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A five-star winner, a fall forgiven and an emotional story: US eventing squad selected for the World Championships

Pippa Roome — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 12:07:41 +0000

Defender Kentucky five-star winners Will Coleman and Diabolo will head up the US squad for the eventing World Championships at Aachen in August.

The US selection pathway for the Aachen 2026 eventing team is more straightforward than some others such as Britain’s – where riders have the pick of multiple events – in that the vast majority of US contenders head to Kentucky Three-Day Event for either the five-star or four-star short, so these two classes act as the major spring championship trial.

As such, the US squad includes the five-star winners in Will and Diabolo and runners-up Caroline Pamucku and HSH Blake, plus frequent team rider Phillip Dutton, who was eighth on Possante. Also included are Boyd Martin and Cooley Nutcracker (11th in the five-star) and Kentucky four-star winners Tamie Smith and Lillet 3. The four-star runner Very Dignified is one of two direct reserve mounts for Will.

There are no major surprises in the squad. Selectors obviously decided they could forgive Tamie her fall at Defender Bramham Horse Trials.

Perhaps the only real question mark is the absence of Boyd’s Commando 3 (sixth at Kentucky five-star after very good five-star form in 2025) from either the squad or reserve bench – one has to assume this smart horse is out of contention with some kind of setback. Boyd has a reserve listing for Shanroe Cooley, who was third at Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials.

The selection of Cooley Nutcracker has a particular emotional pull because he was ridden at Paris 2024 by Liz Halliday, before her life-changing injury in a fall, and is owned by a syndicate called Liz’s Nutcrackers, which includes Liz and her mother, Debby. Liz watched the horse in action at Kentucky in April, her first return to an event since her accident.

Of interest to British fans will be the inclusion on the reserve list of Wiltshire-based Tiana Coudray with her Bramham podium finisher D’Artagnan. Should she be called up, this would be Tiana’s first championship since the 2012 London Olympics.

Fellow reserve Hallie Coon (Kapriccio) is also based in Wiltshire, while Allie Knowles (Montpellier Scais) has been competing in Britain this season as part of the development tour and sealed her reserve listing with results at Bicton Horse Trials and Bramham.

The squad includes three riders from the US’s 2022 world silver medal-winning team (Will, Tamie and Boyd), but no horses – unless Will ends up riding his old favourite Off The Record (seventh individually at the 2022 worlds), who is one of his two direct reserve horses.

It will be decided nearer the time of the World Championships which four riders from the US squad make up the eventing team and which rides as an individual.

US eventing squad for the 2026 World Championships

The full squad, in alphabetical order by athlete surname, is:

Will Coleman with 14-year-old gelding Diabolo

Owner: Diabolo Group

Breeder: Fritz Maschmann

Breeding: by Diarado out of a mare by Aljano 2

Groom: Erin Jarboe

Phillip Dutton with 13-year-old gelding Possante

Owner: The Possante Group

Breeder: De Radstake B.V

Breeding: by Namelus R out of a mare by Otangelo

Groom: Emma Yanek

Boyd Martin with 12-year-old gelding Cooley Nutcracker

Owner: Liz’s Nutcrackers

Breeder: Gary Doherty

Breeding: by BMC Tolan R out of a mare by Cobra

Groom: Stephanie Simpson

Caroline Pamukcu with 11-year-old gelding HSH Blake

Owners: Mollie Hoff, rider’s mother Sherrie Martin, rider and her husband Deniz

Breeder: Justin Burke

Breeding: by BMC Tolan R out of a mare by Kannan

Groom: Chloe Teahan

Tamie Smith with 10-year-old mare Lillet 3

Owners: Molly and Jennifer Duda

Breeder: Morena Petersen

Breeding: SIEC Livello out of a mare by Calidio I

Groom: Savannah Gwin

Direct reserve horses for Will Coleman:

Seventeen-year-old gelding Off The Record

Owner: Off The Record Syndicate

Breeder: Peter G. Brady

Breeding: by VDL Arkansas out of a mare by ARD Ohio

Groom: Erin Jarboe

Eleven-year-old mare Very Dignified

Owners: Jerome Broussard, Gloria Callen and Elizabeth Lendrum

Breeder: Deirdre Bowler

Breeding: by Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet out of a mare by Ricardo Z

Groom: Erin Jarboe

The following combinations have been selected as alternates and are listed in alphabetical order (grooms have not been published for the reserves):

Jennie Brannigan with 16-year-old gelding FE Lifestyle

Owners: Tim and Nina Gardner

Breeder: Danny Arnold

Breeding: by Leo Von Faelz out of a mare by Brandenburger

Hallie Coon with 11-year-old gelding Kapriccio

Owners: rider and Helen Coon

Breeder: E. Van Hal

Breeding: by Dexter R out of mare by Carambo

Tiana Coudray with 12-year-old gelding D’Artagnan

Owners: Kyrle Arscott, Tiana Coudray, and Annabelle James

Breeder: unlisted

Breeding: by Diamant De Semilly out of a mare by Cassini II

Phillip Dutton with 11-year-old gelding Denim

Owners: Ann Jones, Ann Lapides, Caroline Moran, and Neill Sites

Breeder: Bachmann

Breeding: by Dinken out of a mare by Ibisco

Sydney Elliot with 16-year-old gelding QC Diamantaire

Owner: Carol Stephens

Breeder: Berthold Gerdes

Breeding: by Diarado out of a mare by Sandro Hit

Emily Hamel with 19-year-old gelding Corvett

Owner: Black Flag Option, LLC

Breeder: Doris Schimmer

Breeding: by Corrido out of a mare by Clearway

Allie Knowles with nine-year-old Montpellier Scais

Owner: Katherine O’Brien

Breeder: Ben Wentink

Breeding: by Quasimodo Van De Molendreef out of a mare by Indoctro

Boyd Martin with 11-year-old Shanroe Cooley

Owner: Dallas LLC

Breeder: Anthony Smyth

Breeding: by Dallas VDL out of a mare by Condios

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‘The horse bred to happy hack has gone and won two five-stars’: delight as British rider tops Luhmühlen podium

Becky Murray — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 12:25:04 +0000

Britain’s Caroline Harris and D. Day are double five-star winners after they topped the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials results today (21 June).

“My god, that horse is just something else. He gives me 1,000% every time, and I can’t ask for anything more of him,” said an emotional Caroline.

Caroline and the 12-year-old, who she owns with Lucy Matthews, Fiona Olivier, Marie Anne Richardson and Heather Royle, had just 2.7 penalties in hand going into the showjumping, and the clock was proving tight for some, but the Billy Mexico gelding produced a faultless round.

“I just trust him implicitly,” said Caroline. “I know he’s going to try and never want to touch a fence. He will give me everything. I just try to focus on getting a good canter, keeping the rhythm and not thinking about winning.

“Like in cross-country, you can ride him very quick and he likes it. The tighter the time, the better for me, because I know that he’s good with that.

“He loves the crowd so when everyone starts clapping, it’s great for him because he thinks: ‘Oh everyone’s here to watch me’, so it was great to come in after Emily [King] had jumped so well.”

Caroline and D. Day are now double five-star champions having topped Pau in 2024.

“The little horse that was bred to be a happy hack has gone and won two five-stars. I never thought this horse was a five-star horse, so I take that back,” said Caroline.

“He’s just all heart. He’s not the most talented, but he gives you absolutely everything. And that’s more than you could ever want.”

Caroline said despite her success she still doubts herself – and she would tell her younger self to “keep going and be determined”.

“I still doubt myself every day. It’s quite nice to prove that Pau wasn’t a fluke,” she said.

“I’ve worked very, very hard – and taken a lot to keep believing, but we got there eventually.”

Five-star Luhmühlen Horse Trials results: podium places

Emily King and 17-year-old Valmy Biats, owned by Emily and her father David, kept the pressure on Caroline and D. Day when they showjumped clear to finish second.

“He’s incredible. On paper he’s a little bit older but my goodness, he feels like he’s seven,” said Emily.

“The whole team; our vet Liz, physio Vicky, the trainers, every year they’re saying: ‘He feels better and better and younger and younger’. He’s like a Benjamin Button story; he’s getting younger and feeling better.”

Emily King and Valmy Biats finish second in the five-star Luhmühlen Horse Trials. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Emily said it’s Valmy’s “grit” that makes him so special.

“He fights for you every day, and his heart’s incredible,” she said.

“He loves his job. He’s obviously a super athlete in his physique, but he gets up every morning and he wants to work. In those tough moments in each phase, he grits his teeth and gives you more.

“You never feel ‘This is getting a bit hard’, he just keeps fighting, it’s an honour to work with horses like that. Today he kept the rideability and had so much energy, he was on springs.”

Boyd Martin finishes third

Completing the podium was US rider Boyd Martin and Shanroe Cooley, owned by Dallas LLC. They completed on 38.1 at the 11-year-old’s first-five star, having posted a superb double clear with just 2.4 cross-country time-penalties yesterday.

“I’m very pleased,” said Boyd, who took on Shanroe from Liz Halliday following her accident.

“Obviously it’s huge effort to come all the way from America to Luhmühlen, I’m grateful to the owners and supporters and the coaches of Shanroe for giving it a whirl because it’s a massive project coming across the ocean.”

Boyd said he did not know what to expect of Shanroe at his first five-star.

“I’ve done one four-star long on him last year and he was pretty good, but then this year, he’s just been brilliant in all the lead-up events,” he said.

“Every time we’ve competed together we’ve started to click a little bit more, then to come to Luhmühlen and finish in the top three next to Caroline and Emily, he exceeded my expectations. I really didn’t know what to expect, whether he’d get through it or not, then to be on the podium, I’m very proud of the horse and thankful to the team around him.”

Boyd said competing in a five-star is “a bit like running a marathon”.

“There’s sort of part of you that just wants to finish, and then the other part is: ‘I want to try to win this thing’. There’s a huge difference in how you ride or how hard you push if you’re trying to be competitive,” he explained.

“I was sort of in two minds whether we should just try and get across the finish line, but then once he started off yesterday, I thought, ‘Oh, screw it. Let’s have a crack at it’.

“He really showed me that championship heart that he has. To dig deep all the way around, and then to come out today and jump a clear round, I’m just absolutely thrilled with him.”

Five-star Luhmühlen Horse Trials results: top five

Jonelle Price and David and Karie Thomson’s 14-year-old gelding Capitaine De Hus Z finished fourth, and two poles dropped Jonelle and the Grape Syndicate’s Grappa Nera down to eighth.

Hallie Coon and Kapriccio jumped clear for fifth. Britain’s Harry Horton posted a brilliant clear round, with two time-faults, to finish 10th with Ballinger Equine and the Ambition Syndicate’s Cooley With Ambition at their first five-star.

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‘I wanted to put everything right – I think we did today’: British rider finds redemption with phenomenal Luhmühlen five-star cross-country

Becky Murray — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 15:08:08 +0000

Britain’s Caroline Harris and D. Day are on the brink of a second five-star title after posting the fastest Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country round of the day.

Caroline and the 12-year-old Billy Mexico gelding rode the only clear inside the 11-minute optimum time – stopping the clock with 18 seconds to spare – to move from fourth after the dressage into the overnight lead.

Caroline told H&H she was “over the moon” with D. Day, owned by Lucy Matthews, Fiona Olivier, Marie Anne Richardson and Heather Royle, following the Luhmühlen Horse Trials five-star cross-country.

“He was incredible,” she said. “He’s pretty small, and I think it really helps on a course like this because he’s so nippy and easy to turn.

“He’s never strong and he comes back to me, he’s very polite to ride. His mum was full Thoroughbred, so he has got a lot of blood and really does gallop. He’s the easiest horse to go quick on.”

Cross-country course-designer Mike Etherington-Smith’s technical track gave the riders plenty to think about. Of the 20 cross-country starters, 15 completed and nine jumped clear with time-faults.

The second fastest round came from Frenchman Benjamin Massie with the 10-year-old Upsilon daughter Guess Star, who was a second over the optimum time, for overnight sixth.

“It definitely rode very, very intense – but to be fair, everything rode exactly how I walked it,” said Caroline.

“I think it’s probably one of the only rounds I’ve ever had where everything really did come up exactly how I wanted it to.”

On the whole, the course did not cause too many problems, but the Mesmer Pond – which included fences 11, 12ab, and 13ab – proved tricky for some. Five combinations had faults at the arrowhead at 12b, including world number one Tim Price, who parted ways from Happy Boy, when he ran out the side.

Caroline said this was one of the trickiest combinations on course.

“It walked a very long six or a short seven. It was really big, up to height and wide. I think if the horse wasn’t confident and committed, then it was just very easy to slip out and not jump it,” she said.

“From there all the way home, every single combination, there was lot. You had to really think your way around and I came into each combination thinking about what Dickie Waygood and Chris Bartle had told me to do.

“I think if you rode it exactly how you walked it, it rode really well. You just had to be on it the whole way.”

Caroline Harris: “I wanted to put everything right”

Caroline and D. Day already have a five-star title to their name, having won Pau in 2024 – but Caroline has not forgotten about her frustrating fall at the home Europeans last September.

“I did feel there was quite a lot of pressure on us [at Luhmühlen], everyone was talking about how we were the quickest in the field – and I messed up at Blenheim, so I really wanted to put everything right,” she said.

“I feel I truly did that today. He was just phenomenal from start to finish.

“He is the ultimate trier. There is nothing exceptional about him, he’s not the most big-moving horse, he wouldn’t be the scopiest, but he’s all heart and gives me 110% every single time. I couldn’t ask for more than that.”

Dressage leaders Emily King and Valmy Biats jumped clear in the Luhmühlen Horse Trials five-star cross-country with 6.8 time-faults, which saw them slip into provisional second. Emily was initially given nine penalties for a missed flag at the Sternpartner Water fence 20b, an arrowhead, but following review, these were removed.

“I’m super pleased with Valmy,” said Emily, who owns the 17-year-old with her father David.

“He’s an amazingly brave horse, which can sometimes make him a little bit hard to ride. I’ve fallen into that trap a few times around some bigger events, so I just wanted to think a little bit extra for him around the course.”

Emily had to give Valmy a bit more encouragement than usual as they navigated the 27 fences.

“I don’t know if it was the heat, but he was a little bit quieter today. This crazy lion that I’m usually trying to navigate around the course was not so ‘liony’,” said Emily.

“I suddenly had to start kicking and flapping, and basically had to adapt a bit. When you have your plan and the horses are exactly how they normally are and it just happens seamlessly, it’s the most amazing feeling – but it’s not always the case. It was a bit like that with Valmy today.”

Emily said overall Valmy was “super”.

“Maybe the strides and the approach wasn’t quite as I imagined with some of them, but he was so good on the fences,” she said.

“He was quick with his legs, really straight, jumped everything, and came through the finish super quick. I’m really pleased.”

Luhmühlen Horse Trials five-star cross-country: Boyd Martin holds third

US rider Boyd Martin and Shanroe Cooley, owned by Dallas LLC, climbed from 11th after the dressage to provisional third.

The four-time Olympian expertly piloted the 11-year-old gelding – a former ride of Liz Halliday – round his first-five star to come home just six seconds over the optimum time. They added 2.4 time-penalties to their scorecard to carry 38.1 into the showjumping.

“I’m thrilled with him,” said Boyd, who took on the ride following Liz’s accident.

“I was sort of on the fence about whether to take the horse on. He’s a bigger, heavier horse than what I usually go for, but Liz has done a magnificent job producing him. There’s not that many out there that have the grit and determination that Shanroe has.

“I really didn’t know what to expect here, we came wondering if he’s a five-star horse. We kept going through the track, and I was thinking to myself, ‘Hey, he’s feeling pretty good’. Then I was looking at my watch thinking, ‘We’re in this’.

“The last couple of minutes he started to tire a bit, but he just grit his teeth and pricked his ears. I’ve got so much admiration for these horses. They really are true competitors. He really fought hard for me.”

Boyd said he was “thrilled” for Shanroe and his owners.

“Most importantly I’m thrilled for Liz. This has been a horse with a crazy story and to have a successful round at five-star is a great accomplishment,” he said.

“I’ve got half of America texting my phone at the moment. He’s got a massive following, all of Liz’s students and fans and all of her owners are cheering this horse on. I think I’ve got to reply to about 400 text messages.”

Luhmühlen Horse Trials five-star cross-country: the rest of the top 10

Pathfinders Jonelle Price and the Grape Syndicate’s Grappa Nera lie in fourth, having collected 4.4 time-penalties across country. Jonelle is fifth with David and Karie Thomson’s Capitaine de Hus de Z, who stopped the clock on 11min 18 sec, for 7.2 time-penalties.

The Thomson’s have another horse in the top 10, Dallas 13, who was given a super run round his first five-star by James Avery. The pair were third after the dressage and lie ninth overnight on 46.6, having accrued 11-penalties for activating the MIM clip at the second part of the Luhmühlen Kombination (fence 22ab) plus six time-faults.

British-based US rider Hallie Coon and her own Kapriccio were another to activate the safety device at this fence, and along with 4.4 time-penalties, they go into the showjumping phase in seventh.

Home side rider Katharina Meyer and Aspen T were among the jumping clears. They stopped the clock on 11min 11sec to add 4.4 time-faults to their 41.4 dressage, for overnight eighth.

“Every inch the five-star horse”

Britain’s Harry Horton and Cooley With Ambition round out the top 10 having jumped a brilliant clear at their first five-star. Harry guided Ballinger Equine and the Ambition Syndicate’s 11-year-old home with 35.6 time-penalties.

“He was class. He was absolutely phenomenal,” Harry told H&H.

“The plan was to go all the direct routes, but he got a little tired so I improvised a little bit at the end and took the longer route at the last combination. He felt every inch the five-star horse.”

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‘There aren’t words to express what this means’: injured rider returns to event and watches her Olympic horse

Pippa Roome — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:32:51 +0000

Liz Halliday, who suffered a serious brain injury in an eventing fall in 2024, returned to an event for the first time yesterday (23 April), at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event.

“There really aren’t words to express what today meant to me,” said Liz. “To finally be back at an event for the first time since my accident… to watch my gorgeous Cooley Nutcracker go down the centre line with Boyd Martin… to hug friends I haven’t seen in so long and catch up about everything I’ve missed… I am overjoyed and so grateful to finally be back in the sport I love.”

Liz rode Cooley Nutcracker at the Paris Olympics shortly before her accident. She is now part of a syndicate called Liz’s Nutcrackers, supporting the horse for new rider Boyd Martin.

Liz Halliday watched the pair do their Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage test from her wheelchair on the balcony just above the arena entrance yesterday.

“Things are a bit different now, of course. I’m here as an owner supporting Boyd and ‘Bali’ alongside the rest of the Liz’s Nutcrackers crew. I am so grateful to Boyd for everything he has done with the horse who made my Olympic dreams come true and am so excited to cheer them on this weekend,” said Liz, who has recently been graded to compete in para dressage.

“Thank you to everyone who came up to say hi and gave me a hug today! Please don’t be shy – come up and say hello and tell me a story about what I’ve missed. Because now I’m back and it feels fabulous!

