Midsouth Kentucky 3 Day Event – Report #1

Hi everyone, sorry for the delay in reporting but the first day or so of a trip like this takes a bit of catching up in terms of both the tasks to be completed and much needed sleep.  The trip to Kentucky with the horses began on Tuesday October 18th at 12:30pm leaving from Oakhurst Farm with 4 horses (Ash, Nash, Etoile & Sonny) and 7 people (Me, Mark, Hannah, Jackie, Matt, Blair & Carol).  We arrived at the U.S. border right on time for our 2pm appointment with the U.S. Federal vet to find that we were in line behind 3 large cattle transport trucks.  However, the vet hustled along and we were on our way within an hour.  The trip took a total of 15 hours, which included a couple of stops to water the horses and refill hay bags (and for us to find bathrooms) and it rained for almost 12 of those. 

Arriving at the Kentucky Horse Park on Wednesday morning at 3:30am the horses were unloaded and although it was very chilly and still raining, they were definitely relieved to be in freshly bedded stalls (thanks Mia, Emily & Karen – who flew in on Tuesday evening).  Tired and hungry we felt it best to find the sketchiest looking breakfast spot around.  The only thing open was a Denny’s about 10 minutes away from the KHP (Kentucky Horse Park).  The best way to truly describe it is to tell you that when Mark ordered his eggs ‘over easy’ the waitress asked if he meant to say, ‘extra greasy’.  Who knew that might be an option!

Laura and Cheryl flew in to Lexington Wednesday morning arriving at the KHP in plenty of time for our first official task which was a briefing aimed at the riders competing in the Training Long Format 3 Day Competition (Mia)  to let them know what to expect over the rest of the week.  It was a nice introduction to the competition itself and to the clinicians that will be helping out the riders should they need it.  At 1pm the ‘In-Barn Inspections’ of horses competing in the 3 Day divisions began.  Ash (CCI 1*) and Etoile (T3D) were both very well behaved for the vets as they closely inspected them and started an initial baseline of overall appearance, blemishes, and TPR (temperature, pulse and respiration) in order to be effectively monitored throughout the competition.  Once the inspection was completed (still raining) we headed to our hotel to check in, get dried out and nap before heading back to the KHP to care for the horses and attend a briefing concerning the preparation and care of a 3 Day horse for a Long Format competition.  I have to insert here that all of the briefings are being held in an open sided pavilion which is now largely soaked and the temperature here yesterday reached a high of 10 degrees Celsius and we’ve been pre-warned that the winds may reach up to 40 miles per hour.

Thursday morning brought beautiful sunshine – just kidding, it’s now raining sideways and I think I saw a guy building an Ark on the way to the KHP.  After tending to the horses we made our way up to the soggy briefing area where all competitors were introduced to the FEI delegates in attendance and their expectations for the competition were relayed.  Mark, Mia, Emily, Jackie and I then set out by golf cart (thanks Carol) to get a first look at the Roads & Tracks (phases A & C) and the Steeplechase track (phase B) for the long format while Matt, Blair and Laura took their horses for a hack.  As it was only 4 degrees Celsius and of course still raining it took a lot of willpower to come back to the barn and start braiding and making other preparations for the 1pm Horse Inspection, which was moved from the originally planned outdoor jog strip to one of the large indoor arenas (phewf!).  Mia & Etoile were the first of our group to jog up for the ground jury and they looked stunning!  They put in a lovely jog and were accepted by the jury.  Blair & Ash went quite a bit later and apart from Ash stepping on the back of Blair’s shoe and having to finish the last few strides of her jog with one bare foot they were amazing, and accepted by the jury.

All four riders then tacked up and took advantage of the opportunity to ride in the dressage complex where they will be competing.  All of the horses look fresh, sound, and were very well behaved considering the temperature of the sideways rain whipping around them!

Mark and I took Mia, Matt and Blair out to walk Cross Country and the courses look awesome.  Despite the amount of rain we’ve had the footing has held up remarkably well in most areas and in true Kentucky Horse Park style the jumps are all beautifully dressed, the courses well thought out and a challenge that lives up to their level.

Tomorrow the sun is supposed to shine so I breaking out the sunglasses and tube top!

Stay posted,

                                Blair & Ash                                                                                                Laura & Nash hanging out!                                                                        Matt & Sonny