I know I’m supposed to be paying attention to things like contact and straightness and whether or not the flying changes were clean, but I can’t help but treat the dressage as a bit of a “who wore what” moment as well, similar to the jogs. Judging by the number of views of this post in previous years, neither can you guys. It’s nice to know that everyone else is also just a little nosy about what gear these riders like to use.
Here are some of your favorite not-at-all-important-but-still-interesting stats on the dressage gear used in the 5* division. Want stats that actually matter and pertain to performance? You can get those in our Ultimate Form Guide.
Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride and Favian. Photo by Shelby Allen.
With two full days of dressage, there’s just so much to unpack here. You can find the meat and potatoes in our five-star dressage report, but there’s still so many cute stories and reflections. Find your favorite riders below!
It’s not often that a horse waltzes into the arena in its five-star debut and throws down what’s not far off from the record for a debut in terms of score. But most horses aren’t Mai Baum. To be fair, Mai Baum’s seen the imposing Rolex Stadium before – he’s been the test ride here before – but even so, there’s a world of pressure that rides on a horse that’s known for his competitive scores. And compete is exactly what he and Tamie Smith did today, laying down a 21.8 to sit just a whisker hair off from Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous, who will hold their lead on a 21.7 after the conclusion of dressage at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by MARS Equestrian.
Tamie says that it took some time for her to build a partnership with the 15-year-old Mai Baum (Loredano – Ramira, by Rike), who was originally piloted by Alex Ahearn (who with her family and Eric Markell still own the German Sporthorse gelding) through the old three-star level. When Alex was preparing to head off to college, she took Tamie to dinner and laid out her vision: Tamie needed a great horse, and Lexus was going to be it.
“I get chills every time I think about that night,” she reflected. “It changed my career actually.”
Indeed it did. Of course, Tamie’s no stranger to special horses and five-star rides, but anyone who saw “Lexus” as a young horse – he was selected in Germany by the Ahearns assisted by the expertise of Michelle Pestl – knew he would, without a doubt, be special. Special enough, in fact, that Tamie and Mai Baum’s owners have been cautious with him, carefully choosing his events. In hindsight, Tamie says she maybe would do things different given another chance.
Tamie shares a hug with Alex Ahearn, Mai Baum’s owner and former rider. Photo by Sally Spickard.
“It was a choice that we had made (not to do a five-star until this year),” Tamie said. “We had high hopes for him going into Rio (in 2016). He’s a very extravagant mover and we chose to not to a five-star until now. I don’t know if I would do that again just because when you have a horse of a lifetime…we almost just saved him. Just looking back I don’t know if I would do that again. We wanted to have a chance to do an Olympic Games and that just happened to be five years later.”
Tamie kicked herself for not having a better square halt, which could perhaps have squeaked her ahead of Marilyn, but in truth she’s already focused on tomorrow. Derek di Grazia’s course, she says, suits Mai Baum’s big, galloping style well. “It is very much a course that suits him,” she explained. “He is a big galloping type horse. He’s also quick and naturally fast, rideable, so I feel very prepared. When I first walked (the course) there were a couple combos that I was quite worried about, but they look really rideable now and I feel like I have a really good plan. I feel really ready. I’ll get to walk again in the morning and I’ll get to watch a few.”
Mai Baum’s score goes down as the fourth lowest five-star debut score on record; the lowest was a 19.9 earned by Germany’s Julia Krajewski and Chipmunk FRH at WEG in 2018.
Tamie Smith (Next Level Eventing) closes the gap at the top of the #LRK3DE leaderboard at the conclusion of dressage with this test that was just one-tenth shy of the top spot 😍Leaderboard: https://kentuckythreedayevent.com/leaderboard/XC Ride Times: https://kentuckythreedayevent.com/5-star-list/Thank you to the USEF Network for the video coverage!
An interesting note on Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous, who retain their lead after today: RF Scandalous has now led the field after dressage in twelve consecutive A/4/5* starts. Now, she typically has much more time in hand for the next phase than she will this weekend, so time will tell how the storyline plays out there.
Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Boyd Martin was second best of day two, slotting into fourth place overnight aboard the Turner family’s Tsetserleg TSF on a score of 25.4. This is “Thomas'” best score at the level, his previous best score of 27.1 earned at WEG in 2018.
“He’s a great little horse,” Boyd said. “He’s a veteran at this level now and he’s just fun to ride and he’s such a trier. He goes in there and gives it his all every time. I’m really pleased with him. Dressage is a tough sport where you can always think of a movement here or there that you could’ve done better, but on the whole he was good.”
Boyd credited his wife, Grand Prix dressage rider Silva Martin, for having trained up his horses on the flat in the lead-up to this weekend, even doing some dressage tests as practice at Fair Hill a few weeks ago. “A few of them got a bit hot in the warm-up and she quickly went to some exercises which defused them and relaxed them, so I’m a pretty lucky person.”
Tsetserleg TSF (Windfall – Thabana, Buddenbrock) is one of two horses competing this weekend sired by the champion Windfall – Doug Payne’s ride, Vandiver, is the other.
Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class. Photo by Shelby Allen.
“A little bit disappointed because he can do so much more,” Oliver Townend said when asked how he felt about his test today aboard Ballaghmor Class, the very experienced 2017 Burghley winner who is making his Kentucky debut. The pair earned a 26.5 to sit fifth overnight, giving stablemate and former winner Cooley Master Class the slight edge in third on a 24.1. “I think the last time he did that particular test he was on 20.8. That’s life and horses and it’s a three day event, so we’re still close enough.”
Oliver and the 14-year-old Ballaghmor Class (Courage II – Kilderry Place) also had a lighter prep that most years with the shutdown of British Eventing for the better part of the spring season. But all the same, Oliver says it’s time to crack on and get on with tomorrow’s duties.
“(Our preparation was) fine from a physical point of view, it’s just been a bit tricky in England with the cancelations,” he said. “Obviously Kentucky being canceled and then Badminton being canceled, it does take a bit of wind out of your sails, but at the same time the horses know their jobs. They’re very fit, there’s no excuses.”
