Tag Archives: Boyd Martin

US Lands Two in Top 12 at Conclusion of Dressage at Luhmühlen CCI4*

Boyd Martin and Shamwari 4 (Stockimageservices.com)

Luhmühlen, Germany – The United States produced strong performances in the first phase of competition at the Luhmühlen CCI4* landing two riders in the top 12. Land Rover Competition Grant recipients Boyd Martin and Shamwari 4 scored 47.8 from the Ground Jury of Gillian Rolton, Ernst Topp, and Alain James and will head out onto Captain Mark Phillips’ cross country course in 12th place.

Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) has spent much of the spring on the sidelines after breaking his leg in March but nevertheless produced his best test to date with the Shamwari 4 Syndicate LLC’s gelding on Friday. The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games veteran showcased Shamwari’s expressive gaits to leave himself within striking distance heading into the cross country.

The pair is making their CCI4* debut this weekend in Luhmühlen, after the 12-year-old Hanoverian was acquired for Martin in early 2014 after representing Sweden at the 2012 London Olympic Games and 2013 HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships.

Lying in 10th after the dressage are five-time Olympian Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and Bruce Duchossois’ Mighty Nice. The winners of the 2013 Red Hills International Horse Trials scored 46.0 and set off on the cross country less than eight points behind the leaders.

“I thought Boyd and Phillip did really good jobs today. Boyd did well to keep Shamwari 4 on track when he got a bit lit up in his test,” said U.S Eventing Team Coach David O’Connor. “They continue to get better and better and are going in the right direction. Phillip did a really nice job with Mighty Nice and he is in the hunt.”

Martin also stands in 33rd with the Otis Barbotiere Syndicate LLC’s 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding Otis Barbotiere after the dressage. The pair performed their test on Thursday scoring 58.5.

Australia’s Lucinda Fredericks and Flying Finish holds the lead after the dressage on a score of 38.7, while Germany’s Olympic, World, and European Champion Michael Jung stands second with fisherRocana FST on a score of 41.5. Germany’s Ingrid Klimke and Horseware Hale Bob head onto the cross country in third place with a score of 42.0.

Martin and Otis Barbotiere set out on Saturday’s cross country at 9:14am local time. Martin will then leave the start box with Shamwari 4 at 11:50am, with Dutton and Mighty Nice rounding out the U.S. effort at 12:18pm.

By Helen Murray

To learn more about the Luhmühlen CCI4*, visit: http://www.luhmuehlen.de/index.asp?tree_id=65&sprache_id=2.

Follow the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.

US Eventers Ready for Luhmühlen

Shamwari 4 is presented at the first horse inspection by Phillip Dutton for Boyd Martin (Stockimageservices.com)

Land Rover Grant Recipients Martin and Shamwari 4 Set to Make CCI4* Debut

Luhmühlen, Germany – Land Rover Competition Grant recipients Boyd Martin and Shamwari 4 have traveled to Germany eyeing a top placing at this week’s Luhmühlen CCI4*. They will be among 53 combinations from 12 nations set to contest the event which runs June 12-15 and is one of only seven CCI4*s held annually throughout the world.

Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) acquired the Hanoverian gelding, which represented Sweden at the 2012 Olympic Games and 2013 HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships in early 2014, and the pair quickly began to forge a partnership. However, Martin spent much of the spring season on the sidelines after breaking his leg in March. During this time, his mentor, Phillip Dutton, stepped in, piloting Shamwari 4 to third-place finishes in CIC3* competition at Fair Hill and Jersey Fresh. In May, the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and 2012 London Olympic Games veteran was back in the tack and has prepared for Luhmühlen with a win in an Open Intermediate section on the Shamwari 4 Syndicate LLC’s gelding at the Waredaca Horse Trials.

