Tag Archives: Buck Davidson

Eventing/H.T., USEF

Davidson and Springer Take on Galway Downs CCI3* with Help of USEF Land Rover Competition Grants

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Temecula, Calif. – Two recipients of the USEF Land Rover Competition Grants head from the East Coast to the West Coast to tackle the CCI3* at the Galway Downs International Event and Horse Trials. Buck Davidson brings Sharon Will’s Absolute Liberty and Allison Springer will ride Copycat Chloe Syndicate, LLC’s Copycat Chloe in Temecula, Calif., on October 31 – November 3.

Davidson (Ocala, Fla.) and the 10-year-old Oldenburg mare last contested a CCI3* at Bromont in 2011, where they finished fourth, and aim to have another strong performance. In the fall of 2011, the pair represented the U.S. at the Pan American Games and achieved Team Gold and Individual Bronze medals. Davidson and Absolute Liberty are coming off a fifth-place finish in the Advanced A division at the Plantation Field Horse Trials and seem poised for a top performance.

Springer (Upperville, Va.) and the 11-year-old Trakehner/Thoroughbred mare will compete in their second CCI3* after becoming a partnership only earlier this year. The pair finished fifth in the Bromont CCI3* in June. Recently, they took second-place honors at the Plantation Field Horse Trials in the Advanced A division, then finished third in the Advanced Championship at the Morven Park Fall Horse Trials. Springer aims to grow her partnership with Copycat Chloe this weekend with a solid effort at Galway Downs.

By Kathleen Landwehr

Learn more about the Galway Downs International Event and Horse Trial here.

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

Awards, Community/Charity, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

USET Foundation Awards Pinnacle Cup to Buck Davidson, Jr.

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Buck Davidson was awarded the USET Foundation’s Pinnacle Cup Trophy for the third time as the highest placed American rider at the 2013 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI****. Photo By: Nancy Jaffer.

Lexington, KY – May 8, 2013 – The USET Foundation is pleased to announce that this year’s recipient of the Pinnacle Cup Trophy at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI**** is Bruce O. Davidson, Jr. of Riegelsville, PA, and Ocala, FL. Davidson, known as “Buck,” rode Ballynoe Castle RM to a fourth place finish at the prestigious event and was the highest placed American rider, which earned him the trophy.

This marks the third year that Davidson has earned the coveted award, taking home the Pinnacle Cup in 2009 and 2003. Ballynoe Castle RM, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood/Irish Thoroughbred cross-owned by Carl and Cassandra Segal, traveled to England as an alternate for the United States Eventing Olympic squad in 2008 and represented the U.S. at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. This year the pair finished with 45.2 penalties in the Dressage phase, and then moved up from eighth place after completing a clear cross country phase. They had eight faults over the technical stadium jumping track on the final day to finish with 53.2 faults in the fourth place position.

“This is my third year winning the award, which is really wonderful, although I’d really like to win the event,” laughed Davidson. “It was a great weekend and all of my horses were fantastic. I just feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to win the Pinnacle Cup more than one time.”

Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM are a veteran duo and Davidson felt very confident on his seasoned mount. “I had two other really nice horses that went before Ballynoe Castle that are just less experienced, so I was able to go around the cross country course twice before showing him,” he explained. “He’s maybe not the fastest horse, but he has a lot of experience. I started off quickly and jumped all the fences safely and it just worked out perfectly. I couldn’t have had a better ride; he gave me everything he had.”

Davidson added, “Ballynoe Castle is a once in a lifetime horse. I started him from the beginning. He’s 13 now, and he’s been competing at the advanced level since he was eight. I’m just so thankful and so lucky to be partnered with an unbelievable horse. It’s been a dream ride and I don’t really want to wake up from the dream. I want to have him for a long time, so whatever he tells me he is feeling is what we are going to do. This horse does not owe me anything.”

Looking ahead, Davidson is aiming for the CIC at World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany. “CICs are really his thing because he’s a little bit shorter, so that would be an exciting trip to go on. Then we’ll see. Obviously I’d like to go to the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, whether it’s with Ballynoe Castle or any of my other mounts.”

