Elisa Wallace and Simply Priceless at Bromont. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

The sun was shining and the birds were singing and the horses were doing what they were supposed to today at Bromont. A few parting thoughts:

– It was fantastic to see so many horses and riders stepping up to the plate. To less experienced pairs, today’s startbox must have felt like one of those butterfly conservatories, filled with the bright, fluttery magic of possibility. Others came in with more of an axe to grind, seeking retribution for a season that veered off course somewhere along the way. As I talked about in yesterday’s course preview, Bromont favors competitors are mentally and physically prepared to fight all the way to the finish. There were a lot of fighters out there today.

Jimmie Schramm and Bellamy got revenge on a less-than-happy result at Fair Hill in the fall, producing a clear if conservatively paced trip around the CCI3* track. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

–Derek di Grazia is steering modern course design in the right direction. Looking at today’s scoreboard, one might assume that the course was a bit soft — in the CCI1* and CCI3* divisions, particularly, there were an abundance of clear roads. Allow me to assure you: It was NOT an easy course. It was plenty big and there was plenty to do out there, and it’s a testament to the competitors that they got it done. The quality of Derek’s tough-yet-fair course helped. Let’s not be afraid to ask hard questions of our horses, but let’s frame them in a way that makes sense. Safety will follow close behind.

Video: The second CCI3* water rode extremely well for most competitors. Courtesy of RNS Video Media.

Lots of clean rounds, but of course there is one in every crowd. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

– Three riders are dominating the top three spots in the CCI1* and CCI2* divisions: Buck Davidson (1st in the 1*, 2nd in the 2*), Ryan Wood (2nd and 3rd in the 1*) and Lauren Kieffer (1st and 3rd in the 2*). Why the monopoly on blue, red and yellow ribbons? There’s a reason, and it has nothing to do with luck.

OK, it might have a tiny bit to do with luck. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

But mostly, it’s because they’re GOOD.

–Also deserving of a shout-out at the end of cross-country day is the CCI3* west coast contingent. Three out of the top-placed seven riders (Mackenna Shea, Katy Groesbeck and Maya Black) are from the west coast — four out of seven if you count Lizzie Snow, an Oregon native who is now based in Southern Pines. There is a perceived disconnect between the two sides of the country, but this weekend is proof that the playing field is more level than ever.

Lizzie Snow and Coal Creek. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Can’t wait to see how everything shakes out in the show jumping! The jog starts at 8 a.m. and we’ll be back on the grounds bringing you all the latest. Until then, Allez Concours Complet!!!

Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook's Scarlett. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Double-clear rounds are gold here at Bromont and Lauren Kieffer knows how to produce them. When dressage leader Ashley Adams and Da Vinci Code had a stop early on the course, the window of opportunity opened for second-placed Lauren and she seized it, sealing the deal with a fast, faultless round on Meadowlark’s Scarlett. Her other ride, Landmark’s Monte Carlo, made an even bigger move up the leaderboard, from eighth place into third. Likewise, Buck Davidson moved up from seventh to second on Captain Jack.

Lauren and Buck just stopped by the media tent to tell us about their day. Lauren explained that, since it was Meadowbrook’s Scarlett’s first CCI, she went out on course planning to play it by ear. “I came out, in the back of my head to try to be competitive, but I also wanted to give her a chance to just jump around and get a qualifying and have a good CCI because you really don’t know how their fitness is their first CCI — they’ve never run that far,” she explained. “And she’s only seven so I actually went a bit steady in the beginning, because I just wanted to make sure she had enough gas in the tank.”

Both horses, she said, have plenty of scope and don’t want to touch the rails but that Bromont’s big show jumping atmosphere will be another first. “I just hope they’ll both be sound and happy and do their best tomorrow,” she said.

Buck also said that making the time was a bit of an afterthought on his ride, Captain Jack — the OTTB has a somewhat spotty record but midway through the course Jack was feeling good and Buck was feeling competitive, so they went for it. Buck sat on the horse the first time just two weeks ago when he rode him in the Prelim at Flora Lea. He felt like the horse had a shot at being in the top five at Bromont, the owner was game, and the rest is history.  “He’s a very good jumper, very brave,” Buck said. “I enjoyed riding him. He was just relaxed, happy, ears up the whole way.”

Buck Davidson and Captain Jack. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Rounding out the top four in the CCI2* were Colleen Loach on Freespirit in fourth and Ryan Wood on Fernhill Classic in fifth.

Ryan Wood and Fernhill Classic. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

The CCI2* course saw more issues on course than the other divisions but they were scattered pretty evenly throughout the course. More cross-country odds ‘n’ ends to come! You can’t get enough! Allez Concours Complet!

