Classic Eventing Nation

Cross Country Powerhouses of Kentucky

By on Apr 27, 2019 9:11 am -

It’s cross country day at #LRK3DE! The cross country consists of 28 numbered obstacles (45 total jumping efforts when taking all the direct routes) across 6,452 meters of the Kentucky Horse Park. The horses will have to cover the distance under the optimum time of 11 minutes, 20 seconds, or they will incur time penalties, 0.4 added to their score for each second they are over. Click here for a full course preview.

Derek di Grazia of the United States has been the course designer here since 2011. Derek currently designs many courses in North America, including both Bromont CCI4*-L and Fair Hill CCI4*-L, two key qualifiers for this event. He has also been designated as the course designer for the Tokyo Olympics next year. In years where the weather was nicer and the ground was good at Kentucky, as it was 2012-2014 and then again in 2018, the course averaged 24.2% of the field making the time. From 2015-2017, when the horses ran through rain or mud or both, only 5.53% of the field made the time.

The horses listed below fall into four different categories: horses who have been proven both consistent and fast at the CCI5*-L level, horses who are very fast when clear but could pick up a jump penalty, horses who consistently are clear cross-country and are fast at the 4*-S level but haven’t yet replicated that speed at 5*, and horses who have stellar 4* form and speed but the 5* is a bit of a question mark. With the weather being clear, there will almost certainly be a larger percentage of horses who make the time compared, similar to last year.

At five-star level, a cross country run that is clear and inside the time could potentially move you up many places, especially with the dressage losing some weight due to the removal of the coefficient in scoring. Here are the projections of horses who will make the biggest moves up the leaderboard tomorrow … or maintain their place at the top.

#LRK3DE: Website, Schedule, Start Times, Live Scores, How to Watch Live, EN’s Ultimate Guide, USEF Network, Horse & Country TV, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

THE STALWARTS

Piggy French and Quarrycrest Echo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Piggy French (GBR) and Quarrycrest Echo: This horse has been stronger than ever since re-debuting at this level after Piggy returned from maternity leave. His only blips have come when he was fairly green to the CCI4*-L level at the 2017 Europeans at Strzegom, which had an enormous amount of trouble, and at Luhmuhlen in his first CCI5*-L, where it was judged he missed a flag but still finished within the time. In his last five cross-country runs, he has finished inside the time or as the fastest time in four of them. The fifth was his warm-up run for this event at Belton, where Piggy took her time across the country.

Potential Hiccups: In four CCI4/5*-L runs, Quarrycrest Echo has only two clear runs and he’s never seen a Derek di Grazia course. Piggy will need to be on her game to tackle his course, which can have a unique flavor to those who have never ridden around them.

Ride Time: 12:10 PM

Erin Sylvester and Paddy the Caddy. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Erin Sylvester (USA) and Paddy the Caddy: Erin Sylvester and Paddy the Caddy have stormed around four CCI4/5*-L cross-country courses and been inside the time at two of them and no more than ten seconds over at the other two. The two inside the time rounds have both coincidentally been over Derek di Grazia courses; Fair Hill in 2017 and Kentucky last spring.

Potential Hiccups: A couple of time penalties (less than ten seconds worth) is a possibility, but a stop is unlikely. This pair hasn’t had a blemish on their cross-country jump record at A/4*/5* since way back in 2016.

Ride Time: 12:30 PM

Oliver Townend and Cooley Master Class. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Oliver Townend (GBR) and Cooley Master Class: This horse had a sparse record last year and despite clocking in a clear round and winning Kentucky last year, it isn’t much more robust. In fact, Cooley Master Class hasn’t run cross-country at the A/4/5* level since Kentucky last year. Still, he won off even fewer credentials, and in his career has only two stops in thirteen runs at A/4/5*.

Potential Hiccups: Fitness. In case you missed it, his last top-level run prior to this was winning Kentucky last year. That didn’t exactly stop him from winning last year, though.

Ride Time: 1:56 PM

Phillip Dutton and Z. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Phillip Dutton (USA) and Z: This horse has an incredibly clean record at A/4/5*, with no jump penalties and only one rider fall in his first year at the level. In four CCI4/5*-L completions, he has never had a time penalty save for WEG. At WEG Phillip had to ride clean for team purposes, so sacrificed some speed in favor of accuracy. When left to his own devices, the horse will make time because Phillip wills it to be so.

Potential Hiccups: Possibly a potential for time, depending on how much team orders contributed to WEG time penalties.

Ride Time: 1:20 PM

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Boyd Martin (USA) and Tsetserleg: It’s difficult to look past a high-profile stop sometimes. Boyd and Tsetserleg have a very clean cross-country record; aside from an early career parting of the ways, these two have a completely clean record save for that one hiccup at WEG. The likelihood of them going around clean is pretty high.

Potential Hiccups: Time is this pair’s Achilles heel as they’ve only once made the time at A/4*/5* and never at the CI-L format. But when the weather is good, they have twice been within five seconds of the optimum time.

Ride Time: 2:44 PM

THE HEARTBREAKERS

Felix Vogg and Colero. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Felix Vogg (SUI) and Colero: Colero has been Felix’s main partner during his time in the States, and they’ve had great success over here…but also some problems. WEG in particular didn’t go their way, with a missed flag and two stops placing them well down the order. A stop at their subsequent event at Ocala Jockey Club didn’t help but they seem to have sorted the issues this spring, with clean runs at Carolina and The Fork

Potential Hiccups: Consistency over the jumps and time. This pair has only once made the time, at Carolina this spring where an unusually large number of pairs made the time, and their most recent run at The Fork marked the first time they even came within ten seconds of the fastest time of the day. Other than Carolina they’ve never been within ten seconds of optimum time, either.

Ride Time: 11:10 AM

Will Coleman and Tight Lines. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Will Coleman (USA) and Tight Lines: This is a horse who will likely either have the fastest round of the day on a clear round or will have stops. Tight Lines has no career stops at the A/4* level and has twice run clear and inside the time at CCI4*-L. He’s also run clear inside the time once at CCI5*-L, at Kentucky last year, and in fact has never had a time penalty at CI/4/5*-L when running clear. However, in three CCI5*-L attempts, he has twice had two stops; in his first attempt and at WEG last fall.

Potential Hiccups: Consistency over the jumps.

