Sabrina Glaser and Patricia Yust's 9-year-old Selle Francais gelding, Rembrandt, were the only pair in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Advanced division to jump clean and within the time around Tremaine Cooper’s cross-country track today at the Aspen Farms Horse Trials in Yelm, Wash. Glaser and Rembrandt will lead the division on their dressage score of 33.7 heading into the final day of competition.
"I’ve had him since he was three and a half," explained Glaser. "I was the first person on his back and promptly bucked off his back! It’s been a long road but it’s cool to know each other as well as we do. I’ve really taken my time [with him]. I was pretty confident [today], he’s been really solid this year. I’ve learned to let him ease out of the start box and ease into his first couple fences and then he just starts to take me around the course, and so it felt a bit like being on autopilot. I’m sure on tougher courses it will feel more difficult but he knows his job and he’s really figured it out. I’ve learned to listen to him and he really starts to take you to the fences, he’s got such a big heart and really makes it fun for you out there."
In addition to jumping around Cooper's show jumping course with her own BC Talfan in the Open Training B division earlier today, Glaser also had the chance this evening to walk the course the Advanced division will tackle tomorrow. "[Tremaine] sets an interesting course with some fun distances that I find often the smaller, cattier horses can do really well in and the scopier horses can sometimes struggle with. Dutch is a definitely a bigger, scopier, big-striding horse and in the past he’s had a harder time making the distances, but when I walked them tonight they felt fairly good and [the course] has a good flow to it. There are a lot of questions being asked and related lines, so I’m glad I get to watch a couple people go before I do!"
Sophie Click and Amy Click’s Hot Wheels, a 14-year-old Paint gelding, added 5.2 time penalties to their dressage score to go into show jumping tomorrow in second place on a score of 42.3 in their first outing at the Advanced level.
Andrea Nielsen and her own 10-year-old Irish Draught gelding, LC O'Shawnisee (Snoford O'Donnell x Acks Like an Angel) picked up 7.2 time penalties to sit on a score of 49.6, which will be good enough to hold third place heading into the show jumping arena tomorrow.
The remaining six combinations in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Advanced division will show jump over Cooper’s course tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m.
For additional show coverage including pictures and video, follow Aspen Farms on Facebook or Instagram. Live results can be seen online at Starbox Scoring, here.
Aspen Farms Horse Trials: Website | Ride Times | Live Scores | Fast Facts
About the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series
The 2018 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series features 11 qualifying competitions throughout the United States at the Advanced horse trials and CIC3* levels. The qualifying period begins August 2017 and continues through August 2018 with the final taking place at the 2018 USEA American Eventing Championships at the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, Colorado, August 29 – September 2, 2018. Riders who complete a qualifier earn the chance to vie for $40,000 in prize money and thousands of dollars in prizes and the title of Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Final Advanced Division.
The 2018 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many loyal sponsors: Adequan, Standlee Forage, Nutrena, Merck Animal Health, and FITS.
The USEA is saddened to share the passing of Dr. J. Allen Leslie DVM, a distinguished veterinarian, who died peacefully on April 3 surrounded by family and loved ones at his farm in Christiana, Pennsylvania. He was 84.
Effective communication between riders and horse show organizers is crucial for a smooth and successful competition experience. Clear, polite, and well-organized communication not only ensures that your requests are properly handled; but also helps maintain a positive relationship with organizers and helps the longevity of the sport.
The final day of competition at the the Yanmar America Tryon International Spring Three-Day Event presented by Tow & Collect crowned five new champions, featuring show jumping competition in Tryon Stadium and the final rounds of cross-country competition on the White Oak cross-country course at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (Tryon International). Read more below.
At last fall's Full Moon Farm Horse Trials, 16-year-old Miriam Keefer guided her horse, Micky, over the final cross-country jump with quiet determination and a flash of joy. It was her first recognized event at the Novice level, and she placed second out of 16 competitors—qualifying her for both the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds and a long-format three-day event.