The 2012 Pine Top Farm Advanced Horse Trials organizers had one ordeal after another to deal with this past weekend.  Pine Top Farm, in Thomson, Georgia, was the scene of the area’s first Advanced competition for the season and when they realized a week or so beforehand that they couldn’t run everyone in the three phases in the daylight, they had to notify 280 riders that the Dressage and Cross Country phases of Advanced had been moved to Friday.  Then Friday opened with a Tornado watch and a Severe Storm Warning.  Dressage went on as scheduled but then the skies opened up with such a torrential downpour that riders, horses and grooms sought shelter in trailers and barns hoping that the roofs didn’t blow off.  In fact, some distance to the north exactly that happened.  Again, the organizers were notifying everyone of a change to the schedule – Cross Country was now moved to Saturday:  look at the order of go published on the internet, subtract two hours from the Friday time and off you went.  Organizers scrambled for volunteer fence judges but the event went off as planned.

The view from the inside of the Aiken Brew Pub during Friday's storm. High winds and hail brought down trees and then the electricity.

Saturday dawned bright, crisp, with low humidity and the clear blue skies for which this area of the south is known.

One of the early jumps of the day, successfully cleared, a stroller sans baby.

A view of 19 and 20A,B and C and 21 on the Advanced cross country course. After jumping out at C, riders took a bending line to 21, which is just out of the picture to the right of the flag for 19.

As someone commented that morning, there was a disproportionate number of greys competing at this event.  Michael Pollard dominated the top places after dressage and took first and second in the Advanced Open Division One with two greys.

Michael Pollard on Icarus III taking home the Blue.

Michael Pollard on Schoengreen Hanni bringing home Second.

Advanced Open Division Two was again topped by two greys.

Jude's Law in first.

Becky Holder on Can't Fire Me is second.

Division Three of the Advanced Open was won by Michelle Mueller on Amistad, followed by Rachel Jurgens on Ziggy.

Michelle Mueller and Amistad.

Rachel Jurgens and Ziggy.

Open Intermediate Division One was won by Boyd Martin on (my hometown favorite) Remington XXV.

Boyd Martin and Remington XXV.

William Coleman III on Zipp takes home the red ribbon.

Phillip Dutton and Ben take first in the Open Intermediate Division 2.

Will Faudree and Pawlow are second.

Jessica Schultz and Lock N' Load headed to home and number one in Open Intermediate Division Three.

Lizzie Snow and Coal Creek for second.

Action in the Aiken Eventing arena continues this weekend, March 2-4, with Sporting Days Farm USEF/USEA Horse Trials Tadpole through Intermediate/Preliminary.

The Paradise Farm Winter Horse Trials took place this weekend, February 17-19, in Aiken, South Carolina with some 280 rider/horse combinations registered to compete Beginner Novice through Preliminary.  Paradise Farm is situated in the middle of the eventing venues of Aiken, just east of Downtown.

Paradise Farm looking toward the Cross Country Course.

Saturday, the first cross country ride was at 9:00 and by 8 AM, there was a meeting of volunteers and officials taking place in the barn just off the central office space.

The volunteer meeting in the barn.

Younger volunteers visited with the boarders.

The youngest volunteer, Ruairi MacLoed, smiles at his mother, Jane McDonald, as he awaits final instructions for the cross country phase.

A walk around the warm-up with WHF Kitaro before preparing for the Novice Rider show jump phase later in the day.

Johanna Hall Glass, owner and organizer of Sporting Days, venue for another event, helps set up the show jumps.

For the Preliminary Eventers, cross country began with moderate temperatures and overcast but as the morning progressed, temperatures rose to the mid-60‘s.

Lellie Ward, owner of Paradise Farm and organizer of the Event, is particularly proud of the newest obstacle on the course, the Sunken Road Complex, situated at 13abcd (of 20 questions) and which debuted this week.  As the first competitor, Will Faudree on Embellisher, rode through the complex, Lellie Ward was standing a short distance away.

