Latest from Horse & Hound in Phillip-dutton

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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‘He’s a learner with real presence’: smart five-star first-timer takes Kentucky dressage lead

Pippa Roome — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:32:54 +0000

Will Coleman has taken top spot after the first day of Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage, riding Diabolo.

The home side rider scored 27.3 with the syndicate-owned 14-year-old, who won the CCI4*-S here in 2024 and is tackling his first five-star. Will had a two-point deduction on his score for halting in the wrong place at the end of his test.

“Diabolo is a learner – he really likes to be taught things and has a real conscience about everything that he does,” said Will, who acquired the horse in 2023 from the Tinney family in Australia.

“He really wants to be a good boy, but there’s a little bit of anxiety because of that. So it’s really teaching him to have confidence in himself and have confidence in what we’re asking him to do. I think now he’s starting to get that and he has a real presence about him, an energy that I think is pretty cool.”

Will Coleman admitted after his Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage test that the horse became a little excited and he didn’t feel he was totally with him in his final warm-up, but said he focused in the arena.

He said: “He did his job as best he could. There’s little things I’d love to clean up, but I can’t be anything but proud of him. I just really, really adore this horse.”

Phillip Dutton sits second on 28.1 with the syndicate-owned Possante, whose test was marred only by a spook early on. The 13-year-old was previously called Imposant and produced by Emily King.

“We struggled a little bit when I first got him,” Phillip admitted. “I’ve had him for quite a few years now and it’s starting to come together.

“He’s a kind horse, he wants to do the right thing and he’s not trying to get out of things. It’s just that he’s a bit bigger and it’s taken a while to get him quicker footed and secure in what he does.”

US Olympian Phillip added that Possante is very horse shy, saying: “I’ve now figured out it’s just a case of trying to keep him on his own and not letting him get wound up with the other horses coming at him.

“They’ve all got their quirks and, especially once you get to this level, you’ve got to try to work around those to get the best out of them.”

New Zealand’s Tim Price holds third, having punched in the first sub-30 dressage test today on Lance and Diana Morrish’s Global Quest, a horse he said he rides in honour of his former rider, the late Georgie Campbell.

“He’s not God’s gift to dressage – he’s quite a big horse and he finds it all quite difficult, but he was relaxed and giving as much of himself as he could,” said Tim.

“The naturally big, flamboyant horses can be on mud, they can be on grass, but ones that are really working at their maximum in terms of the movements and pushing through their bodies in the right way [really benefit from the fact] we’ve got such consistent surfaces all the way through to the main ring here.”

Tim added that the break the horses have with the journey and quarantine – they left the UK last Wednesday, arrive at the Kentucky Horse Park on Saturday evening and do gentle work to ease back in on Sunday and Monday – also freshens the horses’ bodies up, “especially for a horse like him because physically he has to work really hard”.

Two Brits in top six

Harry Meade sits fourth with Superstition, while fellow Brit David Doel is in sixth on 30.8 with Galileo Nieuwmoed, owned by his rider, Mary Fox and Gillian Jonas.

“I’m absolutely stoked,” said David. “We just had one small blip going up the centreline towards the end when he put in some lovely tempi changes, which was costly, but the rest was one of his nicest tests.

“We’ve not probably worked him quite as hard as sometimes – we’ve done a little bit more jumping, a bit more canter work, especially this week.

“We came here three years ago and I think I tightened up when I went in there for the dressage and and he tightened up as well. We really made sure that we stayed nice and loose and relaxed.

“I’ve got Nick Turner out here, my trainer, and had a little bit of help from British performance manager Dickie Waygood as well and that worked really well today.”

The third British horse to perform today, Ruth McMullen and Mary Harris’s Plot Twist B, shares the bottom of the leaderboard with New Zealand’s Sophia Hill and Humble Glory on a score of 37.1, but rider Tom Jackson said he was pleased with how this tense horse coped.

“He’s an incredibly spooky, nervy horse, so for him in there is utterly terrifying. So for him to stay as with me as he did, even with a couple of spooks, was generally quite pleasing,” said Tom.

“We’ve just tried to acclimatise him to this whole area as much as possible in a really chilled out way over the past few days and I think on the whole, it’s worked.

“There’s still room for lots of improvements. He’s only 11 and hopefully we can keep building on that and get him more confident in those environments, because he’s more than capable.”

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‘No cross-country course in the world he couldn’t make the time on’: farewell to Burghley runner-up, aged 29

Pippa Roome — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 15:39:22 +0000

The Foreman, who finished second at both Burghley Horse Trials and Kentucky Three-Day Event with US rider Phillip Dutton, has died at the age of 29.

“It’s with sadness that I write that The Foreman has just passed away after spending his retirement days at his owner Annie Jones’ Unionville farm,” said Phillip. “I want to firstly thank Annie for purchasing ‘Chip’ for me to compete and also supporting Chip through his career and life. He couldn’t have found a better owner.”

Phillip went on to explain how he came to ride the thoroughbred, who was by Across The Field.

“Chip raced at Charles Town Races before being claimed by steeplechase trainer Bruce Fenwick who decided he should be an event horse and called me when Chip was a four-year-old,” he said. ⁣

⁣

“Although he had his quirks – especially at the cross-country start box or presentations – he became a brilliant horse. There was no cross-country course in the world that he couldn’t make time on.⁣

⁣

“Partly because of his humble beginnings, there was a lot of fun and reward by being involved with Chip’s career. Some of the people who worked and helped with him were Sara Sadler, Joanie Morris and Kevin Keane.

“Dee Curran cared for Chip during his retirement, especially during the sometimes long Pennsylvania winters. Unfortunately, Dee recently passed as well so they are enjoying their eternity together.”

The Foreman won six times internationally with Phillip Dutton during his career, five of those at three-star (now four-star level).

At the now five-star level, he was second to one of the US’s all-time greats, the double Olympic medallist and three-time Kentucky winner Winsome Adante, ridden by Kim Severson, at Kentucky in 2005 and to Ballincoola, ridden by William Fox-Pitt, at Burghley in the same year. He was also sixth at Kentucky in 2010 on his only other top-level run.

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William Fox-Pitt’s 2005 Burghley winner Ballincoola dies

William Fox-Pitt’s former ride Ballincoola, one of the most consistent four-star horses of the past 10 years, has died of

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British rider’s first five-star horse dies, aged 29: ‘We learnt together – I trusted him implicitly and he trusted me’

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‘A joy to ride such a talented animal’: Tim Price lands Pau five-star on outstanding Jarillo, after topsy-turvy showjumping phase; and a Brit is runner-up

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You’re never too old! Meet the top riders still smashing it in their 60s

bethany.stone@futurenet.com (Bethany Stone) — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 07:30:00 +0000

Both young and older horse riders alike could learn plenty from the equestrians who made it to the top – and stay there – well into their 60s.

Even as the world becomes more and more progressive, there are still few truly mixed-sex competitive sports. The fact that all genders compete on equal terms is just one of the many special qualities of horse sport.

Another thing that sets equestrian disciplines apart is the lack of an upper age limit. While many footballers hang up their boots before their 35th birthday, in horse sport you’re truly only as old as you feel. Across the disciplines and levels, from local shows to the very top, older horse riders compete against those who are many years their junior.

In fact, advancing years can be an elite equestrian’s secret weapon. The more horses you ride, hours of training you put in and top competitions you complete, the more experience you gain – giving you the edge at the highest level. If a rider manages to avoid injury, they can remain effective in the saddle over many decades and continue to scoop medals, titles and international appearances well after pensionable age.

Older horse riders still at the top of their game

Whether it’s performing a near-perfect grand prix freestyle or sailing around a five-star track, we’ve picked out some of the world-class older horse riders defying convention and showing no sign of slowing down in their 60s.

1. Juan Antonio Jiménez Cobo, 65

2XNDFXN Versailles, France. 31st July, 2024. Juan Antonio JIMENEZ COBO riding EUCLIDES MOR, Equestrian, Dressage Team and Individual Grand Prix during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on 31 July 2024 at Chateau de Versailles in Versailles, France - Photo Christophe Bricot/DPPI Media Credit: DPPI Media/Alamy Live News (Image credit: DPPI Media / Alamy Stock Photo)

The dressage rider became the country’s oldest ever Olympian at the Paris 2024 Games. He piloted striking grey Lusitano stallion Euclides MOR.

Born in Castro del Rio, Córdoba, in 1959, Juan Antonio is based in Madrid. His first Olympic appearance for Spain was in 2000 at the Sydney Games, where the dressage team came fifth overall. He represented Spain again in Athens 2004, where they earned the silver team medal.

Fresh off the back of his 2024 Olympic appearance for Spain, Juan Antonio headed to South Africa in early September to compete in the CDI3* at Ermelo with bright bay stallion Quartar. He finished sixth in the grand prix freestyle.

2. Phillip Dutton, 60

Phillip Dutton USA riding Mighty Nice, during the Team Show Jumping Phase of the Eventing Competition at the Olympic Equestrian Centre in Deodoro near Rio, Brazil on 9th August 2016 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Born in 1963 in New South Wales, Australia, Phillip Dutton’s illustrious eventing career has included representing two nations across seven Olympic Games.

He appeared at three Games for Australia, where he helped the eventing team top the podium on two consecutive occasions, in 1996 in Atlanta and in the 2000 home Games.

Phillip became a US citizen in 2006 and earned his first individual bronze medal at Rio 2016 on board Mighty Nice.

Phillip has enjoyed success on the US eventing circuit and has placed in the top 10 at both Burghley and Badminton. He has won once at the top level, taking the 2008 Kentucky Three-Day Event crown with Irish Sports Horse gelding Connaught.

This year, Phillip had two rides at Kentucky. He finished 15th on second ride Azure, while his first ride Quasi Cool fell at the final fence on cross-country day. Phillip later released an update to say the gelding was “resting comfortably in his stall”.

3. Michael Whitaker, 64

2F2N4XF Michael Whitaker riding For Fun during the 2019 Longines Global Champions Tour of Chantilly on July 13, 2019 in Chantilly, France - Photo Christophe Bricot / DPPI (Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

Born in 1960 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Michael Whitaker is one of the founding members of the enormously successful Whitaker showjumping dynasty.

He has represented Great Britain in five Olympic Games. He first appeared at the LA Games in 1984, where he helped the showjumping team clinch the silver medal.

Michael’s numerous successes over the decades are too many to name, but include team gold and individual silver medals at the 1989 European Championships in Rotterdam with horse of a lifetime Monsanta. He also came third in the Netherlands World Cup final in 1994 atop Everest Midnight Madness.

In May 2024, Michael piloted Equine America Q Paravatti N – a ride he shares with his son Jack – to victory in the Longines Whitsun Tournament in Wiesbaden, a CSI4* competition.

4. Jill Irving, 61

Degas 12 Jill Irving during the Grand Prix at the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 at Tryon International Equestrian Centre, near Tryon North Carolina in the USA between 11th-23rd September 2018 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The Ontarian was set to make her Olympic debut for Canada with top dressage mount Delacroix 11 this year, but she ended up travelling to Paris as the alternate with chestnut KWPN stallion Genesis.

Born in 1963, Jill began her career on Canada’s hunter jumper circuit before switching to dressage. She made her FEI debut in 2013, aged 50. She helped Canada top the podium at the Pan American Games in Lima in 2019 on Degas 12, a year after her first World Equestrian Games appearance.

In July this year, she competed at Hartpury CDI3* and finished eighth in the grand prix special with Genesis.

5. Rolf Göran-Bengsston, 62

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

The showjumper was the oldest in the discipline at Paris 2024. Competing for Sweden with 12-year-old stallion Zuccero HV, he helped earn a qualification for the team final. Sweden went on to finish sixth in the team jumping.

Paris marked Rolf-Göran Bengsston’s sixth Olympic appearance. He has earned a brace of Olympic silvers in his career: one team medal at Athens 2004 and one individual in Hong Kong at the Beijing 2008 Games.

Notable achievements include a spate of top-three placings in the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) in 2014 and 2015 with Caretino stallion Casall ASK, including wins in Doha, Chantilly, London and Rome. He was the LGCT Champion of Champions bronze medallist in 2015.

6. Andrew Hoy, 65

Andrew Hoy ( AUS) riding Vassily De Lassos during the cross country phase for the Olympic Eventing Competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games held at Equestrian Park in Setagaya-ku in Tokyo in Japan between the 23rd July and 8th August 2021 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

A stalwart of the international eventing scene, Aussie rider Andrew Hoy has clocked up an impressive eight Olympic appearances for his country – the most ever for a member of team Australia. His six Olympic medals include three team golds won at back-to-back Games from Barcelona 1992 to Sydney 2000.

In 2006, Andrew came within touching distance of landing the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. He finished in pole position at Kentucky on Master Monarch and repeated this feat at Badminton atop Moonfleet. At Burghley in the same year, leaders Andrew and Moonfleet could afford to knock one fence in the final phase. Sadly, the combination rolled two poles and so the 2006 title went to fellow Australian Lucinda Fredericks and Headley Britannia.

Andrew missed out on his ninth Olympic appearance at Paris this year, but it doesn’t mark the end of an era for this older horse rider, who said: “This chapter of ‘Paris 2024’ may be closing, but the book isn’t finished. We are excited to see what the future holds for us!”

