Jenni Autry
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Jenni Autry

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About Jenni Autry

Originally from San Diego, Jenni discovered eventing thanks to the Bedford Hunt Pony Club in Virginia. After working in both newspapers and magazines, she joined the EN team in 2012. She travels extensively covering the U.S. Eventing Team and has reported at the Olympic Games, World Equestrian Games, Pan American Games, Badminton, Burghley, Kentucky, Luhmühlen and Pau. As for her favorite event, it’s a toss-up between Aachen and Boekelo. When she isn’t on the road, she’s busy competing her heart horse, Imperial Striker, better known as Derry.

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Who Prevailed at Bromont? Your Full Cross Country Breakdown

That’s a wrap on cross country day at the MARS EQUESTRIAN Bromont Three-Day Event! With six FEI divisions running cross country, the chinchillas have been frantically transcribing interviews to bring you comments from the leaders. Click here to read the full report on the feature CCI4*-L class; the winner will take home the Todd Sandler Challenge tomorrow. Then read on for what the rest of our leaders had to say.

Kylie Lyman and Da Vinci Code. Photo by Cealy Tetley.

Kylie Lyman and Joan Nichols’ Da Vinci Code burst back onto the international scene with a bang, storming around his first FEI track since Bromont in 2017 to lead the CCI3*-L on his dressage score of 28.3. “Davinci,” a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Master Imp X Clovers Apollo, by Clover Hill), sustained a soft tissue injury in his last appearance at Bromont and has been slowly making his comeback ever since.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had as much fun,” Kylie said. “He was literally foot perfect. Anytime I asked him to go forward or come back, he jumped everything in a great rhythm and a great shape. I think he really enjoyed himself. It’s been a long time coming back from injury, and it’s amazing to have him back so confident and proud of himself. He genuinely enjoyed himself. It was a special day even though it was a step back and a lower level. We didn’t know if he would come back at all, so it’s definitely emotional.”

It’s also an emotional day for Kylie and her team because they are still reeling from the loss of Cooley Ice, who they lost two weeks ago after a battle with colic. Kylie said she cried “happy tears” today mixed with a bit of sadness — elation for Da Vinci making his comeback in such fantastic form, and heartbreak for the loss of “Eli.”

“It’s nice to have these days that are so special,” Kylie said, “and to still be able to appreciate all of that and have the people around you who enjoy it, too.” We couldn’t have said it better.

Looking to the rest of the CCI3*-L leaderboard, Allie Knowles and Business Class, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Harlequin du Carel X Modela, by Quick Star) owned by Katherine O’Brien, also made the time to move up to second place on 28.7.

Kimmy Cecere and Jacqueline Mars’ Landmark’s Monaco — a full brother to Landmark’s Monte Carlo — moved up to equal third with Sydney Conley Elliott and Carol Stephens’ QC Diamantaire on 32.1.

Click here to view full scores in the CCI3*-L after cross country.

Alyssa Phillips and Oskar. Photo by Cealy Tetley.

Looking to the CCIU253*-L, Alyssa Phillips and Oskar, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Coriando X Nicole, by Marlo) owned by Julia Phillips, added 1.6 time penalties but still held their overnight lead on a score of 27.3.

Alyssa is competing on Leslie Law’s team for the USEF/USET Foundation North American Futures Team Challenge. Erik Duvander’s team took the lead on 89.5 today with all four of its riders delivering clear rounds. Leslie’s team sits second on 114.2 after Cosby Green and Highly Suspicious did not complete.

“I had a lot of input from the other girls on the team and Leslie. Right before I headed up to go to the start box, Cosby (Green) had just gotten eliminated, and Leslie said, ‘Go out and get it done and get a clear round.’

“Everything really rode to plan and how we walked it. My biggest concern was not knowing what type of horse I would have at the end, just because he’s not that experienced at long formats, and I haven’t done that many myself. There was a lot of work to do at the beginning, and the ground did get a little bit heavy in places, but he was a lot more adjustable and rideable than I ever expected him to be.”

Fellow teammate Alex Baugh and Altorac Farm’s Ballingowan Pizazz, a 17-year-old Irish Sport Horse (OBOS Quality X Rocklea, by Leabag) added 4.4 time penalties to remain in second place on 33.2.

Canada’s Shelby Brost and her own Crimson, who participated in the inaugural Bromont Rising Program this week, were one of five pairs to catch the optimum time, which moved them up to third place on their dressage score of 33.6.

Click here to view full scores in the CCIU253*-L after cross country.

Sondra Shantz and Unique. Photo by Cealy Tetley.

Canadian adult amateur Sondra Shantz moved up to take the CCI2*-L lead with her colorful mare Unique one year after being in labor with her son, Noah. She gave birth to him on June 9, 2018, and having a year off gave her time to “have the time off and reflect on what I needed to work on.”

Sondra bought “Nikki,” a flashy skewbald KWPN/Thoroughbred mare (Fuhler X Abydos Maya, by Judge TC) bred in Canada by Tonya Cummins, as a 2-year-old and produced her through the levels.

“When I came back this year, I wanted to make sure she was really fit and get more coaching. I started training with Kendal Lehari, and I started working on my fitness too with a personal trainer. I found those things made a huge difference in our mental game and confidence,” Sondra said.

“This was a really good comeback for us. We used to struggle with dressage and then that got better, and then we struggled with stadium and that got better, and then we’ve been struggling with cross country, so it was really nice to have a good clear round. She felt confident, which is the biggest thing.”

Boyd Martin moved to second with Heidi White’s Fernhill Prezley, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Aldatus Z X Killerisk Diamond, by Glidawn Diamond) owned by Heidi White, on their dressage score of 30.3.

Bobby Meyerhoff and The Donovan Group’s Lumumba, an 8-year-old Mecklenburg mare (Levisonn X Lamara, by Lamarc) moved to third on 30.6 in her debut at the level.

Click here to view full scores in the CCI2*-L after cross country.

Mike Pendleton and Carlsburg. Photo by Cealy Tetley.

Magic Mike Pendleton defended the lead on 30.3 in the CCIU252*-L with a speedy round aboard Carlsburg, a 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Puissance X Flame and Passion, by Cruising) owned by Boyd Martin and Steve Blauner.

“I thought I wasn’t going to get home in time, so I went a little fast in the back. He was so good everywhere. He’s such a champion. If you ride him halfway, right he’s going to jump the jumps. Hopefully he jumps all the sticks tomorrow.”

(Mike also piloted Steady Eddie, Boyd’s former five-star partner owned by George and Gretchen Wintersteen, Pierre Colin and Denise Lahey, to a super clear in his CCI3*-L debut to sit in fourth overnight in the under-25 division. Good man, Mikey!)

Alice Roosevelt and Get It Together, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Deanes San Ciro Hit X The Lapdancer, by Crosstown Dancer) owned by Simon Roosevelt, caught the time to remain in second on 32.0.

Gabrielle Hutchinson and Straight Moonshine, a 7-year-old Thoroughbred (Malibu Moonshine X Straight Blues, by Straight Man), jumped clear in their debut at the level to move up to third on 34.0.

Click here to view full scores in the CCIU252*-L after cross country.

Boyd Martin and Barry. Photo by Cealy Tetley.

Last but certainly not least, Boyd Martin and Windurra LLC’s Barry, who is out of Colleen Loach’s former four-star partner Freespirit, added 2.4 time penalties to move up to lead the CCI3*-S on 30.6.

“He’s taken awhile to click into gear. He’s still a bit of a spook but has a lot of quality. I think he just needs exposure to event after event after event. I decided not to do a long format until the end of the year on him, as he’s already qualified for the next step. I’m trying to put as many miles as I can on him to prepare him for next year.”

Christina Henriksen and JTH Zest, her own 8-year-old British-bred mare ( Zamboucca X Maybee Baybee, by Mayhill), caught the time to move from seventh up to second on 30.9.

Woods Baughman and C’est La Vie 135, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Contendro I X Anette, by Aarking xx) owned by James and Kim Baughman, moved from equal 10th up to third on 31.7 thanks to a speedy, clear cross country round.

If you’re still reading at this point, you deserve a medal. Tomorrow’s final horse inspection starts tomorrow at 8 a.m. in the following order: CCIU253*-L, CCI2*-L, CCIU253*-L, CCI3*-L, CCI3*-S, CCI4*-L. Show jumping starts at 9:30 a.m. and will run in the same order. Thank you for following along with EN’s coverage. Go Eventing.

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Boyd Martin In Control After Influential Bromont CCI4*-L Cross Country

Boyd Martin and Ray Price. Photo by Jenni Autry.

We knew it wouldn’t be a dressage show, but Derek di Grazia’s cross country course truly turned the CCI4*-L leaderboard upside down here at the MARS EQUESTRIAN Bromont CCI Three-Day Event in picturesque Quebec.

Just two pairs caught the optimum time of 10 minutes, with Boyd Martin and his homebred Ray Price smoking around 7 seconds inside to rocket to the top of the leaderboard on 32.2. Boyd can’t afford even a single second over the time allowed in show jumping tomorrow, as his second ride On Cue sits in second place on 32.3 after adding 1.2 time penalties in her impressive debut at the level.

“He’s a lightning fast horse — mostly Thoroughbred,” Boyd said of Ray, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred/Dutch gelding (Raise A Stanza X Fair Fiona, by Salute) owned by the Ray Price W Syndicate. Ray is the second generation of Boyd’s breeding program, as he also bred the dam. (Click here to read all about Ray’s breeding.)

