United States Eventing Association

Boyd Martin has big aspirations for Commando 3 this year, including a trip to the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event for the ultra-competitive CCI4*-S, and he’s off to a strong start this weekend at the Stable View CCI4*-S, leading the division after dressage and show jumping.

Boyd Martin knew he had a talented partner in Commando 3, but with just under a year competing together, Martin hadn’t truly tested the gelding until this weekend at the Morven Park International CCI4*-L.

It can often be an unknown when a rider buys a horse produced by someone else, and top riders like Boyd Martin aren’t immune to that. When he tried Commando 3 late last year, the gelding had competed through his first CCI4*-S with Swedish rider Louise Romeike, and while Martin had high hopes for “Connor,” he knew he wouldn’t really find out what kind horse he was until he tackled a tough CCI4*-L course.

With a strong third place finish in their first CCI4*-L together this spring at Tryon (Mill Spring, North Carolina) and a win in their most recent CCI4*-S outing at the same venue, it might be tempting for Boyd Martin to target a fall five-star with Commando 3, but he says he’s planned for 2023 to be a building year for his newest top talent.

The Fork at Tryon took place this past weekend, September 14-17, 2023, at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina. The event featured international competition at the CCI4*-S, CCI2*-L, and CCI1*-S levels, as well as national competition at the Advanced, Intermediate, Preliminary, Modified, Training, Novice, and Beginner Novice levels.

Mill Spring, N.C.—May 13—Liz Halliday-Sharp had nearly 4 points of time in hand as she headed out onto Mark Phillips’ CCI4*-L cross-country course at the Tryon International this morning, and she had to use most of it as she heard Cooley Nutcracker’s shoe come off when he took off from fence 7.

Mill Spring, N.C.—May 12—No one could crack Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Nutcracker’s score of 27.4 during the final day of dressage at the Tryon International CCI4*-L, but Jacob Fletcher and Fabian put in a strong test to challenge them. Scoring a 31.2, they’ll head into tomorrow’s cross-country in second place.