Classic Eventing Nation

Pan American Games Cross Country Live Updates: USA & Boyd Martin Lead

By on Aug 3, 2019 12:29 pm -

Lynn Symansky and RF Cool Play (USA). Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

It’s run and jump day in Lima, Peru for the 2019 Pan American Games! Jose Ortelli’s track is unrelenting, and there’s plenty to do out there. Our team riders shared their thoughts on the course, check them out here.

Kick off time is 11 a.m. central/12 p.m. eastern! Without a live stream, and no fence-by-fence live scoring, we’re going to cobble together all the Pan Ams XC info in one place for semi-easy following. Check this space for updates as they happen.

Here’s the U.S. ride times:

  • Lynn Symansky & RF Cool Play: 11:20 a.m. central/12:23 p.m. eastern – DOUBLE CLEAR
  • Tamie Smith & Mai Baum: 12:15 p.m. central/1:15 p.m. eastern – 40 jump, 14 time penalties
  • Doug Payne & Starr Witness: 1:10 p.m. central/2:12 p.m. eastern – CLEAR, 8.4 time
  • Boyd Martin & Tsetserleg: 2:05 p.m. central/3:05 p.m. eastern – DOUBLE CLEAR

Canadian ride times:

  • Karl Slezak & Fernhill Wishes: 11:05 a.m. central/12:05 p.m. eastern – CLEAR + 11.2 time
  • Dana Cooke & FE Mississippi: 12 p.m. central/1 p.m. eastern – 40 jump, 27.6 time penalties
  • Colleen Loach & FE Golden Eye: 12:55 p.m. central/1:55 p.m. eastern – 20 jump, 41.6 time
  • Jessica Phoenix & Pavarotti: 1:50 p.m. central/2:50 p.m. eastern – CLEAR, 9.6 time

Pan American Games: Website, Entries, Technical Manual, Cross Country Order of Go, Individual Live Scores, Team Live Scores, Ultimate Guide, EN’s Coverage

UPDATED 2:37: Stay tuned for a full report!

11:10: Karl Slezak and Fernhill wishes are home for Canada! They went clear with 11.2 time penalites.

11:15 Roll call for our first few starters:

Juan Jose Francia (PER) and Alpacino Z finish with 20 jump penalties and 40.8 time penalties.

Jose Alan Triana Martinez (MEX) and Violento finish with 60 jump penalties and 25.6 time penalites.

Ruy Fonseca (BRA) fell from Ballypatrick Srs at fence 7.

11:20

11:19 Lynn is clear through the corners at 16.

11:31 Lynn and RF Cool Play are home double clear!!! They’re the first to finish clear inside the time.

11:35

11:36 Luis Eduardo Aranco and Svr Gruñon are on course now for Uruguay.

11:40 Luis Eduardo Aranco (URU) and Mauricio Bermudez (COL) have both been eliminated.

11:41 Argentina’s Marcelo Javier Rawson pick up 20 jump penalties and 44.8 time penalties.

11:43 Update on Colombia’s Mauricio Bermudez:

11:44 Chile’s Carlos Villarroel has been eliminated early on in the course.

11:50

11:51 Way cool, Coolio.

11:58 Wylder Francisco Rodriguez Silva (GUA) and Escapito-S finish clear with 24 time penalites.

11:59

12

It’s a strong start for the #USAEventing Team at #Lima2019! Hear from pathfinder, Lynn Symansky Equestrian after her double-clear round.

Posted by USA Eventing on Saturday, August 3, 2019

12:01 Peru’s Hans Chener Alva Pierola has been eliminated.

12:03

12:04 This course is causing quite a bit of problems. Of the 13 starters, 7 have completed.

Best ride we’ve seen as Dana Cooke gives us a textbook ride through the first water on Mississippi for 🇨🇦 Canada 🇨🇦

Posted by Athletux Equine on Saturday, August 3, 2019

12:08 Dana and FE Mississippi have a runout at 14D, a skinny brush chevron, but they’re clear on second attempt.

12:11

12:11 Mexico’s Pedro Gutierrez and California Mail also have a runout at 14D.

12:12 Dana Cooke and FE Mississippi are home for Canada with 40 jump penalties and 37.6 time penalties.

12:18

12:19 Rafael Mamprin Losano and Fuiloda G post a clear round for Brazil! They had just 4.4 time penalties.

12:22 Tamie and Lexus are clear through 19.

Next Level Eventing through first water

Posted by Athletux Equine on Saturday, August 3, 2019

12:28 Tamie comes home with 40 jump penalties and 14 time penalties.

12:44 We are so flattered that y’all love the site so much that you take it out on our servers <3. Back online now let’s catch up…

Chile’s Guillermo Garin Heyermann and Bipolar were eliminated after issues at fence 14.

