Classic Eventing Nation

Friday Video from World Equestrian Brands: Four Weeks ’til Badminton

By on Apr 6, 2018 4:30 pm -

Libby Head and Sir Rockstar at Badminton. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Imagine it: in exactly four short weeks’ time it’ll be the evening before cross country day at Badminton. We’ll know who our leaders after the dressage are; we’ll know if we have a chance of seeing another Grand Slam attempt, as 2017 Burghley winner Oliver Townend will have already contested Kentucky, and we’ll be armed with course previews, performance statistics, and, for those lucky enough to attend the event in person, armloads of shopping to see us into arguably one of the most exciting Saturdays in sport.

That is, of course, if the rain stops: the United Kingdom has been subjected to relentlessly poor weather, resulting in over 30 lost days of competition so far — including the CIC3* at Burnham Market, which was one of the final stops on the long road to Badminton for many of the entered combinations. We’ll see them next week instead, at Lincolnshire’s Belton International Horse Trials, where, we hope, they can get in the match practice they need to tackle the formidable course at Badminton.

Eric Winter. Photo by Kit Houghton/Badminton.

The course itself is always one of the biggest talking points in the lead-up to the competition. Designer Eric Winter returns this year for his sophomore effort, after his bold, old-fashioned course last year was widely praised for embracing classic cross country riding. But his lips, and those of event director Hugh Thomas, are sealed for now — we’ll have to wait until next week to see what’s in store for our intrepid horse and rider combinations. We’ll be bringing you all you need to know about the course, so keep it locked onto EN!

Today, let’s turn our focus to someone else — someone who, perhaps, goes unnoticed by the spectators, but whose role in the great machine of Badminton Horse Trials is vitally important. Paul Farrington MRCVS is the official Veterinary Delegate at the event, which means that he is responsible for upholding the FEI’s commitment to putting horse welfare at the forefront, throughout the competition. His Badminton begins as the horses arrive, and he ensures that each one is free of infection or viral disease, and that its paperwork and vaccinations are up-to-date before it can enter the stables.

His presence is most felt by the public at the two horse inspections, in which one veterinarian assists the ground jury in making a decision on each horse’s suitability to compete, whilst another mans the holding box, ready to perform additional inspections on any horses not passed straight away. Throughout the competition, too, he’s hard at work — looking out for any lamenesses, ensuring that equipment used doesn’t impinge upon the horses’ welfare, and carrying out dope tests. The eagle eyes of a veterinary delegate — particularly one as experienced as Farrington, who has worked an enviable list of FEI events — can not only help to avoid welfare issues through the week, but can spot and prevent longer-term damage, too.

Over to Paul himself who, in our Friday video, supplied by the good folks at Badminton and brought to you, as ever, by the brilliant World Equestrian Brands, shows you around the beautiful historic stables at the event and explains what, exactly, makes it such a momentous occasion.

Stable Stories from our Veterinary Delegate

"The atmosphere, the wonderful stables, the masses of people – its just the most wonderful spectacle" – our Veterinary Delegate, Paul Farrington takes us around the legendary Badminton stables and explains the importance of his team at #MMBHT #FridayFeature #Badmintonstories

Posted by Badminton Horse Trials on Thursday, April 5, 2018

Party in the Sandbox: Dressage Snapshots from The Fork at Tryon

By on Apr 6, 2018 3:00 pm -

Dressage needn’t be stuffy. Horses just wanna dance! Loosen up your stock tie and enjoy these footloose, good-timin’ postcards from The Fork at Tryon as shared to Instagram by press, riders and friends.

The Fork: Website, Schedule, Ride Times, Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

WEG Test Event: Website, Schedule, Friday Dressage Order, Live Stream, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhNHIhelSxB/

#TGIF #wegtestevent #tryon2018 #twohearts #gocanada

A post shared by Samantha Clark (@samanthalclark) on

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhO7W7rH-7q/

Cooley Quicksilver and @lizhallidaysharp warming up for Dressage…

A post shared by Brandon Osborne (@osborne820) on

You know what to do, EN. Keep it here for all the latest! Go Eventing.

