United States Eventing Association

The Twin Rivers Spring International showed that there isn’t just one right answer when preparing your horse.

The CCI4*-S served as a qualifier in the US Equestrian Open of Eventing, but before the $200,000 finals at Morven Park in Leesburg, Virginia, on Oct. 9-12, seven of the 11 horses were competing in their final prep before the approximately 2,300-mile haul to Lexington for the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event in two weeks.

Karma Crowned Champion in CCI4*-S

Alliston Equestrian's Karma (Escudo II x Travita) was champion in a CCI4*-S at Twin Rivers for the second time, having previously been victorious at the 2023 Twin Rivers Fall International. The 11-year-old Oldenburg mare that has represented the United States at Boekelo in the Netherlands and Aachen in Germany was the only horse to finish inside the optimum time on the four-star cross-country track designed by Morgan Rowsell. She added just 0.8 time penalties on William Robertson’s show jumping course to her dressage score of 36.4 for a finishing score of 37.2.

“It felt good,” Alliston said. “I was maybe a little rusty with her. I need to ride her a little better in two weeks, but she’s an awesome horse.”

Alliston was also second with Cora (Commissario x La-Montana), the winner of the CCI4*-S at the 2024 Twin Rivers Fall International. Plus, he was third Irish Pop (Inliner x Norma Jean) in the horse’s four-star debut and fifth with his previous Kentucky five-star mount Paper Jam (Paparazzo x Reely Jamin).

“It was good to get them in the heat of battle and see what they look like,” Alliston said. “The faster you go, the harder it is, so just making sure I’m sharp and going at a competitive speed and the horses are used to that as well. It’s sort of a toss-up. Obviously, you don’t want to hurt them and take risks, but what I’ve done over the years is don’t go mad but go quick enough so that it’s a fitness run and equivalent to what you’re going to do in two weeks.”

The Twin Rivers Spring International was also the first event in almost two years for Nemesis (Novalis x Sara’s Muse) since the Canadian Warmblood gelding was the youngest horse in the Kentucky five-star field in 2023 at 9 years old. He made his comeback at Intermediate after dealing with foot troubles from a digital flexor tendon.

“I’m excited,” Alliston said. “I wasn’t sure he’d ever return to the level, but now I’m a little bit more optimistic that he can have a future.”

After the weekend, Alliston has chosen Nemesis and Cora as his mounts for the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S.

“It was good to do that to narrow it down,” Alliston said. “For sure, Cora was looking good. Irish Pop is talented but green. Nemesis has had so long off, just making sure he’s sound enough to do it.”

Bon Vivant GWF Captures CCI3*-S Win

In the CCI3*-S, Erin Kellerhouse and Bon Vivant GWF (Banderas x Power Point) finished on their dressage score of 29.0 and followed up on their win at Intermediate at the Twin Rivers Winter H.T. She and “Pierre” started competing together at Beginner Novice when the Oldenburg gelding was a 4-year-old in 2019.

“Last year was a bummer; it was just one of those seasons,” Kellerhouse said. “I never really had one like that, so I guess I was due. It actually does make everything a little sweeter when you rise up from the ashes a little bit.”

After what she described as “really consistent” dressage and how “he’s an easy horse to go fast on because he doesn’t pull at all” on Adri Doyal’s three-star cross-country course, Kellerhouse said her goals are the CCI3*-L at The Event at Rebecca Farm in Montana in July and the CCI3*-L at the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill in October.

Grandia and Levino FOD to Win CCI3*-L

In the CCI3*-L, Grandia and the 8-year-old Levino (Lint x R-Cora II) took the next step in their journey that began when Levino made his USEA-recognized debut at Novice in 2022. Grandia credits Amber Birtcil for bringing the Holsteiner gelding to the United States and the Full Gallop Syndicate for their support over the past decade.

“He might be our fourth horse we’ve gone through,” Grandia said. “Each time we buy one and we find out what the horse is made of and what it wants to do. We’ve been able to upgrade as we go along.”

Grandia says Levino has been “quite a blast” as “he keeps checking off the boxes.” Levino has been particularly suited to the long FEI levels. He has made time on cross-country in each of his two longs, while not making time in any of his six shorts. He won Twin Rivers’ CCI3*-L on a dressage score of 31.7.

“It’s so nice to have this event for his development and be able to run around past 8 minutes on cross-country and develop their fitness and training,” Grandia said, noting that Twin Rivers hosts the only CCI3*-L in the spring west of the Mississippi. “The highlight is obviously coming through the end finishing on your dressage score. I’m really happy to have this event to produce our horses on the West Coast.”

The full list of winners from the 2025 Twin Rivers Spring International include:

• CCI4*-S: James Alliston and Karma (37.2)
• CCI3*-L: Marc Grandia and Levino (31.7)
• CCI3*-S: Erin Kellerhouse and Bon Vivant GWF (29.0)
• CCI2*-L: Jordan Linstedt and LS Crown Royal (30.2)
• CCI2*-S: Kaylawna Smith-Cook and Coco Chanel (30.9)
• CCI1*-L: Jennifer McFall and High Five DF (31.3)
• Open Intermediate: Tommy Greengard and That’s Me Z (28.6)
• Open Preliminary: Tommy Greengard and MBF Google (26.8)
• Preliminary Rider: Caterina Ritson and This Lad Is Gold (30.3)
• Open Modified: Anna Weston Smith and Kinda B Dazzle (35.0)
• Modified Rider: Sophie Stocks and Rosco (33.0)
• Open Training: Tommy Greengard and EWSZ Java (28.9)
• Sr. Training Rider: Teresa Harcourt and Csongor (26.1)
• Jr. Training Rider: Salma Kuhlmann and Rayito de Sol SE (30.8)
• Training Amateur: Lorilee Hanson and Mosaïque (28.6)
• Training Horse: Amber Birtcil and Newton WW (25.0)
• Open Novice: MaryBeth Young and Juliette (27.9)
• Sr. Novice Rider: Lindsay Connors and Never Alone (24.8)
• Jr. Novice Rider: Olivia Harris and Checker Can (30.6)
• Novice Amateur: Valerie Ferraro and Whats That Sportsfield (30.6)
• Novice Horse: Greylin Booth and Remonta Fiador (26.5)
• Open Beginner Novice A: Chloe Smyth and King Kamehameha (26.8)
• Open Beginner Novice B: Leah Yacoub Halperin and Come To Me (25.4)
• Sr. Beginner Novice Rider: Annie Desmond and Little Elf (27.7)
• Jr. Beginner Novice Rider: Lacey LoPiccolo and Paint Me a Picture (35.8)