International cross-country sent horses and riders racing across nearly every inch of Galway Downs’ beautiful 242 acres today. Spectators at a community event tent ooh-ed and aah-ed as pairs splashed through a mid-course water complex. Pairs were tested by creative terrain, twists, turns, obstacles and combinations, all run under beautiful blue skies, warm temperatures and gentle breezes rustling through the property’s lush landscape.
Happily, there were no major frights on this Halloween day. Challenging as the courses were, they did not shake up the Eventing Championships at Galway Downs’ standings very much.
CCI4*-L – Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14
Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.
With only time faults over Clayton Fredericks’ course, Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14 moved into the lead. It’s a big step in their quest to qualify for next year’s Kentucky 5* and, more importantly, proof that they’re ready for it.
“I’m in awe of how good he was,” said the professional who travelled from Washington. “We’ve had a few issues with steering and corners in the past, but I think we are fixing them.” The 11-year-old Westphalian “is understanding it all,” she explained. In between several long gallops stretches, the course required horse and rider to clearly understand corner combinations and angled lines. “Clooney is taking more initiative to sight the jumps,” said O’Neal, who had high praise for the course.
Jumping clean was O’Neal’s priority. The pair incurred 14.8 time penalties for exceeding the 10:06 optimum time, finishing on a 46. Speed and fitness are priorities for the near future, she said. “The jumps themselves feel great. It feels like this is where we should be and that we can go higher.”
Overnight leader Tamie Smith and Lillet 3 had a run-out at #19, the first of two angled brushes set in a shady pond. Even with the re-approach, the pair added only 2 time faults and are well within striking distance of the title. “I’m kicking myself,” said Smith, who wished she’d taken the longer, straighter approach to that fence. Beyond that, the 9-year-old Holsteiner was “world class all around the track,” Smith said. “She was literally foot perfect.”
Megan McIver and her own 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood Igor B, moved into third even with 23.2 time penalties. That was in part due to Molly Duda having a tough day at the 4* office with her two horses, Disco Traveler and Carlingsford Hes a Clover.
Duda was also kicking herself for a drive-by with Disco at 16D, another combination in the water – and this one in front of a full spectator tent. Asked if she was distracted by that, Duda said it was the opposite problem. “I thought it was one of the easier combinations, and I rode it too soft and easy and he just didn’t see it.”
It was an otherwise excellent round, said Duda of the rest her course with last year’s CCI4*-L champion. The error ended hopes of defending that title, but the young rider described the day as an educational experience.
CCI4*-L show jumping starts Saturday, Nov. 1 at 4 p.m.
CCI3*-L — Molly Duda and Jutopia – Tina Fitch Photo
Molly Duda and Jutopia. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.
Duda had a much better day on Jutopia, maintaining their lead with double clear cross-country to stay on their 26.7 dressage. “She is a cross-country machine,” said Duda of the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood. “She’s always in front of me, she comes back really softly and she’s always looking for the flags. And she’s honest even if I don’t get it quite right.”
Duda’s coach Tamie Smith sits 2nd on Jump To Day D, the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood owned by Jeanne Shigo. They were also double clear to stay on their 28.6 dressage effort. “He’s an easy, rideable horse and the course felt easy for him,” Smith said.
Taren Hoffos and her homebred mare, Regalla, were the third of six pairs to go double clear in this division. “She was amazing,” said Hoffos. “She’s really learned how to gallop. Her step has gotten so big and I really feel that she is running with me, rather than from me.”
Hoffos and the 14-year-old Oldenburg mare are third on their 29.2 and thrilled to have finished strong over a course that saw one elimination, two rider falls and a retirement. They had a hairy moment themselves going from the angled brushes at 19-20. “She grew a fifth leg and made it happen,” Hoffos explained. “She really showed her bravery and grit and her willingness to do anything for me.”
“We’ve probably done 20 courses at this level and Regalla has seen pretty much everything, but this was a tough course!”
The retirement in this division was Hoffos on her second mount, Master Class. They had a freak trip in the water at 15 ABC. Lacking a snorkel, her veteran Advanced partner was rattled by water in his ears as they galloped toward the next fence and Hoffos chose to retire there.
Fredericks was pleased with the outcome for both the 3* and 4* courses he designed. “I like to create situations where the rider has to think about what’s going on underneath them at the time.” The angled brushes at 19 and 20 posed exactly that question, he said. The horses had done a lot of jumping at that point, around the 8-minute mark, and if the horse came down to that not as responsive as you might have wanted, you’re not going to get them to lock on. We saw some backwards riding to that as a result.”
On balance, however, Fredericks described the course as educational, an observation echoed by many who tackled the track today.
CCI3*-L show jumping starts Saturday, Nov. 1 at 2:15 p.m.
CCI2*-L – Tamie Smith and Solaguayre Cantata – Tina Fitch Photo
Tamie Smith and Solaguayre Cantata. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.
The 7-year-old Argentine Sport Horse Solaguayre Cantata came to Smith’s Next Level Eventing program as a 3-year-old. “She’s been an absolute nightmare until this year,” Smith laughed. “This year, she came into her own and has been great. She’s really grown up.” Double clear on their 27.3 dressage outing moved them into the lead before Saturday’s show jumping. “She’s such a quality horse. Good brain, she loves to jump and she’s really fun!”
Gabriella Ringer and her own Get Wild were also double clear to stay on their 28.1 and move into second. “He was fit and full of run and I’m really happy with everything,” Ringer said of 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood.
Also moving up a rung, into 3rd, was Kaylawna Smith-Cook and Cooley Calling, a relatively new ride owned by Molly Duda. The 9-year-old Irish Warmblood is “is awesome and super brave,” Smith-Cook said. “He’s straight forward to jump and a real businessman.” So far, this outing has helped solidify a partnership that Smith-Cook anticipates moving up to the 3* level next year.
CCI2*-L show jumping starts Saturday, Nov. 1 at 12:15 p.m.
CCI1*-L – Megan Sykes and HSH Tangerine – Tina Fitch Photo
Megan Skykes and HSH Tangerine. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.
Megan Sykes and HSH Tangerine kept their lead and their 28.2 dressage score with fault-free cross-country. Sykes is riding the 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse for her injured client, Nancy Emsley, who brought him along to Training level. “He hasn’t done terribly much and this level and course was great for gaining confidence and keeping him going in the right direction.”
Sykes praised designer Alessandra Allen-Shinn’s track as a perfect progression of challenges for the level.
Lauren Bebb and Crafty Don, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse, had just .4 time penalty to stay in 2nd on a 31.8. When Bebb’s own horse required surgery, she began leasing Crafty, who’d gained solid FEI mileage with Tamie Smith. “I wasn’t going to say no to an opportunity like that,” she shared. Helping her become more forward thinking is one of the lessons he’s taught her. “He makes me work, but it’s been great and I have grown so much riding him.”
Double clear cross-country moved 18-year-old Olivia Baca and Casskinero from 5th to 3rd on a 34.3. It’s their second FEI and first Long format and the fruits of working with Tamie Smith daily during Baca’s gap year are reflected in today’s success. “Sometimes he can be a little bit wild and try to take over, but for the most part, he’s just super confident. When he needs to show up, he definitely does.”
CCI1*-L show jumping starts Saturday, Nov. 1 at 11:10 a.m.
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