“Good luck to all who are competing this weekend. I will be riding alongside all of you in spirit.”

Boyd said he looked up at the stands and saw Liz when he finished his test. He spoke to Liz afterwards.

“I hope she’s proud of her horse,” he said, adding in response to a comment that hopefully she was proud of Boyd: “I’m scared of her, I hope she was happy with me!

“It’s great to see her here. She’s back home in Lexington, Kentucky. It’s obviously been a really, really tough year for her coming back to her health and it’s great that she’s back home and not having to live her days at the rehabilitation centre.”

Boyd and Cooley Nutcracker sit fifth on a score of 30.7 after the first day of five-star dressage.

“It was pretty good – I always want to get in the 20s and I was a mark or two off it,” he said. “I botched the first change. I didn’t have him quite in front of the leg and lost my position a bit. He’s a different type of horse for me, but he’s a champion.”

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Title contender among three recent Badminton withdrawals

Pippa Roome — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:31:14 +0000

American title contender Boyd Martin is among the latest Mars Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals for the event next month (6-10 May).

Boyd was due to start on OHP Hammertime Partners’ 14-year-old Miks Master C.

“Sadly, Miks Master C pulled up a little bit sore after his run at the Fair Hill CCI4-*S last weekend,” said Boyd. “After our team of vets evaluated him, we feel it’s in his best interest to save him for another day and we are sadly going to withdraw Mikki from this year’s Badminton.”

Boyd sent “a huge thank you to all of Mikki’s support team – vets, farriers, grooms, owners (Deborah Palmer, Ocala Horse Properties, Rachael Isaacson, and Joe and Renee Lane) for their ongoing support”.

Badminton final scores

Boyd and Miks Master C would have had a genuine chance of a podium finish at Badminton. The horse was third at five-star at Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event with Liz Halliday in 2023; Boyd Martin took over the ride after her serious accident in the summer of 2024.

Badminton would have been Miks Master C’s first five-star run since then, but he and Boyd have been in the top 10 at all four of their four-star starts, including winning one, with a sub-30 dressage test every time.

The pair were also entered at Kentucky – and had been drawn number one – and have withdrawn from there too. Their withdrawal leaves Caroline Pamukcu’s first ride HSH Tolan King as the pathfinder at Kentucky.

Other recent Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals include Britain’s Selina Milnes with Cooley Snapchat, who were recently fourth in the Lycetts Grantham Cup at Thoresby, and Harry Mutch with Shanbeg Cooley.

How to watch and listen to Badminton Horse Trials

To watch Badminton Horse Trials live or via catch up, including the trot-ups, from the comfort of your home anywhere in the world, you need a 2026 Badminton TV Pass. Badminton TV is once again powered by ClipMyHorse.TV, but you do not need a full ClipMyHorse.TV subscription to watch – you can just subscribe to Badminton TV for £22.99. Go to badminton-horse.tv to sign up. If you are already a ClipMyHorse.TV premium member, Badminton TV is included in your subscription. Also check out the Badminton app, which provides free live results and much more this year. Sign up for Badminton Plus membership for £4.99 to access the live Radio Badminton broadcast and receive exclusive offers from on-site exhibitors. Search for Badminton Horse Trials in your app store.

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Who will be first to ride at Kentucky Three-Day Event and when will the Brits go?

Becky Murray — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:49:22 +0000

Boyd Martin has been given number one in the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event draw (23-26 April), although whether he is actually first down the centreline will depend on final withdrawals as riders confirm entries across Kentucky and the Mars Badminton Horse Trials.

The four-time Olympian has been drawn first in the CCI5* with OHP Hammertime Partners’ Miks Master C – although the 14-year-old gelding remains in the Badminton entries and will not run at both. Boyd is 16th to go with Liz’s Nutcrackers Cooley Nutcracker and 33rd with Yankee Creek Ranch’s Commando 3.

World number one Harry Meade is second to go with Et Hop Du Matz and 17th with Superstition, both owned by Harry and Mandy Gray, and second-last with Amanda Gould’s Grafennacht. Although he can ride all three at Kentucky, it is expected that he will only take two to the US. Harry has five entered for Badminton; Cavalier Crystal (Charlotte and Peter Opperman), Et Hop Du Matz, Superstition, Grafennacht and Annaghmore Valoner (Stephen and Dinah Posford and Jules Carter) and can ride up to three here.

Brit David Doel is drawn eighth with the experienced Galileo Nieuwmoed – owned by David, Mary Fox and Gillian Jonas – and Tom Jackson will start 14th with Plot Twist B, owned by Ruth McMullen and Mary Harris. Tom McEwen is 29th to go with John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn’s Brookfield Quality.

New Zealand’s Tim Price starts fifth with Lance and Diana Morrish’s Global Quest and 32nd with Vitali, owned by Tim and Joseph and Alexander Giannamore.

There was a surprise withdrawal from Ireland’s Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue, winners of Maryland 5 Star in 2003. The pair have also withdrawn from Badminton.

Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4*-S draw

Three young Brits are entered in the Cosequin CCI4*-S, thanks to a support package from the new Rising Lions initiative – Elizabeth Barratt, Isabelle Cook, and Finn Healy. Finn is number 121 with his own Greannanstown Monbeg Joe, Isabelle and Cymoon F Z (Tina Cook and Jim Chromiak) will wear number 130 and Elizabeth and Ride For Thais Chaman Dumontceau (Barratt Eventing) are 136.

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‘A mission ahead’ – home side favourite takes the Maryland 5 Star Thursday dressage lead, plus a comeback story

Pippa Roome — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 21:23:08 +0000

Boyd Martin holds the Mars Maryland 5 Star dressage lead after the first day of action today (Thursday, 16 October), having scored 31 on the syndicate-owned Luke 140.

Second into the arena today, Boyd presented Luke 140 in a pleasing open frame and showed consistent, smooth trot-work which was trending in the 20s. But there were a couple of errors in the canter – he scored fours across the board for his first flying change and fives for a messy transition up to canter, when Luke 140 sneezed and then showed several trot steps rather than going direct from walk to canter.

Maryland 5 Star dressage: Boyd Martin’s ‘mission ahead’

This is Luke 140’s Maryland 5 Star debut, but he has previous form at five-star level as he was seventh at Kentucky Three-Day Event this spring and fourth at Luhmühlen Horse Trials in 2023.

“I was pretty happy with Luke. He’s a very, very talented horse and he’s got an amazing ability. The biggest challenge I’ve got is to keep him settled under a lot of atmosphere and he went around and did a very, very nice test. I was pleased with him,” said Boyd Martin after his Maryland 5 Star dressage test.

“We’ve got a mission ahead – the cross-country course looks very challenging and there’s another day of dressage tomorrow.”

According to data analysts EquiRatings, Boyd was the pre-competition favourite to win this weekend on his second ride Commando 3 (18% win chance), with stable-mate Luke 140 his closest rival (17% win chance), although today’s performances have slipped Luke 140 to fourth on the predictions (11% win chance). Boyd won the inaugural five-star here in 2021 on the British-bred On Cue.

Caroline Pamucku sits second, just 0.4 of a penalty behind Boyd, after a neat, consistent test on her second ride of three, She’s The One. This Jaguar Mail mare owned by Andy and Mollie Hoff, her rider and Caroline’s mother Sherrie Martin, made her five-star dressage at Kentucky this year but was withdrawn before the cross-country.

Caroline said: “I’m really proud of the mare. She’s 10 this year, but she’s had quite a bit of experience. The team last year sent us over to compete at Millstreet, which is great experience for her and me. And then this year they sent us over to Arville. So I’m really thankful for the US federation to keep putting a little bit of energy and time into her and giving me an opportunity so that she’s getting quite used to this sort of atmosphere.”

Caroline Pamukcu praises She’s The One after her Maryland 5 Star dressage test in October 2025. (Image credit: Amy Dragoo)

Brannigan and ‘Foxy’ on the comeback trail

Jennie Brannigan holds third on FE Lifestyle (“Foxy”), owned by Nina and Timothy Gardner, after scoring 32.8. This seasoned partnership – fifth here in 2022 and 12th at Burghley Horse Trials in 2023 – have both suffered injuries this year, starting with the chestnut having an accident in the lorry before a planned Badminton Horse Trials debut this spring.

“It was so unfortunate he had a shipping accident 10 minutes from Badminton – heartbreaking for me, his owners and his groom Isabel Turner,” said Jennie today.

Then last weekend at Morven Park, one of Jennie’s rides, Kismet, flipped over in the cross-country start box, leaving Jennie with an injury to her left leg which meant her fellow US rider Phillip Dutton had to step in to trot up FE Lifestyle for her yesterday.

Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle at Maryland 5 Star 2025. (Image credit: Amy Dragoo)

Jennie made a strong start to her test, demonstrating lift in FE Lifestyle’s trot and a good mid-test halt and rein-back. But the chestnut went to offer an extra flying change when the rider straightened him up up after the second half-pass and then didn’t jump through fully behind in the final flying change, so their marks dropped down in those later movements to between four and 5.5.

Jennie gave a shout out to trainer Bettina Hoy after her test, saying she has “brought everything to the next level”.

Britain’s sole competitor at this year’s Maryland 5 Star, Alex Bragg, had quite a tricky time in his test today, with The Roe Family’s Quindiva looking bright and mistakes including swinging her quarters in unsettled halts and striking off on the wrong canter lead. He sits seventh of the 11 starters so far, with a mark of 39.2.

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One rider lands two top-six places in Kentucky dressage despite ‘monsoon’ conditions

Pippa Roome — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 21:41:14 +0000

Home side rider Boyd Martin holds second and sixth after the Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage, piloting both Luke 140 and Commando 3 to sub-30 scores today.

Boyd was last to go on Yankee Creek Ranch, LLC’s Commando 3 and had to ride in very heavy rain, but pulled off a score of 26 for second overnight, with four nines scattered through his score sheet. He said: “That was a freaking monsoon that hit, so full credit to the horse. He kept it together and went in and did a good test.”

The US rider added of the 12-year-old Commando 3: “He’s very good on the flat. He’s flamboyant, he’s good-looking, he’s got presence and enthusiasm. He can be pretty spooky though, so I am glad we got to do the ring familiarisation.

“And in a weird kind of way, maybe the rain helped – he was sort of keeping his head down a bit or something. But he was well behaved in there, so I was very pleased with him.”

Boyd and Commando 3 sit just 0.2 of a penalty ahead of Britain’s Tom McEwen (Brookfield Quality), who hold third, and 7.4 marks behind leaders Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH.

Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage: Boyd Martin – ‘I dared not breathe’

Boyd was also the first rider in today, scoring 27.9 for sixth with the syndicate-owned 14-year-old Luke 140. His test was just marred by Luke 140 stepping sideways behind in his first halt and a blip in his second flying change.

“I felt like I prepared him well for the halt and then he sort of just stumbled a bit, so he lost his footing, which was a shame because I usually get them every time,” said Boyd.

“But it was pretty good – he’s a great dressage horse if you can get him settled and being here for a couple of days and doing the ring familiarisation makes a big difference. And right from the warm-up I knew he was in a good gear and he went in and did well.

“My favourite part of the test was that he walked all the walk, which has been our biggest challenge in the lead up events. He anticipates the next movement and starts prancing around like a Tennessee Walking Horse. So I tell you, my legs were just gently dangling and I dared not breathe on him. And he was a very good boy and walked every step.”

Boyd said he has fallen off Luke 140 seven times already this year.

He said: “At home he’s a very difficult horse. He is just bursting with enthusiasm. But I almost put up with anything when they’re great horses – he’s a pain in the ass a lot of the time, but when you get to this event he’s a champion.”

Debutante claims fourth

German Libussa Lübbeke, 24, holds fourth on 27.1 with Caramia 34. This pair were young rider team silver medallists in 2022 and make their Kentucky debut after 19th at their first five-star, Luhmühlen Horse Trials, last year.

Caramia 34 was bred by Libussa’s parents and ridden by her brother Fritz Ludwig until 2019, up to three-star level.

New Zealand’s Tim Price is in fifth with his final ride, his own and Sue Benson’s double world bronze medallist Falco.

“I thought he was super. He’s like putting on an old pair of shoes compared to the other two yesterday,” said Tim. “He was through, really nicely connected and he’s just been getting better and better with improving the quality of his way of going.

“This morning he was quite buzzy to work and I thought, ‘Oh, maybe I should have done a little bit more.’ But you’ve just got to trust your partnership and the fact he knows his job. He felt really good out here in the warm-up and then I was just hoping that I’d be able to go in there and get the same feeling and I did.

“There were a couple of mistakes, but the reality is it’s still dressage and you’ve got to do a really perfect job and he’s not God’s gift to dressage, it’s learned and I think he tried his heart out for me.”

Tim also holds equal seventh on Jarillo and ninth on Happy Boy.

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10 pairs to watch at Kentucky five-star, including a huge win chance and a comeback star

Pippa Roome — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 07:30:03 +0000

Want to know which Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event riders to watch at this week’s US spring five-star?

We’ve picked out some of the favourites for you so read on for a quick bluffers’ guide on who to keep an eye on – and tell your mates about – whether you’re on site at the event or watching from home.

Kentucky Three-Day Event riders: 10 pairs to watch

Number 1: Tim Price (NZL) and Jarillo

11-year-old chestnut gelding, by Dantos out of an Alicante mare, owned by Lucy Allison, Frances Stead and James and Rachel Good

Jarillo is relatively inexperienced but extremely flashy – and it’s never wise to discount anything Tim rides. He was ninth at Pau Horse Trials last year on his five-star debut.

Number 3: Boyd Martin (USA) and Fedarman B

15-year-old bay gelding, by Eurocommerce Washington and out of a Fedor mare, owned by Annie Goodwin Syndicate

This pair’s five-star results comprise eighth and fifth at Pau and eighth at Luhmühlen Horse Trials and they were also 10th individually (best of the US team) at last year’s Paris Olympics. Data analytics experts EquiRatings rate them best of the home side, with a 5% win chance.

Number 8: Michael Jung (GER) and FischerChipmunk FRH

17-year-old bay gelding, by Contendro I out of a Heraldik mare, 0wned by Michael’s father Joachim, the German Olympic committee for equestrian sport and Klaus and Sabine Fischer

The reigning Olympic champions start with a huge 30% win chance according to EquiRatings. Their only five-star start together was here in 2022, when they won, finishing on their 20.1 dressage score and setting a new record finishing score at the top level.

Number 9: Clarke Johnstone (NZL) and Menlo Park

15-year-old bay gelding, by Berlin out of a Faerie Queen mare, owned by rider and his parents Jean and Rob

Clarke pulled up on their only five-star start together at a very wet Pau last year, but they were 18th at the Paris Olympics and have good four-star results. World team bronze medallists in 2022, though as the discard score because they had 31 jumping faults across country. This is Clarke’s first return to Kentucky since he was a team bronze medallist here in 2010 on Orient Express.

Number 20: Tim Price (NZL) and Happy Boy

13-year-old black gelding, by Indoctro, out of an Odermus mare, owned by Susan Lamb, Therese Miller and rider

Last year’s Blenheim Horse Trials winner – and victor at another popular CCI4*-L at Boekelo 2022 – who has his first proper crack at five-star, though it’s not actually his debut as he did dressage at Pau in 2023 before being withdrawn. A former seven-year-old world champion, too.

Number 25: Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist

14-year-old bay gelding, by Guillotine out of a Volksraard, owned by Spencer Eventing

A pair who are becoming known for consistent five-star performances, with seventh at Maryland 2023, seventh here last year and 11th at Burghley in the autumn. Ex-racehorse Artist can do a great dressage test so it could all come together. Based in the US.

Number 29: Tom McEwen (GBR) and Brookfield Quality

16-year-old bay gelding, by OBOS Quality 004 out of a Cavalier Royale mare, owned by Alison Swinburn and Chloe and John Perry

World number one Tom has been second here twice on JL Dublin. He took over this ride from Piggy March in 2023, finishing third at Pau 2024. “Nervous Norris” is a character, but also has the quality his show name suggests.

Number 37: Lucienne Bellissimo (GBR) and Dyri

13-year-old dark bay gelding, by Diarado out of a mare by King Milford xx, owned by Horse Scout Eventing, LLC

This US-based pair are unlikely to win on their five-star debut, but they have good four-star form and their capacity to do a dressage test in the 20s means they may start out in a prominent position and are ones to watch as their experience grows.

Number 38: Tim Price (NZL) and Falco

16-year-old bay gelding, by Cardenio 2 out of a Weinberg mare, owned by Sue Benson and rider

Tim and Falco start as second favourite at 18% win chance on EquiRatings prediction centre, among the the Kentucky Three-Day Event riders and horses. He’s been second at Maryland, taken double world team bronze and finished sixth at the Paris Olympics – and is also notable for coming back from surgery to remove a tumour in 2023.

Number 39: Harry Meade (GBR) and Grafennacht

13-year-old bay mare, by Birkhof’s Grafenstolz out of a mare by Narew, owned by Amanda Gould

Harry took over Grafennacht after William Fox-Pitt’s retirement – she has recorded three top-15 five-stars with William – and won Montelibretti CCI4*-L under Harry this spring. An exciting new partnership – let’s see what they can do on this stage.

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‘It’s surreal’ – Dorset-based young star claims lead on first day of Maryland 5 Star

Pippa Roome — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 21:04:33 +0000

Rising star Cosby Green has claimed top spot after the first day of Maryland 5 Star dressage, scoring 28 with the grey Highly Suspicious.

US rider Cosby, 23, is based in Dorset with New Zealand’s premier eventing couple Jonelle and Tim Price. She makes her Maryland debut, having completed Pau Horse Trials, Badminton Horse Trials and Burghley Horse Trials over the past year with her five-star schoolmaster Copper Beach. She was 16th at Burghley last month.

Cosby Green and the elegant grey pulled in plenty of eights for their Maryland 5 Star dressage work. The only error in their test came when the horse jogged in the walk section, which resulted in them scoring a four, a three and a two for that movement.

“Overall I thought it was some of his best work in ring so far. It’s hard not to be frustrated with the walk and we know that’s his weakness, but he went in there and did a great demonstration of all the work we’ve been putting in and that doesn’t always happen, so I’m thrilled with him,” she said, adding “it’s surreal” when she held her lead until the end of the day.

Cosby added that it means a lot to her to return to home soil and compete here, saying: “I came to the first Maryland 5 Star, so I’ve always had my eyes on it and now I’ve been in a programme that’s meant it’s able to become a reality. I have the support of my family and it means the world for them to be here.”

The 14-year-old Highly Suspicious, owned by Cosby’s parents’ Edie and Clay’s Highly Suspicious, makes his five-star debut after two second places at four-star this year.

She explained: “I’ve had him for about seven years. I probably had no business buying him when I did at 16. I couldn’t ride one side of him, we scored consistently in 40s, had lots of 20s. In the past couple of years moving to England, we’ve found a system that works for him. He’s always had talent and ability. It’s been a matter of getting his body and mind right to put in his best performance and be consistent at it.

“There have been so many times when I was doing anything I could to give him to someone else or sell him and everyone kept telling me to stick with it because he is phenomenal, so it’s not been a smooth road but a day like today makes it worth it.”

Cosby paid tribute to the role Jonelle Price has played in the pair’s development: “She has just changed my entire perspective on the sport, how to look at success and how to look at learning opportunities and to believe in myself, which is something I really struggle with. My horse is super sensitive to that and quite anxious as well, we’re quite similar people really. I think we’ve flourished from just having Jonelle believe in me and changing the programme.”

The rider also spoke about the role five-star schoolmaster Copper Beach has played in her career: “It’s such a privilege to be able to have done my first few five-stars on Copper Beach. He knows the job and has been such a life changing horse for me. He’s given me so much confidence, I’m able to come here and not be too overwhelmed. Having that experience behind me means so much. I hope I can carry that over to ‘Puff’ and give him a really good experience and pass along the knowledge.”

Boyd Martin praises Commando 3 after their Maryland 5 Star dressage test in 2024. (Image credit: Amy Dragoo)

Another horse at his first five-star is snapping at Cosby’s heels, although under a more experienced rider, with Boyd Martin and Commando 3 scoring 28.5 to sit just 0.5 of a penalty in arrears.

The smart bay with three white socks, owned by Yankee Creek Ranch LLC, is a beautiful stamp and showed some super work today with marks up to 8.5. Had he not lost concentration for a few paces in the walk, he’d have taken the lead.

“I’m very pleased with him. He has amazing quality, but he’s such a big mover it’s hard to keep him balanced. But he went in there and did all the tricks really well and I think he’s going to get better and better,” said Boyd.

The rider described Commando 3 as one of the most talented horses he has sat on, but adds that he is high energy and can get “nervous and spooky in glitzy rings”. He has benefited from Boyd’s wife, grand prix dressage rider Silva, taking him with her to a big dressage show at Devon recently.

Boyd said: “For him to stay at Devon for three or four days, be around all the chaos there and go in the ring – he competed in tests with tempi changes and stuff like that, I struggle doing one change and Silva did seven in one test day after day – it’s a huge benefit to have a horse go through an experience like that day after day. I’m very lucky and grateful to marry a really good-looking girl and a good dressage rider so I’m very appreciative!”

Canada’s Lindsay Traisnel holds third on 30.7. She makes her five-star debut this week with Patricia Pearce’s Bacyrouge, who was an individual bronze and team gold medallist at last year’s Pan American Games.

“It was awesome. He just performs every time for me and is always the same, so I’m really happy with him, he’s such a good boy,” she said after her consistent test.

“We bought him as a four-year-old to sell and decided there was no way we could sell him. My husband rode him a bit when I was pregnant so it’s really been a family affair.”

This was one of Bacyrouge’s best tests, which Lindsay attributed to him becoming stronger in his body, paying tribute to her team at home, and more confident in his flying changes.

“He used to get a bit nervous about those and anything he ever does wrong is because he wants to do it too well. He’s a little bit exuberant so it’s just really putting it all together but I knew he had it in him,” she said.

Harry Meade put in the best of the two British tests today to hold fourth overnight on Away Cruising.

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Five-star winner withdrawn from Maryland 5 Star and retired from top-level eventing

Pippa Roome — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 19:33:46 +0000

Boyd Martin has withdrawn the 18-year-old mare On Cue from this week’s Maryland 5 Star and retired her from top-level eventing.

“While she feels happy and healthy, I felt she was starting to struggle in her final gallops and jump schools,” he said shortly before today’s first trot-up. “I am incredibly proud of everything On Cue and I have accomplished together, and after discussing it with [owners] the Turner family, we have decided to step her down from the top of the sport.”

He added: “On Cue has been a true champion, finishing in the top 10 at Burghley, Kentucky, and Maryland. She gave me my second ever five-star win at the inaugural Maryland 5 Star and she has also taken national titles in the USEF five-star championship at Kentucky and the American Eventing Championships advanced final, not to mention, being named mare and horse of the Year in 2021.

“She’s one of a few special horses that changed my career. I am especially proud that her last competition was a win at Tryon. It would not do her justice if I tried to take advantage of her good nature by asking her to do something I was not sure her body was capable of.

“I am deeply grateful to the Turner family for their unwavering support of On Cue over the years. What we have achieved together has been remarkable. I look forward to continuing to bring her offspring up through the levels in the near future!”

On Cue was bred in Yorkshire, from the “On” dynasty raised by Alyse Clancey and her daughter Jolyse Bell-Syer (née Clancey). She is by the Selle Français showjumper Cabri D’Elle and a great granddaughter of the Clanceys’ foundation mare Augermist, who Alyse competed at the top level.

Boyd started competing On Cue in 2017 and she won six times internationally, including at the first five-star held at Maryland in 2021. She was 10th at Burghley Horse Trials last year and fourth and best of the home side at Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2021.

Having retired On Cue, Boyd will now pilot Commando 3 and Tsetserleg TSF at Maryland this week.

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Brits, five-star winners, and an eye-catching skewbald among Maryland 5 Star entries

Becky Murray — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 16:42:37 +0000

Four Brits, former five-star winners and an eye-catching skewbald mare are among the Mars Maryland 5 Star entries.

There are 23 combinations entered for the US event, which takes place at Fair Hill on 17-20 October.

Harry Meade, who jumped three clear cross-country rounds at Burghley last month, will fly across the pond with two rides; Charlotte and Peter Opperman’s experienced 17-year-old Away Cruising and 10-year-old Et Hop Du Matz, whom Harry co-owns with Mandy Gray. Away Cruising has seven five-star completions under his belt, his most recent at Badminton this year, when he and Harry were 20th. Et Hop Du Matz is making his five-star debut.

Oliver Townend returns to Maryland 5 Star, this time with Tokyo Olympic team gold medallist and three-time five-star winner Ballaghmor Class, owned by Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan. The 17-year-old gelding missed the spring season owing to a hoof abscess followed by a “minor issue”, but made his comeback at Cornbury last month, when he and Oliver were second in the open intermediate. On Saturday (28 September) they topped the Little Downham CCI4*-S.

Bubby Upton will be making her Maryland debut with her mother Rachel’s 14-year-old Cola III. Bubby came back from serious injury at the beginning of the year to finish 10th at Badminton with Cola, and the pair won the Hartpury CCI4*-S in August.

David Doel is making the trip with Gillian Jonas and Mary Fox’s 13-year-old gelding Galileo Nieuwmoed. The consistent pair have five top-level completions under their belt, of which four were top-10 placings, including second at Burghley last year.

Other Maryland 5 Star entries

New Zealand’s Tim Price brings forward 2021 Pau five-star winner and world team bronze medallist Falco, owned by Sue Benson.

For the home side, all eyes will be on Tamie Smith and Ellen Ahearn’s 18-year-old Mai Baum. Maryland 5 Star will be the 2023 Kentucky Three-Day CCI5 winners’ last top-level competition together; Tamie told Eventing Nation Mai Baum will retire from top-level eventing.

Former Maryland 5 Star winners Boyd Martin and On Cue will hope to reclaim their 2021 crown, while Boyd is also entered with his Tokyo Olympic ride and world silver medallist Tsetserleg, and five-star debutant Commando 3. Bruce Davidson Jnr is entered with Sorocaima, with whom he was ninth last year.

Canada’s Jessica Phoenix has two rides; Jim Phillips’ 14-year-old gelding Wabbit, and Jessica’s own 16-year-old skewbald mare Fluorescent Adolescent, who is making her five-star debut.

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An emotional back story, a stalwart and a young star: first Olympic eventing team for Paris revealed

Pippa Roome — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 11:14:38 +0000

The US Olympic eventing team for Paris 2024 has been revealed, with Boyd Martin, Will Coleman and Caroline Pamukcu selected.

This is an emotional call-up for Boyd and his connections as his ride, Fedarman B, was previously ridden by Annie Goodwin, who was killed in a fall while cross-country schooling in 2021. Commando 3 is named as a direct reserve horse for Boyd.

The other two horses selected are at opposite ends of the age and experience scale. Will Coleman will ride the seasoned 15-year-old Off The Record, who led the US to world team silver in 2022 and has four top-15 five-star results and an Aachen win to his name. Will has the younger Diabolo – winner of the CCI4*-S at Kentucky Three-Day Event in April – as a direct reserve horse.

Nine-year-old HSH Blake will be one of the youngest horses at the Olympics, but he is already a championship gold medallist, having taken individual top spot at the Pan Am Games last year with Caroline Pamukcu, who makes her Olympic debut.

Liz Halliday is the alternate with another young horse, the 10-year-old Cooley Nutcracker, who impressed in the five-star at Kentucky.

The US selectors have named 12 combinations in all, which will be put forward as their Olympic entries. World team silver medallists Lauren Nicholson and the 17-year-old Vermiculus are a notable omission from the list, despite the fact they were best of the Americans in the five-star at Kentucky. Tamie Smith recently ruled herself and Mai Baum out of team contention after the horse pulled away from his handler and “tweaked himself” earlier in the season.

US Olympic eventing team for Paris 2024

Will Coleman with 15-year-old Off The RecordOwner: Off The Record SyndicateBreeding: by Arkansas out of a mare by Ard OhioGroom: Hailey Burlock

Direct reserve horse: 12-year-old DiaboloOwner: Diabolo GroupBreeding: by Diarado out of a mare by Aljano 2Grooms: Hailey Burlock and Erin Jarboe

Boyd Martin with 14-year-old Fedarman BOwner: Annie Goodwin SyndicateBreeding: by Eurocommerce Washington out of a mare by FedorGroom: Stephanie Simpson

Direct reserve horse: 11-year-old Commando 3Owner: Yankee Creek Ranch LLCBreeding: by Conner 48 out of a mare by Amigo xxGroom: Stephanie Simpson

Caroline Pamukcu with nine-year-old HSH BlakeOwners: Mollie Hoff, Sherrie Martin, rider and her husband DenizBreeding: by Tolan R out of a mare by KannanGroom: Chloe Teahan

Travelling alternate:

Liz Halliday with 10-year-old Cooley NutcrackerOwners: Chris Desino, Rob Desino, rider, her mother Deborah and Renee LaneBreeding: by Tolan R out of a mare by CobraGroom: Abby Steger

First reserve:

Sydney Elliott with 14-year-old QC DiamantaireOwner: Carol StephensBreeding: by Diarado out of a mare by Sandro HitGroom: Caitlin Martin

Other reserves in alphabetical order

James Alliston with 10-year-old KarmaOwners: Alliston Equestrian and Ric Plummer

Jennie Brannigan with 14-year-old FE LifestyleOwners: Nina and Timothy Gardner

Will Faudree with 13-year-old Mama’s Magic WayOwners: Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables

Liz Halliday with 12-year-old Miks Master COwners: Ocala Horse Properties and Deborah Palmer

Liz Halliday with nine-year-old Shanroe CooleyOwners: Ocala Horse Properties

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‘What I was put on this earth for’: top rider completes full set of world’s five-star events

Gemma Redrup — Sun, 12 May 2024 11:49:19 +0000

US rider Boyd Martin has successfully sealed the full set of CCI5*s having completed the Mars Badminton Horse Trials.

In doing so, the 44-year-old has become only the second event rider to complete all seven regular five-stars around the world, joining Tim Price.

“It’s been a long road. I started doing this when I was 19 years old, and they were long formats, I didn’t wear a body protector cross-country, was wild and young and staying up late and partying all night, then coming out for the showjumping the next morning,” says Boyd, who grew up in Australia and initially represented that nation before relocating to the US. “Now I’ve got grey hair and am a bit stiff and sore and have three kids – eventing is what I live for though.

“I really thrive on these five-stars, especially these classic ones. All the five-stars are unique and they’ve all got a different flavour. Right from my first one with Flying Doctor, back in 2000 [at Adelaide], I knew what I was put on this earth for.”

Badminton final scores

Boyd Martin at Badminton Horse Trials

Boyd was riding his five-star and championship stalwart Tsetserleg TSF at Badminton this week – a 17-year-old gelding, owned by Thomas, Christine and Tommie Turner.

Having been fourth after the dressage, Boyd and “Thomas” picked up 60 penalties at the INEOS Grenadier Sunken Road, then lowered two rails and notched 0.4 time-faults in the final showjumping phase this morning (12 May).

“I’m obviously a bit heartbroken after yesterday, but he jumped well in there today – I would have loved to have gone clear or had just one down, but this is his harder phase and felt like he actually jumped well,” explains Boyd. “Part of me is devastated but part of me is still pleased with the horse because there were bits and pieces that felt like Thomas is at the best he’s ever been.

“You always have dreams of being right in there on the last day and jumping first thing on Sunday morning is not what I had envisioned. But half the world is fighting over a bowl of rice so we’ll go home and get stuck back into it, come back and try again.”

What’s next for Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF?

Speaking of plans for Thomas for the rest of 2024, Boyd says that a more local event will probably be on the cards.

“The Turner family been very generous to me and flown Thomas around the world. Part of me thinks that he will probably head towards Maryland. It’s one of the five-stars he yet hasn’t done and it’s 20 minutes down the road from the house, rather than being in Europe.

“I still feel like the horse has got a bit left in the tank. He doesn’t feel old or used up and I feel like he’s still enjoying himself. There’s parts of his performance where we’re getting the best work out of him and then obviously, there’s a few parts where I’ve got to ride him a bit better and he’s still got some weak points.

“But he is a champion and in his seventh year of competing at five-star level. It’s a huge credit to the heart, toughness and soundness of this horse.”

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you are interested in watching the live action from Badminton Horse Trials from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. To sign up, visit watch.badminton-horse.tv – click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner of your screen, then follow the instructions. An annual subscription to Badminton TV costs £19.99 via the website and gives you 365 days of access to all of the content in the Badminton TV library, the ability to watch the action live, and the option to replay all of this year’s action later. Find out more…

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‘I made a terrible mistake’: top Badminton contender out of the running after cross-country

Gemma Redrup — Sat, 11 May 2024 11:48:33 +0000

The USA’s Boyd Martin was sitting in fourth with Tsetserleg TSF going into the 2024 Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country phase, but hopes of finishing among the top few came to an end when he picked up 20 penalties at the first part of fence 20ABC, the INEOS Grenadier Sunken Road.

“I was going great guns for the first two thirds of the course, but I started to hurry him along too much as I thought I was in with a chance and he just got a bit numb to the bridle,” explained Boyd. “I made a terrible mistake and saw a long stride to the skinny at part A – it was a big error of judgement. I was worried he wasn’t going to make the three strides there, so I wanted to get a sort of forward shot at the skinny but it was just ridiculous – I flapped my elbows and he ran by it.

“He’s a good old horse and if I’d made a better turn, it would have been ok.”

Speaking of how he thinks the course will ride, Boyd said: “I think if you’re going for it, it’s hard and if not, you can get round. It’s one of the hardest five stars I’ve seen for a long time and the ground is deep in places.”

Badminton final scores

Tom Jackson did a superb job as cross-country pathfinder riding Farndon. The combination jumped clear across country, picking up 14.4 time-faults.

“I’m over the moon with him. If you had told me he was going to come to Badminton three or four years ago, I wouldn’t have believed you – despite being brave enough, didn’t think he would be rideable enough. But he’s gone from strength to strength each year and he went around there like a proper five-star horse,” said Tom.

“I have to be really brave in the beginning because if you go to the rein too early, I lose the control.

“I stuck to all my plan As on the way around . I couldn’t tell you the distances I did, but it didn’t really matter because he was looking for the flags. The ground on the whole is very good – it’s a bit sticker going down to the Vicarage Vee area.”

Tom Rowland enjoyed a wonderful Badminton Horse Trials cross-country clear round with Dreamliner, jumping clear, being another rider to pick up 14.4 time-faults.

“I was a bit nervous – it’s only my ninth event on ‘Dreamer’,” said an ecstatic Tom. “The temperature is hot and the ground is sticky, but we finished really well.

“He doesn’t always feel the most adjustable horse but I do think if I can get him to the flags, he will jump it.

“I was terrified of the last tree stump [at fence 26ABCD, the Lightsource bp Mound]. I thought I would go sailing past it, so I just trotted him off the drop and I thought ‘please turn – if I can just get him near it, he’ll jump it’. I think had both reins on the left hand, but he was so honest.

“I always wanted to do well enough to get an interview with Clare Balding!” – which Tom managed t the end of his round while talking to the BBC.

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‘He went like a champion’: Boyd Martin takes early Badminton dressage lead

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 09 May 2024 09:59:59 +0000

The USA’s Boyd Martin took the lead on 29 in the early stages of the first day of Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage. Boyd was riding Tsetserleg TSF, a 17-year-old owned by Christine, Thomas IV and Tommie Turner, with whom he was ninth at Burghley in 2023.

In the glorious morning sunshine, the pair earned a smattering of sevens throughout their test, with their medium walk being a highlight, garnering two eights and a nine from the ground jury of Sandy Phillips (GBR), Jane Halim (USA) and Christian Steiner (AUT).

“I’m thrilled with him. He went in there and went like a champion, so he couldn’t have done much better and it’s hard to get a dressage test where everything just goes nicely,” explained Boyd. “We’re in with a chance.”

Boyd never dropped below a 6.5 in his test, with no real mistakes and the horse remaining level and on-side with Boyd throughout.

Badminton final scores

When asked whether an early draw suits Tsetserleg TSF, meaning his dressage test takes place with less crowds present in the main arena, Boyd said “it doesn’t matter to him”.

“He’s a pretty laid back horse – he’s been around a bit,” stated Boyd, referring to this horse’s extensive experience, which also includes a second and fourth place finish at Kentucky, plus a world team silver and a Pan Am double gold.

Pippa Funnell and the incredibly experienced Majas Hope encountered problems in their Badminton Horse Trials dressage test when the horse lost focus. The 17-year-old gelding, owned by Pippa and Marek Sebestak, has previously scored consistently in the mid- to late-20s at five-star level. They scored 40.8 this morning.

First into the arena at 9am, Tom Jackson and Farndon, are currently in second on 33, with Tom Rowland and Dreamliner holding third on 34.9.

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Floaty dresses, shorts and leopard print – see what top riders wore at Badminton trot-up

Pippa Roome — Wed, 08 May 2024 21:05:02 +0000

Want to see Mars Badminton Horse Trials trot-up pictures from today’s first horse inspection? Don’t worry, we’re here to bring you the fashion highlights from this afternoon, as well as the news of who came under extra scrutiny of the ground jury before being accepted.

From floaty dresses to patriotic ties and short suits, here are our picks of the riders’ outfits…

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Six feet off the floor – Alice Casburn wears the Fairfax & Favour Gina top in tan with leopard print trousers to present her mother Caroline’s Topspin.

Badminton final scores

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Boyd Martin shows his patriotic side as he trots up Tsetserleg TSF, who belongs to Christine, Thomas IV and Tommie Turner.

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Bubby Upton rocks a green floaty dress. She rides her mother Rachel’s Cola.

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Dorset-based US rider Cosby Green steps forward in a vivid blue short suit for her Badminton debut with Bel Mar Farm’s Copper Beech.