7. John Whitaker, 69

John Whitaker riding Sharid, winner of THE SIX BAR during The London International Horse Show at ExCel in London between 13-18th December 2023 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

This living legend needs no introduction. Five years older than his brother Michael, John Whitaker has represented Great Britain at six Olympic Games. He has won too many accolades to name, but has earned 24 Olympic, World and European Championship medals to date.

Synonymous with John is his world-famous and beloved mount Milton. The legendary grey gelding was the first showjumper to earn £1m in prize money and had a fan base to rival contemporary film stars in the 1980s and early 90s. The pair’s crowning achievement was double gold at the 1989 Europeans in Rotterdam.

Recent success for John includes a win in the Global Champions League of Madrid in May this year. Along with teammate Gilles Thomas and representing Valkenswaard United, John finished top with gelding Equine America Unick de Francport. While John recently said “holding my own against good young riders” was one of his proudest achievements, everyone knows this older horse rider is not to be under estimated in any type of jumping competition.

8. Mary Hanna, 69

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

This dressage rider is set to celebrate her 70th birthday in December this year. The Australian has represented her country at five WEGs and six Olympics, debuting at Atlanta 1996.

Mary took a break from competition in 2019 to be with her daughter while she recovered from a serious fall. The following year, she became the first Australian rider ever to score above 80% in a grand prix freestyle competition.

She travelled to Paris 2024 with stallion Ivanhoe as team Australia’s dressage alternate. After the competition, she took to Instagram to say: “I thought afterwards I might be announcing my retirement from the sport. However it is quite the opposite. I feel so inspired and motivated by the outstanding performance of everyone involved, that I plan to continue to follow my dreams.”

Have we missed any older horse riders worth of inclusion in this article? Let us know about your favourite older equestrian athlete by email at hhletters@futurenet.com including your name, nearest town and county for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future edition of Horse & Hound magazine

Phillip Dutton gives update on horse who fell at final fence at Kentucky five-star

Pippa Roome — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 21:48:56 +0000

Quasi Cool, the horse who fell at the final fence in the five-star in the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country today, is resting comfortably in his stable.

Phillip Dutton and Quasi Cool had gone clear up to the last obstacle, the Lucky Horseshoe at fence 27. The horse fell on the landing side and was down for around five minutes. Screens went up and he received attention from vets before standing up and being led away.

“Quasi Cool tried so hard out there today,” said the US Olympic medallist this evening. “When we got to the final fence he was tired and then I asked him to [take off] a bit too long. He chipped in [an extra stride] and fell. He’s absolutely fine now and he’s resting comfortably in his stall and receiving fluids.”

Phillip also walked away and later completed the course on his second ride Azure, going clear with 7.2 time-faults to lie 14th overnight.

Quasi Cool is a 13-year-old who belongs to Caroline Moran. He was making his five-star debut this week having won twice at four-star level.

Two competitors were held on the Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country course while Quasi Cool was attended to – Germany’s Malin Hansen-Hotopp (Carlitos Quidditch K) and US rider Sharon White (Claus 63) – and both went on to finish clear with some time-faults.

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‘The horse with the biggest heart’: Olympic eventer bows out aged 15 after injury

Eleanor Jones — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 15:22:26 +0000

Phillip Dutton said he will “never have a horse with a bigger heart” than Z, his Olympic ride who is retiring at the age of 15.

The US eventer said it was with “a lot of sadness” that he announced the retirement of his long-term partner, who was injured at Pau horse trials last month.

“His rehab and recovery will be extensive,” he said. “At 15 years old, it would not be in Z’s best interest to try to bring him back to the level of fitness and training needed for the international level. He will get all the medical attention and rehab that he needs to set him up for the next, easier chapter in his life.”

Phillip said Z came to him near the end of his six-year-old year, quickly moving up the levels and becoming “such a reliable part of our team”.

During the next nine years, Phillip and Z won at three-star level, including the test event for the 2018 World Equestrian Games (WEG). They represented the US at those championships, finishing 13th individually, and at the Tokyo Olympics, where the team finished sixth.

Their other top-level results include fourth at Maryland 5 Star in 2022, when they also completed Badminton, and being on the team that won silver at the Aachen Nations Cup this summer, as well as top-10 finishes at the Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*.

“Z is an incredible athlete who always gave his all,” Phillip said. “Sometimes he gave too much, as many of you witnessed us before the start box!

“I would like to firstly thank Carol Gee who flew with me to Portugal to try Z as a six-year-old and also Duarte Seabra, who produced him. I want to thank as well his loyal owners: Tom Tierney, Suzanne Lacy, Annie Jones, Caroline Moran, and Dave and Patricia Vos. We couldn’t have asked to have a more fun and understanding partnership to ride for.

“Big thank you as well go out to his vet, Dr. Kevin Keane; his farrier, T R Serio and his grooms, Emma Ford, Sidnee Ledyard and Grace Harris. I would also like to thank the many coaches who guided us throughout his career.

“I will never have a horse with a bigger heart!”

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Olympic gold-medallist and five-star eventer dies aged 24 after happy retirement

Lucy Elder — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 16:41:41 +0000

Olympic team gold medallist and five-star campaigner Mr Medicott has died in retirement aged 24.

The Cruising son was campaigned by five riders to represent two nations during his international career, which boasted two Olympics and a World Equestrian Games.

Mr Medicott scored placings at CCI5* with Frank Ostholt, Karen O’Connor and Phillip Dutton. He was also part of the German gold medal-winning team at Beijing 2008 with Frank and finished ninth at London 2012 with Karen.

“He was certainly a character,” said Philip. “He enjoyed life and was one of those ones that pinned his ears and tried to bite you as you were doing up the girth, but he liked the attention and liked to be hugged.

“He was pretty prepared to express himself, it didn’t matter whether it was good or bad. He was very confident in himself. He was certainly one of those horses who truly loved what he did.”

The Irish Sport Horse gelding was bred by Donal Geany in Ireland and was produced by Francis Connors, before Herman Horst acquired him as a six-year-old for Frank. The pair were fifth at the seven-year-old World Championships and two years later would finish third at Pau CCI5* and help Germany to top the podium at the 2008 Olympics.

They finished 21st at the World Equestrian Games in 2010, and the horse would return to the US the following spring – this time under new ownership.

He was bought by the Mr Medicott Syndicate, which included Sarah Broussard, Jacqueline Mars and Suzanne Lacy, as a prospective London 2012 Olympic ride for Karen. The pair were fourth at Kentucky in 2012 before finishing ninth and the highest-placed US combination at the London Games.

After London, Mark Hart and the Event Owners Task Force joined the Mr Medicott Syndicate to secure the ride for Philip.

“Unfortunately for me, I got him towards the end of his career, but it was still a great experience to have a horse of that quality,” said Philip. “He had three very good phases. He wasn’t a dead-quiet horse at the show; you had to work him down to get a good test out of him, but he had a very good dressage and was a brilliant cross-country horse, and then a phenomenal show jumper as well.”

Their achievements included fourth place at both Pau and Kentucky. In 2017, Phillip passed the reins to his daughter, Olivia, with Mr Medicott enjoying a schoolmaster role in his senior years.

He was formally retired in a ceremony at Rebecca Farm in 2018 and lived out his days at Mrs Mars’ Stonehall Farm in Virginia.

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.

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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 your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Promising four-star event horse sold to the US for Olympic medallist to ride

Pippa Roome — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 15:17:50 +0000

Promising four-star horse Imposant has been sold to the US for seven-time Olympian Phillip Dutton to ride.

Emily King has been “lucky enough” to ride the 10-year-old by Namelus R for Peter and Susan Kerr-Dineen and their daughter Minnie for three years, after he started his eventing career with Stephen Smith and Minnie.

“He came to me at Hafod Stables to be sold and he turned out to be a pretty special horse when I was getting a feel for him over that first winter, so the Kerr-Dineen family decided to keep him with me to produce a bit longer, which was fantastic,” Emily told H&H. “In that time he gained some amazing results and really grew as a horse and in his confidence.

“The plan always was to sell him, but the owners were keen for him to go to a good rider who could continue to produce him to best of his ability. It was good timing when we heard Phillip was looking. He came and tried the horse and they got on so well. He’s a phenomenal horse and Phillip is obviously a phenomenal rider.

“It’s always sad to wave goodbye to really good horses, but that was always the plan when he came to me and I didn’t have any other owners I was working with that were in a position to get involved in a horse like him. So it wasn’t a surprise and it’s lovely he’s gone to somewhere where he can reach full potential. It will be great to follow their progress together and hopefully he’ll make some trips back to Europe too.”

Irish event horse agent Carol Gee has been instrumental in a number of purchases of horses from Europe for Phillip, including his 2016 Olympic individual bronze medallist Mighty Nice, and was involved in bringing this new partnership together, along with Andrew Williams.

Imposant has now headed off to his new home.

“He’ll be enjoying the lovely sunny weather!” joked Emily.

With Emily, Imposant won the CCI2*-L at Houghton in 2021 and in 2022 finished second in the CCI3*-S at Kelsall Hill, seventh in the CCI3*-L at Millstreet and fifth in the eight- and nine-year-0ld CCI4*-S at Blenheim Horse Trials. He also won seven times at national level over his three seasons with Emily.

Emily said: “Blenheim was a pretty tough first four-star run and we were excited to see how he’d cope with not only a bigger question but the atmosphere and everything and he was incredible. I took him a bit slower round the cross-country there because it was his first time that level, so I looked after him.

“He’s been an amazingly successful horse – he’s so consistent and incredibly beautiful, which helps.”

‘He isn’t frightened to make it big’ – Oliver Townend, Tamie Smith and others react to Ian Stark’s Maryland 5 Star cross-country course

Pippa Roome — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 20:40:10 +0000

Riders have been giving their reactions to the Maryland 5 Star cross-country course, designed by Ian Stark.

Oliver Townend commented: “It’s designed by, in my opinion, one of the best designers in the world. He’s got a tremendous amount of feel because he’s ridden around so many [five-stars] himself, but he isn’t frightened to make it big and it’s definitely big. It’s definitely challenging, but it’s horse friendly.”

US rider Liz Halliday-Sharp commented that the track is “kind of old school in places”.

She said: “It’s really ditchy and up and down the mounds, like the coffin [Bodgie’s Hill & Dale at fence 15abc] is sort of your old school get in there and be gritty coffin and the Maryland Timber Rails going up the hill, that’s the sort of thing we saw back in the old days. He’s embraced some of that and that is a little bit Ian’s course-design, I think, which I don’t mind. I think it’s kind of interesting and it’s definitely a different feel from the other five-stars I’ve done.

“It’s a real five-star and is very challenging at the end. I think he’s asking a lot of tired horses. So staying on the ball all the way to the end is going to be really important.”

Will Coleman echoed Liz’s thoughts on the end of the Maryland 5 Star cross-country course, saying: “You’re answering questions pretty much all the way up to 10 minutes 45 seconds through an 11 minute 30 second course. The going should be good, which I think will be really helpful.

“I think he’s stepped the jumping up from last year. There’s more jumping to be done and what he’s put out there is big and testing.”

Maryland 5 Star cross-country course: new layout

Their compatriot Phillip Dutton, a seven-time Olympian, said that he likes the new start and finish location from the horse’s point of view.

“I think the first section is quite fast – there’s not a lot to slow you up,” he said. “I can see people getting up on time there and then it’ll be a case of seeing how much horse they got left at the end.”

New Zealand’s Tim Price agreed: “I like the layout a lot better this time with where he’s got the start and the finish and how that impacts the energy requirements around the course.

“I think it’s maybe a bit bigger in places than last year and also last year, the time was quite easy, a little bit too easy. And I don’t think that’s the case this year, it’s wheeled a lot tighter.

“So that’s going to put more emphasis on the guys that have travelled over from Europe. You want to make the most of your trip, so you know you want to be quick and that puts a different element on everything on the course – everything that’s big becomes bigger, the hills become steeper and the technicality coming home on a tired horse becomes more extreme. So it’s a tough course this year, I think.”

Recent world silver medallist Tamie Smith said: “It looks like you’d better be able to see a distance from a long way away. There are lots of straight lines and galloping, so not a lot to back them off before the combinations. On horses where the fences don’t back them up, the riders are going to have quite a bit of work to do.”

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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.

‘More magical than I could expect’: US riders reflect on final day of Badminton with a top-10 rosette and a handful of completions

Martha Terry — Mon, 09 May 2022 02:05:04 +0000

Five US riders completed on the final day, contesting the showjumping phase at Badminton Horse Trials. There were two clear rounds among the American competitors, courtesy of Tamie Smith and Ariel Grald. Tamie, the highest-placed US rider after both of the previous phases, produced one of just four clear rounds inside the time at the event, which is presented by Mars Equestrian. Horse & Hound caught up with the US finishers.

Badminton Horse Trials final day: US riders’ review

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum, ninth on 36.5

Tamie’s clear round inside the time was only the second of the day when she rose from 15th to ninth spot on the beautifully athletic Mai Baum. She met every fence perfectly, clearing each one by inches.

“You don’t know what they are going to do after a big track like [yesterday’s] but I am just so proud of him,” said Tamie. “The crowd lifted him, buoyed him up over those jumps, it was good.”

Tamie came here directly from Kentucky CCI5*, where she had retired her mare Fleeceworks Royal on the cross-country course.

“I came here a little deflated, but you have to put that behind you, not knowing what to expect, but knowing this horse is capable of performing unbelievably,” said Tamie, 47. “It was more magical than I could expect. My best friend and I grew up watching VHS tapes of Badminton, so to get here finally and have that kind of performance is a dream come true.”