Ride Time: 12:25 PM

Tim Price and Xavier Faer. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Tim Price (NZL) and Xavier Faer: Xavier Faer can be a brilliant cross-country horse, proving it with his Badminton run in 2017 that ultimately landed him third place. His record with Tim Price is fairly strong but the occasional stop and a rider fall have marred it. He’s struggled overall at the CI-L format at 4/5*; they have had issues at 50% of their six start in that format and only run clear once in three 5* starts. Having said that, if Tim goes clear on this horse, he goes fast; he’s only had four seconds of time over optimum in those three clear CI-L runs.

Potential Hiccups: Consistency over the jumps.

Ride Time: 1:05 PM

Others in this Category: Cooley On Show, Harbour Pilot, and Johnny Royale

THE WANNABE SPEEDSTERS

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Liz Halliday-Sharp (USA) and Deniro Z:  These two had a lot of hype around them coming into this event and for good reason. Both Liz and the horse were on absolute fire this spring season. However looking at the numbers it’s hard to make an argument that this horse will make the time today. In his two CI-L 4/5* runs he has averaged 18.5 seconds over optimum and prior to this season had only occasionally finished even within ten seconds of optimum. But Deniro Z cantered around easily at Carolina and not only made the time but finished with the fastest round of the day, nineteen seconds under the time.

Potential Hiccups: Fitness allowing the horse to make the time.

Ride Time: 10:40 AM

Doug Payne and Vandiver. Photo by Libby Law.

Doug Payne (USA) and Vandiver:  Doug Payne has really made this horse a contender in all three phases but their success at the A/4*-S level hasn’t quite translated to the CI/4/5*-L levels yet. This pair has two clear runs around Kentucky and while they have consistently made time at A/4*-S, their best pace at the CI4/5*-L format has been thirteen seconds over optimum.

Potential Hiccups: Fitness allowing the horse to make the time.

Ride Time: 1:35 PM

Others in this Category: Glenfly, Honor Me

THE UNKNOWNS

Caroline Martin and Islandwood Captain Jack. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Caroline Martin (USA) and Islandwood Captain Jack:  This horse has struggled on the flat in his first year at the level and Thursday was no exception but he’s excelled in the jumping phases. In his two career CCI4*-L finishes he has finished within ten seconds of the fastest time of the day or under the optimum time and he’s never had a jumping penalty at A/4*.

Potential Hiccups: Experience. This is not only the horse’s first 5* but only Caroline’s third time leaving the start box at this level. She’ll also be the first to leave the start box today, and won’t have the advantage of seeing how the combinations are riding.

Ride Time: 10:00 AM

Buck Davidson and Jak My Style. Photo by Valerie Durbon Photography.

Buck Davidson (USA) and Jak My Style:  Buck and Jak My Style have an abbreviated career together but it’s been increasingly successful. In their only CCI4*-L together, they finished only one second over the time and have finished either with the fastest time of the day or within ten seconds of optimum in four of their six A/4* runs together.

Potential Hiccups: Experience. This is the horse’s first 5* and his career with Buck is not that long.

Ride Time: 12:00 PM

Lauren Kieffer and Paramount Importance. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Lauren Kieffer (USA) and Paramount Importance:  Paramount Importance is a new partner for Lauren as of last year but he has been around the blocks, having previously been to the 2017 European Championships at Strzegom with Ludwig Svennerstal. Despite his experience, this is his first 5*-L, so he’ll be relying on Lauren to help keep his perfect A/4/5* cross-country jump record intact.

Potential Hiccups: Experience and time. This is the horse’s first 5* and he’s never made the time; it’s unlikely today is the day for that.

Ride Time: 12:05 PM

Others of Note: Leamore Master Plan, Lancaster

Dandelions in the Park

By on Apr 27, 2019 8:58 am -

Originally published on EN in 2012, this essay’s relevance has remained intact over the years. On one Saturday morning in April each year, we re-share it as a reminder that this collective experience we know as Kentucky is much bigger, and more complex, than we sometimes give it credit for.

Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos on course at Kentucky in 2011. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Some people believe there are spiritual vortexes scattered around the world, energetic super-centers so powerful that you can practically feel the stuff circulating in the air. Mystics and metaphysicists flock to them — Stonehenge, the Giza pyramids, ancient Inca ruins — hoping to catch a whiff of the divine.

I don’t know how much I buy into that crystal visions claptrap, but I do think there’s something to the idea of a place retaining its history in mysterious ways. The Kentucky Horse Park, in particular, is a plot of earth that I’ve always sensed had more going on than meets the eye. There’s a magic to it, and it’s more than just the pastoral combination of majestic oak trees, plush bluegrass and pristine rural air. Rather, it’s layers upon layers of emotion, saturating the soil and rustling through the leaves.

The poetry of a flawlessly executed dressage test, the cheer of a crowd gathered round the Head of the Lake, the thunder of a victory gallop — that energy lingers in the air long after everyone has packed up and gone home. But the source of the Park’s magic is more multidimensional than that.

On Jimmy Wofford’s cross country walk at WEG in 2010, he told the crowd that there was a dandelion on the course for every heart broken at the Park. I remember looking down, seeing a patch of the weed’s sharply scalloped leaves, and wondering in earnest whose tears had fertilized them.

I’m sure I’ve got a few dandelions out there myself, not from the four-star, but from other Horse Park events that felt equivalently serious at the time. When you’re 13 and you’ve saved your $4-an-hour stall mucking wages all summer to compete at some event, only to have your pony jump out of the dressage ring … dandelion. When you’re 17 and your horse hangs a leg in the water complex at Pony Club championships and you feel like you’ve let down your entire team … dandelion. When you’re 29 and you pull up halfway around the course with the sinking realization that you’re simply not prepared … dandelion.

I could go on and on, and I’m sure some of you could, too. Certainly these moments weren’t the end of the world, but perspective is a function of the mind, not the heart.

This weekend there are going to be riders who don’t make it around the course. They’ll make the same long walk back to the barn that so many have before them, replaying a split second over and over again in their minds, trying to figure out what went wrong. Some of them will get a leg up on their next ride or have the opportunity try again next year. Others might not get a second chance.

If you’re at Kentucky this weekend, take a quiet moment at some point to look around you. Acknowledge the dandelions and the horses and riders who planted them there. Remember that it’s all connected. Without attempt, and the risk of failure that goes with it, there can be no glory. The hit and the miss both begin with a leap.

Go Eventing.

