Classic Eventing Nation

Liz Halliday-Sharp Takes Dual Victories, Team USA’s Ready to Fly at MARS Great Meadow

By on Aug 28, 2022 9:00 pm -

Cooley Quicksilver proves once again his competitive nature with another 4*-S win. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

We knew we wouldn’t see every pair going for the notoriously difficult optimum time at MARS Great Meadow International, but a few of the top 10 riders gave it a good crack in the CCI4*-S conclusion this hot, balmy afternoon.

In the end, it would be Liz Halliday-Sharp with The Monster Partnership’s (Ocala Horse Properties, Renee Lane, Deborah Halliday) Cooley Quicksilver (Womanizer – Kylemore Crystal, by Creggan Diamond) who steadily crept up from their starting placing of fifth to take the overall win. She wins by the skin of her teeth on a 25.6 — just one second of time added on cross country — as Team USA member Tamie Smith let the Ahearn family and Eric Markell’s Mai Baum (Loredano 2 – Ramira, by Rike) cruise home to finish on a score of 26.9.

“Monster”, who is 11 this year, has already proven himself to be a competitor: he was fifth at Luhmühlen’s 5* in June, just after winning the tough Lexington 4*-S in April. This is his second 4*-S win, and Liz says the Irish gelding is feeling more professional with each go.

“I was completely thrilled with him,” Liz commented. “It’s his first run back since Luhmühlen, and he just keeps getting better. I mean, he’s only an eleven-year-old, so he’s done quite a lot. But he is still young horse and he was just totally professional in all three phases, and I couldn’t be more pleased with him.”

A 26.5 is a competitive finishing score anywhere in the world, Liz noted. “And that’s something I always strive for.” Liz has penciled the Maryland 5 Star in for both Cooley Quicksilver and her stalwart partner, Deniro Z, also owned by Ocala Horse Properties, who finished inside the top 10 on a score of 36.1.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Shanroe Cooley pick up a win en route to a trip to France this fall. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Liz also secured a second win in the 3*-S this weekend with Ocala Horse Properties Shanroe Cooley (Dallas VDL – Shanroe Sapphie), who at seven will aim for October’s FEI World Young Horse Breeding Championships in France. This was a wire-to-wire win for Liz, finishing the weekend without adding any penalties to their dressage score of 26.1.

Partnered with Liz since his four-year-old year, “Dallas” has been tapped for Le Lion for some time now as Liz produced him through the levels. “He just finds it really easy,” she said. “So it’s nice now because I’m going to go to his next run and just tone everything down a little bit since this was the first time I put a bit of pressure into him. And I think that was good for him. Now we can just settle down a little and have a nice run a Stable View [in September]. And then hopefully he’ll go in a really strong position for a lovely young Seven Year Old World Championships.

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum cruised around with just a few seconds of time. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Team USA Ticks the Boxes

For the combinations heading to Pratoni for FEI World Championships, today was intended to be a challenge without asking too much of each horse. Chef d’equipe Bobby Costello reaffirmed his role as supporter, noting that each rider knows their horse best and knew the type of ride each needed.

Tamie Smith said she opted to let Mai Baum pick the pace out of the box, saying she was even a bit surprised to see she’d only come home with 6.4 time penalties as she thought they’d just cruised around.

“This is his first run since Badminton,” Tamie said. “And this is kind of what I do before a big Long format…He actually went faster than I expected him to. So I was kind of pleasantly surprised to that I only had six time when I got through the finish flags.”

With a handful of problems scattered around the course but primarily time playing a factor, some riders noted that the course felt somewhat ‘soft’, however Tamie says it suited what she felt her horse needed.

“I don’t think you can really say it’s too soft,” she explained. “Because, for me, I’m not trying to have, you know, a really hard run. I’m just trying to get him thinking and look in between the flags. And that was enough to do out there to get the horses back on their game.”

Ground also played a role in riders’ decision to crank on the gas pedal; several pairs simply opted to withdraw, including second-placed Will Coleman (Chin Champ – Wildera, by Quinar Z) and Hyperion Stud’s Chin Tonic HS. Will had been on the fence on Saturday night regarding cross country today, and opted to save his talented young horse’s legs for another run. Despite the harder summer ground, riders were also complimentary of the organizing and grounds crews’ efforts to aerate and work the track.

“But it’s very challenging anywhere in the Mid Atlantic,” Bobby Costello said of the going. “I think everybody rode their horses very intelligently. The riders rode very smart, quick enough to give their horses a work but nothing crazy. So I was really happy.”

Will Coleman and Off the Record make quick work of a massive brush table on course. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Looking to the rest of the U.S. team riders: Will Coleman‘s Pratoni horse, the Off the Record Syndicate’s Off the Record (Arkansas – Drumagoland Bay, by Ard Ohio) is the next highest-placed on the weekend, picking up eight seconds of time but still moving up to third overall on a final score of 31.1. Ariel Grald and Annie Eldridge’s Leamore Master Plan (Master Imp – Ardragh Bash) collected 20 seconds of time to end in 11th on a 38.9. Boyd Martin came home 30 seconds over time with the Turner family’s Tsetserleg, who looked to be skipping around a Novice. Lauren Nicholson brought Ms. Jacqueline Mars’ Vermiculus home clear with 19 seconds of time to finish inside the top 20. Reserve pair Phillip Dutton with the Z Partnership’s Z (Asca Z – Bellabouche, by Babouche VH Gehucht Z) also turned in a steady clear round, amassing 16.8 time penalties.

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

All Eyes on Pratoni

The riders and grooms will now focus on the long journey that begins this coming Friday, which will take the horses out of USET headquarters in Gladstone, NJ. The Americans are basing in France at Vittel, a venue east of Paris that hosts FEI eventing along with racing, polo, and training facilities. Eventing Elite Program and Team Facilitator aka Logistics Chief and Senior Cat Herder Max Corcoran along with Bobby Costello chose the venue while at Aachen earlier this summer, describing it as having all the facilities the team would need for final training: including ample opportunity for show jumping practice on grass.

It’s an established fact that the horses going to Pratoni have experience jumping on grass. Most jumped around Badminton this year, and they’ve all at some point competed at venues such as Carolina International and Red Hills here in the States, both of which have historically held show jumping on grass. But jumping on grass is not something we do much in this country, especially once you leave the lower level events in search of higher level offerings.

For his part, Bobby isn’t particularly fazed: “Honestly, we jump on grass all the time at my farm!” he laughed.

Most of the horses on the squad have clear rounds on grass on their records, but Bobby acknowledges the fact that this weekend, with its show jumping on groomed footing held ahead of cross country, would leave some space for necessary practice in France.

“I believe all of these horses that are on the squad have jumped and jumped well on grass, so I’m not overly concerned,” he said. “Also, the footing there is kind of an ash base, so I think it will not be overly slick conditions should they get some moisture. And we definitely will be jumping on grass while we’re training in France.”

