You might think we are in denial about our recent addiction to posting great videos, but the situation is quite the opposite...we embrace it! Here are a few videos of Badminton through the ages to get you geared up for one of the biggest events in the world.
Rolex was so five days ago. Check out Badminton through the years.
Eventing has really changed, but Badminton remains the same: BIG
Notice the dog that chases the horse at about 2:50. Don't just keep your dog on a leash, but please remember to hold on to it.
Here's how it happened last year. The best part about this video is the absence of irritating music...just bold and beautiful horses.
The CliffNotes version: Ruth Edge is a dressage specialist and swims Two Thyme twice a week. Mary King is excited now as she was at her first Badminton, and said that a loud crackle in the speakers before her test made Imperial Cavalier tense. Mark Todd feels like he's never been away and looks forward to getting back to the top of eventing.
Friday photo slideshow -- Not nearly as organized as the USEA's photo galleries, but the photographer has added some humorous captions. Just click through for a while; I promise you will eventually find dressage photos. Gallery format
The Badminton Blogis a blog operated by Badminton that has done a great job covering the event with 3-4 special interest and news posts a day. Two of my favorite posts are aprofile of the 18 Badminton first-timers, andBadminton superlatives.I would suggest this blog format to the organizers of any big three-day who want to be involved in the coverage of their own event. The Badminton blog also stole our scrolling Twitter widget idea which is flattering. Speaking of blogs, Alex Hua Tian writes about being held at the first jogfor Horse and Hound.
--If you could only go to three sites to get complete Badminton coverage throughout the weekend, I would suggest *H&H's Badminton page, the Badminton Blog, and, of course, Eventing Nation.
We are just a few hours away from the start of Badminton dressage! Here are a few quick pre-dressage links and videos to tide you over untill the competition gets underway.
Alex Hua Tian and Jeans, New Zealand's Joe Meyer and Clifton Lush, and Great Britain's Clea Phillipps and Lead The Way were held but all passed on re-inspection. 83 pairs move on to dressage.
Jog photos: Click the left arrow for jog photos on the photo page, courtesy of Andrea
(2) The FEI press release has a good preview of the favorites, which include Andrew Nicholson, Kristina Cook, and William Fox-Pitt. It's worth a glance to get a better feel for the entry list.
After a stellar spring season on the national circuit, Andrew Nicholson, whose best previous Badminton result was 2nd in 2004, has perhaps his best chance of lifting the Mitsubishi Trophy, worth £65,000, with the Spanish-bred Nereo, winner of Bramham CCI*** (GBR) last year, or the home-bred grey Avebury, first at Saumur CCI*** (FRA) in 2009. It will be like old times for Nicholson, as his former team mate Mark Todd has finally come in off the wait list - the event received a massive 150-plus entries and will run about 80 - and competes at Badminton for the first time for 10 years. Todd, a triple winner (1980, 1994 and 1996), rides the New Zealand Thoroughbred NZB Grass Valley. Although last year's winner Oliver Townend (GBR) is a notable absentee - he had actually withdrawn before his fall at Kentucky last weekend - the Kiwis face stiff British opposition.
An equally popular winner would be Kristina Cook (GBR); the reigning European Champion. Known as one of the best Cross Country pilots in the business, she first competed at Badminton in 1993 but has never yet finished in the top three. However, that could all change this time, as she brings her dual European gold medalist Miners Frolic, also the dual bronze medalist at the 2008 Olympics, and all eyes will be on the exciting Thoroughbred as he makes his debut at a British 4-star.
Cook's team mate, the always hard-to-beat William Fox-Pitt (GBR) comes to Badminton with the advantage of a winning 4-star ride under his belt. Just last weekend, he captured his first Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event - he is the only rider in the world to have won four different 4-stars - and, at Badminton, which he won in 2004 on Tamarillo, he has the choice of three proven horses. William can choose between the magnificent long-striding chestnut Idalgo, Badminton runner-up last year; the German-bred Sea Cookie, 6th at Kentucky last year; and the Argentine Thoroughbred Macchiato, winner of Luhmühlen in 2008. Alongside these veterans of the sport, such as 48-year-old Mary King, a former dual winner (1992 and 2000), a host of younger riders will be hoping to make an impression. They are headed by the European silver medalist Piggy French (GBR); Juan Carlos Garcia (ITA), the only rider to win silver medals in Eventing and Jumping in the same season (2009); Ireland's premier couple Michael and Patricia Ryan, plus Sam Watson (IRL) and Elizabeth Power (IRL); Portuguese first-timer Duarte Seabra; South African debutant Alex Peternell and former Young Rider European Champion Emily Llewellyn (GBR). In other international firsts, Aistis Vitkauskas is the first Badminton competitor from Lithuania, and Alex Hua Tian, 20, the first from China. 12 nations are represented in all: Australia, Belgium, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, New Zealand, Portugal and South Africa.
* Veteran New Zealand rider Mark Todd is among the entries this weekend - 30 years after his Badminton debut.
* Australian Paul Tapner contests the 4*, while his wife Georgina competes in the Badminton Grassroots Championship.
* Aistis Vitkauskas (Lithuania) and Alex Peternell (South Africa) are the first from their countries to compete at Badminton.
* The Badminton entry list includes two full-time vets in Kent rider Tony Warr and James Robinson, from Leominster.
* Herefordshire rider Louise Skelton's two Badminton horses - Bit of a Barney and Party Pickled - are full brothers.
* The Badminton Horse Trials first took place in 1949. The event has been cancelled three times due to bad weather and once because of a foot and mouth outbreak.
Now that William has finished giving his young horse a nice schooling ride around what can only be described as a nice move-up 4*, the eventing world turns to the Badminton Horse Trials. And by 'horse trials' they mean a CCI4*--they just call it a 'horse trials' to be cool. Sadly, as usual, the USA will not be sending any horses over to attempt a revenge win from Rolex. Thank you Icelandic volcano gods. When was the last time the US won a 4* on foreign soil? With that depressing thought I present our Badminton preview:
Schedule -- Due to a new TV contract with the BBC, the competition at Badminton will run from Friday to Monday, with dressage on Friday and Saturday, XC on Sunday, and show jumping on Monday. They scheduled the show jumping on Monday because May 3rd is a 'bank' holiday in the UK. Bank holidays are public holidays in England, so it's like their President's Day or Independence Day except...well, you get the idea.
The UK is currently running in GMT +1 time, which means they are EST +5 hours. Basically, the Badminton schedule is 5 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the US, so take any time on the badminton schedule and subtract 5 hours to get the EST time.
You don't even want to think about the Badminton schedule in Pacific time. The good news is that none of your friends will be awake for most of Badminton so they don't have to be disappointed when you tell them you're too busy refreshing Eventing Nation to hang out with them. Actually, that's a lie, there's nothing good about this schedule.
Horses and Riders -- As usual, the Badminton field is stacked. There were approximately 130 entries and 85 horses are set to start the event. Some names everyone should recognize include Alex Hua Tian, Mary King, Andrew Nicholson, William Fox-Pitt, Clayton Fredericks, Mark Todd, Zara Phillips, Lucy Wiegersma. We won't preview everyone of course, but check out the entries list and you can click on the names of each rider for a biography and past performances.
The Course -- It's Badminton so it's big and technical and will chew you up and spit you out if you're not ready. The Badminton website has all the resources you need to get a feel for the course that doesn't involve a long plane flight and a trip through customs. And yes, I know we already linked to these last week:
Video course walk: with Polly Stockton and course designer Hugh Thomas
EN's Coverage -- If you haven't caught on to this already, to steal a line from Oliver, you're a bit slow on the uptake. Check back to Eventing Nation throughout the weekend several times a day for the latest Badminton coverage and to chat with the Eventing Nation community about all things Badminton.
The vote for the placement of the scrolling Twitter news feed was close enough (56%-44%) that I decided to leave it at the top for now. Essentially, all the little stories that used to go into N&N are getting put into the news feed, which has the added advantage of being able to include feeds from other sites depending on what events are most important. Go eventing.
John and I both follow an extremely popular, successful amateur blog known as "Kentucky Sports Radio" (KSR). In fact, that site was the inspiration for this one. It follows mostly UK football and basketball, in "the most ridiculous manner possible." The writers are everyday fans, but talented, knowledgeable, and funny. Just like us. Occasionally, KSR has a horse racing-related article; with Derby coming up, they didn't let us down. From my favorite KSR writer, Tomlin... Enjoy!
How are you? How did the procedure go? I can barely see the scar. Yes, you
do look like Carol Channing. Top notch!
As you may have realized, if you follow the standard Gregorian calendar, this
coming Saturday is officially the first of May, which by default also means that
it must be the date of the running of the Kentucky Derby. Perhaps you're
planning on going, or perhaps you're planning on just wearing a giant hat in the
comfort of your own home. Today, as a service to those planning on attending the
Derby Infield, I have been asked to reprint here an informational piece on
protocol during the event.
-----------------------
Welcome to the Derby Infield!
We at Churchill Downs would like you to know how excited we are that you
could join us for the 136th Kentucky Derby - it's sure to be a great day, and
we're very happy that you have decided to enjoy the Derby from the Infield.
To ensure safety for all our guests, please take a moment to heed the
following information during your day at Churchill Downs.
-You no doubt, right now, have hard liquor duct taped all over your
entire body. Yes, we may pretend we don't know, but we do. All we ask
is that you watch your step when navigating the oft-crowded Derby Infield.
Believe us; impaled on a bottle of Rumplemintz in a pair of cargo shorts and a
trucker hat is not a distinguished way to die. Please watch where you walk.
-Portable toilets are available at many locations in the Derby
Infield. By early afternoon, however, will likely see long lines. We
have been assured by the company which has rented us these facilities, however,
that they should remain sanitary and fresh throughout the entire day. We have no
reason not to take their word for that, but will be sure to monitor the
situation from our air-conditioned suite on Millionaire's Row.
-Please refrain from exposing your genitalia while visiting the Derby
Infield. While we do realize the prestige of this fascinating sporting
event can cause a great deal of excitement, it is generally better-enjoyed by
keeping one's clothes on. Please save your nudity for the Belmont Stakes or at
Louisville's acclaimed "Fourth Street Live!" ™
-We encourage Derby Infielders to bet on all of the days races
gratuitiously. This is because we realize that no one in the Derby
Infield knows anything at all about horseracing, but love to place bets. In
fact, the recent construction completed at Churchill Downs was made entirely
possible by funds from the Derby Infield 2007.
-Please be aware that no one here is "connected" to the horse
industry, no matter what they say. No one in the Derby Infield knows
anyone in the horse industry, or they wouldn't be in the Derby Infield.
-You know that Kid Rock song that mixes Werewolves of London with
Sweet Home Alabama? That song will play all day long. As a service to
you.
-With luck, temperatures should raise into the upper eighties with a
high humidity, ensuring that everyone around you will be as sweaty as
possible. In an emergency, crews will place black plastic tarps all
over the infield to make sure everyone remains completely hot as well as
filthy.
-That's not mud. We're just saying.
-Go ahead. Mouth off to that cop. See what happens. I dare
you.
-At the end of the day you will not look as good as you think you
do. You should be aware of this. It's the Derby Infield. After the last
race, you will think you can just "go out dressed as you are." You will be
wrong.
-----------------------
If you're headed to the Derby this weekend, friends, please make sure you
heed these official rules and guidelines, stay safe, and enjoy a great weekend
in the Bluegrass. Until next week.
Many thanks to Tomlin and KSR for sharing these thoughts, and for setting John and I down the path of ridiculous sports reporting. I will be representing EN at the Derby on Saturday, though likely not in the infield. Let's hope for clear skies, big payouts, and a safe race!
Good afternoon Eventing Nation! This post signals a turning point in our four-star coverage and from here on out Badminton will start getting a lot of attention. But before we make that transition we have a great follow-up story.
As we know Allison wore a helmet instead of her top-hat in dressage at Rolex to honor her brother who died from a head injury and a friend who recovered from a head injury. What Allison didn't know is that, in the COTH forums, deltawave had offered $500 to any rider who wore their helmet in dressage at Rolex. Allison hadn't heard about the offer when she wore the helmet, but when she found out she decided to donate the money to the Courtney King-Dye recovery fund. Bravo Allison--eventing needs more leaders like you.
Derby week is now upon us. This may as well be Mardi Gras for the city of Louisville-- it's party time all week long. With Thunder Over Louisville, the largest fireworks display in the country; mattress races downtown; Hot Browns, Derby Pie and Mint Juleps; Derby Day is almost here. For two minutes, the eyes of the world will be focused on the Commonwealth of Kentucky as twenty Thoroughbreds do what they do best: run.
One of the great things about not being an "official" publication, is that we don't exactly have to play by "official publication" rules. Whenever the Derby is mentioned in the Blood-Horse, or Thoroughbred Times, you will see it written as "The Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands." Blech. It's The. Derby. And I steadfastly refuse to add the suffix so expensively purchased by the Yum! Corporation. Talk about Yuck!
Ok, glad that's out of the way. Down to Derby business. I, of course, like every other racing enthusiast, had Eskendereya at the top of my Derby list. Until Sunday, when Todd Pletcher announced that the Derby favorite was scratching due to significant swelling in his left front leg. Well darn. Now what?
I could go into a long line of drivel about pedigrees, past performances, racing tendencies, jockeys, trainers, and the like. Instead, I'll just refer you to The Blood-Horse, DRF, and Thoroughbred Times. Their experts will tell you anything you need to know. Honestly, the Derby comes down to luck perhaps more than talent; pick a name or a random number, and you have about an equal chance of picking the winner. Twenty three-year-olds going a mile and a quarter in two minutes: your guess is as good as mine.
That doesn't mean I don't have favorites, though; horses I'd LIKE to see win, or at least run well. I've never been a huge Pletcher fan, but you can't help feel just a little sympathy for a guy who's run 24 horses in the Derby and has yet to win. He's entered a filly, Devil May Care, in place of hotshot Eskendereya. Pletcher's only Triple Crown victory? He took down the mighty Curlin in the Belmont with a special filly, Rags to Riches. Maybe he can get it done on Saturday with another super girl?
Speaking of O-fer's, there is the dominant Maktoum family from Saudi Arabia. They've won pretty much every major race all over the world; they've spent untold millions buying the best bloodstock, building the best farms, and they've single-handedly kept the auction market going. Yet all that money hasn't bought them a Kentucky Derby. They have a nice horse, Conveyance, in training with Bob Baffert. The Indian Charlie colt had an impressive work Tuesday morning at Churchill. If it's not Pletcher's year, maybe it's theirs?
Baffert's other horse, now the favorite, Lookin' At Lucky has certainly had no such luck this spring. Lucky has had to overcome several awful trips, yet never quit fighting to the finish. He's still supremely talented, and perhaps the Derby gods will bless him with the perfect ride at just the right moment.
Just because I'm a huge Tiznow fan, and Winstar is one of the most gorgeous farms you will ever hope to see (and the people are fabulous too), I'll throw in a little plug for their entrants: Super Saver and American Lion. Of the two, I'm leaning American Lion, simply because he's a Tiznow baby (and he's NOT trained by Pletcher, Baffert, Lukas, Asmussen, etc).
The Road to the Roses challenge is winding down, and our leading entrants are way out in front. Pari Mutuel Wagering has 329 points, followed by HoosYourDaddy (319), Bourbon Bliss Barn (313), and Slew Stable Won (309pts). Thanks to all 37 stables who participated, and good luck in the Derby! We will feature another challenge for the Breeders' Cup, and again for Derby next year!
This post would not be complete without a brief shoutout to the fillies' race of the year, the Kentucky Oaks. The Oaks is run Friday before the Derby, and doesn't get quite as much national publicity as it should...but it is a monumental race just the same. I'm sure you've heard of last year's Oaks winner, the great Rachel Alexandra. 2010 top contender She Be Wild is out of the race, but Blind Luck looks to be the one to beat. As a side note, "Blind Luck" is an awesome name for this filly: she is by Pollard's Vision (who was born with only one eye), out of the mare Lucky One. I wish my horse names could be so clever!
We've all seen the magical photo by now... and I'm sure many of us were
just a tiny bit jealous of the adorable girl getting to pet Rolex
superstar Mandiba. Kudos to Josh Walker for capturing this moment, which really explains what eventing is all about.
EN has learned the identity of the now-famous Pony Clubber, and we are
pleased to introduce her to you in a very special edition of LL Rider
Profile.
FEATURED RIDER:
Name: Keely Bechtol
Age: 8
Pony Club rating: I am in Bluegrass Pony Club, I am a D1 and I'm going to try to rate up in the fall.
What was it like serving as "dressage gate crew?" Were you nervous in front of the crowd? It was fun, I got 15 autographs on my cap! I wasn't nervous and I got to see people I met last year and made some new friends.
