United States Eventing Association

Dressage Sets Stage for Exciting Cross-Country at Rebecca Farm

Kalispell, Mont.—July 19— FEI dressage wrapped on Friday at The Event at Rebecca Farm leaving most of the standings tight at the top. In fact, there's a tie atop the CCI4*-L between two pairs with many similarities. Karen O'Neal and Clooney 14 and Jennie Brannigan and Pascal share the lead on a 33.8. Both have been bringing these horses along for several years and both horses are debuting at this level.

Karen O'Neal and Annika Asling's 10-year-old Westphalian gelding (Captain Jack x Zauberfee) showed off their progress since competing Beginner Novice here in 2018. The Washington-based rider was thrilled with Clooney's shoulder-in and half-passes and with the flying changes that have been a struggle. Despite Clooney's familiarity with the venue, O'Neal said the atmosphere in Ring 1 made him "a little spooky, but still he listened really well to me."

The judges were Helen Brettell, Robyn Fisher and Gretchen Butts, who also judged today's CCI4*-S and CCI3*-L.

Brannigan and Pascal (Pasco x Z-Corrada I), a 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by the Pascal Syndicate, were last year's CCI3*-L winners, and Brannigan acknowledged feeling a little extra umph to take this next title. Her favorite part of today's test was the manifestation of many years work in developing Pascal.

Above all, she is a huge advocate for Rebecca Farm, making the trip annually from her East Coast base and encouraging others to do so.

Rebecca Farm first-timer Ashley Adams, of Virginia, and the 11-year-old Westphalian gelding Charly (C-Trenton Z x Cora Lou), who Adams co-owns with Roderick Stuart, earned a 35.4 to sit third.

Brinkman and Finally DG lead CCI4*-S

Several of the eight horses in this division are new to the level, and the atmosphere and new questions asked played their part in the scores.

Rachel Brinkman and Finally DG are among the newbies as a pair, and their 35.1 put them into the lead.

The Seattle area resident and her 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Idocus x Bolimbria DG) are Rebecca Farm regulars over the last several years, so the big atmosphere was not an issue. "While there's always room for improvement, he was excellent today," said Brinkman of the horse she co-owns with friend and The Event organizer Sarah Broussard.

"The course looks great and I am excited to get out there," Brinkman said of Saturday's cross-country. She plans to tackle it one fence at a time. "Him being new to this level, I'm going to ride the horse I have. He's an animal that shows up and tries to do the things you ask him to do."

On the recommendation of several friends, Kentucky-based Alexa Thompson loaded Just To Be Clear (Extase x Utopia TB) into the truck and hauled across the country for The Event. Her second place standing, on a 39.1, was icing on a cake she already felt good about upon arrival.

"You could call my horse a 'try-harder'," Thompson said of her 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. "He always wants to do right, and sometimes too badly, but today I felt like he was with me the whole test. I took my leg away going into the walk, and that was our only bobble."

Rebecca Farm has been on the young professional's radar a long time. Over the years, the Broussard family has given over $200,000 in Travel Grants to riders and Alexa was one of several to gratefully receive one this year. "With that, the stars finally aligned for us to make the trip."

Another Alliston Takes Spotlight with CCI3*-L Lead

Three-time Rebecca Farm CCI4*-L champion James Alliston has dominated the limelight lately, but it was his better half, Helen, who shone in the CCI3*-L after dressage Friday. She and Call Me Rudi, a 9-year-old Bavarian Warmblood (Clooney x Genia) owned by Alliston Equestrian, were elegant, on point and powerful to lead the 10-horse field with a 30.7.

It was the latest of a few outings in which "Rudi" has continually upped his game, reported the Northern California-based professional. "He's always been very willing, and he has a good mind. It's been a matter of getting him stronger. Today and his last show were the first time that he's done really correct canter-to-walk transitions. Plus, he's never been in Arena 1 before. It has a lot of atmosphere and, even with his good mind, it was really something for him to stay that focused."

Rudi is equally good on cross-country, but tomorrow's track will test his courage, especially jumping into big waters. "I'm going to have to give him a very good ride," Helen said. "He's only been here once— in Novice. He's green for this, but his footwork is excellent, he's very smart and he has a lot of self-preservation instinct." Access to on-site conditioning hills at the Alliston's home base has Rudi fighting fit for the next task.

Ashley Adams and her own 9-year-old Swedish Warmblood Quicksilver Gräns (Camaro M x Menuette III) stand in second with a 31.9. Receiving one of the Broussard family's "Little Becky" Grants early this year helped them gain mileage needed to make a solid move up to the three-star level this spring.

Based in Virginia, Adams was also grateful for tips from another Broussard grant recipient, Tamie Smith. "She suggested some tweaks that really agreed with my horse," Ashley said. "He's a quirky horse, but also workmanlike and he does not want to make a mistake. He's green at the level, and there's a lot more brilliance in there. So, it's a matter of getting him stronger and more confident."

Cross-country should be a great next step in that process. "Ian's courses lend themselves to the horse getting better and better as we go along."

Marc Grandia and his longtime partner Campari FFF (Camiros x Tanner) sit third on a 32.5. The 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding is owned by Team Rebecca.

Stephanie Goodman and Elwinda Hold CCI2*-L Lead

Stephanie Goodman and Deanna Briggs' Elwenda DP topped the first half of the 34-horse division that concluded on Thursday and their 26.7 held when the rest of the class completed Friday morning.

"She is getting better and better," Goodman said of the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Westpoint x Wenderola) mare with whom she's been partnered for three years. "We left a few points on the table, but she was excellent. She's braver and is going for it more.

"I got her three years ago as a dressage horse," continued the Idaho-based professional. "She just keeps amazing me."

Goodman and Elwinda don't have much wiggle room. James Alliston and the 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding HMR Rolan (Tolan R x Aldatus Diamond), owned by Anna Nicolas, are 2nd on a 27.1. Todd Trewin and Tracey Trewin's 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Cooley High Society (Rehy High Society x Forans Sunny Hogan) are third with a 29.1. The rest of the top 10 is tightly bunched.

A Course Walk To Remember

Friday ended with a special course walk led by renowned and retiring course designer, Ian Stark. In a special event honoring horse owners, the USEF invited guests to tour the course by golf cart and enjoy the legend's insights. He was the loudest of many to praise the ground and the year-round efforts that have gone into making the tracks "the best ever."

As he discussed key points on the three-star and four-star courses for Saturday, Ian shared his frequent advice to forget about counting strides in favor of riding what comes up in the moment. "Horses love to know where they're going," he stressed. "So show them that. I don't mind causing the riders a sleepless night, so long as the horses can understand what the question is."

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