Classic Eventing Nation

Monday News & Notes

By on Mar 30, 2026 12:01 am -

One Big Thing: Help Area IV’s Otter Creek Fund with new cross country jumps!

Otter Creek Farm isn’t just another event on the calendar. This much-loved Wisconsin venue in Area IV one of those places that helps hold a whole community together. The family-owned venue has been hosting horse shows since 1994 and recognized events since 1999, growing from humble dairy-farm roots into a staple of Area IV eventing that now runs three horse trials a year, offers levels through Intermediate, and continues to serve dressage and hunter/jumper riders, too. With new fence construction and ongoing maintenance on the docket, a community fundraiser is now underway to help support the Warners’ next round of improvements, which is a fitting show of support for a venue that’s spent decades showing up for the sport.

And if there’s ever been a facility that’s earned the “pitch in and protect it” treatment, it’s this one. Otter Creek has long been known for its rolling ground, spectator-friendly layout, and hardworking, deeply personal approach to running events. It’s the kind of place built over years of labor, through loyalty and a real commitment to giving Area IV riders a place to compete and have fun. If the fundraiser surpasses its initial $6,000 goal, additional funds will go toward further fence and grounds improvements, including more frangible pins to keep safety moving in the right direction.

You can learn more and support the Otter Creek Fundraiser here.

Major International Results

The Event at TerraNova CCI4*-S (FL): [Website] [Scores]

Galway Downs International HT CCI4*-S (CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scores]

WAYER International HT CCI4*-S (AUS): [Website] [Scores]

Tamworth International Eventing CCI4*-S (AUS): [Website] [Scores]

US Weekend Results

Morven Park Spring HT (VA): [Website] [Scores]

Jumping Branch Farm Spring HT (SC): [Website] [Scores]

Bouckaert Equestrian HT (GA): [Website] [Scores]

Other Links & Reading

Training Tip of the Day

This series of exercises for riders may be labeled for jumpers, but the principles apply to any rider!

Go Eventing

Watch Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye gallop to the win in the B&D Builders CCI4*-S at The Event at TerraNova this weekend:

Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye Fly to the Top of the CCI4*-S at The Event at TerraNova

By on Mar 29, 2026 8:25 pm -

Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

The Event at TerraNova may have started out with a closely ranked leaderboard, but the cross country course sorted things out today. Canadian Olympic veteran Colleen Loach of Dunham, Quebec was the lone competitor in the B&D Builders CCI4*-S to finish the event with a score in the 20s, adding just two time faults to her score to finish on 27.5. Mia Farley and Invictus showed their tenacity with a second-place finish on 33.6, ultimately moving up from 8th place after dressage. Dan Kreitl, who led the competition from the start, stuck to his plan of taking an easy canter around the course today as he prepares Kay Dixon’s Carmango for the CCI4*-S at the Kentucky Three-Day Event next month. With 16.4 time faults they finished on a final score of 41.4 to take third place.

Loach said, “Goldie is my favorite horse of all time, he’s the most easy horse to have around. This was his first four-star back after an injury; he just on the three-star at Bouckaert farm a couple of weeks ago and he won his event before that too. I wanted to make this four for four – this was his fourth win and a row – and we accomplished that, so that was pretty cool, but mainly I wanted to give him a confident, forward ride and we accomplished that as well.”

Goldie hasn’t had a rail down since 2022, and Loach said, “He’s a very interesting mix of careful and brave; he can be quite spooky but is actually brave, he’s very sure of himself, a very confident horse and it’s up to me not to put him in a situation where he loses confidence. We have struggled in the past with making the time but I feel like now I can confidently ride him forward and he responds very well.”

Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

She acknowledged, “It’s really nice to win, but that can’t be what you base everything off of. If you have a plan, you don’t change it just because you have a chance at winning, and my plan was to practice going fast, so I did. I was lucky that some of the others weren’t practicing going fast, or maybe I wouldn’t have won, but that was what I needed to work on for me and that horse.”

Loach’s plan for Goldie is to do the CCI4*-S at Ocala (FL) to get a qualifying score and then the CCI4*-L at Tryon (NC). She added that she is grateful to her whole team for helping her achieve such a successful weekend at TerraNova.

Loach also placed second in The Estates at TerraNova and Laughlin Tanner Group at Premier Sotheby’s International Realty CCI3*-S riding Chiaro Z Excalibur, owned by Peter Barry, on 30.6 penalties. Dani Sussman rounded out the top three riding Jos Bravio (35.2).

Mia Farley and Invictus. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Mia Farley also won the CCI3*-S with her mare Piña Colada 28 on a final score of 29.6. Reflecting on her weekend she said that she was incredibly happy with Invictus, who barn name is “Sammy”. He had colic surgery last September and this was his first competition back at this level.

“I wanted to go fast, but my priority wasn’t making the time with Sammy, I just rode as fast as I felt comfortable and when I put that pressure on him he gets better and better,” she said. “The course was a beautiful layout, Alec really opened up the course; in the past it was a lot more twisty.”

Sammy is also entered in Kentucky, in the 4*-S division. “I would love to get a 4L done on him this spring, but we’re going to try to go competitive at Kentucky and then go from there,” she said.

