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Norwood, NC – April 13, 2006 - Attending a new event is not unlike assessing a young horse. The event’s facilities and layout, the organization of the office staff, and the quality of the courses are all considered. However what sets future superstar horses apart is an intangible air of energy and presence. At last weekend’s The Fork Horse Trials, the raw energy and excitement in everyone from owner, Jim Cogdell, to the barn security staff, coupled with an outstanding facility and streamlined office staff, would lead anyone to conclude that United States eventing has a new superstar.

Although The Fork has run lower level events for the past couple years, 2006 was the first time that international competition was seen at this gorgeous farm located in Norwood, North Carolina. Without the east coast’s eventing stalwart, North Georgia, a big gap was left in the calendar for advanced level riders and horses. Luckily The Fork offered to add Advanced, CIC***, and CIC*** World Cup divisions.

Adding three divisions, two of which are FEI regulated, would be enough of a challenge for any event. However, the staff at The Fork faced difficult weather conditions, which prompted several changes in the event’s schedule. Ultimately dressage ran in four rings for two full days. Preliminary competitors show jumped Saturday morning and then made a quick change into cross-country gear. By mid-afternoon the preliminary divisions were pinned, allowing the horses to enjoy Sunday off, and the preliminary riders to have a bit too much fun during Saturday night’s competitor’s party.

While preliminary horses and riders enjoyed their day off, intermediate and advanced competitors faced courses designed by Capt. Mark Phillips and built by Eric Bull. The CIC*** World Cup course was ostensibly more difficult than the course shared by the CIC*** and Advanced. Although the World Cup competitors did not have any completely different complexes, Capt. Phillips tweaked the lines and added fences to some of the CIC*** course to increase the difficulty.
After several warm up fences, the first combination on the Advanced track was two narrow “gnome” homes placed on an easy four stride bending line. After a big downhill oxer, horses and riders approached a big bank with a ditch in front (Emilee Libby and Golden Malt are pictured above at the left jumping up the bank and ditch) followed by a bounce up and over a rounded coop. After another oxer, riders approached two cabins placed on an angled one stride. Accurate but forward riding was required to make the distance, while holding the oblique angle needed to stay in between the flags. Competitors then made a quick right handed turn to a tall post-and-rail fence before bouncing down onto a roadbed and taking two short strides up the other side of the roadside and hopping over a log.

After a quick gallop, riders jumped a flowerbed type fence, which landed on descending ground before bending right to a similar, but narrow flowerbed. The World Cup division then continued bending right to jump a big left handed corner. The next major test came at the first water complex, where three ornately carved turtles, one before the water’s edge, one in the water, (Gina Miles and McKinlaigh are pictured above at the left at the Turtle in the water.) and one exiting the water were jumped on a gentle arc to the right.

After three let up fences, horses and riders faced the biggest challenge on the course, the second water complex. After tackling a 6’6” drop, (Becky Douglas and Courageous Comet are pictured at the right jumping the dropinto the water.) riders then had to hold their position and fit in three short strides before hoping over a carved goose, which was situated in the water. After jumping the goose, riders had to once again decide between an extremely forward three strides, or a quiet four strides to exit the water over an angled narrow.

Riders then had the opportunity to make some time up over several fly fences before arriving at the double of corners. World Cup combinations faced two right-handed corners, while the non-World Cup divisions tackled two left-handed corners. Before reaching the finish line, horses and riders had to navigate two massive narrow stone tables on forward three stride line. Because the tables were situated in an open frame barn, the bending line between the tables looked nearly impossible. However, the majority of horse and rider combinations benefited from the maze of beams and posts by preventing the over-eager combinations from becoming too onward bound to navigate the second table.

Overall the courses jumped well, but were perhaps a touch on the easy side, except for the second water complex. The biggest challenges came from the footing, which despite, or maybe because of the massive efforts to water the course, proved to be extremely slippery in few spots, and from the intermixing of a few ridiculously small fences, most notably the penultimate fence on the CIC*** course, which would not have looked out of place on a training course. However, given that this was the first time that the course layout was used, Capt. Phillips, Eric Bull and Jim Cogdell should all be commended for their efforts to put together a successful international caliber track on the first try.

