United States Eventing Association

Yelm, Wash.—Sept. 15—More than 300 horse and rider combinations gathered for a thrilling weekend of eventing competition at Aspen Farms Horse Trials and the United States Eventing Association (USEA) Area VII Championships from Sept. 12-14. The stakes were high with championship titles on the line, as well as $35,000 worth of prizes from generous show sponsors for top finishers. The three day competition delivered a captivating blend of equestrian sport, community spirit, and scenic beauty, all representative of the unique charms of eventing in the Pacific Northwest.

In the Open Intermediate Championship presented by Tin Men Supply, Tommy Greengard and Balladeer Kilbrickens Lad, owned by Patricia Culleton, had one show jumping rail down on Sunday but still maintained their lead for the overall win.

"Balladeer Kilbrickens Lad has been spectacular all season," Greengard said after the awards ceremony. "He had an unfortunate blip at Galway Downs, so it was great to take him out here and have him feeling so good; so confident in his job and in his body. Away we go!"

Greengard also placed second in the division on That's Me Z, an 8-year-old Zangersheide gelding. He brought "Z" to Aspen Farms for a lighter run after their momentous win in the $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final at the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds this past August.

Of the 12 starters in the Open Intermediate Championship division, Hanni Sreenan and Ebenholtz, owned by Amy Haugen, where the only pair to go clear and inside the time over the show jumping track designed by Chris Barnard. Thanks to that, they moved up from fourth to third.

According to Sreenan, Ebenholtz' performance "was really awesome. I've had some struggles with him the past year, but everything came together for the cross-country and show jump this weekend; it all panned out."

Once again, Greengard found himself at the top of the leaderboard, this time in the Open Preliminary Championship aboard MBF Google, owned by himself and Andrea Pfeiffer. They finished on their dressage score of 26.0.

"'Google' is a special horse," Pfeiffer said while collecting championships prizes for the 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood, whom she and Greengard imported from Ireland. "He is not for everybody. He can be really challenging in the barn. He's quirky and weird, but also a really kind horse. You work within his rules, and he tries his heart out for you. He and Tommy have forged a great partnership. We're really proud of him. He's a good jumper no matter what, but he's really come along on the flat. His gaits have opened up, and he's starting to show some real talent for the future. We're pretty excited!"

Reese Blinks and I'M Jaguar also finished on their dressage score, placing second on a score of 26.9. Tommy Greengard and EL Porvenir Luigi finished third on 27.4.

While Greengard had nothing but positive things to say about all of his horses competing at Aspen Farms, for him the highlight of the whole show was Luigi's show jumping performance.

"Luigi's show jumping round stood out for me," Greengard said after their clear round. "He's a big horse, and he's just 6 years old. He's coming into his body. He really impressed us all weekend long, but especially with his round today. We couldn't be happier with him."

Next up in their show season, Greengard is taking his string of horses to compete at Morven Park International in Virginia. Based out of Chocolate Horse Farm in Petaluma, California, this will be their first time competing at Morven Park.

In the Open Training Championship presented by Panattoni Development, Jordan Linstedt and Liberty R, owned by Amy Itkin, led the division from start to finish.

"That was a really fun show jumping round," Linstedt said after her clear round with the powerful Dutch Warmblood mare. "Sometimes she can get a little tight and tense. Even with a little bit of atmosphere in there today, she stayed fairly relaxed and her jump quality stayed really nice. I felt her jumping through her body. After they run hard on cross-country, sometimes you don't know if you will have that feeling you need on Sunday, but she did. She's ready for the next level. I'm lucky her owner Amy is along for the ride and supports Libby so much, and therefore myself. It's fun to be here and have such a fabulous ride."

Of 17 starters, Sara Sellmer was the only other rider besides Linstedt in the Open Training Championship to go clear and inside the time for both cross-country and show jumping. Thanks to her strong performances in the jumping phases, Sellmer moved up the leaderboard to secure second place with JB Future Willing, owned by Jil Walton, and third place with Sportsfield Supernatural, owned by Lucky Group LLC.

In the Training Amateur Championship presented by Panattoni Development, Sreenan and the 13-year-old Holsteiner mare, Enchanted, show jumped double-clear in a competitive class to move from third place to first. More than winning, the highlight of the weekend for Sreenan was their dressage test on Friday, which scored 28.8.

"We been having the not-greatest dressage scores," Sreenan reflected. "I've been playing around with some different bridles and bits, and it all came together for this show. The plan from here is to try the Modified at Spokane Sport Horse Horse Trials later this month."

Olivia Harris and Checker Can, owned by Joanne Harris, won the Junior Training Championship on 38.5. Lily Rhea and Cooley Ever After were second, and Alexis Hsue and Fantom were third, both on scores of 40.

The Novice Amateur Championships featured a leaderboard topped by strong female performances. The top five placings in the division consisting of female riders and their mares.

