Classic Eventing Nation

Watch Kim Severson’s Record-Breaking Carolina Dressage Test

By on Mar 23, 2018 9:49 am -

Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border absolutely knocked it out of the park this morning at the Cloud 11~Gavilan North LLC Carolina International in Raeford, North Carolina, scoring 20.8 to lead the CIC3* at the conclusion of dressage.

The score of 20.8 is the equivalent of a 31.2 under former FEI scoring and smashes the previous dressage record of 27.0 (40.5) set by Jan Byyny and Inmidair in the first running of the CIC3* at this event in 2014. You can watch a video of the test above thanks to David Frechette.

Cooley Cross Border, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse owned by the Cross Syndicate (Diamond Roller X Whos Diaz, by the Cross Syndicate), is competing in his first international since winning Blenheim CCI3* last autumn, and Kim said he has come out this season feeling more mature.

“I was especially happy with the trot work,” she said. “He can sometimes be unsteady in the bridle in the trot. He got a little tiny bit tense in the canter work where I didn’t have him quite as well as I have, but I really can’t fault him.”

Kim said new USEF Eventing Performance Director Erik Duvander has been very helpful as an extra set of eyes on the ground to fine-tune Crossy’s performance in the first phase. She has also been training with former British eventing dressage coach Tracie Robinson.

The top three in the CIC3* at the conclusion of dressage are Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border in first on 20.8, Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night in second on 27.0, and Buck Davidson and Carlevo in third on 27.8.

CIC3* show jumping starts at 10 a.m. EST and will stream live on EQSportsNet. Marc Donovan’s show jumping course always proves extremely influential at Carolina, and every winner in CIC3* history of this event has jumped clear in show jumping.

If you haven’t yet previewed Ian Stark’s beefy cross country course for the CIC3*, click here to take a fence-by-fence tour of the track, which runs in a reverse direction this year. Click here to read EN data analyst Maggie Deatrick’s full analysis of the CIC3* field — we predicted Crossy to win!

Stay tuned for much more from Carolina. Go Eventing.

Carolina Links: Website, Ride Times, Schedule, Live Stream, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

10 Questions with Sinead Halpin, Presented by Nupafeed

By on Mar 23, 2018 9:16 am -

Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Sinead Halpin is best known for storming around some of the world’s biggest, baddest courses with her longtime partner Manoir de Carneville. She began competing at the Advanced level in 1999, but it was in 2011 when she inspired riders around the globe after finishing third in her first CCI4* at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.

Sinead and her husband Tik Maynard operate a training and teaching operation out of their recently purchased Copperline Farm in Citra, Florida.

EN: Last year you announced Manoir de Carneville’s retirement. How has your riding career changed since then?

Sinead: “When you have a horse like Tate you’re very fortunate, but your whole world revolves around what that horse needs. I basically lived that life for 10 years with him, so it took awhile to get used to. I was in Tate withdrawals for a little bit, but it’s been good. We’ve been able to focus on the farm a little bit more, and some young stock and some different elements of our business.”

EN: What horses in your string are you excited about now?

Sinead: “We have a handful of really nice ones. I have Cutty Sark here at Carolina in the CIC2*. He is a Dutch-bred 10-year-old. He’s pretty exciting. I’ve had him for about a year. He came to Tik actually because he was quite difficult. Tik asked for my help one day, and I never let Tik back on!”

EN: You and Tik have created a beautiful new base at Copperline Farm. What is your secret for managing a business alongside your husband?

Sinead: “I’m pretty lucky that my husband is nice. Marry a Canadian! It helps that we both have very obvious strengths and we’re both pretty good at helping each other. Some horses come in for Tik, and they’ll end up with me and vice versa, like Cutty Sark. So I think it helps keep the business well rounded.”

EN: Do you remember your first horse trial?

Sinead: “It was Sporting Days in Aiken. I was trying to figure out how to jump the start box. I also remember hacking out on the cross country the day before because I didn’t realize it was against the rules. I cried after dressage because I thought the lowest score was the worst. I remember all of it being such a mess. It was with my Arabian named Irish Mist. We did win that one, my first competition!”

Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville at the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games. Photo by Jenni Autry.

EN: Who was your riding idol growing up?

Sinead: “When I was really young I went to Kentucky a couple of times, and I remember Dorothy Trapp, who is Dorothy Crowell now, and Molokai. She was so cool to me because she had this blonde braid so she was very recognizable galloping around. She was young and had this really awesome relationship with her horse. When I went to my first events I was a fan girl for Dorothy.

Then throughout my career the O’Connors were huge influencers. When I was in my teens they were running the sport, so to carry on and work for them was pretty awesome.”

