Who's going to Rolex?

[niaru]

Yes Quimbo is lovely and he just won Rolex with Andrew Nicholson! Woot!!!

[adcooper]

I wish I had seen that ride. Wow.

[ZenRider]

Still waiting for those that went to check in.

In the mean time... It seems both William Fox Pitt and Andrew Nicholson are going for the Grand Slam at the same time. Since Badminton was cancelled last year William Fox-Pitt is still eligible for it as he had won Burghley and Rolex before that one was cancelled. Since then Andrew Nicholson had won last years Burghley and now this years Rolex. So by a strange twist both will be riding for the Grand Slam of Eventing prize at this years Badminton! So far, as we all know Pippa Funnel has been the only one to claim that prize.

So, wasn't someone going to Badminton this year too? We need reports!

[ZenRider]

OK according to the Rolex website Quimbo is a "Bay C.D.E. (ESP) gelding, 16.3 h.h., 2002." Why can't I remember what those abbreviations are for? ESP might be for Spain? But what is a C.D.E. ? Searching on line didn't help much either. Andrew's other horse Calico Joe, Bay Thoroughbred (GBR) gelding, 16.2 h.h., 2002. Thoroughbred from Great Britain. See how much easier that is.

[numerologist]

I think C.D.E. is Caballo de Espana - think they said that on NBC yesterday.

[ZenRider]

Whatever Quimbo is, he is nice. He makes it look so easy.
Good to see the Thoroughbreds were well represented as well. ;D

[ZenRider]

Just did the count and William has 6 horses entered at Badminton and Andrew has 4. Not sure they are riding all of them, as it says 'or' between several of the horses, unless they are allowing some flexibility as to which horse they ride first? I'd say they are stacking the odds regardless. That said there are 123 horses entered at Badminton to Rolex's 63. What gives there?

[niaru]

I had the same question about the CDE acronym, especially since during xc the commentator presented Quimbo as "Spanish-bred" , which of course brings to mind PRE and Andalusians...LOL
But it actually stands for Bred in Spain and exported". So Quimbo is mostly Hanno and Hoslteiner.

I am in AWE of all those riders who ride several horses in such a demanding competition.

I don't think I could even ride the Rolex xc course in 2-point (much less jumping anything!) at this point *hangs head in shame* !!!

I just talked to my instructor, who was just back from Rolex (1st time for her). She walked the course with a BNR, went to a thing where several Ottbs were presented and described / evaluated by Philip Dutton, and just had a blast!

[Smay]

Yep, it's really cool how the two of them, Fox-Pitt and Nicholson, will be going for the same prize. It was also real cool how WFP took Sea Cookie from 10th to second with absolutely no stress, after retiring his first-place ride Chilli Morning on the XC course. I couldn't tell if he retired him to save him for Badminton, or just "because" he didn't have to win Rolex to go for the Grand Slam. The coolest thing I saw this year was WFP's 33.3 dressage test. Until Quimbo went, Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning were the only horse in the 30s, and by a MILE! It was the prettiest test I've seen at any Rolex, ever! OK, and can someone take look at Marilyn Little's horse RF Demeter, and tell me how on earth that horse can be a 4* eventer? His conformation looks like a train wreck! Watching him gallop XC I thought he was going to fall down any moment! His dressage was actually good, although he looked like a skinny moose!

[Smay]

Guys, Rolex was a blast this year so we all have to go next year for sure. I'm not 100% sold on the campground however, because this year it would have been very icky to camp--cold, damp, rainy at night, quite unpleasant. However the days were beautiful and very luckily, we didn't have much rain at all--despite 80% chances--on Saturday's XC or Sunday's stadium! It was a little strange in the campground, with many open spots throughout the camp. They "say" you can't get a spot during Rolex, and yet there were quite a few empty when Caroline and I cruised through. I'm not sure what we should do about reserving spots for next year. I might just go ahead and reserve one or two, just in case. What do you all think?