Classic Eventing Nation

#MARSGMI CCI4*S Show Jumping Live Updates: An All Lady Top 4 Heading Into Cross Country

By on Aug 22, 2020 5:40 pm -

Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

After a thrilling show jumping contest and a hefty delay caused by Mother Nature for our CCI3*S riders at MARS Great Meadow International, it’s time to see the premier class of the weekend battle it out on Chris Barnard’s testing track. The time allowed will be 83 seconds with 12 numbered fences consisting of 15 jumping efforts.

Some changes have been made to the schedule in light of the nearly three hour weather delay we experienced this afternoon. Now, the first half (34 horses total) of the CCI4*S will show jump this evening, with the second half jumping at 7:30 am ET tomorrow. David O’Connor says he expects cross country to still begin around the same time (I will confirm final times ASAP), which means we should see the first horse out on course around 12 noon ET. An updated Order of Go can be found here.

As usual, you can follow the action live with a Horse & Country TV+ subscription and/or refresh this page periodically for the latest.

Great Meadow International: [Website] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Order of Go] [Live Scores]

8:43 am ET: A beautiful clear for Deniro Z to add nothing to his dressage score of 24.2. This will make for an lady led leaderboard, with the top four spots belonging to women heading into cross country. 16 seconds separate the top 10, so we’re surely in for a thrilling finale starting at 11:15 am. The field will run in reverse order for even more excitement. I’ll be back with you for CCI3*S cross country at 9 am ET!

8:41 am ET: One thing that bears the mark of Phillip’s extensive experience is how much of the arena he uses to settle his notoriously forward and sometimes sensitive horses. For as quickly as the questions seem to come up on Chris Barnard’s track, Phillip still finds the time to settle each ride in between fences. A good reminder to take a breath and take stock of where you’re at – the fences don’t have to come in a big blur! A clear round should move Fernhill Singapore up. Last in will be Liz Halliday Sharp and Deniro Z. I’m a big fan of this one!

8:40 am ET: Three down and 1.6 time for a score of 45.8 for Holly and Candy King. We’ll see Phillip back in with Fernhill Singapore, sitting on a dressage score of 27.4.

8:37 am ET: One down for Clayton Fredericks and FE Coldplay to give them a score of 30.6 heading into cross country later today. Next in will be Holly Jacks Smither and her second ride in this division, Candy King. They bring in a score of 32.2.

8:35 am ET: Charlotte and Clifford get a little close down the diagonal gymnastic type line, but they make it work and turn in a clear round.

8:33 am ET: A clear round for JM Durr and the real trier Tilikum. Next we will see Charlotte Collier and Clifford M. This pair should be a speedy one to watch on cross country later. They’ll come in with a score of 36.5.

8:30 am ET: Jennie adds another clear round to her books for the weekend with Stella Artois. This will move her into third place! Next up, John Michael Durr and Tilikum on a score of 35.5.

8:29 am ET: I believe I heard Brian O’Connor mention a time fault for Maya but I could be wrong. She was otherwise clear. Next in will be Jennie Brannigan and Stella Artois on a score of 25.2.

8:27 am ET: Bummer! That pesky second vertical in the treble comes down for Off the Record to drop them out of the second spot. That shuffles Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border up into second on their score of 22.1. Next in will be Maya Black and Miks Master C on a score of 28.1.

8:26 am ET: Second placed Will Coleman and Off the Record take the ring next. They’re right behind Marilyn on a score of 21.9.

8:25 am ET: Landmark Monte Carlo motors around and has two rails down.

8:23 am ET: Sinead talks about the fine line between getting the horse out in front of the leg without letting them run past you and lose balance. A rail down for Caroline and Danger Mouse will drop them down a bit. Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Monte Carlo are the next in. This will be a fun pair to watch on cross country. They bring in a score of 30.4.

8:20 am ET: Two rails down for Fylicia Barr and Galloway Sunrise. The triple combination is riding a bit tougher today, with the middle rail rubbing and/or coming down quite often this morning. Next in will be Caroline Martin with Danger Mouse on a score of 28.8.

8:18 am ET: Will Faudree and the super mare Caeleste will add no penalties to their dressage score of 32.9. Next in will be Fylicia Barr with Galloway Sunrise, winners of the Jersey Fresh CCI4*L last year.

8:17 am ET: A great clear for the super jumper C’est La Vie 135!

8:15 am ET: Next in will be Fair Hill CCI3*L winners Woods Baughman and C’est La Vie 135 on a 25.8.

8:14 am ET: Business Ben gets a bit fresh and strong with Allison to lower a few rails. This is one that perhaps would have benefitted from running cross country first.

8:13 am ET: Allison Springer and Business Ben are next forward on a score of 31.1.

8:12 am ET: Cute jumper, this Flash Cooley horse. Reminds me of a Ferrari. A clear round for this pair!

8:11 am ET: A nice clear for Phillip and Z. Next will be Liz Halliday Sharp with Flash Cooley, on a score of 30.8.

8:09 am ET: One down and a second of time to add for a score of 40.3 for Katherine Brown and Victor Z 54. Next in will be Phillip Dutton and Z on a score of 27.9.

8:06 am ET: A clear round for Kevin and Sportsfield Candy!

8:04 am ET: Jennie Brannigan and Alyssa Phillips’ Bliss III add no penalties to their dressage score of 27.9. We’ll see Kevin Keane with Sportsfield Candy in the ring next looking to bolster their dressage score of 31.1.

8:01 am ET: I love that “slingshot” effect around a turn when the rider sees a nice forward stride – it makes for a great jump. Lillian is another with a forward style of riding that really serves her well on cross country. A lovely clear for CharmKing to add nothing to the dressage score of 29.8.

7:59 am ET: Leah Lang Gluscic and her veteran partner, AP Prime, look like a million bucks this year. They’ve been chipping away with some help from Karen O’Connor, and the off-track Thoroughbred just continues to look better. Just a single bummer of a rail down and I believe some time to add to their dressage score of 36.7. Next in we’ll see Lillian Heard, piloting Holly Payne Caravella’s CharmKing.

7:57 am ET: Sinead tells us the cool story of Arielle Aharoni and Dutch Times; Arielle’s mother, Chris, purchased the horse as a three year old when she didn’t have the budget to buy something “made”. Chris, Sinead, and Tik Maynard all had a hand in producing the horse through the levels, and now Arielle has the ability to continue to progress as a young rider. Great team effort! One down for this super pair.

7:55 am ET: Clear for Alyssa and her super jumper Oskar. Next in will be Arielle Aharoni and Dutch Times on a score of 36.4.

7:52 am ET: Missy Miller and Quinn add two rails to their dressage score of 38.8 for a two phase score of 46.8. Next in we will see Alyssa Phillips and Oskar, coming forward with a dressage score of 30.7.

7:51 am ET: Emily Hamel and her unique jumper Corvett are our next in. This horse has a very exuberant jumping style that often jumps the pair right out of the camera frame, but they’re super fun to watch. They add one rail to their score of 37.0.

Boing!

7:48 am ET: Karen talks about the importance and value of producing young horses correctly that can go on to be successful with other riders. She references Daniel Clasing as one such rider who has the ability to produce horses with the right mouth and right brain to be finished by others. Daniel is in the ring now with MW Gangster’s Game, on a score of 27.0; they’ll add one rail for a two phase score of 31.0.

7:47 am ET: Just one rail down, the red and black vertical at fence 4 that had a few weird issues yesterday, for Sydney and Early Review C. It looked like perhaps the horses weren’t quite reading it right.

7:45 am ET: Two down for Jules and Cooley O. We’ll see Sydney Solomon and Early Review C in next with a score of 43.5.

7:43 am ET: One down with one second of time for a score of 41.2. Next in will be Jules Batters and Cooley O on a score of 33.1.

7:41 am ET: Our first clear of the morning for Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan! They’ll remain on their dressage score of 35.3. We’ll see Lauren Lambert and Fantastique next in on a score of 36.8.

7:40 am ET: These first few rides have seen a few more poles on the ground than yesterday. Could be the fog, could be the course’s “easier” reputation from yesterday, could be the early morning…any number of factors. Next in we’ll see Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan. As an FYI, Emily Beshear and Deal With It have withdrawn.

7:37 am ET: One down for Vermiculus to drop them down a hair for a 29.6 heading into cross country later on. Next in will be, out of order, Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way, coming in on a score of 38.0.

7:35 am ET: Two down for Victoria. Next in will be Lauren Kieffer and the Anglo Arabian Vermiculus, on a score of 25.6, currently in sixth. Check out the fog during Victoria’s ride:

7:33 am ET: It’s very foggy this morning! We’re getting ready for the start with our first horse on course. We’ll get started a bit out of order with Victoria Garland and FE Capricino, coming forward on a score of 41.1.

7:19 am ET:

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Last day at Great Meadows.

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8/23 7:13 am ET: Good morning, all! Here’s a look at the remaining order of go for this morning’s show jumping finisher:

7:31 pm ET: Here’s an updated look at division start times tomorrow:

7:20 pm ET: That’s a wrap on the first part of CCI4*S show jumping! Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous will safely hold their lead, but the majority of the top 10 still remains to be seen after tomorrow morning’s finish. Then we’ll move ahead to cross country at approximately 11:15 am ET. I will work on confirming an updated timetable and update our links accordingly. I’ll also continue updates on the CCI4*S show jumping on this same thread beginning at 7:30 am ET tomorrow. Thanks for tuning in!

7:18 pm ET: Like the badass that she is, Erin finishes the second half of her course without her right stirrup, adding another clear to Paddy the Caddy’s outstanding record.

7:15 pm ET: Our last pair to see this evening will be veteran campaigners Erin Kanara and Paddy the Caddy. They bring forward a 26.5 which places them inside the top 10 after dressage.

7:13 pm ET: Ally KGO puts in an athletic stretch over the oxer at three and then has an unfortunate stop at the vertical at fence four. Karen and Sinead surmised that perhaps the mare spooked herself a bit with the big effort at three. This has been a lovely horse for Caitlin to produce, we’ll certainly see much more from this pair. They’ll go forward to tomorrow with a score of 43.9.

7:09 pm ET: Alyssa Peterson and R-Perfect Storm have the last rail down for a heartbreaker. They’ll go forward on a score of 48.8 with two down. Next in will be Mia Braundel and Cashmere, who lower 4 rails for a two phase score of 60.7. Our penultimate pair of the day are Caitlin Silliman and Ally KGO.

7:07 pm ET: A lovely clear from Kim and “Crossy”! We love seeing this pair back in action this year.

7:06 pm ET: Next in will be Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border coming in on a score of 22.1 in third place overnight.

7:05 pm ET: A nice shot in to the diagonal line for Kaelen:

7:03 pm ET: A handful of rails and a stop for Whitney and Military Mind. They’ll look ahead for some redemption tomorrow! Next in will be Kaelen Speck with Sweet Rebellion on a score of 34.8.

7:00 pm ET: Sinead points out that there definitely could be a strong advantage to the fact that these horses are jumping fresh, ahead of cross country. With a more gymnastic feeling track full of related distances and combinations, it could easily take much more out of horses coming in to this phase last. Of course, some horses are also less rideable when they haven’t exorcised their demons on cross country yet.

7:00 pm ET: Phillip Dutton and Sea Of Clouds add nothing to their dressage score of 32.4 with a confident clear round. Next in will be Whitney Mahloch and Military Mind bringing forward their dressage score of 32.2.

6:58 pm ET: No penalties added for this keen pair!

6:55 pm ET: Jennie and Twighlightslastgleam rub the second element of the triple and the last fence, but they’re home clear to add nothing to their 33.3 dressage score. That’s 17 clear rounds so far with 9 more riders to see this evening. Next we’ll see Lucienne Elms and Diamond Duette on a score of 36.1.

6:53 pm ET: One rail down for Lauren Nicholson and Paramount Importance. Next in are Jennie Brannigan and Twilightslastgleam, a horse she’s produced since his younger years. This one has a gallop you’ll want to watch tomorrow!

6:50 pm ET: Buck demonstrates what’s known as the “driving rein” with Errol Gobey, which helps provide some additional elasticity in the elbow. This pair turns in yet another clear! Now we’ll see Lauren Nicholson with Paramount Importance, coming in on a dressage score of 32.7.

6:48 pm ET: Karen walks us through the diagonal line on this track which features an oxer on the in and the out and a two-stride in the middle. Challenging and intimidating to see, but riding overall quite well. A lovely clear added from Annie and Federman B. That’s our 16th double clear of the day! For comparison, last year’s CCI4*S had 12 double clear rounds in total. Next in will be Buck Davidson returning with Errol Gobey on a 34.5.

6:47 pm ET: Will and TKS Cooley will add no penalties to their dressage score of 35.2 with a clear round. Now in will be Annie Goodwin and Federman B on a score of 36.6.

6:46 pm ET: Nothing can stop me I’m all the way up…

Will Coleman and TKS Cooley.

6:45 pm ET: Another clear for Hannah Sue and Lukeswell! That’s a total of four double clear rounds today for Hannah Sue, well done!

6:42 pm ET: Two rails down for Holly and “Morris” for a two day score of 44.4. Next in will be Hannah Sue Burnett on a quick turnaround with the very talented Lukeswell bringing forward a score of 33.6.

6:41 pm ET: Next in will be Canadian pair Holly Jacks Smither and More Inspiration. Fun fact, Holly also dabbles in boxing as her second sport of choice!

6:40 pm ET: Big fan of this horse’s pleasant expression. Liz and Cooley Quicksilver will be no worse than eighth going into tomorrow’s finale with nothing added.

6:49 pm ET: A clear round for Ema and Bendigo! Next in are Liz Halliday-Sharp with Cooley Quicksilver on a score of 26.1.

6:37 pm ET: Nothing added to Blackfoot Mystery’s dressage score of 30.2 with Phillip. Next in will be Ema Klugman and Bendigo on a score of 41.8.

6:35 pm ET: Mallory Hogan and Clarissa Purisima get the biggest cheer of the day so far with a clear round! A 40.4 will be their score heading into cross country. Next in are Phillip with Boyd’s Rio’s partner, Blackfoot Mystery.

6:33 pm ET: Colleen Rutledge is thrilled with a clear round with 1.2 time aboard Covert Rights. This horse’s show jumping career has had some ups and downs, and this round should be a great boost for this pair. They’ll go forward with 29.7.

6:32 pm ET: Marilyn and “Kitty” add another clear to their resume to retain their lead heading into tomorrow’s finale.

6:31 pm ET: A great quote from Sinead: “The horses don’t mind what decision you make, as long as you make the decision.”

6:27 pm ET: One down and one second over the time allowed for a two day score of 41.9 for Lillian and LCC Barnaby. Next in will be overnight leaders Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous. They do not have a rail in hand on their dressage score of 21.8. Will Coleman and Off the Record sit in second breathing down their necks on a 21.9.

6:26 pm ET: Another clear! Emily and Olney Uncle Sam make quick work of Chris Barnard’s track to add no penalties. We’ll now see Lillian Heard and one of my personal favorite cross country horses, LCC Barnaby.

6:24 pm ET: Yet another clear laid down by Tim Bourke and Quality Time to add nothing to their dressage of 38.3. Now in are Emily Beshear with Olney Uncle Sam who bring a score of 34.1 to the show jumping. We’ve skipped Lucienne Elms and Mistralou in the order of go.

6:23 pm ET: Like a fine wine, “William” and Hannah Sue Burnett just keep solidifying their partnership. A masterclass and a little bit of 17 year old play at the end!

6:20 pm ET: Jennie Brannigan and I Bella add another clear to the pile to remain on their dressage score of 40.1. Next in will be Hannah Sue Burnett and her veteran partner, Harbour Pilot, coming in on a 26.8.

