This point in the lead-up to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro marks a quieter period in rider Phillip Dutton and head groom Emma Ford’s preparations.
All of Dutton’s top horses have had their spring outing (Mighty Nice, Fernhill Fugitive and Fernhill Cubalawn at the Rolex Kentucky CCI****; Indian Mill, Mr. Candyman and Z at the Jersey Fresh CCI***). Selectors for the U.S. eventing team will let Dutton know which horses they are interested in vetting shortly, and those horses will be vetted on June 18-19 before the U.S. team is announced June 20.
So what are Dutton and Ford up to in the meantime? Keeping their top horses fit and ready, and introducing some new faces to the herd at True Prospect Farm.
Phillip Dutton: New Faces
We’ve got some new off-the-track Thoroughbreds that have just arrived. Water Cube wasn’t quite cut out to be a race horse, and Michael Phelps [yes, that gold medal collecting and swimming-record setter Michael Phelps] and his coach and race horse manager decided to see if he would be suitable as an event horse, so we’re excited to try him and see if that works out.
Then there’s one from West Point Thoroughbreds called Commanding Curve, and he was second to California Chrome in the [Kentucky] Derby. So we’ll get to know him.
Then there’s Ring Weekend—he’s still racing and hopefully will keep racing for some time. [Dutton bought into the ownership of Ring Weekend through his long-time friend and race trainer Graham Motion.]
Emma Ford: Restarting The Race Horses
[Commanding Curve] seems like a sweetheart; we haven’t done much with him. He’ll get ridden [a bit]. He just went out in a round pen and got settled in the first few days. I think his last race was May 7.
One of the girls got on him first [before Dutton]. We like to get them in a bit of a program and see what they’re thinking about the situation.
Commanding Curve is already being restarted under saddle at Phillip Dutton’s True Prospect farm—this is the horse that got second to California Chrome in the Kentucky Derby! Photo courtesy of Emma Ford.
Water Cube, whom we picked up the other day, Michael Phelps owns that one. I was speaking to our vet yesterday, and he was saying, “Yeah the funny thing is the horse doesn’t like swimming in the pool, like for exercise!”
I think there was an Olympics, [the 2008 Beijing Games], where they called the pool where they did the swimming a cube [the Water Cube to be precise].
With Ring Weekend, Phillip’s always been interested in racing, and I think it was just something they always wanted to do, and they thought this was a good horse.
Basically when we get them in, we evaluate them and see what their personalities are. I will say we’ve been extremely fortunate that the ones that have come to us have had great attitudes and go to work pretty quickly and easily—they adjust really well.
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As far as groundwork, we have to approach it carefully, like they don’t usually cross-tie. They’re usually tied up in stalls when you’re grooming them [at the track], tacking them up, and for me managing that I have to make sure the girls are on top of that and not forgetting that they don’t know those things yet.
Water Cube, owned by U.S. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, may not have cut it on the racetrack, but he’s already impressing Emma Ford with how easily he’s taken to eventing stable life. Ford said not all OTTBs will stand quietly in cross ties this early in the game! Photo courtesy of Emma Ford.
We try and integrate them in to paddock life over two periods. We put them in round pens, and then we have what we call our singles, which are small paddocks. If they seem to adjust to that OK then I will put them out in a big field.
We’ve got an ancient pony that I’ll put them out with and see what their reaction is. For the most part they’re all happy to go out with something, and I end up throwing most of the Thoroughbreds out together.
Phillip will assess them over the summer, and hopefully if they show a bit of potential he’ll try and get them to a couple of events, and then they’ll get the winter off and take it on from there.
Dutton: Thinking Toward The Games
I’ve got it in my mind what the event [at the Rio Olympic Games] is going to be like. I was fortunate enough to ride there in 2007 for the Pan American Games when we went there. It’s the same venue, but it’s a different course designer. It’s Pierre Michelet, who designed at [the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games], and I’ve talked to a few people who have had a little bit to do with it.
It wouldn’t be a big, long cross-country course. It will probably be hard to get the time and have a lot of narrow kind of jumps and angles and a bit more turning than what we’re probably used to. It will be kind of atmospheric for dressage and show jumping, so I think you obviously also need a horse that will travel well and be able to settle and be pretty laid back about his surroundings.
I have the horse I want to take in my mind. We’ll wait and see—I’m not telling you just yet!
I mean obviously it’s not up to me—the selectors will decide if and which horse I’ll get picked on.
Your earlier question was if I am starting to focus on it a bit more now, because at one stage I told you I wasn’t really thinking about it much, because I still had a few hurdles to get over. But yes, I am starting to concentrate on it a little bit more now and think about the training that will be needed by the particular horse that goes and for myself.
The Rolex horses have been back in work now about 10 days, and we just picked up the flatwork again, and I haven’t started jumping. I’ve just started some conditioning so they’ve had one small canter gallop and started to get all the buttons and controls working again.
Obviously Emma is working hard to get weight on the ones that lost a bit too much weight and getting them feeling good and eating properly and generally getting back in shape.
Emma Ford: Fitness And Trips To Jumper Land
The Jersey Fresh horses are all good; they had a bit of down time, and they’re actually starting to hack again. They’re all out on night turnout and doing well; they’re pretty happy right now.
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Mr. Candyman doubles up a soak in the sun with a session on the Vita Floor. Photo courtesy of Emma Ford.
The Rolex horses are pretty much back in full work; we’re planning on going down to a jumper show in Kentucky in June to start them back. They haven’t started jumping again yet.
Basically we just want to get the horses in the ring and in that atmosphere—there is no other place to do it really. Richard Picken, who Phillip trains with [for show jumping] lives there, so it’s easy for him as well. So we’re going to jumper land for a few days, which always makes me nervous!
It’s just a completely different warm-up. Everybody’s like MY jump! This is MY jump! I mean, to be honest, they have a very good system, and I wish eventing would take on the same system, but Phillip will be like, “OK go get a jump,” and I’m nervously like, “Uhhhh OK!”
I don’t change anything with the horse’s routines as the vettings for the team get closer. I think they are creatures of habit, so I try and keep everything the same. I don’t really change their routine from what they like and what makes them happy. I just keep everything the same and do whatever we need to do to keep them sound for those vet checks.
We’re really not that interesting at the moment right now! I think David [O’Connor] is coming next week to help Phillip on the flat.
Want to know more about Phillip’s horses? Check out Behind The Stall Door With: Fernhill Fugitive and Behind The Stall Door With: Fernhill Cubalawn.
In this series, the Chronicle follows six riders as they seek to fulfill their Olympic dreams in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. We’ll check in with them every few weeks as they pursue a team spot, seeing how they’re getting their horses ready and preparing mentally.
Read all of the Road To The Olympics with Phillip Dutton and Emma Ford
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Dressage rider Kasey Perry-Glass