Badminton final scores

Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan, 15th on 43.8

Ariel Grald trots up Leamore Master Plan at Badminton’s final horse inspection. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Ariel backed up Saturday’s cross-country clear with a super round over the showjumps on the Irish-bred Leamore Master Plan, just adding 0.4 of a time-fault.

“He’s very trustworthy on the final day; he really is a good jumper and he tries his heart out,” she said. “It’s almost more nerve-wracking because I know the only way it’s going to go wrong is if I mess him up, but when he jumped the first two I just had so much confidence in his jump; he felt amazing off the ground. That two-tenths of a second was just me taking an extra tug.”

Ariel is planning to come back for Burghley, where they finished 10th in 2019.

“Badminton was just incredible. I keep going to new places, like Luhmühlen and Aachen, that neither I nor my horse have been to before. Each place is so incredible, and I’m just learning so much. Badminton feels more intense, the crowds are so much in your face, you’re in the thick of it, even hacking around.

“He’s my first four- and five-star horse, and I bought him as a green five-year-old, so we’ve come on together. He’s quirky and sensitive, so I have to keep figuring out the puzzle pieces and how to get a better dressage out of him because I know it’s in there.”

Phillip Dutton and Z, 26th on 52

Philip’s thrill of riding a great cross-country round turned to disappointment when Z knocked down two showjumps on the final day. From 25th after cross-country, the eight faults cost him one place.

“He was pretty wound up; he’s been wound up all weekend,” said Phillip. “So it was not our best round – a bit disappointing.”

Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way, 31st on 58

Will had two showjumps down and was just a second outside the time for 0.4 of a time-fault on the 11-year-old Mighty Magic-sired gelding. He moved up from 74th to 35th after cross-country, and despite the 8.4 faults moved up a few more places to 31st.

“He was very excited, he acted like he didn’t do anything yesterday,” said Will. “They blew the whistle early, and I had wanted to walk him round a bit to have a look, but I was in too much of a hurry. Coming to the first jump, I was like, ‘look at the jump’ – he was busy looking at the crowd, so happy everyone had come to watch him.

“He jumped super though. The B element of seven that he had down was because I tried to micromanage him rather than let him do what he does best, so I take the blame. He’s a horse for the future and he will have grown up a lot.”

The last time Will came to Badminton was 17 years ago, riding Antigua – who passed away almost exactly a year ago.

“It’s an honour to be back here,” he added. “The horse has so much talent and ability. I’ve ridden a lot of phenomenal horses in my life, but he is one of the nicest I’ve ever sat on and I’m going to do everything in my power to be in the winner’s enclosure next time I come here. I just have to fix the first and last phases. And next time I won’t hack him out when the BE100 is going cross-country!”

Emily Hamel and Corvett, 52nd on 98.3

Emily Hamel trots up Corvett at Badminton’s final horse inspection. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Emily was the very first rider into the ring on Corvett, having had a run-out on the cross-country the previous day. The horse looked full of spring, and just tapped the planks which came down for four faults, plus 1.2 time-faults.

These were the only US riders to compete after Lillian Heard (LCC Barnaby) and Matthew Flynn’s (Wizzerd) challenge came to an end on cross-country day.

US riders reflect on Badminton cross-country day: title contender loses ground while others make headway

Martha Terry — Sun, 08 May 2022 02:03:34 +0000

There were mixed results for the seven US riders who set out on the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course, at the event presented by Mars Equestrian. There were four clear rounds, one run-out, a fall and a retirement, with the US’s highest placed dressage rider Tamie Smith still leading the pack from across the Atlantic. Horse & Hound caught up with those still in the hunt to find out how Eric Winter’s track rode.

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country: US riders’ review

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum, 15th on 36.5

Tamie Smith set out to prove the five-star prowess of her 16-year-old “horse of a lifetime”, whose debut at the level at Kentucky last year was spoiled by 11 penalties for a frangible pin. At their Badminton Horse Trials cross-country debut, they jumped clear with 15.5 time-faults, which dropped them down from fifth to 15th, 15.5pen behind the leader Laura Collett. However, Tamie was pleased with her horse’s performance.

“He was full of running and answered all the questions,” said Tamie. “He was super rideable, and such a neat jumper. Eric did a phenomenal job in making this a real fitness test and you really felt the climbs but he felt fit enough.”

Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan, 24th on 43.4

Ariel Grald tackles the Vicarage Vee aboard Leamore Master Plan at Badminton (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Ariel made considerable headway up the leaderboard from 54th spot with her Master Imp-sired gelding on their Badminton debut. They jumped clear for just eight time-faults.

Badminton final scores

“I wanted to go as quickly as I could but he got quite keyed up in the warm-up,” she said. “He’s a very exuberant horse anyways, he doesn’t have a whole lot of patience and he knew what we were doing today. He was really excited to come down to the startbox. I thought, ‘the only thing I have to do is find a rhythm and he and I are in the same space’.”

Ariel explained how the 100,000-strong crowd affected her plan.

“It was a challenge to see where I was going next,” she said. “If you look up all you see is people, so I was just staring between his ears and trying to read the lines, but it’s hard to gauge when there are so many people you can’t see a thing. I just kept reminding myself to stay connected.”

Phillip Dutton and Z, 25th on 44

Phillip Dutton and Z tackle a corner fence at Badminton (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Phillip was another of the US riders to climb up Badminton’s leaderboard. He added just 10.8 time-faults on the 14-year-old Z to move from 39th to 25th.

“He’s a brave little horse and when he had a slip on one of the turns, he still had a crack at the fence,” he said. “It’s a tough course, especially the middle section where you can’t take a deep breath and relax before you get ready for the next one. Funnily enough, the bigger fences are riding very well, like the Footbridge, but anything with turning that’s a little bit technical was more of a struggle.”

Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way, 35th on 49.6

Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way tackle the Badminton track (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Will matched his team-mate Phillip to post a clear round for 10.8 time-faults with this 11-year-old gelding, which propelled him up the leaderboard from 74th to 35th.

“He’s relatively inexperienced,” said Will. “He did do Kentucky and Maryland last year, but this is my first trip overseas with him. He’s a phenomenal cross-country horse. It took some work getting it done out there. He’s very brave.”

Will said he had to give him a bit of encouragement after the Footbridge and after that “he didn’t look at anything”.

“He has terrific footwork,” added the 40-year-old. “If I was 22 again I would probably have kept hustling him to get as close to the time as I could, but they say age comes with wisdom and I was off the pace after dressage, so I just wanted him to have a really confident round. I gave him time over the last few fences to keep him jumping great, and he finished full of running. He’s a horse for the future.”

Emily Hamel and Corvett, 58th on 93.1

Emily Hamel and Corvett over the Vicarage Vee at Badminton (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Despite a run-out marring their scorecard, Emily and Corvett made a pleasing debut over the influential track. The bouncy grey was jumping the large fences and tricky combinations with ease, but after overjumping the drop into the second water at 17, Emily couldn’t turn him in time to present at the log in the water, which was a B element and so incurred 20 penalties. However, due to the number of non-completions, they still moved up from 77th after phase one to 58th.

“It was unfortunate that we had that problem as I probably didn’t give him a great ride there. He still jumped but I was off [my line] so I had to pull out,” she said. “But I stayed on and I finished!”

The horse was still giving even the last few fences plenty of air.

“He’s kind of a freak, but that’s what makes me feel really confident going to any jump because I know he can clear it,” she said.

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country: other US riders

Of the remaining US riders, Matthew Flynn retired after two stops at second water on Wizzerd, who were lying in 56th after dressage.

Lillian Heard and LCC Barnaby had a fall at the Mars M combination (fence 26).

US riders reflect on their Badminton dressage performances: from a top five to the rider who’d like to send a video instead

Pippa Roome — Sat, 07 May 2022 02:04:27 +0000

Seven US riders have made the journey to Badminton Horse Trials, presented by Mars Equestrian this year, so how have they fared in the dressage? Horse & Hound has caught up with each of them to find out how they are feeling about their performance and scores, plus the challenge that is facing them on Saturday.

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum, fifth on 25.3

Tamie impressed on her first time in the Badminton Horse Trials dressage arena, piloting Alexandra Ahearn, Ellen Ahearn and Eric Markell’s Mai Baum to a top-10 finish at the end of the phase and the best score of the US riders. The pair’s strong scores were marred only by a pop into canter in the left half-pass.

“I was pleased with everything. We could have gone a bit more forward, but when I asked for that, he cantered, so I played it safe after that,” she said. “He’s never made me nervous going into dressage before and yesterday I was slightly like, ‘This isn’t quite what I’m used to’, but he’s never been this fit and ready to go.”

Phillip Dutton and Z, equal 39th on 33.2

Phillip Dutton riding Z for UNITED STATES during the dressage phase of the Badminton Horse Trails presented by Mars Equestrian, held at Badminton House in the village of Badminton near Malmesbury in Gloucestershire in the UK, on the 4th May 2021 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Experienced rider Phillip put in the second best performance of the US riders in the Badminton Horse Trials dressage. Phillip and Z, owned by the rider’s wife Evie, Ann Jones, Suzanne Lacy, Caroline Moran, Thomas Tierney, David & Patricia Vos, hold xxth place. Their test was generally consistent aside from a couple of mistakes in the flying changes.

Badminton final scores

Phillip explained Z had been wound up by the grassroots championship cross-country on Wednesday.

“I’m pleased with where we’re at because with the cross-country going, he was all confused and was pretty wound up so that’s carried over a bit to today,” he said after his test on Thursday. “So I was just trying to sit there and keep him as quiet as I could, so it could be a lot worse. In hindsight, I wish I’d found him a better place to work him yesterday.

“At home he’s really quiet, but at shows he can be a bit of handful. Lately he’s figured out to be quiet in the dressage and I don’t mind so much if he’s wound up on cross-country day – that’s why it got a bit confusing for him.

“He saw all the horses galloping around and came out of the stall shaking in anticipation because I thought he was going across country. I worked him a lot and tried to get through to him that he doesn’t have to worry about cross-country yet.”

Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan, 54th on 35.4

Ariel Grald riding Leamore Master Plan for UNITED STATES during the dressage phase of the Badminton Horse Trails presented by Mars Equestrian, held at Badminton House in the village of Badminton near Malmesbury in Gloucestershire in the UK, on the 4th May 2021 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Ariel, who is a first-timer here, had a disappointing time when Anne Eldridge’s Leamore Master Plan showed tension in the arena, which came out particularly in an edgy walk and a short, choppy canter, although they did score some good marks in the trot.

“It’s not what I was hoping for,” said Ariel, who scored 33.8 at Luhmühlen last year. “He’s been getting better in the dressage each time at five-star, but it’s not his strength. He gets excited and tense.

“He’s been keyed up this week and felt the atmosphere. He’s pretty keen. The horses haven’t had a lot of opportunity to see crowds the past couple of years. It’s his first time in front of a crowd this year so it’s a mental game for both of us.”

Matthew Flynn and Wizzerd, equal 56th on 35.8

Matthew Flynn riding Wizzerd for UNITED STATES during the dressage phase of the Badminton Horse Trails presented by Mars Equestrian, held at Badminton House in the village of Badminton near Malmesbury in Gloucestershire in the UK, on the 4th May 2021 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Matthew and Wizzerd, who belongs to A Patrick and Kathleen Flynn and Merry Go Round Farm, started off well with a nine from Seppo Laine at H for their entry, but the marks dropped down later in the test, particularly in the right trot shoulder-in the flying changes. Badminton first-timer Matthew said you always hope for better, but he was happy with the horse.

Lillian Heard and LCC Barnaby, equal 68th on 37.8

Lillian Heard riding LCC Barnaby for UNITED STATES during the dressage phase of the Badminton Horse Trails presented by Mars Equestrian, held at Badminton House in the village of Badminton near Malmesbury in Gloucestershire in the UK, on the 4th May 2021 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Badminton debutant Lillian said her own LCC Barnaby was tense, but he stayed relatively rideable. The pair came in with 37.8 to lie 68th after the first phase.

“This is not his phase, I will admit – I went in there and got the feeling he was going to blow his top,” said Lillian. “I’ve never felt him that tense and still ride that sort of ok a test. I know everybody’s got their own standard – I brought a jumping horse, not a dressage one.

“The dressage is hard for him. He’s really long and it’s made him nervous because it’s physically hard for him. I’ve been riding him 10 years, this is our 10th five-star, I know him well.

“He’s 16 – when they’re 16, they are what they are. If I come in here thinking I’m going to lay it down on the flat, that’s not fair to him. I’ve got to accept who he is. I do expect him to lay it down in the jumping so we’re going to go out there with some expectations.”

Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way, 74th on 38.8

Will Faudree riding Mama's Magic Way for UNITED STATES during the dressage phase of the Badminton Horse Trails presented by Mars Equestrian, held at Badminton House in the village of Badminton near Malmesbury in Gloucestershire in the UK, on the 4th May 2021 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables’ Mama’s Magic Way is another who was unsettled by the grassroots cross-country on Wednesday.

“He got really lit up,” said Will, who has competed here once before. “So it was trying to keep him settled. He actually stayed somewhat rideable in there. I was getting run off with everywhere, but he tried and he’s so talented. It’s just getting his mind in the right spot.

“We can do dressage at home – maybe we could do that and just send in videos for them to judge! But it’s not a dressage competition. Saturday is the big test.

