Classic Eventing Nation

Sunday Links from One K Helmets

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Eventing Nation skipper and lead chinchilla wrangler Jenni Autry and Diarm Byrne of Equiratings don’t just share a passion for cats and horses, but also a real knack for podcast domination. They’ve gotten into a charming groove on Eventing Podcast’s #LockerRoomTalk, and this week they have a stellar interview with Lauren Kieffer about her back story, her current string, and the roller coaster that is 2016. Check it out here! [Eventing Podcast #LockerRoomTalk with Lauren Kieffer]

U.S. Weekend Action:

#OJCInternational: WebsiteEntriesRide TimesLive ScoresFacebookTwitterInstagramLive StreamEN’s Coverage

Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Sunday Links:

Canadian Olympic Athletes Speak Against Vote at FEI General Assembly

Madison Ricard DIY: Compact Jump Storage Cart Idea

8 Winter Hoof Care Reminders

Giving Thanks to the Horses Who Made Me

Winning Dressage Mule ‘Slate’ a Champion for Working Equines

Project Hopes to End Use of Horses in Producing Diptheria Anti-Toxin

Sunday Video: Three Days Eventing, you guys. How many delightful inaccuracies can you uncover in this hasty school project?

 

Matt Brown & Super Socks BCF Take Ocala Jockey Club CIC3* Win + Much More

Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF. Photo by Jenni Autry. Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF. Photo by Jenni Autry.

It’s not every day that you declare one winner in a CIC3* but then end the day with a different rider accepting the big check — and taking a dunk in the pool to boot. While Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison were initially declared the winners of the inaugural Ocala Jockey Club International CIC3*, a dressage scoring discrepancy ultimately gave Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF the win.

While you might think this would be a controversial conclusion to the CIC3*, Matt and Jon both could not have been more gracious about the final outcome of the competition.

As Jon put it: “I was pumped that I had won, and then I found out that Matt had, and Matt came up to me in the barn and the first thing he said was, ‘Make sure you take your test and double check it,’ which is a huge credit to Matt for coming to me and making sure, which I did, that my score was calculated correctly. Matt wins, and that’s the sport.”

Matt and Super Socks BCF and Jon and Downtown Harrison ultimately completed the event on the same score of 46.3. Super Socks BCF was one of two horses in the division to make the optimum time of 6 minutes, 9 seconds, while Downtown Harrison accumulated 1.2 time penalties to give the win to Matt.

One could argue that Jon might have taken a different strategy setting out of the start box had he known Matt’s dressage score would ultimately be recalculated, but our top two didn’t want to dwell on that technicality tonight.

“I’ve lost before out of a technical error like that,” Matt said, “and I didn’t bring it up and I wish now that we had brought it up earlier after dressage … I’ve gotten second before when I should have won and I didn’t check the test until after I got home, so I thought ‘let’s double check the test,’ and neither one of us thought in a million years that we were going to actually find another mistake.”

But that’s ultimately what happened to flip flop our top two. Super Socks BCF, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by the Blossom Creek Foundation, has been hunting for redemption after a lackluster performance at Aachen CICO3* this summer, and Matt said he could not have been more thrilled with how the horse went today.

“We didn’t have a great result at Aachen and I was pretty disappointed in that, and I felt like I just needed to take some time and figure it out. I think it was my mindset going into the event that I wasn’t prepared enough. I didn’t want to jump back in and get ready for the next event, and so we took a little bit more time and went back to the drawing board,” Matt said.

“I have to give credit to Cecily, my wife, because I sort of go up and down as far as being really confident one day and the next day feeling like I can’t ride, and she really helped me sit down and talk about why I wasn’t feeling as confident as I should and come up with a plan that obviously paid off training-wise for us.”

Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison. Photo by Jenni Autry.

It’s been a similar happy slew of emotions for Jon, who meant to take Downtown Harrison, his family’s 12-year-old Trakehner/Thoroughbred gelding, to Pau this fall before uncharacteristic stops in the show jumping warm-up at Stable View thwarted his plans.

“To be trying to get the horse to Pau earlier in the season and then not go to Pau but still come here and go home with a big check with him running around and feeling great — I’m just excited that I got my horse back and he feels like a million bucks,” Jon said.

While the course could have benefited from more rain in recent weeks, both Matt and Jon agreed that Mike Etherington-Smith’s three-star track lived up to expectations today.

“It looked to me like it was going to be a really galloping course and it was,” Jon said, “and that track was as close to feeling like you were going around a CCI while being at a CIC that I’ve ever felt, which I think is a testament to the property and to Mike E-S and to Richard (Trayford’s) vision for finding the place, and obviously to the Nygaards for letting us be here. I can’t think of any other place in America to have a big event than here.

“(Downtown Harrison) is a pretty experienced horse, and he went out there and all the questions were very understandable — big bold fair questions. I think when you’re eventing … young horses you always say, ‘Courses are supposed to teach them; they should be better when they finish.’ I’ve found at the Advanced level that doesn’t always happen …

“Maybe it’s because my horse was spectacular today, which he was, but I would say at 12 years old he went out there today and became a better horse than when he started. For an Advanced horse to do that on course? I’d love to say it’s because he’s a special horse and I gave him a decent ride, but I think the biggest credit is to the design, the fences and the property.”

