Meghan O’Donoghue takes Pirate out for a light school around the stunning grounds of Blenheim Palace.

Pirate (with Max Corcoran) and Team Rebecca’s Ben (with Kaitlin Spurlock) flew to Lieges and arrived in England on Saturday.  Meghan and Phillip Dutton flew out a day later, and David O’Connor joined them straight from Burghley on Sunday night to give them a school Monday and Tuesday before they left for Woodstock, Oxfordshire.  By all accounts they are both going extremely well, and they certainly look it.  David was working with Liz Halliday today, and will be on site tomorrow.  On the back of Burghley it’s so easy to take these amazing venues in England for granted, but Blenheim really is quite special, and the horse trials team have been working tirelessly to make it even more fabulous. They have a very cool website and active facebook page, definitely worth bookmarking for the week. The cross country is constantly being watered, there is ample signage, wonderful decorations and from what I can see of the course it looks incredibly impressive – both from the presentation point of view, and from scale of difficulty.

Also arriving this afternoon was Jessie Phoenix and her groom Amanda with Pavarotti from Maizey Manor; Jessie told me she thinks Blenheim might be her favourite event of all, and Amanda reminisced that when she came here in 2009 with Exponential and Exploring it was the first time she’d groomed at an FEI event, and the first time she’d ever been on a plane! How times have changed, she can add Burghley and the Olympics to countless other trips since!  Clark and Jess Montgomery came slightly later having stopped to gallop at Maizey en route; Loughan Glen looks absolutely fantastic and walked in to the stables as if he owned the entire estate, and I’m looking forward to seeing their Badminton horse Universe (Buzz) working here this week as he continues to prep for Pau CCI**** and takes advantage of David’s presence all week.  As I was leaving later this evening I did see Cindy Rawson’s lorry, but as yet no sign of Jules Stiller.

The briefing is at 1pm tomorrow and the First Horse Inspection at 4pm.  There is a great atmosphere in the North American barn aisle, and thanks to Max’s experience and organisation it was set up quickly and efficiently, and I presume thanks to Land Rover the entire squad, grooms included, have been kitted out in very nice USA/USEF Ariat coats (just as well as it’s decidedly chilly!).  The entire operation is running like a well-oiled machine so far, and the horses that just shipped over seem to be loving England – long may it last! I’ll be back with lots more from Camp Camerica (as Jessie suggested we name it!)  Thanks for visiting EN, and Go the Fidelity Blenheim International Horse Trials.

Kaitlin Spurlock and Team Rebecca’s Ben on arrival at the Fidelity Blenheim International Horse Trials

Michael Pollard rode two supremely classy cross country rounds today in the CIC*** at Richland to finish in second and sixth places with Mensa and Ballingowan Pizazz, respectively. We caught up afterwards at the barns to talk about his rides and what the plans are next, plus I discovered his secret weapon; Max Corcoran is helping him out this weekend — I knew it!  All joking aside — congratulations to the entire team on a fantastic weekend so far, and we’re looking forward to an exciting fall with all his horses.

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Many thanks to Michael for chatting and apologies to Nathalie for keeping her waiting. Yes, Michael is pulled in a hundred different directions at any one time! Go Pollard Eventing Team, and Go Eventing!

Jon Holling brought two horses new to the level this year to contest the Richland Park CIC*** and must surely be thrilled with their performances. Both Meghan Richey and Chuck McGrath’s Proper Timing and Team Rebecca’s Zatopek B (pictured above) jumped clear around Ian Stark’s demanding track and will now be headed to the AECs in Texas to try and take home a portion of the $40,000 purse on offer. I caught up with him after the competition had wrapped up to ask him about his rides, the summers in Florida and where they’re headed this Fall.

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Many thanks to Jon for chatting, and I’m wishing the Holling Eventing Team safe travels as they begin the journey home and then prepare again for a few more long hauls. Best of luck at the AECs, and Go Eventing!

Boyd Martin and Trading Aces jump into the lead of the CIC3* at Richland.

As Jenni reported earlier, Marc Donovan’s show jumping track claimed its fair share of scalps Friday afternoon at Richland, but although Marc conceded that the slightly undulating grass ring might account for some of the trouble, he told me that he was happy with how it was riding overall and that his course is on par with the whole event. “The faults have been scattered throughout the course,” Marc said. “I think it’s been fair. Richland is considered a destination event, and it has a strong field. In my opinion the cross country course is very challenging and fair, and the show jumping has to match that.”

Some horses this afternoon were obviously very fresh, perhaps not used to jumping before the cross country, and I wondered if Marc took this into account while he was designing the track. “Not really,” Marc said. “I think that the course should always meet the standard and be the correct height, so that doesn’t really factor into my plan. I always try to build something that will be challenging but fair; some horses are better jumping before cross country and some are actually better after, so on any day some people are going to have an advantage.”

I asked Marc if there was a particular type of horse or rider that was suited to his course. “I think the riders that have the most success have a really good sense of pace and are going forward without speeding up,” Marc said. “Michael Pollard’s trip on Ballingowan Pizazz (pictured above, and click here to see the video) was just excellent because the horse was always in front of his leg but never rushed, and it was consistent. He would come through the turn forward, not fast, and that’s the key.”

Above, Diana Burnett and Shigatzi clear fence 3, which was responsible for quite a lot of trouble this afternoon, as Marc explained. “It’s just an oxer off the turn, but it is a complete turn,” he said. “It’s more than 90 degrees, so I think that makes it more difficult, but there’s plenty of room there.”

Jolie Wentworth and GoodKnight posted the first clear round of the day.

Michael Pollard rode two beautiful rounds to add nothing to his dressage scores, above on Pau-bound Mensa.

Phillip Dutton and Ben, leaders after the dressage, slipped a place to 2nd overnight with one rail down.

Will Faudree and Andromaque move up a spot into 5th place with just one time penalty.

