Last year, Jon Holling started a new eventing tradition by streaking past the famous Bromont sign to celebrate winning the CCI3* with Downtown Harrison. The video became an instant EN classic and a moment that will forever live in eventing history. We crowned a new winner of the CCI3* this afternoon when Will Coleman delivered a beautiful double clear show jumping trip with Obos O’Reilly. So the burning question the eventing community is dying to ask is, of course, will Will Coleman continue the tradition of celebratory streaking? You’ll have to watch my interview with Will to find out. With that, I’m officially signing off from Bromont. Thanks so much to everyone who followed along with my coverage this weekend. You rock. Go eventing.

Phillip Dutton and Ben won the CIC3* at Bromont.

Phillip Dutton and Ben led wire-to-wire all weekend to win the Bromont CIC3*. The horse’s plans for the rest of the year are still in the works, but Phillip is hoping to take Ben across the pond to Blenheim. Phillip said in the press conference that the horse isn’t quite ready for a CCI4*, but Blenheim will certainly be a step in the right direction to help this horse prepare for Rolex down the road. This horse is slowly coming back into a regular competition schedule after taking time off from an injury he sustained last year, and his performance this weekend was very solid across all three phases. He laid down a 46.9 in the dressage — which would have led the CCI3* — and jumped clear across the country in a division where all the pairs picked up a lot of time. Phillip and Ben pulled one rail in the show jumping to wrap up the weekend.

Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti were second in the CIC3*.

Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti jumped clear with one time penalty to move up one spot from third to finish in second place, much to the delight of the Canadian crowd. This pair chased Phillip Dutton and Ben all weekend but couldn’t quite catch them in the end. Rotti is an incredible jumper and looked fantastic in both jumping phases, showing he’s a horse for the future. His dressage is also coming along really well, and Jessica joked about his quirks on the flat — such as his very exuberant flying change to the right — in the press conference. David O’Connor told the Canadian riders during his tenure as their coach that they needed to build a string of five to six Advanced horses. With Rotti in her string, Jessica is well on her way to accomplishing that goal.

Lauren Kieffer and R.F. Cosima finished third in the CIC3*.

Lauren Kieffer and R.F. Cosima pulled one rail and picked up five time penalties to finish in third place in the CIC3*. The tough going in the cross-country phase — during which four of the nine riders in the division parted ways with their mounts — meant many horses were tired today in the show jumping, but Lauren really piloted “Big Mama” around expertly, giving her the ride she needed to conserve the mare’s energy. Caroline Martin and Titanium finished in fourth place with three rails and four time penalties. Sally Cousins and Westerly — who was raring to go and didn’t seem the least bit tired after the cross country — jumped the only double clear round in the CIC3* division to finish in fifth place. Go Bromont.

[Live Scores]

Will Coleman and Obos O'Reilly jumped clear to win the Bromont CCI3*.

Will Coleman and Obos O’Reilly jumped double clear today around a tough show jumping course to clinch the win in the Bromont CCI3*. Sitting in second after the dressage, Will said this horse is very green at this level and, as a result, he was cautiously optimistic about how Obos would fair across the country. But the horse jumped beautiful yesterday, coming home clear with eight time penalties. After that smashing cross-country trip, Will said he really being coy with us about the horse’s abilities. In reality, Will rode Obos perfectly all weekend, giving him a confidence-building run across a very tough Derek Di Grazia cross-country course and piloting him to a perfect round today around a show jumping course that only produced two double clears.

Selena O'Hanlon and Foxwood High finished in second place.

Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High claimed the other double clear round, which moved them up from fifth to second place in front of an enthusiastic Canadian crowd. It’s super impressive that Selena completed the Bromont CCI3* on all three of her horses; she finished in fourth on Bellaney Rock and 12th on A First Romance. Sally Cousins and Tsunami pulled one rail to drop to third place, but Sue jumped really well and didn’t look the least bit tired after delivering the only double clear cross-country trip in the entire division yesterday. If all goes according to plan, Sally and Sue will be representing the U.S. at Burghley this fall. Best of luck to Sally and Sue as they continue preparing for their trip across the pond.

Sally Cousins and Tsunami finished in third place.

As was the case in the CCI2* earlier this afternoon, rails fell frequently all throughout the course. I’ve been rooting for Kyle Carter and Madison Park all weekend, and Parker tried his heart out on the cross country yesterday to come into the show jumping in third place. Unfortunately, Kyle and Parker pulled four rails to drop to ultimately drop to eighth. But Parker looked so good all weekend, and I’m pumped to see him back in action. Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe pulled one rail to finish in fifth place, and Chloe also earned the honor of Best Conditioned Horse at Bromont. Of course, the real question surrounding the CCI3* is how Will Coleman will be celebrating his victory. Will he continue the tradition Jon Holling started last year of streaking by the famous Bromont sign? Stay tuned, EN.

[Live Scores]

Erin Sylvester and Mettraise won the CCI2* at Bromont

Erin Sylvester pulled two rails with Mettraise in the CCI2* show jumping but still held on to her lead to seal the deal in a division where clear rounds were hard to come by. This pair came into the weekend scoring a 60 in the dressage to sit in 12th place. But trouble for many pairs across the country yesterday gave Erin and Missy the opportunity they needed to rocket up the leaderboard to first place after coming home with no jumping penalties and 2.4 time. Buck Davidson and Santa’s Keeper came into the show jumping in seventh place and ultimately moved all the way up to finish second after putting in one of five double clear trips in the division. This pair looked fantastic and stalked the leaders all weekend; I’m excited to see how their partnership continues to develop.

