United States Eventing Association

Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato will show jump tomorrow in a bid for the Adequan USEA Gold Cup and PRO Tour Series Advanced division win at Aspen Farms, having maintained their overnight lead despite adding 17.6 cross-country time penalties to their dressage score. The 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding was jumping for fun over his first Advanced cross-country course, and as he thundered by, spectators commented on his ground-covering gallop and effortless jumps. He was such a picture of perfection, no one would know that his rider was recovering from a violent bout of food poisoning less than twelve hours prior.

According to Linstedt's mother, Barbara, she begged—pleaded—with her daughter not to ride, considering how very sick she had been during the night. She wondered how Linstedt would summon the strength to hold on to all of Revitavet Capato’s 17.1 hands, but Jordan rode anyhow, powering through the lingering discomfort to make easy work of Tremaine Cooper’s imposing course. Afterwards, she took off to tend to her many students also competing at Aspen Farms.

Hot on Jordan’s heels leading into tomorrow’s show jumping is Kiyomi Foster of British Columbia, Canada and her experienced mount, Tasman Sea. Due to the difficult nature of the course today and the small size of the division, a solid performance nearly guarantees a leap up the leaderboard. Kiyomi and Tasman Sea jumped clear with 13.2 time penalties, the fastest ride of the day, to move from sixth to second.

“This was my first Advanced last fall and it was very similar, which was an advantage and disadvantage I guess,” Foster said. “This year it was a lot more sticky and the footing was a bit of a concern, but he’s really sure footed. He’s kind of like a mountain goat.”

Foster purchased Tasman Sea from her coach, Chelan Kozak, when she was a working student. Chelan competed the New Zealand Thoroughbred at Rolex Kentucky in 2010, and the gelding has taught his young rider all about the upper levels. “I’ve done more than I would have done on another horse because I trust him,” Foster said. “I saw him go at Rolex so I know he can jump all those big fences. He’s 16 so he’s getting up there, but he acts like a 4-year-old. And he’s so easy to get fit. He was almost dry before we left the finish. He gets fit just looking at a hill.”

Foster is hoping for a clear round tomorrow to put the pressure on leader Linstedt. “It’s taken me a long time to learn how to show jump him. I’m kind of a one rail type of person for some reason.” But the horse jumped extremely well at Rebecca Farm in July and Foster feels confident he can put up a repeat performance. “He won’t be tired tomorrow, and as long as I ride him properly I think he’ll be good.”

Tasman Sea's former rider Kozak is also competing in the Advanced division alongside Foster. Kozak and Voyager had an unfortunate fall at the fourth fence on cross-country, but horse and rider stood immediately and walked back to the barn unharmed.

A Course That Favors the Bold
Of the nine horse and rider combinations in the Tin Men Supply Advanced division, four jumped clear, two finished with refusals, one retired on course, and two were eliminated. Similarly, in the Natural Migrations Intermediate division, six out of 15 starters crossed the finish line without jumping penalties. Because of several inches of pooled water in the hay field both divisions faced slightly modified courses. Two fences were removed from each level in the interest of protecting the horses from jumping off less than ideal footing. It was noted by several riders, however, how well the rest of the course dried up before the day’s competition began. In fact, Travers Schick, one of the hard-working Aspen Farms course builders, said the buckets of rain dumped on the course this week tremendously benefited the footing, as it had been fairly dry and “gravelly” most of the summer.

Tremaine Cooper certainly built a course that favored the bold, with going lines and jumps more frightening to the rider than the horse. “It’s a course where the horse and rider walk away having learned something and being better for having done it,” said Schick, who has been building at Aspen Farms since its second year hosting horse trials.

Schick’s favorite fence on course is quite possibly one of the most intimidating, the NWEP Angled Brush at fence nine. That, and the Meridian Park Gate at fence eight. “They’ve got good lines, are not over the top, and jump well.”

Caroline Smith commented yesterday that the course does not look “false.” Indeed, the jumps are solid and natural-looking but very beautiful in their construction. “It’s not Disneyland out there,” Schick said. “It’s supposed to be a cross-country course. There is a fine line between classy and over the top.”

Schick credits Aspen Farms' owners Jonathan and Suzy Elliott for dedicating themselves to developing a quality event that focuses on the best interests of horse and rider. “There is no project too big for John; he wants to make the course the best it can be, which makes my job more fun and more interesting for spectators and riders.”

Check out the Advanced division Course Walk Photo Gallery for a look at the entire Adequan USEA Gold and PRO Tour Series division course, including the fences removed due to minor flooding.

View the full results from Aspen Farms at Startbox Scoring.

About the Adequan USEA Gold Cup and PRO Tour Series
The Adequan USEA Gold Cup features 11 qualifying competitions throughout the United States at the Advanced Horse Trials and CIC3* levels with the final at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships September 26-29 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 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many sponsors: Adequan; Nunn Finer; SmartPak Equine; 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 in 2013 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. Riders can also earn points on the PRO Tour Series at the Intermediate or two-star level for the Multi Radiance Intermediate Challenge. The 2013 Multi Radiance Challenge Leader Board Champion will win a Multi Radiance MR4 ACTIVET Portable Laser System.

The Professional Riders Organization would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the 2013 PRO Tour Series: Martin Collins USA, The Official Footing of PRO; Multi Radiance Medical, The Official Laser Therapy of PRO & Sponsor of the Multi Radiance Medical Intermediate Challenge ; Tex Sutton, the Official US Equine Air Carrier of PRO; SSG Riding Gloves; Finish Line Horse Products; Midlantic Ltd.; and Mythic Landing Events.