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Jock Paget and Clifton Lush are your 2013 British Open Champions. Owned by Clifton Eventing founder Frances Stead and Lucy Allison, this NZ chestnut OTTB added just four  cross country time penalties to his winning dressage score to seal the deal. (All scores available here)  The top 20 going xc in reverse order of merit always makes for a nail-biting afternoon for the spectators, and definitely amps up the excitment to the very last second, but until Jock explained the way his ride played out I’d never really thought about how strategic the competitors have to be as well, “When I left the start box I knew that I had eight seconds to (second placed) Andrew (Nicholson) and about fifteen to (third placed) Oliver (Townend), and because I only had eight to Andrew I planned to go inside the time because I thought it was too close to try and be clever. I had my minutes and at that point I was going to try and go inside the time. I was on the time at the second and third minute and then by the time I got to the fourth minute still on time I heard that Andrew was walking home.  I knew now that I had fifteen seconds so I just stopped taking risks; I’d planned to take one less stride at the roll top to the skinny, and I’d planned to really knife those two fences before the water but once I knew I had fifteen seconds I just rode them safely and cruised home.”

Frances saw Clifton Lush’s potential as a very green five year old and bought him after seeing him on video, “He was doing some flatwork in a totally muddy paddock but I liked his paces and then they popped him over a few jumps and I thought he looked athletic, and I liked the type. I thought there was enough there naturally to work with and I thought he’d be really nice.” Fast forward nine years to this weekend where he emphatically stepped out of his stablemate, Badminton winner Clifton Promise’s shadow, an important win for both him and his rider, Jock, “To me it actually means a lot because I really wanted this horse to win something big. When I first came over here (my coach) Erik Duvander said that this is one you want to win, this is a big one.  When I saw the draw for Lush this weekend I got excited because I know he’s capable, but between him and Promise I tend to put Promise first and of course he’s exceptional but I think Lush has been right there next to him and deserves a bit more credit, he’s been knocking on the door for a long time and he deserved a big win, he’s got such a big heart and never stops trying.” During those nine years Lush has also overcome a freak accident in the paddock which left him with broken withers, and a long and trying convalescence, as Frances explained, “He was out in the paddock and there was a storm that night, but normally he’s very good in the paddock. The next morning they found him standing there with a very dirty rug and they didn’t know what had happened to him; the vet said he must have spooked, fallen right over and probably hit it on something. It was easy to diagnose because he was two inches shorter! He’s now 16hh, not 16.2! If you see him without tack or a rug on his shoulder blades are in the right place because they weren’t hurt but there’s nothing coming up in between; with a saddle on you don’t notice it. He was such a good boy because he had to do three months in the cross ties – he was either being led to hand-graze or he was tied up to prevent him from lying down. After that he did three months of box rest and hand-walking, and then a further four months of gradually upgrading to a larger paddock.”

Here’s a picture Jenni Autry took of Clifton Lush with Jock at Badminton (he was 14th there this Spring), and you can see what Frances is talking about.

Clifton Lush and Clifton Promise (and Kevin McNab on Clifton Pinot) are headed to Burghley next, and then Jock plans to take Shady Grey to Pau. Also headed to Burghley is the new National Champion, second placed Oliver Townend (he may get used to reading that this week after filling the reserve spot in the Advanced, the Intermediate Championship, and now the Open) with the former Andrew Nicholson ride Armada.

Oliver and Armada were one of only four combinations in the class to finish on their dressage score, and of those inside the time Oliver’s round was the fastest, “He came out the water and my watch beeped so I looked at it and I was a minute faster there than I’ve ever been on any horse any year ever! Unbelievable, but as I said if Andrew Nicholson says he’s never sat on anything with that kind of stride or power like it, it’s doubtful that I ever will again. He’s a very, very freak-like horse – for sure you could do four and three strides in a six stride distance at a full gallop, he’s just a very, very different horse to ride. As long as you’re brave enough when you can’t see distances, because normally he runs you off the distance you think you’re on anyway, and you somehow end up alright!” Suffering all weekend after a fall at home last Thursday, Oliver admitted he will finally see a doctor on Monday as he is pretty sure he’s broken something.

Sam Griffiths and Happy Times moved up from 8th after the dressage to a final 3rd place, even with a rail down in the show-jumping. Sam had gone so early in the division, and although he knew he’d had a good round and was thrilled with how Happy went, he admitted he had no expectation of being placed at all, of even being in the top ten, so he was feeding baby Ollie and listening to the cricket in his lorry, completely oblivious to his rising up the ranks! This combination also now heads to Burghley, “This was part of the lead up to Burghley, as well as there being a major title to win, so I wanted to do well here, and because he ran well here now it’s not like he needs any more runs.”  Happy Times will work hard at home until then, and being close to William Fox-Pitt who kindly lets Sam use his”lovely uphill gallop”  can’t hurt his fitness either.  A new father this year Sam shared that Ollie has had a great time at Gatcombe , “He came to the prize giving today and I think it’s the first one he’s been to and he actually thought everyone was clapping for him, he quite enjoyed himself!” Sam also finished 12th on the bay mare Paulank Brockagh.

Fellow Australians Andrew Hoy and Cheeky Calimbo added only time penalties to their dressage score to finish fourth

25 year old Royal Agriculture College student (3rd year, business management) Will Goodhew brought Trefilan Quicksilver home within the time to bag fifth place and a host of other prizes including a saddle from the Worshipful Company of Saddler (leading rider under 25) and a one thousand pound training bursary presented by the Horse Trials Support Group. Will told us he’ll spend the latter on lessons with his regular trainer Angela Tucker. The twelve year old grey gelding Trefilan Quicksilver belongs to Will’s mother Pella and they’ve had him since he  was a six year old, bringing him up through the grades after Matt Ryan did a few noices with him.  Although this was their first time in the British Open class at Gatcombe, they did contest the Advanced division here two years ago. With eight horses at home but only two in competing at the moment, Will is hoping to make a career out of eventing and receives help from his mother who has a showing background, “She does a lot of judging, so she’s incredibly useful to take along to buy horses because she’s so meticulous” and lately his father, a wind farmer, too, “Dad’s getting into it, he’s doing well and helping out but he’s not originally horsey at all!”

