Classic Eventing Nation

A Look into the Crystal Ball of West Coast Eventing at Twin Rivers

By on Mar 4, 2024 10:30 am -

Molly Duda and Disco Traveler. Ride On Photo.

The 2024 Twin Rivers Winter Horse Trials in Paso Robles, California, showed how much there is to be excited about for the future of West Coast eventing.

Molly Duda and Disco Traveler moved up to the Advanced level for the first time and won— setting the horse and young rider up to make their four-star debut this year. James Alliston, who campaigned Karma to be the 2023 Bates USEA Mare of the Year, showcased another speedy bay mare in Cora for her first victory at the Intermediate level. At the Preliminary level, Tamie Smith won the Open division with Sumas Tina Turner in the U.S. debut for the Irish Sport Horse mare that previously competed up to the three-star level with Australian Olympian Kevin McNab in Great Britain. In the Preliminary Rider division, Lex D ridden by Audrey Sanborn won his first blue ribbon since capturing the 2021 Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse West Coast Championship for 5-year-olds, and it was Sanborn’s first victory at the upper levels in a USEA-recognized event.

Duda, who moved up to and won her three-star debut at the 2023 Twin Rivers Spring International for her first FEI victory at the age of 18, took the next step in her promising young career at Twin Rivers’ first recognized event of 2024.

“The weekend was absolutely surreal,” she said. “It was both my and Disco’s first Advanced, so my goal was just to finish on a number, but taking the win was beyond what I ever imagined. It is truly a testament to the partnership I have built with this horse over the years and the team behind us that makes all of this possible—especially my wonderful coaches, Mickayla Howard, Tamie Smith, Bec Braitling, and Robyn Fisher.”

“Just to finishing on a number” turned out to be finishing on the lowest number for Duda and Disco. Duda and the 15-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Donatelli x Cadence) were second after a dressage score of 36.6, moved into the lead with the fastest round on Morgan Rowsell’s Advanced cross-country course by adding 12.0 time penalties, and jumped clear and added two seconds of time penalties in show jumping to finish on a score of 49.4.

“Moving forward, the plan is for Disco to run the CCI4*-S at Galway Downs [California] later this month and aim for the CCI4*-L at Rebecca Farm [Montana] this summer,” Duda said. “Disco continues to exceed every expectation of him, and I’m beyond excited for the rest of the season with him.”

In second and third at Advanced were two California-based five-star riders with Bec Braitling and Caravaggio II (Vangelis-S x Courtesan) just 0.7 points back in second and Tamie Smith and Elliot V (Zavall VDL x Vera-R) in third. Duda credits the support of and camaraderie with the top-level West Coast eventers for her growth.

“On the first day, Tamie led a cross-country course walk for the entire Advanced division, and everyone walked the lines together and discussed strategies,” Duda said. “Tamie’s generosity is infectious, and the sense of community she creates among the competitors is truly special.”

James Alliston and Cora. Ride On Photo.

As he looks ahead to the five-star debut for Karma (Escudo II x Travita) at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, Alliston is quickly moving Cora (Commissario x La-Montana) up the levels.

“The first thing, she’s massive,” Alliston said about the 9-year-old bay Hanoverian mare. “She’s really, really tall. She’s probably the tallest horse I’ve ridden. I don’t know exactly what she sticks at, but she must be 18 hands—really big, enormous. She’s German. She’s kind of cool — she doesn’t look like she’d be super speedy, but she’s a really good galloper and has all the pieces. So, we’re excited.”

Their first event together at the Novice level came at the Twin Rivers Fall International in September 2022. Then 2023 saw them start the year at Training and finish at Intermediate. They were the fastest on Adri Doyal’s Intermediate cross-country at the Twin Rivers Winter Horse Trials, adding 1.2 time penalties, and then show jumped clear to finish with a score of 34.2. James’ wife, Helen Alliston, was second with Call Me Rudi (Clooney x Genia).

“We got her with just 90 days under saddle,” Alliston. “She’s come along quite quickly and been pretty straightforward to move up the levels. It’s been nice. She’s one of those ones that does everything quite easily so far, so you feel like you could go quite quickly with her.”

Tamie Smith and Sumas Tina Turner. Ride On Photo.

Then at Preliminary, Sumas Tina Turner (Quantino x Sumas Fanny Brice) and Tamie Smith were “simply the best” in the Open division, finishing on their dressage score of 23.2 and leading after each phase. The 8-year-old chestnut Irish Sport Horse mare whose biggest career victory came in the CCI2*-L at Mallow in Ireland in 2023 with McNab represents another promising eventing prospect that Smith campaigns for owner Julianne Guariglia. Smith previously rode Guariglia’s Solaguayre California (Casparo x Solaguayre Calandria) up to the five-star level.
Sanborn and Lex D (Freeman VDL x Berber), an 8-year-old bay Dutch Warmblood gelding, finished on their dressage score of 22.4 in the Preliminary Rider division in the important win for their careers.

Audrey Sanborn and Lex D. Ride On Photo.

The 2024 Twin Rivers Winter Horse Trials were run against a backdrop of rainy weather in California’s wine country of Paso Robles.

