Clark Montgomery savoring the moment after his win at Blenheim. Photo via Facebook.
It was a couple of years ago that the brand new U.S. Team Coach David O’Connor was specifically outlining the steps it would take to get the USA back on the international podium, and we have slowly but surely seen the efforts of DOC, the horses, riders, owners and everyone else in between, make monumental strides towards that goal. The fact that Clark Montgomery won the massive CCI3* division at Blenheim in England and another three American riders finished in the top twelve all while a class field of competitors impressed at Plantation Field this weekend seems to drive that reality home. Success certainly isn’t something that happens overnight, especially not in the horse world. Here’s to hard work paying off!
Lynn Symansky will be coming to Area 1 November 7 and 8 for a 2-day clinic at Thunder Crest Performance Horses in Tivoli, NY. The cost for the weekend is $400, or to ride a single day is $250. Stabling is available for $30/night. Each rider gets one auditor free, and auditing will be $20/person. Snacks and light refreshments will be provided. Anyone interested can email [email protected] for entry info! [Clinic with Lynn]
After she was diagnosed with cancer in May of this year, 17-year-old Hannah Francis and her trusty sidekick Willberry the Wonder Pony started documenting her journey back to good health through social media. Many people have come together to support Hannah and inspired others to fundraise for cancer research and other important causes. [Event for teenage cancer patient raised nearly £15,000]
Sally Ike was honored with the 2016 Spirit of the Horse Award by the Rutgers University Equine Science Center. Sally is a lifelong horsewoman whose contributions to the sport through her work with the USET and USEF have not gone unnoticed. But she humbly states that the award does not recognize how she has changed the horse world, but how horses have changed her. [Sally Ike honored]
Six horses in North Carolina have died after ingesting alfalfa contaminated with blister beetles. Officials have narrowed the source of poisoning down to 500 bales from Kansas that were sold through Murphy Farm Hay and Feed in Louisburg and Jones Farm Hay and Feed in Middlesex on or after August 11. [Blister beetles contamination]
Jennifer McFall is coming home from Blenheim with a new horse. Be Real is a 4-year-old Irish Event Horse prospect by Ramiro B out of a Puissance mare. He was the top priced horse at the Brightwells Blenheim Elite Event Horse Auction, selling for £23,000. [Irish horse tops eventing sale]
Plantation Field is known for its stiff reputation as a difficult CIC3*, and Mike Etherington-Smith’s course certainly didn’t prove easy for the 58 horses and riders that ultimately left the start box today. After a dramatic afternoon of thrills and spills — and plenty of holds on course as a result — Tamie Smith and Mai Baum triumphed as the final combination on course, jumping clear with 1.2 time penalties to win on 39.4.
How does a rider mentally handle seeing the course shake things up like that? “It was definitely hard because there were so many people falling off and having running outs,” Tamie said. “I watched the beginning, which was tough because the course wasn’t really riding like I expected. I’m using to having five people in the division at Advanced being from the West Coast, so we don’t even know how the course is riding — we just go out and run.
“I went almost an hour later than I was supposed to go because of the holds, but I know the horse, and I have a great partnership with him,” Tamie continued. “He’s got a fabulous jump, and cross country is actually his strong suit, so I kept telling myself: ‘You ride great. He’s great. You’re going to be fine.’ And it went great. He was foot perfect.”
Tamie and “Lexus,” 9-year-old German Sport Horse gelding owned by the Ahearn family, clinched their fourth international win of the season today, and they haven’t finished lower than fourth in any of their FEI starts this season. After besting the top three-star horses in the country this weekend, it’s safe to say Tamie and Lexus are on a hot streak.
They next head to Maryland for the horse’s first CCI3*, and Tamie said yesterday that this was the most terrain she’s ever seen at an event, so she was wondering how Lexus would handle the hills with Fair Hill’s own rolling course in mind. But it’s all good news after the fact: “He felt very fit; that’s actually the fittest I’ve ever felt him. I’m thrilled.”
Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Marilyn Little is also thrilled with RF Scandalous, a 10-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Raylyn Farms and Phoebe and Michael Manders, after cross country. “Kitty” completed her first CIC3* in fine form this weekend, jumping clear with 4 time penalties to finish in second place on 45.1. It was also a long day for Marilyn as she also watched the course cause trouble, but she said it didn’t affect her mental game going into the start box.
