Who’s excited for cross-country videos from The Fork? To whet your appetite, here’s Buzzterbrown’s fantastic 32-minute video from 2012, when an Olympic year made the competition that much more fierce. Look for the top four finishers at these minute markers: Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper (16:50), Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master (25:40), Marilyn Little and RF Demeter (6:25), and Karen O’Connor and a very keen Mr. Medicott (24:42). Thanks, Buzzterbrown!
Kurt Martin and Anna Bella at Fair Hill CCI2*. Photo by Jenni Autry.
If you haven’t noticed already, today is the beginning of Fork Madness (which follows March Madness, obviously), and I brought you part one of the CIC3* preview earlier today. The division is huge this year, with 57 horse and rider pairs contesting the tough course and duking it out in the dressage arena. The Fork is known for it’s challenging cross country, and it’s one of the best places to get a glimpse of horses heading to Rolex, and most riders use it as their last prep event. A round here can really make or break many Rolex rookies, and it just means that it’s all the more exciting for spectators. Let’s check out the rest of the entries.
Marilyn Little & RF Demeter: As reigning 2013 USEA Horse of the Year (and Mare of the Year!) and recent Carolina International CIC3* champion, Demi has certainly impressed a lot of people. This mare is incredible, with great style through all three phases. She looked super a few weeks ago at the Carolina International, and Marilyn always goes for time on cross country, so these two will easily be in the top 10 here at The Fork on their road to Rolex.
Marilyn Little & RF Smoke on the Water: Marilyn’s less experienced mount is nonetheless a good competitor, and despite an inconsistent spring last year, he came out for his first show in over six months at the Carolina International CIC3* a few weeks ago and did quite well, finishing in 8th place. They were almost champions here last year until a run out at a cheese wedge late in the course, so I’m sure Marilyn will be taking her time at the cheese this year! This horse should be competitive in this field, as she’s aiming him at his first CCI4* at Rolex in a few weeks.
Kurt Martin & Anna Bella: An EN favorite, this mare was talent scouted by us early last year, and she’s continued to improve, placing sixth last year at Fair Hill CCI2*. She just moved up to the Advanced level at the Carolina International HT, jumping around cleanly. This will be her first time at the three-star level, and she’s a phenomenal jumper, so I expect them to have a good round for a continuation of her education at this level.
Bobby Meyerhoff & Utah B: This horse was previously campaigned to the 3* level with Bobby’s wife, Danica, but last year she handed over the reins to her husband, who took a step back and kept him at Intermediate for all of 2013, culminating in an 18th place finish at Fair Hill CCI2*. They moved up to Advanced together this spring, placing 6th in the challenging Red Hills CIC3*, really smoking the cross-country course. While this isn’t Bobby’s Rolex entry, they could have potential to be quite competitive here this weekend.
Meghan O’Donoghue and Pirate at Blenheim. Photo by Samantha Clark.
Meghan O’Donoghue & Pirate: Meghan had a really stellar year of success in 2013, with her four-star debut and her first Team USA international competition at Blenheim in the fall, she’s proved herself a real rising star with her little Thoroughbred Pirate. He’s positively a jumping bean, and they have a great partnership. He looked phenomenal in the dressage a few weeks ago at the Carolina International, and even scored well up there with the big moving warmbloods. They are heading back to Rolex this year to see if they can improve on their 12th place finish from last year. They can easily get into the top 10 here, but the bigger goal is prep for Rolex.
Selena O’Hanlon & Foxwood High: Selena was second last year at Bromont CCI3* with this horse, and after having the fall off, he’s come back out this spring in good form. They were 4th at Rocking Horse in the Advanced and then placed 20th at the Red Hills CIC3* a few weeks ago. Selena obviously thinks a lot of him, as she’s got him entered in his first CCI4* at Rolex this spring.
Selena O’Hanlon & Bellaney Rock: As her second mount for this division and her second Rolex prospect, this big chestnut has always been a secret favorite of mine. He’s a great big old Irish horse with lots of chrome, and he really seems to enjoy his job. They were 14th together in the fall at the Fair Hill CCI3* and have done well this spring, placing second at Rocking Horse in the Advanced.
Lindsay Oaks & Enchantez: Lindsay and Taylor attempted Rolex last spring, but sadly walked home off the cross country after one too many stops on course. They took some time off after that, but have decided to give it another go this year. This horse is a great jumper but has not had a run at Advanced since that time last year, so she will certainly need a good round here to feel ready for Rolex in a few weeks.
