Classic Eventing Nation

Clayton Fredericks and FE Stormtrooper. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Clayton Fredericks is riding with one singular goal: to represent Australia at the Tokyo Olympics. It’s been eight years since his last team appearance, but he thinks Diana Crawford and Kingfisher Park’s FE Stormtrooper is the horse who can can make that dream a reality.

“The plan to earn team consideration for Australia is keep winning. There’s no other way to get on the team than to create a situation where they have to have you. That means your scores have to be good and you have to be reliable, so that’s what I’ve got to do,” Clayton said.

If winning is what he needs to do, he’s on the right track. He and the 11-year-old Hanoverian (Stakkato’s Highlight x  Levina, by Levisto) took home the blue ribbon today in the Advanced Division at Chattahoochee Hills. Leading the pack overnight, Clayton and “Stu” cranked out a clear round with 8.4 time penalties to finish on a score of 39.1.

“I’ve been working hard to improve the score in the dressage and improve the show jumping and just figure the horse out really, and today was a chance to go a lot faster. I think there was only one inside the time and it was a pretty testing course,” he said. “He was super enjoyable. Everything is in line as far as I’m concerned for what we were trying to achieve.”

Rebecca Brown and Dassett Choice. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Rebecca Brown had a smile plastered from cheek to cheek as she came through the finish flags with Dassett Choice. I think we’d all have done the same after a clear round with the sporty 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Caricello x Vilja, by Hemmingway). The pair added 8 time penalties to finish in second place on a result of 40.3.

Bobby Meyerhoff’s determination on today’s cross country paved the way for a major leaderboard climb with Fortuna, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Balou du Rouet x Nova Keur, by Consul) owned by Robert Meyerhoff.  The very last pair on course, they picked up just 3.6 time penalties bumping them from 13 spots to a third place finish on 44 points.

Waylon Roberts and Lancaster. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Waylon Roberts piloted his and Michelle & John Koppin’s Lancaster to fourth place. The 13-year-old Canadian Sport Horse had a clear round with 4.8 time penalties to finish on a score of 45.1.

Jon Holling and Dushi Terma. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Dushi Terma, a 12-year-old KWPN (Valliant x Naterma, by Ammareto D I), who is owned by Jon Holling, Constance Ann Holling and Team Rebecca, had a classy run this morning with Jon Holling in the tack. This pair, who were ninth after yesterday’s show jumping, moved into fifth after 9.2 time penalties.

Brazil’s Nilson Da Silva and Rock Phantom, the dressage winners, cleaned up in sixth place. He and the 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Spirit House x  Ballycroy Rose, by Clonakilty Hero) had a quick clear for a final result of 46.3.

Nilson Da Silva and Magnum’s Martini. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Nilson didn’t let his foot off the gas with his other ride, Magnum’s Martini, a 16-year-old Oldenburg (Magnum x Momo’s Girl) owned by Nilson and the MM Syndicate. They were the only pair in the division to go double clear, which made them the biggest leaderboard climbers going from 25th to 10th on a final score of 48.2.

The Pan American Games partnership of Dana Cooke and FE Mississippi, a 10-year-old Württemberger (Cassini II x Liastra, by Legaat) owned by the FE Mississippi Syndicate, were seventh on 46.6 points. They had a clear round with 12 time penalties.

Alex Baugh and Mr Candyman. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Alex Baugh and Mr Candyman, a 13-year-old Holsteiner (Canto 16 x Montara, by Corofino I) owned by Altorac Farm, turned up the heat to move from 20th to 8th after the cross country phase. Their final score was 47 after 3.2 time penalties.

Zach Brandt had first-timer Direct Advance looking confident around the 3800m track. The 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Night Cruise x Herbst Jennie B, by Concorde) had 15.6 time penalties for a three-phase result of 47.8.

This Advanced division certainly was no dressage show. Yesterday’s show jumping coupled with Hugh Lochore’s cross country course gave riders plenty of challenge, and the leaderboard reflected that. Only one pair, Nilson Da Silva and Magnum’s Martini were able to go clear inside the time, though Zoe Crawford and K.E.C. Zara did manage to beat the clock, despite one stop on course.

Of the 30 starters, 19 finished with no jump penalties. Four withdrew before the cross country. Gabrielle Ruane and Lismakeera and Brewski parted ways at 19A, a hanging log drop, but the rider was up quickly and unharmed. Ashley Hays and Call It Courage both fell at fence 9, the Kidney Pond.

Thank you to everyone at Chatt Hills for following USEF COVID-19 guidelines.

Go eventing.

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Clayton Fredericks and FE Stormtrooper. Photo by Shelby Allen.

