Tag Archives: Phillip Dutton

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage

Phillip Dutton Sets New USEA Advanced Dressage Record

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Phillip Dutton and Carlchen. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.

Thomson, GA – February 28, 2021 – Phillip Dutton and Carlchen, owned by Caroline Moran, set a new United States Eventing Association (USEA) Advanced dressage record on Friday, February 26, with a score of 15.0 in the Advanced Test B Division at the Pine Top Advanced Horse Trials in Thomson, GA.

Dutton and Carlchen’s early lead following the dressage phase would ultimately help them clinch the win in the Advanced Test B Division on Saturday, February 27, with a final score of 34.2.

“I’m very proud of Carlchen. In dressage, you always feel that you can do things better; I know there’s still some throughness and softness that I can continue to improve, but he is obviously a huge talent,” said Dutton of the 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding.

Dutton, who is based out of West Grove, PA, spent much of the winter in Wellington, FL and he in part credits Carlchen’s success to the horse’s winter training there.

“This winter in Wellington served him well, as I had Scott Hassler and Erik Duvander training me in dressage every week to 10 days,” said Dutton, referencing the well-respected dressage trainer and rider and U.S. Eventing High Performance Director, respectively.

“Being in the Wellington environment where you are exposed to great horsemanship and top dressage riders on a daily basis also makes you aim that much higher and expect that much more,” continued Dutton, a six-time Olympian, two-time Olympic team gold medalist, and individual bronze medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Carlchen (Clinton x Lordanos) was purchased by Moran in the fall of 2019, but a minor injury shortly thereafter kept him out of competition through the end of that year. With cancelled events and continually changing competition and travel circumstances throughout 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Carlchen did not return to competition until October 2020.

“It’s certainly exciting to have Carlchen back out competing,” said Dutton of the gelding that competed successfully through the CCI3* level with riders Stuart Tinney (AUS), Francis Whittington (GBR), and Michelle Kenny (IRL) before being imported to the U.S. in 2019.

“Caroline Moran has been, and continues to be, an extremely supportive and a wonderful owner,” continued Dutton. “She approached me about purchasing a new horse a few years back, and Carol Gee of Fernhill Sport Horses found Carlchen for us. He’s not hot, but he’s certainly a forward-thinking horse, which suits me. He’s had some good education before me, and we’re continuing to build on that education and to get to know each other at the higher performance level.”

In addition to his success with Carlchen, Dutton finished second in the Advanced Test B Division at the Pine Top Advanced Horse Trials with Sea of Clouds, a 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Anita Motion, Sue Haldeman, Annie Jones, Evie Dutton, Dave and Patricia Vos, and Sheikh Fahah Al-Thani. Dutton also earned the win in the Open Intermediate B division riding Quasi Cool, also owned by Moran.

Phillip Dutton Eventing will head next to the $50,000 LiftMaster Grand Prix Eventing Festival, to be held March 5-6 in Aiken, SC.

Learn more about Phillip Dutton by visiting www.PhillipDutton.com.

Eventing/H.T., Training/Clinics

Rutledge Farm Sessions with Phillip Dutton

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Phillip Dutton with Aleco Bravo-Greenberg at Rutledge Farm.

Middleburg, Va. – May 15, 2020 – Rutledge Farm is pleased to announce a partnership with EQUITANA USA to present a clinic with Olympic eventing gold medalist Phillip Dutton as a part of the Rutledge Farm Sessions clinic series. EQUITANA, the world’s largest equestrian trade fair and exhibition, is coming to the United States this fall at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky from September 25-27. Historically hosted in Middleburg, Virginia, the team at Rutledge Farm is looking forward to expanding the successful Rutledge Farm Sessions clinic series to offer this unique learning opportunity to a new audience of equestrians in Kentucky.

EQUITANA has been the leading international equestrian exhibition for over 35 years. Since its inception in 1972 and its continuously growing popularity in Essen, Germany, EQUITANA also offers exhibitions in Australia and New Zealand. The new EQUITANA USA will take place in Lexington, Kentucky this year, showcasing a variety of popular equestrian personalities, professional performers, authors, veterinarians, and other top professionals sharing their expertise on a wide range of disciplines and topics. Each day will feature a trade fair, showcasing equestrian related products and services, along with special demonstrations and performances.

Aleco Bravo-Greenberg, owner of Rutledge Farm, commented, “I am really excited about bringing the Rutledge Farm Sessions to Lexington, Kentucky. I am proud of the series we have established at my farm in Middleburg, and I can’t wait to offer these exclusive opportunities in a new part of the country. Our Middleburg community has enjoyed having Phillip [Dutton] teach at Rutledge Farm over the past two years, but I am looking forward to a new group of riders having the opportunity to learn from his vast experience.”

