Elkton, Md.—Oct. 14   

No one could catch Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous’ dressage score (41.5) today at the Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International CCI***, but Little challenged her own lead with RF Demeter, and ended up in second (44.6).

Ryan Wood and Powell, who’ve been on a roll this season, slotted into third with a 45.0.

“Demi,” a 14-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Jacqueline Mars, Raylyn Farms and Patrick White, has had a light season because she’s so experienced and Little wanted to target Fair Hill.

She finished second at the Great Meadow International CICO*** (Va.) in June, then won a division of intermediate at Fair Hill, placed second at in the advanced at the Nutrena/U.S. Eventing Association American Eventing Championships (N.C.), and was second in her final outing at intermediate at Morven Park (Va.), so Little’s feeling well-prepared.

“Demi was a little bit more tense than I was hoping she would be, but I think that’s normal for this time of year. She was still very obedient and really looking forward to the test, just a little anticipatory of things, so not quite as relaxed and uphill as she can be, which is something we’ve been working on over the last year,” said Little, Frederick, Md. “But all in all I’m really pleased with her, and it’s such a privilege to ride an old partner out there. We know each other very well, and I can trust her to do her job and can almost underdo a little in the warm up area knowing she’s going to want to go in and be beautiful and put on a show. I’m very lucky.”

Marilyn Little and RF Demeter. Photo by Lindsay Berreth.

The last time Demi competed at Fair Hill was in 2012 when she placed fourth in the CCI***, but Little’s been back with other horses.

“I have a love/hate relationship with Fair Hill! For me it’s historically been an event that almost went well a few times, and I didn’t quite bring it home the way I thought I should have and the way I’d wanted to; just disappointed in myself and not the horses,” she admitted. “I really hope to do a good job for them tomorrow.”

RF Scandalous, an 11-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Jacqueline Mars, Phoebe and Michael Manders and Robin Parsky is looking for her first CCI*** completion after withdrawing before show jumping at the Boekelo CCIO*** (the Netherlands) last fall when she picked up an injury, so Little said she’ll feel the mare out on Derek di Grazia’s course tomorrow, but she’s confident that “Kitty” will rise to the occasion.

“I think they’re both very prepared and very fit. They’re obviously both in very different places in their career. Kitty is green to the level for sure, but she is a very brave, courageous horse. She’s a big galloper, and hopefully I can keep her gallop maybe not as round as she likes it to be in the beginning so I have plenty coming home. I’ll probably be a little bit more conservative with her in the beginning of the course to save her so that at no time do I feel that she is panicking or looking for air. I don’t want her to feel, ‘Oh my gosh this is getting hard.’ I’d like her to come home feeling as confident as she left the startbox. I think that’s very possible for her given where she is,” she said.

She’s hoping to keep control with Demi because she knows her job.

“She comes out of the startbox like a tornado and just wants to do it all at once, right away. [I need] to try to find a good rhythm, help her settle in quickly, stick her nose on the ropes and let her start doing her job and keep the rhythm, and I think she has every chance to come home clear and inside the time if it’s possible to make it,” she said. “She’s a fast horse, and this looks like a good track for her. There are a few rollbacks that are definitely going to take us off the pace, and we’re going to have to push back up to the rhythm because that can really slow you down, but she’s quite quick on those and she’s a good accelerator and very efficient away from the jumps.”

Kitty’s been back in work since March, and while she hasn’t had an advanced run this year, Little thinks she’s made the right move coming to Fair Hill.

“It’s been slow, and yes I’m coming back to the three-star level at Fair Hill, and that wouldn’t be everybody’s path, but I’m pretty confident in her ability. Demeter I chose Great Meadow, the AECs and Fair Hill, so here we are,” she said. “My gut feeling is that it’s Demi’s weekend. I think she’s really due. I felt like she should have been the winner at the AECs, and I made a terrible mistake and got her in way, but hopefully I can pay her back this weekend, and hopefully she comes through. I have a good feeling about it. I think she will.”

Emily Beshear and Silver Night Lady.

No one could top Emily Beshear and Silver Night Lady’s score of 43.0 from yesterday in the CCI**.

“I was really pleased with my score yesterday, but I knew there were a lot of really competitive horses to go today. What can I say? I’m really happy to still be here!” she said.

The 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare is a newer ride for Beshear, but she’s felt their partnership click over the last few months, so she’s confident heading out on course tomorrow.

“My mare has such a great foundation. She’s very honest, very game. The last run I had she was almost a little too bold, so I just changed by bit, and I’m going out tomorrow with something new,” said Beshear, Somerset, Va. “My plan is to go out there and let her gallop and hope that she listens when I need her to. I’ve had trouble in the past being able to turn and gallop at the same time, so I’m hoping that’s been remedied because there’s a lot of places where you definitely get rolling out there. Derek’s not going to let you make up time at the end of the course, so I think to be quick you’ve got to make the most of the galloping lanes.”

Jennie Brannigan and Stella Artois slotted into second place with a 44.5, while Canadian Dasha Ivandaeva and DB Cooper are third with a 45.3.

For full results, click here.

Follow along with all things Fair Hill at our hub page.

Cross-country will start at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow with the CCI**, followed by the CCI*** at 12:25 p.m. Check out an interactive course map here.

Be sure to check out the November 7 issue of the Chronicle for a detailed analysis of Fair Hill.