“He’s still relatively young although he’s done two five-stars and while the score is disappointing, I was happy he didn’t have a complete meltdown.”

Emily Hamel and Corvett, 77th on 39.5

Emily Hamel riding Corvett for UNITED STATES during the dressage phase of the Badminton Horse Trails presented by Mars Equestrian, held at Badminton House in the village of Badminton near Malmesbury in Gloucestershire in the UK, on the 6th May 2021 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

LLC’s Corvett was quite tense in the arena and finished on a score of 39.5. Badminton first-timer Emily said: “I was just excited to be in the ring. I tried to take it all in and also ride well. He was feeling fresh but overall I’m pretty happy and excited for tomorrow.”

‘We’ve got to get stuck in and be brave’ – Pippa Funnell and other riders’ first reactions to the Kentucky cross-country course

Pippa Roome — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 14:26:31 +0000

The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country course is dimensionally big and riders will need to be brave on Saturday, said British rider Pippa Funnell.

“After not jumping a big track since 2019, it looks jolly big,” she said. “The one-off five-star at Bicton Horse Trials last year was a stamina test but not in the same league dimensionally – this is a proper five-star with lots of big wide tables and oxers – or in terms of the questions. It’ll be interesting to ride around, we’ve got to get stuck in and be brave.

“It’s beautifully built and designer Derek di Grazia has done a fabulous job – the fences are there in front of the horses. The lines are difficult but there are no tricks for the horses. We’ve got to be on our game and so have they, but hopefully if they are going well, it will ride well and not punish the horses.”

Pippa picked out Pete’s Hollow at fence 13abc, where horses head down a steep bank to a corner, as a fence which could cause problems.

Looking down the steep bank at Pete’s Hollow, fence 13abc on the 2022 Kentucky course. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

US rider Will Coleman described the course as “typical Derek”.

“It’s not too terrifying but you’ve got to be sharp the whole way,” he said. “It’s very different to the 2021 track so there’s not a lot you can glean from last year.

“I think the Hollow is interesting and at the Land Rover Head of the Lake horses will have to be really with you. That’s sort of the theme of the course – you can’t set up and then bang through the combinations, you’ve got to ride each element.”

The fence into the Land Rover Head of the Lake on the 2022 Kentucky course, with the following elements visible on the opposite bank. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Will said competitors will need to ride off their instincts round the Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country course, a view that was echoed by his compatriot Doug Payne.

“A lot of unpredictable things will happen and we’ll have to be super reactive,” said Doug. “We’ll see a lot of different solutions to the same problem and it’s more of an instinctive test than a mathematical one.”

Hannah Sue Burnett said she prefers the course to last year’s track as she feels it is more flowing and there is also less use of multiple letters in combinations, something she fell foul of in 2021.

“Derek does a good job of setting the tone with softer questions and then building on that,” she commented.

Former Kentucky winner Phillip Dutton said: “It’s not the biggest course since I’ve seen here, but there are three or four areas that are quite technical, which require horses to be on their line and in front of your leg.”

As well as the Hollow and the Head of the Lake, Phillip picked out the first serious combination at fence 7abc, the Park Question, and the last water, the Cosequin Cove (fence 23abc), as potential problem areas.

The Park Question (fence 7abc) on the 2022 Kentucky course. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

The view over the first element of the Cosequin Cove (fence 23abc) on the 2022 Kentucky course, looking at the angled hedges which form elements b and c. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Overnight leader Tamie Smith commented: “You don’t know how the horses are going to react to the terrain questions, you’ve got to have feel and that’s what makes a good cross-country horse and rider.

“Derek’s a genius and I love riding round his tracks.”

Collen Rutledge, who sits second, added: “Derek is a genius but a bit of a Machiavellian genius. This will separate those that wannabe from those that are. You’ve got to be able to ride not just off your eye, but off your leg and your butt.

“Every questions asks something different, but every question is clear and there isn’t a gimme [giveaway] fence on the course.”

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)

When do the British riders do their dressage at Kentucky? Find out here

Pippa Roome — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 19:14:03 +0000

The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage times have been released for this week’s competition (28 April-1 May).

The flagship CCI5* dressage takes place in the afternoons on Thursday and Friday, starting at 1pm local time (6pm British time) on Thursday and 12.30pm (5.30pm British time) on Friday.

Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage times for British riders

Leslie Law and Voltaire De Tre’: 1.24pm local time on Thursday (6.24pm British time)
Pippa Funnell and Majas Hope: 3.56pm local time on Thursday (8.56pm British time)
Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir: 3.18pm local time on Friday (8.18pm British time)
Sarah Bullimore and Corouet: 3.50pm local time on Friday (8.50pm British time)
Pippa Funnell and Maybach: 4.14pm local time on Friday (9.14pm British time)

Other riders to watch

Will Coleman and Dondante (USA): 1pm local time on Thursday (6pm British time)
Doug Payne and Vandiver (USA): 1.16pm local time on Thursday (6.16pm British time)
Phillip Dutton and Sea Of Clouds (USA): 2.28pm local time on Thursday (7.28pm British time)
Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF (USA): 12.54pm local time on Friday (5.54pm British time)
Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH (GER): 1.10pm local time on Friday (6.10pm British time)
Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot (USA): 1.18pm local time on Friday (6.18pm British time)
Jonelle Price and McClaren (NZL): 1.26pm local time on Friday (6.26pm British time)
Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Monte Carlo (USA): 1.50pm local time on Friday (6.50pm British time)
Will Coleman and Off The Record (USA): 1.58pm local time on Friday (6.58pm British time)

Full Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage times

See all the times

A former winner, a 2021 European medallist and a rising star among British entries for Kentucky five-star

Pippa Roome — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 09:23:27 +0000

Four British riders are among the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event entries set to line up in this year’s competition (28 April-1 May).

The British riders span the range of experience. Pippa Funnell, who won Kentucky in 2003 on Primmore’s Pride, is entered with Marek Sebestak’s and her own Majas Hope and S.H.E. Eventing’s Maybach.

US-based British rider Leslie Law, the 2004 Olympic individual champion, comes forward with Tre’ Book’s Voltaire De Tre.

Yasmin Ingham is set to make her Kentucky debut on one of the most exciting young horses in eventing, Sue Davies and Janette Chinn’s Banzai Du Loir. The Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-L winner will be starting at five-star for the first time, although Yasmin has gained five-star experience in two starts at at Pau Horse Trials on other horses.

Finally, Sarah Bullimore is entered on her European individual bronze medallist Corouet, owned by Sarah and her husband Brett, plus the Kew Jumping Syndicate.

German superstar Michael Jung, a three-time Kentucky winner on FischerRocana FST, brings forward FischerChipmunk FRH – owned by Sabine and Klaus Fischer, Hilmer Meyer Kulenkampff and the German Olympic committee for equestrian sport.

This will be a hotly awaited five-star debut for a horse who has been a European individual silver medallist and who topped the list of the best event horses in the world at the end of last year according to data analytics company EquiRatings.

Ireland’s Joseph Murphy will also make the journey from Europe for his Kentucky debut, riding Claire and Charlie Mayne, Annette O’Callaghan’s and his own Calmaro, who was 14th at Pau last year.

Among the home-side stars on the list are all three riders from the US Olympic team from Tokyo – Phillip Dutton (Sea Of Clouds), Doug Payne (Quantum Leap and Vandiver) and Boyd Martin, who will certainly be among the favourites when he starts on last year’s Maryland 5 Star winner On Cue, as well as Tsetserleg TSF.

A number of horses appear on the Kentucky Three-Day Event entries as well as on the Badminton Horse Trials entries, but they will only start at one of the events.

Pippa has Majas Hope on both lists, but she has three horses entered for Badminton and can only ride two, so it is likely Billy Walk On and MGH Grafton Street will go to Badminton and Majas Hope to Kentucky. Three US riders also each have a horse on both lists – Lauren Nicholson (Vermiculus), Tamie Smith (Mai Baum) and Will Faudree (Mama’s Magic Way) – as does Canada’s Karl Slezak (Fernhill Wishes).

Federation responds to Olympic rider’s concerns on leadership and funding

Becky Murray — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 17:32:04 +0000

Concerns have been raised around leadership and funding in US eventing ahead of the first 2022 five-star competition, but the federation says an interim chef d’equipe and team manager will be appointed this spring.

Event rider Phillip Dutton, who rode at three Olympic Games for Australia before changing nationality in 2006 to represent the US, has raised concerns around the availability of grants from US Equestrian (USEF) for the sport – and the wait for a new chef d’equipe. In December it was announced Erik Duvander’s contract with USEF was not being renewed, after four years as performance director of eventing, and this was followed by the departure of USEF manager director of eventing Jenni Autry, who had been in position since July 2019.

“The lack of urgency that USEF has for getting a leader installed and moving forward is very disappointing for many of us event riders,” said Phillip. “It’s now nearly April and arguably our most influential five-stars, Kentucky and Badminton, are just a few weeks away, not to mention the World Championships in September.

“No eventing grants are currently being given out, even though the fundraising efforts that USEF promotes are to raise money for all disciplines. We sincerely hope USEF will recognise this and be proactive.”

USEF director of sport Will Connell told H&H the organisation is taking a “thorough and mediated approach” to a restructure of the US elite eventing program.

“We want to ensure there is stability and a maintained pathway for success for the future and have openly communicated our approach since this process began,” he said.

“An elite eventing task force, with representation of athletes, owners, and individuals with extensive international experience, were appointed to consider all aspects of the elite program with dialogue being led by a facilitator from the United States Olympics and Paralympic Committee.”

Mr Connell said an interim chef d’equipe and team manager will be appointed prior to the Kentucky Three-Day Event (28 April to 1 May) “giving time to clarify the role” and ultimately help USEF identify the “right person” to lead the elite programme through Paris 2024 and beyond.

“It has also been communicated to athletes that there will be funding to support athletes travelling to Europe for specific Nations Cup competitions in 2022, as the USET Foundation continues to manage grant allocation on and above the very generous funding they provide to the federation’s high performance programmes,” said the spokesman.

“The athletes continue to be significant contributors in how we have moved forward with this process. The stakeholder groups involved are all in agreement it is critical to ensure we have the right individuals in place in order for the program to be competitive and consistent at the international championship level moving forward and continue to invest efforts in the growth and management of the developing programs under the guidance of [British rider and US eventing developing rider coach] Leslie Law.”

Phillip Dutton updates fans on Fernhill Singapore after his fall on Maryland 5 Star cross-country

Pippa Roome — Sun, 17 Oct 2021 08:42:57 +0000

Phillip Dutton has given an update on the condition of Fernhill Singapore, who fell near the end of the cross-country at Maryland 5 Star yesterday (Saturday, 16 October).

Lying ninth after dressage, Phillip and Fernhill Singapore were the last pair of the day to tackle the course and looked set for a good completion, but came down at the white Groundhog Garden Gate at fence 24. Phillip could be seen up on his feet after the fall, but Fernhill Singapore stayed down initially and fans were understandably anxious about him.

Phillip is lying in ninth place with his other ride, Sea Of Clouds, who he said was a “little superstar and seemed to get better the further around the course he went”.

Ann Jones, Thomas Tierney and David Vos’ Fernhill Singapore was one of seven horses who were eliminated or retired on the Maryland 5 Star course yesterday, while three were withdrawn before the cross-country phase.

The 35 horses who remain in the competition now go forward to a trot-up at 8.30am local time (1.30pm British time) today and then the final showjumping phase, which starts at 1pm local time (6pm British time).

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.

Top-10 horse eliminated at Kentucky Three-Day Event final trot-up: ‘It’s very sad’ H&H Plus

Nancy Jaffer — Sun, 25 Apr 2021 16:34:37 +0000

One British horse left the competition at this morning’s final horse inspection in Kentucky. Find out which one – and what his rider said.

By Nancy Jaffer

The 45 horses who remained in the five-star after cross-country were all presented at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 final trot-up this morning (25 April).

Two-time Kentucky winner Cooley Master Class was spun, as rider Oliver Townend of Great Britain acknowledged his horse had a small cut and was sore on it trotting in a straight line before the judges. At the same time, he noted, the bay gelding was sound to ride and “very fresh,” putting in a buck on the way back to the stables from the trot-up.

As he observed yesterday after his journey on a taxing cross-country course, “Cooley Master Class didn’t have a smooth trip at all”, but he gave everything he had each time Oliver asked.

The world’s number one ranked eventing rider, who leads going into this afternoon’s showjumping with Ballaghmor Class, believes Master Class, who was eighth in the Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 cross-country results would have been able to jump well. He added, however, “Obviously, the welfare of the horse is paramount in our sport,” while deferring to the ground jury.

“That’s their decision to make. It’s very sad for me and it’s very sad for the team, but he’s still in one piece. It’s more of a frustration than anything else, but he’s 100%.”

Asked for his reaction, British World Class eventing performance manager Dickie Waygood replied, “Obviously, very disappointed, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles. The horse’s welfare comes first, that’s all you can really say.”

Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 final trot-up: Phillip Dutton’s ride held

Master Class was the only horse spun in the Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 final trot-up, held on a misty morning before a sparse number of observers (US Equestrian Federation Covid protocols prohibit fan attendance). However, several horses were held, including Fernhill Singapore, the second mount of US Olympic medallist Phillip Dutton, but all eventually were passed.

