United States Eventing Association

The morning dawned bright and sunny as The Fork CIC3* and Horse Trials resumed in Norwood, NC. The main attraction of the day was the cross-country phase for the Advanced, CIC3* and Intermediate riders, and the spectators were not disappointed. The day was full of brilliant riding and beautiful weather to boot.

Mark Phillips’ cross-country course was beautifully laid out and decorated, and crews worked tirelessly to keep the footing ideal for the competitors. Only a few horses and riders were able to make the optimum time, which caused quite a shake up in the leader boards in all the divisions.

One of the biggest moves of the day came in the USEA/Adequan Gold Cup Advanced division. Phillip Dutton and Jan Byyny’s Waterfront jumped eleven places from twelfth after dressage to first after a fast and clean cross-country run. The pair added just .40 time faults to their dressage score to finish with a two-day total of 32.4.

“This is Jan’s horse,” Dutton said. “I’m just riding him for her. She’s done most of the work. I’m just trying to get to know him a little more.”

Sitting just behind Dutton and Waterfront in second are Buck Davidson and his flashy gray, Titanium. Despite sitting in seventh place after dressage, Davidson and Titanium added only a handful of time faults to their score to leave them with a total of 33.0. Davidson was overwhelming pleased with “Ty” and his effort on the course today, despite a little speed-bump before the run even began.

“My little baby, Titanium, he was ten seconds over the time,” he explained. “He hates things coming towards him and just as I went in the start box, something came at him and he spun around. Of course that was right as they said ‘5’, so we were 6 seconds late coming out of the box.”

Also moving up from their standings after dressage was Bonnie Mosser and her long time partner Merloch. Like Davidson, Mosser was able to pilot Merloch around the course, adding just 6 time faults to bring her total to 34.0.

“I felt right from the beginning that he was in a really good mood and feeling fresh. My goal, as always, was to go a little faster. I tried to jump a few more jumps out of stride and take the direct route to everything.”

Overnight leaders Becky Holder and Courageous Comet had an unfortunate run-out early in the course to add 20 faults to their score, bumping them out of the top ten. The only double clear round in the Advanced division came from Robert Meyerhoff and Smooth Rider. The feat boosted them from 25th after dressage to ninth.

The USEA/Adequan Gold Cup division wasn’t the only one to witness changes on the leader board. The CIC3* division also finished the day with new leaders.

Allison Springer was able to regain sole position of first place with a fast and flawless round. Arthur added just 1.6 time faults to his dressage score to bring his total to 38.5, more than two points ahead of his nearest competitor.

“This was a perfect last run before Kentucky, and that was my goal here,” Springer said. “It’s great to do well and it’s nice to be where I am, but most importantly it’s great to do well before Kentucky. I thought he galloped great and jumped well. Everything just felt very easy. I feel like all three courses are a little softer than last year, but in a good way. It’s nice to go out and have a good gallop around.”

Sliding into second position were Buck Davidson and My Boy Bobby. Despite Davidson’s concerns about “Bobby’s” fitness level, they ran a fast and smooth round to bring their score to 40.9.

“Bobby hasn’t done that much,” said Davidson. “He did a dressage and a show jumping at Red Hills, and then a preliminary at Rocking Horse. I didn’t know what to expect. I went out there with a nice, open gallop. I’m really excited about him. I know he can go faster than that. He’s a different horse this year.”

Phillip Dutton and his flashy chestnut Woodburn moved into third place after adding just 0.80 time faults to their dressage score to bring their two-day total to 45.5.

“This was Woodburn’s last prep before he, hopefully, goes to Badminton. I was pleased with him. He handled it quite easily.”

Only two pairs were able to turn in double clear rounds in the CIC division. Michael Pollard and Wonderful Will moved into fourth place after their fault free round, and just behind them, Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle RM moved into sixth.

“Reggie’s fit and he was one of the only two to make the time,” Davidson said. “He was fantastic. I haven’t gone that fast in a long time!”

Will Faudree and Pawlow just narrowly missed the time allowed, but were still boosted into eighth.

Unfortunately, the day was not without its share of horse and rider falls. Mara Dean, who was sitting in fourth after the dressage, made the decision to pull Nicki Henley up when he came up lame after hitting a jump. The gelding was stabilized and taken back to the stables in the equine ambulance. Early reports indicate that he may have reaggravated an old tendon injury.

Additionally, both Madeline, ridden by Holly Payne, and Guinness X, ridden by Mary Bess Sigman, were taken back to the stables in the equine ambulance after incidences on course. Neither horse was reported to have sustained any serious injury, however.

Tomorrow begins bright an early with the CIC horse inspection at 8:00 am, followed by the beginning of show jumping for the divisions that ran cross-country today.

The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many sponsors: Title: Adequan; Legacy: Nunn Finer and Nutrena, and Patron: Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency, Mountain Horse, and Succeed.

Winners of the Advanced division, the designated "Gold Cup division," will take home $500 in prize money, 7-dose box of Adequan, a three-month supply of SUCCEED, and a pair of Nunn Finer American Style open front boots. Second place finishers take home a Nutrena feed gift certificate and a pair of Nunn Finer American Style open front boots, and third place receives a pair of the Nunn Finer boots as well.