Classic Eventing Nation

Clayton Fredericks and FE Money Made at Red Hills. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Between balancing his duties as Canadian team coach and running a successful sales business, we don’t get to see Clayton Fredericks compete at every major competition on the North American calendar, so he is making his weekend at Red Hills count by taking control of the CIC2* leaderboard with FE Bowman and FE Money Made.

FE Bowman, an 8-year-old Wurttemberger gelding known as “Bowie” that Clayton owns with Amanda Bernhard and Diana Crawford, is currently sitting in first place on a 41.4. FE Money Made or “Connor,” a 7-year-old Westphalian gelding that shares the same group of owners, sits in second place on 44.4 in his CIC2* debut — and today is his birthday!

“I’ve had them both for a little while now, and it’s been quite nice with all my other commitments not having to rush too much to produce a horse and get him up to the grades to do something serious,” Clayton said. “I’ve just sort of taken my time with them and produced them slowly, and I think that helps.”

Clayton Fredericks and FE Bowman. Photo by Jenni Autry.

With this being an Olympic year for the Canadian Eventing Team, Clayton said Red Hills is one of the main competitions this year for both Bowie and Connor. “I probably won’t have them doing too much going forward these next few months. They’ll both do the CCI2* at Ocala, and that will probably be their last thing for a little while, and then we’ll do the Olympic Games and I’ll have a play at the end of he year.”

You’ll see four Fredericks Equestrian horses with the FE prefix on the Red Hills leaderboard. In addition to FE Bowman and FE Money Made holding the top spots in the CIC2*, Allie Knowles and FE Crosby are sitting in third place in the CIC*. FE Capricino is also competing in the CIC* with Victoria Garland in the irons.

As for what Clayton thinks of the CIC2* course designed by David O’Connor, he said he thinks the changes made this year to give the course a more open, galloping feel have paid off. “I think the courses look good. It was interesting to know how they were going to change things around and make it flow, and I think the track definitely flows better this year. Tomorrow we’ll tell how they ride.”

Alex O’Neal and Rendezvous With Charly. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Caroline Martin is sitting in third place on 46.3 with Effervescent, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Sherrie Martin. Alex O’Neal and Rendezvous With Charly delivered a stunning performance this afternoon that seemed destined to challenge the leaders, but their score of 47.2 still has them in seventh and well within stalking range.

You’ll also see three Brazilian team riders in the CIC2* division, with Marcelo Tosi and Briefing DB Z leading the way in fifth place on 46.7. Marcio Calvalho Jorge and Lissy Mac Wayer, his 2015 Pan American Games team silver medal partner, are in ninth place on 48.0, and Henrique Pinheiro and Land Quenotte do Feroleto, who also competed at the Pan Ams last year, are in 24th place on 55.2.

Marcelo, Marcio and Henrique have been based at Liz Halliday-Sharp’s Horsepower Equestrian in Ocala for the last few weeks, passing through the U.S. on their way to England to compete this spring and train with Brazilian team coach Mark Todd. It’s been wonderful to have them in Ocala and at Red Hills this weekend, and Samantha Clark caught up with them for more, so stay tuned for that on EN.

Marcio Calvalho Jorge and Lissy Mac Wayer. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Looking to the CIC*, Boyd Martin and Santos were one of the first combinations to do their test late in the afternoon on Thursday, and no one could ultimately catch their leading score of 41.6. You’ll remember Santos, a 7-year-old off-track Thoroughbred gelding owned by Gloria Callen and Ron and Densey Juvoven, as one of the horses we’ve highlighted in EN’s Got Talent, and Boyd said the horse is definitely living up to his potential.

“He has very flamboyant movement for an off-track Thoroughbred, and he’s really starting to mature and stay focused, which has been our biggest challenge over the last 12 months,” Boyd said. “I think a lot of this horse, and he’s been at this level for nearly a year. He’s been a bit of a handful to get going, and I feel like we’re just starting to get on the same page.”

One of the biggest examples of how much the horse has matured is comparing his performances in Boyd and Phillip Dutton’s Aiken Masterclass events over the past two winters. “A year ago we put him in the Masterclass and he was rearing and bucking, and this year we put him back in the Masterclass, and he was a completely improved horse,” Boyd said.

Boyd Martin and Santos. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Hannah Sue Burnett is leading the CIC3* with Jacqueline Mars’ Harbour Pilot, and she’s also enjoying sitting in second place in the CIC* with Alonzo III, an 11-year-old Dutch gelding owned by Mary Ann Ghadban. Allie Knowles and FE Crosby, a 6-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Katherine O’Brien, round out the top three on 42.4.

It was a long day today at Red Hills, with the Advanced division finally wrapping up dressage around 5:30 p.m. EST. Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night are leading the way at the conclusion of the first phase, easily sitting in first place on 26.6. “Blackie,” a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Deborah Halliday, is aiming for another crack at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event next month.

