Samantha Clark

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Richard Jeffery at Rebecca Farm

By Samantha Clark on Jul 22, 2011 2:28 pm -

Richard Jeffery designs show-jumping courses for prestigious events and shows all over the world, ( WEG, Burghley, Rolex, Wellington…) but we both got a bit giddy when he very kindly showed me around the magnificent workshop of jumps at Rebecca Farm.

Richard is ably assisted by Marc Donovan in Ring 2, and international eventer turned jumper Paul Delbrook. Thank you to Richard for his time, and for making Christmas come early this year! Thanks for reading, keep jumping, and go eventing!

Jessie Phoenix takes the lead

By Samantha Clark on Jul 22, 2011 2:04 pm -

Jessie returned to competition in style by taking the dressage lead in the CCI 2* on Pavarotti here at Rebecca Farm. I caught up with her briefly afterwards for a quick chat about her enforced “holiday” and her plans with Exponential leading up to Burghley.

Incredibly, Exponential raced in Canada until he was about seven or eight years old, then retired himself from the track by lying down every time they tried to put the saddle on him! Jessie found him by riding him as a favour for a client, and the rest, as they say, is history. Wishing them both, and Pavarotti, the very best of luck this weekend, and of course at Burghley too. Welcome back Team Phoenix, and Go Eventing!

Friday morning Dressage at Rebecca Farm

By Samantha Clark on Jul 22, 2011 1:57 pm -

Maya Studenmund and Shear Mizou

I hate to complain about the cold when the majority of the States are sweltering in intense heat, but it really was quite chilly at Rebecca Farm this morning, and temperatures are forecast to drop into the thirties tonight. What with cross country starting bright and early at 7:30am tomorrow, I may well have a trip to the sporting goods store in my future to stock up on some thermal underwear – it never occurred to me to pack it for a midsummer trip, even though I am going straight from here to England so I should have known better. Rest assured I do have my rain gear!

Buck Davidson and All the Aces

Ronald Z-B rides three in the CCI **; he got the ball rolling on Che Mr Wiseguy. Phillip Dutton warmed them up, and they made an attractive picture – relaxed, composed, and obviously a long-standing partnership very comfortable with each other.

Shannon Lilley and Ballingowan Pizazz, who worked well, but he has that annoying habit of sticking his tongue out quite a lot which will no doubt cost them dearly.

David, Phillip, Allison and Buck were all helping their various riders and not only was I thrilled to meet Sally O’Connor in person this morning, but she explained to me the FEI rule, that coaches must now stay on the sidelines, ie NOT in the middle of the arena, and she’d already had to remind several of them about this. The rule stems from pure dressage, and Sally also told me the wonderful news that she’ll be contributing more to Eventing Nation in the future from the “official’s” perspective, especially from Burghley, so that’s definitely something to look forward to.

Allison and Phillip – staying on the edges!

The Ringmaster?!

It was very sweet – there was a mother and daughter waiting for Buck to finish coaching, before they breathlessy approached him, and asked, “Mr Davidson, please could you sign our hats and shirt?” Just to clarify, they weren’t wearing either item! Buck was very gracious, but told them that Mr Davidson was his dad, and that he was Buck, signed the items, chatted for a minute or two, and then went back to work.

Arthur getting in the zone before his dressage this afternoon. Allison told me he feels great, is loving the cooler weather; she rode him twice this morning, at least that I saw, she said fatigue doesn’t exist for him – Give me some of that! Speaking of which, time for me to scurry back as Sharon White will be entering the arena at 1:30pm Rebecca Farm time, to start the CIC 3* and I certainly can’t miss that. Go Chilly Montana and Go Eventing!

Travers Schick – Supreme Mountaineer & Course Builder!

By Samantha Clark on Jul 22, 2011 10:50 am -

One of the nicest surprises I had all day on thursday was running into Travers and his lovely lab Lily. Who else can summit Mount Denali, the highest peak in North America, AND take an EN sign with them? I asked him how life on sea level was treating him, and what on earth he’ll get up to next?

Many thanks to Travers for representing EN on top of the world, and talking to us here at Rebecca Farm. Looking forward to hearing all about your next adventure, take us with you, and Go eventing!

