United States Eventing Association

Coleman Records a Win in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Advanced at Carolina International

The top five spots remained unchanged following show jumping in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Advanced division at the Carolina International CIC and Horse Trials. Sixteen pairs jumped on the footing over a Marc Donovan course and only three had rails down and three accrued time penalties.

Off the Record (VDL Arkansas x Drumagoland Bay) ridden by William Coleman and owned by the Off The Record Syndicate jumped a clear round to take the win in his first attempt at the level. “There’s things to clean up,” said Coleman of the 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding’s show jumping. “But there always is, and I am fighting a little bit of a perfectionist streak so I can’t be anything but happy. He tried really hard and this was a big test for a first Advanced, and he really was awesome yesterday, so I was thrilled.”

Like many other eventers, Coleman has been working with Richard Picken in the show jumping and he said that it has really helped him. “Richard has been great for me. The consistency of having one person kind of manage your warm-up allows me to think more about doing my thing on the horses. I think it has been great for me mentally as much as anything and obviously I think he has been really dedicated to the event riders and we are appreciative of someone that can devote that kind of time to our improvement. That is what this team is really becoming.”

In addition to Picken’s assistance, Coleman credits having his wife, Katie, and his baby daughter, Charlie at her first Carolina. “Katie is such a big part of what we do at home – a lot of people don’t realize how much she does for me. She is kind of my everyday eyes on the ground. She is a fabulous horse person and a great rider in her own right. It was nice to have my whole family here, and we had a great week so it just made it that much better. I am a very lucky guy right now.”

As for what is next for Off the Record? He is headed to his first CIC3* at Fair Hill in a few weeks and then the plan is up in the air. “My plan with the owners has been to just campaign him this summer through the CIC level because I thought he needed time to develop that stamina and turn of foot to make the time at CCI level, but jeez he was so good yesterday I don’t know if maybe that has already happened,” concluded Coleman.

Both second-placed Boyd Martin and the Long Island T Syndicate’s Long Island T 12-year-old Oldenburg/Thoroughbred (Ludwig Von Bayern x Hauptsbuch Highlight) and Coleman’s other Advanced ride, Tight Lines, an 11-year-old French Thoroughbred gelding (Turgeon x Merindole), owned by the Conair Syndicate, held onto their positions with clear rounds.

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About the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series

The 2018 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series features 11 qualifying competitions throughout the United States at the Advanced horse trials and CIC3* levels. The qualifying period begins August 2017 and continues through August 2018 with the final taking place at the 2018 USEA American Eventing Championships at the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, Colorado, August 29 – September 2, 2018. Riders who complete a qualifier earn the chance to vie for $40,000 in prize money and thousands of dollars in prizes and the title of Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Final Advanced Division.

The USEA would like to thank Adequan, Standlee Hay Company, Nutrena, Merck Animal Health, Parker Equine Insurance, and FITS for sponsoring the 2018 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series. View the full schedule and learn more about the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series here.