The Plantation Field 2012 Commentator: Uptown Eventing’s Rachel Wakefield
Plantation Field here in Pennsylvania has all sorts of things going on – all the heritage and history, Clark Montgomery found a broken arrow while we were walking the CIC*** course this morning, one of the cross country complexes is set in the old foundation of the original Plantation, it’s evidently the mushroom capital of the country (not the magic kind, I don’t think, or perhaps that would explain why I feel so ropey this morning, I thought it was just the ciders!), the countryside is stunning, and there is definitely an international flavour to the event: we have an Olympic re-union of sorts, the US team is here minus Tiana, but we also have celeb GB Eventing magazine gossip columnist Rachel Wakefield on the commentary side of business, Alec Lochore is the TD, Michael Barisone is positively irresistible in the warm-up, cajoling ‘Phil’ (Dutton!) to give him half an inch more which will make the difference of a mark in the arena in his singular, New Jersey, irreverent style, and I just this minute bumped into Para coach Missy Ransehousen back from her Team USA trip too.
Did I mention that Karen O’Connor is back? With a vengeance! Karen rode a flawless test on Mandiba, technically almost perfect, to move into the lead in the CIC***. She also sits in seventh place on Veronica, and if that wasn’t enough, coached Marilyn Little-Meredith into third place on RF Smoke on the Water into third place.
Marilyn and RF Smoke on the Water. You can find all the scores here.
Tucked in tidily in between them both is Clark Montgomery on his lovely wife Jess’ Universe. Clark told me ‘Buzz’ hasn’t been out at a competition since Jersey earlier this summer, and although he whinnied once in the halt and rein back, he managed to contain his enthusiasm for a smooth, forward-going test.
Will Faudree and Pawlow also turned in a lovely test to sit in fourth place currently.
The scores at the top were all pretty close, and I saw some very nice tests throughout the day, Will’s was definitely one of them.
Mara Depuy and Funmaker – another quality test
Jennie Brannigan rode very well on a fit and fresh Cambalda – I really like this horse but Jennie looked like she was sitting on a bag of springs today. The Boekelo team is looking pretty solid after today’s performances, I hope I can write the same thing on Sunday evening because they’ve yet to put a foot wrong.
Ballynoe Castle RM looks in superb condition, and Buck rode a perfect test, it was only slightly marred by the horse constantly blowing his nose, I’m not sure if they were marked down for that or if it was just a distraction to me, or to the horse – Buck certainly didn’t seem to pay any attention, he’s far too professional.
Jan Byyny, above on Syd Kent, sits in 5th and 9th place on Why Not and InmidAir respectively. I caught up with her briefly after her test on Why Not and she told me when she first started eventing she was based here in Pennsylvania, across the road with Bruce Davidson. It’s hard to imagine now, but she said she came here from Colorado having done about three training level events, and he got her started and showed her everything, and she couldn’t dream of a better place to learn all about the sport. Jan talked about her test on Inmidair earlier in the day and said she was really pleased with him, although annoyed with herself for making several mistakes – picking up the wrong lead in the canter and a couple of bobbles in the changes but was happy with his trot work. Jan was probably among the majority of riders who chose to wear helmets in the FEI CIC *** division today which was interesting.
Selena O’Hanlon’s exciting young horse A First Romance had moments of tension in the rein back to canter transition but there is so much to come from him, he is such a lovely prospect and I’m really looking forward to watching him jump these next couple of days.
Lizzie Snow and Coal Creek
Caitlin Silliman and Catch A Star – every time I see this combination my heart swells just a little, and they keep improving. Today they did a beautiful test, and I spoke to Caitlin afterwards. (all videos hopefully coming at some point tonight!) Hoku looks wonderful, she’s carrying great weight, her coat is great, she was relaxed and did what Caitlin and trainer Silva described as probably her best test to date, so I’ll keep my mouth shut and fingers crossed for continued success for them this weekend, although I’m happy to add that Caitlin also rode Remington into 6th place after dressage in the CIC**, AND I believe she was the highest placed rider wearing the SSG gloves so she will take home a very nice chunk of change for that – karma!
Couldn’t resist!
Mighty Nice did one of the best tests I’ve seen him do and I was surprised to see him lying in 12th place tonight, but we were spoilt with quite a high class field today and not much separates them.
The good news for all Shiraz fans is that Colleen told me ‘Luke’ feels like his old self again, and seems to be completely recovered from his Lyme episode – thank goodness. Colleen also wondered if she may have her horses rather too fit! She told me Covert Rights was a bit opinionated in the CIC**, and although Luke actually behaved very well in his CIC*** dressage and probably did the best test he’s done yet, he does look ready to run back to back ultra marathons!
Boyd obviously benefited from having Silva and Michael tag-teaming him in the warm-up as Trading Aces did a nice test to sit in 8th, despite looking pretty fresh outside. Boyd had mentioned when he got back from England that he really wanted to work on this horses’s fitness, and he looked tired at the end of the Richland course but he looks much fitter this weekend, perhaps it’s telling in his flatwork! Nonetheless he was good in the arena, and I can’t say enough how much I’ve enjoyed watching Michael coach today. I have a short video interview with him to come soon, and he is wonderful, I can’t wait to share it. Lots more video interviews lined up as soon as the hotel internet will allow, but in the meantime I must investigate who rides a mechanical bull better – eventers, hunters, or I forget…all the scoop later! Thanks for being a part of Eventing Nation, thanks to all the volunteers at Plantation (and every other event today) but especially to the lovely girl who gave me a lift up the hill. If you’re an apparently rather handsome Irish man and also rode on her buggy earlier today you might want to get in touch with her…?! Go Plantation and Go Eventing!
