The Pacific Northwest could not have delivered more beautiful conditions for a final day of competition at Aspen Farms Horse Trials and CCI4*-S in Yelm, WA. Sunny weather, temperatures in the low 70s with a light breeze, spectacular views of Mt. Rainier to the East, and excellent footing on the grass-covered cross-country track through the woods and undulating hills of Aspen Farms 240 acres.
Tommy Greengard Leads CCI4*-S Start to Finish
Tommy Greengard and Joshuay MBF. Photo by Ashley Kemp Photography.
Tommy Greengard and his 2014 Dutch Warmblood gelding, Joshuay MBF (pictured above, with Mt. Rainier in the background) from California delivered consistently all three phases of competition, leading the CCI4*-S from start to finish on their dressage score of 26.9.
“I’m so proud of him!” Greengard shared shortly after crossing the cross-country finish line. “That’s his first run at the Advanced level since 2023. He’s the most amazing horse. I’ve loved him since we got him as a 5 year old. He has always delivered, and he has always taken care of me.”
Next up Greengard and Joshuay are aiming for the CCI4*-L at Rebecca Farms.
Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14. Photo by Ashley Kemp Photography.
Hot on the heels of the winners in the CCI4*-S in every phase were last year’s winners and this year’s second place finishers: Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14, owned by Annika Asling. They added just 2.4 time faults on the cross-country course designed by Morgan Rowsell to finish second on 30.4.
“The course felt really good,” said O’Neal after cross-country. “The footing was very good, as usual here. It was really nice to not have rain! Everything rode the way it walked; my plan worked. I could have maybe turned a little sooner in a few spots to make up that little bit of time. But overall, it rode great. I’m so grateful to Clooney’s owner, Annika Asling, for helping me and letting me have the ride–he’s an amazing horse. My whole team is so great.”
The highlight of the show experience for O’Neal was getting to deliver a double clear show jumping round in the Tack Room Too Arena on Saturday night with a packed crowd enjoying the Evening Spectator Reception, with drinks and hors d’oeuvres sponsored by Southern California Equestrian Sports (SCES).
“It’s so fun to have the crowd and hear the cheering,” she said. “I feed off of it! I love the energy and the comradery. It’s great to get more people watching, so they can see what we can do. I loved the atmosphere.”
O’Neal and Clooney are heading to a jumper show later this month, and then will focus on fitness to prepare for the CCI4*-L at Rebecca Farms in July.
Rounding out the CCI4*-S were the two Canadian riders: Renee Kalkman and her Thoroughbred gelding Flame Eternal and Cristina Rennie and her Westphalian gelding Flight of the Arabesque, finishing third and fourth respectively. Both delivered clear and inside-the-time cross-country rounds.
“This was an amazing show!” shared Rennie. “Aspen Farms was my first US competition back in 2019, and I always tell people THIS is the place to go to! So so beautiful. The course was inviting, real, and made me feel ready. Thank you to everyone involved with Aspen Farms Horse Trials for your fine details and love. As a Canadian, it is so great to have this close to home!”
Aspen Farms CCI4*-S: A Qualifier for US Equestrian Open of Eventing Series
Tommy Greengard and That’s Me Z. Photo by Ashley Kemp Photography.
This was only the second year that Aspen Farms has hosted an CCI4*-S division–the only of its kind in Washignton State. This year the CCI4*-S also served as a qualifier for the US Equestrian Open of Eventing Series which awards top ranking riders prize money at the end of the Series.
“I think it’s a great program that the USEF has put together,” said Aspen Farms Show Organizer Jonathan Elliott. “It’s nice to make a grouping of the 4* organizers and competitions, and hopefully allow the West Coast competitors to gain points in the Series. I also think it’s a great promotion leading up to the LA Olympics in 2028.”
Thanks to their results in the CCI4*-S at Aspen Farms, Tommy Greengard of California has moved into the Top 10 on the Series Leaderboard (tied 9th overall). Karen O’Neal of Washington is now 13th. Both Canadian competitors from British Columbia, Renee Kalkman and Cristina Rennie, have entered the running on the Leaderboard too.
The Series will culminate in a $200,000 CCI4*-L final at Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials, October 9-12, 2025.
Greengard Also Tops the Leaderboard in the CCI3*-S
Tommy Greengard piloted Balladeer Kilbrickens Lad, winners of the CCI3*-S at Aspen Farms. Photo by Ashley Kemp Photography.
In the CCI3*-S, Tommy Greengard piloted Balladeer Kilbrickens Lad, a 10-year-old Irish Sporthorse gelding owned by Patricia Culleton, to their first FEI win. They finished on their dressage score of 26, one of only two pairs to jump clean and inside the time, along with Alessandra Allen-Shinn and Bankseigh, owned by Jordan Raska, who finished eleventh overall.
“He was so brilliant!” said Greengard. “He doesn’t have the strongest cross-country history. I’ve only had the ride on him for a year. He’s gone from Training level to winning at the 3* in under a year. None of us ever thought that he would be a 3* horse, and now he’s a winning 3* horse! But more importantly, he finds the job really enjoyable. He’s happy doing it, so we couldn’t be happier.”
