Sarah Cousins and Tsunami wrapped up a great Friday of CIC3* dressage
With so many great horses and riders in the CIC3* this morning, it is no surprise that the entire top 10 heading into Saturday rode on Friday. The young guns for the US really showed up and Tiana, Doug, Sinead, Jennie, and of course Clark all had fantastic tests.
CIC3* Dressage Results:
1. Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen 42.1
2. Jennie Brannigan and Cambaldo 45.9
3. Tiana Coudray and Master Hill 46.4
4. Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere 46.7
5. Karen O’Connor and Mandiba 47.9
6. SInead Halpin and Manoir De Carneville 47.9
7. Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle 48.8
—Clark Montgomery’s test was absolutely lovely. I wondered if it would score as well as it did because the judges seem to have been favoring more quiet tests this week, but Loughan Glen was forward and flowed into all of his movements beautifully.
–As the early CIC3* horses were competing, the later riders were getting in their first (or second) rides of the day. I noticed that Buck was riding Ballynoecastle in his jumping saddle, and Kim was doing the same with Tipperary Liadhnan. Personally, I really like this approach rather than starting the day off with a deep seat on the horse’s back. If you can get things right in the morning with a jump saddle, it will all be easier later with the dressage saddle.
–Sinead started the low scores of Friday early this morning with a great ride on Manoir De Carneville. Jennie had some of the best changes of the day. Karen’s test looked very accurate and I think the atmosphere at Badminton will hopefully spice Mandiba up a bit for bigger gaits.
–Tiana Coudray showed that she has two horses that can bring it in the dressage and she sits in 3rd aboard the young Master Hill. Boyd Martin sits just behind them on his new French horse, Otis.
Katie Ruppel and Sir Donovan, who like me started her eventing career in Michigan:
–Running Order’s test was nice, and, as Doug said, it’s getting there. There is still a lot of upside remaining for when the horse gets more confirmed in his frame and transitions but there’s no doubt RO has a lot of talent.
The dressage now switches over to the advanced horse trials division for the afternoon and we’ll be back this evening with a full report from that and dressage videos if I can get my computer to make peace with Youtube. Until then, go eventing.
