Kentucky skies were finally blessed with bright sunshine all day for the conclusion of the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event CCI5*-L. With two rails in hand for the show jumping phase, Michael Jung (GER) and Fischerchipmunk FRH dropped only one to finish on a score of 25.0, granting Jung a record fifth Kentucky 5* win—the others came in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2022.

Always modest and soft-spoken, Jung refused to tout his obvious and spectacular talent.

“It’s definitely luck,” he said afterward. “So many things can go wrong. I believe in my horse and this place, and I always have a lot of luck here. We had a pole down very early and had a long way to go. I gave him more balance it worked very well.”

Asked about his 17-year-old horse’s future, Jung was very positive.

“He’s looking super strong and getting better and better. Hopefully he stays like this, ears in front when cross-country starts. He loves jumping, and you can feel the horse is motivated in what he’s doing. Hopefully a few more years!”

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Finishing in second after a double-clear round on a score of 32.8 was Boyd Martin (USA) on Commando 3. His other two 5* mounts, Fedarman B and Luke 140, finished in sixth and seventh, respectively. As the highest-place rider for the U.S., Martin was named USEF 5* National Champion for a fourth time.

“I’m very blessed at the moment to have a group of incredible horses,”said Martin. “Michael [Jung] is an inspiration to my riding; I watch videos and try to copy him in my riding. He’ll be remembered as one of the greatest-ever eventing riders. I was just hoping for second place.”

For a little background on Commando 3, Martin told an interesting story of how he found him.

“I tried him when I went to a friend of [Jung’s] in Germany to try another horse and liked the other horse, who turned out to be a lemon! Six months later, [Commando] was still for sale. He hasn’t been easy—he’s spooky and sharp, but he has amazing quality and plenty of Thoroughbred and I knew right from the get-go that he was a special horse. He took a while to get there, but he’s arrived now.”

Finishing in third and fourth was Harry Meade of Great Britain, finishing on a 34.2 with Et Hop du Matz and 39.6 on Grafennacht.

“The horses here have been brilliant,” said Mead. “It’s a wonderful feeling when they go well. It’s really about the pride you feel in the horses.”

He wrapped the press conference with some very kind words about Jung, calling him the greatest eventing rider that ever lived—a statement that is indeed hard to refute for someone with four Olympic gold medals (three as an individual), three World Championship gold medals, and seven European Championship gold medals.

Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S

In the 4* division, Will Coleman (USA) and Off The Record dropped one rail but stayed in the lead, finishing on a score of 33.0. He won the 4* here last year, too.

“[The rail down] made me think a little more about the time allowed, but I stuck to my plan,” said Coleman. “He kept the last three jumps up—I got a bit lucky there. He’s always displayed a real knack for cross-country; that’s why we kept going with him. He’s not the most natural in the other two phases. He has his own style; his character is what makes him a good horse. He has a conscience about him, trying to do the right thing, especially in competition.”

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Finishing in second place was Phillip Dutton (USA) and Possante, who wrapped the day on a score of 33.9. Dutton also finished in fourth with Denim on a 38.8.

“We all earmark this event early in the year,” said Dutton. “It’s a relief to be sitting up here and have a good result. It’s ironic, my best jumper is Denim!”

Rounding out the top three was Jessica Phoenix (CAN) and Freedom GS, her Paris 2024 Olympic mount. The pair went double clear around the tricky show jumping course and finished on a 38.0.

“It’s been an amazing spring season,” she said. “I came away from Paris feeling I needed to get the horses stronger and get more confident with where I need to sit with my body type. [Freedom] has always been strong in the jumping phases, but I’ve had to work more with her dressage. It’s pure joy to go out with her and see the fruits of our hard work all winter.”

Join us again next year for more coverage of “The Best Weekend All Year!”

2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L Final Results

1. Michael Jung (GER) and FischerChipmunk FRH (25.0)
2. Boyd Martin (USA) and Commando 3 (32.8)
3. Harry Meade (GBR) and Et Hop du Matz (34.2)
4. Harry Meade (GBR) and Grafennacht (39.6)
5. Tom McEwen (GBR) and Brookfield Quality (40.6)
6. Boyd Martin (USA) and Fedarman B (40.6)
7. Boyd Martin (USA) and Luke 140 (44.7)
8. Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist (50.9)
9. James Alliston (USA) and Karma (50.9)
9. James Alliston (USA) and Karma (50.9)
10. Libussa Lübbeke (GER) and Caramia 34 (53.1)

2025 Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S Final Results

1. Will Coleman (USA) and Off The Record (33.0)
2. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Possante (33.9)
3. Jessica Phoenix (CAN) and Freedom GS (38.0)
4. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Denim (38.8)
5. Allison Springer (USA) and No May Moon (40.4)
6. Mia Farley (USA) and Invictus (42.9)
7. James Alliston (USA) and Nemesis (44.3)
8. Tamie Smith (USA) and Kynan (46.0)
9. Ema Klugman (AUS) and Chiraz (48.2)
9. Jan Byyny (USA) and Beautiful Storm (49.9)

Find all of our coverage on our 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event landing page.

Thanks to CareCredit for our 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event coverage.

The post 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event Recap and Results appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

After a day of deluges on Friday, cross-country day dawned dry, gray, and very cold for late April, with a “feels like” temperature of 45 degrees that persisted all day. The ground was still holding a lot of water, which turned out to be very deep and tiring for the horses, with scads of time penalties in both the 4* and 5* divisions.

Defender Kentucky Three Day Event CCI5*-L

Reigning Paris Olympic Champion and four-time winner of this event, Michael Jung (GER) rode his Paris mount, FischerChipmunk FRH, to an exceptionally fast round, with just 2.4 time penalties to stay in a comfortable lead. In fact, he has now set a 5* record for biggest lead margins after dressage and cross-country.

“I had a super ride,” said Jung at the press conference after cross-country. “He’s an amazing horse in the cross-country—he’s full of energy with very big strides, very honest. I can trust him. We get better together. We’re still learning, but a great partnership is very important for the cross-country. He felt a bit tired some places. I knew I was behind the time, but he kept galloping to the end of the course. He was really fit.”

Holding on to second place with 6.8 time penalties was Boyd Martin (USA) on Commando 3, one of his three mounts in the 5* division. Always one to provide entertainment, Martin spoke at the press conference with his baby on his lap (who didn’t want to stay in the back with Mom), and his older son briefly joined them on the stage as well.

“It was a bloody tiring day, every ride I was huffing and puffing!” said Martin. “I went quick on [Commando]—he’s young and fit and gave me a great round, but the ground was a bit tiring.”

Harry Meade of Great Britain made an eye-popping climb up the leaderboard with the day’s only two double-clear rides (no jumping or time penalties), moving from 17th to third with ET Hop du Matz and 18th to fourth with Grafennacht. Meade is ranked No. 4 in the world eventing standings.

“I was confident they were fit,” he said. “I thought I’d get out there and see how they felt. The first horse [ET Hop du Matz] I know really well, and hoped he’d be a good 5* horse. He’s very adjustable and has a long stride. The mare, Grafennacht, I don’t know as well; I had this spring to get to know her and wasn’t thinking about coming here. Then she won an event by 24 points, so it was a no-brainer to bring her here. I was disappointed with her dressage test; she got a bit tight in the atmosphere—it was her first time in [a big crowd]. I was questioning whether to run her [cross-country] at 11:30 or 12 today, then thought I’d just start out and see how she goes.” Apparently, the answer was VERY well!

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Course designer Derek di Grazia was pleased with the safety of the course this year.

“You never know at the beginning the day what’s going to happen,” he said. “You hope it’s going to provide a good competition. I’m happy every horse walked home—there were only two rider falls in the 4* and one in the 5* class—beyond that, there were some great rides that were really enjoyable to watch. Their time management is so good; at the end they are right where they need to be. We had lots of little runouts here and there all over the course, but it provided a good competition.”

Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S

Holding first place aboard Off the Record with the least time penalties in the division (7.2) was Olympic veteran and defending Kentucky 4* champion, Will Coleman (USA). Optimum time was 6 minutes and 37 seconds, compared to the 5*-L division at 11 minutes and 20 seconds.

“The roping and way the [jumps] were strung together made it tough to get the speed needed for time allowed,” he said. “It wasn’t surprising at all that nobody got close to it.”

As far as how his mount handled the course, he gives him all the credit it the world.

“When you have an older horse and they come out inspired to do it, it’s a rewarding feeling. I have nothing but admiration for that horse.”

