Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Yesterday’s Richland Park CIC3* leaders stayed strapped in tight for today’s show jumping competition.
The lovesong of Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM continued with a double-clear round. Buck/Carlevo and Emily Beshear/Shame on the Moon followed suit, leaving them still tied for 2nd, and 4th-placed Mikki Kuchta and Rubens D’Ysieux held fast to their position as well.
Buck and Reggie were foot-perfect around the Marc Donovan-designed course. Its undulating turf terrain kept things interesting, highlighting the weaknesses of some and working in the favor of others. Buck says Reggie falls into the latter category.
“He seems to like grass even more — he wants to know where his feet are all the time,” Buck explained. “He jumped spectacularly today. I was very, very proud of him, as I always am, but he was particularly good today.”
Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM. Photo by Bailey Moran.
Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM. Photo by Bailey Moran.
As Buck explained yesterday, he and Carlevo are still developing their relationship as the horse was just recently imported from Germany. They had a couple rails at their first couple CIC2*s together earlier this year but everything seems to be coming together for them this weekend.
“I’m really, really, really excited with him because I’ve really been working hard on the show jumping and that’s been helping a lot,” Buck says.
“Funny enough, his record when I got him — his dressage was OK, his cross-country was OK, his show jumping was fantastic,” he recalls. “And since I’ve had him his dressage has been fantastic, the cross-country has been good and the show-jumping has been a disaster. I thought, oh my God, what am I doing wrong?”
“It just takes a little while. He jumped really, really well today, and he’s definitely got three good phases in him for sure.”
Buck Davidson and Carlevo. Photo by Bailey Moran.
Separating Buck from Emily on the scoreboard may well come down to time on cross-country tomorrow. Emily and Delta had a solid go today, which bodes well for their upcoming trip to Blenheim in September.
“Richland definitely seems to be one of her favorite venues to show jump in,” Emily says, referring to their clear trip in the CIC3* here last year.
At Blenheim both dressage and show jumping take place on turf so today’s course, which featured several related distances on a slope, was a good prep.
“I think a lot of what makes or breaks it on a course like that is just how you can ride the turns in between — trying to stay efficient but not rush the horses,” she explains. “[Marc Donovan] does set you up to be successful with all the related distances as long as you have a sense of jumping in a good canter
“I felt like the downs actually somewhat helped my horse, because she’s more careful on the downhills thinking about her balance,” Emily says. “The uphills are a little harder. That’s where I had some rubs because she tends to push at the jumps, so I think it’s just a matter of knowing your horse and knowing how to support them in the different terrain.”
Emily Beshear and Shame on the Moon. Photo by Bailey Moran.
Emily’s round, courtesy of The Horse Pesterer:
Rounding out the top five, it’s Mikki Kutcha and Rubens D’Ysieux…
Mikki Kuchta and Rubens D’Ysieux. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
…followed by Jenni Brannigan and Cambalda.
Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda. Photo by Bailey Moran.
CIC3* top 15 after show jumping:
Meanwhile in the Advanced division, dressage leaders Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border still have the lead on lock following show jumping.
Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Emily’s round, courtesy of The Horse Pesterer:
There was a bit of a shuffle beneath them, with Jessica Phoenix and Bentley’s Best and Lillian Heard and Share Option moving up from a tie for 4th to a tie for 2nd.
A great big shout-out to Bailey Moran, who competed in the Advanced division and added just four faults to her score today, for letting us hijack her beautiful photos. Grab mane because you’ve got a whole lot of EN karma coming your way tomorrow, Bailey!
Bailey Moran and Loughnatousa Caislean. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Bailey Moran and Loughnatousa Caislean. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Advanced top 15 after show jumping:
And a quick look at the top three in the 2*/1* divisions (to view the complete scores click here):
We’re all looking forward to Richland’s CIC3* grand finale on the cross-country course tomorrow. The schedule has been moved up a bit from what was originally scheduled, with the CIC3* running from 11:10 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. and the Advanced beginning at 1:10 p.m.
Go Eventing.
Richland Park: Website, Ride Times, Results, Schedule, EN’s Coverage, Twitter, Instagram
