Rolex 3-Day Event : Dressage

I had the pleasure of photographing the recent Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event.
For those not familiar with "eventing" it is a test of horse & rider's skills and abilities in three disciplines:
Dressage, Cross Country and Stadium Jumping.
Scoring is done on a negative basis. In other words a perfect score (not gonna happen) would be zero.

"Rolex" as it is called is one of only four 4-Star events in the world. 4-Stars are the equivalent of a
Formula 1 Grand Prix, a World Cup match... you get the idea - in the equestrian world it is penultimate.

This post contains some of my dressage photos. Dressage is the equestrian equivelant of figure skating.
The riders perform a prescribed set of manuvers in a very controlled, formal and precise manner.
It was a grey rainy day making action photography a bit more of a challenge.

Ian Stark of GB

NIKON D2X    ---    125mm    f/2.8    1/1000s    ISO 200

NIKON D2X    ---    175mm    f/5.0    1/500s    ISO 200

Olympic gold medalist Bruce Davidson of the USA.
This shot is after the final salute; his horse Jam gets a pat.

NIKON D2X    ---    110mm    f/5.0    1/640s    ISO 200

Heath Ryan & Flame of Australia. They were later eliminated on cross country in a spectacular
tumble in which fortunately neither horse or rider were seriously injured.

NIKON D2X    ---    120mm    f/5.0    1/640s    ISO 200

NIKON D2X    ---    135mm    f/5.0    1/640s    ISO 200

Ian Roberts of Canada on Napalm

NIKON D2X    ---    98mm    f/4.0    1/640s    ISO 200

Bruce Davidson

NIKON D2X    ---    200mm    f/5.0    1/320s    ISO 200

Thanks for looking!

Don

 

Thanks Ty & Gale.

Don