Meghan O’Donoghue and Palm Crescent. Photo by Amber Heintzberger.
Going into Sunday’s (July 28) show jumping phase at the Millbrook Horse Trials, Meghan O’Donoghue and her 18-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Palm Crescent could afford to have one rail down and still claim first place in the Advanced division. They left all the rails up and cantered across the finish line in the time allowed to clinch the win.
Allison Springer and No May Moon, second after cross country, very nearly jumped clear, but a rail down at the final fence had them finish third overall. This made room for Ariel Grald and Isla de Coco, a ten-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Annie Eldridge, to move up to second, with Springer finishing 3rd overall. Phillip Dutton and Possante, leaders after dressage and 3rd after cross country, had four rails down and dropped to 18th place overall.
Ema Klugman, who rode four horses in the Advanced division this weekend, finished fourth with the syndicated mare Bronte Beach Z who was tied for 16th after dressage 6th after cross country, then climbed a couple more places in the rankings with a double clear.
One of five siblings, with three older brothers and a younger sister, O’Donoghue gave a shout out to her oldest brother James, who celebrated his birthday on show jumping day. “This one’s for you,” she said.
O’Donoghue said that her horse came out feeling good after the previous day’s cross country effort. “He’s a one hundred and ten percent trier, so I never have to worry about that, and I find there’s something unique about this arena; it has a little bit of natural atmosphere, it’s up on the hill, they have all the tents set up. He’s an experienced campaigner and pretty reliable about taking all of that in, but if anything I think it helps him a little bit, especially on the last day. He’s not the most naturally scopey jumper but he does everything he’s asked.”
She said that “Plan A” for the fall is to compete at the Burghley CCI4* in England with Palm Crescent.
Ariel Grald and Isla de Coco. Photo by Amber Heintzberger.
Grald, who drove all the way from Southern Pines, NC to compete at Millbrook, brought five horses to the competition. She said that most of her horses hadn’t been out since the spring season, and said that she likes to bring her horses to Millbrook every year to start preparing them for the fall events. “We love the cross country, it’s got the terrain, it’s got good questions and as Meghan said, even for the dressage it’s got a bit of atmosphere. Everything is beautifully done and it’s a good educational outing to get the horses cranked back up for the rest of the season.”
She said that she imported “Coco” from England as a five-year-old and moved her quickly up the levels, but a minor tendon injury kept her sidelined for a little while. “Honestly that was the best thing that could have happened to her; she’s a big horse, she did a three-star at age seven, and having some time off gave her time to mature a little. She’s just been back out this year, and this was actually her first advanced – I just moved her right up the four-star short at Tryon and Bromont. She’s always been scopey and while I wouldn’t have said she was the bravest horse, I just hucked her off at the deep and was like, let’s go girl. I’m just along for the ride she’s like, ‘I got it – don’t get in my way!’. She’s a big horse and just needs a little strength on the flat still. She’s amazing on cross country, as long as I put her on the line and show her where to go, she’s got it.”
Grald also won Open Intermediate A riding Adagio’s Nobility, owned by Annie Eldridge, and she won the Open Preliminary riding Obelisk, also owned by Annie Eldridge. Katie Lichten and Fast Company won the Open Intermediate B. The top Young Rider in the Intermediate was Cassie Sanger, formerly a resident of the Millbrook area. Sanger finished fourth in Open Intermediate A riding Fernhill Zoro.
Patrons enjoyed a ringside luncheon today, watching the conclusion of the event with show jumping at the Preliminary through Advanced levels. Millbrook is one of the last horse trials in the Northeast to offer the upper levels. More than 400 horses competed this weekend and the organizing committee, staff and volunteers are to be commended for this huge undertaking.
You can also enjoy some Millbrook highlights courtesy of videographer Marion de Vogel:
