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*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., FEI

Dream Team Lines Up for Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials

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William Fox-Pitt (GBR) and (right) Andrew Nicholson (NZL) – the HSBC Rankings and HSBC FEI Classics series leader – have set the scene for the most thrilling running yet of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR) on 3-6 May, fourth leg of the HSBC FEI Classics 2012/2013. (Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI).

Lausanne (SUI), 1 May, 2013 – The scene is set for the most thrilling running yet of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR) (3-6 May), fourth leg of the HSBC FEI Classics 2012/2013, and a showdown between two riders who are at the height of their powers.

Andrew Nicholson (NZL), current HSBC Rankings leader and holding a 10-point-lead in the HSBC FEI Classics standings, scored a stunning victory over William Fox-Pitt (GBR) at Kentucky last weekend.

The two riders, who finished first and second in the 2012 HSBC Rankings, are at the peak of their careers, with the strongest strings of horses they’ve ever had. Between them, their four Badminton horses have won five CCI4*s, and they have set up a fascinating head-to-head for the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing.

Fox-Pitt, who has won 11 CCI4*s, including Badminton in 2004, will ride Parklane Hawk, winner of Burghley in 2011 and Kentucky in 2012, and Oslo, who topped the line-up at Pau in 2011. Nicholson, who has five CCI4* victories to his name, competes on Nereo, winner of Pau 2012, and Avebury, first at Burghley last year.

“This is a dream scenario for Badminton,” said Fox-Pitt. “It’s going to be really exciting, although at the end of the day it’ll probably be neither of us winning – hello, Michael Jung! So many things have to come right to win any three-day event. But we’ve both got lovely horses and we’ve both had a great preparation for Badminton, so we’ll see.”

Badminton has received an exceptionally star-studded entry this year, and, as Fox-Pitt mentions, it is Michael Jung (GER), the reigning Olympic, World and European champion, who will undoubtedly start favourite on his best horse, La Biosthetique Sam. He also has a strong back-up in first ride Leopin, third at Pau in 2012.

The unassuming Jung first visited Badminton as a youngster, and has wanted to ride here ever since, but his only public appearances in Britain have both been at Greenwich Park – at the Test Event and last year’s Olympic Games where he won team and individual gold. As a result, many British spectators have never seen him ride, so they will be in for a treat when they see the master at work. Interestingly, no first-timer has won at Badminton since Mark Todd (NZL) in 1980 – could Jung, with his impressive credentials, break this record?

Jung’s Olympic team mates also have the credentials to win – individual bronze medallist Sandra Auffarth (Opgun Louvo), Dirk Schrade (King Artus) and Ingrid Klimke (Butts Abraxxas).

Fox-Pitt’s fellow Olympic team members Mary King (Imperial Cavalier and Kings Temptress), Kristina Cook (Miners Frolic and De Novo News) and Zara Phillips (High Kingdom) should also feature in what promises to be a highly international line-up, and much interest will follow the reappearance of Redesigned, fifth at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, with Pippa Funnell.

Since Badminton began 64 years ago in 1949, British riders have dominated. However, this year’s contest is wide open. Two rising stars from the Antipodes are Jock Paget (NZL) with Clifton Promise, second at Pau, and Clifton Lush, and Chris Burton (AUS) on Holstein Park Leilani.

Ireland’s Aoife Sisk is sure to go well on Master Crusoe, seventh at the London Olympic Games, and Italy has two stars in Stefano Brecciaroli (Apollo VD Wendi Kurt Hoeve) and Vittoria Panizzon on the bouncing grey mare, Borough Pennyz.

There are six former winners in the field, headed by 57-year-old Sir Mark Todd (NZL), the defending champion who first won Badminton 33 years ago, following up with victories in 1994, 1996 and 2011. He rides Major Milestone and Ravenstar, the latter for Irish rider Jayne Doherty, who is pregnant.

The other previous Badminton winners are Mary King (1992, 2000), Pippa Funnell (2002, 2003, 2005), William Fox-Pitt (2004), Oliver Townend (2009) and Paul Tapner (2010).

Since 1949, there have been five Australian winners of Badminton (Bill Roycroft, Laurie Morgan, Andrew Hoy, Lucinda Fredericks and Paul Tapner); two from the USA (Bruce Davidson and David O’Connor), one Swiss (Hans Schwarzenbach), one French (Nicolas Touzaint), one Irish (Eddie Boylan) plus Mark Todd’s four wins for New Zealand.

The in-form Andrew Nicholson (NZL), who has just won three consecutive CCI4*s, holds the record for Badminton completions – 31 times – but has yet to win. His best result to date is second in 2004 on Lord Killinghurst. Could 2013 be his year?

Badminton is also a place where young riders make their mark – and this year, there are three candidates for the HSBC Training Bursary, which is presented to the highest placed rider never to have previously completed a 4-star level event: Jamie Atkinson (GBR) on Celtic Fortune, Sarah Ennis (IRL) with Sugar Brown Babe and Manuel Grave (POR) on Samaritano.

Dressage starts on Friday at 9.30am (British time) with Oliver Townend (GBR) first into the arena on Armada. Follow live results: www.badminton.co.uk.

HSBC FEI Classics leaderboard (after 3 of 6 events)

  1. Andrew Nicholson (NZL) 30 points
  2. William Fox-Pitt (GBR) 20
  3. Craig Barrett (AUS) 15
  4. Jonathan Paget (NZL) 12
  5. Natalie Blundell (AUS) 12
  6. Michael Jung (GER) 10
  7. Murray Lamperd (AUS) 10
  8. Buck Davidson (USA) 8
  9. Jessica Manson (AUS) 8
  10. Lynn Symansky (USA) 6

View full standings here.

Join the FEI on Facebook & Twitter.

Our signature Twitter hashtags for this series are #HSBC and #Eventing. We encourage you to use them, and if you have space: #HSBC FEI Classics #Eventing.

