Classic Eventing Nation

Watch Cross Country Footage from Aachen

By on Jul 1, 2013 9:00 am -

Andrew Hoy and Cheeky Calimbo at Aachen

The German television channel WDR has posted a video replay of cross-country day at Aachen. Their coverage includes a lot of interviews with German riders in the beginning, so you unfortunately won’t get to see the first 11 rides, including Clark Montgomery and Universe. But you do get to see Clark and Jess in the cool-down area, where they watched and cheered on the rest of the Team USA riders from the television there. The action starts with Michael Jung and Halunke FBW at 7:50, and you can see Team USA at the following times in the video: Marilyn Little and RF Smoke on the Water at 21:20, Will Faudree  and Pawlow at 47:03, and Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister at 1:15:00. Click here to watch the video footage from Aachen.

click to watch the video replay

Monday News and Notes from Success Equestrian

By on Jul 1, 2013 3:56 am -

Christopher Burton won the CICO 3* at Aachen with Holstein Park Leilani

Good morning, EN! Later this week we celebrate our country’s independence day, and this weekend in Germany, some of our top riders were representing the great US of A at the Aachen CHIO. Cross-country was not kind to many riders on course, including Rolex winner Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo. The Germans dominated much of the action, once again sending a message to the rest of the world that they’re the nation to beat.

Weekend Results:

Groton House Farm Horse Trials

Horse Park Of New Jersey Horse Trials

Aachen CICO3*

Events Opening this Week:

Erie Hunt and Saddle Club H.T. (Pennsylvania, A-8) Larkin Hill H.T. (New York, A-1) Full Gallop Farm August HT (South Carolina, A-3) Waredaca Farm H.T. (Maryland, A-2)  Huntington Farm H.T. (Vermont, A-1)  The Event at Santa Fe (New Mexico, A-10)

Monday News:

Christopher Burton and Holstein Park Leilani won the CICO 3* at Aachen this weekend after their strong showing in the jumping phases. ‘Burto’ and Leilani moved steadily up the ranks after their fifth placed dressage round with a double clear in stadium and cross-country. Seven Germans occupied the top 10, including Sandra Auffarth and her Olympic mount Opgun Louvo, who finished in second, and Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam FSW, who were third. [Christopher Burton Wins Aachen]

Tiana Coudray finished strongly at Aachen, piloting Ringwood Magister to a tenth placed finish. Tiana and Finn scored a solid 43 in dressage, but were in 20th place heading into the jumping. A clean show jumping round, and some time penalties in cross-country moved them up ten places, to finish with the US’s highest score. Clark Montgomery was the only other US pair to finish, after Will Faudree and Marilyn Little both fell on cross-country. [Aachen Wrap Up]

Sapphire gave birth, well ok, her surrogates did, to a colt and filly at Bluechip Farm in New York. The filly, who is by Heartbreaker, is a Sapphire lookalike with her chestnut coat and big white blaze, while the Presley Boy colt is a bay with a white star. The foals were born just thirteen minutes apart. [Chronicle of the Horse]

Scientists undertook a record-breaking genome project, on a horse. The 700,000 yar old horse, found frozen in ice in Canada, is the oldest specimen on which this has been attempted. There was enough DNA still attached to the skeleton for researchers to map the DNA, which will give us greater knowledge of how horses evolved to what they are today, and may provide examples for scientists in other fields to follow. [USA Today]

The latest in Smart Pak’s ‘Ask the Groom’ focuses on leg care. Mainly the daily maintenance and prevention of both injuries and skin diseases. It kind of made me feel like I should be doing more! [Smart Pak]

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Heat Stroke & Other Ways to Successfully Fail at Summer

By on Jun 30, 2013 1:00 pm -

Just like every other equestrian out there, my job doesn’t quit just because good old 95 degrees and 10,000% humidity has finally rolled around in Virginia. Oh, it’s 7am and you’re already covered in sweat? Good, you’ve got 12 more hours of this headed your way. Sometimes when I wake up and walk outside only to realize that literally any clothing is too much clothing, I can’t help but imagine one day when I’ll be fancy and rich enough to have an indoor with gigantic industrial fans installed in the ceiling and a misting corner for cooling off after a ride.