Avebury may be the one bright spot in a bit of a gloomy weekend for Andrew Nicholson. Rosemary and Mark Barlow’s horse finished sixth after adding some time cross country, but was the only one of Andrew’s three rides in this division to complete. Viscount George ground to a halt at the very top of the hill in the Park Bowl, stopping twice at the Mushrooms (Fence 18) before Andrew retired, and Nereo, lying second and looking fantastic put in an uncharacteristic stop at the water and was then also retired.  If you look at Nereo’s record you have to go back as far as an Elimination at Burghley in 2009, and before that a 20 at Boekelo the previous year to find the rare blots on his cross country jumping copybook.

Neither was Avebury’s cross country today without incident. Taking the most economical lines, and with his trademark relentless rhythm he cut the turn from the log into the water to the offset boat very tight, and in angling it caught his left arm, or ankle, or both, it’s hard to tell, on the white flag which very nearly pulled him off – they don’t call him Mr Stickability for nothing.

Right before it happened….

Beanie Sturgis, a regular with the local Beaufort hunt went like a bat out of hell on Lebowski to complete on her dressage score, and moved up to seventh place, but her round was not without it’s heart-stopping moments!

Aoife Clark has a lovely young horse in Fenyas Elegance, and as well as finishing 8th they took home the Worshipful Company of Loriners Trophy for the highest placed horse in the top 10 (she’s nine) and Aoife’s groom Hollie Bradshaw won the prize for the best turned out horse.

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With the conclusion of the British Novice Championship, a packed Advanced division, and the dressage phase of the British Open and British Intermediate Championships Saturday at Gatcombe — all packed with star quality horses — it’s hard to know where to begin.

The British Open Championship Dressage

With about a dozen horses still to do dressage Sunday morning, including William Fox-Pitt on Neuf Des Couers and Andrew Nicholson on Viscount George, it’s not quite a foregone conclusion that Jock Paget will lead going into the show jumping. But with an accurate, obedient and relaxed test on Frances Stead’s Clifton Lush, he’s given himself every chance; they’re currently at the top of the leaderboard with a score of 37.3. [Saturday’s British Open dressage results are here]

Lucinda Fredericks rode Flying Finish in the worst of the heavy downpour on Saturday to sit in second place, and right behind them both and just outside the 30s is Andrew Nicholson on his Olympic Games medalist and Pau winner Nereo on 40.6. Ludwig Svennerstal earned 41.5 despite an error of course for fourth place with a beautiful test on the elegant Shamwari, which means we have to go down to fifth place and the very last ride of the day Saturday, Sarah Cohen on Treason, (42.9) before we get to our first Brit, which once again demonstrates the depth of international talent riding here in the UK.

London Olympic Team silver medalists Tina Cook and Miners Frolic did a super test quite early in the day to tie for sixth place with Oliver Townend on the former Andrew Nicholson ride Armada. “I was really, really pleased with his test,” Tina said. “The mark wasn’t stunning, but I’m getting to know him more and more, and he feels to be getting more and more settled, so it’s just time and work and hopefully one day … He’s done enough four stars now; it’s about time he did something. Obviously, he was fourth at Burghley last year, and he goes back to Burghley this year, so we’ll see.”

Oliver Townend grins and bares it in the British Intermediate Championship.

Although Oliver was in some pain after a fall jumping a novice horse at home the day before the competition started, it didn’t seem to hold him back as he also rode ODT Ghareeb into second place in the Advanced, two more into the top six and two tied for 11th place in the British Intermediate Championship, as well as finished ninth in the British Novice Championship on Ballaghmor Class, so hopefully that has made it worth his while already. “It looked touch and go whether I’d ride or not, but so far it’s working alright,” Oliver said. “I don’t know whether it is ribs yet or not; we’re not quite sure. I’m alright when I’m on a horse; this is when I’m in most pain — when I’m sat down or walking around.”

Sam Griffiths and Happy Times and Andrew Nicholson on Avebury continued to represent the Southern Hemisphere in the British Open, taking eighth and ninth places after dressage on Saturday, respectively. Pippa Funnel, above, rounded out the top 10 on Or Noir De La Loge. The standard of dressage here and at this level is so high that pretty much every test in the top 20 was an absolute pleasure to watch, and mistakes were rare. Changes and half passes were generally correct and almost routine, and halts were established. The top 15 are now all separated by just 10 points, and as most of them are at least as good jumpers as they are on the flat, Sunday promises to be an exciting day!

Sam Griffiths and Happy Times — yet another London Olympics combination competing at Gatcombe — doing dressage in the pouring rain Saturday.

Badminton winners Jock Paget and Clifton Promise never had the intention of running cross country here and go to Burghley next. Owner Frances Stead will have a strong hand with three horses there this autumn — Clifton Promise and Clifton Lush with Jock, and Kevin McNaab rides Clifton Pinot.

Francis Whittington is new father to baby Amber. Congratulations to the whole family! A nice test with just a little tension and a slight disagreement about the rein back leaves them in equal 16th place, tied with Vittoria Panizzon and Merlots Magic.

Vittoria Panizzon also drew the short straw as far as the weather was concerned and was one of the unlucky few to do her test during the deluge. During the day it was hot and sunny, breezy and cool, and poured with rain — all within an hour — impossible to dress accordingly!

Sam Griffith's second ride, Paulank Brockagh, went early Saturday morning, scoring 49.4 for equal 20th place.

Congratulations to Austin O'Connor, who has been selected to represent Ireland at Malmo later this summer on his Rolex CCI4* 2013 ride Ringwood Mississippi. They also went well on Saturday and looked to have come on again on the flat since Kentucky.

