Classic Eventing Nation

The Making of a 5* Horse: Laura Collett Retains Pau Lead on Cross-Country Day

By on Oct 24, 2020 6:57 pm -

Laura Collett and London 52 cement their partnership’s progression with a clear round inside the time at the horse’s debut 5*. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The sun shone down on Pau course designer Pierre Michelet today — probably because if it hadn’t, he’d have given it 20 penalties and a yellow card — offering up a scorcher of a day, a first return to true spectator sport, and an afternoon of masterclass performances by the strongest field we’ve ever seen at the French CCI5*.

Ordinarily, we see one of the lowest cross-country clear rates of any five-star here at Pau, which may come as a surprise to those who consider it — wrongly — a ‘soft option’ five-star. But it’s also, admittedly, been made harder in the past to get a gauge on its stats, because we so seldom see a field like the one we’ve got here this week. Horses who would ordinarily go to Burghley — such as Tim Price’s Ringwood Sky Boy — or be otherwise occupied with late-summer championships or the likes of Blenheim or Boekelo have instead made the long journey down to the only five-star offering of 2020. With a plethora of the world’s top combinations in situ, as well as some hugely exciting debutant horses and riders, the average quality of the field has skewed well upwards this year.

With that brings a change in the statistics. Though Michelet didn’t make too many changes this year from last year’s track — “we didn’t know if we would even get to run, so we didn’t want to do a huge amount,” he says with a shrug — the numbers we’ve seen play out make it look like a different competition entirely. Last year we saw just one combination manage to catch the optimum time and only 39% of the field jump clear; this year, we saw ten come home inside the time while a whopping 71% enjoyed clear rounds, making it the second-highest clear rate ever seen in this class. Notably, this is very likely also the only 5* cross-country day ever in which no one took a tumble all day.

But that doesn’t mean the day wasn’t without its dramas. Before the afternoon’s cross-country even began there was a shake-up to the top ten when Germany’s Christoph Wahler opted to withdraw a not-quite-himself Carjatan S, who had sat in ninth place on 25.6 going into this phase. As the day got underway, some high-profile faulters proved that there was still room to climb here — and the tightly-bunched top of the leaderboard meant that anyone hoping to be competitive had to be as quick as possible, upping the risk-factor over Michelet’s notorious selection of skinnies and blind turns.

An early victim of the course — and an enormous surprise, too — was the hugely experienced Sarah Bullimore and Reve du Rouet, who had a runout at the first water and then gave a gasping audience the show of the day when Sarah’s stirrup slipped off her saddle and she wriggled her way from inches above the lake back into the saddle before opting to retire the uber-consistent gelding, who was second here in 2017.

A contested — and eventually removed — 20 penalties for Australia’s Kevin McNab and Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam, who showed off some seriously impressive footwork to avoid crossing their tracks after a mid-course change of plan at 12AB proved that the course was going to take just as much riding as ever. Throughout the day, whether demonstrated by seasoned campaigners or up-and-coming superstars, we saw just that: quality, committed riding that gave Pierre all those long striding efforts he dines out on every year.

London 52 makes easy work of the tough and influential double of angled hedges at 6AB. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Best of the bunch at the end of the day remains the crown for Laura Collett and five-star debutante London 52 to wear, cementing the notion that after an educational rollercoaster of a 2019 season, the almost ludicrously good-looking horse has found his feet at the top levels.

“I felt like I owed it to him to not mess up here, so I’m just glad I didn’t let him down and he showed everyone just how class he is,” she says modestly.

Laura left the start box near the end of the day with London 52 having already jumped clear with earlier ride Mr Bass. Running the more experienced ‘Chuck’ first was a tactical manoeuvre, and one that paid off — despite a successfully appealed 20 penalties awarded when Laura opted to go long at the final significant combination at 27ABC. For Laura, riding her more experienced, more straightforward horse first allowed her to suss out the track and make crucial decisions for her debutant.

“There were a couple of places where normally, Chuck would never normally make the fences feel big because he’s quite a streamlined jumper,” she says. “But jumping into the second water he felt like he flew. Knowing that London 52 is the complete opposite and would always overjump, I thought I needed to come in a bit more nicely — but I slightly overdid it and over-killed the canter, so I made it quite hard work to get to the skinny! It was a bit the same at the last combination at 27ABC; I ever-so-slightly over-killed the canter, but if I’d done anything else, he’d have jumped so big we’d never have made the corner. For those decisions, riding Mr Bass first was helpful. For me, they’re total opposites but it gave me the confidence — with Chuck, he holds my hand, and with London 52, I hold his hand and say ‘come on, we’re going!'”

With her banker round done and dusted, all eyes were to be on Laura’s second ride of the day, and one of the final starts on course. London 52’s as much a fan favourite as he is a hot topic  for fan speculation — and though his performances since his Boekelo win last year have been seriously exciting, with a CCI4*-S win at Little Downham among them, he’s still often the subject of much ‘will he or won’t he?’ guesswork. But if you’d managed to miss the wobbly bits of his career last year, which came along as quite a natural part of a young horse’s early top-level career, you’d have been forgiven for assuming from his round today that he’d never had a cross-country penalty in his life. The eleven-year-old gelding was as bold as we’ve seen him, eating up the open stride patterns with his long, attacking stride and actively seeking out the next set of flags to negotiate.

Still in doubt? A minor error at the very end of the course is a powerful persuader of London 52’s progress in this phase. The pair had an enormous leap over the A element at 27ABC, a house on top of a mound wending its way down to an almost blind corner — but though it looked like almost certain game over, Laura was able to pick ‘Dan’s’ head up and show him the fence. Then, she stayed back and out of his way and let him take over — and he did rather spectacularly, happily showing off his scope and gutsiness to make it through.

“I thought for a second there, ‘oh god — not again!’,” laughs Laura.

Not again, indeed: where London 52 once second-guessed his instincts on cross-country, he now looks truly comfortable and confident in his ability and in his rider’s sympathetic piloting, displaying a clear trajectory over the last 18 months that looks to foretell a truly formidable career to come.

“He’s grown up so much in trusting me,” she says. “He would fight quite a lot with his head last year, and I think it was all nerves, but he’s just grown in confidence — particularly where I had the real scary moment at the last combination. For him to pick his head up off the floor and have just a split second to see the corner, and for him to still jump because I’d said ‘jump’ was pretty special. It even took me a bit by surprise how quick his reaction was, but that’s where he’s come on so much. I think today, he turned from a boy into a man.”

One of the most remarkable things about today’s competition was the presence of a vocal, expansive audience — and that, says Laura, is one of the secret weapons to being able to perform at this level and intensity.

“It felt quite strange to have crowds, because we haven’t had any at competitions at home, so for the horses it was quite a shock — particularly when coming from the quiet stables into all the people and noise,” she says. “But after being at Le Lion last week, which felt eery and strange without people, it was great to be able to go out with the buzz of the crowd, and I think it really helped, as a rider, to pick you up. Particularly at a five-star, I think it would be a huge ask to do it without the public — and the crowds here are amazing. They cheer you on, and they will you and want you to keep going, and that makes it really special.”

