Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Will Coleman’s up-and-coming partner Chin Tonic HS made a smashing impression in his FEI debut at the 2019 MARS Great Meadow International, winning the CCI2*-S class on his dressage score.

Will has been carefully bringing the 7-year-old Holsteiner (Chin Champ x Wildera, by Quinar) along from the beginning, with support form Vicky Castegren, whose Hyperion Stud owns the horse. While Vicky didn’t breed this horse, she sourced him as a 2-year-old.

“We are really excited about him. He’s a lovely type. He’s as good a horse  on the flat as I’ve ever had. He’s really taken to the sport,” Will said. “This is a really fun horse for us because it’s a great representation of the type of horse [Vicky’s] trying to breed—a great athlete with a great mind.”

The pair started the weekend with a 25 in the first phase and added nothing to it over fences, finally moving into the top spot after a clear cross country trip nine seconds under the time.

“He probably can even do better, but he did a very nice test, and I thought he jumped a a super show jump round. On the cross country he continues to get better,” he said. “We’ve taken our time. We’re under no pressure to rush him up the levels. We’re giving him as much time as he needs. I think that patience is starting to bear fruit.”

Lynn Symansky had SpectraVET Tempranillo. Photo by Leslie Mintz.

Lynn Symansky had SpectraVET Tempranillo on her side this weekend, and the red headed chestnut mare used her powers for good, finishing in second place. The 8-year-old KWPN (Boss x Zadina Mail VDL, by Chin Chin) went penalty free for a final result of 26.1.

“She’s such a chestnut mare. I’ve struggled with that one the most—to get her to be on my page because most of the time we’re on hers,” Lynn said. “She’s very careful, so we came into the final water and she jumped so big over the lip into the water. She catapulted and then continued to bronc her way. She certainly does put her flair into everything she does.”

Catherine Pournelle and MTF Cooley Knight finished in third place. The 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Lancelot x Sea Bright Clover, by White Clover) finished on his dressage score of 27.9.

Lauren Kieffer and Get Gaudi. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Overnight leaders Lauren Kieffer and Get Gaudi, an 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Alicante HBC x Second Floor, by Faram) came home down on the clock, picking up four time penalties to finish in fourth place on a score of 28.1.

Jennie Brannigan and Hopscotch completed in fifth place on their dressage score of 29.3. This is an exciting finish for owner Nina Gardner, who also bred the 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood. Sired by Special Memories, Hopscotch is out of Vidalia, one of Nina’s former three-star horses in Phillip Dutton’s barn. Hopscotch is Vidalia’s first foal to compete at FEI level.

Overnight leader Lynn Symansky had two rails with Katherine Coleman’s Global Cassero 3 before going on to a double clear cross country. They finish in sixth place on a three-phase result of 29.4.

Allison Springer and Crystal Crescent Moon. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Sydney Hagaman piloted her Charmeur to a clear round with 2.8 added time penalties for 7th place on a score of 29.9. Allison Springer and Nancy Winter’s Crystal Crescent Moon came home clear inside the time for 8th place (30.2).

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Lynn Symansky and Under Suspection. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Overnight leader Lynn Symansky is still sitting pretty in the MARS Great Meadow International CCI4*-S after a beautiful double clear show jumping performance with Mary Ann Ghadban’s Under Suspection.

Their success this weekend is something of comeuppance for the pair whose season has been fraught with disappointments, the biggest of which being a late withdrawal from Kentucky because of a girth irritation. Today the tide shifted in their favor, with a double clear round to keep their lead on a score of 25.

“It’s been a struggle this season with one unfortunate thing after another, so I’m happy to have her going in the lead on cross country on her home turf,” Lynn said. “She got to the warmup a little more quiet than normal. I went down the ramp and she ramped up a little bit. She tried her heart out. She has the tendency to be a little lower in her style, but she has her own way of jumping and you can’t fight that. She did a little celebratory bucking dance at the end.”

Doug Payne and Vandiver. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Great Meadow is a final prep for the partnership of Doug Payne and Vandiver, who are one of 11 American entries at Burghley. Doug’s goal of an efficient, clear round was easily met by the 5-year-old Trakehner (Windfall 2 x Visions of Grandeur, by Mystic Replica xx) who is owned by the rider, Jessica Payne and Debi Crowley, and they moved into second place on a score of 27.5.