“I woke up this morning, and I had a great feeling about the day. I felt very positively about the course walking it. There were a lot of questions that caused some problems, and although it was her first CIC3* cross country, I thought it was something she could handle, and she handled it exactly the way I hoped she would,” Marilyn said.
“She gave me a beautiful ride around out there and answered all the questions before I even realized I was asking them. She took me to the jumps the way you hope an older horse would. She gave me a confident run, and I’m thrilled with her. It was enough out there that I feel great about aiming for Boekelo, and I feel like she came off the course confidently. I feel great about going to Europe with her, and she’s ready to go for it.”
While all the trouble on course had many riders nervous, Phillip Dutton said it didn’t bother him — like any good Aussie would. “I was relishing it,” Phillip said. “I like it when there’s a a bit of trouble out there. That’s what it’s meant to be about. I think you get a bit complacement if you go out there and nothing is happening.”
Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Phillip didn’t take anything for granted, attacking the course to ultimately be the only rider to make the time aboard Tom Tierney and Simon Roosevelt’s Fernhill Cubalawn. That cracking round moved the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding up from 11th place after show jumping to ultimately finish in third place on a final score of 48.3.
“I went quite fast on him at Aachen, so I wasn’t quite sure if he might be a little bit frazzled after that, but it’s actually made him event better,” Phillip said. “He’s naturally a very quiet horse, and now he is coming out and taking me to the jumps. Aachen turned out to be a good trip for him because I think he’s gone to another level on his cross country.”
“Cuba” is also aiming for the CCI3* at Fair Hill, and Phillip is planning to do the combined test at Morven Park as their final preparation for the event. Phillip said Plantation Field’s strategic date on the calendar serves as an ideal run for horses heading to Fair Hill — or Galway Downs, which is where he’ll go with Mr. Candyman on a USEF Land Rover Competition Grant.
“I think the horses feel it; you’ve got to go quick. Mike (Etherington-Smith) did a good job of not running us up and down the hills too much,” Phillip said. “All credit goes to to Jamie Hicks; he’s doing a great job on the footing. In five years, this will be like a cushion. He’s fertilizing and putting mushroom compost down and aerating, and all that takes a few years to see the benefits.”
It’s been a busy weekend for Phillip, as he also sits on the organizing committee for the event, which is part of the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series. So what are his thoughts on how the weekend went? “There’s always things you can do to improve, but I do think the course is riding well. We’ve got two really exciting designers in Mike E-S and Nina Fout, who I think could be a big-time designer for America. I think it could be as good an event as any in the country.”
Marilyn agreed that the event is a special one: “It raises the sights of the up and coming riders, and it gives professionals a great gauge of their special future horses coming up. It’s a real preparatory event, not just for our U.S. CCIs, but for CCIs on the international scene. We’re grateful as a group of riders to have an event like this.”
Holly Jacks-Smither and More Inspiration. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Looking to the rest of the CIC3* leaderboard, Holly Jacks-Smither and More Inspiration finished as ths highest placed Canadian combination in fourth place on 49.5 after delivering the second fastest round in the division to come home with 0.8 time penalties. That’s the best CIC3* finishing score of their FEI career by 28 penalty points!
Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda round out the top five in the CIC3* on a score of 50.0 after jumping clear with 3.2 time penalties. They’ll head to France for Pau next along with Lillian Heard and Share Option, who finished sixed in the Advanced division today. His stablemate LCC Barnaby ultimately took the win with a clear round and 3.2 time penalties.
We have to give a huge shout out to the officials for working hard to keep things running smoothly all day. As Marilyn pointed out: “There was a lot of chaos out there today, and it was handled really well. You can plan all you want, but how things are handled in the heat of the moment is all very tell-tale, and the report card is incredible today.”
While there were a number of falls, we’re relieved to report tonight that there were no serious injuries in the CIC3*. Allie Knowles and The Dark Mark fell at the Arch Spread at fence 19, but both were OK, and she returned later in the afternoon to ride Sound Prospect. Cody Sturgess was transported to Christiana Hospital as a precaution after falling from Imperial Melody at the Brush Corners at fence 12b, and we will update you on his condition as we have more information.