 

Defending Winners Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous Hold Lead at The Fork CIC3*

By on Apr 6, 2018 2:34 pm -

Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous held their CIC3* dressage lead from the first day at The Fork Horse Trials/World Equestrian Games Test Event, topping the leaderboard on a personal best score of 24.2 as we look ahead to tomorrow’s cross country here at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina.

“Kitty,” a 13-year-old Oldenburg mare (Carry Gold X Richardia, by Lario) owned by Phoebe and Michael Manders and Jacqueline Mars, is the defending winner of The Fork CIC3*, but Marilyn said she is unsure if she will put the pedal down on Capt. Mark Phillips’ course tomorrow.

“There are so many fly fences. I’m sure plenty will make the time, and I’m just not sure this is the event to push her,” Marilyn said. “We’ve been working on rideability and control, and it will be easier for them to just get going out there. … She’s been pretty calm, so it’s nice to see that she’s changed a lot in a year. We’ll see how she feels in the warm-up.”

When she’s not riding Kitty, Marilyn is sporting a walking boot and riding around on her scooter, affectionately named “Wanda,” here at The Fork. She is still nursing the foot injury she sustained at the Ocala Jockey Club CIC3* last fall, as doctors ultimately discovered more soft tissue damage in January. She has elected to forgo surgery for now to stay on track with her plan to compete at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event and ultimately aim for a spot on the U.S. WEG team.

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

Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border, who set a record dressage score of 20.8 at Carolina International Horse Trials two weeks ago, were trending to go ahead of Marilyn’s leading score through much of the canter work in their test today. Bobbles in the flying changes resulted in a final score of 24.5 for second place.

“He was really good in his rhythm and in his frame for the most part,” Kim said. “I missed both my flying changes, which has just been quite a thing with me and him. We still have little things to fix like everybody.”

Kim and “Cross,” an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Diamond Roller X Whos Diaz, by Osilvis) owned by the Cross Syndicate,” were leading the CIC3* at Carolina following show jumping, but an unfortunate fall in the water ended their bid to win. Kim said she has schooled water twice since then, and Cross has felt confident and game on for the task at hand tomorrow.

Phillip Dutton and I’m Sew Ready, a 14-year-old KWPN (Lupicor X Jarda, by Elcaro) owned by John and Kristine Norton, sit in third place after dressage on a personal best score of 26.4.

“We’ve been trying to get him reaching in his neck and not being tight in his neck,” Phillip said. “You have to be patient in the warm-up because he doesn’t give you the greatest feeling in the beginning. A lot of times in the past I’ve reacted to that and tried to fix him too quickly. A long warm-up is quite good for him because over time he just loosens up anyway.”

Looking to the rest of the leaderboard, Jordan Linstedt and Barbara Linstedt’s Revitavet Capato, a 15-year-old Hanoverian (Contendro I X Annabelle, by Amoroso), sit in fourth place on 26.7.

Jessica Phoenix and Bentley’s Best. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Jessica Phoenix leads the way for Canada with both of her rides in the top 10. Bentley’s Best, an 11-year-old Trakehner (Hirtentanz 2 X Hauptstutbuch Baronesse XIII, by Eichendorff) owned by the Bentley’s Best Group, sits fifth on 26.9. Don Good’s Pavarotti, a 16-year-old Westphalian (Pavarotti Van de Helle X Fidelia, by Foxiland), is sixth on 27.2.

Phillip Dutton has all three of his rides in the top 10. The Z Partnership’s Z, a 10-year-old Zangersheide (Asca X Bellabouche, by Babouche VH Gehucht Z), scored a personal best of 27.6 to sit seventh in preparation for his CCI4* debut at Kentucky. Fernhill Cubalawn, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Con Capitol X Corse Lawn, by Arkan) owned by Tom Tierney, Simon Roosevelt and Caroline Moran, sits 10th on 28.3.

As for whether Phillip thinks it’s an advantage to compete in the same arena that will host dressage for eventing at the WEG come September: “That’s one of the reasons I sent my entry in.”

