United States Eventing Association

Only seven out of 43 entries in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Advanced Division at Millbrook Horse Trials had jumping faults on today’s cross-country phase, but the leaderboard looks very different than it did yesterday after dressage. One of only four combinations to go double clear, Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville, a 16-year-old Selle Francais gelding, moved up from a tie for 3rd place to take the lead on their dressage score of 27.10. Overnight leader Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border added 7.6 time faults to currently stand 5th.

Tremaine Cooper built a solid and inviting course that Halpin described as ideal for horses prepping for a trip overseas, as she is preparing The Manoir de Carneville Syndicate’s “Tate” to compete at Millstreet International Horse Trials in Ireland, and for younger riders competing at the Advanced level for the first time. But the hilly terrain is demanding and the ground was fairly hard, as predicted rain held off and instead of wet weather the day became more hot and humid, so many riders did not make the time.

“Cross-country is our best phase, and I’ve been working on making it as smooth and easy as possible,” she said. “You can’t go slow with him or he gets annoyed; I used the hills as a good fitness run before our trip to Ireland. I had a lot of fun! He’s such a clever cross-country horse at this stage of the game.”

Halpin said that she recently started a new therapy program for “Tate” called Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES), administered by Sheila Sheils. “It’s like a TENS unit on crack,” she said. “It stimulates muscle movement and relaxation; it’s also used on people who are paralyzed. Sheila studied biomechanics and kinsesiology, and she’ll do ten minutes of treatment on Tate, then watch him work, then do another ten minutes of treatment. We’ve done six sessions and he feels like a million bucks.”

Buck Davidson and Petite Flower (pictured above), a 14-year-old Thoroughbred mare owned by Sherrie and Caroline Martin, made short work of the course and moved up from 5th to second position; Davidson is ranked 6th on The Apprentice, an Irish Sport Horse gelding that Buck has competed at the CCI4* level, also owned by Sherrie Martin. Caroline Martin is also competing in the Advanced division and is currently ranked 8th aboard Spring Easy.

Carl and Cassie Segal, who own a couple of young horses that Davidson is riding this weekend, said that they love spending the weekend at Millbrook – and not only because their horse Ballynoecastle RM, or “Reggie”, won in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.

“It’s a lovely area and the event is run perfectly,” said Cassie, while Carl said he appreciates the traditional format of the event, with the advanced show jumping taking place on Sunday. “I know that it’s convenient for riders to have an event over two days, with dressage and show jumping on Saturday, but it’s far more exciting for spectators to jump on Sunday,” he said.

Courtney Cooper was second after dressage with her homebred gelding Who’s A Star, who competed at Rolex for the first time earlier this year, but had incredibly bad luck when her training level horse got a rail caught between its front legs in the warm-up ring and they both came tumbling down. Cooper was taken to the hospital and has been given the all clear, but had to withdraw from the advanced in the meantime.

“It looks like I did a few rounds with someone, but I will fight another day,” she said. Cooper is celebrating her birthday today so hopefully her eventing friends will provide her with some good cheer after a disappointing day.

Doug Payne and Vandiver. Amber Heintzberger Photo.

Doug Payne and Vandiver, a big bay gelding that he and wife Jessica own in partnership with the horse’s breeder, Debi Crowley, moved up from a tie for 6th into 3rd place, also on a double clear round, (the only other double clear round outside of the top three belonged to Payne’s sister Holly Payne Caravella, who leapt from 27th place into a tie for 12th riding Never Outfoxed).

“My plan with this horse is to solidify our partnership and I think both he and I trust each other a lot more. I wasn’t looking to make the time today, I was a little conservative on the downhill stuff and just kind of took it easy but he’s very efficient the way he sets himself up; he’s great to ride cross-country, you just point him in the general vicinity of the jump and he locks on and is good to go.”

Payne has been competing in straight jumpers as well and Vandiver placed 6th in a 1.40 meter Welcome class a couple of weeks ago, out of 30 plus horses. “I can’t wait to see what the future holds with him, he’s pretty incredible.”

Spectators enjoyed live streaming of the Olympic dressage today in the Patrons tent and from the Edmiston Water View Tent, and a Rio-themed “Celebraçio Olímpicos” competitor’s party takes place this evening at 6:00pm.

Live scores available here. Keep up with show jumping tomorrow by following the USEA Instagram.

About the Adequan USEA Gold Cup

Qualifying for the 2016 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Championship began last fall with the Richland Park Advanced & CIC3* (Mich.), Aspen Farms Advanced (Wash.), Plantation Field Advanced & CIC3* (Pa.) and the Woodside International Advanced & CIC3* (Calif.) and features 11 qualifying competitions throughout the United States at the Advanced Horse Trials and CIC3* levels. The final will take place at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships, August 31- September 4 in Tryon, North Carolina. Riders who complete a qualifier earn the chance to vie for $40,000 in prize money and thousands of dollars in prizes in the Adequan Advanced Division and the title of Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion.

The 2016 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many loyal sponsors: Adequan, Standlee Forage, Nunn Finer, Nutrena, Merck, Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency, and FITS.