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Felicity Collins wears a green houndstooth suit with Holland Cooper accessories for trotting up RSH Contend Or, who belongs to Felicity’s late mother Vicky and Avrina Milton.

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Felix Vogg sports a light three-piece suit and matching bow tie as he presents Cartania, owned by Phoenix Eventing S.à.r.l. and her rider.

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Georgie Goss strides forward in a blue spotted dress with Feloupe, owned by her rider, Suzanne Doggett and Lucy Fleming.

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Harry Meade takes the Hiho Silver prize for best-dressed male – the female equivalent went to Rosie Bradley Hole. He has three rides and is pictured with Charlotte Opperman’s Cavalier Crystal.

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British first-timer Helen Bates’ ensemble includes the Oakham Ankle Boots in stone and the Felbrigg Belt in stone from Fairfax & Favor. She will ride her own and her mother Christine’s Carpe Diem.

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Jessica Phoenix floats down the strip in a long coat with the grey ex-racehorse Wabbit, owned by Jim Phillips and his rider.

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Three-time Badminton winner Pippa Funnell trots up Nick and Sarah Ross’s MCS Maverick – she nearly lost her hat on the return trip and ditched it when she presented second horse Majas Hope.

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Ros Canter and Alex Moody’s Izilot DHI has a good look around as his rider sports an elegant blouse to bring him forward.

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Tom Crisp teams up a floral blouse and a grey checked waistcoat. His ride is Liberty And Glory, owned by his wife Sophie and her parents Patricia and Robin Balfour.

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Zara Tindall joins Tom in adding shades to her ensemble. She presents Class Affair, owned by Gleadhill House Stud.

Badminton Horse Trials trot-up pictures by Peter Nixon

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Top rider confirms Kentucky and Badminton plans – and bids to join the record-holders

Pippa Roome — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 08:55:10 +0000

Boyd Martin has confirmed his ride for the Mars Badminton Horse Trials (8-12 May) next month and will bid to become the second rider to complete all the world’s five-stars there.

The US rider – who was born in Australia and initially represented that nation – has already started at all seven five-stars, but he fell across country on his only attempt at Badminton, in 2016.

Boyd Martin had entered world team silver medallist Tsetserleg TSF and On Cue for both Badminton Horse Trials and this week’s Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event (25-28 April).

He has now clarified his plans and withdrawn Christine, Thomas IV and Tommie Turner’s Tsetserleg from Kentucky with the intention of taking him to Badminton. He will run 2021 Maryland 5 Star winner On Cue, also owned by the Turners plus Boyd himself, in the five-star at Kentucky. He also has Commando 3 and Federman B in the CCI4*-S at Kentucky.

Badminton final scores

Boyd will try to join Tim Price as the only riders who have completed the world’s seven regular five-stars, although if he succeeds Tim will still have a slight upper hand because he also completed the one-off five-star at Bicton in 2021.

US-based Australian Clayton Fredericks has also started all seven regular five-stars, but has not completed Maryland (he withdrew after dressage on his only attempt).

Britain’s William Fox-Pitt and New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson have won at the widest range of five-stars, as they have both taken top spot at five different ones – Badminton, Burghley Horse Trials, Luhmühlen Horse Trials, Pau Horse Trials and Kentucky. Tim has won four – Burghley, Luhmühlen, Pau and Maryland.

Alice Dunsdon has ridden at the most five-stars on the same horse as she has started six of the events on Fernhill Present, the exception being Maryland, which didn’t run at five-star level when she was making her bid to complete the set. She finished five of the events, but wasn’t quite able to make it a full house at Badminton. H&H followed her epic journey to the Australian five-star at Adelaide back in 2015, as well as her Badminton campaign the following year.

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‘Plenty of opportunities to have a mistake’: Jonelle Price, Ros Canter and Boyd Martin discuss Pau five-star cross-country track

Becky Murray — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 18:26:58 +0000

Riders have been giving their first impressions of the Pau Horse Trials cross-country course ahead of the five-star action tomorrow (28 October).

Pierre Michelet’s track features 31 fences over a distance of 6,322m, and as in previous years it is as twisty as ever. The optimum time is 11 minutes six seconds, and riders will have to navigate four water complexes, skinnies, corners, and some tough combinations.

One of the key talking points ahead of the cross-country is the influential distances.

“It’s very Pau-like,” said Jonelle Price, who won the 2022 Pau on Grappa Nera, and this year rides McClaren and Hiarado.

“There’s quite a few three-and-a-half strides, which I’m not such a massive fan of, but that’s our responsibility as riders to figure out how to make them work.

“Nearly every other fence is either a corner, or a skinny, or an angled rail – so there’s plenty of opportunities to have a mistake if you don’t quite execute those distances right.”

Tom Rowland, who rides KND Steel Pulse and Farndon, agreed and said that riders will need to be “really aware” of the distances.

“A lot of them are half strides,” he said. “I think it’s a really decent test, and that seems to be the consensus. It’s a proper five-star in terms of the number of turning combinations, accuracy fences, and the lines Pierre is asking you to commit on.

“To be totally honest it’s different to Badminton or Burghley in that it’s not as big, and after you walk those courses to me you feel quite tired like, ‘God that was exhausting’, but here it’s not like that.

“I don’t think there was a single skinny fence at Badminton this year like a triple brush, but there must be almost 20 here. It’s a very different track, but in its own right I genuinely think it’s every inch a five-star course.”

‘You need to know your horse’

Ros Canter will pilot Pencos Crown Jewel and five-star first-timer Izilot DHI round the Pau Horse Trials cross-country and said there are “plenty of places to make a mistake”.

“I think it’s really important that you have to know your horse and have a plan,” she said.

“I’ve got two different horses so I will probably have two different plans. For me it will be about getting the right frame of mind for each office and hoping I can deliver the performance for each one.”

Another talking point is the early questions on course, and US rider Boyd Martin, who brings forward Ferdarman B, believes the “first third of the track is the hardest”.

“We’ve got to set off and you get two warm-up jumps, and then it’s like arena eventing for the next two minutes! I think I’m going to warm my horse up a bit longer than usual, and really get him jumping, and turning, and going, and whoa-ing, and try to get him ready,” he said.

“Fence four is this drop with three strides to a wicked angle corner [pictured below], and at the last couple events I’ve screwed up early in the course so I’ve got to really be disciplined in my riding and make sure my horse is ready for the intensity of the first part.”

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Boyd’s compatriot Alexandra Knowles, who rides Morswood, agreed.

“I think from fence three to fence nine you’re going to know what you’re dealing with,” she said.

“It feels like a very taxing few couple first minutes from fence three; you’ll know how they feel up on a blind drop and we repeat that a few times, so how my horse jumps that will tell me how he’s going to jump the next – is he going to land short, or is he going to travel down the hill, because then after that we have the same kind of blind drop but with the skinny at the bottom?”

New Zealander James Avery will be taking on the Pau Horse Trials cross-country with 10-year-old five-star first-timer MBF Connection and believes it will be an educational track for a young horse.

“At first glance it looks like a great course. There’s lots of questions, and a lot of stuff that we practise and do a lot of, but it’s the accumulation of question after question after question that is tough for a young horse like mine. It’s testing but kind and obvious to horses,” he said.

“There are a lot of riding up mounds and coming down the other side, and I’m prepared that halfway round, my horse might start going ‘Really again, another one?’ I think that’s one thing I need to watch.

“The angle brush coming out of the water after the step [fence 9abc] is a pretty good early question. It encourages forward riding, and that’s the first place where I think that forward riding might catch you out. So you want to be on the ball there.”

Pau Horse Trials cross-country: wet weather

Another factor to add to the mix will be what effect Wednesday’s (26 October) downpours will have had on the ground.

Piggy March is on five-star first-timer Coolparks Sarco and said Pau’s ground can generally “take it” when it comes to water, but she believes that there will be some “soft patches”, while Tom McEwen, who is riding JL Dublin, said there had been an “unbelievable amount of rain”.

“I’ve been here in the wet but not quite like that, so that will be something to pay attention to,” he said.

The Pau Horse Trials cross-country gets under way tomorrow (28 October) at 11.30am local time (10.30am British time). Check out the full course.

A British-bred mare and a purple patch: revisit the previous winners of the world’s next five-star

Pippa Roome — Sat, 30 Sep 2023 15:32:51 +0000

The US autumn five-star is just weeks away (19-22 October), so it seems like an appropriate time to revisit the past Mars Maryland 5 Star winners.

Let’s remind ourselves how things panned out at the first two runnings of the event…

2021: Boyd Martin and On Cue

A home-side combination were the first Maryland 5 Star winners when Boyd piloted On Cue to a clear round in the showjumping to move up from third overnight.

On Cue is British-bred, from the dynasty raised in Yorkshire by Alyse Clancey and her daughter Jolyse Bell-Syer (née Clancey).

By Cabri D’Elle, she is a great granddaughter of the Clanceys’ foundation mare Augermist (by the Hanoverian Augermann, out of a mare by a thoroughbred sire), whom Alyse competed at Badminton Horse Trials and Burghley Horse Trials. On Cue’s dam On High competed to current three-star level, while her grand-dam On Song was a junior team bronze medallist in 2004 under Jolyse.

On Cue was 15 years old at the time of her Maryland 5 Star win, but she didn’t do an FEI event until she was 11 and only tackled her first five-star at Kentucky Three-Day Event in the spring of 2021.

“I’m on the best horse in the world, she’s flamboyant, she’s a mover, she digs deep and fights for you,” said Boyd after his win.

The US rider went to Maryland feeling he had a good chance, particularly as On Cue was very fit, having been prepped for the Olympics as Boyd’s reserve horse and then built up again for this.

This was a local victory because Boyd is based just 20 minutes down the road from Maryland – he initially joked that his wife, grand prix dressage rider Silva, was cooking him dinner every night, but it later transpired the woman who has been by his side for 15 years was away competing herself that weekend. But there was no doubt this triumph was hers as much as his.

“She’s worked so hard with On Cue and been there every step of the way – we’ve had ups and downs and I’m lucky to be married to someone who helps me every day,” said Boyd.

This was Boyd’s second five-star victory – 18 years after he won Adelaide – and the first US five-star victory for 13 years, looking back to that other Australian-turned-American Phillip Dutton’s Kentucky win in 2008. Boyd credited Australia for giving him his “work ethic and horsemanship” but he fell in love with America and having moved over in 2006, changed nationality in 2008.

2022: Tim Price and Coup De Coeur Dudevin

The New Zealand rider became the second of the Maryland 5 Star winners, his fifth five-star victory, in the middle of a purple patch that included winning two bronze medals at the World Championships and moving up to world number one.

“I’ve had some fantastic days at the office, but I think this beats them all,” he said after taking the $100,000 (£89,000) first prize. “I’ve had my good results, but to me it’s felt like flashes in the pan – I’ll have a good result, and then I’ll have a few mediocre results – but I’ve been really consistent this year. I had a great year in 2018, but this feels like something else.

“I’m taking full advantage of some cracking horses and that’s really what it boils down to for me – to let these horses show how good they are and do my bit to let that happen.”

Tim’s ride Coup De Coeur Dudevin, who is owned by his breeder Jean-Louis Stauffer, was tackling his first five-star after just one four-star long run. Produced by Chris Burton, he moved to Tim’s wife Jonelle when Chris transferred to showjumping, and then to Tim for the 2022 season for a better size match.

The pair were second after dressage, moving up when Woods Baughman and C’est La Vie 135 didn’t complete the cross-country. They showjumped clear with just 0.8 of a time-fault.

“I came here with a hope of a top five, but understood there might be a couple of things that showed his lack of experience and we were able to have those while keeping a nice low score,” said Tim after his win.

Of his fault-free cross-country round, he added: “I always start in a nice quiet rhythm, I build it in the middle and I reap the harvest at the end, but I exaggerated that and was very slow at the start and just let him pop around.”

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(Image credit: Nico Morgan)

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Incredible rounds, smart debuts and heartbreak: 11 must-reads about Burghley cross-country day

Gemma Redrup — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 16:55:05 +0000

The cross-country day is now complete at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials 2023 and it was another day of drama, spell-binding rounds and high-profile upsets. Here is a round-up of the key stories you won’t want to miss from Saturday 2 September

It was an action-packed Defender Burghley Horse Trials cross-country day, over Derek di Grazia’s track.

Watch a round-up of today’s action in the video below

Tim Price holds the lead after jumping clear but finishing 20 seconds over the time with Vitali.

Why Tim’s round wasn’t as smooth as he had hoped

Oliver Townend had a rough start to the day…

What happened to Oliver’s early rides?

…but it ended well with Ballaghmor Class

Find out what Oliver had to say about this 16-year-old five-star stalwart

Some of the early riders enjoyed fantastic rounds and have reaped the rewards

What happened to the early competitors?

There was drama for Ros Canter, who was in fifth after the dressage

Find out what happened to Ros and Pencos Crown Jewel

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country day was disappointing for Tom McEwen, who was in fourth after dressage

Find out why Tom and Toledo De Kerser didn’t complete

Pippa Funnell and Sam Watson enjoyed good rounds

What Pippa said, plus Sam’s review of his remarkable little horse’s round

We caught up with Sam’s wife and groom Sparkles Watson prior to him going cross-country

Find out what Sam’s horse is like and how Sparkles juggles the many aspects of her life with great success

Burghley dreams were dashed for some experienced partnerships…

Check out what happened to Emily King and Zara Tindall

…but British first-timer Emma Thomas enjoyed a fantastic round

Find out what this young rider had to say before she went across country on her game little horse

We also met Boyd Martin’s groom Steph Simpson, to find out what it’s like working for the top US rider

Read about why Steph loves her job and what it was like travelling over from the USA with two horses for this week’s competition

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the Burghley action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

Heartbreak for Tom McEwen on Burghley Horse Trials cross-country day

Gemma Redrup — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 15:44:13 +0000

There was heartbreak for Tom McEwen when he pulled up his wonderful campaigner Toledo De Kerser on the 2023 Defender Burghley Horse Trials cross-country today (2 September).

They jumped clear over the first 11 fences, but Tom brought their round to an end when he retired from the competition before jumping fence 12, as the horse looked unsound. They were in fourth after the first phase.

Boyd Martin’s round aboard Tsetserleg TSF wasn’t without drama. The US rider jumped clear but was temporarily stopped on course before jumping through the Boodles Raindance at fence 24/25ab.

“They thought they saw speck of blood on him so the vets and technical delegate had a look,” explained Boyd. “Then they told me to turn around and jump one of the biggest fences on the course from a standstill! In a way it was frustrating, but the welfare of the horse is important and I love this horse so much, I’d be the first to pull him up if he was injured.”

Boyd came home with 9.6 time-faults, which means Tsetserleg TSF maintains his overnight sixth place at this stage of Burghley Horse Trials cross-country day.

Wills Oakden has had a day to remember, clocking one of the fastest times of the day on his first ride, Oughterard Cooley, and then followed it up with another classy clear with Arklow Puissance, just picking up 4.4 time-faults, which puts them into eighth at the moment.

“I knew I had two good jumping horses, but never expected to have two in the top 10,” said Wills. “Arklow Puissance is less experienced and so I wanted to get him into the round. He really grew into himself and I could start using him and he skipped up the hill at Winners’ Avenue.”

Tom Crisp and Liberty And Glory picked up 10.8 time-faults but notched a valuable jumping clear to rise from 26th after the dressage to 12th at this stage. The mare, owned by her breeders Robin and Patricia Balfour, and Tom’s wife Sophie, looked so game throughout her round and Tom gave her a super ride.

“Our last five-star run ended up with us arse first in The Lake,” joked Tom, referring to his fall at Badminton this spring. “I wanted to be quicker today as it would have been a real opportunity for us, but you’ve got to ride what you’ve got. She lost a shoe and went a little unbalanced, but she is amazing. For a little horse I look at the fences and think ‘can she jump these?’ But wow, she can.”

Grace Taylor, who was seventh after dressage aboard her mother Ann Taylor’s Game Changer, jumped a clear round but the gelding looked to tire towards the end of the course and picked up 17.6 time-faults, dropping them to 14th at this stage of Burghley Horse Trials cross-country day.

End of day update: Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF finished the day in seventh, Wills Oakden and Arklow Puissance are currently in 10th, and Tom Crisp and Liberty And Glory are in 14th. Grace Taylor and Game Changer are now in 16th.

Burghley dreams dashed as cross-country mistakes prove costly for some

Alex Robinson — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 12:13:12 +0000

Emily King is “kicking herself” after a “rider error” on Valmy Biats, who was 10th after the dressage phase, on the Defender 2023 Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course.

The pair were going well until the Waterloo Rails when the horse dived slightly to the left and broke the frangible device. Emily regained her composure, putting the mistake behind her to complete her first Burghley cross-country attempt with The Valmy Biats Syndicate’s 14-year-old. In addition to the 11 penalties for a frangible pin at fence 12, the pair also collected 15 for a missed flag at 14C.

“I wanted to set out in a good rhythm with the main aim of bringing him back safe and sound,” Emily said. “I rode a really rubbish line to a railed oxer [fence 12] and it was completely my own fault that we made an error. We managed to scramble it, but his girth got a bit twisted and I dropped my whip. Everything went off balance a bit and I wondered if I should stop, but someone in the crowd yelled ‘Emily, you’re doing great’ so I carried on with the job with no whip and my girth back! But he was amazing.”

After a solid start, the Leaf Pit once again proved a nemesis for Zara Tindall and Class Affair. After dropping down the hill with ease and jumping the big brush oxer, Class Affair lost balance on landing and ran past the final brush. They cleared it at the second attempt and continued around the course, taking the long route through some combinations, until Zara pulled up at the top of Winners’ Avenue before the Cottesmore Leap.

“I saw a big shot and he landed on his head a bit,” said Zara of her problem at the Leaf Pit. “As I went on he got better and better, but he got a bit tired. At some of the combinations he felt amazing, but overall it didn’t work today.”

The Leaf Pit has been a nemesis for Zara and this is the third Burghley in a row she’s encountered problems here.

“We’ll go home and make a plan now; maybe this track isn’t for him, but we’ll have to see,” she said.

Harry Mutch achieved his first-ever 2023 Burghley Horse Trials cross-country finish on his mother Carole Mutch’s five-star debutant Shanbeg Cooley, the youngest horse on the field at just nine-years-old. After a stop at the first part of the Leaf Pit, Harry swiftly got back on track by taking the long route. They returned home safe with 20 jumping penalties and 19.6 time penalties.

Burghley cross-country clear jumping rounds

World number 10 Boyd Martin and his first ride of the day, the Turner family’s Cabri D’Elle mare On Cue, who was 16th after dressage, completed the course clear with 10.8 time penalties.

“She’s a legend of a horse and I love her to bits; it doesn’t matter what the scenario is, she pricks her ears and gets on with it,” said Boyd. “She felt the hill after jumping the Trout Hatchery so I didn’t push her as I didn’t want her to run out of petrol. I accepted that this was her speed and consequently we were a bit over the time.

