Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
After a soggy start to the weekend, the sun came out to wrap up the Yanmar America Tryon International CCI4*-L this morning.
The top of the board didn’t give much wiggle room for change – Caroline Pamukcu maintained her lead with HSH Blake, and Will Faudree held onto second with Mama’s Magic Way. However, we saw Phillip Dutton‘s Jewelent (3rd after cross country) eliminated at the final horse inspection, with Liz Halliday sliding into third and fourth with Cooley Quicksilver and Shanroe Cooley after jumping two clears. Phillip’s other ride, Denim, picked up only 0.8 time in the jumping to round out the top 5.
Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Caroline Pamukcu and Mollie Hoff and Sherrie Martin’s HSH Blake (Tolan R – Doughiska Lass, by Kannan) have continued developing their strong partnership. Since winning the Pan Ams last year, this duo finished second in the 4*S at Carolina, 5th in the 4*S at Kentucky, and have now secured the win in the 4*L at Tryon, finishing on their dressage score of 28.6.
“This weekend we are over the moon,” Caroline stated. “I have always said [Blake] is such a unicorn – he gives 200%. It’s hard to do two FEI shows back to back, ten days apart, but we followed team selection. It’s the last step towards the Olympics.”
“He lost a shoe on the cross country at both Kentucky and Tryon, so I had to reinvent some lines, take some wide turns or direct lines to keep from slipping. But today I just had to go in there, take a breath, and ride a quiet course,” Caroline said. “I didn’t have to do anything crazy [with the time]. I thought it was a beautiful course, I always love riding and jumping at Tryon, it has such a great atmosphere.”
Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
“I couldn’t do this without my team,” Caroline expressed her gratitude. “I jumped with Bobby [Costello] this morning, talked with my coach Sharon White, and had my business partner Kelley Hutchinson in the warm up – Kelley sourced Blake for me as a five year old, and is a big reason he’s still in my barn, as well as his owners Mollie Hoff and my mom Sherrie.”
After rerouting to Tryon from Kentucky, Will Faudree and Jennifer Mosing’s Mama’s Magic Way (Mighty Magic – Straightaway, by Star Regent xx) seemed to have found their way. “I of course was a bit disappointed with an uncharacteristic dressage at Kentucky,” Will reflected. “But I think his back was bothering him. We had treated it, but I think he just needed some more time. After some chiropractor work, he’s felt great in his body all week, which I feel helps them feel better in their brain, too.”
Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
“He recovered great [from cross country], I was kicking myself for the two time penalties [yesterday],” Will said.
Going in to show jumping, Will has sought out help with Mason’s unique jumping style, and has been working with Olympic show jumper Lauren Hough over this past winter. “Mason’s not the most orthodox [in the show jumping], and a bit excited to get there. After Burghley last year, my coach Bobby Costello and I talked about connecting with Lauren [Hough] for some help. She’s really helped me give him the time [he needs], and has also helped me change [myself] – I used to show jump with my stirrups on hole seven, and go cross country on hole eleven. My cross country stirrups are the same, but I jump on hole four now.”
“[Lauren and I] talked about the course today, and she reminded me today to move quickly but not to sacrifice a rail by going too fast. Bobby told me to equitate in the combinations – be still and quiet with your body.”
Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
The winter homework with Mason’s jumping seemed to pay off, jumping a double clear in the show jumping today. “[Mason] came out feeling super this morning. I was just thrilled with him all weekend,” Will stated.
Liz Halliday certainly showed her experience and consistency this weekend, having two finish in the top 5, within 0.4 penalties of one another, finishing in third on a 35.2 with The Monster Partnership / Ocala Horse Properties’ Cooley Quicksilver (Womanizer – Kylemore Crystal, by Greggan Diamond), and 4th on a 35.6 with Ocala Horse Properties’ Shanroe Cooley (Dallas – Shanroe Sapphire, by Condios).
Liz Halliday and Cooley Quicksilver. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
“My horses were both fantastic today and jumped super clear rounds,” Liz reflected. “Both horses really enjoy big atmospheres, so it was great to jump in the Tryon Stadium! This is always an excellent spring three day event that I look forward to.”
Sharon White and Jaguar Duende. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
In the 4*S, we saw Colleen Loach and her own, Peter Barry, and Amanda Bernhard’s FE Golden Eye (Goldfever 3 x Cascade, by Contendro I) secure the win, Sharon White and Jaguars Duende win the 3*L, Allison Springer and Castle Howard Romeo with the 3*S win, and Joe Meyer and Ballygriffin Crossfield Cara win the 2*L. Caroline Pamukcu took home another win this weekend with The Sequel in the 2*S, and Lucienne Bellissimo secured the 1*S win with Duke’s Jory. You can find all final results here.
Tryon International Three Day Event (Mill Spring, NC) [Website] [Entries] [Scoring]
