Best of Rolex Kentucky: Impressive Stats... with videos

Hannah Burnett and St-Barths - by Tracy Porter

In addition to the 7 riders in the top 10 who rode in ECOGOLD Saddle Pads (see our previous blog post with videos of all their rides here), ECOGOLD products were spotted on several 2011 Rolex Kentucky competitors.

Whether they finished or not, it is an achievement in itself to enter a 4* competition and for us, a great source of pride, seeing our products on so many of those top horses.

Here are the impressive stats!

• A total of 19 riders out of 45 entered at Rolex Kentucky rode in an ECOGOLD product during the weekend (42%)
• 50% who finished (14 riders out of 28) rode in an ECOGOLD product
• 70% riders in Top Ten rode in ECOGOLD Saddle Pads
• 2 out of 3 riders with double clear cross-country rounds were ECOGOLD riders (ECOGOLD dominated the double clear rounds with 66.67%- Jessica Phoenix and Hannah Sue Burnett)
• ECOGOLD products were used by riders from 4 countries: Australia, Canada, USA and the UK
• All Australian riders and all Canadian riders entered at 2011 Rolex Kentucky rode in ECOGOLD Saddle Pads
• Only 2 riders finished on her dressage score... Mary King and ECOGOLD-rider Jessica Phoenix
  

Without further ado, here are the riders we spotted using some ECOGOLD gear (besides those in the top 10, who we already listed in our previous post).

Karen O'Connor rode in ECOGOLD's Secure Saddle Pads and XC Boots

Karen O'Connor and Quintus 54 - by Tracy Porter

Karen O'Connor and Quintus 54 - Cross Country 2011 Rolex Kentucky

Karen O'Connor and Quintus 54 - Dressage 2011 Rolex Kentucky

An ECOGOLD Secure Saddle Pad was spotted on Kim Severson

Kim Severson and Tipperary Liadhnan - photo by Tracy Porter

Phillip Dutton rode in ECOGOLD's Secure Saddle Pads

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Eagle - by Jennifer Pavlinich

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Eagle - Cross Country 2011 Rolex Kentucky

they are at 0:38 in this video featuring various riders

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Eagle - Show Jumping 2011 Rolex Kentucky

An ECOGOLD Memory Foam Triple Protection Half Pad was spotted on Michael Pollard

Michael Pollard and Icarus - by Jennifer Pavlinich

Michael Pollard and Icarus - Cross-Country 2011 Rolex Kentucky


Jessica Hampf rode in ECOGOLD's Secure Saddle Pads and XC Boots

Jessica Hampf and High Society III by Cathy J Allen-Shinn

Jessica Hampf and High Society - Cross-Country 2011 Rolex Kentucky

Peter Barry rode in an ECOGOLD's Secure XC Saddle Pad

Peter Barry and Kildoran Abbott - by Jennifer Pavlinich

Peter Barry and Kildoran Abbott - Cross-Country 2011 Rolex Kentucky

An ECOGOLD Secure Saddle Pad was spotted on Kelly Prather

Kelly Prather and Ballinakill Glory

Kelly Prather and Ballinakill Glory - Cross-Country 2011 Rolex Kentucky

Hamish Cargill rode in ECOGOLD's Secure Saddle Pads

Hamish Cargill and Sandhills Tiger - by Kate Taylor

Hamish Cargill and Sandhills Tiger - Cross-Country 2011 Rolex Kentucky

Allison Springer rode in an ECOGOLD's Secure XC Saddle Pad

Allison Springer and Arthur - by Cathy J Allen-Shinn

Allison Springer and Arthur - Cross-Country 2011 Rolex Kentucky

An ECOGOLD Secure Saddle Pad was spotted on Martha McDowell

Martha McDowell and Gaelic Marriage - by Kate Taylor

Martha McDowell and Gaelic Marriage - Cross-Country (not from Rolex!)

Diana Burnett rode in an ECOGOLD Secure Dressage Saddle Pad and Half Pad

Diana Burnett and Manny - Dressage at 2011 Rolex - by Calina

and sorry no pic... but Buck Davidson rode in an ECOGOLD's Secure Dressage Saddle Pad

Perfect Rolex Hangover Remedy - The Complete Rider Interviews!

Meg Kepferle with Hamish Cargill

Another Rolex has come and gone, and you may have missed some of our coverage. One of the highlights was certainly having our riders come to our stand/"studio", for fun and informative in-depth video interviews. The questions were submitted by amateur riders, so they range from riding advice to more personal questions.

The sessions not only allowed us to get to know the riders better, but we also had a few scoops... like Sinead Halpin's "come to Jesus" moment on Thursday which set her up for ultimate success,  Karen O'Connor's discussing for the first time her plans after David becomes US Team Coach (it involves show jumping...), Diana Burnett's decision to widthdraw Manny and what Phillip Dutton would do if he were "King of Eventing".