12:46 Sarka Kolackova De Mendez (GUA) and Carneval 32 retire at 11 after two refusals.

12:50 Ecuador’s Nicolas Wettstein & Onzieme Framoni are eliminated on course.

12:52 At the halfway point, Lynn & Coolio are still the only pair to go double clear. Of 22 starters, 12 have completed.

12:54 We’ve got some clarification on Tamie’s issues on course. She and Lexus had a run out at the corner at 16, and then earned another 20 penalties for crossing their tracks at 23.

12:58 Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye are soon to leave the box for Canada.

12:59 Here are some other clear rounds we may have missed during our servers’ temper tantrum, and I’d like to make sure we give credit to:  Juan Benitez Gallardo (ARG) & J B G Espuelas Atila who had 14.8 time penalties, Wylder Francisco Rodriguez Silva (GUA) & Escapito-S who had 24 time penalties, and Pedro Jose Espinosa (HON) & Hipolita who had 34.8 time penalites.

1:02 Colleen and FE Golden Eye have a stop at 12A, the angled boat jump into water. They’re clear on second attempt.

1:02 Peru’s Marcelino Cardenas Salazar finishes with 40 jump and 20 time pens.

1:07

1:08 Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye are home after one stop and 41.6 time penalties for Canada.

1:09 Tamie comments on her round: “I just don’t think he read it”

Hear from Tamie Smith after her cross-country at #Lima2019

Posted by USA Eventing on Saturday, August 3, 2019

1:11 Mexico’s Jose Enrique Mercado Suarez brings Tehuacan home clear! Just 16.4 time penalties for this pair.

1:13 Doug Payne and Starr Witness out on course!

1:15 Doug clear through fence 8.

1:17 Marcelo Tosi & Starbucks jump clear with just 4.4 time penalties. That’s three clear rounds for Brazil.

1:20 DOUG CLEAR! 8.4 time penalties. #GingaNinja

1:22 Update on Marcelo’s score: Looks like he missed a flag somewhere for 15 penalties. That gives him 19.4 total added in this phase.

1:24 Lucia Chieza (URU) & Svr Energico home clear with 31.6 time penalties. Looks like these team riders are taking their time to ensure clear rounds.

1:26 Colombia’s Jhonatan Fabian Rodriguez Rodriguez retire after having issues at fence 12, the boat water.

1:36 With 10 left to go, we’re seeing a 54% completion rate and a 29% clear rate for this course.

1:39 Luis Alfonso Larrondo Muñoz is the first Chilean rider to complete the course. He and Puerto Octay come home with 20 jump penalties and 15.2 time penalties.

1:40

1:47 Carlos Narvaez (ECU) and Que Loco were eliminated.

1:54 Diego Farje Carpio & Qouter home for Peru with 15.2 time penalties.

1:57 Coolio beast-moding it:

Lynn Symansky Equestrian through first water! #teamusa

Posted by Athletux Equine on Saturday, August 3, 2019

12:59 Here’s Doug at the corner:

DPEquestrian LLC at tricky back corner

Posted by Athletux Equine on Saturday, August 3, 2019

2:00 Jessica Phoenix & Pavarotti are home clear with 9.6 time penalties for Canada!

2:03 Doug talks about his ride today:

“She’s a total freak and makes easy work of anything we ask of her.” We caught up with DPEquestrian LLC after producing a clear round with time for #USAEventing at #Lima2019!

Posted by USA Eventing on Saturday, August 3, 2019

2:04 Guillermo German de Campo M. and Quelite come home clear with 16.8 time penalties for Mexico.

2:05 Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg are on course.

2:08 Boyd clear through 8.

2:10 Riding for Brazil, Carlos Parro and Quaikin Qurious jump clear with 6.8 time penalties.

2:14 Boyd Martin & Tsetserleg go double clear as the final U.S. pair! That puts them provisionally in the lead.

Boys through water for 🇺🇸

Posted by Athletux Equine on Saturday, August 3, 2019

2:18  Edison Alejandro Quintana Valerio (URU) and Svr Fraile Del Santa Lucia are eliminated. They reportedly both fell at fence 16.

2:23

2:25 Argentina’s final pair, Luciano Claudio Brunello and Maria Teresa, finish clear with 26.4 time penalties.

2:29 Carlos Lobos Muñoz & Ranco jump clear for Chile with 18.4 time penalties for a provisional 10th place.

2:30 Our final pair, Carlos Sueiras (GUA) and Valentina RN have retired at fence 12. That’s a wrap for Pan Ams cross country day!

 

Team USA Talks Game Plan for Pan Ams Cross Country

By on Aug 3, 2019 9:38 am -

Fence 12AB. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

There’s one main consensus regarding Jose Ortelli’s cross country course at the 2019 Pan American Games: there’s a lot to do very early on. The men/women will be separated from the boys/girls as early as the first minute or two.

