Hannah Sue Burnett and St. Barths Lead the CIC2* at Cosequin Stuart Horse Trials
This year’s CIC2* division at the 20th Anniversary Cosequin Stuart Horse Trials, held in Victory, NY, July 16-19, is star-studded to say the least with the likes of Karen O’Connor, Bonnie Mosser, and Dornin North, to name a few, atop the score board. On top of vying for bragging rights and a piece of the $7,500 purse awarded to the winner of this division, the headlining class also serves as an Adequan USEA Gold Cup division which offers its top competitor additional cash and valuable prizes.
But amongst some of the most recognized names in eventing, youth prevailed in the early going as 23-year-old Hannah Sue Burnett sits atop the leaderboard after dressage on a score of 45.6, aboard Richard Thompson’s 9-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, St. Barths.
“There was kind of a lot going on during my test and he’ll usually get really excited but he was good. He went straight to work and was well behaved,” she said of the 15.3-hand chestnut.
The pair performed like the veterans who preceded them in the perfectly pruned grass arena. O’Connor had started the division off with a tough act for anyone to follow aboard her 2008 Olympic mount, Mandiba. They garnered a 46.9. Mosser came close with her illustrious partner Merloch scoring a 48.6. But Burnett, a working student for the O’Connor team, watched, learned, and performed.
“The canter transitions from the walk are usually something he struggles with,” Burnett explained, “but he was really obedient and quiet through all the canter work. His trot was nice and swingy and forward. He really showed off and it was nice.”
Saturday’s cross-country course, however, promises to keep the top spot within anyone’s reach. Built strategically among some of the most unlikely undulating terrain, course designer Derek Di Grazia once again formulated a challenging and beautiful course for the CIC2* division.
While only a handful of faults separate the top four, Burnett remained confident in her gelding’s speed and knack for jumping. “I walked [the course] this afternoon with Karen,” she said, “and it’s definitely technical. It’s big and gallopy and I like it a lot. I think it’s tough enough that people will have to be on their game. It will definitely make us ride forward.
“This horse is very fast,” she went on, “but he doesn’t take long to slow down in front of a jump and he’s careful. He’s a lot like my last horse [Keep The Faith] where you can just have some fun and canter around and enjoy yourself the whole time.”
Burnett started with the O’Connors in 2007, the same year she completed the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event aboard Keep The Faith. She took over St. Barths’ reins this winter after keeping him fit for O’Connor while she competing at the Olympics in Hong Kong.
“It’s been really great!” Burnett said. “I have to thank Mr. Thompson, the O’Connors, Max [Corcoran], and everybody who’s helped me, polished me up, and really made me the rider I am today.”
Cross-country begins at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning with the Training and Open Preliminary divisions. The CIC2* division runs at 1:00.
Adequan USEA Gold Cup Sponsorship & Prizes
Winners of the designated Gold Cup divisions receive an Adequan USEA Gold Cup Trophy, $500 in prize money, 7-dose box of Adequan, a three-month supply of SUCCEED, an E.A. Mattes Couture Pad, 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.
The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many sponsors: Title: Adequan; Legacy: Nunn Finer, Nutrena, and World Equestrian Brands; Contributing: Cover-All; and Patron: Back on Track, Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency, Mountain Horse, and Succeed.
Adequan is proud to be the official joint therapy treatment of the USEA.
Interested in sponsoring the Adequan/USEA Gold Cup series or another USEA program? Contact us at the USEA! [email protected] or call 703-779-0440.
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