EN: What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Sinead: “It’s not as much advice as actually being able to work around some great role models and seeing people that are very honest with themselves and honest with their horses. Everyone I’ve worked for has had a strong foundation of excellent horsemanship, so keeping horsemanship at the root of everything is something I’ve tried to stay true to.”

EN: What is your favorite cross country course?

Sinead: “I love Kentucky. I think jumping around there has a whole magic to it. From being a kid walking around to the first time you’re actually in that start box and finish, it’s a pretty cool rush. Burghley is an amazing track too because it’s so forward and so attacking. It feels like what old-school cross country riding should be about.”

Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

EN: What is your most memorable competition moment?

Sinead: “My first Rolex. It was my first four-star, and it was just magical. Tate was just foot perfect. We finished as the highest placed American in third. That was the most overwhelming, amazing experience.”

EN: If you could give any advice to an aspiring rider, what would it be?

Sinead: “Stick with it. Be honest and recognize this is a sport of experience. The only way to succeed at it is to fail. You’re going to screw up. You are going to make mistakes, but that’s the best way to learn. You just want to be able to sleep at night knowing that you did the best by your horse.”

EN: Why are Nupafeed products part of your program?

Sinead: “It’s all about keeping the horses happy. We ask a lot of our horses, and anything we can do naturally to make them feel more comfortable not only on an everyday, training basis. They really are high performance machines, and Nupafeed helps settle them so mentally they’re in a place to learn and compete. That is where it all starts. You can’t train a horse if mentally they’re not prepared to learn. You can’t compete on a horse that’s too worried and upset to perform. Nupafeed is a great addition to good training and a good program.”

Friday News & Notes from Kentucky Equine Research

By on Mar 23, 2018 12:03 am -

For real though.

So, I rolled up at Carolina International yesterday, and looking out my truck window I see everyone is super bundled up and Jenni Autry is looking like she’s living in the damn tundra. I thought it was straight up balmy at 50 degrees, considering Virginia is still covered in snow, but all y’all snowbirds coming up from Florida were unhappily surprised to discover that it’s STILL kinda winter. Sorta. I mean it’s in the low 30’s overnight, which I’m excited about, but they’re devastated to experience. I’m gonna get my tan on today! Fifty degrees is tropical!

National Holiday: NATIONAL PUPPY DAY

Major Events:

Carolina International CIC & H.T.  Website, Ride Times, Schedule, Live Stream, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Poplar Place H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Results]

Southern Arizona H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Sadly, this week we said goodbye to the incredible Thunder Gulch as he was euthanized due to complications of old age. In 1995, Thunder Gulch won the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont, and just missed out on the Triple Crown with a third place in the Preakness Stakes. He stood at stud at Coolmore America’s Ashford Stud since 1995, after retiring with a record of nine wins out of sixteen starts, and $2.9 million in winnings. He was 26. The Thoroughbred world will greatly miss him. [RIP Thunder Gulch]

An enormous equine seizure was conducted this week in Wicomico County, Maryland, after the discovery of what many are calling one of the worst cases of animal neglect in recent history. With 25 identifiable dead and decaying horses found on the property, and 100 of them barely alive in varying states of starvation, Barbara Pilchard’s 150-acre farm was discovered by a news helicopter last week. According to Wicomico County sheriff Mike Lewis in a Tuesday, March 20, 2018 press conference, law enforcement was familiar with the property and stated his officers had visited the address over 80 times in previous years for complaints about the horses being loose in neighbors’ yards, gardens, and in the roadway. [100 Horse Seized from Maryland Farm]

Galway Downs is probably the most famous event on the West Coast. Based in Temecula, California (Area VI) hosts four events a year: two horse trials that offer Intro through Intermediate levels in February and May, an international CIC3*/2*/1* in late March, and an international CCI3*/2*/1* and Training Three-Day in early November. Both international events also offer Novice through Preliminary horse trials. Galway Downs also hosts a Young Event Horse qualifier at their event in May. Galway Downs is a multi-use facility that hosts dressage and hunter/jumper competitions, one-day unrecognized horse trials, and offers cross-country schooling in a separate area of the property in addition to the USEA recognized events. [USEA Events A-Z: Galway Downs]

 

Schramm Sesh of the Week

Jimmie and Dom Schramm have teamed up with Kentucky Equine Research to provide an inside look into their conditioning program using KER ClockIt Sport. Each week we’ll share an example ride and some notes of what the Schramms look for as their horses progress.

This week’s session illustrates Dom’s gymnastic training day with Quadrocana, a recently imported 5-year-old German sporthorse mare owned by Christina Moutray and the Quadrocana Syndicate.

“She is a great natural jumper,” Dom said. “However, she is still a little immature in her body. I do small gymnastic exercises to help strengthen her canter and work on basics like balance and straightness.”

“This work consisted of adjusting the canter over small raised poles, then adding small crossrails and a bounce, and culminating in adding them together with a gymnastic line to finish,” Dom explained.

