August 31—Stamford, England
Being the first reserve for the Olympic team might have wreaked havoc on some riders’ psyche, but at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, Sinead Halpin proved she’d lost no confidence in herself and Manoir de Carneville. She put those extra weeks of preparatory time to good use and rode the test of a lifetime to win the dressage.
Halpin, 30, was third on “Tate” at her four-star debut, Rolex Kentucky in 2011, and she finished 15th at Burghley last year, but her test this time was 10 marks better – 36.5 – and she has a 3.7 penalty margin over her closest rival, who just happens to be another U.S. rider: Allison Springer on Arthur (40.0).
“It felt good from the moment he went in there,” said Halpin, Oldwick, N.J. “The horse picked up straight away and did some fabulous work, especially the medium trot. I had high expectations, but to be in first place in this company in Britain is amazing. Insane even!”
Tate and Halpin have been a team for four years. The 12-year-old Selle Francais (Gaub—Carneville, Matador du Bois) was bred in France by the Le Goupil family, who organize the international event at Haras du Pin. “We clicked straight away,” said Halpin, revealing that her then-employer, William Fox-Pitt, advised her: “Buy a horse you love to ride rather than one you need to learn to ride.”
“I was just hoping to go in and ride the horse I have been riding at home,” said Halpin. “He has been exceptional at home, and I’ve had to become more of a competitor in the arena and really take the work to the arena, so it just feels nice that it came out today.”
Listen to an interview with Halpin.
This is Springer’s second time competing at Burghley with Arthur, a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse cross gelding by Brandenburg’s Windstar.
“I certainly hoped for more of a relaxed horse today, but Arthur is Arthur. He is spooky and a nervous-type of horse, and I think the horse I had today, a year ago or before would have thrown a bunch of spooks in the arena, so I was really pleased,” said Springer, 37. “I knew the horse I had going into the arena, and I knew what I could push for, what I couldn’t push for. I was mostly just trying to ride an accurate test.
“I have learned a lot from my first visit to Burghley [in 2009, when she was eliminated on cross-country]” continued Springer, Marshall, Va. “I used to be terrified when I saw the huge fences here, but now, looking at them, I know I’m happy to have a horse of this scope.”
Listen to an interview with Springer.
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Australia’s Clayton Fredericks found himself in third place on Walterstown Don, another horse with a Selle Francais sire, although the horse was bred in Ireland.
Fredericks has had a difficult season, having been hospitalized after a fall at Saumur (France) in May and then suffering a fall at the Olympic Games when his horse, Bendigo, tripped on his bell boot. “I had no expectations when coming to Burghley,” he said. “You spend your whole life picking yourself up in this sport and perhaps this will be my turn again.”
Listen to an interview with Fredericks.
Other U.S. riders included Will Faudree of Hoffman, N.C., who piloted Jennifer Mosing’s Andromaque to 14th on 45.8.
“I felt very good. For where she is, she was right where she needed to be,” said Faudree. “She behaved great and was rideable the whole time. I was very happy with her.”
Listen to an interview with Faudree.
Burghley first-timers included Kristi Nunnink, who, despite learning her test wrong, had a solid performance with her 11-year-old Holsteiner mare R-Star. The rider from Auburn, Calif., ended up in 25th place with a 49.5.
Kate Hicks of Cochranville, Pa., finished in 27th with Belmont (50.0), and Erin Sylvester of Unionville, Pa., kept a tense No Boundaries in the ring for 67.0 and 79th place.
Cross-country begins at 11 a.m. BST.
Follow the action on www.burghley-horse.co.uk
Results after dressage
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1. Sinead Halpin/Manoir de Carneville (USA) 36.3
2. Allison Springer/Arthur (USA) 40.0
3. Clayton Fredericks/Walterstown Don (AUS) 40.8
4T. Kai Ruder/Le Prince des Bois (GER) 41.0
4T. Andrew Nicholson/Avebury (NZL) 41.0
4T. William Fox-Pitt/Parklane Hawk (GBR) 41.0
7. Lucy Jackson/Animator ll (NZ) 41.7
8. Mary King/Kings Temptress (GBR) 41.8
9. Sam Griffiths/Happy Times (AUS) 42.0
10. Oliver Townend/Armada (GBR) 43.5