Farley continued, “Piña was so good, I was so happy with her. I kind of pushed her from the second I left the start box and she went for it! It reminded me of how I get to ride my horse Phelps, kind of on a long rein, and she really hunts things, it’s awesome. The course was to the level – I had an intermediate horse I rode yesterday and some of the lines didn’t ride how I thought they would when I walked it, so that experience helped me go out on course with confidence today.”

Dan Kreitl and Carmango. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Farley said that Piña is going to do another three-star this spring, again a short-format because she has already has her qualifying score for the 3L at Maryland. “I’d love to do a four-star with her in the fall. She’s really special so I’m trying to take my time with her and secure all the details by 2027, so she’ll be great by 2028.”

She said, “I’m at a loss for words because the event was fantastic all weekend, it was beautiful, and all the organizers are the friendliest people – everyone was just happy. Today was totally cross-country weather, a little fresh and excited, and it wasn’t as hot the past few days. My working students Emerson and Chandler came with me and it was a fun girls’ weekend.”

The Event at TerraNova CCI4*-S (FL): [Website] [Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Sunday Links

By on Mar 29, 2026 12:01 am -

Hey riders! If you need an incentive to get that entry in early, here’s one from the Maryland Horse Trials Highland Series at Loch Moy Farm! If you send in your entry for the April 11-12 Dover Saddlery Highland Series H.T. TODAY for the early closing deadline, you’ll be entered into a raffle to receive a cross country schooling pass for two! You can either school with two horses or bring a friend. The pass is worth $130, so it’s a great way to save some funds AND make your organizer happy. More information about the Highland Series, presented by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services here.

Major International Events This Weekend

The Event at TerraNova CCI4*-S (FL): [Website] [Schedule] [VIP Tickets] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

Galway Downs International HT CCI4*-S (CA): [Website] [VIP Tickets] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

WAYER International HT CCI4*-S (AUS): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Tamworth International Eventing CCI4*-S (AUS): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring]

US Events This Weekend

Morven Park Spring HT (VA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Jumping Branch Farm Spring HT (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Bouckaert Equestrian HT (GA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Links & Reading

Training Tip of the Day

Lucinda Green breaks down the core concept of pressure and release:

Go Eventing

30 seconds with a top volunteer in the UK at Tweseldown!

Dan Kreitl and Carmango Maintain Top Spot in CCI4*-S at The Event at TerraNova

By on Mar 28, 2026 7:51 pm -

Dan Kreitl and Carmango. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

The show jumping phase of the B&D Builders CCI4*-S division at The Event at TerraNova today kept everyone on their toes as both time and jump penalties kept shuffling the standings in a tightly placed field.

Alyssa Phillips and Rockett 19 had a gorgeous round (27.0) and bumped Mia Farley with Karen O’Connor’s Invictus (28.8) from the top of the leaderboard with a double clear, but there were still more big guns in the lineup. Canadian Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye laid down another clear and fast round to edge Phillips out of the top standing (25.5). Lauren Nicholson had a shot at taking second after show jumping, but a rail down at fence five – a reverse Liverpool heading toward the in-gate – left them in 9th place with 30 penalties.

Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist cantered into the ring in second place, but the first rail of a triple combination as well as two time-faults dropped them into fifth (27.3).

Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Overnight leader Dan Kreitl of Muncie, Indiana also had a rail down at fence five riding Kay Dixon’s Carmango, a 13-year-old bay Westphalian gelding, but with zero time faults he held on to the lead by just half a penalty point (25.0).

Buck Davidson and Cooley Candyman. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

The very last rider in the ring, Buck Davidson, Jr. and Cooley Candyman, owned by Cassandra Segal and Rolo 7 LLC, were clear and in the time and moved up from fifth to third place overall. Davison is also 15th on Sorocaima, owned by Sandra Powers, and 19th on True Belief, who he owns in partnership with Carl Segal.

Kreitl said that historically the show jumping has been the weakest phase for both him and his horse, but he’s been working hard. “As he’s gotten stronger, he’s gotten better, and my eye has gotten better,” he said. “I’ve had a long history as a rider of just blasting the rails down – it’s amazing how mental that phase can be. The harder I try, the worse I do, and getting intense only makes it worse. Learning to focus on the things I can control, and helping the horse to relax, helps – it’s been a slow process but it’s fun that things are starting to come together.”

Dan Kreitl and Carmango. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Of the fence he had down, he said, “My horse has gotten so adjustable that he’s easy to over-ride. I moved up too much to that fence, and he can be funny about Liverpools – he peeks at them – and the reverse Liverpool was even harder.”

Looking ahead, Kreitl said, “The cross country looks like a proper four-star that will take some good riding. It looks like there are some forward lines and some technical elements to it. I’m sure it will shake up the leaderboard, but it looks like a fun, good course.”

With Kentucky on the horizon, Kreitl’s plan from the beginning has been to take it easy this weekend. With both of the first two phases behind him and sitting atop the leaderboard, and since cross country is typically his strongest phase, he said it’s tempting to change that plan and go for the win, but in the interest of his horse’s soundness, he’ll probably stick to the plan.

“I will say, it’s a big enough course, and there are some combinations where I’m going to have to really ride properly – but in straightaways where I’d normally put the pedal down and say, ‘let’s go’, we’ll probably just have an easy canter,” he said.

Commenting on the venue, Kreitl said, “Oh my gosh, this is truly the best I’ve seen anywhere. I’ve only been to Europe a a couple times with the horse, but even compared to what I saw there: the facilities, the footing, the jumps, even the details of how nice the paint and flowers on the cross-country jumps is, it is first class through and through.”

