Ashley Phillips and Bayani Slade, 2016 AEC Novice Horse champions. Photo by Ryan Hall.
“What’s in your ring?” is a new EN series in which riders share their favorite jumping exercises. It’s easy to get stuck in a training rut, and we hope this will inspire you with fresh ideas that you can take home and incorporate into your own programs.
First up, we’ve got Ashley Phillips of Timberway Farm in Maryville, TN. This young professional is fresh off a great week at the 2016 American Eventing Championships, where she won the Novice Horse division on Bayani Slade and also enjoyed a successful Prelim Horse result on Theodoir. Ashley has brought both horses along herself with the help of dressage trainer Cathy Fox and eventer Peter Atkins.
Bayoni Slade, who goes by “Donovan” around the barn, is an OTTB (Doneraile Court x Klegenfurt) that she got four years ago directly from his breeder’s farm. They’ve had some setbacks, including a lengthy rehab when Ashley’s upper-level horse kicked him in his cannon bone which resulted in a hairline fracture last year.
“I have taken his training slow to ensure his confidence moving up the levels,” Ashley says. “He is an extremely talented horse that can be difficult to focus and relax. We have worked hard all season to get him strong in his hind end and relaxed in the show ring.”
Ashley Phillips and Bayani Slade. Photo by Ryan Hall.
Everything fell into place at the 2016 AECs, where they added nothing to their dressage score of 25.3 to dominate an extremely competitive division.
“We went for it in dressage which paid off and the judge commenting ‘bold test.’ I mean it is AECs so why not go for it?!” she says. “Cross country the next day was a breeze, and I had to be careful of my time as to not go too fast. Donovan ended up going double clear in stadium and securing at least second place. I burst into tears when I found out he had won his division. I was overwhelmed with the fact that my little OTTB could be the top in his division at a championship. I am hoping this is just the beginning for this guy and we can continue moving up the levels proving that OTTBs can compete with the best and dominate.”
What’s in Ashley’s ring? “The main grid consists of a bounce, one stride, two stride, to a bounce. I also have a bounce set up beside the grid so that I can do the bending line bounces.”
Photo courtesy of Ashley Phillips.
What she likes about it: “I love incorporating gridwork into my coursework to keep the horses sharp and adjustable. With my upper level horse, I will do the bounces and then bending line to the vertical or oxer, trot through the grid, canter down my three stride line, then trot back over my bending line bounces. There are unlimited options with this set up! I can cater to what each horse needs without rearranging my arena daily.”
Demonstration, please!
Many thanks to Ashley for sharing and best of luck to her and her talented horses!
Do you have an exercise to share, or is there an eventer you would like to nominate for the “What’s in Your Ring?” series? Email me at [email protected].
Have you been following Valerie Ashker’s ride across America? Her goal: to raise social awareness of the strength, stamina, courage and versatility of OTTBs after their racing career.
Accompanying her on her journey are the thoroughbreds Solar Express (JC Bold Badgett: Damascus – Anne Campbell, by Never Bend), age 17, and Primitivo (JC Monashee Mountain: Danzig – Prospectors Delite, by Mr. Prospector), age 7, whom Valerie has evented through Training level.
So far they’ve traveled over 1,700 miles since departing California on May 9, with Virginia being their final destination.
You can keep up with Valerie’s journey via her blog here, Facebook here or show your support by donating to their GoFundMe campaign here (any surplus funds raised not used on travel will be donated to Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance).
Photo via Valerie’s 2nd Makes Thru Starting Gates GoFundMe page.
More proof that OTTBs are capable of anything! Here are three more ex-racers who are looking to become something special. Can you help?
Photo via CANTER California.
Babinda (Boomerang – Timely Image, by Image of Greatness) is an 11-year-old 15.2 mare.
“Haiku” is described as gorgeous and lovely but somewhat challenging: a lovely uphill mover with First Level dressage training, and a brave and careful jumper — they say she will jump anything! She also loves trails with the right companions. Thrives on jumping, loves to be groomed and have her bottom scratched. Very social, expressive and opinionated. Excellent ground manners, always sound.
Prefers to live in pasture and grass would be a huge bonus. Has some minor maintenance issues, struggles with anxiety in some situations and still a bit green for a 11-year-old. She needs a gentle and light rider and an experienced assertive handler. Not suitable for a beginner, needs to be with a professional or very experienced amateur working with a trainer.
Miz Sweet (Noonmark – Sweet Tzipora, by Wheaton) is a 2011 16.3h bay mare.
