EVENTING NATION: ARE YOU READY? IT’S THAT DAY.
Allison, Clark, Karen (x2), Boyd and Michael are in the top 10 heading into cross-country. Becky and Marilyn both have two horses in the top 20. Team USA? Looking pretty fly right now. Unfortunately I missed Allison’s test (I was waiting at the start box for her and Boyd’s SmartPak course walk), but watching William Fox-Pitt’s was like taking a clinic in how to ride gracefully through a tense moment. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to take some cross-country clinics today. [Live Scores]
Buck and Absolute Liberty will be the cross-country trailblazers this morning at 10:04. There was a pretty good turnout for dressage yesterday; early arrival’s a good bet both parking-wise and viewing-wise, especially if you’re heading for the Head of the Lake. [Ride Times] [Weather]
Friday recaps: [USEA] [COTH] [FEI]
Cross-country preps: [Jim Wofford] [USEA Course Walk]
Both Jimmy and John have picked William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk to win, but walking the course with Allison today, she was composed and confident, with a very clear plan of attack. Can she and Arthur hold it together to hang onto their overnight lead? Only time will tell…
Dubarry Contest, Day 3: Today’s Dubarry contest photo prompt is open to your interpretation: “How deep dare you go without your Dubarry Boots at the Kentucky Horse Park?” The contest will end in someone winning a trip for two to Ireland. Click here for details. Enter your photo on the Dubarry Facebook page.
After cross-country, stop by the Devoucoux booth for a mega-meet-and-greet with Bruce Davidson, Boyd Martin, Sharon White, Holly Hudspeth, Barb Crabo and Marilyn Little-Meredith, who’ll be wearing (and signing) limited edition Devoucoux “From Kentucky to London” polo shirts.
PRO will also be hosting a Meet-A-Rider reception at 4:30 p.m. “Spectators are invited to meet riders following the Cross-Country phase at 4:30 PM in the High Hope Horse Inspection Area for a Question & Answer Session featuring both U.S. and International riders.” [PRO]
USEF recordings of the first day of dressage are now available online for your viewing pleasure. [USEF]
At 5:30 tonight, Gina Miles, David and Karen O’Connor and jockey Chris McCarron will take on the competition in the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup’s $25,000 World Championship Freestyle in the Alltech Arena. If you can’t attend in person, check it out on the USEF Network. [AKRC] [USEF]
Meanwhile, across the pond, it’s getting pretty soggy (with less than a week till Badminton), necessitating the cancellation of some events this weekend. Several eventers teamed up to donate their unused entry fees to paralyzed eventer Claire Lomas’ walk for spinal research. [Horse & Hound]
Down under, Shane Rose is hoping to punch his London ticket by winning the Sydney Three-Day aboard Taurus. “I bought this horse before Beijing with the hope that he would develop into a serious proposition for these Games,” Rose said. [Herald Sun]
Both the Colorado Horse Park and Rebecca Farm have set up donation drives in the wake of Martha McDowell’s barn fire. In both cases, donations can also be mailed. [COTH]
HN Today: McKenna Does Rolex; Reader-Submitted Rolex Survival Kit
Best of the Blogs: “I believe that by the end of this adventure at least one of us will have webbed appendages. Everyday is a water school, even just walking out of the field. I can say with absolute certainty that the ground at this year’s Badminton will not be hard.” [Colleen Rutledge]
Union Rags’ jockey, Julien Leparoux, blogs about the Derby, now just a week away: “This race seems like it sets up really well for us. Hansen, Trinniberg, Bodemeister, and Take Charge Indy all figure to be on or near the lead. There’s definitely going to be some pace for us to run at; there always is in the Derby. When he’s making his run, I feel he has the ability to find another gear if he gets stopped in traffic. And once he gets in the clear — watch out!” [ESPN]
Top of the Tweets: Allison Springer: “Thank you everyone for all of your support! #thrilled”
Laine Ashker: “Channeling my inner warrior”