The United States Equestrian Team Foundation (www.uset.org) is the non-profit organization that supports the competition, training, coaching, travel and educational needs of America’s elite and developing international, high-performance horses and athletes in partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation.

For more information on the USET Foundation, please call (908) 234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org.

Previous Pinnacle Cup Trophy Winners:

2012: Allison Springer and Arthur
2011: Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville
2010: Phillip Dutton and Woodburn
2009: Buck Davidson and My Boy Bobby
2008: Phillip Dutton and Connaught
2007: Phillip Dutton and Connaught
2006: Heidi White Carty and Northern Spy
2005: Kim Severson and Winsome Adante
2004: Kim Severson and Winsome Adante
2003: Bruce O. Davidson, Jr. and Mystic Mike
2002: Kim Vinoski (Severson) and Winsome Adante
2001: David O’Connor and Giltedge
2000: David O’Connor and Rattle N Hum
1999: Karen O’Connor and Prince Panache
1998: Dorothy Crowell and Molokai

Previous to this date, the top American finisher was awarded the Gladstone Challenge Trophy.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

Nicholson Wins Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

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Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM (Shannon Brinkman/USEF photo)

Davidson Wins Third Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Eventing Championship

Lexington, KY – The final phase of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover provided an exciting finish to the Kentucky Horse Park’s staple event. A sold-out Rolex Stadium crowd witnessed Andrew Nicholson (NZL) win North America’s only CCI4* event for the first time. With Quimbo, he held onto the overnight lead, only adding three time penalties to their dressage score, finishing with a score of 41.0. Deborah Sellar’s 10-year-old Spanish Sport Horse gelding sailed over the fences in Richard Jeffery’s stadium jumping course, expertly guided by HSBC World Rankings Leader Nicholson.

“To go round and jump the last fence and you have gone clear is a little bit what you expect to do if you ride them half properly when they are that good,” commented Nicholson of Quimbo’s exceptional jumping style.

Nicholson won his second leg of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing after winning the 2012 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and will be competing against William Fox-Pitt (GBR) at the Mitsubishi Badminton Horse Trials for the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, an unprecedented situation. After winning the 2011 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, William Fox-Pitt (GBR) is currently in the running to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. After the 2012 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials was canceled due to excessive rain leading up to the event, a win next week at the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials could win Fox-Pitt or Nicholson the coveted title.

“We both have a few more days of peace before it all kicks off. It will certainly be exciting,” said Fox-Pitt. “I think this is Rolex’s dream.”

Fox-Pitt and Seacookie TSF finished second after having one of only four double clear rounds to finish on a score of 46.2. He made the course look easy with Catherine Witt’s 14-year-old Trakehner gelding after rails had been falling all day.

“It is great to have him back on form again and we will how the autumn goes as to where he is,” said Fox-Pitt of having his partner performing well after a rough go at Burghley last year.

Nicholson also finished third with Calico Joe after having three rails to end on a score of 52.8. Despite stadium jumping not being Twenty Twelve in Mind’s 11-year-old English Thoroughbred gelding’s strongest phase, the pair still managed to finish in the top three.
Buck Davidson (Unionville, PA) and Ballynoe Castle RM settled for fourth place after having two unfortunate rails at fences 11 and 13. While he moved down the leaderboard, Davidson won the Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Eventing Championship with Cassandra Segal’s 13-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding.

“He has been amazing this weekend as he has been his whole life,” said Davidson of his beloved mount “Reggie.” “Of course I am bummed to have two down, it sort of fell apart at the end but to be sitting up here with these two guys who are obviously unbelievable, I feel fortunate to be up here. If I have got to lose it is two good guys to lose to.”

The second highest-placed American was Lynn Symansky (Middleburg, VA) with her own Donner who finished in fifth place with a score of 54.8. She rode the 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding with determination around the horse’s first CCI4* event, having double clear cross country and stadium rounds to finish on their dressage score.

Another American with an impressive finish was Meghan O’Donoghue (Carbondale, IL). A 2013 Developing Riders/Eventing 25 listed rider, she rode her own 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding to a 12th place finish in her first CCI4*. O’Donoghue added only a handful of penalties to finish with a score of 69.0.

Watch on-demand video of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover on the USEF Network presented by SmartPak here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/Rolex3Day2013/.

For more information about the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, visit www.rk3de.org.

Follow the 2013 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at http://usefnetwork.com/featured/2013Eventing.

By Kathleen Landwehr

Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day, USEF

Nicholson Cruises into Top Two Places after Cross Country at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

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Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM (Shannon Brinkman/USEF photo)

Lexington, KY – Cross country day was an influential one at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover. Derek di Grazia’s 6500 meter, 28 obstacle cross country course caused some problems throughout the day but did not pose any issues for HSBC World Rankings Leader Andrew Nicholson (NZL) who holds the top two places on the leaderboard. Nicholson is in the lead with Quimbo after having a textbook round, adding nothing to their dressage score of 38.0. Deborah Sellar’s 10-year-old Spanish Sport Horse gelding galloped around the Kentucky Horse Park confidently in his first attempt at a CCI4* event.

“He felt very, very good. I was very, very impressed with him,” said Nicholson of Quimbo. “It’s his first time at this level so I quite wasn’t sure if he would have enough gallop to keep up the pace to the end. I was quite amazed when I got to eight minutes and told him we needed to up the pace a little bit and he was very happy to do it and he wasn’t slowing down at the finish.”

Nicholson sits a close second to himself with Calico Joe, adding no penalties to their dressage score of 40.8. He had a masterful round with Twenty Twelve in Mind’s 11-year-old English Thoroughbred gelding, easily coming in well under the optimum time of 11 minutes and 21 seconds.

“You can never have too much of a cushion going into show jumping,” quipped Nicholson of being in first and second going into the final phase. “I pretty much made the most of today and will worry about tomorrow tomorrow. For Calico Joe, [show jumping] is not his strongest phase. Quimbo is a very, very nice jumper. If I ride him half right he usually does the rest himself. So we will just worry about things tomorrow morning at the jog and worry about the show jumping after that.”

With a win tomorrow, Nicholson would win his second leg of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing after winning the 2012 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and be competing against William Fox-Pitt (GBR) at the Mitsubishi Badminton Horse Trials for the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. After winning the 2011 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, William Fox-Pitt (GBR) is currently in the running to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. After the 2012 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials was canceled due to excessive rain leading up to the event, a win next week at the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials could win Fox-Pitt, or possibly Nicholson depending on tomorrow’s outcome, the coveted title.

Buck Davidson (Unionville, PA) jumped a stellar double clear round over the demanding track to sit third with a score of 45.2 with Ballynoe Castle RM. The pair finished third at both the Red Hills CIC3* and The Fork CIC3*. Being the top placed American in the competition, Davidson cruised into the lead of the Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Eventing Championship with Cassandra Segal’s 13-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding.

“He’s been an amazing horse for me,” said Davidson of his longtime partner “Reggie.” “I am so fortunate to have him in my life and have the Segals who have given me such an amazing horse. He does everything I ask him, he shows up every single weekend and I am so lucky and thankful.”

For being the top American rider coming closest to the optimum time, Davidson was awarded the Land Rover Best Ride of the Day, receiving a 24 month lease of a 2013 Range Rover Evoque.

“Land Rover has been a huge supporter of American eventing and for them to come up with this is great. I am very thankful to Land Rover,” commented Davidson.

The second highest-placed American is Will Faudree (Southern Pines, NC) with Jennifer Mosing’s Pawlow. He and the 14-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding added 6.4 time penalties to sit in fifth place with a score of 53.6. The pair had a 15th place finish here in 2010 and hope to improve upon that performance this year.

Forty-two combinations contested the cross country phase but only 30 completed the course. Of the finishers there were 10 double clear rounds, while there were seven eliminations and 5 retirements on course. Three combinations withdrew before the start of competition Saturday.

The second horse inspection will take place Sunday at 8:30am ET and the show jumping will begin at 1:15pm ET.

Watch the live stream on the USEF Network presented by SmartPak. In addition to the broadcast, the order of go, results, and photos can be found here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/Rolex3Day2013/.

For more information about the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, visit www.rk3de.org.

Follow the 2013 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at http://usefnetwork.com/featured/2013Eventing.