If ever a horse was aptly named it is Miz Sweet! Her trainer raves about what a sweet and kind mare she is, and Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds got to see her sweetness for themselves as she begged for treats and enjoyed their pats and scratches. They report she is also very pretty and that the photos do not do her justice, so you need to come see this big, sound, sweetheart for yourself.
She had one win and in 42 career starts has found that second win elusive. Her trainer says she is sound and her legs are clean. She had raced just a couple days before her photo session and showed no ill effects, jogging prettily and politely with balanced movement. The trainer also said Miz Sweet is easy to work with and very nice to ride.
Frequent Reward (Good Reward – Mon Queen, by Maria’s Mon) is a 2009 15.3-hand mare.
She is described as a good jumper and a great eventing prospect who has the ability to do it all! She jumps courses and has a good, easy lead change. Likes to work. Sweet, green, inconsistent but willing. Has been a successful lesson horse but wants her own person to bond with and prefers an experienced rider as she’s sensitive. A mild cribber when stalled. Located in Plymouth, Michigan.
Courses run through four fields. Photo by Holly Covey.
Not many things as temporary as a horse trials seem to last 25 years these days. But the Marlborough Horse Trials has stood the test of a quarter century well, and after Sept. 17th’s annual presentation, has a great future ahead.
Marlborough’s annual USEA recognized horse trials ran opposite the mighty Plantation Field CICs, and was up against the AEC entry drain as well, yet put on a first class competition for full Beginner Novice, Novice, Training and Open Preliminary divisions. Marlborough is held at the Rosaryville State Park in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, a 982-acre day park in conservancy. It’s open to the public all year round, with many bikers, hikers and pleasure riders as well as hunters, so course work can only take place just before the event.
Rosaryville is also the home of the famous Mt. Airy Mansion, originally thought to have been built in the 1670s, and one of the oldest Maryland mansions connected to the Calvert family, the Lords Proprietor of colonial Maryland. Rosaryville is in the middle of traditional hunt country, and the mansion was thought to be a hunting lodge for the Lords Baltimore. President George Washington attended the wedding of his adopted son at Mt. Airy Mansion in 1774, and in the last century it was known as a very popular society gathering place when owned by Washington socialite. The state purchased it in 1973 and the mansion still hosts weddings and social occasions. (The mansion is in a different part of the park than the horse trials courses.)
Courses run through four fields. Photo by Holly Covey.
And by first-class, I do mean it! The crew included two USET former team riders officiating (Carol Kozlowski, president of the ground jury, and John Williams, course designer); the delightfully organized Brian O’Connor of Speakeasy announcing; Area II favorites Pat Mansfield as TD and Kathy White as show jumping judge; and a host of very experienced and long-time Marlborough volunteers capably handling all the details of competition. Organizer Donna Bottner, just back from coordinating the AEC Adult Team Competition, spearheaded the horse trials with assistant Cherie Chauvin — both active eventers themselves and long-time volunteers with Marlborough.
Many of the past organizers and officials of the horse trials attended and watched the competition, including Andrea “Andie” Brinkley, who organized it for 16 years, and the “First Lady” of Marlborough Horse Trials, Dorothy Troutman. Rosaryville Conservancy President Paula Sothoron also attended.
Current organizer, Donna Bottner, said, “This year was bittersweet. John Williams did a fantastic job picking up the torch for Roger Haller with our courses. I just wish he were here with us, since he was instrumental in getting us started 25 years ago, and helped me survive the past several years with his humor and mentorship.”
“This event would not be here at all if not for the efforts of Dorothy Troutman and Pam Link when they first entertained the idea, and were the major force in getting Roger Haller and Chris Milanesi to design and build the course,” Donna said. “They all fundraised, improvised and saw us through the toughest times. Andie was the organizer for 16 years before handing it over to me eight years ago. If not for Andie, there would not be a Marlborough today. Our announcer, Brian O’Connor, called Andie on Friday to insure her presence; he told her he wasn’t going to announce without her there!”
A new bank for lower level riders has been built near the newly rebuilt water complex. Photo by Holly Covey.
Donna noted that she learned something new on Saturday: “Mrs. Troutman told me that the Training ditch in the back field (which we’ve renovated a few times) was originally dug by a gravedigger. She said he knew exactly how deep to dig it and how wide it should be for a half coffin. I really can’t make these things up!”
The courses run through several hilly fields and the time was real factor for almost all levels. Marlborough does offer a classic cross-country course, where horses and riders expect changes of terrain both up and down, banks, ditches, traditional obstacles like logs and coops but some nice newer portable jumps that offer flexibility and creative use of the slopes and hills.
