Classic Eventing Nation

Tamie Smith and Fleeceworks Royal Leap to Rebecca Farm CIC3* Lead

By on Jul 21, 2018 9:05 pm -

Tamie Smith and Fleeceworks Royal. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Rebecca Farm’s three-star hanging brush is the stuff of nightmares. By all appearances, on the approach, it looks like you’re about to catapult off a cliff into space. And then, once you’re hopefully safely reconnected with planet earth on the other side, you’ve got to get your act together in time to negotiate a corner<trakehner combination through the water at the bottom of the hill.

Tamie Smith has successfully made the leap a time or two or 10 over the years, but Fleeceworks Royal gave her a little thrill there today — the mare had zero intention of brushing through any brush.

“I actually got unseated,” Tamie Smith says. “I was shocked. I was like ‘whoa!’ She jumped it huge … I probably lost a few seconds at that ditch and brush.”

Somebody please make this into a postcard. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

If the pair lost time there they made up for it elsewhere on course, picking up just 4.4 time penalties, good enough to put the pair in the lead. They actually improved upon their time from last year, when they collected 10.4 time on their way to the Adequan USEA Gold Cup CIC3* win.

“I’m not certain if anybody has been able to make the time,” she says of the CIC3* track. “I’ve been around it with multiple different horses and it’s just really hard to make the time because of the twisty, turn-y stuff.”

Tamie says that she couldn’t have gone faster, nor could she be more pleased with the mare. “She was super. She’s young and a little bit full of herself, and it’s been a struggle since she was three to get her to respect the jumps, but this year really turned a corner. I’ve been working on my cross country riding with Phillip [Dutton] and trying not to pull on the reins, and it’s really paid off because she was brilliant.”

Buh-bye, Hawley! Hawley Bennett-Award and Jollybo. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Hawley Bennett-Awad and Jollybo came closest to optimum time, collecting just 3.2 time penalties to move from 6th into 2nd. An excellent performance today, Hawley says, was imperative with WEG team selection coming up.

“I had to jump around clean and fast to prove that Jolly and I are still good to go, and she couldn’t have put a foot wrong,” she says. “It couldn’t have been any better. I think honestly it was one of the best rides I’ve ever had on her.”

Course designer Ian Stark told us that the most difficult question on the course this year was the coffin, which he described as a three-star-plus question. But Jolly made short work of it: “She came around the corner, her ears locked onto it, and it was like a little grid exercise,” Hawley says.

She didn’t try to make the time in the first few minutes because she felt like the footing was a little hard, but Jolly is a naturally fast horse, and when Hawley did step on the gas late in the course the mare had plenty of gas in the tank. “It was just effortless for her,” Hawley says. “For her to come in feeling that good at the finish, I’m really proud, really excited. She finished like King Kong and that’s the best feeling in the world.”

Chris Talley and Sandro’s Star. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Have you ever been laying on your back in the grass on a balmy summer night, staring up at the midnight sky, wondering what’s up there and what is the meaning of it all and where do we fit into the grand mysteries of the cosmos? And then, out of nowhere, a comet streaks across the horizon, and you’re just like OMG I CAN’T EVEN?

That’s what it was like to watch Chris Talley and the majestic black stallion Sandro’s Star today — a perfect, beautiful shooting star across the cross country sky. Sandro was perfect around today’s course, obviously, picking up 11.6 time penalties but why not, how often do you make it out to spectacular Montana, why not take a little time to enjoy yourself?

The time penalties dropped them to third, but get Sandro a couple midnight sessions at the track with Henry Dailey and he’ll be winning match races at Santa Anita in no time, just like Alec and the Black. I believe in dreams, Sandro. And I believe in you.

Rebecca Farm CIC3* Cross Country Results: 

The Event at Rebecca Farm: Website, Schedule, The Event at Rebecca Farm Ride Times & Live Scores, NAYC Ride Times & Live Scores, The Event at Rebecca Farm Live Stream, NAYC Live Stream (use code NAYCE18 for a free fan membership), EN’s Coverage

NAYC CCIJ1* Leaders Have Zero Budge Room Heading into Show Jumping

By on Jul 21, 2018 6:35 pm -

McKinsey Wickman and Dassett Profile (Area V) clung fast to their NAYC CCIJ1* individual lead, adding nothing to their dressage score of 28.6. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Area II still has custody of Chinch à la the NAYC CCIJ1* Chinch Challenge, but woof, it is close. After today’s cross country competition, Area II and the mixed team of Area IV/VII are separated by just nine-tenths of a point. That is not a rail, you guys! That is a splinter!

