Today was the first day of eventing dressage with Paul Tapner and Stuart Tinney competing as part of the Australian team and Peter Atkins as an individual. As you all know, the discipline of eventing is close to my heart (despite the fact that I couldn’t do it in a pink fit!) and I was particularly keen to watch Stuart and Kiwi do their test. However, we had received a very kind invitation from Alltech to attend the final of the reining competition in their corporate suite in the Alltech Indoor Arena and so we headed over there this morning to enjoy watching the best reining riders in the world strut their stuff. And strut they do – this is an equestrian sport of great spectacle and huge audience participation and they have a ball!
We were met at the Alltech suite by one of the most glamorous Western ladies with huge style who gave us a quick rundown on the sport. Unfortunately I don’t have her name but she was a beautifully dressed and very charming Kentucky host with great knowledge of the sport. It was great to enjoy the thrills of the reining and I had resigned myself to watching Stuart on the screen in the suite but my host Tim Arthur, Global Director of MIS at Alltech had very kindly organised a buggy (motorised, not horse and cart!) to take us to the outdoor arena where the eventing dressage was being held (about 1 km away), wait for us to watch the test and bring us back safely to the Alltech arena!
Stuart and Kiwi - photo Julie Wilson
Stuart’s test looked good and I could see Karen (Tinney) in the team area watching and ‘riding’ the test with Stuart and Kiwi! Karen and Amy (McGregor – Stuart’s long-time groom) looked very happy at the end of the test and so did Stuart as he raised his hat to the fans. Unfortunately, The Eventful Life’s photographer Toni-anne Collins was sampling Dr Pearse Lyons’ new Kentucky bourbon beer with Vaughan Ellis in the suite so equestrian photographer extraordinaire Julie Wilson stepped into the breach and allowed us to use this lovely photo of Stuart and Kiwi (also smiling!) at the end of the test. However we have heaps of great photos of the reining (well, we think great, because Toni-anne doesn’t understand the rules of reining!) So back to the eventing dressage, Paul and Inonothing did a great job as number one rider, finishing the first day in 5th position on 70.78% followed by Stuart and Kiwi in the afternoon finishing 12th on 69.56%. The leader is Simone Deitermann from Germany with the lowest penalty score of 36 so Australia is currently in 2nd position as a team on 91.00 behind Germany on 83.80. Go Aussies! In third place is Sweden on 91.70 and GB on 93.20. All pretty close but lots more to come! Here is what Stuart had to say about his ride " With the dressage phase behind me (and Vettori) I can only reflect that I left the main ring overall very happy with Vettori.... it may have not been his PB but certainly in this field I can only say we did OK ! It was accurate with good changes and med work.. only the plane flying over head and drawing a shadow over the ring twice was my only distraction and maybe Vettori’s for a split second..The team lie is 2nd position and with 2 sub 50 scores this is good..The places will certainly change after Saturday as the course is big , big and even bigger! With 3 waters and drops into all.. all horses will need to stay bold and riders will need to be accurate.. It will be a real test for all riders and horses.. Tomorrow we hope to stay in 2nd place and hey maybe go into 1st ! Fingers crossed..The team sprit moral is good and all riders are close and encouragable.. all horses are fit and ready.. Let's hope all come home safely.." Good luck to Sonja, Sam and Chris tomorrow and to all of the rider/horse combinations for the test coming up!
