Hawley celebrates a clear cross country with her crew. Via Hawley's Instagram.
Cross country has concluded at Pau, and the North Americans represented quite impressively today. Phillip Dutton sits in 4th place behind William Fox-Pitt’s triple threat, and show jumping tomorrow should be exciting.
The US team put in stellar rounds, and although Hannah Sue and Michael Pollard did not have their best days I know they will be back to fight another day.
Donner enjoys some post-XC rejuvenation. Photo via Lynn Symansky's Facebook.
Universe gets a celebratory banana. Photo via Clark Montgomery's Facebook.
Twitter was also, well, twittering, about the fabulous rounds thrown down on the cross country today, mostly surrounding the historic feat accomplished by William Fox-Pitt.
Hawley dedicated her ride today to Amy Barrington. Via Hawley's Instagram.
All of my social media feeds seem to be quite positive surrounding cross country today. Everyone is more than thrilled with the US team’s performance, and Hawley noted that Ginny had one of the best runs of her career today. I am sure that everyone will sleep soundly tonight dreaming of double clear show jump rounds. Pau wraps up tomorrow with show jumping. Stay tuned for much, much more!
Thanks to Youtube user Pegasus444444, here is video of the master at work. William Fox-Pitt went double clear on all three of his horses today, to earn the top 3 places at Pau going into show jumping tomorrow. Watch here as he has yet another beautiful round on Cool Mountain (2nd place).
Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Kate and I had a powwow last night before we passed out about how we would define a successful cross-country day at Les Etoiles de Pau. We ultimately decided that five riders making it around without any jumping penalties would be an A-plus day, and we came oh so close to meeting that goal. Considering we had two riders come home with double-clear trips and two more bring home clear jumping rounds with a teeny amount of time penalties, I’m still hailing today as a major success for Team USA.
Clark Montgomery — who delivered the first double clear for Team USA with Universe — wisely noted that we’re still probably a few years away from being internationally competitive on a consistent basis — and Coach David O’Connor has echoed the same sentiment — but the point is we’re on the right track. I asked Marilyn Little in our interview if she sees today as a turning point. “Sometimes all you need is a little boost. Today I think is a big boost,” she said. I couldn’t agree more.
Now we look ahead to tomorrow, when our five Americans still in the competition look to leave all the poles in the cups for show jumping. Lynn Symansky and Donner put in a very memorable clear show jumping round at Rolex this spring, and I asked her in our interview if she expected him to do the same here at Pau. She said he gets a bit nervous when people line the arena rails — and we’re definitely going to see big crowds tomorrow — but he’s an excellent jumper, and he can certainly bring it home.
Many thanks to Marilyn, Lynn and Clark for taking time to chat with me this afternoon. And I told Phillip I wouldn’t make him talk twice since we already got a chance to hear from him in the press conference, so check out that video below; Phillip starts speaking at about the 4:55 minute mark. This is the fourth time this year I’ve traveled to Europe with Team USA, and it’s the first time we’ve had an American in a press conference all year. That alone speaks volumes. Go Team USA.
Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Holy Pau. At the end of cross-country day at Les Etoiles de Pau, William Fox-Pitt is sitting in first, second and third places on scores of 41.5, 42.2 and 43.2 with Seacookie TSF, Cool Mountain and Neuf Des Coeurs, respectively, and four Americans are sitting inside the top 12. And Andrew Nicholson is probably crying quietly at his lorry. Let me say that again: William Fox-Pitt is totally dominating, and FOUR Americans are in the top 12 after cross country. William has been riding through pain this weekend after he tweaked his back at Le Lyon, but he said in the press conference that the injury luckily didn’t flare up today, and he was able to push through to deliver an unbelievable three double clear trips with all three of his horses. Talk about impressive!