The Area II squad: Haley Carspecken and Center Stage (2nd, 29.0), Olivia Wall and Mandolin R (5th-T, 34.5), Katherine Christopher and Frodo of The Shire (9th, 37.7), and Maia Kantorowski and Kiltubrid Rebel (15th-tie, 42.7).

Meanwhile, dressage leader McKensey Wickman is still sitting tight atop the individual leaderboard, having delivered a clear round inside the time today with Dassett Profile.

The top three riders — Haley Carspecken is 2nd and Harper Click is 3rd — are practically piled on top of one another, the scores are that close. But it sounds like nobody is going to give up their lead easily, which should make for an edge-of-the-seat show jumping finale tomorrow.  “I’m feeling great,” McKensey says. “Today has been superb and I’m really happy, but tomorrow is a new day so we’ll see how it goes.”

Haley Carspecken and Center Stage (Area II) are 2nd on a 29.0. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Harper Click and Rubia (Area IV & VII) are 3rd on a 29.7. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Georgia Dillard and Galileo Wp (Area V) moved up from 8th to 4th on a 33.1. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

As with the CICOY2* division earlier today, we saw lots of great cross country riding from the CCIJ1* bunch. Out of 25 starters, there were 10 double-clear rounds and five more with under five time penalties. There were a handful of stops and run-outs scattered throughout the course, but every last rider that left the start box rallied to bring it home safe and sound.

We’ll let them tell you all about their cross country day!

Go Eventing.

NAYC CCIJ1* Team Standings After Cross Country: 

  1. Area II (1o1.2)
  2. Area IV & VII (102.1)
  3. Area V (105.2)

NAYC CCIJ1* Top 10 Individual After Cross Country:

The Event at Rebecca Farm: Website, Schedule, The Event at Rebecca Farm Ride Times & Live Scores, NAYC Ride Times & Live Scores, The Event at Rebecca Farm Live Stream, NAYC Live Stream (use code NAYCE18 for a free fan membership), EN’s Coverage

Area II, Alexandra Baugh Still Out Front After NAYC CICOY2* Cross Country

By on Jul 21, 2018 3:47 pm -

Alexandra Baugh and Ballingowan Pizazz, representing the Area I, IV and VIII mix team, lead NAYC CICOY2* after cross country, having added nothing to their dressage score of 30.8. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

The Adequan/FEI NAYC is a pipeline for top young eventing talent, and the future of U.S. eventing looked as bright as the big, blue Montana sky watching this morning’s CICOY2* cross country here at Rebecca Farm.

We saw some fantastic displays of bold and determined yet tactful riding out there. Eleven out of 19 starters came home clear and under the time; four more had under 10 time faults; three picked up 20; and there was just one pair that didn’t get around. After cross country team standings and the individual top three remain unchanged from Thursday dressage, with Area II as our team and Alexandra Baugh as our individual leaders.

Area II looked dynamite all around, horses and riders alike having a blast around Ian Stark’s big, galloping course. It was tremendous fun to watch four-star veterans we’ve seen compete on the biggest stages in the world — Kentucky, Badminton, Burghley, the Olympics and WEG — tackle the CIC2* track. Rather than realizing that the jumps are smaller, one imagines Mr. Medicott and Flintstar assuming that they’re just getting better and better with age.

Area II’s Tayler Stewart and Ideal Contini are 2nd on a 31.2. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Area II’s Alexa Lapp and Cambalda are 3rd on a 32.6. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Ryan Keefe and Flintstar are 4th 35.4. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Which, perhaps, in some ways they are! One of the most touching moments of the morning was when Mr. Medicott caught his left hoof jumping into the second water, nearly catapulting the tiny wisp of a girl that is Olivia Dutton out of the tack. As she fought tooth and nail to right herself on the landing, “Cave” gingerly circled as if to say, “Hang on, kid!”