Remaining in second and third with Possante (10.4 time penalties) and Denim (11.6 time penalties), respectively, was Phillip Dutton (USA).

“I feel a bit relieved,” he laughed. “It was a lot of hard work. I tried to have a crack at it. They both tried hard and will come out of it better.”

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Climbing from 14th to fourth with just 8 time penalties was Canadian Olympian Jessica Phoenix.

“Freedom GS is pure class,” she said of her mount. “She’s a fun horse to ride cross-country. She looks for the flags. The way they roped it, she was fast and efficient. She was pretty green when we took her to the Olympics. The first time she did the 4* was last season, but she was unaffected by the crowds. At Paris [2024 Olympic Games] it would’ve been nice to have one more year of experience under her belt, because this year she feels so confident.”

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s show jumping phase to see who takes tops the final standings in both prestigious divisions.

2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L Standings After Cross-Country

1. Michael Jung (GER) and FischerChipmunk FRH (21.0)
2. Boyd Martin (USA) and Commando 3 (32.8)
3. Harry Meade (GBR) and Et Hop du Matz (34.2)
4. Harry Meade (GBR) and Grafennacht (35.2)
5. Tom McEwen (GBR) and Brookfield Quality (36.6)
6. Tim Price (NZL) and Jarillo (40.0)
7. Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist (41.7)
8. Boyd Martin (USA) and Luke 140 (44.7)
9. Libussa Lübbeke (GER) and Caramia 34 (49.1)
10. Emily Hamel (USA) and Corvett (49.4)

2025 Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S Standings After Cross-Country

1. Will Coleman (USA) and Off The Record (29.0)
2. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Possante (33.5)
3. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Denim (37.2)
4. Jessica Phoenix (CAN) and Freedom GS (38.0)
5. Allison Springer (USA) and No May Moon (40.4)
6. Mia Farley (USA) and Invictus (42.9)
=7. Alexander O’Neal (USA) and Redtail Penumbra (43.4)
=7. Ema Klugman (AUS) and Chiraz (43.4)
9. James Alliston (USA) and Nemesis (44.3)
10. Dana Cooke (CAN) and FE Quatro (45.1)

For complete dressage scores and updates about the event, visit www.kentuckythreedayevent.com.

Find all of our coverage on our 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event landing page.

Thanks to CareCredit for our 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event coverage.

The post 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event: Cross-Country Day appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Under threatening skies that provided on and off downpours and even some lightning, nobody could catch Germany’s Michael Jung on the second day of dressage at the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three Day Event CCI5*-L at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.

Jung has four Olympic gold medals and four Kentucky 5* titles. He continued his almost super-human roll by breaking his own record yesterday with an all-time event low score of 18.6 in the dressage aboard FischerChipmunk FRH, his individual gold medal-winning 2024 Paris Olympics mount.

It was the last rider to go, Boyd Martin (USA) on Commando 3 who bore the brunt of a downpour that had held off for the rest of the 5* riders—yet he scored the best mark of the day from the judges, a 26.0, putting them into second place going into cross-country day.

“I glanced up at the skies in the warmup, and it wasn’t looking good,” said Martin at the press conference after his ride. “It was like a Louisiana typhoon!”

Admitting weather is something eventers have no control over, he thought the rain may have actually helped the horse keep his head low, even if it was an added distraction. When asked how he felt after his ride, he said, “Relieved that I could put some dry underwear on!”

All three of Martin’s 5* mounts had excellent scores below 30 (Luke 140 with 27.9 for sixth place, and Fedarman B with 29.8 for eleventh).

“I’ve been working hard with their dressage,” he said. “To have three horses in the 20s been a huge amount of work—not just for me, but my wife [dressage rider Silva Martin], who rides them when I’m away.”

In third place after a strong ride today going into cross-country was Great Britain’s Tom McEwen, who rode Brookfield Quality to a 26.2. McEwen won Olympic team gold medals at both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

Kentucky first-timer Libussa Lübbeke (GER) finished fourth after dressage on Caramia 34 with a score of 27.1 on Friday.

“The horse is bred by my parents,” she said. “It was wonderful to ride in that arena. She was listening and trying her best.”

Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S

Sitting in the lead in the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S after dressage is Will Coleman (USA) riding Off the Record, who scored a 21.8—a new Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S record.

“He’s at the tail end of his career at 16 years old,” said Coleman after the day wrapped. “He’s kind of like me—he thrives on progress and trying to get a little bit better. He still has remarkable work ethic and has proven to be a very trainable horse, even at this ‘old dog’ age.”

Coleman plans to see how he feels after this weekend with the possibility of targeting a 5* in the future.

In both second and third place after two days of dressage is Phillip Dutton (USA), who rode Possante today to a 23.1 and Denim yesterday to a 25.6.

“[Possante is] a pretty stunning horse to have,” said Dutton. “There’s not too much to do in the dressage; he does it all for me. I was pleased with the way he settled during the last few minutes of the warmup. He took a deep breath and held it all together. He has tons of potential for years to come.”

In fourth place going into cross-country is Chris Talley (USA) riding FE Marco Polo. The pair scored a 26.8, placing them above dozens of more experienced riders. Talley gives all the credit to this special horse.

“My horse is 9,” said Talley. “His owner sent him to me just over two years ago. He went from Training to 4* in just over a year. He’s incredibly special, [and also] kind of emotional like me. This is his first time at Kentucky, [although] I came in 2019. There’s a little bit of pressure with him being young. I was hoping he’d reward me, and he did. I wasn’t expecting to be sitting up here!”

2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L Standings After Dressage

1. Michael Jung (GER) and FischerChipmunk FRH (18.6)
2. Boyd Martin (USA) and Commando 3 (26.0)
3. Tom McEwen (GBR) and Brookfield Quality (26.2)
4. Libussa Lübbeke (GER) and Caramia 34 (27.1)
5. Tim Price (NZL) and Falco (27.8 )
6. Boyd Martin (USA) and Luke 140 (27.9)
=7. Clarke Johnstone (NZL) and Menlo Park (28.4)
=7. Tim Price (NZL) and Jarillo (28.4)
9. Tim Price (NZL) and Happy Boy (29.1)
10. Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist (29.3)

2025 Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S Standings After Dressage

1. Will Coleman (USA) and Off The Record (21.8)
2. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Possante (23.1)
3. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Denim (25.6)
4. Chris Talley (USA) and FE Marco Polo (26.8)
5. Ariel Grald (USA) and Diara (27.3)
6. Molly Duda (USA) and Disco Traveler (27.7)
7. Caroline Pamukcu (USA) and HSH Blake (27.9)
8. Will Coleman (USA) and Very Dignified (28.0)
9. Dana Cooke (CAN) and FE Quatro (28.3)
10. Sarah Kuhn (USA) and Mr. Cash van de Start (28.4)

For complete dressage scores and updates about the event, visit www.kentuckythreedayevent.com.

Find all of our coverage on our 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event landing page.

Thanks to CareCredit for our 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event coverage.

The post 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event: Dressage Day Two appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Day one of the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L kicked off today at the Kentucky Horse Park in picturesque Lexington, Ky. with the first day of dressage tests. Under mostly cloudy skies—apart from a handful of short-lived, light rain showers—many of the top horses and riders in the world took to Rolex Stadium for the first phase of the event.

A Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage record was broken when reigning Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalists Michael Jung (GER) and FischerChipmunk FRH effortlessly danced across the ring to score a remarkably low 18.6. In doing so, Jung eclipsed his own standing record from 2022.

“I’m very happy to be here again,” Jung said. “I really love this place, this show. . . I had a great feeling with FischerChipmunk. Everything went well; I’m super happy.”

New Zealand riders rounded out the rest of the top four. Tied for second after the first dressage session are Clarke Johnstone (NZL) aboard Menlo Park, and Tim Price (NZL) aboard Jarillo. Both scored a 28.4.

“It’s been a very long time that I was here at the World Championships in 2010 and I’ve really wanted to come back,” Johnstone said. “It’s really the most beautiful setting and people are all so welcoming and wonderful. It’s great to be back here after all these years.”

Price, currently second in the world, also sits fourth with 13-year-old KWPN gelding Happy Boy. One of the last horses to go Thursday, Happy Boy and Price landed a 29.1 to give Price two horses in the top four so far.

“It was a good day with my two horses,” Price said. “Happy Boy tried really hard; same for [Jarillo]. We really want them to come and do their best and show what they’re capable of doing.”