Buck Davidson and Santa's Keeper finished in second place.

Buck Davidson and Knight Lion also shot up the leaderboard from 20th place to second yesterday thanks to the only double clear cross-country trip in this division. Unfortunately, they pulled four rails in the show jumping, although that only dropped them down to third place to finish the weekend on an 82.4. Rails fell all around the course, with the last fence coming down five times to repeatedly play spoiler. The first fence fell twice — Erin and Missy were one of the pairs to have trouble here — and the rainbow plank fence halfway through the course also fell multiple times. The double clear trips went to Buck Davidson and Santa’s Keeper, Elena Ceballos and Nounours du Moulin, Alexandra MacLeod and Railroad Man Jim, Robin Walker and Rowdy Friend, and Abigail Wilson and Fernhill Flag.

Buck Davidson and Knight Lion finished in third place.

In a heartbreaking turn of events, Erin Freedman and Viola, a new friend of EN who came into the CCI2* show jumping in fifth place, had to pull up halfway through the course and retire. It looked like the mare tweaked her right front shoe after an awkward jump over the rainbow planks, and she instantly went hopping lame. Erin pulled her up right away and hopped off as Viola hobbled out of the ring, where a farrier immediately examined the foot and removed the shoe. The whole crowd sat in stunned silence empathizing with Erin. To travel so far and come just a few show jumps away from completing Bromont is devastating. We say it all the time, but that’s eventing — the highest highs and lowest lows all crammed into one crazy weekend. Best wishes to Erin and Viola, and I hope the injury isn’t anything serious. The ring is being dragged for the CCI3* riders now. Stay tuned for much more from Bromont!

[Full Results]

Will Coleman and Obos O'Reilly lead the Bromont CCI3*.

All but one horse passed the final horse inspection on a drizzly, chilly morning at Bromont. The 37 remaining CCI* horses jogged first, and Amy Tunney and Olympus were held and ultimately spun. Samantha said the horse pulled both shoes yesterday on the cross country. All of the 15 horses that presented in the CCI2* cruised through the inspection. Kyle Carter and Madison Park, who are in third in the CCI3*, gave us all a scare when the horse was held in the jog. Clayton Fredericks helped Kyle jog Parker in the holding box, and Parker was ultimately accepted on reinspection to enthusiastic applause and cheers from the bystanders. The other 17 horses that presented in the CCI3* were accepted.

The steady rain that’s fallen all weekend turned the jog lane into a quagmire, and we saw some conservative jog outfits and sturdy footwear as a result. Rain coats and colored jeans were the most popular wardrobe choices for the ladies, though no one who started up the jog lane with white jeans returned without plenty of mud splatters. Emily Beshear looked practical and fun wearing purple rain boots and a pink blazer. I also thought Kate Chadderton looked great in bright coral skinny jeans and a grey trench coat. The guys kept it conservative, with most wearing navy blazers and khakis. Where’s Will Faudree and his butterfly vest when you need him?

The CCI* horses show jump first at 10 a.m, followed by the CCI2*, CCI3* and CIC3*. Waylon Roberts and Yarrow lead the CCI* on a 45.7 and can’t afford to drop any rails if they want to maintain their lead over Erin Sylvester and Paddy The Caddy. Erin and Mettraise lead the CCI2* on a 62.4 and would match Buck Davidson and Knight Lion’s score of 66.4 if they drop a rail. Will Coleman and Obos O’Reilly lead the CCI3* and have a rail in hand over Sally Cousins and Tsunami. Phillip Dutton and Ben can’t afford to drop a rail in the CIC3*, as Lauren Kieffer and R.F. Cosima are hot on their heels. Stay tuned for much more from Bromont, and keep checking back for more photos from the final horse inspection.

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Erin Sylvester and Mettraise moved up from 12th to lead the CCI2* at Bromont.

Erin Sylvester and Mettraise made quick work of Derek Di Grazia’s CCI2* cross-country course at Bromont this afternoon, coming home clear with just 2.4 time penalties to move up from 12th place to take the lead. This Thoroughbred mare is a super scopey jumper and locked on beautifully at 13ab, a combination that caused numerous problems for the riders on the CCI2* course. Buck Davidson and Knight Lion were first out on course in the division and flew around, coming home with the only double clear trip in the CCI2* to move all the way up from 20th to second place. Booli Selmayr and Castle Diamond hold third place after putting in a clear trip with 16.4 time. The horse looked a bit tentative in the middle of the course, and Booli gave him a really smart ride to get the horse around safely.

Buck Davidson and Knight Lion moved up from 20th to second place.

The CCI2* leaderboard changed drastically this afternoon when things didn’t quite go as planned for numerous riders. Overnight leaders Sharon White and Don Sheffield unfortunately had a runout at the skinny at 13b — the fence that caused the most problems on course by far — and dropped to ninth place. Jordan McDonald, who was sitting in second place overnight with Prince Mayo, had two stops on course and retired at the corner at 16b in the arena. Unfortunately, Jordan’s bad luck continued with Glencento, who was sitting in fifth place overnight and had a chance to take the lead as the last horse out on course. They had two runouts at 13b and called it a day. Benita Strini and Sammy Jo also had two stops at 13b and retired, and Jessica Phoenix and Extraordinaire also retired after glancing off 13b.