Here’s a video clip:

 

Check back next week for another Schramm Sesh! Want to gain insight into your horse’s fitness? Try KER ClockIt Sport. The free app helps take the guesswork out of equine fitness by monitoring heart rate, speed, distance and altitude during rides. EN’s guides to the app explain all the details: 7 Reasons to Download KER ClockIt Sport and How To Get the Most Out of KER ClockIt Sport.

Clayton Fredericks Stages Comeback on the World Stage

By on Mar 22, 2018 9:12 pm -

Clayton Fredericks and FE Bowman. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Clayton Fredericks and FE Bowman lead the CIC2* on 26.3 after the first day of dressage at the Cloud 11~Gavilan North LLC Carolina International in Raeford, North Carolina. The 10-year-old Wurttemberger he owns with Amanda Bernhard and Diana Crawford has been on his toes all week, and Clayton said he wasn’t quite sure how they would fare in the sandbox.

“In the arena familiarization this morning he was doing little spins, so he was pretty wired up. I wasn’t anticipating a really great score, but he really knows his job,” Clayton said. “He’s a very intelligent horse; sometimes I feel that’s a little bit to his detriment. He sees everything and he hears everything, and he’s very sensitive.”

“Bowie” is no stranger to competitive scores at the two-star level. He won the Red Hills CIC2* in 2016 before moving up to the CIC3* level at the Ocala Jockey Club, where he finished 11th. He recorded top five finishes in the CIC3* at both Chattahoochee Hills and Bromont last year before being sidelined by splint and foot injuries.

“I’ve made a conscious effort to slow up my competing in that I try not to run them so much,” Clayton said. “We’ve been doing a lot of show jumping, so hopefully that pays off tomorrow,” Clayton said. “I’m trying to get the horses ready for the CCIs without overly running them. It’s a little different with the young horses — you have to get them out to get them into the sport — but I have some upper-level horses that I really want to focus getting all the little bits right so I can get back to the top level again.”

Returning to the highest level of the sport has been at the forefront of Clayton’s mind since his tenure of coaching the Canadian eventing team ended following the 2016 Rio Olympics. He last represented his native Australia during the 2012 London Olympics. Prior to that, Clayton’s CV is peppered with top results: team silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, winner of Kentucky CCI4* in 2007, and individual silver and team bronze at the 2006 Aachen World Equestrian Games, to name a few highlights.

“No one was surprised that I found it difficult to be out of the sport personally, so I’m really enjoying it now,” Clayton said. “It was a freshener being away from it for a bit. Now I’m lucky enough to have some really nice horses.”

His immediate goal is to qualify for the 2018 World Equestrian Games at Tryon, and FE Bowman will aim for either Jersey Fresh CCI3* or Bromont CCI3* to secure his qualification. FE Ophelia, who was meant to compete at Carolina this week but developed an untimely stone bruise, will also aim for WEG qualification.

“I think the horses I have in the running could step up to the plate. It’s on the short end of the timeframe, but the horses that I have are good enough. It’s whether we can get a bit lucky with the qualification,” Clayton said. “If I go (to WEG), I’ll give it my all. If I don’t, I won’t be too devastated. Tokyo 2020 is a different matter. That’s a full-on push.”

Will Faudree and Caeleste. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Looking to the rest of the CIC2* leaderboard, Will Faudree and Jennifer Mosing’s Caeleste, an 11-year-old Holsteiner mare, sits second on 27.4 in her first time back competing at international level since 2016. Katherine Coleman and her own Billy Bandit, a 10-year-old Anglo European gelding, sit third on 28.5. Click here to view full scores.

CIC2* dressage resumes at 8 a.m. EST tomorrow, followed by show jumping in the afternoon at 2 p.m. EST. All of CIC2* show jumping will stream live on EQSportsNet with commentary from Nicole Brown and Karen O’Connor. Click here for information on how to watch the live stream.

Leslie Law Lights Up the CIC1*

Leslie Law leads the CIC1* on 23.9 with Beatrice Rey-Herme’s QC First Class, a 7-year-old Oldenburg who won the Red Hills CIC1* two weeks ago.

“He’s been quite of himself all week, so I was a little nervous he might be a little bit too up. By the time he went in, he settled just about the right amount, so I was able to ride a really forward, flowing test … and make the most of his talent and his exuberance,” Leslie said. “It was nice because I had lots of energy, but we got to the point where I could ride quite a bold test as well.”

This horse has been consistently dominant at the one-star level, having also finished second in the CCI1* at the Ocala Jockey Club last autumn. Leslie said he plans to step him up to Intermediate next, with a plan to aim for the CCI2* at Ocala to end the season.