Who was your favorite horse(s) or rider(s) that you watched? I was rooting for William Fox Pit, Oliver Townend and Karen O'Connor.
Can you describe the moment in the photo? Did you ask Karen if you could pet him, did she offer? What do you remember most about Mandiba? Ms O'Connor asked me if I would like to pat Mandiba, he was sweet and gentle.
Did you get to watch the rest of the event? What was your favorite xc or sj memory? My favorite was watching Mandiba on cross country because he became my favorite after patting him!
What is your own pony like? What are your accomplishments/goals with him? My pony is a mare, her name is La Dee Da, she is almost 13hh. I like to do dressage, play mounted games, jump & trail ride with her. Last year we won D1 Rally, she did a great dressage test!
Anything else you'd like to share, about yourself, Rolex, or Pony Club? I would like to compete at Rolex one day in the Prince Philip Cup and then when I'm older do Rolex Three Day Event. I think I am really lucky that I got to work at Rolex and that I have a pony. I take riding lessons at Scheffelridge Farm. I love Pony Club, it teaches me how to do things on my own.
Congratulations to 'Trakehner-WI' for winning our $100 Bit of Britain Rolex Challenge! Trakehner, like everyone else on the planet (including me), picked Comet to score under 45 in dressage. But, Trakehner pitched a perfect game from then on by picking Woodburn for XC (7 points), and Cool Mountain to win (15 points), and also the 3 point bonus for registering--giving them a grand total of 25 points, bragging rights, and the $100 Bit of Britain gift certificate. Congrats Trakehner, and let us know what you spend it on!
We received over 150 entries in this contest and we will be hosting more of these in the future. Of course, thank you to Bit of Britain for sponsoring the contest. John Nunn consistently serves the eventing community and we appreciate partnering with him in that service.
----
On a completely unrelated note, I want to give a big Eventing Nation get well soonto Polly, an adult amateur and regular EN commenter. As the story goes, Polly fell off her horse cross-country schooling yesterday and broke her leg. Polly, in considerable pain, didn't realize her leg was broken and GOT BACK ON the horse and schooled some more. Her daughter finally convinced Polly to go to the ER today, where doctors found that the leg was broken. That's a true eventer. Go eventing.
In her latest entry, our guest writer Lauren Kieffer describes the event that turned her into an official four-star rider. I was so proud of Lauren throughout the entire weekend at Rolex. Lauren's XC was one of the highest quality rides on Saturday and that's coming from people much higher up on the food chain than myself. One day you are going to look back and think to yourself: that girl that's standing on the podium -- I read about her first 4* on Eventing Nation.
------
Well my little Arab jumped around "The Three Day That Shall Not Be Named". I guess we can call it Rolex now. Rolex was a great experience all around. I think the hardest part is how anti-climatic it is when it's finally over and enjoying it without picking apart every mistake. The whole week started on a high when I won the Dubarry boots for best dressed at the first jog. I considered going home while I was ahead, I was afraid my luck may have peaked too early in the week! There was a lot of laughter in the barns about winning best dressed considering I am rarely seen in anything but my trusty camo hat and Carhartt, but I busted it out for the jog, I wanted those boots badddd.
We did our dressage Thursday afternoon and Snooze was pretty lit by the atmosphere, it was a great feeling trotting into that grandstand arena though. He wanted to be pretty fresh and we had some less than stellar moments but he also had some really good moments such as his extensions and changes. The great part about doing our dressage on Thursday was having all day Friday to think about my cross country. I got up and had a great jump school in the morning and then took another walk around my course. The more I walked it the less nervous I got and the more I was looking forward to it.
I was pretty excited when Cathy Weischoff asked me to ride in the Mounted Games at noon and it was a risky but fun distraction. My trusty steed was a tiny pony named Chip. We took a warm up lap around the arena and he seemed pretty rideable so Cathy and I had a little race, and let me tell you, Chip may be small but he is a strong little bugger and I may have mauled down a group of Pony Clubbers in an attempt to stop. I was on team Gummi Bears who were great sports in explaining the games to me and darn it if these kids can't ride. The Gummi Bears did end up winning the prestigious Prince Phillip Cup at the end of the weekend. I like to think Chip and I played a small part in their success, or maybe it was more like they won despite us....
Saturday morning rolled around, luckily I got a good night's sleep because for some reason I get sleepy whenever I'm nervous. I got up and took a last walk around the course and then I went back to my stall and took a nap till I needed to hop on. The best part about getting on is that once you are sitting on your horse the nerves go away and you focus on your job. We had a great warm up, he was fresh but rideable so we headed to the start box, we walked around it a couple times, 10-here it is-9-8-the biggest countdown of my life so far-7-6-now or never-5-4-HOLD. You can't be serious. Well ok I can wait another minute, the countdown starts again 10-9-8-7-do you mean it this time?-6-5-don't mess with me-4-3-2-1-GO! OK! And we were finally off! Snooze went right into a rhythm from the start and was right on everything. He just kept jumping bigger and better the whole way around and finished the course a very brave and happy pony. It was such a great feel jumping through the Duck Pond, the first real question and thinking "We've got this." And galloping down to the Head of the Lake and seeing the crowd, and nothing beats crossing the finish line with all of your friends and family cheering.
Snooze's Arab blood was evident in the D box when his low heart rate amazed the vets and he recovered quickly and was mostly concerned about how much grass he could shove into his mouth. It was nice going so early and after some fluids and a few icings we just let him rest and recover. He came out on Sunday morning feeling great and was a gentleman at the jog.
And finally it was time for show jumping, my low point of the weekend. He warmed up really well and I was feeling really confident going in, but unfortunately it didn't go as planned. #2 to #3 were two oxers on a pretty forward 7 strides, I was on the fence about whether to do it in 7 or 8 strides because he doesn't have a big stride but I had watched several people go and they all did the 7 and I made the rookie error of doing what everyone else does instead of doing the right thing for my horse. I didn't get the 7 done and we crashed into the 3rd fence. Let me tell you, it was about the longest five seconds of my life watching that fence fall down, but I refused to let myself get flustered so I gave him a pat, waited for the ground crew to get that entire freakin jump set back up while trying to ignore the thousands of people staring at me and my little Arab, and then carried on with the course which he jumped brilliantly, not touching a rail.
I felt like I had let Snooze and his fans down but on the other hand I can promise you that I will not make the same mistake twice and I have come out of the weekend more motivated than ever.
Snooze is now in Virginia living his fat kid dreams for the next month and now I am in Florida jumping back into reality riding and packing to turn around and go to Virginia on Thursday. We haven't made a concrete plan for the fall yet but who knows, maybe the Maggot will be leaving on a jet plane....
By John on April 27, 2010 6:06 PM, Filed Under Live Blog
Welcome to our live blog! Tonight we were joined by Samantha Clark from the horse radio network, our very own Visionaire, and Steph Rhodes-Bosch, who placed 5th in her first Rolex. We chatted about Rolex, frangible pins, how Steph started eventing, Samantha's favorite Rolex horses and much more. Click the big Cover It Live box for the replay. This live blog is part of our ongoing efforts to get people in eventing together and talking about the issues in our sport. Samantha's Twitter, Visionaire's Twitter, Eventing Nation's Twitter, Steph's Blog. Go eventing.
Rolex was a big weekend for WEG selection. One top rider even told me (using hyperbole) that it doesn't matter what you do anywhere else--it only matters what you do at Rolex. However, it goes without saying that the process of choosing the USA's best pairs to fly the stars and stripes at the WEGs is more in depth than just taking the top US Rolex finishers. Hopefully this article will help to illuminate the selection process as it moves forward into the summer.
After Rolex, the USEF asked 7 horses to participate in their Monday morning veterinary inspection.
The chosen 7: Woodburn, The Foreman, Neville, Remington, Comet, Mandiba, and Pawlow
If you don't know--the inspection involves jogging, flexing, bone scans, drug tests, and other procedures to evaluate soundness after a four-star. Presumably, the goal is to extrapolate information about that horse's suitability to compete for the team at the WEGs. The riders also participated in sessions with fitness, nutrition, and sports psychology experts provided by the USOC (United States Olympic Committee). Several riders told me that these sessions were extremely helpful and well received, and I'm a big supporter of helping our top riders to compete at their physical peak.
It's bad news for the Rolex horses that were not asked to stay for the Monday inspections because the selectors passed on an opportunity to gain information on those horses at a very low marginal cost since the vets, machines, and horses were all in the same place. But, this does not mean that their road to the WEGs is over. Several of the current A and B-listed pairs who had a tough weekend at Rolex will probably shoot for Luhmuhlen in mid-June.
Of course, Will Coleman and Twizzel are also targeting Luhmuhlen after Will's fall at The Fork broke his collar bone and his chance to ride at Rolex.
Furthermore, several of the most likely WEG horses (in my opinion) were not inspected on Monday because they did not compete at Rolex, but they are obviously still on the Team's list of considered horses.
Leyland, My Boy Bobby, Ballynoecastle RM, Connaught, and Tru Luck are all horses that have met the minimum criteria to be considered for selection (ie: they have obtained their FEI certificate of capability and they have submitted an application). After consultation with CMP, their owners and vets, the riders determined it was in the best interest of the horses to not run at Rolex. These horses were all given a Monday morning veterinary inspection after The Fork. Tru Luck and Connaught are entered at the CIC3* at Jersey.
I have mentioned 13 horses so far in this article, and in my opinion, the rest of the US horses are on the outside looking in right now and need a great performance somewhere to enhance their chances.
The next major stage of the official FEI/WEG process is when the USEF sends a 'nominated entries list' to the FEI on August 15th. This nominated entries may contain up to 18 names from which the final 6 US pairs will be selected and sent to the WEGs. Before August 15th, the USEF can (and probably will) release a short list of around 18 horses to guide summer training with the US coaches and to help riders plan their autumn.
In discussion with Sara Ike of the USEF, Sara explained that because several horses may go to Luhmuhlen, we don't know for sure when the USEF's short list will be released. However, it is anticipated that it will be named after Jersey, but the USEF might name additional combinations in June after Luhmuhlen.
As you can see, WEG selection is a long and thorough process, requiring organization, coordination, and flexibility between the selectors, USEF, and riders. Of course, Eventing Nation will keep you posted about the process as it develops this summer. Go eventing.
By John on April 27, 2010 5:48 AM, Filed Under Videos
We tried our best to stop posting videos--honestly--but our addiction to loud colorful moving pictures of Rolex horses got the better of us. I'm afraid there's much more video to come as Rolex is just the gateway to Badminton.
Warning - Radio Flyer's fall is at 1:10
what the heck--another XC montage
Lastly, check out one of the WEG dressage test event rides from Thursday night
By John on April 27, 2010 12:57 AM, Filed Under Live Blog
Samantha Clark, host of the 2010 Radio Show and, perhaps more importantly, a very well connected eventer extraordinaire, will join us as 7PM EST tonight for a live blog. We're going to chat about Rolex, Badminton, and anything else Eventing Nation wants to discuss. Please join us because you don't want to miss it. Word in the barns is that we might be joined by a top 5 Rolex finisher, and that Visionaire might also participate. While I'm starting rumors, I might as well also say that we intend to incorporate live blogging in our Badminton coverage. Oh, and we will reveal the winner of our Eventing Nation $100 Bit of Britain Challenge during the live blog. Go eventing.
It's been about 7 months since little itty-bitty EN began, back at Fair Hill 2009. My, how things have changed since the nation's last major three-day event! Back then, John was live-blogging by himself, read only by a few friends (well, the paid ones) and random people who stumbled upon the site through a Google mis-direction. Fast-forward to Rolex, where EN is big enough to stand alongside the Chronicle of the Horse to provide competition coverage to 5,600 visitors on Sunday. It's been quite a journey, and we would like to thank each and every reader who has helped us on this ride.
So, as we take a (quick) breath between Rolex and Badminton (oh yeah, and that thing called DERBY), let's examine the Eventing Nation Progress Report.
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEE PROGRESS REPORT (we run on a limited budget here, so I just copied a sample form from somewhere on the net)
NAME OF EMPLOYEE: Eventing Nation JOB TITLE: Online Eventing Site UNIT: Equestrian Insanity Division REVIEW PERIOD -- FROM: Oct 2009 TO:May 2010 NEXT REVIEW DATE:WEG 2010
Communicates clearly and positively with co-workers, supervisors, and others. 4. There is pretty good communication here at EN...especially at 1am, I'm convinced John never sleeps.
Listens carefully to instructions. 3. Um, there were instructions? I thought we kinda made this up as we went along...I KNEW John should have stopped and asked for directions at that gas station!
Employee is receptive to feedback from supervisor. 5. I think we do a pretty good job listening to readers' comments, what do you think?
QUALITY/QUANTITY OF WORK HABITS:
Works at a consistent pace regardless of presence of supervision. 5.There's a supervisor?? Who knew...!We try to stay consistent, around 3 posts a day. Unless Oli Townend changes his facebook status every 2 hrs, that may require more posts.
Completes work assignments in a reasonable period of time. 5.I think we get our info up pretty quickly, most of the time. At the expense of sleep, or our day jobs, usually.
The quality of completed work is satisfactory. 3. Eh. Depends on the definition of "satisfactory" I suppose...
Employee readily begins new assignments. 4. There's ALWAYS a new assignment, that's for sure. Badminton coming up!
Uses work time efficiently. 3.Nope, not really. Unless it's 3am, then things tend to get very efficient.
JOB KNOWLEDGE:
Employee can adapt to changes in priorities and/or schedules. 5.Priorities and schedules, haha. As if those EVER stay the same! We do our best to manage the site, maintain paying day-jobs, ride our own horses, oh and compete a little on the side. Life? What's that?
Has demonstrated that he/she has the skills and abilities to do the work. 3.We've demonstrated a lot of things, I'm not sure you'd call them "skills," per se. But I've become very proficient at surfing Craigslist. Does that count?
Performs work in accordance with FM policies and procedures. 5.I have no clue what FM policies are. But I assure you we are in accordance with them. Or that's what John told me to say. We are mostly in accordance to FEI policies, at least, until they changed 30 minutes ago. No, make that 30 seconds ago... to bute or not to bute? It's still an unanswerable question.
Practices knowledge of safety procedures. 5.Air vests, frangible pins, and styrofoam logs: check. And we never write without our ASTM helmets, either. You never know when a Fatal Error message may occur.
DEPENDABILITY/ATTENDANCE
Prepared to begin work at beginning of shift. 4. I wouldn't call it "prepared;" more like, thrown together to sound intelligent. Yeah. That. As long as it sounds good, right?
Independently follows through on assignments. 5. You have no idea how much work it is to follow through some things...like the Bracket Battle...but we do it anyway. That's the exhausting part of this gig. It's easy to start something, it's the finishing it that keeps you up til 3am for days on end!
Provides adequate notice to supervisor for using vacation/sick leave. 3.You mean we get sick days and vacation??? Where was this in the contract? Sweet!
Submits accurate sick leave and vacation reports in a timely manner. 3.I'm still excited about the prospect of vacation days. When do the benefits start?
SUPERVISORY FEEDBACK (attach additional comments if necessary)
1. Describe examples of outstanding work performance or areas of work performance that will require additional attention. Please use specific examples of work performance and/or expectations.
I may be biased, but I think this site has filled a unique niche in the eventing news category. John started this site with a vision to bring all members of the eventing community together: one place to share news, insights, and information with the humor and fun that makes our sport special. We want to keep you in the loop, bring you with us to the Fork or Rolex, and still make you laugh along the way (whether it's Craigslist or Santa). Hopefully you'll visit a few minutes a day, to get your daily dose of news and absurdity, and keep coming back for more.
We fully admit we're learning this as we go. None of us are journalists or tech geeks; we're riders, horselovers first and foremost. This is just our way of giving back to the sport, helping it grow and succeed, sharing it with all of you. The site doesn't generate ANY income, we are not paid in any way (John's forced to keep his "Night Job" to pay the bills) other than your heartfelt appreciation.
Thank you so much for reading. To our new visitors: welcome! Kick back your heels and stay a while. To our old standbys: I hope you've enjoyed watching the site grow over the past 7 months, and who knows how far we still have to go. We appreciate everyone who clicks, and the depth of audience is really amazing: from the 12-year-old Pony Clubber, to the Olympic Gold Medalist, sometimes it is a bit overwhelming. When you find links to something you wrote on horse sites all over the world; when you hear strangers at events quoting your grooming tips; when a Big Name Coach comes up to you and asks "wtf is up with Chattahoochee's Five Star??" after an April Fool's joke. It is humbling and inspiring.
We aren't anything special here. But we are part of a very special sport, and a very special Nation. For that, we are most thankful.
