Jung Adds Rolex Kentucky CCI * Win To His Résumé
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Jung Adds Rolex Kentucky
CCI**** Win To His Résumé
The German champion brings his best two horses, and he
finishes first with FischerRocana FST and third with La
Biosthetique Sam FBW.
BY LISA SLADE AND MOLLIE BAILEY
Germany’s Michael Jung brought his two best
horses to Kentucky for this year’s Rolex Kentucky
CCI****, and he won with FischerRocana FST
(pictured) and was third on La Biosthetique Sam
FBW. SARA LIESER PHOTO
28 The Chronicle of the Horse
EVENTING
I She knows,
f you’re the reigning Olympic coming in within the optimum time
Games individual gold medalist on cross-country on a rainy day with
in every
who most recently won Alltech boggy footing, despite a lengthy hold on
FEI World Equestrian Games indi- course.
competition,
vidual silver and team gold, chances are “I wished I’d stayed at school longer
you’re starting out any four-star as the to work out that math [of the time he
favorite. If you put both your best horses, needed to finish after the hold],” he
the ones you rode for those Olympic and
World Games medals, on the plane for
joked. “I had to throw away the plan
I had in mind to stay as close to the
what she
the Rolex Kentucky CCI****, your status
is elevated to heavy favorite.
[optimum] time as possible and instead
just focus on being within the time. That has to do in
As anticipated, Germany’s Michael
Jung did win this year’s Rolex Kentucky
was the best I could do in the situa-
tion—and try and use the break. It was dressage,
event, held April 22-26 in Lexington,
aboard FischerRocana FST, his partner
longer than was beneficial. But you have
to make do with what you’ve got, so that cross-country,
over the show
from last year’s World Games in France. was fine.”
Jung was also third with the experi- Wesko, a 12-year-old Dutch Warm-
enced La Biosthetique Sam FBW, his blood gelding (Karandasj—Kolien,
partner for most of his career titles.
Did the order of those placings reverse
Mytens) owned by Christina Knudsen
and the Wesko Syndicate, was aimed
jumping
whom Jung considers No. 1 in his string?
Not exactly.
for this event after he didn’t finish the
World Games cross-country course last fences,
“Every horse is different, and I think
‘Sam’ is my favorite,” he said. “With
summer. Before that non-completion, he
won the Luhmühlen CCI**** (Germany) everything.”
Sam, I win every title. With Sam, I start in June, and Jung was second on
—MICHAEL JUNG
to come up, and Sam is a very special “Rocana” there.
personality. He’s a very good friend of “I thought [Rolex Kentucky] would
mine. I like him so much, so I think no really suit this horse,”
horse is better than him. said Price, 36. “I’m hoping
“But I also like FischerRocana. She it would allow him back
did a brilliant job, and she’s a top horse,” into a good result. He had
he continued. “She will do everything a very good spring last
correct and great, and she’s so focused year, but then the WEG
and concentrated on the dressage. She didn’t go to plan, and the
knows, in every competition, what she ground there wasn’t good
has to do in dressage, cross-country, for every horse. He didn’t
over the show jumping fences, every- complete, and I wanted to
thing. Every competition is easier with avoid somewhere where
her. That’s really special, I think.” the same thing might
But though the conclusion seemed happen. He’s a good
foregone before the competition started, horse, and he deserves to
for a while New Zealand’s Tim Price have a good finish.
appeared he might play spoiler. “I gingerly opened the
curtains in my hotel [on
One Second, One Rail, One cross-country morning]
Penalty and looked out, and it
Aboard Wesko, Price tied for the dres- didn’t look like it had
sage lead with Jung and Sam on 36.3 been raining all night,”
penalties. he added. “To come
“I didn’t single out Michael,” said into the track that
Price. “It was a very strong field this year,
so that set the challenge even higher,
Germany’s Michael Jung is
and the task here seemed quite serious. now a fan of Kentucky, after
I came with all intentions to do what I’ve earning Alltech FEI World
done today because he’s a very capable Equestrian Games gold here
horse. I just wanted to put my best foot in 2010 and this year’s
Rolex Kentucky CCI****
forward, and I almost did that.” win with FischerRocana FST.
Price did his part the next day too, MOLLIE BAILEY PHOTO
May 11, 2015 • chronofhorse.com 29
EVENTING
was put in front of us, it was always coffin, like my first horse did, but the dressage score of 39.3. Sam returned in
going to be a track of riding well and track was wide enough that you could second and pulled two rails, relegating
using your intuition. Having the going always find good ground. I’m happy the 15-year-old Baden-Württemberger
we had just amplified that. A great job with both my horses.” (Stan The Man—Halla, Heraldik) to
was done with the landings and take- Those .4 additional time penalties third, and Price entered the Rolex
offs, and I went out and trusted my meant Sam started show jumping in the Stadium as the leader.
horse, and I tried to give him a good trip second-placed position. Was Jung sad But he had a single rail down,
between the fences and take every one about that 1 second? finishing just 1 penalty point behind
as it came.” “No,” Jung said. “Well, OK, maybe a Jung with 40.3.
