Classic Eventing Nation

Andrew Nicholson and Nereo

Visionaire had the fabulous idea of compiling all the videos I’ve taken at Badminton thus far into one post to make them easy to find. I miraculously managed to capture video footage of the top 15 rides, and I’ve received comments from all over the world from people thanking me for taking these videos, which is quite humbling. Thank YOU, dear readers, for following along with my coverage from Badminton. Since I’ve been primarily bringing you footage of the dressage tests, I haven’t been able to be in the mixer area to catch riders for post-ride interviews. But expect that to change tomorrow, as John has given me the go ahead to more or less run wild over the cross-country course. This means two things: 1. Expect video interviews with all our North American pairs and 2. I’ll be shamelessly stalking Michael Jung. Please let me know in the comments if there’s any rider you’d like to hear from, and I’ll do my best to accommodate your requests! Cross country kicks off at noon local time. Go eventing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfxuAmw_QA0
Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam FBW — 1st place

Links to other dressage videos:

Stefano Brecciaroli and Apollo VD Wendi Kurt Hoeve — 2nd place

Dirk Schrade and King Artus — 3rd place

Jock Paget and Clifton Promise — 4th place

William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk — 5th place

Andrew Nicholson and Nereo — 6th place

Pippa Funnell and Redesigned — equal 7th place

Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo — equal 7th place

Christopher Burton and Holstein Park Leilani — 9th place

Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister — equal 10th place

Ingrid Klimke and FRH Butts Abraxxas — 12th place

Zara Phillips and High Kingdom — 13th place

Andrew Nicholson and Avebury — 14th place

William Fox-Pitt and Oslo — equal 16th place

Michael Jung and Leopin FST — 19th place

Vittoria Panizzon and Borough Pennyz — equal 20th place

Mary King and Imperial Cavalier — equal 20th place

Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz — equal 24th place

Andreas Dibowski and Butts Leon — 26th place

Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master — equal 32nd place

Ludwig Svennerstal and Alexander — equal 46th place

Clark Montgomery and Universe — 48th place

Colleen Rutledge and Shiraz — 77th place

Caption contest, anyone?

To give you an idea of just how much the Badminton leaderboard changed after Day 2 of dressage, Day 1 leaders Christopher Burton and Holstein Park Leilani are now sitting in ninth place. Over the last two days, we saw four dressage tests in the 30s and 24 rides in the 40s — that’s one-third of the pairs scoring at least a 49.3. The numbers speak for themselves; the quality of the competition here is second to none, and it almost feels like an Olympics redux considering the lineup. As many expected, Michael Jung and Sam lead after the conclusion of dressage, and we got a sneak peak into why Michael is truly Ze Terminator in his press conference interview.

How to be Ze Terminator in three easy steps, as explained by Michael Jung:

1. Recognize that nerves are healthy

Many fans of the sport assume that riders like Michael have an iron will that stops nervous energy in its tracks. But Michael was very open in the press conference about the fact that he does get nervous, and that helps him to be sharper on bigger tracks like Badminton. Remember that the next time you feel the need to puke while walking your cross-country course.

2. Take pride in little victories

Considering Michael and Sam’s track record, you would think he expects nothing less than total perfection in his dressage tests. But Michael quite candidly said the best part of every dressage test is when he comes in for the salute and his horse actually stops. Considering how many tests we saw this weekend that were muddled by sloppy halts, I like Michael’s reasoning here.

3. Crush your opponent’s dreams

I can’t say I didn’t think it would happen, but it’s tough to imagine that we might not have a Grand Slam winner this weekend should Michael play spoiler. But when asked about that in the press conference, Michael wasn’t exactly sympathetic. It’s simple: He’s here to win. If he does, he’ll become just the second rider to do so on a first attempt at Badminton since Mark Todd in 1980.

Looking at the current leaderboard by nationality, there are three Germans in the top 10: Michael Jung and Sam, Dirk Schrade and King Artus, and Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo; two Kiwis: Jock Paget and Clifton Promise and Andrew Nicholson and Nereo; two Aussies: Chris Burton and Holstein Park Leilani and Sam Griffths and Happy Times; two Brits: William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk and Pippa Funnell and Redesigned; one Italian: Stefano Brecciaroli and Apollo; and one! American!: Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister. Tomorrow’s course is a monster, and things will undoubtedly change drastically by the time the last horse gallops home. I’ll be there to bring you all the action, as well as post-XC analysis from the North American contingent. Go eventing.