Sharon & Reggie – Burghley bound

By Samantha Clark on Jul 22, 2011 10:45 am -

I’m always happy to see Sharon White, and today was no exception when I bumped into her at the end of the cross country, and she very kindly invited me over to see Reggie aka Rafferty’s Rules. Sharon has been drawn first to go on both her training horse, and in the CIC 3* tomorrow, but as she’s leading the dressage on Ravenna she’s decided to regard it as a good omen. We had an interesting chat about her plans for Burghley; she told me she hardly dares admit it, as she as well as anyone knows the ups and downs that are standard with horses, but she’s feeling confident and excited about going, it’s now just a case of working out the logistics. For instance, how long before Burghley to go over to England? Last year for Blenheim she went over 3 weeks ahead of time, ran at Hartpury the weekend after arriving and said Reggie felt tired there, but at Blenheim he actually felt great, the fall was all her fault ( her words, not mine!), however, obviously the longer she’s over there, the more money it costs.

Being completely ignorant about team/state colours I asked Sharon if perhaps that’s where the orange came from, and she replied no, it’s just her “happy colour”, and how can you not smile when you see all that orange?! Speaking of which, her student Charlotte Collier, who’ll be riding Merloch in the Jr/Yr Open Prelim Section has promised, and now it’s published, to wear the famous orange bodysuit when Sharon and Reggie go cross country on saturday, I’ll keep you posted on all things orange – Go Eventing!

Richard Jeffery at Rebecca Farm

By Samantha Clark on Jul 22, 2011 10:31 am -

Kyle Carter at Rebecca Farm

By Samantha Clark on Jul 22, 2011 10:02 am -

Kyle has Madison Park here in the CIC 3* looking better than ever. I caught up with him on his way to walk the course. Please excuse the wind noise in the middle of the video, it IS very loud, but it does subside again.

Kyle’s parents may have had an ulterior motive in flying Parker to Montana, because they’re also here spending plenty of time with their grandchildren, which I know everyone in the Carter family is enjoying. Thanks to Kyle for his time, thanks for putting up with the wind, and go eventing!

Patrick and Ida Linnan

By Samantha Clark on Jul 22, 2011 1:26 am -

I’m very happy to be able to introduce you to Patrick and Ida. Patrick’s wife, Janis is a member of the Ground Jury here at Rebecca Farm, and in fact has attended every year since it’s inception, and is also responsible for Ida’s training. Patrick will help run cross country control on friday, and steeplechase on saturday. Ida will do absolutely whatever she pleases!

Patrick also told me Ida has special goggles for when she rides in the golf cart, and can tell if a dog isn’t on a leash and will bark incessantly at it. My heart belongs to Leo the labrador, but she is pretty darned cute! Thanks for talking to us, Patrick and Ida, and go eventing!

Travers Schick – Supreme Mountaineer & Course Builder!

By Samantha Clark on Jul 22, 2011 12:55 am -

One of the nicest surprises I had all day on thursday was running into Travers and his lovely lab Lily. Who else can summit Mount Denali, the highest peak in North America, AND take an EN sign with them? I asked him how life on sea level treating him, and what on earth he’ll get up to next?

Many thanks to Travers for representing EN on top of the world, and talking to us here at Rebecca Farm. Looking forward to hearing all about your next adventure, take us with you, and Go eventing!

Sharon & Reggie – Burghley bound

By Samantha Clark on Jul 21, 2011 11:59 pm -

Job Lot

By Samantha Clark on Jul 21, 2011 11:47 pm -

I’m embarrassed to admit but I love reading, and window shopping the horses for sale, the braiding available, and all the sundry horsey things that people pin up in the porta-potties at events, to take my mind off how horrible they really are! I read this one, and thought a rider must be giving up, but then the horse at the end caught me completely off guard, as if it was thrown in as an after thought. Am I being over sensitive?!

Hypersensitive? Paranoid? Ridiculous? Moi? All of the above! Let me know what you think, and if this is how you’d go about selling your worldly belongings. Go for broke, and Go Eventing!

