The first horse inspection at the Land Rover Kentucky 5-star Three-Day Event is always an occasion. There’s tension, of course, with riders wondering “Will my horse pass? Today, all 38 of them did. And it happened as usual in fine style, with competitors, human and equine, turned out meticulously.
There was fashion statement after fashion statement, and I was eager to find out who would win the Dubarry of Ireland award for the best-dressed male and female eventers. Alas, during last night’s welcome party at Fasig-Tipton, we were informed that the company would give only one award this year. As Dubarry’s Danny Hulse explained, since women and men are equals in equestrian competition, it felt more current not to make it an award for each sex.
So I decided to make my own selections. I liked Alina Dibowski’s demure belted tan capelet top with the fuzzy collar. The German matched it with white pants and tall black boots, a different take on what she wears when riding.
Alina Dibowski of Germany and Barbados 26, my choice for best-dressed female competitor. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
The men usually aren’t too creative; they operate within more limits than the women, of course. (Though there was Boyd Martin’s red, white and blue Uncle Sam outfit at the final horse inspection here last year…) The Dubarry winner was Will Faudree, who wore a blue jacket with piping and a red tie.
But my pick was British rider David Doel. He was eye-catching in a claret colored bowtie with a matching arrow insignia on his shirt collar and the pocket of his short, two-button tan jacket. David has a sideline selling ice cream from his family’s Lacock Dairy, so this would be a good look for that job.
David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed, my pick for the best-dressed male rider. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
The horses who sported quarter marks also looked sharp. I always enjoy seeing the different patterns.
Zara Tindall of Great Britain admired a beautifully marked Class Affair. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
An artful checkerboard decorated Classic VI, the mount of Britian’s Kirsty Chabert. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Oh, here’s something interesting. No passport, no problem. The horses’ identities were being checked with a scanner that picked up the numbers on their microchips.
World Eventing Champion Yasmin Ingham holds Banzai du Loir for his scan. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Will Coleman trotted up Chin Tonic, seen here, and Off the Record, his world championships team silver medal mount. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Doug Payne, last to trot up with Quantum Leap (who is starting in his fifth 5-star), had a little time to talk and a lot to talk about. He has a horse in the 4-star event that runs with the 5-star, and a ride in the 3-star show jumping competition as well. But it’s practically a vacation when you consider he had two horses in each eventing division here last year, and a jumper too.
Doug Payne and Quantum Leap. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
The top-placed American eventer at the Tokyo Olympics, he is looking toward the Paris Games next year.
“I would love it. We should have five qualified. I would love nothing more than to be able to represent the U.S. again,” he said.
I wondered if it is confusing to ride so many different horses at the same competition.
“The moment you’re in the saddle and focused on them, your only focus is that particular horse you might be on. You can start to make correlations between how one particular horse jumps something and how the other one might. That’s a bit of an advantage for sure.”
At the welcome party, former Kentucky first lady Jane Beshear a horsewoman who also is the mother of the current governor, paid tribute to Jim Wofford, the eventer, author and trainer .
“He was one of the most special people you will ever know. He certainly made an impression on every one of us. He taught us more than anything there is a partnership between horse and rider,” she said. Jim emphasized that if you are not doing everything you can to be a partner with a horse, then you are not doing your job.
“He taught us to be riders, he taught us to be horsemen, he taught us to be humanitarians, he taught us to have fun but he also told us to do our job,” she said.
Jane Beshear and EEI Executive Director Mike Cooper show off the new award in memory of Jim Wofford. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
In memory of Jim and all he stood for, the James C. Wofford On the Rise Award will be given to the highest-placed first-time 5-star rider and will be presented by Jim’s family on Sunday as the event comes to an end.
Jane asked everyone to raise their glasses in a toast: “We wouldn’t be where we are at this 4-star/5-star event were it not for Jimmy Wofford. We’ll miss you, Jimmy.”