And she did: “I was like, ‘I’m not going down! I’m not going down!,” Olivia laughs. “So we did a circle and he doesn’t know we had a runout.”

And then off again they went to finish the course, with 20 penalties and a fan club in tow. The pair endeared themselves to us all — Olivia with her tenacity, and Cave with his tenderness.

“I’m very happy with him still and I love him so much and he saved me,” Olivia says.

Area II’s Olivia Dutton and Mr. Medicott. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Isn’t that what it’s all about? So wonderful to see young riders regarding their mounts with such affection, and honoring them not just as partners but respecting them as teachers as well. We’ll let Alexandra and the Area II squad tell you in their own words what it was like to view this morning’s course between the ears of some truly special horses.

Much more to come. Go Eventing!

NAYC CICOY2* Team Standings After Cross Country: 

  1. Area II (99.2)
  2. Area I, IV & VIII (109.0)
  3. Area VI (114.8)

NAYC CICOY2* Top 10 Individual After Cross Country:

The Event at Rebecca Farm: Website, Schedule, The Event at Rebecca Farm Ride Times & Live Scores, NAYC Ride Times & Live Scores, The Event at Rebecca Farm Live Stream, NAYC Live Stream (use code NAYCE18 for a free fan membership), EN’s Coverage

Julia Krajewski and Chipmunk FRH Clinch Aachen Win, USA Finishes 4th

By on Jul 21, 2018 12:14 pm -

Julia Krajewski and Chipmunk FRH. Photo by Jenni Autry.

After cross country turned the leaderboard upside down at Aachen CHIO, Julia Krajewski and Chipmunk FRH could afford to be 17 seconds over the optimum time and still take the CICO3* win. She crossed the finish with 1 second to spare in front of a packed stadium of cheering German fans, adding 6.4 time penalties to clinch the wire-to-wire victory on a final score of 26.1.

It was a rollercoaster day for Julia, who also sat in second after show jumping with Samourai du Thot but was eliminated on refusals at fence 16A, the triple brush that ultimately emerged as the most influential fence on Rüdiger Schwarz’s course.

Julia had to put that disappointing outcome behind her before setting out on course with Chipmunk FRH, a 10-year-old Hanoverian (Contendro I X Havanna, by Heraldik I) owned by Dr. Hilmer Meyer-Kulenkampff.

“Obviously my round with Samourai du Thot didn’t go to plan. Maybe I could have ridden better or the horse could have jumped on the second attempt — it didn’t work out,” Julia said. “I am absolutely thrilled with how Chipmunk answered all the questions. He is still a young horse and going so quick over such an intense course is very difficult.”

Chris Burton and Quality Purdey. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The optimum time of 7 minutes proved nearly impossible to catch, with only Australia’s Chris Burton and Quality Purdey besting the clock. The 12-year-old Oldenburg mare (Quality X Lara, by Leonid) owned by Claire Pool crossed the finished 1 second inside the time, moving up from fifth to finish second on 26.7.

While a German rider took the individual win for a fifth consecutive year, Antipodeans dominated as a whole on cross country day. New Zealand’s Tim Price and Joanne Pullan’s Cekatinka, a 12-year-old KWPN mare (King Kolibri X Katinka, by Julio Mariner xx), jumped clear with 2.8 time penalties to scoot up from eighth to third on 30.3.

Tim Price and Cekatinka. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Australia’s Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos delivered the second fastest round of the day, crossing the finish with 1.2 time penalties and moving up from 23rd after dressage to finish fourth on 31.7. Sammi Birch and Hunter Valley II also delivered an impressive round for Australia, jumping clear with 4 time penalties to finish just outside the top five on 36.5.

New Zealand finished a second rider inside the top five in Clark Johnstone and Balmoral Sensation, who jumped clear with 6.4 time penalties to place fifth on 33.5. Mark Todd and Kiltubrid Rhapsody also jumped clear with 11.2 time penalties to finish 13th on 49.1. With three counting scores in the top 15, New Zealand topped the team standings on a final score of 112.9.

While Germany started the day at the top of the team leaderboard, jumping and time penalties ultimately stymied their chance for victory. In addition to Samourai du Thot’s elimination, defending winner Ingrid Klimke and SAP Hale Bob OLD picked up 20 jumping penalties at fence 16A to end Germany’s bid.