Olympic eventing gold medalist Phillip Dutton has been a staple clinician for the Rutledge Farm Sessions clinic series since 2018 where he has taught beginner novice riders up through advanced athletes. Dutton earned back-to-back Olympic gold medals for Australia’s eventing team in 1996 during the Games in Atlanta, Georgia and again in 2000 in Sydney, Australia. After changing his competitive nationality to the United States in 2006, he was a member of the gold medal eventing team at the 2007 Pan-American Games in Rio De Janeiro and rode to the individual silver medal. In 2016, he was awarded the individual bronze medal for the U.S. Eventing Team at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics riding Mighty Nice.

EQUITANA USA Event Director Meghan Margewicz said, “EQUITANA USA is thrilled to be working alongside Rutledge Farm for this year’s clinic series. Rutledge Farm and EQUITANA USA have an ideal synergy, together providing the equestrian community new and exciting opportunities to learn, grow, and excel in equestrian sport. Aleco [Bravo-Greenberg] has created such a unique and beautiful equestrian community within Rutledge. Held in such high regard throughout the industry, and the clinic series – with such impressive names – is another extension of the fabulous opportunities Rutledge Farm offers equestrians of all disciplines. It is with honor that EQUITANA USA and the Kentucky Horse Park will be home to one of the Rutledge Farm Series clinics this fall, and we look forward to a successful and continuing relationship.”

To learn more, visit www.equitanausa.com.

Community/Charity, Publications/Media, Washington Int'l Horse Show

Top Stars to Sign USET Foundation’s “Riding for the Team” Book at WIHS

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Olympic show jumper Margie Engle on her pony at five years old.

Gladstone, NJ – The U.S. Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation announces a unique opportunity for fans of equestrian sport with a book signing for the coffee table-style book, Riding for the Team, at the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) on Saturday, October 26, at 6:15 p.m.

The 302-page hardback volume contains memories, images, and stories from 47 top riders and drivers in all eight international equestrian disciplines who competed and won medals for the U.S. over the last 30 years, including show jumping stars like McLain Ward, Beezie Madden, Laura Kraut, Margie Engle, and more.

Copies of Riding for the Team will be available for purchase at WIHS at the US Equestrian booth on the concourse of the Capital One Arena and will be sold in line during the autograph signing. Some of the riders featured in the book will join fans next to the Land Rover booth on the concourse on Saturday night of WIHS to sign copies of the book.

In the book, McLain Ward recounts just what went through his mind at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games as he walked into the ring knowing that the U.S. team’s medal depended on his performance. “[I] took a moment to tell myself, ‘Okay, it’s a little bit disappointing. But now there’s a job to be done, and I have to focus on the things I can control and let the bigger outcome sort itself out.’” Ward gives readers of the book an insightful glimpse into the mental aspect of the sport.

Renowned equestrian journalist Nancy Jaffer compiled and edited the first-person accounts from the athletes for Riding for the Team. Along with stories of athletes at major games competition, the book features fantastic photographs, including behind-the-scenes moments and images of top riders in their younger years, such as Margie Engle’s pony ride as a five-year-old and Phillip Dutton in his Australian Pony Club days.

“The compelling stories collected in this volume, as told by the athletes who have become part of equestrian history, demonstrate how to make dreams reality, while acknowledging sacrifice as the other side of achievement,” Jaffer writes in the opening introduction. “Those who compete at the highest level share several characteristics in addition to the love and appreciation of the horse. All have demonstrated singular focus to achieve excellence, putting aside other pursuits as they strive to represent their country.”

The book is a sequel to Riding for America, published in 1990 and also compiled by Jaffer. Riding for America highlighted key figures on the American equestrian scene from 1976 to 1990. It followed the tradition of the 1976 volume, The USET Book of Riding: The First Quarter Century of the USET, which was produced by the late USET chairman emeritus and Olympic show jumping gold medalist, Bill Steinkraus.

Published by Trafalgar Square Books, Riding for the Team is available for pre-order on the USET Foundation website. A rare opportunity to learn more about the stars of American equestrian sport, the book also makes an excellent gift and is sure to be a treasured addition to any horseman’s library.

Proceeds benefit the USET Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that helps provide funding for the High Performance competition, training, coaching, travel, and educational needs of America’s elite and developing athletes and horses in partnership with the national federation, US Equestrian.

For more information on the USET Foundation, visit www.uset.org.

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., Show Jumping, Vaulting, World Equestrian Games

Dutton and Z Claim Top Honors at The Fork FEI CIC 3*

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Phillip Dutton and Z. ©ShannonBrinkmanPhotography.

Vaulting Previews Tryon 2018 Venue with CVI 3* Competition and FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 Vaulting Test Event

Tryon, NC USA – April 8, 2018 – The final phase of the FEI CIC 3* proved no match for Phillip Dutton (USA) and Z, as the pair maintained their lead following the cross-country phase to finish competition in top form at The Fork at TIEC Presented by Lucky Clays Farm and FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 (WEG) Eventing Test Event at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). The winning pair finished on a score of 28, ahead of Kim Severson (USA) aboard Cooley Cross Border who secured a final score of 32.10, followed by Sharon White (USA), piloting Cooley On Show, to collect third place after the three phases and finishing on a 32.90.