“He’s been a work in progress. He’s obviously a favorite of mine since I bred him in Australia, and I rode his mother and his grandmother. He’s a little bit spooky in the cross country. He didn’t give me the best feel at Jersey, and my coach Phillip Dutton gave me a few good cross country schooling sessions and made an incredible difference. He stills feels a little green, but he’s so fast. I didn’t feel like he was going that fast — could have gone quicker!

Boyd Martin and On Cue. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Christine Turner’s On Cue, a 12-year-old Anglo-European mare (Cabri D’Elle X On High, by Primitive Rising), finished with her ears pricked and still looked full of running.

“She is just all class with scope to burn. In hindsight, it’s so much easier riding the second horse because you know the lines so much better. I’m a bit annoyed at myself having four seconds over because she could have gone much quicker. But saying that, it’s her first four-star long. I’m trying to just prepare her for Fair Hill and then on to Kentucky next year. I’m really pleased with both of them. It was truly an international track with big fences.”

Lauren Kieffer and Landmark’s Monte Carlo. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Lauren Kieffer and Jacqueline Mars’ homebred Landmark’s Monte Carlo, a 12-year-old Irish/Thoroughbred gelding (Formula One X Glamour), were the only other pair to beat the clock, finishing 6 seconds inside the time to move up from 13th after dressage to third on 35.4.

“With a horse like him, we’ve been around so many tracks together, so it’s pretty easy to trust him to go out and be bold,” Lauren said. “He’s such a good cross country horse. He has his show jumping demons, but for cross country there’s not much else I would rather be sitting on than him.”

Buck Davidson and Carlevo. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Buck Davidson and Carlevo, a 12-year-old Holsteiner (Caresino X Ramatuelle, by Levernois) owned by Carlevo LLC, led after dressage but added 12.4 time penalties to slip to fourth place on 40.3.

“The distances were quite short and he has a huge stride, so that made it a little hard for him. He kept galloping the whole way. He took care of me and did everything he didn’t have to do. I put him in some places I probably shouldn’t have. He was fantastic. I just wasn’t the best. My horse was probably the best he’s ever been. He could have tried to go around a few things, and he didn’t.”

Colleen Loach and Peter Barry’s Qorry Blue d’Argouges, a 15-year-old Thoroughbred/Selle Francais (Mr. Blue x Hardie du Bourg, by Count Ivor), jumped clear with 9.6 time penalties to move up to fifth on 42.2 as the highest-placed rider for Canada.

Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue d’Argouges. Photo by Jenni Autry.

There were problems spread all throughout Derek’s course, with just 38% of the CCI4*-L field delivering clear rounds. (Click here to watch a drone flyover video of the course.) A new combination at fence 9ABC — a rolltop on a bending right four strides to a corner, with a sharp bending left five strides to an arrowhead brush — proved to be the most influential and caught out six pairs.

Lauren weighed in with her thoughts on the course: “I think adding 9ABC before the second water was maybe just one too many questions before coming there. The way the ground is here, it’s very hard to get smooth as is, and then adding one more loop down the hill with a bit of an S-turn made it even harder. I think it really threw off your rhythm, and if the horses were a bit greener, it really threw them off too. It was a hard enough question on it own.

“Once you got through the bank to to the corner (at fence 15), you pretty much just had to get home at that point. I think it might have been smoother to move fence 9 to later in the course, but I also think the way he changed the route the horses finished a lot fresher. In the past, even the fit ones looked knackered at the end. I think he’s on the right track, and obviously Derek is one of our favorite course designers.”

Fence 9ABC. Screenshot via drone flyover.

Buck added: “The beginning was very up and down and they never feel balanced. I’m guessing 9ABC will be gone next year. It didn’t really work. It was just very intense at the beginning and not at the end, and the horses just didn’t settle as well.”

We asked Derek to weigh in with his thoughts on how the CCI4*-L course rode: “The course certainly had plenty to do on it, but I think it was all at the level, and they were fair questions. … For me, it was little mistakes that caught them out. At the same time, we had nine who jumped clear, so obviously those were the ones who figured it out and got it done.

“If you had a horse that went around here, you could say the horse is one that can certainly go on and probably go to the next level. The terrain here means there’s a lot to do; it can be a lot more difficult than other venues.”

After falling off five fences from home at Fair Hill last fall, Caitlin Henderson was all smiles when she completed her first CCI4*-L cross country today with Creative Dreamer. Photo by Jenni Autry.

As for Derek’s thoughts on 9ABC: “A lot of riders jumped from A to B fine, but then didn’t get to the C very well. You saw horses doing different things as far as how they read the ground and doing different striding. In walking it, I think it rode different than they thought it would for them, and that’s to me because of needing to understand what the horses were going to do with the way the ground went there.”

Buck Davidson retired his first ride, Copper Beach, at fence 9, and Jennie Brannigan also fell from I Bella there. We saw four rider falls in all: Lauren Kieffer parted ways with D.A. Duras at the second water at fence 11, Joe Meyer fell from Buccaneer at fence 6, and Sabrina Glaser fell from Rembrandt when the horse left a leg jumping into the first water at fence 4. All horses and riders are OK.

Super groom Bill Olson and Emilee Libby celebrate after her clear round with Jakobi to move up to seventh place. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Katherine Coleman and Monte Classico, who sat in third place after dressage, were eliminated on cumulative refusals at fences 9, 11 and 15. Emily Hamel and Corvett were eliminated on refusals at fences 15 and 23. Eight more riders picked up jumping penalties, though even carrying a 20 we still saw Cornelia Dorr rise to eighth with Sir Patico MH thanks to a speedy round with just 0.8 time penalties.

Click here to relive all the CCI4*-L action in EN’s live updates. Stay tuned for much more from Bromont, including photos and quotes from the leaders of the other divisions. Times for show jumping are being finalized now, so keep checking back. Go Eventing.

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Bromont CCI4*-L Live Updates: Boyd Martin Rockets to 1-2

Fence 15ABC on the CCI4*-L course. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Bonjour! We have bright, sunny conditions for cross country day at the MARS EQUESTRIAN Bromont CCI Three-Day Event. While we’ve avoided any downpours during the competition, the course is still drying out after being pummeled with rain in the lead up to the event. The CCI4*-L is running first starting at 8:30 a.m. EST to give the horses the best of the ground.

Derek di Grazia’s CCI4*-L course has 27 numbered obstacles running over 5,700 meters. The optimum time is 10 minutes. No pairs made the time last year. In the past four runnings of the CCI4*-L at Bromont, just two pairs have managed to finish on their dressage scores. This won’t be a dressage show, y’all. You can watch a drone flyover of the course below.

There is no live stream for cross country today, but I will be running live updates for the CCI4*-L on this page. Keep refreshing for the latest updates. EN wishes safe cross country trips for all. Go Eventing.

CCI4*-L XC Start Times | CCI3*-L XC Start Times | CCI2*-L XC Start Times | CCI3*-S XC Start Times

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8:35: We had a slightly delayed start but are underway with Clayton Fredericks and FE Stormtrooper as the first on course.

8:42: Lauren Kieffer and D.A. Duras have parted ways at the duck into the water. They are both OK.

8:43: Clayton is still going well and Buck Davidson has started with Copper Beach.

8:45: Clayton and FE Stormtrooper picked up 20 jumping penalties at the road crossing at fence 25. They are now safely home with 25.2 time penalties as well.

8:46: Buck Davidson has retired Copper Beach at fence 9.

8:47: Boyd Martin and On Cue are the only pair currently on course and are safely through fence 5.

9: Emilee Libby and Jakobi are on course now.

8:50: Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue d’Argouges are on course now.

8:51: Boyd and On Cue are clear so far and heading to the drop combination at fence 15.

8:55: Katherine Coleman and Monte Classico are on course now.

8:56: Boyd Martin and On Cue are home clear. They sat in second place after dressage so we are anxiously awaiting their time.

8:57: Just 4 seconds over the optimum time for Boyd Martin and On Cue in the mare’s 4*-L debut. They sit on a score of 32.3.

8:58: Katherine Coleman and Monte Classico have picked up 20 penalties at the arrowhead at fence 9. She then picked up another 20 at the water at fence 11.

8:59: Colleen and Qorry are home clear with 9.6 time penalties.

9: Katherine Coleman and Monte Classico have sadly been eliminated on refusals at fence 15.

9:03: Caitlin Henderson and Creative Dreamer are on course now.

9:06: Emilee and Jakob are clear through fence 15.

9:07: Caitlin picked up 20 jumping penalties at the water at fence 11.

9:08: Cornelia Dorr and Sir Patico MH are on course now.

9:09: Emily and Jakobi are home clear with 17.6 time penalties.

9:10: Emily Hamel and Barry are on course now.

9:23: Caitlin and Creative Dreamer are home with 20 jumping penalties and 39 seconds over.

9:14: Will Faudree and Michel 233 are on course now.

9:15: Cornelia Dorr and Sir Patico MH finished just 2 seconds over the time but picked up 20 penalties on course.

9:16: Emily Hamel and Corbett picked up 20 at the corner at 15C.

9:17: Alex Green and Fernhill Limited Edition are on course now.

9:18: Will picked up 20 penalties at fence 9.

9:20: Emily Hamel and Corvett have been eliminated on refusals at fence 23.

9:24: Jennie and I Bella picked up 20 jumping at the water at fence 4.

9:25: Will Faudree is home with Michel 233.

9:26: Jennie has fallen from I Bella at fence 9. Both are OK.

