Phillip Dutton & Autumn Leaves. Photos by: Veronica Green-Gott
The CCI2*-L was the last FEI division to crown a winner at VHC Eventing, presented by Capital Square, and after a breathtakingly competitive show jumping phase, Autumn Leaves remained on top. As Phillip Dutton and “Lenni,” owned by the Autumn Leaves’ Group, galloped around the Stave Mill Arena with blue ribbons streaming in the air, it was fitting that the fall leaves in the background had turned the Blue Ridge Mountains into bright jewel tones. It was the last event of the season for the big grey mare and, for Dutton, her performance set the tone for a bright future.
“I was really proud of her,” Dutton said. “I thought it wasn’t the biggest course, but it’s always hard after you’ve gone fast the day before to get the horses to be adjustable and stay careful. I thought she handled it really well.”
While the fences were not huge, apparently someone forgot to tell Autumn Leaves’ that. “She jumps big,” Dutton said. “Actually, when we first got her, it caused a bit of trouble because she’d go so high and then scare herself, especially on the cross country. Now she’s starting to level out and use that scope in the right way.”
Based on her scope over the fences and stellar performance over the weekend, Dutton hopes that, with some luck, 2026 will be her first season at the three-star level. A frequent flyer at the Virginia Horse Center, Dutton says he keeps coming back to the venue colloquially called “Little Bromont” because of the lessons horses— and riders— can learn.
“It’s a good education for the horses,” he said. “I thought it was a really rider-friendly run this year. The terrain plays a part on the cross country and it’s important for riders and horses to experience that. You can’t just protect yourself from having ideal or flat ground or whatever. It’s good to get out and do it. The arenas here add an element of atmosphere and excitement, so it’s a good experience.”
The seven-time Olympian galloped to victory followed by Olympian Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Olive in second place, and Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Talbots Hill in third. Behind the Olympic riders galloped Lizzie Hoff and Rylie Nelson. Lizzie Hoff won first place among the young riders in the CCI2*-L division aboard Cascadella 8, while Rylie Nelson and Galloway Sunrise took second.
Lizzie Hoff and Cascadella 8
Sponsored by Hyperion Stud, the Young Rider Award brings awareness to the importance of nurturing the up-and-coming riders who make up the future of eventing. Based on Hoff and Nelson’s performances at a tough venue this weekend, the future is bright.
While many riders cite the cross country track at the Virginia Horse Center as a difficult fitness test, Hoff says it was a breeze for Cascadella 8. “The highlight was definitely my double clear cross country,” she said. “My mare was just so on it the whole time. I really didn’t have to do much. It was just an easy, smooth round. She really worked super hard for me, especially up that big hill. So it’s a super nice feeling.”
Hoff has been an avid participant in Young Rider programs, including Emerging Athletes Under 21. She’s also a member of the USEF Under 25 Developing Team. But after having to divert away from her goal of competing at the Young Rider Championships, she said being recognized by the Hyperion Stud Young Rider Award this weekend was a nice surprise.
“So it was really fun to have this, because we have for the last like three years gone to young rider championships, and since we didn’t get to go to one this year, this is a really nice way to add that into our season,” Hoff said. “I was really excited. It was nice to get the recognition and good. And for my horses, too— it was just nice to have that added on to a good weekend with the horses.”
Hoff has big dreams that she says have been supported by a variety of young rider programs early on in her career. “I’m hoping that I’ll have a good string of horses over the coming years to hopefully breach the goal of being a professional and doing some team stuff for the US. That’s the goal,” she said.
Rylie Nelson and Galloway Sunrise.
Nelson, who hopes to have a career in business as well as dabble in professional horse sports, was also excited to be recognized by the Hyperion Stud Young Rider Awards. After finishing with a score of 31.0 aboard Fylicia Barr’s former five-star horse, Galloway Sunrise, Nelson said finishing second in the Young Rider Awards was a great comeback after struggling in the spring.
“I think having a double clear cross country round was definitely the highlight [of my weekend],” Nelson said. “I tried to do the two-long here in the spring and just didn’t quite get around. So really, having a good, confident cross country round was just such a good feeling.”
Known as “Sunny” at the barn, Nelson said that her partner Galloway Sunrise has taken on the professor role with the young rider. “I did my first Modified on her and I just did my first intermediate on her,” she said. “She’s really taught me a lot. I’ve ridden with Fylicia for years. So it’s a really special partnership and opportunity.”
Nelson was a team member for her area’s Young Rider team in both 2024 and 2025. She said the young rider program has helped her make connections that she wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. “It’s such a great experience,” she said. “It really is just like a teaching moment for young riders. It keeps bringing people into the sport and it’s a good experience to be on a team and feel the different pressures of that and understand how that works, and also just to meet other young riders. It’s definitely a nice way to make new friends.”
As the coach for the Area II Young Riders’ program, Susie Beale is an advocate for the Virginia Horse Center as providing a community gathering place and furthering the education of many young riders in the area.
“[Virginia Horse Center] is so supportive of our young rider program here in Area II,” Beale said. “The young rider program is the foundation of our sport, and hopefully these young riders are going to be our Olympians one day. Area II is doing its best to support them.”
According to Beale, young riders don’t just come to the Center for the challenging course and big atmosphere; they can also benefit from the connections they make back at the barns.
“Virginia gives the feeling of pomp and circumstance and it’s a beautifully run event,” she said. “It has FEI classes, so it gives the young riders a feeling of competing in the big time, which is a great experience. They’re stabled next to people like Ema [Klugman] or Phillip [Dutton]. They get to warm up shoulder to shoulder with these amazing riders that are here at this competition. It’s a fantastic place to learn to ride up and down these hills. It’s a true test.”
“When they come to Virginia and they’re successful at a competition like this, it just gives you an enormous sense of accomplishment,” Beale continued. “You feel proud of yourself and your horse at the end of the season. A lot of people work towards this competition all year. It’s their ultimate goal to come to Virginia and compete here at their fall Horse Trials.”
Another year and another successful competition at VHC Eventing, presented by Capital Square. Without the support of event sponsors, such as Capital Square, Hyperion Stud, Triple Crown, Taylor Harris Insurance Services, Old Dominion Equine, Blue Ridge Equine, TullMD and volunteers, and a stellar team of organizers and stewards, this event would not be possible.
Virginia Horse Center Eventing Fall (VA): [Website] [Scores]
