Classic Eventing Nation

Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue: Your 2023 MARS Maryland 5 Star winners! Photo by Sally Spickard.

It was a day when literally anything was possible at the MARS Maryland 5 Star, presented by Brown Advisory. Following an exciting and influential cross country test on Saturday, we were looking at a top five of horses all capable of jumping clear rounds, but without an individual standout with a stellar jumping record on the final day of competition.

When Ireland’s Austin O’Connor entered the arena with the Salty Syndicate’s Colorado Blue for his turn around Michel Vaillencourt’s track — which had already caused its share of influence, with no one achieving a double clear to that point — we wondered. Here was a horse who’s jumped clear rounds in important scenarios: he jumped a clear round to finish in the top 10 at Badminton in 2022, and also jumped clear in the second, individual medal final at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Austin O’Connor finishes a double clear show jumping with Colorado Blue. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Despite a close call at the liverpool heading toward the VIP chalets, Austin and “Salty” jumped a clear round, also finishing inside the time allowed of 77 seconds. At the time, Austin and the 14-year-old British Sport Horse were in fourth position. Their double clear put the pressure on the podium holders, all of whom would ultimately lower rails and open the door for Austin to become the first Irish CCI5* winner since 1965. That year, Major Eddie Boylan and Durlas Eile took the title at Badminton. Austin and Colorado Blue (Jaguar Mail – Rock Me Baby, by Rock King) finished the weekend on a score of 34.9.

“Unbelievable,” Austin said after his round, and after he’d gone on to take the overall win. “People like me, we’re not supposed to win five-stars, but hey, it’s just happened I think. You know, it’s the end result of a lifetime’s work really. Ultimately it’s all about the horse. He’s unbelievable. He’s been a champion for years and privately I was prepared to give him to somebody better because I felt he deserved to win a five-star and I didn’t think I could ever win one with him, but here we are.”

Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Austin’s had the opportunity to know Salty quite well, as he was actually involved in the breeding of the horse with longtime supporter Kate Jarvey at Mellon Stud in County Limerick, Ireland. “We had a sort of breeding program together, and twenty years later here we are. The breeding was discussed, and we did come up with Jaguar Mail as the sire. In our minds, it’s the damline — obviously Jaguar Mail is a very good stallion, but it’s his damline. It’s a mare [Rock Me Baby] by Rock King, which was a Thoroughbred, and was actually a Thoroughbred and evented. And so we would look at the damline and go from there. I can’t say I was there when he was born, but I would have seen him within a month.”

“We wouldn’t have come to Maryland if we didn’t feel there was a strong possibility of jumping around, but saying that the last couple of three-days I’ve done I’ve ended up with a couple of cheap rails,” Austin continued. “It happens nothing really obvious, and today I make a horrendous mistake and he gets me out of jail. He’s eighty-five percent Thoroughbred. He’s all blood, he’s all class. To be honest, from day one he looked a proper, proper horse.”

Austin originally went to Burghley for his fall 5* with “Salty”, but a drive-by at the influential Leaf Pit fence would end their weekend early after Austin opted to retire there. In fact, it would be longtime U.S. eventing champion and event horse owner Tim Gardner who would put a consoling arm around Austin’s shoulders and put a bug in his ear: Maryland was waiting.

The first Irish 5* winner in 58 years. What a feeling. Photo by Sally Spickard.

“When I was having a little bit of a down low at the party, he put his arm around me and said, ‘You’ve got to bring Salty to Maryland’,” Austin recalled. “Because obviously Pau would have been the obvious choice. So he was the man that convinced us to come here.”

And perhaps manifestation is a real thing: “I did say something at Badminton when I was walking up to the podium this year. I did sort of say, tongue in cheek, ‘it won’t be long until there’s an Irish winner,’ and I did say, ‘I hope you’re looking at him’…completely bullshitting!”

William Fox-Pitt and Grafennacht. Photo by Sally Spickard.

British Olympic medalist William Fox-Pitt also elevated himself and Amanda Gould’s Grafennacht (Grafenstolz – Nachtigall, by Narew xx) despite lowering one rail, the A of the triple at 9, from third into second overall on a score of 35.3.

“I was very pleased with how she was great today,” William said. “She can knock a jump or two down, and she can also jump a clear round. I mean she’s not a show jumper, even though she’s by [Birkhof’s] Grafenstolz. I kind of wish she’d become Lordships Grafflo! She can just be a little economical, and today she wasn’t. She really very nearly could have jumped a clear round, and I was still delighted in one down. She’s the sort of horse who could lose an event with one down or win an event with a clear round — there is a clear round in there, and she’s great to work with.”

William has repeatedly said that this lovely mare has been one that’s kept him in the eventing game (please don’t ever leave us, William), but is he feeling the time approaching when we’ll no longer see him at these big events?

“I’m getting close. I think I’m coming to my senses quietly,” he mused. “I’ve not got any horses now. She’s the only five-star horse — I’ve got a six year old. So there is more time in my life now, which is quite nice. But I’ve got to decide, you know, could she give you a bit more fun? Do I do it well enough? I think as an older rider you are — you’re increasingly worried about looking like an idiot. And I think normally you’re out there doing the cross country, you do your best and you attack. Nowadays, I think ‘oh God I hope I don’t like ride an old man today because everyone would go, for God’s sake just give up!’ So it’s getting close, but she’s keeping me in the game. She’s a lot of fun. And of course, yesterday morning I was thinking ‘what the hell am I doing really?’ But by the evening I thought, ‘that’s what I’m doing!’ As we all know, it’s a drug and it’s a good one, so I’m enjoying her and goodness knows I think I probably should to come to my senses, but I’m not sure I’d enjoy watching anyone else ride her yet!”

Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent. Photo by Sally Spickard.

World #1 Oliver Townend did not have a rail in hand to start the day, but William did give him a rail’s worth of breathing room with his pole down. In the end, he’d need it and then some, finishing Cooley Rosalent‘s second 5* with a final score of 37.1 and on the third step of the podium. This was yet another pair that certainly can jump clears, but has yet to do so at this level. The mare, owned by Paul Ridgeon, is just 9, though, and with more experience and strength Oliver is confident the clears are coming.

“She was giving me an amazing feeling,” Oliver said of Cooley Rosalent (Valent – Bellaney Jewel xx, by Roselier xx), who’s also known as “Rosie”. “I felt that there was a bit of a mistake possibly coming out of the combination. I felt that everything was right going in, and then I felt it was me getting a little bit too desperate at the next one, so perhaps she had one down and I had one down. But in terms of for the future, I’ve not got a concern about show jumping clears. I thought she had a beautiful round, we had two mistakes and that was that.”

