Karen O’Connor refused to relinquish control of the CIC** at the Fork. After cross country she still holds first and second places. Mandiba got better and better as he went, and by the time he finished he was taking the initiative and pulling Karen home. After his round, Karen said that at one point she never knew what to expect with the horse, but with the owner’s patience, generosity and willingness to give him every chance to come back, including the very best rehab available, both she and Mandiba are happy, “All I want is for the horse to have a life and a purpose, and I don’t have any designs on what he wants to do, but yesterday he was stunning and today I was so proud of him. He stepped up to be a really good guy and he’s very happy in his stable tonight.”
RF Amber Eyes, lying second: “she’s a horse that Marilyn found for me in Belgium, she’s stunning; she’s not v experienced at this level, but she shows up for work every day, she loves this sport and she’s a really wonderful horse, I’m very excited about her.”
Marilyn Little-Meredith lies in third place on RF Smoke on the Water
Selena O’Hanlon is in fourth place overnight after a clear round inside the time – Foxwood High has an enormous stride, and at first I thought she would be slow because turning might be a problem, but his gallop just eats up the ground, and of course he can jump too, and looks like he does it all for fun. What an exciting prospect for her.
Kelli Temple picked up a handful of time to sit in 5th place overnight with Veelion
Matapeake and Sarah Dunkerton are in 6th place after cross country; they were actually quite fast but looked as if they has all the time in the world going round, it was foot-perfect and a lovely demonstration of how to ride the course.
Holly Payne had a good day, Santino jumped clear with 2.8 time to lie 7th
Rowdie Adams looked to be going very quickly on No Money Down, and was indeed inside the time to move up 8 places to 8th place going forward to the show-jumping.
Danio is a big, strong but scopey and excitinig young horse for Hannah Sue Burnett. They jumped clear with time to lie 10th.
Ellie McPhail and RF Eloquence, despite a very successful spring campaign, still look like they’re getting to know each other, but I think they’ll be a formidable combination once they bond and form a partnership. They jumped clear with time to occupy 11th place.
Jamie Doolittle and A Dream Come True jumped clear inside the time but their dressage deficit was too large to make up and despite moving up 5 places they still languish in 12th.
Likewise for Rachel McDonough and Irish Rhythm who are in 13th
Valerie Vizcarrondo had a steady but stylish round on Playtime, look how neat and tidy he is!
Splendor of the Sun jumped a super round for Hawley Bennet-Awad but unfortunately they did the wrong cabin coming down the hill and picked up a technical elimination
Maybelline Cover Girl was one of quite a few horses to slip in the slick grass this morning, and Ashley Kriegel popped off. Neither were the worse for wear, but it must have been very annoying. Well done to everyone who competed, the CIC** course looked to ride really well. Thanks for reading, and Go Eventing!
