Classic Eventing Nation

A Career Milestone for Lauren Nicholson and Larcot Z in MARS Bromont CCI4*L

By on Jun 8, 2025 10:22 pm -

Lauren Nicholson and Larcot Z. Photo by Sally Spickard.

U.S. Olympian Lauren Nicholson calls herself a “bridesmaid” when referring to her record at the 4*-L level. She’d competed in 32 CCI3*s/CCI4*-Ls prior to this weekend at MARS Bromont CCI. She’d finished on the podium five times, including several second-place finishes (one of which came at Bromont with Landmark’s Monte Carlo in 2019). After she came off cross country yesterday on Ms. Jacqueline Mars’ Larcot Z, she was frankly a bit frustrated about the 14.8 time penalties she’d picked up that dropped her out of the top three ahead of show jumping. She was practical: the horse, a ride she acquired just two years ago after he was previously ridden by Reagan Lafleur and Will Coleman, was still gaining strength and education, and he’d not yet run a full 4*-L cross country course. It takes time to be able to get to the point where you can go for the win, but all the same, Lauren’s a competitor. “I had resigned myself to being second again,” she said wryly this afternoon.

And yet, it would be Lauren’s turn to taste victory at the level for the first time. It was a challenging day to show jump. Brody Robertson (USA) laid out a track that featured numerous related distances. “Everything was off of turns, and then it wasn’t,” Jessie Phoenix had described earlier. “I would say the last eight fences were kind of all related, actually,” Lauren concurred. “You know, he kind of took you from one line to the next, and you didn’t get a lot of time. You had to be thinking about the next line or you weren’t going to be in time for it.”

Lauren Nicholson and Larcot Z.

The result? Lauren delivered the only double clear in the division (actually, across both the 4*-S and 4*-L, which jumped the same course) to finish the weekend atop the board on a score of 41.9.

“I’ve always preferred producing my own [horses], because I do always feel it’s really hard to pick up other people’s rides,” Lauren said of taking the reins on “Larco” when he’d already been campaigned through the 3* level. “A lot of us professionals talk about it a lot — even when we get a new horse, even if you get on great and have some great results, it really takes two years before you feel like you know them and that you know what they’re going to be like, and they feel like yours. And that’s if you get on really well. It can take a bit longer.”

Lauren Nicholson and Larcot Z. Photo by Sally Spickard.

“I always feel like if I get something that’s already been started, it’s my responsibility to a little bit take my time and tick each box so I make sure there’s not a missing piece before I get to the level and I’m like, ‘Oh, whoops, I needed that,'” she continued. Hence, her pragmatism after cross country yesterday and her initial acceptance that perhaps a win wasn’t in the cards, despite the fact that she’d started the weekend in the lead after dressage. “And sometimes you create baggage if you do that. It’s sometimes hard to be patient — but [you need to] kind of take your time ticking them along until you tick all those boxes and then feel confident enough to pull the trigger and that you know it’s going to work.”

It becomes a very sweet birthday weekend for Lauren, who celebrated her birthday earlier in the weekend and also had the chance to ride her horses in front of Ms. Mars, who was in attendance all weekend, sitting front and center to take in the show.

“It’s funny. I’ve been trying to win a four-long for a very long time,” she mused. “This is actually my first. I’ve been second at a lot of things. And honestly, after yesterday, I’d a little bit resigned myself to, like, if it went well, I’d be a bridesmaid again. I was like, ‘Probably gonna be second again!'”

What Happened to the Overnight Leader?

Ema Klugman and Chiraz. Photo by Sally Spickard.

The opportunity to take the win was opened up to the field earlier in the day after overnight leader Ema Klugman withdrew RF Redfern ahead of the final trot-up in the morning. Later, Ema reported that “Fern” had sustained a hoof bruise and that it was in her best interest to let her sit out the jumping. Ema still, however, had a chance to take her own first 4*-L win with her other ride, Chiraz, who had been second after cross country.

But literal minutes before the 4*-L division was due to start jumping, everything changed. The live scores refreshed and showed Ema was disqualified. We’d seen her walking her course just before, so the change had been handed down at the last possible second.

EN and the press team at Bromont attempted to obtain an official statement from the Technical Delegate on site, which was declined due to the fact that, according to the TD, the FEI needed to be the one handing down the official information. We later confirmed via Ema’s statement on social media that the disqualification had been handed down due to improper administration of vitamins intravenously. The vitamins used were not prohibited, however it is now, as of January 2025, not FEI legal to administer them through IV; they must be given orally. The rules on this can be found in the FEI Veterinary Regulations here and in a USEF-issued summary here.

“We gave Chiraz vitamins last night and the Ground Jury told me right before I got on today that they are not allowed to be given IV,” Ema wrote. “They are not prohibited and may be given orally. It’s a new rule that just came out this year, and we didn’t know about it.”

Of course, there is always a responsibility on competitors, veterinarians, officials, grooms, and other stakeholders to know the rules and stay current on changes, which happen frequently and are admittedly not always the easiest to find. Understandably, though, there are more than a few questions that have arisen out of this incident and the handling of it. There is a fair lack of clarity surrounding the issue and the timing of the disqualification, too. In a reply to a comment on social media, Ema also indicated that an FEI vet steward had given clearance to use the vitamins as such when her team checked.

EN will be reaching out to the FEI to obtain a formal statement on the incident; and I, personally, have a few thoughts swirling in my head that need some time to organize themselves into something coherent, and I also don’t want to detract from the success that other riders had by going off on a big, opinion-based tangent here. I’ll save those thoughts for a different piece.

“It’s awful for [this win] to happen a little bit through ‘default’ for poor Ema,” Lauren had said earlier. “No one wishes that, and I wish she could have jumped both her horses. That’s how I would prefer the sport to go. But, you know, hopefully this weekend is just a little blip for her and she’ll go on to win the next one.”

A Preview of Future Talent

Hayley Frielick and Sportsfield Lumiere. Photo by Sally Spickard.

The other top finishers in our 4* divisions really give us a glimpse into the next generation of exciting, true-blue event horses that are rising through the ranks. In the 4*-L, New Zealand’s Hayley Frielick and Sportsfield Lumiere moved up to take home second place overall, lowering one silly rail and finishing on a score of 48.2. “Johnny” is a horse Hayley’s been quite high on since she imported him from Ireland thanks to her eagle-eyed source of horses, Martha Tomlinson. But it’s been a learning curve, as to this point Hayley’s ridden primarily Thoroughbreds. Bringing a warmblood along to fitness for this level has given Hayley more tools in her toolbox to call upon when it comes to preparing a horse for the top.

“It’s been a huge learning curve,” Hayley said. “Even comparing the two I had here this weekend — the little nippy Thoroughbred [Dunedin Black Watch] and this big, rangy, slower warmblood — it’s a completely different ride. Learning their quirks, what works for them fitness-wise — it’s been a lot to take in. But he’s been the most phenomenal horse to learn with. Even the prep events do so much for the Thoroughbred that that’s kind of all he needs. For the warmblood, we actually map out a real program — you see a much bigger difference with them. With a Thoroughbred, he’s barely blowing when he comes in off a gallop. But Johnny from last year to this year — he’s like a different horse.”

Hayley Frielick and Sportsfield Lumiere. Photo by Sally Spickard.

The partnership between Hayley and the 10-year-old Irish gelding by Orestus VDL was quite serendipitous. Martha had clued Hayley in that this might be a horse worth trying, and so Hayley went to try him at Sportsfield. She describes herself as on the indecisive side, and initially this horse was not the one she wanted to go home with — but Martha took the decision into her own hands and put the horse on a plane to the U.S. “You need this one,” she told Hayley, who she met in Australia at Hayley’s first 5* at Adelaide back in 2017. They’ve remained close friends and business partners ever since, with Martha flying in to help Hayley at her biggest events.

That take-control moment on Martha’s part has paid off in a big way, and Hayley’s excited to see what the future holds. “[Martha] knew what I needed before I did,” she laughed.

Sophia Middlebrook and Prontissimo.

Sophia Middlebrook rose up the rankings to take home third in the 4*-L with Christa Schmidt’s Prontissimo, finishing the weekend on a score of 57.5 in their first try at the level. After a less than ideal prep that included a broken collarbone in February for Sophia, getting this big result under her belt is a big relief.

“I didn’t really have the prep I had originally set out to do,” Sophia said. “We basically ran Tryon in the Short, and then came here. Those were our only two real events in prep, so I’m thrilled with being able to pull out this result with him. It’s kind of a testament to the horse. He’s just such a gift in the jumping phases. He makes up for your mistakes, and he’s so safe and easy out there—as easy as a four-star can be. He makes it feel that way.”

Sophia credits Christa for her ongoing support with this horse and others. For her, Christa’s made this all possible. Initially, Prontissimo was intended for Christa to ride. “[She] has been the most amazing support system I could ask for,” Sophia explained. “[She] brought him over from England about four years ago for herself. He’d done a few Prelims there, but when he came over, he was just green and gangly and all over the place. She let me produce him after that, which has been the most incredible gift. He’s been the perfect horse to do a lot of these firsts on.”

Jessie Phoenix and Freedom GS. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Looking to the 4*-S, it was the Canadian anthem that played in the prize-giving as three-time Olympian Jessie Phoenix cemented the win on her Paris partner, Freedom GS, who is owned by Charlotte Schickedanz. Jessie is en route to CHIO Aachen for the first time next month thanks to the support of a High Performance Grant from Equestrian Canada as the federation looks ahead to the looming FEI World Championships at Aachen in 2026. Jessie and Freedom GS finished the weekend on a score of 48.7.

“I was so proud of her in show jumping,” Jessie said afterward. “Bromont is such a huge fitness test. There is nothing like Bromont anywhere in the world. So for her to come in and just show all of her heart and jump as well as she did. We had one little mistake. I just got a little close to the Liverpool and maybe a touch flat, but the rest of the course, she just was a superstar.”

Jessie, elaborating further when I asked what made Brody’s course so challenging, said she thought it was a great test. “It was so interesting the way he set it this year,” she said. “Everything was off of turns, and then it wasn’t. And so when he gives you those beautiful turns to set the horses up and then slaps a straight line at you with the shapes that he had — like an oxer to open them up, and then a shorter four to the liverpool behind the vertical — it’s just a very technical question, especially after the horses have ran on the terrain that they did yesterday. So I thought it was really well set up and really proved to be a nail biter in the show jumping phases today.”

Jessie plans to get in a couple of gallops and potentially some show jumping practice at Angelstone before she and Freedom GS fly to Germany via Toronto. CHIO Aachen kicks off the eventing portion of its 10-day festival on July 4.

Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Jungle Gold. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Lauren Nicholson also enjoyed a successful finish with Ms. Mars’ Landmark’s Jungle Gold, taking second in the 4*-S on a score of 58.2. Kimmy Cecere and OS Hermitage capped off a solid weekend to finish third on a score of 63.3.

Kimmy Cecere and OS Hermitage. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Before I go, just a quick update on Ariel Grald, who had a heavy fall with Ted 22 in the 2*-L on cross country yesterday. She made a post on social media reporting that she had broken some ribs and was recovering in the hospital while being monitored as a precaution for internal injury. We had previously reported that Ted 22 was uninjured. We’re wishing Ariel lots of love and a speedy recovery.

And that’s a wrap on MARS Bromont for this spring! Don’t forget to get those entries in for the August edition of Bromont, which will feature 1*-S through 4*-S competition, as well as National levels. And definitely mark those calendars for 2026, when the park will celebrate its 50th anniversary dating back to the 1976 Olympics, during which Bromont hosted equestrian sports.

I’ll have more thoughts your way in the coming week, but in the meantime, do right by your horses, treat them well, and enjoy the highs when they reward your efforts. They give us the world, and it’s our duty to provide that right back to them.

Go Eventing.

MARS Bromont CCI (Canada): [Website] [Scores] [Live Stream Replays] [EN’s Coverage]

“It’s All Worth It In The End”: It’s Bubby’s Bramham, and We’re Just Along for the Ride

By on Jun 8, 2025 12:57 pm -

Before the finale of the Defender Bramham CCI4*-L even began today, the field of competitors had already thinned: from 43 competitors at the end of yesterday’s tough cross-country day, we downsized to just 40 to showjump in the main arena at lunchtime. One of those was an overnight withdrawal; France’s Camille Lejeune opted not to present Dio du Leou, with whom he’d sat 26th overnight following a clear round with 10.8 time penalties. The other two, Matt Heath and Benedict Radau (27th after a clear with 3.2 time penalties) and Thomas Hawke and Lonestar (33rd after adding 8.4 time penalties and activating a frangible device), were both sent to the holding box and didn’t return for reinspection. 

So, three fewer horses and riders in the mix, but no less pressure on two-phase leader Bubby Upton, who had jumped an extraordinary clear with the CCI4*-L debutant Its Cooley Time yesterday, making the world’s toughest four-star look a bit like a Novice. They’d added nothing to their dressage score of 24.4, but so tight were the margins on the leaderboard that they had just a few seconds in hand for their showjumping round, and certainly nothing close to a rail. 

As their turn approached, it became very clear that zero-score rounds were going to be even harder to achieve today than they had been yesterday: just nine of the 39 before her had managed it, while yesterday’s cross-country challenge yielded a surprising seventeen clears inside the time, a number slightly at odd with its influence and intensity. 

But when Caroline Harris and Cooley Mosstown, third overnight, managed to deliver a foot-perfect round, it was game on. They sat exactly four penalties behind former Bramham winner Izzy Taylor and SBH Big Wall, who would have took precedence in a tiebreak situation, but needed to go clear to keep the thumbscrews to Bubby. 

Unfortunately for Izzy and her rangy eleven-year-old, it wasn’t to be: three rails later, and 1.2 time penalties to boot, they left the ring having forfeited second place – and, in fact, a place in the top ten – and Bubby found herself with a rail and change to play with. 

Bubby Upton and Its Cooley Time. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

She wouldn’t need it. From the moment the ten-year-old Its Cooley Time entered the ring, it was very clear that he knew exactly what the task at hand required him, and he was prepared to deliver – and Bubby, always icy cool under pressure, knew it was up to her to give him the freedom to do it in his way. Just a couple of short minutes after she entered the lions’ den, Bubby emerged from the arena the 2025 Bramham Champion – a title she adds to the Under-25 accolade she scooped here just two years ago with Magic Roundabout. 

“He’s sheer class, and the way he jumped today is pretty special when you’ve seen him go cross-country,” says Bubby of her newly-minted champion. “He goes so low and as aerodynamic as possible [in that phase], but then he showjumps like a jumper, and it fills you with so much confidence as a rider, being sat on a horse of his calibre.”

Bubby Upton and Its Cooley Time. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

This isn’t just a debut at CCI4*-L for the historically sharp and quirky son of Quality Time TN – it’s also just his second long-format event ever. That run, which scooped him second place in the Hartpury CCI3*-L, came two seasons ago, and so Bubby had come into this week with a few niggling doubts about how ‘Finn’ might find this challenge – but those worries were also paired with a huge amount of belief in the talented horse. For his part, he let her know from day one that he was ready for whatever was to come.

“He definitely knew it was a big week ahead – he’s kind of been buzzing all week,” laughs Bubby, who led from pillar to post with Finn to finish on their dressage score of 24.4. “Every time it’s been a case of putting his head in the game, he’s done that. He went above and beyond – the way he went in and focused on the dressage was just incredible. Cross country, he could have gone round again, and it wasn’t an easy track, but he made it feel so easy, and was full of running at the end. And then today in the show jumping, he was absolutely wired in the warm up, and he came into the ring chomping on the bit and ready for the challenge, but then when you begin, and you jump the first fence, the feeling is… it’s quite extraordinary. It’s pretty impossible to describe the feeling that he gives me, but he’s in a league of his own, to be honest. I’m just so excited to see what’s to come, considering it’s his first time at the level, and he’s only done three four-star shorts.”

“I owe him so much,” she continues. “He’s obviously very new to this level – it’s his first time – but he’s already such a star. I just feel so lucky to be the one that gets to ride him and have days like this on him.”

Bubby is well-established as a fierce five-star competitor in her own right, but much of her recent success has come after a horrendous spinal injury that forced her to relearn to walk just eighteen months ago. Further complicating matters was that it was a second broken back for the 26-year-old – the first had come from a green rotational fall with a much younger Its Cooley Time. 

Bubby Upton and Its Cooley Time. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The journey – from that crashing fall to now, but also from consistently tricky young horse to now – makes this week’s result even more special, she says. 

“It took a while to come back from it in terms of confidence with him, but in the last few years, he’s just grown up beyond measure. I’m very proud of the horse that he is now, because [all of us on our team] have seen him as a naughty, obnoxious youngster that we couldn’t get in and out of the yard, and we know what we’ve been through to get here. So it means a lot to us.”

Now, she tells us, she’d “love him to step up to five-star, and obviously I would love to make my senior [team] debut [at the European Championships]. I’ve come close a couple of times, and been unlucky with accidents and stuff – one of which being his!” 

There’s very clearly an awful lot ahead of Bubby and the exciting, classy ten-year-old – but for now, she’s also allowing herself the chance to sit in the moment.

“This is one of the ‘Big Bs’ and I never thought, coming here, that he was going to win it. I’d just hoped he’d be competitive. Growing up, I’ve seen legends win this class, and so it really feels special to win it, particularly having won the under-25 championships here as well. It’s amazing to have done the double, and in the way he did it as well – he was really dominant all week and just faultless. He’s all class, and I’m so glad that he got the win he deserved.”

She pauses, smiles, and continues.

“It’s all worth it in the end. Horses with his talent and his class, yes, they test you at times because they’re uber intelligent, and they take patience and trying to understand them and work with them, but it all pays off in the end. I’d say the future is pretty bright with him in my string.”

Caroline Harris and Cooley Mosstown. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Caroline Harris, too, ends the week delighted with a young up-and-comer in her string in the nine-year-old Cooley Mosstown, who completed a weeklong climb from sixth to second place, finishing on his dressage score of 30.2. The nine-year-old, like Bubby’s Finn, was making his CCI4*-L debut over this topmost of courses, and adds this sterling result to a CV that already includes third place in last year’s Blenheim eight- and nine-year-old championship and fourth in the Seven-Year-Old World Championships in 2023, which was his last long-format run. 

“I’m seriously proud of him,” she says. “He’s a very good jumper, but I find him easier to jump on the last day when he’s a little bit tired, because he just loses that little bit of tension. But he was not going to touch a fence today, I don’t think.”

Cooley Mosstown represents a very exciting ‘second string’ to stablemate D.Day, who won Pau CCI5* last season and finished fifth in yesterday’s CCI4*-S here.

“It’s really exciting,” says Caroline. “He’s only nine, and we came here just to do his first four long. We didn’t have high expectations; I just wanted him to finish confident and happy. But he’s gone above and beyond for us. He deserves the result – he’s a phenomenal horse in all three phases. The dressage will only get better as he gets stronger and sees more of these atmospheres.”

Now, Caroline hopes to aim for a return to Blenheim’s eight- and nine-year-old class – this time, she hopes, to catch the win – and then, at the end of the year, another CCI4*-L run in the Nations Cup finale at Boekelo. 

Tom Jackson and Hawk Eye. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Double-handed Tom Jackson enjoyed an excellent day in the office, finishing eighth on United 36, who tipped one pole to slip down from fourth, and third with Hawk Eye, who jumped a classy clear to finish on his 32.7 dressage score and complete his trajectory from first-phase 13th place. 

“He’s quite a new ride for me, but he’s reasonably experienced – this is his third time here,” says Tom, who made his international debut with the thirteen-year-old gelding at Thoresby in March, running steadily in the CCI4*-S for 23rd place. 

Prior to that, he’d been with Kristina Hall-Jackson, who finished eighteenth with him in the short-format class here in 2023 and started, though didn’t finish, the CCI4*-L last year. Before that, he was in the string of Nicola Wilson, with whom he finished fourth in the eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S at Blenheim on his debut in 2021. 

“I’m delighted with him. I’ve been working quite hard to have him as adjustable as I can, because he can get a bit keen and strong,” says Tom. “Yesterday, he didn’t skip a beat, and he really felt like he was with me, so I was super pleased with that, and then today he followed it up with a lovely clear. This is just our fourth event together, so hopefully it keeps going like this!”

If it does?

“He’s five-star qualified,” says Tom with a grin, “so maybe we’ll look at another Big B in the autumn.”

Daniel Alderson and Blarney Monbeg Pepper. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Daniel Alderson, who’s originally a Bramham local but has been based in Ireland for nearly a decade, took fourth place with Blarney Monbeg Pepper after adding just 0.4 time penalties for finishing a second over the time allowed today. That single second stopped the pair from finishing on their dressage score – a 32.6 that had seen them sit twelfth after the first phase – but Daniel’s unlikely to be dwelling on it. This is a first Bramham for both rider and horse, and a third CCI4*-L start for the ten-year-old mare, with whom he finished 4th on her debut at Kilguilkey a year ago. 

Kylie Roddy and SRS Kan Do. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The top five is rounded out by Kylie Roddy and SRS Kan Do, who made good on their reroute from Badminton, where Kylie was jumped out of the tack early on in the track. This week, they began in a surprisingly off-the-pace 22nd place on their score of 34.1, but climbed to the top ten off the back of their clear inside the time yesterday. Today, a lost shoe moments before their round did little to slow their roll – they cantered into the main arena a few minutes later, having swapped start times with Holly Richardson and Ballyneety Silver Service, with all four shoes firmly in situ and delivered a classy clear round to move up again. 

“She’ll have to share her winnings with the farrier,” quipped John Kyle over the tannoy, as the much-loved rider trotted out of the ring beaming.

Hers wasn’t the only impressive week-long climb: Hayden Hankey and Fools In Love hauled themselves up from a first-phase 26th to eventual sixth when finishing, like Daniel Alderson, just 0.4 up from their dressage score, and seventh place went to Ireland’s Padraig McCarthy and Pomp N Circumstance, who added nothing to their 35.1 dressage score to move up from initial 28th. Sweden’s Louise Romeike gave herself a scenic tour of the leaderboard with the charismatic Caspian 15, starting in fourth place on a 27.4 and then dropping to 17th when adding 8.4 time penalties yesterday. Their classy clear today secured the Olympic partnership ninth place, behind Tom Jackson and United 36, and ahead of Sam Ecroyd and Boleybawn Lecrae, who tipped one rail but were able to retain the tenth place they’d held overnight. 

That’s it for us from Defender Bramham this year, but don’t go far – we’ll have plenty more stories coming out of Bromont today, plus the crazy train keeps on rolling over the week to come as we head to Germany for the Longines Luhmühlen CCI5*. Grab your passport, jump in the proverbial passenger seat, and let’s Go Eventing!

The final top ten in the 2025 Defender Bramham CCI4*-L.

 

Defender Bramham links: Website | Ride Times and Scores | Cross-Country Course | Live-Stream | EN’s Coverage

Cross Country Reshapes the Field Ahead of Final Day at Melbourne 3DE

By on Jun 8, 2025 9:43 am -

Sophia Hill and Tulara Baltango surged from seventh to first with the only clear round of the division in the CCI4*-L. Image: Click Capture

A day of adrenaline-fuelled action has seen the leaderboard reshuffled across all levels at the Melbourne International Three Day Event, with the crowd on the edge of their seats through every stride of today’s cross country phase. With the final day of competition set for tomorrow, anticipation is high as riders prepare for the show jumping deciders.

In the Off The Track CCN1*-L, Marlene Battedou and her talented Off The Track Thoroughbred Le Grand D Amour (formerly raced as Resolving To Win) delivered a sensational clear round, maintaining their lead. All eyes will be on Marlene and Le Grand D Amour in tomorrow’s final show jumping phase — can they go start to finish on top?

In the Off The Track CCI2-L*, Niki Rose and Cooley All Over also held strong, adding just 1.6 time penalties to keep their lead intact.

In the Off The Track CCI2-L*, Niki Rose and Cooley All Over also held strong, adding just 1.6 time penalties to keep their lead intact. Georgia Spangaro and Lord Wimborne moved up three spots to second with a clear round, while Shane Rose surged into third on Limitless Lodge Zsa Zsa after a textbook ride.

The Godolphin CCI2-L Junior/Young Rider* class saw a lead change after Charlotte White and Remi Lord of the Realm produced a faultless cross country round to jump to the top of the leaderboard. A thrilling battle is set for tomorrow with Kylah Brewer (Princess Keikilani), Evie Kamevaar (MP Chevrolet), and Lamoza Velisha (Call Me Cooley) all tied for second just 1.4 penalties behind.

In the 4CYTE CCI3-L*, Charlee Morton-Sharp and SV Supermaxi produced a standout cross country round to claim the lead on 32.2, with Ruby Rae and WHF Frequency in close pursuit.

The biggest shakeup came in the Prydes Easifeed CCI4-L*, where Sophia Hill and Tulara Baltango surged from seventh to first with the only clear round of the division. Bred by Tulara Warmbloods, the gelding handled the tough course brilliantly. Hannah Klep and Tulara Chicouve moved into second, while Shane Rose and Holy Moses now sit third — less than three penalties separate the top four.

Sunday’s finale will be a showdown of skill, nerve, and determination — and you won’t want to miss a moment. With a bustling trade village, family-friendly kids’ activities, delicious food, and world-class equestrian sport, there’s truly something for everyone.