Clark Montgomery and Universe. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Andrew Nicholson, on the other hand — who I imagine came into Pau thinking he would clinch yet another four-star win this weekend — had a bummer of a day on his three horses. He retired about halfway through the course with Viscount George — Kate said she heard the horse loathes keyholes and mounds, both of which made appearances on Pierre Michelet’s course — had a runout at the skinny at fence 20b with Rolex winner Quimbo and I think he might be eliminated with Mr. Cruise Control, who sort of only half jumped the corner at the final combination before galloping for home. Even if he’s not eliminated, he’s still only sitting in sixth place on Mr. Cruise Control, and he’ll have to best William’s three horses to nab a win tomorrow.
Marilyn Little and RF Demeter. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Andrew would also have to go through Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott, as they delivered a clear trip with just 0.4 time penalties to move up to fourth place heading into the show jumping. That performance meant Phillip spoke in the press conference (see the video below), so be sure to watch Phillip speak at about the 4:55 minute mark. Phillip said Cave was quite strong in the beginning of the course, and he let him get in deep to several fences to encourage him to back off, which the horse ultimately did. While Phillip had originally planned to take the direct route at the final combination — a big brush table with a rollback turn to a corner — he ultimately elected to take the longer route, which cost him that one second over time. But he wisely observed that it would have been very unfortunate to come so far only to have a runout one jump from home.
Lynn Symansky and Donner. Photo by Jenni Autry.
And that’s just where the good news begins for Team USA. Clark Montgomery and Universe were trailblazers for the Americans this morning, and they delivered the trip of a lifetime, coming home double clear to sit in ninth place and impressing the French announcer so much that she interviewed him in the main arena after their round — the only American to get tapped for an interview all day. Lynn Symansky and Donner brought home another double clear trip shortly thereafter, delivering the fastest round of the entire day for 12th place — which makes the photo I snapped of her checking her watch over the final fence all the more amusing, and it turns out they were up on the clock by a whopping 40 seconds with just one fence to go. Think you made the time there, Lynn.
Michael Pollard and Mensa. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Marilyn Little and RF Demeter also came home without any jumping penalties and just 1.6 time penalties to sit in 11th place overnight. I chatted with Marilyn after her round, and she said she was 14 seconds over her minute markers toward the end of the course, so it’s really impressive she was able to make up so much time. Michael Pollard and Mensa also made it around Pierre’s course, although they picked up 20 when the horse glanced off the skinny at 20b. This is Mensa’s first four-star, and I imagine he learned a lot out there despite the jumping penalties. And now for the bad news on Team USA. Hannah Sue Burnett parted ways with Harbour Pilot when the horse slipped badly between fences at the first water complex. Though Hannah Sue tried valiantly to hang on, she just couldn’t quite save it.
Kristi Nunnink and R-Star. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Of course, the grounds crew eventually dropped gravel at that spot after multiple horses nearly went down, and the rest of the Team USA put in bigger studs to account for any slippery spots after seeing Hannah Sue’s bad luck. Kristi Nunnink and R-Star also ran into trouble at the first water complex. While I originally thought she retired on course — and the live scores also show that she retired — Joanie Morris just confirmed that they received a technical elimination when Rosie blew past the first jump at the water, and Kristi jumped the wrong fence when she tried to re-route to the option. Rosie was absolutely raring to go before they set out on course — rearing in the main arena and putting on quite a show — so I think she would have made quick work of the course.
Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot. Photo by Jenni Autry.
I’m still hailing this as a major success for Team USA. We’ve spent so much time harping on how we’re not competitive in the dressage that we overlooked the most basic way to move up the leaderboard — deliver clear cross-country trips. Indeed, Phillip and Cave moved from seventh to fourth place, Clark and Buzz moved from 31st to ninth, Marilyn and Demi moved from 27th to 11th, and Lynn and Donner moved from 38th to 12. Of course, the weekend doesn’t end here, and now we need to leave all the poles in the cups tomorrow. But for tonight, let’s savor the victory. Stay tuned for much more from Pau, including Kate’s report, lots of photos, interviews with Marilyn and Lynn, video footage from cross country and video from the press conference. Go Team USA.