6:18 pm ET Another clear, this one for Will and Don Dante.

6:15 pm ET: Clear inside the time for Will and Jennifer Mosing’s Pfun, who is such a nice classic jumper. Lovely! Next up are Will Coleman and Don Dante on a score of 40.8.

6:13 pm ET: Another strong clear from Liz and “Blackie” as we now move to Will Faudree and Pfun on a score of 35.0. The time allowed has been adjusted to 81 seconds (originally 83).

6:12 pm ET: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night are our next pair in, on a score of 31.7.

6:11 pm ET: A masterful ride for Phillip and Luke. Sorry, Boyd, I don’t think your horse has much scope to spare…

6:09 pm ET: One down for Buck and “Sean” for an overnight score of 35.7. Next in will be Phillip Dutton filling in for Boyd Martin aboard Luke 140. This pair has a score of 28.0 forward.

6:08 pm ET: And we are getting set to get underway! Getting us started are Buck Davidson and Copper Beach, coming forward on a score of 31.7.

6:01 pm ET: Looks like we’re just wrapping up a final drag and hopefully we’ll get started soon.

#MARSGMI CCI3*S/L Show Jumping Live Updates: Lynn Symansky, Sharon White Win the Day

By on Aug 22, 2020 12:10 pm -

Spotted: a very familiar face! Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Well, EN, it has been a hot dumpster fire minute since I’ve last done a live update for an event, and let me tell you how excited I am to be back in action. We’re getting ready to kick off the live action from MARS Great Meadow International in The Plains, VA, starting with the CCI3*-S riders in the show jumping ring at 12:20 pm ET / 9:20 am PT.

You can follow along with a Horse & Country TV+ subscription (which, as a bonus, will also be streaming action from Burgham in the UK this weekend) – click here to see the schedule and learn more. If you’re able to, I highly recommend tuning in to the livestream at some point this weekend. We have the privilege of Karen O’Connor and Sinead Maynard in the commentary booth, and there is always so much to learn from this duo simply by listening to their observations. In the meantime, or if you’re otherwise occupied, you can reference this post for the latest action. Please refresh this page periodically, as new updates will appear at the top.

A big shout-out to organizing team David O’Connor, Darrin Mollett, Max Corcoran, Steven Symansky, Karen O’Connor, Punkin Lee, and Donna Devadas for the skills it took to coordinate the sixth running of #MARSGMI. With so many event cancelations and changes in 2020, this team has had to pivot in more ways than one to accommodate the demand for a place to compete. Hats off to you, team!

Our show jumping courses this weekend are designed by Chris Barnard. We’ll be updating you on both the CCI3*S as well as the 10-horse field of the CCI3*L right here for you. Click here to catch up on the dressage report from the CCI4*S and CCI3*S. Here’s a look at the course riders will be tackling:

Great Meadow International: [Website] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Order of Go] [Live Scores]

5:31 pm ET: Thanks for hanging in there with us today! We’ll be back in about 20 minutes with the first half of the CCI4*S show jumping. Here is your final CCI3*L leaderboard:

5:29 pm ET: And she’s done it! A wonderful win for Sharon White and Claus 63 on a final score of 31.1!

5:23 pm ET: Fun story, I once competed against Ben Noonan. When he was about 1/3 of the size he is now, in a Starter division back home in Area IV. Now, Ben is 6’2″ and a monster of a rider and it’s been such a thrill to watch him grow and develop under the O’Connor system. Ben and Keep Kitty have one mistake for a rail down and will finish on at least third place with a 35.2. Now, will see see Sharon White and Claus 63 take home the win?

5:23 pm ET: A clear for Kimmy and Bishop – sorry to keep focusing on this jump but I mean…

5:20 pm ET: Bummer, Katherine and Carnaby lower two of the finishing triple, but a lovely round to watch overall. Next in will be Kimmy Cecere and Bishop de Selah.

5:19 pm ET: Rebecca and Fernhill Fortitude will finish their weekend on a score of 42.7 with two rails down. Next in we’ll see Katherine Brown and the 7 year old Carnaby. This pair brings forward a score of 34.2 in fourth place.

5:16 pm ET: A lovely jumping effort from Fidelius 35. One rail added to their score for a finishing score of 39.7. Karen and Sinead both agree that this is one they’d like to take a spin on. Now in the ring are Rebecca Brown and former Jenny Caras ride Fernhill Fortitude.

5:14 pm ET: A nice clear and an improvement on this horse’s record for Alex and I Spye. Next in are Charlotte Collier and Fidelius 35 on a 35.7.

5:12 pm ET: A finishing score of 63.1 with one rail down for Jorgen and Northern Quest Lady’s Man. Next up will be Alex Baugh and I Spye on a score of 39.9.

5:10 pm ET: Two rails down for Melanie Smith and Shakedown Street to finish their weekend on a 70.1. Now in the ring are Jorgen Olijslager and Northern Quest Lady’s Man.

5:08 pm ET: We’re going to stick with you here for the CCI3*L, which should be kicking off soon. We’ll see 9 horses in this field – here’s a look at standings following yesterday’s cross country:

5:01 pm ET: David O’Connor joined the commentary booth to run through the decision making process during the thunderstorm delay today. Heat and humidity played a factor – David says the organizing team wanted to prioritize getting finished as early as possible tomorrow. Therefore, the decision to run half of the CCI4*S tonight was made in an effort to get cross country started around the same time as originally scheduled. The intervals between riders will also be reduced on cross country. Many thanks to the organizers, riders, grooms, officials, and volunteers for their hard work and flexibility!

5:00 pm ET: That will do it for the CCI3*S! Here’s a look at your top 10 following cross country:

4:58 pm ET: Just the very last down for Allison and the exuberant Crystal Crescent Moon. A 36.7 for this pair to head into cross country.

4:57 pm ET: One down for Maya and Maks Mojo C for an overnight score of 37.3. Our last to see in this division will be Allison Springer and Crystal Crescent Moon on a score of 32.7.

4:53 pm ET: Samantha Tinney and Glenbrook Cooley live a little dangerously at the vertical at 5 but kick on down for a good rider over the big, square liverpool. 12 jumping and some time for this pair for a two day score of 47.9. Next in we’ll see Maya Black and Majs Mojo C on a score of 33.3.

4:51 pm ET: Elizabeth Bortuzzo and Belongs to Teufer putter to a stop in front of an early vertical and have three rails down. Bummer, they’ll be looking for redemption tomorrow.

4:50 pm ET: One down for Amanda Beale Clement and Carlson 119. This will drop them down on a score of 34.9, but this was one of the loveliest and most flowing rides of the day.

4:47 pm: Sorocaima takes a couple of rubs through the treble at the end, but he and Buck turn in a clear round to remain on a 33.3. Not bad for the poor guy, who had his face kicked in not even a month ago. Cheers, Buck!

4:45 pm: A lovely clear turned in from Kurt Martin and Compromise Elsewhere who will take their dressage score of 33.7 into cross country. Next up, Buck Davidson and Sorocaima.

4:44 pm ET: And we have a new leader! Lynn and “Coolio” will take the overnight lead, rain delays be damned, adding nothing to their dressage score of 24.5.

4:40 pm ET: We now will see Lynn Symansky and her 2019 Pan American Games partner RF Cool Play, who have a chance to take the provisional lead with a clear round.

4:39 pm ET: Karen talks a lot about the shape of the horse over the fence and the importance of giving them the ability to jump correctly. A tactful ride from Anna to finish with two rails and four seconds of time.

4:38 pm ET: Next up will be Anna Loschiavo and Spartacus Q on a score of 36.3.

4:36 pm ET: Another veteran five-star campaigner, Spring Easy (formerly piloted by Caroline Martin) is now in with Maddie McElduff. They’re on a first day score of 38.2.

4:35 pm ET: One down for Katie and Yarrow to bring them to a two day score of 35.9. The related distances that Chris Barnard has set up has kept riders on their toes, but the time seems to be achievable without needing to go pedal to the metal.