“You never quite know how tight the time is going to be,” said Dutton of the show-jumping course. “It’s an advantage going at the end and realizing the lines you have to take to shave the time. My guy is not at his best if I open him up too much toward the jump, so I had to cut the turns, shorten him at the jumps, and rock him back just a bit. Everybody said they were worried that I wasn’t going to make the time, but here we are.”

Dutton competed two other horses throughout the weekend in the FEI CIC 3* division, but it was the 2008 Zangersheide gelding (Asca x Bellabouche) owned by T. Tierney, S. Roosevelt, S. Lacy, A. Jones, and C. Moran who ultimately ended the competition in the winner’s circle. “Coming here is great experience for him,” Dutton explained. “He’s an up-and-coming horse and I’m trying to help him understand what to do in every phase, as that’s my job to educate him. The cool part of it for me is seeing him produced. Getting to this level and then hopefully the next level, and being confident and having enough skills that he’s going to be able to succeed.”

Second place finisher Kim Severson, of Charlottesville, VA, went into the show jumping phase just trailing the top four, but rocketed to second place standing after a clean round on Cooley Cross Border.

Severson’s run on cross-country impacted the duo’s score slightly, but proved to help their standings after moving back to second place following their show jumping round, a position they held following the first phase of dressage. “He was good yesterday,” she noted of the Cross Syndicate owned 2007 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Diamond Roller x Whos Diaz). “He started out jumping pretty high and I was a little careful because I just wanted to make sure that I gave him a good ride. After the water he really picked up and got faster. I didn’t give him the greatest ride into that first set of corners. That stride going in makes that two really long, but he fought for it and he was really good. Down there on cross-country, he’s so much fun. You can just gallop and he’ll do it if he can do it. He’s such a nice horse.”

Sharon White and Cooley On Show, her own 2007 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Ricardo Z x Jogantina) saw a positive shift in their overall placement, as they climbed up the ranks from eleventh to third by the end of the weekend. White, of Summit Point, WV, had nothing but praise for her competitive mount.

“He’s a fabulous horse and he’s strong in all phases,” commented White. “He’s definitely getting better. He loves the sport and he loves competing, so he’s definitely a good competitor no matter what. My job was to not get in the way and let him be who he wants to be. He really enjoys all three phases. His dressage is getting stronger; cross-country is fun with him. He’s got such a big stride and a lot of scope.”

“With the show jumping, I thought it was really interesting that the time was so tight and scores were tight. That was a bit of a challenge and we just wanted to see if we could do it.”

The week served as a WEG Test Event and riders caught a glimpse of what is to come this September. Dutton, who has competed successfully at six WEGs, is eyeing a spot on the United States Eventing Team in five short months. He concluded, “I certainly think that there’s a home field advantage having the Games here, and for us to be here and know the venue and get comfortable with it. There are some disadvantages with having the Games at home, with distractions and what else, so we might as well make the most of being able to get use out of this venue ahead of time and feel comfortable when the team gets here for September.”

The Advanced-A Division saw Lynn Symansky of Middleburg, VA and Under Suspection return to the top position as the weekend came to a close, jumping out of second place to finish on a score of 37.50, while Leslie Law of Ocala, FL achieved second place aboard Voltaire de Tre, scoring 38.60. Symansky also rounded out third place honors with 44.60 aboard Donner.

Lauren Kieffer of Middleburg, VA and Veronica stole the Advanced-B Division, finishing their final show jumping phase on a score of 36.90. Leslie Law and The Apprentice earned second place honors after finishing with 47 penalties, and third place was awarded to Boyd Martin of Cochranville, PA with Steady Eddie on 47.10.

Vaulting Previews Tryon 2018 Venue with CVI 3* Competition and FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 Vaulting Test Event

Emma Seely, Chef d’Equipe for USA Vaulting, said she was pleased with the way the Test Event for the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 unfolded. “We absolutely enjoyed [our time]. We’re happy to be here and it’s always good to have a feel for the lay of the land, so to speak. I’m happy to see all the improvements with the arenas and what future improvements are coming. It’s very exciting for us,” she said, elaborating on her favorite aspects of the facility. “We like the barns – that feels good for the horses – and we like the footing. It’s always good to have a sense of how it’s going to be, but we realize it’s going to continue to evolve, but it’s been really great to be here.”

Vaulting will take place during the second week of competition during the WEG at TIEC and is expected to draw the top Vaulting athletes from around the world to Western North Carolina. Seely, who will oversee the management and coaching for Team USA during the event, is excited to have the major championship on U.S. turf for only the second time in the event’s history.

“Essentially, as Chef d’Equipe, I’m kind of the team manager,” Seely explained. “For the spring, and through the selection trials through July, I’m just going to observe and see what they’re doing, how they’re doing, and what their game plans are, so that when we get the team selections I’ll have a sense of their processes and be able to support them in being the best they can be.”

Team bonding is a priority for Seely, who is already looking forward to team preparations ahead of the event. She commented, “In general, the community is small enough that they do already know each other, but I really do want to bring them together so that they support each other and so that we come in as a strong family unit, just ready to power through.”