Only three penalties separate the top seven in the standings going into showjumping, with Jonelle Price of New Zealand (Grovine De Reve) and Kevin McNab of Australia (Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam) tied for sixth on 30.3 penalties. Ballaghmor Class is just 0.5 of a penalty ahead of the USA’s Boyd Martin and On Cue, who have 27.8 penalties. Tim Price of New Zealand, the world number two eventer, is right behind on 28.2 penalties.

Boyd Martin presents On Cue at the final trot-up at Kentucky 2021. (Image credit: Nancy Jaffer)

Oliver, Boyd and Tim were first, second and third in the last running of the Kentucky event in 2019. It was cancelled last year due to Covid.

The showjumping course is being laid out by American Steve Stephens, the 2008 Olympic course-designer, who has stepped in for the regular designer, Richard Jeffery of Great Britain. He has remained at home, as so many British subjects have done during the pandemic.

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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.

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.

Olympic rider sets new national eventing dressage record

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 12:16:44 +0000

Olympic eventer Phillip Dutton and Caroline Moran’s Carlchen have set a new US Eventing Association advanced-level dressage record score.

US rider Phillip and the 13-year-old gelding posted a score of 15.0 at Pine Top Advanced Horse Trials in Georgia last Friday (26 February). The pair went on to win their division with a final score of 34.2.

Phillip said: “I’m very proud of Carlchen. In dressage, you always feel that you can do things better; I know there’s still some throughness and softness that I can continue to improve, but he is obviously a huge talent.”

Three-time Olympic medallist Phillip, who was born in Australia, spent much of this winter in Florida.

“This winter in Wellington served [Carlchen] well, as I had Scott Hassler and Erik Duvander training me in dressage every week to 10 days,” he said.

“Being in the Wellington environment where you are exposed to great horsemanship and top dressage riders on a daily basis also makes you aim that much higher and expect that much more.”

Ms Moran bought Carlchen, who was previously competed by Britain’s Francis Whittington, in autumn 2019, but as a result of a minor injury and the effects of the coronavirus last year, he did not compete until last October.

“It’s certainly exciting to have Carlchen back out competing,” he said.

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“Caroline Moran has been, and continues to be, an extremely supportive and a wonderful owner. She approached me about purchasing a new horse a few years back, and Carol Gee of Fernhill Sport Horses found Carlchen for us.

“He’s not hot, but he’s certainly a forward-thinking horse, which suits me. He’s had some good education before me, and we’re continuing to build on that education and to get to know each other at the higher performance level.”

Phillip also finished second in the division on Anita Motion, Sue Haldeman, Annie Jones, Evie Dutton, Dave and Patricia Vos and Sheikh Fahah Al-Thani’s Sea of Clouds, and won an open intermediate division on Ms Moran’s Quasi Cool.

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.

Twins, medals and Irish-breds: eight things you didn’t know about three-time Olympic medallist Phillip Dutton

Pippa Roome — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 08:24:42 +0000

Olympic eventing medallist Phillip Dutton is one of the US’s leading event riders – find out all about him here…

1. Originally from New South Wales, Australia, Phillip moved to the USA in 1991 and changed nationality to ride for the USA in 2006.

2. He has twin daughters, Olivia and Mary, with his wife Evie and a stepdaughter, Lee Lee Jones. Lee Lee is in rehabilitation following a serious brain injury just before Christmas 2016, when a horse she was cantering bucked, slipped over and landed on her.

3. Phillip has ridden at six Olympics – three for Australia, winning two team golds in 1996 (on True Blue Girdwood) and 2000 (on House Doctor) – and three for the USA. He has also won two Pan American team golds with the US squad and individual silver in 2007 on Truluck.

4. He picked up his first individual medal at Rio 2016, where he rose from 15th after dressage to take the individual bronze on Mighty Nice, known as Happy. The horse was one of Phillip’s reserve mounts originally, stepping up when Fernhill Cubalawn strained a tendon in his final gallop before travelling to the US training camp. Rio was an eventful competition for the pair who had an incredible save at fence six across country and suffered a tack malfunction in the showjumping, plus Mighty Nice was held at the final horse inspection.

5. Phillip’s daughter Olivia events and competed Phillip’s former five-star horse Mr Medicott before he retired in 2018. Mr Medicott was an incredible servant to eventing, competing at the top level with Germany’s Frank Ostholt (Olympic team gold in 2008), Karen O’Connor (ninth individually at the London Olympics in 2012) and Phillip, who finished fourth on him at Pau and Kentucky five-stars.

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6. Phillip Dutton is a fan of Irish-bred horses, including his Rio medallist Mighty Nice. Agent Carol Gee found Mighty Nice – previously called Over The Vee – for Phillip as a six-year-old, even putting up part of the money herself and letting him pay her back when he had the funds. Carol’s prefix is Fernhill and Phillip has also ridden several Fernhill horses.

7. The rider is based in Pennsylvania but usually spends part of the year in Aiken, South Carolina, where he can take advantage of better weather and more competitions earlier in the season.

8. He has finished in the top 10 at five-star (previously four-star) multiple times, including at both Badminton and Burghley, and won once at this top level – at Kentucky 2008 on Connaught.

Two fences removed from WEG cross-country course due to weather conditions

Pippa Roome — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 23:25:15 +0000

Two elements of combination fences have been removed from tomorrow’s cross-country course for the Mars-sponsored eventing at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in deference to the weather.

The rain associated with Hurricane Florence is due to start at Tryon on Saturday evening and continue through Sunday, which has led to the eventing showjumping being postponed until Monday. Humidity is also expected to be high for cross-country day, although temperatures are forecast to be slightly lower than on the dressage days.

The fences which have been taken out of Mark Phillips’ course are 23a, the first element of the three-part Polaris Brushes, and 24b, the second element of the Hendersonville Apple Festival, the final combination on course. This was a spread fence off a turn following a roofed fence which looks like an apple.

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New Zealander Jonelle Price said: “It seems a little bit silly, for me as soon as you’ve jumped fence 20 you’re pretty much bolting home. I think realistically you’re going to be making up quite a lot of time up the hill.”

Swedish rider Ludwig Svennerstal said: “I think it’s a very good course and a very fair question. For me they don’t need to take any fences out, but I don’t know about the weather — I’m sure they will make the right decision.”

Rumours flew today about possible course changes. One possibility was that the course would be shortened considerably, with horses only running partway up the the challenging hill at the end of the track. But the route and distance remains unchanged, with competitors still finishing in the main arena. The course is 5700m long with an optimum time of 10min.

Britain’s Ros Canter said: “We are happy about the hill — we selected on the basis of strong cross-country horses and are confident the horses are fit.”

Australia’s Bill Levett said that he was “100% happy” with the decision to run a full-length course.

He said: “We are all worried about the heat and humidity, but it’s meant to be cooler tomorrow. We’ve all prepared for a 10min track and that’s what we are hoping to ride round. I haven’t met a chef d’equipe who didn’t want the full distance, unless it looks like it’s going to be horrendous and the horses aren’t going to cope.”

Canada’s Selena O’Hanlon said: “I’m so happy about that [the decision to keep the course full length]. I was really disappointed they were going to shorten it. We’ve based our season on bringing really good cross-country horses and so have other nations. We are super excited we get to do it and get a chance to climb up the leaderboard.”

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Ingrid Klimke, Germany’s anchorwoman, added: “The hill is demanding, but we all knew about it and have been training for it, plus it’s been a hot summer in Germany.”

US rider Phillip Dutton said: “I think it’s the right decision — no one wants to see hard-pressed, exhausted hores, but I think riders will get out with that in mind.”

Horse & Hound has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September.

Olympic team gold medallist retires from competition after stellar career

Pippa Roome — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 06:02:29 +0000

Mr Medicott, who evented at the top level with three different riders, has been retired from competition.

The 19-year-old was honoured with an official ceremony at the event at Rebecca Farm, Montana, last Sunday (22 July), a fitting finish as hosts the Broussards were his original owners in the US and are part of his current ownership syndicate.

Mr Medicott, known as Cave, has spent his final years in competition enjoying lower level eventing with Phillip Dutton’s daughter Olivia, 16, and the pair won a young rider team gold medal over the weekend.

The chestnut is by Cruising, out of a mare by Edmund Burke, best known as the sire of double Badminton winner Supreme Rock.

The Irish sport horse started his international career in Germany with Frank Ostholt. The pair won Saumur CCI3* in 2010 and their other strong results included second in the CCI3* at Boekelo in 2007, third in the crack CIC3* at Aachen in 2008 and third at Pau CCI4* in 2008. They represented the US twice at championships, the 2008 Olympic Games and the 2010 World Equestrian Games, winning team gold at the Olympics.

Mr Medicott was sold to the US as a potential horse for the 2012 London Olympics with Karen O’Connor and after a fourth-place finish at Kentucky CCI4* that spring and a win at Bromont CIC3*, he was selected for the Games. The pair finished ninth and best of the US team.

Karen suffered a career-ending injury in a fall from another horse that autumn and after a couple of runs with Marilyn Little, Mr Medicott went to Phillip Dutton. The pair were fourth at Pau 2013, before injury interrupted Mr Medicott’s career — he was third after cross-country at Kentucky in 2014, but had to be withdrawn as he had aggravated an old tendon injury. After just one international event in 2015 and none in 2016, Mr Medicott came back to claim fourth at Kentucky 2017.

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Olivia took over the ride last summer. The pair tackled national events in 2017 and finished third in the Fair Hill CIC* in April this year and completed Jersey Fresh CIC2* in May.

In all, Mr Medicott started 50 international competitions, finishing in the top 10 at 31 of them. He ran at four-star nine times under three different riders, completing in the top 25 on every occasion except when he was injured at Kentucky in 2014.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Olympian’s stepdaughter making ‘incredible progress’ after traumatic brain injury

Pippa Roome — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 17:02:12 +0000

Lee Lee Jones, the stepdaughter of Rio Olympic eventing individual bronze medallist Phillip Dutton, is making “incredible progress” in her recovery from a traumatic brain injury in December 2016.

Lee Lee was injured when a horse she was cantering at home bucked, slipped over and landed on her.

In an update on his website, Phillip shared that Lee Lee will be at the Nations Cup at Great Meadow this weekend, her first overnight stay away from home or the hospital since the accident.

“It has been a little over a year and a half since that terrible day of Lee Lee’s accident. She has made incredible progress since then, and with Lee Lee’s hard work and determination we will be doing everything within our power to keep up the progress,” said Phillip. “Lee Lee’s head injury has really opened our eyes to the massive variations in traumatic brain injuries. No TBI [traumatic brain injury] is the same and each individual’s brain repairs differently.

“Lee Lee’s head injury is what is called a diffuse axonal injury, which means that her whole brain is affected from the brain moving inside the skull and tearing of neurons in the process. This means that the damage is widespread and not localized to one side or one area of her body. There is still a massive amount of work to do by Lee Lee and a lot of support needed from all of us.

“As a family, we are now transitioning from the shock and sadness and the critical care phase to an understanding of what is needed for Lee Lee long term and trying to incorporate all of this into our daily lives. It takes a lot of organizing but we are starting to make it feel normal. Every day we are excited and rewarded by Lee Lee’s progress, although it is slow.”

In an interview with H&H earlier this year, Phillip said: “We’re very fortunate Lee Lee is alive and she’s improving all the time. She has to take so much medicine every day and a lot of the physical therapy is painful, but she’s gritting her teeth and trying to get through the biggest battle of her life.”

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In this recent update, Phillip also thanked people for continuing to ask about Lee Lee’s progress, sending her good wishes and contributing to her medical support fund.

“It is so inspiring and comforting to know that Lee Lee is still in everyone’s thoughts and prayers, ”he said. “Her days are filled with caregivers, therapy and special treatments that are not covered by insurance, so this is a huge help in making this possible and helping tremendously in her recovery!”

Phillip, who has been selected for the US team for this autumn’s World Equestrian Games, added that the family “couldn’t ask to be staying with anyone better” for Great Meadow than “our role model” Forrest Allen, who was badly injured in a snowboarding accident in 2011.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Home eventing squad named for World Equestrian Games

Lucy Elder — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 11:30:43 +0000

The United States eventing squad for the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) 2018 has been revealed.

Five combinations have been selected to represent the US at Tryon, North Carolina, from 11 to 23 September, with a further eight combinations named on the reserve list.

WEG test event winners Phillip Dutton and the 10-year-old gelding Z head the list. The pair finished fourth at the Kentucky Three-Day-Event CCI4* in April and have finished inside the top six at their past seven international events, including two wins.

Phillip is also on the reserve list with the 14-year-old warmblood I’m Sew Ready.

Lauren Kieffer has been selected with the 11-year-old anglo-Arab Vermiculus, and is also on the reserve list with her established four-star campaigner Veronica.

Marilyn Little and the 13-year-old RF Scandalous have also been selected. The mare has an impressive international record, including 10 wins at one- to three-star level and placings at CCI4*.

Boyd Martin has received his fifth major championship call-up, named on the squad with the 11-year-old trakehner gelding Tsetserleg.

Lynn Symansky completes the five with her retrained racehorse, Donner (pictured, top). The combination finished sixth at Kentucky this spring and at Burghley 2017. They have jumped clear across country at all eight of their four-star starts, including Badminton in 2016 and Burghley 2015.

This year’s WEG takes place at Tryon in North Carolina on 11-23 September.

