Will Coleman and Off The Record. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Will Coleman never runs out of favorable words to describe his longtime partner Off The Record, and today was no exception as he sang “Timmy’s” praises after a banner weekend that ended with victory in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S.
Timmy was sourced through Richard Sheane and landed with Will as a 4-year-old. Though somewhat difficult as a youngster, the now 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse blossomed into one of the most consistent campaigners in the sport. He’s delivered some of Will’s most memorable career achievements, including becoming the first-ever U.S. winners at the prestigious CHIO Aachen CCIO4*-S (Germany) and helping the U.S. end a twenty-year dry spell and claim team silver at the FEI World Championships at Pratoni (Italy) as the highest-placed American pair. But there’s no doubt that grabbing a 35th career FEI win in front of thousands of spectators just hits differently.
Will Coleman and Off The Record. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
“It was humble beginnings. He was a pretty hardy young horse, but he always displayed a real knack for cross country — and that kept us going with him. He’s not the most natural in the other phases, but he has an incredible work ethic,” Will said. “As our relationship improved and we found more harmony in our communication, he really started to blossom. It’s been a joy to have him. He has his own style, but his character is what makes him a good horse. He’s a genuine guy, and he honestly has a conscience about trying to do the right thing — especially in competition. That’s a wonderful quality.”
The round finished as a fairytale, but it wasn’t the perfect story at the start. Timmy kicked off with some tension that had him cross-cantering to the first few fences. The packed grandstands sucked in a collective gasp when they knocked the front rail of the Mars two-stride combination, but fortunately for Will, that was their only fault, and they finished on a score of 33.
“I did hear the rail fall and then I said, ‘Oh, now I really have to think about the clock.’ So I hustled a little bit. I knew Timmy was going to try his best. He actually felt like he went in there and just tightened up on me a little bit — missing his leads. And it just makes it hard to ride as smooth a round as you’d envision. But the truth is that the horse has gotten this far in the sport with grit, determination, and try, and he showed all those things to come home with us out in front. I’m just happy for the horse — that I didn’t let him down.”
Phillip Dutton and Possante. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Possante, a 12-year-old KWPN (Namelus — Wedelien, by Otangelo) owned by the Possante Group, takes the next step on the podium in second place with Phillip Dutton.
Phillip had the advantage of riding the course once before with his overnight third-placed Denim and used that insider information to his advantage, jumping clear only one second above the optimum time with Possante to complete the weekend on a score of 33.9.
His first horse, Denim, the 10-year-old Holsteiner (Dinken — Celia II, by Ibisco) owned by Ann Jones, Ann Lapides, Caroline Moran, and Neill Sites, was slightly slower than his stablemate, but otherwise clear. He picked up 1.6 time penalties to drop into fourth place.
“We all earmarked this event early on in the year. This was the one we were all aiming for. It’s kind of a relief to be sitting up here with a good result,” he said.
“It’s a bit ironic — my best jumper is Denim, and he’s the one that moved back down because I was too slow on the cross country. But I couldn’t be more pleased with Possante. Show jumping hasn’t always been easy for us. I have to thank Lauren Hough, who’s been helping me through thick and thin. As you know, improvement isn’t always linear. You have ups and downs.”
The Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S is one of 19 qualifying events on the US Equestrian Open series, of which Phillip is currently the highest-ranked rider, and these second- and fourth-place finishes boost his current score to 215. Competitors earn points at each qualifier, and whoever earns the most points throughout the season will be awarded a $25,000 check.
Jessica Phoenix and Freedom GS. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Just like they did at the Paris Olympics, Jessica Phoenix and Freedom GS delivered a double clear and moved onto the podium in third place. The leggy bay showed just how world-class he is this weekend, migrating up the leaderboard 11 points from start to finish.
After last year’s Olympics, the Canadian eventer knew she wanted to strengthen Charlotte Schickedanz’s 13-year-old Oldenburg/Trakehner (Humble GS — Friedel GS) in the first phase in order to be more competitive, so she looked to Ashley Holzer for help.
“It’s definitely been an amazing spring season for us. Coming away from the Paris Olympics, we really felt we needed to hit the dressage phase harder. We needed the horses stronger — and me stronger, too.
Getting more confident with my body type and figuring out what worked best for my position was the focus. After Paris, I started training with Ashley Holzer, and she has been a real game-changer for me. She understands exactly how to teach me and explain where I need to be to help the horses the most,” Jessica said.
“It really feels like the communication with all my horses has gotten so much better. They’ve always been strong in the show jumping phase, but now the dressage is coming along too. To see the fruits of all the hard work we put in over the winter coming out this spring — seeing the horses so confident and happy — it’s just pure joy.”
Allison Springer and No May Moon. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
The can-do Connemara cross No May Moon earned fifth place with Allison Springer. Owner Nancy Winter, who was short-listed for the 1984 Olympics on a Connemara, bred “Mayzie” (as well as her full sibling, 3* eventer Crystal Crescent Moon) by the British dressage horse Catherston Dazzler and out of Ebony Moon (by Mystic Replica).
Mayzie, who won the Bromont CCI4*-L last season, was gritty and quick to complete double clear on a final result of 40.4.
Mia Farley and Invictus. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Mia Farley piloted Karen O’Connor’s owned and bred Invictus, a 9-year-old Holsteiner/Thoroughbred (Diarado — Sunset Paradise, by Unbridled Jet), to double clear success, finishing her weekend on a score of 42.9.
James Alliston and Nemesis. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
After starting the weekend in 26th place, James Alliston claimed seventh with Alliston Equestrian’s Nemesis, an 11-year-old Canadian Warmblood (Novalis 46 — Maesy).
2023 Kentucky 5* winner Tamie Smith is eighth with the 10-year-old KWPN Kynan (Envoy — Daniel, by Zirocco Blue). Eleventh after the first phase, Kynan added only 17.2 time penalties on Saturday’s cross country, but none today to finish on a score of 46.
Ema Klugman and Chiraz. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Australia’s Ema Klugman and the striking grey Chiraz finished ninth. The 12-year-old Holsteiner (Cayado 3 — Asquetta, by Casall), who has previously been campaigned by both Boyd Martin and Nicola Wilson, lowered one rail and added two seconds to the clock to remain in the top ten.
A clear round with 2.8 time penalties elevated Jan Byyny and Beautiful Storm, a 10-year-old Thoroughbred (Get Stormy — So Beautiful, by Arch) owned by Jan, Jo Ellen, and Richard Byyny, from 16th after cross country to take the final top ten spot at competition end.
After over a dozen riders struggled against the clock, it was Elisa Wallace and Lissavorra Quality who were the first to prove that it was possible to finish this phase double clear. They finished 15th on a score of 53.8.
“She’s really green, but she feeds off of that environment in there. She can be a tough mare because she’s Irish and she’s got her own opinion, but she helps you out when you need it. I tried to stay out of her way and she helped me out when I needed it,” Elisa said.
This four-star has once again proven to be one of the toughest in the country, if not the world, and gives horses and riders the opportunity to test their mettle in a world-class atmosphere. Congratulations to all competitors for a job well done.
Defender Kentucky: [Website] [Tickets] [Official Schedule] [Entries & Ride Times] [Scoring] [XC Maps] [ClipMyHorse Live Stream] [USEF Network on ClipMyHorse Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage] [EN’s Form Guide]
EN’s coverage of Defender Kentucky is supported by Kentucky Performance Products. To learn more about Kentucky Performance Products’ science-backed nutritional support products, click here.
