United States Eventing Association

Fall is typically thought of as the gradual transition from the sweltering heat of summer to the rain and chill of winter. However, the temperatures at Twin Rivers Fall International Horse Trials today in Paso Robles, California, had no reflection on the changing seasons. In the heat of the day, there were some lovely tests put forth in the Advanced division, which is the final Adequan USEA Gold Cup division of the 2010 Series.

Tiana Coudray put in a beautiful test to sit atop the leaderboard, a position she has grown accustomed to being in. However, instead of aboard her long-time partner, Ringwood Magister, this time it was the handsome bay gelding, Master Hill, owned by the Eccher family, who wowed the judges.

In the first Advanced of Master Hill's career, Coudray was very proud of her ride, saying, “he put in a respectable test, and gave me his very best. He is still building the muscles it takes to do some of these movements, and he tried incredibly hard.”

The pair have had a great season thus far, coming off a win in the CCI2* division at Rebecca Farm this July in Kalispell, Montana. Tiana hopes to build on their last outing for tomorrow's cross-country. “I just want to give him a positive experience and jump around. He is naturally very fast, and a good jumper.”

The grey gelding, Jude’s Law, owned by Hilary Bates and ridden by Elizabeth Tempkin, sit right behind Master Hill in second place, putting pressure on the leaders.

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 CIC3*, 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.