–The top 3 riders after the dressage didn’t finish the course in the CCI2* and Lisa Marie Fergusson and Smart Move of Canada moved up with one of 9 double clear rides on the day. Hawley Bennett and Five O’Clock Somewhere gave Canada the top two spots with a double-clear. Phillip fell at the first water, Jessie Phoenix was pulled up, and Kim retired at the first water.
CCI2* Results:
1. Lisa Marie Fergusson and Smart Move +0 52.1
2. Hawley Bennett and Five O’Clock Somewhere +0 52.6
3. Caitlin Silliman and Catch a Star +0 54.7
–The photo on this post is of a jump and not a rider because the ‘Jersey Shore’ jump, aptly named if you are not a fan of the TV show, caused a bunch of issues throughout the CCI2*. 6A is a table in the middle of the water with no jump into the water to set the horses up. It always rides sticky and today was no exception.
–Phillip, the overnight leader, popped off there but both Phillip and Ben were fine. Kim Severson retired Wiley Post at the same jump. Kelly List fell there, and Elizabeth Barron and The Graduate retired there, just to name a few others. I spent most of the division watching in the main field, so I didn’t see the issues at the jump.
–Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti were pulled up by the ground jury at fence #13 after they had several tough jumps on course. Those decisions are always difficult, but I thought it was a very close call, although I didn’t see how they looked in the first loop in the back field. Pavarotti was leaving long over a few jumps early and had a sticky ride through the coffin, but Jessica was clearly schooling him through it. What’s done is done and I won’t say more about it, but let’s just say that there are those in the Canadian camp who will and for good reason. Either way, we’ll likely see this pair at Bromont in just a few weeks.
–The two best rides of the CCI2* day in my opinion go to Will Colemen and Vancouver, and Hawley Bennett-Awad with Gin ‘N Juice’s full brother, Five O’Clock Somewhere. Boyd’s student Caitlin Silliman and Catch A Star get the honorable mention for their 3rd placed ride.
–The best save of the day goes to Buck. Park Trader hung a major leg into the coffin, but Buck rode it pretty perfectly to keep the hoof side down and they finished the round strong. That horse can really gallop and I think it has an extremely promising future once it’s jump gets a bit more confirmed.
–The ground sounds a bit hard as the horses are galloping over it. It’s good footing where it was aggravated, but firm on the places where it wasn’t. With no ropes to guide the horses, not all of the area covered was treated.
Go eventing.