Oliver Townend congratulates Austin O’Connor on his big win. Photo by Sally Spickard.

At the end, it was Austin’s victory that was also the cherry on top of Oliver’s weekend (though he’ll still be returning here until he wins, I think — this is his third podium at Maryland in as many years, but he hasn’t caught the top spot yet): “I can’t tell you how happy I am — I nearly cried for Austin. Austin’s been a good friend to me in fairly tough times of the last few years, and we share other lunatic friends so I would imagine there would be some get together at some stage for Burghley and Maryland.”

Finishing as the top-placed U.S. pair were Hannah Sue Hollberg and Christa Schmidt’s Capitol HIM (Con Air – O-Heraldika, by Heraldik xx), who jumped a clear with just one second of time to move up into fourth after starting the weekend in tenth. This was a first 5* completion for “Chito”, who came to Hannah Sue after first being purchased for Christa to ride. They did start the Kentucky 5* in 2022, but Hannah sadly fell from the horse not far from the finish on cross country.

Christa did in fact campaign Chito (she also currently rides Hannah Sue’s former 5* partner, Harbour Pilot, in the dressage ring) through Training level before handing the reins to Hannah Sue. “He was just a little bit too much horse for her, so I got to take over the ride,” she explained. “We didn’t really have extremely high expectations for him starting out — we just kind of slowly brought him up the levels, and every time we kind of asked him to do more, he would just step up and answer the questions, and he’s gotten better and better and better.”

Hannah Sue Hollberg points to her supporters after delivering a clear round aboard Capitol HIM. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Hannah’s kicking herself a bit for staying a little more conservative at the beginning of cross country, but she wanted to ensure her horse had enough left in the tank. “My only thing that I wish I had done better — well I wish I did a lot of things better — but biggest thing I guess is that on cross country, I didn’t know if he would go the distance — I don’t really know until they do,” she elaborated. “I kind of held him back a little bit more at the corners at the top before the crab water. I think I could have been inside that time if I had just let him go. I was worried about him getting tired, so it’s nice to know that he’s so able and eager and can do it.”

Hannah also noted that the 16-year-old Holsteiner gelding had been diagnosed with Cushing’s disease about a year ago, right after he finished the 3*-L here at Maryland 5 Star, in fact. Hannah withdrew him after cross country that year. “And the reason he was in the three-star last year is because of that. I just couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him all year. And I didn’t want to push him too hard and ask him to do more than he could do. And then once we figured that out and he got on the medication he needed, it just has completely changed his life and he’s become the horse that we always knew he was and it’s just, you know, building toward peaking at the right moment and planning the season and hoping it all works out.”

Mia Farley and Phelps. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Receiving the Amanda Pirie Warrington award for the top-placed 5* first-timer this weekend is 23-year-old Mia Farley, who delivered a solid round on a notoriously tough show jumper in the off-track Thoroughbred, Phelps (Tiznow – Boom Town Gal). Mia joked with me earlier today that David had comforted her saying, “hey, the worst you can do is fourteenth!” So the hope was to leave as many poles up as possible. Phelps struggles in this phase and as Mia says sometimes he can come out on jumping day a little more “protective” of his body. Today, she says, “he came out like, it’s Sunday!!”

“Today is the best I’ve felt him on any Sunday, and so his jump school this morning was promising and we kind of had to not really have any expectations for him in a way,” Mia said. “We know his past with how jumping is definitely not his strong suit, but today we can’t be more proud of him. Sure he had two down, but he was full of run and jumping well – better than normal honestly.”

Mia experimented with a pelham bit in the last few shows before opting to put the 10-year-old Thoroughbred by Tiznow back into a snaffle for today. “I really thought about it and thought ‘what if I just put him back into a snaffle, so he can jump into it more?’ We schooled him in a pelham and then we put the snaffle on and he felt really comfortable, jumping into it.”

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Mia, of course, felt the nerves that come with defending a potential podium finish in one’s first 5*, but she also felt “pretty mentally stable all day” and says that peace came from acceptance and a “what will be, will be” mentality. “I’ve been pretty mentally stable all day, I’m not going to lie,” she laughed. “When I got on him, I was just like ‘he’s going to be what he’s going to be, and he’s either going to jump a clear round or he’s not.’ I was just like expecting — I don’t want to say nothing, but also expecting nothing. And so I think that’s what helped. I obviously was nervous, but I really felt good going into show jumping.”

Despite the lowered rails, Mia was good to finish fifth — a stellar debut for one of the most promising young riders coming up through the ranks. David O’Connor in an interview yesterday noted Mia’s soft way of riding and how well it sets her up to produce quality rounds, and we couldn’t agree more. Here’s to this only being the start for this scrappy pair.

Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Other notable rounds today include New Zealand Olympian Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier, who jumped a class clear with two seconds of time to finish in sixth, followed by fellow Kiwi and World Championships rider Monica Spencer and another off-track Thoroughbred, Artist, in seventh. Andrew McConnon also secured his first 5* completion, though I know he’ll already be working on what he can improve after feeling a bit disappointed with his cross country time and four rails down today with Jeanne Schigo’s Ferrie’s Cello. It certainly won’t be the last we’ll see of this pair.

And with that, the third year of the MARS Maryland 5 Star is in the books. It was a true five-star weekend all around, the weather gods blessed us with mostly good weather, the porta-pot gods blessed us with well-maintained toilets, and the media center was kept stocked with snacks and coffee which is really the best way to motivate me to write 3,000+ words each night.

Before we go, let’s check in on the 3*-L National Championship. Veronica Green-Gott checks in:

Caroline Pamukcu Jet Sets to Chile on a USEF National CCI3*-L Championship High

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Connor secure the USEF National 3*-L Championship. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

It was a day full of peaks and valleys in the USEF National CCI3*-L Championship at the MARS Maryland 5 Star. An influential day of show jumping left our first two placings untouched while the rest of the field was entirely rearranged.

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Connor (Connor 48 x Galwaybay Merstona by Mermus R) owned by Caroline and Sherrie Martin as well as Derek Strine are your National Championship winners this weekend. The triumphant pair added nothing to their dressage score to go double clear across the board this weekend and finished on their score of 25.4. The talented 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding has a habit of being a bit of an overachiever, as this is the second time he’s finished on his dressage score this season, and third time in his career. Caroline, who is heading off to the Pan American Games and had to hop out of the press conference early to catch a flight south to meet her team horse, HSH Blake, is definitely leaving on a high note.

“This win is so emotional because I’ve had the horse since he was a four-year-old and there’s such a big community behind me. It was just emotional for me to remember his first jump school, his first flat school and then all the way to this moment,” Caroline said. “We were so close last year to winning the Young Horse World Championships, that for him to win the USEF National Championship 3*…It’s amazing. Hopefully it’s a good last show before the Pan Ams.”