“He became a man today”: Brookfield Inocent looks for the next challenge with Piggy March. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the afternoon was the shock 20 penalties of second-placed Chris Burton and his experienced 5* partner Graf Liberty, who had a run-out at the open corner at 14B. That left their spot on the leaderboard open for Piggy March and her own level debutant Brookfield Inocent to move into second place after producing one of the ten penalty-free rounds of the day — though there was a brief moment in which Piggy wondered if she, too, might lose it all at the very same fence that took Burto out of the hunt.

“I’ve never been to Pau before, so for me it was a great experience to be here,” she says. “It really encouraged forward, brave, attacking riding, with the odd sneaky thing tucked in, like the oxer to the corner, which I didn’t ride very well; my horse was very good there!”

Though this is Blenheim CCI4*-L winner Brookfield Inocent’s first five-star, he carries the weight of expectation on his young shoulders as the likeliest of Piggy’s horses to go to Tokyo next year, filling the enormous shoes left by Quarrycrest Echo. Today’s trip around the course gave her an even more substantial basis for this level of faith.

“My horse is fantastic; probably one of the best cross-country horses I’ve ever had, so I was excited to ride the cross-country course today. I was even more excited to finish and learn what a great horse I hopefully have for the future as well,” she says.”

Tim Price and Wesko navigate the final water, where their Pau ended so unfortunately last year. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

After a competitive run here last year was cut short by a freak fall on the flat in the final water, Tim Price and his 2014 Luhmühlen winner Wesko left the start box with a score to settle — and after having piloted his two other rides home with clear rounds, the affable Kiwi was prepared to deal with anything the track threw at him. But this time the footing was perfectly maintained in the three water fences, and his relief on popping neatly out of the final complex was palpable. Though the pair didn’t make the optimum time — they came home in 11:09, one second over it — they didn’t lose any ground on the leaderboard, stepping up into Piggy’s vacated third place.

“I had the pleasure of having three goes around the track today, on two horses that are a certain ‘type’ and then Wesko, who’s a bit different,” says Tim. “I thought it was a brilliant track, and exactly what we want in a five-star track — it’s an encouragement for bravery, and then a test of if you can manage that bravery, and to take the brilliance of a big jump and do something with it. You’ve got to use your line and know your horse. If there’s going to be one five-star in a year, this is a pretty good representation.”

Alex Bragg and Zagreb make Pau look easy for the second year in a row. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Alex Bragg and Zagreb were the only pair to make the time here in 2019, and this year they repeated the feat — and if anything, their performance today was even more polished. They made light work of the forward distances in the combinations, taking full advantage of the 17.3hh gelding’s enviable length of stride but never losing a fraction of his adjustability to produce a copybook round and a tremendous example of how a Pierre Michelet Pau course is meant to be ridden.

22-year-old Mollie Summerland produces one of the rounds of the day, coming home clear inside the time with her self-produced Charly van ter Heiden. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

One of the highlights of the day was the five-star debut round of 22-year-old British rider Mollie Summerland and the eleven-year-old Charly van ter Heiden, a horse she’s produced through the grades herself with some remarkable results along the way. Their late entry here came after a super round at Little Downham’s inaugural CCI4*-S, which featured a course especially designed to prepare its competitors for Pau.

Though the pair’s clear round inside the time comes as little surprise to those who’ve followed their fledgling career keenly, Mollie herself was delighted and rather astonished to find herself romping over the finish line exactly on the 11:08 optimum time.

“I came here for experience, and everything else was just a bonus,” she says.

Their round, which saw her ride with an effectiveness and maturity that belies her lack of experience at this level, puts them into fifth place overnight on a leaderboard that’s extraordinarily close — they’re just 4.2 penalties behind our leaders going into tomorrow afternoon’s final horse inspection.

Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser deliver one of the rounds of the day to sit sixth. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Last year’s winners Toledo de Kerser and Tom McEwen couldn’t claw their way to the top spot with their impeccable clear round inside the time, but like Alex Bragg and Zagreb, they produced a round that should be mandatory viewing for eventing enthusiasts who want to learn a thing or two. Though they certainly had the advantage of having completed a very similar course here last year — which they also did rather well, all things considered — they added an extra level of polish and boldness this year, with Toledo seeking out the very French distances with an expression of utter joy and professionalism that never faltered.

The incredibly consistent pairing of Ros Canter and Zenshera make it another clear at Pau, though 2.4 time penalties drop them down the ranks. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Ros Canter‘s Zenshera must be one of the most consistent horses in the world, with five top-tens from five CCI5* runs already under his belt — and today he added yet another polite and foot-perfect clear round to his record, making the best possible use of the reasonably gettable time to add just 2.4 time penalties despite his penchant for staying in one gear throughout a course. In such a close field, though, those penalties saw them slip from fifth to seventh place overnight, which gives them no wiggle room for rails tomorrow if they want to continue their remarkable streak.

Jean-Lou Bigot and Utrillo du Halage move into eighth place and best of the French. Photo by Hannah Cole.

The enthusiastic French crowds at Pau will happily cheer each and every rider around the course, but their biggest ‘ALLEZ!’ is always reserved for those riders from their home country — and though several of their high-profile competitors ran into trouble today, with French riders making up 3 of the 4 non-completing combinations, they were given plenty of reason to celebrate, too. 1993 European Champion Jean Lou Bigot sailed around the track with his five-star debutante Utrillo du Halage, making the rider’s return to the level after thirteen years a suitably illustrious one. The strength of their clear round inside the time allowed them to climb from 21st after dressage to overnight eighth and best of the home-nation contingent.

World Number One Oliver Townend did much the same aboard MHS King Joules, who returns to the top level after two years out of action. Though they added 2 time penalties — and Oliver had to ride particularly determinedly in the final water — they were still able to rise from 17th to ninth, proving that despite its skewed stats, 2020’s iteration of Pau still can’t be considered a dressage competition.

Alexis Goury and Trompe l’Oeil d’Emery, who were so impressive here on their debut in 2018, show off the same pizzazz today to step up to tenth place. Photo by Hannah Cole.

Rounding out the top ten is the perennially exciting young Frenchman Alexis Goury, who returned with his 2018 partner Trompe l’Oeil d’Emery for what he hopes will be another top-ten finish. The pair managed that on their debut two years ago with one of the gutsiest clears inside the time of the day, and today they brought that same old magic back but replaced their debutant naivety with some serious maturity to give their captive audience one of the most unabashedly fun viewing experiences of the day.

With a scorching afternoon of cross-country behind us, we now look ahead to tomorrow’s final horse inspection, which begins at the rather sociable time of 13.15 local/12.15 UK/8.15 Eastern after tonight’s clock change. It would all be a good recipe for the #PartyPau of the century, but #PandemicPau means that we’ve all been sent to our beds early as a new 9.00 p.m. curfew was enacted throughout the region today. Instead, you’ll get to enjoy the most fresh-faced final horse inspection photos you’ll likely ever see.

