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Otto has been with owner Tonya Horger for five years, after an unsuccessful stint on the racetrack. Horger did all his early training, and competed him herself up until this spring when Davidson's father Bruce told her he believed the horse had the talent to go all the way. "I begged her [to get the ride on him]," joked Davidson. "He's got a great mind and a great jump and is generally just a steady-Eddie type," he continued. "If I can stay on him in the warm-up, because he can really buck, he's totally reliable once he's on course."
"I thought it worked out great," said Davidson of the course. "Nobody knows what to expect at a horse's first three-day, but this gave them a nice steady start, and then threw in a hard question but gave them a break - an easy fence - right after to get their confidence back." Davidson also went double clear on Mystic Katie, who eventually finished 12th. The show jumping course proved to be the deciding factor for the weekend, with only 13 double clear rounds in all three divisions. The time proved as difficult to get as the clean jumping round-in part thanks to an option line which took a shorter route over and airy, narrow vertical, or a much longer route over Swedish oxer. After watching the narrow fall most of the morning, most competitors elected to chance the longer line, but only a few could gallop enough between the fences to make the time. Davidson's clear round gave him the win, but right behind him was Kim Vinoski on Oliver Edgecombe who moved up steadily all weekend to slide in behind Davidson with a clean show jumping round of her own. It was a good weekend all around for Vinoski, who also took home the blue in the CCI-Young Horse division aboard Royal Bart. "I keep thinking he's going to scope out, but he keeps surprising me," said a happy Vinoski. "I think he jumps just as high as necessary." Vinoski and owner Linda Wachtmeister purchased Royal Bart, a small American Thoroughbred from Paul and Laura Tjaden, who in turn had found him on the way to the meat factory. "He's the most quiet, reliable, great horse," said Vinoski. "He's one of my favorites to ride everyday." By contrast, 2nd placed Oliver Edgecombe came from New Zealand, and Vinoski has always been aware of his talent. "He's very ridable and very talented - he's been very consistent all along," she said. What the two horses have in common is that they were both intended as resale projects, a future that may change now that they've met with such success. "[Oliver Edgecombe] came over as a sale horse a year ago, and I was sure we would sell him first, because he's big, and initially he wasn't really my type," she said. "But we sold the others and he's still here - so I hope we decide he isn't too big for me, because I think he's quite special. "Royal Bart has always been for sale, all the way along, but I don't think anyone has even come to look at him. We didn't think he had it to go to the top, but now I think we'll wait and see," she finished. Vinoski now says coyly that she and Wachtmeister "haven't decided" if either horse will still be for sale. Australia's Phillip Dutton got the also-ran award for the weekend, by finishing 4th in the CCI division on Brindabella, and 2nd and 3rd in the young horse divisions on Don't Ask and The Foreman. The CCI-Young Riders division was hotly contested down to the last minute. After dressage, Daniel Clasing and his Yardley were tied for first with Alison Haase and Xpress Mocha. After cross-country Haase had been eliminated on cross-country, and Clasing had acquired 2.4 time penalties to fall to 2nd by a mere .2 penalties behind Jennifer Morse and Mt. Colebrook. But the show jumping continued to be the deciding factor, and after Morse had a rail aboard her Connemara cross, Clasing re-inherited the lead. The show jumping in the young riders division was more exciting than originally thought, as two competitors took crashing falls when their horses seemed to loose their footing. Emily Webber and Canelle had been standing in 10th when they somersaulted through a fence, with Webber being flung to the ground under her horse. Canelle jumped up and trotted off, by Webber required assistance, though she was eventually able to walk off with some help. Keep the Faith and Hannah Sue Burnett had an eerily similar fall, but on the landing side of the final fence. By an odd twist of fate, horse and rider managed to fall after the finish line, so despite Burnett's needing medical attention (she was later pronounced not seriously injured) she was still awarded 6th place for her clean round. Clasing, 16, of Cockeysville, Md. has been with his unusually bred Yardley for 8 years. Clasing's family purchased the then-two year-old Holsteiner-Anglo-Arab cross from breeder Ann McKay when it became clear Clasing was soon to outgrow his pony. "My trainer, Packy McGaughan, says he's too much of a pet, but I guess that's to be expected since I've had him since I was eight," said Clasing. "But, he's still expected to do his job." Clasing hopes to be named to the Area II young riders one-start team this year, after missing out last year. Clasing had finished 2nd here last year, but hadn't filed the proper paperwork in time to be in contention. Clasing is confident that his horse is ready to be on the team. "He's actually better at three-days than at the horse trials," he said. "He gets in the mindset after A, B, and C, and pays attention more. At horse trials he can be a little cheeky, and sometimes duck out at narrows. But at the three-days, he's all business." Clasing was disappointed to drop into second after cross-country, but he was hopeful after watching the standings change all morning in the other divisions. "Once I saw how influential show jumping was, I still had hope we could win," he said. "He's an extremely careful jumper, and he wasn't tired at all today." Clasing hopes to take Yardley intermediate later this year, and is also active in track at his high school.
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