United States Eventing Association

Raeford, N.C.—March 15—For some riders, it’s easy to miss the moments in between the big goals like a championship or a long format event, but Jennie Brannigan is savoring her moment today at the Setters' Run Farm Carolina International CCI4*-S, where she took home the win on Tim and Nina Gardner’s FE Lifestyle.

Brannigan, West Grove, Pennsylvania, is using Carolina as a prep run for either the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event or Badminton (England) on “Foxy,” her veteran five-star horse. She jumped around Derek di Grazia’s debut cross-country course at the Carolina Horse Park clear with 10 time penalties to win on a score of 40.3 ahead of 32 other pairs.

"It means a lot,” she said. “I think it’s really easy to just move on to the next thing when you do well, always looking ahead. And while it’s important to keep the big picture in mind, it’s just as important to celebrate the moments when things go right. Finding that balance is hard.”

Carolina holds a lot of memories for Brannigan, who was third here in 2017 with her former partner Cambalda. Last year she was seventh with Foxy. But she also recalled a bad fall with the Foxy in 2019 when they were competing in the CCI4*-S and she broke several bones in her face.

“It’s been such a journey with this horse,” she said. “I broke my face at this venue riding him, and now, to be here, with [local horsewoman] Annie Eldridge’s support—it’s a full-circle moment. To be honest, I’ve been working so much, and I’m so exhausted that it’ll probably take a few days for it all to sink in. But this horse deserves it. He’s phenomenal. He’s just pure joy to ride, and I’m so happy that the flatwork is coming along.”

Brannigan stayed in Pennsylvania this winter, so Foxy has had just one run prior to this event. She called the 15-year-old German Sport Horse gelding (Leo von Faelz x Berina A) a true five-star horse who’s able to be competitive in a variety of competitions like the $100,000 Sterling Venture Capital Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase (Aiken, South Carolina) two weeks ago, as well as short- and long-format events.

“I’ve won four-star shorts before on horses that weren’t five-star horses, and it made me question the sport a little. Like, is it even possible to have a horse that excels in both?” she said. “But this horse—he deserves this recognition. And for his owners, for everyone who has supported him, I’m happy.”

Brannigan set out on today’s course in second place behind leaders Monica Spencer and Artist, but when they had a frangible pin down at fence 9c and some time, Brannigan took the win. She added that she’s most proud that she didn’t let her competitiveness get in the way of doing the right thing for her horse.

“That’s what matters most. And the fact that it still turned into a win? That’s just amazing. It validates my process and my mentality,” she said.

Canada’s Waylon Roberts slotted into second place on a score of 42.1 on his own and Michelle and John Koppins’ 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare OKE Ruby R (Namelus R x B. Termie R 6).

The pair finished second at last year’s Mars Bromont CCI4*-L (Quebec, Canada), but Roberts felt something wasn’t quite right with “Ruby.” He felt she needed more weight, adding that she can be an internal worrier and sometimes forgets to eat.

“For me, this [weekend] was a bit of a fact-finding mission,” he said. “I pulled Ruby out of competition for a few months last year to get her in better condition—to build up her bones and muscle. We spent about six months working really hard at the end of last season to get her firing on all cylinders again. So, this was really our first test of her fitness and conditioning since last August.

“I always have to set a good pace with her because that’s just what she and I like,” he continued. “And she answered everything I asked of her today. There were a few moments of seat-of-the-pants riding, which, honestly, is just a bit of our style. But we always have a plan B, C, D, and E."

During Ruby’s break, Roberts switched her feed, and she put on a lot weight, but then she contracted EPM.

“There’s a lab that does a great job diagnosing and creating personalized treatment plans. That was probably the biggest piece of the puzzle,” he said. “My vet, Tom Wendel, in Aiken, worked diligently to figure out what was going on. She looked amazing, felt amazing, but I just knew something wasn’t quite right. That’s where experience comes in—you have to trust your gut. Even though everything seemed to be going well, I knew we weren’t at 100%. [Bromont] which was my personal best performance ever, but results don’t always tell the whole story."

Taking the pressure off the mare and letting her reset has made her come back more confident in herself this year, Roberts said. He’s eyeing the Tryon CCI4*-L (Mill Spring, North Carolina) for Ruby next.

Allison Springer rounded out the top 3 on Nancy Winter’s homebred 11-year-old Connemara-Thoroughbred mare No May Moon (Catherston Dazzler x Ebony Moon).

The diminutive “Mayzie” may look like a pony, but she’s got a big step and has excelled since moving up to the Advanced level last year.

"I thought it was a great course,” said Springer, Upperville, Virginia. “There were certainly a few things I wondered about, but I have so much confidence—not just in my mare, but also in Derek as a course designer. He’s such a gifted designer, and I’m incredibly grateful to this entire organizing committee for putting on such a class event. For a horse like Mayzie, who’s only been at this level for about a year, the thing that makes her such a great cross-country horse is getting to run great courses at top competitions like this. I’m so grateful for the work they’ve put into the footing over the years, the course design, the fence construction—every detail. It’s all so horse-friendly. The stabling, the competition site—it’s a world-class setup.”

Springer is also riding Mayzie’s full brother, Crystal Crescent Moon, in the Intermediate this weekend. “They’re both so surefooted, so clever, and such good jumpers,” she said. “They just love their job. When you talk about a horse that truly understands and enjoys the sport—that’s these two, all day long. It’s really fun. I also just feel incredibly blessed to have such an amazing mare and to have Nancy Winter in my life. She’s believed in me since I was a kid, and now this little mare is making dreams come true for both of us."

Overall, di Grazia’s course resulted in 28 of 33 competitors completing. Three pairs retired after refusals, one pair was eliminated for refusals, five pairs picked up jumping penalties, and there was one rider fall but no reported injuries. No one made the optimum time of 6 minutes 15 seconds.

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