On the Line

The big news coming out of Kentucky should be all about the rounds, the rails and the leaders after day one of the 2011 Adequan FEI/North American Junior and Young Riders Championships.

But these are the dog days of summer, and in Lexington, Kentucky, those days are stifling. At 97 degrees and high humidity, the juniors competing this weekend are battling each other, and the heat. Hunt coats were excused yesterday during Round 1 of the show jumping, but the heat didn’t stop Kaitlin Campbell of Zone 3, who led the day in the YR division, or Sydney Schulman, leader of the Junior division.

Thanks to MacMillan Photography for sweating it out onsite at NAYRJC this week. They caught the opening ceremonies, the golf cart parade on Wednesday, and they’ll be there until the bitter (and hopefully cooler) end on Sunday.

Friday is the Nations Cup competition, followed by a rest day on Saturday. Good luck to all the riders. For full results visit the USEF Network.

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Canada in the golf cart parade. Photo ©Dee Kochensparger

I met Allison Springer over the winter, while she was spending a few weeks in Wellington to get some extra show jumping mileage with Arthur. Allison was down to earth, totally approachable, and serious about her horses and their programs. She’s worked hard to improve Arthur’s show jumping style, and held an impressive ten point lead going into Sunday’s show jumping phase for the CIC3* at Rebecca Farm.

I know she felt confident entering the ring on Sunday, but that’s horses – they build you up, and then they humble you like no other. Arthur’s spook at the iron horse statue in the ring was his undoing, and he lost all the focus that Allison has worked so hard to train into him. Seven rails later, the great pair that had spent the weekend shining in the first two phases, fell to 11th place. I was really pulling for Allison, and hope that she comes back stronger -and spook ready- at her next event with Arthur.

So it turned out to be Hawley Bennett-Awad’s day; even with a rail they finished to win the CIC3*. They head overseas to compete at Burghley this fall, and it’s with much optimism and confidence that they’ll go to represent Canada.

And with that, this show jumper has paid far more attention to a three day event than is per usual. But it’s with admiration that I followed all the riders competing at Rebecca Farm over the weekend, and I’m glad that on the 10th anniversary of this stunning facility, the organizers were able to enjoy a safe, successful event.

I heard a rumor today that Cheval Photos was deep into the road trip home to SoCal, but before Selena Frederick hit the highway with her Jack Russell and husband in tow, she was able to walk in random patterns through the green grass of Rebecca Farm with her computer held high until she found a hot spot that stayed alive just long enough for her to send out these images from yesterday’s show jumping phase. For that, and for everything else she does, we thank her:

The Culprit.

Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin N' Juice moved up from 2nd place to win the CIC3*

Ginny gets lots of 'good girl's from Hawley.

Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle RM were 2nd in the CIC3*

Another Canadian, Jessica Phoenix with Pavoratti, won the CIC2*

Jessica also rode Exponential to a 9th place finish in the 3*

Congratulations, Ginny and Hawley.

It’s been a beautiful weekend in Montana for the Event at Rebecca Farm, and as I write this post, 3* show jumping is finishing up. In an unfortunate turn of events for Allison Springer, Arthur spooked at an iron horse statue in the show jumping arena and dropped rails to finish far from the 1st place spot she was hoping for. Hawley Bennett-Awad won the CIC3*, with Buck Davidson finishing in 2nd. More details to come on the show jumping later.

Complete Rebecca Farm scores are here. Check back here for a full show jumping gallery, and be sure to visit ChevalPhotos.com for many more images from the 2011 Event at Rebecca Farm.

Cross country day yesterday had an ending that everyone likes to hear; safe rides for everybody at all levels, no horse injuries, and just two minor falls by riders who got up and walked home. Selena Frederick confirmed that yes, she was knee-deep in lush green grass while out on course all day yesterday, but not to worry, she wasn’t sunbathing, she was busy shooting away to capture the following:

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Rebecca Farm, where the green grass grows....