Holly Payne & Never OutFoxed: Holly’s newest Advanced mount is pretty neat; he’s a great little jumper, and I expect he will eventually embrace the necessary evil of dressage. He just moved up to Advanced at Pine Top earlier this spring and sadly nicked himself in show jumping at the Carolina International CIC3* and so didn’t get to run cross country. Holly will be looking to pilot this nice young horse around his first three-star with a good trip to educate him for the future.
Jessica Phoenix and Exponential at The Fork last year. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Holly Payne & Santino: Sonny is one of my favorite horses to follow, as he always seems to be having a good time out there. He was a bit naughty in his first show of 2014 a few weeks ago at the Carolina International CIC3*, but we’ll just chalk that up to winter kinks. Sonny is an incredibly talented horse, and he’s got a lot more up his sleeve than we’ve seen just yet. I think this will be the year that he really comes into his own.
Doug Payne & Crown Talisman: This horse is almost a freak of nature in the athleticism department, and this is the first year that I’ve seen him strong enough to really carry some of the bigger movements. They fulfilled my prediction last time out at the Carolina International CIC3*, finishing fourth, and I think they can pull off a repeat performance here at The Fork and finish in the top five. They are very competitive in dressage and quite consistent in the jumping phases.
Beth Perkins & Sal Dali: This pair is one of the more experienced in the field, having already completed Rolex twice, as well as numerous three-star competitions. They did have trouble on course in their last outing at the Carolina International HT, so they’ll be looking to get their mojo back here this weekend. While they won’t be able to stay competitive in the dressage ring, they should be able to jump around just fine.
Jessica Phoenix & Exponential: Jessica is turning into the Canadian Buck Davidson, with so many nice horses at the upper levels that it makes you wonder how many energy drinks she consumes per day. Tucker was the Jersey Fresh CCI3* winner in 2013 and has a few CCI4* competitions under his belt, including Burghley and the 2010 WEG. His exuberant jumping style never fails to put a smile on my face, or Jessie’s for that matter. They are heading to Rolex this spring, so they’ll be putting some finishing touches on their performances this weekend.
Jessica Phoenix & Patras VR: I haven’t actually seen this horse in person yet, but he led wire to wire in the recent Poplar Place CIC3* with a great dressage score and only time penalties on cross country to add to his score.
Michael Pollard and Ballingowan Pizazz. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Jessica Phoenix & A Little Romance: This little mare is great fun to watch, and was second this spring in the Advanced at Red Hills over a challenging course. Unfortunately, they ran into trouble in the CIC3* at Poplar a few weeks ago, and so Jessie will be looking to get her groove back here at The Fork this weekend.
Jessica Phoenix & Abbey GS: Jessie’s final ride is another mare, and she is certainly less experienced than her stablemates. She was recently 6th at the Poplar CIC3*, but she needs more experience on the flat to be competitive here at The Fork. However, she’s a super little jumper and should be able to pop around the course just fine in preparation for a spring three day.
Michael Pollard & Ballingowan Pizazz: Michael and Mango definitely proved themselves a few weeks ago at the Carolina International CIC3*, finishing in third place after a really good dressage score and some great jumping phases. These two have been on the verge of greatness for awhile now, and last year just kept getting thwarted by minor injuries. I really hope that this year is their time to bloom. I expect nothing less than a top-10 finish from them.
Liz Riley & It’s The Truth: Liz and Tom hail from my hometown in Virginia and made their move up to the Advanced level at Millbrook last summer. They did their second event at that level a few weeks ago at the Carolina International and placed 12th. This will be their first attempt at this level, and they have a great partnership, so I fully expect them to complete the weekend with a big grin.
Colleen Rutledge & Shiraz: A pair that needs little introduction, Colleen and Shiraz are still on their mission to complete as many CCI4*s as possible in their lifetime. Shiraz seems to laugh at big jumps, but consequently he doesn’t seem to think that the three-star level is worth paying attention to at all. He looked distinctly disdainful at the Carolina International a few weeks ago, resulting in more than a few rails dropping in show jumping and some rough moments on cross country. We get it, Shiraz; you’re a badass. Now just calm yourself and behave over these “little” jumps, OK?
Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe at Richland. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Kim Severson & Fernhill Fearless: Sparky and Kim are a formidable pair; with Kim’s perfectionist attitude on the flat and Sparky’s total badassery over jumps, we should really watch out. They put in a good dressage test and a rare double clear jumping effort in show jumping at the Carolina International, but sadly Sparky didn’t get to run cross country. He’s been sulking about that, and he’ll probably just use that energy to tear around this weekend. Kim needs this event to qualify for Rolex, where she has entered Sparky as a contender in a few weeks.