However, being more than a little stubborn, I continued my regular schedule last week when Mother Nature suddenly cranked up the heat and threw in some daily afternoon thunderstorms just to keep everything nice and humid. On day one, I drank so much water mixed with gatorade that I felt like I was pregnant with a lemon-lime electrolyte water baby. On day two, I got lazy, and probably drank 1/5 of what I should have, and then topped it off with a beer, and called it a night in the AC. Day three? I started feeling generically ill, had the vague feeling of a temperature (but couldn’t tell if it was me or just the outdoors), but figured what the heck, don’t be a sissy Kate!

However, day four rolled around and I woke up after a night of sweaty restlessness to continue on my doomed path towards summer misery. I felt nauseated, so I didn’t drink as much as I should. I drank coffee because I was tired, which is a really great way to dehydrate yourself.  I had a throbbing headache, I seemed to be having mild memory recall issues and I generally felt like I was walking underwater with some earplugs in. Did it seem like I should ride 7 horses anyway? Of course it did.

Number one way to fail at summer: IGNORE your body when it says, “Hey, you’ve had too much. Chill out for a minute. Maybe don’t ride that extra horse at 12 in the boiling sun. Maybe take a lunch break, drink a few gallons of water.” How, at this age, I have come to be so oblivious to my own obvious physical needs is a mystery to many who surround me, but literally every summer I give myself heat stroke at some point or another, and it takes falling down that rabbit hole to make me reasonable. It’s really a wonder I haven’t lost too many brain cells to write a coherent sentence.

And so, from the depths of my “learned this the hard way” knowledge, I give you:

Top Eight Ways To Successfully Fail At Summer

  1. Drink irregularly and sparingly. If you have to drink, consider coffee or soda! Water is boring, and relatively flavorless. Drink beer after a long day in the sun without any actual hydration.
  2. While you’re at it, drink hot beverages. Cold beverages don’t actually cool you down, and ice cubes are overrated. For the best taste, leave your soda outside in the arena with the top open, then you can have flat AND hot Coke!
  3. Wear lots of dark, tight fitting clothing. Keep your head tight in your heaviest helmet all day long, and even keep it on when you aren’t riding.
  4. Be really brave and determined on days when the weather suddenly moves from cooler to ragingly hot! These are the days to get the most accomplished. Your body doesn’t need to acclimate to the changes in the temperature, so go for it!
  5.  Don’t take breaks in between riding or other physical activities. Breaks are for sissies and ineffective people. You have things to accomplish, and be damned about the heat!
  6. If it’s really really hot outside, and you don’t seem to be sweating….great! Congrats! You’ve won the sweating lottery, and you’re doing awesome. You should probably celebrate with a nice beer, no matter what time of the day it is.
  7. Should you at some point feel like you have been concussed very recently, and perhaps can’t remember if this is true or not, ponder the possibilites while you are riding your next horse. When somebody asks you why you are lilting one way in the saddle and looking distinctly cross-eyed, tell them to mind their own business and wonder why their horse is so ugly instead!
  8. If you have the choice between riding in the shade and riding in the bright sun, the obvious choice is bright sun. After all, how are you going to get that enviable riders tan that everybody loves so much! Your forearms could always be more tan. Work on it.

*Please note that these are all in jest, and do not by any means follow any of the suggestions above. In fact, do the exact opposite*

Mikaela Kantorowski: Meeting the Area II Young Rider Grooms

By on Jun 30, 2013 10:00 am -

Mikaela Kantorowski was a junior guest blogger for Eventing Nation last summer, covering her time as a working student for Jan Byyny and grooming at NAJYRC for Area II.  Mikaela is back again to groom for Young Riders, and wrote to introduce us to the rest of her 2013 Area II grooming team.  Thanks for writing, Mikaela, and thank you for reading. 

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Photo courtesy of High Time Photography.

From Mikaela:

Hey everyone! My name’s Mikaela Kantorowski and I’m super excited to document the adventures of Area II Young Riders throughout the summer! Some of you might remember me from last year when I blogged while working for Jan Byyny and then grooming for the Area II team. We had lots of fun and I can’t wait to do it again!

To catch everybody up on me, I’m from Southern Pines, North Carolina and I’ll be 18 in September. I train with Bobby Costello and recently acquired a fantastic 7-year-old mare named is Ringfort Swan Song (aka Coco). I cannot wait to attend camp and learn even more on her. She really is a horse for the future.

Enough about me because there’s that little event called the North American Junior Young Rider Championships that marks every young rider’s summer and whether a competitor, groom, or even mentor the event always lives up to expectations. This will be my third time attending the Championships and I have made some of my fondest memories there, including sleeping in the RVs in the luxurious Kentucky Horse Park Campground, and attending the wonderful parties hosted by the Horse Park and Spy Coast Farms.

