difficult, with half the starters picking up at least one stop. Additionally, no combinations came home with fewer than 4.8 time penalties. Dressage leaders James Alliston and Parker II maintained their position by picking up just 10 time penalties, while Jeanine Allred and Snap Decision II moved from 4th to 2nd with the second fastest Advanced ride of the day.
In the CIC3*, it was a display of dominance by James Alliston, who piloted Jumbo’s Jake and Tivoli to 1st and 2nd, respectively. These two horses are polar opposites–Tivoli being hot and explosive and Jumbo’s Jake looking like he could at any moment get almost too casual–so it was a real testament to James’ good riding that he produced such lovely clear rounds out of both of them. Barb Crabo and Eveready II moved up to 3rd with a speedy round, while Jolie Wentworth and Killian O’Connor, who had been 2nd overnight, produced a clear but slow round to drop to 4th.
I unfortunately had to pack up for the long drive home after the CIC3*, and so missed the CIC*, but the top 8 placings after dressage and show jumping all remained unchanged in that division with Barb Crabo and Over Easy coming home as the wire-to-wire victors. Overall, Galway Downs provided, as ever, an exciting kick off to the FEI season on the West Coast. Go eventing!
A cool, damp saturday morning must be, I imagine, almost perfect conditions in which to run a half-marathon, but as I can barely run a yard I wouldn’t dare venture to say. However I can’t think of more scenic surroundings to torture oneself in than Keeneland Racecourse, especially at this time of year with all the blossoms on the trees, and marvelous colours. Above, are Jake and Jester, the only horses we saw this morning. Below, are the runners – congratulations to them all, I have the utmost respect and admiration, and if I’m honest, envy! I would love to be a runner, I wish I could do it and enjoyed it; I can happily walk all day, even quite briskly, especially if there are dogs and cross country jumps involved but seem to be terminally one-paced!
I’m fascinated that just like event horses, runners come in all shapes, ages and sizes, and have incredibly varying gaits ranging from smooth, efficient and athletic to well, we were standing near the finish, maybe that had something to do with the hobbling, limping, twisted strides we saw on some of them!
Just as varied as the gaits is the choice of apparel
You can express yourself via logos on your top, or a cap; long socks were popular.
Of course there was a ton of support for the Big Blue Nation today (Go Cats!)
Some people listened to headphones, others were just “in the zone”. Harry, my son, entertained himself by seeing how many runners he could get to “high five” him as they went by – in about half an hour he counted over a dozen; many thanks to those competitors who made his day.
This lady’s kids were next to us cheering her on proudly and enthusiastically,”Come on, Mum, you made it, you did it, Go Mum!” it was a very sweet moment!
There’s always one!
This poor girl threw up about two seconds later. Whereas I spent the rest of the day berating myself for not being a “proper” journalist and turning away from the money shot (!), I just couldn’t do it, poor Harry saw the whole thing and was half horrified half exhilarated and was boasting to everyone he saw thereafter that he saw a real person real vomit! She did go on to finish the race.
Toe shoes!
We saw leg warmers, arm warmers, gloves, all sorts of stop watches, GPS, ipods, etc I do like the gadgets and accessories, and just general “kit”
Our favourite, of course!
Congatulations again to everyone who took part, it was certainly an inspiration to watch you. Go running, and Go Eventing!
Three Chimney’s Farm, a picturesque horse farm just outside Lexington was where hoops and horses came together to make history Friday morning. The winner of the 2008 Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Florida Derby and the Haskell, indeed a winner in seven out of eight career starts, Big Brown presided over a ceremony to celebrate what’s being dubbed the biggest sporting event in the history of the Commonwealth – the showdown between Lexington and Louisville on Saturday night. Starting immediately, and for the duration of the weekend, it is now officially “Big Blue Day”, and Mayor Jim Gray of Lexington held a special press conference outside Big Brown’s stall to make the proclamation. Fans are encouraged to wear blue and white, and Big Brown’s name has been officially changed to Big Blue for the rest of the week. Tonight in “Blue Orleans”, Lexington’s beloved UK (that’s University of Kentucky) Wildcats basketball team will face archrivals, the neighbouring Louisville Cardinals in the semi-finals of the NCAA Championships. Police already have emergency protocol in place to deal with the “celebrations” here in Lexington should we win to try and quell some of the rioting that is expected.
