Doggy high tea at Stuart, photo by Jerry James
One of the many privileges about writing for Eventing Nation is that I get to visit events that I never have been able to attend as a rider. Over the past two years, between my writing and riding, my guess is that I spend over 50% of my time away from home and that means I get to visit a lot of cool events. Yet there are many events that I want to visit that thus far just haven’t fit into the schedule. Stuart Horse Trials is right at the top of that list.
As a bit of background, Stuart Horse Trials, presented by SmartPak, is one of the best events in Area I and indeed the US each year because it brings a big-time event to the novice through intermediate levels. I met Ms. Kyra King Stuart, former USEA President and one of Stuart Horse Trials’ founders and organizers, at Fair Hill last year and her enthusiasm about the event made it obvious to me why Stuart has grown into a premier event. Stuart is held in Victor, NY, which, to use the technical terminology, is just west of the middle of the state. The Stuart cross-country courses are designed by Derek di Grazia and built by Mark Vahue and his crew.
Will Coleman flew back to the States this week to ride 7 horses at Stuart before flying back to England on Monday to keep Twizzel on track for Burghley. It’s so far so good for Will in his brief return to the states and he maintained his dressage lead with Vancouver today in the CIC2* division with Vancouver despite 9.2time penalties on the cross-country. Jersey CCI2* winner and EN guest blogger Lisa Marie Fergusson and her horse Smart Move are just behind Will in second. Doug Payne and Running Order are making their first run since their 3rd at the Jersey CCI3* and they are in 3rd going into the show jumping. Burghley bound Colleen Rutledge and Shiraz are in 5th on a 67.5.
The footing at Stuart is quite firm this weekend, prompting many riders to withdraw and save their horses for another day. 14 horses withdrew from the CIC2* and intermediate divisions alone before the cross-country. Footing aside, I spoke with Doug briefly and he described the course design as good and tough. Of the 19 CIC2* starters, 7 were either eliminated or retired and just 9 came home clear.
The intermediate division in particular was filled with withdraws that dramatically affected the competition. 7 of the top 8 pairs in the open intermediate withdrew. Sinead Halpin withdrew Manoir de Carneville, Phillip withdrew 2 horses including the dressage leader William Penn on a 19.6, and Mara DePuy withdrew Fun Maker.
In the CIC*, Valerie Vizcarrondo has a huge lead on Chris Ellis’ Playtime and they go into the show jumping 9 points ahead of second placed Elyse Fehr and Mystic Gift. Mackenzie Spaes, Devlin Kathleen Murphy, and Babette Lenna round out the top 5 in the CIC1*. 9 of the 16 CIC1* starters had clear rounds on the cross-country today.
The novice divisions have concluded their competition for the weekend with Clare Foy and Way Cool, Susan Cipolla and Tres Cool, and Carolyn Wehle with Arioso picking up victories. Speaking of cool, the weather is anything but at Stuart. Today’s high is 87 Fahrenheit and tomorrow’s predicted high is 91.
[Live Stuart Scores, Stuart Website, Jump by Jump XC Photos, Photo Gallery]
Here’s the a Stuart Dressage video from Youtube, who can name the level and test?
Good luck to all of the competitors at Stuart who still have to ride cross-country today and the same for everyone else around Eventing Nation. Go eventing.