Kyle Carter at Rebecca Farm

By Samantha Clark on Jul 21, 2011 10:16 pm -

Rebecca Farm XC Wildlife that I missed first time round!

By Samantha Clark on Jul 21, 2011 9:21 pm -

The devil is in the details, and certainly nothing has been overlooked here at Rebecca Farm. When I hurried round the CIC 3* course yesterday afternoon I missed a lot of the Montana wildlife hiding in it’s natural habitat. Luckily I spotted some of them today…!

In case you think I’m joking about the details, there’s even music playing in the saloon jump tonight, and check out some of the table arrangements in the sponsor’s tent.

and these were the pins that some of the riders are wearing in memory of Becky Broussard

I had a chat with Sarah Broussard-Kelly earlier, and hope to bring you details of that soon. Thanks for staying with us, and Go Eventing!

Joe Meyer

By Samantha Clark on Jul 21, 2011 4:37 pm -

Joe Meyer and Snip announced their arrival in the States in no uncertain terms with an eleventh place finish at Rolex this spring. Although that was to be Snip’s last four star event, Joe says he’ll keep him in work, and events like the CIC 3* here at Rebecca Farm will be his “semi-retirement”.

In typical Kiwi understatement, when Joe said his trip was quite tough, what he neglected to mention was that he had FIVE blowouts in on one day! There’s an old saying in England, that “it takes three times to teach a fool”, and you can call me a quitter, but I’d have given up long before the fifth, however I admire his tenacity nonetheless, and wish him the best of luck. Still, I wonder if Katie will be looking for an alternative means of transport on the way home! Thanks for reading, check your tyres, and Go Eventing!

Gamal Awad

By Samantha Clark on Jul 21, 2011 4:24 pm -

Hawley and Gin’n’Juice

Ever wondered where Hawley Bennet-Awad gets her endless energy from, her steely focus, her drive and that special glow that surely can’t all be California sunshine? Well, perhaps it has something to do with the love of a good man! Gamal Awad told us what’s in store for them over the next few weeks as they prepare to head back to England for Burghley.

Best of luck to Hawley, and to Gamal in getting her on his table any time soon! Thanks for talking to us, thank you for reading, and go eventing!

Natalia’s Big Week!

By Samantha Clark on Jul 21, 2011 3:55 pm -

Kate and William have got nothing on Natalia and her brand new fiancee Tommy, one of the course builders here at Rebecca Farm – this girl is a whirlwind! Ubergroom to Hawley Bennet-Awad, herself one of the busiest riders on the circuit, Natalia shares details of her happy news with Eventing Nation, as well as all that other riding stuff that will be going on this weekend too!

Best of luck to the whole team this weekend, I’m so tired just trying to get my head around their schedule that I’m going to have book myself a massage with Gamal! (more on that coming later). Congratulations Natalia and Tommy, and Go Eventing!

Gamal Awad

By Samantha Clark on Jul 21, 2011 3:54 pm -

Hawley and Gin’n’Juice

Best of luck to Hawley, and to Gamal in getting her on his table any time soon! Thanks for talking to us, thank you for reading, and go eventing!

Rebecca Farm 1st Horse Inspection

By Samantha Clark on Jul 21, 2011 3:39 pm -

Stay tuned to find out exactly why Natalia looks so happy, and what makes Hawley glow! After some internet struggles, I find myself taking a quick coffee break in Starbucks to get these photos to you, before nipping back to the event as fast as I can, so I’ll keep it brief. All the horses passed, although a few were held for re-inspection. We saw quite a few pretty sun dresses despite the chilly temperatures, especially earlier on.

and Eventing Nation’s own Chelan Kozak with Escalade, who I was thrilled to meet in person,

She also rides one in the Training. Check out her beautiful starfish necklace, which she told me reminds me of her husband, and fishing off his boat on the west coast where they have amazing purple starfish – very cool!

Hawley Bennet-Awad is riding no less than six horses this weekend; here she is with Gin Fizz who’s in the Training 3 Day. Gin’n’Juice will have her first run since Badminton in the 3*, and hopefully, all being well, her only run before Burghley, although she may do a combined training test before then. Once I get my internet connection sorted out you can see how she manages to keep that spring in a step because I have a short video interview with her absolutely lovely husband Gamal Awad.

