Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Selena O’Hanlon and John and Judy Rumble’s Foxwood High have never finished outside the top 10 in the CCI4*-S at Red Hills International Horse Trials, and today they finally took a well deserved win in dominant fashion. After poles came tumbling on Chris Barnard’s show jumping course, they could have had three rails down and still won.
“Woody,” a 16-year-old Canadian Sport Horse bred by Epstein Equestrian (Rio Bronco W X Evita II xx, by Abacus xx), tapped the last fence in the triple combination but stayed inside the time allowed of 90 seconds to take the win on a final score of 30.8.
“The big, open ring is tough for Woody because it means I have to move him on, and I worry that he gets strung out, and then I have to get him back to fit all the strides in because he’s such a big guy. I really tried to make it up in the turns and did some really tight rollbacks,” Selena said.
“The rail was completely my fault. I came around, I did the tight turn, and I waited just a little too much and took away. He jumped in great, but he had to really push on to get over the oxer, and that made him a little flat coming out. I honestly would prefer time faults over a rail because this year we have been jumping really clean, but I know we can make the time and I know we can jump clear, so now we just need to do it all together.”
Red Hills proved to be a banner weekend for Selena and Woody across the board. Yesterday they were one of only two pairs to catch the optimum time on Mike Etherington-Smith’s cross country course, becoming the only pair in the 21-year history of the event to ever make the time twice in the CCI4*-S. Selena is the only rider in history to catch the optimum time in the CCI4*-S on three different occasions.
The countdown is on for March 31, when Selena and Woody fly across the pond and begin the journey to competing at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials for a second consecutive year.
There were just four clears inside the time out of 19 show jumping rounds (21% of the field) in the CCI4*-S. Clayton Fredericks and FE Ophelia, a 12-year-old Zweibrucker mare (Ocordo X Argentina, by Argentina) owned by Diana Crawford and Hugh Wrigley, delivered one of the clears to finish second on 38.9.
Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti, her own 17-year-old Westphalian (Pavarotti van de Helle X Fidelia, by Foxiland xx), added just 0.40 penalties for finishing 1 second over the time allowed to take third on 43.7.
Jessica Phoenix and Bentley’s Best. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Jessica Phoenix Bests CCI3*-S with Bentley’s Best
Jessica Phoenix defended her overnight lead with a clear round aboard Bentley’s Best to take the win in the CCI3*-S on a final score of 29.0, the only finishing score in the 20s in the division.
“Benny,” an 11-year-old Trakehner gelding (Hirtentanz X Hauptstutbuch Baronesse XIII, by Eichendorff) owned by the Bentley’s Best Group, led from start to finish, and Jessica said he was on his game all weekend.
“In dressage, he really feels like he’s finally strong enough physically and content mentally. He feels happy and playful, and it’s starting to get easy for him. He genuinely feels like he enjoys his job,” she said.
“He was so much fun to ride cross country. He nailed everything. Show jumping is always really fun for him. I had the last fence down on every single horse in the three-star, but I couldn’t be happier with how they all performed.”
Looking to the rest of the CCI3*-S leaderboard, 20 out of 43 combinations jumped clear show jumping rounds inside the time for a 47% clear rate.
Hannah Sue Burnett and Lukeswell, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Puissance x Gentle, by Kings Servant) owned by the Lukeswell Partnership, jumped clear to finish second on their dressage score of 31.5. Fun fact: This horse went around the 2015 Blair European Championships with his former jockey, Sam Watson, as part of the Irish team.
Caroline Martin and Sherrie Martin’s Danger Mouse, an 11-year-old KWPN gelding by Kannan, jumped clear to finish third on 31.7.
Lynn Symansky and Global Cassero 3. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Lynn Symansky Delivers with New Ride in CCI2*-S
Rails went flying in CCI2*-S show jumping, with just six clears inside the time out of 38 rounds (16%) over Chris Barnard’s course. Lynn Symansky delivered under pressure as the last to go aboard KC Eventing’s Global Cassero 3 to take the wire-to-wire win on 25.2.
Lynn and “Jerry,” an 8-year-0ld Hanoverian (Conteur X Wahida, by Windauch), have been partnered together since January. Katherine Coleman thought the two would be a good match, and she was absolutely right, Lynn said.
“He made my job very easy, and he’s gotten a lot stronger over the last two months since we’ve been together. He’s been a late bloomer in his body, but he knows his job, and he’s so eager and wants to please and be careful. He’s still developing strength, but he tried his heart out.”
Jerry will move up to Intermediate following his win at Red Hills, but Lynn has a much bigger picture in mind for the horse. She is actively looking for syndicate members who might be interested in joining her with producing this horse for the future.
“He was class all weekend. I’m looking to secure him because I think he’d be a really good horse for the future as a potential team horse down the line,” Lynn said.
“I’m looking to grow a string because I have some older campaigners coming up on the last years of their careers. You always have to be looking to what’s next and not rest on your laurels, which is why I want to develop a syndicate to try to keep the ride.”
Ivie Cullen-Dean and Michael Dean’s Fernhill Full Throttle, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Cyrano X Euro Glory, by Euro Clover), jumped clear to move up from fourth to finish second on their dressage score of 29.0.
Christina Henriksen and JTH Zest, her own 8-year-old British-bred mare (Zamboucca X Maybee Baybee, by Mayhill), had one rail down to finish third on 29.6.
Looking to the National divisions, Boyd Martin bounced back from a broken collarbone to win the Advanced with Christine Turner’s Kyra on 32.2. Click here for the full report on Boyd’s win and why he thinks the injury might have been a blessing in disguise.
Felix Vogg won the Open Intermediate wire-to-wire with Jürgen Vogg’s Archie Rocks on their dressage score of 25.9. Felix bought “Archie,” an 11-year-old Thoroughbred (Le Monde X Unbridled Diva, by Unbridled Jet), from Maya Studenmund in December after the horse’s third-place result in the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International CCI4*-L with Buck Davidson.
Jennie Brannigan and Nina and Tim Gardner’s Hopscotch, a 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood Mare (Special Memory X Vidalia), won the Open Preliminary on their dressage score of 22.7, the lowest winning score of the entire competition.
Zach Ketelboeter and his own That Hit the Spot, a 9-year-old Thoroughbred (A Spot of Greatness X If Girls Could Fly), added one rail and 0.8 time penalties to win the Preliminary Rider division on a final score of 44.9.
Thank you to all who followed along with EN’s coverage of Red Hills this weekend. This truly is a community event run by wonderful people who are delighted to welcome you back year after year. More than 600 volunteers make this event possible — thank you to every single one of them. Go Eventing.