Case Clay, President of Three Chimneys, went to college (Auburn) with good friend and fellow Lexington native Cougar Town actor Josh Hopkins, and in a recent twitter exchange it was UK fan Josh’s idea to rename Big Blue, and Case admitted “so we sort of ran with it”. Big Brown Blue seemed to love all the attention he received , and Sandy Hatfield, Stallion Manager, confirmed that on the barn tours which Three Chimneys run five days a week he positively laps up the attention, and loves to have his picture taken. Big Blue looks fantastic still, and in a nod to the Big Blue fever, Case explained that the white patch just above his left elbow, the spot they liked to call his “go faster button” or “turbo patch” had been painted blue with hypoallergenic shampoo. Case shared that they used to joke that the jockeys would press that when they wanted Big Blue to accelerate past the other horses and win races.
Big Blue also wore a specially-comissioned blue (durr!) head collar which will be auctioned off, along with a lock of his mane and some additional Three Chimneys Memorabilia to benefit the UK Children’s Hospital, as well as a second, everyday brown halter with the Big Blue name which will also be sold to the second-highest bidder.
Although I must admit to still being a bit bemused as to all the fuss about the basketball, it was a real treat to spend some time out at Three Chimneys. Like all the big horse farms here, it was absolutely immaculate and breathtakingly beautiful at this time of year with all the blossoms out on the trees The stallions in the barn seemed so happy and relaxed, barely paying us any attention and of course they’re all fantastic examples too, and each so different, it’s fascinating just to get a look at them.
Many thanks to Three Chimneys and the staff in the Stallion Barn, especially Luis who looks after Big Brown, but was too shy to talk to me , and to Sandy who shared that she’s looking forward to Silver Charm, who’s completely white now, returning to the farm when he completes his duties in Japan because she’s always had a soft spot for him. Congratulations to Jim Gray and Case Clay on the Big Blue Nation making the Final Four and to them for finding a way to combine two of Lexington’s finest athletes, let’s hope the Wildcats can go all the way and that the celebrations will be memorable and safe. Go Cats and Go Eventing!
Three Chimney’s Farm, a picturesque horse farm just outside Lexington was where hoops and horses came together to make history Friday morning. The winner of the 2008 Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Florida Derby and the Haskell, indeed a winner in seven out of eight career starts, Big Brown presided over a ceremony to celebrate what’s being dubbed the biggest sporting event in the history of the Commonwealth – the showdown between Lexington and Louisville on Saturday night. Starting immediately, and for the duration of the weekend, it is now officially “Big Blue Day”, and Mayor Jim Gray of Lexington held a special press conference outside Big Brown’s stall to make the proclamation. Fans are encouraged to wear blue and white, and Big Brown’s name has been officially changed to Big Blue for the rest of the week. Tonight in “Blue Orleans”, Lexington’s beloved UK (that’s University of Kentucky) Wildcats basketball team will face archrivals, the neighbouring Louisville Cardinals in the semi-finals of the NCAA Championships. Police already have emergency protocol in place to deal with the “celebrations” here in Lexington should we win to try and quell some of the rioting that is expected.
Case Clay, President of Three Chimneys, went to college (Auburn) with good friend and fellow Lexington native Cougar Town actor Josh Hopkins, and in a recent twitter exchange it was UK fan Josh’s idea to rename Big Blue, and Case admitted “so we sort of ran with it”. Big Brown Blue seemed to love all the attention he received , and Sandy Hatfield, Stallion Manager, confirmed that on the barn tours which Three Chimneys run five days a week he positively laps up the attention, and loves to have his picture taken. Big Blue looks fantastic still, and in a nod to the Big Blue fever, Case explained that the white patch just above his left elbow, the spot they liked to call his “go faster button” or “turbo patch” had been painted blue with hypoallergenic shampoo. Case shared that they used to joke that the jockeys would press that when they wanted Big Blue to accelerate past the other horses and win races.
Big Blue also wore a specially-comissioned blue (durr!) head collar which will be auctioned off, along with a lock of his mane and some additional Three Chimneys Memorabilia to benefit the UK Children’s Hospital, as well as a second, everyday brown halter with the Big Blue name which will also be sold to the second-highest bidder.