CVI 3* Results

Squad: Canada’s “Beauty and the Beast” Squad were awarded top marks for their unchallenged performance aboard Habakkuk, with lunger Karin Schmidt on a total score of 6.872.

Individual Female: Top honors went to Mary McCormick (USA) aboard Paris, with lunger Christian Ramos, finishing on a score of 7.468. Stephanie Dore (AUS) aboard Vision and with lunger Jane Delano Kopperl were awarded second place with a 6.424 final score, while Jeanine Van Der Sluijs (CAN) aboard Charles the Great followed just behind on 6.400 with Karin Schmidt on the lunge. Alejandra Orozco Viscaino (MEX), together with Vision and lunger Jane Delano Kopperl, earned a total of 5.743 to finish fourth.

McCormick commented that her experiences at TIEC have helped her feel prepared for the WEG to come, stating, “In 2010 it was essential for me that Kentucky felt like home turf and that we’d been there before, so that when we showed up to the venue and there was all the frenzy going on with preparations for the WEG, we knew exactly where all the wash racks were, and just knew what to expect. So being here, I feel a lot more prepared going forward, even knowing where the laundromat is and knowing the stabling and knowing that my horse, Paris, has been in this arena and likes it – it’s really motivating going forward,” she said.

From Tryon, McCormick will travel six days to California and will spend time competing and performing. If selected for Team USA in September, McCormick will come back to the Tryon region as early as she can; she said. “I’m totally confident after today. I got a qualifying score for a certificate of capability, which takes the pressure off going forward, and the whole experience has been really fun and relaxed for us, so I can build on that and remember that feeling going forward.”

Please visit www.Tryon2018.com or follow @Tryon2018 on social media for more information.

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., World Equestrian Games

Dutton Dominates Day Three of FEI CIC 3* at The Fork

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Phillip Dutton and Z. ©ShannonBrinkmanPhotography.

Tryon, NC USA – April 7, 2018 – Phillip Dutton (USA) and Z made easy work of the cross-country phase to overtake the lead heading into show jumping at The Fork, presented by Lucky Clays Farm at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in the FEI CIC 3* division, serving as the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Eventing Test Event, and the pair sit on a score of 28. Jordán Linstedt (USA) and Revitavet Capato added 3.20 penalties onto their score to improve their rank to second place on a 29.9. Dutton also guided mounts I’m Sew Ready and Fernhill Cubalawn around the Captain Mark Phillips (GBR) designed course to secure third and fourth place rankings with scores of 30 and 31.5, respectively.

Dutton and the 2008 Zangersheide gelding (Asca x Bellabouche) owned by T. Tierney, S. Roosevelt, S. Lacy, A. Jones, and C. Moran, crossed through the timers in 6 minutes and 17 seconds, just a mere second over the optimum time. “The goal was to step things up a bit from what I’ve been doing as far as speed goes,” said Dutton. “I thought the course in general rode well. It’s golf course terrain, so you’re working all of the time with your lines and the different elements of up and down.”

FEI CIC 3* competitors commented on the potential hints on course as to what September is expected to bring on the track. “I think that it showed today with even a straightforward course that the time is hard to make, and that’s going to only be the first seven minutes,” noted Dutton, who is currently ranked fourth on the FEI World Eventing Athlete Rankings. “The horse needs to be fit and rideable. You want to ride through this terrain and not have to always be shortening up, so you want a nice, balanced, rideable horse. It’s going to be a good test.”

Dutton described his first place mount as competitive with uncommon athleticism, and one that he has fun piloting around the cross-country phase. “I’ve always known he was a freak!” exclaimed Dutton. “He just loves to jump. He’s only getting better and better. It’s kind of fun to be a part of his (hopefully) long career.”

“He’s point and shoot, and he’s just as good as my other horses. We’ve had one fall in which he over jumped in the water a few years ago, so we’ve learned from that. He’s not a horse that I want to ride aggressively all of the time, since he trusts me and if I say ‘really go,’ he really goes. I just have to make sure I don’t override him.”

As one of Team USA’s most veteran competitors, Dutton, who earned an Individual Bronze medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, plans to run the gelding one more time at Fair Hill International in a combined training outing before heading to the Land Rover Kentucky Three Day Event at the end of April, where the horse will contest his first FEI CCI 4* event. “He’s on target,” stated Dutton. “I was pleased with the way he settled yesterday because the weakest part is the tension with him, so that was kind of a load off of my mind. We’ll run him next weekend to just get him in the ring one more time, but you never know if you have a four star horse until you run a four star course.”

Dutton’s third place mount, I’m Sew Ready, a 2004 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Lupicor x Jarda) owned by Kristine and John Norton, proved just that as he galloped around the cross-country phase with ease. “He can get strong before the fences, but it was a good run for him,” said Dutton, who is based in West Grove, PA and Aiken, SC. “I’ve still got him to go a bit faster; he’s not naturally that fast. This is his last run before Kentucky, so I’m pleased with him.”