By Kate Green

Mitsubishi Badminton Horse Trials Media Contact:

Julian Seaman
j.seaman2@sky.com
+44 7831 515736

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Dressage, JRPR

Sommer Time and the Riding Is Easy for Shelly Francis

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Shelly Francis and Doktor during the 2013 Global Dressage Festival. (Photo courtesy of SusanJStickle.com)

Wellington, FL (April 29, 2013) – Shelly Francis isn’t shy about saying she likes to train her own horses, and while dressage isn’t a sport typically known for pimping its rides, the fact of the matter is:  developing nationally-ranked dressage horses means ever-evolving equine physiques and you’d better have saddles and a saddlefitter up to the job.

The Loxahatchee, FL rider and trainer wrapped up her winter season at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival with an FEI Prix St. Georges win (72.105%) on Patty Stempel’s nine-year-old black Hanoverian gelding, Danilo, during the Wellington (FL) CDI5* presented by Diamante Farms.  Out of nearly 20 entries, Francis and Danilo were the only duo to break the 70% mark.

That’s just for starters.  Described by Wellington observers as having the best of string of horses since her last bid – 1998 – for a World Equestrian Games, the 54-year-old rider’s winter circuit closed with her sitting pretty on the Tim Dutta National Rankings with two more Stempel horses:  Doktor, a 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Diamond Hit x Gurena x Renoir 1) placed eighth (68.805%) in the Grand Prix, and nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Danilo (De Niro x Annabelle x Andiamo) at third  (71.513%) on the Intermediaire I, top ten lists.

Francis qualified Doktor for the World Cup Final in Gotenborg, Sweden but has declined the invitation, patiently ceding that the horse still needs “more nights under the lights” before being asked to perform before such an electric environment. “If he gets afraid,” the pragmatic veteran observed, “we will have to deal with it for years to come. Another one or two years may be fine.”

In the meantime, her horses’ talents – and musculature – continue to train and develop, which is why she has entrusted their comfort and her own for the last five years to Sommer saddles.

“I love these saddles.  They’re really comfy for me and the horses and feel so soft and wide.  There’s no pressure on either side of the spine.  The horses feel freer moving and I don’t have sore backs.”

As with any athlete, training builds muscle, and she relies on twice-yearly saddle refits as each talented gelding develops.  “That’s where Marty comes in,” she said, referring to Marty Haist, a master saddler who also joins his wife, Beth, in operating The Horse of Course.

The Horse of Course carries an extensive selection of Sommer saddles, including the FlextraEQ Savoy, Diplomat Exclusiv, Lars Flextra and Spezial Dressage, and is a proud supporter of the equestrian community, traveling cross-country with a convenient mobile store to bring stylish clothing, accessories, saddles and products to shows, and sponsoring classes.

“I get most of my clothes there,” said Francis.  And what girl doesn’t love a shopping trip?  In concert with the increasing athleticism of her horses, she has embarked on her own fitness program and has lost more than 30 pounds.

With Normandy on the horizon in 2014, worrying about what to wear while riding in front of the world is a problem this Grand Prix rider would happily welcome.  “Of course I want that 75% but I may have to wait until next year.  I don’t want to push too hard.  When a horse wants to do it, that’s a nice feeling.”

As nice a feeling as the freedom and comfort of her Sommer saddles. To learn more about The Horse of Course, visit their website at www.thehorseofcourse.com.

For more information contact:
The Horse of Course, Inc.
Beth Haist, CEO
888-49-HORSE (46773)
www.thehorseofcourse.com
beth@thehorseofcourse.com

Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

Nicholson Clocks Timely First Rolex Kentucky Win

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Andrew Nicholson (NZL) rode Quimbo to a clear jumping round for his first-ever win at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (Anthony Trollope/FEI).

Lausanne (SUI), 29 April 2013 – Andrew Nicholson (NZL) rode with a winner’s confidence on Libby Sellar’s beautiful black horse, Quimbo, to secure his first-ever win of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA), third leg of the 2012/2013 HSBC FEI Classics.

Nicholson has made no secret of the fact that for him this season is “all about the HSBC FEI Classics – if William lets me!” and, at this halfway stage, he now holds a commanding 10-point lead over William Fox-Pitt (GBR), who jumped clear to finish second on Seacookie TSF.

This was Nicholson’s first Rolex watch, the fifth CCI4* win of his 30-year career, and the third on the trot, following victories last year at Burghley and Pau.

Most significantly, it sets up an enthralling head-to-head with Fox-Pitt in the Rolex Grand Slam this weekend at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR) on 3-6 May.

He put his current run of success down to: “The realisation about the sort of quality of horses you need nowadays and great team work at home. When it dawns on you that you’ve won a four-star competition on a young horse, it’s a great buzz, and this is no ordinary four-star.”

He said of Quimbo: “He’s a proper horse! He is exceptional and smart and very easy to ride. A win like this is great for the future. Nereo [Olympic bronze medallist] is my best horse at the moment because he’s a hardened campaigner, and Quimbo is the new kid on the block, but I can see him nudging Nereo aside.”

Buck Davidson (USA), who finished best of the home side in fourth place on Ballynoe Castle RM, hit two rails, giving Nicholson a comfortable two-fence margin over Fox-Pitt. This meant that Nicholson, who was helped in the warm-up by the former Spanish rider Luis Alvarez Cervera, could take his time and afford three time penalties on the smooth-jumping Quimbo. He also finished third on Calico Joe, dropping one place when, as he had predicted, the Irish Thoroughbred knocked three fences.

Nicholson has produced Quimbo since a youngster. The 10-year-old gelding, bred in Spain by Anna Beca, is by Lacros, a son of the top jumping sire Landgraaf. Nicholson has long favoured horses bred in Spain on Jumping lines. The mare Qwanza, bred on similar lines, was seventh at Kentucky last year, and Nereo, which he will ride at Badminton next weekend, was bred by Anna Beca’s brother Ramon.