Although I must admit to still being a bit bemused as to all the fuss about the basketball, it was a real treat to spend some time out at Three Chimneys. Like all the big horse farms here, it was absolutely immaculate and breathtakingly beautiful at this time of year with all the blossoms out on the trees The stallions in the barn seemed so happy and relaxed, barely paying us any attention and of course they’re all fantastic examples too, and each so different, it’s fascinating just to get a look at them.
Many thanks to Three Chimneys and the staff in the Stallion Barn, especially Luis who looks after Big Brown, but was too shy to talk to me , and to Sandy who shared that she’s looking forward to Silver Charm, who’s completely white now, returning to the farm when he completes his duties in Japan because she’s always had a soft spot for him. Congratulations to Jim Gray and Case Clay on the Big Blue Nation making the Final Four and to them for finding a way to combine two of Lexington’s finest athletes, let’s hope the Wildcats can go all the way and that the celebrations will be memorable and safe. Go Cats and Go Eventing!
Mary King was kind enough to sit down and chat to Eventing Nation while she was in Cincinnati for the Area VIII AGM in January. Unfortunately, and inexplicably I somehow managed to lose the interview whilst transferring it from my phone to my computer. No amount of feverish and extensive searching, sweating, or panicked phone calls to the chinchilla’s did me any good; it seems I must have either deleted it by mistake when I pressed stop, or perhaps not recorded it at all – ugh, just how unprofessional am I? Not to mention deluded, I was SURE I recorded it.
Imagine my suprise, delight, bewilderment, outrage, all of of the above, when some three months later I did a normal software update on my laptop, and up pops my interview with Mary, literally from nowhere. Admittedly I am not a computer savant by any stretch, but this is ridunkulous. Anyway, I thought you might enjoy it, albeit rather out-dated, although Mary does talk about her new lorry which she just posted lovely pictures of on her facebook page, it is all that!
Many belated thanks and apologies to Mary for the confusion; Good Luck to her and everyone competing this spring in the UK, we’ll of course be sorry not to see her here at Rolex, but I look forward to catching up with her at Badminton. Go Eventing!
It would have been hard to miss Shandiss Wewiora’s Rockfield Grant Juan going cross country around the Poplar Place Advanced track – first of all, he’s enormous, and second, so is his jump and his presence, but he’s still remarkably light on his feet and has a wonderful athletic gallop, he positively came bounding towards us, leaping over the obstacles in his way and made it all look quite easy. I was very happy to bump into Shandiss later in the afternoon and find out more about her lovely horse.
Shandiss told me a bit more about the Goresbridge Go for Gold Sales, and also that in addition to the sale in Ireland they’d also checked out one of the big sport horse sales in Germany and as you can imagine, she said the contrast could hardly have been more stark. From the Irish horses coming straight in out of the field, some of them barely broken, all rather scruffy, she said one lay down in the middle of the arena with his rider still on and started to roll, to the German horses which were immaculately turned out, all in matching tack, plaited, trimmed and prepped for the occassion but also quite a lot more expensive.
Glencento – another of the Goresbridge Auction acquisitions, and an equally nice type.
As we chatted idly Shandiss spilled the beans that she and Jordan McDonald had very recently got engaged – our very best EN congratulations to you both! Thank you to Shandiss for chatting to me and introducing me to her lovely horses, I’m sorry my photos really don’t do them justice, and thank you for visiting Eventing Nation. Go Irish Sport Horses and Go Eventing!
Chevalier flying over the Cottesmore Leap at Burghley in 2001
(photo used with kind permission of Bobby Costello)
Thank you for all the entries which were overwhelmingly leaning towards Henny or Neville – as if I would make it that easy! Here is Bobby Costello on Chevalier, aka Charlie, a horse that would take him to the Sydney Olympics in 2000 where they finished 8th, Rolex and of course, above, Burghley. Bobby kindly sent us a few words to let us know how Charlie’s doing now.