Looking to the rest of the top 10, Cornelia Dorr and her own Louis M, a 13-year-old Rheinlander (Lissabon 29 X Angelique M, by Abanos), scored 28.0 to sit in eighth place.

Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Rubens D’Ysieux, a 13-year-old Selle Francais (Balougran X Davidoff Silver Shadow, by Mr Blue) owned by the Rubens D’Ysieux Syndicate, scored 28.2 for ninth place.

Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Rubens D’Ysieux. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

We have two members of the WEG ground jury presiding over the CIC3* at the test event in Andrew Bennie (NZL) and Jane Hamlin (USA). On the first day of dressage, the ground jury marked 1.99 points below the expected average scores at the level for these combinations. On the second day, the ground jury marked 1.65 below the expected average scores.

As the official WEG Test Event, the CIC3* here at The Fork is taking place in the long format with two horse inspections. Following two days of dressage, cross country will take place tomorrow at 10:45 a.m. EST. The final horse inspection for the CIC3* is scheduled to take place at 8 a.m. EST Sunday, with show jumping at 11 a.m. EST. Sunday’s show jumping will be shown on the live stream at this link.

Cross country will not be shown on the live stream, but EN will be running live updates. Click here to preview the CIC3* course. Looking to tomorrow’s forecast for cross country, rain is currently predicted to begin overnight tonight and continue steadily through the day. As a result, the grounds crew has held off on watering the footing on the course, which is currently walking a bit firm.

Scroll down for a full gallery from the second day of CIC3* dressage. Stay tuned for a full recap of today’s dressage action across other divisions. Click here to catch up on all of EN’s coverage from The Fork so far.

We have much more to bring you from the WEG Test Event, including an update on how construction is progressing at Tryon as we count down to the big dance in September. Go Eventing.

The Fork: Website, Schedule, Ride Times, Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

WEG Test Event: Website, Schedule, XC Order of Go, Live Stream, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage

By the Numbers: Chattahoochee Hills CIC3*

By on Apr 6, 2018 1:30 pm -

A date change for Chattahoochee Hills last year helped this event become a viable alternative to The Fork as a final preparation run for horses and riders bound for Kentucky, especially for those based in the south. Despite competing with the WEG test event, Chattahoochee Hills has drawn a very healthy field, particularly attractive to those who are less experienced at the level.

Keep in mind that the FEI dressage scoring has dropped the 1.5 coefficient and is now equivalent to dressage scores at USEF horse trials.

Chattahoochee Hills. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

The Field

  • The winner of the Chatt Hills CIC3* has led from start to finish every year except the inaugural running in 2013, when Veronica and Lauren Kieffer took the win in their CIC3* debut together.
  • Three different nationalities have won this event in the last three runnings: Great Britain (Leslie Law), Canada (Jessica Phoenix), and the United States (Buck Davidson). Buck Davidson will be attempting to become the first repeat winner of this division; he was 1-2 last year with Copper Beach and Carlevo.

Buck Davidson and Carlevo. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Dressage Divas

Percent of pairs expected to score in the 20s: 8.3% (two of 24)

  • If we are going to look for a winner beginning in the very first phase, Buck Davidson and Carlevo are the pair to start with. This pair has scored in the 20s in 75% of their 12 starts in 2017 and 2018. Although they haven’t hit the coveted 75% mark yet, they’ve gotten close, laying down a personal best of 38.7 (25.8 in today’s scoring) at the Ocala Jockey Club CIC3* in 2016.
  • This will be the first CIC3* for FE Bowman since the fall of 2016, but judging by his two-star test at Carolina two weeks ago, he hasn’t missed a beat. He last scored a 40.2 (26.8 in today’s scoring) at the Ocala Jockey Club in 2016, and returned to lead the massive Carolina CIC2* division with Clayton Frederick through the first phase.
  • William Ward and Grando created quite a buzz when they broke into the top 10 of the CIC3* at Carolina after day one. This was only the horse’s second CIC3*, and he improved more than four points from his first Advanced start at Rocking Horse.

Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino. Photo by Kasey Mueller/Rare Air Photography.

Show Jumping Powerhouses

Percent of pairs expected to go clear in show jumping: 16.6% (four of 24)

  • Cisko A is another horse who is returning to the level after a hiatus, having last competed at this level at the American Eventing Championships in 2016. He and rider Sydney Conley-Elliot have proved quite strong in the stadium phase, never having more than a rail in their career and jumping clear 57% of the time at the Advanced/CIC3* levels.
  • Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino have clinched a few top placings using this gray’s careful jumping style. Setting aside a difficult round in their first go at the level after an extended vacation, this pair have jumped clear in six of their nine rounds at this level, and twice only incurred a single rail.

Sydney Conley Elliott and Cisko A. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Cross Country Machines

Percent of pairs expected to come within 10 seconds of optimum time: 8.3% (2 of 24)

  • A pair not only strong in stadium, but also swift across the country, Sydney Conley-Elliot and Cisko A are a strong bet for a fast, clear round. In six runs at this level, they have never finished more than 20 seconds over optimum time, and 50% of the time they are within 10 seconds.
  • Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino haven’t been the most consistent in this phase, but it’s now undeniable that when putting in a clear round, it’s also a very fast round. This pair has finished within 10 seconds of optimum time every clear round they’ve had.

Buck Davidson and Carlevo. Photo by Jenni Autry.

PREDICTED WINNER: Buck Davidson and Carlevo

Keep Your Eye On

  • Sydney Conley-Elliot and Cisko A and QC Diamantaire
  • Holly Jacks-Smither and More Inspiration
  • Clayton Fredericks and FE Bowman

Potential Spoilers

  • Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino

Chattahoochee Hills CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Results]

Course Decorator Megan Murfey Brings Flower Power to The Fork at Tryon Cross Country

By on Apr 6, 2018 12:00 pm -

Megan Murfey kicking back at the TIEC Siesta Cantina after a long day of making cross country jumps more beautiful — and jumpable. Photo by RedBayStock.com.

Decorating a cross country course is both a science and an art. The color and texture provided by shrubs and flowers makes jumps more visually appealing, of course, but it can also affect the way horses read the obstacles. Decoration can change the face of a jump, alter its shape or draw out a ground line, and color is a consideration too, as horses perceive color differently than humans.

Megan Murfey is just 26 years but already an in-demand cross country course decorator, in addition to other event management and secretarial services she offers through her business MM Events LLC. She got her start in decorating as an intern at GMHA Horse Trials, working along course designer Janine McClain. “She inspired me,” Megan says, also crediting veteran event organizer Shelley Page for helping her spread her wings.

Since then Megan has decorated at Virginia H.T., Grand Oaks and Heart of the Carolinas, and she’s going into her second year of decorating for Tryon International Equestrian Center events The Fork and the American Eventing Championships.

A pasted-hued stand of spring flowers helps define the groundlines of fence #11B and #12 on The Fork’s CIC3* course. View a complete photo gallery via EN’s course preview here. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

“I’ve never ridden at the upper levels but I take a lot of tips and knowledge from every course designer I’ve worked with,” Megan says. “Each one has different things they’re particular about, so I try to get a feel for what they like and get their feedback to improve what I’m doing.”

On Wednesday afternoon here at The Fork/WEG Test Event at TIEC, Megan went around the course with designer Capt. Mark Phillips, who checked out her handiwork. “He changed almost nothing about what I did out there, but the couple things he moved he gave me explanations as to why that makes a difference,” says Megan. “It’s a great learning experience and the hard work really pays off to get a high-five from a course designer and then sit out with cross country control to score and also watch how everything rides. It’s pretty rewarding work in the end.”

Megan, who is herself a certified course designer through Training level, says she takes a number of factors into account when deciding out to decorate a jump: “You’re looking at the fence and thinking about how you can improve the way it jumps and the way the horses see it.”