There are even some trails through the woods with a jump or two. All of the courses went through the four fields adjacent to the pavilions in the center of the park, with dressage held in a flatter area of one of the fields, and show jumping nearby on a slightly sloped grass ring. Warm up is generous and right next to the competition rings, so young horses new to eventing have a comfortable atmosphere in which to perform.
New cross country courses this year came from FEI/USEF course designer and former USET event team rider John Williams, assisted with the expertise of John Wells this year and Tyson Rementer. The tracks appeared to ride smoothly and featured a completely rebuilt water complex, which caused few difficulties.
“It was a good course to ride,” said one competitor. “Training had just the right mix of difficult and let-up jumps to move up.”
And for the future? Organizer Donna Bottner said, “Having greatly improved the water feature, a new Beginner Novice bank and adding drain tiles in that field, we have a lot to offer and will keeping improving each year. John is already thinking about new tracks we haven’t used previously and that really is exciting.”
So the future of Marlborough remains bright. “The best part of the day for me is watching riders galloping by with big smiles on their faces. It’s really the only reward I need,” said Donna.
Here are a few videos of the revamped cross-country course from Saturday:
The Training double of ramps, 4A and B:
The Training hay rack double:
The water jump:
The novice half-coffin:
Results can be found here. For more information on cross-country schooling days and other equestrian opportunities at Marlborough, check their website. Cross country schooling was held Sunday, Sept. 18, and a cross country jumping clinic with Stephen Bradley will take place Tuesday, Sept. 20 (click here for info) and open cross country schooling will be available Saturday, Sept. 24. The group will also host a hunter pace November 19. All events are weather permitting.
Will Coleman wearing Roeck-Grip gloves from Roeckl on his way to the Richland Park CIC3* win with Tight Lines. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Will Coleman wore Roeck-Grip gloves from Roeckl when he won the Richland Park CIC3* with Tight Lines, and we’re excited to team up with Roeckl this week to give away 10 pairs of these gloves. Roeck-Grip gloves are made using an exclusive material that is extremely breathable, elastic, supple and designed to feel like a second skin while ensuring excellent grip.
Who wants to win a pair of Roeck-Grip gloves?
Roeckl uses classical French glove sizes to guarantee a the best possible fit. The Munich-based glove tailors sew the individual pieces of the gloves by hand, with seam tolerances at a maximum of 1 millimeter with a correct fit in mind. The secret lies in the cuts and proportions, and Roeckl draws on 175 years of experience in the art of glove tailoring.
So many colors!
Another thing to love about these gloves is the convenience, as they are machine washable and touch screen compatible. We also love the kaleidoscope of colors to choose from: white, champagne, anthracite, navy blue, caramel, mocha, black, khaki and plum. Enter to win your own pair using the Rafflecopter widget below. Entries close at midnight EST on Friday, and we’ll draw 10 different winners.
Good luck, and check out Roeckl’s full line of gloves here.
Hawley Bennett-Awad and Jollybo study the 3* cross country at Plantation Field. Photo by Sally Spickard.
What an exciting weekend at Plantation Field! One of these days I definitely plan to make it out there to see the Best. Event. Ever. in person. Needless to say, all of us West Coasters were thankful for the live stream coverage from USEF Network — how else are we supposed to live vicariously? You can relive all the action on demand on USEF Network.
Three defending London medalists successfully repeated their results in Rio this week as the Paralympics draw to a close for equestrians. Notably,Sophie Christiansen became the first triple gold medalist for Great Britain, winning the grade Ia freestyle. [Rio Paralympic Results]
Surefire Horse Trials is accepting entries through today! The event will run September 24-25 in Purcellville, VA and is definitely a solid staple on the Area II calendar. Enter today and reserve your spot! Beginner Novice through Prelim as well as Future Event Horse and Young Event Horse divisions are available. [Surefire Horse Trials]
The United States Equestrian Federation is seeking nominations for two seats on the Board of Directors. Nominations will be accepted September 15 – October 31, 2016. In order to be eligible for nomination, the individual must meet the definition of “Independent Director,” as described in USEF Bylaw 303. Nominations may be submitted online by active USEF members. Visit usef.org for more information about how to submit a nomination.
If you’ve just opened a business or are new to an area, you will want to scope out your local advertising opportunities and make an advertising plan that fits into your budget. It can be a good idea to commit to at least 3 to 6 consecutive months to make an impact, as people will need to see your ad a few times before starting to commit your business name to memory.
Monday Video:
Check out the latest installment of Elisa Wallace’s video blog:
Phillip Dutton and Mr. Candyman. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
The Plantation Field International Horse Trials wrapped up another banner year today. The CIC* competitors finished over poles in the show jumping arena while the Advanced, CIC3* and CIC2* divisions tackled Mike Etherington-Smith’s challenging track. In the end, Pennsylvania locals Phillip Dutton and Boyd Martin dominated in the CIC3*, occupying the top three positions on the leaderboard.