Matt echoed the same positive sentiment about the track and the venue. “It’s an amazing property, and I didn’t know what to expect coming down here, and I am totally blown away with what they’ve done. … It was really nice to run around a big, galloping, fair course for the horses. I think the sport is going in the direction of very turning, tight, smaller courses, and so to be able to go out and gallop through questions felt really good.”

Matt also wanted to send a special shout out to Bob and Valerie Fish for all of their support in getting “Flaxen” to this point in this career, and to Carol Gee for spotting the horse initially. Three cheers for Flaxen!

Looking to the rest of the leaderboard, Boyd Martin and Steady Eddie, a 13-year-old Australian Thoroughbred owned by Gretchen Wintersteen, Pierre Colin and Denise Lahey, were the only other combination in the division to make the optimum time, which put them in third place on 47.2.

Doug Payne and Debi Crowley’s Vandiver, a 12-year-old Trakehner gelding and our overnight leader after show jumping, picked up 6.4 time penalties to finish in fourth place on 48.1. Joe Meyer and Clip Clop, a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse owned by Madison and Theresa Foote, finished fifth on 52.8 thanks to a speedy cross country trip with 3.2 time penalties.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Cooley Dream. Photo by Jenn Autry.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Cooley Dream. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Cooley Dream Keep CCI2* Lead

Hannah Sue Burnett and Cooley Dream held onto their CCI2* lead after dressage thanks to a clear cross country round with 2.8 time penalties, and their score of 46.7 gives them a rail in hand over Jennie Brannigan and Cool As Ice as we look ahead to tomorrow’s show jumping finale.

But for Hannah, having “Cooley,” an 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Cooley Dream LLC, feel confident and bold over Clayton Fredericks’ cross country course is already a victory.

“We’ve backed way up after our fall at Rebecca Farm, and I’ve been trying to be really sensitive to what he needs from me encouragement-wise and also letting him have his time and be confident,” Hannah said. “It’s a fine line with an Irish horse; especially with the Cruising line. They need to know what they’re good at and feel that confidence from you but also not be pushed past it.”

Hannah said U.S. Coach David O’Connor has been instrumental in helping her develop a strategy to develop Cooley’s confidence on cross country, and that strategy paid off in spades today.

“Cooley went out today and took the bit, to the point where I was not trusting it completely because I like to be sensitive to him; that’s why I picked up some time faults. But he was so honest to the combinations and the skinnies and the corners and angles. I don’t ever have to worry about any of that, and that’s such a nice feeling. He’s so genuine.”

Jennie Brannigan and Cool As Ice, an 8-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Beth Battel, moved up to second place on 52.7 in the CCI2* with a clear round and 1.6 time penalties. Boyd Martin and Santos, a 7-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Craig and Gloria Callen and Ron and Densey Juvonen, jumped one of the three clear rounds inside the time in the division to move from seventh to third on 53.1.

Kristen Merala and Tiki Tiki Tumbo also made the optimum time of 8 minutes, 30 seconds to move from 11th to fourth on 54.5. Buck Davidson and Bounce Pass delivered the only other double clear in the division to move from 13th to fifth on 54.5.

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

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

Liz Halliday-Sharp Dominates CCI*

Liz Halliday-Sharp continued her total dominance of the CCI* today, jumping clear and inside the time with both Deniro Z and Elarona to hold onto first and second place.

“Deniro hasn’t had a run since the beginning of October, so I was thrilled with how he went. He found the time very easy, and he finished very fresh. He’s such a trier, and he has such a great brain and really enjoys his job. It’s a pleasure to ride a horse like that,” Liz said.

“Elarona was magic. She felt like a world class horse today. She’s still quite green, but she’s so brave and she covered the ground really well. Both horses have had enough experience at this level, but neither one of them has ever done a CCI*, so I couldn’t have asked for a better day.”

Allison Springer and Business Ben also jumped clear and inside the time to remain in third place on 43.5. Leslie Law and Fernhill Divergent moved up one spot on the leaderboard to fourth on 44.7, with Jon Holling and Sportsfield Two Doors Down rounding out the top five on 45.3.

EN has been with you this entire holiday weekend, and we’re not going anywhere now! Tomorrow’s final horse inspection starts at 8 a.m. EST, and CCI* show jumping will be streamed live on EQTV starting at 10:30 a.m. EST, followed by CCI2* show jumping at 1:30 p.m. EST. Thanks for following along with us. Go Eventing.

OJCInternational: WebsiteEntriesRide TimesLive ScoresFacebookTwitterInstagramLive StreamEN’s Coverage

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Ocala Jockey Club CIC3*/CCI2* Live Cross Country Updates

Welcome to the live updates for the Ocala Jockey Club International Three Day Event! Scroll down to relive the day’s action.

