Our friends at RNS Video have put together a great compilation of each combination that came through the Springhouse Water, the third and final water complex on Derek di Grazia’s Dutta Corp Fair Hill International CCI3* course.
You have to watch all the way through to the 9:40 minute marker, where Clip Clop bounces off the skinny in the water to keep things exciting for Joe Meyer! (Reminds me of when Camilla Spiers and Portersize Just A Jiff smartly banked a skinny in the water at the World Equestrian Games last year.)
Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda in the 2015 Pau CCI4*. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
“Les Etoiles des Pau” literally translates to “The Stars of Pau,” and those stars aligned today for Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda. A seamless, expressive dressage test secured them a score of 42.6, good for ninth place heading into cross-country tomorrow.
Jennie knew that “Ping,” owned by Tim and Nina Gardner, had a brilliant four-star test in him — they’ve been knocking attempting to kick the door in on it for some quite some time. Today it finally swung wide open when the pair strung together enough 7s and 8s (and a 9 for one flying change!) to break into Pau’s top 10.
Jennie must have known how special it was while cantering up the final centerline, because as soon as she completed the requisite sign-off salutes, she dropped the reins and gave credit where credit was due.
Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
We caught up with an emotional Jennie afterward to recap her test and collect her thoughts on Pierre Michelet’s cross-country course:
Jennie and Ping got here thanks to a free overseas flight from the Dutta Corp they won at Fair Hill CCI3* last year coupled with a Land Rover Competition Grant. It’s rewarding to see incentives like these paying off in a super performance on the international stage that might not otherwise have been possible.
There are five North Americans representing at Pau this weekend. Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master and Lillian Heard and Share Option took their turns in the sandbox yesterday — if you missed it, you can check out our recap of their rides here along with video interviews.
Katie Ruppel and Houdini. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
The next American pair in the ring today after Jennie was Katie Ruppel and Houdini, who had a lovely, flowing test aside from an expensive lead swap in the counter-canter. She was kicking herself a bit about that afterward — so frustrating! — but it wasn’t enough to cloud her excitement about their first overseas event and this horse’s potential.
Last to go were Barb Crabo and Eveready, who are also staring down the barrel of their first event abroad. I wasn’t able to catch up with Barb after her test, as it looked like “Ready” drew the random drug test card, but I imagine she emerged from the ring in a similar frame of mind as Katie.
They too had one costly “oopsie” when Ready’s hindlegs didn’t quite get the memo that there was a flying change happenings. Regardless of marks on a page, Pau marks a pinnacle moment in this pair’s 16-year relationship. Ready is a homebred that Barb brought along from the beginning, and to be performing now on one of the event world’s most competitive stages — that’s the kind of thing you can’t assign a number from one to 10!
Barb Crabo and Eveready. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
In sum:
Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda: 9th (42.6)
Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master: 21st (48.6)
Katie Ruppel and Houdini: 23rd (49.3)
Lillian Heard and Share Option: 34th (53.5)
Barb Crabo and Eveready: 38th (54.2)
Pau CCI4* top 15 after dressage:
Cross-country begins tomorrow at 2 p.m. local time — that’s 8 a.m. EST, which means you don’t even have to get up too early to catch the live stream!
Team Canamerica/Americanada ride times:
Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master: 2:28 p.m. local time (8:28 a.m. EST)
Lillian Heard and Share Option: 2:32 p.m. local time (8:32 a.m. EST)
Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda: 4 p.m. local time (10 a.m. EST)
Katie Ruppel and Houdini: 4:20 p.m. local time (10:20 a.m. EST)
Barb Crabo and Eveready: 4:40 p.m. local time (10:40 a.m. EST)
Michael Jung and Halunke FBW at Pau in 2015. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Say “bonjour” to the newest four-star luxury sportscar in Michael Jung‘s equine garage. His name is Halunke FBW, and he cruised into the dressage ring at Pau today like he owned the place, besting big sis fischerRocana FST‘s then-leading score of 35.4 by 0.9 point.
If this horse can jump the big jumps half as well as he moves, hang on to your pants because we’re all in trouble. Halunke is an 11-year-old Württemberg gelding by the Czech-bred thoroughbred stallion Heraldik xx, who also happens to be the dam sire of La Biosthetique-Sam FBW.