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2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L Standings After Dressage Day One

1. Michael Jung (GER) and FischerChipmunk FRH (18.6)
=2. Clarke Johnstone (NZL) and Menlo Park (28.4)
=2. Tim Price (NZL) and Jarillo (28.4)
4. Tim Price (NZL) and Happy Boy (29.1)
5. Boyd Martin (USA) and Fedarman B (29.8)
6. Jonelle Price (NZL) and Hiarado (30.0)
7. Calvin Böckmann (GER) and Phantom of the Opera (30.2)
8. Sharon White (USA) and Claus 63 (32.3)
9. Jennie Brannigan (USA) and FE Lifestyle (34.0)
10. Harry Meade (GBR) and Et Hop du Matz (34.2)

2025 Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S Standings After Dressage Day One

During the first half of the day, Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S competitors took to the dressage ring under beautiful, sunny morning skies. The competitive field of horses and riders, featuring several Olympians, did not disappoint. After the first day of dressage, these are the current standings in the Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S:

1. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Denim (25.6)
2. Molly Duda (USA) and Disco Traveler (27.7)
3. Caroline Pamukcu (USA) and HSH Blake (27.9)
4. William Coleman (USA) and Very Dignified (28.0)
5. Robin Walker (USA) and SBT Barolo (29.8)
6. Alexandra Knowles (USA) and Morswood (30.3)
7. Bruce (Buck) Davidson Jr (USA) and Cooley Candyman (31.3)
8. Hannah Sue Hollberg (USA) and Carsonstown (31.7)
=9. Allison Springer (USA) and No May Moon (32.8)
=9. Olivia Dutton (USA) and Sea of Clouds (32.8)

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Find all of our coverage on our 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event landing page.

Thanks to CareCredit for our 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event coverage.

The post 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event: Dressage Day One appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Based in Temecula, Calif., out of her Next Level Eventing barn, Tamie became the first American rider in 15 years to win the Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI 5* when she claimed victory aboard Mai Baum in 2023. Held the last weekend in April every year, the Kentucky 5* represents the highest level of eventing, with only seven 5* competitions held per year in the entire world.

She accomplished this feat aboard her long-time partner, a then-18-year-old German Sport Horse gelding named Mai Baum, owned by Ellen Ahearn, Eric Markell, and their daughter, Alex Ahearn. Tamie was also the first woman since 2011 to win this internationally prestigious event.

The eventing world has had a keen eye on Tamie and Mai Baum for years as their eye-popping dressage scores and top finishes at major events gained notice. The pair won eventing team gold at the 2019 PanAm games in Lima, Peru, team silver at the 2022 FEI World Championships, and they were selected as reserves for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games (held in 2021).

We sat down with Tamie to learn more about what keeps her motivated, the perks of being a mother in the horse world, and the horse that made the big win possible.

On Mai Baum

Mai Baum, or “Lexus” as he’s known around the barn, started off as Alex Ahearn’s ride when she took a post as one of Tamie’s working students. Alex had imported Lexus from Munich, Germany.

“I’m not certain if everybody thought that he would be what he is today,” says Tamie.

Alex competed Lexus through his first Intermediate (3’9″) before coming to ride with Tamie.

“She’d had trouble at Lexus’s first Intermediate, and we worked her through that,” says Tamie. “We got her competing well at [that] level. She was winning.”

After competing Lexus at the 3* event at Fair Hill in Maryland and making the U25 list (a selective list of upcoming young American riders aged 25 and under), Alex decided she wanted to pursue further academic education instead of continuing her riding career.

“After a training session that winter, I remember her coming to me and saying, ‘I want to meet you for dinner and talk,’” Tamie recalls. “She said, ‘I want you to take the ride on Lexus.’ I remember being a little surprised. I said, ‘No, you don’t. You don’t know what you’re saying. You have to do this.’”

Despite Tamie trying to talk Alex out of it, she insisted that Tamie was the right rider for Lexus.

“I remember her saying, ‘America needs a good horse. And you need a good horse,’” Tamie says. “And it was quite emotional, because I knew what she was saying.”

For a while, Tamie thought that Alex might decide to take Lexus back and start riding him again herself.

“I thought I would start riding him, and a few months later she would say, ‘I’m just kidding, I want to ride him,’” Tamie remembers. “But here we are eight years later, and it’s been so incredible to see her vision and what she wanted for me and Lexus actually come to fruition.”

At 20, Lexus is still going strong. Tamie isn’t sure if or when he will be ready to slow down, but thinks he will tell her when that time comes.

“I am really careful every time I get on,” she says. “I feel like I have a good gut instinct and know my horses. It’s a possibility that he could just drop down a level. He absolutely loves the crowd. After he’s done at the top level, maybe Alex could take him and compete him again. It would be an icing-on-the-cake kind of thing.”

Of course, if Lexus tells Tamie that he needs to stop competing, she will happily retire him.

“If he needs to be fully retired, he will be,” she says. “But I don’t know that he’ll want to just stand in a field.”

On Being a Mother

In addition to raising sport horses, Tamie has also raised two children, son Tyler, 21, and daughter Kaylawna, 29.

“[Being a mother] definitely has its struggles,” she says. “You go through guilt because you’re spending time doing something [not family-related] that you have a goal towards. When I travel, it’s been hard to cope with being away and missing a water polo or basketball game for my kids. That was not always easy.”

However, Tamie feels the guilt she and other riders might experience as mothers isn’t specific to her sport.

“Any woman or man in high level careers—doctors, lawyers, and elite athletes—all battle the same struggles,” she says.

To help with any guilt, Tamie tries to look at her time away from her family as a way of setting an example to her kids to go after what they want and to have big goals and expectations of themselves, even if it gets in the way of what tradition might want them to focus on.

In addition to being a mother, Tamie is now a grandmother. When her daughter, Kaylawna, married several years ago and then had a daughter of her own, Tamie says Kaylawna also struggled with her confidence and guilt. Of course, mom was there to help coach her through it. Other professional riders who became mothers have also turned to Tamie for advice on how to keep a healthy balance.

When it comes to coaching her clients and training the horses, Tamie says that she views being a parent as an advantage.

“I feel like being a mother helps with your level of compassion and your level of empathy,” she says.

On Managing Goals

Tamie says that she initially planned to also take Dutch Warmblood gelding Elliot V to the 5* at Kentucky in 2023—the division that Mai Baum ended up winning. She felt he was on track to meet that goal, but in their last preparatory competition, she decided to rethink her game plan, since he didn’t feel quite ready.

“I’ve learned throughout the years that you can never keep a goal set in stone,” she says. “The slow way is always the fast way, and you only get one good shot at doing this at the top level. I’ve learned that if it doesn’t seem ideal—if I’m going into a 5* and don’t feel like I’ve done absolutely everything I possibly could to prepare for it, or any competition for that matter—I typically err on the side of caution.”

She moves her horses up the levels at the rate she feels is best by staying true to her morals and trusting her program.

“I have a pretty solid opinion about what I think horses are ready to do [and] when,” Tamie says. “I don’t feel like taking a 5-year-old Preliminary [3’7″] is appropriate. I have had 5-year-olds that are probably ready—they’re bored at Training level [3’3″]—but I don’t feel like it’s always in the best interest of their overall development and their minds, and to me it always ends up catching up [to you], so I try to keep things more on a conservative basis.”

On Being a West-Coaster

Tamie says that living in Southern California also helps her to not be influenced by others’ timelines.

“It’s a different atmosphere out here than it is on the East Coast, where everything is showcased in the public eye, whatever you do,” she says. “[Here] I leave the barn and never see anyone that I know, and I’ve found that I really like it that way. Once I leave the barn, I’m just Tamie, and not Tamie Smith-who-is-doing-this-or-that.”

However, sometimes Tamie’s competitive nature does make things a little tricky.

“It’s difficult sometimes to see what other people are doing and then not get caught up,” she says. “But it’s been nice to be focused on my program, believing in it, and then making sure that I’m doing the right thing by my horses.”

On Education

“I’m a big supporter of going to [college],” says Tamie. “I think it’s super important. I know that there are a lot of top riders that don’t believe it’s necessary, so my answer might be a bit controversial. Education is super important for learning how to communicate, navigate through life, and deal with conflict.”

She says that her formal education has helped her navigate relationships with her horses’ owners and all of the different personalities she meets.

“[My education has] enabled me to learn how to communicate and to understand what it’s like in the real world, and working in corporate America,” she says.

Before turning to horses as her full-time profession, Tamie worked in the intake department of a mental health facility.

“I have always been intrigued by mental health,” she shares. “My original plan was to get my degree in psychology.”

However, a mentor encouraged Tamie to pursue other avenues toward her goal of helping people when the flaws of the healthcare system began to wear on her.

