| | United States Equestrian Federation Response to FEI Press Release Regarding Positive Drug Test of Mythilus at 2008 Olympic Games
Release: August 27 2008
Lexington, KY - Following a routine drug test on August 19 at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong, Mythilus, a US dressage horse, ridden by Courtney King-Dye, was found to have tested positive for Felbinac. Felbinac is considered a class A prohibited substance by the FEI. Felbinac is usually applied topically for the relief of local pain and inflammation and belongs to a group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
When Mythilus arrived in Hong Kong he was treated in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Clinic for artrial fibrillation as a result of the stress of his trip. USEF Veterinarian, Dr. Rick Mitchell attended to the horse in close cooperation with the Veterinary Commission. King-Dye and Dr. Mitchell believe that during treatment at the clinic, he may have come in contact with Felbinac. In discussion with King-Dye, USEF vets, grooms and physical therapists, no other explanation or conclusion was able to be drawn.
“Neither I nor my vets had ever heard of the drug Felbinac until we got the call about Myth's positive test,” said King-Dye. “We were stunned and baffled. We spent the entire day doing internet research on the uses for this drug and how it could possibly have gotten into my horse's system. As far as we could find it is not even manufactured, approved, or available in the US. My horse has had no soundness problems whatsoever, and I would have no need for an anti-inflammatory. Anyone who knows me knows whole heartedly that I would never dope my horse intentionally. It is cheating; it is not putting your best against the other’s best. I have never been in a more torturous and frustrating situation; trying to prove innocence is very hard. It saddens me beyond description that my whole reputation could be blackened because of this situation.”
The FEI Tribunal stated in their Preliminary Decision that “there are circumstances in this case that makes it difficult to clear out how the Prohibited Substance entered into the horse’s system.”
“The USEF stands behind the FEI's initiatives to rid the sport of doping and to protect the welfare of our horses. We are equally supportive of Courtney in this situation as this substance was unknown to any of us until a few days ago,” said USEF CEO John Long. “It seems clear that Mythilus came into contact with it without Courtney's or Dr. Mitchell's knowledge.”
From the FEI Press Release:
King-Dye, who placed 13th individually in the Dressage competition, was officially notified on the morning of August 22 of the positive test result and the decision for provisional suspension was upheld that evening at a preliminary hearing before one member of the FEI Tribunal.
Given that the Dressage events of the 2008 Olympic Games ended on August 19 it was decided to wait until the confirmatory B analysis prior to any public announcement of the findings. The FEI has now received confirmation of the initial finding from the analysis of the B sample.
Next steps
Now that the B samples have confirmed all the initial findings, the process will follow the Accelerated Medication Control Procedure during & after the 2008 Olympic Games which is part of the FEI Regulations for Equestrian events at the 2008 Olympic Games (Annex G), available on FEI Olympic website.
Evidence and written submissions have been requested from each rider, and a three-member panel of the FEI Tribunal has been appointed. Hearings will be held on September 5-7 in Lausanne, however it is up to the Person Responsible whether or not they wish to exercise or waive their right to be heard. The panel will then, in light of all the evidence received, take a decision as to the applicable sanction if any.
An update will be provided by the FEI following the hearings (September 8) and final decisions will be announced prior to the end of the first week in October, provided the hearings can be held as scheduled. However, these deadlines are indicative timelines, and may be affected by specific circumstances as with any legal proceeding.
The competition results will be amended as indicated in the Tribunal’s final decision.
Because this case is still pending there will be no further comment from the USEF.
For more information, please contact Joanie Morris at jmorris@usef.org.
BIG NEWS!! - Courtney qualifies for 2008 Olympics!!
At the completion of the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm Olympic Selection Trials and National Championships in San Juan Capistrano, CA Courtney finished in 3rd position on Harmony's Mythilus and 4th in Idocus. This secures her a spot on the team for Hong Kong with Harmony's Mythilus, and Idocus will travel as a reserve horse to Germany. Exciting times ahead! Special thanks to the many people that have helped her along the journey.