Mia Farley and PIna Colada. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Time was the deciding factor in the CCI3-S show jumping phase: Mia Farley and her own Piña Colada 28, a ten-year-old black Hanoverian mare, just nipped into the lead with only 0.4 time (29.6), while dressage leader Lauren Nicholson and Jacqueline Mars and Christa Schmidt’s How Easy GG jumped clear but added 1.2 time faults (29.9) to drop to second place by a narrow margin. The diminutive grey Selle Francais gelding pinged around the course, making it look easy. Canadian Colleen Loach and Chiaro Z Excalibur, a big, scopey bay owned by Peter Barry, moved into third with a double clear round (30.6).

Dani Sussman had a clear round inside the time with her Argentinean gelding Jos Bravio to stand fourth heading into cross country. Sussman and Water Valley Royal Guy were third after dressage, but a heartbreaking four rails down bumped them down to a tie for 40th place. Less than five penalty points separate the top ten, so there is still plenty of room for the leaderboard to change during tomorrow’s cross-country phase.

Farley is also currently seventh in the four-star with Invictus and fourth in the Open Intermediate riding D.A. Nixon.

Farley said, “Honestly, I was really happy with everything in Piña’s round – I think I was a little surprised that one of the lines was longer than I expected, but I landed and asked her to go forward and she did, and that rideability gives me a lot of confidence for cross country tomorrow. I’m excited to go out on cross country, I feel like every time I go out at a three-star, our sport is evolving and I see new things at each show, but every time she goes to a show she gets better and better. She only started eventing when I got her two years ago and every day I’ve been excited and proud for her – she’s quite good on cross country, she reads everything well. She gets a bit wide-eyed with all the bright colors, and she’s careful, but usually by around fence six on course she gets into a rhythm, and she’s on it.”

Mia Farley and Pina Colada. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Of her four-star horse, Invictus, Farley said, “’Sammy’s’ great, this is his first four-star back after having colic surgery in September. We were planning to do a four-Long last fall and he was fit for that, so his recovery from the colic has not been too complicated, knock on wood! We’ll see how it goes and we’re aiming for a four-Long again this fall. He’s got a lot of Warmblood in him and I learned last year that when I kind of push him on cross country, he pays attention better, so I’ll go fast tomorrow but making time is not my priority.”

So proud of Rómulo Roux who blew away his personal best international score by 5 points, scoring a 24 for Panama on the…

Posted by Sara Kozumplik on Friday, March 27, 2026

Cross country course designer Alec Lochore said that the first water jump on the CCI4* course will be the first major challenge that horses and riders face tomorrow. “Having said that,” he said, “They’ll have a couple of big, maximum spread fences early in the course to get the horses really jumping, and a simple combination to get their attention.”

In the middle of the course, he noted that there is a new combination that was built after the spring event last year and was not used in the fall. “We’ve got a big table and they’re going to come down a slope to a big step up, and then two strides to a quite skinny brush. Really this whole combination is about how they jump the big fence in and then balance for the step up and hopefully just keep the horse on a good, straight line. Most horses at this level can read these sorts of fences really well…always, what we want is for horses and riders to have a happy and safe time.”

The Event at concludes on Sunday, March 29, with winners crowned in the final rounds tomorrow from Starter through the CCI4*-S level. Spectators are invited to attend with free admission, on-site food trucks, and children’s activities such as Mini Horsemanship Camp. Live streaming is free to watch from home or on the go here.

The Event at TerraNova CCI4*-S (FL): [Website] [Schedule] [VIP Tickets] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

Saturday Links

By on Mar 28, 2026 12:01 am -

The painted ponies are on parade! Online bidding for the Carolina Horse Park 2026 Painted Ponies Auction is officially open, and the live simulcast auction will take place on April 19th from 4–6pm ET at BHAWK American Whiskey Ko. (Make sure to especially check out Painted Pony #8 “Seahorse” by EN’s own Cassidy Oeltjen!)

Every bid supports the nonprofit organization of the Carolina Horse Park, helping them deliver an exceptional experience for equestrian sport, creating a sustainable legacy for horses, our community, and the land.

[Click here to bid online and view all available Painted Ponies]

Major International Events This Weekend

The Event at TerraNova CCI4*-S (FL): [Website] [Schedule] [VIP Tickets] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

Galway Downs International HT CCI4*-S (CA): [Website] [VIP Tickets] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

WAYER International HT CCI4*-S (AUS): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Tamworth International Eventing CCI4*-S (AUS): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring]

US Events This Weekend

Morven Park Spring HT (VA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Jumping Branch Farm Spring HT (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Bouckaert Equestrian HT (GA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Other Links and Reading

 

Training Tip of the Day

Actually several training tips, including building trust with a new horse, signs your horse is progressing, and red flags riders should pay attention to in this Noelle Floyd episode with 5* eventer Elisa Wallace:

Go Eventing

 

We know for a fact that your 4* prep isn’t as intense as Dana Cooke’s:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Dana Cooke (@dana.cooke)

Tommy Greengard Takes Top Two Spots in Galway Downs CCI4*-S

By on Mar 27, 2026 10:00 pm -

The Galway Downs International Horse Trials FEI levels concluded today with cross-country stirring up the standings. Australia’s Clayton Fredericks took over designing Galway’s courses, from Ian Stark, a few years ago and riders continue to praise him for making the most of Galway’s varied terrain and presenting new challenges each time out.