It’s been an intense experience for Bobby, who was appointed Interim Chef d’Equipe in April of this year, a role last held by Erik Duvander. While Erik still works privately with most of the riders on the squad for Pratoni, Bobby’s the one steering the ship. While it may not have been on his to-do list in the moment, Bobby’s extensive experience lends itself well to this role: he’s competed at the Olympic level of the sport, working with multiple coaches and Chefs during these years, held positions on countless committees and leadership boards, and has acted as a High Performance selector. In many ways, one could surmise it was the next logical step for someone who is already quite well-respected within the community.

“I honestly didn’t know, going into it, exactly what it was going to take for me to do this job successfully,” he elaborated. “I’ve been lucky that I’ve seen every single part of [the sport], so nothing has been a surprise. But, no one has done this job strictly just as a Chef d’Equipe. You’re slightly one step removed, kind of looking in and being of support when it’s necessary. And kind of knowing when to step back because riders know their programs are working on all cylinders. I guess I didn’t know exactly what it would be like, but I’ve been very, very happy with the experience.”

Only time will tell if Bobby will consider keeping the position after Pratoni — for now, he’s contracted to lead the team to Italy, and he says he’s keeping an open mind but focusing on the task at hand first. The role is tough: there are many more weekends spent away from home, more pressure, more expectations. Bobby, who says he really enjoys working with riders as a coach, says he wants to ensure that he gives a lot of thought to what he wants to do next.

“I actually don’t think I’m going to know until I’m on the other side of Pratoni,” he said. “At least in the last several years, this has not been the ‘master plan’ for me. I truly love a lot of the coaching and helping riders at the upper levels, and I get a lot out of that. And in all honesty, that will be a big question: am I willing to give a little bit of that up?”

Overall, for Bobby this final outing for the U.S. squad ticked the boxes. “I think overall it was a really good prep event,” he explained. “I could not have been happier with the way the horses looked in the dressage. We all have in mind what their scoring potential is, and I think all the horses are right in that zone. Show jumping for the most part was good, but there were a couple of horses that underperformed a bit. But I think it will only make those riders go home and really give some thought to what needs to be tweaked — and I think it really is just more of a tweak. Today [cross country] I think went very well. I think everybody rode their horses very intelligently. I left it, after discussions with the riders, very much in their hands. I think they know I trust their judgement, and they all want to be very competitive in Pratoni. They knew the rides they needed to give their horses today and I am in full support.”

We still await the final confirmation of which four pairs will make up the U.S. team and which pair will compete as an individual — we can expect that announcement sometime between now and the final entry deadline of September 5.

It’s been a hot, balmy weekend at Great Meadow, but I had an absolute blast as always. I’ll leave you with some social media missives below, but in the meantime thank you for following along with us all weekend. Next up, Tilly Berendt will make a quick pit stop at a little event called Burghley before she heads to Pratoni the following week, so stay tuned right here on EN for all the eventing coverage you can handle and a whole lot you don’t need.

As always, #goeventing.

#MARSGMI: 
[Website] [ Final Scores] [Live Stream Replay][Erin Gilmore Photography] [EN’s Coverage]

Germany’s Katharina Tietz Finds Success in Strzegom Summer CCI4*-S

By on Aug 28, 2022 6:02 pm -

CCI4*-S winners Katharina Tietz & Chapeau Claque 49. Photo by Leszek Wójcik.

Meanwhile in Poland, yet another CCI4* event has wrapped up: Strzegom Summer Tour. Katharina Tietz of Germany won the class with the 9-year-old Chapeau Claque 49, and was third as well with Aspen T.

With Chapeau Claque 49 she was eighth after dressage, had one down in the jumping and galloped for the win with a clear cross-country round, only two seconds over the optimum time. She finished third with Aspen T. They were in the 16th position after the first trial and went up nine places after keeping all the jumps up in the second one. She reached the finish of the cross-country with additional penalties for time.

Second place went to Sanne De Jong with Jersey MBF. The Dutch rider was 6th after dressage and only added time faults later on – for two seconds in the jumping and 18 in the cross country.

Libussa Lübbeke and Darcy F placed 4th the CCI4*-S. Photo by Leszek Wójcik.

Almost 300 horses competed at the event, representing 12 countries. The competitors faced four international short-format competitions and three national classes.

In the 3*-S the win belonged to Anna Siemer (GER) with Lillybelle EA, who secured her victory after a clear jumping round. Second place went to Polish rider Wiktoria Knap with Quintus 134, who stayed in this position throughout three trials. Third went to Germany’s Anna Lena Schaaf with Cocolares, going up from the seventh overnight.

The winner of the 2*-S was Germany’s Jan Matthias aboard Ibsen 27. He took the lead after the cross country and went clear on today’s jumping course. Second went to the Netherlands’ Sanne de Jong with Larosaleen W, and third to her compatriot Janneke Boonzaaijer with Mirage.

The 1*-Intro finished with the victory of Willemina Van Der Goes-Petter (NED) with Legende P. Polish rider Kalina Kasak with Primavera was second, and Germany’s Isabella Von Roeder with Bob – third.

CCI4*-S Final Top 10:

Blair Castle: Astier Nicolas Wins CCI4*-S, Caroline Martin Finishes 5th

By on Aug 28, 2022 2:27 pm -

The Land Rover Blair Castle Horse Trials concluded today, with victors crowned across one- through four-star levels. In the CCI4*-L, Tom McEwen and Luna Mist kept their #1 spot through show jumping for the win, as did overnight CCI4*-L leaders Astier Nicolas and Babylon de Gamma through cross country.

The U.S. sole representative Caroline Martin had two horses in the CCI4*-S. She collected 8.4 time penalties on today’s cross country to move another spot up into fifth with Islandwood Captain Jack, while Redfield Champion was eliminated cross country.

View complete final scores here.

Four-star (S)

The four-star short-format concluded today with the influential cross-country phase. France’s Astier Nicolas and Babylon de Gamma retained their overnight lead to win the Scottish Open Champion title, one they also won here in 2019, finishing as runners-up last year. The pair sped around the cross-country track which proved challenging for many in the fastest time of the day, seven seconds inside the optimum time, to complete on 27.2.

“He’s just too good,” Astier said of the 11-year-old. “With many horses you use softer bits as they get older but with him I have to go harder – he’s just a rocket. I am amazed by his fitness as he has only had one other run this year due to having had hoof surgery but he has fought his way back and wants to be here. He’s a Blair expert!”

When asked about his thoughts on the cross-country course, Astier commented: “I think it was more difficult than previously but that may be my memory. The courses here can look easy when you first walk them because, if the fences were on the flat they wouldn’t be too technically difficult, but when you factor in the terrain, which I think is some of the most challenging in the world, they become much more difficult. I love coming here – everyone is very friendly, the landscape is beautiful and the ground is second to none.”

Oliver Townend finished second with Sir John Peace’s As Is, a relatively recent acquisition to his string having been produced by Oliver’s great friend and New Zealand Olympian, Andrew Nicholson. Second out on course, the pair made light work of it and were the only other combination not to incur time or jumping penalties. They completed on their dressage score of 30.2. “He’s top class, he gallops, he jumps, what else can I say?” said Oliver.