Our happy little corner of the World Wide Web has been raving about nothing but Rolex for weeks. I know the event is over now, but I just can't quit cold turkey. There are still so many recently added videos to share.
Peter Atkins and Henry Jota Hampton made an incredible leap from 50th place after dressage to finish 23rd.
See a great variety of fences on cross-country and footage of several competitors who didn't get so much attention from the media this weekend.
The view is slightly obscured, but I think the benefit of the rail breaking upon impact is clear. The rail was replaced within minutes, and horse and rider continued on course unscathed.
Holly Hudspeth and Last Monarch jumped clear with just two time penalties to finish 17th. What a cheer they received, too!
Becky Holder and Courageous Comet jumped double clear on cross-country and dropped one rail in showjumping, finishing in 3rd place. Comet looks as elegant as ever.
Our eventing world is exploding with rider blogs, facebook fan pages, and everything else new media. Eventing, as usual, is 5 years behind the rest of the world in this media development, but better late than never. Here is a short list of the rider blogs with the best Rolex coverage.
1. William's Website: William is probably happier to win Rolex, but he can add Best of the Blogs to his trophy case as well. William's site regularly broke news about William and Oliver's epic. Simple, accurate, and very effective: William's blog reflects his style.
2. Phillip's Blog: Yes, Phillip actually has a bog. Phillip's blog gets ranked highly because it said why Kheops was scratched, rather than following the industry convention of sticking it's head in the sand. And it has some great pictures.
3. Chelan Kozak's Blog: Chelan's blog isn't always the most sophisticated, but it is usually the most entertaining, with fun pictures as well. Chelan's blog also gets a high ranking because she sent me a thank you note the last time we linked to it. Yes, that kind of thing matters.
Thckle Me Elmo David
4. Boyd's Blog: Boyd has a couple of good recap posts and some nice photos by Amber.
5. Will Faudree's Blog: Will launched his blog just a few days before Rolex. The posts that he actually spends time writing are excellent. For example, he mentioned that he forgot to unhook his air vest hopping off after XC and it inflated. Never post a press release again Will, and pictures are king, but, other than that, I'm excited to have you in the blogosphere.
6. Bruce's Blog: Bruce couldn't be at Rolex in person, but Lisa Thomas took some fun pictures.
Honorable mention: Oliver's Facebook completely fooled his fans and members of the eventing media Saturday night, but I give it credit for trying to tell folks what was going on. The latest story it has is that Oliver, William, and Yogi were stranded in Chicago overnight because their flight out of Lexington was delayed due to weather. I have since heard that they are on their way back to England today.
Life is about friends and memories. Everyone who was at Rolex this weekend made some great memories and hopefully our coverage helped our friends at home make some Rolex memories as well.
Share your favorite Rolex memory as a comment on this post because I think sharing our Rolex weekend memories might be a great way for Eventing Nation to work those post-Rolex Monday morning blues at work. If we get enough comments, I'll tell the story about why I ran around the XC course in less than 40 minutes for absolutely no reason.
EN $100 Bit of Britain Challenge update: I just wanted to give folks a heads up that I will start figuring out who won from the more than 100 entries sometime tomorrow. Leave a comment if you picked a perfect 3.
"I know my chap tries to jump the jumps...He tried his heart out."
"I came here hoping for a top-10 placing, and I kept reminding myself of that while I was in the ring today."
"I'm impressed and surprised, he didn't do anything wrong. But I didn't expect it. He's come out of this a better horse."
"To be on Cool Mountain sitting on top of Woodburn and Courageous Comet - they are fantastic horses so to pip them to the post was a real thrill."
"I was sure [Oliver] would win it. He came here with two lovely horses and for it to have gone so wrong just shows what it's all about. You just never know. You couldn't have imagined that. We're just all very, very happy he's okay, and he'll win it another day."
Phillip:
"I'm pleased I made the decision to come here and I'm thankful to the organizers for getting him in at the last minute."
"Hopefully he'll win one of these things one of these days, but sometimes you're grateful to be second."
"He's a phenomenal horse...He's a fiery, strong horse, and actually out of the whole weekend I was really pleased with today, because he and I have struggled a little bit to keep things calm on the third day."
Becky:
"I've been fortunate enough to have a lot of experience being in the top places after cross country and the unfortunate experience of having bad rides and disappointment in the show jumping...On the day you have to just jump one jump at a time as well as you can."
(1)William Fox-Pitt had a rail in hand when he started his show jump round but he didn't need it. Cool Mountain jumped big and listened to William the entire way around for a double-clear. William adds an [8th] career four-star win (5 Burghley, Badminton, Luhmuhlen, Rolex) to his trophy case. I don't mean to take away from Cool Mountain--he's a 4* champion now--but he was far from the most talented horse in the field. Cool Mountain jumped well today and he clearly gives his best effort to William every time, but neither the horse's canter nor his jump are textbook. All the more credit should be given to William for navigating this horse to the win. As 'lec' commented, Cool Mountain probably isn't one of William's top three horses. William's wikipedia
(2)Phillip and Woodburn delivered a fantastic double-clear round to move from 4th to 2nd. Show jumping has been Woodburn's weakest phase, but Phillip switched him back to a bit after using a hackamore at The Fork, and the new headgear worked beautifully. Woodburn was calm throughout the entire round, which is the key for this horse. The icelandic volcano gods smiled favorably on Woodburn by redirecting him to Rolex. Phillip finished second at Rolex...again, and I bet he was really happy to be answering questions about that at the press conference.
(3)Courageous Comet and Becky Holder had an excellent Rolex, finishing in 3rd place. Comet felt his way around the entire show jumping course, but only pulled one rail. Comet belongs in the top 3 of four-stars and it's good to see him there.
(4) The show jumping struggles continued for Kim and Tipperary Liadhnan. "Paddy" stopped at fence #4, a stone wall decorated vertical. It just seemed like Paddy saw something he didn't like about the jump and wasn't going to give it a try. After the stop, Paddy jumped the next few great but fell apart through the final line and pulled the last three rails. Kim has had so many great performances at Rolex over the years, but today was not her day.
(5) As I wrote during the live blog, Boyd finished the weekend with 13.2 jumping penalties combined on 3 horses. Two of them (Rock on Rose and Remington) were first time 4* horses, and they finished next to each other in 11th and 12th place. Neville finished a super weekend in 4th on a double clear and made a great case for himself to make the WEG squad.
(6) We have written about how Steph Rhode-Bosch and Port Authority have been owning the jumping phases of competitions all spring. They did the same at Rolex and Steph and Port Authority finished their first 4* on their dressage score and in 5th place. I'm not sure if that's a record finish for a first time pair at Rolex but I'm guessing that it is. Steph never flinched under the pressure all weekend; she didn't even look nervous when I saw her back in the barns. Steph has moved up the levels with Port Authority and their partnership is their greatest strength. This is a young pair to put on a team. They delivered under pressure this weekend, and we have a great chance to see them riding for Canada this fall.
(7) Speaking of Canadians, Canada finished 4 riders in the top 10. The US finished 5 riders in the top 10, and of course Great Britain had the other. David has made a point of investing in Canada's young talent and three of Canada's top 4 finishers were first time 4* horses. Also, consider that Jessica Phoenix didn't even ride this weekend due to recent childbirth, and she rides two of Canada's best horses. I fully expect David to win as many gold medals coaching as he did riding. Welcome to the big time team Canada; let's see how you do with the pressure of some expectations at the WEGs. Thanks to PlayerHater for asking me to write about this topic.
(8)The Foreman disappointed me by pulling 2 rails. Phillip is really comfortable with "Chip" but after that show jumping and the hold this morning at the jog, I don't see this horse factoring too much into WEG selections unless a couple of Phillip's other horses run into issues. Phillip finished two horses in the top 10 of a four-star...again.
(9) I give Karen and Mandiba an A- for the weekend. They had 2 rails and dropped one place to 7th in the show jumping but they got the job done yesterday, making it two straight big three-days with clean XC rounds. For a bit of perspective, if Mandiba hadn't lost his shoe yesterday, I'm sure they would have made the time on XC which would have put them into 4th for the weekend.
(10) Several of the riders were complaining about a camera on the jump standard of fence 11. Allison explained to me that it was an automatic camera with a loud shutter sound that went off repeatedly as the horses were about a stride away from the fence. When Allison simulated the volume of the shutter sound for me it was about as loud as a talking voice. Several of the horses, including Arthur, visibly shied at the fence and pulled the rail. Apparently there were some discussions about turning the camera off, but it was still running for Selena and Colombo and they pulled the rail as well.
(11) I've been griping all weekend about Kyle Carter not putting together a solid three phases at a big event. Just to spite me, Kyle put together three solid phases this weekend and finished in 13th. But there's no excuse for Madison Park to score higher than a 55 in dressage.
(12) Two North Carolina horses, Ernie and Stewie, had excellent 4* debuts. These horses will bring Will and Holly back into the spotlight of US eventing over the next few years. I can't say enough about how well Stewie handled the environment considering how feisty he has been in the past. Way to step your game up Stewie!
(13) The California crew had a disappointing weekend. Hawley Bennet-Awad who rides for Canada but trains in California had a good weekend and finished in 9th aboard the powerful and talented "Ginny." But, I just scanned the final placings, and someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Debbie Rosen and The Alchemyst were the only other pair that trains primarily in California to finish the event.
(14) There were 7 double-clears in the show jumping (Cool Mountain, Woodburn, Neville Bardos, Port Authority, Anthone Patch, Titanium, and The Alchemyst). This made the Richard Jeffery's course ride considerably harder than '07 and '09 but easier than '08.
(15) Other than William, the other non-Canadian international competitors underperformed at Rolex. Stanislas de Zuchowicz (FRA), Jonathan Paget (NZL), and Capt. Geoff Curran (IRL) all flew a long way to finish outside the top 25. But, they did all finish.
(16) In general, I want to give the weather a lot of credit for holding up this weekend. It rained at night, and it's raining now, but the rain held for almost the entire time horses were competing.
(17) While this has nothing to do with show jumping, word is that Phillip's now infamous phone call was to Evie to ask Jan if he should keep going on Waterfront since the horse was giving him a tough time around the course.
Oliver Towned has been released from the hospital...for real this time...we promise.
Oliver was out and about at the horse park this afternoon. If you have any photos of an Oli sighting from Sunday, please send it in and we will post it just as hard evidence that he has actually left the hospital.
In the interview, Oliver explains that the FEI has given him a 21 day pause from competition because the fall knocked him unconscious. Obviously Oliver will miss Badminton.
-Cool Mountain has 8 show jumping penalties in his last 4 advanced level events, but none in his last 2. William looked relaxed at the jog today, and he is no stranger to high pressure situations.
-Sitting 2.0 points back from Cool Mountain, Tipperary Liadhnan has 58 show jumping penalties in his last 4 advanced rounds. "Paddy" has the physical skills to jump clean, but the question is all about whether he and Kim can find their old SJ form from Rolex 2008, when they had just 1 rail. Only one rail for Paddy will get him on one of the summer lists.
-Courageous Comet is just 2.4 points back from Cool Mountain. Comet has 1 rail in each of his last 3 advanced events, and 2 rails in each of his last two four-stars.
-The Foreman sits just over a rail behind William and Cool Mountain. "Chip" has 2 rails in his last 5 advanced level events, and one rail in his last two four-stars. Chip jumps unconventionally, but he also jumps unconventionally high.
-Rounding out the top 5, Woodburn is also just a rail back. He has 20 show jumping penalties in his last 6 advanced rounds. The USET will be paying close attention to Woodburn's round today as they work to figure out which of Phillip's horses is the best.
In the past three years, no horse outside of the top 3 after XC has won Rolex.
2007: Ben Along Time moved up from 3rd (one rail back) to 1st with just 1 time penalty. 2008: Connaught moved from 2nd (within a rail) to 1st with a double clear. 2009: Headley Britannia maintained her lead with a double clear.
That said, we all remember Andrew Hoy's surge from around 7th to the win in 2006.
This is clearly shaping up to be William's competition to lose. The only question is Cool Mountain's The crowd (and I) will be rooting hard for Becky and Kim to have quality rides.
Not to jinx it, but 4 of my top 5 (Chip, Ashdale, William, Woodburn, and Mandiba) are in the top 6 going into show jumping. Since I'm wrong nearly 100% of the time, it can only be more EN Karma hard at work.
As an update on Leyland, word in the barns is that the Team gave him a bye, which just basically means that under present circumstances they didn't feel it was necessary for him to run.
Kelly Prather's tough weekend came to an early end this morning when Ballinakill Glory was spun on representing during Sunday morning's jog. "Pippa" has a great deal of talent and is a super horse when she focuses. We will see this pair back in action and doing well sometime soon.
Right before Nigel announced that Kelly would not be accepted, Gorund Jury member Marilyn Payne walked to Kelly to explain their decision. This seems like a small thing, but it was a nice gesture.
Madison Park and The Foreman were both held but passed on re-inspection.
A lot of the horses looked pretty fresh this morning, which might have been the windy weather or a bit of gamesmanship from the riders. Speaking of the weather, it's a beautiful partly cloudy and breezy spring day in Lexington.
53 horses perfeormed dressage at Rolex, and 37 of those advance to the show jumping.
I spent some time speaking with people about Oliver's status this morning, and I don't have anything further to add from this morning's update. The picture of Oliver's crash is on the front page of the Lexington Herald Leader.
"Unfortunately due to several minor injuries, Oliver was not discharged from hospital. He has not sustained any head injuries but will remain in hospital for observation of his minor fractures. He will therefore not be able to complete the Rolex Kentucky three day event."
On Saturday afternoon, Oliver's Facebook announced that he had been released from the hospital. I contacted a source who is very close to the British team who confirmed that they were at the hospital picking Oliver up. The USEA and the Chronicle both also reported that Oliver was released from the hospital.
This morning, the post reporting that Oliver was released has been deleted from his Facebook and the latest post is the (above) release from BE.
The latest that I have heard is that the British contingent heard that Oliver was fine and could leave the hospital, Oliver's people posted the FB status, they went to the hospital to pick Oliver up, and then learned that he would have to stay the night. Word is that the "fractures" talked about above are cracked ribs and a cracked collarbone.
As of late Saturday, Oliver was listed in "fair" condition at the hospital.
That's all the information that I have at this time, and I apologize for the error.
Following the EN/Chronicle Live Blog has been a great way for fans at home (including me!) to keep up with the competition. Here are some videos of the big event to make you really feel like you were there. I encourage you to click the links and watch the rest of the videos that are out there! Good luck to all the competitors today and a safe trip home for everyone.
William Fox-Pitt and Cool Mountain through the Head of the Lake. HNNVideo has a ton of great videos.
Becky Holder and Courageous Comet at the Trakhener
First off, let me say that Rolex volunteers are AWESOME, and the veterinary team is simply spectacular. Each and every horse was monitored very closely the whole way around the course, and an experienced veterinarian was stationed at every numbered obstacle. The horse's well-being was priority #1, and everyone did a great job communicating and attending to any issues. The medical team was spectacular as well, and delivered Oliver to the helicopter quickly and safely. There is a lot of behind-the-scenes effort that spectators don't see, but it is always there in case something happens.
----
There were six falls on course at Rolex on Saturday, and we know now that all the horses and riders are alright.
Mushroom: Jennifer Wooten-Dafoe and The Good Witch hit fence #3 and fell on the landing side. The fall was not rotational. Both walked away.
Duck Pond: Michael Pollard and Wonderful Will fell at #6A, the first element of the first water. This fall was not a classic rotational, but both horse and rider fell on the water side of the fence. Both walked away.
Coffin: Dorothy Crowell and Radio Flyer experienced a rotational fall at the first element of the coffin. Dorothy was lucky she fell far enough down the slope that the horse did not land on her. Both Dorothy and Red walked away.
The Hollow: Kristi Nunnink and R-Star tumbled down both the banks. Kristi and R-Star were both up quickly and walked away, but Kristi's shoulder started to swell. She was taken to the hospital and released later Saturday afternoon.
Tara Ziegler and Buckingham Place rotated over the first element and fell over the first bank. Both walked away.
Oliver Townend and Ashdale Cruise Master had a rotational fall and Ashdale Cruise Master fell on top of Oliver.
DOROTHY CROWELL / RADIO FLYER fall at the coffin 1:57:49 (not for the faint of heart)
GEOFF CURRAN / THE JUMP JET breaks the log at the Lake 3:57:15
OLIVER TOWNEND / CRUISE MASTER fall at the Hollow 4:43:51 (one of the scariest falls I've ever seen)
5 of the falls happened at vertical hanging logs that employed frangible pins, and the frangible pins did not break in any of the incidences.Important: It should be noted that frangible pins do not break under any and all circumstances; only when enough loading force is applied in the right way. Another important thing to remember is that we are dealing with a very small (5) sample size of incidents from Saturday. Frangible pins have undergone considerable scientific research and study using much larger data sets.
