Stats: age 27, Bodega, Calif.
Ballinakill Glory: b. m., 16.2 hands, 12 years, Irish-bred Irish Sport Horse (Mark Twain—Ballanakill Popsey), owned by Andrea Pfeiffer.
This pair won the Fair Hill CCI** (Md.) in 2008. In 2009, they placed second in the Galway Downs CIC*** (Calif.), won the CIC** at The Event At Rebecca Farm (Mont.) and placed 16th in the HSBC FEI World Cup Final CIC*** (Poland) and 17th at the Fair Hill CCI***. Last year, they were 10th in the Galway Downs CIC*** (Calif.). This spring, they placed third in a division of advanced at Twin Rivers (Calif.).
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Jimmy’s Prediction: Kelly and Ballinakill Glory had the weekend from hell here last year. Convinced that dragons were lurking behind the TV cameras during their dressage test, Ballinakill Glory produced as big a “whoopsie” as I have ever seen at Rolex. Under incredibly difficult circumstances, Kelly displayed outstanding coolness under pressure and gave a lesson in horsemanship that I hope people noticed. She is back this year, and it would be setting the bar too low to say that they will improve on last year’s results. Kelly is an excellent rider and horseman with a good horse, and they should them to go very well here this year. This is a talented pair, and I expect great things from them in the future.
