Maryland 5 Star dressage: Oliver Townend in strong position

Maryland 5 Star dressage: Oliver Townend and As is — Oliver Townend and As Is at Maryland 5 Star 2022.

(Image credit: Amy Dragoo)

Oliver Townend scored 29.9 in his Maryland 5 Star dressage today (14 October), putting himself into 10th, just 2.7 penalties behind the leader.

Oliver’s ride this week is John Peace’s 11-year-old five-star debutant As Is, a new ride for him this year after the horse was produced to four-star long level by Andrew Nicholson.

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Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.

‘His brain’s beautiful’ – Oliver Townend and As Is in competitive position after Maryland 5 Star dressage

Oliver said: “I’m happy. Obviously he’s a very new horse to me, it’s a work in progression but the brain’s beautiful. He goes in, he does his job. We’re working on getting him stronger and a little more flash, but that’ll come and next year, he’ll be in the top few after dressage.”

The pair’s marks only dropped down significantly when there was a mistake in the third flying change of their Maryland 5 Star dressage test.

“He’s green in the canter, but again, he just needs to sit a little bit more. He’s had time off and he’s a new ride so I couldn’t be happier with the horse, that’s for sure,” said Oliver.

Commenting on taking over the ride and building a partnership, the British rider said: “I’ve ridden plenty that have come from Andrew, and, like Andrew himself, he produces horses to be professional, and it’s always a pleasure getting on a proper professional’s horse.

“With Andrew’s horses, whether they’re doing the trot-up or the dressage, whatever they’re doing they’re professionals at it, and they’ve been treated that way since they were four years old, so it makes my job a lot easier.”

Oliver finished second here last year with Cooley Master Class, at the event’s inaugural running.

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