Classic Eventing Nation

Ben Hobday and Shadow Man Soar to Great Meadow CICO3* Lead

By on Jul 7, 2018 9:31 pm -

Ben Hobday and Shadow Man. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border jumped clear over Marc Donovan’s course to defend their lead in the Brook Ledge Great Meadow International but withdrew following the conclusion of show jumping, as they are heading to Germany to represent the U.S. at Aachen.

That makes Britain’s Ben Hobday and Jane Chambers’s Shadow Man the overnight leaders in the FEI Nations Cup on their dressage score of 29.7. Ben has had “Fidjy,” an 8-year-old Belgian Warmblood (Fidjy of Colors X Favorite Van de Keezerswinning, by Winningmood van de Arenberg), since he was 2 and carefully produced the horse to this point in his career.

“We’ve just gone at our own pace. Luckily for us that pace has been he goes out does the job and usually brings back the rosettes,” Ben said, adding that “if he was a human he’d be one of those good looking, arrogant models who don’t listen to no one. But as long as he does the job I’ll let him do whatever he wants to do.”

Fidjy is a strong show jumper — he has jumped clear in six of his last seven rounds at international level — but with temperatures heating up throughout the afternoon here in The Plains, Virginia, Ben said he wasn’t sure how the horse would handle the conditions.

“I was a little bit concerned about the heat with him,” Ben said. “He was quite calm and relaxed in the warm-up, so we didn’t do too much. The bigger the atmosphere the bigger he jumps, and I just have to point him in the right direction and he does the rest. I’m fortunate to have such a lovely horse.”

Allison Springer and Lord Willing. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Allison Springer and Lord Willing, a 9-year-old Holsteiner (Lord Z X Legende IX, by Coriano) owned by the Lord Willing Syndicate, jumped clear to sit in second as the highest placed American combination on their dressage score of 29.8.

Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti, a 16-year-old Westphalian (Pavarotti Van de Helle X Fidelia, by Foxiland), left all the poles in the cups but added an expensive 2 time penalties to remain in third place on 31.5.

Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The top three after show jumping all sat within the top five following dressage, but the rest of this morning’s leaderboard shuffled drastically this afternoon. Twenty of the 46 pairs jumped clear rounds inside the time to give us a 43% clear show jumping rate.

Will Coleman and Soupcon de Brunet, a 12-year-old Anglo Arabian (Zandor Z X Bikadine, by Nouredine du Lirac) owned by the Conair Syndicate, moved from 11th all the way up to fourth place on 33.4 thanks to jumping a clear round.

Sophie Brown and Wil. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Team GB has two riders in the top five after show jumping, as Sophie Brown and her own Wil, a 15-year-old KWPN (Silverstone X Sjoukje, by Corland), also jumped clear to move from 13th up to fifth place on 33.4.

Allie Knowles and Sound Prospect, a 16-year-old Thoroughbred (Eastern Echo X Miner’s Girl, by Miner’s Mark) owned by the Sound Prospect Syndicate, jumped clear to move up from 18th to sixth on 34.8.

Felix Vogg and Colero. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Felix Vogg and Colero, a 10-year-old Westphalian (Captain Fire X Bonita, by Bormio xx) owned by Jürgen Vogg, sat second after dressage and had one rail down and 2 time penalties to drop to seventh place on 34.8.

Caroline Martin and Jump Jet. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Caroline Martin and Sherrie Martin’s Jump Jet, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Captain Clover X Kilmullen Cruisalier, by Cavalier Royale), jumped an impressive clear in the horse’s CIC3* debut to move from 19th up to eighth on 35.0.

Chris Talley and Hannah Salazar’s Sandro’s Star, a 10-year-old Oldenburg stallion (Sagnol X Poetic Patter xx, by Nostalgia’s Star xx), jumped clear to move from 19th up to equal ninth place on 35.1.

Will Coleman and Off The Record. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Will Coleman has two rides in the top 10 after having one rail down with Off the Record. The 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse (VDL Arkansas X Drumagoland Bay, by Ard Ohio) owned by the Off the Record Syndicate moved from sixth after dressage to tie for ninth place on 35.1.

Click here to view full scores after show jumping. Three of the four British team riders delivered clear rounds to hold the lead in the Nations Cup on 99.3 points, with the U.S. in second on 123 points and Canada in third on 126.9 points.

