Courageous Comet’s AECs Advanced Dressage Recap

Becky Holder and Courageous Comet #alwayslow20s

Courageous Comet performed what will in all likelihood be the last upper level dressage test of his extraordinary career with typical poise, panache, and talent. He sits in a familiar position atop the advanced leader board at the end of the dressage with a 5.6 point lead. When I spoke with Becky, she affirmed her feeling that the AECs are a great place to retire Comet, with the venue being so close to home and Comet having won here before the WEGs in 2010. As an eventing fan, it has been an absolute privilege to follow Comet’s career with Becky as one of the top horses in the history of American eventing and, I think, our sport worldwide. I’ll never forget that feeling of hushed commotion as everyone around the Rolex main arena at once inhaled and moved one inch closer to the edges of their seats when Comet would enter the arena. Here’s to a great rest of the weekend for Becky and Comet.

[Live AEC Scores]

After getting eliminated in the show jumping at Full Gallop a few weeks ago, Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison won the Kentucky Classique intermediate by a staggering 47 points last weekend. They return to advanced at the AECs looking for a good run to send them off to represent the USA at Boekelo. Jon and Will are off to a great start with a 29.3 and second place heading into the cross-country on Friday.

Michael Pollard and the “Hanni Badger” led off the dressage at 8am. Ever the perfectionist, Michael told me after his test that Hanni was a bit “up and out” with her frame. That was a costly detail that turned what would have otherwise been a fantastic score into a good score for third overnight.

Our generous host this weekend, Carl Bouckaert, rode Cyrano Z to 4th place in the advanced. They are competing here at home just a month after their Olympic performance together in London for Belgium. Carl’s facility at Chattahoochee Hills is a world-class facility that we are all very fortunate to have hosting this world-class event.

~~The second Boekelo-bound pair to compete in the advanced division~~, Hannah Burnett and Harbour Pilot, are placed 5th overnight with a 30.4. Becky’s other sensational grey, Can’t Fire Me, was a bit distracted by Comet’s whinnying from the stables (a bit of gamesmanship from the veteran, perhaps?) but that didn’t stop Teddy from giving Becky two horses in the top 6 with a 30.7.

[Update: Hannah is not on the Boekelo list, I was mistaken earlier.]

As expected in these championships, the advanced leader board is tightly packed with the top 10 horses within 10 points of the lead and 2nd through 14th separated by 10 points.

Two horses that really stood out to me in the advanced were two dark bays who competed right in a row–Sir Rockstar, ridden by Libby Head, and Fernhill Cubalawn, ridden by Alexandra Green. Both horses need to be more confirmed in the changes, but they presented a great picture with lovely movement and I look forward to seeing them jumping tomorrow and Saturday. Alexandra, like many of the other riders, did a great job of schooling her horse around the arena before the judge rang the bell. Those few important moments are a great opportunity to work through a few transitions, however, too many of us get stuck waiting and trotting in circles.

When I wished Leslie Law good luck this morning he modestly said “I’m going to need it.” But no luck was necessary for a quality test with Zenith ISF as they moved into 12th place with a 34.5. Joe Meyer of New Zealand is riding the 20 year old Snip in the advanced. The veteran is well within striking distance in 9th on a 32.7. The always nice and classy Laura VanderVliet delivered a good test aboard Mighty Mangaroo for a 40.9 and, as always, I’ll be cheering them on this weekend.

The announcer, Giles Rowsell, has been kind enough to point out multiple times today that, since these are championships, whips are not allowed in the dressage arena.

The Chattahoochee Hills weather is cloudy and misty, keeping things cool and making everything damp but nothing wet. Don’t mistake this for a complaint as a wet mist is about the best case scenario for Georgia in early September.

I will surely fail in my efforts to cover as many levels as possible but thankfully our friends at the USEA and Chronicle are here as well. We’ll be linking to their coverage all weekend and I’m particularly excited for the USEA’s coverage because they have their full team in action this weekend.

The advanced dressage is in the books. The intermediate, preliminary, and training continue with 5 arenas in action this afternoon. Advanced, prelim, intermediate, and training will run cross-country on Friday and show jump on Saturday. Novice and beginner novice start their competition with the dressage on Friday. Stay tuned for much more from the AECs.

A few photos of the advanced dressage, with full apologies to the riders for my photographic incompetence: