Photo courtesy of Stephanie Bradley-Green
–Stephen Bradley and his new ride Leyland finished on their dressage score to win their preliminary division at the Maryland Horse Trials on Sunday. Stephen posted on his Facebook page that their round was a big confidence boost. They will be targeting the Fair Hill CCI3* in the fall and plan to head for intermediate at Millbrook and then advanced at Richland to lead up to Fair Hill. Stephen also credited Amy Tryon with doing a great job training Leyland.
After Brandenburg’s Joshua didn’t make the squad for the World Equestrian Games last year, Stephen had gone over a year without a consistently going upper level horse, and I wondered if he might quietly step away from team level international competition. But with Leyland and the quickly rising In The Fog, Stephen is reloading for a run at the London Olympics. Anyone counting on a team spot should be looking over their shoulder right now.
Playtime looks for treats in the trophy after winning the Stuart CCI*
–At the Stuart Horse Trials, Will Colemand and Voncover won the CIC2*. Doug Payne and Running Order, Lisa Marie Fergusson and Smart Move, Selena O’Hanlon and A First Romance, and Colleen Rutledge and Shiraz round out the top 5. Valerie Vizcarrondo and Playtime took home the CIC* title ahead of Mackenzie Spaes and Ripple Effect, Elyse Fehr and Mystic Gift, and Babbette Lenna and Little Oliver. Phillip Dutton took hope the intermediate division with The King’s Spirit, the one intermediate horse he didn’t withdraw. Will Coleman added a prelim victory to his 2* trophy, and regular international Ground Jury member Marilyn Payne won a training division on Safe Harbor. [Stuart Results]
–This coming week we will turn out attention to Kalispell, Montana for the beautiful Event at Rebecca Farm CIC3*. 432 miles away from Kalispell, the Arrowhead Horse Trials wrapped up today in Billings, Montana. Martha McDowell and Gaelic Marriage won a one horse combined test division. We’ll see Martha and Gaelic Marriage competing at Rebecca Farm next weekend in the CIC3*. Nicole Jones-Taylor and RevitaVet Bay Wolf won the Arrowhead prelim division on a 43.9. [Arrowhead Results]
–Heading south about 1,000 miles to the Coconino Horse Trials and Training Three-Day, James Atkinson and the sharp shooting Annie Oakley III won the intermediate. Stephanie Callihan and Compelling Chris won the prelim, and Kelsey Carlisle and Mandalay Bay won the Training 3-Day on a 29.6, which has to be one of the best winning three-day scores of the year. [Conconino Results]
Go eventing.