Lauren Nicholson and Ms. Jacqueline Mars’ Larcot Z (L’Arc de Triomphe x Kocote De La Londe by Socrate de Chivre) added only 0.4 time faults to her dressage score to finish in second place with a final score of 28.6. The lowest score of Larcot Z’s FEI career, Larcot Z was produced by Will Coleman and Reagan LaFleur through the 2* and 3* levels. For Lauren’s first season with the 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding, she’s off to a stellar start — the pair have yet to finish outside of the top five of every event they’ve completed since partnering up.

“The Larcot horse is probably one of the most fun horses I’ve had in the show jumping. He’s so willing and brave but he’s such a freak about being careful. He makes the job easy because you really just kind of ride quite forward to everything and trust him to take care of the front rail,” Lauren said. “He was a pleasure to ride and you know, I’m so grateful to Ms. Mars for stepping up to get him because, I hope he’s the horse of a lifetime.”

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Lauren admits she’d been “stalking” the horse ever since he was four, noting he was completely her type to ride. And when the opportunity came to take the ride, Ms. Mars stepped in to support her longtime rider. Lauren’s prioritized taking her time with this new and very special horse, acknowledging he also needed no “fixing” after taking the reins from other riders. She’s even worked with former rider Will Coleman in the transition to ensure she’s ticking along.

“He’s always been my type and you know, again, Coleman’s such a classical trainer and rider and our programs really mirror each other in that way,” Lauren explained. “And he’s just so committed to the fundamentals of basics with the horses and producing them so correctly and classically from the beginning and really following the training scale. So it’s very easy for me to pick up the ride from home and you know, I think some people these days get stuck into chasing things pretty early and the newest and latest trick and the thing is with horses is training horses isn’t new. And with young horses, you just kind of have to keep ticking the boxes and keep working on the training scale.”

“We always are pretty conservative about how often we run especially at this age, which I think is why in our program and the O’Connor program too, our horses last as five-star horses still in their late teens,” Lauren continued. “We consistently get to that level and they do it year after year, and this sport’s — I think it’s becoming even more important that horses last so long. So I think longevity in our production of them is very priority and how we train our horses.”

One rail bumped Caroline and HSH Tolan King from fourth place to sixth place, leaving an opening for Savannah “Woodge” Fulton and Nelson Warnell’s Cash Point (Cash and Carry x Up to Date 15) to take her spot with a score of 31.4. It was a banner weekend for Savannah and Cash Point, as their final score was their lowest yet, not only at the 3* level, but including their entire FEI career.

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“I’ve had him since he was four and I feel like, with this sport especially, it’s really hard to put all three things together all on one weekend, especially with a baby. And so the goal for the weekend was just to make the time cross country,” Woodge said. “I don’t want to say the pressure was off, but yesterday was just fabulous. And if he came out this morning really tired and you know sort of feeling sorry for himself, I would just be proud of him for doing well yesterday. So the fact that he was able to jump out today and finish well was really exciting.”

Unfortunately, Taren Hoffos and Regalla (Sir Donnerhall x Rubiera A by Rubinstein 46), third after cross country had a rough time in the show jumping phase, after a fall just before the finish line resulted in elimination. Both horse and rider got up and walked off after the incident and are reported to be ok. We were so sorry to see Taren’s weekend end this way, but hope she is proud of what she accomplished on a challenging cross country track Saturday.

We now move full-steam ahead into a very busy rest of the fall season, with the eventing at the Pan American Games kicking off Thursday, October 26, as well as the final 5* of the season in France at Les Etoiles de Pau. We’ll then move to the Eventing Championships at Galway Downs the first week of November, and the season concludes with the 4*-L at TerraNova (FL) in mid-November. With that in mind, I’m off to get a bit of sleep and make my way back to California, and I’ll see you very soon with coverage from the Pan Ams while Tilly Berendt brings you coverage from Pau.

As always, thank you for reading and following along with us, give your horse a pat, and Go Eventing.

MARS Maryland 5 Star: [Website] [Final Scores] [Live Stream Replays (North America)] [Live Stream Replays (Outside North America)] [EN’s Coverage]

EN’s coverage of MARS Maryland 5 Star is brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products.

Overnight leaders Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent come into the final phase in pole position. Photo by Sally Spickard.

And so we find ourselves on the final day of competition at Maryland 5 Star, on the edge of our seats as we wait to find out who will be crowned this year’s champion.

And what a competition it’s been thus far!

We saw 26 competitors start the competition, a seemingly small field perhaps, but with 26 5* wins between them, it sure was mighty.

The dressage saw the Brits rise to the top and it was a British 1, 2, 3 after the first phase.

World No. 1 Oliver Townend and the youngest horse in the field Cooley Rosalent placed themselves in pole position on a score of 23.1, Piggy March and 5* debutant Brookfield Cavalier Cruise sat in second on 24.2, and William Fox-Pitt was third with Grafennacht on 26.1.

The international flavor didn’t end there, with New Zealand’s Monica Spencer sitting in fourth with Artist on 28.4.

Best of the Americans was Boyd Martin with Contessa, who put down a PB and found themselves headed out onto cross country in fifth place.

Catch up on all that went down in the sandpit with our round-up reports – Day One / Day Two.

And then came the excitement of the cross country.

Oliver managed to hang onto his lead, but Piggy slipped down to fifth after a lovely clear round but some time penalties. That left the door open for William to take second place overnight. Time penalties saw Monica drop down into ninth and Boyd’s competition ended early after a tumble at the third fence.

Mia Farley and Phelps had the fastest round of the day – the only clear inside the the time – on their debut at the level, ending up best of the Americans in third place. Ireland’s Austin O’Connor was also on the rise with Colorado Blue, after trailblazing their way to a fast – albeit not quite inside the time – clear, and put themselves into fourth place.

Read our full round-up of all the cross country action here.

There was a change at the top of the leaderboard this morning when Piggy March withdrew Brookfield Cavalier Cruise at the Second Horse Inspection. Find out what happened here.

Fourteen horses and riders will be coming forward for the show jumping this afternoon. Here’s a look at the leaderboard as we move into the final phase:

There’s less than a fence between the top three, and it goes without saying that faults today will make all the difference to the leaderboard, as will clear rounds. It’s all to play for at Maryland 5 Star!

The riders will come forward in reverse order, with Bobby Meyerhoff and Lumumba kicking things off at 2:37pm ET / 7:37pm BST.

If you’re reading this later, the round-up of Bobby and Lumumba’s test will be at the bottom of this post, so if you’re of the variety that likes to keep things in order, scroll down ⬇️ and read up ⬆️ – if you’re happy to go backwards through the drawn order, then have at it from the top.

