Law Takes His Sweet Time with Tout de Suite to Win at The CHC International CIC3*
The Adequan USEA Gold Cup and PRO Tour Series CIC3* division at Chattahoochee Hills ended the final phase of competition, cross-country, as it began with Leslie Law and Tout de Suite “Colby” leading the field. Law was proud of the run that Colby put in, and especially proud of his go through jump 13abc.
“Well the horse was amazing” said Law. “I didn’t get the real forward ride I wanted [on fence 13a to 13b]. I just got a level ride in which made the one stride long. The horse showed a lot of scope and boldness actually. He is so good at holding his lines.” Law added “he has got a load more experience under his belt today.”
The 8-year-old British Sport Horse gelding owned by Beatrice Rey-Herme is still new to the level with only two runs in an Advanced or CIC3* previous to this event. In February he finished his first Advanced with a sixth place at the Rocking Horse Winter II Horse Trials, and most recently the pair won the CIC3* division at the Poplar Place Farm March Horse Trials. Next up will be a short rest for the young up and coming horse.
“We will back off and give him a lighter schedule for 3-4 weeks” said Law. “We think we will probably do Richland, then do the [Nutrena USEA] AEC and probably go to Poplar. If he is looking like he is mature and strong enough he will go to Fair Hill at the end of the year. You know I have no doubt he will jump around Fair Hill. Just being an 8-year-old I need to feel like he is strong enough. If I think that, then we will probably have a crack at Fair Hill.”
Coming into the competition Law and “Colby” had zero cross-country jumping penalties in each and every outing in 2015. However they have amassed some time penalties over the past three outings, and this event was no different with the pair finishing with 14 time penalties. That doesn’t bother Law as he made a conscious decision to ride without a watch.
“If I wear a watch it feels like the wolves are chasing me” joked Law.
Even with time penalties Law still won the division by 21.6 points over the next highest finisher Avery Klunick riding her own 14-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred, In It To Win It. Nilson Moreira da Silva finished in third with L&N Equestrian’s 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding Magnum's Martini.
Libby Head and Sir Rockstar Rock On
Much like Law, Libby Head and her own 17-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Sir Rockstar also took their time to finish the Hugh Lochore designed cross-country course at the Advanced level but still held on to win.
“It rode great. I think I just maybe wasn’t in a very forward… ride.” said Head. “I think we were quite a bit over [the time], but I really wasn’t trying to push him to hard.” Head did make it clear that she wasn’t planning to push him as the pair has their sights set on an overseas trip to Luhmühlen in June.
Head finished with a final score of 59.2 which was just enough to edge out Elisa Wallace and Rosmarie Spillane’s 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Corteo (60.7), and Zach Brandt riding his own 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse Cavallino Cocktail (63.7).
About the Adequan USEA Gold Cup and PRO Tour 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.
The PRO Tour Series consists of 13 premier destination events in the United States and Canada, featuring the best riders and most entertainment. Riders and Horses are awarded points on the PRO Tour Rider Leader Board and PRO Tour Horse Leader Board.
The Professional Riders Organization would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the 2015 PRO Tour Series: KER Optimum Time, Tex Sutton, Triple Crown Nutrition, SSG Riding Gloves, and Midadlantic Ltd.
Related Articles
USEA Podcast #410: Let's Chat Cross-Country Course Design
Dive into the fascinating world of cross-country course design with Adri Doyle and Beth Perkins—two of the leading female designers in the U.S. They take listeners behind the scenes of what it really takes to build a course, from balancing challenge and safety to understanding how horses read que...
Bellissimo Tops Stable View CCI4*-S Aboard Dyri
Charles Pinnell, cross-country announcer, said it best—it was a “picture-perfect Saturday here in Aiken, South Carolina.” The day at Stable View started early with the remaining national divisions starting their weekend in the Tree Arena with dressage. The FEI divisions got underway promptly at 9...
Spring Has Sprung at the Stable View Spring International with Bellissimo Leading the CCI4*-S
The first day of the Stable View Spring International started off with a little bit of fog but quickly turned into a beautiful day. The 2/3/4* FEI divisions kicked off the day with the first riders going down the center line at 8:20 a.m.