The Advanced Division

William Fox Pitt, above on the winner Chilli Morning, took control of the Advanced division in the first phase and never let it go. [Advanced final scores are here] The stallion Chilli Morning led the dressage and added only time faults cross country to that score to win fairly easily, and from here will probably go straight to Burghley. “I’m very pleased with him all round; he was very good,” William said. “He did a lovely test despite me going the wrong way. I just got carried away; I’d already done the test twice on the other two, and I must have just gone off into my own little world! I was quite happy that he was still in the lead because (his owner) Chris (Stone) might have had something to say if he’d lost his lead because I’d gone the wrong way!

“He show jumped very well, and he’s feeling really well; I didn’t go too fast cross country because I felt that with eight time faults it was comfortable enough, and that will probably be his last run before Burghley. It was a little bit on his terms, which is how he likes it. He’s better feeling that he’s a bit in charge and I have to go with the flow, but he was really up for it. This was a good track to ride him around because I haven’t ridden him here before, and I haven’t really even done that many one days on him, so it was a good one for us to do together. It was an interesting course — some new terrain. I’ve never ridden him on terrain like that either, so before Burghley I think that was a good experience for him to have had. Nick (Gauntlett) had ridden him round here before, but I think it was a good opportunity for us, and he finished full of running at the end.”

William’s record on Chilli Morning is almost perfect — two Bramham wins, fifth at Pau CCI4* last year and the only cross country fault they have is at Kentucky this spring, and he still has no inkling of why, nor did he see it coming. “I think the only thing you’d say there was that in Kentucky you’d felt that he was too polite,” William said. “In the few jumps that he did jump, he was very mannerly, waiting for me to tell him what to do, and therefore was never really taking me for whatever reason, whereas he needs to be taking you. I think in Kentucky, I was quite enjoying having that, enjoying riding him and him not taking me, but actually that’s not how he goes best. He likes to be just a little bit in charge, which is a bit of a shock for me, but he was super today, so that was lovely and a good result.”

William also finished fifth on Running Order. "Running Order was very good. I was very pleased with him; we're getting it together," William said. "I found him a bit different to ride originally, but today he felt more like one of my own." He was also 12th on Catherine Witt's Seacookie TSF.

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How wonderful to watch Running Order go so beautifully for William Fox-Pitt in the Advanced division at Gatcombe this morning – a real testament to the excellent foundation laid by his former rider Doug Payne who brought him on from a five year old and competed him up to Rolex last year, and to the continuing programme of William’s which is nothing but first class all-round horsemanship and legendary riding.  I had a quick chat at the end of the day with William’s head girl Jackie, who told me she is very fond of R.O and that he’s a pleasure to look after.  William now sits handily in 3rd place on this horse, but also holds the lead on the stallion Chilli Morning, Bramham winner for the last two years running, and rounds out the top 6 on Catherine Witt’s Seacookie. (Scores are here)

Both Seacookie and Running Order did beautiful tests  – smooth, fluent and deadly accurate, and I’m sorry that Lily and I didn’t get to see Chilli go this afternoon to complete the hat trick.

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Andrew Nicholson and his Rolex Kentucky ’13 winner Quimbo are in second place after the dressage with another mistake free test; they were 3rd in the Advanced here in 2010, and won the same division in 2011. Lucy Wiegesma and Bill Levett make up the top 6 with Simon Porloe and Improvise in 4th and 5th place respectively.

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Mary and Emily King watching William do his test on Running Order. Gatcombe is unlike quite any other event in the world; Lily and I spent probably just over an hour watching the Advanced dressage (almost 60 deep) this morning and I lost count of how many members of various Eventing Olympic teams we saw, how many Badminton or four star winners – my mind was spinning, I definitely felt like the proverbial kid in the candy store watching so many quality tests, one after the other.

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Rodney Powell looks to have another lovely horse coming up the ranks in Happy Go Lucky, a twelve year old gelding by Heraldik. Their test was another absolute treat to watch, and I hear through the grapevine that Will Coleman has recently added Rodney’s Conair to his string, so I’ll be interested to watch that partnership develop.

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Alongside all the household names and famous faces at Gatcombe there are also plenty of young riders, and exciting young horses coming up the ranks to watch, and Tom McEwen is definitely one of these.  Tom kept his composure to squeeze every mark out of a slightly unsettled Diesel, above, the horse that he’s been selected to represent GB on at the Europeans in Malmo this summer, and he also sits in 10th place on Dry Old Party, the OTTB who was so impressive at Burghley in 2011, and was also 3rd in the Advanced here that year.  Tracie Robinson, GB Eventing Team dressage trainer, and Yogi Breisner were out in force at the dressage today, helping and watching several combinations including Tom, but his real secret weapon may be his super-groom Alex Van Tuyll!

Matt Ryan was a fascinating co-host on the Eventing Radio Show shortly after Badminton this year, and he spoke very highly of this mare, Bonza Moorabinda, and also added that he hadn’t entirely ruled out the Rio Olympics in 2016.  Although not quite as polished as the top group, I was more distracted by his long hair and extra row of buttons on his tail coat!

Huge thanks to all the Pony club runners who collected live scores all day, and to the organisation which runs the event seamlessly.  Looking forward to an exciting two days ahead and lots more here on Eventing Nation. Thanks as always for visiting, and Go Gatcombe, the Festival of British Eventing!

Welcome to Gatcombe and the Festival of British Eventing 2013, this year blessed with sunny skies after becoming a casualty of the Great British summer last year and being forced to cancel; in fact in stark contrast several people have told me how dry, hard and yellow the ground was here just a couple of weeks ago but with some well-timed rain, and much spiking and rolling the footing on the xc course  is now close to ideal.

The Gatcombe Start Box….