One tool Megan uses is an app called Chromatic Vision Simulator, which allows you to choose a type of colorblindness and view the world through that lens. The deuteranope mode provides a fairly accurate picture of how horses perceive color: “I think people should download it and walk around and point it at fences so you can see what the horses see.”

For instance, she says, horses see red as brown, so she steers away from using red flowers when possible. “They don’t see it as well as, say, blue,” Megan explains.

TIEC show jumps viewed via the Chromatic Vision Simulator app: 

She makes do with whatever she has to work with, which varies dramatically from event to event. “If you have a lot of flowers and greenery, you can really beef up the fences and make them look really cool. At other events, it’s more subtle,” she explains.

Course decorating means a lot of time on the road and some tough sacrifices — she’s put her current horse on the market as his temperament isn’t well suited to long breaks in training. But staying busy is Megan’s MO; in addition to her work at events she is completing her prerequisites to pursue a Master’s in nursing next fall.

“Trying to balance traveling and a heavy school load will be difficult, but it will give me a day job,” Megan says. As for decorating, she says, “It’s a lot of work, a lot of days, a lot of hours … sometimes blood, lots of sweat, and some tears. But I enjoy it.”

 

The Fork CIC3* + WEG Test Event Cross Country Course Preview

By on Apr 6, 2018 9:35 am -

Fence 13ABC – Fairway Offsets. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

One year after Tryon International Equestrian Center unveiled their new cross country course built on the former White Oak golf course, we were eager to take a look at further changes and developments made for The Fork Horse Trials this year. With the CIC3* serving as the test event for the 2018 World Equestrian Games, we were especially interested at progress made on the footing.

Capt. Mark Phillips’ CIC3* cross country course is very similar to the track used for The Fork last year. While several combinations have changed, the course follows the same path. (Click here to view photos of the 2017 course.) Very few hints are offered as to what we might be able to expect on his WEG course come September.

We did get a sneak peek at a new water complex that is being built for WEG, as well as the lengthy uphill climb that will punctuate the end of the course with a serious fitness test. Following the uphill pull, the WEG cross country course will end in the new main stadium, which has not yet been built.

A new water complex being built for WEG. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

As for the CIC3*/WEG Test Event this weekend, the course contains 25 numbered obstacles with an optimum time of 6 minutes, 16 seconds. Last year’s CIC3* course at The Fork did not cause a single jumping penalty or elimination on cross country, with all pairs jumping clear rounds. Instead, time proved to be the key factor, with only two of 17 pairs (12% of the field) making the optimum time.

However, the course is also very similar to the track used at last year’s American Eventing Championships, which firmly shook up the leaderboard. Case in point: Marilyn Little, who leads the CIC3* after the first day of dressage, won The Fork wire-to-wire with RF Scandalous last year, but then fell at the American Eventing Championships.

Last year heavy rains made for muddy going on parts of the course. This year creates a stark juxtaposition. While Mill Spring, North Carolina has seen heavy rains over much of the winter, the last two weeks have seen little precipitation, with strong winds drying the course to create much firmer footing.

Stay tuned for a full report on Tryon’s turf management plan as we count down to WEG. Click here to catch up on all of EN’s coverage from The Fork CIC3*/WEG Test Event. Go Eventing.

WEG Test Event: Website, Schedule, Friday Dressage Order, Live Stream, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage

Friday News & Notes from Kentucky Equine Research

By on Apr 6, 2018 12:03 am -

Do you need more daffodil dog photos? Of course you do.

OK, it’s time to apologize for my April Fool’s joke article about banning dogs, mostly because it’s totally hypocritical of me. I love my dogs, and I just got a puppy two months ago, and I can’t wait to take him to shows with me. But don’t worry, he’s totally cool around horses, and he’s even going to a six week course in doggie obedience this spring, so he will most certainly not be one of those dreaded doggos that gets filmed chasing down a horse. Maybe we should just have mandatory dog obedience and horse training classes? Let’s get on it, FEI.