We’ll be making best use of the morning to delve into the chances of the remaining field of 41: who’s likely to jump clear? Who’s going to tumble out of contention with a likely rail — or, god forbid, two? We’ve got an enormously exciting final day ahead of us — we look forward to joining you again then.

In the meantime, as always: Go Eventing!

The top five after cross-country at Pau.

5 Etoiles de Pau: Website, Entries, Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

FEI Nations Cup Series Concludes at Montelibretti: Historic Win for Italy But Dutch Take 2020 Title

By on Oct 24, 2020 5:30 pm -

Italy’s Montelibretti is the third and final round of this year’s abridged FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ series, with legs having also taken place at Poland’s Strzegom and France’s Le Pin au Haras. Team Italy took the top podium spot: Juan Carlos Garcia, Arianna Schivo, Marco Cappai, Team Manager Giacomo Della Chiesa, Pietro Maiolino. Photo by FEI/Massimo Argenziano.

Team Italy posted a runaway win at the third and last leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ 2020 series on home ground at Montelibretti today, but the overall title goes to The Netherlands. In the lead after the first two legs at Le Pin au Haras (FRA) and Strzegom (POL) in August, the Dutch could only be threatened by Poland at this final competition.

A Polish victory would have left them on level pegging with the Dutch at the top of the leaderboard, but it wasn’t to be as they lined up third of the four competing nations who enjoyed a great weekend of sport in the autumn sunshine at the Montemaggiore Estate which is home to Italy’s Military Riding Centre.

Team Austria (2nd place), Team Italy (Winners), and Team Poland (3rd place). Photo by FEI/Massimo Argenziano.

Austria finished second while the three-member Swiss side lined up in fourth place this afternoon. For the Italians this was a really special day because it marked their first-ever FEI Nations Cup™ success according to veteran team member Juan Carlos Garcia: “We had a good lead after cross-country yesterday so we had a good feeling going into the showjumping today. But you never know the result until the horses and riders are over the last jump. We are very happy this evening!”

Juan Carlos Garcia (ITA) and Ugo Du Perron. Photo by FEI/Massimo Argenziano.

Held the lead

Poland held the lead after Dressage, buoyed up by a strong test from Mateusz Kiempa and Lassban Radovix who put 33.79 on the board. However their team total of 106.00 left them only 1.5 points ahead of Austria in second and just over two points ahead of the Italians in third at this stage, and cross-country day would change everything.

Arianna Schivo (ITA) and Quefira de L’Ormeau. Photo by FEI/Massimo Argenziano.

“It wasn’t a difficult course, but the time (6 mins 49 secs) was tight,” explained Garcia who galloped through the finish with Ugo du Perron in 7 mins 11 secs to add 8.8 time penalties to his scoreline. All four Italian team members stayed clear over the fences and they had a commanding lead going into today’s final phase on a score of 132.20. Austria lay second on 159.60 but less one rider following cross-country elimination for Lea Siegl and Van Helsing P, while Poland sat in third on 178.30 ahead of Switzerland in overnight fourth on 189.4.

Marco Cappai (ITA) and Santal du Halange. Photo by FEI/Massimo Argenziano.

The Italians sealed it confidently when both Garcia and Arianna Schivo riding Quefira de L’Ormeau were foot-perfect and within the time, while both Pietro Majolino riding Vita Louise DH Z and Marco Cappal partnering Santal Du Halage dropped only a single pole and added a few time faults.

Juan Carlos Garcia (ITA) and Ugo Du Perron. Photo by FEI/Massimo Argenziano.

Debut

At 23 years of age, and making his Nations Cup debut, Majolino was the baby of the winning side but his team-mates have a world of experience behind them. Garcia is a veteran of two Olympic Games and four FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG), competing in both Jumping and Eventing at the very top level. Schivo and her 16-year-old mare were on the Italian team at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the WEG in Tryon, USA in 2018 while Cappal finished individually 14th at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA in 1996.

Arianna Schivo (ITA) and Quefira de L’Ormeau. Photo by FEI/Massimo Argenziano.

The final Italian team total of 138.60 left them well clear of the rest of the field and celebrating a big moment. They finished second in the final classification after lining out in all three legs of the series this season, and as Chef d’Equipe Giacomo Della Chiesa said this evening, “it’s been a very good competition for us and we finish the year in a very good way.”

Harald Ambros (AUT) and Lexikon 2. Photo by FEI/Massimo Argenziano.

Title

The Netherlands can also celebrate tonight after taking the title. Tim Lips (Eclips), Janneke Boonzaauer (ACSI Champ de Tailleur), Elaine Pen (Divali) and Laura Hoogeveen (Wicro Quibus NOP) flew the Dutch flag when runners-up behind French winners Thibaut Vallette, Thomas Carlile, Christopher Six and Karim Florent Laghouag at the opening leg at Le Pin au Haras.

Malgorzata Cybulska (POL) and Chernaro 2. Photo by FEI/Massimo Argenziano.

And when Germany’s Ingrid Klimke, Andreas Dibowski, Beeke Jankowski and Heike Jahncke came out on top in Strzegom later in August then Hoogeveen was joined by Merel Blom (Ceda NOP), Jordy Wilken (Burry Spirit) and Raf Kooremans (Dimitri NOP) to fill second spot.

Their total of 180 points couldn’t be bettered today, and the final standings at the end of the abbreviated FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ 2020 series are as follows:

1. Netherlands – 180 points
2. Italy – 170 points
3. Poland – 160 points
4. Austria – 150 points
5. France – 100 points
6. Germany – 100 points
7. Great Britain – 80 points
8. Switzerland – 70 points
9. Sweden – 70 points
10. New Zealand – 55 points
11. Australia – 50 points

View complete results from Montelibretti here. You can watch a replay of the event here.

Final Standings FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ 2020:
1. Netherlands – 180 points
2. Italy – 170 points
3. Poland – 160 points
FULL RESULTS

Future Superstars Take the Stage on Day 1 of USEA YEH/FEH West Coast Champs

By on Oct 24, 2020 8:43 am -

4-Year-Old Leonardo Diterma, owned by Cellar Farm Corp., & Amber Levine. Photo by MGO Photography.

Beautiful fall conditions greeted competitors at Twin Rivers in Paso Robles, California on Friday as the best of the west put on a show at The Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse West Coast Championships and the USEA Future Event Horse Championships. Judges Peter Gray and Debbie Adams were dazzled by an impressive crop of horses who came to prove the next generation of the sport is in good hands. Kicking things off were the 4 and 5 year-olds in the main arena.

Ultimately Jennifer Wooten-Macouzet came out on top in the 5-year-old Championships riding Kowenna, owned by Allison Hill, a KWPN mare by Freeman VDL, who just landed in the United States late July. “We were looking for horses for Allison then COVID hit and we just took a gamble on her. I said, ‘Do you trust me?’ This was not the goal for her, expectations were low but here we are, she’s just a classy mare,” says Wooten-Macouzet. Fifteen pairs will come forward Saturday to tackle the jumping phases, beautifully prepared by Adri Lea Doyal.