Tom McEwen and Mrs Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry’s Brookfield Quality dropped a place and finished third on 34.6 after picking up 6.4 time penalties. Tom, however, was still delighted with the horse whom he has recently taken on from Piggy March who also rides for the Brookfield Stud: “Coming here with him was a fact finding mission really,” admitted Tom.

“Riding a horse who has been ridden by one of the best in the world is a bit nerve wracking to be honest and we’re still getting to know each other. He’s a heck of a character and has a big jump which I’ve had to get used to but I can’t fault the way he’s gone.”

Cross-country pathfinders Wills Oakden and DHI By Design finished fourth on 40.0. The USA’s Caroline Martin, who is currently based with Pippa Funnell, was fifth with Islandwood Captain Jack on 42.9 ahead of Pippa herself with Maybach on 44.0 in sixth. 

Four-star (L)

As was the case in the three-star long, Tom McEwen was in the enviable position of having two show jumps in hand at the top of the leaderboard going into today’s final phase.

Riding Martin Belsham’s mare Luna Mist, he added just .4 of a time fault to take the title on a total score of 32.3. The pair only began their partnership at the start of this season and this was their first outing at this level: “You never know what you’ll have at the end of a three-day event,” said Tom, “and although this was a small class it was a proper test and she’s proved to me that she’s a 5* mare. She made both jumping phases feel easy, particularly today’s show jumping track which was up to height.”

The only fault-free show jumping round of the day, from Oliver Townend and another mare, Paul Ridgeon’s Cooley Rosalent, meant they retained second place. The eight-year-old’s performance also proved to her jockey that she was all that he had thought she was and more: “She’s never felt so good or so spectacular,” said Oliver. “She’s had a great experience over proper 4* tracks and she’s done nothing that tells me she isn’t a 5* horse.” He added that she may well be aimed at Maryland 5* towards the end of the season.

Nini French and her own Time For Harry were third on 54.8 and Louise Harwood with her own Native Spirit Fourth.

Three-star

After today’s final show jumping phase, Tom McEwen posted another good result for owners Mrs Alison Swinburn, John and Chloe Perry when he retained his overnight lead with their nine-year-old gelding Brookfields Cavalier Cruise. The pair had two show jumps in hand but needed neither and completed on their dressage score of 22.9:

“He’s always been up there after dressage and show jumping at one-day events but has never really been allowed to have his day as we’ve been saving him a big occasion. It’s great that he’s had it today,” said Tom. “This is actually his first long format event and he really stepped up – for a big boy he’s really well-balanced.”

Behind the pair there was just one fence between the next six-placed riders and the leaderboard was shuffled in what was an exciting final phase.

Sam Ecroyd and his mother’s home-bread Withington climbed a place from third to eventual second after they jumped clear and Max Warburton and Deerpairc Revelry (who had been second after cross-country) rolled a pole and dropped to seventh:

“We came here to get our 4* long-format qualification,” said Sam, “and luckily I’ve always had good rounds here. Withington has been produced very slowly as he’s found it quite tricky to learn how to control his power and agility – he’ll have a good break now and hopefully we’ll have a proper season at 4* level next year.”

Perthshire-based Wills Oakden added to the bounty of rosettes he has collected over the course of the event finishing third with his wife Stephanie’s Cooley Pot of Gold on their dressage score of 39.1: “It’s been a brilliant weekend all round,” he admitted. “I came here knowing I had horses capable of getting into the top 10 in their respective sections and I’m glad it all worked out here as it doesn’t always!”

New Zealand’s Caroline Powell and CBI Aldo rose from ninth to fourth following their clear showjumping round, while Katie Magee and Nelson De La Pomme climbed from 10th to fifth after they also went clear. 

Two-star

The top of the leaderboard changed after every phase during this year’s two-star competition. Dressage leaders Caroline Powell and Tik Top lost their advantage when collecting 5.6 cross-country time penalties, opening the door to dressage runners-up Lucinda Atkinson and Twice Proved.

However, a lowered pole in the showjumping plummeted the pair to eventual fifth, so influential was the final day on the results.

The eventual winners, Wills Oakden and his wife Stephanie’s Keep It Cooley, had been just 0.1 of a penalty behind Lucinda and made no such mistake, jumping an immaculate clear round to take the title.

“This season he’s won two intermediates and was runner up in the three-star short-format at Alnwick Ford. The idea was to bring him here to be as competitive as we could be; he’s a horse we absolutely believe in, and love to bits. I’m very proud of him – he’s a serious machine and has been super all week.

“It’s the first time we’ve had a win here. We had one on Friday in a small class and Steph said, ‘that’s the Blair-duck done, they might start coming now’. Finally we have actually done it.”

Also benefiting from clear rounds were Nina De Haas from the Netherlands, riding JVK Mr Maguire, and Harrison Colling on Trevi Fountain who finished second and third respectively.

One-star section F

Section F concluded this morning with competitors running across country. The final top three all jumped clear inside the time and completed on their respective dressage scores. 

Heading the leaderboard on 28.3 was 18-year-old Maia Fleming from East Lothian with the 18hh Candyman Leanorth who was previously competed up to 3* level by Toots Bartlett:

“It felt like a breeze to be honest,” said Maia. “He made it feel so easy and riding here was a really good experience – it’s a massive atmosphere.”

Maia will now concentrate on horses and target Young Riders classes with Candyman Leanorth next season.

At the other end of the size scale, a 14.1hh pony, Stonehavens Cloud, ridden by Elizabeth Jelfs finished second on 31.5 with Emma Wake and Chrissi third on 33.2. 

CCI4*-L Final Top 10:

CCI4*-S Final Top 10:

CCI3*-L Final Top 10: 

Land Rover Blair Castle International H.T. (Pitlochry, UK): [Website] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring]

MARS Great Meadow International 4*-S Live Updates

By on Aug 28, 2022 1:11 pm -

The dimensionally imposing Brush Table at fence 9A. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Good afternoon from MARS Great Meadow International! We’re anxiously awaiting the start of the CCI4*-S class, where we’ll see our potential Pratoni World Championship pairs strut their stuff in the hopes of team selection, along with many many other top combinations looking to start their fall season off in style.

Our fearless leader Sally Spickard is on the ground in Virginia and I’ll be bringing you a play-by-play of the action remotely. If you missed the previous two days of action, check out yesterday’s report here.

#MARSGMI: [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Order of Go] [Scoring] [Live Stream] [Volunteer] [Tickets] [Erin Gilmore Photography] [EN’s Coverage]

3:27 PM: Here are your top ten pairs at MARS Great Meadow International! Stay tuned for the full report from Sally a bit later.

3:22 PM: Through the finish flags for Tamie and Lexus aaaannnnd…. they pick up 6.4 time penalties, which means the race car driver Liz Halliday-Sharp and the The Monster Partnership’s Cooley Quicksilver clinch the win! What a fantastic season this pair is having. Tamie wasn’t exactly wasting time, but she’s got a little thing called the World Championships next month to be keeping in mind. These two highly competitive female riders gave us a tense finish to #MARSGMI, that’s for sure.

3:20 PM: A piece of cake through the coffin at fence 17 for Tamie and Lexus — they’re in the home stretch now.