In Luhmühlen, Martin will also ride his London Olympic Games partner, the Otis Barbotiere Syndicate LLC’s Otis Barbotiere, in CCI4* competition. Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) will ride Bruce Duchossois’ 2013 Red Hills International Horse Trials CIC3* winner, Mighty Nice, at the prestigious German competition.

Competition gets underway Thursday with the first of two days of dressage with Martin and Otis Barbotiere kicking things off for the U.S. at 1:54pm local time. On Friday, Martin will ride Shamwari 4 at 3:18pm local time and Dutton and Mighty Nice will head down centerline at 4:24pm local time.

To learn more about the Luhmühlen CCI4*, visit: http://www.luhmuehlen.de/index.asp?tree_id=65&sprache_id=2.

Follow the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.

Martin Awarded Land Rover Competition Grant to Compete at the Luhmühlen CCI4*

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce that Boyd Martin has been awarded a Land Rover Grant to compete at the Luhmühlen CCI4* in Luhmühlen, Germany, June 12-15, 2014.

Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) will ride the Shamwari 4 Syndicate LLC’s Shamwari 4.
Shamwari 4 is a 2002 Hanoverian gelding.

Martin, the winner of the 2003 Adelaide CCI4*, relocated to the U.S. in 2007 from his native Australia and in 2009 began riding under the American flag. He made his U.S. team debut at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games helping the United States to a fourth-place finish and was the individually the highest placing American in 10th. Martin went on to represent the U.S. two years later in London at the 2012 Olympic Games. To begin the month of March, he won the CIC3* at the Red Hills International Horse Trials.

Additionally, with the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in mind, the USEF Eventing High Performance Committee approved the Selection Committee’s recommendation to not fund a Nations Cup team to compete at the Aachen CICO3* this summer in an effort to focus resources toward the World Championship effort.

Learn more about the Luhmühlen CCI4*, visit: http://www.luhmuehlen.de/index.asp?tree_id=65&sprache_id=2.

Follow the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/LandRoverUSEventingTeam/.

Boyd Martin Triumphs at Red Hills International CIC3* and Adequan USEA Gold Cup and PRO Tour Series

Boyd Martin and Trading Aces (StockImageServices.com photo)

Tallahassee, Fla. – Boyd Martin drove away in a brand new Mercedes SUV after winning the Red Hills International Horse Trials CIC3*. Martin and Trading Aces galloped through the finish line and stopped the clock with just 6.40 time penalties to add to his dressage score of 41.4, which was enough to push overnight leader Alexandra Knowles and Last Call into second place.

Ellen Doughty and Sir Oberon (HQ Outrigger/Cher) were clear and just one second slower than Martin, a feat which moved them up to third from eighth. Martin’s second ride, Sir Donovan (formerly ridden by Katie Ruppel Frei), made up for his eight faults in the show jumping by putting in the fastest round of the day to move up to fourth. 2013 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champions, Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch, held onto fifth place and Bobby Meyerhoff riding his wife Danica Moore’s Utah B jumped into sixth after starting the weekend off in 31st place.

“It’s a very satisfying victory,” said Martin. “I have been dialed in to winning this from the beginning of the year and obviously I had a few hurdles to cross before we got here, but it has been the yearly plan for the horse. I came close to winning this a few years ago on Neville Bardos and missed out on the car by .2 and quite frankly I thought it was going to happen again today and Allie was going to pip me to the post.”

Martin was asked if there was any update on his wife Silva, a Grand Prix dressage rider who had suffered a head injury while schooling a young horse in Wellington the day before the competition. “She’s making progress,” he said, relieved. “Dr. Mark Hart [US Team doctor] has been wonderful and has been overseeing the whole thing and has triple checked all the scans and reports for me. Without him I would be very confused and I can’t thank him enough. In his words, ‘We are not out of the woods yet,’ but I spoke to her twice today and each time she was better than the last. Every day we get further away from the accident, the risk is reduced.”