For those of you who originally saw Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison named the winners of the CIC3*, a dressage scoring re-calculation later showed an error in Matt Brown and Super Socks’s BCF dressage score.

Correcting the dressage scoring error put Jon and Matt on the same score of 46.3. Matt made the optimum time of 6 minutes, 9 seconds, while Jon picked up 1.2 time penalties. As a result, Matt and Super Socks BCF have officially been declared the CIC3* winners, with Jon and Downtown Harrison in second. Stay tuned for the full report.

You can re-watch the action live on EQTV right here on EN at this link, and you can also open the live stream in a separate window at this link

#OJCInternational Links: WebsiteEntriesRide TimesLive ScoresFacebookTwitterInstagramLive StreamEN’s Coverage

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

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

You couldn’t ask for a better day to run among the Florida live oak trees. It’s 73 degrees with a 6 mph breeze and 47% humidity. The course has been fast and safe throughout the morning. Our fearless leader Jenni Autry is in the field today and will be bringing you full reports and interviews later today, so – as always – keep it locked on EN for all the excitement from the sunshine state!

CCI* Quick Recap – The course ran exceptionally well. The top three remains unchanged from dressage, with Liz Halliday-Sharp holding first and second aboard Deniro Z and Elarona respectively, with Allison Springer and Business Ben in third. Liz has a rail in hand tomorrow with her first mount, but not her second. Leslie Law and Fernhill Divergent used a double clear run to move up to fourth, and Jonathan Holling and Sportsfield Two Doors Down round out the top five in a field that was 71 horses deep. There were two rider falls, three retirements on course, and one elimination. The problems were spread relatively evenly around course.

A peek at the one-star coffin courtesy of Sara Kozumplik Murphy and this splashy little critter:

12:30 ET – Our first rider will set out on the CIC3* at 1:13 – Leslie Law of Great Britain aboard Charleston VI. There are 21 combinations altogether in the division. The optimum time is 6 minutes 9 seconds.

1:00 ET – At a glance order of go and ride times for the CIC3* are below. The top five horses will run in reverse order of standing to make for a thrilling finish!

eventing-nation-ride-times-ocala

 

1:13 ET – Leslie Law and Charleston VI are headed out to inaugurate the new CIC3* course designed by Mike Etherington-Smith! Charleston is a Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Lexi Scovil. They’re currently sitting in 17th place on a 59.90.

1: 14 ET – Overnight update: Ronald Zabala-Goetschel has withdrawn Wise Jolliyat, ergo 20 horses will run cross country in the three-star today.

1:17 ET – Leslie and Charleston are clear through 7abc at the first water, looking powerful on the big mount.

1:20 ET – Joe Meyer and South Paw are now on course and clear through the first three.

1:23 ET – Joe Meyer had a runout at the brush corners, Leslie Law had a runout at the angled brushes (12 and 13) and we’re just catching up with Doug Payne at the end of his course on Lysander who is looking sharp at the lane crossing at 23 and 24. They were added to the front of the lineup last minute, and word is that they’re clear as they near the finish.

1:25 ET – Boyd Martin and Steady Eddie are on course and clear through 9. Leslie Law has been eliminated for a third refusal on course.

1:25 ET – Joe Meyer looking spectacular at the end of the course. We’ll get provisional scores for Doug and Joe as soon as they come through.

1:27 ET – Boyd and Eddie clear through 25!

1:28 ET – Buck Davidson and Petite Flower had a runout at 9ab, the angled brush corners, and have opted to retire.

1:30 ET – Matthew Brown and Super Socks are now on course and clear through the first water – looking great on the direct route there.

1:31 ET – Matt and Super Socks dared to jump directly through the angled brushes and zoomed through, wasting no time.

1:33 ET – Allison Springer is now on course aboard 17-year-old fan favorite Arthur.

1:35 ET – Clayton Fredericks and FE Bowman are clear through the first three, and Allison and Arther clear through fence 16.

1:36 ET – Clayton clear through first water, and Arthur and Allison clear through the second water!

1:38 ET – Ocala-based Clayton Fredericks clear through the first 18, Olivia Cliver on course now My Mitch and clear through the first water on the direct route!

1:40 ET – Scores Update: Doug Payne and Lysander added 19.60 time faults to finish with a 71.60. Matt Brown and Super Socks join Boyd Martin and Steady Eddie in the double clear hunt to sit provisionally in first! Joe Meyer finished with just the one runout and added 18.8 time faults.

1:42 ET – Lynn Symansky and Donner clear through the first water, Olivia at final water now and clear!

1:44 ET – Allison Springer and Arther went clear with 11.2 time. Olivia and My Mitch had a gutting refusal at the white racing rails near the end of the course, but were clear on their second attempt.

1:45 ET – Jonathan Holling and Downtown Harrison now on course (they are apparently not running in reverse order in the top five as previously reported.) They are sitting in second place. Lynn Symansky and Donner are clear and positively effortless through the second water and the final fences! We’ll give you a score for them as soon as it comes in.

1:47 ET – Sarah Kozumplik Murphy on course now with Ruben (currently in third) and clear through the first five.

