Welcome to The Weekend Update, a new offering here on EN that will recap important prep events each Monday. While we can’t be at every event in person, we want to recognize the efforts of those out there competing each weekend around the world. This column will focus on key prep events and divisions that feature 4* and 5* horses and riders en route to major spring destinations. Keep an eye out also for our weekly Weekend Winners column, which celebrates each recognized event running in the U.S.!
Rain Never Keeps the Eventers Away at Ocala Winter I
Ocala Winter I at the Florida Horse Park attracted numerous horse and rider combinations from Beginner Novice to Advanced/Intermediate, which many riders attributed to the care and maintenance of the grounds, as well as the community the event provides. “Florida Horse Park has done such a fantastic job from punching and watering the ground to great course design,” Sinead Maynard remarks.
Alexa Thompson also appreciates the event for the opportunity it provides horses, “I have been coming to the Horse Park since 2009, and it has been really neat to see how hard everyone is working to continually improve an already great venue.” After returning from France in December after working with Maxime Livio, Ocala was the perfect event back in the states to get her horses going, and finished this weekend 2nd in the Advanced/Intermediate with Just To Be Clear (Extase – Utopia Tb, by Gran Corrado).
“The footing in Ocala is similar to what we were training on in France, so the horses seem really happy! I was quite pleased with “Karti” this weekend. It was his first event back since the 4*S at Montelibretti in Italy in November. We had goals for each phase this weekend, and it was really fun to be able to accomplish them while also walking away with a top result.”
While she may no longer be in France, Alexa’s development continues with the support of Maxime from afar, “I have been working with Maxime from afar via Pivo and loads of videos, texts, voice memos, and phone calls. He and his team feel like my French family, and I miss them dearly, but thanks to technology, I still get to have him as a resource and mentor, no matter our locations.”
Support came from riders near as well, as Sinead Maynard experienced this weekend. “My new ride, Serengethi (Sir Donnerhall – Pia Luisa M, by Pavarotti Van De Helle), owned by The Journey Syndicate, was a little wild in the show jumping. Thankfully, Ocala is filled with knowledgeable people around every corner. My friend Hannah Sue Holberg met me at cross country warm up after recommending a slight bridle adjustment. She is a genius, and I had a delightful run around the track due to her help. We are so lucky in Ocala to have such great venues and great people. These things combined are helping us to produce great horses and great partnerships!”
Partnerships are the name of the game when it comes to riding and training horses throughout all of life’s stages. We saw Jacob Fletcher taking over the ride for wife and training partner Cornelia while she’s expecting their first child. “Cornelia and I train and work together, so the transition to competing her horses has been smooth and easy. They were great this weekend, and what they do next for the rest of the spring is up to my newest owner, Cornelia!” Jacob laughs.
Jacob had Fletcher Farm’s Fabian (Up To Date – Ineke, by Beaujolais) in the Open Preliminary, and finished in 5th in the Open Intermediate with Cornelia’s DHI Qyaracolle Z (Quinar Z – Celiacolle Z, by Chellano) as well as 11th with her Daytona Beach 8 (Duke Of Hearts Xx – Sandance, by Santander H). Qyra and Daytona will be doing Chattahoochee Hills’ 3* next.
Advanced/Intermediate winner Alyssa Phillips is feeling well prepared for their first FEI of the season in a few weeks. “All [my horses] clicked in at Ocala.” After winning the Advanced/Intermediate with her own Oskar (Coriando – Nicole), she looks forward to the upcoming year, “Oskar has come out so much stronger this year and I’m really happy he’s happy… My goal with him is to go to Europe on the Developing Tour to compete on some Nations Cups to gain more team experience, so we will be building up to that!”
Final results from Ocala can be found here.
West Coast Season in Full Swing at Ram Tap (Fresno)
Good venues, partnerships, and winter training also ensured good results at Ram Tap for our west coast eventers.
“The ground was awesome, and it was a great start of the season show for the horses,” James Alliston comments. James finished 1st and 2nd in the Advanced/Intermediate with Alliston Equestrian’s and Nations Cup ride Karma (Escudo II – Travita, by Lavita) and Alliston Equestrian’s Paper Jam (Paparazzo – Reely Jamin).
“They went well, and hopefully this sets them up for a good year ahead. It was great to have Paper Jam back in the game after a length layoff. We’re looking forward to having him in the lineup this year,” James comments.
Tommy Greengard had a great start to his season, winning the Open Preliminary with Andrea Pfeiffer’s That’s Me Z (Take a Chance On Me Z – Veneita, by VDL Indoctro). “I was so happy with how mature and confident That’s Me Z started off his season. I was fortunate to ride with Leslie [Law] during the U25 in January and I feel like both Z and I really took what we worked on and applied it in the ring which paid off.”
Allyson Hartenburg‘s training also certainly paid off, bringing in an almost unbelievable result in the Open Introductory with Dede McCoy’s Iconic. Allyson and Iconic scored an incredible 5.7 in the dressage, and went double clear in cross country and show jumping to finish on their dressage score. “This was Iconic’s first horse trial, and I was really pleased that he put in a nice, steady test. When I saw the score, I thought there must be a typo! I’m naturally happy that he came away with the win on an unbelievable score, but most importantly he had an educational and confidence building first show. It was an extra treat that his owner, Dede McCoy, also came away with a win on her other horse, Dune DeHeir.”
Final results from Ram Tap can be found here.