Boyd Martin dominated the Advanced division at Red Hills International Horse Trials, delivering a clear show jumping round with Christine Turner’s Kyra today to clinch the wire-to-wire win on 32.2. He also jumped clear with the Long Island T Syndicate’s Long Island T to finish second on 38.3, and had one rail down with Christine Turner’s On Cue to take fourth on 43.2.
Red Hills wasn’t originally scheduled as Boyd’s first Advanced run of the season, but his plans had to change when he broke his left collarbone on Feb. 2 while foxhunting with the Aiken Hounds in Hitchcock Woods.
“I was a guest to my good buddy, Mark Beecher. Everyone welcomed the Olympic rider and applauded. Then they had me ride right up front, and the last jump was about 2-feet high. I fell off, and I knew it was broken right away. As I was lying on the ground, all the ladies in the hunt were riding by saying, ‘Is that the guy we were acknowledging at the beginning of the hunt?’ It was pretty embarrassing, but it was perfect timing.”
Boyd quickly had surgery to place a plate in his collarbone, and he eased back into competing at Pine Top two weeks ago. While his season got off to a later start than usual, Boyd said he thinks the delay ultimately benefitted his horses.
“They feel fresher, sounder and sweeter. It might have been a blessing in disguise, and it’s something for me to think about next year — not eventing hard in January and February and just gently getting them out towards the end of February, and then come to (Red Hills) and get more stuck in at The Fork and Fair Hill.”
Boyd Martin wearing the protective grooming mitt on his shoulder on cross country yesterday. Photo by Jenni Autry.
When he returned to competing after his surgery, Boyd found that his body protector placed uncomfortable pressure on his shoulder. His head groom and barn manager, Stephanie Simpson, came up with the idea to cushion the area with a sheepskin grooming mitt. “It looks a bit silly, but it makes a huge difference.”
Kyra, a 12-year-old Canadian Warmblood mare (VDL Ulando H X Wellesley, by Weltstern), added just 4.4 cross country time penalties yesterday to her dressage score in taking the win, and he said her cross country form has really come on in the last year.
“She’s really been hit and miss for the couple of years I’ve been riding her, but the end of last year we really started to click. She’s a very careful horse — a sensitive red-head. I’ve changed my tactic in training at home and cross country schooling by making it easier at Preliminary level fences where she can feel really confident, rather than challenging her at big fences. Then when she gets to a show, she’s a pistol. She zipped around like it was nothing yesterday.”
As for what’s next for Kyra, Boyd said he likes the idea of aiming her for competitions like the $50,000 LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing, where the mare finished fourth to take a chunk of the prize money.
“She’s a great short-course horse. With showcases and short-format internationals becoming bigger, she’s a horse that specializes in that. She’s such a fabulous show jumper, and often they build the show jumping tough at the showcases, so she’s a good one to have in the barn for that.”
Stay tuned for more from the Advanced division at Red Hills, plus the winners of all the other divisions. Go Eventing.
Overnight CCI4*-S leaders Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High. Photo by Jenni Autry.
With Daylight Savings Time beginning in the wee hours of Sunday morning, the sun had just barely risen prior to the start of the final horse inspection here at Red Hills International Horse Trials in Tallahassee, Florida.
The CCI4*-S horses were presented first to the ground jury of Vanda Stewart (IRL), Jane Hamlin (USA) and Bobby Stevenson (USA). All horses that presented were accepted, sending 19 on to tackle Chris Barnard’s show jumping course.
Following Atlantic Domino’s withdrawal, overnight leaders Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High are now the only pair remaining in the CCI4*-S with a two-phase score in the 20s, topping the leaderboard on 26.8. They can afford to have one rail down and exceed the time allowed by five seconds in show jumping and still take the CCI4*-S win.
Clark Montgomery and The Caribbean Soul Syndicate’s Caribbean Soul now sit second in the CCI4*-S on 32.9, with Hannah Sue Burnett and Jacqueline Mars’ Harbour Pilot in third on 35.2.
It’s a hectic morning here at Red Hills, with Preliminary show jumping underway while the CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S horse inspections are still underway.
Show jumping is taking place with the following division order and start times: Open Preliminary at 8:30 a.m. EST, Preliminary Rider at 9 a.m., Open Intermediate at 9:35 a.m. EST, Advanced at 10:50 a.m. EST, CCI4*-S at 12 p.m., CCI3*-S at 1:15 p.m. and CCI2*-S at 3:20 p.m.
Keep it locked on EN for the conclusion of Red Hills.
Gird your loins, chaps: the countdown is ON to the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, and we, for one, couldn’t be more excited — not least because this year is a special one. 2019’s competition is the 70th anniversary of the inaugural Badminton, and since its first running in 1949 the sport, the venue, and the characters within this epic story have changed and evolved significantly. To celebrate 70 years of brilliant Badminton, we’re going to be bringing you an extra-special inside look at the event and its rich and exciting history, every week from now until the competition begins on May 1. Consider the archives your own personal Gringotts, and EN your loyal goblin sherpas.
This week, we’re delving into the rich history of the ex-racehorse at Badminton. Thoroughbred fans — this one’s for you!
There’s an age-old debate where the Thoroughbred’s role in eventing is concerned. Those in favour argue that a blood horse is a faster horse, a fitter horse, and a horse with more stamina. These qualities in tandem allow a horse to be more comfortable thinking and reacting at high-speed, with – in theory, at least – less chance of a catastrophic tumble when a quick change of plan is required. Those against point out that the sport has changed in favour of a horse bred to be as competitive on the flat and over the poles as it is across the country.
Whichever side of the argument you fall on, Badminton has seen a number of enormously successful ex-racehorses cross the finish flags — in total, nine horses with connections to racing have won the event. Seven of those were ex-racehorses, one would go on to race after its eventing career, and another enjoyed moonlighting as a racehorse between its top-level eventing runs.
The Thoroughbred was certainly the dominant force of early-era eventing. This can partly be attributed to the increased emphasis on cross-country – of course, we’re talking about old-school long-format eventing, with its multi-part cross-country phase.
The course map of the 1949 Badminton cross-country — all 847 phases of it. Image courtesy of Badminton Horse Trials.
The very first running of Badminton was largely experimental, but even then, horses and riders had to cover some 22km – that is, 14 miles – on cross-country day. This must have seemed almost merciful after the 1948 Olympics’ 22-mile cross-country, but compared to 2018’s 6750m – or 4.2 miles – it was a Herculean effort.