A big Thank You to Meg Kepferle (Sinead Halpin's groom), Doug Payne and our own Amateur Blogger Carrie Braff, for hosting the sessions. And Thank You to our riders for taking the time to come by and being so gracious.

Here are some interesting conversations (funny at times) with ECOGOLD riders Hannah Burnett, Clayton Fredericks, Karen O'Connor, Hamish Cargill, Boyd Martin, Jessica Phoenix, Jessica Hampf, Rebecca Howard, Phillip Dutton, Peter Atkins, Sinead Halpin and Diana Burnett. Enjoy!

HANNAH BURNETT - Part 1 and 2

CLAYTON FREDERICKS

KAREN O'CONNOR - Part 1 and 2

HAMISH CARGILL

BOYD MARTIN

CANADA's JESSICA PHOENIX, JESSICA HAMPF, REBECCA HOWARD - Part 1 and 2

PHILLIP DUTTON - Part 1, 2 and 3

 

PETER ATKINS

 

SINEAD HALPIN

DIANA BURNETT

ECOGOLD's Hamish Cargill at 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event

Australian rider Hamish Cargill stopped by the ECOGOLD stand at Rolex Kentucky for a Q&A with the fantastic Meg Kepferle, who also moonlights as Sinead Halpin's groom (when she is not working for ECOGOLD). Hamish talked about his horse Sandhills Tiger, who is in 14th place after dressage.

Sandhills Tiger getting ready for dressage with his new ECOGOLD Saddle Pad

ECOGOLD's Hamish Cargill Q&A at 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event 

Our 2011 Rolex preview – Part 1: The Aussies

Last year, we did a Rolex preview of our riders, which was quite popular, so we're doing it again.

According to our Rolex Counter on the right column, at the time I've started writing this, we're 8 days, 11 hours 22 min 8 seconds away. Squee! We've started shipping our boxes full of saddle pads, half pads, horse boots, catalogs down from ECOGOLD HQ in Montreal to Kentucky.

The riders' pads and boots are all done....except for a last minute rider who just asked me last night. You know who you are!!! Thankfully, I was able to squeeze it in, so we're all good.

Ok, let's start with the Australians, because #1. they're cool. #2. both Australians at Rolex will be riding in Ecogold pads. Very exciting. I'm pretty sure, at some point, they will come hang out at the ECOGOLD Stand #69 in the Trade Fair *hint, hint.

Clayton Fredericks

not Be My Guest but it's a cool pic

Clayton has to win the multi-tasker award. He rides, he coaches, he gives clinics, he sings, he has a TV show "In Control" on Horse and Country TV, he runs a saddlery business with his brother Kelvin in Australia... wow, I'm already tired just to think of how he manages all that.

He is coming to Rolex with his 13-yr-old mare Be My Guest (Lottie), who was 3rd at 2010 Burghley. Lottie is already on the Australian Elite Squad, with Clayton qualified for 2012 London Olympics.

She was entered both at Rolex and at Badminton, which was a bit confusing, but I was told a couple of weeks ago that Rolex was Plan A. So, they have probably withdrawn her from Badminton as I write this.

Here's a cool video from Fontainebleau, featuring both Clayton and Lucinda's Cross-Country rounds, riding in ECOGOLD Saddle Pads

Another video - Be My Guest - Showjumping Fontainebleau 2011

In other news, they have introduced a Free Members Area on the Team Fredericks website. You sign up here: Team Fredericks Members Area and you will have access to exclusive videos from Clayton at Rolex and a lot more.

Also, there's a very cool contest from Southern Stars Saddlery (his business). If Clayton wins Rolex, they will give away one of their saddles to a lucky winner picked randomly. All you have to do, is sign up for their newsletter to enter the draw: http://southernstarssaddlery.com/

Hamish Cargill

Hamish's XC Pad :)

He he... I'm super excited that Hamish has agreed to ride in our pads. I'm a huge fan of the videos he did at the World Equestrian Games...so as soon as I saw his name on the entry list, we got in touch through my super secret Australian source.. cough ESJ cough ;). Hamish sent back a message: "I'd be very keen to ride in the saddle pads, they sound like a fantastic product."

I've never seen him ride, but I figured he must be all right if he's coming all the way from Australia to compete at Rolex.

Samantha Clark caught up with him at the Kentucky Horse Park, and I was amazed at how nice he is. I'm average-nice, but would definitely not be so chipper after a 40-hour flight ordeal. I can't wait to meet him in person now.

And...Helmet Cam Alert! Hamish riding the Preliminary Course at the Walaby Hill Horse Trials