Cross country starts at 9:30 a.m. EST tomorrow morning and will stream live on USEF Network. Click here for ride times. Click here to catch up on all of EN’s #GMI2018 coverage. Go Eventing.

#GMI2018: Website, Entries, Schedule, Ride Times, Live Scores, Course Preview, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Barbury ERM: Liz-Halliday Sharp Ties for Dressage Lead

By on Jul 7, 2018 5:40 pm -

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night take joint ownership of the top spot in Barbury’s ERM class. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Fresh off the back of last month’s Arville ERM leg, at which Liz Halliday-Sharp withdrew the 15-year-old Fernhill By Night, the pair produced a top-class test at Barbury to joint-lead the Event Rider Masters class after the dressage.

“We went from what was probably our worst score to one of our best,” said Liz after her final score of 24.9 was confirmed. “I’m so thrilled – ‘Blackie’ can be a very lazy horse, and since our test at Arville, which wasn’t great, I’ve worked very hard to get him in his happy place. He really enjoyed himself in there and deserved the score. This is where we’d like him to be all the time.”

Tom Carlile and Upsilon. Photo by Ben Clark/ERM.

The pair were followed into the ring by France’s Tom Carlile and his stallion Upsilon, with whom he won this leg last year and set the ERM dressage record of 20.5. Hot favourites for the top spot, they produced a typically expressive test, but some minor errors precluded them from matching last year’s score. Instead, they landed on a final score of 24.9 – tied with Liz, and creating a match-race for tomorrow’s jumping phases.

“I suppose, if I have to tie with anyone, Upsilon will do,” laughed Liz.

Tom Carlile and Upsilon hold the joint lead in the ERM. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The Anglo-Arab, like Fernhill By Night, comes to Barbury after a disappointing Arville, and Carlile was pleased to finish the first day in a competitive position, despite the dropped marks.

“He got a little too relaxed in the ring and had a little mistake,” he explained. “He warmed up quickly and was really swinging through his back, and then I went in and he felt a bit casual but I didn’t want to kick him along like a pony.”

Upsilon’s work improved throughout the test, and Carlile even enjoyed a loud cheer from the crowd during the horse’s extended canter – although even the Frenchman was forced to admit that the cheer was actually for England’s football team, merrily trouncing Sweden metres away on the big screen.

The final rider into the ring was one of the class’s hot favourites. Oliver Townend and Cillnabradden Evo are something of ERM specialists, winning two legs and finishing runner up once together since the series’ inception. They, too, had come home from Arville empty-handed after retiring on course, and breaking a six-strong streak of first- and second-place finishes in international competitions.

“He’s allowed a blip occasionally. We know each other well, and he’s normally reliable and consistent, so he’ll be back to that,” said Oli. Today, they delivered a 25.3, missing out on the top spot by less than half a point.

“I was very pleased with him. He did pretty much his best job; he’s obviously not as flash as Upsilon, so coming in right after him, we just did the best we could.”

Nicola Wilson and One Two Many’s boldness is rewarded with a great score. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Already a leader in the non-Masters CIC3* aboard Bulana, Nicola Wilson held the ERM lead for the early part of the afternoon with One Two Many, on a score of 26.4.

“I’m thrilled with him – he was such a good boy,” she enthused. “He has so much ability in the dressage arena, but sometimes he can just say, ‘ooh, look what I can do!’ Now we just have to look ahead to the jumping – there’s always a lot to do at Barbury.”

Sarah Cohen and Treason deliver the goods. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Sarah Cohen and Treason delivered one of their best-ever scores at the level to round out the top five overnight. Sarah, who downsized her operation from eventing professionally to campaigning just her top horse ‘Mr T’, focuses on ERM classes and won 2017’s Wiesbaden leg. This helped to earn her a place on the end-of-series podium.

“When I went down the centreline, I felt I really had him with me,” she said of her test today. “When he’s with me, he’s very good at dressage. We changed our warm-up routine today, too – because it was so hot, I didn’t do more than 15 minutes, but it seemed to work for us.”

It wasn’t to be a day of top marks for everyone – mistakes and moments of tension could be found amongst many of the tests, with only nine combinations scoring sub-30. There was also a surprising early end to the competition for one pair – Izzy Taylor and Director General were eliminated for prolonged disobedience after the horse began to spin and rear at length in the arena.

