The final CCI5*-L of the year took place from Oct. 26-29 at Pau in France, and the United States had four riders represented.
Boyd Martin and the Annie Goodwin Syndicate’s Fedarman B, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Eurocommerce Washington x Paulien B) finished best of the bunch in eighth on a score of 42.7. They were the only pair to make the time on Pierre Michelet’s cross-country course Saturday, but 11 penalties for a frangible pin was added to their score. They jumped double-clear over Sunday’s show jumping course.
“‘Bruno’ was absolutely fantastic at Pau this week. It was a massive journey getting here,” said Martin. “Many thanks to the USEF who chipped in for our trip through a grant. Many thanks to the Annie Goodwin Syndicate. They’ve supported this horse. He’s such a special animal, and to finish in the top-10 at another five-star is awesome. Looking back on the weekend, there’s still improvement to be made. The dressage is getting better and better. Come next year it should be sub-20. Cross-country he was a freak yesterday. Unfortunately, we had a rail in the cross-country—a little bit my fault; he couldn’t quite understand the jump. It’s frustrating when you look at the scoreboard, but he doesn’t know he had 11 penalties. [In show jumping] he was phenomenal. Bruno jumped out of his skin.”
Watch their cross-country round via H&C TV here:
Young rider Cosby Green has been spending the year in England with Tim and Jonelle Price and her group of horses, and she rode Buck Davidson’s former five-star ride Copper Beach, a 17-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Radolin x Cloverballen) owned by Bel Mar Farm, to a 16th place finish (71.3). It was the first five-star start for Green. The pair had 11 penalties for a frangible fence on cross-country plus some time faults and picked up 12 penalties in show jumping.
Kentucky-based Allie Knowles and Katherine O’Brien’s 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Ricardo x Princess In Arms) Morswood finish 18th (73.3) with a clear cross-country jumping round and 16 show jumping penalties. This was the pair’s second five-star completion.
Phillip Dutton and Z, a 15-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Asca Z x Bellabouche) owned by Evie Dutton, Ann Jones, Suzanne Lacey, Caroline Moran, Thomas Tierney, and Dave and Patricia Vos, were in a competitive 12th place after dressage, but a late 20 penalties on cross-country dropped them down the standings. Phillip withdrew Z before the final horse inspection.
“It was a tough cross-country afternoon at Pau. Unfortunately, Z and I had 20 penalties near the end of the course. I was a bit too aggressive into the combination, so couldn’t make the turn to the B element. Up until then, we were foot perfect,” he said. “I decided to withdraw Z as he was a bit knocked around from cross-country here in Pau. It’s such a shame not to complete, but I feel it’s the right decision for my incredibly brave little partner.”
Catch up on the H&C TV livestream here.
At The Event at TerraNova last November, Canadian Jessica Phoenix narrowly missed winning the CCI4*-L with Fluorescent Adolescent, finishing second overall with two rails down. Today, the Olympic veteran found redemption and not only won the B&D Builders CCI4*-S with Freedom GS, but finished second once again with Fluorescent Adolescent.
The 2025 USEA Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Eventing Championships are just one month away, and time is running out for program members to enter this unforgettable event! The Stable View Local Charities H.T. in Aiken, South Carolina, on May 2-4 will serve as host to both program championships again this year, and the max capacity of 400 horse and rider combinations is quickly filling.
Spring is a time to prepare for what’s ahead and many of this week’s international horse trials contenders at Galway Downs International took full advantage of ideal opportunities to build confidence, confirm training and find out where they can push the edges of their horse’s performance.
For Mary Fike, there’s one memory that embodies the spirit of Classic Three-Day. “I know this may sound kind of contrived, but I remember being out checking on something on the [cross-country] course, and a rider came by in [Phase] C that was just singing to her horse,” she recollected. “She was patting them, talking to the gate judges, and just having a great time. She came into the vet box with the biggest grin on her face, and that sense of euphoria, I think, really reminded me why I love doing this.”