It’s time for another edition of Who Jumped It Best? Where you, our dear readers, get to play judge and decide which of the selected pairs below present the best overall picture. These three-star riders are all seen clearing fence 16b, a brush corner which immediately followed a beefy double brush table at 16A.

You know the drill: use your best judgement and vote in the poll at the bottom of the post for who you think deserves to win EN’s coveted Who Jumped It Best?

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Kristen Buffamoyer Hurry Murray. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Leslie Law and First Class. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Savannah Blackstock and GarryNdruig Albie. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Lynn Symansky and SpectraVET Tempranillo. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Jenny Caras and Trendy Fernhill. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Jorgen Olijslager Northern Quest Lady’s Man. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Doug Payne and Cascor. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Laura Szeremi and Atrax Robustus. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Phillip Dutton and Z. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Phillip Dutton and The Z Partnership’s Z came full circle today at Stable View Oktoberfest. They won the inaugural Advanced together here in 2016, and today they were winners once again in the CCI4*-S, but with a partnership transformed by years of practice.

“We know each other really well now so it’s pretty nice – I know how he’s going to think and I think he anticipates what I want as well,” he said.

The Z Partnership’s 11-year-old Zangersheide (Asca X Bellabouche, by Babouche VH Gehucht Z) moved into second place after a clear show jumping round before galloping to the win on a double clear cross country result that secured a final result of 30.6.

“Today was probably his best cross country round ever. He was really good and it couldn’t be a better prep for him for Fair Hill. I didn’t actually know that I was in first and second going into cross country. I knew Singapore was in the lead, but I didn’t that Z had come up,” he said. “They’re both horses that galloping wouldn’t be their natural strength so getting them fit, and getting them hard and learning to go fast is something that I have to work on so I wasn’t planning on just going round and going really slowly, no matter where I was sitting.”

Lynn Symansky and Under Suspection. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Lynn Symansky and Under Suspection’s hot streak continues with a second place finish at Stable View. Mary Ann Ghadban’s 15-year-old Holsteiner (Contender x Naomagic I, by Exorbitant xx) joined Z in coming home inside the time across the Captain Mark Phillips designed track.

“Pippy’s” only faults this weekend were 1.6 time penalties in the show jumping phase, which ultimately cost her a second four-star win this season, to finish on a score of 32.

“I had a marathon few rides before that (3 in the three-star!), so I didn’t get to walk her show jumping track. Some of the lines were the same and some were different, but I did have the advantage of at least riding in the ring already today,” Lynn said. “Because of my schedule I didn’t get to pre-ride her either. I thought she was a bit more on the muscle, so I went a little quieter than normal to make sure she had a clean ride. In hindsight, I gave up a few costly penalties for the win, but I thought she went well in there.”

Lynn admits she’s not as familiar with Stable View, but after visiting for the Pan American Games team training sessions, she made it her plan to return.

“I saw everything they were doing with the facility and track. I was so impressed with their commitment, which is why I decided to come back,” she said. “A track like this is harder for her to make time with all the trees than at Great Meadow, which is quite open, so you have to be very good at finding the most efficient line possible and using her where she’s good: opening up and running.”

Sydney Conley Elliott and QC Diamantaire. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Sydney Conley Elliott was focused on achieving a successful final outing before Fair Hill next month, and she achieved that goal today, finishing third with QC Diamantaire, a 9-year-old Oldenburg (Diarado x Lantana, by Sandro Hit) owned by Carol Stephens. Benefiting from team training sessions as alternates for the 2019 Pan American Games, the pair added only 3.2 time penalties for a final result of 34.

“He was full of fire today, which was great. I’ve been waiting to feel that and get him out in front of the leg. He’s a horse that would rather be in the ring for his job, so we when get out on cross country I’m not always sure what’s going to be leaving the box that day. But today was great. He was forward and ready to do the job,” Sydney said.

Today was a big fitness test for “Q” as he prepares for his first CCI4*-L, and he passed with flying colors.

“We have completely revamped his fitness. It’s been in the works for about a year now — he’s almost doubled the fitness work. I am feeling really positive about Fair Hill. I think he showed me today he can put all the pieces together,” she said.

Will Faudree and Caeleste. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Will Faudree and Caeleste, a 12-year-old Holsteiner (Contender x Happygolucky, by Lucky Lionell) owned by Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables, settled into fourth place, adding only 4 cross country time penalties for a final result of 37.1.

Overnight leaders Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Singapore kept control of the class after show jumping, performing a clear round across Chris Barnard’s track, but 8.8 cross country time penalties dropped them down into fifth place. He and the 10-year-old KWPN (Singapore x Riedellia, by Animo) owned by Ann Jones, Thomas Tierney and David Vos had a final score of 38.2.

