by Nancy Jaffer | May 1, 2022
A memory from the 1984 Olympics that has stuck with me was French show jumper Pierre Durand walking out of the ring in Los Angeles with a bridle in his hand after Jappeloup refused and he fell off, along with the bridle. It was a sad picture, but at the 1988 Games in Seoul, Pierre regained his stature by winning individual gold on the same horse.
My reason for this little trip down memory lane was what happened to Doug Payne this weekend at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day as he came off, along with the bridle, when Starr Witness (who had been leading the 4-Star Short division) took exception yesterday to the first element of the challenging three-part Park Question obstacle on cross-country.
But while it took Pierre four years to recoup, it only took Doug one day. This afternoon, he moved up from a fifth-place tie after cross-country to third on Quantum Leap with one of only six double-clears in a field of 30 that show jumped over a Steve Stephens-designed course in the 5-Star division at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Doug took the national 5-Star championship with 38.4 penalties as the highest-placed American in the event, which was especially impressive since he was 25th after the dressage phase. And I should remind you he was also the highest-placed U.S. rider at the Tokyo Olympics, where he was 16th on Vandiver.
Doug Payne was the top American in the Kentucky 5-star aboard Quantum Leap. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
I didn’t bother leading off this story by saying that Germany’s Michael Jung won the competition on fischerChipmunk FRH, because that was a foregone conclusion, barring a disaster of Biblical proportions. He led from start to finish in taking his 11th 5-Star victory, and his 20.1-penalty score was the lowest ever for an event at that level. In the record books, he is tied with Sir Mark Todd (now retired and training race horses) for the number of wins. The leader is Britain’s William Fox-Pitt with 14 victories.
No American has won the big prize at Kentucky since Phillip Dutton did it in 2008. Now Michi has won four times at Kentucky, just one behind Bruce Davidson’s record of 5.
Michael Jung was all smiles after a clear show jumping round on fischerChipmunk FRH. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I had a really great feeling in the warm-up, and it makes you a bit more relaxed, but the pressure is on,” said Michi, who is thinking about riding for the German team at the world championships in Italy this summer.
“I tried to stay really concentrated and focused with this horse. He’s amazing,” the rider continued, noting he enjoyed each phase on the 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding, thanking the owners for buying the horse and keeping him available for the German team.
Jung makes everything look effortless, but there’s plenty of work behind his success.
“Of course, you always try to do your best, that’s why you wake up every morning and go to stables in minus 20 degrees, and in the rain, and in the heat,” Jung said.
“It’s a very special moment for me, and I have to give thanks for my whole team in the background — helping train the horses and bring the horses to this level. And big thanks to the fischer group so that we can keep this horse in Germany and make it so that I’m allowed to ride such an amazing horse.”
Boyd Martin, the top American last year and in 2019, was second going into show jumping with his Olympic mount, Tsetserleg, but told me yesterday he had no illusions about overtaking Michi and Chip, since they had two rails and a few time penalties in hand. Sadly, Boyd wasn’t able to keep his runner-up position, dropping a rail in the triple combination and at the next-to-last fence in the Rolex Stadium, where 22,185 people were riveted as they watched the action.
Boyd wound up fourth, behind Michi, Doug and Yasmin Ingham, a 24-year-old British competitor from the Isle of Man, who was the youngest rider in the competition. She and Banzai du Loir had no jumping faults, but accumulated 2.8 time penalties while leaving the rails in place for a total of 31.7 penalties.
Yasmin Ingham of Great Britain was delighted with the efforts of Banzai du Loir in the 5-star. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
A thrilled Yasmin never lost her poise, saying of her Selle Francais, “He has exceeded all expectations.I have all the confidence in this horse. He was very professional all weekend, and it was amazing to pull it together for all three phases at such an incredible event.”
Not that getting to Kentucky in the first place was easy.
“It was tough to get to the flights and with all the traveling, but I wouldn’t take it back for the world,” she said.
“We’ve been treated so well, so a huge thanks for all the volunteers that make this happen. I’m very thankful to be here.”
Back to Doug. Today was a sorrow as well as a joy (which seems to encapsulate the ups and downs of the eventing experience ) because it was the last time he will compete on his Olympic mount, Vandiver.
The horse had a stop on cross-country and two rails today. Quinn, as he is known, will now compete at the Preliminary level with Doug’s groom, Courtney Carson, before perhaps going on to a young rider.
“He’s not a horse who will be very happy out in the field. He wants to keep doing it. He loves it,” said Doug, who had been hoping for a “strong top 10 finish” with him and thought Quantum would be lower in the rankings.