Buck Davidson and Carlevo. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Buck Davidson enjoyed a great ride aboard Katherine O’Brien’s Carlevo (Eurocommerce Caresino – Ramatuelle, by Levernois) as the last horse of the dressage phase this afternoon, scoring a 26.7 for sixth place overnight. This is the 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding’s second go at the five-star level, and he bests his 2018 Kentucky score by 5.5 penalty points to put Buck into competitive position ahead of tomorrow.
“He was great. I was really, really proud of him,” Buck said, joining us with Katherine O’Brien for a quick chat. “He’s really good in this phase and to do that, that’s as good as he’s gone. It’s cool, the O’Briens live here in Lexington and they helped me keep the horse and I can’t thank them enough.”
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Ocala Horse Properties’ Deniro Z (Zapatero – Zonne-Trend, by French Buffett xx) was another pair most of us had earmarked to watch for a competitive mark, and they earned a 27.4 to sit eighth overnight behind Boyd Martin and On Cue (27.0). This is a five-star personal best for the 13-year-old KWPN gelding, and Liz says she saw a lot of improvements today to be pleased with.
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z. Photo by Shelby Allen.
“Deniro always tries in the ring for me, but he was pretty steamed,” Liz said after her ride. “In the first halt, he was definitely looking around and feeling it, and I was like, ‘come here, boy, let’s do this’. Historically flying changes have been the hardest thing for him, and they weren’t great but they were all clean today and that is a huge step forward for that horse, so I’m really proud of him. When we can get those dialed in, I’m sure he’s going to be on a 25 or lower. I could have had a little more relaxation in places, definitely I would have liked the half-passes to have a little more flow, but I had to ride that I had today, so with that in mind I’m really pleased with him.”
How did the numbers from today break down? Maggie Deatrick checks in:
Of those who went today, Z and Ballaghmor Class suddenly find themselves in the uncomfortable position of having to make up more ground than they expected on the leaderboard. They join heavy favorites Classic Moet and Vandiver in hoping to see the cross-country run difficult, particularly in the matter of time penalties. Marilyn Little is probably sweating a bit too, despite RF Scandalous holding onto the lead. Although RF Scandalous has now led the field after dressage in twelve consecutive A/4/5* starts, she usually relies on having some cushion to allow for some cross-country time penalties. Tomorrow, she’ll have none.
Mai Baum and Off the Record both have to be extremely pleased with their freshman debuts at the level; despite scoring a little over two penalty points each off their recent pace, their ability to lay down such a strong result at their first 5* bodes well for the future of both of these and puts them both in position to finish as the top American. Tsetserleg TSF performed close to expected as well, and remains on track to also contend for a repeat of 2019.
It’s hard to come to a five-star and not want to write 8000 words about every horse and rider, and I’ll try not to keep you too long but I must leave you with my two favorite stories of the day: the five-star debuts of Ema Klugman, Germany’s Anna Siemer and Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride.
Ema Klugman and Bendigo, a 19-year-old Thoroughbred/Trakehner cross by Refuse to Lose, much-loved members of the Nation Media family (Ema moonlights as Jumper Nation‘s editor), were tickled to make their debut today and earned a 41.5 from the judges, fairly close to his typical average at the upper levels. This is a cross country-loving horse known for making a climb up the board based on his speed in the second phase.
Ema Klugman and Bendigo. Photo by Sally Spickard.
“It felt kind of surreal I have to say,” Ema said. “I have only watched it on TV, so it was pretty cool to go in the ring. My horse was, for him, really good and I was happy also just to get to the final salute. [Ben doesn’t always like dressage, we don’t blame you buddy] It means a lot (to be here). I’ve had him for eight years and he’s not really the easiest horse to ride but he tries really hard for me and he loves eventing, so it’s kind of cool that a horse like him can not only qualify but come to an event like this. He was 11 years old when we got him and he was sitting in a field, so he wasn’t the horse that was supposed to come here and it’s really fun to have him here and do it together.”
Germany’s Anna Siemer made for one of the best moments of the day when she earned a very competitive 28.1 to sit in 10th place overnight in her first five-star with the 14-year-old Hanoverian mare FRH Butt’s Avondale (Nobre xx – Heraldik’s Amelie, by Heraldik xx). Interestingly, Anna actually lives just a short distance away from another five-star: Luhmühlen. So why choose Kentucky as your first go at the level?
“I think people at home are like, we have a five-star like two kilometers from my stable and you go now to the other side of the world to do our first five-star? But five years ago I was here, watched the course and I was like, ‘I really want to go here with this mare’ because this is what she likes I think…I think she can do this tomorrow.”
Anna Siemer and FRH Butt’s Avondale. Photo by Shelby Allen.
“It was super!” Anna exclaimed after her test. “There were still two things not working out, but the rest was fine and she was quite calm in there for her nerves. She could be more excited, today she was ok.”
Watch and become a fan, friends:
Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride got a bit emotional as she reflected on her first time in Rolex Stadium, where she earned a 34.8 to sit equal 42nd overnight. Take a watch (and grab a tissue):
We’ve got plenty more content to send you off with this evening, so stay tuned for more photos (scroll down for a small selection), a round-up of our post-ride interviews with the riders over the last two days, and more from the #BestWeekendAll Year.
Cross country will be intense tomorrow, no doubt, and the action kicks off at 8:30 a.m. EST with Jonelle Price and Grappa Nera first out of the box. The CCI5* will wrap up with Buck Davidson and Carlevo at 12:38 and will be followed by the CCI4*-S, with Jessica Phoenix and Rabbit first out at 1:45 p.m. To catch up on today’s CCI4*-S action, click here.
Tamie Smith will lead CCI4*-S heading into cross country tomorrow with En Vogue, one of her three rides in the division — she’s also tied for third with Danito and nicked the top 20 with Passepartout. Tamie and En Vogue, an 11-year-old Hanoverian mare (Earl x Laurena) owned by Ruth Bley, posted a score of 25.4 in this morning’s session.