Phillip Dutton finished with three horses in the top five after CIC3* cross country. Mr. Candyman added 2.8 time penalties to edge into the top spot ahead of his stablemate and the overnight leader I’m Sew Ready, who added 10.8 time faults to finish third. Z’s 6.8 time faults moved them up to the number five slot.
“Mr. Candyman went really well today. It was always my plan to go quick on him,” said Phillip of the gelding owned by Ann Jones, Bridget Colman, Caroline Moran and Tom Tierney. “I couldn’t be more pleased with what he did this weekend. It raises my hope for him. At the end of last year I was so excited about him. He’s quite quick to lose his confidence. I have to be sure I do a good job to keep him confident all the way.”
Boyd Martin and Crackerjack. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Boyd Martin and Lucy Boynton Lie’s Cracker Jack were held on course while a frangible pin was repaired. They didn’t miss a beat, however, and produced one of four double clear rounds in the division to move up to second, finishing on their dressage score of 51.5.
“He’s not the easiest horse to ride cross country. He’s very keen to get to the jump and often his idea of taking off and my idea of taking off are different,” Boyd said. “He’s better on the CCIs where you can get him settled on a longer course, but I’m very pleased with him.”
Sharon White and Cooley On Show have been steadily moving up in the standings throughout the competition. She and the scopey gray gelding started out in 17th place after dressage, but without adding a single jumping or time penalty to their initial score of 56.1, they finished in fourth place overall.
Sharon White and Cooley On Show. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Boyd and Phillip both had high praise for Mike Etherington-Smith’s course, which caused few jumping problems, but time penalties weight heavily on the final results.
“The ground is definitely hard and Jamie Hicks did everything he possibly could to make it good going,” Phillip said. “I think each rider had to make a decision based on what they had done this summer. My guys hadn’t done much so I was prepared to put the foot down a bit. You can’t get a much better course than this to educate riders and horses. It’s not always about knocking the field out, it’s how they come away from it.”
“There’s no question he’s one of the best course designers in the world,” Boyd added. “You walk this course and it’s big, big hedges and corners and all the riders are pulling their hair out saying ‘how are we going to do this?’ and then all the horses jump it really good, which is a credit to Mike.”
If you missed any part of the CIC3* live stream or would like to watch the action all over again, replays of all phases are available on USEF Network. Dressage and show jumping are already up and the cross country will be available shortly.
Lauren Kieffer and Landmark’s Monte Carlo. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Lauren Kieffer rode three of Jacqueline Mars’ homebreds in the CIC2* division (Landmark’s Monte Carlo, Landmark’s Ginger Rogers and Landmark’s Monaco). All three of them jumped double clear show jumping rounds and were clear on cross country. Landmark’s Monte Carlo, also known as “Patrick” finished on his dressage score (41.6) to top the 81-horse field.
“They all skipped around really good,” Lauren said. “It’s nice to ride such nice products of a breeding program in the States.”
Patrick completed Rolex Kentucky this April and also traveled to Aachen for Team USA in the Nations Cup CICO3*. Lauren said she likes to drop the 10-year-old down a level before three days, and with Fair Hill CCI3* on the horizon she wanted to give him a confident run at Plantation.
They scored two-star personal best in dressage to place fifth after the first phase. A double clear show jumping round moved them up to second, and a clear, fast ride on cross country gave them the ultimate win when the overnight leaders, Boyd and Kyra, parted ways in the final water.
“Patrick is one of my favorite horses in the dressage. He’s not a very flashy mover but he’s so accurate and he went in there and didn’t give any points away. Show jumping is his hardest phase because he can be spooky, but after getting in a lot of rings this year he’s getting more comfortable with it. He’s always been a quick cross country horse and he just cruised around and jumped out of stride.”
Woods Baughman and Maverick McNamara, owned by Woods and James and Kim Baughman, were knocking on the door all week, placing third after dressage, adding one rail in stadium, and moving up to second after a cracking cross country round, jumping clear and finishing bang on the optimum time.
Jan Byyny and her and Richard and Jo Ellen Byyny’s lovely gray mare Urrem made a big move up the leaderboard with two great jumping rounds. They were tied for 17th after dressage on 47.3. They were double clear in show jumping to move up to 8th and then the pair rocked around today’s cross country, adding zero penalties to move up and finish in third.
Sixty-two horses completed the CIC2* cross country course. There were eight rider falls in the division, but no serious injuries have been reported.