Melbourne International (Australia): [Website] [Timing & Orders of Go] [Scoring] [Live Stream]

All Presented Horses Move On to Show Jumping at MARS Bromont, but Overnight Leader Withdrawn

By on Jun 8, 2025 9:20 am -

Ema Klugman and Chiraz. Photo by Sally Spickard.

We are safely through the Final Horse Inspection at MARS Bromont in Quebec after all presented horses were accepted in front of each division’s ground jury members. We do, however, have one big change to the CCI4*-L field.

Ema Klugman will now just have one horse on which to seal the deal on her first 4*-L win at MARS Bromont after she withdrew RF Redfern, who was leading after cross country, prior to the Final Horse Inspection. We’ve reached out to Ema to inquire about the status of “Fern”, who delivered a gutsy clear round yesterday to put Ema into first and second on Chiraz going into today. Chiraz was trotted up this morning and passed with flying colors, so the duty now rests on him to help Ema deliver the win.

Lauren Nicholson and Larcot Z. Photo by Sally Spickard.

We also did not see Ariel Grald and Diara present this morning. Ariel unfortunately took a hard fall with Ted 22 in the CCI2*-L division’s cross country yesterday, resulting in her being transported to the hospital for further evaluation. Ted 22 was uninjured in the fall. We’ll provide further updates on Ariel as we receive them, but we are wishing her all the best and a full recovery.

Woodge Fulton and Cash Point. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Stay tuned for more to come from our 4* divisions here in Canada, and in the meantime you can tune in live all day for show jumping here. We’ll start with the CCI2* divisions at 9:30 a.m. EST and work our way up to the 4*.

MARS Bromont CCI (Canada): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Sunday Links

By on Jun 8, 2025 12:01 am -

George ‘Bushman’: May 1999 – June 2025

19 years ago I remember waking up in a hotel room in the Czech Republic,…

Posted by Sam Watson Eventing on Saturday, June 7, 2025

Today we bid a fond farewell to Sam Watson’s World Championships partner, Bushman (who competed under Horseware Bushman during his career), who passed away this week at the age of 26. Sam and “George” partnered together for the 2010 and 2014 World Equestrian Games as well as three senior FEI European Championships, as well as several CCI5* events.

“There’s no doubt that George changed and created my pathway through this life,” Sam wrote in a heartfelt tribute on social media. “Without him, the rest wouldn’t have followed. On a broader note, there would be no EquiRatings. For me, he was the ultimate footsteps in the sand partner. There were times when I let him down more than usual and he found a way to carry us both home. He was brave, generous, sympathetic and he absolutely adored the sport. Today was our final goodbye to George, and you can imagine the sadness. But our eyes will dry and we’ll have endless happy memories to cherish. Thank you my boy. Eternal love, gratitude and admiration from us all.”

Major International Events

MARS Bromont CCI (Canada): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Defender Bramham International (UK): [Website] [Entries/Timing/Scoring] [CrossCountryApp XC Maps] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Melbourne International (Australia): [Website] [Timing & Orders of Go] [Scoring] [Live Stream]

U.S. Weekend Preview

Windermere Run H.T. (MO): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Apple Knoll Farm H.T. (MA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Unionville H.T. (PA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Middleburg H.T. (VA): [Website] [Entries] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Revel Run H.T. (MI): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]

Sunday Links

Hannah Schofield Has Learned To Listen To Her Thoroughbreds

Meet The 2025 Area III Championship Winners

As Screwworm Spreads, USDA Closes Southern Border To Livestock Imports

Groundwork Part 2: Foster Connection with Lateral and Circle Work

Awesome Antioxidants and How They Help Horses

Video Break

Watch some highlights of Ema Klugman’s leading round at MARS Bromont with RF Redfern:

Ema Klugman is Best of the Day in MARS Bromont CCI4*-L; Phoenix Rises to Lead CCI4*-S

By on Jun 7, 2025 9:13 pm -

Ema Klugman and RF Redfern. Photo by Sally Spickard.

It could be considered a bold move to bring a horse to his or her first CCI4*-l at an event as reputably tough as MARS Bromont, located in Quebec just to the east of Montreal. But for Australian rider Ema Klugman, this event represents a key step in her personal development philosophy. Most of the 4* riders who come to Bromont have an even bigger goal in mind: reaching that coveted CCI5* level — and Bromont is one of the events riders mark on their calendar as a key development step en route to that top of the sport goal.

For Ema, who brought both Team Fern’s RF Redfern as well as the Chiraz Syndicate’s Chiraz to compete this weekend, Bromont represents the opportunity to put her training and preparation to a real test, as well as to ride one of Derek di Grazia’s well-renowned cross country courses.

That bold move paid off in a big way: thanks to two speedy clear rounds today, Ema moved into both first and second place in the headlining division, with RF Redfern leading the way on a score of 31.8. The pair added just three seconds of time over the optimum of 9:00 — an amended optimum time after the organizers and officials opted to remove a handful of fences from the track due to particularly holding ground. Chiraz holds second place with 34.4 with 4.4 time penalties added to his dressage score.

Ema Klugman and RF Redfern. Photo by Sally Spickard.

“Fern was great,” Ema said. “I’m super proud of her. This is her first four-star long, and I’ve always believed in her and thought she was an incredible little horse. But oftentimes, you know, horses have to develop their own self-belief, and she was just absolutely incredible. From the first jump, I just sort of knew she was attacking and brave and catty, and we had a lot of fun out there. She went second — I actually rode my other horse first — and it was a bit deep in places for her. The mud was worse. So she had a bigger job to do, but she totally rose to the occasion, and she loves to go fast. So, you know, if she’s going, she’s going to be fast.”

“They are different horses,” Ema continued when asked if her first ride on Chiraz had been used as a fact-finding mission for her later round on Fern. “I had a few places in the course where there were options on striding — like there were a couple places where you could do an open four strides or a studier five stride — and I decided that if I was going to do the more open number on Chiraz, and if he was reaching for it, then it probably wasn’t going to be possible for Fern, because she has a smaller step. So yeah, they’re pretty different horses — very different brains, different stride patterns, and everything — but for sure, it’s an advantage to be able to go around the course once first.”

“[Chiraz] did Kentucky and was awesome there, so I felt like we were really prepared coming here,” she said of Chiraz’s performance today. “I’ve had the ride on him for just about a year and a half. To be honest, it wasn’t totally smooth sailing in the beginning. He’s a little tricky to ride sometimes — he’s got a bit of personality — so we had to figure out where to meet in the middle.”

For Ema, this weekend (to this point) has been a validation of her training. She’s coming off of a strong run at Defender Kentucky’s CCI4*-S in April as a lead-up to this event, and she’s left today feeling like she’s that much closer to having two more 5* horses in her stable. “I think if you want a horse to become a five-star horse, you’ve got to put them in situations like this and kind of see if you’ve done all the training, and if they’re ready to dig deep for you.”

Ema Klugman and Chiraz. Photo by Sally Spickard.

“I also think there aren’t that many opportunities to ride Derek di Grazia courses,” she continued. “He does Kentucky, I think he does Burghley — but it’s not like he’s designing events every month. I think he’s one of the best designers out there. These horses, I’d like to be Kentucky five-star horses, and so it just makes sense. Why not? It’s a great opportunity. He’s the same designer — so he’s going to be asking similar questions across different venues. That’s why we come, really — for the course design, and the amazing property and terrain. There is no part of this property that’s flat. Even when you’re walking on foot, you’re always going up and down. There’s tons of undulations — and that makes it a great place to be.”

Of the two, Chiraz has a slightly stronger show jumping record, but of course this will be a unique test in itself tomorrow as both horses are coming off of their first 9 minute cross country. At any rate, Ema will be primed to take home her first 4*-L win, and does have a rail or two in hand over third-placed Jessie Phoenix and Wabbit going into Sunday’s finale. She has been working with show jumper and former eventer Marilyn Little in this phase throughout her career.

Jessie Phoenix and Wabbit. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Jessie Phoenix has the fan-favorite Thoroughbred gelding Wabbit in this division, and the very KEEN BOY was quite pleased to be out on cross country today. His quick clear accumulated 6 time penalties and puts him into third place on a score of 41.1.

“He was phenomenal,” Jessie enthused. “Start to finish, he was just so cool. Kind of in the first two minutes, he was a little bit really on the rein — wanting to get going and get to the job at hand. But then he came up to the coffin, and he was just beautiful from there to the end of the course. He’s just such a legend of a horse, and I love every second I get to spend with him.”