Pau is Halunke’s debut at this level but he’s got a brick wall of a three-star record, with nary a cross-country jump penalty in 13 CIC and CCI3* events and a few little jewels in his crown, like team and individual gold at the 2013 European Championships. He has historically tended to pick up a time penalty or few, and a rail here and there in the show jumping, but Michael says he just keeps getting better and better — which is a bit scary if you think about it.
It’s difficult to resist thinking back to 2014, when Rocana — who had just one four-star under her belt at the time — got sent onto the field as a sub for Sam at the 2014 World Equestrian Games. A team gold and individual silver medal later, Rocana was suddenly giving her star sibling a run for his money at every turn, even one-upping him with a down-to-the-wire win at Rolex earlier this year.
With Halunke and Rocana sitting one-two heading into cross country tomorrow, everyone is looking forward to seeing how this “sibling” rivalry plays out!
Michael Jung’s Halunke FBW (GER). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Next down the leaderboard is a double four-star rookie pair, Emily King and Brookleigh (GBR), who eased into third place this morning on the wings of a 38.3 score. Emily, the 19-year-old daughter of British eventing legend Mary King, rode a poised, elegant test on the German-bred gelding owned by Jane Del Missier.
The pair has had several impressive finishes since she took over the ride from Clayton Fredericks in 2012, and Emily says she can’t wait to have a crack at tomorrow’s cross country test. As for her mum, who looked quite proud at the press conference, Emily says that Mary doesn’t get nervous watching her daughter ride: “Oh, you’ll be fine!” Emily imitates, laughing.
In addition to her top three placing in the CCI4*, Emily is also leading the CIC2* division on Dargun. We had a great chat with her yesterday about her horses and her thoughts about the course, so we’ll dedicate a separate post to that this afternoon. Stay tuned!
Emily King and Brookleigh (GBR). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
There was a big cheer at the final salute for Frenchman Astier Nicolas and Piaf de B’Neville, who moved into fourth place on a 38.5 …
Astier Nicolas and Piaf de B’Neville (FRA). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
… and 2014 Luhmühlen winners Tim Price and Wesko of New Zealand, who also finished second at Rolex this year, scored a 40.0 to round out the top five.
Tim Price and Wesko (NZL). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Swooning over Tim Lips’ Concrex Bayrom, who scored a 40.9 for seventh, was my guilty pleasure of the day. Jonelle Price’sFairie Dianimoyesterday, Concrex Bayrom today … both of these striking greys seem to float around the dressage ring in a phantom mist, their feet never quite touching the ground. Or perhaps, just their tippy-toes.
It’s Friday, I’m in love … with this horse. Tim Lips and Concrex Bayro (NED). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Yes, yes … but how about those North Americans? I thought they deserved their own post. A synopsis of how we’re sitting heading into cross-country day tomorrow:
Will’Ya Love Me with Emma Keahon winning everybody’s hearts at Waredaca. Photo by Kate Samuels.
Jogs in heels are always an adventure. Jogs in heels on a varied terrain grassy strip with a giant red dinosaur that sometimes thinks flowers are spooky? What. Was. I. Thinking. I thought I was channeling my inner Lainey Ashker (holla!), but instead I almost went down as I passed the ground jury the second time. I made it all the way down the strip and all the way back until Leo spooked at a final potted plant and threw his shoulder into me, and I thought I was going to eliminate myself by diving nose first into the grass. Lesson learned, y’all.