Erin Sylvester and Paddy the Caddy. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Erin Sylvester and Frank Macentee’s Paddy the Caddy have finished second in three different Intermediate and Advanced horse trials this year, but they finally got their moment in the sun. Leading from start to finish, Erin and Paddy topped the Advanced division with a final score of 36.9.
The pair added 7.2 time penalties on cross country today, which was enough to keep them ahead of second place Ryan Wood and McLovin and third place Boyd Martin and Steady Eddie. Both pairs finished on 37.8 but Ryan was closer to the optimum time. Erin said she was prepared for Paddy to be green on course, but he produced a quick, confident round.
“He’s at a good place mentally now. Usually out of the box he wants to pull on one rein or the other when he’s nervous, but he went out in a straight line and was much easier to ride than normal in the start of the course, so I thought I could push him on a bit,” Erin said.
“I felt like he gained confidence as he went around. He liked the questions being asked of him and was really locking on to stuff. It wasn’t the fastest round but that was definitely probably the fastest he could of gone at this stage.”
Allison Springer and Lord Willing. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Allison Springer and The Lord Willing Syndicate’s 8-year-old Lord Willing had a rail in hand in show jumping, but it was unnecessary. They jumped double clear to clinch the CIC*-A division, leading from start to finish and completing on their dressage score of 41.6.
Haley Carspecken and True Grace. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Haley Carspecken and True Grace finished on their dressage score of 41.6 to win the Jr./YR CIC*-B division. A double clear show jumping round from them put the pressure on overnight leaders Jenny Caras and Fernhill Full Throttle, who unfortunately pulled a single rail, knocking them down the standings to fifth.
We want to send a huge thank you to the organizers, staff, grounds crew, volunteers and everyone else behind the scenes at Plantation Field International Horse Trials. It’s an event with an incredible atmosphere, top quality competition, and sights and sounds to fill every minute of every day. Thank you for having EN be a part of the Best. Event. Ever.
Photo courtesy of Tamie Smith and Next Level Eventing.
It was a happy capstone to a roller coaster few weeks abroad for Tamie Smith, who today took fourth out of an eye-popping 82 starters in the CIC2* at Gatcombe. She and Twizted Syster (“Chloe”) added just 2.4 time penalties in cross-country and a single rail in show jumping to move from sixth to fourth in a massive field.
It was a rewarding personal victory after the torrential rain and an equipment issue hampered their plans last weekend at Blenheim Palace, with Tamie ultimately opting to retire and re-route. The pair went back to their temporary base at Rodney Powell‘s yard to put in some hours, and the USEF travel wizard Joanie Morris assisted in getting the pair rerouted to Gatcombe for the two-star.
Tamie and Chloe made good on their adventure, laying down a solid dressage score of 45.3 to slot them in eighth behind the likes of Sam Griffiths (AUS) and Paulank Kings River (the only pair to break into the thirties this weekend with a 39.7), Tim Price (NZL) on two horses — Pats Jester and Kincooley Cruising— and Tina Coudray (USA) and Aloha.
On a day when the time was almost impossible to make (only Britain’s Gemma Tattersall was able to squeak under the optimum time), Tamie was able to use a clear jumping round and just 2.8 time penalties to catapult her from eighth to fourth.
The two encountered just one troubling rail in show jumping on the final phase to finish on a 51.7. The score was good enough to hold on to their fourth place position for a very satisfying conclusion to their trip across the pond.
The victory was ultimately clinched by Dan Jocelyn (NZL) and Beaucatcher with a score of 48.7 after adding just .4 time and a double clear in show jumping. Second was Kitty King (GBR) and Vendredi Biats who added 1.6 cross country time to their dressage score, and Sam Griffiths used his large dressage score buffer and 10.8 time penalties to ultimately finish in third.
U.K.-based American Tiana Coudray had a great start to her weekend with Aloha scoring a personal best in dressage, but ultimately opted to withdraw prior to show jumping after picking up a stop on cross country. We’ll hope to see her and Aloha out again soon!
Congratulations to all the Gatcombe Riders on a successful event and safe travels to Tamie and Chloe as they make their way west once more.
The iconic stone wall complex at Plantation Field. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Welcome to the CIC3* Cross Country live updates feed! We’ve got a dedicated team today bringing you content in the field, crunching numbers behind the scenes, and a massive herd of incredibly fit Chinchillas running on the little chinch treadmills that keep our servers going. All to bring you every moment of the Best. Event. Ever.