Under Fredericks, the tracks have started on different parts of the 242-acre property, gone in different directions and presented new angles, gallop stretches and combinations. There’s always been a throughline, though – the importance of riding the horse you have in the moment — and that was critical today.

CCI4*-S – Tommy Greengard Twice on Podium

Tommy Greengard and Balladeer Kilbrickens Lad. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Cross-country was a heartbreaker today for four pairs in this seven-horse field, but not for Tommy Greengard. Level newbie Balladeer Kilbrickens Lad emerged the winner on a 43.2. The more seasoned That’s Me Z was reserve after incurring 11 faults for knocking the frangible fence #5 with a hind hoof.

“There was a lot for the rider to think about today,” Greengard said. “You had to be accurate with the lines and with how you presented your horse to the jump. Today, my two horses really rewarded that. I’m proud of my horses for showing their training and being up to the task.”

That’s Me Z was his usual superstar self, Greengard said. Other than the “unfortunate hind nick of the frangible early on, he was spectacular. He felt tried and true for the level.” Greengard and the 9-year-old Zangershiede gelding will next go to the CCI4*-S in Kentucky.

“I couldn’t be more excited for Kilbrickens Lad,” Greengard continued of the 4* newcomer. “He’s well suited for a forward ride over cross-country. I usually joke that he either wins or we learn something.” Today it was a win for the 11-year-old, 17.2-hand Irish Sport Horse owned by Patricia Culleton. “I’m not sure what’s next for Kilbrickens Lad, but we’ll figure something out!”

Megan McIver and Igor B finished third as the final pair to complete today’s track. They’re prepping for the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S in Kentucky and McIver considered this week’s Galway run ideal. Their 25.2 time penalties were part of a plan to “just have a good run” and “knock the rust off.”

In their second year together, McIver feels “like he is my horse now – like I know how to give him the right ride, versus last year which had a lot of guess work.” She and the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood “are on the same page and ready to do it!”

The overnight leaders, Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14, are preparing for a Kentucky CCI5*-L debut but retired on course at the 11AB Corner Doubles. It wasn’t the fence that got them, it was a broken breast collar flapping in the 12-year-old Westphalian’s face on approach. O’Neal retired there and now plans a final tune-up at Twin Rivers in Paso Robles in a few weeks.

There were other heartbreaks today. Gina Economu and Cooley By Design were back to the blue numbers at long last. They sailed through the challenging track only to have a glitch and fall at 24A of the 25-fence, 38-effort course.

CCI3*-S – Erin Kellerhouse First and Third

Erin Kellerhouse and Bon Vivant GWF. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Riding two horses she’s brought along since there were 4-year-olds, Galway Downs-based Erin Kellerhouse won the level with Bon Vivant GWF and finished third with Ringwood Adios Amigo, on a 35.3 and a 40.9, respectively. “It’s super rewarding with both of these horses and it’s so nice to head out there with horses that you know so well, and they know me.”

Eleven-year-old Bon Vivant has performed consistently well at the level, and Amigo is excelling as Kellerhouse has learned to trust him and let him go.

“Amigo wants to land and gallop with a loop in the rein,” Kellerhouse explained. “He’s super fast and I’m learning that I can trust him.” Amigo was the only horse to make the cross-country optimum time of 6:02 (by one second), thus breaking a tie with Kaylawna Smith-Cook and Dealas, who finished 4th.

Kellerhouse had special praise for the course’s different looks and challenges. “I love how Clayton and Ali (Alessandra Allen-Shinn) and Rob (Mobley) work so that every time you do a course here, it’s totally different. That’s not normal. And it makes you feel like you can keep going to events here.”

She’s learned to trust Fredericks, too. “At first, I was a little uncomfortable with his distances, angles and the very open feeling. But the courses always ride really well, so I’m learning to trust him, too!”

Time faults dropped Lex D out of the lead into 2nd, but his owner Audrey Sanborn was thrilled with the effort. “Everything felt great and we actually went pretty fast for us!” The 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood feels “super confident and that’s what’s most important to me. The whole course was actually a lot of fun!”

CCI2*-S – Mickayla Howard and HH Ontario Take the Win

Mickayla Howard and HHS Ontario. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Mickayla Howard and HH Ontario have had a successful partnership for several years, but Howard only recently secured an FEI passport for the 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse. “I decided he’s going to get on the FEI track.” They’re off to a good start, taking over the lead with only 1.2 cross-country time penalties, after sitting second following dressage and show jumping. They finished on a 33.1.

“He’s Mr. Consistent,” Howard explained. “He’s a tryer and always obedient. If there’s mistakes, they are usually mine.” With dressage and show jumping out of the way Thursday, Howard loved being able to focus on cross-country. “With some horses, you can try to be a little more competitive on cross-country because of that focus.”

Andrea Baxter and Estrella Equestrian’s Camelot PJ moved from 7th after dressage to 2nd after cross-country. She and the 6-year-old Hanoverian finished on a 36.8. Young rider Anya Ostrovsky and her own Mon Copain finished 3rd on a 37.9.

