United States Eventing Association

Cooley Cross Border and Esccord RGS Named Spalding Labs USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Champions

Cooley Cross Border and Esccord RGS have officially earned the titles of Spalding Labs USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Champions following the conclusion of the two days of competition. Despite torrential downpours this morning that caused an hour rain delay, both horses jumped rounds that impressed the judges to keep ahold of the top spots in their respective classes.

Jackie and Kim Severson’s Cooley Cross Border, an Irish Sport Horse by Diamond Roller, was ridden by Kim to a jumping score of 39.05 which gave him a total of 78.99.

“I made a big mistake jumping the bank out of the water and he did a marvelous job of going anyway,” said Kim. “I thought he handled the going very well, he is just a lovely horse to ride.”

“I thought the course rode really well. I had a couple of concerns yesterday, and I thought it was a great decision to remove the Trakehner for the 4-year-olds – that was tremendous. I worried about the table before the water, but I don’t think it really proved to be a problem for anybody. So although I had a bunch of concerns yesterday it turned out quite well today!”

“Cross is supposed to do his first Preliminary at Virginia Horse Trials in a couple of weeks then he will go on and go Preliminary next year. He has been really good and straightforward, but I have things to work on this winter as everybody does. I would like to do a long format in the spring because he doesn’t have the base that most of the Thoroughbreds do and it would be something that he would benefit from.”

For her win in the five-year-old YEH East Coast Championships Kim took home a custom Stackhouse Saddle, Fleeceworks saddle pad set, $200 Point Two gift certificate, and a pair of Ariat Volant tall boots.

Only .69 points behind Kim was Kelli Temple with her own Scirocco, a Holsteiner gelding (Clarimo x Flowerpower), who broke the tie with his stable mate Chesney to finish in second.

“My jumping was kind of exciting today because I was one of the two who got to go during the torrential rain,” said Kelli. “He jumped the first jump so big that I was literally catapulted out of the saddle because it was so wet. The rest of it was fine though and I was thrilled.”

“The course was really inviting, but it was obviously challenging as a championship should be. The horses jumped well and certainly mine did and I enjoyed riding it. I think the program continues to evolve which is really good and that the horses all learned something this weekend which is really important.”

Kelli earned a pair of Ariat breeches and a $100 Point Two gift certificate for her second place with Scirocco.

After the lunch break the four-year-olds took to Saw Mill Field for their turn over the jump course. Katie Murphy and her own Esccord RGS, a Hanoverian gelding (Escudo I x EM Arabella RGS) bred by Page Brook Farm in New Hampshire, held onto the lead in the class with a 37.7 jumping mark to finish the competition on a 78.44. Katie, who has a full time job and a small horse business on the side, has brought ‘Garth’ up through the IDHSNA USEA Future Event Horse Program, but this was her first YEH Championship experience.

“I was quite pleased with him,” said Katie. “His jump round was a lot of fun. I didn’t realize he had so much go in him at the end of the gallop.

“I think [the YEH program] is such a great way to supplement their education. It is particularly great in such a big environment like this, but it is a smaller scale for them performance wise. For me being a smaller operation with the horses, the YEH helps me gauge my success as I work with them.”

For her win in the four-year-old division, Katie earned a Fleeceworks Saddle Pad Set, $200 gift certificate to Point Two, and a pair of Ariat Volant tall boots.

Kim Russell and her homebred mare, Allia, moved up from fourth to second with their 39.45 jumping score. When Kim’s event mare, Tis Lycius, was injured she decided to breed her to Riverman, and the Oldenburg mare is the result of Kim’s first breeding experience.

“I am thrilled with my mare,” said Kim. “She went wonderfully. I bred her so have had her since she was born, and I am just thrilled. She took everything in stride and went wonderfully. She was just perfect.”

Kim also earned a pair of Ariat breeches and a $100 Point Two gift certificate for her second place finish.

Rounding out the top three was Matt Flynn and the Irish Sport Horse gelding, Dr. Drumiller (Lord Z x Cabaca) who finished the competition on a 76.59.

Also in the four-year-old division was the winner of the Safe Harbor Award, Northern Quest Lady’s Man. Ridden by Jorgen Olijslager, the Irish Draught Sport Horse (West Cork x Silver Lady) impressed the judges to earn the award presented to the young horse who consistently exhibits the most graceful and rider friendly performance throughout the competition.

The Spalding Labs USEA Young Event Horse Championships would not be possible without its fabulous sponsors: Stackhouse Saddles, Fleeceworks, Point Two, and Ariat. Learn more about the Spalding Labs USEA Young Event Horse Program on the YEH Webpage.

Results

5-year-olds

1. Cooley Cross Border/Kim Severson
2. Scirocco/Kelli Temple
3. Chesney/Kelli Temple
4. Meadowbrook's Scarlett/Lauren Kieffer
5. Lysander/Doug Payne
6. The Stig/Kerry Torrey
7. Parc Cooley/Julie Richards
8. Fernhill Teddy Two-Two/Robert Costello
9. Fernhill Hustler/Julie Richards
10. Chopard/Matt Flynn
11. Mimi's Musical/Caitlyn Carpenter
12. Decadence/Kara Angulo
13. The Diesel Boy/Molly Rosin
14. Severance Pay/Lindsay Stone
15. Last Diplomat/Danielle Dichting

4-year-olds

1. Esccord RGS/Katie Murphy
2. Allia/Kim Russell
3. Dr. Drumiller/Matt Flynn
4. Cooley Streetwise/Kim Severson
5. Lawnvale Irish/Julie Richards
6. Fernhill Splash/Julie Richards
7. Darmood/Matt Flynn
8. James Madison/Daryl Layfield-Insley
9. Northern Quest Lady's Man/Jorgen Olijslager
10. Salute the Captain/Erin Durst
11. Rhilebe/Lillian Heard
12. Karisma/Devon Olivier
13. Whiskey and Rye/Ciaran Thompson
14. Hurricane Hill/Ali Rawles
15. Red Cloud/Ciaran Thompson