Lexington, Ky.—April 28—Cooley Be Cool wasn’t always the flashy horse that people stopped to look at in Halliday-Sharp’s barn, but he’s been coming into his own this year as he prepares for his five-star debut later this summer. This morning, his consistency paid off in the dressage ring, where he slid into second place in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S on 25.5, just 1 penalty point behind Halliday-Sharp’s leading horse from Thursday, Cooley Nutcracker. Tamie Smith and Sologuayre California were bumped to third place (27.3), and Smith rode Elliot V to a tie for fourth (28.4) with Sara Kozumplik and Rock Phantom.
“I was really thrilled with him,” said Halliday-Sharp. “I thought he was very professional and stayed with me the whole way. He’s come out a really professional horse this year. His half passes were beautiful today, and there was a lot of really good flow. He’s not the flashiest horse, but he’s very consistent. We only had one little wobble in the first change where he was a little keen and changed behind before the front, but otherwise I think he would have been on the same score as the other horse, which is really exciting. He’s sort of the horse that people haven’t always thought much of, but I've always said he's a very, very good horse, and he's starting to really prove that this year.”
Halliday-Sharp’s had “Dave,” a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Heritage Fortunus x HHS Carlotta) owned by Ocala Horse Properties and The Monster Partnership, since he was 6. He was sourced by Richard Sheane and Cooley Farm and competed at the low levels before coming to the U.S.
“I remember Richard Shane said, I don't know that he's going to win that much as a young horse, but he's going to be a top five-star horse for you,’” Halliday-Sharp recalled. “I really believe that he's starting to come into his own. He's got incredible scope. He's extremely arrogant and very brave, which I think makes him a really good horse.”
While Dave can be a bit “cheeky,” Halliday-Sharp knows he’ll be a world-class horse and is happy to have a big atmosphere this week for the gelding. She’s excited to take on Derek di Grazia’s cross-country course tomorrow.
“I think he’s built a kinder track this year; the last two years were extremely intense and right from the beginning very intense. This year it kind of lets the horses get into the track a little bit more,” she said. “I think it's an amazing experience for the horses to get up in this big arena and still have to jump here on the last day. I usually bring the younger horses here. I think it'll be a fabulous experience for them.”
The Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S will resume tomorrow at 9:15 a.m. EST with Edith Rameika's Ruben's D'Ysieux leaving the cross-country startbox with Sara Kozumplik in the irons.
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Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.
After not running in 2020 and 2021, the MARS Bromont CCI Three-Day Event returned to the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Center in Quebec, Canada, in 2022. America's Jennie Saville (née Brannigan) and Twilightslastgleam won the CCI4*-L, as the chestnut Thoroughbred gelding (National Anthem x Royal Child) bred and owned by Nina Gardner moved up from eighth after dressage into the lead after cross-country with the fastest round on wet ground over the tracks designed by Derek di Grazia. Canada's Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge, a bay Selle Français gelding (Mylord Carthago x Lelia) owned by Patricia Pearce, finished second, and they are among four from the top-10 in the CCI4*-L in 2022 that return in 2023.
Hannah Sue Hollberg of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, was on a winning streak at the Essex Horse Trials on Sunday, claiming victory in both the $10,000 Open Intermediate and Open Preliminary divisions with two horses that are fairly new to her. Some difficulty on cross-country did not stop her mount Hachi from claiming victory in the Open Intermediate with a score of 101.6, while Open Preliminary partner Rockster finished on his dressage score of 27.3.
The great football coach Vince Lombardi said, “We win our games in practice.” With the goal of having the most effective practices possible for horses, their riders, and their coaches, Cathy Wieschhoff explains some signs that can indicate when horse and rider should repeat an exercise, switch it up, or be done with that activity. Wieschhoff brings perspective as a five-star rider that has competed at the Kentucky Three-Day Event and Burghley Horse Trials, a USEF “R” Course Designer for eventing cross-country and show jumping, a former Area VIII chair and member of the USEA Board of Governors, and a Level V USEA ECP Certified Coach based out of Carriage Station Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.