1:48 ET – Jon and Harrison are clear through second water and on to fence 25. Sara and Ruben clear through the brush corners and on their way.

1:50 ET – Sara and Ruben have had a fall at the angled brushes (12 and 13), but Sara is up and okay.

1:51 ET – Ashley Johnson and Tactical Maneuver are on course and clear through the brush corners.

1:52 ET – Colleen Rutledge and Escot 6 are on course and clear through the first three.

1:54 ET – Ashley clear through the second water!

1:55 ET – Colleen and Escot 6 have cleared the first water and staircase. Katie Ruppel and Houdini are now on course and clear through the first three.

1:56 ET – Clayton Fredericks and FE Bowman added 15.20 time to sit currently in 6th, Lynn Symansky and Donner added just 6.40 to sit provisionally in 4th, and Jonathan Holling and Downtown Harrison add only 1.2 to move into the lead for the time being.

Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison. Photo by Jenni Autry.

1:57 ET – Colleen and Escot are clear through the white racing oxers and final two fences two finish without apparent jump faults!

1:59 ET – Katie Ruppel clear through angled brushes on Houdini.

2:00 ET – Leslie has returned on his second mount, Tre’ de Kernat for what they hope will be a better run. Katie and Houdini are clear through second water!

2:01 ET – Joe Meyer and Clip Clop are now out on course, currently sitting in 9th place.

2:03 ET – Colleen Rutledge and Escot 6 finish with 7.60 additional time faults but a clear jump round to sit in 5th with 62.80 at the moment.

2:04 ET – Leslie Law clear through the second water!

2:05 ET – Katie and Houdini added 15.60 time faults to sit on 74 even.

2:07 ET – Joe Meyer and Clip Clip looking great through fence 20 but maybe a little slow. They’re through the second water beautifully, running a more inside route than other teams today.

2:08 ET – Ronald Zabala-Goetschel and Wundermaske clear through the brush corners 9ab.

2:09 ET – Buck Davidson back for revenge on his second ride of the day, Carlevo. Ronald and Wundermaske take the long route on the angled brushes to ensure a clear track there, and do it successfully.

2:10 ET – Leslie Law finished strong on his second mount Tre’ du Kernat with 10.4 time faults to sit provisionally in 6th.

2:11 ET – Overnight leader Doug Payne and Vandiver now on course! Ronald clear through second water.

2:12 ET – Buck and Carlevo are clear through fence 16 and Doug is clear through the first water!

2:13 ET – Buck and Carlevo look ferocious through second water as Buck hails a cab. Chasing the time hard.

2:14 ET – Doug and Vandiver are heroic through angled brushes and over the awesome old-school tiger traps.

2:15 ET – Buck and Carlevo are home, Doug and and Vandiver flawless through the second water!

2:16 ET – Doug clear through the final fence, and we’ll get a look at his time momentarily!

2:17 ET – Doug Payne adds 6.40 time faults to drop to fourth place, which means Jonathan Holling and Downtown Harrison are your winners!

2:18 ET – Buck added 17.20 time faults to finish in 7th.

 

2:21 ET – Don’t leave yet! Grab a quick snack and we’ll be back with more live updates for the CCI2* division at 2:45 p.m. ET!


2:43 ET – We’re back! Here’s a quick look at the ride order and times for the CCI2*, with Boyd Martin bookending the event with Santos and Kyra:

ride-times

2:45 ET – Boyd Martin and Santos are on course and clear through the first four.

2:49 ET – Boyd and Santos clear through the first tricky combinations at 5ab and 6ab, and clear through the next three as well before the water.

2:52 ET – Boyd clear through the first water at 11abc.

2:53 ET – Nilson Moreira da Silva and Lady Colina now on course.

2:54 ET – Boyd and Santos are flying across the CCI2* galloping landscape, reminiscent of his days aboard another firey red-head Neville Bardos; They’re clear through the second water!

2:56 ET – Tiffani Loudon-Metze and Hap are now on course, currently sitting in fourth place. Nilson had a runout early on but good on second attempt and racing onward.

2:58 ET – Boyd and Santos finish on a spectacular double clear!

2:59 ET – Fan favorite Brazilian Nilson and Lady Colina look incredibly confident in the second water and galloping on.

3:01 ET – Hillary Irwin and Kilbeggan now on course as well. Tiffani and Hap looking strong as they tackle the second water and gallop on.

3:03 ET – Sara Kozumplik Murphy and L’Alezane on course now, showing that her earlier fall didn’t slow her down a bit and through the first 9. Hillary is through the first 20 confidently.

3:05 ET – Sara has a runout at 14ab, a pair of uber skinny brush fences set at an angle. They could be very decisive today.

3:07 ET – Audrea Dyer on All Aboard is out on course and clear through the first half dozen. Sara clear through the second water.

3:10 ET – We’re getting word that the results have been corrected for the CIC3*. We will update you as we learn more.

3:11 ET – Audrea clear through second water and tearing out to make up some time.

