United States Eventing Association

Meghan O’Donoghue and Palm Crescent Secure the Advanced Win at Millbrook Horse Trials

Millbrook, N.Y.—July 27—Going into today’s show jumping phase at the Millbrook Horse Trials, Meghan O’Donoghue and her 18-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Palm Crescent could afford to have one rail down and still claim first place in the Advanced division. They left all the rails up and cantered across the finish line in the time allowed to clinch the win.

Allison Springer and No May Moon, second after cross country, very nearly jumped clear, but a rail down at the final fence had them finish third overall. This made room for Ariel Grald and Isla de Coco, a 10-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Annie Eldridge, to move up to second, with Springer finishing third overall. Phillip Dutton and Possante, leaders after dressage and third after cross-country, had four rails down and dropped to 18^th place overall.

Ema Klugman, who rode four horses in the Advanced division this weekend, finished fourth with the syndicated mare Bronte Beach Z who was tied for 16^th after dressage, sixth after cross-country, then climbed a couple more places in the rankings with a double-clear.

One of five siblings, with three older brothers and a younger sister, O’Donoghue gave a shout out to her oldest brother James, who is celebrating his birthday today. “This one’s for you,” she said.

O’Donoghue said that her horse came out feeling good today after yesterday’s cross-country effort. “He’s a 110% trier, so I never have to worry about that, and I find there’s something unique about this arena; it has a little bit of natural atmosphere, it’s up on the hill, they have all the tents set up. He’s an experienced campaigner and pretty reliable about taking all of that in, but if anything I think it helps him a little bit, especially on the last day. He’s not the most naturally scopey jumper but he does everything he’s asked.”

She said that “Plan A” for the fall is to compete at the Burghley CCI5*-L in England with "Palmer."

Grald, who drove all the way from Southern Pines, North Carolina, to compete at Millbrook, brought five horses to the event. She said that most of her horses hadn’t been out since the spring season and said that she likes to bring her horses to Millbrook every year to start preparing them for the fall events. “We love the cross-country; it’s got the terrain, it’s got good questions, and as Meghan said, even for the dressage it’s got a bit of atmosphere. Everything is beautifully done, and it’s a good educational outing to get the horses cranked back up for the rest of the season.”

She said that she imported “Coco” from England as a 5-year-old and moved her quickly up the levels, but a minor tendon injury kept her sidelined for a little while. “Honestly that was the best thing that could have happened to her; she’s a big horse, she did a three-star at age 7, and having some time off gave her time to mature a little. She’s just been back out this year, and this was actually her first Advanced. I just moved her right up to the four-star short at Tryon [Mill Spring, North Carolina] and Bromont [Quebec, Canada]. She’s always been scopey, and while I wouldn’t have said she was the bravest horse, I just chucked her off at the deep end and was like, let’s go girl. I’m just along for the ride; she’s like, ‘I got it! Don’t get in my way!’ She’s a big horse and just needs a little strength on the flat still. She’s amazing on cross-country; as long as I put her on the line and show her where to go, she’s got it.”

Grald also won Open Intermediate A riding Adagio’s Nobility, owned by Annie Eldridge, and she won the Open Preliminary riding Obelisk, also owned by Eldridge. Katie Lichten and Fast Company won the Open Intermediate B. The top Young Rider in the Intermediate was Cassie Sanger, formerly a resident of the Millbrook area. Sanger finished fourth in Open Intermediate A riding Fernhill Zoro.

Patrons enjoyed a ringside luncheon today, watching the conclusion of the event with show jumping at the Preliminary through Advanced levels. Millbrook is one of the last horse trials in the Northeast to offer the upper levels. More than 400 horses competed this weekend and the organizing committee, staff and volunteers are to be commended for this huge undertaking.

For full results, click here.