Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Texas Rose Horse Park is running one of the few Advanced divisions not located on the East or West Coast this weekend. This is only the third year of putting on an Advanced during their March horse trials, and it’s been a bit of a mixed bag thus far.
In 2013, the intention was to run the Advanced to test the course prior to the Texas Rose Horse Park hosting the American Eventing Championships. Instead, a huge thunderstorm rolled in and inundated the course so badly that five of the original seven entries scratched before cross country. The remaining two entrants jumped clear, but with massive time penalties as they adjusted for the ground.
Last year, the cross country courses for all divisions were reportedly very similar to the championship level courses of the AECs the fall before. As a result, many who were using the early March course as either a move up or a new-to-the-level run were caught out by the difficulty. Of five Advanced entries, only one person completed the course and won the division despite two stops.
This year, there are once again only five entries. However, three of these entries are headed to Rolex next, one via The Fork next weekend. Between the unpredictability of this particular event and a high likelihood of withdrawals, I’m simply going to profile each of these riders instead of ranking them.
Ellen Doughty and Sir Oberon at Red Hills CIC3*. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Ellen Doughty-Hume and Sir Oberon: Ellen and Sir Oberon are perhaps the most experienced pair in the field. This pair was one of the two to complete this division in 2013 at their very first Advanced, and then spent the rest of the year placing in the top 15 at all four of their three-star attempts, including the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International.
They came out with a bang in 2014, placing third in a large Red Hills CIC3* division, but had a tough end to their first four-star before it even began after being spun at the first jog. Sir Oberon is headed to Rolex next, and after a slightly shaky start to 2015, Ellen will be looking for a smooth round in Texas on her home turf.
Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino: Jacob Fletcher has been rising through the ranks for a while now, having dabbled in the Advanced and three-star levels with his previous mount, The Prof. He then moved to England for a year and rode with Kevin McNab and found Atlantic Domino while he was there.
Across the ocean, he and Atlantic Domino completed two CIC3* events plus a CCI3*, but came back still looking for a solid round across the country. After a blip at Red Hills, Jacob will be looking to give Atlantic Domino a confident, clear round to build on their experience.
Angela Grzywinksi and Novelle. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Angela Grzywinski and Novelle: Angela and Novelle dabbled very lightly at Advanced starting in 2012, but made a concerted effort last year to become solid at the level. After starting to find their stride at the Rebecca Farm CIC3*, Angela based Novelle out west with Tamie Smith through the fall, and the pieces started to fall into place.
A solid competition season culminated in a top 10 finish at the Galway Downs CCI3*. These two have kept up their momentum this year, finishing 10th at Twin Rivers last month and are entered in the CIC3* at the Fork next week before they head to Lexington for Rolex.
Julie Norman and Consensus. Photo by Kasey Mueller.
Julie Norman and Consensus: Julie and Consensus are the only four-star pair in the field, having completed Rolex last April on their first try. Julie won this event two years ago, competing Consensus in his second Advanced. She then went on to have solid finishes at Richland Park CIC3* and Fair Hill CCI3*.
In 2014, she prepped for Rolex with a top 10 finish at Red Hill CIC3*, before doing the CT here at Texas Rose. After Rolex, Julie gave Consensus time off throughout the fall, concentrating on her younger string. These two are also headed for Rolex again after finishing a solid prep run last month in the Red Hills Advanced.
Alyssa Phillips and Bliss III. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Alyssa Phillips and Bliss III: Alyssa and Bliss are the youngest and greenest pair in the field, but that doesn’t preclude them from having a good round. This pair just completed their first Advanced at Twin Rivers last month in fine style. Prior to that, they placed fifth in the CIC2* at Fresno County and sixth in a large CCI2* division at Galway Downs last fall. This pair will be looking for a confidence building run to build on their foundation at this level.