Then Jung did the unthinkable—for little bit. But I [was] very happy with “You just kind of put [the pressure of
him—and galloped Sam between the my round. Sam had a longer break last the crowd] to one side and think of what
cross-country finish flags 1 second over year; his last competition was in Aachen you want to concentrate on in the ring,”
the optimum time of 11:06. He’d had the [Germany, at the CIC***], and this was said Price. “My horse is really good in
benefit of riding Rocana earlier in the the first very big competition in a while, the ring, and I think the crowd really
morning, and he said the mare started and he felt very good and gave me a did help me. I came down after the triple
out a little unsure about the footing but good feeling. He’s 15 now, but you feel bar [at fence 9] and rode a slightly bad
quickly improved. Conditions had wors- he’s a young man. He’s very strong and line to fence 10, which I think was about
ened by the time Sam left the start box, galloped very easily.” the same as Michael did [on Sam].”
but it still didn’t cause him problems. And that single second didn’t haunt That small mistake meant Rocana,
“The ground was not very bad, not Jung for long; the next day it turned out a 10-year-old German Sport Horse
very deep,” he said. “Before I started not to matter at all. (Ituango—Rose II, Carismo) owned by
with Sam, I wasn’t very sure how it Rocana, Jung’s first ride of the day Brigitte and Joachim Jung, won, and
would be, but he started very well and in show jumping who had galloped Michael collected a new Rolex watch as
jumped clear on the fences. The jumps around cross-country double clear the well as $100,000 for his win and $36,000
were very well prepared, so he felt very day before to hold third place, jumped for third.
safe on the jumps. He was looking at the clear in the third phase to stay on her “I think we’re about at zero,” joked
Michael, when asked how he’d spend
his prize money. “The flight is very
One rail down in
show jumping expensive.”
relegated New Despite his lengthy list of previous
Zealand’s Tim Price wins, Michael, 32, didn’t enter any
and Wesko to sec- phase of the competition feeling entirely
ond, but they had a
perfect trip across relaxed.
country at the Rolex “I think you always have pressure
Kentucky CCI****. from yourself when you go to a competi-
SARA LIESER PHOTO
tion,” he said. “You want to do the best
dressage you can, you [want to have
a] clear round in the cross-country,
and then you also want a clear round
in the show jumping. This is why you
train at home and prepare everything.
You’re always thinking what you can do
better.”
Michael’s’s now looking toward
this September’s Longines FEI
European Eventing Championships in
Great Britain, though he’s not certain
which mount he’ll choose.
Though it was his first time competing
at this four-star, in his last visit to the
Kentucky Horse Park for the 2010 WEG,
he won individual gold with Sam.
“I have very good memories of
Kentucky,” he said. “It’s a really nice
place with very good conditions for
the horses—a very nice stadium, very
quiet stadium, and it’s good we can
work in the stadium before dressage. It
30 The Chronicle of the Horse
By The Numbers:
Rolex Kentucky CCI****
(Numbers based on starters)
ROLEX KENTUCKY THREE-DAY EVENT
Lexington, Ky.—Apr. 22-26 Mares:
CCI****
12
CROSS-COUNTRY SHOW JUMPING
Geldings:
63
HORSE/RIDER/NATION DRESSAGE JUMP/TIME JUMP/TIME TOTAL
1. FischerRocana FST/Michael Jung/GER 39.3 0/0 0/0 39.3
2. Wesko/Tim Price/NZL 36.3 0/0 4/0 40.3
3. La Biosthetique Sam FBW/Michael Jung/GER 36.3 0/.4 8/0 44.7
4. Bay My Hero/William Fox-Pitt/GBR 38.5 0/8.4 0/0 46.9 Rolex rookies who started:
5. Fernhill Cubalawn/Phillip Dutton/USA
6. OBOS O’Reilly/Will Coleman/USA
7. Master Frisky/Boyd Martin/USA
50.9
52.6
47.0
0/3.2
0/0
0/1.6
0/0
4/0
8/0
54.1
56.6
56.6
24
8. Annie Clover/Nicola Wilson/GBR
9. Fernhill Fugitive/Phillip Dutton/USA
45.6
47.3
0/11.2
0/12
0/0
0/0
56.8
59.3 Rolex rookies who
10. Improvise/Bill Levett/AUS 48.6 0/0 12/0 60.6 completed:
Also competed: 11. Covert Rights/C. Rutledge/USA, 62.3; 12. Donner/L. Symansky/USA, 67.5; 13. Petite Flower/B. Davidson/USA,
68.0; 14. Shiraz/C. Rutledge/USA, 68.3; 15. Parker/J. Alliston/GBR, 72.6; 16. Balham Houdini/A. O’Connor/IRL, 75.2; 17. Simply
Priceless/E. Wallace/USA, 78.0; 18. Luckaun Quality/T. Bourke/IRL, 78.5; 19. Fly Me Courageous/S. Murphy/USA, 79.3; 20. Never
Outfoxed/H. Payne/USA, 81.0; 21. Pirate/M. O’Donoghue/USA, 83.0; 22. Doesn’t Play Fair/M. Black/USA, 84.3; 23. Share Option/L.
13
Heard/USA, 85.6; 24. Rise Against/B. Sexton/USA, 87.4; 25. Cracker Jack/B. Martin/USA, 87.7; 26. Watermill Vision/N. Wilson/GBR, Age of oldest Rolex rookie:
53
92.2; 27. Coal Creek/L. Snow/USA, 96.3; 28. No Boundaries/E. Sylvester/USA, 100.0; 29. Anthony Patch/L. Ashker/USA, 100.4; 30.