Booli Selmayr and Castle Diamond stayed in third place with a clear trip.

The second water on the back of the course also caught out several riders. Buck Davidson and Santa’s Keeper, who came into the cross country in fourth place, had a stop at the water and subsequently dropped to seventh place. Jennifer Simmons fell from GV Tuscany at the water and reportedly landed on her feet. Caroline Martin and Petite Flower and Alexandra MacLeod and Railroad Man Jim both had stops at this water complex as well. Anita Nemtin-Gilmour had the only other fall in the division when she popped off Topper just three jumps from home. The other tricky spot on course proved to be the corner at 16b in the main arena, where Jordan and Prince Mayo had their runouts, as well as Abigail Wilson and Fernhill Flag. In all, 10 riders made it home without a jumping penalty, six riders retired on course and two fell from their horses.

Kate Chadderton and VS McCuan Civil Liberty are in fourth place.

The waterlogged footing continued to deteriorate throughout the day, which likely contributed to many of the problems for the CCI2* riders and made the going very heavy. We managed to dodge the rain for most of the day, but a fine mist started about halfway through the CCI2*, and a steady rain was falling by the time Jordan McDonald and Glencento started out as the last pair on course. We just can’t seem to catch a break here at Bromont. Last but not last, I have to give a shoutout to EN’s Got Talent superstars Kate Chadderton and VS McCuan Civil Liberty, who had a super trip to move up to fourth place, and Erin Freedman and Viola, who Samantha and I chatted with while we walked the course yesterday. In an example of EN’s karma at its finest, Erin and Viola rocked it with a clear trip to move up to fifth place. Stay tuned for much more from Bromont!

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Will Coleman and Obos O'Reilly take the lead with a clear trip and eight time penalties.

Will Coleman said he was nervous about how Obos O’Reilly would handle the CCI3* cross-country course at Bromont in yesterday’s press conference. The horse is green, Will said, and Derek Di Grazia’s course presented relentless challenges and questions. But Obos rose to the occasion today, jumping clear and coming home with eight time penalties to take the lead in the CCI3* on a 58.2. The horse looked very confident when I saw him coming through the big drop at 14a and cruised through the rest of the combination with no problems. Will has a rail in hand going into the show jumping tomorrow ahead of Sally Cousins and Tsunami, who moved all the way from 16th up to second place on a 64.2 thanks to the only double clear trip of the entire division. Sue is a beast across the country and looked fighting fit when she blew past me toward the end of the course. Kyle Carter and Madison Park continued their comeback by jumping around clean with 10.4 time penalties to move up one spot to third place on 64.4, just .2 penalties behind Sally and Sue. Parker seemed very happy to be out on course the two times he passed by me and looked fantastic when I saw him at the second to last fence.

Kyle Carter and Madison Park are in third place after a clear trip and 10.4 time.

Selena O’Hanlon has to be thrilled with two horses in the top 10 following the cross country. She’s sitting in fourth place on Bellaney Rock and moved all the way from 12th to fifth with Foxwood High after clear jumping trips with both horses. There were 12 clear trips in all in the CCI3*, with the course riding very safe but time proving hard to make. Volunteers worked tirelessly laying gravel around the fences to preserve the footing, which undoubtedly slowed many of the horses and riders. Eight riders picked up one or more stops or runouts on course, with the problems occurring at a variety of fences around the course. Lauren Kieffer and Veronica, the overnight leaders after the dressage, were having a smooth trip before being held on course after Rick Wallace and Ultimate Victory broke a frangible pin at fence 13. After getting back underway following the hold, which lasted about 10 minutes while Jay Hambly and his crew replaced the pin, Lauren and Veronica had a stop at the corner at 16b in the main arena, dropping them down to ninth place with 20 jumping penalties and 11.6 time.

Selena O'Hanlon and Bellaney Rock are in fourth place after coming home clear with 8.4 time.

Rick Wallace and Ultimate Victory were the only pair to retire on course. The horse thunked his back legs pretty hard when he broke the frangible pin at fence 13, but he trotted away OK after that. We’ll keep you posted on the horse’s status. Jeff Kibbie and Loki and Leslie Chelstrom and Cecilia, who was in eighth place overnight, were both eliminated after three stops on course. Phillip Dutton withdrew William Penn, who was sitting in 11th place after the dressage, before tackling the course and will save the horse for another day. Last but not least, I have to give a huge shoutout to Bunnie Sexton, who moved all the way up from 22nd to eighth with Rise Against after coming home clear with just six time penalties. Due to a long hold on course in the CCI* this morning and the hold to replace the frangible pin in the CCI3*, the CIC3* started running immediately after the CCI3* concluded, so I’m missing part of the action to bring you this report. Thankfully, Samantha is out on course and will be bringing you a full report after the nine riders tackle the course. Stay tuned for much more from Bromont.

