Rolex Schedule Modified for Weather

The Saturday cross country schedule at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event has been changed due to the onslaught of wet weather over the past several days. The cross country phase of the CCI**** division will begin at 9:30 a.m., while the Bayer

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The Saturday cross country schedule at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event has been changed due to the onslaught of wet weather over the past several days. The cross country phase of the CCI**** division will begin at 9:30 a.m., while the Bayer Modified Four Star Three-Day Event will run in the afternoon. Originally, the Modified was set to begin at 9:00 a.m. to be followed by the CCI**** division. The schedule change should offer better ground conditions over the four phases of cross country for riders still trying to qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.


Kent Allen, DVM, of Virginia Equine Imaging, who is chair of the Veterinary and Equine Drugs and Medications committees of the United States Equestrian Federation, and a veterinary official at the event, explained on Thursday the effects soggy weather will have on horses as they take on the cross country course. “If it would stop raining for about 12 hours, it will be quite nice. The biggest danger is horses sliding into obstacles, and horses jerking shoes and running the course unshod,” he said.


This year, event organizers are hosting a modified four star that is in part patterned after the format to be used for the Olympic Games in Athens. Open only to U.S. citizens and foreign riders residing in North America who have already qualified for the Olympic Games under FEI rules, the modified division marks the first time that horses and riders will have the opportunity to run the shortened distance prescribed for Athens.


Allen said horses will be presented with more cross country jumping efforts over a shorter distance than typical for three-day events. He said, “Instead of the long gallops between obstacles, over the short distance there are more twists, turns, and re-presenting to obstacles.” He explained that the longer distances can mean more fatigue for the horses. “Fatigue is what leads to tendon injury,” he said

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Written by:

Stephanie L. Church, Editorial Director, grew up riding and caring for her family’s horses in Central Virginia and received a B.A. in journalism and equestrian studies from Averett University. She joined The Horse in 1999 and has led the editorial team since 2010. A 4-H and Pony Club graduate, she enjoys dressage, eventing, and trail riding with her former graded-stakes-winning Thoroughbred gelding, It Happened Again (“Happy”). Stephanie and Happy are based in Lexington, Kentucky.

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