Classic Eventing Nation

The dressage ring is where it’s at as Maryland 5 Star gets underway. Photo by MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fairhill.

Here we go ENers, the penultimate 5* of 2023 is about to kick off! It’s the first day of dressage at Maryland 5 Star and we couldn’t be any more excited to see how the competition unfolds.

Join us as we meet the stars of the show and see how they get on in the first phase of the USA’s second top-level offering of the season.

We’ve got riders at the top of the world rankings here at Maryland 5 Star this week – from both sides of the Pond – with Britain’s Piggy March (13th) and Oliver Townend (1st), and Americans Phillip Dutton (10th) and Boyd Martin (3rd) all joining us in the dressage ring over the next two days.

We’ll see Olympians, World Championship riders, Pan-Ams medalists, 5* winners… this competition is hot, hot hot!

And you won’t have to miss a thing as EN will be bringing you all of the action over the course of the event, so keep your eyes on – and ears pricked – as we go eventing! We’ve got loads of great IG content happening courtesy of our team on the ground too @goeventing, and if you want to follow along with the form, you’ll find EN’s 5* Form Guide here.

First into the ring will be Ireland’s Austin O’Connor with Colorado Blue, who stormed ‘round a muddy Badminton track in the spring and finished overall in third place.

If you’re following along live, don’t forget to refresh this page periodically.

Let’s do this thing! 👀

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2:05pm And here we go! Maryland 5 Star begins with Ireland’s Austin O’Connor who’s made the trip to Maryland with Colorado Blue for the gelding’s fifth 5* start.

🧂 ‘Salty’ showed he’s an event horse truly worth his salt at this year’s tricky Badminton edition – he finished third after storming round the muddy track. Last year he was eighth – finishing on his dressage of 35.9.

They competed at the Tokyo Olympics after stepping up when Cathal Daniels had to withdraw. They tore up the Tokyo track with the fastest round of the day, finishing 13th overall and best of the Irish.

He’s also been to the World Championships – at Pratoni – where he finished in the top 20, again, top of the Irish team.

Austin has produced Salty from the start and says the gelding is a laid back kind of guy with “a great heart”.

Dressage form 📈 At Badminton in the spring he put down a PB at the level – 31.5. Later this season he posted 34.9 at Burghley. He’s generally mid-30s, but he’s super speedy across the country and will be looking to climb the leaderboard on Saturday.

Salty looked every bit the 5* star at Badminton in the spring, and was kept fabulously white by his groom Francesca Denning, despite the soggy British weather:

 

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Salty looks beautiful in the Maryland sunshine as he enters up the center line. He seems relaxed and happy to be working with Austin.

Alice Fox-Pitt is in the commentary box with Spencer Sturmey and they’ve commented on how much happier Salty looks here than he did at Burghley. The halt is accurate and Salty is settled and relaxed as he moves into the walk work.

The test overall is going really well. The first change is spot on and Salty’s responding to Austin’s aids throughout the canter work.

He’s lacking a bit of bend in the half pass but delivers a relaxed stretch circle and two lovely changes.

Unfortunately the bell goes as Austin halts. He’s halted a little early rather than continuing down the center line in trot to halt at G. It seems Austin had the 4* test in mind. Such a shame when the test had been so very lovely all the way through, he’ll be kicking himself but should still be incredibly pleased with Salty’s performance here.

Update: Austin actually halted in the wrong place the second time too, hence his score changed from 33.1 to 33.7.

Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue score 33.7.

2:14pm Doug Payne and Quantum Leap are making their sixth 5* start together at Maryland this week.

Baby Quantum arrived at the Payne yard as a yearling and Doug has brought the gelding up through the levels.

🎓 One of the five YEH graduates here at Maryland, as a four-year-old Quantum was third in the Championships. He went on to represent the US at the seven-year-old Championships at Le Lion d’Angers.

It’s their third trip to Maryland – they were ninth in 2021 and 2022, will they push up the leaderboard this time around?

5* form 🌟 They’ve finished top-10 in four of their 5* starts, including coming third at Kentucky last season, where they become the 2022 USEF 5* Eventing National Champions.

🛩️ When he’s not piloting horses round cross country courses, Doug pilots his tiny plane to events.

Dressage form 🩰 They scored 29.5 here last year – a career best dressage score – and 33.7 at Kentucky in the spring. Will they manage another sub-30 Maryland score this time around?

Quantum is officially the sweetest 5* horse, like ever, as Doug’s little daughter can attest (check out Doug’s IG account for some very cute videos of the pals hanging out together):

 

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It’s a bit of a tentative start as Doug sets off from the center line, a little wobbly, and that caution continues into the trot work. Quantum flicks his toes out and looks impressive, but we can see that Doug’s having to be a bit careful in the early stages of this test.

There’s more flashy footwork in the extended trot, but it’s still not fully attacking.

Quantum’s not fully secure in the contact in the walk work. The relaxation is looking a bit fragile and Doug’s having to ride with all of his experience and knowledge of the horse.

They’re not losing any marks in terms of accuracy, but Doug’s having to keep a lid on Quantum’s excitement.

The canter work continues in the same way – tentative, but very clever riding from Doug. He’s not letting Quantum boil over, he’s doing all the jobs he needs to do to complete the test, but he can’t push Quantum due to the gelding’s obvious fizziness in the arena today.

That was hard work for Doug, but they’ve halted now, sans explosion from Quantum – a masterclass of riding from Doug.

Doug Payne and Quantum Leap score 35.9.

2:22pm New Zealand’s Monica Spencer and Artist made the trip to the Northern Hemisphere a few weeks ago in preparation for their second 5* start.

Monica won one of the best turned out rider prizes at the First Horse Inspection yesterday for her super cool ‘fit that gave Team EN green eyes for sure 💚

With plenty of 4* experience – and success – under their girths in New Zealand, Monica and Artist made their 5* debut at Adelaide early this season, but an unfortunate parting of company on the cross country there means they’re here at Maryland looking for their first 5* completion.

🛫 It’s not their first trip to the Northern Hemisphere – they were part of the New Zealand squad for the World Championships in Pratoni, which they found out just three days before ‘Max’ flew out to Italy. It was worth the stress though – they took home a team bronze medal 🥉

🏇 Max is racing-trained but didn’t actually race – he switched sides early on and Monica has had him since he was a four-year-old after seeing him at his first show and promptly buying him.

Dressage form 👀 They posted a 24 at Adelaide 5* in the first phase and a 25.6 at Pratoni. They’re rarely out of the 20s at 4*. This is for sure one to watch.

🎨📸 Artist sure makes a pretty picture:

 

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Max comes into the arena looking like he means business and really shows off all his range in the medium trot. He’s soft and supple, showing real presence in the ring and lots of cadence in his movement.

It’s a lovely square halt before very accurate rein back steps. He sets off in walk looking equally relaxed. They are such an impressive looking pair – totally together and working nicely as a partnership.

A really bold transition into canter and more great quality work from Max. Monica pushes for the extended and then Max comes straight back, showing just how well they work together.

A gorgeous stretch circle demonstrates lots of relaxation and then Monica picks him back up to deliver an accurate change.

Max truly is a great advert for ex-racehorses. He looks like a pleasure to ride, and lots of fun.

A square halt to finish what’s been a lovely test throughout.

Monica Spencer and Artist score 28.4 and go into the lead.

2:30pm Multiple-time World Championship rider, seven-time Olympian and Pan-Ams medal winner Phillip Dutton brings Azure forward for her first 5*.

Azure was bred and produced by Irish eventer Elizabeth Power, making the trip to the States to start the 2022 season with Phillip.

Hot form 🌶️ They won the 4*-L at Bromont in June, adding just 0.8 to their dressage of 36.4.

👀 Watch out for this pair on the cross country on Saturday – the mare has had jumping penalties just once in 21 starts!

Medals alert! Phillip has won Olympic team gold twice for Australia 🥇🥇 individual bronze for the US 🥉 two Pan-Ams team golds and individual silver 🥇🥇🥈

All-around sportsman🎾⛳ As well as in the barn, you can catch Phillip on the tennis court and golf course.

Dressage form 📋 They trend mid-30s in this phase at 4* – last time out they posted a 34.1 at Stable View in the 4*-S.

🤠 Showing off his Dutton family skills:

 

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Azure looks a real picture in the dressage ring this afternoon. She gets off to a good start but then has a bit of a stumble in the corner as she loses the trot slightly. Phillip gets her straight back though and she continues on nicely.

She looks relaxed in the lateral trot work but then her head lifts as they halt – she seems to notice the cameras.

Phillips legs are nowhere near Azure’s sides in the walk work – like, there’s a huge gap between his calves and her sides. Azure’s obviously feeling a bit fizzy and is keen to get on with her work – on the cross country.

There’s a bit of tension in the canter work, but Phillip’s keeping a lid on it and she delivers a good first change. This mare can get a bit tight in the canter, but she’s doing well. There’s some stretch in the circle, but there could have been more to really go for top marks.

She nails the final halt and seems to have really enjoyed herself in the ring. There was a little tension, but there’s a lot of atmosphere there and it’s her first time at the level. She’s kept it together really well and overall it was a nice test.

Updated: Phillip Dutton and Azure score 34.5.

2:37pm Son of legendary US eventer Bruce Davidson Buck Davidson returns to Maryland with Kentucky-bred Thoroughbred Sorocaima.

Career change 🔀 ‘Cam’ had a successful career in racing before turning his hoof to eventing, earning over $80,000 on the track 🏇 He made his eventing debut in 2020.

He comes forward for his fourth 5* start, and second time at Maryland. He was 14th here last year – will he race even further up the leaderboard this time around?

Buck has been a US team member at World Championships and Pan-American Games, and has been the named alternate for Olympic teams.

Dressage form 📋 He scored 36 at Kentucky in the spring and 35.7 here last year. His dressage scores in general have been trending downwards, and he can be low-30s at 4*.

Ears pricked and ready to put his best hoof forward:

Buck Davidson and Sorocaima. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Buck and Cam get their test underway with a good halt. The trot work is a huge improvement on what we’ve seen from Cam before – it’s balanced and accurate throughout.

Another good halt and it’s into the walk. Cam seems relaxed and happy to be working for Buck. He’s stepping out nicely and it all looks solid. There could have been a little more extension but overall it’s sound and accurate.

It’s more of the same in the canter. Cam really shows his Thoroughbred blood as he extends across the arena – he looks fabulous.

There’s a little overbend in the stretch circle, but Cam comes back to Buck nicely and delivers an accurate change.

This has been a polished performance – very solid. A square halt to finish, and a little ‘well done to me’ neigh from Cam.

Buck Davidson and Sorocaima score 34.2.

2:46pm Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol H I M are here for their second 5* start together.

‘Chito’ is best mate and field buddy of Hannah Sue’s long-time partner Harbour Pilot, her individual silver and team gold 2011 Pan-American Games ride.

He stepped up to 4* in 2021 and 5* last year.

They’re looking for their first 5* completion together this week having parted company on the cross country on their first attempt at the level at Kentucky last season.

Total horse girl 🐴 Growing up, Hannah Sue gained experience with all types of horses, from schooling Pony Hunters to hot walking horses at Churchill Downs.

She completed her first 5* at Kentucky in 2007 with a horse she’d found in the classified ads when she was thirteen.

Dressage form 📈 In the first phase, their scores are typically low to mid-30s at the 4* level; at their 5* run last year they posted 37.5.

Let’s hope it’s smiles all round for Hannah Sue and Chito when all’s said and done this week:

Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol H I M. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Chito is accurate and athletic in his trot work at the beginning of the test. He’s so clearly working with Hannah Sue and they look like a real partnership.

He shows some nice paces in the extended, and lots of cadence.

They show an established halt and clean rein back steps before transitioning into walk in a relaxed way.

The walk work is a little cautious. Chito is flicking his ears a little, he’s showing some tension which means Hannah Sue can’t push him in the walk.

That tension continues in the first few steps of canter. He’s clearly got so much potential in this phase though and he shows that in the stretch circle. Hannah Sue softens the rein and Chito takes it and softens down. A truly lovely example of the move.

They finish off with an excellent halt. There were some excellent moments throughout this test.

Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol H I M score 32.4 and go into second.

2:53pm Last up before the break we have Great Britain’s Piggy March who has made the trip to Maryland with Brookfield Cavalier Cruise AKA ‘Fletcher’.

This guy is well-used to being piloted by top riders, having been competed to 2* by Harry Meade, then up to 4* by Tom McEwen before Piggy March took over the ride this season.