PHASE A (three miles, 22.5 minutes at 220mpm): First, Badminton competitors had to complete a roads and tracks phase, which took them at a gentle pace across to the village of Didmarton, where the steeplechase course was held. Roads and tracks was a game of forward planning – you didn’t want to waste any time, but nor did you want to waste any energy. Those riders who could strike a balance and use this jump-less phase to warm up and install some level of rideability would find themselves much better prepared to kick on at speed over…
PHASE B (two miles, 9-12 fences, 5.5 minutes at 600mpm): The forthcoming steeplechase fences. Once completed, there was…
PHASE C (five miles, 38 minutes at 220mpm): a second roads and tracks section – ostensibly just the hack back to cross-country, which began by the stables. Once again, tactics came into play: there was no ten-minute box to allow horses to recover before they set out to tackle…
PHASE D (three miles, 21 fences, 11 minutes at 450mpm): the cross-country. If riders wanted their horses to recover, they needed to complete the latter roads and tracks phase more quickly – a tricky catch-22 for anyone not sitting on a horse with a high blood percentage. Once the cross-country was navigated, there was just
PHASE E (1161m, 3.5 minutes at 330 mpm): a long canter stretch designed to help wind the horse back down and initiate the recovery period.
Of course, a high percentage of blood is no guarantor of fast recovery, but it’s a pretty safe bet that a pure Thoroughbred will benefit from increased stamina over a cross-bred horse. In the early days of eventing, many of the riders were off-the-track, too – plenty of National Hunt and point-to-point jockeys tackled the first few iterations of the event, looking for a new challenge for themselves and their game, gutsy horses. The pairing of high-class horses who were bred to run and jump with jockeys, who were capable of not only bringing a horse to peak fitness but riding them to conserve energy too, was a formidable one. It’s worth noting, too, that the early rules of eventing favoured aggressive speed – riders could earn bonus points for quick times in the cross-country phases, effectively allowing them to mitigate the effects of a poor dressage performance. The faster you rode, the more points you could knock off – and penalties for going too fast wouldn’t be introduced for some time.
Together, these factors created a sport in which speed and toughness was king. Before the idea of breeding and producing event horses ever occurred to anyone, the classic, hardy Thoroughbred had established its dominance.
In the 1940s and ‘50s, Thoroughbreds were bred with one purpose in mind – to race. That meant that any Thoroughbred doing another job was almost certainly a byproduct – it was either being made useful following a career on the track, or it was a dud that had flunked out of training. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the very first winner of Badminton was inextricably linked with the racing industry.
THE STARS AND STRIPES AT BADMINTON
Golden Willow (Cloth of Gold x Pussy Willow) wasn’t a byproduct, per se – in fact, he was one of the rare few horses that was an eventer first and a racehorse second. Bred in the US in 1943, he was brought to the UK in 1948. The striking bay five-year-old easily won four hunter trials that autumn, showing an impressive length of stride and a remarkable toughness across the country. That toughness, however, was paired with a tricky streak – Shedden described the horse as being both lovable and terrifying all at once. In fact, the horse was so prone to fits of excitability that Shedden, frightened of falling and losing the animal, tied a length of twine from his belt to the saddle. That way, he hoped, he might stand half a chance of keeping a hold on the horse if he were to take a tumble.
Golden Willow takes the first Badminton. In a twist on what we now consider the norm, Golden Willow wasn’t so much an ex-racehorse as a racehorse-to-be.
Despite his quirks, the five-year-old Golden Willow found himself third after dressage. (Admittedly, this was, perhaps, due to his competition – many of the horses entered hadn’t ever been in an arena before, and spent most of their tests trying to figure out how to exit it at speed.) On cross-country day, he went so astonishingly fast that he leapt the Irish Bank in one, and finished the day having knocked 63 points off his first-phase mark. He was so far ahead of the pack that even a knocked rail – worth ten penalties in those days – saw him win with 26.5 points to spare.
Eleanor Home Kidston took home £150 (£5207 after inflation) for her horse’s win, and enjoyed another piece of the pie the following year, when her talented tearaway finished fifth. Now only a six-year-old, it looked as though Golden Willow was to become the sport of eventing’s very first legend – but instead, he became the sport’s first financial casualty. Dismayed with what she felt was insufficient prize money, Kidston was persuaded to send the horse into racing. Shedden, who was one of the country’s most accomplished horsemen, knew that Golden Willow’s tempestuous, busy mind wouldn’t be able to cope with the rigours of race training, and his habit of running away even in a strong gag bit would be dangerous, at best, on the track. But he was overruled, and his talented young mount was sent away. Shortly thereafter, Golden Willow bolted in training, galloping for fourteen straight miles and pulling up only when his tendons broke down. After a year and a half of rehabilitation, he was sent back into training and it happened again. This time, the horse’s career was over.
Apropos of nothing, a fun fact: 1952’s winner wasn’t an ex-racehorse – in fact, Emily Little was bought as a five-year-old with only the intention of competitive glory. But her rider, Colonel Mark Darley, came from illustrious Thoroughbred stock himself – his family was responsible for the introduction of the Arabian horse into English breeding. The Darley Arabian, of course, was one of the three founding sires of the English Thoroughbred. Not a shabby legacy.
THE FIRST EX-RACEHORSE
If Golden Willow was arguably a racehorse-to-be, then 1953’s victor was the first true off-the-track Thoroughbred to take the Badminton title. Starlight XV (Trappeur II x Dawn), ridden by Major Laurence Rook, was another striking stamp of a Thoroughbred. Like his American forebear, he had a difficult streak. While galloping and jumping came naturally to the horse, who had been intended for steeplechasing, he found dressage difficult at best, and garnered a reputation for being explosive in this phase. (Incidentally, his trainer on the track was Gerald Balding, who was Britain’s last 10-goal polo player before turning to racing –his granddaughter, television presenter Clare Balding, presents the television coverage of Badminton these days. Synchronicity, my friends.)
Laurence Rook and Starlight XV.
Poor Starlight had a questionable run of luck – at the Helsinki Olympics the year prior, he’d stumbled into a hidden piece of guttering on course, turning himself over and dazing Rook. Once the two were reunited, they still managed to notch up a bonus of sixty marks, but missed a turning flag in phase E, the run-in. They were eliminated, and the British team lost its grasp on the gold medal.
In 1953, Badminton a bit of a double feature – the competition wasn’t just a major event in its own right, it was also the home of the very first FEI Open European Championships. After the previous year’s blunder, and because of his horse’s unreliability in the first phase, Rook was dropped from the home team at the last minute. He was still allowed to ride as an individual, though, and he did so, confident that he could win by some margin. He did, and his replacements on the British team – Major Frank Weldon and the ex-racehorse Kilbarry – finished second.