William Fox-Pitt & Seacookie, sitting in 1st overnight (photo by Kate Samuels)
The cross country today here at Pau could not have been nicer, with warm temperatures and a light breeze, the crowds from all over the world packed in to see the horses and riders navigate Pierre Michelet’s CCI4* course. While the riders agreed this morning that it was smaller than some other four-star courses, it certainly caused it’s fair share of problems, and reaffirmed that eventing is not, after all, a dressage competition. Check out my video below for footage of various combinations throughout the course.
William Fox-Pitt did the unimaginable and brought all three of his horses home clear and under the time. In our press conference, William spoke to the fact that riding three horses across five hours is quite hard for the rider’s adrenaline levels, and keeping your mental focus on three very different horses is a challenge to say the least. He said it was very nice to ride three horses that are experienced, know their jobs and want to do them well. As of right now, he lies first, second and third on Seacookie TSF, Cool Mountain and Neuf Des Coeurs, respectively. All three of them are separated by only 1.7, and Phillip lies 1.4 points behind that. Show jumping will be very exciting tomorrow!
Phillip & Mr. Medicott into the last water (photo by Kate Samuels)
Speaking of Phillip, he and Mr. Medicott cruised around the course in good style and seem to have worked out a partnership after only a few months together. Cave is incredibly experienced, having completed several CCI4* competitions with both Frank Ostholt and Karen O’Connor, so Phillip is his third lifetime CCI4* rider. Talk about an impressive horse! Phillip spoke to the fact that Cave can get very aggressive about the cross country, especially in the beginning, so it’s a matter of getting him to settle before the big combinations, and he seems to have achieved that well today. This pair finished just one second over the time to add 0.4 time penalties to their dressage score and go into show jumping in fourth place behind William and his three mounts.
Maxime Livio & Cathar de Gamel (photo by Kate Samuels)
The highest placed French rider is currently in fifth place, CCI4* newcomer Maxime Livio riding Cathar de Gamel. They had a brilliant dressage ride, which I mentioned in my day one wrap up, and followed that performance with a foot perfect ride today. This horse is quite small and nippy, and went around the cross country with a really gritty demeanor. Twenty-six-year-old Maxime says that the horse has won three times this year at the three-star level, and although it is their first CCI4* together, he trusts the horse enormously and they have been together for five years. He admits that show jumping may be their weakest link, but to be placed this high after two phases and sit next to William and Phillip in the press conference was an honor in itself.
Clark Montgomery & Universe, sitting 9th place overnight (photo by Kate Samuels)
Clark was the first rider out on the course for Team USA today, and after his frustration on dressage day, he positively zoomed around on Universe, making it look like a piece of cake. I saw them in the infield of the racetrack, and they looked super all the way around. Buzz was the perfect type of horse for this course, as he is quick on his feet and nippy with his front end, always giving the jumps plenty of air. He made the sharp turns that caught so many combinations out look simple. They came home clear and under the time to start out a great day for the U.S. riders. Clark and Buzz moved all the way up from 31st place after dressage into ninth place going into show jumping tomorrow on the merit of their clear round.
Lynn Symansky & Donner, sitting 12th overnight (photo by Kate Samuels)
Lynn Symansky and Donner were the next U.S. pair that I saw on the cross country, and they looked incredible. I was asked about Lynn’s cross-country style by another photographer before she came through the water jump, and I replied that she was gritty and determined. She certainly lived up to that reputation today, as she jumped through the very difficult 11ab and 12 at the overturned boat houses in the infield with all the technical skill in the world. Donner is such a super jumper and so quick off the ground, and he trusts Lynn completely. They made mincemeat of their second CCI4* course, finishing with the fastest time of the day with 15 seconds to spare as they crossed the finish line, moving up from 38th place after dressage into 12th place going into the show jumping.