“My second runner Thomas [Tsetserleg] is fitter so I’ll probably go for it a bit more on him later on.”

Alexander Bragg produced a confident round with the Roe Family’s mare Quindiva on his second Burghley appearance to finish clear with 14 time penalties.

“I saved her too much at the beginning, but this was the right decision for her first Burghley,” said Alex. “I’m over the moon with her.”

End of day update: Ahead of the show jumping, Boyd Martin and On Cue occupy 12th position, Alexander Bragg and Quindiva are in 20th, Emily King and Valmy Biats are 29th, and Harry Mutch and Shanbeg Cooley are 32nd.

‘I love the chaos of the job’: meet Boyd Martin’s groom Steph Simpson who hails from a non-horsey family

Alex Robinson — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 07:48:20 +0000

Despite hailing from a non-horsey family, Steph Simpson has forged a career for herself in the equestrian industry, and she’s been USA team eventer Boyd Martin’s groom since 2018.

Steph was born in Northern Vermont and she grew up on a dairy farm, so horses weren’t intended to be a part of her life.

“My parents were adamant that horses weren’t to be for me,” explains Steph, who is attending her first Defender Burghley Horse Trials this year as Boyd Martin’s groom. “However, when some family bought a boarding stables I started working there during the holidays. When I went to university to study animal science I was encouraged to look into different careers in the equine industry.”

Steph began her route into the industry as a working student. She initially joined Jane Sleeper before she headed over to Dom and Jimmie Schramm’s yard.

“I met Boyd during my time with the Schramms, and in May 2018 he reached out to me asking if I’d like to join his team as a groom,” says Steph.

When asked what her favourite aspect of being Boyd Martin’s groom is, Steph says she enjoys the chaos.

“We have a busy yard with lots of going on, and while it might seem overwhelming to the outside eye it’s actually such a fun job; I embrace the chaos!

“One of my career highlights, and a huge goal achieved, was attending the Olympics. But all of these big international events, including Pau and Kentucky, are fun to go to. There are a great group of grooms on the circuit, too, and an event like Burghley is a chance to catch up with everyone.

“My advice to anyone looking to get into grooming is to understand that there are stepping stones in this career. Everyone wants to go to the big events but you have to sweat it out at the small horse trials initially, taking the younger horses to their first events in all weathers. You have to climb the ladder and understand that it’s not all five-stars and international events. You have to stick with it long enough to make the right moves, but if you do, you can end up in a great position with lots of options. People appreciate hard-working, reliable people, so try and keep a perspective in the early days and you can go far.”

This is Steph’s first Burghley Horse Trials. She is responsible for both of Boyd’s rides, the long-established star Tsetserleg (Thomas) and his 2021 Maryland five-star winner On Cue.

“We headed to JFK airport in New York last Thursday before the horses flew on Friday,” Steph explains. “We arrived in the UK, stabled at Kevin McNab’s yard in Surrey for a few days and then we headed to Burghley. It’s been a relatively short trip.

“Both of the horses have travelled all over the world, and they’re very easy to do which makes my life easier. The hardest thing is ensuring that we have all their stuff packed up. This is my first trip to Burghley, but it definitely lives up to its reputation.”

Both Thomas and Cue will keep Boyd Martin’s groom Steph busy all week, but she says that she knows them both inside out.

“I’ve travelled with both of them a lot, and they’re so used to travelling together now. Que is a spooky mare, but she’s never naughty. She’s social on her time. Thomas has a huge personality and he’s a very curious guy.”

On day one of the competition, Que scored 31.8 for her dressage attempt. When Steph chatted Thomas was gearing up for his test later in the day. He finished his dressage performance on 28.1.

“Ahead of his test, Thomas will do some trotting poles; Boyd likes to move his body and get him using himself ahead of his test. As Que has finished her flat work, she had a hack and a canter this morning.”

‘It’s surreal to see my name up there’: five-star first-timer moves into Burghley top five

Alex Robinson — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 14:35:21 +0000

On her five-star debut, Grace Taylor held her nerve impressively to ride her talented 11-year-old Game Changer to a personal best score of 28.9 and slot into the top five on the leader board at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials.

Her result also meant she secured the top US rider position ahead of Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way who now sit in sixth overall on 29.4.

Highlights of Grace and her mother Ann’s Game Changer’s dressage test included their extended canter, where they received two eights from two judges, Nick Burton at E and Christian Steiner at C.

“Thank you, Game Changer,” said an emotional Grace when she left the dressage arena. “He never lets me down in the ring, and while I wanted that kind of test more than anything, you can never expect it. It’s surreal to see my name up there with riders I idolise.”

Grace has seen the Cassidee gelding right through the ranks. She sourced him from Annie Kirkham as a five-year-old who she credits for doing “a lovely job” with him at novice level.

“He’s been a wonderful horse to have in the yard,” Grace added. “He’s very reliable in the ring. He had a little look at the crowd when he walked down, but he got that out of his system early on.

“I don’t know when I will get another horse to this level so I will go out there and do my best on Saturday. We’ll see what we’re both made of and we’ll hope for the best.”

Second best of this session, behind Tim Price and his record breaking performance on Vitali, was two-time Burghley top-10 finisher Boyd Martin and the Christine, Thomas, and Tommie Turner’s Tsetserleg TSF, who scored 28.1 and secured them a fourth spot on the leaderboard.

The 16-year-old has previously finished second and fourth at Kentucky, and claimed world team silver and Pan Am double gold. The gelding’s test was consistent throughout, with highlights including his shoulder in and his final centre line trot.

“He’s a good horse though we’ve had an up and down year this year, but he’s a veteran of the sport,” said Boyd. “We had a run at Luhmuhlen and as he had a blip early on I coasted around the cross-country course; it didn’t take much out of him. We ran him once at Bromont three weeks ago and he won. We only had two or three dressage rides in a week preparing for this moment [at Burghley], and it’s worked well so maybe I should try this a bit more. Sometimes, the more you practise the more sour the horses can get; sometimes with these old boys easing off them is the ticket.”

Richard Coney and Poetry In Motion scored 35.2, after a strong run of 7s across their test. The Yeats 10-year-old is providing Richard with his first British five-star start, adding this to two Pau completions already on his tally.

Last year’s ninth placed combination, Liberty And Glory and Tom Crisp, nailed a final score of 33.7 this time.

France’s Arthur Duffort and Toronto D’Aurois scored 35.9 on their third appearance here. The 16-year-old gelding, 14th here last year, gave a good account for himself, despite a little tension and a keenness which should fare him well in tomorrow’s cross-country phase.

Tom McEwen and five-star debutante take early lead in Burghley dressage: ‘I’m disappointed with the mark’

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 10:22:18 +0000

Tom McEwen has taken the early lead in the Defender Burghley Horse Trials dressage, scoring 30.5 with Luna Mist, who is making her five-star debut.

The 10-year-old mare, owned by Martin Belsham, performed a very elegant test showing a huge amount of potential for the future. Luna Mist, who is an elastic mover, looked fluid throughout and her entry with Tom was a highlight, scoring 7.5 from the judge at E (Nick Burton), eight from the judge at C (Christian Steiner) and 8.5 from the judge at M (Anne-Mette Binder).

“It’s a great start and I’m delighted with her – it was very smooth,” said Tom, who will also compete Toledo De Kerser this week. “There were some great highlights and it was pretty much a clear round throughout the majority of test, so exactly what we asked for first time under this sort of atmosphere and pressure for her – she coped amazingly.”

Their first extended trot was also awarded with eights from the judges at E and C. Their lowest mark was a five from the judge at C for the rein-back, otherwise they didn’t drop below 6.5.

“I’m definitely disappointed with the mark and I hope it’s not just a Thursday morning thing and they continue with this level of marking – it’s the worst thing about dressage,” stated Tom. “But her performance was awesome and as good as we could hope for.”

Oliver Townend currently holds second with the 13-year-old gelding Tregilder. They also scored 30.5, but Tom sits ahead because his harmony of athlete and horse mark was 0.5 penalties higher than Oliver’s.

“I was very happy with the horse as he is a huge and has a high percentage of thoroughbred in his pedigree, so dressage isn’t his natural thing,” said Oliver. “It’s taken a long time to get here but very happy for his breeders, Vin and Liz Jones at Preci Spark, and the Hazeldine family and the Mitchell Fox Group who own him and have been long-term supporters of me.”

Oliver was marked consistently throughout, scoring mostly sevens and 7.5s, with the judge at E scoring him a 5.5 for the extended trot, which was the lowest mark throughout his test with Tregilder.

“I’m very proud to have him here and very proud of his flying changes more than anything. He finds them difficult and all four were clean.”

The USA’s Boyd Martin is in third after his Burghley Horse Trials dressage performance with the 16-year-old mare On Cue, who he co-owns with Christine Turner, Thomas Iv Turner and Tommie Turner, on 31.8.

“Obviously you always wish you could do it again,” said Boyd, who was a little disappointed. “She’s probably got a little bit nervous in there and a bit tight so had a couple of small mistakes but all in all, I’m very pleased with her.

“She’s one of my favourite horses and to come to this epic competition is just a wonderful experience. On Saturday, well, the dressage will be long forgotten.”

Eight pairs to watch at Burghley – will one of these riders take the title?

Pippa Roome — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 17:32:49 +0000

Want to know who are the top Defender Burghley Horse Trials riders to watch at the upcoming five-star (30 August-3 September)?

We’re here to bring you all that info…

Burghley Horse Trials riders and horses: the top eight contenders

List in number order, with info presented as follows:

Number. Rider name

Rider age, nationality

Horse name, horse age, horse colour, horse gender, horse sire x horse damsire, horse owner(s)

Form assessment

9. Boyd Martin

44, USA

On Cue, 17-year-old bay mare, Cabri D’Elle x Primitive Rising, rider, Christine, Thomas IV and Tommie Turner

Boyd’s seventh place here in 2011 on Neville Bardos was a story of triumph over adversity as the horse had recovered having been caught in a serious fire at Boyd’s yard. On Cue, who was bred in Yorkshire by the Clanceys, pulled off a win at the first Maryland CCI5* in 2021. She hasn’t done a lot since, but recently won Bromont CCI4*-S, so don’t write her off.

18. Ros Canter

37, GBR

Pencos Crown Jewel, 14-year-old bay mare, Jumbo x Rock King, Kate James and Annie Makin

Local rider and new European champion Ros was 11th here last year on “Jasmine” and then ninth at Badminton Horse Trials, where Ros won on the mare’s half-brother, Lordships Graffalo. Pencos Crown Jewel was also fourth in the one-off five-star at Bicton Horse Trials in 2021 and has been in the top nine at four-star 10 times. A lovely genuine mare who has a great shot at a top-10 finish.

20. Austin O’Connor

48, IRL

Colorado Blue, 14-year-old grey gelding, Jaguar Mail x Rock Kind, rider and The Salty Syndicate

Colorado Blue’s cross-country strength came to the fore in the wet ground at Badminton when he topped previous consistent results (13th at the Olympics, eighth at Badminton 2022 and 18th at the World Championships) with third place. Burghley is always a cross-country contest so another top three is very possible. Austin lives in Oxfordshire.

35. Oliver Townend

40, GBR

Swallow Springs, 15-year-old grey gelding, Chillout x Cult Hero, Paul and Diana Ridgeon

Swallow Springs has been third at Burghley with Andrew Nicholson, but fell here with Oliver last year and was pulled up at Badminton as he tired in the wet going. He built back with seventh at Luhmühlen Horse Trials and has a good chance of a top placing. Shropshire-based Oliver has won here twice, in 2009 on Carousel Quest and 2017 on Ballaghmor Class.

58. Tim Price

44, NZL

Vitali, 13-year-old bay gelding, Contender x Heraldik xx, Alexander & Joseph Giannamore and rider

It’s a mark of how good Vitali is in the other phases that he’s achieved three top-10 placings at five-star, including third here last year and seventh at Badminton this spring, despite 12 jumping faults in the final phase on each occasion. Could win if he can fix that last-day form. Dorset-based Tim, the world number one, won here in 2018 on Ringwood Sky Boy.

63. Boyd Martin

44, USA

Tsetserleg TSF, 16-year-old black gelding, Windfall 2 x Buddenbrock, Christine, Thomas IV and Tommie Turner

A stalwart of the US eventing scene, who has been second and fourth at Kentucky and claimed world team silver and Pan Am double gold. Probably past his best, but could pull off a late-career surprise. Boyd has two top-10 finishes at Burghley to his name and has completed every five-star in the world except Badminton, where he has started but fell.

66. Tom McEwen

32, GBR

Toledo De Kerser, 16-year-old bay gelding, Diamant De Semilly x Papillon Rouge, Fred & Penny Barker, Jane Inns and rider’s mother Ali

The immensely talented but quirky Toledo has only been here once, finishing fourth in 2017, because he’s often been on British team duties in the autumn. The Olympic team gold and individual silver medallists will start among the favourites. Their record includes four top-11 placings at Badminton, victory at Pau five-star in 2019 and world team gold in 2018.

69. Oliver Townend

40, GBR

Ballaghmor Class, 16-year-old grey gelding, Courage II x unlisted, Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan

Second at Badminton this spring marked an eighth top-five five-star placing for “Thomas”, whose two wins at the level include one here in 2017. The pair were also fifth individually and Olympic team gold medallists in Tokyo. Showjumping can be the chink in this all-time great’s armour, but he shook that off with one down at Badminton and has a real chance of a win.

For similar details on every Burghley Horse Trials rider and horse, plus score sheets to fill in as the week progresses, buy the magazine issue out Thursday 31 August or pick up a free copy when you buy a programme at Burghley.

Zara Tindall, Yasmin Ingham and Tom McEwen head up British entries for Kentucky five-star

Pippa Roome — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 08:46:11 +0000

Eight British names and three world champions appear among the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event entries for the CCI5* event which runs 26–30 April.

World champions Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir, who were second at the event last year, will return to the US venue next month. Banzai is now registered in the ownership of The Sue Davies Fund following the death of Sue, who owned him alongside her daughter Janette Chinn, in January.

Tom McEwen will make his first trip to the Kentucky Horse Park with the Lamberts’ and Deirdre Johnston’s JL Dublin, the horse who won the European Championships with Nicola Wilson in 2021. The Lamberts were long-standing owners with Nicola and have previously made the trip with horses they owned with her. Tom and JL Dublin were second at Boekelo CCI4*-L last autumn and this will be their first five-star as a combination.

Zara Tindall returns to Kentucky, the venue where she finished third in 2017 on High Kingdom, with Gleadhill House Stud’s Class Affair. This is not, though, Class Affair’s first US venture as he competed at Maryland 5-Star in 2021.

William Fox-Pitt, a three-time winner of Kentucky, holds an entry with Amanda Gould’s Grafennacht, a five-star first-timer who is also entered at Badminton the week after Kentucky.

Oliver Townend will bid for a fourth Kentucky win this year as he is on the list with Tregilder, owned by the Hazeldines and the Mitchell Fox Group.

David Doel is entered on Gillian Jonas’ Galileo Nieuwmoed, with whom he was sixth at Badminton Horse Trials last year. Gillian is 90 this year and she owned Apache Sauce, who was ninth at Kentucky in 2007 with Mary King. David told H&H she wants to go back to Kentucky while she is still in good health.

Kirsty Chabert is another potential British Kentucky debutante as she has last year’s Luhmühlen Horse Trials runner-up Classic VI, owned by Carole Somers, Kate Ward and Kirsty’s father John Johnston, on the list.

US-based British rider Leslie Law, the 2004 Olympic eventing champion, is slated to make his fourth Kentucky start on Tre’ Book’s Voltaire De Tre’, their best result being 10th in 2019.

Australia’s Olympic team silver medallists Kevin McNab and Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam, who belongs to Scuderia 1918 Capital SRL and Kevin’s wife Emma, are also set to make the trip across the Atlantic. They finished sixth at Kentucky last year.

Two German riders are also travelling from Europe. Alina Dibowski, daughter of Olympic team gold medallist Andreas, made her championship debut at the worlds last year on her Kentucky ride, Barbados 26, owned by her mother Susanna. The 2004 world champion, Sandra Auffarth, is set to pilot her world team gold medallist, Nikolaus Prinz von Croy’s Viamant Du Matz.

France also has one entry, in the form of Maxime Livio with S.C. Soixante Seize Et Compagnie, Gilles Saiagh and Celine Fronteau’s Carouzo Bois Marotin.

The other Kentucky Three-Day Event entries are all from US riders, with the exception of two Canadians, including the 19-year-old Jollybo, ridden by Hawley Bennett-Awad.

The home side challenge includes three rides apiece for Tamie Smith (including Alexandra and Ellen Ahearn and Eric Markell’s world team silver medallist Mai Baum and last year’s Maryland 5-Star runner-up Danito, owned by Ruth Bley), Liz Halliday-Sharp, Buck Davidson, Jennie Saville (née Brannigan) and Will Coleman.

Phillip Dutton, the most recent American winner of Kentucky, has just one ride in the mix, the syndicate-owned Z.

Boyd Martin, the most recent US winner of a five-star after his victory at Maryland in 2021, brings forward the Turners’ Tsetserleg TSF, a former Kentucky runner-up, and Club Contessa’s Contessa.

Lauren Nicholson has Jacqueline Mars’ Landmark’s Monte Carlo and Vermiculus in the line-up, although Vermiculus is also entered at Badminton the week after Kentucky, so may well not appear at the US spring five-star if he makes the trip to Britain.

‘It just proves horses are not machines’: two stops in otherwise ‘fantastic’ Pratoni round for Olympic medallists

Eleanor Jones — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 15:39:45 +0000

Olympic individual bronze and team silver medallists Andrew Hoy and Vassily De Lassos suffered the worst luck on the World Eventing Championships cross-country, with two problems on course.

They incurred a total of 40 jumping penalties for the mistakes at 7C, at the bottom of the Slide, and at element C of the Longines Hydroconquest Combinations at fence 24. They also clocked up 14.8 time-penalties, putting them on a final score of 82.9.

“It just proves horses are not machines,” Andrew said. “Vassily is an absolutely fantastic horse. He doesn’t lose any credibility, in my opinion, for what happened today; the rest of the round was absolutely fantastic, there were just two fences that weren’t and they were very costly.

“It’s all too sudden to try to analyse now as to what happened and what didn’t happen. He galloped and jumped really well, he pulled up really well and I just hope this isn’t too detrimental to the team.”

Andrew said the 13-year-old Jaguar Mail gelding was feeling as normal, and good, before his round.

“This is just a blip to a horse’s career that’s been absolutely fantastic,” he said.

Tim Price and Falco put in a superb round for New Zealand on the World Eventing Championships cross-country, finishing clear and within the time.

As the last combination to go for the team, Tim and the 13-year-old gelding crossed the line a second inside the time to leave them on their dressage score of 26.2, which moved them from 14th place this morning to fifth at that stage.

“He’s an out and out jumper; he’s learned the job of cross-country,” Tim said. “There were points when he was a novice and I’d be warming up with Andrew [Nicholson] and we’d both be ‘This horse is not going to be anything beyond a novice horse’, because he was the wrong type for the job.