Weldon, whose first love was racing, had bought Kilbarry with the intention of aiming for the Gunner’s Gold Cup, and the pair won their first point-to-point together in preparation. Unfortunately, a bout of equine flu meant that Kilbarry had to undergo a tie-back surgery at the end of 1952, effectively ending his racing career. Weldon had ridden at Badminton once already on another mount, and so he was quick to reroute the horse’s career trajectory. Rightly so: the horse would never finish outside of the top three in an international event.
Frank Weldon and Kilbarry in 1955.
Not insignificantly, the 1953 running of the event was considered a particularly tough one – the weather was unseasonably warm, and any fitness issues made themselves readily apparent part of the way through the course. Only 26 of the 40 starters made it through to Sunday’s showjumping phase, and thereafter, it was decided that there ought to be some sort of qualification process to compete at Badminton. It was, arguably, a year destined for the Thoroughbred horse.
In 1955 and 1956, Kilbarry and Weldon finally won Badminton, having finished second the two previous years. Once again, 1955’s running was a special Badminton: not only was it again hosting the European Championships, but bizarrely, it had moved to Windsor Great Park – the Queen’s back garden – for the year. Second-placed in this event was another racing combination – Bertie Hill had been persuaded to give the sport a go, and his £90 ‘dud’ Countryman ended up being syndicated by the Queen and winning the gold medal at the 1956 Olympics. Later on, he would be bought and piloted by the 11th Duke of Beaufort – the owner of Badminton estate – who would finish second with the horse in 1959.
David Somerset, the Duke of Beaufort, and Countryman knock a rail to narrowly miss the win at Badminton 1959. Photo courtesy of Badminton Horse Trials.
THE OVER-ACHIEVER
In 1961, a horse with the absolutely remarkable moniker of Salad Days would take the Badminton win. Piloted by Australia’s Laurie Morgan, he occupies a unique place on this list: he wasn’t quite an ex-racehorse, nor was he a racehorse-to-be – instead, he was a top-notch eventing horse who raced for fun in between his competitions. He was part of the 1960 gold medal-winning Australian Olympic team, and much of his preparation for the following year’s Badminton was done over hunter chase courses. Unsurprisingly, the pair were remarkably quick and clean across the country – and they needed to be. The day before the dressage, Morgan discovered that he’d learned the wrong dressage, and they went off-course in their test three times. Only their blazing speed on Saturday saved them from a frustrating loss.
It would be another ten years before a racehorse (past, present, or future!) would grace the top of the leaderboard. When the next one did, though, he made up for it by doing the double. Captain Mark Phillips enjoyed wins in 1971 and 1972 with Great Ovation, a horse he had very nearly given up on, admitting that he didn’t think the horse would make the grade. But instead of selling, he decided to give the horse, by Three Cheers, a season of hunting from his army barracks at Catterick. The following spring, the ‘never naturally brave’ gelding, with a penchant for hesitance in front of a fence, took his first title.
1971 was also the first year that the modern optimum time system was used – previously, points could be made up with bonuses for going fast across the country. Now, however, an optimum time was set for each of the five speed and endurance phases. Phases A and C, the roads and tracks, would garner one penalty per second over the time, while a second was worth 0.8 penalties on steeplechase and, as today, 0.4 on cross country.
Great Ovation’s 1972 victory is memorable for a slightly different reason – it’s the tightest winning margin ever recorded. Phillips and Great Ovation led the dressage, seven marks ahead of second-placed Richard Meade. But disaster struck as he set off for the steeplechase – he forgot to start his stopwatch, and racked up an expensive 8.8 time penalties in Phase B, and 38.8 further time penalties across the country. As they headed into the final day, Meade and his horse, Laurieston, led by 0.6 penalties. When Phillips jumped a foot-perfect clear, the pressure was on Meade to deliver.
And he did: he kept his notoriously fiery horse under perfect control to leave the course intact. As he rode away from the final fence, he was delighted to realise he’d won Badminton – but the faces of the crowd ahead of him told him that something wasn’t quite right. As it turned out, he’d finished 1.25 seconds over the optimum time. He lost Badminton by a sixth of a penalty.
(For what it’s worth, Meade and Laurieston won the individual Olympic gold later that year, so he probably wasn’t basking in his misery for long.)
A COLOSSAL MARGIN
After Great Ovation’s second Badminton win, keen ex-racehorse fans were in for a bit of a wait. Some 34 years later, Australia’s Andrew Hoy would win aboard Moonfleet, but in the meantime, an unraced Thoroughbred would leave a lasting impression.
In 1999, Badminton was celebrating a major milestone – it was the 50th birthday of the greatest event in the world, and anyone with even a passing interest in horses had piled into the Gloucestershire estate to join the party. Ian Stark, colloquially known as Scottie, had been the first-ever person to take first and second place at the event eleven years prior, but this year, he was back with an exciting up-and-comer. The New Zealand Thoroughbred Jaybee was only eight years old, but Scottie hoped he might be one of his future stars.
He certainly would – but what Scottie hadn’t quite expected was how soon that moment would come. Under the watchful eyes of the Queen of England, the youngest horse in the field triumphed, winning despite his inexperience in monsoon conditions that saw some of the world’s best riders walk home disappointed. Even Chris Bartle, himself a winner of the Badminton, retired at the third fence.
That year, the US cut a formidable figure in the form of Kerry Millikin and her ’96 Olympics mount Out and About, who finished third. ‘Outie’, like Jaybee, was something of a child prodigy — he was only eight when he won his bronze medal in Atlanta, nine when he finished seventh at the Open European Championships at Burghley in 1997, and eleven when he ran so well at Badminton.
Out and About and Kerry Millikin. Photo by Phelps Photo.
Out of Incardine and by the stallion L’Amour Rullah, Outie cemented his place as one of the greatest off-the-track American-bred Thoroughbreds in eventing history, and was posthumously honoured with a place in the USEA Hall of Fame last year. In a touching induction speech, Jimmy Wofford said: “About 25 years ago, a much younger Kerry Millikin came jogging by me on a loopy Thoroughbred, having just been run away with around the Preliminary horse trials course at Fair Hill. In somewhat of a disheveled state, Kerry said, ‘Jimmy, what should I do with him?’ And I said, ‘For heaven’s sake, upgrade him!’
Andrew Hoy’s Moonfleet, victorious at Badminton in 2006 after leading from pillar to post, was a remarkable example of an ex-racehorse. Originally known as Empty Wagon, he was sold for 50,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale in ’95, but only lightly raced as a point-to-pointer.
In his eventing career, he would win Badminton, finish second at Burghley in the same year, and then go on to win the latter. At 47, Hoy was then one of the oldest riders to have won Badminton and, perhaps more notably, it was the year in which the long format of eventing was dropped. The Irish-bred Moonfleet, by Strong Gale, would be the first horse ever to win a short-format Badminton, completing a remarkable week for owner Susan Magnier, who also had a victory in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket that weekend.
