Allison Springer and Arthur (RedBayStock.com)
In their seventh appearance at the RK3DE, Springer (Upperville, Va.) and the Arthur Syndicate LLC’s Arthur were the final combination in the dressage arena on Friday and they did not disappoint, performing a fantastic test to put them in the lead in the Rolex/USEF CCI4* National Championship. Springer and the 1999 Irish Sport Horse Cross gelding had a flowing test with beautiful trot and canter work, with just a bit of tension in the walk tour. They were awarded with a score of 39.7 to sit in second place in the overall standings.
“It is always so emotional to be here with such a long partnership with that horse. He is tricky, but it brings a tear to my eye to be here and hear the crowd cheer you on. It is such a great feeling,” Springer said of being back at the RK3DE. “This was close, but I think our 2014 test was better. I think I was a tick better. I feel like I was sneaking through the walk here. All my changes were quite good in 2014 and both of my left-to-right changes were fine, but he was great.”
Marilyn Little and RF Demeter (RedBayStock.com)
Little (Frederick, Md.) produced a lovely test with Jacqueline Mars, Patrick Witte, and Raylyn Farms, Inc.’s RF Demeter to stand in second in the national championship standings. She and 2002 Oldenburg mare demonstrated powerful movements with a few moments of tension in their test. They received a score of 42.5 for their efforts to put them in third place overall.
“I have had tests with more moments of brilliance, but we had some mistakes that were disappointing. It was certainly one of her more relaxed tests. I was very pleased to see that,” Little said. “She has been wonderful all week, really going to work and a pleasure to work with. She wants to be a reliable horse in the dressage. I’d like to carry that relaxation into other tests.”
Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp (East Sussex, UK) had an excellent test on Thursday with Deborah Halliday’s Fernhill By Night that sets her in third place in the Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Championship and fourth overall. She and the 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding had a smooth test to earn a score of 43.0.
Defending 2015 RK3DE champions Michael Jung (GER) and fischerRocana FST had an exceptional test to take a firm hold on the top of the leaderboard after the dressage phase. Jung and Brigitte and Joachim Jung’s 2005 Deutsches Sportpferd mare garnered an impressive score of 34.4 with their accurate, fluid test.
A forecast of rain showers and Derek di Grazia’s impressive cross-country track will be a challenge on Saturday. Combinations will have to be determined on course, but able to adapt as the course and the footing dictate.
“To me, this is probably the most tiring track I have seen at Rolex,” Springer explained. “I don’t think there really is anywhere to make up time at the end. You have to be really smart in your turns everywhere and quick away from fences. There are a number of jumps that require a coffin-esque canter. I think there is a lot of balancing and attacking.”
Competition continues Saturday with the cross-country phase. Watch the live stream on the USEF Network and catch every ride and all the action of the weekend. Get behind-the-scenes coverage on the USEF Network Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts as well as on the USEF Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat accounts.
Cross-country begins at 10:00 a.m. ET with Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive.
For more information about the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, visit rk3de.org.