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

Though you compete on an individual basis, eventing, at its core, is much more of a team effort. It takes a village, as they say. Behind each great horse and rider combination is an army of supporters who made it all possible. No one appreciates this fact more than Will Coleman who credits todays Stable View Spring CCI4*-S win to his team.

“Success for our program — the rider is just the cover. It is as much about everybody else: my coaches, my wife, my family, our girls home at the barn, the team behind us, vets, farriers. It’s really a victory for all of them, I’m just the cover of the book, but they’re the ones making up the full story,” he said.

Will and Hyperion Stud’s Chin Tonic HS topped the division from the start — a 22.4 on the flat gave them a healthy advantage and a clear show jumping effort only extended their lead. Their clear cross country phase Saturday afternoon sealed the deal as 5.6 time penalties had them finishing on a score of 28. This is Will’s second four-star win this spring.

“I thought he did everything very well. I wanted to go kind of quick without being silly. He’s still pretty inexperienced at this level so I wanted to give him a good go more than anything. He was really worked up in the warmup, so I came out a little steady in the beginning but he ran super and answered the questions really well,” Will said. “I thought the corners at the end were a pretty stiff question. It felt great when you did it. The horses really read it, I’ve got to give a credit to Mark (Phillips) for laying it out, but I definitely thought about it quite a bit. Everything rode how I planned and that isn’t always the case, so it’s nice when it goes like that.”

As for what’s next for the 10-year-old Holsteiner (Chin Champ x Wildera), Will isn’t ready to show his hand, but hinted that a trip across the pond may be in the works. “We’ve got a plan but you take it one day at a time and hopefully you also have a bit of luck,” he said. “We’ve talked about wanting to take him overseas and maybe take him to Aachen or another big event. I love Aachen.” We think Aachen loves you back, Will.

Jennie Brannigan and Twilightslastgleam. Photo by Shelby Allen.

It was a great day at the office for Jennie Brannigan who won the CCI3*-S as well as finishing second and third in the four-star.

Three-star winner Connory, a 10-year-old Holsteiner (Conrato x Hocaponta) started the weekend tied for fourth with a 27.5 on the flat, and added only 2.8 time penalties to that result as the second-fastest horse in the division.

“I know you’re not supposed to have favorites but that horse is so my type. He’s a beautiful talented horse with three good phases and I’m just so lucky to get to ride him. I’ve had him since picking him out at Clayton (Frederick’s), and Clayton was really kind and let me buy him in parts and honestly it’s just a very special horse,” Jennie said.

Though he had most of 2021 off due to a minor injury sustained while kicking in his stall, this is a fourth consecutive win for “Sean,” who is owned by Jennie in partnership with Tim and Nina Gardner. “I loved him from the beginning and put myself on the line when I was pretty poor to buy him, and it’s knock on wood turned out pretty good so far.”

Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Nina and Tim have been longtime owners and supporters of Jennie, and they were right against the ropes today to watch two of her other rides, Twilightslastgleam and FE Lifestyle, take second and third place in the CCI4*-S, respectively.

“Comic,” a 12-year-old Thoroughbred (National Anthem x Royal Child) bred by Nina, kept the pressure on Will by producing the fastest round of the division just one second over optimum time to finish on a result of 32.5.

“He’s just been getting stronger and stronger which is great because I think he really gives it 100%, but it’s not easy for him and he tries his heart out,” she said. “He’s fast because he’s a Thoroughbred. I was three seconds over on Foxy, so I went pretty fast (with Comic) The beginning is so gallopy that I really went for it in the beginning and just tried to keep that going.”

While Comic is all heart, Jennie calls stablemate “Foxy” the “best cross country course I’ve ever ridden.” Their 1.2 time penalties brought the pair to a final score of 35.8 in third place. “He makes everything feel easy to be honest. He’s such a lovely horse and his step is so big he looks like he’s going slow, and it helps me because I can tend to get too quick and aggressive in my mind and do stupid things, so he’s been really good for me because you can go fast on him but it feels slow so you can really ride,” Jennie said.

Isabelle Bosely and Night Quality. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Isabelle Bosley and Night Quality, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse (OBOS Quality 004 x Night Fly) owned by the rider, finished fourth, picking up 11.6 time penalties on cross country (45.1).

14.4 time penalties dropped Allie Knowles and Ms. Poppins, an 11-year-old Westphalian (Congress x Copa Cabana) owned by Katherine O’Brien, from second to fifth place on a result of 45.4.

