by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 23, 2023
With her victory on HSH Connor in the MARS Maryland 3-star Long event at Fair Hill, Caroline Martin Pamukcu earned the distinction of being the winningest eventer in the world this year, having now notched 11 victories. Perhaps she’ll earn one more soon. After collecting her ribbons,she took off from Fair Hill heading to Santiago, Chile, for the Pan American Games.
Caroline Pamukcu had a winning smile after going through the timers with HSH Connor.( Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
While she’s still working, it’s vacation time for Connor, who will be turned out, his shoes off, his coat growing fuzzy and having “a good time with his buddies” until he needs to get ready for the 2024 season.
Caroline led all the way through the 3-star, which is the U.S. Equestrian Federation National Championship. She finished on her dressage mark of 25.4 penalties, ahead of Lauren Nicholson and Larcot Z. Lauren had 28.6 penalties, her dressage score of 28.2 with 0.4 penalties added for just missing the optimum time on cross-country. Woodge Fulton, a local hero based in Maryland, rounded out the top three with Cash Point, finishing on her dressage score of 31.4.
In addition to HSH Connor, Caroline rode Tolan King to sixth place and HSH Double Sixteen to 15th place.
Asked about Connor’s personality, she said he is selective about his people.
“If he doesn’t like you, he will let you know. He’s very quirky that way,” she said, without specifying how he delivers the message to those he isn’t crazy about. But when you’re the highest-rated seven-year-old eventing horse in American history, you can get away with a lot.
Caroline pointed for this event, rather than several others during the same time frame, because she wanted a challenging course, not just “speed bumps,” as she trains her horse up toward a higher level. She will consult with her mentors, Erik Duvander and Great Britain’s Pippa Funnell, to decide what her program will be going forward—but she would like to go to Europe if the USEF is sending a team. If not, they’ll come up with a “good battle plan” for what she can attempt in America.
Lauren Nicholson and Larcot Z. (Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Ian Stark’s cross-country route for the 3-star was just what Caroline wanted. Although it was less testing than the 5-star course for the featured division at Fair Hill, it was difficult enough for the 45 riders in the section who tried their luck over it. Thirty-nine made it to the show jumping over Michel Vaillancourt’s course, the preamble to that phase for the 5-star.
Caroline Pamukcu in the 3-star presentation. That’s her Jack Russell, Troy, in the center of the photo. (Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Taren Hoffos, who stpod fourth on Regalia (29.4) going into the last segment, was eliminated after hitting the ground, just a few feet from the finish line. It was a sad ending for the rider who came all the way from California, and lasted so close to the end of the event.
Taren Hoffos nearly made it to the finish line before parting company with her horse, Regalia. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
I caught up with Bobby Costello, USEF eventing technical advisor and chef d’equipe, when he was on his way to the airport for a flight to Santiago. I felt the display of expertise among the 3-star competitors boded well for the team, and he agreed.
“Things are looking good,” he told me.
“I think in general, people are so much more well-mounted and giving thought to the horses they are choosing. Just looking at this division, we had so many up-and-comers. It’s nice to see a couple of the kids who had the first horse and then had to rebuild, like Woodge Fulton, a good example, she’s got another lovely horse.
“The future looks bright. People who are serious will stick it out through the dry times and hopefully come back even stronger.”
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 22, 2023
Here’s how Austin O’Connor describes himself on his Facebook page: “Irish international event rider and two-time Olympian…working hard to make it 3!!”
A victory Sunday in the MARS Maryland 5-star at Fair Hill with Colorado Blue probably did a lot toward having that happen. Austin’s triumph was the first at a 5-star for an Irish rider in 58 years, since Eddie Boylan won at Badminton, according to EquiRatings.
Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue are number one in the MARS Maryland 5-star event at Fair Hill. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
The 49-year-old rider’s appearance on the top step of the podium to accept the Fair Hill Bronze trophy was a surprise. He had seemed likely to make one of the levels after going from twelfth place in dressage to fourth following cross-country, where he was the pathfinder in the 5-star section. His horse—known for speed—finished just three seconds over the optimum time of 11 minutes, 10 seconds on Saturday’s strenuous route laid out by Ian Stark.
It was show jumping prowess from his generous horse, some lack thereof among his rivals and luck that clinched the prize for which Austin had yearned.
“Unbelievable,” said Austin, an hour or so after his win, still looking dazed even after four laps of a victory gallop around the arena.
“I can’t wait to come back.”
The show jumping phase has been a bit problematic for him recently.
“The last couple of three-days (events), he had a couple of cheap rails,” recounted Austin, who is based in Britain.
“Today I make a horrendous mistake (leaving out a stride on the way to the Liverpool to end up in a very risky leap) and he gets me out of jail. He’s an unbelievable horse. He’s a proper, proper 5-star event horse.”
Austin added, “He’s 85 percent thoroughbred; he’s all blood, he’s all class, he’s all heart. He can try and try to the bitter end.”
Known fondly as Salty, the flea-bitten grey (yes, that’s a real term in the horse world) has been Austin’s project since he was a foal, 14 years ago.
