Screenshot from "Jumping a car" on YouTube, posted by Galindo Sport Horses.
The next time you’re out walking your course and you get to a jump that looks kinda big and scary, here’s what I want you to remind yourself: AT LEAST IT’S NOT A CAR.
And, of course, the EN classic…
Go Riding!
A year ago this weekend at Morven Park, Colleen Rutledge was getting carted off the cross-country course in an ambulance. The horse she was riding in the Preliminary Championships toppled over a table, rolling over Colleen and fracturing her hip. The damage: surgery and a premature end to her competition year.
This weekend has been a very different narrative. Colleen and “CR” grabbed hold of the top spot in the CIC3* in the dressage and never let go, clinching the win despite a show jumping rail and 9.2 time cross-country. The twisty, muddy track took its toll on the field; there were no double-clears in either the CIC3* or Advanced divisions.
In her Morven Park preview EN fortune teller/statistician called Colleen and CR her Dark Horse pick of the weekend, as their dressage has been competitive but they’ve had a hard to adding it all up on the cross-country. It seems to have all come together for them this weekend, though, and an extra congratulations is in order: Not only was this CR’s first FEI win, it was Colleen’s as well!
Photo via the Morven Park International Equestrian Center Facebook page.
The pair has a neat story, which EN featured in 2012 in an edition of EN’s Got Talent. CR is a homebred and Colleen competed his dam, Let’s Get It Right, through Advanced. His sire is Lisa Reid’s BFF Incognito, a thoroughbred/Clydesdale cross, which is pretty fun fact as well — you don’t see too much Clydesdale blood at the three-star level!
Rounding out the top three in the CIC3* were Kate Samuels with Nyls Du Terroir in second and Sara Kozumplik Murphy with Fly Me Courageous in third.
Cross-country time penalties shuffled the Advanced division leaderboard around dramatically, with the two fastest rounds of the day moving into the top two spots. Both Holly Payne and Never Outfoxed and Caroline Martin and Pebbly Maximus had just four faults apiece to move from fifth to first and seventh to second respectively. Phillip Dutton and I’m Sew Ready won the dressage, dropped to second after a show jumping rail, and finished in third having come home with 12.8 time cross-country.
Boyd Martin and Welcome Shadow added nothing to their winning dressage score of 42.2 to win the CIC2*. This was the horse’s second CIC2*, the first being Plantation Field a couple weeks back where they dropped three rails to finish 34th in a competitive field. Boyd had the only double-clear cross-country round in the division, and Marilyn Little and RF West Indie posted the second fastest time with just two penalties. That was good enough to move them from third to second, with Kelly Prather and D. A. Duras rounding out the top three.
Top 15 CIC2* finishers:
Morven Park Fall CIC & H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
We thought we’d send the Morven Park competitors out of the box with a few reminders of what not to do on course. Here are some screenshots from this cool drone flyover of the course, aligned with GIFs of animals leaping similar obstacles in various states of FAIL. Take note, kids!
#5. Gate
#6. Table
#7A: Down bank
#7B: Skinny
#8. Ditch and wall
#9A: Log roll
#10B: Ditch
#11: Brick wall
#19: Trakehner
#23: Brush jump
#18A: Jump into water
#18B: Up bank
Morven Park Fall CIC & H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Go Eventing!
Morven Park cross country is running today, and we find that it’s easier to pass the time when we can’t be there watching by stalking looking up videos from years past. Thanks to our good friend, Buzzterbrown, we found some great footage from last year’s Advanced division.
This event is probably one of the most scenic; Leesburg really is a poster child for picturesque eventing. There’s just something about the terrain and the bright fall colors that make me want to eat/drink everything pumpkin flavored and kick up my feet to binge watch some cross country action.
For more from Buzzterbrown, be sure to check out his YouTube channel.
Photo courtesy of Liz Hall.
Those west coast eventers sure are handy with a sticky situation! We saw Avery Klunick’s Best. Save. Ever. last week at the AECs, but now Gina Miles is giving her a run for her money for that title.