On top after day one of competition in the 4-year-old class is world class rider Amber Levine, who laid down a commanding test on Leonardo Diterma, owned by Cellar Farm Corp, a classy moving KWPN gelding by Gullet HBC out of Gracie Terma, who only landed in California a month ago. The theme of the day proved to be rideability, matched by an equal amount of flash and clearly more than a hint of trainability. Both classes are tight packed after dressage, just over two points separate each class.

Not to be overshadowed by their older compatriots, winners were crowned in the USEA Future Event Horse Championships. Janine Jaro brought forward her Yearling Champion filly and overall Yearling Champion Trilogy, by Clair de Lune SE, and Chloe Smyth presented Michelle Cameron’s towering 2-year-old gelding aptly named RSH Goliath. Hot on his heels was Reserve Champion 2-year-old colt Ferao DFEN, by Flexible, owned by Sarah McCarthy, presented by Max Gerdes.

Heading into Saturday’s jumping section, Sarah Moseley’s ‘Twain’s Fireflight DF’, bred at Dragonfire Farm and by The Twain, leads a quality field of incredibly well-behaved 3-year-olds. The striking filly is out of the Hanoverian mare Dominga, who proved be quite difficult to get in foal. Her only other progeny is none other than Revitavet Elijah, who James Alliston successfully competed through to the Advanced level. Hot on her heels is Carrie Miller’s MFS Flywire presented by Anna Collier.

The USEA Future Event Horse 4-year-old class demonstrated how level-headed they were as all 5 showed themselves off impeccably in the main arena as the afternoon breeze sent the flags flying.  They head into Saturday’s jump chute with Pam Fisher’s homebred filly ‘Sea Lioness’ out in front. Anyone who saw her 5* sire ‘Sea Lion’ compete could be forgiven for confusing the two, the filly so far showing all the same qualities as her sire. Judith McSwain’s Fleeceworks L’Spout is sitting in second with Charlotte Babbitt in the irons heading into Saturday.

Ride On Video will be live streaming on Saturday, featuring both of the jumping phases in the YEH and FEH. Head to www.rideonvideo.net for details. For schedule details, live scores and ride times head to www.twinrivershorsepark.com and click on Events.

Saturday Video from SmartPak: Watch the Montelibretti Nations Cup Finale Live

By on Oct 24, 2020 7:52 am -

Italy’s Montelibretti is the third and final round of this year’s abridged FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ series, with legs having also taken place at Poland’s Strzegom and France’s Le Pin au Haras. This week 30 competitors are taking part in the CCIO4*-S including teams from Italy, Austria, Poland and Switzerland.

Heading into Saturday’s show jumping finale, Italian riders have the top four spots: Evelina Bertoli is first with Seashore Spring, Giulio Guliemi is second with Uhlan de L’Epine, Susanna Bordone is third with Imperial Van de Holtakkers, and Arianna Schivo with Quefira de L’ormeau is fourth. Polish rider Malgorzata Cybulska rounds out the top five with Chenero 2. View the leaderboard here.

The show jumping live stream begins at 8:25 a.m. EST. Watch it below or via the FEI YouTube channel or Facebook page — we’ve also included replays of dressage and cross country.

Go Eventing.

A Bit of ‘Allez’: Exploring the 2020 Pau CCI5* Course

By on Oct 24, 2020 6:12 am -

Hallie Coon and Celien at Pau in 2018. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Welcome to the most frightening depths of the mind of Pierre Michelet, a man who we always imagine tenting his fingers in his nuclear powerplant and cackling away in a French accent. There’s a rumour that suggests that if you stand in front of an arena mirror and say “zut alors, zat is a short four!” three times he’ll appear, red-eyed and spectral, and make you jump a curving line of skinny fences as penance for disturbing his slumber. “Non,” he will say, “zat is a long three. 20 penalties.”

Others say that you can summon him by putting pointed studs, a triple espresso, and a man in a horse suit in a circle and singing the French national anthem, which is Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes, we think.

Michelet the Menace, as he’s been affectionately dubbed, is the man responsible for one of the most consistently interesting courses in top-level eventing. Lacking the sheer space of venues like Badminton, Burghley, and Kentucky, Pau is best known for its serious twists and turns as it snakes its way between the gas stations and garden allotments of the city’s fringes. It’s not a galloping track, despite the fact that it takes place at a racetrack — instead, it’s rather more akin to go-karting-meets-crazy-golf.

The Essentials

  • Length: 6340m
  • Optimum time: 11:08
  • Fences: 31
  • Jumping efforts: 45, if you work on wholly straight routes
  • Potential clears inside the time: We’re betting on two.

The 2020 course plan.

Is It Tough Enough?

There’s a surprisingly common misconception that Pau is somehow less tough than the ‘Big Three’ five-star events — that’s Badminton, Burghley, and Kentucky. While its fences might not be as dimensionally colossal, and it doesn’t have the stamina challenge that an event like Burghley does, Pau — and course designer Pierre Michelet — can’t be underestimated.

An overview of Pau’s site. The first and last third of the course cover the left third of the site, while the middle third criss-crosses the racetrack to the right.

The name of the game here is conviction and positivity. The course is wedged into a small park and racecourse in the city, and it features plenty of twists and turns with very little time spent just travelling forward. This means that it’s a calculus final of a course: as a rider, you’re never really given the opportunity to find a gear and coast within it. Instead, you’re always on sat-nav duties, and making micro- or macro-adjustments to be able to carry out your plan of action.

Because the parkland of the Domain de Sers is naturally very flat, the course makes clever use of man-made mounds to add an extra level of challenge to approaches, and many of the trickiest combinations on course are made that way because of their use of lettered elements on a downhill trajectory.

Pierre’s also a big fan of very skinny skinnies in combinations where he wants to see what riders are made of: if they can commit wholeheartedly to their line and keep their eyes on the prize, his course rewards that, far more than it rewards a dogged commitment to a stride pattern. If in doubt? Go for the forward stride option, rather than the conservative one.

The Fences

The course is split into three distinct sections: part one starts down by the lorry park and wends its way through the wooded park, part two covers the internal section of the racecourse and is, in theory, the ‘quick’ section, and part three takes you back along the same ground covered in part one before a blistering finale in the main arena.

The two options at 4AB.

The first few fences on course are simple single fences, giving horses and riders the chance to get in the air and build up a good head of steam. Though there’s a combination at 4AB, which features a roll-top castle on top of a mound and then a run down to a choice of one of two moderately skinny shield fences, this is a straightforward question and is unlikely to cause any issues. The first real question comes at 6AB, which looks like a fairly innocuous double of angled hedges, but is the first example on course of Pierre’s penchant for lengthening the stride pattern. In the past, we’ve seen this in action in a softer way earlier on, so riders can have the wiggle room to add and quickly learn that it’s not the comfortable option, but this time around he’s made sure you have to commit and kick on from the get-go.

For this reason, it’s crucial that the riders use the first few fences as a way to test their ability to ride a line and a stride. Rather than coasting over the single fences to get their horses’ confidence up and blood flowing, they’ll need to be a bit clever about things, picking the trajectory of their approach and riding accurately and decisively from the off to sharpen up their fresh horses. The combination at 4AB, which would be so tempting to just pop through and forget about, is a great little tool for this — with its two options at the B element, it’s giving riders every chance to use it as a way to get their horses on the ball and test that all the buttons are working as they should be.