The full distance of the track is 4520, which is designed for a speed of 550 meters/minute with an optimum time of 8 minutes and 14 seconds. There are 26 fences (35 efforts) sprinkled throughout the twisting track. Click here for our fence-by-fence preview.

If you want even more detail, Javier Jeri Leigh has laid out direct and optional routes at the main combinations:

View this post on Instagram

Cross Panamericano Opciones

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As we eagerly await the start of cross country, we’ve rounded up Team USA’s thoughts ahead of Saturday’s challenge:

Erik Duvander, chef d’equipe:

Boyd Martin: “I think the course is as hard as I’ve ever seen at this level–the three-star long level–and I’m on probably the most experienced horse in the field. There’s a lot of places where you could have a runout, and there’s also options that aren’t that long, so it’s going to be an exciting day of cross country. Obviously, being a team contest, we really want to have all four horses go jumping clear, and then it’s a matter if you decide to go very, very fast the jumps get much more difficult.”

“My game plan would be to start out a little steady and get him settled in, and get through the first five, six fences. Then, really open him up where the galloping is good and really slow down where there’s complicated jumps. I’m just terrified of a slip up. You just have to ride very, very, very well for about eight and a half minutes, and believe in your training. Believe in your horse. Also, be in the moment because it’s not going to go to plan or ride exactly how it’s walking.”

Doug Payne: “It’s pretty wild. It beats you up in the first two minutes–it comes at you really quick. I’m lucky enough to be on probably one of the best jumping horses here, so we’ll go at it and just try to be as smooth and soft as possible in the first minute or two minutes. We’ll probably be a little back on the clock at that point, but I think from that point on you can grow and build. I think it’s going to be great for the sport and should be a hell of a lot of fun to ride.”

Tamie Smith: “I’m really excited to be jumping because we’ve been doing  a lot of dressage. The course looks big, and it looks technical, and it looks like we have a lot of work to do. I think the first minute and a half is no joke. It’s very quick–we have our first serious water jump right at the very beginning of the course. I don’t think the horses are going to be ultimately focused by then, so there will be a lot of instinctive type riding happening both from the horses and from the riders. So I think that will be very influential.”

“I think after that the questions are max height, max technicality–it is a championship course, so it’s the toughest three-star long I’ve ever seen, and you just have to be on your toes and ready to come for whatever’s out there. I think we’re all up for the challenge.”

Lynn Symansky: “It gets better every time you walk it. The first time you walk it you’re really trying to get your bearings out there. It felt like Aachen combined with Pau in a short track–it just kept coming at you. You have to take time and know every single post you’re riding to before and after because there’s not a lot of places to make up time on a track like that. Where you make up time is being as efficient as possible in all of your lines.

“Since I’m the first out, we won’t have any information on how it rides, so I’ll have to be even more prepared to exactly what my plan is going to be for that horse. Where you go a little later on, you have a plan for your horse, but you still have to be opened minded about seeing how some stuff rides, how it suits. We’re all used to being in all sorts of positions. The good news is, I’m used to going first and relying on having an honest horse. I know he’s going to be a bit green in this environment and in this type of track, but you have to rely on the training and the partnership at that point.”

The cross country phase starts at 11 a.m. central/12 p.m. eastern.

Here’s the U.S. ride times:

  • Lynn Symansky & RF Cool Play: 11:20 a.m. central/12:23 p.m. eastern
  • Tamie Smith & Mai Baum: 12:15 p.m. central/1:15 p.m. eastern
  • Doug Payne & Starr Witness: 1:10 p.m. central/2:12 p.m. eastern
  • Boyd Martin & Tsetserleg: 2:05 p.m. central/3:05 p.m. eastern

Canadian ride times:

  • Karl Slezak & Fernhill Wishes: 11:05 a.m. central/12:05 p.m. eastern
  • Dana Cooke & FE Mississippi: 12 p.m. central/1 p.m. eastern
  • Colleen Loach & FE Golden Eye: 12:55 p.m. central/1:55 p.m. eastern
  • Jessica Phoenix & Pavarotti: 1:50 p.m. central/2:50 p.m. eastern

Safe and happy rides to all!

Pan American Games: Website, Entries, Technical Manual, Cross Country Order of Go, Individual Live Scores, Team Live Scores, Ultimate Guide, EN’s Coverage

Your Ultimate Guide to Eventing at the 2019 Pan American Games

By on Aug 3, 2019 9:00 am -

And we’re off to Lima, Peru, where 2019 Pan American Games eventing is taking place Aug. 1-4 at Equestrian Club Militar La Molina. Here’s your complete guide to the week ahead.