Kentucky 2019 At-A-Glance: Dressage Gear

By on Apr 27, 2019 7:50 am -

Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

It’s time once again for everyone’s favorite batch of all-unimportant “statistics” — it’s the who wore what of dressage at Kentucky 2019. Trends in gear come and go … are we seeing a downswing in blingy browbands? What about brown tack? And what percentage of the horses had pulled tails versus braided tails versus *gasp* natural tails? Find out below:

#LRK3DE: Website, Schedule, Live Scores, Entries & Drawn Order, How to Watch Live, USEF Network, Horse & Country TV, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

Saturday Links Presented by Nupafeed USA

By on Apr 27, 2019 12:01 am -

Photo via Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event.

IT’S GO TIME! What more is there to say for now, except to wish each and every rider that leaves the start box today a safe and swift ride. Don’t forget to take another look at the course and the course map before the action starts. #GoEventing.

National Holiday: CROSS COUNTRY DAY!

Major Events:

#LRK3DE: Website, Schedule, Start Times, Live Scores, How to Watch Live, EN’s Ultimate Guide, USEF Network, Horse & Country TV, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

U.S. Weekend Action:

Fresno County Horse Park H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

University of New Hampshire Spring H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Loudoun Hunt Pony Club H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

St. John’s H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Saturday Links:

Jonty and Art make winning return to competition

Five-Star Horses of a Different Breed

Eventing ‘flag rule’ petition tops 3,000 signatures in three days

British Badminton title contender among latest withdrawals

The Four Components of Impulsion

Horse Topline-Building Tips

Saturday Video: Course walk with Elisa Wallace!

Dressage Day Two Social Media Roundup from Horsepower Technologies

By on Apr 26, 2019 7:20 pm -

Oliver’s test was really impressive and all that, but I’d like to draw your attention to another very important thing that made a real splash today social media: Will Coleman’s dog Holden, who has his very own LRK3DE credentials and everything. What a very good boy.

Another very good boy who made an actual splash: Lauren Kieffer’s little dachshund (I promise, it is not actually an otter) Benny, who clearly is not the least bit intimidated by the course’s formidable water complexes:

Alright, enough with the dogs (not actually though, there are NEVER enough dogs — don’t forget to tag yours with #DogsofEN) Here are your snaps from today at the park, plus a look behind the scenes thanks to some social media-savvy riders. By the looks of things, it appears that today was a little bit about dressage, a little bit about admiring the cross country course, and a whole lot about shopping until you literally drop:

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Sliding into Land Rover dressage day 2 like 😉

A post shared by Jj (@skipperdoodlefritz) on

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Go @laurenkieffereventing !!!!

A post shared by Jj (@skipperdoodlefritz) on

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Big duck or little Phillip? 🤷🏼‍♀️

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Can’t Miss Quotes from Dressage Day Two at Kentucky

By on Apr 26, 2019 7:10 pm -

Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

The riders were chatty today after their tests! Thanks to Samantha Clark, interviewer extraordinaire, we’ve got an absolute boatload of thoughts and reactions to share with you from the competitors who rode their tests today.

Read on and scroll down to find out what they thought about their dressage tests, the crazy weather today, tomorrow’s cross country, what they’ve been working on in the off-season, and which horse recovered from a broken leg just a year ago!

#LRK3DE: Website, Schedule, Entries & Drawn Order, Live Scores, How to Watch Live, USEF Network, Horse & Country TV, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

On their dressage tests…

Will Coleman (USA) 35.7/ 20th place: “It was good. [Tight Lines] is never going to be mistaken for a dressage horse. He’s a Thoroughbred and he was really born to gallop so all things considered I’m glad this phase is over and now we can just look forward to what he’s good at which is the cross country and jumping phases. He’s tries his guts out and I can’t be anything but pleased with him today.”

Marcelo Tosi (BRA) 40.8/ 35th place: “It was good, it was good. A lot of wind. I think he was a little bit excited than I expect today, a little more tense, I think, with the wind and everything. So he did quite everything correct but a little bit tense so that don’t make sometimes a nice picture, nice relaxation, so make the score go a little bit higher. I expect to be around 32, so I think we get around 38, but it’s fine! It’s a big atmosphere, the weather change today from yesterday so the plan was one and then perhaps another.”

Piggy French (GBR) 27.1/ 2nd place: “I know in his work bits could be better – he’s not a great trotter – his working trot is not a great trot so he needs to be as relaxed and as up as he possibly can to get the 7s or 7.5s, but his canter work is usually pretty good and I think it felt OK. Maybe I was holding my breath all the way through, I don’t know, but I was delighted with him from how he felt in the warmup to go in there and be professional and do his job.”

“To be honest I didn’t think I had him quite right outside so in my mind I was thinking, I knew I wasn’t in the perfect place you want to be, but I really was impressed with him the fact that he’s become more professional over the years and tried very hard and knuckled down, so I was just delighted and could start breathing when I did the final halt and he had been a good boy.”

Erin Sylvester (USA) 32.2/ 9th place: “[Paddy The Caddy] was awesome. It felt really good. We’ve been working very hard on our dressage all year. I wasn’t sure if he was going to get a little nervous in there, which maybe he felt like a fraction nervous, but he really stayed with me. I could really tell that he was trying to do the right thing all the time so I was really happy with him.”

Leslie Law (GBR) 36.9/ 25th place: “I mean was pleased with that really. I think the horse has had to come a long way in twelve months and, you know, the dressage would be his hardest phase I would say. He’s a big horse and he is only 10 years old and we’ve got to wait for him to get stronger and be able to carry himself better, but I was very pleased with the way he coped with it and with all the atmosphere because sometimes that’s been difficult for him so I think overall I have to be very, very happy with him.”

Phillip Dutton (USA) 31.7, 7th place: “It was OK, I mean it could have been worse, but I was hoping for a bit better. There’s a lot of atmosphere and then the wind and all that, it sort of got to him a little bit. So I wasn’t in full gear, I was just trying to keep him together the whole way around and then he didn’t change that well either. He’s got plenty of energy so it’s just a case of controlling it. I thought he trotted well and he walked pretty well considering he was on edge.”

Oliver Townend (GBR) 24.1, 1st place: “He made me work in there. There’s a lot more than what he gave, but at the same time he’s very experienced, not at this level, but I have had him since he was four years old so he knows me and I know him. It’s nice to come in and not have to worry about boiling over, it’s more about worrying keeping him going and getting him to the end without me sweating too much, but he’s done a good job. He’s very laid back and ridiculously lazy at time. Sometimes it helps to be in a fresher environment to perk him up a little bit, but look, we are where we are and we’re very happy with where we are.”

