Isabelle Bosley and Paper Doll. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Competition is underway at The Event at TerraNova, with the first day of dressage complete. Isabelle Bosley, 27 of Monkton, Maryland took the lead in The Estates at TerraNova & Laughlin Tanner Group at Premier Sotheby’s International Realty CCI3*-L riding Paper Doll, a 12-year-old American Hanoverian mare (Paparazzo 3 x Datina) owned by Karen Martin, who is also her breeder. Bosley has been riding the mare for six years.
Bosley said, “She’s a super fun mare to ride. She really took to eventing and we get along really well. This year our goal was to get to a 3-Long in the fall.”
The competitive division saw 19 horses head down the centerline; Bosley’s test with the elegant bay mare was consistent, forward and accurate, resulting in a score of 27.8 for first place ahead of Lucia Strini and her handsome 12-year-old gray Dutch gelding DHI Kevin G, owned by Plain Dealing Farm, with a score of 29.1. Gireg Le Coz, representing France, rounds out the top three riding Hissoa des Bois, a 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Jean Van Gysel, just a tenth of a point behind Strini on a score of 29.2.
Lucia Strini and DHI Kevin G. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
While it was a sunny and mild day in Myakka City, located East of Sarasota, a strong breeze kept a lot of horses on their toes. Some of the riders had to contend with horses that looked more ready to head out on the cross-country course, located just across an access road from the dressage arena, than to settle in for a relaxed dressage test. The numerous flags surrounding the arena flapping in the wind added to the electric atmosphere.
“She is always a total competitor and gives her best at every event,” said Bosley of Paper Doll. “It’s just a matter of getting her stronger and she’s finally getting to that point and able to get some better marks. I’m really excited with how she went for me today; I knew she’d try her hardest and I just wanted to be able to ride her the best I could. She loves to show off, she loves a crowd, so the bigger atmosphere really suits her because she really lights up and gives a hundred and ten percent. She didn’t put a foot wrong, and did the best test she could do today.”
Bosley also leads the CCI2*-L riding Conner, a seven-year-old Oldenburg gelding who is also owned by Karen Martin, on a score of 22.3. “He’s a super exciting up and coming horse; he’s still very baby, and with him I was definitely worried about the atmosphere, but I’m really proud of him because he took it all in and kind of swallowed his nerves when he went in the ring and was really with me the whole test, he was just perfect.”
French Olympian Gireg le Coz joins us in the U.S., riding Jean van Gysel’s Hissoa des Bois in the CCi3*-L. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
A Maryland native whose parents are both involved in horse racing, Bosley spent ten years working for international event rider Lillian Heard in Cochranville, PA. This past June she began working for Phillip Dutton in nearby West Grove, PA.
“I had been taking some lessons with Phillip before moving over to work for him and he’s been a massive help,” she said. “I give him some credit for my test today, for helping me prep both of my horses. Lillian and I are still really close – she’s almost like a mom to me. I started working for her when I was 17, and while I felt like it was time to get a change and get a different atmosphere, I love that area and it’s home for me. I’m close friends with Phillip’s daughter Olivia as well and we’re both trying to climb up the levels and figure it out together.”
Lauren Nicholson and Larcot Z. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
The B&D Builders CCI4*-L began today with eight out of seventeen horses performing their dressage tests. Lauren Nicholson took the lead riding Jacqueline Mars’ nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding Larcot Z on a score of 30.4. Katie Malensek (CAN) riding her 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding Landjaeger are second (31.7) followed by Sophia Middlebrook riding Christa Schmidt’s 10-year-old Warmblood gelding Prontissimo (32.9).
The CCI4*-L dressage will continue tomorrow; the Insurance Offices of America CCI4*-S division, which boasts nine entries and is a qualifier for the $200,000 US Equestrian Open of Eventing Finals at Morven Park next October, will do both dressage and show jumping tomorrow. All divisions go cross-country on Saturday.
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