Second-positioned Colleen Loach is also busy with three rides in the 4*-S and, like Tamie, she’ll contest 5* dressage this afternoon. She and Vermont, a 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Van Helsing x Hauptstutbuch Hollywood) owned by Peter Barry, scored a 27.0.
Yesterday’s leading trifecta — Tamie with Danito, Doug Payne with Starr Witness and Liz Halliday-Sharp with Cooley Moonshine — now hold a three-way tie for third on a score of 28.1.
Tamie Smith and En Vogue. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Tamie said that En Vogue was “completely freaking out about the camera in the warm-up — I thought I had no chance,” but the mare put her camera-shyness aside when the curtains went up. “She she’s a professional now, and she knows how to dance,” Tamie reflected afterward. “She went in and was super. She was really rideable and expressive. She really showed off. I was proud of her.”
The pair had originally planned on the CCI5*-L but reconsidered in the lead-up to Kentucky.
“This spring she came out and she just wasn’t her attacking self out on cross country,” Tamie said. “I really want to set [the horses] up for success and there wasn’t a lot of success. I had to stop and reflect and think ‘is this the right thing for her?’ I think she needs to do another Four-Star long before maybe doing Maryland’s CCI5*-L.”
Colleen Loach and Vermont. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Colleen, who represents Canada, has been partnered with ‘Monty’ since the horse was five. She originally recommended the now 9-year-old to owner Peter Barry before accepting the ride herself and producing him up the levels.
“Monty is a giant. He’s 18.2 hands but he’s scared of everything and very emotional,” Colleen said. “We’re starting to develop a really strong partnership. He’s a lovely, talented horse, and I’m really looking forward to the future with him.”
Looking ahead to cross country tomorrow, Colleen said, “Monty is green to the level but he’s been very dependable so far. He’s really rideable and has a great big galloping stride. He’s not strong so there’s not a lot of setting up that has to be done. He’s really a joy to ride. He looks for the flags. As long as he comes out like normal I’m hoping for a great ride.”
Tamie said of the course, “Kentucky really invites them to open up and gallop, and Derek [di Grazia] is such a genius course designer. I’m looking forward to getting out there.”
Lynn Symansky and RF Cool Play. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Other top-10 scoreboard shaker-uppers include Lynn Symansky and RF Cool Play, who are 7th (28.7) …
Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti. Photo by Shelby Allen.
… Jessica Phoenix with Pavarotti, who are 8th (29.8), and Elisa Wallace with Riot Gear, who are 9th (31.0).
Here’s a look at the rest of the top slots in the 44-horse CCI4*-S field:
Caitlin Henderson and Creative Dreamer. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Forty-four CCI4*-S horses will start cross country tomorrow. Of note, Jessica‘s second ride, Watson GS, was eliminated in dressage for marked lameness.
The CCI4*-S was originally scheduled to run cross country on Saturday morning, but the timetable has been reversed due to the expected weather conditions. The CCI5*-L will go cross-country first and the CCI4*-S will start in the afternoon. Best of luck to all!
Fancy prancing: activated. Tilly Berendt on duty here from sunny London to chat through all the goings-on in day two of dressage. You have now entered DISCOURSE INFERNO.
We’ll be looking at a seriously jam-packed field of horses this afternoon, and while Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous put a sizzling 21.7 on the board yesterday, we’ll be looking at Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class and Tamie Smith and Mai Baum to put up the strongest fight to beat that.
If you want to follow along in true eventing nerd fashion, please take a moment to download a copy of EN’s Ultimate Form Guide to LRK3DE, available as a digital download for just $5 and absolutely full of incredible information, data analysis, graphs on strengths and weaknesses, and much more.
5.40 p.m. EST: Cross-country day tomorrow will be wild and wonderful, and we’ll be bringing you live updates as usual throughout the day. Remember, though, that due to impending bad weather the CCI5* will now run BEFORE the CCI4*-S — we’re looking at a start time of 8.30 a.m. EST, which is 5.30 a.m. if you’re on the West Coast and 13.30 p.m. if you’re in the UK. For our German readers cheering on Anna Siemer, it’s a 14.30 p.m. start time. We’ll see you then!
5:36 p.m. EST: Wow, wow, wow, what a day of dressage it’s been! Here’s a look at our top twenty at the culmination of the dressage phase:
5.34 p.m. EST: 26.7 — a whole mark lower than their three-run average! Super work from Buck and Carlevo, who slots nicely into the top ten. Buck’s been the National Champion here before but hasn’t yet won — he’ll be chasing that this week.
5.32 p.m. EST: This horse really does do a great flying change. He was produced through three-star by Germany’s Dirk Schrade, who I’m reliably informed is an EXCELLENT dancer.
5.31 p.m. EST: Now we’re into the canter half-pass and I feel the same way, but the subsequent change is very correct so being conservative is paying off in its way.
5.29 p.m. EST: Sweet, if conservative, half-pass from Carlevo. It would be nice to see them be a bit braver for more reach.
5.27 p.m. EST: The final dressage test will be performed by Buck Davidson and Carlevo. I got approached by a particularly brave duckling in the park earlier and named him Duck Davidson. No, I don’t know why EN lets me run this open thread either.
5.26 p.m. EST: 29.2 for Lauren and Bug means they’ve equalled their PB here from 2017. Super start!
5.24 p.m. EST: Some horses just look so fun to ride, and Bug is one of them. These compact, catlike little horses tend to be the most adjustable — you might not be able to open their stride enormously, but on cross-country they can shorten a huge amount to save the day in a sticky situation.
5.23 p.m. EST: Gosh, this little dude has some bounce and pizzazz to his trot. What a cool horse he is — and a good reinback, too, which we haven’t been able to say too many times today.
5.20 p.m. EST: Whoops, not a great halt to start their test, but teeny-weeny Bug makes these 8m circles look buoyant and easy — really nice to watch.
5.19 p.m. EST: Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus up now! Bug fans, start your engines!
