United States Eventing Association

Becky Holder hasn’t had the year that she expected with Can’t Fire Me. In fact, the 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Fire Maker – Dipped in White) has only run three events in 2014.

Holder’s Rolex Kentucky CCI4* plans for April were cancelled when she injured her ankle in the spring. “Teddy” also sustained a hoof injury last fall that was slow to grow out, and they were forced to cancel their summer and fall plans.

Today, however, they lead a competitive field at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships, presented by VTO Saddlery (AEC), in the $40,000 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Final on a 31.2.

“We’ve been battling the regrowth [of his hoof] all this year,” said Holder of Palmetto, Ga. “We’ve had a very quiet season and I keep thinking, ‘I can’t go to a big three-day, so what can I do?’ The AEC seemed like a good goal event to work towards.

“This final Advanced Championship has been such a fun thing to do, really good for my business, and a great chance to get here and support my sponsors - Nutrena, CWD and RevitaVet. We’ve made a journey through the summer to get here.”

Holder is also teaching a number of students and triumphed not only as a rider, but as a coach. She commented that they all put in lovely, solid rounds today.

“[The AEC] is a really cool concept. I teach a huge number of young riders and adult amateurs, and for them this is a big destination event. It’s the culmination of being able to come and do something that they’ve worked towards the entire year, and to be able to take part in the competition and be around everyone who is competing all the way from Advanced right down to Beginner Novice,” she said.

“I’ve been to all three years at Maui Jim Horse Trials [Wayne, Ill.] when [the Championships] first started, then at Chattahoochee Hills [Chattahoochee Hills, Ga.], so I’ve seen a lot of these venues and competed a lot of times at the AEC and it’s fun to see it move around the country.”

West coaster Matthew Brown is making a trip to the east coast, and stopped off in Texas along the way to put in a lovely dressage test on Super Socks BCF that puts them in second place. The horse is owned by the Blossom Creek Foundation, and put in a true effort with a few green bobbles.

“I couldn’t be happier,” said Brown of Petaluma, Calif. “He had a couple of mistakes - he broke in extended trot - but I have to keep reminding myself he’s just eight, and this is his first year at advanced. I’m really excited with this horse. There’s a lot to him.”

Once he wraps up in Texas this week, Brown and his crew will head further east to take on the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International Horse Trials, October 16-19.

“We had a big fundraising effort to be able to make the trip, and my wife and I are just overwhelmed by the support of our clients, friends, family, sponsors who are here watching.”

Brown says that he can’t claim total responsibility for his success. He credits his wife, Cecily, who assists in the preparation and training of the horses and helps handle their business.

“I wouldn’t be able to do it without her,” said Brown. “We got together through horses, so it’s been something we’ve had in common since day one. We complement each other really well. Where I’m weak, she’s strong.”

The 2013 Adequan USEA Gold Cup champions, Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch, are in a good position to defend their title. They currently sit in third place on a 33.4, overcoming the odds since Ashker (Richmond, Va.) spent the night in the hospital last night.

Before discussing her test today, she said, “We should rewind and go back to my night last night. Something came on – we’re not sure if it was a stomach bug or food poisoning - and I was in the hospital all night. That made for a character building experience!

“Today, I got to the barn and rode ‘Al’ and made sure I could stay on and keep my crackers down,” she weakly laughed. “I thought, ‘as long as I can stay in the arena I will be happy.’ Long story short, I was more than happy.”

All three riders commented that the time on Captain Mark Phillips’ twisty cross-country course would be a challenge to make, and all have a healthy respect for the questions they will face tomorrow.

“I still didn’t make the time last year, and he’s usually pretty good on the time. I’m going to go for a quick round, but a safe round, and definitely aim for a horse with enough steam for the next day.”

Buck Davidson (Ocala, Fla.) is leading the Merial Open Intermediate division on Quasar, a 7-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Quasar Quasar – Fanessa) that Davidson only began riding this year.

“Everyone is so thrilled to be here and do the Championships. It’s a fun atmosphere,” he said. “Quasar is a super nice young horse. He went well at his one-star and placed second in two Intermediates. The big thing for him is to keep getting his stronger. In show jumping it’s the same thing. It’s not that he can’t do it, he just needs the strength and the time.”

Christina Henrickson from Long Mount, Colo., balances life as a psychiatric nurse and a rider, and the hard work paid off today. She and Princess Pavan, an 8-year-old Hanoverian mare that she has produced herself scored a 27.8 in the Sr. Preliminary Amateur division.

“It’s my first time here. We qualified last year but I had started a new job and couldn’t come, so this is my first AEC,” said the 28-year-old. “The facility is great, the footing is great, and I can’t wait to go out tomorrow and see how she goes on a championship course.

“We’re entered for the CCI at MidSouth [Lexington, Ky.] in three weeks. It will be her first CCI and mine. She keeps giving me more and more; she’s unassuming but then you see her go and she performs nothing like she looks in the stall.”

Fifteen-year-old Kelsey Holmes posted the best dressage score of all divisions that ran today (21.4), and on a new horse to boot. She and Heart of Gold SE, a 7-year-old Holsteiner by Cathalido, are leading the Jr. Training division, and have only been partnered for a few months and qualified for the AEC separately. She bought the mare from her trainer, Jennifer Wooten, and it is only their fifth show together.

“It’s nice because Jennifer walks the courses with me,” said Holmes of Malibu, Calif. “When I walk the course with her, I make sure I’m really listening to her advice and it’s so nice to have that input. I’m very cautious; my other horse is very straightforward, but with this horse I have to be careful with all the fences. I think I have gotten to know her pretty well, but I will definitely be riding cautiously but still aggressively.”

Megan Noelle Wilson and Ghypsy lead the Junior/Young Rider Preliminary on a 27.6; Heather Morris leads the Preliminary Horse on Charlie Tango (25.4); Carrie Meehan leads the Sr. Training Amateur on Cavalier (27.7); Beau Guimond and Lisa Mendell are tied for first in the Training Horse division on a 28.2; Catie Cejka and Light in the Dark lead the Preliminary Adult Team Challenge (31.3); and Carrie Poloson and High Maintenance lead the Training ATC (37.7).

Tomorrow, the Advanced, Intermediate, Preliminary and Training divisions will tackle Captain Mark Phillips’ championship cross-country course, and the remainder of the divisions will complete their dressage.

Videos (include top three leaders):
Advanced
Intermediate
Preliminary
Training

Full results
Schedule
Ride Times