Allison Springer and Arthur. Photo by Jenni Autry.
We’re just a few minutes away from kicking off the first of our final two groups to see in the first phase of competition at Rolex. We have some great scores that have come in this morning, including Marilyn Little’s second place test aboard RF Demeter.
West Coast wonders Barb Crabo and Eveready will kick us off at 1:30 p.m. EST and we’re looking forward to seeing the final few riders!
3:46 p.m. EST:That’s a wrap for dressage! Stay tuned for the full report. Full live scores here.
3:45 p.m. EST: Allison tells Frankie Thieriot that her walk and a couple of her changes could’ve been better, but that she’s so thrilled. “I’m going to have to ride as fierce as a German tomorrow, right?!”
3:44 p.m. EST: A 39.6 for Allison and Arthur to slot them solidly into second place! This is one of her lowest scores at this level (2014 was her lowest).
3:41 p.m. EST: This is going to be a strong test to threaten Marilyn, but unfortunately she doesn’t seem to be trending to topple Miche Jung. What a BEAUTIFUL test, as usual!!
3:40 p.m. EST: Jessie Phoenix on her test with Pavarotti:
3:40 p.m. EST:
Phillip Dutton got lots of love from the crowd after his test with HND Group’s Mighty Nice! #rk3de
A photo posted by Eventing Nation (@goeventing) on
3:39 p.m. EST: “She didn’t lose any points there!” – Karen on Allison’s halt and reinback.
3:37 p.m. EST: Allison received the same marks as Miche on her entry and salute.
3:37 p.m. EST: So much pressure to be the last to go. But if anyone can handle it – and challenge Miche – it’s this pair.
3:36 p.m. EST: A 45.0 for Phillip, he’ll go into 11th place with that. Allison is in next to bring the dressage to a close.
3:33 p.m. EST: A beautiful, textbook test from Phillip! The changes were perfection and he looks so pleased with Happy. Nicely ridden!
3:29 p.m. EST:
3:28 p.m. EST: Phillip has dedicated his ride on “Happy” this weekend to the late Bruce Duchossois.
3:27 p.m. EST: P-Dutty is in next with Mighty Nice. He said yesterday he hopes to challenge Miche in his dressage today. And then we have #Allithur (told you, it’s a thing) to close us out. Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti score a 44.5 for a current 8th place.
3:25 p.m. EST: Rotti just got a bit unraveled towards the middle and end of his canter work, which will cost them some points. Jessie still has a big grin and has lots of pats for her friend.
3:23 p.m. EST: Nice reach in the half-pass to the right here from Rotti:
3:21 p.m. EST: Pavarotti is a showman. Should be fun to watch this test.
3:20 p.m. EST:
Holy Smokes – Pavarotti!
— samantha clark (@samanthalclark) April 29, 2016
3:19 p.m. EST Deep breath and a pat for Blackfoot Mystery. A few bobbles in the changes but a solid debut. Trust me, Boyd will want to be sitting on this one come tomorrow!
3:13 p.m. EST: Boyd is in the ring with “Big Red,” Blackfoot Mystery. Fun fact, this horse is a Kentucky bred! His breeder, John O’Meara, stopped by to say hi earlier this week.
3:12 p.m. EST:
3:12 p.m. EST: Buck fills us in on his ride with Copper Beach:
3:11 p.m. EST:
Time for some serious big guns: @WindurraUSA @Phoenix_Eq_Team @DuttonEventing and @allisonspringer #starpower #rk3de
— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) April 29, 2016
3:10 p.m. EST: Lillian Heard managed some tension from FYI quite well. Just a bit of tension in the upward transition to canter and a couple of the changes.
3:10 p.m. EST:
3:09 p.m. EST:
Chinch is Mark Todd’s #1 fan! #rk3de
A photo posted by Eventing Nation (@goeventing) on
3:08 p.m. EST: Sir Mark gives us his thoughts on his test:
3:08 p.m. EST:
Not too shabby, Delta. No worries, mare, crowds freak me out, too. @EmilyBeshear @eventingnation #GoDeepPurple #eventinglive #Rolex2016
— Jen (@JenWolz) April 29, 2016
3:05 p.m. EST: A 48.5 for Buck and Copper Beach and Buck is obviously thrilled. Next in is Lillian Heard, also with her final ride, FYI.