5* first-timer ⭐ Fletcher, not Piggy!

Hot form 🌶️ They won first time out together in the 4*-S at Thoresby Park, and followed up their victory with a second place in the 4*-L at Bramham where they finished on their dressage score. They were fifth last time out, in the 4*-S at Little Downham.

5* winner 🥇🥇 Piggy’s been at the top of the podium at both Badminton and Burghley with her now retired super mare Vanir Kamira, and has represented Great Britain at European and World Championships.

🐷📺 As well as being a busy eventer, she’s the star of Piggy TV, her online training, horse care and rider fitness platform.

Dressage form 👀 In 13 FEI runs, Fletcher has just one first phase score outside the 20s – a 30.8. He may be stepping up a level, but this is one to watch for sure.

Eventing buddies are the best 💞 An elated Piggy coming second at Bramham behind her great mate and idol Pippa Funnell:

 

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Wow, Piggy comes in meaning business. Very clear canter steps up the center line into a square halt. A great start.

Fletcher looks very flashy and showy in the ring and his trot has a lot of cadence and rhythm. He’s not necessarily softening automatically for Piggy, but she’s riding with all her might and getting the right result.

The halt and rein back are accurate and they move off into walk in a balanced and relaxed manner. The relaxation continues throughout the walk. This is looking great so far.

They strike off into canter and there’s no doubt that Piggy’s pushing for every mark. The flying changes are super – absolutely on the mark with lots of expression. Piggy’s brave in the extended and it looks very impressive.

A beautiful transition to trot down the center line and a square halt to finish. Fletcher gets an ear rub from Piggy for a job very, very well done. Piggy deserves one too – that was masterful riding.

Gorgeous.

It’s a provisional score for Piggy due to a discrepancy in the collectives, but for now…

Piggy March and Brookfield Cavalier Cruise provisionally score 24.2 and go into the lead.

Updated: Piggy’s score of 24.2 is confirmed.

We’re heading into the break now. Back in around 10 minutes – at 3:11pm EST / 8:11pm BST.

3:11pm Getting us back underway, Emily Hamel brings seasoned 5* campaigner – and high jump specialist – Corvett forward for the gelding’s sixth time at the top level.

5* form 🌟 Corvett – AKA ‘Barry’ – has completed both of the American 5* offerings, and both of the British ones too! He was 10th at Kentucky this season, 20th at Burghley last year and 14th here at Maryland in 2021.

Emily describes Barry as “the most talented, intelligent, brave, and sassy horse” she’s ever sat on.

She started riding the gelding whilst working for fellow Maryland 5* competitor Phillip Dutton. Barry was due to be sold as no one could ride him well due to his quirky – and now iconic (see below) – style. But Emily loved him and has brought him through the levels to the top of his sport.

Dressage form 🩰 Barry doesn’t win the dressage, he’s here to show off his stunning jump. He’s a high-30s kind of guy in the first phase – he scored 38.7 at Kentucky in the spring and 39.7 last time out in the 4*-S at Stable View, where he finished 5th.

Barry is a horse who’s got the hops, often giving himself about a foot of breathing room as he bounds over the fences 🐰 He’s even the star of kid’s book about what a bold jumper he is:

 

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You can read an excerpt of the book and find out how to get your hooves on a copy here.

Barry has a good look round to check everyone’s watching him as he halts. He’s very excited. He breaks into canter and Emily has to pull him up before she can get him going into trot properly. There’s some tail swishing going on but he is trotting now, which Emily will be breathing a sigh of relief about.

She does push in the extended and he shows some nice steps. The second halt is much better than the first and they move off – tentatively – into walk.

Barry is staying in walk though, it’s cautious but he does show a little extension. He seems to settle a little bit as they get into the canter work.

There’s still a lot of tail swishing going on in the canter and Emily continues to have to ride cautiously. Barry gets behind her leg and she’s not able to stay in the counter canter. She’s doing a great job on a horse who doesn’t really want to do dressage – he very much wants to do cross country.

They put in a clean change although the next one is a little ropey. He comes back to trot well though, and stands to halt at the end. Barry looks incredibly relaxed as he walks out of the arena, as is so often the case with horses who are bubbling over through their test. Emily did a great job in there, that’s for sure.

Emily Hamel and Corvett score 39.

3:20pm With two Kentucky starts under their girth, Booli Selmayr and Millfield Lancando come forward for their third 5* together.

New Yorker Booli has produced ‘Lance’ from his first international events to the top level of his sport.

Big boy 🪜 At 17.1, there’s no mistaking Lance for a pony!

They finished 25th on their 5* debut at Kentucky last season, but unfortunately parted company on the cross country there this year. They’ll be hoping to stick together and secure their second 5* completion here this week.

They come here on great form, having finished third last time out in the 4*-S at Bromont in June.

Dressage form 👀 At Kentucky in the spring they posted a first phase score of 44.6, last year it was 45.2. At 4* they’re generally high-30s.

Game faces on:

Booli Selmayr and Millfield Lancando. Photo by Abby Powell.

Lance looks fresh as he comes up the center line but Booli’s sitting calm and keeping a lid on things. He’s a bit wobbly in the shoulder in and it’s clear that Lance is feeling the atmosphere. Everything’s accurate enough so far though.

Booli can’t really push in the extended and Lance doesn’t really want to halt before the rein back. The walk looks very bouncy to begin with, but Booli has managed to contain it. He’s really anticipating the canter transition though and Booli is masterful in the way she’s riding.

Lance is happier in the canter work, but he’s not 100% concentrating on Booli, he’s much more interested in everything that’s going on around the arena. She manages to let him stretch a little in the circle though, which is good work on a fizzy horse.

This hasn’t been an easy ride for Booli and she’s done an amazing job. Lance looks incredibly fit, which will be great on Saturday. Today though, it made for a difficult ride. Booli will be glad to have the first phase done and dusted. The halt is very short, but Lance did halt and now he can go and look forward to cross country.

Booli Selmayr and Millfield Lancando score 40.9.

Andrew McConnon and Ferrie’s Cello are making their 5* debut here at Maryland.

🎓 One of the five YEH graduates here this week, as a five-year-old ‘Eddy’ (as he’s known in the barn) won the YEH qualifier at Carolina Horse Park and went on to be Reserve Champion at the East Coast Championships, which are running here alongside the 5*.