National Holiday: National Caramel Popcorn Day

Major Events:

The Fork: Website, Schedule, Ride Times, Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

WEG Test Event: Website, Schedule, Friday Dressage Order, Live Stream, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage

Chattahoochee Hills CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Results]

U.S. Weekend Preview:

CDCTA H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Results]

Pine Hill Spring H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Spring Bay H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Southern California Equestrian Sports (SCES) has announced a donation of $3,000 to Aspen Farms Horse Trials. This generous donation will be divvied up, with two thousand going towards event enhancement, and the remaining thousand given as prize money to the top placing SCES members in the CIC1* and CIC2*. [SCES Supports Aspen Farms]

Twin horses are not very common. Twin horses racing one another is completely unheard of. Mr. Ping and Mr. Pong will be running against one another at Charles Town today, both out of a mare named Washingtonian and by the stallion Denis of Cork. Less than 1% of twin pregnancies make it to term with live foals, and nobody has ever heard of them both making it to the races, let alone the same race. [Twin Thoroughbreds Race One Another Today]

Horse people have a weirdly unique way of shopping in a tack store. It doesn’t matter who you are, or what discipline you ride, but if they have a wall of bits, you must go inspect it. Just in case you find something super cool! Also, items must be smelled, and if possible, opened and then smelled. We get you. You’re weird, just like us. [5 Things Every Equestrian Does In A Tack Shop]

Golden Spike Horse Trials in Ogden, Utah (Area IX) is hosted once a year, and offers Intro through Preliminary levels. Created and organized by the Wasatch Pony Club, Golden Spike was first run in 1987, and has continued to have recognized and unrecognized events as well as clinics and cross country schooling ever since that time. In the past few years, the event has received grant money to revamp the facilities, and fix the drainage on the cross country course, making the event better than ever. [USEA Events A-Z: Golden Spike HT]

 

Schramm Sesh of the Week

Jimmie and Dom Schramm have teamed up with Kentucky Equine Research to provide an inside look into their conditioning program using KER ClockIt Sport. Each week we’ll share an example ride and some notes of what the Schramms look for as their horses progress.

So far we have featured work programs for developing horses, but this week’s session illustrates Jimmie working Bellamy, an Advanced-level Thoroughbred gelding, through one of his last gallops before the Rolex (now Land Rover) Kentucky Three-Day Event.  The session took place at the famous Nelson’s Hill in Chester County.

“Eventers have been getting their horses fit on this hill since the 1970’s and 80’s, which is pretty cool,” says Jimmie. “The hill takes about two and a half minutes to climb from bottom to top. The first half is steeper before it plateaus out and there is a little cross-country field. The second half is a long, slow hill that is almost slightly stair-stepped.”

Jimmie recounts the day of the session: “It wasn’t very cold, it was in the 60’s. Leading up to these gallops Bellamy had worked his way to a 20-minute jog with a 15-minute canter through months of interval training. When we got back to Pennsylvania from being south he was just going up the hill once a week and then it was bumped to two times up the hill.”

“For Bellamy, you can see I walked him down to the cross-country area and jogged for about 10 minutes around the jumps to make sure his muscles were warm,” Jimmie explains. “The first time up the hill I was aiming to get it done in 2:30 minutes and we got pretty close to that. I start at about 19:20 and finish and 21:56.”

Jimmie then hacked him back down the hill which takes about 10 minutes, enough time for his heart rate to settle back down again.

“The second time up I was trying to go a little bit faster to push him for a higher heart rate and higher speed, climbing the hill in 2:15 minutes. Then we had a nice long hack to let his heart rate settle back down and cool down his muscles.”

She concludes, “All in all, hill gallops are a really good way to get horses fit and this session shows how to execute a hill gallop for an advanced horse.”

Check back next week for another Schramm Sesh! Want to gain insight into your horse’s fitness? Try KER ClockIt Sport. The free app helps take the guesswork out of equine fitness by monitoring heart rate, speed, distance and altitude during rides. EN’s guides to the app explain all the details: 7 Reasons to Download KER ClockIt Sport and How To Get the Most Out of KER ClockIt Sport.

