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Category Archives: Rolex 2015

Update – Mighty Nice back at Phillip Dutton’s farm

Phillip Dutton withdrew Mighty Nice (aka Happy) before the second jog-up because despite sitting in seventh place after cross-country, adding only 3.2 time penalties to their dressage score, Happy was sore after scraping his stifle on course. Updates on Phillip’s Facebook page say Happy was scheduled for surgery today at Penn Vet New Bolton Center, to remove a small bone chip from his stifle in a routine procedure. But fortunately when they X-rayed the stifle today prior to surgery the vets decided that because the bone chip is outside the joint, it should heal well without surgery. This is awesome news and Happy is now…

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Top 10 triumphant moments at Rolex 2015

As all eventers know too well, it is an excruciatingly rare to a non-existent occurrence to compete at an event without some type of a hitch, things are simply never 100-percent perfect. Rolex 2015 was a weekend filled with highs and lows for riders across the leaderboard.   For a little serotonin rush, take a moment to look back at the “Top 10 triumphant moments” at Rolex this year. We all were smiling for everyone on the list. We are Eventers, we can’t help but be happy for these riders, even if they are our competition.   10. Laine Ashker laying…

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Did the Thoroughbreds deliver at Rolex Kentucky?

The handsome, vigilant and spirited horse was ideal when the sport of Eventing, featured the long-format, where the horse’s endurance, fitness and conditioning were paramount. Thoroughbreds offer a certain presence, and their boldness, confidence and courage have enabled them to remain competitive. The change in format hasn’t dissuaded upper level riders from competing Thoroughbreds or ex-racehorses and that was very obvious at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event CCI4* where out of the 75 riders that started the competition, 26 of them were sitting on Thoroughbreds. Rolex 2015 top OTTB When the final penalty points were tallied, Donner the OTTB…

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Jung wins, Price 2nd, Jung 3rd – Rolex 2015

The Rolex ring crew was very busy picking up poles round after round as the stadium course proved as influential as the cross-country. However, one amazing mare from Germany, the 10-year-old, SATHU, Fischerrocana FST and her Eventing master rider Michael Jung (GER) was the only pair in the entire field of starters to finish on their dressage score. The overnight leader Tim Price (NZL) and his 12-year-old, KWPN, gelding Wesko, dropped one rail adding 4 penality points to their dressage score of 36.3 ending with a 40.3 which put him behind the mare’s score of 39.3 in a very tight…

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How Francis Whittington brought down corner in 20 frames

On the Rolex 2015 cross-country course, Francis Whittington was the only rider to break a fence and escape the frangible pin breaking penalty because the fence he demolished was not pinned. Francis and Easy Target took 6 strides to the C element of the Land Rover hollow, and while attempting to bank the corner, Easy Target dropped his hind legs behind the ground line log. The momentum carried the horse’s haunches to the left and when it hit on the far left post, the jump gave way. Luckily it did collapse, because a more sturdy construction would have had a different…

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Rolex cross-country knocks out 35 percent of the field

After 71 rides only 46 riders will move onto the second horse inspection on Sunday morning at 8:30 am. Derek di Grazia’s course proved influential in the wet slippery conditions, but all horses and riders returned to the stables safely. Top five The first place tie between Tim Price (NZL) on Wesko and Michael Jung (GER) on La Biosthetique Sam FBW was broken when Tim managed to finish clear within the time and Michael was one second too slow, adding .4 to their score. Tim said, “He went good and came home double clean. We went the long way but he’s an…

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Price equals Jung and Fox-Pitt is nipping at their heels

Day two of dressage at Rolex Kentucky brought out the best tests and the top riders in full force. If the draw is random I don’t know but it seems like the best was saved for the last. With a crowd of over 13,000 cheering fans the following pairs strutted their stuff to take the top three spots before heading into cross-country: Tim Price and Wesko –  1st with 36.3 Michael Jung and La Biothetique – Sam FBW – 1st with 36.3 William Fox-Pitt and Bay My Hero – 3rd with 38.5 As we all know that Eventing Connect is…

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Carol and Francis – Fernhill brand dominates Rolex field – Eventing Super Couple series

Fernhill is a name synonymous with the sport of Eventing, just like Charles Owen, Point Two, CWD and other top brands. The name seems to be ubiquitous when it comes to the upper level of the sport. However, it’s the rapid rise and powerful impact Fernhill Sport Horses have had on Eventing that has more than captured the world’s imagination. This weekend at Rolex Kentucky there are four Fernhill horses competing at the four-star level: Fernhill Cubalawn with Phillip Dutton Fernhill by Night with Liz Halliday-Sharp Fernhill Flutter with Kevin Keane Fernhill Fugitive with Phillip Dutton at the first horse…

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Rolex Kentucky course walk preview

  Thank you to Jose Diacono and crosscountryapp.com for this overview of the Rolex 2015 cross-country course. If you can’t be here in Kentucky to walk the course yourself, this is the next best thing. Sit back and take a virtual tour. Navigation tips To see each jump: Click on each jump number and a photo of the jump will open. Close the photo and then choose another one. To follow the track: Click on the map and drag it around so it appears in the window. To make map larger or smaller: Click on the plus and minus buttons….

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Gallery of the 75 pairs approved to tackle Rolex 2015

A great start to Rolex 2015. All horses were accepted in the first horse inspection and Thursday morning the games begin. Here are your 75 pairs. The horses all looked great and the personalities of the riders were on display with their fashion choices. Hits and misses galore, but at the end of the weekend it will only be riding abilities that deliver the $100,000 cheque to the dominant pair. 123►   You might also enjoy these Eventing Connect features: Today’s SCOOP Top 10 triumphant moments at Rolex 2015 Can Thoroughbreds still win at the CCI4* level? Hockey family meets…

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