United States Eventing Association

The FEI cross-country kicked off at Rebecca Farm on Saturday with the CCI3*-S division, which resulted in a total change-up of the top standings.

Taylor McFall stands in first place with a score of 42.2 aboard Stoneman (Grindstone x Smiler) an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Cheron Laboissonniere. McFall praised her horse saying, “We totally killed it in the downhill combos, something that really was scaring me, just because I hadn't done that big of a drop before.”

Currently in second on a score of 43.2 is Mikayla Hoffman and Eli (Fisher Pond x Heavenish) a 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Hoffman. Hoffman particularly enjoyed the water complexes on the course, saying “Definitely the first water was a highlight for me. He just went through and nailed that one stride out.”

Borasco (Bravo x Fanja) a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding, owned and ridden by Kerry Groot, is standing in third place on a score of 43.9. Groot and Hoffman are part of the Canadian contingent of riders returning to Rebecca Farm this year.

CCI3*-L

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Nutcracker (Tolant R x Ballyshan Cleopatra) had zero jump and zero time penalties, to hold their lead in the CCI3*-Long with a score of 29.4. The 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding is owned by Deborah Halliday, Renee Lane, Ocala Horse Properties, and Halliday-Sharp. Halliday-Sharp said she had a fantastic ride and was complimentary of Ian Stark’s course. “It was a good track. I really thought the coffin was a super question. The back end and just the whole track was well designed. I thought it was a real good test for the three star long.”

Meg Pelligrini and her 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding, RF Eloquence (Contender x Ginger) also had a double clear round to move up a placing into second on a score of 31.9. “I was a little bit nervous going out of the box, but I got to see a couple of people go before me and everyone made it look easy. Yeah, it was beautiful,” said Pelligrini.

Brittany Crandall and her nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Cooley Almighty (Verdi x Wyniella) made an impressive jump from ninth into third as they held their dressage score of 39.5. Crandall and “Kavan” are recipients of the Ocala Horse Properties Rebecca Farm Flight Grant. “He's a cross-country horse. He lives and breathes for it, and he's got a huge gallop, and he's super, super brave,” said Crandall.

Horse Scout Design CCI4*-L

Alyssa Phillips and her 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Oskar (Coriando x Nicole) moved into the top spot in the Horse Scout Design CCI4*-L on a double clear round to maintain their dressage score of 31.4. This was Phillips and Oskar’s second CCI4*-L, but their first time at Rebecca Farm. Phillips said, “He was really good. I never took the foot off the pedal because he's not the quickest horse of the bunch. But he did everything that I asked and I couldn't be happier with it.”

James Alliston and Nemesis jumped clear and added only 0.8 time penalties. Nemesis is an 8-year-old Canadian Warmblood gelding out of Novalis and owned by Alliston Equestrian. As a young horse, this was the longest and most challenging course Nemesis has taken on so far, and Alliston was “really happy with how he did it.”

Helen Alliston sits in third with a score of 42.1 on her 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Ebay (Escudo x Contessa) after adding 13.2 time penalties to her dressage score. Helen made an effort to allow Ebay to go at his own pace today because it was his first CCI4*-L in four years. “I'm hoping the way I rode him today will kind of be a building block for next time we try this and we'll be able to go a little bit quicker, but he answered every question beautifully and it was smooth.”

Horse Scout Design CCI4*-S

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C (Mighty Magic x Qui Luma CBF) had a double-clear ride to hold their lead in the Horse Scout Design CCI4*-S with a score of 26.3. The 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding is owned by Ocala Horse Properties and Deborah Palmer. Miks Master C is a new ride for Halliday-Sharp and she said, “He's just brave and he's fast, and he's careful and he just knows his job,” she added “he has such a big giant, amazing stride that you can just cover the ground and I really enjoyed it today. I'm very excited about our partnership.”

Tamie Smith sits in second and third place. Solaguayre California (Casparo x Solaguayre Calandria) an 11-year-old Argentine Sport Horse mare owned by Julianne Guariglia moved into second with a score of 30.7 after a double clear round. Smith said that “California” has been somewhat green as she moved up the levels, “But knows her job now, so I was absolutely thrilled.” Ruth Bley’s Danito (Dancier x Wie Musik) a 13-year-old Hanoverian, had zero jump and 5.6 time penalties. Danito and Tamie sit in third on a score of 33.8. Danito injured his withers in a freak accident in the cross ties this past winter, so Bley was initially hesitant about entering him in the four-star but had confidence in him as a seasoned horse. They had a great run and she said, “I'm glad to have my little friend back. He's such a cool horse.”

CCI2*-L

Taren Hoffos and Regalla (Sir Donnerhall x Rubbiera) jumped a double clear in the CCI2*-L to move from third into first on their dressage score of 30.5. “The Queen” is an 11-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Carolyn Hoffos. “She was amazing. She was incredible. And she's so fast she doesn't pull at all. She's always in a good balance, so I can be so quick and efficient,” said Hoffos.

Cristina Rennie moved into second place after a double clear ride with Flight of the Arabesque (Farscape DSF x Wunder Waltz). Rennie owns the 11-year-old Westphalian gelding, and this was their second CCI2* event. At 18 hands, he is big and had no trouble making the time on Ian’s track. “He was really good. I couldn't ask for anything else,” Rennie said.

Loughtown Cici ZA (CC Captain Clover x Castlelawn Diamond Clover) a six-year-old Irish Sport Horse m are, owned and ridden by Chris Talley, maintained a dressage score of 31.2 to move into third place.

The FEI showjumping begins on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. (MT).