Friesians at Rolex?

No, there aren’t any Friesians competing in eventing here at the KY Horse Park this weekend. But there are several that have been providing daily demonstrations of dressage, long-lining, four-in-hand driving, and tandem riding.

Clay, who works with Friesians here at the Horse Park, presented his unusual tandem, in which he rides one and drives the leader:

.

.

.

Tomorrow, I’ll have photos of the four-in-hand team. Then, Sunday, we’re going completely off-topic.

 

jogging

Here are a few of my favorites from among the photos I took (shown in the order I took them) at yesterday’s “jog” (the first horse inspection) for this year’s Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event.

.

Rolex legend and multiple-times winner Karen O’Connor

.

.

.

Phillip Dutton (who received a round of applause even before beginning the jog) with Fernhill Eagle …

.

… and Phillip Dutton again, with Mighty Nice (owned by Bruce Duchossois) …

.

… who, sadly, slipped and fell, causing the crowd to gasp; he got up, jogged with no problem and was deemed fit to compete

.

Nearly seventy horses had been entered in the competition. But several had been withdrawn before the event began and, in the end, fifty-eight horses trotted through their first inspection. Of those, Brittany Kart’s Llewellyn was deemed unfit to compete, which means that fifty-seven horses started out today or will start tomorrow with their dressage tests.

After today’s first day of dressage, Boyd Martin (riding Remington XXV) is currently in the lead, followed by Karen O’Connor and New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson.

If you’re interested, you can get timetables, news, and results on the event’s website, and online coverage at the USEF Network.

 

a garden drive

Marged Harris sent this report from the recent invitational four-in-hand drive in Southern Pines:

Tired and happy, whips, guests, and grooms gathered on a rainy Sunday for a farewell brunch under the party tent at Claire Reid’s Big Sky Farm in Southern Pines, North Carolina. For the previous four days, four-in-hand enthusiasts had enjoyed good food and good driving through springtime gardens, thanks to the hospitality of Claire, Jim & Sharon Granito, and Linda McVicker.

The host and hostesses led the drives from farm to farm, along the dirt roads of this driving community, giving everyone a chance to see blooming azaleas, rhododendron, and laurel. Thoroughbred weanlings and sturdy donkeys kept pace behind wooden fences. One of the most beautiful drives went through Weymouth Woods, along a wide path cut and cleared by Jim Granito and Bill Long.

Whips in attendance included Jack Wetzel (South Carolina), Herb Kohler (Wisconsin), Wendy Ying (Florida), and Taren Lester, driving Katrina Becker’s team. Able assistants Vance Coulthard, Jamie O’Rourke, Kelly Valdez, Jacob Arnold, and Keady Cadwell ensured that the glittering carriages and shiny horses delighted the eye. Lady guests in garden-party hats and gentlemen in boaters and toppers included Gloria Austin & Dr. Gene Serra, Gail Gittleson, Mason Cadwell, Suzy Dixon, Mike Lyon, and Jennifer Matheson. Claire & Willard Rhodes and Gloria & Tom Burgess provided yet more Southern hospitality and good cheer.

The horses ranged in size from Claire’s Section A Welsh ponies to Jack’s imposing black Gelderlanders, who had competed in the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Katrina’s team of imported and homebred German horses were picture-perfect, as were Linda’s trusty chestnut Welsh ponies, put to an Austrian Wagonette. Jim drove his team of Hackney / Clydesdale crossbreds, and Wendy drove a team of black Hackneys and “Sport Cobs.” Herb’s team of spotted warmbloods, imported from England, provided sizzle and dash.

To see Ann Pringle’s photos of the drive, click here.

 

getting ready for Rolex

The Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event is almost here! The first veterinary inspection (for the horses) is tomorrow, and the competition begins on Thursday. Today, vendors are moving in to their various booths and tents in the trade fair (in the covered arena), the sponsors’ village, and the food court.

I went for a quick walk this afternoon and took a few snapshots of the activity:

.

the benefit of living nearby: Katie Whaley is one of the few trade-fair vendors with her booth all set up already; the hats are under wraps for now

.

one of the beautiful cross-country jumps, with the Rolex Stadium in the background

.

the Rolex Stadium

.

everybody’s favorite waterproof boots

.

cotton candy, anyone?

.

a row of tents in the sponsors’ village

.

I have to admit: I’m still not sure why Bridgestone sponsors horse sports, but I can say from personal experience that their racecar simulator is a heck of a lot of fun

.

.

I’ll be posting a few snippets and some photos during the three-day event, but I won’t actually be covering it here on the blog. If you’d like to keep on top of all the news, you’ll find the event online at www.rk3de.org.

 

the R.C.E.A. carriage exhibition

Yesterday was the Royal Andalusian Carriage Club’s annual carriage exhibition in the bullring in Seville, Spain. I say it’s an annual event, but this was the first time since 2008 that it was actually held as planned.

The first year that we had a CAA trip to Seville, in 2009, to visit private carriage collections and the feria and to see the carriage exhibition, the exhibition was rained out and cancelled.

The next year, I went back to Seville again, to try to see exhibition. Again. Believe it or not, it was rained out. Again!

Last year, we had another CAA group in Seville, to visit more carriage collections and, we hoped, to finally see the carriage exhibition.

But what happened? Rain. Again. The sand surface of the bullring was deemed too wet to accommodate all the horses and carriages, so the exhibition turned into a hastily organized parade in the street (you can see more photos here). The parade was impressive and beautiful.

But after three tries, I still haven’t managed to see the carriage exhibition in the bullring.

I’ve heard that yesterday’s weather was perfect, so I’m looking forward to seeing photos of this year’s event!

UPDATE: Almost as soon as I posted this, Bart sent a link to sixteen gorgeous photos from yesterday’s exhibition. Thanks, Bart!