Classic Eventing Nation

Team Leslie Wins the 2024 USEF Futures Team Challenge at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International CCI Horse Trials

By on Mar 17, 2024 9:30 am -

Jenny Caras and Sommersby had the best finish in the 2024 USEF Futures Team Challenge. ©Allie Contrad Photography

After three days of exciting eventing competition at the 2024 USEF Futures Team Challenge, Team Leslie emerged victorious in the head-to-head competition with Team Bobby, finishing on a team total of 116.6 penalties to Team Bobby’s 132.2. The team competition was held within the CCI3*-S and CCI4*-S divisions at the Carolina International CCI at Setters’ Run Farm.

Team Bobby, led by Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor Bobby Costello, produced solid performances by Christina Henriksen and Cisco’s Calor Z, Andrew McConnon and FVF Top Gun, Caroline Pamukcu and She’s the One, and Sharon White and Claus 63.

Team Leslie took an early lead after Thursday’s dressage competition with all team members posting scores in the low 30s. The Futures Team Challenge format factors in one drop score from the dressage phase, and the first day ended with 7.9 penalties separating the teams. Both teams produced solid results across the two jumping phases, but Team Leslie ultimately came out as the wire-to-wire winners.

Caras (Buckhead, Ga.) and Sommersby, the 2012 Holsteiner gelding she co-owns with Jerry Hollis, had the standout performance of the week, earning the best dressage score across both teams and adding zero penalties in cross-country and jumping to finish on a 30.8. Henriksen (Keswick, Va.) and her own 2015 Zangersheide gelding Cisco’s Calor Z had Team Bobby’s top score and the second-best finishing score in the competition with a 37.3.

The Futures Team Challenge was created to replicate the format of international team competition to provide up-and-coming athletes the opportunity to experience that environment to prepare for potential senior teams in the future. Law says this event was a success by that measure.

“We started on Tuesday and Wednesday doing some team trainings,” said Law. “I think it’s good for them to experience that. We talked to the athletes about what they feel their preparation should be going into competition and what is the best setup to get their horses ready for a competition that involved a team. We do trot-ups those first two days in the morning. It gives the athletes that whole experience of what it is to be on a team. I think that’s the highlight—getting as many people into that space as possible.”

The team members have the opportunity to get to know each other through training and competing as well as socializing at team dinners. Law says these experiences helped the team come together successfully.

“I think [Futures Team Challenge] has good value for these younger athletes,” said Law. “I think it can evolve and we can generate ideas and do more to make it even more team-orientated. I truly believe in Europe they have so much more access to getting that experience with teams, whether it’s the European Championships or the FEI Nations Cups, that allows them to get really comfortable. We don’t have that [in North America], so anything we can do to get our athletes better prepared for when they are on an Olympic team or a World Championship team can only be for the good.”

Law had high praise for the host competition, Carolina International CCI and Horse Trials.

“They put on a great competition in all aspects,” said Law. “It’s very well done, very professionally done. The cross-country courses were superb this year, absolutely perfect going, which was so good for the horses. I think they had great courses for the horses coming on this year, so riders and horses learned a lot and hopefully this will set them up to go on and be successful in whatever three-day they’re heading towards.”

Find out more information on the USEF Futures Team Challenge here.

Sunday Links from SRF Carolina International

By on Mar 17, 2024 12:28 am -

Course designing for decades apparently has hidden health benefits, because I can tell you right now that I will not be in any shape to catch ride a 5-year-old at Training level in my 70s. Not only did Ian Stark take a jaunt around Carolina today, but was also celebrated as he begins his final year in course design. Our sport truly won’t be the same without him!

In other news, Liz Halliday casually dominated the 4*-S this weekend, taking not only the win on Ocala Horse Properties and Deborah Palmer’s ever-incredible Miks Master C, but fifth as well on Cooley Nutcracker. Caroline Pamukcu took second with Meghan O’Donoghue third and Sydney Elliot in fourth, making a female power-team in the top five. Check out Cheg’s play-by-play here as they battled it out for the win. Truly a strong start to the 2024 season!

U.S. Weekend Action

Carolina International CCI & H.T. (Raeford, NC) [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Cross Country Maps] [Live Scores] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Ocala Winter II (Ocala, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Pine Top Spring H.T. (Thomson, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Ram Tap National H.T. (Fresno, CA) [Scoring] [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

International Events

FEI Eventing Nations Cup Leg 1 (Montelibretti, Italy) [Website] [Timetable] [Entries] [Show Jumping Live Stream] [Cross Country Live Stream]

Links to Start Your Sunday:

As predicted! EquiRatings was right on track with Liz Halliday’s win

An Affront To American Breeders

Meet Our Community Outreach Organizations: Metropolitan Equestrian Team

The VIP Volunteer: Jim Moyer Earns 2023 USEA Volunteer of the Year Award

Morning Viewing: Check out Liz Halliday’s winning show jumping round from Carolina here, courtesy of Horse & Country:

Ladies’ Day Out: Liz Halliday Seals the Deal in Carolina CCI4*-S

By on Mar 16, 2024 8:25 pm -

Liz Halliday and Miks Master C. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Ladies ruled cross country day in the Yanmar America CCI4*-S at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International, leaving us with an all-female top five when the dust settled. Topping the board is your wire-to-wire 2024 champion, Liz Halliday riding Ocala Horse Properties’ and Deborah Palmer’s Miks Master C (Mighty Magic – Qui Lumba CBF, by Quite Easy) and finishing on her dressage score of 22.5. The pair improve on their second-place finish here in 2023, and decisively at that: 8.2 penalty points distance Liz from the rest of the field.

“I was really happy with him,” she said. “And he was very thoughtful and organized at all the questions and galloped well and came back to me, which was great. That was sort of the big question. He is always going to be a strong horse — we’re not going to take that out of him. But he did come back to me.”

Rideability has been a recurring theme throughout Liz and “Mikki’s” relationship, which began in 2022 after the Swedish Warmblood gelding bred here in the U.S. by Laurie Cameron came to her program, but Liz is feeling like she’s putting the pieces together, bit by bit. Literally, in this case: known for her affinity for bits, Liz explained that she had previously ridden the horse in an American gag bit with copper rollers that used a chain under the chin for stability. This year, she took the chain off after Ian Stark, who rode his incredible Murphy Himself in the same bit, advised her that it might make Mikki more comfortable and, therefore, rideable. That one small detail, she says, has made a big difference, in addition to the gaining of strength that comes with more time together.

“[Ian] told me he used to run Murphy Himself in this bit that I have, but without the chain. And that was a very strong horse, of course, a very famously strong horse. It’s a cherry roller American gag, so it’s actually a really nice mouthpiece. He’s actually a very sensitive horse, people probably don’t think that he’s got a very sensitive mouth. I know a lot about bits, and one of the most important things I always focus on is making sure the mouthpiece is right for the horses. This is actually it’s a big fat, single jointed [mouthpiece] with rollers on it, just with a bit of leverage, because he’s very strong, but he’s so much happier in this particular mouthpiece. I’ve tried others and he gets upset and then he doesn’t focus, so in this he still focuses so I was happy.”

Liz Halliday and Cooley Nutcracker. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Liz has her eyes set firmly on obtaining a selection to represent the U.S. at the Paris Olympics this summer, so her spring path looks a bit different than simply aiming at a 5*. Instead, Mikki will go back home to Liz’s main home base in Lexington and prepare for the 4*-S at Kentucky. “He doesn’t need to do extra runs,” she explained, noting how well he performed this weekend and how rideable he was in both jumping phases.

For finishing bang on the optimum time, Liz also collected the Antigua Cup, created in memory and honor of Will Faudree’s longtime 5* horse, Antigua.

Liz also finished in the top 5 with The Monster Partnership / Ocala Horse Properties’ Cooley Nutcracker (Tolant R – Ballyshan Cleopatra, by Cobra), who picked up 4.8 time penalties to finish on a score of 33.5.

“Nutcracker of course needs another run before he does his first five-star,” she said. “So he’ll go to Stable View. I do think he’s ready for a five-star, so I wanted to give him a very good ride today. I’d say I wanted to go quickly, but not at the risk of not riding every fence well. So that’s why I had four time faults, but I’m fine with that. It’s his first proper run of the year.”

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Moving into second with 2.8 time penalties and a finishing score of 30.7 are Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake (Tolan R – Doughiska Lass, by Kannan), who is owned by Mollie Hoff and Caroline’s mother, Sherrie Martin. This is a horse that has come up through the levels via the USEA Young Event Horse program as well as the US Eventing Pathway Program, which has sent him and Caroline overseas in Nations Cup competition as well as to the Pan American Games last fall, where they won individual gold and team silver.