We saw a 68% clear jumping rate on what proved to be a very influential cross country day. Only three of the riders who sat inside the top 10 after show jumping ultimately finished the competition in the top 10. France and Sweden delivered clear rounds with three of their four team riders to finish second and third, respectively, on team scores of 130.5 and 146.3. The U.S. sat seventh after show jumping yesterday and ultimately finished fourth on a team score of 189.1.

Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Two of our four American riders jumped clear cross country rounds. Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Diamond Roller X Whos Diaz, by Osilvis) owned by the Cross Syndicate, jumped clear with 17.2 time penalties to finish 21st on 54.7 as the highest placed American pair.

“This is a very different cross country course. It is not your typical CIC3* course you think of when you think of a Nations Cup. Lauren (Kieffer) described it as a a 7-minute four-star, and I completely agree. It was serious in a lot of ways — not that it was gargantuan big, but every question was a real question. There weren’t any places where you could scrape by,” Kim said.

“I think Cross answered a big question today. He was 100% on his game. I went as fast as I thought I could. I needed to settle him a little bit in the beginning, but he got faster and faster. That’s how he goes on cross country — the longer he goes the faster he gets. After the second water he just took off.”

Buck Davidson and Carlevo. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Buck Davidson and Carlevo, an 11-year-old Holsteiner (Caresino X Ramatuelle, by Levernois) owned by Carlevo LLC, jumped clear with 18.8 time penalties to move up 10 spots on the leaderboard after show jumping and finish 33rd on 60.8.

“He had to fight a bit. I think for his career the clear was big. We were definitely short of gallops coming here,” Buck said. “I’ve been to a lot of events in my life, and this is like no other event I’ve ever been to. In some ways it’s harder than a four-star. The sheer size isn’t there, but the level of accuracy and the intensity is there, and you only have 7 minutes to do it instead of 11 minutes.”

Lauren Kieffer and Landmark’s Monte Carlo filled the pathfinder role for the team. “Patrick,” a 12-year-old Irish/Thoroughbred cross (Formula One X Glamour) owned by Jacqueline Mars, lost a shoe just before the second water complex and slipped on his approach to the brush at fence 20. An unfortunate runout there plus 14.4 time penalties put them in 26th place on a final score of 73.6.

Lauren Kieffer and Landmark’s Monte Carlo. Photo by Jenni Autry.

“In hindsight I could’ve hooked left more and not taken such a sharp turn to the brush,” Lauren said. “The only way you can keep getting better is to keep coming over here and keep taking a crack at it. A lot of experienced horses and riders have problems here every year. We’re going to make mistakes, but everyone would rather make a mistake going for the win than make a mistake playing it too safe.”

Will Coleman and OBOS O’Reilly, a 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse (OBOS Quality X Omard Clover Queen, by Clover Hill) owned by the Four Star Eventing Group, unfortunately did not complete, with jumping penalties at the second angled brush at 13B and triple brush at 16A resulting in elimination.

“I thought I had my line (to the angled brush), and I tried like hell to hold him on that line. He just ran out, and then he got it in his head to keep doing it,” Will said. “We knew coming in that the preparation for this wasn’t really ideal with all the traveling he’s been doing, but it was a huge opportunity for us to come to Aachen. We are disappointed it didn’t go better, but I’m glad to have seen this venue now. It will serve us hugely in the future.”

Looking to the rest of the team standings, Germany finished fifth on 206.6. Great Britain finished sixth on 219.5. Australia did not complete their team due to Christine Bates withdrawing prior to cross country and Rob Palm’s elimination in dressage yesterday. Click here to view the final team standings. Click here to view final individual scores.

We have much more analysis to bring you on the U.S. team’s performance at Aachen, included an in-depth interview with Erik Duvander, U.S. Performance Director for Eventing. “The goal for us in this space was to give the riders that experience — going fast, under pressure, on a team and being able to manage that,” he said. “Either you are learning or you are winning, and we weren’t winning today, so it comes down to learning.”

Stay tuned as we unpack a wild weekend here in Germany. Go Eventing.

