United States Eventing Association

Martin Leads Team USA on an Influential Cross-Country Day at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Paris, France—July 28—As expected, cross-country shook up the standings at the Paris Olympics, and the U.S. team has fallen from sixth after dressage to ninth on a score of 128.5. Great Britain maintained their lead on a score of 82.5, while France is in silver-medal position on 87.2. Japan moved into bronze medal position on 93.8.

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake were the sixth pair out over Pierre Le Goupil’s course and the first on course for the U.S.

Pamukcu is no stranger to being the pathfinder, with several Nations Cup team appearances, and she said the course rode to plan except when “Blake” tripped up at the ditch on the landing side of 16a. She had to take a different line to 16bcd after the issue, and she was awarded 20 penalties.

Blake, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding HSH Blake (Tolan R x Doughiska Lass) owned by Pamukcu, Deniz Pamukcu, Sherrie Martin, and Mollie Hoff, jumped everything else easily according to Caroline. They added 12 time penalties to sit 47^th heading into tomorrow’s show jumping.

“He’s fearless, and he trusts me 100 percent,” she said. “He’s a phenomenal athlete. The course was riding like a dream, and then I came to that bank, and he fell in the ditch, so I did the smartest option and went long and jumped a different element. The biggest thing is I’m riding for the team. If it was individual I’d fight and try to jump the skinny, but I’m riding for the team, so I did the best option I could in the moment.

“He feels like a seasoned pro and super rideable in the beginning. He answered all the questions, and I was really on my minutes. I’m disappointed I had to slow down after that option, but I can’t be upset with him,” she added.

Liz Halliday was next out for the team on The Nutcracker Syndicate's 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tolan R x Ballyshan Cleopatra) Nutcracker.

While “Bali” is fairly new to the level, he tackled the course easily and added 6 time penalties to their score to land in 22^nd place. Halliday said the footing was a bit slick in spots due to rain yesterday and several wooded, shaded areas on course, so her time penalties came from balancing on the turns.

“The ground is definitely influential,” she said. “I had huge studs in, and he still slipped on me pretty early on. That’s where all my time faults came from—just being a little bit careful on the turns because he’s a big, powerful horse and powers up behind. I really wanted to get the job done well because it’s also his future. All the jumps rode to plan, and he was outstanding.”

She added that Bali noticed the crowds around the second fence, but by the first water he was all business. “He had tons of running left. I’m a little annoyed I wasn’t a bit quicker, but I rode smart, and that was also important today. He’s fresh as anything now,” she said.

She’s confident in his show jumping abilities for tomorrow and is looking forward to taking on the unique format of two rounds.

“He’s a very, very good jumper,” she said. “He’s a sensitive horse, and I have to be very conscious of how I ride him and give him the perfect ride, but he will fight for me. He’s incredibly careful. I always believed he was the horse I’d want here for two rounds because he’s such a good jumper. He’s so confident in his scope.”

Boyd Martin was the final rider out for the team on the Annie Goodwin Syndicate's 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Fedarman B (Eurocommerce Washington x Paulien B), and the almost made the optimum time of 9 minutes 2 seconds. They added 1.6 time penalties and will show jump in 17^th place.

“He’s an absolute legend,” said Martin of “Bruno.” “He was brilliant every step of the way. I couldn’t have asked for anything more today. He gave me his heart and soul. He got a little tired over the last three fences, but he just dug deep and kept going for me. I’m very pleased with him.”

Martin said he didn’t put in any “crazy” studs for Bruno because he’s “sure-footed as a mountain goat,” but he did protect him on the turns which he thinks were the cause of his time penalties. He said Bruno felt a bit excited at the beginning of the course and then tired at the last three fences, but he made sure he was extra fit before coming to the Olympics.

“I purposely ran him slow and waiting in his last run at Stable View, and I think it paid dividends because he came out settled, and I was seeing good shots at everything. I felt like I had him about right. I don’t know if I could have gone much faster,” he said.

This is Martin’s fourth Olympics, and so far, he says it’s been the most special. He compared cross-country day to the 2012 London Olympics which were held in the middle of Greenwich Park.

“I heard more cheers, ‘Go Bruno,’ than ‘Go Boyd.’ There was plenty of stars and stripes out there and lots of French people going, ‘Allez, Allez!’ It was a wonderful feeling, but I tried not to look around too much,” he said. “It was one of the most memorable cross-country rounds of my life because of the setting and the venue and the crowds and the moment. I’ll remember this one forever.”

Martin’s been working with show jumping coach Peter Wylde and feels prepared for tomorrow’s two rounds.

“I had him fit, so I’m expecting him to bounce back strong,” he said. “I’ve got the greatest show jumping trainer in the world here to help me. He’s just a naturally careful horse, so we don’t have to use any fancy tricks. I’m quietly confident I’m on the best jumping horse in the field, so I’ve just got to ride well over a super huge course, stay calm and rely on thousands of hours of practice.”

We'll have a full report from the competition coming soon.

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