Pan American Games: Website, Entries, Technical Manual, Individual Live Scores, Team Live Scores, Ultimate Guide, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

The competition: The Pan Ams will run at the CCI3*-L level (formerly CCI2* under the old FEI star system). The dressage test is the 2015 FEI 3* Test B. Teams will be made up of four horses and riders with a drop score.

What’s at stake: All countries from FEI Olympic Group D (North America) and E (Central and South America) will be vying for Tokyo qualification at the Pan Ams, which will award Olympic qualification to the top two teams in Lima. No countries from Groups D and E qualified at the 2018 WEG Tryon, so every country that fields a team for Lima will be battling it out for Tokyo qualification.

The teams: Ten nations are fielding teams — Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and the United States. Ecuador and Honduras are sending individuals only. There are a total of 42 definite entries. Substitutions may be made up until two hours before the start of dressage.

The officials: The ground jury is led by Jane Hamlin (USA) with Jo Young (CAN) and Delano Bastos de Miranda (BRA). The foreign TD is Ataide Pereira (BRA). The chief steward is Eileen Pritchard Bryan (USA). Juan Carlos Nunez (URU) heads the appeals committee. The cross country course designer is Jose Ortelli (ARG) with Pierre Michelet (FRA) as adviser. The show jumping course designer is Guilherme Jorge (BRA).

The schedule (in Central Time):

Thursday, Aug. 1
9 a.m.: First horse inspection

Friday, Aug. 2
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Dressage

Saturday, Aug. 3
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Cross country

Sunday, Aug. 4
8 a.m.: Second horse inspection
10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Show jumping
2:30 p.m.: Awards ceremony

Order of Go: The starting order of Nations is as follows: Peru, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, USA, Uruguay, Ecuador, Argentina, Honduras, Colombia, Chile, Guatemala.

The final show jumping phase will begin at 10:30 a.m. central/11:30 a.m. eastern. Click here for the order of go.

How to follow: Unfortunately there is no live stream for the eventing competition. Live updates will be available via US Equestrian on Twitter (@USequestrian) and the USA Eventing Facebook page for all phases of eventing. Also check out the U.S. Eventing Instagram story (@useventing), USEA Facebook page and Twitter for updates.

You can download the Equipe app for live scoring or visit the website here.

And, of course, be sure to keep it locked on Eventing Nation for all the Pan Am coverage you need, all in one place!

EN’s pre-coverage: 

Erik Duvander Addresses Team Preparations and Goals for Pan American Games
U.S. Pan American Games Team
Mai Baum to Replace Fleeceworks Royal as Tamie Smith’s Pan American Games Partner
Canadian Pan American Games Team
Mexican Pan American Games Team
Brazil Pan American Games Team
Path to Peru: What You Need to Know About U.S. Team Selection for the Pan Ams
Inside Team USA’s Final Pan Am Games Preparations at Stable View
Pan Am Social Media Roundup: Livin’ It Up in Lima

EN’s coverage: 

Thursday, Aug. 1
Let the Hunt for Shiny Objects Begin! U.S. & Canada All Clear at Pan Am Games First Horse Inspection
Thursday Video from Ecovet: Pan Am Table Talk with Team USA
Local Sites & Colorful Delights: Pan American Games Cross Country Course Preview
Pan Am Jog Day Social Media Roundup

Friday, Aug. 2
Welcome to the Sandbox: Scenes from Pan Am Games Arena Familiarization
Pan Am Dressage Live Updates: Team USA, Tamie Smith on Top After First Phase
Pan Am Dressage Social Media Roundup: Dancing Queens
U.S. Tops Pan Am Team Standings, Tamie Smith Out Front After Dressage
Photo Gallery: Fancy Prancing in Peru

Saturday, Aug. 3
Team USA Talks Game Plan for Pan Ams Cross Country
Pan American Games Cross Country Live Updates: USA & Boyd Martin Lead
U.S. Team, Boyd Martin Looking Golden After Pan Ams Cross Country
Photo Gallery: Pan American Insanity in the Middle
Pan Am Cross Country Social Media Roundup: How’s Your Stress Level?

Sunday, Aug. 4
Four Held, One Spun in Pan Am Final Horse Inspection

Go Eventing.

Mix’n’Match on Millbrook’s Advanced Track: Course Preview & Gallery

By on Aug 3, 2019 1:33 am -

Fence 3, Bar Top Barrels. One out of one EN reporter surveyed would definitely picnic here. Photo by Abby Powell.

You may recall that course designer and builder Tremaine Cooper gave Millbook’s Advanced cross country course a little bit of a facelift last year, reversing the direction the track traveled. Riders in the Advanced division this year won’t be in for quite as much of a shock this time around (though riders in the Intermediate divisions will — we’ll have more on that later, as that track now runs parallel to the Advanced); this year’s course runs clockwise again and is quite similar to last year’s overall, save for some key combinations on course where Tremaine has swapped the elements.