After a refusal and his subsequent withdrawal of Salty at the Burghley, England, 5-star in September, Austin planned to reroute to the 5-star in Pau, France, which is happening this week.
But Tim Gardner, long-time part of the Fair Hill contingent, suggested he try Maryland instead.
It’s a competition that has both made dreams come true and also sent them packing. That’s how it happened for world number one Oliver Townend, who was leading with a rail in hand after William Fox-Pitt, standing second, toppled a pole on the show jumping route laid out by Canadian designer Michel Vaillancourt.
Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent. (Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Oliver, who has been second and third in the two previous years of the Maryland 5-star’s existence, seemed headed for victory at last this time around. But when one rail fell, and then another, it vaulted Austin to victory on 34.9 penalties, just ahead of William on 35.3, while Oliver wound up third with the lovely Cooley Rosalent on 37.1.
EquiRatings, which is usually right on the mark, had given Oliver a 68 percent chance of winning. But they did say they thought Austin could make the podium.
Oliver said his mare “was giving me an amazing feeling,” in the show jumping. She’s only nine, as he often mentions, and he felt a knockdown at the third element of the triple combination was “a baby mistake.” A knockdown at the next fence had the spectators groaning in unison.
“Then I felt it was me getting a little too desperate at the next one. So perhaps she had one down and I had one down,” he suggested.
He added, “I thought she jumped a beautiful round and we had two mistakes.”
Then he changed the subject to say how happy he was for Austin, who has “been a good friend for me in the fairly tough times of the last few years.”
He predicted a party to celebrate both his win at Burghley, his seventh 5-star victory, and Austin’s triumph in Maryland.
William, who keeps talking about retirement, is staying in the game for his mare Grafennacht.
“She’s keeping me going,” said the 54-year-old rider, winner of more 5-stars than any other competitor.
William Fox-Pitt and Graffenacht. (Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“I’m not sure I’d enjoy watching anyone else ride her yet,” he said.
“Could she give me a bit more fun and do I do it well enough? As an older rider, you’re increasingly worried about looking like an idiot. Yesterday morning I was thinking, `What the hell am I doing?’ By this evening I was a little,`That’s what I’m doing.’”
There wasn’t even a rail’s worth of penalties among the top three, showing how competitive the show jumping was at the event presented by Brown Advisory.
After Austin rode, Mia Farley had her turn on the thoroughbred Phelps, the only horse to hit the optimum time on cross-country, which put her third. It was a remarkable feat for a first-time 5-star rider, but the fairytale ended with two knockdowns in the final phase and a score of 40.9 penalties.
The entire story certainly isn’t over, though; Mia is only 23 and Phelps, owned by Olympic gold medalist David O’Connor, is just starting his upper-level career.
Mia was smiling as she held her horse before the awards ceremony, the pink fifth-place ribbon entwined in his bridle. She had noted previously that show jumping isn’t his strong point, so critiquing Sunday’s round, she said, “He was jumping high enough, for the most part. What more can I ask of him?” before bursting into giggles.
“I’m happy with how he felt on the last day. He was so good and competitive yesterday and I think we can get better Sundays, so we’ll see.”
Her errors moved up Hannah Sue Holberg to become the highest-placed American, in fourth with Capitol HIM on 40 penalties. The Holsteiner had been bought by Christa Schmidt as her personal ride, but he proved too strong and got passed to Hannah Sue.
Hannah Sue Holberg was the highest-placed U.S. rider in the 5-star on Capitol HIM. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“Every we time we asked him to do more, he stepped up and answered the questions,” she said.
“He is incredible.”
The 16-year-old gelding was diagnosed with Cushing’s disease a year ago. Once he got on the medication he needed, “it changed his life,” Hannah Sue said.
As I was leaving the press conference, I saw Ian Stark, to whom Austin had referred in his comments, and it’s obvious they’re old friends.
“Tell me about Austin,” I asked Ian.
“Give me some insight into what he’s like.”
A toast to victory: Oliver Townend, Austin O’Connor, William Fox-Pitt and Hannah Sue Holberg.( Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Ian replied, “Austin is just a dedicated competitor. He’s great with his horses. He’s great with people. He’s sometimes a bit shy, but he’s out-and-out wanting to win and he’s just a nice guy. He’s had some very tough times.”
Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue on their way to getting their names in the record books. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Ian mentioned that Austin’s major mentor was David Foster, an Irish army officer and international three-day-event rider, killed in a fall cross-country at an Irish event in 1998.
“Austin was devastated at that. David was the main influence in his career,” Ian recalled.
“This is huge for him to win this. I think it will do his self-confidence so much good. It’s a good move for the sport and for Ireland, I think it’s fantastic.”
Click here for 5-star results.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 13, 2023
Forget the rumors. There were always whispers that at least one of the three traditional Olympic equestrian disciplines might not be held during the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. But dressage, eventing and show jumping will have their place in the line-up, just as they did at the last LA Olympics in 1984, the International Olympic Committee has decided. The number of competitors and other details will be decided after next year’s Paris Olympics.
Modern Pentathlon, which made headlines in Tokyo when a trainer punched a horse, will be part of the 2028 Games as well. There was a real question as to whether it would have a spot in LA, although it’s already booked for Paris. But the International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board said replacing show jumping with obstacle racing did the trick, along with work by the Modern Pentathlon Union to “reduce costs and complexity.”
