United States Eventing Association

Boyd Martin and Cooley Nutcracker Conquer Yanmar America Tryon International CCI4*-L

The final day of competition at the the Yanmar America Tryon International Spring Three-Day Event presented by Tow & Collect crowned five new champions, featuring show jumping competition in Tryon Stadium and the final rounds of cross-country competition on the White Oak cross-country course at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (Tryon International). Read more below.

Boyd Martin and Cooley Nutcracker Conquer CCI4*-L Division

Boyd Martin and Cooley Nutcracker won the CCI4*-L division by producing a double-clear stadium performance and remaining on their Saturday score of 32.7. Phillip Dutton and Jewelent (Valent x Roselier), the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Jewelent Group, jumped clear and added 0.4 time faults to keep their spot on the podium, finishing in reserve with 35.2 points. Buck Davidson and Cooley Candyman (Sligo Candy Boy x Flame Hill), the 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned in partnership with Cassandra Segal, secured third place honors with a double-clear round to finish on 41.2 points.

Martin shared that he was humbled to win aboard the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tolan R x Cobra) owned by the Nutcracker Syndicate, in the irons for his Paris 2024 teammate Liz Halliday, who is sidelined by an injury and unable to ride. The result also felt a bit bittersweet for both the Nutcracker Syndicate and Martin’s team:

“He’s just a champion horse, and it's such an honor and privilege to ride him for Liz. And you know, part of me is so happy, and then part of me is a bit sad. It should be Liz winning this class,” he emphasized. “She's done all the hard work on the horse, and he's just a magnificent horse that's been superbly trained. And you know, it's just a bit emotional riding him around, knowing that he was there at the Olympics with us last year, when Liz was at her best. And I'm just very, very grateful that the syndicate asked me to ride him, and it's a real privilege.”

Martin joked that he was hoping to have a few rails in hand, but was dismayed to see fellow competitor Dutton go clear and inside the time. “Usually, Phillip has a couple of rails down, and I was sort of banking on him clanging a few and just having a rail or two up my sleeve. Unfortunately, he jumped clear and inside the time!” Despite the added pressure, Martin was able to protect the lead, but not without again acknowledging the efforts of his teammate.

“I obviously always admired this horse at the competitions, and Liz did an amazing job presenting him, and I thought I'd just hop on and make him look brilliant! It's been challenging to get him going, but we're not anywhere close to having him where Liz had him last year,” Martin said. “This [weekend] is a great stepping stone, and wherever it leads, we're on the way.”

Chris Desino, a member of the “Monster Group” as Halliday’s owners are called, noted that after time off from competitions, it felt good to be back at a horse show cheering on the horses again, despite the circumstances.

“We've been looking forward to it. We had a nice break for eight months, taking care of Liz, but it's a bit bittersweet, like Boyd said. She's thrilled that Boyd is riding the horses, and taking care of them. Her first concern was, where are the horses going? She felt guilty, but she's thrilled they are all under work with Boyd. He’s temporarily inherited the Monster Group!”

Renee Lane added, “we want to thank Boyd and his crew. They've been unbelievable, not only as friends, but from the professional side, top notch, as you can imagine. He’s working really hard, not only with this horse, but many of Liz’s horses. It’s what she wanted.”

CCI3*-L Division: Devon Brown and Hickstead Jump from Sixth to Win

Devon Brown walked into Tryon Stadium in sixth place in the CCI3*-L Division, and posted a double-clear round with Hickstead, her own 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Den Ham Blue R x Tolan R.), to finish on a score of 40.7 that resulted in a win. Climbing the rankings to second from seventh, Katie Lichten and her own Hickstead Musterd, the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Stakkato x Canaletto), finished on a total of 42.6 points. Just 0.1 points behind in third, Lichten also piloted Fast Company, her own 10-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Contendro I x Mr Blue), to a final score of 42.7.

It was her horse’s first CCI3*-L completion, Brown shared, and she detailed that building the relationship between horse and rider has been a slow process. “It's been a long road to get here with him. He's a very, very difficult horse, but the weekend was great. We actually had to retire [on cross-country] at Ocala the show before this, because I couldn't stop him.”

After regrouping and changing some equipment for the sensitive horse, Brown recapped that after almost 8 minutes of successfully navigating the White Oak cross-country course, they triggered a frangible pin and incurred 11 penalty points.

“It was a good thing. That technology is amazing, and if it didn't [trigger] I don't know what today would have looked like,” she admitted. “It was definitely a very good learning experience. And then today, we've been working so hard in the show jumping and getting him relaxed. I messed up, and he said ‘I've got this.’ He was great. I'm so proud of him.”

Brown is no stranger to competing at Tryon International, and called her experience “incredible” from stalls to volunteers and management: “Every time I’m here, it’s beautiful, and the weekend always runs so well. Max [Corcoran] does an incredible job, all the organizers and volunteers do amazing, and I thought everything ran so smoothly.”

Like many riders playing the long game with their horses, Brown is taking things day by day with Hickstead. “This weekend was a good learning experience, and I'm not sure what we'll do in the fall," she said. "I need to keep getting him stronger and keep solidifying this routine with him, and then just kind of take it day by day. I'm just so proud of him. We're still working on control and strength and all that, so we'll see what the fall brings, but he was awesome.”

Meghan O’Donoghue and Global Eros Go Wire to Wire in CCI2*-L Division presented by by Ken Feagin Truck & Trailer

Meghan O’Donoghue and Global Eros, an 8-year-old Warmblood gelding of unrecorded breeding owned in partnership with William Duhring, dominated the CCI2*-L division presented by Ken Feagin Truck & Trailer from start to finish by ending on their dressage score of 24.8. Katherine Maroko, riding her own Redfield Champion (Diarado x Contendro I), an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding, claimed reserve honors on a final score of 29.4, while Mya Poulos and DHI Rock Dancer, her own 9-year-old Westphalian gelding (Rock Forever x Laureus), also finished on their dressage score of 30.6 to earn third place.

Ashley Kehoe and Daktaris Dominate CCI2*-S Division from Day One to Done

With 35.1 points, Ashley Kehoe and Daktaris, a 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Dinken x Cormint) owned by Ashley Kehoe Eventing, added 5.6 time penalties on cross-country to hold onto their first-place position in the CCI2*-S division. Ashley Greene rode HSH Phoenix (by Quainton Colt Forty Five), a 9-year-old Anglo European gelding, to reserve honors with a final score of 35.4. Madeline Scott (CAN) started the weekend tied for 24th with FE Speakeasy, her own 6-year-old Oldenburg gelding (San Giovanni x Unknown), adding just time penalties in both jumping phases to finish third with 42.7 points.

Will Faudree and Ardeo Taycan Win CCI1*-S Division

Will Faudree and Ardeo Taycan, a 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Castlecomer Q x Lancelot) owned by Julia McHugh, produced the only double clear cross-country round of the day in the CCI1*-S division to claim the win on a final score of 33 points. Kendyl Tracy added 7.6 time faults with Dublin ZR, a 6-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Diacontinus x Chico’s Boy) owned by Leslie Mintz, to finish second on 34.0. In third, Sharon White and Arden Janeway, a 6-year-old American Warmblood mare (Jaguar Mail x Freedom Z) owned in partnership with Anita Antenucci, added 1.2 time penalties to conclude their weekend on a total score of 34.7 points and take home third place.

For full results from the Yanmar America Tryon International Spring Three-Day Event presented by Tow & Collect, click here.