Lynn Symansky (USA), who was competing with a broken finger, scored her best international result with a meteoric rise from 25th place after dressage to eventual fifth on her 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Donner, ahead of Will Faudree (USA) and Pawlow, sixth.

Canadian Olympian Hawley Bennett and the veteran Gin & Juice, world silver medallists in 2010, rose from 29th place to eventual seventh after adding just 0.4 in Cross Country time penalties to a Dressage score of 59.8.

Buck Davidson was ninth on Mar de Amor, and gained a bonus prize with the two-year lease on a Land Rover due to being the American rider nearest the optimum Cross Country time. Davidson admitted he was a little disappointed with his two rails down in the jumping phase on “Reggie”, but he said: “My little horse was great. This is my third national championship here [as highest-placed US rider], all on three different horses. Maybe we can keep these New Zealanders and Brits away and I’ll win here one of these days. But all my three horses are in great shape, and that’s exciting for me for the future.”

Peter Atkins (AUS) moved up to 10th place on Henry Jota Hampton, one of the most popular horses on the US circuit. The most significant changes to the final order were Kiwi rider Jonelle Richards’ departure from seventh place when The Deputy incurred 20 penalties, and the elimination of California-based British rider James Alliston’s Tivoli, ninth overnight, at the final horse inspection.

HSBC Training Bursary

Meghan O’Donoghue (USA), a member of the USA’s under-25 training squad, made a brilliant CCI4* début to win the HSBC Training Bursary worth $1,000.

Riding her own Pirate, an 11-year-old American Thoroughbred, O’Donoghue climbed from 25th place after the Dressage phase to eventual 11th, adding only four Cross Country time penalties and seven Jumping penalties.

She only rode in her first CCI3* last year, finishing 12th at Fairhill (USA) on Pirate, a horse she has produced from a youngster since she spotted him as a three-year-old on the racetrack, where he was being used to ‘pony’ racehorses to the start. O’Donoghue previously worked as barn manager and assistant trainer to Jan Byyny, and is now based in Illinois.

About the winner

Andrew Nicholson (NZL), 51, leader of the HSBC Rankings and the HSBC FEI Classics series, is acknowledged as one of the most hard-working and naturally talented horsemen in Eventing. He first came to England as a 19-year-old in 1979 and worked with racehorses. His first CCI4* was Badminton in 1984 where he earned a place on the first New Zealand Olympic team, at Los Angeles. He went on to ride at five more Olympics, winning team silver in 1992 and team bronzes in 1996 and 2012, when he finished fourth individually on Nereo. He also won team gold at the 1990 FEI World Equestrian Games in Stockholm (SWE), and team and individual bronze on Nereo at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky (USA).

This is his fifth CCI4* win, following three Burghley victories – in 1995 on Buckley Province, in 2000 on Mr Smiffy, and in 2012 on Avebury – plus Pau in 2012 on Nereo. Last year, he won both the Blenheim CIC3* and Boekelo CCI3* on Quimbo and finished second in the HSBC FEI Classics 2011-2012.

Andrew has two adult daughters, Rebecca and Melissa, and two young children, Lily and Zak, with his partner Wiggy Channer. They live near Marlborough, Wiltshire.

Final results

  1. Andrew Nicholson/Quimbo (NZL) 38 + 0 + 3 = 41
  2. William Fox-Pitt/Seacookie TSF (GBR) 46.2 + 0 + 0 = 46.2
  3. Andrew Nicholson/Calico Joe (NZL) 40.8 + 0 + 12 = 52.8
  4. Buck Davidson/Ballynoe Castle RM (USA) 45.2 + 0 + 8 = 53.2
  5. Lynn Symansky/Donner (USA) 54.8 + 0 + 0 = 54.8
  6. Will Faudree/Pawlow (USA) 47.2 + 6.3 + 4 = 57.6
  7. Hawley Bennett/Gin & Juice (CAN) 59.8 + 0.4 + 0 = 60.2
  8. Kristi Nunnink/R-Star (USA) 55.3 + 4.4 + 4 = 63.7
  9. Buck Davidson/Mar de Amor (USA) 55.2 + 0 + 9 = 64.2
  10. Peter Atkins/Henry Jota Hampton (AUS) 59.2 + 1.6 + 4 = 64.8

Full results on www.rk3de.org.

HSBC FEI Classics leaderboard (after 3 of 6 events)

  1. Andrew Nicholson (NZL) 30 points
  2. William Fox-Pitt (GBR) 20
  3. Craig Barrett (AUS) 15
  4. Jonathan Paget (NZL) 12
  5. Natalie Blundell (AUS) 12
  6. Michael Jung (GER) 10
  7. Murray Lamperd (AUS) 10
  8. Buck Davidson (USA) 8
  9. Jessica Manson (AUS) 8
  10. Lynn Symansky (USA) 6

View full standings here.

Join the FEI on Facebook & Twitter.

Our signature Twitter hashtags for this series are #HSBC and #Eventing. We encourage you to use them, and if you have space: #HSBC FEI Classics #Eventing.

By Kate Green

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

Andrew Nicholson Riding Quimbo Wins the 2013 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

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(USA, 28 April 2013) Andrew Nicholson (NZL), riding Quimbo, today won the 2013 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, with William Fox-Pitt (GBR) riding Seacookie in 2nd place, and Andrew Nicholson also in 3rd place riding Calico Joe.

Quotes from Andrew Nicholson, Quimbo:

Q. Andrew – what a round – congratulations – Quimbo is a special horse isn’t he?

Ah he is class – he’s a special horse – he’s a performer and very cool in his mind. It’s great to win here and to make things this exciting at Badminton next week – I think Hugh Thomas must be rubbing his hands – and he hasn’t had to part with any cash!