They added, “Without the replacement of horse riding with obstacle racing, the sport would not have been included in the program.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 17, 2023
Nancy Jones likely is the biggest fan among the many fans of trainer Jeff Cook as a clinician, explaining, “He knows as much as anybody in the world, and he does it kindly.”
She’s a trainer herself, so when she says, “There’s nobody any better,” she has a real understanding of what Jeff can do.
“He just has so much experience and has a personal knack for reading people, but in a kind way,” she explained.
“He can fix a pony that’s being snarky and he can fix 1.60 (meter jumpers) and be kind and soft and make them better.”
Jonesie used to trailer her students to Hunterdon Inc. for lessons, in the days when Jeff worked there with George Morris, beginning in the early 1980s. She wound up hosting Jeff’s clinics at her barn, Logan’s Brook Equine Center in New Vernon, N.J., before they were moved to the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation nearby in Gladstone 15 year or so ago. Vicky Sroka, who organizes the clinics, sees many of the same people year after year, both trainers and riders.
“We have a following,” she said.
Jeff’s qualities were on display during a clinic last weekend at the USET Foundation’s landmark stable, where he shared his wisdom with riders jumping everything from 2-feet, 6-inches to 3-6 and 4 feet. He came East from his home in Oregon, pursuing a bi-coastal business that last year had him offering 22 clinics around the country, as well as training private clients.
“He can have eight people in his clinic and basically make it feel like you’re the only one there,” said Alicia Madretzke, a professional who participated at the Team with Basil, her homebred son of Balou du Rouet.
Karin Forrester, who keeps her 17.2-hand Holsteiner Silver Fox in her Califon, N.J., backyard, said of Jeff, “He’s so good at making sure you’re getting what you need out of it. He’s so great at being able to communicate with the individual for what works best for them.”
Jeff is a fan of group dynamics, such as the mixed bag of amateurs and professionals who rode in his clinic over the higher jumps.
“When there is variety, we can dive into a whole lot of different problems, we see the good and bad of each other,” he pointed out.
“What one person does well, maybe the other needs to work on. They can look at each other’s strengths and minuses and hopefully we learn from that. My goal would be with every level, pick out two or three things they can work on in the upcoming months.”
Jeff Cook in action. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
With the way he sets the fences, Jeff is “trying to produce some rideability with the courses. If the horses are more rideable, it offers a chance for the rider to be a little quieter with the horse and hopefully, there’s a little more of a harmonious relationship between the horse and rider.”
Discussing trends that he observes in his travels, Jeff noted he often sees rider’s the toe angle out too far, sometimes as much as 45 degrees. He prefers the 15- or 20-degree range; 45 degrees only “if the horse or pony is quite lazy.”
Jeff notes that an extreme angle of the foot in the stirrup can trigger problems.
“I don’t want an excessive grip with the knee, but when they do that, the knee can be away from the saddle,” he commented.
As a result, “they lose ability to be tactful with their leg. When they angle out too far, it can override or light up a hottish type horse.” The result: “Too much leg and if they are wearing spurs, too much spur.”
Another trend he used to see was overbending.
“Now, a lot of horses go into a corner but don’t bend quite enough.” On the other hand, he said, that’s “better than overbending.”
He spent a few minutes discussing hand position, noting that when the thumb is horizontal, the hand can be weak and the elbow, not as elastic as it should be. He likes to see the thumb just inside the vertical. That enables the rider to move easily between positions.
If the horse is quite strong, he advises, turn the thumb a little more to the vertical for a split-second. That makes the hand “slightly stronger to get the horse back, then ideally return to thumbs just inside the vertical.”
Alicia rode Basil without a noseband, and I see that becoming a bit of a trend, in the area of horse comfort and not doing what I call over-tacking a horse.
Alicia Madretzke and Basil. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“We hopefully are dialing things down,” said Jeff, but it’s not always the case with what he sees as he travels.
In some areas, Jeff will spot what a horse is wearing on his head and his reaction is, “I didn’t even know the name of a bunch of the bridles—what is that? I think that varies by area, by stable a little bit.””
But he has some people who take the noseband off and meanwhile, “they have the horse’s nose cranked to his chest in draw reins.”
He prefers using a noseband—though there’s the odd horse he’s seen where it (no noseband) does make a difference.” He is, however, understandably “very opposed to crank or excessively tight nosebands.”
The FEI is now checking the tighness of nosebands, which he considers a step forward.
I’ve seen clinicians who are rough on their students. Jeff is the opposite, and his polite approach is his trademark.
“You don’t want to let things slide or not instruct,” he said, “but you want to keep it on a positive basis.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 13, 2023
Whether he was riding, grooming or helping mares foal, Buddy King did it all to perfection.
“He was the consummate professional horseman,” said Carol Molony, founder of the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame.
A friend to whoever needed one, Buddy died Thursday night after suffering a stroke. He was 91.
He and his wife, Cookie, were a devoted couple.