Gina is contesting the CIC3* at Woodside this weekend aboard SVR Ron, who decided to put on the brakes just a few fences from home. Gina nearly fell from Ron as he scrambled backward from the fence, but she managed to stay on. Ron’s bridle and ear bonnet slipped off, leaving just the bit in his mouth. Gina was able to keep him calm, although the wayward leather was definitely not his favorite thing, and somehow maneuvered the bridle back into place before continuing on her way.
We’re not sure whose save was more epic: Avery’s or Gina’s? We can’t decide – both of these ladies deserve some sort of crazy special award!
Liz Hall was kind enough to send in her photos of this great save. Check out the gallery below to see how it all went down:
And never fear, Ride On Video was on hand to capture this save on video. We applaud you, Gina!
Lauren Billys and Ballingowan Ginger. Photo by Chesna Klimek.
Dressage and show jumping for the CIC3* completed last night at Woodside, and it’s Bea di Grazia who has taken command on a score of 46.5 aboard Lad’s Night Out. This pair is coming off of a third place finish in the Intermediate division at Twin Rivers last month. Bea imported the Irish gelding when he was six and sold him to a junior rider before buying him back, a decision she’s likely not regretting in the least!
“I’m not going to do anything about the time. I’m not even going to wear a watch. I’m going to be accurate and correct at all the jumps and see how fast we end up. And it’s going to be really hot , so I’m not going to do anything silly,” Bea said of today’s cross country in a press release following show jumping.
Bonner Carpenter and Basco are in second place after dressage on a 47.7 in their third attempt at a CIC3*. They’ll be looking for a strong and educational round this weekend as they go for their first completion at this level.
James Alliston and Tivoli will hold down third place going into cross country after earning a 51.3. As Maggie pointed out in her predictions for this event, this pair has had some time off from competing together. This is Tivoli’s second run since Rolex in 2013, having completed an Intermediate at Woodside earlier this summer in fourth place.
Morven Park Fall CIC & H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [By the Numbers]
In the CIC2*, Lauren Billys and her prospective Rio mount, Castle Larchfield Purdy, moved from second to first after show jumping on a score of 52.2. Lauren also has Ballingowan Ginger in this division, currently in a tie for second. She’ll ride Ginger prior to Purdy on today’s cross country, which she said will help her get an idea of the time. “(Purdy’s) such a new horse for me that I just want to go out there and have an accurate ride. But he has such a huge step that the time might not be a big problem,” she said in a press release.
James Atkinson and Gustav lowered two rails to move down from their initial lead into the equal second place tie with Lauren Billys. McKena Knott and Flanigan are in fourth place after the first two phases, also knocking two rails for a score of 62.8.
Nathan Grosse and Ray are your Woodside Advanced leaders after dressage and show jumping despite knocking one rail. The show jumping course was tough on this division. Ashlynn Muechel and Morning Star incurred 12 jump and 6 time for second place, followed by Rebecca Buehler and Brighton in third.
Last, but certainly not least, good friend of EN Frankie Thieriot and Chatwin are the current CIC* leaders on a score of 43.7. Frankie knocked one rail over Derek di Grazia’s show jump course, but was able to move from second into first. This is the six-year-old’s first FEI competition, and Frankie said in a press release that she’ll decide how much to put the gas pedal down when she gets a feel for how confident her horse is today.
“The most important thing is to cement our partnership and to ride the course in a rhythm that does that, whether we finish first or second or eighth,” Frankie said. “I think he’s going to be a big-time horse, and the most important thing about this weekend is to get him ready for the CCI1* at Galway Downs next month.”
Asia Vedder and Gaelic Wealth are contesting their second FEI event after stepping up to Preliminary last fall. This pair has a fairly consistent record at the level and is in good striking position on a score of 47.1 in second place.
Ruth Bley and Rodrigue Du Granit, who have a couple of seasons at this level under their belts, are currently in third place after one of just three double clear rounds bumped them up from seventh after dressage.
