United States Eventing Association

Andrew Nicholson (NZL) is a man on a mission. After a stellar 2012, with three three-star and two four-star victories, this eventing legend is a prime example of how competitors in this sport get better with age and often peak long after athletes in other sports have retired. Entering the ring today, Andrew and Calico Joe, an English Thoroughbred owned by Twenty Twelve in Mind, carried themselves with the confidence of a well-prepared team that instantly caught the attention of the spectators. They produced a flowing, accurate test to take the lead before lunch with a 40.8, and no one could catch them during the afternoon sessions.

“It’s a great arena to ride in here, to get down the ramp into the main arena. It gives you that bit of buzz to know you’re somewhere big,” Andrew said.

The now 11-year-old Calico Joe had what Andrew called “an intense year” in 2012. He started the year at the Belton CCI3* before making three four-star appearances. He retired on cross-country here at Kentucky but finished fourth and 13^th at Luhmühlen and Burghley respectively without any cross-country penalties. Andrew felt today that the experience showed, and that Joe felt very cool and ready. “He let me ride him. He gave me 100 percent,” Andrew said. “I felt perhaps I let him down a couple times.”

An eruption of applause from the stands congratulated Becky Holder (USA) and Can’t Fire Me after their lovely, relaxed performance that put them in second place with a 44.2. Though “Teddy’s” look and movement brings back memories of Becky’s famous former partner, Courageous Comet, Becky said the only thing they have in common is color. “Comet is a ham and loves attention. The bigger the crowd is the easier he is to ride. Teddy would be happy to be sweating away by himself with no one in sight and always give it 110 percent,” Becky said.

Teddy, a 14-year-old gray Thoroughbred owned by Melissa and Phil Town and Becky’s husband Tom Holder, is quickly becoming a new fan favorite, and his partnership with Becky only continues to improve. “It’s always an amazing feeling to ride down that ramp into the Rolex arena. There are no more amazing fans than at Kentucky,” Becky said. “It was nice to have Teddy be nice and calm and relaxed in the ring and put forward the test that I know he has in him.”

Shandiss McDonald (CAN) and Rockfield Grant Juan are third overnight at their very first Rolex appearance. “I’ve wanted to come here so long and it’s exciting to be here. I’m so happy my horse was steady in the ring. It is a big atmosphere, the biggest he’s ever been in. He was settled, relaxed, willing, and he did his job,” Shandiss said. She praised the new Canadian Team Coach Clayton Fredericks for his teaching. “We were able to take what we’ve been working on and put it in the ring.”

Shandiss and Jorge and Amanda Bernhard’s 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding seem to have appeared out of nowhere, and so far the pair is really making an impression. Standing at nearly 18 hands, Rockfield Grant Juan covers a lot of ground while remaining quiet and focused. “He has such a good mind. He has a good attitude and is a pleasure to ride.”

There were many lovely rides today that scored just shy of the top three. William Fox-Pitt (GBR) kicked off the day with Catherine Witt’s 14-year-old Trakehner gelding Seacookie TSF, scoring a 46.2 to place fourth. Will Faudree (USA) and Jennifer Mosing’s 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Pawlow put in a stunning, fluid test to score a 47.2 for fifth.

Thankfully, the cold conditions of yesterday subsided, and although it was still a bit chilly today, at least the sun shone through. Regardless, several horses were certainly feeling their oats, as there was more than one buck during the flying change, and one horse was so surprised by the atmosphere he very nearly sat down on the hood of a red Land Rover parked by the ingate.

On the first day of dressage at Rolex, there were a lot of empty seats in the stands, but those who did attended are plenty enthusiastic, cheering for each and every rider while making clear who their favorites were with whistles and cries of good luck.

The scores are very close now, and with a multitude of heavy hitters left to compete in dressage, there is no doubt that every second on cross-country and rail on Sunday will have a monumental effect on the final results. The air at the Kentucky Horse Park is filled with anticipation as we look forward to tomorrow’s results and the forthcoming excitement of the cross-country.

Andrew, Becky, and Shandiss all agreed that Derek di Grazia’s cross-country course looks big, and they were all relieved to know they weren’t the only ones to think so. However, the consensus was that the course is fair and horse-friendly. “All the fences have enough time for the horse to sight it and see what to do,” Andrew said. “There is none of this bending around a bush or tree and then having a big corner or skinny in front of them. They have time to see it. They are horses after all and it’s the way it should be.” Andrew also pointed out that bigger fences give the pilot something to “ride at” and that the whole course encourages accuracy.

Becky said she was very impressed when she walked the course. “It’s a true four-star track and asks you to call on all your gears.” She referenced the boldness needed at the Ditch Brush before a rollback to the tricky Sunken Road as an example of the adjustability required. However, Becky said, horses that are given a good positive ride around one of Derek’s courses always finish brimming with confidence.

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