Tim Price (NZL) 30.9/ 5th place: “I made a couple of mistake which are a bit annoying: in the right to left change times two. So other than that he did some of the best work that he’s ever done in the ring. He stayed relaxed which is the main thing. He’s a bit of a random spooky horse and he can see a dragon from nowhere and none of those appeared today so that was really good so I’m really pleased. I think we’re here with more of a jumping competition in mind. You want a good start point, I think that’s one of those, and now it’s all full focus on tomorrow. He’s getting more professional in his ripe old age of 12. He was good fun.”

Hawley Bennett-Awad (CAN) 35.4/ 16th place: “I actually thought she was pretty good and then in the walk she started shaking her head which she never does and I looked down on her neck and there was this big yellow bug and there was nothing I could do about it, so that was unfortunate, but she was good. It’s not a dressage show. It’s not my worst score at this level — I really wanted to obviously get low thirties on her, but there’s a lot to do tomorrow so we’re good.”

Boyd Martin (USA) 27.9/ 3rd place: “Not too bad — you never know quite how it looks when you ride it. He was a little bit spooky and distracted but he’s a good boy, lucky. He presents a lovely picture and he’s pretty seasoned now so it’s good fun to ride him dressage.”

Lauren Kieffer (USA) 33.0/ 12th place on Vermiculus, 33.6/ 13th place on Paramount Importance: “[Vermiculus] was super. There was a lot of wind and cold and he was really letting his Arab flag fly, but I was really happy with him. he didn’t make any mistakes and he was really accurate and it’s hard when you can see the percentages up there and you’re kind of like, ‘Come on, go up! Like, this is good!’ But he was great and it’s a long weekend still and I’m excited to get out of there on both of them.

On the stormy weather today…

Piggy French (GBR): “It’s windy in there — you go down the tunnel and actually the breeze gets you, so it just felt quite stormy. And he just felt a bit fresh when I got on him so I’m relieved there was no big mistakes.”

Erin Sylvester (USA): “I’ll be completely honest I think [the weather] is in his favor. When it’s warm and a bit humid he can’t half-pass, he get’s very tired, so the cooler weather – he’s Irish – this feels like his type of day so I think it was working in our favor actually.”

Oliver Townend (GBR): “I could have done with more of a gust [of wind] up his backside at times, but no, [the weather] doesn’t seem to affect him. He’s obviously used to being in the peeing down rain and freezing cold conditions from January to March so it makes no odds to him, but put it this way, I’m glad it wasn’t any warmer for him, that wouldn’t have helped.”

On the cross country course…

Will Coleman (USA): “I think it’s a good test. I think it’s a little different from last year. Maybe last year it was a bit bigger, a bit bolder, but this I think requires a bit more tact. Some of the combinations … everything is going to come up quite fast and there’s a lot of technical riding out there so I think it’ll be difficult. It’s hard to be bold and technical at the same time sometimes, so that’s clearly what he want to see from us so we’ll see if we’re up for the task.”

“I certainly wont be thinking about WEG. That was an uncharacteristic competition for him and me. There are probably a lot of reasons for that, but at the end of the day tomorrows course is a totally different set of questions. With him he’s such an aggressive horse that some of the technical things I think will be quite challenging for us because he’s almost trying too hard by sometimes being a little bit too bold, too gung-ho. Sometimes I feel like we’re not always on the same page and my biggest thing will just be trying to get him to relax out there and let me ride him because if he lets me ride him well be fine, but if he’s anxious or nervous or tense it’s much more difficult to execute some of these turns especially on the terrain, so that’s the big goal. He’s run very well for me this year and I’m pleased with where he’s at so I just gotta go and try to keep that going tomorrow.”

Piggy French (GBR): “Oh, it’s big! It’s a long way and it’s big and it’s serious. It’s a great course, I think the course designer is a brilliant one. Everything there is definitely jumpable and clear to the horses if the lines and the approaches are good. So it’s just a great rider course. I think it’s also a tough course. I think the terrain is twisty enough — you’re always a little bit up and down on a turn. We’ve got to be very clear in our minds what fence comes up next and where to be at the string and everything. I think the time will be tight as well as there are enough serious questions. and it stays big and quite tough all the way to the end, which is another thing. You don’t get three quarters of the way around and think you can give them a pat and say, ‘Right, cmon we’re a few second behind now we can make it up now to get home’. It stays quite serious to the end.”

“You know it will be [Quarrycrest Echo’s] biggest test so far, but over the last twelve months everything that he’s done has been a bigger test, a bigger test, so it’s time for him to be trying this. You know on his day he’s probably one of the best horses I’ve ever had. He’s a lovely galloper and he’s a great jumper and there’s nothing there that I don’t think he can’t do, but tomorrow’s another day. Horses, they’re not machines, we’re not machines — it’s getting everything to go right at the right time and hope that he’s traveled a long way and that he’s as fit as he can be. That’s the important thing to me with the trip: I just hope he does as well as he can do and he comes out well and gets home having enjoyed himself and having gone as well as he can.”

Erin Sylvester (USA): “It looks good, it’s a fair bit different from last year it feels a little bit more technical to me walking than last year did. It’s a five-star, so like, it’s definitely a tough track, but I have plans for the different fences and I’m hoping we’ll have a good go tomorrow.”

Leslie Law (GBR): “It’s obviously a five-star track and I think it’s a very good track. It’s very fair. There are obviously some really, really good technical lines that we’re gonna have to really be good on and be able to jump. I think for my horse coming in to his first five-star I think it’s a very fair track. Maybe experience might catch us out, but we hope not. But I think he’ll go away from here, from the cross country, being a better horse for the future.”

Phillip Dutton (USA): “It’s not as big as we’ve had before, but there’s a little bit more technical and rideability exercises so I think it’s gonna be a good test for everyone.”

Oliver Townend (GBR): “It’s proper, proper five-star. I’m a huge fan of Derek di Grazia’s courses. I think he’s an exceptional, exceptional course designer — one of the very, very best in the world and I always enjoy coming here to see what challenges he sets. For sure it’s a five-star, it’s one of the toughest in the world. It’s huge, it’s technical, it’s narrow.”

Tim Price (NZL): “I think it’s intense. He’s got things to slow you down, Derek has, all the way home so the time is going to be difficult, it usually is, and I think that never more so than this year. And yeah, technicality is right up as well. There’s skinnies everywhere, you’ve got to stay on your job as does your horse all the way home. So yeah, looking forward to it.”