Will Faudree and Sarah Pyne’s Quintessential, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse, sit second in the CIC1* on 25.6. This horse is also no stranger to wins at this level, having topped the leaderboard at the CIC1* at Plantation Field last autumn.

Ellie MacPhail O’Neal and Sally Cox’s Zick Zack, a 9-year-old Swedish mare, and Boyd Martin and Denise Lahey’s Contestor (formerly known as SBF Cortez), sit tied for third place in the CIC1* on 25.7.

CIC1* dressage resumes at 8 a.m. EST tomorrow morning, followed by cross country at 1 p.m. EST. Click here to view full scores from the CIC1*. Click here to catch up on all of EN’s coverage from Carolina International so far. Go Eventing!

Carolina Links: Website, Ride Times, Schedule, Live Stream, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

Halliday-Sharp Hangs On to Carolina CIC3* Dressage Lead

By on Mar 22, 2018 6:28 pm -

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deborah Halliday’s Fernhill By Night set the early tone in the Setters’ Run Farm CIC3* on a brisk morning of dressage at the Cloud 11~Gavilan North LLC Carolina International in Raeford, North Carolina, scoring 27.0 to hold the lead with just a handful of horses still to come tomorrow.

That score, which under the new FEI scoring system for 2018 removes the 1.5 coefficient, ties the dressage record of 40.5 set by Jan Byyny and Inmidair in the first running of the CIC3* at this event in 2014. “Blackie,” a 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Radolin X Argentina XII, by Argentinus), is no stranger to leading after the first phase.

“He felt amazing yesterday, and I thought, This horse is going to be flying!’ He’s notoriously a bit lazy, and he was a bit lazy in the trot work (today); normally it’s the other way around and he’s lazy in the canter,” Liz said. “I think he’s hitting his prime this year. He feels the best he’s ever felt this year — he’s 15 now — so hopefully 15 will be his year.”

Buck Davidson and Carlevo LLC’s Carlevo, an 11-year-old Holsteiner (Caresino X Ramatuelle, by Levernois) sit second in the CIC3* on 27.6, which bests his dressage mark of 29.2 (converted from former FEI scoring) from last year at this event.

“I feel like he’s a stronger, better horse this year. He’s always been very rideable and quiet, but he’s got a bit more expression now, and he’s much stronger now carrying me through the test,” Buck said.

“It always takes more time (to produce a horse) than everybody wants. … He’s been in the 30s before in the old scoring system a bunch, so it’s all in there. He’s been doing it for a few years, so now it’s about making everything better rather than just doing it.”

Ellie MacPhail O’Neal and RF Eloquence. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Ellie MacPhail O’Neal and Sally Cox’s RF Eloquence, a 13-year-old Holsteiner (Contender X D-Ginger, by Grundyman xx), round out the top three in the CIC3* on a three-star personal best of 27.7 (41.6 under former FEI scoring) — a full 9.7-mark improvement over their score from Red Hills two weeks ago.

“He was a little fresh (at Red Hills), so today I was really happy with him,” Ellie said. “He kept his cool in the ring. He’s always been really good on the flat, so it was about getting the relaxation and showing him off in the ring.”

Ellie saw his flying changes as the highlight of the test — “Ricky Bobby” nailed both of them — and said it feels fantastic to be getting back in the swing of things after a six-month hiatus last year when she passed the reins to her husband, Alex, while healing from a broken collarbone.

“Before that he had lost some confidence jumping cross country, so we had agreed to back off and do some two-stars in the fall anyways to get him going. He came out this year more confident than ever.”

Ellie is tentatively aiming for a return trip to Kentucky CCI4* with Ricky Bobby, though she is also eyeing Jersey Fresh CCI3* as a back-up plan.

Doug Payne and Getaway. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Looking to the rest of the CIC3* leaderboard, Doug Payne and Lisa Wall’s Getaway, an 11-year-old Oldenburg by Contendro, delivered a seriously impressive test in the horse’s three-star debut to sit fourth on 28.3 — keep an eye on this one, y’all!

Lynn Symansky has two rides in the top, sitting fifth with Mary Ann Ghadban’s Under Suspection, a 14-year-old Holsteiner mare (Contender X Naomagic I, by Exorbitant xx). Lynn also sits sixth on 28.8 with the Donner Syndicate’s Donner, a 15-year-old Thoroughbred (Gorky Park X Smart Jane, by Smarten), who is aiming for his ninth CCI4* at Kentucky this spring.

Liz Halliday-Sharp also has two rides in the top 10, sitting in equal seventh on 28.9 with Deniro Z. “Niro,” a 10-year-old KWPN (Zapatero VDL X Zonne-Trend, by French Buffet xx) owned by the Deniro Syndicate and Ocala Horse Properties, is performing the test ride at Kentucky CCI4*, so you’ll see him there if you attend the Best Weekend All Year.