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Top 15 CCI2* finishers:

Erin Sylvester and No Boundaries. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Several riders came to Canada this week looking for a bit of redemption and many of them found it today on Derek di Grazia’s big and bold but fair course. One of them was Erin Sylvester — despite the fact that No Boundaries is one of the most talented cross-country courses in the country, success at the CCI3* level has been eluding the pair of late. Erin fell at Rolex this year, collected 20 at Fair Hill in the fall and ran into a bit of trouble on course at Burghley before that.

“I haven’t had a good CCI finish in two years — we just keep making mistakes,” Erin told me yesterday evening. “So I just need to have one under my belt.”

They accomplished as much today, zipping around the course and into the lead as one of only four riders to make the time (the others were Jessica Phoenix and A Little Romance, who moved into second, Cody Sturgess and Imperial Melody, and Holly Payne and Never Outfoxed). The course rode like a dream for the bulk of the riders and time became a major factor as a result. Dressage leader Mackenna Shea slipped into third when she collected 13.6 time penalties but she should be thrilled with her solidly successful ride nonetheless.

It’s always a good day when everybody makes it through the finish flags safe and sound. Derek di Grazia’s course was pretty special in its ability to test without punishing. Even when horses got into a bit of a tight spot…

Jennie Jarnstrom and Cape Town. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Jennie Jarnstrom and Cape Town. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Jennie Jarnstrom and Cape Town. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

…they seemed able to scrap their way out of it. I’m running out to shoot the CCI2* which is getting underway… more soon! Allez Concours Complet!

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Buck Davidson and Be Mine. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Be Mine might be a relative newcomer to the sport of eventing but you wouldn’t know it from his performance on the CCI1* course today.

As we mentioned yesterday, the 8-year-old Rheinland Pfalzsaar gelding looks to be on the eventing fast-track — Buck did a Novice on him in January followed by a Training in February then straight on to Preliminary by March. They got in their qualifying rounds to contest the CIC1* at the CHC International at Chattahoochee Hills in May, where they placed 7th, and today the pair coasted around their toughest track together yet like old pros.

There was some shuffling around of the scoreboard beneath them, however. Peter Barry, who was in second place going into cross-country, had 14 expensive time penalties that moved him down to 10th, and another of Buck’s rides, Cartier, had 2.8, which was just enough to push him into fourth. Ryan Wood moved happily into the vacant spaces on his two horses, Woodstock Wallaby and Woodstock Bennett, who are now in second and third places respectively.

Ryan Wood and Woodstock Wallaby. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

The course rode well, causing just a handful of scattered issues throughout. Thirty-three out of 45 horses came off the course with no jumping penalties, if that says anything. Fence #10, a right-hand corner off a left-hand turn at the very back of the course, caused run-outs for 6 or 7 horses — the jump judge said the riders just weren’t quite finding their line coming out of the turn.

Alexandra Knowles and The Dark Mark making short work of the corner. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Top 20 CCI1* scores after cross-country:

Much more on the CCI1* later, including photos and videos, but the CCI3* is starting up so I’m going to head back out onto the course. Allez Concours Complet!

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Behind the scenes on cross-country morning at Bromont. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Cross-country morning has dawned early and bright here at Bromont International. It’s going to be a beautiful day: a shade on the warm side with a high of 78 with a 10% chance of rain. I love cross-country morning — there’s an almost tangible sense of anticipation in the air. As I write, the riders are all getting their game faces on in the barns or heading out on course to have a last-minute talk with a worrisome fence. I headed out with my camera to spy on everyone’s preparations — here are few photos:

The first rider of the day, Buck Davidson on Tiger Lion, just marched past on his way to cross-country warm-up…

Buck Davidson and Tiger Lion. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

…so I guess that’s my cue to head on out there. We’ll keep you posted… Allez Concours Complet!

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Photo by Leslie Wylie

For a North American event Bromont is a little off the grid. If you’ve noticed an absence of social media updates from your favorite riders this weekend, it’s because they can’t use the Internet on their smartphones on (or rather, they can, but it would cost them a fortune). As Jenni succinctly put it, “Bromont is a black hole of nothingness. Just geese and poutine. That’s it.”

Watching people cut off from their technology is actually kind of hilarious. You don’t know how many people have approached me this weekend in utter despair because they can’t read Eventing Nation or check live scores on EventEntries.com. I point out, “But you’re actually at the event” and they’re like “You don’t understand.”

The good news is that we’ve got your stay-in-the-know hookup here. PRO will be streaming updating via its Live Eventing Radio — you can access it on UStream here. Bromont will also be posting scores as they come in on EventEntries.com and, of course, I’ll be jogging back to the media tent at the conclusion of each division to post an in-depth breakdown of what’s going on out there on EN.

