Cross Country Day at Millbrook!

Thanks again to our friends at EN!


Last year when I rode at Millbrook I had a stupid fall at the coffin, but if memory serves every other advanced competitor finished the course.  Today the course caused more problems despite the quality of the field.  5 riders finished the advanced with at least a stop and 6 did not complete the course.  From the reports I have heard the course was tough but rode well overall.  The word is that the footing at Millbrook is firm despite the strong efforts of the organizers, so a lot of riders took it easy around the course.  Time penalties led to huge shifts in the leader boards for the intermediate and advanced.

[Live Millbrook Scores]

In the advanced A division, Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen moved up 4 spots to take the lead with a speedy cross-country round.  Boyd dropped to second and third with Neville and Remington respectively by picking up 11.6 and 8.8 time penalties.  Nonetheless, Boyd has to be ecstatic to successfully finish Neville's first advanced cross-country since the fire.  Michael Pollard and Icarus moved up to 4th.  Buck and the Pan Amercian Games short listed Absolute Liberty are in 6th.  The only double-clear in the advanced A division was Sara Kozumplik with Manolo Blahnik.

In the advanced B division, Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle widened their lead to 12 points with one of only two double-clears in that division.  EN blogger Lisa Marie Fergusson and Smart Move jumped all the way from 12th to second with 1.6 time penalties.  Burghley bound Collen Rutledge and Shiraz moved up to third, also with 1.6 time penalties.  Boyd and Ying Yang Yo go into the show jumping in 4th.  

As a smattering of notes on the advanced cross-country, Erin and No Boundaries are fine despite their retirement on course without a stop.  Erin just pulled up because No Boundaries stung his leg.  Doug Payne had two stops on Running Order at the corner in the water, and Leslie Law fell off Rehy Lux on the infamous Millbrook downhill slide.

The intermediate divisions at Millbrook are nearly as exciting as the advanced.  Peter Atkins and HJ Hamptonmoved up 7 spots with just 6 time penalties to sit behind 1st placed Mara DePuy and Fun Maker in the OI-B division.  Jon Holling and the Pan Am short listed Downtown Harrison are in 4th in that division, and Carl Bouckaert is in 5th with his new ride Mensa.  Stephen Bradley and Leyland expected to take it wasy today as a result of the footing and they dropped to 10th with 24 time penalties.  

Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda successfully made their return to eventing after Luhmuhlen with one of the fastest rides of the day to take the lead in the open intermediate A division.  Sara Kozumplik is in second with Tatton Winter and Leslie Law is third with Zenith ISF.  The Pan Am short listed pair of Will Colemand and Obos O'Reilly stayed in 4th with 18.4 time penalties.  Another Pan Am short listed pair, Michael Pollard and Schoensgreen Hanni scored a 19.6 in the dressage, but took their time on the cross-country to drop to 12th.  It's good to see Holly Payne and Madeline back doing well and in 5th in the OI-A division.

Cross-country is still running in the other divisions at Millbrook.  Jon Holling will have a quick report for us soon from Millbrook and until then, go eventing.  

Yeeeeehaaaaaaa Neville!!!!!!!!!

Neville Bardos takes the lead at Millbrook

By John on August 4, 2011 5:30 PM, Filed Under Eventing Competition Coverage

If Neville's recovery from fighting to his life after the True Prospect fire just two months ago to kicking ass at the Millbrook horse trials today doesn't bring a smile to your face then I don't know what will.  Neville Bardos went up against one of the best advanced horse trials fields you will find in the United States in the Millbrook advanced-A division Thursday afternoon and seized the lead by 3.5 points.  Let's show a bit of love to Boyd as well, who also happens to have ridden the second placed horse--Remington.  As we all know, Neville was one of 5 surviving horses from the May 31st fire that burned a barn to the ground at True Prospect farm and claimed the lives of 6 horses.  

I spoke with Boyd several times in the days after the True Prospect fire and the vets were uncertain whether or not Neville would live, much less compete again.  He suffered from severe smoke inhalation and his blood counts were the worst of any of the surviving True Prospect horses.  Now, after meticulous veterinary care, regular hyperbaric chamber therapy, a big dose of love, and surely a bit of luck, Neville has one prelim under his belt from two weekends ago at Fitch's corner and he's going into the advanced cross-country at Millbrook with the lead, and Burghley is just around the corner.

As if that isn't enough, there is another, and perhaps just as special comeback story in the same division as Jan Byyny is returning to advanced for the first time since her severe fall at Pine Top in the spring of 2010.  Jan suffered numerous broken bones and a stroke, and her recovery has progressed at a remarkable pace.  Jan is 9th in the advanced dressage with Inmidair.  

Millbrook advanced division A dressage results:

1. Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos  27.8
2. Boyd Martin and Remington 31.3
3. Leslie Law and Rehy Lux  31.6
4. Phillip Dutton and Ben  33.4
5T. Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen  33.8
5T. Colleen Rutledge and Dillon  33.8
7. Doug Payne and Running Order  34.1
8. Michael Pollard and Icarus  34.1

[Full Millbrook Thursday Scores]

As another note from Millbrook, Phillip is back competing just two days after losing his incredible partner Woodburn.  It must be hard for Phillip, but Phillip belongs in the saddle and he had a great day, finishing in 4th with Ben.