Buck Davidson and Legion Kat and Sydney Hagaman and Diablo lead at Hagyard MidSouth after dressage. Buck is totally dominating, holding the top three spots in the USEF National One-Star Eventing Championship for the Richard Collins Trophy. Sydney and Diablo scored 38.3 to sit in first for the USEF National Junior and Young Rider Championship for the Harry T. Peters Trophy. Cross country starts today at noon EST. [Davidson and Hagaman in Lead at Hagyard MidSouth]
Kelly Prather finished 9th with D.A. Duras at Le Lion, and thinks she has a superstar for the future. After traveling to Europe and competing against the best and learning that her fitness and training programs measure up, Kelly thinks that the promising young horse will be the real thing. At only seven years old, she’s hoping to move him up to Advanced next year, after a long break to get fat and hairy back at home. [Ringside Chat with Kelly Prather]
Our hearts go out to Lucinda Fredericks and her family as they mourn the loss of her mother, Jackie Murray. She was well known in the eventing community for her unwavering support of her daughter, British-born Australian Olympian, Lucinda Fredericks. In addition for her passion for eventing, Jackie also owned one of Lucinda’s eventers, Azupa Gazelle, who went on to become a grand prix dressage horse. [Mrs. Murray Passes Away]
Monica Thors, well known for being accused of animal abuse in New Jersey, has pled not guilty to all charges. In late November of 2014 when news and social medias picked up on what was happening in her New Jersey barn, where she believed she was “curing” foundered horses by removing large parts of their hooves. Four horses either died in her care or were euthanized after seizure with their injuries teemed too severe. [Monica Thors Pleads Not Guilty]
The secret to every pro groom and a luxurious tail? Cowboy Magic Detangler and Shine! If you throw some of this magic goo on your horse’s tail after you bathe him and it’s all wet, and when it dries it will be silky soft and tangle free! As somebody who just spent an unreasonable amount of time grooming my horse for jogs yesterday, so I’m an expert. [SmartPak Product of the Day]
And congratulations to Taylor Mohr, the winner of this week’s Fab Freebie. Taylor has won a Kerrits Twist of Bit Riding Shirt! A special thanks also goes out to Kerrits for providing this week’s prize.
When it comes to cross-country, course design is paramount, of course — but I also appreciate some first-class artistic direction.
As opposed to the-week-before-last’s Boekelo CCIO3* course, which I think I described as “straight-up cross-country — no frills, no cutesy distractions, nothing except you and your horse and 28 questions you’re going to need to answer in timed-quiz fashion,” Pau has some vision, a thought-out theme. It took me a hot moment to put it together, though.
Like, what is that stuff, seriously? Did somebody pull a unicorn’s mane and think, “Hey, wouldn’t this leftover mane be great jump filler”? This question plagued me from the first jump, where it debuted as a sort of weird surface decor…
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…to #25, featuring a unicorn-mane groundline.
#25
Eventually, of course, it occurred to me that the unicorn-mane was actually meant to represent snow, as the course has something of an international theme. Like maybe “milk-jug-in-the-snow” fence represents, I don’t know, Switzerland? Where there’s Swiss cheese, there’s probably Swiss milk, I’m guessing.
This one, though, I’ve got: random red phone booth with a crown on it next to fence #4 on the CIC2* course… Great Britain! Ding, ding, ding.
Photo by Leslie Wylie.
And then there’s this thing with the funny symbols on it that I thought were Chinese until John Kyle explained to me that they actually have something to do with William the Conqueror, or the Normandy Coat of Arms, or “Game of Thrones,” or something.
I’m just a clueless product of America’s failed public education system, John. Take your fancy European history facts somewhere else and leave me alone.
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Moreover, the real question looming on everyone’s minds is “How will it ride?” French designer Pierre Michelet and his courses have been an object of curiosity for some time, since he landed the two most coveted course design gigs on the planet: the 2014 World Equestrian Games and the 2016 Olympics.
As one of a handful of people on earth who have seen what he is up to in Brazil, having covered the Olympic Test Event in Rio, I understand why he’s the perfect fit for Pau. Pierre is brilliant at making the most of a compact space, be it the venue of the 2016 Olympic Games or a fairly confined plot of turf in France. When it comes to land, he can make an aspiring New York City actor’s studio loft feel like a Brownstone, and right now everyone is itching to get a feel for how their horse will handle Pierre’s feng shui.
Beyond that it’s a bit of a twisty, turn-y bender with a solid mix of galloping fences and technical questions throughout. The water combinations (which weren’t yet filled when I took photos of the course, see below) will likely prove troublesome, and there are lots of angles and skinnies set off a forward step.
The land is flat as a crepe, so there are plenty of man-made mounds on course to ensure that horses can stomach terrain, beginning with fence #6. Paul Tapner explains his strategy for that obstacle for FEI TV:
FEI TV also has videos of Mary King walking the first of the water complexes at fence 8, Emily King walking the final water test at fence 24, and Jonelle Price walking the ski jump brush to corner combination that comes late on the course at fence 27.