3:12 ET – EN has confirmed that due to a dressage scoring error, Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF have been declared the winners of the CIC3*, moving Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison to second.

3:13 ET – Division leaders Hannah Sue Burnett and Cooley Dream are now on course.

3:47 ET – Katie Ruppel and Foreign Affair finish with 16.8 time faults to sit in ninth provisionally. Danielle Poulsen added 5.20 to sit in 10th, and Clara and White Indian add 6 time faults to sit in 11th.

3:18 ET – Conor Rollins and Fernhill Tiger Con were looking great around course before Tiger gave the cascading water and drop a hard look and had to circle to get it done.  Hannah Sue Burnett and Cooley are clear through the first water.

3:20 ET – Jessica Schultz and Lock N’ Load had the same reaction as Tiger and stopped twice at the drop at the second water before heading through successfully. Gutting for this pair on an otherwise strong day.

3:22 ET – Hannah Sue and Cooley are clean through the second water and took the inside route to save a few strides and a few seconds.

3:24 ET – Clara Cargile and White Indian are clear through the first handful and Danielle Poulsen clear through 19.

3:26 ET – Alexa Eleanor Ehlers and Amistoso are on course now and clear through the first five.

3:27 ET – Clara and White Indian are over the elephant trap combination at 20ab.

3:31 ET – Katie Ruppel and Foreign Affair on course and looking strong, and Alexa and Amistoso are clear through the second water and road crossing!

3:33 ET – Katherine Rivera and Royal Lufthanzer clear through the first combinations. Katie Ruppel is just 3 fences from home!

3:35 ET – Daisy Trayford and Normandy Soldier through the first eight and looking fast and confident.

3:37 ET – SCORE UPDATES: Hannah Sue and Cooley Dream added just 2.80 to sit provisionally in first! Boyd Martin holding second with Santos as the first rider out, and Kristen Merala and Tiki Tiki Tumbo also pulled out a double clear to match Boyd’s to now sit in third for the moment.

3:38 ET – Buck Davidson is on course now aboard Bounce Pass and through the first seven elements.

3:40 ET – Daisy Traiford looked solid over elephant traps, Susan Thomas and Fly N Bayou clear through first several efforts.

3:44 ET – Jennie Brannigan and Cool As Ice now on course, clear through the first handful and the first two combinations on course.

3:45 ET – Joe Meyer and Johnny Royale on course now.

3:48 ET – Jennie Brannigan and Cool as Ice clear through the Ocala Jockey Club Keyhole! Boyd Martin and Kyra now on course.

3:50 ET – Joe Meyer and Johnny Royale are clear through 18, the All See Hedges.

3:53 ET – Boyd Martin and Kyra have had a runout at the One Way Heads, the skinny hedges, then had a fall. Both are up and okay.

3:55 ET – Jennie Brannigan and Cool As Ice added just 1.60 time faults to sit in second going into the final day. Hannah Sue Burnett maintains her lead.

CIC3* Updated and Final Top Ten:

updated-three-star-top-ten

CCI2* Top Ten After Cross Country: 

cci-two-star-top-ten

 

#NoStirrupNovember Week 4: We’re Almost There!

If you’ve buckled down and worked hard this month on riding without stirrups to celebrate #NoStirrupNovember, then congratulations — you’ve nearly made it to December! (And don’t forget our sister site Horse Nation’s sweet contest running this month with Goode Rider!)

How is the month going for you? Have you reached your goals? Are you noticing that you’re stronger? Are you reaping the rewards of a November full of jelly-legs and aching muscles and perhaps some bruised tailbones (or egos)?

These riders certainly are!

#nostirrupnovember #getit A photo posted by chiaraposcente (@chiaraposcente) on

 

Sending #nostirrupnovember off with a big bouncy bang

 

A video posted by Rajal Schrubb ☀️ (@rajjjjjjj_) on

#nostirrupnovember going strong A video posted by •13.6k Addicts❤️ (@_my_equine_addiction_) on

 

I’m so proud of her #nostirrupnovember #myhorse #Cuki #loveher

 

A photo posted by Jennifer Richter (@richterjenny96) on

Want to share your thoughts on No-Stirrup November? Tag #NoStirrupNovember on Instagram and Twitter to join the conversation — and go riding!

Watch the Ocala Jockey Club International Live Stream

Good morning from the final day of the inaugural Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event! CCI* show jumping will be streamed live starting at 10:30 a.m. EST, followed by CCI2* show jumping at 1:30 p.m. EST

You can watch the action live thanks to EQTV right here on EN, and you can also open the live stream in a separate window at this link. Click here to catch up with all of EN’s #OJCInternational coverage so far. Go Eventing.

#OJCInternational Links: Website, Entries, Ride Times, Live ScoresFacebook, Twitter, InstagramLive StreamEN’s Coverage

Ocala Jockey Club CIC3*, CCI2* & CCI* Cross Country Course Previews

The final water complex. Photo by Tyson Rementer. The final water complex. Photo by Tyson Rementer.

