Eventing’s tough mudders came out to play at Twin Rivers H.T. over the weekend. The Paso Robles, California, venue got the beatdown from Mother Nature — a drenching rain the whole week leading up that resulted in flooding, mud and standing water, and culminated in a grand finale of hail. And yet, they still managed to pull off the event.
Event coordinator and resident trainer Andrea Baxter reflected on Facebook, “What a weekend … reminded us that it’s easy to run a good show when you’re dealt a hand full of aces to play … not so much when you get 2s. Anyways, thank you to everyone who helped us make lemonade out of lemons. Everyone kept smiling and most of all, had a safe and fun experience. Seriously took a village — volunteers standing in hail, officials allowing us to make decisions, competitors staying calm and optimistic, staff to work their asses off, teamwork to keep everyone and everything running smoothly.
Eventing tough. Everyone who made it through the finish flags was a winner, but here are the ones who went home with blue ribbons:
Advanced – Tamra Smith & Wembley (39.1)
Open Intermediate – Heather Morris & Charlie Tango (33.3)
Jr. Preliminary Rider – Sarah Ertl & Utah B (35.7)
Open Preliminary – Jennifer McFall & Stoneman (27.4)
Preliminary Rider – Megan Sykes & Classic’s Mojah (27.6)
Jr. Training Rider – Devon Hughes & Paint By Numbers (35.7)
Open Training – Rebecca Braitling & Frankie (30.2)
Sr. Training Rider – Molly Gibbons & Zero Gravity (32.3)
Training Horse – Auburn Excell Brady & Whitethorne Ailton (25.0)
Jr. Novice Rider – Katherine Hill & The Pied Piper (31.1)
Novice Horse – Shannon Harger & King of Hearts (30.7)
Open Novice – Anne Thompson & Tanqueray (29.5)
Sr. Novice Amateur – Golly Martin & Kaptain Jak (22.9)
Sr. Novice Rider – Amanda Zeddy & Power Puff (25.2)
Jr. Beg. Novice Rider – Pip Hayes & Fuerst Nino R (26.9)
Open Beg. Novice – Madeleine Scott & Automatic (30.0)
Sr. Beg. Novice Rider – Tania Senter & Petra (32.5)
Introductory A – Emily Schmitz & Beau Soleil (38.3)
Introductory B – Debbie Fosmark & Larapin II (30.0)
Twin Rivers Winter H.T. [Website] [Live Results]
Rocking Horse III in Altoona, Florida, saw about a gazillion competitors contest approximately one million divisions. Mega-props to organizer Jeanne Merrill and show secretary Rick Dunkerton, who both deserve a stiff drink.
Winners, PLUS some bonus categories:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf6LtWEHEBT/
Rocking Horse III H.T. [Website] [Results]
Sporting Days in Aiken is one of my favorite events. Friendly courses, friendly faces, friendly sport. Your winners, PLUS some:
- Lowest finishing score: 19.3, scored by Vantastic ridden by Doug Payne in Open Novice-A.
- Best horse name: Bradley Cooper, among the best celebrity horse names ever, ridden by Rebecca Lee in Open Preliminary-A
- Favorite moment: Own it, girl!
- Intermediate Combined Test – Tiffani Loudon-Meetze & Class Happening (32.4)
- Intermediate/Preliminary – Jan Byyny & Inmidair (24.2)
- Junior Young Riders Open Preliminary – Olivia Dutton & Icabad Crane (32.8)
- Open Preliminary-A – Phillip Dutton & Sea Of Clouds (27.8)
- Preliminary Rider – Michael Pendelton & R Valentino Himself (29.8)
- Junior Open Training – Rylie Galbraith & Zeta (32.3)
- Open Training-A – Meaghan Marinovich & Subtle Punch (27.5)
- Open Training-B – Meaghan Marinovich & London ROF (25.9)
- Open Training-C – Elizabeth New & Newmarket Auto (33.4)
- Prelim/Training – Erin Risso & Devon Fantasie (32.0)
- Training Rider – Stephanie Davis & Cooley Quality Q (24.3)
- Junior Open Novice – Campbell Jones & Aura CF (26.8)
- Novice Rider-A – Elizabeth Kantra & Vegas Run (28.6)
- Novice Rider-B – Anne Wilson & Call Me Waylon (32.7)
- Open Novice-A – Doug Payne & Vantastic (19.3)
- Open Novice-B – Jessica McCabe & Third Regiment (33.3)
- Open Novice-C – Carol Kozlowski & Wild For Summer (28.6)
- Open Novice-D – Valerie Vizcarrondo & Diablo Guapo (33.1)
- Beginner Novice Rider-A – Susan Luria & Hastening Lily (30.3)
- Beginner Novice Rider-B – Jordan Golen & Cellar Door (36.8)
- Junior Open Beginner Novice – Rebecca Hagy & Boogaloo (23.8)
- Open Beginner Novice-A – Jasmine Hobart & Strongest (31.3)
- Open Beginner Novice-B – Valerie Vizcarrondo & Slick Moves (23.3)
Sporting Days H.T. [Website] [Results]
Congrats to all. Go Eventing!