CCI*-S – Amber Birtcil and Prince of Oolde Shine

Amber Birtcil and Prince of Oolde. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Six-year-old Prince of Oolde was undaunted by the considerable new challenges presented in today’s cross-country outing. Known for her excellence with young horses, Birtcil brought “Noodles” home one second under the time to stick on their 33 score. They were the only 1* pair, earning the title and the valuable experience.

Friday Highlights

Lauren Billys Shady (PUR) guides VIP guests on a tour of some cross-country fences. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Visitors enjoyed VIP treatment, front-row seats and expert commentary during CCI3* and 4* cross-country today, with two-time Olympian Lauren Billys Shady, Eventing Nation’s Sally Spickard, course designer Clayton Fredericks and President of the Ground Jury Sara Miller Leary sharing insights as competitors tackled some of the course’s most exciting challenges. Gourmet breakfast and lunch in the VIP Pavillon bookended the action and winery partners, Danza del Sol and Masia de la Vinya, enhanced the experience with their wines and champagnes. Attendees expressed delight at discovering high level equestrian sport in their own backyard.

Galway Downs International HT CCI4*-S (CA): [Website] [VIP Tickets] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

Dan Kreitl and Carmango Lead B&D Builders CCI4*-S at The Event at TerraNova

By on Mar 27, 2026 8:30 pm -

Dan Kreitl and Carmango dance to a 21.0. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

The Event at TerraNova’s B&D Builders CCI4*-S dressage lead goes to Dan Kreitl riding Carmango, a 13-year-old Westphalian gelding (Chirivell x Taramanga), owned by Kay Dixon. Kreitl, a real estate agent from Muncie, Indiana and Carmango won the 2022 USEF CCI4*-L National Championships and in 2023 competed at the CHIO Aachen and the Luhmuehlen Horse Trials, both in Germany, on a USEF travel grant.

Krietl said that he’s spent the past two weeks in Florida preparing for TerraNova. He’s had Carmango since the horse was a four-year-old and appreciates all of the experiences they’ve had together. Carmango had an injury a year and a half ago and had time off from eventing, during which they competed in the National Dressage Championships at the end of last year, where they placed second. He commented that in the future he will compete in more dressage and only event part of the time.

In the interest of the horse’s soundness, Kreitl has kept Carmango’s training and fitness on the light side but he said that the horse came back easily and recently placed fourth in the Advanced division at Pine Top Horse Trials in Georgia. TerraNova will be their last preparatory run as they head to the Land Rover Kentucky CCI4*-S in Kentucky in April.

Kreitl said that historically show jumping has been their weakest phase, usually having a couple of rails down, so odds are that the standings may change tomorrow, but he’s looking forward to getting out on the cross-country course on Sunday. “I’m excited, it looks like a proper course,” he said. “I’ve only been here one time and it was the first time they had the four-star; I think they’ve cranked it up a little since then and I assume it will ride well, but it looks challenging enough.”

Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

In today’s dressage, the final group of riders was highly competitive, leading to a nail-biting finish. Canadian Olympic rider Colleen Loach slipped into the lead in the second group of horses with her 14-year-old Hanoverian/Holsteiner FE Golden Eye (Goldfever x Cascade) with a score of 25.5, but US Olympian Lauren Nicholson quickly snatched it away with a nearly flawless performance on Jacqueline Mars’ 16-year-old Holsteiner/Irish Sport Horse gelding Landmark’s Jungle Gold (Diarado x Jungle Tale) on a score of 25.2.

All smiles for a 4* personal best from Artist and Monica Spencer! Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Veteran five-star rider Monica Spencer of New Zealand and Artist, a 15-year-old NZ Thoroughbred gelding (Guillotine x Maxamore), owned by the Team Artist Syndicate, took a commanding lead with only four horses left to go, scoring 80.42% from the judge at E and a perfect 10 on her final halt for a penalty score of 21.3. It seemed that she had the division locked down when Kreitl and Carmango just edged into the lead with 21.0. Kreitl said that he heard the scores announced from the warm-up area and just focused on riding his horse as well as he could.

Across divisions TerraNova has drawn an international group of riders, representing the USA, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Honduras, Japan, Panama, Sweden and New Zealand.

TerraNova is the sixth leg of the US Open of Eventing Series. According to Equiratings, Monica Spencer and Artist started the event with a 1 in 4 chance of winning after placing second in the Maryland 5* last fall. Buck Davidson already has 60 points on the leaderboard and is competing three horses this weekend at TerraNova. Dan Kreitl makes his first US Open experience with Carmango, with a 1 in 5 chance of winning. The pair’s last international competition was a second-place finish at The Fork 4*-S in September, 2024.

Monica Spencer and Artist. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

CCI3* and CCI1* dressage started at 8:20am and temperatures were in the mid-60s. By 2:30pm the temperature reached 87 degrees and Kreitl said that he and the horses were feeling the effects of the heat.

Lauren Nicholson and How Easy GG. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

In highly competitive division with 43 entries, The Estates at TerraNova and Laughlin Tanner Group at Premier Sotheby’s International Realty CCI3*-S, Lauren Nicholson and How Easy GG hold the overnight lead. The handsome nine-year-old gray Selle Francais (So Easy x Upsilon) gelding owned by Christa Schmidt and Jacqueline Mars put in a professional and polished ride to claim the top spot with 28.7.