5.17 p.m. EST: 25.8 puts Boyd and Sexy Legs just behind Cooley Master Class and just ahead of Ballaghmor Class! A good start for the reigning US champions. He now has three in the top ten.
5.16 p.m. EST: Like Ballaghmor Class, Tsetserleg is just a little too conservative in that stretch.
5.14 p.m. EST: This is a solid looking test so far. It’ll be close between Tsetserleg and Ballaghmor Class — the two Thomases — but this is looking like it’ll edge ahead.
5.11 p.m. EST: Wow! A surprise 26.5 for Oliver and Ballaghmor Class. They go into fourth behind Cooley Master Class. Now Boyd is in the ring with Tsetserleg.
5.07 p.m. EST: This test is going very well but I don’t think we’re about to see a new leader. There could be more stretch in that stretching circle.
5.05 p.m. EST: This is a horse who’s notoriously hot and sharp at home — everyone on Oliver’s yard has come off him, or gone through the arena mirrors or school fence. But he’s a total professional in the ring. The second halt before the reinback isn’t super square, unfortunately.
5.02 p.m. EST: Really sweet test there for Will and Timmy, who score pretty much bang on their average to put a 29.1 on the board for =11th provisionally. Now it’s time for our heaviest hitter: Oliver Townend and his Burghley winner Ballaghmor Class, who’s a very, very low-20s horse and hasn’t finished outside the top five in any of his five CCI5* runs.
4.57 p.m. EST: Will Coleman and Off The Record start us back after the break. This is such a cute horse.
4.52 p.m. EST: Here’s a nice little chat with Jesse Campbell after his super test earlier:
4.49 p.m. EST: Just a couple of minutes to go before we head into the final session of the day. Just five tests left to go — but one of those is Oliver Townend’s Ballaghmor Class, who could yet take the lead. He briefly held the record for the best-ever dressage test at Badminton but was usurped by another of Oliver’s rides, Cillnabradden Evo.
4.44 p.m. EST: A nice test for Rev, though occasionally looked like it was rather hard work for Jonelle. He’s just a bit of a spicy soul, this horse.
4.42 p.m. EST: A bit hurried in the walk work here for Jonelle and Rev, who can be a bit of a spooky type.
4.40 p.m. EST: Last combination in this section is Jonelle Price — again! — and Grovine de Reve, who went to the 2018 WEG with fellow Kiwi Dan Jocelyn. This pair went to Pau last year and did well, finishing 12th.
4.38 p.m. EST: “It’s been a big build-up for this week for nearly two years, it feels like, and it’s all happening now,” says Team USA chef d’equipe Erik Duvander. “When I first walked [the course] I thought it was one of the biggest tracks — I still believe it’s the biggest track Derek’s built here. If there’s any holes in your system, it’ll show up.”
4.35 p.m. EST: So much to like from this debutant horse, who’s giving former Kentucky winner Clayton a long-awaited return to this event. They score a 32.7.
4.33 p.m. EST: This horse is looking really confident in the ring, which is great for him — he’s typically a nervy sort of character, though he’s quiet as a lamb at home and the favourite horse of Clayton’s son, 18-month-old Hunter.
4.32 p.m. EST: FE Stormtrooper — or Stoner Stu — has a super walk, like a prowling cat.
4.29 p.m. EST: 27.4 for Liz and Niro — wow, the proof is in the pudding there as regards the quality of their work. They got a great score like that despite the changes; imagine where they’ll be when those are established! Now in is Clayton Fredericks with FE Stormtrooper — his only ride here this year despite initially entering three horses.
4.26 p.m. EST: The changes continue to be a bit tricky — Niro likes to throw his body out to the side to make it happen, which then makes the half-passes a bit off the pace, because his bend isn’t quite correct. They finish their test and Liz looks disappointed — which is understandable, because this really should, and hopefully will soon, be a low-20s scorer.
4.25 p.m. EST: Great halt and reinback there before the canter but ARGH, that first change was a bit sticky — clean, but not fluid.
4.24 p.m. EST: Really lovely in the trot work so far for Liz and Niro, who always trend in the very low 20s in this pace. In the walk now and looking excellent — but the tough bit is yet to come.
4.22 p.m. EST: 29.7 for Jennie Brannigan and Stella Artois puts them in 13th place — a super starting point for them. Tamie meets them at the chute to congratulate them. We love the eventing family. Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z in next — one that could deliver a huge test, though the changes are always risky.
4.17 p.m. EST: This horse has such a nice frame in the canter — really uphill and elegant. I got to report on them in Boekelo in 2019, and even in such exceptional company, this horse really stood out.
4.15 p.m. EST: Jennie Brannigan back in the ring, this time on Stella Artois. A huge smile on her face as always – she always looks like she’s having the MOST fun in the ring, and isn’t that the point, really?
4.13 p.m. EST: “He was super — he tried super hard and I couldn’t have really asked for anything better, except for my walk-halt. Other than that, he was pretty flawless,” says Tamie Smith. “It’s a long weekend ahead — now we’ve got to stay on that. It doesn’t matter what you get on the first day; it matters what you end on on the last day.”
Tamie admits she didn’t know if the Hollow was even jumpable the first time she walked it, but it’s looking a lot better on subsequent walks — but she won’t be getting complacent at any point in the course.
4.11 p.m. EST: Really nice work in the ring for Doug and Quantum Leap, who earn another big cheer at the culmination of their test. What a sweet, big-eared gelding this is. 32.8 for them!
4.05 p.m. EST: Doug Payne and Quantum Leap in now. No pressure coming after that test, eh Doug?!
4.04 p.m. EST: 21.8 for Tamie and Mai Baum!!!! That’s just one penalty behind Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous! OH MY GOD TOMORROW IS GOING TO BE A BUM-CLENCHER, FOLKS
4.03 p.m. EST: Just slightly croup-high in that final change, but very, very good otherwise for Tamie and Mai Baum. HUGE cheers and a massive hug for Mai Baum as they complete.
