For the first time in 15 years, an American will enter show jumping in first place at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. Tamie Smith and Mai Baum are the first U.S. pair to lead the Kentucky five-star after cross country since Becky Holder and Courageous Comet in 2008. However, the bigger history they hope to make will be becoming the first American winners of the event since Phillip Dutton and Connaught overtook Holder and Courageous Comet for the 2008 title.
There was quite a shakeup in the standings on cross-country day this year. Smith and the 17-year-old German Sport Horse gelding (Loredano 2 x Ramira) that she affectionately calls “The Black Stallion” moved from third to first with one of six double-clear rounds on Derek di Grazia’s five-star cross-country course. Only four of the top-10 after dressage remain in the top-10 after cross-country: Smith and Mai Baum (1st); Tom McEwen and JL Dublin (2nd); Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C (3rd); and Sandra Auffarth and Viamant Du Matz (4th). Three horses went from 20th or lower after dressage into the top-10 after cross-country: Maxime Livio and Carouzo Bois Marotin (20th to 7th); David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed (22nd to 8th); and Jennie Saville and FE Lifestyle (23rd to 10th).
The CCI4*-S horse inspection kicks off at 7:30 a.m. with an anticipated 40 horse and rider pairs coming forward if no more withdrawals happen overnight. The CCI5*-L final horse inspection will take place immediately following the four-star inspection, and if all of today's cross-country finishers come forward, 26 horses will be presented.
Show jumping for both the four-star and five-star on the courses designed by Steve Stephens will run in reverse order of placing with the CCI4*-S scheduled to take place at 10:45 a.m. Show jumping for the CCI5*-L will get underway at 2:00 p.m. with awards taking place at 4 p.m.
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Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.
After not running in 2020 and 2021, the MARS Bromont CCI Three-Day Event returned to the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Center in Quebec, Canada, in 2022. America's Jennie Saville (née Brannigan) and Twilightslastgleam won the CCI4*-L, as the chestnut Thoroughbred gelding (National Anthem x Royal Child) bred and owned by Nina Gardner moved up from eighth after dressage into the lead after cross-country with the fastest round on wet ground over the tracks designed by Derek di Grazia. Canada's Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge, a bay Selle Français gelding (Mylord Carthago x Lelia) owned by Patricia Pearce, finished second, and they are among four from the top-10 in the CCI4*-L in 2022 that return in 2023.
Hannah Sue Hollberg of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, was on a winning streak at the Essex Horse Trials on Sunday, claiming victory in both the $10,000 Open Intermediate and Open Preliminary divisions with two horses that are fairly new to her. Some difficulty on cross-country did not stop her mount Hachi from claiming victory in the Open Intermediate with a score of 101.6, while Open Preliminary partner Rockster finished on his dressage score of 27.3.
The great football coach Vince Lombardi said, “We win our games in practice.” With the goal of having the most effective practices possible for horses, their riders, and their coaches, Cathy Wieschhoff explains some signs that can indicate when horse and rider should repeat an exercise, switch it up, or be done with that activity. Wieschhoff brings perspective as a five-star rider that has competed at the Kentucky Three-Day Event and Burghley Horse Trials, a USEF “R” Course Designer for eventing cross-country and show jumping, a former Area VIII chair and member of the USEA Board of Governors, and a Level V USEA ECP Certified Coach based out of Carriage Station Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.