Colleen Rutledge and “Luke” finished 16th at the Luhmühlen CCI**** over the weekend. They’re pictured here at The Fork, by Samantha.
If there’s one philosophy I’ve learned in my years training with Colleen Rutledge, it’s that nine times out of 10 (or maybe even 10 out of 10), the issues I encounter are byproducts of my own blunders—not my horse’s. But if there’s one thing I’ve guessed, it’s that, in addition to Colleen’s years of hard work rehabilitating horses and training with the best of the best (Jim Wofford was ringside at Luhmühlen), her foremost model in this philosophy is Luke. Out cross-country schooling in Aiken last year, when my mare and I were overcoming a drop issue, Colleen put it this way: “Luke never understood drops until I stopped looking down at them.” And you know? I’m not sure if it was the actual practice of lifting my eyes or the inspirational power of a Rolex-bound horse overcoming a similar obstacle, but our drop issue disappeared pretty quickly.
Because Luke holds a certain inspirational power for some of us, Colleen’s students, trainers and fans—and especially Colleen herself. Around the barn, she talks of him as of an old professor, always teaching her this, helping her solidify that, fortifying her already tough mental game.
To watch them jump is a spectacle. In the grandstands at Rolex last year, I distinctly remember an audible, communal crowd-gasp as they cleared the first show jump—not because they jumped badly, but because folks had never before seen the way Luke’s body swings into the air and soars there, freakishly airborne, as if bewinged.
Jim Wofford reported Luke’s antics at Luhmühlen, how he “skipped around” and “etched across the sky” like ET and “trotted up like Mr. Twinkletoes.” And at last: “I am flying home tomorrow and stopped off in the stables to see him before I left, but he was already taking a nap, so I tiptoed out. Colleen and I agree we are lucky to even be breathing the same air as Luke.”
That Luke and Colleen have been left off the lists is a shame. To be around the two of them, at the barn or an event or clinic, is not to be around a fussy four-star rider and her pampered champion. It’s to be in the company of someone who believes her horse will take her, however briefly, away from life’s often-hapless cacophonies and on to great places, and then does everything she can to make that dream a reality. Which is to say, Colleen’s never lost sight of why she started riding in the first place.
If you haven’t, allow yourself a moment to read Jim’s notes from Luhmühlen on his Fox Covert Farm Facebook page. They’re unsurprisingly beautifully written, and will make you feel you were there. [Fox Covert]
In other Luhmühlen news, Michael Jung wasn’t fooling around (I don’t think he does that?): He won both the CIC*** and CCI**** before being named to Team Germany’s A Squad. [CIC3* Results] [CCI4* Results] [Team Germany] [FEI]
Weekend Results from Eventing USA:
At Seneca Valley, a recurring theme: Sally Cousins won all the intermediate divisions. Corinne Frankel and Loose ‘n Cool, Lauren Kieffer and Czechmate, and Kristin Bachman and Lucky Little Spy topped preliminary divisions.[Scores]
Ryan Wood brought home double blues from Bucks County, jumping clean with Life is Good and Ned Kelly to win the PT and OT, respectively. [Scores]
At Lost Hounds, Kelly Sult and Montgomery topped the intermediate with a 33.6; Jennifer O’Neill and That’ll Do II jumped clean, moving from fourth to first at preliminary. [Scores]
Dana Widstrand and Relentless Pursuit won Full Gallop’s intermediate, and Lindsay Staiano Williams and Triumph II were the prelim victors. [Scores]
At Silverwood, both Helmut Schrant and Stoney Run’s White Diamond, and Bailey Gilbert and Bentley won at training; Carly Moreau and Understated, Kristine Chapman and Clean Slate II, and Zoey Gudger and I Spy each won a novice division. [Scores]
Big congrats to the beginner novice winners at Larkin Hill, including Leah Griffith and Catactic, Carol Drake and Ariston-Rock, Mei Lan Fogarty and Jumping Jack Flash, and Liam Palacios and Ferdinand the Bull. [Scores]
To the Round Top victors: Many congratulations! May your accomplishments be unabridged by my failure to find them online.
Lots of big Olympic equestrian team news this weekend: Boyd’s Remington XXV’s was made the 12th horse on the eventing short list, joining Neville and Otis en route to England. (For a clarification of the set-up and evolution of the eventing list, check out John’s post from yesterday.) [USEF]
Dressage Olympic selection trials wrapped at Gladstone, where Steffen Peters was named on two horses, Legolas and Ravel, in the top five. Ann Romney’s Rafalca, ridden by Jan Ebeling, also made the cut. Tina Konyot, Adrienne Lyle and Todd Flettrich round out the top six. [USEF]
Our Olympic show jumpers have also been nominated, including 17-year-old phenom Reed Kessler. She joins Rich Fellers, Beezie Madden, McClain Ward and Charlie Jayne on the team. [USEF]
The Los Angeles Times got in on the Boyd & Neville story: “He was a little bit of an excited, fiery horse. And they’re hard horses to sell,” remembers Martin, who liked the animal partly because he, too, was half American, half Australian. “So I just kept on working with him every day. And it took a long time for me to actually think that this might be something special.” [LA Times]
Nick Skelton, OBE: The top British show jumper was named an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for “services to the equestrian sport” as denoted in the Queen’s birthday honours list. [Horse & Hound]
Good one, ABC News Blog: “The Romneys won’t just be attending the 2012 Summer Olympics in London: They now have a horse in the race.” [ABC]
Best of the Blogs: Boyd’s supergroom Lindsey Taylor’s hands are full with three horses on the England flight. They should arrive at their destination around 9pm tonight. Good luck & safe travels, Neville, Otis, Remi and Lindsey! [Boyd’s Blog]
Horse Junkies United caught up with Reed Kessler just after she learned she’d made team. [HJU]
Our Triple Crown may be over, but England’s Royal Ascot Week is just gearing up. What’s the Royal Ascot, you wonder? You’re in luck: The Vault brings us all the top picks and info we could want. [The Vault]