4.01 p.m. EST: Canter work looking very good but they hit the boards early on — if they’ll lose any marks in this pace, it’ll be for Mai Baum just gently throwing his quarters to the side. But this is looking so solid so far that it may not matter much.
4.00 p.m. EST: Phwoar, that trot work was really, really lovely. Correct and extravagant all at once. The walk work is looking good, though that second halt isn’t quite square.
3.58 p.m. EST: Mai Baum really does just dance around the arena, and Tamie is an extraordinary performer in this phase. I’ve got her up as my top American finisher this week.
3.57 p.m. EST: 33.7 for Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way. Next up is Tamie Smith and Mai Baum — and this is a hugely important test today. This pair has the lowest dressage average in the field — but can they live up to it in the horse’s 5* debut?
3.55 p.m EST: Will the day ever come when I stop giggling about the name Mama’s Magic Way? Probably not. This gelding’s got plenty of pizzazz; perhaps too much today, Will might argue.
3.54 p.m. EST: Aaaaand we’re back, with apologies for delay; I just had to chase a gleefully idiotic mare around a dark field to put a rug on it. WHY DON’T THEY UNDERSTAND HOW TEMPERATURE CHANGES WORK.
3.40 p.m. EST: It’s a 28.2 and tied for sixth place provisionally — and that takes us into the final judging break! We’ll be back in action at 3.49 p.m. with Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way.
3.39 p.m. EST: This is looking like it’ll be a very good mark indeed for Xavier Faer, despite a little bit of fidgeting in that final halt and salute.
3.37 p.m. EST: A bit of a wonky halt before the reinback but we’re well into the canter work now — loving these crisp, correct half-passes.
3.36 p.m. EST: The dog has been quieted — no word on the methods used — and ‘Hugo’ has settled into a really nice test so far. This horse is actually out of the same mare as Jonelle’s Luhmühlen winner Faerie Dianimo.
3.33 p.m. EST: 30.3 for Big P Dutty and Z — slightly higher than expected. Now it’s the second ride for Tim Price — this time, it’s Xavier Faer, who was third here in 2019. They have to contend with a yapping dog before they enter the ring, which isn’t ideal for this sharp, spooky horse.
3.29 p.m. EST: “The first thing I have to say — it is so cool to be here at all,” says Anna Siemer, chatting to Frankie Thieriot Stutes in the collecting ring. “We planned this for such a long time and now we are here — and now we did dressage and she was lovely!”
Anna got to know Frankie well while Frankie was at Luhmühlen in 2019 — and Anna even rode Chatwin as a young horse. For Anna, it’s unusual to be the one going across the pond – but very, very cool: “It’s an adventure, not just a journey for me. It’s not just a competition. First time over here, they always say the overseas horses and I think about you [Frankie] – but now we’re the overseas horse!”
3.27 p.m. EST: Z is looking spicy in the walk — in a good way. Very professional so far with a hint of sparkle.
3.24 p.m. EST: Anna and Avo’s average score is 33.3, to give you an indicator of how cool that test was for this debutant horse, who’s over 99% Thoroughbred to boot. Now it’s Phillip Dutton and Z up to bat.
3.22 p.m. EST: HUGE smiles and big pats at the end of that test. How special it must feel to have such a long-term plan come to fruition! And it’s a 28.1 – a better score than expected, and these two could well stay on that this weekend. An exceptional result for them!
3.21 p.m. EST: The contact and connection isn’t quite 100% in this test but there’s a lot to like here so far.
3.20 p.m. EST: Anna’s been aiming to bring this horse to Kentucky since 2015 when she came here to cheer on Michi Jung – she thought way back then that the venue would suit. This test is looking solid so far, with some super walk work.
3.17 p.m. EST: Germany’s Anna Siemer and FRH Butt’s Avondale in now. I LOVE this cool horse – they were very impressive riding as individuals at the European Championships in 2019. I’ve got them down as a serious dark horse pair this week, so keep an eye on them – they won’t challenge the lead in this phase, but they’re excellent in the jumping phases.
3.12 p.m. EST: Some tension in the halt and reinback for Honor Me. That is SUCH a tough movement, not least because you’re penalised if you use your voice and most of the fun of reinbacks is loudly going “MEEP MEEP MEEP” like a dump truck.
3.09 p.m. EST: Honor Me’s a Thoroughbred/Welsh cob cross, which will be exciting to many of our British-based readers who fly the cob flag proudly!
3.08 p.m. EST: 36.5 for Dom and Boly — that’s a 5* PB for them! Now back to Canada with Lisa-Marie Fergusson and Honor Me.
3.06 p.m. EST: Oooh, a very saucy, split-legged halt in the middle of the test. Now onto the canter work, which looks a wee bit fresh. Boly is having a delightful time – Dom, for his part, is getting an ab workout.
3.05 p.m. EST: A brief interval to share these super pics of Ema Klugman by Sally Spickard:
3.03 p.m. EST: I swear this horse grows a couple of inches every time I see him. Or does Dom shrink? Has Jimmie put him through a hot wash?
3.02 p.m. EST: Fan favourites Dom Schramm and Bolytair B next up for Australia – their first extended trot looks very smart indeed. They come here having jumped well around Burghley in 2019 – a Burghley that was even more enormous and tough than usual.
3.01 p.m. EST: It’ll be 34.4 and provisional 23rd place for Allison and Ben. We’ll be looking at considerably lower scores for this pair in years to come.
3.00 p.m. EST: A shame – an error of course in their test will be pricey for Allison and Ben.
2.58 p.m. EST: Some solid canter half-pass here from Allison and Business Ben, who certainly wins the prize for the best name in the field.
2.55 p.m. EST: It’s so great to see Allison Springer back here at Kentucky after the retirement of the incredible Arthur. Business Ben is a very cool unraced Thoroughbred, who’ll be gaining a tonne of experience this week. Allison, notably, was the first rider to wear a helmet in a 5* test – and as of this year, it’s now mandatory to do so. What a woman!
2.51 p.m. EST: Huge smiles from Harry as he finishes his test — it’s a 29.6 for provisional sixth!