“He’s like a little unicorn,” she said. “In warm up, I wasn’t nervous. I was just looking forward to riding him and just kind of looking forward to in my head. I don’t think I’ve ever had been in position my career on a horse that it feels like a schooling round at the four-star level. I think this is his third Advanced now and it feels like he’s been doing it for 200 years.”

Initially, HSH Blake was a part of Caroline and business partner Kelley Hutchinson’s sales program, but after a few prospective buyers passed on him and he won the Young Horse CCI2* at Virginia Horse Center, Caroline knew she was sitting on the real deal and enlisted the support of Mollie Hoff to come in as an owner so that he could remain her program.

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake. Photo by Sally Spickard.

“A lot has changed,” Caroline laughed when I asked her how Blake has evolved over the years. “You’re gonna laugh: so my first Beginner Novice, I swung and missed and fell off of him. I mean, in show jumping, like really bad. I had hyped him up to everyone like, ‘come look at my new fancy import, I don’t want to sell him. I’m hoping keep the ride and get him syndicated, come watch him go!’ And I swing and miss and everyone’s gone. Like everyone just walked away.”

It’s certainly early days yet, but it’s difficult not to think that this pair (and a few others here this weekend, including of course our winner Liz Halliday) is firmly on the selectors’ radar as they deliberate over the selection of the Olympic squad. For Caroline, the pressure to peak at the right times and show the consistent competitiveness that bodes well for success on a team is immense, but, as she puts it, “I live for it.”

Meghan O’Donoghue and Palm Crescent. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Finishing up third in the marquee division are Meghan O’Donoghue and the off-track Thoroughbred Palm Crescent (Quiet American xx – Edey’s Village xx by Silver Deputy xx), who sailed around Ian Stark’s course with just 1.6 time penalties to wind up on a score of 30.9. It was exactly the confirmation she was looking for to solidify her plans to travel to Badminton for the first time in May.

“Palmer” raced 12 times in his first career, hitting the board with a win one time before retiring. He began his eventing career with Jan Byyny and later went to young rider Chase Shipka before Meghan eventually took over the ride and purchased the horse for the 2015 season. Now, nearly a decade later, Meghan and Palmer have contested five CCI5* events together, including a top-25 finish at Burghley in 2022.

As for the decision to take the 18-year-old gelding to Badminton this year, Meghan explained that she wanted to challenge herself a bit more than “being comfortable at Kentucky” (words I will definitively never utter, unless Kentucky decides to at a CCI-Novice one day). Her voice thickened as the emotions she feels for this horse welled up.

“He’s kind of the king of our stable because he is our only top horse and he genuinely appreciates it,” she said. “And I think that I feel like this weekend is just a relief because I feel like it’s a place he deserves. You know, he’s 18. And, you know, you sit back and you’re like, ‘Man, I wish I had like, five more years. I’m just lucky to be here and have this event with him, and whatever happens is icing on the cake.”

Rocket boosters, engaged! Photo by Sally Spickard.

“I feel like it’s taken a long time to pull three solid phases together,” Meghan continued. “And, you know, I think that today, I went out with the mindset that, you know, he’s aimed at a five-star. And I want him to feel good about himself. But I also haven’t been put in this position to be competitive too often in my career, so I kind of felt like I had something to go out and prove that, you know, I actually liked the pressure and thrive under the pressure. So I, without being too crazy, tried to make good choices, but let him have a good run and do as competitively as I thought was safe enough to do today.”

She credits her longtime care team of veterinarians, farriers and bodyworkers, as well as her grooming squad lead by Emma Tuit and aided by Abigail Fulmer and Lindsay McCormick, for helping keep the horse in incredible shape as he reaches his late teens. This consistency and looking after the horse instead of always chasing a result, she believes, have contributed to his longevity in the sport.

And hey — “How many Thoroughbreds do you see anymore, going at five-star?” she laughed. Indeed, the trek to England will be one OTTB fans will be following closely, and that includes team EN!

Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Another member of Team USA for the Pan American Games last year, Sydney Elliott and Carol Stephens’ QC Diamantaire (Diarado – Lantana, by Sandro Hit), climbed the leaderboard steadily after starting the weekend in 10th place. They went on to finish with two clear jumping rounds and a speedy cross country that amassed just 1.6 time penalties to finish in fourth place. This is another seasoned pair making an earnest bid for team selection this year, putting their experience and longtime partnership to work to carve out a smooth ride around Ian’s cross country today.

“He’s just so wonderful and so reliable,” Sydney said. “I for one love Ian’s courses. I’m so, so sad that he is retiring this year, but [his courses] were made for me and Q and so I knew it was gonna be a fun day, as long as I didn’t, you know, do anything disastrous!”

“It is just going one step at a time, you know, over the years,” she described of their nearly decade-long partnership. “And he just continues to surprise us and we’re just so hopeful for what he has the last few years that he’s got going. So we’re very excited.”

Sydney is also aiming at what is shaping up to be a very competitive Lexington 4*-S the weekend of Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event at the end of April.

Doug Payne made us all envious of his positional stability with a trip through the massive water at the tail end of the course, which he did sans a right stirrup. To prove how unbothered he was by this, he and Quantum Leap (Quite Capitol – Report to Sloopy xx, by Corporate Report xx) — also a U.S.-bred horse, bred by Elizabeth Callahan — went on to collect one of two clear rounds inside the optimum time of 6 minutes, 28 seconds (Canada’s Waylon Roberts and OKE Ruby R also finished inside the time; they were also the sole pair to do the same at the Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase earlier this month). That was good enough to move the pair up into sixth after starting the week in 24th place.

Doug’s days in the sport of eventing are a bit numbered, though he still has several horses going as he slowly transitions over to full-time show jumping.

“Quantum, he’s done, what?, six five-stars now? And you couldn’t have a better, more fun horse to take out on cross country,” Doug said. “I mean, he doesn’t pull at all, he goes in a snaffle, and he reads things so quickly. He’s adaptable and sharp and so we took a chance on the time.”

Quantum Leap and Camarillo will head to the Kentucky 5* next, and Doug also has two horses he hopes to take in the Split Rock Invitational, which has been upgraded from a CSI3* to a CSI4* this year (but don’t ask me what that means).

Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle finished in 7th place. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Looking at the numbers from today, as mentioned before two pairs made the time (in comparison, four pairs made the time over a very similar track in 2023): Doug and Quantum Leap as well as Waylon Roberts and OKE Ruby R. 29 out of 33 pairs jumped free of jump penalties for an 87.8% clear rate. This is a slight increase over an 84% clear rate over last year’s track. Three pairs encountered difficulty at separate fences (the Normandy Bank at 17, the B element of the main Yanmar water, and the final jump out of the coffin at 12). One rider, Sara Kozumplik, unfortunately parted ways from Rock Phantom after the horse just pecked on landing a bit at the final water, which sent her out the front door, but they were both unharmed.

Having also ridden in the Yanmar America CCI4*-S, Boyd Martin (who finished in 12th with Bonnie Stedt’s Miss Lulu Herself) stated that the course was, “a beautiful course. It was the right degree of difficulty. It was challenging enough without being punishing on the horses. I feel like all the horses here were sort of a using it as a stepping stone event as they fire up for the big goals of the spring.”

The final FEI day was bittersweet, as it also marked the last time Ian Stark would design a CCI4*-S course at the Carolina Horse Park. Sydney Elliott stated, “I just can’t even talk about it. I feel like Ian said, it is just so sad. He’s so influential in our sport. And there’s so many people that design courses, right? But Ian’s courses teach. They teach the horse how to gallop. He has mastered that art and so it’s very sad.”

Breezeway Sport Horse & Diagnostics CCI2*-S winner Ariel Grald expressed similar feelings. “Ian is an amazing course designer. I’ve been fortunate to ride around a lot of his tracks. So not only is he brilliant at that, but it’s sad as he did really grow the Carolina International into the spectacular event that it is now,” Grald said. “I know Ian as well through his cross country advising for the US team. So I just have the utmost respect for him as a designer, rider, coach, and horseman. He’s just an all around awesome person.”

Ian Stark finishes a clear round on HSH Persuasion. Photo by Veronica Green-Gott.

As an extra treat, Ian also took a spin on Kelley Hutchinson’s HSH Persuasion, a sale horse in Caroline Pamukcu’s program. We documented the fun:

It’s been another thrilling weekend at Carolina International and we’re very grateful to all who made the weekend so enjoyable. The action isn’t quite over yet as the National divisions have yet to wrap up tomorrow, but that wraps up our reporting from the event. Safe travels home to all and as ever, Go Eventing.

Carolina International CCI & H.T. (Raeford, NC) [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Cross Country Maps] [Live Scores] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Oh Carolina! It’s Cross Country Day! Live Blog from the 4* Cross Country at Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International CCI.