In 2011, I participated in the mentorship program and was lucky enough to be paired with Technical Delegate Gillian Kyle. I learned so much and I would recommend this to anyone! Last year I was assigned as Area II’s head groom. I had a blast and it is one of the most gratifying things ever to watch a shiny horse trot into the arena and know what goes on behind the scenes to make it all come together. I will be attending again this year as a groom and I’m looking forward to it. 2013 will be a bit different as Gwen Dean and Audrey Wiggins have handed the reins over to Meg Kep and Pam Medlin as Area II coordinators. We are so sad to see Audrey and Gwen go but also excited to work with Meg and Pam!

Also David and Lauren O’Brien have handed the reins over to Sinead Halpin as our new team coach. Lauren and David did an amazing job and I know we are all excited to work with Sinead. With all these changes it will be an exciting summer for Area II Young Riders and I look forward to bringing you all the juicy information this summer from new sponsors to all the happenings at camp and then at the Championships. First off, I’d like to introduce our crack staff of grooms behind the scenes! All of the grooms have been chosen through the Area II program. All our riders and grooms will be attending camp and really bonding together as a team. These grooms also had to fundraise for their spot on the team, so good work guys! I’m privileged to be a part of this staff. You will see these girls running around behind the scenes making sure all those whites are sparkling and that the chestnuts gleam like shiny pennies!

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Hi, my name is McKenna Oxenden, I’m a senior in high school and 16 years old (soon to be 17!) and this is my first year grooming at Young Riders. I have evented through training level with 13.2 pony superstar, Dorito Cooler Ranch. I now currently compete a 9 year old, 15.2 Trakehner/Connemara cross, Gossip Girl. Last summer I was based in Virginia, working and training with CCI4* event rider Emily Beshear. I now currently train and work with Courtney Sendak of Defying Gravity Eventing. When I’m not busy riding ponies and doing manual slave labor, I love playing photographer/graphic designer working on little side jobs with my small business, McKenna Erinn Photography (like us on Facebook!). Every Thursday I blog about my ‘secret life’ on Horse Nation—check it out! I’m very excited to have this opportunity to attend Young Riders and cannot wait. Go Area II!

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Kaylin Medlin and her horse Harley: 16-year-old Kaylin Medlin has been in the saddle since she was 7 years old. She started out training as a Vaulter, but fell in love with the sport of Eventing after watching cross-country. She is a very dedicated young lady with big goals and dreams that include international competition on the USET team. Her horse, Watch-Me-Now, “Harley,” is a grey, 11 year old Morgan/Thoroughbred gelding. Kaylin and Harley have been partners for four years, and hope to be together for many more. With Harley’s big heart and willingness to try, they hope to be competing together through the upper levels of Eventing. Kaylin and Harley are currently competing at Training Level and plan to move up to Prelim fall 2013 with a goal to compete at the NAJYRC in the summer of 2014. She has trained with: Susan Beebee, Rebecca Howard, Charlie Plumb and Dana Cooke. In 2012 she was the winner of PRO Junior Training Scholarship with Will Faudree and completed the T3D. She has been a guest blogger for both PRO and Eventing Nation and a feature story in Jack and Jill Magazine May/June 2011 issue. She groomed for Susan Beebee at Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event in 2011 and was a working Student for Charlie Plumb from September 2012 – June 2013. She is sponsored by Moxie Equestrian and LR Equestrian.

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My name is Eliza Granger and I’ve been riding my OTTB Fred Astaire (Freddie) at the preliminary level since February of this year. I am really looking forward to grooming for our Area II YR team at the championships, and next year I hope to compete. Holly Hudspeth has been helping me for six years now, and has guided me through the levels as an eventer. My horse Freddie has an extremely animated personality that never fails to keep me entertained. He’s a six-year-old chestnut with enough energy and enthusiasm on the cross-country course to keep him hyped long after we’ve passed the finish flags. I have to lunge him before dressage at every show so that I don’t fall off in the sand box. He gives me a lot of attitude, but I wouldn’t trade him for the world.

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Corinne Frankel has been riding for 11 years. She trains with Melissa Hunsberger and Natalie Hollis at Destination Farm in Maryland. She has successfully gone to the preliminary level with her ex-advanced horse Loose N’ Cool who she hopes to take to NAJYRC in 2014. The original goal was 2013 but a torn MCL put Loose N’ Cool in stall rest for 9 months. She hopes to get him going again by early fall. While they were in action they secured impressive wins at Waredaca twice and Seneca Valley all at the preliminary level. She is now focusing on her 5-year-old, Excalibur. She purchased him a year ago as a green-broke baby and has since brought him along and is now successfully competing with him at the training level. She hopes that Excalibur will be the 2nd horse she brings to NAJYRC. In 2012, Corinne groomed for the Area II Young Rider Team at NAJYRC. The experience was so amazing that she is now grooming again in 2013 and is super excited!

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Photo courtesy of Mike McNally.

 

Hey! My name is Grace Fulton! (Featured on EN’s Rising Stars) I ride and compete out of my family’s barn in Finksburg, MD where my mom is the resident trainer and my dad is a farrier. I ride with both my mom and Laura Beetle on the flat. For some reason I have ended up with three chestnuts on my trailer! Leo the Lionhearted and I have been running preliminary this spring and Wild Orange and I have been running training with a possible move up sometime this fall. Both came to me through the wonderful Ms. Sharon White, and my younger horse FMF The Good Stuff just won her first training this week!. This spring has had its ups and downs like any eventing season does, but I’m sure we will be much better for it. Some of the highlights have been winning the Prelim at Waredaca on Leo and just recently winning the Training at Surefire on Wild Orange. I have really enjoyed being a groom for my sister, Woodge, at NAJYRC these past few years, and I look forward to learning at camp and helping the team all week.  Hopefully the team will do well and we will have some more awesome stories to tell at the end of it all!

 

Go Eventing and Go Area II!

Aachen’s Sunday Links from ERS-Eventing.com

By on Jun 30, 2013 12:01 am -

Tiana and Finn were the lone clear round for Team USA at Aachen.

It’s been a wild weekend at Aachen. After coming into the cross country just 8.8 penalty points out of second place in the Nations Cup standings, things quickly fell apart on course for Team USA. Will Faudree described the CICO3* course as a four-star track packed into seven minutes, and it ultimately left no room for error. With Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister producing the only clear trip for Team USA — and just two of our four team members completing the course — it’s a bit of a somber day in the Team USA camp. Thankfully, we’re just going home with wounded pride, and all horses and riders are OK after a very rough day. Kick on, Team USA.

Aachen Coverage Roundup:

Perspective on Team USA’s Performance

Chris Burton and HP Leilani Victorious at Aachen

Aachen CICO3* Cross Country Preview

Sandra Auffarth Holds Lead After Show Jumping

Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo Win Dressage

Events This Weekend:

Groton House Farm Horse Trials: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Horse Park Of New Jersey Horse Trials  [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Aachen CICO3*: [Final Results]

Other Sunday News:

Tiana Coudray Finishes 10th at Aachen

Aachen Keeps Nations Cup Through 2025

Federal Nod Brings Horse Slaughter Closer

Bill Gates Buys Horse Estate in Wellington

Australia Battles Mystery Equine Illness

Oregon Votes to Ban Horse Tripping

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IPWXgUUQ-I
A little Aachen action 

ERS-Eventing.com provides riders with an interactive online portal that showcases product information, demonstrations, tutorials and reviews from fellow competitors and top international riders.

Phillip Dutton Eventing Academy Report

By on Jun 29, 2013 1:45 pm -

Thanks so much to Tracy Ryan for sending in this review of the recent Eventing Academy hosted at True Prospect Farm by Phillip and Evie Dutton. Tracy trains regularly with Steph Rhodes-Bosch and drove up from Maryland with Fine Art aka Fudge and as well as winning the unofficial Most Improved Award, she would probably have taken home the Most Popular Rider Award too if there was such a thing. She won us all over with her enthusiasm, sense of humour and occasional accidental foul language if she messed up, not to mention whispering to the kids while cantering down the long side away from Phillip, “Am I on the right lead?”! And so, I’ll let Tracy take it away…..

