MCTA Celebrates 40 Years

Tracey Bienemann (pictured left) and Kate Chadderton were the only two Maryland entries in the Advanced division. Tracey rode Zara to a 45.6 in dressage. The pair had a few rails down in show jumping but jumped clean cross-country and just outside the time. Overall, they placed third. Kate and Collection Pass scored a 48.8 in dressage and jumped clean in show jumping. They had two stops at the same fence cross-country to finish in sixth place overall.

Sheri Thornley and Toga had a great run over the Intermediate course. The pair jumped clean in both phases to finish seventh overall.

In the Preliminary Junior/Young Rider division, Savannah Fulton (pictured left) and Lauren Sumner placed second and third, respectively. Savannah rode FMF Royal Guest to a 46.5 in dressage and kept that score throughout the competition. Lauren and Golden Memories dropped a rail in show jumping and has 1/6 time faults cross-country to finish the day with a 46.9.

Junior rider Heather Johnson (pictured below) scored a 25.5 in dressage aboard The Manix Man to win the Training Junior Rider division. She lead the division from start to finish, ending that day on that same score. Skyler Decker and Nickels and Dimes placed second while Ellen Moxley rode Kiwi Steve to third. Grace Fulton and Leo the Lion Hearted earned fourth and Tayler Stewart rode Strictly Business to sixth.

Nancy Verzi took home a blue ribbon, winning Training Rider aboard Journey Leader. The pair earned a 30.5 to beat out 26 other competitors in the very large division. Mara Seitel-Mellencamp placed fifth aboard Knight’s Ebony Rose.

Kate Chadderton rode VS McCuan Rendezvous to a 30.98 in dressage at the Training level. The young horse had one rail down in show jumping but jumped double clean cross-country to end the day in third place in the Open Training division.

Valerie Vizcarrondo rode a pair of horses to ribbons at the Training level. She and WiseAcre finished in fifth place on a score of 39.2 in Training Horse. She rode False Pass to sixth in the same division.

At Novice, Danielle Poulsen, Kaitlyn Wieditz and Nina Holm each earned a blue ribbon. Danielle and A Kodak Image scored a 23.5 in dressage to lead the Novice Junior Rider division. Despite eight show jumping faults, the pair managed to hold onto their lead to win the division. Emily Arches rode FMF’s Ides of March to fourth place and Hannah Metz placed fifth riding Zhen.

Kaitlyn and The Galloping Major won the Novice Rider A division on their dressage score of 34.8. Raymond Carter (pictured left) and Borris Minor earned third while Michaline West rode Pursuit of Happiness to fourth. Barbara Dreyer placed fifth riding Elegance and Melanie Snyder earned sixth aboard My Beau.

Nina’s win came in the Open Novice division riding Birmingham. The pair scored a 28.3 in dressage and only added fourth show jump faults to win with a final score of 32.3. Kate Chadderton earned another ribbon at MCTA in this division. She rode Hot Reels (pictured below) to second place. Suzannah Cornue and Korbin placed fourth.

Katherine Sunderland rode Miadagio in Novice Horse, scoring a 23.9 to place fourth overall. Daretta Yursis placed second in Novice Rider B. Sherry Stephenson placed sixth in the same division riding Pygmalion Prince.

Tayler Stewart and Strictly Business

Nina Holm and Birmingham

Grace Fulton and Leo the Lionhearted

Daretta Yursis and Houston Tex

Difficult Run
On the same weekend as MCTA, the Difficult Run Pony Club Spring Horse Trials took place at Frying Pan Park in Virginia. That event held Beginner Novice through Preliminary divisions.

Jenna Jensen and Audrey Case each won at Beginner Novice. Jenna rode Rappahannock to a 29.5 in Beginner Novice to win the division. Camille Stewart and Malakai placed second on a score of 30 while Bridget Knutson and Seven Up placed fourth.

Audrey rode Mullacash Paddy to win Beginner Novice Junior on a dressage score of 32.5. Hannah Sledzik and Milliondollar Millie placed third in the division with Sophia Sturgeon placing fourth aboard Jeronimo. Christina Leishman placed sixth riding Snap Decision.