9:27: Ellie O’Neal and Zeta are on course now.

9:28: Alex Green and Fernhill Limited Edition are home clear with 28.4 time penalties — just our fourth clear so far.

9:31: Allie Knowles and Morswood are on course now.

9:34: Allie and Morswood picked up 20 jumping at fence 11C when they glanced off the arrowhead brush.

9:36: Ema Klugman and Bendigo are on course now.

9:40: Karl Slezak and Fernhill Wishes are on course now.

9:43: Allie Knowles and Morswood have completed with 20 jumping penalties.

9:44: Sabrina Glaser and Rembrandt parted ways at fence 4A when the horse left a leg. They are both ok.

9:45: Karl and Fernhill Wishes picked up 20 jumping at fence 9B.

9:46: Ema Klugman completed with 20 jumping penalties.

9:47: Dan Clasing and MW Gangster’s game are on course now.

9:49: Karl completed with 20 jumping and 15.6 time.

9:50: Joe Meyer and Buccaneer are on course now.

9:52: Joe Meyer and Buccaneer fell at fence 6. They are both up and ok.

9:55: Clayton Fredericks is on course with his second ride FE Always In Time.

9:57: Dan Clasing picked up 20 jumping at the third water and has now completed.

9:58: Karl’s jumping penalties have been removed. We will bring you the fence reports and verify all penalties at the conclusion.

10: Lauren Kieffer is back with her second ride now in Landmark’s Monte Carlo.

10:02: Clayton and FE Always In Time picked up 20 at fence 9.

10:03: Buck Davidson is on course now with overnight leader Carlevo.

10:07: Clayton is home with 20 jumping and 26.2 time penalties.

10:08: Lauren Kieffer is home clear with Landmark’s Monte Carlo and inside the time! They are the only pair to catch it.

10:09: Boyd Martin and Ray Price are on course now as our final pair to go.

10:13: Buck Davidson and Carlevo are home clear with 12.4 time penalties. Boyd and Ray Price can now take the lead.

10:15: Boyd will lead overnight. The question is which horse. He has to make the time with Ray Price to overtake On Cue.

10:19: Boyd did it! 7 seconds inside to sit first overnight with his homebred Ray Price and second with On Cue in her debut at the level. Pure class.

Buck Davidson Bounces Back from Broken Collarbone to Lead Bromont CCI4*-L

Buck Davidson and Carlevo. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Five weeks after breaking his collarbone, Buck Davidson tops the CCI4*-L leaderboard with Carlevo at the MARS EQUESTRIAN Bromont CCI Three-Day Event on a score of 27.9. While he is thrilled with the result, it isn’t exactly how Buck thought Carlevo’s spring would play out.

Carlevo, a 12-year-old Holsteiner (Caresino X Ramatuelle, by Levernois) owned by Carlevo LLC, was meant to compete in the Luhmühlen CCI5*-L in Germany next week as his spring long format. Those plans changed when his stepmother, Susie Tuckerman, sustained a brain injury in a fall on May 12 and was hospitalized in Ocala. Buck immediately traveled to Ocala to be with Susie and his father, Bruce Davidson, and stayed for two weeks.

In the meantime, Carlevo stayed home in Pennsylvania doing fitness work on the hills of Unionville, and Buck’s wife, Andrea, schooled him on the flat. Buck gave credit to Andrea and his team for keeping both Carlevo and Copper Beach, who sits in equal fifth on 32.4, in fighting form for Bromont. He also took Carlevo for a spin in the $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing two weeks ago as preparation.

“Carlevo is very consistent and very rarely does worse than 70%,” Buck said. “He can be a little bit lazy sometimes. The difference with him being behind the bit and in front of the vertical is really hard to feel, so James (Burtwell) helped me in the warm-up just to say that’s where he needed to be. He was really taking me nicely. He’s very elegant, and he’s very rideable.”

As for how Buck’s collarbone is feeling in his first competition back since Kentucky, he said it’s more of a “collarplate” now having been plated at least four times in surgery. He is not entirely sure how many times he’s broken his collarbone, but Buck is confident he’s ready to attack Derek di Grazia’s cross country course tomorrow.

“It feels like he’s taken a few of the really grueling hills out. I think hopefully the horses will be fresher and give a better picture coming home. The ground should be good. Coming up the fairway where it’s always wet, they’ve had a tone of rain, and I think that might get a little heavy there. It’s a natural cross country venue we don’t have anywhere else. Jay Hambly and his team do a fantastic job building the course.”

Boyd Martin and On Cue. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Boyd Martin and On Cue, Christine Turner’s 12-year-old Anglo-European mare (Cabri D’Elle x On High, Primitive Rising), scored 30.7 to sit second in the mare’s CCI4*-L debut.

“She’s a wonderful, flamboyant mover that really tries in the ring,” Boyd said. “She’s just starting to get the hang of this level. I was thrilled with the way she performed. She’s a work in progress on the flat, but I think in years to come she’ll be hard to beat in the dressage.”

“Cue” is coming off a win in the CCI4*-S at Fair Hill in April, and Boyd said she feels ready to take on the challenge tomorrow. “The course is typical Bromont — way bigger than your run-of-the-mill CCI4*-L — a bit of terrain and every question you can imagine out there. It will be a mission to get around well.”

Boyd also has his homebred Ray Price, owned by the Ray Price Syndicate, sitting in fourth place on 32.2. “I’ve got both of my horses very, very fit. They’ve been schooling everything I could imagine that would be here in my cross country field. The biggest thing is to get out there and ride every fence I can and to also make sure I have plenty of horse in the end. I’ve used them up a little bit early here in the past, with Trading Aces and Kyra last year, so it’s important to pace your horse.”

Katherine Coleman and Monte Classico. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Katherine Coleman and her own Monte Classico, a 10-year-old German Sport Horse gelding (Monte Bellini X W-Sally, by Saami xx), were second down centerline this morning and ultimately sit third at the conclusion of dressage on 31.0.

“I think it was a better test than he did at Fair Hill; his changes were cleaner. He got wild when I went down to the 10-minute ring, and I thought, ‘Oh my god, he’s turned into a fire-breathing dragon,’ … and then he went into the ring and was great and settled down,” Katherine said.

“He’s really fit right now, so he’s fresh. Riding a four-star-long fit horse in a dressage test is different from riding a short-format horse, so they’re just that bit more up. Erik Duvander (U.S. Performance Director for Eventing) said I could have half-halted him up a bit more, and someone else told me I was a bit conservative, but I was also riding a much fitter horse.”

“Monte” won his CCI4*-L debut at the Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event last fall, but Katherine noted this is a much stiffer track and will definitely be the biggest course he’s seen in his career.

“Being based in the UK and competing at Bramham and Boekelo and Blenheim, I’ve been there for the last eight years so I know how all the courses ride. You get a better feel for the ground, or you’ve seen how all the questions ride in the past, or you know the course designer, and it is a huge advantage.

“It’s intimidating to come to a venue like this and a track like this when you haven’t ridden that many courses from this designer and have never been on the grounds. I have a new appreciation for riders who are coming over to do Bramham, for example, for their first time.”

While Katherine, who is originally from New Orleans and had only competed up to the Intermediate level before she moved to England, would usually go back across the pond earlier in the spring, she decided to stay in the U.S. through Bromont and target this event with Monte.

“I wanted to spend more time over here for this horse to get him seen a bit more. I’ve been plugging away at developing a team over the last couple of years, and I think now they’re ready and at the level that it’s time to compare apples to apples and get them in front of the selectors. I am an American, so I want to be seen in America more.”

Dan Clasing and his own MW Gangster’s Game, a 9-year-old Anglo European gelding (Solitair X Fernhill City Girl, by Ghareeb), delivered a personal best of 32.4 to sit tied with Buck Davidson and Copper Beach in fifth place overnight.

Click here to view full scores from the CCI4*-L.

Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights. Photo by Cealy Tetley.

Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights Lead CCI3*-S

Colleen Rutledge is continuing on the comeback trail with her homebred Covert Rights, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred/Clydesdale gelding (BFF Incognito X Let’s Get It Right, by Covert Operation), and leads the CCI3*-S on a score of 27.6.

Dana Cooke and Kingfisher Park’s FE Whole Lotta Rosie, an 8-year-old Wurttemberger mare (Riccione X Fife, by Fuerst Piccolo), scored 27.7 to sit in second place after dressage.

Boyd Martin and Windurra LLC’s Barry, who is out of Colleen Loach’s former four-star mount Freespirit, sit third on 28.2 in the horse’s debut at the level.

Cross country starts at 8:30 a.m. EST with the CCI4*-L, followed by the CCI3*-L divisions starting at 10:36 a.m. EST, the CCI2*-L divisions at 1:33 p.m. EST and the CCI3*-S at 3:25 p.m. EST. Click below for starting orders:

CCI4*-L XC Start Times

CCI3*-L XC Start Times

CCI2*-L XC Start Times

CCI3*-S XC Start Times

We have picture-perfect conditions forecasted for cross country tomorrow, with sunny conditions and temperatures hovering in the 60-degree range. There is no live stream for cross country, but EN will be running live updates for the CCI4*-L. ALL of show jumping will be shown live on Sunday on Bromont’s Facebook page.

Thank you for following along with EN’s coverage of Bromont. Click here to catch up with yesterday’s dressage reports. We wish safe cross country trips to all. Go Eventing.

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Bromont Day One: Alyssa Phillips Assails CCIU253*-L, Lauren Kieffer Tops CCI2*-L

Alyssa Phillips and Oskar. Photo by Jenni Autry.