In 2013, we saw our most recent ex-racehorse take top honours at Badminton. That was Clifton Promise, ridden by New Zealand’s Jock Paget, and I know I say this a lot, but he won in a truly remarkable year. For the first – and, I’d wager, the last – time, two riders came to Badminton in pursuit of the Rolex Grand Slam.
William Fox-Pitt found himself in contention when, after winning Burghley in 2011 and Kentucky in 2012, he was unable to contest Badminton due to its cancellation. Instead, it was decided that his bid could roll over to Badminton 2013 – but that meant that, should another rider win Burghey 2012 and Kentucky 2013, there’d be a face-off. Of course there was, and of course that rider ended up being Fox-Pitt’s oldest rival Andrew Nicholson, and it was all ludicrously exciting, until a Kiwi bricklayer who’d only started riding at the age of 18 came along and trounced them all.
Jock Paget and Clifton Promise take Badminton. Photo courtesy of Badminton Horse Trials.
Clifton Promise (Engagement x Darn Style) was registered as Bachelor Boy, but he was such a failure as a racehorse that he never even made it to the track. Instead, Clifton Eventers bought him at the sales for $3000, and many years down the line, he would help Paget become the second person ever to win on their Badminton debut.
THE NEW GUARD
Despite the loss of the long format and, as a result, less of a need for the sort of endless stamina that eventing’s earliest heroes demonstrated, Thoroughbred blood remains vital to the modern-day event horse. While the 7/8 Thoroughbred remains a popular choice, and lighter-boned warmbloods produce the first and final phase goods, the full Thoroughbred – and the ex-racehorse – remain a mainstay of the top levels, if in small numbers.
Arctic Soul and Gemma Tattersall speed around the 2018 Badminton course. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.
Arguably the most successful ex-racehorse currently competing at five-star is Gemma Tattersall’s Arctic Soul (Luso x Dream Cocktail, by Roi Danzig). A consummate warhorse, ‘Spike’ ran his first event at six; prior to that, he’d plugged away at a lacklustre National Hunt career in Ireland that saw him contest just four races, never finishing higher than eleventh for trainer Colm Murphy.
But as is so often the case, his form on the track has been no indicator of his success in his second career, and the sixteen-year-old has finished in the top ten at Badminton three times, finishing on his dressage score for third in 2016. Widely regarded as one of the best five-star cross-country horses in the game, he’s a favourite to take this year’s title.
In 2016, Badminton recognised the importance of the ex-racehorse to the sport by introducing the Retraining of Racehorses award for the highest-placed off-the-track Thoroughbred. Arctic Soul has taken the prize each year since its inception.
Lynn Symansky and Donner at Badminton. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.
Recent years have seen ex-racehorses make up the number across the board at key internationals: Lynn Symansky‘s Donner (Gorky Park x Smart Jane, by Smarten), who ran on the flat as Smart Gorky, is a notable fan favourite. He finished 22nd at Badminton in 2017 and has amassed a number of impressive results at the top level. His racing career, too, was short-lived: he retired at the age of three, having won just $2,870 in six runs.
Britain’s Ben Way has enjoyed several years at the five-star level with Irish-bred Galley Light (Turtle Island x Coola Cross, by Be My Native) — their best result was 12th at Badminton in 2016, but they also won the prize for best first-timers, named after Laurence Rook, in 2015. Jesse Campbell‘s Kaapachino (Kaapstad x Right Tune ) won Jesse his first international event outside of New Zealand, putting him on the map as a formidable addition to the global Kiwi contingent. In 2016, they made their Badminton debut, finishing 33rd.
Libby Head and Sir Rockstar at Badminton. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
If ever there was a compelling case for the toughness of the Thoroughbred horse, surely it would be Sir Rockstar (Rockamundo x How Unusual, by Great Sun): Libby Head‘s remarkable gelding finished 31st at Badminton in 2016 at the age of eighteen, following a racing career that spanned 16 runs. He didn’t begin his reeducation until he was ten, when 16-year-old Libby — who had only been riding for two years — found him malnourished in a field and decided to buy him. At 15.1hh, he was one of the smallest horses in the Badminton field, and although he struggled to produce a competitive test, his cattiness across the country allowed the pair to climb 42 places.
And that, folks, is just classic Thoroughbred coolness.
Author’s note: A previous version of this post missed out on one very special ex-racehorse who represented the USA at Badminton. Out and About, ridden by Kerry Millikin, has now been included – thanks to Kerry for reaching out!
Combined driving is the sister sport of eventing. A different kind of triathlon, driving’s “cross country” is their marathon day, which still operates much like the long format of eventing. If you’ve never watched, check out some of the footage from marathon day at Live Oak International. It’s out of this world. You can watch here with a US Equestrian membership.
National Holiday: Daylight Saving Time — did you spring your clocks forward?
Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Selena O’Hanlon and John and Judy Rumble’s Foxwood High stormed to the top of the CCI4*-S leaderboard on cross country today at Red Hills International Horse Trials, delivering one of just two rounds inside the optimum time on Mike Etherington-Smith’s course here in Tallahassee, Florida. They remain on their dressage score of 26.8 overnight.
The optimum time has now been caught by five riders in the 21-year history of the CCI4*-S at Red Hills. Selena is the only rider in history to have made the time in the CCI4*-S three times. As a combination, Selena and Foxwood High are the only pair to have made the time twice; they were the fastest by 2 seconds today.
Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino also caught the optimum time today to join the following club of CCI4*-S clock-beaters: Whitney Mahloch with Military Mind in 2018; Selena O’Hanlon with A Fine Romance and Foxwood High, both in 2013; Peter Atkins with Henry Jota Hampton in 2012; and Phillip Dutton with The Foreman in 2005 and Nova Top in 2004.
Going faster on cross country has been a key goal for Selena and “Woody,” a 16-year-old Canadian Sport Horse bred by Epstein Equestrian (Rio Bronco W X Evita II xx, by Abacus xx). They were five seconds inside the time, and she was easing up through the finish knowing she had made it.
“I was worried with how many combinations there were it would be tough to make the time. There were places where I had no choice and really had to bring him back to see the strides. I rode him as fast as I could safely because I thought I would be late on the clock, but I was practicing going faster and jumping the straightforward fences faster,” Selena said.
“He’s improved so much — even in the show jumping and dressage with speeding up his hind legs when he collects instead of slowing down. Now I can wait until the last two strides before a fence toprepare, and I can trust he’ll speed up his hind legs to get the distance. He’s also just so trustworthy. I’ve been his longtime partner. I tell myself if I ride the right way, he’s going to do his best for me.”
