United States Eventing Association

Paddy the “Second Place Champion” Caddy put all the pieces together this weekend at Plantation Field International Horse Trials with rider Erin Sylvester for a big win in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Advanced division. This is his first big win at the level, and it’s handily done beating out four-star veterans Mclovin, who finished in second with Ryan Wood, and Steady Eddie, who finished in third with Boyd Martin.

“He finally had a big win, so it’s very exciting,” said Sylvester. The 9-year-old Irish Thoroughbred (Azamore x Slamy) was originally slated for a career in racing, and he was imported from Ireland by Frank McEntee as a yearling to do just that. When he never made it to the track, McEntee approached Sylvester to find the horse a fitting career. She admits that he wasn’t overly impressive as a young horse, but began to come into his own with an education. “He’s got a lot of showy attitude about him. He liked to be presented with a challenge and try it at its best,” Sylvester said. “And when he does a good job he’s so full of himself.”

Paddy the Caddy and Erin Sylvester. USEA/Shelby Allen Photo.

He was purely professional around the course today, adding 7.2 time penalties to their dressage score. “I was prepared for him to be really green,” Sylvester explained. “He struggles with right corners and combinations, and they were wham-bam one after another with a gigantic table in between, so I took it slow through that area of the course, but he locked on to both corners like he’s not done before. He went straight out of the box and was much easier to ride at the start of the course, so I thought, ‘OK. I can push him on a little bit.’”

“He felt like he gained confidence as he went around. He really liked the questions being asked of him, and he was really locking on. I wasn’t the fastest round, but that was the fastest he could have gone at this stage right now because he needs the time at the combinations.”

Paddy fluctuated between competing at Advanced and Intermediate this year, so a three-day might not be included in his fall schedule, but they may try a CIC3* instead. “Originally we wanted to get him to the three-star at Fair Hill, and then he was just a little too green for it at the summertime,” Sylvester elaborated adding that he already has three successful CCI2* finishes, and doesn’t necessarily need another. She hinted they may aim for the Inaugural CIC3* at Ocala Jockey Club, but whatever they choose, Paddy is sure to be one-to-watch for the future.

Boyd Martin and Steady Eddie. USEA/Shelby Allen Photo.

Ryan Wood and Mclovin (Dixieland Band x Too Shiek), a 12-year-old Thoroughbred owned by Heather Sinclar, added 3.2 time penalties, but rose to a solid second place finish, which should leave the pair feeling confident before their next outing at Fair Hill CCI3*. Boyd Martin and Gretchen Winters, Pierre Colin and Denise Lahey’s Steady Eddie (Jetball x Tudnela) took it slower today, and the 13-year-old Australian Thoroughbred added 6 time penalties to slip into third.

Click here for scores.

About the Adequan USEA Gold Cup

The Adequan USEA Gold Cup 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 1-4 in Tryon, North Carolina. Riders who complete a qualifier earn the chance to vie for $40,000 in prize money and thousands of dollars in prizes in the Adequan Advanced Division and the title of Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion.

The 2016 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many loyal sponsors: Adequan, Standlee Forage, Nunn Finer, Nutrena, Merck, Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency, and FITS.