Thank you so much for following along with all of EN’s coverage this weekend. Our newest reporter Dave Taylor did a super job of covering the CIC* divisions — click here to see his final report — and Samantha Clark has been across the pond in England covering Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen’s incredible win at Blenheim CCI3*.
It’s been a super weekend across the board, and we have to thank all of the organizers, officials, volunteers, riders, owners, grooms, spectators and everyone who supported the Best. Event. Ever. It’s been a weekend we won’t soon forget. Go Plantation Field. Go Eventing.
Doug Payne led wire-to-wire in the CIC2* at Plantation Field International Horse Trials this weekend, ultimately winning with his own and Kristin Michaloski’s Lysander on a final score of 34.1, one of just two sub-40 finishing scores in this division. Doug said yesterday that he planned to take a crack at making the time today, and he and “Big Leo” jumped clear with 2.4 time penalties to seal the deal.
He had the advantage of going out first on Debi Crowley’s Vandiver, who jumped clear with 1.2 time penalties to finish ninth, which allowed him to tweak his plan to best suit Big Leo’s giant 18.1-hand frame.
“Having a little insight around the course already once, I knew the time was going to be very tight. I’ve been working hard with Leo to open him up and still be able to get him back,” Doug said. “I really couldn’t be happier. He’s coming along and continuing to improve and get more confident.”
Doug knowns the horse well, having produced the 8-year-old Thoroughbred/Holsteiner gelding from a 3-year-old. We’ve followed Big Leo’s career here on EN for more than three years now, so it’s awesome to see him win such a big two-star class.
Doug said it was also pretty special to have the horse’s breeder, Elizabeth Callahan, meet them at the vet box after the clear cross country round to congratulate them. Three cheers for being born in the USA! Big Leo will next head to Morven Park for the CIC2* before going on to the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International CCI2*.
Alex O’Neal and Rendezvous With Charly. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Alex O’Neal is also targeting the CCI2* at Fair Hill with Rendezvous With Charly, and he had exactly the round he told us he was hoping for yesterday, jumping clear with 3.6 time penalties to finish in second place on 39.7. He took over the ride on the 9-year-old German Sport Horse gelding from his fiancé, Ellie MacPhail, earlier this year, and Alex’s partnership with “Rudy” only continues to improve.
Caroline Martin sat seventh after dressage with Effervescent, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse Gelding she owns with Sherrie Martin, and she kept climbing up the leaderboard all weekend. Being one of only five riders to make the time in the division ultimately moved them from fifth to finish in third place on 40.9.
Caroline Martin and Effervescent. Photo by Jenni Autry.
The following four horse and rider combinations also made the time of 5 minutes, 52 seconds: Kylie Dermody and Sacramento (6th), Waylon Roberts and Faolan (8th), Kristen Bond and I’m Sew Ready (10th), and Ema Klugman and Bendigo (22nd).
The vast majority of the field jumped around Mike Etherington-Smith’s course in good form, though there were a few notable incidents. Hannah Sue Burnett and Jitter Bug had a rotational fall at the ditch and brush at fence 15, and Hannah was transported to Christiana Hospital for treatment. We are waiting official confirmation of her condition and will update you when we know more.
Miranda Webb and Expresso also recorded mandatory retirement when the horse refused and slid into the ditch at the trakehner at fence 6. Miranda was totally fine — and actually grabbed onto the log as Expresso slid into the ditch to pull herself to safety. Colleen Rutledge parted ways from Routlette at fence 7, a drop rail, when the horse left a leg; she is totally OK after the fall.
Stay tuned for the full report in the CIC3*, and click here to catch up with all of EN’s coverage from the Best. Event. Ever.
Icabad Crane, the horse who began Phillip's relationship with Graham Motion. Photo by Jenni Autry.
With the CIC2* cross country going on at the same time at Plantation Field International, the riders in the one-star took to the stadium arena. The course, designed by Marc Donovan, tested the riders with good turning questions and an option at fence 6, making sure they budgeted their time appropriately for the 13 jumping efforts ahead of them.
Elizabeth Bortuzzo walks away with a CIC win under her belt. After leading division A the entire weekend, she left herself a one rail buffer. That buffer came in very handy on the last fence when Omina bumped a rail with her front legs, finishing on a score of 43.7. “I was trying to keep a nice and active canter and get the distances,” Elizabeth said. “I planned on taking the option at six. I got to the last fence and let her go a little too much.”
