Derby Fever
Friday, May 06 2011
Pony racing at the local Point to Points is always a high point of my spring. I love to watch the kids before the race when they are gathered in a circle around the steward going over the rules while a sibling, parent or friend walks the pony around the paddock; I love to watch the kids get on their ponies and head off to the start behind the outriders; and mostly I love to watch them run to the finish with an intensity and competitive spirit that transcends their young age. This year at the Plumsted Races the competition was fierce and friendly.
Rolex Part IV: The Wrap.
Tuesday, May 03 2011
The interwebs are awash with photo galleries of this past weekend’s exciting events in Kentucky. How did we ever live without instant access everything? No matter where you were in the world over the weekend, you could almost instantly sift through endless photos of your favorite rider jumping through the Head of the Lake, relive every ride via the excellent www.USEFnetwork.com , or read detailed analysis of each phase by a herd of eventing-obsessed equestrian journalists the world over.
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
Mary King Crowned at Rolex!
Sunday, May 01 2011
Wow – it all came down to the last six rides at Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event – Mary King went early with the second-placed Fernhill Urco, putting in a double clear to maintain their score of 49.7 – the only question was whether her top-placed Kings Temptress would leave up all the rails. Before that happened, however, Oliver Townend and ODT Sonas Rovatio put in their double clear, William Fox-Pitt hunted Neuf des Coeurs around for a double clear, then Hannah Sue Burnett and Exponential took out two rails to drop a bit. Next it was Manoir de Carneville and Sinead Halpin who put in a double clear. The tension amped up as 3rd-placed Clayton Fredericks and Be My Guest pulled one for four faults, which dropped them one place, because Mary King and Kings Temptress came in and showed the world how a first class rider rides double clear rounds under pressure. They left all all the pretty painted fences untouched and we had our Rolex Champion and Reserve Champion – making history and scoring a first. Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville (“Tate”) earned the four-star championship as highest placed American, along with third place, a rosette above William Fox-Pitt and Neuf des Coeurs with Fredericks and Be My Guest in fifth.
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
Covering the Coverage.
Sunday, May 01 2011
From one small apartment in South Florida, On the Line was able to witness the live events of three Olympic sports this weekend. It really was the next best thing to actually being there. . . really. Being the devout show jumping fan that I am, I splurged on the fee to access FEItv , and it was money very well spent
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
Britannia Rules Rolex XC, Dramatic Impact On Leaderboard
Sunday, May 01 2011
Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes – David Bowie’s rocker kept playing in our head as the Cross-Country, designed by Derek di Grazia for the Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, provided its own dramatic footage to rival the opening credits of the old Wide World of Sports show hosted by Jim McKay for ABC, featuring the kettle drum roll as film rolled about The Thrill of Victory, The Agony of Defeat. But at Kentucky Horse Park it wasn’t that luckless ski-jumper tumbling off the end of the jump run, it was the Rolex four-star cross-country course that looked straightforward and yet tested the best of our riders. Right now, Mary King (GBR) reigns in the two top spots with Kings Temptress and Fernhill Urco, 2007 Rolex winner Clayton Fredericks (AUS) sits in third with Be My Guest, and the highest placed American, Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville follow in fourth place – both of them contesting their first-ever four-star. Allison Springer & Arthur - bittersweet disappointment after a brilliant start.
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
Role Part III: Reining Meets Eventing
Sunday, May 01 2011
Here’a a few quick photos from the eveinings reining events at the Kentucky Horse Park last night. Karen O’Connor must not have been too tired after riding two horses around a 4* cross country track yesterday…. because she gave the Alltech Arena a hell of a show when she picked up the reins and rode a reining pattern. And not to be outdone, David reined as well -bridleless- Check out Cheval Photos’ online store for more shots and a growing library from the weekend. Stadium jumping begins today at 1pmEST – MUCH more to come! Her breeches and tall boots are an excellent touch.
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
OMG! KA-CHANG! Cross-Country Rings Huge Changes!
Sunday, May 01 2011
The leaderboard has turned inside out and upside down in a glorious day of cross-country at Kentucky Rolex Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone. The press conference just ended and the top three are: 1st & 2nd: Mary King (GBR) – Kings Temptress (47.7), Fernhill Urco (49.7) “I can’t believe it—lying in first and second places! I’ve never been in this position before, especially not at this level, on two very different horses,” said King, who’s thrilled to be eventing still at 49. “I’m going to celebrate tonight, because you never know what’s around the corner.” 3rd: Clayton Frederics (GBR) – Be My Guest “She’s a pretty good cross-country mare, if I can keep her quiet. She was fantastic today—I really enjoyed it,” said Fredericks, 43, who won his Rolex watch in 2007. 4th – Sinead Halpin (USA) – Manoir de Carneville “I was kind of excited when I first walked the course, because I thought it would be perfect for him,” said Halpin, 29, her horse is 11; this is their first four-star together and they jumped clean but ran 11 seconds slow. “I watched Mary [King] go, and then I didn’t want to watch any more.
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
Rolex: Ka-Chang, Ka-Chang! XC Rings Up Major Changes
Saturday, April 30 2011
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
Rolex Part II: Flatwork Takes Many Forms.
Saturday, April 30 2011
It was all about the flatwork Friday at the Kentucky Horse Park. Flatwork, in the form of the Rolex KY 3-Day Event’s dressage phase, and flatwork in the form of sleek and shiny reiners inside the Alltech Arena. On the Line has a great appreciation for reining , enough so that even after staying awake (kidding, kidding, it was all excellent) through the eventing dressage, I was motivated to watch today’s reining competition via USEFnetwork’s excellent live online coverage. For those of us who can’t be onsite in KY this weekend, USEF’s online stream has provided a great window into Rolex and now the Kentucky Reining Cup, so three cheers for them. I plan on parking myself in front of the computer tomorrow morning at 10:00amEST for the broadcast of cross country day, to watch 45 riders much braver than I navigate the soggy footing that’s been the topic of so much conversation this week.
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
Leaderboard Changes at Conclusion of Dressage
Friday, April 29 2011
Mary King (GBR) and her second ride, Fernhill Urco, scored 41.7, good enough for second place behind Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister who are still in the lead. Allison Springer and Arthur are in third, followed by King’s other hope, Kings Temptress. Twizzel and Will Coleman round out the top five
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs