Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Erin Sylvester Tie for First in Bromont CCI*

Sara Kozumplik Murphy (left) and Erin Sylvester are tied for the CCI* lead after dressage on 42.2. Photos by Leslie Threlkeld. Sara Kozumplik Murphy (left) and Erin Sylvester are tied for the CCI* lead after dressage on 42.2. Photos by Leslie Threlkeld.

The first two horses in the dressage ring this morning are now sitting tied at the top of the Bromont CCI* leaderboard. Both Sara Kozumplik Murphy with L’Alezane and Erin Sylvester with Mister Optimistic scored a 42.2 to set the pace for the day, but none of the next 39 riders could quite catch them, though many came very close.

L’Alezane is a new ride for Sara but she says she’s admired “Marge” for a long time. The 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, who’s name translates to “the chestnut,” had been previously campaigned at the two-star level by Danny Warrington. Although they are still getting to know each other, Sara and Marge started their partnership off on the right foot with a Preliminary win at the Virginia Horse Trials last month.

“She’s good at all three phases. I just need to get to know her a little bit. I feel like I have a lot of work to do on the flat,” Sara said. “I think there is a lot more to come, but it’s lovely to be where she is now without really having it completely through all the time. I thought it was an okay test; I didn’t think it was a great test. But she’s so cool that she still scores. She has a lot of presence.”

Sara expected her other one-star ride, Sebastian, was going to beat Marge on the flat, but an uncharacteristic spook by the judges affected the scores of several movements. Nevertheless, they earned a 47.8 and are tied for ninth.

Mister Optimistic is a 7-year-old English Thoroughbred gelding owned by Jill Tallman. He did a season at Preliminary with Harry Meade and was imported just this February. Already he and Erin Sylvester have formed a strong partnership. In four Preliminary horse trials since March, they have finished outside the top two only once and have yet to incur a cross country jumping penalty.

“I’m looking forward to see what we’ve got over the weekend. I hope he goes all the way. He shows talent in all three phases so it will be training him up and doing right by him as he goes up the levels,” Erin said.

Chinch and his pals @sarakm_overlookf, @domschramm and @jimmiehschramm!

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“I have plenty of hot horses and he’s a really quiet horse so it’s been a learning curve for me,” Erin said. “He’s got a lot in him but I have to draw it out in the right way and get a lot of energy and expression out of him. As I’ve been working on the test over the last week or two I’ve been working quite hard on getting his transitions to be really impressive.”

Unfortunately Mister Optimistic was somewhat offended by the wind and cold that we’ve been enduring the last few days (he’s not the only one!). Erin said she spent last night doing “damage control” and figuring out what she needed to do to make sure the young horse held it together in the ring. They produced a great score, but Erin feels there is more to be had. “He’s got a great trot and a balanced, uphill, expressive canter. He wants to get a little bit weak in his transitions. That’s where I’ve left the points.”

Hot on Sara and Erin’s heels with a score of 42.9 are Dom Schramm and Bolytair B, owned by Janet, Kurt and Connor Giesselman. It’s a great start to the 10-year-old Dutch gelding’s first CCI*, especially considering he underwent colic surgery just this February and started back to work in April. “He’s really come back as good as I could have hoped,” Dom said.

Dom got the ride in September. Before then “Boly” had not done a horse trials in two years and was competing in straight jumpers. They’ve since won three Preliminary horse trials and completed two Intermediates. With a successful weekend at Bromont, Boly will move up to the two-star level with the hopes of aiming for a season finale at the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International.

“I’m very excited about him. I feel like he’s a bit of a triple threat. He’s probably one of the best horses I’ve sat on and I’m just trying to make the most of it,” Dom said. “I think (cross country) is going to go very well. I’m confident. Anything can happen but we’ve done our homework and left no stone unturned. Hopefully the eventing gods are on our side.”

Annick Niemuller had a great day, scoring a 43.4 with FE Black Jack and 44.3 on FE Akari to sit in fourth and fifth place, respectively. Mackenzie Spaes is within a rail of first on a 45.0 with Foreign Affair, and there is a lot still to do on Saturday!

The general consensus among competitors so far is that the cross country course looks great and the footing is some of the best. “I’m a huge Derek di Grazia fan. I love the course,” Sara said. “I think it’s extremely well built, which is not surprising with Jay (Hambly) and his team. The ground is the best I’ve ever seen at Bromont.”

The CCI3* and CIC3* are up next in the sandbox tomorrow. Here’s hoping for sunnier skies! The competition gets underway at 8 a.m. EST Friday morning.