“But he’s been very trainable, so he’s just got better and more honest and more clever as he’s gone on. So it was not just going out and relaxing on a cross-country horse, you’ve got to do a good job everywhere and ride a rhythm rather than pure speed and he was really good with everything.”

US rider Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF finished bang on the time to stay on their dressage score, also 26.

“I was just going as fast as he goes so I thought I was right on the time, one second over, one second under so when I heard them announce that it was right on the time it was a big breath of relief,” Boyd said. “This track doesn’t suit him; he’s so suited to the five-stars that have long gallops and I can get him settled in. Here, it was sort of like Tokyo where it’s a bit turning and stopping and starting, and the sunlight was a bit weird by the end of the day, but I have to give the horse credit. He just tries and tries and tries – it’s his best attribute… he’s just a legend.”

Boyd and the American-bred 15-year-old have now contested four championships together, and Boyd said is testament to the horse’s character and soundness.

“When he came to my barn. I hardly rode him,” he added. “I got the kids to ride him because I just thought he was a fluffy little pony and to do what he’s done goes to show how much I know! I picked all these fancy, shiny, big-jumping, big-moving expensive horses and this is the guy that just keeps turning up. So it goes to show heart and a horse that tries counts for so much.”

Tim, Boyd and Ros Canter have all finished cross-country on 26.2. In cases of a tie, positions are decided on who is closest to the optimum time, putting Boyd ahead of Tim and then Ros.

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Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout the World Eventing Championships with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 20-page magazine report (on sale 22 September) including opinion from Mark Phillips and ground jury president Christina Klingspor.

Boyd Martin boosts USA’s chances of a medal after the eventing World Championships dressage

Gemma Redrup — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 16:32:49 +0000

The USA’s Boyd Martin boosted his team’s chances of a medal after his smart eventing World Championships dressage test in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, today (16 September).

Riding the 15-year-old gelding Tsetserleg TSF, Boyd posted a score of 26.4 to sit in 14th going into tomorrow’s cross-country.

“He’s such a trier, this little horse, and he’s so reliable in there,” said Boyd. “He was a little bit quiet and backed off a little bit and maybe I should have done one less ride so he was a bit more excitable but that can backfire. All in all, I was pleased – it could always be better but it could always be worse too.”

The US team of Boyd, Tamie Smith (Mai Baum), Will Coleman (Off The Record) and Lauren Nicholson (Vermiculus) sit in bronze medal position on a score of 76.6.

“The team standings now don’t mean anything,” said Boyd. “I’ve been on so many teams where we’ve been sitting pretty after the first day but the competition really starts after the cross country.”

Britain are in gold medal position after the eventing World Championships dressage phase on a record-breaking score of 69.2, while the German squad are in silver on 76.1.

Belgium’s Karin Donckers was “very happy” with her test on the 17-year-old Fletcha Van’t Verahof. They scored 25.8 and sit in 10th going into the cross-country.

“I know my job and Fletcha knows his, but still, it’s a championship and the crowd are more excited and very positive and cheering, so you can never be certain of a good score,” she said.

New Zealand’s Tim Price also helped his team’s chances of a medal, posting a score of 26.2 aboard the talented Falco.

“I’m very pleased with him. He tried really hard, he was relaxed, settled, and just gave me everything I asked for,” said Tim. “Every horse has their talents, and then they’ve got their stage of training, and I believe he displayed his stage of training and his talents to the best of his ability.”

The New Zealand squad sit in fourth on a score of 77.9, while the Australian team are in fifth on 84.1, thanks in part to Andrew Hoy, who performed a solid test with Vassily De Lassos, for 28.1, to sit in 26th.

“I have to say I think Vassily’s trot work was the best that I’ve produced with him,” said Andrew. “I’ve been working very closely with Dolf Keller, who I worked with in early 2000s, and then the way things worked out, I moved away, but now I’m back training with him.

“Dolf is an absolute horseman and so he understands what the horse can do and I think there are a few little things just in the canter that I can improve on, so that’s good.”

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Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout the World Eventing Championships with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 20-page magazine report (on sale 22 September) including opinion from Mark Phillips and ground jury president Christina Klingspor.

Eight horses withdrawn from this week’s Burghley Horse Trials

Pippa Roome — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 15:04:44 +0000

The latest Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials withdrawals have been published for the event this week (1-4 September).

The home side’s David Doel has withdrawn Gillian Jonas’s Galileo Nieuwmoed, on whom he finished sixth and took the best first-timer prize at Badminton Horse Trials in the spring.

Australia’s Clayton Fredericks has pulled out Diana Crawford and Hugh Wrigley’s FE Coldplay, while Britain’s Rose Nesbitt will have to wait for another year to make her debut with EG Michealangelo.

Sarah Hughes reported on Facebook last week that her Barrichello, ridden by Ireland’s Cathal Daniels, has been taken out of consideration for Burghley and the eventing World Championships, and admitted to a rehabilitation and fitness centre owing to a “minor injury”.

Unsurprisingly, Tom McEwen, Ros Canter and Yasmin Ingham have all withdrawn the horses they will ride on the British squad at the World Championships later in September – Toledo De Kerser, Lordships Graffalo and Banzai Du Loir. It is expected that Oliver Townend will similarly withdraw his worlds ride Ballaghmor Class, although he is still in the draw at present.

The crowd will still have a chance to see these horses because the British squad for the worlds will practise their dressage tests in the main arena at Burghley after the dressage finishes on Thursday.

Similarly, Boyd Martin is among the Burghley Horse Trials withdrawals with the Turners’ Tsetserleg TSF, who is on the US squad for the World Championships.

Oliver Townend has five entries for Burghley and can only start on a maximum of three of them. With eight horses now having been withdrawn from the 68 who were in the drawn order, plus two of Oliver’s, the maximum starting field for Burghley will be 58 combinations.

First major squad named for eventing worlds: senior rider omitted from championship team for first time in 28 years

Pippa Roome — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 10:38:37 +0000

The US team has been named for the eventing World Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy (15-18 September).

The five combinations who will compete are:

Will Coleman with 13-year-old gelding Off The RecordOwner: Off The Record SyndicateGroom: Hailey BurlockDirect reserve horse: Team Rebecca, LLC’s Dondante

Ariel Grald with 13-year-old gelding Leamore Master Plan

Owner: Anne Eldridge

Groom: Meredith Ferraris

Boyd Martin with 15-year-old gelding Tsetserleg TSF

Owners: Christine, Thomas and Tommie Turner

Groom: Stephanie Simpson

Lauren Nicholson with 15-year-old gelding Vermiculus

Owner: Jacqueline Mars

Groom: Sally Robertson

Tamie Smith with 16-year-old gelding Mai Baum

Owners: Alexandra Ahearn and her parents Ellen Ahearn and Eric Markell

Groom: Alyssa Dobrotin

Four of these pairs will compete on the team and one as an individual.

Travelling reserve combination:

Phillip Dutton with 14-year-old gelding Z

Owners: Thomas Tierney, Ann Jones, Caroline Moran, David Vos, Patricia Vos, Suzanne Lacy and Phillip’s wife Evie

Groom: Sydnee Ledyard

If Phillip remains in the travelling reserve spot, this will be the first Olympics or World Championships he has not ridden at since 1994, a remarkable record. The rider competed for Australia until 2006, when he swapped nationality.

Ariel makes her senior championship debut. Tamie has ridden at the Pan American Games, but this will be her first time competing at a World Championships. She was the alternate rider at the Tokyo Olympics last year.

Equestrian data analytics company EquiRatings made an early prediction in July that the US team has a 10% chance of winning team gold at the eventing World Championships and a 52% chance of being on the team podium.

Can Michael Jung set a new world record? German superstar on track for historic Kentucky victory

Pippa Roome — Sun, 01 May 2022 00:19:00 +0000

Michael Jung retains his lead after the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country and could set a new five-star record finishing score tomorrow if he showjumps clear.

The German multi-medal winner enjoyed a virtually foot-perfect round today over Derek di Grazia’s course, cruising in 11sec under the 11min 4sec optimum time.

It was a first five-star for FischerChipmunk FRH – who belongs to Klaus and Sabine Fischer, Hilmer Meyer-Kulenkampff and the Germany Olympic committee for equestrian sport – but the 14-year-old has plenty of experience, including European individual silver and team gold in 2019 and a top-10 finish at the Tokyo Olympics, where a broken frangible device put paid to individual gold hopes.

After his round today, Michael said: “Chipmunk was amazing. He was so powerful, galloping like a machine, jumping everything. It was 11 minutes of fun.

“I had a great rhythm and although I respected every fence because it was his first five-star, and took a bit of time at the last combination and in the last water, he’s fast enough on the gallop tracks that I could take that time at the fences.”

Michael also paid tribute to the Fischer Group for helping to keep the horse in Germany when it looked like he’d be sold abroad. Chipmunk was produced by Michael’s team-mate Julia Krajewski, who rode him at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, before Michael took over in 2019.

Michael sits on a score of 20.1, which, if he can stay on it tomorrow, would best Laura Collett’s score of 21.3 from Pau 2020 as the best ever five-star finishing score.

He has two fences in hand over second-placed Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg and only once since 2008 has a leader with such a margin not gone on to win at five-star.

“My fellow was a champ,” said Boyd after his fault-free round. “He’s not the fanciest or most talented horse, but he’s got a heart of gold. His best attribute is how hard he tries and across country he’ll do everything he can to please me.

“Last year I tipped him over right at end of course. It was my mistake – I felt I was home and hosed and all of a sudden I was looking up at stars. Today he was giving me a great trip, but I wanted to stay focused right to the finish.”

Britain’s Yasmin Ingham holds third on Banzai Du Loir.

Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country course analysis

Twenty-four of the 43 starters (55.8%) put in jumping clears, but there were only three clears in the time, which came from Michael, Boyd and Phillip Dutton, who moved up from equal 31st after dressage to seventh on Sea Of Clouds.

Two fences proved particularly influential, catching out five combinations apiece. The first of these was the Park Question at fence 7abc – the sort of fence which used to be described as a coffin – where horses jumped a set of rails, ran down a steep slope, popped a ditch and then powered back up to an angled hedge.

Jonelle Price was among those who fell foul of this combination, saying she knew this might be the “coffin of doom” for McClaren as he doesn’t like open ditches. She had 20 penalties at element b, but aside from that was pleased with McClaren, who finished with 13.2 time-penalties.

“It’s a step up from the five-star at Pau which he did last year and I wasn’t sure how genuine he’d be so I had to make sure of the fences, but he ticked a lot of boxes,” she said.

The last water, the Cosequin Cove (fence 23abc), also caused faults for five pairs. Here horses jumped a hedge into the water, then on exiting the pond made a sharp left-handed turn to two angled skinny brushes, which most tackled on a one-stride distance though a few horses chipped in two.

FischerChipmunk FRH’s ‘best test ever’ takes Kentucky dressage lead, plus Jonelle Price ‘gutted’ with her mark

Pippa Roome — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 18:46:12 +0000

Michael Jung has taken over the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage lead at the halfway point of the second day (29 April).

The German superstar and FischerChipmunk FRH scored 20.1 for a definitive 9.2-penalty margin over the rest of the field at this stage. The pair were awarded 13 nines between the three judges and Christian Steiner at B gave them a 10 for their final centreline.

FischerChipmunk FRH’s work was on a different level to anything else seen so far in the competition – the test was flowing, the horse’s outline uphill and Michael placed the flying changes with unhesitating accuracy. His only tiny error was a slight movement in the mid-test halt.

“I think that was the best test I’ve ever done on him,” said Michael of the 14-year-old horse who belongs to Klaus and Sabine Fischer, Hilmer Meyer-Kulenkampff and the Germany Olympic committee for equestrian sport.

“There were small things that were better than in Tokyo – I think he’s got more powerful and spectacular, but he’s also really relaxed so I can work him through the test.

“He can be a bit shy and nervous so you have to know how to work with him. I was worried about his reaction to the spectators, but we had great timing and everything worked out.”

Speaking about his decision to bring Chipmunk here for the horse’s five-star debut, Michael said: “I have great memories here and the horses always feel good here – they feel well in the stables and there are perfect conditions on the all-weather arena and the beautiful cross-country. That all helps for a horse’s first five-star.”

The pair start the competition as favourites, with data analytics experts EquiRatings giving them a 41% win chance in the pre-event predictions.

Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage: Boyd Martin holds second

US Olympic combination Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF were the first pair to break the 30-barrier today when they scored 29.3, which currently puts them in second place. The Turner family’s horse showed some slight tension in his neck, but his work was otherwise pleasing.

“He has been a bit nervous, tight and edgy the past few days, but I rode him on the grass this morning and he took a breath, so I had a feeling we were in business,” said Boyd.

“It’s certainly more electric here with crowds and he perked up when he went round the ring. He likes crowds but there’s a point where he loses attention. In Tokyo, with no spectators, he felt a bit flat, but today he was about right.”

Last year’s Aachen winners Will Coleman and Off The Record now hold third (32.5) with overnight leaders Tamie Smith and Fleeceworks Royal in fourth.

New Zealand rider Jonelle Price is fifth with David and Katherine Thomson’s McClaren on a score of 33.4.

“I’m pleased with him, but gutted with the mark – 62% from the judge at H is a bad test and it didn’t feel like a bad test, so I’ll need to go and take another look [on video],” she said.

“He can go a little wide behind but it felt like a solid test, a clear round with no blinding mistakes.”

Three British riders perform their tests in the final session this afternoon – Yasmin Ingham (Banzai Du Loir), Sarah Bullimore (Corouet) and Pippa Funnell (Maybach).

See the Kentucky cross-country times for the British competitors and other favourites

Pippa Roome — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 19:33:08 +0000

The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country times have been released ahead of the action on Saturday (30 April).

The CCI5* cross-country starts at 12.50pm local time (5.50pm British time) and the final rider is scheduled to start at 3.46pm local time (8.46pm British time).

Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country times for British riders

Leslie Law and Voltaire De Tre’: 12.58pm local time (5.58pm British time)
Pippa Funnell and Majas Hope: 1.50pm local time (6.50pm British time)
Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir: 3.18pm local time (8.18pm British time)
Sarah Bullimore and Corouet: 3.34pm local time (8.34pm British time)
Pippa Funnell and Maybach: 3.46pm local time (8.46pm British time)

Other riders to watch

Will Coleman and Dondante (USA): 12.50pm local time (5.50pm British time)
Doug Payne and Vandiver (USA): 12.54pm local time (5.54pm British time)
Phillip Dutton and Sea Of Clouds (USA): 1.22pm local time (6.22pm British time)
Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF (USA): 2.26pm local time (7.26pm British time)
Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH (GER): 2.34pm local time (7.34pm British time)
Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot (USA): 2.38pm local time (7.38pm British time)
Jonelle Price and McClaren (NZL): 2.42pm local time (7.42pm British time)
Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Monte Carlo (USA): 2.46pm local time (7.46pm British time)
Will Coleman and Off The Record (USA): 2.50pm local time (7.50pm British time)

Full Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country times

See all the times (cross-country times are listed to the right of the rider name)

British-bred five-star winner withdrawn from Kentucky: ‘This is a heartbreaking call’

Lucy Elder — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 12:38:02 +0000

Home-side Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event title contender On Cue has been withdrawn from the 2022 event.

Boyd Martin and the British-bred mare won the inaugural Maryland 5 Star in October 2021 and would have been among the favourites for a strong result at Kentucky (28 April to 1 May).

“Cue pulled up a little sore in training and we’ve decided that it would be better to save her for another day,” said a statement from Boyd.

“This is a heartbreaking call as I really felt that she had a big chance of being very competitive this year.”

He added he is grateful to owners Chris, Tommie and TJ turner “for their support through the highs and lows with this magnificent mare”.

The 16-year-old mare, who is part of the “On” dynasty raised in Yorkshire by Alyse Clancey and her daughter Jolyse Bell-Syer (née Clancey), has finished in the top 10 on 14 of her 18 international starts with Boyd.

The US combination were fourth at Kentucky in 2021 and topped the Maryland results on their dressage score of 25.

Boyd remains in contention for the 2022 title with his Tokyo Olympic ride Tsetserleg TSF, who is also owned by the Turner family.

The 15-year-old gelding, an individual and team Pan Am Games gold medallist, was second here in 2019 and 11th in 2018, and has wins and top placings at four-star. The pair were in fourth place after dressage at the 2021 event, when they fell three from home on the cross-country.

The combination will wear the number 33 bib at this year’s event.

Olympic rider scores emotional win on horse whose rider died in cross-country schooling fall

Pippa Roome — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 17:33:48 +0000

Home side rider Boyd Martin scored an emotional win in the big money showcase eventing competition in the USA last weekend. He took top spot in the Grand Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field in Aiken, South Carolina, on Fedarman B, who had belonged to Annie Goodwin, who died in a cross-country schooling accident last summer.

Fedarman B, known as “Bruno”, now belongs to the Annie Goodwin Syndicate and Boyd – who used to coach Annie – took over the ride in the autumn of 2021.

After his win, Boyd said: “What a privilege to ride this horse. Annie was so special to so many people especially in this community and then to bring the horse here and her fiancé and mom, dad, all her best mates are here, and the horse on top of that went like a champ… I couldn’t have hoped for better.”

Before the start of the cross-country, Annie’s loved ones gathered in the main arena for a moment to celebrate and reflect on her life. Originally from Buffalo, Wyoming, Annie lived and ran a successful equestrian business in Aiken, local to the event.

She volunteered as a member of the organising committee for the Grand Prix Eventing and competed at the March 2021 fixture.

Boyd Martin with Annie Goodwin’s loved ones. (Image credit: Christine Quinn)

Boyd dominated the leaderboard from the off this time, but initially held pole position on Tsetserleg TSF, his ride at the Tokyo Olympics last summer, who scored 23.7 in the dressage. But Tsetserleg added one rail down in the showjumping as well as finishing a second over the time in both jumping phases and so dropped to second.

Fedarman B finished on his first phase score of 25.9 to move up a place for victory.

Doug Payne, who was Boyd’s team-mate at the Tokyo Olympics, landed third on Quantum Leap, who moved up from 15th after dressage by keeping a clean sheet in the jumping phases.

William Fox-Pitt was the only British rider in the Grand Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field, which has a prize fund of $50,000 (approximately £36,700). He finished 16th riding a borrowed horse, Sara Kozumplik Murphy’s Rock Phantom.

William was also part of second-placed “Team Green” – the riders are placed in teams, with each representing a charitable organisation and the top three earning cheques for their charities. William’s team rode for Megiddo Dream Station, which provides intensive bible-based job and personal skill training to help people move into work.

In addition, fans can pay $5 to vote online for their favourite team and this money goes to the charities – Team Green was the most popular team, with $1010 raised in this way.

British breeding: the story behind the Maryland 5 Star winner On Cue –plus see a picture of her dam competing

Pippa Roome — Sun, 17 Oct 2021 19:47:00 +0000

Maryland 5 Star winner On Cue, ridden by the US Olympian Boyd Martin, is British-bred, from the “On” dynasty raised in Yorkshire by Alyse Clancey and her daughter Jolyse Bell-Syer (née Clancey).