There are two under-25 divisions running here at the MARS EQUESTRIAN Bromont CCI-Three-Day Event, and Alyssa Phillips and Oskar top the CCIU253*-L leaderboard on a personal best score of 25.7 at the conclusion of dressage here in Quebec.

Oskar, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Coriando X Nicole, by Marlo) owned by Julia Phillips, has had a strong spring season in the lead-up to Bromont, finishing fourth in the CCI3*-S at Carolina International and second at Fair Hill.

“It was probably the best work (he’s done), overall. He’s really coming up more through his shoulders in the trot work. In the canter work, he’s really sitting down now, which has taken a long time to build his strength up to that (point),” Alyssa said. “There were a couple bobbles here and there, but to still get the score that he did means we are on the right track. He loves performing; he’s a great boy, and I’m really proud of him. I’m looking forward to the rest of the weekend.”

Alyssa and Oskar are competing as part of Leslie Law’s team for the USEF/USET Foundation North American Team Challenge, along with Alex Baugh and Ballingowan Pizazz, Cosby Green and Highly Suspicious, and Mallory Hogan and Clarissa Purisma. Leslie’s team score of 88.5 has them topping the leaderboard tonight.

“I’m so grateful for the opportunity,” Alyssa said. “It has been really eye-opening because I have been on past NAYC teams, and just to see how things worked then and how things have carried over to this competition — I have loved every minute of it, meeting new people and connections, and working with such awesome people. It has been a great week so far, and I’m looking forward to the coming days and getting their input about what they say about the cross country course and show jumping.”

Erik Duvander’s team of Kimmy Cecere and Landmark’s MonacoSydney Conley Elliott and QC DiamantaireAllie Knowles and Business Class, and Kylie Lyman and Xuanatu are close behind on a score of 92.7.

Looking to the rest of the leaderboard, Alex Baugh and Altorac Farm’s Ballingowan Pizazz, a 17-year-old Irish Sport Horse (OBOS Quality X Rocklea, by Leabag), were the first pair to go down centerline in the CCIU253*-L and sit in second place on 28.8.

Sydney Solomon and and Laurie Cameron’s homebred Qui Luma CBF, an 11-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare (Quite Easy X Uma Corwin CBF, by Cor Noir), round out the top three on 29.0 in their debut at the level.

Click here for full scores in the CCIU253*-L after dressage.

Lauren Kieffer and Get Gaudi. Photo by Cealey Tetley.

Lauren Kieffer Leads the Way in CCI2*-L

Lauren Kieffer and Get Gaudi, an 8-year-old KWPN mare (Alicante HBC X Second Floor, by Faram) owned by Jacqueline Mars, scored 28.4 to lead the CCI2*-L at the conclusion of dressage. “Gaudi” won her CCI2*-L debut at the Ocala Jockey Club in April on her dressage score of 27.7 and makes her second career international start here at Bromont.

“I’m really happy with Gaudi. She’s a lovely mare that Ms. Mars picked out a few years ago at a competition, and when Matt Flynn offered her for sale the year after that, we jumped on it,” Lauren said.

“We’ve been slow producing her; she’s always been super flashy, but she’s such a lanky powerhouse, and quite careful, so I thought there was the risk of her jumping herself into trouble until she got stronge,r and didn’t want her to develop any baggage. Luckily, Ms Mars. is very patient with the development of the young ones, and she’s really come out this year a real competitor. I’m very excited about her and her future.”

Sondra Shantz and Unique, a flashy skewbald KWPN/Thoroughbred mare (Fuhler X Abydos Maya, by Judge TC) bred in Canada by Tonya Cummins, scored 29.1 for second place in their second appearance at the CCI2*-L level.

Lizzy Jahnke and Light Speed Equestrian’s Colenomer, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Ghareeb X Riverside Furryoso) produced to the CCI2*-L level in Ireland by Andrew Turley, round out the top three on 30.1.

Click here for full results in the CCI2*-L following dressage.

The second day of dressage action kicks off with the CCI3*-S starting at 9 a.m. and the CCI4*-L starting at 9:30 a.m. EST. Click here for start times for the CCI4*-L and here for the CCI3*-S.

We are so incredibly lucky to have this event serving as one of North America’s six CCI4*-L events, as well as hosting five other international divisions, including two for under-25 riders. Dom Schramm perhaps said it best when he praised the event:

If you missed EN’s earlier report on who is leading the CCI3*-L and CCIU252*-L, click here to catch up. Be sure to read EN data analyst Maggie Deatrick’s report on which horse and rider she predicts will win the CCI4*-L.

Be sure to follow JJ Sillman on Facebook for beautiful photos from Bromont and follow Thehorsepester’s YouTube Channel for videos. Click here to catch up on all of EN’s Bromont coverage so far. Go Eventing.

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Best of Bromont: Ellie O’Neal Leads CCI3*-L, Mike Pendleton Tops CCIU252*-L

Ellie O’Neal and Zick Zack. Photo by Jenni Autry.

We have a jam-packed schedule with six international divisions boasting a record 152 entries here at the MARS EQUESTRIAN Bromont CCI Three-Day Event, and we couldn’t have asked for more beautiful conditions to kick off the first day of dressage here in Quebec.

Ellie O’Neal and Sally Cox’s Zick Zack lead the CCI3*-L on a 27.0 in the mare’s debut at the level. Ellie said she was thrilled that “Rosie,” a 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood (Blue Hors Zack X Mercedes, by Master), stayed relaxed and rideable.

“She’s really sensitive and hot to ride, so it has to be her way a little bit,” Ellie said. “It’s finding that balance of getting her to do the more upper-level movements and be relaxed about it and not push her over the edge and be too hot.”

Ellie hasn’t been to Bromont in seven years, and she said she wanted to return to the venue with Rosie to test the mare’s mettle over Derek di Grazia’s challenging cross country track.

“I wanted to see where she would be at a tough three-star this year and gauge whether she is ready to move up to Advanced in the fall,” Ellie said. “The course is definitely big and it’s her first one, but she’s a really good cross country horse naturally. She’s really fast. I think she’s going to go out there and eat it up, but she’s green so I’ll still take care of her.”

Rosie has never picked up more than 2.8 time penalties on cross country in her six international runs and caught the optimum time in three of them, so she will definitely be a speedy horse to watch on Saturday.

Looking to the rest of the CCI3*-L leaderboard, Kylie Lyman and Da Vinci Code, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Master Imp X Clovers Apollo, by Clover Hill) owned by Joan Nichols, scored 28.3 for second place. “Da Vinci” last completed an international here at Bromont in the CCI4*-L in 2017, when he finished fifth, and has been steadily making a comeback from injury ever since.

Allie Knowles and Business Class, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Harlequin du Carel X Modela, by Quick Star) owned by Katherine O’Brien, scored 28.7 for third place in the CCI3*-L. Allie and “Oso” are one of the four pairs competing on Erik Duvander’s team for the North American Futures Team Challenge.

Click here to view full scores in the CCI3*-L after dressage.

Mike Pendleton and Carlsburg. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The Rise and Rise of Mike Pendleton

Mike Pendleton and Carlsburg, a 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Puissance X Flame and Passion, by Cruising) owned by Boyd Martin and Steve Blauner, lead the CCIU252*-L in the horse’s debut at the level. Mike produced “Carl” from a 5-year-old and secured his first international win with the horse in the Plantation Field CCI2*-S last year.

“He’s just such a professional,” Mike said. “He was a little bit wild when we got here on Monday, and I could hardly hack him down the hacking path. Then yesterday when I took him in the ring for familiarization, he went straight to business. He knew when I got on him this morning that we were going to the test.”

Mike has worked as a rider and groom for Boyd Martin since 2013 and has now competed eight different horses at the FEI level for Boyd and his owners — a testament to where a dogged work ethic and persistent gumption can take one in life. (Did we mention Mike also competed Neville Bardos? Lucky guy!)

After spending six weeks in Germany at the end of the 2018 season working for Michael Jung, Mike got the ride on Boyd’s former five-star partner Steady Eddie, owned by Denise Lahey and Pierre Colin and George and Gretchen Wintersteen. Mike completed the first CCI3*-S of his career with “Eddie” at Jersey Fresh last month and finished ninth at Virginia in their final run before coming to Bromont to make his CCI3*-L debut.

The inaugural Bromont Rising Program participants. Photo courtesy of Maxine Preston.

Mike said he had a solid preparation this week thanks to participating in the inaugural Bromont Rising Program, which offered three days of intensive training for select under-25 athletes with Kerry Millikin, Peter Gray and Doug Payne in the lead-up to competing. (Stay tuned for much more about the program.)

“It’s been good to have so much help all week,” Mike said. “When Boyd is busy I can be off on my own a little bit, so it’s been nice to have a lesson for each ride and have a strategy. It would be awesome to see more events doing this.”

Looking to the rest of the CCIU252*-L leaderboard, Alice Roosevelt and Get It Together, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Deanes San Ciro Hit X The Lapdancer, by Crosstown Dancer) owned by Simon Roosevelt, scored 32.0 for second place.

Ashlyn Dorsey and RF Kinetic, a 13-year-old Hanoverian (Chico’s Boy X Fleur R, by First Flair R) owned by Marcel Dorsey, are here all the way from California to contest the mare’s first international since 2017, and sit in third on 33.1.

Click here for full scores in the CCIU252*-L after dressage.

The CCIU253*-L and CCI2*-L are wrapping up dressage now, so stay tuned for the full report on those divisions.

