The March Horse Trials at Poplar Place was the next step for many riders to shed off those winter training days and see where they and their horses were heading for the 2006 season. The stars of Eventing in the US certainly came down to Georgia to show. With Chef d'Equipe Captain Mark Phillips looking over the advanced riders and many others, this was USA Eventing moving into the serious part of the competition year. With a near capacity show of around 400 rides, there was plenty to see and do.

To lead things off it was two stars in one combination that thrilled the small local crowd, Kim Severson and Winsome Adante in the Advanced Test C division looked absolutely terrific in dressage trailing only another great combination in Darren Chiacchia and Windfall II by one point. Severson though was able to put together two clear rounds around CC and Stadium to take out the division on her dressage score of 24.3. Kim also had Royal Venture going a treat and they took second also on 25.7. The stars followed in, AEC winner Will Faudree on Antigua and Bonnie Mosser on Jenga were next then Karen O’Connor on Upstage. Darren Chiacchia came in 6^th on Windfall II after attracting some 8 time penalties on CC.

Kim Severson, Winsome Adante Photo: Mary E Andrews www.eventingga.com

In the Advanced Test A-A division it was Olympian Stephen Bradley on Brandenburgs’s Joshua victorious in a very close result. Jennifer Libby was second on Draco with Amy Tryon on her Olympic performer Poggio II coming in a close 3^rd place.

The Advanced Test A-B division went to Olympic Gold Medallist Leslie Law on his champion Irish SH Shear L’eau consistent good all weekend.

In the CIC* it was another success for Amy Tryon on Leyland, 3^rd after dressage she held on by 0.1 of a point from Lucia Strini on Liste De Folie. Becky Holder on her mare Glorious Joy took out the CIC** with a fantastic weekend of riding, they finished on 48 points after gathering 3 for time in stadium but not enough to be tipped out by Kim Severson on Tsunami who was breathing down her neck at every chance.

The Intermediate divisions went to New Yorker Sarah Heffron on Kirby Park Jamaica and Sara Dierks on Somerset II. In the Open Prelim A Bruce Davidson finished on his dressage score of 32.2 and in the B division it was Clark Montgomery on Up Spirit. The Prelim Rider division went to Dehlia Burdan on Whispered Notion finishing also on her dressage score of 36.7 with the Junior YR division won by Lisa Barry on L’Cedric.

Open Training divisions went to Darren Chiacchia on Dynamyk II, NZedder Donna Smith on Jungle Trail and Selena O’Hanlon on Wonderwoman. Junior Training rider went to Georgia rider Marti Williams on her Bel. WB, Lendon with a solid weekend finishing on 33.5, her dressage score.

In the Training Rider A division John Trimm on Reverand Rupert scraped in over Georgia competitor Zeb Fry with The Quiet Man. The B division went to Linda Bammann Solitaires Silver Lining a finishing on their dressage of 30.5 to take the blue ribbon.

Many have seen the improved facilities at Poplar Place over past few years and with great organization and planning this was certainly a very successful and well run event that brought out the best horses and riders from far and wide.

Wayne Kraska

www.evengingga.com