Red Hills is Woody’s final run in the States before he ships to England to gear up for his second consecutive appearance at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. They depart March 31 and will once again be based at Mark Todd’s yard in Wiltshire, with a planned run at Burnham Market as their final outing ahead of Badminton.
“I’m excited to see Burnham Market, which is a venue I’ve never competed at, and experience competing there. I want to soak up the whole experience, “Selena said. “Now that we know we can do Badminton, hopefully we can improve on our speed.”
(Selena can be two seconds over the time allowed on Chris Barnard’s show jumping course tomorrow and still win — one step closer to fulfilling EN’s prophecy.)
Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Dunlough Striker X Atlantic Amanda, by Glidawn Diamond) owned by Fletcher Farms, became the eighth pair to make the time in Red Hills CCI4*-S history and remain on their dressage score of 27.7, which moved them up to second place. These two are aiming for their first CCI5*-L at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event.
Clark Montgomery and Caribbean Soul. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Clark Montgomery and Caribbean Soul, a 12-year-old Thoroughbred (Cimarron Secret X Ogygian’s Dasire, by Ogygian) owned by the Caribbean Soul Syndicate, impressed in the mare’s CCI4*-S debut, jumping clear with just 1.2 time penalties to move up to third place on 32.9.
Overnight dressage leaders Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot, a 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Cruising X Shannon, by Catch On Fire) owned and bred by Jacqueline Mars, picked up 8.8 time penalties to slip to fourth place on 35.2.
Clayton Fredericks and FE Ophelia, a 12-year-old Zweibrucker mare (Ocordo X Argentina, by Argentina) owned by Diana Crawford and Hugh Wrigley, added 8.4 time penalties and moved up to fifth place on 38.9.
Boyd Martin and Kyra. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Boyd Martin Bests Advanced
Boyd Martin and Christine Turner’s Kyra, a 12-year-old Canadian Warmblood mare (VDL Ulando H X Wellesley, by Weltstern) were first to go in the Advanced and moved to the lead with 4.4 time penalties, which puts them on a score of 32.2 heading into show jumping tomorrow.
Whitney Mahloch and Military Mind, her own 13-year-old Thoroughbred (Military X Smart Balance, by Beau Genius), were the only pair to make the time in the Advanced division today to move up to second place on 32.7.
Boyd Martin and Long Island T, a a 13-year-old Oldenburg/Thoroughbred (Ludwig von Bayern X Haupstsbuch Highlight, by Heraldik xx) owned by the Long Island T Syndicate, led after dressage and picked up 12.8 time penalties to sit third on 38.3.
Jessica Phoenix and Bentley’s Best. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Canada in Control of CCI3*-S
Jessica Phoenix and Bentley’s Best an 11-year-old Trakehner gelding (Hirtentanz X Hauptstutbuch Baronesse XIII, by Eichendorff) owned by the Bentley’s Best Group, scooted home 1 second inside the time on David O’Connor’s CCI3*-S course to keep the lead on 25.0.
Caroline Martin and The Apprentice, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Casado x Funny Girl, by Fernblick) owned by Sherrie Martin, also caught the time to move up from 10th to second on 31.0.
Ellie O’Neal and Sally Cox’s Zick Zack, a 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare (Blue Hors Zack X Mercedes, by Master), added 0.40 time penalties to move up to third on 31.0.
Lynn Symansky and Global Cassero 3. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Symansky Still On Top in CCI2*-S
Lynn Symansky and Global Cassero 3, an 8-year-0ld Hanoverian (Conteur X Wahida, by Windauch) owned by KC Eventing, finished 1 second inside the time to hold the lead in the CCI2*-S.
Katherine Coleman has sourced a number of exciting horses to the States, and she imported “Jerry” last year after he won the Millstreet CCIYH2*-S with Brian Morrison. Jerry turned out to be a perfect match for Lynn, who is now actively looking for owners to join her in the journey of producing the horse to the highest levels of the sport.
“He’s not even close to what he could be,” Lynn said. “He’s still building strength, but he’s so honest. I’m excited for this horse’s future, and I think he has all the right parts. I think it’s important to keep scouting new talent for the U.S.”
While Jerry has multiple runs at the level under his belt, Lynn thought it was crucial to get to know him at the same level before moving him up to Intermediate. “It’s about getting him a bit stronger and me getting to know him. He feels more than ready to move up. Today was definitely easy for him.”
Christina Henriksen and JTH Zest, her own 8-year-old British-bred mare (Zamboucca X Maybee Baybee, by Mayhill), also caught the optimum time to remain in second place on their dressage score of 25.6.
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Pur Dawes’ Duiske Abbey, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse better known as “Mouse,” finished nearly 20 seconds inside the time in the mare’s first CCI2*-S to move up third on 28.8.
We are relieved to report that all falls today resulted in no major injuries for either horse or rider. Click here to view full scoring across all divisions. Go Eventing.
In the market for a new four-legged partner? You may find your unicorn on our sister site, Sport Horse Nation. To help with the search, we’re going to feature a selection of current listings here on EN each week. We include the ad copy provided; click the links for videos, pricing and contact information.
During the winter months, Ocala becomes a hub for eventing as riders chase warmer weather. This can be a good thing for you horse buyers because there’s a lot of talent in a small area. Whether you’re based here for the winter or you’re making a trip out of horse shopping, here’s six horses who are currently listed for sale near Ocala, Florida on Sport Horse Nation.
Freedom is a stunning 6yo mare with superb bloodlines (Humble GS x Fidertanz x Voltaire). Freedom has never finished out of the top 5 and consistently finishes on her dressage score of mid 20’s dressage. She is sweet and quiet enough for a novice rider with the talent to do the upper levels with ease. Freedom is located in Ocala, FL. Please check out www.jessicaphoenix.ca for more info on Freedom GS and a full list of our sales horses! Located in Ocala, Florida.
Turf Surfer is a 2009 16.3 hand Thoroughbred gelding. Multiple top finishes at training level in Canada and the US. He is sound, no maintenance, goes in a rubber snaffle.
He has an amazing canter, very adjustable, and has a super hind end over the jumps. Usually scores low 30’s on the flat. Has top placings show jumping at the 1.10m level in Ontario. Finished 6th in a big Open Training Class at Ocala International 2018.
He has the scope to be a great upper level prospect for someone. You can count on him to leave the rails up. Located in Ocala, Florida.