🥈 They represented the US as members of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team that brought home a silver medal in the FEI Eventing Nations Cup in Poland this year.

Eventing idol/boss 🤩 In 2016 Andrew had the chance to work as a rider for British eventing legend (and fellow competitor at Maryland) William Fox-Pitt for two years. He also spent some time with Pippa Funnell and her husband, William, at The Billy Stud.

Andrew has also worked with CANTER, a program which provides OTTBs with opportunities for second careers.

Dressage form 📈 At 4* this season, they’ve scored 32.6, 34.8 and and 38.7, so the 30s seem to be their sweet spot at this stage in their career.

Eddy sure knows how to slurp:

 

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Eddy starts off with a square halt but picks his head up and has a little look around. Andrew kicks on though and Eddy responds with some accurate and balanced trot work.

There’s a lot of cadence in the trot and Andrew’s able to push in the extended. Eddy looks well within himself in his work and they look like a good partnership.

The walk is relaxed and Eddy’s listening to Andrew and responding to his aids. He begins to anticipate the canter transition but Andrew holds him back.

The first change isn’t quite as accurate as the rest of the work, Eddy looked a little fragile but Andrew held him together. The second one is a bit more wobbly, but Andrew’s riding this test incredibly well. The stretch circle is good enough, but then the change is a a bit too exuberant.

They finish in a nice halt and there’s a cheer from the crowd. This has been a great test for a young horse at its first 5*.

Andrew McConnon and Ferrie’s Cello score 33.4 and go into 4th as things stand.

3:34pm One half of the Fletcher eventing couple Cornelia Fletcher brings Daytona Beach 8 to Maryland after successful 5* trips on both sides of the Pond.

5* form 🌟 With a top 25 finish at Kentucky this season, and 10th place at Burghley last year on their 5* debut, this pair have two great top-level results under their girth as they come forward for their third go at the level.

Leaderboard climb 🪜 They moved up 40 places on the Burghley leaderboard – they were 50th after dressage, 16th after cross country and 10th after show jumping.

Marital rivalry? One of the latest additions to the eventing couples hall of fame, Cornelia and her husband, Jacob Fletcher, are both contesting the 5* here at Maryland.

Dressage form 👀 They scored 39 in the Main Arena at Burghley last season and 53.4 at Kentucky Horse Park. Daytona is a horse that’s here for the jumping – in eleven 4* starts they’ve been sub-40 just twice. But they did it at Burghley, will they do it again at Maryland?

Best of the Americans and top-10 at Burghley – not bad for a 5* debut:

 

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Daytona thinks it’s cross country day – Cornelia has a bit of a moment outside the arena. She gets the mare in the arena and it all continues in the same way – Daytona is ready to run and doesn’t have much interest in halting or trotting. Cornelia does a fantastic job to get her going. It’s all bouncy and fizzy and tense, but Cornelia is managing to keep a lid on it, mostly.

Daytona pokes her nose out in the halt – which is incredibly brief – and the rein back looks equally difficult. You can see the whites of Daytona’s eyes as she looks around.

There’s snorting in the walk, which is more jog than walk really. Cornelia looks disappointed but she is doing such a professional job of making the best of a very difficult situation.

Daytona throws an immediate change in as she goes into canter. Rather than being happier at the faster pace, Daytona continues to bubble over. Cornelia manages to get her to change back and they continue on their way.

Cornelia deserves a medal for how she’s ridden in the ring today. What a difficult situation. Daytona was more spicey than ever, perhaps the wind was under her tail. There’s a shrug and shake of the head from Cornelia at the end and Daytona’s still playing up as the leave the arena. A difficult test to watch, but very impressive riding from Cornelia.

Cornelia Fletcher and Daytona Beach 8 score 48.5.

3:43pm Mia Farley and Phelps are here for their first 5* together.

Mia and Phelps’ combined age is 33!

She’s been riding Phelps for the past six years – since he was a four-year old.

🏇 He’s an OTTB owned by David O’Connor.

Early start alert! Mia’s started riding when she was three and did her first event aged seven.

Dressage form 📈 They scored 31.4 in the 4*-S at Kentucky in the spring – up to that their form was mid-30s. Last time out they went sub-30, with a 29.9 in the 4*-S at Plantation Field a few weeks ago.

Here’s hoping today’s a big pats kind of day:

Mia Farley and Phelps. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

A super square halt to start for Mia and Phelps. He sets off in a balanced trot and the medium is very impressive. Phelps looks very relaxed in the ring and is working nicely with Mia. He’s a bit wobbly in the contact in the lateral work, but these are difficult movements and Mia’s doing a great job in her first 5*.

There’s another good halt and clean rein back steps. Phelps is a little bouncy in the walk, he’s very expressive in his movement but Mia gets him to take the contact forward well. Phelps anticipates the canter transition a little but the strike off is good and clean.

He’s a little late behind going into the first change but there’s good positioning in the shoulder in. He’s not so uphill as some of the other horses, but all of his work is accurate. He takes the contact down in the stretch circle and comes right back to Mia. This looks like a very promising partnership.

Phelps steps out a little in the halt. There have been a couple of wobbly moments in the contact, but overall this has been a super dressage test for a first attempt at the level and there have been some particularly nice moments. Mia should be very proud of the work she and Phelps have shown today.

Mia Farley and Phelps score 32.9 and go into 4th place.

3:51pm Last to go today is Bobby Meyerhoff, who brings his 17hand mare Lumumba forward for her first 5*.

Equestrian education 🎓 Bobby began his eventing journey in the Pony Club aged nine, going on to train with Stuart Black and Karen and David O’Connor. He’s also worked for show jumper Aaron Vale.

Bobby and his show jumper wife Danica are based in North Carolina, where they run Meyerhoff Show Horses, focusing on producing young horses to the top of their respective sports.

Dressage form 🕺At 4* this season they’ve been low- to mid-30s. How will Lumumba do as she steps up a level?

📸 Lumumba sure knows how to work that camera:

Bobby Meyerhoff and Lumumba. Photo by Jenni Autry.

They start off with a couple of steps into a square enough halt. The mare loses a little straightness coming out of the halt into the trot but she gets going nicely and the positioning in the lateral work gets better as they go along.

Bobby’s really showing off Lumumba’s movement as he pushes across the ring in the extended.

The halt is a little tentative, but the rein back is accurate.