Lauren Nicholson and Larcot Z. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Early leader Lauren Nicholson was a bit grumpy to have picked up 14.8 time penalties today with Ms. Jacqueline Mars’ Larcot Z, dropping her down into fourth place, but for her, the priority was ensuring her horse had a solid run, even if that meant taking less risks on the clock.

“Obviously, I’d love to be a little faster, but he’s right where he should be for where he’s at in his development,” Lauren elaborated. “You’ve got to do a few longs on them before you can confidently hustle them around early on and really know what you’ve got. He’s such a good jumper. Sometimes even when I try to flatten him out a bit, he’s like, ‘Oh, I can go even higher if I go faster!’ Hopefully as he matures, that’ll save us a few seconds and a bit of energy. But he handled all the questions out there. He was super genuine and right on it.”

Hayley Frielick and Sportsfield Lumiere. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Hayley Frielick of New Zealand rounds out the top five in the 4*-L with her newly-minted horse at the level, Sportsfield Lumiere. Hayley brought “Johnny” here for a crack at the 3*-L last year — her first trip to Bromont since relocating from New Zealand to the U.S. — and immediately made plans to return for the next step up. The pair added just 8.0 penalties’ worth of time to sit on a score of 44.2.

“Last year, we brought him here for the three-Long, and he did find the hills and the intensity of Bromont a lot of hard work,” Hayley said. “But he really ate it up this year. I’m so impressed and thrilled with how much he’s matured. He handled it really, really well. He felt full of running, read every question, and kind of felt like a real seasoned pro out there. He’s pretty cool. He has so much scope — he just makes it all feel so easy.”

Phoenix Rises to the Top of CCI4*-S

Jessie Phoenix and Freedom GS. Photo by Sally Spickard.

It was a good day in the office for Jessie Phoenix, who also took over the lead in the 4*-S with Freedom GS, the horse she partnered with for the Paris Olympics and also for two podium finishes (including a win at TerraNova) at the level already this year. This weekend is serving as a final prep for CHIO Aachen, which Jessie will be traveling to thanks to the support of a High Performance Grant from Equestrian Canada. Jessie and Freedom GS, who is owned by Charlotte Schickedanz, moved up from second with time added to their dressage score to go into Sunday with a score of 44.7.

“I was really excited to get her out on this course,” Jessie said. “It’s such a beautifully presented course, and the jumps are just really put in interesting places, so it’s a great day to train the horses. The terrain adds such a level of complexity. And I think as a preparation for Aachen, you couldn’t have asked for anything better. She had some really good questions out there, had a super fitness run, and she just loves this job so much. It’s so fun to take her around the course — she was so keen.”

Freedom came out of the start box quite hot to trot, and for Jessie, managing that boldness without taking away from it requires tact and horsemanship. “It’s so tricky — the first two minutes are basically all downhill,” she explained. “And the horses that have been produced here know the course, so when they leave the start box, they’re pumped and they know they’re going to get to run. It’s always just a bit of a game of trying to meet in the middle a little bit with them. You don’t want to dampen them, but you also want to make sure they’re listening.”

“I think it’s just a lot of horsemanship,” she continued. “When you’re developing horses, you always want to encourage their individualism — you want them to feel confident in themselves and do what they naturally want to do. So in the first two to three minutes of a Bromont course, you’re just trying to meet in the middle with them. Making sure you’re not getting in their way too much. You don’t want to be fighting with them — you want to stay as efficient and smooth as possible, because it’s also a huge fitness test — and if you’re having too many discussions at the start of the course, they’ll just get fatigued towards the end. That’s why just having this facility and this kind of track to train on is fantastic.”

Hayley Frielick and Dunedin Black Watch. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Hayley Frielick is also enjoying a nice evening after moving into second in the 4*-S with her veteran partner, Dunedin Black Watch. “Nelson” is a Thoroughbred that came over to the U.S. with Hayley and competed at the Maryland 5 Star. Now, he’s on the market looking for his next partner to teach — but in the meantime, Hayley is enjoying the ride with a horse that’s allowed her to see the world.

“He was brilliant!” Hayley said. “I just love that horse. He’s my little hot one — I’ve had him for a decade now. It’s so nice having him back at the level. He had a bit of time off not long after we got over here and did Maryland, so it’s brilliant having him back. He’s so much fun cross country. Just a little speed demon.”

Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Jungle Gold. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Dressage leaders Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Jungle Gold — a homebred out of Ms. Jacqueline Mars’ Landmark breeding program — relinquished their hold on the top spot today with just a few too many time penalties, but much the same as her ride in the 4*-L with Larcot Z, Lauren remained pragmatic and focused on the big picture.

“He was really good,” she said. “I didn’t put the pedal down today. I just wanted to have a good, confident round before aiming him for a fall four-Long. He handled everything really easily and popped around — not super fast, but about average.”

We’ll now look ahead to the show jumping finale tomorrow, which you’ll be able to watch live across divisions free of charge on the Bromont YouTube channel here, or also on RNS Video and ClipMyHorse.TV. The show jumping will begin at 9:30 a.m. EST with the 2* divisions and work its way up to the 4* later on in the day.

Here’s a look at the other leaders here at Bromont:

CCI3*-L: Boyd Martin and Kolbeinn (24.7)
U25 CCI3*-L: Ivie Cullen-Dean and Fernhill Cardavega (61.4)
CCI2*-L: Colleen Loach and Chiaro Z Excalibur (30.6)
U25 CCI2*-L: Mandolin Whitten and Cooley Easy Trip (31.1)

MARS Bromont CCI (Canada): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

“He’s an Absolute Weapon”: The Bramham Cross-Country Day Debrief

By on Jun 7, 2025 8:57 pm -

Eight-and-a-bit solid hours of cross-country was always going to feel like a spectacularly long day, but early on in today’s competition at the Defender Bramham International, it started to feel as though it might be interminable. Just half an hour or so into the first class of the day, the CCI4*-L, we’d seen our trailblazers – Ireland’s Padraig McCarthy and Lady Ophelia – go clear and inside the time, as did second out Harry Meade and Jet Fighter, but we’d also seen two falls, a hold on course, and a 20 penalty round. This could easily have foretold a rough day of sport for Bramham’s competitors and brand-new course designer Andy Heffernan alike – but at the end of it, despite plenty of the sort of plot twists this famously big, tough four-star is known for, the general feeling in camp is a positive one. 

Bubby Upton and Its Cooley Time. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Nobody, of course, is feeling quite so positive as Bubby Upton, who retained her first-phase lead with Its Cooley Time after easily catching the time in the precocious ten-year-old’s CCI4*-L debut. 

“He was unbelievable,” says Bubby. “I mean, honestly, he kind of made it feel like a BE100. He just stepped round and it’s just my job to steer him a little bit. He is phenomenal – will I ever ride a horse as class as him again? Who knows, but he’s got it all, and he proved that again today, so fingers crossed I can get him the win that he deserves.” 

For Bubby, who won the Under-25 CCI4*-L here two years ago with Magic Roundabout, Its Cooley Time is coming of age at exactly the point in her career when she’s ready to make the most of him – thanks, in part, to the experience she’s built up with all the horses who came before him, even if he sits apart from them in some significant ways.

“He’s so different to any horse that I’ve ever had before,” says Bubby. “He’s unbelievably sharp and spooky. [Five-star mount] Cola was very spooky as a young horse as well, so that’s kind of helped me a little bit with him. All the horses that I’ve been lucky enough to ride, like Clever Louis and Jefferson, those right sensitive types, have really helped me with him, particularly in the dressage.”

Bubby Upton and Its Cooley Time. Photo by 1st Class Images.

But on cross-country, she continues, “there’s no comparison between him and my other horses. He goes in a very unique way: he’s so low and kind of fights a bit with his head. And I’ve just had to learn, over the years, to ignore that he doesn’t go like my other horses, who go a bit softer and rounder and it potentially looks a bit smoother. It never feels as smooth as my other horses, but I’ve learned that that’s just the way he goes. That’s the way he operates, and I’ve just got to not try and mould him into how my other horses go.”

“All my horses are so different, which I love because it means that my job every day is to unlock the best of them, but they’ve all got different keys to their locks. But that’s what I love about it, and I guess that’s, for me, the analytics, and where I kind of really implement my brain and try to get the best out of them, as opposed to just one rule for all and one system.”

Bubby Upton and mum Rachael look after Its Cooley Time after his leading round. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

With any step up to a new level, there’s always a question mark or two – and even Bubby, who rates this horse as the best she’s ever had, was surprised by how much quality she found in him today. 