Q. So it’s game on next week for the Rolex Grand Slam next week?

Oh for sure. I went into the start box on the cross country when I knew William had pulled up Chilli Morning and I thought I would like to be on another of mine, but after the third fence I thought I am quite happy with what I’ve got and remembered how classy he is – it is days like that which are great – I think I am in with a big chance next week.

Quotes from William Fox-Pitt, Seacookie:

Q. William – that was fantastic what a great ride – how were you feeling going in?

I was delighted with him and he has come through this event so well – i was thrilled with him over cross country yesterday – he’s only a little horse but he has a big heart – you never know what the cross country has taken out of them for the show jumping – basically he is a very careful jumper and he was today.

I was so happy with the way he jumped today – he gave me such a nice feeling – he tried his heart out. I had one little moment coming to the water tray where I was riding on either six or seven strides and I was thinking six and then “oh I’m not going to get there on six” so I pulled and he was very good to add and I was thrilled with that.

Q. Were you nervous going in?

Of course you are always nervous going in but I wasn’t in the lead and had it all to go for and nothing to lose, and as I say I was very pleased with my horse all week and just hope that my luck can carry on until next week!

Audio Interviews

For an audio interview of Andrew Nicholson post Show Jumping on Quimbo, please click link here: https://www.yousendit.com/download/UVJnY05ucHZuSlJqQThUQw.

For an audio interview of William Fox-Pitt post Show Jumping on Seacookie, please click link here: https://www.yousendit.com/download/UVJnY05wYUlUME85TE1UQw.

Audio Post Show Jumping Press Conference

Please click here for link: https://www.yousendit.com/download/UVJnY05wYUlwaFE5WThUQw.

Final Results after Show Jumping

  1. Andrew Nicholson/Quimbo (NZL) 41.0
  2. William Fox-Pitt/Seacoookie (GBR) 46.2
  3. Andrew Nicholson/Calico Joe (NZL) 52.8
  4. Buck Davidson/Ballynoe Castle RM (USA) 53.2
  5. Lynn Symansky/Donner (USA) 54.8

For more information on the 2013 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and full Results/Leaderboard, please visit www.rk3de.org.

Two Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing Contenders

With two of three successive wins of the Rolex Grand Slam – the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and the 2011 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials – William Fox-Pitt is the current live contender of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. Due to adverse weather conditions, the 2012 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials was unfortunately cancelled. Therefore, Fox-Pitt has had to wait until the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials before he can contend for the coveted US$ 350,000 Rolex Grand Slam Prize.

However, now that Andrew Nicholson, who won the 2012 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials has also accomplished the feat of successively winning the 2013 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, there will now uniquely be two live contenders for the sport’s most coveted prize at the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing

In 2001, Rolex created the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. This trophy is awarded to the rider who manages to win the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials event in any consecutive order. Until now, only British rider Pippa Funnell has managed this staggering achievement, winning the title in 2003.

Revolution Sports + Entertainment
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Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

Nicholson Wins Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

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Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM (Shannon Brinkman/USEF photo)

Davidson Wins Third Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Eventing Championship

Lexington, KY – The final phase of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover provided an exciting finish to the Kentucky Horse Park’s staple event. A sold-out Rolex Stadium crowd witnessed Andrew Nicholson (NZL) win North America’s only CCI4* event for the first time. With Quimbo, he held onto the overnight lead, only adding three time penalties to their dressage score, finishing with a score of 41.0. Deborah Sellar’s 10-year-old Spanish Sport Horse gelding sailed over the fences in Richard Jeffery’s stadium jumping course, expertly guided by HSBC World Rankings Leader Nicholson.

“To go round and jump the last fence and you have gone clear is a little bit what you expect to do if you ride them half properly when they are that good,” commented Nicholson of Quimbo’s exceptional jumping style.

Nicholson won his second leg of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing after winning the 2012 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and will be competing against William Fox-Pitt (GBR) at the Mitsubishi Badminton Horse Trials for the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, an unprecedented situation. After winning the 2011 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, William Fox-Pitt (GBR) is currently in the running to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. After the 2012 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials was canceled due to excessive rain leading up to the event, a win next week at the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials could win Fox-Pitt or Nicholson the coveted title.

“We both have a few more days of peace before it all kicks off. It will certainly be exciting,” said Fox-Pitt. “I think this is Rolex’s dream.”

Fox-Pitt and Seacookie TSF finished second after having one of only four double clear rounds to finish on a score of 46.2. He made the course look easy with Catherine Witt’s 14-year-old Trakehner gelding after rails had been falling all day.

“It is great to have him back on form again and we will how the autumn goes as to where he is,” said Fox-Pitt of having his partner performing well after a rough go at Burghley last year.

Nicholson also finished third with Calico Joe after having three rails to end on a score of 52.8. Despite stadium jumping not being Twenty Twelve in Mind’s 11-year-old English Thoroughbred gelding’s strongest phase, the pair still managed to finish in the top three.
Buck Davidson (Unionville, PA) and Ballynoe Castle RM settled for fourth place after having two unfortunate rails at fences 11 and 13. While he moved down the leaderboard, Davidson won the Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Eventing Championship with Cassandra Segal’s 13-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding.

“He has been amazing this weekend as he has been his whole life,” said Davidson of his beloved mount “Reggie.” “Of course I am bummed to have two down, it sort of fell apart at the end but to be sitting up here with these two guys who are obviously unbelievable, I feel fortunate to be up here. If I have got to lose it is two good guys to lose to.”

The second highest-placed American was Lynn Symansky (Middleburg, VA) with her own Donner who finished in fifth place with a score of 54.8. She rode the 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding with determination around the horse’s first CCI4* event, having double clear cross country and stadium rounds to finish on their dressage score.

Another American with an impressive finish was Meghan O’Donoghue (Carbondale, IL). A 2013 Developing Riders/Eventing 25 listed rider, she rode her own 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding to a 12th place finish in her first CCI4*. O’Donoghue added only a handful of penalties to finish with a score of 69.0.