“Last year I changed the track for Advanced — it had always run counter-clockwise in the past, so I moved it to give it a totally different feel,” Tremaine told EN. “This year I’m playing with the combinations because I like the track the way it is currently.” 

Fences 1 through 9 remain the same as last year, save for a bit of earthwork here and there to improve the angle of the ground in places. Riders encounter their first difference in the course at the 10abc combination. The 10a element, a ditch and brush, remains the same but this year riders will have slice and dice their way through two steeply angled cabins.

Fence 10abc, Brush Rail & Green Roof Cabins – looking back at the A element. Photo by Abby Powell.

The fence 14abc complex is the next place riders will see a difference in the course: they’ll first jump the A element, a large square table, then choose their line to a left-handed corner, followed by the skinny C element out.

Fence 14abc, 8X Table to Corner & Pine Narrow. Photo by Abby Powell.

There is actually one fewer combination on course this year. Instead of an additional abc element in the farthest back field, riders will instead enjoy a bit more of a gallop over the fences leading up to the water complex, where they’ll slash into pond twice before looping behind the patron’s tent and heading for home.

In walking the course it’s very apparent that the property’s terrain is what packs an extra punch over this track.

“You shouldn’t underestimate the terrain because it changes the horses balance quite a bit,” says Tremaine.

Buck Davidson echoes the sentiment: “There’s not really ever a flat piece of ground here and so having the jumps in the right place is a trick and I think Tremaine’s done a good job. Keeping the horses balanced as you ride is not easy here.”

While this Advanced course may not be as massive as those seem later in the year, riders will still need to be on their toes and ready for the challenge in order to go around clean.

“It’s an overall test, it’s not one single thing (that would catch a horse and rider out.) You need to be able to steer and go forward and come back and balance, and sort of a little bit of everything. So hopefully it will be fun,” Tremaine said.

“The idea is to ask the question and when it rides the best, it’s usually when the rider trusts the horse. Once you line it up at that level, hopefully they should focus on it and go.”

EN caught up with Sarah Gumbiner to get her thoughts on the track: “This is my first run back with ‘Larry’ since Kentucky and after walking today I am pleased to see that the course is big but inviting,” she said. “Millbrook puts on a super event every year and I am excited for a good, clean, and confident run tomorrow.”

While riders may be more familiar with the track as is it is this year, the ground is unfortunately a little firmer than everyone had hoped for this weekend. Thunderstorms passing through the area and the greater New England area overall managed to completely miss the Coole Park Farm property.

“We were out here working on the course on Wednesday and we could see a sheet of rain and clouds off in the distance, not far, but it wouldn’t move this way,” Tremaine said.

With the ground so dry, Tremaine’s team has been hard at work doing everything in their power to improve the footing. The upper-level tracks were aerated twice during the day on Saturday, with another one planned for that night.

“They’ve done a great job trying to aerate everything and try to get it as good as possible, but they just haven’t had any rain so the ground is firm,” said Buck. “So I won’t be going fast tomorrow, that’s for sure. All these horses are seasoned, they all know how to do it so if I feel it’s a bit too firm I won’t go for it. It would be great to do this, but at the same time I want to have them for years and years and years. But they have done a great job of doing everything they can and hopefully it goes well.”

The optimum time on the Advanced course is 6 minutes, 15 seconds and has a total of 35 jumping efforts over 3,560 meters. Time tends to be a factor over this course — only three pairs caught the optimum time last year and no one made it under the year before. Cross country at Millbrook starts today with Open Intermediate divisions at 8:00 A.M. (click here for the Intermediate course map!) Advanced starts at 11:10 a.m. Check out the gallery of the Advanced track below as well as the course map via CrossCountry App.

#Millbrook: Website, Ride Times, Entry Status, Live Scoring, EN’s Coverage

Saturday Links Presented by Nupafeed USA

By on Aug 3, 2019 12:01 am -

View this post on Instagram

Ready for some xc action tomorrow!! #chinno

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It’s cross country day around the word and it’s time to go eventing, people!  Keep it locked here on EN for everything Pan Ams and Millbrook H.T.

National Holiday: National Disc Golf Day

Major Weekend Events:

Pan American Games: Website, Entries, Technical Manual, Dressage Individual Live Scores, Dressage Team Live Scores, Ultimate Guide, EN’s Coverage

U.S. Weekend Action:

Millbrook H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Entry Status] [Scoring]

Cobblestone Farms H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

River Glen Summer H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Scoring]

Catalpa Corner Charity Horse Trial [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Scoring]

Olney Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Scoring]

Your Saturday Links:

U.S. Riders Sit First And Second After Dressage Day

How To Salvage A Bad Day In The Ring

Perfect Braids And Super Shine: How Courtney Carson Gets Doug Payne’s Horses Ring Ready

Horse Show Safety

Do Horses Like Being Groomed? Probably Not, Study Finds

Saturday Video: Mark Todd: Badass since before I was born.