“Southern Belle” is an 8yo, 16.1h, tb, mare. Belle started her Eventing career this year, is confidently showing beginner novice and will move up to novice very soon. Extremely brave, correct gaits, and plenty of athleticism for the upper levels. A significant amount of talent for a professional, but also quiet enough for an amateur. Belle is a barn favorite, loads, ties, clips, ect. Not mareish at all. Located in Ocala, Florida. Price in the low 5 figures. 901-287-9633
Griffen is an 8 year old, thoroughbred gelding. He is 16’2, big bodied and big moving. He is a very laid back, smart guy who is well schooled on the flat and will jump whatever he’s pointed at. He has completed a couple training level events with the brain, scope and movement for much more.
Griff is schooling lateral movements at all gaits, lengthenings at all gaits, counter canter, simple changes, and some collection all in a happy mouth D bit with a link.
Over fences he is schooling prelim XC questions, including skinny combinations with ease. 3’3 sj courses and will easily finish out the winter season in Ocala with a prelim (unless I wimp out 🤦🏼♀️).
Easy to hack anywhere, very easy keeper (especially for a TB), prefers to live out- but please no group turnout situations (likes to play too much). Low maintenance. Super fun personality and an all around fun horse to be around. He will make you want to quit your job and travel the world with him doing fun things.
McDreamy is a 2004 16.1 hand Thoroughbred gelding. Good mover, super sound with no maintenance, careful jumper, and a sweetheart in the barn. Goes in a rubber snaffle all three phases.
He has brought many young riders through the levels, with many wins at prelim, won his first intermediate, won Ontario Preliminary Championships and was 6th at Virginia CI2**-L (formerly CCI1*). He won Rocking Horse Preliminary in March 2018 on a 29.
He gives timid riders confidence and isn’t difficult to ride. He is best suited to someone who wants to gain experience at the lower levels while being competitive.
Deauville Beekhoeve. Photo via Sport Horse Nation.
2008 Bay KWPN Gelding 17hh by Van Gogh. This well-schooled horse has great movement and a super jump. He has jumped 1.3 meter and won the One-Star at Strzegom in 2017. Already won 2 divisions in 2019 (modified at Grand Oakes and Open Prelim at Rocking Horse II). See more information on www.goldchipstables.com.
Listings included in this article are randomly selected and confirmed to be current and active before inclusion. Sport Horse Nation features user-generated content and therefore cannot verify or make any warranty as to the validity or reliability of information.
The Shire Coffin. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.
Welcome to cross country day at Red Hills International Horse Trials in Tallahassee, Florida! There is no live stream, but I will be running live updates for both the Advanced and CCI4*-S divisions. Keep refreshing this page for updates. The Advanced starts at 11:04 a.m. EST, followed immediately by the CCI4*-S at 12:07 p.m. EST.
Mike Etherington-Smith is the course designer for the CCI4*-S/Advanced course, with David O’Connor serving as assistant designer. The CCI4*-S course is 3,760 meters long with 35 total jumping efforts and an optimum time of 6 minutes, 36 seconds. Click here for a preview of the CCI4*-S course. The Advanced course is 3,770 meters long with 34 total jumping efforts and an optimum time of 6 minutes, 37 seconds. Click here for a preview of the Advanced course.
We wish safe trips to all. Go Eventing.
ADVANCED
11:08: We are running about four minutes behind schedule. Boyd Martin and Kyra are on course now.
11:14: Boyd Martin and Kyra completed clear with 4.4 time penalties.
11:15: Emma Partridge and Max Attack picked up a runout at the corner at 4B.
11:19: Jennie Brannigan and Twilightslastgleam completed with 14.4 time penalties in the horse’s first Advanced.
11:23: Whitney Mahloch and Military Mind are home clear and inside the time!
11:24: Emma and Max Attack completed with 20 jumping and 20.4 time penalties.
11:30: Clear with 6.0 time penalties for Jessica Phoenix and Bogue Sound.
11:32: Clear with 6.4 time penalties for Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver.
11:36: Clear with 6.8 time penalties for Joe Meyer and Buccaneer.
11:37: Alex Green has retired Fernhill Limited Edition after picking up two runouts at the Springhouse Corners at fence 22.
11:40: Jane Papke and Norman unfortunately parted ways at some point after the second water.
11:44: Clear with 10.0 time penalties for Boyd Martin and On Cue.
11:48: Maya Black and FE Black Ice picked up a runout at 10C, the skinny wedge at the top of the Jump For Maui Jim steps. They went clear over the alternative.
11:49: Clear with 17.6 time for Meghan O’Donoghue and Palm Crescent.
11:51: Clear with 20.4 time penalties for Lillian Heard and LCC Barnaby.
11:54: Maya Black and FE Black Ice complete with 20 jumping and 11.6 time penalties.
11:56: Clear with 13.6 time penalties for Ashley Johnson and Tactical Maneuver.
11:58: Clear with 13.2 time penalties for Gabrielle Ruane and Lismakeera Brewski.
12:01: Clear with 5.2 time penalties for Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle.
12:02: Ryan Wood fell from Woodstock Bennett early on course but is OK.
12:05: Will Coleman and Tight Lines are home clear with 14.0 time penalties.
12:11: Clear with 12.8 time penalties for Boyd Martin and Long Island T. That moves stablemate Kyra into the lead.
CCI4*-S
12:15: We are rolling right along with the CCI4*-S and running just a few minutes behind schedule.
12:19: Clayton Fredericks and FE Stormtrooper are on course.
12:26: Our trailblazers, Clayton and FE Stormtrooper, jumped clear with 15.6 time penalties.
12:30: Clear with 3.2 time penalties for Nilson Moreira da Silva and Magnum’s Martini.
12:32: Katherine Coleman fell from Billy Bandit at fence 20A, the first of the double corners. They are both ok.
12:36: Clear with 8.8 time penalties for overnight leaders Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot. That means the entire top 10 can all move up with fast rounds. It’s anyone’s game!
12:39: Clear with 6.0 time penalties for for Jacob Fletcher and Van Gough.
12:42: Joe Meyer and Johnny Royale completed clear with 2.4 time penalties.
12:45: Clear with 14.8 time penalties for Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti.
12:46: Clear with 6.8 time penalties for Madeline Scott and Crosby’s Gold.
12:48: A refusal at 10A for Felix Vogg and Cayenne and clear on the second attempt.
12:52: Clear with 22.8 time penalties for Caroline Martin and Cristano Z in the horse’s first CCI4*-S.
12:54: Felix Vogg and Cayenne complete with 20 jumping and 12.8 time.
12:56: Brandon McMechan and Oscar’s Wild completed clear with 7.2 time penalties.
12:59: Clear with 9.2 time penalties for Kim Liddell and Eye of the Storm.
1:04: Clear with 21.2 time penalties for Michael Nolan and SBT Good Guy.