“I retired Charlie from International competition when he was relatively young- only 14. He was sound at the time, but I could just feel the wheels beginning to come off and I always vowed I would, if at all possible, let him go out on top. He was ridden actively for the next several years by working students, friends and relatives. Now 23, he looks amazing but is definitely enjoying his old age pension. He has a lovely field all to himself (he prefers it that way) and still enjoys the routine of coming in for a bit each day, getting groomed and being fed lots of peppermints. The old boy is still quite “aloof”– which has basically always meant that if you don’t have treats he really doesn’t have a whole lot of time for you! Charlie made my career as a competitor, and because of the great exposure and recognition I received while riding him he has continued to influence my life in a positive way everyday since.”
Many thanks to Bobby for sharing this with us, and for stumping the Eventing Nation! If you’d like to submit a picture my email is [email protected]. Enjoy your horses and Go Eventing!
The dock at the main water jump at the Florida Horse Park
A fascinating discussion with Jon Holling about footing, and then a chance meeting with Peter Gray at Poplar Place has me thinking I might need to amend my travel plans so that they include the upcoming Ocala Horse Properties International 3 Day Event, organised by Peter and Jon under the Equiventures banner. I also strongly advise anyone within striking distance with an eligible horse to do likewise, and with divisions running from BN all the way through the grades up to CCI**, a special Combined Training test for the Rolex horses, and new this year, a YEH/FEH class, surely there’s something for everyone.
Reasons to go to the Ocala Horse Properties International 3 Day Event
1. The Footing
As Jon Holling explains, “The main priority is going to be the footing, we’ve received some funding to help with that and I expect that this year the CCI** will be the best there’s ever been at the Florida Horse Park. Historically the footing in the Florida Horse Park is pretty good, we don’t run there as often as some other places so we’re fortunate in that respect. Certainly the thing you worry about in Florida at this time of year is it could get a bit dry, and then in front of fences it starts to break down and can get a little deep, but I think we have that sorted out and that was evident at our February event – we had pretty good footing there.”
Peter Gray agrees, “We’ve been concentrating on the courses for the last two years but this year we’re really addressing the footing. We’ve been aerating and watering so I think you’ll notice a significant difference in that area this year. We can’t recondition the whole park, but certainly we’ve staked off the galloping lanes and we’ve made sure that those areas are as perfect as we can make them. The footing is so important.”
2. The Course
A new trakehner at the Florida Horse Park
Course Designer Jay Hambly is hitting his groove in this his third year at the event. Peter again, “Every year we’ve added three or four new jumps to the course, but we’ve got at least half a dozen this year including a new complex at the water and a new bank, and a new start and finish area so it’s quite a bit different. Jay does a really good job with a blend between a galloping course with a good flow but also including the technical questions that are the norm now in this sport, I’m really excited about it.”
There is also a brand new course of show-jumps for the event this year, yep, that’s right – Entire Course. Brand. New. Marc Donovan is the show-jumping course designer, and at this event both the dressage and the stadium will be in the polytrack arena.
3. The Prize Money and the classes
The Rebecca Broussard CCI** will be awarding $10,000 in prize money, the Maui Jim CCI* is worth a total of $5,000, and prize money, a trophy and ribbons to 8th place are the norm for all the remaining divisions. BN, N, T, P, and Intermediate divisions will run alongside the CCI* and CCI**, and then there’s the Merydith South FEH and YEH classes sponsored by Mrs Jacqueline Mars, and a special combined test for the Rolex horses. ‘O’ judge Ann Gribbon will be judging the Kentucky bound combinations, and offering feedback afterwards.
The Cavalor jump gets a face-lift
4. The Timing in the Calendar
As if anyone lucky enough to winter down south needed an excuse to stay longer, now you have a perfectly legitimate one. Eventually Peter and Jon hope that as the event becomes more of a fixture on the calendar, people will adjust their plans to move north accordingly and it will become tradition. As Peter explained, “It fits in very well with the schedule and the end of the Spring season, before horses maybe move North or get a bit of a let down.”
5. Organised by riders for riders
Peter Gray boasts vast international experience eventing and now sits on many committees, as well as teaching and training. Jon Holling is not only one of the US’s finest event riders currently competing but also active behind the scenes of the sport to effect change and improvement. With a pair like this at the helm no wonder it’s a rider-friendly event, “One of our goals when we took over these competitions was to make them rider friendly. We hope that the organising committee and the officials that we hire are all rider friendly. We hopefully hire judges that the riders like and that they’ll do a fair job. If there’s an issue or a conflict, we want officiaIs who understand the sport and will sympathise with the competitors. I think over the years we’ve developed a really good group of people” Peter told me, while Jon agreed and said he’s looking forward to competing there again this year, “We’re really trying hard to make it be the best event that it can be, I’m obviously a little partial to it, but I wouldn’t miss it.”
Entries close on April 3rd, and you can enter electronically via evententries.com. Go the Ocala Horse Properties International 3 Day Event, and Go Eventing!
Chevalier flying over the Cottesmore Leap at Burghley in 2001
(photo used with kind permission of Bobby Costello)
Thank you for all the entries which were overwhelmingly leaning towards Henny or Neville – as if I would make it that easy! Here is Bobby Costello on Chevalier, aka Charlie, a horse that would take him to the Sydney Olympics in 2000 where they finished 8th, Rolex and of course, above, Burghley. Bobby kindly sent us a few words to let us know how Charlie’s doing now.
“I retired Charlie from International competition when he was relatively young- only 14. He was sound at the time, but I could just feel the wheels beginning to come off and I always vowed I would, if at all possible, let him go out on top. He was ridden actively for the next several years by working students, friends and relatives. Now 23, he looks amazing but is definitely enjoying his old age pension. He has a lovely field all to himself (he prefers it that way) and still enjoys the routine of coming in for a bit each day, getting groomed and being fed lots of peppermints. The old boy is still quite “aloof”– which has basically always meant that if you don’t have treats he really doesn’t have a whole lot of time for you! Charlie made my career as a competitor, and because of the great exposure and recognition I received while riding him he has continued to influence my life in a positive way everyday since.”
Many thanks to Bobby for sharing this with us, and for stumping the Eventing Nation! If you’d like to submit a picture my email is [email protected]. Enjoy your horses and Go Eventing!
As per a request in the comments section, here are a couple of pictures of Jordan Linstedt and Tullibards Hawkwind, who jumped double clear to finish 5th in the Advanced B Division at Poplar this weekend.
An oversight on my part – Congratulations to Jordan, and Go Eventing!
Hawley Bennett-Awad and Ginny put a massive commute behind them to perform a solid test in the Advanced at Poplar Place.
While Hawley was busy competing, in the rain and snow at Three Day Ranch in California, her two girls Natalia Gurmankin and Tessa Beckett, along with Tessa’s mum, had already begun the three day event drive from their West Coast base to Poplar Place here in Georgia.
Natalia and Tessa each rode in the Advanced, and all three were ridiculously upbeat, fun and good natured considering the circumstances – that bloomin’ California groove! I caught up with Hawley and Natalia in between one of Hawley’s dressage tests.
Natalia imported Hail from New Zealand in 2008, “I adore him, love love love him” where he’d evented up to intermediate level with his previous owner. Before that he raced for seven years, starting some 50 times and earning almost $2million NZ. Hawley wanted to make sure I stress how amazing both these girls are, and how she couldn’t function without them, and they really are – not just because one after another each horse appeared from the mucky, flooded stables looking immaculate and shiny, but especially because they are so positive and such fun to be around. The thought of the drive still boggles my mind, so I asked Tessa for some more details.
Tessa’s horse Sound Prospect also raced but for not nearly as long or as successfully as Hail, but definitely seems to have found his calling now, as both girls were sitting in 4th and 5th places overnight after dressage. Although they didn’t like to talk about it, the only time they really got quiet (!) they’ll hopefully both compete at Jersey Fresh before heading back home to California. Wishing them a very happy and successful Spring campaign, and looking forward to spending more time with them at events in the meantime. Thank you to Hawley, Natalia and Tessa for their time, and injection of good humour, and thank you for reading. Go Eventing!
Hawley Bennett-Awad, who was the eventual winner of Advanced Section B on Gin’n’Juice, was first into the arena Sunday Morning on the full brother to her fabulous mare, 5 O’Clock Somewhere, fondly known as Chunky. They had a rail down to finish a respectable 10th.