Ballylaffin Bracken/K. Schmolze/USA, 100.6; 31. Cambalda/J. Brannigan/USA, 100.9; 32. Gleaming Road/A. Collier/USA, 108.4; 33.
The Apprentice/B. Davidson/USA, 113.8; 34. Imperial Melody/C. Sturgess/CAN, 131.9; 35. Revitavet Capato/J. Linstedt/USA, 136.3;
36. Sparrow’s Nio/A. Sacksen/USA, 141.4; 37. Dunlavin’s Token/R. Meyerhoff/USA, 151.2; 38. Novelle/A. Grzywinski/USA, 161.4; 39. (Bunnie Sexton)
Sir Oberon/E. Doughty-Hume/USA, 164.1; 40. Cool Decision/A. Wilson/USA, 201.6.
Eliminated in show jumping: Relentless Pursuit/D. Widstrand/USA. Withdrawn at second horse inspection: Catch A Star/C. Silliman/
USA. Withdrawn before second horse inspection: Mighty Nice/P. Dutton/USA; Easy Target/F. Whittington/GBR; Dambala/E. Cammock/
Percentage of entries with
NZL; Andromaque/W. Faudree/USA. Eliminated on cross-country: Landioso/M. Shea/USA; Fernhill By Night/E. Halliday-Sharp/USA; Pony Club experience:
55
Houdini/K. Ruppel/USA; Tivoli/J. Alliston/GBR; Eveready/B. Crabo/USA; RF Eloquence/E. MacPhail/USA; Foxwood High/S. O’Hanlon/
CAN; Esprit De La Danse/J. Durr/USA; Vilas County/W. Geven/NED; Tsunami/S. Cousins/USA; Irish Rhythm/R. McDonough/CAN; A
Little Romance/J. Phoenix/CAN; Bellamy/J. Schramm/USA; S.V.R. Ron/G. Miles/USA; Consensus/J. Norman/USA; Collection Pass/K.
Chadderton/AUS. Retired on cross-country: Veronica/L. Kieffer/USA; RF Demeter/M. Little/USA; Ballynoe Castle RM/B. Davidson/
USA; GoodKnight/J. Wentworth/USA; Sound Prospect/A. Knowles/USA; Fernhill Flutter/K. Keane/USA; Wundermaske/S. White/USA;
Vandiver/W. Geven/NED; F.I.S. Prince Charming/L. Barry/USA. Withdrawn before cross-country: Pavarotti/J. Phoenix/CAN; AP Prime/L. Percentage of horses in the
Lang-Gluscic/USA. Eliminated in dressage: Cape Town/J. Jarnstrom/SWE. Withdrawn before dressage: High Kingdom/Z. Phillips/GBR.
top 15 ridden by Pony Club
alumni:
helps a lot for the horses, especially at di Grazia’s cross-country course was 80
the beginning of the season. The cross- impossible,” said Chronicle Rolex
country is also difficult, but I think they commentator Jimmy Wofford.
Countries represented:
are very nice fences and friendly for the
horses.”
“We saw some lovely performances
from our team veterans, but the killer
9
(United States, Canada, Great Britain,
So will he return? instinct [in U.S. riders] is still lacking,” Germany, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand,
“No!” quipped Price, who said he is he continued. “Until our riders take the Netherlands, Ireland)
planning on a return trip to this event. their cross-country riding to the next
“I’m not sure now,” said Michael. “I level, Michael Jung, ‘The Terminator,’
Completion rate:
like it very much here. If it’s possible,
then yes.”
and his European friends will fly over
here every year and once again termi-
53%
nate our riders’ dreams.” Canadian completion rate:
A Strong International Field
This year’s entry list included four-star
Di Grazia’s cross-country track
included several changes this year, and 20%
winners Sam and Wesko, as well as last the designer said it gave no one a home
year’s Rolex Kentucky champion Great turf advantage. The Rolex Head of the Amateurs:
Britain’s William Fox-Pitt on Bay My
Hero. Great Britain’s Nicola Wilson also
Lake, at fence 13ABC and 14, caused the
most issues—11 pairs faulted there—but 2
(Kevin Keane and Dana Widstrand)
entered two horses, and Zara Phillips problems were split between many of
brought her experienced partner High the fences. Age of oldest horse:
19
Kingdom, though she was forced to “Over the last four years, the track
withdraw the horse before dressage has been a lot the same,” he said. “I did
when he cut himself in the stall. change the configuration of the track (Relentless Pursuit)
“It’s a good thing that the 2015 Rolex every year but not nearly as much
Kentucky event had such a strong as I did this year. That was my main Age of youngest horse:
foreign contingent because other-
wise people would think that Derek
goal this year—to do something
different and give riders new
9
(Covert Rights and Never Outfoxed)
May 11, 2015 • chronofhorse.com 31
EVENTING
things to look at. We built quite a lot
Dambala Euthanized After Sustaining Cross-Country Injury of new jumps and sent the horses and
riders in a different way.”
Of the 71 cross-country starters, 46
N
ew Zealand’s Emily Cammock announced her decision to euthanize finished. Ten horses were retired, and
Dambala on April 26, after the horse sustained an injury April 25 on 15 were eliminated, with eight of those
cross-country at the Rolex Kentucky CCI****. being rider falls and two horse falls.