Oh, wait, there's another big comeback story in the works at Millbrook.  Peter Atkins and HJ Hampton are competing in the open intermediate B division in their first horse trials since the WEGs.  Dressage continues Friday at Millbrook. 

Boom goes the dynamite. 

Lesson/Clinic Series at Barbara Weinbrecht's, Earlville, Md.

Lesson/Clinic Series at Barbara Weinbrecht's, Earlville, Md.

Wednesday September 21
Wednesday September 7
Tuesday August 16
Thursday August 11
Saturday August 6
Saturday April 16
Saturday April 23
Thursday May 5
Monday May 16

Starting times: Weekdays, 1 p.m. & Weekends, 10 a.m.
Auditing is complimentary ; please bring a chair.
Location: 330 Sandy Bottom Road, Earleville, Md.
Cost: $115/45 minute session.
Please make checks payable to: Barbara Weinbrecht and mail to:
330 Sandy Bottom Road, Earleville, Md. 21919.

Contact Barbara Weinbrecht's

Millbrook Horse Trials

Millbrook Horse Trials, the fourth PRO Tour event in the 2011 series, kicks off this week with a very large field of competitors and lots of activities!

• The Wine & Cheese Competitor's Party is Thursday at 6:30 PM in the hospitality tent at stabling.
• Friday night at 6:00 PM is the Kids' Horseless Jumping & Welcome Party, sponsored by friends of MHT. The PRO - Area I YR Teams will be auctioned off to raise funds for the Area I YR Program.
• The Area I Young Riders will also be teaming up with PRO for a PRO Rider scavenger hunt throughout the weekend. The kids need to answer questions about the riders on the list in order to win prizes, so help them out and make yourselves available!
• Saturday night features the Competitor and Volunteer Party at 6:30 PM in the Patron's Tent, sponsored by MHT.
• On Sunday, the PRO - Area I YR Rider Relay Race will take place prior to the advanced show jumping, which will be sure to be amusing for all. Kerry Millikin will be hosting a show jumping course walk for patrons and Marcia Kulak will be providing colorful commentary in the patron 's tent.

Goodbye and Good Luck Lil

We are both very sad to see Lillian Heard leave our program as she progresses in her career and moves on to take a job with Carol Gee as a rider in the Fernhill Stable in Ireland. Even though it was heartbreaking to watch Lil depart, it’s a fantastic move for her to gain valuable international experience in her career. The timing is perfect, with her top horse Share Option recovering from an injury and the recent loss of her prelim horse Ariel in the barn fire. Now is the time to make a break and get a taste of European eventing.

Lil’s been a fantastic worker and rider for both of us lf over the last three years. We’ve watched her produce horse after horse and enjoyed watching her riding abilities get better and better. She’ll be sorely missed at the barn and at the shows and we wish her all the best for this exciting new chapter in her life.

Boyd and Silva

Tribute to Silva's Father

Farewell Christoph Stigler

Ross and Christoph

After leaving Dressage at Lexington so suddenly to go to Germany to be with my sick dad, he passed away last Wednesday. Boyd and I can not believe that after losing Ross on July 2, we are also losing my dad Christoph 18 days later.


My dad was an amazing person and amazing father to me and my two sisters, Nina and Laura, and my brother Julian. He also was my Mum's best friend and partner for many many years. I always thought how lucky my parents were to have found each other. There are not many people who have such a close bond and great relationship as my parents had. They respected each other in every way. It was so great and important for us children to be around; we learned so much good out of my parents marriage.

When my dad was diagnosed with Plasmacytoma in early 2006, we were devastated. We could not believe that my dad, who in our eyes lived the healthiest life that you
could possibly live. My dad ran marathons, did triathlons, did not eat meat or drink alcohol or smoke, and he out of all people had to be diagnosed with such a horrible cancer.

Not long before he was diagnosed, my dad, Ross and Boyd rode their bicycles through the middle of Australia for 7 days from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock. That was one of my dad's favorite trips. Ross and my dad were very much alike: very sporty and just great men. They became good friends on that trip.

My dad was the most positive and brave person I know. He started with a very aggressive chemotherapy right away and even through this horrible treatment with so much pain he stayed positive and kept telling us not to worry; that he has to go through this and he is not going to be beaten down by this.

Boyd and I got married in Australia in December 2006. Because my dad was in the middle of the therapy at that time my parents could not make the long trip to Australia. That was devastating for me and my parents not to be there when I got married. My dad put on his suit in our living room in Germany and my mum videoed his speech for our wedding. He could not walk me down the aisle but he was not going to miss his speech.We played his speech on a big screen at our reception and it was like he was there!

For the next five years my dad kept fighting this horrible illness. He had to go through terrible, painful treatments, but in between treatments my parents went on great trips together and spent as much time together as they could. On their last trip my parents came to help us move to our new farm. My parents moved our whole house by themselves.

My dad died on July 20, 2011.

We so wished for for more time! It was not enough time for him and not enough time for us. My dad still had so many plans.

We will miss him forever!!

Silva