Hallie Coon and Cute Girl. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Just before the lunch break in the B&D Builders CCI4*-S dressage, Hallie Coon and the impeccable gray mare “Cute Girl” performed a foot perfect test to take the lead (28.5) from Phillip Dutton, who held the top three placings all morning. Caroline Pamukcu and Redfield Dexter had a bold, forward test to slot into third place (33.5).
Coon said, “Cute Girl took pity on me because I’ve had the flu for the past three days and have been really out of it. She was super mellow and went in there and worked with me. I couldn’t be happier with her.”
Coon has spent the past two years based in Europe, training with British team coach Dickie Waygood as well as dressage coach Olivia Oakley, and will go back after Kentucky.
“It’s a great system, it’s really clicked with us and I wouldn’t have it any other way, I’m really happy,” she said.
Hallie Coon and Cute Girl. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
A native of Maine, Coon was based in Wellington, Florida over the winter and spent most of the time training at home. “She hasn’t competed a lot, we’ve really been focusing on the basics mostly, it was a good opportunity to focus on that and really get her with me, because I think that’s the most important thing with mares.”
Coon and her groom arrived at TerraNova yesterday with four horses, so she’s had a busy start to the weekend. “It’s my first time here and it’s magical,” she said. “I just can’t get over the facility; not just the spectacle of it, but the details – the water fountains and the wash racks, it’s just unbelievable. I’m really excited to explore more, it’s just beautiful.”
Following dressage, Dutton is placed second on Caroline Moran’s Quasi Cool (32.9); fourth on Denim (33.9), owned by Anne Lapides, Caroline Moran, Ann Jones and Neill Sites; fifth on Jewelent (34.2) owned by the Juwelent Group; and sixth on Possante (34.7) owned by the Possante Group.
Phillip Dutton said, “We’re on our way back to Pennsylvania after wintering in Florida and decided to run the four of them here. Logistically it seemed like a smart thing to do but it’s a lot of horses for me to ride in one four-star,” he admitted.
Recapping his horses’ performances this morning Dutton said, “Possante was faultless in his test, he just wasn’t that flamboyant but I was pleased with the way he went. Similarly with Denim, he went well and I probably lost him a bit in the canter, but he behaved well. Quasi Cool had a good amount of energy and was relaxed but behaved well. Jewelent was workmanlike but very good.”
Phillip Dutton and Quasi Cool. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Dutton is currently ranked number one on the US Equestrian Open of Eventing leaderboard and said, “I think the US Open is a great addition to the calendar, especially having prize money, it’s a win-win for everybody. Obviously, you have to do the right thing for your horse and his career but if I can, I’ll go to those events over the other ones.”
While he hasn’t walked the cross-country course yet, Dutton competed at TerraNova last fall and felt that the course then was big and fair, and he said he’s looking forward to getting out on course. “Another reason we come here is it’s an incredible venue for the horses and the owners, they always have a great time,” he said.
Course designer Alec Lochore said, “One of the things I like to do at all of the venues where I design is, even if you follow the same route, the features have got to be different every time so people don’t come back and see the same thing. We’ve changed the route quite a lot between the spring last year and the fall event.
With the fact that it’s a US Open [qualifier] event, you’ve got to really reward the horses and riders who are positive. The alternatives we’ve tried to make quite long, so they take a lot of time if you use them, and there are some combinations where there are no alternatives – it’s get in or go home. For example if you do the alternative at the second water, it’s very easy but it’s going to take you ten or more seconds. There’s a lot of prize money at stake, both from the event and in the US Open, so people who are brave can be rewarded.”
Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
In The Estates at TerraNova and Laughlin Tanner Group at Premier Sotheby’s International Realty CCI3*-S, William Coleman and Chin Tonic HS surpassed the division of 42 entries with an outstanding score of 19.0. The have a solid lead ahead of second-placed Kelly Seidel on Chico’s Man VDF Z (30.2) in second and Mya Poulos on Cock A Doodle Do (30.5) in third.
Coleman said, “Chin Tonic is an exceptional horse on the flat. He’s a beautiful horse. I think our goal coming here this weekend was a nice relaxed test in a very real atmosphere, which TerraNova provides, and I think by and large we accomplished that. The score is really nice, but I think more than anything we wanted to come here and feel like we went through all of the warm-ups and pre-rides having the horse in a good, relaxed place and confident and happy in what he’s doing. It was a good day for us.”
Coleman is riding six horses total this weekend, from Novice through the Three-Star level. Following The Event at TerraNova he plans to run Chin Tonic in the CCI4*-S at the Kentucky Three-Day Event and then compete at the CHIO Aachen (Germany) this summer, then finish the year with the Morven CCI4*-L.
“We won’t contest a five-star this year, but we’re trying to work backwards from the World Championships at Aachen next year and put ourselves in a position to get on a team and go to that Championship representing our country.”
Competition began on Friday, March 28 and continues through Sunday, March 30, featuring competition from Starter through the CCI4*-S level. Spectators are invited to attend with free daily admission, on-site food trucks, and children’s activities such as Mini Horsemanship Camp on both Saturday and Sunday!
Saturday
Competition begins at 8:00am
- Feature event: FEI Show Jumping & National Cross-Country
- Special activities: Mini Horsemanship Camp (10am & 1pm)
- Hospitality: VIP Brunch (10:30am – 3:00pm)
- Open on-site: food trucks, Tiny Town, boutique vendors, viewing tent on the cross-country course (open to all)
Sunday
Competition begins at 8:15am
- Feature event: FEI Cross-Country & National Show Jumping
- Special activities:
- Non-denominational service (7:30am) on the back patio of the show office
- Mini Horsemanship Camp (10am & 1pm)
- Hospitality: Family Breakfast in the Pavilion (8:30am – 12pm), purchase tickets at the door: $30/adults and $15/children
- Open on-site: food trucks, Tiny Town, boutique vendors, open viewing tent on the cross-country course (open to all)
Volunteers are still needed for Sunday! If you have an interest in becoming a volunteer, please click here to inquire. For every volunteer hour worked, $20 will be donated to Easterseals SWFL. No previous horse experience is required. We have roles for all levels, interests, and abilities!
Can’t make it to Myakka City? Stream it LIVE, presented by Keyflow Feeds.
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