Oxfordshire, United Kingdom—Sept. 12
After the first day of three-star dressage at the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, U.S. rider Clark Montgomery leads on 42.7 penalties with Loughan Glen. France’s Jean Teulere is second with Matelot du Grand Val (43.1).
“He was good,” Montgomery, who’s now based overseas in Great Britain, told Lloyd Bell Productions. “He tends to drop a little bit behind my leg when he gets in the ring, but that’s normal, and we continue to work on it. He was a little better about it today. We still need to work fine-tuning the execution a little bit more, but the quality was good.”
Montgomery and Loughan Glen, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Limerick—Tattymacall Mustard, Cut The Mustard) gelding owned by Jessica Montgomery, Kathryn Kraft, and Holly and William Becker, placed fifth in the 2011 Blenheim CCI*** and won the 2011 Bromont CCI*** (Quebec). This spring the horse was second in the Barbury Castle CIC***.
“There’s been a really good event where he’s is very competitive or wins, and then a not-so-good event. I have all my little points on the three phases I want to improve on, or get near, and if I can do that, I’ll be happy with whatever place that ends up,” said Clark.
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Fellow U.S. rider Phillip Dutton is seventh after today’s dressage with Ben (48.3).
“Very proud of Ben for really trying hard in the main arena this morning,” said Dutton on his facebook page.
Canada’s Jessica Phoenix is sixth on Pavarotti (48.1). Julian Stiller, another American based in England, is 39th on Sinatra BK.
Dressage for the three-star continues tomorrow, with Meghan O’Donoghue on Pirate, Cindy Rawson on Mocharabuiee and Stiller on Pandora X taking their turns in the ring. Full scores available online.