“It was an incredible love story,” Barbara Bemelmans of Hunt Cap Farms in Three Bridges said of their marriage, which would have lasted 61 years next month.
She recalled that when Cookie was working as a horse show secretary, which meant many long nights, Buddy wouldn’t eat dinner until she came home to Whitehouse Station, N.J., no matter how late it was.
Buddy and Cookie met at the old Piping Rock Horse Show on Long Island in the early 1960s. The Army veteran was working for Edgar Mills, she was working for Mrs. Thomas Waller, both big names in the sport.
The couple went on to get a job in 1965 with Frank and Mary Chapot, shortly after the U.S. team riders got married. They stayed with the Chapots when they moved from Walpack in Sussex County, N.J., to Neshanic Station in Somerset County.
The Kings traveled to Europe with the team mounts twice.
“We had the big string,” Cookie said proudly, recounting how that included such star show jumpers as Good Twist, Manon, Anakonda, Tomboy and White Lightning.
The Kings did every job around the Chapots’ Chado Farm that had to do with horses. They were fond of the Chapots’ daughters, Wendy and Laura. Wendy Chapot Nunn recalls being led around by Buddy on Good Twist, who wore a little western saddle for the occasion.
“He was great with our kids,” said Mary of Buddy.
She added that the couple “were kind of like family.”
Mary mentioned that the Kings “really cared about each individual horse. They got along with the horses so well, and the horses got along with them.”
The Kings left the Chapots in 1977 and three years later, Cookie was breaking a yearling when she had a bad fall that ended her riding days.
Buddy went to work for the Tewksbury Township road department, but stayed involved with horses. He rode Isleaway Duke, an appendix-registered quarter horse, to five straight non-thoroughbred New Jersey Horse of the Year titles.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a brother, Mike King of Virginia.
There will not be a funeral. Those wishing to make a contribution in Buddy’s memory may do so to the hospice at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset. To donate, click here and specify “hospice” under designation.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 15, 2023
Time flies—except when you’re watching 12 hours worth of the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunt Seat Medal Finals. Do you really need to have 208 starters for this marathon at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show?
It’s tough enough for anyone to win without having to deal with an endurance contest on top of testing courses.
When the top 25 were sifted out on Sunday after a 7 a.m. start, they came back for a second round; then the top six did another test involving lots of counter-canter before the ribbons were pinned shortly after 7 p.m.
In the end, Carlee McCutcheon, who finished the first round in 14th place, was an obvious winner. Riding Chacco Star—who was named the best horse in the class—she nailed the counter-canter options and made them look smooth and precise. The test also included a trot fence and a hand-gallop, to which she really committed. Her halt after the final fence was practically textbook.
Carlee McCutcheon and Chacco Star. (Photo courtesy of USEF)
The Texan stood second on the final callback list behind Tessa Downey, who went last in the test, but had a counter-canter issue and wound up fifth. Tessa, who won the equitation title at Capital Challenge earlier this month, is trained at Ashland by Ken and Emily Smith and Peter Pletcher.
Jack Towell, who judged the class with Timmy Kees, said, “The quality of the riders is unbelievable, but also the quality of these horses. These horses are amazing animals, amazing. They’ve got the stride, the scope – it blows me away just watching them. Not that these kids don’t ride great, but you’re only as good as your horse.”
“The vehicles are the catalyst,” noted Timmy.
“The level of instruction, the caliber of the horses and the capability of the kids – it’s all amazing to watch. I’ve seen it for a long time, and it just keeps getting better and better.”
As Carlee noted about her mount of two years, owned by Kennedy McCauley, “The harder the course is, the better he is.”
Noah Nelson, a student of the Smiths, was reserve champion while Val Renihan’s student, Kate Hagerty, finished third, ahead of Olivia Sweetnam, coached by her mother, Ali. Someone to keep an eye on is Cody Rego, who finished sixth under the tutelage of Missy Clark, John Brennan and Maggie Gampfer. He is from Bermuda and has an impressively competent style. Unfortunately, he toppled a rail in the test.
Carlee McCutcheon and her team at the Pennsylvania National.
A member of the famous reining family, Carlee does as well in a western saddle as she does in an English saddle, but show jumping is the fame she is pursuing for her career now. Her mother, Mandy McQuay McCutcheon, won the USET ‘s Rolex Talent Derby as a teen.
Carlee was the reserve champion last weekend at the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals East, and it was obvious then that she was destined for a huge win in the not-too-distant future. Like eight days later.
In the time flies category, she was coached by Max Amaya and T.J. O’Mara of Stonehenge. Wasn’t it just a couple of years ago that T.J. was winning the Medal? Nope, it was 2016. Time flies.
“It was very emotional for me,” said T.J.
“My sister, [Meg O’Mara] won this in 2012, and then I won in 2016; Carlee was one of my first equitation kids that I’ve gotten the pleasure to train. She came to us two years ago. I helped her here at the Medal Final in 2021, and each year she’s gotten better and better with it.”
Click here for the results
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 21, 2023
The optimum time for completing designer Ian Stark’s cross-country course at the MARS Maryland 5-star event was designed to be difficult—if not impossible—to make.
