Eventing Nation: Kentucky entries are ramping up!

Kentucky entries are ramping up

By Annie Yeager on April 4, 2011 11:11 AM, Filed Under Eventing Competition Coverage

With all the excitement at Galway over the weekend, we neglected to mention all of the exciting developments that have been made to the Rolex entry list. I think Kentucky this year will be a really interesting one in the sense that there isn't one type of horse/rider combination dominating the field. In the past, there have been years when all of the best US riders rode their best horses and dominated the scoreboard, there have been other years when a strong international field as flown across the pond and into all the top positions by the end of the weekend, and still there have been other years regarded as the 'rookie' years, where by virtue of being the year of an Olympics or international competition, the Rolex field was more open to newcomer success than it otherwise would have been.

This year is like a melting pot of all the different types. There are the usual US suspects entered on either their best, most experienced horse or in some cases a horse that's new to the level. There are a fair number of first timers, a fair number of single-horse riders coming with a horse they've ridden at Kentucky in years prior, and then there are the Canadians. And then, besides the Canadians there are all the international competitors (most of which have competed at Rolex in prior years.)

As of today, there are 46 entries. The list is as follows, with the new additions in bold:

James Alliston/ JUMBO'S JAKE

James Alliston/ PARKER

Laine Ashker/ ANTHONY PATCH

Kristin Bachman/ GRYFFINDOR

Peter Barry/ KILRODAN ABBOTT

Kate Brown/ MOJITO

Diana Burnett/ MANNY

Hannah Sue Burnett/ ST. BARTHS

Hamish Cargill/ SANDHILLS TIGER

Tiana Coudray/ RINGWOOD MAGISTER

Sarah Cousins/ TSUNAMI

William Fox-Pitt/ SEACOOKIE

William Fox-Pitt/ NAVIGATOR

William Fox-Pitt/ NEUF DES COEURS

William Fox-Pitt/ IDALGO

Clayton Fredericks/ BE MY GUEST

Heather Gillette/ OUR QUESTIONNAIRE

Sinead Halpin/ MANOIR DE CARNEVILLE

Rebecca Howard/ RIDDLE MASTER

Mary King/ KINGS TEMPTRESS

Mary King/ FERNHILL URCO

Boyd Martin/ REMINGTON XXV

Martha McDowell/ GAELIC MARRIAGE

Joe Meyer/ SNIP

Heather Morris/ SLATE RIVER

Kristi Nunnink/ R-STAR

Karen O'Connor/ QUINTUS 54

Jessica Phoenix/ EXPONENTIAL

Jessica Phoenix/ EXPLORING

Michael Pollard/ ICARUS

Michael Pollard/ WONDERFUL WILL

Kelly Prather/ BALLINAKILL GLORY

Missy Ransehousen/ CRITICAL DECISION

Debbie Rosen/ THE ALCHEMYST

Katie Ruppel/ SIR DONOVAN

Colleen Rutledge/ SHIRAZ

Kim Severson/ TIPPERARY LIADHNAN

Jane Sleeper/ UN

Allison Springer/ DESTINATION KNOWN

Allison Springer/ ARTHUR

Polly Stockton/ WESTWOOD MARINER

Kelly Sult/ HOLLYWOOD

Frankie Thieriot/ FRIC FRAC BERENCE

Mark Todd/ MAJOR MILESTONE

Oliver Townend/ ODT SONAS ROVATIO

Jil Walton/ MY SEDONA

Missy Ransehousen and Critical Decision are no strangers to Rolex as they have competed and placed well at several past year's competitions, but this year will have a special significance. Last year at Southern Pines Horse Trials, Critical Decision fractured his tibia, so the past year has been one of rehabilitation. BG and Missy are tough, I'd bet on them to have a good showing this year. 

The year since Kentucky 2010 has been a whirlwind for many, but especially for Kim Severson and Paddy.They went to Rolex Kentucky last year with a good showing in the dressage and cross country, but it all unraveled on the third day with a stop and several rails. Kim spent the last year putting the pieces back together, and came very close to being able to show it on the world stage if it hadn't been for a bout of cellulitis in the final lead up to the WEG. Hopefully all the stars will align for Kim and 'Paddy' this year, as they are truly a world class pair. 

As usual, we will keep you fully appraised of all things Rolex in the coming weeks. Stay tuned until then! 

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