RMF Echo Gets A Long-Deserved Big Win In CP National World Cup Qualifier

Lexington, Ky.—Nov. 4

Denis Lynch has been waiting for RMF Echo to score a big win. “He’s been unlucky a few times this season—there have been three or four grand prix [classes] where he’s finished second,” Lynch noted.

So in the jump-off for the $250,000 Longines FEI Lexington World Cup qualifier during the CP National Horse Show, Lynch didn’t want to leave anything to chance. He galloped RMF Echo around the turns and made a furious dash on the long approach to the final oxer to clinch the win.

Denis Lynch and RMF Echo on the way to the win in the $250,000 Longines FEI Lexington World Cup qualifier. Photo by Molly Sorge

“Echo is actually a very quick horse,” Lynch said. “He’s got his own special way of jumping, but he’s got an incredible heart. I don’t worry so much about the style—what’s important is what’s in their head and he wants to keep the jumps up.”

RMF Echo came to Lynch’s string in late 2016. The McCourts bought the 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood under their Rushy Marsh Farm name in May to keep him under Lynch’s saddle.

(For an in-depth look at how RMF Echo came to Lynch and how the Irish rider has developed the horse’s unique talent and somewhat worried temperament, make sure to read the Nov. 27 issue of The Chronicle of the Horse magazine.)

Lynch isn’t a familiar face on the East Coast circuit—he’s an Irish rider with a stellar resume in international championships and top European grand prix classes, but this is his first tour of the indoor U.S. fall season.

Denis Lynch used RMF Echo’s big gallop to help win the $250,000 Longines FEI World Cup qualifier. Photo by Molly Sorge

Lynch, who rides for Ireland but has been based in Germany for many years, just started riding for Frank and Monica McCourt and their Rushy Marsh Farm last year. The McCourts encouraged him to bring two horses to the U.S. indoor shows and their World Cup qualifiers—the week before the CP National, Lynch and RMF Echo took 17th in the Washington International (D.C.) World Cup class. Lynch plans to compete in the Holiday and Horses CSI**** in Wellington, Fla., in December and then probably the Winter Equestrian Festival (Fla.).

Lynch, who has represented in two World Equestrian Games and the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong, isn’t sure if the 2018 Longines FEI World Cup Final in Paris next March is on his calendar. “We have a big year ahead of us next year with the [Longines] Global Champions Tour and the World Equestrian Games. So we’ll see how the horse feels and take it step by step,” he said.

Lauren Tisbo, who gave Lynch quite a run for his money in the jump-off with her Coriandolo Di Ribano, isn’t really planning on making a bid for the World Cup Final either. Coriandolo Di Ribano had an minor injury during the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Lauren Tisbo on Coriandolo Di Ribano. Photo by Molly Sorge

“I was jumping a 1.30-meter class and he just twisted his ankle, so he lost a bit of time,” said Tisbo. “He’s the best horse I have, so I really took my time and gave him more time than he needed to come back, so he missed a lot this year. It was really encouraging how he came off his break; he hasn’t forgotten anything.”

Tisbo is known for riding some of her horses in unusual equipment, and Coriandolo Di Ribano goes in a racing exercise saddle. Read all about Tisbo’s unique tack choices in “Lauren Tisbo: Tacking Up Happy Horses.”

Tisbo and Coriandolo Di Ribano were just a bit less than half a second slower than Lynch and RMF Echo, and then Beat Mändli claimed third with Dsarie, fresh off their win in the $100,000 Longines FEI Washington World Cup qualifier (D.C.) just a bit more than a second slower than Tisbo. “She’s one of the best horses I’ve had, if not the best, and I’ve had some good ones. I’m very happy with her,” Mändli said of Dsarie.