Allie Knowles & Sound Prospect: Sounder is a new ride for Allie, as she just took over the reins last fall. They’ve made a successful move up to Advanced together, running the Red Hills CIC3* and the Poplar CIC3* a few weeks ago, placing 8th there. Unfortunately, both times at this level they’ve had a spot of bother on cross country, so Allie will be looking to get their first clear round here together this weekend.
Allison Springer & Arthur: Allison is on a comeback tour with Arthur, who is delighted to be back competing after having 2013 off. They were 6th together at Burghley in 2012, won their debut for 2014 and placed second at their first Advanced back together at Pine Top. We all know that Arthur can basically beat everyone on the flat, and he’s looked better than ever in the jumping phases this spring. I think a top-five finish is totally reasonable for these two and a good preparation for Rolex this spring.
Allison Springer & Copycat Chloe: Allison has also entered Chloe in Rolex this spring, and she’ll be using this event to help prepare the mare. Although they finished Bromont CCI3* in 5th place, they had some on and off trouble on cross country later in the fall, finishing with some stops and a fall at Galway CCI3*. Chloe has come out great this spring though, and it looks like they are much more in sync on cross country this year. They were recently 14th together at the Carolina International CIC3*.
Cody Sturgess & Imperial Melody: This is another pair that I’m not completely familiar with, having not seen them compete in person. However, they have not navigated a competition at the Advanced level since placing 29th in the CIC3* here at The Fork in 2013, and so I expect that this will be quite a challenge for them. Cody is a competent rider on a good horse, and I think he is more than capable of getting around just fine.
Sharon White and Wundermaske. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Erin Sylvester & No Boundaries: Erin and Bucky are heading towards their third Rolex this year, and they’ve had a good lead up this spring. After getting caught out at Red Hills, they rebounded to place second at the Carolina International HT in the Advanced a few weeks ago. They’ve looked good in all three phases when I’ve seen them, and I expect them to be competitive here this weekend.
Sharon White & Wundermaske: Patch is traveling to Kentucky in a few weeks to make his four-star debut, and I’m not the only one that’s excited about that. Patch moved up to Advanced last spring, and was 7th at both Jersey Fresh CCI3* and Fair Hill CCI3* in the fall. He’s gotten better and better on the flat thanks to Sharon’s diligence, and he’s a great little jumper. This should be a perfect preparation for Rolex for these two.
Sharon White & Rafferty’s Rules: When I saw Reggie and Sharon a few weeks ago at the Carolina International CIC3*, I couldn’t tell who was smiling more. She’s delighted to have him back at the top levels, and despite a small miscommunication on cross country, they had a great weekend. She has him entered at Rolex this spring, and I think it wouldn’t be out of the question to see these two in the top 10 here this weekend.
Sharon White & Under Suspection: Pippy is the newest horse for Sharon at the upper levels, having only just gotten the ride on her last year from Dirk Schrade in Germany. This mare is really nice; she’s smooth on the flat and accurate over the jumps. They’ve been in the top six at every event they’ve completed, including a 4th place in the Fair Hill CCI2* last fall. Relatively new to the Advanced level, they were 6th together at their first CIC3* a few weeks ago at Carolina International.
Julie Wolfert & Buenos Aires: I know Julie from way back when, and I know she will be delighted to be competing here at The Fork again! Hailing all the way from Kansas, Julie has a really phenomenal athlete on her hands with Aires. They’ve gotten three Advanced level competitions under their belts so far, and this will be by far the biggest challenge they’ve ever seen. Aires is an incredible jumper, and I can just see the grin Julie will have when she finishes the course on him at the end of this weekend.
#FITNESSATTHEFORK.
In addition to all the awesome things happening at The Fork Horse Trials this weekend, Meg Kep and Area II Young Riders are offering a #FITNESSATTHEFORK schedule to to promote fitness for eventers and raise cash for the team’s trip to NAJYRC. All activities request a $5 donation, and all proceeds will benefit the Area II Young Riders. Check out the schedule below, which runs this afternoon through Friday afternoon.
Keep checking Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for #FORKHORSETRIALS14 and #FITNESSATTHEFORK for updates and more information. And you can post pictures of how you are staying fit at The Fork with #FITNESSATTHEFORK for a chance to win a new Prestige Neckstrap by Sinead Halpin Eventing. I saw Manoir de Carneville modeling one of the new neckstraps at Carolina International a couple weeks ago, and I can vouch for the fact that they are pretty #fabulous.
The Fork CIC3* cross-country course. Photo courtesy of Tremaine Cooper.
Tremaine Cooper was kind enough to send over some preview photos of his CIC3* cross-country course for this weekend’s competition at The Fork, which is notoriously difficult and always has at least one question that catches out multiple riders. Last year, that bogey question was the new coffin complex, and you can see in the photo in the gallery below that it’s making an encore appearance this year. I walked the coffin complex with Jan Byyny last year, and my plan is to snag another rider to give us some analysis on how they plan to ride through here, as well as the rest of the course.
