Skyeler is UP!!!
Go Sky and Argyle 
2 Likes
She is always impeccably turned out, what a beautiful rider!
2 Likes
I don’t like how the rein back is so early on in the test. They’re just getting in a groove and then HALT. Ruins the flow IMO.
Argyle looks like a sweet boy. I’d very much like to cuddle him 
2 Likes
Have you guys seen Starr Witness showing off her dressage moves on Doug’s Instagram feed? The mare is incredible— can do 1 tempis, piaffe and passage.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CZSCoH-oN5X/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
7 Likes
The 2nd level tests have it in the same place. Trot work then halt, rein back then more walk then canter lol
Is it just me, or is Cooley Northern Mist lame? I swear I saw a head bob at the walk.
He does, such a lovely boy!
Too bad about the little mistakes in her test, and obviously he’s not as extravagant a mover as some of the warmbloods but man can he jump (the moon, actually!)
They are our local “dream team”, have been following them for awhile and know Skyeler (I school at her facility, Morningside, about twice a month); she is always very gracious, a beautiful rider – and all of her work doing straight dressage has really paid off.
Her position is enviable, both on the flat and O/F. Can’t wait to see them go tomorrow 
5 Likes
i was thinking the same at the walk, especially with the view from behind, but I think she may have just been anticipating the canter?..big time.
I saw that anticipation. I was thinking more in the free walk part of the test (is it free or extended?) Oddly enough, after the test, on a very loose rein, I barely saw it. Some horses are just better after a canter…
Skye was one of the first people I met when I moved to Virginia, and actually bought the little TB I’d brought with me from Montana. I’m thrilled that all her hard work has come together to get to Kentucky 
2 Likes
I’ve been seeing comments about a lot of the horses looking off on social media. I honestly think the horses are super fit so they are tighter looking overall and then people get fixated on the legs and when you look long enough you start to see something. I think some horses just move funky behind. JMO
6 Likes
Another impeccable rider, Tammy Smith. 
Wow.
No wonder her horses are at the top of the leaderboard! Unfortunate mistakes (by her stunning horse) in this test but nothing she could have done about it; I always find this somewhat validating when the best riders in the world have to deal with a lack of cooperation from their horses 
4 Likes
It looks like every horse is anticipating that canter transition! Is it supposed to be at A, or before A?
The F then medium walk to A collected canter R?
Ooof, the transition is at A!
I don’t think I’ve seen a single horse wait until A to canter! The riders are just going with it as opposed to trying to hold the horse together, force them to wait, create tension, and then get a braced and explosive transition.
2 Likes
Wow Claytons horse sure is lovely.
1 Like
True enough, I don’t exactly spend a lot of time around fit eventers (read, virtually none… although back in 2017, my mare and I almost got run over by someone galloping their very fit eventer into the Ipswich River!)
Also I’m probably overly aware of these little imbalances in gait, thanks to endless soundness issues with the mare – who is now happily retired.
I think you have to also think about how the horse is moving in the test, like coming out of a movement or about to go into another, which can cause the legs to go in strange places. I didn’t see what you were talking about so there could absolutely be something but I have also seen many ppl commenting this about a lot of horse so it makes me think there is some eye play happening.
I also have found eventers can look funky behind, especially TBs if they walk and their hocks turn out behind, which I have found to be common.
That being said, if there is an issue, it will certainly come up after XC day.
1 Like