If you’re live with us, don’t forget to refresh this post periodically.

We’ve got loads of great IG content happening courtesy of our team on the ground @goeventing, and if you want to follow along with the form, you’ll find EN’s 5* Form Guide here. There’s SO MUCH Maryland content just waiting for you to dive into – have at it here.

Who will take the Maryland 5 Star crown? It all comes down to this!

MARS Maryland 5 Star: [Website] [Entries, Schedule & Times] [Live Scores] [Live Stream (North America)] [Live Stream (Outside North America)] [Tickets] [5* Form Guide] [Digital Program] [EN’s Coverage]

EN’s coverage of MARS Maryland 5 Star is brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products.

3:57pm

So that’s it! Maryland 5 Star is over. What a ride it’s been!
A quick look at the placings:

1st Ireland’s Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue.
2nd Britain’s William Fox-Pitt and Grafennacht.
3rd Britain’s Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent.
4th Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol H I M for the USA, the best of the Americans.
5th Mia Farley and Phelps, also for the USA, who complete their first 5* in 5th place.

We’ve seen some super sport over the last few days and I feel so privileged to have been able to watch such talent truly shine. Eventing really is The. Best. Sport.

But we’re not finished with you just yet. We’ll have a full round-up coming at you shortly, so stay tuned for that.

Thanks for joining us for this awesome event ENers, y’all rock!

That’s it for live updates – until next week, when we move on to the second of our related-distance 5*s. Keep it locked onto EN and go eventing!

MARS Maryland 5 Star: [Website] [Entries, Schedule & Times] [Live Scores] [Live Stream (North America)] [Live Stream (Outside North America)] [Tickets] [5* Form Guide] [Digital Program] [EN’s Coverage]

EN’s coverage of MARS Maryland 5 Star is brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products.

3:55pm

Austin tells Frankie, “People like me are not supposed to win five-stars”. But he has won one, and won it in fine, fine style. Austin modestly credits his horse for everything – Salty, you are a star!

3:54pm

Spencer’s crying in the commentary box, Austin’s crying as he’s congratulated, Team EN are for sure crying too. What a result for Austin! It’s 58 years since an Irish rider won a 5*. What an achievement. So well deserved for both horse and rider.

3:52pm

IRELAND’S AUSTIN O’CONNOR WINS MARYLAND WITH COLORADO BLUE!!!

3:46pm

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS! Will Oliver take the title? Hold your breath, we’re about to see!

World No. 1 Oliver Townend has made his way over from Great Britain with Cooley Rosalent for the mare’s second 5* start.

They kicked their competition off in style with a dressage score of 23.1 which put them into the lead going into the cross country. They added 6 time faults yesterday in a round that showed just how much potential and talent this mare truly has. They come forward – currently still in the lead – on a score of 29.1.

According to form, it’ll be one or none for Cooley Rosalent. Will they hang on and take the win? I almost can’t watch! But I will! Here goes…

Oliver’s clear over the first three, then rubs an element of the double, it stays in the cups though. They continue on clear. But then the last part of the treble goes. He can’t afford another one. But the planks go. That’s it. Two is too many to hold his place. Cooley Rosalent clears the rest and they’re inside the time, but what a shame for this lovely mare. Her day will come though, for sure. They’ll finish 3rd.

Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent finish their Maryland with a total score of 37.1.

3:43pm

The penultimate round of Maryland 5 Star!

British eventing legend William Fox-Pitt comes to Maryland with the Grafenstolz mare Grafennacht.

They kicked off their competition with a dressage score of 26.1 which put them in 3rd place going into the cross country. They added 5.2 time penalties yesterday after a classy clear, and come forward into the final phase on a total score of 31.3 in 2nd place.

This phase is known to be Lillie’s achilles heel, with twelve faults on the final day at Badminton in the spring dropping them down the order. They were jumping on grass that day though. They jumped clear last time out, and there’s no better rider in the saddle than William. Will they keep hold of their second place? Hang onto your hats!

William doesn’t have a pole in hand stay ahead of Austin, who’s currently sitting in 3rd. They’re clear the first and second, and now the third. He gives the first part of the double a little tap but it stays up. Lillie gives more space to the next couple of fences and tries so hard over the first Liverpool. Oh no, the first part of the treble at 9 goes. The planks stay up, the second Liverpool is no problem. He rubs the second last but it stays up. It’s clear over the last and inside the time. Just the one but it’s one too many to stay ahead of Austin. He’s now 3rd, with Austin in 2nd.

William Fox-Pitt and Grafennacht finish their Maryland with a total score of 35.3.

3:40pm

Three to go!

Mia Farley and Phelps are making their 5* debut here at Maryland. And what a debut it is!
They scored 32.9 in the dressage, then showed everyone how it’s done on the cross country, delivering the fastest round of the day – the only combination INSIDE THE TIME. There were tears, and celebrations, but now it’s back down to business. They come forward with nothing added to their dressage score – 32.9 in 3rd place, and best of the Americans.

They’ve had at least three poles in their last three international competitions, but they can keep it to one and have gone clear too. Hold your breath…

Things are getting exciting now! Mia’s top three, will she stay there? They’re clear over the first three, but then the first part of the double goes. Mia’s riding brilliantly, and they continue on clear over the next couple. They’re a little close to fence 8 and it comes down, but clear through the treble. There’s no more trouble for them though and they finish up with just the two down, and inside the time. That’s a great showing for them. A first 5* completion and they’ll finish no worse than 5th. GREAT JOB Mia!

Mia Farley and Phelps complete their first 5* on 40.9.

3:37pm
Ireland’s Austin O’Connor has made the trip to Maryland with Colorado Blue for the gelding’s fifth 5* start.

‘Salty’ scored 33.7 on Thursday, and a super trailblazing round saw them add just 1.2 time penalties yesterday. They come into today’s final phase in 4th place on a score of 34.9.

They had two poles at Badminton in the spring on their way to a third place finish, but they can go clear on their day. It was muddy at Badminton, it’s definitely not at Maryland. Will today be their day?

Salty touches the second but it’s nothing to worry about. A little rub at fence 3, and again at the double, but Salty starts to pick his feet up and FLIES the first Liverpool. The crowd are loving this! The treble stays up, he rubs the planks but they stay. Austin’s riding his luck but it’s coming up good for him. CLEAR INSIDE THE TIME! Austin’s delighted, so is Salty, the crowd is going wild! They’ll be no worse than 4th.

Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue finish their Maryland with a total score of 34.9.

3:34pm

And we’re down to the top 5!

Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol H I M are here for their second 5* trip together.
They scored 32.4 in the dressage, with 7.2 time penalties added on the cross country. That means they come forward in 5th place on a total score of 39.6.

They were clear in their last international run, but lowered one pole in the 4*-S at Kentucky in the spring and one in their run before that. There are lots of clears on their record though and it would be great to see ‘Chito’ leave the poles up today.

Chito is beautifully turned out today, wow he looks impressive as he enters the ring! They clear the first and second easily, a very nice start. They’re clear through the double at 4 with so much air over those poles. The first Liverpool is no problem and they stand well off 8 but clear it. They’re clear over the treble, and rub the next but it stays up. They’re tight on the clock, but it’s a CLEAR ROUND! 0.4 time for them, but a superb round. They’re in the lead for now and will finish no worse than 5th.

Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol H I M finish on 40.

3:31pm

New Zealand’s Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier come to Maryland for their third time at the top level, after finishing fifth on the mare’s 5* debut at Pau last season.
They posted 29 in the first phase, and added 12.8 time on the cross country after a great round for this lovely mare. They come forward on a total score of 41.8 in 6th place.

‘Cav’ has more clear rounds than poles down on her record, and kept the poles in the cups last time out on her way to winning at Ballindenisk in Ireland. Will it be another clear for her today?

They clear the first and second, and then manage the related line to fence 3. They clear the double and are very careful over the upright at 5. Cav is jumping beautifully. She continues on her careful way, and are clear with three left to jump. Clear over the second last. And clear over the last! CLEAR ROUND! Just a smidge over the time, 0.8 faults. They stay ahead though and will finish no worse than 6th.

Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier finish up with a three-phase score of 42.6.

3:28pm

Getting us back underway are New Zealand’s Monica Spencer and Artist, who made the trip to the Northern Hemisphere a few weeks ago in preparation for their second 5* start. They’re on track for their first top-level completion here this weekend after a great showing in the first two phases.

They scored 28.4 on the first day of competition, which left them in fourth place, but 15.2 time penalties on yesterday’s cross country dropped them down into 7th, on a total score of 43.6.

Artist jumped clear on US soil in his last international competition, but lowered three poles at Pratoni. Before that he’d had a run of three clear rounds. What will he do today?

Monica’s smiling as she enters the ring, and so she should be after such a fantastic showing so far. They clear the first and second, the third and then the double – a tricky line but she made it look easy. They’re clear over the triple bar towards the big screen – still clear. So far so good. There’s a rub at the first part of the treble. Oh no, they have the planks down at 10. And 12 goes as well. Two down for them, but they’re inside the time, and hold their place on the leaderboard.

Monica Spencer and Artist complete their first 5* on a final score of 51.6.

2:58pm

We’re heading into a break now.

As things stand, Doug Payne is the clubhouse leader with Quantum Leap on 53.5.
Buck Davidson and Sorocaima drop a place and are now in second on 61.
And Lillian Heard Wood sits in third with LCC Barnaby on 64.8.

The top 7 will go after the break. We’ll be back in 30 minutes – at 3:28pm ET / 8:28pm BST.
Don’t miss it!

2:55pm

Last up before the break, we have the son of legendary US eventer Bruce Davidson – Buck Davidson is here at Maryland with Kentucky-bred Thoroughbred Sorocaima.

They got their competition underway with a score of 34.2 in the dressage. They added 13.6 time on the cross country yesterday and now come forward on a total of 47.8 in 8th place.

You have to go back to the beginning of the 2022 season to find a clear round on Sorocaima’s record. He had three poles down in his last international competition, but he kept it to just the one at Kentucky in the spring. How will he do at Maryland?

Sorocaima starts off really well, clearing the first three no problem at all. He’s through the double at 4 and continues on clear. This is going very well so far. Oh dear, 8 goes and then the last part of the treble. 11’s down as well. But they’re clear over the last two. 12 jumping penalties for them and 1.2 time.

Buck Davidson and Sorocaima end up with an overall score of 61.

2:52pm

Doug Payne and Quantum Leap are on their sixth 5* start together at Maryland this week.

They got their competition underway with a score of 35.9 in the dressage, adding 13.6 time on the cross country yesterday. They now come forward on a total of 49.5 in 9th place.

Quantum lowered two poles last time out, but before that he’d had a run of four clear rounds. Will he be back on clear form today?

Quantum’s clear over the first three and then clears the double at 4. He rattles 5 a little behind but it stays up and they carry on clear. Ah, the first part of the treble goes, kind of unlucky as he’s jumping brilliantly. There are no more problems for them though, and they finish up with just the one pole, well inside the time.

Doug Payne and Quantum Leap end up with an overall score of 53.5.

2:49pm

Lillian Heard Wood brings seasoned 5* campaigner seventeen-year-old LCC Barnaby for his third go at Maryland.

Barnaby put down a 36.4 between the white boards on Friday, and jumped clear across they country yesterday, adding 24.4 time penalties. That means they come into today’s show jumping on a score of 60.8 in 10th place.

Barnaby jumped clear last time out, but lowered two poles in his run before that. He kept it to one at Badminton in the spring. What will it be today?

So far so good for Barnaby, he’s clear through the initial part of his round. Barnaby’s jumping really well and showing off all of his 5* experience. They’re clear through the treble. He’s pushed his luck a little, and it runs out when he has the second Liverpool down. But he’s clear over the rest, and inside the time. There’s a big cheer for this amazing 5* campaigner. One fence down for them.

Lillian Heard Wood and LCC Barnaby end on a final score of 64.8.

2:46pm

Cornelia Fletcher brings Daytona Beach 8 to Maryland after successful 5* trips on both sides of the Pond.

They got their competition underway with a score of 48.5 in the dressage with Daytona clearly ready to run cross country. Activating a frangible device cost them 11 penalties out on course yesterday and they also had 18.8 time penalties. They come forward today on a two-phase score of 78.3, just outside the top-10 in 11th place.

This mare is a jumping machine with more clears on her record than penalties. Will she continue her clear round form today?

Cornelia takes a big breath as she canters up to the start. They’re clear over the first three but then have the second part of the double at 4. They put it behind them though and are clear over the first Liverpool. The first part of the treble goes but they’re clear through the other two elements. They finish up the rest of the course clear, and are inside the time. 8 jumping to add.

Cornelia Fletcher and Daytona Beach 8 finish up with a three-phase score of 86.3.

2:43pm

Andrew McConnon and YEH graduate Ferrie’s Cello have made their 5* debut here at Maryland.

They got their first 5* underway with a score of 33.4 in the dressage, then activated a frangible device out on the cross country which cost them 11 penalties. They had 34.8 time penalties too and come forward today on a two-phase score of 79.2.