Alex Green pulled two rails with Fernhill Cubalawn but still ended up 4th place
Michelle Mueller and Amistad had the overnight lead, but let Leslie Law moved into the winner’s spot when they had one down, to finish second.
Bill Hoos was still chatting away today whilst he was riding; I’m not sure if he was talking to the judges or himself, but if that’s what he needs to do to get his blood up it must be working – they knocked down just one unlucky rail, added a time fault and finished 8th.
Darren Chiacchia had one of the rare clear rounds on Amendment 15
Diana Burnett on Diamond Cut III rode one of the prettiest rounds all day, for just one down and 7th place.
Hawley Bennett-Awad, who was the eventual winner of Advanced Section B on Gin’n’Juice, was first into the arena Sunday Morning on the full brother to her fabulous mare, 5 O’Clock Somewhere, fondly known as Chunky. They had a rail down to finish a respectable 10th.
Alex Green pulled two rails with Fernhill Cubalawn but still ended up 4th place
Michelle Mueller and Amistad had the overnight lead, but let Leslie Law move into the winner’s spot when they had one down, to finish second.
Bill Hoos was still chatting away today whilst he was riding; I’m not sure if he was talking to the judges or himself, but if that’s what he needs to do to get his blood up it must be working – they knocked down just one unlucky rail, added a time fault and finished 8th.
Darren Chiacchia had one of the rare clear rounds on Amendment 15
Diana Burnett on Diamond Cut III rode one of the prettiest rounds all day, for just one down and 7th place.
Not a very happy round for Maggie Deatrick and Divine Comedy, a handful of jumps down and eventual 11th place. Maggie’s was one of only a few horses today who looked to be feeling the exertions from the day before a bit.
Madeline Blackman and Gordonstown, 10th
Hannah Sue Burnett jumped a beautiful round, so well-ridden and must have been desperately annoyed to have the last fence down. They finished second to Hawley by a point and change.
Heather Gillette and Our Questionnaire, getting all their ducks in a row for a Rolex bid – jumping clear both days to move up and finish 6th overall.
Imogen de lavis and Rock Point Road put a fall at Red Hills behind them, jumping clear cross country but three down dropped them a place to 7th.
Jeff Kibbie and Lokie just had one rail in this their first advanced to finish 3rd
Jess Phoenix managed to jump a couple of fences on Exponential before it dawned on everyone that she’d missed the first one! She’s in good company though, only yesterday at Burgham Horse Trials in UK Ian Stark apparently jumped the wrong first fence (thanks to John Kyle, you can now follow him on twitter, highly recommended, for the tip) and there have been plenty of other similar stories at much bigger events with much more at stake. I saw Jessie quite soon after and she still seemed a bit sheepish, but true to character by the time I saw her on the next horse she was back to her bright, sunny self; she saw
my son Harry who’s a few ye
ars older than her son Jacob climbing up the manure pile, in his flip-flops, saw me grimace but shrug, and laughed and told me she supposes that’s what she has to look forward to! I was glad to see she won the CIC* after I left so not a bad day at the office at all.
Kelly List and Smarty Pants finished 7th
Kentucky gal Lindsey Solarzano on Enchantez, 13th
Kentucky gal Elissa Gibbs jumping clear but with one time fault for 12th place
Missy Ransehousen and Critical Decision, another combination checking all the boxes in the run-up to Rolex. One rail down to add to a steady clear cross country and the best dressage in their division leave them in 9th place.
Shandiss Wewiora and the big, lovely Rockfield Grant Juan finish 6th
Royal Ruckus never looked in danger of touching a jump for Erin Flynn Tamplin, clear round for eventual 14th place.
Tessa Beckett’s round on Sound Prospect was actually a lot nicer than the score suggests, she turned away from the first part of the double to circle and come again, but otherwise was just unlucky to have a couple of rails too, and as you can see above, this little OTTB has quite a jump in him!
It was wonderful to see Steph Rhodes-Bosch back in great form on her trusty campaigner Port Authority. It also looked as if “Ollie” was also thrilled to be back at a party, he got a bit strong towards the end and had a couple down but looks fabulous- I think Steph is going to have her work cut out for her holding onto him cross country!
Although Rock on Rose rattled quite a few rails, she and Whitney are looking great together – Whitney clearly adores her, and “Lusty” laps it up and tries her heart out, it’s been really nice to watch these two develop their partnership since I first met them in Montana last summer, and I they continue to enjoy good luck and success.
Apology: I can’t imagine who or what I was thinking of but sincere apologies to Alexa Kim Perkiel. Thank you for correcting me, she did have a fall last time out at Red Hills, but I’m glad to say it seems to have had no lingering consequences as they won the CIC** at Poplar this weekend. Congratulations and apologies to Alexa Kim, and Go Eventing!
Alexa Kim Perkiel built on a consistent season including a great result at Red Hills a couple of weeks ago to win the CIC** here at Poplar by a convincing margin. Caroline Martin stayed in the 2nd and 3rd places she’d occupied the night before but switched horses after two rails on Quanturm Solace moved her behind her stable mater Petite Flower, the ex Bruce Davidson ride who jumped a lovely clear, the only one in this division, to take the runner up spot.
Jon Holling did not present Quigase du Lac this morning and I was sorry to miss him go, but going to try and see some of the intermediates show-jump now before we hit the road. More soon, Go Eventing!
Alexa Kim Perkiel built on a consistent season including a great result at Red Hills a couple of weeks ago to win the CIC** here at Poplar by a convincing margin. Caroline Martin stayed in the 2nd and 3rd places she’d occupied the night before but switched horses after two rails on Quanturm Solace moved her behind her stable mater Petite Flower, the ex Bruce Davidson ride who jumped a lovely clear, the only one in this division, to take the runner up spot.
Jon Holling did not present Quigase du Lac this morning and I was sorry to miss him go, but going to try and see some of the intermediates show-jump now before we hit the road. More soon, Go Eventing!
The two horses topping the leaderboard at the end of the Advanced Divisions could hardly be more different. Gin’n’Juice, Hawley’s ride has jumped round the WEG for a silver medal, and completed Badminton and Burghley last year – a bouncy bundle of feistiness, she pulled Hawley around both the XC yesterday and the stadium today oozing confidence, looking and obviously feeling a million dollars.
Leslie Law’s Zenith ISF, in his only third outing at this level has yet to put a foot wrong, and in Leslie’s capable hands he just keeps getting better and better.
The show-jumping course caused plenty of problems for the advanced this morning, I”ll have a full report and more pictures later, but of less than a dozen clears, Leslie jumped two of them. Heather Gillette jumped a measured round to go clear but picked up five time. Lots of riders had good rounds for an unlucky rail – Hannah Sue Burnett had the last down on Harbour Pilot but they looked fantastic. Jessie Phoenix had a blonde moment on lovely Exponential and didn’t jump the first fence, jumped the next three beautifully before she was pulled up. Whitney Weston moved up to fourth with a double clear – despite rattling quite a few Whitney kept her head and Lusty tried her heart out, I really like the way this partnership is developing. Lots more photos to come, thanks for visiting Eventing Nation and go eventing!
The two horses topping the leaderboard at the end of the Advanced Divisions could hardly be more different. Gin’n’Juice, Hawley’s ride has jumped round the WEG for a silver medal, and completed Badminton and Burghley last year – a bouncy bundle of feistiness, she pulled Hawley around both the xc yesterday and the stadium today oozing confidence, looking and obviously feeling a million dollars.
Leslie Law’s Zenith ISF, in his only third outing at this level has yet to put a foot wrong, and in Leslie’s capable hands he just keeps getting better and better.
The show-jumping course caused plenty of problems for the advanced this morning, I”ll have a full report and more pictures later, but of less than a dozen clears, Leslie jumped two of them. Heather Gillette jumped a measured round to go clear but picked up five time. Lots of riders had good rounds for an unlucky rail – Hannah Sue Burnett had the last down on Harbour Pilot but they looked fantastic. Jessie Phoenix had a blonde moment on lovely Exponential and didn’t jump the first fence, jumped the next three beautifully before she was pulled up. Whitney Weston moved up to fourth with a double clear – despite rattling quite a few Whitney kept her head and Lusty tried her heart out, I really like the way this partnership is developing. Lots more photos to come, thanks for visiting Eventing Nation and go eventing!
>