Doug Payne and Quantum Leap in action during the show jumping phase. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
He was happy Quantum’s co-owner, Susan Drillock was at the horse park.
“She hasn’t been really seen him compete very often. For her to be here to see this is beyond special.”
At the same time he was feeling sadness about Quinn, he didn’t let it dominate his performance.
“You have a job to do. There’s always ups and downs. I’ve always found a way to compartmentalize if something goes wrong, put that past and move to the next. Quantum deserved my full attention and focus.”
In the 4-Star Short, leader Dan Kreitel couldn’t bring his first place standing home, after his horse Carmango, showed resistance at the beginning of his round, then dropped two fences and accumulated time faults to drop him to fourth.
The touching story of how his wife had cancer, his infant daughter barely survived and he tried to juggle that with his work in real estate and training his horse had made an impact on everyone who heard it.
Phillip Dutton, second on Quasi Cool, noted that the other riders’ sympathy was with Dan.
“One part of the sport that’s not fun, is that we all wanted Dan up here,” said Phillip, referring to the table at the press conference where the top three riders in each division are seated.
“He’s such a great guy and I hope we see a lot of him and his horse in the future.”
Liz Halliday-Sharp moved up to first place from second with a perfect trip aboard Cooley Quicksilver to end on 29.7 penalties.
This photo illustrates the challenge 4-star combinations such as Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver faced over Steve Stephens’ demanding course. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I couldn’t ask for more from him, he rose to the atmosphere and I didn’t expect that many spectators for the 4-Star,” said Liz, who turned in a double-clear.
“It was wonderful to have crowds back. The course was great, well-designed and it made you think about the lines. The time was tight, there’s a lot to see in that arena and you never know what the younger horses might do, but all in all, it was a really great day and I’m thrilled for the owners, team and horses.”
Phillip was further back on 38.6 penalties with his ex-racehorse, saying, “A lot of this sport is all about the dream, and there are a lot of disappointments, but he looks to have the makings of a great horse.”
James Alliston, a native of Great Britain who recently became an American citizen like his wife, Helen (who is the owner of his horse, Paper Jam) finished third with 43.4 penalties and just 0.4 time penalties.
The horse had done only two Advanced competitions prior to heading East from California.
“But he’s very brave naturally, so I was hoping I wasn’t being stupid. I’m very happy, he’s a good show jumper normally but this is a whole thing with the crowds and the long course, so I’m really happy with him.”
“It’s a dream to come and do this,” added James, who at one time worked for Bruce Davidson.
NBC is airing its program of the event at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 14.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 30, 2022
Imagine being one of only three riders in a field of 43 at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 5-star to make the optimum time over today’s multi-faceted cross-country course put together by designing genius Derek di Grazia.
Together with no jumping faults, that has boosted you from sixth place after dressage to second place going into the final phase tomorrow. Your horse is in the best shape ever, you’re riding great and all things being equal, you could be the first American to win the 5-star event since 2008.
Except all things are not equal.
What stands in your way is three-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Jung of Germany. And that’s why Boyd Martin isn’t counting on leading the victory gallop tomorrow at the Kentucky Horse Park with the valiant Trakehner, Tsetserleg.
Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg make a splash in the water at the Head of the Lake. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Michael will go into the show jumping with his marvelous dressage mark of 20.1 penalties. Like Michael, Boyd added no penalties today, but his dressage score was 29.3. With four penalties for a knockdown in show jumping, that gives Michael an edge of two rails, and he has a little leeway for time, though he likely won’t need it.
So Boyd accepts that the odds favor Michael and the celebrated Hanoverian, fischerChipmunk FRH.
“He’s by far the best horse in the field and probably the world’s greatest event rider,” Boyd acknowledged of his equine and human rivals.
“It’s a privilege standing next to him but he’s just in a different league.”
With that in mind, here’s how Boyd looks at it.
“To me, you’re against yourself in this contest; the best dressage you can do, clear cross-country and clear show jumping.”
After that, it’s up to fate.
Derek’s course was one major question after another, requiring not only technical skill and accuracy, but also endurance. There was plenty to see for the They needed all the help they could get.
The route took its toll. There were 32 finishers, and we likely won’t see all of them return for tomorrow’s competition finale. Seven horses were eliminated and four retired. Some of the horses looked understandably tired near the end of the route.
Chip, of course, was not one of them. He had the fastest round of the day, completing in 10 minutes, 53 seconds, while the optimum time was 11:04.
Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH put on a show for the fans who flocked to see them. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
It was his first 5-star, but that’s deceptive if you’re evaluating his experience, since he competed in the Olympics last year, though you may not know they aren’t held at the 5-star level.
