Equestrian Life Special Events - 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

Photos & Article By: Selena A. Frederick

Mary King & Kings Temptress - Winners of 2011 Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event Presented by Bridgestone

Mary King (GBR) is the first competitor in Rolex Kentucky 3-Day history to bring home both titles of Champion and Reserve Champion. And yes, both she and William Fox-Pitt (GBR, 4^th place finisher) woke up early to watch the Royal Wedding before competing.

The look on King’s face said it all after she cleared the last jump on Fernhill Urco. After her ride on Saturday, Mary discussed each horse and what she anticipated for the following day’s competition. “She (Kings Temptress) use to struggle a bit with her natural form. She tries hard – she’s not lazy, but she has a lack of technique – at Burghley, she only had 1 rail and so far this year, she has jumped clear at each event.” As for her other mount, Fernhill Urco, she explained his talent for jumping, however, her concern was his level of fatigue after the Cross Country phase. “It will be my first time show jumping him being as tired as he is, but naturally, he’s a lovely jumper.” Fernhill Urco was apparently not as fatigued as she thought. After having a clear round on him, King could not have been more proud of her new Portuguese-bred partner.

Three rides after King’s first round on Fernhill Urco, Sinead Halpin (USA) had an emotional finish aboard Manoir De Carneville. The 2011 Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event presented by Bridgestone would be one for the books for this pair. Ending with a clean round at their first ever CCI 4* competition brought more than smiles and tears for the new comer. They also earned the Best Conditioned Horse award as well! “Right now I feel great, I’m just beside myself! And my horse is so proud of himself!” Showing his enthusiasm Manoir De Carneville let out a huge buck coming down towards the in-gate for the awards ceremony. “I’m not going to cry anymore” said Halpin, “Actually, I am probably going to cry some more” she admits.

Halpin spent time with William Fox-Pitt last year helping him ride and train his horses. Thanks to David and Karen O’Connor, whom Halpin had previously trained with, Sinead went to England to develop her instincts. According to William, “She (Halpin) had an over keenness to be good, and that was a lesson to be learned for all of us – she relaxed over time, she has a fantastic horse and we miss her – I’m delighted to be 1 place behind!”

Sinead Halpin (USA) & Manoir De Carneville after their clear round and Third Place finish at their first CCI 4 star Event

Halpin and Manoir De Carneville were not the only first CCI 4* timers, Neuf Des Coeurs, William Fox-Pitt’s mount, also had his first go at this year’s Rolex. “He’s an awfully nice horse,” said William, “I’ve been very lucky—it’s his first 4* and going into the Show Jumping phase, you never quite know because there is so much to look at in that arena. I didn’t know what he might do, but he’s a horse that’s improving all the time. I was optimistic that he would try his best and he did. I’m going home happy with him, and he’s going to have a bit of a holiday now.”

King was all smiles (once again) after her final ride on the mare she bred, Kings Temptress. The mare undoubtedly proved her ability to compete and win at the 4* level.

As for final results, Clayton Frederick, who was in third place after Cross Country, fell into fifth place after his bay Thoroughbred mare; Be My Guest had a rail. Oliver Townend (also a Brit) seemed pleased with his Show Jumping phase. Compared to last year, when he fell and had to be air lifted to the hospital after his horse (Ashdale Cruise Master) fell on him at The Hollows, Townend too was all smiles leaving the arena.

There were many “firsts” this weekend: Derek Di Grazia’s first Cross Country Course Design for Rolex, USA rider Sinead Halpin and her horse finishing third at their first ever CCI 4* Event, and the first time ever in Rolex Kentucky 3-Day history that an individual has taken both first and second place – it has been a very special weekend, one for the books, especially for the British!

For Official Results: http://scoring.rk3de.org/leaderBoard.html

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Cloud 9

Photos & Article By: Selena A. Frederick

David O'Connor, reining bridle-less!

Top Event riders Karen and David O’Connor, along with Rolex competitors Gina Miles and Hamish Cargill (AUS) ended their Saturday night by competing in the Ariat Reining Cup Freestyle. All four riders could not wipe the big glowing smiles off their faces, a common look displayed also by Mary King (GBR) who is twice in the lead following the Dressage and Cross Country phases.

King (GBR) and her 11 year old Thoroughbred mare, Kings Temptress, continued to move up the ranks. She currently holds both the first and second place on the leader board, however, Clayton Fredericks of Australia (currently ranked in third place), told her playfully in the press conference, to “watch out” – if he can keep his mare in her comfort zone of being relaxed, he might take the lead after the Show Jumping phase scheduled for Sunday at 1pm EST.