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Fence 14abc on the Bromont CCI3* course

The CCI* riders tackled the Bromont cross-country course this morning, and the CCI3* cross country will be under way around noon EST. The course has soaked up quite a bit of water since I walked it yesterday, as steady rains fell overnight. The CCI* riders are reporting that the course is soft in spots but holding, and the course officials are doing everything they can to maintain the footing. As I reported in my course preview from yesterday, Derek Di Grazia’s CCI3* course is big, and many are saying this is the biggest three-star course they’ve ever seen at Bromont. I’ll be bringing you live updates from all the action in this thread, so be sure to keep checking back. Lauren Kieffer and Veronica are your overnight leaders on a 44.6, with Will Coleman and Obos O’Reilly in second on a 50.2, and Emily Beshear and River King in third on a 53.5. Go Bromont.

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12:21: Sally Cousins and Tsunami come home inside the time and are the first double clear thus far.

12:29: Everyone has come home safely so far. The footing is showing some deep divots in certain spots, but volunteers are laying gravel between riders.

12:33: Emily Beshear and River King had a stop toward the back of the course.

12:35: Rise Against gets a big “good boy” as they clear the last fence.

12:37: Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe had a near miss when two volunteers drove right into their path on course. Heads up out there.

12:40: Jeff Kibbie and Loki picked up one too many stops and were unfortunately eliminated.

12:41: Selena O’Hanlon and A First Romance pick up a stop at 4b at the first water complex.

12:53: Rick Wallace and Ultimate Victory broke a frangible pin at fence 13, and the fence is now under repair.

12:56: Lauren Kieffer and Veronica have been held on course as Jay Hambly and his crew put the log back into place at fence 13.

1:09: We’re back underway. Katie Willis and Polar Storm had a stop at the drop at 14a.

11:12: Lauren Kieffer and Veronica unfortunately had a runout at the corner at 16b after being held.

1:19: Jon Holling and Zatopek B had a runout in the arena.

1:22: Lizzie Snow and Coal Creek had a stop at fence 25.

1:25: Leslie Chstrom and Cecelia were unfortunately eliminated on course.

1:31: Will Coleman and Obos O’Reilly came home clear with 8 time to take the lead. Only Selena O’Hanlon and Bellaney Rock can take the lead now.

William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning at Rolex. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The cross country took a major toll on the leaderboard today at Bramham, and William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning now lead the CCI3* after putting in a double clear trip. Overnight leaders Pippa Funnell and Or Noir De La Loge picked up a stop and 14.4 time penalties to drop all the way down to 23rd. Other top 10 riders after dressage suffered similar fates. Maxime Libio and Cathar De Gamel had been sitting in third place overnight, but dropped down to 29th after a refusal and subsequent 15.6 time penalties. While William moved to the lead on Chilli Morning, his luck didn’t extend to his trip with Doug Payne’s former mount Running Order; they picked up a stop and 9.2 time penalties to drop to 27th place. William and Running Order had been sitting in seventh place overnight.

There were 14 double clear trips in all across the Bramham CCI3* cross country course. Five riders retired on course, while 12 were eliminated, including Zara Phillips and Lord Lauries, who were sitting in fourth place overnight. The top three going into the show jumping tomorrow are now William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning, who were second after dressage; Mark Todd and and Leonidas II, who were fifth after dressage; and Mathieu Lemoine and Quickness, who were sixth after the dressage. All the riders in the top five had double clear trips across the country, and all were rewarded by moving at least one spot up the leaderboard. We’ll be back tomorrow with a full report on the show jumping from Bramham.

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Erin Freedman, who is competing in the CCI2* at Bromont with her mare Viola, gives some perspective on the height of the drop.

All weekend I’ve been hearing that Derek Di Grazia’s Bromont CCI3* cross-country course is a monster. I finally got out to walk it today, and I have to admit that all the chatter has been spot on. I thought it seemed pretty doable until I got to 14abc, a 5-foot-plus-drop bank to a skinny combination. Samantha and I ran into Erin Freedman, who is contesting the CCI2* with her mare Viola this weekend, while we were walking the course. Erin, pictured above, is 5 feet tall, which gives you some perspective on just how big this drop is, and the fence appears on both the CCI3* and CCI2* courses. That drop is just one example of how challenging this course is going to be for the riders tomorrow. Virtually every table is set at maximum width, and most of the combinations are set at very tricky angles. The CCI1* rides first at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Go eventing.

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica won the CCI3* dressage today at Bromont, putting themselves in a very good position to continue the hot streak they’ve been on since winning the Ocala Horse Properties CCI2* in April. Since then, they’ve also won the CIC2* at Jersey Fresh and the CIC3* at CHC International last month. I caught up with Lauren for a quick interview as she was hopping on R.F. Cosima for a jump school this afternoon. As Lauren says in the interview, Bromont is certainly not going to come down to the dressage. Derek Di Grazia’s cross-country course is massive — as you’ll see shortly once I upload my course walk photos — with numerous tough questions and combinations. Watch the interview to hear more about Lauren’s strategy for the cross country, as well as her plans for Veronica after Bromont. Best of luck to Lauren and all the competitors on the cross country tomorrow.

Phillip Dutton and Ben won the dressage in the CIC3* at Bromont on a 46.9.

