Courtney led off what would turn out to be a very successful weekend for current and former event team riders and horses. Braving heavy rain and temperatures in the 30’s, Courtney and Much More competed at the Training Level. They put in good performances in all three phases to finish third.
Sara Gartland joined Courtney in the rain, riding Always a Lady, at the Training Level as well. They too had three good phases, also finishing third. Also braving the weather was Ever Clever, whom Courtney rode at the Novice Level. They performed very well, scoring 30 (70%) in the dressage and completing stadium and cross country without any penalties to take home the blue ribbon.
On Sunday, the sun was out, and while it was a little cold and windy to start, the weather was far more conducive to an enjoyable day at a horse trials. Courtney returned riding Lily; she completed her first event at the Novice Level, adding only a single rail to her 3rd place dressage score to finish in 4th. Also competing at Novice were Kim Russell on Amazing Again, and they were just that, finishing all three phases on their dressage score of 30.5 to place 1st.
Courtney also rode Happy Talk, “Jester” in his first event ever. Competing at Beginner Novice, he did very well, scoring 36.3 in the dressage, adding only 2 rails in stadium to end up 10th out of 22.
Previous Event Team horses now with new riders likewise had a good weekend. At Novice, Lora Watkins on Carlingford Beau, “Davey”, placed 5th. At Beginner Novice, Katherine Brewer on Which One’s That, finished 1st, and Bernadette Staino on Affaire finished 7th.