Sophia Click and Tarantino 54 also delivered a convincing cross-country performance in the CCI3*-S, adding just 3.2 time faults to move from seventh after show jumping to second. Stephanie Goodman and her mare Elwenda DP were consistent throughout all three phases and finished third in the field of 14 starters.
Hanni Sreenan Wins the CCI2*-S
Hanni Sreenan and Ebenholtz, winners of the CCI2*-S. Photo by Ashley Kemp Photography.
In the CCI2*-S, Hanni Sreenan of Hood River, OR and Ebenholtz, a 2007 Hanoverian gelding owned by Amy Haugen, led the division from start to finish.
Despite how fast, fun, and easy (her own words) the cross-country course rode for Sreenan, the highlight of the show for her was their dressage test on Friday, which produced a personal best dressage score for the pair of 25.5.
“I’ve been really working on getting him to brighten up his step and getting him a little fancier in the flatwork,” she said. “He really improved on the flat at this show. The score was great to see!”
Their next show will be the Intermediate division at Inavale Horse Trials in Oregon.
Paige Beauchamp Crandon and Fyfin Ramiro, a 2016 Irish Sporthorse mare owned by Melissa Beauchamp, finished second in the CCI2*-S. Anni Grandia-Dodson and Mistral, a 2016 German Sporthorse gelding, finished third.
16 Horse Trial Divisions Offered at Aspen Farms
Tommy Greengard and MBF Google, winners of Open Preliminary at Aspen Farms Horse Trials. Photo by Ashley Kemp Photography.
In addition to the FEI divisions, Aspen Farms Horse Trials hosted 16 horse trials divisions from Beginner Novice through Intermediate levels, attracting riders from throughout the Pacific Northwest United States Eventing Association Area VII and beyond. Thanks to generous show sponsors, over $30,000 worth of prizes was awarded to top finishers on Sunday.
In Open Intermediate, Tommy Greengard claimed another win; this time with That’s Me Z, a 2017 chestnut Zangersheide gelding owned by Andrea Pfeiffer. Despite moving from first to third after one rail in show jumping on Saturday, their fast cross-country ride on Sunday moved them back to the top of the Leaderboard ahead of Mickayla Howard and HH Ontario in second, and Emily Pestl-Dimmitt and Aventinus, owned by Louise LaRue, in third.
“This was his first run back since the 4* short at Kentucky,” Greengard said after cross-country. “We were just hoping he would be happy and confident, and he smoked around the course!”
Greengard also secured the top three spots in the Open Preliminary division:
- MBF Google, Score 24.0
- EL Porvenir Luigi, owned by Andrea Pfeiffer, Score 26.3
- Cooley Sligo, owned by Megan Beachler, Score 28.7
“We couldn’t be happier with all the horses,” said Greengard after his wins. “I feel so privileged to ride this group of horses. And also, credit to Andrea Pfeiffer… Andrea is behind everything. She helps me with the horses every single day; day-in and day-out. It’s a dream we both share, and it wouldn’t be possible without her.”
As for why he and his Chocolate Horse Farm team make the trip from California to Aspen Farms in Yelm, WA, Greengard shares: “We love competing here. The tracks are so well presented. We find it really technically challenging. The courses are up to standard. They do a great job putting on the show.”
Elizabeth Bohling and Monbeg Heatwave, winners of Preliminary Rider. Photo by Ashley Kemp Photography.
In Preliminary Rider, clean jumping efforts propelled Elizabeth Bohling and Monbeg Heatwave from fourth after dressage up to first in the division on a score of 37.4. Megan Robinson and Daisy placed second on 38.2, and Caterina Ritson and Tiz Franklin placed third on 38.4.
All four of the Training Level Divisions required sub-30 score performances to make the Leaderboard:
- Jr. Training: Winners Lorelei Frederickson and Kremer VD Falieberg, Score 25.3
- Training Amateur: Winners Lorilee Hanson and Mosaïque, Score 24.4
- Open Training: Winners Stephanie Goodman and Cord Johnson, Score 22.8
- Training Horse: Winners Jayne Fife and Chaplain, Score 24.4
The lowest finishing score of the weekend was 21.4, earned by Dorothy Voute and her 7-year-old Connemara gelding, Tycooly Fletcher, in Novice Amateur. They and other Amateur / Rider division winners will have their sights set on The Arion Challenge, which awards a custom Arion saddle to an Amateur rider who can win their Amateur / Rider division at both the June and September Aspen Farms Horse Trials.
In Open Novice, Michelle Grimmer won with her 13-year-old Thoroughbred mare, In Private, whom she bought off the track for $1,000 as a 5-year-old.
“The best part of the show for me was being able to ride her forward and let go of her,” said Grimmer, while picking up her many prizes from the Show Office. “The courses are always evolving at Aspen Farms. I’ve ridden Novice level here a million times on different horses over the years. This was by-far the best course I’ve ridden here. There were technical questions–lots of choices you could make to make up time, or to take more time. It gave the horses a good glimpse at the next level and invited forward riding. I loved it!”
Please join us a competitor, spectator, sponsor, or volunteer September 12-14, 2025 for Aspen Farms Horse Trials and USEA Area VII Championships in Yelm, WA. Visit our website, aspenfarmseventing.com for more information.