By Kathleen Landwehr

Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, JRPR

Buck Davidson Wins Big at Ocala Horse Properties Winter I Horse Trials

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Buck Davidson rode strong into the new year with four big wins at the Ocala Horse Properties Winter I Horse Trials. (Photo courtesy of Mike McNally)

Ocala, FL (January 28, 2013) – Since 2006 he has been consistently appearing on top ten rider rankings or representing his country on Olympic and World Equestrian Games three-day squads, so it was no surprise that self-confessed ‘in the saddle since birth’ Buck Davidson rode strong into the new year with four big wins at the Ocala Horse Properties Winter I Horse Trials, January 5-6, at the Florida Horse Park.

The first event of the season for the 2011 US Eventing Association Rider of the Year led to a collection of first place finishes: Open Intermediate on Shear Mizou; Open Preliminary on Santa’s Keeper (aka Simon); Open Training (A) on Riviera and Open Training (B) on Mr. Bojangles.

“Ocala was a nice start to the year. I’m super lucky to have nice horses,” said Davidson, 36.  “It was exciting to win Intermediate on Shear Mizou; he’s a cool horse to have around.  Simon is an off-track Thoroughbred who came from Keeneland and has the brain and brilliance to go far.  Riviera is just five, so her win was great, and my dad bred Mr. Bojangles. This was his first Training; I’d be lying if I didn’t say we were lucky in show jumping, but he’s a beautiful dressage horse and honest as the day is long.”

Continue reading Buck Davidson Wins Big at Ocala Horse Properties Winter I Horse Trials →

Awards, Community/Charity, Eventing/H.T., JRPR, USEA

World Equestrian Brands, LLC’s Endorsed Riders Honored by United States Eventing Association

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Buck Davidson was named the 2011 USEA Rider of the Year. (Photo courtesy of the USEA)

Buena Vista, VA (January 18, 2012) – Eventing riders endorsed by World Equestrian Brands, LLC, an equestrian company dedicated to providing equestrians with the finest products on the market, rode away with top honors from the United States Eventing Association (USEA) in 2011. From winning the coveted USEA Rider of the Year title to taking home the prestigious International Developing Rider Grant, World Equestrian Brands riders showed off their successful competitive year in style – not only winning multiple awards but also doing it in tack from World Equestrian Brands.

“These riders work really hard and are dedicated to the sport, and it is great to see them honored for their efforts. They have accomplished so much this year and we are grateful to be part of their winning team,” said Robin Moore, President of World Equestrian Brands. “It is awesome to see the trickledown effect of the riders’ talents, as their students also had milestone accomplishments throughout the year and took home some pretty impressive awards from the USEA.”

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Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, Pan American Games, USEF

Land Rover Competition and Training Grants Send Pan American Games Athletes to Galway Downs CCI

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Lexington, KY – Two members of the Gold-medal winning 2011 Pan American Games Eventing Team, Buck Davidson and Michael Pollard, and the alternate, Kristin Schmolze, were awarded Land Rover Competition and Training Grants to travel to Temecula, CA and compete at the Galway Downs CCI, November 4-6.

Davidson and Pollard were each awarded $8,000 grant to contest the CCI3*, while Schmolze was awarded a $6,000 grant to compete in the CCI2*.

Because of logistical and timing conflicts due to being part of the Pan American Games squad, Davidson, Pollard were unable to compete at Fair Hill International CCI3* in early October – the only CCI3* on the East Coast.  The Pan Am horses flew to Guadalajara on the cross country day of Fair Hill.  The athletes couldn’t be in two places at once. Schmolze was part of the Pan American equation with Ballylaffin Bracken until the horses departed – she is also riding her CCI3* horse at Galway.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Pan American Games, Show Jumping, USEF

Jumping Clear Rounds Win Individual Medals at 2011 Pan American Games

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Hannah Burnett (Silver), Jessica Phoenix (Gold) and Buck Davidson (Bronze). Shannon Brinkman Photo.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Immaculate jumping won Individual eventing medals at the 2011 Pan American Games – and the top three horses were beautifully ridden over three days. Canadian Jessica Phoenix held onto her dressage lead, adding nothing to her winning score of 43.9 with Don Good’s Pavarotti.  She had the Team Gold medal-winning Americans chasing her all weekend, and after the last fence was jumped, she shared the medal podium with two of them.  Hannah Burnett and Harbour Pilot won Silver and Buck Davidson on Absolute Liberty won Bronze.

