Category Archives: Eventing/H.T.

Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Cross Country Day

Mary King and Kings Temptress. All photos credit Stock Image Services.com, provided by Rolex.

Mary King (GBR) today, 30th April 2011, is currently lying in both first and second position after the Cross-Country phase at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, in Lexington. Rolex Grand Slam contender Mark Todd (NZL) is lying in 18th with his horse Grass Valley after a run out late on in the course.

William Fox-Pitt riding Neuf Des Coeurs is lying in 6th position and Oliver Townend riding ODT Sonas Rovatio is in 7th place.

Quotes from Mary King/Kings Temptress: “I was a bit too fast. I was slightly back at nine minutes, and I pressed her and she really responded!” “The ground was amazing. If this had been a horse trial in England, it would have been cancelled days ago!” [Horse’s third 4-star]: “I bred this mare, and looking back on how awkward she was at her first event, and how she’s adapted to make it work is very rewarding. The course rode very much as it walked, which shows what a fabulous course designer he is.”

Continue reading Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Cross Country Day

Eventing Radio Episode 137 by Bit of Britain – Rolex Day 2 Dressage

The second day wrap up show done live from the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event. Listen as Chris reviews the day with Mark Todd, Oliver Townend and the leader Tiana Coudray. Tune in right here…

Eventing Radio Episode 137 by Bit of Britain – Show Notes and Links:

  • Show Host: Chris Stafford
  • Photo Credit: Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister Lead at Rolex after Dressage, Credit: USEA
  • Guest: Mark Todd
  • Guest: Oliver Townend
  • Guest: Doug Payne
  • Guest: Tiana Coudray
  • Guest: Joe Meyer
  • News: The Eventing Radio Show and HORSES IN THE MORNING show will be live from Rolex Kentucky 3DE: April 27 – May 1, 2011 from 4-5:30pm Eastern.

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USA’s Coudray Springs into Lead after Dressage at 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Lexington, KY – There was one new name added to the top three riders after the dressage at the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, but it was an important one. Tiana Coudray made the trip from California worth the effort when she wowed the judges in the Rolex Stadium with Ringwood Magister. Their score of 40.8 leaves them with a narrow margin over Mary King, from Great Britain who lies second on 41.7. Thursday’s winner, Allison Springer, holds on to a top-three placing with Arthur on 42.3.

Ringwood Magister, an elegant and flashy 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse, has excellent paces and presence. Coudray coaxed him down the ramp into the Rolex Stadium and into the electric environment, managing him beautifully in the ring.

“He’d been really good in warm up,” said Coudray. “And I started down the ramp so he kind of knew something was up.”

Ringwood Magister misbehaved quite exuberantly on the way to the ring and found relaxing quite difficult, but Coudray is confident that once he gets in the ring, he goes to work. “When I got him down into the ring,” said Coudray, “I still wasn’t quite sure which way this was going to go. But he really put it together and went to work.”

Continue reading USA’s Coudray Springs into Lead after Dressage at 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

American Tiana Coudray in the Lead Going into Today’s Cross Country at the Second Leg of the HSBC FEI Classics

Tiana Coudray (USA) and Ringwood Magister are in the lead after Dressage at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, second leg of the HSBC FEI Classics.

Lexington, KY (USA), 30 April 2011 – Following two days of dressage at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, second leg of the HSBC FEI Classics, America’s Tiana Coudray is in pole position with her Jersey Fresh CCI*** 2010 winner Ringwood Magister.

The duo earned the best marks from the judges for a penalty score of 40.8.

“The trot work was tidy but maybe a bit conservative. It was during the canter work that I felt confident enough to show off what Magister can do – that’s the best bit for him,” said Coudray. “When we cantered down the centre line for the final time that’s when it hit me we’d done a good test.”

Britain’s Mary King is less than a penalty behind the leading duo with her four-star first timer Fernhill Urco.

“I wasn’t expecting such a good test from him. He’s a positive-thinking horse who is always forward and I find him strong but in the last month he’s really improved,” said King, who also occupies fourth with her home-bred bay mare Kings Temptress.

Continue reading American Tiana Coudray in the Lead Going into Today’s Cross Country at the Second Leg of the HSBC FEI Classics

Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event 2011 after Dressage Phase

Tiana Coudray (USA), Riding Ringwood Magister. All photos credit Stock Image Services.com, provided by Rolex.

Tiana Coudray (USA) today, 29th April 2011, is currently lying in first position after the final day of Dressage at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, in Lexington. Rolex Grand Slam contender Mark Tood (NZL) is lying in joint 17th with his horse Grass Valley.

William Fox-Pitt riding Neuf Des Coeurs is lying in 19th position and Oliver Townend, riding ODT Sonas Rovatio is in 26th place.

Current Standings:
1. Tiana Coudray (USA) riding Ringwood Magister, 40.8
2. Mary King (GBR) riding Fernhill Urco, 41.7
3. Allison Springer (USA) riding Arthur, 42.3
4. Mary King (GBR) riding Kings Tempress, 47.7
5. William Coleman (USA) riding Twizzel, 48.2
6. James Alliston (GBR) riding Jumbo’s Jake, 48.2
7. Kim Steverson (USA) riding Tipperary Liadhnan, 48.5
8. Sinead Halpin (USA) riding Manoir de Carneville, 48.7
9. Boyd Martin (USA) riding Remington XXV, 49.0
10. Clayton Fredericks (AUS) riding Be My Guest, 50.2
=17. Mark Todd (NZL) riding Grass Valley, 51.8

Further news and details are available on www.rk3de.org.