“The ground was amazing! If this had been a horse trial in England, it would have been cancelled days ago!” King responded after her Cross Country ride. Course Designer Derek Di Grazia’s concerns about footing and the track remained minimal after the rider’s completed the course. He too felt that the course rode well, and that the track was at its best in the sunny, chilly morning and slightly slower in the warm afternoon sun. Derek commented that, “The problems were spread throughout the course, so I don’t think there was any one fence that caused huge amounts of problems.”

Being the first double clear ride of the morning, King was ecstatic about her placings by her last ride aboard the Portuguese bred gelding, Fernhill Urco. “I’m not even thinking about tomorrow (show jumping). I’m enjoying the moment – I’m absolutely over the moon! I would never have dreamt I would be in this position.” With the goal of competing at her sixth Olympics (the most any British athlete has ever competed in) on the horizon, there will be minable room for mistakes on Sunday.

Unfortunately there were a few mistakes resulting in “crashes” on the XC Course, one of which was Friday’s leader Tiana Coudray (USA) and her big grey Irish gelding. Elimination seemed almost inevitable, after their two Refusals (fences 9 and 12) and a fall at the Farm Yard (fence 24). “I’m hoping he learned a lot out there (in his first 4* event). He saw a lot of things for the first time, and I hope he learned from it” said Coudray of Ringwood Magister.

The most severe fall of the day, happened at The Double Corners (fence 15 a, b) with west coast rider Kristi Nunnink and her Holsteiner mare R-Star. After Kristi’s fall, she was transported to University of Kentucky’s Medical Center with a right arm injury. More information will be released when it is provided.

Sinead Halpin at the Head of the Lake (fences 18-19)
aboard Manoir De Carneville

On a more positive note, the top USA rider, Sinead Halpin (fourth place) commented, “My horse should be fairly competitive. I wanted to be accurate and he was very capable of going in (dressage). I wanted to go clean (referring to Cross County) and do well, and hopefully that would put him on the leader board. He’s a super horse,” said Halpin of her 11 year old Selle Francais gelding. Being both Halpin and Critical Decision’s first 4* Event, she admitted to being concerned about the coffin, but felt he (Critical Decision) “never lost focus and reacted well.”

Only three hours after the rigorous Cross Country phase was completed, four Event riders (Karen and David O’Connor (USA), Gina Miles (USA), and Hamish Cargill (AUS)) loped on in, to “compete” (demo rather) in the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup Freestyle Event held in the new Alltech Arena, which was built last year for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG).

These need for speed/adrenaline junkies said that they will come back next year a bit more organized, as they weren’t aware of the costume aspect of the Freestyle competition. Both Karen and Gina agreed that they could really go for “that” – that referred to second place winner Pete Kyle’s cowboy boots, t-shirt, backwards hat, cut-off denim shorts, and a cold beer.

The crossover of the big name Eventers to Reiners, brought the, rather appreciative, crowd of approximately 5,000 spectators to their feet. The Freestyle reining competition ended with a bang when USEF President and legendary Advanced Event rider, David O’Connor presumed to remove his mount’s (AQHA gelding, Paid By Corona) bridle and begin spinning – “It was actually Karen’s idea!” said David at a press conference following the Reining Freestyle competition.

There was no doubt about the fact, that the Ariat Reining Kentucky Cup was a true success. With exposure at the WEG, and then the debut of the Ariat Reining Kentucky Cup 6 months later, it’s no surprise that more and more people have begun to take an interest in Reining. Whether it is the essential absence of fear required to complete a CCI 4* Cross Country course, or the hard, fast, and correct technical movements necessary to score well in Reining; whatever the commonality between Event riders and Reiners, both parties agreed that it has been an educational, fun, and rewarding experience being at the Kentucky Horse Park this past weekend.

Stay tuned for the Show Jumping phase which will be broadcast LIVE on NBC.

Ariat Reining Kentucky Cup Results

Rolex 3-Day CCI 4* Event Results

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Reining, Dressage, a Royal Wedding, and... tornado warnings?

Photos & Article By: Selena A. Frederick

Tiana Coudray aboard Ringwood Magister
After Her Test

It would take more than tornado warnings, lightning storms, and record rainfall to shut this competition down. Although the weather affected the First Horse Inspection time, competitors from 5 countries began the fourteenth Rolex 3-Day CCI 4* Event, with been nothing less than thrilling to say the least. More specifically, for 26 year old Tiana Coudray (USA) and her Irish gelding Ringwood Magister who has taken the lead at Rolex.