“The show was exceptionally well run, and the organizers did a great job rearranging the schedule with the rain to ensure the quality of the footing for the upper-level horses,” Duda said. “Morgan [Rowsell] designed a fantastic cross-country course, which asked a lot of challenging technical questions but ended up riding really well.”

In addition to adapting the schedule to the weather, show organizers also sealed the dirt-based cross-country tracks overnight and adjusted which jumps would be offered based on the changing conditions.

“We’re so appreciative of how our riders came together to make this a successful first recognized event of the year at Twin Rivers,” organizer Connie Baxter said. “When conditions are tough, you really see how special the eventing community on the West Coast is.”

Twin Rivers will next host the Twin Rivers Spring International from April 11-14 offering FEI levels up to four-star. Entries opened on February 27 and close on March 26. The Twin Rivers Summer Horse Trials will run from June 27-30 up to the Advanced level and also offer Twin’s first Young Event Horse competitions on the road to the 2024 USEA Young Event Horse West
Coast Championships that will take place October 25-26. Twin Rivers will also host the Twin Rivers Fall International from September 19-22.

Twin Rivers Winter H.T. (Paso Robles, CA) [Website][Scoring]

Gatcombe’s Festival of British Eventing Bows Out After 40 Years

By on Mar 4, 2024 9:45 am -

Tim Price takes the British Open Championship at Gatcombe in 2022. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

It’s getting all too routine to see events falling out of the British Eventing calendar as the cost of living crisis rages on and the financial reality of hosting events becomes increasingly untenable. But for all that, it was still a major shock when Gatcombe’s Festival of British Eventing, which takes place in early August in the unique terrain of Princess Anne’s Gatcombe Estate, announced today that it would not be running any longer.

The Festival has undergone some major changes in the past number of years: while it used to host international classes, including a CCI4*-S that was a popular part of the now-defunct Event Rider Masters line-up, it has been national-only in recent years. Those national classes have still had major status, though, as they’ve been the hosts of a plethora of national championships from Novice to Advanced, including the coveted British Open Championship at the top level and the Retraining of Racehorses Championship at Intermediate Novice. But in 2023, despite the best efforts of the on-site team, much of the weekend’s scheduled competition had to be necessarily abandoned due to relentless rainfall.

This has played no small part, it would appear, in the tough decision the organising team has come to.

“It is with a heavy heart that The Festival, which has played a significant part in the British Eventing calendar since 1983, cannot run this year. The event has also been a huge part of my family’s lives and those of many others for 40 years,” says Event Director Peter Phillips – son of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips and brother of Zara Tindall – in a statement, which cites ‘the ever-increasing costs associated with operating on a green field site’ and the current economic climate as the root cause of the event’s demise.

“[The event] has built up a large community that has enjoyed and celebrated The Festival each year. I would like to thank everyone who has been involved over the past four decades; our sponsors for their unwavering support, the large selection of trade stands and arena entertainment and our spectators who have loved coming to Gatcombe to watch the world-class equestrian sport from the famous Park Bowl.”

Gatcombe’s unique terrain will no longer feature in the British eventing landscape. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Captain Mark Phillips, who designs the event’s courses, adds, “The horse trials at Gatcombe and, more recently, the Festival of British Eventing have been a major part of my life for over 40 years when The Princess Royal and I first had the dream. The dream became reality, and with it, many special memories of the many riders, horses, volunteers, sponsors and spectators all of whom massively contributed to the history of the horse trials at Gatcombe Park. It’s truly a great sadness that the original model and indeed the sport has changed so much. Since Covid, costs, particularly insurance, have risen so much that the numbers no longer add up. It is an end of an era, the next 40 years of the sport will be different, let’s hope it can be equally special.”

British Eventing’s new CEO Rosie Williams shares in the disappointment, and is working towards reallocating these important championship classes.

“It is incredibly sad news for everyone involved in the sport,” she writes. “My focus this year is very much going to be on how we can implement a strategy that works for the sport going forward.  We need to do everything we can to find a way to support our organisers, landowners and stakeholders to make events at wonderful venues like Gatcombe become viable.  We will work hard as a governing body to assist in any way we can for the financial risk and burden to be minimised so that we can welcome Gatcombe, and others like it, back into the calendar. We will continue to be ongoing in discussions with Peter and the team at Gatcombe and will also be, as a matter of urgency, discussing a tender process for the national championships which will need to find a new home for this season and going forward.”

We’ve previously seen these classes run at Burgham, in 2021 when Covid forced Gatcombe’s cancellation, but for now, we have no news of where they might go next. We’ll keep you updated as the story develops.

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Mar 4, 2024 8:19 am -


I love this time of year. There’s eventing underway in the US; the British Eventing season kicked off over the weekend despite rain and even snow making life a touch tricky for folks around the country; we’re starting to see entry lists fill up for the early-season four-stars; Badminton and Kentucky are racing closer (a fact that makes my stomach feel like it’s going to explode with butterflies, which I hope isn’t just a sign that actually, I’m in my thirties now and maybe I’ve developed a GI issue as a result); and everything’s full-steam ahead for the Olympics. Everything is still yet to happen – the stories are yet to unfold, and the possibilities are truly endless. And alongside all of the above? All our favourite events are well into their 2024 planning and building. Germany’s Luhmühlen CCI5* and CCI4*-S is a longtime EN fave, and today, they released their first look at what Mike Etherington-Smith has got up his sleeve for this year’s courses. Join him, friend of EN Juliane Barth, and a whole bunch of heavy machinery out on course and see how the stage will be set for one of the biggest showdowns pre-Paris. It’s going to be a remarkable week of sport.

