virginia_horse_trials

Sixty-two horses - forty-nine in the regular section and thirteen in the Young Riders section - competed in the Dressage Phase of the CCI**, without Steeplechase, today at the Virginia Horse Park, in Lexington, VA.

Twenty- eight year old Emily Beshear, of Gordonsville, VA, was the star of the day finishing first on Three Wishes on a score of 42.0 and tied for third riding Woodburn, whose score was 44.4. Emily and Three wishes had previously finished second at The Fork and seventh at Mid-South, in 2004 at the Preliminary level, and fifth at Pine Top, in Georgia, and second at Surefire, in Virginia, this year at the Intermediate level. (Emily and Three Wishes are pictured at the right.)

Mara Dean, who lives in Round Hill, Virginia, but rides with Phillip Dutton, in Pennsylvania, stands second with Jos Ambition on 44.1 2.1 faults adrift of Emily and Three Wishes.

Mara acquired Jos Ambition from Jose Ortilli, Jr., of Argentina, who rode him at the Pan American Games, at Fair Hill, in the fall of 2003. Mara said that she and Phillip decided to drop Jos Ambition from Advanced to Intermediate after an unsuccessful run at Saumur, in France, last May. He had a slight injury and they decided to take the time to " . . . go back to basics." Jos Ambition has been kept at Intermediate this year and will be brought back to Advanced next spring. (Mara and Jos Ambition are pictured at the left.)

Bonnie Mosser, of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, riding Happy Valley, is tied with Emily and Woodburn for third place. Both are on scores of 44.4.

Karen O'Connor, of The Plains, Virginia placed two horses in the top ten - A Phar Cry (46.2) was sixth and Mr. Ripley (48.3) was seventh. Karen's third ride of the day, Theodore O'Connor stood barely out of the top ten on a score of 52.5.

The Top Ten after the Dressage Phase Are:

1. Emily Beshear, Three Wishes - 42.0
2. Mara Dean, Jos Ambition - 44.1
3T. Bonnie Mosser, Happy Valley - 44.4
3T. Emily Beshear, Woodburn [- 44.4
5. Karl Slezak (CAN), Foxwood Spencer - 45.3
6. Karen O'Connor, A Phar Cry - 46.2
7. Karen O'Connor, Mr. Ripley - 48.3
8. Donna Smith (NZL), Clifton Retro - 49.2
9. Leslie Chelstrom, Brio - 49.6
10 Michael Pollard, Voltaire - 49.8

* * * * *

Kim Severson, the winner of the CCI****, with Steeplechase, at Rolex-Kentucky this spring, has recovered from a fall sustained at the Burghley CCI****, with Steeplechase, in England, in early September. Kim competed for the first time since that mis-adventure last weekend at the CDCTA Horse Trials, in Orange, Virginia, where she was second in the OP with Choo Choo Magoo and second in a section of ON on Tipperary Laidhnan.

After the Dressage phase today, Kim stands fourth in the OP Section "C" with Choo Choo Magoo on a score of 38.5. Peter Green, the Chairman of USEF Selectors, is the leader in that Section with Avaitor on 33.0.

Kim stands second in OP Section "D" riding Wall Street Whisper, whose score is 32.0. (Kim and Wall Street Whisper are pictured at the right above.) William Coleman and K. du Maurier are .5 of a fault ahead of Wall Street Whisper and Kim, in that Section.

* * * * *

Cross Country begins on Saturday morning at 8:00 AM. The CCI** Cross Country will begin at 12 Noon.