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The full US eventing squad is as follows:

Phillip Dutton and Z, the 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding owned by Thomas Tierney, Simon Roosevelt, Suzanne Lacy, Caroline Moran, and Ann Jones
Lauren Kieffer and Vermiculus, Jacqueline Mars’s 11-year-old Anglo Arab gelding
Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous, the 13-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Jacqueline Mars, Michael Manders, and Phoebe Manders
Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg, Christine Turner’s 11-year-old trakehner gelding
Lynn Symansky and Donner, The Donner Syndicate, LLC’s 15-year-old thoroughbred gelding

Reserves:

Will Coleman and OBOS O’Reilly, Four Star Eventing Group’s 15-year-old Irish sport horse gelding
Will Coleman and Tight Lines, The Conair Syndicate’s 11-year-old French thoroughbred gelding
Phillip Dutton and I’m Sew Ready, Kristine and John Norton’s 14-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding
Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z, The Deniro Z Syndicate’s 10-year-old KWPN gelding
Lauren Kieffer and Veronica, Team Rebecca, LLC’s 16-year-old Dutch warmblood mare
Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border, The Cross Syndicate’s 11-year-old Irish sport horse gelding
Lynn Symansky and Under Suspection, Mary Ann Ghadban’s 14-year-old Holsteiner mare
Sharon White and Cooley on Show, her 11-year-old Irish sport horse gelding

In this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, out on Thursday 28 June 2018, don’t miss our full report from the Hickstead Derby meeting, including all the showjumping and showing action, plus don’t miss our six-page report from Royal Ascot.

We also have a feature on the much discussed whip rules across the disciplines and in this week’s ‘Vet clinic’ we find out how to spot the signs of sand colic.

Rio Olympic medallist to miss WEG through injury: ‘He hasn’t had much luck’

Pippa Roome — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 10:31:51 +0000

The horse who won the individual eventing bronze medal at the Rio Olympics, Mighty Nice, will not compete at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) this September.

US rider Phillip Dutton told H&H: “Unfortunately Mighty Nice has not had much luck since Rio. I decided to give him a good long break since the Olympics as he’d had a tough year. Then he got injured at the end of last year, then I brought him back and he’s got a different injury this year, so I’m bummed about that.”

Phillip added that he feels the timescale is too tight now for “Happy” to obtain his qualification to compete in the World Equestrian Games eventing competition in Tryon — the horse missed a planned run at Fair Hill last autumn because the rider broke his collarbone.

“He’s still not an old horse [at 14] and I think he’ll be back in another few months, but it’s not very good timing,” he said.

Ard Ohio son Mighty Nice was bred in Ireland by William Kells. Originally called Over The Vee, he started his international career Joseph Murphy, competing in the six-year-old World Championship at Le Lion, before Phillip took over the ride that winter. He was initially owned by one of Phillip’s loyal owners Bruce Duchossois, who passed away in 2014, and the horse now runs in the ownership of the HND Group, a syndicate of Phillip’s supporters and friends, which is named after Bruce’s HND Stables.

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Leading US rider Phillip — who is Australian born, but swapped nationalities in 2006 to ride for his adoptive country after living there since 1991 — still has a strong team of horses to aim for WEG and the spring four-stars.

He plans to compete two horses at Kentucky, as well as one at Luhmühlen and one at Badminton. His planned Badminton ride is Fernhill Cubalawn. This is Phillip’s first visit to Badminton since he finished eighth in 2003 on Hannigan.

Don’t miss H&H’s full interview with Phillip Dutton in the magazine, issue dated 15 March.

Olympic eventer out of hospital after cross-country schooling fall

Lucy Elder — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 05:46:50 +0000

Phillip Dutton has been discharged from hospital after sustaining multiple fractures in a cross-country schooling fall.

The multiple Olympic medallist fell while he was riding a young horse (not pictured) on 21 September.

He broke his collarbone and three ribs and punctured a lung and was taken to Christiana Hospital in Delaware. The horse was not injured.

“Phillip was released from the hospital late last night,” said a statement released on Sunday (24 September).

“He will have a follow-up appointment with his orthopedic doctor on Monday to determine the date for surgery on his clavicle.

“In the mean time, he is resting as comfortably as he can at home. Thank you to everyone for your well wishes.”

Phillip had been due to compete in the $50,000 arena eventing class the Rolex Central Park Horse Show in New York on 23 September, but withdrew.

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A leading rider in the sport for many years, Phillip represented Australia until 2006, when he became a US citizen.

He won Olympic team gold medals for Australia at Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.

He has been named US Equestrian’s leading rider multiple times and topped the FEI rankings in 2005.

Phillip won individual bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics and finished last season second in the FEI rankings.

He has numerous top10 placings at three- and four-star level, including a win at Kentucky in 2008 with Connaught; second at Burghley in 2005 with The Foreman and sixth at Badminton 1995 with True Blue Girdwood.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

‘Light at the end of the tunnel’ as injured rider makes progress

Eleanor Jones — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 12:15:49 +0000

Phillip Dutton says his family can see a “light at the end of the tunnel”, seven months after his stepdaughter suffered a serious brain injury in a riding fall.

The US event rider said 23-year-old Lee Lee is due to leave Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, Pennsylvania, at the end of this month.

In an update posted on his website, Phillip said Lee Lee is eating and has started to speak a few words.

“Her use of her arms, hands and legs and her general mobility is gradually improving. We are very fortunate to have such an incredibly talented and caring staff at Bryn Mawr that work with her daily,” he wrote.

“Lee Lee is very aware of the challenges she faces, but is applying the same grit and determination that took her through honors at university and to grad school and made her the rider she is. She is very committed and works extremely hard every day in her therapy sessions, which has impressed everyone.

“Due to the severity and type of brain injury Lee Lee sustained, the opinion of her doctors and our hope is that this slow but steady improvement will continue for quite a few years.”

Lee Lee, who has evented internationally up to one-star level, was riding at the family’s Pennsylvania base when the accident happened just before Christmas last year. The university student was cantering on the exercise track when the horse she was riding bucked and slipped over. She was wearing a safety helmet but sustained a serious brain injury.

As many of you know, our daughter Lee Lee had a riding accident just before Christmas. Lee Lee was home from the…Posted by Phillip Dutton Eventing on Saturday, January 14, 2017

“We have tried to learn as much from Lee Lee’s fall as possible to be able to prevent someone else from experiencing this terrible tragedy,” Phillip’s statement reads. “Lee Lee’s helmet is at a testing laboratory in the UK thanks to Roy Burek of Charles Owen. We hope to hear some results of the tests in the near future and will certainly share our findings.”

Philip added that the family has been making changes such as wheelchair access renovations at home and looking into the support Lee Lee will need after her return. A GoFundMe page set up by a family friend has already raised $20,000 (£15,000) towards her future care.

He thanked his wife Evie and Lee Lee’s dad Richie and boyfriend Kareem for their “amazing job of staying by Lee Lee’s side day in and day out”, as well as thanking well-wishers for their support since the accident.

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He wrote: “I am a believer in the power of positive thinking, so please continue to keep Lee Lee in your thoughts and prayers. I know it helps!

“There is a light at the end of the tunnel and we try to take one day at a time. Evie and I can’t thank you all enough for your support. There are not enough words to express how grateful and appreciative we are.”

‘We are so grateful for everyone’s love and support’: Phillip Dutton’s stepdaughter in intensive care after fall

Lucy Elder — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 18:42:06 +0000

Phillip Dutton’s stepdaughter Lee Lee Jones is in hospital following a riding accident.

Lee Lee, who has competed internationally up to one-star level and was 12th in the CCI* at Kentucky in October, was riding at home at the family’s Pennsylvania base when the accident happened just before Christmas.

She was home from university, where she is studying for a masters in social work, and was cantering on the exercise track when the horse she was riding bucked and slipped over.

The horse was not injured, but landed on the 22-year-old.

“She was wearing a helmet, as she does for every ride,” said a statement from Rio 2016 individual eventing bronze medallist Phillip.

“Lee Lee was not alone and an ambulance was called within seconds of the fall.”

As many of you know, our daughter Lee Lee had a riding accident just before Christmas. Lee Lee was home from the…Posted by Phillip Dutton Eventing on Saturday, January 14, 2017

He added that once the ambulance arrived, the crew immediately called for an air ambulance, and she was airlifted to Christiana Care Hospital in Delaware.

“After undergoing surgery to relieve swelling in her brain, Lee Lee has been in the intensive care unit under the watchful eyes of the incredible trauma team at Christiana Care,” said Phillip.

“Lee Lee continues to make small but monumental steps forward in her recovery. It will be a long journey to a full recovery but we are encouraged by her strength, determination and will to overcome this horrible accident.”

Phillip plans to stay in Pennsylvania this winter to be with Lee Lee as well as his wife, Evie, and other daughters Mary and Olivia.

He added his competition plans are currently on hold, but anticipates competing possibly in February or March.

“2016 was a year of unbelievable highs and unimaginable lows,” said Phillip. “We are so grateful for everyone’s love and support and request your continued understanding for our privacy as we attend to our most precious Lee Lee.”

British drama at final trot-up at Rolex Kentucky

Pippa Roome — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 14:45:29 +0000

One British horse was withdrawn before the final trot-up at Rolex Kentucky Horse Trials this morning and two others were sent to the holding box.

Francis Whittington chose not to present Easy Target, who demolished the corner at fence 18c yesterday with his hind legs, but lay 16th overnight.

“There are no major long-term issues, he’s just a bit stiff after yesterday,” Francis told H&H. “He galloped fantastically coming home and felt really good hacking out this morning, but there’s a long way to go and it’s just not fair to ask him to come out and jump again today.”

Nicola Wilson’s ride Annie Clover (11th after cross-country) and William Fox-Pitt’s mount Bay My Hero (fourth) were both held at the horse inspection.

There was a pause in the trot-up as the ground jury (Angela Tucker, Wayne Quarles and Ernst Topp) and veterinary delegate Catherine Kohn waited for the holding box vet Lisa Crump to return with her report, because to comply with quarantine restrictions the horses who have travelled from Europe are all presented first at Kentucky and then put away before the North American-based horses come out.

There was also a miscommunication which resulted in Nicola bringing Annie down too early for re-presentation and having to take her away again. British supporters feared she might be being withdrawn as a rug and front boots were put on her, but she was just being kept warm and protected while she waited. Nicola’s groom Lynn Swift walked the mare round on the grass until it was time for her to be re-presented.

Both Annie and William’s Bay My Hero were accepted when they came before the ground jury again, to the relief of British supporters.

US-based Brit James Alliston’s remaining ride Parker passed with no problems.

Three US horses were held and Caitlin Silliman withdrew Catch A Star from the holding box. Angela Grzywinski’s Novelle and Lizzie Snow’s Coal Creek were both accepted on re-presentation, keeping alive their riders’ dream of completing their first Kentucky.

Three horses besides Easy Target were withdrawn before the trot-up. The best-placed of these was US rider Phillip Dutton’s Mighty Nice, who sat seventh overnight.

The others were New Zealander Emily Cammock’s Dambala, who went well cross-country to sit 18th overnight but finished the course lame and was taken away from the wash-down area in the horse ambulance, and Will Faudree’s Andromaque for the home side. Will was in 20th place with 11 penalties for breaking a frangible pin at the SmarkPak Opposing Corners at fence 21ab.

Today’s showjumping starts at 1pm local time (6pm in Britain). Forty-one horses go forward to the final phase.

Kentucky results and times

Final update from Kentucky online later. Full report in Horse & Hound next week, out Thursday, 30 April.

US team horse put to sleep

Ellie Hughes — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 13:55:14 +0000

Connaught, the horse with whom Australian-turned-American eventer Phillip Dutton finished in the top seven at Kentucky CCI4* four years running – including winning the event in 2008 — has been put to sleep aged 21.

The bay Irish Sport Horse gelding, who was produced in Ireland by Carol Gee and Paul Donovan, contested the 2006 World Equestrian Games and notched up plenty of other placings at three- and four-star level during his career.

In 2007, as a 14-year-old, Phillip and the horse’s owner, the late Bruce Duchossois, received an offer to buy him — which the pair accepted after much discussion.

But the gelding failed a vetting on his x-rays.

The following year he won Kentucky and then went on to compete at the Beijing Olympics.

Connaught bowed out from international competition with a seventh place in Kentucky in 2009 and spent much of his retirement at Bruce’s South Carolina stables.

A statement on Phillip’s Facebook page, read: “It’s with great sadness that we’ve learned Connaught [Simon] was laid to rest this morning due to complications from old age…

“[He] did so much for me. He had an incredible record at Kentucky, never having a rail down there. We take comfort in knowing that Bruce [who died from cancer in July] and Simon are together again now. Thank you, Simon, for all the memories.”

America announces WEG eventing squad

Sophia Heath — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 12:47:16 +0000

The eventing squad that will represent the US at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) this summer has been announced.