Tomorrow, both the ERM and the non-Masters CIC3* move into the jumping phases, with each class taking to Barbury’s famous banked main arena in the morning, before heading out to the amphitheatre. We’ll be bringing you all the action as it happens – stay tuned!

The top ten in Barbury’s ERM CIC3* after dressage.

Barbury links: Website, Live Scores, ERM Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border Dance to Great Meadow Lead

By on Jul 7, 2018 4:04 pm -

Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border. Photo by Jenni Autry.

After a marathon day of dressage at the Brook Ledge Great Meadow International, presented by Adequan, Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border top the FEI Nations Cup CICO3* leaderboard on a score of 28.3 on a picture-perfect day here in The Plains, Virginia.

“Cross,” an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Diamond Roller X Whos Diaz, by the Cross Syndicate) owned by the Cross Syndicate, is preparing to represent the U.S. on the Nations Cup team at Aachen in Germany in two weeks, and Kim is using Great Meadow as a prep run.

“I think for his first (dressage test) back since Kentucky it’s a good place to start,” Kim said. “The big plan for this month is to work on (the test) for Aachen, so I think it was a good place to start. It’s nice to have such a lovely arena to be able to ride in. I was very pleased with him today.”

Kim praised the improvements to the venue since she last competed at Great Meadow several years ago, highlighting the major upgrades to stabling and the addition of the main arena with top-notch footing from Attwood Equestrian Surfaces.

As to whether Kim will run cross country tomorrow, she said her original intention was to run, but two weeks without rain in the area has left the footing quite firm on certain parts of Mike Etherington-Smith’s cross country course. She now plans to wait to see how the first few horses are cutting into the ground tomorrow and then make her decision.

Felix Vogg and Colero. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Felix Vogg and Colero are the sole competitors representing Switzerland here at Great Meadow and sit second after dressage on 28.8, which is a personal best score for this pair at three-star level.

While Felix had originally planned to return home to his base in Germany after the World Equestrian Games test event at Tryon in April, he said Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton ultimately urged to stay in the U.S. and qualify for WEG at Bromont, which he did successfully last month.

The strategy paid off, as Colero, a 10-year-old Westphalian (Captain Fire X Bonita, by Bormio xx) owned by Jürgen Vogg, has been named to the Swiss WEG Team. Felix does not plan to go cross country tomorrow but said he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to expose his horse to the atmosphere for dressage and show jumping.

“It is a perfect place for a test ride in some atmosphere … which is really good for the horse,” Felix said. “I was a little bit surprised about him because normally he is shy in the ring, and today I was a bit too shy. The mistakes were on my side.”

Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti were originally named to the Canadian Nations Cup team for Great Meadow, but Canada opted to swap in Bogue Sound for the team instead. “Rotti,” a 16-year-old Westphalian (Pavarotti Van de Helle X Fidelia, by Foxiland), is representing Canada as an individual and sits third after dressage on 29.5.

“He’s such a competitor, and we’re just getting to the stage in our career where we go out and have fun,” Jessie said. “He’s so consistent and loves going into the ring and showing what he can do. There are still definitely parts of the tests we need to work on and get smoother in, but overall I was so proud of the way he carried himself. I think it was some of his best movement ever.”

Ben Hobday and Shadow Man. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The top of the leaderboard definitely has international flair, with Ben Hobday and Jane Chambers’ Shadow Man, an 8-year-old Belgian Warmblood (Fidjy of Colors X Favorite Van de Keezerswinning, by Winningmood van de Arenberg), leading the charge for the British team in fourth place on 29.7.

Allison Springer and Lord Willing. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Allison Springer and Lord Willing, a 9-year-old Holsteiner (Lord Z X Legende IX, by Coriano) owned by the Lord Willing Syndicate, round out the top five on a score of 29.8 to give us a total of five scores in the 20s after dressage.

Will Coleman and Off the Record, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse (VDL Arkansas X Drumagoland Bay, by Ard Ohio) owned by the Off the Record Syndicate, sit in sixth place on 31.1, which is the horse’s best mark at three-star level to date.

Buck Davidson and Park Trader, a 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Master Imp X Ballyhost Polly, by Highland King) owned by Carl and Cassie Segal, lead the way for the U.S. Nations Cup team in seventh place on 31.2.

Canada has two individual riders in the top 10 of the Nations Cup, with Waylon Roberts and Michelle and John Koppin’s Lancaster, an 11-year-old Canadian Sport Horse by Yavari, in eighth place on 31.3.

