United States Eventing Association

Martin and Cooley Nutcracker Rise to the Top at Yanmar American Tryon International CCI4*-L

Mill Spring, North Carolina—May 11—Day 3 of competition at the Yanmar America Tryon International Spring Three-Day Event presented by Tow & Collect showcased Clayton Frederick’s course design at the picturesque White Oak Cross-country course at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (Tryon International). The leaderboard of the CCI4*-L division saw a shakeup after two phases of competition.

Boyd Martin and Cooley Nutcracker cleared the course 10 seconds under time to take over the lead and carry a score of 32.7 into Sunday’s show jumping competition. Phillip Dutton and Jewelent (Valent x Roselier), a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by the Jewelent Group, also improved their ranking with a double-clear performance, with a 34.8. Buck Davison and Cooley Candyman (Sligo Candy Boy x Flame Hill), a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned in partnership with Cassandra Segal, collected eight time faults to claim third place on a score of 41.2 points.

Martin piloted two rides in the CCI4*-L division, in the irons for Paris 2024 teammate Liz Halliday-Sharp while she recovers from an injury. The 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tolan R x Cobra) owned by the Nutcracker Syndicate was “unbelievable,” Martin reported. “He was fantastic and just whizzed around. It was the first time I sort of opened him up, and that horse has got amazing scope and speed. He's brave as a lion, and I was just thrilled with him.

“It’s just a huge honor and privilege to be riding Liz's horses, obviously," he continued. "And Cooley Nutcracker was a teammate of mine when I rode [Fedarman B] at the Olympics, and it's been a humbling experience. I thought I'd hop on Cooley Nutcracker and get him going just as well as Liz had him going,” Martin admitted. “I didn't fully appreciate the partnership Liz and her horse had, and it's been a work in progress, but I feel like we're slowly getting back to the form that she had them going in last year.”

While the future is still a bit unclear, Martin acknowledged, “the longterm plan with Liz’s horses will be completely up to Liz and her team of supporters. It’s just a huge, huge honor to be asked to keep the horses going while she’s recovering.”

The recently-crowned world No. 1 in eventing, Martin raved about Tryon International as his favorite venue at which to compete. “It’s fantastic. I was thrilled with the course design, and Tryon International Equestrian Center is one of my favorite places to come eventing. The stabling and the rings are world class,” he said. “And then, to have a cross-country course situated over a former golf course is a rarity in our sport. You wouldn't find any turf better anywhere in the world. So this is one of my favorite events to come to.”

Martin picked up 20 points on Barney Rubble after a massive jump into the water resulted in an unplanned serpentine out, during which he crossed his tracks and was awarded a penalty. “I think both horses recovered well," he said. "I had them quite fit for this. They finished with a spring in their step, and it's always challenging, show jumping here, so I think we'll come out and just give our best for tomorrow,” he concluded.

Sharon White and Jaguars Duende Win CCI4*-S Division

The CCI4*-S division concluded Saturday with a win for Sharon White and Jaguars Duende, defending their lead after show jumping with 11 penalties for a frangible pin and 4.4 time penalties to finish on a score of 46.6. The division serves as a qualifier for the US Open of Eventing. Kim Severson and Cooley Corraghy Diamond (Diamond Roller x Cruising), an 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Bill and Roslyn Johnson, improved from ninth place to second on a final score of 50.6. Rounding out the podium, Cole Horn rode his own MBF Cooley Permission to Land (Cobra x Luidam), an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, to a final score of 51.5.

White and her own 9-year-old Westphalian mare (Jaguar Mail x Lancaster) aimed for efficiency on course, she shared. “My goal is always just to make her continue to feel as confident as she is. The footing was amazing, so I didn’t mind going quickly, and I just did efficient lines. She’s so easy to steer, so it’s very easy to be quick on her, and the ground was so good. The goal is just to get her very confident at the level.”

For White, patience is key when it comes to bringing a horse up the levels, and that patience is paying off in dividends. “I’ve not rushed her, so I’ve been very patient to get her to the level. Now, she actually does feel confident at the level. She show jumped like a champion! I’m sad she had the pin, but it might actually help her realize that the jumps are a bit bigger and wider!”