National Holiday: It’s National Grammar Day. Mind you’re words and contractions.

US Weekend Action:

2024 $100,000 Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Results] [Ride For Charity Teams] [Ride For Charity Online Vote] [EN’s Coverage]

Full Gallop Farm March Wednesday H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Results]

Rocking Horse Winter III H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website] [Results]

Sporting Days Farm March H.T. II (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Results]

Twin Rivers Winter H.T. (Paso Robles, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Results]

Your Monday Reading List:

If you’re a committed entry list stalker, you might have noticed something interesting on the Montelibretti 3* line-up for this week. That something interesting is an entry from Australia’s Chris Burton, who left eventing in 2021 to focus on showjumping. Now, it appears, he’s back – and with an exciting new partner in Shadow Man, the former 5* mount of Britain’s Ben Hobday. Here’s how they’re getting on so far, and confirmation that yes, Burto has had the horse since before the cut-off date for Olympic ownership to be secured.

Speaking of folks getting the bug again, that’s exactly what happened to dentist Dr Jesse Akers Reagin. Her hiatus was a touch longer – 18 years, in fact! – but after attending a baby shower in 2019 at the farm of Katie Malensek, Canada’s high-flying vet-turned-team-member, she felt that spark reignite and knew it was well worth trying to get horses back into her life. And now? Well, she’s doing pretty darn well herself.

Okay, we know eventing prize money ain’t all that. But how does it actually compare to the pots across the disciplines? Horse & Hound dived into the numbers, and it turns out that while we’re definitely not leading the charge, we’re also not at the bottom of the heap. It makes for some interesting reading, and has certainly reignited my spark for working out the hows and the whys. Here’s what they found.

One of the best ways to ensure everyone is well-represented in sport is to make sure that everyone who has something to contribute is given a voice and a platform. That’s why I’m really pleased to see that US Eventing is now offering complimentary digital memberships to USEA affiliates – including members of volunteering programs and regional eventing associations. The former actually got this benefit last year, and the addition of the latter should give more of a platform for those regional programs to be able to highlight the challenges and benefits of hosting the sport in various parts of the country. Find out more information here and remember: a governing body is the sum of all its subsidiary voices, opinions, and pushes for change. Make sure yours is heard.

Morning Viewing: 

Every year at Badminton, I’m once again struck by just how fun — and challenging! — the BE90 and BE100 Voltaire Design Grassroots Championship looks. It truly is the creme-de-la-creme of lower-level competition, and takes an enormous amount of planning, prep, and dedication to get to. I’ll never get a chance to try it for myself – I suspect it’ll be many decades yet that I’ll be deeply entrenched in reporting on Badminton itself! – so I’ll be living vicariously through those riders who are blogging and vlogging the whole experience, from their early-season runs and training to the week itself. Here’s one to get you started, that lays bear just how tricky it can be to get everything moving in the right direction. Come on, Donut – we’re rooting for you!

Who Jumped It Best? Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field

By on Mar 3, 2024 9:00 am -

It’ll be awhile before we’re fully recovered from the action (in a good way!) at this year’s Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field, so to keep the party going we’ve put together our first Who Jumped It Best? of 2024 for your consideration!

Take a look at the following pairs captured over the fence 19, the Palmetto Golf Club. Most of the fences on course are built and designed to pay homage to the local area of Aiken. Captain Mark Phillips designs the course at Bruce’s Field, and the jumps are all built by the immensely talented team of ETB Equine Construction.

You can cast your vote in the poll at the bottom of this post. Eternal EN karma to the winner! We can’t wait to see next year at Grand-Prix Eventing!

Catch up on our full coverage of #GPE2024, with support from Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt Real Estate, here.

Doug Payne and Quantum Leap. Photo by Sally Spickard.

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

Boyd Martin and Commando 3. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Shannon Lilley and Eindhoven Garette. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Sharon White and Claus 63. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Doug Payne and Quiberon. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Liz Halliday and Cooley Quicksilver. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Doug Payne and Camarillo. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Colleen Loach and Vermont. Photo by Sally Spickard.

We’re pleased to team up with Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt, with her robust expertise and portfolio of property options in the Aiken area, as the sponsor of our coverage of the Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field. Seasonal or year-round, southern charm and the sporting lifestyle await you in Aiken!

Sunday Links from SRF Carolina International

By on Mar 3, 2024 12:01 am -
Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. Photo by Sally Spickard. Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. Photo by Sally Spickard.

And just because he could, Will Coleman showed up to the 2024 $100,000 Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field with a vengeance, starting out the 2024 season with both first and second place prizes. Taking #AnEventLikeNoOther by storm (quite literally, see yesterday’s News and Notes to catch a soggy Sally and Shelby in action), Will and Hyperion Stud’s Chin Tonic HS finished on a 30.5 with the blue ribbon as predicted, adding just four seconds to their dressage score with even more to spare at the end of the day. Will’s second-place round on Off The Record, owned by the Off the Record Syndicate, was only a few points behind on a 33.2, just one second off their dressage score as well.