Watch on-demand video of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover on the USEF Network presented by SmartPak 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

Competitions, FEI, Show Jumping

Madden and Simon Victorious in 2013 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final, U.S. Finishes with Four in Top Twelve

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Beezie Madden & Simon (Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group)

Gothenburg, Sweden – The 2013 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final came to an exciting yet familiar conclusion Sunday in front of a packed house in the Scandinavum Arena. In the first of two rounds, Course Designer Uliano Vezzani tested 23 horse and rider combinations over a demanding track composed of 12 obstacles that did not yield a single clear round. The number of competitors was then whittled to 17 for the 11 obstacle second round with two riders producing flawless efforts. But for a second consecutive year, four rounds would not be enough to determine a champion and again an American and Swiss competitor would jump-off.

The United States’ Beezie Madden and Steve Guerdat of Switzerland each ended on a four round total of nine faults. In a replay of the 2012 Final, Guerdat riding his 2012 Olympic Individual Gold medalist Nino Des Buissonnets, would be forced to jump off against a U.S. partnership that was known for turning in quick and efficient trips. Last year it was Rich Fellers and Flexible but in 2013 Madden (Cazenovia, NY) and Abigail Wexner’s impressive 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Simon were looking to keep the title in the United States.

Madden and Simon, the winners of Thursday’s Speed Leg, entered Sunday’s first round on a single fault in second place and were poised to jump a clear round until just rolling the pole coming out of the double at five. Their four fault round was good enough to move them to the head of the field going into round two. In the second round, the pair again jumped a beautiful round only to be marred by a single rail down (11A) and stand on a total of nine faults.

“It’s been a fantastic week. The first leg was one of those rounds where everything came up. Friday, I was happy with the first round and I was kicking myself for the jump-off,” said Madden, recapping her performances earlier in the week. “I was disappointed (today) I would have liked to have gone clear in the second round but you have to shake that off and concentrate on the jump-off.”

Guerdat was one of two to go clear in Sunday’s second round to also lay on nine faults. The 2012 Final runners-up again entered as the first pair in the jump-off and set a lightning fast pace from the very beginning but faulted at the final two fences.

With Madden following him into the jump-off, Guerdat knew that he would need to produce a scorching time if he were to claim top honors.

“I know she’s a very fast rider, so I had to try.”

Once she saw that Guerdat had two rails down, the double Olympic Team Gold medalist knew all she had to do was leave all the rails in place and be careful to not exceed the time allowed. Madden and Simon returned to the arena for a final time and the hard-trying, careful gelding produced a steady clear to earn the 2013 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final title.

“The cards laid out right for me today. Steve made a great jump up on the leaderboard and the door was left open for me in the jump-off,” said Madden.

The veteran rider has claimed many of the most prestigious honors in the sport including Team and Individual medals at the Olympic Games, FEI World Equestrian Games and Pan American Games. However, a Rolex/FEI World Cup Final title had eluded her until today.

“It’s been a dream of mine to win the World Cup and I can’t believe I’ve done it,” said Madden. “It’s a title I’ve always wanted to win and the closest I had been before was fourth so it was a nice jump to make.”

Madden was joined by five other Americans in Sunday’s final as McLain Ward, Reed Kessler, Karl Cook, Katie Dinan and Charlie Jayne also completed both rounds.

Three-time Olympian McLain Ward (Brewster, NY) produced a fifth place finish overall with Grant Road Partner LLC’s Super Trooper De Ness on a score of 13 faults. In Sunday’s first round, the scopey 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion jumped a near flawless round just adding four faults at the sixth oxer. The pair returned in round two with a podium finish on their mind but were one of many to get caught out in the triple combination adding four faults at 4C.

Rounding out the U.S. competitors in the top ten was 18-year-old Reed Kessler and her 2012 Olympic Games partner the 11-year-old Belgian mare Cylana. Kessler (Lexington, KY) was making her Rolex/FEI World Cup debut this week in Gothenburg and produced an eight fault total in Sunday’s first round after dislodging rails at fences 5B and 9B. In round two, she again incurred eight faults: rolling poles at 4C and 5.

Kessler finished in 10th place on 25 faults.

Directly behind Kessler in the 11th place was Karl Cook (Woodside, CA) riding Signe Ostby’s 11-year-old Zangerscheide stallion Jonkheer Z to four fault totals in both rounds. They completed their first Final appearance on a score of 28 faults.

Completing the U.S. effort were Dinan and Jayne. Riding Grant Road Partners LLC’s 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding Nougat De Vallet, Dinan (Wellington, FL) jumped eight and 12 fault rounds respectively to finish on a score of 38 in 16th place. Like Kessler and Cook, the 19-year-old was also riding in her first Final. Jayne (Elgin, IL) and Alex Jayne and Maura Thatcher’s 10-year-old Zangerscheide stallion Chill R Z produced an eight fault trip in round one. But 20 faults in the second round left the 2012 Olympic reserve combination in 17th place on 44 faults.

Kent Farrington (Wellington, FL) also qualified to represent the United States in Sunday’s final but chose to save R.C.G. Farm’s Uceko for another day.

Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland was pleased with the results of all the U.S. combinations this week.

“We’re very excited; we made this a huge goal. This was a priority; not just winning but really doing better with all our riders in the running and we saw that today,” said Ridland. “It was just icing on the cake that Beezie won.”

For more information about the 2013 FEI World Cup Final, visit: http://www.gothenburghorseshow.com.

Follow the 2013 U.S. Jumping Team here.

By Helen Murray

*Featured/Spotlights, FEI, Show Jumping

Beezie Madden & Simon Emerge Victorious as 2013 Rolex FEI World Cup Finals Champion

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Beezie Madden & Simon. Photo: The Chronicle of the Horse.