By on Mar 16, 2024 11:46 am -

‘The Hard Pass.’ Photo by Sally Spickard.

It’s a beautiful day in Carolina for cross country day and here at EN we’re primed and ready to bring you all of the action from Ian Stark’s course. As well as this live blog, make sure you check out EN’s Ultimate Guide for the low-down on all things Carolina and keep eyes on for our full round up, coming soon. You’ll find all of our Carolina content here. We’ve got a whole bunch of great IG content happening too, courtesy of our boots on the ground (headed up by Chinch) @goeventing.

If you want to watch along live H&C+ has your back (subscription required) and if obsessively watching the live leaderboard is your jam, here’s what you need.

Right, onto the course. Ian says he’s made no major changes this year as last year’s run was so successful. “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” he says. Indeed. It’s his last year course designing and he acknowledges that next year someone else will come in and put their own stamp on things.

One thing he’s sure will be influential is the time, which is set at 6 minutes and 28 seconds. There are 23 numbered fences along the 3685 meter track, with 35 jumping efforts, which are made up of fourteen single fences, four treble combinations, and five doubles – three of which come in quick succession near the end of the course. The reaction to one of them (19AB) from a member of the EN team (who shall remain nameless): “I mean, there’s just no !**!ing way I would ever jump something like this”. It’s been re-named ‘The Hard Pass’ at EN HQ.

For more on the course, check out our full course preview here.

We’ll be kicking things off with Liz Halliday and Cooley Quicksilver – they’re due to leave the start box at 11:50am ET / 3:50pm GMT.

The top 10 as things stand will go in reverse order because we eventers love to keep things exciting right up to the last millisecond – that means our clubhouse leader Liz Halliday with Miks Master C is due to leave the start box at 1:26pm ET / 5:26pm GMT and so around 6 and a half minutes after that, we’ll have our winner. However, as Liz has THREE rides in the TOP 5 (!!!) – although we know she’s a speed queen and superstar and could totally pull off vaulting onto a horse in the starting box from the horse she’s galloping through the finish on – it’s probably only fair that she’ll ride out of order. There is news on the Liz front – second place overnight Cooley Moonshine has been withdrawn as part of Liz’s plan for this event.

A quick catch up with what’s been going on:

Leading after the dressage was Liz Halliday with Miks Master C who delivered a beautiful test for 22.5. Liz had the overnight podium all to herself, with Cooley Moonshine sitting in second on 25.5 and Cooley Quicksilver on 27.1. EquiRatings’ predictions were 3 for 3 in terms of the rider, but there was a slight shake-up between Cooley Moonshine and Liz’s fourth ride Cooley Nutcracker, who finished the day in 5th place on 28.7, rather than the second place the stats guys foresaw. Pan-Ams individual gold medalist Caroline Pamukcu split up Liz’s rides, slotting into 4th place with HSH Blake on a score of 27.9.

Fun fact: After the dressage, Will Coleman was the only male rider in the top 10. We’re not biased or anything, but go the girls!

Yesterday’s show jumping shook things up slightly. Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake were on the rise after their clear – and Liz Halliday‘s pole with Cooley Quicksilver – bumped them up into 3rd and Liz down to 6th. She remains at the top with Miks Master C after a clear round kept them on their dressage score. Cooley Moonshine also jumped clear to stay in 2nd, but his withdrawal has shifted things about slightly. Liz’s other ride, Cooley Nutcracker, delivered her a another clear, stepping up a place into 4th. Rounding out the top 5 was Meghan O’Donoghue and OTTB Palm Crescent, who stay on their dressage score of 29.3.

Right now the top 5 going into cross country looks like this:

1st Liz Halliday and Miks Master C – 22.5.
2nd Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake – 27.9.
3rd Liz Halliday and Cooley Nutcracker – 28.7.
4th Meghan O’Donoghue and Palm Crescent – 29.3.
5th Liz Halliday and Cooley Quicksilver – 31.1.

According to EquiRatings’ stats, no one’s ever had a rail and won Carolina 4* – that gives each of our top 4 a chance for the win, but as we know, anything can happen in eventing.

Here’s how things look scores-wise as we head into the cross country (although the placings have scooted up following Cooley Moonshine’s withdrawal):


Images from EventEntries.com

If you fancy a bit of eventing bingo, here’s some cool stuff to spot in the field this afternoon:

🐴 A pony in a 4*!
🥇 The reigning Pan-Ams individual gold medalist.
❗Liz Halliday’s hattrick of rides.
🥈 The entire US silver medal team from the Pan-Am Games in Santiago.
🚀 Barry, the high-flying horse.
⚾ A bunch of baseballs.

If you’re following along live, don’t forget to refresh this page periodically. If you’re reading this later, scroll down ⬇️ and read up ⬆️.

So, eyes on, enjoy the ride, and go eventing!

Carolina International CCI & H.T. (Raeford, NC) [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [4* Cross Country Map] [Live Scores] [Live Stream] [EN’s Ultimate Guide] [EN’s Coverage]

1:37 ET And there we have it. Carolina 4* is over for another year and Liz Halliday has taken the win with Miks Master C on a score of 22.5 – finishing on their dressage score, in what’s been a stunning display across all three phases. What a rider! What a horse! What a competition!

Coming in 2nd is Caroline Pamukcu with HSH Blake on 30.7.
3rd place goes to Meghan O’Donoghue with Palm Crescent on a score of 30.9.
4th is Sydney Elliott with QC Diamantaire on 33.3.
And rounding out the top 5 is Liz Halliday with Cooley Nutcracker on 33.5.

EN’s round-up of the whole dang thang will be up shortly – eyes on! You’ll find all of our Carolina content here.

Thanks for following along! It’s been a blast and for sure a fitting way to whet our appetite for everything else that’s to come this season.

Always go eventing!

1:33 ET Liz has 8.2 penalties in hand to win this class. They go through the combinations at 19, 20 and 21 as though they’re demonstrating a masterclass. Beautiful. Two to go for them… She’s at the last… and through the finish… Liz is grinning… CLEAR AND EXACTLY ON THE TIME! Liz Halliday and Miks Master C take the win!

1:31 ET Blake’s a little backwards coming into the first part of Fence 19AB but Caroline encourages him forward and they make it through that section of the course clear. They’re just two from home now. Liz and Miks Master C are absolutely flying! Miks Master C is just eating up this course. They drop into the Lighthouse water at 14ABC and Liz gives him a really bold ride through there. Caroline and HSH Blake are through the finish – they’ve added just 2.8 time penalties and take the lead. They’ve squeaked in there – just 0.2 ahead of Meghan and Palm Crescent – man it’s close up there at the top! We just have Liz and Miks Master C on course now.

1:28 ET We’re onto the last to go! In just over 6 minutes we’ll have our winner! Overnight leaders – in fact, leading from the start with a score of 22.5 in the dressage – Liz Halliday and Miks Master C are on the course! They were individually 7th at the Pan-Ams in Santiago last season, where they took team silver for the US, 3rd in the 5* at Kentucky and 2nd here in the 4* last year. Will they go one better this time around? EquiRatings has them down as favorites for the win. Will the stats add up and equal 1? Let’s see! Meghan and Palmer finish with 1.6 time penalties and go into the lead! They’ll definitely have a podium finish. Caroline and Blake do a great job through the middle water and then pop up and over the Normandy Bank no trouble.

1:27 ET Sydney and QC Diamantaire go into the lead as things stand – they added just 1.6 time penalties. She can end up no worse than 4th. Caroline’s wasting no time with Blake at the early part of the course. Meanwhile, Meghan and Palmer look great through 19, 20 and 21 – what a horse that is, and clearly still loving his job at 18 years old.

1:24 ET Matthew and Trudeau canter through the flags carrying that 20 and adding 16 time penalties. Syd and QC Diamantaire have flown round and are now going through the three combinations at 19, 20 and 21. It’ll be exciting to see their time – QC is for sure one of the fastest horses in the field. Meghan and Palmer are easily through the coffin complex at 11ABC. Our penultimate combination are Pan-Ams Individual Gold and team silver winners Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake – they’re off and running. They were 3rd in the 3* here last season finishing on their dressage score. Can they pull off that feat again? With a clear in the show jumping yesterday, adding nothing to their dressage of 27.9 to leave them in 2nd overnight, they’re right on track!

1:21 ET Oh no! Matthew and Trudeau have had a run out at the second part of the Normandy Bank combination at 17ABC. They come back around and clear it, but that 20 will have dropped them down the standings. Sydney and QC Diamantaire make light work of the Lighthouse water whilst Matthew and Trudeau fiddle their way though 19, 20 and 21 – it’s a little disorganized and Trudeau shows just how honest he is as he jumps through clear. Meghan O’Donoghue and OTTB Palm Crescent are away! They were 17th here last season after 20 jumping penalties across the country – Megan will be looking to put that right this time around. ‘Palmer’ delivered a beautiful dressage test to go sub-30 – 29.3 to be exact – and topped that off with a clear in the jumping yesterday. They were in 4th after the show jumping – will end up even better?

