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Saturday, August 13 - Intermediate

If the pessimistic weather pundits are correct about what the equestrian Olympians will face in Hong Kong, in 2008, the Fair Hill International Horse Trials, on Saturday, were a perfect preview! - temperatures in the middle 90's with extremely high humidity. Every creature on the grounds poured sweat - the riders, the horses, the grooms, the judges, the spectators and very likely the flies (if flies sweat.) Bring on Hong Kong! Fair Hill was great practice!

Bobby Costello, of Southern Pines, NC, an Individual Olympian at Sydney, in 2000, won OI/A with his new ride Wild Delight, currently leased from Katie Foley, who is pregnant. Bobby and the handsome grey won the Dressage on a score of 34.5. They followed the old race track adage, "Go to the front and improve your position," finishing on their Dressage score and besting the rest of the field by 24.6 faults. (Bobby and Wild Delight are pictured at the right above.)

James Alliston and Trump Lion (59.1) finished second and Sally Cousins placed third with Bye Bye (60.5). There were 18 competitors in the "A" Section.

Kim Severson rode Plain Dealing Farm's Scottsville, Virginia grey gelding Maguire to victory in OI/B. They added 3.6 time faults on Cross Country to their Dressage score of 30.0 to finish on 33.6. (Kim and Maguire are pictured at the left.)

Bonnie Mosser and Happy Valley gave the winners more competition than Costello met in the "A" Section. Happy Valley scored 35.0 in the Dressage and had but one rail in Show Jumping for a final score of 39.0, 5.4 faults behind the winners.

Twice Individual World Champion Bruce Davidson, of Unionville, PA, and Jam finished in the third slot on 40.5, adding but one time fault in Show Jumping to their Dressage score of 39.5 There were 19 competitors in the "B" Section.

 

Molly Hooper, who trains with Kim, bested her mentor in the OI/C Section. Molly and Kiltartan scored 33.5 in the Dressage, ran a double clear Cross Country, and had two rails in the Show Jumping for 41.5. (Molly and Kiltartan are pictured at the right below.)

Kim and Midas scored a 27.5 Dressage, added 6.8 time on Cross Country and two rails and 2 time faults in the Show Jumping for 44.3 to finish 2.8 faults adrift of Molly and Kiltartan.

Jane Sleeper on UN scored 40.5 in the Dressage, had one rail in the Show Jumping and 3.2 time on the Cross Country to finish in third place on a score of 47.7. There were 20 competitors in the "C" Section.

 

Jane came right back in the OI/D Section to win with New Moon, who scored 33.0 in the Dressage, Show Jumped double clear and added but .4 of a time fault on the Cross Country for 33.4.

Maya Studenmund and Business Class finished on their Dressage score of 36.0 to claim second place.

Sally Cousins and Troy had a Dressage score of 43.0; however, their .8 of a time fault Cross Country and 3 time faults in the Show Jumping moved them up to third place with a score of 46.8. Sally finished one fault better than Kim and Tsunami (47.8) who were fourth.

Will Faudree, who resides in Southern Pines, NC, had his first run with a new ride Don't Dali. who was bought for him by a syndicate from Beth Perkins. This new pairing finished fifth on a Dressage score of 41.5, a double clear Show Jumping and 8 time faults Cross Country for 49.5. (Will and Don't Dali are pictured at the left.) There were 19 competitors in the "D" Section.

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On Sunday, Kim Severson won two Sections of of the Open Preliminary - the "A" Section with Wall Street Whisper (39.6) and the "B" Section with Choo Choo McGoo (36.0).

Kristen Villeneuve and Twist an Shout finished on their Dressage score of 36.5 to win the Open Preliminary Section "C".

 

(Steve Berkowitz very kindly sent this picture of Kim Severson and Maguire jumping into the water at the FHI Horse Trials. eventingetc is pleased to use it and thanks Dr. Berkowitz.)

 

 

 

 

 

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Sharon White injured her pelvis in a schooling fall on Thursday, August 11th. She was taken by ambulance to Winchester Hospital and thence by helicopter to Fairfax Hospital, closer to Washington, DC. eventingetc and all Sharon's friends wish her a speedy and comfortable recovery.