GPE 2022 champions Boyd Martin and the Annie Goodwin Syndicate’s Fedarman B followed behind Will in third place, nearly five points behind Chin Tonic’s leading score at 35.3. Liz Halliday, three-time GPE champion, managed to finish within the top 10 aboard all three of her mounts, along with New Zealand’s Monica Spencer, Liz’s recent Pan Am teammates Sydney Elliott and Sharon White, and 2023’s reserve champion Doug Payne.

Thanks to Will, Team Green in the Ride For Charity Team Challenge will also take the win, earning some big prize money for the Aiken County Pony Club. Second and third place Teams Purple and Orange will also receive donations to their charities, Battlefront Outdoors and Tri-Development Center, respectively. And speaking of prize money, thanks to the increase in winnings from $50K to $100K this year, I’m sure Will is leaving with quite the happy wallet.

U.S. Weekend Action

2024 $100,000 Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scores] [Ride For Charity Teams] [Ride For Charity Online Vote] [Volunteer] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Full Gallop Farm March Wednesday H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Rocking Horse Winter III H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Sporting Days Farm March H.T. II (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Twin Rivers Winter H.T. (Paso Robles, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

International Events

Portuguese Spring Tour (Mata do Duque) [Timetable] [Entries] [Scoring] [Portuguese Eventing Association Facebook Page] [More Info]

Links to Start Your Sunday:

Back From The Brink: California Eventer Lindsey Smith Returns To The Ring After Devastating Fall

Laughter and Learning at the 2024 Ocala Horse Properties USEA YEH Symposium

CHP is back! All About the Bayou Gulch Horse Trials

Training in the Right Way: The Components of an Effective Warmup

Studs 101: Max Corcoran’s Guide to Perfecting Your Stud-Kit

Sponsor Corner: Have you noticed some colorful new ponies around the Carolina Horse Park? The 5th Annual Painted Ponies Art Walk is here! The 16 Painted Ponies will be on display until April 2nd and will be auctioned off on April 6th, with all proceeds going to benefit the Carolina Horse Park Foundation. [Learn more here]

Morning Viewing: Because I will never deprive anyone of Chin Tonic, here are his and Will Coleman’s leading rounds from this weekend — never relinquishing first place in any phase. What a way to start the season!

Dressage:

Show Jumping:

Two for the Road: Coleman Swoops to 1-2 Finish at Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase

By on Mar 2, 2024 7:00 pm -

Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. Photo by Shelby Allen.

It’s always a safe bet that the cross country finale of the annual Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services stands to shake up the standings. Indeed, this year’s course — beefed up by Capt. Mark Phillips to up the ante for the increased $100,000 prize fund — held true to tradition and exerted its influence to ensure a nail-biting conclusion to the weekend.

Despite this influence, though, one pair stood above the rest: Will Coleman and Hyperion Stud’s Chin Tonic HS. After earning the lead after dressage with a flowing test worth a 26.5 from the judges (Paris Olympics Ground Jury member Xavier Le Sauce and the USA’s Valerie Pride), Will and “Chin” never looked back.

Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. Photo by Shelby Allen.

A hard-to-come-by double clear over Michel Vaillancourt’s show jumping course yesterday in the rain set them up for the win today, and though Will was cagey all week on how hard he’d try to make the time, he needn’t have worried much about that element. As the last to leave the start box today, he had a luxurious 16 seconds in hand and a guaranteed win after piloting the Off the Record Syndicate’s Off the Record to a quick clear that secured him a lead that could only be beat by “Timmy’s” stablemate.

He needed about 10 seconds of that time in hand, coming home handily with the all-class Holsteiner gelding by Chin Champ to earn his first Grand-Prix Eventing victory — and $53,000 worth of the prize pot.

“It was a pretty good week at the office,” Will commented. “A little different for us. We aren’t used to doing that [type of course], but it’s great. It’s good for the sport, I think, for other events to see that as possible. And what they’ve been able to create here is pretty, pretty cool. So it’s an awesome legacy for Bruce [Duchossois].”

Will Coleman and Off the Record. Photo by Shelby Allen.

“I think for everyone it’s probably a little outside their comfort zone,” he continued. “It’s 28 fences, packed into four minutes. You feel like you’re in a tumble dryer. You have to think fast, and the horses have to react. And I think it was helpful, I mean, even just the crowds, and some of the technicality that Mark laid out, I do think that there’s something the horses will take away from it, that’s very positive. So I was really pleased with both of my guys, and it served its purpose 1,000% coming here. I mean, it’s nice to win as well, but I think even if they hadn’t won, I still feel like I got what I wanted out of coming here. I do think championships are becoming a bit more like that — the modern sport is going a little bit more that way. I still really love the five-stars, but this is going to be a part or at least a taste of what the maybe the sport might be trending towards.”

With two horses well-positioned to make a bid for the U.S. team heading to the Paris Olympics this summer, Will circled this event on the calendar early on as he was making his plan for the season. Ordinarily, he told us this week, he wouldn’t necessarily put this event on his calendar when preparing for a 5* event. This year, he’s setting his horses up with strategic runs to help them peak just in time for a team selection, should that be how the cards fall.