The first CCI1* rider, Buck Davidson, gallops out of the startbox at 9 a.m. Next up are the CCI3*/CIC3* divisions at 11:50 a.m. followed by the CCI2* at 2:25 p.m.

I’m predicting an exciting day — this weekend ain’t gonna be a dressage show — and here’s hoping everyone makes it through those finish flags safe and sound. Allez Concours Complet!

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Buck Davidson and Be Mine. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Buck’s having an easy weekend here at Bromont — a vacation, really — with only three horses in the CCI1*, one in the CCI* and a handful of students. What are you going to do with all that time between rides tomorrow, Buck?

Not surprisingly, when he IS in the saddle he’s been keeping himself busy with his favorite pastime: beating the pants off everybody else. At the finish of CCI1* dressage he’s sitting in first on Be Mine on a score of 39 and tied for third on Cartier on a score of 43.8, with Tiger Lilly a little further down the scoreboard, which is a lengthy 45 horses long.

Be Mine is a big, floaty-moving 8 year old, owned by Lisa Darden, that looks to be on the eventing fast-track — Buck did a Novice on him in January followed by a Training in February then straight on to Preliminary by March. They got in their qualifying rounds to contest the CIC1* at the CHC International at Chattahoochee Hills in May, where they placed 7th, and now they’re here winning the dressage at Bromont — tada!

Here’s the video courtesy of EN’s dear friend Thehorsepesterer:

Thursday’s dressage leader and hometown hero Peter Barry kept a death grip on the top of the leaderboard today to finish up in second place. If you missed our report on his ride yesterday, check it out here.

Erin Sylvester, who is tied with Buck for 3rd on Sweet Rebellion, stopped by the press tent this evening to tell us about her two rides. Sweet Rebellion is a 7-year-old thoroughbred mare that she has brought along off the track; this is her first season at Prelim. Erin described her as “very promising” but green and a little on the spooky side.

“I was hoping for a score in the mid-50s — I was just hoping that she would keep a lid on and do all the movements,” Erin explains. “But she came into herself on Thursday morning, fortunately, and put in such a good performance. She didn’t put a foot wrong.”

Their score, a 43.8, obviously exceeded Erin’s expectations. “She was cute,” Erin explains, “when she finished she lifted her head and looked around and was really impressed by everything, but as long as I was asking her to work she stayed right with me.”

I asked Erin how her CCI3* test on No Boundaries felt — they scored a 52 and are tied for fourth going into cross-country. She said that she was trying to push him forward and ask for a little more movement to improve on her test from Jersey Fresh, which was solid and accurate but lacking in razzle-dazzle. The byproduct of that was a slight loss of relaxation over his topline. “I was really happy with him but I think his score reflected him getting a little tight in his neck and behind the vertical.”

Ashley Adams and Cooley Ice round out the top five placed competitors in the CCI1*. Wishing Erin and the rest of the 3* competitors all the best cross-country tomorrow!

Top 20 CCI1* Dressage Scores:

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More to come! You can’t get enough! Alléz Concours Complet!!!

Lynn Symansky and Donner. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

No afternoon riders could catch the top three morning CCI3* dressage leaders, all of whom hail from the other side of the country. Mackenna Shea and Landioso are well in the lead on a score of 45.2, with Maya Black/Doesn’t Play Fair (50.2) and Katherine Groesbeck/Oz The Tin Man (50.4) in second and third respectively. In case you missed it, check out our lunchtime report here.

Mackenna, Maya and Katy, this one goes out to you guys:

That’s Tupac throwing up a West Coast sign, in case ya didn’t know.

(Sorry, I’ve been wanting to do that all day… now resuming quasi-serious reporter mode.)

Elisa Wallace and Simply Priceless posted the best score of the afternoon riders — a 52 — to claw their way into a tie for fourth place with Erin Sylvester and No Boundaries. Elisa was wiping tears from her eyes as she rode out of the arena to meet her dad, Rick, and later confessed that she started tearing up before she was even done with the test. It’s a rare day in eventing when everything comes together precisely when you need it to the most, but that’s exactly what happened with Elisa and Johnny today. Elisa got the ride on this horse, owned by Jill Hopcroft, in May of last year and says it took some time to earn one another’s respect — at the beginning they weren’t too fond of one another. Since them, clearly, their chemistry has grown as a direct product of time and a lot of hard work, and today’s performance was the culmination of that effort.

I tagged along with Elisa when she walked the cross-country yesterday and she seemed fairly unimpressed by the course’s, uh, magnitude. The power of positive thinking in action: “I’m just going to jump everything perfectly and do all the direct lines and everything is going to be great.” Johnny is a terrific cross-country horse and, whether Elisa bluffing or not, I 100% believe her. Go get ’em, Elisa.

