It was another productive day at the Kentucky Horse park.  Boyd was kept on his toes with sponsor appearances and preparation for Otis' debut in the rather intimidating Rolex stadium.

Boyd teamed up with fellow competitor Allison Springer for their annual Smartpak course-walk, which this year drew a record number of followers (300+).   Together they shared their impressive knowledge of several formidable questions on the XC course.  Tomorrow we will all be on course to cheer on our favorite Smartpak riders!

Otis and Boyd entered the ring as the last riders of the day.  The atmosphere in a ring of that size is quite intimidating, and the stands were well packed for the last ride of the day.  Otis did show that he was a bit green and nervous, but Boyd kept his cool and did a wonderful job showing him the judges and the cameras prior to entering the ring.  His trot work is just so impressive and this horse shows so much potential for the future, holding his composure in such an electric environment.  Their score of a 51 was good enough to put them in 16th place, in a tough field of nearly 60 world class competitors.  Remi goes into XC standing in 6th place, so tomorrow looks to be a nail biter!!

Full Scores

If you are in Kentucky, please come out to cheer on Team Windurra.  If you are not near the horse park, please show your support by watching it live on NBC Sports!!

Please enjoy the slide show of photos from today's course walk and competition.
Photo credits Lisa Thomas

HJU Interview with Boyd

USEA Press Release

Boyd Martin and Remington XXV Top the Field after the First Day of Dressage at Rolex Kentucky CCI4*

Posted Thu, 2012-04-26 22:27

Authored By: 

 

• USEA

The first half of the 57 horses who moved forward from yesterday’s veterinary inspection performed their dressage tests today under the watchful eye of the ground jury at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in Lexington, Kentucky. The third pair of the day, Karen O’Connor and Team Rebecca’s Veronica, set a high standard with a 47.8 – a score that stood nearly all day long until the second to last ride of the day, Boyd Martin, rode Henley House Stables’ Remington XXV to a 45.3.

“[Remington] was good; he has done that test a few times so he sort of knew his way through it, and he stayed chilled,” Boyd said. “I was pretty happy with the old horse.”

Boyd’s wife Silva, a Grand Prix dressage rider, was on hand to coach Boyd and Remington through every step of the day and was excited to watch the pair move into the lead.

“We have been working with this horse a long time now and I think this was his best test,” Silva added. “Actually, I think this was Boyd’s best test – he rode really, really well. I am so happy. I think it is awesome.”

Boyd and the 16-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Rubenstein I x Weserpaume) have been partners since 2007, and this is their third four-star together. However, Boyd’s second ride of the weekend is a first time four-star horse. Look for Boyd and Otis Barbotiere tomorrow as the final ride of the day at 3:52 p.m.

Although sitting in second place currently, Karen O’Connor is already a winner at this year’s Rolex Kentucky having been named the Dubarry best turned out female at the first veterinary inspection – her first time winning the award in 30 years of coming to Rolex.

“I was really happy with Veronica,” said Karen. “She is young; this is her first four-star, and she handled the atmosphere just wonderfully. She did not really change – I had a great warm-up prior to the test. The trot work I was delighted with, I lost her a little bit in the walk so I lost marks in the canter work, but overall for a young horse at Rolex I am really delighted. She is a lovely, lovely mare, and I am so excited to be able to ride her for Team Rebecca.”

During the afternoon press conference, Karen said that last fall she started to focus on her fitness in order to be at the top of her game for this Olympic year.

Just 1.1 points behind Karen sits Andrew Nicholson (NZL) aboard Twenty Twelve in Mind’s Calico Joe. Andrew is competing this week on two green horses that are here to be tested for Olympic potential. Andrew will ride Rosemary and Mark Barlow's Qwanza tomorrow afternoon.

Twenty-nine horses will ride their dressage tests Friday beginning at 9:30 a.m. with Madeline Blackman and Gordonstown kicking off the day. The entire field will take to Derek di Grazia’s cross-country course on Saturday before the weekend is concluded back in the main Rolex arena with a live television broadcast of the show jumping conclusion on Sunday.

Complete results are available on the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event website. 

Press Release by Leslie Mintz

View photos of the first day of dressage in the slideshow below or click here.

Prepping for cross-country day: Remi sporting his new Hidez compression suit!

Today's Photos

Here are the long awaited photos which include pictures of the course walk with owners from the Otis Syndicate and Remi's owners (the Jevonens).  I was also lucky enough to watch Silva warm up Erin Sylvester prior to her first entrance into the Rolex stadium!

Boyd's dressage test on Remington was simply beautiful.  Standing in first place after the first day of competition will certainly position them well going into Saturday's cross country.

Enjoy the slideshow and check back tomorrow to see more photos of Otis during his first appearance at the Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event!

Full Photo Gallery
Photo Credits Lisa Thomas

Boyd and Remi Take the Lead at Rolex Kentucky

It was obviously an awesome day for us – I think Remington did his best test and I have to say Boyd rode his best test too. He had maybe two little mistakes but just little things and overall the quality was very good. He’s in the lead on a 45. It was a good day! A huge thanks to Lindsey for turning Remi out so well – he really looked beautiful.

Erin Sylvester went this morning and her test wasn’t so great. Her horse warmed up beautifully, and in the ring the trot wasn’t so bad, but during the walk the flags freaked him out and in the canter it went downhill. Erin rode well, but considering the horse was so wild there wasn’t much she could do. Everyone has those experiences unfortunately and she’ll have better days in her future.

Kate rides early in the morning and Otis is in the afternoon. It’s great for Boyd to be in first now but a lot of things can change – there are a lot of great horses going tomorrow.

Boyd worked Otis this morning and he was great, and we worked him again just now in the warm-up ring and he also went into the big stadium for five minutes to have a look around. He was fine, but it could be a different story tomorrow - at the end of the day there will be a big crowd and he’s a sensitive horse - but I’m not worried.

We’re really excited to see some members of the Otis syndicate here; it’s fun to have them all cheering him on!

-Silva

We hope to add some photos soon!

Eventing Nation: Boyd & Remi Take the Lead!!

Boyd Martin and Reminton Take the Rolex Lead Thursday Afternoon

By John on April 26, 2012 4:18 PM

Boyd Martin and Remington were the second to last pair to ride on Thursday at Rolex, but their performance was well worth the wait.  Boyd rode the 16 year old veteran Remington to near perfection and took the lead from Karen O'Connor and Veronica with a 45.3.  There were many horses competing today that were flashier movers than Reminton, but Boyd rode a very accurate test and found just the right tempo to present "Remi's" best gaits to the judges.  The only criticism of "Remi's" test would be a couple of inconsistent flying changes.  With so many big horses still to compete on Friday, I don't expect 45.3 to be in the lead going into the cross-country, but it will put Boyd and Remi in great position for the weekend.  The field is tightly packed behind Reminton, with just a rail separating 2nd through 7th.

Thursday Rolex Dressage Scores:
1. Boyd Martin and Remington 45.3
2. Karen O'Connor and Veronica 47.8
3. Andrew Nicholson and Calico Joe (NZL) 48.7
4. Becky Holder and Courageous Comet 48.8
5. Doug Payne and Running Order 50.2
6. Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch 51.0
7. Will Coleman and Twizzel 51.3
8. Marilyn Little-Meredith and RF Rovano Rex 54.7

[Full Rolex Live Scores]

Full Eventing Nation Story