The first two fences are shared by all the divisions, as are the last two but in between them every track is championship calibre – testing scope, bravery, accuracy and most definitely fitness.  Designed by Captain Mark Phillips of course, the CIC3* British Open Championship course, which you can see below, is a mix of big, solid wide fences, and combinations of questions to corners, narrow houses or skinny brushes. To me, it seems more substantial this year and reminds me of the Ian Stark/Derek Di Grazia courses I’ve seen lately – even the second and third elements of the combinations are big, and somewhat more inviting than a narrow airy rail for example. The terrain at Gatcombe is always a factor – it’s very hilly, with a couple of loops and switchbacks, plenty of opportunites for a horse and rider to make up time, or equally to waste precious seconds.  By Sunday afternoon, especially if we get the wonderful 70 degree sunshine that is forecast, the crowds will be packed, especially around the feature water fence, and enjoying the view of a vast portion of the course around the natural park bowl.

At fence 3 things start to get serious….

….looking up at the drop on the other side of the third fence

The famous Cotswold stone walls that are ubiquitous all over the countryside here, at 4

The Hamptons International Round Top at 5 would be a straightforward let-up fence if not for the terrain

The first combination on course comes at Fence 6A,B, and C

and is immediately followed by the step up to a house at 7

(look for the Paul Tapner cameo in the background, walking the Intermediate line to the house)

What Fence 8 lacks in technical difficulty it makes up for in sheer size!

Another massive table at 9 jumping out of the Hamptons International House

Through a gap past the Intermediate fence, and down a short but steep hill to another Cotswold stone wall at 10A

Then a sharp right handed turn to the B & C elements

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Your eventual CIC3* winners Kristi Nunnink with the fabulous R-Star

Advanced winners Kiyomi Foster and Tasman Sea

Advanced competitors Anne Carr and Safari

CCI** winner Lisa Marie Fergusson show-jumping her advanced horse, Uni Sprite

Nathan Grosse and Ray in the Advanced

Barb Crabo and Over Easy. I think it must have been the combination of perfect weather and the Rebecca Farm vacation atmosphere that brought out the best in the competitors – what a stylish bunch show-casing dresses – I spotted a couple at least with the front to back uneven hemlines,  chic hats, super cool accessories, a V-backed dress, skirts and pretty blouses…..all carried off with aplomb.

Aussie cool meets West Coast chic: Bec Braitling and Sam I Am.

What do you need if you want to be a West Coast Eventing secret weapon like Bill Olson? Mad multi-tasking skillz as demonstrated above, and the best iphone photographer bar none. Bill notes: “The one of me on the phone talking to Hawley Bennett cracks me up!  She had to know what was happening in the jogs; she was in show jump warm-up.”

Geriann Henderson and Kingslee.

Emilee Libby — Love this!

Jennifer Taxay Kelly leading Taboo

Ellen Doughty and Sir Oberon

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Katy Groesbeck and Emilee Libby – your top 2 riders and top 3 places in the Rebecca Farm CIC3* after cross country

Today’s press conference was unlike the usual, sometimes rather stiff question and answer affair;  best friends and barnmates Katy and Emily brought along some more friends, Bill Olson and competitor Jordan Taylor, and we all got carried away and chatted happily for almost half an hour! Katy, lying first and second on Oz Poof of Purchase and Oz The Tin Man respectively was first and last to go in the division so she said she didn’t get a chance to see much, “Being first and last I was so focused on going out on the first one, then coming back and getting one horse cooled down and then on and warmed up on the next horse that I actually had no idea about what was going on out on the course. It wasn’t until I was going to the box on my second horse that I heard them announce that my first horse was in the lead and I started crying! But that was the first I was aware that there had been problems.” Between them Katy and Emilee had the only three rounds inside the time today, and for Katy, bringing both of hers home without penalties wasn’t entirely a surprise, “Time for them is typically not an issue. I did have to pay attention to my minute markers and focus on really riding forward, but I was forward enough around the course that I was able to come home quietly and actually give them a bit of a breather on the way to the finish so that they came in pretty cool and calm. Personally, I’m exhausted! I’m more exhausted I think from the adrenalin from the physical riding. I was on my second horse (Oz The Tin Man) coming home and by the time I got through the last water my legs felt a little wobbly but I’ve been riding him for ten years and we have a really good partnership so we kind of worked together to come home safe.”

When asked to talk about Ian’s courses Katy answered simply, “Kick! And go forward!” but then she elaborated, “I really like that he kept a lot of the same ideas from last year with a few modifications and improvements. Ian doesn’t try to trick the horses or riders, he’s very much into testing boldness and bravery. This was a typical Ian course;  I love them and my horses do too. I love that you can come out of the box, hit a stride and pretty much keep it the whole way round. “

Fellow HB Eventing team mate and “besty” with Katy and Emilee, (her words not mine!) Jordan Taylor (above on Cambridge) was at the press conference, supporting and taking pictures. Hawley had seven clear rounds out of seven rides in the CIC3* today, and last time I checked in with her she still had a flawless record across all the other divisions also. Katy talked about living and competing with the crew, “It gets busy, obviously, we all have schedules to work around but we try and help each other out. Why it’s such a fun atmosphere is because we’re all fairly similar in age. We’re a fun gang, even when we’re not at the barn we’ll hang out. On any given day you’ll find twelve of us in somebody’s house around a pot of spaghetti.”

Emily was taking her ten year old Nonsensical around only his third advanced today, “He’s still a little green with all his lines and stuff but he attacked everything. He was in front of my leg and he was awesome.  After every combination I just gave him a pat, screamed ‘Good Boy!’ and shortened my reins! After the combination at 9 his confidence just grew the whole way round which is an amazing feeling, especially at his first 3*”  The combination tackled Nonsensical’s  first FEI event together at Rebecca Farm last year when they won the CIC** and Emilee said he felt even better this year in the 3*.

Emilee is a transplant to the West Coast Eventing and addressed the differences between California and East Coast eventing, “The footing in California is all sand whereas over there it’s grass but it’s usually deep and muddy and raining all the time! The riding is mostly the same but it’s a whole different atmosphere, I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s really nice to come back to Montana because it reminds me of being on the East Coast again, and I usually see some people from back home here. I don’t know if I’ll ever move back to the East again, I kind of like it here with my Cali crew!”

