Bill Hoos and Ducati. Photo by Jenni Autry.
River Glen Horse Trials is a popular Area III event located just northeast of Knoxville, Tennessee. The early August horse trials is a good starting point for the fall season, and the dynamic terrain on cross country provides a good test for horse and rider as they gauge their training for the months ahead.
William Hoos and H. Rhodes Hart’s Brookfield Cult King were fourth after dressage, but they were the only combination in the sole Open Intermediate division to add no jumping or time penalties to their initial score. They finished in first place on a 28.5.
Michael Pollard and Boris O’Hara, owned by Heather Gillette, maintained the second place position throughout the three phases, adding one rail and 6.8 time to their score.
William’s daughter Rebecca Hoos rounded out the top three with H. Rhodes Hart’s Little Cruz. They were 12th after dressage with a 38.3, but producing one of only two double-clear show jumping rounds (the other was her dad and Brookfield Cult King) moved the pair up to seventh. Two time penalties on cross country was the second fastest ride of the class, and that fact rewarded them with a third place finish overall.
William and his own Celtic Rhythm moved up from 11th to finish fourth with a clear and fast cross country round. Michael Pollard and Tsetserleg, owned by Christine Turner, finished fifth on 46.1.
The Hoos family had a good run in Preliminary Open as well, with Rebecca picking up third with Davarusus H, owned by Company Harpeth Valley Equestrian Team, as well as seventh with Donnerstorm II, owned by the same. William was fourth with Donna Richards’ Ducati.
M. Paige Pence and Fernhill Can Do set the stage with a 26.4 in dressage and would not be challenged over fences. Two double-clear rounds guaranteed the win. Chelsea Kolman and Dauntless Courage were also flawless over fences, moving up from seventh to second and finishing on their dressage score of 33.2.
Preliminary Rider saw a shakeup after show jumping, with only three out of 16 competitors keeping all the rails in their cups. One of those pairs was Amelia Grubbs and Hang on Snoopy, who were eighth after dressage with 39.1. They moved into the lead after show jumping and followed that up with a double-clear round across the country to take home the blue.
It was a close race at the top with first through third separated by less than a point prior to the final phase. Claire Gordon and Ole Boy, owned by Karen Gordon, were hot on Amelia and Snoopy’s heels. They finished the course without penalty for second place on a 39.7. Katelyn Hagerty and Courtly Miss finished third with a 39.8. Not far behind in fourth was Kathryn Poos and Motocross, who added on two seconds of time to their dressage score, which moved them up from 12th to finish fourth overall.
River Glen H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]
The Catalpa Corner Charity Horse Trials in West Branch, Iowa, takes place on a family farm that dates back to the 1800s; it’s history is evident by the many historic buildings on the property. The eventing facility that has been built there by Susan Brigham and Dr. James McNutt complements the history of the grounds and Iowa’s farming heritage. This year, at what the USEA Omnibus lists as a “no frill, but still thrilling event,” the proceeds benefit Miracles in Motion, a therapeutic riding center in Swisher, Iowa.
This year’s event welcomed Starter through Preliminary competitors. Bernard Morauw and Don’t Cross Us went double-clear on cross country to move from third to first place. A careful show jumping round resulting in four jump penalties and 2 time was still good enough to hold on to the top spot in Open Preliminary A.
Leah Lang-Gluscic and Company CML Horses, LLC’s Of Course Carter steadily climbed the leaderboard over three phases. A 33.3 in dressage placed them seventh to begin. A double-clear cross country round moved them up to third, and they gained another placing despite 8 penalties show jumping to finish second.
Andria Pooley and Vanity’s Revenge took their time in show jumping, pulling in 8 time penalties and one rail, but they finished third on a 42.9.
In Open Preliminary B, Alexis Anderson and Holly Golightly finished on their dressage score of 33.3 to win with room to spare over second place Madigan Murphy and Willdebrandt. They were first through the first two phases, but a rail and 2 time penalties dropped them down one place. Liesel Pfleger and Jos Fermin added some time on cross country, but produced one of the few clear show jumping rounds at the level to finish third on a 37.9.
Catalpa Corner Charity H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]
Congratulations to all the competitors who competed around the country this weekend.
Go Eventing!