Read about the Gold-medal Team effort here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/news/7769/2011/10/23/historic_team_gold_medal_for_us_e.aspx.

Burnett (The Plains, VA) rode with determination far beyond her 25 years on Jacqueline Mars’ 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Harbour Pilot. They were third after the dressage on a score of 45.2, jumped a foot-perfect round on Saturday in the cross country and then cemented her medal with two clear rounds in the show jumping. Burnett’s teammate Michael Pollard (Dalton, GA) jumped a terrific clear on Schoensgreen Hanni in the first round, only to have two rails in the Individual round and drop to fourth place.

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Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, USEA

Richland Park CIC3* Win Boosts Davidson to Top of Adequan USEA Gold Cup Leaderboard

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Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM. StockImageServices Photo

Mere seconds played a huge role in the final outcome of this year’s Richland Park CIC3* (Richland, Michigan), one of the final legs of the $20,000 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series.

Buck Davidson, riding Ballynoe Castle RM, and Jennie Brannigan, aboard Cambalda, had been neck-and-neck all weekend, jostling for a top position. The two riders began the event tied for second with 43.3, but after cross-country day, Davidson and ‘Reggie’ finished double-clear just a second under the optimum time over Ian Stark’s challenging course; Brannigan and ‘Ping’ also finished fault-free but were seven seconds under the optimum time. Both moved into a tie for the lead after overnight leader Phillip Dutton and Ben picked up a few time faults; they headed into show jumping Sunday morning knowing how incredibly close the standings were.

Final Results

Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, JRPR

Perfect Eventing Trifecta – World Equestrian Brands Riders Hawley Bennett-Awad, Buck Davidson and Alexandra Slusher Finish 1, 2, 3 at the Event at Rebecca Farm

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Hawley Bennett-Awad rode Gin N’ Juice to victory at The Event at Rebecca Farms, where an exciting show jumping phase resulted in a close finish between three pairs. (Photo courtesy of Kat Netzler)

Kalispell, MT (August 8, 2011) – While the Event at Rebecca Farm featured an exciting and suspenseful turn of events during the stadium jumping phase in Kalispell, Montana, in the end Hawley Bennett-Awad rode Linda Paine’s Gin N’ Juice to the victory. Buck Davidson and Carl Segal’s Ballynoecastle RM finished a mere one point behind Bennett-Awad with Alexandra Slusher and Christie Campbell’s Last Call landing in a close third.

Bennett-Awad, Davidson, and Slusher, all endorsed by World Equestrian Brands, LLC, were thrilled with the results in the CIC3* event, part of the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series. In addition to sharing the common thread of World Equestrian Brands, Davidson is Bennett-Awad’s coach and Slusher is her good friend. Bennett-Awad was a member of the Silver 2003 Canadian Pam Am team, represented Canada in the 2004 Olympics, was a member of the 2005 World Cup Finals and in 2009 she won the Bromont CCI***.

“We were thrilled to see three of our riders in the top three spots at the Event at Rebecca Farm,” said Robin Moore, President of World Equestrian Brands, US distributor of Amerigo and Amerigo Vega saddles and strap goods, Vespucci, E. A. Mattes, and Equilibrium products. “It really was an unbelievable finish, because going into the stadium jumping phase Allison Springer, who had an awesome dressage and cross country go, was leading by 10 points. While Allison had some unfortunate trouble with Arthur being spooky, Hawley was fortunate and Ginny jumped like her life depended on it.  The pair really fed off the energy of the crowd and ended up in first place. What an amazing outcome and WEB is so happy for Hawley, Buck and Alexandra, and we are equally very proud of Allison and Arthur, who we also sponsor; that pair is truly dynamic.”

Continue reading Perfect Eventing Trifecta – World Equestrian Brands Riders Hawley Bennett-Awad, Buck Davidson and Alexandra Slusher Finish 1, 2, 3 at the Event at Rebecca Farm →