Vanessa Hughes Photography: November 2014

Sunday at Galway Downs was truly spectacular. The weather was a little chilly in the morning but the sun kept us warm throughout the day. It was a great backdrop for the climactic finish of the CCI3* division. The day started out with horse inspections then the CCI1* and CCI2* had their time in the Show Jumping arena and we had a very nice crowd built up by the time the CCI3* riders started walking the arena.

Crabo Wins First CCI3* At Galway Downs International Three-Day Event

Barbara Crabo rode Eveready II to victory in the CCI3* at the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event, scoring 53.2 penalties. Her faultless show jumping round pushed her to the top when leader Buck Davidson lowered one rail with Copper Beech to finish second (54.0). Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair finished third (59.2).

For Crabo, of Scottsdale, Ariz., Galway Downs was her first victory in a CCI3*, and for it she received a check for $7,000.

Davidson, one of the country’s most accomplished riders in the country, said he didn’t feel the pressure of being the last rider in the warm-up ring or notice the hush that came over the crowd as he entered the ring. “I’m fortunate that I’m in that situation a lot. It never crossed my mind that I was going to hit a rail. I knew Barb was going to jump clean, and it never crossed my mind that I wouldn’t.

But it depends on the day—at [the Fair Hill CCI in Maryland two weeks ago] I had four clears and hit a lot of rails. And today I hit one. But he had the best three phases he’s ever had this weekend,” added Davidson, of Riegelsville, Pa.