Americans Dominate on Day One of Dressage
Apr 23rd, 10
By Jeannie Blancq Putney
Americans Dominate on Day One of Dressage
Lexington, KY—Twenty-five of 53 riders performed their dressage test on day one with three well known names in the top three slots. Karen O’Connor and Mandiba are leading the pack with 43.7 penalty points, Becky Holder and Courageous Comet have 45.2 penalty points, and Phillip Dutton and The Foreman (one of his four mounts this week) are currently in the third spot with a score of 47.2.
O’Connor said she is never alone going down the center line and credited her success today to a few different factors. “I’ve got the secret weapon back home,” she said. “I’m married to him. David is incredibly influential in what my program is and how my horses are going. Because of his schedule now with being away so much—he comes back and he has a very fresh eye on my horse. He’s more than happy to have as much input as I need notwithstanding getting on Mandiba and riding for me and feeling what I’m feeling.”
Because the Kentucky Cup Dressage event is going on concurrently this year, there were many dressage riders watching the eventers in the warm-up today. O’Connor said a thumbs-up from a few of those riders in the warm-up also let her know she was in good shape going down the center line today. Overall she was pleased with today’s performance.
“He’s had a very good season this winter in the dressage phase, and he’s more confirmed than he’s ever been for sure,” O’Connor said. “I feel very confident going down the center line on him, and his dressage tests have continued to be very consistent throughout the winter. This is the first time it’s been in this kind of atmosphere under the pressures that a top competition brings, so I was over the moon with how calm he was and how relaxed he was. He was very swingy in his back and connected…he’s just such an elegant horse and he’s got such try in him. I am really excited.”
Holder and Comet have been in a very similar situation after the dressage phase here at Rolex a few times. She said her plan going forward is to take it one day at a time. “It’s nice to have this done and behind me,” Holder said. “There are things I would have liked to have changed. I would have liked to put in a little better performance forward for the start of the competition, but now I have my sights set on the cross-country course and it’s the same thing out there…one jump at a time and try to give my horse a good ride and a fair go around the course.”
Dutton had the first and the last ride of the day, and said he was pleased with both of his mounts today especially The Foreman. “Obviously you’re always a critical…he hasn’t been in a big arena now for four or five years now so overall I am pretty happy.”
Judges included Ulrich Schmitz at H, Marilyn Payne at C and Swiss judge Christian Landolt at B. The remaining 28 competitors will ride the 2009 FEI Eventing 4* Dressage Test B tomorrow starting with Dutton and Woodburn at 9:30 a.m.
Holder was the winner of the Rolex drawing at last night’s competitor’s party earning her her very own Rolex watch which she says she’ll be wearing for good luck this weekend. Also at the competitor’s party the Dubarry’s best dressed award from yesterday’s jog was announced. Peter Atkins of Australia and Lauren Kieffer of the U.S. were this year’s fashionistas.
In addition to a new media center for his year’s international press, Lexington-based Lexmark is offering and testing a new technology to Rolex journalists allowing each journalist to have a unique user ID allowing print on demand capabilities in the media center.