United States Eventing Association

Marilyn Little made the trip to Galway Downs with her experienced partner RF Demeter with the mare's best interest in mind, and that paid off today as she took the lead in the competitive field of international CCI3* horses and riders.

"I really wanted to do really well today. You always want to do well. We came here with a mission. This was Demi's trip. It was always meant to be about Demi. She's earned the right to go wherever she wants to go," said Little of Jacqueline Mars, Robin Parsky and Raylyn Farm's 13-year-old chestnut Oldenburg mare.

The Pan Am Games double gold medalist took the lead with a penalty score of 40.5 at the halfway mark of today's competition, besting Canadian Pan Am silver medalist Jessica Phoenix who has four mounts entered in the highlight competition. Little was pleased with the performance and the result.

"We have really been working on bringing her frame up a little bit more. She is a very powerful horse coming from behind, so balancing all that takes a little bit. That's been something that has been a constant struggle, and today we got a little bit more of a handle on it," explained Little with a smile. "It was one of her better scores. I was really thrilled that it all came together today."

Rounding out the top of the leaderboard was a full spectrum of the sport. Young Rider Jacob Fletcher jumped to second place with a 42.6 on his USEA Adequan Gold Cup Champion Atlantic Domino, just edging out the broadly experienced Olympian Phillip Dutton who piloted Ann Jones' Fernhill Fugitive to third place on 43.4 penalties.

Fletcher described his mission and result today as part journey and part redemption for having been soundly beaten by Dutton at last year's Blenheim (England) CCI.

"I've never been to California at all before. [This was a] completely new experience for me," said Fletcher. "I came this weekend to trying to be competitive and trying to make the bigger guys think about me a little bit, [to] try and catch up to their coat tails."

"My biggest point of reference this weekend was [my attempt at the] Blenheim CCI3* in 2014 and Mr. Phillips smoked me like a cheap cigar on the same horse he brought here. It was a really good reference point to see where I am now," laughed Fletcher.

The hard-working Jessica Phoenix was rewarded for a marathon day with three of her four mounts finishing in the top ten. Bentleys Best, Patras VR and Abbey GS all scored within five points of each other, comfortably close to the leaders going into tomorrow's cross country.

Riding a hot streak right now, Tamra Smith leads the CCI2* competition on the Chatwin Group's Chatwin. She also sits in first and third places in the large and competitive CCI1* field, with Lagos Star and Fleeceworks Royal respectively. Both overnight leaders are not regular rides for Smith, but she was quick to praise the horses and their owners for the opportunity to compete successfully.

"I am just blessed to have the chance to ride such amazing horses. I really didn't know what to expect today but they [the horses] just kept getting better in the ring. It was great," Smith said.

Galway Downs saw action in every corner today as dressage was underway for the international competitors while national-level Novice and Training competitors completed both their dressage and show jumping phases.

The USEA Classic Series Training-level Three Day Event competitors were challenged by the four-phase speed and endurance portion of the classic event. For some, the classic event is a stepping-stone to prepare for possible future international competition. For others, it is a goal in itself, to learn more about the fitness and preparation of the eventing athlete.

In Training Three-Day division A, the top three placings juggled a bit after the cross country competition. Kimberly Steinbuch and Ruth Bley's Hanoverian mare EnVogue held their lead with 27.7 penalties; Bonner Carpenter moved up to second on Cele Carpenter's Darkside with 31.5 after Balla Ruan, ridden by Erin Kellerhouse had an unlucky stop. Lisa Sabo bumped up to third with a clear round on her own WTF Doria (31.7).

Steinbuch commented on the opportunity to show EnVogue in this format:

"She is fabulous. She has a little more experience, she's done three Prelims. Ruth took her up to Training level, she was Training level champion for Area VI a couple of years ago. We looked into finishing on the Training Three Day. I thought it would be the perfect transition into next year doing some FEI stuff. It was a little eye opening for her first jog. The Classic series is perfect for those horses in transition before their first one-star."

The Training Three-Day Division B saw the results remain unchanged. Orion's Sweet Rubio, a 13-year-old Connemara owned and ridden by Haley Turner has the top score of 32.5; in second place is Britt Sabbah's Saint Louie with 32.8 and currently in third is Douglas Rock, owned and ridden by Olga Londa, with 33.2 penalties.

The CCI horses will gallop around the spectator-friendly cross-country course, once again designed by British Olympian Ian Stark, on Saturday, Oct. 31. The event reaches its climax with the show jumping finals and awards on Sunday, Nov.1.

Live scores available here.

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