Cammock and Dambala completed the cross-country without jumping No one was seriously injured, with
faults and with only 11.2 time penalties, but the gelding was lame when the exception of Emily Cammock’s
Cammock pulled him up at the conclusion of the course. A preliminary exami- Dambala, who was euthanized after
nation revealed he’d reinjured a previous suspensory issue, and Cammock finishing the course and sustaining
started making plans for him to retire in the United States instead of flying an injury (see sidebar). There were six
back to New Zealand. double clears, including Wesko, Rocana,
“Saturday evening, our vets were treating the injury as career ending,” Colleen Rutledge on Shiraz, James
she told Eventing Nation. “At that point, we felt that a recovery to a career as a Alliston on Parker, Australia’s Bill
pasture ornament might be manageable by leaving ‘Oscar’ in the States. Plain Levett on Improvise and Will Coleman
Dealing Farm, where I spent some time as a groom in 2001, generously offered on OBOS O’Reilly.
to provide a long-term home for Oscar, and we began making plans to trans- “I believe that there was plenty to do
port him to Virginia. on the course today, so I think certainly
“But when we took the bandage off [the next] morning, it was clear that no one would expect there would be some
support was left in the suspensory structure,” she continued. “I couldn’t even issues that would go on throughout the
pick up his other leg. Oscar is a wild man who has never been able to rehab course,” said di Grazia. “On a day like
in a box. The vets said that he would never be sound in retirement and that today, with the way the weather and
his quality of life would be compromised, even if he could somehow make it going were, I think the horses handled
through rehab. He is not a horse to stand around.” the jumps quite well. We had some great
Cammock announced the decision to euthanize the 15-year-old rides, and it was a really good day for
Thoroughbred by Telesun on her Facebook page. the sport, I believe. There was a lot of
“I know that a negative angle can be taken from any situation or comment, good jumping out there—a lot of good
but I can assure you that my absolute foremost concern when making the pictures.”
decision was for Oscar’s welfare and not allowing him to suffer,” she said. But it wasn’t the best day of sport for
“My horses are my passion and my family; this was not a business or finan- the U.S. riders. Some of the pairs who
cial decision, and Dambala was placed well in 2014, including Lauren
not insured so that was never a Kieffer, who won the USET Foundation
consideration. I put my faith and Pinnacle Cup last year and placed
trust in him to keep me safe and second with Veronica; Buck Davidson
make the right decisions. He did and Ballynoe Castle RM, who were
the same with me, and I truly third last year; and Marilyn Little with
believe I have not let him down.” RF Demeter, sixth last year, retired on
Oscar and Cammock had course after refusals or run-outs.
traveled from Christchurch, Phillip Dutton and Fernhill
New Zealand, for the event, Cubalawn’s fifth-placed finish was the
and they spent several week’s lowest for a top U.S. placing since the
at Boyd Martin’s Windurra in event became a four-star in 1998. The
Cochranville, Pa., beforehand. last time a U.S. rider topped the event
This was the horse’s first four- was in 2008, when Dutton won with
star, but he won the Hastings Connaught.
CIC*** earlier this year and the “There’s a ways to go here,” said
Taupo CCI*** in 2012, both in New U.S. Eventing Chef d’Equipe David
Zealand. O’Connor. “We have one in the top
LISA SLADE five, and they’re all Olympics or World
Games horses in here. So we got one in
the top five, and there’s a whole other
Though Dambala and New Zealand’s level to go, but we have to make this
Emily Cammock completed the Rolex
Kentucky CCI**** cross-country, the level standard before the next can come
horse sustained an injury significant on. We need to be able to go in there
enough that he was euthanized the and knock out mid-40s in dressage
next day. SARA LIESER PHOTO
and then have the ability to go fast on
cross-country, and then there was good
32 The Chronicle of the Horse
By The Numbers:
Rolex Kentucky CCI****
(Numbers based on starters)
U.S.-bred horses:
28
Off-The-Track
Thoroughbreds:
20
(1 New Zealand-bred, 2 Canadian-bred,
17 U.S.-bred)
First-time finishers who
contested Rolex before:
4
(Tim Bourke, Holly Payne, Jennie Brannigan,
Bobby Meyerhoff)
Fernhill horses:
4
(Fernhill Cubalawn, Fernhill Fugitive, Fernhill
By Night, Fernhill Flutter)
Number of horses with
faults, eliminations or
retirements at the Rolex
Phillip Dutton was the highest-placed U.S. Head of the Lake:
11
rider at Rolex Kentucky aboard Fernhill
Cubalawn. SARA LIESER PHOTO
show jumping. It takes a lot of practice, the final horse inspection due to a Riders with multiple rides
and a lot of those guys don’t have it yet. scraped stifle from the course. who completed with all their
We just don’t get the practice in this That left his two greener mounts horses:
weather.”