Bridget Byrnes placed fourth in Beginner Novice Senior Rider aboard Jag. RJ Campbell placed fifth riding He’s Easy.

Logan Elliott rode Cady O’Daly Michael to second place in Novice Junior/Young Rider. Shannon Case and Star Dazzler placed third. Kai Bradley placed sixth in Novice Horse riding Promise Ima Zipper.

Stephanie Butts won the Open Preliminary division riding Peabody. The pair scored a 26.8 in dressage and jumped clean, adding just a few time faults to their final score.

Three-days at Jersey Fresh
The Jersey Fresh International Three-day Event took place in Allentown, New Jersey on May 9-13. The event ran only CCIs and CICs at the two and three-star levels.

From Maryland, Kelley Williams, Katie Wherley and Courtney Sendak rode in the CCI**. All three riders had good dressage tests with Kelley and Brazen Bomber leading the Maryland pack in third place.

Kelley and Bomber jumped double clean on cross-country day. Courtney, riding Wil’Ya Love Me, had no jumping faults but did add a few time faults while Katie had one stop aboard Mr. Indiscretion.

Unfortunately, Willy was not 100% and Courtney withdrew him before the final horse inspection. It looks like the pony has a minor strain to a tendon that should heal soon. Bomber and Mr. Indiscretion each passed the jog.

Kelley and Bomber had a rail in show jumping and moved up into second place overall. Katie and Mr. Indiscretion had two rails and finished in 13th.

Daniel Clasing rode Houston in the CIC***. The pair had a stop on cross-country and several jumping faults to finish in 16^th place.

Plantation Field
Plantation Field Horse Trials held a one-day event on May 12 in Unionville, Pennsylvania. The event offered Beginner Novice through Intermediate divisions.

RJ Campbell and He’s Easy topped the Beginner Novice Rider B division with a 33.8. Eliza Alexander and Jack of Hearts placed fourth.

Pamela Blumberg rode Hastening Opal to third place in Novice Rider.

Curren Simpson earned third place in Training Rider A aboard D-Day Vant Plantanenhof. Caroline Nayden and Silver Sneakers placed sixth.

Alexandra MacLeod won the Junior/Young Rider Preliminary division aboard Railroad Man Jim. Madeline Parisan placed fourth riding Hope to Star. Kayla Muller placed fifth in Open Preliminary riding Isabel.

The highest placing Marylander in the Intermediate division was Oliver King. He rode Active Andy to seventh place.

Caitlin Kuzynski had the best final score out of the Marylanders competing at Beginner Novice. She rode Remington Steele to a 30.5 in dressage and jumped double clean to place second in the Open Beginner Novice division. In that same division, Alexandra MacLeod rode Arrow to fifth.

Audrey Case earned fourth place in Beginner Novice Junior riding Mullacash Paddy to a 32.5. In fifth place was Madeleine Favre riding Destiny’s Wish. Abbey Parrish was the only Marylander to finish in the ribbons in the large Beginner Novice Horse division. She rode Touch Away to a 34 and a sixth place ribbon.

Kate Chadderton, Jenny Barnhard and Kathy Savory each earned blues at Novice. Jenny had the best score of the group, earning a 25.5 in dressage aboard Winsome Maverick. The pair jumped clean to win the Novice Junior/Young Rider division. In that same division, Shannon Case rode Star Dazzler to fourth.

Kate won the Novice Horse A division riding Fine Art. The pair scored a 30 in dressage and jumped clean. Kate also took home a fifth place riding VS McCuan Tremendous in Novice Horse B. In the B division, Katherine Sunderland rode Miadago to fourth place.

Kathy earned a 30.5 aboard Brandenburg’s Andromeda to win the Novice Rider division.

At Training level, Carol Danforth scored an impressive 22.7 to win the Training Rider division by over six points.

Alexandra MacLeod earned a second place at Preliminary, riding Railroad Man Jim to a final score of 36.2. Their second place was in the Open Preliminary B division. Savannah Fulton rode Tinkatoo to sixth place.

The highest placing Marylander in the Open Intermediate division was Mary Macklin. She rode her own Mahogany Beauteo to a final score of 54, finishing ninth overall.