The winner of the CIC3* receives the keys to a brand New Mercedes SUV for a year. When asked if he had been motivated by the new wheels, Martin laughed, “It was motivating in that Silva really wanted that Mercedes. I don’t care what car I drive, but to a classy German dressage rider, a Mercedes Benz is something to look forward to I suppose.”

Despite missing out on the car, Alexandra Knowles was delighted with Last Call’s performance. “She jumped a great round and I was ten seconds not fast enough,” said Knowles. “There are a few things I could change on my part but I am very satisfied with my horse. My hat is off to Boyd – he just went ten seconds faster than me today and that’s the name of the sport. I can learn from that.”

Ellen Doughty from Fourney, Texas was grateful for the help she had received during the training sessions with David O’Connor in Florida. “I don’t get regular lessons at home and the lessons I had in the training sessions have been immensely helpful as this was Obie’s best dressage score to date. He’s always good on cross-country, locks onto the fences and never wavers.”

Fence five, a left hand corner to a right hand corner on a tightly bending line, proved to be the bogey fence on the course and was responsible for several eliminations and retirements. When asked what it was about the combination that caused so much trouble, Knowles easily explained it: “There was nothing wrong with the fence; it was just about getting the approach right and giving the horses enough time to see the line and the question.”

The Young Rider closest to the optimum time was Libby Head from Talbotton, Georgia and her 15.1 Thoroughbred by Rockamundo. Libby represented Area III at the Young Riders Championships in 2011 where she placed 5th individually in the CCI2*. Libby and Rocky had a brilliant clear round and will be a pair to watch as the competition season progresses.

Once again, Red Hills proved to be a weekend of top class entertainment for the local community, whether they came to watch the horses in action, Paint the Pony, shop in the trade fair, or play in the magic castle.

The Adequan USEA Gold Cup and PRO Tour Series now moves to the Carolina International CIC3* on March 21-23 in Southern Pines, North Carolina and then heads West to Galway Downs CIC3* in Temecula, California.

To see the full list of results, go here.

About the Adequan USEA Gold Cup and PRO Tour Series
Qualifying for the 2014 Adequan USEA Gold Cup began last fall with the Plantation Field CIC3* (PA) and the Woodside CIC3* (CA) 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 September 2014 in Tyler, Texas. Riders who complete a qualifier earn the chance to vie for $40,000 in prize money in the Adequan Advanced Division and the title of Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion.

Brannigan and Martin Lead 2013 National Championship Fields after Dressage at Fair Hill International

Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda (Shannon Brinkman)

Elkton, Md. – The first phase of The Dutta Corp Fair Hill International competition came to a close on Friday in the William DuPont Jr. Arena as all 45 CCI3* entries completed their dressage tests and the second half of CCI2* competitors went down centerline. In The Dutta Corp/USEF Three-Star Eventing National Championship, Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda hold the early lead heading into the cross country on a score of 42.6. Meanwhile, Thursday’s dressage leader in the CCI2* Boyd Martin and Pancho Villa proved unbeatable after earning a mark of 41.4.

The Dutta Corp/USEF Three-Star Eventing National Championship

Brannigan (West Grove, PA) and Nina Gardner’s 11-year-old Thoroughbred cross gelding were rewarded for a forward, accurate effort by the Ground Jury of David Lee, Christina Klingspor and Loris Henry to hold the first phase lead. The talented combination was the third-to-last into the ring before the lunch break and had to wait all afternoon to see if their score would hold.

“I was really happy, and I’m just enjoying the moment,” said Brannigan. “I came out of the ring and knew it was a good test but I didn’t know it would be the winning one. I’m very pleased.”

Brannigan and Cambalda are seeking their second career CCI3* victory this weekend after having won the Galway Downs International Horse Trials in 2010. They are also looking to close out their 2013 on a high note after the disappointment of having to withdraw prior to the dressage at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover when Cambalda slipped and fell prior to the dressage and incurring an early fall and elimination at the Luhmühlen CCI4*.