Emily Hamel and Corvette. Photo by Shelby Allen.

The stunning Corvett, a 15-year-old Holsteiner (Corrido x Tina XII), showed off his athleticism around Capt. Mark Phillips’ track, giving rider Emily Hamel a clear round with 10 time penalties. Their sixth place finish serves as a stepping stone on their path to Badminton Horse Trials in five weeks time.

Buc Davidson and Sorocaima. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Cosby Green and Copper Beach were seventh (49.6). Buck Davidson was eighth and ninth with Erroll Gobey (51.4) and Sorocaima (54.6), respectively. Hannah Sue Burnett and Captiol HIM close out the top ten on a result of 55.6.

Issues remained well spread around the course. Of the 24, who started 18 finished. Three pairs retired on course and three others were eliminated, but there were no falls in the division. Of those who completed, only two earned any jump penalties, leaving the 16 clear rounds to battle it out against the clock.

Thanks for following with us here on EN. Go eventing.

Stable View Spring 2/3/4*: Website, Live Scores, Entry Status, Volunteer, EN’s Coverage

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

Chin Tonic HS has shown great promise since he arrived in Will Coleman’s barn as a 5-year-old, and each year he keeps raising the bar. He won his International debut in 2019 at the two-star level and he’s wracked up four FEI wins since. He landed his latest headline by leading the first two phases of the Stable View Spring CCI4*-S.

“Chin,” the 10-year-old Holsteiner (Chin Champ x Wildera), is owned and sourced by Vicky Castegren’s Hyperion Stud. “I’ve known Vicky for a long time. She found this horse as a 2-year-old stallion when she showed me a video. I’ll never forget watching it there in her office drooling over it. He has so much presence and so many natural physical gifts,” he said.

This partnership’s dressage score of 22.4 was more than a rail ahead of rest of the four-star division, and a double clear trip around Chis Barnard’s show jumping course secured an eight-point lead going into the final phase. Will, ever the perfectionist, continues to look forward on how he can improve even further — one day at a time.

“The horse is doing a lot of really good things. I still think there’s another level that we can achieve but I guess in relative terms he’s still kind of new to four star level. He’s a very talented horse in that phase, and I think he has a high ceiling. I’m just trying to do it justice. He’s a horse that we have championship aspirations with. I think the key two reaching those big goals is focusing on little ones every day and I think that’s sort of how we’ve gone about it with him.”

Allie Knowles and Ms. Poppins. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Katherine O’Brien’s Ms. Poppins, an 11-year-old Westphalian (Congress x Copa Cabana) mare ridden by Allie Knowles, moved from 5th into the reserve position after a valuable clear round. They carry a score of 31 to the final phase.

“Funny enough, I was quite disappointed with her dressage test. She is very obedient and extremely consistent. Sub-30 should be normal for her, but today she got her tongue over the bit in the first shoulder-in, making it nearly impossible to use the reins. She is so reliable so I just backed off and rode the movements and asking for nothing extra. She still threw down a test that I couldn’t fault her on given the circumstance but knowing that was not a true picture of what she has to offer. It’s early in the season for her so I’ll try to make adjustments going forward so that doesn’t happen again,” Allie said.

“As for her show jumping, she is just a blast. She jumped her heart out and gave me a beautiful round that I can’t fault her on. I made one bad line that she over corrected for me and that is just one of the many reasons I feel privileged to be her pilot.”

Jennie Brannigan and Twilightslastgleam. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Jennie Brannigan and Twilightslastgleam, a 12-year-old Thoroughbred (National Anthem x Royal Child) are third on 32.1 points. Owner and breeder Nina Gardner was ringside cheering for their clear round. “That’s her favorite horse, and he’s a barn favorite because he tries the hardest out of any horse I ride. He had a year off, so its really exciting for him to feel like he used to again. He’s been on fire this year. I’m going to give it a go for the Garnders tomorrow. They’re just the best,” Jennie said.

Nina also owns sixth-placed FE Lifestyle — who also jumped penalty-free — on a score of 34.6

Isabelle Bosley and Night Quality. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Isabelle Bosley, who was named to the Eventing 25 Emerging Athlete Program this winter, jumped clear with her Irish Sport Horse Night Quality (OBOS Quality 004 x Night Fly). The two remain on their dressage score of 33.5

Hannah Sue Burnett and Capitol HIM. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Riding for Christa Schmidt, Hannah Sue Burnett jumped clear as the last rider in the division. She and Captiol HIM, a 15-year-old Holsteiner (Con Air 7 x O-Heraldika), had a fashionable fault-free trip remain on his dressage score of 33.6 for fifth place.