Reproducing the exact circumstance (speed, conditions, direction of force, etc.) are scientifically infeasible and we are left using video and reports from experts to analyze the performance of the pins. We (Visionaire and I) spoke with several educated and influential sources who witnessed the falls in person and will undoubtedly be part of any official inquiry into the performance of the pins.
The consensus was that in three of the falls (Dorothy, Oliver, and Tara) the frangible pins clearly should have released, reducing the risk of a rotational fall. Under the circumstances of the other two falls (Mike and Kristi), the experts were unsure whether the forces caused by those falls should have broken the pins. Perhaps it was appropriate that the pins did not release in those instances, as deployment may not have created a safer situation for the horses or riders.
We were more than lucky today that none of these falls resulted in serious injuries.
----
The performance of the frangible pins contrasts significantly with that of the foam log used at #16A, the second drop into water at the Head of the Lake. The foam log was manufactured by Safer Building Materials, a company operated by eventers Mike Winter and Kyle Carter.
Capt. Geof Curran's horse The Jump Jet ran into the log with considerable force. Witnesses said that the log broke cleanly in half, exactly as it was designed to do. Horse and rider remained safely on the takeoff side--they did not end up too close to the bank edge. The log was quickly replaced with just a very brief hold on course.
Video of replacing the log
Despite the "breakable-ness" of the jump, it held up very well to normal xc-jump abuse. Many horses reportedly rubbed the jump with their stifles as they dropped down (VERY common for drops into water) and little styrofoam chips were knocked loose, but the log held solid. This jump was deemed quite successful.
I didn't know anything about these foam logs until Wednesday when I spoke to Kyle up by the first jog. In what now seems like a prophetic moment, Kyle told me that the three other places on the Rolex course he felt they needed to use the foam logs were the jumps into the first water, into the coffin, and into the hollow.
Thankfully, out of the six falls suffered today, none of the horses and riders were seriously injured. This sport will always have a high element of risk involved, and we cannot prevent every accident. On one hand, you want to eliminate rotational falls; on the other, you don't want xc with showjumps. It is a difficult challenge to create a "safe" obstacle, one that can withstand normal xc stress AND have a reasonable breaking point that creates a more desirable "rider path to the ground." I'm glad there are efforts being made to achieve these goals, but there is still more research, testing, and design that needs to be done. I am not a mechanical engineer, so I'll leave the math and blueprint drawings to the experts.
Adding to the pressure of competing at the nation's biggest event (and for some, a spot on the team!), competitors must indulge the media in daily press conferences. Lucky for us, they are friendly and have plenty to say about their horses, the event, and taking it one jump at a time.
Kim Severson:
On Showjumping: "My horse will be good. It sort of depends on how I ride, if I choose to speak louder than I should it might hinder his jump, but hopefully it will go well and I'll give him a good ride."
Becky Holder:
On Comet: "Even though this is his eighth four-star you still have to take the course jump by jump and work with the horse you have that day."
On taking the long route at the Lake: "He can be a little bit spooky, and he doesn't like changes in the footing, but as long as I can give him a chance to see where he's going, he'll step up."
William Fox-Pitt:
Cool Mountain jumped clean and held onto first place: "I am happy for sure...you never know how it is going to go when you take a horse to a four-star for the first time...today he fought a little harder than expected, but overall it was a fantastic day for us."
"I wasn't feeling at my best this morning, but he was, and I'm very glad of that because you don't want to throw away a top spot when you're lucky enough to get it."
I have confirmed from a source close to the situation that Oliver is conscious, walking around, and not seriously injured, and that he might be released from the hospital sometime soon. Perhaps the best sign is that Oliver was apparently flirting with the nurses.
Oliver Townend is currently at the University of Kentucky medical center, where he was airlifted after a serious fall during Saturday's Cross-Country at Rolex. His horse, Ashdale Cruise Master fell on top of Oliver at the Hollow, which is a XC complex with a vertical rail and two bounce banks down. Oliver was apparently knocked unconscious after the fall.
(1)William Fox-Pitt and Cool Mountain finished clean and well inside the time to maintain their lead going into Sunday at Rolex. Cool Mountain was visibly tiring toward the end of the course, but William used his considerable experience and a very steady galloping position to help Cool Mountain home.
(2)Kim had her typical fabulous double-clear Rolex XC ride on Tipperary Liadhnan. "Paddy" isn't the fastest horse, but Kim was the most efficient rider on course today and they jumped up from 4th to sit in 2nd. The really tough work for this pair is tomorrow.
(3) You can say the same for Becky and Comet, who blasted around the course easily within the time and are in 3rd on a 45.2. Nothing looked hard for Comet around the XC.
(4) The Rolex organizers eliminated the lunch break and accelerated the afternoon starts to beat the weather which was predicted for Saturday afternoon. The plan worked perfectly and riders competed on excellent footing and under clear skies for most of the day. The wind and rain is just starting to pick up here at the KHP and the WEG show jumping test event scheduled for tonight has been canceled due to predicted storms.
(5)8 of the 9 Canadian starters had clean rounds on XC, 4 Canadians had double-clears, and 6 Canadians are in the top 10. David has been coaching the Canadians for a few years now, and the benefits are really showing. Leading the way for the Canadians is Steph Rhodes-Bosch (9th) who has had the lowest weekend jumping totals at several big horse trials this spring.
(6)Mandiba lost a shoe at the 4th fence and Karen showed veteran poise and guided Mandiba around the rest of the course. Losing a shoe that early on the course is significant because the horse loses the traction of the missing studs and the protection of the shoe. A lost shoe often leads to a lot of work Saturday night making that hoof feel better.
(7) Boyd did what Boyd does. His 3 horses had 5.3 time penalties among them, and they jumped a total of 45 spots on the leader board on Saturday.
(8) The USET A-list fared decently on Saturday, with Neville and Woodburn jumping around perfectly. But Leyland withdrew on Saturday morning.
(9) The B-list had an awful day. Allison and Arthur had a tough day with a stop at the rail into the coffin, R-Star crashed at The Hollow, The Good Witch crashed at the Mushroom at #3, Phillip retired Waterfront on course, Coal Creek retired on course after two stops, and Kheops withdrew yesterday. On the upside, Pawlow looked very good, and, as mentioned, Mandiba had a quality performance.
(10) Eventing Nation Karma was in full display today as Lauren Kieffer and Snooze had a textbook first 4* XC, collecting time but looking steady throughout the entire course. Stewie (Last Monarch) looked more mature than he ever has in the 4 years I have known him. Stewie listened to Holly perfectly throughout the entire course, and stayed disciplined during a brief hold on course.
(11) It's so typical that I almost didn't mention: Phillip has 2 horses in the top 5 going into Sunday.
(12) Of the 51 XC Starters, there were 10 double-clears: Cool Mountain, Tipperary Liadhnan, Comet, Woodburn, Neville, Port Authority, Colombo, Gin & Juice, Rock on Rose, and Madison Park.
(13) 30 of the 51 starters (58%) had clean rounds. For comparison, 68% (16 out of 49) starters had clean rides.
Oliver Townend is conscious after being airlifted to the University of Kentucky Hospital. Oliver's Facebook fan page reports that he was able to move after the fall:
"[Oliver] was taken away by helicopter and was conscious and able to move when he left. He will remain in hospital for the time being. Ashdale Cruise Master will be checked by the vets but initailly looks to be fine."
William's site even reports that Oliver is swearing at the hospital:
"The good news is he has regained consciousness and is cursing and swearing so hopefully this means he is ok, much to the relief of us all here. Knowing Ollie he could well be back to ride ODT Master Rose in the show jumping tomorrow as he is lying well up there."
Clearly initial reports suggest that we should be optimistic. More news later as we get it.
Oliver Towned was airlifted from Rolex Saturday afternoon after falling from Ashdale Cruise Master at the Hollow (#20 and #21AB) on the Rolex Cross-Country course.
Ashdale Cruise Master caught his legs while jumping the rail at #20 but the horse continued over the fence and rotated onto Oliver.
Event officials quickly erected the tarp shielding. Within 10 minutes Oliver was placed on a board and transported by helicopter, reportedly to the UK medical center.
Ashdale Cruise Master was walking after the fall, and I heard that Ashdale Cruise Master is fine but the horse received a trailer ride back to the barns.
Kristi Nunnink and R-Star, and Tara Ziegler and Buckingham Place had falls at that jump, but without the horse landing on the rider. Both of those combinations appeared to be ok.
Sara Lieser and I were live blogging the Cross-Country as the fall happened, and Eventing Nation will have all the information on Oliver's status as it develops. Also check out the Chronicle's Rolex page for information as the situation develops.
Oliver is in Eventing Nation's thoughts and prayers.
Weather-Some rain has fallen overnight, but the footing is still quite nice and it's not raining at this moment (7AM). The longer the bad stuff holds off, the better the footing will be.
(1) Everyone I have talked to about this course says virtually the same thing about it, and it's the same thing that I said on Wednesday. This course is big, but it isn't very technical.
(2) Jumps to keep an eye on:
Fence #2: Riders decide which of two stone tables to jump. This jump caused a couple of problems last year, and one top coach said on the course walk to be seriously careful and take their time on the approach to this fence.
The Coffin (10 and 11AB): The brush out isn't at as much of an angle this year, but it's the Rolex coffin so it needs to be respected.
The Head of the Lake (15 & 16): A drop, three and a half strides to a corner, another drop to a very angled brush.
The Squirrels (18): They might look plump and content, but Lucinda thinks this could be the toughest line on course due to the striding, one could definitely see it. Lucinda's thoughts courtesy of Samantha Clark's Twitter.
The Hollow (20 and 21): The bounce banks down are invisible until the horse is jumping the rail at 20. I wish that 20 was a foam rail on top. 22 is a skinny chevron but shouldn't be too much trouble for the pairs that have gotten this far.
(3) In the event of any severe weather, the Rolex officials and volunteers are prepared to handle the situation as best as one can protect thousands or people standing in an open field from weather. Apparently the plan for a tornado is to head to one of the indoor arenas. It's a law of nature that if you come prepared for rain, it won't rain. If every single person comes perfectly prepared for bad weather then we have nothing to worry about.
(4) As a quick update, PD said that Kheops was withdrawn due to a "small amount of heat and swelling in one part of his leg" oh his blog.
Holly's Mom wrote on one of her blog posts last night:
Hi Hollybell,
Am watching you at Rolex. Good luck tomorrow in X-country. I remember you saying where he's not good necessarily at circles, he makes it up in running and jumping. Be careful and have fun. Remember Chuck will be at the finish line. Good luck!! LOL(love)
Adding to the pressure of competing at the nation's biggest event (and for some, a spot on the team!), competitors must indulge the media in daily press conferences. Lucky for us, they are friendly and have plenty to say about the weather, the cross-country course, and their amazing horses.
William
Fox-Pitt:
"Cool
Mountain is a very talented horse on the flat...to produce his best test today,
in this atmosphere, is a credit to him, but I think he's got more in him."
On Saturday's test: "Last year the course was a bit tricker but there are plenty of chances to make mistakes."
"If it rains it will be huge."
Allison
Springer:
"I've been
working really hard to improve myself and my horse in all three phases, and I
hope that this weekend we can really put it all together."
With 18 horses less than 10 points out of the lead and 38 horses within 10 points of 10th place, it seems like Rolex is anyone's game.Awesome! As sports fans we love parity, we love the Cinderella story in March Madness, we love feeling like anyone can win. Indeed anyone entered can win Rolex, speaking literally, but a look at results from the past three years suggests that being close after dressage is critical.
The past 3 Rolex winners:
2007 Been Along Time: 3rd after dressage, 0.4 points back from the leader after dressage
2008 Connaught: 3rd after dressage, 2.0 points back from the leader 2009 Headley Britannia: 2nd after dressage, 2.5 points back
At Rolex this year, only five riders are within 2.5 of the lead: William, Karen, Allison, Kim and Becky.
One major factor creating parity, or at least the illusion of parity, is the weather. As of the time I am writing this post, rain is predicted to start falling at 3AM Saturday and turn into thunderstorms as Saturday goes on. There is a special weather warning for Saturday afternoon, including possible wind damage, tornadoes, hail, heavy rain, and lightning.
The footing on the course is perfect right now, but if enough rain falls the footing will start to get deeper and eventually soggy. If enough rain falls tomorrow to make the footing deep, it will have an impact on the cross-country results.
Generally speaking, smaller and lighter horses have an easier time in deep footing because they can skim along the surface and make efficient turns.
Of the top 5 horses, Mandiba is the smallest and lightest, and the other 4 (Cool Mountain, Arthur, Paddy, and Comet) are all tall horses and Cool Mountain and Paddy are larger boned.
Neville is THE horse is watch if the footing deteriorates because he jumped from 16th to 1st at the soggy Fair Hill CCI3* last year and looked great running in that deep footing. The Foreman is another experienced horse who is small and light on his feet.
The first horses on course will also benefit from less rain in the ground and fewer horses in front of them to tear up the ground. Neville is the 1st out, Leyland is the 3rd, and Comet is the 9th.
Update: The latest weather report I have heard suggests that the worst of the weather might wait until after the XC, which is all we can hope for.
SO, to answer the post's title question: Rolex without bad weather will probably be won by one of the top 5 dressage horses. However, WITH severe weather, look for some big movement in the placings and the lighter horses to excel. Go eventing.
Thanks for all the supportive comments to Thursday's video: they are the only reason today's videos exists. As a little self criticism, I need to stop saying 'anyhow' and 'here we are.' Please comment on how I can make future videos better and what you might like to see next.
The same video, but with a soundtrack added by Visionaire
The Rolex leader board is tightly packed going into the weekend; 18 horses are within 10 points of the lead, and 38 horses are within 10 points of 10th place. We saw some good dressage tests, but nobody was brilliant. This reminds me much more of Rolex 2007 and 2008 dressage, where the leaders scored a 47.0 and a 39 respectively, than last year when Bettina (28.8) and Lucinda (32.3) ran away from the pack.
----
(1)William and Cool mountain scored a 42.8 on Friday afternoon to take the Rolex lead from Karen and Allison. William displayed his tremendous skill throughout the dressage ride, and especially in the canter work. Cool Mountain's frame is pretty open, and his natural carriage is not as uphill as any of the other top 10 horses, but William rode a very precise test and emphasized the trot work, Cool Mountain's best gait. At nearly six and a half feet tall, William always sits so elegantly, and Cool Mountain presented a much better picture to the judges today with such an elegant rider on board.
(2) Also riding Friday afternoon, Kim continued her brilliant track record at Kentucky, and she moved into 4th place with Tipperary Liadhnan on a 44.8. In 2008, Kim and Paddy finished Rolex in 5th place after sitting in 16th after the dressage on a 54.6. Always a force to be reckoned with at Kentucky, Kim is in a great position going into the weekend.
(3)Oliver Townend is looking solid after a 46.2 on Ashdale Cruise Master puts them into 6th going into the weekend. Oliver and OTD Master Rose are in 9th with a 49.8.
(4)Phillip has withdrawn Kheops Du Quesnay from Rolex. I haven't had a chance to talk with anyone about that because I just realized it during the live blog this afternoon. Phillip and Kheops would have been tied for 27th place.
(5) Kelly Prather took Ballinakill Glory into the main arena right after the last ride to give the horse a good school after their extremely tough dressage ride this morning.
----
Notes from Friday morning:
(1)Allison and Arthur had a lovely test to tie Karen and Mandiba with a 43.7 atop the Rolex leader-board. A few 5's in the walk work held the score back somewhat but it was 7's and 8's for most of the test. Arthur was a little spooky before entering the dressage arena, but he pulled himself together and showed off his lovely gaits. Allison showed her growing experience by being patient and letting Arthur take his time with each stride, which allowed him to move in his best rhythm and reach.
Allison rode in a helmet rather than a top hat for dressage, showing her support for riders wearing helmets at all times. This gesture bucked convention but set a great example for the many [people] watching her ride today. I tip my cap helmet to Allison.
Update: According to Samantha Clark's Twitter, "Allison Springer wore her helmet today to honour her brother who died as a result of serious head injury & her best friend who survived one."
(2) Phillip jumped into 5th place aboard Woodburn with a 47.7. Woodburn displayed good movement, but the walk work and flying changes hurt their score. Just 4 points behind Karen and Allison, Woodburn puts a lot of pressure on those two for Saturday.
(3)Oliver Townend and ODT Master Rose let a few small technical mistakes mar what was an otherwise nice test and they are sitting 6th on a 49.8 after 3/4 of the dressage here at Rolex.