Stay tuned all weekend for coverage from The Fork, starting today with Kate’s lengthy two-part preview of all 59 pairs entered in the CIC3*, which we’ll be posting today. We also have a special treat for you, as Samantha Clark will be back in the States at a U.S. event for the first time since Richland Park last year, so we’ll all be spoiled this weekend with her lovely photos and delightful accent as she interviews riders for PRO. All the action kicks off at 9 a.m. EST Thursday with CIC3* dressage.
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Lisa Barry and F.I.S. Prince Charming. Photo by Jenni Autry.
With 57 entries in The Fork CIC3* this spring, it’s positively jam packed with talent of all shapes and sizes. Some horses are aimed at Rolex, some are aimed at a spring CCI3* in the states, and a few are even hoping to go to Saumur to check out Pierre Michelet’s cross-country course style. The Fork is always a challenging event, as the competition is fierce, and the cross country is notoriously hard. With the new CIC format, cross country is always held last, and the top percentage of riders go in reverse order of standing, creating even more tension when the ribbons come down to seconds on the clock. Let’s check out the horses and riders entered this year.
Peter Atkins & HJ Hampton: Peter and Henny are entered at Rolex, but I heard through the grapevine that since they’ve been accepted at Badminton, that is their true goal for the spring this year. Yay Henny Badminton helmet cam! This pair did Rolex last spring, placed 10th and then took the rest of the year off. They came out kicking in 2014, running a few Intermediate horse trials and winning one. Sadly at their last event in the CIC3* at Red Hills, they fell victim to the trouble at number five, but I trust that won’t be an issue here.
Peter Barry & Kilrodan Abbott: These two need little introduction, as we’ve all grown fond of seeing Eddie gallop casually around the big cross-country courses for some years now. Having been to Rolex quite a few times at this point, Peter and Eddie went to London in 2012 only to be cut short by a fall on course. They’ve got all the experience in the world for this challenge and were just 24th at the Carolina International CIC3*. They are headed to Rolex this spring.
Lisa Barry & F.I.S. Prince Charming: Lisa has been lucky enough to have Hannah Sue Burnett campaigning this great little grey gelding for her this spring, as she has been nursing her sprained and torn knee and ankle from an accident earlier this year. Peanut is a great jumping little horse and always a blast to watch, as his great white tail always flies up behind him with a snap over every jump. Lisa will be thrilled to be back in the tack for this exciting event.
Timothy Bourke & Luckaun Quality: This is one of my favorite pairs to watch on cross country, as this horse was simply made for that. After their great CCI3* debut at Fair Hill this fall, finishing in 8th place, they smoked the cross country at Carolina International, finishing with one of very few double clear rounds there in great style. Tim is a really quality rider, and Obie is an excellent upper-level horse for him to gain experience on, and to top it off they’re heading for Rolex for their CCI4* debut this spring.
Jennie Brannigan & Cambalda: Jennie and Ping have been kicking butt at the Advanced and three-star level for quite some time now, winning numerous events over the years against the best in the country. Last year they encountered some heartbreak at the double corners at Fair Hill CCI3*, but word on the street is that Jennie has been practicing corners nonstop since then, and I feel confident in saying that she will easily be top 10 here this weekend. They are entered at Rolex, hoping to finish their first CCI4* together.
Kate Chadderton and Collection Pass. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Hannah Sue Burnett & Harbour Pilot: Hannah and William are another pair that have been phenomenally successful at the Advanced and three-star level and really have equal talents in all three phases. They were recently 9th in the CIC3* at Carolina International, and a top-10 finish wouldn’t be out of the question this weekend. After a tumble early on in the cross country at Pau CCI4* in the fall, William is entered at Rolex this spring to complete his first CCI4*.
Kate Chadderton & Collection Pass: Kate has a super little Thoroughbred in Cole, and he’s just a great athlete. A very careful jumper, and usually capable of a decent dressage test, Cole unfortunately ran into some trouble last time out in the Advanced at Carolina International, and as she’s entered at Rolex this spring with him, she’ll be looking for a good confidence building round here at The Fork.
Kate Chadderton & VS McCuan Civil Liberty: I think it might be Kate’s personal mission to build an army of bay Thoroughbred superstars, and this one is no different. A little less experienced at the Advanced level than his stablemate, I hear that she’s aiming this horse at Saumur CCI3* this spring, which makes for a pretty exciting season for Kate! The Fork will be a great challenge for this horse, and I’m sure he’ll rise to it.
