Originally from San Diego, Jenni discovered eventing thanks to the Bedford Hunt Pony Club in Virginia. After working in both newspapers and magazines, she joined the EN team in 2012. She travels extensively covering the U.S. Eventing Team and has reported at the Olympic Games, World Equestrian Games, Pan American Games, Badminton, Burghley, Kentucky, Luhmühlen and Pau. As for her favorite event, it’s a toss-up between Aachen and Boekelo. When she isn’t on the road, she’s busy competing her heart horse, Imperial Striker, better known as Derry.
Hazel Shannon and Willingapark Clifford won Adelaide in 2016 and are returning once again this year. Photo by Julie Wilson/FEI.
A total of 24 combinations will come forward this week on Nov. 15-18 for the Mitsubishi Motors CCI4* at the Australian International Three-Day Event in Adelaide. As the final CCI4* of the season, Adelaide also serves as the only CCI4* in the Southern Hemisphere.
Adelaide is set in the heart of a vibrant city center, with Mike Etherington-Smith’s cross country course winding through the picturesque East Parklands. The event is a highlight of the calendar for Australia and New Zealand’s event riders, and EN will be bringing you all the details you need to know.
The 2016 Adelaide winners Hazel Shannon and Willingapark Clifford are returning once again this year seeking a second CCI4* victory. Last year a missed flag on cross country stymied their bid to take back-to-back wins.
Two-time winner Stuart Tinney finished third last year with War Hawk in the midst of a controversial flag ruling and returns this year as a key contender. It’s a big event for the Tinney family, as Stuart and Karen’s daughter, Gemma, is also making her CCI4* debut at Adelaide this year.
Andrew Cooper has finished in the top five in the last two runnings of the Adelaide CCI4* and this year comes forward with debutant Hunters Hill. Donna Edwards-Smith finished 13th last year with Tangolooma, who she will ride again this year alongside his stablemate Cluny — both horses are New Zealand Thoroughbreds.
Three pairs that finished in the top 15 last year are competing again this year: Sonja Johnson and Misty Isle Valentino finished fifth, Katie Taliana and Trevalgar II finished ninth, and Madeline Wilson and Im Bruce finished 12th.
Emily Gray and Jocular Vision finished eighth at Adelaide in 2016 and unfortunately were not able to go on to show jumping at least year’s event, so they are returning with a vengeance this year. Tania Harding and Jirrima Yorkshire retired on cross country last year and are back seeking redemption.
Three riders are returning to Adelaide following lengthy hiatuses. Emma Bishop last competed at Adelaide in 2008 and is making a return trip with CP Issey Miyake in the horse’s debut at the level. Emily Cammock last competed in 2005 and this year will ride Shaw Lee in his CCI4* debut. Bundy Philpott last Adelaide appearance stretches back to 2003 and this year we will see her ride Tresca NZPH.
The following riders are making their CCI4* debut at Adelaide: Lauren Browne, Renee Faulkner, Jade Findlay, Hayley Frielick, Jessica Grosmann, Rachael Lee, Amanda Pottinger, Gemma Tinney and Jessica Woods. Best of luck to all!
The SmartPak Fleece Cooler in black/purple. Photo courtesy of SmartPak.
If you’re like me you can never have enough coolers at this time of year. We’re excited to be teaming up with our friends at SmartPak to give away a SmartPak Fleece Cooler, which is now available in new colors. Eventers who love to rock will be especially happy!
The SmartPak Fleece Cooler is a staple for any blanket collection. In addition to using it as a cooler, it also serves double duty as a dress sheet at shows, plus can be a blanket liner. The cooler is made from anti-pill fleece that wicks moisture, and the smooth nylon lining prevents rubs. The cooler also has double buckle front closures, a single belly surcingle, and a tail cord to help keep it in place.
The SmartPak Fleece Cooler in grey/cerulean. Photo courtesy of SmartPak.
The SmartPak Fleece Cooler ranges in price from $69.95 to $72.95 and has 172 reviews on SmartPak’s website with a five-star rating; 94% of SmartPak customers say they would recommend it to a friend. The cooler is available in sizes small to extra large, and in a variety of colors: grey/cerulean, black/purple, black with grey trim and white piping, burgundy with black trim and silver piping, and navy with hunter trim and white piping.
Enter to win a SmartPak Fleece Cooler using the Rafflecopter widget below. Entries will close at midnight EST on Thursday. We will announce the winner in Friday News & Notes. Thank you to SmartPak for partnering with EN in this giveaway. Go Eventing.
The Rambo Supreme Turnout — note the Surefit neck design and V-front closure. Photo courtesy of Horseware.
‘Tis the season to shop for turnout sheets and blankets, and EN has been hard at working putting top brands to the test. If you live in a climate where temperatures and weather patterns can be all over the map for six months of the year, having options in your blanketing system is a godsend. Having options can also be obscenely expensive — or so you thought.
The Rambo Supreme is Horseware‘s best-selling turnout thanks to superior heat retention and a comfortable cut. Made from ballistic nylon and featuring Aquatrans technology, the turnout is highly durable, waterproof and breathable. Features include Horseware’s signature Surefit neck design, V-front closure, leg arches, reflective strips, wipe-clean tail cord, liner loops, three secure cross surcingles, shine-enhancing polyester lining, thermo-bonded fiber fill and a detachable hood.
I’m super picky about how hoods fit and the Rambo Supreme comes with one that checks the boxes — not too tight and long enough to reach the ears. Photo courtesy of Horseware.
The Rambo Supreme has a slew of features to get excited about, but I bolded my favorite above. The fact that Horseware provides the option to attach different liners in their turnouts is a total game-changer. It gives you the option to use your turnout as a sheet throughout the warmer months and clip in liners as the weather turns colder to convert it into a toasty rug for the winter months. That’s exactly what I’ve been doing through the fall season with my Irish Sport Horse, Derry, and it’s worked beautifully.
I started out with using the Rambo Supreme Lite as my staple turnout sheet. Currently on sale for $359, it may not be the cheapest turnout on the market, but Horseware guarantees that all Rambo turnouts will remain waterproof and breathable for a minimum of three years, so your investment is protected. Horseware’s Turnout Trade-in promotion is also currently underway, which means you can trade in your old turnout from any brand and get $50 off a new Rambo while your old turnout goes to a horse in need.
The liners attach by Velcro loops to the neck of the outer blanket, and clip onto the back corners to prevent the liner from slipping. Photo courtesy of Horseware.
Horseware sells a slew of liners at affordable prices that you can clip into the Rambo Supreme to create a tough-as-nails turnout in a variety of weights. The liners attach by Velcro loops to the neck of the outer blanket, and clip onto the back corners to prevent the liner from slipping. Here’s the most exciting part — the liners are on sale right now! Horseware’s liners are currently priced at $64.95 for a 100-gram liner, $74.95 for a 200-gram liner, $84.95 for a 300-gram liner and $89.95 for a 400-gram liner.
Switching the liners out is super easy. I used the 100-gram liner before Derry was clipped and switched to the 200-gram liner after he had his first haircut of the season. He is staying super warm and dry even in the worst of the Pennsylvania weather currently, and I have the 300-gram liner at the ready for when the temperatures really start dropping. I wondered if the liners would slide around, but I am happy to report that they don’t budge at all. You can’t even tell I have a liner clipped inside the Rambo Supreme in the photo below. It also fits like a glove and hasn’t caused a single rub — two thumbs up for design and quality.
Horseware also sells other liners featuring Vari-Layer technology, which uses additional layers of thermo-bonded fiber across the back and hip to provide maximum heat retention and comfort with less weight. The 250-gram Vari-Layer liner is currently on sale for $89.95, with the 450-gram liner on sale for $104.95. You can also really spoil your horse with a Rambo Ionic therapy liner, which is currently on sale for $214.95.
If you’re not a fan of the liner system, the best-selling Rambo Supreme is also on sale in a 200-gram medium weight at $389.95 and 420-gram heavy weight at $424.95 — with all the same fabulous features discussed above. Click here to view all of the options available in the Rambo Supreme line. After thoroughly testing the Rambo Supreme and Horseware liner system, I’m happy to give this blanket full marks. Have you tried the Rambo Supreme from Horseware? Let us know in the comments below.
Capt. Mark Phillips receives the 2018 Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement Award. Photo by Peter Nixon/Horse & Hound.
Capt. Mark Phillips received the Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement Award last night as the 2018 Horse & Hound Award winners were crowned in a glitzy ceremony at Cheltenham racecourse in Gloucestershire, England.
The announcement of his name triggered a standing ovation, and Mark said he was “overwhelmed” by the response. His children, 2006 world champion Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, were both present to watch him accept the award.
“It’s a privilege to have had so many great people and horses in my life,” Mark said, “from winning 26 medals as coach to the U.S. team, to those who rode on British teams with me, to those who helped me.”
Mark won Olympic team gold and silver medals for Great Britain, as well as Badminton four times and Burghley once. He has designed the cross country course at Burghley for most of the past 25 years and also laid out the track for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games at Tryon this year.
An awards video played in Mark’s honor included praise from fellow Olympic medalists Phillip Dutton, Andrew Nicholson and Andrew Hoy, as well as Burghley director Liz Inman and fellow course designer David Evans.
Phillip commented: “He’s never one to brag or talk about the incredible success that he had as a rider and now even as a course designer. He is truly a great man and we are all very fortunate to have had him in our lives.”
Mark is also one of six new inductees who will join the USEA Hall of Fame during the 2018 Induction Ceremony, which will be held on Dec. 8 during the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Other winners at the third Horse & Hound Awards last night included double world eventing gold medalist Ros Canter, who was named Neue Schule Professional Rider of the Year. Gemma Tattersall’s stalwart partner Arctic Soul was also named Feedmark Horse of the Year.
There was an emotional moment when Jane Felton was given the Horseware Groom of the Year award. Jane works for Irish eventer Jonty Evans, who is continuing his recovery from a traumatic brain injury and was in attendance at last night’s awards.
The full list of winners for the 2018 Horse & Hound Awards:
Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement Award: Captain Mark Phillips
Absorbine Inspiration of the Year: Daisy Sadler
Feedmark Horse of the Year: Arctic Soul
Saracen Horse Feeds Young Rider of the Year: Charlotte Fry
Neue Schule Professional Rider of the Year: Ros Canter
Pikeur Amateur Rider of the Year: Katie Preston
Horseware Groom of the Year: Jane Felton
Griffin NuuMed Memorable Moment of the Year: The Price phenomenon with Jonelle winning Badminton and Tim winning Burghley
Evetdrug Vet of the Year: Alastair Field
HorseDialog Club of the Year: Aberdeen Riding Club
Balanced Horse Feeds Volunteer of the Year: Keith Watkins
Phillip Dutton remains the highest ranked U.S. rider. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
With October points now calculated, Great Britain’s Oliver Townend still holds the FEI World No. 1 position with 569 points. After Oliver fell from Cilnabradden Evo on cross country at Les Etoiles de Pau on Saturday, Ros Canter had the opportunity to become the first female FEI World No. 1 since Mary King in 2011.
Ros had to finish third or better at Pau to pass Oliver. She could afford one rail down in show jumping with Zenshera and still stay on the podium, but two poles ultimately fell, in addition to one time penalty. Ros finishes her season ranked second in the world for Great Britain with 564 points.
The top three of the rankings remained unchanged this month, with New Zealand’s Tim Price holding the third slot on 514 points. Tim’s better half Jonelle Price slipped three spots in the rankings and now sits seventh on 384 points.
Germany’s Michael Jung jumped back into the top 10, moving up 12 spots in the rankings to sit fourth on 400 points thanks to finishing first and second at Strzegom CCI3*. Michael is on the mend after breaking his arm in a fall at Le Lion d’Angers, and EN continues to wish him all the best for speedy healing. Fellow German Ingrid Klimke jumped into the top 10, climbing 19 spots to 355 points.
Gemma Tattersall and Pamero 4 at Pau. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Great Britain has five riders in the top 10 of the rankings. Gemma Tattersall’s second-place finish at Pau with Pamero 4 boosted her 20 spots to take the fifth slot on 391 points. Tom McEwen jumped one spot to sixth with 389 points. Piggy French remained in eighth on 378 points.
Phillip Dutton is the only American rider ranked in the top 10 and held on to ninth place on 359 points. Boyd Martin slipped one spot to 15th on 331 points. Lauren Kieffer jumped 16 spots to 20th on 320 points. Lynn Symansky and Caroline Martin are tied for the 22nd spot on 317 points.
The U.S. has three other riders ranked in the top 50. Buck Davidson dropped to 30th with 295 points. Liz Halliday-Sharp climbed 13 spots to 32nd with 287 points. Will Coleman slipped to 47th with 263 points.
Waylon Roberts and Lancaster at Great Meadow CICO3*. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Waylon Roberts is now the highest ranked Canadian rider in the world in the 151st slot with 137 points. Jessica Phoenix is close behind in the 155th slot on 121 points.
Click here to view the latest FEI World Eventing Athlete Rankings.
Joseph Murphy and Sportsfield Othello at Pau 2018. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Calling all eventers in Area I and II — this is your last chance to sign up to ride with Irish Olympian Joseph Murphy! He is teaching a cross country clinic next week on Nov. 5-7 at Boyd Martin’s top facility Windurra USA in Cochranville, Pennsylvania. Joseph excels at helping riders up their game on cross country. He is also king of the helmet cam — see his Burghley and Pau rounds as proof. Click here to read a clinic report for an idea of what you can expect. Then go sign up on Event Clinics.
A golf tournament to benefit the Retired Racehorse Project will be held Tuesday, Nov. 13 at Stone Creek Golf Club in Ocala during the week of the Ocala Jockey Club Three-Day Event. Buck Davidson and I Love My Horse Equestrian Boutique are presenting the tournament, which will start at 11:30 a.m. with lunch, followed by a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. Cost is $110 per person. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Call Terry for reservations at 727-871-5728 or email [email protected].
Applications are now open for the Roger Haller Eventing Officials Scholarship, which is designed to provide financial assistance to a licensed official who is working towards promotion to the “R” license, the “S” license, or the FEI licenses. The scholarship can offset the costs involved in attending the necessary seminars and obtaining the experience required for promotion to the next level of licensing. The USEA will award a scholarship of $5,000 to a qualified individual in 2018. [Applications Now Open]
A 20-year-old OTTB proved age is just a number by winning the Retraining of RacehorsesChallenge at Aintree this past weekend. Contestants faced jumps and obstacles they would encounter while out hunting. Kasilia, who ran 30 times and started hunting 10 years ago, took the top prize with Amy Brown. Go OTTBs! [Hunting Crown for Ex-Racehorse]
The latest episode of the Horseware Eventing Podcast is out now and features a lively discussion about Les Etoiles de Pau CCI4*. Thibault Fournier, Clara Loiseau and Alexis Goury are all under 27 and proved there is a formidable generation of even younger French riders who can now beat the best in the world. [The Pau Review Show]
The Portuguese Eventing Association (ACCE) has appointed a new board and adopted a three-year plan to reinvigorate the sport in Portugal. The plan includes boosting the number of events run in Portugal, a full training program for the National Team and ACCE members, and a marketing and communications campaign to raise funds. [New Board for Portuguese Eventing]
Thursday Video:
Take a ride around the 2018 Pau cross country course with Joseph Murphy and four-star first-timer Fernhill Frankie.
The 2018 FEI Eventing Statistics Report notes that horse falls at international levels are currently happening at a rate of one fall for every 63 starters on cross country. A serious injury occurs to the rider in one out of every 55 horse falls. Rotational falls occur one in every 572 starters, with the risk of a serious rider injury skyrocketing to one in every five rotational falls.
Can a program like LandSafe train riders to learn what to do in that “heart moment” when you know you’re going down? Four-star event rider Leah Lang-Gluscic not only says “yes,” but believes the LandSafe program saved her life.
Leah has evented for much of her life and started competing at the three-star level in 2014. She has twice conquered the cross country course at the Kentucky CCI4* with clear rounds aboard her talented off-track Thoroughbred AP Prime.
As a big proponent of safety in eventing, Leah had been wanting to take a LandSafe clinic ever since she heard about the program, and she signed up when Jon and Jenn Holling hosted a clinic at their farm in Ocala, Florida in March. Leah also hosted a LandSafe clinic at her own farm in Illinois in July, and she is one of only 25 eventers in the country who have taken the Level 2 program.
For all the years she has competed at the upper levels, Leah had never experienced a rotational fall — until last month.
She was moving her Thoroughbred gelding The Duck of Reed up to Intermediate level at Otter Creek Fall Horse Trials in Wisconsin. Leah found “Ducky” as an 8-year-old with 64 starts through CANTER Illinois, and he made his first Beginner Novice start in January 2017.
After a steady 2017 season at Novice and Training level, Leah moved Ducky up to Preliminary level in February 2018. After seven starts at the Preliminary level — all of them without cross country jumping penalties — Leah decided Ducky was ready to make the move up at Otter Creek.
Leah Lang-Gluscic and The Duke of Reed at Champagne Run Horse Trials in July. Photo by Rachel Sowinksi.
“He was very ready to move up,” Leah said. “I think I was a bit nervous to move a horse up to Intermediate again, and I overrode him to a very upright table that was on a downhill slope. He did exactly what I told him to and waited, and the last stride got too snug.
“In that last stride where he would normally compress his body a bit, he didn’t. I knew it was happening.”
Ducky rotated over the table.
“The first thought I had was I was on the ground and I couldn’t breathe because of my air vest.”
Ducky and Leah both walked away from the rotational fall without any injuries, but she says it wasn’t by chance. Video footage of the fall shows Leah doing exactly what she was taught in the LandSafe clinic.
“In the moment Danny refers to as ‘the point of no return,’ I am upright with my hands in brace position. My horse is clearly going to the left and I am clearly orienting myself to go to the right,” Leah said.
“I fell successfully because I stayed out of his center of rotation and went away from him. Had I stayed in that center of rotation, he would have fallen on top of me.”
Leah had already recommended that all of her students take a LandSafe clinic prior to her fall. Now she is adamant that the LandSafe program is a safety tool she believes all event riders should utilize.
“For me the most daunting thing about doing the clinic was seeing people falling off the mechanical horse. But what I didn’t realize is you do two hours of gymnastics first that breaks everything down, and you create so much muscle memory,” Leah said.
“When I did the second clinic in July, I did a lot more on the mechanical horse. Your body does remember, and you practice it so many times. Danny and Keli are so particular about your technique, so you do it over and over until it’s right.”
Riders also learn far more than what to do during a rotational fall in a LandSafe clinic, as the program addresses all types of falls and other potential dangerous situations while mounted.
“Eventers have this incredible proclivity to ride naughty horses,” Leah said. “Danny and Keli take you through rearing, bolting, emergency dismounts, bucking — every scenario of what could go wrong with a horse,” Leah said.
“The program is progressive and grows, so you learn more and more skills if you take more clinics. It’s incredibly helpful for anyone who is going to ride anything with more attitude than a saintly school horse.”
Leah believes taking the second clinic for the Level 2 program at her farm in Illinois over the summer is ultimately what made the difference in her fall.
“We only had eight people sign up in Illinois, which was really frustrating. I fully expected Danny and Keli would cancel. It was half the number we wanted, but they said they absolutely wouldn’t cancel — ‘We’re going to grow it and plant the seeds.’ Had they not done that, my fall might have gone very differently,” Leah said.
“To be so committed to sharing what they are doing with anyone who will take the information shows how dedicated Danny and Keli are to improving safety.”
Click here to see the upcoming LandSafe clinic schedule. Danny and Keli next head to Equine Affaire in West Springfield, Massachusetts on Nov. 8-11, followed by Copeland Farm in Independence, Minnesota on Nov. 15-18.
LandSafe will also host a special clinic called “Bringing Safety to the Forefront” with Buck Davidson and certified athletic trainer Mike Pilato in Ocala on Dec. 28-30. Click here for details.
Only 10 riders in the U.S. have taken the Level 3 program through LandSafe, and Leah plans to become the next one over the winter season in Ocala. She encourages all event riders no matter what level they are competing at to take a LandSafe clinic.
“I wasn’t injured physically in my fall, but it did affect me emotionally,” Leah said. “I’ve had a lot of time since then to think about what could have happened to me. I know the LandSafe program saved my life. The only thing that bothers me still is that I’d competed at such a high level without having done the program sooner.”
Have you taken a LandSafe clinic, EN? Share your thoughts and experience in the comments below. Go Safety. Go Eventing.
France’s Thibault Fournier and Siniani de Lathus had one rail down in show jumping to hold their overnight lead and win their CCI4* debut at Les Etoiles de Pau on a final score of 29.5.
French riders have now won their home four-star for four consecutive years — talk about domination! You can watch the replay of the thrilling show jumping finale in the video above.
Great Britain finished four riders in the top 10. Gemma Tattersall and Pamero 4 were the only pair in the competition to complete on their dressage score and finished second on 29.9.
France finished three riders in the top 10, with Clara Loiseau and Wont Wait adding one rail after delivering the fastest cross country round to complete on 35.7 for third place in their first CCI4*.
U.S.-based Aussie/honorary American Ryan Wood and Woodstock Bennet had one rail down to finish eighth on 43.3 in the horse’s CCI4* debut — such an impressive performance!
Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border delivered one of the six clear show jumping rounds to finish 17th as the highest placed American combination on a final score of 62.0.
Hallie Coon and Celien added three rails and 1 time penalty in their CCI4* debut to complete on 66.5 for 22nd place.
Click here to view final scores. Stay tuned for the full report on EN. Click here to catch up on all of EN’s coverage from Pau so far. Go Eventing.
Ryan Wood and Woodstock Bennett. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Gemma Tattersall and Pamero 4. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Thibault Fournier and Siniani De Lathus. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Hallie Coon and Celien. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Cross country replay:
EN has both Leslie Wylie and Tilly Berendt on the grounds to bring you all the action from France. Keep it locked on EN for everything you need to know from Pau. Go Eventing.
Selena O’Hanlon returns to the Indoor Eventing Challenge for the 11th consecutive year. Photo courtesy of Alec Thayer.
The countdown is on to the $20,000 Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge, which takes place Nov. 2-3 at The Royal Horse Show during the annual Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario.
Now in its 11th running, the invitation-only event is limited to 10 riders, and the winner will take home a $6,000 chunk of the prize money. Here’s the list of nine Canadians and one American who will face off over Capt. Mark Phillips’ course:
Lindsay Beer
Diana Burnett
Lisa Marie Fergusson
Holly Jacks-Smither
Lauren Kieffer
Kendal Lehari
Colleen Loach
Brandon McMechan
Selena O’Hanlon
Karl Slezak
The Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge will run across Friday and Saturday nights, with penalties for fallen rails and refusals added to the time on the clock. The rider with the lowest combined score on the second night wins. The highest placed Canadian will also take home the Col. Michael Gutowski Award.
Col. Michael Gutowski of Poland played an incredibly important role in Canadian show jumping and eventing. As EN Canadian correspondent Denya Massey so aptly explained: “Col. Michael Gutowski was the cornerstone of Canada’s transition into international competition in show jumping, specifically, and love of eventing more generally.
“He was one of the cornerstones of the Virginia Combined Training Center in the 1960s and early 1970s, designed by Alex Mackay-Smith and Stewart Treviranus as a three-week program with two rotating classes a day of dressage, cross country and jumping. Col. Gutowski taught show jumping.
“Ian Millar credits Gutowski as his mentor and the one who shaped his riding for many years. Jimmy Elder credits him with getting Canadians onto the world stage, and that Gutowski in a temper would mix up his Polish and English swear words. He was a highly decorated World War II hero, and promoted to General before he died at 96 in 2006.”
The Royal Horse Show, now it its 96th year as part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, is a huge tradition for Canadian horse enthusiasts. Tickets are still available for both nights of the competition and can be purchased at this link. More information about The Royal is available on the show’s website.
Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Welcome to cross country day at Les Etoiles de Pau, the final European CCI4* of the 2018 season. Cross country runs from 1:30-5:45 p.m. CEST (one hour ahead of UK time) or 7:30-11:45 a.m. EST in the USA. You can watch the live stream with English commentary at this link. We will also be running live updates on this page, so keep refreshing for the latest news.
If you missed EN’s cross country course preview with analysis from Irish Olympian Joseph Murphy, now is the time to read it and familiarize yourself with the course. Pierre Michelet’s course is 6,320 meters in length with 38 fences and a total of 45 jumping efforts. The optimum time is 11 minutes, 6 seconds.
Joseph reckons he thinks eight to 10 pairs can catch the time, which I think is probably generous. Only two made the time last year, so I am thinking fewer than five make it. Which one of us will be right? Watch this space! We are in for a thrilling race against the clock in France.
USA Start Times:
Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border: 20 jumping, 29.2 time penalties
Ryan Wood and Woodstock Bennett: Clear, 5.2 time penalties
Hallie Coon and Celien: Clear, 24.4 time penalties
Boyd Martin and Steady Eddie: Retired at fence 22
Phillip Dutton and I’m Sew Ready: Rider fall at fence 7B
11:34: Tom Jackson and Carpa du Buisson Z are home clear with 18.8 time penalties. That is our final pair on course.
11:33: Izzy Taylor has retired Frog Rock after a runout at fence 22.
11:30: Izzy Taylor and Frog Rock picked up a runout at fence 8, the brush after the up bank.
11:29: Gemma Tattersall and Pamero 4 are home clear and 10 seconds inside the time to rocket into second place! AMAZING ROUND! They are the fourth pair to make the time.
11:26: Andreas Ostholt and Corvette completed with 20 jumping penalties and 46.4 time penalties.
11:22: Nicky Roncoroni and Watts Burn are home clear with 12 time penalties.
11:20: Andreas Ostholt and Corvette 31 picked up a runout at the wedge at fence 14, so Thibault Fournier and Siniani de Lathus will be your overnight leaders.
11:17: Joseph Murphy and Fernhill Frankie are home clear with 7.6 time penalties in the horse’s first CCI4* to rocket into 12th place. What a round!
11:14: Andreas Ostholt and Corvette 31 are on course now. They are the only pair that can overtake the lead.
11:11: Katrin Khoddam-Hazrati and Cosma are home clear with 37.2 time penalties.
11:10: Joseph Murphy and Fernhill Frankie are on course now and skipped through fences 13 and 14 like a Pony Club exercise.
11:08: Will Furlong has retired Collien P 2 at fence 16.
11:05: Nicola Hill and MGH Bingo Boy are home clear with 28.8 time penalties.
11: Will Furlong and Collien P 2 glanced off the brush at the first water and then picked up another runout on course at fence 14.
10:55: Bayano slammed on the brakes at fence 22, the white gate and ditch, and sent Flora Harris flying over the fence. She is totally ok.
10:52: Imogen Gloag and Brendonhill Doublet have been eliminated after three refusals at the brush corner at fence 22.
10:50: Alice Dundson and Cool Investment are home clear with 23.6 time penalties.
10:45: Ros Canter and Zenshera are home clear with 7.2 time penalties. That slots her into second place behind Thibault Fournier and Siniani de Lathus. Only Andreas Ostholt and Corvette 31 can overtake Thibault at this point.
10:41: Phillip Dutton and I’m Sew Ready missed their stride jumping up the bank at 7B and belly flopped. Phillip went out the side door to the left. They are both totally OK.
10:38: Phillip Dutton and I’m Sew Ready are away!
10:35: Ros Canter and Zenshera are now on course and can take the lead. She can afford to be 3 seconds over the time but no more than that.
10:33: Jesse Campbell and Cleveland picked up a runout at the skinny brush at fence 16B. He then retired at fence 26.
10:32: Camilla Kruger has retired Biarritz on course after runouts at fences 11 and 13.
10:30: Oliver Townend has fallen from Cilnabradden Evo after the horse left a leg at the swan at fence 31A. He is up and OK.
10:28: Boyd Martin has retired Steady Eddie on course after a runout at the brush corner at fence 22.
10:25: Thibault Fournier and Siniani de Lathus took the long route at the tricky brushes at 34B and 35 and still finished bang on the optimum time! That is the third pair to make the optimum time and they take the lead!
10:24: Dressage leaders Oliver Townend and Cilnabradden Evo are on course now.
10:23: Boyd Martin and Steady Eddie have been marked as missing a flag at the corner at fence 5B. That will be 50 jumping penalties but can be removed on appeal. They are continuing on.
10:20: Boyd Martin and Steady Eddie are on course now.
10:19: Hallie Coon and Celien are home clear with 24.4 time penalties in their CCI4* debut.
10:15: Marie Caroline Barbier and Picasso d’Oreal have retired after a runout at the brush at fence 8 coming out of the water.
10:14: Hallie Coon took the long route at the brushes at 24B and 25 and is all clear with Celien.
10:12: Sarah d’Argouges and Sebastien Cavaillon came roaring down the hill to the brushes and glanced off at 35 to pick up 20 jumping penalties.
10:08: Ryan Wood and Woodstock Bennett gave us an incredible show! Home clear with 5.2 time penalties in the horse’s CCI4* debut. GO WOODZY!
Check out their clutch ride through the influential brushes:
10:06: Hallie Coon and Celien are away in their CCI4* debut! Sitting in the top 10 overnight so this is a big round for a lot of reasons.
10:03: Gonzalo Blasco Botin and Sij Veux d’Autize got in too close to the table at fence 15 and fell. They are both up and OK.
10: Ryan Wood and Woodstock Bennett are all clear through fence 28.
9:56: Dani Dunn and Zocarla BLH picked up a runout at fence 16B, the brush after the big white table.
9:55: Sharon Polding and Findonfirecracker are home clear with 32.4 time penalties.
9:52: U.S.-based Aussie Ryan Wood and Woodstock Bennett are the next out of the start box.
9:48: No! Ascona M lost her landing gear jumping into the first water complex and Tim Price couldn’t stick the landing. He fell but is up and OK.
9:44: Alix Crouin fell from Palma Belmaniere at the table at fence 22.
9:41: Alix Crouin and Palma Belmaniere picked up a runout at fence 11, the corner coming out of the water. They then picked up another runout at the first brush corner at fence 21.
9:40: Cedric Lyard has retired Qatar du Puech Rouget after a hairy jump at the airy hanging log at fence 20.
9:39: Ryuzo Kitajima and Just Chocolate are home clear with 19.2 time penalties.
9:38: Izzy Taylor and Be Touchable show us how it’s done! Clear with 2.0 time penalties to take the provisional lead!
9:35: Arnaud Boiteau and Quoriano ENE HN have now been marked as clear at the brush and complete with 1.2 time penalties to slot into third place provisionally.
9:30: Arnaud Boiteau and Quoriano ENE HN are the latest pair to pick up 20 jumping penalties at the brush at 34B.
9:27: Christian Chabot and Barlison are home clear with 16.4 time penalties.
9:25: Toshiyuki Tanaka and Kelecyn Pirate just gave us an incredible round — clear with 3.2 time penalties to slot into fourth place provisionally.
9:22: Sarah Way and Dassett Cooley Dun complete with 20 jumping penalties and 32.0 time penalties.
9:18: Sarah Way and Dassett Cooley Dun picked up an early runout at fence 5B but continued on and are going well.
9:15: Sian Coleman and Kilroe Hero are home clear with 22.8 time penalties.
9:12: NO! After a beautiful trip, Little Fire glanced off the first brush at fence 34B and William Fox-Pitt fell. He is up and OK.
9:08: Yasmin Ingham and Night Line are home clear with 23.6 time penalties.
9:05: William Fox-Pitt and Little Fire are on course and giving us an absolute masterclass — clear through fence 10.
9: Joanna Rimmer picked up a runout with Isaac Newton at fence 11, the corner coming out of the water complex.
8:55: FRH Butts Avedon slammed on the brakes with Andreas Dibowski at fence 10, the drop into the first water complex. He continued on until fence 16 and then elected to retire.
8:53: François Pons has retired Siam Taleyrandie after a second runout on course at fence 21, the first of the brush corners.
8:50: François Pons and Siam Taleyrandie pick up a runout at the brush at fence 15.
8:48: The French are COMPLETELY dominating this course. Clara Loiseau and Won’t Wait jumped clear and in incredible 22 seconds inside the time. What a horse! They take the provisional lead!
8:47: David Doel and Chap completed with 40 jumping penalties and 43.6 time penalties.
8:46: Rachel Robinson and MJI Limmerick Bell completed missed their stride jumping up the bank at fence 7B. The horse belly flopped up onto the bank and Rachel fell to his left side. They are both up and walking home.
8:45: David Doel and Chap picked up a runout at 31B, the second swan.
8:41: Peter Flarup and Frankie just smoked the course — clear with 5.2 time penalties to move into second place provisionally!
8:38: Elmo Jankari and Soraya 243 were having a super round but are the latest pair to pick up a runout at the triple brush at 34B. They complete with 20 jumping penalties and 20.8 time penalties.
8:35: Clear and just 3.6 time penalties for Tom Crisp and Liberty and Glory. That slots them into second place provisionally behind Alexis Goury.
8:29: Tom Crisp and Liberty and Glory are on course and looking super through fence 19.
8:27: Andy Daines and retired Spring Panorama picked up a second runout at fence 25B, the brush in the water. He retired after a hairy jump over fence 28, the skinny on the mound.
8:26: Sarah sadly fell from Lowhill Clover at fence 28. They are both OK and walking home.
8:24: Andy Daines and Spring Panorama glanced off the brush at fence 8, which comes after the up bank out of the water. Jumping penalties are racking up now on Pierre Michelet’s course.
8:23: Sarah Holmes and Lowhill Clover had 20 jumping penalties at the brush at fence 13.
8:20: Bettina Hoy and Designer 10 also picked up 20 penalties at 34B. The triple brush combination is emerging as the most influential on course.
8:19: Andreas Ostholt has now been given 50 penalties for missing a flag at fence 50.
8:16: Bettina Hoy had a hairy moment at 21, the first brush corner, and took the long route at the second corner at fence 22. All clear so far.
8:15: Tom Jackson and Waltham Fiddlers Find are home clear with 16 time penalties.
8:13: Gemma Tattersall and Santiago Bay complete with 20 jumping penalties and 10.4 time penalties.
8:11: Gemma Tattersall and Santiago Bay picked up a runout at fence 25, the angled brush in the water.
8:10: Bettina Hoy and Designer 10 are away for Germany.
8:09: Andreas Ostholt and So Is Et are home clear with 7.6 time penalties.
8:07: Joseph and Sportsfield Othello completed with 20 jumping penalties and 14.4 time penalties.
8:06: Gemma Tattersall and Santiago Bay are on course in the mare’s CCI4* debut and clear through fence 16.
8:04: Joseph and Sportsfield Othello were going guns blazing and unfortunately picked up 20 jumping penalties at fence 34B, the first of the triple brushes.
8:02: What a round for David Britnell and Continuity! Clear with just 6.8 time penalties to add.
8:01: Andreas Bisowksi and So Is Et are also on course for Germany and are clear through fence 14.
7:58: Patricia Pytches and CES Ballycar Chip completed clear with 48 time penalties.
7:53: Joseph Murphy and Sportsfield Othello are away from the start box. This is a seriously experienced pair making their fourth trip around Pau. Joseph has never made the time here but he looks like a man on a mission today.
7:52: Kim and Cooley Cross Border complete with 20 jumping penalties and 29.2 time penalties.
7:51: Kim and Cooley Cross Border were going SO WELL but had a runout at 35, the second brush in the triple brush combination.
7:50: David Britnell and Continuity are on course in their CCI4* debut.
7:49: Kim and Cooley Cross Border are clear through fence 26.
7:47: The French show how to get it done on home soil! Alexis Goury and Trompe l’Oeil d’Emery jump clear and 4 seconds inside the time as the second pair out.
7:46: Kim and Cooley Cross Border are clear through fence 15. Go on Crossy!
7:44: Izzy Taylor and Call Me Maggie May complete clear and 18 seconds over the time to add 7.2 time penalties.
7:43: Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border are on course and clear through fence 5.
7:42: Call Me Maggie may trotted at both of the swans at 31AB — we can expect to see horses tiring at this part of the course. It is a seriously demanding fitness test.
7:38: Alexis Goury and Trompe l’Oeil d’Emery just gave us a textbook trip through the first water — going on a perfect four strides to the up bank at 7B and neatly jumping the angled brush at 8. They pecked on landing jumping back into the water at fence 10 but recovered well to jump the corner at 11.
7:35: Izzy had an early sticky moment when she took the flag at 5B but is all clear and going well as the pathfinder. This is Call Me Maggie May’s CCI4* debut.
7:32: Izzy Taylor and Call Me Maggie May are away as our first out of the start box.
7:15: Good morning, eventing fans! We are counting down to the start of cross country at 1:30 p.m. local time/7:30 a.m. EST. Rain fell throughout the night and into the morning at Pau, but reports from the venue confirm that the ground seems OK at this point. The fog is lifting and temperatures are hovering at 50ºF/10ºC — perfect for cross country.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato at Kentucky 2017. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
We are devastated to report that Jordan Linstedt’s four-star partner Revitavet Capato was euthanized after shattering a pastern in his paddock on Thursday, Oct. 18, in Duvall, Washington. He was 15 years old.
“He was running and playing along side his best friend and big brother, Jack. Capato must have taken a wrong step, resulting in a shattered pastern. When I said goodbye to my sweet boy, I let go of a piece of myself. I watched his stoic strength finally come to an end,” Jordan said.
“Capato was a horse of a lifetime and I am grateful for everything he gave me. With him the biggest goals and dreams became achievable. We believed in each other and persevered when others doubted us. Capato will forever be with me.”
Jordan produced “Capato,” a Hanoverian gelding (Contendro X Annabelle, by Amaroso) she owned with Barbara Linstedt, from a 5-year-old after he was imported from Germany.
He finished in the top 10 in 18 of his 25 international runs, including winning the Twin Rivers CIC3* in 2016 and the Bromont CCI3* in 2017. Jordan and Capato competed at the Kentucky Three-Day Event for three consecutive years in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
In addition to his success at international level, Capato most recently placed second in the Adequan USEA Advanced Gold Cup Final at the American Eventing Championships in Colorado.
The EN team sends our deepest condolences to all who knew and loved Capato. He was an extremely special horse, and our hearts are broken for Jordan and her team.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Jordan Lindstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Jordan Lindstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Rounding out the top three in the CIC3* is Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Jordan Lindstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Jordan Linstedt and RevitaVet Capato. Photo by Sportfot.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and RevitaVet Capato after the jog. Photo credit CJ Millar.
Jordan Linstedt and RevitaVet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and RevitaVet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and RevitaVet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and RevitaVet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Jordan Lindstedt and Revitatvet Capato. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
West Coast rider Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato through the Head of the Lake. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Jordan Linstedt and RevitaVet Capato. Photo courtesy of Bill Olsen.
Jordan Linstedt and RevitaVet Capato. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Lisa Takada for Eventing Nation.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato, CIC2* winners at Aspen Farms Horse Trials. Photo by Jo Arlow Photography.
Jordan Lindstedt and Revitavet Capato
Jordan Lindstedt and Revitavet Capato
Jordan Lindstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo courtesy of Rare Air Photography.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Jordan Linstedt and RevitaVet Capato. Photo by Kasey Mueller.
Jordan Linstedt and RevitaVet Capato. Photo by Kasey Mueller.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Jordan Lindstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato.. Photo by Chesna Klimek.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Leah Anderson / Equestrian Culture Magazine.
Jordan Linstedt of Washington and Revitavet Capato are 4th after cross-country in the CIC3*. Photo by Miles Barrett.
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Tiffany Adams.
The final European CCI4* of the year kicks off in France today at Les Etoiles de Pau CCI4*. The first horse inspection will be held early in the morning French time, followed by the first part of dressage starting at 1 p.m. CEST/7 a.m. EST. We have a strong American contingent competing at Pau, plus two roving reporters on the grounds to bring you all the behind-the-scenes news.
Indian eventer Dinesh Kumar has been suspended and fined by the FEI Tribunal after his horse Jeet tested positive for two controlled medications at a CCI* in India in October 2017. 4-Methylaminophenazone is a metabolic byproduct of dipyrone, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Mepivacaine is a local anesthetic used for peripheral nerve block. [FEI Tribunal Ruling]
The Irish Sport Horse Studbook won the overall title for the second consecutive year at Le Lion d’Angers. The title is decided by the best three scores of each studbook in both the 6- and 7-year-old Championship categories. Piggy French’s mount Emerald Jonny, Liz Halliday-Sharp’s mount Cooley Moonshine, and Millie Dumas’s mount Universal Cooley finished second, third and fourth in the 6-year-old Championship to secure the title for the ISH studbook. [Irish Sport Horse Studbook]
There are two days left in the online raffle to support Area I eventer Jessica Halliday in her fight against stage 4 colon cancer. Tickets are $5 each with a slew of amazing prizes up for grabs: SmartPak gift certificates, show braiding and body clipping, PEMF sessions, cross country schooling, saddle pads and much more.[Online Auction for Jessica Halliday]
A golf tournament to benefit the Retired Racehorse Project will be held Tuesday, Nov. 13 at Stone Creek Golf Club in Ocala during the week of the Ocala Jockey Club Three-Day Event. Buck Davidson and I Love My Horse Equestrian Boutique are presenting the tournament, which will start at 11:30 a.m. with lunch, followed by a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. Cost is $110 per person. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Call Terry for reservations at 727-871-5728 or email [email protected].
Katie Ruppel and Houdini at the 2017 Ocala Jockey Club Three-Day Event. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
EN loves seeing support for Thoroughbreds who transition to seconds careers in eventing following their time on the racetrack. The Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event (OJC3DE) and Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Owners’ Association (FTBOA) have teamed up to provide a $1,000 award to the top-placed Florida-connected horse and rider competing at this year’s event on Nov. 15-18.
“The FTBOA believes the care and support of retired Thoroughbreds is a common sense responsibility shared by all who participate in the racing and breeding industry,” FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell said. “This high profile, award-winning event is among several that support and promote the versatility and marketability of retired thoroughbreds.”
Since its first event in 2016, OJC3DE has provided $15,000 in prize funds to participating Thoroughbreds, and the FTBOA was involved from the inception. FTBOA staff consulted with the event organizers, helped connect organizers to community leaders, and volunteered onsite to ensure the 2016 event was a success. Thoroughbreds made up 27% of the horses competing at OJC3DE that year.
Since then, OJC3DE has become one of the premier events on the fall eventing calendar in the U.S. and was recognized with the 2017 Small Market Event of the Year award by the Florida Sports Foundation. This award recognizes Florida’s communities and sports commissions for their outstanding efforts in the state’s sports tourism.
“A goal of the competition is to attract equestrian sport competitors’ interest to own and value off-track Thoroughbreds,” said Pavla Nygaard, the owner and president of the Ocala Jockey Club and Thor-Bred Stables, along with her husband Erik. “Off-track Thoroughbreds need second careers and great owners. It’s a win-win for both sides.”
OJC3DE has offered a CIC3*, CCI2* and CCI* since 2016, and this year is also adding a new CCI3*. The new CCI3* course, along with the existing CIC3*, will be designed by Mike Etherington-Smith. Due to a pre-existing scheduling conflict with the Adelaide CCI4*, where he also designs, the course designer on record is set to be Clayton Fredericks, with Mike listed as assistant course designer. Clayton will once again design the CCI2* and CCI* tracks.
The new Thoroughbred award at OJC3DE is the latest initiative from the FTBOA that promotes the versatility of the breed. In 2014, FTBOA began partnering with Run for the Ribbons Horse Shows that promote the retraining of thoroughbreds in the state of Florida into second careers as hunters and jumpers.
Almost two decades ago, the FTBOA partnered with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and the Florida Department of Corrections to establish Second Chance Farm at the Lowell Correctional Institute. Approximately 15 women are enrolled each session to earn an equine certification degree and upon release are considered for employment on horse farms across the state. Part of the experience is caring for the more than 50 retired Florida thoroughbred racehorses at the facility.
Pavla Nygaard is a strong supporter of retired Thoroughbred opportunities and serves on the board of the Retired Racehorse Project. The Ocala Jockey Club recently sponsored the National Thoroughbred Makeover and Symposium, hosting a large-scale silent auction to support OTTB programs.
The third annual Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event will run Nov. 15-18 in Reddick, Florida, with $15,000 of the total prize fund awarded to the top-placing Thoroughbreds in each of the four competition divisions (CCI3*, CIC3*, CCI2*, CCI*).
Click here for more information on the Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event.
Boyd Martin and Christine Turner’s On Cue clinched the mare’s second CCI2* win of the season today with a super clear show jumping round at Fair Hill International. On Cue completed on her dressage score of 23.7 to take the Dutta Corp/USEF National CCI2* Championship.
“She’s very elegant,” Boyd said. “She’s got a great gallop and a brilliant jump. I’m looking forward to having her here next year in the CCI3*. … We’re very grateful that Tim Dutta backs this event. I’m sure the cost of putting on an event like this far exceeds the amount they get from entry fees. I think this event produces horses for American teams.”
Boyd also won the Dutta Corp/USEF National CCI3* Reserve Championship today with The Long Island T Syndicate’s Long Island T, and he quickly scooted out of the press conference to catch a plane to France. We wish him the best of luck as he competes Steady Eddie at Les Etoiles de Pau CCI4* this week!
Emily Beshear and Olney Uncle Sam. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Emily Beshear and Jennifer Ward’s Olney Uncle Sam also jumped a clear round over Marc Donovan’s show jumping course to win the Dutta Corp/USEF National CCI2* Reserve Championship on their dressage score of 26.8.
“Sam tends to be careful in the show jumping,” Emily said. “Every now and then he can get a little too casual and relaxed, but it helped me today that the wind was blowing. It kept him a bit more aware of the jumps. He was bred not far from here, so his breeder (Ami Howard) was here watching. It felt like it was meant to be for him to be successful today.”
Will Faudree and Jennifer Mosing’s Michel 233 delivered a lovely clear round to finish in third place on their dressage score of 28.3. “Mikey” won the Bundeschampionate in Germany as a 5-year-old. After a green performance at Fair Hill last year, Will took a step back this season to focus on getting the horse stronger.
“I had the Fair Hill CCI2* as the end goal for this year to give him time to get stronger and mature,” Will said. “I couldn’t have been happier with him all weekend. He is tough in the show jumping, so I knew I had to go in and be very accurate and get him to the right spots and keep the canter active without getting long. I was thrilled when he jumped clean.”
Will was beaming ear-to-ear after show jumping and added: “It’s fun to be in a press conference at Fair Hill on Sunday. I haven’t been here since 2005, so it’s kind of nice to be back!” (We were delighted to have Will back!)
Will Faudree and Michel 233. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Allie Knowles and Katherine O’Brien’s Morswood added just 0.4 time penalties to their dressage score throughout the competition and rose from 23rd to finish fourth on 31.0.
Mia Farley received The John H. Fritz Trophy as the highest placed young rider in the CCI2* division with her own BGS Firecracker, who added 2.0 cross country time penalties to her dressage score to finish fifth on 31.9.
The Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue Trophy was awarded to The Sea of Clouds Partnership’s Sea of Clouds, ridden by Phillip Dutton, as the highest placed American Thoroughbred. “Socs,” who last raced in 2014, also won the USEF Young Horse National Championship as the highest placed 6- or 7-year-old horse in the CCI2*. The OTTB gelding finished sixth on his dressage score of 32.2.
Matt Brown and Alexa Gartenberg’s Big Berry also delivered a clear show jumping round to finish seventh on 33.3.
Tim Bourke and Carla Abramcheck’s Quality Time won EN’s Biggest Mover Award in the CCI2*, climbing up from 35th after dressage to finish eighth on their dressage score of 33.4.
Sydney Conley Elliott and Carol Stephens’s QC Diamantaire jumped a lovely clear show jumping round to finish ninth on 35.6.
Jan Byyny and her own Volcan de Caverie — who actually has springs instead of legs — delivered an impressive clear show jumping round to finish 10th on a final score of 35.9.
Click here to view final scores from the CCI2*. Go Eventing.
Frankie Thieriot Stutes and Chatwin. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Frankie Thieriot-Stutes and Chatwin entered the arena today at the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International having never jumped a clear show jumping round on the final day of a CCI3*. With a rail in hand, Frankie could afford to knock one pole and still become the USEF National CCI3* Champion.
But for good measure, and perhaps to really drive home the point that amateurs have a place at the top of the sport too, Frankie delivered a clutch clear over Marc Donovan’s course to clinch the National Championship with Chatwin on 27.3 — the only pair to complete the CCI3* on their dressage score.
As a 32-year-old mother of two boys — Drake, 3, and Kingsley, 11 months — who also runs twobusinesses, Frankie made it clear that none of her success would be possible without her family and support team. The Chatwin Group’s Chatwin is the only horse in the country to have won two CCI3* events during the 2018 season.
“What an incredible year this was for me for sure,” Frankie said. “This week I was thinking how grateful I am for the people who get you where you’re going. I’m feeling incredibly lucky and very grateful for my cousin, Elizabeth Thieriot, who helped me have Chatwin. My kids aren’t here this weekend, but it’s because my husband, Mike, is so supportive and is home taking care of them.”
It has been a thrilling road to the top for Frankie, who bought Chatwin five years ago. Imported from Germany by Clayton Fredericks, Chatwin had a “very unconventional jump style,” but Frankie looked beyond that when she tried him.
“When I got on him, I jumped him over a crossrail and he felt like my old horse, Fric Frac,” Frankie said. “When I jumped him, I knew he would take care of me the same way Fric did.”
Since then Chatwin has blossomed. He now has eight international victories to his name, including two wins with fellow Fair Hill CCI3* winner Tamie Smith while Frankie was pregnant. As for how Chatwin delivered such a fabulous performance at Fair Hill, Frankie said Lilo Fore has helped her immensely in dressage. She also credited Tamie and Heather Morris for their help with her show jumping.
While Frankie has experimented with all sorts of wacky bits and nosebands in an effort to deliver clear show jumping rounds with Chatwin, today she rode him in a plain snaffle — a symbol of just how far their partnership has come. “That was a huge accomplishment for me to go in with a regular snaffle and think ‘I can do this'” — and she did.
Boyd Martin and Long Island T. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Boyd Martin and The Long Island T Syndicate’s Long Island T jumped a beautiful clear round inside the time to clinch the CCI3* Reserve National Championship on 33.4. “Ludwig” also won the Jersey Fresh CCI3* this year, and Boyd said he is thrilled with how the horse turned a corner.
“There was a time when I was thinking about how to sell him,” Boyd said. “He’s just come good. I’ve been in three-stars all around the world. If you can get through this event, you know you have a horse that can be competitive anywhere in the world. It really builds the horses up for four-star next year.”
We ultimately saw 10 clear show jumping rounds inside the time over Marc Donovan’s show jumping course for a 30% clear show jumping rate in his inaugural year as designer. With scores tightly bunched following cross country, Marc’s course set the stage for a nail-biting finale.
Buck Davidson and Archie Rocks. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Buck Davidson and Maya Simmons’s Archie Rocks sat in second place following cross country thanks to delivering one of the two clear rounds inside the time on Derek di Grazia’s course, and they tipped a pole at the final fence today to finish third on 36.4.
“He’s gotten better every event out,” Buck said. “He did the best dressage he’s ever done for me, and the cross country was very easy for him. Today he jumped very, very well. I was bummed to have the last fence down. I’ve been working very hard on his show jumping with Kevin Babington, and he’s really helped me a lot. It took a bit of trust because he’s having me gallop at the jumps, but I thought it really worked.”
(Archie Rocks is for sale, and Buck took the ride on the horse this season to help Maya sell him. While Buck said he would love to keep the ride if he can find a way, he said his main focus has been helping a friend when she needed it most.)
Jenny Caras and Fernhill Fortitude. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Jenny Caras and The Fernhill Fortitude Syndicate’s Fernhill Fortitude had one rail down to finish on 38.4 in fourth place — their best result at Fair Hill CCI3* to date.
Caroline Martin and Danger Mouse. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Caroline Martin and Sherrie Martin’s Danger Mouse jumped a beautiful clear show jumping round to finish in fifth place on 41.0.
Lauren Kieffer and Jacqueline Mars’s Vermiculus had one rail down to place sixth on 43.2.
Cornelia Dorr and Sir Patico MH. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Cornelia Dorr and her own Sir Patico MH knocked one pole to finish seventh on 45.8 in their Fair Hill CCI3* debut.
Dom Schramm and The Naked Horse Eventing Syndicate’s Bolytair B delivered a class clear round to win EN’s Biggest Mover Award — jumping up 24 places after dressage to finish eighth on 46.5.
Dom Schramm and Bolytair B. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Caroline Martin finished a second ride in the top 10 in Sherrie Martin’s The Apprentice, who had one rail down to complete on 47.0 for ninth place.
Sydney Conley Elliott and Carol Stephens’s Cisko A pulled two rails and added 3.0 time penalties to finish 10th on 47.1.
Click here to view full results from the CCI3*. You can watch all three phases of the CCI3* on USEF Network. Thank you to all who followed along with EN’s coverage this weekend. Go Eventing.
All pairs that presented to the ground juries during the final horse inspection were accepted in both the CCI2* and CCI3* here at Fair Hill International in Elkton, Maryland.
In the CCI2*, Jan Byyny’s mount Volcan de Caverie and Courtney Sendak’s mount DGE TheManInTheGlass were sent to the holding box. Both were accepted upon re-presentation.
In the CCI3*, Ashley Kehoe’s mount Kiltealy Toss Up was sent to the holding box and accepted after re-presenting.
Jill Thomas withdrew OBOS Darko prior to the final horse inspection, which sends 48 pairs on to show jumping in the CCI2* starting at 10 a.m. EST. Thirty-three pairs will go on to show jumping in the CCI3*, which starts at 1 p.m. EST.
Show jumping will be held in reverse order of standing for both the CCI2* and CCI3*. Starting orders will be posted at this link.
CCI3* show jumping will be recorded live and available to watch on demand later this afternoon on USEF Network. The replay of cross country is available to watch here.
Stay tuned as we crown two new Dutta Corp/USEF National Champions! Go Eventing.
Boyd Martin didn’t just beat the clock on the Fair Hill International CCI2* cross country course today — he demolished it, piloting Christine Turner’s On Cue around a whopping 14 seconds inside the time to take the lead on 23.7.
On Cue, a 12-year-old Anglo-European mare (Cabri d’Elle X On High, by Primitive Rising xx), won her CCI2* debut at Jersey Fresh in May, but Boyd he wasn’t sure how she would handle a track like Fair Hill.
“She’s all class,” Boyd said. “I didn’t know whether to bring her here or not, but she sailed around the course today and did the time quite easily. I think she will be a good horse for the future.”
The door opened for Boyd Martin and On Cue to take the lead when dressage leaders Heather Morris and Charlie Tango sadly picked up two refusals at the Chesapeake Water at fence 9, and she elected to retire.
Derek di Grazia’s CCI2* course certainly shook up the leaderboard, with 67% of the field jumping clear rounds. Only five of the 63 starters managed to catch the optimum time of 8 minutes, 48 seconds.
Emily Beshear and Jennifer Ward’s Olney Uncle Sam finished bang on the optimum time to move from seventh after dressage up to second place on 26.8. “Sam,” an 11-year-old Trakehner (Sonset Seiger X Aerial, by Starman), won Millbrook Advanced this year, but Emily ultimately elected to run him in the CCI2* at Fair Hill.
“I was really happy we did the two-star here because certainly it was enough of a challenge,” Emily said. “It allowed me to attack the course and try to be quick around knowing that he had that (Advanced) experience under his belt. He was super.”
Will Faudree and Jennifer Mosing’s Michel 233, an 8-year-old Hanoverian (Mighty Magic X First Lady, by Federweisser), added 1.2 time penalties to move from eighth up to third place on 28.3.
“I did Fair Hill on him last year in the CCI2* and he was very, very green,” Will said. “He’s come back this year very strong. He didn’t do a spring CCI because I planned to give him time this year to get strong at the level. … He’s a big horse, so I took my time on the sharper turns. He’s a machine on cross country.”
Lexi Scovil and her own Chico’s Man VDF Z jumped clear around their first Fair Hill and added just 0.8 time penalties to move from 11th up to fourth place on 28.8.
Caitlin Silliman and The Vagabon de Champdoux Syndicate’s Vagabon de Champdoux added 0.8 time penalties to move from 14th place after dressage up to fifth on 29.5.
Allie Knowles and Katherine O’Brien’s Morswood finished 1 second over the optimum time and move from 23rd up to sixth on 31.0.
Mia Farley and her own BGS Firecracker skipped around clear with 2.0 time penalties to jump from 19th up to seventh place on 31.9.
Phillip Dutton and Sea of Clouds, owned by Anita Motion, Jodi Dady, Annie Jones, Evie Dutton and Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani, rocketed around 12 seconds inside the time to move from 29th up to eighth on 32.2 in the horse’s CCI2* debut.
Matt Brown and Alexa Gartenberg’s Big Berry added just 1.2 time penalties to move from 26th place after dressage up to ninth place on 33.3.
Tim Bourke and Carla Abramcheck’s Quality Time finished 7 seconds inside the time to jump from 35th after dressage up to 10th on 33.4.
We also have to give a special shoutout to 18-year-old Flintstar, the only other horse to make the time in the CCI2*. Six years ago he carried Jonelle Price to a team bronze medal at the London Olympics. Today he safely carried Ryan Keefe around her first CCI2*, moving from 50th up to 14th place. What a horse!
Click here to view full scores in the CCI2* after cross country. You can relive all the action and see what happened where in EN’s open thread here.
We did see one rider injury in the CCI2* when Amber Levine fell from Cinzano after the horse slipped on the flat between fences 3 and 4. Amber was transported to Union Hospital of Cecil County and is being treated for a concussion and broken foot.
No other major injuries were reported for any of the horse and rider falls in the CCI2*.
The final horse inspection will be held tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. EST. CCI2* show jumping will start at 10 a.m. EST. Keep it locked on EN as we crown the next Dutta Corp/USEF National CCI2* Champion. Go Eventing.
Frankie Thieriot Stutes and Chatwin. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Only two riders beat the clock on Derek di Grazia’s CCI3* cross country course today at the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International, and dressage leadersFrankie Thieriot Stutes and Chatwin skipped around 6 seconds inside the time to hold their lead on 27.3.
Frankie and Chatwin, a 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Contendro I X Oktav, by Oldtimer) owned by The Chatwin Group, won the Rebecca Farm CCI3* this year and finished fourth at Bromont CCI3* last year, but Fair Hill is a different beast.
“I wanted to attack the course,” Frankie said. “I think it was mentally tough the whole way around — for me and my horse, too. He has so much heart, and I was really proud of him … You have to stay committed the whole way around — both your horse and you.”
Frankie will have a rail in hand for show jumping tomorrow as she continues her quest to be crowned 2018 Dutta Corp/USEF National CCI3* Champion.
Buck Davidson and Archie Rocks. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Buck Davidson and Maya Simmons’s Archie Rocks had the fastest round of the day, cruising home 7 seconds inside the time to move up from ninth after dressage to second place on 32.4. While Buck only started competing the 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Le Monde X Unbridled Diva, by Unbridled Jet) this season, they have quickly forged a bond.
“He’s a true Thoroughbred,” Buck said. “He really tries hard, and he seems to have trusted me right away. We’ve developed a partnership. He’s very fast and very honest. He gave me a great ride today.”
Boyd Martin and Long Island T. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Boyd Martin and Long Island T, a 12-year-old Oldenburg/Thoroughbred gelding (Ludwig von Bayern X Haupstsbuch Highlight, by Heraldik xx) owned by The Long Island T Syndicate, added 4.0 time penalties to move up one spot on the leaderboard to third on 33.4.
“He’s really come on this year. I did a CCI3* at Jersey Fresh and just scraped around (editor’s note — he still won it) and six months later he’s felt bigger and stronger,” Boyd said. “He usually does a bit better in the dressage, but the biggest challenge for us has been the cross country and the jumping. Around Fair Hill you really know if you’ve got a four-star horse. Today he showed me he’s ready to go to Kentucky or Luhmühlen next year.”
Jenny Caras and Fernhill Fortitude, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Courage II X Misty Matilda, by Clover) owned by the Fernhill Fortitude Syndicate, finished just 1 second over the optimum time to move up from 12th after dressage to fourth on 34.4.
Sydney Conley Elliott and Cisko A, a 12-year-old Westphalian gelding (Cayetano L X Rhiannon M, by Ribot) owned by Carol Stephens, added 2.4 time penalties to move from 11th up to fifth place on 36.1.
Lauren Kieffer and Jacqueline Mars’s Landmark’s Monte Carlo were the first pair out on course and finished just 1 second over the optimum time to move from 21st after dressage up to sixth place on 37.0. Lauren also sits in seventh on 39.2 with Jacqueline Mars’s Vermiculus after adding 8.4 time penalties.
Lauren Kieffer and Landmark’s Monte Carlo. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Caroline Martin also has two rides in the top 10. Sherrie Martin’s Danger Mouse added 12.0 time penalties to slip to eighth place on 41.0. Caroline and Sherrie Martin’s The Apprentice added 12.4 time penalties to drop to 10th on 43.0. Caroline said yesterday her goal was two steady, clear rounds — mission accomplished.
Cornelia Dorr and her own Sir Patico MH impressed in their Fair Hill CCI3* debut with a clear round and just 4.0 time penalties to move from 21st after dressage up to ninth place on 41.8.
Click here to view full scores in the CCI3* after cross country. You can also rewatch the broadcast of CCI3* cross country on USEF Network here.
Dry conditions and perfect going contributed to a 69% clear jumping rate over Derek di Grazia’s CCI3* course. We saw two rider falls and one horse fall, all of which resulted in no injuries. You can relive all the action and see what happened where in EN’s open thread here.
The final horse inspection starts at 8 a.m. EST tomorrow, and CCI3* show jumping will start at 1 p.m. EST. Show jumping will be recorded live and available to watch on demand tomorrow afternoon on USEF Network. Stay tuned for much more from Fair Hill. Go Eventing.
Welcome to cross country day at the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International! The CCI2* division will kick off at 9:15 a.m. EST. There is no live streaming for the CCI2*, but we will be running live updates here on EN. Keep refreshing this page for the latest information.
CCI3* cross country will stream live on USEF Network starting at 1 p.m. EST. Keep it locked on EN for all the latest and greatest from Fair Hill. Go Eventing.
Frankie Thieriot Stutes and Chatwin. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Frankie Thieriot Stutes last competed in the CCI3* at Fair Hill International in 2009 when she made the long journey from California to Elkton, Maryland with her legendary partner Fric Frac Berence. She returned with a bang today aboard The Chatwin Group’s Chatwin to take a resounding lead in the CCI3* on a dressage score of 27.3.
Frankie and Chatwin, a 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Contendro I X Oktav, by Oldtimer), didn’t quite catch their personal best of 26.9 from when they won the Rebecca Farm CCI3* this summer. But considering Chatwin took a distinct disliking to the cameraman standing by the letter B during the extended walk, Frankie said she was relieved they held it together at all.
“I was so proud of him for that,” Frankie said. “A couple of years ago he would have come completely undone. For me it was a special thing in seeing how far our partnership has come and how much he trusts me now. For him to come back to me and be so good in the canter was a big deal because it could have gone the other way.”
Chatwin made the trip from California thanks to receiving a Jacqueline B. Mars Competition Grant to offset the cost of travel to Fair Hill, which this year is celebrating its 30th anniversary. (Coincidentally, title sponsor The Dutta Corporation is also celebrating 30 years of flying horses around the world.)
Frankie said she is delighted to be leading the dressage, but as Caroline Martin so aptly put it — no one comes to Fair Hill to do the dressage. Her focus is now firmly on tackling Derek di Grazia’s cross country course tomorrow.
“I’m not going to view it like I’m leading anything tomorrow,” Frankie said. “It’s a different day, and it’s an entirely different thing to do. I always want to do right by Chatwin … I feel grateful to ride him, and for the rest of the weekend I hope we can do our personal best. Whatever we can do amongst these Olympians and world-class riders, I’ll be really thrilled.”
The final CCI3* group to go in dressage today definitely didn’t disappoint, with the entire top three changing following the lunch break. Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti, a 15-year-old Westphalian gelding (Pavarotti Van De Helle X Fidelia), scored 28.7 to sit in second place. “Rotti” finished 15th at Fair Hill last year, and Jessica said she hopes to improve on that result.
“Pavarotti is the horse of a lifetime,” Jessica said. “To be able to bring him here and have that much fun in the dressage ring is really exciting.”
As for the cross country: “The footing looks almost ideal. We have never had better Fair Hill footing ever. I think it’s a fair test and there’s a lot to do out there, and when you cross the finish you will feel like you’ve really accomplished something.”
Caroline Martin and Danger Mouse, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Sherrie Martin, also went in the final group of the day and scored 29.0 for third place. “Mouse” also cracked the 20s in the Bramham CCI3*-Under 25 this year when he delivered a personal best of 26.0.
“This is Mouse’s second year at the Advanced level, so he’s getting more confirmed,” Caroline said. “He’s such a good mover that I can make a mistake and his movement makes up for it.”
Caroline said she didn’t expect to be sitting in the top three overnight and gave credit to Felix Vogg for giving her a few pointers on the flat in the lead-up to Fair Hill. But, like the other riders, Caroline emphasized all of her focus will now be on tomorrow’s challenging track. (Click here for a fence-by-fence preview.)
Boyd Martin and Long Island T. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Boyd Martin and Long Island T led the CCI3* at the lunch break and now sit fourth on 29.4. “Ludwig,” a 12-year-old Oldenburg/Thoroughbred gelding owned by The Long Island T Syndicate was another horse who had a good spook at the cameraman standing near B. (You can watch the dressage replay on USEF Network to see how influential that proved to be today.)
Caroline Martin and The Apprentice. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Caroline Martin also has a second ride in the CCI3* top five in Sherrie Martin’s The Apprentice, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Casado X Funny Girl, by Fernblick), who scored 30.6 for fifth place. Click here to view full scores in the CCI3* following dressage.
Only 15 seconds separate the top 10 in the CCI3*, so we can expect time penalties to prove influential tomorrow on cross country. While Mother Nature has kindly blessed us with perfect going, Derek di Grazia has crafted a demanding track that will require a fit horse and accurate riding. You can watch CCI3* cross country live on USEF Network starting at 1 p.m. EST.
Heather Morris and Charlie Tango. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Looking to the second day of dressage in the CCI2*, the California crowd continued their domination. Heather Morris and Charlie Tango, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Shannondale Sarco X Our Queen Bee, by Ricardo Z) owned by the Team Express Group, took the lead on 22.9 as the first pair out today and never relinquished it.
“He’s pretty good in the atmosphere, and he was quite good today,” Heather said. “We had a couple bobbles, but Tamie (Smith) was really happy, so I was happy. He really excels in the canter work. We had a little bobble in the trot work, so I made sure the canter work was perfect.”
Considering Tamie Smith, who just returned from Boekelo CCIO3* with a top-10 finish aboard Judy McSwain’s Fleeceworks Royal, warmed up both Frankie and Heather today, we can officially call her a secret weapon on the flat.
(Tamie also holds the Fair Hill CCI3* dressage record of 25.7, which she delivered aboard Mai Baum in 2015 when they won the Dutta Corp/USEF National CCI3* Championship. Tamie and Mai Baum performed the CCI3* test ride this morning, and he looks in flying form in the lead-up to his highly anticipated return to the CCI3* level at the Ocala Jockey Club next month.)
Boyd Martin sits in second place in the CCI2* on 23.7 with Christine Turner’s On Cue, a 12-year-old Anglo-European mare (Cabri d’Elle X On High, by Primitive Rising) who won her CCI2* debut at Jersey Fresh in May.
Anna Loschiavo and Melanie Loschiavo’s Spartacus Q, a 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Soleil Q X Laura Q, by Loerke), sit third on 25.8. This horse finished sixth in his CCI2* debut at Bromont, and Anna said she is extremely excited about his future.
“I think he has a lot of potential for dressage, and he’s gotten a lot stronger over the last year especially,” Anna said. “As he gets stronger, he gets more consistent in all of the movements. We’re really looking forward to developing that consistency even more and seeing where he can go from there.”
Bobby Meyerhoff and Gail Dady’s Almanac, a 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding (As Di Volare X Fuerst Aphrodites R, by Fuerst Gothard), led the CCI2* after the first day of dressage and now sit in fourth place on 26.3.
Caroline Martin and her own Cristano Z, a 9-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Chippendale Z X Nalan VH Schoterhof, by Omar), round out the top five in the CCI2* on 26.4. Click here to see full scores in the CCI2* following dressage.
Holy hind end! Tamie Smith and MB MaiStein. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Speaking of California domination, Tamie Smith and MB MaiStein won the USEA Young Event Horse 5-Year-Old East Coast Championships today. Courtney Cooper and R River Star were crowned the 4-Year-Old Champions. Follow full coverage on the USEA website.
Cross country day starts at 9:15 a.m. EST tomorrow with the CCI2*. Click here for cross country start times for both the CCI2* and CCI3*. Keep it locked on EN for much more from Fair Hill. Go Eventing.
Bobby Meyerhoff and Almanac. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
The first day of dressage kicked off today at the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International starting with the CCI2*, and Bobby Meyerhoff and Almanac delivered a decisive personal best of 26.3 to lead. Their scores at two-star level have steadily dropped closer to the sub-30 barrier all season, and today they finally cracked it.
Almanac, a 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding (As Di Volare X Fuerst Aphrodites R, by Fuerst Gothard) Bobby owns with Gail Dady, is better known as “Maniac” because of his off-the-wall personality. Bred in Middleburg, Virginia to be a show jumper, his spooky nature rendered him nearly unrideable.
“You couldn’t get on him unless two people were holding him,” Bobby said. “You had to get both feet in the stirrups without touching his back. If you touched his back — you were going to be on the ground.”
While Maniac came to Bobby to be sold, he decided to try eventing the horse instead. Through patience and persistence, Bobby has built a partnership with Maniac. They have finished in the top 10 in their last three consecutive starts at two-star level, including finishing fourth in the horse’s CCI2* debut at Jersey Fresh.
“It does make our bond a little stronger because he knows I’m his rider,” Bobby said. “He just keeps climbing up the ladder. I think the world of the horse. He’s got all these quirks and he’s really weird, but he has all the talent to go to the top. It’s just a matter of can we do it.”
Caroline Martin and Cristano Z. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Caroline Martin and Cristano Z sit in second place on 26.4 — just one-tenth of a point off the lead. Costly bobbles like executing a flying change in the counter canter and a jig in the turn on the haunches kept them from topping the leaderboard, but Caroline said she has the big picture in mind for this horse.
“I think he’s one of the best horses I have in my barn,” Caroline said. “He gets a bit nervous in the ring because he tries his heart out, but I was happy with the relaxation. He’s going to be really good one day — it’s just a process.”
Following falls on cross country at the Advanced level this year, Caroline stepped the horse back to the one-star and two-star levels to solidify their partnership. Cristano Z won the Plantation Field CIC* last month and finished ninth in the CIC2* at Morven Park in their final prep run for Fair Hill.
Jenny Caras and Trendy Fernhill. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Jenny Caras and her own Trendy Fernhill scored a personal best of 26.6 as the final pair to go today to sit in third place in the horse’s debut at the level. “Joey,” a 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (ARS Vivendi X Cruseings Girl, by Cruising), most recently finished 11th in the CIC2* at Stable View in his final prep run for Fair Hill.
“The atmosphere didn’t faze him. He was the same horse in the arena as he is at home,” Jenny said. “I had one mistake on my part when I didn’t to a half halt where I should have, and we had a little canter in the trot work. He tried his heart out. He’s a big horse, so it’s about getting him stronger and fit to the flatwork and being able to hold the uphill balance through the test.”
Looking to the rest of the CCI2* leaderboard, Will Faudree and Michel 233, an 8-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Mighty Magic X First Lady, by Federweisser) owned by Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables, sit fourth on 27.1.
Chris Talley and Sandro’s Star, a 10-year-old Oldenburg stallion (Sagnol X Poetic Patter xx, by Nostalgia’s Star xx) owned by Hannah Salazar, sit fifth on 28.3.
Click here to view full scores in the CCI2* following the first day of dressage. CCI2* dressage continues tomorrow at 9 a.m. EST, and CCI3* dressage also starts at 9 a.m. CCI3* dressage will be available to watch on demand tomorrow afternoon on USEF Network.
Fair Hill also hosts the USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships, which kicked off today with dressage and conformation. Tim Bourke and his own Quality Obsession, a Dutch Warmblood mare by Zambeesi, lead the 5-year-old Championships on a score of 24.19. Courtney Cooper and her own R River Star, an Irish Sport Horse gelding (Riverman X R Star), lead the 4-year-old Championships on 24.75.
The jumping phase for the YEH Championships will be held tomorrow starting at 8 a.m. with the 4-year-olds, followed by the 5-year-olds at 10:15 a.m. Click here to view full YEH scores.
If you missed EN’s preview of Derek di Grazia’s CCI3* cross country course, click here for a fence-by-fence tour. While temperatures are chilly here in Elkton, Maryland, we have a mercifully dry forecast that should make for perfect going on Saturday. Stay tuned for much more from Fair Hill. Go Eventing.
Welcome to the 30th anniversary of Fair Hill, an event that has served as one of the most prestigious competitions in North America since its inception in 1989. The late Mike Tucker served as the event’s first cross country course designer and put Fair Hill on the map as a demanding track. Derek di Grazia, who won the CCI3* in 1991, took over as course designer in 1999. Since then Fair Hill’s reputation has continued to grow as the toughest CCI3* track on this side of the world.
This year’s course is as demanding as ever. The first three jumps — Log Berm at fence 1, Fish Tank at fence 2, and Hot and Cold Oxer at fence 3, will settle horses and riders into a rhythm. The Hanging Log at fence 4 is set in the tree line, and riders will then turn sharply left and make their way to the first combination on course at fence 5, the Frog Pond. Riders will jump in over the cabin at 5A and splash into the water for the brush at fence 5B.
Fence 7AB – Table and Brush. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Riders will then turn right out of the tree line and kick along for the first galloping stretch on course to fence 6, the Sneaky Snake. Then riders will bend left around the next tree line to the first meaty combination on course at fence 7AB, Table and Brush.Riders will land downhill following the table at 7A and bend left in six strides to a right-pointed brush corner at 7B. The intensity continues to build from this point in the course.
The Potting Shed at fence 8 breaks up a galloping stretch to the next combination on course at fence 9ABC, the Covered Bridge with a right bending line to the Offset Cabins set on one stride. Fence 10, the Sunset Ditch, has a generous brush ground line. Then there is a long galloping stretch to the Chesapeake Water at fence 11. After galloping up the hill to jump the skinny stump at 11A, the ground drops away sharply on the landing side. Horses will splash into the water and take on the duck at 11B before galloping away.
The coffin at fence 13 – Ed Walls Question. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Fence 12, the Tiger Trap, breaks up another galloping stretch. Then riders will turn left back along the tree line for the coffin at fence 13, the Ed Walls Question. Horses will jump in over the rails at 13A with one stride to the ditch at 13B, then rocket up the hill in two strides to a right-pointed corner at 13C.
Fence 14, the Picnic Table, and fence 15, the Open Oxer, break up the longest galloping stretch on course, which also includes a grueling hill designed to test fitness. The next combination at fence 15, the Persimmon Turn, is set at the top of the course following the uphill pull and has a narrow open oxer set over a ditch at 16A, followed by a bending five strides to a narrow brush angled over a ditch at 16B.
The combination at fence 17AB entering the main arena. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Then riders will make their way towards the main arena for fence 17, the Main Arena Log and Brush, which has riders jump a beefy hanging log at 17A and make their way down the hill and towards the right in three strides to a triple brush. Fence 18, the Stone Cottage, is set directly in the center of the main arena.
Riders will then exit the arena and make their way to a spectator-heavy zone for the next combination at fence 19, the Farmhouse Corners, set on two strides. Fence 20, the Horseshoe Brush, and fence 21, Centerpiece, break up the next galloping stretch before the Double Brush combination at fence 22AB.
The Farmyard Corners at fence 19AB. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Then it’s on to the Fair Hill Table at fence 23 before a new combination on course this year at fence 24, the Angled Logs. Set on a right bending line on a downhill slope, riders chasing the time will have to determine how much horse they have left late in the course and how sharply they can angle the first log.
The final combination on course at fence 25AB, the Springhouse Water, typically causes quite a lot of trouble. The ground drops away sharply after the cabin at fence 25A, and the angled brush at 25B invites a runout to the right. Riders will then go on to the penultimate jump on course at fence 26, the Sunburst Table, and finally to the last jump at fence 27, the Produce Stand.
Derek di Grazia’s CCI3* course has 40 total jumping efforts set across 5,760 meters. The optimum time is 10 minutes, 7 seconds, and EN is predicting that seven pairs will catch the time. CCI3* cross country will stream live on USEF Network at 1:30 p.m. EST on Saturday.
Alissa Norman and Jacki Russell kindly recorded the track on CrossCountry App, so you can preview all the fences below. Many thanks to Alissa and Jacki! Keep it locked on EN for much more from Fair Hill. Go Eventing.
Lauren Kieffer and her 2018 World Equestrian Games mount Vermiculus. Photo by Jenni Autry.
A total of 103 pairs were accepted at the first horse inspection on a sunny, blustery day at the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International here in Elkton, Maryland. It’s an extra special year as Fair Hill celebrates its 30th anniversary, and there was a definite buzz of excitement in the air as the action kicked off.
The CCI2* horses were presented first to the ground jury of Gretchen Butts (USA) and Peter Gray (CAN), and all 65 were accepted. While 66 horses were scheduled to present in the CCI2*, Alexa Lapp sadly did not present Tim and Nina Gardner’s Cambalda, who won the Fair Hill CCI3* with Jennie Brannigan in 2014.
“He unfortunately abscessed earlier in the week, and although he has just come sound from it, we’ve decided it’s not worth the risk to run him,” Jennie said. “He will have a break and then come back out happy and fresh as a 17-year-old next year.”
Caitlin Henderson and Creative Dreamer are making their CCI3* debut. Photo by Jenni Autry.
A total of 41 horses were slated to present to the CCI3* ground jury of the USA’s Mark Weissbecker — who won Fair Hill in both 1994 and 1998! — Angela Tucker (GBR) and David Lee (IRL). Allison Springer withdrew Business Ben prior to the first horse inspection, as did Whitney Mahloch with Military Mind.
Of the 39 horses that presented today in the CCI3*, all were accepted but Erin Sylvester’s mount Paddy The Caddy, who was sadly not accepted after re-presenting from the holding box. Thirty-eight horses will go forward to dressage in the CCI3*.
Bruce Davidson presenting Sofia Baussan’s mount Durango in the CCI2*. Photo by Jenni Autry.
There are a number of Fair Hill first-timers competing this year in both the CCI2* and CCI3*, and we saw a slew of ear-to-ear smiles on the jog strip today. But we have to award the Biggest Smile Award to Bruce Davidson, who won Fair Hill in 1992 with Eagle Lion and returned to the jog strip today to present Sofia Baussan’s mount Durango in the CCI2*.
Follow EN’s Instagram for more photos, and be sure to follow official show photographer Shannon Brinkman on Facebook for beautiful images of today’s first horse inspection.
Dressage starts tomorrow at 9:24 a.m. EST for the CCI2* and 8:20 a.m. EST for the USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships. Click here for dressage start times for all divisions. Stay tuned for much more from Fair Hill. Go Eventing.