Good morning from cross country day at the Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event! Temperatures are expected to cool a bit today here in Reddick, Florida, which should give us perfect conditions for the horses and riders. Thanks to our good friends at CrossCountry App, we have full previews of the CIC3*, CCI2* and CCI* cross country courses.

Mike Etherington-Smith has designed a big, open, galloping track for the CIC3*, and Clayton Fredericks has also followed suit with the CCI2* and CCI* courses. If you think the Ocala area only has flat terrain — guess again. The rolling hills of the Ocala Jockey Club feature the second highest point in Marion County, and riders will need fit horses to chase the optimum time across all the courses.

The CIC3* course has 33 jumping efforts over 3,506 meters with an optimum time of 6 minutes, 9 seconds. The CCI2* course has 35 jumping efforts over 4,675 meters with an optimum time of 8 minutes, 30 seconds. The CCI* course has 30 jumping efforts over 4,678 meters with an optimum time of 7 minutes, 35 seconds.

Keep scrolling for fence-by-fence previews of all the courses. Course builder Tyson Rementer recorded the CIC3* preview and packed it full of commentary and videos from Mike Etherington-Smith, Katie Ruppel, Joe Meyer, Dana Cooke and John Williams. Clayton Fredericks also offers commentary on his courses in the CCI2* and CCI* previews.

You can watch cross country live all day today thanks to EQTV. The CCI* starts at 9:30 a.m. EST, followed by the CIC3* at 1:10 p.m. EST and the CCI2* at 2:45 p.m. EST. We’ll also be running live updates here on EN and tweeting @eventingnation. Click here to catch up with all of EN’s #OJCInternational coverage so far. Go Eventing.

#OJCInternational: WebsiteEntriesRide TimesLive ScoresFacebookTwitterInstagramLive StreamEN’s Coverage

 

 

Saturday Links from Tipperary

Jon Holling looking sharp at Ocala! Photo by Lynn Benzing, from Jon's Facebook Page Jon Holling looking sharp at Ocala! Photo by Lynn Benzing, from Jon's Facebook Page

I’ll admit it, I was not ready for the onslaught of The Holidays that blindsided me approximately five minutes after I finished off some last bites of mashed potatoes on Thursday evening. It always surprises me how fast it goes from Show Season to Holiday Season. It’s almost enough to make me want to head to Florida this year! I’ve already heard more than enough Christmas music and counted five Christmas trees tied to SUVs cruising down the road. It’s the time of year where you want those you care about close at hand to share in some of the seasonal cheer. Of course, when that seasonal cheer and closeness gets to be too much, escaping to the barn is the obvious answer. Preferably in the before dawn hours and only returning after dark.

U.S. Weekend Action:

#OJCInternational: WebsiteEntriesRide TimesLive ScoresFacebookTwitterInstagramLive StreamEN’s Coverage

Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Saturday Links: 

From HorseNation: #NoStirrupNovember Week 4: We’re Almost There! 

USEF votes yes to landmark Olympic format changes

Looking at the Greats

Evidence of liver virus found in 6.3% of horses tested in France 

Rio show jumper sold for record breaking price

Father is the trainer for this Indian equestrian champion

Saturday Video: Matt Brown’s time back East has been serving him well!

Doug Payne and Vandiver Jump to Ocala Jockey Club CIC3* Lead

Doug Payne and Vandiver. Photo by Jenni Autry. Doug Payne and Vandiver. Photo by Jenni Autry.

We can always expect a proper show jumping track from Richard Jeffery, and he certainly didn’t disappoint this afternoon at the inaugural Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event. Poles went flying on the CIC3* course, leading to a major shake-up and three fresh faces topping the leaderboard as we look ahead to tomorrow’s cross country.

Doug Payne and Debi Crowley’s Vandiver, who sat tied for third place on 41.7 after this morning’s dressage, jumped one of the nine clear rounds inside the time to take the overnight lead. Jon Holling and Constance Holling’s Downtown Harrison left the poles in the cups to move from eighth to second on 45.1, and Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Rubens D’Ysieux also jumped double clear to scoot from ninth to third on 45.7.

EN’s predicted winners this weekend, Doug and Vandiver are one step closer to taking home a serious chunk of prize money after a day that’s gone their way from the start. This morning the 12-year-old Trakehner gelding, better known as “Quinn,” delivered a personal best dressage test, and while he does trend towards clear show jumping rounds, it certainly wasn’t an easy afternoon. With his CIC3* first-timer Lysander also sitting inside the top 10, Doug is a very happy man tonight.

“Quinn is getting better and better in dressage, and I thought he was exceptionally good today — probably the most ridable he’s been yet,” Doug said. “About halfway through the test I was thinking ‘Wow, I actually can start to go for it a bit more.’ I can’t wait to see what comes in the future, but this is a great step forward for sure.”

Quinn finished 16th at the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International CCI3* last fall, and Doug said he didn’t see a reason to run him there again. “His weakest link in the last six months has been on the flat, and he’s had a lot of clear rounds in show jumping, but he was also rubbing rails. We took a lot of time through the summer and into the fall doing some straight show jumping and working on the flat,” Doug said.