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

Phillip Dutton is sitting in second place in the CIC3* with Tom Tierney and Annie Jones’ Fernhill Fugitive, and he’s also sitting in second place in the Advanced on 31.9 with David and Candace Garrett’s Indian Mill, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding previously ridden by Paul Tapner. Lauren Kieffer and Team Rebecca’s Veronica are in third on 33.3.

Looking to the rest of the leaderboard, Buck Davidson and Carlevo LLC’s Carlevo are leading the Open Intermediate on 23.7, Maya Black and Mowgli lead the Open Preliminary on 29.1, and Michelle Koppin and King Best lead the Preliminary Rider division on 32.6. Click here to view the live scores.

It’s going to be another crazy busy day tomorrow, with CIC3* show jumping starting at 9 a.m. EST and CIC3* cross country starting almost immediately after. We’ll know the winner of that division by about 12:30 p.m. barring any lengthy holds on course. Then cross country in the other divisions will be running all day from 8 a.m. to about 5 o’clock in the afternoon. Keep it locked on EN!

#RHHT: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot haven’t competed at the FEI level since the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in 2014, but you wouldn’t have known it watching them today at Red Hills. “William,” a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Jacqueline Mars, delivered a beautiful test with Hannah in the irons to firmly take the lead on a score of 40.4 after dressage.

Though Hannah and William were sitting inside the top 10 at Burghley after a clear cross country trip, a tendon injury forced his withdrawal before show jumping. After giving the horse a full year off, William started jumping again last fall and eased back into competing last month.

“It was so exciting and then so disappointing (at Burghley) when we didn’t get to jog up, so having him back in action and having him compete so well is just really cool,” Hannah said. “He’s definitely happy to be here and excited. He’s grown up a lot in a year having some time off.”

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive. Photo by Jenni Autry.

With a goal of making their second trip to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in April, Hannah said she won’t hold back when tackling Mike Etherington-Smith’s new CIC3* cross country course tomorrow.

“I’m really happy to be riding such a campaigner at this level. He’s really good, but at the same time, he hasn’t been at this level in awhile, so I definitely need to be on my game,” Hannah said. “There’s definitely enough to do. I really like how (the course) builds. I think it’s really nice in the beginning. The time in insanely tight. I’m going to ride as well as I can and give it a good go.”

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive sit in second place in the CIC3* on 42.4 at the conclusion of dressage. With horses like Mighty Nice and Fernhill Cubalawn as his stablemates, “Jack” has been waiting patiently for his moment in the spotlight. After winning the Galway Downs CCI3* last fall and now sitting in a close second at Red Hills, it’s clear the horse is coming into his own.

Jennie Brannigan and Catalina. Photo by Jenni Autry.

“It was about the best he’s gone; he’s getting better and better,” Phillip said. “Timing his warm up is pretty crucial because if you do too much then he drops behind your leg, and if you don’t do enough then he’s not quite through enough.”

Jack, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Tom Tierney and Annie Jones, has been in training with Silva Martin for the last few weeks. “She’s done a great job with him,” Phillip said, joking: “I think that’s the reason Boyd does so well!” As for how Jack has upped his dressage game with Silva’s help: “He’s doing the movements a fair bit easier. He’s generally thinking a bit more forward and supple.”

It’s a special weekend for Jennie Brannigan. Not only is she sitting in third place in the CIC3* with Catalina, but her owner and former rider, Candace Kircher, drove all the way out from Texas with her family to watch them compete this weekend. Candace and Catalina won the CIC* at Red Hills in 2011, and Jennie said that they’ve always said it’s the mare’s favorite event.

Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett. Photo by Jenni Autry.

“I wasn’t exactly expecting to be sitting here, but I think in this company to have such a green horse step up to the plate is really exciting. My whole outlook in going into the ring is to relax. I’ve changed a bit with her recently. I just put her into a rubber snaffle, and she’s a lot steadier in the contact,” Jennie said.

“She’s a beautiful horse, but she is genuinely very green with the movements still, so I felt like she was a lot steadier. She has a great mind, so that’s lovely. The changes (have come) in the last six months, so it’s still new and fresh, and I couldn’t have been happier.”

Candace, a mom to 1-year-old Kylie and a new baby on the way in just 10 weeks, passed the ride on the 13-year-old Oldenburg mare to Jennie last fall. Since then Tim and Nina Gardner have come on to join Candace as an owner, and Team Catalina is hoping she will contest her first CCI4* at Rolex next month.

Elisa Wallace and Simply Priceless. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High, owned by John and Judy Rumble, delivered another impressive performance in the sandbox today to sit in fourth place on 44.7, and Ellie MacPhail and Sally Crane’s RF Eloquence scored 46.2 before the lunch break to finish the day in fifth place on 46.2. Click here to view the scores after dressage, and you can read more in the lunchtime report here.

Stay tuned for quotes from Clayton Fredericks, who is leading the CIC2* with FE Bowman on 41.4, plus more on the CIC*, led by Boyd Martin and Santos, and the Advanced division, led by Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night. We also have the full course preview to bring you, so keep it locked on EN.

