From Meg:

This week is a big one for a lot of people. Currently eventers all over the country are packing up and fleeing towards the Canadian border.  SHE is no different. Although our SHE Mobile, with its unhinged window and broken door handle, is headed north without the Taterball. As Sinead, Sarah, Foxy, Shannon and Frank head to Bromont, Tate and I are getting picked up by a nice burly shipper and heading to our favorite digs at the vetport at JFK.

I have already given him his “don’t get loose on the tarmac or they’ll shoot you” pep talk, so we are all good and ready for travel. With a quick stop in Belgium we hope to be with our old friends at Maizey Manor on Thursday. So this means I have 4 solid days in the UK to train Tate up so he wins Barbury castle before Sinead gets there.

This summer is sure to be unforgettable no matter what the outcome. A lot of us have been marking the days off the calendar with big giants X’s, but I will have to say every day up until this one has been an amazing experience. The witching hour is finally upon us! So good luck to everyone at Bromont this weekend. And good luck to Tate and I as we traverse the big blue.  See you all in the olde country!

MegKep

SHE finds inspiration from the best white people band to come around in a long time (and the reason the Gotye song is now played out:

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeDyxfLJsgI&feature=BFa&list=PL28C14FA6792ADCB4

Icarus 2012 Rolex, photo by Danielle

This is the third and final EN tribute post to the three Pollard Eventing horses lost in the tragic May trailer accident.  We are happy to reports that one of the horses from the accident, Michael and Nathalie’s Schoensgreen Hanni, is happily on her way to Bromont.  Hanni will leave for Canada Sunday morning after a weekend layover at Will Coleman’s farm in Virginia.  Onto the Fly tributes:

From EN reader Danielle:

Since I was a little girl I have been a fan of Eventing…with age the passion is still burning. I have the utmost respect for the riders and horses that compete at the top level. Rolex has been something that me and my mother have gone to every year since I was a girl. In 2011 I saw Icarus in the warm up for dressage. I was blown away not only by his outward beauty but by his presence. I have a ton of pictures from his warm up. He and Michael seemed to move around the ring seamlessly. Icarus also just had that look, that personality that you wanted to know him, that he was something special.

 

Icarus, photo by Kristen Janicki

 

Icarus 2011 Rolex warmup, photo by Danielle

 

Icarus 2011 Rolex, photo by Danielle

 

Rolex 2012, photo by Andrea Arrandale Daguanno

 

Photo by Andrea Arrandale Daguanno

 

Rolex 2011, photo by Kristen Janicki

 

Photo by Kristen Janicki

From Hilary Bates:

I had the privilege of owning Jude’s Law from 2009 until July of 2011 when he was purchased by Michael Pollard.  In this short time he was lovingly produced to a CIC*** and winning Advanced horse by my friend and trainer, Beth Temkin.  Jude lived at my barn next to the Horse Park of Woodside in California and had this walk home, through the beautiful fields of the Woodside cross country course, every day after schooling.  He was a once in a life time horse; it was one of my many fortunes in life that he was part of mine.

Ruth Armstrong, owner of VDL Ulando H, was kind enough to share the personal side of Ulando with us.  I cannot imagine how awful it must be to go through this heartbreak of losing a horse so close to you.  Ruth, of Armstrong Farm in Mono, Ontario, is a warmblood breeder for sport disciplines.  Originally from the UK, she has been in Canada for 18 years, and has over 30 years experience with horses in Europe and North America. She has competed internationally in show jumping and FEI 2* level eventing. Her husband Morley Armstrong, an active Lt Colonel in the Canadian forces, works tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the busy farm on track. Ruth’s daughter Tiffany (age 12) has started her eventing career and is becoming a big help around the family run farm. Ruth is also the Ontario president of the Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeders Association and a National Managing Director. A busy woman: mom,coach, competitor, wife AND a breeding farm….

Armstrong Farm stands several stallions, including Frenchman, Ilian de Taute, VDL Ulando H, Holburg, and frozen semen by Beau Regarde and Tango Selune.  Michael Pollard’s exciting new stallion Querdolan Vitarel (currently in the UK with Bettina Hoy) will be a new addition.  Ruth also bred and produced the stallion P.S. I Love You, top Canadian stallion and now a top west coast derby hunter star.

