Classic Eventing Nation

This series highlights the top five horses and riders in each phase at the Advanced, three-star, and four-star levels from 2015. While we often recognize greatness over all three phases in our sport, we should also strive to recognize strength in each phase. This series aims to give that recognition, and highlight horses and riders who have had particularly strong years in one phase or another.

Welcome to the third post in our series highlighting the top five horses and riders in each phase at the Advanced, three-star, and four-star levels from 2015. We’ve already looked at top cross country horses and dressage powerhouses among the American and U.S. based horses. Today we pay tribute to the top five show jumping horses of 2015.

To be considered for EN’s Top Five, we first began with horses with at least three show jumping rounds at this level who had no rails the entire year. We then ranked the horses according to which ones averaged the fewest time penalties in this phase. Four horses managed to complete all of their show jumping courses without any time penalties this year.

We then turned to ranking them by the number of rounds they completed clear, with the winner being the horse that jumped the most double clear rounds. For further tie-breakers, the level of show was looked at, and the horse with more CCI runs took the tie-breaker.

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica. Photo by Jenni Autry.

FIFTH PLACE: Veronica

Jump Penalties: 0

Time Penalty Average: 0.17

Number of Rounds: 6

Veronica was extremely impressive this year, jumping six show jumping rounds with no rails. Of her six rounds, four were in divisions where show jumping ran last, and two of those were at a CCI3*.

Lauren debuted Veronica in 2015 at Red Hills Advanced before moving on to the Advanced division at Carolina. At The Fork, Veronica received her only show jumping penalty of the year, a single second over the time.

She then headed overseas for the Bramham CCI3* and produced another double clear round, and Veronica rounded out the fall with double clears at both Aachen CICO3* and Blenheim CCI3*.

Michael Pollard and Cyrano. Photo by Jenni Autry.

FOURTH PLACE: Cyrano Z

Jump Penalties: 0

Time Penalty Average: 0

Number of Rounds: 3

Michael Pollard quickly entered the Pan American Games picture with Cyrano Z after a stellar showing at the Wellington Eventing Showcase in January. Moving on to recognized events, Cyrano Z jumped his first official double clear of the year at Pine Top Advanced.

He then jumped double clear at Carolina International CIC3* before hanging out at the two-star level to obtain Pan Ams qualifications. Returning to the CIC3* level at Great Meadow, the experienced gelding clocked in his final double clear show jumping round of 2015.

Marilyn Little and RF West Indie. Photo by Jenni Autry.

THIRD PLACE: RF West Indie

Jump Penalties: 0

Time Penalty Average: 0

Number of Rounds: 3

RF West Indie didn’t spend a lot of time at the Advanced level this year, but she quickly proved herself an excellent show jumper. She started with a double clear round at Poplar Place CIC3*, which was her move-up to that level.

At a sloppy Morven Park CIC3*, she produced yet another double clear round before moving on to Fair Hill CCI3*, where she proved that she could do the same after a grueling cross country day in her first CCI3* attempt.

Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen at Blenheim. Photo by Samantha Clark.

SECOND PLACE: Loughan Glen

Jump Penalties: 0

Time Penalty Average: 0

Number of Rounds: 4

Loughan Glen really had a phenomenal year, despite only starting four times at this level. After taking the top spot in our dressage top five, he returns to take the second spot here. In his only Advanced of the year, this gelding started things right in the show jumping phase at Weston Park with a double clear.

He then moved onto Belton Park CIC3*, where a double clear helped to maintain his top ranking after dressage. At Luhmühlen CCI4*, he mastered the bigger heights with another double clear and then proved it was no fluke by doing it again at Blenheim CCI3* in September.

Buck Davidson and Petite Flower at Red Hills. Photo by Jenni Autry.

FIRST PLACE: Petite Flower

Jump Penalties: 0

Time Penalty Average: 0.0

Number of Rounds: 5

Petite Flower didn’t compete this season after Rebecca Farm, but she still produced the most double clear show jumping rounds of any horse in the country. Beyond that, she hasn’t had a single penalty in the show jumping phase since March 2014. In her entire career at this level, she has only ever had two rails total.

Buck Davidson began the year with Petite Flower at Rocking Horse II in the Advanced before heading to Red Hills Advanced and Carolina International CIC3*, where three double clear rounds prepared her for her first CCI4*. At Rolex, she again proved her jumping prowess with a double clear round before a final run at Great Meadow CIC3* finished up her perfect show jumping year.

Will Coleman and OBOS O'Reilly at the Blenheim Palace CCI3*. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Welcome to the second post in our series highlighting the top five horses and riders in each phase at the Advanced, three-star, and four-star levels from 2015. Yesterday we highlighted the top five dressage powerhouses among the American and U.S. based horses. Today we pay tribute to the top five cross country horses of 2015.

To be considered for EN’s Top Five in this category, we first began with horses that completed every cross country round they started and incurred no jump penalties or frangible penalties in any of their starts; in other words, a perfect jump penalty record for 2015. The horses also needed to have completed at least cross country rounds this season to be considered.

We then ranked the horses according to who averaged the fewest number of time penalties across the country. Two horses managed to complete all of their cross country courses without any time penalties this year. These two horses nominally tied for first, but the tie-breaker was given to the one who managed to stay closer to optimum time.