After winning the 2011 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials on NZB Land Vision earlier this week, Mark Todd enters ‘Rolex’ as the live contender for the coveted Rolex Grand Slam title.  With one of three legs of the Rolex Grand Slam complete, Todd must now win at both the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and the 2011 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, in order to become only the second rider, after Pippa Funnell, to scoop the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam for winning the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, and the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, all in succession. So far the Rolex Grand Slam feat has only been achieved by Pippa Funnell, who won all three competitions in 2003 on two different horses.

Mary King (GBR) Riding Fernhill Urco
Alison Springer (USA), Riding Arthur

Springer Sparkles during First Day of Dressage at the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

Allison Springer and Arthur. Shannon Brinkman Photo

Lexington, KY – With the sunshine came the first day of dressage at the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone. After a week of rain, the sun shone brightly and the wind blew through the Kentucky Horse Park. Spectators that were here first thing were treated to the best test of the day as Allison Springer took the lead with Arthur.

The pair was first in the ring – and their score of 42.3 rewarded an elegant effort for a pair that frequently lands atop the dressage leaderboard.  Great Britain’s Mary King, who was third last weekend at the Mitsubishi Motors Horse Trials. cruised into second place on Derek Rostron Baden’s Kings Temptress with a score of 47.7. William Coleman and Twizzel were third as Jim Wildasen’s 15-year-old Westfalen contested his first USEF National CCI4* Championship.

Arthur, who Springer owns with her parents William and Caroline, is very experienced even though he is only 12 years old, but he isn’t always the most manageable in an electric environment.

Continue reading Springer Sparkles during First Day of Dressage at the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

Eventing Radio Episode 136 by Bit of Britain – Rolex Day 1 Dressage

The first wrap up show done live from the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event. Listen as Chris reviews the day with riders. Tune in right here….

Eventing Radio Episode 136 by Bit of Britain – Show Notes and Links:

  • Show Host: Chris Stafford
  • Photo Credit: Allison Springer on Arthur
  • Guest: Doug Payne
  • News: The Eventing Radio Show and HORSES IN THE MORNING show will be live from Rolex Kentucky 3DE: April 27 – May 1, 2011 from 4-5:30pm Eastern.

_________________________________________

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2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Bridgestone Shines On

Buck Davidson and Titanium at the jog. Photo by Joanie Morris/USEF Archives

Lexington, KY – The weather has been the topic of conversation at the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone as a rain-plagued Kentucky was battered once again on Wednesday morning.

But the show goes on at the Kentucky Horse Park.

The first horse inspection was delayed one hour from its rescheduled 10 a.m. start time and about halfway through the inspection the sun even began to shine. Due to tornadic activity in the area, the eventing horses were moved from their stabling to the Alltech Arena where they peacefully coexisted with the reining horses (in town for the inaugural Kentucky Reining Cup CRI5*) while the storm passed.

Forty-five horses were presented for America’s only CCI4* and of those, 29 are vying for USEF National CCI4* Championship honors.

Buck Davidson, USEF National Champion from 2003 and 2009, just returned from the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials where he rode BallyNoe Castle RM to 21st place. He’ll ride Titanium in Kentucky this weekend. The pair was 16th in 2010 in the horse’s first CCI4* and Davidson is looking forward to one of his favorite events.

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This Week in International Disciplines – April 27, 2011

Eventing

Tamra Smith stormed to victory with Mar de Amor by nearly 14 points in the CIC3* at the Twin Rivers Ranch in California. The pair won the dressage and never looked back, adding just a few time faults on both the cross country and the show jumping. Their final score was 53.6. Barbara Crabo and Eveready II were second on a score of 67.3 after picking up 13.6 time faults on the cross country, and Pam Fisher and Sea Lion rounded out the top three on the strength of a clear show jumping round.

Jolie Wentworth and Governess scored a win in the CIC1*, capitalizing on a clear show jumping round to win by three-tenths of a point over Olympic Silver medalist Gina Miles, who was second on her dressage mark of 50.9 with Sunspite Patronus. Erin Kellerhouse and Parfait were third with a score of 52.4 after one rail in the final phase kept them from the top spot.

In the Revere CCI2*, the Gold medalist from the 2009 Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North won another close division  on the colorful paint, Project Runway. Their final score of 54.4 gave them a narrow lead over Anna Collier and Uppercrust D, who finished on a score of 54.9. Dressage winner Lauren Billys on Ballingowan Ginger were third after picking up time faults on the cross country.

Continue reading This Week in International Disciplines – April 27, 2011

Triumphant Todd Flies to Kentucky in Hunt for Further HSBC FEI Classics Points

Lexington, KY (USA), 27 April 2011 – Mark Todd (NZL) has flown to the US for this weekend’s Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event (April 28 – May 1) in a bid to keep up momentum in the HSBC FEI Classics.

Todd interrupted celebrations for his magnificent win at Badminton last weekend and within 24 hours was on a plane en route to Kentucky, where today he will trot up NZB Grass Valley, a horse that knows its way around the Kentucky Horse Park having been a key member of New Zealand’s bronze medal team at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games last year.

Both Todd and fellow traveller Mary King (GBR), third at Badminton, have said that the lure of the generous prize-money on offer in the HSBC FEI Classics is making them plan their CCI4* seasons carefully.

King, a member of Britain’s triumphant gold medal team last year, is making a two-pronged attack: she rides her home-bred mare Kings Temptress, seventh at Burghley last year, and the exciting prospect Fernhill Urco, a horse that had clocked up useful CCI3* results before spending most of last year on the sidelines.

Other overseas visitors in the 53-strong field are former (2006) Kentucky winner Clayton Fredericks (AUS) with the German-bred mare Be My Guest, third at Burghley last year, and William Fox-Pitt (GBR) and Oliver Townend (GBR) who have three HSBC FEI Classics titles between them.

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