Smith Has One-Two Finish in CCI4*-S at Twin Rivers
Paso Robles, Ca.—Sept. 22—Tamie Smith has won four-star eventing competitions around the United States in2026 to be at the top of the US Equestrian Open standings, and she added a victory in her home state aboard Danito—plus placed second on Spiro P—in the first FEI competition she’s done this year in California at the Twin Rivers Fall International. Also, Made By Leontine EB and James Alliston continued their nearly flawless record in 2026 to win the three-star, as did Prince of Oolde and Amber Birtcil in the two-star held at Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, Calif., from Sept. 18-20.
Smith won the CCI4*-S with Ruth Bley’s 17-year-old chestnut Hanoverian gelding Danito (Dancier xWie Musik), picking up right where they left off in their last competition together when they won the CCI4*-S at Tryon in North Carolina in May. At Twin Rivers, they had the top four-star dressage score of 26.3, picked up two rails on William Robertson’s show jumping course, but retook the lead with clear jumping in the fastest cross-country round on Morgan Rowsell’s four-star tracks to finish with a score of46.3.
“I’m really pleased with Danito,” Smith said. “It’s so easy now. We’ve done so much together, and so it’s really awesome. The show jumping wasn’t what I ideally loved, but I think William designs a very technical track, more so than what we’ll ever see even in championships. So, it’s good practice for us to have that type of technicality and makes for some real challenging courses that I find to be exciting and beneficial.”
Danito’s first four-star came at this same event in 2019. By contrast, Spiro P, on whom Smith finished second with a score of 51.1, only moved up to the level this year and had his first clear cross-country jumping round at the level at Twin Rivers. The chestnut gelding registered with the Anglo EuropeanStudbook (Spiros Z x Ugomein) is just 9 years old. Smith’s student Megan Sykes has also competed the horse owned by Donna Wallace.
“He jumped out of his skin [in show jumping], and then [on cross-country] he just skipped around it like an old seasoned pro, which he’s not, so it’s always fun when they do that,” Smith said.
Twin Rivers’ CCI4*-S was also a step forward in the career of third-place finisher Baratheon, a 14-year-old chestnut Trakehner gelding(Holster x Bewitching Mist) owned by The MDB Syndicate and ridden by Madeline Backus. Like with Spiro P, Baratheon had his first four-star cross-country round with clear jumping.
In the CCI3*-S, Alliston and Made By Leontine EB were the only pair out of 15 to finish on their dressage score, which was 30.8. They also won the level at the 2026 Twin Rivers Spring International and have added blue ribbons at Intermediate in events at Twin Rivers and at Woodside in California this year as well.
“He seems to be really consistent and confident with lots of good results,” Alliston said. “You’re always working on little things. With a view to stepping up to Advanced, you’re just hoping it feels really easy and everything is comfortable.”
Alliston and the 9-year-old grey Dutch Warmblood gelding(Scuderia 1918 Casago x Jackpot E.B.)owned by Arnell Sporthorses have finished first or second in 15 of their last 16 USEA-recognized events, with their only blemish to that streak coming when a lost shoe knocked them out of the CCI3*-L at The Event at Rebecca Farm in Montana in July. This was their first competition since, and they’re eyeing a move up to four-star in 2027.
Birtcil and Prince of Oolde made the move up to two-star and won their eighth event in a row. They were one of only two in the field of 14 for the CCI2*-S to finish on their dressage score, which was 29.1.
“A horse like this just spoils you,” Birtcil said. “He is just so easy, and he comes out and delivers everyday. He’s just so lovely to ride, and he shows up in spades every time he comes to compete.”
Birtcil said she will aim the precocious 6-year-old bay Dutch Warmblood gelding (Ibolensky x AuroraJ) to the USEF/USEA Developing Horse National Championships for 6-year-olds held at the two-star level at Morven Park in Virginia in October. She also plans to enter Picasso (High Shutterfly x AtheneHBC) in the 6-year-old championship and Orpheus (Gerardus x Hiewitta) in the 7-year-old championship held at the three-star level. It will be Birtcil’s first time traveling to the East Coast to compete since 2019.
“I feel like I now have a solid string of horses and am excited to get out there and get going again,”Birtcil said.
Smith captured Twin Rivers’ CCI1*-S with Kareena K (Cash and Carry x Namur III) with a score of 30.5. The final USEA-recognized event at Twin Rivers Ranch in 2026 will be the USEA YEH West Coast Championships & Last Chance Qualifier from Oct. 22-24. The YEH qualifiers that Twin Rivers hosted at the Fall International went to Birtcil and Sigur (Pommerol De Muze x Glinn) for the 4-year-olds and to Katy Robinson and Nite Cap (Contenda x Happy Hour) for the 5-year-olds. Then, the popular Halloween Derby and Combined Test on Oct. 25 will wrap up the year of eventing at Twin Rivers Ranch.
The full list of winners from the 2026 Twin Rivers Fall International:
- CCI4*-S: Tamie Smith and Danito (46.3)
- CCI3*-S: James Alliston and Made By Leontine EB (30.8)
- CCI2*-S: Amber Birtcil and Prince of Oolde (29.1)CCI1*-S: Tamie Smith and Kareena K (30.5)
- Open Intermediate: India McEvoy-Chisholm and Justiz-ESH (37.9)
- Open Preliminary: James Alliston and Konditori (31.3)
- Open Modified: Katy Robinson and Party Favor (28.9)
- Modified Rider: Keelari Mauzy and West Coast Cooley (31.5)
- Open Training: Mickayla Howard and Mon Copain (17.4)
- Training Horse: Amber Birtcil and Rivale. T. (28.5)
- Sr. Training Rider: Saryn Koch and Samantha (21.8)
- Jr. Training Rider: Samantha Ehrlich and Midnight Endeavour (23.2)
- Open Novice: Bec Braitling and Million Ways HE (25.0)
- Sr. Novice Rider: Alexandra Naeve and Soaring Bird (16.8)
- Jr. Novice Rider: McKenzie Nelson and Stoneman (18.5)
- Open Beginner Novice: Allyson Puccinelli and HSH Untouchable (25.0)
- Sr. Beginner Novice Rider: Rachel Mitchell and Phineas (30.9)
- Jr. Beginner Novice Rider: Isabella Munoz Jaramillo and Ebay (24.1)
- Open Starter: Isabella Reba and Mr. Rumba De Palma (51.8)
- Starter Rider: Hana Samac and Doja Cat (21.6)
- Open Introductory: Isabelle Franchini and Smudge (30.3)
- YEH-5: Katy Robinson and Nite Cap (92.15)
- YEH-4: Amber Birtcil and Sigur (93.00)
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