Daniel Clasing & Houston: Daniel and Houston made their Rolex debut last year, cantering around it like a hunter course, and they’re entered to do the same again this spring. However, they did not compete for the rest of 2013, and they’ve had a light lead-up to this event this spring. Houston is very reliable on cross country, and I know Dan has been working on the show jumping, but his goal will be the bigger picture in sight of the four-star coming down the pipes.
Sydney Conley Elliot & Cisko A: Sydney and Cisko hail all the way from Louisiana, and they’ll be making their CIC3* debut together. This will be the horse’s second Advanced competition, having moved up at Rocking Horse a few weeks ago and jumping around well. The Fork is known for being a challenging and imposing course, and it will be bigger than anything this horse has seen, so she’ll be looking for a nice clean round.
Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Buck Davidson & The Apprentice: Buck is taking it easy this weekend with only four horses in this division. Dirk is his first ride, and this horse has plenty of experience at this level. After an unfortunate elimination at Saumur CCI3* last spring, they went across the country to Galway CCI3* in the fall and finished 8th there. As with any of Buck’s horses, I expect him to go clean cross country and finish somewhere up in the top 20. He is on the list for Rolex, but as previously mentioned, Buck has to choose three out of the five he has entered to compete.
Buck Davidson & Petite Flower: If you want to know who Jenni has a crush on, it’s this horse. And rightfully so, as she’s an incredible little athlete. She was the 2013 Galway Downs CCI3* winner and can be very competitive on the flat and over jumps. She does have a spot of trouble occasionally with corners on cross country, so if Buck can get her around the cross country, he’ll be golden. She is also entered at Rolex.
Buck Davidson & Ballynoe Castle RM: Reggie is always a fan favorite, and it’s great to see him back in action. He easily scored a second place in the competitive Carolina International CIC3* a few weeks ago and looked to be really enjoying his time in the public. Buck adores this horse, and he’s entered at Rolex again this spring, as well as Badminton. We would all love to see him pop around in Kentucky and improve upon his 2013 result of 4th place.
Buck Davidson & Park Trader: Kobe is the final horse for Buck to ride in this division. After traveling across the pond to compete at Burghley last year, Buck unfortunately fell off on cross country, but then re-routed immediately to Fair Hill CCI3* and was rewarded with a second-place finish there. He managed one of very few double clear show jumping rounds a few weeks ago at Carolina International and finished 18th. Kobe is a great jumper and could very well be up in the mix this weekend.
Phillip Dutton & Fernhill Fugitive: Jack was 7th at Bromont CCI3* last spring and was 15th at Richland CIC3* later that summer. Unfortunately, they were one of the pairs caught out at the tricky combination at fence 5 at Red Hills, but they did go on to complete the course in good style. They rebounded to place 10th at Carolina International with one of the rare double clear stadium rounds.
Phillip Dutton & Shamwari 4: With Boyd Martin sidelined with a broken leg, Phillip is also riding his horses at The Fork so they don’t miss out on their final prep run for the big spring four-stars. Shamwari 4 is entered at both Rolex and Badminton, and The Fork is his first three-star since coming to the States this winter. Shammie was fifth in the Advanced at Red Hills and 17th in the Advanced at Carolina International.
Will Faudree & DHI Colour Candy. Photo by Kate Samuels.
Phillip Dutton and Sir Donovan: This horse is another of Boyd’s WEG hopefuls, and he’s entered at Rolex later this month. Don has done very well with Boyd since he took over the ride from new owner Peter Barry, and the horse most recently finished fourth over a difficult course at the Red Hills CIC3*. He can be a bit tricky to ride, but we’re sure it’s nothing Big Phil can’t handle.
Will Faudree & Pawlow: Will and Ernie had a good run at Rolex last year, finishing in 6th place. They traveled to Aachen only to have a fall just after the final fence due to some missing front shoes, but that can’t keep them down. They are coming off a win in the CIC2* at Pine Top last month and have been looking really smooth in the jumping phases so far this spring. They had a nice dressage test a few weeks ago at Carolina International, but then withdrew before the jumping phases, so hopefully they will do all three here this weekend. Ernie is entered at Rolex and Badminton.
Will Faudree & DHI Colour Candy: Andy has recently come back to the Advanced level, having taken a step back in 2013 to get stronger at the Intermediate level. They were rewarded with an 8th place at Fair Hill CCI2*, and most recently finished 22nd after a good showing at the Carolina International CIC3*. This event will be a good challenge for this nice young horse, and I expect him to do well.