There are just nine riders contesting the CIC3* at Bromont, but that didn’t make the division any less competitive today in the dressage. Phillip Dutton and Ben hold first place going into the cross country on a 46.9 with a beautiful test. This horse is coming back from an injury and only started competing again in March at Southern Pines. He was most recently third in the CIC3* at CHC International and looks poised for a solid performance this weekend at Bromont. Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti are just behind Phillip in second place on a 47.7. As you’ll see in the video, the test was very fluid, and this horse is a real showman in the dressage. Team Canada was out in full force today supporting their riders, and Jessica received an appreciative cheer from the spectators when she finished her test.

Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti are in second place on a 47.7.

Lauren Kieffer continued her good day — she won the CCI3* dressage earlier this afternoon with Veronica — with a lovely test on R.F. Cosima; they are sitting in third place on a 51.5. This mare just turned 8 and is starting to show just how much potential she has on the flat. Lauren said in the press conference following the dressage that she “got a little greedy” in certain parts of the test and pushed a little too hard, but she was really pleased with the mare’s performance overall. Ian Roberts and Faolan are in fourth place on a 52.5. They forgot the halt and rein back and unfortunately picked up an error. The CIC3* rode the same test as the CCI3* — FEI 2009 Three-Star Test A — and Ian was the third rider today to miss the halt and reinback. His second change was flawless, and he also received a lot of love from the crowd at the conclusion of his test.

Lauren Kieffer and R.F. Cosima are in third place on a 51.5.

Nicole Parkin and Lexus are in fifth on a 52.7 and looked super in their test, which was very rhythmic and consistent throughout. Sally Cousins and Ideal Contini were the last to ride today and are in sixth place on a 61.9. EN’s own Abbie Golden and Arundel are in seventh place on a 63.1. The horse struggled a bit with the atmosphere and showed some tension in the test, but he’s a really lovely mover and is a pleasure to watch. His changes were a bit exuberant, but they had some really nice moments in this test, as you’ll see in the video. Caroline Martin and Titanium had what I thought was a super test. She unfortunately cantered right by A at the end of the test instead of turning down the centerline for the final salute, picking up an error. I thought she was scored rather harshly and deserved better than a 64.8 for eighth place. I’m heading out now to walk the cross-country course. Stay tuned for a full preview of the CCI3* course.

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Will Coleman and Obos O'Reilly are in second place on a 50.2.

Will Coleman and Obos O’Reilly couldn’t quite catch leaders Lauren Kieffer and Veronica, but they put in a very fluid test to move into second place on a 50.2 in the CCI3* at Bromont at the conclusion of the dressage. Obos O’Reilly took a couple trot steps in the medium walk, showing a brief moment of tenseness, but overall I thought this was a really solid performance. Will did seem a bit disappointed when he left the ring, but he’s put himself within good striking distance for the cross country tomorrow. Selena O’Hanlon and Bellaney Rock were the final pair to go today, scoring a 57.1 to move into sixth place. The horse looked very responsive and obedient throughout the test, giving Selena the best ride of the three mounts she has in the CCI3*.

Selena O'Hanlon and Bellany Rock are in sixth place on a 57.1.

Lizzie Snow and Coal Creek were the first to ride in the final group of riders to go in the CCI3*, and they scored a 57.9 to move into seventh place. This was a very workmanlike performance, and Lizzie looked very happy she she left the ring. Leslie Chelstrom and Cecelia are sitting just behind Lizzie and Coal Creek in eighth place on a 58.7. I know this wasn’t the test Leslie was hoping for, as this mare can be really fantastic in the dressage. Unfortunately, Cecelia was showing some uncharacteristic tension throughout the test, jigging during the medium walk and not looking super settled. She swapped leads during the last pass at the counter canter; it was a beautiful change, for what it’s worth. Darren Chiacchia and Amendment 15 unfortunately picked up an error when he forgot the halt and rein back; they are sitting in 21st place on a 66.4.

Lizzie Snow and Coal Creek are in seventh place on a 57.9.

The top three at the conclusion of the CCI3* dressage are Lauren Keiffer and Veronica on a 44.6, Will Coleman and Obos O’Reilly on a 50.2, and Emily Beshear and River King on a 53.5. Unfortunately, the internet connection in the press tent has continued to deteriorate throughout the day. I have a video slowly uploading of Will Coleman and Obos O’Reilly’s test, and I also have video to upload of Leslie Chelstrom and Cecelia. Be sure to check back for those later in the day. We’re heading into the start of the CIC3* dressage now, with Sally Cousins and Westerly kicking things off at 2:07 p.m. The rain is starting to fall steadier now, making for truly miserable, cold conditions. Supposedly it was 90 degrees here in Quebec just a few days ago; I’m not sure I believe that at this point. Stay tuned for a full report from the CIC3* dressage. Go Bromont.

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Lauren Kieffer and Veronica sailed into the lead on a 44.6.

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica put in a flawless test to take a decisive lead in the CCI3* at Bromont, scoring a 44.6 to give them an 8.9-point margin over Emily Beshear and River King. Veronica is on a three event winning streak after claiming victories in the Ocala CCI2*, Jersey Fresh CIC2* and CHC International CIC3*, and the mare looks poised for another fantastic finish here this weekend. Lauren received a lot of love from the crowd after completing her test, and Veronica also seemed particularly pleased with herself. Emily and River King were the first to ride in the second group, scoring a 53.5 for second place. River King seemed affected by the atmosphere and was a bit tense throughout, tossing his head during the canter work and swapping his lead down the center line before the final salute. But Emily was in good spirits after the test and seemed happy with the performance.