Elizabeth Bortuzzo and Omina CIC* Plantation Field International. Photo by Dave Taylor.
As she looks forward to the rest of her season, Elizabeth and Omina have Morven Park and the CIC2* at Virginia Horse Trials. “She will get a break after Virginia, and hopefully we can pick up the momentum in the spring and keep moving,” Elizabeth said.
Ryan Wood had an amazing round and went double clear on Ruby with her breeder, Ilona English watching from the sidelines. Having had a stellar dressage test and a clean cross country round, Ryan finishes on his dressage score of 44.7.
“I took the course on a little bit and rode forward with good rhythm. After having the planks at fence 6 down twice yesterday, I decided to take the option today,” Ryan said. “We are going to take her to the one-star at Virginia to finish off the season, but are enjoying having a great finish here at Plantation.”
Ryan Wood and Ruby CIC* Plantation Field International. Photo by Dave Taylor.
Kelly Prather on D.A. Calimero, Buck Davidson on Riviera, Phillip Dutton on D.O.D. Rockefeller, and Kristen Bond on Enough Already finish out the top six of the CIC*-A division.
Phillip Dutton and the Thoroughbred superstar Icabad Crane jumped clear and inside the time to hold their overnight lead and win the B division. Graham and Anita Motion, owners of the bay gelding, were able to witness firsthand Icabad’s first FEI win. Going into cross country, Phillip said, “He has had a pretty quick ride in the sport. Every time he comes out, it’s pretty new for him. He’s got a good heart, and I want to make sure Icabad gets experience at all the jumps so he get a good base in his education.”
Today in stadium, Phillip piloted Icabad around the course going double clear. He kept his turns very handy throughout the course and went double clear finishing on his dressage score of 41.1. “He’s not the most orthodox jumper, but he’s very clean. I went in just wanting a clean round for him, so I made sure I had plenty of power at each jump,” Phillip said.
Phillip Dutton and Icabad Crane. Photo by Dave Taylor.
“Icabad’s big CCI debut will be at Kentucky MidSouth, and he will be doing a demonstration at the Thoroughbred Makeover as well. He has me really excited for his future,” Phillip said.
Finishing just behind Phillip is Ellie MacPhail on RF Panamera, having moved back into second place after stadium. The pair went double clear though Marc Donovan’s course, taking a gamble at fence six and jumping the planks as most took the option. “Pax is really careful in the stadium, so I was really confident taking the direct route over the planks,” Ellie said.
Ellie and Pax had one of 11 double clear rounds, making this division all about rails left in the cups. Ellie said, “I haven’t ridden her in a ring like this before, but she was great and stepped right up to the challenge today.” Ellie plans to take Pax to MidSouth as well after a stop off at Morven to finish off the season.
Elinor MacPhail and RF Panamera CIC* Plantation Field International. Photo by Dave Taylor.
Jan Byyny kept the pressure on the leaders all weekend long, moving up in the standing after each phase. “As we looked at cross country, I knew time would be an issue. After a fall in my first round, I was a bit nervous heading out with Urrem, as she can be a bit too careful,” Jan explained. “She was great through the entire course, and I had a lot of fun running this track on her.”
Going double clear on cross country, Jan focused on the stadium course. “Urrem is a really good jumper, and that was her job before I got her. She can also be a really hot ride, but she put in a great effort on a great and smart course designed by Marc,” Jan said. She concludes the CIC*-B on her dressage score of 43.3.
Jan also talked about why this is the Best. Event. Ever. “Plantation has done a great job with this event. They have a great community running this show, and knowing from my own show (Surefire Horse Trials), it is not an easy task. Hats off to the for putting on such a great show for the eventing community.”
Jan Byyny and Urrem Plantation Field International CIC*. Photo by Dave Taylor.
Lucia Strini on JMF Master Cooley, Meghan O’Donoghue on Palm Crescent, and Caitlin Silliman on Vagabon de Champdoux finish out the top six placing of the CIC*-B division.
Stay tuned for the conclusion of the CIC3* and the full report from the CIC2* at Plantation Fields International.
Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen. Photo by Samantha Clark.
Clark Montgomery led the USA to a banner weekend at the Blenheim Palace CCI3* International Horse Trials. Finishing on his dressage score at the top of a huge and stellar leaderboard on his mother in law Katherine Kraft’s, and Holly and William Becker’s Loughan Glen he was almost ten points clear of his nearest rival, Chris Burton in second on Nobilis 18.