4:33 pm ET: Next up will be Katie Lichten and Yarrow bringing forward a score of 31.9.

4:31 pm ET Emma Keahon and PS Duty Calls swim a bit through the oxer at 7. It’s tough to get going again after a lengthy break. A big jump and great recovery on the re-attempt.

4:29 pm ET: We are back underway! Gabby Dickerson and Journeyman were our first in and now we see Kimberly Steinbach and Kosmo K, who lowered one pole for a score of 43.1. As an update to the schedule, we’ll see the rest of the CCI3*S and the CCI3*L finale, followed by the first half of the CCI4*S. The remaining CCI4*S horses will show jump tomorrow morning at 7:30 am ET.

4:24 pm ET: Ok, we have an update! Great Meadow has just posted a new update on its Facebook page saying that we’ll resume show jumping at 4:30 pm ET to finish out the CCI3*S, jump the CCI3*L riders, and then see 34 of the CCI4*S horses. No word yet on the finalized schedule for tomorrow with this adjustment.

3:51 pm ET: Thanks for hanging in there with us! Here’s the most recent check on the radar. Everything on Great Meadow’s social media indicates no updates on an ETA for resuming competition.

Screenshot via Weather.com.

3:18 pm ET: An updated look at the radar:

Screenshot via Weather.com.

2:56 pm ET: Rain shots are some of my favorites:

2:53 pm ET: Looks like we might be waiting for this next band to pass through:

Screenshot via Weather.com.

2:47 pm ET: Well… just kidding. Looks like we’re going to stick in a relay delay until further notice.

2:43 pm ET: We should be getting close to starting back up again. Our first to see after the delay will be Gabby Dickerson and Journeyman, bringing forward a score of 33.1 and currently in 16th place.

2:25 pm ET: Looks like we’ll be getting back underway at 2:45 pm ET!

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Show jumping will resume at 2:45 PM EST!

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2:15 pm ET Hats off to this commentating dream team, Karen O’Connor and Sinead Maynard!

It’s almost Go time!!!

Posted by Sinead Halpin on Friday, August 21, 2020

1:58 pm ET: Let’s chat on Twitter! What’s your best advice for getting stuck in a delay while you’re in warm-up? Join the convo on this Twitter thread:

1:56 pm ET: A quick look at the lovely weather we’re having today…

1:34 pm ET: Here’s a look at the remaining Order of Go for the CCI3*S while we wait out the lightning:

1:30 pm ET Fist bumps for Calli, who had to hang on for dear life in the slop but she and Wild Affair make a great effort. They have 5 rails down and now there will be a lightning hold for the time being while we wait for the worst of this storm to pass.

1:28 pm ET: 12 jumping penalties for Calli Lipping and Wild Affair. Next in, Heather Bush and Skyfall 007 on a score of 38.4.

1:26 pm ET: A classy round from Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Be Cool. They’ll turn in the seventh clear of the day to remain on a score of 30.2. Our clear rounds today have so far come from: Bradley Champagne and Wallaroo W, Natalia Neneman and Electric Lux, Lillian Heard and Dassett Olympus, Erin Kanara and Morning Glory SE, Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Be Cool, Sydney Hagaman and Charmeur, and Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Pick Pocket.

1:23 pm ET: I’ve always really loved Erin Kanara’s forward style of riding. Her horses seem to operate very much in front of the leg and you can always expect a nice, foward round from her rides. A clear round for Erin and Morning Glory SE for a 30.9 overnight.

1:21 pm ET The rain is really coming down now! A nice round from Alex Reed and On Broadway, with two down for an overnight score of 39.4.

1:18 pm ET: Karen O’Connor talks about the importance of finding “the root of the problem” when you have an issue, whether it be on course or at home. Don’t just rely on heavier bits; rather, spend some time seeking out the root problem. Remember: every issue is likely symptomatic of a hole or something else missing elsewhere.

1:16 pm ET: Our fourth clear from Bradley and Wallaroo W! Bradley does a wonderful job with this big, rangy horse, who has quite an unorthodox jumping style but plenty of scope to burn.

1:14 pm ET One down for Benita Strini and Superstorm Sandy for a two phase score of 36.5. A lovely rainy round! Next in, Bradley Champagne and Wallaroo W, bringing forward a score of 34.6.

1:11 pm ET Katie Lichten and Sapphire Blue B turn in a great ride in the rain. I saw one rail fall – apologies as scores have fallen a bit behind so I may not be the most accurate at the moment!

1:09 pm ET: Annie Goodwin and former Erin Kanara ride Mettraise bear the misfortune of going in right as the rain starts pelting. Three down for this pair

1:05 pm ET: The Fonz Himself shows off some quick footwork to leave this vertical rail up midway through with Mike Pendleton. They do have one down but an otherwise workmanlike round for a score of 32.9. We’re starting to get some heavier rain now.

1:04 pm ET: Nicole Aden and Truckee Bash have three down.

1:00 pm ET: Karen O’Connor points out that there were just 10 clear rounds in the 2019 running of the CCI3*S here. Will we beat that number today? We have two clear rounds so far with plenty of pairs left to give it a whirl.

12:59 pm ET: One down and a lucky rub for Tim Bourke and Quality Obsession. This gives the pair a 43.6 to take into tomorrow’s cross country.

12:57 pm ET: A single down for West coast transplants Meg Pellegrini RF Eloquence for a 36.6 two-phase score.

12:55 pm ET: One down for overnight leaders Will Coleman and Chin Tonic. This will put them on a score of 27.9. This will move Phillip and Fernhill Pick Pocket up and leave Lynn Symansky and RF Cool Play in defense of the lead.

12:51 pm ET: A couple of rails midway through for Cindy Anderson-Blank and Windchase Phoenix Star will put this pair on a score of 38.7.

12:50 pm ET: Sydney Hagaman and Charmeur have a lovely round for the fourth clear of the day. This pair will be no worse than fourth going into cross country tomorrow on a score of 28.1.

How to ride a liverpool, demonstrated by Sydney Hagaman.

12:48 pm ET: Phillip wastes no time and turns in our third clear of the day.

12:46 pm ET: Daisy Trayford and Ermintrude have two down. Next in is third placed Phillip Dutton with Fernhill Pick Pocket, coming in on a score of 26.0.

12:44 pm ET: Lots of Thoroughbreds this weekend! Barrett Phillips and Whole Nine Yards have three down for a two day score of 53.7. Dana Cooke and FE Glamour have two down for a 47.2.

12:39 pm ET Skyeler shows her experience with Argyle, who wanted to take a look at some of the banners on the rail, settling in for just one rail down to finish strong.

12:37 pm ET: Lauren Sumner and Crossfire leave a few rails on the ground and will look for a redeeming cross country tomorrow. Next in we’ll see Skyeler Voss and Argyle.

12:34 pm ET Natalia Neneman and Electric Lux turn in a super round with no penalties. A great example of how to ride a forward, sensitive horse without interfering.

12:41 pm ET: Lots of Thoroughbreds to be seen this weekend! Barrett Phillips and Whole Nine Yards have three down for a two day score of 53.7.

12:32 pm ET: Lillian and Dassett Olympus turn in the first clear round of the CCI3*S! Lovely ride!

12:30 pm ET: Mike Pendleton and the very enthusiastic jumping Bonito also have two down. Now in are Lillian Heard and Dassett Olympus.

12:28 pm ET: Two down for Colleen and Confidence Game. Chris Barnard’s tough but fair courses have a great reputation for testing riders, and we’ve seen plenty of those lessons learned already today. But, this Thoroughbred stallion of Colleen’s certainly isn’t lacking in scope:

12:25 pm ET: Two down for Will and his first ride for this division. We’ll see him back on overnight leader Chin Tonic a bit later on. Next in are Colleen Rutledge and a keen looking Confidence Game.