For more information about Armstrong Farm, it’s stallions, or breeding program, please visit www.armstrongfarm.com, the Armstrong Farm facebook page, or email [email protected].

I have so many wonderful and hilarious memories to draw on: John Holling in a dressage lesson asking me for more, more, more till I could barely breathe with exhaustion; and he would be sipping his drink…cool as cucumber, and I …a soaking wet chewed string, and he would say, “Not bad, he’s straight now!”  With Garry Roque jump schooling me while he pinged me to the top of the standards, and he would take a puff on his cigarette with a huge grin and in his slow drawl would say, “Well, honey your still on and he’s happy…come around again.”

 

I fractured my back a few years ago for the second time and his athletic jump was a bit hard on the painkillers; so when the jumps got higher and so did Ulando keep getting higher, I asked my friend and horseman Robin Walker to take him for a spin around HITS. I had complete faith that Robin would listen to me in how Ulando needed to be ridden and still remain in the tack!  Fingers and legs were oh so crossed!  As I pulled Ulando off my trailer I was telling Robin that he is a bit explosive over the fences…I laughed till it hurt watching Robin in the ring clear everything by an extra three feet and the look I got when he came out of the ring said several thousand words, in only the way Robin can say them… I almost died laughing and I still see that face to this day.

 

Ulando was both loving and mischievous . He would not keep his blankets on, he’d tip over his buckets and poop in his water buckets, pull my hair elastics out, and steal your drinks: he could drink out of a pop can or a beer can….though I do think he preferred beer. My 12-year-old daughter Tiffany could lead him around like a puppy and yet with me he could have a day where he would be a fire-breathing, piaffing dragon to his paddock and you would shout at him and he would say, “But I was only playing”..and give you his tongue. On more than one occasion I had turned him loose in his paddock, closed the gate, and I was almost at the house gate to find him behind me…laughing as only he could do. Ulando was all about knowing him as a person , gaining his trust and love that was his key, all the talent was there naturally and he never forgot anything good or bad.

 

The last event he won with me I lost my stirrups coming to a coffin and he put in a trot step to a brush and an invisible ditch and picked his own way all the way through, and for the very first time was flag hunting. Then he started to drag me around the courses ,that brought tears to my eyes knowing he was now a true and very real competitor.  Last year,  June 2011,  I  made the decision that he was indeed ready to be an international horse and gave Karl  Slezak the ride. I was stressed because  he was picking at his food and when I went to see him he just put his head in my arms and breathed a big sigh…as if to say “OK mom you still have me and love me, all is cool.”   His voracious appetite returned and Karl and I were happy. Karl loved riding Ulando and  we had a dream to try for the Canadian team and he did a fantastic job in the 8 months that he rode him with many accolades to their names, including winning their first Advanced in a very strong field and thus proving my belief in Ulando, but the gods were against us and he sustained  a minor injury.

 

Ulando’s legacy have proven to be winners from free jumping classes, cup classes, and are just making their debut successfully in the event and jumper & dressage rings. I have two particularly spectacular young ones with a Burggraaf dam line which I hope to see Michael up on.  Luckily I have a solid bank of frozen semen which is of excellent quality so business will be as usual for breeding.  Info at www.armstrongfarm.com.

 

 

Michael had always admired Ulando and an exciting business partnership was struck. Michael loved Ulando and he was the one horse in the barn that he personally did up from start to finish, he knew and understood the key to Ulando was to have him love you back,to be his security blanket.  Once you had that he would give you his all and more. That meant a lot to me.  It is particularly devastating to us both that we did not get the opportunity to see them develop together. With all my heart  I believe they would have been a dominating force.

 

Thank You to everyone who new and loved or had  Ulando in their lives , and another huge thank you to the eventing community.Your support has helped me through this black time it truly means much. Ulando will rest forever at Michaels but we will remember him here with love and pleasure.We must all look to the horizon and pray for a fairer weather future.