Kitty King was the best of the Brits in 3rd place on the hugely exciting young horse Ceylor LAN, and Gemma Tattersall 4th on the grey Quicklook V.
Glen will now get a well-deserved holiday, although as Clark mentioned he won’t go completely out to grass and get fat. Clark said he’ll talk to Team Coach David O’Connor and see what the U.S. Selectors would like him to do with Glen next as to what they plan with Glen over the winter and next spring; one would think, and he hopes that this win would be enough to impress them but as he ruefully acknowledged, “You never know what they’re thinking!”
Tim Price dropped an expensive rail in the show-jumping to fall from 3rd place after to cross country to eventual 5th, and Lauren Kieffer rose to 6th place with her clear round on Veronica, and she also takes home the prize for the Best Placed First-Timer at Blenheim.
Veronica still looked feisty this afternoon, she never makes it look easy but I imagine that’s why she’s so good; I overheard Lauren explaining to one of the English journalists who asked if she was a good traveler that she’s a mare who knows how to look after herself!
Emily Beshear was right behind Lauren in 7th place and also jumped clear; Shame on the Moon knocked the second jump pretty hard and rattled a few others but they all stayed in the cups — that’s right, counting Will Coleman’s clear on Obos O’Reilly too that’s four clear rounds show-jumping today, four US riders in the top 12 at Blenheim out of 101 starters and three in the top eight!
Both Clark and Will finished on their dressage scores, and Lauren added just 0.4 time fault XC for that one second over time.
Will Coleman was the first of the U.S. riders to jump this afternoon and Obos O’Reilly looked like he had springs in his shoes, giving the fences feet to spare, and almost hanging over them a little too long. It’s interesting to watch all the different styles and techniques of horses, and riders on the Sunday when the horses are a little tired and the riders are under pressure and Will is a rider who deals with it incredibly well.
Will Coleman and Obos O’Reilly. Photo by Samantha Clark.
Needless to say it’s been a fantastic weekend for the USA — we have certainly made the rest of the world sit up and take notice. Congratulations to the USEF, to David O’Connor, especially to Joanie Morris who, it’s been pointed out to me so many times, should have, depending on who you speak to, a halo, a tiara, a medal, all of the above… someone at least buy her a drink! Huge Well Done to the riders, you made it happen! And to your horses, and to everyone who loves and looks after them, well done and thank you too. Wishing all the U.S. based horses and riders, and of course families and supporters a safe journey home, I think it was a fun trip for everyone — Blenheim certainly knows how to put on a good show — thank you to all the volunteers and organisers who made it so.
Thank you for making Eventing Nation part of your Blenheim experience, we’ll put more pictures up on our Facebook page and Twitter later tonight but for now another huge congratulations to the U.S. team at Blenheim, and as Clark said, let’s ride this wave for as long as we can! Go the U.S. Eventing!
All systems are go for a beautiful day of cross country at Plantation Field International Horse Trials. The first CIC3* combination, Jessica Phoenix and Patras VR, set out on course at 12:20 p.m. EST.
There are plenty of ways to keep up with the action. John Kyle is manning the PRO Tour Radio livestream, we’ve got Jenni Autry on the ground so be sure to follow her on social, and of course we’ll be bringing you live updates right here throughout. Click here to catch up on all of EN’s coverage from the Best. Event. Ever., and stay tuned for much more from Plantation Field.
3:52 p.m.: And here are your top 15 CIC3* finishers…
3:48 p.m.: And she does it! Picking up just a pinch of time, it will be Tamie and Maui Baum for the win!
3:45 p.m.: Marilyn home clear with 4 time penalties — they can finish no lower than 2nd. Now, it’s all on Tamie … come on, West Coast!
3:44 p.m.: It’s all on Marilyn and Tamie now…
3:43 p.m.: A wayyyyyy-long spot at a table for Tamie and Maui Baum. “They saw that stride from their base in California!” exclaims ever-entertaining livestream announcer John Kyle.
3:42 p.m.: Leader Tamie Smith and Maui Bum now setting out on course.
3:40 p.m.: No! A stop for third-placed Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM at 19b in the Foundation. The pair now walking off course, Buck having elected to save his longtime partner for another day.
