United States Eventing Association

Elkton, Md.​​—Oct. 18— While cross-country in the CCI3*-L at the MARS Maryland 5 Star definitely put horse and riders to the test, the top three after dressage answered the call, putting in double-clear rounds to hold onto their placings going into the final phase and leaving their dressage scores unmarred.

“I kind of felt like I was back on a timber horse around the first bit of this track on Conner,” said leader Isabelle Bosley, who grew up in the area and has raced at Fair Hill. “He went out pretty bold, but once he settled into things and kind of got his groove going he just ate it up and just felt super fit all the way around and came dragging me up for the final hill. He just answered all the questions super, so I was just thrilled with him.”

Bosley has been partnered with Karen Martin’s 8-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Casiro 3 x Monique) for three years now. She felt like he really stepped up to the plate across Pierre Le Goupil’s challenging three-star test today.

“I know him really well, but this is definitely the hardest track he's seen and the biggest atmosphere he's ever been in,” she noted. “Definitely, I could feel him kind of rattled a little in the beginning—normally he's charging around, which he was, but he definitely was taking a look at things. It almost was a good thing, because he sometimes doesn't respect the fences enough. I thought I had him fit enough, but sometimes you don't know until you hit this level, and it's the first time. But he was still dragging me up the last hill, so I'm really pleased with how his fitness is and looking forward to taking that on the next season.”

This is Conner’s first CCI3*-L, although he did do a long format at the two-star level at the end of his 2024 season. Bosley noted that tomorrow will be a learning experience for her and her mount.

“He’s a careful show jumper, but he is still quite young,” she said. “This is only the second long I've done with him with show jumping after the cross-country. This definitely would have been the hardest test he did today. So it will definitely be a little bit of a learning experience for me tomorrow to see what kind of horse I have after a big track. But he's a pretty bold guy, so hopefully it'll work in my favor.”

Alyssa Phillips put her new relationship with her and Julie Phillip’s 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding Rockett 19 (Rock Forever x Dery A Mona) to the test today, and she was thrilled with how the horse performed.

“I didn't really know how mine was going to handle everything, especially being the first time that he has seen the hills at Fair Hill—they're notorious. So I didn't really know how he was going to feel, but I wanted to make sure that I was up on my minutes, and I got to the top of the hill at the crab water and turned around to come home and said, ‘Let's go, boy,’ and he was great. I couldn't have asked more from him. I just think, since I've had him for such a short amount of time, it was a really great learning experience for me and for him, because I don't know the type of tracks that he's seen in the past, but I just think that it's good for both of us and our partnership, and it's a lot to take away for the future for the two of us.”

Phillips, who is based in Ocala, Florida, year-round, noted that her preparations for the event had to be a little bit different to get Rockett ready for the terrain at Fair Hill.

“I have a little bit of my own obstacle in terms of getting a horse fit for an event like this, because we don't have the hills that Pennsylvania does,” she said. “Given this being my first long format on the horse, I didn't even know how he was going to cope with it, and I really had no idea how he was going to cope with the fitness that I put on him. I was just kind of hoping that I'd done the correct job with him, and I've done all the right things. When I got out there on the course with him, I just let him pick his own pace and tried not to interfere with him too much and I think that really paid off a lot.”

Current third-placed rider Olivia Dutton was thrilled with her new ride, Jewelent, especially after the pair had to wait out a lengthy hold on course. Her father, Phillip Dutton, previously campaigned the gelding to the four-star level.

“I did get held on course for maybe 15 minutes, so he actually took a breather,” she shared. “I don't love getting held just because you're so focused, and it kind of rattles you a little bit, but I just tried to kind of stay on task. But he felt great, and it kind of just reassured the partnership that I've started with him. I'm really learning to trust him— he's such an honest horse.”

She is hopeful all will go well in the show jumping phase tomorrow.

“My horse tries really hard,” she said of the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Vallent x Bellaney Jewel). “He has a very unique style of jumping. It's not your average type—I say he kind of does it in his own way. So, I think as long as I can ride him well, we can hope to get a clear round, but you never know. Anything can happen. We're gonna just give it our best shot.”

Of the 53 entries, 41 will move on to show jumping on Sunday. There were five pairs who retired on course and seven who were eliminated. Elle Choate and Paddrick fell at the MARS Sustainability Bay resulting in a long hold on course. Choate was transported to the hospital with some potential fractures and is reported to be in stable condition. Paddrick was reported to be fine.

Competitors in the CCI3*-L will undergo their final horse inspection at 9:00 a.m. EST on Sunday morning and move into show jumping at 10:30 a.m. EST.

Helpful Links

• Maryland 5 Star Website

• USEA Prize List

• Order of Go

• Results

• Schedule of Events

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• USEA’s Coverage

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