United States Eventing Association

Martin and Mo Chroi Make Their Mark in the Open Intermediate Championship at the #AEC2024

Lexington, Ky.—Aug. 27—When Boyd Martin went looking for a horse to step into the shoes of his older five-star partners Tsetserleg TSF and On Cue, he found two out of Swedish eventer Louise Romeike’s barn.

One, Yankee Creek Ranch LLC’s Commando 3, had experience to the Advanced level and was named as Martin’s traveling reserve for the Paris Olympics this summer, while the other, Mo Chroi, was a promising, but much greener prospect.

Martin’s longtime owner Christine Turner, who also owns Tsetserleg TSF and On Cue, stepped in to buy Mo Chroi alongside her husband, Thomas Turner, and daughter, Tommie Turner in early 2022, and the 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Dinken x Pila) has been steadily climbing the levels ever since.

Today, Martin and “Morris” took over the lead in the USEA Open Intermediate Championship at the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds, and Martin’s hoping for a confidence-building run around the cross-country tomorrow.

“We selected him as a young horse. To me, he’s everything you dream of in a horse. He’s a big mover and has a huge engine.,” he said. While Morris is a Holsteiner, he’s got a lot of Selle Français blood according to Martin, and he shares a sire with Phillip Dutton’s Advanced horse Denim. “He’s been slow to develop. He’s such a big jumper, and he’s such a spooky, sharp horse. We’ve just taken our time with it. We’re slowing trying to get him consolidated at the Intermediate/three-star level.”

While Morris has two CCI3*-S completions on his record, he’s spent much of this season at Preliminary gaining some confidence back.

“Last year I moved him up to three-star, and he spooked himself a bit by overjumping, so we pumped the brakes a bit and moved him back down to prelim for a couple of starts. This will be our first start back at the Intermediate level,” said Martin, Cochranville, Pennsylvania.

Their score today of 23.8 was a personal best at the level. “He’s usually a highly-strung horse, but with big events like this we usually try and get horses here a day or two prior, so I’ve worked him a couple of times and flushed a bit of the nervous energy out of him. He went in the ring and danced for the judges,” said Martin.

Kimmy Cecere and Landmark’s Monaco, Jacqueline Mars’ 17-year-old Irish Sport Horse/Thoroughbred gelding (Formula One x Glamour), are in a close second place on 24.1, while Alexandra Baugh and Altorac Farm LLC’s Hubert Des 3 Arbres, an 11-year-old Belgian Sport Horse gelding (Troubadour d’Aurel x Ulm de Bouly) are in third on 25.7.

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About the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC)

The USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds is the pinnacle of the sport at the national levels. Held annually, the best junior, adult amateur, and professional competitors gather to vie for national championship titles at every level from Starter to Advanced. This ultimate test of horse and rider draws hundreds of combinations 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. In fact, the 2021 AEC garnered over 1,000 entries and now stands as the largest eventing competition in North American history. The 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds will be held Aug. 27—Sept. 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 Presenting Sponsor: Nutrena Feeds; Advanced Final Title Sponsor: Adequan; Platinum Level Sponsor: Bates Saddles, Horse & Country; Gold Level Sponsors: ARMA, Parker Equine Insurance, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, Smartpak, Standlee; Silver Level Sponsors: Auburn Labs, Canter Culture Riding Apparel, Kerrits, The Jockey Club, Rood & Riddle; Bronze Level Sponsor: 70 Degrees, Athletux, The Chronicle of the Horse, D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis, Dubarry of Ireland, Equestrian Team Apparel, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Kraft Horse Walkers, Majyk Equipe, Retired Racehorses Project, Ride EquiSafe, Santa Cruz Animal Health; Contributing Level Sponsors: Cross Country App, Georgetown – Scott County Tourism, Lexmark, L.V. Harkness, #WeRideTogether; and Prize Level Sponsors: BEMER, Big Ass Fans, Boyd Martin Fan Shop, Ecogold, EquiFit, Equilab, FarmVet, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Horses 4 Your Consideration, I Love My Horse Eventing Boutique, Jack’s Favorites, Jane Heart Jewelry, Kentucky Equine Research, LeMieux, Mare Goods, Neighborly Tack, Outlaw Nutrition, Palmera Polo, Parkmore Supplements, Practical Horseman / Equine Network, Rachel Dory Equine Fine Art, Remond Minerals, Secretariat Center, Shapley’s, Sidelines Magazine, Strides for Equality Equestrians, and VTO Saddlery.