“We misjudged our entrance into the startbox and I had a little trouble with him there so we wasted a bit of time, but his cross country was good,” Phillip said. “When I walked the second water I misjudged his stride length so I added too much there but apart from that it felt like a perfect round. I could have gone a bit quicker I but overall I was really pleased.”

Clark Montgomery and Caribbean Soul. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Only one rail marred the weekend for Clark Montgomery and Caribbean Soul, who finished in sixth place. The Caribbean Soul Syndicate’s 12-year-old (Cimarron Secret x Ogygian’s Desire, by Ogygian) was the third and final horse to produce a double clear result in the final phase to finish on his dressage score of 38.9.

Despite falling from Cooley SOS late in the course, Hallie Coon was on her next horse, Celien, in time for a clear cross country round with 6.4 time penalties. They finish in seventh place on a score of 42.2.

Coming home just one second too slow, Waylon Roberts and Lancaster finished in eighth place on a score of 43.5. Kate Brown and Victor Z 54 jumped from 18th to 9th place over the course of two days, finishing with a clear cross country that added 4.4 time penalties. Leslie Law and Voltaire De Tre’ earned 10th place on a result of 44.1.

Doug Payne was the big winner in the CCI3*-S class with Vandiver, who is getting back on track after falling at Burghley. They finished on their dressage score, a 27.6, before they reroute to Fair Hill. Jacob Fletcher and 5o1 Mischief Managed follow in second place after picking up 2 cross country time penalties for a final score of 29.2. Will Faudree was third with FRH Ramona, finishing on his dressage score of 29.4.

Chinch is off to take an ice bath after a sweltering day on site. Many thanks to Stable View for all their efforts to keep the grounds, the horses and the people happy at Oktoberfest this weekend. Go eventing.

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Lynn Symansky and RF Cool Play. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Stable View Oktoberfest is firing on all cylinders today with show jumping and cross country running simultaneously through most of the day. We’re right in the heat of it now, but here’s your fast-and-dirty recap of the action so far.

Lynn Symansky and RF Cool Play are still leading the CCI3*-S division after a double clear round over Chris Barnard’s show jumping course. The Donner Syndicate’s10-year-old German Sport Horse (Condors Champion x Roxana, by Radscha) was first to go, making the track look deceptively easy as he sailed around bang on the time allowed to remain on a score of 24.8.

They’ll be the first out on cross country at 12:03 p.m., but Lynn says she’s looking for a positive run in their first outing since the Pan Ams, so she doesn’t have plans to chase the clock.

Phillip Dutton and Carlchen. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Phillip Dutton also kept his second place position after jumping clear with Carlchen, an 11-year-old Oldenburg owned by Caroline Moran. They’ll carry 26.9 points to the final phase.

We’re only a little over halfway through the three-star show jumping, so the top two are decided, but all the rest is still up for play.

Leslie Law and Tout de Suite. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Leslie Law secured a win in the competitive CCI2*-S class with Tout De Suite. Beatrice Rey-Herme’s 12-year-old British Sport Horse (Catherston Liberator x Welton Edwina, by Welton Crackerjack) added nothing to his dressage score across either jumping phase for a final result of 23.

Doug Payne and Baymax. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Doug Payne earned second place with Baymax, both still on their dressage score of 23.9. Will Faudree moved up one spot after cross country with Hans Dampf, ending the weekend on a score of 24.3.

The CCI4*-S division will show jump at 1:17 p.m. and their cross country phase will begin at 2:47 p.m.

We’ve got much more coming at you from Stable View, so keep it locked on EN for all the latest.

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Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Singapore. Photo by Christine Rhodes.

A pulled hamstring sustained at Brandywine Polo Clubs’ Chukkers For Charity earlier this month put Phillip Dutton on the sidelines for his hometown event at Plantation Field last weekend, but he’s back in the saddle, and just in time, too, as he’s leading the feature CCI4*-S class at Stable View’s Oktoberfest in Aiken, South Carolina aboard Fernhill Singapore.

“Singapore,” a 10-year-old KWPN (Singapore x Riedellia, by Animo) owned by Ann Jones, Thomas Tierney and David Vos, started on a four-star personal best of 29.4 for judges Kelli Towers (CAN) and Valerie Vizcarrondo (USA).

“He’s obviously a great mover and a pretty impressive horse in the way he goes. It’s just a case of getting the training into him and making it so that this level looks easy. He’s starting to get pretty seasoned now, so his scores are starting so show that,” Phillip said.