CHIO Aachen Links: Website, Live Scoring, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage

Watch: Rebecca Farm Friday Highlights + Saturday Cross Country At-a-Glance

By on Jul 21, 2018 10:20 am -

Welcome to run-and-jump day here at Rebecca Farm! It’s a breathtaking morning — azure blue skies and a cool crispness in the air that makes a cup of coffee feel just right in your hand. Before we head out on course, let’s take one last look at yesterday’s dressage action via this Ride on Video recap:

Been a long workweek and you’re just tuning in? You’re just in time! Here’s a roundup of our coverage so far:

Wednesday
Rebecca Farm Social Media Roundup: Work The Jog Strip!
All Systems Go at NAYC/Rebecca Farm First Horse Inspection
Rebecca Farm Course Walk with Ian Stark
Take Part in Something Great: BYOWB at Rebecca Farm
Thursday
By the Numbers: Rebecca Farm CCI3*
Watch: Rebecca Farm Thursday Highlights + Leading NAYC CICOY2* Dressage Test
Star-Studded Area II Team Shines Bright in NAYC CICOY2*
Eventing Community Honors the Memory of Kate Gillespie at Rebecca Farm & Beyond
Friday
Represent! Defending 1* Gold Medalist Tosca Holmes-Smith Is Sole Canadian Eventer at NAYC
Area II Tops NAYC CCIJ1* Dressage & First Leg of Rebecca Farm Chinch Challenge
Wonderwomen Dominate Rebecca Farm CCI3* Dressage, Led by Frankie Thieriot-Stutes
Rebecca Farm CIC3* Dressage Leader Sandro’s Star Is the Totilas of Eventing
Rebecca Farm Social Media Roundup: All Systems Go!

CICOY2* kicks of Saturday at 8:30 a.m. local time (+2 hours for EST). The day’s schedule in Mountain Standard Time — see live stream links below:

CICY2*: 8:30-9:30 a.m.
CCI2*: 9:55-11:15 a.m.
CCI3*: 11:28 a.m.-12:05 p.m.
CIC3*: 12:12-12:55 p.m.
CCIJ1*: 1:10-2:30 p.m.
CCI1*: 2:40-5:55 p.m.

Scroll through to have a look around!

In this cross country preview from Ride on Video Ian takes us on a tour of the course:

Here’s wishing everyone a safe, happy, successful round. Go Eventing!

The Event at Rebecca Farm: Website, Schedule, The Event at Rebecca Farm Ride Times & Live Scores, NAYC Ride Times & Live Scores, The Event at Rebecca Farm Live Stream, NAYC Live Stream (use code NAYCE18 for a free fan membership), EN’s Coverage

Saturday Links from Tipperary

By on Jul 21, 2018 12:01 am -

#NAYC2018 inspiring the next generation of young eventers💫

A post shared by Eventing Nation (@goeventing) on

No matter where you go on your horse — whether it’s trotting down the centerline at the biggest four-star in the world or just a normal hack down the road — you’re turning heads, whether you realize it or not. Often, there will be be a little girl or boy watching, dreaming of being like you one day. Take a moment to smile, wave, or let them pat your horse if you can … you may just inspire a future eventer.

National Holiday: National Toss Away The Could Haves and Should Haves Day

Major Weekend Events:

The Event at Rebecca Farm C.I.C., 3DE, & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

NAYC @ Rebecca Farms [Live Stream] [Schedule] [Ride Times/Live Scores]

CHIO Aachen [Website] [Entries] [Start Times & Live Scoring] [Live Stream]

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Fitch’s Corner H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Full Moon Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Silverwood Farm Summer H.T. [Website]  [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Penny Oaks H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]  [Live Scores]

Saturday Links:

Matt Brown: U.S. Eventer’s Quest to the Top

Michael Jung’s eventing legend to miss his Aachen swansong

Xyder, Lover Of Cross-Country And Snacks, Puts In Personal Best Test At NAYC

Aachen Is Awesome: Part Deux (Or Is It Part Zwei?)

USEA’s Eventing Hall of Fame: Class of 2003

How Vibration Plates Impact Horse Hoof Growth

The Basics of Modern Dressage Girthing

Saturday Video: 

Halt Cancer at X

Thanks to everyone who has made a donation to park at The Event at Rebecca Farm! You help fund Halt Cancer at X and every gift helps make a difference in our community.