Day 1 at Tryon: Lynn Symansky, Will Coleman Lead The Fork Advanced Divisions

By on Apr 5, 2018 6:31 pm -

Lynn Symansky and Under Suspection. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Advanced dressage took the stage on Thursday afternoon at The Fork at Tryon International Equestrian Center.

Lynn Symansky holds the top two spots in the Advanced Test A division with Under Suspection and Donner, respectively, with 2.5 points separating the horses.

Lynn’s relatively new partnership with Under Suspection, a 14-year-old Holsteiner mare (Contender x Naomagic I, by Exorbitant xx) owned by Mary Ann Ghadban, is definitively clicking. Lynn first catch-rode “Pippy,” who finished in the top five at Kentucky in her first four-star last spring with Hannah Sue Burnett, in the dressage phase at Great Meadow CICO3* last July. They warmed up with one Prelim and two Intermediate horse trials this winter before finishing sixth in the CIC3* at Carolina International two weeks ago. The pair turned in their personal best dressage score to date, a 25.70, to top today’s 11-horse Advanced Test A division.

“The mare is still a newer ride for me, so I’m trying to figure her out a bit more each time I go in the ring,” Lynn says. “I thought her trot was really good. The trot and walk were great, I made a mistake in one of the changes, but I’m starting to go in and know what I’m going to have. She comes out the same horse every time.”

Lynn Symansky and Donner. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Lynn sits second with her old partner Donner, a 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Gorky Park x Smart Jane, by Smarten) owned by the Donner Syndicate. “He’s not blessed with the movement that Pippy has so he has got to go in and do a very accurate, workmanlike test, and he did, and he’s so reliable at this point in terms of knowing how I have to prepare him for the day,” Lynn says.

CIC3* dressage ran earlier today (see Jenni’s report here) in the main George H. Morris International Arena, with Advanced tests staged in one of the smaller arenas off to the side. Even without a crowd of spectators, the rings have a “busy” feel, flanked on three sides by barns, shops or pavilions.

“This kind of atmosphere is hard for Donner because there’s enough of it, but there’s not a lot of people,” Lynn says. “It’s almost better if there are a ton of people to drown out the noise.”

There were plenty of little things for an ADD horse to get hung up on, including but not limited to the Mexican cantina replete with about a dozen twirling hammocks that horses were pointed straight at in the free walk. And the hammocks were the place to be when Lynn headed into the arena on Pippy.

“There were about 15 screaming children on those things,” Lynn says. “When I was doing Pippy, she was the first one in, it sounded like a gang of monkeys were attacking each other. And thank God I was on her first because I think Donner would have bolted out of the ring.”

Lynn was heading out to have a look at cross country when we talked to her; it’s her first time at TIEC since competing here in the 2016 American Eventing Championships, and a first glimpse at the track that we’ll see come WEG in September.

Lynn and Donner contested the 2016 WEG in Normandy and have represented the U.S. on multiple teams, and it’s fun to see them in the hunt for a WEG 2.0.

“Especially with Donner being a possibility to go to the WEG, he’s been a part of team stuff for quite a while, since 2011 at the Pam Ams, and he’s still out and feeling good so it’s cool to be a part of it here,” says Lynn.

Rounding out the top three is Boyd Martin with Kyra, an 11-year-old Canadian Warmblood mare (VDL Ulando H x Wellesley, by Welstern) owned by Christine Turner. This is an exciting partnership and one to watch: At Red Hills, where Boyd and Kyra placed 2nd at Advanced in their second time out at the level, Boyd said of the mare, “She’s by far the most spectacular jumper I have in my barn.” (See our EN profile of the mare here.)

Will Coleman and OBOS O’Reilly. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Will Coleman and Obos O’Reilly lead the Advanced Test B division on a score of 24.5, although not for long! Will’s plan for The Fork has been dressage-only from the get-go — he just stopped in to get his horses out in the atmosphere, soak it in and check out the cross country track before heading back north to contest Fair Hill next weekend. The end game: Badminton.