But a thoroughbred from stellar racehorse lines showed up the warmbloods by finishing on the button in 11 minutes, 10 seconds. And in the process, Phelps enabled 23-year-old Mia Farley to become the first U.S. rider in a decade to make the time on their 5-star debut.
According to EquiRatings, that was Daniel Clasing in 2013, and the last U.S. rider to finish on the podium in their 5-star debut was Sinead Halpin Maynard, third at Kentucky in 2011. And Mia is now in a position to do the same, or perhaps better, if Phelps can leave the show jump poles in place on Sunday.
Going into the Sunday show jumping in third place, Mia is the highest-placed American in the standings, supplanting Boyd Martin, who was fifth after dressage on Contessa.
Boyd, the winner of the inaugural Maryland 5-star two years ago, became unbalanced on a steep landing at fence 3B after the first water and fell off Contessa’s right side. As his mare started galloping all the way to the main arena, he hit the ground hard. But in typical Boyd fashion, after a minute or two, he got up and is now heading for the Pau, France, 5-star, where he will ride Federman B this week.
Boyd Martin recuperated quickly from his hard fall off Contessa, but his son, Nox, shows disappointment at dad’s brief trip on course. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Mia is on 32.9 penalties, moving up seven places from tenth in dressage after beating the clock on the son of Tiz Now. She confided that show jumping isn’t the strong point of her mount, but perhaps he’ll rise to the occasion as he did on Saturday.
She called Phelps “a true fighter,” noting, “When I wasn’t fully there for him, he was like ‘It’s okay, I’ve got you,’ and it was a wonderful feeling for him to kind of step in and take over.”
World Number One Oliver Townend of Great Britain, kept his lead from dressage with the precocious Cooley Rosalent, adding 6 time penalties for finishing in 11 minutes, 25 seconds, giving him a total of 29.1 penalties. That means he doesn’t have the luxury of a rail in hand going into the final phase.
Oliver said of his mare, “she definitely could have gone a lot quicker,” but he didn’t want to stress an ingenue who is relatively new at the level, so he sat quiet going up the hills to save strength for tackling the big questions like the corners and water at the top. He was more focused on the fences than the speed.
Oliver Townend leads the Maryland 5-star with Cooley Rosalent. (Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“My horse is nine years old, so my thoughts were on the jumps and trying to give her as nice a trip as possible. She’s going to be a very long-term partner for me in my career, so it was about giving her the best experience possible,” he explained.
Great Britain’s William Fox-Pitt, who has won an amazing 14 5-stars, is second on 31.3 penalties with Grafennacht, moving up from third after dressage, adding 5.2 time penalties. The Oldenburg mare’s talent has kept William enthusiastic as he acknowledge his remarkable international riding career is nearing its end.
William Fox-Pitt and Grafennacht. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Ian said “various things” pleased him as the riders executed his course, which was far tougher than what he designed during the event’s first two years. He said, using a British expression, that riders had given him “stick” for a leisurely optimum time in 2021 and 2022. He added that no one gave him stick this year.
Caroline Powell of New Zealand artfully handling one of Ian Stark’s challenging fences. the sunken road, on Greenacres Special Cavalier. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
He liked Oliver’s “phenomenal” horse (how could he not?) and thought Mia’s horse “went brilliantly.” He was really thrilled because her horse is a thoroughbred, since he’s a “racing man” and wanted to make a “rude gesture” to the warmbloods.
Cross-country course designer Ian Stark. (Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
This is Ian’s penultimate course designing gig. He is retiring after next year’s 5-star to spend time skiing and with his grandchildren, and will work as a mentor to aspiring course designers.
Mia rides with Karen O’Connor and her husband, David, who owns Phelps. (The gelding’s registered name is Tiz Special, but David likes to rename horses after Olympians; Michael Phelps in this instance.)
The rumor was that he paid $1 for the horse, but no transaction actually took place.
“I said that horse was so immature and backwards, I had no idea if he was any good,” recalled the Maryland event’s competition director, Joanie Morris, who owned the gelding after getting him through Archie and Michelle St. George of St. George Sales in Lexington. Ky.
“He was beautifully bred but he came off the track and really struggled in my front field for awhile.”
When Joanie sent him to David, she said, “`Just pay me a little bit when you sell him.’ And now, many years later, he hasn’t sold him, he’s a 5-star horse and I don’t have any money.
“Probably, technically, I still own him,” she mused. Asked if she’d really sell the horse to David for $1, Joanie chuckled and said, “I think he needs to come to the negotiating table,” then quickly added, “It’s all in good humor.”
After watching Phelps handle the demanding course, Joanie declared, “He was awesome You never know the ones that are going to end up being stars. He wasn’t the one I expected.”
David, for his part, was reported to have tears in his eyes as he watched the performance.
Mia was discovered by David during a clinic he gave in California six years ago. When he learned she was considering giving up on riding, he invited her to come East and work with him and Karen. It was only supposed to be for three months, but something clicked and she stayed on.
Discussing Phelps on Friday, David remembered at the beginning, he was a three-year-old who “just lived outside for years.”
Since then, “It’s been a fun project. He just keeps getting better and better. Mia has done a fabulous job, she’s the only one who has ever competed him.”