Posted by Rebecca Farm on Friday, July 20, 2018

Friday Video and UK Notes from World Equestrian Brands: Welcome Back, Jonty

By on Jul 20, 2018 10:01 pm -

Jonty Evans and Cooley Rorkes Drift. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Even with all the excitement of Aachen and Rebecca Farm (and the NAYC, of course!), there’s been one thing on every member of the eventing communities lips today — Jonty Evans has woken up, at long, long last, and we couldn’t be happier to welcome him back.

There are only a finite number of words in the English language, and none of them come quite close enough to touching upon what it is to lose — however temporarily — a person you care about. For our sprawling eventing family, Jonty is a special sort of figurehead; he has been a true friend to many, a source of support and advice to as many more, and a way into the heart of the sport for several thousand people, who have found themselves welcomed into the inner circle by this incredibly special man.

The last month and a half has been rather like riding a rollercoaster in the dark, sans seatbelt, and I think I can speak for us all when I say that the relief of hearing that Jonty is through the hardest and most uncertain part of the battle is incomprehensibly great.

You have all shown your support so incredibly over the past weeks, with seas of green as far as the eye can see, out eventing and beyond. Let’s continue this support now, and show Jonty just how much we care. There’s a long fight ahead, but with our troops behind him, he will never stand along on the frontline.

UK Weekend Preview:

Aston-le-Walls (3) [Ride Times] [Cross Country Videos]

Little Downham (2) [Ride Times] [Cross Country Videos]

Warwick Hall (3) [Website] [Ride Times]

Launceston [Ride Times]

Events Opening This Weekend:

20th: Keysoe (3) – BE80-I, with 4/5yo classes – [Enter] Bedfordshire (August 24-26)

20th: Shelford Manor (2) – BE90-N, with 4yo classes and Regional Finals – [Enter] Nottinghamshire (August 25-26)*

20th: Treborough Hill (2) – BE80-N, with 4/5yo classes – [Enter] Somerset (August 25-26)

21st: Wellington – BE100-A, with 5yo classes – [Enter] Hampshire (August 25-27)

Events Balloting This Weekend:

21st: Bold Heath  – BE80-N, with 4/5yo classes – [Enter] Cheshire (August 11-12)

21st: Dalkeith (2) – BE80-I – [Enter] Edinburgh (August 11-12)

Friday Video: 

To celebrate the first huge hurdle overcome in Jonty’s recovery, our Friday video this week is this compilation, put together by the donor group Art’s Amazing Family, and part-owner of Cooley Rorkes Drift, Fred Moss. While their Badminton may not have gone to plan, for the extensive family surrounding one man and his horse, just to be there was an incredibly emotive experience. The Family, both within the donor group, and the wider eventing community, will be behind you every step of the way, Jonty — just as we were last year. Keep kicking on.

Wonderwomen Dominate Rebecca Farm CCI3* Dressage, Led by Frankie Thieriot-Stutes

By on Jul 20, 2018 9:48 pm -

Frankie Thieriot and Chatwin. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

I harbor a lot of feminist … if not rage, certainly feistiness, about the boxes that society so often wants to put women in. “You can have X, or you can have Y. You can have Y, but you have to give up X.” And nothing makes me happier than seeing a leaderboard like the one from today’s Rebecca Farm CCI3* competition. It’s a who’s-who of smart, strong, versatile women who believe they can have it all, and pity the fool who doubts that they’ll achieve whatever they put their mind to.

The top three riders in particular are proof that you can fit all the things that make you tick — horses, family, career, etc.  — into your life if you are willing to put in the work. First-placed Frankie Thieriot-Stutes (26.9), 2nd placed Kristen Bond (30.5), and 3rd placed Jen McFall (33.9) have all managed to find a balance between motherhood, work and competition.

Frankie and Chatwin are EN’s “By the Numbers” predicted winners, and so far they’re making our crystal ball look good. The West Coast eventer marched into the ring today with a smile on her face to delivered one of the pair’s most impressive performances to date. But her hard work this week extends beyond the dressage ring. She’s the lead anchor for Ride On Video, responsible for The Event at Rebecca Farm’s live stream, and her Athletux Equine sports marketing agency is yet another plate to keep spinning.