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Kristen Parris (Mt. Airy) and No Halo Here finished ninth at their first Intermediate

Finally… the results from Fair Hill International Horse Trials on April 18-20 in Elkton. Heavy rains over the weekend did cause many competitors to ride just combined tests.

Lauren Sumner was the highest placing Marylander in the CIC*. She rode Golden Memories to a 56.6 in dressage, jumped double clean on cross-country and then dropped a few rails in show jumping. Her final score of 68.6 put her in sixth place out of 16 entries.

In the CIC**, Valerie Vizcarrondo rode Playtime to second place. The pair scored a 46.1 in dressage and jumped clean both on cross-country and show jumping. They did have a few time faults in both rounds but finished less than a point behind the winner, Doug Payne of New Jersey. Danny Warrington came home with a ribbon as well, riding Will Smith to fifth place.

Julia Wendell was the only Maryland entry in the CIC*** riding Cavendish. The jumped around the cross-country course clean with a few time faults and placed seventh overall.

In the regular horse trials divisions, Courtney Sendak and Wil’Ya Love Me continued their Advanced season with good results. The pair scored a 38.8 in dressage, putting them in the middle of the pack. They dropped one rail in show jumping and then put in an impressive cross-country round, adding some time faults but clean jumping. This moved them up to third place at the end of the competition. Tracey Bienemann rode Zara at Advanced as well, placing fifth.

Kate Chadderton earned fifth place in Open Intermediate A. She rode Collection Pass to a 42 in dressage, dropped one rail in show jumping and then went double clean on the cross-country course. She then rode VS McCuan Civil Liberty to second place in Open Preliminary A. This time, Kate scored a 30 in dressage and finished the competition on that score.

Kristen Parris and Lord Ivanhoe placed seventh at Preliminary

Also earning a second place at Preliminary was Madeline Parisan. She rode Hope To Star to a 28.6 in dressage and jumped clean the rest of the weekend to earn second in the Junior/Young Rider Preliminary division.

In Open Preliminary C, Abigail Gibbon scored a 28.6 in dressage. She and Prima LGF had one dropped rail in show jumping and jumped double clean cross-country to finish in fourth place. In the same division, K.C. Cowels and Miss Carlisle also dropped a rail and finished sixth.

Jennifer Price rode I Love Lucy to a final score of 35.4 in Junior Training to place third.

Marilyn Little-Meredith aboard RF Demeter - 9th place overall at Rolex

Marilyn Little-Meredith of Raylyn Farm in Frederick was the only Maryland entry at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event this year (April 26-29), but she had two horses entered. For those that do not know much about Marilyn, she has done a bit of everything in the equestrian sport world but spent most of her junior and young adult career racking up the ribbons on the Grand Prix Show Jumping circuit, both here in the US and overseas. To read more about Marilyn, click here.

Marilyn made the switch to eventing only 18 months ago and this year’s Rolex was her first attempt at a four-star event. She rode RF Rovano Rex to a 62.67 on the first day of dressage and RF Demeter to a 65.33. This put her in 20th place on Rex and 13th place on Demeter going into Saturday’s cross-country phase.

The course, designed by Derek di Grazia (who also designs the Fair Hill International two and three-star courses) was considered a bit steeper than in year’s past with the goal being to better prepare Olympic hopefuls for the London Games. The course took its toll on the horses and riders very early on with Marilyn and Rex being the first to actually complete the course Saturday morning after five riders either were eliminated or retired on course. Jumping clean but with a few time faults, Marilyn and Rex moved into 10th place after cross-country.

Marilyn rode Demeter near the end of the day. The pair also jumped clean and only added 2.8 time faults to its dressage score. This moved them up to 12th going into the final show jumping phase. By the end of cross-country day, 14 riders had been eliminated and eight retired on course.

Marilyn withdrew Rex before the final horse inspection and only presented Demeter. Despite having a few dropped rails in show jumping, Marilyn moved up to finish the competition in ninth place overall. She was also was ranked sixth out of the US riders. Not bad for ones first four-star!

William Fox-Pitt of Great Brittan won the event aboard Parklane Hawk. The win put him one step closer to the Rolex Grand Slam prize of $350,000. With this year’s Badminton canceled, Rolex officials are allowing him the chance of winning the Grand Slam at the 2013 Badminton event.