2.50 p.m. EST: Harry will lose some marks in the canter work, which looks more like it’s being contained than pushed to the limit, but the stretchy circles looks good.
2.47 p.m. EST: Some really lovely moments early in this test. Slinky’s a gorgeous, tall drink of water and Harry’s a real technician in the ring — many of us fondly refer to him as The Professor, because he’s such an analytical chap. I’ve been lucky enough to write some training content with him and have learned a huge amount from those experiences – he truly knows his onions, as can be expected from a man who was born into eventing royalty. His dad, of course, is the late, great Richard Meade.
2.45 p.m. EST: It’s particularly poignant to watch Harry this week as he had a horrific accident in October – he fell early on course from another horse in the CCI3*-L at Thoresby and got his foot caught in the stirrup. He was dragged at a gallop and repeatedly kicked in the head, so much so that his helmet came off – and he’s worked unbelievably hard to get back to this point after a tough six months of major surgeries and rehabilitation.
2.43 p.m. EST: We’re back from the judging break, and Great Britain’s Harry Meade is first in the ring riding Superstition. He took the ride on this horse at the tail end of last year – he was previously produced by Harry’s great friend, Kiwi rider Lucy Jackson, who has been instrumental in helping this partnership form a quick bond. Harry and ‘Slinky’ won the CCI4*-L in Strzegom, Poland just two weeks after he took the reins, so this is a pair to keep a close eye on.
2.25 p.m. EST: If anyone’s wondering how tall Jesse actually is, here’s a picture of his boots next to Jonelle Price’s.
2.23 p.m. EST: 29.1 for Jesse and Diachello! Super stuff — now we’ve got another judging break.
2.22 p.m. EST: If Jesse hasn’t been on your radar before, he should be: he’s truly one of the next generation of Kiwi superstars, and it’ll be so exciting to see if this is the horse to really put him on the radar. They’ve been helped out to come here by the Kiwi federation, who wanted them to capitalise on their super third place in Lignieres last season, which was the first time we really saw Jesse take the handbrake off. He’s been very committed to slow, educational runs thus far and now he’s ready to let the horse shine.
2.17 p.m. EST: Kiwi rider Jesse Campbell is based in the same neck of the woods as the Prices in Wiltshire, England, and he’s made his first trip to Kentucky with his five-star debutant Diachello. This is a really exciting horse for this exceptionally talented rider.
2.17 p.m. EST: 33.2 for Leslie and Voltaire de Tre, who finished tenth here on the horse’s debut in 2019.
2.15 p.m. EST: Leslie is having to sacrifice some of the expressiveness to try to keep Splash cool and calm in the ring, but there was lots to like.
2.13 p.m. EST: Some lovely work in the ring now from US-based Brit Leslie Law and Voltare de Tre, who’s looking more mature this year than when we last saw him in 2019. This horse can be a bit of a bull in a china shop, according to Leslie — but it’s easy to see why he perseveres.
2.08 p.m. EST: 41.5 for Ema and Ben, who can now proceed to the two phases that suit them best – and what an achievement to have made their debut in this extraordinary place!
2.07 p.m. EST: A HUGE cheer from the gathered supporters for Ema and Ben – everyone is really coming out in force to support our six rookie riders, and it’s so great to see.
2.04 p.m. EST: The canter work is looking more relaxed and consistent for Ema and Ben, who trained with the late, great Packy McGaughan, who will surely be smiling down upon them both this week.
2.03 p.m. EST: This isn’t Ben’s best phase, but this is a super experience for them both – and one that Ema will use to help her produce her other horses, including newly-minted Advanced mare Bronte Beach, who really does excel in the dressage.
Game faces on for Ema and Bendigo. Photo by Sally Spickard.
2.02 p.m. EST: IT’S TIME! Our own Ema Klugman is in the ring now with Bendigo. She’s the youngest rider in the competition — just 23 — and riding the eldest horse, at 19. This is their first CCI5*, an opportunity which was nearly lost to them as a result of the pandemic.
2.00 p.m. EST: Frustratingly, that last halt is a wee bit on the wonk – but there are two phases left to come. Caroline will look to try to stay on their 35.9.
1.59 p.m. EST: You probably want an update on this test. It’s looking good – Caroline has exceptionally good elbows, which means she has exceptionally good hands. Jack doesn’t thrill in his changes, but his contact is more consistent than it has been in some previous events.
1.57 p.m. EST: I refuse to accept that that information might not be relevant, by the way. I love the sesh, and any rider who gets on the sesh in my company is immediately one of my bosom buddies. I don’t think we use the term ‘bosom buddies’ enough, by the way. It sounds terribly naughty.
1.54 p.m. EST: Islandwood Captain Jack and Caroline Martin will be the next to do their test. I last saw Caroline at Aachen with this horse in 2019, where we went for a drink and then promptly got caught in some sort of weird German hurricane. Our lives rather flashed before our eyes but we decided that spending our last moments in a bar wasn’t too bad of a way to go, all things considered.
1.53 p.m. EST: “I thought he was really good — he’s been a little bit more spooky than he normally is. I didn’t do ring familiarisation because I wanted to concentrate on his way of going, not the atmosphere — that atmosphere can actually help him,” says Dan Clasing, who describes MW Gangster’s Game as a very spooky, but rideable, horse.
1.52 p.m. EST: Some nice changes from CR, who’s part Clydesdale.
1.49 p.m. EST: Experienced combo Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights in the ring now. Love Colleen’s sunglasses, which bring a much-needed Miami Vice vibe to the dressage.
All smiles from Dan Clasing after an incredible result in the first phase! Photo by Sally Spickard.
1.46 p.m. EST: 29.8 for Daniel and MW Gangster’s Game puts them into provisional 7th! Wow, wow, wow, what an incredible effort – those who chose them for their Eventing Manager team will be delighted with that! Want to join our Eventing Nation league? Enter the code DRZJYG to take part!
1.43 p.m. EST: Daniel is nailing the changes – there’s some really nice moments in this test. Looks like a really smart horse for the future who should make a great impression this week.