3:39 p.m.: Second placed Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous now leaving the box, clear fence #4.
3:34 p.m.: The top 10 getting shaken up now as 9B catches out Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border. Kim pulls him up… looks like they’ll be calling it a day as well.
3:30 p.m.: Jessica Phoenix and previously 5th-placed Abbey GS have a refusal at 9B, then elect to retire.
3:25 p.m.: Holly Jacks-Smither and More Inspiration show us how it’s done around the course, picking up just 0.8 time.
3:23 p.m.: Ryan Wood and McLovin (best name ever?) clear with 4-and-some-change time penalties. Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn now sprinting out of the start box.
3:19 p.m.: Things seem to be clocking along much more smoothly as we approach the top of the leaderboard. Holly Payne Caravella coming home clear with 7.2 time aboard Santino.
3:14 p.m.: Reverse order of go is the best! We’re now breaking into the top 15, with Holly Payne Caravella and Santino heading out on course.
3:06 p.m.: Local girl Jennie Brannigan makes her way around with just 4.8 time penalties on Catalina, which could move her up into the top 15. She’s still got one ride to go aboard Cambalda, with whom she is sitting in 8th place.
2:59 p.m.: Bummer.. Jenny Caras and Fernhill Fortitude now on course but picking up 20 at fence #12.
2:57 p.m.: Cross-country now running just under an hour behind schedule on account of multiple lengthy holds to repair broken frangible pins. Quit pressing the buttons, y’all!
2:50 p.m.: While we wait for the competition to resume, check out David Taylor’s wrap-ups of the CIC1* divisions. The winners: Elizabeth Bortuzzo and Omina (Division A) and Phillip Dutton and Icabad Crane (Division B).
Go Icabad! Photo by Jenni Autry.
2:49 p.m.: About 20 horses left in the CIC3* division, and you can bet the scoreboard at the end of the day is going to look a lot different than the one we started with this morning.
2:46 p.m.: Another pause to repair a broken frangible pin at fence #6… that will be 11 penalties for Jessica Phoenix.
2:42 p.m.: Ditto for Jessica Phoenix, who’s now out on course on her third ride of the day, Bentley’s Best. She’s had a day of mixed fortunes, jumping clear with 9.60 time penalties on A Little Romance before taking a spill from Pavarotti.
2:39 p.m.: Allie Knowles will be looking for some redemption aboard her second ride, Sound Prospect, after a fall earlier with The Dark Mark. They’re clear through #18…
2:35 p.m.: I funneled this question from a reader…
…straight to Jenni, who responds, “It seems like they’re pretty spread out.”
2:33 p.m.: Oh dear… loose horse! Colleen Rutledge has parted ways with Escot 6 at fence 7, with “Monkey” being the latest horse opting to take a solo tour of the countryside. Colleen is up and OK.
2:26 p.m.: Back underway now with Hallie Coon and Celien.
2:22 p.m.: Stop, start, stop, start… lots of holds on course today, the latest being for a frangible pin repair at the behest of Maggie Deatrick and Divine Comedy. On the bright side, this live update post is seemingly possessed (sorry for the technical difficulties!) so I’m appreciative of having a bit of time to get things sorted out.
2:02 p.m.: Rachel Wilks and River King parting ways. Hold on course while the medics take a quick look at Rachel, who seems to be OK.
1:54 p.m.: Meanwhile, Pavarotti has decided to “do his own thing,” jumping the galloping track rope for a romp across the scenic Pennsylvania countryside.
1:51 p.m.: Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti part ways … Jessie is up and appears to be fine.
1:42 p.m.: Meanwhile, on the other side of the pond, can we circle back around to the fact that Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen just won Blenheim? A super weekend for the U.S. across the board, with four Americans finishing in the top 12. We just posted Samantha Clark’s wrap-up report — check it out!
Go Clark and Glen! Photo by Samantha Clark.
1:39 p.m.: Cody being transported to the local hospital for observation — well wishes, Cody! Competition now resuming, with Phillip Dutton and Mr. Candyman now heading out on course.
1:22 p.m.: Cody is up and talking to the paramedics and his horse has been wrangled, but we’ll be looking at about a 10-minute hold on course.
1:16 p.m.: Undeterred by the fall of her rider, Cody Sturgess, at fence #12, Imperial Melody kept running, finally acquiescing to being caught at fence #14.