12:23 pm ET: Just one down for Marley and LVS Dassett Charisma. They’ll take a 39.1 into tomorrow’s cross country. Next up, we have Will Coleman jumping out of order with MTF Cooley Classic. This pair brings forward a score of 34.4.

12:21 pm ET: And we are underway! Our first pair to see is Marley Stone Bourke and LVS Dassett Charisma, coming forward in 26th place on a dressage score of 35.1.

Weekly OTTB Wishlist from Cosequin: It’s Swag Season

By on Aug 22, 2020 11:00 am -

Win this! Photo via Retired Racehorse Project.

Who wants to win some swag? To celebrate the release of OTTB branded FLAIR Strips, our friends at the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) are offering the chance to win a gift basket full of goodies such as said Flair Strips and tons of RRP swag, including an RRP hat signed by five-star OTTB eventer Lainey Ashker.

To enter, share your OTTB’s best action shot on social media with the hashtag #OTTBsWithFlair by 11:59 PM on Wednesday, August 26. Don’t have an OTTB? What are you waiting for! Maybe one of these three will be the one for you:

Java Rocker. Photo via RRP Horse Listings.

Java Rocker (ROCKPORT HARBOR – BLACK JAVA, BY PINE BLUFF): 2010 15.3-hand Kentucky-bred gelding

Java Rocker was pulled from a very bad situation last year by his current owner who would like to find him a home where he’ll never end up in that kind of situation again. After some time to hang out and recover, Java Rocker is looking good and is ready for whatever is next for him. Despite whatever he went through, he’s a sweet horse and level-headed. In the bit of work he’s done earlier this spring he also showed himself to be a quick learner and wants a job.

Located in Winona, Minesota.

View Java Rocker on the RRP Horse Listings.

Chiricahua. Photo via Finger Lakes Finest Racehorse Adoption.

Chiricahua (ALPHA – ALEXANDRA’S STORM, BY COLONEL JOHN): 2017 15.3-hand New York-bred gelding

We’re predicting that this handsome bay is going get scooped up fast, because she’s just the kind of horse everyone seems to be looking for in a new OTTB. Chiricahua is a lightly raced and sound three-year-old with a great uphill build. The perfect sport horse prospect! He sticks at 15.3 hands high currently, but he could certainly still reach that seemingly sought after 16-hand mark too. Don’t delay on this one!

Located in Farmington, New York.

View Chiricahua on Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds.

Nan’s Plan. Photo via Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center.

Nan’s Plan (KANTHAROS – GIRL CODE, BY TEUFLESBERG): 2016 15.3-hand Kentucky-bred mare

This super cute mare came directly to the Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center (MMSC) from her racing connections who want her to find a home that will give her a great second career. “Nan” is another one who’s been very lightly raced at just three career starts. In the time she’s been at MMSC thus far, she’s proven herself to be a kind horse with a no-drama attitude. Don’t stereotype this one by her coat color!

Located in Lexington, Kentucky.

View Nan’s Plan on Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center.

#EventerProblems Vol. 239, Presented by Haygain: Chin Up, Buttercup

By on Aug 22, 2020 9:00 am -

#EventerProblems emerged as an opportunity for comradere, because let’s be frank — this sport is tough. It can be tough physically and emotionally, but this week I wanted to take a moment to remind you that we’re all in this together. So whatever #EventerProblems you’re dealing with at the moment, don’t ever forget to keep that chin up and kick on.

Go eventing.

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After my dad laughed very hard about the fact that despite having ridden nearly my whole life, going up the levels in pony club, and being in my mid-thirties, I now manage to compete in the “Senior Beginner Novice Rider” division, @horseleycoxley and I have decided to officially rename it “Extreme Level 11 Sponsored by Mountain Dew.” Being an adult amateur is tough, and we think this name more accurately captures the long and treacherous journey to successfully compete at this level. Who’s with us?! 🆘🔥🌪⛔️☄️💥⚡️🚧 Was very pleased with George this weekend in the Extreme Level 11 division, he put down a slightly tense but solid dressage test, had one silly rail, and was super confident xc – we ended on a respectable score of 37.5. Almost feeing ready to move up to “Electric Guitar Riff 🎸” (named by @horseleycoxley , traditionally known as Senior Novice Rider). Love that we can do this with the most fun team @skyline_ranch including @judi_martin @horseleycoxley and @greygardner! #adultamateur #adultammystrong #eventerproblems #eventing #goeventing #ottb #thoroughbred #eventingishard

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We are officially moved in!! 🥰 In slightly less chipper news, Scarlett is getting IRAP therapy next week. The vet came to check up on her yesterday and she flexed up quite lame in the hocks and left stifle. It doesn’t come to us as a surprise though since we injected her hocks with steroids a few years back so it was inevitable that she needs them again. On the bright side, the vet said she’s looking great and her calmed behavior is indicative that her tummy is feeling so much better! ☺️ . #HeelsDownHeartLifted 💚🧡 . 📸 @isaaclauphoto . . . . . . . #redheadscarlett #chestnutmare #chestnut #mare #ottb #horsesofinstagram #ottbsofinstagram #thoroughbred #thoroughbredsofinstagram #equestrian #equestrianlife #equine #dressage #eventingnation #eventerproblems #horsebackriding #instahorse #jumping #horse #horses #equestrianphotography #equestriansofinstagram #equestrianstyle #eventing #northcarolina #hillsboroughnc

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I am grateful that the animals and humans are okay and that the damage at the barn is mostly to one building, trees, some fencing, and no electricity. But other barns in my community are not so lucky. It's completely devastating to see their pictures. Roofs ripped off, buildings flattened, silos gone, trees ripped from the ground by their roots or broken in half. Metal pieces cut through the ground like it was soft butter. Corn fields laying completely flat. Trailers and semis knocked over. Houses crushed by trees. Iowa is pulling itself back together and helping each other out. It's what we do. #iowastrong #iowa #iowalife #derecho2020 . . . . . #stormdamage #eventerlife #eventersofinstagram #eventerproblems #iowaproblems

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Am I right? #eventerproblems #equestrian

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Haygain is a science driven company with the horse’s health as the primary focus.

We are committed to improving equine health through scientific research, product innovation and consumer education in respiratory and digestive health. Developed by riders, for riders, we understand the importance of clean forage and a healthy stable environment in maintaining the overall well-being of the horse.

Our Haygain hay steamers are recommended by the world’s leading riders, trainers and equine vets and ComfortStall® Sealed Orthopedic Flooring System is used and recommended by leading Veterinary Hospitals, including Cornell University.

Saturday Links from Nupafeed USA

By on Aug 22, 2020 12:01 am -

Heidi White and Northern Spy at the first horse inspection, Bromont 2010. Photo via EN Archives.

The EN was saddened to learn yesterday of the passing of Northern Spy at the age of 27 years old. Known as around the barn as “Farley,” the English-bred Thoroughbred had a remarkable 18-year long eventing career which saw the completion of 97 USEA recognized events. He and owner/rider Heidi White together completed 21 FEI events including Kentucky, Burghley, Badminton, the 2005 FEI Eventing World Cup Finals in Sweden, and the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen. Heidi and Farley were selected to represent the U.S. at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong, but an injury sustained during a training gallop unfortunately saw them withdraw before the start of competition.

Farley returned to the three-star level with Heidi in 2010 before running around the lower levels with a few different riders until 2016. Make sure to check out the video at the bottom of this post of him running around Millbrook in 2014 with a young rider! The EN team sends our deepest sympathies to Heidi and all who knew and loved Farley.

[Northern Spy (1993-2020)]

U.S. Weekend Action:

Great Meadow International: [Website] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Order of Go] [Live Scores]

Caber Farm H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Shepherd Ranch H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

The Event at Archer H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Feather Creek Farm H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Town Hill Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

War Horse Event Series August: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Saturday Links:

‘Right And Responsible Decision’: Kentucky Derby 2020 To Be Held Without Fans

Eventing legends and Carl Hester headline ‘all-star’ virtual Burghley weekend

Why Are So Many Veterinarians in America Being Pushed to the Point of Suicide?