Nicholson said, “I was really pleased with How Easy GG in the three-star dressage, we kind of started our partnership last year. He was sourced by the Winter family in the UK and he’s totally my type, he’s a little feisty guy and he’s got three lovely gaits and a great jump. He’s very workmanlike in the ring and didn’t make any mistakes, I was really pleased that the judges rewarded his consistency and rideability, because he’s an attractive mover but not the most flashy thing in the world.”

Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Jungles Gold. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

She continued, “Landmark’s Jungle Gold is a homebred of Ms. Mars and I’ve ridden all of his siblings over the years as well. The trip overseas last year was a real gamechanger for him and he’s grown up a ton since then. I rode him a bit differently than I have in past tests; he’s become stronger and I was able to get him a bit more full in the reins and cadence in the gaits. He’s always been a rideable guy in the ring and it was nice that the judges liked to see him going like that. It felt a bit slow, but had a lot of cadence and power to it.”

She said, “He’s aiming for the 4-S at Kentucky and we’ll do the 4-L at either Tryon or Bromont. He did his first 4-L last year in Scotland at Scone Palace. How Easy GG and I are just filling a couple of holes in our partnership; he thinks he’s ready for advanced, but I’m trying to make sure I have all my homework done. I’m not sure if we’ll do another 3-L with him, He did Hartpury last year and that was quite a proper one, so he may end up doing horse trials and shorts this summer and aim for a 4-L in the fall, but we’ll play it by ear and see what he’s ready for.”

Nicholson also mentioned that she is impressed with the footing at TerraNova. “We’ve been having a serious drought in Ocala and in Florida in general, and it’s great that they’ve had some rain here and they had a chance to irrigate because the footing looks excellent. I haven’t seen all the tracks yet, but I’m certainly looking forward to tackling them both.”

Mia Farley and Invictus. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Mia Farley took the early lead in the CCI3-S on 29.2 with her ten-year-old Hanoverian mare Pina Colada 28 (Periguaux x Eika). The striking black mare with a blaze and two hind stockings put in a strong performance which kept them in second place heading into show jumping tomorrow. Farley is also in eighth place in the CCI4-S riding Invictus, a ten-year-old American Warmblood gelding owned by Karen O’Connor.

Dani Sussman and Watervalley Royal Guy. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Dani Sussman rode Watervalley Royal Guy to the third spot with their score of 30.2, ahead of Colleen Loach, the leading Canadian rider in both the CCI4-S and the CCI3-S: she and FE Golden Eye are currently fourth in the CCI4*-S and in the CCI3*-S with Chiaro Z Excalibur, an 8-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Contendro 1 x Kyara Z) owned by Peter Barry.

The Event at continues through Sunday, March 29, featuring competition from Starter through the CCI4-S level. Spectators are invited to attend with free daily admission, on-site food trucks, and children’s activities such as Mini Horsemanship Camp, held on Sunday. Livestreaming is free to watch from home or on the go here.

The Event at TerraNova CCI4*-S (FL): [Website] [Schedule] [VIP Tickets] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14 Lead the CCI4*-S at Galway Downs International

By on Mar 27, 2026 10:21 am -

Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

The Galway Downs International Horse Trials got off to a cool morning start in Temecula Wine Country with dressage for the FEI divisions running until early afternoon in the tree-lined Sycamore Arena.

Things heated up literally and figuratively for afternoon show jumping in the atmospheric Grand Prix Arena. Course designer Antonio Azevedo of Brazil set solid tests for the CCI1*-S through CCI4*-S divisions. Some contenders are preparing for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event in April, some seek qualifying scores for the US Equestrian Open of Eventing and all are making the most of Galway Down’s ever-evolving showcase for equestrian sport in the West.

International divisions conclude tomorrow, Friday, March 27, and national divisions continue through Sunday, March 29.

CCI4*-S – Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14 top leaderboard

Winning the CCI4*-L at last fall’s Galway Downs International was a major milestone in Karen O’Neal’s quest to prepare longtime partner Clooney 14 for the Land Rover Kentucky CCI5* next month. Today’s 29.6 dressage outing and clean show jumping put “Team Clooney” another step closer to accomplishing this goal.

With dressage and show jumping staged today, Friday is full focus on Clayton Fredericks’ cross-country to see how the 12-year-old Westphalian’s penultimate Kentucky prep feels and to sort out the seven-horse field.

“He was so lovely, so rideable,” said O’Neal, who is based in Washington state. “It was one of those tests where you come out and feel like, ‘Wow, everything is really coming together!’”

She confessed to a habit of playing it safe in show jumping with the 17.1-hand Clooney. But not today. Where others took the first line in 8 strides, O’Neal stepped on the gas for 7 strides. “It was even a little bit tight. That took a little time away, without having to run, and he came right back to me afterward.”

Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

O’Neal spent the winter in Temecula working with Galway Downs neighbor Tamie Smith and using the rideable Southern California weather to focus on Clooney’s conditioning. “So far, it really feels like I have more gas in the tank,” she said.

Tommy Greengard stands in 2nd with That’s Me Z, now an experienced 4* campaigner, and 3rd with Balladeer Kilbrickens Lad, who is tackling the level for the first time. “That is the best test for Z for where he’s at right now, and I felt like it was a really nice starting point for Balladeer at the level,” Greengard said.