David looked around at the showgrounds and seemed almost surprised at what Phelps is doing.
“So here we are. It’s not something I ever expected and never thought he would get this far. He tries his heart out; he’s a wonderful personality to be around,” David said.
Of Mia, he commented, “She’s a very good horsewoman. It’s been a great partnership with the two of them.”
Mia has been riding the 10-year-old since he was four, and sees it as a long-term relationship.
On land or water, Phelps kept up a good gallop for Mia Farley. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I’d never ridden a thoroughbred before him. It was different,” said Mia, who came from a show jumping barn on the West Coast.
While warmbloods dominate the eventing scene these days, David confessed, “I love thoroughbreds. He’s a funny horse, but so smart. To watch him gallop across a field is a blast, because he’s very fast.”
As everyone found out on cross-country day.
Only 14 horses, a little more than half of the original field of 26, will jump on Sunday. Piggy March, who led on the first day of dressage and was fifth after cross-country, withdrew Brookfield Cavalier Cruise from the hold box during the horse inspection before show jumping.
Like Boyd, Phillip Dutton was eliminated for a fall after he came off Azure; three other horses were eliminated and one, Jennie Brannigan’s Twilightslastgleam, withdrew. Arielle Aharoni, another first-time 5-star rider, didn’t have luck on her side. She pulled up Dutch Times two fences from the finish, and he was taken to New Bolton Center for diagnosis.
EquiRatings has Oliver as a 68 percent favorite to win. The last 9-year-old to win a 5-star was Oslo, ridden by William Fox-Pitt in 2011, (who also won Blenheim in the same year.) The only other 9-year-old to win a 5-star in the last 15 years was the legendary La Biosthetique Sam in 2009, under the guidance of Michael Jung of Germany.
In the 3-star Long, also presented by Brown Advisory, Caroline Pamukcu has stayed in front with HSH Conor on 25.4 penalties, ahead of Lauren Nicholson with 28.6 on Larcot Z.
Click here for the 5-star results
Click here for the 3-star results
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 18, 2023
When I met Sam Watson and Diarm Byrne at the 2016 U.S. Eventing annual meeting, it seemed obvious their new company, EquiRatings, was a good idea. At the time, though, I could not have known how incredibly good it would prove to be.
The future seemed bright enough when I learned they had used statistics to correctly predict that France would win the eventing team gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The partners in the new business earned themselves some money in the process, since the bookies had put that country at 16-1 odds.
The two friends, who went to school together through university level in Ireland, started their company informally, sitting at either end of a ping-pong table with their laptops. It grew so rapidly that it is now the gold standard to present data that can, as they say, “create a competitive advantage on and off the field.”
The latest effort from EquiRatings is an amazing blend of “stats, ratings and analysis” for this week’s MARS Maryland 5-star event at Fair Hill. They have thoroughly documented everything about the 26 starters, with odds not only on their chances of winning, but also on who has the best shot at making the podium.
Diarm and Sam most like the chances of Piggy March, one of three British riders who have come to the States for the third edition of this event. Although Piggy’s mount, Brookfield Cavalier Cruise, has never competed in a 5-star, they say she has a 29 percent chance of collecting the famous Fair Hill Bronze. (I love it when trophies have a formal name.)
Piggy March and Brookfield Cavalier Cruise.
Their reasoning? The horse topped a strong 4-star Short field at Thoresby in England this year. I’d be more confident of this horse’s victory if he had topped a 4-star Long, but Piggy is a much-respected rider, so she will work to make up the difference. Her odds of being in the top three are even better, at 52 percent.
She also has the best average of six dressage scores, at 27, just 0.1 head of New Zealand’s Artist, who took a 14,000-mile trip to get here with rider Monica Spencer. Artist is EquiRatings’ fourth choice in the list of those likely to win, with 9 percent and a 27 percent chance of making the podium. Monica is just 1 percent behind her compatriot, Caroline Powell with Greenacres Special Cavalier.
EquiRatings’ second choice for the win, at 24 percent, is Cooley Rosalent, with world number one Oliver Townend in the irons. I’ll go along with that estimation, and am eager to see this promising mare “in person.” She’s rated at having a 45 percent chance to make the podium.
Their top pick of a U.S. entry is Doug Payne and Quantum Leap, but he’s only given a 5 percent chance of victory. On the other hand, Quantum Leap, a Zweibrucker who came to Doug as a yearling, has an 11-year history with his rider, always a plus.
He has finished in the top 10 for 14 of his 22 4- and 5-star appearances. This horse also has EquiRatings’ top ELO points for those in this field. ELO, developed from a chess template, takes points from horses beaten in competition, and gives up points to the horses that finish ahead of them. Quantum Leap’s number is 698, ahead of Colorado Blue, ridden by Ireland’s Austin O’Connor with 676.
For comparison, the number one ELO horse of all time is Michael Jung’s Bioesthetique Sam, now retired, who in 2017 had 973 points.
I know you’re asking, what about Boyd Martin, who won the Maryland 5-star in its 2021 debut with On Cue? He was the first American since 2008 to win a 5-star. (It’s worth noting that Tamie Smith won the 5-star Land Rover Kentucky event last spring for the U.S. with Mai Baum.)