Their efforts were undoubtedly appreciated by the riders, many of whom were having a final tune-up before Rolex. In the World Cup division, Darren Chiacchia and Windfall II took the lead in the dressage ring and then finished on their dressage score. This pair looked even better than they did in 2003 and 2004, and have proved that despite their hiatus last season, they must be in a strong position to challenge for a spot on the World Games Team. Kim Severson (and Winsome Adante) finished in the runner-up position, but looked to be at the top of their game. Hopefully common sense will prevail and this combination will not need to run at Rolex in order to secure a spot at the World Games.

Phillip Dutton for the first time this season did not manage to win an advanced section, but he did finish third with Nina Gardner’s beloved horse, House Doctor. Dutton was lucky to survive a horrific moment the penultimate fence when House Doctor threw in an extra stride and was lucky to stay on his feet.

Aside from the top finishers, Gina Miles and the evergreen McKinlaigh (See second picture from the top.) looked as effortless as ever and loped around the cross country to a 4th place finish. Kristin Bachman and Gryffindor, who finished 6th, have continued to quietly emerge onto the international scene and with a bit of luck could be the surprise story at Rolex later this month.

Becky Douglas and Courageous Comet (See third picture from the top.) looked for the first time ever to perform better in the jumping phases than in the dressage ring. This horse looks to have improved almost out of recognition in the show jumping ring, and if Douglas can pull of her usual dazzling display in the dressage ring, they could be impossible to beat at Rolex. Bonnie Mosser and her new ride Close the Deal are a season or two away from worrying the leaders, but with a bit more relaxation in the dressage ring, this talented pair could be the surprise story of the fall eventing season.

Mara Dean had perhaps the most frustrating weekend of all in the World Cup division. After producing two immaculate dressage tests with Nicky Henley and Good Stuff, Nicky Henley was disappointing in the show jumping with two cheap rails. Good Stuff kept all of the rails in place and was storming around the cross country until a bold jump into the water meant that they ran out of room and stopped at the goose in the water. (Mara and Good Stuff are pictured at the left jumping the third Turtle out of the Turtle Pond.) Hopefully Dean’s luck will change at Rolex later this month, because either one of her mounts could be competitive internationally.

Jessica Heidemann and French Twist would also do well to examine their good luck charms, as they looked fantastic all week until slipping on the footing before the bounce bank. The horse ran all the way back to the barn leaving Heidemann with no decision but to retire.

In the non-World Cup division, Stuart Black and Fleecework’s Starlight took the lead in the dressage ring, and like Chiacchia, finished the competition on their dressage score. Starlight and Black literally ran away from the competition when they were the only combination in the CIC*** to make the time, resulting in a win by more than 20 points.

Heather Gillette finished 2nd with her veteran Pickle Road, who is still one of the most sought after horses in North America. Donna Smith and Call Me Clifton rounded out the top 3, with a performance that must give this New Zealander confidence before heading off to Rolex.

Melissa Hunsberger’s hard work with Just Fun Stuff continues to pay off. Just one week after finishing 3rd in the Advanced at Morven Park, Hunsberger delivered a performance that despite being slightly under polished, will surely see her in the winner’s circle in the near future.

Hunsberger’s partnership with her horse was mirrored by Jen and Emily Libby, both of whom produced professional performances with Draco and Cahir respectively. Draco climbed steadily up the leader board throughout the weekend to finish 8th after an exceptionally smooth and confident cross country. Cahir was a victim of the tricky distance in the second water, but with a bit of luck either one of these sisters could win at the CCI*** at New Jersey in the beginning of June.

The Canadian event team was also out in full force. While some had a weekend that they will certainly be trying to forget, several others looked impressive. Mike Winter and Kingpin won the advanced section with three solid phases. This horse is another that may be a year or two off from troubling the international scene, but Winter’s day with this horse will come. (Mike and Kingpin are pictured at the right.) Waylon Roberts produced three phases in the advanced division that were envied by riders twice his age. Undoubtedly this young man will give Canadian eventing a boost in next few years. Another young rider that looks very capable is Colleen Loach. Loach placed 3rd in the 70 horse intermediate division, and looks talented and comfortable with all three phases.

The Fork put together a stellar competition with friendly faces and great parties. No doubt the entry list will be even longer next year as riders prepare for their spring three days, or at the very least come to hear what comes out of Jim Cogdell’s mouth at Saturday night’s party.

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