Will Faudree on Embellisher

Close behind him, at pinny number 7, was Phillip Dutton on Gran Banks, a 2002 Hanoverian gelding owned by Augie Vettorino.  Showing how the complex should be ridden, Phillip led the Open Preliminary Division on Gran Banks at the end of cross country on Saturday, finishing on his dressage score.

Phillip Dutton riding Gran Banks

And so the sequence begins:

Second in the Division was Elizabeth Ricklefs riding On The Rocks.  Elizabeth is a veterinarian with a practice in York, Pennsylvania.

Elizabeth Ricklefs riding On The Rocks

Galloping away.

Andrea Glazer, on Deputy Commander, won the Junior Young Riders Open Preliminary Division, rising from fourth after dressage to first after cross country, jumping double clear in show jumping.

Andrea Glazer and Deputy Commander

Preliminary Rider was won by Stephen Rogers on Rugby Road, second went to Laura Duhamel on Fate’s Patriot.

Stephen Rogers and Rugby Road

Laura Duhamel and Fate's Patriot

Color coordinated.

Mark Lehner of Hoofclix.Com (http://www.hoofclix.com/Paradise-Farm/2012-02-19-USEA-Horse-Trial) works diligently to get the “right” shot and here shows his dedication, racing camera in hand, foot to the pedal, to get to the right spot before the competitor goes by.

Mark Lehner of HoofClix

Coffee, cream and sugar were delivered and scores were picked up by roving Gator.

Return to the office following the Preliminary Division

(Un)Divided Loyalties

Fancy Footwear

The Aiken area Eventing Series continues next weekend with the Pine Top Spring Advanced Horse Trials in Thomson, Georgia, February 24-26  (http://www.pinetopfarm.com/events.shtml).  Due to the high volume of entries, Advanced and Intermediate Dressage and Cross Country will take place on Friday.

USEF Aiken Training Sessions continue today and tomorrow with a jumping clinic with Lauren Hough and Captain Mark Phillips.

With the goal of bringing home Gold from London this summer, the 2012 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team Training Sessions continue in Aiken, SC this winter, hosted by Ilene and Bob Boorman at their Mohaph Farm, the winter home for Boyd Martin, his staff and horses.  Mohaph Farm is located within the Bridle Creek Equestrian Community which also encompasses the training facilities of Phillip Dutton and Kevin Keane.

  http://www.usef.org/documents/highPerformance/eventing/EventingHPP.pdf

The dressage arena comprises the front "lawn" of the beautiful Boorman barn and home combination. The Boormans have invested heavily in separate paddocks and a cross country schooling area.

The United States Eventing Association announced an updated 2012 Eventing High Performance Training List last fall (http://useventing.com/news/usef-high-performance-training-lists-updated-2012-land-rover-us-eventing-team) and two of the four A List Riders and several of the B List Riders showed up for the Training Sessions with Bettina Hoy and Captain Mark Phillips; in addition, several of the USEF 2012 Eventing Developing Riders were participating as well  (http://useventing.com/news/usef-announces-2012-eventing-developing-riders).

Bettina Hoy Clinic

From January 26th through the 28th, Bettina Hoy, arriving from Germany especially to give a clinic, provided support and critique for Boyd Martin, Jan Byyny, Will Coleman, Allison Springer and Erin Sylvester .  Riders entered the ring, warmed up and then went through walk, extended and collected trot, working up to the canter.  Bettina Hoy watched the riders, made suggestions then followed up by riding the horses herself.

Jan Byyny and Why Not

 Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos

Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotierre

Kevin Keane and Fernhill Flutter

Captain Mark Phillips Clinic

February 6th through the 9th brought Captain Mark Phillips to Monaph Farm to work with a long list of rider/horse combinations, starting at 8 o’clock A.M. and running through the 5 in the afternoon.  Attendance by auditors and spectators at these sessions was large enough that vehicles had to park outside the farm on the common streets of the community.

Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos

Susan Beebee and Wolf

William Coleman III and Twizzle

Training sessions continue at Mohaph Farm February 17th through the 19th with Captain Mark Phillips and Katie Prudent.