Emily Beshear and River King are in second place on a 53.5.

Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe had a really lovely test to sit in sixth place on a 59. The mare seemed keen but rideable, and I know Allison has been working very hard to forge a partnership with the mare since she bought her from Kelly Pugh over the winter. The beginning of the test looked more fluid than the end, when Chloe seemed to become more tense and refused to come to a full halt during the final salute. But I thought this was a super performance for this pair, and Allison should be really pleased. Phillip Dutton and William Penn are sitting just behind Allison in seventh place on a 60. This horse is a huge mover and gets really impressive airtime in his trot work. The test was rolling along smoothly until Phillip unfortunately lost the counter canter just before the first flying change. This horse is coming back after sustaining an injury last year; he was third here in the Bromont CCI3* in 2011.

Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe are in sixth place on a 59.

Katie Willis and Polar Storm are tied for eighth place with Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High on a 60.8. The horse was visibly a bit nervous about the atmosphere, but Katie did a great job of holding him together. Jon Holling and Zatopek B are sitting in 10th place on a 62.3. The horse looks incredibly fit, and Jon struggled a bit to keep him focused. I’m a huge fan of this horse, and he’s really a lot of fun to watch. He was really exuberant during certain points in the test, especially in his changes. Jon couldn’t quite coax him to halt at the final salute, but I still thought the test had some nice moments. Selena O’Hanlon and A First Romance also had a bit of a tense test and are sitting in 12th place on a 63.5. The temperature has dropped to a brisk 54 degrees with rain falling intermittently, and the weather conditions seem to be visibly affecting the horses.

Phillip Dutton and William Penn are in seventh place on a 60.

Susan Beebee didn’t have the best day on Wolf. The horse looked fantastic circling the ring before beginning the test, but never quite settled. Susan picked up three errors in the test, and Wolf bucked during the first flying change, showing us exactly what he thinks of this chilly weather. Rick Wallace and Ultimate Victory are in 15th place on a 65.4. I know Rick adores this horse, and he gave him a big hug and pat after the test. Jeff Kibbie and Loki are in 16th place on a 66.3, another victim of the weather and atmosphere. Loki was very eager to canter during the trot work at the beginning of the test but did seem to settle more toward the end of the test. We’re on the lunch break now until 1:07 p.m. when Lizzie Snow and Coal Creek lead off in the final group of five riders to go in the CCI3*. I have video of Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe’s test uploading, so be sure to check back shortly. Go Bromont.

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Kyle Carter and Madison Park lead the Bromont CCI3* on a 54.

Kyle Carter and Madison Park took the early lead in the Bromont CCI3* this morning, putting in a beautiful test for a 54. It’s just special to watch Parker back in competition after knowing everything Kyle went through to rehabilitate this horse after a devastating tendon injury at Blenheim in 2011. Kyle and Parker most recently finished sixth in the CIC3* at CHC International last month and are in top form for a good showing here this weekend. You have to watch the video below to see the rather exuberant first change Parker threw in during the test. He’s back, folks; get excited! Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugutive are in second place on a 55 and also had a nice test. Aside from missing on the first change, this was very consistent, and the horse looked very relaxed. Phillip seemed happy with the performance after exiting the ring.

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive are in second place on a 55.

Alexandra Green and Fernhill Cubalawn are in third place on a 58.8. They had a slight miscommunication in the transition to the second extended trot, and the horse briefly broke to the canter. That hampered their rhythm a bit, and the horse looked very reluctant in the reinback. But overall I thought this was a really nice effort from this pair. Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High were the first to go this morning in the CCI3* and put in a solid test to start the morning, scoring 60.8 to sit in fourth place. I thought the changes in particularly were really nice for this pair. Kate Chadderton and Collection Pass are in fifth place on a 63.1. Cole seemed a bit tense throughout the test, which unfortunately hurt their marks. But I thought he relaxed well during the medium walk, and they had a really lovely strike off to the canter following their work at the walk.

Alexandra Green and Fernhill Cubalawn are in third place on a 58.8.

Sally Cousins and Tsunami are holding sixth place on a 64. I thought Sally and Sue had the nicest strike off to the trot from the reinback we’ve seen so far today. Sue was a bit tense throughout and a bit argumentative in the changes, unfortunately  She looked like she wanted to continue on straight to the cross country during the collected canter down the center line to the final salute. Kudos to Sally for holding a very keen Sue together. Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against were the final pair to go before the morning break; they scored a 67.1 to sit in seventh place. After retiring on course in the CCI3* at Jersey Fresh, Bunnie and Rise Against re-routed to Bromont, and she was all smiles coming in to the ring to start her test. Go go West Coast eventing! Emily Beshear and River King will kick off the second group to go in the CCI3* at 10:47 a.m. Stay tuned for much more from Bromont.