So this could have been considered a challenge for Chip, if he hadn’t simply aced it.
“It was tricky everywhere, tough questions everywhere,” said Michael.
“I’m just very proud of my horse. A great horse, a lot of talent, super quality. He’s so powerful, he’s so fast running on the flat. Great jumping everywhere, with his brain always with me. It was a great feeling just to enjoy the 11 minutes.”
In third place is the event’s youngest rider, 24-year-old Yasmin Ingham, with the French-bred Banzai du Loir. Yasmin is right behind Boyd with 30.9 penalties, adding 2.8 time penalties to her dressage score of 28.1. It is Yasmin’s first appearance at the Kentucky Horse Park, and she really wasn’t expecting to be where she was at the end of today.
British visitor Yamin Ingham and Banzai du Loir stand third after cross-country. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
“It’s his first time at this level and he was just brilliant at the combinations.”
After the coffin, which was challenging by being early on the course, “he just powered on and he’s just an incredible horse to ride. He really does have all of what it takes to be a top event horse. It’s a dream come true to come here.”
The other rider who made the time was, not surprisingly, Phillip Dutton, the American who last won Kentucky 14 years ago.
He went from a tie for 31st place after dressage to seventh with 38.8 penalties on Sea of Clouds.
Phillip Dutton and Sea of Clouds. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Doug Payne, Boyd and Phllip’s Tokyo Olympics teammate, nearly made the time, finishing with 1.2 penalties added on his score with Quantum Leap, bringing him up from 25th to a tie for fifth.
That was the best thing that happened to Doug today. The morning didn’t start well for the man who led the 4-Star Short competition after dressage when he had a fall at the troublesome Park Question triple obstacle, and took Starr Witness’ bridle with him in the process. She just nibbled grass until he got up and took custody of her.
A good number of horses weren’t ready for the Derek’s test.
Nine were eliminated and four retired. Dan Kreitl moved up from 11th to first with the Westphalian Carmango. He was the only one of the 30 riders who finished the course that did not accumulate time penalties.
Dan, who works in real estate, lived a nightmare with his wife, Alyssa, as she battled cancer last year and their infant daughter, Magnolia, struggled to survive. As a result, he had to rely on trainer Sharon White to keep his horse conditioned, since it was difficult for him to go from his Indiana home to Ocala to train. But though the situation wasn’t ideal, he rode as much as possible and today was the rainbow. Magnolia is doing well, though his wife is still undergoing chemo.
Liz Halliday-Sharp stands second, just 0.7 penalties back of Dan with a score of 29.7 on Cooley Quicksilver. Phillip is third with Quasi Cool (37.4), noting he benefited from riding an obstacle similar to the Park Question on a Derek-designed course at Fair Hill, Md., this month, although it had two strides between its elements, as opposed to the one-stride that stumped so many riders today.
Liz Halliday-Sharp, Dan Kreitl and Phillip Dutton, the top riders in the 4-star division greet Eleanor Suttle of Arkansas, a cancer survivor who idolizes eventers. The event organizers gave her a pinney of her own. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
The rain that was predicted stayed away, but a damper was put on the day when two horses were injured.Ashlynn Meuchel’s lovely gray, Emporium, fell at a brush jump in the Head of the Lake, and briefly was thrashing around in the water until veterinary help sprang into action. He was sedated and put on a trailer to the Hagyard veterinary practice up the road from the horse park.
Also being evaluated tonight at Hagyard is Fleeceworks Royal, Tamie Smith’s ride, who led on the first day of 5-star dressage. She had an injury to her left front, and Tamie pulled her up at fence 11C, the third element of EEI’s Challenge Accepted obstacle.
For complete results, click here for the 4-star and here for the 5-star.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 29, 2022
It was what we’ve all been waiting for at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, the excelsior of dressage tests performed by Olympic multi-gold medalist Michael Jung of Germany and fischerChipmunk FRH.
Needless to say, no one in today’s crowd of 12,753 at the Kentucky Horse Park was disappointed.
Michael Jung and fisherChipmunk FRH in action. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Chip and Michi were getting numbers from the judges that would have stood them in good stead had they been competing in high-level straight dressage. We’re talking 79.87 percent
Translated into penalties, which is the way eventing is scored, they earned 20.1 for a test that demonstrated how it should be done, from the four-square initial halt to the precisely controlled gaits, hitting all the marks and a stretchy circle that was the essence of what stretchy circles are about.
The lowest score I could find for Chip while researching the 14-year-old Hanoverian’s history was a mind-boggling 18.8 at the Radolfzel 3-star Short in Germany during April 2021, but this is the first 5-star for the son of Contendro I, so we’ll salute him.