Will Coleman and Off the Record. Photo by Shelby Allen.

“I still had a job to do for the last horse, for Chin, to give him a good ride and be responsible about how I took him around. And this is something we’re using for preparation for things down the road. So there was really no change in approach. It was more just, I probably backed off a little bit, given the fact that I had a little cushion with the time but I still wanted to go out there and give him a bit of a strong ride so that I could learn and see how he was thinking.”

Off the Record had one of the classiest rounds of the day, displaying just how strong his partnership is with Will. “Yeah, he’s just an amazing horse,” Will agreed. “He was really thinking with me the whole way. And I felt like he was on autopilot. Honestly, it was a really cool experience just how he was just almost reading the questions before I did. And you don’t often have those opportunities, but I think as horses get older, and they’ve been with you for a long time, you do start to feel like it’s kind of one mind out there. And it’s sort of what we had today. It was very, very cool.”

The extra dollars in the bank account certainly make the drive home tomorrow that much more enjoyable — after Will enjoys a round of golf as a part of the GPE Silent Auction put on over the weekend. As an extra and very well-deserved addition to the monies won, #supergrooms Hailey Burlock and Erin Jarboe took home the Groom’s Prize this weekend, which was funded by several generous donors from the Aiken area. Well done, ladies!

Boyd Martin and Fedarman B. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Finishing in the money again with the Annie Goodwin Syndicate’s Fedarman B is Boyd Martin, who bases in the Aiken area at Stable View this time of year. Boyd had a shot to finish second, but picked up 10 seconds of time with “Bruno” to finish on a score of 35.3 in third place overall. Boyd’s also taken a similar approach to Will with his season planning, as he’s well-sat this year to make a strong run at the Olympic squad. Fedarman B would be one horse he’s preparing to make a bid with, and en route to a potential team selection the 14-year-old Dutch gelding by Eurocommerce Washington. He’ll aim for the Lexington 4*S at the end of April.

“It was for sure a much more challenging, demanding course this year and it took a fair bit of riding actually,” Boyd said. He finished in 17th with Yankee Creek Ranch’s Commando 3, who activated a frangible pin at fence 8. The Turner family’s Tsetserleg TSF had a trip up the bank at fence 21, after which Boyd opted to retire.

“I was on three top horses and my green one sort of misread the corner, but then jumped the rest of the track well and then Thomas had a bit of a mishap at the bank. I dusted myself off and Bruno had a fantastic round. He’s such an honest horse. He’s light in the mouth, and he’s quick and he’s agile. I sort of went about the speed that I felt comfortable at without sort of taking too many risks.”

Liz Halliday and Cooley Nutcracker. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Though she couldn’t quite get the hat trick of victories done, 2022 and 2023 GPE winner Liz Halliday secured a fourth place finish in the money with Ocala Horse Properties‘ and Debbie Halliday’s Cooley Nutcracker, who handily jumped around with 7.2 time penalties for a finishing score of 38.8.

“I was absolutely thrilled, he’s still young and he’s never done anything like this before,” Liz, who had the chance to ride in front of her full group of owners (“That never happens that we’re all in the same place!”), said. “It’s his first run of the year, and I sort of of said to his owners that I was just going to listen to him and give him a good run today rather than chase the time like a madwoman, and he was just absolutely brilliant. I think it was a great experience for him to have to do the twists and the turns with the crowds. I was really over the moon with how he jumped that drop — he’s a very careful, good jumper and in the past he would have really over-jumped everything, and so I was just thrilled.”

Cooley Quicksilver has a neat trip down the Broken Bridge question. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Liz admits she was one of the critics of the Barton’s Pond Broken Bridge jump that had everyone buzzing all week as the newest addition to Capt. Mark Phillips’ arsenal on course this year, but was pleased to find all three of her horses read and jumped the question quite well. The advice from the designer was not to bounce the bank, which was set to be a short one-stride, but after the first few horses bounced the drop neatly, almost everyone went on to do the bounce.

“I ranted and raved about hating the bank but then all my horses jumped it great!” Liz laughed. “We all learned something this week — what we all learned is that the longer distance gave them enough room and they all jumped it really well.”

Liz has a busy few weeks ahead of her with her string, with all three horses heading next to Carolina International in two weeks’ time. Cooley Nutcracker is preparing for his 5* debut at Kentucky at the end of April, while Cooley Quicksilver will hit the Tryon 4*-L and Miks Master C will do the 4*-S at Kentucky.

Monica Spencer and Artist. Photo by Shelby Allen.

New Zealand’s Monica Spencer also enjoyed a successful weekend in her first big run since becoming a semi-permanent resident of the U.S. with her off-track Thoroughbred, Artist. Monica sold off most of her horses and moved her operation to the U.S., basing out of Sweet Dixie South in Ocala for the time being and planning to stay here in the States for at least the next two years. Monica is yet another rider here this weekend vying for a coveted Olympic spot, and with a strong performance at World Championships in 2022 as well as the Maryland 5 Star, she’ll certainly be on the map for the Kiwis.

For her efforts with the nippy and good-galloping Artist, Monica also took home awards for Top Rookie and Top Thoroughbred. We’ll see her head for the Defender Kentucky 5* at the end of April, where she’ll stand to make a strong bid for a podium finish there.