The extended walk is a little hurried in the beginning, but Lumumba takes the contact out as she relaxes into it. She anticipates the canter transition though and Bobby has to correct it. He has to bring her back again in the corner and just as he gets her going a helicopter goes over. Lumumba is a total pro though and doesn’t let it bother her.

She shows tension as she crosses the ring on the diagonal and fishtails her hindquarters out a little. There are some small errors creeping in, an early change for example. But Lumumba’s clearly trying hard for Bobby.

They end on a nice halt and Lumumba gets a big pat. She seemed really quite tense at a few points in that test, but there was also a fair bit of very nice work on display.

Bobby Meyerhoff and Lumumba score 39.5.

4pm And that’s it for the first day of dressage at Maryland 5 Star!

There’s an international flavor to the overnight leaderboard:

Leading overnight is Great Britain’s Piggy March with Brookfield Cavalier Cruise on a score of 24.2.

In second is New Zealand’s Monica Spencer with Artist on 28.4.

And rounding out the top 3 is the USA’s Hannah Sue Hollberg with Capitol H I M on 32.4.

I’ll update the provisional scores if they do change, but it does look like things are staying as they are.

Watch out for EN’s full round-up of all the day’s dressage – coming soon!

Thanks for coming along for the ride. I’ll be back tomorrow with another day’s action from between the white boards. Until then, go eventing!

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

2022 Maryland 5 Star winners Tim Price and Coup de Coeur Dudevin. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

It’s time for Team EN to put on their collective fangirl hats and decide who’s most likely to take the win (and a few other arbitrary titles) this week at the MARS Maryland 5 Star, presented by Brown Advisory.

MARS Maryland 5 Star: [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [Tickets] [5* Form Guide] [EN’s Coverage]

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

Piggy March and Brookfield Cavalier Cruise. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

TILLY BERENDT

Overall Winner: Technically, mine could fall into three categories — I think this week goes to the indomitable Piggy March, who rides her debutant Brookfield Cavalier Cruise and represents Great Britain. Though she rode him briefly as a young horse, 2023 is technically Piggy’s first ‘proper’ season on the gelding, who was initially produced by Harry Meade, then went to Tom McEwen for 2022. Both Piggy and Tom are steadfast members of Team Brookfield, and it’s not at all unusual for them to swap the yard’s horses between one another and work collaboratively to ensure each horse ends up with its perfect match, and so while a new partnership like this might be a mark against many horses and riders at a five-star, in this case, you can rest assured that there’s a wealth of knowledge, experience, and empathy behind it all. And, of course, results: in 13 FEI starts, the gelding has nine top-ten finishes, and has won at two-, three-, and four-star level. He’s scored in the 20s in 12 of those 13 starts, has never had a cross-country jumping penalty in any of them, and has never had more than one rail — and those are reasonably uncommon, too. He wouldn’t necessarily be the speediest horse in the world, though he’s not at all what I’d call slow, and if Maryland’s time continues to be as gettable as it has been, that’ll be another boon to this exciting young talent and his much-loved rider. Go get ’em, Piglet.

Top Rookie (Horse, Rider, or Pair): I’m a huge fan of Phillip Dutton‘s game, gutsy Azure, who I first fell for when she went round the Seven-Year-Old World Championships with Ireland’s Esib Power aboard. They were also excellent at Aachen in 2021, where they finished in the top ten, and after that, Phillip took over the ride. They’ve spent the last eighteen months getting to know one another and this season, that’s paying dividends, with a top-ten finish in the CCI4*-S at Kentucky, another in the CCI4*-S at Stable View, and a win in the CCI4*-L at Bromont under their belts. I think the mare has every chance of impressing enormously on her five-star debut this week, even if her first-phase scores aren’t quite ready to fend off the big guns yet.

Top International Pair: Other than Piggy and Brookfield Cavalier Cruise, of course, I think it’s got to be New Zealand’s Monica Spencer and Artist, who have all the chops to lead the first phase and have just had a bit of bad luck in the other two, but this week, I think, is the one in which all three phases come together at the right time. Plus, as an ex-racehorse lover, I can’t not put this incredibly cool horse up as one of my picks!

Biggest Climber: It’s a hard one to call, this, because Maryland’s time isn’t super influential – although perhaps we’ll see that change this week. If it does end up being hard to get, it’s Ireland’s Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue — the fastest pair at Badminton this spring and the Tokyo Olympics — who’ll take this honour. If, though, showjumping ends up being the more influential of the two, I’m handing this one to Arielle Aharoni and Dutch Times, who will start the week on a mid-to-high 30s mark and then deliver two smart clears. This is their first five-star, and they’re not, like insanely quick, but they are very consistent now after a string of learning experiences, and even though they retired after activating a frangible device at a four-star last month, I’m not holding that against them. Their showjumping, too, needs mentioning: they haven’t had a rail in over three years.

Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

CHEG DARLINGTON

Overall Winner:
For me – but not quite according the EquiRatings stats – Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent are gunning for the win here this week. EquiRatings have them down as second favorite behind Piggy March and Brookfield Cavalier Cruise, but I tend to go with a healthy mix of stats and feels, and my feels are telling me that this exceptional mare will be adding a 5* win to her accolades by the time all’s said and done.

She comes with an educational run ‘round Luhmuhlen under her girth, with Oliver crediting the experience she gained there for her faultless performance at Blenheim, where she won the 4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds. She finished on her impressive 24.7 dressage score that weekend, the only competitor to keep a clean sheet across the three phases. From 16 FEI starts, she’s been on the podium nine times, only finishing outside the top 7 on three occasions. That’s some enviable form and a sure sign that there are big things to come for this young mare, sooner rather than later if my feels are anything to go by. Oliver’s no stranger to the Maryland podium already, having been runner-up with Cooley Masterclass in 2021 and then third last year with As Is. It goes without saying that he’ll be hoping to add Champion to that list this year.

Cooley Rosalent took to the skies for the first time when she set out on her journey from the UK to Maryland, and I’ve got a feeling she’ll make the return trip as a 5* winner.

Top Rookie (Horse, Rider, or Pair):
I’m sticking with the British contingent and touting Piggy March’s Brookfield Cavalier Cruise for top rookie. Obviously a Badminton and Burghley winner is anything but a rookie, but Piggy topped the podium at the two British 5*s with her veteran super mare Vanir Kamira, and comes to Maryland with the talented young gelding for his first go at the level. And, really, who better to steer a first-timer ‘round a top-level track?