(As a side note, please accept my apologies for the lack of photos in reports. This is my first event back taking photos since breaking my arm in April, so I will be shooting dressage sparingly to save it for cross country and show jumping. Please follow JJ Sillman on Facebook for beautiful photos from Bromont. Follow Thehorsepester’s YouTube Channel for videos.)

Stay tuned for much more from Bromont. Go Eventing.

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All 115 Horses Pass First Inspection at Bromont CCI Three-Day Event

Bobby Meyerhoff and Lumumba. Photo by Jenni Autry.

All 115 horses that presented in the long format divisions at the MARS EQUESTRIAN Bromont CCI Three-Day Event were accepted on an overcast afternoon here at the Parc Équestre Olympique de Bromont in Quebec, Canada.

The CCI2*-L ground jury of Sandor Fulop (HUN), Marilyn Payne (USA) and Sukhdev Rathore (IND) sent two horses to the holding box: Natasha Erschen‘s mount Chai Tea Latte and Matthew Kidney’s mount Fuzion. Both horses were accepted upon reinspection. A total of 42 horses are competing in the CCI2*-L divisions: 26 in the senior section and 16 in the under-25 section.

Kendal Lehari and Audacious. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The CCI3*-L horses presented next to the ground jury of Christian Steiner (AUT), Delano Bastos De Miranda (BRA) and Cara Whitham (CAN) without issue. A total of 49 horses are competing in the CCI3*-L divisions: 24 in the senior section and 25 in the under-25 section.

Brandon McMechan withdrew Oscar’s Wild from the CCI4*-L prior to the trot up. All 24 horses in the CCI4*-L that presented to the ground jury of Marilyn Payne (USA), Sandor Fulop (HUN) and Gretchen Butts (USA) were accepted.

Lauren Kieffer and Get Gaudi. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Show secretary extraordinaire Jeanette Leask told EN that Bromont typically averages about 110 entries for this event. With a further 37 horses competing in the CCI3*-S, Jeanette confirmed that 152 horses is a record high for entries in the 33-year history of Bromont’s three-day event. Riders representing six countries are competing: Canada, U.S., Barbados, Australia, New Zealand and Zimbabwe.

In addition to hosting five FEI divisions, Bromont kicked off the week with the inaugural Bromont Rising Program. A select group of under-25 athletes received grants to compete, as well as train with Kerry Millikin, Peter Gray and Doug Payne in the lead-up to the event. Boyd Martin and Jessica Phoenix also served as speakers for the educational component of the program.

Katherine Coleman and Monte Classic. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Greta Schwickert and Emily Lehman, both of whom are competing in the CCI3*-S, praised the Bromont Rising program as “immensely helpful” and thanked the Organizing Committee for their enormous effort in executing an educational three days. Stay tuned for much more on the Bromont Rising program.

Bromont is also playing host to the North American Futures Team Challenge. Established with the USET Foundation and administered by USEF, the North American Futures Team Challenge is designed to complement the Eventing High Performance Program, which recently rolled out the new U.S. Eventing Pathway Program.

Alyssa Phillips and Oskar. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Two teams of four combinations, one coached by U.S. Eventing Director of High Performance Erik Duvander and one coached by USEF Eventing Emerging Athlete Coach Leslie Law, participated in training in the lead-up to the event and will contest an unofficial simulated team competition.

Erik’s team is Kimmy Cecere and Landmark’s Monaco, Sydney Conley Elliott and QC Diamantaire, Allie Knowles and Business Class, and Kylie Lyman and Xuanatu. Leslie’s team is Alex Baugh and Ballingowan Pizazz, Cosby Green and Highly Suspicious, Mallory Hogan and Clarissa Purisma, and Alyssa Phillips and Oskar.

Bromont is also serving as the final selection trial for the U.S. Pan American Games team, which will be announced no later than June 19. Click here to read more about U.S. team selection process for the Pan American Games, which will take place Aug. 1-4 in Lima, Peru.

Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye. Go Raptors! Photo by Jenni Autry.

Canada will also name their Pan American Games team following Bromont. Monique Archer is also competing in the CCI3*-L with Camross Diamond in the hopes of securing her Pan Ams qualifier to represent Barbados in Peru — please join the EN team in cheering her on.

Looking ahead to the competition, dressage starts tomorrow for the CCI3*-L and CCI2*-L divisions, with both rings running at 8:30 a.m. CCI3*-S dressage starts at 9 a.m. EST on Friday, with CCI4*-L dressage starting at 9:30 a.m. EST. Click here for dressage start times.

The Bromont area has been inundated with rain in the days leading up to the event, but today was mercifully dry — sans a few sprinkles during the trot up — and the rest of the forecast leading up to Saturday’s cross country looks promising. Bromont organizer Sue Ockendon told EN the CCI4*-L horses will go first on Saturday to give them the very best of the ground.

Jennie Brannigan and I Bella. Photo by Jenni Autry.

There is no live stream for dressage or cross country, but we are delighted to confirm that show jumping will be shown live on Bromont’s Facebook page and here on EN for all divisions on Sunday.

Keep checking back for more photos from today’s first horse inspection. Our friendly neighborhood videographer Thehorsepester is also uploading jog videos to his YouTube channel. We are looking forward to a fantastic week at Bromont! Thank you for following along with EN’s coverage. Go Eventing.

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Who Jumped It Best? GMHA Open Preliminary Edition

It’s time to play Who Jumped It Best? GMHA Open Preliminary Edition! Take a look at these beautiful photos from Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto and vote in the poll at the bottom of the post for which horse and rider you think present the best overall picture jumping into the water.

[GMHA June Horse Trials Results]

Shanon Baker and Lansdownne. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Susan Berrill and Darius. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Alexander Conrad and Malibu Preacher. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Rachael Gill and Castiel. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Anna Loschiavo and Fernhill Turbo. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Laurie Shiffer and One of the Girls. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Diane Thompson and Boston Jack. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Tim Price Debuts as New FEI World Number One

Tim Price and Xavier Faer at Kentucky. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

We have a changing of the guard at the top of the FEI World Eventing Athlete Rankings, as New Zealand’s Tim Price has taken over as World No. 1 with 557 points. A third-place finish at Kentucky with Xavier Faer and a 10th-place finish at Badminton with Ringwood Sky Boy ultimately boosted Tim to the top.

“I have to admit to wanting to achieve this for some time. It’s gone from a dream, to a driving force, to a reality. It feels pretty special that’s for sure, mainly because it’s more a recognition of consistency, rather than just outright winning,” Tim said.

“I try to bring the best out of every opportunity I have — not always to win, but always in a way that has my horses wanting to give effort for their own satisfaction and enjoyment. For me, it’s the coming together of all the hard work, a strong focus and great partnership with my equine friends.”

Great Britain holds the next four slots in the rankings, with Kentucky winner and former FEI World No. 1 Oliver Townend moving up one spot to rank second with 520 points. Badminton winner Piggy French also moved up one spot to third with 505 points.

Ros Canter, who became the first woman since Mary King to hold the title of FEI World No. 1 and is currently expecting her first child, has slipped back to fourth in the rankings with 490 points.

Tina Cook jumped up 28 places in the rankings to fifth with 402 points, bolstered by a seventh-place finish at Badminton with Billy The Red.

Australia’s Chris Burton also made large gains in the rankings, moving up 31 spots to sixth thanks to finishing third and fourth at Badminton with Cooley Lands and Graf Liberty, respectively, as well as winning the Saumur CCI4*-L with Polystar I.

Britain’s Tom McEwen slipped two spots in the rankings to seventh with 382 points. New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson jumped 23 slots to eighth with 361 points. Ireland’s Sam Watson dropped two slots to ninth with 351 points. Belgium’s Karin Donckers rose two spots to 10th with 347 points.

Boyd Martin dropped one slot to 11th with 337 points but remains the highest ranked U.S. rider. Lauren Kieffer sits just behind him in 12th with 336 points, with Phillip Dutton ranked 16th with 329 points.

Five more U.S. riders are ranked inside the top 50: Caroline Martin in 25th with 306 points, Liz Halliday-Sharp in 28th with 295 points, Doug Payne in 31st with 279 points, Will Coleman in 44th with 246 points and Tamie Smith in 48th with 236 points.

Jessica Phoenix remains the highest ranked Canadian rider in the 88th slot with 182 points.

Click here to view the latest FEI World Eventing Athlete Rankings.

[New Zealand Olympian Tim Price debuts in Eventing world number one slot]

Applications Open for Rebecca Broussard International Travel Grants

Frankie Thieriot Stutes received the 2018 $50,000 Rebecca Broussard International Developing Rider Grant. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

The USEA Foundation has opened the application process for the 2019 Rebecca Broussard International Travel Grants, which award funding to riders aiming to compete in the international divisions at The Event at Rebecca Farm on July 24-28 in Kalispell, Montana.

Each year, three types of Rebecca Broussard International Developing Grants are awarded “to assist and to encourage the development of event riders at the highest level of the sport.” The Travel Grants assist with the costs of traveling to Montana. A $10,000 National Developing Rider Grant, affectionally called the “Little Becky,” and a $50,000 International Developing Rider Grant called the “Big Becky” are also awarded.

Prior to the start of the Event at Rebecca Farm, recipients of the Travel Grants will participate in interviews with the USEA Foundation’s Rebecca Broussard International Developing Riders Committee, which will be used in selecting the recipients of the International Developing Rider Grant and the National Developing Rider Grant. Both grants will be presented at the USEA Annual Meeting and Convention on Dec. 12-15 in Boston.

