U.S. Eventers Buff at Burghley

By Joanie Morris September 3, 2011

The dressage phase of the 2011 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials wrapped Sept. 2 in Stamford, England, with four of the five U.S. horses in the top 32. Heading into today’s cross country, the U.S. remains competitive, with only 10 points separating the top 21-placed riders. After dressage, Sinead Halpin of Pottersville, NJ, was the highest-ranked American, at 12^th.

Germany dominated the HSBC European Eventing Championships last week and it is the nation to beat again at the 50^th iteration of Burghley.  Simone Deitermann and Free Easy NRW led the way, with a score of 39.3. British rider William Fox-Pitt on Parklane Hawk followed four-tenths of a point behind after dressage. Fox-Pitt, who has won the event five times, was able to navigate Parklane Hawk to second on a score of 39.7 despite an error that cost a two-point penalty in the dressage ring.

Halpin is riding Manoir de Carneville an 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Carraig, LLC. The pair moved into 12th with an impeccable effort at their second CCI4* with a score of 46.0. Their effort was obedient and expressive, and they coped with the electric occasion of the main arena with class.

Halpin’s trip to England, which also included the Hartpury CIC3* in August, was made possible by the Jacqueline Mars Training Grant awarded by USET Foundation. Halpin received the grant after placing third at the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone, an effort which earned her and Manoir de Carneville the USEF National CCI4* Championship.

Less than one point behind Halpin was Michael Pollard. Pollard (Dalton, GA), who was named to the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team on Tuesday with Schoensgreen Hanni, rode Icarus (owned by Nathalie Pollard and Meike Hanssens) in a beautiful effort and to a score of 46.7. The 13-year-old former racehorse was relaxed and focused in the atmosphere, and despite the good result, Pollard is confident there is an even better test for Icarus in the future.

“I am really happy with ‘Fly’ today,” Pollard said, referring to the horse by his barn name.  “I need to go for it a bit more next time, but Fly did exactly what I asked of him. Tomorrow is another day, but I think I have the right horse for the job.

Pollard and Icarus received a Land Rover Competition and Training Grant to travel to the U.K. and compete on the world’s biggest stage after their consistent performances over the last 12 months. Pollard has been on a roll, winning an Advanced division at Richland Park Horse Trials last weekend, where he was also second in the CIC2* and second in the USEF Mandatory Outing for the 2011 Pan American Games. A former top Young Rider, Pollard has ridden more than 20 horses at the advanced level ― many of which he has produced himself.

Yesterday’s top-placed American, Boyd Martin (Cochranville, PA), moved into 24th going into the cross country with the Syndicate’s Australian Thoroughbred Neville Bardos. Their score of 49.7 leaves them within striking distance as they head into their strongest phase: the cross country. Neville Bardos is a tough little horse who won the USEF National CCI3* Championship in 2009 in horrendous weather conditions, was 10th at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games last fall (the highest placed American effort) and then survived a horrific barn fire at the end of May that he was lucky to survive. Neville not only defied everyone’s expectation by living, he returned to the highest level of the sport three months later. Martin also received a Land Rover Competition and Training Grant.

Less than three points behind Martin is U.K-based American, Jules Stiller. Riding Jules del Vecchio’s lovely mare Chapel Amble, their effort bodes well for the future, despite a few mistakes in the ring. Their score of 52 was consistent with their effort at their first CCI4*, which was at Luhmuhlen in June. Stiller has built up a string of horses at the top level at her Headley Stud base in Berkshire.

Rounding out the U.S. contingent is Colleen Rutledge (Frederick, MD) who is contesting her second four-star with Shiraz. The pair was 12th at the Rolex Kentucky CCI4* in April, and scored 63.7 in the dressage on Thursday at Burghley.

Eighty of the best eventing horses in the world are vying for honors at one of the most prestigious CCI4* events, taking place at the lovely Burghley Estate, which sits on more than 8,500 acres of rural land about 100 miles north of London. Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal (better known as Princess Anne) will be on hand Sunday to present the trophy.

In 1971, aged 21, the Princess won the individual European Championship title at Burghley with Doublet and subsequently was voted the BBC’s Sports Personality of 1971. The Princess Royal is one of many former winners returning to Burghley this year to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the event, launched in 1961 by the 6th Marquess of Exeter and held every year since.

For more information, visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk or www.facebook.com/burghleyhorse. To watch the rider rounds, visit www.youtube.com/BurghleyTV.

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