United States Eventing Association

The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Advanced Division at the Fork Horse Trials is stacked with the top riders in the country on their best horses. Judge Robert Stevenson scored eight of their pairs under 30 points – a tough score to earn at any level but especially when riding the difficult Advanced B test. Nearly every single competitor in the Advanced B division is using the Fork as their final run before heading to the Rolex Kentucky CCI4* and being able to ride this particular Advanced test was a big part of the decision to forgo the CIC3* class in favor of the Advanced.

“I think the Advanced Test B is a better prep for Rolex,” explained Allison Springer. “Obviously it is good to support the Gold Cup class too, but the Advanced Test B is a much better prep for Kentucky than that three-star test. This one we get to do the canter half pass and a tougher serpentine and changes; a lot of the things are pretty similar to the four-star test. I do like that they have made the Advanced cross-country pretty similar to the three-star.”

Allison rode into the lead with her 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Brandenburg’s Windstar x Kelly) gelding, Arthur scoring a 22.7 despite a flock of birds determine to throw Arthur off his game by flying at him repeatedly in the middle of the extended trot.

“I was really pleased with Arthur today,” said Allison Springer. “Obviously one of the things I have been working on is proactively and correctly riding through his spook and today was the ultimate test as I had some angry birds. I think they must have laid some eggs between B and X – oh it was awful - there were four birds and they make this squeaking noise and they don’t want us in there. That’s a really hard thing and I thought he was really good to stay in front of my leg and soft and his changes felt good. He was super.

Arthur has the day off tomorrow before heading out to tackle the cross-country course on Saturday.

“My plan going into cross-country is to have a good strong run,” said Allison. “This is your final Kentucky prep. They always do a super job with the footing here, it’s a beautiful course design, and this is a place where I like to go and make time. It’s the time of year for that, and I need to just keep practicing and doing that – making him a more competitive horse. He feels great and has been really good, so I am excited for Saturday.

Becky rode her pair of grey geldings, Courageous Comet and Can’t Fire Me, to sub-30 scores. The 16-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Courageous Comet is coming back from a long recovery after being injured at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, but his flashy trot hasn’t suffered a bit and he earned a 23.7 for second place. Can’t Fire Me is part of a three-way tie for sixth place on a 28.7.

Only .3 behind Becky and Courageous Comet is Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville, a 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Carraig, LLC. The entire field is divided by only 22 points so one stop and a hand full of time on cross-country could make it anyone’s game.

CIC3*

Jude’s Law is the most recent edition to Michael Pollard’s extensive string of Advanced level horses, but he proved the winner today scoring a 41.1 to take the lead in the very large CIC3* at the Fork Horse Trials. The 11-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding by Coevers Diamond Boy was the last to go for Thursday CIC3* horses and knocked Karen O’Connor and Veronica off their longtime place on the top of the leaderboard.

“Jude has been going really well this year in general,” said Michael Pollard. “And he went really well again today. He is a horse that you can really go for every movement, really trainable, really soft; it makes you feel like you are better than you probably are. You can also sit up and ride him in a way that shows him off so it makes it a bit easier. I botched a couple of movements so I have some things to work on which is good. You never want to feel like you do your best until you are at the biggest events. All in all I was really happy – he continues to improve and think there is still some room to go so I am excited.”

Michael rode three of his mounts today, but still has his Pan-Am partner, Schoensgreen Hanni, to keep him busy tomorrow in the Advanced A division before heading out to Capt. Mark Phillip’s cross-country course on Saturday with all four rides.

“I think it [the cross-country course] is fair. There is plenty to do, but it is a good galloping track,” continued Michael. “It is probably the best one I have seen as a lead-up. I mean I may fall off all four of my horses, but I think the course is good. If I do fall off it will be my fault! I think the course is really well done this year.”

Karen O’Connor and Team Rebecca LLC’s ten-year-old Dutch Warmblood/Thoroughbred mare, Veronica, are only a point off of the lead on a 42.3.

“I was actually really, really happy with the first half of my test, the trot work,” said Karen O’Connor. “Veronica has been coming on really strong over the last six months, and I am really excited about her. Her movement has stepped up to a new level. I sort of lost the connection in the canter, and she got quite crooked in the canter. I left a lot on the table in the second half of the test, so I am excited to improve that for Rolex. I was delighted with her and am looking forward to the weekend.”

“Kudos to Jim and Bernadette and their entire team,” continued Karen. “I have been here ever since one of the first events and the property looks magnificent – it is really starting to become a mature farm. With the great mild spring that we have had, the footing is unbelievable and they have such great course builders who have such an attention to detail. Jim said to me about an hour ago that they are expecting between 4,000 and 5,000 spectators on Saturday which is wonderful.”

Rounding out the top three in the CIC3* is Marilyn Little-Meredith with Raylan Farm’s RF Demeter, a ten-year-old Oldenburg (Rubin Royal x Patricia) mare who Marilyn has only been partnering with since December of last year. The pair had a rocky dressage test in the CIC3* at Red Hills, but were back to top form today to score an even 45.

Numerous other riders rode in the CIC2*, Intermediate, Preliminary, and Training divisions at the Fork farm today. Live scoring can be seen on Event Entries.

In addition to the eventing going on this weekend, there is another sport happening as well. The Fork's annual "Shoot for the Stars" kicked off last night with Advanced riders pairing with clay shooters to participate in a team competition that will continue throughout the event. You can follow the scores on the Fork website or view the PDF here.

About The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series

Now in its ninth year, the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is an exciting format of competition and entertainment for U.S. Eventing, encompassing seven of the top eventing competitions from around the U.S. where the best of the best vie for prize money, trophies, and the title of Gold Cup Champion.

Winners of each of the seven Gold Cup events across the country take home a trailer-load of prizes for their achievements. Winners receive an Adequan USEA Gold Cup Trophy, $500 in prize money, 7-dose box of Adequan, $200 Point Two Gift Certificate, and $500 worth of Nunn Finer Products. Second place finishers also take home a 7-dose box of Adequan and a $100 Point Two Gift Certificate.