UNIONVILLE, Pa.--Boyd Martin of Cochranville, Pa., on Luke 140 leads the CCI4-S division and also is third on Fedarman B following the dressage phase on Sept. 22 at the Plantation Field International Horse Trials.
Boyd Martin on Luke 140 (Photo by Amy Dragoo)On the second day of dressage competition, 39 competed in the CCI4-S division.
Martin is also placed 23rd with Contessa.
After having been sidelined with an injury during the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympic Games, Luke resumed competition and finished 4th at the Luhmuehlen CCI5-star in Germany earlier this year.
“I feel like Luke’s going from strength to strength,” said Martin. “This is his final prep for the Maryland 5-Star, and I had Bettina Hoy training me all week. My beautiful wife Silva warmed me up today and Luke did a ripper of a test. I feel like he’s still got a few points in there to improve on.”
Fedarman B, known as “Bruno” in the barn, is prepping for the Pau CCI5 star in France.
“Bruno is continuously improving," said Martin. We’re working on getting his frame more uphill in the dressage, and this was one of his better tests.”
He said that Contessa is also continuously improving, and while her big stride makes collection a challenge, he said he feels like there is a lot of improvement to come with the mare.
JENNIE BRANNIGAN SAVILLE, who recently competed at the Burghley CCI5-star in England and is riding seven horses in four divisions this weekend, is second on FE Conneryy.
“FE Connery has been an awesome horse, he has an awesome 3-star record," said Saville. "He doesn’t have clean changes, so I was surprised he placed as well as he did today; he also wants to get tense in the walk, but he has a beautiful walk when he’s relaxed.”
“My coach Erik Duvander has been riding him for me ,and he’s so relaxed and feels really good, so that was cool," she said. "On cross country I’m probably not going go out there guns-a-blazing. I’m lucky that Monica Spencer, who’s over here from New Zealand, has been riding him for the last month or so. I’m quite a fan of her; Erik put us in contact and we get along well and ride similarly. In fact Erik and Monica kept all of my horses that are competing here going for me while I was in Aiken teaching a clinic last week and that’s been amazing.”
With Tropical Storm Ophelia forecast to bring heavy rain to the area over the weekend, Brannigan said, “I’m okay with the rain, this ground is great and we’re on the side of a hill, and I’m one of those people who believes in riding in different conditions. When it’s going to rain I say, bring it on. I think this is a very safe place to ride in the rain.”
Monica Spencer of New Zealand is placed fourth after dressage riding Artist, her mount at last year’s World Games in Pratoni, Italy.
She said that after she and the gelding parted company on cross country at the Adelaide, Australia 5-star in April she decided to go to the Maryland 5-Star next month, and this weekend is their final preparation for that event.
She’s based at Erika Nesler’s barn in Cochranville, Pa., and is training with Erik Duvander, whom she worked with when he coached the New Zealand Eventing Team.
Walking the cross country course today she said, “It’s beautifully presented and the ground looks great.”
In the CCI3-S, Caroline Pamukcu has things locked down with three horses in the top four placings: Redfield Dexter has the lead on 23.6, HSH Blake is third on 25.4 and HSH Tolan King 26.8 is fourth on 26.8.
Pamucku is also riding two horses in the CCI4-S.
Lauren Nicholson riding Larcot Z is in second place on 24.3.
“Dexter was injured last year in his first gallop when I moved over to England, so he had all season off and this is his first real run,” Pamukcu said. “He did the prelim at Flora Lea, and if he goes well he’ll tentatively do the 4-L at TerraNova. When they have that much time off you need to listen to their body, but he’s been doing two-hour trot sets since February. I was based with Pippa Funnell for six months, and my whole training plan changed.”
Pamukcu also trains with Erik Duvander when she’s in the US.
“This is HSH Blake’s first run since we competed on the Nations Cup Team at Strzegom in Poland, and he’s aiming for the Pan-Ams," said Pamukcu. "Tolan King was a sales horse for two years and I kept telling top riders he was a little secret weapon! He’s nearly full thoroughbred but nobody would buy him. I gave the investor half of a personal horse and took half ownership of him; he’s been doing really well and just broke into the 20s in the dressage today. He’s small and sharp and has the makings of a proper five-star horse. I have another one of the same type in the barn at home; sometimes the little scrawny ones just need a little time and they’ll come into themselves.”
“The cross country looks lovely, the footing is great and the course is beautiful." she said."Course designer Derek diGrazia did a beautiful job, it makes you look forward to the fall three-day season. I love terrain like this, it’s very old-school; it’s not a derby course, like so many courses are these days. I feel like this is how cross-country is supposed to be.”
The competition is scheduled to continue Saturday with CCI3* and CCI4* show jumping as well as cross country for the CCI1*, CCI2*, and CCI3*.
The event will take place rain or shine.
General admission is $25 in advance and $30 at the gate.
More info & tickets on the website: www.plantationfield.com
