Red Hills is a firm favourite on the US eventing circuit, and why wouldn’t it be – sunshine, ever-improving cross country courses, massive local support, extremely generous prizes, fantastic sponsorship….need I go on? As Sinead explained on her course walk, it’s also the first ‘big’ event here in the US, an important prep for horses headed to Rolex or other big Spring three days. The schedule is jam-packed for the next three, long days and it promises to be an exciting competition.
Nicole Parkin’s lovely Lexus will run in the Advanced – a freak accident in the stall in which she ripped her nostril badly meant she missed the first Training Session with new Canadian coach Clayton Fredericks, and her first planned run, but after an outing at Pine Top a few weeks ago she’s back on track and I’m looking forward to watching her go this weekend.
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Check out Waylon Roberts, working a goatee and a tattoo on Esprit de la Danse
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Hanna Bundy working her Canadian Mustang, D’Jion (stable name – Mustard, of course!) with Jessie Phoenix. Jessie has a great string of horses this year and she and her son Jake are looking forward to her husband Joel coming to join her this weekend after his trip to Switzerland to prep a prize-winning show cow.
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Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace working with Buck Davidson.
Heart melter moment: Buck said girlfriend Andrea Leatherman is doing much better and he has left her at home with a long list of horses to ride, “I’m very happy to have her riding my horses again so she can fix them for me!” In all seriousness though, he added that it had been a scary time following her fall a few weeks ago, and told me that he’d offered to buy her the most expensive dressage horse he could afford for her in case she fancied specialising in something slightly safer. Of course Andrea declined; she would have loved to have come to Red Hills but is teaching a clinic this weekend, we look forward to seeing her soon.
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Lisa Barry working her lovely NZ OTTB F.I.S Prince Charming with Karen O’Connor. Imported from New Zealand by Donna Smith, he’ll contest his fourth advanced this weekend.
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Lesley Grant-Law and What Law, a lovely 8 year old by Mill Law. Leslie was helping his wife on the flat and said they’re headed for the CCI** in Ocala and will probably stay at this level all year. Lesley, he told me, has developed a real rapport and bond with this horse, who they bought and imported from England as a five year old after seeing some video and sending Leslie’s brother Graham to check him out. As he’s progressed up the ranks, Leslie told me he continues to surprise them by improving all the time, looking more and more classy as he gets fitter and stronger and that added to his fantastic temperament makes him an exciting prospect.
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The first water jump – reminiscent of the alligators at Barbury but in their natural habitat here in Florida
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Max Corcoran at the hanging log – Advanced competitors jump up two steps with a bounce in between, curve left handed to this which has less of a drop this year, and then over the D element to finish. We’ll bring you much more from the cross country tomorrow.
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A scene by the last water jump! The courses are always beautifully and imaginatively decorated. Strict measures are being taken with EHV-1 in mind; some riders reported a short delay in getting in to the venue on Thursday afternoon during rush hour whilst officials checked 72 hour health certificates, and there are designated buckets for the communal water in the stables, riders are encouraged to take their horses’ temperatures twice a day, and to be generally vigilant. Lots more to come from Red Hills, thanks as always for checking in with Eventing nation, Go Eventing!