Katy: “I’ve been told you can spot the California girls on the East Coast a mile away because of the bling!”  Tamie Smith represents beautifully.

Although Katy’s horses are full brothers, as she told me on Thursday they each have completely different personalities, “They each have a different way of going, it’s pretty subtle. To watch them you’d say they were both pretty forward, brave and honest but I have to treat each of them a little differently as to how much I can take charge, and how much I can say, ‘Okay, I’m not going to bug you about that, we’re going to just keep going’. The nice thing about them both though is they’re not horses that are easily intimidated, it takes quite a bit to rattle them so even if you have a bad jump here or there I might smack them and move them on, but I’m not worried that they’ve been shaken up by it , they’re both very forward thinking horses, they don’t tend to look back too much.”

Surprisingly, Katy told me her ride today on Poof was not one of her best at all, “There were some moments that made me nervous. I had changed to a bigger stud behind before I went and I actually felt it was too much, and I changed back to the smaller studs on ‘Wart’, my second horse. Poof just felt stuck to the ground in some places, and he’s very willing and honest so he jumped in places where he got in kind of deep and lost his oomph but he tried his heart out. I don’t feel that it was me or anything mental, I think he just didn’t have a good feel in his feet. It really rattled me and I almost pulled him up because he’s usually so forward and quick off the ground, but by the time we’d jumped fence 7 he’d got a feel of the ground better. There’s a lot to think about when you go out and he hasn’t run on grass since he was here in 2010 so he’s also not a horse who is really familiar on this type of terrain, and being from California we don’t even know what studs are!”

Katy has been working on the final phase and is also hopeful that it will pay off on Sunday,  “These last seven months with Hawley I’ve been really working on my show-jump riding in particular, and we’ve come a long way from where we were last year. It’s always the most mentally challenging phase for me but we’ve come a long, long way in our schooling at home so I’m hoping to put it to work tomorrow. Both horses are quite capable of a clean round, it’s just the rider!”

How do our top 2 gals plan on celebrating tonight? “Oh, you know – icing, braiding, walking! Then going to sleep. Maybe take a shower!”

Enjoy the moment! Thank you to Katy and Emilee for chatting to us, and congratulations again to them, and to Hawley Bennet Eventing. Now I may or may not be about to go and watch Ian Stark give Gin’N’Juice a little pop! Keep your eyes on EN, thanks as always for visiting, and Go Eventing at Rebecca Farm!

Katy Groesbeck didn’t put a foot wrong today on Ian Stark’s demanding CIC3* cross country course and now occupies the top two spots with her Anglo-Arab full brothers Oz Poof of Purchase and Oz The Tin Man after bringing them both home clear and inside the time.  First out on course with ‘Poof” they looked super all the way round and seemed to finish full of run. You can find all your CIC3* scores here.

By the time Katy set out on Oz The Tin Man, the last to go in the division, the course had claimed some notable scalps – US Olympians Gina Miles and Phillip Dutton, as well as former USEA president Kevin Baumgardner, and Jeanine Allred. As far as we know all the horses and riders walked back to the barn and are okay.

Emilee Libby and Nonsensical jumped up into third place from thirteenth with the only other clear round inside the time. At this point it’s worth noting that both these girls are coached by Hawley Bennet, and that Hawley can also claim seven out of seven clear rounds on the CIC3* course today – you could say that HB Eventing are owning Rebecca Farm right now!

Katie Ruppel and Houdini

After knocking the button on her stopwatch at Fence 4 Katie accrued about 7 time penalties and was kicking herself but told me she was thrilled with ‘Huey’ nonetheless. They drop down to fourth place overnight.

Kristi Nunnink and R-Star looked super all the way round and notched up some 8 time penalties and change to slip into 5th place

Cavallino Cocktail looked very strong all the way round for Zach Brandt, she was still pulling hard at the last fence. It looked like Zach was trying to hold her and interfere as little as possible but they came home with 7.6 time penalties to finish in 6th place overnight. I’m more impressed by Zach each time I see him ride, and selfishly I’m thrilled that he’ll be spending some time training on the East Coast this summer.

Pam Fisher and her OTTB stallion Sea Lion zipped round, adding just 1.6 time penalties to their dressage to lie in 7th place going into the show-jumping

Ellen Doughty and Sir Oberon who were so impressive at Chatt Hills International earlier this spring, jumped clear with 8 time and are currently 9th

Lauren Billys and Ballingowan Ginger, clear with time for 10th place

Barb Crabo and her Swedish Warmblood Over Easy – what a scopey and game little mare she is, and they have such a great rapport together. They occupy the 11 spot after adding just time to their dressage score.

Jennifer McFall and High Times – 11.2 time for 12th place

Taboo and Jennifer Taxay Kelly, 20.8 time for 14th place

Jolie Wentworth and Good Knight picked up a stop but came home with only ten time penalties to finish in 15th place

Avery Klunick and In It To Win It moved up to 16th place with just time penalties to add to their first day score

Andrea Baxter and Indy 500 complete with a stop and time for 17th place

The overnight leader Phillip Dutton and Ben a couple of fences before their fall at the big picnic table after the water at fence 12. I haven’t had a chance to talk to Phillip yet but saw both horse and rider walking back to the stables which is always a huge relief.

Kevin Baumgardner and Jefferson D’Aurois sailing over the picnic table (that was Ben’s downfall) before a fall in the second water later on course.  More later after the press conference and I’m going to try and catch up with the people I didn’t see.  Thanks as always to all the volunteers who were out here long before the 8am start, directing traffic and spectators and keeping the whole shebang running like clockwork. Thank you for reading, and Go Rebecca Farm!

Well done to Lisa Marie Fergusson who brought both her horses home clear inside the time, and Feral Errol keeps his dressage lead as we head into the show-jumping on Sunday. All your CCI** scores are here.  Honour Me also, obviously, looked good, finishing well to move up to 9th place. Problems have been spread out around the course although as I was hovering around the second half I didn’t see many of them.  Massive EN commiserations to Frankie Theriot who had to withdraw 2nd placed Uphoria before the cross country began due to a spider bite on her leg; she may re-route to Richland, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed that wherever they go next they’ll have better luck. Poor Frankie is putting a brave face on things, and poor Uphoria’s leg is huge apparently and she can hardly walk, but Frankie will reassess, go back to Pennsylvania as soon as she can travel comfortably, and then head home to California via the AECs later this year.