For most people, 2020 has been a dumpster fire of lost dreams, but this year has been a land of opportunity in Clayton Frederick’s eyes. In January, the Tokyo Olympic Games seemed out of reach for the silver medalist, but postponement was a chance for him to seriously throw his hat into the ring for team Australia. His frontrunner at the moment is FE Stormtrooper, an 11-year-old Hanoverian (Stakkato’s Highlight x  Levina, by Levisto) who currently tops the Chattahoochee Hills Advanced division.

“You get an extra year to prepare for an Olympic Games. That for me was an advantage because I was probably slightly behind the eight ball getting these horses and getting ready for Tokyo, but this year has ended up being an opportunity to consolidate, and I think we’ll actually be pretty ready next year,” Clayton said.

For “Stu,” who is owned by Diana Crawford and Kingfisher Park, this quieter year gave him a chance to get comfortable in his skin. Today’s performances showed that in illuminating color. On the flat, he was tied for third, and had a clear show jumping in the afternoon for a two-phase score of 30.7.

“He’s starting to get more established. It’s taken a while with him. He’s a very high strung horse, so he’s needed to settle into himself,” he said. The trick? Elbow grease and patience. “It’s just work. It just takes time. This is my third year riding him, but it just takes time with them. With him, he tries so hard, so if it’s not right or he feels like he’s under pressure, he gets worried. So you’ve got to take it really steady with him and build his confidence. I really feel that it’s taken me a while to build his confidence with me – he really trusts me now.”

“I think he’s a horse certainly for teams, and having this extra year … fingers crossed, touch wood – If he stays going the way he’s going and improving like he has, I would hope that he’s going to get me back into the team,” Clayton said.

Clayton is also eighth with another promising horse, FE Always In Time, a 9-year-old Trakehner owned by Clayton, Adele Siewert and Eckart Siewert, with one pole down for a score of 36.1.

Leslie Law and First Class. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Riding for Beatrice Rey-Herme, Leslie Law moved into second place with QC First Class. The 9-year-old Oldenburg (Fuestenball OLD x Laguna, by Lortino) posted a 31.8 on the flat and added nothing to it over fences. He’s less than three seconds on the cross country course behind our division leaders.

Leslie is also fifth with Tre’ Brooks’ Voltaire de Tre, an 11-year-old Selle Francais (Gentleman IV x Jasmina du Fresne, by Socrate de Chivre) on a clear round and a score of 33.8

Zach Brandt and Direct Advance. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Zach Brandt and Direct Advance are third. This is the 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse’s (Night Cruise x Herbst Jennie B, by Concorde) debut at the level, and on the flat he laid down a 31.8 — forming a tie with Leslie Law and first class — but was one second too slow in the show jumping to drop into third on 32.2 penalty points.

Rebecca Brown and Dassett Choice. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Rebecca Brown might be wishing she’d been just a tad faster over Chris Barnard’s show jumping course today. She and her own Dassett Choice had a class round, but 1.6 time penalties broke the tie they held with division leaders Clayton and Stu. Nevertheless, she and the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Caricello x Vilja, by Hemmingway) still hold fourth place on a score of 32.3.

Ashlynn Meuchel and Emporium. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Ashlynn Meuchel and Emporium hold sixth overnight. The 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Cartano x Upana), owned by Ashlynn and Ashley Creek Stables, rode a clear round from 14th to their current position after a faultless show jumping effort in the pair’s second start at the level.

Dana Cooke and FE Mississippi. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Canada’s Dana Cooke piloted the flashy FE Mississippi, a 10-year-old Württemberger (Cassini II x Liastra, by Legaat) into seventh place. The Pan American Games partnership jumped clear to remain on their dressage score of 34.6.

Jon Holling is ninth aboard a very promising ride, Dushi Terma. The 12-year-old KWPN (Valliant x Naterma, by Ammareto D I), who is owned by Jon, Constance Ann Holling and Team Rebecca saw one rail fall for a current score of 37. Alexandra Green Kerby and Fernhill Limited Edition round out the top ten on a score of 37.3.

Of the 30 starters, only 7 achieved rounds without poles or time over Chris Barnard’s track for a double clear jumping rate of 23.3%. In addition to those mentioned above Zoe Crawford and K.E.C. Zara were also among those who jumped clear today.

Alexander O’Neal and Pauldary’s Arctic Tiger. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Alex O’Neal and Gayle Davis’ Pauldary’s Arctic Tiger stepped up to lead the CCI3*-S class. The 8-year-old Anglo European (Pauldary’s Funky Tiger x Pauldary’s Tigers Touch of Fro), a first-timer at this level, are sitting pretty on a 29.5 ahead of tomorrow’s cross country phase.

Alex is also third with Miss MoneyPenny V, who had two rails for a score of 28.9.

Tomorrow is cross country day! The Advanced division will kick things off at 9 a.m. over Hugh Lochore’s course, followed by the three-star will follow at 10:25 a.m. Stay tuned for more from Chatt Hills.

Chatt Hills: Website, Live Scores, Ride Times, EN’s Coverage