Auburn Excell Brady rides an almost matching pair in the CCI*, and now we know the secret to Kristin Schmolze’s trim figure – she trotted up all three of Ronald Z-B’s horses in the CIC 2*, as well as her own Ballylaffin Bracken who was asked to jog twice!

Choos?

No, Sara Kozumplik and Manolo Blahnik

Amelia Priesthoff and The Perfect Crime

Maddy Mazzola and Man on a Mission III

The Ground Jury deliberate

Jordan Taylor (our ears photo!) and Cambridge

Tamra Smith has a couple of rides – Mar de Amor in the 3*, and Fleeceworks Fernhill in the CCI*

Laramie Maxwell and Hunterville in the CIC 2*

Liam Kronlund and Goodness Gracious in the CCI 2*

Katie Ruppel and Sir Donovan, in the CIC 3*, made the long trip up from Ocala.

Burghley bound for Canada, Jessie Phoenix and Exponential. Jessie told me this is the first show she’s been to without her son Jake, and we bonded about missing our kids, although we definitely both agreed it could be worse!

Allie Slusher and Last Call in the CIC 3*

Lots more to come, connection permitting (deja vu, sigh!) from Rebecca Farm. Thanks for reading. Go Eventing!

Natalia’s Big Week!

By Samantha Clark on Jul 21, 2011 2:57 pm -

Rebecca Farm 1st Horse Inspection

By Samantha Clark on Jul 21, 2011 1:05 pm -

and Eventing Nation’s own Chelan Kozak with Escalade, who I was thrilled to meet in person,

Choos?

No, Sara Kozumplik and Manolo Blahnik

Amelia Priesthoff and The Perfect Crime

Maddy Mazzola and Man on a Mission III

The Ground Jury deliberate

Jordan Taylor (our ears photo!) and Cambridge

Tamra Smith has a couple of rides – Mar de Amor in the 3*, and Fleeceworks Fernhill in the CCI*

Laramie Maxwell and Hunterville in the CIC 2*

Liam Kronlund and Goodness Gracious in the CCI 2*

Katie Ruppel and Sir Donovan, in the CIC 3*, made the long trip up from Ocala.

Allie Slusher and Last Call in the CIC 3*

Lots more to come, connection permitting (deja vu, sigh!) from Rebecca Farm. Thanks for reading. Go Eventing!

Rebecca Farm CIC 3* Cross Country

By Samantha Clark on Jul 21, 2011 12:14 pm -

With water being pumped from an aquifer at a rate of 2,000 gallons a minute and then sprinkled liberally onto the course, it’s no wonder that Rebecca Farm can boast perfect going. Equally the jumps are just as beautiful, and later we’ll have a brief interview with course builder Bert Wood in which he reveals his favourite jump this year. For now though, your CIC 3* course jump by jump…

Yes, good start, I got the wrong first fence! This is actually the 2* 1st fence – nice one, Samantha!

(note the sprinklers in the background, and also the watering “pods” at the side; both have been used extensively throughout the course)

You are now entering Jurassic Park!

Much more from wednesday at Rebecca Farm later, thanks for staying up, and go eventing!

Wednesday afternoon at Rebecca Farm

By Samantha Clark on Jul 21, 2011 9:45 am -

After a long but incredibly scenic drive through the state of Montana I arrived at Rebecca Farm wednesday afternoon, and immediately noticed the stark difference. Surrounded by mountains, the actual venue is surprisingly flat, fantastically green thanks to an aquifier and constant watering during the past six weeks, and of course, no cowboys (sigh) but a slew of top class eventing horse flesh to feast my eyes on, along with their riders, coaches and grooms of course.

Kyle Carter on Madison Park and Sandra Donnelly on Buenos Aires

Ronald Zabala-Goeteshel working Mr Wiseguy

Phillip Dutton rides Ben, owned by Team Rebecca, in the Advanced

I fulfilled my Montana ambition to see a bear, many times over, while walking the course!