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Sharon White won the CCI2* dressage today at Bromont on a 49.8 with Don Sheffield, a 7-year-old Oldenburg gelding competing in his first event at this level this weekend. “Shu” was second in the CIC2* at Jersey Fresh last month and won the CIC2* at Fair Hill in April, as well as his intermediate division at The Fork earlier this year. It ultimately became clear the horse was ready to tackle his first CCI2*, and Wiley Grosvenor, Shu’s owner and breeder, encouraged Sharon to compete him at Bromont this weekend. It’s no surprise the horse is so good in the dressage, as he is sired by Don Schufro, a team bronze medal winner at the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong and a prolific dressage sire. As Sharon discusses in my interview with her, she will be looking to give Shu a solid introduction to the two-star level on cross country on Saturday, and EN wishes her the best of luck. Go Sharon, and Go Bromont.

Buck Davidson and Santa's Keeper moved to fourth in the CCI2* on a 54.8.

Buck Davidson and Santa’s Keeper put in the best test of the final group to go in the CCI2* at Bromont, scoring 54.8 to move into fourth place. As you’ll see in the video below, the test was really solid sans a couple bobbles that prevented them from challenging Sharon White and Don Sheffield for the lead. Santa’s Keeper, a Thoroughbred gelding, broke to the canter in the beginning of the trot work and swapped leads in the counter canter, but Buck really encouraged some lovely work out of him. This horse was second in the Ocala Horse Properties CCI2* in April, and I think he’s going to be very competitive this weekend. Jordan McDonald and Glencento, a Dutch cross mare, were the final pair to go in the CCI2* and scored a 57.2 to sit just behind Buck in fifth place. Jordan is having a bang-up day, as he’s also holding second place in the CCI2* with Prince Mayo on a 50.2.

Jordan McDonald and Glencento are in fifth place on a 57.2.

Elena Ceballos and Nounours du Moulin, a Selle Francais gelding, scored 63.8 to sit in 16th place. Aside from breaking to the canter in the trot work at the beginning of this test, this was a very solid performance for Elena. She looked really happy with the horse after leaving the ring. Abigail Wilson and Fernhill Flag, an Irish Sport Horse gelding, were the first pair to go in the final group of the day; they scored a 65.5 to sit in 17th place right behind Elena. This was an obedient test, with the horse looking perhaps a touch too quiet throughout. Jessica Phoenix and Extraordinaire, a Selle Francais/Hanoverian gelding, scored 66 to sit in 19th place. This horse is only 7, and his greenness showed as he was spooky before entering the ring and a bit nervous throughout the test. Jessica worked hard to hold him together, and he looked fantastic when he did relax, especially in the medium walk.

Elena Ceballos and Nounours du Moulin scored 63.8 to sit in 16th place

Robin Walker and Rowdy Friend, an Irish Sport Horse gelding, scored a 71.9 to sit in 23rd place. They unfortunately picked up an error right off the bat when he failed to change rein at the medium trot, proceeding ahead straight instead. The horse also wasn’t keen to walk out of the reinback and looked tense throughout the test. While we saw some lovely tests in this final group of riders, no one could catch Sharon White and Don Sheffield, who win the dressage in the Bromont CCI2* on a 49.8. Jordan McDonald and Prince Mayo are in second on a 50.2, and Booli Selmayr and Castle Diamond are in third on a 54.3. Of course, this isn’t a dressage show, and Samantha said the cross-country course looks huge and incredibly challenging. We’ll be bringing you a preview of the course shortly. Unfortunately, the weather has deteriorated drastically this afternoon, with temperatures dipping into the 50s and a steady rain continuing to fall. Fingers crossed for better weather tomorrow. Until then, go Bromont!

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Sharon White and Don Sheffield took the lead in the CCI2* on a 49.8.

Sharon White and Don Sheffield were the first pair to crack the 40s in the CCI2* dressage at Bromont, taking the lead on a 49.8. This horse, a warmblood gelding, has a striking presence about him and really seemed to step up in the ring for Sharon. Their first simple transition looked a bit rocky, but the second one was much better, as you’ll see in the video below. This was a super test for this pair, and Sharon has to be pumped about the horse’s performance. Booli Selmayr and Castle Diamond, an Irish Sport Horse gelding, also had a very nice test to move into third place on 54.3. They had a flawless canter transition in the second simple change — probably the nicest we’ve seen all day in the CCI2*. Booli and Castle Diamond received a lot of love from the crowd after their final salute. Go team spirit!

Booli Selmayr and Castle Diamond are in third place on a 54.3.

Shanon Baker and Cordonelli, an Argentinian Thoroughbred gelding, were the last to go before the break and unfortunately picked up three errors in their test. But the quality of the work they put in helped redeem the test; they scored a 58.6 to move into seventh place. Jennifer Simmons and GV Tuscany were the first to go after the lunch break, scoring a 59.3 to move into eighth place. The horse, a New Zealand Thoroughbred gelding, was a little sticky in the simple transitions, but had a consistent test overall. Benita Strini and Sammy Jo, a Hanoverian mare, scored a 60.3 to sit in 12th place. The mare broke to the canter twice in the trot at the beginning of the test, but she had some really lovely moments once she moved into the canter work. This mare is super graceful and catlike in the flatwork, and I imagine she tackles the cross country with the same athleticism.

Shanon Baker and Cordonelli are in seventh place on a 58.6.