Click here to access the grant application. Applications are due June 15.

[Applications Now Being Accepted for the Rebecca Broussard International Travel Grants]

Watch the Tattersalls International Horse Trials Live Stream

Tatts International Horse Trials Sunday from Tattersalls International HT on Vimeo.

The action is underway at Tattersalls International Horse Trials & Country Fair in beautiful Ratoath, Ireland. You can watch live Thursday through Sunday thanks to the free live stream on the Tattersalls website, which we will also be showing right here on EN.

The broadcast schedule is as follows:

Thursday: CCI4*-L dressage at 9:30 a.m. BST/4:30 a.m. EST
Friday: CCI4*-S dressage at 9:30 a.m. BST/4:30 a.m. EST
Saturday: CCI4*-L cross country at 2:50 p.m. BST/9:50 a.m. EST
Sunday: CCI4*-L show jumping at 3:30 p.m. BST/10:30 a.m. EST

Portions of other divisions will also be shown on the live stream. Click here to view the full competition schedule.

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Who Jumped It Best? Woodside Preliminary Challenge Edition

It’s time to play Who Jumped It Best? Woodside Preliminary Challenge Edition! Take a look at these beautiful photos from Sherry Stewart of horses and riders tackling the trakehner on Bert Wood’s course. Then vote in the poll at the bottom of the post for which horse and rider you think present the best overall picture over the jump.

[The Spring Event at Woodside Results]

Ruth Bley and Rodrigue Du Granit. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Megan Compton and Coco Mademoiselle. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Leah Forquer and Chance Affair. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Malia Hunter and Dancing on the Moon. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Madison Langerak and Normandy’s Kivalo. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Ashley Long and Rochambeau. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Meg Pellegrini and Ganymede. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Kaitlin Vosseller and Clear Approval. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Cricket Wood and Illuminare. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Helmet Cam Highlights: Ride Around Saumur CCI3*-S with the Winner

France’s Pierre Texier, 35, took the first international win of his career over the weekend at Saumur CCI3*-S, besting a field of 58 combinations with Joli Couer Drum U VH Juxs. We have a bird’s eye view of highlights from Pierre’s winning cross country ride courtesy of our friends at Cambox.

Pierre produced Joli Couer, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood (Unique II Drum VH Juxscho X Quien, by Forever), through the levels, and the horse really turned a corner this season. Last year, these two finished 59th in the CCI3*-S at Saumur with 40 jumping penalties — what a difference a year can make.

They led wire-to-wire, adding just 7.6 time penalties on Pierre Michelet’s cross country course to take the win on a final score of 35.3, just 0.2 penalties ahead of Japan’s Yoshi Oiwa and Calle 44, his 2018 World Equestrian Games mount.

As you’ll hear in the video, Pierre chats away to Joli Couer in rapid-fire French the entire way around. We’d love to know what he says if any French speakers would kindly like to translate in the comments.

Congratulations to Pierre on the win! Go Eventing.

[Saumur Final Scores]

Boyd Martin and Contestor Take $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing Win

Congratulations to Boyd Martin and Contestor! Photo by Taylor Rains/Phelps Sports.

Boyd Martin thrilled the local crowd last night aboard Denise Lahey and Pierre Colin’s homebred Contestor, taking the $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing win under the lights at the Devon Horse Show & Country Fair in Devon, Pennsylvania.

Boyd, who lives in nearby Cochranville, has competed in the class every year since it started in 2017, and he topped the podium for the first time with a gutsy inside turn in the jump-off and the fastest time of 73.30 seconds.

Contestor, a 12-year-old KWPN gelding (Contango X Jer’s Princess, by Killer Jer), finished eighth last year at Devon with a rail down in both the first round and the jump-off, but he rose to the occasion last night to deliver one of only three fault-free performances.

Boyd Martin and Contestor. Photo by The Book LLC.

“He’s sort of had an up-and-down career, but he’s just a really good boy. I’m lucky because he’s an ultimate trier. Tonight he was a home run, and I’m thrilled with the way he went. I think it’s good having a mixture of cross country and show jumps for him, just because he likes that forward ride,” Boyd said.

“I’m so pleased for the owners, who are also the breeders. They’ve been wonderful supporters for me through good times and bad times and stuck right by me, so I’m more thrilled for them to be honest because they really love this horse. He’s like a pet to them, and to win a big class like this is huge.”

Boyd said it’s a privilege to compete at the prestigious Devon Horse Show and added he hopes the arena eventing class, sponsored this year by Saltworks and Doug and Cindy Howe, will continue to run.

“It’s good for us eventers to have this class,” Boyd said. “It’s a bit of pressure, a big crowd, warming up in the dark and the shadows everywhere. It takes us out of our comfort zone, so I think it’s good for us.”

Capt. Mark Phillips’ course included 26 obstacles for the first round spread across 1,100 meters in the Dixon Oval and Wheeler Ring. Just five of the 30 combinations in the field delivered fault-free performances in the first round.

Chris Talley and Sandro’s Star. Photo by Taylor Rains/Phelps Sports.

The top 12 after the first round all returned for the jump-off. Last year’s winners, Chris Talley and Sandro’s Star, were one of the three pairs to jump fault-free across both rounds. The 11-year-old Oldenburg stallion (Sagnol X Poetic Patter xx, by Nostalgia’s Star xx) owned by Hannah Salazar blazed around the jump-off in a time of 73.94 seconds to secure second place.

Buck Davidson was very late arriving to the venue last night due to his flight being delayed, so he had mere minutes to learn the twisty course and warm-up his first mount, Gaya, before starting his round.

A reshuffled order of go then had Buck go last in the first round with his second ride, Carlevo. The 12-year-old Holsteiner (Caresino X Ramatuelle, by Levernois) owned by Carlevo LLC delivered the fastest fault-free performance in the first round to top the leaderboard. A clear jump-off round but a slower time of 74.92 seconds saw Buck and Carlevo finish third.

Buck Davidson and Carlevo. Photo by Taylor Rains/Phelps Sports.

Jennie Brannigan and Tim and Nina Gardner’s I Bella added just 1 time penalty across both rounds to finish in fourth place. Jules Ennis Batters and Cooley O added 2 time penalties to finish fifth. Hannah Sue Burnett and The Lukeswell Partnership’s Lukeswell delivered the fastest time in the jump-off, setting a blistering pace of 71.15 seconds, but had the last fence down to finish sixth.

Click here to view final scores in the $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing class, which awarded prize money through 12 place.

[Boyd Martin and Contestor Clinch $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing Competition]

Memorial Day News & Notes from Fleeceworks

Boyd Martin and Contestor. Photo by The Book LLC.

Boyd Martin cruised to the win in the $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing last night aboard Denise Lahey and Pierre Colin’s Contestor. Cheers to Boyd for taking the win aboard a horse who has perhaps had a rather circuitous path to the top.

As Boyd put it in the press conference: “He’s sort of had an up-and-down career, but he’s just a really good boy. I’m lucky because he’s an ultimate trier. Tonight he was a home run, and I’m thrilled with the way he went.”

Scroll down to watch a video of their winning round. Cheers to the ultimate triers. Go Eventing.

National Holiday: Memorial Day

Major Event Results:

$50,000 Devon Arena Eventing: Final Scores

Houghton CCI4O*-S: Final ScoresEN’s Coverage

Baborówko CCIO4*-L: Final Scores

Saumur CCIO3*-L: Final Scores

U.S. Weekend Results:

Mystic Valley Hunt Club H.T. [Final Scores]

Virginia Horse Trials International & H.T. [Final Scores]

Flora Lea Spring H.T. [Final Scores]

The Spring Event at Woodside [Final Scores]

May-Daze at the Park H.T. [Final Scores]

Coconino Spring H.T. [Final Scores]

Maryland Horse Trials FEH/YEH/NEH Qualifier [Final Scores]

Your Monday News & Notes:

EN continues to follow the Australian inquest into the deaths of Olivia Inglis and Caitlyn Fischer in 2016. The inquest concluded on Friday, May 24, and New South Wales Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee will release his findings at this link. [‘Very frustrating’: Investigator into fatal horse jump was shut down]

Madison Temkin, NAYC medalist and USEF Eventing 25 Training List rider, shares her tips on riding through the Preliminary coffin at Twin Rivers in this latest “Ride Between the Flags” article from the USEA. [Ride Between the Flags with Madison Temkin]

Have you gone to #SundaySchool lately? Now is a fabulous time to start. Horse & Hound publishes a fantastic series every Sunday with tips from top riders. This week, Ben Way walks us through exercises to improve your horse’s focus and rideability. [#SundaySchool: Ben Way on improving a horse’s focus and rideability]

It’s time to Ask the Vet. You asked your questions. Now it’s time to vote for which questions are answered in the next Ask the Vet video coming in July from our friends at SmartPak. Follow the link to vote. [Vote for the questions in the July 2019 Ask the Vet Video]

Your Memorial Day Video: Watch Boyd Martin pilot Contestor to the $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing win.


Have Big Goals This Season? Enter to Win Hylofit’s Next Top Amateur Contest

Are you Hylofit’s Next Top Amateur? Photo by Jenni Autry.

By now you’re familiar with Hylofit, the heart-rate monitor for both horses and humans that provides real-time data directly to your phone. Numerous top riders have started integrating this technology into their training, but the true beauty of Hylofit is it’s a system for all event riders, including amateurs competing at the lower levels.

