United States Eventing Association

Time was the biggest factor on the Advanced division cross-country phase today at the Millbrook Horse Trials. Meghan O’Donoghue, Round Hill, Virginia and her 18-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Palm Crescent had the fastest round of the day to add 6 time penalties and move into the lead (35.3).

The Millbrook Horse Trials kicked off on July 25 with lower level dressage at Riga Meadow Equestrian Center at Coole Park in Millbrook, New York. There are more than 400 total entries competing at Millbrook, from Beginner Novice to Advanced level. Today the upper level horses cantered down the centerline, while the lower levels headed out on cross-country.

The Plantation Field International CCI4*-S concluded today with the cross-country phase, and the final standings were nearly a matter of “last one standing.” As Tropical Storm Ophelia brought a torrential downpour to the area, a number of riders decided to opt out: of 39 competitors, only six completed, and 17 withdrew before the start of cross-country.

As Tropical Storm Ophelia brought soaking rains to the region today, the Plantation Field International continued its four days of competition with CCI3*-S and CCI4*-S show jumping and cross-country for CCI1*-S, CCII2*-S, and CCI3*-S divisions.

The CCI4*-S division at the 2023 Plantation Field International Horse Trials kicked off today with 39 horses headed down centerline. Local rider Boyd Martin of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, topped the leaderboard riding Luke 140, owned by the Luke 140 Syndicate, and is also tied for third (28.8) with the Annie Goodwin Syndicate’s Fedarman B. Martin is also placed 23^rd with Contessa, owned by the Turner family.

Overnight leader Sharon White and her 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding Claus 63 (Catoo x Tina II) could afford one rail down in the show jumping phase, but they jumped around clear and in the time to secure the win in the Advanced division at the 2023 Millbrook Horse Trials on a score of 36.2. White also finished fourth in spite of one rail down riding the 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Shirsheen Ice (Candy Copper x Regal Sting xx) that she co-owns with Kathleen Neuhoff.

Sharon White and Claus 63 (Catoo x Tina II) took the lead after cross-country at the 2023 Millbrook Horse Trials, held July 27-30 in Dutchess County, New York. She’s also standing in 5th place with the 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Shirsheen Ice (Candy Copper x Regal Sting xx), who White co-owns with Kathleen Neuhoff.

The Millbrook Horse Trials, held July 27-30 in Dutchess County, New York, wrapped up the first two days of competition today, with the upper levels taking to the dressage phase at Riga Meadow at Coole Park Farm, and the lower levels heading out on the cross-country course across the road.

Local rider Buck Davidson and Katherine O'Brien's 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding Carlevo (Caresino x Ramatuelle) prevailed to win the CCI4*-S at Plantation Field International Sunday after jumping clear around a heavily influential cross-country track designed by Derek di Grazia. Adding 6.0 time faults to his score put Davidson atop the leaderboard with 32.5 penalties, with Woods Baughman of Lexington, Kentucky placing second on 34.0 riding his 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding C’est La Vie 135 (Contendro I x Anette) after Liz Halliday-Sharp and The Monster Partnership's 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Cooley Quicksilver (Womanizer x Kylemore Crystal), second after yesterday’s show jumping, added 15 faults for missing a flag and dropped to 5th place.

Ziggy has never been a straightforward horse, but he’s always been a fancy mover. Owner Rachel Jurgens remembers that even when she got him off the track, he was easy to ride on the flat at home. But away from home, the issues started to show up: as an event horse, his dressage scores were never impressive because he would get so stressed. Now, at age 25, Ziggy is shining in a second career competing in Grand Prix level dressage with rider Rachel King – though, on occasion, the former five-star event horse can still be inclined to blow his top in an otherwise good test.