Susan’s Fair Hill CCI2* Afternoon Dressage Update

Danielle Dichting and The Graduate

Susan Beebee and Wolf lead the dressage with a 40.8 at the conclusion of Day 1 at Fair Hill International Horse Trials. After 30 horses completed the dressage, Danielle Dichting and The Graduate sit in 2nd on 41.4 and Clayton Fredericks and Pigrela Des Cabanes hold third on a 43.6. The windy conditions definitely played a factor today, with horses looking visibly tense and spooky. Riders who were able to channel their horses’ energy were rewarded, as evidenced by Susan’s classy ride.

Wolf lead after the dressage at the CCI2* last year at Fair Hill, and Susan was very pleased to be back in the same position at the conclusion of Day 1. “He’s really learning to carry himself,” Susan said, noting his walk work was “a little dicey” today. For Danielle, The Graduate is still a fairly new ride; he’s also the only horse she hasn’t personally brought through the levels. “He came out feeling great,” Danielle said. “The wind definitely pushed him up.” Clayton is riding Pigrela Des Cabanes on behalf of owner Holly Cochran — who is studying at the University of South Africa — and indicated his goal is to get the horse ready for the World Equestrian Games.

Susan, Danielle and Clayton all spoke highly of the quality of the event at Fair Hill. “I’ve been here for consecutive years since 2008. The terrain is always fantastic and the course here has great questions,” Susan said. This is Clayton’s first trip to Fair Hill, and he also praised the course, which he walked earlier today. “I thought it was beautifully presented and up to a high international standard,” he said. Clayton noted that the course is a demanding track and is confident that his horse is up to the challenge physically.