Will Coleman, Doug Payne, and Sharon White gather intel before their rides. Photo by Shelby Allen.

In total, 19 of the 30 starting pairs produced clear rounds today, though the 4:18 optimum time proved, as always, difficult to catch. So much so that Canadian rider Waylon Roberts with the Koppin family’s OKE Ruby R were the sole pair to catch the time, finishing bang on it in fact.

Waylon Roberts and OKE Ruby R storm to the sole clear inside the time. Photo by Sally Spickard.

The most influential fences would wind up being the Broken Bridge at 10, which unseated Phillip Dutton from Possante and Sara Kozumplik from Rubens d’Ysieux, the Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt Corner of Whiskey & Easy at fence 8, which caught out a handful of riders with runouts and also had an activated frangible pin by Boyd Martin and Commando 3. The Aiken Post Office corners (fence 18 and 27) also caused a bit of trouble, unseating Ireland’s Austin O’Connor from Carlson 119, who came up lame on a foreleg but is reported to be uninjured, as is his rider. Austin collected the Annie Goodwin Sportsmanship Award as well.

I look forward to this event every single year, and if you haven’t had a chance to experience it in person I suggest you put it on your bucket list. While of course it’s a much different format than the sport we’re familiar with, it’s an excellent showcase of eventing in a very spectator-friendly way.

Shannon Lilley and Eindhoven Garette catch some air. Photo by Shelby Allen.

“It’s fantastic that Aiken’s got this sort of premiere event,” Boyd Martin concurred. “I think it’s sort of the first proper, big time competition for the season for all the event horses that have been building their fitness up in December, January and February and I think because it’s a short course it doesn’t put any too much too much strain on the horse’s legs.”

The atmosphere here at Bruce’s Field is unrivaled and the energy is electric, and I have to say a big thank you to the organizing team, the Aiken Horse Park Foundation, the incredible sponsors who support this event, and the volunteers who spent their days (especially in the slop yesterday!) helping ensure things ran smoothly.

EN now kicks on for Carolina International, with remote coverage from Bouckaert International’s 4*S next weekend coming your way as well as we look ahead to a very big year. Thank you as always for following along with us — Go Eventing.

$100,000 Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Final Scores] [Live Stream Replays] [EN’s Coverage] [Ultimate Guide]

We’re pleased to team up with Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt, with her robust expertise and portfolio of property options in the Aiken area, as the sponsor of our coverage of the Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field. Seasonal or year-round, southern charm and the sporting lifestyle await you in Aiken!

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Mar 2, 2024 12:01 am -

Photo via Athletux on Instagram.

Usually at a highlight event that I’ve never been to before I’d wax poetic about how I wish I were there, but you know what? I think I’m okay with being home at the moment (sorry Sally and Shelby!) Of course I’d love to be there for the cross country action today especially, but dang, am I happy to have been able to stay dry yesterday. Like we always say: eventers are a tough bunch. You better believe that includes the eventing media! And let me tell you, trying to keep you camera equipment dry is no joke!

U.S. Weekend Action

2024 $100,000 Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Ride For Charity Teams] [Ride For Charity Online Vote] [Volunteer] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Full Gallop Farm March Wednesday H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Rocking Horse Winter III H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Sporting Days Farm March H.T. II (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Twin Rivers Winter H.T. (Paso Robles, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

International Events

Portuguese Spring Tour (Mata do Duque) [Timetable] [Entries] [Scoring] [Portuguese Eventing Association Facebook Page] [More Info]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Amateur Showcase: After 18-Year Hiatus, Young Rider Turned Dentist Is An Upper-Level Eventer Again

Here to Help: new campaign to encourage more riders into eventing

Black Girl Equestrians aims to diversify horseback riding

Topline Dysfunction in Sport Horses

American Horse Council: What National Horse Protection Day Means For Horse Owners

Sponsor Corner: Did you notice the gorgeous boots Caroline Pamukcu was wearing when she won the Individual Gold Medal at the Pan American Games in 2023? Yup, you spotted it– that’s an American flag on those beautiful Sergio Grasso boots. Create a custom pair of Sergio Grasso Boots by contacting World Equestrian Brands.

Morning Viewing: About that rain though…

Chin Tonic HS Untouchable in $100,000 Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field

By on Mar 1, 2024 9:07 pm -

Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. Photo by Sally Spickard.

It’s been five years since Will Coleman graced the entry list here at Bruce’s Field, but he’s returned with a bang: headlining the leaderboard of the 2024 $100,000 Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field with EquiRatings’ favorite to win Chin Tonic HS. 

With such a banner year ahead — the elephant in the room being the 2024 Paris Olympic Games — Will opted to move “Chin” outside his comfort zone. “He’s never been here before, so that was part of the idea. We’re trying to just continue to season him for some some bigger things in his career. He’s kind of entering his prime, I would say,” he said of Hyperion Stud’s 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Chin Champ – Wildera, by Quinar). “Our plan is to not do a five-star this year, so we decided that this event could serve as well. And we’re going to use the atmosphere and sort of the five-star feel that it gives you here, which I think very beneficial [for both my horses.]”

Will is likely not alone in this goal, and tomorrow’s cross country test, which packs 29 efforts in a 4 minute 18 second time, may emulate more of the twisty, punchy course we may expect at the upcoming Olympics.