For That’s Me Z, “Show jumping is a phase we continue to work on, so I was so happy to have a clear over those fences,” Greengard continued. Z added .4 time faults for a 30.5 going into cross-country, and Balladeer Kilbrickens Lad was double clear on a 34.0.

The Chocolate Horse Farm professional praised the atmosphere today at Galway Downs. “Both horses have competed abroad and back East,” Greengard explained. “So it’s really nice when they can come here and get a similar atmosphere.”

O’Neal and Greengard both look forward to good horse and rider tests tomorrow on cross-country. “We’ll have to be on task from fence one to the very last, and the field has a lot of very nice horses in it,” Greengard observed.

CCI3*-S – Audrey Sanborn and Lex D in the lead

Audrey Sanborn and Lex D. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Even though dressage has always been a strong point for Lex D, the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood’s owner Audrey Sanborn is not resting on her laurels. The Santa Barbara-based young professional credited recent work with dressage coach Michael Linberg for helping them perfect this phase. The veteran pair’s 26.4 was the best of four FEI divisions today.

“I had Michael’s voice in my head through the test, and it helped me in specific areas, like getting Lex back, getting my half-halts in and, generally, riding the test in a methodical way that best shows off Lex’s quality,” Sanborn said.

With a double clear show jump, they lead the 15-horse division going into Friday’s cross-country conclusion. Clayton Fredericks’ cross-country course looks “very galloping and good for my big horse,” Sanborn added. They are planning their first 4*/Advanced run at Twin Rivers in April and today’s performances bodes well for that step up.

Galway Downs-based professional Erin Kellerhouse and her own Bon Vivant GWF are second in this division, jumping double clear to finish on their 32.9 dressage effort. “He was very good and we had a really clean test,” she said. “He may not score the highest because he isn’t the flashiest mover, but I was very happy with him.” Afternoon heat had no ill effect on the 11-year-old Oldenberg. “He is “Mr. Reliable’ in show jumping,” Kellerhouse shared. “He just goes in there and does his job.”

Two-time Olympian Lauren Billys Shady and Clearsky, an 11-year-old Holsteiner, downed one rail and sit third on a 35.4 in this division.

CCI2*-S – Kaylawna Smith-Cook and Coco Chanel lead the field so far

Kaylawna Smith-Cook and Coco Chanel. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Kaylawna Smith-Cook and Brianna Halliday’s Coco Chanel are in the hunt for a second 2*-S win in their partnership of one year thanks to double clear show jumping that kept them on their 28.1 lead after dressage. Smith-Cook and 8-year-old Holsteiner debuted at the international level by winning the CCI1*-S at this competition last year and their elegant ascent continued today.

Northern California-professional Mickayla Howard and HHS Ontario, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse, moved up from 4th after dressage, to sit second on a 31.9. Montana professional Jen Moody and Million Star, a 9-year-old Holsteiner, are third on a 32.2.

CCI*-S — Amber Birtcil and Prince of Oolde shine

Amber Birtcil and Prince of Oolde. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Six-year-old Prince of Oolde followed last fall’s win of the Training Modified Championship here with a 29 dressage score. “He’s a super consistent horse, especially for just being 6,” said Birtcil. The added challenges of the 1* were a perfect next step for the Dutch Warmblood and the big atmosphere is another plus for his development.

As the only pair in this division, a cross-country completion tomorrow will ensure a win, but Birtcil expects a good experience will be the best reward. “Going over the berm, doing the far water and running across more grass will be great tests for him,” she said.

Heather Buckland, of Australia, and Sara Leary Miller, of Virginia, officiated the FEI dressage. Leary Miller served as President of the Ground Jury for the 1* and 3* divisions and Buckland served as President of the Ground Jury for the 2* and 4* divisions.

Friday Highlights

FEI cross country starts Friday at 8:30 a.m. PST with the CCI3*-S division. CCI4*-S follows at 10:30 a.m., then CCI2* at 11:45 a.m., and CCI1*-S at 2:15 p.m. FEI cross-country will be livestreamed and can be found at this link: ClipMyHorse-TV.

Galway Downs also looks forward to welcoming guests for a special VIP Cross-Country Tour on Friday, featuring wine pouring from partners Danza del Sol Winery and Maisa de la Vinya Winery as well as a full breakfast and lunch while taking in the excitement that is cross-country day.

Galway Downs International HT CCI4*-S (CA): [Website] [VIP Tickets] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

Friday News & Notes from Stable View

By on Mar 27, 2026 12:01 am -

One Big Thing: Bring Intermediate Back to Texas Rose #FeaturedFriday

 

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Texas Rose has long been a cornerstone for Area V, and for years it has been the only venue able to host Intermediate and Advanced levels. While many venues in the area have stopped hosting rated events, Texas Rose has remained committed, hosting three events each year and supporting the community when it needed it most.

Lower levels in Area V are thriving, but opportunities disappear as riders move up. Currently, competitors must travel 8+ hours to run at the upper levels. Many end up leaving the area entirely or for part of the year. To keep our sport strong and sustainable in the South, we need a local venue that supports riders at every level.

