United States Eventing Association

Frankie Thieriot Stutes and The Chatwin Group’s German Warmblood, Chatwin charged into the early lead after an accurate dressage test this afternoon in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup CIC3* division at Woodside International. Laying down a 41.8 on the flat, the pair held a nearly three-point lead over second place contenders Jordan Lindstedt and her own Hanoverian gelding, Revitavet Capato, who earned a 44.7. Revitavet Capato’s test was fluid and lovely, and while Chatwin looked a bit more lethargic than in recent events, Thieriot Stutes was able to ride a very controlled and correct test to clinch the leading score.

Halt, Salute. Frankie Thieriot Stutes and Chatwin take the lead after dressage. USEA /Kate Lokey photo.

“Chatwin felt pretty tired in the dressage arena today,” explained Thieriot Stutes. “They were running 20 minutes behind schedule in dressage, and we have such a carefully planned out warm-up that it ended up prolonging that process and he felt a bit more drained heading into the arena today because of that. However, his medium trots were the best I’ve felt in a while, so I was really happy with that; I just had to hold him up a bit in the canter since he was a bit worn-out.”

Barb Crabo and her own Swedish Warmblood gelding Eveready II took the third place spot after dressage, on a 47.3

Jordan Lindstedt and Revitavet Capato performing a beautiful dressage test. USEA/Kate Lokey Photo.

Marc Donovan’s show jumping course proved to be a solid test for the horses and riders, with only three pairs jumping around double clear. Frankie Thieriot Stutes did not have a rail at hand, so the pressure was on as she entered the arena. Chatwin was light on his feet, and Thieriot Stutes continued to ride accurately as she piloted the gelding around the course inside the time and without faults. As she completed, she looked back to see her time and knew she had maintained her lead.

“Today was such a good day!” exclaimed Thieriot Stutes. “Heather [Morris] has been helping me while my coach Tammy [Smith] is abroad, and Heather helped me greatly today. I also had help from a great friend, Marc Grandia, who took off his belt after his round and gave it to me to use as a neck strap so that I had something to hold onto in the arena today, so that I didn’t fall off,” she laughed. “I’ve been struggling with show jumping as of late, so I did some jumper shows this summer to practice getting into a better rhythm and to learn to calm my nerves. It’s something I’ve been getting better at, and I was happy to get into a good rhythm and do a good job with [Chatwin] today.”

Second place leader after dressage, Jordan Lindstedt entered the arena after Thieriot Stutes looking to keep the pressure on her heading into the final day of competition. Revitavet Capato ended up taking down one rail as well as added 2 time faults, unfortunately knocking the pair down one spot [to third place] heading into the cross-country phase tomorrow.

Barb Crabo was next in the arena and also had an unfortunate rail on Eveready II, knocking them from second place to fourth place heading into the final phase. However, Mary Burke and her Prince William jumped a beautiful double clear round, moving them up from fourth place and into second place after the day’s end.

Mary Burke and Prince William during dressage. USEA/Kate Lokey Photo.

Thieriot Stutes and Chatwin hold a 6.2 point lead over Jordan Lindstedt heading into the cross-country phase tomorrow. The competitors will take on Ian Stark’s CIC3* cross-country course tomorrow morning, starting at 11:20 am PST.

“The course looks really hard. It’s a typical Ian Stark course with a couple rider frighteners on there, and it looks like a very forward riding, big course,” explained Thieriot Stutes. “If you can’t jump a brush fence, you’re in a lot of trouble. I had a stop at a brush fence at Twin Rivers, so I’ll be looking to remedy that tomorrow.”

For CIC3* scores, click here. For all scores, click here.

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About the Adequan USEA Gold Cup

The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series features 11 qualifying competitions throughout the United States at the Advanced Horse Trials and CIC3* levels. The 2016 final took place at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships, September 1-4 in Tryon, North Carolina, and the 2017 final will also culminate at the AEC at Tryon on Labor Day weekend. This event at Woodside International will serve as a qualifier for the 2017 Final. Riders who complete a qualifier earn the chance to vie for $40,000 in prize money and thousands of dollars in prizes in the Adequan Advanced Division and the title of Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion.

The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many loyal sponsors: Adequan, Standlee Forage, Nutrena, Merck, Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency, and FITS breeches.