They had 8 penalties in this phase last time out, and rolled one pole in each of their two international runs before that. But they can go clear on their day. Will today be one of those days?

He’s clear over the first three fences but takes the second part of the double at 4B. They continue on clear but then have the first part of the treble, and the last. The second Liverpool goes as well, but they’re clear over the final fence. Four down and 0.8 time. But a 5* completion for them.

Andrew McConnon and Ferrie’s Cello complete their first 5* on a final score of 96.

2:40pm

Emily Hamel brings seasoned 5* campaigner – and high jump specialist – Corvett forward for the gelding’s sixth time at the top level.

After scoring 39 on the first day of competition, they had an unlucky 20 out on course yesterday which cost them some time too – 24.8 penalties to be exact. That brings them into today’s show jumping on a total score of 83.8.

They’re on a run of three clear rounds in international competition this season – will they make it four today?

They clear over the first couple with miles of room to spare. The crowd are loving Corvett’s iconic jumping style. Wow! He’s flying! He manages the tricky triple, still clear. He’s clear down the last line. And over the last! CLEAR ROUND! Just outside the time for 0.4, but an amazing round.

Emily Hamel and Corvett end their competition on a score of 84.2.

2:27pm

Bobby Meyerhoff pilots his 17 hand mare Lumumba for her first 5*.
They posted 39.5 in the first phase, and added 47.6 time faults with their steady clear out on the cross country yesterday. Bobby was clearly having a ball though, high-fiving the crowd as he galloped past 🖐️ They come forward today on a total score of 87.1.

They’ve had 12 in this phase in their last three international runs. What will it be today?

The first fence goes for Bobby, and then the second – not the start he’d have hoped for. The fourth goes also. They manage the difficult line between the triple bar and the first Liverpool. The first and last parts of the treble go. The penultimate goes also. That’s six down for 24 and two time penalties. But it’s a 5* completion for them.

Bobby Meyerhoff and Lumumba finish on 133.1.

Piggy March waits for the Ground Jury’s decision following her first presentation of Brookfield Cavalier Cruise. Photo by Sally Spickard.

The Maryland 5 Star fields thinned significantly following a tension-filled Final Horse Inspection on Sunday morning.

In the CCI5*, there were two changes to the board after both Piggy March (GBR) and Brookfield Cavalier Cruise (withdrew from the hold box) and Erin Kanara and Campground (not accepted on second inspection).

Mia Farley and Phelps were all clear in the Final Horse Inspection. Photo by Sally Spickard.

This now moves Austin O’Connor (IRE) and Colorado Blue up into fourth place and poised for a podium finish. Erin kanara and Campground were in 18th place following a clear with time cross country Saturday.

Overnight leader Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent will move forward to vie for the win. Photo by Sally Spickard.

William Fox-Pitt and Grafennacht are in second after cross country. Photo by Sally Spickard.

There was also lengthy discussion following Doug Payne and Quantum Leap’s presentation, but the ground jury could have also been debating Doug’s ability to pull off a leather jacket.

Doug Payne awaits the ground jury’s decision after jogging Quantum Leap. They were accepted and did not have to go to the hold or present again. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Looking to the USEF CCI3*-L National Championship, five horses were sent to the hold box: Kirsten Schuitema and One Sly Fox, Jennifer Moody and Eye of the Storm, Nilson Moreira da Silva and Elmo, Braden Speck and BSF Liam, Hannah Sue Hollberg and Hachi. Jennifer Moody ultimately decided to withdraw Eye of the Storm rom the hold box, but all others were accepted upon reinspection.

So a total of 14 combinations will now move forward to show jumping in the CCI5*, and 40 will jump in the CCI3*-L. We’ll see the 3* first beginning at 10:30 a.m. The show jumping will kick off for the headlining division at 2:00 p.m. Show jumping orders of go should be available shortly here. See the link list below for live stream links. 

MARS Maryland 5 Star: [Website] [Entries, Schedule & Times] [Live Scores] [Live Stream (North America)] [Live Stream (Outside North America)] [Tickets] [EN’s Coverage]

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Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent. Photo by Sally Spickard.

It was fairly easy to anticipate how World #1 Rider Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent (Valent – Bellaney Jewel xx, by Roselier xx) would finish their cross country today after watching them skip through a highly-anticipated combination — Fences 14 and 15 (the Select Event Group Baltimore Barricades and Bodgie’s Fox Covert). Carving through the direct, efficient line, Paul Ridgeon’s nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare with both racing and jumping breeding gave a huge effort over the first max spread table, making Oliver’s original plan of five strides to four strides impossible. You’d not have known, though, as she quickly picked up the line and was through it with a swish of her tail and a blink of the eye.

Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Minutes later, Oliver crossed the finish, stopping the clock 15 seconds over the optimum time of 11 minutes, 10 seconds. He accumulated six time penalties — “hopefully I won’t be kicking myself tomorrow!” — but it was enough to keep him in the position to beat on Sunday at the MARS Maryland 5 Star, presented by Brown Advisory. He’ll take a two-phase score of 29.1 into the show jumping tomorrow, without a rail in hand.

“Rosie has fulfilled my expectations of her,” Oliver said. “We always thought she was a superstar since the day we first saw her at age four, and from literally arriving in the warm-up to setting out of the box, I just thought, ‘God yeah, there’s just something special’. She’s very keen, but in a beautiful way — ears pricked and enthusiastic, and basically she’s had a whale of a time out here and I couldn’t be happier with her. She’s fulfilled our dreams that she is the hopefully next big thing for five-star horses.”

Historically, Oliver’s had a rail here and there — including one at the mare’s first 5* at Luhmühlen in the spring — with Rosie, but the pair does have clear jumping rounds on their card at Long format events. He will need to leave all the rails up tomorrow, as both William Fox-Pitt and Mia Farley are within four penalties of the lead as it stands now.

“For [owners Paul and Diana Ridgeon, who also owned horses for Andrew Nicholson and have been longtime supporters of Oliver’s] to get a superstar like this after owning horses their whole life, it’s very special for the whole team,” Oliver said. “She’s so honest and loves her job so as long as I get her nearly in front of the fences, she looks for the flags and jumps them very well. She’s been very keen all day, and she’s a pleasure to ride. I want to do that more than ever – with the horses that I’m privileged to ride, these horses are what keeps getting me up in the morning. It takes a huge amount of people to get me here on this horse, so thank you to everyone.”

William Fox-Pitt and Grafennacht. Photo by Sally Spickard.