A big table and then an airy upright follow 6AB, and then it’s into the first water. The tough straight route is a drop into the water at 9A, followed by a skinny triple brush in the pond at 9B on a curving line that pops you out over a second triple brush at 10. There’s an alternative route here, too, which involves a bit of circling in and out over the water — a few will consider this, but those who are serious about tackling the meat of Pierre’s course will want to go straight here, because to do otherwise would be to risk reaching the toughest combinations a bit switched off.

After popping another table and the cygnet hedges, which have an earlier spot this year, competitors will cross into the racecourse proper. The minute after the first water is generally the fastest minute on course, any anyone looking to try to catch the time will need to make a super-quick getaway, a forward-going effort over the cygnets at 12AB, and a speedy pop over the big fly hedge at 13 to try to maintain something close to 600mpm.

14AB will require a steadier approach, though. The A element is a low, wide timber oxer, while the B element — which isn’t visible as you jump the A element — takes you on a 90-degree turn to the left and over an open timber corner. Again, this is a test of the line and of whether riders have got their horses feeling bold and attacking enough that they’ll lock onto whatever appears in front of them. We’ll see the odd glance off here, but anyone with a chance of tackling this course with aplomb has settled into their task now and should make easy work of it.

There are single fences at 15, 16, 17, and 18, though they’re all big and beefy enough — the angled trakehner at 16 is a classic rider-frightener type of fence, while the hedge at 17 is the most dimensionally enormous obstacle on course. After 18, a brush-topped table, competitors will hairpin-turn back on themselves to tackle 19ABC. This combination features three skinny elements, which snake their way across a set of mounds on a right-handed turning line. It’ll be a bit like a rollercoaster to ride — up a mound, over a fence, down a mound, lather, rinse, repeat — and they’ll need to make sure they don’t start freewheeling halfway through. Then it’s over the ditch and hedge at 20 — not quite the Cottesmore Leap of Burghley fame, though not far off — and over to the second water.

The water at 21ABC requires competitors to circle around the back and jump it facing the direction they’ve just come from — a tricky enough ask when their mounts will have spotted the gap in the racecourse fence that will take them home again. The A element is a huge rolltop, which will see them land with their hooves on the cusp of the water itself. The B element is a hefty skinny in the water, and a right-handed trajectory will take them out over yet another huge rolltop before they kick on and try to regain some ground heading back into the park.

Section three of this course takes no prisoners, and its first question — an enormous hedge at 22A, followed by a steep downhill approach to the skinniest of skinnies at 22B — is a big test. Horses will likely get a big enough jump over the A element and it would be fairly easy to miss the B entirely — but the alternative route here, which features a right-handed turn over a low bench, will help those who need it out. Anyone looking to be competitive — or teach their horse the intricacies of five-star accuracy — will want to go direct.

The final water at 23AB features a big timber box on the way in, followed by a skinny fence in the water — does that sound familiar, or is it just us? — and then a hanging log and skinny at 24AB, which come up so quickly after 23 that they have to be ridden as though they’re all part of the same question. Single fences at 25 and 26 give a little breather before 27ABC, which is always one of the most influential questions here.

Making use of yet another man-made mound, 27A is a sizeable house on the crest of the hill. From there, you can just barely see a tantalising inch or two of the direct route, a corner at 27BC on a curving line down and around the mound. The long route here is always a popular option, but it’s slow, too — and this year’s looks to be among the slowest yet. Those on mentally and physically tired horses who have begun to switch off may find themselves grateful for the option despite its length, though.

After another short uphill climb and a single fence at 29, it’s into the main arena to the cheers of a rather small crowd this year. Competitors will jump a double of angled hedges at 30AB — never influential, though we always see one or two riders fail to respect them and get a seriously ugly jump through — before galloping around to the other side of the ring and sailing the last brush-topped rolltop.

The Time Factor

The course covers a distance of 6340m in an optimum time of 11:08 — and the time is always a major player in how the day pans out. There aren’t really any true galloping stretches here, and so time wasted early on is almost impossible to claw back.

Last year, we saw just one combination make the time  — Alex Bragg and Zagreb — and they’re in the top ten heading into cross-country today. This year, with an extraordinarily close field at the top of the leaderboard, it’s set to make everything even more tummy-clenchingly exciting.

Want to to take a closer look at the layout of this tightly-packed course? Dive into the CrossCountryApp preview, put together by technical delegate Gillian Kyle. Cross-country begins at 13.30 local/12.30 UK/8.30 a.m. Eastern.

5 Etoiles de Pau: Website, Entries, Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Saturday Links

By on Oct 24, 2020 12:01 am -

Red sky at night, eventers’ delight? Here’s hoping 🤞🏻. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

I’ve set an alarm this morning even though it’s Saturday and I don’t have to work, but it’s Pau cross country day and you better believe I’m not going to miss a moment of the only five-star cross country we have this season. I’ll be watching the live stream on Horse & Country TV and of course following our own Pau coverage courtesy of our boots on the ground, Tilly Berendt, who’s bring us the best coverage in the business this weekend.

Major International Events:

Les 5 Etoiles de Pau CCI5*: Website, Entries, Start Times & Results, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Nations Cup Eventing at Montelibretti: Website, Live Stream, Live Scores

U.S. Weekend Action:

Chattahoochee Hills H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

FEH & YEH Last Chance Qualifier and West Coast Championship: [Website] [Entry Status and Times] [Live Scores]

Grand Oaks H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Holly Hill H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Waredaca Classic Three-Day Event & H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Windermere Run H.T.: [Website] [Ride Times/Live Scores]

Saturday Links:

Eventer Jock Paget takes on new NZ equestrian leadership role

Reset Your Riding: Achieving a Forward Connection with Matt Brown

2020 Area II Championships Round-Up

Save the Date for the 2020 USEA Virtual Annual Meeting & Convention

Zilpaterol feed contamination: BEF acts to protect riders from doping penalties

Saturday Video:

VHT International & Horse Trials Receives Over 600 Entries for Fall Event

By on Oct 23, 2020 12:55 pm -

Allison Springer and Crystal Crescent Moon, winners of the 2019 USEF Two-Star Eventing National Championship at Virginia Horse Trials. Crystal Crescent Moon, owned and bred by Nancy Winter, is a graduate of the USEA Young Event Horse program. Photo by Brant Gamma courtesy of VHT. 

Virginia Horse Trials (VHT) looks forward to welcoming record entries to next week’s VHT International & Horse Trials as well as The Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) East Coast Championships.

VHT International has received over 600 entries for the entire event as well as a record number of YEH entries for 4-year-olds and 5-year-olds. With 78 YEH entries at the time of publication, VHT and the USEA YEH Committee jointly agreed to run the 4-year-old division with 23 entries as a one-day format on Wednesday, October 28. The 5-year-old division with 55 entries will run over two days, from October 28-29.