1:11 p.m.: Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair finish with 40 jumping penalties.
1:04 p.m.: With the exception of a handful of glance-offs (Karl Slezak/Arctic Law, Madeline Backus/P.S. Arianna, Buck Davidson/Be Mine) and a couple falls, lots of nice trips happening out there. Going to knock on some wood now.
12:59 p.m.: Boyd Martin and Crackerjack have turned in the only double clear so far.
12:53 p.m.: An unfortunate fall for Allie Knowles and The Dark Mark will result in an MR. Thankfully both are OK.
12:48 p.m.: So on other front …. guess who just freaking won Blenheim? CLARK MONTGOMERY!
12:45 p.m.: And we’re back! Ryan Wood and Fernhill Classic now setting out on course.
12:40 p.m.: While we wait for things to get up and running again, check out this drone flyover of the course, with narration by Doug Payne.
12:34 p.m.: Sadly, it’s an RF for April Simmonds and Impressively Done after a fall at the Footbridge. A hold on course while they gather themselves. Thankfully both horse and rider are OK.
12:26 p.m. EST: Jessica Phoenix and Patras VR are through the finish flags, clear but with 21.2 time.
12:22 p.m. EST: A glance-off at 9B for Buck Davidson and Be Mine. Jessica Phoenix pulls up briefly, perhaps to adjust a bit of tack? Continuing on now…
12:20p.m. EST: Trailblazer Jessica Phoenix and Patras VR now on course. Except for a few riders with multiple horses, cross country is running in reverse order of go which always adds an extra bit of excitement to the mix.
12:19 p.m. EST: We’re just seconds away from the start of CIC3* cross country. Here are your top 15 heading into the event’s final phase…
Lauren Kieffer and Landmark's Monte Carlo. Photo by Samantha Clark.
While Lauren Kieffer waits to show jump Veronica in the Blenheim Palace CCI3* this afternoon, currently lying in 7th place in that division, she’s already finished the CIC3* on Landmarks Monte Carlo in 16th place on a final score of 56.3 after going clear on cross country with 5.6 time penalties this morning.
After a nice dressage test and just one rail down in the show jumping Lauren was the first rider out on course on ‘Patrick’ this morning and told me she was delighted with him, not only today, but with the way he’s matured since he’s come over to England about six weeks ago.
“I was thrilled with him; the big goal with him coming over to Europe was to get him in a lot of atmosphere because any mistake he’s ever made has been because he’s always been staring at the tents or the crowds or whatever else so the last two days I’ve just been tickled with him. Last night’s show jumping was like his worst nightmare come true with so much atmosphere, and he was perfect.
Lauren Kieffer and Landmark’s Monte Carlo. Photo by Samantha Clark.
“I couldn’t have been happier with him; he jumped really well and wasn’t worried about the atmosphere at all and again today with bigger crowds and the roping, and coming down the steep hill to the water and the tents — a month, six weeks ago he would have been staring straight at it, but today he was totally focussed. Coming to the last water into the trade fair, again a month, six weeks ago, that’s something he would have been staring at.”
“I think it’s paying off, hopefully, touch wood! Every event we’eve been to has had crowds and atmosphere and flags and I think now he’s getting used to it. He’s an awesome cross country horse, all his mistakes have just been because he’s been staring at stuff in the background, and he’s only 9 and he only moved up this spring so I couldn’t be happier with him. It’s a stiff track and he’s up against tough competition; he was lying 11th after show jumping, and I don’t know what will happen today. We went pretty quick but there’s always someone who’ll go quicker over here, but I couldn’t be happier with the way he’s been going!”
Lauren Kieffer and Vermiculus. Photo by Samantha Clark.
Lauren elected not to run Vermiculus (‘Bug’) cross country after a bit of a naughty dressage test and one rail and three time faults show jumping. Vermiculus is a full brother to Lauren’s former four-star ride Snooze Alarm and although he’s quite a cheeky handful at the moment, she thinks his arrogance will be what makes him extra special because he’s not afraid of anything!
Being just an 8 year old and having had a couple of tough runs back to back at Great Meadows (“pretty much his first Advanced”) before he left the USA and then Wellington Advanced (“properly big”) on arriving in England, Lauren told me she decided to give Blenheim’s testing track a miss this afternoon.