Buck Davidson is seventh aboard his own 11-year-old Thoroughbred Sorocaima. They remain on their dressage score of 36.2. Emily Hamel takes eighth place (36.3) with her quirky Corvette, who didn’t as much as breathe on a pole today.

Lynn Symansky and Global Cassero 3. Photo by Shelby Allen.

In the CCI3*-S division, Lynn Symansky leads with Global Cassero 3. A dressage result of 26.6 and a equitation-worthy show jumping keeps them at the front of the pack, even with a change to his usual routine. “He went early in the morning. He usually benefits from having a long stroll in the morning, so I thought he was little tight but even with not the most amazing test the horse is so class that you can get away with having a little bit of tension here and there,” she said. “He had some time off for some wind issues so it took some time to get him back and get him strong again. These’s big, long gangly ones just take a bit longer to develop. We lost a good year and a half trying to sort the wind, so it’s great to have him back.”

Eventers here at Stable View are out showing their support for Ukrainian relief efforts. Pins are available for purchase at the show office and all proceeds will go toward the USEF Ukraine Relief Fund.

The CCI4*-S class heads out on cross country here in Aiken, South Carolina beginning at 12:06 p.m.

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Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Singapore. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Winner winner chicken dinner x 2! Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Singapore have just won their second consecutive CCI4*-S of the fall season — first at Great Meadow International, and now at here Stable View Oktoberfest.

“It’s a work in progress,” Phillip said of David Vos, Ann Jones, and Tom Tierney’s Irish Sport Horse. At 12, Singapore has been somewhat of a late bloomer, but 2021 is proving to be his year. “It was a little bit of a slow process. He was slow to mature, but certainly he’s coming into his own now.”

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Singapore. Photo by Shelby Allen.

The Olympic bronze medalist led from pillar to post. A dressage score of 23.8 gave the pair breathing room for a few penalties across the jumping phases, including the 0.4 time penalties added today. Their time of 6 minutes and 18 seconds made them the fastest pair of the division — a massive accomplishment for this horse who has not always been so adjustable to benefit the time.

“It’s one thing to go faster — then you have got to be able to come back and prepare for the jumps, especially if, you know, there’s a good technical line, and that’s usually been the trouble with him. It’s the time it takes getting back the right way. So that part’s getting better. Today was a good prep for Maryland,” Phillip said.

While Phillip’s second entry, Sea of Clouds, was galloping around beautifully, they accidentally jumped an Intermediate fence, which left them with a technical elimination.

Dom Schramm and Bolytair B. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Speaking of turbo boosters, Dom Schramm motored around with Bolytair B as the second fastest of the day, a mere 2 seconds over the optimum time. The Team Bolytair B’s Dutch Warmblood earned a final score of 33.8 for second place.

Doug Payne and Quantum Leap. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Third place was awarded to Doug Payne after a confidence-inspiring round with his own and Jessica Payne’s Quantum Leap. Bred stateside by Elizabeth Callahan, the 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding picked up 5.6 time penalties to finish on a score of 39.7.

Leslie Law and Voltaire de Tre. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Leslie Law was the most well represented in this division with four entries, and he piloted all of them into the top ten. Voltaire de Tre was fourth (41), Lady Chatterly was fifth (43.1), First Class was ninth (48.3) and Typically Fernhill was tenth (51.4).

Karl Slezak and Fernhill Wishes. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Canada’s Karl Slezak piloted his Fernhill Wishes into sixth place. The Irish Sport Horse/Holsteiner had an even 10 time penalties for a three-phase result of 43.9. Clayton Fredericks is seventh with FE Stormtrooper on a score of 44.5, and Liz Halliday-Sharp is eighth with Cooley Quicksilver (46.3).

There was plenty to do across Capt. Mark Phillips’ track, but the Bobcat Meadows Oxer to Corner combination at 21 proved to be the most influential. The massive open oxers and corner accounted for two stops and two frangible pins. Despite issues peppered elsewhere, 64% of the division completed without jump penalties. Well done!

Stable View Oktoberfest 2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]