1:19 ET Matthew and Trudeau manage the terrain through the combination at 6AB really well – they make a smooth pair. Meanwhile Will’s showing us all how it’s done through the combinations at 19, 20 and 21 with Diabolo – so balanced, just beautifully ridden. Matthew and Trudeau squirrel through the coffin in another display of great riding. They’re flying along this course. Sitting in 6th place after the show jumping on a score of 31.7, Sydney Elliott QC Diamantaire join us on the cross country. Part of the Pan-Ams team silver medal for the US in Santiago last season, where they finished 8th individually, they also have a top 10 finish in the Kentucky 5*, a third place in the 4* and top 20 at Luhmuhlen under their girth. They were 4th here last year delivering a speedy clear inside the time. Can they do it again? Meanwhile, Will and Diabolo are at the finish and add just 3.6 time to their scorecard.

1:16 ET Will is giving Diabolo a peach of a ride in the early stages of the course. Boyd steadies Miss Lulu through the water combination at 19AB, but she listens and they pick their way through the next two doubles also. Will and Diabolo rattle the MIM through the coffin complex, but nothing to worry about for them. Making their FEI debut outside New Zealand, Matthew Grayling and Trudeau are out of the start box. They finished up last season with a hattrick of wins. They were in 7th here on 31.9 after jumping clear yesterday. How will they find the Carolina course? We’re about to find out! Will and Diabolo are beautifully through the Lighthouse water at 14AB. Boyd and Miss Lulu are through the finish and have picked up 6 time penalties.

1:13 ET Doug goes through the tricky combinations at 19, 20 and 21 with no right stirrup! That is impressive. Quantum didn’t even notice. Now we have Will Coleman – last year’s winner with Chin Tonic (and winner in 2021 and 2022) – here this time around with new ride and Aussie import Diabolo, who finished up last season with two consecutive top 3 places at 4*. They were 8th place after the after the show jumping on a score of 32.3. Boyd and Miss Lulu show off some fancy footwork before the drop into the water at 14ABC, she balances herself beautifully and skips on through. And we have another double clear! Doug and Quantum Leap are clear inside the time!

1:11 ET We have our first double clear! They did it at Bruce’s Field, and they’ve done it here too – Waylon and OKE Ruby R are clear inside the time!

1:10 ET Waylon and Ruby are getting the job done as they near the end of the course. Briggs and Corture are through the finish with 9.6 time penalties to add. Doug and Quantum make absolutely nothing of the coffin combination – a beautifully ridden line through there. And we’re into the top 10! Sitting in 9th overnight on a score of 33, Boyd Martin and Miss LuLu Herself are out on course. Boyd took on the ride in 2022 and came to Carolina last season for the 4*, where they jumped clear across the country adding just time penalties to their dressage score. Will it be another clear for this mare? Eyes on!

1:06 ET Canada’s Waylon Roberts is away with OKE Ruby R. Apparently this mare is not an easy ride and Waylon really gets a song out of her. They’ve got one 4* completion on their record when they came 2nd with a clear inside the time. Super impressively, they were the only double clear cross country at the recent Grand Prix of Eventing at Bruce’s Field. They sat tied for 17th after yesterday’s jumping, on a score of 36.4. Waylon is very quick through the combination at 8 and make nothing of 9. Meanwhile, Briggs and Corture are at the water at 19. The distance is long but Corture stretches to the edges of her skin and they ride on through as though she’s at least 4 hands taller than she is. Waylon and Ruby are popping along nicely at the early part of the course. Doug Payne Quantum Leap Five 5* top 10s under his cinch. 6th here last year finishing on their dressage. They’re on track to repeat that after a clear round in the showjumping. They came into today in joint-12th place on 34.9.

1:03 ET Oh no! Rock Phantom hangs a leg on the drop into the first water at 14ABC and Sara is pitched over his head and takes a swim. Rock Phantom is totally fine, Sara’s very wet.

1:01 ET Sara Kozumplik and Rock Phantom join us on course. This is the former ride of Brazil’s Nilson Moreira da Silva – Sara took over the irons for the 2022 season. They come into today on a score of 38.1 in 20th. Meanwhile, Will and Pfun are through the doubles at 19, 20 and 21, making it look like a Pony Club course. They’re almost home. Sara gives Rock Phantom a great ride through the coffin complex. Briggs Surratt and itty-bitty Corture are off and running. You may be thinking that Corture looks kinda pony-like, and you’d be right – standing at 14.2hh on her tippy toes, she’s a total powerhouse that’s for sure. Fun fact – Couture was bred by fellow competitor Elisa Wallace. They go out in 32nd on a score of 51.5. Will and Pfun are through the finish and have added just 3.6 time penalties. Briggs and Corture are absolutely flying! The little gal is making nothing of these huge fences! Sara and Rock Phantom are still motoring along looking full of run and to be having a great ride.

12:58 ET Now out on course we have Will Faudree and long-time friend and campaigner PFun, who were 3rd here last season with a speedy clear inside the time across the country. They dropped from 8th to 11th after rolling a pole in the show jumping and come into today’s test on 34.4. Come on boy, let’s see one of your classic cross country clears! We also have Cassie Sanger and Fernhill Zoro out on course – sorry, I missed them start. They clocked up the air miles last season, competing not only in the US and Canada, but making the trip to Europe for Boekelo in the Netherlands and Strzegom in Poland. They come into this in 15th place on a score of 35.5. Although we haven’t seen much of them, they appear to have been having a great round and are coming to the end now. Elisa and Renkum Corsair finish up with 19.6 time penalties. Will and Pfun are handy through the water with Pfun showing every bit of his experience as he makes this course look very, very easy. They are class through the Normandy Bank combination. Cassie an Fernhill Zoro finish with just 4.4 time penalties.

12:53 ET Brooke gets thrown forward going down the massive drop into the water at 19, but gets herself right and makes it through that tricky section of the course clear with Cooley Space Grey. Eventer and mustang trainer, Elisa Wallace is away from the start box with 2022 USEF CCI3*-L National Champion Renkum Corsair. They were 15th here last season, jumping clear and adding some time. They sat in joint-17th place overnight on a score of 36.4. Brooke and Cooley Space Grey have finished with 6.4 time penalties. Elisa and Renkum Corsair have a very tricky moment at the first water – Renkum Corsair climbs all over the second element but they work together to make it through clear.

12:47 ET We here the MIM rattle as Alexa and Just to be Clear come through the coffin complex, but it stays up and they gallop on without giving it another thought. Brooke Burchianti and Cooley Space Grey join us on course. They’re making their eighth FEI start here this week. They climbed a couple of spots after jumping clear yesterday, and now sit in 29th on 44.2. They take the red flag at 6AB but are through no problem. They’re steady through the treble at 8ABC but clear through and on their way. Jennie and FE Lifestyle are home with 1.6 time penalties. OMG! There is some real stickability going on through the combinations at 19, 20 and 21 for Alexa and Just to be Clear – save(s) of the day for sure! She’s pitched right out of the tack, loses her stirrups, but fiddles her steering, gets pitched again, sits up and makes it all the way through. Meanwhile, Brooke and Cooley Space Grey take their own route through the coffin but it seems that Brooke had a plan and stuck to it and is through clear.

12:43 ET Arden and Sunday Times have a moment – Sunday Times drops his legs right in the ditch. But Arden sits up and helps him out and they carry on clear. Jennie and FE Lifestyle take a huge jump into the Lighthouse water at 14 – they’re flying! Alexa Thompson and Just To Be Clear are underway in their first 4* on home soil. Her debut came last season at Strzegom while she was based with France’s Maxime Livio – she finished 7th, beating out Michael Jung – what a debut story for her! With just seven FEI competitions under their belt, they’ve got a 100% clear cross country jumping record. Will the gelding’s performance live up to his form – and his name – today? They head out in 26th place on a score of 43. Jennie and Lifestyle do a great job at the Normandy Bank at 17ABC and make it look easy. We have a new fastest round of the day! Arden and Sunday Times are home just 2 seconds over – 0.8 to add for them.