The first run of the day was supposed to go at 12:40 p.m. ET, but has been pushed back just a bit to 1:00 p.m. ET. You can get a fence-by-fence preview of the course here or a drone flyover of the course here. USEF Network will be running a livestream for the CIC3* rounds with our own Jenni Autry commentating alongside Karen O’Connor! You can watch here.
With the delay, we’ve recalculated the ride times as follows (barring additional delays):
As you can see, there was one withdrawal overnight, Matthew Brown and Super Socks BCF. Phillip Dutton will ride the second-placed Mr. Candyman out of order to allow him time to get all three of his rides in today.
12:40 ET – As mentioned above, the start time has been pushed back 20 minutes to 1:00 p.m. ET. First out of the start box will be Ryan Wood on Fernhill Classic.
1:05 ET – Ryan Wood and Fernhill Classic are officially on course!
1:07 ET – Ryan and Fernhill Classic are clear through the coffin, first water complex, and angled corners. They are making a big course look easy and effortless.
1:09 ET – Erin Sylvester and Campground are on course now. Ryan still looking good through the cabins and ruins!
1:11 ET – Bobby Meyerhoff and Dunlavins Token on course now as well.
1:12 ET – Ryan and Fernhill Classic are home without jumping faults but were a bit over the optimum time of 6:11 with 18.4 time penalties.
1:15 ET – Erin Sylvester and Campground are also through without jumping faults and added just a handful of time to their score. Bobby and Token are really starting to open up and getting closer to the time than the previous rounds.
1:16 ET – William Coleman and Soupcon de Brunet on course and looking very sharp, huge gallop on this horse.
1:17 ET – Boyd Martin and Welcome Shadow now on course, Boyd looking no worse for the wear from his fall in the two-star earlier today.
1:18 ET – Justine Dutton on course now, Will Coleman and Soupcon come in clear but about 30 seconds over the time allowed.
1:20 ET – Official scores in for Erin and Campground added 10.8 time penalties, and Bobby and Token added just 8.40 time penalties.
1:25 ET – Boyd and Welcome Shadow are screeching around course and looked really strong heading into the end of the course. We’ll bring you an official time as soon as we have it.
1:28 ET – Madeline Backus and P.S. Ariana on course now and clean through the first coffin complex
1:30 ET – Booli Selmayr and Jaeda wrapping up on course and looked really solid through the final water, and will cross the finish flags at around the 7-minute mark.
1:31 ET – Will Coleman and Soupcon de Brunet’s official score was clear and 10.8 time penalties.
1:32 ET – Madeline Backus clear through the second water and she is grinning from ear to ear as she clears the last and heads to the flags!
1:34 ET – Boyd and Welcome Shadow’s official time in now and they too collected 10.8 time faults to currently sit in first.
1:34 ET – Justine Dutton and Huck Finn’s scores in as well, and they had a problem on course that didn’t make it on camera, but they finished with 60 jumping penalties and 20.8 time penalties.
1:36 ET – There’s a hold on course and as soon as we know what’s going on we’ll let you know.
1:37 ET – Word is that a frangible pin is broken at fence #6 – Liz Riley and It’s the Truth will be charged with launching the pin and it appears they’ve retired, but they’re making the fix and have us back underway momentarily.
Screenshot via USEF Network.
1:40 ET – Elinor Macphail and RF Eloquence on course now and cruising in huge gallop.
1:41 ET – Elinor takes the wide four strides in the angled corners but goes clean so far!
1:42 ET – Phillip Dutton and Z on course now.
1:43 ET – Booli Selmayr and Jaeda are our first official double clear! (Update: this was a scoring error, they had 19 time penalties)
1:44 ET – Eli slows down through the ruins to get it done, then cruises through the kennels and heads toward the last few fences on course.
1:45 ET – Phillip Dutton and Z looking strong over the course, and word is that Eli finished clear with about 20 seconds over the time.
1:46 ET – Phillip is through the final water and flirting with the optimum time
1:47 ET – Savannah Fulton and Captain Jack wrapping up on course now, through the ruins clean.
Savannah and Captain Jack.
1:49 ET – Jenny Caras and Fernhill Fortitude on course now and clear through the first half.
1:52 ET – Lillian Heard and Arundel on course and clear through the first water.
1:53 ET – Phillips official score on Z added 6.8 time penalties to put them in first provisionally with a 59.2
1:54 ET – Jenny Caras home clear, will bring you her time as soon as we get it!
1:55 ET – Robin Walker on course with Freedoms Light
1:57 ET – Lillian Heard and Arundel are on the final stretch, and rode very aggressively through the angled kennels and clear through final fences – she will have some time faults but she looks very pleased!