Photo courtesy of Sara Leiser, The Chronicle of the Horse - Harmony's Mythilus owned by Harmony Amateur Sports Foundation.
Latest Update - Olympic Selection Trials - June 2008
Courtney has officially qualified two horses, Idocus - owned by Christine McCarthy, and Harmony's Mythilus - owned by Harmony Amateur Sports Foundation, for the Collecting Gaits Farm Olympic Selection Trials and National Championships in San Juan Capistrano, CA to be held over two weekends June 21-22 and 28-29.
Courtney, Idy and Myth are joined by her own Harmony's Wyoming and Grandioso III owned by Hampton Green Farm to train with Steffen Peters in San Diego in preparation for the trials, they all arrived healthy and happy on May 28.
Special thanks to all the people who have contributed to Courtney's Quest to assist in her journey. Your generosity has been incredible!
Links for the trials:
Below is a shot of Courtney and Mica on the two PRE Stallions, Grandioso III and Drago doing their Pas de Deux at the Send off Party on May 26.
Courtney King and Idocus Qualify at PhelpsSports.com Palm Beach Dressage Derby for 2008 World Cup Dressage Final
Written by: Mary Hilton - Phelps Media Group. Photo Susan J. Stickle
WELLINGTON, FL – March 6, 2008 – Courtney King of New Milford, CT, with Idocus, an 18-year-old KWPN stallion owned by Christine McCarthy, entered the PhelpsSports.com Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W ranked #1 in the FEI World Cup Standings for the North American League. After scoring 72.55% in the Grand Prix Freestyle, King and Idocus finished the competition maintaining their #1 rank in the league and will be one of two combinations to represent the United States at the FEI World Cup Final.
The North American League, comprised of Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., is allotted two spots at the World Cup and the U.S. secured both spots. Jane Hannigan of Harvard, MA, with her own Maksymillian also qualified at the PhelpsSports Palm Beach Dressage Derby to represent the U.S. at the World Cup, ranked as the #2 American behind King. The World Cup Final will be held in s’Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, on March 27-30.
King and Idocus will be representing the United States at the World Cup for the second consecutive year. They were one of four American combinations that competed in the 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup Final in Las Vegas, NV, and finished in sixth place.
“It is an honor to be going to the World Cup for the second consecutive year,” said King. “Last year we were a real underdog to get a spot, and it was a thrill to get my feet wet in the international arena in Las Vegas! This year I feel that both ‘Idy’ and I are more solid. It's hard to believe that he is feeling better despite getting older!”
At the PhelpsSports Derby CDI-W, held February 29 through March 3, in Loxahatchee, FL, King competed Idocus in the Grand Prix de Dressage on Friday and the Grand Prix Freestyle on Sunday. Up against a top field of 32 horses from four countries in the Grand Prix, King and Idocus finished in second place with a score of 72.00%.
In the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle sponsored by PhelpsSports.com, competing against a roster of 15 horses, King and Idocus performed the technically challenging kur to Broadway tunes that they used at the 2007 World Cup Final and notched third place with a score of 72.55%. King and Idocus will perform their freestyle to Broadway show tunes at s’Hertogenbosch.
The scores King and Idocus earned at the PhelpsSports Derby by King also secured their #1 position on the current USEF National Grand Prix Dressage and Selection Trial Ranking List. The USEF National Grand Prix Championship / Olympic Games Selection Trials will be held the last two weekends in June in San Juan Capistrano, CA.
“I was very pleased with Idy’s Grand Prix,” said King. “It was the best he felt in the piaffe in the ring to date! I was not happy with my freestyle – I think I simply need to practice it more. It is always so hard to practice freestyles, but before the last show I made myself keep practicing it. Then before this show I was too confident from the success of the previous show, so I only practiced it once and we had several mistakes. So now I know!”
King and Harmony’s Wyoming #1 in USEF National Developing Horse Standings
King also competed two horses, Timber and Harmony’s Wyoming, in five national open classes at the PhelpsSports.com Palm Beach Dressage Derby and claimed four wins and one red ribbon.