“Honestly, the horse has had quite a good year. He had one bad result – falling in the water at Luhmühlen and slipping on the pavement at Rolex was unfortunate but that was bad luck. I would really like to go well for the owners; they deserve it.”

Looking towards Derek di Grazia’s cross country, Brannigan is excited but knows it will pose a test.

“I think it looks good,” said Brannigan. “The two hardest questions are my weaknesses.”

Doug Payne (Pottersville, NJ) and Larry and Amelia Ross’ and his own Crown Talisman slotted into second place in both the National Championship and CCI3* in one their best tests to date. The 10-year-old Holsteiner cross is making his CCI3* debut after stepping up to the Advanced level in August of 2013 and impressed the ground jury on Friday earning a mark of 43.6.

“I was obviously happy with Tali; he has been a work in progress. I’m very lucky to be able to ride him,” said Payne. “He’s not exactly the easiest horse in the world but he was very rideable today. I think he still has the ability to improve.”

Standing in third place after the first phase are Katy Groesbeck (Temecula, Calif.) and her own 16-year-old Anglo-Arabian gelding Oz The Tin Man. The pair travelled to The Dutta Corp Fair Hill International on a Land Rover USEF Competition Grant and proved their place among the top U.S. pairs as they earned a score of 44.

Ellen Doughty (Heartland, Texas) on her own 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Sir Oberon, were also competing in Elkton on a Land Rover USEF Competition Grant. The talented pair scored 53.6 and head onto the cross-country in 21st place.

USEF National Two Star Championship

While Friday’s field did their best to unseat the day one dressage leaders, the standard set on Thursday proved unachievable. Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and the Pancho Villa Syndicate’s 10-year-old Selle Francais cross gelding will set out second on the CCI2* with a two-and-a-half point lead.

Looking towards Saturday, the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and 2012 London Olympic Games veteran believes di Grazia has set a demanding track that will teach riders a lot about their horses.

“You’ll learn a lot about your horse; you’ll learn if it will be a four-star horse,” said Martin. “It’s big and technical; I think this is one of the most challenging three-day events in the world in both the two-and three-star.”

Sharon White (Summit Point, W.V.) maintained her second place position in the National Championship and CCI2* with Mary Ann Ghadban’s nine-year-old Holsteiner mare Under Suspection. The pair will head out on the cross country on a score of 43.9.

Mara Depuy (Round Hill, Va.) and her own KWPN gelding Alimit were the highest placing U.S. pair on Friday scoring 46.1. Putting them into third place in the National Championship and fifth place in the CCI2*.

To read a recap of Thursday’s dressage, click here.

Cross Country gets underway on Saturday with Australia’s Ryan Wood and Fernhill Classic first out on the CCI2* course at 9:06am ET.

Listen to webcast of the Cross Country on the PRO Tour Live Eventing Radio on Ustream: http://ustre.am/Ywh3 or download the free Ustream app for listening on the go!

By Helen Murray

To learn more about The Dutta Corp Fair Hill International, visit http://www.fairhillinternational.com/fhi-cci/.

Follow the 2013 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.

Martin Leads 2013 USEF National Two Star Championship after First Day of Fair Hill International

Boyd Martin and Pancho Villa (Shannon Brinkman)

Elkton, Md. – The Dutta Corp Fair Hill International began Thursday with the first half of the CCI2* field completing their dressage tests and U.S. entries taking initials steps toward 2013 USEF National Two Star Championship honors. Boyd Martin and Pancho Villa seized the lead following the first day of competition scoring 41.4 in front of the Ground Jury of Judy Bradwell and Bobby Stevenson.

Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and the Pancho Villa Syndicate’s 10-year-old Selle Francais cross gelding were the second pair down centerline on Thursday and posted a score that would not be topped. The U.S. team veteran rode a very accurate test with the expressive gelding to lead after the first half of dressage by two-and-a-half points.