William Fox-Pitt was equally pleased with the effort of his mare (how lovely to have two incredible mares sitting atop this leaderboard tonight!), Amanda Gould’s 11-year-old Oldenburg mare Grafennacht (Grafenstolz – Nachtigall, by Narew xx), who accumulated 5.2 penalties to move up one spot into second place overnight. “I’ve known she’s a lovely horse and she gave me a great ride at Badminton, so of course I’ve come here full of optimism,” he said. “[The question is] when they’ve done a five-star, are they going to be as good at the next one? But she’s always been a very cool horse, ever since she was five, it was always like she just walked the course like “yep, yep, yep” — she doesn’t really deviate anyway. She’s nice and easy to ride.”

William benefitted some from about a 20-minute hold after Arielle Aharoni pulled up Dutch Times two fences from home (Dutch Times was loaded into the horse ambulance with a wrapped right front after coming up lame. Arielle reports he’s resting comfortably at New Bolton this evening and she hopes he’ll be able to come home with her soon.). “Lillie” pulled up well — they’d just cleared the 14AB/15 combination before being held — and William took the time to walk her around, grab some water, and put some water on his mare. They were quickly sent away once Dutch Times was safely off the course and were seemingly equally quick to get the last few minutes of the track done to come home clear.

William Fox-Pitt and Grafennacht during the hold. Photo by Sally Spickard.

“Absolutely, I have to admit of course that the hold, in hindsight, did help,” William said. “You’re never quite sure — you think you’d like to stay in that rhythm and keep going. I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, when I get out to the corners around the water, she might be fresher than I’d anticipated’, so I rather thought that I’d ride her a bit quieter. But she held quite relaxed. She had a good wash, there was some water there in the end and I didn’t know how long I was going to be held for. It was all a little bit hit and miss, but I’ve got to say it all played to my advantage for sure because she doesn’t look like she’s done an event.”

This is another who’s had a few rails on the record. She lowered three in her first 5* at Badminton, but she did jump clear in both Boekelo’s and Burnham’s 4*-Ls. Tomorrow’s Michel Vaillancourt-designed track should prove itself a worthy challenge for the afternoon to come.

Which now brings us to, in this writer’s (and probably the rest of the eventing internet’s, to be honest) humble opinion, the absolute Story. Of. The. Day. Full. Stop.: Mia Farley and Phelps.

Mia Farley and Phelps. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Mia’s been jokingly casual all week, insisting she was “ignoring all the things that I don’t want to think about”. But Mia’s been training with David O’Connor since she moved to the East coast from her hometown in southern California in 2017, and not long after, she met a little off-track Thoroughbred named Phelps (Tiznow – Boom Town Gal, by Cactus Ridge). Purchased off Joanie Morris for $1 by David, he became Mia’s to produce, and the training began for what would wind up being the sole clear round inside the optimum time today. Part of that production is preparation from the multi-medalist and longtime U.S. eventing chef d’equipe.

“I think a big part of our training at home… we kind of made a joke that we always jump the last element first, like if we’re teaching horses how to look for flags, we always jump the last element first, and then you connect the two of them and they learn to kind of hunt the flags. And I really think I saw that training that we did with Phelps five years ago, today.”

Mia Farley and Phelps. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Mia started Phelps’ eventing career, and their cross country record is quite impressive. They’ve had just three events incurring cross country jumping penalties since the beginning days at the Novice level on, and they’ve never had a cross country penalty in FEI competition. While Mia is taking this one day at a time and enjoying the moment, she does know Phelps struggles mightily in the show jumping. That being said, he has jumped a double clear before, at Morven Park’s 4*-L last fall, where he finished on his dressage score. With two horses ahead of her that also have rails dotting their record, it’s difficult not to think of the possibilities. Could this be the fairytale weekend we weren’t expecting? In less than 24 hours (I mean, honestly more like 10 hours from now, by the time I finish this report), we’ll know. But for now, we’re all raising a toast to you, Mia. Enjoy it.

Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue. Photo by Sally Spickard.

As the first out of the box this afternoon, most of us anticipated Ireland’s Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue (Jaguar Mail – Rock Me Baby, by Rock King) to show us how this course was supposed to look, and they certainly proved us right. After an uncharacteristic blip at the Burghley Leaf Pit last month, Austin opted to hop a plane to the States for a crack at Maryland, and he brought The Salty Syndicate’s Colorado Blue home with just three seconds of time to move up into fourth place overnight. They elevate themselves nine places after starting the weekend in a semi-disappointing 12th with a couple of errors in an otherwise personal-best dressage on Thursday.

“It was good, it was, but it was it’s a tough ask — it’s a big test,” Austin said after his ride. “It’s a proper five-star.” This pair would very likely have made the time, had it not been for the decision to go longer at the top water (25ABCD), pulling to the left to swing back around to jump the angled brush at D. Monica Spencer as the third out would be the first to take the direct line there, but Austin chose to preserve his clear round here with “Salty”.

“I took a long way, surprised him,” he said. “I mean, I think we had a fair idea that it was gonna take a lot of jumping the whole way, and it did. The fences are big and they’re built in such a way that the horses go higher again, sort of putting another another six inches to the size… it all takes concentration and jumping.”

Salty has jumped double clear at the 5* level (Badminton 2022), and also jumped clear in the individual medal round at Tokyo (though he did knock one in the team round), so we know this horse has the staying power to deliver on the final day.

Piggy March and Brookfield Cavalier Cruise. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Piggy March set out with a plan to give the track a good crack, but prioritize giving 5* first-timer Brookfield Cavalier Cruise (Cavalier Carnival – Ryans Cruise, by Atlantic Cruise) a strong and positive ride. She accomplished this, opting for a long route when she felt she was having trouble turning right. “So I’m very pleased and very proud,” she said after finishing her ride on Chloe and John Perry and Alison Swinburn’s gelding. “I went to a lot of plan B’s and plan C’s on my round, which wasn’t what I had intended to do from the off, but for some reason I was struggling turning right today, which I’ve never had before — so that was very expensive timewise… And so I accept the time on that he’s finished, happy there wasn’t a moment that he’s had an unpleasant experience. There were just moments there of my ride that I experienced a very different horse to what I’ve had before, but that’s part of the game and that’s, you know — we stepped up to five-star, he’s still a very green inexperienced horse so good on him. You know, I’m very, very, very proud. He kept jumping really well to the end.”

Andrew McConnon and Ferrie’s Cello. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Other notable rounds today include sixth-placed Hannah Sue Hollberg, who brought first-timer Capitol H I M (Con Air – O-Heraldika, by Heraldik xx), owned by Christa Schmidt, home clear with 7.2 time penalties and a two-phase score of 39.6. Lillian Heard Wood and her own LCC Barnaby (Guy Cavalier – Lady Tanjour, by Rafael) completed an incredible 13th 5* cross country track, and Andrew McConnon was another 5* rookie who delivered a clear round with time aboard Jeanne Schigo’s Ferrie’s Cello (Chello III – Karelza, by Wolfgang).