3:19 PM: Argh, one little second over time for Liz and Monster! Tamie is likely going for a nice positive outing before Pratoni, but she’s got 11 seconds in hand over Liz so it’ll still be down to the wire for the win today.

3:18 PM: Liz totally looks like she’s going for it as she encourages Monster on through the MARS Sustainability Bay. Tamie and “Lexus” are easily through 11AB.

3:16 PM: Liz and “Monster” make the 12ABCD complex look like child’s play. With Will and Chin Tonic HS withdrawn, our final pair and leaders after the show jumping, Tamie Smith and Mai Baum are also out on course now! Time sure does fly when you’re watching cross country.

3:13 PM: Now we have Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver on course as well. This pair won the Lexington 4*S held in conjunction with the Kentucky Three-Day Event this spring and then earned a top 5 finish at Luhmühlen 5* the following month. They’re flying so far!

3:12 PM: Boyd Martin and Federman B are also out fo the box and already through 11AB.

3:09 PM: Buck and Carlevo were so fast, they’ve already finished by the time I was catching up typing scores! They’re home clear with 4.4 time penalties. That slots them into 4th provisionally. And whoa! Phillip Dutton and Carlchen, also on course now, slide over the log at 12A. Phillip sits it and they complete the rest of the complex.

3:04 PM: We’re back underway now with Buck Davidson and Carlevo — another alternate pair for Pratoni. This team had such an excellent showing at Kentucky this spring.

3:01 PM: Plot twist! We’ve just heard that second placed Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS have withdrawn and will not run XC. Ever the consummate horseman, Will is likely saving the young horse’s legs for bigger things this fall. We have a couple other score updates for you too:

  • Tamie Smith and Solaguayre California: 20 jumping penalties, 17.6 time penalties.
  • Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan: clear jumping, 8 time penalties.
  • Kaelen Speck and Charmed Victory: 20 jumping penalties, 30.8 time penalties.
  • Hannah Sue-Hollberg and Carsonstown: 20 jumping penalties, 24.8 time penalties.
  • Lillian Heard had a frangible pin at 4A and then a runout at 4B before retiring.

2:59 PM: Hmm. We’ve just heard that there’s a hold on course for a fence repair at 4AB and Lillian  Heard and Cooley Gentlemen appear to be walking off course at that spot. We didn’t see hat happened, but it looks like the pair is OK but will not continue on course.

2:55 PM: Shoot! Carsonstown doesn’t lock on to the B element of 4AB and Hannah will pick up a 20 there. Ariel and Simon are still going easy but having a great ride andSimon’s tail is still acting like a propeller!

2:54 PM: Hannah Sue-Hollberg and Carsonstown are on course now. Ariel and Simon are having a great steady ride and are through the first water at 11AB.

2:50 PM: Kaelen Speck and Charmed Victory are our newest on course, but they’ve just picked up a refusal at 9B. We’ve also got Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan fresh out of the box, with “Simon” swishing his tail in anticipation of the fences to come. If they go double clear they’ll slot into the clubhouse lead with a 30.9. It’s been a real joy watching this pair blossom and we can’t wait to see them in Pratoni next month.

2:46 PM: Dang! Tamie Smith and Solaguayre California have an early runout of course as well — we haven’t seen them on camera yet. They were the ones tied for fourth with Will, but that won’t be true anymore, sadly. Shannon Lilley and Ideal HX are home with 20 jumping faults from the corner complex plus 19.2 time penalties.

2:44 PM: Liz and Deniro Z ping easily through the GIANT picnic table while Will and Timmy make easy work of the water at 11AB.

2:42 PM: Another exciting pair is on course with us now: it’s Will Coleman again, this time with Pratoni-bound Off The Record. He’s riding a bit out of order, as “Timmy” is currently tied for fourth on a score of 27.9.

2:41 PM: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Ocala Horse Properties’ Deniro Z are on course now and have made easy work of the 9ABC corner complex. Phillip and Z are home with 16.8 time penalties. Shannon Lilley and Ideal HX are through the MARS Sustainability Bay

2:38 PM: Also on course now are Shannon Lilley and Ideal HX, but darn, they pick up a runout at the last of the corners at 9ABC. Boyd indeed gave Thomas a nice easy run: they’re home with 12 time penalties. Phillip and Z are nearing the end of the course and also don’t look to be in a particular rush.

2:34 PM: Our traveling reserve pair for Team USA, Phillip Dutton and Z, are now on course. Heather Gillette and Vincent Chase are home clear with 23.2 time penalties.

2:30 PM: Boyd doesn’t look in a rush to complete the course. He’s just out there have a nice gallop and and easy pre-championships run. Meanwhile, uh-oh, Jennie Brannigan and Global Ex have an early runout on course and Jennie puts her hand up. This is a new partnership — Jennie is temporarily in the irons for Hallie Coon — so Jennie decides to save things for another day.

2:28 PM: Close, but no cigar! Lauren and Patrick take home 2.8 time penalties on top of their lovely clear round. It sure looked like they might have been going for the time. Heather Gillette and Vincent Chase now join us on course while Boyd and “Thomas” near the back third of the course — looking good and clear so far. Doug and Camarillo are home clear with 22 time penalties.

2:25 PM: Here comes a round to watch: Pratoni-bound pair Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg are on course now and through fence 6. Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge are home clear with 21.2 time penalties.

2:23 PM: Whoa! Looks like Camarillo stepped on a bell boot or something in the MARS Sustainability Bay and got a little tripped up — like stepping on your shoelaces. He and Doug scramble a bit over the fence on the way out of the water, but they make it and Doug puts the gas pedal down on the other side. Lauren and “Patrick” are FLYING and get the most beautiful ride through the giant brush and double corners at 9ABC.

2:21 PM: Fresh out of the box, its Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Monte Carlo. I’m gassed after a single Beginner Novice course, I don’t know how these riders manage multiple rides, especially at this level.

2:19 PM: Doug Payne is back already — this time with the striking grey Camarillo, this is one of Doug’s younger horses at the level and they’ve already made easy work of the first water . Lindsay and Bacyrouge make easy work of the MARS Sustainability. Tamie and Danito have finished clear with 3.6 time penalties — what an exciting round for that pair! They have the clubhouse lead now on a score of 33.0, ahead of Will and DonDante on a 34.8.

2:15 PM: Tamie and Danito give us a masterclass through the MARS Sustainability Bay and Canada’s Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge are now on course as well.

2:12 PM: Tamie Smith and Danito have joined us and are about halfway around the course already. They’re looking completely on form. Mia Farley and Phelps are home clear and gather just 1.6 time penalties for the second fastest round of the day. OTTB power! Zach Brandt and Direct Advance have also completed the course with their 20 penalties and some time.

2:11 PM: Eek! Our newest on course, Daniel Poulsen and Capability Brown have retired after the horse padded the ground and slid over the log ahead of the down bank at fence 12. They then run by the other elements of this combination and Danielle calls it a day. Bummer!

2:08 PM: Mia Farley is on course now with a very strong and eager Phelps. This is a young horse she’s quite excited about, and I can see why! He’s totally in the zone and locked onto every fence. Mia is getting a real arm workout though, trying to hold him back. He is a former racehorse after all!