Laura Collett on the ‘fairytale’ pony who launched her career

15 Tips From the 2020 USDF Trainers Conference

“Waterless” horse arena footing up for environmental award

Saturday Video:

Sharon White & Claus 63 Firing on All Cylinders in Great Meadow CCI3*-L

By on Aug 21, 2020 8:41 pm -

Sharon White and Claus 63. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Oh cross country phase of a three-day, how we’ve missed you! But no one missed you more than Sharon White and Claus 63. The overnight leaders after a 29.5 in the first phase, they were all business around David O’Connor’s CCI3*-L track to stay on top of the inaugural division.

“I’m thrilled with my horses. They are lovely horses. I’m always happy with them, but it’s always nice when they end up on top, so hopefully we stay there,” Sharon said.

Cruising around easily, they picked up 1.6 time penalties for a two-day score of 31.1.

“He’s such a fun horse to ride. I feel like he suits me to a t — we’re very, very similar. He’s very studious. He wants to know exactly what the plan is and he has the binder and wants to read through it 80 million times to be prepared, and I’m kind of the same way,” Sharon said. “Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn’t when you’re that similar to your creature.”

Sharon and Claus have no room for error tomorrow, Ben and Kitty are one tenth of a point on their heels.

“He’s a super show jumper, but that doesn’t mean it will happen tomorrow. I’m very curious, he’s only eight, so my big goal was to see how he dealt with the longer format. I’ll know a lot more about him tomorrow regardless of what happens,” she said. “He’s a super show jumper, so going forward I’ll be grateful to be sitting on this horse on a final day.”

Sharon White and Claus 63 stormed around the cross country to maintain their lead at the Great Meadow International CCI3*-L.

Posted by Horse & Country on Friday, August 21, 2020

The remainder of the leaderboard mirror’s yesterday’s results. Young Rider Benjamin Noonan and his own Keep Kitty, a 9-year-old Hanoverian (King Julio x Hauptstutbuch Emelie), remain in second place. This promising pair remain in second place after a double clear performance.

A double clear run for Kimmy Cecere and Jessica Bortner-Harris’ Bishop de Selah, an 11-year-old Zweibrucker/Thoroughbred (Begat Pfaythe x Slew Dinkum), moved them into third place after cross country. They remain on a score of 33.7.

Katherine Brown and her 7-year-old Hanoverian Carnaby, dropped to fourth with 2.4 time penalties.

The new partnership of Rebecca Brown and Fernhill Fortitude, the former ride of Jenny Caras, are sitting pretty in fifth place on a score of 34.7.

This group will show jump for their final placings beginning at 2:28 pm eastern.

#MARSGMI:Website, Schedule, Live Stream, Entries, Ride Times, Order of Go, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Great Meadow CCI4*-S: Will Coleman & Off The Record in Striking Distance

By on Aug 21, 2020 8:01 pm -

Will Coleman and Off The Record. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

We saw 44 more pairs come forward today in the jam-packed CCI4*-S at the 2020 MARS Great Meadow International in The Plains, Virginia, but none could unseat overnight leaders Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous. One pair — Will Coleman and Off The Record — came dangerously close, just one tenth of a point behind for second place.

Riding for the Off The Record Syndicate, Will and “Timmy,” an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse (VDL Arkansas x Drumagoland Bay, by Ard Ohio), are no strangers to this venue, having won the CCIO3* here in 2018. Today, they landed a 21.9, beating their previous personal best (31.1 in 2018) by nearly 10 points.

“I wasn’t sure if it was going to be a good day or a bad day – he was pretty stiff warming up, but he has always been a horse that savors competition and getting into the arena and he really just delivered a steady test,” Will said. “I was very pleased. My wife and my whole team have been working really hard on this horse and it was nice to see some fruits for all of their labor.”

Will Coleman Equestrian and Off The Record posted the best 4*-S Dressage Test of yesterday afternoon at the Great Meadow…

Posted by Horse & Country TV on Saturday, August 22, 2020

What goes through the mind of someone who has tasted victory in The Plains before? Take it one phase at a time.

“Timmy loves to go for it, but we need to take it one day at a time. Tomorrow is show jumping and we will try to jump a clean round, hopefully,” he said. “He hasn’t been out very much. He was off for the back half of last year and he has only had the one run this year because of all of the COVID stuff. He is still building back up to all of the form he was in – or maybe even better than the form he had in 2019. We have the big picture in mind, but we love Great Meadow and we certainly would like to give it a crack.”

Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Four-star winners in their own right, Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border are keeping the pressure on the top two. The Cross Syndicate’s 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Diamond Roller x Whos Diaz, by Osilvis) secured a score of 22.1.

“I think Crossy is happy to be out, huh? he’s learned a lot in the last year and a half. he’s solidified a lot of things, in particular, his flying changes. We finally fixed his one change that I struggle to get. He needs to be a big stronger in his medium trot — that’s always been his weakest thing, so we’re still working on that.”

An injury at Pau in 2018 sidelined Crossy for over a year, but now Kim says the pieces are falling back into place. “It’s the same thing he’s been doing all along anyway, just bringing him back all together and getting him going,” she said. “Honestly he’s had a lot of hacking time and light work. He came back from [Chattahoochee Hills in February] and he basically has just been doing a lot of trotting, some dressage and some jumping here and there.”

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z, a 14-year-old KWPN (Zapatero x Zonne-Trend, by French Buffett xx) owned by Ocala Horse Properties, are in a favorable fourth place position on a score of 24.2.

Jennie Brannigan and Stella Artois. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Jennie Brannigan and Stella Artois, a 12-year-old Holsteiner/Thoroughbred mare owned by her namesake syndicate, secured a personal best today — a 25.2 — for fifth place.

Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Lauren Nicholson and her World Equestrian Games partner Vermiculus are in sixth place. Jacqueline Mars’ 13-year-old Anglo Ariabian (Sazeram x Wake Me Gently) carry 25.6 points into the jumping phases.

Woods Baughman and C’est La Vie 135. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Woods Baughman and his own C’est La Vie 135, an 11-year-old Hanoverian, are seventh on a dressage result of 25.8. This budding pair has had 10 long months to reflect on their mega 2019 season, which ended with a CCI3*-L at Fair Hill, and now it’s game faces on for the last two phases this weekend.

Of the 68 starters in this division, 20 (29%) limboed under that sub-30 barrier, and those scores at the top are especially tight. Only one rail separates the top seven, so the pressure’s on for perfect performances over the colored poles tomorrow.

The judging panel of Peter Gray (CAN) and Valerie Vizcarrando (USA) held more than a few differences of opinion on this group. Eleven of the 68 pairs (16%)  had variances of more than 5 percentage points. Both judges also disagreed specifically on the division leader, with the judge at E pegging Off The Record, while the judge at B scored Cooley Cross Border more favorably. The differentials ultimately averaged to edge Marilyn Little in front by an nose.

Tune in with us to watch it all. Coverage for this division will start on the Horse & Country live stream at 3:22 pm eastern.

Will’s good fortune continued into the CCI3*-S where he leads the division with Hyuperon Stud’s Chin Tonic. This pair won the CCI2*-S here last year, so a repeat of that in the next division up would be especially sweet. They’re on a 23.9 for the moment ahead of the jumping phases.

The CCI3*-S show jumps tomorrow at 12:20 pm eastern.

Go eventing.

#MARSGMI:Website, Schedule, Live Stream, Entries, Ride Times, Order of Go, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Record-Breaking Ros Rocks the Boat at Burgham

By on Aug 21, 2020 7:45 pm -

Ros Canter and Allstar B head to the top of the leaderboard, sending records tumbling like bowling pins in the process. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Yesterday, we enjoyed a bit of spectacle as the Burgham dressage record was dismantled in an excellent showing by Izzy Taylor and Monkeying Around, leading most of us to believe that no matter how good the performances were today, we wouldn’t see much of a change at the top of the leaderboards in today’s competition.