Dutton agreed that the weather on
cross-country added an additional chal-
carrying the flag into show jumping,
and both Fernhill Fugitive and Fernhill
Cubalawn jumped clear rounds for
4
(Michael Jung, Boyd Martin, Colleen
lenge to the track. ninth and fifth, respectively. Dutton Rutledge, Nicola Wilson)
“Here in this country, we just don’t competed “Cuba” at last fall’s Blenheim
get to practice those conditions like CCI*** (Great Britain), where he had Total attendance:
they do in Europe. It’s a little bit of a
shock to our horses and riders,” he said.
three rails down in show jumping, and
then he spent the winter working on 75,533
“Everything is just that much harder, that phase with Silvio Mazzoni, Richard
whether you’re turning or going faster Picken and Rodney Bross. Horses by Master Imp:
or on an approach to jump, it’s all that
much harder for horses to execute and
“What we’ve been working on with
Cuba is getting him to use his back 3
(High Kingdom, Improvise, Master Frisky)
stay confident.” more; he tends to jump a little over
himself, so we’ve been trying to get
Dutton’s New Four-Star him to use his neck and bascule,” said Riders who competed in
Horses Dutton, of West Grove, Pa. “One of his top hats in dressage:
Dutton arrived at this year’s Rolex
Kentucky with one confirmed four-star
issues that caught up to him at Blenheim
is that he gets flat and fast through 9
(Tim Price, Michael Jung, William Fox-Pitt,
horse, Mighty Nice, and two first-timers. combinations, so I need to make sure I
Kevin Keane, Marilyn Little, Selena
Though Mighty Nice was the highest- have power to get through the combina-
O’Hanlon, Nicola Wilson, Bill Levett, Emily
placed of the group after cross-country, tion but also not rush through it.” Cammock)
in seventh, Dutton withdrew him before The team spent the winter
May 11, 2015 • chronofhorse.com 3 3
EVENTING
Back In The Barn With La Biosthetique Sam FBW And FischerRocana FST
T
here was probably no one busier after the awards
ceremony for the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** than
Julia Harsch, Michael Jung’s groom in charge of
both the winner, FischerRocana FST, and third-placed La
Biosthetique Sam FBW.
Harsch, 22, started working for Jung in 2013, and after
a year at home, she began hitting the road with both his
show jumping and eventing string last year. Her first major
championship was at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian
Games (France), where “Rocana” helped Germany earn
team gold and Jung earn individual silver.
In Kentucky, Jung’s parents, Joachim and Brigitte, and his
brother, Phillip, leant a hand on cross-country day.
“It’s really great having the whole family together,” said
Harsch. “Phillip lives in Canada, so he’s not always around.
It’s a really wonderful team to be around.
“Michael’s father, especially, I’ve learned so much from,
whether it’s in the stable or watching him help Michael,”
she continued. “He sees really small things, like adjusting
Michael’s elbow a bit or making the neck just a bit longer,
and you can see the difference.”
Harsch said her two charges started out the trip indif-
ferent to one another but bonded during their time in Groom Julia Harsch has been caring for FischerRocana FST for
nearly two years. MOLLIE BAILEY PHOTO
the Bluegrass state. Back in the barn, Rocana, whom she
affectionately calls Roxy, is the mellow one—as long as she walker or get turned out or go on a trail ride with Michael
knows where the treats are. “Sam” is the one biting the or Harsch.
air during blanketing and grooming, but it’s from a thin- Rocana has a successor as well. Her full sister,
skinned sensibility and not ill-nature. If Harsch calls his FischerRicona, is also in Michael’s program, and she won
name from outside the stall or his paddock, he’ll immedi- the Wiesbaden CIC*** (Germany) last year.
ately walk over to her and stay by her side. “They’re really similar,” said Harsch. “They’re both easy
At home in Horb Am Neckar, in south Germany, both to ride, and their character is similar as well: They’re both
horses get out two or three times a day. They do dressage lovely horses who always love to look for you to say hello.”
work in the morning, and in the afternoon they’ll go on the MOLLIE BAILEY
working on a different tactic for the sage score of 50.9. Though it was the Fernhill Fugitive might get chosen for
10-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Lux Z— 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding’s (Con this year’s Pan American Games in
Barnadown Ramiro, Ramiro B) Fernhill Capitol—Corse Lawn, Arkan) first trip Canada. He’s thinking of aiming Cuba
Fugitive, who had two rails down at around Rolex, he completed Blenheim for the Aachen CIC*** (Germany) later
Blenheim. with Dutton as well as two CCI***s with this summer and was awaiting X-rays of
“We’ve been trying to get him to previous rider Alexandra Green. Mighty Nice’s stifle for a decision on that
canter a little more uphill and sit down “I set out quicker on him [than with gelding.
behind,” said Dutton. “He’s jumping Fernhill Fugitive],” said Dutton, 51. “I’m excited about their futures,” he
in great form, but he can be a little flat. “He had bad conditions because it was said. “Both were youngish horses, and
We’re trying to develop a little more raining as well and getting deeper by it seems they really stepped up and
jump in the canter—and then overall then. It was a little bit probably not quite improved and matured and had a great
trying to improve my position and still- as smooth a round as the first one. He experience this weekend.”
ness over the jumps. lost a shoe, and so he was slipping a bit,
“You can always be a touch unlucky and a few jumps were a little on the wild Coleman’s Back On Form
on the last day, but I felt like they both side. But he’s a good, seasoned cross- Coleman didn’t come to Rolex banking
jumped really well,” he added. country horse.” on a top finish; he was just happy to be
On cross-country day, Thomas Dutton returned home with two there at all.