On Cue, who is by the Selle Français showjumper Cabri D’Elle, is a great granddaughter of the Clanceys’ foundation mare Augermist, who Alyse competed at the top level.

On Cue’s dam On High (by Primitive Rising) competed to current three-star level and won at novice with Jolyse and Alyse, while her grand-dam On Song (by the Hanovarian Louella Wendekreis II) was a junior team bronze medallist and ninth individually at the championships in Pratoni del Vivaro in 2004 under Jolyse.

On Cue’s dam On High competing at Rolleston in 2008 with Jolyse Clancey. (Image credit: David Miller)

Alyse bought Augermist locally as an unbroken three-year-old in 1989, initially as a potential dressage horse, but the mare found dressage “rather tedious for her exuberant nature”. Although she did go on to compete up to medium level in affiliated dressage, her real talent was across country and she completed both Badminton and Burghley.

Augermist was by Augermann, a 17.1hh bay Hanoverian grade A showjumper, out of Gay Emma, who was by the thoroughbred St Elmo, who was graded with the Hunter Improvement Society (now Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain). Gay Emma was known for being fearless in the hunting field with her owner Deidre Walker.

Augermist produced only one live foal, On Song, when she was a four-year-old. A bold, tough mare, she retired sound from competition, but died of chronic grass sickness.

On Cue herself has two progeny, one by the Trakehner stallion Rusticus and one by the thoroughbred Mystic Replica, damsire of Doug Payne’s Tokyo Olympic ride Vandiver.

Home side win in inaugural Maryland 5 Star, as Oliver Townend drops to second in showjumping

Pippa Roome — Sun, 17 Oct 2021 19:21:00 +0000

Boyd Martin topped the inaugural Maryland 5 Star results today (Sunday, 17 October).

Boyd’s ride On Cue, who is British-bred and belongs to the Turner family and his rider, rattled several uprights on the showjumping course, but nothing fell and he finished on his dressage score of 25.

“This horse has a heart of gold, she keeps trying and trying and trying, and I’m just really happy,” said Boyd.

“Obviously it’s easy to say when you win, but this is going to be one of world’s greatest events and to have it here in my back yard, with this great crowd and wonderful supporters and sponsors – it’s a privilege to ride here.”

The US rider was third overnight, but the two competitors ahead of him both had four faults to drop behind him in the final standings.

Britain’s Oliver Townend led overnight on Angela Hislop’s Cooley Master Class, but the double Kentucky Three-Day Event winner just touched off the red, white and blue oxer at fence four with his front legs to drop into second place.

Trisha Rickards, Nigella Hall and Tim Price’s Xavier Faer, who was second overnight, hit the green and white Buckeye upright at fence two with his hindlegs, dropping him and Tim from second to third for New Zealand. This was Xavier Faer’s fourth top-three finish in a five-star.

Boyd said he didn’t watch the top two jump: “You’ve just go to do the best you can with your own horse. Oliver and Tim have beaten me over and over again, they’re both on fantastic jumping horses but any horse can have a rail. I stayed out the back, I didn’t want to watch. I heard the gasp of the crowd and thought I’d won it then.”

The final stages felt like a re-juggle of the Kentucky Three-Day Event in the spring, when Oliver, Tim and Boyd were also right in the mix at the end, with Tim finishing second and Boyd fourth on the same horses as here at Maryland and Oliver winning on Ballaghmor Class.

This was the first US five-star win since Phillip Dutton won Kentucky in 2008 on Connaught and it will mean a great deal to the US to have a home side win in the first year at this inaugural event.

The home side took places fourth to sixth. Jennie Brannigan’s 1.2 time-faults moved her up from sixth to fourth on Stella Artois, while a clear for Will Coleman and Tight Lines elevated them from 10th to fifth. Lauren Nicholson had the spread at fence five down on the grey Landmark’s Monte Carlo and slipped from fourth to sixth.

Harry Meade was similarly punished for his four faults at fence five, moving down from fifth to seventh on Superstition. This was a second top-10 finish at a US five-star this season for Harry and Mandy Gray’s horse, as the British pair were also fifth at Kentucky in the spring.

New Zealand’s Jonelle Price and the 2018 Badminton Horse Trials winner Classic Moet had the upright out of the double at fence eight down to slide from seventh to eighth, while the USA’s Doug Payne’s fault-free round on Quantum Leap lifted him from equal 11th to ninth.

France’s Astier Nicolas finished 10th in the Maryland 5 Star results, with his clear today completing his rise from 28th after dressage on Babylon De Gamma.

British Olympic gold medallists head line-up for world’s newest five-star event

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 20:01:10 +0000

British Olympic gold medal-winner Oliver Townend tops a list of stellar names due to compete at the world’s newest CCI5* event.

Oliver and Cooley Master Class with whom he won the Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2018 and 2019, will be joined at the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill by top British and British-based riders, as well as some of the other top names in the sport from across the world.

This first running of the CCI5* event, the seventh at this level globally and the second in the US, should have been last year but it was lost to the coronavirus pandemic. It takes place from 14-17 October at the newly constructed Fair Hill Special Event Zone in Elkton, Maryland.

Also entered are Britain’s Harry Meade, on the 12-year-old British-bred gelding Superstition, with whom Harry finished fifth at Kentucky CCI5* this year, and US-based British rider Leslie Law, who took individual gold and team silver at the 2004 Olympics, on 12-year-old gelding Voltaire De Tre, with whom Leslie finished 26th at Kentucky.

Also in the mix are British-based Jonelle and Tim Price, Jonelle riding her 2018 Badminton winner Classic Moet and Tim on Xavier Faer, on whom he finished second at Kentucky this year.

Other top names include all the Tokyo US eventing team riders: Phillip Dutton, on Fernhill Singapore and Sea Of Clouds, Boyd Martin, on Long Island T and On Cue, and Doug Payne, on Quantum Leap.

More combinations due to contest the CCI5* will be confirmed before the close of definite entries on 30 September.

The event is also hosting a CCI3*-L, which is acting as the US national championship, and a young horse class.

US reveals eventing team for Tokyo: Olympic debutante makes the cut

Pippa Roome — Fri, 28 May 2021 09:28:50 +0000

The United States (US) has named its eventing team for this summer’s Tokyo Olympics, the first major nation to do so.

The team consists of:

Phillip Dutton and Z, owned by Thomas Tierney, Ann Jones, Caroline Moran, Simon Roosevelt and Suzanne Lacy
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z, owned by Ocala Horse Properties
Boyd Martin and Luke 140, owned by The Luke 140 Syndicate. First direct reserve horse: Tsetserleg TSF, owned by Christine Turner, Thomas Turner and Tommie Turner. Second direct reserve horse: On Cue, owned by Christine Turner, Boyd Martin, Thomas Turner and Tommie Turner

The travelling reserve will be:

Doug Payne and Vandiver, owned by Debi Crowley, Doug Payne and Jessica Payne

Phillip is a six-time Olympian who won the individual bronze medal at the last Games in Rio and collected two team golds for Australia before he changed nationality. Boyd has been on the US team at the past two Olympics, while Liz and Doug make their Olympic debuts.

US eventing team for Tokyo Olympics: ‘A very focused group’

“I believe we have a competitive team to represent the US in Tokyo. All the horses have had a little break, and we will now be working to improve some details we identified at the Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5* and Jersey Fresh CCI4*-L before we head to the team’s mandatory outing at Great Meadow in Virginia,” commented chef d’equipe Erik Duvander, who will head up the US effort in Tokyo alongside team leader Jenni Autry.

“Following that outing, we travel to our pre-export quarantine in Aachen, Germany. This is a great facility and will function as our final training camp where we will be working with dressage judges and have Peter Wylde working with us on the showjumping. This is a very focused group of athletes who are committed to delivering a top performance in Tokyo.”

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The US has also named the following non-travelling reserves, in order:

First reserve: Tamie Smith and Mai Baum, owned by Alexandra Ahearn, Ellen Ahearn and Eric Markell
Second reserve: Will Faudreeand Mama’s Magic Way, owned by Jennifer Mosing
Third reserve: Will Coleman and Off The Record, owned by the Off The Record Syndicate
Fourth reserve: Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire, owned by Carol Stephens
Fifth reserve: Buck Davidson and Carlevo, owned by Katherine O’Brien
Sixth reserve: Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus, owned by Jacqueline Mars

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find out more about getting the magazine delivered to your door every week.

Oliver Townend wins Kentucky on Ballaghmor Class: ‘It wasn’t the way I believed he’d do it, but we got there in the end’ H&H Plus

Nancy Jaffer — Sun, 25 Apr 2021 23:24:04 +0000

Find out how what Kentucky winner Oliver Townend said about Ballaghmor Class, pressure and why the US wait for a winner at their home five-star continues…

By Nancy Jaffer

Although it seemed as if much went against Oliver Townend this week, nothing – not a disappointing dressage test, a lost shoe in a rainstorm on a difficult cross-country trip, or the letdown of having a mount spun in the horse inspection– could stand in the way of topping the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 final results, his third consecutive victory in the five-star at the Kentucky Horse Park.

After days of questionable weather, the sun finally shone on his faultless showjumping round with Ballaghmor Class, who had no margin for error but didn’t need one.

“He’s come and done what I thought he would do. It wasn’t the way that I believed he would do it, but we got there in the end,” said Oliver, noting how pleased he was that British selectors and team management were at the competition watching Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan’s horse, so they could “actually see and witness him being at his toughest” to earn “another feather in his cap” and hopefully a trip to the Olympics.

“He has an extra gear in comparison to most horses, so when you think, ‘Oh, he really can go,’ he used to go when you didn’t want him to go, like it was more his choice than yours. He’s got an extreme amount of power, an extreme amount of talent and now he’s very, very professional about his job.”

Oliver Townend on his way to Kentucky 2021 victory with Ballaghmor Class. (Image credit: Nancy Jaffer)

The horse appeared at the awards ceremony with a groom on either side of him keeping a firm hold. When he was let off the leads for the victory gallop, you could see he was really enjoying himself as he made three laps of the arena as his rider saluted the sparse crowd, limited to riders, owners, sponsors, volunteers and staff, because the US Equestrian Federation isn’t allowing fans to attend shows due to Covid.

Although he finished in triumph collecting a $50,000 cheque, Oliver’s day didn’t start well, when Cooley Master Class, his two-time Kentucky winner in 2018 and 2019, was spun at the Kentucky Three Day Event 2021 final trot-up after being a bit sore from a cut on one leg. Oliver said he understood it was a horse welfare issue, and turned his laser focus on preparing Ballaghmor Class for the drama of the event’s finale.

Second place in the Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 final results by a whisker went to New Zealand’s Tim Price, third in 2019, the last time the event was held since the 2020 edition was cancelled due to Covid. He was aboard Xavier Faer, the same horse he rode in his last appearance at the event. Third after cross-country, he finished on his dressage score. His mark of 28.2 left no leeway for Oliver as he rode his game gray gelding into the ring with a total of 27.3 penalties to tackle the route set by 2008 Olympic showjumping course-designer Steve Stephens.

For Oliver, that kind of “big ask” was routine.

“Tim has me under pressure every week in England,” Oliver said with a what probably was a grin, though you couldn’t see it behind his mask, mandatory for all at the Horse Park. “You kind of get used to the feeling.”

Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 final results: best of the home side

A bit of the suspense ended when the USA’s Boyd Martin, second after cross-country, had a knockdown with five-star debutante On Cue, enabling Tim to rise one place and pushing Boyd to fourth. Boyd was still the top American for the second year in a row on 31.8 penalties, though he dropped from being runner-up in 2019 on Tsetserleg TSF.

New Zealander Tim Price was the runner-up at Kentucky 2021 on his reliable Xavier Faer. (Image credit: Nancy Jaffer)

Boyd was the only American in the top-seven ribbon winners; the crew that flew over from Europe made almost a clean sweep of the top placings. No American has won the event since 2008, when Phillip Dutton managed to achieve that distinction.

Asked why, as a veteran of the Kentucky test, Oliver thought it hadn’t happened, he said “it isn’t lack of horsepower” but felt it wasn’t his place to elaborate on the reasons for the US shortfall.

Jonelle Price came up from equal sixth with Grovine De Reve to finish right behind her husband, Tim, on 30.7 penalties with 0.4 time faults. She also was seventh with Classic Moet (35.2), who finished on her dressage score. Great Britain’s Harry Meade had an unlucky rail with Superstition to finish fifth (33.6) followed by Kevin McNab of Australia aboard Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam (34.3).

It was amazing to think that the five-star, which was cancelled in February because organisers felt they couldn’t run without spectators, wound up as a rousing success after being put back on the calendar through a grassroots fundraising effort.

Boyd noted that having so many top foreign riders come over to compete “made the Kentucky five-star the greatest five-star in the world for the last two years,” and he got a laugh, since there was only one five-star, France’s Pau, in 2020. But he added with the calibre of horses and riders at the Horse Park “it almost felt like a championships.”

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Oliver Townend leads Kentucky after cross-country; dressage top three drop down the leaderboard H&H Plus

Nancy Jaffer — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 20:28:39 +0000

Find out who managed the three clears inside the time today at Kentucky and who crashed out.

By Nancy Jaffer

Everyone expected the five-star cross-country course for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event to be tough, but the reshuffling it provided today (24 April) made a dramatic difference in the standings. Two-time Kentucky winner Oliver Townend of Great Britain rose to first in the Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 cross-country results after being fifth in dressage with Ballaghmor Class, adding just 0.8 of a time-penalty to bring his total to 27.3.

Meanwhile, the Kentucky cross-country course 2021 got the best of the leader during two days of dressage, the USA’s Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous. They plummeted to 32nd on 50.1 penalties, accumulating 28.4 time-penalties at the Kentucky Horse Park.

“I slowed down a bit in the middle. I thought it was the right thing to do for her, to give her a breath,” explained Marilyn, who called the route “mentally exhausting.” While much of it rode to plan, that wasn’t the case with everything, especially the combinations, and “It kept coming. There was a lot to do out there.”

Discussing her mare’s ability, Marilyn reported, “She handled it beautifully, she is a big, scopey brave horse. I’m glad I had that much scope.”

Marilyn’s compatriot, Tamie Smith, who had been second by 0.1 of a penalty on Mai Baum after the event’s first phase, accumulated 11 frangible pin penalties at the Park Question at fence 24 and six more for being over the 11-minute optimum time. She is now 18th.

Oliver knew what he was talking about on Thursday when he gave an assessment of the course’s difficulty after walking it, saying, “I think you’ll see a lot of problems Saturday.” That was prescient.

“Today was the toughest cross-country course for a long, long time at five-star level. It’s right up there with the very toughest in the world,” said Oliver. “Even from a technicality point of view, that’s as tough as they get.”

Added to that was the fact that both his horses lost shoes. Cooley Master Class dropped from third to eighth with 6.4 time-penalties. Things were even more difficult for Ballaghmor Class, who went near the end of the morning as the rain was pelting down.

“I’m still very emotional about how amazing they both are, in terms of they both have given me their hearts and souls today. Cooley Master Class didn’t have a smooth trip at all, but every time I gave him a squeeze, he put his head down and did what he could,” Oliver commented.

Losing a back shoe meant he wasn’t full of confidence, but “he did what good horses do and dug deep.”

Ballaghmor Class lost his shoe at the seventh fence coming out of the water. Oliver noted, “Just trying to keep him on his feet, he slipped a lot.”

What kept the horse going? “His tenacity and his ability and his strength and complete robustness to do the performance that he did.” Had conditions been better and if his shoe stayed on, Oliver believed, he “could have been 10 or 12 seconds within the time without any sweat.”

Three-time Kentucky winner William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain, ninth after dressage, learned about the difficulties that did not let up at the end first-hand. He made it nearly to the finish line of the 28-obstacle route before falling with Oratorio at the middle element of the Mighty Moguls, 26abc.

Designer Derek di Grazia is also doing the layout for the Tokyo Olympics, so riders competing today, when there were 15 eliminations, should consider themselves forewarned. For those in the last 25% or so of the start list, the situation was complicated by rain that became heavier through the final hour of the division.

It could have been worse; the five-star originally was scheduled to run in the afternoon, when the rain got heavier, but with the forecast promising a 100% chance of rain, the US Olympic selection trial was switched to the morning. The four-star short, running concurrently with the five-star for the first time, was swapped to the afternoon.

Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 cross-country results: four inside the time

Only four riders from a field of 61 starters achieved a clear inside the time, the first of whom was Great Britain’s Harry Meade on Superstition. He promoted himself from equal 17th to fourth on 29.6 penalties.

Harry was joined by three other riders who made the trip across the Atlantic, New Zealand’s Tim Price on Xavier Faer, moving up from 11th in dressage to third with 28.2 penalties, Tim’s wife Jonelle with Classic Moet (up from 46th after dressage to 12th) and Australia’s Kevin McNab. Tied for 21st after dressage, Kevin is now tied for sixth aboard Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam with Tim’s wife, Jonelle Price, on Grovine De Reve. Their score is 30.3.

Interestingly, a review of statistics since 2010 revealed that worldwide, the percentage of horses with no jumping penalties at the highest level of the sport is 55%, but today, 66% of the field had no jumping penalties.

Standing second in the Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 cross-country results is the USA’s Boyd Martin with On Cue, though he seemingly spent more time on the ground than in the saddle today. Boyd had falls on two of his three mounts. The first tumble came at the Head of the Lake, where a number of entries scrambled over the brush jump that was the final obstacle in that complex. That was where Boyd came a cropper with Long Island T. As is typical for Boyd, he picked himself and rode again. With On Cue, he flew around and had only 0.8 of a time-penalty for a total of 27.8.

When you’ve had a fall, “It doesn’t give you a world of confidence getting on the next horse,” Boyd commented, but he lavished On Cue with praise, calling her, “Such a class animal. She’s a real trier, a great galloper. She’s got a heart of gold. I was just thrilled with her round.”

Boyd Martin fell off two of his three rides in the five-star at Kentucky 2021, but he came up aces with On Cue, standing second after Saturday’s action. (Image credit: Nancy Jaffer)

And then, things went south again during his last trip, made on Tsetserleg TSF, the horse with whom he finished second at Kentucky’s previous running in 2019, the 2020 event having been cancelled due to Covid. He took a hard fall at the same fence where William ran into trouble. After that, Boyd, who is still ouchy from a few past injuries, went back to his hotel room to rest, scratching from the four-star short.

Interestingly, Oliver, Boyd and Tim were the top three in 2019, though Oliver won with his 2018 victor, Cooley Master Class.

Oliver is the world’s number one-ranked eventer, while Tim is number two and Boyd number six. What do they say about the cream rising to the top?

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Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 cross-country times: find out when the top riders start

Pippa Roome — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 17:46:13 +0000

The Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 cross-country times have been released ahead of the second phase of the competition tomorrow (Saturday, 24 April).

