The Training Three Day Event has just wrapped up here at Rebecca Farm and I managed to watch the last ten or so horses show-jump. I was really impressed by the overall standard of riding today, and the general fitness level of the horses after their speed and endurance test yesterday. Also, as Sally O’Connor reminded me on Thursday, you have to take the altitude here into effect, we’re at about 3,200 feet. Natalia Gurmankin jumped a lovely clear on Legate in his first three day to take third place. Her boss, Hawley rode the lovely Gin Fizz in the three day but was awarded 77 odd time penalties on roads and tracks in error, and so finished in 18h place even though she was thrilled with this lovely little mare. In 6th place was the lovely Asterion who did so well in all the young horse classes with another Samantha Clark, I sometimes used to get sent mail that was supposed to be for her, telling me my horse had qualified for yet another championship, and I knew it was always a mistake! He looked lovely on cross country and seems to be doing very well with Margaret Heagerty.
Therese Russell’s luck ran out in the final combination; Dante came in looking like a million dollars but took an instant dislike to the horseshoe horse sculpture in the middle of the ring and had a few rubs on the way round until a rail in the middle of the final treble, slipping her from first to second, and giving the win to Kathy Cain on Sidecar.
Congratulations to everyone who completed. Thank you to Rebecca Farm for hosting the Training Three Day and to all the volunteers and professionals who helped make it such a sucess. Go Three Day Eventing.
