Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the recipients of Land Rover/USEF eventing competition grants for the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover CCI4* and the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials CCI4*.
The following athlete has received a grant for Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover CCI4* taking place April 28 – May 1 in Lexington, Ky.:
Tiana Coudray will ride Jatial, Inc’s Ringwood Magister, a 2001 Irish Sport Horse gelding.
The following athletes have received grants for Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials CCI4* taking place May 4-8 in Badminton, Gloucestershire, England:
Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) will ride Lucy Boynton Lie’s Cracker Jack, a 2003 Thoroughbred gelding, and Stephen Blauner and Kenneth Shelley’s Master Frisky, a 2004 Irish Sport Horse gelding.
Lynn Symansky (Middleburg, Va.) will ride The Donner Syndicate, LLC’s Donner, a 2003 Thoroughbred gelding.
Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister on their way to a tenth place finish (Shannnon Brinkman)
Aachen, Germany – Cross country day proved to be influential at the Aachen CICO3* at the 2013 CHIO Aachen. Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister tackled the final phase with determination and finished in tenth place in a field of world-class horses and riders. The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team finished in seventh place after unfortunate results plagued them throughout the day. Though a disappointing end, the horses and riders come away with valuable experience that will serve them well when they next contest an international competition on such a grand stage.
Coudray (Ojai, CA) and Ringwood Magister had a stellar round over Rüdiger Schwarz’s cross country course with 35 jumping efforts. The pair made light work of the extensive, challenging course. Adding 14.8 time penalties to their dressage score, she and Jatial Inc.’s 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding finished in tenth place with a score of 57.8.
“I am over the moon,” exclaimed Coudray. “He was absolutely playing with the course today. It obviously caused so much trouble. It was very, very tough. Very experienced riders had trouble. I went later in the day and I had not seen a clear round all morning, but he gave me such a good feel out there on the challenging course.”
Clark Montgomery (Wiltshire, UK) and Universe hit a rough patch at 10c, having two refusals at the skinny triple brush following the Normandy bank. However, he and Jessica Montgomery, Carole Montgomery, Janet Higgins, and Elizabeth Smith’s 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding finished strongly throughout the rest of the course. The pair collected 85.6 penalties to finish on a score of 152.2 in 35th place.
Will Faudree (Hoffman, NC) and Pawlow set out on course looking to have a top performance for the U.S. team, but after Jennifer Mosing’s 14-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding pulled both front shoes early on course, it wasn’t meant to be. The pair had refusals at 8b, the corner in the Rolex water complex, and 21a at the STAWAG double corners complex, and then had an unfortunate fall at the last fence when the gelding lost his footing on the landing. Both horse and rider were not hurt in the fall.
Marilyn Little (Frederick, MD) and RF Smoke on the Water began the course on mission but lost her line to 8b, the corner in the Rolex water complex, resulting in rider fall for Little. Both she and Raylyn Farms Inc. and Phoebe and Michael Manders’ 8-year-old Wurttemburger gelding came away unharmed, with an unfortunate result marring an otherwise successful year for the pair.
Of the 41 starters, three horse-and-rider combinations retired on course and three were eliminated.
Australia’s Christopher Burton and Holstein Park Leilani claimed the win after having the only double clear round of the day, finishing on their dressage score of 35.6. Sandra Auffarth (GER) and Opgun Louvo added four time penalties to their dressage score to settle for second place with a 35.8. Germany’s London Olympic Games double Gold medalist Michael Jung and La Biosthetique-Sam FBW incurred six time penalties to finish in third place.
Germany held onto the lead to claim victory in the team competition with a score of 134.6. Great Britain finished in second with 182.6, while Sweden was third with 219.0.
Aachen, Germany – The fifth and final discipline hosted at the 2013 CHIO Aachen kicked off Friday, with many of the top eventers from throughout the world going head-to-head. Two of the three phases of CICO3* competition were held as elite combinations performed their dressage tests and went to task over a demanding show jumping track.
The U.S. will head out onto Saturday’s cross country in sixth place with all to play for. The four Land Rover Competition Grant recipients represented the U.S. admirably on Friday in Aachen’s electric atmosphere.
Dressage
Competition in the Aachen CICO3* began early Friday morning in the Deutsche Bank Stadium with 42 combinations completing their dressage tests. At the conclusion of the dressage, the U.S. stood in sixth place in the team standings but within striking distance on a score of 133.4. Germany held the early lead with a team total of 109.4, Australia stood second with a score of 120.2, and third place was occupied by the Swedish team on a score 123.60.
Leading the effort in the first phase for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team was 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games veteran Will Faudree (Hoffman, NC) and Jennifer Mosing’s Pawlow. The 14-year-old Irish Thoroughbred has completed many of the world’s most prestigious CCIs and demonstrated his experience with one of his best tests to date on Friday. The talented combination scored 40.6 and stood 13th following the dressage.