The seasoned WEG contender has several strong prospects as potential selections come September, but Dutton hasn’t decided who he thinks will come out on top during the process. “I think that the horses usually work it out for you,” he said. “I will just try to get the best out of all of them and see where it ends up.”

Ending the day’s phase in the second place position, Jordán Linstedt and her own Revitavet Capato, a 2003 Hanoverian gelding (Contendro I x Annabelle), have been to TIEC several times, and Linstedt commented that their experience onsite has been helpful in their success so far.

“This is my third time going around the track. I was here last year in the spring and then again for the [USEA American Eventing Championships]. It was similar and it was helpful to have already gone out and done some of the questions, although it’s always different,” she said. “He felt fantastic from beginning to end. I didn’t go fast on him at Carolina [International] – I think it was the slowest I’d ever gone on him for multiple reasons. Here, I kind of went out pretty quick and he was great.”

Heading into the final day, Linstedt said she’s planning for a smooth ride to match Capato’s movement and commented that show jumping is the pair’s toughest phase. “I guess stadium is kind of my weakest link with him a little bit, so my plan is to go in and jump a good round. I tend to, since he’s such a big-moving horse, either go a bit too forward or a bit too back, so just a really smooth round [is my goal], and hopefully he jumps really well,” she concluded.

Whitney Mahloch Finishes on Top in Advanced A Division aboard Military Mind, while Lauren Kieffer and Veronica Dominate Advanced B

In the Advanced-A Division, Whitney Mahloch of Ocala, FL and Military Mind improved their placing from sixth place to sit in first with a 33.8 heading into the show jumping phase, ahead of Lynn Symansky of Middleburg, VA, who holds both second and third place after two phases aboard Under Suspection and Donner, sitting on penalties of 34.5 and 34.6, respectively.

The Advanced-B Division saw Lauren Kieffer of Middleburg, VA and Veronica jump into first place with a 36.9, ahead of Boyd Martin of Cochranville, PA and Steady Eddie, who finished the day on 39.1 for second place, and just ahead of Erin Sylvester of Cochranville, PA and Paddy the Caddy, who sit in third with a 39.2.

Please visit www.Tryon2018.com or follow @Tryon2018 on social media for more information.

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Racing

US Eventing Team Wins FEI Nations Cup Eventing Competition at Great Meadow International

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Photo Credit: Anna Purdy.

Jennie Brannigan Captures Second Individual Title

The Plains, Va. – The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team won the FEI Nations Cup™ CICO3* at the Great Meadow International, presented by Adequan, for the second consecutive year. Now that betting is legal in the US as of April 2018, you can get a free Twinspires promo-code and learn the tricks of the trade.

The team of Jennie Brannigan, Lynn Symansky, Phillip Dutton, and Boyd Martin defeated teams from Canada and Great Britain in the only FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing competition outside Europe. Brannigan also captured her second individual title at Great Meadow, having won previously in 2015.

Cross country course designer Mike Etherington-Smith reversed the direction and order of the fences from last year with the intention of generating interest for both the competitors and spectators. The change proved to be challenging for some, though not for the U.S. team. All four riders completed the course without any jumping penalties.

Brannigan had an unforgettable day. The Reddick, Fla. resident went third in the team order and secured the victory for the U.S. incurring only 1.6 time faults on Nina Gardner’s Cambalda. Brannigan came into the final day in fourth place and catapulted to the top spot with a final score of 49.8 penalties.

“The first time I came it was so exciting because it earned me a spot as a traveling alternate for the Pan Am Games, which was quite special to me,” said Brannigan. “It’s such an honor to get to ride for your country and ‘Ping’ has been an incredible horse in a lot of ways and is wonderful to me. I really appreciate him stepping up to the plate.”

By the time second U.S. team rider Lynn Symansky took to the course, two riders were eliminated from the British team and the Canadians had already secured a team score. The Middleburg, Va. resident jumped clear, finishing just above the optimum time on Donner, owned by The Donner Syndicate, LLC. They incurred 1.2 time faults for a three-phase score of 50.1 penalties, which was good enough for second place individually. Symansky was originally the alternate, but was named to the team after Buck Davidson, Jr. withdrew Carl Segal and Sherrie Martin’s Copper Beach.

“It’s such a great cohesive group. Everybody just works together and supports each other. We’re all out here to win and do the best that we can,” said Symansky. “It was awesome. The whole way around I heard people cheering me on, saying, ‘Come on Lynn, you can do it!’ It’s cool to ride at your hometown event. It was an honor.”

U.S. pathfinder Boyd Martin of Cochranville, Pa. was the first rider to complete the course within the optimum time of 6 minutes and 33 seconds, finishing within two seconds at 6:31. Riding Steady Eddie, owned by Denise Lahey, Pierrie Colin, George and Gretchen Wintersteen, the Olympic veteran finished on his dressage score of 58.3 penalties.