I guess I don’t have to say that Michi is standing in first place as we await tomorrow’s cross-country, and who knows what that result will be after that. But in the meantime, we all enjoyed the moment, and no one did that more than Michi.
As he left the arena, he raised both arms wide and high, as if embracing the entire Rolex Stadium, then took off his helmet and beamed at the crowd who sent the love back his way.
Assessing his mount’s performance, Michi said, “I have a real superstar. He’s very nice to ride today, it was just a joy to ride him He was really powerful but also on the other side, really relaxed, so it was a very good balance.”
Michi won Kentucky three times in a row, in 2015, 2016 and 2017 with fisherRocana, now retired and a mother. Then from 2018 on, it was Oliver Townend’s turn to dominate and win three in a row for Great Britain. Michi was second in 2018 and hadn’t been back until this week.
But now The Great One has returned, and he’s loving it.
“I’m very happy to be back here in Kentucky. It’s a beautiful place,” he said.
“I really enjoy it and I think also my horses enjoy it. It’s a horse country. Everything is well-prepared for the horses.”
The top American in the 5-star is Buck Davidson, standing third with Carlevo (27.4) who was in fine form. Buck commented on his horse’s condition, explaining that he had been training race horses during the winter and looked to replicate their feed and conditioning with his event horse. The effort worked, as he felt the reliable Carlevo had more energy that put octane into their test.
Buck Davidson and Carlevo.( Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
During the 1960s, they talked about the “British Invasion,” meaning the rock stars, including the Beatles and Rolling Stones, who came here and made their mark. That phrase popped into my mind today when I looked at the leaderboard and saw that three of the top five placings belonged to women from England.
They included second place Sarah Bullimore with Corouet, who was as ebullient about her 25.7-penalty test as Michi was about his. She also did the arms flung wide thing as she rejoiced.
The lovely Yasmin Ingham, the youngest rider in the 5-star at age 24, was fourth on Banzai du Loir on 28.1 and Pippa Funnell stands fifth on Maybach (29).
This is Sarah’s second trip to Kentucky, and I asked her for impressions of the event and the facility.
Sarah Bullimore and Corouet. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I’m absolutely privileged to be back here,” she said, citing the hospitality and the fun of it as reasons that she’s glad she came.
“We don’t always get the opportunity to come here and I’m not getting younger so I grabbed this chance with both hands and I’m thrilled to be here. The park is fabulous, the track and everything, and everyone just bends over backwards to help you.”
Sarah’s horse is the first foal from Lilly Corinne, with whom she went to the European Championships in 2015. Corouet’s sire is Balou Du Rouet. The product of the union has “a mighty big attitude in a small package.”
Sarah Bullimore celebrates her dressage test in the same style as Michael Jung. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Yasmin and Banzai won the Blenheim 4-Star Long last year, a stepping stone to this 5-star and a great dressage test.
“I’m so proud of how he went down there and kept himself composed. It was just like me and him and the ring and it didn’t feel like anyone was there watching. There was a lot of pressure and a lot of atmosphere and he dealt with it,” Yasmin commented.
She came to Kentucky instead of next week’s British 5-star at Badminton because the track here suits Banzai more.
“It’s very open and galloping and some really big wide fences,” she said.
“I’m so lucky he’s a brilliant jumper. He really covers the ground and he’s got so much blood and he’ll run for hours. Maybe Badminton next year,” she mused.
Pippa made her mark her in 2003 when she became the first person to win the Rolex Grand Slam after taking Kentucky and following up with wins at Badminton and Burghley. (Michi is the only other person who has done it.)
She returned for the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games, but this is the first time since then that she has competed in Lexington.
When I asked what brought her back, she explained with a smile that she might not have many more chances.
“I haven’t got time on my side,” smiled the 53-year-old rider.
“It’s great to be back. I haven’t gotten so many horses now but I was just in a lucky position that I had enough to bring some here and to have some at Badminton,” she said. The cost of flying is also a factor in bringing the horses across the Atlantic, of course.
I loved seeing Irish rider Joseph Murphy on Calmaro reach over and shake hands with the Pony Club kids who moved the barrier at the arena’s entrance. Nice guy to give them recognition. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
In the 4-Star Short division, Doug Payne took the lead with Starr Witness (23.1 penalties). The Dutchbred mare has spent the past few months brushing up on her dressage.
Doug’s goal is to be competitive in all the disciplines that make up eventing. He has a U.S. Dressage Federation silver medal, but isn’t content with that.
