by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 26, 2024
Two hard falls last weekend at Fair Hill, Maryland, didn’t take the edge off the irrepressible Boyd Martin. He and his Olympic mount, Federman B, are standing sixth at the Pau, France 5-star following a cool and careful cross-country trip over Pierre Michelet’s twisting course on mucky footing.
Conditions exacerbated by more rain prompted the removal of 10 fences altogether on a very soggy Saturday. It wasn’t a day to think about making the time; it was a day to think about staying upright in the slop. So no surprise, none of the 56 from a starting field of 71 who finished the route made the optimum time of nine minutes, nine seconds.
Boyd had 17.6 time penalties for a total of 47.1 penalties, moving up from sixteenth place after dressage with the benefit of going early (fourth in the lineup) to avoid the churning that later starters faced.
“Bruno was brilliant today and gave me his heart and soul around a very challenging course,” Boyd stated.
“I was thrilled with him every step of the way.”
Boyd Martin and Federman B going cross-country at Pau. (Peter Nixon photo)
The conditions scrambled the results order from dressage, with the new number one, Britain’s Caroline Harris, on the Anglo European studbook stallion D-Day, moving up from twenty-second place in dressage with a trip that accumulated a mere 10 time penalties for an overall total of 40.3. The top four are all British.
The leader from dressage, Roz Canter with Izilot DHI is barely behind Caroline on a score of 40.6 World number one Tom McEwen is also less than a show jumping rail from the leader with Brookfield Quality (43). Piggy March and Halo are fourth with a score of 45, just ahead of China’s Alex Hua Tin (45.7) on Chicko.
The other American, Will Coleman, moved up from thirty-ninth after dressage to twenty ninth on 59.6 penalties. Boyd withdrew his second horse, Miss Lulu Herself, before cross-country. She was twenty-first after dressage.
“After lots of thought and talking with my circle of family, coaches and owners, we have decided to save Lulu for another day,” Boyd revealed.
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 16, 2024
Olympic eventer Liz Halliday, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in an August cross-country fall, is making “steady progress” in rehab, it was revealed on Wednesday.
Liz is at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, where her friends and family cited, “The dedication of her amazing team of therapists, doctors, nurses, and staff,” saying it is “nothing short of extraordinary, and we are deeply grateful for the care and expertise they are providing. Each day brings meaningful victories, and Liz is pushing forward with impressive strength and resilience.”
Liz Halliday’s upbeat spirit, evident here after a show jumping round last year, is helping her work toward recovery.( Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
To keep her horses going, her mounts are being placed with other top riders.
“The first group of horses safely arrived at Boyd Martin’s farm this week and have settled in beautifully. Liz’s amazing team have been incredibly resilient during this time of transition and are keeping things running flawlessly at the farms,” the statement from friends and family said.
“Liz continues to prioritize rest and therapy, and we kindly ask for your continued respect for her privacy as she focuses on her healing journey. Liz and her family and friends appreciate every single one of you, and while there is still a long road ahead, we know that with your support — and her tenacious spirit — she will continue to make strides toward a full recovery.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 14, 2024
TerraNova Equestrian Center has cancelled its World Cup Dressage qualifier and national show scheduled to run Thursday through Sunday at its venue in Myakka City, about 20 miles east of Sarasota, which was hard hit by Hurricane Milton.
The reasons cited for not holding the show were ongoing power outages and widespread effects on the region’s communities. The facility had hosted equine evacuees at its state-of-the-art stables. Refunds are being issued for competitors, as well as for spectators who bought VIP brunch tickets.
In North Carolina, where Hurricane Helene caused massive damage, the Tryon International Equestrian Center called off its eventing competition that was to run Oct. 31-Nov. 3, due to damage on its cross-country course. The facility has served as a center for hurricane aid, distributing supplies and offering shelter to first responders.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 13, 2024
U.S. rider Hallie Coon and the aptly named Cute Girl finished third individually at a muddy Boekelo 4-star eventing Nations Cup Final in the Netherlands on Sunday, with the Irish team of Aiofe Clarke, Austin O’Connor, Susannah Berry and Padraig McCarthy taking top honors scording102.6 penalties. The USA finished second on 116. 1, while Germany was third with 131.9.
“The Nations Cup final here in Boekelo is a huge deal and it means a huge amount to anyone competing. It has a real weight to it that is more than some of the individual legs,” said Aiofe.
She commtend that the organizers, “have really done well here, there’s a great atmosphere- it’s built up to a really fun end of the competition. I love Boekelo and would come back every year if I had a horse for it. I love the enthusiasm of the supporters and the work that went in to getting the cross-country right.”
The victorious Irish team. (Photo courtesy Military Boekelo)
The footing was so mucky after extended periods of rain that a loop had to be taken out of the cross-country course to insure hore and rider safety. Germany won the individual honors however, as 2021 Olympic individual gold medalist Julia Krajewski first on Nickel 21 with 28.8 penalties, having added time penalties to her dressage score on cross-country and finishing clear in show jumping. Nickel is the horse on which she won the Aachen event last summer.
“I came here with the idea that I wanted to finish in the top five,” said Julia.
“But Nickel 21 was just great. He came out of the cross-country super fit and jumped fantastically today. I always like it when there is some pressure. And of course there was, because I had to stay clear. My horse took it well and kept space on every fence. It’s great to win here again after six years, just an hour and a half’s drive from home.”
Great Britain’s Laura Collett, clear through the first two phases with Dacapo, had a rail in the final segment to wind up second individually with 29.3 penalties. Hallie finished on her dressage score of 30.4 penalties, going from twenty-third place to sixth and finally third during the competition.
There was a wide range of ages among the U.S. squad. Twenty-nine-year-old Hallie rode on the team with the eternal Phillip Dutton, 60, who finished twentieth on Possante (43.1). Also on the team were Mary Bess Davis, 45, nineteenth with Imperio (42.6) and looking to the future, 19-year-old, Cassie Sanger, thirty-first with Redfield Fyre (51.2).
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 3, 2024
Our headline has a double meaning: Not only will some of the world’s top horses be at the Fair Hill eventing competition presented by Brown Advisory — including several big-time contenders from overseas — but you’ll also be able to put your money down on your favorite (or favorites) and perhaps get something back.
The Sport & Entertainment Corp. of Maryland, which puts on the event, is partnering with Crab Sports, a startup sportsbook tailored for the Maryland market, to offer sports betting markets for the Oct. 17-20 event. Spectators can bet on both the 5-star and the 3-star Long, in various classifications, including event winner, top three, top five and top 10.
This marks the first time fans will have the opportunity to engage in sports wagering on eventing in the U.S. An entrepreneur two years ago was working on a betting protocol for show jumping, but never went through with it.
At last year’s event, Maryland’s CEO, Jeff Newman, told me, “We want to continue to create more off-competition amenities, things non-equestrians want to come to. I think eventing is perfect for it.
“It’s something the sport needs. I think socially, it’s something that will help raise the bar and get more people out here.”
Craig Williams, Crab Sports director, commented, “Partnering with local businesses and events is at the core of what we do, and this collaboration allows us to connect with our Maryland customers in meaningful ways, going beyond where others are willing to go. Together, we’re excited to drive even more fan excitement and engagement to the world-renowned 5-Star, right here in our backyard.”
Registration can be done via the Crab Sports website or their free mobile app, available for download through the App Store and Google Play. Those interested in betting can register using the promo code MD5STAR through those platforms for access. All new users will receive a $500 Bet Insurance offer, giving them a second chance if their initial wager does not settle as a win. Full terms and conditions can be found here.
Market lines for the MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill presented by Brown Advisory will open Oct. 14 and be live through the event’s conclusion Oct. 20. All participants must be 21 or older and physically present in Maryland. For tickets to the event, click this link.
Looking for a good bet? Mai Baum, the first U.S. horse to win the Defender Kentucky 5- star since 2008 when he did it in 2023, will be making his 5-star swan song at Maryland under the guidance of Tamie Smith.
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Ballaghmor Class, another Kentucky winner who also has a victory in Britain’s Burghley 5-star to his credit with rider Oliver Townend, will be on hand along with additional challengers from England. And New Zealand’s Falco, ridden by Tim Price of New Zealand, also could be in the favorite category.
The USA’s Boyd Martin with have his previous Maryland winner, On Cue in the line-up, along with the promising Commando 3, his Olympic reserve horse, and his old favorite, Tsetserleg, for whom this surely should be the last 5-star.
Click here for the current 5-star entry list.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 8, 2024
The Dressage Foundation has made awards to two trainers from its $25,000 Anne L. Barlow-Ramsay Grant for U.S.-Bred Horses Fund.
The grants, going to more than one recipient for the first time, are designed to showcase U.S.-bred horses ridden by American citizens.
Lauren Chumley of Pittstown, N.J., and Leeloo Dallas will be training this winter with Michael Bragdell under auspices of the grant. Leeloo Dallas, bred by Racheal McKinney, was purchased by Lauren as a foal. Lauren specializes in developing young horses and is a member of the USEF Developing Program with the mare, who has KWPN bloodlines.
“I believe in this little American horse with my whole heart and in Michael’s program,” said Lauren.
“I am absolutely thrilled that TDF believes in us too.”
Floridian Molly O’Brien and Fortunato H2O, an 8-year-old Oldenburg stallion owned by Lehua Custer, will train with Olympians Sue Blinks and Ali Brock during the winter season in Wellington. Molly is an assistant trainer and head groom for Lehua and has competed Fortunato H2O successfully through Prix St. Georges. Fortunato H2O was bred by Kendra Hansis of Runningwater Warmbloods.
Calling the grant life-changing not only for herself, but also for Lehua and Kendra, Molly said, “Dr. Ramsay’s philanthropic generosity affords riders like me, without private sponsorship, to pursue training opportunities to showcase elite, U.S.-bred equine athletes on a competitive stage.”
The Anne L. Barlow-Ramsay Grant Fund was established at the Dressage Foundation in 2008 by Dr. Barlow-Ramsay to fulfill her desire to support U.S.-bred horses that are competing on the international dressage stage. Since 2008, eleven recipients have been awarded a $25,000 grant for training or competition, including those who have successfully competed at the highest level of the sport. Applications are due August 15 each year.
