Stamford, England—Sept. 1
Germany’s Bettina Hoy has swept into a commanding lead after the first day of dressage at the Land Rover Burghley CCI****.
There’s a U.S. rider well in the hunt, though, as Elisa Wallace rode Simply Priceless to a personal best score of 46.8 and into fourth. The other U.S. rider in the ring today, Bunnie Sexton on Rise Against, went into 29th with a 61.0 score.
Wallace was perhaps the most joyous competitor of the day. She was in tears after her ride aboard Simply Priceless. “He was with me the whole time. He’s been a very difficult horse in the dressage. When I got him, he was scoring in the 60s and 70s, so the fact that he can come in and do our best four-star test here is just… it’s so cool!” Wallace said.
Elisa Wallace on Simply Priceless. Photo by Libby Law
“There are no words that can describe the amount of pride that you have. Just to think of the dreams you have as a kid, and that they start to happen…” she continued through tears. “It’s so much build-up; it really is a mental game for riders, I think. I’m really comfortable at Rolex, so I tried to trick myself that I’m at Burghley, not Burghley. I’m trying not to let that get into my head and just ride my horse. He’s such a good boy. When we’re able to get it to happen, we can be right up there.”
As for Wallace’s goals? “Realistically, it’s to finish, but the competitive side wants to win. We all want to win!” she said. “If I could be in that top 20 or top 10, it’d be amazing. It’s the top riders of our sport, so it really is just incredible to be here.”
Elisa Wallace being interviewed after her personal best test on Simply Priceless. Photo by Libby Law
Hoy’s test aboard the flashy 12-year-old Westfalian gelding Designer 10 was a cut above the rest and leaves her nearly eight penalties in command at the head of the field on a score of 34.5.
“He has had to work hard as he’s not really built for dressage,” explained Hoy. “But with the help of my trainer, Sebastian Langehanenberg, we’ve developed a warm-up system that helps keep him soft and relaxed. Every time I feel him becoming a little tense I go into rising trot and that settles him. I have also changed bits from a snaffle to a double bridle; not because he needs a double, but because he is happier and seems more relaxed with two bits in his mouth.”
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Last year, Designer 10 was fifth at the Badminton CCI**** (England ) and in 2014 he was eighth at the Lühmuhlen CCI**** (Germany). “He’s now very established at this level, so you’re really getting in the test what he can do at home,” Hoy said. “Some horses get very affected by the atmosphere, but he seems to really try and concentrate. Except for that one [flying] change that was a little tight, he just did everything I asked him to do.”
Bettina Hoy on Designer 10. Photo by Libby Law
Hoy, who has competed at the 1984, 1996 and 2004 Olympic Games, noted that she keeps a very small stable these days. “I have only a few horses because I have elderly parents and I do part-time care for them. But having only three or four horses at a time, that means I can give them as much time as I want to, and I think that makes a difference. I think I have a very special relationship with them. I was never one with lots of horses,” she said.
Bill Levett of Australia produced a polished performance from his ride, Improvise, to bag a score of 42.5 and second place overnight.
“It’s been a year of ‘nearlys’ for this horse—we so nearly went well at Badminton, then we nearly had a top placing at Luhmuhlen [where they incurred one run-out], then we just missed out on going to Rio [they were reserves]—so the focus has turned to Burghley,” explained Levett. “Having finished sixth here two years ago I know the course suits him and that he is capable of a good result.”
Bill Levett on improvise, in second place. Photo by Libby Law
Paul Sims on Glengarnock. Photo by Libby Law
This is a third Land Rover Burghley appearance for Paul Sims, who has twice finished in the top 25, but the Cheshire-based 31-year-old put in his best performance to date between the white boards and scored 46.6 with Glengarnock, which leaves him third.
“To be sitting here [at the press conference] is more than I’d ever thought,” he confessed. “I always knew he was capable of a good test, but to do it here is wonderful.”
In the press conference after Day 1 of dressage, (from left) Paul Sims, Bettina Hoy and Bill Levett. Photo by Libby Law
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And what do the riders think of Capt. Mark Phillips’ cross-country course?
“It’s very doable. I think Capt. Mark Phillips has done an excellent job of making a course that people can finish,” Wallace said. “I do think I’m on a very good cross-country horse. That is his favorite thing. We’re human, so we’re scared, but we have to ride smart and ride safe and hopefully we can finish on this score.”
Hoy said of the course: “It’s big, as you expect of Burghley. It’s a very big course with one question after the other. I think the horses will have to be very fit.”
Bunnie Sexton of the United States and Rise Against. Photo by Libby Law
Bunnie Sexton on Rise Against. Photo by Libby Law
The Burghley castle backdrop. Photo by Libby Law
The crowds in the trade fair. Photo by Libby Law
See full results after Day 1 of dressage.
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