Tierney and Simon Roosevelt’s Cuba newly minted four-star horses, and He last competed there in
added 3.2 time penalties to his dres- he’s hoping Tierney and Ann Jones’ 2012, when he finished fifth with
34 The Chronicle of the Horse
The Veteran And The Newcomer
C
olleen Rutledge’s trip to the Rolex Kentucky CCI****
didn’t start out on the right foot, but she managed to
turn it around pretty quickly.
She was up most of Wednesday night with her daughter
Cassie who’d caught the flu, and by the time of her dressage
test Thursday morning with Shiraz she was sick too.
“When I went into the ring with ‘Luke,’ I was like, ‘You’ve
got this memorized; I’m going to sit back here and try not
to puke,’ ” she recalled. “I’m literally trotting around the
ring thinking, ‘Do not puke! Hold it together.’ After that I
went back to the barn and immediately went to sleep until
4:30. Now the running joke with my friends is that maybe I
should throw up before dressage more often.”
Shiraz finished overall 14th, maintaining his lifetime
record of no jumping penalties cross-country at this level,
and he notched his seventh four-star completion since 2011.
And Rutledge’s other ride, Covert Rights, finished in 11th in
his four-star debut.
Rutledge’s history with “C.R.” goes back to the very
beginning. C.R.’s dam was the first horse Rutledge ever
broke when she was just 16. The mare, a Thoroughbred Both Colleen Rutledge’s rides placed inside the top 15 at Rolex
named Let’s Get It Right (Covert Operation—East Aurora, Kentucky CCI****, with rookie Covert Rights jumping to 11th.
Kohoutek), was very opinionated, but Rutledge fell in love SARA LIESER PHOTO
with her. Though she was sold, Rutledge eventually bought
her back. 9-year-old. “I went out saying if at any point he felt over-
Rutledge took Let’s Get It Right from her first jump all faced I’d pull him up, but he answered every question out
the way up to advanced before the mare was injured, so there with a, ‘Yes ma’am, absolutely ma’am, why wouldn’t
she decided to try breeding her. She’d been working with a I, ma’am?’ ”
Clydesdale-Thoroughbred stallion named BFF Incognito Doug and Jessica Payne have been helping Rutledge hone
and his babies. her show jumping, and Doug pointed out that Rutledge’s
“I knew he would make an amazing match with the three Fédération Equestre International horses are all
mare, and I kept saying even if I got the worst of both of completely different rides.
them it would still be a good horse,” said Rutledge, 38. “C.R. “I love that,” said Rutledge, Mt. Airy, Md. “I wouldn’t
was easy from the beginning. I had too much going on with trade my time on [Shiraz] for anything, but I don’t
family issues, so I couldn’t break him myself, so I sent him want to be one of the people who only rides the crazy
away to be broke. I got a phone call after two weeks saying, Thoroughbreds. C.R. is completely different from [Shiraz],
‘Come get him. He’s broke—walk, trot, canter and going on who’s completely different from [Escot 6, who competes at
trail rides.’ ” the three-star level]. I want to learn to make each one the
C.R. proved a precocious, talented charge who bounced best horse he can be.”
up the levels easily. His fancy trot and good mind meant he Rutledge has kept her focus on that kind of self-actualiza-
excelled in the dressage ring, aided with help from Mara tion even as her name has been conspicuously absent from
DePuy and Linda Zang, and he was an eager cross-country U.S. Equestrian Federation High Performance Training
partner as well. When they ran into the occasional hiccup, lists, despite Shiraz completing four-star tracks around the
Rutledge could always trace it back to her own mistakes, world.
like when she forgot his greenness for a moment while out “The first time I didn’t make it, even though I was placed
on cross-country at the Fork CIC*** (N.C.) and didn’t set so well with [Shiraz], I sat down and thought about it and
him up properly for a question to tally 20 there. said, ‘How will this change what I’m doing and what I need
At Rolex Rutledge kept her expectations for C.R. in to work on?’ ” she said. “It’s more outside validation rather
check, but she found the biggest challenge for her young than internal. I realized a few years ago that getting onto
horse was distractions outside the galloping lanes more a team or a training list shouldn’t be what my goal is—my
than anything inside them. He finished with just 12 time goal is to be the best I can be and figure out what I need to
penalties in soggy going. do to get there.”
“I’m incredibly pleased with him,” said Rutledge of the MOLLIE BAILEY
May 11, 2015 • chronofhorse.com 3 5
EVENTING
New Frangible Pin Rule Tested At Rolex Kentucky
O
n March 31, the Fédération Equestre Internationale we can make the course as solid and inviting as possible
enacted a new rule for frangible pins. That rule, and make it safe enough that a one-off mistake doesn’t
Article 548.1 in the 2015 Rule Book, states that riders create injury, that’s a very positive thing for the sport.”
will be awarded 11 penalties for activating a frangible device, However, one area the new rule wasn’t applied this year
but the ground jury can reverse those penalties in some very was when Great Britain’s Francis Whittington crashed
specific circumstances. through the corner at fence 18C, the last element of the
“In evaluating the possible removal of the penalty, Land Rover Hollow. His mount, Easy Target, knocked the
ground juries are not called to investigate if the horse corner off its posts, requiring a hasty rebuild, but he wasn’t
would have fallen or not, or if the contact was with the assessed 11 penalties since the jump didn’t contain any fran-
front or hind legs, or if the rider was riding dangerously or gible technology, and the rule strictly applies to only fences
not, but only if an unexpected activation occurred through with a form of frangible technology—MIM Clips, frangible
a light tap. This is the only case where penalties can be pins and reverse-pinned fences.
removed,” stated an FEI release about the new rule.
