Apr 27, 2019

What Did They Say? Riders Talk #LRK3DE Cross-Country

By Claire Kelley - USEA Staff
Allie Sacksen and Sparrow's Nio. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

It was a day filled with emotions as 31 pairs crossed the finish flags at the 2019 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. Allie Sacksen was the first to complete Derek di Grazia’s five-star course and the day wrapped up with Lauren Kieffer and Vermiculus. Read top quotes from the action-packed day of cross-country.

“I like to call myself an average joe, I have one horse and I’m kind of a one-horse wonder at the moment but it’s one wonderful horse,” Sacksen said of her Connemara/Thoroughbred gelding, Sparrow’s Nio.

Hannah Sue Burnett jumped clear with Harbour Pilot and added only 8.8 time penalties which moved her up from 31st to 15th. “He was awesome. None of it rode exactly how I was hoping it to ride but I was just determined to get to the other fence. I rode with Lucinda Green a couple times this past year and she’s been good for me. I’ve been studying Ros Canter and it’s nice to be the same size as the world champion. So. I can kind of mimic her riding, I don’t know if I looked like that today, but we got it done and I’m really happy with it,” said Hannah Sue Burnett.

“He did a great job - he helped me, and I helped him, so it was teamwork.” Felix Vogg who currently sits in 6th place with his longtime partner, Colero the 2008 Westphalian Gelding owned by Jurgen Vogg.

“I brought him through the levels and taught him how to jump his first jump. He went out there today and trusted me with everything. He was spectacular” Chris Talley gushed about his 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Unmarked Bills as they jumped a clear cross-country with 16.4 time for their five-star debut.

Leslie Law and Voltaire de Tre. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

Leslie Law who only added 11.2 time penalties to his dressage score with Voltaire De Tre’ the 10-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Tre’ Book. “I had a great ride. It was fantastic.” When asked if Law felt older and wiser now than when he won individual gold for Great Britain in the 2004 Athens Olympics he said, “well if I was wiser I would’ve probably retired by now, but I think in some respects it’s a little harder because I wear a few hats these days. I enjoy coaching the under 25, and I like to keep riding it makes me understand what they’re going through.”

Dom Schramm and Bolytair B finished their first five-star together and explained how the notorious Head of the Lake went, “he trotted going into the water. Unbelievable, I mean what a horse. I jumped into the Head of the Lake from a trot. The horse is incredible, I’ve had so many good cross-country rides on him. This was our first ever problem and I think I got in my head. I am proud that he forgave me and just kept going and went around.”

“She was fabulous out there,” Andrea Baxter said of her Thoroughbred mare, Indy 500 who only added 9.6 time penalties to their dressage score.

Waylon Roberts and Lancaster. USEA/Kate Lokey Photo.

“It rode like it walked and it walked challenging. I’m really proud of him [and] he finished strong,” Waylon Roberts said of Lancaster, a 2007 Canadian Sport Horse gelding owned by Michelle and John Koppin. Roberts rode Lancaster as a 4-year-old before he was sold to Boyd Martin, “when Boyd bought him, he said ‘I’m sorry to be buying your five-star horse.” Roberts got the ride back in 2016 and this afternoon, Roberts piloted Lancaster through his first five-star cross-country course.

“I adjusted my plan a little this morning based on the early going, but within reason, yes [everything rode according to plan]. I was thrilled with him, he was super.” Matthew Flynn and Wizzerd jumped clear at their five-star debut together.

Doug Payne and Vandiver. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

“He was awesome and I’m very lucky to have this horse. He was far fitter today than when he was here two years ago. [The] majority of the course I was up 10 seconds or so, and I did a little shortcut through the flower bushes.” Doug Payne said of Vandiver, the 2004 Trakhener gelding owned by Debi Crowley, Jessica Payne, and Doug Payne. Payne and Vandiver were only one second over the clock and they currently sit in seventh place overnight.

“When I walked the course, I thought it was a little soft, but it was far from soft. It was hard work all the way around.” Phillip Dutton said after he jumped a double clear on Z to move up to fourth place.

“He’s a good cross-country horse. He’s still improving, he’s a younger horse if you talk about a five-star horse. I think in years to come, he could win this thing.” Boyd Martin said of Christine Turner’s Tsetserleg, a 2007 Trakhener gelding. Martin and Tsetserleg jumped double clear and sit in second heading into Sunday show jumping.

Helpful links:

Don't forget to follow the USEA event coverage on social media!

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Mar 27, 2024 Eventing News

Now On Course: Bondi Beach Brings Tyler Hope During Her Darkest Days

John Lennon famously said that life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans. Rebecca Barber Tyler probably would agree.

Mar 26, 2024 ATC

Adult Team Championships Riders Must Submit Letter of Intent for AEC

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is pleased to offer the USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC) at the upcoming USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds. The Adult Team Championships will be offered once again at the Beginner Novice, Novice, Training, Modified and Preliminary levels for members of the USEA Adult Rider Program.

Mar 25, 2024 Eventing News

USEA Podcast #357: Early Season #TeamTalk

USEA Podcast Host Nicole Brown catches up with USEF Eventing Technical Advisor and Chef d'Equipe Bobby Costello on the start of the 2024 eventing season, athlete performances so far, and all things related to this years' Paris Olympics and the U.S. Eventing Team!

Mar 24, 2024 USEA Foundation

Refresh Your Knowledge on Frangible Technology

Did you know that the United States has more frangible fences than any other country? Frangible technology has been around for nearly 100 years with the British Pin taking the honors as the first formal frangible device. The study of frangible fences has continued in the last decade, including the USEA Collapsible Fence Technology Study which was conducted through the University of Kentucky from 2016-2018.

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA

Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA

Official Feed of the USEA

Official Saddle of the USEA

Official Real Estate Partner of the USEA

Official Equine Insurance of the USEA

Official Forage of the USEA

Official Supplement Feeding System of the USEA

Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA

Official Horse Boot of the USEA