This weekend eventers flock to Tallahassee, Fla. for the North America’s first FEI event of 2022 at Red Hills International Horse Trials. The picturesque Live Oaks draped in Spanish Moss make for a perfect background for this community-driven event, even with some tumultuous early spring showers.
The third to last pair of the day, Will Coleman and Off the Record claimed the top spot in the 36-entry CCI4*-S division. “Timmy,” the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse (VDL Arkansas x Drumagoland Bay) owned by his namesake syndicate, boasts a 23.8. While this score is drool-worthy in its own right, it still is not the gelding’s personal best at the level (That would be a 21.9 at Great Meadow in 2020). Nevertheless, it still gives these two a five-point lead going into cross country.
Will took Timmy to stretch his legs in the Open Intermediate at Rocking Horse last month, but this is first International run since winning Aachen last fall.
Holly Jacks-Smither earned a 28.8 with her 12-year-old British Sport Horse (Grafenstolz x Eye Candy) Candy King for second place.
Ms. Jaqueline Mars’ Landmark’s Monte Carlo is third with Lauren Nicholson in the tack. This partnership also impressed the judging panel for a sub-30 dressage result of 29.3.
Fourth place is shared between Mia Farley & BGS Firecracker and Woods Baughman with C’est La Vie 135 on 30.2 points.
Lexi Scovil earned 30.3 for sixth place with her 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding Chico’s Man VDF Z. Leslie Law sits seventh and eighth in a tight race with Typically Fernhill (31.6) and Lady Chatterley (31.8), respectively.
A new ride for Phillip Dutton, Azure is ninth on a score of 32.4 in the pair’s FEI debut together. In 10th place is Will Coleman will his second ride Don Dante on a score of 32.6.
The CCI3*-S belongs to Canada’s Dana Cooke after the first phase with Kingfisher Park’s FE Quattro. The 8-year-old German Warmblood carries a score of 24.8 into the jumping phases.
Leslie Law and Fupsilon Grande Lande lead the biggest division of the weekend. The 7-year-old Selle Francais, (Upsilon x l’Irlandaise) owned by Beatrice Rey-Herme, sits on 25.3, besting 51 other pairs in the CCI2*-S.
The small, but mighty Advanced division is headed up by Jennie Brannigan and Twilightslastgleam. Nina Gardner’s 12-year-old homebred score 30.7.
Joe Meyer and Harbin are in second place with a dressage result of 33.6, and Meg Kepferle follows in third aboard Anakin with a score of 33.9.
You can find a complete results list at this link. Many thanks to Shannon Brinkman and her team for the gorgeous photos from Red Hills this weekend!
Cross country kicks off at 8 a.m. Saturday with the Preliminary divisions. Be sure to tune into the live stream over the weekend with commentary that includes heaps of breeding and background of each horse. You can find the stream on the Visit Tallahassee YouTube channel.
Red Hills: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Live Scores, Volunteer, Live Stream