 

R.I.P    VDL Ulando H      I was proud to be your person xox

 

Candian Warmblood approved Dutch bred stallion by  Corland /Fanietta /Ahorn

 

Ulando, photo by Andrew Bailini

 

Ulando loves dressage in the mud

 

Ulando and Ruth

 

Ulando and Robin Walker, photo used with permission

 

Ulando and Karl Slezak, photo by Shannon Brinkman

Ulando and Michael Pollard

 

Whisper D'Orange, by Ulando out of Burggraaf mare

Once again we get to ride along with the perky gray ears of Snap Decision (“Fuzzy”) and Jeanine Allred, here going Advanced at Woodside in California.  Go Fuzzy!

Great strides have been made within the last year to recognize off-track Thoroughbreds in other careers, particularly eventing.  The Jockey Club announced the “TIP” (Thoroughbred Incentive Program) last fall, providing prizes for ex-racehorses competing in a variety of events.  Now the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA) have stepped up to provide further recognition and support for Thoroughbred eventers at New York horse trials.  Many thanks to Louise Meryman for sending us this article.  Go Thoroughbreds!

From Louise Meryman and NYTHA:

DATELINE – Registered thoroughbreds that compete on the New York Eventing circuit this season will be recognized by a new $30,000 award program sponsored by the New York Racing Association and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association.

In an effort to promote Eventing as a second career for thoroughbreds, many of which come off the racetrack, the two groups have committed prize money and gifts to first and second place finishers in every level at each of the 10 upcoming New York horse trials.  The season kicks off June 10 with the Genesee Valley Riding and Driving Club Horse Trial in Geneseo, N.Y., and concludes in August with the New York Second Career Thoroughbred Circuit’s Grand Finale at the Millbrook Horse Trials, the largest horse trial in the state.

The initiative, which has been named “Career²,” honors the role the thoroughbred plays in Eventing.  Since 2000, nearly 15,000 thoroughbreds have been registered with the U.S. Eventing Association, and roughly a third of Eventers ride thoroughbreds in competition from Beginner-Novice level through Advanced.  No other equestrian sport has such a large percentage of thoroughbreds.

“We are absolutely thrilled that these two important racing organizations are recognizing the wonderful opportunities that exist in Eventing for thoroughbreds, including those coming off the track,” said USEA Chief Executive Jo Whitehouse. “Retraining these former racehorses for a second career in Eventing is a natural and logical fit for them.”

Virtually all of the 25,000 thoroughbred foals born each year across the United States were bred with the intention of racing.  While many make it to the track, very few go on to successful racing careers.  Trainers may decide not to race some thoroughbreds, while others may be raced only a few times before they are retired.

Given that so many thoroughbreds are in need of second careers, this sponsorship will introduce horsemen involved in racing, to the retraining opportunities afforded in the Eventing world.  “Eventing perfectly showcases the versatility, quick mind, athleticism and stamina that are the hallmarks of the breed,” said Rick Violette, president of NYTHA and NYRA board member.

Second-career thoroughbreds have enjoyed extraordinary success as Eventers.  The 2011 USEF International Horse of the Year, Neville Bardos, is an Australian Thoroughbred who had no success on the track but who is working toward a berth on the U.S. Eventing team for the upcoming Olympic Games in London this summer.  Further adding to his dramatic story, the 13-year-old survived a devastating fire last year at Boyd Martin’s barn.

Courageous Comet is a second-career thoroughbred that was purchased in New York and has enjoyed success at the highest level of Eventing, competing in the 2008 Olympics and the World Equestrian Games in 2010.

Not only advanced riders have given these horses a chance at a new life.  “The majority of second career thoroughbreds are ridden at the lower levels of Eventing,” said international event rider Louise Meryman, co-director of Career² and president of the Millbrook Horse Trials.  “Thoroughbreds have an excellent work ethic. They love having a job, and they have the mental and physical ability to excel at the multiple disciplines that make up Eventing.”

Most importantly, “These horses have long and useful lives ahead of them.  It’s inspiring that so many Eventers have stepped forward and made sure that they remain productive, cared for and happy,” she said.