12:39 ET Liz and Nutcracker make the Normandy Bank look like a Pony Club fence – this pair just look class. He’s full of running and they’re obviously such a great partnership. They pop through the three doubles at 19, 20 and 21 – a total masterclass from Liz. Arden Wildasin and Sunday Times are in the Carolina 4* for the first time, but jumped clear across the country in the 3* last season. They were 28th after the show jumping, sitting on a score of 44.1. Doug and Quiberon’s time is is – 27.6 penalties. They have that 20 on their card too. We have another new starter also – winners of the Best First-Timer award at Burghley last season where they finished 12th next up is Jennie Brannigan with FE Lifestyle. They were also 12th in the 5* at Kentucky. They come into today just inside the top 10 on a score of 33.3 after jumping clear in yesterday’s show jumping. And we have Liz and Cooley Nutcracker home with just 4.8 time penalties – that puts them ahead of Liz’s first ride, Cooley Quicksilver.

12:35 ET Ah! Doug gets pitched forward at 14ABC, but he manages to get his knitting back together and they carry on straight over the second element in the water. Impressive reactions from Doug. Out of order as Liz has a date in the start box with current leader Miks Master C as the last of the day, Liz Halliday and USEF CCI4*-L National Champion Cooley Nutcracker have now joined us out on course. This guy has been top 10 in his last six FEI runs. He’s on track for a podium finish here – currently sitting in 3rd on 28.7 – will he pull it off once more? Meanwhile, Alison and Vandyke are through the finish carrying that 20 penalties and adding 18.8 time. Oh my! Doug’s taken a very wiggly route through the water at 19AB – he was trying very hard not to cross his tracks. Not sure if he navigated it though. He’s been given 20 but it’ll be reviewed.

12:31 ET Wow! Sit up Emily! Corvett bounces Emily right out of the saddle as they drop into the water at 19AB but it’s a great save from Emily. This pair know each other so well. They motor on to the finish flags and add 7.6 time to their score. Doug Payne and the nine-year-old Quiberon have now joined us on course. They jumped clear across the country in the 3* here last season – can they do it in the 4* this time around? They sat in 25th coming into the cross country, on a score of 41.6. Alison and Vandyke bounce up the Normandy Bank and make absolutely nothing of the combination. Vandyke looks to be full of running and thoroughly enjoying himself galloping along the Carolina turf. Doug’s giving his young stallion Quiberon a really solid ride over the first half of the course. Oh no! Alison and Vandyke have a run past at the second element of Fence 19AB in the water. Her reins were long after the drop and the steering was lost for a second. A shame as they were going really nicely.

12:26 ET Emily Hamel and everyone’s favorite high jumper, Corvett are away. ‘Barry’ really is a high-flying kind of guy! They were top 10 in the 5* at Kentucky last season, top 20 at Burghley and 11th at Maryland. This is Emily’s first time in the 4* class here, but Barry’s been here before with Phillip Dutton. They sat in 21st overnight on a score of 38.3. Sharon does a great job with Claus through the Normandy Bank combination. She’s put that run out right to the back of her mind and is focusing on what’s ahead. Meanwhile, Emily and Corvett make a fabulous bend into the final element of the coffin complex – what a pro Barry is! Sharon and Claus have another moment at the first part of 19AB into the water, but they’re pushing on along and are now through the flags with 20 on their scorecard and 22.4 time. Allison Springer and Vandyke are up and running. They’ve got two previous 4* completions on their record – let’s hope they make it three here today. They started off the day in 24th on a score of 41. Caroline and She’s The One picked up 10.8 time.

12:23 ET Caroline and She’s The One look to be having a great time out on course. They’re over 17ABC and clear so far. Sharon White and Claus 63 have now joined us on course. They were 10th individually at the Pan-Ams in Santiago last season, taking silver with the US team. They sat in 22nd after yesterday’s show jumping, staying on their dressage score of 39.1. Claus looks to be full of run at the early part of the course. We have a score in for Rachel and High Tide – just 2.4 time penalties to add for them. Caroline really sets up for the drop into the water at 19AB. She takes it steady and approaches that trio of doubles very methodically – a really great job done. Oh no! Sharon and Claus have had a run out at the final element at 17ABC. They’re quick to come back around though and waste no time on their second attempt.

12:20 ET Bobby and Lumumba are the fastest so far – just 1.6 time penalties for them. Allie and Morswood finish with 12.4 time penalties. Overnight 2nd place with her other ride – and Pan-Ams individual gold medalist – Caroline Pamukcu heads out with She’s The One. They were sitting in 14th coming into this on a score of 35.1. They were 7th in the 3* here last season, when they jumped clear inside the time. Will they finish up on their dressage in the 4* this time around? There’s every chance! Rachel and High Tide are brave into the water at 19AB – they’re very quick through the three combinations out there. They hit the upright gate behind as they motor towards the finish flags, but the MIM isn’t activated and they’re safely over.

12:16 ET Allie sits back after the big drop at 19AB and makes it through that tricky combination. Bobby and Lumumba have a slight moment coming out of the complex at 11ABC, but they’re through and away to the first water. The mare finds the distance in the Lighthouse water at 14ABC very short, but she shows off her fancy footwork and does a fantastic job. Lumumba looks to be loving her job, flying every fence. Bobby’s taking some white flag chances, but nothing to worry about. Rachel Lawson and High Tide are out of the start box, making their Carolina debut here this week. When she’s not eventing, Rachel helps ex-racehorses find new careers once they’ve finished on the track, a passion inspired by OTTB High Tide. Rachel has a moment at 6AB – she gets popped out of the tack a little and has to pick her stirrup back up. There’s another heart in mouth moment for them through the coffin at 11ABC but Rachel’s riding forward.

12:12 ET Phillip and Possante finish up with 16.8 time penalties – that was a great round with a new ride. Ariel and Leamore Master Plan get a good shot at Fence 18 and come round to the scary drop into the water. They make their way through, with Ariel steering at the end of the rein between the rollercoaster of As and Bs there – three doubles in a row! Impressive riding. Meanwhile, Bobby Meyerhoff and his mare Lumumba are now away. They finished top 15 in the Maryland 5* last season. 12 faults in yesterday’s show jumping dropped them down the rankings to 30th on 44.3. Lumumba looks like she is so ready for this! They waste no time through the first few fences and stride out along the course. Further along the course, Allie and Morswood make absolutely nothing of the Normandy Bank at 17ABC – they pop through and on they go.

12:08 ET Andrew and Ferrie’s Cello finish with 6 time penalties. Meanwhile, Ariel and Leamore Master Plan are making light work of the first few fences. They do a great job working out the distance at 6AB. They’re one of the fastest combinations in the field so it’ll be interesting to see how close they can get to the time. Phillip and Possante are beautiful through the Normandy Bank and they make light work of the final fences to finish clear. Score to come. Ariel’s just tempted the flag rule at the Coffin complex, which will be reviewed. They looked to squeak through though. Alexandra Knowles and her 5* campaigner Morswood AKA ‘Ginge’ have joined us on course. They finished top 10 at Pau last season and top 10 at Maryland in 2022; they were 11th here last year. They go out onto cross country in 27th on 43.4.

12:05 ET Score in for Will and Mama’s Magic Way – just 3.2 time penalties. They finish on 48.6. Phillip Dutton’s out of the start box with former Emily King ride Possante, who’s making his stateside 4* debut with Phillip. They were in 16th place after the show jumping on a score of 36.1. They’re clear over the treble combination at 8ABC. Meanwhile Andrew and Ferrie’s Cello are through the tricky second water at 19AB. The crowd there are really encouraging these riders on. Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan join us now. They’re back after a bit of a break last season but showed great form in 2022, finishing on their dressage for 11th place individually at the World Championships in Pratoni, completing Badminton in 15th and taking 3rd at Luhmuhlen. They jumped clear yesterday and ended up tied for 12th place overnight on a score of 34.9.

12:02 ET Andrew McConnon and Ferrie’s Cello are out on course. They were 13th in the 5* at Maryland last season and haven’t been here since 2021, when they were 6th in the 3*. Andrew and ‘Eddy’ were in 19th coming into today, on a score of 36.7. Doug and Camarillo are home with what looks to be a 19.6 time penalties – wow, they looked to be going along some so that’s kind of surprising. Will and Mama’s Magic Way are almost at the end now. Meanwhile Andrew makes the Coffin complex look like a gymnastic exercise – nicely done.

11:59 ET News in that Liz has 7.2 time penalties – Ian did warn us that the time would be tight. We have Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way off and running. This pair were 16th at Burghley last season, 13th in the Kentucky 5* and 8th here at Carolina, jumping clear across the country and adding just 4.4 time. They’re currently in 31st on a score of 45.4. Doug and Camarillo make nothing of the Normandy Bank and are still flying. It’ll be interesting to see his time as this round has looked quick. He makes the massive drop at the water at 19AB but Camarillo leaves a leg on the fence in the water. Great recovery! They continue on. Will and Mama’s Magic Way look to be going nicely. They’ve cleared the triple brush out of the water at 19AB to huge cheers.