Will Faudree & Andromaque: Missy is always a crowd favorite; as a gritty little Thoroughbred mare who always gets the job done, it’s hard not to like her. She was 5th last spring at Saumur CCI3*, and then had a quiet fall. She’s had a similarly calm spring campaign, recently placing 11th in the Intermediate at Carolina International. She’s entered to run her second Rolex after placing 16th in her debut in 2012.
Ruy Fonseca & Tom Bombadill Too: Yet another pair heading to Rolex, they’ve only got one U.S. event under their belt after moving here recently to train in Florida. Ruy and Tom are incredibly experienced, having represented Brazil in both the 2010 WEGs and the 2012 Olympic Games. They posted an excellent dressage score and two clean jumping rounds at Red Hills a few weeks ago in the CIC2*, finishing in fourth place. I think this pair might just be the dark horse of the competition at The Fork.
Katie Frei & Houdini: This pair had a great spring and summer campaign in 2013, placing 5th at the Jersey Fresh CCI3* and second at Rebecca Farms in the CIC3*, but seem to have lost a little bit of their mojo since that time. They retired on course at Fair Hill CCI3* and ran into trouble again at Red Hills. Katie fell on course at their last outing at Poplar Place, so I’m crossing my fingers that their bad luck spell is over. This is a lovely talented horse, and he’s entered at Rolex, so she’ll need a good confidence building round to take him to his first CCI4*.
Becky Holder and Can’t Fire Me. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Abbie Golden & Arundel: As the Eventing Nation gods would have it, fellow writer Abbie Golden and I were stabled next to one another at the Carolina International a few weeks ago, and it gave me a chance to fall in love with her adorable horse Spencer. Abbie is aiming at a CCI3* this spring before she goes off to UVA Law school and gets smarter than all the rest of us, and The Fork will be a great prep for that goal.
Sinead Halpin & Manoir de Carneville: A few weeks ago at the Carolina International, there were mutterings in the stables, “Who is that horse bucking nonstop on the end of his poor groom’s lead shank?” In response to your questions, it was Tate, who is clearly feeling better than ever. He certainly looks a lot more fired up than we are used to seeing from this horse, and I certainly hope he can get his antics under control before jogs at Rolex. I expect a top-10 finish from this pair.
Lillian Heard & Share Option: Whitey is a consistently amazing jumper, and if you ever wanted to know what an Advanced course looks like when a hunter jumps around, look no further than this pair. They’ve had plenty of experience at the Advanced and three-star level, and were recently 5th in the Advanced at Carolina International. They are heading to their first CCI4* this spring at Rolex.
Becky Holder & Can’t Fire Me: Becky and Teddy had a fall late in the course at Rolex 2013 and since then have been taking it easy. They won the CIC3* at Poplar Place in the fall and were recently 19th at the Carolina International CIC3* a few weeks ago. They have potential to do very well here, but I think we have yet to see the full power of this grey Thoroughbred. They are entered at Rolex to prove me right and hopefully take the stage.
Jon Holling & Downtown Harrison: Unfortunately for us, Jon did not win the Carolina International on this horse, because there were many mutterings in the stables hoping for a repeat of his victory streak at Bromont in 2012. No, we will never let him live that down, and yes, we are hoping he wins something again just so we can document it one more time. Aside from that, this is a really lovely horse who posted a rare double clear show jumping a few weeks ago at CHP and finished the weekend in 13th place after solid performances in all three phases.
Jon Holling and Zatopek B at Bromont. Photo by Samantha Clark.
Jon Holling & Zatopek B: This is a really lovely type horse, and he’s had a solid year of competition at the Advanced level, finishing 2013 with an 11th place at Fair Hill CCI3*. As you can see from the picture above, there isn’t a need to worry about his jumping ability, and I think Jon’s done a wonderful job bringing him along slowly and quietly. He’s got a lot of confidence in this horse, and they’re entered at Rolex in a few weeks.
Kevin Keane & Fernhill Flutter: As our resident veterinarian slash competitor, Kevin and his gelding may or may not have started the Fernhill craze that is currently part of our sport. They were victims of the Red Hills cross country course, garnering a stop on course but continuing on to finish just fine. They’ve been competing at the Advanced level for quite a few years now and have plenty of experience to perform well here this weekend, and are entered at Rolex for their CCI4* debut in a few weeks.
Kimberly Kojima & High Time: This pair is relatively inexperienced at this level, having only moved up to Advanced at Pine Top earlier this spring. They were at the Carolina International CIC3*, but ran into quite a bit of trouble on cross country, and were eliminated with multiple stops on course. This horse is a lovely big type and clearly athletic, but Kim’s going to want to sit up and kick to get around this challenging course.
Momo Laframboise & Dejavu: This horse just moved up to Advanced this spring, and this will be her first attempt at this level of competition, but she’s coming off a nice easy finish at the Carolina International in the national division, so I expect this will be a nice step up. Momo knows the horse well and will be able to get her around safely.
