Despite being first into the arena this morning at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, no one managed to top defending champion and current World Number One Oliver Townend’s leading dressage score of 27.2 with MHS King Joules. There were, however, some new faces from the morning line up, and a British top five by the end of the afternoon session.
“If MHS King Joules can stay on his dressage score of 27.2 I’ll be happy,” said Townend. Looking ahead to Saturday’s cross-country phase, he admitted that Mark Phillips’ track will be very influential: “Burghley is always very big but it’s as big as it’s been, in terms of dimensions, as I’ve seen it. I think it will be stamina sapping for the horses as there are three big hills and no real breathers. It will be tough.”
Sarah Bullimore came within .1 of Oliver’s score with her Pau CCI4* runner-up Reve Du Rouet. “I’m really chuffed,” beamed Bullimore. “He’s genuinely scared of the crowds so he was fabulous.” She also admitted that the 14-year-gelding is very set in his ways, which she and her team have had to learn to accommodate: “I actually think he’s a bit autistic,” she said. “He has to do things certain ways and has his own routines – it’s just a case of us trying to keep him happy really.”
Despite some equine acrobatics at the first horse inspection, Harry Meade’s Away Cruising posted probably his smartest dressage tests to date to move into third place on 29.5: “I’m delighted with him,” said Meade immediately after his test. “I’ve felt all season that he was on the path to putting in a good test and today was a good day to execute our plan.”
Last year’s runners-up Piggy French and Vanir Kamira lie fourth on 29.9 after French just about managed to keep a lid on the 13-year-old mare’s sensitive personality: “I’m pretty pleased on the whole although it definitely wasn’t a personal best,” she admitted. “She didn’t bubble or boil over and there were no major mistakes but she does tend to struggle in this phase.”
Georgie Spence and Wii Limbo complete the top five on 30.4.
Andrea Baxter and Indy 500 were the only U.S. pair to ride today and scored a 36.6 to sit in equal 25th.
For full results and tomorrow’s start times, click here.
Dressage kicks off again tomorrow morning at 9:30, with Ireland’s Ciaran Glynn and November Night first in front of the Ground Jury. All the action will be live streamed on the Burghley Facebook Page.
Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.
After not running in 2020 and 2021, the MARS Bromont CCI Three-Day Event returned to the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Center in Quebec, Canada, in 2022. America's Jennie Saville (née Brannigan) and Twilightslastgleam won the CCI4*-L, as the chestnut Thoroughbred gelding (National Anthem x Royal Child) bred and owned by Nina Gardner moved up from eighth after dressage into the lead after cross-country with the fastest round on wet ground over the tracks designed by Derek di Grazia. Canada's Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge, a bay Selle Français gelding (Mylord Carthago x Lelia) owned by Patricia Pearce, finished second, and they are among four from the top-10 in the CCI4*-L in 2022 that return in 2023.
Hannah Sue Hollberg of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, was on a winning streak at the Essex Horse Trials on Sunday, claiming victory in both the $10,000 Open Intermediate and Open Preliminary divisions with two horses that are fairly new to her. Some difficulty on cross-country did not stop her mount Hachi from claiming victory in the Open Intermediate with a score of 101.6, while Open Preliminary partner Rockster finished on his dressage score of 27.3.
The great football coach Vince Lombardi said, “We win our games in practice.” With the goal of having the most effective practices possible for horses, their riders, and their coaches, Cathy Wieschhoff explains some signs that can indicate when horse and rider should repeat an exercise, switch it up, or be done with that activity. Wieschhoff brings perspective as a five-star rider that has competed at the Kentucky Three-Day Event and Burghley Horse Trials, a USEF “R” Course Designer for eventing cross-country and show jumping, a former Area VIII chair and member of the USEA Board of Governors, and a Level V USEA ECP Certified Coach based out of Carriage Station Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.