11:56 ET Camarillo looks full of running as he flies through the first part of the course. Doug’s got his foot down, that’s for sure. He clears the double at Fence 6 nicely and motors on. Liz is still running along happily with Cooley Quicksilver. They’re at the second water. There’s a lot to do up there but they make their way through and are on their way to the finish flags. Doug and Camarillo make the bend through the coffin complex at 11ABC and they’re making this look very easy. Pretty sure it’s not though!

11:53 ET So far so good for our pathfinder Liz. They’re clear through Fence 8 and have no trouble with the baseballs and bats at Home of the Brave, Fence 9. Doug Payne and Camarillo are our second pairing out on course. This 10-year-old gelding finished top 10 in the 4*-S at Kentucky last season and were 16th here last year after a steady clear cross country. Two poles in the show jumping dropped them down the order a bit to 23rd. Meanwhile, Liz uses all of her experience at the coffin complex and manages to keep Quicksilver between her legs to squirrel through. Impressive, drool-worthy riding. They come through the first water and 14ABC and are on their way.

11:50 ET Going out of order as Liz has SO MANY horses in the top 10, currently in 5th place on a score of 31.1, Liz Halliday and Cooley Quicksilver get the 4* cross country underway! They were top 5 at Luhmuhlen 5* in 2022 and took the win in the 4*-S at Kentucky, just one of his four wins at the level on his record. And we’re off! Quicksilver flies out of the start and looks very keen to be running. They take on the first few jumps and have got off to a great start.

11:49 ET We’re about to get going! It looks like everyone and their dog is having a great time in the Carolina sunshine. It sure seems to be a glorious day for cross country. Bring it on!

The Final Hurrah: Preview Ian Stark’s Final Carolina CCI4*-S Cross Country Course

By on Mar 16, 2024 9:00 am -

We are a short time away from getting underway with the Yanmar America CCI4*-S cross country at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International, with the first horse due out on course at 11:46 a.m. ET. If you’re not here in person with us, you can view the live stream on Horse & Country here.

Today’s cross country will be run in reverse order of standing, which will lead us up to an exciting finish to determine the 2024 champion. As we reported yesterday, Liz Halliday is in control of the 4*-S currently, holding 1st with Miks Master C, 3rd with Cooley Nutcracker, and 5th with Cooley Quicksilver. Cooley Moonshine, second after show jumping, was withdrawn as a part of Liz’s plan for this event.

We caught up with Ian Stark yesterday about this year’s track:

On the design of this year’s course:

“It’s the same flow the same course as last year,” Ian remarked. “I’ve just tweaked a few things. And the first water for example, is probably a little friendlier with the last water is quite intense. I got to the end of last year, and I kind of — my attitude was this year’s gone really well, maybe I should bring my own retirement forward a year! So I didn’t want to do big changes this year. I’m trying to get through this as smoothly as possible as the idea, but no, I mean, there’s plenty for them to jump out there. It’s not going to be a walk in the park, that’s for sure.”

On the date of this event being a prep event for spring 5* events:

“If I look at it that it’s early in the year and back off, then it’s not giving them a proper introduction to Kentucky or Badminton. And I’m a great believer in encouraging the riders and the horses to come up to the level, not taking the level to them. So, I’ve never really been shy at asking the questions. I’m kind of nervous on cross country, always because you ask the questions and you think, ‘oh, yikes, they’re out there.’ And it’s all your responsibility. But I think for the horses and the riders for me, it’s important that they get the chance to jump a decent track, before they go to the big competitions.”

On where a rider might be able to make up time:

“It’s a difficult one because the gallop stuff is at the beginning, and if you go too fast the horses are going to be tired at the end. But it’s not too much. There’s a bit of terrain all the way around, but there’s not great hills. So you know, the horses should finish it quite easily. So if they start off a little bit sort of steady, because as you said it’s earlier in the season, if they start off too quietly, they’re never going to make it up later on. Definitely there is a bit of gallop at the end, but you can’t throw everything at that. So they’ve kind of got to measure the minute markers and be up to the minute markers, at least, if not a little bit ahead of them before they start going through the trees. Because galloping through trees, you always think you’re going fast, but trees can make you slow down a little bit. You’ve kind of got to almost frighten yourself and gallop past them a great speed. Otherwise, you instinctively take the foot off the pedal and slow down the rhythm.”

On how it feels to have been the designer in residence here for almost a decade:

“What’s been fantastic, from my point of view is, you know you sort of come up with different ideas and I’ve wanted the tracks widened and said, ‘well, we’ll take these 30 trees out so I can do this’, and they’ve been so incredibly helpful and supportive about moving forward. From a legacy point of view, then I feel all these wider tracks have allowed the light in and the grass has grown, so the footing has got better over the years. So I’m very happy with that. I’ve loved coming here. I’ve always felt that the committee and the board and everyone working here stays so positive about everything I try and come up with. If I get excited, they get excited and suddenly it happens, which is, from a designer’s point of view, fantastic. It’s been great fun and I’d be sad not to be coming back here but I’ve had great time.”

You can view the course maps for each division here.

Stay tuned for live updates from Cheg Darlington during cross country and for our full report later tonight. Go Eventing!

Carolina International CCI & H.T. (Raeford, NC) [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Cross Country Maps] [Live Scores] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Mar 16, 2024 12:01 am -

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As Cheg mentioned on Thursday, the FEI Eventing Nations Cup series has officially kicked off in Montelibretti, Italy this weekend! The CCIO4* Nations Cup class has a whopping 43 entries and as things stand after dressage, home team Italy leads the charge after claiming four of the top seven places. Topping the leaderboard is Italy’s own Evelina Bertoli aboard her own Fidjy des Melezes with the only sub-30 score of the division.

Montelibretti is also hosting a CCI4*-L alongside this weekend’s Nations Cup and that division is currently being led by Thailand’s Korntawat Samran and the very aptly named for this Olympic year, Chateau de Versailes M2S.

Cross country for these four-star divisions takes place today! Keep up with all the action around the world, from Montelibretti to Carolina, with our handy links below!

And DON’T FORGET to nominate a resilient rider (or yourself!) competing at Carolina for the Ride EquiSafe Crappiest Weekend Award!

U.S. Weekend Action

Carolina International CCI & H.T. (Raeford, NC) [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Cross Country Maps] [Live Scores] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Ocala Winter II (Ocala, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Pine Top Spring H.T. (Thomson, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Ram Tap National H.T. (Fresno, [Scoring]CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

International Events

FEI Eventing Nations Cup Leg 1 (Montelibretti, Italy) [Website] [Timetable] [Entries] [Show Jumping Live Stream] [Cross Country Live Stream]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Survey: Most Horse Owners Aren’t Worried About Disease Risk From Mingling At Events

Now On Course: A Letter to My Horse

Retired Racehorse Project Launches 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover Fundraising Initiatives

Sponsor Corner: Spring season is nearly in full swing! Are you prepared for the 2024 competition season? If not, World Equestrian Brands has your back with this comprehensive list of everything you need to succeed this season.

Morning Viewing: Jessica Phoenix’s very special partner Pavarotti made the trip down to Florida this year to train a very special little rider: Jessica’s daughter Jordan!

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Smooth Sailing: Liz Halliday Retains Top 2 Positions in Carolina International CCI4*-S

By on Mar 15, 2024 5:01 pm -

Liz Halliday and Miks Master C. Photo by Sally Spickard.

“Military precision” is how Liz Halliday described the operation of her support crew on a intense and busy day of show jumping here at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International. “Full rockstars,” she said. “I’d like to say thank you to my awesome team because we had almost zero time in between rounds [today].”

And when you’re holding four of the top five spots on the leaderboard, every round counts. Liz delivered: she secured a double clear to start the day with the Monster Partnership’s Cooley Moonshine (Cobra – Kilpatrick Duchess, by Kings Master). She later returned with Ocala Horse Properties’ and Deborah Palmer’s Miks Master C (Mighty Magic – Qui Lumba CBF, by Quite Easy) to cement her status as two-phase leader. While the Monster Partnership’s Cooley Quicksilver had one pesky rail that dropped him to sixth, the Cooley Nutcracker Syndicate’s Cooley Nutcracker (Tolant R – Ballyshan Cleopatra, by Cobra) closed the show with another clear round.

Liz now holds first and second ahead of tomorrow’s finale, sitting within range in 4th and 6th, respectively, with Cooley Nutcracker and Cooley Quicksilver.

Liz Halliday and Miks Master C. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Despite an alarming moment when a ring crew member stepped in her way approaching the swedish oxer, which did make her a bit tighter on the clock with Miks Master C than she had intended due to having to take an extra half-halt, Liz was thrilled with how “Mikki” is feeling. She’s changed his bit this year, she says, and feels that he enjoys this setup — a hackamore with a bit and two reins — more.