1.36 p.m. EST: 34.8 for Valerie and Favian – a fair score considering some slight inconsistencies in the contact, and a great starting point to climb from this weekend. Next in the ring is Daniel Clasing and his rookie horse MW Gangster’s Game.
1.33 p.m. EST: These shoulder-ins are SO crisp and correct!
1.32 p.m. EST: This pair look so polished and professional in the ring. You’d never guess that Valerie’s wearing her lucky llama socks, but that’s showbiz, baby.
1.31 p.m. EST: And we are BACK, baby! Debutant pair Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride and Favian are our first pair in the ring. Valerie’s also a licensed dressage judge, so expect her not to throw out any marks here.
1.25 p.m. EST: While we’re taking a break, I want to give a shout out to some amazing people and organisations doing super work across equestrian sport and beyond. As you guys probably know, our Ultimate Form Guide will be helping to raise funds for access programmes, ensuring anyone who wants to get involved in horses feels safe and welcome to do so. There are so many amazing organisations out there doing really cool stuff, including:
1.12 p.m. EST: We’re on a judging break now until 1.29 p.m. EST. Grab a beer! I’m a professional so I, of course, will not.*
(*Because I’m out of beer, so I’m going for a class of Malbec. Hey, don’t judge me, it’s after six p.m. here!)
1.09 p.m. EST: A 30.3 for Sydney and QC Diamantaire is a great start in the horse’s 5* debut – they’re in touching distances of the top guys in provisional 7th place!
1.05 p.m. EST: A very exciting debutant horse is next in the ring before the first break: it’s QC Diamantaire with Sydney Elliott in the irons. We’re looking at this duo as a serious dark horse partnership. (Literally, to be fair — this is a gorgeous black gelding!)
1.04 p.m. EST: 34.8 for Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue d’Argouges gives them some room to climb, which they should do on Saturday with their wealth of experience behind them.
12.59 p.m. EST: This pair have plenty of experience – they were the trailblazers at the WEG in 2018. Unfortunately, this test probably won’t challenge the leaders, though; there’s an expensive wobble in the transition out of reinback into canter and they lose the connection.
12.57 p.m. EST: Canada back in the ring, this time in the form of Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue d’Argouges. What a striking horse this French-bred gelding is.
12.55 p.m. EST: “I’m actually from Kentucky so it’s always special coming back – I did my first Pony Club rally here,” says Hannah Sue Burnett. She’s another to confess that this year’s course looks to be the toughest we’ve seen: “I actually think I felt better walking around Burghley the last time I walked around the course there – but [this one] is getting better the more times I walk it!”
12.54 p.m. EST: The last change is a tiny bit late too, which may prove a bit expensive. Overall a sweet test from Hawley and Jollybo, though, who earn 36.7.
12.52 p.m. EST: They lose a bit of the connection in the first change, but the second and third look much better.
12.51 p.m. EST: Canada’s Hawley Bennett-Awad and the pocket rocket Jollybo now up to bat. Just 15.3hh, this little mare is such a worker, and she’s a perfect match for gutsy, determined Hawley. She got the mare from Justine Dutton, who in turn works closely with UK-based Kate Tarrant to source all the super horses she sells.
12.46 p.m. EST: Ooof, William does a LOVELY set of changes. This is such an interesting movement, because they tend to be so influential in these tests – are we teaching them too late? Putting too much pressure on them? It’s hard to say, but whatever Hannah Sue is doing, she’s doing it right. They nab a 28.8 to earn themselves a very competitive placing for now.
12.43 p.m. EST: The experience is shining through here. William knows his job here and he’s doing it – and what a lovely, eager expression he has throughout.
12.40 p.m. EST: Now it’s time for the most experienced combination in the field – they’ve been running at Advanced since 2011 and have amassed the most five-star runs. It’s Harbour Pilot — or William, after William Micklem who was involved in breeding him — and Hannah Sue Burnett. The trot work is looking really nice at this early stage!
12.39 p.m. EST: 33.3 and outside the top ten for Buck and Gobey. It proves how tough it’ll be to make an impact here today – no Friday afternoon bonuses – but it’s a nice place for a debutant to be as it takes away a lot of the pressure.
12.33 p.m. EST: Buck Davidson and 5* debutant Erroll Gobey in the sandpit now. If it seems like there are a lot of first-timer horses here, you’re not wrong – 44% of the field here is stepping up to the level for the first time. This ten-year-old tends to score in the upper 20s, so we have big expectations here.
12.29 p.m. EST: A surprising mark of 30.3 puts Kevin and Don into sixth place – we’re used to seeing a mid-to-high 20s score from these two, but the judges here aren’t giving any free passes this week.
12.27 p.m. EST: These stretchy circles can be enormously influential in this test – lots of riders forget them entirely, and others don’t feel they can be brave enough to really let the horse reach down. Kevin goes for it and presents a relaxed, correct picture. This test has been a real clear round, and he should be delighted with it.
12.26 p.m. EST: Mmmm, these canter half-passes are so tasty I could spread them on toast and eat them. Third change not quite as clean as the first two.
12.25 p.m. EST: Don Quidam really is looking exceptionally comfortable in this arena. A shame that the second halt isn’t quite as still as it could be – just a bit too much minute shuffling for that square. Nice, clean first change though.
12.23 p.m. EST: This is a horse I’m really excited about, and I actually picked him as my winner in the EN team predictions – it’s Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam and Kevin McNab for Australia. They finished 7th in the horse’s 5* debut at Pau in 2019, and Kevin’s been keen to bring this horse here for a long time.
12.21 p.m. EST: Some really lovely moments in the ring from On Cue, who’s inexperienced for her fourteen years and making her five-star debut. Their score of 27 beats Boyd’s first horse, Long Island T (28.2) and goes into third place!