The full squad has been named as:

Buck Davidson, riding Ballynoe Castle RM (owned by Carl and Cassandra Segal)
Phillip Dutton riding Trading Aces (owned by Trading Aces LLC)
Sinead Halpin riding Manoir de Carneville (owned by the Manoir De Carneville Syndicate)
Boyd Martin riding Shamwari 4 (owned by the Shamwari 4 Syndicate LLC)
Kim Severson riding her own Fernhill Fearless
Lynn Symansky riding her own Donner

The reserves are:

Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot (owned by Jacqueline Mars and Hannah)
Jan Byyny and Inmidair (owned by Jan and her parents Dick and Jo)
Buck Davidson on alternative ride Park Trader (owned Carl and Cassandra Segal)
Phillip Dutton on alternative ride Mighty Nice (owned by and Bruce Duchossoi)
Lauren Kieffer and Veronica (owned by Team Rebecca, LLC)
Marilyn Little and RF Demeter (owned by Raylyn Farm and Team Demeter)
Boyd Martin on alternative ride Trading Aces (owned by Trading Aces LLC)
Meghan O’Donoghue and her own Pirate

Phillip Dutton has been given the nod on Boyd Martin’s ride Trading Aces. Phillip took on the ride when Boyd broke his leg earlier this year and the combination went on to finish 8th at Kentucky. It was announced earlier this week that the syndicate of owners had agreed to make the horse available for selection with Phillip.

Boyd has instead been selected to ride Shamwari 4 who finished 4th at Luhmühlen last weekend, but Trading Aces also remains as reserve horse for him. Phillip is also on the reserve list with Mighty Nice who finished 7th at Luhmühlen. This leaves the possibility that if Shamwari 4 went lame, Boyd could ride Trading Aces at WEG and Phillip could move onto Mighty Nice.

Rolex Kentucky: Phillip Dutton withdraws 3rd-placed Mr Medicott before trot-up

Horse & Hound — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 17:56:33 +0000

America’s Phillip Dutton has been forced to withdraw Mr Medicott from the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** this morning.

The chestnut, who negotiated the cross-country clear yesterday within the optimum time for a 3rd placing at that point, looked unlevel at the finish and his withdrawal was announced at the final horse inspection this morning.

Phillip stated on his Facebook page: “I decided to withdraw Mr Medicott from Rolex as he didn’t feel good enough for me to jump him today unfortunately. He will be evaluated by our vet team later today. Hopefully there will be many more Rolexes for ‘Cave’ in the future.”

It is the 2nd blow for the leading US eventer in the contest. He had originally entered 3 horses, but had to withdraw Mighty Nice before the cross-country as he had twisted a shoe on Thursday.

The British horses, who trotted first — overseas and America horses are kept separate throughout the competition — all passed the scrutiny of the ground jury, including the competition leader Bay My Hero.

The first horse sent to the holding box was Marilyn Little’s grey RF Smoke On The Water, lying 9th, but he was passed on reinspection.

Colleen Rutledge’s Shiraz was the only horse who didn’t go through this morning’s proceedings as he was withdrawn from the holding box. He had been in 23rd position.

There are now 37 horses from an original field of 60 left to go through to this afternoon’s showjumping phase.

William Fox-Pitt, on target for his 3rd victory here, has no fence in hand between his ride Bay My Hero and Lauren Kieffer and Veronica, who are a mere 2.7 penalties behind. There is, however, a cushion of one fence between William and Marilyn Little, now 3rd with RF Demeter, and 4th-placed Michael Pollard and Mensa G.

Don’t miss our post-showjumping report later on on HorseandHound.co.uk, plus H&H’s full magazine report from Rolex Kentucky, on sale Thursday 1 May

William Fox-Pitt finishes 1st on Seacookie TSF and 3rd on Cool Mountain at Pau 4-star

Pippa Roome — Sun, 27 Oct 2013 16:20:32 +0000

William Fox-Pitt claimed 1st and 3rd places at Pau CCI4* this afternoon, but he didn’t have it all his own way.

The Brit came into the showjumping holding the top 3 places after yesterday’s cross-country, but his first ride today, Neuf Des Coeurs, had 5 fences down. His next in, Cool Mountain, just touched off the upright at fence 8.

When William came in on the overnight leader Seacookie TSF, he had a pole in hand and he used it up when he hit the first part of the treble at fence 6. But he cleared the rest to seal victory.

“I was lucky I had 3 chances,” said William. “We thought the track walked big, plus there’s a bit of a mound in there so the horses are working on a slope and a camber. Neuf warmed up very well, but he didn’t come off that ground and having started well, he then tensed up and made some mistakes.

“That didn’t get the afternoon off to a great start, but you have to forget it and get on with the other 2. I was lucky in the end that Seacookie could have 1 down. He’s been 2nd at Burghley and Kentucky and he deserved to win 1.”

Maxime Livio finished 2nd on his 4-star debut with Cathar De Gamel — the grey tried his heart out this afternoon to jump a clear and the young Frenchman knew exactly how to ride him.

“I know he can get a bit lazy, so after a 12min cross-country I would need to be there for him,” said Maxime.

The showjumping proved tough with just 7 clears and Phillip Dutton held 4th for the USA despite 2 down at fences 3 and 12 on Mr Medicott.

New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson rose a place to 5th after lowering 3 and 8 on Mr Cruise Control and Frenchman Donatien Schauly moved up 2 spots to 6th with Pivoine Des Touches after hitting the final 2 jumps. Compatriot Cedric Lyard was 7th with one down on Cadeau Du Roi and the USA’s Clark Montgomery had 8 faults to drop 1 place to 10th.

For Britain, Sarah Bullimore dropped 2 spots to 9th with 12 faults on Valentino V, while Tom McEwen rode fantastically for a clear on Dry Old Party, which moved him up from 18th to 11th. Neuf Des Coeurs finished 15th and Sarah was also 19th on My Last One.

Ireland’s Joseph Murphy moved up from 14th to 8th when he just had 4 faults at 10a on Electric Cruise.

Full report in H&H this Thursday, 31 October.

Full results from Pau

Pau CCI4* results 2013

1. William Fox-Pitt on Seacookie TSF (GBR) 45.5

2. Maxime Livio on Cathar De Gamel (FRA) 46

3. William Fox-Pitt on Cool Mountain (GBR) 46.2

4. Phillip Dutton on Mr Medicott (USA) 52.6

5. Andrew Nicholson on Mr Cruise Control (NZL) 54.1

6. Donatien Schauly on Pivoine Des Touches (FRA) 57

7. Cedric Lyard on Cadeau Du Roi (FRA) 57.4

8. Joseph Murphy on Electric Cruise (IRL) 58.7

9. Sarah Bullimore on Valentino V (GBR) 59.8

10. Clark Montgomery on Universe (USA) 60

William Fox-Pitt holds top 3 places at Pau CCI4* after cross-country

Pippa Roome — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 16:28:10 +0000

William Fox-Pitt rode 3 clear rounds inside the optimum time today in the CCI4* at Pau and holds the top 3 places overnight.

This is an incredible feat which opens the possibility of William writing a new record into eventing’s history books — several riders (including him) have notched up 1-2s at 4-star, but no one has ever managed a 1-2-3.

At present, William is 1st on Catherine Witt’s Seacookie TSF (pictured), 2nd on the Hon Teresa Stopford Sackville’s Cool Mountain and 3rd on Margie and David Hall and Judy and Jeremy Skinner’s Neuf Des Coeurs.

“It comes down to the joy of riding 3 experienced horses round a 4-star, who are good at their job and enjoy it,” he said. “As I said yesterday, I wish this was Sunday!

“When you have more than 1 ride, it’s always great when the first goes well. If you have a run-out or something goes wrong with the 1st and it’s a good horse, you think you could be looking at 3 with no clears.

“By the time you get to the 3rd, you think, ‘Do I really want to do this again?’ Your adrenalin is up and down through the day and by the end of the day it doesn’t rise quite so naturally. When the last horse is a really good horse like Cool Mountain — and there was nothing out there that was really worrying me on him — you do have to get on and say to yourself, ‘Come on, this is serious.'”

Pierre Michelet’s cross-country proved influential — there were 35 jumping clears from 72 starters, and just 9 inside the 11min 48sec optimum time.

Dressage leader Lucinda Fredericks was among the course’s victims, with Flying Finish running out at the arrowhead at 25c, the final water complex.

Andrew Nicholson had 20pen on each of his 1st 2 rides (Viscount George and Quimbo) at fence 20b, the 2nd of 2 arrowheads on a bending line.

He holds 6th with Nicky and Robin Salmon’s Mr Cruise Control, who finished just 2sec over the optimum and with a jumping clear — although he did go through the flag at the tricky corner at fence 32. Many riders went long here, including William on all 3 of his rides.

British rider Sarah Bullimore excelled herself today and holds 7th with the Gillespies’ Valentino V and 16th on My Last One.

Phillip Dutton sits 4th on Mr Medicott for the USA.

“He’s a little bit aggressive at the beginning of the course, so I tried to let him run himself deep and back himself off,” said Phillip, who has been riding the horse since July. “But it was as enjoyable as it can be.”

The home side’s Maxime Livio, a 26-year-old making his 4-star debut, lies 5th on Cathar De Gamel.

“I don’t have any experience of a cross-country as long as this and I thought he’d tire earlier, but he just asked me to wait after the last water jump and then he was fine,” he said.

Log back on tomorrow for a final update from Pau. Full report in H&H out this Thursday, 31 October.

Pau CCI4* 2013 results after cross-country

1. William Fox-Pitt on Seacookie TSF (GBR) 41.5

2. William Fox-Pitt on Cool Mountain (GBR) 42.2

3. William Fox-Pitt on Neuf Des Coeurs (GBR) 43.2

4. Phillip Dutton on Mr Medicott (USA) 44.6

5. Maxime Livio on Cathar De Gamel (FRA) 46

6. Andrew Nicholson on Mr Cruise Control (NZL) 46.1

Full results and times from Pau

American eventing team for London Olympics named

Pippa Roome — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 18:40:15 +0000

The US eventing team for the London Olympics has been named:

Will Coleman and Twizzel
Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister
Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper
Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere
Karen O’Connor and Mr Medicott

The American final trial was at the St James’s Place Barbury International Horse Trials on the weekend, where Tiana finished best of the 12 short-listed combinations in fifth.

The US team are trained by H&H columnist Mark Phillips, a former Olympic team gold medallist and father of British team member Zara.

Ten reserves have been listed.

Full report from Barbury in H&H this week (5 July).

Phillip Dutton leads Burghley Horse Trials after Thursday dressage

Horse & Hound — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:24:15 +0000

America’s Phillip Dutton leads the field at the end of the first day of dressage at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

Phillip and the 12-year-old American thoroughbred Truluck performed the first test after the afternoon tea break and scored 45.3.

“The test is quite hard for him — he’s still quite green at this level,” said Phillip. “In an atmosphere he does light up and I don’t think he’s walked in a test for about eight months. I didn’t push him too hard in the trot as he’d get more wound up, and the [wet] conditions weren’t conducive to doing a big test anyway.”

Listen to interview with Phillip Dutton

Truluck, who belongs to Ann Jones and Shannon Stimson, was 10th in his first four-star at Kentucky in 2007 and a team gold and individual silver medallist at the Pan Am Games that year, but has also spent a lot of time on “stall rest”.

“I bought him about four years ago off a student of mine, Amy Smith, who had done two-star on him, but he’s had a lot of bad luck and been accident prone,” said Phillip.

J-P Sheffield is best of the British

The morning was characterised by a lot of average tests and some disappointing marks, with Germany’s Kai Ruder taking the lead in the final session before lunch with the first sub-50 score (46.7). He rode Leprince Des Bois, the only stallion in the field, who was eighth in the recent World Cup final in Poland and they ended the day in third place.

There was a rush of good tests in the first session after the lunch break, with constant changes in the top six. J-P Sheffield did best of these — he lies second overnight and best Brit on the 13-year-old Crown Farm Consort, who ran well here across country two years ago but did not trot-up on Sunday.

“He’s had a very short build-up this year because I’ve been off injured with a ruptured groin,” said J-P. “He went to Blair last weekend and did a not very good test in the CIC*** [he was then withdrawn] and we’ve been working on it since then. He was very settled here on Tuesday and yesterday did the best bit of work he’s done for two years.”

Listen to interview with J-P Sheffield

America’s Rebecca Holder had the hard luck story of the day. She went wrong twice in her test with Courageous Comet, but still lies ninth — she must be kicking herself thinking of where she might be lying without the mistakes.

Phillip and J-P both said they think the cross-country will be tough.

“It’s not as massive as in the past, but a genuine, hard four-star,” said Phillip, who finished second here in 2005 and lay second after cross-country last year, but withdrew Woodburn before the final trot-up. “My first impression is that you have to focus on holding a line and the horse has to be in front of the leg and able to jump where you want.”

Daisy Dick is the first rider on tomorrow, riding Spring Along before the ground jury at 9.30am.

RESULTS AFTER FIRST DAY OF DRESSAGE

1. Phillip Dutton on Truluck (USA) 45.3

2. J-P Sheffield on Crown Farm Consort (GB) 46.5

3. Kai Ruder on Leprince Des Bois (GER) 46.7

4=. Kitty Boggis on Boondoggle (GB) 48.3

4=. Sam Griffiths on Happy Times (AUS) 48.3

6. Karen O’Connor on Mandiba (USA) 49.8

Full results and times from Burghley

H&H Editor Lucy Higginson blogs from Burghley today

Replay today’s action and follow the competition live tomorrow with H&H online’s up-to-the-minute written commentary, starting again tomorrow at approximately 9.20am. Visit www.horseandhound.co.uk/burghleylive.

Keep up with all H&H’s online Burghley coverage at www.horseandhound.co.uk/burghley2009 and don’t forget to buy H&H next week (10 September) for our 10-page Burghley special report.

