Classic Eventing Nation

Mondial du Lion Showcases Top Young Talent

By on Oct 18, 2013 10:15 am -

After an unfortunate cancellation of the 2012 event due to inclement weather, the 6 and 7 year old championships have returned at Mondial du Lion in France this weekend. Several new jumps have been added to the cross country course, and the top young horses from around the world will be contesting the event this weekend as a launching board for future international events.

There are a handful of North American riders competing this weekend. In the CCI1* for 6 year old horses, Brianne Stanley and Back to Business represent the US, currently sitting in 41st place on a dressage score of 60.8 and Lindsay Traisnel and Topla d’Auzay represent Canada in 25th place on a 50.8. In the CCI2* for 7 year olds, Logan Rawlings and S’Prit Coeur Volant ride for the US and sit in 38th on a 54.6.

With over 100 entries across both divisions, the weekend promises to be action packed and thrilling as these future stars enjoy their time in the spotlight. If you want to keep up with the happenings in France, you can check out the live stream here.

Mondial du Lion Links: [Website] [Live Scores CCI1*] [Live Scores CCI2*]

(Don’t) fuhgeddaboudit: New research on horses’ long term memory

By on Oct 18, 2013 9:17 am -

 

Photo by Samantha Clark

 

In a study that will shock none of us who have experienced our brave steeds balking at a cross-country fence where a rabbit darted out during an event FIVE YEARS AGO, a new French study confirms that indeed, horses have powerful long-term memories of both positive and negative experiences.

Previous research by Evelyn Hanggi, PhD, suggested that horses are capable of long-term memory of around a decade. But that study only included a few horses. This new research tested 26 “average riding club horses” over two years, Lea Lansade, PhD, behavioral science researcher at France’s National Institute for Agricultural Research told TheHorse.com. The study, “Characterization of long-term memory, resistance to extinction, and influence of temperament during two instrumental tasks in horses,” will be published in Animal Cognition. Other research — and Disney movies– has suggested that horses are unlikely to forget previous owners.

Lansade and her team used a variety of tests to analyze the horses’ memories. In one, the horses learned to back up when told, “Back!” by the handler and received a treat. In another, the horses had to cross an obstacle after hearing a bell ring, to prevent being subjected to a puff of air (Hmmm…similar to an accidentally inflated airvest.). The researchers tested the horses at these tasks two years after they learned them, with no practice in between.

“To our great surprise, all the horses—without exception—perfectly retained the exercise they had learned two years earlier, even though none of them had been trained on those tasks during that time,” said Lansade. “You could almost say it was too easy for them.”

When the researchers removed the reinforcement (food reward or air puff) , the horses tended to stop performing the tasks, showing that not only do horses have good long-term memories, they ain’t stupid.

Friday News & Notes from FLAIR Nasal Strips

By on Oct 18, 2013 12:01 am -

Last year's Fair Hill CCI*** winners, Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot (shown here at Red Hills 2012). Photo by Samantha Clark.

Welcome to yet another action packed weekend here at EN! I don’t know what I am going to do with myself in a couple of months when there is no big event to stalk and the ground is nearly frozen. Jenni is holding down the fort at Fair Hill this weekend, and I am headed to Kentucky to check out the action at the Hagyard Midsouth 3Day and Team Challenge. Stay tuned for plenty of action from both of these exciting fall events!

As this goes to press, we are about halfway through the Fair Hill CCI** dressage, with Boyd Martin and Pancho Villa holding down the lead on a 41.4. CCI** dressage resumes tomorrow and the CCI*** pairs will also ride dressage. I must give a big EN shout out to Ellen Doughty and Sir Oberon, who trekked from Texas to contest the CCI*** this weekend. Ellen is a true class act and “Obie” is an absolute cross country beast!

Fair Hill Links: [Website] [Dressage Times] [Live Scores]

Hagard Midsouth Links: [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Events This Weekend:

Fresno County Horse Park H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Times]

Paradise Farm H.T. [Website] [Ride Times]

“The Event” at Kelly’s Ford [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Fresno County Horse Park Horse Trials [Website] [Ride Times/Live Scores]

Grass Ridge Horse Trials [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Missouri Wine Country Sporthorse Show [Website] [Ride Times]

Friday News:

The clock is ticking on the entry time for the contest that FLAIR is running. You can win $250 by winning back to back horse trials between now and October 31. Be sure to use FLAIR strips for both your cross country and stadium rounds (take photos so we can see you rocking them!), and then spend your $250 on…oh, who am I kidding, I would spend it on my vet and farrier bills. [Eventers Win Big With FLAIR]

