Rowdie Adams and RF Blitsfree won the CIC 2* on a 46.5 dressage. (photo Mary Hirsch)
Greenwood Horse Trials CIC 2*/1*
by Mary Hirsch
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Every horse trials should enjoy weather as sparkling as that at the Greenwood Horse Trials in Weatherford,TX on May 3rd-5th. Recent April showers did indeed mean May flowers, along with fresh green on the abundant woods and fields and unseasonably cool temps. It was a wonderful setting for approximately 275 entries from over 6 states, including an original 9 two-star and 20 one-star entries. The Greenwood spring version horse trials offers the only FEI divisions in Area V, with a CIC 2*/1*. (This fall’s horse trials at Greenwood, although not offering FEI divisions, has been designated a 2013 qualifier by the FEI.)
John Williams’ course had been refreshed in the early part of the top levels with some new obstacles and routes. The two-star course took its toll and the diminishing field was thinned from 9 entries, to 7 starters, to just 5 finishers. However, of the finishers, all but one of the two-star and Open Intermediate pairs jumped clean around cross-country. However, across the two divisions, only two-star winners Rowdie Adams and RF Blitsfree escaped time faults.
Rowdie Adams won the two-star on a 46.5 dressage with RF Blitsfree, a 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. Rowdie then followed up to win the Open Intermediate on the Thoroughbred gelding No Money Down, starting with a 38 dressage, adding 9.2 time faults over a clear cross-country trip and a single rail in show jumping. The two-star 2nd place was Julie Wolfert on Buenos Aires, adding only 3.2 cross-country time faults to a 51.7 dressage. The Open Intermediate second place was Angela Gryzwinski on Novelle, jumping clean all the way through, and adding 15.6 cross-country time faults to a 41.6 dressage.
Open Intermediate 2nd place finishers Angela Gryzwinski and Novelle (photo Mary Hirsch)
The one-star riders faired considerably better on cross-country with all but one of the 20 starters completing the course, twelve going double-clear. The 17 Open Preliminary starters had all but two finish the course, but although most jumped clear, several came close to the time but only Kylie Clarkson and My Kinda Party finished double clear. In both divisions the few stops were primarily concentrated at the Lookout Mountain combination, a tall mound with a ramp on top, landing on a sweeping but short line to a max corner.
Heather Morris and Twizted Syster mastered the one-star, finishing on a 45.6 dressage. Julie Wolfert and Buenos Dias were in second place just 2 points behind Heather, also finishing on dressage. In the Open Preliminary, Kristina Aaron on Ms. Murphy Herself added only 3.2 cross-country time faults to the only sub-thirty dressage score in the upper levels, a 27.3. Amanda Merritt and Anchorage came up from a 5th place tie in dressage and a 35.5 score, adding 3.5 time faults in cross country and one stadium rail for a final 41.1.
The Lower Levels included an unrecognized division, “Level 1 Starter”, to give the greenest riders and horses a chance to put a toe into navigating the course over logs and through the water. Great enthusiasm and seriousness of purpose was displayed by the 11 entries, 8 of whom completed cross-country. The winner was junior rider Caroline Honeycutt on the 24-year-old TB gelding Brady Who, who was ears-forward keen and galloping briskly, showing a strong surge to the finish line. Enjoy the Level 1 slideshow at this link.
Caroline Honeycutt and Brady Who (a 24-year-old Thoroughbred gelding) came storming home to win the unrecognized Level 1 Starter Division on 36.0 dressage. (photo Mary Hirsch)
The horse trials’ lowest score was owned by the bay Trakhener mare Herzsturm in Novice Horse, owned by Lynne Leverenz and ridden by Stephanie Martin. Herzsturm finished on 26.5 dressage. The four other winning sub-30 scores were posted in the Novice and Beginner Novice divisions. Julie Denton held the next-lowest score of 27.8, winning Open Novice on her tall Westphalian gelding Win-Win Situation. The two Junior Beginner Novice divisions followed closely on the low-score measure with winners Allie Morrison and KP Lucky Red (28.0) and Seguin Alexander and Motion Granted (29.0).
Julie Denton and Win-Win Situation were the 2nd lowest score of the horse trials, and winners of the Open Novice division (photo Harley Cozewith)
Erin Deyo and Brutus Maximus travelled from Louisiana to win the Junior Training 1 Division (photo Mary Hirsch)
This is what it’s about! Tina Boyd completes her first cross-country in competition on her 19-year-old Anglo-Arab gelding Keep The Faith, in the Level 1 Starter Division at Greenwood Horse Trials CIC 2*/1* in Weatherford, TX, on May 5th. (photo Mary Hirsch)
Link to results for Greenwood Horse Trials – May 2013
See more photos from Greenwood Horse Trials at the North Texas Eventing Association Facebook page.