They won on their first time out together, then followed up with a second place in the 4*-L at Bramham, where they finished on their dressage score of 30.8, the horse’s only first phase score outside the 20s in his thirteen FEI runs. And his impressive form isn’t limited to between the white boards. He’s had a clean sweep across the country and is pretty speedy too. Follow that up with careful show jumping and you have the makings of an excellent 5* finish, which I’m pretty sure will come this weekend.

Top International Pair:
Well I’ve kinda wrapped this category up with my first two picks, but I’m going to shout out Monica Spencer and Artist here. EquiRatings have them down for a healthy chance of a top-3 finish and my feels are telling me that the stats are probably right!

With plenty of 4* experience – and success – under their girths in New Zealand, and having a World Championships team bronze medal to their name, they make their second 5* start looking for their first completion after unfortunately parting company on the cross country at Adelaide. That was surely just a blip though, and they’ll be ones to watch this week right from the off. They put down a dressage score of 24 at Adelaide, and a 25.6 in Pratoni, and are rarely out of the 20s in the first phase at 4*. Their cross country form is just as impressive; bar the fall at Adelaide and a 20 on their first international run, there are zero jumping penalties on their record. Like many eventers, they’re often clear on the final day, sometimes not – whilst it must be frustrating for the riders, it’s a truth of the competition that makes it exciting to the end. We’ll have to see how they fare on Sunday, but this is a pair that’s on the up-and-up and it’ll be great to see them take their shot at Maryland.

Biggest Climber:
It’s not often I’ll let a team picks post go by without saying a little something about my favorite event horse of all time LCC Barnaby. I just love this gelding – partly because I had a pony called Barnaby, partly because he reminds me so much of my Barnaby (although we weren’t quite at the same level), but mostly because he’s just such a game guy and so much fun to watch.

A veteran of the sport at seventeen, with no fewer than twelve 5* starts in his eleven year eventing career, Barnaby’s a frequent flier and familiar face on the top-level circuit in the US and Britain. He had his career-best score at Marland last year, finishing just outside the top ten, and added another top 20 5* finish to his previous five at a particularly tough Badminton in the spring. It’s no secret that Barnaby does not come to events to do dressage, which stands him in good stead for a leaderboard climb when he gets to his favorite bit of the competition, although he did put down an PB of 30 in the 4*-S at Plantation Field a couple of weeks ago, so perhaps there is something to the adage that things get better with age. But Barnaby’s all about the cross country, and for me, there’s no better sight than an event horse who really and truly relishes his job, ears pricked, eyes on the flags, and loving every single second. So, whether he’s the biggest climber or not, I’m very much looking forward to enjoying watching this guy as he gallops along, and feeling very envious of Lillian Heard Wood for getting to ride him.

William Fox-Pitt and Grafennacht. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

DIANA GILBERTSON

Overall Winner:
So the Equiratings lot reckon Piggy March has the best shot at taking the title here this year, and Oliver Townend is hot on their heels with Cooley Rosalent on a 24% win chance. Indeed, Oliver’s previous form here includes a third last year on As Is, and a second 2021 with Cooley Master Class, so really, all he needs is a win to finish the job off nicely. BUT. While I am not denying that both Piggy and Oliver have incredibly good chances of taking the top spot, I am going to add a little bit of sentimentality into the mix, and back the legend that is Mr William Fox Pitt for the win. This would give him an incredible FIFTEENTH 5* title and although the record  for the most 5* wins is already his, it would be super cool to see him extend his lead over Michael Jung and add another title  to his already extensive list of accolades. 11 year old Grafennacht showed true grit  and determination on her 5* debut  at Badminton this Spring, and to my way of thinking, William would not be bothering to make the trip across the seas if he didn’t think this feisty little mare had a serious chance of hitting the jackpot this weekend. William is one of the greatest riders of all time, and a win here – 8 years after his last 5* win – and confirm his place in the history books once and for all…

Top Rookie (Horse, Rider, or Pair):
Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Well, not that easy – this is a field littered with rookies, but for me, two in particular stand out.  Jacob Fletcher (husband of Cornelia Dorr-Fletcher if you need extra trivia) and Fabian for the US, and Piggy March and Brookfield Cavalier Cruise who have made the trip from Blighty to contest their first run 5*. That in itself speaks volumes – there are closer 5*’s that Piggy could have chosen (Pau springs to mind, which is just a ferry, rather than a plane, ride away), so she must think that the horse has a reasonably good chance at pulling off a very good result indeed. As such, I am putting my money (or at least I would if was a gambling girl) on them to finish the best of the first timers. The Equiratings Predicition Centre certainly agrees – at last glance they had them top of the list, with a 29% win chance, and a massive 52% chance of a podium place. This is no doubt in part to the prowess and skill of Mrs March, herself a multiple 5* winner, but the recent form of ‘Fletcher’ certainly helps. He won the CCI3*-L at Blair Castle last year under Tom McEwan, – his first attempt at a 3*L. Piggy took over the reins this year, and together they have already pulled off a 2^nd place at the horse’s first CCI4*-L at Bramham earlier this year. It is easy to see why Piggy has  made the trip across the pond to Maryland for his first 5*, and it’s not just to make up the numbers. The Paris Olympics are looming ever closer, and if Piggy and Fletcher can continue their recent form and add an impressive 5* debut to their ever growing list of achievements, it  will stand them in incredibly good stead as far as the selectors are concerned. Watch this space – these two are the next big thing. You heard it here first.

Top International Pair:
There’s a lorra, lorra International entries lining up here this weekend, and I have named 2 of them already here, but to save myself from sounding too repetitive, I am going to throw another name into the mix…that of Monica Spencer and Artist. Originating from the far and distant land that is New Zealand, Monica and ‘Max’ have been based in the US  for a couple of months now,  in preparation for Maryland. They burst onto the international scene last year when they made their team debut at the World Championships in Pratoni. There, they were seriously impressive in the first phase, scoring an impressive 25.6 and a speedy clear cross country saw them in the top 10 going into the show jumping. Sadly a few too many poles on the final day saw them drop back down that leader board, but  they will have no doubt been putting the work in to prevent that happening again, so they  have a serious chance of taking a place on the podium. I do love a Kiwi, and these two have the form to back up my choice….Admittedly, they have to surpass the likes of William and Piggy to earn the title of Top International Pair, but let’s face it. anything is possible when it comes to Eventing. Plus, this a seriously classy pair, so it’s not without the realms of possibility that they do just that.