“I haven’t ridden here since 2013 since it’s so important for me to work this event,” she says. “I haven’t wanted to give that up. This year I really wanted to ride him here, so I approached Sarah Broussard and said, ‘I really want to ride, but I promise I’ll still take care of my jobs.’ I want to come back and work here because it is really special.”

In addition Frankie has her two young sons with her, and she credits her support team for helping pull it all off: her mom, her husband, and fellow eventers Tamie Smith and Kelly Prather. “It’s really fun to have everyone come here this weekend and be able to do it,” she says. “I think I’m a little better when I have more going on. I don’t get in my head as much.”

Frankie Thieriot and Chatwin. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Kristen Bond is another supermom who had a super dressage day, riding Enough Already, with whom she made her way back to the Advanced level this year after a lengthy hiatus.

EN’s recent feature on Kristen, “Six Years and Two Kids Later, Kristen Bond Returns to Top Level,” is one of my favorite things we’ve published in a long time and well worth the read if you missed it the first go-round. In it Kristen, the mother of two young children, speaks with heartfelt honesty about the challenges and rewards of balancing motherhood with riding, bravely detailing her journey back into the sport.

Rebecca will be the first CCI3* effort for Enough Already and Kristen’s first outing at the level since 2011, but they’ve got their game faces on.

“The course looks great, but there’s some really big stuff,” she says. “I think the first and second water are formidable. And it’s really long — you just walk for so long — so I think that’ll be a test as well. My horse hasn’t gone that long in his life. Hopefully I’ll be staying on tomorrow and jumping all the jumps!”

Kristen had a long haul from New Jersey to Montana, with some expense offset by a Rebecca Farm travel grant — view a list of the 2018 grant recipients here. She says, “I’m just grateful to be here, and to have been given a grant to come all the way out here. I think it’s so generous for the Broussards to make it possible for East Coast riders to come out here. I hope I’ll represent that well this weekend.”

Best of luck to all! Keep it here for all the cross country action starting bright and early Saturday morning. Go Eventing!

Rebecca Farm CCI3* Top 10 After Dressage: 

 

The Event at Rebecca Farm: Website, Schedule, The Event at Rebecca Farm Ride Times & Live Scores, NAYC Ride Times & Live Scores, The Event at Rebecca Farm Live Stream, NAYC Live Stream (use code NAYCE18 for a free fan membership), EN’s Coverage

 

 

Rebecca Farm CIC3* Dressage Leader Sandro’s Star Is the Totilas of Eventing

By on Jul 20, 2018 9:18 pm -

Chris Talley and Sandro’s Star. Disclaimer: My mare Princess is having Sandro’s baby which makes him my son-in-law, or brother-in-law, or something (can’t wait to see you at Thanksgiving dinner, Sandro!), so I’m kind of biased. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Sandro’s Star is the majestic black stallion that gallops through all of our dreams and not surprisingly he has taken the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series CIC3* dressage lead here at Rebecca Farm.

Even without a collective mark for “sheer exquisite beauty” (a proposal tabled indefinitely by the FEI) to bolster his score, this magnificent creature scored a 29.3 to overtake the lead in a dramatic grand finale of the division. Together with rider Chris Talley, they brought 2015 FEI Three-Star Test B to life, as one might produce music from notes on a page: his extended trot a dramatic crescendo, his canter a waltz of lilting strings, his centerline a slow-burn cymbal crash that made you want to throw roses at his feet. Encore, Sandro! Oh wait, not yet. You have to halt first.

I called Princess after Sandro took the lead like “OMG PRINCESS GUESS WHAT?!” Photo by Leslie Wylie.

With the exception of a slightly fidgety halt — or was it a slow-motion piaffe, totally on purpose? — Chris and Sandro performed a consistent, expressive test to score a 29.3, their personal best at the level. “There were some really good moments today and I was really happy with him throughout,” Chris says.

The pair came to Rebecca under the auspices that they were doing the CCI3*, until Chris got a call yesterday that they weren’t qualified by, like, a fraction of a time fault as per some new FEI rule change. Gah, FEI! Always ruining it for everybody. Thankfully Rebecca’s organizers were able to shuffle them into the CIC3* division.

Swoon! (Sorry, it’s the pregnancy hormones.) Photo by Leslie Wylie.