King rode Timber, an eight-year-old-Friesian gelding owned by Constance Sisler, in three Third Level Tests. In Third-1 on Friday, King and Timber placed second in a field of 15 horses with a score of 69.231%. In Third-2 on Saturday, King and Timber won, topping a field of 14 entries with a score of 67.436%. Wrapping up with Third-3 on Sunday, King and Timber claimed victory again, besting the roster of 13 entries with 69.767%.
Aboard her own Harmony’s Wyoming, a seven-year-old, Hanoverian gelding, King competed in the USEF Developing Horse Test on Thursday and took first place over the field of seven horses with a score of 70.455%.
King and Harmony’s Wyoming are now ranked #1 in the USEF National Developing Horse Ranking List for the 2008 National Championship sponsored by the Dutta Corporation and PSI. The pair’s score at the PhelpsSports Derby was their first mark in the Developing Horse program, and proved to be the highest percentage earned to date on the roster of 28 horses.
On Friday, King and ‘Wyoming’ competed in their first Prix St. Georges and won again, topping the field of 10 horses with a score of 70.083%. Significantly, three ‘O’ judges were presiding over the class – Gary Rockwell, USA; Evi Eisenhardt, Germany; and Uwe Mechlem, Germany (retired).
“I could not have been happier with Harmony’s Wyoming!” beamed King. “He has come along so far in the past eight months. I think he is finally done growing! He made the transition from the six-year-old tests to the Developing Horse Prix St. Georges so smoothly, and right at the start of the season! Now he doesn't need to learn anything new for a while. He is just developing more strength and is easier to collect. It is very fun!”
Courtney King Claims Victory in Freestyle, and 2nd and 3rd in Grand Prix at Gold Coast Opener CDI-W/CDI-Y Presented by Collecting Gaits Farm
Written by: Mary Hilton
WELLINGTON, FL – January 30, 2008 – Courtney King rode three Grand Prix horses at the Gold Coast Opener Festival CDI-W/CDI-Y Presented by Collecting Gaits Farm on January 25-27 in West Palm Beach, FL, and collected top placings for each mount in this first qualifying competition on the 2008 Florida circuit for the USEF National Grand Prix Championship / Olympic Games Selection Trials.
King’s Grand Prix mounts were Idocus, an 18-year-old KWPN stallion owned by Christine McCarthy; Harmony’s Mythilus, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Harmony Sporthorses; and Rendezvous 3, a 13-year-old Danish Warmblood mare owned by Francine Walker.
With scores earned at the Gold Coast Opener, King and her three Grand Prix mounts are placed very well on the USEF National Grand Prix Dressage & Selection Trial Ranking List. King and Idocus are ranked #1. King and Harmony’s Mythilus are ranked #11. King and Rendezvous 3 are ranked #16.
“This show was a personal victory for me because with the three Grand Prix horses, there was not a single mistake in any of the six tests we competed in,” King said. “There were a few miscommunications, but no tempi change mistakes, no pirouette mistakes, and no zig-zag mistakes, so I was really happy.”
On opening day of the show, King rode all three horses in the FEI Grand Prix CDI, competing on a roster of 29 entries representing five countries. King claimed second place with Harmony’s Mythilus with a score of 71.125%. King and Idocus captured third place with 70.75%. King and Rendezvous 3 earned ninth place notching 65.208%.
“I was very, very happy with ‘Myth’,” King said. “I gave him some down time when he got back from Europe and only started building him back up again this week, so I didn’t expect him to be in top form, but he was really good. He put in a very clean test. I hadn’t been practicing too much piaffe because with him that’s something that’s always there, but he got a little nervous going into it in the show ring and got a little quick, so that actually wasn’t the best that he could do. Other than that, he really put in a solid test. He’s just getting better and better. I’m really excited about him, especially coming into this first qualifier.”
