Gina Miles and McKinlaigh (Shannon Brinkman)
The Creston, CA rider and the giant Irish Sport Horse (owned by Thom Shulz and Laura Coats) had beautiful trot work, quality walk and canter and transitions. The pair received some nines, and would have scored even better but they made a couple of mistakes in their flying changes at the end of their test to finish up on an excellent score of 39.6.
“I was very pleased with McKinlaigh,” said Miles. “My personal goal has always been to break 40. I thrilled that it happened today at my first Olympic Games.”
US pathfinders: Amy Tryon and Mark Hart’s Poggio were the fifth pair in the ring and put in their dependable performance picking up a very respectable score of 46.5. This leaves them in 7th individually and the US team in second after two riders on a score of 85.8.
Hard-trying Poggio made every effort to pick up every point for Tryon who consistently rides an accurate test. They were a stride late in one flying change but aside from that, it was a very honest test. Poggio tuned up for his dressage test with a morning jump school.
Two riders were better than Miles, the husband and wife Fredericks’ team of Lucinda and Headley Britannia (30.4) and Clayton and Ben Along Time (37.0) both put in very impressive performances to take Australia into a clear lead after two rotations (67.4).
Lucinda, who won Burghley last year with the diminutive ‘Brit’, doesn’t have much trot to work with but rode a masterful test and did not give a point away.
“She really didn’t make a mistake,” said Lucinda. “The more atmosphere, the better she is. She’s so trustworthy.”
The third American rider is Becky Holder, she rides Courageous Comet at 8.26 when dressage resumes this evening. A complete report will follow.
For more information, please contact Joanie Morris at [email protected].
For complete results, please see: https://www.equestrian2008.org/eng/front.aspx