In addition to Sandro, Chris is riding Unmarked Bills, his own 9-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, in the CCI3*, and is jazzed to tackle Ian Stark’s cross country track on both horses.

“I think the Thoroughbred, it should suit really well because it’s open and galloping. Sometimes he doesn’t like to turn — he just likes to gallop and jump,” he says. “With Sandro, I’m looking forward to it. He’s such a super jumper. It should be good.”

Named 2017 USEA Stallion of the Year, Sandro is a full-time athlete and part-time ladies’ man who stands at stud at Hannah and Antonio Salazar’s Zaragoza Acres in Virginia. The 10-year-old Oldenburg stallion (Sagnol x Poetic Patter xx, by Nostalgia’s Star xx), owned by Hannah Salazar, is a professional when it comes to keeping work separate from, em, pleasure.

“He’s such a super horse and he’s such a super stallion,” Chris says. “He’s stabled next to our other stallion and the farm, he’s in the same barn with mares and foals — he’s such a workman. He goes up to the ring and works and it makes it really easy to train on him.”

The only time Sandro got a crush on a mare during competition was once at Jersey Fresh. “Jennie [Brannigan’s] mare was in the ring next to me,” Chris says. “He looked at her and then went on through everything, but he looked at her and he thought about it. He picks out the pretty grey mares.”

Oh hey, Fleeceworks Royal … whatcha doing later?

Tamie Smith and Fleeceworks Royal. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Tamie Smith and the 9-year-old Holsteiner mare (Riverman x Marisol, by Corofino), owned by Judy McSwain, are 2nd in the CIC3* on a score of 31.0. Tamie says “Rory” got a bit lit up flatting in a ring beside cross country, but that it was all good: “I’m kind of in that step where I can put my leg on and ride her through it.”

An in-the-saddle perfectionist, Tamie is quick to point out their little mistakes — Rory tried to halt at X instead of I, they had a step of canter in the shoulder-in, one change was late — but says she feels like overall they’re on the right path.

Tamie Smith and Fleeceworks Royal. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

“Having all those mistakes before would have really put me low, but because of the overall suppleness and quality of her I was really happy,” she says. “Even though she was a little zippy she was still really relaxed and moving through her body. She’s such a great horse for the future and she has the ability to really knock it out of the park on the flat.”

Tamie and Rory won the CIC3* here last year and are up for the challenge in front of them tomorrow. “I think it’s a typical Ian track. Being here multiple years I think he’s taken a lot of the tight, turning, technical pieces out of it and made it an open gallop-y course, and so far it looks like his best track here.”

Rounding out the top three in the CIC3* is Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Much more to come. Go Eventing!

Rebecca Farm CIC3* Top 10 After Dressage: 

The Event at Rebecca Farm: Website, Schedule, The Event at Rebecca Farm Ride Times & Live Scores, NAYC Ride Times & Live Scores, The Event at Rebecca Farm Live Stream, NAYC Live Stream (use code NAYCE18 for a free fan membership), EN’s Coverage

 

Rebecca Farm Social Media Roundup: All Systems Go!

By on Jul 20, 2018 7:43 pm -

There’s no such thing as a quiet day at The Event at Rebecca Farm! Especially not Friday during which all phases were all systems go for the various divisions. Two rings for dressage, plus two rings for stadium jumping, plus a horses running across country all day long equals so many sights to see!

Let’s take a look at the action through your lens’, EN:

The Event at Rebecca Farm: Website, Schedule, The Event at Rebecca Farm Ride Times & Live Scores, NAYC Ride Times & Live Scores, The Event at Rebecca Farm Live Stream, NAYC Live Stream (use code NAYCE18 for a free fan membership), EN’s Coverage

ready for our XC tomorrow ❤️👍🏻

A post shared by Bridget London (@b_beventing) on

So much pony love today during the NAYC 1* tests today ❤️

A post shared by Jj (@skipperdoodlefritz) on

Horse dreams. 🐎 #eventatrebeccafarm #montana

A post shared by Adriane Haragan (@aharagan) on

Final cross country jump for a double clear.

A post shared by David D'Souza (@davidds) on

Best boy!! ❤️🐴 @coast2coasteventing @sasabergin

A post shared by Rachel Brickman (@rbrickman16) on