United States Eventing Association

Martin and Long Island T Get Their First Sip of AEC Success

Boyd Martin and Long Island T (Ludwig von Bayern x Haupstsbuch Highlight) danced their way to the lead in the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final at the 2019 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds, laying down a 25.6 to sit at the top of the leaderboard by four points.

"Ludwig was brilliant today in the dressage,” Martin praised the Long Island T Syndicate's 13-year-old Oldenburg/Thoroughbred gelding. “He's such a fantastic mover, and he's always full of expression and he's very well trained and experienced at this level now so he's quite fun to ride. He's sort of got that mixture of good energy without getting too explosive. He's very good, a couple of little things we can always improve on, but overall it's lovely to have a horse with this phenomenal talent for the dressage because you just have to sit there and everyone thinks you're a good rider."

"Kentucky is obviously one of the greatest equestrian venues in the world,” Martin continued. “It's a huge honor and thrill to ride here in April, and I jumped at the opportunity to bring horses here for the AEC. It's just a great event. I think the biggest thing is the cross-country course design at all levels is big, bold, and flowing with every question that needs to be asked for every horse. It's a really good education for every horse at every level. And to do dressage and show jumping in this stadium is a great opportunity to get mileage on these horses that are coming through."

Mara Depuy and Congo Brazzaville C (Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve x Mexico M), her own and David and Mary Clark Regamey’s 12-year-old KWPN gelding, sit behind Martin and Ludwig on a score of 29.6, good enough for second place heading into tomorrow’s cross-country.

"Congo is getting better and better,” she said of her dressage test aboard Congo. Last weekend they went to the Great Meadow International where they rode the test rides for the three- and four-star to practice in atmosphere before coming to the AEC. “I'm thrilled with the fact that he was rideable, which he has not been in atmosphere this spring.”

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Singapore, the 10-year-old KWPN gelding (Singapore x Riedellia) owned by Ann Jones, Tom Tierney, and David Vos, is close behind Depuy and Congo on a 29.8, the third and final score of the division to make it into the 20s.

"Parts of it were good,” Dutton acknowledged. “The flying changes were still not great, but he's such a quality horse that the judges want to score him because he looks the part. He's coming along."

Looking to tomorrow’s cross-country, Martin quipped, "I think, unfortunately, Derek di Grazia is practicing for building Burghley. He's coming out here and he's gotten all excited because he's got the Burghley job – it looks huge to me. If you break it down and you really look at it, it's a great course – great footing, obviously, it's a nice open galloping course. So my plan, I mean obviously there's a bit of prize money on the line so I'd love to have a bit of a crack, but this is also Ludwig's first Advanced in a while so I've just got to ride a little bit smart and make sure I don't go wild and crazy and go for broke too much. He can get quite strong and hard to turn, especially towards the end of the course, so my plan would be to keep him open and fast but keep him settled and keep his mind the whole way around."

"It's a strong course,” Dutton agreed. “It starts right from the beginning, there's a lot to do. It's as strong as you'd see at a four-star."

"I think the course looks great,” Depuy added. “I think it looks like the reason we all came here: for fantastic footing and a great, challenging course. I'm excited about it. I think it will suit Congo – the bigger the better – I just have to ride it well and stay sharp."

The Advanced is first out on the cross-country course tomorrow at 8:42 a.m. and you can watch it streamed live on the USEA website.

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About the USEA American Eventing Championships

The USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds is the pinnacle of the sport for the national levels. Held annually, the best junior, adult amateur, and professional competitors gather to vie for national championship titles at every level from Beginner Novice to Advanced. This ultimate test of horse and rider draws hundreds of horses and riders from around the country to compete for fabulous prizes, a piece of the substantial prize money, and the chance to be named the National Champion at their respective levels. This year, the AEC will be held August 27 – September 1 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Click here to learn more about the USEA American Eventing Championships.

The USEA would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the AEC: Presenting Sponsor: Nutrena; Advanced Final Title Sponsor: Adequan; Platinum Level Sponsors: Bates Saddles, Equistro; Gold Level Sponsors: Charles Owen, Standlee Hay, Parker Equine Insurance; Silver Level Sponsors: Mountain Horse; The Jockey Club, Park Equine; Bronze Level Sponsors: Arnall’s Naturals, State Line Tack, Black Petticoat, Devoucoux, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Horseware Ireland, LandSafe SmartPak, Dubarry, The Chronicle of the Horse, Stackhouse and Ellis Saddles, Auburn Laboratories, FITS Riding, Ovation, Lanier Sand and Soil, Event Cooling Solutions, Farm House Tack; Contributing Level Sponsors: Ariat, Meanwhile Back on the Farm, L.V. Harkness, Lexmark, GLC Direct, Georgetown Tourism, FarmVet, FLAIR Nasal Strips, Nunn Finer, RevitaVet, Resvantage Equine, CrossCountry App; Prize Level Sponsors: GumBits, Ride Heels Down, C4 Belts, I Love My Horse, Mare Modern Goods, Bluegrass Vibershield, Bluegrass Animal Products, Caracol, Active Interest Media, Astrid’s Oil, Baekgaard, On The Bit Horse Supplies, Luxe EQ, EQ AM Magazine, Jetti Spa, Great British Equinery, Foxden Equine, The Scoring Chix, Pure Form Equine; Competitor’s Party Sponsors:Jacqueline Mars, Kat and Roberto Cuca, United States Hunter Jumper Association, and United States Dressage Federation.

About the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final

The $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final will take place at the 2019 USEA American Eventing Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, August 27 – September 1, 2019. Thanks to Adequan’s amazing support, the Adequan USEA Advanced Final will bring together the country’s top rides to vie for $60,000 in prize money and the title of Adequan Champion. To qualify for the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final at the AEC in 2019, competitors will need to complete a minimum of two events without cross-country jump penalties at any USEA recognized Advanced horse trials, CCI4*-S (2018 CIC3*), CCI4*-L (2018 CCI3*), CCI5*-L (2018 CCI4*), or the FEI World Equestrian Games. The qualifying period for the 2019 AEC is May 29, 2018 through August 19, 2019. Click here to learn more about the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final.

The USEA would like to thank Adequan for sponsoring the 2019 $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final.