United States Eventing Association

Although the top CH-Y** team was made up of four riders from four different states, Kendyl Tracy (Colorado), Jacob Fletcher (Arkansas), Rowdie Jo Adams (Texas), and Emma Kate Fisher (Oklahoma) have one thing in common – they all put in clean, fast, and textbook rounds on today’s two-star cross-country course. Less than a rail behind the Area V and IX team are the reigning gold medalists, Area III, who dropped out of the overnight lead with the addition of 6.4 time penalties. Team Canada was able to maintain their third place position.

Area III members, Devon Brown and 11-year-old Irish Dynamic Image held tightly onto their overnight lead with a double clear round although with only a 3.9 penalty lead they do not have a rail in hand heading into tomorrow’s show jumping round. “I thought today’s course was pretty challenging,” said Devon. “Each combination just kept appearing, but I was mostly worried about the double corners and the angled huts and well - pretty much every other combination. Last year Devon and “Dan” pulled two rails in show jumping at Young Riders, and she is hoping to improve upon that tomorrow, but “is trying not to dwell on it too much right now and just ride the horse I have.”

Joelle Baskerville and her 10-year-old Hungarian WB/Thoroughbred mare, Malibu, represented Team Canada well in the two-star adding only two time penalties to their dressage score to maintain their second placed position. “I thought the course was really nice,” said Joelle. “There was lots of galloping which really helped in getting them to go forward. There were definitely a few tricky combinations like the coffin and the quarry, but they rode really well. I am so glad that it cooled down this morning, and it helped having the ride times so early. I am so excited to be coming into the big Rolex ring tomorrow.”

Kendyl Tracy is a Young Riders veteran and at 19-years-old is competing in her fourth Championships. “I love the atmosphere of Young Riders and getting to be on a team, which is an aspect that you don’t get to see very often, and it is just a cool experience,” said Kendyl.

Kendyl and A Bit of Tack’s 12-year-old Thoroughbred mare, Ever So Lucky, finished today’s course only one second under optimum time to break their third place tie with Rowdie Jo Adams and claim the position for their own. “I thought David did a great job with the course,” said Kendyl. “Everything rode as planned and it was a really good course to get a rhythm on. I thought the ditch and wall and the water was a bit intimidating so early on the course, but it made me get my horse more in front of my leg early so that worked out really well.

The one-star team from Area V took the saying “everything is bigger in Texas” to heart by laying down a 25.9 point lead in the CH-J* competition today. The four juniors from Area V, Avery Klunick, Victoria New, Alexa Ehlers, and Alyssa Phillips, added only 7.6 penalties collectively to their overnight dressage scores with both Avery and Victoria putting in double clear rounds. Area VI moved into the silver medal position while Team Ontario claimed the bronze spot.

In addition to the team gold medal position, 14-year-old, Alyssa is currently sitting in second individually with her 19-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Sundance Bay. The pair added 1.2 time penalties to their dressage score for a two-day total of 52.7 only .4 behind overnight leader Sable Gielsler. “My horse was really good,” said Alyssa. “He loved all of the galloping room and all of the fences just came up really well. I thought it was a really nice course. Normally after cross-country, my horse comes back and jumps really well in show jumping although he might be looking at the arena so I will need to keep an eye on that.”

The individual third place position also belongs to Area V, with Victoria New and her 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, Bally Whatnot, moving up in the rankings with a double clear round. “I thought today’s course was great,” said Victoria. “Especially for my horse in particular because he loves to gallop and to jump the big brush. Our team worked together to choose studs for today, and the early riders reported back on the conditions so I didn’t have any trouble with slipping despite the wet grass.”

Team Ontario’s Sable Giesler was able to move into the top spot when overnight leader, Florence Miller and Tuscan Sun, had an unfortunate fall at fence seven. Sable rode her own eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Evil Munchkin, to a clear round across David O’Connor’s course. “I thought the course was really nice,” said Sable. “My horse handled it really well; I was really happy with him. I am going to ice Munchkin’s legs though and run fluids tonight just to make sure everything is ready for tomorrow. My horse is a bit green, but he is a good jumper so as long as I don’t ride like a monkey he should be good in show jumping.”

The competition resumes tomorrow with show jumping at 1:00 PM where the young riders will have the chance to compete in the main Rolex arena.