Phillip Dutton’s mount Bailey Wick dies at CCI*** in New Jersey

Horse & Hound — Mon, 11 May 2009 12:27:31 +0000

Bailey Wick, a horse for which US event rider Phillip Dutton had great hopes, had to be humanely destroyed at the Jersey Fresh CCI*** on Saturday (9 May).

The gelding somersaulted over an oxer that was the 20th of 32 fences on the cross-country course.

Dutton took the blame for the accident, saying he had miscalculated, asking the horse to move up at the jump.

Instead, the 10-year-old wound up chipping and hitting the obstacle.

As the chestnut tumbled, he threw Phillip clear, but the horse landed hard and did not get up.

The owners did not want a necropsy done to determine the cause of death.

Phillip was unhurt and able to continue riding his two mounts in the CIC*** that followed the CCI.

Bailey Wick, by the Irishbred sire Pallas Digion, finished fifth in the 2-star at Jersey Fresh last year.

The event at the Horse Park of New Jersey has been plagued by horse deaths in recent years, though this is the first resulting from a crash at a fence.

In 2007, Laine Ashker’s Eight St. James Place finished the cross-country, then collapsed from an aneurism.

Last year, David O’Connor’s Tigger Too, with a young rider in the saddle, fell over a fence and died. A necropsy determined the horse had an abdominal aortic rupture.

Mr O’Connor, the Olympic individual gold medalist who is president of the U.S. Equestrian Federation, said: “It wasn’t the fence’s fault. Sometimes things happen when you’re traveling at speed and some little thing goes wrong.”

Noting the obstacle involved was a frangible fence, he said: “Things are still going to happen, even with a frangible fence. If we’re dealing with horses, things are going to go wrong.”

While he said the idea is to minimize that situation, Mr O’Connor added: “I don’t think we can ever, ever get to zero risk.”

Title contender withdrawn from Burghley Horse Trials before trot-up

Pippa Roome — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 10:29:41 +0000

Philip Dutton has withdrawn Woodburn, second after cross-country at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

The non-appearance of the American pair at the final horse inspection leaves William Fox-Pitt in first and second places with Tamarillo and Ballincoola going into today’s show jumping.

Two horses were eliminated at the final horse inspection, both after being sent to the holding box and re-presented. They were Just Appeal, 18th overnight with Sian Wynne Morris, and Ashdale Cruise Master, lying 27th with Emily Gilruth.

H&H online diarist Sara Squires’ horse Star Prospect was sent to the holding box, but passed on re-inspection.

Four horses other than Woodburn were withdrawn before the trot-up: Mr Pracatan (13th with Dan Jocelyn), I’ve Been Dun (24th with Sacha Pemble), Holly Blue Curtis (36th with Rachael Lupton) and Ease On Fire (33rd), whose rider Joe Meyer had a nasty fall with his other horse, Black Andy.

The first session of show jumping — six horses only — is at 11.25am, with the top 24 jumping at 2.25pm.

Log back onto www.horseandhound.co.uk/burghley08 later for a final update, blog and competitor diaries from Burghley.

Don’t forget to buy Horse & Hound next Thursday (11 September) for 12-page special report, colour photographs and William Fox-Pitt’s comment.

Philip Dutton leads Burghley Horse Trials cross-country

Pippa Roome — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:51:13 +0000

America’s Philip Dutton is the leader just after the halfway stage of the cross-country at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

Philip put in one of only two round inside the optimum time so far on the 12-year-old New Zealand thoroughbred Woodburn to remain on his dressage score of 50.2.

“He was green, but I’m very excited about him,” said Philip. “He’s been in England since the other horses left for Hong Kong and David Green has been taking him up Alan King’s gallops, so I knew he was fit. I was fortunate to be able to set out strongly from the beginning.”

Listen to Philip’s interview

Philip is just 0.8 of a penalty in front of William Fox-Pitt, who added 2.8 time-penalties to his dressage score with Ballincoola.

This was William’s last ride on this horse — who is looking for his sixth Burghley completion in a row — as he will now go to joint-owners the Paynes’ son Fergus as a young rider horse.

“I did have a sad moment when I finished,” said William. “He’s a super horse to ride and such an expert now.”

The wet ground is taking its toll, with many horses finishing looking tired, and riders predicting it will be even tougher for the later starters.

“I had to work every stride. The recent rain means it’s not tacky, but every bit is deep,” said William, who paid tribute to the turf quality at Burghley and the preparation work which has meant the going is still rideable.

Jumping problems have put paid to the hopes of several of the dressage protagonists. Overnight leader Ruth Edge pulled up Mr Dumbledore after a run-out at the Land Rover bonnet, a skinny angled hedge off a bounce distance from a ditch (fence 7).

Andrew Hoy (sixth after dressage with Moon Fleet), and Oliver Townend (eighth with Flint Curtis) both retired after collecting 20 jumping penalties at the rail out of Capability’s Cutting (fence 22).

Pathfinder Rosie Thomas (Barry’s Best) is the only rider apart from Philip to have gone inside the time so far, and she earned praise from William Fox-Pitt, who said: “Rosie looked like a legend — watching her was the best thing ever. She made it look like a pre-novice.”

RESULTS AT 1.55pm ON SATURDAY

1. Woodburn (Philip Dutton, USA) 50.2

2. Ballincoola (William Fox-Pitt, GB) 51

3. Apache Sauce (Mary King, GB) 56.7

4. Fairfax (Rodolphe Scherer, FRA) 58.2

5. Comanche (James Robinson, GB) 58.6

6. Lead The Way (Clea Phillipps, GB) 61.6

Keep logging onto www.horseandhound.co.uk/burghley08 for updates, blogs and competitor diaries from Burghley.

Don’t forget to buy Horse & Hound next Thursday (11 September) for a 12-page special report, colour photographs and William Fox-Pitt’s comment.

Philip Dutton wins Rolex Kentucky Horse Trials

Horse & Hound — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:38:26 +0000

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event saw Phillip Dutton bring to an end his run of five second place finishes when he picked up his first four-star win on Connaught with a masterful clear round in the show jumping.

The 15-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding produced three impressive performances and sealed the win with only one of two clear rounds in the final phase to finish on 41.7pen.

“This is a great horse,” said Dutton. “He tries so hard and never ever wants to hit a rail.”

Overnight leader Becky Holder had two down with Courageous Comet to finish second on a final score of 47.3.

“I’m absolutely thrilled with my horse, thrilled with my round,” said Holder. “I’m not too sad to come second to Phillip Dutton. I expected a clear round out of Phillip. Connaught consistently jumps beautiful clear rounds. I mentally prepared for that.”

Missy Ransehousen jumped up the leaderboard to her best four-star finish ever in third with the Oldenburg gelding, Critical Decision. They finished 10 points behind Holder on a score of 57.3.

“Usually with the crowd he gets very excited and his head goes up,” said Ransehousen. “My goal today was to get him through the course the best I could. I felt like we really worked together out there today.”

Britain’s only representative, Polly Stockton, retired Tangleman on the cross-country after a run out at fence 16, the Double-Diamonds, a challenging array of corners.

The event was marred by the death of two horses and the serious injury of Laine Ashker, who is currently being cared for in intensive care with a broken jaw, broken ribs and clavicle and collapsed lungs. It is hoped she will make a full recovery.

Her horse Frodo Baggins somersaulted at the fifth fence, the Flower Basket. This seemingly innocuous jump had not caused a problem in previous years. All possible efforts were made to save the horse, who had suffered a fractured skull and other injuries, but he was later put down at a nearby veterinary clinic.

Earlier in the day, Sarah Hansel and The Quiet Man fell at The Footbridge. Sarah was released from the hospital with minor injuries, but The Quiet Man suffered a broken right shoulder and was put down.

Discuss these tragedies on the forum >>Read Horse & Hound’s full report from the Rolex Kentucky Horse Trials in this Thursday’s issue, on sale 1 May, ’08

Top eventer changes nationality

Horse & Hound — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 09:35:34 +0000

Two-times Australian Olympic team eventing gold medallist Phillip Dutton plans to ride for the USA, his home for the past 15 years.

“There’s been casual talk about it for a while,” said Phillip, who gained permission from the Equestrian Federation of Australia (EFA) to change flags after becoming an American citizen this year.

Phillip, who led the world eventing ranking list in 2005, was the flag-bearer for the Australian team at this year’s World Equestrian Games. He lives in Pennsylvania with his twin girls and American wife, Evie. He called his new affiliation “a logical step”, although he admits it was a difficult decision to make.

The EFA’s Geoff Sinclair said: “While Phillip’s decision is a considerable loss for Australia, we don’t wish to stand in the way of an athlete who has built up a great career in the USA.”

Phillip, 43, has ridden in three Olympics and four World Equestrian Games since making his international debut in 1994.

USA eventing team coach Mark Phillips said: “Having someone of Phillip’s calibre available is only going to increase competition for places on the team — and competition is always healthy. He’ll be in contention for a team place in Hong Kong [for the 2008 Olympics], if he’s got the horse.”

Phillip’s string includes Tru Luck, the United States Equestrian Association’s 2006 Horse of the Year, and The Foreman, runner-up at Burghley in 2005.

He described his decision to ride for America as “a new chapter”. He added: “Australia has been incredibly good to me, but now maybe I can have some success here [in the USA], too.”

This news report was first published in Horse & Hound (28 December, ’06)

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You’re never too old! Meet the top riders still smashing it in their 60s

Older horse riders still at the top of their game

1. Juan Antonio Jiménez Cobo, 65

2. Phillip Dutton, 60

3. Michael Whitaker, 64

4. Jill Irving, 61

5. Rolf Göran-Bengsston, 62

6. Andrew Hoy, 65

7. John Whitaker, 69

8. Mary Hanna, 69

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Phillip Dutton gives update on horse who fell at final fence at Kentucky five-star

Enjoy the best of Kentucky with Horse & Hound

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‘The horse with the biggest heart’: Olympic eventer bows out aged 15 after injury

Phillip said Z came to him near the end of his six-year-old year, quickly moving up the levels and becoming “such a reliable part of our team”.

“Z is an incredible athlete who always gave his all,” Phillip said. “Sometimes he gave too much, as many of you witnessed us before the start box!

“Big thank you as well go out to his vet, Dr. Kevin Keane; his farrier, T R Serio and his grooms, Emma Ford, Sidnee Ledyard and Grace Harris. I would also like to thank the many coaches who guided us throughout his career.

“I will never have a horse with a bigger heart!”

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“He was certainly a character,” said Philip. “He enjoyed life and was one of those ones that pinned his ears and tried to bite you as you were doing up the girth, but he liked the attention and liked to be hugged.

“He was pretty prepared to express himself, it didn’t matter whether it was good or bad. He was very confident in himself. He was certainly one of those horses who truly loved what he did.”

They finished 21st at the World Equestrian Games in 2010, and the horse would return to the US the following spring – this time under new ownership.

He was bought by the Mr Medicott Syndicate, which included Sarah Broussard, Jacqueline Mars and Suzanne Lacy, as a prospective London 2012 Olympic ride for Karen. The pair were fourth at Kentucky in 2012 before finishing ninth and the highest-placed US combination at the London Games.

After London, Mark Hart and the Event Owners Task Force joined the Mr Medicott Syndicate to secure the ride for Philip.

Their achievements included fourth place at both Pau and Kentucky. In 2017, Phillip passed the reins to his daughter, Olivia, with Mr Medicott enjoying a schoolmaster role in his senior years.

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

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.

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Promising four-star event horse sold to the US for Olympic medallist to ride

Irish event horse agent Carol Gee has been instrumental in a number of purchases of horses from Europe for Phillip, including his 2016 Olympic individual bronze medallist Mighty Nice, and was involved in bringing this new partnership together, along with Andrew Williams.

Imposant has now headed off to his new home.

“He’ll be enjoying the lovely sunny weather!” joked Emily.

“He’s been an amazingly successful horse – he’s so consistent and incredibly beautiful, which helps.”

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Maryland 5 Star cross-country course: new layout

“I think the first section is quite fast – there’s not a lot to slow you up,” he said. “I can see people getting up on time there and then it’ll be a case of seeing how much horse they got left at the end.”

“I think it’s maybe a bit bigger in places than last year and also last year, the time was quite easy, a little bit too easy. And I don’t think that’s the case this year, it’s wheeled a lot tighter.

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

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

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

Travelling reserve combination:

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.

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.

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‘More magical than I could expect’: US riders reflect on final day of Badminton with a top-10 rosette and a handful of completions

Badminton Horse Trials final day: US riders’ review

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum, ninth on 36.5

Badminton final scores

Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan, 15th on 43.8

Phillip Dutton and Z, 26th on 52

Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way, 31st on 58

Emily Hamel and Corvett, 52nd on 98.3

Emily was the very first rider into the ring on Corvett, having had a run-out on the cross-country the previous day. The horse looked full of spring, and just tapped the planks which came down for four faults, plus 1.2 time-faults.

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US riders reflect on Badminton cross-country day: title contender loses ground while others make headway

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country: US riders’ review

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum, 15th on 36.5

Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan, 24th on 43.4

Badminton final scores

Phillip Dutton and Z, 25th on 44

Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way, 35th on 49.6

Emily Hamel and Corvett, 58th on 93.1

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country: other US riders

Of the remaining US riders, Matthew Flynn retired after two stops at second water on Wizzerd, who were lying in 56th after dressage.

Lillian Heard and LCC Barnaby had a fall at the Mars M combination (fence 26).