As always, enormous thanks to Cheval Photos and Selena Frederick. All images are ©Cheval Photos.

As I write this, the cross country is well underway at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana. Yesterday was a full day for competitors, volunteers and stewards, who kept five levels of 1* through 3* dressage running smoothly.

The turnout was impeccable, the day was bright and sunny, and Cheval Photos was ringside catching every moment. Photographer Selena Frederick is surely knee deep in lush grass next to a XC fence right now, and we’ll bring you the XC phase as seen through her lens tomorrow. For now, enjoy a few moments from the dressage phase.

After dressage, Allison Springer and Arthur led the CIC3*, Canadian Jessica Phoenix and Pvarotti led the CIC2*, and James Atkinson had the top spot in the CICI2* with Gustav. Live and complete scores are here.

Good luck for safe rides to everyone running XC today!

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Nearly all of the riders wore ribbons on their lapels in memory of Rebecca Farm founder, Rebecca Broussard.

Welcome back to this corner of the internet! As the summertime heats up, I know I’m not the only one wishing for a little vacation time and a time when temperatures wait until at least 9:30am before cracking the 90 degree mark.

If you’re an eventer, mid July is the perfect time to pack up for a little horse-cation to the heart stoppingly gorgeous state of Montana. Over the past 10 years, Rebecca Farm has become synonymous with the Big Sky state, and each year the event held in Kalispell, Montana takes on ever more importance. Last year, it was a critical pre-WEG stop, this year, an equally (if not more) important qualifier for the upcoming Pan American Games this October, which will lead to London in 2012.

The competitor list is a whos-who of 4* eventing, and many upper level riders are they with their going and up and coming horses. Captain Mark Phillips has designed the cross country course for the 10th year in a row, and you know that many riders will be thinking about London throughout the weekend.

Luckily for all of us not camping out at RF this weekend (39 degree mornings, hello!!) to compete or spectate, On the Line’s favorite photo connection is on site and providing us with eye-candy worthy images of the riders, jumps, and moments that make Rebecca Farm so special. Many thanks to Cheval Photos, and without further ado:

Captain Mark Phillips led a course walk yesterday and was sure to point out this 1.80 wide table, the widest jump on the course. Yes you read that right, 1.80m !!!!! Photo ©Cheval

. . . Speaking of big jumps, check this one out. Karen O'Conner undoubtedly contemplates how she's going to kick this keyhole jump's ass on Saturday. Photo ©Cheval

The 2nd best way to get around Rebecca Farm's 640 acres. Photo ©Cheval

Allison Springer and Arthur were one of the 18 pairs from the East Coast that flew to the event on a special "Horse Force One" flight on Wednesday. Photo ©Cheval

Hawley Bennett-Awad rides for Canada, and brought 6 horses to RF from her base on the West Coast. Gotta love those hot pink iPod earphones. Photo ©Cheval

. . . and yes, speaking of hot pink, I don't think a photo has ever begged for an Eventing Nation caption contest quite like this one. Buck Davidson's shirt . . . I have no words. Looks like the horse has plenty, though. Photo ©Cheval

Last December, the much loved founder of Rebecca Farm, who was a huge benefactor to US eventing, passed away. Rebecca Broussard is remembered in many places and in many people's minds and hearts this weekend. This volunteer's shirt says it all. Photo ©Cheval

Fence 15 sports a very picturesque bucket of dog bones for passing canines. Photo ©Cheval

Who wouldn't want to ride here? Photo ©Cheval

Check back here over the weekend for more images from The Event at Rebecca Farm. Over 500 competitors are entered in, well, a lot of levels and last year 20,000 people turned up to cheer them on. There are 20,000 people in Montana? Who knew?

While I ponder that, feel free to check out live scoring and rider lists, and if you absolutely require by the second, obsessively exhaustive wall-to-wall detailed event coverage from legitimate eventers, I give you Eventing Nation.

Cheval Photos is an official photographer this weekend, so bookmark the talented Selena Frederick’s website and facebook page for more from her!