For Saturday’s competition, King rode Rendezvous 3 in the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI. The duo earned 65.280% for sixth place. “I was really pleased with her in the Grand Prix and the Special,” King said. “It was only her third time competing in the Grand Prix and it was her very first Grand Prix Special. She’s not a naturally muscular horse so we are working on building up muscle. Being as green as she is at this level, she put in two very solid tests. I was really happy to get 65s in front of those judges. The judges’ comments were all really positive about her potential.”
On Sunday, King rode Idocus in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI and claimed victory over a field of eight international horses with a score of 76.30%.
“I was really happy with Idocus. He came out really into it, really up and light in the bridle,” King said. “It was nice in front of this panel of international top-level judges to be getting into those mid-70s again because the past couple of times I’ve ridden it I’ve had mistakes and been stuck around 72, so coming into World Cup and Olympics it’s nice to see those mid-70s again.” King noted, “I’m considering going for the World Cup with Idocus.”
King’s freestyle features a high degree of difficulty and a wonderful soundtrack created by Terri Gallo that includes “Follow the Yellow Brick Road,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” and other Broadway show tunes. King and Idocus have performed this freestyle for victories in 2007 at the PhelpsSports.com Palm Beach Dressage Derby, USEF National Grand Prix Championship, and Washington International Horse Show Dressage Invitational. It was also their kur for 2007 FEI Rolex Dressage World Cup Final where they finished sixth. King intends to keep this freestyle for the 2008 show season and for international competitions if she represents the U.S. at the World Cup Final and the Olympic Games. “I really love the music and I think it’s going to be as close to maximizing Idocus as we can get,” King said.
Also on Sunday, King rode Harmony’s Mythilus in the national segment of the show, competing the Grand Prix Special in the FEI Test of Choice Open class. King and Harmony’s Mythilus topped the field of 17 horses with a score of 69.80%.
King has only competed ‘Myth’ in the Special twice, so she entered him in the Test of Choice to practice in front of top judges Peter Engel (I) of Germany and Marian Ludwig (I) of the USA. Windy conditions put the powerful gelding on edge and caused him to spook at the beginning of the test. “But it ended up a positive result because in the beginning he was so ready to run away and then through the test I was able to get him back to me, which in the past I haven’t really been able to do,” King said, and added with a grin, “So it ended up being a positive schooling tool, but probably not worth all that energy – but you live and learn!”
King had a successful show despite being extremely ill during the entire competition. “If it were another show, I would have scratched, but this was a qualifier for the Olympic Selection Trials and it was really important. I had to do it,” King said. “I am so fortunate that I had a really good care team. Basically, all I had to do was get on my horse and ride. Once I get on a horse and start to work, I almost always start to feel better and can focus. I was so happy that I was able to do a decent job of it.”
King will compete next at the 2008 PhelpsSports.com Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W/CDI-Y on February 29-March 2 in Loxahatchee, FL.
 Courtney and Mythilus - owned by Richard Malloch. Mythilus placed 1st in both the Grand Prix for the Special and the Grand Prix Special at Dressage at Devon. Photo: susanjstickle.com
Courtney King Claims Five FEI Victories at 2007 Dressage at Devon
Written by: Mary Hilton, Phelps Media Group, Inc.
Release Date: 2007-10-04
It's considered the most prestigious show on the East Coast, if not the entire U.S., and only the best of the best emerge as winners at the inimitable Dressage at Devon. Courtney King of New Milford, Connecticut, wrapped up her weekend with more wins than any other competitor showing in the Performance Division. With five world-class mounts under saddle, King came down the centerline 11 times and galloped the honor round of victory five times at the 33rd annual Dressage at Devon CDI-W/Y/J presented by WT/Direct, held September 27-30, in Devon, PA.
World-class judging comprised of three Olympic (O) rated judges and six International (I) rated judges provided strict and accurate scoring throughout the show. The elite panel included Barnabas Mandi, (O) Hungary; Francis Verbeek Von-Rooy, (O) Netherlands; Gotthilf Riexinger, (O) Germany; Trond Asmyr, (I) Norway; Hilda Gurney, (I) USA; Lorraine Stubbs (I) USA; Jacques Van Daele, (I) Belgium; Jane Weatherwax, (I) USA; and Lois Yukins, (I) USA.