(4) Several of the horses were really affected by KHP main arena atmosphere. Friday's crowd is about twice the size of Thursday's. Kelly Prather and Ballinakill Glory had a disastrous test as "Pippa" spooked, stopped, jumped, ran sideways, and threw her head around nearly 20 times throughout her test. The crowd willed Kelly on, and Kelly did a super job of holding things together. At the end of the test, the crowd gave the loudest and longest cheer of of the afternoon to recognize Kelly's effort, and Kelly left the ring with a smile. Some days just go that way, and it's time to move on to thinking XC for that pair. Hollywood and Estrella also seemed very tense, and High Patriot's score was lower than I expected from what looked like tension in the canter work.
(5)The KHP is currently under a "brown-out" which means that most of the electrical power is either out or under reduced strength. The scoreboard and apparently the live online feed cut out toward the end of the dressage rides. The KHP personnel are scrambling to get things back under full power, but I haven't heard any sort of a timeframe.
Thank you everyone for joining our llive blog this morning. We will have more live blogging this afternoon. If I don't get around to responding to some of your comments, it's because I didn't see them between watching the ride and my typing.
Rolex horse enthusiasts better beware on Saturday morning at 9am. The Horse Park is likely to be invaded by the Big Blue Nation as rock-star University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari will be on the grounds signing (empty) Maker's Mark limited edition bottles to benefit charity. The empty blue bottles will be sold for $35 to benefit the Calipari Family Foundation for Children. Fans may begin lining up at 7am, and line tickets will be given. Coach Cal will be signing the bottles at the Three-Day Event Shop, and proceeds go to support the UK Children's Hospital and Equestrian Events Inc.
Those from out of state, unfamiliar with the UK basketball program, may not quite understand this bottle-signing business. Each year, Maker's Mark releases a special edition bourbon bottle commemorating the UK athletics program; this year happens to feature John Calipari. The bottles initially went on sale on April 4th, and all 24,000 were sold out within two hours (folks were actually camping out at liqour stores at noon April 3!). Coach Cal hosted a signing at Keeneland April 9th, in which more lining up chaos ensued. The Big Blue Nation is passionate, and these bottles are a Big Deal...so don't be surprised if there is a sudden mad rush to the Three-Day Event Shop early Saturday morning. Cal is pretty much King here, and wherest he goes, the followers will followeth. Hopefully they'll stay to enjoy a great day of xc!
-Rolex officials scheduled Oliver with rides two today to give him time to recover from his travels and give his owners time to arrive.
-An unnamed but very reliable source told me that one of Oliver's horses spent 30 seconds standing on his hind legs after a botched flying change during Oliver's ride Thursday afternoon. Pre dressage meltdown moments are typical of some horses especially as they get super fit. Also consider that the horses flew over to the US last week and have't had time to loosen up turned out in pasture for a few days now. Everything I have seen of Oliver's rides this week suggest that he is more than able to win the dressage.
By John on April 22, 2010 11:35 PM, Filed Under Videos
If horses have taught me anything, it's that you can't learn how to ride standing on the ground. One of my goals for Eventing Nation is for us to aggressively use video to connect with our readers. Today I took the first baby step towards that goal by filming a short walk I took through the Horse Park on Thursday night during the WEG dressage test event musical freestyle, which, incidentally, Tina Konyot ended up winning.
Filming: 45 minutes
Figuring out how to upload and edit the video: 3 hours
The final product: anything but priceless
Please leave your suggestions in the comment section, but, off the top of my head, it needs a soundtrack, the camera shakes like I'm on crystal meth, I need to pronounce "Kentucky Horse Park" using more than one syllable, and it has a considerably less developed "plot" than Hot Tub Time Machine.
Rolex is such a big event that someone could spend all night reading and watching coverage. We always link to the best eventing content here on Eventing Nation, but during Rolex we will make a special effort by dedicating one post every night to the best Rolex coverage elsewhere online.
We will update this post as more coverage of Thursday is published throughout the evening.
Quotes: The Chronicle has great quotes from Karen, Backy, and Phillip speaking at the press conference
Please enjoy a few photos I took between live blog sessions.
David, Mark, and US eventing team's dressage coach Oded Shimoni watch Karen and Mandiba warming up before they took the lead with a 43.7
Sorry you can't be here this year in person Bruce, we miss you, and we'll see you at Rolex next year
An abandoned horse balloon floats high above the Horse Park--that or Phillip is jump schooling Woodburn
Keeping the XC course perfectly hydrated: the great KHP staff uses essentially big sprinklers connected by a hose. They drag the sprinklers to the proper place on course using ATVs.
NBC's Sunday Night Football semis are at Rolex over the weekend handling video for NBC and Universal Sports
(1)Karen and Mandibaput together a lovely test that featured great movement and technical precision and scored a 43.7 to take the overnight lead at Rolex. Mandiba showed his experience and was very focused throughout the entire test. After finishing and leaving the arena, Karen paused to let one of the pony clubbers who was opening and closing the dressage arenas for the riders pat Mandiba on the head (above). All of the volunteers have done a wonderful job today, and Karen recognized them all with that great gesture. You should have seen the smile on that little girls face.
(2) Phillip and The Foreman had a great dressage ride to move into third on a 47.2. "Chip" looked occasionally a little unsteady in his frame which might have held back their score a touch. But, no matter what happens tomorrow, Chip will be in great position going into the weekend with his great XC and show jumping skills.
(3)The Canadian squad had an excellent Thursday, with 3 pairs in the top 8. Manny and Diana Burnett lead the Canadians and are 4th after a great test, especially since Manny looked like he has event more movement to give Diana. Steph Rhodes-Bosch, also of Canada, leads our field of Rolex rookies and has got to be happy sitting in 7th on a 52.0. The veteran Canadian pair of Selena O'Hanlon and Colombo are in 8th.
(4)USET Update: Mandiba (sitting 1st) The Good Witch (5th), both on the B-list, got the better of their A-listed counterparts Neville (6th) and Leyland (10th). Pawlow (9th) and Kheops du Quesnay (14th), also B-listed, had solid days. Also B-listed, Arthur, Waterfront, Coal Creek, and R-Star are all set to compete tomorrow.
(6) With the lowest score from today set at 43, the door is definitely open for the likes of Oliver, William, Kim, Leslie, Allison, Mara, and Phillip to take the lead when they ride tomorrow. The top 5 placings are going to look a lot different by 3:30 Friday.
(7) Check back later this evening for more from Rolex, including a post that links to the all the best Thursday Rolex coverage everywhere else online.
----
From Thursday morning's dressage action:
(1)Becky and Courageous Comet had what for them is a disappointing test, scoring a 45.2. Comet looked tense and distracted and the trot scores reall suffered. Becky pulled it together for some 8's in the canter work behind 4 very nice flying changes. Granted, they are in the lead by 6 points, but a good test for Comet would have been 10 points lower. This leaves the door open for the likes of Oli, William, Mara, and Phillip. Also, Becky's score has an influence on Eventing Nation's $100 Bit of Britain Rolex Challenge, as many people figured Comet was a lock to break 45.0 and picked him for the dressage portion of the challenge. As one rider texted me "I wish my bad days were that good."
(2)Madison Park and Kyle Carter had what looked to me to be a very solid test, but the judges gave them a 59. Parker was relaxed and moving well, but the judges picked apart all four changes and a bobble in the walk work to leave them with some work to do over the weekend.
(3)Phillip and Kheops suffered from being the first ride and the judges were conservative with their scoring.
(4)Napalm and Ian had a great test, showing the hard work they put into the dressage over the weekend.
(5)Boyd and Neville are sitting in good position with their 51.8. This will be a little ways out of the lead by the end of dressage on Friday, but close enough for Boyd to catch back up on Saturday.
As part of our frenetic attempt to bring you the very best Rolex coverage, we've created a little play area for our readers to chat and discuss the latest rides and rumors in real-time. Click on the Chat Now button in the sidebar, in the upper right corner. This feature will be open 24hrs throughout the event, so feel free to join in whenever you wish. EN writers may pop in from time to time, as our hectic Rolex schedule allows.
Thursday Update from John: Vis and I were up until 2am Thursday morning trying to get the live chat installed on the site. But throughout Thursday it kept crashing, not loading for people, and generally causing me anger. Therefore, I have decided to take it down until we either fix the current program or get a better one. I apologize for any convenience. This is going to be an exciting feature once we get it working properly.
Also, please notice the handy media links added to the sidebar. There, you can access current scores, live video feed (it is pay-per-view), and your favorite riders' competition times. We also have a scrolling Twitter feed, so you get the latest information from a variety of media sources.
If you have any additional suggestions, questions, or comments about our Rolex plan of attack, don't hesitate to email, leave a note in the comment section, or send reply to @eventingnation on Twitter.
Of course, the Rolex we are talking about is the one given out in a drawing to one rider every year at the Wednesday night Rolex cocktail party, which is where I spent my evening. Equestrian Events Inc put on a great party, and, while I'm not the best at small talk, I got to catch up with old friends and meet a few new ones. As always, I heard some great stories that can't be repeated here and I told a couple of those myself.
Lauren Kieffer won the best dressed female award and Peter Atkins the best dressed male, and both took home a pair of Dubarrys for their fashion. We had trouble recognizing HJ Hampton from the front; all we usually see of him is his ears. I vote for Peter wearing a helmet cam at Sunday's jog.
Three Days Three Ways is has a review of the best turned out pairs in the jog. Maybe we will do the opposite for Sunday, and Ian Roberts is the early Vegas favorite. Ian either already has Dubarrys or didn't want any. That said, the grey Napalm was impeccably turned out.
Everyone passed todays jog. Merloch, Napalm, and Rock on Rose were all held but passed on further inspection. In general, I felt the ground jury was pretty generous this afternoon. As a quick word to the kids at home, please practice jogging your horses before three-days. Several of the riders either didn't practice or did an awful job of practicing and their horses were trotting sideways and awkwardly bent half the time. More later.
This is the magical bracelet that gets me back in the barns. This is my 10th consecutive Rolex, and, as always, my goals are to have fun, learn a lot, and hang out with my friends. This year will be a little different because I get to bring a few thousand members of Eventing Nation along for the ride.
I took a quick walk around the XC course with my friend Lauren Kieffer this afternoon. My main goal was to keep Lauren relaxed and to make the jumps look shorter by standing next to them. I'm 6' 3", and there's a reason nobody walks Rolex the first time with a midget little person. But, I did get a chance to see the course along the way.
(1)There's a water jump without any jumps. Seriously. The water between the trakehner and the coffin doesn't have any jumps in it, but the roped off track make the horses gallop through it.
(2)The Head of the Lake has two drops into water. There's a brush drop in going towards the main arena, 4 strides to a left corner. Then, it's out of the water, a short right handed loop and another drop over a rail into water followed by a very tricky uphill angled vertical out of the water.
(3)In general, the course is big but not overly technical. All of the combinations give the horses time to see and analyze the out elements.
(4)The distances that don't walk perfect tend to walk a little long, but I will have more about the distances when I go on a couple of course walks with coaches.
----
-A lot of the horses were ridden or hacked this morning at least once and will be ridden again this evening after the jog. The main arena opens at 4:30 and most riders will take advantage of the chance to school or at least hack the horses in the main arena to give them a look at the environment and grandstands.
-Ashdale Cruise Master is better on the flat than I anticipated. I briefly watched a few of the riders on the flat, and Cruise Master stood out as having quality gaits and good focus. Oliver can definitely be in the top 5 after dressage.
Stephen Bradley and Brandenburg's Joshua are the latest pair removed from the Rolex entry list. Stephen and Joshua were bringing an incredible XC and show jumping record to the competition, and I would have predicted them to finish in the top 5. There are currently only 53 Rolex entrants remaining from the over 70 that were entered just a few weeks ago.
If you included Joshua in your entry for EN's $100 Bit of Britain Rolex Challenge, you may submit a new entry up until the start of the first horse inspection, which is when the contest closes. Write "(Joshua)" at the top of the new entry so we can tell why you entered twice, and make your new entry identical to your first except with Joshua replaced by another horse. We have also decided that because we already have over 100 entries, if we have two winners with identical final score tiebreakers, we will use the lowest dressage score, and then the closest to optimum on XC to break any further ties.
If you have not entered our Rolex Challenge, make sure you do before the jog starts today. Bragging rights and a $100 gift certificate from Bit of Britain are on the line.
----
As we have mentioned several times, the dressage and show jumping WEG test events are also being run at the KHP during Rolex. The 2010 Radio Show has a great preview of all three test events. The Chronicle is covering the dressage and show jumping test events extensively, including a recap of dressage day 1.
----
Rolex is going to be a great weekend, but I already miss not having Bruce competing this year. Rolex without Bruce is like Christmas without Santa. In his latest blog entry, Bruce explains that his recovery is going very well and that he is preparing Cruise Lion for Buck to take to the Bromont CCI3*, which would qualify Cruise for the WEGs as another potential ride for Buck. Cruise is one of my favorite horses because he has a great blend physical talent and mental strength.
---
Lastly, today we select EN's Official Group Pick for Rolex 2010. We started a few days ago with 50+ Rolex entrants and, through our voting, we are left with 6 contenders for the prestigious honor. Rumor has it that when asked if he would rather win the Grand Slam or be EN's Rolex Pick, Oliver said "probably the Grand Slam, but I'm glad I have a shot at both." Check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7 of EN's Rolex competitor previews for info on all the riders. Only one vote this time:
A special Eventing Nation congratulations to Rolex entrant Michael Pollard and his family. His wonderful wife and former (and hopefully future) Rolex rider Nathalie gave birth to twins on Sunday. Of course, Nathalie's dad, Carl Bouckaert has competed at Rolex and represented Belgium internationally multiple times. With that pedigree, it seems like we have two great new USET members lined up for 2032.
---
Stephen Bradley and Brandenburg's Joshua, Sarah Kozumplik and Somerset, and Karl Slezak and Charley Farley are the latest three pairs off the Rolex entries.
Hey Eventing Nation, John asked me to write about my first Rolex, in 2007 when I rode Keep The Faith. Enjoy!
Rolex actually is as overwhelming and exciting as everyone imagines it to be. I told myself over and over that it was just another 3-day, just like another horse trial, to try to convince myself that I would be able to get through it. I can't even count how many times I told myself that I had done this all before, this is nothing new. Despite the continual struggle to control my mind and keep focused, the voice inside me was screaming, "This is ROLEX! This is your childhood dream come to life!! Don't screw it up!"
The week starts as magically as it finishes. From the requests for interviews from local newspapers and worldwide websites to the showering of sponsored gifts for riders, grooms and horses; as soon as I arrived I felt like a celebrity. The hospitality tent is always stocked with different types of sustenance, although I can only remember eating once the whole time I was there! The barns are booming with energy and everyone is happy to finally be there.
The first jog is electrifying. Everyone is a bit tense until their horse jogs up and is "accepted." Other than getting my horse through the jog, I was pretty determined to win the Dubarry boots that they give to the best dressed rider. I didn't win even though I had worn a darn cute outfit (in my personal opinion) and curled my hair...not that I'm bitter about it at all!
I expected to have trouble getting over my nerves in dressage, looking around at the grand stands and large crowds, but as I finished my warm-up and headed into the ring, the nerves slowly subsided. At one point during the walk I did feel the slightest bit nauseated, but quickly got back to work! Upon finishing my test, I was whisked away in a golf cart and bombarded by reporters. This unexpected press exposure only added to the nerve-racking atmosphere.
While walking cross-country riders have to wear their pinnies and people are asking for autographs even if they don't necessarily know who you are. Saturday morning is unlike anything I had ever experienced. I had a good night's sleep (thank you John for providing the Nyquill) and felt ready and focused. Even though I knew my horse and I could conquer the course, I could only think of each individual combination and succession of the course separately. It was too long and difficult for me to comprehend all at once. So I focused on the first fence as I was led into the start box by Clark Montgomery, who must have seen my face and told me that I was going to be fine and that I'd feel better once I got on course. Only once on course did I notice the crowds, when my horse took a look right before the head of the lake. After I jumped the creek oxer (the jump I was the most scared of) I remember taking a deep breath and smiling. The finish was no let down of exhilaration. So many friends and family were gathered outside the fencing and Lindsey Pearce and I jumped up and down and screamed. My mom shook me and said, "Way to go girl. You did it!" There was lots of ice and fluids for the horses that night and I was so relieved it was over but also wishing I could do it all over again.
I remember being pretty sad when Sunday came and the weekend was coming to an end. Show jumping was the quickest day of all and its funny how I started to get used to the crowds by the time I went in for my round. I didn't want it to ever end, but it came and went like the best things in life often do. I hope every event rider gets to experience Rolex at some point in their life, whether it be riding or spectating--it truly is unforgettable.