Another bridle malfunction?! Photo via Gina Miles' Facebook page, by Liz Hall
What a weekend! Right on the heels of the AECs we have tons of intense competition around the country. The Area VI Championships are taking place in California at Woodside Horse Park while back east we have Morven Park. It’s hard to believe the season is winding down already. It’s also hard to believe we’ve seen two bridle malfunctions in as many weeks!
North American Weekend Preview:
Kent School Fall H.T. [Website]
Morven Park Fall CIC & H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
WindRidge Farm Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]
ESDCTA New Jersey at the Horsepark H.T. [Website]
Woodside International CIC & H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]
Saturday Links:
Horses need new homes to avoid slaughter, rescue groups say
Is this Britain’s smallest steed?
Nevada horse diagnosed with West Nile Virus
Suffolk Downs ends its horse racing
Sales fraud in the horse industry webinar
Area IV: Bowl with a pro… Equestrian!
Saturday Video: Check out Gina’s amazing save! Video courtesy of Ride On Video.
Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights at Jersey Fresh in 2013. Photo by Jenni Autry.
In what Leah Lang-Gluscic called a “hilly and slick” show jumping course, rails fell to the ground throughout the CIC3* division this afternoon. Just two pairs came home clear inside the time: Kate Samuels and Nyls du Terroir and Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace.
Despite having one rail down, Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights held onto their lead going into tomorrow’s cross country. Phillip Dutton and Seams Ready were also able to maintain their second place position with one rail lowered.
Kate Samuels moved up from fourth to settle into third place with her double clear round. Kate called Nyls a superstar on her Facebook page; this is definitely a great start to this pair’s fall season.
Kristin Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken dropped two rails to move from fourth into fifth place overnight. Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace bumped themselves up from eighth to sixth with their double clear round and put themselves into a great position looking forward to cross country.
Rails were also frequent fliers in the Advanced division. A clear and fast round from Buck Davidson and The Apprentice allowed them to slide into the lead ahead of Phillip Dutton and I’m Sew Ready, who lowered one to add four to their score.
Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe enjoyed a nice move up, from a tie for eighth all the way to third, with a double clear round. Boyd Martin and Crackerjack also leaped up the board, from tenth to fourth, after leaving all of the rails intact. The top ten has definitely shifted after the show jumping, and could well change even further after the combinations take on Tremaine Cooper’s cross country course tomorrow.
Morven Park Fall CIC & H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Don’t forget to check out the preview of the CIC3* cross country, complete with drone footage, that we posted earlier this afternoon.
Go Morven Park!
Click photo to view video.
Tremaine Cooper kindly sent over this great preview of the CIC3* course at Morven Park, which the horses and riders will be tackling tomorrow. As is expected, the rolling terrain and gorgeous scenery really lend themselves to a course that is designed to challenge and invite all at once.
The fly through lends a helmet cam feel, and you can really get a feel for what Tremaine is asking as the course progresses. There is lots of room to gallop while still having technical questions that will really challenge the riders’ lines and commitment.
The CIC3* division may be light on entries, but it’s still stacked with talent so we’re sure to see some top quality rides across the board tomorrow. Many thanks to Tremaine and the Morven Park organizers for providing such a great video. Stay tuned for much more from Leesburg!
Morven Park Fall CIC & H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
This weekend, eventers and others from around the equine industry will be at Pimlico Racecourse to promote the wonderful OTTB. The Retired Racehorse Project has done a great job of putting together this event, which spotlights former racehorses who are thriving in their new homes.
As we reported earlier, Laine Ashker, Jennie Brannigan, Phillip Dutton, and many more will be on hand throughout the weekend to showcase the breed and the sport of eventing. Former racer Icabad Crane, who is in the running to win this year’s makeover, will be one of the stars of the show. We’ve followed this horse’s eventing career this year, the coverage of which you can find here.
As Icabad Crane and the rest of the OTTB world prepares for this weekend’s showcase, here’s a look at some of his competitions from the year.
For more information on the RRP, click here.