Biggest Climber:
My instinct tells me to go with Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue, a pair renowned for shooting up the leader board after cross country. Badminton this year was a perfect example of this; lying 34^th after dressage, they finished in eventual 3^rd place, thanks to a fast spin across country – something that  has become somewhat expected of ‘Salty.’  However, the course at Maryland has not been one that is renowned for having a tricky time to get (though that could well change this year), so the speed that has allowed them to climb so high after cross country may not prove as powerful as it usually does. So instead, I shall put my money on the recently married Cornelia Dorr-Fletcher, who comes forward with her feisty little mare Daytona Beach 8. They finished 10^th on their 5* debut at Burghley, back in 2022, despite lying waaaaay down the pack after dressage (50^th, to be precise).  This was not all due to cross country prowess either – a sterling performance on the final day saw them climb another 6 places – so trust me on this, if anyone is capable of scooting up that scoreboard after dressage, it is these two. Admittedly, their second 5* run at Kentucky didn’t end quite so well, thanks to a pesky 20 penalties cross country. Still Daytona pulled a clear out of the bag on the final day – as is her usual style – so if they go double clear again here at Maryland, they will be guaranteed to fly up the leader board. Honest.

Zach Brandt and Direct Advance. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

VERONICA GREEN-GOTT

Overall Winner: 
Because I love a good comeback story, I’m going to go wild here and pick dark horse Zach Brandt and Direct Advance. Only their third five-star together and their second attempt at Maryland, a win this weekend would be a true Cinderella story for the pair who retired on course last year. Zach and the 12-year-old gelding have been together since “Rosco” was four-years-old. They’ve developed a strong partnership over the last eight years, almost out of necessity, as Rosco is known to be a bit, ahem, spicy and hard to handle.

Top Rookie (Horse, Rider, or Pair):
Let it be known, I’m Team OTTB all the way, so it should come as no surprise that I’m picking Mia Farley and Phelps as my Rookie pair. Their typical dressage score is in the low-30s and I’m pretty sure that the words “run-out” and “refusal” aren’t even in Phelps’ repertoire. This pair is typically pretty on-the-nose when it comes to hitting the optimum time, and typically come in with no time faults, even at their first ever CCI4*-L at Tryon. I think we’ll see the benefits of Phelps’ Thoroughbred heart coming in handy throughout the weekend.

Top International Pair:
How can you not choose William Fox-Pitt and Grafennacht for this category? After the 11-year-old Oldenburg mare’s gritty performance on a less-than-ideal track at Badminton earlier this year, I’d be willing to bet that Graffenacht and WFP are going to outshine the US and international field. I’m always here for a pair with a great partnership. And, as it says in our form guide, Will refers to “Lillie” as “the reason he’s still eventing.” Clearly, these two have a great relationship that pulls them through when the going gets tough.

The one international contender that I think will be nipping at their coattails is Cooley Rosalent, as the horse has had a stellar season so far.

Biggest Climber:
I expect Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier to once again pull their hat trick of jumping up the leaderboard on the second and third day. Typically the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare scores in the high-20s and low to mid-30s in the dressage phase, which, of course, is still loads better than I could pull off. However, the day one leaders at Maryland have historically scored in the low to mid-20s.

Despite a usually tepid start on day one, “Cav” is a jumping machine. She maintained a record of no obstacle faults on cross country throughout the 2022 season and racked up a mere handful of time faults. It’s the same story for the show jumping phase; Cav went double clear on day three for the entire 2022 season.

While 2023 hasn’t been quite as fault-free as 2022 for this pair, I expect last year’s Blenheim to serve as the road map for this weekend in terms of their performance. Caroline and Cav jumped from ninth place after day one to wind up in third overall.

Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.

ALLIE HENINGER

Overall Winner & Top International Pair:
I can never truly tell the size of William Fox-Pitt’s mounts, but I believe Grafennacht is a little(?) mare that will go far. The sweet “Lillie” seems to be a real favorite of William’s with a pretty clean record, and is due for her first big win! Only two seconds away from the win at Boekelo in 2021, the mare does tend to hold on to a bit of cross country time, which may be to their disadvantage. This is, however, her first time across the pond, so should the field here in the US be slow enough for her, I think they have a good chance of clinching the title.

Top Rookie (Horse, Rider, or Pair):
Piggy March is on a roll right now, and I expect to see her continue rolling right up to the finish flags here at Maryland. Brookfield Cavalier Cruise has been nothing but flawless since Piggy has been in his saddle, with only two rails on the ground this year. Long formats seem to be his forte as well, as he hasn’t been over the cross country time in any as of yet. The pair won the 4*-S at Thoresby Park this spring against a pretty competitive field, and Piggy has racked up no less than three other 4* wins this year as well. As both Piggy and “Fletcher’s” first foray here in Maryland, I hope they leave with a solid record under their belt (and girth), and fully expect them to lay down another excellent score.

Biggest Climber:
Our Irish contingent here in Maryland are quite famous for their cross country prowess and speed, so we can all expect to see Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue shoot up the rankings come Saturday. Their dressage scores aren’t always star-studded, typically hovering around the mid-30’s, but this little grey is powered by a diesel engine out on the course. As the fastest of the day at both Badminton’s flooded grounds and the Tokyo Olympics, “Salty” leaves no turf unturned when he takes to the field. While this would be a disadvantage to my predicted winning pair, after hearing many riders last year sharing similar feedback on the course clocking a bit slow, I have heard a few grapevine whispers that said feedback has been addressed this year – which would only serve as an advantage to this speedy set.

Doug Payne and Quantum Leap. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

SALLY SPICKARD

Overall Winner: Doug Payne and Quantum Leap

I debated for a long while on who to put forward as my winner pick this weekend, and I’m going to go all USA here to pick Doug Payne and Quantum Leap. This is a horse who’s only gotten better with age, succeeding his stablemate and Olympic veteran gracefully and now taking his place as the top (event) horse in Doug’s barn.