Sharon White and Cooley On Show, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Ricardo Z X Jogantina, by Grand d’Espagne), are tied for seventh on 28.9. Lauren Kieffer and Team Rebecca’s Veronica, a 16-year-old KWPN mare (Pacific X Kimbel, by Ferro), sit ninth on 29.2. Doug Payne also has two rides in the top 10 and sits 10th with Debi Crowley’s Vandiver, a 14-year-old Trakehner (Windfall II X Visions of Grandeur, by Mystic Replica xx) on 29.6.

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

With the 1.5 dressage coefficient removed from FEI scoring, we will now see scores much more tightly bunched at international competitions. Case in point — one rail currently separates the top 13 in the CIC3*, with two rails separating the top 28. The jumping phases will become more influential under this new scoring system, and horses that can finish on their dressage scores will benefit immensely.

We still have seven more pairs to come in the CIC3* tomorrow, including Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border — EN’s pick to win — who were delayed in arriving at the Carolina Horse Park due to heavy snowfall in Virginia.

If you tuned in to the EQSportsNet live stream of the CIC3* today, you enjoyed top-notch commentary from Nicole Brown — who is over from England and thoroughly enjoying her first trip to America! — along with Sinead Halpin, Jon Holling, Ian Stark and Karen O’Connor.

The remaining seven dressage tests in the CIC3* will not be live streamed tomorrow. The broadcast will resume at 10 a.m. EST with CIC3* show jumping, followed by CIC2* show jumping at 1 p.m. EST.

Marc Donovan’s show jumping course always proves extremely influential at Carolina. Every winner in CIC3* history of this event has jumped clear in show jumping, so the pressure will be on the top of the leaderboard tomorrow.

If you haven’t yet previewed Ian Stark’s beefy cross country course for the CIC3*, click here to take a fence-by-fence tour of the track, which runs in a reverse direction this year. Click here to read EN data analyst Maggie Deatrick’s full analysis of the CIC3* field. Stay tuned for much more from Carolina, including more photos. Go Eventing.

Carolina Links: Website, Ride Times, Schedule, Live Stream, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

Thursday Video from Nupafeed: Elisa Wallace’s Red Hills Recap

By on Mar 22, 2018 2:51 pm -

Elisa Wallace and Simply Priceless in the Red Hills CIC3*. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

In her latest vlog, Elisa Wallace recaps her rides at Red Hills International a couple weekends back. Elisa’s two mounts gave her very different performances in the first phase and she talks us through how these rides set the tone for the weekend with each of the horses.

While her top mount, Simply Priceless (“Johnny”), didn’t give her the CIC3* test she had hoped for in the sandbox, she walks us through her mindset during the ride and how she rides through tension with patience and empathy. Her up-and-coming horse, Riot Gear, who made his two-star debut, had a very different weekend and stepped up to the plate over a challenging cross country course.

We’ll see Elisa again this weekend with both these horses again at Carolina International plus with her Breyer-famous Mustang, Hwin, and her most recent RRP Thoroughbred Makeover success, Fly With Me, in the Training divisions. Best of luck, Elisa!

Out And About Announced as Newest USEA Hall of Fame Inductee

By on Mar 22, 2018 1:06 pm -

Kerry Millikin and Out and About at the 1998 World Equestrian Games. Photo by Brant Gamma.

We had a big announcement during the lunch break at Carolina International — Kerry Millikin’s Olympic bronze medal partner Out And About has been announced as the first of six inductees that will join the USEA Hall of Fame in 2018.

Jimmy Wofford presented Kerry with the induction letter and fondly remembered Out And About in his remarks: “About 25 years ago, a much younger Kerry Millikin came jogging by me on a loopy Thoroughbred, having just been runaway with around the Preliminary horse trials course at Fair Hill. In somewhat of a disheveled state, Kerry said, ‘Jimmy, what should I do with him?’ And I said, ‘For heaven’s sake, upgrade him!’

A 16.2-hand Thoroughbred gelding (L’Amour Rullah x Incarnadine), Outie went on to be Kerry’s horse of a lifetime and is remembered as one of the greatest Thoroughbreds in American eventing history.

Out and About and Kerry Millikin. Photo by Phelps Photo.

In addition to winning the individual bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Kerry and Outie also won team bronze and placed 15th individually at the 1998 World Equestrian Games in Rome. They were also fifth at the Blenheim CCI3*, fifth at Kentucky CCI4*, seventh in the Open European Championship at Burghley, and third at Badminton CCI4*.

“He was an amazing horse, and the patience paid off,” Kerry said. “I don’t think he ever had a cross country fault.”

You’ll hear many more comments from Kerry about Outie during the 2018 USEA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which will be held in December during the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Six new members will be inducted into the USEA Hall of Fame this year. Stay tuned for the announcements of the remaining inductees! Go Eventing.