Hawley Bennett-Awad (CAN): “I think it’s awesome. I think the first half is really big and gallopy and then it’s a little tricky at the end and you’re gonna have to have a fit horse. Derek used a lot of the hills and I think it it’s actually a bit longer — it feels longer than in other years. And with all the training questions you’ve got to have a horse that listens. You can’t just go flat out early and hope it works out. I feel good, I’m excited about it. So good luck to everyone.”

Boyd Martin (USA): “To be honest it doesn’t walk as savage as last year, but I actually think it’s equally as difficult. He’s set a lot of the difficult jumps in the second half of the course where the horses will get a bit tired and also the riders to get starting to thinking about the time a lot.  So you’ve got to be quick early and then also read your horse. A few of those complicated combinations at the end you’ve sort of have to figure out how much to balance them up and still go fast.”

Lauren Kieffer (USA): “I think it’s a beautiful course. Derek, I think we trust him as riders, I think he’s the best course designer in the world. I think it’s definitely got a way different feel than it usually has, he’s usually big, bold and straight and he’s definitely got us turning here and there and everything else so it’s a different feel than it usually has so it’ll be interesting out there.” 

“I obviously know Bug (Vermiculus) better, but both of them I really kind of trust a lot cross country. I mean it’s a five-star, anything can happen — you toe pick into the water or whatever else. I quite trust them both. They both hunt the flags and so if I give them a good ride I’ll have good rounds.”

On what they’ve been working on over the winter…

Will Coleman (USA): “Everything! With this horse after last year we just felt like we needed to take a lot of pressure off him and let him feel good about what he’s doing even if it’s not the greatest in the world. I think that we’re comfortable with that now and were really pleased with the effort he’s giving and I’m pleased with how it may not be a winning test, but it’s happy and it’s pleasant and we’re both enjoying the work much much more so for me thats probably that’s what we’ve been working on: just getting back to that place. And then hopefully we can build on it and turn 6.5s into 7s and maybe 7.5s on day, but that’s going to be some time.”

Marcelo Tosi (BRA): “I think the cross country quite tough, it will be not a dressage competition and maybe for the three of four in the lead, the good combinations, they can keep their dressage score but we try tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day.”

“I think the designer use very well the ground. He’s very clever, and we have plenty to gallop. I think it’s a lot of combinations he use are uphill or downhill. I think we just have one combination on the flat. It’s very unusual to have that, but it’s his style I think or the place’s style and I think in the third part of the cross country it’s quite big and too much combinations. I think he use more combinations that I thought and another thing I see here that I don’t see in Europe is too much drop down. And you have four drop down for the waters, I think this can make it very tough for the horse, and have one big [drop] at the end of the course as well. So we need to look out for the horse since the beginning so we can have petrol. A conditioned horse at the end of the course – that is important. To make a good plan to take the horse to the end of the course in good condition, because we have plenty to do in the end.”

Erin Sylvester (USA): “I’ve worked with Silva [Martin] a bunch and she’s great, and just for the last few months I’ve been working closely with James Koford and I joined up with him for a few weeks in Wellington and he’s been helping my team and my riders as well. He really loves Paddy and loves working with a hard working Thoroughbred I think we’ve made some big improvements with him and our presentation in the arena. I always feel like I want to ride him a little too round because he’s a Thoroughbred and he can get tight in the back and I have PTSD from being on [No Boundaries] in this arena and him just freaking out in there. So I like to kind of ride everything a little bit too low and he really needs to come up in his wither to have the expression in his step and it’s hard for him to do. Paddy has been working really, really hard so I think we’ve really made a difference in his balance and it’s made a difference in his overall presentation.”

Phillip Dutton (USA): “[Z] has had a light spring in terms of competing at horses trials, but he’s actually done a lot of competing, like he’s been showing and all that kind of stuff. He’s been to plenty of atmosphere. I think it’s just a  work in progress. Some days you can get it really good and then some days it slips back a little bit. And he competed last weekend in a combined test.”

Tim Price (NZL): “[Xavier Faer] had some time off with an injury, he actually broke his leg just over a year ago, a fracture, so he was crosstied for his own health and benefit for about two or three months at the start of last year. [It happened while] he was back home with his owner – I hope she doesn’t mind me saying that! – and it was with a pony he’s been going out with since he was a foal, so his old friend, obviously he got a little bit close and gave him a little kick to the forelimb. So that was a bad start to last year and then he had another little soft tissue injury on top of that so he basically had last year off. The year before he did have that really good result at Badminton and that’s kind of what I’ve got on my mind going forward. He’s a fantastic cross country horse, probably one of the best I’ve ridden. He’s got great gas in the tank usually coming home and that’s something I think you’re gonna need around here.”

On coming to Kentucky…

Marcelo Tosi (BRA): “I live in Brazil and down there they don’t have five-star. I need to compete in the USA or in North America or in Europe … It’s amazing show I always see videos and photos so I’d like to come once, so why not to ride? I have a horse for that so I decide to come. It’s amazing like I thought, so it’s a dream to be here, a dream come true. It’s very nice.”

Piggy French (GBR): “It was the owner’s, Jayne McGivern’s, decision really which I was extremely happy to go along with to be honest because I haven’t been back since the Worlds and it’s just great to have an experience. And to come here is always a fantastic venue and everyone is so friendly when we get here and everything so it’s cool.  And [Quarrycrest Echo] did the trip to Tryon last year very well and came out of it very well, so you know it’s always a risk, but he’s a laid back horse that copes with the travel  pretty well usually so hopefully he does again this year. It’s just great if an owner wants to come  — it’s wonderful because it’s not funded to come over here so I’m extremely grateful to Jayne wanting to. She does a lot of work over here in the States so she’s always wanted a horse here so it’s as great for her as it is for me.”

Leslie Law (GBR): “It’s very nerve wracking! Of course it is, it doesn’t get any better! No, it’s great to be back. I’m very grateful to Tre’ Book who owns the horse to let me have the ride on him and it’s wonderful to be back and hopefully him being a young horse I’ll get to come back several more times now in the future. I’ve got to look after him and do the best by him and I think he’s a horse with a real future so I’m excited by him.”

Oliver Townend (GBR): “I’m lucky to have a handful of five-star horses and hopefully we’ve got two nice ones for Badminton. We knew that he loved it here last year. He just thrived on it last year, he finished with ears pricked every step of the way and why not keep bringing them back to where they love?”

