United States Eventing Association

The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Advanced division dressage was split over two days, but no one on Friday could catch Thursday’s overnight leaders, Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border’s 30.9.

The Cross Syndicate’s 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Diamond Roller x Whos Diaz) was the 2012 USEA Young Event Horse East Coast 5-year-old Champion and has successfully climbed the ranks with wins at both the CCI* and CIC2* levels.

“He was very good with the exception of the flying changes which I have been struggling with anyway,” said Severson. “I think he did one clean – I have been watching the video over and over, but it is a little hard to tell. If that is true that would be good. He is a good boy and does everything he is supposed to.”

The Advanced division will be the final class to tackle Ian Stark’s cross-country course on Sunday afternoon, so there will be time for the riders to see how the questions are riding throughout the day.

“[The course] is good, the footing is terrific,” continued Severson. “They have done a great job, and I think the out of the sunken road is always a question – the angle is really hard. It’s good course though.

“Crossey” moved up to Advanced earlier this summer at Millbrook H.T., but withdrew after dressage so will be contesting his first Advanced jumping phases this weekend.

“I will just see what he has to say,” said Severson. “He should be fine, but you never know. We will see how he show jumps tomorrow and go from there.”

Joe Meyer and his own 16-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred gelding, Sanskrit, sit in second on a 32.1. This is only the second outing of the year for the pair not having run since the Intermediate at Rocking Horse H.T. in January, however, Meyer and Sanskrit have won three of the last four Advanced outings they have contested.

Hot on the heels of Meyer and Sanskrit are Holly Payne Caravella and Santino, a 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, owned by Beth and Robert Groblewski. The pair scored a 32.7 to round out the top three.

The Advanced division show jumps tomorrow starting at 1:46 before tackling cross-country on Sunday at 2:55.

Keep up with all of the live scores here.

About the Adequan USEA Gold Series

Qualifying for the 2015 Adequan USEA Gold Cup began last fall with the Plantation Field CIC3* (PA) and the Woodside CIC3* (CA) and features 11 qualifying competitions throughout the United States at the Advanced Horse Trials and CIC3* levels. The final will take place at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships September 2015 in Tyler, Texas. Riders who complete a qualifier earn the chance to vie for $40,000 in prize money in the Adequan Advanced Division and the title of Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion.

The 2015 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many loyal sponsors: Adequan, Standlee Forage, Nunn Finer, Nutrena, Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency, Point Two, Dubarry, and FITS.