The 2013 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Presented by Land Rover, once again brought the excitement of top level eventing at its best to the Kentucky Horse Park.
A competitor and horse on the cross country course.
Thursday and Friday’s dressage competition ended with William Fox-Pitt taking the lead aboard Chilli Morning with a score of 33.3 penalties. Standing in second place in the dressage competition was Andrew Nicholson of New Zealand aboard Quimbo with a score of 38. Nicholson also was in third with his mount Calico Joe with a score of 40.8. In fourth place was Kentuckian Alexandra Knowles on Last Call with a score of 43.3.
A competitor at The Head of the Lake Water obstacle.
Saturday’s cross country phase of the competition brought disappointment to some of the top riders; however not for Andrew Nicholson who finished the cross country phase in first place on Quimbo with no penalties on cross country and still standing on the score of his dressage ride at 38. He also went clean on cross country with second mount Calico Joe putting them in second place, also standing on his dressage score of 40.8. Buck Davidson stood in third place after cross country on his mount Ballynoe Castle RM on his score of 45.2. Sitting in fourth place after cross country was William Fox-Pitt aboard Seacookie TSF with a score of 46.2.
This obstacle shows just how much trust a horse puts in his rider. Rolex horses are very brave.
A Rolex competitor jumps his horse over one of the cross country brush jumps on course.
Sunday’s jumping phase ended with Andrew Nicholson aboard Quimbo being the 2013 Rolex Kentucky champions ending on a score of 41.0. Taking second place is William Fox-Pitt on Seacookie TSF with a score of 46.2. Andrew Nicholson also took third place on Calico Joe with a score of 52.8. Coming in fourth place is Buck Davidson on Ballynoe Castle RM with a score of 53.2. As the top scoring American rider Davidson also took home a Land Rover vehicle.
Even the dogs were out in full force on Rolex cross country day.
For more photos of the Rolex event go to our slide show below.
Photos: Courtesy of Carly Dolan