On their partnerships with their horses…

Hawley Bennett-Awad (CAN): “Justine did an amazing job with her and I think why it works so well with Jolly and I is because  I have an open relationship with Justine and the first hear I had her I probably talked to her quite often, honestly, you know, find out what she ran her in, find out what she ate. I think that was really important in establishing the base I have with Jollybo now. But now she’s definitely my horse. She nickers for me and I know her and she knows me and I’m very very lucky to have her. We’ve gelled, 100%.”

“I declared for the Pan Am games. I don’t know if I’d want to take her there for a two-star but at the same time we need to win a medal to go to the Olympics and I wanted to be a part of getting that done. I don’t want to leave that int he hands of somebody else  I want to do everything I can and at a two-star I think she would be seriously competitive. Obviously the long-term goal is the Olympics next year. We’ll see, if I don’t do the Pan Ams I’d love to go to Pau this the fall with her.”

Boyd Martin (USA): “It’s just at this level it’s so much easier on a seasoned horse. When they’re green they’re just new to everything – the degree of difficulty in all three phases and the crowds and the spookiness and whatnot and this guy has been doing this for a year now, so I feel good. [Tsetserleg] is not the easiest horse to jump to be honest but he’s very, very fit and a great galloper and a good little cross country horse so I’ll go out and give him a spin tomorrow.”

“He’s not a sort of classical jumpers that sort of pounces off the ground, you’ve sort of got to put him in the right balance and deliver him to a good stride and give him a bit of room. But we’ve got a partnership now, we’ve been together for a couple of years and we’re in good shape.”

“It takes a couple of years to get them really hardened up and I’ve probably changed his training around a little bit, but I don’t know, it just take years of conditioning and fitness and topline and whatnot. It’s a long, long career, not just for the riders but for the horses too. You can’t get too emotional about blips here and there, but the biggest thing is to look back on it and try and not let it happen again and address the small issues and shave a couple of points off the weaknesses here and there. I think definitely me and ‘Thomas’ are happy and healthy and going strong.”

Kentucky Day Two: A Fancy Prancing Photo Gallery

By on Apr 26, 2019 6:59 pm -

Another dressage day at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event is in the books! We saw heaps of talented performances throughout the day, and the amazingly talented Shannon Brinkman (who received an IAEG award today for her outstanding photography!) was there to catch it all. Scroll on for her gorgeous gallery:

Keep up with us tomorrow. You can find minute-by-minute updates on EN’s Open Thread, and of course you can watch it all live of USEF Network. Click here for details on how to watch, and click here to catch up on all of our coverage.

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Oliver Townend & Cooley Master Class Claim Kentucky Dressage Lead

By on Apr 26, 2019 6:18 pm -

Oliver Townend and Cooley Master Class. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

World Number One Oliver Townend’s got one thing on his mind this weekend: getting behind the wheel of another gorgeous Land Rover at the conclusion of Sunday’s show jumping, and he’s well on his way after smashing a 24.1 in the first phase of the 2019 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by MARS Equestrian with Cooley Master Class. 

“It’s obviously a great feeling to be back here. It’s one of my favorite events full stop. The people here are very friendly. The atmosphere is second to none, and the stadium is out of this world. It’s an event that if I had the last event of my career, this would be the one I’d want to be at,” Oliver said.

He and Angela Hislop’s  14-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Ramiro B X The Swallow, by Master Imp) delivered a masterful performance to beat personal best at the level by over four points.

“It’s nice to be on the lead after dressage. I’m very happy with his performance. He was very laid back, almost bone idle. The weather was looky, but I wouldn’t have wanted it any hotter because he was nearly going to sleep on me. He knows me very well and I know him — I’ve had him since he was four, so I’m basically going in there to do a clear round and press the buttons,” he said.

Piggy French and Quarrycrest Echo. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Compatriot Piggy French also got the personal best memo, as she and Qarrycrest Echo, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Clover Echo x Royal China, by Cavalier Royale) owned by Jayne McGivern, delivered their own on 27.1 points.

“It’s windy in there. You go down the tunnel and actually the breeze gets you, so it just felt quite stormy. And he just felt a bit fresh when I got on him so I’m relieved there was no big mistakes,” Piggy said. “I know in his work bits could be better — he’s not a great trotter — so he needs to be as relaxed and as up as he possibly can to get the 7s or 7.5s, but his canter work is usually pretty good. I was delighted with him from how he felt in the warm up to go in there and be professional and do his job.”

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Boyd Martin leads the Land Rover/USEF CCI5*-L National Championship as the highest placed American sitting in third place with Christine Turner’s Tsetserleg on a score of 27.9.

“I was happy with my bloke. Dressage is a frustrating sport because you can always look back on it and wish you did things better. Last year he was very green here and sort of scraped through all three phases. This year he’s a bit more seasoned and confirmed at this level,” he said.

“Last year was a little bit of a rush getting through this and going to the WEG. It felt like we were doing everything on a wing and a prayer. It’s been good to take a moment to get to know each other.”

Overnight leaders Felix Vogg and Colero, 10-year-old Westphalian’s (Captain Fire X Bonia, Bormio xx) owned by Jürgen Vogg, now sit fourth on a score of 28.

Tim Price and Xavier Faer. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

New Zealand’s Tim Price joined Liz Halliday-Sharp and Ocala Horse Properties/The Deniro Z Syndicate’s Deniro Z on a score of 30.9 tie for fifth place.

After winning Burghley last fall, Tim is here this weekend chasing the Rolex Grand Slam dream with Xavier Faer, a 13-year-old SHBGB (Catherston Liberator x Faerie Dazzler) owned by Tim, Trisha Rickards, and Nigella Hall.

Phillip Dutton and Z. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Seventh place belongs to Phillip Dutton and Z, a 10-year-old Zangersheide (Asca X Bellabouche, by Babouche VH Gehucht Z) owned by the Z Partnership, on a score of 31.7.

Buck Davidson sits 8th with his first of three rides, Park Trader, a 17-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Master Imp x Ballyhast Polly, by Highland King) owned by Carl and Cassie Segal. He carries 32.1 points into tomorrow’s cross country.

He’s also 15th with Kathleen and Roberto Cuca’s Jak My Style (34.1) and 21st with Carl Segal & Sherrie Martin’s Copper Beach (35.9).

Erin Sylvester and Paddy The Caddy. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Erin Sylvester piloted Frank McEnte’s Paddy The Caddy, a 12-year-old Thoroughbred (Azamore x Slamy), to 9th place after a personal best dressage result of 32.2.