“I want a gold and a Grand Prix horse and she will absolutely do it. Competing across disciplines is always my ultimate goal, to be able to show up in any sport and be competitive, and she can make it happen.”
But he has to keep her busy.
“She’s the type of horse that if you don’t challenge her, she will look elsewhere for something to do,” he observed.
Canadian Colleen Loach is second with the 18.2-hand Hanoverian Vermont on 24.5, while Thursday’s leader, Tamie Smith, has dropped to third with Cooley Quicksilver (25.7).
For results in the 5-star, click here . And to follow who did what in the 4-star this is the link.
Check back to this website tomorrow evening to find out how the cross-country went. The weather forecasts brought better news today than the rain predictions that we’ve heard all week, and it looks like we’ll get a break for the big day.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 28, 2022
American-bred horses dominated the top placings in the 5-star dressage, as competition at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event got under way.
As if that weren’t enough good news, their riders had brought these mounts along up through the ranks, making for a special connection between human and horse that can’t be duplicated, no matter how much someone spends for a horse they didn’t make.
The stands weren’t full, but they were far from empty, with 6,982 spectators, a good number for a Thursday in the Rolex arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. The crowd was knowledgeable; for instance, when Phillip Dutton’s mount Sea of Clouds kicked up during a lead change, the spectators went “Ooh” in unison.
Californian Tamie Smith led the way with the lithe gray, Fleeceworks Royal, marked at 32.9 penalties by judges who the riders characterized as tough but fair. Her ride has gained polish from association with German dressage trainer Johann Hinnemann, whom she calls a friend as well as a mentor.
Tamie Smith acknowledges the cheers of the crowd for her performance on Fleeceworks Royal. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Tamie has ridden the 13-year-old mare since the Holsteiner by Riverman was three years old.
“Every time I’m going out of the start box at Advanced, I’m like, ‘But you’re three,’ she confessed with a chuckle.
“It’s special to be sitting on one you’ve produced from scratch, and you think of all the times and the many people she’s bucked off.”
Tamie called the mare “a cross-country machine” and “a great jumper,” talents that will come in handy as the weekend rolls along.
Colleen Rutledge, a Kentucky veteran, has clocked many miles on her thoroughbred/Clydesdale cross, Covert Rights, graded at 33.8 penalties even with a few errors, like a problem halting from the walk and blowing the second flying change. But never mind.
Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights were airborne during their dressage test. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
“It feels amazing, to be sitting up here on my homebred out of my first advanced mare. He’s a blast to ride every day no matter what,” the Maryland resident said.
The big bay “puts a smile on my face every day,” she added.
Doug Payne, standing third, was marked at 34.9 penalties on Vandiver, an 18-year-old Trakehner by Windfall. Quinn, as the gelding is known, was his Olympic mount last year.
The North Carolina resident doesn’t see a bogey fence on the course, but noted that the way the route is set, “I think you’re going to see a lot of different solutions to the same problem.”
He noted that Vandiver’s breeder and part-owner Debi Crowley is on hand, which is special.
Doug Payne and Vandiver. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
“it’s a crazy experience to be able to share their dream, so we’re trying to savor it,” he said.
I love the American thoroughbred, the breed that once dominated eventing, back in the days of the long format when endurance played a key role.
So it was gratifying to see several of them performing today, and Let it Be Lee, a son of Bernstein, even was able to finish in fourth place on a very respectable 35.1 penalties.
Like the top three, he is U.S. bred.The svelte bay is ridden by Elisa Wallace of Florida, who has been a star at the Mustang Makeover, something the skills she learned through eventing probably helped her master. That competition has demonstrated the ability of these horses that have gotten short shrift from the federal government as they are taken from their land and too often put in feedlots, or meet an even worse fate.
Elisa Wallace and Let It Be Lee. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
I was looking forward to watching the test of Great Britain’s Pippa Funnell. She was the first to take the Rolex Grand Slam (Kentucky and the British events, Badminton and Burghley) in 2003, and we’ve missed seeing her at the horse park.
The Olympic and European Championships multi-medalist has returned, riding Majas Hope, and I was impressed at the determined no-nonsense beginning of her test, looking up and seeing her running score was 70 percent. (We view the scores in dressage terms before they are converted to penalties for the final score.)
Then she had problems in the halt and reinback and never regained the horse’s initial sterling composure. Now she’s standing sixth with 35.6 penalties. Even so, it’s nice to have someone of her stature competing at this event.
Pippa Funnell and Majas Hope. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
In the 4-Star Short, a division that debuted at the horse park last year, Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp was first and second with two horses who are polar opposites in appearance.