Boyd Martin and Contessa at Kentucky last spring. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Boyd is back at Maryland with another mare, Contessa, but only a 2 percent chance of winning and a 9 percent chance of a podium spot, according to EquiRatings.
I’ve learned, however, never to count out Boyd. Desire and determination count for a lot in this game, and he’s got plenty of both.
Tickets for the event, presented by Brown Advisory, are still available at https://www.maryland5star.us/tickets/. Dressage begins Thursday and continues until Oct. 20. Cross-country is Oct. 21, with the show jumping wrap-up on Oct. 22. In addition to the 5-star, a 3-star competition also will be presented.
To learn even more about the athletes, along with stats and analysis around the third annual event, click on EquiRatings’ 2023 Maryland 5 Star Stats & Stories Guide
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 20, 2023
There goes the podium…maybe.
British riders are standing first, second and third in the MARS Maryland 5-star at Fair Hill after the second day of dressage. And just for good measure, a New Zealander is fourth.
You can’t say it was unexpected, they all have sparkling resumes. But before I go any further here, I have to issue a reminder that this is not, as we always say, a dressage competition. We have cross-country coming up Saturday over a very tough Ian Stark course (look at yesterday’s story at the bottom of the page to see what he had to say). And of course, the show jumping Sunday could change everything.
But as Oliver Townend, the number one-ranked eventer in the world, remarked, Britain is so strong in eventing now that it could field three teams in next year’s Olympics. He turned in a stunning dressage performance to top the leaderboard with the eye-catching grey, Cooley Rosalent, by a show jumping sire out of a thoroughbred mare.
“She’s nine years old, so it could have gone drastically wrong through no fault of her own, just through inexperience,” said Oliver with a grin after his ride.
Oliver Townend looks on top of the world after topping the leaderboard. (Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
The mare was a little nervous as she went into the arena.
“But it actually helped in the end, because it lifted her ears and I could ride her forward and she relaxed throughout the test,” Oliver commented.
The sensitive Rosie, who wears a nose net, has a lovely outline and produced sparkling half-passes among other well-presented movements. She was marked at 23.1 penalties, the equivalent in non-eventing dressage of 76.92 percent. Oliver even got a 9 from one judge for his first halt.
Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent. (Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
I watched his warm-up, as he and his newest star rehearsed the movements over and over. Oliver didn’t think it was enough, feeling he was 10 minutes behind where he needed to be, but it was sufficient to please the judges. He has placed second and third respectively at the last two Maryland 5-stars, so he would dearly like to win this one.
The overnight leader, Piggy March, dropped to second on her score of 24.2 penalties with Brookfield Cavalier Cruise.
As expected, William Fox-Pitt knew just what was needed from Grafennacht, producing a test good for 26.1 penalties. William is so tall, he has to shorten his stirrups when he rides the mare. She’s 17 hands, but svelte, without a big barrel that could take up some of his long legs.
“She was quite frisky today,” William announced. “I couldn’t quite get her on the bit, but she was still showing off well and I was very pleased with her.”
William Fox-Pitt and Graffenacht.(Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
She is the only 5-star horse that the legendary rider has at the moment. The mare is good cross-country, but her show jumping development “is in progress,” according to William. He said she’s a little bit “core weak. Even though she can stretch and jump and gallop, she’s not really round enough to be a sure thing in the jumping.
“If I’ve got three (rails) in hand on Sunday, I’ll be happy,” he declared.
At age 54, William is looking at retirement, and having Grafennacht is what keeps him going for now.
Monica Spencer, who rode Thursday, dropped from second to fourth with Artist (28.4), a thoroughbred who is still very much in the hunt.
Just behind her in fifth place is the highest-placed American, Boyd Martin, winner of the first Maryland 5-star with On Cue. He’s back with another mare, Contessa, not quite the dressage star her predecessor was, but still putting in a credible test with a few blips for a score of 28.6.
Boyd Martin and Contessa. (Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
A couple of small things weren’t perfect, a flying change came too early, a reinback went more toward the middle of the ring than the side. But overall the training with his wife, Silva, and former German star Bettina Hoy seems to have paid off.
He changed his warm-up routine, explaining about Contessa, “The more I ride, the worse she gets.”
So he did his warm-up about two hours before his test, then had a massage and a stretch.
“I hopped on 15 minutes before the test. It’s a bit risky, because they get excited, they can really get hot. But she stayed really calm and relaxed and did a great test.”
He pointed out she has a massive canter stride, which is great for cross-country but hard to collect for dressage.
“I’ve just been cross-country schooling her over and over again. So tomorrow (Saturday) will be a real test. I’m quietly confident and quietly terrified,” he revealed.
The 5-star is running with a 3-star Long in the event, presented by Brown Advisory. There are just 26 in the 5-star (as someone mentioned, there are only so many 5-star horses in the world) but 46 in the 3-star. The USA’s Carolyn Pamukcu leads the way on HSH Conor with 25.4 penalties, while Lauren Nicholson is second in that division on Larcot Z (28.2) and the next 12 riders in the standings also are American.