Authorities are investigating the death of three wild horses in Oregon. The horses had been shot when authorities arrived at the scene, and currently information and suspects are being sought in this senseless act of cruelty. [Oregon Horse Shooting Investigation]

Colleen Rutledge will be at Fair Hill this weekend! Mara DePuy has taken over the ride on Colleen’s YEH ride, Roulette, for the weekend and I know Colleen will be rooting them on. Colleen will be on site tailgating, and she has invited all of us to come see her at her tailgating spot. I will send Jenni a heads up to bring the wine! [Check out Colleen’s Facebook for more information]

Elisa Wallace, part eventer and part mustang trainer, is doing a mustang demo at the Cagle Mill Country Fair Fundraiser for ACES. Elisa and her amazing work with mustangs has been hugely popular in the horse community, and it’s great to see her getting the opportunity to show off what these great little horses can do. Are you in the Cagle Mill area? Be sure to stop by and check out Elisa’s mustang moves! [Cagle Mill Country Fair Fundraiser for ACES]

A yearling Thoroughbred filly has broken the record for the highest purchase price for a horse. Sired by the famous Galileo and out of Alluring Park, the filly was sold to Qatari Sheikh Joaan’s Al Shaqab Racing, breaking the previous record that was set a mere two days earlier by another Galileo yearling. [Galileo Filly Breaks Sales Record]

Best of the Blogs:

Natalie Reinart blogs for the Retired Racehorse Blog on the necessities of improving breeding on American soil.

Boyd recaps his Boekelo weekend.

Friday Video Break:

The Pennsylvania National Horse Show is still in full swing. Featured on USEF Network: Sidesaddle jumping!

Illegal Holding Box Procedures at Fair Hill

By on Oct 17, 2013 8:35 pm -

The Chronicle of the Horse published a post about some questionable actions taken in the holding box at Fair Hill this weekend. Two horses that were entered in the CCI2* this weekend, Fly Me Courageous and L.E. Font, were held after jogging and were advised to withdraw upon further inspection. “Further inspection” in this case appears to be flexion tests performed on the horses, which is illegal according to FEI rules (Article 1033, Section IV, d.).

The Chronicle reports:

According to [veterinarian Denys] Frappier, the horses were sensitive to palpation, so he flexed them.

“I have to give an answer to the ground jury,” he said. “If it confirms my first palpation, is he just ticklish and he doesn’t want me to touch him, then I flex him, and he trotted very, very lame. It made me comfortable of my answer to the ground jury.”

Both riders withdrew, not knowing that an illegal flexion had just taken place. When they realized, they appealed to technical delegate Martin Plewa, but he told them once they’d withdrawn there was nothing he could do.

Common sense says that we as riders will always put our horses’ welfare above a competition. I would speculate that both Debbie Foote (Fly Me Courageous) and Jessica Shull (L.E. Font) are taking every measure possible to ensure that their horses are safe and sound at the end of the day, although they must simply be gutted on having to withdraw before even setting foot in the dressage ring. However, to what extent should the veterinarian in the holding box have taken his examination? Furthermore, flexion tests are often stressful on a horse’s joints, so some think that they can produce inaccurate results based on how the horse reacts.

Betsy Ball, who owns L.E. Font, was displeased with the results of the horse inspection. She told COTH: “No one wants to run a crippled horse. They palpated my horse’s joint and said he was fine, but they were holding his hoof up to his stomach like a ‘you want money off a pre-purchase’ flexion. It’s six months until the next two-star. If he weren’t sound, I wouldn’t have driven from Mississippi to Maryland.”

Denys Frappier has stood by his decision to take the examination further, saying that he had the horses’ best interests in mind. There is no word on what, if any, consequences there will be for the infraction of FEI rules regarding the horse inspection.

We will have more on this story as it develops. What do you think? Did the veterinarian take his job too far, or should more precautionary measures and/or procedures be allowed in the holding box?

For the full Chronicle article, click here.