The couple riders I talked to today after their dressage tests — Canada’s Rebecca Howard and the U.S.’s Lillian Heard (we recapped their dressage rides here) — both had sound reasons for not taking Pierre’s Pau course lightly.
“It feels a little bit just inconsistent, really,” Rebecca said. “There are small or simple exercises and then you have something quite substantial like the waters, which are quite difficult. And then it’s inconsistent in the way you’ll be galloping around and then they throw in a short turn or something like that, so there are a few things that shake up your rhythm for sure. It will be interesting to see how that feels — I can see getting caught out on things that seem to be relatively straightforward.”
Check it out (note: where there were options I photographed the direct route only):
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#6A
#6BC
#7
#8A
#8B
#8C
#8D
#9
#10AB
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#12AB
#13AB
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#20
#16AB
#17
#18
#19A
#19BCD
#20
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#24A
#24BC
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#27B
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Can’t wait to see how it rides, and until then we have one day of dressage still left to go!
Friday dressage ride times for U.S. competitors:
Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda: 9:35 local time (3:35 a.m. EST)
Katie Rupel and Houdini: 10:20 local time (4:20 a.m. EST)
Barbara Crabo and Eveready: 10:55 a.m. (4:55 a.m. EST)
I’m here at the Waredaca Classic Three Day Event, which began this morning with the jogs for the Novice and Training Three Day. With twenty horse and rider pairs in the T3D and twenty-four in the N3D, it’s a full house here for the twelfth annual Waredaca Event, a favorite for young riders, amateurs, and young horses alike.
As for many riders this was the first formal jog inspection, there was a demonstration and instructions prior to meeting the ground jury. One of the many amazing things about the Waredaca Three Day is that the weekend is filled with educational opportunities to ensure that each and every competitor has the best chance possible to succeed over all three days. Before I go further into the activities here in Maryland, we need to attend to the Unofficial Jog Awards!
Lauded as the most important part of the event, and the only part where we horse people look like normal people, jogs are a great time to show off your style and your grooming skills. Without any further ado….
Most Adorable Pre-Jog Moment: Pygmalian Prince & Sherry Stephenson
Pygmalion Prince & Sherry Stephenson
Best Scarf & Power Jog: Janet Kenton Walker
Carmella & Janet Kenton Walker
Best Angry Face: Alyssa Peterson (love you Alyssa!)
Alyssa Peterson & Cartman LF.
Best Jacket & Boots Combo: Marieke Kirkman
Flight Marshall & Marieke Kirkman.
Best Color Coordination Between Horse and Rider: Dark N Handsome & Paige Cianciulli
Dark N Handsome & Paige Cianciulli.
Best Sharon White Impersonator: Avonlea Mitchell
Avonlea Mitchell & Millye’s Mojave
Most Ridiculously Adorable Previous Advanced Pony: Will’Ya Love Me
Will’Ya Love Me & Emma Keahon
Best Dover Rep In A Dress: Lara Morris
Lara Morris & Shooting Doubles
Best Human Hair: Sabine Desper
Sabine Desper & Adamek
Best Pony Hair: Mango Tango
Mango Tango’s Tail
Pony Most Determined To Trot Off After the Jogs: Cooperstown Caliber
Cooperstown Caliber & Carly Easton
Best Impersonation of a Non-Horsey Person: Jill Macaulay
Sinead Halpin and Forrest Nymph successfully completed the CCI2* at Fair Hill this past weekend, blazing around a very tough cross country track with no jumping or time penalties.
This partnership has been a neat one to watch as “Farrah”, a 14.2 New Forest Pony with a very diminutive stature but a fiery presence, makes easy work of jumps that look formidable for even the biggest horse.
Take a look at this pair’s cross country trip and we’ll be eagerly waiting for their next start together. Go eventing ponies!
Michael Jung and fischerRocana FST (GER). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
The North American contingent got down to business early here at Pau, with a Rebecca Howard-Lillian Heard double header in the first block of 49 four-star starters.
Rebecca and Blithe Hill Farm’s Riddle Master had a hard act to follow, with Michael Jung and fischerRocana FST laying down a 35.4 for a landslide lead just two rides before them. The mare’s score is on par with her other two four-star scores of the year, a 34.1 at Luhmühlen and a 34.2 at Burghley; unfortunately, both were undermined on cross-country day by weirdly identical scuba diving expeditions. The pair will be looking for redemption this weekend and they’re off to another good start — no more seahorse imitations, fischerRocana!
Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master (CAN). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Rebecca and Rupert’s summer outings have included a super top 10 finish at Luhmühlen followed by an 18th at the Aachen CICO3* in August. Their score of 48.6 today is higher than their 42.5 at Luhmühlen but Rebecca said afterward that it felt “smoother… our test at Luhmühlen was a bit more dramatic in areas, so it’s still progressing. I had a more solid plan and more confidence that I could execute that plan than I did at Luhmühlen.”
Rupert looks more relaxed and seasoned with every venture into the sandbox, and Rebecca’s penchant for perfectionism means she’s never satisfied to leave a single point on the table. We caught up with her after their test, which secured them 7th place at the end of day one dressage, to recap their ride and hear her thoughts on Pierre Michelet’s cross-country track.
Lillian and Share Option were next up. Lillian must be running on adrenaline at this point, having just piloted three horses around the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International CCI3* last weekend before jumping on a plane to France. Lillian and “Whitey” have two Rolex four-stars under their belt and are looking to add their first overseas outing to the collection this week at Pau.
Their test today collected a score of 53.5 for 16th place, with their marks steadily improving as the test went along.
Lillian Heard and Share Option (USA). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
“He got a little bit tense in there at the beginning and our trot work suffered some for that,” Lillian said after her test. “When he gets tense he gets a little bit stuck but then he did really well in his canter work so I was happy to get some of my score back there.”
Lillian’s post-test reflections and initial impressions of the cross-country course:
Michael and Rocana currently possess a plush armchair of a 7.5 point lead over William Levett and Shannondale Titan (AUS). The leaderboard tightens up below that, with Sarah Bullimore and Reve du Rouet (GBR) in 3rd on a 43.0…
Sarah Bullimore and Reve du Rouet (GBR). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
…Claas Hermann Romeike and Cato 60 (GBR) in 4th on a 44.1
Claas Claas Hermann Romeike and Cato 60 (GER). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
… Sarah Bullimore and Valentino V (GBR) in 5th on a 45.8
Sarah Bullimore and Valentino V (GBR) . Photo by Leslie Wylie.
…and Jonelle Price and Fairie Dianimo (NZL) in 6th on a 47.7. I could watch this mare for hours — she positively floats in the dressage ring and is a gazelle over jumps. I saw them go at Luhmühlen, where they finished 2nd to Ingrid Klimke and FRH Escada JS, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them inch their way up the leaderboard this weekend.
So much spring, she jumped right out of my photo! Watch your head, Jonelle!
Jonelle Price and Fairie Dianimo (NZL). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Top 15 at conclusion of day 1 dressage:
Still to come on Friday:
Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda: 9:35 local time (3:35 a.m. EST)
Katie Rupel and Houdini: 10:20 local time (4:20 a.m. EST)
Barbara Crabo and Eveready: 10:55 a.m. (4:55 a.m. EST)
It may be coffee:30 where you are but here in Pau, France, it’s 1 p.m., the 4* dressage is just underway and the wine drinking has begun.
All five North American pairs passed the jog this morning and our first two riders are up in the first dressage block of the afternoon, with Canadian torchbearer Rebecca Howard and the U.S.’s Lillian Heard going in the ring back to back. Dressage times for both days:
Thursday
Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master: 1:49 p.m. local time (7:49 a.m. EST)
Lillian Heard and Share Option: 1:56 p.m. local time (7:56 a.m. EST)
Friday
Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda: 9:35 local time (3:35 a.m. EST)
Katie Rupel and Houdini: 10:20 local time (4:20 a.m. EST)
Barbara Crabo and Eveready: 10:55 a.m. (4:55 a.m. EST)
Great Britain’s Sarah Bullimore and Valentino V are the first ones in the ring today. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Lots of exciting pairs on today’s schedule, including but not limited to Michael Jung and fischerRocana FST who go just moments before the Rebecca-Lillian double-header. If you want to catch the live stream without having to get up in the middle of the night to do so, today’s the day to do so as Friday 4* dressage takes place in the a.m.
We’ll be back with much, much more in a bit. In the meantime, here are some virtual French crepes, best served smothered with Nutella, to go with your coffee.
