United States Eventing Association

Holekamp/Turner Grant Recipient, MBF Cooley Permission to Land, Completes Dressage at Mondial du Lion

Young horses from all over the world have flocked to Le Lion d'Angers, France for the Mondial du Lion young horse championships, including this year's Holekamp/Turner Grant and The Dutta Corp. Prize recipients Cole Horn and MBF Cooley Permission to Land (Cobra x Deeply Dippy K). Horn and the 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding bred by Knightfield Stud are representing the U.S. in the 2021 FEI Eventing World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in the 7-year-old CCIYH3*-L Championship.

The pair completed their dressage test on Thursday and received a 36.4 for their efforts to sit in 43rd amongst the international field. Speaking on his experience at Le Lion so far, Horn commented: “We are super excited to be at the event, this being our first real championship sort of event. The setting is extraordinary and everything has been done to the nines.”

Looking back on their performance on Thursday, Horn was extremely pleased with his horse’s performance. “Going down centerline yesterday I’m pleased to say that I was sitting on a relaxed and comfortable horse. We were able to put down a solid test that will lay the groundwork for us to continue to grow in the coming years with much more to come. He felt amazing and really kept a cool head in the atmosphere which for a 7-year-old on a cold blustery day meant a lot to me.”

With cross-country next on the agenda on Saturday morning, Horn is excited to tackle the always extravagant courses that Le Lion is known for. “Getting our first look at the cross-country it looks challenging but fair with the traditionally exciting jumps that hallmark this event each year,” he said.

Also joining Horn from the U.S. in the 7-year-old division is Avery Klunick riding her own Dutch Warmblood mare Pisco Sour (Metropolie x Heathlawn Cailin). Klunick sits in 45th following dressage on a score of 36.8. In the 6-year-old division, U.S. rider Caroline Martin sits in 20th with the 2020 Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) 5-year-old East Coast Champion the Redfield King’s HX Group’s Dutch Warmblood gelding King’s Especiale (Connect x Cha Cha Cha Special), formerly Redfield King.

Cross-country kicks off on Saturday, October 23rd with the 6-year-old division getting underway at 10:00 a.m. local time in France followed by the 7-year-olds at 1:00 p.m.

Ride times for the U.S. riders are as follows:

• Caroline Martin and King’s Especiale: 10:24 a.m.
• Cole Horn and MBF Cooley Permission to Land: 2:24 p.m.
• Avery Klunick and Pisco Sour: 3:13 p.m.

Follow along with live scores here or watch the competition on through the Mondial du Lion website here or on FEI TV.

About the Holekamp/Turner Grant

The Holekamp/Turner Grant was founded in 2015 by Timothy and Cheryl Holekamp of New Spring Farm and Christine and T.J. Turner of Indian Creek Farm. The grant awards the highest scorer of the USEA Young Event Horse 5-year-old Championships, both East and West Coast Championships combined, with a cash prize that enables them to travel to Mondial du Lion in Le Lion d’Angers, France to compete in the 2021 FEI Eventing World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in the 7-year-old CCIYH3*-L Championship. The eligibility of the grant remains with the horse, regardless of change of rider after the YEH 5-year-old Championships, but for the Holekamp/Turner Grant, only USEF-sponsored 7-year-old entries will qualify. Thus, only horses ridden by United States citizens will be eligible. Click here for more information about the grant.

About The Dutta Corp. Prize

As a title sponsor of the USEA YEH Championships, The Dutta Corporation will generously provide one round trip flight from the east coast of the United States to travel to Europe for the Mondial du Lion. This prize will be awarded to the Holekamp/Turner Grant recipient and will commence in 2021.

The Dutta Corporation is an international and domestic horse shipping company founded by J. Tim Dutta. The leading company in horse transport has been rapidly expanding since its inception in 1988 and particularly so in the last twenty years. Click here for more information on The Dutta Corporation.

About the USEA Young Event Horse Program

The Young Event Horse (YEH) Program was first established in 2004 as an eventing talent search. Much like similar programs in Europe, the YEH program was designed to identify young horses aged four and five that possess the talent and disposition to, with proper training, excel at the uppermost levels of the sport. The ultimate goal of the program is to distinguish horses with the potential to compete at the four- and five-star levels, but many fine horses that excel at the lower levels are also showcased by the program.

The YEH program provides an opportunity for breeders and owners to exhibit the potential of their young horses while encouraging the breeding and development of top event horses for the future. The program rewards horses who are educated and prepared in a correct and progressive manner. At qualifying events, youngsters complete a dressage test and a jumping/galloping/general impression phase. At Championships, young horses are also evaluated on their conformation in addition to the dressage test and jumping/galloping/general impression phase. Click here to learn more about the Young Event Horse Program.

The USEA would like to thank Bates Saddles, SmartPak, Standlee Premium Western Forage, Parker Equine Insurance, Etalon Diagnostics, and Saratoga Horseworks for sponsoring the Young Event Horse Program. Additionally, the USEA would like to thank The Dutta Corp., Title Sponsor of the Young Event Horse Championships.

The USEA would also like to thank Timothy Holekamp of New Spring Farm and his family and Christine Turner of Indian Creek Farm and her family for spearheading this grant and raising funds to support it.