Footage of Debbie Foote and Fly Me Courageous at the jog, courtesy of Thehorsepesterer 

Press Conference Musings from Fair Hill

By on Oct 17, 2013 5:24 pm -

Boyd Martin and Pancho Villa hold the overnight lead in the CCI2* after the first day of dressage. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Boyd Martin, Sharon White and Leslie Law joined us for a press conference at the conclusion of the first day of dressage in the CCI2* at Fair Hill. Boyd and Pancho Villa hold the overnight lead on a 41.4, with Sharon and Under Suspection in second on a 43.9, and Leslie and Billy Wiz on a 44.2. Boyd and Pancho looked fantastic in the dressage this morning, and he attributed that to the fact that the horse has natural swing and suspension … and that his wife happens to be Grand Prix dressage rider Silva Martin.

“I’ve been in a wonderful situation being shacked up with a dressage rider,” Boyd said. “Thanks to Silva’s knowledge, she’s been able to create suspension out of a horse that has that ability.” Indeed, Pancho is a really impressive mover, and he’s definitely a very different type from the horses Boyd’s has had most of his success with in the past, like his gritty cross-country machine Neville Bardos.

Derek Di Grazia’s CCI2* track will by far be the biggest challenge of Boyd and Pancho’s partnership to date, and while they’re coming off a win in the Plantation Field CIC2*, it’s no secret Fair Hill is a different animal. “I’ll figure out if he’s a four-star horse on a weekend like this,” Boyd said. “It’s a big, intimidating track with lots of accuracy questions. This will be the first time most of these horses have gone over eight minutes, so you get a feel for their endurance and stamina and heart.”

Leslie Law is also facing the biggest test of Billy Wiz’s career, but he’s confident the horse will rise to the occasion in his first two-star. He and his wife, Lesley, bought the horse as a 5-year-old in England and have since watched him blossom into a fierce two-star competitor. “He’s very Irish-bred and seven-eighths Thoroughbred, so he’s taking a little more time to mature than other horses, but he’s bred for the job, and he’s probably going to be a proper four-star horse eventually.”

Billy is actually Lesley’s horse, and the plan is for her to take over the ride in the spring to tackle a two-star and hopefully qualify for the Pan American Games, so Fair Hill is definitely an important time for the horse to step up. “If you take the questions apart, there’s nothing he can’t do,” Leslie said. “But when you put all the questions back together, it comes down to the cumulative effect of all the questions. Fair Hill is a great education for the two-star horses, and we like to come here to really see what we’ve got for the future.”

Sharon White already has a good idea of what she has for the future in Under Suspection, as the mare successfully campaigned in Germany with Dirk Schrade in the irons before she took over the ride this spring. Pippy dazzled the spectators today with a fluid, accurate test, and Sharon couldn’t wipe the smile off her face when she talked about the mare in the press conference.

“She’s really special and really easy and kind, and it’s just fun,” Sharon said. “She knows I adore her, and she’s happy with that. You know there’s that saying that dogs have friends and cats have staff. Pippy definitely has staff. I’m really glad to be on her. She’s very competitive, and she takes care of things and she loves it.”

Sharon wasn’t sure she would make it to Fair Hill, as she’s dealing with a broken hand after she fell from Don Sheffield at Plantation Field, and her mother is also not doing well. “I decided on Tuesday to come because it makes me really happy to ride these horses,” Sharon said. “I have very genuine, gentle, kind horses here this weekend, and it’s really where I’d like to be. This weekend is about that for me.”

Fair Hill Links: [Website] [Dressage Times] [Live Scores] [YEH Scores]

Danielle Dichting and The Graduate Crack Top Five at Fair Hill

By on Oct 17, 2013 4:08 pm -

Danielle Ditching and The Graduate

Just five riders rode in the final group in the first day of dressage in Fair Hill CCI2*, and Danielle Dichting and The Graduate made their performance a test to remember, scoring 47.2 to hold fourth place overnight. Danielle also had a very good performance in the dressage at Fair Hill last year with Tops, who she’s since sold. Now she’s working to form a partnership with The Graduate, a lovely Germany gelding who has a lot of talent in this phase. They both have a lot of experience at this level, and I expect to see them sitting in a good position come Saturday.

Halfway through the CCI2* division, Boyd Martin and Pancho Villa hold first place on a 41.4, with Sharon White and Under Suspection in second on a 43.9, and Leslie Law and Billy Wiz in third place on a 44.2. Nine riders cracked the 40s today, and I expect we’ll see many more good scores tomorrow. Unfortunately, I’ll be focusing on the CCI3* dressage tomorrow, so I apologize in advance to the two-star riders who won’t enjoy the same coverage as today’s riders. It’s still a beautiful day at Fair Hill, and the 4-year-olds are still performing their dressage tests for the USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships.

