Hannah Sue Burnett, Holly Payne Caravella Share Stuart CIC2* Lead

Holly Payne and Santino. Photo by Megan Stapley Photography.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Holly Payne Caravella are sharing the CIC2* lead after dressage in the Cosequin Stuart Horse Trials on a score of 46.4 with red heads Jitter Bug and Santino.

Jitter Bug, owned by Jacqueline Mars and Sherry Nemmers, is making her two-star debut at Stuart, her first FEI event since winning the CIC1* at Red Hills International Horse Trials earlier this season. If all goes well at Stuart, Hannah plans to continue aiming for the 9-year-old Rheinland Pfalz-Saar mare’s first CCI2* at the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International this fall.

Holly and Beth Groblewski’s Santino are gearing up for the fall season with a spin in the two-star at Stuart after the 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding took a well-deserved break following a strong eighth-place finish in his first CCI3* completion at the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event this May.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Jitter Bug. Photo by Megan Stapley Photography.

With yesterday’s downpour leading to sticky going in the grass dressage arena, Holly said she couldn’t show off Sunny’s paces as much as she would have liked, but she was extremely happy with his attitude in the little white box. The plan is for Stuart to set Sunny up for a three-star campaign this fall — touch wood.

“He has just had so much bad luck, and I’m hoping we’ve turned a corner,” Holly said. “He’s been running CIC3* events for two years now, but freak injuries before CCI3* events have kept him out of the game. When you keep having breaks all the time, it’s hard to have that flow, but I feel like it’s all coming together now.”

The plan is for Sunny to contest the highly anticipated Advanced division at Millbrook next. Then they’ll roll on to Richland, Plantation Field and, ultimately, the CCI3* at Fair Hill this fall, where they have unfinished business after parting ways on cross country last year. It’s great to see Sunny in such good form, and we wish Holly all the best as she kicks on to Elkton.

And, yes, you’ll notice that Holly’s full name now includes her married surname! She tied the knot with Eric Caravella last month in a lovely ceremony and shall henceforth be known as Holly Payne Caravella. She is keeping Holly Payne Equestrian (HPE) as her business name. Congrats to Holly and Eric!

Buck Davidson and Copper Beach. Photo by Megan Stapley Photography.

Buck Davidson and Copper Beach, owned by Carl and Cassie Segal and Sherrie Martin, round out the top three in the CIC2* on a score of 47.3. “Sean,” a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, received a Land Rover Competition Grant earlier this week to compete in the Boekelo CCIO3* in Holland this fall, which will be his second overseas three-star following a successful completion of the Tattersalls CCI3* in Ireland in May.

While Stuart competitors battled the aftermath of the rain today for dressage, they’ll enjoy the benefits on the cross country course, which boasts perfect galloping ground following the deluge. You might have seen photos of the flooded water jump floating around on social media, but we’ve confirmed that the jump is totally drained today and ready for the competition.

We’re delighted to have Megan Stapley Photography on the grounds shooting the CIC2* division this weekend for EN. Keep scrolling to check out her photo gallery from dressage, and click here to check out her full photography portfolio. Stay tuned all weekend for more of Megan’s lovely photos. Go Eventing.

[Cosequin Stuart Live Scores]