Cornelia Dorr and Louis M. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Cornelia Dorr and her own Louis M, a 13-year-old Rheinlander (Lissabon 29 X Angelique M, by Abanos), sit ninth on 33.0.

Kristen Bond returned to the three-star level for the first time since 2011 this season and is on track for another strong performance with Liz Bond’s Enough Already. “Drake,” a 10-year-old KWPN (Winningmood van de Arenberg X Zandora, by Landor S), scored 33.1 to sit in 10th place.

Click here to view the full rundown of scores after dressage. Looking to the Nations Cup standings after the first phase, Team GB leads on 97.7 points, followed by the U.S. in second on 103.0 points and Canada in third on 108.9 points.

Great Meadow is typically one of the hottest competitions of the year on the U.S. calendar — literally — with all of us melting in the sweltering Virginia heat and humidity. This year by some miracle from Mother Nature we had a delightful cold front blow in overnight to cool temperatures down today. The conditions could not be more perfect, and we still have much more action to come.

We are now on a break until 4:55 p.m. EST this evening when the CICO3* horses and riders will take on Marc Donovan’s show jumping course in the main arena. You can watch all the action live on USEF Network. The seven horses competing in the combined test will show jump immediately after the CICO3*.

Click here to catch up on all of EN’s coverage from #GMI2018. Go Eventing.

#GMI2018: Website, Entries, Schedule, Live Scores, Course Preview, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Great Meadow International CICO3* Cross Country Course Preview

By on Jul 7, 2018 11:49 am -

The O’Connor Equestrian Coffin at fence 5. Photo courtesy of Great Meadow.

Mike Etherington-Smith returns as the cross country course designer once again at the Brook Ledge Great Meadow International, presented by Adequan. Now in its third year as an FEI Nations Cup leg, this venue in The Plains, Virginia features rolling terrain that typically makes the optimum time a challenge for horses and riders.

About 10% of the field managed to beat the clock in the last two runnings of the CICO3*, so we are looking for four to five combinations to catch the optimum time of 6 minutes, 34 seconds. The removal of the dressage coefficient means scores are much more tightly bunched going into the final phase, and we can expect a thrilling cross country finale tomorrow morning.

The first major question on course comes at fence 5 with the O’Connor Equestrian Coffin. Horses and riders will jump in over a hanging rail, over the ditch and out over a triple brush, which requires the riders to have accuracy dialed in early on the course.

The Beverly Equestrian Brush Corners at fence 9. Photo courtesy of Great Meadow.

Last year the Beverly Equestrian Brush Corners in the main arena shook up the leaderboard, and this year Mike has them placed much earlier on the course at fence 9. The second water at fence 11, the Adequan Water Complex, is always a popular spot for spectators to gather and features two beautiful brushes constructed by course builders Travers Schick, Jamie Gornall and Joe Stylos.

Fence 16, the Netjets Flyover, will also demand accuracy, as the drop fence at A leads down the hill to two sharply angled brushes at B and C. The next combination at fence 19, the Salamander Creek Crossing, features a beautifully carved log at A and an open oxer at B. The final combination on course, the Charles Owen Offset Cabins, keeps horses and riders on their toes until the very end.

Fence 16BC at the NetJets Flyover. Photo courtesy of Great Meadow.

Scroll down for a full fence-by-fence preview of the course courtesy of MyCourseWalk.com. Cross country starts at 9:30 a.m. EST tomorrow and will be streamed live on USEF Network. Stay tuned for much more from #GMI2018. Go Eventing.

#GMI2018: Website, Entries, Schedule, Live Scores, Course Preview, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

By the Numbers: FEI Eventing Nations Cup USA at Great Meadow

By on Jul 7, 2018 6:39 am -

Now in its fourth running, Great Meadow International in Virginia has become the premier event on the East Coast in the summer. With the FEI awarding Great Meadow the only FEI Eventing Nations Cup leg in North America in 2016, the event also started attracting overseas entries. Great Britain has fielded a Nations Cup team for the third consecutive year at this event.

This year some riders are using Great Meadow as a final prep before making the long trek to Montana for The Event Rebecca Farm, while others are using the event as a tune-up before heading to Germany for the FEI Nations Cup at Aachen. We also have U.S. WEG team horses and reserves competing in a special combined test.

Photo courtesy of Great Meadow.