1: 58 ET – Canadian combo Lisa Marie Fergusson and Honor Me on course now, this horse looks incredibly athletic. (Jenni tells us he’s a welsh cob/TB cross)
1:59 ET – Robin Walker has some sticky moments in the ruins but Robin coaches him through it like a champ and they’re clear through there.
2:00 ET – Robin Walker and Freedoms Light complete their first CIC3*, well done!
2:01 ET – Sharon White and Cooley on Show on course now in their festive orange and gray.
2:02 ET – Lisa and Honor Me have a very deepy sticky moment in the ruins but they power through!
Lisa Marie Fergusson and Honor Me.
2:03 ET – Jenny Caras and Fernhill Fortitude add 12 time faults to their final score for 75.20 altogether.
2:04 ET – Sharon and Cooley on Show clear through the kennels!
2:06 ET – Ryan Wood and Woodstock Bennett on course now and looking sharp, currently in 10th place. Sharon White is through and possibly close if not under time! We’ll let you know when the final score comes in.
2:08 ET – Ryan and Bennett are through the ruins, as well as the angled kennels
2:09 ET – Erin Sylvester and Mettraise are on course now for Erin’s second ride of the day. Ryan and Bennett complete the course with a bit of time. One more ride for Ryan today!
2:10 ET – Another Canadian pair wrapping up – Jordan Thompson and Femme Fatale super sticky at the top of the ruins, but they scrape through!
2:11 ET – Megan O’Donaghue and Palm Crescent on course now. Jordan and Femme Fatale have a heartstopping final fence but complete!
2:15 ET – Erin Sylvester and Mettraise looking fresh and resplendent on course:
Erin Sylvester and Mettraise
2:17 ET – Score update: If these scores hold, they’re currently showing Sharon White and Cooley on Show as our first double clear to put her into first place for the moment! Lisa Marie Fergusson and Honor Me also had a double clear round to put them provisionally in sixth.
2:18 ET – Megan and Palm Crescent wrap up their round beautifully through the kennels and final water. This is a very exciting prospect for Megan!
2:19 ET – Sara Moore and Polaris on course and moving along, Adrian Jones and Magnificent Toy just starting their round.
2:20 ET – Sara and Polaris are through the ruins and the angled kennels.
2:21 ET – Our second placed pair Phillip Dutton and Mr. Candyman are now on course!
2:23 ET – Phillip and Mr. Candyman clear through the first water.
2:25 ET – Megan O’Donaghue and Palm Crescent add only four time faults to pop up to third for the moment.
2:27 ET – Phil and “Elmo” looking fantastic and clearly cruising for the time. It appears he’ll be inside the OT!
Phillip and Mr. Candyman
2:28 ET – Justine Dutton and Jak My Style on course now and clear through the ruins.
2:30 ET – Emily Hammel and Ramsey on course, just heading out is Gina Economou and Calidore
2:32 ET – Phillip Dutton’s official score on Mr Candyman adds just 2.8 time to put him in first for the moment.
2:33 ET – Emily Hammel and Ramsey have a gutting stop in the final water and after circling get through it.
2:34 ET – Will Coleman out on his second horse aboard Tight Lines, a lovely big gray.
2:35 ET – Will through the angled brushes at 13.
2:36 ET – Jennie Brannigan now out aboard I Bella.
2:37 ET – We can confirm a retirement on course, Gina and Calidore. Sounds like they’re okay but living to fight another day.
2:38 ET – Will and Tight Lines living up to their names and cruising through the ruins and angled kennels. Had a bit of a skip stride in the final water but they’re through clear!
2:39 ET – Jennie and I Bella clear through the angled brushes and ruins.
2:40 ET – Hallie Coon and Celien out on course now.
2:42 ET – Jennie and I Bella are clean in the final water and over the final fence, we assume with a handful of time. We’ll bring you their official score as soon as we get it.
2:43 ET – Will Faudree out on course now aboard 10-year-old Hans Dampf, lovely prospect from Europe.
2:44 ET – Hallie Coon and Celien clean through the ruins and kennels.
2:45 ET – Hallie and Celien have a very fast round that’s perfectly competitive with a string of world-class riders. She’s surely pleased as punch with that.
2:47 ET – Buck Davidson and Park Trader are out now.
2:48 ET – Will Faudree clear through the ruins despite a sticky moment and over the angled kennels.
2:49 ET – Will and Hans have a hard rub going into the water and activate the frangible pin on the drop log.
2:50 ET – Buck has a fall at the far end of the course, but both he and Park Trader are up and okay, if not sorely disappointed.
2:51 ET – Boyd Martin and Crackerjack make several efforts on course before being held while they repair the two frangible pin repairs on course – one for Will, and one for the big oxer which Buck activated in his fall.