Stay tuned tomorrow for Part 2 of our preview!
Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against at Bromont. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Bunnie Sexton announced this morning via Facebook that she is withdrawing Rise Against (“Ecko”) from Rolex. This would have been the West Coast pair’s four-star debut, and I know we’re not the only ones who are bummed we won’t get to see them romp around Kentucky. But Ecko hasn’t been able to get a run in this year, and Bunnie said she is making the best decision for him. They’ll gain more miles at the three-star level this year and plan on their Rolex debut in 2015 instead. And be sure to check out Sally’s great profile on Bunnie and Ecko here.
From Bunnie’s Facebook page:
“I have decided in the interest of not running Ecko cold at Rolex with no warmup events that it is in his best interests to withdraw from Rolex. Ecko would give me everything, and without being as prepared as I need to be, I do not feel running would be worth the risk to my boy. We will give him a little time off to just grow more foot then reroute to some additional 3*s to get my miles in with the plan of a Rolex debut in 2015. THANK YOU to my coaches, vets and farriers and AMAZING supporters who held my hand through this difficult process. I have no doubt in my mind that this is the best decision and am SO thankful to know I have a horse who can then go on to play another day. Many hugs to all who have helped me through this.”
Lucinda Fredericks and Headley Britannia on their way to winning Badminton in 2007. Photo used with permission from Kit Houghton.
The worldwide eventing community continues to mourn today at the loss of Headley Britannia, the greatest mare in the history of the sport and winner of Badminton, Burghley and Rolex. Brit, 21 at the time of her death, was euthanized yesterday. Lucinda Fredericks released a statement on her Facebook page which seemed to imply the cause of death had been an injury incurred while cross-country schooling.
Paul Tapner confirmed the cause of death via his Facebook page, and Lucinda spoke to Horse & Hound to offer more details on this tragic incident. Alexandra Smith, Lucinda’s working student, was cross-country schooling the mare over small fences when she went down after a jump, she told Horse & Hound. The footing was good, and Brit had been jumping well — it was just one of those freak things.
Brit broke the radius bone in her left front leg, and a vet was immediately called out to put her down. Ever the professional, Brit was calm and stoic in her final moments, Lucinda told Horse & Hound. Lucinda had about 20 precious minutes to say goodbye and thank the little 15.3-hand mare for all she’d given her.
What a gutwrenching reminder that our time with our equine partners is so fleeting. For this mare to have jumped around the toughest cross-country courses in the world — and win three of the world’s six CCI4* events — only to fall victim to a small jump in a routine cross-country school seems such an unfair way to go.
But Brit, a fiery little chestnut mare, was never going to be a horse to stand around in a pasture all day in her retirement. She needed a job still, and Lucinda brought a delighted Brit out of retirement last year to compete in the Express Eventing at the CLA Game Fair — which she won, of course.
Ultimately, the most we can do for our horses is to give them the best life we know how each and every day, as we never know when it will be their last. The EN team sends all our condolences to Lucinda, her working student Alexandra, and the whole team who cared for and loved Brit. Rest in peace, brilliant girl.
The new Caesar Guerini that will be on the Prelim course at the Fork this weekend. Photo via the Fork Stable's Facebook page.
Good morning EN! Today competitors are settling into stalls at the Fork Stables where festivities are set to begin tomorrow. Nearly 60 combinations are entered in the CIC3* and you will find many top pairs among the entries. While dressage begins tomorrow, unofficial competition kicks off today with the “Shoot for the Stars” contest: teams of four people will compete in a clay shooting contest, and their final scores will be added to the riding scores of two CIC3* riders preselected for each team. On Sunday a winning team will be announced, and the winners will receive awards after the CIC3* awards ceremony. Keep checking back for more updates from North Carolina, as it will definitely be a busy and exciting weekend. [The Fork Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Facebook Page]
Weekend Preview:
Chattahoochee Hills H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]
Spring Bay H.T. [Website] [Ride Times]
CDCTA Spring H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]
A New Zealand paper reports on Jock Paget’s “limbo” as he waits to defend himself at an FEI hearing later this spring. According to the article, Jock has yet to receive a hearing date yet, and is incredibly frustrated by the entire situation as he sits on the sideline. Equestrian Sports New Zealand boss Jim Ellis said that the time off has been very damaging to Jock in terms of missed financial opportunities, and also that ” there is a strong case to explain why ”he’s done nothing wrong, or he’s morally innocent.'” [Southland Times]
This week on the Eventing Radio Show: Mother-daughter teams in honor of Mother’s Day in the UK. Hosts Jess and Samantha are joined by Mary and Emily King and Laine and Valerie Ashker to talk about their family partnerships. Simon Tucker then stops by to introduce everyone to his product, Mojo Wristbands, and Liz Halliday gives a training tip. [Eventing Radio Show]
A record 72 countries are entered to compete at this year’s WEG in Normandy, France. The competitions will the greatest number of entered countries are show jumping (57 total) and endurance (50 total). Nine countries have entered horses in all of the FEI divisions, and 12 countries will make their WEG debut. Click to see a full list of countries entered and the sports they have declared intent to send athletes for. [Horsetalk]
After Wellington’s withdrawal from consideration, Kentucky and Canada are the sole remaining candidates to host the 2018 WEG. If held in Kentucky, there would be a large positive economic impact on the surrounding area. According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, the state has submitted a signed signed host agreement with an undisclosed financial guarantee in order to secure its position as a finalist. Official bids will be presented by both Canada and Kentucky, and the decision will be announced afterwards. [Lexington Herald-Leader]
Best of blogs: Meet Sophie Jenman, a British rider who will be contesting Badminton for the first time this May aboard her mount Animo.