“Last night I was thinking, had he done enough gallop work?” says Bubby. “You never know – the only long-format he’s done is Hartpury [CCI3*-L], but I had to remind myself that that’s hilly and tough too. He’s done very minimal gallop work coming here, and he’s just naturally so fit, so I guess his stamina and his speed didn’t surprise me, because he’s shown it before, but it did kind of cement that he does have it all. He does the short tracks and he’s so quick and nimble, and then he goes and gallops around one of the biggest tracks there is. It makes me think that maybe I do have a Burghley horse after all, when I thought he might be more of a Badminton and Championship horse. He’s got a monstrous stride; the open distances out there even felt short on him. He’s just an absolute weapon.”

Izzy Taylor and SBH Big Wall. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Izzy Taylor and the eleven-year-old SBH Big Wall also came home clear and quick, though with 0.8 time penalties for adding two seconds to the 10:03 optimum time – but the retirement of overnight runners-up Sarah Bullimore and Corimiro, who had some green mistakes on course, opened the door for them to step into second place. In third place, Caroline Harris and Cooley Mosstown put forward one of the 17 clears inside the time in the class to make their mark on the podium ahead of tomorrow’s finale.

Caroline Harris and Cooley Mosstown. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

“He’s only nine, and it was quite a risk to bring him here, because he’s not done a long-format since [the Young Horse World Championships at] Le Lion as a seven year old,” says Caroline. “I wanted to give him an easier year last year because he’d been so good there, and so I was a little bit stressed about whether he could gallop the distance and cope with the hills. But he was just brilliant; he dug so deep.” 

Caroline tells us that she always knew the gelding would be a Bramham horse: “he loves big ditchy courses,” she says with a smile. “He’s really good with that sort of thing. Even heading towards home, when he’s getting tired, he just kept jumping and staying on the line.”

Tom Jackson and Hawk Eye. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Great Britain’s Tom Jackson delivered a duo of clears inside the time with United 36 and the former Nicola Wilson ride Hawk Eye to sit fourth and sixth overnight, respectively, while Irish-based Brit Daniel Alderson also caught the time with Blarney Monbeg Pepper to take provisional fifth place. 

Yasmin Ingham and Gypsie du Loir. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

When two-phase leaders Sebastien Cavaillon and Elipso de la Vigne galloped across the finish line in the CCI4*-S, it looked, for more than a moment, as though they’d secured the win: the time in this class, after all, was proving a touch tougher to catch than in the CCI4*-L, and they’d added just 1.6 time penalties, leaving just the tiniest margin of opportunity to get ahead of them. 

But leave the margin they did, and Yasmin Ingham wasn’t about to ignore that golden opportunity. 

“Sebastien very kindly left the door open for me, and so I thought, ‘I’m not going to let this one slide!’ So off we went, and we meant business from the beginning,” she says of the nine-year-old Gypsie du Loir, who was able to catch the optimum time to secure the win. “She’s super fast, and she’s a pleasure to ride cross country – she’s really brave and bold, so it suited her, this track.”

Gypsie du Loir, who will be aimed at a return to Blenheim’s eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S this September, followed by a CCI4*-L debut at Boekelo, began her week with a 27.9 in the dressage, and then added nothing throughout today’s jumping phases en route to victory. 

It was this morning’s jumping, though, that particularly impressed Yasmin, who’s long rated the French-bred mare as a real star of the future.

“I think for her, the show jumping is always a little bit of her weak phase. So for her to jump clear around, and then with Sebastien picking up a couple of seconds over, I just thought, ‘this could be an opportunity here, and it would be rude not to give it a go’. She deserved it.”

Astier Nicolas and Alertamalib’or. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

On the other end of the spectrum, France’s Astier Nicolas piloted a very experienced campaigner in Alertamalib’or, his 2022 World Championships mount, around the track today, putting in a bid for the win but ultimately settling for second by a tenth of a penalty. 

The pair did all they could: they added nothing to their first-phase score of 28 across today’s two jumping phases, and so all Astier could do was wait and watch to see how Yas, a few rounds later, would fare. 

When she, too, finished on her dressage score, he had to concede the title – but this run is about the bigger picture this season. 

“I’m keeping my win for later on, hopefully,” grins Astier, who, like his fellow countrymen, is using Bramham as a preparation for this autumn’s European Championships, to be held on English soil at Blenheim. 

The plan, so far, is paying off for the fifteen-year-old, who’s Astier’s first choice for selection while Babylon de Gamma is off games. 

“He felt very powerful, very big in his stride – I was almost overwhelmed, but in a good way, and it’s a good sign that he’s feeling great,” says Astier. “I’ve got one more run to do with him now, theoretically, and then hopefully we can get selected – in the meantime, it’s all about just managing him and keeping him as well as he is.”

Sebastien Cavaillon and Elipso de la Vigne. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Two-phase leader Sebastien Cavaillon might rue the loss of the victory, but he, too, is comforted by the longer-term aim of team selection with Elipso de la Vigne, with whom he finished four seconds over the time to add 1.6 penalties. 

“It was a very good course for him, and I hoped to go inside the time – but unfortunately at four minutes and fifty seconds, my watch stopped working,” he laments. “At the last loop I saw that, and I said, ‘okay, let’s go’ – but I was four seconds over. I could have had two seconds [and still won], but no, it was four… so that’s a little bit of a shame. But he was very cool, and he feels very well in all three phases for the next one.”

US representatives Tiana Coudray and Coeur de l’Esprit Z finished on their dressage score of 28.7 to take fourth place, and 2024 Pau CCI5* winners Caroline Harris and D.Day rounded out the top five when finishing on their own dressage score of 29.7.

Tom Woodward is crowned the Under-25 National Champion. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

23-year-old Tom Woodward made good on his reroute from Badminton with Low Moor Lucky, adding just 0.8 time penalties to his first-phase score of 28.1 to take eleventh in the overall CCI4*-S and win the new-look under-25 class – formerly held as a separate CCI4*-L class here – by nearly eight penalties. 

“Relief, I think, is the biggest emotion,” says Tom, referring to the redemption arc of this reroute. He and ‘Lucky’ have led this subsection from pillar to post, once again delivering a very competitive starting score – at Badminton, they’d gone into cross-country in the top ten – but this time, sealing the deal in the pivotal phase. 

“I feel quite emotional about this whole weekend, really, because we actually came here thinking maybe we’d retire after this weekend,” he says of the eighteen-year-old gelding, who was bred here in Yorkshire. 

“I’ve always said I wanted him to finish on his terms – and that’s not to say that he will retire; we’ll have to see how he comes out of today. He’s looking as happy as I think I’ve ever seen him, and even these last couple of weeks, he’s gone up another gear, and that’s a great feeling to have when he’s 18 years old. He keeps getting better, so we’ll see what’s next for him. I don’t want to decide today – we’ll just enjoy this for now. He’s a very special horse, and this means a lot to us. To have him come from Badminton, off the back of it not going to plan, and for him to nail all three phases is a great feeling. I owe everything to that horse, really.”

Tom also finished third in the under-25 section with Shannondale Varsity, who added a rail and a time penalty in the showjumping, but nothing across the country, to his first-phase score of 37.4 – a phase that Tom says is still a work in progress. Second place in this section went to Anya Strilkowski and K, who added 3.2 time penalties in today’s cross-country and 1.2 showjumping time penalties to their dressage score of 35.7. A special mention must go, too, to California’s Molly Duda, who added 4.8 time penalties to her 35.4 dressage score with Disco Traveller to finish 18th in the CCI4*-S, one placing ahead of Tom and Shannondale Varsity – but this year’s new format for the under-25 class means that only British riders are eligible to contest the championship, and so the 19 year old wasn’t afforded her moment on the podium. 

For new course designer Andy Heffernan, it’s been a long and occasionally tense day – but one that he’s taking as a positive debut to build upon in the years to come. 

“It’s my first time here on my own, and I was a bit nervous this morning,” admits Andy, whose nerves weren’t much settled by the first half an hour of competition. “The first two [competitors] almost made it look too easy, and then the next four made it look too difficult. And I thought, ‘oh God, here we go’. But actually, it panned out – it was pretty good!”

One thing that he didn’t expect was the ease with which the clock was beaten: 10 pairs made the time in the CCI4*-S, and 17 did so in the CCI4*-L. 

“I was surprised how easy the time was. But like some of the riders said to me – they loved it because it was forward and it was flowing, and then the ground was fantastic. So I guess if you get forward and flowing and the ground is fantastic, then you’re also going to get horses inside the time.”

