United States Eventing Association

'The King is Back.' Tsetserleg TSF and Boyd Martin Capture the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final Lead

Lexington, Ky.—Aug. 28—With a Pan Am team and individual gold medal, two FEI World Eventing Championships, and an Olympic Games to his name, Tsetserleg TSF has earned the title of “king” around Boyd Martin’s barn.

And today, the king was back in good form at the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds for his first outing after a Badminton CCI5*-L (England) completion in May.

Christine and Thomas Turner and Tommie Turner’s 17-year-old Trakehner gelding (Windfall 2 x Thabana) leaped to the top of the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final on a dressage score of 24.0.

“He's been in sizzling form in training,” said Martin, Cochranville, Pennsylvania. “Obviously, our last event was Badminton, and he's got a bit of age on him now, so we just run him at the important ones. And we thought the AEC was an important one.”

“Thomas” will head to the MARS Maryland 5 Star (Elkton, Maryland) in October, and Martin’s keenly aware of the gelding’s age and experience.

“At the moment he's still feeling young and fresh,” he said. “He's just a gladiator. I've always promised myself that as soon as he started feeling a bit aged, between me and the Turner family, we made a deal that as soon as he starts feeling old, we're gonna call it quits. But at the moment, he's looking like a million dollars. To be honest, in my career I've never had a horse that's been so sound, so touch wood.”

Martin always credits his wife, Grand Prix dressage rider Silva Martin, for her help on the flat with his horses, but last week he had a camp at their farm in Pennsylvania and was also able to benefit from his show jumping coach, Peter Wylde and Grand Prix dressage rider Anna Buffini.

“In between lessons they helped school all of the horses for the AEC, so I'm a bit embarrassed to say a lot of the great results we're having this weekend was a reflection of not my training!” he said. “We had Grand Prix dressage riders and Olympic gold medal show jumpers all helping me out through the camp, getting this group of horses ready.”

Martin said he’s changed Thomas’ training in the last year, focusing on keeping him “sweet” and not drilling the dressage every day. His groom, Stephanie Simpson, does most of the gelding’s conditioning work, which is the most important thing at his age.

“He probably does half the amount of dressage work that he used to do, just because he knows his stuff and to keep his body fresh and his mind happy,” said Martin. “He more just does lots of hacking and conditioning work, and then he just schools on the flat a couple times a week.”

Martin will head into tomorrow’s cross-country without a lot of breathing room as Carolina Pamukcu and King’s Especiale are in second place with a score of 25.9.

The 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Connect x Cha Cha Cha Special) has been in Pamukcu’s barn since he was 4. He was sourced by Paul Hendrix, who still owns him along with Emil Spadone and Gail Davis under the Redfield King’s HX Group.

“He's special. He's magnificent. He's over 18 hands,” she said. “He still goes in the snaffle in all three phases, which I think is pretty unheard of for a horse of his size and how big his stride is.”

The pair represented the U.S. team at the Millstreet Nations Cup in Ireland in May, and this is “King’s” first run back. Pamukcu, Riegelsville, Pennsylvania, has no big plans for him for the fall.

“He's so mature, even though he's only 9,” she said. “I was like, he doesn't need to have a pre-run. He knows his job. I should know my job by now, so I thought, just bring him here and just have a nice pop around and try to win and make some money.

“He's one of those horses that's once in a lifetime horse,” she added. "He's such a gentle soul. Even though he's absolutely massive, he's so sensitive, and he's so bodily aware. He's so aware where you are. He just cares so much; like he cares too much. He gives you 200% even on the ground, and he just has so much heart.”

Sharon White and her five-star partner Claus 63 (Catoo x Tina II), a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding, are in third place on a score of 27.4.

“We’re working on being very reliable and steady, and I love that he got the same scores from both judges and was just thrilled with how professional he was,” said White, Summit Point, West Virginia. “You have to look at yourself first—I have to be reliable too, which means I have to be focused all the time, and it’s a lot of effort. I need to be there for him, so I’m working on being there for him.”

White has had a look at the course for tomorrow and said, “It’s definitely up to standard. There are some really interesting questions, not necessarily a specific striding, so it’s just proper cross-country riding so hopefully I can go out and do that.”

Cross-country for the Advanced starts tomorrow at 9 a.m.

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About the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC)

The USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds is the pinnacle of the sport at the national levels. Held annually, the best junior, adult amateur, and professional competitors gather to vie for national championship titles at every level from Starter to Advanced. This ultimate test of horse and rider draws hundreds of combinations from around the country to compete for fabulous prizes, a piece of the substantial prize money, and the chance to be named the National Champion at their respective levels. In fact, the 2021 AEC garnered over 1,000 entries and now stands as the largest eventing competition in North American history. The 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds will be held Aug. 27—Sept. 1 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Click here to learn more about the USEA American Eventing Championships.

The USEA would like to thank Presenting Sponsor: Nutrena Feeds; Advanced Final Title Sponsor: Adequan; Platinum Level Sponsor: Bates Saddles, Horse & Country; Gold Level Sponsors: ARMA, Parker Equine Insurance, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, Smartpak, Standlee; Silver Level Sponsors: Auburn Labs, Canter Culture Riding Apparel, Kerrits, The Jockey Club, Rood & Riddle; Bronze Level Sponsor: 70 Degrees, Athletux, The Chronicle of the Horse, D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis, Dubarry of Ireland, Equestrian Team Apparel, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Kraft Horse Walkers, Majyk Equipe, Retired Racehorses Project, Ride EquiSafe, Santa Cruz Animal Health; Contributing Level Sponsors: Cross Country App, Georgetown – Scott County Tourism, Lexmark, L.V. Harkness, #WeRideTogether; and Prize Level Sponsors: BEMER, Big Ass Fans, Boyd Martin Fan Shop, Ecogold, EquiFit, Equilab, FarmVet, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Horses 4 Your Consideration, I Love My Horse Eventing Boutique, Jack’s Favorites, Jane Heart Jewelry, Kentucky Equine Research, LeMieux, Mare Goods, Neighborly Tack, Outlaw Nutrition, Palmera Polo, Parkmore Supplements, Practical Horseman / Equine Network, Rachel Dory Equine Fine Art, Remond Minerals, Secretariat Center, Shapley’s, Sidelines Magazine, Strides for Equality Equestrians, and VTO Saddlery.

About the Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships

The Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships, which debuted in 2014, is the capstone event for the USEA Area Adult Team Challenges, providing adults the chance to compete as a team and represent their Area of the country in a friendly and fun environment. Historically, adult riders had three regional Team Challenges in which to compete with fellow adults in a team environment, with the locations changing each year. In 2013, the USEA Adult Rider Coordinators voted to move to support Adult Team Challenges taking place in all 10 Areas across the country, with the finale being the ATC at the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds. Each Area can send up to eight teams from Beginner Novice through Preliminary level to the ATC. Adult Riders know how to have a good time, and there is no doubt that they bring an increased level of excitement and camaraderie to the AEC! Click here to learn more about the Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships.

The USEA would like to thank Title Sponsor, Adams Horse Supply, and ARMA, The Chronicle of the Horse, Equilab, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Kerrits, Nutrena Feeds, PulseVet, Ride iQ, Santa Cruz Animal Health, Schneiders Saddlery, Sidelines Magazine, and SmartPak for sponsoring the Adult Team Championships.