The Field

  • Although no one made the time in the first running of the CIC3* in 2015, approximately 10% of pairs achieved the optimum time in each of the last two years.
  • The leader after dressage has won two of the three runnings of Great Meadow.

Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border. Photo by Jenni Autry.

DRESSAGE DIVAS

  • Unsurprisingly, Cooley Cross Border and Kim Severson boast the best 3* average in the field over the last two calendar year, clocking in over 70% in ten of their last twelve tests.
  • Shadow Man has only two starts at the level thus far, but he has availed himself strongly in both. With Ben Hobday, he scored a 28.6 in his first 3*, then followed it up by just missing 70% at Bramham.
  • Allison Springer is no stranger to the top of the leaderboard on day one, and with young horse Lord Willing she has another contender to lead after the first phase. After three solid tests through the spring, he finally broke 70% at Jersey Fresh with a 27.8 to lead the CIC3* division.

Leslie Law and Voltaire De Tre. Photo by Jenni Autry.

SHOW JUMPING POWERHOUSES

  • Voltaire de Tre has really proven himself to be a solid jumper under Leslie Law. After stepping up to the level this season, he now is five for five on clear rounds, including his first CCI3* at Jersey Fresh.
  • Sportsfield Candy is back under Phillip Dutton’s tutelage while his normal owner/rider, Dr. Kevin Keane, recovers from a broken leg. In four rounds under Phillip back in 2016 and another round this spring, this horse has jumped only clean rounds.
  • Caroline Martin has a lovely prospect in the young Islandwood Captain Jack, who not only jumped clean in all three of his rounds with her in his first season at the top level, but also put in a clean run with Leslie Law when he took the reins after her foot injury this spring.
  • Ema Klugman and Bendigo have an impeccable record for all four rounds they have jumped, two in 2017 and another two in 2018.

Chelsea Kolman and Dauntless Courage. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

CROSS COUNTRY MACHINES

  • Chelsea Kolman and her Percheron/Thoroughbred cross Dauntless Courage have yet to add a single penalty in the cross country phase. Thats one Advanced and two CIC3* runs with an average pace of six seconds under optimum time. This is their first start at this level for 2018.
  • Shadow Man is another horse whose experience at this level belies a strong cross country record. After making the time at his very first CIC3* at Houghton, he came back for a round just six seconds over optimum at Bramham with Ben Hobday.
  • Honor Me and Lisa Marie Fergusson are well-known for their ability to put in a blazing round, and while they haven’t always chosen to do so this spring, they can reliably make the time or close to it when she decides to go for time. Although they currently average 18 seconds over optimum for the level over the last two years, as members of the Canadian Nations Cup team they will likely be closer to or under the optimum this weekend.
  • Cisko A and Sydney Conley Elliott fly under the radar a bit but their prowess in the jumping phases is the reason for their spot on the U.S. Nations Cup team this weekend. In seven runs at this level, this pair has never once been more than 20 seconds over optimum, and average only 11 seconds over.

Will Coleman and Off the Record. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

JACK OF ALL TRADES

  • Off the Record is the greenest of Will Coleman’s trio this weekend with only two Advanced/CIC3* runs under his belt so far, but he’s got a solid shot at a top placing if he can keep on form. With a solid dressage record of low 30s, a history of finishing within ten seconds of the fastest cross-country horse, and so far a totally clean stadium record, he could be a surprise contender.
  • Lynn Symansky and Under Suspection have quickly formed a strong partnership in only three starts at the level this spring, finishing in the top six in all three runs and top two in the last two. The dressage is hovering close to an average of 70% without quite cracking it, they’ve had only one rail in three starts, and have gotten faster on the cross country with each successive run. Depending on how hard she is pressed, this mare could sneak a win if all the phases come together.
  • Georgie Spense and Halltown Harley have a history of time penalties but mostly because the venues they’ve competed at have been difficult to make the time. Their win at the Nations Cup in Austria last year hinged on one of the fastest two pairs in the field, despite 8.4 time penalties.

Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

PREDICTED WINNER: Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border

Keep Your Eye On:

  • Ben Hobday and Shadow Man
  • Sydney Conley-Elliott and Cisko A
  • Will Coleman and Off the Record
  • Lynn Symansky and Under Suspection
  • Georgie Spense and Halltown Harley

Saturday Links from Tipperary

By on Jul 7, 2018 12:01 am -

Sharon White and Cooley On Show. Photo by Jenni Autry.