“I don’t know if [this kind of track] really suits any horse that well, but that’s part of why you do it. I think you can get better from from doing stuff like this,” Will explained. “And for Chin, he’s a really good horse, and he’s gotten way better in his cross country at reading the questions, but this will be a good early season test where the rideability is and where his brain is.”

Will Coleman and Off The Record. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Both of Will’s entries, Chin and Off The Record, who jumped five spaces from 10th to 5th, were among the sixteen to jump a double clear effort, contributing to the 43% clear jumping rate.

Phillip Dutton and Possante. Photo by Shelby Allen.

U.S. Team stalwart Phillip Dutton moved himself into the reserve position with Possante, an 11-year-old KWPN gelding (Namelus R – Wendelien, by Otangelo) who was previously campaigned by Emily King. Their partnership began in earnest only recently in the fall of 2023.

“We’re still getting to know each other, and we’re very excited. Obviously he’s a talented horse, but you never quite know what they’re going to do when you have atmosphere and conditions like we had today. He stepped up, but we really haven’t been to battle yet on cross country with anything too difficult, so we’ll see how we do tomorrow,” Phillip said.

Owned by The Possante Group, “Impy” remains on his dressage score of 30.6 after a faultless jumping effort despite a less than ideal warmup.

Phillip Dutton and Quasi Cool. Photo by Shelby Allen.

“We jumped better than I thought he was going to because in the warm up he’s very spooky,” Phillip described. “He’s a bit horse shy, and there’s a lot of people there, so the warm up was more difficult than getting in the ring. There’s a lot lot to look at [too, in the arena] with the cross country jumps and it’s quite a unique arena to jumping in. I was really pleased with him.”

Phillip’s second ride, Caroline Moran’s Quasi Cool, moved down the leaderboard from third to eighth after having one rail down and two seconds against the clock.

Boyd Martin and Fedarman B. Photo by Shelby Allen.

2022 Champions Boyd Martin and the Annie Goodwin Syndicate’s Fedarman B hold third place overnight. “Bruno” is one of the strongest show jumpers in the field — he and Boyd have only had one rail down in their International career together — and he looked very much at home around Michel Villancourt’s track.

“He’s a champion. He’s probably the best show jumper I’ve ever had, so there’s never an excuse to have a rail down. He’s a phenomenal athlete. He’s razor sharp, He’s confident. He’s careful. And he’s one of the only horses I just have immense confidence in, going into the show jumping.  sometimes I’ve got to make make myself cautious enough, because he’s so so good at jumping, that I don’t get too blasé,” Boyd said of the 14-year-old KWPN gelding (Clooney – Paulien B, by Fedor).

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Second after dressage, Tsetserleg TSF tumbled down to sixth after a miscommunication at fence three saw the rail fall. He carries a current score of 33. Boyd’s final ride Commando 3 sits 14th after a double clear show jumping result.

Liz Halliday and Cooley Nutcracker. Photo by Shelby Allen.

With more wins here than any other rider, Liz Halliday is currently most competitive with Cooley Nutcracker, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tolant R – Ballyshan Cleopatra, by Cobra) owned by his namesake syndicate. She and “Bali” are fourth after a clear round on a score of 31.6, which is just over five points behind our leaders.

Her two other rides, Cooley Quicksilver and Miks Master C each saw one pole come down and sit 12th and 16th, respectively.

Monica Spencer and Artist. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Seventh place belongs to kiwi eventer Monica Spencer and her ex-racehorse Artist. You may recognize the name from the Maryland CCI5*-L last fall where they finished seventh. After that top ten display, Monica returned home to the southern hemisphere before relocating once again to the United States only a month ago. This being their first run of the 2024 season, she and “Max,” hold their dressage score of 33.2 going into Saturday’s cross country finale.

Colleen Loach and Vermont. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Flying the flag for Canada, Colleen Loach moved herself into the top ten with Peter Barry’s Vermont, a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Van Helsing – Hauptstutbuch Hollywood, by Heraldik xx). They hold a score of 34.6 after a double clear show jumping effort.

Doug Payne and Camarillo. Photo by Shelby Allen.

The best of Doug Payne’s three entries is Camarillo, a 10-year-old Zweibrucker gelding (Chicardo – Rehobeth, by Riverman) owned by Doug and Patrice Jennings-Rado. The quick-footed grey remains on his dressage score of 35.3 for 10th place overnight.

Cross country begins at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday with Doug set as our first rider aboard Quantum Leap. If you aren’t some of the lucky ones joining us in Aiken tomorrow, watch all the action on Horse & Country. Click here to view your options and access the live stream.

$100,000 Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Ride For Charity Teams] [Ride For Charity Online Vote] [Volunteer] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage] [Ultimate Guide]

We’re pleased to introduce Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt, with her robust expertise and portfolio of property options in the Aiken area, as the sponsor of our coverage of the Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field. Seasonal or year-round, southern charm and the sporting lifestyle await you in Aiken!

Revised Eventing Format Submitted to IOC for LA 2028 Consideration

By on Mar 1, 2024 2:41 pm -

The new proposed format for eventing in the Olympics would see cross country held as the final team phase of competition. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Horse & Hound has today reported that the FEI has confirmed its submission of a revised eventing format to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which, if approved, will change the look and feel of the sport as we know it in Olympic competition.