2:03 PM: We have our first double clear of the day! Phillip Dutton and OTTB Sea of Clouds have come home bang on the optimum time. I’m a little behind on reporting scores so here’s a couple more:

  • Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle: clear with 2.8 time penalties.
  • Sarah Kuhn and Mr. Cash van de Start: clear with 27.6 time penalties.
  • Doug Payne and Quantum Leap: clear with 5.6 time penalties.
  • Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus: clear with 7.2 time penalties.
  • Holly Jacks-Smither and Candy King: clear with 16 time penalties.

2:01 PM: We’ve just had word that Zach Brandt and Direct Advance have had an early runout on course — not sure where, as we haven’t seem him on the livestream yet.

1:59 PM: We’ve got Phillip Dutton and Seas of Clouds out on course now and about halfway through, plus Buck Davidson is back with his second ride of the day, Erroll Gobey.

1:55 PM: Ahh! Holly gets tipped forward over the first element of fence 12, but she get’s back in the driver seat just in time for the drop at the B element.

1:53 PM: Holly Jacks-Smither and Candy King, a Pratoni-bound pair for Team Canada, are also on course now and Candy King is another horse excited to get out there today! He’s a bit on the muscle starting out.

1:52 PM: One of our Pratoni-bound pairs Lauren Nicolson and Vermiculus a.k.a. “Bug” are now on course and they’re pinging easily over everything so far! You can tell Bug is pretty stoked to be getting to run and jump — his little Anglo-Arab tail is flying high! Katie Lichten and Yarrow unfortunately pick up a refusal at the jump into the MARS Sustainability Bay and Katie decides to call it a day.

1:48 PM: Our newest pair on course now are Katie Lichten and Yarrow. I have to give Katie and her family a little shout out — they own the beautiful Aquila Farm is Hamilton, Massachusetts which has an amazing cross country schooling field that they keep open to local riders. It’s an incredible resource to have in my area!

1:45 PM: On course now we have Sarah Kuhn and Mr. Cash van de Start along with our CCI5* National Champions Doug Payne and the young Quantum Leap. Erin Kanara and Campground are home clear with 17.6 time penalties, as are Jill and Obos Darko.

1:40 PM: Oh dear, we just caught up with Alina Patterson and Flashback who were our newest on course, but Alina has popped off at, I believe, the fence 12 complex. Alina is up, but visibly bummed and Flashback is taking himself on a little walk back to the stables.

1:36 PM: Jill Thomas and Obos Darko are on course and catch a funky stride to the A element of 9ABC. They then have a runout at the corner B element but they get it on the second try. Meanwhile, Jennie has a bit of a flyer into the MARS Sustainability Bay, but she pops herself back into the tack quickly like the pro she is and carries on.

1:32 PM: Sydney and Q are home with 5.2 time penalties and now we have two additional pairs on course: Erin Kanara and Campground, who are already through the coffin complex at fence 17 cleanly, as well as Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle, another alternate pair for Pratoni.

1:28 PM: Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire, one of the alternate pairs named for the World Championships team, are now on course and looking good so far. Both Will and Buck have now finished the course and picked up some time: 4 time penalties and 12.4 time penalties respectively.

1:22 PM: Will Coleman and his direct reserve horse for Pratoni, DonDante, are out the box and on course now — this pair is in 12th place, so they’re riding out of order since Will has two other rides in this division. Buck and Sorocaima are having a lovely clean ride so far.

1:18 PM: And we’re underway with Buck Davidson and Sorocaima, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding who made his 5* debut with Buck at Kentucky this spring. First out was initially supposed to be Ariel Grald and Forest Gump 124, but they’ve withdrawn. Also withdrawn ahead of XC are Hannah Sue Hollberg and Lukeswell along with Daisy Trayford and Ermintrude.

The actions kicks off at 1:15 PM and in the meantime, let’s review the course:

The cross country track is designed by David O’Connor and takes the 4*-S combinations over a total of 3740 meters with 32 jumping efforts set at 22 numbered questions. The optimum time is 6 minutes, 34 seconds. Well be interested to see if anyone guns for catching the optimum time today over Virginia’s rolling hills especially, as seems to be the case everywhere in the country, over some hard ground. You can view the course below or, if the embedded post does not show up, here. Plus, take a sneak peak and get a little extra insight from Sally’s course preview here.

Take a Walk Around David O’Connor’s CCI4*-S Cross Country Track at MARS Great Meadow

By on Aug 28, 2022 9:00 am -

Fence 18AB, the MARS Sustainability Bay Lobster Trap, features a slightly more forgiving B element than last year’s brush arrowhead.

Fact: The Plains, Virginia wouldn’t be known for being flat. Despite its position early on in the beginnings of the fall season, David O’Connor’s track remains a formidable test for any combination, seasoned or otherwise. This year’s 4*-S track is no exception, and while the general ebb and flow of the track has similarities to its 2021 edition, some questions have been tweaked and added for this year.

You can view the full course below or, if the embedded post does not show up in your browser, here.

The track features 32 jumping efforts across 22 numbered obstacles, set on a 3740 meter track at an optimum time of 6 minutes, 34 seconds. Time is famously difficult to achieve here, and not every rider will be gunning for it to be sure. Many horses here, aside from the Pratoni-bound, will be aiming for big fall Long formats, including the Maryland 5 Star and Pau. Others will be looking for a test of mettle, putting the pedal down to really go for the top of the podium.

To that end, it’s a fascinating task a course designer is assigned: you must, in this instance, be giving enough of a test of World Championship-caliber horses without expending too much effort, be objectively challenging for greener horses or riders to set them up for a positive experience, and be mindful of where the horses are at in their respective fitness programs at this point in the “new” season” — among many, many other factors.

Fortunately here, the terrain provides a significant enough challenge that fitness can be tested. David’s questions frequently ask riders to select their line and commit to it, and while dimensionally it’s not the largest course (though there are a couple of positively massive fences on the track — the Brush Table at fence 9A is particularly top of mind to me), it will provide riders with a healthy amount of data to analyze later.

The dimensionally imposing Brush Table at fence 9A. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Cross country for the CCI4*-S begins today at about 1:30 p.m. EST and can be viewed live with your H&C+ subscription here. The order of go for today can be found here.

#MARSGMI: 
[Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Order of Go] [Scoring] [Live Stream] [Volunteer] [Tickets] [Erin Gilmore Photography] [EN’s Coverage]

Sunday Links

By on Aug 28, 2022 12:01 am -


Here at EN you know we LOVE it when our hard-working eventing grooms get some of the recognition they deserve. Local Virginia lifestyle brand Gillian Valentine has been generous to sponsor a Ride of the Day award for each competition day starting on Friday. The winning ride is named by the livestream commentators on Horse & Country TV and the recipient of the prize is the groom of the horse selected. Our winner for Friday was Sara Kelson, head groom for Sara Kozumplik’s Otta B Quality in the CCI2* and yesterday’s winner was Meredith Ferraris, head groom for Ariel Grald’s Diara in the CCI3*. Who’ll be the winner today?