Photo Gallery: Fancy Prancing in Peru

By on Aug 2, 2019 10:33 pm -
Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti(CAN). Photo by Shannon Brinkman. Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti(CAN). Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

There is no better way to view a competition than through the lens of Shannon Brinkman. One of the most talented photographers in our sport, her images bring the competition to life. Without a live stream, this is how you can feel like you’re in Peru too. We’ve focused a lot on our North American buddies so far in our coverage, but let’s see the full range of competitors in this photo gallery:

Pan American Games: Website, Entries, Technical Manual, Cross Country Order of Go, Dressage Individual Live Scores, Dressage Team Live Scores, Ultimate Guide, EN’s Coverage

It’s the Buck Davidson Show After Dressage at Millbrook Horse Trials

By on Aug 2, 2019 10:06 pm -

Buck Davidson gives Copper Beach some big pats! Photo by Abby Powell.

The Pan Ams may be the marquee event this weekend, but you didn’t think we would forget about eventing right here in the Northern hemisphere, did you? While we’re certainly keeping a close eye on the Pan American Games, EN is also brining you lots of action from Millbrook Horse Trials this weekend.

And a beautiful weekend for a horse trials it is here in Amenia, New York, home of Coole Park Farm, where 52 horse and rider pairs are contesting Millbrook’s Advanced division, or perhaps we should call it the Buck Davidson Show?

Millbrook, which is now in its 19th year of running, is generally the first stop for many upper-level pairs ahead of their big fall events. That’s certainly the case for Buck, who brought eight total horses out to stretch their legs in preparation for some exciting things this fall. Five of Buck’s herd are all contesting the Advanced division this weekend and four of those sit in the top five at the conclusion of dressage.

Advanced dressage here at Millbrook runs over two days and Buck took a commanding lead of the division on Thursday, sweeping the top three by the end of the day. The top two spots remain unchanged at the conclusion of the division on Friday and are occupied by his pair of Holsteiner geldings: Carlevo LLC’s Carlevo, who leads with a 26.10; and Natalie Sander, Lisa Darden, and Carl and Cassie Segal’s Erroll Gobey, who sits just nine-tenths of a point behind on a 27.0.

Buck Davidson and Carlevo at Bromont 2019. Photo by Jenni Autry.

“They were all really good,” Buck said. “It’s kind of the first event of the fall season, but they are fairly established horses now. They sort of went in and did the test that they wanted to do. There’s nothing fancy about it, they don’t get worked up about it, they just kind of go in there and do what they do.”

“Carlevo is obviously fairly established. if he got over 30 there would be something really wrong — he did what he does. Erroll Gobey — I decided to try a double bride on him and that made a huge difference. He’s hugely talented, he’s just only 9 and he’s just a big force but he’s starting to understand the movements better, so I was really proud of him.”

Kat Cuca’s Jak My Style, a 14-year-old off-the-track Thoroughbred gelding, had occupied third place at the conclusion of day one with a 28.6, but was ultimately bumped to fifth by his stablemate, the seasoned 17-year-old ISH gelding Park Trader, owned by Carl and Cassie Segal. Jak is on the entry list for Burghley five-star this fall, while Park Trader is being aimed at the Blenheim Palace CCI4*-L.

“With Jak, you can now do the little things to get better scores. He’s not a big mover, but you can lengthen his neck in the extension and then shorten him and his changes are very good. He really doesn’t make any mistakes,” Buck commented. “And I thought Park Trader was really, really good today.”

Buck Davidson and Park Trader. Photo by Abby Powell.

Buck and Park Trader are sitting equal third on 27.7 with Alexandra Baugh and  Mr Candyman — the only pair to break up Buck’s domination of the leaderboard. Mr Candyman, a 12-year-old Holsteiner who was previously campaigned by Phillip Dutton, has been with Alexandra since early 2018. The pair have gotten to know each other through the levels and are now stepping up to Advanced for Alexandra’s debut at the level, and what a lovely debut they had!

 

Alexandra Baugh and Mr Candyman. Photo by Abby Powell.

Looking slightly down the leader board, two other horses snuck in under the 30s. Will Faudree and his longtime partner Pfun, owned by Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables, hold the sixth spot on 29.1. Colleen Rutledge and her own Covert Rights, another longtime partnership, are just behind them with 29.5.

Rounding out the top ten are equal the equal eighth place Cornelia Dorr and her own Sir Patico MH and Alison Springer with the Business Ben Partnership’s Business Ben, both on a 30.7. Sitting just two penalty point behind is Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Singapore, owned by Ann Jones, Tom Tierney and David Vos.

