Just call him Champ.
Boyd Martin completed his sweep of the two U.S. spring eventing championships today at the Jersey Fresh International Horse Trials, where he came from behind in the 4-star Long on Luke 140 to win the division, taking the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation National Challenge Trophy for that level. At the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, where he finished fourth aboard On Cue as the highest-placed American two weeks ago, he claimed the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s national 5-star title.
Boyd Martin and Luke 140 over the Jersey Fresh International logo fence on their way to victory. {Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer}
Jersey Fresh, presented by B.W. Furlong and Associates, was the last of the U.S. Olympic observation and selection trials, so now selectors can get to work deciding on a team and alternates who will be announced at the end of this month or the beginning of June. It’s possible Luke,a 10-year-old Holsteiner, may have earned himself careful consideration with an impressive performance; the fact that he’s young could also be a help in the sweltering heat and humidity of a Tokyo summer.
“He’s fit and sound and I don’t think this has knocked him around at all,” said Boyd, who is sixth in the world eventing rankings.
Boyd blamed himself for not enabling Luke to have a better score than the 32.4 penalties he collected at the Horse Park of New Jersey.
On cross-country, where Boyd incurred 6.4 time penalties for finishing 16 seconds over the 10-minute optimum time, the 41-year-old rider conceded, “I could have pushed him a bit harder. I had a horse that was full of energy and wish I took more chances. I set up a little bit too much at a few of the fences.”
Boyd and Luke on cross-country. {Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer}
At the same time, he said, “I don’t think the run took anything out of him, and he just pranced out of his stall this morning like he hasn’t done anything.”
Luke, who was standing third coming into the final phase, had only 0.4 time penalties in show jumping, where Boyd noted he added an extra stride between the second and third fences. But the horse performed superbly.
“Something in his DNA just pings him up into the air,” Boyd observed.
“My job’s just to keep him relaxed and remember the way. and he pretty much jumps clean every time. He’s an awesome horse to have after a grueling cross-country.”
The Chris Barnard-designed show jumping course was “big and technical,” said Boyd, noting the degree of difficulty was increased with a tight time allowed and because “the ground’s a bit shifty.”
Double-clears in show jumping were achieved by only three of the 41 horses who started today, whittled from the original field of 55.
Brendan Furlong of presenting sponsor B.W. Furlong and Associates gives a giant check for $5,000 to Boyd Martin. He probably won’t be able to deposit that through the drive-thru window.
Going into that final segment, the division’s leader was Californian Tamie Smith. She won the dressage on Danito, with En Vogue second; then the horses switched places after cross-country.
Earlier in the day, Tamie won the 3-star Long with the interesting Argentine-bred Solaguayre California, and she looked to be a favorite for collecting another blue ribbon with one of her mounts in the 4-star Long.
But Danito had two rails down and 1.6 time penalties, putting him fourth on 41.5 penalties. Things went even worse for Tamie as the competition drew to a close, Last to go with En Vogue, she had three rails and 0.4 time penalties to finish third on 39.5 penalties.
Asked why En Vogue had her rails, Tamie said, “I think she tried her guts out yesterday and I think it’s hard when you’re not on super-great ground.”
On show jumping footing like the fluffy mix at the Kentucky Horse Park, she said, “They can really trust that the ground feels good when they’re landing.”
Tamie Smith and En Vogue. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
This afternoon, it was “a little stingy after they ran 10 minutes (on cross-country),” she pointed out, while adding En Vogue’s show jumping can be “hit or miss.”
The Horse Park has been trying to raise money for more modern footing, but in lieu of that at this point, the base has been redone and they had a footing expert on hand to make the grand prix ring’s surface as hospitable as possible.
Tamie kept things in perspective, noting she still was pleased with her finish.
“Five years ago, I would have been doing backflips to have two in the top five at a 4-Long; my expectations have just risen a little bit,” commented Tamie, who believes (and I think righrly so) that she is the only grandmother to have completed the 5-star course at the Kentucky 5-star. Her daughter, Kaylawna, presented her with a granddaughter, Kennedi, five months ago.
Second place in the 4-star L went to the horse who bested En Vogue in Kentucky’s 4-star Short, Oskar, ridden by Jersey Fresh regular Alyssa Phillips. His score was 38.5, including 4 penalties for a pole down.
Alyssa Phillips and 4-Star L runner-up Oskar. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“He jumped phenomenal, and I couldn’t have asked him to be better,” said Alyssa, who hopes to try another 4-star L with him this fall.
“The cross-country course was more technical than it walked. He learned a lot after yesterday and he came out today and jumped really well.”
The weekend was a highly successful one for Jersey Fresh, which was cancelled last year because of the pandemic. (Click here to see coverage of cross-country at Jersey Fresh.)
When the U.S. Equestrian Federation eased its Covid protocols and decided to permit fans to attend shows, the event hopped right on it and got a great tailgating crowd for yesterday’s cross-country over a route designed by Morgan Rowsell, who had advice from the competition’s former course designer, Mark Phillips. Morgan also served as co-organizer with Jane Cory.
Adam Furlong, president of the Horse Park board, noted when he was asked for his thoughts on the success of the 2021 Jersey Fresh, “Last year was a really tough year for every person on earth, so you have to keep it in the context of thinking about that.”
Although the park had to be closed down for a couple of months in the spring of 2020, Adam noted, that after that, everyone was happy just “to be able to reopen the Horse Park last year and run events successfully, albeit with very restrictive protocols, It was a tighten-your-belt kind of year.
“This is a great sense of relief and seeing the other side of the finish line, returning back to normal,” he continued, citing how good it felt “having spectators here and the enthusiasm for it.
“Everything we do here is rider- and horse-focused, so to see so many (horse) trailers here is the ultimate stamp of approval from the riders. We’re very grateful for them coming back this year, and the sponsors coming back as well.’’ In addition to B.W Furlong and Associates they also include Zoetis and Boehringer Ingelheim.
The Horse Park will be hosting another event June 19-20, featuring Beginner Novice through Advanced.
