Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage: Pippa Funnell takes fifth

Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage: Pippa Funnell and Maybach — Pippa Funnell and Maybach at Kentucky 2022.

(Image credit: Amy Dragoo)

Pippa Funnell has taken fifth place at the end of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage.

The British rider piloted SHE Eventing AB’s 12-year-old Maybach to a score of 29, in a relaxed test marred only by the fact he was slow to settle in the mid-test halt and then skipped before the final halt.

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Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.

Pippa Funnell ‘chuffed’ as Maybach throws off his insecurities for fifth in Kentucky dressage

“I’m chuffed with him. All his big events have been through Covid, so he’s not seen an atmosphere like this,” said Pippa. “It’s a shame he had that skip before the last halt as that was costly – I didn’t quite get his shoulder enough so it’s rider error.

“My greatest concern was that he’s quite insecure as a person – you’d never be able to leave him on his own on the lorry and he neighs when his friend goes out of the stables here.

“So I was worried that being last to go, he’d be left on his own in the warm-up and would get insecure and start whinnying. But he was good and really with me, a bit like some of my old boys used to be.”

Maybach has been in Pippa’s programme from the beginning of his education as he was started as a four-year-old by Swedish rider Hedvig Wik, who was based with the Funnells.

“Then she sensibly gave up riding and went to do something where she could earn more money,” said Pippa, explaining how she took over the ride in 2017.

“Maybach wouldn’t have the length of stride that Hope does,” said Pippa, admitting the nerves never get better as she advances through her career and she expects to be “pretty jittery” tomorrow.

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