Michael Jung and Kilcandra Ocean Power lead the CCI4*-L at Strzegom. Photo by Leszek Wójcik.
We’re looking forward to following along with this weekend’s action at the LOTTO Strzegom Horse Trials taking place in Poland. Featuring a CCI4*-L division as well as a CCI4*-S FEI Nations Cup competition, a developing U.S. team is also competing this weekend.
Under the direction of USEF Eventing Emerging and Development Coach Leslie Law, the USEF Development Tour is designed to give riders additional team experience in an overseas environment. US Equestrian targeted this event as well as the CCIO4*-S at Boekelo in October as two stops for the U.S. to target in 2023 — look for a more seasoned team to take the reins at Boekelo, but for now it’s to the sport’s next top stars for this weekend.
Dressage got underway in the 4*-S on Thursday, and we’ll have the conclusion of the division’s tests ridden today. All four of the U.S. horses and riders will compete beginning today, and if you’re an early bird I’ll list the times below as there is a free live stream provided by FEI TV on YouTube all week. Friday’s dressage will begin at 4:30 a.m. EST here. You can view the full list of Friday’s start times here and the full timing & scoring list here.
Belgium’s Maarten Boon is the current CCI4*-S leader with Gravin van Cantos, a 12-year-old KWPN mare. In the CCI4*-L division, Michael Jung leads the way following dressage with the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Kilcandra Ocean Power (BGS Ocean View – Bonnie Dolly, by Bonnie Prince) after earning a mark of 31.5. This weekend mark’s Kilcandra Ocean Power’s first CCI4*-L start. The USA’s Matt Flynn has also rerouted to Strzegom with Wizzerd following a fall early on cross country at Luhmühlen last week and will sit in sixth place on a score of 35.8 ahead of cross country.
Major International Events
LOTTO Strzegom H.T. / FEI Eventing Nations Cup (Poland): [Website] [Entries] [Live Stream] [Timing & Scoring] [Scoring]
U.S. Weekend Preview
Stable View Summer H.T. (Aiken, South Carolina): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]
Midsouth Pony Club H.T. (Lexington, Kentucky): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]
Fox River Valley Pony Club H.T. (Barrington Hills, Illinois): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]
Woodloch Stable Young Event Horse Qualifier (Hugo, Minnesota): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]
Loudon Hunt Pony Club Summer H.T. (Leesburg, Virginia): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]
Round Top H.T. (Castle Rock, Colorado): [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]
Valinor Farm H.T. (Plymouth, Massachusetts): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]
Bucks County Horse Park H.T. (Revere, Pennsylvania): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]
Friday News & Reading
Attending this weekend’s Stable View Summer H.T.? Here are a few “Early Insights” for you:
- Ice and water will be on hand all weekend to help stay cool — look for brown ice containers as well a well-stocked Rider Lounge for water. There will be also misting station for horses (or humans — no judgement here).
- Don’t forget to join the Stable View team for the always-lovely Graze and Gaze social hour with food and drinks, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings in the pub behind the Pavilion.
- Find more information about the weekend in the Show Program here, or in the links list further up in this article
Arielle Aharoni and her CCI4* horse, Dutch Times, have been together since very nearly day one. Having purchased “Dutch” as a weanling, Arielle has been working on her partnership with the supremely athletic gelding, culminating most recently in a second place finish in the 4*-L at Bromont earlier this month. You can read all about her journey with Dutch in the latest Nancy Jaffer column here.
We love a clinic report, and this one brings a double bonus: a clinic with both Tik Maynard and Sinead Maynard! The Green Horseman blogs about the experience here.
Got a graduating senior in your household? Be sure to have them apply for a USEF Higher Education Scholarship. Applications are due on July 31. This scholarship program awards five $1,000 scholarships each year to US Equestrian members from any breed or discipline who are committed to continuing their equestrian involvement in college. College classes in equine subjects, participation in an intercollegiate equestrian team, or a horse-related job, internship, or volunteer position are among the ways that scholarship recipients can continue their participation in the equestrian community. [Apply for a USEF Higher Education Scholarship]
In his latest column with the USEA, sports psychologist Daniel Stewart dives into the concept of transforming from “worrier to warrior”. One form of “doubtful thinking” Coach Stewart refers to is the “pre-excuse”. What, exactly is that, besides my early justification for not making it to the gym today? Find out here.
Friday Video Break
Get a preview of what the riders at Strzegom will be tackling this week with a replay of the 2022 Nations Cup cross country:
