Cross country day at rolex = all the great things in life

Minus all the crummy rain, but it was definitely a lighter rain and less chilly day than last year so Ill take it! Regardless, even with the rain, it is still the most exciting and exhilarating to watch.

First combination on course...boy were these huge. It was cool to see the sharpness
of the horses here compared to the final combination later and how riders managed each situation.

I apologize on the delayed posts...my new job is awesome but I find the days are filled and over before I know it so really do not have time to post anything until I get home.

Head of the lake 

Anyway, right after day #2 of dressage, there was a course walk with Boyd Martin and Allison Springer. Allison was a bit delayed because she was the last ride in dressage and happened to kill it and earn her and Arthur a second place score...which was really cool to see and feel the atmosphere.

Boyd introducing himself

Boyd talked about the head of the lake riding in and the landing actually being a nice bit of time before the skinny to get a horse balanced again (All I could think of was holy moly that drop wouldnt ever allow me enough time to rebalance). He really dove into talking about the bounce to the brush/skinny out of the water.

The head of the lake

He said this was the main question here most horses would have to read and be tested on. It was after a turn from the jump in the water so it was really important to make sure the horse was paying attention and turned, but also was presented a decent approach to tell that it was a bounce. '

Boyd told us his plan was to aim a bit left of the red flag to avoid any issues left.

Allison joined the course walk at the angled skinny brushes

At this combination, they both explained how the changing terrain was an interesting challenge in addition to the skinny angled brushed jumps themselves.


Most horses at this level have seen a keyhole, so both riders explained that the mini keyhole that was there as decoration would possibly throw off some horses. The jump themselves were quite narrow and really tested precision, obedience and watching this on XC day saw a few people opt to take the option.

We moved on to the "New water" which was getting into the meat of the course...this was the solid fence to the open corner...which MANY riders rubbed. I think because the jump into water was hollow the noise was worse than the actual hitting of the fence, but it cause a good many spectators to "ooh" at time after time. 

Oh you know....just another run of the mill galloping table to jump on course...no biggie

Boyd and Allison talked about this as difficult because you had to gallop the HUGE tree and then this combo came up and you had to really compress since the open corner reads like a stadium fence to most horses. You really had to get the horse to shorten their canter and keep that through this line. 

Me looking at the height of the bank up

Jumping down it to the ditch in font

After this we walked up to the angled houses, which was only a few jumps after the new water...

Boyd said that it was a true endurance test because it was right after a good gallop UP hill and you had to do the bank, bending line to these angled houses. You had to jump these on a slice at a one-stride so it really tests the scope and energy left. 

I walked the bank after XC completed and it was way more HUGE than it looked from afar.

The bank up...

We moved on to the coffin complex which from here didnt look soooo bad until I was able to walk up to it after saturday was over. It was truly petrifying...The C element was so upright and massive, it is just so amazing it rode as well as it did. I was sad to see this presented a problem for Allison and Arthur and became the reason for their drop out of the top 20 :(

The coffin complex

SOOOOO HUGE

The sheer size of these jumps really isnt able to be grasped until seeing them up close. TV makes them look hard, but ok...in person from afar some still seem reasonable. BUT you walk up to any of them and I literally felt like I was going to throw up.



After the day concluded...Emma and I got to play around a bit because, well, these are HUGE Rolex jumps after all.

Emma and I at the head of the lake

soooooo intimidating

Last combination on course...which actually seemed to provide a final test for some riders (one not so lucky and was eliminated

Back from Rolex!

I am finally back home from a long weekend at the infamous Kentucky Rolex 3-day event. I am so motivated to ride and ride some more (and of course sleep). Seriously though, it was so much fun and exhausting all at the same time. Its a vacation you need a vacation from...just to keep absorbing all the awesomeness seen while recovering from the crazy amounts of walking and lack of sleep.

Sun setting on the flight to Kentucky

While there was a lack of sleep on the plane ride there which I intended to do...it was all excitement and, despite it being my second year in a row, a bit like a kid on Christmas Eve dying to run down the stairs and see all the wonderful goodness.

Enjoying an early vacation beverage on a rather bumpy flight

The flight was actually really bumpy coming in but it didnt put a huge damper on the flight...we all were waging who we thought would make the top 20, what horses we liked, what riders we liked...etc. 

I dont play too much into who will win, because every time I put it out there, I jinx them it seems. BUT I was really amped to come into this trip knowing what I knew from the previous year and ready to take on seeing more.

on the descent.

Ill be breaking up many posts on this trip so this will just be an overview... I brought home quite the haul of items I purchased (I may have a slight shopping problem), and tons of footage and insights I learned.

Dressage day 1, ring all prepped and ready

 I read a few blogs last year before my trip and caught on to a few things you needed to know when at Rolex. One of them being, rent a pair of head sets for dressage. As eventers, we understand the finer intricacies of dressage and can even appreciate them, but watching TWO full days of it could be a bit mundane after a while. BUT if you rent the headphones for a whomping $40 for the entire weekend, you'll get hear Karen O'conner's commentary. It is wonderfully entertaining and makes each test feel more like a clinic-like, learning experience than oohing and ahhing at all the pretty ponies.

Me being unbelievably excited about seeing my logo, branding, brochures and booth designs at ROLEX!!!!

I didnt get to really sit and watch nearly as much dressage as last year, but I was fine with that. I got to listen to the headset and shop a bit between and pop back into my seat to really watch the ones I wanted. One particular horse, A Little Romance, has been one on my radar ever since I ve done research on the stallion A Fine Romance. Unfortunately, he is retired, but I am eager to see how is offspring does.

Got my headset, Program and rider list all ready!!! 

I will be sure to fill you all in on what I purchased while there...and I am not so ashamed to admit, it was just as much, if not more, than last year. But when in Rome right?

The shopping is just insane...sure some things arent the greatest deals, but its sorta a cool souvenir to get it from Rolex.

Day #2 Elisa Wallace about to enter

Elisa Wallace and Simply Priceless down the centerline

I got to sit down and see much more dressage on Friday and was eager to see a handful. The group I came with opted to duck out to visit Keenland racetrack which I would have LOVED to see...but it would have meant missing the last session which was packed with the more infamous riders like Phillip Dutton, Boyd Martin, Allison Springer, Buck Davidson...etc.

I dont regret it at all after seeing Allison Springer's ride on Arthur. It was incredibly cool to see and just gave me goosebumps. I have watched these two compete for quite some time and read about many of their trials and tribulations riddled with Arthur's spookiness. This sounds dumb, but reading an article about her sticking by Arthur and overcoming so much really touched me to stick it out and work through my own struggles.

Mark Todd

Mark Todd during one of the many lead changes

I also opted to stick around because it meant going on a course walk of a few XC jumps with Allison Springer and Boyd Martin. I didnt get to see the entire course last year and really regretted it. So I stuck to my guns and not only made a point to see the entire course, but hear about it's questions from those riding it. 

The head of lake waiting on the course walk

I know I am not destined to ride in Rolex anytime soon and maybe not ever....BUT I do believe listening to these and soaking in anything I can from these situations will not only be inspirational, but educational for my own campaign to get better.

Boyd Martin introducing himself

I prepared myself for the rainy weather due to move in for XC and was much better prepared apparel wise this year. THAT goes a long way when you are standing in a steady rain alllllll day long. While it wasnt too terribly heavy, it was enough that if you werent dry with your feet or layered just enough, it would not be so pleasant to watch.

Starting early on the mimosas to keep us warm

 Seeing these horse and riders take on these fences in person is just incredible. Pictures and TV just do not do it justice. It is sort of like the Grand Canyon...you know how enormous and wonderful it is, you see pictures and appreciate it, but it really just isnt the same as seeing it up close and in person (sorry for those that didnt get to go!!! maybe we can do a meet up next year?!).

In the coffin portion of the course...and boy was it just insane!!!

Ending the event with stadium was electrifying...its the best word I can think to explain it. You get to see everything and its all about the trust here. It was an excruciatingly difficult course with only 4 (I may need to fact check this) clear rides. You could see the horses that had heart, ones that had grit, tired horses that were young, rider mistakes, riders locking on and seeing that right distance from a mile away and it was just cool. Some fences rode so huge at some points I couldnt help but gasp and die inside from excitement of how incredible it must feel to get that much hang time. 

We had an entire day monday to regroup....and my poor phone had about enough. With some conversation with my network provider and some oohing and ahhing at really cool saddlebreds and some white castle...we wrapped up our trip.

I realize I am gushing at this point...I apologize. I will be sure to add more detailed posts on the course walk and xc day next - I literally just landed a few hours ago and trying to get something out to you all!!!

Expect more updates soon!