Obos O’Reilly, a 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Obos Quality 004 x Omard Clover Queen, by Clover Hill) owned by Four Star Eventing Group, topped the 10-horse division. “We’ve been working really hard at his dressage for forever,” Will says. “He gets quite nervous and finding ways to keep him confident but still on the job is always the trick. He’s getting better — he keeps improving with age.”

“I have a soft place in my heart for him,” Will says. “He tries really hard, he’s not really built to do dressage but he’s improved so much. He did a clean test today, it wasn’t perfect but it was a clean test, and I think that’s probably good enough for the time being.”

Will contested The Fork on several horses last year, and says this year’s track is almost identical with the exception of a few changed-up combinations.

“I wanted to come down and see the place, see if Mark [Phillips] was going to give us any clues to what he’s thinking but he’s playing it close to his chest right now. He’s a poker player. There are some good questions but I don’t think he’s showing us what he’s building for September.”

Will is galloping his horses here tomorrow, but then the lead is wide open for a take-over. Will it be 2nd placed Lauren Kieffer and Veronica (24.5) or 3rd placed Leslie Law with The Apprentice (27.0), or …?

Keep it locked here. Go Eventing!

Advanced Test A Top 10

Advanced Test B Top 10

CIC2* Top 10

The Fork: Website, Schedule, Ride Times, Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

WEG Test Event: Website, Schedule, Thursday Dressage Order, Friday Dressage Order, Live Stream, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage

Karen O’Connor & Capt. Mark Phillips Announced as Newest USEA Hall of Fame Inductees

By on Apr 5, 2018 6:11 pm -

Left: Karen O’Connor Biko competing at the 1995 European Championships. Brant Gamma Photo. Right: Mark Phillips riding Maid Marion at Ledyard in 1973. Rick Foltz Photo.

Two more USEA Hall of Fame inductees were announced this afternoon at The Fork at Tryon. Congratulations to Karen O’Connor and Capt. Mark Phillips!

Karen O’Connor competed in five Olympic Games, three World Equestrian Games and two Pan American Game during her storied eventing career. She won four team medals: silver at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, bronze at the 1998 Rome World Championships, bronze at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and gold at the 2007 Rio Pan American Games.

Karen also won individual gold with Theodore O’Connor at the 2007 Pan Ams, as well as individual silver at the 2003 Pan Ams with Joker’s Wild. Click here to read the full list of her many achievements in the USEA’s announcement.

Capt. Mark Phillips won team gold medal for Great Britain at the Munich Olympics in 1972 and also rode on the gold medal winning British teams for the World Championships in 1970 and European Championships in 1971.  He won Badminton four times in 1971, 1972, 1974 and 1981, as well as Burghley in 1973.

He designed the Burghley CCI4* cross country course from 1989-1996, 1998-2000, and 2005-present, and also designed the Luhmühlen CCI4* course for 12 years. He is also the course designer for the 2018 World Equestrian Games at Tryon.

He served as Chef d’equipe for the U.S. Eventing Team for nearly 20 years. Click here to read the full list of his many achievements in the USEA’s announcement.

Tim and Nina Gardner and Out And About have already been announced as two of the new Hall of Fame inductees. Six total inductees will officially join the USEA Hall of Fame at the 2018 Induction Ceremony, which will be held in December during the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Thursday Video from Nupafeed: Olivia Dutton and Mr. Medicott Tackle Intermediate

By on Apr 5, 2018 4:30 pm -

Under the watchful eye of her Olympic bronze-medal winning father, Olivia Dutton made the step up to the Intermediate level at Carolina International last weekend. Her mount? None other than the reigning USEF National CCI4* Champion, Mr. Medicott.

The 19-year-old Irish Sport Horse, owned by the Mr. Medicott Syndicate, still has plenty left in the tank following his fourth place finish with Phillip at Kentucky last year, and has been happily showing Olivia around the upper-levels since she took over the ride last summer.

Olivia carefully piloted a very keen “Cave” around the Intermediate Rider division, adding just cross country time onto their dressage score and finishing 9th in a large contingent. Check out their cross country round courtesy of RNSvideomedia!