For nearly everyone, Thursday at Galway Downs was incredibly busy. The CCI*** had their briefing at 10am, then began the lengthy first horse inspection of all the three day divisions. Dressage began in Ring One at 2pm for the CCI* with Steeplechase, and then at 3:10pm for the CCI**, while in Ring 2, the CCI* Dressage ran solidly from 1:30pm until 5:45pm. Slotted in between somehow was a Steeplechase training session with Ian Stark for the Training Three Day Riders which garnered glowing reviews from everyone I spoke to who participated. Carolyn Hoffas was one of the competitors who we caught on her way back from the training track, and she told us what advice she’d received from Ian.
There was also course walking to be done, and after the dressage a tour of the Roads and Tracks, and a Welcome Calcutta party. Dressage resumes bright and early friday morning, but the overnight leaders in the classic format CCI* are Barbara Crabo and Over Easy, and in the short format CCI* it’s Sara Mittleider with Harry Houdini. The CCI** lead was split between Max McManamy on Project Runway and Amber Levine on Oz Proof of Purchase. For full results click here.
I didn’t get a chance to see much of the dressage on thursday afternoon, but I did manage to record Gina Miles’ test on her CCI* horse Sunsprite Patronus. Hey, if you’re only going to tape one test it might as well be that of an Olympic Silver medalist! It’s still uploading so with a bit of luck it will be ready by the London Olympics, but if hell freezes over things speed up and it’s ready quicker I’ll post it as soon as I can.
Gina was wonderful and introduced Lily to her daughter Taylor, and Jennifer McFall’s daughter, also Taylor, back at the barns later, who in turn introduced us to Sunsprite Patronus, aka Patrick, who is smaller than he appears when Gina’s on him, of course much, much smaller than McKinlaigh and ridiculously cute, also a bit naughty – as soon as we turned our backs he snuck under the stall guard and followed us down the shed row! A huge thank you to Gina for being so friendly and making Lily’s day.
Gina and Patrick at the First Horse Inspection
The First Horse Inspection
Sigourney Jellins and House Music in the CCI*
Derek Di Grazia and Lad’s Night Out in the CCI*
Alyssa Phillips and Exploring in the CCI*
Sarah Braun and Perfect Intentions in the CCI*
Maria Schatz and Joe in the CCI* were sent to the holding box but passed on re-inspection
Jolie Wentworth and GoodKnight, in the CCI***
Smart Move and Lisa Marie Fergusson in the CCI***
Katherine Sulzbach and Wallenda in the CCI*
Jennifer McFall and High Times in the CCI*
Amelia Priesthoff and The Perfect Crime in the CCI*
Suzy Elliot and Ferngully in the CCI*
Matthew Brown and Aida in the CCI*
Wendy Webb and T.H. Royal Flush in the CCI*
Rebecca Braitling for Australia and Vanador PR in the CCI*
Tamra Smith with Krystie Bush’s Top Secret in the CCI*
Canada’s David Ziegler and Peninsula Top Man in the CCI*
Bryn Hamel and Cavalier Clover Boy in the CCI*
Lynne Partridge and El Cid in the CCI*
Alistaire Ruggiero and Clifton Damascus in the CCI*
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California Style!
Kaleigh Holland and True Dynamite for Canada in the CCI*
Maddy Mazzola and Man on a Mission III
Project Runaway, Joint Overnight Leader in the CCI** for Max McManamy
Geriann Henderson’s Kingslee in the CCI**
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Amy Tryon is such a tough and popular competitor all over the world, but no-one is happier to see her back in the game than the West Coast crowd. Here with Slewdelu in the CCI* with Steeplechase.
John Michael Durr and Warrick III in the CCI**
Katherine Groesbeck and Oz the Tin Man in the CCI**
James Alliston on arguably the best behaved of his four horses at the trot-up on thursday afternoon. This was Tivoli in the CCI**, originally an Oliver Townend ride as James explained later,
Parker was probably the worst behaved, but at least James got to show off his agility, and he might well have a future in hurdling!
James and Parker negotiate the Obstacle Course Jog Lane
Canadian Sabrina Glaser-Levere and Yuri Zhivago in the CCI**
Jordan Taylor and Cambridge in the CCI**
The other joint overnight leader in the CCI**: Oz Proof of Purchase and Amber Levine
The beautiful Lusty aka Rock on Rose with Whitney Weston in the CCI**
Max MacManamy and Project Runway
Shannon Lilley and Forgotten Emblem in the CCI**
Kristin Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken in the CCI**
Kristin and Cavaldi who goes in the CCI***
Cindy Marvin and Dee Dee Chaser in the CCI**
Team Buck Davidson prepping three horses (Titanium, Ballynoe Castle RM, and Park Trader) for the CCI*** trot-up. All three passed, all three (and Buck!) looked immaculate.
Maris Burns and Young Gun in the CCI**
Yves Sauvignon and Sanssouci in the CCI**
Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against in the CCI**
Angela Grzywinski and Novelle in the CCI**
Canadian Kiyomi Foster and Tasman Sea in the CCI**
Jeanine Allred and Snap Decision in the CCI**
Aaargh, Buck doesn’t have his lucky socks on – but all’s well that end’s well, all 3 of his horses were accepted.
All the way from the Netherlands, Merel Blom and Umberto Db in the CCI*** to try and gain those all important Olympic qualifications for next year
Phillip Dutton and Mike Huber watch the proceedings
Nina Ligon and Butts Leon in the CCI***
Wonderful to see The Good Witch out again with Jennifer Wooten-Dafoe in the CCI***
Jennifer’s second ride in the CCI*** couldn’t be more different, a big, striking French gelding, Nabouco de Lessey
Olivia Loiacono and Subway, my choice for best turned out but that’s because I’m biased. Once you’ve watched this short interview you might be too, and extremely jealous when you learn that Olivia scored the best groom for Galway, AND perhaps the best job to follow it…
Wishing both Olivia and Lisa the best of luck this weekend, and I can’t wait to hear more reports from England.
A dapper Stephen Bradley (as always) and a very slimline ( not as always, Stephen said they’ve been trying really hard!) In The Fog, in the CCI***.
Nate Chambers and Rolling Stone in the CCI***
Kadi Eykamp and Double Rivers Dillon in the CCI***. You can find out more about Kadi, courtesy of EN’s Abbie, here.
Sir Donovan and Katie Ruppel in the CCI***
Martha McDowell and Gaelic Marriage in the CCI***
John Michael Durr again in the CCI***, this time with Iona Grey
Mara Depuy and Fun Maker in the CCI***
Bluetooth?
A pug called Boo
Cavaldi working really nicely on the flat on thursday afternoon for Kristin Shmolze and
under the eagle eye of Phillip Dutton
The Point Two Air Vest Indian Camp Corners (well, actually just one of them in this picture), Fences 11 and 12 on the CCI*** with more decoration on them than yesterday. Will keep adding pictures as I go along and as internet connection and battery life allow! Thank you for reading, and go california eventing!