There’s a lot to look forward to this weekend if you want to spend your day live streaming events from the comfort of your air conditioned home. For the early birds, the Event Rider Masters CIC3* division at Barbury starts at 10:07 a.m. GMT/4:07 a.m. EST and you can watch live for free at www.eventridermasters.tv. If you’d like to get a few more hours of sleep, tune into the CICO3* at Great Meadow on USEF Network beginning at 7:30 a.m. EST. Happy streaming!

National Holiday: National Macaroni Day

Major Events:

Great Meadow Links: Website, Entries, Schedule, Live Scores, Course Preview, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Barbury links: Website, Live Scores, ERM Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

U.S. Weekend Action:

Huntington Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Maryland at Loch Moy I H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Chattahoochee Hills Summer II H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Twin Rivers Summer H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

42nd Annual Whidbey Island H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Powder Basin H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Coconino Summer I H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Saturday Links: 

All 46 Pairs Pass First Horse Inspection at Great Meadow International

Fast Facts: 2018 Great Meadow International

Rule Refresher: Mandatory Frangible Devices

Olympian’s stepdaughter making ‘incredible progress’ after traumatic brain injury

Randolph College Riding Center To Close In 2019

Go Fund Me: I almost lost Larry! Save Polaris!!

New equine stem-cell treatment targets damaged cartilage

For your non-horsey family: Fast facts: Q-and-A on eventing

Saturday Video:

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica Lead WEG Combined Test at Great Meadow

By on Jul 6, 2018 7:08 pm -

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica. Photo by Jenni Autry.

In addition to hosting the only FEI Nations Cup Eventing leg in America, the Brook Ledge Great Meadow International is also hosting a combined test for seven of the horses named to the U.S. World Equestrian Games team.

Following this afternoon’s first horse inspection in the CICO3*, the seven horses in the combined test performed FEI  2017 4* Dressage Test B — the same test that will be used at WEG — with Christian Landolt as the sole judge.

Lauren Kieffer and Team Rebecca’s Veronica lead the combined test after dressage on 31.0. The 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare represented the U.S. at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and has been named a reserve horse for the U.S. WEG team.

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Boyd Martin and Christine Turner’s Tsetserleg, an 11-year-old Trakehner, are one of the five combinations named to the U.S. WEG team and sit second on a score of 32.2 following dressage.

Lauren Kieffer and Vermiculus. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Lauren Kieffer’s team mount Vermiculus, an 11-year-old Anglo-Arabian owned by Jacqueline Mars, scored 33.1 for third place.

Lynn Symansky and Donner. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Lynn Symansky sits fourth with her team mount Donner, a 15-year-old Thoroughbred owned by The Donner Syndicate, on a score of 34.7.

Phillip Dutton and Z. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Phillip Dutton sits fifth on 36.7 with his team horse, The Z Partnership’s 10-year-old Zangersheide Z, and sixth on 37.2 with his reserve horse I’m Sew Ready, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood owned by John and Kristine Norton.

Phillip Dutton and I’m Sew Ready. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Reserve combination Sharon White and her own Cooley On Show, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse, are tied for sixth place on 37.2.

Sharon White and Cooley On Show. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Four of the five U.S. WEG team horses are competing in the combined test here at Great Meadow. The fifth horse, RF Scandalous, is competing in pure show jumping this week at Tryon International Equestrian Center with Marilyn Little.

An additional three of the combinations named as reserves for the team are competing in the CICO3* Nations Cup: Will Coleman and Tight Lines, Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border, and Lynn Symansky and Under Suspection.

The action here at Great Meadow resumes tomorrow with CICO3* dressage at 7:30 a.m. EST, followed by show jumping at 4:55 p.m. EST. All the action will be streamed live on USEF Network. The horses in the combined test will show jump immediately following the CICO3*.

Click here for dressage ride times. Click here to preview Mike Etherington-Smith’s CICO3* cross country course. Catch up on all of EN’s coverage of #GMI2018 here. Go Eventing.

#GMI2018: Website, Entries, Schedule, Ride Times, Live Scores, Course Preview, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Friday Video and UK Notes from World Equestrian Brands: Barbury and Beyond

By on Jul 6, 2018 5:15 pm -

Alex Hua Tian and Don Geniro in the Barbury CIC3*. Photo by William Carey.

