Lizzie Snow's Coal Creek relaxing with Ryan Smith after XC
Midsouth Horse Trials wrapped up the dressage and cross country for Preliminary, Training and three divisions of Novice while four divisions of Novice and all Beginner Novice and Starter levels do their cross country tomorrow. Katie Eckert on Sassaparilla kid is leading OP1, Jesslyn Woodall on Thunderstruck is leading OP2 and Cathy Weischhoff is leading the OT with Gointoseattle. I have to give a shout-out to my home-girl Lizzie Snow, who is running her last horse trials with Coal Creek before going to NAJYRC CCI** this year. Lizzie is also responsible for all of the photography from Midsouth.
Meghan O'Donoghue & Pirate earlier this year
Surefire Farm enjoyed slightly less heat today than usual. I’m pretty sure every time I’ve attended that event, I have refused to exit the AC for at least three days afterwards. Meghan O’Donoghue and her own Pirate topped an enormous Intermediate division of 29 competitors with a double clear round in both jumping phases to just edge out Buck Davidson on Park Trader. That means Meghan gets a piece of the $10,000 in prize money that is awarded to the Intermediate divisions in the inaugural J.C. Chester Intermediate Challenge! Buck won the OPA on his recent Bromont CCI* winner, Copper Beach, while the OPB was topped by Jen Simmons on Lestaire, a phenomenal horse I saw run earlier this year who is a converted jumper.
Glen & Twizzle (photo courtesy of Sara Ike)
In other news, the USEF High Performance FB page reports that all the team horses galloped well today at JackDaws Castle, (a ridiculously cool facility, check it out) and are ready for Bettina to arrive tomorrow for some dressage schooling, as well as Lauren visiting on Monday for some jump schools before the team ships out to Barbury on Tuesday.
Go Team USA!