According to William's site, both William and Oliver have arrived in Lexington after their incredible travels over the past 36 hours. The question now is how exhausted and jet-legged are they? Both men have two days to recover and they both have a good deal of experience, so I think they will rebound quickly and be able to give their best effort to Rolex. Thanks to KM for sending us the update.
Oliver's taxi ride from Paris to Madrid cost $3,000 US.
Two Rolex dressage judges have been replaced due to volcano related travel problems. Marilyn Payne and Christian Landholdt (SUI) will replace Anne-Mette Binder (DEN) and Sue Baxter (GBR). Gretchen Butts has been named the TD in leu of Tom Ryckewaert (BEL). Course designer Mike ES won't arrive until Friday, and Derek di Grazia will sit in for him until then. Multiple officials for the WEG test events were also shuffled around.
Boyd's trip to Rolex was interrupted by PA state troopers who pulled them over and gave them a ticket for not having the correct license on their truck and trailer. It's OK Boyd, someone isn't completely American until they have been pulled over and given an obnoxiously large fine for something trivial.
The McLain Ward and Sapphire disqualification situation is growing every day. This is easily one of the biggest stories of the year in show jumping, and I suggest The Jurga Report for the latest information, including a video explaining the hypersensitivity test.
Update: The New York Times has written an article about the Sapphire disqualification that discusses the story lines behind the scenes.
0: Competitions Jonathan Paget and Capt. Geoff Curran have contested in the United States
.5: Arabian in the competition. Thanks to Snooze Alarm. 1: Winner of the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing (Pippa Funnell) 2: Riders with three or more horses (Phillip Dutton and Boyd Martin) 3: Consecutive years the following four horses have started the event (Hollywood, Arthur, Woodburn and The Good Witch) 4: Days a three day event actually takes and this is the only CCI4* in the hemisphere 5: Months Holly Hudspeth (neé Hepp) has been married 6: Horse/rider combinations contesting their first CCI4* (Kristi Nunnink/R-Star, Lauren Keiffer/Snooze Alarm, Kelly Prather/Ballinakill Glory, Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch/Port Authority, Andrea Baxter/Estrella and Colin Davidson/Draco) 7: Times Phillip Dutton has been runner-up; he finally broke the jinx in 2008 8: Hour trip for Will Faudree and Pawlow to get from their base in Hoffman, North Carolina to Lexington, KY 9: Age of the youngest horse in the competition (Titanium) and number of horses running their first CCI4* with more seasoned pilots (High Patriot, Anthony Patch, Kheops du Quesnay, Pawlow, Coal Creek, Rock on Rose, Last Monarch, Remington XXV and Titanium) 10: The price of a ticket (in US dollars) for the lower grandstands on Thursday or Friday 11: Starts Wonderful Will had as a racehorse. He then had a brief career as a pony at Keeneland race track - now he is contesting his second CCI4* with Michael Pollard - whose wife Nathalie Bouckaert Pollard had twins on Sunday! 12: Years the CCI4* has been running 13: Miles from Blue Grass Airport to the Kentucky Horse Park 14: Draw number of most senior competitor in the field 15: HSBC Classic points go to the winner 16: The height (in hands) of three time winner Winsome Adante 17: Years Karen and David O'Connor have been married 18: Age of the oldest horse in the competition (Hollywood) 19: Letters in Quirinal de la Bastide's name 20: Minutes Phillip Dutton will spend in the dressage ring (five minutes per horse)
Eventing Nation is a site designed to be fun for the most intelligent and connected members of the eventing community, and, as a result, our audience is the highest quality in the equestrian media. So, if your picks in our Rolex Challenge are the best in the entire Eventing Nation, you get some serious bragging rights~ AND you also get a $100 gift card from Bit of Britain!
(1) One horse that will score less than 45.0 in the dressage (worth 5 points)
(2) One horse that will go double-clear on Saturday-0 jumping and 0 time penalties (7 points)
(3) The horse that will win Rolex (15 points)
(4) The Rolex winning score (used for breaking ties)
Note: If no horses score under 45.0 in the dressage then no points will be awarded to anyone for those first (1) picks. The same is true for XC. You can choose the same horse for multiple picks, so you could pick Horse X to (1) score less than 45.0 and to (2) go double clear on XC, etc.
>Submit your picks by entering them as a comment to THIS POST. Click on the post title and scroll down to find the 'submit a comment' form. You will pick three horses and a score, so please identify which horse goes with which pick (dressage under 45.0, double-clear XC, winner). A good entry will look like:
(1) Dressage: Horse X
(2) XC: Horse Y
(3) Winner: Horse Z
(4) Winning Score: 1000.0
>The deadline for submissions is the start of the first horse inspection on Wednesday.
>At the end of the Rolex, the person with the most points wins.
>IMPORTANT: You MUST be either logged into Eventing Nation or FILL OUT A VALID EMAIL in the comment form to win. We will contact the winner of the contest using this email.
>This goes without saying, but do not submit multiple entries. We can tell from multiple submissions with either the same email or from one IP address.
**Bonus: If you use an EN registered username to submit your entry, you get an extra 3 points. If you are not already registered with an EN username, click the "Register" button at the very top right of our header, or try this link. The form takes 30 seconds to fill out, and you should get an email confirmation in your inbox. After you register, click 'sign in' just above the submit comment form if you are not already signed in. This registration helps us to know we have a valid email for our winner.
>GOOD LUCK! That's all there is to it. Just make sure you follow the directions, include your email in the comment form, and submit a good looking entry.
If there are any issues, send me an email and I will try to resolve them as quickly as possible. Please be patient and reasonable; craziness will make me regret having a prize for the contest. I'm leaving for Kentucky this afternoon and my next post will be from the KHP.
----
I want to give a special thanks to John Nunn for generously providing the Bit of Britain gift certificate for the EN Rolex Challenge. I have spoken with Mr. Nunn several times over the past few months and I greatly appreciate his insight and advice. I sent out exactly one email last night asking for a gift certificate for EN's Rolex Challenge, and I sent that email to Mr. Nunn because his company has such a rich tradition of supporting the eventing community. If you get a second while you are walking around the Rolex trade fair, please stop in Bit of Britain and thank Mr. Nunn for sponsoring EN's Rolex Challenge. Go eventing.
Will sustained a broken collar bone in a prelim fall on XC at The Fork on April 4th, and has withdrawn from Rolex. His name was still on the Rolex entry list as of last night, but it was removed this morning (thanks to a commenter for pointing this out). This is no surprise, and I have been saying Will would have to withdraw from Rolex since it first happened.
This is unfortunate for Will and Twizzel, but also for the thousands of fans at Rolex who are going to miss seeing one of the USA's best combinations right now. Will has taken a big step forward over the past year and, for most of the spring, he and Twizzel have been looking like a pair that belong on the US Team at the WEGs. As I have said before, Twizzel would have easily been in my top 5 at Rolex.
Expect to see Will entered at the Luhmuhlen CCI4* in mid-June and a good performance there will book his ticket to Kentucky this fall.
Note: Kate Hicks and Belmot have also been removed from the Rolex entry list.
Welcome to round 3 of EN's group Rolex picks, whereby we have selected 3 combinations from each of our preview posts to move on to round 2. This is a bracket style competition, and at the end we will have a collective EN pick as the result of our voting in polls throughout the bracket.
Note: We will also have a separate contest where everyone can enter their own Rolex picks, per the suggestion of PlayerHater. One member of Eventing Nation will win this contest outright, and they will have the distinction of beating the best and the brightest in the eventing community. We might have a prize for this contest, depending on if I have time to find a company to sponsor it. More about that later.
----
19 Rolex pairs from our preview posts advanced to round 2:
From preview part 1 & 2: Boyd and Neville (25%), Bonnie and Merloch (23%), Leslie Law and Mystere (19%)
From preview part 3: Phillip and Kheops (30%), Kim and Tipperary (35%), Hawley and Gin & Juice (13%)
From part 4: Allison and Arthur (30%), Will and Pawlow (28%), Mara and High Patriot (17%)
From part 5: Will and Twizzel (14%), Phillip and Chip (34%), Boyd and Remington (23%)
From part 6: Stephen and Joshua (20%), WFP and Cool Mountain (18%), Becky and Comet (19%)
From part 7: Oliver and Ashdale Cruise Master (28%), Karen and Mandiba (23%), Amy and Coal Creek (19%)
Judge's save: Woodburn
This is a very strong list, and I think any of these combos has a shot to win Rolex. Except, I still don't think there is any chance of Will riding Twizzel less than three weeks after breaking his collar bone, but if they did ride at Rolex, I would put Will and Twizzel in my top 5 for sure. They have looked great this spring.
In an effort to foster discussion, here are the best 5 dressage, XC, and show jumping pairs, in my opinion, based on watching the horses this spring and staring at their records for hours for the previews.
(In no particular order)
Best 5 Pairs at Dressage:
Becky and Comet: obvious Mara and High Patriot: best dressage rider in the field Kim and Tipperary: Jimmy said they would be top 3 after dressage Will and Twizzel: looked extremely polished in the training sessions and at The Fork Leslie and Mystere: consistently good
Best at Cross-Country:
Phillip and Chip: 2/2 double clears at four-stars
Phillip and Woodburn: best gallop in the field Oliver and Ashdale Cruise Master: because Oliver is riding Boyd and Neville: veteran, tough, hard working horse Will and Pawlow: meshing at just the right time
Best at Show Jumping:
Stephen and Joshua: 8 SJ penalties since 2003 Phillip and Chip: one rail in last 8 rounds WFP and Cool Mountain: great SJ rider Allison and Arthur: looked super at jumping training sessions Karen and Mandiba: gotta like Karen on Sundays
Coal Creek, Gin & Juice, and Remington all have solid all around games. I also was close to putting Chip and Ashdale Cruise Master in the best dressage group, and Mystere almost made the top show jumping group.
Everyone gets three votes again this round, and the top three from each group will move onto round 3.
----
Oh, I almost forgot-subk requested a preview for Woodburn, but I am very tired so this is going to be short: Wodburn's dressage is improving, but he has a tendency to get tense and lose his cool. Best case scenario for Phillip is to get Woodburn in a time slot where there will be a small crowd. Woodburn is absolutely automatic on XC, with a tremendous gallop. Show jumping is a liability for Woodburn with the over-under at one rail. Look for Phillip to ride fast in the early part of the show jumping and steady Woodburn toward the end as Woodburn tends to get more tense as the round progresses. I think Woodburn will win a 4* someday, and that day could easily come in a few days, but he might need a rail in hand and I'm not convinced that this XC course is going to give that to him.
Oh, I almost forgot, Eventing Nation is new to the world of Twitter, but we plan to learn on the fly at Rolex and the goal is to integrate Twitter into our Rolex coverage. www.twitter.com/eventingnation
As many of you know, Eventing Nation started with live coverage Fair Hill 2009, including live blogs of the XC and show jumping. We are still working out the final details of our Rolex coverage, and you know how I love surprises. But, we are hoping to work closely with other members of the eventing media, and I can say for certain that this will easily be our best live event coverage yet. Four phrases that will define our Rolex coverage: very live, cooperation, behind the scenes, and community driven.
Event coverage is exhausting and gives me a migraine every time, but it's tremendously fun and people seem to really enjoy our coverage. Just imagine me, hopped up on caffeine, with a laptop/wireless card, with a barn pass, and with the new addition of a video camera, running around Rolex for 5 days.One way or another you're not going to want to miss it.
On a more serious note, we have gotten emails from folks who will be missing Rolex for the first time in a while this year due to financial constraints. Our goal is to make you feel part of the action sitting at home better than you would if you had a general admissions ticket. We won't let you down. Go eventing.
According to USA Today, the Icelandic Volcano that gave William and Oliver so many travel issues has also altered the travel plans of more than 100 officials trying to get to Rolex and the WEG test events. The dressage test event starts at 9am Tuesday.
Two judges and Rolex XC course designer Mike ES still haven't arrived, but Rolex and WEG officials are doing a great job making sure the necessary personnel will be in place when they need to be.
We will have much more later today, but this immediately makes Phillip the clear rider favorite to win Rolex, whether on Woodburn or another horse. If you ever spend some time around Woodburn, you will quickly realize he is an obnoxiously athletic animal who seems destined to win a 4*. Consequently, we will use our American Idol Eventing Nation judge save to automatically advance Woodburn to round 2 of EN's Rolex picks.
Note: Credit for breaking this story goes to roki143 on the COTH forum, and KL for sending us the heads up. I also have to agree with blazing saddles that the real surprise here is that Phillip has a blog.
As we reported yesterday, Oliver Townend and William Fox Pitt have been forced to find an alternative route to Kentucky due tomassive flight cancellations in the UK caused by the Icelandic volcano that erupted last week. Both Willaim and Olliver took equally amazing trips to Madrid, Spain, where they could catch a flight to Miami this afternoon.
According to British Eventing, Oliver took a train to London, and then another from London to Paris. From there, due to current train strikes (silly European workers) he had to take a taxi the 900 miles from Paris to Madrid. I'm not sure what taxi's cost in Europe, but in New York that would cost more than the grand slam.
William, who is better connected than anyone whose name doesn't start with 'President' or 'King,' missed the train, but took a private plane to Madrid. William's website explains that they commandeered a single piston plane owned by James Gibson-Fleming at 4am Monday morning by visual controls.
Willaim and Olliver are now aboard a flight to Miami, according to British Eventing. They will take another flight to Atlanta tomorrow morning and still another to Lexington Tuesday afternoon. The horses arrived in quarantine in the US days ago, and they are already at the KHP.
Note: A special thanks to commenter 'lec' for linking to William's site in the comment section, which really helped fill in the details. When I retire from Eventing Nation, probably sometime after Rolex (joking), lec can take my place.
Ocala CCI: Tiffany Loudon-Meetz and Lo Finojumped a clean round with no rails in hand to win the CCI2* and $6,000 prize money EN's Hannah Burnett won the CCI* riding Harbor Pilot for David. After entering the arena tied for the lead, she had one time penalty in show jumping, but the final rider pulled three. Sure, catch ride a horse normally ridden by your coach, an Olympic champion who also happens to be a perfectionist when it comes to horses: no pressure Hannah.
What did the CCI* course look like? I'm glad you asked
---
Fallout continues from the McLain Ward and Sapphire disqualification at the FEI world cup finals. The Cliff-Notes version of this story is that Sapphire was disqualified because of a hypersensitivity (palpation) and thermography scan conducted by FEI vets. There was no jog involved, and there is no appeals process for such a disqualification. The USEF, McLain, George Morris, and everyone else are furious over this incident and have been making implications of corruption in the FEI's decision all weekend, such as George saying he felt very far from home. Angry editorial from HJN, Second USEF statement, FEI refuses emergency US request, COTH article
Rolex will also be the dressage and show jumping test event for the WEG. I have written about this before, but the idea here is to simulate a larger event than Rolex to help the many amazing WEG organizers and workers get everything practiced and perfect for the WEGs.
Check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7 of EN's Rolex competitor previews. So far, 15 combinations have advanced to round 2 of EN's collective Rolex pick. You will choose the last three to advance to round 2 in this preview post, and round 2 begins Monday evening. Rolex Entries List
Do we have any Family Guy fans in the house? Our fun fact about 'Stewie' is that he is named after the violent and villainous baby on FOX's hit cartoon series Family Guy. Eventing Nation has had the opportunity to keep track of Holly's path to Rolex through her EN guest blogs, which has been tremendously fun, and I expect the best is yet to come. Stewie is very energetic *understatement* young little horse, but Holly does a super job managing his emotions. Holly and Stewie have finished inside the top ten placing in 10 of their 12 advanced level competitions together. A rider fall at the Jersey CCI3* is their only issue on XC in the last 2 years and their dressage is improving each time out. I think the tension of the Rolex environment will keep Stewie from showing his best stuff, but a steady weekend will set them up well for making the team next year.
Sara was the highest placed young rider at Rolex in '05, '06, and '07 and holds the record as the youngest rider ever to complete Rolex. However, Sara is older now and pressure is on to ride like the experience she has. Bred in Idaho, 'Tony' is 2/4 lifetime on 4* cross country courses, collecting a stop at Rolex '05 and retiring at Burghley in '07, but he jumped around Rolex '06 and '07 finishing 14th and 12th respectively. I expect Tony to jump around on Saturday and a finish just inside the top-10 would be a great weekend overall.