Her Cooley Quicksilver, a personable gray, was on top with 25.7 penalties, while the coal black Cooley Moonshine was second with 26.9.
Third went to Helen Alliston on Ebay (28.7). She’s the wife of James Alliston, 15th in the 5-star on Paper Jam, a Hanoverian Helen owns. This chestnut, I should mention, has very nice extensions and though he needs work elsewhere in his test, he looks like he has real potential for James.
Tomorrow the remainder of the horses in the 4- and 5-star divisions take their turn in the arena.In the 5-star, where Pippa has another shot with Maybach. Germany’s Michael Jung, the only other person to win the Rolex Grand Slam, will be aboard fischerChipmunk FRH during the afternoon. It will be the horse’s first 5-star, despite having completed the Olympics and medaling at the European Championships.
Then we will see what Saturday brings (despite expected rain) over Derek di Grazia’s completely redesigned courses.
Usually, the media gets a tour from a hay wagon (pulled, regrettably, but a tractor rather than draft horses) but this year it wasn’t on the schedule. So Derek, the Tokyo Olympics designer who Colleen called a “little bit of a Machiavellian genius” came to us with a power-point presentation to discuss the 5-star fences.
Derek di Grazia and his power point presentation. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Derek said he begins his designing process three weeks after the event is finished and all the movable parts of the fences are taken away. He wants a fresh canvas on which to compose his masterpiece, and this way, he can get a better look at the terrain and do his planning from there.
That innovative approach is evident in this year’s course. But when I asked him how many of the fences are new, as opposed to ones we’ve seen before, he didn’t know.
“I never really counted,” he explained, after conceding, “There are a lot of new fences.” And with this track, he said, “I’m going to places I’ve never been before and lines that I’ve never taken before in the park.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 28, 2022
Things are back to normal at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, with people lining up several hours before the 5-star horse inspection yesterday to be sure that they got the best view of the stars from the U.S. and five foreign countries, while eagerly anticipating the start of today’s dressage test.
The event wasn’t held in 2020 because of Covid and last year, there were no spectators, just cardboard photos filling the seats. Covid again. But the masks are off for the most part, the gates are open, and enthusiasm is high at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.
Tokyo Olympic cross-country course designer Derek Di Grazia has built two separate routes for the 4-star Short (which debuted last year) and the 5-star. How will the 5-star riders deal with EEI’s Challenge Accepted triple, the Pete’s Hollow Triple two obstacles later on their route and as always, the Head of the Lake which appears in a different configuration every year. There’s quite a talented roster of 45 starters to deal with the questions.
True, the winner of the last three editions of the Kentucky 5-star, Great Britain’s Oliver Townend, is a no-show, concentrating on next weekend’s Badminton 5-star in his country. But there are still plenty of big names on hand, including another three-time Kentucky winner, Germany’s Michael Jung with his Olympic mount fischerChipmunk FRH.
FischerChipmunk FRH and Michael Jung. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
The 2021 U.S. Olympic team of Boyd Martin (Tsetserleg), Phillip Dutton (Sea of Clouds) and Doug Payne (Vandiver and Quantum Leap), is on hand along with such familiar faces as Aachen winner Will Coleman (Dondante and Corouet) as well as Buck Davidson (Carlevo and Sorocaima) and from California, Tamie Smith (Fleeceworks Royal).
The horse inspection can be one of the most unnerving moments for the riders. If their horses don’t pass, their Kentucky mission is over.
Two horses were held yesterday, Booli Selmayr’s Millfield Lancando and Alexandra MacLeod’s Newmarket Jack. Both were sent to the holding area before they were represented. Both passed and their riders’ wave of relief was visible and understandable.
Passed! Alexandra MacLeod is relieved after the ground jury okayed Newmarket Jack. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Doug Payne, the highest-finishing member of the Tokyo Olympic team (he was 16th) had an uneasy moment when Quantum Leap was asked to trot again by the ground jury here, but the horse passed on the second try and Doug was set for a busy competition. He’s got two horses in both the 4-star and 5-star and one in the separate grand prix show jumping competition for a whopping total of five mounts.
Doug Payne and Vandiver, one of his two 5-star horses. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
How does he handle five horses at an event of this magnitude?
“The busier you are the easier it is, because it gives you have less time to consider what potentially could happen. You just have to get on and go,” he explained.
It’s practically a vacation for him here, considering that at The Fork, he was riding nine horses.
Everything is in focus for him as he looks toward hopes of competing in the world championships this summer in Italy, and he knows important eyes will be on him.
“This is the pinnacle of competition in our sport. We’re lucky to have two five stars in our country,” said Doug, who has also ridden in the Maryland 5-star, which debuted last autumn.