“I was very happy with him in dressage. He was very rideable,” said Faudree of his experienced mount. “I made a mistake in the beginning but we were able to patch it together. I was pleased with his mark but I know there is still more to come so I am looking forward to getting there.”
Tiana Coudray (Ojai, CA) rode in the second spot for the U.S. with Jatial Inc.’s 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse Ringwood Magister. The 2012 Olympic Games veterans performed their trademark accurate dressage test which was only marred by a mistake in the first half pass. They headed into the evening’s show jumping on a score of 43 in 20th place.
“I was really, really happy,” said Coudray about her dressage test. “It’s amazing when you have a 43 in dressage and are well down on the scoreboard. I couldn’t be happier with my horse.”
Riding Raylyn Farms Inc. and Phoebe and Michael Manders’ RF Smoke on the Water, Marilyn Little (Frederick, MD) slotted into 28th place with a score of 49.8. The 8-year-old Wurttemburger gelding continues to mature each time down centerline and showed great potential for the future on Friday morning.
Clark Montgomery (Wiltshire, UK) and Universe had the unenviable task of being the first competitors in the ring but were undeterred in their effort. Jessica Montgomery, Carole Montgomery, Janet Higgins, and Elizabeth Smith’s 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding was rewarded with high marks for his trot work to finish the first phase on a score of 50.6 to stand 31st.
Following the completion of the dressage, Germany’s London Olympic Games Individual Bronze medalists Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo led the individual standings on a score of 31.8.
Jumping
The jumping phase of the competition was held Friday evening in the Main Stadium. Many horses seemed to be affected by the noisy atmosphere as rails were routinely coming down over Frank Rothenberger’s 12-obstacle course. The U.S. team remained in sixth place with a two-phase total of 141.4 going into Saturday’s cross country. When the phase was over, the U.S. team remained in sixth place with a score of 141.4 going into tomorrow’s final phase. Germany maintained their lead on a score of 113.4 while Great Britain moved into second place on the strength of tidy jumping on a total of 132.6 and Australia fell to third with a 133.2.
Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister (Shannon Brinkman)
Coudray and Ringwood Magister were the top U.S. performers and had one of 15 clear rounds. While the Irish Sport Horse gelding was quite strong, Coudray kept him organized and on task to remain on their dressage score of 43.0, moving them up to 10th place.
“I am thrilled,” proclaimed Coudray about her jumping round. “We have been playing with bits and I was trying new bit today since the large stadium encourages the horses to get strong. He jumped fantastic and handled the atmosphere great.”
Faudree rode Pawlow masterfully as the gelding took in his surroundings in the expansive arena. Unfortunately the pair had one rail at the penultimate fence, 11C, moving them down to 18th place with a score of 44.6.
“I was happy. He jumped fantastic,” said Faudree. “I was anxious to jump clear through the triple and tipped too much with my body and he just tapped the back rail [of the oxer]. Overall, it went well and I am looking forward to tomorrow.”
RF Smoke on the Water was also feeling fresh in the Main Stadium. Little used her show jumping expertise to keep the gelding rideable, having one rail at fence three. The pair sits in 29th place with a score of 53.8.
Montgomery and Universe were the first combination in the arena and unfortunately had four rails over the course. The pair, regarded for their tidy jumping, experienced a disrupted warm-up before the show jumping following the completion of the Tank & Rast-Preis – Jump & Drive. They look to return to form on Saturday. They sit on a score 66.6 in 39th place heading into tomorrow’s cross country.
Germany’s Auffarth and Opgun Louvo remained in the lead with a double clear round to stay on their dressage score of 31.8.
Montgomery will be the first rider out on cross country at 10:00am CEST followed by Little at 11:20am CEST. Faudree will leave the start box at 11:44am CEST followed by Coudray at 12:16pm CEST.
Karen O'Connor and Mr. Medicott (photos: Shannon Brinkman)
Greenwich, UK – The German Olympic Eventing Team was in a class of its own as history was made at Greenwich Park. Michael Jung led a charge that finished with him winning Team and Individual Gold in a flawless effort on Sam. They were the only combination to finish the entire competition without adding anything to their dressage score. That score of 40.6 meant that Jung is the first person ever to be the reigning European, Olympic, and World Champion simultaneously.
Sara Algotsson Ostholt led after the cross country with Wega for Sweden but her Gold medal turned to Silver when they impossibly dislodged the front rail of the last fence of the individual show jumping round. It appeared to happen in slow motion. Sandra Auffarth bookended the German effort, picking up Bronze on Opgun Louvo. Just 4.2 faults separated the top three individuals.
The German invincibility began its display in the Team competition; they finished on a three-day score of 133.7, handling everything the British could throw at them. The Brits gave it a serious effort before a hugely supportive crowd, but they finished up Silver on a score of 138.20. New Zealand rounded out the top three with class performances from all five of their riders. The U.S. Team finished seventh on a score of 208.6.