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From Tracy:
“I have anxiously waited months for Sunday, June 16, 2013. This date embarked a week at the Phillip Dutton Academy for me and my horse, Fudge, alone, with no children (two daughters ages 7 and 10) and no hubby! We arrived mid-afternoon at True Prospect Farm and greeted by Olivia Dutton, who graciously helped us in getting settled. Informational packets were given to us which detailed all the events of the week.
Monday morning started early for me at the barn. I had to prepare for my One-On-One lesson with Phillip.  I was very anxious, yet filled with positive anticipation for our first lesson.   Communication with Phillip was prompted with questions for me regarding my riding experience and career.  He then asked me to dismount as he wanted to converse with Fudge!  I guess their conversation went well as I was then asked to re-mount him. Phillip brilliantly started to educate me on how to communicate with Fudge more effectively. I took mental notes during the entire lesson and quickly wrote everything in my journal upon returning to the barn. As an adult rider and somewhat new to riding, I know I need to have everything in writing. I don’t want to forget anything!
Later in the afternoon, I had another scheduled lesson with Katelin Spurlock, one of Phillip’s assistants. We worked on galloping pace and position, very different from my morning lesson. I truly enjoyed galloping with Fudge on the outdoor track. However, I quickly learned that what I thought was “fast,” was really not fast enough. I wondered if I wrote FASTER in my journal 100 times, would that help increase my speed?
After a very busy day, Phillip and Evie invited all the campers and families to dinner at their home. It was a great evening and I enjoyed socializing with all the campers and their families.  I was now getting very excited
for the rest of the week.
I was up bright and early Tuesday morning driving to the barn.  I accomplished my early barn responsibilities and then joined the other campers to the Show Jump Ring for a walk about on the stadium course with Phillip. This time, I brought my notebook and pen. An hour later I was riding the course we had walked earlier while getting instructions on how to manipulate Fudge to each jump and jump combination.
Later that afternoon, I was able to ride a dressage test for Katelin. She was very helpful giving me great tips on using the ring to my advantage. She informed me with  the best techniques in correcting Fudge in various parts of the ring. Her tips on impressing the Judges complemented the lesson. I returned to the barn, again, jotting down my newly learned information. I felt confident that my next dressage test would show improvements.
At the finish of another trying and tiring day, all the campers gathered in the parking area. We caravanned  for a private shopping spree at Bit of Britain. Who doesn’t like to shop!! We were greeted by John Nunn, the owner. He graciously received us and answered all our inquires as he gave us a tour of the On-Line Warehouse.  Everyone appeared very happy with all the purchases for themselves and for their horses.
Before heading back to the hotel, I returned to the barn to make sure Fudge was settled for the night.
I awoke early on Wednesday morning, eager to see Fudge and to get him and myself ready for the first day of  Cross Country. This exercise was within a small group as Phillip guided us through the rolling hills. We jumped coops, up/down banks, over logs, water, roll tops, ditches, palisades, and much more. Phillip was explicit in explaining each jump in depth as we forged forward. I definitely was pushed out of my comfort zone, yet he gave me confidence in my thinking I could do anything he asked me to do.
I was pleasantly surprised when my husband, Rob, arrived early afternoon to share in my excitement at the Academy.
Lizzie Hoy gave us demonstrations/lessons in braiding as we all gathered in Phillip’s barn during the evening. I found them very informative and will try to implement these new methods at my next event. In addition, The Triple Crown/Southern States gave us lectures regarding feed and nutrition tips for the horses.
Another full day culminated in my journal writings and off to bed for both Fudge and me.
Thursday brought  the second day for Cross Country. What can I say or even add to the day before as I was pushed out of my comfort zone. It felt good and I loved it!  Fudge accommodated my every move, galloping faster than I thought we could  and jumping over everything in our way. Phillip gave me the confidence needed to feel successful.
Our last day arrived too soon! I couldn’t believe all that I have learned in such a short period of time. Today was Derby Day! I was given my team assignment along with the XC course we were to follow. Each phase was timed. The lowest team time would be the winners.  My skills and what I had learned all week was now being tested. Phillip personally coached each camper before each phase of the derby events. Everyone cheered each other as we all participated in this great week together. I felt good in how I progressed and advanced each day, as I am sure all the campers felt the same.
What a fantastic week!  I am grateful for the new skills I had mastered this time and look forward to adding more next year.
-Tracy Ryan and “Fudge”

 

Perspective on Team USA’s Performance at Aachen

By on Jun 29, 2013 11:02 am -

Will and Ernie up and OK after their fall at fence 25.

