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Aug 20, 2020
New Dressage Record Set at 2020 Great Meadow International
Riders were thrilled to be cantering down centerline in the first CCI4*-S since the suspension of events. “So many events have been canceled, and this has been such a beacon on the calendar for all of the riders,” said Marilyn Little. “To have a place like this to come during a pandemic is really special. Without MARS’ support, this would never have happened. The feeling from the riders, we’re all just really grateful, and everyone’s happy to be here.”
Great Meadow International saw 25 pairs of the 69-horse CCI4*-S do their dressage tests today in front of Peter Gray and Valerie Vizcarrando. It was Little and RF Scandalous, Phoebe and Michael Manders and Jacqueline Mars’ 15-year-old Oldenburg mare (Carry Gold x Richardia), who came out on top of the pack. “Kitty” ran the Advanced/Intermediate at the Ocala Horse Trials last weekend, but before that the pair hadn’t competed since Red Hills Horse Trials in March. However, they didn’t let the long break stop them from smashing the Great Meadow International CCI4*-S dressage record, which stood since 2016 when Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen scored a 24.2.
“She was beautiful; she was really focused, very relaxed today which was great,” said Little of Kitty who scored a 21.8. “She has been here a few times and it is a great ring to ride in. I think horses tend to go really well here. She had a bit of a long ship – we have been based in Florida – but we got here on Monday and we really only had one day to prep, but she was totally a professional as always. I underrode a bit and probably didn’t give it enough in the extensions, but my mistake and she was perfect.”
“I gave [Kitty] a bit of a break when I realized that we were ramping up for some different ideas and everything just kept getting canceled, so I said when they have an idea of what the calendar is going to be I will ramp her back up,” continued Little. “July was quite a lot of fitness work and then started showing again in August. I did a show jumping show with her and a pure dressage show and then she went to the Ocala Horse Trials last weekend and did the Advanced/Intermediate. It has definitely been a challenge to be in Florida in the summer to find all the events and check all the boxes so you are prepared as you can be. Fortunately, she has had a lot of experience and she feels great – I am looking forward to the weekend.”
Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver, The Monster Partnership's 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Womanizer x Kylemore Crystal), sit in second on a 26.1 while Hannah Sue Burnett and the veteran Harbour Pilot, Jacqueline Mars’ 17-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Cruising x Shannon), are in third on a 26.8.
The remaining 44 CCI4*-S pairs will do dressage tomorrow, show jump on Saturday, and go cross-country on Sunday.
Of David O’Connor’s cross-country course Little said, “The course looks beautiful. It is a great confident galloping course. Plenty technical, footing is absolutely incredible, and it is a good place to gallop on and use the hills and hopefully they come out of it better than they came in.”
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Oct 16, 2021
Competitions
What Happened Where? 2021 Maryland 5 Star Cross-Country Rewind
Weren’t able to spend your morning glued to the livestream of the 2021 Maryland 5 Star cross-country? Couldn’t be there in person to trek up the hills? We have you covered with a play-by-play of what happened on Ian Stark’s cross-country course which gave both the designer and the riders many sleepless nights, but ended up riding quite well for the majority of the field.
Oct 16, 2021
Competitions
Cooley Master Class Can’t be Caught on Cross-Country at Maryland 5 Star
The forecasted downpours held off until the last horse and rider crossed the finish flags during the CCI5*-L cross-country at the Maryland 5 Star today, confirming the event’s decision to move up the start. The majority of riders had sunny skies and a cool breeze as backdrop to tackle Ian Stark’s five-star course across the sprawling grounds at Fair Hill in Elkton, Md. Before cross-country there was much chatter about the testing terrain, but 11 pairs managed to make the time despite the hills. At the end of the day, the top three riders held onto their podium positions going into show jumping tomorrow with overnight leader Oliver Townend and Cooley Master Class (Ramiro B x The Swallow) impressing all who watched at each and every question.
Oct 16, 2021
Competitions
The Maryland 5 Star Daily: Cross-Country Day
It's the day we have all been waiting for, cross-country day at the inaugural Maryland 5 Star! Both the CCI5*-L and CCI3*-L field will contest Ian Stark's terrain-filled track across the historic grounds at Fair Hill today and there is lots of chatter about how the questions, terrain, and time allowed might impact the current placings.
Oct 15, 2021
Young Event Horse
Gina Jumps to Champion Title in Dutta Corp. USEA YEH East Coast 5-year-old Championships
Chris Talley came into the Dutta Corp USEA YEH East Coast 5-year-old Championships knowing that the Corwin Sport Horse LLC’s owned 5-year-old Hanoverian mare Gina (Gentleman x Ballerina) possessed a lot of quality, but to emerge victorious out of the 42 horse field was an absolute treat for the pair.
