Katie Murphy and Esccord RGS won the 2012 Young Event Horse East Coast Four Year Old Championships, and came back to Fair Hill this year to take on the 5 year old class. We’ve followed Katie and “Garth” throughout the year, and it’s great to see how they finished their season. Best of luck in 2014! Thanks to Katie for writing, and thank you for reading.
Katie Murphy and Esccord RGS at Fair Hill. Photo by Jenni Autry.
From Katie:
This has been a wonderful season, and it just ended on a wonderful note. Among 31 competitors, Garth earned Reserve Champion in the 5 Year Old Young Event Horse East Coast Championships. Last year, Esccord RGS spooked as he entered the ring – a hop from the flags high on the hill behind him as we began our center line. Garth entered the massive dressage space and the surrounding schooling areas with confidence. I think he enjoyed being there, working around the large ring and having all eyes on him. Our test was lovely.
We could have shown more lengthening at the trot, something I achieve in the warm-up, but failed to prepare for as effectively in the test. He had a snarky moment at our walk-trot transition, grabbing the bit, and twisting his head. The moment past, and we carried on. He scored a 27.65, the 3rd highest score behind Phillip Dutton and Bruce Davidson Sr. Click here to view Garth’s test sheet.
Our conformation score was disappointing. Not only did Garth receive the lowest score of his 5 year old division, it was also the lowest score of the 4 year old division. This was disappointing and confusing, but appeared to be a trend among the warmbloods and crosses. We dropped to 4th place. Click here to view Garth’s conformation score sheet.
Garth must be psychic, or he hears the conversations I have in my head. The morning of the final jumping and galloping phase, I told Garth that the fences were not going to be very large, and he may be a bit bored. I asked him to please show a big effort over the jumps as an example of his ability, some of the playful attitude he shows at home, and to really focus on opening his stride and covering more ground when I asked him to gallop. It sounds ridiculous, but I think Garth was listening.
We hacked out to the open field for warm-up. Garth bucked, he crow-hopped, and he bolted at every potential excuse. We jumped several fences between sassy spells, finishing with a school over a cross-country fence. Garth and I were airborne for what felt like an abbreviated eternity. Then we landed and he bolted again. Bliss. He jumped around beautifully. He was catty and quick through the stadium. We rode the forward five stride line in six, giving a deep distance and good spring at take off over the oxer.
He continued over the cross-country fences bold, confident and focused. It was the first time, in fact, that he has not spooked while out on course. He sailed over the trakehner, a fence that caused issues for many horses, and worked through the water complex with ease. My proudest moment was his gallop: we scored a 9 noting “covers the ground in very good balance” – a great improvement over last year’s score of 7 and “Heavy – much knee action.”
In the last two years, I have had the honor of standing alongside two exceptional horsemen: Kim Severson (winner of the 2012 5-y.o. YEH) and Bruce Davidson, Sr. Although both instances were on a smaller scale, I recognize these as rare opportunities. That is very special.
Although we did not earn a potential top position toward the Holekamp/Turner YEH Lion d’Angers Grant, I will continue to plan our next two years with this goal in mind. If the highest scoring 5yo does not qualify or is unable to attend Le Lion d’Angers, the $17,500 grant will be awarded to the next highest scorer who is qualified, able, and willing to go.