The jumps are beautiful, and I was lucky enough to bump into course builder Bert Wood on my way round, who stopped working for a few minutes for a brief chat,

and his favourite jump,

Bert’s faithful companion, Jaeger, looking spry for seventeen years young.

I think the Jurassic Park complex, dreamed up by Jerome Broussard, is my favourite,

although how you can you resist this jump sponsored by Kerrits?

As Bert said, this would be the most fantastic place to do a three day event in the old-fashioned style, and the training three day here this year is an opportunity to learn as much as possible from the considerable talent amassed here for the week. Karen O’Connor gave the competitors a lesson in how to trot up your horse correctly Wednesday afternoon ahead of the vet’s inspection this morning. David will give the Training Three Day riders a steeplechase lesson today, Phillip Dutton will be walking the cross country with them and Max Corcoran will be teaching them all about the ten-minute box. Max also told me that Mandiba is on his way home to Virginia, was on the flight that afternoon actually; Dr Christiana Ober had a look at him after the Test Event in London – his ribs are mended, he has a callus on the outside, they’re all looking forward to having him home and he’ll start his rehab on arrival.

The final xc fence for all the sections

There are some beautiful show-jumps here to rival the cross-country, and course designer Richard Jeffery is going to talk us through some of them today, and with five dressage rings and three show jumping rings in action this weekend, and the trot-up starting at 8:30am thursday, it’s high time I wrapped this up and started preparing for an early start. Thanks for reading, Go the Treasure State and Go Eventing!

Wednesday afternoon at Rebecca Farm

By Samantha Clark on Jul 20, 2011 11:11 pm -

Kyle Carter on Madison Park and Sandra Donnelly on Buenos Aires

Ronald Zabala-Goeteshel working Wise Equestrian Mr Wiseguy

Phillip Dutton rides Ben, owned by Team Rebecca, in the Advanced

I fulfilled my Montana ambition to see a bear, many times over, while walking the course!

The jumps are beautiful, and I was lucky enough to bump into course builder Bert Wood on my way round, who stopped working for a few minutes for a brief chat,

and his favourite jump,

Bert’s faithful companion, Jaeger, looking spry for seventeen years young.

I think the Jurassic Park complex, dreamed up by Jerome Broussard, is my favourite,

although how you can you resist this jump sponsored by Kerrits?

As Bert said, this would be the most fantastic place to do a three day event in the old-fashioned style, and the training three day here this year is an opportunity to learn as much as possible from the considerable talent amassed here for the week. Karen O’Connor gave the competitors a lesson in how to trot up your horse correctly wednesday afternoon ahead of the vet’s inspection this morning. David will give the Training Three Day riders a steeplechase lesson today, Phillip Dutton will be walking the cross country with them and Max Corcoran will be teaching them all about the ten-minute box. Max also told me that Mandiba is on his way home to Virginia, was on the flight that afternoon actually; Dr Christiana Ober had a look at him after the Test Event in London – his ribs are mended, he has a callus on the outside, they’re all looking forward to having him home and he’ll start his rehab on arrival.

The final xc fence for all the sections

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About Samantha Clark

Latest Articles Written

Richard Jeffery at Rebecca Farm

Jessie Phoenix takes the lead

Friday morning Dressage at Rebecca Farm

Travers Schick – Supreme Mountaineer & Course Builder!

Sharon & Reggie – Burghley bound

Richard Jeffery at Rebecca Farm

Kyle Carter at Rebecca Farm

Patrick and Ida Linnan

Travers Schick – Supreme Mountaineer & Course Builder!

Sharon & Reggie – Burghley bound

Job Lot

Kyle Carter at Rebecca Farm

Rebecca Farm XC Wildlife that I missed first time round!

Joe Meyer

Gamal Awad

Natalia’s Big Week!

Gamal Awad

Rebecca Farm 1st Horse Inspection

Natalia’s Big Week!

Rebecca Farm 1st Horse Inspection

Rebecca Farm CIC 3* Cross Country

Wednesday afternoon at Rebecca Farm

Wednesday afternoon at Rebecca Farm

Stable View

Success Equestrian

Sport Horse Nation

Kentucky Performance Products

Strides for Equality Equestrians

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