I feel almost as if Quantum has flown fairly under the radar as he’s notched more 5* events. Save one green runout at his first Kentucky (2021), this horse is an all-out cross country machine, and he’s also proven he can get tantalizing close to the optimum time here at Maryland, with six seconds of time in 2022 and three seconds of time in 2021. Yes, the time here hasn’t historically been the toughest, but you can bet Ian Stark will have been rubbing his palms together as he built the 2023 track, and it remains to be seen whether this year will tell a different tale.

So all of that to say, I think this could be Doug and “baby Quantum’s” weekend to shine. It’s a bit of an “always the bridesmaid” story — top ten at Kentucky this year and Maryland last year, third and USEF National 5* champion at Kentucky in 2022 — and the door is wide open for this pair to finally claim a 5* victory, and one for the U.S.-breds to boot!

Top Rookie (Horse, Rider, or Pair): Arielle Aharoni and Dutch Times

This is a pair who has seriously prepared for this step up to the 5* level. It’s quite frankly very rare, in my opinion, to see a pair take as much time as this one has to move up. And I get it: there’s a balance between mileage/experience and saving a horse’s legs for bigger things. But the move to 5* is no thing to sneeze at, and in my mind it’s better to be over-prepared than under.

Arielle Aharoni and Dutch Times have been competing at the Advanced and 4* level since 2019, completing 4*-Ls at Bromont, Morven Park, and Tryon (well, more than just completing — they were second in the 4*-L at Bromont this year and finished in the top 10 at Morven Park last fall), as well as a slew of serious 4*-S and Advanced tracks. Their time at the level didn’t come without its growing pains, but Arielle’s stuck with it — and she’s beginning to reap the rewards of time well spent. At Bromont, she earned a personal best dressage score of 32.9 and surprised even herself by moving up to the podium after stellar clear cross country.

Originally, Arielle’s goal was Kentucky next year, but she felt the systems were green for a debut this week instead. “If I want to do that [move up to 5*], I should be able to take all the straight routes and you know, not think about worrying,” she said at Bromont, noting that she’d gone out of the box with a plan to really test her and Dutch Times’ preparation.

My hat is off to you, Arielle, and I hope you smash it.

Top International Pair: Piggy March and Brookfield Cavalier Cruise

This may be a 5* debut for Brookfield Cavalier Cruise, but if we know Piggy, we know this horse will be well set-up for a strong start to his top-level career this weekend. He’s got a stellar cross country record, finishing all six of his 4* starts without cross country jumping penalties and just a handful of single rails here and there. He’s got just one 4*-L under his belt, the hefty one at Bramham, where he finished second on his dressage mark. So while this will certainly be a step up, it’s likely to suit this pair’s efficient style across the country, ability to score well on the flat, and propensity to leave the poles in the cups.

Biggest Climber: Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue

Colorado Blue left Tokyo with a new fan club member (me, if that wasn’t obvious) after stepping in from the reserve role to seriously impress in his first championship. “Salty” is an all-out cross country machine (one irritating blip at Burghley notwithstanding) who can be counted on to climb on up those standings — case in point, his top-10 finish at Badminton after starting the weekend on a mid-pack 34.9. Full disclosure, I put Austin and Salty on my Eventing Manager team, so it’s safe to say I’m fully invested.

Cornelia Dorr and Daytona Beach 8. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.

GILLIAN WARNER

Overall Winner: Doug Payne and Quantum Leap

It’ll be an interesting weekend to watch, with plenty of qualified partnerships running, but I’m going to pick Doug Payne and Quantum Leap for my Overall Winner pick.

Doug and Quantum know each other well, as Quantum has been in Doug’s barn since he’s been a yearling. This long-term relationship has served them well, with a remarkably clean cross country record, outside of an uncharacteristic penalty at their first 5*, and often helps them up towards the top of the leaderboard. While the duo has yet to see a 5* win, they’ve been close, finishing in the top ten at four of their five 5* starts, including winning the 2022 Land Rover/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing Reserve National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian in Kentucky. This could be their weekend.

Top Rookie (Horse, Rider, or Pair): Arielle Aharoni and Dutch Times

I’m going with a Rookie pairing – this will be a 5* debut for both Arielle Aharoni and Dutch Times.

Arielle and Dutch have essentially grown up together, with Dutch joining the family as a weanling, when Arielle was only 8 years old. Over the years, they have seen fourteen 4* finishes, Grand Prix Show Jumping rounds, and a recent second place finish in the 4*L at Bromont. While this might be their 5* debut, this duo is certainly experienced, both in the Eventing and Show Jumping disciplines.

Top International Pair: William Fox Pitt and Grafennacht

William Fox Pitt’s experience and Grafennacht’s effort will make this an exciting pair to watch. Described as “a bloody good trier”, “Lillie’s” drive with William’s expertise makes this partnership one to leave an impression.

We’ve seen some dressage scores in the low 20s from them, and we can expect William to give a masterclass across the country. While we might see some faults in the show jumping ring from this pair, the experience and grit they bring with them gives them my pick.

Biggest Climber: Cornelia Fletcher and Daytona Beach 8

While we’ve heard about some trouble in managing Daytona’s dressage nerves, we’ve seen Cornelia Fletcher and Daytona Beach 8 shine in the jumping phases, often leading to an impressive climb up the board.

After their impressive leap from 50th after dressage to a 10th place finish at their 5* debut at Burghley in 2022, I’m keeping a close eye on this pair to see how they tackle the jumping phases over the weekend!

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.

Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist. Photo by Sally Spickard.

A rather uneventful First Horse Inspection is in the books here at the MARS Maryland 5 Star and we are green-lit to go for what promises to be an exciting weekend of top sport. All horses in the CCI3* as well as the CCI5* passed the jog this afternoon, presenting before each division’s Ground Jury for inspection.

There was one hold in the CCI5* jog, Erin Kanara and Campground, who were subsequently accepted upon re-presentation. There were also two holds in the CCI3*, but all horses were passed by the end of the day.

Taren Hoffos and Regalla made the epic trek from California to contest the 3*-L. Photo by Sally Spickard.

The Dubarry Best Dressed Awards, judged by Liz Halliday and Tamie Smith, were given to Oliver Townend and Monica Spencer.

Also this morning, the U.S. squad heading to Chile for the Pan American Games next weekend got in some extra practice in the main stadium, performing their tests in some atmosphere.

Tilly will be along later with a full Unofficial Jog Awards list, so be sure to stay tuned! Go Eventing.

Malibu Preacher had some strong opinions about trotting up today! Photo by Sally Spickard.

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.