[2018 USEA’s Eventing Hall of Fame: Out and About]

Carolina International CIC3* Cross Country Course Preview

By on Mar 22, 2018 10:05 am -

Fence 1 – BB&T First in Flight. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Now in his third year of designing the CIC3* course at Carolina International, Ian Stark has upped the ante for the 2018 running of the event. In reversing the direction of the track to allow for better use of the terrain and footing at the Carolina Horse Park, Ian has also created new questions to keep horses and riders on their toes.

The course starts with three galloping fences to get horses and riders into a rhythm before the first question on course at the hollow at fence 4. In years past this combination has only contained an A-B element, and Ian has added a C element for 2018. The direct route has riders jumping an angled log at fence 4A, then over a narrow log at B and down into the hollow before emerging over a narrow brush at C. Ian intends his courses to be ridden in a bold, open stride, and this first combination demands a forward ride.

Fence 4ABC- Kingfisher Park Equestrian’s Biltmore. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Riders will then kick on to another combination at fence 5, two angled rolltops, before taking a tour through the woods to the coffin at fence 7, which features a narrow brush as the C element. The next combination comes at fence 10, with riders jumping uphill through a keyhole set over a ditch for the A element, then kicking on up the hill to a white gate at B, which is pinned with frangible technology.

A beefy ditch and wall at fence 11 brings horses and riders to the first water complex. Riders have jumped in over the trakehner at this water complex over the past two years, and this year the imposing trakehner serves as the final element. On the direct route, horses and riders will jump in over a hanging log, then kick on in a forward three strides to a right-pointed brush corner, before making their way up the hill to the trakehner.

Fence 12ABC – The Cloud 11 Blackbeard’s Cove. Photo Jenni Autry.

From there riders go back through the woods, with the next combination of a log pile to an open oxer coming at fence 15. Ditchy horses will almost certainly take a look at fence 17A, an airy angled brush set over a ditch, with three strides set on a slight uphill incline to a brush as the B element. In this new reversed direction, the vast majority of the track is un uphill pull, making it a fantastic opportunity for a fitness run early in the season.

The second and final water complex comes at fence 19, where horses and riders will jump in over birch rails at A, then jump up the bank at B with one stride to an angled brush at C. It’s then on to the Tobacco Barn and the final question on course: a set of right-pointed open corners on a left-hand bending line. This is set to ride well on a forward four strides, but as a challenging question set as the penultimate fence on course, the open corners will almost certainly catch out some combinations.

Fence 20AB – Jaguar Land Rover Cary’s Tobacco Road. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The CIC3* course is 3,900 meters in length with an optimum time of 6 minutes, 51 seconds. Click here to view the course map. Cross country will stream live on Saturday on EQSportsNet. Read all about the cross country powerhouses in the field in EN’s CIC3* analysis. Click here for all the details on how to watch live. Go Eventing.

Carolina Links: Website, Ride Times, Schedule, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

By the Numbers: Carolina International CIC3*

By on Mar 22, 2018 6:19 am -

Carolina International hits the five year mark in 2018, having cemented itself as one of the can’t-miss spring preparation events. Like Red Hills, Carolina offers the option to choose between entering the CIC3* to run show jumping first, or to practice jumping a less-than-fresh horse by entering the Advanced division.

Ian Stark is now in his third year of designing the cross country, and he’s certainly left a mark. Since he took over, only 2.56% of cross country starters have made the time over the 3* and Advanced courses.

Marc Donovan has been the show jumping course designer here at the Carolina Horse Park since it ran as Southern Pines II, and his course over grass for the 3* is one that can catch out even some of the best jumpers.

Finally, remember that the FEI dressage scoring has dropped the 1.5 coefficient and is now equivalent to dressage scores at USEF horse trials.

The famous Stonehenge complex at the Carolina Horse Park. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

The Field

  • In the four runnings of the CIC3*, the winner has always come from inside the top 10 after dressage: first twice and eighth twice.
  • Of the four pairs to win the CIC3*, three have finished on their dressage score. Only one pair, Allison Springer and Arthur, have added any penalties to their dressage score while still winning. They added 3.2 cross country time penalties in 2016.
  • Only one combination, Doesn’t Play Fair with Maya Black riding, has ever had a show jumping rail and still finished inside the top four at this venue.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Dressage Divas