Videographer Marion de Vogel is also onsite this weekend, putting together beautiful cinematic recaps of each day’s happenings. Check out Thursday and Friday’s videos below:

Keep it locked on EN for more from Millbrook throughout the weekend. We’ll be bringing you a course preview of the Advanced cross country bright and early. Go eventing.

Millbrook H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Entry Status] [Scoring]

U.S. Tops Pan Am Team Standings, Tamie Smith Out Front After Dressage

By on Aug 2, 2019 8:50 pm -

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

USA started off strong today at the 2019 Pan American Games with the team in gold medal position and all four riders sitting in the top ten individually after dressage in Lima, Peru.

The United States sits on a result of 76.4 after the first phase, followed by Canada with 81.3 points in second and Brazil taking up third on 85.9.

Tamie Smith leads the pack individually in her first championship appearance aboard the striking Mai Baum, a 13-year-old German Sport Horse (Loredano x  Ramira, by Rike) owned by Alexandra Ahearn, Ellen Ahearn and Eric Markell. Tamie and “Lexus” proudly earned a score of 22.8.

“I feel like I’m on one of the best horses,” Tamie said to the USEA. “Towards the end when I was almost done–that was my favorite part! When I came around to canter and I was getting ready to trot I was like, ‘Oh, that was a great test.’ So I started smiling then.”

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Eventing National Champions Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg, Christine Turner’s 12-year-old Trakehner gelding, are second individually on a 25.6.

“In every test you might wish you had one movement this and one movement that, but I’m really happy with it overall, Boyd said.

A team veteran, Boyd still recognizes the intensity of riding on a championship stage: “My favorite part was finishing because it’s very nerve wracking in there. You want to get every movement done. We’ve been thinking about that test for weeks and weeks and practicing every movement over and over again. I think it was good–could’ve been better, could’ve been worse.”

Marcelo Tosi and Starbucks. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Brazil’s Marcelo Tosi earned third place with a score of 26 aboard Starbucks, an 8-year-old Warmblood (Showmaker x Smash Hit, by Sandro Hit) owned by Marcelo and Anna Louise Ross.

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

Canadians take the next three spots on the leaderboard with Colleen Loach, Jessica Phoenix and Karl Slezak sitting fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.

Colleen piloted her own and Amanda Bernhard’s FE Golden Eye, on of the youngest horses in the field at 7-years-old, to a score of 26.2.

Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Canadian team anchor Jessica Phoenix and her longtime partner Pavarotti, a 17-year-old Westfalian (Pavarotti Van De Helle x Fedelia, by Foxiland xx), posted a 27.4.

“It’s always so much fun to compete for Canada on that horse. He’s such an experienced competitor and he didn’t let me down today. It was one of his best tests ever,” Jessica told Susan Stafford-Pooley of Horse Canada. “Whenever you enter an arena like that and you go around those white boards it’s just such an emotional experience – you’re so proud to be there and you know how much hard work you’ve put into it. To be there on a horse that you have so much history with is just awesome.”

Karl Slezak and Fernhill Wishes. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Karl Slezak was the second ride of the day aboard Fernhill Wishes. He and the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Chacoa x KEC Galway Bay, by Gildawn Diamond), who is owned by Karl and Kirk Hoppner, rode to a career personal best score of 27.7.

Doug Payne and Starr Witness. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Doug Payne and Starr Witness, an 8-year-old Dutch mare (Chello II x Carmen, by Veneur) sit seventh on a score of 28. Owned by Doug, Laurie McRee and Catherine Winter the chestnut mare rose to the challenge of her first team appearance.

“She’s one hell of an athlete and really spectacular,” he said. “There were a couple of moments that she started to get a bit distracted or wanted to look, but I was really, really happy and proud of her. I would say it was a big win for her, a big step in the right direction. There’s a lot more to do for sure tomorrow but I can’t wait.”

Carlos Parro and Helena Ashworth’s Quaikin Qurious are eighth riding for Brazil on a score of 28.1.

Lynn Symansky and RF Cool Play. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

U.S. pathfinder Lynn Symansky is ninth with RF Cool Play. “Coolio,” an 11-year-old German Sport Horse (Condors Champion x Roxana, by Radscha) owned by the Donner Syndicate, felt the atmosphere in the arena. The judges disagreed a bit on the performance, with Delano Bastos De Miranda (BRA) and Jo Young (CAN) scoring the pair differently  by over six points, but he still earned a respectable 29.2.

“We did what we could this morning, he came out a little more holding, but he’s never naughty – he tries so hard, almost to a fault sometimes when he gets in there and holds his breath,” she said. “I could feel how nervous he was in there, and he still stays listening to me, that’s what’s so important about these partnerships, getting in there and feeling how much you can push and where you maybe have to sacrifice a few points for the overall picture.”