U.S. Weekend Action

MARS Great Meadow International: [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Order of Go] [Scoring] [Live Stream] [Volunteer] [Tickets] [Erin Gilmore Photography] [EN’s Coverage]

Shepherd Ranch Pony Club H.T. (Santa Ynez, CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]

Town Hill Farm H.T. (Lakeville, CT): [Website] [Rid Times] [Scoring]

Major International Events

Land Rover Blair Castle International H.T. (Pitlochry, UK): [Website] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring]

Millstreet International H.T. (Cork, Ireland): [Website] [Timing & Scoring]

Your Sunday Links:

Watch Laura Collett walk the Burghley Horse Trials course: ‘it will require proper cross-country riding’

Price eager to unleash Classic Moet on returning Burghley Horse Trials

The Road to the AEC: Heather Norman is Grabbing Opportunities

Sarah Clark to fulfil lifelong dream when she competes at Burghley Horse Trials

Summer Coat Care

A Healthy Gut Microbiome Might Improve Your Horse’s Vaccine Response

Sunday Video: Tamie Smith and Mai Baum jump a flawless round to keep the lead into today’s CCI4* cross country at Great Meadow International! Stay tuned for more on EN today!

USA, Represent! Gillian Beale King Finishes Two in Millstreet CCI4*-S Top 6

By on Aug 27, 2022 9:51 pm -

Gillian Beale King and Rebeliant. Photo by Bit-Media.

Continuing her streak of Irish success, Gillian Beale King jumped her way into the top tier of CCI4*-S finishers at Millstreet Horse Trials in County Cork over the weekend. The American transplant rode two horses, Rebeliant and RCA Royal Summer, to 4th and 6th places respectively. A third horse, Derena Super Star, leapt up the scoreboard with each phase, ultimately claiming 11th.

What makes Gillian’s finishes even more impressive:

“This is only my second four-star, and my first four-star with a couple of those horses,” says Gillian. While the 30-year-old evented through what is now the three-star level as a young rider, show jumping has been her focus for the better part of the past decade. She has produced horses through the Grand Prix level via her program, Main Line Sporthorses in Chester County, Pa. “It has really has helped me jump right back into eventing. With my training, sales and boarding business I rode and jumped so many different kinds of horses.”

In 2021 her life saw a plot twist, as she left her business upon the invitation to ride for the Belline Estate, owned by Richard and Tanja Ames, in Kilkenny. (Read more about her journey to Ireland, and back to the sport, here.) Gillian inherited responsibility for a string of horses with varying degrees of experience, including the horses she brought to Millstreet. Contesting the CCI4*-S:

  • Derena Super Star, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Womanizer – Miss Dallas)
  • Chance Encounter, a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Creevagh Grey Rebel x Camedia)
  • Rebeliant, an 11-year-old Polish gelding (Carry Son x Ratafia)
  • RCA Royal Summer, a 9-year-old British Sport Horse gelding (Royaldik x Summers Mist)

And in the CCI3*-S:

  • Ballyvillane Obos, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Obos Quality x Gleesons Coolcorran)

Since developing relationships with them, things have been coming up roses — or rather, rosettes. This weekend marked Gillian’s second crack at Millstreet, having won the CCI3*-S in 2021 with Chance Encounter. She remembered it as a big-gulp track that felt even more so since she was just returning to the sport. “Having been out of the eventing game for nearly a decade, I had forgotten how difficult cross country really was. So let me tell you, coming to Millstreet this year I knew what to expect!”

Gillian Beale King and Chance Encounter. Photo by Bit-Media.

First things first, dressage. “With the four-star test everything comes up a bit quicker,” Gillian says. “There’s certainly room for improvement but three of the four of them gave me some of their most wonderful tests.”

Gillian Beale King and Derena Super Star. Photo by Bit-Media.

Gillian’s honed skills shined in show jumping, wherein she guided three of her four rides — Chance Encounter, Rebeliant and Derena Super Star — to clear rounds inside the time, which she notes is always tricky to make at Millstreet. Her top-placed horse after dressage, RCA Royal Summer, had one rail down and a just smidge of time, but Gillian was thrilled with the Belline Estate homebred nonetheless. “Show jumping is 100% his weakest phase so I’m just so proud of him.”

Then it was on to cross country, a tightly-wheeled gauntlet of technical questions with beefy obstacles in between.”The time was tight enough but I stayed against the clock the whole way around,” Gillian says. “The weather and footing was great … everything sort of worked in our favor to run and gallop.”

Gillian Beale King and RCA Royal Summer. Photo by Bit-Media.

Logging just 0.8 of a time fault, Rebeliant moved from 13th after show jumping into fourth. RCA Royal Summer produced one of only two double-clear cross country trips to finish 6th, and Derena Super Star had just 3.6 time to finish 11th.

Of course, no proper event is without its hiccups. Gillian and Chance Encounter parted ways when he slipped coming off the Normandy Bank, and the 3* horse Ballyvillane Obos “went a bit green on me,” Gillian says.

Looking ahead, Gillian and her herd will be heading to the National Championships in a couple weeks, then head to Blenheim, followed by Ireland’s last international of the year. A trip to Boekelo, the Dutch CCI4*-L, is the end-of-season goal.

Gillian Beale King and Ballyvillane OBOS. Photo by Bit-Media.

“I’m such a believer that you have to go after your dreams and give it your best shot when you really believe in something,” Gillian says. Her leap of faith seems to be paying off, and she is effusive with her gratitude for the opportunity.

“I love the country and feel really at home here,” she says. “I love the countryside and the people and of course I love the Irish horses. I have the most wonderful string of horses to ride … what is not to love?”

“We do this sport for the horses because we love the horses, so to see them have fun and be successful is really meaningful. They do so much for us and we’re really lucky. I’m proud to be over here representing the States.”

Millstreet International H.T. (Cork, Ireland): [Website] [Results]

CCI4*-S Final Top 15:

Tamie Smith Remains in Control of MARS Great Meadow CCI4*-S

By on Aug 27, 2022 9:00 pm -

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum solidified their roles on Team USA with a double clear round. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Team USA put their show jumping chops to the test this evening as the sun began to ease its relentless beating on the Virginia hills at MARS Great Meadow International, making for some enjoyable viewing for the gathered spectators. It’s a strong 4*-S division here, but much focus centers on the riders making up the six-strong contingent heading to FEI World Championships for Eventing next month at Pratoni del Vivaro. This weekend is acting as a final observation event for the team, and performances here will be weighted as the selectors make their final nominations of the four team spots and one individual berth.

Rails did fall, though other factors will certainly shape the end performance come Sunday at World Championships: for starters, the show jumping at Pratoni will be held on grass, which isn’t a scene often observed here in the U.S. Despite this, most of the horses selected to rep the U.S. in Italy have recently jumped on grass. There will also be ample opportunity to practice on grass once the team reaches their pre-event training camp in France. Secondly, of course, show jumping will come as the final phase of competition, while the phase is traditionally held ahead of cross country here at Great Meadow.

Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan make a strong case for a coveted team spot with a strong double clear. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Holding on to her lead and collecting a rare clear round on Chris Barnard’s show jumping track will be California-based Tamie Smith with the Ahearn family and Eric Markell’s Mai Baum (Loredano 2 – Ramira, by Rike), remaining on their initial score of 20.5. As the top 10 will run David O’Connor’s cross country course in reverse order of placing tomorrow, Tamie will be the final rider to see. It’s likely safe to think Tamie may not to gun for the win, however, meaning some time collected could open up the door for another pair to snag the win.

Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS add nothing to their dressage score to remain well within striking distance, should they choose to pursue the win on Sunday. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Someone like, perhaps, Will Coleman with Hyperion Stud’s Chin Tonic HS (Chin Champ – Wildera, by Quinar Z), who will also remain on his dressage mark of 21.9 to sit second overnight. Will’s potentially aiming at the Morven 4*-L in October as this horse’s primary fall goal, and told EN he’d make the call on whether he’d make a go for it tomorrow when he’s able to assess the ground. Another pair to potentially threaten the winner’s spot on the podium are Liz Halliday-Sharp with The Monster Partnership’s (Ocala Horse Properties, Renee Lane, Deborah Halliday) Cooley Quicksilver (Womanizer – Kylemore Crystal, by Creggan Diamond), moving up from fifth into third on their starting score of 25.2.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver swiftly collect a clear round. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Looking to the rest of Team USA, Will Coleman secured a nearly-clear round with one rail down aboard the Off the Record Syndicate’s Off the Record (Arkansas – Drumagoland Bay, by Ard Ohio), remaining in fourth on a 27.9. Ariel Grald also secured a strong clear round inside the time with Annie Eldridge’s Leamore Master Plan (Master Imp – Ardragh Bash), remaining on their initial score of 30.9 and moving from 19th into 13th.

Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus add three rails to their dressage mark ahead of Sunday’s cross country. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Reserve combination Phillip Dutton with the Z Partnership’s Z (Asca Z – Bellabouche, by Babouche VH Gehucht Z), lowered one rail to go into Sunday on a two-phase score of 32.6. Boyd Martin and the Turner family’s Tsetserleg as well as Lauren Nicholson and Ms. Jacqueline Mars Vermiculus (Sazeram – Wake Me Gently) lowered three rails to drop down a few placings.

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg lowered three rails. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Looking to our Canadian representatives heading to Pratoni, Holly Jacks-Smither and the Candy King Syndicate’s Candy King had three rails down to put them onto a two-phase score of 42.4.

Tomorrow’s cross country track, designed by David O’Connor, promises to be up to its usual Great Meadow standard, will take the 4*-S combinations over a total of 3740 meters with 32 jumping efforts set at 22 numbered questions. The optimum time is 6 minutes, 34 seconds and, as it typical here on Virginia’s rolling hills, features a healthy fitness test and shrewdly thought-out placement of questions according to terrain. You can view the course below or, if the embedded post does not show up, here.

Let’s do a quick look in on the other divisions competing here. Today’s action saw the Preliminary and CCI2*-S winners crowned (to which I was lucky enough to have a front-row seat as I brought my long-suffering boyfriend along for the full volunteering experience today), along with show jumping for the humongous CCI3*-S division this afternoon.

CCI3*-S: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Ocala Horse Properties’ Shanroe Cooley (Dallas VDL – Shanroe Sapphie) retain their lead, adding no penalties in show jumping to their dressage score of 26.1.

CCI2*-S: Alyssa Phillips and Cornelius Bo won here last year (and many times in between) and now pick up another win in the 2*-S, finishing on 27.2, very nearly on an identical score to 2021 (27.5). This is Cornelius Bo’s first outing since he (surprise) won the 3*-L at Ocala in April — are we looking at the next winner of the Maryland 3*-L?

Preliminary A: Hannah Sue Hollberg also picks up a wire-to-wire win with Ms. Jacqueline Mars and Christa Schmidt’s J (Farfan M – Fairway). This is the fourth outing at the level for the seven-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding and his first win.

Preliminary B: Another start-to-finish victor was crowned in the Prelim B division: Erin Kanara piloted Claudia Schultze’s Windchase Lionstar (Brandenburg’s Windstar – Mah). The seven-year-old bred by Phyllis Dawson picks up his second win at the Preliminary level.

Tomorrow we’ll conclude competition with cross country for the 3*-S and 4*-S divisions. The 3*-S will be the first to see at 9 a.m. EST tomorrow, followed by the 4* at 1:27 p.m. EST. Both divisions will be live streamed on Horse & Country here. I’ll be back with a final wrap-up from MARS Great Meadow tomorrow evening. Until then, stay cool and Go Eventing.

#MARSGMI: 
[Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Order of Go] [Scoring] [Live Stream] [Volunteer] [Tickets] [Erin Gilmore Photography] [EN’s Coverage]

Enjoy a few social snippets from Saturday at Great Meadow:

New Blair Castle 4* Leaders Take Aim at Final Phase; Caroline Martin in 4*-S Top 10

By on Aug 27, 2022 7:04 pm -

Saturday was cross country day for Land Rover Blair Castle Horse Trials CCI4*-L competitors and show jumping day for CCI4*-S competitors, and both scoreboards saw a shakeup — details below! Your new leaders heading into Sunday: Tom McEwen and Luna Mist in the CCI4*-L and Astier Nicolas and Babylon de Gamma in the CCI4*-S.

Caroline Martin is the sole U.S. competitor in this year’s edition of the iconic Scottish event. Her two CCI4*-S mounts switched hierarchy on the leaderboard after today’s show jumping; Redfield Champion, who was 9th after dressage, had eight jumping and 2.4 time faults to fall to 17th place, while Islandwood Captain Jack moved from 14th to 9th thanks to a clear round with 1.2 time faults.

Four-star (L)

An activated mim clip at fence 15 (a safety device on some cross-country fences to help prevent falls which result in 11 penalties if activated by horses) by dressage leaders Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent handed the lead in the four-star long format to Oliver’s Tokyo Olympics team-mate Tom McEwen and Martin Belsham’s Luna Mist after today’s cross-country phase.

Tom and Luna Mist completed with two time penalties giving them a total score of 31.9 and a healthy two show jumps in hand over Oliver with Cooley Rosalent and the rest of the field going into tomorrow’s final show jumping phase:

“She’s a proper little fighter and came home full of running as she’s very fit,” said Tom. “She was a bit feisty and didn’t really settle until the eight-minute mark which made life more tricky than it needed to be in a couple of places but she was amazing. It was a proper four-star track with lots of people, atmosphere and hills – for me riding here is no different to riding at Bramham or Badminton.”

No-one made the optimum time but Oliver and Cooley Rosalent came closest, finishing just three seconds over time for 1.2 penalties:

“The optimum time was as it should be,” said Oliver. “It’s supposed to be hard to get at this level as when horses go up to five-star they need to run for an extra minute. The great thing about Blair is that you leave knowing what type of horse you’ve got if they get close to the time.”