[Website] [Cross-Country Times] [Dressage Results]

Jimmy Wofford, Colleen Rutledge and Helen Laffitte at fence 3, the HorseQuest Quarry.

Finally — it’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for: the Badminton cross-country course preview. It’s very interesting walking the course just a week after Rolex. While both events are CCI4*s, this course is entirely different in its conception. At Rolex, most of the jumps were bunched toward the middle of the course, with the end of the course containing long gallops between fewer fences. At Badminton, it’s the total opposite. The beginning of the course has big galloping fences and minimal questions, and then all of a sudden the questions start coming one after the other, with the end of the course packed with some really intense fences. Standing at the bottom of Savills’ Staircase is truly terrifying, and that’s just one of the monster questions on course.

I have to give a special shoutout to Mark, who has volunteered at Badminton for the last decade to drive journalists and photographers around the course to take preview photos, saving them precious minutes in their busy days. He was a lovely guide for me around the course. And yes, I did not technically walk the entire course. After Rolex — which I set out to powerwalk and pulled muscles I didn’t even know I had — I took the easy route. But I DID run into Colleen Rutledge, Jimmy Wofford and super groom Helen Laffitte at fence 3, the HorseQuest Quarry, where Colleen was kind to give me an interview about her dressage test this morning with Shiraz. Cross all your fingers and toes for a safe and successful cross-country trip for Colleen and Luke as they look to make history by completing five of the world’s six CCI4* events as a team.

I'd smile like that too if I were the best in the world.

As the current and history’s only reigning European, Olympic and World champions, Michael Jung and Sam have nothing left to prove, but they’ve set out to add one more title to their many accolades at Badminton here this weekend. So far they’re on track, as Michael and Sam scored a 36 in the last group of the day to win the dressage heading into cross country tomorrow. As we’ve come to expect from this pair, the test was nearly flawless, with the only rare mistake coming when Sam stepped forward out of the halt and only took four steps in the rein back. I’m almost ashamed to type that considering how nitpicky it sounds. Let’s be honest — Michael and Sam have raised the bar so high that they are now in a league of their own. I have Michael’s interview from the press conference still to upload for you, but let’s just say this man has ice running in his veins and is going to be a rock star tomorrow.

Jock Paget and Clifton Promise are in fourth on a 39.7.

The last group of the afternoon contained the rides we’ve been waiting to see all weekend, and the pairs did not disappoint. Jock Paget and Clifton Promise rose to the occasion, scoring 39.7 to move into fourth place overnight. Aside from a slight bobble in the extended walk, this was an incredibly good test from the pair who placed 10th individually at the London Olympics. William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk are sitting just behind Jock in fifth place on a 40. This was not the usual fluid test we see from William, as there were moments throughout where he seemed to lose his rhythm, and I have to wonder if the pressure of the Grand Slam has finally gotten to him. Of course, he’s still sitting in an excellent position going into cross country. And speaking of the Grand Slam, Andrew Nicholson and Nereo are hot on William’s heels, sitting in sixth place on a 40.2. Andrew and Nereo also had some uncharacteristic bobbles in their test, as you’ll see on the video.

William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk are sitting in fifth place on a 40.

Mary King and Kings Temptress had a tense test that we usually don’t see from them, scoring a 45.5 to sit in 15th place. Dirk Schrade mentioned in the press conference that he thought the atmosphere was quite hard on he horses for the late afternoon riders, as the stands were packed and noisy, and the chilly wind didn’t help matters either. Poor Tina Cook also fell victim to the atmosphere, as she didn’t hear the bell with Miners Frolic and consequently entered the ring late, picking up an error right off the bat. She struggled to recover after that, as the horse never came to a full halt to start the test and seemed tense. They are sitting in 29th place on a 50.2. Pippa Funnell and Redesigned were the last to ride today, giving us a lovely finale to sit tied for seventh place on a 47.3. Of course, I have videos of all of the top-10 rides and will be uploading them and posting them here as the internet cooperates. Stay tuned for the press conference report and my end-of-dressage analysis AND … drumroll … the course walk photos!

[Website] [Ride Times] [Dressage Results]

Dressage Videos:

Video: Michael Jung and Sam 

Video: Jock Paget and Clifton Promise 

Video: William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk 

Video: Pippa Funnell and Redesigned 

Video: Andrew Nicholson and Nereo