This was a significantly more challenging track built by Ian Stark in the third year of the Maryland 5 Star, though a small field makes the numbers a bit more concentrated. In contrast to 2022, which saw Oliver Townend finish some 17 seconds inside the time (“which was quite embarrassing,” he said in the press conference), only Mia Farley would finish bang on the optimum time this year with Phelps. Several came close: as I said before, Austin O’Connor would probably have caught it had it not been for the long route at the Crab water, and William Fox-Pitt’s 5.2 penalties were the third-quickest of the day.

Doug Payne and Quantum Leap. Photo by Sally Spickard.

“I think Ian did do a very good job on that course,” William noted in the post-cross country press conference. “He was very brave in parts and really gave us a serious track that we had to think about. I did walk the course and think Ian very much had a Murphy Himself in the back of his mind when he was walking some of those distance and fences, and I was rather wishing I was on a Murphy Himself. But my mare coped very well, I’m very pleased with her and I think he stuck a good balance. I think he asked very good questions, there were times when things maybe weren’t so big, but he did test our horses. We’ve got one inside the time — I thought when I walked it there might be two, so that’s a pretty damn good result.”

64% of the field completed the course, and 13 of the 25 starters (52%) jumped clear. For comparison, in 2021 11 pairs made the optimum time, and in 2022 13 pairs went double clear. 27 (64% of the field, so another example of number compression in a smaller field as this year’s field saw the same completion rate) jumped clear in 2021, and 18 (75%) jumped clear in 2022.

Several pairs were eliminated, including rare falls for both Phillip Dutton (who fell with Azure at the double corners at fence 19AB — both are reportedly okay this evening) and Boyd Martin (who fell at fence 3 after Contessa had a close distance and a peck on landing at the table out of the water, popping Boyd out the right door. Boyd was down on the ground for a moment, but he was quickly up on his feet and will now re-group and head off to Pau to compete Fedarman B next weekend). There was a hold on course when Jacob Fletcher fell from Fabian at fence 12. Zach Brandt pulled up Direct Advance at 19B after his already-injured back tied up and rendered him unable to ride effectively. Jennie Brannigan withdrew Twilightslastgleam after taking a hard fall from Pascal in the 3*-L earlier in the day. As of publication, there are no major injuries to horses or riders reported, with Arielle Aharoni’s mount Dutch Times being the only one requiring further attention after pulling up close to home.

Lillian Heard and LCC Barnaby complete an incredible 13th 5* cross country. Photo by Sally Spickard.

After trying to calm his nerves between the 3* and the 5* this afternoon by taking a quick nap in his car, Ian Stark was pleased with the day. “I have to say I felt pretty darn sick, but I quite enjoyed the three-star, I thought they did a good job,” he said. “I was very relieved when Austin went around so well. At the end of the day, everything was tried — all the routes. I think various things please me: I thought Oliver Townend’s horse was phenomenal. I thought Mia’s horse went brilliantly — she rode amazingly considering her first five-star. And what really thrilled me is, because I’m a racing man, it’s a Thoroughbred. So it’s sort of, I won’t make the gesture, to the warmbloods, but I’ve always been a Thoroughbred person so I’m delighted for her.”

Caroline Martin Holds USEF National CCI3*-L Lead with HSH Connor

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Connor. Photo by Sally Spickard.

We may as well call the CCI3*-L the Lauren and Caroline Show, with Special Guest Taren Hoffos. Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Connor are in first place, Lauren Nicholson and Larcot Z in second, Caroline and HSH Tolan King in third, Taren Hoffos and Regalla in fourth, and Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Jungle Gold.

Our overnight leaders remained mostly the same from day one, however there was a little jockeying between Caroline Pamukcu and Taren Hoffos for third place– Caroline and HSH Tolan King, owned by Sherri Martin and Derek Strine, bumped Taren and Regalla (Sir Donnerhall x Rubiera A by Rubinstein 46), owned by Carolyn Hoffos, from third to fourth.

Caroline and HSH Connor (Connor 48 x Galwaybay Merstona by Mermus R) threw down a stellar double clear cross country round with a time of 9:31 seconds, seven seconds under the optimum time. “HSH Connor is no stranger to big atmospheres after doing Le Lion d’Angers last year. He’s done a lot of championships, so this is a walk in the park,” Caroline said. “But he is seven and it’s a lot of terrain. Going up to the last water like, oh my god, you’re exhausted. Then you get a second wind going down that hill and then you’re just flying on the way home.”

Caroline’s second ride, HSH Tolan King, was actually eventing’s version of a foster failure. After taking him on as a sales horse, he sat for two years before an investor took on half ownership. “He’s just been an absolute machine. He won the CCI2*-L at Tryon for his first FEI and hasn’t been outside the top five in any of his three-star competitions. This was a big ask for him, but he found it easy, very, very easy,” Caroline said.

Lauren Nicholson and Larcot Z. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Lauren Nicholson kept her hold on second place with Ms. Jacqueline Mars’ Larcot Z (L’Arc de Triomphe x Kocote De La Londe by Socrate de Chivre), adding just 0.4 points to her dressage score for a total of 28.6. “Larcot Z was amazing and, you know, I get to know him more each time out. The track wasn’t terribly difficult or changed the standings much, but I thought it was an excellent track for these young horses that are developing.”

“Jungle’s Gold, he’s young and a bit weak. What makes him great cross country sometimes makes him a bit casual show jumping, so that’s been a work in progress,” said Lauren. “They’re both athletic, talented horses.”

Taren Hoffos and Regalla. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Our West Coast girl, Taren Hoffos, added 0.8 faults to her dressage score, which ultimately made the difference between third and fourth place, and allowed Caroline and HSH Tolan King take her place on the leaderboard. “I’m just so grateful that I was able to make the trek and bring this fantastic mare out here to compete. So back home, she did the three long at Rebecca farm which I thought was great for her. That was her first three long and she placed well, she felt like she was just so confident,” Taren said. “She was great to the end.”

Tomorrow will bring a new day and new stories, so thanks for sticking around to read ours. The trot-ups will start at 8:30 a.m. ET with the 3*-L, followed by the 5* around 9:15 a.m. The 3*-L begins show jumping at 10:30 a.m., followed by the 5* at 2:00 p.m. Orders of go will be posted here following the final Horse Inspections.

All of the action will be live streamed on ClipMyHorse.TV/USEF Network — you can access the live stream here. If you’re outside of North America, you’ll find the live stream on Horse & Country here.

Veronica Green-Gott contributed to this report.

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