Welcome to the (almost) weekend! It’s a seriously exciting one no matter which side of the pond you find yourself on — Stateside, the Great Meadows Nations Cup kicks off tomorrow, and over here, we’re stuck into Barbury CIC3* and ERM. Spoiled? Yes. Grateful? Always. Writing a Barbury report to the dulcet tones of an ABBA tribute band? Okay, maybe just me.

UK Weekend Preview:

St James Place Barbury International Horse Trials [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [EN’s Coverage]

Buckminster Park [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Tweseldown (3) [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Bicton Arena (2) [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Kirriemuir (2) [Website] [Ride Times]

Events Opening this Weekend:

7th: Bold Heath – BE80-N – [Enter] Cheshire (August 11-12)

7th: Dalkeith (2) – BE80-I – [Enter] Edinburgh, Scotland (August 11-12)

Events Balloting this Weekend:

6th: Calmsden (1) – BE80-BE100 – [Enter] Gloucestershire (July 28-29)

6th: Chilham Castle (2) – BE80-N, CIC1*, including 4/5yo classes – [Enter] Kent (July 28-29)*

6th: Frickley Park – BE80-CCI1* – [Enter] South Yorkshire (July 27-29)

7th: Cholmondeley Castle – BE90-I – [Enter] Cheshire (July 28-29)*

Friday Video: 

 

 

 

All Horses Pass First Inspection at Great Meadow International

By on Jul 6, 2018 5:12 pm -

Sydney Conley Elliott and Cisko A. Photo by Jenni Autry.

All horses passed the first inspection on a warm afternoon at the FEI Nations Cup USA here at the Brook Ledge Great Meadow International in The Plains, Virginia, sending 46 combinations on to dressage.

The ground jury of Christian Landolt (SUI) and Jo Young (CAN) sent two horses to the holding box: Shelby Brost’s mount Crimson and Will Coleman’s mount Tight Lines. Both were accepted after re-presenting from the holding box.

Shelby Brost and Crimson were substituted onto the Canadian Nations Cup team following Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High’s withdrawal from the competition. The Canadian team also includes Lisa Marie Fergusson and Honor Me, Jessica Phoenix and Bogue Sound, and Waylon Roberts and Kelecyn Cognac.

Shelby Brost and Crimson. Photo by Jenni Autry.

All members of the U.S. Nations Cup team sailed smoothly through the trot up: Buck Davidson and Park Trader, Phillip Dutton and Sportsfield Candy, Sydney Conley Elliott and Cisko A, and Caroline Martin and Spring Easy.

Three countries fielded teams for the Nations Cup at Great Meadow: the USA, Canada and Great Britain. Individual riders from Australia and Switzerland are also competing.

Dressage starts tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. EST, followed by show jumping at 4:55 p.m. EST. All the action will be streamed live on USEF Network.

Great Meadow is also hosting a combined test for U.S. WEG Team horses, with dressage this afternoon and show jumping tomorrow. Click here to follow along with live scores and check back later for a full report.

Great Meadow Links: Website, Entries, Schedule, Live Scores, Course Preview, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Nicola Wilson and Bulana Are Best in Barbury CIC3* Dressage

By on Jul 6, 2018 3:00 pm -

Sunshine, Stonehenge (sort of), and top-class sport – welcome to Barbury. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The St James’ Place Barbury Horse Trials CIC3* is hot. In every sense of the word. In the middle of (apparently) sub-Saharan Wiltshire, the popular event attracts some of the world’s biggest names — and their celebrity-status horses — while the mercury reliably rises until the venue is awash with spectators, draped woozily over the viewing banks like Salvador Dali’s overcooked brainfarts. Perhaps that doesn’t make it sound quite as undeniably delightful as it is — but it really, really is. Artfully placed in a natural amphitheatre in the rolling countryside, its criss-crossing course can be viewed in full from any spot (including, as it happens, the bar), and the entire event fairly beams in the sunshine. It’s English summer at its finest and rarest, and it never disappoints.

Nicola Wilson and Bulana hold onto their first-day lead. Photo by William Carey.

