We hear all the time about horses at the top of the sport, but what about the next generation of equine talent? EN’s Got Talent introduces the future superstars of the sport, interviewing riders about how they’re tackling training with these youngsters. Have you spotted a spectacular young horse at an event you think should be highlighted in this column? Tip me at [email protected].
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Doug Payne and Lysander accept their ribbon in the Young Event Horse 5-year-old East Coast Championships at Fair Hill last fall. Photo by Jenni Autry.
It’s been six months almost to the day since I launched EN’s Got Talent, a weekly series that introduces the young, up-and-coming superstars of eventing. Since then, the stars of EN’s Got Talent have garnered some very impressive finishes, proving that this series is truly fulfilling its goal to find the horses to watch. This week, we’re catching up with the 13 horses featured so far on EN’s Got Talent. Which talented pair are you rooting for?
Doug Payne and Lysander: Big Leo started his season at Pine Top, placing fifth in his training division. He most recently finished 12th in preliminary at Paradise Farm. Big Leo also placed 5th in the Young Event Horse 5-year-old East Coast Championships at Fair Hill last fall.
Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights: CR placed 13th in a competitive intermediate division last month at Pine Top Advanced. I watched him go in person at Fair Hill last fall, where he completed the CCI2*, finished 33rd. Colleen is aiming to move CR up to Advanced this spring.
Elisa Wallace and Corteo: Corteo started his season on a high note, winning his open novice division at Poplar Place last month. Elisa plans to move Corteo up to training level this fall after he turns 6.
Jennifer Wooten and Anika: Anika most recently competed in an open novice division at Galway Downs, where she placed 10th in a very competitive division. She earned a 37.4 in dressage, pulled a rail in show jumping and ran double clear on cross country.
Rebecca Brown and Belafonte D’Avalon: Harry started his season earlier this month at MeadowCreek Park, where he won his training division. Rebecca hopes to aim for a one-star with Harry before the end of the year.
Katie Murphy and Esccord RGS: Garth won his first start of the year in novice at Paradise Farm, finishing on his 29.6 dressage score. He most recently made his training-level debut at Sporting Days, where he finished third on his dressage score of 33.2.
Kelli Temple and Scirroco: Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton have been riding Rocco this season, as Kelli fractured her hip in a fall during a cross-country school in Aiken earlier this month. Rocco was third in novice with Boyd in the irons at Paradise Farm last month, and won his training division at Sporting Days with Phillip aboard.
Kate Chadderton and Civil Liberty: Liberty’s best finish so far this season has been fifth in intermediate at Pine Top Advanced. Kate hopes to run him in the CCI2* at Bromont this June.
Kim Keeton and Accolade: Bear laid down a beautiful 26.4 dressage test in his intermediate division at Pine Top Advanced before running into trouble on cross country; he finished 11th. If all goes well this season, Kim is considering aiming Bear at the CCI2* at Fair Hill this fall.
Jen Carter and Sayyida: Xena most recently placed eighth in her preliminary division at Rocking Horse II. She also competed at Red Hills this past weekend in open preliminary. Jen is aiming Xena at the CCI1* in Ocala next month.
Lauren Deneve and Forrest Nymph: Farrah has been cleaning up at Rocking Horse this winter, most recently finishing 3rd in preliminary at Rocking Horse Winter II and winning her preliminary division at Rocking Horse Winter III. She’s now earned six qualifying scores toward the CCI1* at Ocala.
Kurt Martin and Anna Bella: Anna Bella most recently finished sixth in the Red Hills CIC1*. She also placed second in the open preliminary division at Paradise Farm last month and fifth in an intermediate combined test — her first competition at that level — at Sporting Days this month.
Katie Wooten Bryant and San City: Samson won the CIC1* at Red Hills last weekend in an impressive field of 56 starters. He led after dressage with a score of 35.9, pulled one rail in show jumping and ran double clear on cross country, leading the division wire to wire. Julie Richards is still in the irons; Katie will take over the ride this summer.
