Aug 01, 2010

Missy Miller's Road To The NAJYRC - Breath again.... Temporarily....

Missy and Gracie tackled the two-star cross-country course with grace to move up to sixth place. StockImageServices Photo

I am writing this as for the moment I am able to relax, and enjoy the reality of an amazing cross country round earlier today. This can only last for around five minutes before the preparations and prayers for final jogs begin.

Dressage day for the 2* was on Thursday and although Gracie wasn’t as amazing as she had been in our lessons leading up to, we were able to put in a solid test that helped contribute to my team.

As luck would have it, my teammate, Emily Renfroe, who was set to go first in the order was having an amazing warm up and looked beautiful going around the ring when she went from canter to trot and Walker hit herself, ultimately going down the centerline still limping from her “stubbed toe” and the judges made the decision to ring her out. Not a fun way to start the least fun day of the weekend. Emily is an amazing character though as she was immediately able to put the past behind her. My other two teammates were able to put in two beautiful tests which had us all in the top 10 after dressage and silver medal position as a team. Watching my teammates I think I finally have an idea of how my mom feels watching me go.

(Gracie getting iced after cross-country. Missy Miller Photo.)

Cross country day Gracie and I were the first to go for the team and I was nervous a I wanted to have a good ride and be able to help my teammates feel confident going out on the course. Gracie put in one of our best rounds yet and came in only one second over time. The course was rewarding and very forward. I never felt a time when when grace stopped pushing and I was really happy with how well Gracie came back. My teammate Dani Dichting had a great go as well but added some time penalties as well. Unfortunately our last to go, Devon, was having a great go until the water in the last part of the course, which was a bounce in, 4 strides to a skinny turtle in the water. She had an unfortunate run out there but finished for our team and we only dropped to 3rd in the team standings. Kyle seemed happy and now it is time to prepare for Sunday jogs and show jumping in the grandstand!

-Gracie and Missy

Apr 25, 2025 Competitions

2025 K3DE Rider Talk: What Are They Saying About Cross-Country?

Riders in both the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S and the Defender Kentucky CCI5*-L are sharing similar sentiments about this year's cross-country courses: course designer Derek di Grazia didn't play around this year. Here is what some of the riders across both divisions had to say about the tracks they will aim to conquer on Saturday.

Apr 25, 2025 Competitions

Off the Record Breaks Records in Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S at Defender Kentucky

Off The Record decided not to let Michael Jung be the only record-breaking entry at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event this week and delivered a career-best score in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S on Friday morning. He and Will Coleman delivered a test that received a score of 21.8, not only marking a personal best for the horse but also securing their position at the top of the leaderboard going into cross-country tomorrow.

Apr 25, 2025 Competitions

Soaked, but Not Shaken: Boyd Martin Flies the Flag for the U.S. at Defender Kentucky in Second

Boyd Martin and the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding Commando 3 were the last pair to go in the Defender Kentucky CCI5*-L field on Friday afternoon and were warmly greeted to the bluegrass with an impressive downpour that outshined anything the other horse and rider pairs had to combat throughout the day. But that didn’t stop this pair from putting their best foot forward and impressing the judges enough to earn them a score of 26.0, just 0.2 points ahead of second-place pair Tom McEwen (GBR) and Brookfield Quality.

Apr 25, 2025 Association News

Beware of Phishing Attempts and Other Types of Fraud

Please always remain vigilant when it comes to sending any personal communications via email or text. Every year we receive reports of members and leaders of our sport receiving phishing attempts both online and by phone. These are often communications disguised as being sent from USEA staff or other leaders. As the years go on, the phishing attempts appear to be more directed and tailored.

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