Advanced AEC Champions! Buck and Flower. Photo via USEA’s FB.
Day three of the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships is on the books, with the upper levels concluding their journey today. I have to admit, I’m brokenhearted for Lainey, who I was hoping would just pull a victorious return to the Texas Rose Horse Park, but second place ain’t too shabby either! Also, she only lost by a whisker to her long time coach, Buck Davidson, so it was a great team effort.
West coast rider Tamie Smith had a great day, winning the Merial Intermediate with Twizted Sister, and was reserve champion in Preliminary Horse with Dempsey. Friend Heather Morris bested her in that division on Charlie Tango, but they shared the wins with their mutual joy. From Heather Morris: “When I didn’t think today could get better, my amazing groom Megan Wilson won the Young Rider Prelim class AND now Tamie Smith has won the Intermediate on Chloe. WHAT A DAY.”
Photo via Heather Morris’ FB.
While Lainey Ashker just lost the Advanced championship title by a nose to her coach Buck, Al is still pretty pleased with himself. Here he is with super grooms Lauren Sherrill and Bronwyn Watts, his two favorite ladies (aside from Lainey and Valerie, of course!).
Photo via Valerie Ashker’s FB.
Also, apparently this happened in the Advanced division show jumping. Avery ended up finishing 9th in the division, with an unfortunate amount of time penalties that were due to her bridle malfunction.
Avery Klunick wins the true grit award after In It to Win It stopped and her bridle came off. Put it back on and continued on her way!
— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) September 27, 2014
When you’re leading the Novice division at the AECs, it’s important to get schnoodles from your most loyal fans, Caitlin and Elizabeth. Dr. Jo Ellen Krueger’s Deejay rocked around the cross country today to move into first place overnight with rider Jessica Pye.
Photo via Jessica Pye.
“Great Dad, now I’m the “Eventing Dad’s Daughter”. Bailey Moran took third place in the Merial Intermediate division aboard Loughnatousa Caislean, and her dad is pretty psyched.
Ecstatic Eventing Dad!! Bailey took 3rd place behind @NLETSMITH Tamra Smith and Buck Davidson! Congrats to Tamie!#eventingnation #useaaec
— Eventing Dad (@eventingdad) September 27, 2014
As always, RNS Video has been keeping us tuned in with fabulous videos of the leaders after each discipline. Check out this video of the intermediate cross country, and be sure to click on their YouTube channel afterwards!