Originally proposed in this year’s FEI Eventing Seminar — “The message of the IOC president was very clear: change, or be changed,” FEI president Ingmar de Vos said then — the proposed format will shift to a mixed short-format and long-format event, with cross country being the final phase of team competition. It’s been emphasized that the cross country would still adhere to a longer, championship level of around 10 minutes’ optimum time, but this phase would be run as the final, medal-deciding phase. For individual medals, a fourth day designated for a final show jumping round would be added, making it a long-format — though not in the traditional sense, as competitors competing in the full run of the competition will showjump both the day before, and the day after, cross country.

“The details pertaining to the technical aspects of the proposed format will be discussed in detail next year in the framework of the revision of the FEI regulations for equestrian events at the Olympic Games, once the IOC has provided its feedback,” an FEI spokesperson told Horse & Hound, who reported this news first.

The motivation for placing cross country as the final phase comes from a desire to increase spectator and broadcast appeal, and given the popularity of cross country, making this the finale of the team event is intended to heighten excitement and fan engagement.

It’s to be expected that if approved, this format will take a healthy dose of acceptance as the traditional format of eventing would be pushed further back into the history books. Many riders and sport stakeholders have also expressed a desire for the FEI to abandon its IOC affiliation altogether, at least where eventing is concerned, and instead throw its full support behind the seven CCI5* events around the world.

The next step now will be to wait for the IOC to make its determinations as to the approval of the sport in the LA Olympics – a process for which there’s no clear timeline. There is also the question of a venue that can host the sport — the Eventing Seminar in January made it clear that using an existing all-in-one facility is now a priority for the sport at the Games – though there are several suitable venues that are capable of hosting in the LA area and, in some cases, a pitching process has already begun.

We’ll provide more on this developing story as it becomes available.

Read More: Eventing at LA Olympics Unconfirmed; Subject to Format Change

Favorites Coleman & Chin Tonic HS Rise to the Occasion in Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field

By on Mar 1, 2024 2:12 pm -

Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS earn a 26.5 to win the first phase of the 2024 Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field. Photo by Shelby Allen.

While the eventing calendar is well underway in the southeast, each year the Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services feels like the unofficial starting line for the upper level campaigners’ spring season. This convergence of some of the most elite event riders in the world creates a melting pot of proven and potential world-beaters all looking to stretch their legs in a condensed format with $100,000 on the line.

Slated favorites, according to EquiRatings’ Prediction Centre, Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS are living up to their promise after the first phase with a score of 26.5 that has them leading the 37-entry field.

“It’s an early season test, so it’s kind of a ‘Where are we now?’ type weekend for us — that’s our reason for being here. They do a great job of presenting a big time atmosphere and a showcase event here, so I think it’s just great practice, and it’s an excellent opportunity for us to get this horse into this five-star test again,” Will said, noting his main goal for Chin was to squeeze out every mark possible in this test, especially throughout the flying changes.

Will and Hyperion Stud’s 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Chin Champ – Wildera, by Quinar), delivered a silky smooth test, which we’ve come to expect from the pair, though they are just hovering a few points above their six run International average of 22.5. Today, though, they were rewarded throughout the movements, with their halt standing out as a perfect 10 for dressage judge Xavier Le Sauce at B.

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Olympic and World Championship stalwarts Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF landed in second place on a 29, earning an identical score of 71.11% from Le Sauce at B with our dressage winners. “Thomas,” a 2007 Trakehner gelding (Windfall – Thabana, by Buddenbrock), was absolutely at home in this Aiken venue. Though he hasn’t won here yet, he has previously posted two of the top ten dressage scores in this event’s history — a 23.7 in 2022 and 23 in 2023.

Phillip Dutton and Possante. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Phillip Dutton slots into the top three in this early phase with the only other sub-20 dressage result aboard Caroline Moran’s Quasi Cool, a 2011 Holsteiner gelding (Quo Vados – B-Estelle, by Lord). He’s also fourth with one of his newest partners, Possante, a 2013 KWPN gelding (Namelus R – Wendelien, by Otangelo), on a 30.6.

The final pair of the morning, 2022 GPE winners Boyd Martin and Fedarman B, battled what was likely the biggest downpour of the day to sit fifth on a score of 31.3.

Liz Halliday and Miks Master C. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Three-time GPE winner Liz Halliday is well in the hunt with three horses giving her a pre-competition 38% likely win chance. Cooley Nutcracker is the best placed of the bunch currently in sixth (31.6), followed by Cooley Quicksilver in seventh (31.7) and Ocala Horse Properties and Deborah Palmer’s Miks Master C in ninth (32).

Competitors next turn their attention to Michel Villancourt’s show jumping track, and we will welcome our first rider in the ring at 3 p.m. Stay tuned for much more from Bruce’s Field.

$100,000 Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Ride For Charity Teams] [Ride For Charity Online Vote] [Volunteer] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage] [Ultimate Guide]

We’re pleased to introduce Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt, with her robust expertise and portfolio of property options in the Aiken area, as the sponsor of our coverage of the Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field. Seasonal or year-round, southern charm and the sporting lifestyle await you in Aiken!