Rounding out our top ten is Chile’s Carlos Lobos Muñoz. He and Ranco, who is owned by the Chilean Army, earned a 31.

Dana Cooke and FE Mississippi. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Canada’s final team pair, Dana Cooke and FE Mississippi, sit 13th on a score of 32.8.

Team results after dressage:

  1. United States (76.4)
  2. Canada (81.3)
  3. Brazil (85.9)
  4. Mexico (105.8)
  5. Chile (111.1)
  6. Argentina (117.1)
  7. Guatemala (117.1)
  8. Uruguay (125.5)
  9. Colombia (127.2)
  10. Peru (131.9)

Cross country starts tomorrow at 11 a.m. local/12 p.m. eastern. Check out our fence-by-fence preview here.

Pan American Games: Website, Entries, Technical Manual, Cross Country Order of Go, Individual Live Scores, Team Live Scores, Ultimate Guide, EN’s Coverage

Pan Am Dressage Social Media Roundup: Dancing Queens

By on Aug 2, 2019 7:34 pm -

One phase down, two to go folks! Our U.S. riders made us Pan Am proud today in Lima, Peru where they danced their tails into gold medal position. Our northern neighbors from Canada are also looking good in silver. Check out the smiles from social media today:

Pan American Games: Website, Entries, Technical Manual, Dressage Individual Live Scores, Dressage Team Live Scores, Ultimate Guide, EN’s Coverage

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What a horse! Mai Baum “Lexus” was a complete professional today and I couldn’t be more proud and honored to be riding such a wonderful horse for such wonderful people! @mecoston out did herself today and I’m so lucky to have this girl as my right hand. #thebest Team USA 🇺🇸 had a super day after day 1 and is currently leading the way. It was so impressive to watch every rider produce every point out of their horses today. Very proud to be riding along with these great people! Thank you everyone for all of your love and support. We have a lot ahead of us still so keep the positive vibes coming America’s way!! Here are a couple great shots today with the first being my favorite! Thank you @shannonbrinkman for your incredible skills! #teamusa #useventing @mecoston @dpequestrian @lynn.symansky.equestrian @boydmartin007 @lizhallidaysharp

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Video by @chronofhorse #TeamUSA #Lima2019

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My colleagues have been known to accuse me of being very serious and it’s true, I take my job seriously. That said, you’ve also got to know when to lighten up! So let me introduce myself to you lovely followers who might be new to my account! 📸 . . . I am a lifelong hunter/jumper rider who is on a steady path to hunter queen these days. I love photographing three day eventing but you will never see me try it! Respect to all you eventers out there. See photo one for my creative interpretation of how I would look if I ever attempted to jump a cross country fence, especially one this huge 😵 . . . Working at a big championships like the Pan Am Games is an amazing experience with very long days…sadly kicking back at the water complex decoration is as close as I’m going to get to a beach vacation for the next few weeks (photo 2). . .And the third photo is simply proof that some cross country jumps are actually edible 😆 . . . Thank you @shannonbrinkman for the photos and keeping things real during today’s cross country course walk and all the time #bestcolleagues #bestjob

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Lima Panamericanos 2019

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Friday Video from SmartPak: Britain’s First Hijabi Jockey Wins Magnolia Cup

By on Aug 2, 2019 6:29 pm -

She’s been the talk of the UK equestrian industry this week, and rightly so: when eighteen-year-old Khadijah Mellah saddled up for her racing debut in Goodwood’s Magnolia Cup, a ladies-only charity race supporting medical research charity Wellbeing of Women, she’d only been training for four months. But while her accomplishment in not just completing but winning the popular race is impressive in itself, what’s even more important is the much-needed representation she brings to the forefront of the conversation.

“A big part of my life has just been proving people wrong about what a person like me can achieve,” says the teenager, who lives in Peckham, south London, and rides at Brixton’s Ebony Horse Club. And boy, has she done just that. Khadijah has stormed fearlessly into a sport that, for all its progressiveness where gender roles are concerned, remains inordinately whitewashed – and she’s done so at the maelstrom of a cultural climate that sees Muslims ostracised, targeted, and widely misunderstood by westerners. By wearing her hijab she doesn’t just become the first-ever hijabi jockey – she also wears her faith with pride, allowing it come to the forefront of conversation, and creating a familiar touchstone for many millions of little girls who will now see the horse world as one they, too, could join. And that, folks, is a beautiful thing.

The diversity issue in the equestrian industry is a thorny one, but it’s one that can be aided by open,  empathetic conversation. We encourage you to join in the discussion, but please – keep it kind and keep it productive. We’re all human beings united by one thing – the ineffable love of horses – and only by celebrating our differences can we make it clear that our wonderful, weird industry is a safe space for everyone.

In the meantime, go Khadijah – and go racing. We know she will.