I saw both Lisa Marie Fergusson and Feral Errol, top picture, and Kristi Nunnink with Astro (currently in 7th place) storming through the first water, really riding boldy and attacking it, and they looked fabulous – talk about channeling Ian Stark! I had a quick chat with Ian after the CCI** completed and he said he was pleased with the way the course was riding, and hoped for a similar result for the CIC*** this afternoon, “I’m quite happy with the 3* course but there’s still quite a lot I want to do with it for next year on the CCI***, I have lots of plans that I need to run past Jerome and Sarah, I’m looking forward to it.” Whether the CIC*** will be replaced or run alongside the CCI*** has not yet been decided, “I suppose it depends on demand, we could do both.” Walking the courses at the beginning of the week, and then again this morning as the two star horses set off I must admit to wishing I was competing, and I asked Ian if he felt the same, “Sometimes. I’ve been riding a bit at home at the prelim level and some days I really look forward to it and really enjoy it and it’s a real pleasure to get out there and compete, and other days when I’ve got too many other things going on it becomes a chore and I don’t enjoy it so much and I know I’m doing the right thing. I haven’t got the time to devote enough time to do it seriously. Going out once in a while is great fun but I know now that I haven’t got the time to devote to the higher level so I’m not missing it.” However, Ian jumped at the idea of getting on Hawley Bennet’s Gin N’ Juice when I told him she had been wondering whether to ask him to give her a gallop and a jump, “Oh God, I would certainly do that! I would be in my element, I’m very game! I’d come out of retirement to ride that one!” he laughed. EN, we’ll keep you posted!

I really liked Jordan Linstedt’s big horse Revitavet Capato in the dressage yesterday, so was thrilled to see him go so well for her cross country today, what an exciting prospect he looks to be for her.  She moves up into second place with a clear inside the time.

Julie Wolfert and Buenos Aires survived a lucky moment at the B element of this, the second water to come home clear inside the time and move up three places to third.

Well sat, Julie!

Martha McDowell piloted her own and Sarah Kelly’s Nabouco De Lessay beautifully round the course, adding just two time penalties and moving up to fourth place overnight.  Maddie Mazzola looks to have struck up a great partnership withKate Brown’s former ride Mojito and jumped round clear and quickly to take 5th place. Tamie Smith also looked impressive on Fleeceworks Fernhill, and round out the top 6 by dint of a double clear across country too.

Emily Pestl-Dimmitt gave Airlington vocal encouragement and praise the whole way round, and moved up to 8th place with about a dozen time penalties.

Lisa Marie Fergusson and her second ride, Honour Me in 9th place

Julie Norman and Consensus slipped to 11th place with a stop

Jil Walton and Dee Dee Chaser also had a bit of trouble on course but looked great through the coffin and the latter part of the course

Madison Hogan and Kings Crossing head for home, through the second water

Andrea Baxter accumulated stops on the course and so had the long walk home after retiring.

The weather this morning has been ideal – cool and crisp, but as the sun begins to rise higher in the sky so the temperature is soaring, as is the anticipation. The CIC3* will begin at 11:30 (Mountain Time) with Katy Groesbeck and Oz Poof of Purchase first out. Best of luck to all of them, and I’ll be back later with more from Rebecca Farm – Go Eventing!

Phillip Dutton riding Team Rebecca’s Ben took a commanding lead of the CIC*** division this afternoon, giving himself an eight point cushion ahead of his closest rival, Kristi Nunnink on R-Star in second place. (CIC3* scores here) With back to back CIC3* wins already this year at Chattahoochee Hills International and Bromont, this combination has put themselves in a great spot to make it three in a row.  Plus they also won the Advanced Division here at Rebecca Farm two years ago so we know Montana suits them.   Although it would be hard to bet against them at this point, Phillip did point out that Ben was off last year with an injury so he’s not planning on going all out for time whilst still conceding that the horse feels terrific in himself, and he would go “quickish!”  Ben’s test was a pleasure to watch – forward and flowing, and mistake free, combined with his extravagant paces.  But, ever the perfectionist, Phillip still felt he’d left some marks on the table,

“I was pleased but you’re always thinking of things you could have done better and I left some points in the ring. We’re starting to trust each other now though – I know when he goes in the ring that he’s got plenty of movement so I don’t have to overdo it, just make it look nice and easy and soft. It’s getting better and better so I’m pretty excited about him.  He’s got a great trot but his canter needs to be underneath him a bit more and after Bromont I realised that and have been putting a fair bit of time into it. I think that part was the biggest improvement, it was quite a bit better today so I’m happy about that. He’s never been this fit in his life so I’ve got a little bit different of a horse to deal with now; he takes a lot more riding in than he used to so I’ve had to adjust my working in with him. I rode him three times today to get him to where he and I were on the same page, but I think that’s a good thing because he’s starting to get really fit which has taken a while.” Although Phillip admitted that an 8 point advantage is a good thing, he stressed that there are still two more days to go and the final score is obviously the most important, but that he’s looking forward to riding Ian’s cross country on Saturday, “I think it’s a great course, it’s quite big and scopey not super technical but there’s a lot of jumping to do. A lot of people have come a long way to get here, including myself, and it’s well worth it, it’s great footing and a great course, Ian has put a lot of thought and detail into each jump and it should be a great experience for the horses and riders.”

Kristi Nunnink and R-Star produced a lovely test too, with moments of brilliance – their lead changes were flawless – but also a couple of bobbles, breaking into canter in the trot work, and jogging before the rein back.  But Kristi isn’t worried about them, explaining they’re a result of working on the big picture, “It’s been a great day. I was very happy with R-Star; I’m trying to move her back into a snaffle and she went in one today and was very good in it so I was very happy about that. I had a few little bobbles because we’re working on making her more supple and she likes to do little  canter steps to avoid that but she’s getting better and better and I was very happy with her.”