3:04 p.m. EST: #squadgoals
3:00 p.m. EST:
This is “Sean’s” first four-star, though he and Buck have earned an impressive record with top-20 FEI finishes. #Rolex16, @BDJEventing
— Practical Horseman (@prachorseman) April 29, 2016
2:57 p.m. EST: A tip of the hat for the adoring crowd from Sir Mark! I had a GIF but it’s too long. Sigh.
2:56 p.m. EST: Next in is Buck Davidson with his final ride, Copper Beach.
2:56 p.m. EST:
A 43.2 for @MTEventing to tie for fifth place with Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot #rk3de #eventinglive
— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) April 29, 2016
2:53 p.m. EST: A flawless counter canter to a flawless change.
2:51 p.m. EST: Free dressage lessons from Mark Todd. Very correct.
2:50 p.m. EST: This final group is full of powerhouses! So excited. #edgeofmyseat
2:49 p.m. EST: Here we go! Mark Todd is in the ring with NZB Campino.
2:48 p.m. EST:
If anyone can beat Fischerocanna Campino can @MTEventing
— samantha clark (@samanthalclark) April 29, 2016
2:47 p.m. EST: Emily Beshear on her day with Delta:
2:33 p.m. EST: 60.4 for Ryan and McLovin. The final break of the day now, we’ll resume at 2:50 p.m. EST with Sir Mark Todd and NZB Campino and…drumroll…#ALLITHUR to bring the house down. The hashtag is a thing, guys. Use it. Love it. Embrace it.
2:33 p.m. EST:
Canadian dressage guru Jacquie Brooks barely stops to breathe these two dressage days @RolexKentucky pic.twitter.com/BlMFqoHObr
— samantha clark (@samanthalclark) April 29, 2016
2:32 p.m. EST: Ryan completes his third ride – he’s a busy guy this weekend!
2:31 p.m. EST: Lauren Kieffer and Tiana Coudray chat about their rides:
2:31 p.m. EST: “He looks slow, I think he’s getting time faults.” – Karen. Can I use the cry laugh emoji here?
2:27 p.m. EST: Emily and Shame On the Moon receive a score of 52.3.
2:26 p.m. EST: Next in is Ryan Wood on his final ride, McLovin aka BEST NAME EVER.
2:25 p.m. EST: Delta was a bit star struck by the atmosphere – bear in mind, this is her first time at Rolex. All things considered, a lovely ride for Emily and a talented horse to keep producing. On to cross country!
2:24 p.m. EST:
Ringwood Magister insisted on smiling for the cameras after his test with Tiana Coudray #rk3de
A photo posted by Eventing Nation (@goeventing) on
2:24 p.m. EST: Tim Bourke fills us in on his test:
2:24 p.m. EST:
It is a beautiful day @KyHorsePark for #Rolex pic.twitter.com/tgJ8niYWGk
— Amanda Mays Bledsoe (@AmandaMBledsoe) April 29, 2016
2:22 p.m. EST: Delta settles in a bit but she’s still going to lose traction due to tension. This pair has tons of potential for a brilliant test, Karen O’Connor says, and it’s evident in the movement she displays:
2:18 p.m. EST: It’s the battle of the grays! Next in, one of my personal favorite horses, Shame On the Moon with Emily Beshear in the irons. I think it’s the purple tails Emily usually wears. Delta is VERY tense, which will be a shame if she carries that into the ring.
2:18 p.m. EST: Bobby Meyerhoff stops to chat about his test:
2:16 p.m. EST: Karen O’Connor and Gina Miles comment that Tiana isn’t picking up the scores that they thought she might in her canter work, then said the canter work didn’t flow as nicely as Michael and Marilyn. Regardless, still a test that Tiana looks very pleased with.