Gothenburg, Sweden: Beezie Madden and Simon, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Abigail Wexner, rose to the top of the Rolex FEI World Cup Finals leader board today to be crowned the 2013 Champions, keeping the title for the United States of America and becoming only the 5th woman to hold the title. After 3 rounds made up of 6 courses of world-class competition over 4 days, Beezie and John Madden are on top of the world!

“It feels fantastic; I am so proud of Simon and my team. I can’t thank Abigail Wexner enough for her support,” said Madden of her win.

Madden started the competition at the Gothenburg Horse Show with a bang on Thursday, April 25th by claiming her first ever Rolex FEI World Cup Finals win of an individual round, the speed round. Friday’s course, by course designer Uliano Vezzani, was impressive with Madden ending in 9th place for the round but in second place going into today’s two final rounds.

The first of the two courses today proved to be very challenging with no horse and rider combination delivering a clear round. Madden and Simon had 4 faults in this round, placing them back on top of the overall standings going into the final course. Both Madden and fellow Olympic medalist, Steve Guerdat of Switzerland, emerged from today’s second course with a total of 9 faults overall, forcing a final jump-off between the two riders. Guerdat lowered two obstacles in the final stages of the jump-off, leaving Madden in the very best possible situation. Madden’s task was to not lower more than 2 jumps and stay in front of Guerdat’s time, and that is what she did! Simon laid down another beautiful clear round with a time of 41.66 seconds, walking out of the arena victorious!

When asked about today’s win aboard Simon, Madden stated, “I always consider it an honor to ride for the US, and there are no words to describe how it feels to deliver a win. Simon has just been amazing. He is an incredible partner. The World Cup Finals definitely test the horses at every level. This was a marathon, and I am so proud of him.”

Madden is trained by husband John Madden. Together they own and operate John Madden Sales, Inc. in Cazenovia, New York.  “It is very hard to put into words what this win feels like,” said Madden of Beezie’s win today. “This is what Beezie and I live for and not just for ourselves but for our owners, our JMS Team, our sponsors, our family and friends in Cazenovia and Nelson as well as our students at Trelawny Farm and Coral Reef Ranch. This is such a great honor, and we are very proud to bring the Rolex FEI World Cup Finals Championship Title home for Team USA.”

A full list of results can be found at http://results.scgvisual.com/2013/goteborg/worldcup.html.

John Madden Sales, Inc. is owned and operated by John and Beezie Madden in Cazenovia, NY. The Maddens train, sell and compete world-class show jumpers around the globe. Accomplishments include two team Olympic Gold medals and an individual bronze as well as the FEI Rolex World Champion title and a World Equestrian Games individual silver medal. They have also trained and been instrumental in the development of many top horses, riders and trainers competing today.

Media Contact: Connie Sawyer
Connie Sawyer, LLC
518-461-6288
Sawyer.EquestrianEvents@gmail.com

FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Beezie Madden Takes the 2013 Rolex Crown in Three-Round Thriller

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The USA’s Beezie Madden holds the trophy aloft after her sensational victory with Simon at the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final 2012/2013 in Gothenburg, Sweden today. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

Gothenburg (SWE), 28 April 2013 – America’s Beezie Madden and Simon claimed the 2013 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping title at the end of an epic battle in the Scandinavium Arena in Gothenburg, Sweden today. It was a back-to-back win for the USA following last year’s victory of Rich Fellers and Flexible who ended a 25-year drought for his country in 2012, and Madden is only the fifth woman ever to hold the coveted trophy in her hands.  Fellow-Americans Melanie Smith (1982), Leslie Burr Lenehan (1986) and Katharine Burdsall (1987) succeeded over the early years of this prestigious tournament, while Californian-born Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum flew the German flag to register a hat-trick of successes in 2005, 2008 and 2009.

This was a tough day of jumping and a cliff-hanger of a competition right to very end.  Not one of the 23 starters managed to complete Uliano Vezzani’s first-round track without penalty, and only three left all the fences up in the second round and one of those – Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson – collected just a single time fault. Madden went into a third-round head-to-head with Olympic champion Steve Guerdat, but the 30-year-old Swiss rider had to settle for runner-up spot for the second year in a row while it was the strains of the Star Spangled Banner that rang out around the arena during the emotional prize-giving ceremony as 49-year-old Madden claimed the spoils.

Not for the Faint-Hearted

Vezzani’s first-round track was tall, wide and definitely not for the faint-hearted.  When questioned afterwards about the intensity of the test he had set throughout the entire day, he said, “I think it wasn’t too easy for the riders and horses but these are the best in the world. It was big, difficult and technical, but the horses jumped well.” And Guerdat interjected to point out, “The course was tough, but there were a lot of four-faults; you didn’t see horses struggling, and if we riders did our job as well as him (Vezzani) then we would have had more clear rounds!”

In the first round, Vezzani sent them off at a gallop with a triple bar as the first fence, and the pressure remained relentless to the very last. The 12-fence course demanded accuracy and control and tested the riders ability to shorten and lengthen the stride, with no room for indecision. The back bar of the innocuous-looking oxer at fence two claimed both Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya (Carlo) and Frenchman Kevin Staut (Silvana HDC) amongst its victims, and the only one of the 12 obstacles that remained undisturbed throughout the entire first round was the vertical at three.

Option

There was an option of four forward or five holding strides between the oxer at four and the following double of very tall verticals of bright red planks but, surprisingly, a number of the leading contenders managed to negotiate this only to hit the following oxer off a right-hand bend. There was no time to recover before continuing right-handed to the following vertical, while the dog-leg left-hand bend to the oxer at eight came up very quickly and sometimes at cost.

With just four more to go, riders had to set their horses up carefully for the triple combination of oxer to vertical to oxer, and then it was time to turn for home.  But before they got there they had to clear the wavy planks at 10 and then run down the long side of the arena over the penultimate oxer and the final vertical. It was here that Olympic champion Steve Guerdat’s round unravelled. Clear to that point, he suddenly urged Nino des Buissonnets forward and although they left the second-last intact, their rhythm was upset and the last came down to add four penalties to their scoreline.

