United States Eventing Association

A New Confidence Gives Green the Day 1 Dressage Lead at MARS Maryland 5 Star

Elkton, Md.—Oct. 17—Cosby Green’s been partnered with Highly Suspicious for seven years, and she admits, their partnership didn’t have the strongest start.

“I probably had no business buying him when I did at 16; couldn't ride one side of him, scored consistently in the 40s and had lots of 20s [on cross-country], and he was just really difficult,” the 23-year-old said.

But a move to England in March 2023 with help from the Wilton Fair Grant and the Essex Horse Trials Grant turned her partnership with the 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse by Russel around.

Green gained valuable experience at the five-star level with schoolmaster Copper Beach, and has been training with New Zealand five-star couple Tim and Jonelle Price.

“Jonelle specifically, she has just changed my entire perspective on the sport—how to look at success and how to look at learning opportunities and really to believe in myself," said Green. "That's something I really struggle with. And my horse is super sensitive to that, and he lacks confidence and is quite anxious as well. We're quite similar people really! I think just having Jonelle believe in me and changing the program—we've just flourished because of it.”

Green, who’s a native of Lexington, Kentucky, headed back across the pond this week with “Puff” to tackle his first five-star at the MARS Maryland 5 Star, and they earned a 28.0—a personal best at any level they’ve contested—to take the lead after the first day of dressage.

Watch Green's test via Clipmyhorse.tv.

“It’s something I was striving for, but I wasn't expecting it to really happen,” she said. “I thought it was some of his best work in the ring so far. It's hard to not be frustrated with the walk, and we know that's his weakness, but he went in there, and I just thought he did a great demonstration of all the work we've been putting in. And that doesn't always happen in such a big atmosphere. I really am thrilled with him.”

She added that the move to England has been a chance to find out what really works for the gelding, especially on the flat.

“We've really just flourished together,” she said. “He's always had the talent and the ability, and it's just been a matter of getting his body right and his mind right to really be able to put in our best performances and be consistent at it. There's been so many times—probably three years ago, I was doing anything I could to give him to someone else or sell him, and everyone just kept telling me to stick with it because he is phenomenal, but it's not been a smooth road. But it's a day like today that makes it worth it.”

Green added that her five-star horse Copper Beach, who was campaigned to the level by Buck Davidson, has made her a more confident rider, and she hopes to bring that experience to Puff’s first five-star cross-country course on Saturday.

“It's such a privilege to be able to have done my first few five-stars on Copper Beach,” she said. “He’s been such a life-changing horse for me. He's just given me so much confidence, and I'm able to come here and not be too overwhelmed. And just having that experience behind me means so much, and I really just hope I can carry that over to Puff and give him a really good experience and pass along the knowledge.”

Boyd Martin was riding another five-star debutante in Yankee Creek Ranch LLC’s Commando 3. The 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Connor 48 x R-Adelgunde) put in a steady test to score a 28.5.

“I was thrilled with my guy,” he said. “He can get a little bit spooky and sharp in a big-atmosphere ring like this. I was very lucky that my wife [Silva Martin] took him to a number of dressage shows in the lead up, including Dressage At Devon. I think going to dressage shows with a lot of atmosphere and electricity in the ring was very beneficial because I just felt like he was more rideable in the ring than usual.”

“Connor” was Boyd’s 2024 Paris Olympics reserve horse, so he’s been waiting this year for his moment to shine. The gelding came to his barn in early 2023 after competing to the Advanced level with Swedish rider Louise Romeike.

“He's had a big year of training, just because we had him ready for the Olympic Games, which was in July. It’s hard—he was someone else's horse for a long time, and we've had a quick get-to-know-each-other partnership. I feel like we know each other now, and we're a team where the first 12 months, I was still figuring out all the little quirks with him. He'd be right up there with the most talented animal that I've ever sat on.”

Boyd’s walked Ian Stark’s final track and described it as a “five-and-a-half star.”

“It's been smooth sailing at the competitions [with Connor], but this one's going to really see where we're at,” he said. “I think this is a tremendous course. It's big fences, a test of fitness and stamina and bravery, and it's just a field of amazing horses and riders. I think if you win this year, you're one of the best in the world, because if you look down the list of horses and riders here, holy moly, it's an unbelievable quality field. Finishing the top five would be a huge accomplish, just because of the people you're up against.”

Lindsay Traisnel’s known Bacyrouge since the gelding was 4, and now at age 13, Patricia Pearce’s Selle Français gelding (Mylord Cathargo HN x Lelia) is tackling his first five-star.

The pair scored a 30.7 to sit in third place.

“We bought him as a 4-year-old to resell, and then decided that there was no way we could sell him,” said Traisnel, who rides for Canada. “We've just brought him up the levels since then. My husband [Xavier Traisnel] rode him a bit when I was pregnant, and so it's really been a family affair.”

She added that the gelding has been feeling well in his body and has become stronger, which has translated to better flatwork.

“He's more confident in his changes,” she said. “He gets a bit nervous about those and like anything that he ever does wrong, it’s only because he wants to do it too well. He's a little exuberant. It’s just putting it all together, but I knew we had it in him.”

Dressage for the five-star begins tomorrow at 2:05 p.m.

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