How wrong we were. Today’s competitors saw yesterday’s smashed records and laughed in the face of logic, reason, and statistics, putting up marks that truly border on cruel and unusual punishment to the rest of the field. Even better? The best of the best marks ended up pitted against one another, giving us a full sea-change to admire, slack-jawed and slightly stunned, from alongside the windswept arena.

Okay, here’s the thing: you’re not meant to talk about the weather. If you do so, apparently, you’re a Very Bad Journalist™, or so say the powers that be, anyway. But when it comes to this – a very, very outdoor sort of sport – it’s kind of impossible not to take note of some of the extremes that get served up on any given day in any given field. And today certainly was a day of extremes. In comparison with yesterday’s mild, sunny, occasionally breezy conditions, today was rather like being trapped in a car wash, buffeted hither and thither by unrelenting, brutal gusts and occasionally pummelled into submission by seriously heavy rainfall. In short, it was the sort of day that doesn’t really lend itself to dressage, let alone dressage on a bunch of four-star fit event horses who haven’t encountered an atmosphere of any sort in the better part of a year.

Here is a photo of a puppy who didn’t want to sit down on the sodden ground, and so adopted a sort of resigned, restful squat instead to style it out. You’re welcome?

But if there’s one thing these top-level riders have been doing while the rest of us have been completing Netflix, it’s grafting. They’ve upped their flatwork game, hit the home gym, and honed their mental fortitude, and throughout the day, we watched rider after rider smile and embrace the little bit of extra joie de vivre, channeling it into incredibly watchable extravagance without sacrificing a bit of correctness. So while I wouldn’t have put a bet on records being broken again today, in hindsight, I’m actually not that surprised. If the world is easing back into competition, no one’s told these guys.

We’ve only had one chance to see World Champions Ros Canter and Allstar B in action in an international since they took their title at Tryon back in 2018. That chance came at Ballindenisk last September, where they romped around the CCI4*-L for the win just after Ros had given birth to her first child, daughter Ziggy. With a long-format run in the books, Allstar B — or Alby, as he’s known at home — was let down for the winter, ready to pick back up and tackle the 2020 season. But, of course, this being the Season That Wasn’t, we’ve ended up with what feels almost like a two-year hiatus from the reigning leaders of our sport. We’ll forgive this, though, because of what the pair delivered today: an almost perfect test that danced its way to a new Burgham record score of 19.7, the very best international score of Ros’s career, and the lead in CCI4*-S section M.

Ros Canter and Allstar B. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

“We haven’t done a lot since WEG, so it’s quite a long time now,” says Ros, her arms full of a very smiley Ziggy, suited up against the stormy weather. “I was probably more nervous than him – I feel the pressure on Alby, but he was really good.”

Though an extension to her time off in 2019 wasn’t part of Ros’s plan, she’s managed to find the positives in the pandemic, rejigging her schedule to make the best of her lockdown.

“We’ve kept going, and had the horses on a day-on, day-off schedule, so we split them and had a more relaxing time,” she explains. “I’ve had more time to spend with my little girl, so it’s been good. We’ve kept training hard; I’ve felt it’s given me a bit more time to catch up on where I was before having a baby.”

There’s another two phases to tackle first, but longer term, Ros is thinking ahead to Pau — the last five-star standing on the 2020 calendar, and a target for many of the riders here this week.

“We have to play it a little bit by ear but I think it would be on the cards for me if it goes ahead. I’d like to be back at that level. I feel a bit lacking in match practice, so the more long-formats at a high level I can get to, the better, really.”

From worrier-mode to warrior-mode: Laura Collett’s London 52 has benefited from some time at home, as evidenced by his work today. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Before Ros could dismantle yesterday’s broken record, another rider headed into the ring in Section M and did just the same. Laura Collett and London 52 have always been exceptional in this phase, though the high-achieving eleven-year-old, who only started eventing four years ago, is finally beginning to reach his peak — as evidenced by his score of 20.3 today. In earning the score, he very nearly gave Laura her career personal best — but that honour remains the domain, for now anyway, of Rayef, who posted a 20.1 at Aachen in 2012. It’s not hard to imagine, though, that even better is yet to come — particularly as Laura has now fine-tuned a system that works for him as he’s grown into himself.

“He was borderline on edge of being a bit fresh [today], but he sort of needs to be like that,” she explains. “Last year, a few times it felt like I overdid it a bit outside and then he’d just slightly drop me in there, so we’ve tried something a little bit different. I worked him yesterday morning, and he felt really good in his brain so I just took him hacking in the afternoon, and then I hacked him this morning again. Then I kept the warm-up to a minimum so I could try to keep him feeling fresh. That’s when he does his best work — when he’s a little bit on edge, but good in his brain.”

Part of the process has been working with London 52’s brain to allow him the breathing room to grow — something that saw him enjoy six weeks of holiday time during the height of lockdown.

“He was up and fit [when it started], and he can be a bit of a funny horse if he doesn’t have enough to do,” explains Laura. On coming back into work, though, he had a newfound sense of self-assuredness: “he’s always been a bit of a worrier, but he actually feels confident now.”

Piggy March and Blenheim winner Brookfield Inocent sit fourth overnight. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Yesterday’s leaders Izzy Taylor and Monkeying Around remain well in the hunt in overnight third place, while 2019 Blenheim CCI4*-L winners Piggy March and Brookfield Inocent — a horse once described to EN by Piggy’s husband Tom as “the 2020 Burghley winner” — posted a 21.8 to take overnight fourth position and earn the horse his career personal best mark.

Oliver Townend and Tregilder, who performed their test yesterday, sit fifth going into tomorrow morning’s showjumping. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Fifth place is the overnight domain of Section L leader Oliver Townend, who produced a very good test aboard his 2018 Blair Castle CCI4*-S winner Tregilder yesterday to earn a 22.9, while William Fox-Pitt and Little Fire slip into sixth place on 23.4.

William Fox-Pitt and Little Fire — sixth overnight heading into the jumping phases. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Chinese Olympians Alex Hua Tian and Don Geniro packaged up a bit of the quirky chestnut’s unique brand of spice to produce one of the most watchable tests of the afternoon. Don Geniro — or ‘the Don’ — is one of those horses you can’t help but tune into. Enormously charismatic and talented, he’s also quirky and occasionally unpredictable, and so his tests always come with the added excitement — rare, frankly, in dressage — of not quite knowing which way the wind will blow for him on any given day. But Alex, with whom he’s been partnered for so long and with such success, knows the horse and his (admittedly numerous) whims intrinsically, and watching him artfully turn fizziness into fluency, without a hint of kick-and-pull, is a masterclass for even the casual viewer.

Alex Hua Tian and a typically spicy Don Geniro sit seventh. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Today, it all paid off in the ring, with Don Geniro visibly gaining in confidence throughout the course of his test and skipping his way through what felt like the full spectrum of seasons in the course of five minutes. Their efforts would earn them a 24.4, enough for seventh place heading into tomorrow’s jumping phases — though, Alex admits, the mark could have been even better, but for a tiny mishap at the beginning of the test.

“I’m very happy with him, but I’m a bit annoyed, actually,” he says with a laugh, explaining, “I fumbled my right rein at the start and he cantered out of the halt. But I was really happy, because Don’s not good in bad conditions, he’s not good with flowers, he’s not good with atmosphere, and he hasn’t been out for ages — but it felt like he went in there and really tried. That’s all you can ask for, really.”

2020 should have been an enormously significant year for Alex, whose efforts — both in competition and in encouraging the growth of the sport in China — have been essential in qualifying a Chinese team for the Olympics for the first time. But although the postponement of the Games could have put a dampener on the spirits of the team, the extra time has allowed the adrenaline and momentum of qualifying on a deadline to be transformed into something solid — something with roots that can be used to grow into the cohesive and long-lasting national effort that Alex has been working towards throughout his career.