“We’re very excited we have so many entries for the Dutta Corp. USEA YEH East Coast Championships this year,” stated YEH Committee Chair, Marilyn Payne. “Because of that, we don’t want to turn anyone away, so we were able to bring on additional judges for the 4-year-old division, which was the original plan for 2020 if entries were large enough. To make the schedule work, we needed three additional judges for the 4-year-old Championship.”

Peter Gray and Debbie Adams will be judging the 5-year-old division as planned. The judges for the 4-year-old Championship are Marilyn Payne, Tim Holekamp, and Phyllis Dawson.

Payne is a FEI 4* Eventing Judge and a USEF “S” Dressage Judge. She was the President of the Ground Jury at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, the 2010 World Equestrian Games, and judged at the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong and each of the six four-stars in the world. Marilyn is also a distinguished trainer, competitor, one of the founders of the USEA YEH program, and co-chair of the YEH Committee.

Holekamp is a retired ophthalmologist specializing in retina surgery. He has been around horses all his life, and together with his wife Cheryl, who is a “S” dressage judge and Grand Prix rider, they have been breeding Trakehner sport horses for 30 years on their New Spring Farms, in Missouri and Ocala. He completed the training program for breed inspector and presently is in charge of the American Trakehner Association’s inspection review committee, after a four-year term as president of that Association. His focus now is on US Three-Day Eventing team development through co-chairing the USEA YEH Committee with Marilyn Payne and working on the USEF’s Eventing Owners Task Force.

Dawson competed at the highest levels of three-day eventing for over 30 years. In 1988 Phyllis represented the United States in the Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea, riding Albany II, finishing tenth overall. She also rode for the United States Equestrian Team in 1997, successfully competing Snowy River in the Open European Championships at Burghley, England. Phyllis has served on the USEA Board of Governors, various USEA Committees, and has worked with both the Future Event Horse and Young Event Horse programs as a young horse expert, breeder, and judge.

VHT Organizer Andy Bowles and his team are looking forward to an exciting event running October 28-November 1. In addition to the YEH Championships, VHT International is also the host of the USEF Two-Star Eventing National Championships, an Intercollegiate and Alumni Team Challenge, and the following divisions: CCI3*-L, CCI3*-S, CCI2*-L, CCI2*-S, CCI1*-L, Advanced/Intermediate, Intermediate, Preliminary, Modified, Training, Novice, Beginner Novice, Starter.

“It’s been a challenging year for eventers with many restrictions and fewer events being held due to the pandemic,” Bowles said. “We were determined to accept as many entries as we possibly could and give everyone an opportunity to run their horses. We are always grateful that competitors choose to come to VHT and we’re looking forward to a great event.”

Virginia Horse Trials: Website | Omnibus | Facebook

US Equestrian Announces Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan

By on Oct 23, 2020 12:36 pm -

US Equestrian is pleased to announce that it has published a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan outlining 10 strategies to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in equestrian sport. These strategies seek to ensure a welcoming environment for people from traditionally under-represented and under-served communities, and evolve US Equestrian’s policies and practices to create a more inclusive sport for all participants and fans.

Ten Strategies to Advance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The strategies are as follows. Please refer to the full DEI Action Plan for more details about each item listed below.

  1. Community Riding Center Grants Program and Opportunity Fund
  2. Inclusion Commitment Campaign
  3. Free DEI training for members (to be completed on voluntary basis)
  4. Required DEI training for USEF representatives
  5. Rules and Regulations Equity Audit
  6. New membership category for industry specialists
  7. Comprehensive marketing plan harnessing the power of images and storytelling
  8. Expanding USEF’s paid internship program
  9. Best Practices Guide for show organizers
  10. Spanish translated forms and website content
  11. Background and Process

Following the Board of Directors’ approval of a commitment statement and the development of a DEI Action Plan at the Mid-Year Board Meeting in June 2020, staff representatives from every department within US Equestrian set out to create a comprehensive action plan with input from External Thought Leaders representing diverse backgrounds, life experiences, and positions in the equestrian industry. Learn more about the External Thought Leaders here.

These groups worked in partnership to create the DEI Action Plan through surveys, a series of one-on-one interviews, and four “Thought Leader Workshops” to assess the external perceptions and climate around DEI in equestrian sport and develop ideas for how US Equestrian can help move diversity, equity, and inclusion forward in the sport.

This process also included engaging a consultant, Ashland Johnson, President and Founder of The Inclusion Playbook, to help guide the work. An attorney, equity and inclusion strategist, and former Division I athlete, Johnson has over a decade of civil rights experience working with social justice communities, advising sports leaders, and serving in leadership roles in advocacy organizations.

Next Steps

The strategies will be rolled out in phases and are to be fully implemented in the next three to five years. Approaching this phased rollout strategically and with intention will help ensure sustainable, impactful change. US Equestrian staff will meet with the External Thought Leaders before the end of the year to share progress and seek feedback.

US Equestrian will continue to keep the membership informed about progress and opportunities to get involved.

As the National Governing Body, US Equestrian takes its role in this movement very seriously. DEI are essential to our vision of bringing the joy of horse sports to as many people as possible, and it must be woven into the fabric of the equestrian community and culture.

US Equestrian extends its gratitude and appreciation to the External Thought Leaders and the following advisors on the Review Committee (listed alphabetically):

Bobby Costello
Sally Ike
Tom O’Mara
Diane Pitts
Will Simpson
Judy Sloan
Ling Fu Wylie

Please direct all media inquiries to Carly Weilminster, Director Public Relations and Communications, at [email protected].

[Read the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan]

By the Numbers: Chattahoochee Hills Advanced

By on Oct 23, 2020 9:49 am -

Chattahoochee Hills will be the final run on the fall schedule for those prepping for the Tryon 4*-L. While quite a few riders have opted to head to the only 4*-L of the year off of a longer gap, nearly 30 starters will use this weekend as the final springboard to North Carolina.

Hugh Lochore again designs the cross country, with Chris Barnard on tap for show jumping design.

Although time is king at Chatt Hills, we did see two pairs make the time at the August edition of this division, one of whom beat the clock even with a stop. It’s quite the battle but still possible to make time; ultimately the question is who will try. Nilson Moreira da Silva has made the time twice here with his ride Magnum’s Martini, including most lately in August, and Jacob Fletcher with Van Gough won the 4*-S last year off the back of a round inside the optimum time.

DRESSAGE

Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

One of the most predictable things in this sport is the ability of RF Scandalous and Marilyn Little to lead the field after the first phase. These two have led from day one in their last seven consecutive starts at the A/4/5* levels, and have broken the 75% mark in their most recent six starts for those levels. It will take a little luck for any other pair in the field to catch them. In their two 2020 starts thus far, they average a whopping 20.9 penalties. The only thing working against them is their fairly early draw; in a field of almost 30, they will be sixth into the ring.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z will certainly do their best to take advantage of any weaknesses; these two have stepped up their game in this phase this year, dropped from an A/4* average of 28.8 in 2019 to an average of 24.7 in three starts this year. It will be tough to catch RF Scandalous on day one … but not impossible for Deniro Z.