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.”
Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister. Photo: Stockimageservices. com
Lexington, KY – With three riders in the top 10, the Land River U.S. Eventing Team had everything to play for in the show jumping on the final day of the 2011 Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials in Woodstock, U.K.
And Tiana Coudray played the game the best for the U.S. throughout the week, adding nothing to her dressage score of 49.4 to finish second on Jaital, Inc.’s, Ringwood Magister, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding.
“Today it was pretty much textbook,” said Coudray after the show jumping.
The California native has had a rough spring. After falling at their first CCI4* at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone in April, they then struggled at the Luhmühlen CIC3*, but Coudray made the decision to stick it out in England over the summer and regain the form that saw her win the Jersey Fresh CCI3* with her flashy grey in 2010.
She found it at Blenheim.
“I am so, so pleased,” said Coudray. “It’s extra special because things have been so tough for quite a while. I was a pretty good way to finish off the season.”
Lexington, KY – The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team served notice today at the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials that their next generation of horses and riders are going to be very competitive on the world stage. Four of the six American starters completed the cross-country in the top 14. Piggy French occupies the top two spots on Lemington Lett Dance and DHI Topper W for Great Britain adding nothing to her dressage mark on either horse to take over the lead from dressage winner Bettina Hoy who finished with 7.6 time penalties.
Led by Tiana Coudray (Ojai, CA) who has returned to the form that saw her win the 2010 Jersey Fresh CCI3* last spring, she rode a determined and calculated round on Ringwood Magister to gallop into fourth place, adding nothing to her dressage score of 49.4.
The flashy 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse has had an inconsistent 2011, and Coudray has been in the U.K. since June – determined to get back on track after an unsuccessful Luhmuhlen CIC3*. She succeeded at Blenheim and delivered on the expectation that she has always had for her striking grey gelding.
“The track rode as expected,” said Coudray. “I executed my plan. It was perfectly suited for what we needed to do. My horse was amazing.”
Veteran stalwart Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) is having a changing of the guard within his stable, as some of his seasoned campaigners have been retired. Today, Mighty Nice proved to him and owner Bruce Duchossois how classy he is and at only 7 years old, gives them a lot to look forward to. The recipient of a Land Rover Competition and Training Grant, Dutton was pleased with his round.
The second day wrap up show done live from the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event. Listen as Chris reviews the day with Mark Todd, Oliver Townend and the leader Tiana Coudray. Tune in right here…
Eventing Radio Episode 137 by Bit of Britain – Show Notes and Links:
Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
Lexington, KY – There was one new name added to the top three riders after the dressage at the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, but it was an important one. Tiana Coudray made the trip from California worth the effort when she wowed the judges in the Rolex Stadium with Ringwood Magister. Their score of 40.8 leaves them with a narrow margin over Mary King, from Great Britain who lies second on 41.7. Thursday’s winner, Allison Springer, holds on to a top-three placing with Arthur on 42.3.
Ringwood Magister, an elegant and flashy 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse, has excellent paces and presence. Coudray coaxed him down the ramp into the Rolex Stadium and into the electric environment, managing him beautifully in the ring.
“He’d been really good in warm up,” said Coudray. “And I started down the ramp so he kind of knew something was up.”
Ringwood Magister misbehaved quite exuberantly on the way to the ring and found relaxing quite difficult, but Coudray is confident that once he gets in the ring, he goes to work. “When I got him down into the ring,” said Coudray, “I still wasn’t quite sure which way this was going to go. But he really put it together and went to work.”
Tiana Coudray (USA) and Ringwood Magister are in the lead after Dressage at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, second leg of the HSBC FEI Classics.
Lexington, KY (USA), 30 April 2011 – Following two days of dressage at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, second leg of the HSBC FEI Classics, America’s Tiana Coudray is in pole position with her Jersey Fresh CCI*** 2010 winner Ringwood Magister.
The duo earned the best marks from the judges for a penalty score of 40.8.
“The trot work was tidy but maybe a bit conservative. It was during the canter work that I felt confident enough to show off what Magister can do – that’s the best bit for him,” said Coudray. “When we cantered down the centre line for the final time that’s when it hit me we’d done a good test.”
Britain’s Mary King is less than a penalty behind the leading duo with her four-star first timer Fernhill Urco.
“I wasn’t expecting such a good test from him. He’s a positive-thinking horse who is always forward and I find him strong but in the last month he’s really improved,” said King, who also occupies fourth with her home-bred bay mare Kings Temptress.
Lexington, KY – The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team served notice today at the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials that their next generation of horses and riders are going to be very competitive on the world stage. Four of the six American starters completed the cross-country in the top 14. Piggy French occupies the top two spots on Lemington Lett Dance and DHI Topper W for Great Britain adding nothing to her dressage mark on either horse to take over the lead from dressage winner Bettina Hoy who finished with 7.6 time penalties.
