LaurenGallops

Sara Kozumplik and Manolo Blahnik, exuding class at Manny's first ever four-star in spite of boogie moments during their waltz... © Lauren R Giannini

Okay, so we’re only one person and we can’t be everywhere & do everything, but on Friday, we made a point of getting to the dressage arena to watch our friend Sara Kozumplik and Manolo Blahnik who was ready and eager for the cross-country, but a day early. Their score put them well down on the leaderboard standings, but ya wanna know something? That test might have been a disappointment to Sara and Brian Murphy and Lara, who’s grooming her first Rolex – understandable after all the years of preparation to get here, but we felt very proud of Manny for not leaping out of the ring and thundering off to the XC. It’s his first four-star and he’s a bit of a sensitive, complex creature under the best of circumstances and the horse gods know what an electric atmosphere Rolex tends to be. So, for what it’s worth, here’s to you, Manny & Sara & Co – here’s to you!

USPC Mounted Games

Here’s another thing we tend to miss, but we did a walkabout on Friday and caught a few of the final rounds of the United States Pony Club’s mounted games taking place in the Walnut Ring. We shot what we could – a nifty little stepping stone race and bursting balloons – we positioned ourself to have the sun at our back, and here are the best moments that capture the action. We have no clue who won and we don’t really have time to track down that info as we’re heading out on the cross-country very shortly. But we subscribe to the theory that one picture can be worth a thousand words!

Object of this game is to gallop along and burst a balloon by jabbing it with a pointy stick - if you miss, you have to go back; then you have to hand off the stick to the next person. © Lauren R Giannini

SUCCESS! The moment of impact when the balloon explodes - think that pony cares? Neigh: headed for the finish line, so to speak, to hand over the "baton." © Lauren R Giannini

And just in case you were wondering, with some of the games, you have to get off to replace something you knocked down by mistake or remount after running along the ‘stepping stone’ buckets – this requires a flying leap into the saddle – also adds to the excitement, especially when the pony is ready to rool!

Flying mounts and dismounts are part of the USPC Mounted Games - fun-filled action and wild west horsemanship skills! © Lauren R Giannini

Gotta go – time to head out on the Cross-Country at Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone.  We’ll post a quick update on who’s doing what during the lunch break and recap at the end of the day -   last ride goes out of the start box at 3:14.