Tracking your horse’s working heart rate over time, as well as how fast he recovers after rides, can provide a valuable indication of fitness. You can also use Hylofit to track your horse’s resting heart rate; while not an indicator of fitness, an unusually elevated heart rate can indicate medical problems that might require veterinary attention.

Are you an amateur event rider with a big goal you want to accomplish this season? Are you aiming for the American Eventing Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park? A classic three-day event? Your first FEI competition? A win in your Area Championships? Moving up a level? Enter to win Hylofit’s Next Top Amateur Contest!

EN is teaming up with Hylofit to give away the Hylofit System to one lucky reader. To enter to win, we want to know how using Hylofit would help you achieve a big season-end goal. Send a photo of you and your horse along with your story to [email protected]. (There is no suggested word length, but we’re huge nerds when it comes to fitness, so please feel free to be loquacious.)

Entries are due Friday, May 24. EN and Hylofit will choose a winner, who will receive the Hylofit System and a lifetime subscription plan. The winner’s essay will be published on EN, and the winner will be invited to contribute guest posts throughout the rest of the year so we can follow along with the journey. We will also select a group of finalists, all of whom will receive a discount code to purchase Hylofit.

Click here to read more about how using Hylofit can up your fitness game. Want to learn more about using a heart-rate monitor? EN has a handy guide here. You can also sign up here to receive updates and tips from Hylofit on how to make the most of your conditioning and training work at any level. Good luck to all! Go Amateurs. Go Eventing.

Houghton International Nations Cup Cross Country Course Preview

The final fence on course. Photo courtesy of CrossCountry App.

The first leg of the 2019 FEI Nations Cup Eventing Series is underway at the Saracen Horse Feeds Houghton International Horse Trials in Norfolk, England. Nine teams are contesting the Nations Cup: Germany, France, Great Britain, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium and Italy.

Houghton has hosted a Nations Cup leg ever since the FEI launched the series in 2012. The U.S. sent a team to Houghton for the past three consecutive years, and finished on the podium in both 2017 and 2018, but did not send a team this year.

There are 117 starters in this year’s Nations Cup field, which spreads dressage across three days. Click here to view live scoring. Tilly Berendt is on the grounds to bring you full coverage starting today. In the meantime, take a tour of Alec Lochore’s Nations Cup cross country course courtesy of CrossCountry App.

Many thanks to Jane Clarke of Musketeer Event Management for recording the course preview. View in full screen mode to scroll through all the fences. You can also click here to view on CrossCountry App’s website. Download CrossCountry App to access more maps like these from events all around the world. Go Eventing.

Houghton Links: Website, Dressage Start TimesDressage Results, Show Jumping OrderTeam Results, EN’s Coverage

USEF Updates SafeSport Policy to ‘Further Protect Minor Athletes’

Image courtesy of USEF

USEF announced an update this week to the SafeSport policy, which now includes new USEF Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention (MAAP) policies and will go into effect on June 1. USEF CEO Bill Moroney and USEF President Murray Kessler released a letter to members this week explaining the policy update.

“The new MAAP policies are part of a congressional requirement mandating USEF, as well as other amateur sports organizations and governing bodies, to implement policies and procedures that limit one-on-one interactions between minor athletes and adults who are not their parent/legal guardian.

“We understand that these policies, which affect one-on-one meetings/training, social media, electronic communications (such as text messages and e-mail), travel, and more, will change the way adults and minors in our sport currently interact.

“We have provided examples to explain the policies, and we encourage you to read them closely. These policies are designed to protect minors and adults, and other sports governing bodies across the country are enacting similar measures.”

Click here to read the updated SafeSport policy. More than 55,000 USEF members have now taken SafeSport training, which was updated last month to only one module, as opposed to three separate modules when the training launched at the beginning of the year.

“It is vital to the sustainability of equestrian sport to deliver SafeSport information and resources directly to our members. We will continue to support you in adhering to these policies by providing regular updates. We appreciate your efforts to ensure equestrian sport is a safe environment for all.”

Click here to read the full letter, which includes updates on other key initiatives currently currently underway at USEF, from drugs/medications and licensed officials to education partners and special task forces.

Entry List Goes Live for This Sunday’s $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing

Last year’s winners, Chris Talley and Sandro’s Star, are returning to defend the title. Photo by Taylor Renner/Phelps Sports.

A total of 35 combinations will take on Capt. Mark Phillips’ course in the $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing this Sunday, May 26, at the Devon Horse Show & Country Fair in Devon, Pennsylvania. The 1,000-meter course combining both show jumps and cross country fences will run under the lights in the iconic Dixon Oval and Wheeler Ring.

Last year’s winners, Chris Talley and Sandro’s Star, are returning to the defend the title, along with an exciting lineup of Olympians and five-star riders. Here’s the full entry list:

  • Jules Ennis Batters and Cooley O
  • Tracey Bienemann and Geoni
  • Kristen Bond and I’m Sew Ready
  • Jennie Brannigan and I Bella
  • Hannah Sue Burnett and Lukeswell
  • Cary Chavis and Game On
  • Amanda Beale Clement and Carlson 119
  • Amanda Beale Clement and Get Ready
  • Buck Davidson and Carvelo
  • Buck Davidson and Gaya
  • Justine Dutton and MGH Heartbeat
  • Natasha Erschen and Gran Torino
  • Lisa Marie Fergusson and Honor Me
  • Clayton Fredericks and Luksor
  • Emily Hamel and Corvett
  • Lizzy Jahnke and Snow Leopard
  • Ema Klugman and Bendigo
  • Ema Klugman and Joker’s Win
  • Boyd Martin and Barry
  • Boyd Martin and Contestor
  • Caroline Martin and Cristano Z
  • Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace
  • Missy Miller and Quinn
  • Hilary Moses and Zanadoo & Irish Turn
  • Taryn Nolte and Cleverly
  • Colleen Rutledge and Shiraz and
  • Colleen Rutledge and Confidence Game
  • Allie Sacksen and Sparrow’s Nio
  • Alexandra Scannell and Faolan
  • Juli Sebring and Welbourne
  • Erin Sylvester and Campground
  • Chris Talley and Faramund
  • Chris Talley and Sandro’s Star
  • Ryan Wood and Chusinmyconfession
  • Ryan Wood and Powell

The course will run across 1,000 meters with 25 total fences: 15 cross country fences and 10 show jumps. All show jumps will be set at a maximum height of 1.20 meters, with a maximum height of 1.15 meters for cross country fences. The time allowed is 2 minutes, 38 seconds. Click here to view the fact sheet for the class.

The top 12 pairs after the first round, or all fault-free rounds, will be eligible for the jump-off in the Dixon Oval. The fastest time in the jump-off will take home the win and $12,500 in prize money.

The full prize money breakdown is as follows: 1st – $12,500, 2nd – $10,000, 3rd – $7,500, 4th – $5,000, 5th – $3,500, 6th – $2,750, 7th – $2,000, 8th – $1,500, 9th – $1,500, 10th – $1,250, 11th – $1,250, 12th – $1,250.

Click here to buy tickets. The course will be built at 5:30 p.m., followed by the course walk and arena familiarization at 6:15 p.m., with the start of the class at 7 p.m. If you can’t be there to watch in person, USEF Network will stream all the action live at this link.

Will you be celebrating Memorial Day Weekend at the Devon Horse Show & Country Fair? Let us know in the comments below.

[$50,000 Devon Arena Eventing]

This article has been updated to include the time allowed and link to the fact sheet with class specifications.

Which Countries Are Qualified for Eventing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics?

Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

What is the path to qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games? A total of 65 combinations will compete in eventing, with 15 teams made up of three combinations each (45 total combinations) and a further 20 slots allotted to individual combinations. EN is breaking down the qualification process in a handy series of articles.

As the host nation, Japan automatically received one of the team quota places. The top six teams from the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games at Tryon also qualified. As Japan finished fourth at WEG and already had qualification as the host nation, the qualification berth stretched to the team that finished seventh.

Great Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand all secured Olympic qualification at WEG. Alongside Japan, that gives us seven nations already qualified for Tokyo, with a further eight team slots up for grabs.

This is a critical week for qualification, as one Olympic team slot is on the line at Baborówko CCIO4*-L in Poland, with two team slots up for grabs at Saumur CCIO3*-L in France.

The CCIO4*-L at Baborówko is an FEI Olympic Qualification Event for Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Central Asia. Belarus, Poland and Russia have all fielded teams for the competition. The best placed team from those three countries will secure Olympic qualification. Click here to view the full entry list.

The CCIO3*-L at Saumur is serving as an FEI Olympic Qualification Event for Africa and the Middle East, as well as Southeast Asia and Oceania. China, Hong Kong and Thailand have all fielded teams, and the two best placed nations will take an Olympic slot. Click here to view the full entry list.

Looking ahead to the Pan American Games, which run at the CCIO3*-L level on Aug. 1-4 in Lima, Peru, two Olympic slots will be awarded to the two best placed teams. No countries in FEI Olympic Groups D and E have secured qualification, and all eyes will be on the U.S., Canada and Brazil.

Two Olympic team slots will be awarded to the two best placed teams from FEI Olympic Groups A and B not already qualified at the FEI European Championships, which run at the CCIO4*-L level in Luhmühlen, Germany, on Aug. 28-Sept. 1. Great Britain, Ireland, France and Germany are already qualified.

