Saturday was a long, hot one at the Kentucky Horse Park for everyone, but especially for the jump judges who were manning their posts from the first horse on course at 7:30am, and then in two minute intervals, with only short breaks to change courses until the last horse went some time after 6pm. A massive EN thank you to one and all of the volunteers, here at Maydaze and at every event. All scores, including detailed cross country breakdown, are available here.
Preliminary Cross Country
Jennifer Feiner on Pirates Bid, the first horse out in Open Prelim
Alyson Schwartz on Back to Business
Lisa Mendell and Hocus Pocus
Elissa Gibbs and Predestined
Audrea Dyer and Articat
Catherine Henderson and Matched Lite
Lindsey Solarzano and Ramsey
Eventual Open Prelim winners Jesslyn Woodall and Thunderstruck – Congratulations!
Click below for more photos, video, and commentary.
Kate Berta and Bourbon
Dorothy Crowell and Three Star General
Lauren Lambert, 2nd on Honour Mission
Kelsey Votoupal on Time World
Kathleen Sullivan and True Blue
Alyson Schwarz and Polamolu
Mystery horse and rider but lovely form
Katie Hensley and Boot Scoot n’ Boogie
Brooke Lundberg and Sierras Sexy Model
Christine Duke and Sportsfield One O Two
Jessica Clemens and Same As Gold
Emily Breitkreitz on L’Rococo
Leah Snowden and Ivy League
Yvonne Ocrant and S’All About Me
Megan Woods and Past Due
Shelby Wietharn and Desert Storm
N. Wayne Quarles and Darma
Amelia Grubbs and Hang on Snoopy
Susan Clagg and Blessed Event
Jennifer Czubak and King’s Ransom
Sarah Jenkinson and Keogh
Diane Begemann and The Footman
Katherine Zapala and The Contender
Prelim B winners Katie Eckert and Sassaperilla Kid – Congratulations!
There were some good rounds in the prelim divisions, especially from the more experienced competitors that you’d expect to see giving their horses a nice outing, but there were also some really not so nice rounds, especially in the lower levels. The coffin in both the prelim and the training caused lots of trouble, and in the training especially there was no reason that I could see why it would. I’d like to blame the heat for some of it, but downright crappy riding was also the problem in many cases. The footing is already quite firm and I watched countless riders galloping very fast, and not very balanced, taking very long circuitous routes around the course – unnecessary – Rent a DVD of any of the big events and see how economical the top riders are, that’s why the look like they’re going slowly! There’s no shortage of talented, lovely horses out there eventing right now, and there are plenty of smart,talented riders, but there are also plenty who might have perhaps moved up too quickly, or maybe might have benefited from spending the enormous amount it now costs to compete at an event on some extra lessons, and wait until the next opportunity to go out and compete? In a country the size of the US, with events few and far between I think it poses a dilemma and adds pressure on the rider, and trainer/coach too probably, when and if you’re ready for your event, or when to move up?
Training Cross Country
Here’s some of the better rides at the Training Coffin. I sat there for about an hour, and deleted probably half my videos which were refusals, falls and eliminations.
Allie Slusher rode one of the smoothest, classiest rounds I saw all day, on what I believe is something of a catch ride to take the Open Training Division on My Nevada Chance, finishing on her dressage score of 29.1
Helen Rutter and Push the Light
Lauren Gibbs and Zydeco
Allison Thompson and Calysta MWF
Robin Walker on Canadian Exchange
Susannah Lansdale, 2nd on On the Edge of Glory
Jessica Gibson and Kind of Blue
Kelsey Willis and DJ Dancer
Connor Giesselman and Randi, 2nd in Training Rider Division A
Tracey Corey and Byrnwyck West, winners of Training Rider A by virtue of finishing on their dressage score of 23.6
Margie Darling and Fine With Me, Winners of Training Rider B
Michelle Thomas and Tsunami IV
Margaret Kimmel and Double Dutch, 2nd
Courtney Carroll and Glamour Girl
Andy Wyatt and Something Fancy
Erin Miller and Envision
Nicole White and Miss Marple
Cathryn Green and Coin Toss III
Kiri Freeman on Such A Tramp
Brigid Williams on Bourbon Tee
Rachelle Thompson and Always Willing
The Winners of Training Rider C – Jennifer Huhn and Raindance – Congratulations!
Megan Corbett and River Wood Dancer
Andrea Johnson and La Bien Vie
Lauren Nethery and Bon Vivant
Michael Greathouse and Classic Hero
Clare Pinney and S.O. Jazz Dancer
I caught up with Clare after her round and she told me she has the stripes under her eyes a la American Footballers (she is also British) to cut down on the glare!
Jamie McAllister and Commander Z
Shannon Riley and Happens in Vegas
It’s been a long, hot weekend marred by tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Pollard Eventing Team and everyone connected with the three exceptional horses they lost this weekend, and also with the family of Dr Craig Ferrel who remains in hospital after a serious fall from his polo pony. A facebook page has been set up to leave messages for his family.
Pierre St Jacques and Lucky Tiger
Circumstances conspired against me and I didn’t make it back out to the Horse Park on Sunday, although I did enjoy the Dressage CDI *** Freestyle on Saturday night – congratulations to Pierre St Jacques and Lucky Tiger, who hopefully did his Olympic chances no harm by winning with a score of a shade over 70%. I got to know Pierre quite well during my hosting stint on the 2010 Radio Show as he was our Spotlight Dressage Rider, and I’m thrilled that his lovely wife, Canadian Olympic Eventer Samantha, has agreed to be a regular contributor on the Eventing Radio Show; Samantha has kindly agreed to come on every month or so and talk about what it’s like to be one half of an equestrian power couple, and an eventing mother. Please feel free to let me know what or who else you’d like to hear on the show and I’ll try my best to oblige.
Feeling especially thankful for healthy, happy children (and a Labrador) tonight. Please hug your loved ones, two or four legged, and Go Eventing!