Anita Nemtin-Gilmour and Topper, a Canadian Sport Horse gelding, scored a 63.4 to sit in 14th place. The test seemed a touch quiet throughout and lacked impulsion in certain movements, but Anita seemed very happy with the horse when she exited the ring. We have six riders left to go today in the CCI2*, with Abigail Wilson and Fernhill Flag leading off at 1:59 p.m. after the break. Sharon White and Don Sheffield set the bar high with their test, and it will be exciting to see if anyone will catch them in this final group of riders. The rain continues to fall steadily here at Bromont, which I’m told is affecting the quality of the wifi connection we’re picking up in the press tent. Fingers crossed for no technical difficulties this afternoon as I try to upload videos of dressage for you lovely readers. Go Bromont.

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Kate Chadderton and VS McCuan Civil Liberty moved into second place on a 57.4.

Kate Chadderton and VS McCuan Civil Liberty were the best of the second group to go before the lunch break in the CCI2* at Bromont, scoring a 57.4 to move into second place. I featured Liberty, an OTTB, last year on EN’s Got Talent, so I’m really excited to see him do so well here today. Aside from anticipating the canter transition out of the walk — which has been happening very consistently across all the tests in the CCI2* today — this was a super test for Liberty, and I’m sure Kate is thrilled with him. Caroline Martin and Petite Flower, also a Thoroughbred, moved into third place on a 57.8 as the last pair to ride before the lunch break. The mare peeked around a bit during the test, and Caroline did a great of keeping her cool and calm. The test was going great under the very end when the mare unfortunately picked up the wrong lead twice out of the second simple canter transition, but overall it was really lovely.

Caroline Martin and Petite Flower are in third place on a 57.8.

Viola and Erin Brooke Freedman are sitting in fourth place on a 57.9. This test was so close to being really spectacular, as this Dutch Warmblood mare is stunning and has three really incredible gaits. Unfortunately, she was tense throughout the test, and she and Erin seemed to be having some communication issues, which kept Erin from being able to push for more in certain spots. But Erin held her together well overall and was able to get some really nice moments from the mare. Erin Sylvester and Mettraise, a Thoroughbred mare, scored a 60 to sit in sixth place. I thought Erin had some of the best simple canter transitions we’ve seen all morning and had really lovely canter work overall. The mare unfortunately broke to the canter during the beginning of the trot work, but overall this was a very consistent and relaxed test.

Erin Brooke Freedman and Viola are in fourth place on a 57.9.

Alexandra MacLeod and Railroad Man Jim, a Thoroughbred gelding, are in seventh place on a 61.7. The horse was jigging a bit in the walk while anticipating the canter transition, which we’ve seen a lot today. When he finally was able to canter, he threw in a very exuberant transition; he seems like a really cool horse and a fun one to watch go cross country. Jordan McDonald and Prince Mayo hold the lead going into the lunch break, with a 7.2-point gap back to second place. We have 12 horses still to go in the CCI2* dressage after the lunch break. Jennifer Simmons and GV Tuscany are the first to go after the lunch break at 12:51 p.m. The rain is falling heavier now, but we’re still avoiding any major downpours. Stay tuned for much more from Bromont.

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Jordan McDonald and Prince Mayo scored 50.2 to lead the CCI2* dressage.

Canadian Jordan McDonald and the lovely Irish Sport Horse gelding scored a 50.2 to take the provisional lead in the CCI2* at Bromont at the morning break. Aside from a sticky reinback, this test was very relaxed and obedient. Jordan was all smiles coming out of the arena and set a great benchmark for the rest of the riders still to go today in the CCI2*. Canadian Lindsey Beer and El Paso scored a 59.5 to sit in second place. This horse is a super cute red roan Trakehner gelding, and he really seemed to enjoy the atmosphere and rise to the occasion during the test, which was super solid with no major bobbles. Canada has to be thrilled with holding first and second in the CCI2* on their home turf.

Lindsey Beer and El Paso are in second place on a 59.5.

Darren Chiacchia is the highest-placed American rider thus far in the CCI2*, sitting in third place on a 65.7 with Dibelius, a Trakehner gelding. This horse is really nice and super fancy and also seemed to benefit from the atmosphere, turning on the pizzazz during the test, which was very consistent and rhythmic.  Buck Davidson is sitting in fourth place in the CCI2* on a 66.4 with Knight Lion, a bay Irish Sport Horse gelding, and was the first rider to go in the dressage this morning. This is the first time I’ve seen this horse go, and I really enjoyed watching him. The horse wasn’t keen to halt before the reinback and picked up the wrong canter lead coming out of the walk, but I thought this test had some really nice moments.

Darren Chiacchia and Dibelius are in third place on a 65.7.

Jessica Phoenix and Abbey GS are sitting just behind Buck in fifth place on a 66.7. The mare seemed a bit tense throughout the test and broke to the trot during the walk. She also struggled to hold the counter canter, but had some nice moments throughout and shows a lot of potential for the future. Robin Walker and Freedoms Light are in sixth place on a 66.9. This horse, an Irish Thoroughbred gelding, looked really impressive in the jog yesterday and is a big mover. I’m excited to see him go cross country. The weather is holding so far this morning at Bromont, with just light rain falling. We’re expecting heavier rain this afternoon, and Samantha and I are armed with our rain gear. Kate Chadderton and VS McCaun Civil Liberty lead off in the CCI2* after the break at 11:11 a.m. Go Bromont!

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