Becky Holder and Can’t Fire Me (Shannon Brinkman/USEF photo)
Lexington, KY – Competition began today at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover in the Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park. Twenty-two combinations rode their dressage tests in front of the Ground Jury of Nick Burton (GBR), Christina Klingspor (SWE), and Brian Ross (USA).
Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and Calico Joe took the early lead after scoring a 40.8. Nicholson rode a beautiful test, taking the lead during the morning session and never relinquishing it throughout the day. His ride looked effortless aboard the Twenty Twelve in Mind’s 11-year-old English Thoroughbred gelding.
“He felt like he was very cool when he went down the ramp,” said Nicholson of his mount. “He let me ride him and he pretty much gave me 100% the whole test.”
Becky Holder (Palmetto, GA) and Melissa and Phil Town and Tom Holder’s Can’t Fire Me performed a lovely, flowing test earning a 44.2 from the judges putting them in second place. The pair gave a solid performance with bold movements that were rewarded by the judges with high marks. Being the top-placed American, Holder leads the Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Eventing Championship after the first day of competition.
“It’s always an amazing feeling to ride down that ramp into the Rolex arena,” said Holder. “There are no more amazing fans in the world than here in Kentucky and it’s a great feeling to be in there. It was really nice to have Teddy today be nice, calm, and relaxed and put the test forth that I know that he has in him.”
Holder and the 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding won the Richland Park CIC3* last year and an Advanced division at the Pine Top Spring Horse Trials earlier this spring.
Shandiss McDonald (CAN) and Rockfield Grant Juan performed quite well in the pair’s four-star debut, earning a 45.7 for third place. McDonald and Jorge and Amanda Bernhard’s 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding executed their test under the most pressure they have experienced.
“I was happy that he was settled and relaxed and willing and did his job,” said McDonald of handling the atmosphere in the Rolex Stadium.
Will Faudree (Southern Pines, NC) is the second highest-placed American after the first day of dressage, sitting in fifth place with Jennifer Mosing’s Pawlow with a score of 47.2. With the 14-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding, Faudree finished second in the Advanced division at Southern Pines Horse Trials and 14th in The Fork CIC3* earlier this year.
Dressage resumes Friday in the Rolex Stadium with James Alliston (GBR) and Jumbo’s Jake at 10:00am ET.
Watch the live stream on the USEF Network presented by SmartPak. In addition to the broadcast, the order of go, results, and photos can be found here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/Rolex3Day2013/.
For more information about the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, visit www.rk3de.org.
Follow the 2013 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at http://usefnetwork.com/featured/2013Eventing.
By Kathleen Landwehr