FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
SIDELINES JUNE 2012 69
Allison Springer and Arthur fnished second
and as the highest placed American
rider, earned $37,000 in prize money,
plus the Rolex USEF National four-star
championship and an 18 month free lease
of a Range Rover HSE courtesy of Land
Rover North America. Allison’s hard work,
faith in her horse and intrepid determination
has turned the page. She’s incredibly
pleased with her horse and said, “I knew
what I had to do, and I did it. It’s great to
feel that way after all three days.”
Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere placed third
overall, fnishing on their dressage score in the
horse’s four-star debut and garnered the reserve
tri-color in the Rolex USEF National Four-Star
championship. Boyd also fnished eighth on
Remington XXV. Factor in HOTY Neville Bardos
and four-star veteran Ying Yang Yo and Boyd has
an equine ‘bench’ with depth, to say the least,
when it comes to the competitions factored into
the US team selection process in the run-up to the
Olympics.
Will Coleman and Twizzel, ffth, found themselves
in an elite club after Rolex Kentucky: they were
one of only three horse-rider combinations to
fnish on their dressage score. This means two
double clears, no time penalties, cross-country
and show jumping – pretty impressive anytime,
but really signifcant in an Olympic year.
Karen O’Connor and Mr. Medicott fnished in fourth
place after a clear show jumping round. The Olympic
veteran couldn’t have been more pleased with her Rolex
experience – for the frst time in her 35 years of eventing
she won “Best Dressed” for the frst jog, a pair of Dubarry
boots – even though a dunk in the HSBC Water Park on
the cross-country eliminated her and Victoria early on
Saturday morning. She called Mr. Medicott “a fabulous
horse – the word I use to describe this horse is wise. He’s
very wise.” Talented and athletic and possibly London-
bound – that describes both the horse and the rider.