New Zealand rider Jonelle Price is the pathfinder for the five-star and will start at 8.30am (1.30pm British time) on Grappa Nera, the first of her three rides. Jonelle will also be on course at 10.18pm (3.18pm British time) on 2018 Badminton Horse Trials winner Classic Moet and 12.18pm (5.18pm British time) on Grovine De Reve.

The dressage leader, RF Scandalous ridden by Marilyn Little, will head out on course at 9.58pm (2.58pm British time).

Fellow US rider Tamie Smith on Mai Baum holds second overnight and takes on the track at 11.58am am (4.58pm British time).

Last year’s winners, Oliver Townend and Cooley Master Class, set off at 10.26pm (3.26pm British time) to defend their third position after dressage, while Oliver’s other ride Ballaghmor Class – currently fifth – will leave the start box at 12.26pm (5.26pm British time), according to the Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 cross-country times list.

Boyd Martin has three horses in the top 12, with Long Island T (equal 11th) at 8.38pm (1.38pm British time), On Cue (seventh) at 10.30am (3.30pm British time) and Tsetserleg TSF (fourth) at 12.30pm (5.30pm British time).

The last horse on course in the five-star starts at 12.38pm (5.38pm British time) and it will be Buck Davidson’s third ride, Carlevo, who sits sixth after the first phase.

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The Kentucky cross-country course 2021 has been set by Derek di Grazia. The track is 6270m long, with an optimum time of 11 minutes, and there are 28 numbered obstacles.

Kentucky is running behind closed doors this year, so there will be far fewer people on course than in normal years with only horses’ close connections at the horse park. But fans around the world will be watching the action online.

Check back for more from Kentucky on horseandhound.co.uk over the weekend.

What time is your favourite riding? Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 dressage times revealed

Pippa Roome — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 10:32:48 +0000

Looking for the Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 dressage times? You can find the full list for the five-star here.

The five-star dressage kicks off at 12.23pm local time today (5.23pm British time) when Jonelle Price and the first of her three rides, Grappa Nera, enter the arena.

The New Zealander will be followed by the first home side rider, Will Coleman on Dondante at 12.31pm (5.31pm British time).

The final test today will be much-anticipated as 2018 and 2019 Kentucky winners Oliver Townend and Cooley Master Class will perform at 4.53pm (9.53pm British time).

The 2018 Badminton winner Classic Moet, ridden by Jonelle Price, is also in the final tranche of horses on Thursday, at 4.37pm (9.37pm British time).

Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 dressage times Friday

The dressage starts again at 12.15pm local time (5.15pm British time) on Friday (23 April), when the first rider to go is the US’s Boyd Martin with On Cue, another of the three-horse riders. Boyd’s star horse, Tsetserleg TSF, is one of the last on Friday, at 5.11pm (10.11pm British time).

Oliver Townend’s second horse, the 2017 Burghley winner Ballaghmor Class, is on show at 5.03pm (10.03pm British time) on Friday.

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Among the other overseas visitors, William Fox-Pitt and Oratorio perform on Thursday, at 2.01pm (7.01pm British time), while Harry Meade (Superstition) is on Friday at 2.43pm (7.43pm British time).

US fans will also want to watch out for Phillip Dutton’s two rides – Fernhill Singapore is at 12.55pm on Thursday (5.55pm British time) and Z starts at 3.23pm on Friday (8.23pm British time).

Other US riders to keep an eye on in the first phase include Marilyn Little on RF Scandalous at 3.47pm on Thursday (8.47pm British time) and Liz Halliday-Sharp on Deniro Z at 4.21pm on Friday (9.21pm British time).

Keep checking back on horseandhound.co.uk for more Kentucky news this week.

Meet Kentucky favourite Tsetserleg TSF: ‘He looked like an oversized pony – a bit fat, a bit woolly’

Pippa Roome — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 11:24:21 +0000

US rider Boyd Martin will start as one of the favourites at next week’s Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event (22-25 April) on Tsetserleg TSF, who was the runner-up at the event in 2019.

There’s no doubt Tsetserleg – who is named after a town in Mongolia and is known as Thomas at home – is now one of the best event horses in the world, but Boyd didn’t immediately pick him out as a star when he first saw him.

“When I first came to America [from Australia], I did a clinic down in Waco, Texas, and there was a four-year-old 15.3h black little horse with a South African rider. I remember the horse just because his sire was Windfall, who I knew well from Darren Chiacchia riding him around the Olympic Games, so it caught my eye,” remembers Boyd in an interview on episode 46 of The Horse & Hound Podcast.

Tim Holekamp’s Trakehner Windfall 2 won the modified division at Kentucky in 2004, the year the event ran a traditional format section (with roads and tracks and steeplechase) and a modified division (without roads and tracks and steeplechase), as a test for the first short format Olympics that summer in Athens. The stallion went on to be a team bronze medallist and finish 12th individually at the Olympics the same year.

“It goes to show how long breeding takes – obviously Windfall was a great champion, a great American representative,” says Boyd. “He bred and bred and bred, but it’s not until now that there’s two or three horses at Kentucky by Windfall. It just takes generations for these horses that are bred by Windfall to end up in the right hands and a bit of luck and now Windfall looks like the greatest sire in America, whereas the past 10 years he kind of got looked over.”

Despite his breeding, Tsetserleg didn’t impress Boyd immediately – he says he “didn’t look that special” at the clinic as a four-year-old.

“Years went by and he sort of got passed from rider to rider and ended up with a good friend of mine, Michael Pollard,” he explains, adding that Michael produced the horse to two-star (now three-star) level. “Then he quit riding so he was kind enough to recommend me to be the next rider to the owner, Christine Turner.

“I’m going to be honest with you – when he first turned up at my stable I really didn’t think anything of him. He’d grown a little bit since I saw him at the clinic years before, but he just looked like an oversized pony. He moved ok, he jumped ok, he was a bit fat, he was a bit woolly and I didn’t give him that much attention for the first couple of weeks.

“But I finally got around to taking him to a show and holy moly – talk about a horse that changes at a competition. I hopped on him and he felt like he was 17 hands and he was strong and he was brave and he jumped beautifully. I was thinking, ‘Talk about a diamond in the rough’. Right from that moment I knew he was a special one.”

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Looking back at their success at Kentucky in 2019, Boyd says: “In 2018 we bombed out at the World Equestrian Games [in Tryon] – we had a stop at that boat in the water. I was miserable and depressed and then I came out firing in 2019.

“Sadly I think he was just a little bit too green for Tryon the year before, but by the time we got to 2019 he went like a champion – he did a great test and zipped around the cross-country and then showjumped really well so we were just behind Oliver Townend. It goes to show what six months more training and work does and a bit more experience counts for a lot.”

Hear about Boyd’s other rides for this year’s Kentucky, as well as his memories of previous rides at the US five-star, by tuning in to episode 46 of The Horse & Hound Podcast here, or search “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your favourite podcast app.

Who will be the pathfinder at Kentucky Three-Day Event and when will your favourite ride?

Pippa Roome — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 13:52:17 +0000

The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 draw has been done and Clayton Fredericks will be the pathfinder at this year’s event (22-25 April).

The US-based Australian is one of six riders with three horses in the mix – these six all have one mount at the start of the competition, one in the middle and one at the end.

Clayton – who won the event in 2007 on Ben Along Time – will wear the back number one on FE Ophelia, who makes her five-star debut after recently finishing 15th with a steady cross-country round at Carolina International CCI4*-S.

New Zealand’s Jonelle Price heads out second on Grappa Nera, with Oliver Townend the first Brit at number four on Tregilder. Oliver also has the double Kentucky winner Cooley Master Class at number 34 and 2017 Burghley winner Ballaghmor Class at number 68.

Ballaghmor Class will be followed into the arena and chased round Derek di Grazia’s cross-country track by a horse who many home side fans will be pinning their hopes on – Tsetserleg TSF, ridden by Boyd Martin. This pair were second to Oliver and Cooley Master Class in 2019.

Will Coleman, Buck Davidson and Boyd are the three US riders with three horses in the line-up and they start their campaigns with Dondante (number three), Jak My Style (number six) and Long Island T (number five) respectively. Buck will also be the final rider on the course, as number 71 on Carlevo.

Phillip Dutton (Fernhill Singapore, number seven), one of four Kentucky Three-Day Event winners entered, starts the rotation of two-horse riders, who are mixed in with some single-horse riders in the early part of the draw.

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Three-time Kentucky winner William Fox-Pitt has an early start in the Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 draw, having been allocated number 14 on Oratorio II, the horse he recently substituted for Little Fire.

Among other contenders flying over from Europe, Harry Meade and Superstition will start at number 50 and he will be followed by fellow Brit Richard Coney (Mermus R Diamonds). Germany’s Anna Siemer will be out soon after them at number 56 with FRH Butt’s Avondale.

Tim Price fields Bango (number 18) and Xavier Faer (number 59), while fellow New Zealander Jesse Campbell takes 49 on Diachello. British-based Australian Kevin McNab wears number 36 on Scuderia 1919 Don Quidam.

Reigning Kentucky champion Oliver Townend heads 2021 field plus Prices enter five horses

Pippa Roome — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 17:55:08 +0000

Reigning champion Oliver Townend has three horses among the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 entries for this year’s renewal (22-25 April).

With entries closing today (Tuesday 23 March), Oliver is listed with the 2018 and 2019 winner, Cooley Master Class, who belongs to Angela Hislop.

The 2017 Burghley winner Ballaghmor Class, who is owned by Angela Hislop, Karyn Shuter and Val Ryan, is also on the entry list for Oliver, as is Tregilder, who belongs to the Hazeldines and Mitchell Fox Group.

Oliver is one of four British riders set to make the trip across the Atlantic. Harry Meade is entered for his Kentucky debut on Mandy Gray’s and his own Superstition. William Fox-Pitt, a three-time Kentucky winner, will bid for a fourth title on Little Fire, who belongs to Jennifer Dowling and his rider. Finally, Richard Coney will take the flight to compete on Mermus R Diamonds, who was ninth at Pau Horse Trials last year on the pair’s five-star debut. Richard also has Kananaskis entered in the four-star short class.

The four will be joined at the event by US-based British rider Leslie Law on Tre’ Book’s Voltaire De Tre’, who was 10th at Kentucky in 2019.

The home side challenge will be led by Boyd Martin – whose three horses include the Turners’ and his own Tsetserleg TSF, the runner-up here in 2019 – and Philip Dutton, who is the most recent US winner of Kentucky. Phillip will line up on the syndicate-owned Z and Fernhill Singapore, who belongs to David Vos, Ann Jones and Thomas Tierney.

US fans will also be cheering on Liz Halliday-Sharp with Ocala Horse Properties LLC’s Deniro Z and the less experienced syndicate-owned Cooley Quicksilver, as well as the likes of Will Coleman, Buck Davidson and Lauren Nicholson, who all have three horses in the mix.

Seven New Zealand-ridden horses are listed among the Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 entries, with Tim and Jonelle Price holding five entries between them. The 2018 Badminton winner Classic Moet, who belongs to Trisha Richards, Jacky Green and her rider, heads Jonelle’s entries and is joined by Grovine De Reve (owned by Therese Miller, Jo Preston-Hunt, Philip Hunt and Jonelle) and the syndicate-owned Grappa Nera. All Jonelle’s horses are first-timers are the event while she has ridden there once before, in 2013.

Tim Price fields the Numero Uno Syndicate’s Bango and Xavier Faer, who belongs to Trisha Rickards, Nigella Hall and Tim. Both Tim’s rides have competed at Kentucky before – Xavier Faer was third in 2019, while Tim had a fall from Bango on the cross-country in 2016.

Fellow Kiwi Jesse Campbell makes his Kentucky debut on Kent Gardner’s and his own Diachello, while US-based Joe Meyer (Team Johnny Syndicate’s Johnny Royale) completes the New Zealand challenge, assuming there are no more last-minute entries.

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For Australia, Clayton Fredericks has three horses on the list and fellow US residents Ema Klugman (Bendigo) and Dominic Schramm (Bolytair B) one apiece, while Kevin McNab will fly in from Europe with Scuderia 1918 and his wife Emma’s Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam.

Germany’s Anna Siemer (Volker Skeinkraus’ FRH Butts Avondale) is the final rider scheduled to make a trip from Europe for Kentucky; this pair were 13th at the 2019 European Championships.

‘He gave so much heart’: Olympic event horse sold to new rider

Lucy Elder — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 17:10:39 +0000

Leading US eventer Boyd Martin’s Rio 2016 Olympic ride Blackfoot Mystery has been sold to enjoy his senior years competing at lower levels.

The retrained racehorse, known as “Big Red”, finished well behind the leaders in all three of his starts on the track, but went on to become on of the US’s top event horses.

The 17-year-old gelding, bred by John O’Meara, started his eventing career with Lisa Peecook and progressed up the grades with Kelly Prather. He was bought by Boyd in 2015 for the 12-strong Blackfoot Mystery Syndicate and the pair went on to finish sixth at Kentucky five-star the following spring, and 16th at the 2016 Rio Olympics less than a year after their first international start as a combination.

Boyd said he feels “very lucky and grateful” to have had the “wonderful horse” in his stable, for the syndicate members who “decided to believe in me and purchase Big Red” and for Kelly for selling him the horse.

“He’s just an unbelievable animal that has obviously taken me to my ultimate dream of competing at the Olympic Games,” he said in his blog, adding that Red “gave everything he had” to jump clear across country in Rio.

“I’ve never had a horse give so much heart around such a course.”

Boyd said he had dreams of trying to get Red back to five-star level and potentially the Tokyo Games, but felt the time had come to redirect Red’s career.

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“I can’t tell you how happy I am that his career has got a new life with a new rider from Dallas, Texas. To me this is the perfect transition for Big Red: he’s still sound and happy and keen to go to work. His new accommodations in Dallas are first-class, and I’m guessing he will show his new rider a great taste of eventing at the lower levels,” he added, thanking Red “for everything he’s done for me in his career”.

“Being an American-bred, off-the-track thoroughbred, he really opened the door for me to teach the thoroughbred retraining clinics with Godolphin in Japan for the past five years,” he said.

“Like I said before I have tremendous appreciation and gratitude for these animals that try so hard for us, even when conditions are tough, and courses are challenging. Big Red showed the heart and spirit of the American thoroughbred and I’ll always be thankful for his efforts.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Pulling through a tragedy: Boyd Martin looks back on loss and recovery nine years after devastating yard fire

Lucy Elder — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 12:27:18 +0000

Olympic event rider Boyd Martin has looked back on the devastating tragedy of losing six horses in a barn fire and how powerful the support of the equestrian community can be in life’s darkest moments.

Boyd, who grew up on the outskirts of Sydney and switched nationality in 2008 to ride for the US at London 2012 and Rio 2016, spoke openly about the fire and what followed as part of the FEI’s #ForTheLoveOfEquestrian film.

Boyd Martin Rider Story | #ForTheLoveOfEquestrian“I’ll never forget it. The whole barn was just ablaze.” There’s brave, and then there’s Boyd Martin.From rescuing his horses from a devastating barn fire to competing at the highest level, Boyd Martin’s talent, mindset and mission to succeed is a powerful inspiration to us all. Sharing his story #ForTheLoveOfEquestrian, there’s nothing holding back this FEI Eventing hero.???Posted by Fédération Equestre Internationale on Friday, August 21, 2020

The release marks nine years to the week since Neville Bardos, one of the horses rescued from the blaze and who is still with Boyd aged 21, came back to finish seventh at Burghley.

“Things were humming along, we had a lot of horses in training, we were renting the top barn from Philip Dutton and we got a phone call about midnight from one of the girls who worked for us just screaming that there was a fire,” said Boyd.

“I quickly jumped in the car and drove down and will never forget it. You could just see this massive, yellow glow in the sky as you approached the farm.

“The whole barn was ablaze, black smoke everywhere, fire engines and sirens. It was a horrific sight and you sort of go a little bit numb when you encounter something like that. We were lucky in the sense that we had a couple of friends there and we ran into the barn and managed to free a couple of horses that were hiding and cowering in their stables.”

They saved several horses, but six were lost.

The “tough, rugged Australian thoroughbred” Neville Bardos was pulled from the barn by Boyd and Philip and went straight into intensive care at New Bolton Centre.

“I’ll never forget it,” said Boyd. “I didn’t know it was his stable, but [I remember] going in there, hearing a horse in the background and feeling his windsucking collar and then trying to drag him down the aisle way. Philip’s behind him like a rugby player, trying to push him down [through] the burning building. It was like a movie, the roof was falling in and you couldn’t see anything.

“He had burns and went straight to the intensive care unit at New Bolton Centre. There he started healing up and we ended up getting the nod to keep going with him and we got him to Burghley that year, which was a huge goal of mine. He roared around the course and finished seventh, so he was a good boy!”

The chestnut gelding is now enjoying retired life in the paddock at home.

“He’s always inquisitive at the barn, always has his ears pricked and loves being part of the action,” said Boyd.

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“I think like any sports person, you have a couple of highs and lots and lots of lows. Over the years I’ve just learnt to roll with the punches a little bit. Just have the mentality of ‘this is not going to define us, this is a bump in the road and you’ve just got to keep soldiering on’.

“The amazing thing is there’s a huge equestrian community around and as soon as something terrible happens like this, you feel the absolute warmth from all the other people who love horses and are around you and everyone is helping you out to get back on your feet.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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Will Coleman with 15-year-old Off The RecordOwner: Off The Record SyndicateBreeding: by Arkansas out of a mare by Ard OhioGroom: Hailey Burlock

Direct reserve horse: 12-year-old DiaboloOwner: Diabolo GroupBreeding: by Diarado out of a mare by Aljano 2Grooms: Hailey Burlock and Erin Jarboe

Boyd Martin with 14-year-old Fedarman BOwner: Annie Goodwin SyndicateBreeding: by Eurocommerce Washington out of a mare by FedorGroom: Stephanie Simpson

Direct reserve horse: 11-year-old Commando 3Owner: Yankee Creek Ranch LLCBreeding: by Conner 48 out of a mare by Amigo xxGroom: Stephanie Simpson

Caroline Pamukcu with nine-year-old HSH BlakeOwners: Mollie Hoff, Sherrie Martin, rider and her husband DenizBreeding: by Tolan R out of a mare by KannanGroom: Chloe Teahan

Travelling alternate:

Liz Halliday with 10-year-old Cooley NutcrackerOwners: Chris Desino, Rob Desino, rider, her mother Deborah and Renee LaneBreeding: by Tolan R out of a mare by CobraGroom: Abby Steger

First reserve:

Sydney Elliott with 14-year-old QC DiamantaireOwner: Carol StephensBreeding: by Diarado out of a mare by Sandro HitGroom: Caitlin Martin

Other reserves in alphabetical order

James Alliston with 10-year-old KarmaOwners: Alliston Equestrian and Ric Plummer

Jennie Brannigan with 14-year-old FE LifestyleOwners: Nina and Timothy Gardner

Will Faudree with 13-year-old Mama’s Magic WayOwners: Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables

Liz Halliday with 12-year-old Miks Master COwners: Ocala Horse Properties and Deborah Palmer

Liz Halliday with nine-year-old Shanroe CooleyOwners: Ocala Horse Properties

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