Katie Ruppel made no mistakes on her lovely chestnut OTTB Houdini, with especially nice canter work to slip right behind Kristi into third place on 49.2, “As David told me after my test, and I agree, it’s all basically good but being a nine year old, green, three star horse we really need to just clean up the details and shave the points off, and that’s something we’ll work on in the training sessions next month.  I think we could easily score five or six points lower just by being strict on the details like maybe, cleaner halts, cleaner departs, some straightness….I think working on things like that could really make it a winning test every time but I’m really pleased with him. We had a scary moment in warm-up when he didn’t appreciate the cross country going on nearby and we had an arabian tail moment but he’s really good about going to work in the ring, I’m really proud of him.” Like most of the riders I’ve talked to, Katie is looking forward to the cross country test on Saturday, and has some previous experience with Ian’s courses, “I think it’s a great course but personally I think it’s a little tame for one of Ian’s courses although I do think it’s very appropriate. It’s a good test, there’s lots of galloping, typical Ian, lots of ditches and boldness questions. I really like it, I’m excited to get out there and I think it will suit Houdini really well. Ian designs at Richland which is my hometown so we’ve done that every year, I’ve done the 3* multiple times and Houdini did the Advanced there last year. I went to Galway, which was very impressive, I called it Ditch City, that’s a hard track. I love the way Ian designs; it’s all very jumpable, the questions are hard but they’re fair, and he definitely rewards a bold horse. I think Houdini will go out there and be pretty brave tomorrow.” Lying in 3rd place, and apart from the yawning chasm between Phillip and the rest of the field, only ten points separate the top 15 so I asked Katie if she’d be going for time, “Oh God, yes! It’s not a super long track, he’s fit enough, he’s a thoroughbred, I’m very lucky that he’s got a lot of stamina, the galloping is great, the footing is perfect – why not go for it? For sure!”

The difference between Zach Brandt’s test today on Cavallino Cocktail and his test at Jersey Fresh in the Spring is like night and day. Skotty looked much more relaxed which enabled Zach to show off her movement, and he rode her beautifully, really asking her to go forward in the trot at the beginning of the test.  Zach rode calmly and with maturity, really getting the best out of his mare, and not getting flustered when she got the wrong lead after the rein back, and his final halt was perfection.

Gina Miles should be very excited about Chanel, as she also had some stunning moments, especially in the trot work, even though their overall score suffered a bit due to tension in the walk to rein back.  Chanel has a very high step behind in the canter which can sometimes be distracting but there is such a lot to like, the very least of which was her immaculately braided tail!  Look for this mare to start challenging R-Star’s California Gal supremacy before too long.  Ben, Rosie and Chanel came all in a row and it was a real treat to watch three such professionally presented tests and three gorgeous movers – I imagine any of these eventers could give the pure dressage guys a run for their money.

I feel like Katy Groesbeck suffered from being first to go on Oz Poof of Purchase – she rode an immaculate test with only perhaps a tiny bit of tension sometimes evident in her horse’s head and neck but it was smooth, polished and accurate.  Oz The Tin Man was last to go and didn’t have quite the execution of his brother but Katy should be proud to be heading into the second phase with both of them in the top 10.

Barb Crabo and her Swedish Warmblood mare Over Easy posted an obedient, workmanlike test with a slight bobble at the second lead change, and then changed again right before the final halt.

Jeanine Allred and Snap Decision also did a nice test with clear definition between extensions, and on the marker accuracy to lie in 9th place overnight.

Avery Klunick and In It To Win It

Despite the intense heat and relentless sun, a large crowd stayed to watch this division in the middle of the afternoon.  I think they appreciated the display of quality dressage because it was almost eerily quiet for the most part; so much so that when the odd phone rang it seemed glaringly loud, and a car alarm  that went off during Lauren Billys’ test on Ballingowan Ginger seemed deafening.  Geriann Henderson did a nice test on Kingslee and made a fan of me when she gave a heartfelt good luck to her HB Eventing team mate Emilee Libby who followed her on Nonsensical, “Go Get’Em, show them how it’s done Em!” she told her as she was leaving the arena.  Possibly the most enthusiastic applause of the day was for former USEA president Kevin Baumgardner on Jefferson D’Aurois.  We couldn’t let the day pass without mentioning all the volunteers today who remained cheerful, friendly and helpful throughout the long, hot competition which got underway at 7:15am (first horse on Phase A) and didn’t finish before 4:30pm, or even later for some – this and all competitions would not be possible without you.  Thank you from the entire Eventing Nation, to all the volunteers and also to the judges and organisers, and especially the grooms and families whose days never end!  Saturday starts early again with the CCI** cross country getting underway at 8am, and if everything runs exactly to plan the last horse should have completed the course by 6pm.  Wishing everyone safe rides, and looking forward to another exciting day at Rebecca Farm.  Go Eventing!

Uphoria and Frankie Theriot move into 2nd place after dressage with a forward, accurate test

I was sorry to miss the first test of the division, Lisa Marie Fergusson and Feral Errol as they set a standard that wouldn’t be matched and take the overnight lead with a score of 44.3. You can find all the scores here.  A few points in arrears Frankie Theriot rode her little mare Uphoria into second place on 48.5. despite a nearly fourteen point gap between two of the judges.

Jordan Lindstedt rode Revitavet Capato beautifully, keeping the lid on this very talented horse well. Gorgeous in the warm-up he came up and curled in a little with his head carriage and looked like he wanted to spook in the arena but ended up performing a lovely test to lie 3rd after this phase on 49.1. An impressive horse already, he looks like there’s plenty more to come and I’m looking forward to watching him jump on Saturday.

Jordan working and stretching Revitavet Capato’s legs earlier this morning

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