Initially, she was a little “bummed about that, because I thought if I went down that avenue [I could] help people navigate through their trials and tribulations.”

Tamie decided that she would strive to help people in other ways, no matter what career path she went down. Now, as a professional rider and coach, Tamie says that her time working in mental health has given her a unique perspective.

“It gave me a different perspective as far as learning what works for different types of people when I’m coaching,” she says. “I bring in an old-school approach where I think it’s very important to be empathetic to your horses. I mean, they don’t choose to do what we ask them to do. They do it because they love us.  They love the sport as well, but they would be fine and happy to be eating grass in a field, too.”

Tamie doesn’t have a lot of tolerance for impatient riders.

“That’s something that all of us have to learn as we grow in the sport,” she says. “It can be frustrating, especially where we have to master three different disciplines. You have to treat your horse with respect, the way you would want to be treated.”

From a competitive standpoint, Tamie adds that the mental element is almost more important than physical talent, and that a lot of counseling goes into producing good riders and horses.

Clearly her background has been perfect preparation for reaching the top of her sport. It takes nerves of steel to put the pressure aside and perform at your best at a 5* event like Kentucky, but Tamie showed the world she is more than capable.

More Tamie Smith Content

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This article about Tamie Smith was the cover story of the August 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Tamie Smith: Taking It To The Next Level appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Lexington, Ky. — Current U.S. Eventing Technical Advisor and Chef d’Equipe Bobby Costello has made the difficult personal decision to step away from the role at the start of the new quadrennial. Costello will remain active in his role through the conclusion of his contract, which ends on November 30, 2024.

“It has been an incredible journey with this program and this role has brought me so much purpose over the past two years. For both personal and professional reasons, I have decided it’s time to step away and allow a fresh face to continue moving this program forward towards the success I know we’re capable of producing as a country and program,” said Costello. “It’s been an honor to work alongside our athletes, team staff, owners, and supporters to bring some incredible moments of success back to the U.S. over the past two years. It’s bittersweet, but I am looking forward to continuing to support our U.S. Eventing Team in the years to come.”

Costello has been a key figure in the program since his appointment as interim Chef d’Equipe in 2022, before transitioning full-time into the role in 2023. Under Costello’s tutelage, the U.S. Eventing Team experienced several major successes, which included, producing the first team medal at an FEI World Championship in nearly twenty years, two podium finishes at CHIO Aachen, a team silver medal at the 2023 Pan American Games, and a recent podium finish at the 2024 FEI Eventing Nations Cup Boekelo CCIO4*-NC-L. The U.S. Eventing Team finished seventh at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with Costello as Chef d’Equipe.

“I know I speak for everyone when I say Bobby’s commitment and leadership in this role helped the program find its feet and has set us on the upward trajectory towards future success,” said Amber Braun, Managing Director of Eventing at US Equestrian. “We’re incredibly sad to see Bobby depart this role but have nothing but gratitude and respect for the achievements and contributions he has made to U.S. Eventing during his term. We wish him all the best in his next chapter, and we will continue to focus on the LA 2028 Olympic Games.”

The search and appointment for a Technical Advisor and Chef d’Equipe will be announced in the near future. For additional questions, please contact Amber Braun, Managing Director of Eventing, at abraun@usef.org.

— Edited Press Release | Source: US Equestrian

The post US Equestrian Announces Departure of U.S. Eventing Chef d’Equipe & Technical Advisor Bobby Costello appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Great Britain’s Oliver Townend brought his long-time equine partner Ballaghmor Class to the USA last week in a quest to capture his first win at the 2024 MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill presented by The Brown Advisory, a prize that had eluded him in three earlier attempts. He took home $100,000 for the win (out of the $325,000 total purse).

This year was the fourth renewal of the world’s newest eventing CCI5*-L, which happens annually in mid-October in Cecil County at the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area Special Event Zone. The previous three years in Maryland, Townend had been second once (with Cooley Master Class in 2021) and third the other two years (with As Is in 2022 and Cooley Rosalent in 2023).

He came to Maryland this year sitting on eight previous CCI5*-L wins (four times at Kentucky, three times at Burghley and once at Badminton), three of them with Ballaghmor Class. When all the rails stayed up for them in the show jumping arena on Sunday, Townend and “Thomas” finally clenched Townend’s first win in Maryland on 31.3. Their win in Maryland gives Townend an impressive nine total 5* wins to date, tying eventing greats Lucinda Green and Andrew Nicholson.

Ballaghmor Class is a 17-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Courage II owned by Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan. Townend spoke highly of the gelding following their victory, “I fully expected that Tim [Price] would go clean and keep the pressure on me. Fortunately, I am lucky to ride one of the sport’s great horses and he delivered big time. I wish he could carry on for another 10 years so we could retire together. He’s just phenomenal and it’s my job to show the world how good he is. Luckily, I didn’t mess this one up.”

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The top three spots in the 2024 MARS Maryland 5 Star all went to riders with ties to the British Isles. Tim Price (from New Zealand, but based with his wife and fellow eventer Jonelle in the United Kingdom for many years) and Falco finished second by show jumping clear as well, only 3.3 points (less than one rail) behind Townend, with a score of 34.6. Price has also competed two other times at the Maryland 5 Star thus far, finishing third in 2021 on Xavier Faer and winning in 2022 with Coup de Coeur Dudevin.

Price also praised his mount Falco who had only competed in one other 5* before taking second in Maryland. “The way that he gets in the air is a lot of fun. He gives you the most confidence that you could imagine. You just squeeze him up with your leg [and he jumps well] and today was no different. Thankfully, he had a great day yesterday [on cross-country]; he pulled up very well. He is something else. He makes the job very easy for me.”

Price also made an unprompted, heartfelt statement at the end of the final press conference, offering his support for the Maryland 5 Star to continue, “We love coming over here and we’ll do what we can to encourage more people to come here, because it’s a fantastic event. Definitely one of the best.”

British rider David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed took third prize in the 2024 Maryland Five Star. The horse and rider duo had put in a blazing round on cross-country and were the only competitors to finish clear and within the time allowed to sit in second at the end of phase two. On the final day they had an unfortunate rail in show jumping which moved them down to third to finish on 38.5.

Doel was appreciative of and apologetic to his horse about the rails they had in show jumping, especially after his horse’s super cross-country run the day before. “I’ve got a phenomenal horse there. I just felt that actually, I let him down today; didn’t quite do him the justice. The distance going down to the treble was a little bit quiet, and [I] just made him work a little bit too hard … He wouldn’t be an out and out Falco, a double-clear machine, but he is normally a very, very good jumping horse. So yeah, there was definitely sort of my mistake today and kicking myself a bit. I always like to put a little bit more pressure on Oliver.”

U.S. rider Buck Davidson, who grew up not far from Fair Hill but is now based in Florida, and his 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Sorocaima finished fourth (47.6). They also took home the Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue Trophy awarded to the highest placed American Thoroughbred. Davidson said that Sorocaima raced not that long ago, starting in 60 races, and a friend had talked him into purchasing the gelding as an event prospect.

He spoke about riding a Thoroughbred and how the Maryland course played to Sorocaima’s strengths. They moved up the order from 13th after dressage to fourth at the end of cross-country and held that place in show jumping even after dropping two rails and incurring 0.4 faults in the stadium. “It’s nice to be sat on the Thoroughbred and it’s nice to have an event where the cross-country really matters. I feel like I now have a good cross-country horse and hopefully he’ll come out a bigger, stronger and better horse next year. It’s rewarding to move up in the cross-country.”

Of the 23 starters in the CCI5*-L, only eight returned to show jump on the final day, three from Great Britain (Townend, Doel and Bubby Upton on Cola), one from New Zealand (Price) and four from the USA (Davidson, Jennie Brannigan on Twilightslastgleam, Emily Hamel on Corvett, Lillian Heard Wood on LCC Barnaby). The small starting field made the 34.78 percent completion rate on cross-country even more impactful.

Other stats from cross-country were as follows. There were three rider falls and one horse and rider fall on course, with all reported to be OK (Harry Meade from Et Hop du Matz, Grace Taylor from Game Changer, Ema Klugman from Bronte Beach, and Boyd Martin who fell alongside Commando 3 at Fence 3A after falling earlier in the 3* from Mo Chroi).

