Brian O’Connor announced Courtney King and Idocus’ score of 71.76 percent in the Grand Prix Special at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Grand Prix Championship just as Steffen Peters and Lombardi 11 entered the ring, and Peters knew he was going to have to ride better than the day before to best her.
It was close, very close. Peters actually ended up tying with King, and the collective marks broke the tie. King scored five 8s for her position, but Peters received four 8s and a 9, so that may have been the tie-breaker.
“What can I say, Courtney never gets a break,” said Peters affectionately of his sometime-student.
But King was ready with a retort of her own. “I’m happy about it, because I win 50 bucks,” she said. They had each bet $50 prior to the start of competition that the other one would win. “If I lose I win, and if he loses I win. So, I’m a loser, so I win!”
All joking aside, King’s second-placed finish in the Special over Kristina Harrison-Naness on Rociero XV (70.16%) and Jane Hannigan on Maksymilian (69.96%) was a huge comeback from the day before.
On Thursday in the Grand Prix test, Idocus was not the same stallion that placed second at the national freestyle championships and finished sixth at the Rolex FEI Dressage World Cup in April. His performance was labored, especially the piaffe.
“Yesterday, try as he might, he just couldn’t do it,” said King. “He was having trouble manuring yesterday, so the vets felt he was a little bit dehydrated. They gave him fluids and did a lot of massage, bodywork and chiropractic adjustments to try to relieve what was bothering him from breeding. They definitely did a stellar job and made a big difference.”
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Idocus has had a full stud book this season because of his competitive achievements.
But he still wasn’t back to himself in the Special, and King said she had doubts about riding him at all. “Yesterday I came out of the ring in tears, feeling bad for putting him in the ring,” said King. “I wanted to scratch him out at that point, but everybody said, ‘Let’s take a look at the horse and see if there’s something we can help him with and relieve.’ Today it was hard, but he could do it. I’m just hoping that tomorrow he feels a little bit better.”
Harrison-Naness wasn’t at all disappointed to be third with the magnificent Andalusian stallion Rociero. “My horse gave me all that he had,” she said. “He was with me the whole ride. I was absolutely thrilled.”
Rociero again received high marks for his passage, piaffe and transitions, including a 9 in the passage.
Michael Barisone and Neruda also scored well in their piaffe and passage, but mistakes in every line of tempi changes kept him from repeating his scores from the Grand Prix, and he had to be satisfied with sixth place (65.20%) behind Susanne Dansby Phelps and Goubergh’s Kasper (66.44%).
The Brentina Cup started today with the Intermediaire II test. Reigning champion Elisabeth Austin returned to defend her title aboard Olivier. She made a good start by winning the I2 on 67.31 percent over Nicholia Zamora on Nimbus (66.04%) and Jodie Kelly on Manhattan (63.12%).
“[Olivier] came out today totally on the job,” said Austin. “I was unbelievably happy with him and not so happy with myself. He saved me in a couple of spots. I’m super proud of him in the piaffe and passage. I made some stupid mistakes, but overall the work feels more secure.”
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The worst moment of the test for Austin may have been when she turned across the diagonal at H to go into her canter pirouettes instead of continuing down the long side in medium canter. “I was here last year, you would think I would know,” she moaned.
Olivier is by King’s mount Idocus, and Austin had the privilege of riding her test for King before the show. “She said ‘Idy does that, and I know where that comes from.’ She gave me a few really good pointers. I’ve looked up to her since I was 15 years old. To be here with her is kind of surreal,” said Austin.
Bonnie Efird and Magie Noir led the Junior Team test with 65.40 percent over Taryn Briones on Ghita (65.25%) and Lora Kay Witterstaeter on Weltkaar (64.65%).
“I didn’t think it was my strongest ride,” said Efird. “But I’m proud of her no matter what.” The Dutch Warmblood mare was disobedient in the walk pirouettes, but more than made up for it with her beautiful canter work.
“I qualified last year for the USDF Junior Team last year with my gelding Nebel Laureate, and he foundered before the competition and had to be put down,” said Efird. “So this is my redo of juniors. I’m 18, so this is my last chance to get juniors in before I go on.”
Friday’s Results
Grand Prix Special
1. Lombardi, Steffen Peters, 71.76
2. Idocus, Courtney King, 71.76
3. Rociero, Kristina Harrison-Naness, 70.16
4. Maksymilian, Jane Hannigan, 69.96
5. Goubergh’s Kasper, Susanne Dansby Phelps, 66.44
6. Neruda, Michael Barisone, 65.20
7. Petit Danseur, Jennifer Hoffman, 64.84
8. Gunshoes DC, Susan Dutta, 64.36
9. Marnix, George Williams, 63.68
10. Wonderful Walden, Betsy Rebar Sell, 63.36
11. BeSe, Catherine Morelli, 62.92
12. Minna, Jo Moran, 62.12
13. Harmony’s Coolio, Timothy Malin, 61.52
14. Markant, Tami Crawford, 61.20
15. Rainier, Katherine Bateson-Chandler, 59.52
Brentina Cup, Intermediaire II Test
1. Olivier, Elisabeth Austin, 67.31
2. Nimbus, Nicholia Zamora, 66.04
3. Manhattan, Jodie Kelly, 63.12
4. Jamboree, Jessica Rizzi, 61.75
5. Lancelot, Bethany Peslar, 61.65
6. Sapphire, Dora Dean, 60.19
7. Bretone, Nora Batchelder, 57.41
8. Bellinger, Lauren Sprieser, 55.46
9. Rannoch, Lindsay Haugen, 52.58
Junior Team test
1. Magie Noir, Bonnie Efird, 65.40
2. Ghita, Taryn Briones, 65.25
3. Weltkaar, Lora Kay Witterstaeter, 64.65
4. Sacramento, Katie Foster, 63.15
5. Cachet, Meagan Davis, 63.05
6. Sjoerd, Ashlee Todosijevic, 62.80
7. Nelozon, Jillian Kemenosh, 61.95
8. Sion’s Shadow, Jessica Deimler, 61.60
9. Oblahdie, Marlee O’Neil, 61.45
10. Gable, Allessandra McGinnis, 60.15
11. Lucky Mann,Sarah Magbee, 60.05
12. Belladiva, Kristina Wang, 54.10