“He came through for me; he was the only horse that finished on his dressage score,” said Martin of the New Zealand Thoroughbred. “It was a bit hard to gauge the course because the first rider Justine Dutton (GBR) fell and second rider Jessica Phoenix (CAN) was held on the course, but I zipped around and everything rode really well.”

Dutton, of West Grove, Pa., already knew that the U.S. had won the Nations Cup prior to going out, but an individual win was on the line. Riding Kristine and John Norton’s I’m Sew Ready, the six-time Olympic veteran finished outside the optimum time adding 5.6 time faults to his cumulative score of 51.6 penalties and putting him in third place.

“My teammates did it all for me. Jennie came home and I had a minute to go before I went in the box and they said she only had a couple of time faults,” said Dutton. “I thought it was a good run for the horse. He’s not the fastest, but I think I could have done a little better job at the galloping fences. Overall, though, I think it was a good run for him and pleased that he went so well.”

The winning score for the U.S. was 151.5 penalties. Team Canada finished on 168.6 penalties for second place. Because Great Britain failed to have the required three qualifying scores, they were awarded a drop score penalty of 1000 points, and finished third.

Full Results

From Classic Communications and the US Equestrian Communications Department

Awards, Eventing/H.T., USEF

Dutton Wins USEF Equestrian of the Year Title at 2017 Pegasus Awards

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Lexington, Ky. – To close out a year of milestones, Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) was awarded the Robert P. Strub Trophy as the 2016 USEF Equestrian of the Year at the USEF Pegasus Awards Dinner.

In 2016, Dutton began the year by receiving the prestigious Whitney Stone Cup from the USET Foundation. His competition season began with a win in the CIC3* with Fernhill Fugitive at the Red Hills International Horse Trials. Dutton then placed fourth and fifth in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover CCI4* with Mighty Nice and Fernhill Cubalawn, respectively. He partnered with Fernhill Fugitive again to win Team Gold in the FEI Nations Cup™ CICO3* at the Land Rover Great Meadow International presented by Adequan®. With Mighty Nice, Dutton was a member of the U.S. Eventing Team at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, where he won an Individual Bronze medal.

Nine equestrians were recognized for their competitive achievements in 2016 and honored with the following trophies:

Becky Grand Hart Trophy – Stefanie Putnam
Norman K. Dunn Trophy – Ted Carson
C. J. “June” Cronan Trophy – Joel Kiesner
Barbara Worth Oakford Trophy – Lou Roper
Bill Robison Trophy – Gail Aumiller
Vaughan Smith Trophy – Cynthia Burkman
William C. Steinkraus Trophy – Phillip Dutton and Laura Graves
Emerson Burr Trophy – Hunt Tosh

Additionally, Lawrence “Larry” Langer, who has been part of the horse industry for 66 years, from starting lessons as a child to his induction into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, was honored for his devotion to equestrian sport with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Visit USEF Network to see the video honoring Langer at the USEF Pegasus Awards Dinner.

Elizabeth “Lizzy” Traband received the Ruth O’Keefe Meredith Memorial Trophy as the 2016 Junior Equestrian of the Year for her honor, courage, dedication, and sportsmanship.

The following equestrians were also honored for their service to the sport with many of the most prestigious awards bestowed annually:

USEF/EQUUS Foundation Humanitarian Award – Suzy Marquard of GallopNYC
Walter B. Devereux Sportsmanship Award – Sherry Cole
Richard E. McDevitt Award of Merit – William Becker, Roger Haller, and Parry Thomas
Pegasus Medal of Honor – Fran Crumpler and Kelly Valdes
Ellen Scripps Davis Memorial Breeders Award – Mary Gaylord McClean and Spy Coast Farm
Sallie Busch Wheeler Trophy – Chrystine Tauber

© 2017 US Equestrian Federation

Competitions, Eventing/H.T.

Virginia Horse Trials Wrap Up

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Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Revolution. Photo by Brant Gamma Photo.

Rio Olympics individual bronze medalist Phillip Dutton piloted both the Revelation Group’s Fernhill Revelation and David Garrett’s Corazon to double-clear rounds on cross country to finish in first and second place in the CIC2* out of 38 starters. The two horses were second and fifth after dressage, added no penalties in show jumping to move up to first and third and produced two of only nine fault-free cross country rounds.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Cooley Dream jumped clear in show jumping but added four time penalties on cross country to drop from second to a third place finish overall. Boyd Martin and Kyra finished on their dressage score of 43.5 to move up from 11th place to fourth overall. Mara DePuy and Congo Brazzaville C, leaders after dressage, added one rail in show jumping and four time penalties on cross country for a fifth place finish.

Sydney Solomon and Early Review C, owned and bred by Laurie Cameron, led the Area II Intermediate Championship from start to finish, adding only 9.6 cross country time penalties for a final score of 50.9. Sydney, 19, is a working student for Dutton and says she finds herself constantly improving under his watchful eye.

Early Review C, also known as “Coco”, is a graduate of the USEA Young Event Horse Program. She competed at the East Coast Championships as a 4- and 5-year-old with Lillian Heard and won the Safe Harbor Award two years in a row, which is given to the most amateur friendly and rideable horse in at the championships. Sydney has been riding Coco for the last year and is hoping to compete her at the Bromont CCI2* next year.