At the Rolex Kentucky CCI****, the first four-star since
the rule went into play, the ground jury of Angela Tucker,
Wayne Quarles and Ernst Topp did plenty of investigation
into that light tap. Three pairs (Allie Blyskal Sacksen and
Sparrow’s Nio, Ellen Doughty-Hume and Sir Oberon, and
Will Faudree and Andromaque) activated frangible devices
around the course and were given 11 penalties each for
doing so. Lillian Heard on Share Option had a mistaken 11
penalties applied to her score at the ditch and brush, fence
11, which wasn’t a frangible obstacle, and those 11 penalties
were later removed.
“I think it’s very black and white,” said Quarles. “If the
device on the fence is activated, then it’s 11 points, unless we
feel that it was a failure of the mechanism.”
Quarles was only on hand to see one of the activations
in person, but the ground jury interviewed people who
had observed the other incidents and then reviewed video
footage from every angle, in every incident.
“In no instance did we feel it was the fault of a mecha-
nism,” he said. “I think [the rule is] pretty easy to interpret,
and I think it’s so much better than what it was. I think
everybody is much happier with the rule the way it is. The
riders would love to not get any penalties if they can finish, The corner set as the final element of the Land Rover Hollow
but it takes away the factor of us having to decide if it would contained no frangible elements but did collapse when Francis
have caused a fall.” Whittington’s Easy Target crashed through it. JENNI AUTRY FOR
The FEI had enacted a controversial new rule for this EVENTINGNATION.COM PHOTO
year that stated an automatic 21 penalties would be given
for any frangible device activated. A petition from the The horse’s shoulder went through the flags, but then his
International Event Riders Association contributed to its hind end slipped off the left and both hind legs slotted in
revision in March. between the rails of the front of the corner. That’s where the
“I’m really happy that the eventing riders group from corner broke apart.
Europe raised enough stink the FEI finally listened and “I built the top in one piece, so we could place it. That
had that meeting, so it got done the way it was,” said was seated on three posts and fastened to it with timber
Quarles. “I heard course designers saying all over the logs, and then there were two posts behind it,” said Rolex
world, ‘That’s the end. I’m not using frangibles anymore.’ I course builder Mick Costello. “It was a cross-country jump;
don’t think that’s a positive outlook for the sport. it wasn’t meant to be frangible. It took a lot of force to knock
“I think for the overall safety of the sport, frangible it off the posts there. It was very interesting that the horse
fences are an important factor,” he continued. “No matter got both legs over the bottom rail. [Whittington] is pretty
how much we do in terms of qualifications, even the best lucky.”
riders can make a one-off mistake. If we can help them—if LISA SLADE
36 The Chronicle of the Horse
Special Awards And
Trophies
WILLIAM C. COMAN PERPETUAL
TROPHY (winning breeder): Mirko
Glotz
CARIMATI CUP (top-placed foreign
rider): Michael Jung, Germany
THE BANK ONE PERPETUAL
TROPHY (highest-placed sole owner-
rider): Colleen Rutledge with Covert
Rights
PINNACLE TROPHY (U.S. champion-
ship): Phillip Dutton and Fernhill
Cubalawn
ZEPPA TROPHY (best presented):
Balham Houdini, with Austin
O’Connor
BEST CONDITIONED HORSE: OBOS
O’Reilly, with Will Coleman
THE KENTUCKY CUP (for 10 comple-
tions): Boyd Martin
THE JOCKEY CLUB HIGHEST-
PLACED REGISTERED
THOROUGHBRED AWARD: Donner,
with Lynn Symansky
Twizzel. He meant to bring the horse in
2013, but he wasn’t quite ready after incur-
ring a minor injury during the London
Olympic Games. In 2014, Coleman’s Rolex
hopeful Conair died after a cross-country
accident at The Fork Horse Trials (N.C.).
This time around Coleman brought
the four-star rookie OBOS O’Reilly to
Lexington, and they impressed everyone
with a foot-perfect cross-country go to
finish an eventual sixth.
“I thought if we had a good weekend we
might get into the top 10, but there are so
many variables outside your control,” said
Coleman, Gordonsville, Va. “It’s his first
time at this level, and he hasn’t been to a
[three-day] event in two years, and that
left a lot of question marks in our minds.
We had him as prepared as we could get
him and gave him a good ride, and he met
the challenge.”
The 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse (OBOS
Quality 004—Omard Clover Queen, Clover
Hill) enjoyed a quiet spring preparation,
after a leg infection caused a hiccup in his
training.
“I think he got an infection from
swimming in the pool in Ocala
Pyranha-Worry-4687x9938.indd 1 4/24/15 1:38 PM
May 11, 2015 • chronofhorse.com 37EVENTING
[Fla.],” said Coleman, 32. “It was just a
minor irritation, but it caused the leg to
blow up, and until it settled down we had
to take it easy. Luckily we were ahead on
his fitness, but when you’re getting ready
for a four-star every day matters. It was
nerve-wracking to be grounded for a
couple weeks.”