Pole Position

As the class began, with 23 starters, it was Portugal’s Luciana Diniz who held pole position with Lennox, but three fences down first time out compromised their chances.  Second-placed Madden therefore moved into the lead with Simon when one of the eight horse-and-rider combinations to lower just a single fence, their error coming at the second element of the influential double of red planks.

As round two began, Kevin Staut was lying second ahead of Guerdat and America’s McLain Ward, but Guerdat’s clear this time out left him on a running total of nine, so when Madden dropped the second element of the penultimate double these two were now on level pegging and it would take a jump-off to separate them. And you couldn’t have predicted what was going to happen next.

Guerdat and his Olympic partner Nino des Buissonnets are possibly the fastest horse-and-rider duo on the planet, and the Olympic champions set off like a rocket over the new jump-off course. They looked set to present Madden with a near-impossible target until, turning too tight to the penultimate vertical, the Swiss rider found himself  with no real sight of a stride and when that fell, they galloped down to the last and hit that too.

“I was trying to go clear and fast as possible. I have a very fast horse, and I just wanted to win. Last year I had to go first in the jump-off but I wasn’t quick enough so I finished second and I didn’t want it to happen again. Maybe I took too much risk; maybe I could have been a bit smarter to the second-last and I could have put more pressure on Beezie, but I think I had to try,” he explained.

Wide Open for Madden

The door was now wide open for Madden, and she was about to step smartly in. “I watched Steve’s jump-off on TV. Once he had two down I just wanted to check what the time-allowed was. I was so relieved; I thought he would be so hard to beat; it took quite a bit of the pressure off!”

She entered the arena knowing that a sensible clear would be good enough to take the title and that was exactly what she produced. “It was great to win the first leg, but I was kicking myself after the second day. And today it was different again. It was a bit like the cards landed right for me when Steve left the door open in the jump-off,” the new champion said afterwards. A last-fence error in the second round cost Staut dearly as, without that, his running tally of six would have been good enough to clinch it. But he was stoic in the aftermath, and he even suggested that he had just experienced a learning curve where his faithful grey mare, Silvana, was concerned.

Happy

“I am very happy about third place, although I was a bit disappointed I had the last down. It has been fantastic sport here, my fourth Rolex World Cup Final, and I never jumped as big as we jumped today. My mare is 14 years old and I never knew she could jump as big as that so maybe she’s younger than I think and she can jump even more!”

Madden talked about the 14-year-old Dutch-bred gelding Simon who has been in a Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping line-up before with his previous rider, The Netherlands’ Jeroen Dubbeldam, when third at the final in Leipzig, Germany in 2011.

“He’s a very sensible horse; there has always been a question about rideability and we’ve played around with bits and found one he likes now. He can get strong, but he’s not so difficult and he’s careful; he wants to do his job and he makes it easy for me as long as I can get him there in range. I got him 18 months ago, and he’s great because he’s a fighter!” she said.

Debt of Gratitude

There was an air of a job well done as the event drew to a close, and one man who was feeling particularly delighted with the end result was the winning rider’s husband, John Madden. At the closing press conference he said, not surprisingly, “Personally, I think this was a fantastic event!” He continued: “I am Executive Board member and Chairman of the FEI Jumping Committee and Beezie’s husband, so this is great for me; I’m very proud to be Beezie’s husband but also proud of my connection with the FEI and I want to extend our deepest debt of gratitude to Rolex. It has been a unique, exciting event here, and we can look back on seven finals with Rolex, each unique and each excellent in their own way. For 50 years Rolex has contributed to our sport.

“We have had great sport here; it has been a long, hard battle but everyone including the FEI staff, the Organising Committee of Gothenburg and the country of Sweden have all done a great job and it has been a pleasure to be here.”  Meanwhile his wife stood holding the trophy that, as she said today, “is one I’ve always wanted.” She has it now.

Standings at the end of Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final competition 3:

1, Simon (Beezie Madden) USA 0/41.66; 2, Nino des Buissonnets (Steve Guerdat) SUI 8/30.33; 3, Silvana HDC (Kevin Staut) FRA 10; 4, Carlo (Sergio Alvarez Moya) ESP 12, 5, Super Trooper de Ness (McLain Ward) USA 13, 6, Quintero la Silla/Casall la Silla (Rolf-Goran Bengtsson) SWE 13, 7, Sterrehof’s Tamino/Sterrehof’s Uppity (Marc Houtzager) NED 16; 8, Gotha FRH (Henrik von Eckermann) SWE 20; 9, Lennox (Luciana Diniz) POR 20; 10, Cylana (Reed Kessler) USA 25.  Full standings here: http://results.scgvisual.com/2013/goteborg/worldcup.html.

Audio Links:

Commentary on jump off

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_2013_Comm.mp3

Steve Guerdat

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_guerdat_end.mp3

Kevin Staut

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_staut_end_french.mp3   French

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_staut_end_eng.mp3   English

Beezie Madden

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_MADDEN_win.mp3

Facts and Figures:

23 horse-and-rider partnerships started in today’s final competition which took place over two rounds and two different courses.

17 competed in the second round and two horse-and-rider combinations went into a third-round jump-off against the clock.

Course designer, Uliano Vezzani from Italy, was assisted throughout the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final 2012/2013 by Peter Lundstrom (SWE) and Pier Francesco Bazzocchi (ITA).

12 obstacles and 15 jumping efforts in both rounds.

11 gelding, 8 stallions and 4 mares competed in today’s deciding competition.

The oldest horses in the class were both 15-year-olds – the Swedish-bred bay gelding Lunatic, ridden by Sweden’s Jens Fredricson and the Holsteiner stallion Quintero la Silla competed by Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson.

