Finishing on your dressage score. It is that simple! We’ve all heard this a million times, but this held true yesterday as the FEI divisions at the Carolina International CIC and Horse Trials wrapped up. Another sunny day and a great day of watching horses cross-country.
Unfortunately, as I watched the Intermediate and Advanced horse trials divisions show jump I missed the CIC1* cross-country. Congratulations to the winner Will Faudree and Riesling De Buissy on their win. Starting the event in 4th place after dressage, they added nothing to their score over the next two days of competition to finish on their dressage score of 49.40 and win the division. In 2nd place was Doug Payne and Cellar Door and in 3rd was Will Faudree again, this time on Pfun.
The horse trial divisions are going cross-country today, however, in the Advanced division Lauren Kieffer and RF Cosmina moved up from 2nd to take the lead going into cross-country after overnight leaders Boyd Martin and the lovely Shamwari 4 pulled a rail to slip into 2nd place.
Lauren Kieffer and RF Cosmina. Photo by Cindy Lawler.
Boyd Martin and Shamwari 4. Photo by Cindy Lawler.
In the Open Intermediate, dressage leader Caitlin Silliman and Remington XXV had three rails to move from 1st to 18th. However, Caitlin and her other Intermediate horse Catch A Star put their show jumping demons behind them delivering an amazing clear round to move up to 9th place.
Caitlin Silliman and Catch a Star. Photo by Cheryl Denault.
Leslie Law and Tout De Suite moved from 3rd to take the lead heading into today’s cross-country.
Leslie Law and Tout de Suite. Photo by Cheryl Denault.
Just after noon, the CIC3* division started cross-country. Given this is an event to prepare for other competitions this spring, some riders went slower than others. Only 2 riders made the time around the course, Marilyn Little and RF Demeter (who ultimately won this big division as the only pair to finish on their dressage score) and Ireland’s Timothy Bourke and Luckaun Quality.
Marilyn Little and RF Demeter. Photo by Cheryl Denault.
Marilyn Little also had a great fast round, with only 0.8 penalties, on her 2nd ride RF Smoke on the Water to move up from 22nd after dressage to finish in 8th place.
Marilyn Little and RF Smoke on the Water. Photo by Cheryl Denault.
Overnight leaders heading into cross-country, Michael Pollard and Ballingowan Pizazz, added 8.8 time to finish in 3rd. Doug Payne and his impressive Crown Talisman had a great run in preparation for Rolex Kentucky next month adding 9.2 time penalties to finish in 4th place.
Doug Payne and Crown Talisman. Photo by Cheryl Denault.
Michael Pollard and Ballingowan Pizazz. Photo by Cheryl Denault.
The day ended with the CIC2* division, which seemed to have a lot of issues. Both waters seemed to cause some issues, as did the Stonehenge complex.
Ariel Grald had a great day, ultimately winning the division on LBF Oleagh’s Image adding nothing over 3 days of competition to her dressage score of 54.20. Michael Pollard and the gorgeous Halimey were right behind with 54.50. Kristen Bond and I’m Sew Ready added 0.8 time penalties to move up from 8th to finish in 3rd.
Ariel Grald and LBF Oleagh’s Image. Photo by Cheryl Denault.
Kristen Bond and I’m Sew Ready. Photo by Cheryl Denault.
Michael Pollard and Halimey. Photo by Cindy Lawler.
Dressage leaders in this division, Emily Beshear and the beautiful grey Shame On The Moon added 1 rail and 1 time penalty in show jumping yesterday and 18.0 time penalties cross-country to finish in 9th on a 68.0.
Emily Beshear and Shame On The Moon. Photo by Cheryl Denault.
Looking forward to the last day of competition today, with the Prelim, Intermediate and Advanced divisions all running cross-country. I am hoping the weather forecast is wrong about the rain!
Cheryl