“I figured that given the opportunity to run good quality horse trials that have a great course that it would be more beneficial for him in the end. We found out about this event, and I spoke to Clayton (Fredericks). He said it was going to be a great open galloping course, and it was one of those things that made a whole lot of sense to come here and then target Kentucky in the spring.”

Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison. Photo by Jenni Autry.

While Jon and Downtown Harrison, a 12-year-old Trakehner/Thoroughbred gelding better known as “Will,” were originally planning to compete at Pau CCI4* last month, their fall plan changed suddenly after the horse had uncharacteristic refusals in the show jumping warm-up at Stable View’s Advanced horse trials. Jon ultimately withdrew from Stable View, and subsequently Pau, and re-routed to the Ocala Jockey Club’s event instead.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been as nervous going into a show jumping round as I was today,” Jon said. “We’ve spent the last six weeks trying to regroup and figure out what went wrong and going to work with Leslie (Law). This was our first big test to see if we had sorted it out. He’s my horse and my parent’s horse, so there’s really no pressure aside from the pressure I put on myself, which is tremendous.”

Jon, who is based about 30 minutes from the Ocala Jockey Club, echoed what we’re all thinking about the quality of the venue: “We have to say a huge thank you to Erik and Pavla Nygaard. I certainly haven’t been to every venue in the world, but I’ve been around awhile, and I have to say I can’t think of any place that is more beautiful than this place. Certainly there are some beautiful venues in the world, but this one would rival any of them.”

Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Rubens D'Ysieux. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Rubens D’Ysieux. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Sara Kozumplik Murphy has only had the ride on Rubens D’Ysieux for a handful of months, but they’ve quickly crafted a partnership that has them enjoying a spot in the top three at this inaugural CIC3*. Mikki Kuchta produced the 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding through the CCI3* level, and when she decided to take a step away from competing at the highest levels of the sport, Sara suddenly found herself with the opportunity to take the ride.

Since then, Sara’s longtime owner and supporter Edy Rameika has stepped in to help her buy “Ruben,” and they’re tackling their first CIC3* together as partners this weekend. “I’m not a catch ride type of person, but I really love this horse. … He’s a wicked cross country horse with a great brain, and Mikki has trained him beautifully on the flat,” she said.

“I have worked with Linda Zang for many years on the flat, and she has helped me a lot with my position and riding my horses more through. Since I came down to Florida I’ve also been working with Clayton over the past two weeks, and he has sharpened me up seriously and has made me a much better ring rider.”

Looking ahead to tomorrow, Mike Etherington-Smith’s cross country course is certainly a big ask. “We all have a lot to do tomorrow,” Jon said. “It’s a big track, but I think it’s one of the nicest CIC3* tracks I’ve seen. It’s probably the most galloping, big, proper track I’ve seen at this level.”

Sara, who is perhaps the founding member of the Mike E-S Fan Club, said she thinks the course is “magical.” But given that her partnership with Ruben is still a very new one, she plans to take a more conservative approach tomorrow.

“I’m a good cross country rider, but on my own horses, and I don’t know this horse that well. I’m going to go out and ride, but there are a couple places where I might be a little slower. I agree it’s a big, galloping course, and I’m certainly going to go out and give it a go, but I don’t think it’s fair to be too demanding of a horse I don’t know that well.”

As for whether our overnight leader Doug Payne plans to put the pedal down with Vandiver, he said: “I really don’t like losing.”

Looking to the rest of the CIC3* leaderboard after show jumping, Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF jumped double clear to move from 10th to fourth on 46.4. Dressage leaders Buck Davidson and Carlevo dropped two rails to slip to fifth on 46.7. Boyd Martin and Steady Eddie are still on their dressage score of 47.2 for sixth, and Lynn Symansky and Donner had one down to slip from fifth to seventh on on 48.4.

Buck and Doug both have two rides in the top 10. Petite Flower had one rail down to drop one spot on the leaderboard from seventh to eighth on 48.6. Lysander also had one rail but moved up two spots on the leaderboard to round out the top 10 on 52.0. Joe Meyer and Clip Clop jumped clear and inside the time to move from 14th to ninth on 49.6.

In addition to the pairs already mentioned, three more in the CIC3* division jumped double clear rounds: Leslie Law and Tre’ du Kernat (13th on 54.8), Colleen Rutledge and Escot 6 (14th on 55.2), and Ronald Zabala Goetschel on Wundermaske (18th on 61.7).

Click here to catch up on more of the day’s action in the morning report. Liz Halliday-Sharp sits first and second in the CCI* after the conclusion of dressage, leading with her own Deniro Z on 36.7 and followed by her own Elarona on 41.8. Allison Springer and her own Business Ben are third on 43.5. Click here for quotes from Liz.

The CCI2* did their dressage yesterday. Hannah Sue Burnett and Cooley Dream LLC’s Cooley Dream lead on 43.9, with Boyd Martin and Christine Turner’s Kyra in second on 44.9 and Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Edy Rameika’s L’Alezane in third on 47.0. You can read quotes from Hannah, Boyd and Sara in yesterday’s report.