  • A whopping 10 horses have dressage averages in the 20s at this level, making it likely that scores will be tightly packed after phase one. That’s more than 16% of the field.
  • To no one’s surprise, Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night lead the pack, clocking in at a superb 26.5 average over the last 12 months. The last time they scored under 70% on a 3*/A test was back in May 2015. Lix is no slouch with her other 3* mount either. In four starts, Deniro Z has never scored above the 20s.
  • Cooley Cross Border and Kim Severson will be putting in a strong challenge as well. In the last 12 months, this pair has scored very consistently between 70 and 74%, saving their best two performances for their CCIs at Tattersalls and Blenheim, where they came close to cracking 75%.
  • After taking a few months off, Covert Rights turned heads when he and Colleen Rutledge laid down a superb 33.3 (under former FEI scoring) in the horse’s return to competition at the Richland Park CIC3*. That’s a 22.2 under the new scoring, easily good enough to rival Michael Jung. Although they haven’t quite returned to that dominating level, they have maintained an average in the 70-73% range.
  • Buck Davidson has a strong pair in this division as well, with stablemates Copper Beach and Carlevo sitting neck and neck. Carlevo has become one of Buck’s most consistent rides and while he can sometimes score in the low 30s, he has never scored above a 33.0 at this level. While a touch less consistent, Copper Beach can also be more brilliant, with scores in the last 12 months getting close to 75%.
  • In another field, Lauren Kieffer and Veronica would be a clear contender for the lead, but in a field this strong they’ll have to lay down close to their best over the last 12 months to take the lead. They scored as high as 34.1 at Chattahoochee Hills last April but has also flirted with sub-25 (USEF) scores at events like the Aachen CICO3* and even Badminton.
  • Keep an eye out for a few other pairs who could be wild cards. Getaway, ridden by Doug Payne, laid down a 28.0 in his first Advanced at Pine Top a month ago, while Cornelia Dorr and Sir Patico MH scored a 29.4 in the horse’s first Advanced at Rocking Horse. RF Eloquence and Ellie MacPhail-O’Neal can lay down a stellar test, and Cornelia’s other ride Louis M is famed for his record-breaking 3* scores with previous rider Pia Münker.

Kurt Martin and Delux Z. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Show Jumping Powerhouses

  • Despite having just broken a streak of consecutive clears, DeLux Z and Kurt Martin are one of the strongest jumpers in the field. Up until an unlucky rail at Pine Top, they owned the longest active clear streak of any North American pair, jumping 11 consecutive clears starting in 2016 including two CCI4* and two CCI3*.
  • Mara DePuy and Congo Brazzaville C are now a perfect 9 for 9 at the Advanced and 3* levels; although they’ve had the occasional time penalty, this pair has yet to have a rail. A 100% clear rate is tough to maintain … Can this pair keep the streak alive and surpass Kurt and DeLux Z’s streak?
  • Sara Kozumplik-Murphy and Rubens D’Ysieux have jumped five rounds together at the Advanced and 3* levels together, and they’ve clocked in clear in four of them. These two have never had a rail at this level when show jumping comes prior to cross country, and they have emphasized their jumping prowess by winning the Eventing Prix Invitational last year in March, as well as the Devon Eventing Showcase last May.
  • Vandiver has really hit his stride in the show jumping since being paired up with Doug Payne, and they’ve been particularly strong when show jumping is held prior to cross country. When show jumping is first, they are 10 for 12 with clear rounds, having one rail on only two occasions.
  • Erin Sylvester and Paddy the Caddy have been very quietly building a solid, prolific record since 2016, with the result that they are now sitting on one of the strongest show jumping records in the country. In 15 career Advanced/3* rounds, this pair has been clear in 13 of them, with only a single rail on two occasions … both at the Horse Park of New Jersey Advanced. Maybe skip that one this year, Erin?

Caroline Martin and The Apprentice. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Cross-Country Machines

  • Caroline Martin has assembled quite a resume, and The Apprentice is also extremely experienced, but together they have only four 3* runs under their belt. Despite that, they’ve gone together like peanut butter and jelly, most notably winning their first go at the 3* level last year at this very event. In three CIC3* runs, they’ve finished -1, +0, and +4 against optimum time.
  • Vandiver and Doug Payne are no slouches across the country, proof that careful horses aren’t always slow horses. They’ve made the optimum time in 50% of their A/CIC3* runs over the last calendar year, and within 12 seconds of optimum at 83% of them.
  • Luckaun Quality and Tim Bourke are another strong 4* pair with a reputation for beating the clock. Although they’ve taken their time at the Advanced/CIC3* level more recently, their “canter” around a 3* course still creates an average of only 4.2 seconds over optimum over their last five runs.
  • Copper Beach has been busy through 2017, with seven Advanced/CIC3* runs and two CCI4* completions. Buck Davidson has carefully chosen whether or not to push him for time, but when he wants to make it, he makes it. This pair has won four of their seven Advanced/CIC3* completions in 2017/2018, with all but one of those wins being helped along with a cross country round inside the time.
  • One to keep an eye on is Katherine Coleman and Horseware Lukeswell, who made the time last March in their only start together at Barroca d’Alva CIC3*. Despite the hiatus, Katherine is one of the fastest riders with her mount Longwood, and could sneak in a quick round under the radar.

