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The first rotation of Thursday morning was plagued by stingy judging and a severe case of sixty-itis. The scores ranged from Julia Steinberg's 70.2 to Kristen Bond's and Stuart Black's best of the rotation at 60.0. One worries what may happen in Friday, when Friday-itis is likely to strike with vastly improved scores to the detriment of those having the bad fortune of having to do their Dressage on Thursday.

Kristen Bond, of Gladstone, New Jersey rode her eight year old Irish Sport Horse gelding Three Wishes II, who had placed second in the CCI** at Bromont, Canada, last June, in the ninth position of ten in the rotation, and had some excellent movements in her test. Yet her final score was a mere 60.0. (Kristen and Three Wishes II are pictured at the right.)

Stuart Black, of Bluemont, Virginia, who had most recently won the Dressage in a section of the Morven Park Advanced, beating Darren Chiacchia and Windfall, had a steady test with Elkins Wetherill's Fleeceworks Starlight; but, was unable to break through the sixty barrier and tied with Kristen Bond on 60.0. Fleeceworks Starlight has been an overall winner at the CIC*** at The Fork as well as in an Advanced section at Southern Pines. Both competitions were last spring. (Stuart and Fleeceworks Starlight are pictured at the left.)

The second rotation basically was no different from the first except that there were some less accomplished Dressage Tests resulting in four of the ten tests receiving scores in the seventies.

Will Coleman, of Gordonsville, Virgina, was the bright spot early in the Second group, achieving a score of 61.3 with the fourteen year old black Westphalian gelding A Second Hope, the third best score recorded at that time. Will is fresh from a third place finish at the Radnor CCI** last weekend with Kiki du Manoir.

Later, Laine Ashker, of Crozier, Virginia, rode Frodo Baggins, an eleven year old black New Zealand Thoroughbred, to pip Will by .9 of a fault and slip into the third slot, for the time being, relegating Will and A Second Hope to fourth. Frodo Baggins and Laine finished second in the CCI** at North American Young Riders, in July. A little hobbitt told eventingetc that Frodo Baggins had actually been in the Lord of the Rings films, which were shot in New Zealand. (Laine and Frodo Baggins are pictured at the right.)

There is one interesting change in the Cross Country course designed by Derek Di Grazia, with assistance by Mrs. Trish Gilbert. This year, for the first time, there are fences in the William du Pont, Jr. Dressage/Show Jumping arenawhich should make convenient viewing for folks who do not wish to walk 'round the course.

It took a Canadian, in the afternoon rotation, to break the sixty barrier. Suzy Pettman Elliot, who rides out of Yelm, Washington, rode her fifteen year old chestnut Thoroughbred gelding Sambucca to a score of 55.7. Sambucca finished tenth with Suzy at the Foxhall CCI***, in 2004. (Suzy and Sambucca are pictured at the left.)

As so frequently happens, once any barrier is broken it happens again. Loreen Kay, of Upperville, Virginia, and the 12 year old bay New Zealand gelding Russian scored 57.0 for second place. Loreen and Russian finished fifth at the CCI North American Young Riders, in 2004. This year the pair placed second at Galway Downs in April and fifth at the Wayne Horse Trials, in July.

Suzy Elliott said, "I was very pleased I made one mistake in the extended trot. He can be hot; but, he was very relaxed. The last Three Day I did was here in 2004," where, Susie said, that she had the misfortune of falling off at the last fence. "I got him as an eight year old and he hadn't done anything."

Loreen Kay, who actually comes from Los Angeles, although she is living in Upperville, , said, "I finished high school and decided to take a year off before college to come to the east coast to compete more aggressively. I am riding with Jimmy Wofford. I am very happy to be doing so well. I'm so excited to be here - it is really gorgeous. He (Russian) was relaxed and forward (today)" (Loreen and Russian are pictured at the right.)

Stuart Black was far from pleased with the Dressage judging. "I would say that Kim (Severson) and Darren (Chiacchia) are the targets (in the Dressage)." Stuart has been scoring right up there with them. "I expected to be in the forties. I have been working with Robert (Dover). I look at the board and I see 7's and 4's. They said my test was "hurried". You have to trust them - you have to trust the judging - - - ," Stuart tailed off dejectedly.

Regarding the Cross Country course Stuart commented, "Derek's done a good job. The distances are forward and aggressive. You better be on you game!" As to the fences in the arena, Stuart continued," It is a great concept for Fair Hill to start doing what the rest of the world is doing." He added that it is a great learning experience to jump fences in an arena at Cross Country speed and that when the younger riders have finished the Fair Hill Cross Country, they will have had a great experience and they will know, ". . . much more about their horses."

The second day of Dressage begins on Friday morning at 9:00 AM.

CCI*** Results After the First Day of Dressage:

1. Suzy Pettman Elliott (CAN), Sambucca - 55.7
2. Loreen Kay, Russian - 57.0
3T. Kristen Bond, Three Wishes - 60.0
3T. Stuart Black, Fleeceworks Starlight - 60.0
5. Laine Ashker, Frodo Baggins - 60.4
6. Buck Davidson, Idalgo - 61.1
7T. William Coleman III, A Second Hope - 61.3
7T. Kate Ditchey, Belmont - 61.3