8 SIDELINES JUNE 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Molly Ashe-Cawley
What was it like returning to the Invitational after a fve year
absence and ten years removed since your last victory?
I love that stadium. This was the frst time coming back to the
stadium where I really felt I was there to compete and had a horse
that was ready to win. I did Lutopia there and then showed Cocu
the year I got married in 2007. I got married the next day.
What does it feel like to ride through the tunnel and onto the
feld?
There’s something about that tunnel, there’s that noise, that
whistling of the wind as you’re walking up and then you hit that
sunlight and see the feld, there’s a really special feeling about
that. It’s such a fun feld to jump on and there’s something very
impressive about competing at that stadium. There’s no place
like it anywhere in the United States. It has that special history of
40 years and the “awe factor” that we rarely get to experience as
riders. There’s nothing like it anywhere.
How did your horse handle the roar of the crowd?
I went right after Beezie’s clear round and the crowd was going
crazy and screaming their heads off. There was this huge roar for
her clear and I thought, ‘Oh boy, here we go.’ My horse has some
blood, so he felt it, too, and I think somewhere along the way, he
decided they were cheering for him!
What was it like with your children, four year old Taylor, and
two year old Conner, watching?
Last time I competed here was before I got married so this was
a completely new experience. This was their frst stadium visit. It
was great. Taylor said to me, before the class started, ‘Mommy, I
want you to win this one.’ I told her I was going to try. And when I
went in for the prize giving, Taylor was standing there and looked
really sad and I said, ‘What’s wrong?’ and she said, ‘You didn’t
win! Then she gave Mario the “death glare” and said she was
never going to talk to him again!
Molly Ashe-Cawley, Lauren Hough and Catherine Pasmore (left
to right) study the course
Photo by Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com
of consequences that can happen. Sometimes you think about
these things; but you just have to think positive.
Did you have a good feeling on Saturday, a feeling that you
might win?
I had a good feeling all week to tell you the truth. As you know
my horse didn’t do the trials because of her tooth; but she has
been jumping really well all winter and was starting to peak a
little bit. I knew she jumped well on grass at Spruce Meadows,
so yeah, I did have a good feeling and you saw the result, she
jumped fantastic!