The youngest horse was the 9-year-old Belgian-bred bay gelding Ego Van Orti, ridden by Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander.

There were 6 lady riders in the field of 23 starters.

This was the 13th time for the FEI World Cup Jumping Final to take place at the Scandinavium Arena in Gothenburg where the very first final was held in 1979.

Attendance figures were the highest ever, with over 90,000 spectators throughout the week including a packed house again today.

Quotes:

Rolf-Goran Bengtsson – “I’m quite happy; it was fantastic sport.  I got caught in the double of planks (in the first round) but I always said I wanted to finish in or around fifth place and I finished sixth so I’m still happy.”

Beezie Madden, talking about the challenge of moving horses from outdoor tournaments to indoors – “I think sometimes the horses can be fresher coming to a show like this from outdoor tournaments.  It wouldn’t be so easy for less experienced horses, but the older ones quite like it I think.”

For further information on the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final 2012/2013 in Gothenburg, Sweden (24-28 April), check out www.gothenburghorseshow.com.

By Louise Parkes

Gothenburg Media Contacts:

Mayvor Thorin
+46 31 368 43 49
mayvor.thorin@gotevent.se

Lotta Amnestal
+46 709 795635
lotta.amnestal@ridsport.se

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Competitions, FEI, Show Jumping

Beezie Madden Was Crowned the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final Champion

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Beezie Madden riding Simon USA, winner of the Rolex World Cup 2013. Photo – Kit Houghton/FEI.

Riding Simon, Beezie Madden won the Final, ahead of 2nd place Steve Guerdat (SUI) riding Nino des Buissonnets, and 3rd place Kevin Staut (FRA), riding Silvana HDC.

YouTube: http://youtu.be/EONfYHBSbJE.

Audio:

Beezie Madden – http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_MADDEN_win.mp3

Steve Guerdat – English – http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_guerdat_end.mp3

Kevin Staut – English – http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_staut_end_eng.mp3

Kevin Staut – French – http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_staut_end_french.mp3

Press conference recording – http://we.tl/6oLvIkPeZR

For full results and standings, please visit http://results.scgvisual.com/2013/goteborg/worldcup.html.

Revolution Sports + Entertainment
T: +44(0)207 592 1207
E: tim@revolutionsports.co.uk

Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day, USEF

Nicholson Cruises into Top Two Places after Cross Country at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

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Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM (Shannon Brinkman/USEF photo)

Lexington, KY – Cross country day was an influential one at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover. Derek di Grazia’s 6500 meter, 28 obstacle cross country course caused some problems throughout the day but did not pose any issues for HSBC World Rankings Leader Andrew Nicholson (NZL) who holds the top two places on the leaderboard. Nicholson is in the lead with Quimbo after having a textbook round, adding nothing to their dressage score of 38.0. Deborah Sellar’s 10-year-old Spanish Sport Horse gelding galloped around the Kentucky Horse Park confidently in his first attempt at a CCI4* event.

“He felt very, very good. I was very, very impressed with him,” said Nicholson of Quimbo. “It’s his first time at this level so I quite wasn’t sure if he would have enough gallop to keep up the pace to the end. I was quite amazed when I got to eight minutes and told him we needed to up the pace a little bit and he was very happy to do it and he wasn’t slowing down at the finish.”

Nicholson sits a close second to himself with Calico Joe, adding no penalties to their dressage score of 40.8. He had a masterful round with Twenty Twelve in Mind’s 11-year-old English Thoroughbred gelding, easily coming in well under the optimum time of 11 minutes and 21 seconds.

“You can never have too much of a cushion going into show jumping,” quipped Nicholson of being in first and second going into the final phase. “I pretty much made the most of today and will worry about tomorrow tomorrow. For Calico Joe, [show jumping] is not his strongest phase. Quimbo is a very, very nice jumper. If I ride him half right he usually does the rest himself. So we will just worry about things tomorrow morning at the jog and worry about the show jumping after that.”

With a win tomorrow, Nicholson would win his second leg of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing after winning the 2012 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and be competing against William Fox-Pitt (GBR) at the Mitsubishi Badminton Horse Trials for the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. After winning the 2011 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, William Fox-Pitt (GBR) is currently in the running to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. After the 2012 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials was canceled due to excessive rain leading up to the event, a win next week at the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials could win Fox-Pitt, or possibly Nicholson depending on tomorrow’s outcome, the coveted title.

Buck Davidson (Unionville, PA) jumped a stellar double clear round over the demanding track to sit third with a score of 45.2 with Ballynoe Castle RM. The pair finished third at both the Red Hills CIC3* and The Fork CIC3*. Being the top placed American in the competition, Davidson cruised into the lead of the Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Eventing Championship with Cassandra Segal’s 13-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding.

“He’s been an amazing horse for me,” said Davidson of his longtime partner “Reggie.” “I am so fortunate to have him in my life and have the Segals who have given me such an amazing horse. He does everything I ask him, he shows up every single weekend and I am so lucky and thankful.”

For being the top American rider coming closest to the optimum time, Davidson was awarded the Land Rover Best Ride of the Day, receiving a 24 month lease of a 2013 Range Rover Evoque.

“Land Rover has been a huge supporter of American eventing and for them to come up with this is great. I am very thankful to Land Rover,” commented Davidson.

The second highest-placed American is Will Faudree (Southern Pines, NC) with Jennifer Mosing’s Pawlow. He and the 14-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding added 6.4 time penalties to sit in fifth place with a score of 53.6. The pair had a 15th place finish here in 2010 and hope to improve upon that performance this year.

Forty-two combinations contested the cross country phase but only 30 completed the course. Of the finishers there were 10 double clear rounds, while there were seven eliminations and 5 retirements on course. Three combinations withdrew before the start of competition Saturday.

The second horse inspection will take place Sunday at 8:30am ET and the show jumping will begin at 1:15pm 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