“He went quite well; I thought he did a good test,” said Martin of the horses he only began riding in the spring of 2013. “He’s got natural talent and he did a very accurate test. I’m quite happy.”

Martin has represented the U.S. at both the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and the 2012 London Olympic Games and has put a priority on finding horses that have the ability to be near the top of the leaderboard after the first phase.

“I’ve been trying to select horses that are strong in the dressage,” said Martin. “That’s where I’ve come up short in the past.”

At the end of the day Thursday, Sharon White and Under Suspection stand second in both the National Championship and CCI2* competition. White (Summit Point, W.V.) produced an accurate, polished test with Mary Ann Ghadban’s nine-year-old Holsteiner mare to score 43.9.

White has only been riding the talented mare since April, but has quickly built a rapport with the talented mare.

“I’m on just a lovely horse. She is very kind and she’s easy; it’s been very fun,” said White. “She knows I adore her and she loves that.”

Lying third in the USEF National Two Star Championship and fourth in the CCI2* is Danielle Ditching (Roswell, Ga.) and her own 15-year-old Sachsen-Anhaltiner gelding, The Graduate, on a score of 47.2.

Great Britain’s 2004 Olympic Games Gold medalist, Leslie Law, stands third in the CCI2* with Billy Wiz.

The latter half of CCI2* competitors will complete their dressage tests on Friday with Australia’s Kate Chadderton and VS McCuan Civil Liberty starting off the day at 9am ET.

Additionally, the CCI3* gets underway with all 45 competitors heading down centerline.

By Helen Murray

To learn more about The Dutta Corp Fair Hill International, visit http://www.fairhillinternational.com/fhi-cci/.

Follow the 2013 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.

Martin Is Top US Finisher at Military Boekelo CCIO3*

Boyd Martin and Trading Aces (Libby Law Photography)

Boekelo, The Netherlands – Competition at the Military Boekelo CCIO3* came to a close Sunday with two riders of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team contesting the show jumping phase. While there were clear rounds, rails were coming down throughout the day over Jos Brinkman’s course. Boyd Martin and Trading Aces were the top finishers for the U.S. in the field of 64 combinations that moved on to the final phase of competition.

Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and Trading Aces LLC’s nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding had a lovely round with an unfortunate rail at the C element of the triple, adding four faults to their score. The pair ended the competition with a score of 68.0 to finish in 28th place. The Military Boekelo CCIO3* marked the first time Trading Aces represented the U.S., demonstrating much promise for the future with Martin.

“It was a disappointing result for the U.S. However, the three horses that competed are young, class, talented horses and will benefit in the future from this trip,” commented Martin. “I believe we were a team of quality riders that did not execute at this event. We return home with an understanding of where we came up short. Thank you to the USEF for the opportunity to represent the U.S.”

Elizabeth Halliday-Sharp (East Sussex, United Kingdom) and her own Fernhill By Night also added four faults to their score after having a rail at 4A. She and the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding finished with a score of 91.4 for 52nd place. The pair stepped up to the plate representing the U.S. for the first time in an international team competition, all in Fernhill By Night’s first attempt at the CCI3* level.

In the final leg of the 2013 FEI Nations Cup Eventing series, Germany won the team competition with a score of 148.6. The Land Rover U.S. Eventing team finished in seventh place with a score of 1159.40. Great Britain came away with 2013 FEI Nations Cup Eventing series title.

New Zealand’s Lizzie Brown and Henton Attorney General took home top honors with a final score of 39.8.

By Kathleen Landwehr

For more information on the Military Boekelo CCIO3*, visit http://www.rechenstelle.de/2013/boekelo/.

Follow the 2013 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.

Martin Leads the Way for the U.S. at Military Boekelo CCIO3*

Boyd Martin and Trading Aces (Libby Law Photography)

Boekelo, The Netherlands – The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team experienced mixed fortunes on Sue Benson’s cross country course on Saturday at the Military Boekelo CCIO3*. As is customary at Boekelo, the Dutch weather and deep going proved extremely influential as the leaderboard saw an utter shake-up. Following the conclusion of the second phase, Boyd Martin and Trading Aces lead the way for the United States.

Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and Trading Aces LLC’s nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding produced a steady clear round on Saturday. As the third-to-last combination to set out on the testing track the Richland Park CIC3* winners encountered extremely deteriorated footing and therefore collected 18 time faults. The pair heads into the final show jumping phase on a score of 64 in 35th place.

The first U.S. combination out on course was Elizabeth Halliday-Sharp (East Sussex, United Kingdom) and her own Fernhill By Night. The 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding was enjoying a successful trip in his first CCI3* but a late run-out at 21C meant the combination would collect 20 jumping penalties and 15.6 time faults. They stand on an overnight total of 87.4 in 54th place.

Lauren Kieffer (Middleburg, Va.) and Team Rebecca LLC’s 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Veronica were also representing the U.S. in team competition at Boekelo. The pair was enjoying a nearly foot-perfect round until they also ran into trouble at 21 resulting in a fall at the A element and elimination for Kieffer.

The U.S. stands in ninth place in the Team standings following the cross country on a score of 1151.4. Germany maintained the lead and head into the show jumping on a score of 124.6.

New Zealand’s Lizzie Brown and Henton Attorney General lead the individual standings on a score of 35.8.

By Helen Murray

For more information on the Military Boekelo CCIO3*, visit http://www.rechenstelle.de/2013/boekelo/.

Follow the 2013 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.

US Olympic Eventing Team Rises to Fifth Place Following Cross Country

Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper over the last fence. (Photos: Shannon Brinkman)

Greenwich, UK – The U.S. Olympic Eventing Team climbed into fifth place with three strong cross country rounds around Sue Benson’s testing cross country course against the stunning backdrop of Greenwich Park. Germany continues to lead the team effort on a score of 124.7 followed closely by Great Britain (130.2) and Sweden (131.4). New Zealand is on a score of 133.4 in fourth and the USA’s score of 155.2 has them comfortably in fifth ahead of the Australians.

The sellout crowd was incredible and cheered every horse every step of the way.

Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) continues to lead the American effort with the best score of the three scores to count. Riding Jim and Arden Wildasin’s Mystery Whisper, Dutton added just 2.8 time faults to his dressage score and lies 12th individually on a score of 47.10. It is incredibly close however, Germany’s Ingrid Klimke on Butts Abraxxas and Sweden’s Sara Algotsson Ostholt on Wega lead the way, tied on a score of 39.30. New Zealand’s Mark Todd sits third, unforgiving himself for the 6/10th of a second which cost him 0.4 time penalties and the lead. A mistake at the last fence was the culprit.

Continue reading US Olympic Eventing Team Rises to Fifth Place Following Cross Country

US Olympic Eventers Perform Well on First Day of Dressage

Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere (Photos: Shannon Brinkman)

Greenwich, UK – The first day of Eventing Dressage at the 2012 Olympic Games featured three of the five American horses. Boyd Martin was the very first rider in the ring on Otis Barbotiere and made the most of his first Olympic experience, having the best test of the horse’s career so far. The venue is stunning and although the arena proved full of atmosphere, the three U.S. combinations handled the occasion admirably.

Judged by the Ground Jury of Anne-Mette Binder, Nick Burton and Gillian Rolton, Martin felt that their score of 50.7 did not necessarily reflect how much progress the Otis Barbotiere Syndicate’s 9-year-old Selle Francais gelding has made in the last year.

“It was a better test than he did at Kentucky; I could have done better changes at the end,” said Martin. “I managed to get him a bit steadier… I’ve got a lot of confidence in this horse; I haven’t had him a long time. He’s all class. I haven’t had him for a long time but I have a lot of confidence in this horse. He’s a confident horse and a brave horse.”

Continue reading US Olympic Eventers Perform Well on First Day of Dressage