Thank you to Equiery photographer Holly Erdely for sending photos from the event. If you have photos you would like to share, send them to editor@equiery.com!

After winning this year's Rolex Kentucky, William Fox-Pitt is one event closer to winning the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam

Marilyn and Demeter

Marilyn and RF Rovano Rex were the first pair to complete the course on cross-country day

Marilyn and Rex at the first horses inspection

Marilyn and Demeter at the first horse inspection

Alison Bowyer and Knickerbocker – first place Senior Beginner Novice

Courtney Swartz and Professor Pronto – fifth place Junior Beginner Novice

Alexis Levy and HF Pressbox Coach – sixth place Senior Beginner Novice

Mary Macklin and California Comet – sixth place Open Training

Saturday began with the Training divisions first thing in the morning. Chelsea Eldridge had three Training horses and won the Open Training division aboard Elektra. The pair scored a 30 in dressage, had one dropped rail in show jumping and then only 0.8 time faults on cross-country. Her other two horses finished eighth (Elf in Junior/Young Rider Training) and sixth (Slim Jim in Training Horse).

Back in the Open Training division, Rumsey Keefe placed second with clean jumping rounds aboard Gmork. Kathryn Rich and Scotch on the Rocks also jumped double clean to place third. The clean rounds continued as Jenna Armitage and Capray (pictured above) placed fourth and Katy Gates rode Gizmo to fifth. Mary Macklin rode California Comet to sixth in the division.

Tayler Stewart (pictured left) was the top placing Marylander in the Junior/Young Rider Training division. She rode Strictly Business to a final score of 36.6 to place second. Ivey Smith and Stay Away Joe placed fourth while Caroline Nayden and Silver Sneakers earned fifth. Sydney Solomon rode Lillian Pink to sixth place.

In Training Horse, it was Nicole Coffey who earned the win aboard Contortionist. The pair scored a 32.3 in dressage to lead the division from start to finish. Steph Butts and Jules placed third with a 36.8. Diane Zrimsek rode Mr. President to fourth place.

At Beginner Novice, also held on Saturday, Alison Bowyer and Camille Stewart took home blue ribbons. Alison rode Knickerbocker to a 34 in dressage. She jumped clean and only added one time fault in show jumping to win the Senior Beginner Novice division on a 35. Second place went to RJ Campbell and He’s Easy. Third was earned by Nicole Henry and Organized Chaos with Ann Adams riding James River to fourth.

Camille won the Junior Beginner Novice division aboard Malakai. She scored a 28 in dressage and jumped double clean to finish the day on that score. Jenna Jensen placed third riding Rappahannock. Ryan Keefe and Just My Size placed fourth. Courtney Swartz rode Professor Pronto to fifth and Brooke Mannix rode Talitha to sixth.

Leslie Schulz jumped double clean to place second in the Beginner Novice Horse division. Alexa Henry and Who Spiked the Punch placed third after having one stop on cross-country. Louise Foster and Fumo also had a stop on cross-country and placed fifth. Dustin Dunkle (pictured below) had two stops on cross-country and finished sixth aboard Western Wrangler.

Maryland riders won almost all of the Novice divisions on Sunday, competing in raining conditions. Thankfully, everyone was very accommodating when organizers moved up the timetable so that riders could finish before the heaviest rains set in. The footing held up fairly well throughout the competition.

The best score of the day went to Pamela Blumberg and Kodak. They scored a 24.3 in dressage and easily jumped clean in show jumping and cross-country to win the Open Novice division. Placing second in that division was Nancy Seybold and Piko. Fifth went to Mr. Ed, ridden by Molly Ousborne. Brianna Price and Meadow Marsh placed sixth.

Kimmy Hildreth rode Gatsby to a 29.6 to win the Junior Novice division. They also had a perfect day, jumping double clean. Mary Fleming and Freedoms Pride placed third with Abigail Doud riding Hide the Evidence to fourth. Elissa Ogburn rode Midnight Madness to sixth place.