Judge Mandi, president of the Ground Jury, commented on King after her spectacular ride aboard Idocus in the Grand Prix Freestyle, saying, "The rider is young and has a positive future. For me, it was interesting that a young person was so calm and concentrated, which shows a good quality for a sportsman for the future. The hands were not shaking under the pressure." Mandi is one of seven judges that will preside at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Mythilus Wins Two Grand Prix Classes in Devon Debut
Making his debut appearance at Dressage at Devon, Mythilus, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Richard Malloch, notched back-to-back victories. In the FEI Grand Prix B, Qualifier for the Grand Prix Special, 'Myth' topped a field of 14 horses with a score of 68.375%. In the FEI Grand Prix Special, Myth again bested a field of 14 horses, solidly claiming the win with a score of 71.00%. The powerful bay gelding by Ferro was the only horse to break the 70-percentile in the Grand Prix Special.
"I'm still just on a high and excited from the ride and how with me he felt and how exciting it is to pull that kind of a score with those judges," King enthused. "I feel like it's the beginning of the horse's career."
Idocus Notches First Scores Towards Olympic Selection Trials
As the returning champion of the FEI Grand Prix B, Qualifier for the Grand Prix Freestyle, Idocus, a 17-year-old Dutch stallion owned by Christine McCarthy, showed he was still right on form, notching 71.042%. The elegant bay stallion was just barely edged into second place in a field of 17 topnotch horses by Canada's Ashley Holzer and Pop Art, who scored 71. 250%. In the electrifying FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, held as the featured event on Saturday night under lights in the Dixon Oval before a crowd of over 3,000 spectators, King and Idocus ("Idy") presented a flawless rendition of their kur to Broadway show tunes, which they performed at the 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup Dressage Final. The duo scored a whopping 73.00% and led the class of 15 entries until Denmark's Lars Petersen and Succes scored 73.40%, edging King and Idocus into second place by a mere 4/10th of a point.
Commenting on her Grand Prix ride, King said, "Idy felt a little bit tight in the warm up, but he was very honest in the test. His piaffe and passage were very rhythmical, and his extended canter was awesome. I wasn't able to get him set up really well before the pirouettes, so one of them was not very good, but without that he was definitely in the running. Honestly, I was pretty excited to be that close behind such a smashing combination as Ashley and 'Poppy'!"
King was enthusiastic about the freestyle competition as well, enthusing, "Wow, I was blown away by Lars's freestyle. Such amazing music - I was just giggling with pleasure watching it! And it was very technically difficult as well. It made me really want to make my freestyles better. I was shocked and thrilled to even be so close behind him." With a grin, King beamed, "It's pretty cool to be at Devon where you can really enjoy and admire the people who kick your butt!"
Rendezvous 3 Claims Double Victories in Small Tour
While Rendezvous 3 made her Grand Prix debut at Saugerties this summer, she only had the one qualifying score for Devon, so King showed her in the small tour for the last time in this talented mare's career. The 12-year-old Austrian-bred Warmblood mare owned by Francine Walker came down centerline three times, and cantered off with the blue ribbon twice. In the FEI Prix St. Georges, Rendezvous scored 67.25% for third place in a huge field of 45 horses. In the FEI Intermediaire I, Rendezvous returned to dominate the class of 41 entries, scoring 71.250%. The mare was the only horse on the roster to break the 70-percentile. Rendezvous wrapped up her weekend in an extraordinary way - she was the last horse in the last class at this year's Devon, and proved to be the last horse to gallop a victory lap at this year's show by winning the FEI Intermediaire Freestyle with a score of 71.20%. The mare performed technically challenging canter work and showcased her extended trots to theme music from the film "My Fair Lady." Again, the impressive Rendezvous was the only entry to score in the 70-percentile.