12.16 p.m. EST: Welcome to day two of dressage in the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event! We’re up and running with Boyd Martin and On Cue in the ring – here’s a look at our top twenty from yesterday:
Welcome to the 2021 edition of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event! Yesterday we had the first half of the field kick off the competition, with some truly exciting results. Today, the action is non-stop once again, with the 4*-S continuing dressage this morning. This afternoon our 5* contenders will conclude their tests. Click here to see the order of go with ride times and here for all the details on how to watch live. For the ultimate experience, including more data just like this, download the Eventing Nation Ultimate Form Guide to have open on your computer, phone, or tablet while viewing!
The competitors will be performing the 2021 FEI 5* Test B. Judging the competitors will be Christina Klingspor of Sweden, who presides over the ground jury. Robert Stevenson of the United States and Peter Gray of Canada join her as members of the ground jury.
THE FIELD, DAY ONE
The chart below visually shows the range of each pair (in draw order). The purple demonstrates the range that the pair scores in 67% of the time. The shorter the purple bar, the more consistent the pair score; a very long purple bar indicates a pair who can score all over the board. The black bar indicates the average of the latest three A/4* tests that the pair has done, giving an indication as to recent form.
The black dot with accompanying text indicates the personal best score at A/4* while a red X with text indicates the personal best scores at 5*.
Good morning from the midst of the best kind of madness – Kentucky madness! All of us at Team EN have missed the freneticism of this week and whether we’re working on site or supporting from home, it’s non-stop and enormously exciting to bring you wall-to-wall coverage. Though I admit that I did feel a moment of smugness about contributing from my warm, sun-soaked cottage in England when I saw that snow come down. It’s not often I get to win the weather stakes, so I’ll take it, quite frankly.
If you’re getting ready to settle in and watch today’s action, don’t forget to grab yourself a copy of our Ultimate Form Guide – a nearly 140-page digital magazine that’ll bring you the whole story and all the stats on every single horse and rider in the CCI5*, conveniently laid out in drawn order so you can dive into all the info you need as each pair appears on your screen. It’s a super way to get into the heart of the action – some of these guys have extraordinarily poignant back-stories – and it’s a real help if you’re playing along on Eventing Manager or simply love the thrill of making bold predictions and having them pay off. I’ll tell you something for nothing – the form guide indicates that there’s a horse in today’s field with a first-phase average that’s lower than our current leading mark, and it might not be the horse you think it is…
Have you been receiving EN’s LRK3DE Daily Digest? It’s free and lands in your inbox each morning before the day’s action begins, full of links to catch up on what you may have missed, some of our favorite moments from on the ground, and a preview of what to look for each day. You can sign up here to receive the rest of this week’s Daily Digest – and you’ll be entered to win a prize just by signing up!
The Kentucky digital programme is out and gives you plenty of handy links at your fingertips – I’ve been using it to flip back and forth between the cross-country course plans, because like everyone else, I’m already itching for Saturday. [Kentucky Programme]
Sad news from our friends in the dressage world: Debbie McDonald‘s powerhouse mare Brentina has died at the age of 30. To watch this mare was to love her and be wholly inspired by her joie de vivre in the ring – we’ll be riding to Brick House today in her honour. [Brentina, US Dressage Superhorse and FEI World Cup Final Winner, Dies]
In a year when the entire competition feels different, it’s nice to have a few things that feel the same, like Marilyn Little skipping to the top of the leaderboard. But of course, some things were also new, like first-timers who came out swinging (👀Fylicia Barr and Galloway Sunrise) and William Fox-Pitt wearing a helmet instead of a top hat. Here’s your bite sized snack of what we saw where on the first day of dressage at the 2021 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, featuring photos from Shelby Allen, Shannon Brinkman and Sally Spickard.
Pinch me! I can’t believe we are actually on site at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. Thursday dressage is Rolex Stadium is normally quiet as spectators trickle in, but today was a different kind of eerie white noise. Without the massive VIP and rider tents nearby, the surroundings of the area look bare, too, leaving us with flashbacks of when this event had grass seating.
We’ve been pleased to see the Kentucky Horse Park and this event go above and beyond in managing strict COVID-19 policies. Our numbers are limited in the media center, and we sit between panes of plexiglass to work. Temperature checks are required and they have staff members dedicated to doing random checks to see if folks have the appropriate armbands indicating they’ve been screened before entry. It’s a weird year, but as always, our eventing nation is taking the requirements seriously.
There’s three of us on site this weekend, which is an absolute treat compared to the last time I was here as the lead reporter in 2019 going solo. I had a hell of a team working remotely to keep me afloat, and we do again this year, but these events are always more fun with friends (even if we sit six feet apart).
That said, there’s still one person who isn’t with us this year. Press Officer Marty Bauman gave tribute to Ann Haller before this afternoon’s press conference, and I realized I have never been here in Kentucky without her. Growing up riding with her, I came to Kentucky in 2009 at her suggestion as a bright-eyed spectator and then spent many years interning for her and Marty in the Media Center. While coming to events like this fills my heart with joy, realizing she won’t be here rips the scab off the slow-healing wound of my grief. Last week, we memorialized Ann locally at the farm where I met her, in the cross country field that Roger Haller designed. Their memorial stays nestled in a shady spot with a great view. Be like Ann.
Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Rubens D’Ysieux. Photo by Shelby Allen.
I feel very grateful to be here, and I have to credit Sara Kozumplik Murphy for that. She spearheaded the fundraising effort, with the help of many, many others, to keep this event alive, so it was an extra special treat to watch her have a lovely test with the dreamy Rubens D’Ysieux in the CCI4*-S. Thank you, Sara!
That gratitude permeated my entire day. I didn’t complain (as much) about being cold, and I felt like I soaked in more of each test as a more active viewer. That let me appreciate tiny details that I might have missed before, like seeing the tiny, quick pat that Jonelle Price gave Grappa Nera after a trot lengthening.
As usual, it’s a pleasure to photograph these incredible athletes, and I look forward to doing it again tomorrow. Can someone beat Marilyn’s bomb 21.7? Spoiler alert: statistically, there is/are one(s) who can. To find out who, crack open our Ultimate Guide:
