Vet evaluations by order of finish will take place at Barbury this morning, and we’ll likely know our US Olympic Eventing Team later today. Keep checking EN throughout for the absolute latest. Unsettlingly, even the chinchillas are sitting on the edges of seats.
And of course, even though Boyd inexplicably fell off Neville (he mentioned a possible Gatcombe tune-up in his post-cross-country chat with Samantha), it was a good Barbury weekend for Team USA: Tiana, Boyd (with Remi) and Will Faudree finished in the top 10, and all others added only time penalties cross-country. Riding for Thailand, Nina Ligon jumped clean cross-country, adding 16.8 time penalties to finish 54th with Butts Leon. For extensive coverage and gorgeous photos from Samantha, scroll down and enjoy. [Barbury Results]
The Talking Horse was also on the scene, taking photos, reveling in the “epic action,” resolving, “If I could ride one side of a horse as well as this group I’d die happy!” [Talking Horse]
And finally there’s Andrew Nicholson, probably still somewhere Barbury-glory basking, having finished one-two on Avebury and Quimbo, respectively, and become the first New Zealander to win the event. Meanwhile, teammates Mark Todd and Johnathan Paget were both eliminated cross-country. [Horsetalk]
This Weekend in Eventing USA:
At New Jersey, Buck and Reggie won the advanced by 20.8 points; Jennifer Kelly and Taboo topped OP-A, and Debbie Adams won OP-B and C on DA Adirmo and DA Bjorn, respectively. [New Jersey Scores]
Sue Hines and Flyin Four Shoes finished on their 27.7 dressage score to win South Farm’s OP-A; Sharlee Howe and Committed Saint moved up from fourth to top OP-B, and both teams of Jamie Gunyula and London by Night, and Tatiana Herrero Bernstein and Callisto finished on their dressage scores to win training divisions. [South Farm Scores]
At Groton House, Erin Renfroe and DeCordova were closest to the I/P optimum time, topping Ariel Grald and Practically Perfect for the win; JYOP went to clean-jumping Janelle Phaneuf and Irish Ike; Caitlin Romeo and Nordic Star were the OP-A victors, and Megan Tardiff and Cabana Boy pulled off a 29.2 to win OP-B. [Groton House Scores]
Strange environmental factors–wildfires, derechoes—have affected many across the country, and wherever you are, we hope you’ve managed to avoid them. Donations to aid those affected by the Colorado Wildfires can be made online through the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund. [USEF]
Jim Wofford’s evaluation and fence-gallery recap of Rolex cross-country: “Derek has changed the feel of cross-country courses at Rolex by the simple means of deciding that horses and riders should indeed go across the country. When you attempt one of his courses, it is not enough to be able to count strides between obstacles… you have to be able to ride as well.” [Practical Horseman]
The British Olympic Show Jumping team has been announced: We’ll watch Nick Skelton, Ben Maher, Scott Brash and Peter Charles in London. Tina Fletcher is the reserve. [Horse & Hound]
In Tennessee, at the Brownland Summer Horse Show, where temperatures reached 106 over the weekend, Erin McCabe and Castlewellan topped the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. [COTH]
Best of the Blogs: “Remington XXV jumped around the cross-country clear with a few time faults at Barbury Castle for the final mandatory outing for the Land Rover US Eventing Team today. Everyone is now anxiously awaiting the big decision by the Olympic selectors….” [Boyd’s Blog]
Top of the Tweets: Allison Springer: Arthur was very good this weekend @barbary….now we wait and cross our fingers and toes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4dL0lv72oM