Marilyn Little & RF Demeter,sitting 11th place overnight (photo by Kate Samuels)
Marilyn Little and RF Demeter were the last U.S. riders out on course today, and despite a bobble dropping into the first water at 6abc, they looked strong everywhere else and finished the day with only 1.6 time penalties to move up from 27th place after dressage into 11th place for Sunday. Demi looks in great health, and I think that she and Marilyn are gaining great experience with one another competing in Europe all summer in Holland. This mare is a really lovely jumper, and having jumped clear around Luhmuhlen earlier this year, they’ve got the cross country figured out. Marilyn has been working hard on Demi’s show jumping, so here’s to a clear round tomorrow.
Michael Pollard & Mensa G into the last water (photo by Kate Samuels)
Michael Pollard and Mensa seemed to be having a great round until they unfortunately had a runout at 20b, which was a combination of two very narrow skinny jumps later in the course coming out of the race track infield. Amongst many others, Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo had the exact same problem, and the jump was one of the most difficult questions on the course. After that, Michael seemed to take his foot off the pedal a little, and brought Mensa home quietly to finish with 24.8 time penalties, and goes into show jumping in 47th place.
Hawley Bennett and Gin & Juice, 23rd after cross country (photo by Kate Samuels)
If I had to choose a phrase to describe Ginny, I would definitely choose “jumpin’ fool”. I saw Ginny early in the course at 6abc when she bounced through the troublesome combination and took off for the infield, and then again at the end of the course at 24, 25abc and 26. At this point, a lot of horses were looking a little less enthusiastic, and some even fatigued. Not Ginny! This little mare had one of her best dressage tests yesterday and then ate this cross country course as a snack. Unfortunately, I think that Ginny’s exuberence cost Hawley some valuable time, and they finished with 13.2 time penalties and sit in 23rd place going into the show jumping tomorrow.
Shandiss McDonald & Rockfield Grant Juan (photo by Kate Samuels)
Shandiss McDonald and the lovely Rockfield Grant Juan also completed the course today for Team Canada, and where I saw them they looked very solid. Juan is so huge that he positively lopes around the course, and despite his large body he found the sharp turns on Pierre Michelet’s course quite easy. Shandiss has moved her operation to England as of this summer, and has been enjoying the extra competitive atmosphere. Unfortunately, Juan seemed a little fatigued on course and finished with 42 time penalties to sit in 46th place overnight, right before Michael Pollard.
We just had a press conference with William Fox-Pitt, Phillip Dutton and Maxime Livio, and they all spoke for quite some time on their rides today, so we will be uploading that and bringing you more reports shortly, so stay tuned.
William Fox-Pitt and Seacookie, shown here at Rolex. Photo by Kasey Mueller.
William Fox-Pitt had a perfect day today on cross-country at Pau to sit 1-2-3 on his three horses. American Phillip Dutton is in 4th with Mr. Medicott. Three other Americans are within the top 12, with clear rounds from Clark Montgomery and Universe, Marilyn Little and RF Demeter, and Lynn Symansky and Donner. Stay tuned for the full report from Pau, as Jenni and Kate will bring you all the details!
Lauren DeNeve and Forrest Nymph. Photo by Jody Harwood.
Sinead Halpin is taking over the ride on Forrest Nymph, a 14.3-hand New Forest Pony mare who has successfully campaigned through preliminary and tackled her first CCI* in April. I featured Farrah on EN’s Got Talent earlier this year, and since then, her owner, Beth Davidson, decided to put out some feelers to see if any upper-level riders would be interested in seeing just how far this little mare can go. After placing an ad on Sport Horse Nation, Beth received an overwhelming response, and she talked about why she ultimately chose Sinead on her blog:
“I had some excellent offers, from four-star riders down to 15 year olds wanting to ride their first preliminary — both foreign and domestic riders. In the end, I chose the rider who I thought would fit Farrah’s personality and riding style best and who impressed me with her professionalism. Even though she couldn’t come for a test ride due to a bum ankle, she sent her good friend Lisa Barry (who did a great job on Farrah) to test ride Farrah and called me that night with a proposal I could not refuse.