By the time they are three or four, most thoroughbreds have finished their racing careers.  “At this age, other breeds are only beginning to be put in work,” Meryman said.  “But a thoroughbred at this age is already well ahead of the game, having been handled, ridden, shod and trailered.”

Under Career², the highest scoring thoroughbred in each level will receive $300, with $100 going to the second-place finisher.  The Jockey Club’s TIP program is contributing $100 to the first-place prize money and a saddle pad.  Ribbons will be pinned for places 1-6.

In addition, NYRA and NYTHA will fund $6,000 in prize money for the Career² New York Circuit Grand Finale at the Millbrook Horse Trials.  The highest scoring thoroughbred in each level will receive $700, with $300 going to the runner-up. Ribbons will be pinned for places 1-6.

“The USEA offers our thanks and appreciation to NYRA, NYTHA, Louise Meryman and her Career 2 co-chair Beth Ledy, for working so hard to establish this important program,” Whitehouse said.

To participate in Career², thoroughbreds need only to be registered; they are not required to have raced.  For information on how to participate, go to Career 2.

The 2012 New York Eventing Circuit includes:

June 10 – Genesee Valley Riding & Driving Club, Geneseo, NY

June 17 – Larkin Hill Horse Trials, North Chatham, NY

June 23 – Great Vista Horse Trials, Fort Plain, NY

July 7-8  – Genesee Valley Hunt Horse Trials, Geneseo, NY

July 8  – ENYDCTA/Old Chatham Horse Trials, Old Chatham, NY

July 12-15  – Cosequin Stuart Horse Trials, Victor, NY

July 21-22 – Fitch’s Corner Horse Trials, Millbrook, NY

Aug. 2-5  – Millbrook Horse Trials, Millbrook, NY

Aug. 19  – Great Vista Horse Trials, Fort Plain, NY (start of 2013 circuit)

Aug. 25-26  – Genesee Valley Riding & Driving Club, Geneseo, NY (start of 2013 circuit)

NYRA was founded in 1955 and is franchised to run thoroughbred racing at New York’s three major racetracks.  Last year more than 1.8 million people attended live races at the NYRA tracks.

NYTHA has represented the interests of thoroughbred owners and trainers at NYRA tracks for more than 50 years.  The group also seeks to increase the effectiveness of its constituents in the day-to-day activities of racing as well as to gain public recognition of horseracing as a vital form of entertainment, deserving support, protection and preservation.

I don’t think I’ll ever complain about footing again after watching this video.  Since volunteering at WEG 2010, I’ve had a special place in my heart for endurance riders.  Here in the US, we have one of the most difficult endurance races in the world: the Tevis Cup.  Anyone who even starts the Tevis Cup has my admiration…and those who finish, well they’re heroes.  What brave horses!

Be sure to watch beyond 6 minutes in the video…the camera angle changes to the top of the rock, quite a daunting look down!

It’s looking like a scorcher this weekend in Lexington, KY as many riders are preparing to compete at MayDaze HT.  Temperatures are expected to be in the 90s, with noticeable humidity.  Since it’s only May, many horses and riders may not be acclimated to such heat yet.  Here are a few things to keep in mind as you prepare to compete in the upcoming summer weather.

Drink lots of water!  Have plenty of water available for both you and your horse.  Gatorade is fine, too, if it keeps you drinking (and yes, horses like Gatorade too!  If you don’t have any Horse Quencher around).  I’ve been the victim of dehydration before– it was a busy, hot day grooming for five horses and attempting to ride two of my own, and I kept saying to myself, “I’ll get a bottle of water later, I’m too busy right now.”  Don’t do that– unless you want a trip to the ER for IV fluids.  Drink before you think you are thirsty; you can’t take care of your horse if you’re sick.  Have snacks and food on hand, as well–fruit is great on a hot day– you may not really feel like eating, but it’s important to have fuel for your body to burn.

Start hydrating now. Drink plenty of water leading up to the event, and be sure that your horse does as well.  This is especially important if you will be traveling a good distance, and your horse may not drink as well on the trailer.  Consider adding electrolytes to his diet now, and you might want to have some electrolyte paste on hand for the event.  I also like to add water to the grain, making it soupy or sloppy just to get a little more water in their bellies.