Taking over from the legendary Ian Stark was always going to be a tall order, but, Andy says, he’s had nothing but support from his predecessor and the team around him. 

“Ian’s been very cool – he sort of left me to it completely,” he explains. “I came up with a plan, and then we walked around when there was nothing out, and he approved my plan, so that was nice. The next time we came, he looked at what I’d put out, and actually, every time, he’s been pretty happy.

“I was a bit concerned, I suppose, about being, you know, too brave – I want to keep it like Bramham, but also, I didn’t want to go over the top, as you can imagine. So that was probably something that was in the back of my mind. But I felt quite confident in that I’ve got Ian, who was happy, and I’ve also got probably the two best TDs in the world, who were both very supportive. So I felt very comfortable – although nobody’s really changed what I did, I felt like if I was going to do something that was over the top, or vice versa, I had people, good people, around me who were going to point me in the right direction. I think the systems work pretty well, and I think we got quite a good balance.

“To design at this level is a dream for me, and to do it so early in my career as a designer is great – but yeah, it’s daunting,” he concludes “But if I’m really honest, I think to design at this level, or to ride at this level, you’ve got to be maybe slightly arrogant. You know, if you started thinking [negatively] it would have a negative effect on your design.”

There was another happy touch to Andy’s day: the victory of Yasmin Ingham, who he regularly helps to coach. 

“I did say to her in the collecting ring, ‘it would be very cool if you won my first Bramham!’,” he laughs. 

Tomorrow’s CCI4*-L finale at the 2025 Defender Bramham International will begin at 9.00 a.m. BST/4.00 a.m. EST with the horse inspection, and then we’ll head into the showjumping from 12.00 BST/7.00 a.m. EST. We’ll be bringing you all the news, plus you can stream the action as it happens on Horse & Country TV. 

Defender Bramham links: Website | Ride Times and Scores | Cross-Country Course | Live-Stream | EN’s Coverage

22-Year-Old Leads Australia’s Top Eventers into Cross Country at Melbourne 3DE

By on Jun 7, 2025 9:38 am -

In front of a packed crowd, it was 22-year-old Olivia Shore who emerged on top in the Prydes Easifeed CCI4-L* aboard her striking Off The Track Thoroughbred Sebring sired gelding Dreamcatcher. © Click Capture.

Day Three of the Melbourne International Three Day Event has wrapped up with thrilling dressage performances across all levels, setting the stage for Sunday’s feature cross country day, a highlight on the equestrian calendar that promises excitement, adrenaline and fun for the whole family.

The Off The Track Thoroughbreds continue to shine in the spotlight this week, showcasing their versatility and potential for life beyond the track. Their presence across all levels is a powerful reminder of the importance of second careers for these exceptional athletes.

In the Off The Track CCN1-L*, it’s Marlene Battedou and her talented Off The Track Thoroughbred Le Grand d Amour (raced as Resolving To Win) leading on 29.7 penalties. All eyes will be on Marlene tomorrow as she tackles the cross country course which kicks off at 8:45am in hopes of maintaining her lead.

In the Off The Track CCI2-L*, Niki Rose and Cooley All Over have took the early lead with a stellar 25.7 penalties. The pair has been in sensational form, with recent wins at Tamworth and Canberra at this level and a fifth place at Camden. The 9:30am start for this class tomorrow will be one to watch, with Niki looking to extend her lead on a tightly contested leaderboard.

Niki Rose and Cooley All Over have taken the early lead with a stellar 25.7 penalties. © Click Capture.

Meanwhile, in front of a packed crowd, it was 22-year-old Olivia Shore who emerged on top in the Prydes Easifeed CCI4-L* aboard her striking Off The Track Thoroughbred Sebring sired gelding Dreamcatcher, scoring 30.1 penalties. With the country’s best riders and two Kiwi challengers close behind, Saturday’s 2:20pm Prydes Easifeed CCI4*-L cross country will be an unmissable display of world-class riding.

Today also featured a special masterclass from Olympic silver medallist Chris Burton, presented by Off The Track. Joined by top placegetters from yesterday’s Yulong Stud Rising Stars Challenge, Chris shared his expertise with a captivated audience.

Sunday’s event offers more than just elite eventing. With a buzzing trade village, kids activities, great food, and non-stop action, there’s something for everyone at Werribee Park.

For full results and ticket information, visit m3de.com.au. Ticket prices begin at just $12.50

Melbourne International (Australia): [Website] [Timing & Orders of Go] [Scoring] [Live Stream]

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Jun 7, 2025 12:01 am -

We were treated to a spectacle last night at MARS Bromont when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride stopped by the park to put on a show for the throngs of gathered spectators. It was a true exhibit of horsemanship and horse power and a real callback to the cavalry roots of our own sport of eventing. If you’re in the area, be sure to stop by for a second Musical Ride performance at 6 p.m. EST! Admission is free for all.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Windermere Run H.T. (MO): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Apple Knoll Farm H.T. (MA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Unionville H.T. (PA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Middleburg H.T. (VA): [Website] [Entries] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Revel Run H.T. (MI): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]

Major International Events

MARS Bromont CCI (Canada): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Defender Bramham International (UK): [Website] [Entries/Timing/Scoring] [CrossCountryApp XC Maps] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Melbourne International (Australia): [Website] [Timing & Orders of Go] [Scoring] [Live Stream]

Links & Reading

Hannah Schofield Has Learned To Listen To Her Thoroughbreds

The USEA Classic Series Kicks Off at IEA Horse Trials

Ride Along With Eventing Volunteer Coordinator Janet Sinclair

Fit, not fat: experts have their say on what elite sport horses should look like

Sponsor Corner: World Equestrian Brands

Ever wondered what your horse’s back really looks like under the saddle? A visit from a World Equestrian Brands saddle fitter can reveal a world of helpful insight—because knowledge is power, especially when it comes to your horse’s comfort.

You’ll learn:
✅ What kind of back your horse has—long, short, shapely, or flat?
✅ What issues might be interfering with performance—uneven shoulders, tricky withers, or a saddle that just won’t stay put?
✅ What the plan is going forward—what your horse needs now and how to support them as their body changes.

Whether you’re fitting a new saddle or checking the fit of your current one, it all starts with a proper evaluation.

📩 Email [email protected] to find a fitter near you!

Video Break

Hear from Bromont CCI4*-S leader Lauren Nicholson ahead of today’s cross country:

The Great Hambino: Landmark’s Jungle Gold Hams It Up to Lead CCI4*-S at MARS Bromont CCI

By on Jun 6, 2025 6:17 pm -

Sometimes we win and sometimes we have days where our horses didn’t quite get the memo that now is not the time to throw their own moves into the dressage test. Rarely do those two things happen on the same day. Luckily for Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Jungle Gold, today was one of those rare days.

It’s a great weekend for Lauren Nicholson, who is leading both the CCI4*-L and the CCI4*-S at the end of day two of the MARS Bromont CCI. As the 4*-S wrapped up with its small but mighty contingent of eight riders this afternoon, Lauren came out on top with Ms. Jacqueline Mars’ Landmark’s Jungle Gold (Diarado x Jungle Tale, by Cougar) with a score of 30.2.

After a short hiatus from the level, Richie was obviously quite thrilled to be back, as he threw a bit of his own flair into the flying changes at the end of the test. “He’s usually pretty dependable in the dressage, and honestly, I was pretty mad at him at the end,” Lauren said. “He usually has great changes and everything else, but he really wanted to ham it up for the crowd today — and I was not impressed.”

Lauren has known the Holsteiner Irish Sport Horse cross since he was in the womb. Now 10 years old, “Richie” is the product of Ms. Mars’ breeding program, in which Lauren is heavily involved.

“[The Landmark breeding program] was well on its way before I even came to work for the O’Connors and Ms. Mars — that was 21 years ago,” Lauren said. “It’s always been about finding the best career for them. Some have gone on to be fox hunters, hunters, kids’ horses, five-star horses. My job in the beginning is just to make them quality citizens, and then go on.”

“I consider that my job — to make them well-rounded when they’re young,” Lauren continued. “Then, as their skill sets start to show, you know which direction to point them. We also try to purpose-breed. Krista Schmidt — Ms. Mars’ daughter — has taken on a huge interest in breeding and revamped the program again.”

Now the program has a couple household names coming into their breeding shed, including Mia Farley’s BGS Firecracker, who she rode around the Advanced level. But Lauren will be the first to admit that there are times when breeding remains a mystery.

“It’s very hard,” she said. “It’s funny — some of the ones that were five-star mares and a five-star stallion, we got like, a little pony. A lovely little kids’ horse. You never know! So it’s always a mystery that evades me — there are a lot of experts out there, and I defer to them on the breeding. I just do what I can with what comes out.”

