Boyd Martin obviously rides for the American flag, but there is no denying that the Australians were on fire at the 2016 Jaguar Land Rover Bromont CCI. Four double clear show jumping rounds meant four wins for Australian-born riders Ryan Wood, Dom Schramm and Boyd Martin.
Boyd Martin and Bonito. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Boyd and the 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding Bonito produced one of only four clears in the CCI2* division. Sitting third after yesterday’s cross country, Bonito moved ahead of his stablemate Tsetserleg when he pulled a rail to ultimately finish second.
“I felt like I was water skiing out there but he was good. He left all the rails up and got away with the win,” Boyd said of Bonito. “I think this is a really, really good horse. I was very lucky that Stephen Blauner and Nancy Hathaway were able to purchase him last year out of Germany. He’s very green but he’s got all the criteria and the tools. He would jump an Advanced tomorrow but I think I’m better off getting him more schooled, more trained.”
Boyd pointed out that Steve and Nancy have been part of every single syndicated horse he’s ridden and owners of all five horses he’s ridden in a major team championship. “They’re incredible supporters and I’m so lucky that they’re backing me. I’m so pleased a horse that I said I think is pretty good has won an international two-star three-day event. They really have changed my career.”
Jennie Brannigan and I Bella. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
As for Christine Turner’s 9-year-old Tsetserleg Boyd said, “He jumped really well so I think he’s a good strong horse for the future, and it’s good to see an American-bred horse doing well here. He’s by the mighty Windfall.”
Boyd feels both horses are top horses for the future and will confirm them at the Intermediate level before moving up. “The fastest way to go is slow,” he said. “If they’re green and they make a mistake at Intermediate they can learn from it, where Advanced you lose their confidence a bit. Maybe they could do Advanced at the end of the year but there is no real rush because I think they’re class horses.”
Peter Barry and his own Long Island T dropped one rail to finish third. Jennie Brannigan and Nina Gardner’s I Bella finished fourth, having moved up from 11th to fifth after cross country and jumping double clear today.
Dom Schramm and Bolytair B. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Dom has been intensely focused on bringing Bolytair B to Bromont for the last six months. “We’ve really trained really hard for this. I really wanted to come up here and have a good show so I’m thrilled that it came off the way I wanted it to,” he said.
Their trip could have been derailed when the 10-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by the Giesselman family underwent colic surgery in early February this year. He returned to work in April and Dom dedicated himself to making sure the horse was fit and ready for his first CCI*.
They stalked the top of the leaderboard from the beginning, placing third after dressage in a big division, moving up to second after a double clear cross country round and ultimately finishing on their dressage score of 42.9 to win. Bolytair will get a break and then prepare for the Richland Park CIC2* later this summer, but Dom promises he’ll be back at Bromont.
“Bromont is by far my most favorite event I’ve ever been to. I think it’s an excellent course and a fantastic atmosphere; it’s sort of a relaxed vibe but at the same time it’s a proper international show. Anytime I have a horse ready I will be here as long as I can compete here. I absolutely had the time of my life.”
Sara Kozumplik Murphy and L’Alezane jumped double clear to finish less than one point behind Dom in second. Colleen Loach and Peter Barry’s homebred mare Liberty finished on their dressage score of 49.4 for third place.
That’s a wrap on Bromont CCI 2016! Go Bromont. Go Eventing.
Go Australia.