“He was excellent. I went in just to have an efficient and smooth round. Obviously you hope he jumps clear, but really in the last year it’s been trying to be as smooth as I can to make it easy on him and use his body as best as possible,” Doug said.

Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Colleen Rutledge and her Covert Rights, a 13-year-old Thoroughbred Cross (BFF Incognito x Let’s Get It Right, by Covert Operations), jumped clear round taking just one second too many for third place on a score of 28.3.

“We’ve been working really hard to change both our attitudes toward show jumping. We’re taking some of the right steps,” Colleen said. “Earlier this spring we decided running at the fences wasn’t appropriate. We’d both get panicky and worried, so we went back to the drawing board a little bit.”

“We can nitpick and say that I was one second over the time,” she continued. “But it was because I spent the time rebalancing. We’re still in the process of figuring out how all of the things work, so we were both a little slower at it.”

Hannah Sue Burnett and Lukeswell. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Hannah Sue Burnett laid down a double clear effort with The Lukeswell Partnership’s Lukeswell, to move into fourth place on a score of 29.6.

Lauren Kieffer tipped one rail with Debbie Adams and Jacqueline Mars’ D.A. Duras, dropping from second to fifth on a score of 30.

Buck Davidson and Carlevo. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Buck Davidson boasted five clear rounds across the three divisions today, with Carlevo leading the way as his top-placed four-star ride. They’re in 6th on a score of 30.5. He is also 8th with Park Trader after having one pole down for a score of 32.

Like Doug, Will Coleman is also using this weekend to prepare for Bughley with Tight Lines, who is 7th after a double clear round (31.1). Mia Farley and BGS Firecracker are 9th after 1.2 time penalties for a two-phase score of 32.6, and Phillip Dutton takes 10th with Fernhill Revelation after a clear round on a score of 33.

Of the 38 starters, Chris Barnard’s track produced 12 double clear rounds (31.6%).

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Pick Pocket. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Everything went to plan for overnight leaders Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Pick Pocket in the CCI3*-S show jumping. The pair jumped clear to remain on top of the three-star class.

“Ollie,” an 8-year-old irish Sport Horse (Chacco Blue x Bracklin Mystique, by Solitair) owned by Lee Lee Jones, Annie Jones, and Caroline Moran, oozes potential over fences, but Phillip admits his results depend on how rideable he is. Today, it seemed to click and Ollie had a picture perfect trip to remain on a score of 29.8–still the only sub-30 score in the division.

“He’s a very good jumper. He wants to jump carefully and cleanly. I actually had the benefit of taking all the horses to Kentucky and I had some good lessons with Richard Picken,” Phillip said. “He’s as good as he’s been. It’s a great arena to go into–it’s a great atmosphere for a green horse. He handled himself well actually.”

Caitlin Silliman and Ally KGO. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Caitlin Silliman and Ally KGO also had a faultless performance to stay in second place. The 8-year-old Trakehner mare (Hirtentanz 2 x Annabel Lee, by Butow), who is owned by her Q-Brook Stables, stays on her dressage score of 30.2.

Sharon White and Claus 63. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Sharon White moved from fifth to third with her own Claus 63, a three-star first timer. Though they left all the poles up, Sharon and the 7-year-old Holstiener (Catoo x Tina II, by Levisto) were one second to slow, picking up 0.4 time penalties for a two phase score of 31.9.

A double clear round carried Buck Davidson and Electric Lux, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Lux Z x Kilnamac Sue) owned by the Electric Group, from 8th into 4th place on a score of 32.2.

Looking down the leaderboard, Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride and Favian dropped to 5th after 1.6 time penalties. Boyd Martin and Bonito jumped clear to move into 6th on a score of 32.7.

The rest of our top ten also claimed double clear rounds: Kevin Keane and Sportsfield Candy are 7th (33.4), Lauren Kieffer and Landmark’s Monte Carlo are 8th (33.8), Colleen Rutledge and C Me Fly are 9th (34.1), and Clayton Fredericks and FE Always in Time are 10th (34.4).

Next up: David O’Connor’s cross country track. The CCI3*-S will begin at 9 a.m. followed by the CCI4*-S at noon. Check out our fence-by-fence preview at this link. Don’t forget you can watch it all live on EQSportsNet.

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Lynn Symansky and Under Suspection. Photo by Shelby Allen.

It was a good day at the office for Lynn Symansky at the 2019 MARS Great Meadow International. She danced to the top both the CCI4*-S and CCI2*-L with Under Suspection and Global Cassero 3, respectively, after dressage.