While I am not nearly the gentleman that Mr. Wofford is, I too refuse to discuss in print the rumors that surround Karen regarding her tattoo-so stop sending me emails people! If and when there is a police report involving the tattoo, we will of course publish that in its entirety. Mandiba has all the tools to carry Karen to the promised land this fall, but they need to get around this weekend. The trick this weekend is for Mandiba to be efficient enough around most of the course so that he can have time to study the technical questions, but he doesn't have to be the fastest horse on Saturday to have a very successful weekend. Karen delivers in the clutch, and this weekend won't be different: top 10 lock.
Another member of the O'Connor Event Team, Lauren is Jimmy's pick for the highest placed Rolex rookie, and for good reason. Lauren has developed as part of OCET into one of our country's brightest rising stars, and I guarantee this is the first of many Rolex appearances for Lauren. Lauren and 'Snooze,' a 15.3 Chestnut Anglo-Arabian, have grown up together and they bring a quality past performance record to Rolex with only clean XC rides since early 2009, and just 3 rails in their last 7 events. I bet that time on XC and maybe in SJ will hurt their final placing a bit, but I expect a quality weekend from Lauren and Snooze.
Michele and Amistad have had a tumultuous spring, with wins in the advanced at Chattahoochee and Pine Top and a 2nd at Rocking horse, but also a withdraw after a stop on XC at Poplar, and a fall at The Fork. Their most recent event was the win at Chattahoochee last weekend, and hopefully they can keep the momentum for a quality Rolex weekend.
Once Phillip, Buck, and Oliver withdrew a few of their horses, it left Amy with the best one-two arsenal in the field. 'Devon' is considerably less experienced than his stable mate Leyland, but his record shows that he should not be underestimated. Amy believes (very wisely in my opinion) that horse trials should be viewed as preparation for three-days, so Devon has time penalties at most of his horse trials, but he made the time when it counted at Fair Hill 2008 and won that event. I expect Devon to have a steady trip around Rolex with some time, but a sub-50 dressage test and a clean show jumping could still put them in the top 10, and certainly the top 20.
Jennifer Wooten-DaFoe and The Good Witch: Homepage
Jennifer and The Good Witch stormed onto the 4* scene a couple of years ago with an 11th at Pau in 2007, and a 7th at Rolex '08. After a fall at Rolex last year and a stop at Burghley, they still find themselves on the B-list, but they need a clean round this weekend to stay there. On the upside, this pair has a very good show jumping record and they can make the time on XC. If they get around, I like them for a top 10 finish. Yes, I understand that is probably the 15th pair I have said could finish in the top 10, but you get the idea.
This is a tough pair to figure out, with 8 withdraws or retires in their last 13 events. They did win at Poplar Place earlier this spring, but a solid XC ride and a good completion should be their goal at Rolex.
Ashdale Cruise Master is Jimmy's pick to win Rolex. Oliver is one of the best riders in the world, he won two 4*'s last year, he is riding for more money than any eventer in history, and the pair won their last full outing before Rolex, a CIC3* at Burnham Market. What's not to like? If I had to nitpick, I would point out that Ashdale was eliminated and had a stop in his two previous four-stars, admittedly with a different rider. Oliver gives me that feeling that he will finish on his dressage score no matter what, so I like this pair to finish in the top 5, but maybe not to win.
On a personal note, I had no idea what I was getting into when I started these previews and each one probably averaged 15-20 minutes. So, we are not going to do Badminton previews, and next year they will be shorter. I will probably give my top 10, top 3, and a pick to win in the next couple of days. Go eventing.
EN's Rolex Pick: Remember that you can vote for three combinations, and the top three will advance to the next round. Please vote for the 3 pairs that you think will place highest in Kentucky.
I never expected to have to use "Volcano Update" as part of a post title.
I have received word that Oliver Townend and William Fox-Pitt are leaving England today with a "mad travel plan" to avoid all of the massive flight delays and cancellations caused by the Icelandic Volcano. This probably means they will miss the final day of the Belton Park event, a major Badminton prep. Flight bans for the UK have been recently extended to 0600 GMT Monday (1AM EST). I wonder how high "I have a really important horse show in Kentucky this week" ranks on an Airliner's list of priorities for delayed passengers. Check back later this evening for our final (thank God) preview group of Rolex competitors.
Update: lec, who knows her stuff, has commented that "WFP and Ollie are driving to Barcelona,Spain and then hoping to get a flight to the USA."buena suerte
Do you ever stare in awe at
the sleek shiny horses, the glistening brass, perfect braids, and dazzling white
marks at a CCI trot up? Do you ever wonder how they get that way? (LOTS of
hard work is the correct answer!) Each Sunday morning we will bring you a
little insider info on how the big-time grooms manage an upper level event
horse. Feel free to email or comment with specific grooming questions if you
have a topic in mind!
Today we will begin an exploration into the groom's ultimate canvas: a beautiful butt. Quarter marks are used to enhance a horse's hind parts (as an Irishman I know so often calls them), and to sometimes make a "statement," especially at team events. You may see a Kiwi bird on a NZ horse, maple leaf on the Canadians, or something cute that goes along with a particular horse's name/theme. Pretty much anything goes, so long as it is TASTEFUL and respectful towards the horse. Here's a link with some beautiful work.
One little thing here: no real groom would be caught DEAD using a stencil (that's the plastic-thingys you can buy at a tack store) to create a basic pattern. All checkerboards, diamonds, triangles, etc are done freehand. A thin, fine plastic comb is the tool of choice. Yes, it takes time, patience, practice, and skill; but it allows you to slightly modify a design to better suit the horse. And you don't leave the awful square outline from the plastic pressed into the butt.
Tools:
Fine-tooth comb-- a flea comb, or 2" broken section of plastic hair comb works well
Small body brush-- palm-sized, with short, firm bristles. A child's body brush, or even a small scrub brush does the trick.
Spray bottle-- you can use plain water, water mixed with QuicBraid, or flyspray to dampen the hair. Some people use Showsheen, but I don't like spraying it on the body (tails only).
Let's briefly discuss your basic pattern options:
CHECKERBOARD
The most basic, classic design. Generally the squares range in size from 1.5" to 2", whatever the size of your comb. Brush the horse's haunches as normal. Start about a hands-width off the dorsal line; the size of your checkerboard is determined by the size of your "canvas." Usually centered between point of croup and the tailhead. Most of the time, smaller is better-- about 7 squares or so. Hold your comb parallel to the horse's spine; comb straight down (perpendicular to spine) firmly to create a square. Move over one comb-width. Create another square by combing down. Keep going until it is the size you want.
Alternatively, you can create larger squares (think Purina) by using your small body brush instead of the comb.
DIAMOND or PYRAMID
A spinoff of the checkerboard. Same technique applies, only space your "checkers" in a diamond or pyramid pattern. It is a bit more compact, so this design looks good on horses with more pointed hindquarters, or who are a bit delicate (mares, smaller horses).
VEE
This design is not created with your little plastic comb-- instead, use the small body brush. Visually map out the size of your canvas, and lay your base by brushing all the hair (your whole "canvas") straight downwards. I usually cover an area from point of croup, to below point of hip, across to point of butt. Make a smooth lower border by brushing horizontally ("with" the hair). Starting just at or behind the point of croup, brush diagonally downward to the middle border of your canvas. Then create the other side of the Vee: brushing diagonally downward (against the hair) from near the tailhead to intersect with the other lower edge. I like to use this pattern on horses with pointy butts, steep croups, or those who seem to lack a bit of muscle.
RACING STRIPES
Definitely the easiest hind-end dressing to apply, and it's often my go-to QM of choice. Start by brushing the butt as normal, with the hair. Then, using the small body brush, start at or just barely behind the point of croup. Hold the brush vertically, and stroke straight down. Move over one brush-width. Brush straight down again. Repeat. You now have three vertical stripes. Even the lower edge of the stripes by brushing horizontally with the hair. I love this design on horses with large, powerful hindquarters-- it's simple, yet striking. Also, vroom-vroom for XC!
Now, the upper portion of the HQ is decorated. Time for the lower half, to be covered in "flashes" or "sharks teeth." I'm not really sure how this pointed pattern originated (give the illusion of movement? Jaws attacking your horse's hamstrings??) but it looks really cool. It takes a few tries to get the hang of it, but keep practicing.
Begin by clearing your canvas, brushing with the direction of hair. Let's start on the horse's right side. Hold your brush somewhere in the middle of the haunch, well below your upper design.
Brush in a sweeping, diagonal upwards motion towards the tail. Immediately follow it with a downwards diagonal stroke, from hip toward gaskin. You now have one "point" or "tooth."
Begin the second tooth right alongside the first, but staggering your brushstroke a little farther forward (toward the stifle). Brush upwards diagonally again, parallel to the first. Now, brush diagonally downward again, parallel alongside the first downward stroke. You now have a second point.
Continue on with the third tooth, and if it suits the horse, a fourth. Be prepared to get mad, frustrated, and start over (and over, and over) while you're learning. Over time, you'll develop the proper angle for each stroke, and just how much length looks good.
The video below includes demonstration of Racing Stripes, Sharks Teeth, and the Vee.
A few other notes:
Always check behind the horse to ensure your QM are even on both sides (especially on top!). Finish the job with a brush swipe straight down the spine toward the tail, and with half-circles either side of the tail (down the hammies) to "close out" your flashes.
Play around with different designs to see what suits your horse. If you cannot master one design, obviously don't do it! Poorly-done QM are worse than none; sometimes the horse's hair just won't cooperate. Also, if your horse has a skinny butt, don't call attention to it!! Save the design for later, when he develops something worth looking at.
Generally, I don't do quarter marks until prelim level or above. QM at the lower levels can be a bit "overdressed," and many LL horses aren't quite as developed behind (see above).
Practice, practice, practice! The great thing about quarter marks, is they are easily erased, so you can always start over. Once you master the technique, it doesn't take much time. But when you're fiddling around trying to get sides even, or debating which design to use, you waste precious time that the horse could be warming up! Don't be in a rush, do your preparation beforehand, it will be much less stressful.
Sadly, quarter marks don't show up on grays. Unless you try to get creative with grass stains. The only way to get QM on a gray horse is to body clip them in, something I might try at a fall three-day when I'm clipping anyway. Those of us with grays never get to have any fun...we're just stuck scrubbing green crap off our horses four times a day, soaking our hands in purple shampoo.
Oh, and I realized I forgot something from the braiding tips last week: Keep a magnetic dish handy! (the magnetic stud dish is great, but you can buy a needle dish for $1). Inevitably, you WILL drop the needle somewhere in the stall. Having a magnet greatly helps you find it, and sleep peacefully instead of nightmares about sole punctures.
Our fun fact about Stephen is that he has been part of the last two US gold medal winning Pan American teams in '03 an '07. Stephen is leading the trend in our sport to save experienced horses for three-days and Joshua has done only one competition (March Full Gallop intermediate) since Rolex '09. This is probably the most conservative 4* prep I have ever seen. That said, in three Rolex tries ('06, '08, and '09), Joshua places 3rd, 4th, and 10th respectively. Joshua never stops, makes time when it counts, and has 8 show jumping penalties since 2003, what's not to like?
Our fun fact about Diana is that she is yet another Rolex entrant who likes Vanilla Ice. Diana and Manny only have three stops on their record in their last 18 competitions, but those came at their only two 4*'s together: Rolex '09 and Burghley '09. The key for Diana is to keep Manny focused and calm. Hopefully third time's a charm for this Diana and Manny.
Dorothy's farm is just 30 minutes from the Kentucky Horse Park, making Dorothy and 'Red' hometown favorites and the only Lexington area residents competing at Rolex. Red has really matured on the flat recently, and he is a XC machine to say the least. While some rails in show jumping will take away their shot to win, I will be cheering for this pair loudly, and so should you
Buck's chances of picking up his first 4* win fell considerably when he withdrew Bobby and Reggie from Rolex, and he will look to give Titanium a good steady ride around Titanium's first 4*. The nine year old 'Ty' is one of the best looking horses in the Rolex field, but his show jumping form still needs considerable work and Buck did an incredible job leaving every rail but one up at The Fork. The show jumping issues will be magnified as horses feel completely different on 4* Sundays. But, that's why they pay Buck the big bucks. Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Hailing from the land of Leprechauns and beer, otherwise known as Orlando, Florida, Hilda and Extravagance have had a busy spring. They have completed 6 events, but 5 of those events were at the intermediate or prelim level, which raises questions about whether they are prepared to run clean and fast around a 4*. They had a decent competition at The Fork CIC3*, and will be hoping for the same at Rolex.
Phillip picked up the ride on Waterfront while Jan is recovering. The pair did have a stop in their first run together at Southern Pines, but they looked great at The Fork CIC3*. I doubt they will put together a three perfect enough phases to win but a solid weekend will give them a shot at the top 10.
William is one of my favorite riders to watch because he rides with nearly perfect form for his height. One fun thing is to watch his helmet: it almost never changes height throughout the entire XC course as he protects his horse from sudden changes in his center of gravity. Speaking of his height, make sure you see William standing on the ground once, he is very tall, and typically stands almost a foot taller than his entourage.
Cool Mountain 'Ollie' placed 9th, 7th, and 1st in three CCI3*'s last year. Ollie has a very good show jumping record, but he has had double digit XC time penalties at all but one of his advanced level competitions. Because of this, I can't pick them to win Rolex, but a top 10 is well within reason.
Toward the end of the day on Saturday, you are going to see someone riding a red horse wearing very bright yellow and red. Do not be alarmed. 'Lusty' is owned by Bruce Davidson and so Boyd rides her in the Davidson colors. The mare usually lives at Chesterland and Bruce is extremely involved in Lusty's daily routine, which gives Boyd a tremendous advantage. Rolex will be Lusty's first 4*, and she stopped once at her only CCI3*, but she is one of the best show jumpers in the field and I would bet Boyd finds a way to get her around the XC. The dressage is a major question mark with this pair as Lusty's horse trial flat scores with Boyd have ranged from 35 to 66, and I am concerned that the tension of Friday afternoon at Kentucky will lead to a sub-par dressage score, making them play catchup all weekend.
please excuse the music: Silva makes a much better dressage rider/supermodel than DJ
The beautiful 'Comet' is one of the most talented and most experienced horses in the field. Comet's dressage test will have the Rolex crowd gasping, and he will be in the top 3 after dressage. In terms of experience, Comet has been to 8 four-star events (Rolex '04, Luhmuhlen '05, Rolex '06, Burghley '06, Rolex '07, Rolex '08, Olympics '08, and Burghley '09). The problem, and we all know what is coming, is that Becky and Comet have struggled to put together a good weekend under pressure. In the three of their eight 4*'s where Becky and Comet didn't have a stop or more on XC, they had 16, 12, and 8 show jumping penalties. The 8 SJ penalties at Rolex '08 was still good enough for second, but it's hard to win under those circumstances no matter how spectacular the dressage.
Becky and Comet make me think of the last 5 Yankee teams where all the ESPN pundits kept picking them to win the World Series and then the Yankees would fizzle in the post season. Last year the pundits finally gave up on picking the Yankees-and then they won. If Becky and Comet get around the XC, Becky and Comet are a lock for a top 10, no matter what happens show jumping, but I can't pick them to do any better than that.
Leyland's fun fact is that he is known as "Trouble Tryon" at home. Last year at this time, Leyland was one of the young guns hoping to make his imprint on eventing. A year and two four-stars later he is well on his way, but there is still work to be done. You can pretty well book him for a clean cross-country, but he has more ability in the dressage and show jumping than he has displayed thus far. With a 48 and a 49 on the flat a Rolex and Burghley last year, he should be able to drop that by 5 points on Thursday. He also needs to polish up the show jumping with an average of 8 penalties in his last 4 rounds with Amy. Two better extended trots, and a little extra jump here and there will put them in the top 10 and book his ticket for the WEGs.
EN's Rolex Pick: Remember that you can vote for three combinations, and the top three will advance to the next round. Please vote for the 3 pairs that you think will place highest in Kentucky.
By John on April 17, 2010 6:12 PM, Filed Under Random
Sara Lieser of The Chronicle of the Horse joins me this week to preview the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event. Listen in.
Eventing Radio Episode 72 - Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event Preview:
By Leslie on April 17, 2010 3:26 PM, Filed Under Videos
Rejoice! Rolex is just days away and is the star of Video Saturday for the second week in a row. Those of you lucky enough to attend the event will get a much better view than this. Embrace it! Fans at home can at least stream the event live on their computers. Now might be the time to upgrade to a faster internet connection.
Rolex Runs on Volunteers: One of the perks of being a volunteer is getting dibs on the best seats in the house! This is a great video diary of one volunteer's Rolex experience. They also have an interesting blog. Thanks volunteers! We wouldn't have Rolex without you!
Phillip's Entourage: We don't often see footage like this immediately following a four-star dressage ride. Connaught looks proud of his effort, and Phillip is kind enough to sign autographs.
