United States Eventing Association

After a very competitive weekend, Michael Pollard takes the spotlight and wins the Adequan USEA Gold Cup division at the Richland Park CIC***. Mensa G, a 16-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Andrea Leatherman, Nelson Leatherman, and Jeannine Gingras, had a foot-perfect cross-country round with only 2 time faults to end the weekend on a 51.6.

“Mensa was perfect today,” said Pollard of Dalton, Ga. “I didn’t have to go that fast to make the time either. Mensa is at the point where he’s mature enough that it doesn’t take a lot of time to bring him back to set up for jumps; I can just keep coming down to them and take them out of stride. It’s a great feeling.”

Sharon White had a beautiful ride on Ian Stark’s course as well aboard Mary Ann Ghadban’s mare, Under Suspection. “The course was fabulous, and [Under Suspection] is a machine,” said White. The pair came in with only 4.8 time faults to finish out the weekend in second place.

“She’d prefer if I had nothing to do with it,” joked White, of Summit Point, West Virginia. “I just point her in the right direction, and she takes me along for the ride. She is truly a special horse, and she really loves her job. I cannot thank Mary Ann enough for the opportunities she has given me with this exceptional horse.”

Overnight leader Emily Beshear had a great run, picking up 12 time faults for a very respectable third place finish on a 56.7. Mackenna Shea finished up the weekend on a 57.3 to lock in fourth place, while Sharon White grabbed another spot in the top five with a 59.5 aboard Dale Clabaugh’s Wundermaske.

The USEA congratulates winner Michael Pollard, and all the Richland Park CIC*** competitors. One qualifier remains at Aspen Farms in Yelm, Wash., before the grand finale at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships next month.

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.