Two riders were eliminated due to refusals, Cosby Green, who was the day one dressage leader with Highly Suspicious, and Canada’s Colleen Loach on FE Golden Eye. Canada’s Jessica Phoenix withdrew her first horse, Fluorescent Adolescent, prior to the start of cross-country. Due to Martin’s earlier falls, he chose to withdraw Tsetserleg TSF who would have run the 5* course next to last in the order. Seven riders retired on course: Tamra Smith (Mai Baum); Harry Meade (Away Cruising); Lindsay Traisnel (Bacyrouge); Tiana Coudray (Cancaras Girl); Allie Knowles (Morswood); Phoenix (Wabbit), and Joe Meyer (Harbin).

White Wins Over Large 3* Field

Sharon White, a member of the U.S. silver-medal team from the 2023 Pan American Games, piloted her 8-year-old Westfalen mare Jaguars Duende to top honors in the CCI3*-L division over 53 other starters on an impressive score of 29.6, jumping clean and within the time on both cross-country and in the stadium. White owns the mare, who is by Jaguar Mail, with Sandy Niles, Anita Antenucci and Beth Lendrum. The pair had also won a CCI3-L* at Tryon earlier in the season. She won $7,500 for their efforts in Maryland.

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White said that the Maryland event is a unique place, a good test of fitness and she thinks the cross-country is a very proper course. “The atmosphere is unreal and special in both the dressage and show jumping, so it’s such a good education for a horse. I want not to overwhelm them. If you really produce them confidently, sometimes you have to be a little patient and I don’t mind being patient. Now I look forward to what she does next year, but it’s not about next year either. Every moment is special with them. But if you really think big term, I think that’s how you produce horses for the highest level of sport.”

Sara Schulman and Cooley Chromatic held the second spot throughout the event, finishing on 30.6. Will Coleman and Fahrenheit Addict grabbed third in the 3* with 31.5. Winner of the Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue Trophy for the highest placed American Thoroughbred horse in the CCI3*-L was Sarah Cousins with Wizard who finished in 17th place.

Swan Song for Course Designer Ian Stark

The cross-country course designer for all four years of the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill has been Scotsman and Olympic medalist Ian Stark. Stark, who turned 70 in February 2024, officially announced his retirement from course designing making, the 2024 Maryland 5 Star his last course. It was bittersweet for him as well as the riders and his many fans around the world.

Stark said he feels that the course at Fair Hill is a true international test for bold and accurate riders and provides an opportunity for North American riders to gain valuable experience. “The Maryland 5 Star gives North American riders the opportunity to compete at the highest level without the need to travel to Europe, and brings horses and riders from all over the world.”

The 6,410-meter course featured 28 numbered obstacles with 45 jumping efforts. With a prescribed speed of 570 meters/minutes, the optimum time to complete was 11 minutes and 15 seconds. Tyson Rementer was the course builder. In a nod to Stark, the final jump on cross-country was decorated as a Scottie dog. To take a virtual course walk of Stark’s final track, check it out on the CrossCountry app.

Stark says he plans to spend more time with his grandchildren and to start a few young horses he has waiting for him back home. He commented on the results from his final course and shared thoughts on his decision, “It wasn’t quite the day I was hoping to retire on; had there been a dozen go around, I would have been much happier. There were some unfortunate silly hiccups, but the good thing was that trouble was everywhere; it wasn’t one fence and from a designing point of view that is positive. I have had a great time here in Maryland, and America as a whole. I have always said in [my] mind and in my heart that this is the right time to retire.”

Townend commented on the cross-country results in the press conference at the end of the day. He feels that Maryland is going to be in the same league as Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky. “Last year’s course was tough; this year’s was a step up. It’s Ian’s last year, and why shouldn’t he let his imagination go a little wild? He wanted to build a five-star, and that’s what he’s done. It’s a fair course. It’s just [that] we haven’t got 80 runners, so when 23 set off and only 10 or 12 come home, it doesn’t look great. But, that’s nothing to do with being an unfair track. It’s just the field and the way it’s panned [out].”

It was announced by the Organizing Committee that course designer for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Pierre Le Goupil, will succeed Stark as the new Maryland 5 Star cross-country designer through at least 2027.

Young Event Horse (YEH) East Coast Championships

Two age divisions of the Dutta Corp. United States Eventing Association YEH East Coast Championships, presented by Dubarry of Ireland, also competed at the 2024 Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill. There were classes for 4-year-olds (30 competitors) and 5-year-olds (39 entries). The youngsters were judged on conformation, then performed a dressage test and a jumping test appropriate for each age group.

Madison Temkin won the 4-Year-Old group with Prime Star (88.60) ahead of Chris Talley on HM Belterra (86.86). In the 5-Year-Old class, Emily Bradford guided Rose Traveler to the win (88.94) with Alyssa Phillips and Centerfold taking second (88.61). Caroline Pamukcu finished third in both age groups, with HSH Hercules in the 4-Year-Olds (84.42) and HSH Afterglow in the 5-Year-Olds (86.60).

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For a complete set of orders of go and results go for the 2024 5* and 3* competition, as well as both divisions of the Young Event Horse, visit here.

On-demand replays of the Maryland 5 Star equestrian competition and the Maryland Corgi Cup are available by subscription on ClipMyHorse TV. For more information, click here.

Fun, Food & Entertainment

Beyond the exciting competition the, 2024 Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill offered so much for attendees to enjoy. A wide variety of shopping, dining and beverage choices, and hospitality club options were available. There was live musical entertainment each day, too. Children could enjoy the Maryland 5 Star Kids’ Corner where there were crafts, games and live animals to meet.

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Saturday featured the Local Beer, Wine & Spirits Expo hosted by Elk River Brewing Company and Sunday there was a Fresh Food Fest presented by Cecil County Agriculture. For the first time, adult sports fans had the opportunity to engage in betting on the competition.

Event sponsor MARS brought their popular VIPet Experience chalet and there was a constant stream of dog owners with their happy canines streaming in and out the doors. Several animal rescue groups brought adoptable dogs and cats and a rescue dog parade was featured on Sunday.

The Andrews Bridge Foxhounds made an appearance, as did “The Fluffy Eventer,” a Gypsy Vanner gelding who sports a mustache and an outgoing personality. Several famous event horses, and other award-winning equines, were featured in the Hall of Champions. Eventer Elisa Wallace performed with her Mustangs in addition to competing in the 3*. A polo demonstration was also on the schedule.

Welsh Corgi dogs and Shetland Ponies competed on the Fair Hill grass race course, too. This year’s winner of the Maryland Corgi Cup was Elevation Zoe, who crossed the finish line first for the third year.

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Future of the Maryland 5 Star

According to the Cecil County Whig, on October 17, 2024, the Cecil County Council voted 3-2 to approve a multi-million dollar agreement that will renew the Maryland 5 Star for the next five years, as well as bring back long-awaited Thoroughbred races to the Fair Hill facility. The agreement is between the County and the Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland. The paper reported $450,000 will be directed towards continuing the 5 Star, an increase of $17,000 from the previous agreement of $433,000 and that the increase reflects the rise of expenses.

Jeff Newman, President and CEO of the Maryland 5 Star, said that the Organizing Committee is appreciative of the event’s sponsors for continuing to make the Maryland 5 Star possible. He specifically mentioned title sponsor MARS Equestrian™ and presenting sponsor Brown Advisory. “The weather was outstanding and the crowds throughout the weekend were incredible to see. Ian Stark’s final cross-country course was beautiful and challenged the sport’s most elite riders and their horses. Thank you to the FEI riders and officials for coming from around the world to help lay the groundwork for this event, to the staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly to get it off the ground, and our fans who continue to show us amazing support every year. We look forward to seeing everyone back out at Fair Hill and in Cecil County in 2025.”

For information on the 2025 Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, visit here.

The post 2024 Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill Results and Recap appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The Young History of the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill

It all began with the inaugural Maryland 5 Star Event in 2021 when local rider Boyd Martin piloted the Turner family’s 15-year-old Anglo-European mare On Cue to victory over 45 other entries. Martin, and his wife Silva and their family, live less than half an hour down the road from Fair Hill. The runner-up that year was Great Britain’s Oliver Townend riding Cooley Master Class. Tim Price of New Zealand took third on Xavier Faer. Jennie Brannigan from the USA riding Stella Artois placed fourth.

The next year, 2022, 25 entries competed. This time it was New Zealand’s turn with Tim Price capturing the top prize aboard Jean-Louis Stauffer’s 10-year-old Selle Français gelding Coup De Coeur Dudevin. The USA’s Tamra Smith guided Danito to second, and Townend again made a good showing for third with As Is. Phillip Dutton (USA), whose farm is also near Fair Hill, grabbed the fourth spot with Z.