A lot of eyes will be on Pan Ams individual and team gold medalist Tsetserleg as he makes his first start at the level since his second place finish at Kentucky in 2019. Between a quick tour at the lower levels to help secure an Olympic slot for Team USA, a minor pandemic, and waiting for his rider Boyd Martin to finish up his own rehab, the expectations will be heavy on this horse this weekend. After a long hiatus, there’s a lot of question marks surrounding how this horse might perform; his statistics show he won’t quite catch the aforementioned pairs, with a personal best of 29.9 at the A/4* level. It should also be noted that the horse’s best scores have both been at the 5*-L level, indicating that Boyd Martin know exactly how to get this horse to peak at the right time, which would be for Tryon in three weeks time.

CROSS COUNTRY

The biggest weakness RF Scandalous has is her speed; she’s incurred double-digit time penalties in all but one of her five clean A/4*-S runs dating back through 2018. While sometimes she can still maintain a top placing even with those time penalties, she won’t be able to build up enough of a gap this weekend against a stronger set of competitors.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

This leaves the door open for Deniro Z, who has made the time in his last two consecutive outings to secure wins at both, but overall averages a speed rating of 11.9 seconds over optimum time or the fastest cross country round when looking at clean A/4*-S rounds for the last two years. Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg have a very similar speed rating of 12.2 seconds for the A/4*-S level. Ultimately, the biggest question of the weekend is, will either of these riders choose to go for the time with the bigger goal only a few weeks away? If so, Deniro Z should be able to edge out RF Scandalous for the top spot headed into the final phase with Tsetserleg hot on their heels. If not, there will be an opportunity for others who have an eye to being competitive this weekend.

Pairs who have traditionally had the pace paired with a solid enough dressage score to eat at the lead of the top trio include Lancaster under Waylon Roberts, Blackfoot Mystery with Boyd Martin, and La Paz with Sara Mittleider. 

SHOW JUMPING

RF Scandalous and Deniro Z are both extremely strong in the final phase; RF Scandalous has jumped clear in nine of her 12 rounds at this level and hasn’t incurred a rail at A/4/5* since August of 2018. Meanwhile Deniro Z has jumped clean in nine of his last 10 rounds at this level. Both are likely to leave everything up in this phase but Deniro Z has incurred time penalties in three of his last four rounds. While not a lot of penalties have been incurred, it might be enough to make the difference between winning and losing this weekend.

Boyd Martin’s pair of rides, both coming off a long hiatus from this level, are a bit less predictable. Their overall records trend towards each having a rail. Tsetserleg may be more of a toss-up, having jumped clear in 50% of his eight A/4*/5* rounds when stadium was the final phase while incurring rails in five of 11 A/4*-S rounds. However Blackfoot Mystery is more likely to incur at least one rail, despite a recent clean round under Phillip Dutton at Great Meadow. He has never jumped a clear round at this level when stadium was the final phase, under either Boyd Martin or previous rider Kelly Prather.

Sara Mittleider and La Paz. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Lancaster is also likely to slip down the ranks with the high possibility of a rail or two, leaving an opportunity for La Paz to climb up solidly into the top five. La Paz and Sara Mittleider have only incurred one rail in six round at the A/4* levels, which will put them in good standing for the final placings.

PREDICTIONS:

WINNER

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Liz Halliday-Sharp is on the hottest of streaks, having won each of the three east coast 4*-S held this fall, two of them with her mount for this weekend. While it might be a nail biter, Liz and Deniro Z are plenty capable of pulling off the win if choose to keep up their blazing winning ways.

FASTEST CROSS-COUNTRY ROUNDS

Nilson Moreira da Silva and Magnum’s Martini (BRA).

Lancaster technically has the fastest speed rating in the field; however as previously mentioned this venue has not been one where Waylon Roberts has chosen to press the pace. The quickest round of the day is more likely to go to the speedy Magnum’s Martini with Nilson Moreira da Silva, who put in the fastest clear round at this venue in August and has also been the fastest round at this venue on three other occasions. This pair likes this venue, and more importantly, are very familiar with it.

NEW TO THE LEVEL

Jenny Caras and Trendy Fernhill. Photo by Shelby Allen.

We need to seriously discuss Trendy Fernhill, who has now had two Advanced starts under Jenny Caras. In two starts, they’ve averaged a 29.8 on the flat, a pace only 8.5 seconds slower than the fastest of the day, and had no added rails or time faults in stadium. With results like that, they could be right up in the top three at the end of the day, but two starts is too early to make a definitive call. Regardless, this is a pair to keep an eye on moving forward.

OTHER DIVISIONS

  • Old favorites I’m Sew Ready and Pancho Villa will be out and about at the Training and Prelim levels, with Morgan Batton and Eric Sampson respectively.
  • Atlantic Vital Spark, previously ridden through the 4*-L level by William Fox-Pitt, is paired with new rider Lucienne Elms in the OI.

Dressage takes place on Saturday, with show jumping immediately followed by cross country on Sunday. Keep it locked on EN for all the latest!

Chattahoochee Hills International: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times

London Calling: Laura Collett Takes Pau Dressage Lead

By on Oct 23, 2020 7:01 am -

London 52 and Laura Collett take the lead in the horse’s debut CCI5*. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

It would have been easy to become complacent in this morning’s tiny final dressage session, which saw just 15 of the 47 entered combinations come forward — after all, we saw the venue record smashed twice over yesterday, with Chris Burton and Graf Liberty taking the lead on an extraordinary 22.

But to be complacent would have been a disservice to the quality of the final competitors today, among whom were the two horses with the best dressage average in the field. Though one of those, Laura Collett‘s London 52, is a debutante at the level, a 20.3 in Burgham’s CCI4*-S this year among a myriad of extraordinary scores meant that all eyes were on him as he marched up the centreline.

Typically expressive, London 52 skips to a 21.3. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

He certainly didn’t disappoint. Joint-owner Karen Bartlett, who owns the eleven-year-old Holsteiner with Laura and Keith Scott, had tears in her eyes before the trot work had begun in earnest, and they were amply rewarded through as ‘Dan’ got more and more fluid and soft throughout the test. After finishing on a 9 for their final halt, the final score was writ large on the scoreboard: a 21.3, a new venue record, and a personal best for Laura at this level. But despite the excellent work the pair produced in the ring, Laura wasn’t always sure that it would come together.

“Luckily he got better and better,” she says with a smile. “He was like, ‘where am I?! What am I doing?!’ But then he just relaxed into it and I could really ride him. I know how good he can be, and for his first five-star, it’s exciting for the future.”

The canter work in the latter half of the test was a particular highlight, showing London 52 at his most extravagant and soft.

“He felt like he let me in there,” explains Laura. “I know he can do better trot work, but I had to be a bit careful and cautious because he felt anxious. It wasn’t until the canter that he really let me in and I could show him off. But just to be sat on a horse like that is a highlight, really.”