With two CCI4*-S competitions under their belts, White is in no rush to continue competing “when I can go and work on things I need to [at home]. You have to look at the big picture. If I’m looking at LA [Olympics], there’s actually no hurry. The more I do with her, the less chance I have her in the future; every jump you jump on a horse is one less at the other end. So if you can be a little patient, it really does behoove you. She needed to do this, and it gives me a good idea [of where she’s at]. But she’s such a competitor. She doesn’t need to learn that part. She knows! Therefore, I can just do what’s right for her.”

CCI3*-L Division: Dan Kreitl and Odyssey Lead After Cross-Country

Dan Kreitl, owner and rider of Odyssey (Temple City x Seeking The Gold), an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, have climbed from eighth to first after two phases of competition in the CCI3*-L, carrying forward a score of 33.8 into Sunday’s show jumping round. Gabby Dickerson and Casalto (Casalito x Painter’s Row), a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding co-owned by Dickerson and Abigail Akre, sit just behind Kreitl with a score of 35 points. Kaitlin Clasing holds third with a score of 38.7 for her efforts with Butts Arthur (Graf Top x Heraldik), a 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding held in ownership by Daniel Clasing, Denis Glaccum, and Carla MacLeod.

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Connor Conquer CCI3*-S Division

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Connor, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Connor 48 x Mermus R), owned in partnership with Sherrie Martin and Luann Mcelduff, ended their weekend in the CCI3*-S Division with a win, adding just 1.6 time penalties on cross-country to finish on a score of 28.7 points. Meg Pellegrini and Falcon Crown Z, a 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Farfelu de Muze x Landjonker) owned in partnership with Hank and Margaret Pellegrini, stayed on the podium with a score of 32.5, while Sharon White rounded out the podium in third aboard Anita Antenucci’s Arden Augustus (Jaguar Mail x Cevin Z), a 7-year-old American Warmblood gelding, on a score of 33.8.

Meghan O’Donoghue and Global Eros Maintain Lead in CCI2*-L Division presented by by Ken Feagin Truck & Trailer

Meghan O’Donoghue and Global Eros, an 8-year-old Warmblood gelding of unrecorded breeding owned in partnership with William Duhring, maintained their dressage score of 24.8 and the lead after their double-clear cross-country performance in the CCI2*-L Division presented by Ken Feagin Truck & Trailer. A two-way tie for second place (29 points) includes Elinor O’Neal aboard DHI Noteworthy, a 7-year-old mare (Zirocco Blue VDL x Jestarina VDL) owned by Sally Cox, and Katherine Maroko, riding her own Redfield Champion (Diarado x Contendro I), an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding.

Ashley Kehoe and Daktaris Maintain Lead in CCI2*-S Division

Maintaining her lead across two phases with 29.5 points, Ashley Kehoe and Daktaris, a 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Dinken x Cormint) owned by Ashley Kehoe Eventing, produced a faultless stadium round. Lauren Nicholson and How Easy GG, an 8-year-old Selle Francais stallion (Upsilon x Quite Easy) owned by Jacqueline Mars and Christa Schmidt, added 1.2 time penalties to their dressage score to claim second on a score of 31.3 points. Tied for third place on a score of 32.2, Buck Davidson rode Galakis de L’Ocean AA (Kannan x Kim Du Maury), a 9-year-old Anglo Arabian gelding owned by James and Katherine O’Brien, and Ashley Greene rode HSH Phoenix (Quainton Colt Forty Five x Unknown), a 9-year-old Anglo European gelding.

CCI1*-S Podium Unchanged with Kendyl Tracy and Dublin ZR in Lead

Kendyl Tracy jumped clear with 1.6 time penalties aboard Dublin ZR, a 6-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Diacontinus x Chico’s Boy) owned by Leslie Mintz, to maintain her lead in the CCI1*-S Division with a score of 26.4. Will Faudree rode Cooley All In, his own 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse Gelding (Chello III VDL x Kroongraaf), remaining on a score of 26.7. Sharon White and Namara CFF, a 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Everdale x Vivaldi) owned in partnership with Wiley Grosvenor, also kept their podium spot with a score of 29.4 after show jumping.

For full results and live scores from the Yanmar America Tryon International Spring Three-Day Event presented by Tow & Collect, click here.

View the event schedule here.

The Yanmar America Tryon International Spring Three-Day Event presented by Tow & Collect takes place alongside Tryon Spring 2 competition, featuring Saturday Night Lights presented by Skyla Credit Union at 7:30pm in Tryon Stadium on May 10th. Learn more at www.Tryon.com/snl.

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