RF DEMETER
ch. m., 16.3 hands, 10 years, Dutch-bred Oldenburg (Rubin-Royall—Patricia, Kanudos XX), owned by Raylyn Farms Inc.

MARILYN LITTLE-MEREDITH
age 30, Frederick, Md.

This team placed 20th at the Red Hills CIC*** (Fla.), third in The Fork CIC*** (N.C.) and won an advanced division at Rocking Horse Winter II (Fla.) in 2012. Last year the mare placed 47th at the Boekelo CCI*** (the Netherlands) and 36th at the FEI European Championships in Luhmühlen (Germany) with Raf Kooremans in the saddle.

While Demeter is the more experienced of Marilyn’s two rides, she does not know her as well as Rovano Rex. However, she has produced some sparkling results with this horse, and I expect her to finish in the top 10 at her first four-star. Every year at this time I award an imaginary trophy called the “Whodat?” to the highest-placed newcomer to Rolex. I predict that Meredith will be the “Whodat?” trophy winner this year. Any newly successful elite rider immediately draws rumors. To date, the rumors that Marilyn has a tattoo in emulation of her Olympic veteran coach Karen O’Connor remain just that…rumors. As a responsible journalist, I promise to keep the eventing world abreast of the rumors swirling around our hot new star.