Boyd and Crackerjack walking during the course hold.
2:53 ET – This long hold will unfortunately come with Boyd out on course and just Ryan Wood and Phillip Dutton left to go on their third horses of the day, respectively.
2:55 ET – Our top ten current appears as follows:
2:56 ET – They’re back underway and Boyd is straight back into his full gallop and over the oxer that spelled trouble for Buck.
2:58 ET – Ryan Wood and Powell are now out as well.
2:59 ET – Boyd and Crackers through the ruins and clean through the angled kennels, as well as the final water.
3:00 ET – The hold makes it tricky to know Boyd’s time, but we’ll let you know as soon as we’ve got something official.
3:01 ET – Ryan and Powell are clean through the first water and angled brushes.
3:02 ET – Phillip Dutton and I’m So Ready are out now and will be looking to sew like the wind and attempt to nab the win.
3:03 ET – Ryan is still clear through the course so far, and Phillip and I’m Sew Ready clean through the first water.
3:04 ET – Ryan and Powell are clear through the final water and heading into the final fences, though they don’t look like they’ll be in it with a competitive time. As soon as we know, we’ll update you.
3:05 ET – Phillip and I’m Sew Ready hung a leg doing down the ruins drop, but stay on their feet and don’t even register the blip on their way through the rest of the complex.
3:07 ET – Textbook through the angled kennels, looking great on time as they cross the flags!
Phillip and I’m Sew Ready
3:08 ET – The word is that Phillip Dutton had 10.8 time on I’m Sew Ready to flip his two top rides in the leaderboard. He’ll win it with Mr. Candyman and take either second or third on I’m Sew Ready! Still waiting on a time for Ryan Wood and Boyd Martin, but we suspect Boyd captured the third slot.
3:11 ET – Ryan Wood and Powell add 20.4 time penalties to finish in 13th place. We’re still waiting on Boyd’s score, as there’s a bit more math to be done with the hold during his round.
3:13 ET – We’re hearing word that unfortunately Buck Davidson broke his collarbone in his fall. We’re sending him some healing vibes after a rough day!
3:15 ET – Overall, however, it was a day low in jumping penalties with two retirements, two pairs with refusals, and Buck’s fall on the Mike Etherington-Smith course. It was the time penalties that completely shook up today’s standings. Sharon White appears to have made the most out of a fast trip today, using one of the rare double clears to catapult from 11th to the provisionally fourth slot aboard Cooley On Show.
3:18 ET – Word is in! Boyd and Crackerjack turns out to be our third double-clear, good enough to split Phillip’s hat trick and nab the second place slot. Congratulations to all the riders on a great day of sport! Here is the final top ten:
Thank you all for joining us for the live updates, and keep it locked on EN for more photos, videos, and full reports to come from our reporters in the field.
Video from the American Eventing Championships has been trickling in this week from RNS Video, and today we get to take a peek at all three phases of the winning ride in the Professional’s Choice Training Horse Division. The winner was Courtney Cooper aboard Tender Bravissimo, a seven-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by the Dare to Dream Team.
Courtney and “Whiskers” scored an impressive 22.5 in dressage and held onto that score to the finish. It was a much needed clear, as Olympic alternate Lynn Symansky was just .2 points behind her in the division aboard SpectraVET Cohiba. Courtney has built a strong ownership team for the horse, and after winning the AECs, she told US Eventing that the ultimate goal for Whiskers is to get him to the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event.
He competed in jumper classes in Ireland before Courtney imported him in December 2015, and he began his eventing career in February of this year. He took to the new discipline with zeal, collecting several top finishes at Training level including a second place at Flora Lea H.T. in May and a win at Plantation Field in June.
For those of us who may not pine for a shot at Rolex but do push ourselves to succeed in the lower levels, it’s useful and motivating to see what exactly comprises the winning test of a training level horse.
Courtney and the rest of C Square Farm are back at it competing at Plantation Field this weekend, so we wish her and the team the best of luck.
It’s here! The final rounds of Plantation Field cross country will commence this afternoon, with the first CIC3* ride going out at 12:40 p.m. ET. You can watch the livestream here, follow the order of go here, and we’ll be posting live updates on Eventing Nation, as well. With reporters on the ground and all the stats, facts, and updates an eventing fan could absorb, we’re here to make sure you won’t have to miss a minute of the action known around town as the “Best. Event. Ever.”
In the meantime, whet your appetite by getting in a smooth, peaceful, double clear round by way of drone in the video below, courtesy of the USEF Network. (If you’re looking for the fence-by-fence preview, you can check that out at this link.)