Though Coleman crossed a run at
Pine Top off his list and dropped “Oboe”
down to the two-star division at the
Cloud 11~Gavilan North LLC Carolina
International CIC (N.C.) he won Best
Conditioned horse in Kentucky, and his
groom Mark Swan earned a Best Turned
Out award to boot. Best of all, Coleman
left Kentucky with a 24-month lease on
a new Land Rover as the U.S. rider who
In his first trip to Rolex Kentucky since finished closest to the optimum time on
2012, Will Coleman finished sixth aboard
four-star first-timer OBOS O’Reilly. SARA cross-country day.
LIESER PHOTO Coleman believed in the horse long
before he won the Volvo Bromont CCI***
(Quebec) in 2013, but Oboe was never an
Tidbits easy charge. Over the weekend he alter-
nately described the gelding as “completely
feral,” “a hyena” and “a beast.” He was
Though KYLE CARTER withdrew Nine riders elected to wear top nearly unrideable when Coleman got him
Madison Park the morning of the hats rather than helmets during as a 4-year-old from Nigel and Ann Taylor,
Rolex Kentucky CCI**** first horse the dressage phase of eventing; last but he was impressed with the power in
inspection, he didn’t leave the show year that number was at 19. Neither the horse’s gaits.
empty-handed. The marathoner winner MICHAEL JUNG nor last “He was just wild—just so unrespon-
finished overall third in the inau- year’s winner WILLIAM FOX-PITT sive to training,” said Coleman. “He was a
gural RK-5K Twilight Run at Rolex said they’d be donning helmets any slow-maturing horse, and when he finally
Kentucky, and his wife, fellow time soon. got to the two-star level at 8 he started to
marathoner and eventer JENNIFER “For me, it’s tradition and part of show more promise. When the sport got
CARTER, was third in the female the dress,” said Fox-Pitt. “It’s top harder, he started to pay more attention.
category. hat and tails, not crash hat and tails. He’s still a challenge, and he can be sharp,
It might take someone designing a but he’s more willing to cooperate and
GINA MILES almost didn’t show up slightly better-looking helmet, to be work with me. On big stages he’s always
for her first trip to Kentucky since honest. I don’t want to look like I performed well.
2008. SVR RON suffered a stone should be on a skateboard.” “He has a wonderful presence about
bruise and an abscess shortly before him, almost an arrogance about him, and
she was scheduled to fly to Kentucky. While New Zealander TIM PRICE I think for a four-star horse you need that
Two days before her flight SVR Ron debuted at this year’s Rolex Kentucky a little bit,” he continued. “It can be chal-
was still sore, so she cancelled his trip. CCI****, it wasn’t his first trip to the lenging to corral that aggressiveness.”
On Wednesday, April 16, the day Kentucky Horse Park. When he was Oboe was one of two OBOS Quality
she was due to leave, she jogged him younger he catch-rode a horse at the offspring at Rolex. Coleman said he
on a whim, and lo and behold, he novice level there. sees plenty of similarities between his
was perfectly sound, reigniting her “I sold a horse when I was 18 to own mount and Tim Bourke’s Luckaun
hopes. But there wasn’t a flight to be someone over here, and then I was Quality (OBOS Quality—Colwyn Bay,
found, and by the time she’d decided backpacking around with a friend, Cavalier Royale).
to have a go it was too late to send and I rode her horse a little bit, and “They’re both cross-country machines
him over land comfortably. Luckily she said, ‘Would you like to ride him and great natural jumpers with all the
he was able to hitch a ride with the in a horse trial?’ And that was here. scope you could want,” said Coleman.
horses at the Longines FEI World So it’s quite weird coming back in “They’re that weird eventing combination
Cup Final flying from Las Vegas to such a different capacity,” he said. of careful and broke, and that instinct is
Europe, getting off during a refueling always to want to jump what’s in front of
in Lexington. them.”
38 The Chronicle of the HorseMay 11, 2015 • chronofhorse.com 39
EVENTING
Rolex
Kentucky
CCI****
Lexington, Ky.
April 22-26
Steady rain all morning on Saturday didn’t deter
determined spectators from pouring into the
Kentucky Horse Park. SARA LIESER PHOTO
Michael Jung claimed two
of the top three spots at the
Rolex Kentucky CCI****,
riding La Biosthetique Sam Laine Ashker’s snazzy print dress helped
FBW to third. SARA LIESER PHOTO her earn the Dubarry Best Dressed
award at the first horse inspection.
40 The Chronicle of the Horse MOLLIE BAILEY PHOTOLast year’s
winners,
William Fox-
Pitt and Bay
My Hero, had
to settle for
fourth this
time around.
SARA LIESER
PHOTO
Buck Davidson’s
mother, Carol Rolex rookie Bunnie Sexton
Davidson, was was ecstatic to complete her
the first person to first four-star on Rise Against.
congratulate her son MOLLIE BAILEY PHOTO
after his dressage
tests. MOLLIE BAILEY
PHOTO
“Going into it,
you never know,
is your horse a
four-star horse?
Are you a four-
star rider?” said
Rolex rookie
Maya Black. She
answered her
own questions
by riding Doesn’t
Play Fair to
22nd. SARA LIESER
PHOTO
May 11, 2015 • chronofhorse.com 41You can also read