#RHHT: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Jennie Brannigan and Catalina. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Jennie Brannigan and Catalina made the last CIC3* test before the lunch break one to remember at Red Hills International Horse Trials, scoring 44.4 to cruise into first place on a leaderboard currently dominated by the ladies. Ellie MacPhail and RF Eloquence sit in second place on 46.3, with Lauren Kieffer and Landmark’s Monte Carlo in third on 46.3.

The stellar test came at the end of what’s been an up and down week in Florida for Jennie. She also jumped Catalina, a 13-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Candace Kircher and Tim and Nina Gardner, in the $15,000 Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational on Tuesday and had an uncharacteristic refusal.

“It’s hard when I mess up, but I tried to keep the perspective that I’ve successfully run this horse at some of the toughest events even though she doesn’t have that much experience at the level. After Tuesday I went and jumped with Scotty (Keach), so I hadn’t really run through my test,” Jennie said.

The secret to Jennie Brannigan and Catalina’s leading #RHHT test: a good luck ride from Kylie Kircher!

A photo posted by Eventing Nation (@goeventing) on Mar 11, 2016 at 10:32am PST

“I’m really happy to feel like we are starting to get into the realm of what the mare can do. Candace and I were saying that we really have a green 13-year-old, so it’s pretty special to have her do a test like that, especially with their whole family here to watch. Candace believes in me no matter what happens.”

After successfully moving up to the Advanced level at Plantation Field last fall, Jennie and Catalina gained their four-star qualifier at the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International CCI3* and are now aiming to take a crack at the mare’s first CCI4* at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event next month.

Ellie MacPhail and RF Eloquence. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Ellie MacPhail and RF Eloquence also jumped in the Eventing Prix Invitational in Ocala on Tuesday in preparation for Red Hills, and “Ricky Bobby,” an 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Sally Crane, really turned up the heat in the sand box to sit in second place currently. This pair is gearing up to have another go at completing their first four-star at Rolex next month.

Lauren Kieffer and Landmark’s Monte Carlo round out the top three at the lunch break on a 46.3, their personal best score at this level to date. “Patrick,” an 11-year-old Irish/Thoroughbred gelding owned and bred by Jacqueline Mars, has flown under the radar a bit in comparison to Veronica and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett, but he’s definitely a horse to keep an eye on in this Olympic year.

Clayton Fredericks has taken command of the CIC2* leaderboard, holding both the first and second spots with FE Bowman and FE Money Made, respectively, on scores of 41.4 and 44.4. FE Bowman, an 8-year-old Wurttemberger gelding, won the CCI2* at Richland last year, while FE Money Made, a 7-year-old Westphalian gelding, is making his two-star debut this weekend; Clayton owns both horses with Amanda Bernhard and Diana Crawford.

Clayton Fredericks and FE Money Made. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Caroline Martin and Effervescent, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Sherrie Martin, round out the top three in the CIC2* on 46.3. Marcelo Tosi, who has represented Brazil at multiple Olympics and World Equestrian Games, is sitting in fourth place with Briefing DB Z, and his fellow Brazilian team riders Marcio Calvalho Jorge and Henrique Pinheiro are also competing at Red Hills this weekend. Stay tuned for an exclusive interview!

Boyd Martin and Santos were one of the first pairs to go in the CIC* division yesterday afternoon, and they’re still hanging on to the lead on 41.6. The 7-year-old off-track Thoroughbred gelding owned by Gloria Callen and Ron and Densey Juvoven made an appearance at last week’s Aiken Masterclass in support of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team and is making his CIC* debut this weekend.

Boyd Martin and Santos. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Alonzo III, an 11-year-old Dutch gelding owned by Mary Ann Ghadban, are sitting in second place on 41.9, with Claire Gordon and Ole Boy, a 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding previously campaigned by Will Coleman, in third place on 43.9.

You’ll notice many of the riders wearing orange ribbons on their jackets this weekend in memory of Jay Gurmankin, Natalie Neneman’s father, who lost his battle with Multiple Sclerosis last week. Natalia is competing Weisser Riese and Rocky Car in the CIC2* at Red Hills this weekend, and our thoughts are with her as she rides in memory of her dad.

Stay tuned for the conclusion of dressage later this afternoon, and the Advanced division will also be going late in the day. Buck Davidson and Carlevo LLC’s Carlevo are leading the Intermediate division at the conclusion of the first phase on a score of 23.7. Click here to check out the full live scores.

We have much more to bring you from #RHHT, including Samantha Clark’s interviews with Brazilian team riders Marcio Calvalho Jorge, Marcelo Tosi and Henrique Pinheiro, as well as the cross country course preview and an interview with new CIC3* course designer Mike Etherington-Smith. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram to see what Chinch is up to and to see all the behind-the-scenes photos from here in Tallahassee.

Go Eventing.

#RHHT: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, Twitter, EN’s Instagram