Lauren Kieffer and Vermiculus. Photo by Samantha Clark.
“He’s qualified for Boekelo and he would have jumped around fine today, but he’s entered for the Intermediate at South of England next weekend, and I more just wanted to make sure he goes to Boekelo on a confident run; this is riding tough enough. It rode tough enough on my four-star horse yesterday, and it rode tough enough on Patrick today, he jumped round beautifully, but it’s hard enough and I just want to make sure he goes to Boekelo on good form. We don’t have a lot of time between now and then, but he’s going to be a super star because he’s only eight, and I just want to do the right thing by him and produce him correctly.”
The top 31 horses in the CCI3* division will start to jump at 3pm GB time. We’ll be back with those results and more as soon as possible after it wraps up. Stay with us Eventing Nation! Go The Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials!
Overnight leaders Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen. Photo by Samantha Clark.
The final horse inspection at Blenheim was moved up to 7:30 am Sunday morning which I was unaware of until I arrived this morning, luckily fairly early, but not quite early enough to catch Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night. As I was scuttling down to the Stabling area, I heard it announced that she was accepted — yay, but was annoyed not to see her outfit in person as she has previewed it for me on Wednesday but decided not to wear it in the rain, and I’m sure she looked stunning.
Running in reverse order so that the show jumping can start as early as possible, we had a number of withdrawals before the trot-up started. Lying fifth overnight, German Eventing tweeted that Andrew Hoy’s Cheeky Calimbo had lost both front shoes and would not be presenting, and indeed he did not present. Likewise the following riders did not present their mounts: Louisa Lockwood and Avocado, Sam Griffiths and Isle Valley, Harry Dzenis and Above Board, Ibby Macpherson and Ballingowan Diamond, Tom Grant and Cloncolma Lad, and Sophie Beaty and Pink Gin.
Niklas Bschorer and Win and Love and Beanie Sturgis with Lebowski were both sent to the holding box and then not accepted upon re-inspection. Paul Sims and Calador and Lissa Green with Malin Head Clover were sent to the holding box and passed upon being re-presented.
All our American combinations looked terrific and passed without a second glance. Show jumping has started already, and CIC3* cross country will be taking place in between the lower placed division and the top session, which starts at 3 pm GB time. Buckle in Eventing Nation! Go Clark and our U.S. riders at Blenheim Palace!
Horses displaced by the fire, hanging out at Chez Bowden. Photo from Marie Bowden's Facebook page
The fires in California are pretty insane right now. Two major fires in my area are only about 50 and 67% contained as of the last update from Cal Fire. The communities that are being impacted by these fast moving fires are both very rural and very horsey. I’ve been very proud to see lots of my friends jumping in to help, either by taking in horses who’s owners needed to evacuate them or by volunteering at the animal shelters. There isn’t anything quite like the way the horse community bands together in times of need.
Skyler Decker on Inoui Von Bost, Plantation Field International CIC*
As you already know, Plantation Field International is the Best Event Ever. It seems that Plantation is a great place for young riders to grow as well. Today after cross country we caught up with Skyler Decker and Grace Fulton in the barns to break down their day.
Skyler Decker is a young rider from Area II. We last saw Skyler and her horse Inoui Von Bost this past July in Kentucky at NAJRYC, where she was part of the gold medal Area II team. She bought Ouiji last year in order to keep moving up the levels and has been on a roll ever since. Skyler explains what she has been up to since Kentucky as well as her plans for the rest of the year in this interview:
We also had the chance to talk to Grace Fulton, also an Area II young rider. Grace is also taking part in the first annual Triple Crown Nutrition Prelim to PRO CIC1* Team Final, which is taking placing this weekend during Plantation Field International.
Plantation is Grace’s first FEI appearence since NAJRYC 2014, where she was part of the 2014 gold medal Area II team. Along with her horse Leo the Lion Hearted, Grace has had to deal with the true international atmosphere here at Plantation Field International.
Thank you to both Skyler and Grace for taking time out of their days to talk with us. Good luck to all the riders at Plantation tomorrow as we finish up in stadium for the CIC* and cross country for both the CIC2* and CIC3*. Keep checking back for updates tomorrow from the Best Event Ever.
Clark Montgomery savoring the moment after his win at Blenheim. Photo via Facebook.