“Excuses only exist for the people who make them.” That’s what Will Faudree told me after he came within 100 yards of completing the Aachen CICO3* before Pawlow stumbled following the final fence and fell. But there were bigger factors at play here today that offer perspective on Team USA’s last place finish in the Nations Cup competition. In Will’s case, the three-inch studs he used on course didn’t offer any help after Ernie pulled one front shoe at fence 2 and the other at fence 4. And with a steady overnight rain turning the footing into a muddy soup in certain spots, Will and Ernie had no choice but to slip and slide their way around course. Their runouts at the Rolex Complex at 8b and the corner hedges at 21a were largely attributable to Ernie not feeling secure in the slippery footing sans shoes. Unfortunately, their luck ran out after that.

I watched Will and Ernie navigate the final fences on course in the main stadium. Ernie jumped beautifully over the final fence, but slipped on the landing. When he put his other front leg down to catch himself, that leg slipped out from under him too, and Ernie rolled onto his right shoulder, pinning Will’s right leg beneath him. They slid in the wet grass before Ernie scrambled up, and Will was on his feet shortly thereafter. If anything, we can be grateful that the sloppy footing provided a soft landing for their fall. Ernie is a very experienced cross country horse, and we can attribute their elimination at Aachen to a series of unfortunate events that started when Ernie threw that first front shoe at fence 2. Thankfully, both Will and Ernie are OK. As Will said in our interview after his ride — which you can watch below — you can’t predict the weather at events, especially here in Europe, and he and Ernie will live to fight another day.

Clark Montgomery also had a less than stellar weekend with Universe, who looked fantastic when I saw him last month at Badminton. Unfortunately, we saw a very different horse here at Aachen. Buzz looked wonderful in the dressage and is making great progress toward staying focused on his job in tense atmospheres. But he pulled four rails in the show jumping. Yesterday, Clark thought the rails were a result of a bad warmup, as the driving class held in the main stadium right before the show jumping ran late. That forced Clark — who was first up on the order of go — to have a very quick course walk and an even quicker warmup as the event officials rushed to get the competition back on schedule. Since then, the officials have issued an apology to the eventers for the way warmup was handled. Incidentally, this is the second time Clark has been sabotaged in warmup at a major competition, as a rearing horse scared Buzz right before his dressage test at Badminton.

But after Buzz stopped twice today at 10c at the Treble Hedge Combination, Clark fears there’s something more at play with the horse. I watched the refusals on the jumbo screen in the main stadium, and it looked like Buzz just ran out of steam early in the course. Clark confirmed after his ride when I talked to him for an interview that Buzz felt very tired and disengaged. Thankfully, Buzz came home sound and happy, but Clark knows something isn’t right and plans to schedule a full vet examination once they return home to England. Clark speculated Buzz could be fighting a virus that is draining his energy, and we’re sending our best EN wishes that there isn’t a major problem. Clark had planned on aiming Buzz at Pau this fall, but he said it’s hard to say now what the horse’s plans will be after this weekend.

Marilyn Little and RF Smoke on the Water were one of the 12 pairs to have trouble at 8b in the Rolex Complex. They had a very strong jump in over 8a, and Smoke started to drift to the right in their approach to the corner at 8b. Marilyn did her best to correct him, but she just couldn’t quite get back on her line. Smoke still tried to jump but caught his leg, and Marilyn popped off over his left shoulder. This fence caught out almost a third of the riders, including Rolex winners Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo and Ingrid Klimke and Tabasco TSF, who were in second place coming into the cross country. Marilyn and Smoke jumped double clear around the Saumur CCI3* cross country course just a month ago, so we know this pair is very capable. They were just one of the many unfortunate victims of what turned out to be a very difficult combination on a very difficult course.

Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister were our only pair on Team USA to come home without a jump penalty. While Tiana and Finn had 14.8 time penalties, every pair who completed — sans Chris Burton and Holstein Park Leilani — came home with time. Finn also jumped clear at Badminton and looked very confident as he skipped around the course today. Tiana and Finn finished in 10th place, and it’s great to see the American flag in the top 10 when I look at the standings. But — as Will put it — we want to come to Europe and win. The Germans won the Nations Cup competition on a score of 134.6, which is an average score of 44.6 between the three riders whose scores counted. Their drop score ended up being Michael Jung and Halunke FBW on a 51.8. The bar has been set high, but I’m confident our riders are up to the challenge. Let’s go home with our heads held high. Go USA.

Christopher Burton and Holstein Park Leilani Victorious at Aachen

By on Jun 29, 2013 8:31 am -

Christopher Burton and Holstein Park Leilani win the Aachen CICO3*!

