Rebecca Howard, Caroline Martin Shine at Tattersalls

Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace. Photo by Libby Law Photography. Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

It was a super day for our U.S. and Canadian competitors at Tattersalls International Horse Trials in Ireland, where Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master made an exciting return to FEI competition and Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace delivered their personal best dressage score in their overseas debut.

Flora Harris said she is “a bit gobsmacked” to be leading the strong George Mernagh Memorial CIC3* field with Cesano H, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding (by Cesano II out of Lacapo, by Landfraf). Their score of 35.9 gives them little room to breathe over Mark Todd and NZB Campino, who scored 36.9 to sit in second, followed by Paul Tapner and Yogi Bear in third on 40.0.

Rebecca Howard and Blithe Hill Farm’s Riddle Master scored 42.0 to round out the top five, and she was all smiles after the test. The 14-year-old Canadian Sport Horse gelding is making his triumphant return to the top levels after suffering an injury at Badminton last year, and its fantastic to see “Rupert” back out and in such good form.

Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Caroline Martin and her own and Sherrie Martin’s Quantum Solace made their international debut today, and it was one to remember thanks to a personal best score of 47.9 to sit in 22nd place in the CIC3*. Jane Thompson of Eventing NZ kindly spoke to Caroline and Buck Davidson after the test, and Buck said it was the best test the 10-year-old Argentinian Thoroughbred gelding has ever done. Go Nacho!

British-based American Katherine Coleman and Courage Under Fire, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare she owns, scored 52.0 to sit in 30th place in the CIC3*. She’s also competing in the Eventing Ireland CCI2* with Longwood, a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding she owns; they scored 56.6 to sit in 31st place. Harry Meade and Anne Chapman’s Vrolijk lead the CCI2* on 38.2.

Irish-based American Brianne Stanley and Eleanor Hadden’s Bit of Business had a clear cross country trip with time today in the horse’s first one-star; they’re sitting in 55th place in the Cooley Farm CCIYH* for 6 and 7 year olds. William Fox-Pitt and Catherine Witt’s The Soapdodger are leading that division on 37.6.

Buck Davidson and Caroline Martin celebrate after her test. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Buck Davidson and Caroline Martin celebrate after her test. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Don’t forget that you can follow along with Tattersalls on the event’s fantastic free live stream, which continues tomorrow with CCI2* and CCI3* cross country. You can preview each of Ian Stark’s cross country courses at this link. CCI2* cross country will stream live starting at 5 a.m. EST, followed by CCI3* cross country at 9:30 a.m. EST. Buck Davidson and Copper Beach, who are sitting in 21st in the CCI3*, leave the start box at 10:57 a.m. EST.

We are excited to be partnering with Libby Law Photography at Tattersalls, and she’s been bringing us lots of fantastic behind the scenes shots to help us capture the flavor of this event; check out her full photo gallery below. If you’re not already following @EventingConsult and @EquiRatings on Twitter, be sure to do so to access excellent commentary from Tatts. Go Eventing.

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