Tori Colvin and Avalanche (The Book LLC)
Today's Phase I flat work consisted of the riders broken into groups of six or seven and executing a demanding array of exercises including extension and collection, lateral movements, and lead changes. Judges Candice King and Chrystine Tauber designed the Phase II gymnastics course, which consisted of six separate exercises ranging from a set of cavalletti to a challenging combination. A free-standing hay bale jump caused a few problems, as did two verticals that needed to be jumped at an angle.
Colvin heads into tomorrow’s Phase III jumping contest with a 10-point lead over her closest rival, T.J. O’Mara (Rumson, N.J.). O’Mara rode Walstrib Stables LLC’s Kaskade to a score of an 88 in the flat phase and a 95 in the gymnastics portion for an overall score of 230.5, just .5 points ahead of third-ranked finisher McKayla Langmeier (East Granby, Conn.) riding Linda Langmeier’s Skyfall with a 230. Always a contender, Hunter Holloway (Topeka, Kan.) with Hays Investment Corp.’s Any Given Sunday sits in fourth place on a score of 220.5.
Tomorrow’s Phase III competition will be very exciting as these riders fight to hold their positions atop the leaderboard in order to participate in the final leg of the competition. Phase IV is a ride-off to determine the winner of this year’s prestigious title and requires that the top four riders exchange horses and complete a shortened course on their own mount and that of the other three finalists.
Phase I Results
Phase II Results
Phase III begins at 8 a.m. ET and can be watched in its entirety on the USEF Network.
Phase III Order of Go