Boyd Martin and Master Frisky. Photo by Rare Air Photography.

FIFTH PLACE: Master Frisky

Jump Penalties: 0

Time Penalty Average: 2.00

Number of Runs: 3

The 2014 Fair Hill CCI3* runner-up didn’t get a lot of runs this year, but he showed he excelled in the cross country phase at the events he did go to. Boyd Martin began the year with this horse at Carolina International CIC3*, piloting him to a double clear round exactly on the optimum time of 7:05 to finish in second place.

Next up was the The Fork CIC3*, where Master Frisky put in his slowest round of the year, finishing 11 seconds over the optimum time of 6:49 to accumulate 4.4 time penalties. Then at his first CCI4* at Rolex, Master Frisky proved the mud was no issue, rocking around the 11:06 course only four seconds over to finish with just 1.6 time penalties.

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn at Aachen. Photo by Jenni Autry.

FOURTH PLACE: Fernhill Cubalawn

Jump Penalties: 0

Time Penalty Average: 1.95

Number of Runs: 8

Fernhill Cubalawn spent the year firmly cementing himself in the upper echelon of U.S. horses. This horse started and completed eight cross country rounds and only once did he finish more than 10 seconds over optimum time.

Fernhill Cubalawn began the year at Pine Top, putting in a workmanlike round six seconds over a course of 6:16 for 2.4 time penalties. Next up he earned his first double clear round of 2015 at Carolina International CIC3*, clocking in seven seconds under the optimum time of 7:05. In his final prep for Rolex at The Fork CIC3*, he accumulated 1.6 time penalties before heading to his first four-star to finish only eight seconds over the time on muddy ground.

Millbrook Advanced was his slowest round of the season, as “Cuba” finished 15 seconds over time in his final prep before heading overseas to the Aachen CICO3* for one of the fastest rounds with only 2.4 time penalties. These would be his last penalties of the year, as he put in a quick round five seconds under the optimum time of 6:14 at the Plantation Field CIC3* and followed it up with a round 15 seconds below the 10:00 optimum time at Fair Hill CCI3*.

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

THIRD PLACE: Meadowbrook’s Scarlett

Jump Penalties: 0

Time Penalty Average: 1.36

Number of Runs: 5

This mare was still flying under the radar at the start of the 2015 season, but her ability to consistently perform in all three phases has now made Meadowbrook’s Scarlett a well-known name.

Scarlett began her Advanced career this year at Rocking Horse II, finishing only three seconds over the optimum time of 6:09 in her first try at the level. Proving it wasn’t a fluke, she came to Carolina International CIC3* and put in a round only five seconds over.

Lauren then brought this precocious mare to The Fork, where she put in her slowest run of the season, finishing seven seconds over in the Advanced division. Meadowbrook’s Scarlett then polished off her spring season with a double clear round over the 9:54 course at Jersey Fresh CCI3*, finishing right on optimum time.

She then took some time to represent Team USA at the Pan American Games and had most of the fall season off, before heading west to contest the Galway Downs CCI3*, finishing only two seconds over the optimum time of 10:23.

James Alliston and Parker. Photo by Sally Spickard.

SECOND PLACE: Parker

Jump Penalties: 0

Time Penalty Average: 0.0

Average Seconds Under Optimum Time: 17.50

Number of Runs: 4

Parker is arguably the most consistent cross country horse in North America, having last incurred time penalties in March of 2013 and having never incurred a jump penalty in an Advanced career that started in 2010. In fact, only one fluke fall at Rolex in 2012 mars this horse’s otherwise perfect cross country record.

This year was no exception for Parker, as he and James Alliston clocked in a double clear round at Twin Rivers Advanced before heading east to Kentucky. At the Rolex CCI4*, he put in his third consecutive double clear cross country round, coming in 14 seconds under the 11:06 optimum time.

Heading back west in July, Parker put in an astonishingly quick round at the Rebecca CCI3* by finishing a whopping 38 seconds under the 10:41 time, before capping the season at the Woodside CIC3* in October with a leisurely round 14 seconds faster than the optimum time of 6:25.

Will Coleman and Obos O’Reilly. Photo by Samantha Clark.

FIRST PLACE: OBOS O’Reilly

Jump Penalties: 0

Time Penalty Average: 0.0

Average Seconds Under Optimum Time: 14.25

Number of Runs: 4

While Parker has always been quick across the country, OBOS O’Reilly turned over a new leaf in 2015. Previously averaging around 30 seconds over optimum time, Will Coleman turned this horse into a cross country machine that didn’t once incur a penalty in the second phase.

OBOS O’Reilly began the year at The Fork Advanced with a blazing double clear round in his final prep for his first crack at a four-star. He continued on to Rolex CCI4*, completing his first course at this level in the mud two seconds under the optimum to win a two-year lease on a Land Rover Discovery Sport.

Next up was the Richland CIC3*, which OBOS O’Reilly tackled easily, clocking in three seconds early before heading overseas for the first time. At the Blenheim CCI3*, he finished double clear on his dressage score, nine seconds under the optimum time.