Lynn Symansky and Donner. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.

Jack of All Trades

  • With such a strong and deep field, it’s perhaps not surprising that one of our strongest U.S. pairs right now isn’t at the top of the field in any one phase. Lynn Symansky and Donner aren’t exactly going to be flying under the radar, but they’ll be stalking the leaders after day 1 with a 12-month 3*/Advanced dressage average just barely missing the 70% mark. A little more likely to have a rail than not, they nevertheless haven’t had more than one rail at a 3* since way back in 2013. And although these cross-country machines can get close to the time, they will certainly have their eyes on bigger things later in the year and may choose to shelve speed in favor of another day. Even if they choose to take their time, a top 10 finish should be easy for this pair.
  • For that matter, keep your eye on Lynn’s new pairing with four-star mare Under Suspection, who finished top five at Kentucky in her first four-star last spring under Hannah Sue Burnett. Lynn catch-rode Under Suspection for the dressage phase at Great Meadow CICO3* last summer with mixed results, but her recent Intermediate results prove that they’ve formed more of a partnership already.
  • For Cooley On Show and Sharon White, 2017 was a year in which they stood at the edge of big things. They dropped their dressage average a full two points, maintaining it consistently and flirting with 70% towards the end of the year. They proved they could get close to optimum at a four-star at Luhmühlen and then kept it close at a notoriously tight track at the American Eventing Championships at Tryon, the 2018 WEG venue. They also went from leaning towards one down in show jumping to jumping 100% clear in their Advanced/CIC3* starts.

Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border. Photo by Libby Law.

PREDICTED WINNER: Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border

Keep Your Eye On …

  • Caroline Martin and The Apprentice
  • Doug Payne and Vandiver
  • Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z
  • Buck Davidson and Copper Beach
  • Lynn Symansky and Donner

Potential Spoilers

  • Sara Kozumplik-Murphy and Rubens D’Ysieux
  • Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights

Carolina Links: Website, Ride Times, Schedule, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

Thursday News & Notes from Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS)

By on Mar 22, 2018 12:03 am -

Photo via THIS Facebook Page.

We’re delighted to have Taylor Harris Insurance Services on board with Eventing Nation, as they are already big sponsors of the Eventing world at Great Meadow, Plantation Field, Millbrook, and more. Founded by horse people for horse people, THIS knows what it’s like to be a rider and an owner in any part of the world, and hopes to be part of your journey while helping you protect your horse.

National Holiday: National Goof Off Day

Major Events:

Carolina International CIC & H.T.  Website, Ride Times, Schedule, Live Stream, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Poplar Place H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Results]

Southern Arizona H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Carolina International! One of our favorite events of the year! This year there are a whopping 62 entries in the CIC3*, second only to 2016 when we had 75 entrants. The competition is fierce with last year’s winner The Apprentice, Blenheim winner Cooley Cross Border, and last year’s CIC2* winner Deniro Z all vying for the top spot alongside countless other top contenders. Over 30 vendors will be in attendance too, so be sure to bring your wallet! [Carolina International: Fast Facts]

Andrew Hoy’s longtime partner Rutherglen is stepping down from four-stars, and helping a young rider transition from ponies in the role of a schoolmaster. He competed in 10 CCI4* events with Andrew, and at 15, they decided it was time for him to take a step down from top level, and found a perfect match with young student Isabel Finemore. They just recently competed in their first event at BE100 and finished on their dressage score of 31.8 with double clear jumping. Rutherglen is loving his new role, and Isabel is one lucky girl. [From Four Star to Schoolmaster]

Two intrepid eventers have taken up the challenge of running the 2018 London Marathon in April to raise funds for Africa’s rhinos. Did you know that the horse’s closest genetic relative is the rhino? Me neither. Pierre Colin and Paul Swart have decided to run 26 miles representing Rhino Conservation Botswana a non-profit organization that monitors and protects rhinos that have been relocated to Botswana from heavily poached areas in other countries such as South Africa and Zimbabwe. Near the brink of extinction due to poaching for their horns, the rhinos can use some help. Check out their fundraising page to learn more. [Running for Rhinos]

Northern Virginia riders, get ready for the spring season by attending this free helmet fitting and head safety educational clinic on Saturday in Middleburg! Experts from INOVA Health System’s Concussion Team will be on hand from 8-1 to discuss brain injuries, how to prevent them, and how to heal from them. Charles Owen representatives will also be there to check the fit of any helmet from 8-11, as well as fitting body protectors. Inspiring individual Forrest Stone Allen will also give a speech at 12:30 on his own personal journey from a massive traumatic brain injury that left him unable to move or speak. The event will be held at the Middleburg Community Center. [Middleburg Head Safety Clinic]