Mary Hirsch went to Feather Creek Horse Trials this past weekend in Norman, Oklahoma. Thanks for writing, Mary, and thank you for reading.
From Mary:
Feather Creek Horse Trials – Nail-Biter Wins in Norman, OK
Close finishes in every division made for hot competition at the Feather Creek Horse Trials in Norman, OK, Sep. 14-16 (USEA recognized). Double-clear jumping was imperative to clinch squeaker wins, with division top finishers all close together in the low 30’s. Don’t let that fool you into thinking that lots of people were going clean – they weren’t! Throughout all the divisions the cross-country jumped well, but time faults and show jumping were another story. The weekend’s lowest finishing score, 25.5, was a well-earned double-clear by Novice Junior winning pair Megan Noelle Wilson and Ghypsy (and one of only two finishers below 30, the other being Mike Huber).
Ellen Doughty and Sir Oberon were the only pair at this horse trials to pull a rail AND win a division, adding a single stadium time fault for a total 35.4, topping Preliminary, the highest division offered. Norleen Corlett and Hawk’s Honor were right on their heels, finishing with 37.5 and the only clean jumping performance of the 10-entry division, but with a costly 3.6 cross-country time penalties.
Ellen Doughty and Sir Oberon on their way to the only double-clear cross-country in the Preliminary division … and the eventual win. Photo thanks to Jayke McCall
Open Training was just as tight, with first place Gail Simon and Stella Artois at 35, and second place Stephanie Martin and Candycane Rain at 37.3, both finishing on dressage. The same scenario ruled the Adult Amateur and the Junior divisions –time faults and show jumping rails separated the top three placings by only a few points. Terrie Shaft and Jessabelles Shadow took the Adult Amateur. Ashlynn Hayworth and Guinness edged out first in Junior Training by less than 2 points over Sydney Raabe and Filou.
Mr. Nice Guy proved true to his name with the only double-clear in the Adult Amateur Novice division and a 31.5 win for rider Kelli Augenthaler. In fact, although the Novice division jumped well over cross-country, there were only 5 double-clears across all 3 Novice divisions. One belonged to Mike Huber and Salzburg, winning Novice Horse on 29.5 dressage.
Mommy takes care of her horse, Daddy takes care of his horse, Chase and Biscuit Augenthaler keep an eye on each other. Mom won Novice Amateur, Dad finished on dressage for 4th in Open Training. Photo thanks to the Augenthaler Family
The Beginner Novice Adult Amateur win went to Heather Swope and Dockta Jones, while Makayla Hill and Ira took BN Junior. Remember this EN photo of Martha Bader and her lovely gray Fuerst See Ruby Falls from a schooling horse trials a few weeks ago? They’re back on the EN ether with the same undaunted spirit, overcoming an airvest-exploding fall in cross-country warm-up to win BN Horse on dressage, 33.3.
Feather Creek’s Starter Test had only one finisher out of two entries. Patricia Frenz and Pretty Penny were all-clean on cross-country, 8 faults in show jumping for a respectable finishing score of 44.9.
This was Feather Creek’s seventh USEA-recognized horse trials since it was re-invigorated by dedicated owner Dynah Korhummel. Some may remember it as Tipasa Farm under the past ownership of Mike and Judy Huber.
Preliminary double-clear stadium round clinches the win for Ellen and Obie by 2.1 points. Photo thanks to Jayke McCall