Christopher Burton and Holstein Park Leilani, who were in third place overnight, set a blistering fast pace as the only pair to come home clear and inside the time on cross country at Aachen, taking the provisional lead with just Ingrid Klimke and Sandra Auffarth left to ride. After Ingrid and Tabasco TSF had two runouts on course — the first at 8b at the Rolex Compex and the second at 21a at the Corner Hedges — it came down to Sandra, who led after both the dressage and show jumping in a dominating weekend. She entered the main stadium clear so far with just four jumping efforts to go and the Aachen CICO3* win seemingly in the bag. The German crowd cheered her all the way home, but she just wasn’t fast enough, and four time penalties cost her the win by .2 faults. Christopher Burton and Holstein Park Leilani are your Aachen CICO3* winners, with Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo in second, and Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam FBW in third.

Will Faudree and Pawlow just seconds before their fall.

When I walked fences 22 through 25 this morning, I reported that the footing was already slippery before a single horse set foot on course. And as we quickly discovered, the rest of the course — which walked very well yesterday — had deteriorated to soft in some spots and slop in others after a steady rain fell overnight. While I can’t blame the footing for all the problems riders experienced on course, I can definitely point to it as a major factor. Nineteen riders came home clear, but all had time penalties with the exception of Christopher Burton and Holstein Park Leilani. As Will Faudree put it when I talked to him after his ride, cross country day at Aachen can be summed up in one simple word: carnage. Twelve riders had runouts at 8b, and Team USA was not immune from problems at this fence. The Treble Hedge Combination at 10cd also caused problems, with three pairs — including Clark Montgomery and Universe — having runouts here. As Will said, this was a four-star course packed into seven minutes, and it left no room for error.

Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister over the final fence.

To put it simply, today was not Team USA’s day. Marilyn Little fell from RF Smoke on the Water after a glance off at 8b — both are fine — and Will Faudree and Pawlow had a runout at the same fence, which started their string of bad luck on course. Will and Ernie later had another glance off at the Corner Hedges at 21a before Will nursed him home. Ernie jumped beautifully over fence 25, the last on course, but stumbled on the landing, falling on his right shoulder and pinning Will’s right leg underneath him as they both slid through the wet grass. It was extremely dramatic and terrifying to watch — I was standing right by the fence when it happened — but I’m relieved to report both Will and Ernie are fine after their fall. Clark Montgomery and Universe had two runouts at 10c in the Treble Hedge Combination. Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister were our only pair to complete the course without a jump penalty, coming home with 14.8 time penalties to finish 10th. I’ll be back shortly with much more on Team USA. Go Aachen.

[Live Scores]

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Sadly, videos of today’s rides are difficult to come by.  Click [here] to watch Jonathan Paget and Clifton Lush.

Aachen CICO3* Cross Country Course Preview

By on Jun 29, 2013 3:48 am -

Team USA talks strategy on the Aachen cross country course.

It’s cross country day at Aachen! Without further ado, here’s your preview of the 25 efforts on the course, which begins in a large field across the road from the main stadium and loops through the picturesque Aachen countryside before ending back in the main stadium. The ground soaked up a lot of rain overnight, and the footing was pretty saturated when I walked fences 22 through 25 in the main stadium this morning.

As is typical of European events, the footing at fences 1 through 21 felt excellent when I walked it yesterday, and I imagine it’s still faring pretty well even after the steady rain that fell last night. Riders will need to navigate the final four elements very carefully, as the footing in the main stadium is already slippery and will likely have deterioriated quite a bit by the time overnight leaders Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo start out as the last on course at 12:48 p.m. local time (6:48 a.m. EST).

If any of you are up bright and early, be sure to watch cross country on the live stream. I saw a lot of cameras staged around the course when I walked it yesterday, so the viewing experience should be very good. Clark Montgomery and Universe are first on course for Team USA at 10 a.m. local time, followed by Marilyn Little and RF Smoke on the Water at 11:20, Will Faudree and Pawlow at 11:44, and Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister at 12:16.

The top 20 are running in reverse order of standing, and it’s sure to be a very exciting day of cross country here at Aachen. The team standings are very close, and the U.S. has a chance to finish in the top three should we have solid rides. All four horses on Team USA have excellent cross country records, so it’s just a matter of getting around safely. I’ll be back with a full report around 1:30 p.m. local time, followed by a press conference report with the top placed riders and more interviews with Team USA. Go Aachen!

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