It was one of the biggest weekends of equestrian sport as top riders from the three Olympic disciplines went head-to-head in the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** in Lexington, Ky., and the Rolex FEI Show Jumping World Cup Final and the Reem Acra FEI Dressage World Cup Final in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Drama abounded in each competition, with U.S. rider Beezie Madden scoring a spectacular win in the Rolex FEI Show Jumping World Cup Final after a gripping jump-off with London Olympic individual gold medalist Steve Guerdat. Read all about it in the Chronicle’s online coverage.
In the Reem Acra FEI Dressage World Cup Final, German Helen Langehanenberg scored an emotional upset over two-time winner Adelinde Cornelissen. Check in with the Chronicle’s online coverage for the full story.
And on home turf in Kentucky, New Zealander Andrew Nicholson turned in a remarkable performance on the young horse Quimbo to claim the Rolex watch in the Rolex Kentucky CCI****. For spectacular photos and all the news, check the Chronicle’s online coverage.
While the top riders were battling it out in international competition, there was still quite a bit of showing going on at home. At the Texas Shoot Out in Tyler, Texas, (see results) Christian Heineking continued his impressive string of grand prix victories by claiming the $25,000 Texas Shoot Out Grand Prix on River Of Dreams. Peter Pletcher topped the USHJA International Hunter Derby on Charlie Brown.
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At the Lexington Spring Premiere (Va.), Ian Silitch claimed the blue in the $25,000 Rockbridge Grand Prix with Vanita, while young rider Kaitlin Campbell swept second and third with Rocky W and Grand Pleasure. (see results) In New Jersey, Laura Chapot rode to the top of the $25,000 Grand Prix of Princeton on Shooting Star at the Princeton Show Jumping Spring Classic II (see results).
In dressage, Jan Ebeling and Guenter Seidel went head-to-head in the Del Mar National CDI, with Seidel claiming victory in the Grand Prix on his new mount Coral Reef Wylea by just fractions of a point over Ebeling and Rafalca (see results). Ebeling turned the tables by riding Rafalca to the top of the Grand Prix freestyle over Seidel (see results). David Blake rode Ikaros to the win in the Grand Prix Special (see results). See full CDI results; see full national show results. Also taking place was the Shoofly Farm CDI & Houston Dressage Society Spring Classic in Texas (see results).
Other horse shows from the weekend included the Aiken Spring Classic Finale (S.C.) (see results), the Showpark Spring Festival (Calif.) (see results), and the Flintridge Horse Show (Calif.) (see results).
Other events happening over the weekend included the Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Spring Horse Trials (Va.) (see results), the Fresno County Horse Park Horse Trials (Calif.) (see results), and the University of New Hampshire Spring Horse Trials (see results).