“I’m just trying to make it so that he can stay through and forward and be able to get the movement down and coordinated. There’s no magical remedy there — just the day to day training is what it boils down to.”

He can also credit a few other riders for additional help while he was out of the saddle. Boyd Martin competed both Singapore and Z in the dressage and show jumping phases at Plantation Field, Emily Hamel schooled him at home, and Tamie Smith polished the flying changes while Phillip was overseas at Aachen this summer. Teamwork makes the dream work!

Phillip Dutton and Z. Photo by Christine Rhodes.

Not to be completely outshined, stablemate Z, an 11-year-old Zangersheide (Asca X Bellabouche, by Babouche VH Gehucht Z) owned by the Z Partnership, secured fourth place on a score of 30.6.

“I was really pleased with Z. I though he went particularly well. He didn’t change his demeanor from warm up to the ring, so I was pleased with that. Boyd did him at Plantation last weekend as well, so it’s been good to get him out a lot this fall. I think we’re starting to see the benefit of that,” he said.

Second place is set to be fiercely contested across tomorrow’s jumping phases as it’s shared between Sydney Conley Elliot and Lynn Symansky, who are tied on a score of 30.4.

Sydney Conley Elliot and QC Diamantaire. Photo by Christine Rhodes.

Sydney Conley Elliot and QC Diamantaire, a 9-year-old Oldenburg (Diarado x Lantana, by Sandro Hit) owned by Carol Stephens, are riding the momentum of their appointment as team alternates for the 2019 Pan American Games, and carrying it straight into their autumn performances, starting here at Stable View.

“This year has been pretty exciting with him being named to the Pan Am team and stepping up to the four-star level as well,” Sydney said. “We have really worked on lighting him up because he gets so quiet. He’s so obedient and lazy, so the test can be boring. All spring we have been working on getting him forward and in front of my leg. I do feel that all the help preparing for the Pan Ams has just pushed us that extra step. He was actually a little more expressive than he usually is, so I was very happy. A few mistakes in there, but overall he’s always just so lovely to ride.”

Lynn Symansky and Under Suspection. Photo by Christine Rhodes.

Fresh off their win at Great Meadow one month ago Lynn Symansky and Under Suspection, Mary Ann Ghadban’s 15-year-old Holsteiner (Contender x Naomagic I, by Exorbitant xx), posted a strong test, but not without a little extra flair from the mare despite the heat of the day.

“I thought she was a little hotter in the ring than she was a few weeks ago, so it wasn’t the absolute best test. It was a clean test though. She didn’t do anything wrong, she was just a little more tense than normal,” Lynn said.

Clayton Fredericks and and his own FE Always In Time sit fifth on a score of 31.5 — the 8-year-old Trakehner’s best FEI score to date. Jacob Fletcher follows in sixth place after scoring 31.6 with Fletcher Farms’ Van Gough, and 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Wivollet Vanbeek x Woodlands Flight, by Laughton’s Flight).

Will Fuadree and Caeleste. Photo by Christine Rhodes.

Seventh place goes to Will Fuadree and Caeleste. He and the 12-year-old Holsteiner (Contender x Happygolucky, by Lucky Lionell) owned by Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables, sit on 33.1 penalty points.

Less than four points separate the first seven placings, which means even one pole in tomorrow’s show jumping could prove influential.

The rest of our top ten positions are filled by: Leslie Law and Tre’ Brooks’ Voltaire De Tre’ (8th; 34.5), Clark Montgomery and the Caribbean Soul Syndicate’s Caribbean Soul (9th; 34.9), and Waylon Roberts with Michelle & John Koppin’s Lancaster (10th; 35.1).

Lynn Symansky and RF Cool Play. Photo by Christine Rhodes.

Lynn Symansky also had a banner day with her Pan American Games partner RF Cool Play. In their first outing since team gold, the pair top the CCI3*-S standings on a score of 24.8.

“Coolio just came back from the Pan Am games. I was planning on coming here and playing around with a few tack changes and having a school around because he hasn’t really done that much since Lima — so not planning to run him in a very competitive position,” she said.

Phillip Dutton and Carlchen. Photo by Christine Rhodes.

Phillip Dutton is second with his newest import, Carlchen, an 11-year-old Oldenburg owned by Caroline Moran. This is Carlchen’s US debut, but he’s got miles of experience through the top levels of the sport with riders such as Francis Whittington and Stuart Tinney. This weekend is a “get to know you” experience for the pair, Phillip said, and they’ve begun on a score of 26.9.

