United States Eventing Association

Maya Black has been making a name for herself at the CIC*** level this year, and today was yet another landmark for her. Not only did the 26-year-old from Clinton, Washington score her personal best at this level, but she also topped the 31-horse Adequan USEA Gold Cup division at Richland Park Horse Trials, scoring a 42.3 aboard the Dofelmier’s Holsteiner gelding, Doesn’t Play Fair.

“Going into the ring today, I wanted to do my best and focus on incorporating everything I’ve been practicing at home,” she said. “I’m really pleased with his ride today, but there’s always room for improvement.”

Black and “Cody” have proven to be formidable competitors at the three-star level with a fifth-placed finish at the Jersey Fresh CIC3* in May and another pink ribbon at the Bromont CCI*** in June. While they seem to perform like veterans, this is both Black’s and Cody’s first year at this level.

“Cody is getting better and better at this level,” said Black. “We’re just trying to work on all the different parts of each phase, and trying to put them all together. He’s such a lovely horse, and I really just enjoy him.”

Following closely behind her is another young West Coast rider, Mackenna Shea, who earned a 43.5 aboard her own Landioso. Emily Beshear locked in the third-place spot with a 44.7 on Deep Purple Eventing’s lovely mare Shame on the Moon. Michael Pollard with Mensa and Sharon White with Wundermaske round out the top five, keeping the scores all quite close.

This event is the second to last Gold Cup qualifier before the Adequan USEA Gold Cup final at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships in Tyler, Texas. Tomorrow, riders will show jump and the leaderboard will be decided on Saturday with cross-country.

Full Results

About the Adequan USEA Gold Cup and PRO Tour Series

Qualifying for the 2014 Adequan USEA Gold Cup began last fall with the Plantation Field CIC*** (PA) and the Woodside CIC*** (CA) and features 11 qualifying competitions throughout the United States at the Advanced Horse Trials and CIC3* levels. The final will take place at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships September 2014 in Tyler, Texas. Riders who complete a qualifier earn the chance to vie for $40,000 in prize money in the Adequan Advanced Division and the title of Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion.

The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many sponsors: Adequan; Standlee Forage Nunn Finer; SmartPak Equine; Nutrena; Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency, Point Two; Dubarry; and FITS.

The PRO Tour Series consists of 13 premier destination events in the United States and Canada in 2013/2014 featuring the best riders and most entertainment. Riders and Horses are awarded points on the PRO Tour Rider Leader Board and PRO Tour Horse Leader Board. Riders can also earn points on the PRO Tour Series at the Intermediate or two-star level for the Multi Radiance Intermediate Challenge. The 2014 Multi Radiance Challenge Leader Board Champion will win a Multi Radiance MR4 ACTIVET Portable Laser System.

The Professional Riders Organization would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the 2014 PRO Tour Series: Martin Collins USA, The Official Footing of PRO; Multi Radiance Medical, The Official Laser Therapy of PRO & Sponsor of the Multi Radiance Medical Intermediate Challenge ; Tex Sutton, the Official US Equine Air Carrier of PRO; SSG Riding Gloves; Finish Line Horse Products; Midlantic Ltd.; and Mythic Landing Events.