“I think it’s made a big difference and he will start to really use his body better,” she said. “He’s definitely more happy with his mouth open and just being able to release his body better. I think I got it all right; I swapped from the bit that I used at the [Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase earlier this month] and I thought he was gorgeous.”

Liz Halliday and Cooley Moonshine. Photo by Sally Spickard.

As we’ve mentioned before, Liz trains with Peter Wylde for the show jumping, enlisting his expertise and quiet way of riding to help her hone her skills in this phase. This winter, she’s spent some time jumping around some 1.35m classes at World Equestrian Center in Ocala, which she says has really helped both her and her horses.

“Mostly, my goal is to be a little bit faster, and just get comfortable just turning up to the jumps, which I think I did well today,” she went on. “I felt like I for the most part was back in my groove again. And I have jumped a few bigger classes this year — 1.35 and stuff, which has been great for me. And Peter’s helped kind of push me to do that, which is good. It’s been nice having him at the shows because he’s just such a great coach.”

Liz Halliday and Cooley Nutcracker. Photo by Sally Spickard.

She describes her longtime coaching team of Erik Duvander and Peter as her “zen place” — “I’ve had the two of them sometimes, they just put me in my zone. They’re chill, we’re just all chill together. No drama. It’s super nice.” — which helps her step up to the plate when the pressure is on.

Liz will withdraw Cooley Moonshine ahead of cross country — this has been her plan all along as he aims for the 4*-L at Tryon in May — which when official will move Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake (Tolan R – Doughiska Lass, by Kannan), owned by Mollie Hoff and Sherrie Martin, from third into second place.

Liz Halliday and Cooley Quicksilver. Photo by Sally Spickard.

For her part, Caroline was over the moon with the progression of her young superstar. “I keep hyping about him being stronger and a year older, but it really does make a difference. An eight-year-old around a four-star is a big ask, so just having one more year for him to get a little bit stronger — having a stronger canter and a stronger topline makes his life easier. He can show himself off more because it’s easier for both of us.”

This winter, Caroline and several other U.S. riders, including Tamie Smith, went on an outing to World Equestrian Center in Ocala, where upcoming Paris show jumping co-designer Gregory Bodo was on hand for a period of time to design the jumping courses there. This provided a prime opportunity to gather important intel ahead of the Games.

Caroline Pamucku and HSH Blake. Photo by Sally Spickard.

“I got [longtime coach and Olympic show jumper] Anne Kursinski to come up and [business partner] Kelley [Huthincon] and I kind of came up with a plan for him,” Caroline explained. “The biggest thing is just making sure I don’t rush the rhythm in the ring. He’s such a good jumper and he’s a phenomenal athlete. So just going in and having a steady round, not being so worried about making the time.”

Moving into the top five after a double clear show jumping are Meghan O’Donoghue with her own off-track Thoroughbred, Palm Crescent (Quiet American xx – Edey’s Village xx by Silver Deputy xx), who at 18 years young is aiming at both his and Meghan’s first attempt at Badminton this spring. Meghan and “Palmer” scored a 29.3 yesterday to place themselves competitively and will end up moving two places into fourth once Cooley Moonshine’s withdrawal is official.

Meghan O’Donoghue and Palm Crescent. Photo by Sally Spickard.

“He’s a very seasoned horse at this point which I’m just grateful every time I have him at a competition now at 18 years old,” Meghan said. “He just doesn’t feel like it, and he just shows up and gives 110% — if anything he’s always almost trying too hard, so it’s been a huge long journey of figuring him out and trying to make the recipe just right for him to have a career mindset that allows his best performances.”

Meghan has benefitted from the care of longtime groom Emma Tuit keeping Palmer in his best shape, and on the flat from Barend Heilbron and Ian Woodhead. “We all know those are key players that you can’t be successful without, and I know its part of my recipe of finishing a competitive weekend here. This year I have Badminton on my mind, that is my spring goal and I think with an Ian [Stark] track it was the right thing to bring him to.”

In total, 14 pairs of the 35 starters delivered double clear efforts over Marc Donovan’s always-influential track set on grass in front of the Carolina Club. A handful of fences elicited the most problems, with the triple combination heading toward the Carolina Club at 7ABC causing a total of 9 pulled rails. The time allowed was adjusted down from 88 seconds following the first few riders, and four pairs accumulated time penalties over the course of the division.

Emily Hamel and Corvett. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Tomorrow’s Yanmar America 4*-S cross country is very similar to the 2023 version, with a few minor tweaks here and there. This is the final year Ian Stark will design courses, but he’s got a full roster on his plate before he fully hangs his hat up, including the Bramham 4*-L in the UK and the Maryland 5 Star this fall.

“It’s the same flow the same course as last year,” Ian remarked. “I’ve just tweaked a few things. And the first water for example, is probably a little friendlier with the last water is quite intense. I got to the end of last year, and I kind of — my attitude was this year’s gone really well, maybe I should bring my own retirement forward a year! So I didn’t want to do big changes this year. I’m trying to get through this as smoothly as possible as the idea, but no, I mean, there’s plenty for them to jump out there. It’s not going to be a walk in the park, that’s for sure.”

Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle. Photo by Sally Spickard.

With the idea in mind that many riders use this as a prep for a spring 5*, Ian factors this in as he thinks about his design. “If I look at it that it’s early in the year and back off, then it’s not giving them a proper introduction to Kentucky or Badminton. And I’m a great believer in encouraging the riders and the horses to come up to the level, not taking the level to them. So, I’ve never really been shy at asking the questions. I’m kind of nervous on cross country, always because you ask the questions and you think, ‘oh, yikes, they’re out there.’ And it’s all your responsibility. But I think for the horses and the riders for me, it’s important that they get the chance to jump a decent track, before they go to the big competitions.”

Cross country begins tomorrow at 8 a.m. ET with the Intermediate division, followed by 3* around 9:30 a.m., 4* around 11:45 a.m., Advanced around 1:51 p.m., 2* at 3:03 p.m., and 1* to close the day at 4:25 p.m. You can view the live stream for all divisions on cross country on Horse & Country here.

Stay tuned for a more extensive course preview of the 4*-S coming your way first thing tomorrow morning. Until then, stay safe and Go Eventing!

Carolina International CCI & H.T. (Raeford, NC) [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Cross Country Maps] [Live Scores] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Building Confidence with William Fox-Pitt

By on Mar 15, 2024 9:30 am -

Photo by Lisa Madren.

Most people wouldn’t use a clinic with an Olympian as a confidence builder. These clinics have a reputation of being high-pressure situations that may push you out of your comfort zone. So, the winner of our contest for an entry to a clinic with William Fox-Pitt in Ocala, Sarah Clark, surprised me when she said her goal going into the clinic was to continue to build her confidence.

As an amateur rider from Tennessee, Sarah recently returned to eventing after taking an extended break while she had her kids and her schedule became generally full with all the mundane routine that goes along with becoming an adult. But, after the death of her father, she knew it was time to get to doing what she loved. “I got married, had a kid and have tried to keep horses in my life, but it’s just been very inconsistent. So I had more of a longer period away from riding, but when my dad got sick, I knew that I just needed to have riding more consistently in my life to kind of help me cope with everything.”

So, she went back to riding with her friend and trainer, Lauren Romanelli. “I feel like I have a lot of knowledge there but because I’m a little older and took some time away, it’s just convincing my body to remember how to do these things.”

Photo by Lisa Madren.

Like many riders who return to riding as they get older, Sarah has been working through some mental blocks, as well as physical ones. Unfortunately, human beings develop this annoying sense of self-preservation as they get older that makes riding particularly hard.

“I think the older that we get, the harder it is and that’s why I’m really determined to not have any more extended breaks in my riding because I just realized each time I tried to come back it’s a little bit harder on me physically, and mentally,” Sarah said. “It’s full of new challenges that you never dreamed of. When I was riding in my teens and 20’s, nothing scared me. Nothing was intimidating. I was just determined to do whatever I needed to do. And now it’s like overthinking everything and trying to get past the mental blocks of riding, which there are so many.”

Luckily, Lauren had the perfect horse to challenge Sarah and help her find her confidence. Star Quality, barn name “Ava,” is a young Percheron, Morgan, Thoroughbred cross who Sarah has quickly fallen in love with. “She’s just great. She’s got a really wonderful work ethic. And she’s very brave and even though she’s young, she’s been a really great confidence builder for me.”

Photo by Lisa Madren.

Sarah and Ava have been competing in Beginner Novice, but have plans to move up to Novice this show season. To play it safe, Sarah chose to join the Beginner Novice group at the William Fox-Pitt clinic, to play it safe and build her confidence.