The top three riders in the CCI2* joined us for a press conference following the conclusion of dressage, so stay tuned for my report from that. The top riders in the YEH Championships will also be joining us at 5 p.m., so stay tuned for more on that too. I have to send a big shout out to the officials and volunteers who helped the first day here at Fair Hill run so smoothly; we’re off to a great start to the weekend. CCI3* dressage starts bright and early at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning and runs through 4:20 p.m., so it will be another full day of coverage. Go Fair Hill.

Fair Hill Links: [Website] [Dressage Times] [Live Scores]

Sharon White and Under Suspection Answer Back at Fair Hill

By on Oct 17, 2013 2:37 pm -

Leslie Law and Billy Wiz

Sharon White has to be thrilled with her new ride Under Suspection, who scored 43.9 to move into second place in the CCI2* at Fair Hill. As Brian O’Connor put it, Sharon “rocked the orange” this afternoon, and this performance is a very good indicator of how her partnership is forming with this horse. Pippy joined Sharon’s program this spring after coming over from Dirk Schrade’s barn in Germany. Leslie Law and Billy Wiz also put some pressure on Boyd Martin and Pancho Villa — who still hold the lead after the third group of riders — with a lovely test for a score of 44.2, which moves them into third place. This horse has been very competitive at this level since moving up in the spring, and he most recently finished in fourth place at the Plantation Field CIC2*. This is a really cute horse, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of Billy this weekend.

Amanda Wilson and Shame on the Moon

I’m familiar with Amanda Wilson’s lovely grey Cool Decision, who she’ll be riding in the CCI3* this weekend, but this is the first time I’ve seen her equally stunning grey Shame on the Moon. This mare is super cool and a fantastic mover, and she handled the hustle and bustle of the main arena at Fair Hill — where the Young Event Horse Championships are going on in the neighboring ring — with poise. They scored 49.7 to sit in equal sixth place with Ryan Wood and Fernhill Classic and Colleen Loach and Freespirit. We also saw a lovely test from Allie Knowles and Sound Prospect, who scored 50 to move into ninth place. This horse is a familiar face over on the West Coast, where Tessa Beckett previously had the ride, and this is the first time I’ve seen the horse in person. They had a super, consistent test, and I imagine Allie is pleased with that score considering she’s only had the horse since July.

Allie Knowles and Sound Prospect

I have to give a shout out to Jenny Caras, who handled Fernhill Fortitude’s naughty antics with a very patient attitude. He’s a really lovely horse, and putting in consistent dressage tests will just be a matter of getting Forty to focus on the task at hand; they scored 56.9. Kudos to Jenny for having a good attitude about it! We’re now about to head into the fourth and final group of the day, with Lizzie Snow and Ringfort Tinkaturk kicking things off at 3 p.m. The weather is still fantastic here at Fair Hill, with temperatures in the low 70s and overcast skies keeping things comfortable. This is either a sign of a very good weekend yet to come, or it’s giving us a false sense of hope. Fair Hill is notorious for having terrible weather, after all. Stay tuned for the final report from the first half of CCI2* dressage at Fair Hill.

Fair Hill Links: [Website] [Dressage Times] [Live Scores]

 

Thoroughbred Legends Presented by Cosequin: High-Tech

By on Oct 17, 2013 1:42 pm -

Thoroughbred racehorses that go on to second careers are unique in that they have two retirements in their lifetimes: the first from the track and the second from the show ring. Thoroughbred Legends, a new EN series presented by Cosequin, seeks to honor off-track Thoroughbreds that went on to accomplish great things as upper-level eventers and now enjoy a second retirement in their golden years. If you know of a great Thoroughbred for this series, email [email protected].

Natalie Hollis & High-Tech at Menfelt (photo courtesy of Sport Horse Studios)

In 1985, a striking bay thoroughbred was born, and destined for the race track, he was registered with the jockey club as “Foolish Doll”. After his second year of life, it was determined that he was unlikely to make a profit in the racing world, and was offered for sale for a measly $500. He was luckily found by Virginia Benz Shemonic, a notable breeder in Illinois, who jumped at the opportunity to take him home and let him grow up a little in her fields at Rose Wood Hill Farm.

The gelding was gangly and huge from the start, standing at over 17 hands in his three year old year. He started his retraining slowly, but was soon realized as a great talent, and sent to Jill O’Donoghue to introduce him to Eventing. “Leggs” as he was known, was rechristened as High Tech, and began his career in Eventing in earnest in 1990. He quickly took to it, moving up the levels and placing 4th at his first CCI* at Radnor in 1993.

In 1994, Jill’s trainer Ralph Hill liked the horse so much that he took over the ride, and campaigned him at the Intermediate level, and the pair finished 11th at Bromont CCI2*. Unfortunately, that fall Leggs had what can be considered a career ending injury, and tore a hind suspensory ligament while on course at a horse trials. He was sent home to Virginia, who took him back and let him rest in her fields again.

Leggs loved Cross Country (photo courtesy of Sport Horse Studios)

As he was still a young horse, Virginia was unable to give up hope on Leggs. After several years of rest, she offered him to a friend’s daughter as an experienced mount to rehab and compete. Natalie Hollis was elated at the opportunity, and as she was about to begin a working student year for Phyllis Dawson, the timing could not have been better. She got him back into work, but sadly one month after their arrival at Windchase Farm, Leggs was attacked by his own blanket, and shattered his splint bone in the ruckus. Leggs had surgery to remove the chips that they could, and was relegated to about 8 months of stall rest.

“He was a little accident prone, yes,” says Natalie, “but he was also really tough. He came back from that injury in 1998 as sound as ever!” Indeed Leggs returned to competition that year, kicking it off with two wins and a third place at Preliminary as his first competitions. Natalie and Leggs moved up to Intermediate, and subsequently to the Advanced level, with many great placings at both the national and the FEI levels. They won a CIC2* at Morven Park, and were 8th in a competitive division of Advanced at Fair Hill in 2001.

When asked about her favorite memory of Leggs, Natalie said that one stood out in her mind. “At the Radnor CCI2* in 2000, we were well placed after dressage, and going clean around the cross country until Leggs decided to attempt to clear an irish bank instead of jumping on top. Unfortunately, we both skidded off and I fell, but Leggs got up and took off galloping,” she remembers ruefully. “I ran after him, because at that time you could still get back on, and I finally caught him and had to gallop back to that jump and finish. We jumped all the straight routes and finished clear…. minus about 80 time penalties!”

Like a great Thoroughbred, Leggs jogged up perfectly sound the next morning after that episode, while Natalie was nursing a broken foot. She shortened her stirrup on the broken side, managed to get her boot on, and finished with one of the few clear rounds.

Leggs & Natalie at CDCTA (photo courtesy of Brant Gamma Photography)

Sadly, after many years of upper level competition, Leggs was injured again at a CCI2* at CDCTA, when he was preparing for a fall CCI3*. Directly after their clean cross country round, it was determined that Leggs had severely injured a tendon, and Natalie was crushed. “I blamed myself and wished that it was me who was hurt instead of him,” Natalie remembers. “I felt like I owed him so much, and I just didn’t want him to ever be in pain. I’d have done anything for that horse, and that final injury weighed heavy on my shoulders for a long time.”

Leggs returned home with Natalie and she diligently rehabbed him. Within a year, he was sound again, amazingly. However, at the age of 17, she realized that his prime was behind him and attempted to retire him, but Leggs had other ideas. “He was bored out of his mind, he needed a job,” So Leggs became a Beginner Novice through Training schoolmaster for several of Natalie’s students until he was 23.

“Leggs just loved every part of it. He was the ultimate event horse. He loved going out there to show off, he clearly thought that everybody was there to see him. He had so many injuries that should have kept him down, but he had so much heart that he just kept coming back,” says Natalie. At age 23, Leggs colicked at night. After much deliberation, Natalie decided that it was best to lay him to rest, and end his suffering. “I’ll always be grateful that I got to be part of this very special horse’s life. He was one in a million.”

Colleen Loach and Freespirit Shine at Fair Hill

By on Oct 17, 2013 12:17 pm -

Colleen Loach and Freespirit

We’ve had one more pair crack the 40s so far in the CCI2* at Fair Hill, as Colleen Loach and Freespirit scored 49.7 to tie for fourth place with Ryan Wood and Fernhill Classic. Coach Clayton Fredericks and the rest of the Canadian contingent seemed thrilled with the test, and this puts Colleen in a very good position for the weekend, as this horse is very good across the country; they were most recently 12th in the CIC2* at Plantation Field. Hallie Coon and Namaste are sitting just behind them in sixth place on a 50.5. The horse was quite tense circling the arena before the test, but Hallie rode through the tension beautifully, and Namaste relaxed well before the test began. This pair has been competing at the Advanced level for most of the year, and they definitely have the experience they need to get around the CCI2* cross country this weekend.