You can watch cross country live all day tomorrow thanks to EQTV. The CCI* starts at 9:30 a.m. EST, followed by the CIC3* at 1:10 p.m. EST and the CCI2* at 2:45 p.m. EST. We’ll also be running live updates here on EN. Click here to catch up with all of EN’s #OJCInternational coverage thus far. Go Eventing.

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Friday Video from World Equestrian Brands: Buck Davidson & Bounce Pass in Ocala CCI2*

World Equestrian Brands rider Buck Davidson is keeping himself plenty busy this weekend as usual at the Ocala Jockey Club International 3-Day Event. He has one horse apiece in the CCI1* and 2* divisions, and two in the CIC3* including dressage leader Carlevo.

His CCI2* ride, Bounce Pass, is debuting at the level. Buck and the 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, owned by Buck and Janis Smith, scored a 55.2 in their Thanksgiving Day dressage test. We look forward to watching them tackle the jumping, and in the meantime check out this video of their test courtesy of The Horse Pesterer.

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Buck Davidson and Carlevo Lead Ocala Jockey Club CIC3* After Dressage

Buck Davidson and Carlevo. Photo by Jenni Autry. Buck Davidson and Carlevo. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Buck Davidson and Carlevo LLC’s Carlevo delivered a personal best dressage score of 38.7 as the penultimate pair to go at the inaugural Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event to the lead CIC3* after the first phase. That’s just the second score in the 30s in the entire competition, but it still doesn’t give Buck much breathing room as we look ahead to this afternoon’s show jumping.

Clayton Fredericks and FE Bowman, who he owns with Amanda Bernhard and Diana Crawford, sit just 1.5 penalties behind in second place on 40.2, with Allison Springer and Arthur and Doug Payne and Debi Crowley’s Vandiver tied for third place on 41.7. Less than a rail separates the top four, and less than two rails separate the entire top 10. With $48,000 in prize money on the line, the pressure is on as horses and riders tackle Richard Jeffery’s show jumping course at 3:30 p.m. EST.

Clayton Fredericks and FE Bowman. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Clayton Fredericks and FE Bowman. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Looking to the rest of the leaderboard, Lynn Symansky and the Donner Syndicate’s Donner and Katie Ruppel and her own Houdini are tied for fifth on 44.4. Buck Davidson has a second ride in the top 10 in Caroline and Sherrie Martin’s Petite Flower, who scored 44.6 for seventh place. That gives us seven tests in the division that garnered sub-45 scores.

Jon Holling and Constance Holling’s Downtown Harrison scored 45.1 for eighth place, with Sara Kozumplik-Murphy and Edy Rameika’s Rubens D’Ysieux scoring 45.7 in their CIC3* debut together to sit in ninth place. Matt Brown and Blossom Creek Foundations’ Super Socks BCF are rounding out the top 10 in the 22-horse division on 46.4. Keep scrolling to view a photo gallery.

Allison Springer and Arthur. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Allison Springer and Arthur. Photo by Jenni Autry.

It’s been a very warm day here in Florida so far, and CIC3* show jumping will start at 3:30 p.m. EST this afternoon during the hottest part of the day. Some clouds are starting to roll in now, and the chinchillas would welcome a bit of respite from the heat! You can watch show jumping live on EQTV at this link, and then check back later this afternoon for the full report.

CCI* dressage just concluded, and no one caught Liz Halliday-Sharp’s leading 36.7 score from yesterday with her own Deniro Z, so she leads the massive 71-horse division overnight as we look ahead to cross country. Liz came the closest today to overtaking her lead, and she now also sits in second with Elarona, who she also owns, on 41.8.

Allison Springer and her own Business Ben are third on 43.5, with Kimmy Steinbuch and Ruth Bley’s Envogue in fourth on 44.5 and Leslie Law and Fernhill Divergent, owned by Julie Richards and Carol Gee, rounding out the top five on 44.7.

Doug Payne and Vandiver. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Doug Payne and Vandiver. Photo by Jenni Autry.

We also have a very special guest competing in the CCI* in France’s Astier Nicolas, individual silver medalist and team gold medalist from this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Astier is catch riding Kingfisher Park’s FE Ophelia and is tied for 10th place after dressage on 47.2.

The CCI2* competitors have a day off today. If you missed the action yesterday while stuffing your face with turkey, Hannah Sue Burnett and Cooley Dream LLC’s Cooley Dream lead on 43.9, with Boyd Martin and Christine Turner’s Kyra in second on 44.9 and Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Edy Rameika’s L’Alezane in third on 47.0. You can read quotes from Hannah, Boyd and Sara in yesterday’s report.

Astier Nicolas and FE Ophelia. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Astier Nicolas and FE Ophelia. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Click here to catch up with all of EN’s #OJCInternational coverage so far, and stay tuned for much more from CIC3* show jumping later this afternoon. If you’re looking to do some online shopping while you wait for the live stream to start again at 3:30 p.m. EST, don’t miss these Black Friday sales. Go Eventing.

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