Jennifer Eisenbrandt won the Novice Horse division riding Olney Uncle Sam to a 30.4. Rose Agard finished the day in third place aboard Benjamin Brat. Kai Bradley and Promise Ima Zipper placed fifth.

Michaline West rode Pursuit of Happiness to second place in the Senior Novice division. Katie Kindley and Cosmic Messenger were less than a point behind Michaline to finish in third place. Kelsea Blazek rode The Lumberjack to fifth place with Shannon Long and Winning Cool Colors placing sixth.

Nancy Seybold and Piko

Margaret Rizzo and Mythical

Sydney Solomon and Lillian Pink

Skyler Decker and Nickels and Dimes

Katy Gates and Gizmo

Mary Macklin and California Comet

Steph Butts and Jules

Diane Zrimsek and Mister President

The Fork in Norwood, North Carolina held CICs for the two and three-star levels as well as a regular horse trials for Training through Advanced on April 5-8. Many Rolex and Badminton-bound riders used the CICs as prep work for the spring CCI four-stars.

Marilyn Little-Meredith rode RF Smoke On the Water to third place in the CIC**. The pair was in third place after dressage with a score of 53.9 and held onto that placing with no jumping or time faults added to its score. Marilyn also rode RF Demeter in the CIC***, also earning third place. This time, she scored a 45 in dressage, jumped clean cross-country and dropped one rail in show jumping. In addition, Marilyn rode RF Rovano Rex in the Advanced B division, placing seventh. Both Demeter and Rovano Rex are entered at Rolex.

Valerie Vizcarrondo and Molly Curtiss also competed in the CIC**. Both had some time faults on cross-country and some rails in show jumping. Valerie rode Playtime to 13^th place and Molly rode Savannah to 15^th.

Colleen Rutledge and Shiraz had a stop on cross-country in the CIC*** and jumped clean in show jumping. They placed 33^rd out of 60 starters. The pair is currently in England getting ready to compete at Badminton. Colleen also rode her homebred Covert Rights in Open Intermediate B. The young horse jumped clean but just outside the time, moving the pair down to 15^th place overall.

Kelley Williams made her Advanced debut with Brazen Bomber. The pair earned a 38.8 in dressage and only added 0.8 time faults on cross-country to that score. In show jumping, they racked up 16 jump faults and finished the competition in ninth place.

At Intermediate, Jules Ennis and Findhorn had a good go, scoring a 39.2 in dressage, jumping double clean on cross-country and dropping only one rail in show jumping. Overall, their final score of 43.2 earned them fifth place in Open Intermediate A.

Spring in Culpeper

The CDCTA Spring Horse Trials and Combined Test took place on April 7-8 in Culpeper, Virginia.

In Beginner Novice Rider, Hannah Reynolds and Curious Kim dropped one rail in show jumping to place fifth overall.

Pamela Blumberg and Kodak scored a 29.6 in dressage to lead the Novice Rider A division from start to finish. Jan Sweeny rode Sweet Spot to fifth in the same division.

At Training, Barbara Werther and Stafford Place jumped around double clean to place second in Training Rider B with a score of 39.6. Scoring a 39.9 was Malcolm Dilley who rode Lorrie to third place.

Abigail Gibbon took home a win at Preliminary. She rode Prima LGF to a 31.8 in dressage to lead the division. Although they dropped one rail in show jumping, their lead after dressage and double clean cross-country round kept them in first place for the win in Preliminary Rider.

Plantation Field

April 14-15 was the Plantation Field Horse Trials in Unionville, Pennsylvania.

At Novice, Camryn Long and Thunder Cap jumped clean to place fifth in Junior Novice. Rachel Griner and Chesney dropped a rail in show jumping but finished third in Training Rider. Oliver King rode Active Andy (pictured left) to fifth place in Preliminary Rider.

Here are some photos of other Marylanders competing at Plantation.

Jane Jennings riding Liz Partick’s Time to Tango at Novice.

Amy Gaynor and Cindy Lou Who at Novice

Julia Beamish riding Flame of Truth at Preliminary

Ashely Beheler and Noblesse Oblige at Preliminary

Julia Beamish and Chica Ye Ye at Training

Edward Baker and Granada at Training

Stay tuned for updates from both events later this month!