United States Eventing Association

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Amid the fluttering stalks of corn, 28 riders contested the dressage phase of the Adequan USEA Gold Cup CIC3* at Richland Park Horse Trials in Richland, Michigan. Despite the chilly morning weather the sun was out and the horses put in beautiful tests.

At the end of the morning, it was a family affair as Nate Chambers’ Rolling Stone II bested his uncle, Remington XXV by a mere 2.3 penalty points. Densey Juvonen’s Remington XXV was sired by the Holsteiner stallion, Rubenstein I, while Rolling Stone II is by Rubin Star a son of Rubenstein I. The similarities don’t end there as both Rolly and Remy were foaled in 1996 and are dark bay/black geldings.

“I was very happy with my ride,” Nate Chambers explained. “He was fantastic schooling yesterday so it gave me a great feeling going into today. Dressage is definitely Rolly’s best phase and after a rough go in the show jumping phase at Millbrook a few weeks back I have been working hard with my show jumping coach, Joe Fargis, to improve that round. I attended Culpeper last week and did the Level 4 and Level 5 jumpers which went really well.”

Boyd Martin riding Remington XXV sits in second place with a 47.6. “I was very pleased with how both Remy and Neville (who is currently in fifth) performed,” said Boyd. “I have been working hard with Oded Shimoni as well as my wife, Silva, to improve the horses’ dressage. The cross-country course looks nice for my horses; it’s big but will be a good test.”

Boyd is currently sitting in 26th on the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Leaderboard and a win at Richland would send him up into the top three. “The $10,000 check at the end of the year would definitely be a big bonus, but my real goal this year is to make the World Equestrian Games team and I am going to do what is going to give my horses the best chance to make it,” Boyd explained.

The third place position is shared by Canadian Selena O’Hanlon riding Elaine Davies’ Colombo and Karen O’Connor riding Joan Goswell’s Mandiba. Both Selena and Karen are on the short list for the World Equestrian Games for their respective countries. In addition Karen is coming off a win at the Adequan Gold Cup division at Rebecca Farm CIC3*-W in late July.

Besides the CIC3* competition, the day was busy with the CIC2*, Spalding Labs/USEA Young Event Horse Competition, Advanced and Intermediate Horse Trials dressage phase. Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville lead the CIC2* with a 49.40 with Phillip Dutton aboard Why Not and Becky Holder riding Call Me Ollie in the second and third positions. Short listed riders claim the top five spots in the Advanced A division. Allison Springer and Arthur are winning with a 29.1 while Phillip Dutton is in second and third with The Foreman and Woodburn, Amy Tryon claims the fourth and fifth spots with Leyland and Coal Creek. A three-way tie for the lead in the Advanced B division is making for hot competition among short listed riders, Becky Holder and Courageous Comet, Stephen Bradley and Brandenburg’s Joshua, and Kim Severson and Tipperary Liadhnan. Only one section of Intermediate went in dressage today and Leslie Law and Pembridge Swingtime are tied with Clark Montgomery and Raphael III for the top spot. Clark is also sitting in third with Loughnan Glen.

The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many sponsors: Title: Adequan; Legacy: Nunn Finer and Nutrena, and Patron: Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency, Mountain Horse, and Succeed.

Winners of the CIC3*, the designated "Gold Cup division," will take home $500 in prize money, 7-dose box of Adequan, a three-month supply of SUCCEED, and a pair of Nunn Finer American Style open front boots. Second place finishers take home a Nutrena feed gift certificate and a pair of Nunn Finer American Style open front boots, and third place receives a pair of the Nunn Finer boots as well.