Dressage Sets Stage for Exciting Cross-Country at Rebecca Farm
FEI dressage wrapped up today leaving most of the standings tight at the top. In fact, there’s a tie atop the CCI4*-L between two pairs with many similarities. Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14 and Jennie Brannigan and Pascal share the lead on a 33.8. Both have been bringing these horses along for several years and both horses are debuting at this level.
Karen O’Neal and Annika Asling’s 10-year-old Westphalian showed off their progress since competing Beginner Novice here in 2018. The Washington-based rider was thrilled with Clooney’s shoulder-in and half-passes and with the flying changes that have been a struggle. Despite Clooney’s familiarity with the venue, the atmosphere in Ring 1 made him “a little spooky, but still he listened really well to me.”
The judges were Helen Brettell, Robyn Fisher and Gretchen Butts, who also judged today’s CCI4*-S and CCI3*-L.
Jennie Brannigan and Pascal, a 9-year-old Holsteiner owned by the Pascal Syndicate, were last year’s CCI3*-L winners, and Jennie acknowledged feeling a little extra umph to take this next title. Her favorite part of today’s test was the manifestation of many years work in developing Pascal.
Above all, she is a huge advocate for Rebecca Farm, making the trip annually from her East Coast base and encouraging others to do so.
Rebecca Farm first-timer Ashley Adams, of Virginia, and Roderick Stuart’s Charly earned a 35.4 to sit third.
A Course Walk To Remember
Friday ended with a special course walk led by renowned and retiring course designer, Ian Stark. In a special event honoring horse owners, the USEF invited guests to tour the course by golf cart and enjoy the legend’s insights. He was the loudest of many to praise the ground and the year-round efforts that have gone into making the tracks “the best ever.”
As he discussed key points on the 3* and 4* courses for Saturday, Ian shared his frequent advice to forget about counting strides in favor of riding what comes up in the moment. “Horses love to know where they’re going,” he stressed. “So show them that. I don’t mind causing the riders a sleepless night, so long as the horses can understand what the question is.”
Brinkman and Finally DG lead CCI4*-S
Several of the 8 horses in this division are new to the level, and the atmosphere and new questions asked played their part in the scores.
Rachel Brinkman and Finally DG are among the newbies as a pair, and their 35.1 put them into the lead.
The Seattle area resident and the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood are Rebecca Farm regulars over the last several years, so the big atmosphere was not an issue. “While there’s always room for improvement, he was excellent today,” said Rachel of the horse she co-owns with friend and The Event organizer Sarah Broussard.
“The course looks great and I am excited to get out there,” Rachel said of Saturday’s cross-country. She plans to tackle it one fence at a time. “Him being new to this level, I’m going to ride the horse I have. He’s an animal that shows up and tries to do the things you ask him to do.”
On the recommendation of several friends, Kentucky-based Alexa Thompson loaded Just To Be Clear into the truck and hauled across country for The Event. Her second place standing, on a 39.1, was icing on a cake she already felt good about upon arrival.
“You could call my horse a ‘try-harder’,” Alexa said of her 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood. “He always wants to do right, and sometimes too badly, but today I felt like he was with me the whole test. I took my leg away going into the walk, and that was our only bobble.”
Rebecca Farm has been on the young professional’s radar a long time. Over the years, the Broussard family has given over $200,000 in Travel Grants to riders and Alexa was one of several to gratefully receive one this year. “With that, the stars finally aligned for us to make the trip.”
Another Alliston Takes Spotlight with CCI3*-L Lead
Three-time Rebecca Farm 4*-L champion James Alliston has dominated the limelight lately, but it was his better half, Helen, spotlit in the CCI3*-L dressage today. She and Call Me Rudi, a 9-year-old Bavarian Warmblood owned by Alliston Equestrian, were elegant, on point and powerful to lead the 10-horse field with a 30.7.
It was the latest of a few outings in which Rudi has continually upped his game, reported the Northern California-based professional. “He’s always been very willing, and he has a good mind. It’s been a matter of getting him stronger. Today and his last show were the first time that he’s done really correct canter-to-walk transitions. Plus, he’s never been in Arena 1 before. It has a lot of atmosphere and, even with his good mind, it was really something for him to stay that focused.”
Rudi is equally good on cross-country, but tomorrow’s track will test his courage, especially jumping into big waters. “I’m going to have to give him a very good ride,” Helen said. “He’s only been here once – in Novice. He’s green for this, but his footwork is excellent, he’s very smart and he has a lot of self-preservation instinct.” Access to on-site conditioning hills at the Alliston’s home base has Rudi fighting fit for the next task.
Ashley Adams and her own 9-year-old Swedish Warmblood Quicksilver Gräns stand in 2nd with a 31.9. Receiving one of the Broussard family’s “Little Becky” Grants early this year helped them gain mileage needed to make a solid move up to the 3* level this spring.
Based in Virginia, Ashley was also grateful for tips from another Broussard grant recipient, Tamie Smith. “She suggested some tweaks that really agreed with my horse,” Ashley said. “He’s a quirky horse, but also workmanlike and he does not want to make a mistake. He’s green at the level, and there’s a lot more brilliance in there. So, it’s a matter of getting him stronger and more confident.”
Cross-country should be a great next step in that process. “Ian’s courses lend themselves to the horse getting better and better as we go along.”
Marc Grandia and his longtime partner Campari FFF sit third on a 32.5. The 14-year-old Holsteiner is owned by Team Rebecca.
Stephanie Goodman and Elwinda Hold CCI2*-L Lead
Stephanie Goodman and Deanna Briggs’ Elwinda DP topped the first half of the 34-horse division that concluded yesterday and their 26.7 held when the rest of the class completed this morning.
“She is getting better and better,” Stephanie said of the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare with whom she’s been partnered for three years. “We left a few points on the table, but she was excellent. She’s braver and is going for it more.
“I got her three years ago as a dressage horse,” continued the Idaho-based professional. “She just keeps amazing me.”
Stephanie and Elwinda don’t have much wiggle room. James Alliston and HMR Rolan, owned by Anna Nicolas, are 2nd on a 27.1. Todd Trewin and Tracey Trewin’s Cooley High Society are 3rd with a 29.1 and the rest of the top 10 is tightly bunched.
Saturday’s FEI Cross-Country
CCI3*-S – 8:00 am
CCI3*-L – 9:40 am
CCI4*-L – 10:40 am
CCI4*-S – 11:25 am
CCI2*-L – 12:25 pm
The USEA’s Classic Series Three-Day at Training and Novice conclude with show jumping finales on Saturday.
Where to Find…
Competitor Information
Live Scoring Start Box
Volunteer Sign Up
Spectator Information
Live Stream – RideOn Video
Office Photographer – Shannon Brinkman
Press Officer – Kim F Miller
