By no means is this a complete report; in the interest of full disclosure I have to admit to being a terrible mother, and dragging my sick daughter to the Florida Horse Park today, as well as my completely disinterested son, ages 9 and 7 respectively. Neither did the weather co-operate, it was distinctly chilly this morning, to Patricia Ecogold’s (in Canada) delight (I think her tweet was something along the lines of, “I hear it’s cold in Florida this morning, tee hee hee!”). Yes, it was, so we watched quite a lot of show-jumping from the car, which meant I didn’t always know who I was watching. It’s always fun to watch the very different jumping styles of the horses, and the riders though, you definitely see all sorts eventing!
It did warm up later, and organiser and double/triple agent-man of many talents Peter Gray made my kids’ day, for which I’m eternally grateful, by whizzing us around the cross country course on his golf cart. He even obliged by going pedal to the medal up and down the Hollow to Harry’s delight, he will be all of our hero forever after.
This is Peter’s second year of organising the Horse Trials with Jon Holling, and they’re making a real effort with the course, putting in more permanent features, planning things for the next event, and even next year. It’s definitely a nice inviting course for many who are having their first run of the season, but there’s plenty to do, making it perfect for a schooling round with combinations, corners, the hollow, two waters, a coffin and more.
The sponsor of the jump above particularly wanted a pearl, so this is what the designer, Jay Hambly, came up with. Also, notice the “fake” brush underneath the Pro-Log at the water in the picture above that. Real brush is almost impossible to come by in Florida, and this does the same thing, plus lasts much longer, and is used in quite a few of the fences on course.
Missy Ransehousen walking the course with her students, and wonderful black lab/Rhodesian Ridgeback Jamie.
The famous Karen O Connor colours and cross-country style, distinctive even at Novice level.
Meanwhile Jon Holling and Clark Montgomery were two of the most impressive riders I saw all day, and that I expect to see for a long time. When we first arrived at the Park I felt a real longing to be competing again; something about all those lovely, fresh, clipped horses full of promise at the beginning of the year, and then I watched Jon and Clark warming up for show-jumping, and thought even if I did have a nice horse, the best thing I could do for it would be to hand it over to one of them to ride!
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I was especially happy to meet Clark’s lovely wife Jess, although we discovered we knew each other a very long time ago, almost another lifetime, certainly feels like it, so I’m just as glad to make her RE-acquaintance! Let me also just reassure anyone who watches those videos and maybe despairs of ever riding half as well; yes, Clark has talent to spare, but Jess told me he continues to work very, very hard at it, he takes his craft extremely seriously, studying to improve, on top of having spent time with some of the best teachers in the world.
The first event of the year is always interesting to watch. Who has their horses ready to go, who’s using it as a schooling run? Who’s more nervous at the start – horse or rider? The weather definitely contributed to some very fresh horses.
Buck Davidson was riding a very fresh horse, I don’t remember his name, and couldn’t possibly say even if I did, but Buck was one of several riders experimenting with slightly more adventurous “jumper” style helmets, fashion wise, which is fun to see, his had a gold stripe, and Darren Chiacchia definitely would win the prize for most patriotic.
Leslie Law’s ride, the grey Rehy Lux (pronounced Ray – Leslie had a good laugh at my expense!) has come out this year looking even nicer than I remembered him from Richland last year, and I remember liking him quite a lot then. There’s something oddly familiar and comforting about Leslie on a grey horse too, just seems right!
(Above, not Leslie!)
I did catch up very quickly with Steph Rhodes-Bosch who said that Port Authority, (yes, lovely Ollie!) was as high as a kite, very happy to be back at his first “party” since the WEG, and had been very strong in the show-jumping. Enthusiasm was to blame for his two rails, and she told me that she’s been jumping in a snaffle at home, and although she’d switched to a two-ring at the event hadn’t felt any difference, and that team-mate Jessie Phoenix who was watching swore he jumped over the top of the flags at a couple of the oxers – I can believe it! Port Authority now forfeits cross country tomorrow, and instead gets a dressage lesson on monday!
Canadian Team Coach David O Connor was ubiquitous, in his red team coat and accompanied at all times by a particularly attractive if diminutive friend.
Not only were there plenty of Canadian eventers dusting off the cobwebs, David also gave a course walk for the examiners from the National Coaching Association of Canada who are in town for a seminar for revamping their national certification program. He was also very gracious with his time, and spoke to me at some length about his application for the US Chef D’equipe/Technical Advisor position exclusively for EventingNation.com, which we will bring you next week.
I’m hoping to return for more tomorrow, motherly duties permitting! Intermediate and prelim cross country, surely a cure for all that ails you?! Go Eventing!