Bumping Allison Springer and Arthur from first place after day one of dressage, Tiana was “a bit overwhelmed” by the fact that she was now in first place going into the cross country phase. Day 1 of competition ended with Allison Springer (USA) and Arthur (her first of two mount) started taking the lead with a score of 42.3. As if leading the pack after day 1 was not enough, she continued her collection of awards by winning a pair of Dubarry boots, as she was the winner of the Dubarry Style Award at the first horse Inspection (Wednesday). As if the coveted boots were not enough, she received a Rolex watch, later presented to her as winner of a drawing at the Competitor/Sponsor party that same evening.

However , Allison explained her ironic frustration with her ride, “I actually came out of the ring a little disappointed. Not in him (Arthur), he was very good! – Going first was not ideal for me.” Hoping for a score in the 30s, Allison moved to 3^rd place with Arthur and 36^th with her own Destination Unknown after day 2, and the completion of dressage.

On Friday, the final day of dressage, California native Tiana Coudray (USA) and Ringwood Magister took the lead with a score of 40.8. According to Tiana, after “bronc-ing” down towards the in-gate from the applause of Riddle Master and Rebecca Howard (CAN) who had previously finished their test; Ringwood Magister got down to work pretty well. “Once we get to the canter then I felt better about starting to show off – I started smiling on the serpentines and when I came down the centerline, and it hit me –I knew he had had a really really good test.”

Legendary British female rider Mary King (GBR) aboard Fernhill Urco came in second. “I wasn’t expecting quite such a good test”— she explains, “he’s really improved over the last month and he’s such a lovely horse. He has a friendly character; really positive thinking horse, quite strong and he is always on a mission – I’ve been struggling with the dressage because he’s so strong, even though he’s very good.” Mary’s dressage trainer recently transitioned the grey gelding into a double bridle of which Mary has seen a “transformation” in the last month. Being Portuguese bred, Mary admittedly said he’s not bred for eventing, “but he’ll give it a go anyway” Mary responded with her memorable smile.

As for recent winner of his fourth Badminton Title, just last week, infamous rider Mark Todd (NZL) and Valley Grass are tied for 17^th place after dressage. Last year’s Rolex winner William Fox-Pitt currently sits in 19^th place aboard his 17.2 hand Selle Francais gelding Neuf Des Coeurs.

The top two riders, Tiana and Mary, both expressed slight concern with the footing on the cross country course scheduled for Saturday. Di Grazia anticipates a good course, but potentially not as quick as they had originally planned. This particular cross country course is special to California Course Designer Derek Di Grazia, as it is his first Rolex as the head honcho. Only six months ago, The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) were held on this course. Di Grazia’s goal was “to come up with something different.” Although the Kentucky Horse Park (KHP) did a quite a bit of work on the footing prior to the WEG, Di Grazia anticipates a challenging yet positive course.

Shawn Flarida competing
aboard KR Lil Conquistador

Friday night ended with the only CRI 5* (highest level of reining competition) in the western hemisphere. With 20 reining competitors, Shawn Flarida and KR Lil Conquistador (owned by: Cheree Kirkbride) took the individual win with a score of 226.5. According to Shawn, “There were a couple of places that could’ve been a little better, but I feel honored to have the opportunity to ride him.” Craig Schmersal took second on MISS LIL ADDY TUDE, as well as third aboard Dancer Nic. The Team competition ended with Clark Oil taking the win with a score of 661. The team of 3 was the only team with a father-daughter combination: Mandy McCutcheon and father Tim McQuay. A highlight of the evening was watching Lyle Lovett compete aboard his own Palomino gelding, Smart and Shiney. Individual and Team champions were thankful for the exposure that this new event has brought to the sport of reining.

A common theme, echoed among all leading riders from both eventing and reining, is that it’s all about having the horse and the rider going out and having their best ride.

It’s been a busy and exciting start to this weekend of competition. With The Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup, Dressage, and who can forget, The Royal Wedding (which Mary King admitted to watching) – the second phase of competition starts tomorrow with cross country.

For Rolex results: http://scoring.rk3de.org/leaderBoard.html

For Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup results: http://www.kentuckyreining.com/entry_list.php

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Date	Event	Time (EST)
Wednesday, April 27	Cross-Country Course Open	1:00PM
	First Horse Inspection	3:00PM
	Competitor Familiarization in Main Arena	4:30PM
Thursday, April 28	Dressage Test	10:00AM - 3:30PM
Friday, April 29	Cross-Country Test	10:00AM - 3:30PM
Saturday, April 30	Cross-Country Test	10:00AM - 3:30PM
Sunday, May 1	Non-Denominational Worship Service	7:30AM
	Second Horse Inspection	8:30AM
	Jumping Course Open for Competitor Inspection	11:00AM
	Presentation of the Teams of the 2011 USPC Prince Philip Cup	11:30AM
	Jumping Test	12:00PM - 2:45PM
	Awards Ceremony	2:45PM

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