hoping Chipmunk goes clear. would rather see him win on a clear, than win with two rails down
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To the surprise of no one, it’s Michi and Chipmunk! Lovely performances in all phases. And congrats to Boyd for the US 5* championship and 3 in the top 7!
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the are gonna have to rename the arena the Michi Jung arena!
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It would’ve been nice to know which horses the grooms er… groomed.
I bet Steph groomed Boyd’s three
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I thought the Phantom horse/rider pair was erratic and gasp worthy in several places. But I have no issue with a horse “skidding” and bouncing back up to continue. I guarantee such things happen (& worse) out foxhunting, and no one bats an eye, but pats all around and extra muddy tack.
I’ve galloped young TB racehorses in the field, hit a hole and rolled, we both got up and cantered on home.
In 2002, (ye olde rules), my horse landed in a hole at a drop into water, “pancaked” on landing folding both front and hind legs, but stayed sternal. I came off, we were both soaked, I remounted (in the water) and continued up a bank and over a log.
I understand today’s knee jerk Mafia and social media warriors demand a different level of scrutiny. But I promise you, there is a top sport horse vet watching EVERY jump on xc at Kentucky and could be at the horse’s side in under 30 seconds. If there was any reason to pull the horse up, it would have happened (if not there, then at the next complex). I think the Facebook warriors don’t realize that stopping a horse on course is NOT easy on the horse, especially if it isn’t at a designated hold location (with an easy jump or two to get going sgain). Those are BIG fences, and complex questions that require a focused, “on it” horse to complete properly. Stopping a horse part way thru lets them down and it isn’t always possible to get the adrenaline and rhythm back up to where it was. This isn’t showing jumping; XC is specifically designed with “flow”, rhythm, and build-up, set up fences, and let down fences, meant to be a continuous 11-12min test. Stopping randomly, unnecessarily makes it harder on the horse, not easier.
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Lol she did good to stay on!
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The EN form guide says who grooms each horse! https://eventingnation.notion.site/2025-dk3de
ETA: Stephanie groomed Bruno but the other two had different grooms. I wouldn’t be surprised if she had final eyes on everything though.
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I saw that Brookfield Quality won best turned out (Adam Short groom). Per Tom’s IG
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I would bet approximately $10 million that was the case. Or maybe $20 million.
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I have to say I loved the way Chipmunk trotted around the stadium on a loose rein after the jumping round looking so relaxed and happy. That was very sweet.
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Ok, I didn’t realize this either when I complimented Rio de Janeiro, but a couple mutual Facebook friends tagged her in congratulatory posts and it clicked as to why her riding style looked familiar. I’ve seen her at our local jumper series for years. I just loved that horse watching it today
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Do I remember correctly that the wife of the governor of Kentucky rides or has something to do with horses?
Jane Beshear is the mother of current governor Andy Beshear and wife of former governor Steve Beshear. She is a successful lower level eventer.
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I get why Michi comes back to Kentucky every year for the win. He has to make sure his Land Rover lease stays current!
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Thanks.
He’s going to be faster around the arena on Chipmunk.
Lol. Fair point.
I also love the fact that once again, he thought to thank his help at home for keeping things going at the barn in Germany while he is in Kentucky. Good for him. And good for them.
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You clearly have considerably more experience and knowledge than many of us (serious, not sarcastic - I appreciate your opinion and knowledge). I also think the majority of us on COTH are at a minimum competent lower level riders, so not Mafia and social media warriors.
I know there are vets all over the course, but did not know there was a vet (and I hope ground jury member) watching every fence, with the authority to immediately stop a horse, if there was something of serious concern.
personally from the lower level smurf perspective, if he had trotted 10 or 20 steps, before galloping on, I would have been one of the people applauding rather than raising a possible concern.
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That’s the whole victory ceremony?
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