Hallie Coon and Namaste

Caitlin Romeo and Spirit of the Outback had a rocky warmup, when Nilson Moreira da Silva and Muggle came too close in despite her warning. Jake was not happy about that at all, and he had a little meltdown. Caitlin didn’t let that faze her though, and she pushed through the little blip to get some really lovely work out of the horse. This is their first CCI2* since they competed at the NAJYRC back in 2008, so I’ll definitely be cheering them on this weekend. Caitlin is also one of the many riders wearing purple and teal ribbons this weekend in honor of Amy Barrington. Go Amy! We also saw Will Faudree and DHI Colour Candy in this group, and they’re in ninth place on a 52.2. Will contested the CCI3* here last year with this horse, but they parted ways on cross country and the horse put a stud through Will’s arm, leading to a a very impressive injury. Fingers crossed for no stud-related injuries this year!

Caitlin Romeo and Spirit of the Outback

Susie Beale and Isabella II were on track for a very good score until they got to the walk work, when the mare was very tense and not happy at all to be walking. This mare is a really lovely mover and super expressive with her front end in the canter — definitely a fun pair to watch. They scored 54.4 to sit in 11th place provisionally. We’re now on the lunch break here at Fair Hill. It’s still overcast and surprisingly very humid. We’ve been having an indian summer in this part of the country, and I’m certainly not going to complain. Allie Knowles and Sound Prospect kick off the next group of dressage rides in the CCI2* at 1 p.m. EST. For those of you wondering about the rest of the schedule this weekend, the CCI3* dressage doesn’t start until tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. EST, and the remainder of the CCI2* dressage will also run tomorrow. Go Fair Hill!

Fair Hill Links: [Website] [Dressage Times] [Live Scores]

Boyd Martin and Pancho Villa Take Early Lead in Fair Hill CCI2*

By on Oct 17, 2013 10:41 am -

Boyd Martin and Pancho Villa

Good morning from Fair Hill! It’s an overcast but pleasant day here in Elkton, Md., and after spending the past weekend in miserable weather at Boekelo in the Netherlands, I’m loving the forecast for this weekend. Boyd Martin is also loving the warmer temperatures, I’m sure, and he hopped right off a plane from Europe and straight onto his horses to prepare for the CCI2* this weekend. He was second to ride this morning in the two-star, and he currently leads the way with Pancho Villa. Boyd and Pancho led the dressage by a mile in the Plantation Field CIC2*, which they went on to win, and they’re also enjoying a healthy lead so far here at Fair Hill on a score of 41.4. This horse is very impressive in the dressage, and he has incredibly balanced paces; he looked relaxed and engaged throughout the test, and Boyd seemed happy with the result.

Kristen Bond and Seams Ready

Kristen Bond and Seams Ready are holding second place after the first group on a 48.3. This pair is a fresh off a win at the Area II Intermediate Championships, and they worked well together today for a solid score. This is a new ride for Kristen, and I’ve never seen him before, so I’m looking forward to watching them more this weekend. Kurt Martin and Anna Bella, who I featured on EN’s Got Talent earlier this year, are close behind in third place on 49.4, and this is definitely a pair you’ll want to watch this weekend. Kurt and Anna Bella are coming off very strong second-place finishes in the Virginia CIC2* and Plantation Field CIC2*, and she looked very good in her test today. This is Anna Bella’s first CCI2*, and she’s definitely starting the weekend off well. She’s a lovely mover and an even better jumper, and she absolutely has the talent to shine here at Fair Hill this weekend.

Kurt Martin and Anna Bella

Ryan Wood and Fernhill Classic are our other score in the 40s so far, and they kicked things off this morning as the first ride of the day to score 49.7 for fourth place provisionally. This is the first of three horses for Ryan in this division, and the horse is competing in his first CCI2* this weekend. They’re coming off a 15th place finish at Plantation Field, and I thought this was a good, workmanlike test from this pair. There’s one more group to go before the lunch break, with Will Faudree and DHI Colour Candy kicking things off next. I’m thrilled to be here at Fair Hill this weekend, as it’s the first event I ever covered for EN exactly one year ago, so it will always be a special event for me. As always, the grounds look fantastic, the press tent is lovely, and the best of the best have come to Elkton to compete this weekend. Stay tuned for much more from Fair Hill.

Fair Hill Links: [Website] [Dressage Times] [Live Scores]