Mary Ann Ghadban’s “Pippy,” a 15-year-old Holsteiner (Contender x Naomagic I, by Exorbitant xx) heads up the feature class on a personal best score of 25. Lynn credits much of her advantage to recent dressage training with Jacquie Brooks.

“I ran into Jacquie Brooks in Lima and we talked about getting her to Virginia to do a session or two so Lauren [Kieffer] and I have been doing some dancing lessons. It is a fresh pair of eyes which was a big contributor,” she said.

“She has an approach that is universal, but she tweaks it for depending on how you have to ride each test. This point you know this horses well and you are trying to pick up things with things from each person you are working with. She (Jacquie) clearly did something right. It was probably the best test I’ve ever had on her.”

Lauren Kieffer and D.A. Duras. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Lauren Kieffer and D.A. Duras, having also benefitted from riding with Jacquie on the flat, improved their personal best at the level by an incredible four points today, landing in second on a score of 26.

Duras, an 11-year-old KWPN (Numero Ono x Medoc, by Quattro) owned by Debbie Adams and Jacqueline Mars, has come into his own this season after spending time on the sideline in 2018.

“He had a year off last year which honestly in hindsight was the best thing to happen to him. He’s come back really well,” Lauren said. “He’s a different ride for me. I’ve always had really blood horses in the past, so it’s taken me a while to figure out how to ride a warmblood.”

Lauren is also sixth with Jacqueline Mars’ Vermiculus on a score of 28.1.

Doug Payne and Vandiver. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Doug Payne and Vandiver, a 15-year-old Trakehner (Windfall 2 x Visions of Grandeur, by Mystic Replica xx) who is owned by Doug, Jessica Payne and Debi Crowley, nailed a 27.5 today for third place — a pretty ideal start in the pair’s last preparatory run before Burghley in two weeks time.

“It’s a rewarding process,” Doug said. “For quite some time there I felt like we were patching it together rather than actively riding it. We’re finally getting to a place where we can further develop and tweak to approach his potential.”

Doug’s other ride in the division, Quantum Leap, is in 21st place on a dressage score of 36.3.

Colleen Rutledge holds fourth place with her own Covert Rights. She and the 13-year-old Thoroughbred Cross (BFF Incognito x Let’s Get It Right, by Covert Operations) earned a 27.9 in the first phase.

Buck Davidson and Park Trader. Photo by Shelby Allen.

The veteran partnership of Buck Davidson and Park Trader are in fifth place. The 17-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Master Imp x Ballyhast Polly, by Highland King) earned a score of 28.

Buck’s other two horses in the division, Carlevo and Errol Gobey, sit 8th and 25th, respectively.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Hannah Sue Burnett has two in the top ten. The Lukeswell Partnership’s Lukeswell is 7th on a score of 29.6, and Jacqueline Mars’ Harbor Pilot is 9th on a score of 30.7.

Will Coleman and The Conair Syndicate’s Tight Lines round out the top ten on a dressage result of 31.1.

The CCI2*-S division was Lynn’s for the taking after a red hot performance for a score of 21.4 — yes, you read that right — with Global Cassero 3, an 8-year-old Hanoverian (Conteur x Wahida, by Windhauch).

“To be honest it was not an amazing test for him – there is so much more quality in there. For him to have pulled that out on a not amazing test… He is such a looker. The horse is just stunning, it is like when you walk into a room with a beautiful man on your arm like my husband. He just turns heads everyday,” Lynn winked.

Katherine lent her the ride to help build her up-and-coming string, and now Lynn is looking to keep the ride with the help of new ownership. So if you want to get in with a quality horse on the ground floor here’s your chance! Many thanks to David Frechette for standing strong in the rain today to get this video of “Jerry” and Lynn.

Lauren Kieffer is in second with Get Gaudi on a score of 24.1, and Will Coleman sits third on a score of 25 with Chin Tonic HS.

Chris Barnard is busy laying out a beautiful show jumping course for these competitors, and they’ll take it on tomorrow beginning at 8 a.m. with the two-star group. Stay tuned for much more from #MARSGMI.

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Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Pick Pocket. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Phillip Dutton is no stranger to the pressures of riding for owners, but he’s got an extra special one to impress this weekend: his stepdaughter Lee Lee Jones. She, her grandmother Annie Jones, and Caroline Moran are the proud owners of the MARS Great Meadow International CCI3*-S dressage leader, Fernhill Pick Pocket.