Last year with 26 entries competing, Ireland’s Austin O’Connor and the 14-year-old British Sport Horse gelding Colorado Blue, owned by the rider and the Salty Syndicate, won their first 5*. British riders William Fox-Pitt on Grafennacht and Oliver Townend on Cooley Rosalent finished second and third, respectively. Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol HIM were the highest placed US competitors in fourth.

2024 Maryland at Fair Hill 5 Star Entries & Officials

The Maryland at Fair Hill Event not only offers the headliner CCI5*-L division, but also a CCI3*-L, which also serves at the United States Equestrian Federation National CCI3*-L Championship. Additionally, there are two age divisions of the United States Eventing Association’s (USEA) Young Event Horse series offered (one for four-year-olds and one for five-year-olds); these will serve as the Dutta Corporation USEA’s 2024 YEH East Championships presented by Dubarry of Ireland.

Twenty-three competitors from five countries (Australia, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, and USA) are set to compete in the CCI5*-L division sponsored by the Brown Advisory. They will be vying for part of $325,000 in prize money ($100,000 to the winner) plus a plethora of trophies, ribbons and gifts. Among several trophies offered is one for the highest-placed Thoroughbred; this award is sponsored by The Retired Racehorse Project in their ongoing mission to promote careers in sport beyond racing for Thoroughbreds.

Among the 2024 Maryland at Fair Hill 5 Star competitors are two previous winners, Boyd Martin and On Cue, and current FEI World Rankings number-three rider Tim Price with his 2024 Paris Olympics mount Falco. Also entered is world ranked number-five rider Oliver Townend who will ride his 2021 Kentucky Three-Day CCI5* winner Ballaghmor Class in Maryland. Townend is a three-time Maryland 5* top-three finisher and four-time Kentucky 5* winner.

Martin, who is currently ranked sixth in the world, also brings his long-time partner Tsetserleg TSF for the 2024 Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill. Together, the pair has competed in the 2020 (2021) Tokyo Olympic Games, won gold at the 2019 Pan American Games, and finished second in the 2019 Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*. Martin will also ride Commando 3, with whom he placed second in the 2024 Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4*-S this spring.

American rider Tamra Smith and her 2023 Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5* winner Mai Baum are also contenders this year in Maryland. They were also members of the silver-medal winning U.S. squad at the 2022 FEI World Championships in Italy. The Maryland 5* is likely to be Mai Baum’s last run the 5* level, so Tamie is hoping for one more stellar performance from “Lexus.”

World number-eight rider from Great Britain, Harry Meade, is bringing two horses to Maryland, Away Cruising and Et Hop Du Matz. Meade comes into Maryland having placed third and fourth last month at the prestigious Burghley 5* in England.

Fellow Brit Bubby Upton will compete for the first time in the USA with Cola after the pair finished tenth at the 2024 Badminton Event in May. Upton is back in the saddle after a spinal injury suffered in 2023 and she hopes to make her first trip to North America a successful one.

Canadian Olympian and 2011 Pan American Games gold medal winner Jessica Phoenix is also set to compete in Maryland. She will ride the Thoroughbred gelding Wabbit, with whom she placed 20th in Maryland in 2022, and the colorful pinto Canadian-bred mare Fluorescent Adolescent who will be making her 5* debut.

Another rider local to the Fair Hill area who should have a huge cheering section is Buck Davidson, who brings his Kentucky Three-Day Event partner—the American-bred Thoroughbred Sorocaima—to Fair Hill. They finished sixth in the Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L this spring, so watch for them to be in the mix on the final day.

Though the 2024 Maryland 5 Star at Maryland field is small, it is packed with lots of talent even beyond the horse and rider duos mentioned above. Jennie Brannigan has finished very well in Maryland in the past and she and Twilightslastgleam finished 16th in Kentucky this spring. Joe Meyer (NZL) and Harbin and Emma Klugman (AUS) and Bronte Beach also finished 14th and 21st in the Kentucky 5* this spring, respectively. Great Britain’s David Doel has experience at the level too and brings Galileo Nieuwmoed to Maryland; this pair placed ninth at the Luhmühlen CCI5* this summer.

Tiana Coudray (from the USA, but now based in Great Britain) and Cancaras Girl had a great run at Badminton this spring too. Alexandra Knowles and Morswood, Lillian Heard Wood and LCC Barnaby, and Emily Hamel and Corvette, all have extensive five- star experience together as well. American Cosby Green is now based in England where she rides with New Zealand greats Tim and Jonelle Price; she and Highly Suspicious hope to do well in Maryland.

Another American rider based in Great Britain is Grace Taylor who brings her horse Game Changer for a shot at prize money in Maryland; they finished 18th in the 5* at Badminton this spring. Coming off a bronze-medal finish at the 2023 Pan American Games and fourth-place finishes this year at the American Eventing Championships (Advanced) and the Bromont Three-Day Event (CCI4*-S), Canadian Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge are seeking a solid performance at Fair Hill this week in their first start at the 5* level.

Officials for the CCI5*-L are: Technical Delegate, Alec Lochore (GBR); Assistant TD, Ataide Pereira (BRA); Ground Jury members, President Christina Klingspor (SWE), Valerie Pride (USA), and Xavier Le Sauce (FRA); Show Jumping Judges Gay-Ellen Dennis (CAN) and the Ground Jury members; Cross-Country Course Designer Ian Stark (GBR) assisted by Pierre Le Goupil (FRA); FEI Chief Steward Nicola Salmon (GBR) assisted by Helen Bowler (GBR).

Fifty-five riders from five countries (Australia, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, USA) are entered in the CCI3*-L division. Total prize money offered in the CCI-3* is $25,000. There is also an award for the highest placed American Thoroughbred in the CCI3*-L sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue.

Officials for the CCI3*-L are: Technical Delegate Gary Parsonage (GBR); Ground Jury members, President Peter Gray (CAN), Richard Baldwin (GBR), Amanda Miller (USA); Show Jumping Judges Gay-Ellen Dennis (CAN) and the Ground Jury; Cross-Country Course Designer Ian Stark (GBR) assisted by Pierre Le Goupil (FRA); FEI Chief Steward Nicola Salmon (GBR) assisted by Helen Bowler (GBR).

The Dutta Corporation Young Event Horse competition has 30 entered in the 4-year-old division and 42 in the 5-year-old division. The YEH consists of conformation judging, a dressage test, and a round of jumping appropriate for the age group. The Young Event Horse judges will be: for the 5-year-olds, Sally Ike (USA) and Christian Schacht (GER), and for the 4-year-olds, Jeanne McDonald (USA), Marilyn Payne (USA), Anne Moss (USA), and Phyllis Dawson (USA).

Find a full set of entry lists for Maryland here.

About the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill

Since 1989, the Fair Hill International not-for-profit group, run largely by volunteers, has hosted eventing and other equestrian activities such as the Elk Creek Carriage Driving Event and the Foxcatcher Endurance Ride at the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area. In 2021, the state of Maryland, under the title Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, partnered with Fair Hill to produce the new 5* Event. Fair Hill International continues to offer lower-level eventing, schooling and clinics throughout the year as well.

While the other North American 5*, the now 45-year-old Kentucky Three-Day Event held in late April each year, is certainly the elder statesman of top-level eventing on this continent, newcomer Maryland 5* brings its own unique flavor to the table. Instead of the bluegrass, bourbon, barbecue, and southern hospitality of Kentucky, the mid-Atlantic state of Maryland boasts the scenic Chesapeake Bay with stunning waterfront views and maritime history, plus fresh-caught seafood, crab cakes and Old Bay seasoning, among other delights.

Beyond that, the Fair Hill area of Maryland is just a stone’s throw from the Pennsylvania and Delaware state borders, giving it a regional feel rather than that of just one state. Amish country in Lancaster, Pa., and the history-filled cities of Philadelphia, Pa., and Baltimore, Md., are all within an hour’s drive, and the University of Delaware in Newark is only about 20 minutes from the event grounds. This all adds to the melting pot of this interesting part of the country. Just like in Kentucky, people who live and work in the tri-state area around Fair Hill have pride of place and are friendly and welcoming.

A host of fun activities and entertainment await attendees at the 2024 Maryland 5 Star. Dog owners can bring their pets into the Mars VIPet Experience chalet for some fun and goodies, then pamper themselves with samples of event sponsor Mars’ high-end Ethel M chocolates at a tent in the shopping area. On Saturday, the event hosts a Local Beer, Wine and Spirits Expo and on Sunday, the Cecil County Agriculture group presents a Fresh Food Fest. There will be live entertainment each day as well.