Have plenty of water and/or ice available for cool-down after riding.  Sponge water on, and quickly scrape it off as it will warm up and trap body heat against the skin.  Walk the horse in a shady area if at all possible.  You may wish to add some rubbing alcohol to your sponge buckets, this will evaporate quickly off the horse and help the cooling process.  Have your buckets, sponges, scrapers, and a halter/leadrope waiting at the finish of xc to cool out immediately if you expect to run in extreme heat.

Know your horse and plan accordingly.  If your horse is fit for his level, he should be okay to handle hot weather, but it may require some thoughtful riding on your part.  Shorten your warmup time; he’ll probably get tired more quickly in the heat, and your normal 45-minute dressage warmup could be too much.  Likewise, try not to get to show-jumping warmup too early, only to stand around in the sun or get tempted into jumping a hundred warmup fences.  Your horse’s welfare should be first and foremost, even if it means you don’t quite have the competitive edge you hoped for.  I’d rather be a little underprepared for my test but have a “fresh” horse for the next phase, rather than wear my horse out and be stressed wishing I hadn’t done too much.

Similarly, know your limits.  If your horse is feeling distressed, adjust accordingly.  Slow down on cross-country, and don’t worry about making the time if he starts to struggle.  Or if things are really falling apart, it may be better to just call it a day.  Keep in mind how YOU are riding: is the heat starting to get to you?  Is your body feeling sluggish, weak, or your mind isn’t making good decisions?  Don’t endanger your horse and yourself if YOU are not 100% out there; pull up and save yourself for another day.  The heat affects us all differently, but physical and mental weakness is quite common when suffering from heat exhaustion.

Riding in the heat is certainly no fun, and can be dangerous without proper precautions.  Keep this in mind when schooling at home– while we’d all much rather ride in the cool morning or late evening, it might be smart to train occasionally in the heat of the day, as you may find yourself competing in that atmosphere.  It is helpful to know going into an event how you and your horse can best deal with excessive heat, and to know when it is just too much.

For more on how to beat the heat, check out these articles from TheHorse.com:

Heat Stress: Prevention, Recognition are Key

Summer Riding: When the Rider is Hot, the Horse is Hotter

A few weeks ago, paralyzed eventer Claire Lomas finished walking 26.2 miles of the London Marathon in her special robotic suit.  Along the way, she raised almost £200,000 for spinal research.  Where does she go from here?

According to the Horse & Hound, Claire is now working on a plan to cycle from London to Paris next spring:

Claire already trains on a static version of the bike she hopes to use for the trip.

The FES bike (which stands for Functional Electrical Stimulation) delivers an electrical current to the muscles in her legs, making them contract in a pattern that controls the bike

“Not doing the horses anymore means I really miss being outside,” she added. “I’m looking forward to getting some fresh air on the bike.”

 

Go Claire!  What an inspiration to us all.

1.  Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos (1,358 votes, 14.83%)

2.  Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper (1,349 votes, 14.74%)

3.  Karen O’Connor and Mr. Medicott (1,253 votes, 13.69%)

4.  Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville (1,117 votes, 12.2%)

5.  Allison Springer and Arthur (808 votes, 8.83%)

6.  Will Coleman and Twizzel (524 votes, 5.72%)

7.  Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle RM (506 votes, 5.53%)

8.  Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere (452 votes, 4.94%)

9.  Becky Holder and Can’t Fire Me (361 votes, 3.94%)

10. Michael Pollard and Jude’s Law (259 votes, 2.83%)

A fairly predictable list; I’m sure some readers will question Allison and Arthur in the 5th slot, but clearly their Rolex performance had a big impact on a lot of voters.  Phillip and Mystery Whisper had a stranglehold on the top position for quite some time, but were just nipped in the end by Boyd and Neville.  I don’t think it really matters…so long as both of them make it on the team!  Of course, all these Olympic hopefuls will be heading to Bromont before the decision is made on who will fly to London.  There’s still a lot to be decided, but the top few have seemed to separate themselves from the pack.