Looking ahead to cross-country day this Saturday (sadly, rain is predicted), Doug observed, “Derek has done an incredible job.
“He’s changed up the track quite a bit. It’s going to require quick-reacting riding to navigate the course well. The terrain and the placement is put in a way in which it’s not going to be 100 percent predictable what’s going to happen. It should make it super exciting, but I think it’s super fair for the horses.”
Dubarry of Ireland as always gave boots to the male and female riders deemed best dressed in the trot-up. Will Coleman (Dondante and Corouet) took the men’s prize with a traditional country look topped by a wool flat cap.
Will Coleman very much looked like the country gentleman with Dondante. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Meghan O’Donoghue followed the same formula that won her the women’s prize last year with Fairfax and Favor boots from her sponsor, Hound and Hare (last year, she borrowed boots from Liz Halliday-Sharp), and a standout jacket featuring a shawl collar and patch pockets in a checkered pattern from Everard’s. It’s a favorite store of hers in Washington DC’s Georgetown section.
The award was mission accomplished for Meghan and Palm Crescent.
“I went back for a repeat and it worked out,” said Meghan. “I enjoy having a chance to dress up. I think as horse people, we don’t get out and about very often, so it’s fun to have a reason to dress yourself in a nice outfit and show off your horse and hopefully make a good first impression,” she noted.
Best-dressed woman Meghan O’Donohue with Palm Crescent. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Follow the 5-star action from Kentucky through the weekend right here. Come back to this website every night to find out what’s going on at the iconic event.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 21, 2022
You know the ASPCA Maclay, the U.S Equestrian Federation Medal and the USEF Talent Search–they are the equitation finals that get the most publicity.
But what about the American National Riding Commission Championships, which wrapped up last Saturday at the Centenary University Equestrian Center in Long Valley, N.J.? It has a written test component worth 5 percent of an exhibitor’s score, which is unique for a championship. Its three additional phases include a segment presented on a derby field over natural obstacles (30 percent), a “program ride”/flat phase with two jumps (35 percent) and a medal round in a ring (30 percent).
Based on the American forward riding system, the ANRC tournament offers an all-around test that goes deeper than the way a rider looks on a horse and meets the fences. Its roots are in the teaching of Capt. Vladimir Littauer, a Russian emigre, cavalry school veteran and author. U.S. Olympic show jumping gold medalists Bill Steinkraus and Joe Fargis are among the prominent riders who have been influenced by Littauer. The list also includes Bernie Traurig, winner of both the AHSA Medal (as it was called before the current century) and ASPCA Maclay.
He was a mentor of Paul Cronin, the former director of riding at Sweet Briar College in Virginia, who carried on his work and theories, writing what is in effect an update of Littauer’s 1951 classic, “Common Sense Horsemanship.” His consequential 2004 volume is “Schooling and Riding the Sporthorse: A Modern American Hunter Jumper System.”
Centenary had a big victory in the meet, as its national collegiate team won for the first time since 2016. Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), which had won every ANRC national championship since then, took second place with one of the of the two teams it fielded at the national level during the championship. Centenary’s novice collegiate team finished second overall in its division.
“I appreciate this competition because it has the four different phases. I feel it encompasses not only good riding but also good horsemanship,” said Kelly Munz, chair of Centenary’s department of equine studies.
The judges, Scott Hofstetter and Lynn Caristo Forgione, are nationally recognized and top class. Courses were designed by Tim Cleary, a Centenary faculty member.
Unlike the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association competition, where catch-riding is part of the test, ANRC competitors can ride their own horses, or horses they have ridden over a period of time.
Each of Centenary’s three national team members spent about a month with the horses they rode in the competitions, being involved in their care as well as riding them.
In contrast to what happens with IHSA, “It’s much more of a partnership,” said Tara Clausen, who has coached the ANRC team with Michael Dowling for 20 years, is a director at large for ANRC and also served as meet director for the show.
“It goes right back to what we’re teaching in the classroom,” said Tara, noting the fact that both Centenary’s national and novice teams won the written phase “is pretty special to us. It shows the payoff of the academic side of our program. As we progress through the week through the other phases, it demonstrates our basis in developing effective riders.”
Those selected for the ANRC team are what she and Michael believe are “our top riders at this level. This competition exemplifies the true training and riding partnership that someone who might be stepping out as professional might be very well-skilled in.”
The written test involved questions on health and first aid, in addition to theory about forward riding from ANRC, such as use of the aids. Forward riding has a lot of basics in stabilization of the horse, or balance, according to Tara, who also coaches Centenary’s hunter/jumper team.