Waylon Roberts ties for 10th with Halie Coon & Celien after his 32.7 dressage test aboard Lancaster, A 12-year-old Canadian Sport Horse owned by Michelle and John Koppin.

By The Numbers 

Overall, the judges differed an average of 3.19% per test, 0.68% higher than we saw here last year. Now let’s unpack those who saw differences of more than 5% among judges: 2017 saw this in 1.7% of riders, 2018 was 8.7%, and this year 16.7% of the competitors had more than a five percent difference between their highest and lowest scores.

As a group, scores were 1.49 points above what we expected, with Friday morning’s session faring the best at just 0.25 points above. Thursday morning took the brunt with their results were an average of 2.58 points above expected.

As a whole, riders earned more favorable scores on Friday. The Friday group scored an average of 0.87 points above expected, while Thursday’s rides averaged +2.20.

Judges didn’t heavily punish those at the lower end of the spectrum but those expected to score well had to earn every point. Horses expected to score in 20s scored +1.36, expected 30-35 were +2.88, expected 35-40 were +0.61, expected 40+ were +0.13.

EN’s Data Analyst Maggie Deatrick has been madly crunching numbers all day. She’s compiled a summary into the handy graphic above to demonstrate the range of each pair. Pale orange demonstrates the range that each pair scores in 67% of the time while the black mark shows their average over the last twelve months. Actual score is a black dot, so you can see how your favorite pairs did!

As we look ahead to tomorrow’s cross country phase, we’ve got perfect ground and even better weather in the forecast, so the time should be easier to achieve than in rain-soaked years. But there’s no doubt that Derek di Grazia’s beefy track will, as usual, play a major influence. You can check out our fence-by-fence preview at this link.

Last year Oliver Townend was the only rider in the field to pilot both his horses around Derek’s track inside the time, so he’ll be ready to put his foot on the pedal tomorrow.

“It always amazes me how much the course does change from year to year here. Even questions that you think not many people got 100% right last year all of a sudden disappear and a new question arrives. It’s something that’s very different over here possibly to a lot of places that we ride in England,” Oliver said.

“I’m a huge fan of Derek di Grazia’s courses. I think he has a real knack knowing exactly what works in terms of distance between the combinations and also what a horse can see in terms of the lines,” he continued. “This course I think is as tough as I’ve seen here and I think that you need to be switched on every step of the way. I think you could have a very easy blip without doing too much wrong. It’s a true five star test, and I think that it’s definitely not a dressage competition. It’s a proper, proper job from start to finish.”

First horse will leave the box tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. EST. You can watch every single second of the action live (and for free!) on USEF Network. Click here for details on how to watch. If you can’t watch, be sure to follow along here on EN in our open thread or on Twitter.

#LRK3DE: Website, Schedule, Entries & Drawn Order, Live Scores, How to Watch Live, USEF Network, Horse & Country TV, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

 

 

Friday Video from Smartpak: Odds-On Oliver’s Leading Test

By on Apr 26, 2019 5:32 pm -

What, exactly, does it take to post a 24.1 on the board at a CCI5*-L – particularly if your horse has a spook along the way? Watch and learn from the master. Oliver Townend did just that today at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, riding his defending champion Cooley Master Class. Our advice? Keep an eye on the details: accuracy, consistency, and those all-important scales of training. There’s a lot to be learned – and there’s 24s out there for the rest of us to snatch, too!

Go Oliver, and GO EVENTING!

Kentucky Friday Afternoon Open Thread, Presented by SmartPak

By on Apr 26, 2019 12:53 pm -

Will Coleman and Tight Lines. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Once more unto the breach, dearest pals – we’re back and heading straight into the final session of dressage here at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event.

Here’s a recap of this morning’s scores – you can get the full run-down of the action on the morning report, ably penned by our intrepid lead writer, Shelby Allen. Or, catch up with a browse through this morning’s open thread. We’ll be getting underway shortly with our first rider in the ring, Lancaster, ridden by Waylon Roberts.

Let’s do this thang!

#LRK3DE: Website, Schedule, Entries & Drawn Order, Live Scores, How to Watch Live, USEF Network, Horse & Country TV, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

3.20 p.m.

3.17 p.m.

Cross-country kicks off at 10.30 a.m. tomorrow – we’ll be bringing you everything you need to know, plus a jam-packed afternoon report, soon.

3.10 p.m. 

That’s it for dressage here at the 2019 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event! Here’s the top ten going into tomorrow’s main event:

3.07 p.m.

A 33 for Lauren and Vermiculus, which puts her in 12th and 13th place on her two horses as we move ahead to the cross-country.

3.06 p.m. 

An unplanned flying change on the final centerline mars what is otherwise a very good test for Lauren Kieffer and Vermiculus.

3.05 p.m.

 

3.03 p.m.

Boyd’s score is updated to 27.9. He moves into third, while Felix Vogg slips down to fourth.

3.01 p.m.

Our last horse and rider combination to perform their dressage test is Lauren Kieffer and Vermiculus. Lauren’s riding with bridged reins – an interesting technique to stabilise the contact, and one which we tend to associate much more with cross-country than dressage.

2.58 p.m.

A quick high-five between Buck and Lauren Kieffer as he walks out and she trots in. Buck scores a 35.9 with Copper Beach.

2.57 p.m.

Argh! Some real issues with the final change, but a nice trip up the last centreline and a lovely, decisive halt.

2.56 p.m.

Wow, what an extended canter! Copper Beach is a slightly heavier type, very Irish-looking, and he charges across the arena like a war horse. Beautiful change at the end, too.

2.54 p.m.

Copper Beach is one of those horses you just want to have a sit on yourself – he looks so kind and game, and he’s a lovely stamp.

2.52 p.m.

Buck Davidson is back in the ring as our penultimate competitor, this time riding Copper Beach.

2.51 p.m.

Equal third for Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg! He’s on 28 – the same as Felix Vogg, who also trains with Boyd’s wife, Silva. She’s obviously paid attention to EquiRatings, who tell us that 28 is the magic number for winning a five-star.

2.50 p.m.

2.49 p.m.

2.47 p.m.

Tsetserleg looks so much like his sire, Windfall. But he also has occasional flashes of another smart little black horse – the great Charisma.

2.45 p.m.

Boyd Martin is in the ring now with his WEG mount, Tsetserleg. It’s looking very smart so far.

2.42 p.m.

