Out of the three Cooley horses that Liz Halliday-Sharp entered in the CCI4*-S at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian, it was Cooley Quicksilver aka ‘Monster’ who took home the win. There were 29 horses who show jumped in the Rolex Stadium on Sunday morning in front of a packed crowd. After show jumping concluded, the final leaderboard had Liz Halliday-Sharp on Cooley Quicksilver, Phillip Dutton on Quasi Cool, and James Alliston on Nemesis holding the top three spots in the CCI4*-S.
“I’m just over the moon. This is only [Cooley QuickSilver’s] second run of the year and his first four-star of the season but he just loves this arena. He performed like the champion I think he is,” said Halliday-Sharp.
Cooley Quicksilver (Womanizer x Kylemore Crystal) is an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by the Monster Partnership and was the only horse to finish the CCI4*-S with a score in the 20s as the pair finished on a score of 29.7. “I definitely had hoped that this horse could win because he deserves it. He’s been my weird and wiggly horse for many years and it’s nice to have him come out on top.”
“Both horses were incredible.” Halliday-Sharp also finished seventh with Cooley Be Cool (Heritage Fortunus x HHS Carlota) a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding also owned by The Monster Partnership. “It’s so great to have so many people here. It’s wonderful to have the crowds back. I thought the course was great. It made you think about your lines. All in all, it was a really great day and I’m really thrilled for my owners and my horses,” said Halliday-Sharp.
“I’m very happy for Liz,” said Dutton who finished second on a score of 38.6 with Quasi Cool (Quo Vados I x B-Estelle ) an 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Caroline Moran. “I think we all also would have liked for Dan to be up here as well. He seems like such a great guy, and I think we will see him and his horse in the future – at least I certainly hope so.” Dan Kreitl and Carmango were the overnight leaders but dropped down to fourth after show jumping in the electric Rolex Stadium.
“[Quasi] takes everything out of stride and enjoys life,” said Dutton. “He looks to have all the makings to be a really great horse. I’m so glad that Kentucky has put this [CCI4*-S] on for us. To show jump in an atmosphere like this is invaluable.”
“I’m thrilled with him. He’s only done two Advanced before this. But, we came out all the way from California with a trailer,” said Alliston who filled up his trailer with three horses as he made the trek out from California to Kentucky. James Alliston had Nemesis in the CCI4*-S, Paper Jam in the CCI5*-L, and James’s wife, Helen Alliston had Ebay in the CCI4*-S.
“He’s very brave naturally [and] I’m really happy with him,” said Alliston on Nemesis’ performance where the finished third on a score of 43.4. “We’ve had him since a yearling, so we know him really well. He’s like my child.” Nemesis is an 8-year-old Canadian Warmblood gelding sired by Novalis and owned by Helen and James Alliston.
That’s a wrap for the CCI4*-S! The CCI5*-L show jumping will start at 2:12 p.m. EST. Stay tuned!
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Hosting the Annual Meeting of Members each December has been a requirement set forth by the United States Eventing Association (USEA) by-laws (then the United States Combined Training Association) since 1959. This year, USEA members are gathering in St. Louis, Missouri, for the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention from Dec. 7 - Dec. 10 for four jam-packed days of educational seminars and open forums full of conversation surrounding our sport. Lunch on Friday, however, served as an opportunity for attendees to gather together for the USEA Meeting of Members once again.
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