Tracey Bienemann and Geoni finished second in the Intermediate Championship, adding 23 penalties in show jumping but completing cross country fault free.

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg were the ultimate winners of the Open Intermediate division. Placed second after show jumping on 30.8, they produced one of only three double-clear cross country rounds to move into the top spot. Martin also finished third on Santos after finishing only one second over optimum time on cross country for a final score of 45.1.

Jennie Brannigan and As Cool as Ice moved up from third after dressage and show jumping to finish second in Open Intermediate on a 38.4, adding 3.2 penalties on cross country.

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Competitions, Eventing/H.T.

Phillip Dutton Wins Inaugural CIC2* at Virginia Horse Trials

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Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Revolution. Photo by Brant Gamma Photo.

Lexington, Va. – Oct. 31, 2016 – Over 500 horses across 30 divisions competed at the Virginia CCI/CIC and Horse Trials at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington and the first winners of the week emerged.

Rio Olympics individual bronze medalist Phillip Dutton piloted both the Revelation Group’s Fernhill Revelation and David Garrett’s Corazon to double-clear rounds on cross country to finish in first and second place in the CIC2* out of 38 starters. The two horses were second and fifth after dressage, added no penalties in show jumping to move up to first and third and produced two of only nine fault-free cross country rounds.

“This is Fernhill Revelation’s first FEI competition in the U.S. since importing him from Ireland, so we are thrilled for his owners to take home the win this weekend,” Dutton said. “He already has a lot of experience at the three-star level with his previous rider Fraser Duffy, and we’re looking forward to bringing him out at that level in the spring. He has an incredible amount of talent and is definitely a horse for the future.”

Hannah Sue Burnett and Cooley Dream jumped clear in show jumping but added four time penalties on cross country to drop from second to a third place finish overall. Boyd Martin and Kyra finished on their dressage score of 43.5 to move up from 11th place to fourth overall. Mara DePuy and Congo Brazzaville C, leaders after dressage, added one rail in show jumping and four time penalties on cross country for a fifth place finish.

Sydney Solomon and Early Review C, owned and bred by Laurie Cameron, led the Area II Intermediate Championship from start to finish, adding only 9.6 cross country time penalties for a final score of 50.9. Sydney, 19, is a working student for Dutton and says she finds herself constantly improving under his watchful eye.

“[Early Review C] is a fiery little thing. She can definitely get hot and excited easily but she really wants to do it. She’s willing and honest,” Solomon said. “Show jumping was amazing; she did not touch a rail. Sometimes we have trouble making the stride when she gets spooky [on cross country] but today she was forward and good the whole time.”

Early Review C, also known as “Coco” is a graduate of the USEA Young Event Horse Program. She competed at the East Coast Championships as a 4- and 5-year-old with Lillian Heard and won the Safe Harbor Award two years in a row, which is given to the most amateur friendly and rideable horse in at the championships. Sydney has been riding Coco for the last year and is hoping to compete her at the Bromont CCI2* next year.

Tracey Bienemann and Geoni finished second in the Intermediate Championship, adding 23 penalties in show jumping but completing cross country fault free.

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg were the ultimate winners of the Open Intermediate division. Placed second after the show jumping on 30.8, they produced one of only three double-clear cross country rounds to move into the top spot. Martin also finished third on Santos after finishing only one second over optimum time on cross country for a final score of 45.1.

Jennie Brannigan and As Cool as Ice moved up from third after dressage and show jumping to finish second in Open Intermediate on a 38.4, adding 3.2 penalties on cross country.

CCI2* Division

Lindsay Kelley and Cooley Cruise Control jumped the only double clear round in the inaugural CCI2* division to hold their overnight position and win on their dressage score of 51.8.

“He’s a super show jumper. I was a little bit nervous about how he would feel after pushing him so hard yesterday but he jumped better than he ever has today. He must have known it was the real deal,” Kelley said of the 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse.

Boyd Martin and his homebred Ray Price, an 8-year-old Thoroughbred/Warmblood owned by Windurra USA and Amy Lindgren, dropped a single rail to finish second.

Woods Baughman and his and James Baughman’s 9-year-old Thoroughbred Montesquieu made a steady climb up the leaderboard, placing 13th after dressage, moving up to sixth after a double clear cross country round and finishing third overall with just one rail down in the final phase.

Kim Severson and Ellie Brown’s Ringfort Fighting Chance led CCI*-A from start to finish, adding nothing to their dressage score of 40.6 to top the 39-horse division in the 11-year-old Irish Thoroughbred’s first FEI appearance.

Martin was second again in the one-star, this time with Barry, a 7-year-old Thoroughbred owned by Martin and Windurra USA, finishing on their dressage score of 43.0. Plain Dealing Farm’s 6-year-old Irish Sport Horse MTF Cooley Classic was piloted to third place by Lucia Strini, adding only two time penalties for a final score of 43.8.