“I am so proud to say that Forrest Nymph, aka Farrah or the Red Head, will be ridden by Sinead Halpin (SHE) beginning in December. Farrah’s former owner, Lynn Simpson, and breeder, Leslie Feakins of Trevelyan Farm, are super excited as well. Black Dog Farm (where Farrah resides) will miss her Highness, but we will have a great team to cheer on this winter.”
Sinead is equally excited about bringing this super pony into her barn, and she unveiled the news last night via Facebook:
Many super ponies have been compared to the late great Theodore O’Connor since he stole America’s heart, and now we’ll all wait to see if Farrah is the real deal. With Sinead in the irons, anything can happen! Go Farrah, and Go Team SHE.
Good morning from Pau! It’s another beautiful day here, and CCI4* cross country begins at 12:15 p.m. local time (6:15 a.m. EST). For those of you awake at this early hour back in the States, be sure to follow along with the live stream, which seems to be working well this morning. This is a big day for Team USA, and arguably one of the most important days of the entire season as we’re looking for seven clear cross-country trips across Pierre Michelet’s course. All seven of these horse-and-rider combinations are capable of getting around the course and have the necessary experience. It’s just a matter of getting the job done.
The general consensus amongst the riders is it’s more of a mental course than a physical course. The majority of the jumps are smaller than what you’d expect to see on a CCI4* course, but they’re set at tricky angles that will require our riders to be very accurate and committed to their lines. And while the course starts out softer with a lot of straightforward galloping fences, it builds along the way, with many of the trickier combinations coming toward the end. In that way, it’s more of a thinking course, and it’s going to require a lot of mental energy from the riders in those final minutes. Let’s do this. Go Team USA.
North American Cross-Country Ride Times
Peter Barry & Kilrodan Abbott: 1:07pm (7:07am EST)
Kathryn Robinson & Let It Bee: 1:27pm (7:27am EST)
Clark Montgomery & Universe: 2:19pm (8:19am EST)
Hannah Sue Burnett & Harbour Pilot: 2:39pm (8:39am EST)
Lynn Symansky & Donner: 3:03pm (9:03am EST)
Michael Pollard & Mensa G: 3:23pm (9:23am EST)
Kristi Nunnink & R-Star: 3:43pm (9:43am EST)
Phillip Dutton & Mr Medicott: 4:15pm (10:15am EST)
Marilyn Little & RF Demeter: 4:27pm (10:27am EST)
Hawley Bennett-Awad & Gin & Juice: 4:31pm (10:31am EST)
12:30: Willam Fox-Pitt and Neuf Des Coeurs were first out and delivered a double clear trip.
12:35: Andrew Nicholson and Viscount George retired on course because the horse apparently has an issue with keyholes and mounds. There’s only keyhole on course and multiple mounds.
12:40: We’re seeing a lot of time penalties so far, so William’s quick trip doesn’t necessarily mean the time is easy to make.
12:55: Sarah Bullimore and My Last One delivered the second double clear trip so far.
1:16: Peter Barry and Kilrodan Abbott had a refusal at fence 16 but are continuing on well.
1:18: Peter Barry fell from Kilrodan Abbott at fence 24. Both are up and OK.
1:29: Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee had a refusal at fence 6, the duck in the first water.
1:36: The big screen in the main arena is showing Kathryn Robinson fell from Let It Bee. Not sure where on course.
2:05: Shandiss McDonald and Rockfield Grant Juan jumped clear with 42 time penalties. That’s the first pair to make it around for Team Canada.
2:33: Clark Montgomery and Universe delivered a fantastic double clear trip as the trailblazers for Team USA!
2:41: Hannah Sue Burnett fell from Harbour Pilot early in the course at the first water jump when William slipped between fences. She’s OK. Kate confirmed the ground is very slippery there, and many horses have been sliding around.
2:43: Clark is signing autographs for young fans here in the main arena. #celebritystatus
2:54: Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo had a runout at the skinny at fence 20.
3:05: William Fox-Pitt delivered yet another double clear trip with Seacookie TSF. They will hold their lead going into the show jumping.
3:10: Hannah Sue is here in the main ring cheering on her teammates and lending a helping hand.
3:16: Another double clear for Team USA! Lynn Symansky and Donner just romped around the course in super form. Lots of hugs all around.
3:21: Lynn and Donner had the fastest trip of the day so far. They were 40 seconds up on the clock with just one jump to go.
3:22: Also interesting to note both Clark and Lynn were up enough on the clock to take the long route at the final combination and still make the time.
3:31: Michael Pollard and Mensa glanced off the skinny at fence 20b and will pick up 20 jumping there. Such a bummer as they were going so well.
3:38: Michael and Mensa came home with the one refusal and 24.8 time penalties.
3:41: R-Star protested the countdown to her start time by throwing in little rears. She looks ready to decimate the course. Kristi Nunnink and R-Star are on course now!
3:46: It looks like Kristi and R-Star missed the direct route into the water when Kristi had some steering issues. Kate is at the first water and she said it looked like Kristi re-routed to the option but then retired on course. Update: Kristi and R-Star actually received a technical elimination when she jumped the wrong C element at the option.
4:05: Lucy Wiegersma and Simon Porloe retired at the first water after failing to successfully navigate the duck option. They were sitting in sixth place overnight.
4:28: Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott come home clear with just 1 time penalty. They go into third place with about 15 horses to go.
4:39: Marilyn Little and RF Demeter came home clear with just 1.4 time penalties. That’s four clear jumping trips for Team USA.
4:44: Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice jumped clear with 13.2 time penalties. Looks like Ginny was pulling the whole way.
5:09: Lucinda Fredericks and Flying Finish had a run out at the chevron in the final water. They were the overnight leaders.
5:15: Andrew Nicholson and Mr. Cruise Control shimmied over the final corner and took the flag before galloping for home. It really doesn’t look like he made it over the fence, and I’m thinking he’ll probably get eliminated for that.
5:25: William Fox-Pitt just came home double clear with Cool Mountain — his third double clear of today. Talk about a master of cross country. He’s now in first, second and third going into the show jumping tomorrow. Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott are in fourth place, with Maxime Livio and Cathar De Gamel in fifth place. Stay tuned for much more from Pau!
Kirsten Cowan of The Beast Eventer blog has been reporting in from the Waredaca Classic 3-Day, where she is entered in the Novice 3-Day with her mare Keeping It Classy (Ariat) and her friend Christine and Zoe competed in the Training 3-Day. Today Kirsten shares Christine’s account of the Training level endurance day. Thanks to Kirsten and Christine for writing, and thank you for reading. Go long format! [Read Part I] [Read Part II] [Waredaca Live Scores]
From Kirsten:
I am going to start off by saying a few very important things right off the bat here:
1) Everyone reading this needs to ride a 3-day IF you are interested in the best experience of your entire life and gaining invaluable knowledge about what it means to be a horseman.
2) Both Christine and I are extremely tired and there is no way we can properly explain to you tonight the amazing-ness that is endurance day at a 3-Day!! We stay in Maryland until Sunday morning so after we finish up competing tomorrow we will have come down time to reflect.
Without further ado, Endurance day will rock your world!