All love: Laura Collett celebrates with London 52. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Laura’s journey to this level with London 52 has been a tale of ups and downs, as is often the case with inexperienced horses learning their way in the world — but the pair’s trajectory has been particularly high-profile due to his significant successes, including a win in Blenheim’s eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S in only his second season of eventing, a win at Chatsworth’s leg of the Event Rider Masters, and victory at Boekelo CCI4*-L at the culmination of the 2019 season. It was this final victory, which Laura had intended as a way to inject the fun and confidence back into her horse after mishaps at Bramham, Aachen, and the European Championships, that has served as a turning point for the gelding, who won his final prep run at Little Downham CCI4*-S earlier this month.

“It’s been a rollercoaster to get here, and he’s still only eleven and only been eventing for four years,” says Laura. “The biggest thing is that there’s still so much to come. I’m just so proud of how he coped and how he trusted me in there, because he’s quite a shy horse. To go in there with the rain and everything is quite an ask for a horse like him. The trust he has in me — let’s just hope he takes that forward to tomorrow!”

Tim Price and Wesko deliver the goods yet again. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Yesterday’s leader and runner-up Chris Burton (Graf Liberty, 22) and Piggy March (Brookfield Inocent, 22.2) move down to second and third place, respectively, while New Zealand’s Tim Price and 2014 Luhmühlen winner Wesko take fourth place at the end of dressage, closing out the day’s competition with a smart 23 to earn Tim his own best-ever CCI5* mark.

“He’s just like an old friend,” says Tim. “But he isn’t always perfectly behaved, so you can’t take any liberties with the partnership. This week he’s being really good, though, and he’s felt really happy, so he could just go in and do his job. I’m really pleased with him.”

Though Wesko’s marks remained consistent through his test, Tim, like Laura, was particularly happy with the canter work.

“I think I had him a bit more up and away in the canter,” he explains. “He’s got quite a polite canter, and I’m quite a polite rider, generally speaking, so sometimes I can sit there a bit comfortably — and then you don’t have the jump for some of the movements, like the changes. I was happy with the canter being a bit more today.”

Tim and Wesko return to Pau with a score to settle after taking a tumble in the final water last year when in a competitive position. The fall was unrelated to a fence, but rather, one of several we saw due to a hole in the footing.

“It’s still a hole in my heart,” he jokes ruefully. “It was such a shame — it was the end of the course and he’d given me everything, we were on our minutes, but that was last year. I’m really pleased with the course this year; I think it’ll suit him as, generally speaking, I think this competition does.”

Kevin McNab and Scuderia 1918 A Best Friend produce a personal best at any level to sit equal fifth after dressage. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Australia’s Kevin McNab and the rangy ten-year-old Scuderia 1918 A Best Friend sit equal fifth with Ros Canter and Zenshera after posting a 24.8 — a personal best across the levels for the gelding, who was originally produced by Germany’s Jörg Kurbel. This, too, is a best-ever five-star score for the rider — though he was surprised to manage it on his debutante ride rather than yesterday’s returning Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam.

“You never know what to expect with Harry, because he’s one of those horses that is a real competitor and he lifts to the occasion,” says Kevin. “I wasn’t expecting him to be in front of Don, but I’m very happy with his test and with both horses.”

Kevin describes Harry as a horse who’s surprisingly anxious for a big horse — but his performance in the ring today looked mature beyond his age and experience.

“He rose to a really nice energy level, and it made the test flow really well,” says Kevin. “When he did his first change and it felt good I thought, ‘well, we might be in business!’ He does lovely changes, but they can sometimes be a bit boring — if he has that little bit more energy and lift, he does a really lovely change.”

Alex Bragg and Zagreb sit seventh after dressage. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Consummate showmen Alex Bragg and Zagreb lie seventh overnight after a typically flowing test that earned them a 24.9 — an effort made more admirable by the fact that this test, which features 8m circles after the trot extensions, wouldn’t be obviously suited to a 17.3hh horse.

“It’s really difficult for him, and it’s tempting with him to try to ride him powerful all the time,” says Alex. “For the event horses who have to gallop, you don’t have the strength of the pure dressage horses, and so they can’t sit and do an 8m circle with the same expression. But if you can keep the balance, he moves well enough and then it’s pleasant to watch. If you’ve just done a really nice extended trot, then the judges are already thinking he’s a nice mover. It’s an accuracy movement, really, showing suppleness — they’re not asking for power. I tried to ride it like that, and it came off.”

This stalwart partnership returns to Pau after two big ‘nearly’ results here and at Luhmühlen last year, when they finished fourth and third, respectively.

“The horse has been getting better and better as he’s getting older,” says Alex fondly. “Obviously with older age, he needs to be warmed up a little bit differently, but he’s learning the ringcraft and I don’t have to worry about him spooking or squealing quite so much. He’s still very enthusiastic, but he’s a fab horse and he’s been a fab horse for me. Hopefully he’ll continue to be — as long as he keeps enjoying himself and pulling off performances like that.”

Alex and Zagreb are one of those pairs that have been so close to a major win on so many occasions that it’s hard not to root for them to finally scoop a top prize, but as Alex reminds us, it’s all still an education.

“Zagreb’s done a lot and been so consistent, but the big wins have just eluded us,” he says. “Whether that’s just him or a little bit of my inexperience — after all, everyone must remember that I’ve only been at this level for three or four years, and I’m still learning. I’m always learning about him, too — he’s a very different horse, being so tall, and not so easy to manage as the smaller horses. But he’s educated us, and I think we’re all more knowledgable for the future, so we can continue producing any type of horse to great results. Hopefully for him, though, he’ll grab a big one before his career starts to ease off.”

The sole German in the field, Christoph Wahler impresses in his 5* debut with Carjatan S for ninth place after dressage. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Eventing powerhouse Germany has just one combination in the mix this year, but five-star debutantes Christoph Wahler and the eleven-year-old Carjatan S are certainly doing their country proud, delivering a 25.6 for ninth place as we head into tomorrow’s cross-country challenge.

“I think the test was alright,” says Christoph with typical German stoicism. “He did lovely trot work and was quite relaxed when he came in, which is actually the most important thing. I have to keep him calm and relaxed, because when he goes in there he’s going to trot expressively enough by himself; I don’t have to switch him on.”

Just one minor mistake — a wobbly rein-back — precluded an even lower mark and Christoph, who hails from the Klosterhof Mendingen stud near Luhmühlen and spends plenty of time working on pure dressage, is focusing on the lessons to be learned today.

“He started off with a very good extended walk for us at the minute, but got a little bit tense in the medium walk, which then came into the halt — and then for the reinback he was a little bit against my aids,” says Christoph. “But then he came back to focus in the canter work — maybe one or two changes were a little bit late, and the stretching circle could have had more stretch, but I think actually for the first time doing this test, he did alright. He can easily do a couple of points better, but we just have to get more experience at the level.”

And thus concludes the first phase at Pau, the only CCI5* event to run this year. We’ll be looking ahead to tomorrow afternoon’s cross-country phase, which begins at 13.30 local time/12.30 UK/7.30 a.m. Eastern later on. In the meantime: Go Eventing!

The top five at the culmination of dressage at Les 5 Etoiles de Pau.

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