I’m finally recovered from a long weekend at the American Eventing Championships at Chattahoochee Hills in Fairburn, Ga. I’d wanted to go to Chatt Hills for awhile now and it was every bit as beautiful as I’d seen it described.

I arrived on Wednesday and went to a nice dinner with a couple of co-workers in an area called Vinings, which was sort of a transformed upscale area with shops and restaurants. 

Thursday was all dressage from training through advanced. It was humid but overcast. I went on a golf cart coursewalk for sponsors, led by Hannah Sue Burnett, with some friends from USEA. It was interesting to hear her perspective on the advanced course. There were a couple of HUGE ditch and brush fences that had steps to walk into. I think Oh So would have done the prelim one if I aimed him at it.

Saturday was insane, with cross-country and dressage running. I spent most of the day on the cross-country course, but didn’t wander too far from the water and bank complexes since it was so hot and miserable. I got a decent sunburn because I just couldn’t keep sunblock on while sweating all day.

Sunday I was running back and forth to try and get some photos of the novice and beginner novice cross-country as well as show jumping for the other levels. The advanced division was fun to watch, but I definitely saw some poor riding. Only five clear rounds out of about 20 riders made for some shuffling in the standings, but in the end, Becky Holder and Courageous Comet won. I talked to her after cross-country and a couple of weeks ago after Richland Park, and she’s such a class act. Very humble and insightful. This was Comet’s last upper level competition and I was glad I was there to watch. They definitely have a special partnership.

Sunday was a bit quieter and much cooler. I was able to catch novice and beginner novice riders right after they finished, no running required!

Here are some links to my online coverage.

Thursday Dressage Photos

Holder Hangs On To Her Lead At AECs

Werther Wins At AECs

Weil’s Wild Weekend Pays Off At AECs

For a blast from the past, check out when Sam and I competed at the AECs in 2006. We were fourth going into show jumping but had two rails down, so it was pretty devastating to me at the time.