Speaking of what comes out (and returning to the matter at hand), Lauren says that she’s taken her time at the three-star level before moving Richie up to the big leagues. “He went up the levels pretty quickly, and he’s quite a big, gangly horse, so we just stayed at the three-star level the last two years to get him stronger,” Lauren said. “He had all the parts to do the job, but he just sometimes lost coordination. So we gave him a couple years to get stronger before bumping him back up to the four-star level. This is his first run at the 4*-S in a while.”

Before moving him back up to the level, Lauren needed to ensure Richie had full control of his big body, especially as he went through the extended period of growth spurts associated with Warmbloods.

“I’ll give him all the tools — but then he needs to utilize them,” she explained. “It’s never been about unwillingness, it’s just learning how to use his body correctly. I think it’s interesting with the horses that have warmblood in them — you really have to play it by ear with how they stop growing. Warmbloods keep growing for so long — they’re 7, 8, 9 before they stop — and every time their body changes, you plateau until they figure out how to use all their parts again.”

Jessie Phoenix and Freedom GS. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Currently in second place is Canada’s own Jessica Phoenix and her Olympic partner, Freedom GS, owned by Charlotte Shickedanz. Needless to say, Freedom GS is an experienced event horse. At 13 years old, the Trakehner/Oldenburg cross is stepping into her prime. At the Olympics, the pair came in 37th place with a score of 67.8.

Since their return to North American soil, they’ve had a spring season filled with accolades. In March, the pair won the TerraNova Equestrian Center 4*-S with a score of 39.1, before also finishing third on the podium in the Cosequin Kentucky Three-Day 4*-S in April with a score of 38. Now the question is, will their winning streak continue?

EquiRatings is here to shed some insight on the subject. Currently, Jessie and Freedom GS (Humble GS x Friedel GS, by Fidertanz) have a 38 percent chance of winning the division, and a 73 percent chance of finishing in the top three. While I feel obligated to root for team USA, it would be so fitting if one of Canada’s own brought home the blue ribbon this weekend (sorry, Lauren!).

According to Jessie, the Olympics has really motivated her to improve her dressage performance and, thanks to a new trainer, her hard work is paying dividends. “After the Olympics last year, it really felt like I needed to get my dressage better — like, stronger horses, stronger me, stronger everything,” Jessie said. “So we started training with Ashley Holzer. She had watched us go at the Olympics and said, ‘Jessie, honestly, I think I can really help you.’ It’s been a real journey of learning, and I just feel really positive about it.”

Over the last ten months, Jessie and Freedom GS have been deeply embedded in dressage boot camp. Today, their dressage score is one of their lowest yet at the four-star level.

“She is really feeling stronger and stronger all the time, and I was so happy with the way she went in and tried throughout the entire test. Like, she really stayed with me the whole time,” Jessie said. “She felt like toward the end she got a little bit muscle-fatigued, because she really was engaged and with me the whole test. So her medium trot could normally be a little bit bigger than that, but I was also so proud of the effort she put in. She worked the entire test, start to finish.”

Looking ahead in their season, Jessie and Freedom GS were selected to be part of the team Canada is sending to Aachen later on this summer. “We’ve just received the grant from Canadian High Performance to go to Aachen — which is just amazing,” Jessie said. “The fact that they acknowledge that, that’s a big deal — to get there prior to the World Championships — and then submitting the application and being chosen, it’s all kind of surreal.”
“We’re super thankful to have that opportunity, and thankful for the eventing community that they could get behind that — through various fundraisers — and be supportive of it,” she continued.

According to Jessie, this weekend at Bromont is a key part of her plan to prepare for the World Championships. “I think Bromont is always such a key event in a season for a horse. So while we’re looking forward to Aachen, we’re also looking ahead to the fall. I think we’ll be heading toward Morven Park,” she said. “Bromont is just such a useful event with the terrain. The course they’ve built out there is a four-and-a-half star — especially for the four-star short. They’ve asked every question, and they’re big. So it’s going to be a real test — both with the terrain and with the complexity of the jumping efforts.”

Hayley Frielick and Dunedin Black Watch. Photo by Sally Spickard

New Zealand’s Hayley Frielick rounds out the top three of our rather global leaderboard. Riding Dunedin Black Watch (Dylan Thomas x Love First, by Lonhro), the pair pulled out all the stops to present a dressage test that was lovely to watch and earned them a score of 32.3. Like many Thoroughbreds, “Nelson” may have a lot of heart, but he’s not naturally talented in the dressage ring. This weekend, though, he put his best foot forward. Typically scoring in the mid to upper 30s, this weekend’s dressage score is his best out of his entire FEI career– a big congratulations to Nelson and Hayley in that regard.

“He’s not born with the most natural, big movement — you know, he’s not an imported Warmblood that just floats around. We really had to work on that, especially the medium trot. When I brought him over to do Maryland, I don’t think he could even do a medium trot when he did the five-star there,” Hayley said. “So I’m really pleased with that now, because he actually knows what’s expected of him there. If I set him up and do a little half-halt and prepare him, he really tries, even if it’s not the biggest, flashiest test. Like I said, he really stayed with me, so he could be consistent everywhere. It felt pleasing to ride, so I hope it pleased.”

At 15 years old, Nelson is an experienced upper level event horse and has been competing at the four-star level and above since COVID. While that experience works in his favor in many regards, according to Hayley, it can also work against him.

“We’re like an old married couple,” Hayley said. “Even though he has so much experience, he’s a little Thoroughbred with so much enthusiasm, so it’s always just trying to get him to really relax and stay with me. Sometimes that extra experience can almost work against you because they know what’s coming and when.”

So I was really pleased he stayed with me,” she continued. “This sort of event is perfect for him. We came up a couple of days before, he’s gotten a chance to really settle in. He never does anything naughty, but it’s great that he can go in there and actually produce a really consistent test and sort of get every mark that we can.”

It’s not often that riders own their own upper level event horse– Hayley and Nelson are the uncommon exception to that rule. Sadly, that isn’t going to be the case for much longer. “He’s actually on the market, looking for another option in his future,” Hayley said. “He’s at the level, he’s doing well and loving it, but he doesn’t owe me anything.”

That being said, Hayley’s goal for the weekend is to enjoy the ride– literally. “I’m just enjoying it while I have him — until he finds his next home,” she said. “He’s naturally very, very fast, so even if I’m trying to take it handy, he’s unlikely to be very slow. But I do want to give him a good run. We might just take our time in a few spots and approach things very strategically, rather than just fly around like a bat out of hell. But he kind of only has one speed out there, so I’d be expecting him to be reasonably quick.”

Hayley first came to Bromont in 2024, where she ran around the 3*-L with Paul Richard Donovan’s Sportsfield Lumiere (Orestus VDL x Utah, by Phin Phin). Together, they came in 8th place on a score of 38.1. For Hayley, there was no question about whether or not she would be back at the event.

“It was straightaway on the calendar to come back. I think the course is phenomenal. There’s a lot of terrain and twists and turns. It’s a proper track,” Hayley said. “But the event is just so beautiful as well. The town — it’s like you drive over the American border and then you’re in Europe, almost. There’s good food, there’s good coffee, it’s just a lovely event. The venue is incredible. Coming from Australia, we don’t have a lot of facilities — if any — like this. You’ve got this amazing arena, beautiful places to work. They do a brilliant job.”

The iconic Bromont sign. Photo by Sally Spickard

Several other divisions wrapped up the dressage phase today at Bromont. Ariel Grald is leading the 2*-L with Annie Eldridge’s Obalix on a score of 25.3. She’s followed by another Canadian, Colleen Loach and Peter Barry’s Chiaro Z Excalibur who are currently holding onto a score of 27.4. In third place is Allie Knowles and Katherine O’Brien’s September Venture with a score of 28.

Allie Knowles is also leading the way with the lowest score of the day in the 3*-L aboard Katherine O’Brien’s Montpellier Scais with a score of 24.3. She’s followed by Boyd Martin, who is starting the weekend in both second and third place with Malmo Mob’s Kolbeinn (24.7) and the Fetiche Des Rouges syndicate’s Fetiche Des Rouges (29.9) respectively.

Tomorrow will be an action-packed day for riders, spectators, and event officials alike– it’s cross country day! The 4*-L will start off the day with the first rider leaving the startbox at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, followed by the 4*-S. Jessie Phoenix and Aeronautics will be the first to gallop around the course.

Best of luck to all and Go Eventing.

MARS Bromont CCI (Canada): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]