How to Donate

Your donation will go directly toward rebuilding the Intermediate cross-country course. While some existing jumps can be refurbished, many new ones must be built. For perspective:

  • A frangible table costs $2,500+
  • A corner or skinny costs $1,500+
  • An Intermediate course often consists of 20–27 jumping efforts’

The Texas Rose Horse Park’s goal is to reach $15,000 before their May 2-3 Horse Trials. [Click here for the donation campaign]

Donation Tiers:

  • Elite – $2,000: Permanent plaque on a fence
  • Platinum – $1,000: Sign on a jump (2 seasons, with recurring option)
  • Gold – $500: Small course sign (2 seasons)
  • Community Sponsor – $50–$250: Group sign at the start box (1 season)

Major International Events This Weekend

The Event at TerraNova CCI4*-S (FL): [Website] [Schedule] [VIP Tickets] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

Galway Downs International HT CCI4*-S (CA): [Website] [VIP Tickets] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]

WAYER International HT CCI4*-S (AUS): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Tamworth International Eventing CCI4*-S (AUS): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring]

US Events This Weekend

Morven Park Spring HT (VA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Jumping Branch Farm Spring HT (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Bouckaert Equestrian HT (GA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]

Other Links and Reading

Sponsor Corner: Stable View

 

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If you’re like us (i.e. highly motivated by charcuterie), then the VIP Experience @ Stable View is worth it just for this menu alone:

  • Ollie’s Pub Open Bar — beer, wine, & non-alcoholic beverages all day
  • Gourmet Picnic Lunch from Stable View Bistro — Signature charcuterie with Antipasto Skewers, Southern Pickled Shrimp, Crab Dip Stuffed Peppadew Peppers, and a Selection of Dessert Bites.
  • All in a climate-controlled Pavilion with 360-degree observation decks overlooking the Cross-Country Course and Stadium Jumping Arena.

[Sign up here for the April 4, 2026 FEI CCI-S 2/3/4* VIP Experience]

Training Tip of the Day

“Grab mane. Lock your elbow. Let the horse take you.” Boyd explains the way to go for riding up bank jumps:

Go Eventing

When a 5* winner finds the camera on course:

 

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Competition Begins Tomorrow for The Event at TerraNova

By on Mar 26, 2026 7:02 pm -

Jessie Phoenix and Fluorescent Adolescent. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Competitors have arrived for The Event at TerraNova, which will take place this weekend at TerraNova Equestrian Center. The CCI4-S comprises the sixth leg of the US Equestrian Open of Eventing series. At each of 20 CCI4-S competitions in the series, riders win points based on their placings, and whoever wins the most points by the end of the series wins $25,000. The $200,000 final will take place in November at Morven Park CCI4-L (VA).

Across the levels, from Beginner Novice through the FEI levels, The Event at TerraNova draws competitors from around the US, with upper-level competitors representing Australia, the United States, Brazil, Canada, Sweden and New Zealand. This year is an exciting one for equestrian sport as top riders from around the world will compete at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany in July, and some of the competitors at TerraNova, including Monica Spencer (NZL), Alyssa Phillips (USA) and Colleen Loach (CAN) will likely have their eye on competing in Aachen this summer.

The event begins on Friday with dressage, and continues with Advanced and FEI show jumping and Beginner Novice through Intermediate cross country on Saturday. On Sunday, levels through Intermediate will show jump while Advanced and FEI divisions will tackle the cross-country phase.

Cross country course builder Eric Bull said, “There’s a new sunken road for the four-star, and the three-star is using the one that was on the four-star course, with different fences in and out. It was actually a little easy for the four-star and worked really well on the three-star course. The four-star one is nicely in the middle of the course and will create more geography and stuff to do.”

With the spring season ramping up, Bull said, “I think the course is appropriate for the level, for horses on their way to Kentucky and all their important stops between here and there. We had rain last week and again last night and the footing looks really good.”

Bull noted that the spring and fall events take different tracks around the course; this one is similar to last spring and he said that event got a lot of positive feedback. He added, “We will be removing many of the lower-level fences on Saturday night to give competitors more space on Sunday. It really makes the course more open and gives everyone more room to move around.”

Canadian Karl Slezak, who with his wife Caitlin is based year-round in in Ocala, Florida, has six horses total competing this weekend. Slezak said that he has competed at every event offered at TerraNova so far, and keeps coming back because of the excellent quality facilities and well-run competition. He noted that it’s particularly welcoming to professionals with students and who have clients that own horses, with plenty of comfortable spaces to spend time and things to do for entertainment.

“The social events and spaces are really nice, and even for the Beginner Novice competitors, the atmosphere is like competing at the Olympic Games; they offer prize money at every level, which is nearly unheard of,” he said.

For spectators, a sold out Ringside Luncheon will be offered from 10:30am until 3pm in the Pavilion and will include premier seating to enjoy the competition. Attendees at the Ringside Luncheon will enjoy preferred-parking, pavilion seating, and all-encompassing views of the competition arenas.

Boutique shopping and the Tiny Town children’s’ playground will also be available for spectators’ enjoyment daily, and children ages 5-12 can sign up for a Mini Horsemanship Camp.

On Sunday morning a worship service takes place at 7:30am on the show office patio. Starting at 9am spectators will head to the cross-country hospitality tent for a sold-out family-friendly breakfast spread providing an abundance of fresh options. The open seating offers the chance to enjoy views of the cross-country action right up close to the water jump, and a cash bar will be available.

General admission is free. Food trucks will be on site and bleacher seating is provided.

The Event at TerraNova (FL): [Website] [Schedule] [VIP Tickets] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [Live Stream]