He was delighted with the eight-year-old Cooley Rosalent whom he described as “a dream”. “She more than ticked all the boxes today” he added, “She’s a natural athlete who wants to do the job – I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Piggy March’s sister, Nini French, finally fulfilled the objective she has had since 2018 with Time For Harry of competing in the four-star-long at Blair Castle and finished the day in third place on 48.4 to boot:

“I’m so kamikaze,” she laughed. “Every year I try to get here I pick up silly injuries but I’ve finally made it! Time For Harry is my only horse and I really wanted to come here as he enjoys the softer ground and I felt the undulating course would suit us as neither of us are the fastest but we like to get stuck in and attack. It’s a really fun place and a great atmosphere too.”

Ireland’s Susie Berry and Kilcandra Capitol lie fourth on 50.1 after jumping clear and picking up 13.6 time penalties:

“He was class,” Susie beamed. “This is his first four-star long-format and he was a bit inexperienced in places, but he was very quick with his legs when he got into trouble and kept trying for me – that’s all I could ask for really.”

Tomorrow’s show jumping starts at 4.15pm local time.

Four-star (S)

Blair specialists Astier Nicolas and Babylon de Gamma have moved up into the top spot after today’s show jumping phase. The 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding was runner up here last year and winner in 2019.

The pair jumped a clear round, adding 1.2 time penalties to their dressage score and have a one penalty advantage over Tom McEwen on Brookfield Quality.

“It’s the first serious class of the year for this horse, who has come back from surgery. He’s been really electric this week with all the atmosphere which is pretty big in the main arena; there were lots of nerves to manage, especially in the dressage.”

Looking forward to tomorrow’s cross-country, Astier added: “The course is what I expected – big, bold and testing, but the horse is a great jumper and very good with these hills. He loves it here and the ground is perfectly suited for him. Fingers crossed.”

Three-star

As in the three-star long-format, Tom McEwen goes into tomorrow’s show jumping with the luxury of two fences in hand over the chasing field. A clear round inside the time with Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry’s Brookfield Cavalier Cruise means he sits 8.1 penalties clear of nearest rivals Max Warburton and the Paske Syndicate’s Deerpairc Revelry.

“I had a lovely ride to be honest,” said a relaxed Tom after his round. “We’ve been waiting for good ground all season so this was the first time I’ve asked him to open up which I did on the flat as he was finding it all super easy. It’s a proper three-star track out there which is what we want as riders as that’s what sets you up for the future.”

Max and Deerpairc Revelry also came home clear inside the time to elevate them from ninth after dressage to second place on a score of 31.0. Third placed Sam Ecroyd and his mother Penelope’s 11-year-old Withington completed on the same score but Max and Deerpairc Revelry finished closer to the optimum time, hence their higher placing:

“The course rode a lot twistier than I thought it would, to be honest,” said Sam, who picked up 2.4 time penalties with Withington. “That adds to the endurance the horses need but I thought the fences were all really fair.”

Two time penalties for Jo Rimmer and Mrs Merrill Halstead and Mrs Nikki Axon Chilli’s Midnight Star elevated them to fourth place on 31.1 while a clear round inside the time saw Wills Oakden and Cooley Pot of Gold rise to fifth.

Two-star

It was all change at the top after today’s cross-country. The optimum time of 8 mins 53” proved challenging to achieve but those who did manage it were rewarded with escalations up the leaderboard. That said, with less than four penalties, equating to one show jump, between the top eight, we’re in for an action packed final day tomorrow. The two-star showjumping starts at 10.45am.

Lucinda Atkinson and Pippa Reynold’s Twice Proved moved up from second after dressage to first after cross-country when they added nothing to their first phase score of 28.2. Wills Oakden and Keep It Cooley sit a hair’s breadth behind in second on 28.3. Nine out of the top 10 after cross-country all went clear inside the time on what was deemed by riders as a stiff but fair course over perfect ground.

Twice Proved is just six-years-old and is competing in her first long format event having posted some good results at Novice and CCI2*-S this season:

“She found the course tiring but she kept jumping for me,” said a delighted Lucinda after her round. “She was a bit inexperienced at some of the combinations but there’s a lot to jump out there for a six-year-old. I’m so pleased with her.”

Wills Oakden and Keep It Cooley, a seven-year-old gelding owned by Wills’ wife Stephanie, set the standard early in the morning with their classy round:

“I don’t think it’s easy out there,” he commented, “but he’s a horse we have a lot of belief in and what will be will be tomorrow – I’m pleased to be in such a good position.”

Italy’s Vittoria Panizzon with Dido Darling’s Irish Jig III moved into third on 29.2 with Caroline Powell and Nicholas and Fiona Lambert’s Legally Grey fourth on 29.9. Caroline had led after dressage with Jo West’s Tik Tok and were out early on cross-country. The pair jumped clear but picked up 5.6 time penalties to drop to 8th.

One-star

Competitors from both sections completed their show jumping today. Those in section E also ran across country with Amelia England with her Dutch-bred mare Eluna taking the win. They completed on 30.6 having added just 1.6 cross-country time penalties to a dressage score of 29.

“I’m really happy,” said Amelia. “I only got her a month or two ago when I was in the middle of doing my A levels so we’re still getting to know each other. I’ve never ridden in an atmosphere like this before – it was so lovely to hear people cheering me on when I was going across country.”

Amelia now plans to take a gap year to concentrate on eventing and hopefully contest for Young Riders next before before heading off to university to study for a BSc in Biological Science.

Second place went to Hannah Pearce with her own Valdoctro. They completed on their dressage score of 31.2 on the horse’s first FEI competition. Both horse and rider have only competed up to BE100 previously.

“That was amazing and so much fun,” enthused Hannah who is based in Dorset with Jo Rimmer.

“The atmosphere around the show jumping ring was incredible and something I’d never experienced before. Valdoctro was fantastic across country and everything went according to plan other than me forgetting to press start on my stopwatch!”

Competitors in section F go across country tomorrow from 8am local time. Maia Fleming and Candyman Leanorth will start the day as leaders on 28.3, with Ireland’s Alex O’Hare and Greylands Diamond Girl second on 29.7 and Megan Bainbridge and Silver Fox third on 29.8.

CCI4*-L Top 10 After Cross Country:

CCI4*-S Top 10 After Show Jumping:

CCI3*-L Top 10 After Cross Country:

CCI2*-L Top 10 After Cross Country:

 

Land Rover Blair Castle International H.T. (Pitlochry, UK): [Website] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring]

Saturday Video: Preserving a Tradition at Millbrook

By on Aug 27, 2022 11:00 am -

Preserving a Tradition from Marion Latta de Vogel on Vimeo.

As sad as it is to see long-time eventing fixtures missing from the competition calendar, there’s comfort in knowing that equestrian tradition is being preserved on these important tracts of land. Millbrook Horse Trials, a popular fixture on the Area I calendar and perennially among the first late-summer Advanced offerings each year, announced earlier this year that it was vacating its Aug. 4-7, 2022 event due to a conflict with a landowner. We hope to see it return in 2023; in the meantime, it’s wonderful to see this beautiful area being enjoyed by fox hunters with the Millbrook Hunt. Marion de Vogel shared this video with us: “At the very least, it brings your readers to Millbrook for the weekend.”