"Rendezvous' freestyle was a great way to end the show, the season, and the small tour on her!" King said. "Although we went through some ups and downs during the weekend, 'RV' is always a thrill to ride in the ring. She shows such quality, expression, and elasticity. It is a blast to ride!"
Jubilant Top Contender in FEI Prix St. Georges
King had an exciting weekend with the youngster Jubilant, an eight-year-old Oldenburg stallion owned by Anne Wood and Virginia Easley. Jubilant ("Eubie") led the class of 45 horses in the FEI Prix St. Georges for almost the entire class and then ended up tied for the win with Melissa Taylor and Dacardo. Both horses scored 68.667%. The tie was broken in Dacardo's favor based on the Collective Marks, putting Jubilant second. Jubilant also showed in USEF Fourth Level Test 3, scoring 68.659% for third and USEF Fourth Level Test 2, earning 67.50% for second place.
"I was so proud of Eubie! In a tough field of extremely seasoned small tour horses, he was on top with only one CDI under his belt. He was really awesome for the Prix St. Georges!" King related enthusiastically. "Then, my super laid back, frankly lazy little stallion could not contain himself for the Friday evening awards ceremony, so I had to actually gallop him around to tire him out enough so that he wouldn't buck me off! That was an extremely unusual circumstance, which unfortunately deflated his balloon for Saturday. Nevertheless, he is feeling like an upper level horse, completely capable of continuing to be competitive through the FEI levels. That's exciting!"
Harmony's Wyoming Wins FEI Dressage Test for Six Year Old Horses
King's own six-year-old Hanoverian gelding Harmony's Wyoming started off her weekend with her first win of this year's Devon, scoring 78.20% in the FEI Dressage Test for Six Year Olds, topping a competitive field of eight entries. Earlier this year, King withdrew 'Wyoming' from the Young Horse Championships in order to continue her training program with him aimed at Grand Prix, so the win in the class was especially gratifying.
"I was really, really pleased with my decision to take him out of the Young Horse Championships and develop him," King said. "The judges liked him very much so I felt good about this return to the show ring. I feel that he's on a good course for the future. It was especially nice that Leslie Malone of Harmony Sporthorses, who bought Wyoming for me, came to see him school over the weekend. She hadn't seen him in a while, so it was fun for her to see the difference in him - the horse with no trot!" King laughed, referring to the fact that previously the gait had been a low point but at Devon the judges gave Wyoming the top scores for his trot work and called it a 'highlight'.
2007 Dressage at Devon - Record Wins for King
Overall, with five horses and 11 classes to contest in four days - with some of them lasting late into the night - it was a non-stop, intensely competitive weekend for King. But with five important wins to her credit and the thrill of riding the honor rounds at Devon, it was also the most successful and exciting Dressage at Devon in the 29-year-old rider's career."Devon is my favorite place to show, and this year was no exception to that rule!" King beamed. "Being a pre-Olympic year we had the benefit of not only excellent judges, but also a very strong competitive field from all over the place. It made me work very hard! I had several very close second places, which make me strive even more. You can't let a single point slide at Devon or someone is right on your heels - that is very important for all of the riders to push themselves to be better, and it is inspiring to be competitive in that field!"
Courtney King and Idocus Impress Judges at Aachen CDIO*** Written by: Mary Hilton for Phelps Media Group, Inc.
July 14, 2007 – Courtney King riding Idocus made her debut at the Aachen CDIO***, held July 4-8, 2007, in Aachen, Germany, and competed against the top 32 riders in the world who represented 14 countries. Representing the U.S., King, 29, of New Milford, CT, and Idocus delivered performances that qualified them from the Grand Prix into the Grand Prix Special, and then into the Grand Prix Kur to Music, which permits only the top 15 competitors.