Cornelia Dorr and the elegant chestnut Louis M likewise led the CCI*-B division from the start. Dorr, 18, and her 11-year-old Rheinlander gelding scored 40.2 in dressage and added only four penalties in show jumping to finish with the only final score in the 40s out of 20 talented juniors and young riders in the class.

Charlotte Collier and Parker Collier’s 10-year-old Holsteiner Clifford M moved up from sixth after dressage to finish second on 50.5. Will Zuschlag and his 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding RF Southern Command added only time penalties in show jumping to finish third overall on 51.0.

Area II Championships and Adult Team Challenge

Virginia Horse Trials was pleased to once again host the Area II Championships. New this year was the addition of Junior Championship classes. Congratulations to the 2016 Area II Champions:

  • Intermediate: Sydney Solomon and Early Review C
  • Junior Preliminary: Katherine Christopher and Frodo of the Shire
  • Open Preliminary: Allison Springer and Fairvoya S
  • Junior Training: Olivia Hayes and Beaujeste
  • Training: Colleen Rutledge and Paul Just Paul
  • Junior Novice: Charlotte Stillfried and Pepper
  • Open Novice: Leslie Chelstrom Lamb and Quinn Lane
  • Junior Beginner Novice: Annabelle Kress and Batteries Not Included
  • Open Beginner Novice: Lauren Chumley and Nikolas

The Area II Adult Rider Team Challenge has long been a popular activity at the fall Virginia Horse Trials. This year, 17 teams made up of adult riders from Areas I, II and III competed in a friendly team competition at the Beginner Novice through Preliminary levels. “My team and I are very pleased with the success of the competition this week and grateful to all the riders, owners and volunteers for their participation. For me it’s about providing a high-quality but personable event that makes everyone who attends feel special,” said VHT organizer Andy Bowles.

“This event is the final competition of the year for many riders and we hope it will continue to be a destination event for eventers around the country. Thank you to everyone who makes Virginia Horse Trials an important part of their year. We will see you at the next one in May!”

For more information about the Virginia Horse Center and our complete line up of events, please visit www.horsecenter.org.

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Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389 fax 561.753.3386
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Eventing/H.T., USEF

Three US Athletes Finish in Top 20 at 2016 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials CCI4*

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Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive (RedBayStock.com)

Stamford, England – A world-class field of 71 combinations competed in the 2016 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, including five U.S. combinations. At the end of Sunday’s show jumping phase, Land Rover/USEF Eventing Competition Grant recipient Phillip Dutton as well as Holly Payne-Caravella and Elisa Wallace finished in the top 20 of the field after four grueling days of competition.

Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and Ann Jones and Thomas Tierney’s Fernhill Fugitive began the CCI4* with a respectable dressage test. They had great trot work but bobbles in the flying lead changes, scoring 50.5 from the Ground Jury of Sue Baxter (GBR), David Lee (IRL), and Anne Mette-Binder (DEN). A rainy cross-country day added another factor to a massive track designed by Captain Mark Phillips (GBR), but Dutton and the 2005 Irish Sport Horse gelding set out determinedly. They answered all the questions posed by the jumping efforts, but incurred 38.8 time penalties on a day were no combinations made the optimum time. Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive had a single rail down for four jumping penalties over Richard Jeffery (GBR)’s show jumping track, which only saw five double-clear rounds, to finish in 18th place on a score of 93.3.

“Burghley is the toughest four-star cross-country in the world. Fernhill Fugitive showed incredible toughness on cross-country – we just need to work on going faster,” Dutton said. “Show jumping went really well today. It was a great learning experience for him and me.”

Elisa Wallace and Simply Priceless Syndication LLC’s Simply Priceless and Holly Payne-Caravella (Gladstone, N.J.) and the Fox Syndicate’s Never Outfoxed finished in the top 20 alongside Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive. Wallace (Jasper, Ga.) and the 2001 Australian Thoroughbred gelding were the pathfinders for the U.S. contingent, beginning with a fabulous dressage test which scored 46.8. They tackled the cross-country course on Saturday, jumping cleanly but collecting 30.4 time penalties. Wallace and Simply Priceless had three rails in the show jumping phase for 12 jumping penalties to finish in 14th place on a score of 89.2. Payne-Caravella (Gladstone, N.J.) and the 2006 Thoroughbred gelding had a decent dressage test to score 55.8, and shot up the leaderboard with a clean cross-country round that tallied 18.4 time penalties. Unfortunately, they had five rails giving them 20 jumping penalties in their show jumping round. They finished on a final score of 94.2 for 19th place.

Two other U.S. combinations also competed at Burghley, Libby Head and Sir Rockstar and Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against, but their weekend came to an end with eliminations on cross-country day.

Christopher Burton (AUS) and Nobilis 18 won with a score of 49.4, followed by Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and Nereo in second with a score of 53.2 and Jonelle Price (NZL) and Classic Moet in third with score of 54.1.

Find out more about the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials CCI4*.

By Kathleen Landwehr