1:06: Jon Holling and Dushi Terma completed with 14.4 time penalties and 11 jumping penalties for breaking a frangible pin jumping into the first water.
1:07: Mia Farley fell from BGS Firecracker at 20B. They are ok.
1:10: Daniela Moguel and Cecelia completed clear with 20.0 time penalties.
1:14: Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High complete inside the time! They are your overnight leaders.
1:18: Leslie Law and Voltaire de Tre completed with 12.0 time penalties and 11 frangible penalties for breaking a pin at the first water.
1:19: Sandra Donnelly and Belshazzar picked up a runout at 10A, the jump into the first water, and a runout at fence 13 at Goliath’s Gap, the angled brush over the ditch. (Update: They were later marked as having fallen.)
1:27: Clear with 8.4 time penalties for Clayton Fredericks and FE Ophelia.
1:29: Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino also caught the time!
1:33: Clear with 22.0 time penalties for Caroline Martin and Spring Easy, the final pair on course.
1:34: All times are provisional and subject to change. Check EventEntries.com for final scores and stay tuned for the full report.
Now in his fourth year of designing the CCI4*-S/Advanced cross country courses at Red Hills International Horse Trials in Tallahassee, Florida, Mike Etherington-Smith said his vision is “getting there now” … “I’m really pleased with the way everyone has got in behind it all — the way it looks and the quality of the presentation. For sure there are always other things to do, but ultimately there’s only so much real estate at this venue.”
Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park, which serves as the host site for Red Hills, is maintained year-round by the City of Tallahassee, Leon County and the Northwest Florida Water Management District. Mike and David O’Connor, who is the assistant CCI4*-S/Advanced course designer, set out on a mission in 2015 to significantly improve the footing at the venue. That goal is well on its way thanks to year-round maintenance — watering, aeration, aggravation and mowing — from the City of Tallahassee and its various affiliates.
Fence 6 on the CCI4*-S course, The Shire Coffin. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.
Co-organizers Jane Barron and Marvin Mayer have also worked with the Tall Timbers Foundation and Friends of Our Parks to mindfully remove trees from the galloping tracks and add new lines through the trees to provide a more flowing feel to the course. “The important thing is the flow of the track and not placing too many jumps in the trees. With something like this, you can get horses a bit too suspicious if you surprise them.”
Mike reversed the direction of the CCI4*-S track in 2018 and has kept the same direction for this year, with the new tracks providing a fresh feel. “I set it up as an early season run. It’s up to height for sure, but I don’t squeeze in too much, like having two efforts in the water. That’s not what I think you want at this time of year. The riders just want to come run and jump.”
Without further ado, let’s take a tour of the CCI4*-S course. Fence 1, the Raised Garden, is an inviting flower box, followed by the Chicken Coop at fence 2, and a large hanging log at fence 3 called Loch Ness Monster. The first combination comes at fence 4ABC, Roll on Along, where Mike emphasized “they’ve got to be switched on.” The combination is set on a right bending line, starting with a narrow rolltop at A, then three strides bending right to a left-pointed corner at B, then three strides bending right to another narrow rolltop at C.
Jump for Maui Jim — the steps combination at fence 8. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.
The Sheep Shelter at fence 5 then leads to the the coffin combination at fence 6, TheShire Coffin. Riders will jump in over an airy set of rails at A, go on one stride to the ditch at B, then one stride to a narrow angled house at C. Fence 7, the Ayavalla Oxer, is an open oxer, before the steps at fence 8ABC, Jump for Maui Jim. The direct route requires jumping up two steps to a skinny chevron at C on one stride. Mike said this is a “gimme” fence, and the direct route should ride straightforward, but he provided an option for the skinny because it would be difficult to get back to it should riders have a glance-off.
Fence 9ABC, the Summer Concession Stand, gives a breather before the first water complex at fence 10, Summer Camp Cabins. Riders will drop into the water over hanging logs at A, then turn left through the water to two angled houses set on a forward one stride as the B and C elements. “The key here is not to jump too left of the first house,” Mike said, “and jumping further to the right gives the horses a better chance to see the second house.”
Fence 11, a beefy table called Mardi Gras Picnic, leads to one of the longest galloping stretches on course. Riders will then come to the Plantation Houses at fence 12AB, two houses set on a sloping right bending line. Fence 13, Goliath’s Gap, is a narrow brush angled atop a ditch.
Fence 16BC in the Second Time Through. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.
Riders will make two trips through the next water complex, first at fence 14AB, Nothing Stops a Fishing Trip, which requires a drop in over a log at A — which Mike lowered by three inches this week to 1.10 meters — then splashing through the water and back onto land before jumping a boat at B. Then it’s on to fence 15 in the woods, a double brush called TheRookery, before circling back to the water.
Fence 16ABC, Second Time Through, will likely emerge as the most influential combination on course. Riders will jump a skinny double brush at A set close to the water’s edge, then turn left into the water and jump a right-pointed corner at B, then proceed back onto dry land to jump a skinny triple brush as the C element. Riders will then kick on to the Cordwood Stack at fence 17, followed by an open oxer called Another Birthday at fence 18 near the main arena.
Then it’s a long galloping stretch to fence 19, a table called The Spring House, before the final combination on course at fence 20AB, The Spring House Corners. These two right-pointed corners are set on a straightforward three strides, but Mike noted that at the end of the course both horse and rider might be thinking about the finish flags as opposed to accuracy.
Fence 21, a table called What’s For Lunch, and fence 22, The Grand Finale — which all the courses across all levels use as their final fence — complete the CCI4*-S track. The course, built by Tyson Rementer and Levi Ryckewaert, is 3,760 meters long with 35 total jumping efforts and an optimum time of 6 minutes, 36 seconds. Scroll down for a fence-by-fence tour of the course from CrossCountry App with beautiful photos from Shems Hamilton, who has served as the fabulous volunteer photographer for Red Hills for many years. You can view all the Red Hills courses on CrossCountry App’s website.
In the 20-year history of Red Hills, only six horses have caught the optimum time in the CCI4*-S, so you can absolutely expect time penalties to be influential today. Less than six seconds separate the top five after dressage. CCI4*-S cross country starts at 12:08 p.m. EST. There is no live stream, but EN will be running live updates.
Click here to catch up on all of EN’s Red Hills coverage thus far. Go Eventing.
Ya’ll I have a genius little #EventerSolution for you! Are you a busy rider or groom with multiple horses’ ride times to keep track of on a single day? Use your phone’s notes app to write out your ride times (I find it helpful to organize them chronologically), take a screenshot, then set said screenshot as your phone’s lock screen wallpaper for the day and you’ll never be caught getting your times confused again! Not gonna lie, was pretty proud of myself for thinking of this one.