Elisa Wallace and Simply Priceless. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

There are only three competitors in the CIC3* division at Bromont but for Lynn Symansky, the competition is fierce. As Jenni mentioned yesterday, Bromont is the final North American selection trial and it’s critical that Lynn knock some socks off this weekend if she wants to remain a contender for a spot on Team USA. Their performance earned a 49 — not their best test ever but a very respectable effort. I expect them to make tomorrow’s course look like a walk in the park and keep the rails up on Sunday. But will it be enough? It must suck to be a selector.

Lynn Symansky rehashes her test with David O’Connor. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Jessica Phoenix’s test on Pavarotti had a few bobbles but, man, is that horse cool. He’s got all the right stuff to eventually inherit the best stall in the barn — when they iron out the wrinkles, they’ll be golden.

Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

I’ve got some videos in the process of uploading at the speed of molasses — so far as I can tell Canada does NOT believe in the internet — so check back for those soon. More on its way, including a recap of the CCI1* and a CCI3* course preview!

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CCI3* Scores:

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CIC3* Scores:

Peter Barry and Long Island Ice Tea lead after day 1 of the CCI1* dressage. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Bromont is in Peter Barry’s backyard — he’s based about a half-hour away in Dunham, Quebec. So it’s got to feel nice to be sitting on top of the leaderboard at his hometown event at the conclusion of the first day of 1* dressage.

Peter’s ride is Long Island Tea, an Oldenburg gelding who seems like something of a departure from the horse we’ve grown accustomed to seeing Peter on, his veteran four-star partner Kilrodan Abbott. Where Kilrodan Abbott is a rangy Irish Sport Horse, Long Island Tea has more of a compact, sportscar look about him that lends itself to the dressage ring. They got the job done and then some today, laying down a score of 41 to best the field. Peter has been developing this horse for some time and they’ve had a workmanlike spring, finishing 11th in the CIC1* at Carolina International. The horse also jumped clear, both cross-country and show jumping, around his first two Intermediate starts with fellow Quebec eventer Colleen Loach in the tack. This horse’s jumping record is about as squeaky clean as they come so if their score holds up against tomorrow’s competition, I expect a top finish from this pair in their first CCI1* attempt. 

Rounding out the top three are Buck Davison/Cartier and Erin Sylvester/Sweet Rebellion, who are tied for second on a 43.8. This is both horses’ first go at an FEI event but with Buck and Erin showing them the way around I’m sure they’ll find their way to the finish flags in fine form.

My personal favorite performance of the day came from Adrian Jones and Ganymede. They’re sitting in 13th place but if I was the judge, they would definitely be winning. The 14.2-hand Connemara mare is owned by Nicolette Merle-Smith, who campaigned her through the Intermediate level before conceding that perhaps she would be better suited to a more petite rider. Adrian is a perfect fit and I can’t wait to see them storming around the stiff 1* cross-country course on Saturday. Here are a couple photos for you to ooh-and-ahh over:

Adrian Jones and Ganymede. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Adrian Jones and Ganymede. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

The second half of the CCI1* dressage resumes tomorrow at 10 o’clock, along with the CCI3* and CIC3* rides. Much more to come — stay tuned. Alléz Concours Complet!

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It’s a spectacular day here here at Jaguar Land Rover Bromont International, all ice-blue skies and cotton-candy clouds and chinchillas sunning themselves on hillsides. The riders are scrubbing up in the barns, readying themselves for the 3 o’clock jog, and officials are bustling about in preparation for kick-off.

Bromont is a destination event for many of this week’s competitors, several of whom have trekked across the country to get here. Nestled in the lush green mountains of Quebec a little over an hour away from Montreal, the event is renowned for its beautiful courses, excellent footing and sexy French accents.

Keep it locked on Eventing Nation for updates on all the action throughout the week. We’re looking at 45 horses in the CCI1*, 24 in the CCI2* and 25 in the CCI3* (check out Kate’s preview here). Lots of riders are looking for redemption in the CCI3*.

There’s also a small but exciting CIC3* division — the three competitors are Meghan Perry and Nicos, who are relatively new to the level and coming off a 13th-place finish at Jersey Fresh; Jessie Phoenix and Pavarotti, with whom she finished 10th at Blenheim last year; and a bum-legged Lynn Symansky and Donner, who’ll be looking to knock some socks off this weekend to stay in the hunt for WEG.

Follow Bromont at Facebook here and on Twitter @BromontCCI. Much, much more to come. Alléz Concours Complet!

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