Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Team USA is all set to open a big can of whoop-bum on Europe this week here at the Boekelo CCIO3* in the Netherlands. All systems are go for an action-packed week of international eventing and (judging from the minor-planet sized disco ball I spotted in a nearby pavilion) raucous partying, and EN is on the scene bringing it to you live.
Eighty-five horses will start the competition including a super-sized North American contingent. We’ve got 10 U.S. combinations and one Canadian pair, down from two as Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee did not present at today’s first horse inspection.
Speaking of which, I hope you guys are ready to get bombarded by 12-second Boekelo-themed music videos over the next few days because I just discovered the Triller app and am addicted. Here’s episode 1:
As usual when I’m judging, Marilyn Little won the jog. What sealed the deal this go-round, stealing the show even from her softly billowing palomino mane…
Marilyn Little and RF Quarterman. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
…wait for it…
Oh. My. God. Becky. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Boom. That’s what you call team spirit. Marilyn for the jog win and possibly a 2016 presidential nomination as well. (It’s the Olympic Knee Patch Riding Jean by 2kGrey in case you need/want/have-to-have a pair yourself.)
Honorable mention to Katherine Coleman’s Longwood. As we Southerners like to say, “The higher the hair, the closer to God.”
Katherine Coleman and Longwood. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
On a related note I’m doling out a personal honorable mention to the entire big orange-clad Dutch home team, as they’re the closest I’ll get to watching any SEC football this weekend. Go Vols.
Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Like college football and changing leaves, freshly primped horse bums hanging out of coolers before the jog is another sure sign that autumn three-days are upon us.
Photo by Leslie Wylie.
And I can’t in good conscience conclude this jog report without calling attention to Downtown Harrison‘s big cheesy grin.
Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Dressage kicks off tomorrow at 9 a.m. whatever-this-time-zone-is (3 a.m. EST) with Padraig McCarthy and Simon Porloe of Ireland. There are 18 countries being represented this weekend, including Japan, Tunisia, China and Zimbabwe. Must be getting close to the Olympics!
New Zealand is another one to watch as they’re still in need of Olympic qualification and will be hunting it down with a fierceness here at Boekelo.
Ryuzo Kitajima and Just Chocolate, representing Japan at Boekelo. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Team competitions always add to the drama of a big competition and, while I forgot to pack my American flag bikini (*not pictured*) this time, I’ll be cheering as hard as anybody for Team USA this weekend. With Matt Brown, Buck Davidson, Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and Marilyn Little representing, we’ve got a great shot at being competitive while giving some promising up-and-coming horses a dose of overseas experience.
The North American combinations and their dressage ride times in Dutch time:
Thurday
9:14 a.m – Buck Davidson and Copper Beach
1:14 p.m. – Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous – Friday
2:52 p.m. – Katherine Coleman and Longwood
3:34 p.m. – Lindsay Traisnel and Candar van het Neerveld
4:02 p.m. – Lauren Kieffer and Vermiculus
Friday
10:38 a.m. – Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF
1 p.m. – Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison
1:35 p.m. – Lauren Kieffer and Landmark’s Monte Carlo
2:03 p.m. – Marilyn Little and RF Quarterman
2:17 p.m. – Buck Davidson and Carlevo
2:45 p.m. – Liz Halliday-Sharp and HHS Cooley
Jenni did a great write-up on everybody earlier this week so be sure to check that out here.
Go get ’em, kids. Let’s make like a disco ball and light this place up.
Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Much, much more to come, live from Netherlandia. Go eventing.
Boekelo: Website, Entries, Schedule, Leaderboard, EN’s Coverage, @eventingnation, EN’s Instagram