Training went first this morning and Christine and Zoe were 4th out of start! Before I turn the “reins” over to her to tell you about her experience I just wanted to say sending your rider off on phase A is the most anti-climatic experience of your life! There is all this anticipation, the anxiety and excitement is literally palpable. Then the rider gets called and they are off!!! ….. At a trot………
Christine’s thoughts post-endurance day:Hi Everyone! So first of all I’d like to say Thank you to Everyone who worked SO hard to put on such a fabulous event! I can only begin to imagine the time, effort, stress, and cups of coffee that went into the organizing! But I’ll fill you guys in on what happened today with what I like to think as “the fun stuff”.Coming into Endurance day I was quite nervous, especially for phase D. One might think that was odd given that, that was the only phase I have actually done in a competition setting. I can get quite nervous for XC especially when I am able to walk the course more than a couple times. And after the first course walk I was feeling a little green. Having moved up to Training this Spring the course was very technical. It had some pretty serious questions. Contemplating this on the way back to the barn, I realized “Wait…..we did steep angled fences in my lesson two weeks ago….and lots of skinnys with some technicality….and it was fine.” (And I’d like to give a BIG Thanks to my instructor, Suzi, for all the help she’s given me and Zoe! Couldn’t have gotten this far without her.)The second course walk did not make me feel much better…I couldn’t even pin point a partricular worry because there were more than a few. (Especially the keyhole skinny brush fence that was the second to last fence….) But then I remembered that I’m riding Zoe. She’s been around significantly more Training Level courses than I have and generally seems to like to look out for me. (Cause I definitely need it).This morning, I walked the course again and thought “O…..this is not as daunting as I built up in my head excellent.” I think the main reason I was feeling better about D was because I was so worried about the other three phases. I felt like a squirrel on crack trying to make sure I had all the times right, adjust my watches, make sure I had everything I wanted or could possibly need down in the 10 min box, and is Zoe going to spook at the fence judges or think she needs to gallop phase A because we had a countdown. The list goes on and on.
Thankfully Zoe usually ignores my anxious, high stress energy vibes. (I think she tries to help me stay calm by being calm herself). And I had an amazing group of people to help get my to the start on time.
So off we went…..trotting. (Well Zoe insisted on some cantering, and then was offended that there were hay bales….and people…..and other horses not exactly where she liked them from yesterday). So off we went and finally established a rhythm. I found that trotting along in my two point actually made it easier for both of us to settled into a comfortable steady rhythm. I was so paranoid I’d forget a flag I tried to make up stupid ways to remember which number i had just passed…which really was a fail. But I didn’t miss any, which was probably due to the great job the Waredaca team did on labeling the trail.
Then onto phase B, which I was very excited for! Zoe was also. She was ready to do some running and jumping. She really enjoyed this phase! Our first fence I let her drift a little right (my chronic life struggle) so she jumped a little funny. But off we went, she was then fully committed and ready to GO! If you’ve never done the steeplechase phase and have the opportunity to do it, DO IT! SO much fun! It really gets you going!
DOC gives Michael Pollard some tips during a dressage school. Photo via Alison Willaby's Facebook page.
Good morning! By the time you are reading this, I probably will have already been awake for a couple of hours watching Pau cross country go-rounds. Or at least, I would like to think that I will be able to wake up (and stay awake) to catch at least a few rides. There’s just something about seeing things live – maybe it’s my constant need for instant gratification that drives me, I’m sure you struggle with that as well! I would also like to send a whole lot of EN well wishes to Boyd Martin, who broke his arm on Thursday. He posted on Facebook on Friday afternoon saying that he had successfully made it out of surgery.
Although there isn’t a ton of terrain on the Pau cross country course, the questions still look every bit of a CCI**** and are sure to ride just as difficult as they look. Best of luck to all combinations heading out on course today!
This spring Tipperary Equestrian launched the GOT PINK Breast Cancer campaign in partnership with the Women’s College Hospital Foundation. Until October 31, 2013 Tipperary will donate 5% of each Tipperary Pink Sportage 8500 and Pink Eventer 1015 sold to the Women’s College Breast Cancer Research Program.
Daniel Clasing is currently scheduling clinics for the fall and winter. If you are interested in participating in or hosting a clinic with a skilled 4-star rider, you can email Daniel at [email protected] or call him at 410-456-6635. [Daniel Clasing Eventing]
Halloween is coming up this week. Have you gotten your horse’s costume put together yet? Here’s some inspiration (and education!) if you’re going for the skeleton angle.