“I think it’s been a good thing for the riders who’ve stayed in Europe,” he says, reflecting on the past months. “Some of the riders have had to go back to China because of their provincial team responsibilities, which is a shame because they’ll have missed out on the opportunity to get to know their horses better.But the feeling is quite positive, and for the team management and the federation, it’s definitely a positive. Qualifying last year and then [the Olympics] happening this year, they were a bit like, ‘…shit!’ From the management side, our federation has had teams at Asian Games before, but it’s quite different at this level and at the Olympics. The stakes are higher and the organisation of it all is more difficult. I think, if anything, they needed an extra year to get everything organised — and having almost had sort of a dry run, they’ll be that much more prepared.”

Oliver Townend remains the man to beat in CCI4*-S section L, where he sits atop the leaderboard on a score of 21.4 with Ballaghmor Class. There’ll be little point in any of his competitors quietly hoping he might have accrued some rust over the past months, either — he made light work of the CCI3*-S sections today, duly winning both. He’s got plenty of previous good form here, and should be considered — as usual, really — a real threat.

Kitty King and Vendredi Biats recover from an early mistake to sit fourth overnight in section M. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The first change on the section L leaderboard came in the form of 2019 winners Kitty King and Vendredi Biats, who gave an important lesson in composure and riding away from your mistakes when an early break in the trotwork looked to put paid to any ideas of a low-scoring test. But Kitty rebalanced the historically cheeky ‘Froggy’, sallied forth, and rode the rest of the test as though the issue had never happened. It was worth the effort, too — her accurate, committed craftsmanship in the ring would be rewarded with a 25.8 and overnight fourth place, followed by Ros Canter and Rehy Royal Diamond in fifth place on 25.3.

Laura Collett and Mr Bass return to competition in fine style, stepping into provisional sixth place. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

After this much time away, it’s hard not to find yourself delighting in just about every horse in the ring, and I certainly found myself turning to whoever was willing to listen to me throughout the day to expound on how excited I was to see various combinations again. But a few of those combinations really were a treat to watch — like Laura Collett and Mr Bass, the FOD-machine making his first appearance since Badminton last year, where he picked up an injury.

Though he’s not a dressage machine in the way that stablemate London 52 is, Mr Bass has proven himself a reliable partner in this phase, typically scoring in the high-20s and then, as his party piece, finishing on that score with a remarkable consistency. Today, though, he squeaked in below his expected score, putting a 25.8 on the board for sixth place overnight.

“He doesn’t find dressage easy, but he tried really hard — he was really on side,” says Laura, who has worked on the flat extensively with the horse after his rehabilitation, to great effect. “He’s definitely physically stronger, and having done dressage for a year he’s slightly accepting it a bit more. Half his problem before was that he’d try to guess what I wanted, rather than waiting to be told what to do, whereas in there it felt like he waited to be told what would come next — that was the biggest change in him.”

The extra time spent working on the flat acted rather like an extensive psychoanalysis for ‘Chuck’, who Laura describes as “a bit of a try-hard, and cocky, too.”

“It was all about figuring him out a bit more,” she says. “He’s a bit of a character and we had to work to figure out what to do with him, but I think we understand him a bit more now. I worked with Ian Woodhead and have been to Pippa Funnell for a few lessons with him, and they both just got into his head a bit more. He was never naughty; his whole thing in life is just that he thinks he knows best and doesn’t need to be told what to do, so any mistakes he’s ever made are because he’s trying too hard. Now he’s accepting that in dressage, he does sort of need to be told what to do!”

Almost more exciting for Laura than the score, though, is simply the feeling of being back behind those familiar ears at an international.

“It’s almost impossible to put into words — he means the world to me, and just to have him back here is really special,” she says.

Sarah Bullimore and Corouet step into eighth place. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Tomorrow sees both jumping phases run almost concurrently throughout the day, with showjumping set to start at 8.00 a.m. and cross-country to commence at 9.30 a.m. You’ll be able to watch the entirety of the cross-country action via the live-stream, and in the meantime, you can take a look at the course courtesy of the CrossCountryApp and press officer Catherine Austen.

But what do the riders themselves think of the challenge that’s been set?

“I think it’s big enough!” says Alex Hua Tian. “I think it’s a really difficult balance for the course designer, though it looks like they’ve hit the nail on the head — there’s definitely enough to jump, but it’s all quite attractive and out there in front of you to be jumped; there’s nothing trappy. But there are two or three combinations out there that will definitely cause issues for a few of the greener horses — the shoulder brush combination at 6ABC is one I’ll be riding pretty carefully at and just making sure the horses see it. Because it’s quite early on, you could see a few of the fresh ones taking a look — but other than that, you’d be cross with an experienced one for making a mistake later on.”

Ros Canter agrees: “I think it’s a great course. They always build big and bold here, so I look forward to giving it a go!”

We’ll be back tomorrow with a bumper report and gallery full of all the day’s action.

Go Eventing.

The top ten after dressage in a record-smashing CCI4*-S Section M.

The top ten at the culmination of dressage in CCI4*-S Section L.

Burgham: Entries & Times | Website | Live-Stream | Live Scores | EN’s Coverage | EN’s Twitter | EN’s Instagram

Friday Video from SmartPak: Dancing Horses, Vintage Style

By on Aug 21, 2020 5:00 pm -

 

There are so few things I love more deeply and wholeheartedly than vintage horsey documentaries. The twee backing music, the extraordinarily posh voiceovers, the delightful graininess, the fact that you can practically smell the fine old leather through the screen – I’m as hooked now, at nearly 30, as I was when I was ten and disintegrated an old National Geographic VHS tape about horses in Ireland in the 1970s because I loved it too hard.

When a friend shared this video on Facebook the other day, I was in nerdy raptures – not only is it proper vintage horsiness, it’s also a rare insight into the Spanish Riding School, an establishment so venerated that it still feels like it’s worlds away from all of us mere mortals, even in this day and age of world tours and social media. I got a chance to have a snoop around the stables at the School’s Vienna base a few years ago and let me tell you, folks, I have never seen such pristine curb chains. Do I want to run away and ride Lipizzaners for the rest of my life? Totally. Am I up for spending a year on the lunge with no reins or stirrups to do so? Not a chance. I’ll be living vicariously through this short film instead – and on the plus side, I’m pretty sure I can’t melt the tape from overuse this time.

Your Guide to Watching the Great Meadow International Live Stream

By on Aug 21, 2020 12:40 pm -

We are excited to bring you Live and On Demand coverage of the Great Meadow International next week!

Posted by Horse & Country TV on Friday, August 14, 2020

After a very, very long dry spell all eyes are on The Plains, Virginia, and we are excited to bring you wall-to-wall coverage of the 2020 MARS Great Meadow International. With COVID-19 precautions in place and many fans following from afar, Horse & Country TV has the hook up, providing both live streaming and on demand video replays.

H&C will provide coverage of all three phases of the CCI4*-S (starting Friday afternoon) and the show jumping and cross country of the CCI3*-L, CCI3*-S, CCI2*-S and Preliminary Horse Trials, with all covered rides available to watch On Demand in Horse and Country TV’s robust video library.

Broadcast Schedule

Saturday, August 21:
10:20am ET CCI2*-S Show Jumping
12:15pm ET CCI3*-S Show Jumping
2:30pm ET CCI3*-L Show Jumping
3:15pm ET CCI4*-S Show Jumping

Sunday, August 22:
9:00am ET CCI3*-S Cross Country
12:00pm ET CCI4*-S Cross Country

GMI, and a whole host of other competition, documentary and entertainment series are available to H&C subscribers. To follow the action, you’ll need a subscription from H&C, starting at $9.99/month. All you’ll have to do is visit Horse & Country and hit Subscribe.

We’re looking forward to brining you loads of coverage as well as beautiful photos from the fabulously talented team with Shannon Brinkman.

Go eventing.

MARSGMI: Website, Schedule, Entry Status, Ride Times, Order of Go, Live Scores. Live Stream