A full day of dressage competition at the Military Boekelo CCIO4*-L saw 50 riders trot down the centerline in front of judges Jane Tolley (GBR), Stuart Bishell (NZL), and Dr. Katrin Eichinger-Kniely (AUT). Germany's Sandra Auffarth and Let's Dance 74 (Lancer II x Stella VIII), a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Dörthe Loheit and Marina Köhncke, lead the way on an impressive 24.9. This is a relatively new partnership for Auffarth, with only three FEI competitions as a pair. They were most recently fourth In the CCIO4*-S at Waregem.
Second place after the first day of competition went to Yoshiaki Oiwa and Bart L JRA (United x Parisma), Japan Equestrian Federation's 13-year-old KWPN gelding, on a score of 25.6. Earlier this summer the pair were third in the Tokyo 2020 Test Event.
Christopher Burton and Clever Louis (Cyrkon x Lafita 6), his own and Geoffrey and Kate Guy's 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding, sit in third place on a score of 26.0.
Leading the charge for the Americans is Tamra Smith and Eric Markell and Ellen and Alex Ahearn's Mai Baum (Loredano x Ramira), 13-year-old German Sport Horse gelding, on a score of 26.7. The 2019 Pan American Games gold medal-winning duo currently sit in sixth place less than two points off the leaders.
Teammate Jennie Brannigan and Stella Artois, the Stella Artois Syndicate's 11-year-old Holsteiner/Thoroughbred mare, lie just inside the top 20 in a three-way tie for 19th place on a score of 31.3. Earlier this summer the pair were winners in the CCI4*-L at Rebecca Farm and they most recently were fifth in the CCI4*-S at Plantation Field.
Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver (Womanizer x Kylemore Crystal), The Monster Partnership's 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, are just 0.4 points behind Brannigan and Stella Artois on a score of 31.7, good enough for equal 23rd overnight.
With three team riders in the top eight, Germany is well out in front in the FEI Eventing Nations Cup competition at Boekelo on a score of 78.1. With a strong showing in today's dressage competition, the United States is situated in second place on 89.7. Japan is close behind in third place on 90.2.
Tomorrow, reserve pair Matt Flynn and Wizzerd (Wizzerd x Amai), Patrick and Kathleen Flynn and Merry Go Round Farm's 10-year-old KWPN gelding, will take to the arena to perform their test at 10:54 a.m. local time.
As this FEI Eventing Nations Cup is an Olympic trial event, it is being conducted based on the new Olympic format that will go into effect at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. In this new format, teams are made up of three horse/rider combinations instead of four, with a fourth reserve rider who may be substituted in during any of the three phases of competition. However, an exception is being made at this event which allows reserve combinations to compete for MER and qualification purposes when they otherwise would only compete if substituted. For more information on this new format and how it is being used at Boekelo, click here.
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Bec Braitling is passionate about continuing education in the sport of eventing— not just for riders, but for coaches as well.
Over the course of the last few weeks, we’ve been inundated by horrific images of the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Horse people all share a common bond, and that sense of community extends beyond Area 2. In light of this, Eileen Pritchard-Bryan has generously offered to partner with us on a USEF/USEA & FEI Eventing rules refresher webinar as a fundraiser for those affected by the recent hurricanes.
When That’s Me Z won the USEA Young Event Horse West Coast 5-Year-Old Championship in 2022, his co-owners Tommy Greengard and Andrea Pfeiffer knew that competing at the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Championships for Young Horses at Mondial du Lion in Le Lion d'Angers, France, in two years time was the ultimate goal for the promising young Zangersheide (Take A Chance On Me Z x Venetia) gelding.
The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is excited to announce a request for expressions of interest to host the first standalone USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships in 2026 and 2027. With the success of the inaugural joint championships in 2024, the USEA is confident that the progression of these programs lends to a standalone event for these hardworking students in 5th through 12th grade and undergraduate college programs.