I'm writing from Mexico where I'm helping Ronald Zaballa for the Pan Am games.I'm glad to report that Ronald and Wiseguy are in good form.Also the US team seem focused and in good spirits.Fair Hill went well for my three.William Penn in particular really going well.It was a great win for Boyd but also great performances from Jan Bynny Amy Borun and Kevin Keane.Let's hope this is a successful/safe games here. Phillip

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Fair Hill

What an exciting finish at Fair Hill on Sunday with two great eventing stories playing out it was certainly emotional.  It was great to see Jan Byyny and Inmidair finish so well and I know disappointing to her that she had two rails.  But what an amazing achievement for her to come back from such a bad accident and to finish 3rd!  Everyone knows what an awful year it has been for Boyd, so for him to win on Ying Yang Yo (Thomas), the horse that he first brought over to the US, is incredible.  We are so very happy for Boyd, Silva and their wonderful team.

 

Yet again, Fair Hill was a bit soggy.  Luckily the sun shone on Saturday and the course dried up substantially.  It was still hard work for most of the three star horses with only two making the time.  Phillip was very pleased with both his rides in the three star, Ben and William Penn.  It was Ben's first 3 star and he jumped around in great form with time penalties.  One down in the showjumping on Sunday was costly, but he ended up a credible 13th.  William Penn receives the most improved award in my book.  He did a super test on Friday, with just a few small mistakes, jumped the course well on Saturday, again with some time faults and jumped a beautiful clear round on Sunday.  He jumped so big that Phillip was nearly jumped out of the tack!  Thankfully he held on and William Penn ended up 5th! 

 

Phillip is off to Guadalajara to coach Ronald Zabala, who represents Ecuador.  Hopefully, he will be full of news from the Pan American Games when he gets back.   Good Luck to our US Team and to Team Ecuador!

Rain at Morven and other things

It has been a busy few weeks for the True Prospect Farm crew.  Our local Plantation event was a big success.  I surprisingly had a free weekend after that and was able to regroup some.  Evie organized a Paperchase as a fundraiser for Mary and Olivia's school and I was able to ride with Olivia in that.

 

I just returned from a very wet and cold Morven Park.  Unfortunately, because of the rain there were a lot of withdrawls.  Ben and William Penn did dressage and showjumping and then stopped for a gallop on the way home at Michael Dickenson's beautiful Tapeta track.  They are both headed for the three star at Fair Hill.  I did run Young Man in the OI and he went well and is headed to the two star at Fair Hill.  Augie Vettorino's Gran Banks went well on the cross country in the Intermediate and is showing nice potential for the future.  I did not run Fernhill Fugitive on the cross country as it was his first Intermediate start and because it was so wet, decided it would be better to give him nicer conditions for cross country.

 

Next weekend is Maryland Horse Trials and then it is countdown to Fair Hill!

 

Cheers,

 

Phillip