“You never know what they’re going to throw at you in a clinic and I thought, let’s make sure we’re really comfortable at the height just in case the exercises get tricky or big,” Sarah said. “The exercises were interesting and challenging, but the height of everything I felt like was very doable.”

Sarah’s favorite aspect of the clinic was how they were able to tackle questions that are normally reserved for a higher level, but at a Beginner Novice height. For example, on cross country day at Barnstable they were able to tackle a combination that involved a wall-one stride-up bank line before hopping down off the bank then heading one stride to another fence.

“We got to do a combination feel of up and down off of that bank, where we could hop down off the bank and then have one stride to another fence, which is something that I don’t feel like you really see at Beginner Novice. It was just really fun to see a combination like that,” said Sarah.

William Fox-Pitt was definitely all about combinations at this clinic. At the water jump, Sarah said they tackled jumping a roll top down into the water before jumping onto a jetty with another roll top on stop and landing back into the water.

Photo by Lisa Madren.

“I would think you would usually see this with larger jumps set for higher levels, but they had it set up where you know the jumps were appropriate for Beginner Novice, but we could feel the complexity of really riding through a whole little course just with the bank complex or the water complex. So I thought that was really, really cool.”

Fox-Pitt also emphasized the importance of trotting fences, something Sarah said she quickly realized she needed to take more seriously. “It was challenging in some ways, but Ava was very bored just trotting over the jumps. As I was coming around, he was pointing out to me that my reins were too long. I just wasn’t taking advantage of this to be like a real schooling opportunity,” Sarah said. “I was just kind of treating it more like, ‘Oh, here’s this exercise or warm up thing that we have to do,’ instead of really testing the connection that I have with my horse.”

Making sure she’s really plugged in and riding at all times is something Sarah has also been working on at home. “When I ride I tend to be a little too forgiving or I give in. But William Fox-Pitt emphasized, ‘don’t give in, do it until you get it right.’”

“He was very matter of fact, you know? He was saying exactly what he meant. He wasn’t sugarcoating anything, that’s for sure. But he was also complimentary at the same time,” Sarah said. “He was definitely encouraging and told us when we were doing things well, too. It was a good mix of being realistic, but also being encouraging.”

Photo by Lisa Madren.

While Sarah entered the contest and came to Ocala for the riding opportunity, she wound up in love with the entire experience, in and out of the ring. “The whole experience was incredible because it wasn’t just the two days of riding, but they had a barn dinner put together by Rhonda Sexton, who was the organizer of the clinic. They gave away a ton of door prizes. They had raffles going on and were giving away prizes from William and from other sponsors, like Seminole. It was a lot of fun to get to mingle and be with everyone and have more of an informal gathering.”

Like many who come to Ocala, Sarah was in awe of the beautiful surroundings. “I’ve just been amazed both times that I’ve been down there about how pretty it is, because there’s Spanish moss hanging off all the trees, but then there’s palm trees mixed in. It’s just beautiful.”

“I would definitely like to just express my gratitude for this opportunity. It was definitely something that I would not have been able to do otherwise,” Sarah said. “So just a huge thanks to Eventing Nation for doing this. I hope this is something that you all will be able to do again in the future and give this opportunity to some other other riders because it was really incredible. I felt so lucky.”

#goeventing

Australian Olympian Shane Rose in ICU Following Cross Country Schooling Fall

By on Mar 15, 2024 7:57 am -

Shane Rose (AUS) and Virgil. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Australia’s Shane Rose has been seriously injured in a cross country schooling fall that comes just on the heels of claiming the Defender 4*-S title at New Zealand’s Land Rover Horse of the Year Show. The multi-Olympian suffered a broken femur, pelvis, and ribs, as well as a heavy concussion, in the accident; his horse was not injured. Shane is currently in the ICU being treated for his injuries and had surgery to repair the broken femur and pelvis.

“Shane is in good hands with a great medical team and support network,” representatives wrote on his social media. “While the timing is unfortunate we are hopeful there is adequate time for him to recover and still be able to continue his preparation schedule for the Paris Olympics Games.”

Shane has been prepping for a potential selection to what would be his fourth Olympic squad representing Australia this summer in Paris. The story of Shane’s resilience is one many know well; he’s no stranger to injury and recovery, having come back from several devastating injuries to resume his career as an eventer as well as a racehorse trainer.

We wish Shane the absolute best with his recovery and will keep you abreast of any updates from his team as they are made available.

Friday News & Notes from Stable View

By on Mar 15, 2024 12:01 am -

Congratulations to our very own Taleen Hanna, who is one of just two 2024 AHP Equine Media Student Award Finalists. How lucky are we to have such a talented young writer as part of Team EN?!

Taleen will get the chance to travel to the 2024 AHP Return to Horse Country Conference, May 16-18, 2024 in Lexington, Kentucky, where she will get to meet various leading equine media professionals, associations and businesses.

We will have to wait until May to find out if our girl is going to be crowned the winner, though – May 17th to be precise, which is when the 2024 AHP Equine Media Student Award Winner will be announced, as part of the Special Awards Reception. Please join us in wishing her the very best of luck and keeping all available limbs crossed for her, too! We have another genius in our midst, guys, and you saw her here first!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Carolina International CCI & H.T. (Raeford, NC) [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Cross Country Maps] [Live Scores] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Ocala Winter II (Ocala, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Pine Top Spring H.T. (Thomson, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Ram Tap National H.T. (Fresno, [Scoring]CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

International Events

FEI Eventing Nations Cup Leg 1 (Montelibretti, Italy) [Website] [Timetable] [Entries] [Live Scores] [Dressage Day 1 Live Stream] [Dressage Day 2 Live Stream] [Show Jumping Live Stream] [Cross Country Live Stream]

Friday News and Reading

Ready to rock and roll and get your 2024 eventing season underway?! If it stops raining long enough in the UK to allow it, I know I am! Take a look at these tips to help you get started in the best possible way, with advice on everything from your approach to Spring training, to horse fitness. A must read for anyone revving up for Eventing 2k24…and a reminder to never neglect the basics.

Mia Farley has got herself a cool new pony! Not only does the latest addition to her string throw a pretty nice shape over a fence, she’s got an excellent name too. Meet Pina Colada – we can’t wait to see what you achieve together!

Equine hydrotherapy seems to be playing an increasingly important role in the fitness programme several of the top horses – Team Price, amongst others, have a water treadmill at their yard – and it has long been talked about as a useful tool for injury rehabilitation, too. If you’re curious about the science behind the benefits of hydrotherapy, then enjoy this deep dive (excuse the pun) into all things water based, including the reasons as to why it is being heralded as one of the best things that you can do to help your equine pals back from injury.It’s not all good though; as with everything, equine hydrotherapy requires specialist knowledge, and indeed, can do more harm than good if certain practices and guidelines are not followed. The key takeaway? Proceed with caution, and always seek help from qualified professionals. Kind of the same as asking for help from an adult when you were a kid, no?

Great Britain may not be fielding a team at this year’s FEI CCI3* European Cup, but they will be back with a bang next year. Talk about planning ahead: Team GB have already announced that Kylie Roddy – who finished in 5th place at Pau last year – will take charge as Chef d’Equipe, whilst David Sheerin will take on the role of Chef de Mission. Led by such an experienced pair, the team is already off to a winning start. Another competition to look forward to already, and we’ve barely started on this year!

Horse & Country are bringing all the goods this year! They have just secured partnerships to bring us all of the action live from not one, but two 5*’s – both the Adelaide Equestrian Festival and The Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials. H&C will be streaming all of the action from the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International this weekend too. So if you’ve not got a subscription yet, what are you waiting for?!

Don’t forget to make your nominations for The Ride EquiSafe Crappiest Weekend Award. We’re looking for the rider who has been knocked down multiple times only to stand right back up again, get back in that start box, and give it another go, no matter what. And after all, what’s life without a little sense of humor?
The winner of this contest will receive a Ride EquiSafe Fall Club Pin, a $250 gift card, and a big round of applause from the eventing community. To nominate a rider competing at Carolina this weekend, simply fill out this form before March 16th. The winner will be chosen on the last day of the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International CCI4*.

Sponsor Corner


Fun fact: Boyd Martin was a telemarketer before he started eventing ☎ AND he wakes up everyday at 5am. Apparently he doesn’t need sleep! Learn more fun facts about Boyd in this interview series taken at his winter base of Stable View.

Weekend Watching

As part of their build up to the Paris Olympics, the Eventing Podcast has gifted listeners with a two part special on the 2000 Sydney Olympics – the last time we saw a ‘proper long format’ in Olympic eventing, complete with Roads and Tracks and a 5* cross country track. The perfect inspiration for this weekend’s video for you all – a throwback to those games, featuring both Ingrid Klimke and Karen O’ Connor. Those were the days!