Update: After getting a couple of email inquiries, I called Boyd to ask him what “yum-cha” meant and he said it was a ‘Boyd-ism’ meaning good food. Thanks for writing this Boyd and thank you for reading.
Katie and Henri warming the riders up at the AECs
From Boyd:
“We are well into the second half of the US team training camp here in Georgia. All the horses and riders are getting better and better each day. Oded led very successful dressage lessons on Monday and Tuesday and we all worked hard on putting the finishing touches on our dressage tests. We were lucky enough to also have Sandy Phillips jet in on Tuesday to watch us rehearse the four star test. For me, this was a good eye opener and Sandy found a few spots where I can get a few extra marks.
On Tuesday afternoon, a frozen chill ran through the camp as Katie Prudent and her partner in crime Henri showed up for some intense jumping sessions. Boots were shiny, heels were down, and shoulders were back for Katie’s lessons. It looked like Katie got the best out of each and every horse. I watched Kim jump Paddy and he looked in especially top form in his jumping sessions. Buck had been closely working with Aaron Vale with Reggie and Aaron jetted in to help Buck put the finishing touches on his horse.
We had a great team barbecue at Karen’s camper in the campgrounds on Tuesday night. It was a great relaxing evening with grooms, riders, and supporters kicking back and eating gourmet O’Connor yum-cha.
We have dressage lessons on Thursday working on every detail under video surveillance and the watchful eye of Mark. Friday we have a mandatory gallop up our superb track at 7am and then the horses will be trotted up for the vets between 9 and 11am. All the riders leave Chattahoochee at lunchtime Friday to check in at the WEGs and the horses leave Chattahoochee ultra early Saturday morning. My next update will be from the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park!”
