“’Reggie’ was fantastic,” said Davidson, of Ocala, Fla. “He just keeps showing up. I just couldn’t be happier with him—he just steps up and does what he’s supposed to do.”
Davidson’s ride on the bay Irish Sporthorse came about halfway through the division, and he said he’d learned a lesson with his first mount, Titanium. “I made a huge mistake in that I didn’t put any studs in. I about wiped out in the medium canter circle. It was completely my fault. But he did his thing the best he could,” said Davidson.
Titanium stands tied for 23rd (61.2), while his third horse Park Trader is 19th (59.0).
Following behind Davidson is Michael Pollard, who scored 42.2 aboard the flashy gray Jude’s Law. Competing at Galway Downs is something of a homecoming for the Irish Sporthorse, who began his career here in California, before being bought by Pollard earlier this year. His fluid and rhythmical test was well rewarded by the judges.
James Alliston, on India McEvoy’s Jumbo’s Jake, grabbed third place with a score of 45.5. Although he rides for Great Britain, Alliston has been based in Castro Valley, Calif., for two years.
“I thought it was a good test,” said Alliston. “The conditions were far from ideal. The arena was quite slippery and a bit deep, so it was tough to ride full power in he mediums. [But] it was a nice, consistent test—mistake-free.
“I never really know if it’s a good test,” he continued. “He normally doesn’t make a mistake and you can kick him around.”
All the riders agreed, though, that the competition is far from over. Course designer Ian Stark has set a big test for the CCI3*.
“I think it’s big and that it’s going to need a really brave horse,” said Alliston.
“I tell people if you want to know how to ride Ian’s course, watch a movie from 20 years ago and sit back and kick,” said Davidson. “He’s definitely ramped it up a bit from last year. He said the time was too easy to make last year, so he wanted to make that harder to do. I think he’s done a fantastic job. It’s big, lots of ditches. He’s made terrain and used what there is.
“It’s not a dressage show—it’s a three-day event,” continued Davidson. “So I’m not that excited about being in first now—I might lose a few hours of sleep tonight.”
But both riders believe the today’s rain won’t adversely affect things tomorrow.
“Nobody is complaining about the rain today, and we all have faith that everything’s going to be great tomorrow,” said Davidson.
“I hope it will be perfect,” said Alliston.
The top three in both the CCI1* and the CCI2* remained unchanged after an additional day of dressage. In the CIC2* Amber Levine and Oz Poof of Purchase remain tied for first with Maxance McManamy and Project Runway (47.8). Hawley Bennett-Awad and Splendorofthesun (49.7) are third.
In the CCI1*, Sara Mittleider and Harry Houdini kept their hold on first place, their score of 46.6 keeping them just ahead of Stacey Winter on Stella Brava (46.9) and Bea di Grazia on Lad’s Night Out (47.5).
Like all of the top three, Mittleider, of Kuna, Idaho, and her 6-year-old Trakehner skipped the bad weather today, but she didn’t feel it would have made much difference.
“I definitely think that the weather and the footing played a factor [in the scores] today, but my horse has as very good brain, so I think he would have been very close to the mark he had yesterday,” she said. “Overall it was very smooth, very consistent. I thought he showed very good engagement for such a young horse.”
The total prize money this year is $33,000, with a $21,000 purse in the CCI3*.
Land Rover, the Professional Riders Organization, Del Mar Eventing and Professional’s Choice are the presenting sponsors of the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event.
Other generous sponsors of the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event include: Advanced Protection Formula by Auburn Laboratories Inc., Big Horse Feed, California Horse Trader, Charles Owen, CWD Saddlery, Doug Hannum Equine Therapy, Embassy Suites Hotel, Equine Comfort Products, Equine Insurance of California, Finish Line Products, MDBarnmaster, Ride On Video, Riding’s Publications Inc., Smartpak Equine, Sunsprite Warmbloods and Voltaire Design.
A portion of the general admission and patron's ticket revenue at Galway Downs will benefit Operation Homefront, the official charitable partner of the Professional Riders Organization Tour and of Galway Downs.
The mission of Operation Homefront is to provide emergency financial and other assistance to the families of our nation’s service members. Since its founding in 2002, Operation Homefront has provided more than $92 million to programs that benefit military families.
General admission for the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event is $8 per day in advance, $10 at the gate. Patron’s tickets—which include seating in the ringside tent on Friday and Sunday, with lunch and a full selection of beverages—are also available for $55 per day in advance. For advance reservations, go to www.galwaydowns.com.
For more information on the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event, visit www.galwaydowns.com or call 951-303-0405. To learn more about eventing, visit the U.S. Eventing Association’s website (www.useventing.com).