2:15 p.m. EST: Just a few. Horse Pesterer in the house!
2:13 p.m. EST: A nice floaty medium across the diagonal for Tiana and “Finn”:
2:12 p.m. EST:
Lauren Kieffer and Veronica score 43.9 to move into 6th. That’s their best 4* score to date! #rk3de
A photo posted by Eventing Nation (@goeventing) on
2:11 p.m. EST Member of the 2012 Olympic team Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister are in the ring! This is a lovely horse who can put in a very competitive test.
2:10 p.m. EST: A 43.9 and sixth place for Lauren and Veronica. This is their lowest CCI4* score to date! That deserves a high five from David!
2:07 p.m. EST: Karen O’Connor says the walk has always been Veronica’s weaker point – she tends to shorten and tighten her back. Hold your breath for this score!
2:05 p.m. EST: Lauren was trending ahead of or even with Michael Jung but has lost some ground in the walk.
2:03 p.m. EST: Veronica struts in at A like “I heard some other mare is saying they’re better than me.”
2:02 p.m. EST: High hopes for this next pair – Team Rebecca’s Veronica with the inimitable Lauren Kieffer in the irons.
2:01 p.m. EST:
Heads up – Veronica looks freakin’ awesome in warm-up; could it be 3 for 3 mares at the top @RolexKentucky leaderboard?
— samantha clark (@samanthalclark) April 29, 2016
2:00 p.m. EST: A very nice and strong test from Tim and “Obie”. Tim trains with Sharon White, and their hard work has really been paying off. You definitely won’t want to miss this pair tomorrow.
1:58 p.m. EST:
Tim trains with Sharon White. Announcer Gina Miles says Obie is such a big, long ground-covering horse. He’s in a double-bridle. #Rolex16
— Practical Horseman (@prachorseman) April 29, 2016
1:56 p.m. EST: Barb Crabo recounts her test with Eveready:
1:55 p.m. EST:
1:54 p.m. EST: Ireland’s Tim Bourke and Luckaun Quality are next to go.
1:54 p.m. EST: A 55.9 for Anthony Patch, who really wants to show us where the cross country is.
1:52 p.m. EST: Al settled more in his canter work. Laine looks pleased and gives her longtime friend a pat.
1:51 p.m. EST:
A photo posted by Eventing Nation (@goeventing) on
1:50 p.m. EST: Al is a bit up today – he’s ready to get on with tomorrow. But he did have a lovely extension – his favorite movement.
1:48 p.m. EST: Al says, “wait mom, I have to say hi to my fans!”
1:47 p.m. EST: Laine and Al are in the ring for the seventh time in their career together.
1:46 p.m. EST: A 56.1 for Bobby and Token. This is a cool trend – they started with a score in the 70s in their debut in 2014, got down in the 60s in 2015 and now have reached the 50s. Nicely done, you two!
1:44 p.m. EST: Token looks to be in fighting fit form during his test. Bobby ends with a big grin and he’ll be ready to tackle that beefy cross country course tomorrow. Up next is the selfie queen of eventing, Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch.
1:41 p.m. EST: #FBF (flashback Friday for those who aren’t hip) to Bobby’s top hat flying off in 2014:
1:40 p.m. EST:
1:39 p.m. EST:
Tests to watch: @LEAshker, @laurenkieffer, @EmilyBeshear, @MTEventing, @TianaCoudray, @WindurraUSA @allisonspringer @DuttonEventing #busy!
— samantha clark (@samanthalclark) April 29, 2016
1:37 p.m. EST: Barb and Eveready score of 52.8. Bobby Meyerhoff and Dunlavin’s Token are the next to go.
1:36 p.m. EST: A nice, relaxed transition into the extended canter.
1:34 p.m. EST: A bit of tension in the walk for Eveready, who is another formidable horse to see on cross country.
1:21 p.m. EST: Just a few minutes out from resuming the dressage. Here’s your first pair to enter at A:
Barb Crabo and Eveready. Photo by Sally Spickard.