Melissa Mohr and her imported German Sporthorse mare, Ferrani, led start to finish on their dressage score of 22.2—the lowest finishing score of the weekend. Tracey Trewin and Barcelona were second on 22.8, and Gabrielle Hansen and Kealah D were third on 25.6.

"I was really happy with our round." Mohr shared. "We've been working on pace and getting her more forward. She definitely sensed the environment today and was a little more horse than usual, but otherwise she jumped very well, and I'm super happy with her. I've had issues at each phase at different points this summer; the cumulation of putting it all together this weekend was the highlight for me. Also, Aspen is a great facility, and we love competing here."

In the Open Novice Championship presented by Olive Equestrian and Caroline Pamukcu Eventing, Jenniver Turla and her Connemara/Thoroughbred gelding, SV Royal Robbie, had a last minute climb up the leaderboard from fourth to first, thanks to their double clear show jumping round over a course that proved difficult to many.

"We have worked really hard this summer at not dropping any rails," Turla shared after her winning round. "This was his second-ever career double-clear. I have a great team behind me. I've loved being here at Aspen Farms, and having my husband and my son here for cross-country, and winning the Championship with my horse who I've had since he was a 2-year-old!"

The Junior Novice Championship winners were Emma Lee and Andiamo Baum. Sylvie Kresser and Hidden Agenda finished second, and Carsyn Ritter and Mr. Curiosity finished third.

"The first half of the course was really smooth and very nice," Lee said after her show jumping round. "Then I got a little nervous, and I got a little tight, but he saved me and finished perfectly."

For Lee, the best part of the weekend was her cross-country ride on Saturday. "Tt was the funnest cross-country course I've ever ridden! It was so much fun that I smiled the whole time. This is my last show of the season. It was a great way to end the season," she said.

In the Open Beginner Novice Championship, Mikaela Kuiper and Smitten, a Thoroughbred owned by Jessica Wickersham, set the bar high with the lowest dressage score on Friday: 20.6. They jumped clear cross-country, had two rails in show jumping, yet secured the win thanks to their 10-point lead after dressage.

"I am a dressage rider," Kuiper shared after their win. "I have not evented in seven years. This year I stepped back into the eventing world with the goal of the AEC. He was the reserve champion at the AEC in August. It's so fun to be back eventing after I've been gone for so long. There's nothing like galloping a Thoroughbred cross-country!"

In the Junior Beginner Novice Championship with 17 starters, Izabella Fierner and Devotion WGF won on 29.3. Mae Boelter and Cooley Sligo, owned by Gerald Dolezal, were second on 30.0, and Mikayla Thomas and Bare Necessities were third on 31.3.

One of the most exciting moments of the show occurred late in the day on Sunday in the Beginner Novice Amateur Championship, sponsored by Elizabeth Gold. Pressure was on Susan Harrel and her 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare, ODonnells Riverdancer, to jump clear. They succeeded, earning the Championship title, but also becoming the second-ever winner of The Arion Challenge. The Arion Challenge awards a custom Arion saddle to one amateur rider/horse combination who wins both their amateur divisions at the June and September Aspen Farms Horse Trials.

"It's hard to choose a favorite moment," Harrel said after receiving her Championship trophy and posing for pictures with an Arion saddle. "My dressage was my best dressage score ever. Cross-country was a blast. Sometimes I get nervous jumping, but it was super fun. I was really proud of her. Sometimes she can be naughty in the warm-up, but she was very good this whole weekend. That was my favorite part."

In addition to the eleven Championship divisions, which required competitors to qualify earlier in the season by finishing first through fifth at a qualifying show, Aspen Farms Horse Trials hosted 10 open divisions.

Sabrina Glaser of British Columbia turned out to be the one to beat in Open Intermediate, finishing first and second on Excalibur O’ Donoghue and Cooley Mr. Murphy, respectively.

"He was super!" Glaser said after her winning show jump round with "Huey," a 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding. "He jumped really well. He's very careful. Silly me, I was thinking a bit too much about the time, so I got a little bit open, we got flat, and he took a rail behind. He's still green, and at the beginning of this year in combinations he would jump clear, but he wouldn't really rock back on the out, especially if he got too close. But today for both combinations he sat down and jumped around the jump. He's fantastic; I'm really excited going forward."

Of the 15 competitors in Open Preliminary, only the first and second place finishers show jumped clear and inside the time. Caterina Ritson and This Lad is Gold won on 32.9, and Cayden Gaffney and Quidproquo, owned by Sophia Click, rocketed up the scoreboard from ninth to second on 35.5. Stephanie Goodman and HSH Clever Z, owned by Coco Ramkowsky, jumped clear but earned .4 time penalties, bumping them down to third on 35.7.

See the complete scores from all divisions online at ShowConnect, here. Follow along with more show coverage on Aspen Farms Horse Trials Facebook Page, or follow us on Instagram @AspenFarmsHorseTrials.