How Easy GG Steps Up with Nicholson at Millbrook Horse Trials
Millbrook, N.Y.—July 24—Lauren Nicholson wasn’t intending for How Easy GG to be her ride when she sat on him at Mike and Emma Winter’s barn in England two years ago. He’d been produced to the CCI3*-S level by Spain’s Antonio Cejudo Caro, and Nicholson thought he’d make a suitable horse for one of her owners, Christa Schmidt.
He came over, purchased by Schmidt and Jacqueline Mars, and Nicholson started to put some competition miles on him in 2025. That’s when she realized the Selle Français gelding (Upsilon x So Easy) was more horse than she’d initially thought.
“He's very unassuming. He's like 15.2 [hands],” she said. “He looks like a pony, and then you pick him up and go, and he's so proper. He always surprises people.”
She and the gelding have been steadily working their way through the levels, starting at Modified in 2025. Nicholson brought “Georgie” to Millbrook Horse Trials this week to start his first Advanced. It’s her first trip back to the event in several years.
Fifteen pairs started the dressage today in front of judge Amanda Miller, and Nicholson and Georgie came out on top, scoring a 28.0. She’s also sitting in 13th with Brandye Randermann’s I’ll Have Another, back at the level after neck surgery last year.
“I was super pleased with [How Easy GG] today,” she said. “He's a wicked character, and he has a sense of humor. But he's actually very workmanlike doing his job. One of the changes was good. One of the changes, I should have done another stride, but I was super pleased with him for his first time at it. I think he's actually a really cool guy, and he's a wicked good jumper. He actually has a huge stride. Early on I struggled just because I would lose rideability, and he had no problem jumping himself out of the problems he put himself into. But they scared me a bit. But I the last two runs I have done him in a hackamore with just a rubber snaffle, and he's happy, so fingers crossed, it still works tomorrow.”
Nicholson thought Millbrook would be a good first Advanced for the 9-year-old, and she’s a fan of course designer Morgan Rowsell’s tracks.
“I’m looking forward to getting out there and tackling it,” she said. “I haven't actually been to Millbrook in years. I've always loved Millbrook, but just one reason or another—either I was gone or just kind of working the horse's schedule quite right. So, I’m glad to be here. I feel like Morgan designs great tracks that are horse friendly. He asks the questions without just like hammering at them the whole time—save that for the three-day events.”
Kiersten Miller and Mama Mia slotted into second place on a 28.4. The 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Indoctro x Lysienne II) owned by Miller, is also making her Advanced debut after success at the three-star level.
Ariel Grald and Annie Eldridge’s 12-year-old Hanoverian mare (Diacontinus x Lady Revens) are in third on 29.8.
Advanced riders will head out to cross-country on Saturday at 10:50 a.m. EST.
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