Today, as Novice competitors on course created a vibrant and ever-changing backdrop, the CIC3* dressage came to its conclusion in the main arena. Leading the way by the tiniest margin of 0.1 penalties are Great Britain’s Nicola Wilson and her WEG long-listed mare Bulana, on 25.2. The talented 12-year-old finished second at Luhmühlen in 2017, before claiming individual bronze at the Strzegom Europeans, but their spring season has been slightly less consistent: the pair finished 16th at Houghton CIC3*, before leading after the first two phases in Bramham’s CIC3*. They then withdrew before cross country in preparation for Luhmühlen CCI4*, where the historically strong horse picked up 40 penalties before Wilson opted to retire on course. This weekend’s result will be crucial for their team selection chances — a top placing would make them a formidable option for Great Britain.

Alex Hua Tian and Don Geniro. Photo by William Carey.

Narrowly behind them is China’s Alex Hua Tian, who rides top horse Don Geniro. ‘The Don’ produced a 25.3 after a settled and accurate test, devoid of some of the tension that has earned him the joking moniker of ‘Psycho Don’ in the past. This is to be his second international of 2018 — his first, in Tattersalls CCI3* in May, ended with a retirement on cross country day, but he’s finished in the top 20 here before.

Secondary to the actual competition leaderboard is the high-speed tanning leaderboard. Team GB performance manager Dickie Waygood, right, is set for some seriously uneven arms. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

William Fox-Pitt and Fernhill Pimms sit comfortably in third place going into the jumping phases on a score of 26.4. The 14-year-old gelding, one of Fox-Pitt’s ‘classic’ string, has had an early season of mixed fortunes: he failed to complete Badminton earlier this year, but then went on to finish 4th in Chatsworth’s CIC3*. His Bramham was somewhat less successful — a missed flag dropped the pair right out of contention, and they finished 48th despite an otherwise impressive performance — but Fox-Pitt won this class last year aboard Clifton Signature, poignantly marking his return to form after his serious head injury in 2015, and a return to the top of the leaderboard would be a boon for his stalwart campaigner.

The #WearGreenForJonty campaign hits Barbury. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Our turbulent sport is often defined by its heady mix of ups, downs, and emotional comebacks, and as the action unfolds, Jonty Evans is never far from anyone’s mind. Though it might create a logistical nightmare for stewards and fence judges alike, it’s been a heartening sight to spot a sea of green in the crowd and across the course, as the community embraces the #WearGreenForJonty campaign. The campaign doesn’t just aim to show support as Evans recovers from a head injury sustained at Tattersalls, it’s also raising funds for the David Foster Injured Riders’ Fund, which offers funding and support after debilitating accidents. If you’re on site at Barbury, you can pick up a wristband, car sticker, polo top, or belt from Eventing Worldwide’s table by the main arena, or you can show your support online.

Are you ready for Leg 4 Barbury? Series Leader Laura Collett is! 💪🏻Tune in from 09.35am BST Saturday 8th July LIVE and for FREE on www.eventridermasters.tv 🙌🏻

Posted by Event Rider Masters on Friday, July 6, 2018

The weather isn’t the only thing heating up this weekend. Tomorrow brings us day one of the fourth leg of the Event Rider Masters series, with a suitably star-studded line-up competing for valuable points toward a spot on the final podium. Current series leader Laura Collett returns with Dacapo to defend her position, and last years’ winners Tom Carlile and Upsilon go head to head with Oliver Townend and Cilnabradden Evo. Each will be looking to add a third ERM win to their tally. Elsewhere in the line-up, stalwart superstars Happy Times, ridden by Sam Griffiths, Bay My Hero, ridden by William Fox-Pitt, and One Two Many, ridden by Nicola Wilson, prepare to challenge for a place atop the leaderboard. We’re excited to cheer on our two U.S. representatives, too — Liz Halliday-Sharp brings forward Fernhill by Night, while Tiana Coudray rides Under the Clocks, with whom she scooped seventh place in the CIC3* here last year.

The ERM dressage kicks off at 10.07am BST/5.07am EST, with all of the action livestreamed on the Event Rider Masters website as well as on their Facebook page. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved, too — make sure you download the SAP Judging and Stacks apps to play along, make predictions, and compete for fantastic prizes as the competition unfolds. Need any more mental preparation? Check out this whirlwind preview of all the excitement yet to come….

Beautiful Barbury ✨Where will you be watching?www.eventridermasters.tv

Posted by Event Rider Masters on Friday, July 6, 2018

We’ll be back with all the latest from the St James’ Place Barbury Horse Trials tomorrow — in the meantime, Go Eventing!

The top ten after dressage in Barbury’s CIC3*.

Barbury links: Website, Live Scores, ERM Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram