Winning Events Before You Arrive | The Andrew Hoy Interview

Team Hoy: "Competitions Are Won Before You Get There"

A few weeks ago I spent some time with Andrew Hoy with the intention of interviewing him about the US coaching job that's been hitting the headlines, and that he applied for. We, (well I), got a little distracted so we ended up talking about some of his philosophies, riding tactics etc., which I'm sure pleased Andrew, as he was probably bored stiff being interrogated about the US job by this stage, and he hasn't even interviewed for it yet.

WEG 2010 Eventing: The US & CAN Selections, Finally!

Kim Severson | Off To WEG

After something that looked nothing like a selection trial at the US national championships last weekend, the American eventing selections for the World Equestrian Games has finally been announced, and there really are few surprises - the two Australians, the two stalwarts, the two tough greys.

They are:

Philip Dutton - Woodburn (T)
Boyd Martin - Neville Bardos (T)
Buck Davidson - Ballynoe Castle (T)
Karen O'Connor - Mandiba
Kim Severson - Tippery Laidhnan (T)
Becky Holder - Courageous Comet

US WEG Team Final Selection Trials at Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia

So we set off in high spirits on thursday after school, for the American Eventing Championships in Georgia  at Chattahoochee Hills, the amazing 8,000 acre farm that belongs to Carl Bouckaert.  Sadly, I have no sense of direction, I had no sat-nav, and no sense, so although we made it to Atlanta in good time, we then spent several hours driving around, and around, and around, trying to find the exact location. Maybe I'm spoilt by all those lovely yellow AA signs escorting me off the motorway to Horse Trials in England, but until we got to the last lane and a handwritten sign with an arrow, there was nothing.  By this time it was dark,  late,  (or early! 2am!) and I was on the verge of tears and a nervous breakdown. Thankfully, the children and the labrador slept oblivious in the back.  We rumbled down the track, past the trailers, and parked in an empty space, only to wake up a few hours later practically on the cross country course, minutes from the start of the lower divisions.

Chattahoochee Hills is vast, and very much still a work in progress. Getting around is problematic; realistically if you were competing you needed a golf cart to transport kit from trailer to stables (about half a mile)  as there was no parking at the stables, but there were no golf carts available from about 10 days before the event. Bicycles were a help, ( I love my bike which has taken on it's own personality - are you surprised?! ) and there were lots of vespas and mini mopeds.

WEG2010 Eventing: Phillip Dutton vs. The Rest Of The World

Phillip Dutton - Rarely Out Of The Saddle

When you start trawling through his results you start believing this man has more horses than the Terracotta Army (they have 520 according Wikipedia), and he really could take on the rest of the world. I gave up trying to analyse the potential of the American team for the AllTech World Equestrian Games, when I unearthed his scoresheet, not to mention the fact that the US team has 16 horses on the 'shortlist' and USEF "reserves the right to add more". Add more! what on earth for? Four of these reside with non other than P Dutton.

According to US Eventing, Phillip is a keen golfer and tennis player, I don't believe he can possibly have the time, the man's permanently in breeches and probably has a saddle sewn into them for good measure! A wife and 3 daughters will do that to a man.

Rebecca Farms CIC*** 2010

courtesy of useventing.com

I've been following this event for the first time across the web. For those of you who don't know it, it's run in Montana in July (just finished), in what must be some of the most stunning natural surroundings you can find in America. Below you'll find a short video with a number of clips of the cross country, mostly of the CIC***, although they also run a number of other classes at this event.

Here in the UK this would probably be comparable to Barbury, Chatsworth or Weston Park. The course looks a lot more open and flowing than most Mark Phillips designed courses, and I note there were also some open corners, similar to those used at Badminton, so fortunately this is not going to please Tina Cook who has already expressed her desire not to see this type of fence becoming common place. (poor old Tina!)