Photo via SmarPak's Facebook page
By now I’m sure you all know that our announcement this morning about the expansion of the Nation Media empire was, in fact, an April Fool’s joke. Though I actually think Dressage Tomorrow would be an extremely interesting publication to read, especially that story on whether or not it’s fair to penalize robot horses for lack of expression. Here’s a look at EN April Fool’s Day posts from years past. Manoir de Carneville coming out of the closet last year still ranks up there as one of my favorites.
2013: FEI Officially Recognizes Gay Horses
2012: Silva Martin to Take Over Ride on Neville Bardos
2011: Snapping Turtle Causes Concern in Badminton Lake Complex
2010: Chattahoochee Hills to Host World’s First CCI5*
Here’s a look at some of the other equine-inspired April Fool’s Day gems we saw around the interwebz today. Did we miss any good ones? Post a link in the comments below. Go April Fool’s Day!
Photo via Horse Nation
Horse Nation: Affordable Healthcare to Exclude Base Jumpers, Competitive Eaters, and Eventers
“I mean, I had heard the website was a little hit and miss,” said Olympic silver medalist Kim Severson after being rejected last evening. “But after trying to log back in, I got an email from healthcare.gov that said ‘GIVE IT UP, SEVERSON.’ It was kind of salt on the wound. The wound apparently not covered in the health insurance marketplace, I might add.” You’ll definitely want to read the whole thing here here.
Photo via SmarPak’s Facebook page
SmartPak: Introducing PiperPaks
Do you love SmartPak’s popular Piper breeches? Then you’ll love this April Fool’s Day joke! “We’re happy to announce our new program, PiperPaks. We’ve been working for months, perfecting a SmartPak big enough to hold a pair of Piper breeches. Sign up for #PiperPaks today, and every month we’ll send you a new color of Pipers. Want to go from knee patch to full seat? No problem, just give us a call and we’ll switch them for your next order. No hassles, no hoops, no kidding.”
Screenshot via Horse & Hound
Horse & Hound: Valegro’s Full Brother for Sale
This one had me going when I first spotted the headline … until I saw the price for “Gooseberry”: just £6,500. Ha! That’s the stuff wildest dreams and April Fool’s Day jokes are made of, EN. Kudos to our friends at H&H for a great spoof. Click here to read the full “story.”
Screenshot from Dubarry’s website
Dubarry: Dubarry Leather Boxers
This one had my spitting out my morning coffee when I saw it over on the Tuesday Morning Feed at Horse Nation. Reasonably priced at just $190, if you love the GORE-TEX lining in your Dubarry boots, you’ll love it in these Dubarry Leather Boxers. As George Takei would say, oh myyyy. Well played, Dubarry. Well played.
Via The Field Magazine’s Facebook page
The Field Magazine: Hunter Open Toed Boots
This one fooled a lot of people on The Field Magazine’s Facebook page: “Hunter unveils the #ORIGINALOPENTOE gumboot for the festival season, with unique ‘toe breathability’ technology. Based on the brand’s iconic Original boot first introduced in 1955. Priced at £85 the Original Open Toe is available in a variety of matte and gloss colours.”
Go April Fool’s Day!
The eventing community lost a true legend today as Headley Britannia was put to sleep at the age of 21. American eventing fans will especially remember her win at Rolex in 2009, where she jumped a flawless show jumping round to seal the deal. This video shows just how special she was — such an incredibly classy competitor and one who so obviously loved her job. Like Lucinda Fredericks said, she was truly one in a million. Rest in peace, Brit.
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