Click here for the 3-star results
Click here for the 5-star results
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 19, 2023
Remember those EquiRatings statistics we told you about yesterday?
They proved their worth on Thursday as the MARS Maryland 5-star event began with the predicted winner taking the lead.
Notice I didn’t say the predicted winner, Great Britain’s Piggy March, actually clinched the top spot with the Irish bred Brookfield Cavalier Cruise on 24.2 penalties.
That’s because we’re only halfway through the roster of 26 starters, and there are some in the second group scheduled for Friday who have a good record in the first phase. They include World Number One Oliver Townend, another Brit, with Cooley Rosalent and William Fox-Pitt (yes, yet another Brit) with Grafennacht.
But the stats also favored Monica Spencer of New Zealand, who sent the thoroughbred Artist (Guillotine/Maxamore) 14,000 miles to be tested at Fair Hill. So guess who stands second at the moment on 28.4 penalties? You got it. Do the numbers ever lie?
Since 2010, all the winners of 5-star events in the U.S. have placed anywhere from first through fifth in the dressage segment. So we have to wait until tomorrow to see who makes that top five group.
This is Piggy’s debut at the three-year-old Maryland event, presented by Brown Advisory, and she is wildly enthusiastic about being here (except for having problems getting a rental car).
“It’s absolutely beautiful. I’ve never, ever anywhere seen such footing,” she exclaimed, referring not only to the grass on the racecourse but also in the arenas.
Piggy March and Brookfield Cavalier Cruise. (Photo by Shannon Brinkman)
That, she noted, “is why we came here for our horse, we heard the footing was great.”
Her noble-countenanced 10-year-old by Cavalier Carnival out of Ryans Cruise “is still quite low on mileage.”
After he finished second in the 4-star Long at the Bramham Horse Trials in England, his team sat down to decide what would be next. They thought other 4-stars might be “taking a step back for him.” So that meant going 5-star. Although the Burghley 5-star is just down the road from Piggy’s place, and she won it in 2022 with the now-retired Vanir Kamara, the terrain is undulating and it’s a bit tougher than what Maryland had to offer – or at least that’s what she thought. But having seen the course that Ian Stark built this year, that preconceived notion has gone out the window.
“It’s such an honor and a treat to be able to come over here to compete in America. We thought this would be the best place for him. But we weren’t expecting it to be such a tough cross-country,” she admitted.
Still, it seems as if the horse she calls “the biggest dude” should be up to the task.
“He’s a brilliant horse who comes here really confident…it’s my job to give him the best run ‘round that we can do. He’s always believed in his job; he’s been a good cross-country horse so far. We’re excited to give it a go.”
Piggy believes “The best thing about him is his temperament and his mind.. He’s got such a great heart. He’s so rideable.”
Piggy March was pleased as punch with her horse’s dressage effort. (Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“Fletcher,” as he is known around the barn, will fill out more, she noted, and gain expression in dressage as he gains experience.
“The exciting thing about him is there’s loads more to come,” she promised.
Monica calls her 12-year-old horse, “a true gentleman” as well as “a beautiful mover and capable of probably a slightly better score than that couple of little blips here and there, but can’t complain with a 28.”
She got Artist as a too-slow-to-race four-year-old, and had an interesting insight about thoroughbreds when it comes to dressage.
“I do think they take a little bit longer to strengthen up because they’re not bred or built for the job we asked them to do.”
Another thoroughbred, Phelps, showed his style with a mark of 32.9 to be fourth under Mia Farley, competing in her first 5-star. Her mount, owned by Olympic individual gold medalist David O’Connor, was purchased for $1, but that little investment has paid off in an exceptional way.
Mia Farley is a first-time 5-star rider with the thoroughbred Phelps. (Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Standing third on 32.4 was 2023 Essex Horse Trials winner Hannah Sue Holberg and the Holsteiner Capitol HIM.
He doesn’t always take everything in stride, so the big screen in the arena freaked him out slightly, but then he went on to do his job.
”He did everything better and as well as he can at home or better,” said Hannah Sue, who confessed to messing up the final flying change, saying, “I was getting too excited.
“But otherwise, I thought I rode to my plan and I rode more aggressively in the trot work, which I’ve been trying to do.”
All of the top four were cited as among the best dressage horses in the event by EquiRatings.
Piggy’s comments gave us an insight of what to expect from Ian Stark’s cross-country route.
Cross-country course designer Ian Stark. (Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Ian said he “got some stick” for his first Maryland course because too many people made the time, but that was his debut in the venue. The second year, he said, continuing with his rationale, “was like the first year,” because the start and finish were in a different place. That’s my excuse.”
In the last 10 years at U.S. 5-stars, the 2022 Maryland cross-country had the highest inside-the-time rate at 54 percent. In 2021, it was 26 percent, tying with the 2018 Land Rover Kentucky event.
This year, Ian warns, “be careful what you wish for.”
He noted that the time to complete the course Saturday without incurring penalties is 11 minutes, 10 seconds. While Ian said, “I don’t agree with time being unobtainable,” he slyly added, “I’d be quite happy if no one gets the time.”
Click here for 5-star results