With three opportunities to impress the judges, King earned higher scores each time she cantered into the sold-out 8,000-seat stadium. On her first day in the ring for the Grand Prix-CDIO, King earned 66.875% for 19th place in the starting roster of 32 horses – a score high enough to qualify her to compete in the Special. In the Grand Prix Special-CDIO, King and Idocus earned 68.480% for 11th place in the field of 30 horses. In the Grand Prix Kur to Music, King and Idocus received a score of 71.300% to finish 11th in the elite field of 15.
All but one of the internationally acclaimed officials presiding at the dressage ring were judging King for the first time in her career and they were impressed with her riding abilities, rewarding her with scores of 8 out of a possible 10 on several occasions for Rider Position and Effectiveness. The judging panel was comprised of Leif Toernblad of Denmark; Dr. Evi Eisenhardt of Germany; Dr. Vincenzo Truppa of Italy; Wim Ernes of the Netherlands; and Beatrice Bürchler-Keller of Sweden. “Nice and correct way of riding!” complimented Judge Toernblad. “Very elegant rider with a good seat.”
King was encouraged to compete in Aachen by U.S. Dressage Chef d’Equipe Klaus Balkenhol as a step towards gaining exposure to European judges and preparing for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Selection Trials.
“Competing at Aachen was an honor, a privilege, and a pleasure,” King said. “I learned many things from my experience there that will help with my future career. The reason that Klaus felt that it was important for me to go to Aachen was to show in front of the European judges, and I did not appreciate the significance of that until I was there. I am accustomed to the U.S. where we have many European judges, but they are normally the same judges, so it was very different to be in front of a complete panel that didn’t know me. The biggest thing that I took away from Aachen was inspiration. What a great thing to compete in the same ring with the best in the world, to watch the preparation and be involved in the same sphere. I strive to excel as they do.”
Leading up to Aachen, King and Idocus, the 17-year-old Dutch stallion owned by Christine McCarthy, represented the U.S. at the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Final in Las Vegas, NV, in April where they finished in 6th place. The duo qualified for the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Grand Prix Championship in Gladstone, NJ, in June where they earned the Reserve Champion title. King and Idocus were invited by the Aachen CDIO3* show management to represent the U.S. in July.
King commented on her rides at Aachen, saying, “I was actually the happiest with my Grand Prix. Idocus traveled extremely well and felt very fresh. Although the piaffe could have been more active and we had one small mistake, I thought the test flowed well and Idocus really enjoyed it. I think the judges were very happy to see Idocus showing well again.” Though King was new to the judging panel, Idocus had been shown previously in Europe and in Greece at the 2004 Olympic Games by Marlies van Baalen of the Netherlands, but has not competed overseas since being reunited with King in 2005.
While Idocus traveled well to Aachen, he never settled at the show and was extremely restless in his stall, King noted, which had an affect on his energy level in the ring. “He spent his nights pacing and spinning in the box, so by the end of the week he was very tired,” King said. “He was still very good and tried hard, but I knew that he had drained himself by never resting. However, our freestyle went nicely with the music and despite a couple of bobbles, it was well received by the crowd.”
King returned to the U.S. after the Aachen CDIO3*, but plans to resume her exposure abroad this fall when she will train and compete in Europe in November and December. King plans to travel to Florida in January for the 2008 winter show season and the USEF High Performance qualifiers for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
“As far as the Olympics, I think any rider would say the same thing: ‘one day at a time’,” King said. “Idocus is wonderful and happy and fit, and if he stays inspired and amused by the work, then we will go through the selection trials. If he decides that it’s time for him to read and play golf, then I won’t push him. I also have a younger horse, Mythilus, who I will start in Grand Prix this month and who shows great promise. I’ve been striving all of my life for a chance to go to the Olympics, and I would say that next year I have a chance. It’s a slim chance, and I won’t push my younger horse beyond his comfort or my older horse beyond his happiness, but it’s pretty cool to have a chance. We’ll see what happens, but at the moment I’m counting my lucky stars to be in this position!”
Note: A very special thanks to Collecting Gaits Farm - Jeff and Shereen Fuqua - for their generous sponsorship to assist Courtney and Idocus to compete in Aachen!
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