PrintBecky Holder put some pressure on herself this weekend at the Land Rover USEA American Eventing Championships, and it was evident when she led the advanced division victory gallop today, Sept. 12, that she’d risen to the occasion in Fairburn, Ga.
Yesterday Holder said she wanted to use the weekend as a test on her own competitiveness. The Palmetto, Ga., rider is short-listed for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, and since the AEC doubled as the mandatory outing for team selection, she was especially thrilled with Courageous Comet’s performance. (Bold type denotes WEG-shortlisted horses and riders.)
“A good weekend here doesn’t hurt my chances,” Holder said, smiling. “But I was trying for myself and for my owners and for this weekend alone as well. Things really came together with all three of my horses this weekend.”
Holder pulled one rail, but she still finished with a rail in hand over the rest of the field on a mark of 45.5. She had a jump school with Katie Monahan Prudent this morning, working on exercises to help transition Comet, the off-the-track Thoroughbred she’s produced from beginner novice to the 2008 Olympic Games, from a cross-country mindset to a show jumping one.
“It looked huge to me before I rode it, but it was fantastic,” Holder said. “I love Marc Donovan’s courses. They always have a really good feel, and he designs them so well for eventers. They’re not trappy, but they ask the right questions.
“I was a little disappointed to see the same question on the course that we saw two weeks ago at Richland [Park Horse Trials in Michigan], the triple bar to triple combination. But it was nice to ride that correctly today.”
Holder’s win earned her the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Jack LeGoff Trophy and points toward the U.S. Eventing Association’s Gold Cup Series. She also won $7,000, in addition to a slew of other prizes.
The U.S. and Canadian selectors are expected to announce their team picks within the next two days. The U.S. team will remain at the AEC venue, Carl Bouckaert’s Chattahoochee Hills, to prepare for the WEG with Chef d’Equipe Capt. Mark Phillips, Prudent and dressage trainer Oded Shimoni. The Canadian riders will head to their coach David O’Connor’s southern base in Florida.
Ernie Earns The Reserve
Will Faudree, of Southern Pines, N.C., jumped to the reserve championship with his double-clear round aboard Pawlow. They began the weekend in ninth place (44.0), and Faudree let “Ernie” cruise easily around cross-country yesterday, adding 14 time faults.
“Marc Donovan is fantastic,” Faudree said. “He sets these courses that you have to ride at. The time was very tight today, and Ernie is a very good show jumper.”
Faudree rode with Anne Kursinski this summer, and he talked today with Bobby Costello and Phillip Dutton about the course. He also warmed up with Prudent, who’s been helping the U.S. short-listed riders this year.
