Caroline Powell and Legally Grey. Photo courtesy of Hartpury Horse Trials.
The eventing superstars of tomorrow were the opening act for the 2019 NAF Five Star International Hartpury Horse Trials, taking place Aug. 7-11 in Gloucestershire, Great Britain. The Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Qualifier 4- and 5-year-old classes took place Wednesday, with Caroline Powell and Rodney Powell taking top honors in each class respectively.
Many of us associate Caroline with her great grey partner and fan favorite Lenamore, with whom she won Burghley in 2010. For the 4-year-old qualifier she brought forth a new prospect in Legally Grey, also grey but with silver dapples revealing of his youth. The gelding, who is by the Thoroughbred stallion Munther, scored consistently across the three sections to win on a total score of 80. Her nearest rival was Caroline Harris with W Be Individual, who finished on a total score of 76.
Rodney and Wanham Freebie, winners of the 5-year-old qualifier. Photo courtesy of Hartpury Horse Trials.
In the 5-year-old qualifier, Rodney and Wanham Freebie finished in top spot with a score of 88. Wanham Freebie is by Ramiro B, sire of top event horses including Ballynoe Castle RM, a Team USA veteran who was 3rd at Kentucky in 2014; Cooley Master Class, who won Kentucky in 2018 in his four-star debut; and Cooley SRS, who finished 2nd at Badminton in 2018 in his four-star debut. Ramiro B passed away in 2018 but his legacy continues with a number of exciting young horses such as this, and Wanham Freebie’s connections have high hopes for the bay gelding’s future.
British-based U.S. eventer Tina Coudray and Cabaret finished in second on a score of 81. Tiana had two other horses in the 5-year-old class, Jomink PFB and Enha Louvo, who finished 7th, and another horse in the 4-year-old class, B.B Geneveive.
“We always enjoy seeing so many talented young horses at our Burghley Young Event Horse qualifiers,” said Philip Cheetham, Hartpury’s Equine Director. “We wish all those horse and rider combinations who qualified today the very best of luck at Burghley in the autumn.”
Photo courtesy of Hartpury Horse Trials.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, the first horse inspection took place for the NAF Five Star Mpower CCI2*-L and NAF Five Star Superflex CCI3*-L. Two horses were spun at the first horse inspection, one from the 2* competition and one from the 3* competition. Dressage got underway in both long-format competitions on Thursday alongside the NAF Five Star Magic CCI4*-S.
Tilly Berendt will be sharing dispatches from the event throughout the week, so do check back!
Go Eventing.