It’s a 35.5 for Doug Payne and Vandiver – “maybe he’d have scored a couple marks better if he’d worn a belt,” remarks his friend Will Faudree.

2.41 p.m.

39.6 for Sharon White and Cooley On Show.

2.39 p.m.

A bit frustrating, this test – some really super moments, and then some bits where it just doesn’t go quite right. But we see a lovely stretchy circle from him.

2.35 p.m.

Interesting to see Doug Payne’s method of using a double bridle with Vandiver – he holds the snaffle rein between his thumb and forefinger, like a driving rein.

2.32 p.m.

Cooley On Show looks like he really enjoys the canter half-passes – they’re quite big, bouncy, and playful. Unfortunately his stretchy circle doesn’t deliver – he remains high through the base of his neck.

2.29 p.m.

Sharon White and Cooley On Show in now. This is such an impressive horse, with a huge amount of presence, but today he looks a bit fussy. We’re seeing some head shaking and a tendency to come above the bit.

2.27 p.m.

35.6 for Hawley Bennett-Awad and Jollybo, the last of our Canadian competitors. That’s a full mark better than their average.

2.23 p.m.

Tim Price and Xavier Faer’s score has been reviewed and adjusted to 30.9.

2.22 p.m.

The final session is a go.

1.53 p.m. 

Oliver’s score now confirmed as 24.1! I’ve never even managed that at Training level.

1.52 p.m.

 

1.51 p.m.

We’re onto the next coffee break now – our next rider will be Hawley Bennett-Awad. She rides Jollybo at 2.20 p.m.

1.50 p.m.

1.49 p.m.

1.48 p.m.

“He was a good boy in there – a little bit lazy, if anything, but at the same time he’s been in there and done his job again, so I’m very happy,” says Oliver. I totally just misheard the rest of what he said – apparently he sold a horse to the mother of one of the Pony Club kids. He didn’t, in fact, call her mother a horse. #fakenews

1.47 p.m.

It’ll be a 32.5 and into 8th for Phillip and Z.

1.46 p.m.

A nice finish to the test, but poor Z looks a bit shellshocked by all the applause!

1.45 p.m.

A slightly more conservative lengthening this time, and a slightly less quality change, too.

1.44 p.m. 

Nice canter lengthening and a clean, round change in the corner. Z wants to leave his quarters behind as he begins the half-pass, but Phillip quickly corrects him.

1.43 p.m.

Good trot half-passes! They’re very correct. The horse looks as though he might be settling into his work now.

1.42 p.m.

Not the best entrance – Z looks a bit tense and doesn’t halt quite square.

1.41 p.m.

Phillip Dutton and Z heading in now. Phillip is, of course, the last American to win Kentucky – he took the title with Connaught back in 2008. He’ll be riding with a country’s hopes on his shoulders today.

1.40 p.m.

Sorry, not sorry.

1.39 p.m.

They’ve done it! 24.4 for reigning champions Oliver Townend and Cooley Master Class!

1.38 p.m.

Confirmed score of 41.8 for Jessica Phoenix and Bogue Sound.

1.37 p.m.

Good changes! The down transition on the final centreline looks very elevated, too. And the crowd goes MAD – but will it be enough to usurp Piggy’s lead?

1.36 p.m. 

Whoops! A spook in the corner could be costly. But Oliver and Coolio haven’t let it phase them at all. Oliver really lets the horse reach in the stretchy circle.

1.34 p.m.

Tim Price’s scores for his second change will be reviewed at the end of the day for a marking discrepancy. His score could change as a result.

1.33 p.m.

Coolio really is a consummate performer. They put a 28.7 on the board last year – they’ll be aiming for better this year.

1.32 p.m.

Who wants to put a fiver on this? Let’s make betting on dressage a thing.

1.31 p.m.

HERE WE GO. Our reigning Kentucky champions are heading in the ring. It’s Townend time.

1.29 p.m.

What a happy sort of chap Bogue Sound seems! He and Jessica Phoenix are all smiles as they head to the bit check.

1.28 p.m.

1.25 p.m. 

Jessica Phoenix and Bogue Sound now in for Canada – they’re showing us some nice work so far, but Bogue Sound has his tongue out throughout. That could be costly for them.

1.23 p.m.

30.8 for Tim Price and Xavier Faer – they move into third place, below Felix Vogg and Colero.

1.21 p.m. 

Nice finish to Tim and Hugo’s test. We’ll bring you their score shortly.

1.20 p.m.

The next change isn’t quite as clean. Hugo anticipates it and bobbles.

1.19 p.m. 

Hugo comes above the contact for a moment in the rein-back – that’s the first little problem we’ve seen. Now we’re into the canter work, which is looking cadenced; the first change and half-pass look good.

1.18 p.m. 

Nice and accurate so far – Tim might seem like the most laid-back man in the world, but he doesn’t miss a tick. That’s so crucial for Hugo – he’s not flash, so he must be correct to be competitive.

1.17 p.m. 

Xavier Faer – known at home as Hugo – can be a bit of a tricky character in this phase, but he’s also very capable on his day – he was third at Badminton a few years back after three brilliant performances. Fun fact: he’s also a half-brother to Jonelle Price’s Luhmühlen winner Faerie Dianimo.

1.16 p.m.

1.15 p.m.

39.6 for Matt Flynn and Wizzerd.

1.14 p.m.

Next in will be Tim Price and Xavier Faer. Tim is the reigning Burghley champion, and is here to chase the second leg of the Rolex Grand Slam – and crucial points in his quest for the premiere place on the world rankings.

1.12 p.m.

This is a five-star debut for both Matt and Wizzerd. We’re seeing that pressure get to them slightly – Wizzerd isn’t making the changes easy for Matt. But he’s obviously a very classy horse – it’ll be exciting to see what they go on to do this weekend.

1.09 p.m. 

The #ladzclub is out in force at the start of this final session – now we’re seeing Matt Flynn and Wizzerd in the ring. Wizzerd’s tiny button plaits look incredible!

1.07 p.m.

32.7 puts Waylon and Lancaster into equal sixth with Hallie Coon and Celien. That’s almost bang on their average.

1.05 p.m.

Waylon has got a jolly good cheering section in the stands! #Beatlemania

1.04 p.m.

Very tidy half-pass steps and a nice stretchy circle from Lancaster – but his tension is showing through in places as he comes above the bridle and darts forward.

12.57 p.m.

Waylon Roberts and Lancaster head down the centreline – they’re another of our competitors representing Canada here this week.