Gina Miles didn’t have the spring season she’d hoped for with her long-time partner McKinlaigh. The 12-year-old, Irish Sport Horse had a pulmonary bleed on course at the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** in April, and she was forced to pull him up a handful of jumps from home.

But at the Woodside Summer Horse Trials in Woodside, Calif., Aug. 11-13, “Big Mac” showed Miles he’s back on top with a win in the advanced.

“Obviously I’m happy he’s back on form,” said Miles, who also won the CIC-W*** at Rebecca Farms (Mont.) three weekends before. “At the time, the vets suspected it was a one-off kind of thing. And he seems to be back on his program and healthy and feeling good.”

Miles, 32, of Creston, Calif., started the weekend in style, receiving a 24.6 in dressage for a smooth, flowing test, highlighted by McKinlaigh’s trademark relaxation and fluid style. Miles attributed her strong score to spending much of the summer at dressage shows.

“His dressage has improved a lot,” she said. “I actually thought he wasn’t as good as he could be–he was a little behind my leg. But the overall quality has gotten much better.

“I think it’s important to keep in mind where we stand and to measure yourself against the top class,” she continued. “Our eventing out West is, I think, now of the same quality, in terms of courses and organization, of anything you’d find in the East. But the numbers of top-class competitors just aren’t there. At Poplar Place [Ga.] in the spring I got a 29.0 and was in ninth place. So it just wasn’t good enough. But a 24–that would have put me a lot closer. It’s not a winning score yet, but it’s close.”

The pair added 5.6 time penalties on cross-country, which kept them in first.

“It’s a pretty hilly course, and it’s a harder course to make time on,” said Miles. “I’ve had a hard time finding the bit I was using this spring–I borrowed it from Darren [Chiacchia], and I couldn’t find another one. I didn’t have quite the brakes to make the time.”

She added only one rail in show jumping to her score to finish with 34.2, more than 14 points ahead of second-placed Hawley Bennett and Livingstone.

“I had a stupid rail, because he jumped great,” she said. “In my defense, though, after having such a perfect show jumping at Rebecca Farms, I blame the sleep deprivation. I’m trying to wean the baby [11-month-old daughter Taylor] and get her on a schedule. After that round, I told someone, ‘I’ve got to get this baby weaned, so I have a chance at Fair Hill,'” she added with a laugh.

Miles is aiming for the Fair Hill CCI***(Md.) in October, and she hopes to have McKinlaigh back to the four-star level in the spring. “We’ll just see about either Kentucky or Badminton [England],” said Miles. “You never know if you’ll find another four-star horse, so while I have one I’d love to take a shot at Badminton. But, because of what happened this spring, before we spend the money to go overseas, we’re going to make as sure as we can that he’s 100 percent.”

Kelly Prather and Ballinakill Glory also led from start to finish in the open intermediate division, part of the Adequan/U.S. Eventing Association Gold Cup series, after a spectacular dressage test that received an amazing 23.1 from judge Wayne Quarles. The 7-year-old, Irish Sport Horse mare is known for putting in strong dressage work, but the score was a milestone for Prather.

“She always puts in a good test, but it’s not often you get a 23,” said Prather. “She really stepped it up a notch. She was just exceptional this weekend–it was a pretty cool feeling.”

“Pippa” had a double-clear journey around the cross-country, giving them a healthy lead going in to show jumping. With an uncharacteristic stop halfway through the course, the pair added 4 jumping and 7 time faults to their score, but they still took home the blue with a final score of 34.1, just .4 penalties ahead of Jolie Sexson on Killian O’Connor.

“I had a little oops,” said Prather ruefully. “It was a great course, and she felt fantastic. It’s never happened before. She was a great mare. I just put my head back on my shoulders and went on. Luckily, I had room for it.

“If you looked at every other jump but that one, I had a great round,” she said with a smile.

Prather, 22, from Bodega Bay, Calif., first met Pippa in Ireland.

“I was 17 and had just graduated from high school, and I knew I loved the horses but wasn’t sure I wanted to make it my career,” she said. “So I went to England to try to get my [British Horse Society] teaching certificate. Partway through I went to Ireland for a vacation, and I was at a horse dealer’s and rode a few, and they offered me a job. I rode and trained and competed horses, but I also mucked stalls and cleaned the yard. It was really hard work, but I’m really glad I did it–it was such great experience.”

Prather worked in Ireland for two years, and just before she left she met a 3-year-old mare with talent to burn. Andrea Pfeiffer, a trainer from nearby Petaluma, Calif., bought the horse, and Prather returned to the United States with her to begin working for Pfeiffer.

“I’m so fortunate to have an owner like Andrea–she trains me, and we work together. I ride for her and her owners. It’s amazing to be given an opportunity like this,” said Prather.

The mare has been moved up one level per year, and Prather is hoping to have a strong CCI** showing at Galway Downs (Calif.) in November, then move her up to advanced next spring.

“We’ll see how she goes. Right now she’s showing all the potential and is just skipping around her courses. She seems to have the speed, but you never know until you get there.

“She’s very clever and very smart,” cont-inued Prather. “She loves to jump and to put a great effort in. Once she gets into her work, she always tries really hard.”

The mare, whom Prather lovingly described as a princess, has become a part of Prather and Pfeiffer’s family. “She’s very laid back. Andrea’s kids, who are 5 and 9, can climb up on her and walk around on her. And I’ve been with her since she was 3, so we’re pretty close. I just love her; she’s great,” said Prather.

Di Grazia’s Course Shines
Derek di Grazia is gaining increasing praise for his course designs, and his courses for the Woodside event gained nothing but praise from riders at all levels. But it was the new and improved advanced course that got the most attention.

“Derek did a nice job presenting the course,” said advanced winner Gina Miles. “It was big and difficult–a legitimate advanced–but it gave you a nice ride.”

Miles had a particularly interesting perspective on the course, as she rode it twice–once on her veteran McKinlaigh and once on young horse Phillipa, who was contesting her first event at the advanced level.

“[Di Grazia] put a lot of options in there, and it helped keep her from being overwhelmed,” said Miles of her trip on Phillipa. “About a third of the way around, I felt her confidence start to go up, and it was building the rest of the way around. By the time I was done, I felt like I had an advanced horse, and I feel like she’ll go out the next time with a positive view.

“It’s so nice to have the courses updated,” continued Miles. “The team they put together here was just awesome. Derek designing, the organizers and office people, and Bert Wood [to build and do the footing]. Bert knows California footing–he knows how much it needs to be watered and harrowed.”

Intermediate winner Kelly Prather described her course as “big and technical, but it rode great.

“It’s always big and pretty tough, but if you get into the groove, it rides well,” continued Prather. “It asks all the great questions and makes you find your rhythm. It’s just a nice course to ride. Derek always designs the best courses.”

Organizer Robert Kellerhouse, who took over management of the horse trials in 2005, knew from the beginning that he wanted di Grazia to create the course for Woodside.

“I wanted someone who had ridden over this ground, who remembered how tough that ground could be and would know how to make it better,” said Kellerhouse.