“It’s a progression, very much about having the horses be relaxed and stabilized and happy in their jobs. It focuses more on the quality of the horse’s way of going and their level of relaxation, versus just getting to the ribbons.”
Michael said it involves having a lighter seat going to the jumps, riding a balanced horse in self-carriage, cantering horses up and downhill.
“In the equitation world, where do you get a chance to ride outside of a ring?” he asked, noting there are only a couple of major shows where that happens.
“For college kids who may not get to that level, it’s so unique and special.”
Sophomore Benjamin Hoban, 20, of Webster, N.Y., who rode on the winning national squad with Haylie Kerstetter and Morgan Munz, Kelly Munz’ daughter, called ANRC “a super-cool experience. The derby phase is awesome, super fun.”
Benjamin Hoban on Qirius. (Photo by Gianna Terranova Photography)
The horse to which he was assigned, Qirius, became his focus as he clipped, bathed and groomed him to get him looking sharp for the competition. A junior hunter rider who had competed at the National Horse Show in that division, and also has ridden in junior equitation, he noted ANRC was a completely different type of experience.
“I like the aspect that you’re selected to represent your school. It makes the riding, which traditionally is an individual sport, a team sport. It was a great feeling to bring it home to the school. It was a fun group of people to do it with.”
Haylie rode and took care of Houdini, a Hanoverian who is her favorite in the Centenary string.
“The horses were completely our responsibility, grooming and conditioning them. It was really nice to spend all that time with him getting him ready for the competition, physically and mentally,” said Haylie, who comes from Coatesville, Pa.
Haylie Kerstetter on Houdini. (Photo by Giana Terranova Photography)
The 21-year-old co-captain of Centenary’s hunter/jumper team will graduate in May and already is applying for jobs as an assistant trainer. She thinks being part of the team will help her with that and branching into marketing as well.
“It looks really good (on a resume) because people understand it’s not just a riding competition. It shows you’re a little more well-rounded than just getting on and jumping one course and winning one class,” said Haylie. She didn’t do the big eq prior to college, when she rode on the local circuit had a mixed breed horse “the kind of horse you could do anything with.”
Haylie noted how special it is that all the horses have been donated to Centenary.
“It’s really awesome that people trust us with these horses. They’re such amazing quality and they go to the show and look amazing next to these horses leased from a show barn. We’re really grateful.”
Morgan rode Assured, who was donated via top hunter rider Amanda Steege. In preparation for the competition, “there definitely was a lot of extra time in the saddle,” she noted.
Morgan Munz on Assured. (Photo by Giana Terranova Photography)
There also was a lot of extra time focusing on preparing for the written segment.
“We definitely had to study the week before and the week of,” she said.
She was impressed about the championships when she realized how many riders she knows once were a part of it.
“Researching it when I was preparing for the competition, you look online at all these people I see in the real world, and I’m like,`Oh they did ANRC.’
“I liked the emphasis on the people who created forward riding and going back to the roots of all of that, and why ANRC was founded,” said Morgan.
“It has a specific goal of encouraging forward riding and soft riding, being a partner with your horse.”
The 20-year-old junior someday would like her own business involved with training and sales horses.
Coach Michael is a fan of the derby phase, noting “it’s a little old school. Our kids don’t really have an opportunity as junior riders to ride on uneven terrain; they don’t understand the concept of cantering up the hill or balancing down the hill or jumping off a bank. I always feel excited when I see the kids go out there and have a great time. I think that’s really an ultimate test. The intent is that they’ve prepared these horses to be balanced.
“There’s a purpose to the sequence of these phases, hoping that on the final day we’ve prepared them well for the medal (phase). It’s fun for our college kids because it’s not the same old catch riding. I love it as a trainer, the program ride is really conducive to setting them up for good stuff. The more you teach the philosophy and the system, the more it makes sense. It puts everything in an order.”
The Centenary winning national team of Benjamin Hoban, Morgan Munz and Haylie Kerstetter with coaches Michael Dowling and Tara Clausen. (Photo by Giana Terranova Photography)
The competition was “a real even playing field,” Michael pointed out, because the home team did not have the advantage of being able to school on the derby field after snow and rain had made it too wet to ride on until the weekend of the competition.
Kelly noted the national victory is “very exciting for us or any school that has an equine studies program when our students do well both on the riding and written phase, because we’re trying to produce professionals who are well-rounded. So it’s an acknowledgement of the good work that we’re all doing as schools.”
Centenary, which won the zone and regional competitions for IHSA, now gears up for that organization’s finals May 5-8 in Harrisburg, Pa.