And for the Canadians:

1.  Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin N Juice (875 votes, 16.87%)

2.  Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master (847 votes, 16.33%)

3.  Jessica Phoenix and Exponential (807 votes, 15.56%)

4.  Selena O’Hanlon and Colombo (720 votes, 13.88%)

5.  Peter Barry and Kilrodan Abbott (651 votes, 12.55%)

6.  Jessica Hampf and High Society II (395 votes, 7.62%)

7.  Diana Burnett and Shigatzi (278 votes, 5.36%)

No surprise that the Canadian WEG Team members dominated the top four slots.  And after Peter Barry’s good run at Rolex, it appears he may have earned his way on to the Team as well.  Beyond that the votes got a little thin, but Jessica Hampf and Diana Burnett have a sizeable lead on the other candidates.

We will have another voting round after Bromont, and see how things shape up.  Go Olympics!

Don’t we all wish we could ride this well??

Susanna Rodell kindly sent us this contribution about Pony Club and the great instructor Kathi Hines. If you have something to share on EN, please send it to [email protected]. Many thanks to Susanna for writing, and thanks for reading. Go Pony Club!

Kathi with the “big kids”

From Susanna:

OK, it’s been way too long since I contributed to the insanity around here. The short explanation is that I got a real job. But I’ve been thinking a lot in the meantime about what really makes Pony Club work. Of course it’s about the kids, but the kids can’t do it by themselves. And yes, it’s about the parents, but a lot of them come into Pony Club knowing nothing much about horses. What keeps the whole organization alive is an assorted group of extraordinary people who are true horsemen and women and just keep giving and giving and never stop. So I want to talk about one of those people.

I first met Kathi Hines many years ago when it became obvious that my 8-year-old REALLY wanted to event and the sweet 12-hand walking sofa we owned would not be able to get her past Maiden. She needed a great pony. A friend told me Kathi knew one. We went and tried out this scrappy 13.2 POA, met Kathi and put the kid on Chevy. He’d been pulled out of the pasture with very little recent work, but he jumped my kid around a little course with joy and did it safely. Trust me, said Kathi. This is a great pony. I did. Best decision I ever made. He made my kid into a rider.

Second encounter. Ruby’s first recognized horse trial, Beginner Novice. Kathi is there with some of her students and we’re there by ourselves. Ruby’s had a great cross-country round, getting ready for the show jumping and a lot of kids are having trouble. Kathi walks over to us, pulls Ruby aside and gives her a little coaching session. My kid is competing against her students but she sees a kid who needs a break and does this anyway. Ruby jumps clean.

Ask anyone in the Carolina Region and they’ll tell you this is typical of Kathi.

Kathi started eventing many years ago and rode with some of the greats, starting with Brian Ross and Nanci Lindroth, doing clinics and lessons with Jimmy Wofford and Denny Emerson. She made it to Intermediate 3-day and second level dressage but she still says her best education came from Pony Club. She’s a graduate A and a National Examiner, meaning she’s one of those scary people who test the kids for their upper-level certifications. She runs a barn in the North Carolina Piedmont that’s not very fancy but full of awesome ponies. Her summer camps are legendary. She has approximately 15 dogs and nearly as many cats, all of them rescues, and I’ve lost track of how many of the horses on her farm owe their comfortable retirement to Kathi. Some of them have been abandoned by boarders. Kathi feeds them and pays their vet bills. Her tractor was born the same year I was. (No, I’m not telling.)

To upper-level Pony Clubbers and her adult students, Kathi can be terrifying. She doesn’t mince words. Schooling in her arena a few weeks ago, I heard a voice behind me: “You’re crooked as hell.” Uh, thanks, Kathi. I think.

But with the little kids, she goes all soft and squishy. Watch her in action with her gang of pigtailed students on her furry school ponies and you can feel the love as they take their first scary-exhilarating canter strides, pop over their first crossrails. Then follow her to an upper-level testing and watch the big kids on their OTTBs and warmbloods, quaking in their stirrups. But if a kid gets injured or a family is in trouble, Kathi’s the first to organize a benefit clinic.