The 15th and final Olympic team slot will be awarded at the conclusion of the 2019 FEI Eventing Nations Cup Series to the highest ranked country in the final standings not already qualified. The series kicks off this weekend at Houghton Hall CCIO4*-S in England and will conclude at Boekelo CCIO4*-L in the Netherlands on Oct. 13. Click here to view the Nations Cup calendar.

Next up in EN’s series: the qualification process for the 20 individual slots. If you want to read more about Tokyo qualification in the meantime, click here. Go Eventing.

‘We Need More Transparency In Our Sport’: Inquest Examines Deaths of Olivia Inglis & Caitlyn Fischer

Left: Caitlyn Fischer and Ralphie. Photo by Main Event Photography.
Right: Olivia Inglis and Coriolanus. Photo by Allira Fontana Photography.

An inquest to investigate the deaths of 17-year-old Olivia Inglis and 19-year-old Caitlyn Fischer as a result of fatal injuries sustained in rotational falls on cross country in 2016 is underway at the New South Wales Coronors Court in Sydney, Australia.

Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee opened the two-week long inquest, which began on Monday, May 13, and will continue through Friday, May 24, to examine nine “public safety issues” surrounding Australian eventing, including:

  • whether the design of the cross country courses contributed to Olivia and Caitlyn’s deaths
  • whether safety procedures at events are sufficient to minimize risk
  • whether medical training and emergency response procedures at events are adequate

Olivia Inglis was competing in her first CNC2* (now CCN3*-S) at Scone Horse Trials with Coriolanus, her 11-year-old Thoroughbred. She had previously completed two CCI* and one CIC* (now CCI2*-L and CCI2*-S) with the horse, and in 28 starts they had only one cross country jumping penalty. Olivia died on March 6, 2016, when Coriolanus rotated over fence 8B on Jonathan Nicholson’s course, an open oxer set four strides from a vertical on a downhill approach, and fell on her.

Charlotte Inglis, Olivia’s mother, said she had expressed concern over the fence when they walked the course the day before, as it had very thin rails, which Charlotte said gave it a “deceptive appearance,” and no ground line, Hunter Valley News reported. The oxer was not fitted with frangible technology.

Charlotte heard over a radio that Olivia had fallen and ran to her side. David Keys, a former combat medic with the army reserve and trained physician assistant, had already reached her. While Olivia still had a faint pulse, Charlotte testified that David “struggled” to use his equipment. Paramedics arrived on the scene 20 minutes after Olivia’s fall in a Westpac helicopter, but were unable to revive her. She was pronounced dead at the scene due to a ruptured pulmonary artery. Coriolanus was later euthanized due to a fractured neck.

David testified during the inquest that he had been hired to provide “general first aid” by private contractor Health Services International, News.com.au reported. While he approached his employer about needing better equipment and more advanced medical professionals at events prior to Olivia’s fall, David says that he was told that would be “cost prohibitive.”

Equestrian Australia (EA) now requires that paramedics with the capacity to provide advanced life support be present at events, a recommendation that came from the organization’s own investigation of Olivia’s death. “No less than 34 points of contention have been identified with the course and the coordination of the event, the accident and emergency responses, and the way safety was handled,” The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Caitlyn Fischer was competing in her first CCI* (now CCI2*-L) at Sydney International Horse Trials with Ralphie, her 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. They had previously completed five CIC* (now CCI2*-S) together, three without cross country jumping penalties. Caitlyn died on April 30, 2016, when Ralphie chipped in an extra stride and rotated over fence two on Stuart Tinney’s course, a table set over water, and landed on her.

“It appears Caitlyn and Ralphie approached the fence at good speed,” Peggy Dwyer, counsel assisting the inquest, said, “but Ralphie appeared to look at something other than the jump as he approached it, and just before the jump Ralphie tried to put one more stride in.”

Caitlyn’s mother, Ailsa, gave testimony that she ran over to her daughter as soon as the fall occurred, but knew immediately she was dead. Ailsa also testified that EA’s report following the death contained “many errors of fact,” including which day Caitlyn had arrived at the competition, The Australian reported

“My feeling was that for something as significant as a death,” Ailsa said, “regardless of whether it’s an accident or not, it’s really important to look at what we can learn — to look at what was done really well and to look at what can we can learn from what has happened.”

‘We Need More Transparency’

Following Olivia and Caitlyn’s deaths, Willinga Park owner Terry Snow donated $250,000 to further safety initiatives in Australian eventing. EA subsequently launched the Making Eventing Safer Fund, which distributed funding to events across Australia to fit fences with frangible technology. EA also adopted a rule change in February 2018 to mandate the use of frangible devices on all National short and long format courses, as well as all FEI courses.

Charlotte said she ultimately believes the culture of eventing must change so that riders and trainers are encouraged to speak up with their concerns about course design, Hunter Valley News reported. “We need more transparency in our sport. We need to be able to make informed decisions on whether we want to jump a course.”

Lucy Warhurst, EA CEO, said in a statement read at the inquest: “Both Olivia and Caitlyn are sorely missed by the entire equestrian community. … We know that you are determined to see the risk of serious injuries or tragedies are addressed. We share that determination.”

EN will continue to follow the inquest, which has dominated headlines across Australia over the past week. Further resource links are included below.

Further reading:

Racing’s Inglis family on coping with the loss of their daughter Olivia

Inquest into teenage eventers’ deaths hears medic ‘didn’t know how to use equipment’

Equestrian deaths: mother was with fallen teen seven minutes before medical staff

Equestrian death: Caitlyn Fisher’s mother alarmed by investigation

Mother raised concerns about equestrian course before daughter’s fatal ride, inquest told

Monday News & Notes from Fleeceworks

If you haven’t been to a World Class Grooming Clinic yet, watch the website for the next dates. On an entirely separate note, if, like me, you just watched the final episode of Game of Thrones, you likely have a plethora of feelings to unpack. I’m not here to post spoilers, but I’ll share the moment I knew I had reached the point of no return in regards to what is now the most-watched television show in history.

Game of Thrones, adapted from the series of novels written by the elusive George R. R. Martin, debuted on HBO in 2011. I was a bit late to the party and started reading the books in 2013. After watching the chaos of The Red Wedding unfold on television, I was determined to finish the third book as soon as possible to see if the show’s interpretation of that iconic scene aligned with what was written on paper.

Needless to say, I found myself devouring the ending of A Storm of Swords in a tiny hotel room outside of Aachen, Germany, in the wee hours of the morning prior to the kickoff of the 2013 Nations Cup. If there are any universal governing truths in one’s life, surely the incomprehensible concept of putting a book down during such a pivotal moment merits a bit of late-night reading.

National Holiday: National Rescue Dog Day

U.S. Weekend Action:

Otter Creek Spring H.T. [Final Scores]

Hitching Post Farm H.T. [Final Scores]

Fair Hill H.T. [Final Scores]

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. [Final Scores]

Spring Gulch H.T. [Final Scores]

Your Monday News & Notes:

We are keeping an eye on entries for the MARS EQUESTRIAN Bromont CCI Three-Day Event, which will serve as the final selection trial for the U.S. Pan American Games team. There are currently 21 combinations entered in the CCI4*-L, with 22 in the CCI3*-L. Entries close May 29. [Bromont Entry Status]

Anna Nowak and Kendra Mitchell proved victorious in the first Hylofit USEA Classic Series Three-Day Event of the 2019 season at the Fresno County Horse Park Horse Trials in California. Read all about their big wins here. [First 2019 Hylofit USEA Classic Series Winners Decided at the Fresno County Horse Park]

Ben Hobday is sharing more details about his battle with cancer in support of North West Cancer Research’s #SpeakOut campaign. He was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma in 2015 after his barber noticed a lump on his neck. [‘It could have been so much worse’: Ben Hobday speaks out on cancer symptoms]

William Whitaker discusses developing rhythm in show jumping in this week’s edition of #SundaySchool from Horse & Hound. This grid he shares (click the link to see) encourages the rider to use the correct leg and hand aids to maintain consistent rhythm. [#SundaySchool: William Whitaker on how to develop rhythm]

Your Monday Video: Watch Tabitha Kyle’s winning jump-off round aboard Grennanstown Sarco Lux Hill in the FEI Children Grand Prix at Lamprechtshausen in Austria. Go girl go!

Susie Tuckerman Hospitalized Following Fall in Ocala

Bruce Davidson and Susie Tuckerman. Photo courtesy of Buck Davidson.

Bruce Davidson’s wife, Susie Tuckerman, has been hospitalized at Ocala Regional Medical Center following injuries sustained in a fall on Sunday, May 12, while riding at Chesterland South in Ocala, Florida.

She has since undergone two surgeries to repair a brain bleed and separated vertebrae, and Buck Davidson told EN the family remains hopeful she will regain consciousness soon, as well as be able to breathe on her own off the ventilator.

Susie, 67, didn’t initially notice any injuries when she fell. She continued on with her day as usual, leaving for Micanopy with a friend to have lunch. During lunch, Susie suddenly started to feel unwell. On the drive home, she started sweating profusely and slurring her words. An ambulance met the car on the side of the road and transported her to the hospital.

She immediately underwent surgery to repair a bleed on her brain. Following the brain surgery, further examination revealed separation of vertebrae in her cervical and thoracic spine. Susie then underwent a second surgery to fuse C1 and C2, and T3 and T4.

“She came through the back surgery well, and now we are just praying she is going to wake up,” Buck said. “She’s an unbelievable fighter. I’ve never seen someone so strong in my life. She’s definitely improving. They’re hoping she gets strong enough that she can breathe on her own soon.”

Please join the EN team in sending positive healing thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery for Susie.