There is also a Kid’s Corner which offers crafts, games, and a chance to meet some horses in the Hall of Champions and have insect encounters at the Fair Hill Nature Center. Children and adults alike will enjoy watching the Maryland Corgi Cup dog races, the lead-line pony racing and the Shetland Pony racing. Appearances by eventer Elisa Wallace performing with her Mustangs and the Andrews Bridge Foxhounds are also on the agenda. A rescue dog parade and a polo demonstration round out the entertainment schedule. A wide variety of shopping and dining options are available on grounds at the 2024 Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, too.

2024 Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill Tentative Schedule:

Wednesday, October 16th

No ticket required for Wednesday.

CCI Competition First Horse Inspection presented by Dubarry of Ireland (Jog Strip)
◆ CCI3*, 1:00 p.m. EST
◆ CCI5*, 2:00 p.m. EST

Thursday, October 17th

Main Gate Open, 8:00 a.m. EST
Thursday Tailgating Access, 9:00 a.m. EST

CCI Eventing Dressage (Main Arena)
◆ CCI3* Dressage Day #1, 9:00 a.m. EST
◆ CCI5* Dressage Day #1, 2:00 p.m. EST

The Dutta Corporation USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) East Coast Championships Presented by Dubarry of Ireland
◆ YEH 4- and 5-Year-Old Dressage (Arena C) & Conformation Judging (Jog Strips), 8:00 a.m. EST
◆ YEH 4-Year-Old Jumping Competition in YEH Jumping Area in Timber Field, 10:00 a.m. EST
◆ YEH 4-Year-Old Awards Ceremony in YEH Jumping Area in Timber Field (approximately 5:00 p.m. EST)

Thursday YEH Tailgating (Timber Field)

MARS VIPet Experience
◆ All day

Kids’ Corner (All day, infield behind South Chalet Shops)
◆ Milburn Orchard, barnyard games and straw maze
◆ Fair Hill Nature Center, crafts and real life bugs to meet
◆ Cecil County YMCA, stick horse and turkey crafts
◆ Fluffy Eventer

Music on the Main Stage (Between MARS VIPet & North Aintree Grandstand)
◆ Acts and times to be announced

Retail Shopping
◆ Shops open from 9:00 a.m. EST – Gates Close

Friday, October 18th

Main Gates Open, 8:00 a.m. EST
Friday Tailgating Access, 7:00 a.m. EST

CCI Competition (Main Arena)
◆ CCI3* Dressage Day #2, 9:00 a.m. EST
◆ CCI5* Dressage Day #2, 2:00 p.m. EST

The Dutta Corporation USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) East Coast Championships Presented by Dubarry of Ireland
◆ YEH 5-Year-Old Jumping in YEH Jumping Area in Timber Field, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST
◆ YEH 5-Year-Old Awards Ceremony in YEH Jumping Area in Timber Field (approximately 5:00 p.m. EST)

Friday YEH Tailgating (Timber Field)

MARS VIPet Experience
◆ All day

Kids’ Corner (All day, infield behind South Chalet Shops)
◆ Hannimal Farm Petting Zoo
◆ Milburn Orchard, games and straw maze
◆ Fair Hill Nature Center, crafts and real life bugs to meet
◆ Cecil County YMCA, stick horse and turkey crafts
◆ Wolf Ear Decorating with Great Wolf Lodge
◆ Hall of Champions
◆ Fluffy Eventer

Elisa Wallace Mustang Demo (Main Arena during the lunch break)

Music on the Main Stage (Between MARS VIPet & North Aintree Grandstand)
◆ Acts and times to be announced

Retail Shopping
◆ Shops open from 9:00 a.m. EST – Gates Close

Saturday, October 19th

Main Gates Open, 8:00 a.m. EST
Tailgating Access, 7:00 a.m. EST

CCI Competition (Cross-Country Course)
◆ CCI3* Cross-Country, 9:00 a.m. EST
◆ CCI5* Cross-Country, 1:30 p.m. EST

Lead-Line Pony Racing & Shetland Pony Flat Racing Presented by Landhope Farms (Fair Hill Race Track along the rail in front of North Aintree Grandstand)
◆ Lead-Line Pony Racing, during Lunch Break between CCI3* & CCI5* Cross-Country
◆ Shetland Pony Racing, after CCI5* Cross-Country is complete (approximately 4:00 p.m. EST)

Cross Country Tailgating (Timber Field, Middle Hay Field, Sawmill Field)

MARS VIPet Experience
◆ All day

Sawmill Waterfront Club, Presented by Quarry View Building Group (Upper Sawmill Field)

Sawmill Crab Shack, Hosted by The Wellwood (Upper Sawmill Field)

Local Beer, Wine & Spirits Expo, Hosted by Elk River Brewing Company (Between Mars VIPet & North Aintree Grandstand)
◆ 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 pm. EST)

Kids’ Corner (All day, infield behind South Chalet Shops)
◆ Hannimal Farm Petting Zoo
◆ Milburn Orchard, barnyard games and straw maze
◆ Fair Hill Nature Center, crafts and real life bugs to meet
◆ Cecil County YMCA, stick horse and turkey crafts
◆Wolf Ear Decorating with Great Wolf Lodge
◆ Fluffy Eventer

Music on the Main Stage (Between MARS VIPet & North Aintree Grandstand)
◆ Acts and times to be announced

Retail Shopping
◆ Shops open from 9:00 a.m. EST – Gates Close

Work to Ride Polo Demo (Main Arena)
◆ During the Lunch Break between CCI3* and CCI5*, immediately following Lead-Line Pony Racing, approximately 20-minute demo

Sunday, October 20th

Main Gates Open, 7:30 a.m. EST

CCI Competition (Jog Strip & Main Arena)

Second Horse Inspection Presented by Dubarry of Ireland (Jog Strip)
◆ CCI3*, 8:00 AM EST
◆ CCI5*, Immediately Following CCI3*

Show Jumping (Main Arena)
◆ CCI3* Show Jumping, 10:30 a.m. EST
◆ CCI3* Awards Ceremony, immediately following completion of 3* Show Jumping
◆ CCI5* Show Jumping, 2:00 p.m. EST
◆ CCI5* Awards Ceremony, immediately following completion of 5* Show Jumping

Andrews Bridge Foxhound Parade (Main Arena)
◆ Immediately following the CCI3* Awards Ceremony

Maryland Corgi Cup Presented by Major League Eventing (Fair Hill Race Track along the rail in front of North Aintree Grandstand)
◆ Preliminary Heats start at 9:30 a.m. EST (Or immediately following CCI5* Horse Inspection)
◆ Final Rounds and Championship will be immediately following CCI3* awards (approximately 12:00 pm. EST)

MARS VIPet Experience
◆ All day

Fresh Food Fest, Hosted by Cecil County Agriculture (Between the North Aintree Grandstand and MARS VIPet)
◆ 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. EST

Andrews Bridge Foxhound Parade (Main Arena)
◆ During Lunch Break

Rescue Dog Parade (Main Arena)
◆ Following the Andrews Bridge Foxhounds Parade

Kids’ Corner (All day, infield behind South Chalet Shops)
◆ Hannimal Farm Petting Zoo
◆ Milburn Orchard, barnyard games and straw maze
◆ Fair Hill Nature Center, crafts and real life bugs to meet
◆ Cecil County YMCA, stick horse and turkey crafts
◆ Wolf Ear Decorating with Great Wolf Lodge
◆ Hall of Champions
◆ Fluffy Eventer

Music on the Main Stage (Between MARS VIPet & North Aintree Grandstand)
◆ Acts and times to be announced

Retail Shopping
◆ Shops open from 9:00 a.m. EST – Gates Close

Plant Sale (Next to the Ticket Box Office)

Conclusion of Competition

Monday, October 21st

Fund Raiser Plant Sale (Next to Ticket Box Office)
◆ Mums, flowers, pumpkins and gourds used in course decoration
◆ 10:00 a.m. EST, until sold out

*All events and times are subject to change if necessary based on entry numbers at the sole discretion of the Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland.
**Competition entries are subject to change due to injury or other unforeseen circumstances.
***The majority of retail vendors and food concessionaires will not open until the start of competition each day.

Find the full 2024 Maryland 5* schedule here.

Preview the 5* Cross-Country Course

Want to take a peek at the track that horse and rider combinations will be tackling in the Maryland 5* this weekend? Cross-Country Course Designer Ian Stark, a three-time Olympic and World Championships medalist and winner of the 1999 Badminton 5*, and legendary U.S. eventer and Olympic and World Championships gold medalist, Bruce Davidson, Sr. walk and discuss the new course on Instagram. Take a look here.

