Michael Pollard revived the somewhat flagging North American spirits this morning by riding a flowing, elegant test on his lovely TB Icarus, dispelling once and for all the myth that this breed can’t move and are too hot for dressage.
I spoke to him after his test and he said he was really happy with it, although “there’s a lot more there still. I can really go for nines in the trot work, and I really settled for sevens. Every one of these events we come to though we get the preparation a little better though, I think he’s a horse that’s really going to improve, he stayed really calm, so I think we’ve got that right now, so that I can start to put a little more pressure on and get all that he can give. But, it’s a big atmosphere, and if you’d told me at the beginning of the week I was going to get 46.7 I’d be thrilled. Bettina (Hoy) has been a huge help to me, if you look at my results this year on the flat compared to last year; she just has a way of putting you in the ring better than anyone else can, it’s really been helpful.”
I asked him how what he thought about tomorrow’s cross country?
“It’s the kind of course that should suit good-jumping, good-galloping thoroughbred horses so…you never know until you jump around a course like this, but he jumped around Rolex beautifully, I had a stupid run-out in the bottom of the quarry but he made it feel pretty easy actually, so I think the course will suit him.”
Julian Stiller’s lovely black mare Chapel Amble unfortunately left her best work in the warm up arena, refusing to rein back during the test, and her changes which had been nearly flawless outside were sadly a little ragged in the arena for a final score of 52, which leaves them in 23rd place currently.
Emily Llewellyn rode really well on Pardon Me who despite having flashy paces, also looks like he has a tendency to get very short and tight in the neck.
The mood in the North American camp had definitely been somewhat subdued after the general consensus seemed to be that the judges were pretty harsh on Jessie Phoenix on Exponential. As always, she rode an accurate test and they’re such an attractive couple, but just didn’t score the marks this morning. I’m looking forward to watching them tear it up tomorrow, however!
David O’Connor watching Jessie and Tucker
Frenchman Eddy Sans with Maryland de Brunel
Blyth Tait’s Santos made a few costly errors like refusing to trot the trot half pass, and changing in the counter canter
Clarke Johnstone’s Incognito was disappointing for the reigning World Cup Champion, bucking in the changes
Clarke and Sandy Phillips – a post mortem on the test.
I was hoping to post more pictures before the dressage started up again after lunch, and eat, but once again time escapes me. Stay with Eventing Nation, (and the Horse and Hound online feed!) , we’re so glad you joined us, back with much more later, off to see lovely Lead the Way and Clea Phillips, thank you for reading, and go dressage eventing!