Kathi took a bad fall a few years back and then had a bout of cancer. She doesn’t compete at the upper levels any more — she pretty much lives for her students, her horses and her amazing menagerie of rescued dogs.

Not all eventers end up in the stratosphere of international competition. Stuff happens: a bad fall, kids, other lives — but a lot of those folks love the sport as much as the Serious Competitors and end up being the ones who inspire the next generation. Kathi’s one of those.
My kid, now in college, is planning to go for her Pony Club B certification this summer, and she’s so happy to come home and put herself in Kathi’s hands. Now that she’s big, Kathi will give her hell until she gets it right. And that’s the way she wants it.

Link to Kathi’s farm Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/NC-Sporthorse-Cornerstone-Farm/332371542466

Rider                                                             Horse                                 Points     %   Score     Place

		Laura COLLETT		Rayef	560	74,67	38,00	1.
		Tiana COUDRAY		Ringwood Magister	543	72,40	41,40	2.
		Clayton FREDERICKS		Walterstown Don	529	70,53	44,20	3.
		Christopher BURTON		Holstein Park Leilani	525	70,00	45,00	4.
		Nicolas TOUZAINT		Princesse Pilot	524	69,87	45,20	5.
		Zara PHILLIPS		Lord Lauries	522	69,60	45,60	6.
		Fabrice LUCAS		Nero du Jardin	522	69,60	45,60	6.
		Bill LEVETT		One Two Many NJ	520	69,33	46,00	8.
		Andrew NICHOLSON		Quimbo	519	69,20	46,20	9.
		Beeke KAACK		Judy	514	68,53	47,20	10.

Link to full results.

American Julian Stiller is in 20th with Enjoy Me (50.8) and tied for 37th with Chapel Amble (58.0).  Canadian Lindsay Pearce and Saniki are 51st with a 71.4.

About ten or eleven horses are left to complete dressage in the CCI***.  The leaderboard has changed a bit since yesterday, and we can wave our American flag proudly as Tiana Coudray currently sits in second place with a 41.4.  Great Britain’s eventing dressage superstar Laura Collett and Rayef are solidly in the lead with a 38, while fellow Brit Zara Phillips is in third on Lord Lauries with 45.6.

American Jules Stiller has fallen to 11th with yesterday’s ride on Enjoy Me (50.8), but she still has to ride Chapel Amble within the hour.

We’ll post the full Top-10 scores when dressage has concluded.  So far, 40 horses have competed and 30 of them have scored under 60 penalties (greater than 60% in dressage-speak), that’s pretty impressive.  Check out the live scores here.

Saumur CCI*** Top 10 after Dressage Day 1

Place                Rider                                                 Horse                          Points     %    Score

1.	2	Christopher BURTON		Haruzac	514	68,53	47,20	1.
2.	39	Giovanni UGOLOTTI		Stormhill Kossack	513	68,40	47,40	2.
3.	7	Bill LEVETT		Hippolyte	504	67,20	49,20	3.
4.	23	Fabrice LUCAS		Keep du Mesnil	498	66,40	50,40	4.
5.	56	Julian STILLER		Enjoy Me	496	66,13	50,80	5.
6.	46	Andrew NICHOLSON		Viscount George	493	65,73	51,40	6.
7.	4	Clayton FREDERICKS		Be My Guest	492	65,60	51,60	7.
8.	13	Karin DONCKERS		Maxwell Steele	489	65,20	52,20	8.
9.	29	Karim Florent LAGHOUAG		Pyromane de Brioux	479	63,87	54,20	9.
10.	35	Julie TEW		Lord of the Owls	476	63,47	54,80	10.

Canadian Lindsay Pearce and Saniki are in 20th with a score of 71.4.

Twenty riders competed today, with the rest set to go tomorrow, including Americans Tiana Coudray with Ringwood Magister and Julian Stiller with her second ride, Chapel Amble.

Link to results

Congratulations to King Oak Farm as they celebrated 30 years of eventing with their competition last weekend.  Many events have come and gone through the years, and it takes a very dedicated team of owners and volunteers to keep going.  Many thanks to Ann Grenier for sending us this lovely tribute to King Oak Farm.