Jenny Caras and Trendy Fernhill sit third on a score of 27.

The CCI2*-S was extremely competitive on the flat today, with the top three separated by less than one point. Leslie Law was the best of the bunch after the first phase with Tout De Suite, a 12-year-old British Sport Horse (Catherston Liberator x Welton Edwina, by Welton Crackerjack) owned by Beatrice Rey-Herme, on a score of 23.

Clayton Fredericks is second with FE Money Made on a score of 23.5 and Doug Payne sits third with Baymax on a score of 23.9.

Here’s your schedule for the rest of the weekend:

Saturday, September 28: The International competitors move on to show jumping in the outdoor stadium arena. The two-star will go first at 8 a.m. followed by the three- and four-star divisions. Cross country is then set to kick off at 9:30 a.m. with divisions running in the same order. Check out our fence-by-fence cross country preview at this link.

Sunday, September 29: All national levels — Novice, Training and Preliminary — will run as a one-day on Sunday. Preliminary will lead the way with dressage at 7:30 a.m., show jumping at 9:30 a.m., and cross country at 9:50 a.m. with the Training and Novice divisions following after.

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Aiken’s only CCI4*-S is back and competitors have a lot to look forward to come Saturday. Captain Mark Phillips returns again as course designer with his track build by Eric Bull and beautifully decorated by Millie Maney.

The course takes a similar route to previous years, including the stretch added in 2018 that brings riders through the additional fields where the schooling series Eventing Academy is run. No one should get too comfortable, though, as CMP has carefully tweaked a few key combinations — a corner changed to a chevron, a boat relocated, etc.

Take a look around fence-by-fence and let us know what you think. First CCI4*-S rider is scheduled to leave the starbox at 2:47 p.m. on Saturday. We’ll be there to bring you all the latest.

Many thanks to Sammy Keats for the photos from this virtual course walk.

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Boyd Martin and On Cue. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

It’s fall y’all, and that means all eyes are on Aiken, South Carolina this weekend for Stable View’s sixth annual Oktoberfest, September 27-29, 2019. The bottom line: there’s over 300 entries vying for $80,000 in prize money, so the stage is set for an exciting competition.

EN will be on site to bring you all the latest, but in the meantime, bookmark this page for everything you need to know about Oktoberfest.

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Friday, September 27: Dressage will run all day Friday, with all FEI divisions beginning at 8 a.m. The CCI2*-S will be in the main hunter ring, and the CCI3*-S and CCI4*-S will perform their tests in the outdoor stadium arena.

Saturday, September 28: The International competitors move on to show jumping in the outdoor stadium arena. The two-star will go first at 8 a.m. followed by the three- and four-star divisions. Cross country is then set to kick off at 9:30 a.m. with divisions running in the same order.

Sunday, September 29: All national levels — Novice, Training and Preliminary — will run as a one-day on Sunday. Preliminary will lead the way with dressage at 7:30 a.m., show jumping at 9:30 a.m., and cross country at 9:50 a.m. with the Training and Novice divisions following after.

Spectator admission is free! Click here for the official Oktoberfest program which includes course maps and more information about competitors.

[Full Competition Schedule] [Ride Times]

Course Walk: Take a tour around the CCI4*-S cross country course at 4 p.m. on Friday. Please note this walk is benefitting the Cumbee Center to Assist Abused Persons and a $10 cash donation is required. Because of Boyd Martin’s recent injuries, he will be unable to lead the course walk, but a replacement will be announced soon. Check this space.

Entertainment: You’ll want to give this year’s signature drink, the “Horse Treat” a try at Ollie’s Inn in the downstairs pavilion starting Friday at 4 p.m. Then you can head upstairs for Karaoke with Clayton Fredericks in the upstairs pavilion from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m on Friday.

Saturday night welcomes the Attwood Equestrian Surfaces Competitor Party, which fill follow the three- and four-star awards ceremony. On Saturday you’ll also want to keep an eye out for the Aiken Horse Power Car Show, a kids corral, and a few alcohol tastings.

Vendor Village will be open Friday-Sunday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m, located between the indoor arena and Barn W.

Vendors include: FITS, Blanchard-John Deere, Oak Manor Saddlery, R&L Vending, FATZ Cafe, Pelican’s Snowballs, Aiken County Pony Club, The Hitch and Tow, F.O.T.A.S., Cricket Golf Carts, Vintage MO, Pedego, I Love My Horse, VTO Saddlery, Sierra Nevada Brewery, Mimi Durand Caroe Inman, KD Soapworks, Bath Planet, and Aiken Custom Signs.

Go eventing.