How to Attend or Watch the Livestream

Tickets are still available through the event website for advanced sales at special pricing through October 16. Then, tickets will be sold at the box office beginning on Thursday, October 17 at 9:00 a.m. ET. Single-day or multi-day packages available the event. Children under 10 are admitted free and active and retired military personnel receive a discount. At press time, a limited number of VIP hospitality and exclusive club packages were also available. Find ticket information here.

If you cannot get there in person to witness all of the sports action and fun activities, Maryland Public Television will be broadcasting the event for people in the local viewing area. Global viewing of the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill is possible via ClipMyHorseTV which offers livestream and on-demand replay options (a subscription is required). Find more information here.

Visit HorseIllustrated.com for a wrap-up of the action from the 2024 Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill after the close of the event.

Helpful Links

◆ Maryland 5 Star Main Website
◆ United States Eventing Association Maryland 5 Star Omnibus Listing

The post 2024 Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill Three-Day Event Preview appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

“It is exciting to see the support and collaboration from the U.S. Eventing CCI4*-S Organizers around the country, and we thank them for their participation in the US Equestrian Open Eventing Series,” said USEF Managing Director of Eventing, Amber Braun. “This is a great opportunity to showcase the top of our sport to a broader audience. The Open also marks an unprecedented amount of prize money available to athletes in the U.S. competing at the CCI4* level, which shows further investment into the future of our sport. Morven Park and their team share our vision and excitement for the potential of this series and the venue offers a world-class CCI4*-L cross-country course to create an exciting finals experience.”

The following locations will host qualifying events for the US Equestrian Open of Eventing. This list may be subject to updates throughout the Qualifying Period.
*Pending final confirmation. 

2024 Competitions:

◆ Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials CCI-4*-S: October 10-13

◆ Bouckaert Equestrian Horse Trials International CCI4*-S: October 25-27

◆ The Event at Terranova CCI4*-S: November 11-13

2025 Competitions:

◆ Bouckaert Equestrian Horse Trials International CCI4*-S: March 6-9

◆ Carolina International CCI4*-S: March 13-16

◆ The Event at Terranova CCI4*-S: March 27-30

◆ Stable View Spring  CCI4*-S: April 4-6

◆ Twin Rivers Spring International CCI4*-S: April 10-13

◆ Ocala International Festival of Eventing CCI4*: April 17- 20

◆ *Cosequin Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4*-S: April 23-27

◆ Tryon International Three-Day Event CCI4*-S: May 7-11

◆ Aspen Farm Horse Trials CCI4*-S: June 12-15

◆ The Maryland International CCI4*-S: July 3- July7

◆ The Event at Rebecca Farm CCI4*-S: July 16-20

◆ Bouckaert Equestrian Horse Trials International CCI4*-S: August 29-31

◆ The Fork at Tryon CCI4*: September 11-14

◆ Plantation Field International CCI4*-S: September 18-21

◆ Twin Rivers Fall International CCI4*-S: September 19-21

◆ Stable View Oktoberfest CCI4*S: September 24-28

◆ Woodside Fall International CCI4*-S: October 3-5

◆ US Equestrian Open of Eventing FINAL – Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials CCI4*-L: October 9-12

The US Equestrian Open of Eventing Series will award $50,000 in prize money to the three-highest placed combinations following the conclusion of the qualifying period.  $200,000 in prize money will be distributed at the US Equestrian Open of Eventing Final in 2025.

To learn more about the US Equestrian Open of Eventing specifications and qualifying requirements, click here.

— Edited Press Release | Source: US Equestrian

The post US Equestrian Announces 2024/2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing Qualifiers and Launches New Digital Hub appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Lexington, Ky. – Horse & Country (H&C), the leading international sports network, is pleased to announce the extension of its partnership with the United States Eventing Association (USEA) to provide exclusive streaming and video coverage of the 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC), presented by Nutrena Feeds. H&C will also be joining forces with the USEA as a Platinum Level Sponsor of the AEC.

The AEC is the only national eventing championship of this size in all of North America and this year’s event will take place at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, from August 27-September 1, 2024.

This year’s coverage will be better than ever, with some exciting enhancements for 2024 prompted by member feedback. Along with improved live streaming experience, riders will be able to purchase cross-country videos that include every fence on course, through a partnership with Equireel.

The AEC serves as the pinnacle annual championship for eventing, encompassing every level from Starter to the prestigious $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final. Building on last year’s success, H&C will globally broadcast live coverage of all three phases of the $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final, alongside selected coverage from all other divisions throughout the duration of the event.

The livestream will be available for free to all USEA members and fans, via a 7-day free trial to Horse & Country’s streaming service, H&C+. Viewers can also enjoy on-demand access to all the action through H&C+ memberships or pay-per-view passes, with clips available for purchase. H&C+ Gold members can enjoy unlimited clip streaming and download as part of their subscription. For a detailed streaming schedule, visit horseandcountry.tv.

“The opportunity to provide full coverage of the cross-country phase at every level of the AEC is extremely exciting,” said H&C Director of Content Jonathan Rippon. “The AEC is a premier event on H&C’s U.S. Eventing Channel and can be enjoyed by our entire worldwide audience. Offering the clipping service for every round and every competitor through our partnership with Equireel is an incredible added value as well.”

What to Expect for the 2024 American Eventing Championships

One of the most exciting advancements for the livestream for the 2024 AEC is that it will be available at no charge during the week of the event via a 7-day free trial of H&C+ for all viewers. On-demand coverage will be accessible post-event through the H&C website and app and a 15% discount will be available for all USEA AEC competitors.

The livestream schedule for 2024 will be as follows:

◆ Tuesday, August 27, 2024: All dressage from one ring (Ring TBD)

◆ Wednesday, August 28, 2024: Advanced Dressage and all cross-country

◆ Thursday, August 29, 2024: All cross-country and all show jumping

◆ Friday, August 30, 2024: All cross-country and all show jumping

◆ Saturday, August 31, 2024: All cross-country and all show jumping

◆ Sunday, September 1, 2024: All show jumping

In addition, H&C has partnered with Equireel to offer complete fence-by-fence coverage of every cross-country round across each division. These videos will be made available for purchase to competitors same-day and pricing is as follows:

◆ Cross-Country full round: $169

◆ Show jumping full round: $25

◆ Dressage full round: $25

◆ Complete package of all three phases: $199

There will be approximately 35 cameras placed on course by Equireel for competitor video purchasing, so that riders may have videos of their full courses this year. The livestream coverage will be slightly different and will feature about five cameras strategically placed to cover as much of each cross-country course as possible, for the live viewership. The live stream will also utilize picture-in-picture coverage to represent more than one rider at a time.

USEA CEO Rob Burk stated, “We are genuinely excited to see improvements in the livestream, and personal competition videos made available to our members and followers this year. H&C is a leader in the market, and we continue to value them as a partner.”

As a part of their Platinum level sponsorship, H&C has elected to sponsor both Starter divisions in their inaugural year at the AEC. These divisions will be named the Horse & Country USEA Open Starter Division and the Horse & Country Junior Starter Division.

Stay tuned for further updates on how to access the livestream for the 2024 USEA AEC. For more information on membership and streaming options, visit horseandcountry.tv/select-plan.

About Horse & Country

Horse & Country is the leading international sports network for the passionate and active equestrian community. Headquartered in London, and with a U.S. base in Florida, it is available globally via connected TVs, mobile, and web and on leading digital and pay-TV platforms in the US, UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Australia. Horse & Country’s programming line-up includes live coverage from leading sporting competitions in all equestrian disciplines, as well as training and learning shows, documentaries, and entertainment.

Beyond H&C’s extensive sports coverage, both live and on demand, H&C+ members also receive access to more than 1,800 hours of equestrian programming, featuring content from all disciplines, masterclasses and training series, barn tours, rider profiles, and documentaries. With two annual membership options and a pay-per-view offering, H&C+ Freestyle, there are even more ways to access H&C’s vast library of content. Full details on how to join can be found at horseandcountry.tv/select-plan.

Annual membership of H&C+ is only $119.99 as a one-time payment, or there is an option to pay in 12 monthly installments of $13.99. Non-members who wish to watch can choose H&C’s Freestyle option and buy a pass for each event for just $24.99.

— Edited Press Release | Source: American Horse Publications

Thanks to CareCredit for our spring and summer equestrian coverage.

The post Horse & Country Partners with USEA to Broadcast Extensive Free Live Coverage of 2024 American Eventing Championships appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.