Horse Ballet...You Could Say That: Really it's just the part we have to get through to get to the cross-country. Dressage isn't all bad once you can accomplish more than a few circles and transitions and start to see the difference good flatwork makes in the jumping phases. Here are some of the top rides from Rolex 2008.
Built Rolex Tough: I always thought a three-day Eventer would make a better spokesperson for Ford than Nick Saban....Enjoy some more Rolex cross-country and these tough horses and riders.
Kibbles 'n' Bits: Buck's horse refused at the Sunken Road after a dog with no owner attached nipped at it's heels. Don't be that guy. Keep your dog on a leash.
Last week, EN contributor 'lec' wrote about grassroots eventing in the UK. This week, lec was kind enough to write about the UK young rider system. Thanks for writing this lec and thank you for reading.
----
From lec:
This week thought I would
look at the Young Riders System that we have in place here in the UK.
This is the system that any rider under the age of 21 can take part
in and have access to top class training and specialised competitions.
Anyone over the age of
12 years old can take part in BE. BE recently lowered the age and I
was one of those that was against this move as felt it was unnecessary
as they had plenty of opportunity in pony club which adult riders did
not have. But to be fair to them they ride better than adults, look
much safer and generally there have not been many of them.
Anyone over the age of
12 can take part on a horse or pony but in Europe we have a specialist
group called Pony
Riders. They can take part in
Pony trials for the European Pony Championships that takes place every
year. The Ponies have to be under 14.2hh and are measured. The championships
compete over 1* level courses. The top ponies look like mini sports
horses (think Teddy O Connor). The top ponies sell for big money as
you can only take part in pony trials up to the age of 16 but as anyone
knows ponies will keep going a long time! There is one pony called Noble
Springbok. He has never come home from a championship without a medal.
He is now on his 3rd child rider.
Pony trials are dreadfully
competitive and it's not the children! I once dressage stewarded next
to the Pony trials arena and I could have killed the adults who were
getting in my way and shouting at their child. The trials are always
watched by expert eyes in the form of team selectors and trainers. Anyone
who wants to do pony trials has to attend training and get officially
approved for safety reasons.
Next we have Juniors.
They are aged 16-18 years old. As with ponies success can be bought.
It's a sad fact about our sport but money talks. The juniors have
a European Championship every year which is held over a 1* course. Those
vying for team places will have specialist team training and access
to some lottery funding to help support them but on the whole there
are maybe 15-20 on the long list.
For those juniors who
are good riders but perhaps not team material we have a nationally run
class called Junior Regional Novices (JRN) these are run over prelim
height and are watched by specialist trainers to pull anyone up who
is not safe or help those who are struggling. If you do well in JRNs
you will be selected to run at the prestigious junior championships
held at Weston Park. This is held over a 1* course.
The juniors can be easily
recognised. For girls the look is that of long blonde hair, lots of
make up and skin tight breeches or short tweed skirts when not riding.
The boys are normally never far from mummy who has done all the work
on the horse for son to just get on and ride. A ridiculous amount of
floppy hair seems to go with the boys as well! I have several friends
who refuse to compete at the 1* at Weston park as it's a nightmare
with all the juniors partying all night long, throwing tantrums and
generally being teenagers. With one or two you can ignore it but when
there are 500 of them it's hard to get away. They also tend to have
large entourages! (NB these are massive generalisations in case you
are 18 and seriously offended! But as with every generalisation there
is a grain of truth.)
Finally we have Young Riders. These are aged 18-21. They are normally hard
working and have made their own horses. They have a yearly European
Championship which is held over 2*. The Young Riders are normally incredibly
good riders, have often come up through the system and some have a good
horse they have bought on themselves and make it for the young riders
team. The final trial for Young Riders is normally held at Bramham over
CCI3*. Many of the Young Riders are pretty much pros by this stage and
may have been riding full time or balancing it with university. They
can also access team training and lottery funding.
For those that are not
team material but still competitive there are Open Intermediates for
Riders under 21 (OIU21) These are very similar to the JRNs and also
have their annual championship at Weston Park but over the 2* course.
So does the system
work?
The one thing that many
struggle with who came through the system is that effectively as soon
as you are 22 you are spat into the big nasty world of being a senior.
Many successful young riders will never be heard of again as they lack
the horse power or the years of dedication in the wilderness. Pippa
Funnell is a typical case. Pippa won medals at Junior and Young Riders
European Championships on her amazing horse Sir Barnaby. This little
horse also took her to being placed at Badminton but was never considered
for senior teams. Pippa then spent years in the wilderness as a senior
with horses never being good enough for senior teams even though she
won at 2* and 3*. It was about 12 years later that she finally managed
to get a senior team place on Bits and Pieces in 1997. Pippa had
the tenacity to keep going but many riders realise they cannot make
a living out of the sport or parents cannot afford to keep helping them.
Many pony riders and juniors are pushed so hard that they just give
up.
Out of the current British
Senior Team, there are several who successfully came through the system
- Tina Cook, Piggy French, William Fox Pitt and Lucy Weigersma.
But all four of them had horsey parents and were tremendously supported
and helped. It is practically impossible to get on the pony, junior
or young riders teams without serious amounts of parental/mentor support.
Equally half of the current senior squad did not come through the system
(Oliver Townend, Nicola Wilson and Mary King) and got there in
there own way so it is not essential to have done it - phew still
gives me hope! ;).
At the less serious end
the JRNs and the OIU21s encourage good riding, get access to good training
and the end of year championships are a big aim. Many of the juniors
and young riders are very good. It is also achievable for the average
horse that they can do 1* and in the process teach their rider a lot.
There is a big market for JRN horses. They are horses who are comfortable
at 1* but advanced or being competitive at 2* is a stretch too far and
they are genuine horses who will teach their riders the ropes.
One or two of the teenage
riders will develop egos but usually the harsh realities of horses will
ground them. I never really notice them unless they are being obnoxious
but then usually that kind of behaviour is being encouraged by a parent.
We do have what are called JRN brats whose parents have bought them
the Butet saddles, the massive lorry with pop out sides and a string
of previously advanced horses but I guess I am only jealous as never
had that kind of opportunity and I think its prevalent in every aspect
of society. Luckily in eventing the only place that success comes before
work is in the dictionary.
As a quick note before we jump into our penultimate preview group, the FEI announced in a press release last night that McLain Ward's incredible show jumper Sapphire was disqualified for veterinary reasons from the World Cup Final in Geneva. Apparently the FEI vets used a thermography and clinical examination of Sapphire's legs to determine she was unfit to continue the competition. The USEF SJ team vet, Dr. Time Ober said in a statement this morning that Sapphire was sound and that the FEI test results did not warrant disqualification. There is obviously much, much more behind this story. USEF Press Release, Princess Haya Statement, *COTH's Article*
By Leslie on April 17, 2010 10:05 AM, Filed Under Random
Galloping my little chestnut mare over the river and through the woods at Flat Creek Ranch in Hogansville, GA, I jumped through a line of fences in the woods. I knew Mum was nestled in the trees nearby, judging my efforts over the fences. The moment Breezy's hoof hit the ground at the end of that line, a distinctive cry echoed through the hills at Flat Creek, "WOO-HOO!!! You GO little girl!" At that, I smiled, kicked on, and couldn't wait to meet Mum at the finish for a big hug and a "happy dance."
No matter if she was jump-judging or chasing me around cross-country on foot, my mother is always the loudest voice on course, and she cheered for me at every fence, whether I could hear her from that distance or not. Her excitement is incredibly contagious, as friends standing with her cheer just as loud, which made cross-country that much more fun. Other groups of friends and family tried to out-cheer Mum and Friends, but to no avail...her voice could carry across the Pacific.
I don't compete much anymore because, well, I'm too poor. So I spend a lot of time on cross-country courses on foot, trying to catch a photo at every fence and improve upon my photography skills. I love to "wander" on cross-country and chat with jump judges, spectators, officials and other photographers while watching old and new favorite horses gallop by. You can feel the adrenaline radiating from competitors, and the horses....they are so good to us. How can you not erupt in applause and excitement, urging the horse and rider to keep it up, work together, make it to the finish line and have fun while you do it?
I spent most of my Saturday last weekend on the Chattahoochee Hills cross-country course. It was my first time at this gorgeous facility, and I was eager to see the new jumps and watch horses run across country. The Chatt Hills course is spread out, but the right vantage point (hint: next to the big water near the finish) will award spectators a view of nearly every fence from start to finish. But the atmosphere that day was eerie--it was quiet. Where are all the cheerleaders?
After a couple hours on course I scooted back to the barn to pick up my friend who was finished competing for the day and brought her back out to cross-country to watch the advanced division (another hint: Chatt Hills is huge, and the new permanent stabling is a good ways away from the cross-country. I recommend renting a golf cart if you're in a hurry). On our way, we discussed her round, particularly the big water, which is where I had been standing when she went by. She had ridden very well through the water and her horse was still full of running. As she leaped out of the sky blue pond, myself and a group of friends sitting on a fence on the other side erupted in shouts and applause, crying her name as she galloped for the last few fences before home. "When I heard you cheering, it really made a difference for me out there," she said. It gave her a boost of confidence and determination knowing people were pulling for her. Discussing this further as we began our wandering, we stopped to listen....we heard nothing but hoofbeats.
(right) Jodie Stowell and Comet II hands-down had the biggest cheering section of the weekend, which included me; they were my favorite combo of the weekend. Jodie and Comet jumped double clear on Sunday and finished 6th in Preliminary Rider. Leslie Threlkeld photo used with permission.
Chattahoochee Hills is in a great location and easy to get to. Lots of people from the Atlanta area and many recognizable faces from Newnan, GA, where I grew up riding, came out to watch the show. Of course, most of them crowded around the water jump. Now and again, a random group of folks would cheer for their friends as they rode by, but for the most part, it was very quiet. It was eerie. It was uncomfortable. And I didn't like it. Out in the middle of the cross-country course, I started hooting for everybody, whether I knew who they were or not. --You're out here running across country! You and your horse are working together! Keep it up! Good for you! "WOOO-HOOO!"-- We eventually made our way back to the water jump, where we cheered and clapped...alone. We felt as awkward as the mother of the wailing baby in church. But you can see the riders swell up and kick on when someone shouts their name or gives them a cheer. Some riders are so focused they don't hear the cheers, but others thrive on it. Support from the ground while you gallop towards solid fences is encouraging; it reminds you to breathe and have fun. I'm sure most of us know the feeling.
Maybe it was this particular show. Maybe this doesn't happen around the country. Applause from the crowd certainly isn't an issue at Rolex. But I was definitely annoyed by the silence on Saturday. So if you're heading to a competition this weekend as a competitor, a spectator, a groom, or a nervous mother, I urge you to cheer, clap, woo-hoo, and way-to-go. Cheer for good rides, cheer for good horses, cheer for good tries.
Check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7 of EN's Rolex competitor previews, and vote in today's poll as Eventing Nation works our way toward a collective Rolex prediction. So far the riders who have made it onto the next round are: Allison, Will Faudree, Mara Dean, Phillip and Kheops, Kim, Hawley Bennett-Awad, Boyd and Neville, Bonnie, Leslie Law.
The 10 day forecast for Lexington predicts showers throughout Rolex weekend. Considering that it seems like meteorologists are wrong over 50% of the time, I take this as mild to strong good news at this time.
I am hearing chatter that the Icelandic volcano eruption that has grounded many European flights is interfering with the travel of several Rolex officials. No word yet on European riders or horses, but Oliver Townend's and WFP's horses are already in the US for certain. Most news reports suggest that our friends in Europe are able to find ways around the flight cancellations by taking different routes.
Finally, I have heard the faintest rumor that their might be a last minute rider change on one of the Rolex horses, so we will keep you posted about that over the next couple of days if there is anything to it. Now, onto our preview:
Will and Twizzel are one of the USA's best pairs, and they are as likely as anyone right now to make the WEG squad, except for Phillip and Buck. That said, if Will rides XC at Rolex, I will go streaking on Sunday. Will broke his collar bone 12 days ago at The Fork, he had surgery to repair the break. Even if he could, I can't think of any reason why Will would run at Rolex rather than waiting for the Luhmuhlen CCI4* in mid June. I am even more confident saying this because word in the barns is that Will has already received an 'OK' from the USET to run at Luhmuhlen. Will placed 5th at Luhmuhlen last year with Twizzel, and they should still be considered favorites to make the WEGs.
Continuing our discussion of how Phillip makes the time on XC better than anyone else, one of the things Phillip helps teach his students is to save a second before, over, and after each jump. Saving a second before the fence means improving the length of time it takes to collect from gallop to the suitable canter for the obstacle, saving a second over the fence mean taking a smart line, and saving a second after the fence means galloping away efficiently. If you can save three seconds over every fence on a course with 30+ elements...do the math. When you watch Phillip ride this weekend, observe how close he gallops to the ropes, and the efficient lines he takes with his horses.
Phillip has such a great relationship with 'Chip' that you will really get to see all of Phillip's time saving techniques on display with this horse on Saturday. Chip hasn't competed in a 4* since 2005, but in that year he completed both Rolex and Burghley with a grand total of 4 jumping penalties for both events and finished 2nd at each. Chip is also perhaps the best show jumper in the field with one rail in 8 previous rounds. Oh, and Chip hasn't had a stop since 2003. Oh, and he dropped a 24.7 at Southern Pines in the best dressage test I have ever seen him have. Chip is Jimmy's runner up pick for Rolex, but we have to consider that Ms. Jones threatened Jimmy not to jinx the horse. I haven't been threatened yet (maybe my picks are considered the anti-jinx when you factor in EN Karma), but I'll hold off on making my final pick until later. For now, let's just say that if Chip competes through the weekend, he's as close to a lock for a top-3 finish as you will ever find.
Our fun fact about Kristi is that she is coached by Derek Di Grazia out in California. Kristi and R-Star (16.2 Greg Holsteiner M) are another west coast pair making their Rolex debut, and they are perhaps the best of that bunch. R-Star is just 8 years old, but shows great potential, with clean rounds in her last 16 XC rides and a quality show jumping record. I think Kristi will take her time around the XC to give this young mare a good experience, but they are a pair to keep an eye on for the future.
Wow,
the west coast is really showing up at Rolex this year! Debbie and The
Alchemyst have a stop at their only advanced competition this spring,
the CIC3* at Galway, but they jumped around Rolex '09 to finish in 25,
and a similar placing this year would be a quality weekend.
Our fun fact about Boyd is that he likes the Hilltop Hoods. Jimmy jokingly doesn't give Remington much of a chance at Rolex this year, but that's the story of this horse's career. Two years ago I thought Remi would make some young rider a very nice first prelim horse, but Boyd has shown once again that he can find the 4* hidden deep within a horse. It's the Thomas story and the Neville story all over again; a nightmare for any owner who spends $150K to buy a superstar for their pro. Remington hasn't stopped in 31 starts with Boyd, and he was 6th at both the Jersey and the Fair Hill CCI3* last year. Fine, sit there and tell me that the horse doesn't have the jump, tell me he's a little slow, point out that it has a couple of suspect show jumps on its record: I won't argue with you. But the horse has guts, and with Boyd that's good enough for a top-10 even with some time on XC.
(note: I'm not sure if anything in this Hilltop Hoods video is explicit lyrics because I can't understand what they are saying, but it's entirely possible)
After a tough 2008 with a stop at Rolex and two stops at the Olympics, Selena and Columbo had a quality 2009, finishing just within the ribbons at Rolex. With her experience and consistency of late, Selena should win the 'Crosby trophy' as the highest placed Canadian at Kentucky this year, with a shot at the top 10 if they pick up the pace on XC, eh? Our fun fact about Selena is that she and her mom make a great team at the events.
Michael bought Wonderful Will from Mike Winter around the time Mike moved to England last year. Wonderful Will gives me the impression of controlled (sorta) chaos on XC, but his attacking style suits Michael and they had a great looking XC round at The Fork. Rolex will be Michael's first three-day with Will, but I'm expecting good things.
Our fun fact about Ashley is that she placed 5th individually at the Pan Ams in 2003 with All's Fair. All's Fair is probably the most experienced horse in this field. All's Fair has finished 4 Rolex events ('03, '04, '06, '07), jumping around 3 of those cleanly and finishing in 18th, 20th, 20th, and 29th respectively. All's Fair also finished Burghley in '04 with one stop. The 18 year old Thoroughbred will give Ashley yet another run at Rolex this year and let's be sure to give the veteran horse a special cheer along the way for being with us at Kentucky for so many years.
EN's Rolex Pick: Remember that you can vote for three combinations, and the top three will advance to the next round. Please vote for the 3 pairs that you think will place highest in Kentucky.
1