“Ollie,” the 8-year-old irish Sport Horse (Chacco Blue x Bracklin Mystique, by Solitair), produced the only sub-30 score for the top of the class with a first phase result of 29.8.

“He’s very correct and beautiful mover and does everything well. It actually wasn’t mistake free — we broke in the counter canter, but the exciting part is that he’s going to be pretty spectacular one day when he finally gets a bit more education in him,” he said. “We’re all excited because he’s improving each week and we’re going to take our time. He’s not that mature a horse. Because of Lee Lee’s accident and all that he’s missed a bit of training. But I think he’s going to be a top of the line horse.”

Phillip says Great Meadow is another important stepping stone in the horse’s career, so he’ll be thinking of the future when he heads out on cross country later in the weekend.

“He’s a good jumper, but he gets a bit strong. He’s probably not up to going as fast as I need to at this stage. I don’t want to go fast and lose the rideability of him because I don’t think that’s good long term. I’ll give him a good run, but won’t break any records,” he said.

Lee Lee bought Ollie as a 4-year-old from Carol Gee and produced him up to the training level before her accident in 2016. The following spring, Phillip took over the ride, bringing the horse along slowly and methodically. For a man who rides many, many nice horses it’s hard to miss the twinkle in his eye when he talks about Ollie’s potential.

“He’s a real athlete, and there’s a not a jump too hard for him,” he said. “He’s careful, he can jump a big jump. He’s actually pretty quick on the cross country — it’s mainly the rideability. He’s also naturally really gifted on the flat. Those are all good traits to have.”

Caitlin Silliman and Ally KGO. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Caitlin Silliman put the polish on to pilot Ally KGO to a personal best International score on 30.2 points for second place.

Morgan McCue produced the 8-year-old Trakehner (Hirtentanz 2 x Annabel Lee, by Butow), who is owned by her Q-Brook Stables, through the training level before handing over the reins to Caitlin. She admits it’s been a “slow climb” up the levels, but with the big picture looming, the mare shone in a big way today.

“I haven’t had her at a big competition, so we’ve been working a lot on her focus and being confident in a big atmosphere. She was very focused in there — lot’s of little mistakes, but nothing huge,” Caitlin said. “It’s been a slow climb up the level, but we’ve got big plans for her. She loves the sport and tries very hard.”

Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride and Favian. Photo by Shelby Allen.

“It was a hot day to be a Black Beauty,” said Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride of her own 11-year-old Oldenburg (French Kiss x Risiko, by Relevant), Favian. This pair also joined the PB club today, earning a 30.8 on the flat for third place.

Valerie, who splits her time between playing judge and competitor, bought the horse from Tamie Smith three years ago, challenging her with an entirely different kind of ride. “I’m used to all of my Ferrari Thoroughbreds. It took me a long time to figure out how to deal with his massive stride. It doesn’t have the Thoroughbred anxiety as an engine so you have to create that,” she said, but today it looked like she cracked the code.

“It was a super accurate test. He was so steady, I could go for everything. I knew he would probably come back easily too — he’s 60% warmblood. The conditions were in my favor today.He didn’t have a whole lot of pizzaz for his trot, but everything was super steady. I’m so proud of him for putting in such a mistake-free test.” she said.

Clayton Fredericks and FE Cold Play. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Clayton Fredericks took hold of fourth place with his own FE ColdPlay. He and the 7-year-old German Sport Horse are breathing down the neck of our top three with a current score of 30.9.

Sharon White and her up-and-coming Claus 63, a 7-year-old Holstiener (Catoo x Tina II, by Levisto), sit fifth on 31.5 penalty points.

Boyd Martin and Contestor. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Contestor leads the Windurra pack in 6th as Boyd Martin’s top-placing horse after dressage. Denise Lahey’s 12-year-old KWPN (Contango x Jer’s Princess, by Killer Jer) earned a score of 31.6.

Boyd is also 7th with Ringo Star (31.9), 12th with Bonito (32.7), 14th with Carlsburg (33.4), and 25th with Maya (35.7).

There’s a hot race for 8th place with a three way tie shared between Daniel Clasing & MW Gangster’s Game, Buck Davidson & Electric Lux, and Emily Bradford & The Disco Traveler all on a score of 32.2.

These guys enjoy a day off tomorrow before Saturday’s show jumping.

Go eventing.

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